Blaise Matuidi – Football Scout

Manchester City’s Sterling: I would not walk off pitch after racist abuse

With the FA Cup final now set, the FC crew explain what Watford will have to get right in order to have a chance against Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will fight to the very end to try and win the quadruple, but stressed how it would take a miracle to accomplish.

Manchester City advance to the FA Cup final with their 1-0 win over plucky Brighton, keeping their quadruple hopes very much alive. LONDON — Raheem Sterling has said he believes it is better to score and win when faced with racism than it is for a team to walk off the pitch.
Manchester City and England forward Sterling has become a key figure in the fight against racism, speaking out following incidents at Chelsea and Montenegro and criticising some media coverage of black players.

Watch Serie A, MLS, Nations League, FA Cup and more streamed live on ESPN+ in U.S.

Some senior football figures, including City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp, have said they would be prepared to take players off…

France’s Blaise Matuidi puts international retirement on hold for Euro 2020 glory

ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti and Craig Burley have a heated debate on Joachim Low’s future following Germany’s defeat against France.

Germany won’t be appearing in the Nations League finals this summer as they fall 2-1 to France and face the prospect of relegation from League A.

France captain Hugo Lloris believes Paul Pogba gets judged unfairly because of the record transfer fee Manchester United paid for the midfielder in 2016.
Blaise Matuidi has said he considered quitting international football after France’s World Cup win, but wants to bow out on a Euro 2020 victory.
Matuidi, 31, was a central figure as Les Bleus’ became world champions in Russia last summer, and with coach Didier Deschamps having a wide range of other options in midfield, it seemed an opportune moment for the Juventus man to bow out.
Matuidi admitted the thought had crossed his mind, but that the prospect of bringing the curtain down on his international…

France determined not to lose World Cup final as they did Euro 2016

France’s Antoine Griezmann insists achieving his childhood dream of winning the World Cup is all he cares about and not whether he scores or wins personal accolades.

Attention now turns toward the World Cup final as Croatia must find the legs to face France on Sunday.

Paul Pogba admits that France expected to win the 2016 Euro final, but won’t make that mistake in the World Cup final.

MOSCOW — It was two years ago, almost to the day. France were in the final of “their” European Championship at home against Portugal. Four days before that, they beat Germany, the World Champions, 2-0 in Marseille. The Euros were theirs, but the reality couldn’t have been any different.

As in 1984, in the same competition, and as in 1998, in the World Cup, Les Bleus were going to win the competition they organised. However, the game on July 10 against Portugal didn’t go according to plan. France…

Centre-backs Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti star as France reach the final

Samuel Umtiti broke through in the 51st minute, and France held on to defeat Belgium 1-0, sending Les Bleus to the World Cup final.

France are now just one win away from winning their second World Cup title, twenty years after their first.

ESPN FC’s Alejandro Moreno and Shaka Hislop reveal their ratings for France and Belgium which see Romelu Lukaku receive the lowest mark.

ESPN’s Charlie Gibson is in St Petersburg to take in all the sights and sounds of France’s World Cup semifinal win over Belgium.
France are into their third World Cup final in the last six editions after a 1-0 win over Belgium in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.

Samuel Umtiti’s early second-half header proved decisive and a superb defensive display enabled Didier Deschamps’ men to keep star-studded Belgium at bay.

Positives
Les Bleus have done it — despite moments of doubt in Russia, notably the group stage, the French have navigated their way to the final in Moscow! Incredibly, it feels like they can still improve too.

There…

France to include Olivier Giroud, Blaise Matuidi in starting XI vs. Peru

France’s Raphael Varane believes the French media need to be more positive if they want France to do well at the World Cup.
France coach Didier Deschamps will include Olivier Giroud and Blaise Matuidi in his starting XI to face Peru on Thursday in Yekaterinburg.
Both players were part of first team at Tuesday afternoon’s closed-door training session and are therefore expected to start, sources have told ESPN.
Giroud had a positive impact coming off the bench in France’s 2-1 win over Australia in their Group C opener and physicality will also be useful up front against the Peruvians.
Matuidi’s work rate and intensity…

Mario Mandzukic, Blaise Matuidi 8/10, bring Juve to brink against Real Madrid

Juventus’ second leg comeback was undone deep into second half stoppage time as Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to send Real Madrid to the Champions League semis.

Juventus’ second leg comeback was undone deep into second-half stoppage time as Cristiano Ronaldo converted a penalty to send Real Madrid to the Champions League semis.

The FC panel examine the biggest moments between Real Madrid and Juventus, including the late penalty for Real Madrid, Gianluigi Buffon’s red card and more.

Relive all the emotions from around the Santiago Bernabeu as Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty lifted Real Madrid past Juventus and into the Champions League semis.
There are no words. In what would have been one of the greatest comebacks in European football, Juventus and their three goals weren’t enough to merit extra time as referee Michael Oliver called for a penalty in the last minute of stoppage time to incite fury.
Juventus scored their first goal in the first two minutes of the second leg against Real Madrid to make the tie interesting. Without Sergio Ramos, Los Blancos were vulnerable against crosses and lacked the organisation they usually have. Mario…

Kylian Mbappe a phenomenon who gets better and better – Blaise Matuidi

Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe led the way for France in their comfortable 3-1 win over Russia in St. Petersburg.

ESPN FC’s Steve Nicol and Ale Moreno delve into the differences between Paul Pogba’s play with France versus his recent form with Man United.
Blaise Matuidi hailed Kylian Mbappe as “a phenomenon” after the Paris Saint-Germain forward scored twice in the 3-1 friendly win in Russia on Tuesday.
Former PSG star Matuidi teed up the 19-year-old to round off the scoring in St. Petersburg.
And speaking to reporters after the match, he said: “I think that Kylian is getting better and better. He is a phenomenon — extraordinary.
“Aside from that, I am a bit of a grizzled old veteran so it is sometimes necessary to pull him by his ears to get him…

Summer signings Costa, Matuidi help Juve reach Coppa Italia semis

Shaka Hislop grades the latest potential transfers of the winter window.
Mario Mandzukic scored a controversial goal as Juventus defeated Torino 2-0 in the Coppa Italia quarterfinals to qualify for the next stage.  

Juventus were firmly in control for much of the first half dominating play while their opponents merely watched. It wasn’t long before Douglas Costa opened the scoring for the home side in fantastic fashion, unleashing a half-volley into the top corner. Torino tried to reply but M’Baye Niang only managed to hit the post.  

Juve continued their…

Paulo Dybala, Blaise Matuidi give Juventus rare away win at Verona

Amid reports about his future with Juventus, Paulo Dybala scored twice to lead the Bianconeri past Hellas Verona at the Bentegodi.

With a proper title race brewing in Serie A, the FC crew make the case for both Napoli and Juventus to win the Scudetto.
In their last match of 2017, Juventus defeated Hellas Verona 3-1 to stay within a point of first-place Napoli in Serie A.
While Blaise Matuidi scored an early goal, Juventus surrendered to sloppiness and inaccuracy quickly thereafter, inspiring Verona to create opportunities, even if Juventus did well to halt them.
Running too many risks in the second half, Juventus’ mistakes eventually allowed Verona to score an equaliser to apply pressure on the Bianconeri. Thankfully, Paulo Dybala sprung into…

With the protection of Matuidi, Juve can quiet Torino’s impressive attack

Gab Marcotti joins the FC panel to discuss the most recent slate of Serie A action, as Napoli and Juve stay perfect in the league.

Massimiliano Allegri is backing him, his teammates continue to dub him extraordinary, yet Gonzalo Higuain’s form convinces few and concerns many. Short on confidence and seemingly match fitness, the Argentine has been ditched by his national team and forced to play second fiddle to an extraordinary Paulo Dybala at Juventus.

However, with the Derby della Mole coming up, Higuain just might rediscover his form. A player who struggles to perform on the big stage, he is a different beast altogether…

SIGN INTO YOUR ACCOUNT CREATE NEW ACCOUNT

CREATE ACCOUNT ALREADY HAVE AN ACCOUNT?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?