Sports
Euro 2024: England vs Slovakia: Starting XIs for Euro 2024 last-16 clash
![Germany vs Switzerland: Starting XIs for Euro 2024 group clash](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Germany-vs-Switzerland-Starting-XIs-for-Euro-2024-group-clash.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Francesco Calzona names an unchanged Slovakia team from the side who were held to a 1-1 draw by Romania in their last group-stage game.
Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka starts in goal.
Slovakia XI: Dubravka; Pekarik, Vavro, Skriniar, Hancko; Kucka, Lobotka, Duda; Schranz, Strelec, Haraslin.
Subs: Rodak, Ravas, Obert, Rigo, Gyomber, Suslov, Bozenik, Tupta, Benes, Hrosovsky, De Marco, Duris, Bero, Sauer, Kosa.
Gareth Southgate makes just one change to the England side who drew with Slovenia in their last group-stage game.
Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo replaces Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher – who was taken off for Mainoo at half-time against Slovenia.
England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Mainoo, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane.
Subs: Ramsdale, Henderson, Shaw, Alexander-Arnold, Konsa, Dunk, Gallagher, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Palmer, Wharton.
Sports
Transfer: Man Utd offer De Ligt five-year contract
![Transfer: Man Utd offer De Ligt five-year contract](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Transfer-Man-Utd-offer-De-Ligt-five-year-contract.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Bayern Munich defender, Matthijs de Ligt, has received a five-year contract offer from Manchester United.
According to Sky Germany, De Ligt is keen on the move.
It is also believed United have held initial talks with Bayern, to explore the conditions of a potential deal.
Erik ten Hag, who worked with De Ligt at Ajax, wants the defender as part of his squad at Old Trafford next season.
Bayern’s values the 24-year-old at €50m (£42.4m) including add-ons.
United, however, retain an interest in England defender Jarrad Branthwaite but will only go back in for the player if Everton are willing to come down in their asking price.
Sports
Transfer: Chelsea sign new midfielder as Man Utd confirm deal for Heaton
![EPL: It’s all done - Details of Chelsea's new manager revealed](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EPL-Its-all-done-Details-of-Chelseas-new-manager.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Chelsea on Tuesday announced the signing of midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City.
The Blues disclosed this in a statement via their website.
Dewsbury-Hall signed a five-year contract with the Premier League west London club.
“It is amazing to be sitting here as a Chelsea player,” said Dewsbury-Hall.
“This is a club people grow up watching and hoping to one day play for, so it is a privilege to be here.”
Meanwhile, in a related development, Manchester United confirmed that goalkeeper Tom Heaton has signed a new one-year contract with the Red Devils.
“Everybody at United would like to congratulate Tom on the new deal and wish him well for 2024/25,” Man United’s statement read in part.
Heaton made his senior debut for Man United few years ago.
Sports
Transfer: Four clubs scramble for Super Eagles defender, Torunarigha
![Transfer: Four clubs scramble for Super Eagles defender, Torunarigha](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Transfer-Four-clubs-scramble-for-Super-Eagles-defender-Torunarigha.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Nigeria Defender, Jordan Torunarigha could leave Belgian Pro League club, KAA Gent this summer amid interest from clubs in Germany, England and Italy.
Torunarigha had an impressive 2023/24 season with the Buffalos.
According to the German news hub, Bild, Serie A side Torino, English clubs Crystal Palace, and Leeds United as well as Bundesliga outfit, Hoffenheim have the centre-back on their radar.
KAA Gent would be willing to sell the player, who has one year remaining on his contract.
The 26-year-old linked up with Gent from German club, Hertha Berlin in 2022.
Torunarigha has made 104 appearances since his arrival at the club.
He won the Belgian Cup with Gent in the 2021/22 season.
Sports
Euro 2024: Lehmann gives two reasons Spain will lose to Germany
![Euro 2024: Lehmann gives two reasons Spain will lose to Germany](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Euro-2024-Lehmann-gives-two-reasons-Spain-will-lose-to.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Former Arsenal goalkeeper, Jens Lehmann has given two reasons why Germany will beat Spain when both teams clash in the Euro 2024 last-8 on Friday.
Both teams had defeated the likes of Denmark and Georgia in the last-16.
Asked why he believes Germany will beat Spain in the last-8, Lehmann told Welt that La Roja are ‘too small in size and very inexperienced.’
“Because it is usually the case in a tournament that a team who are as highly praised as the Spanish and has undoubtedly shown why, their good results suddenly change,” Lehmann said.
“But they are too small in size and they are very inexperienced, they are basically a youth team.”
He added, “I have mentioned a few technical arguments as to why we [Germany] can win [Spain].”
Sports
Euro 2024: I was at rock bottom when Portugal needed me most – C. Ronaldo
![](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-16-57-17-Euro-2024-I-was-at-rock-bottom-when-Portugal-needed-me-most-–-Cristiano-Ronaldo.png)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Portugal captain, Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted that he was at the rock bottom when his team needed him the most.
Ronaldo spoke following his side’s Euro 2024 Round of 16 win over Slovenia on Monday.
His penalty was saved in extra time with the last-16 tie goalless.
However, just 15 minutes later, the Al-Nassr forward stepped up to the same spot to fire in the first of Portugal’s shootout kicks.
Goalkeeper, Diogo Costa then made Euros history with three penalty shootout saves to send Portugal to the last-8.
Speaking after the game, Ronaldo said: “Even the strongest people have their [bad] days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me the most.
“Sadness at the start is joy at the end. That is what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments. I feel sad and happy at the same time.
“But the important thing is to enjoy it. The team did an extraordinary job. We fought right to the end and I think we deserved it because we had more authority.”
Sports
Main Reason I Left Barcelona For Chelsea –Guiu
![](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-02-at-16-52-09-Main-Reason-I-Left-Barcelona-For-Chelsea-–Guiu.png)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Chelsea new signing Marc Guiu has explained the main reason why he decided to depart Barcelona for the London club.
The Blues triggered the striker’s £5million release clause and he has now signed a five-year contract with the option of a further year.
“My main reason for wanting to sign for Chelsea was the football and sporting project the club is offering me here,” Guiu was quoted on Fabrizio Romano’s X handle.
“I feel the trust everyone who works at the club is putting in me. The plan here is exciting.”
A Spain U-19 international, Guiu progressed through the ranks at Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy.
Guiu featured for Barcelona’s first-team in pre-season last year.
He enjoyed a memorable competitive senior debut against Athletic Bilbao as he scored the winner just 23 seconds after coming on.
He was the youngest and fastest debutant to score for Barcelona in LaLiga.
In total, Guiu played seven senior games for Barcelona and scored twice, with his other strike coming against Royal Antwerp in the Champions League.
In addition to Guiu, Chelsea have made two other major signings so far in this transfer window.
Defender Tosin Adarabioyo joined on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Fulham, while youngster Omari Kellyman signed from Aston Villa for £19million.
Sports
Paul Pogba: I can’t wait to return to the pitch
![Paul Pogba](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Pogba.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
French midfielder, Paul Pogba, has said he is seriously looking forward to making a return to the football pitch.
Pogba who is currently serving a suspension from football told Sky Sport he has missed the game.
“I am still a football player. Don’t look at that stuff saying I am retiring, I am finished… I want to fight for my career, I am optimistic,” said Pogba as quoted by Italian transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano.
“I am not finished. I am training hard and I am still 100% a footballer. I can’t wait to return to the pitch.
“If you don’t see a video where I say that I am stopping with football, it’s because I am still a football player. I am still here, still positive, I have an opportunity to fight what in my view is an injustice. We’ll see, things will go better.”
The Juventus midfielder also spoke about a recent video where he he claimed to be “dead” professionally.
According to the 31-year-old, that particular production was poorly edited, with his career far from being over.
“I don’t know if you saw the whole interview, but they only put up a part of it were I hadn’t even finished speaking yet,” the former Manchester United midfielder said.
“Pogba is not finished, Pogba is here and until you see me say I’m finished, don’t worry. I still feel like a player, I am training and in these moments I must only be positive.
“I am spending a lot of time with my family, seeing my kids grow up. I am not doing what I love, which is football, but I am really eager to get back. I am so eager, I feel like a kid who wants to be a professional.”
Pogba who won the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France in Russia failed a standard doping test in August 2023, with a B sample also coming back positive.
This led to Pogba receiving a lengthy suspension from all football-related activities but he is taking his appeal against that ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Sports
Sport: Real Madrid Adds Two New Signings To First Team Squad
![](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Screenshot-2024-07-01-at-19-29-04-Real-Madrid-Adds-Two-New-Signings-To-First-Team-Squad.png)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Los Blancos are coming off a treble-winning season in 2023/2024, which saw them crowned Spanish and European kings for record-extending 36th and 15th times respectively.
Though many may argue that Carlo Ancelotti’s talent-packed outfit is fine as it is and doesn’t need tinkering with, which is something that soon-to-be-retired club legend Toni Kroos implied himself, President Florentino Perez remains keen to make Galactico signings that will hopefully help extend Madrid’s domestic and continental dominance.
This summer, Perez has finally landed his white whale in acquiring perhaps the biggest Galactico of them all in Kylian Mbappe.
After two failed attempts to lure him in 2017 and 2022, the next generation superstar seems to have officially joined from Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer and can now be found on the club’s website in the men’s first team squad area to support this belief.
By his side in the attackers department is Brazilian Palmeiras-produced prodigy Endrick.
The 17-year-old’s capture was far more straightforward than Mbappe’s, in that Perez simply agreed to buy him for a fee that could reach north of $60 million in late 2022.
Owing to FIFA rules, Endrick cannot cross the Atlantic until he turns 18, which he will later this month after also contesting the ongoing edition of the Copa America in the United States for the Brazil national team.
An interesting takeaway is that neither new signing has a number assigned to them as things stand.
It was previously reported by OK Diario that Mbappe would take Luka Modric’s number 10 shirt at a time when the Croat looked certain to leave the club when his contract expired on June 30.
Modric is now expected to extend for at least another year, however, which might mean Mbappe initially dons the number 9 that remained vacant last term following Karim Benzema’s departure to Saudi Arabia.
Out-and-out striker Endrick could have been a prime candidate to take the number 9 had Mbappe been awarded the 10.
If Mbappe wears the 9 this upcoming season, though, Endrick can take another free number ahead of Modric probably departing 12 months from now.
When that development occurs, Endrick could then take the 9 as Mbappe is awarded Modric’s iconic jersey.
Sports
Transfer: 9 players leave Barcelona (Full list)
![Transfer: Nine players leave Barcelona [Full list]](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Transfer-Nine-players-leave-Barcelona-Full-list.jpeg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
At least nine Barcelona players have left the club following the expiration of their contracts on June 30.
The Catalan club disclosed this in a statement via their website on Sunday.
The nine players are Cuéllar, Iker Goujon, Josep Cerdà, Saïdou Bah,Pau Víctor, Moha, Pelayo, Marc Vidal and Naim.
“June 30 is the final day of the contract for the Barça Atlètic players Pau Víctor, Moha, Pelayo, Marc Vidal, Naim, Cuéllar, Iker Goujon, Josep Cerdà and Saïdou Bah, meaning their time with the FC Barcelona development side has come to an end,” Barcelona’s statement read in part.
“The Club appreciates their commitment and professionalism, and wishes them all the best in their future sporting and personal endeavours.”
Sports
Transfer: Chelsea agree £22m deal for attacking midfielder – Romano
![EPL: Romano reveals manager in advance talk to replace Pochettino at Chelsea](https://abilitydigitalz.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/EPL-Romano-reveals-manager-in-advance-talk-to-replace-Pochettino.jpg)
Today’s Hamster Kombat Daily Combo
Chelsea have agreed a permanent transfer deal with Ipswich Town for their attacking midfielder Omari Hutchinson.
This was disclosed by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, on Sunday.
According to Romano, Chelsea agreed a deal worth £22 million plus sell-on clause.
“Understand Chelsea and Ipswich Town have just signed all docs for Omari Hutchinson permanent deal.
“Agreement on package worth £22m fee plus sell-on clause around 25%, NO buy back option.
“Exclusive story, confirmed.”
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