Pogba rules out retirement despite four-year doping ban

By Sports Desk July 02, 2024

Paul Pogba insisted he will not be retiring from football despite his four-year doping ban.

The Frenchman tested positive for doping twice, including for DHEA in September last year, and was handed the sanction in February.

The ruling means he will not be able to play football until August 2027, when he will be 34, but he is awaiting a date for his hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to see if his suspension will be reduced.

"There's still a chance to fight this injustice, which is what I believe it is," he told Sky Italia while attending France's last-16 tie against Belgium at Euro 2024 on Monday.

"Let’s see. Things are hopefully going to get better. I am always positive, but let's see.

"I have never said I am finished, that Paul Pogba doesn't exist anymore. Because Pogba is still here. Today I'm here. I am Pogba. You have never seen me say that I'm finished.

"I still feel like a footballer, I'm still training, and these are now moments where I have to be positive. I'm with my family, spending a lot of time with them, watching my kids grow up."

The rules of Pogba's ban prevent him from playing football professionally or training with Juventus, though the midfielder has continued individual training with coaches.

Asked if the suspension will affect his position at the club, Pogba added: "The latest news is I'm still a Juventus player. So, you need to speak to them.

"I am still contracted to them. I haven't had the chance to speak to them, the sporting director or the coach. I don’t know much, there's a bit of silence. Maybe they're waiting for the appeal to see what happens, but the rest you have to ask them."

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    Richard Hood is left peeved by the fact that the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has advertised the senior women's Head coach position without any line of communication where his future with the programme is concerned.

    Hood, whose contract ended on June 30, said he received no word from the TTFA, who posted adverts seeking candidates to fill the Head coach positions for its women's team, as well as the Under-20 and Under-23 men's teams.

    For Hood, once a longstanding coach with Police FC in the Trinidad and Tobago Premier League, pointed out that the TTFA's move came as a surprise. This, as he recalled a recent discussion with TTFA president Kieron Edwards on the future of the women's game in mid-June, and so he thought things  "were heading in the right direction."

    "At this time, I'm not certain about anything," Hood told T&T Newsday.

    The tactician, who was appointed in 2023, believes he was making strides in the team's development, and as such, was looking forward to continuing with the rebuilding process with the programme.

    Despite losing 6-0 and 1-0 to Mexico in last year's Concacaf women's Gold Cup qualifying campaign, Hood's side rebounded from a 2-1 loss to Puerto Rico to hold the same opponents to a goalless stalemate.

    That, along with a positive display in the Caribbean Queen's invitational friendly tournament in Curacao, Hood felt was some semblance of improvement.

    "I was very comfortable with how we were going and I felt we were heading in the right direction. The team needed to rebuild and we were doing that," Hood shared.

     

    When asked if he would reapply for the job, Hood expressed uncertainty.

    "At the end of the day, I'll have to decide if it makes sense to go through this process again. I don't know if I will re-apply," he declared.

  • Mbappe wants to write own script ahead of blockbuster Ronaldo clash Mbappe wants to write own script ahead of blockbuster Ronaldo clash

    Kylian Mbappe is determined to write his own script when he has the "honour" of facing Cristiano Ronaldo in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

    France will take on Portugal for a place in the last four on Friday, having overcome Belgium 1-0 in the last 16 via a late Jan Vertonghen own goal.

    Portugal, meanwhile, beat Slovenia on penalties after Ronaldo missed a plethora of chances in a goalless draw, seeing an extra-time spot-kick saved by Jan Oblak.

    Ronaldo has had more shots (20) than any other player at Euro 2024, accumulating a total expected goals (xG) figure of 2.75 but failing to score.

    At each of his previous 10 major international tournaments (World Cup or European Championships), he got off the mark before the end of the group stage.

    The battle between Mbappe and Ronaldo is sure to turn heads on Friday, with the former also enduring a frustrating tournament, suffering a broken nose in Les Bleus' first group match and only scoring from the penalty spot against Poland on matchday three.

    Many have touted Mbappe as something of a successor to Ronaldo since he sealed his move to Real Madrid, but the France skipper is determined to be his own player.

    "It's an honour, everyone knows the admiration I have for him," Mbappe said of Ronaldo at Thursday's pre-match press conference.

    "We are always in touch. He will remain a legend of the game but we hope to beat him tomorrow.

    "Do I envy him? You have to know how to appreciate what he is and what he has been. He is a unique player, his CV speaks for itself. We have respect for him.

    "He's unique! There is only one like him. I just want to follow my passage. I hope that I will write a big page at Real but it will be different to his."

    France lost to Portugal on home soil in the Euro 2016 final, with Eder netting an extra-time winner as Ronaldo gave instructions from the sidelines after going off injured.

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    "I don't know if they are stronger or weaker, but we're in the quarter-finals. All the best teams are there. They are one of the best teams in Europe. It will be a great game."

    France are yet to score a goal from open play at this tournament, only netting via an Mbappe penalty and two own goals, leading to criticism from the media at home.

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    Asked about that criticism, Deschamps said: "That is a popular craze now. There are people who may not be happy but I have seen other people happy. 

    "It would be more exciting to win 5-4, for sure. The critics are there to do their job, they have always been part of my daily life. It doesn't stop me from living."

  • The Numbers Game: Expect goals as Turkiye aim to upset the odds against the Dutch The Numbers Game: Expect goals as Turkiye aim to upset the odds against the Dutch

    The fourth quarter-final at Euro 2024 sees the Netherlands take on Turkiye in what promises to be a thriller in Berlin.

    Ronald Koeman's Oranje team clicked into gear in the last 16 as they dispatched Romania 3-0.

    Turkiye, meanwhile, beat Austria 2-1 in a thriller, with goalkeeper Mert Gunok making the save of the tournament so far to ensure Vincenzo Montella's team avoided extra time.

    If recent meetings between these nations are anything to go by, then anticipate plenty of excitement in Saturday's clash.

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    Here, we use Opta data to preview the clash.

    What's expected?

    Turkiye dumped out one of the group stage's most impressive teams when they sent Austria packing on Tuesday, but it is the Netherlands who are made favourites by Opta's supercomputer.

    The Dutch are given a 58.1% chance of success at the Olympiastadion, while Turkiye's chances are rated at a rather slimmer 19.7%. The likelihood of a draw is 22.5%.

    This will be the 15th international meeting between Netherlands and Turkiye.

    The Oranje have won six of the previous 14, with Turkiye winning four and the others finishing level. However, this tie is the first fixture between these teams to come at a major tournament.

    The last two matches between the Netherlands and Turkiye have seen a combined 13 goals (6.5 per game), with Turkiye winning 4-2 in March 2021 and the Netherlands winning 6-1 in September 2021, both in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.

    And the data from this tournament also suggests we should expect goals. These sides rank in the top eight teams in the tournament for expected goals (xG), with the Netherlands (6.56) coming in at sixth, and Turkiye (6.11) in eighth.

    The Netherlands have had the fifth-most shots (63), while Turkiye have had the sixth-most (57).

    Both these teams like to attack, but in defence, the Dutch clearly have the edge, and in fairness, that should be expected with the likes of Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Ake and Virgil van Dijk.

    Koeman's team have recorded 3.84 expected goals against (xGA) across their four matches, in contrast to Turkiye's figure of 8.0. Indeed, of the teams remaining in the competition, Turkiye have conceded the most shots (59).

     

    History unkind for the Dutch

    The Oranje have progressed from five of their last seven major tournament quarter-finals, although one of the two exceptions was their most recent such tie, when they lost in a penalty shoot-out to Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

    This is the Netherlands' first European Championship quarter-final since 2008, when they lost 3-1 to Russia.

    And while they are favourites, history has not been wholly kind to them.

    The Netherlands have only progressed from three of their last nine knockout ties at the European Championships.

    They are looking to win two knockout ties in a single edition of the finals for only the second time, after 1988, when they won the competition.

    Koeman will want his team to replicate the level of control they showed against Romania, and midfielder Tijjani Reijnders was crucial to that.

    Coming into the quarter-finals, only Joshua Kimmich (14) and Kevin De Bruyne (11) have made more passes that have broken the opposition's defensive line at Euro 2024 than Reijnders (10), who made five against Romania.

    Or will it be Turkish delight?

    Turkiye are looking to win three consecutive matches at the European Championships for the first time, and only the second time at major tournaments overall, after doing so at the 2002 World Cup to reach the semi-finals.

    This is the fourth major tournament quarter-final they have reached, after Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2008.

    They reached the semi-final of the latter two of those, after losing 2-0 to Portugal in 2000.

    However, if they are to upset the odds on Saturday, then they will need to keep their heads.

    Turkiye have received 18 yellow cards at Euro 2024. In European Championship history, only Czechia in 1996 have been given more cards at a single edition (20 – 19 yellows, one red).

    Montella's team have picked up at least two cards in each of their last 24 matches at major tournaments, so that indiscipline is something the Dutch could use to their advantage.

    Set-pieces could be crucial for Turkiye, who scored both of their goals from corners in the win over Austria.

    That being said, they also conceded from a corner, making that the first match on record (since 1980) at the European Championships to see as many as three goals come via such set-piece situations.

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Netherlands - Cody Gakpo

    Gakpo's brilliant strike got the ball rolling for the Oranje against Romania, taking him onto three goals for the tournament.

    Across the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, the only European player with more goals than Gakpo (six) is Kylian Mbappe (nine).

    All six of Gakpo's strikes have come in different matches; the only Dutch players to score in more different games at major tournaments are Dennis Bergkamp (10), Robin van Persie (eight), and Wesley Sneijder (seven).

    Turkiye - Arda Guler

    Real Madrid youngster Guler has proven his superstar potential in Germany, assisting Merih Demiral's winner.

    With that assist, Guler is one of only three teenagers to both score and set up a goal at a single Euros, after Wayne Rooney (four goals, one assist) and Cristiano Ronaldo (two goals, two assists) at Euro 2004.

    Turkiye have given six starts to teenagers at Euro 2024 – three for Kenan Yildiz and three for Guler – a joint record in a single edition of the finals, along with Spain at Euro 2020 (six, all for Pedri).

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