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March 26, 2021 Ibrahimovic Gets Assist In Return To International Football

Ibrahimovic Gets Assist In Return To International Football

Zlatan Ibrahimovic marked his return to international football after a five-year absence with an assist as Sweden beat Georgia in their World Cup 2022 qualifying opener on Thursday.

The 39-year-old volleyed the ball across the area for Viktor Claesson to bundle home just before the break.

Georgia had few chances although Levan Shengelia was denied late on by a superb Kristoffer Nordfeldt save.

Ibrahimovic's return meant he became the oldest player to represent Sweden.

The AC Milan striker beat the previous record of 38 years and 59 days previously held by goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli.

Ibrahimovic, who has 62 international goals, was unable to get on the scoresheet himself before he was substituted in the 84th minute.

 

March 25, 2021 Own Goal Helps Portugal Edge Past Stobborn Azerbaijan

Own Goal Helps Portugal Edge Past Stobborn Azerbaijan

Reigning European champions Portugal made a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign as they edged a stubborn Azerbaijan.

Maksim Medvedev's unfortunate own goal proved the difference when a punched clearance by goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev hit the defender and deflected into his own net.

Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score on a frustrating night for him.

The Juventus forward went closest when his overhead kick went over the bar.

He also saw a free-kick deflected wide and a strong shot kept out by Mahammadaliyev as he looked to add to his international tally.

Ronaldo is seven behind all-time leading international scorer Ali Daei, who has 109 goals.

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix were also denied by the excellent Mahammadaliyev.

 

March 25, 2021 FIFA Hands Blatter And Valcke New Bans

FIFA Hands Blatter And Valcke New Bans

FIFA has banned ex-president Sepp Blatter from football until 2028 after giving him a new suspension of six years and eight months.

Former FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke has received a similar ban, with both also being fined £780,000.

The punishments were for "various violations" of FIFA's code of ethics.

The new bans start when the current suspensions of 85-year-old Blatter and Valcke, 60, end in October 2021 and October 2025 respectively.

A FIFA statement said: "The investigations into Messrs Blatter and Valcke covered various charges, in particular concerning bonus payments in relation to FIFA competitions that were paid to top FIFA management officials, various amendments and extensions of employment contracts, as well as reimbursement by FIFA of private legal costs in the case of Mr. Valcke."

In its findings, world football's investigatory chamber found Blatter accepted "an undue economic benefit" of 23m Swiss Francs (£18m) "split over the years 2010 to 2014, as a result of the conflict of interest created by the allocation and execution of extraordinary bonus payments between limited top-ranking FIFA officials".

Blatter was originally banned by FIFA for eight years, later reduced to six, over ethics breaches when he was found to have made a £1.3m "disloyal payment" to ex-UEFA boss Michel Platini.

His appeal to the Court of Artration for Sport (Cas was rejected) in December 2016.

Valcke, whose initial ban was reduced from 12 to 10 years, lost an appeal to CAS in July 2018 over his decade-long ban from football.

 

March 25, 2021 World Champions France Held By Ukraine

World Champions France Held By Ukraine

France was held to a surprise draw by Ukraine as they got their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign under way.

The world champions began confidently and deservedly went ahead when Antoine Griezmann superbly curled a left-foot effort into the corner from 18 yards.

However, Ukraine held firm in defence and levelled when Serhiy Sydorchuk's deflected shot wrong-footed France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

It had looked like being a comfortable evening for Didier Deschamps' France side when Griezmann's expertly registered his 34th international goal.

But Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud was twice unable to convert good opportunities to score and Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman appeared to have a valid penalty claim when he was brought down by Ukraine goalkeeper Georgi Bushchan.

Those moments provided the visitors with the impetus to hit back, with Sydorchuk's effort their first on target but only after a significant diversion off France defender Presnel Kimpembe.

While the hosts introduced Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial, the visitors merited their hard-fought point.

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