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Video games have become enmeshed with real life and that is particularly true when it comes to football, with clubs and players devoting more time to virtual pursuits.

EA Sports' FIFA series is one of the biggest bestselling game franchises in the world, with millions of avid gamers - including professionals - immersing themselves into the world of Ultimate Team on an annual basis. Getting on the cover of FIFA is now a matter of great prestige for footballers, not to mention financially rewarding thanks to the associated marketing and brand boon.

So, who will be on the cover of FIFA 21 when it comes out? Goal takes a look at all of the candidates.

Who will be FIFA 21 cover star?

Following the release of EA Sports' first look at FIFA 21, two players have emerged as clear front-runners to be the game's new cover star.

It seems likely that FIFA 21 will have more than one cover star, whether that is spread across its multiple editions or a number of players sharing top billing together.

The first glimpse at the game most prominently featured Kylian Mbappe. Lightning-quick and skilful, the Paris Saint-Germain star is generally one of the most sought-after players on FIFA and he represents one of the new generation filling the boots of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi, of course, is a perennial contender for the FIFA front cover, but his situation is complicated somewhat by the fact that Barcelona have an exclusive partnership with Konami's eFootball Pro Evolution Soccer game. Similarly, Ronaldo is not likely to be on the FIFA 21 cover due to Juventus' partnership with Konami.

As well as Mbappe, the first-look video featured a number of images of Liverpool players and fans, with Virgil van Dijk standing out.

The Dutchman featured on the cover of FIFA 20 and ran Messi close in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting, so it would not be a surprise to see him feature alongside Mbappe. Fans may hope the presence of a forward and defender together signals a balanced gameplay experience.

Regardless, there remains no shortage of alternatives to the two current front-runners.

Rising stars such as Borussia Dortmund's Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho have been dazzling fans over the past few seasons, with each of them cultivating their own unique 'brand' on the pitch, replete with memorable celebrations.

Mbappe's PSG team-mate Neymar is another strong contender and has history with EA Sports, having featured on the revamped cover of FIFA 19, though the Brazilian would undoubtedly prefer to have sole billing.

Every year, FIFA fans across the world are invited to vote for the player they would most like to see on the cover of the game, which, while it may not ultimately be heeded, gives EA Sports an indication of who might be the popular choice.

Some of the candidates on the FIFPlay website vote, for example, include Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah and the veteran Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Tottenham forward Heung-min Son is a popular suggestion for many who play the game, alongside the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Pulisic.

As mentioned, licensing agreements that exist with Konami mean that Barcelona and Juventus players are highly unlikely to feature on the front cover of FIFA 21. So, in addition to Messi and Ronaldo, it would appear to rule out popular players such as Antoine Griezmann, Paulo Dybala, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho.

Who was the last FIFA cover star?

Real Madrid playmaker Eden Hazard was the cover star of FIFA 20 on the standard edition of the game. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk was the face of the Champions edition.

Zinedine Zidane was the star of FIFA 20 Ultimate edition as EA Sports trumpeted the former Real Madrid player's long-awaited arrival as an Icon in the game's Ultimate Team mode.

FIFA 19 had a more complicated situation regarding the cover star, with Ronaldo being replaced by the trio of Neymar, Kevin De Bruyne and Paulo Dybala mid-way through the season.

Ronaldo had been appearing as the sole face on the cover of the game for the second time after also being the front of FIFA 18. A few years before the Portugal star took up occupancy on the cover, his eternal rival Messi had been the undisputed face of FIFA, appearing on the covers of FIFA 13, FIFA 14, FIFA 15 and FIFA 16.

The Argentina international was succeeded by Germany and Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus on FIFA 17, and Wayne Rooney was the main man for FIFA before Messi, alongside Kaka.

Check out the full history of FIFA cover stars here

JKT Tanzania have become the first team in the Mainland Premier League to suffer the government's wrath after their Jamhuri Stadium was banned from hosting matches with fans.

This is after the club failed to observe health measures put in place by the Ministry of Health to help curb the spread of the coronavirus when they played against Young Africans (Yanga SC) in a league match which ended 1-1 on Wednesday.

Before the league returned after President John Pombe Magufuli gave the green light, the Tanzanian government warned venues that do not adhere to set health guidelines during the matches will risk being banned from hosting in future.

The government had already put in measures to be followed by teams and stadium managers to make sure they help curb the spread of Covid-19.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Culture, Arts, and Sports, Hassan Abbasi confirmed the action taken by the government, saying fans will no longer be allowed at the venue until further notice.

“I was there at the stadium and I inspected the venue at 13:00 whereby everything was fine but things went out of hand from 14:00 onwards as the concerned authorities failed to control the incoming fans,” Abbasi is quoted by Daily News.

“We have already taken measures to ban fans from watching the matches live at the stadium. We asked the venue official why they failed to control the crowd and it was unfortunate that they had no answers.

“If you see the stadium is full, go back to your homes and watch the game on Television. This should be a lesson to other venues which will fail to adhere to the set-up health safety guideline protocols, fans will be banned from entering the venue to watch matches.”

Apart from Jamhuri Stadium, other venues to have hosted matches for the league which resumed on June 13, are CCM Kambarage Stadium in Shinyanga, Mkwakwani Stadium in Tanga, Azam Complex and the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Some of the tough measures include committing stadium management, sports associations, and federations to install facilities that will allow putting in place running water and soap as well as sanitizers while insuring everyone involved uses them before entering venues.

Opening entry gates early will also be mandatory, so as to avoid overcrowding and allow fans to maintain a one-metre distance while entering the venue, seating arrangement should also adhere to one-metre distances.

The fans, team officials, journalists, and all other stakeholders involved would also be required to wear face masks throughout when at the venue.

The government has also warned against wild celebrations, saying any goal scored should not invite hugging, while the exchange of jerseys at the end of the match and handshakes, before and after the match, will also not be tolerated.

In addition, substitutes sitting on the bench will be required to wear masks and must sit a metre apart, while players coming off the pitch will be required to wear masks immediately after leaving the field.

Young Africans (Yanga SC) coach Luc Eymael is delighted they are returning to Dar es Salaam to take on Azam FC in a Mainland Premier League match on Sunday.

The Jangwani Street-based giants have already played two away matches since the top-flight resumed – managing a 1-0 win against Mwadui FC in Shinyanga and securing a 1-1 draw against JKT Tanzania in Dodoma.

On both occasions, the Belgian coach blamed the condition of the pitch for the results, insisting his players are denied the chance to play their passing game because of the bouncing grounds.

Against JKT, Eymael revealed to Goal his side struggled to play their usual game because the playing surface was bouncing like popcorn.

“It was a very tough game, very difficult pitch, bouncing everywhere, the ball was bouncing like popcorn and they have a very small changing room, where the opponent could enter to go the washroom, there was only one washroom and very small,” Eymael told Goal on Thursday.

“I was talking to my boys at the half-time break and even the referee managed to enter and go to the washroom, I have never seen that in my life, very small changing room and very bad pitch the ball bouncing everywhere but one point is better than nothing.”

Eymael has now told Goal he is happy they will play Azam at the National Stadium, which he described as “a big stadium with a good playing surface.”

“We must be ready for Azam game on Sunday and we finally play in the big stadium and a good pitch so our fans should expect a free-flowing game, a better game than from the first two matches,” Eymael told Goal on Friday.

“My players are always fond to playing a passing game and that is my philosophy but when you get onto a bouncing pitch then it becomes difficult for them to play their game.

"I like the National Stadium because the playing surface is well kept and we can now play freely without any problems.”

On how prepared they are to face Azam, Eymael said: “We are getting ready and I know it is going to be a difficult battle but my only hope is that we play our game, if we do so, then Azam will be in for trouble.”

Yanga will be keen to get a win and overtake Azam for the second spot on the 20-team league table.

The 41st edition of the AFC U-19 Championship will proceed as planned despite initial health and safety concerns caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic. On Thursday, June 18, the draw for the finals was held, and all 16 teams have been placed in their four respective groups.

Contents

AFC U-19 Championship 2020 format

The tournament will feature 16 teams  - 11 qualifying stage group winners, four best second-placed teams, as well as tournament hosts Uzbekistan.

Each finals group will feature four teams, with the top two finishers moving on to the quarter-final stage. The quarter-final winners will face off in the semi-finals, and the two semi-final winners will meet in the final match to determine the champions.

AFC U-19 Championship trophy. Photo from AFC

AFC U-19 Championship 2020 group stage

The group stage was confirmed with the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship draw on June 18, 2020.

Group A

Group A fixtures

Group B

Group B fixtures

Group C

Group C fixtures

Group D

Group D fixtures

When & where will AFC U-19 Championship 2020 take place?

The 41st edition of the AFC U-19 Championship will kick off in Uzbekistan on October 14, 2020 and will conclude on October 31, 2020.

It will be held at four venues that are located in three Uzbek cities.

AFC U-19 Championship 2020 venues

Past 10 AFC U-19 Championship winners

Saudi Arabia winning the 2018 edition. Photo from AFC

2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup

The four AFC U-19 Championship 2020 semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2021 U-20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Indonesia. As Indonesia will play in the World Cup next year  as its host regardless of their result in the AFC finals, if they reach the semis, a play-off stage will be played to find another World Cup participant. The four quarter-final stage losers will meet in the play-off semis, the two winners then squaring off in the play-off final, with the winner nabbing the right to appear in next year's U-20 World Cup, as the fifth Asian side.

Justin Kluivert has expressed his hope that Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will extend their stay at Roma beyond the end of the season.

Manchester United defender Smalling completed a season-long loan move to Stadio Olimpico on August 30, after falling down the squad pecking order under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford.

Arsenal allowed Mkhitaryan to commit to the same terms with the Italian giants three days later, and both men have since rediscovered their best form in Serie A.

Smalling has been a rock in the heart of Roma's defence, taking in 28 appearances in all competitions in total to help the team challenge for a top-four finish and a spot in the latter stages of the Europa League.

Mkhitaryan, meanwhile, has overcome a number of niggling injuries to contribute six goals and four assists to the Giallorossi's cause in 20 outings, slotting nicely into Paulo Fonseca's line up in midfield.

The Roma boss has publicly admitted that he would like to keep hold of the Premier League loanees, but as it stands, they will return to their parent clubs later this summer.

Kluivert is also eager to see the pair tied down to new contracts, having directly benefitted from playing alongside two "top players" that have been able to pass on valuable experience.

The Roma winger told Voetbalzone and Goal: "They fit very well into the team. Look at how Chris immediately made the difference. That is unbelievable. That is really a plus for the team.

"He is a defensive force, a warrior. Mkhitaryan has also proven his worth. He scores, gives assists, is important to the team. He passes on his experience to the team and certainly to me. I look up to him as a player who has been through a lot.

"He has had a good career and played for many clubs. I can certainly learn from that. We talk a lot anyway because he plays in the same position. He has a lot of experience, so of course he occasionally gives tips or emphasizes what I do well. I listen to that because he has already experienced it.

"I certainly hope they want to stay and they get the chance to stay. They are an added value to the team. They are top players."

Kluivert went on to discuss the topic of racism in football, following Roma's pledge to include a 'Black Lives Matter' patch on all of the players' shirts for their remaining 12 Serie A fixtures.

He said. "Racism is the worst thing going on in the world. It doesn't belong in this age. It should be over, but unfortunately, it is not over yet.

"When you see how many people are protesting, it is just nice to see. We all need to make the world a better place. Together. No black or white, but together as one. That's why I like the fact that so many people pay attention to it. Racism no longer belongs here."

One of the most coveted youth tournaments in Asia, the AFC U16 Championship, is set to unfold in Bahrain later this year.

The 2020 version will be the 19th edition of the biennial tournament which will serve as the qualification path for the 2021 U17 World Cup. India have qualified for the tournament after topping their qualification group which consisted of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Bahrain.

This edition will be the last to be played as an U16 tournament, as the AFC have proposed switching it from U16 to U17 format from 2023.

Though the Coronavirus pandemic has brought football to a standstill, it is hoped that the tournament will go ahead as per the new schedule and Goal brings you everything you need to know.

Contents

AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 format

The 2020 AFC U16 Championship will feature 16 teams - 12 of them qualified after winning their qualification groups while four best runners-up were also handed a spot.

The format for the final tournament will feature four groups of four teams each.

The winner and runner-up in each group will progress to the quarter-finals.

AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 group stage; Who are India's opponents

The group stages were confirmed with the 2020 AFC U16 Championship draw on June 18, 2020, at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

The tournament is proposed to take place from November 25, 2020 to December 12, 2020.

Host nation Bahrain will kick off the tournament against Qatar.

Group A

Group A fixtures

Group B

Group B fixtures

Group C

Group C fixtures

Group D

Group D fixtures

When and where will the 2020 AFC U16 Championship take place?

The tournament will be held in Bahrain who are hosting it for the first time ever.

It is worth noting that AFC is currently seeking approval from the AFC Competitions Committee on the new competition dates as stated above.

AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 host cities

The host cities for the tournament is yet to be confirmed by the AFC and the host nation.

AFC U-16 Championship previous winners

NOTE: Until 2006 it was held as an U17 tournament. The AFC have proposed switching back to an U17 tournament starting from 2023

FIFA U-17 World Cup Peru 2021

The 2020 AFC U16 Championship will serve as Asia's qualification tournament for the 2021 FIFA U17 World Cup which will be held in Peru.

Asia has four slots for the tournament and all the semifinalists from the 2020 AFC U16 Championship will qualify for the global youth tournament next year.

India were just one win away from reaching the 2019 U17 World Cup when they lost to South Korea in the quarter-finals in 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo's sister Elma Aveiro has taken aim at Maurizio Sarri after Juventus lost the Coppa Italia final against Napoli on penalties. 

Gennaro Gattuso's side triumphed after a goalless 90 minutes in which Sarri's men struggled to carve out any clear chances, while Napoli were unlucky not to score a winner late in the game. 

The defeat was the first time Ronaldo has ever lost consecutive finals in his career with the Portugal forward criticised for his performance by Luca Toni.

Elma has however leaped to her brother's defence on social media as she seemingly slammed Sarri's tactics and pleaded for Ronaldo's Juventus teammates to step up. 

"What more can you do? My love, you can't do miracles on your own," she wrote on Instagram. 

"I can't understand how you can play like that. Anyway, keep your head up, you can't do anymore."

Sarri is no stranger to criticism for his style of play since arriving in Turin and admitted last year that he felt like he's been made out to be a terrorist at times. 

"I was defined as a Taliban because I always wanted to play my football, now it’s not good enough because I adapt to the different characteristics of my players," Sarri said.

"If I had to listen to or read the things that are said about Juventus, I would go crazy. I just get on with my work.

"I would like to see the most consistent team and certain attitudes, but we must take into consideration the different characteristics of our players."

Despite losing the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday, Juventus will restart their Serie A campaign on Monday with another league title in their sights. 

Sarri's side are one point clear of Lazio after 26 games and return to league action against Bologna. 

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic halting football in Italy, Juventus had claimed a crucial 2-0 win over Inter, who are now third in Serie A and nine points shy of the league leaders. 

After failing to score against Napoli midweek, Sarri conceded his side are yet to show their best following the enforced break. 

"Right now, however, we lack brilliance to make the amount of game produced dangerous and without that brilliance it becomes more difficult to beat the man, which our players are usually used to doing easily, and finding other solutions," he told Rai. 

"Two 0-0s are an unprecedented fact and I think it is characteristic of this period."

India were drawn into a tough group which consists of South Korea, Australia, and Uzbekistan during the official draw of the AFC U-16 Championship Bahrain 2020 which was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday afternoon. 

Although the Blue Colts had a scintillating run in the qualifiers where they remained unbeaten, they will need to break a sweat to get the better of heavyweights South Korea and Australia.

But Henry Menezes, the deputy chairman of the Technical Committee of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), has put his weight behind the boys and thinks that Bibiano Fernandes' boys have the quality to shine at the continental stage.

"It is a good combination (the draw). We have the best breed of players in the U16 team, led by a very able coach in Bibiano Fernandes. We should now give them the confidence to perform well at the highest stage. They have done well in the exposure tours. There is a good outside chance that we can progress to the knockouts. 

"We need a bit of luck in the quarters, but on our given day we can challenge the best team. The competition is in November and I think if we get two good months of practice we will be ready for the tournament," the former goalkeeper told Goal. 

In the qualifiers held in September 2019, India had drawn against Uzbekistan 1-1. Fernandes' men took the lead after the hour-mark but shipped in a late goal to share the spoils. 

South Korea was in a brilliant run of form in the qualification stages as they not only won all the matches but also did not concede a single goal in three matches. Australia had also emerged victorious in all the matches but conceded just two goals. 

The marquee tournament will start on November 25 in Bahrain. 

As part of a structural revamp of the club, Kerala Blasters decided to appoint a sporting director earlier this year. After three months in the job, Lithuanian Karolis Skinkys has had to resort to online communication and deal with practical limitations with respect to his work due to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

However, the former FK Suduva director is not new to challenges. He was instrumental in the decision-making processes at his earlier club which ultimately helped them earn their place in European competitions. Skinkys, from thousands of kilometres away, is very much involved in the project that's taking shape in Kochi. 

"My (initial) impressions are positive and I’m very excited about this challenge. I really like how much attention is being paid to football in India, especially in Kerala and the growth potential here is huge. The club has a great vision to ensure the development of football, both for the first team players as well as the youth sector. Right from the beginning of my communication with Kerala Blasters, I felt trust and commitment in the people here. Hence, I’m eagerly looking forward to adding my contribution to achieving the goals of the club," he told Goal . 

The ongoing pandemic has hit clubs and companies across the globe and the situation at Kerala Blasters isn't too different. 

Skinkys explained, "Without a doubt, all the processes were affected by the pandemic. So far, we are unaware of even the starting dates of the league. This has surely influenced recruitment and the season's preparation.

"As planned earlier, not being able to be in Kerala at the moment is also a big challenge. However, I have full trust in my team to adapt and overcome these challenges. This is life and we are finding alternatives like online communication to make headway with preparations."

Skinkys knows what it is like to help a club grow in stature. After all, Suduva gained promotion to the top division and had their stints in both the Champions League and the Europa League during his tenure. But how much will he have to adapt so that his methods work in Indian football?

He answered, "Football is a simple game that is very difficult to play (in a ) simple (way). The situation on the management side is also similar. My job is simple but quite difficult to execute.

"Firstly, it is important for me to create the right tools and a supportive ecosystem to achieve the desired results. This includes recruitment of professional coaches, experienced and capable support staff, talented and quality players, build a competitive environment within the squad and also ensure the growth of the academy players who have an opportunity to be promoted to the first team. 

"Successful implementation and control of these processes will help achieve results. Of course, each environment has its own challenges that require hard work of the entire organization but most importantly, it requires a trust in the processes by all stakeholders of the club."

Blasters have turned their focus to bringing in young footballers with a high ceiling for their potential. They already have the likes of Sahal Abdul Samad, Rahul KP, Jeakson Singh in their squad. The arrival of Givson Singh and possibly more young players provide plenty of hope for the future. 

"Identifying and developing young talents, who will go on to bring numerous laurels to the country and not just to the club has always been the focus of the club. In six ISL seasons, Kerala Blasters have been successful in (providing) three ISL emerging talents (ISL Emerging Player of the Year) in Sandesh Jhingan, Lalruatthara and Sahal. The club has also produced multiple national team players. This is proof of the commitment the club has towards the growth and development of Indian football," he said. 

He further added, "We are here to fulfil the vision and objectives of the club and will definitely focus on developing youth. In the near future, some of our players will have the opportunity to train and play abroad.

"That being said, it is equally important for the players to understand the importance of hard work in their career and that hard work achieves more than just pure talent in the long run. As a club, we will always be at the forefront to create more opportunities for them and help them dream big."

After three disappointing finishes in the last three seasons, Kerala Blasters will be looking to get into the playoffs under the new leadership when the seventh season of ISL kicks off later this year. 

FC Goa's star midfielder Edu Bedia has admitted that he was left surprised by the turn of events towards the end of the last Indian Super League (ISL) season which culminated in the sacking of head coach Sergio Lobera. The Spaniard was let go with FC Goa leading the table with three games to play.

Clifford Miranda was put in charge and the team managed to finish top of the table and qualify for the AFC Champions League group stages. However, they could not negotiate their way past Chennaiyin FC in the play-offs.

"The club decided to sign Lobera according to their philosophy and now (it is) Ferrando. At that time, I have to say, I was surprised that the coach was sacked but it was a crucial time. So we had no time to think about it. We had to move forward and that brought the team closer than ever. We finally achieved the qualification for the AFC Champions League," he told Goal.

The Spanish midfielder, however, has thrown his weight behind Lobera's successor Juan Ferrando who was recently appointed at the helm of affairs.

"I think he (Ferrando) shares the same football philosophy that the club has. One of the strong points of FC Goa has been to set a philosophy and stick to it. I'm very happy with the signing of Ferrando. He is ready to start working. The first thing I spoke with him about is how excited I am about the next season and I can't wait to start the game.

"I can't wait to start at my hundred per cent. We have been discussing a lot about the ISL and the different aspects of Indian football," he revealed.

Bedia has called for a longer than usual pre-season ahead of the 2020-21 ISL campaign.

The sixth season of ISL ended on March 14, 2019, and with the next edition expected to have a delayed start due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Bedia believes that this could have an effect on the quality of football matches. 

"Once the (ISL) competition starts again, there will be two key factors - one will be the fitness level and the second one is injuries. We will have to have a longer than usual pre-season. All the football players and coaches will want to avoid injuries and for that, you have to do a long pre-season and start from scratch. That fitness level, you will get from practice sessions and matches but the first thing will be to avoid injuries that will come after the long gap," he said.

Speaking of his own fitness level amidst the lockdown, he explained, "These three months of lockdown has been a very tough situation. I have only been able to do some cycling and some strength workouts with resistance bands. It's been a very difficult task to stay in shape but I have achieved that goal. More than the physical aspect, it's been difficult psychologically because you cannot go anywhere."

Several key players like Ahmed Jahouh, Mourtada Fall, Mandar Rao Dessai and Jackichand Singh have left and Bedia feels that the transitional phase is something every club has to face.

"During the last (three) years we have been able to keep the core of the whole team which I think is very difficult because nowadays in football you see how squads keep changing from season to season. This season is our turn to change the core of the team," he stated.

The former Real Zaragoza player has extended his contract till the end of 2021-22 season and it was a rather easy decision for the midfielder. 

"I think my role will be the same from what it has been the last three years. I will try to help all the new players coming in. This will be my fourth year in Goa and I think I have acclimatised to life in Goa on and off the pitch. I think the club is doing a great job to get new players and a lot of new players are also being promoted from the dev (developmental) team. So I'm really happy about that.

"The club and I decided to extend my contract because I am very happy with the club and I believe that life in Goa is very good for me. I also believe that Goa deserves to win the (ISL) trophy. In the past (two) years, we have won the Super Cup and last year we qualified for the AFC Champions League, but I think winning the ISL next season will be the icing on the cake."

The draw for the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship on Thursday saw Malaysia placed in Group D, alongside Qatar, Yemen and Tajikistan.

The finals, which will be held in Uzbekistan from October 14 to 31, will also provide the eventual semi-finalists with a spot in the 2021 U-20 World Cup.

Interestingly, although all three of Malaysia's group opponents look to be formidable opponents, the players that make up the current Malaysia U-19 team have beaten Tajikistan before. When they were playing for Malaysia U-16, they thumped Tajikistan 6-2 in the opening match of the 2018 AFC U-16 Championship finals, which was hosted by Malaysia. However, the hosts would end up crashing out of the competition early, while Tajikistan would bounce back to end the campaign as finalists and World Cup participants.

In an interview published by the Malaysian FA (FAM), team manager Datuk Kamarul Ariffin Shahar revealed the competition target, as well as that the Young Tigers will undergo centralised training overseas before heading to Uzbekistan.

"We will see the government's post-Covid-19 policy on overseas travels, although we haven't finalised our centralised camp destination yet. But for now we will be training domestically first.

"This is not an easy group although I believe our team will be giving a fight in order to reach the junior World Cup, which has been our target from the beginning," he explained.

Kamarul also revealed that US-based Wan Kuzri Wan Kamal is likely to be called up for the competition. The teenager who was born there to Malaysian parents is currently training with United Soccer League side Saint Louis FC's youth team.

"Kuzri has been contacted personally by head coach Brad Maloney, and we are in the final stages of securing his particpation. It's confirmed and he is eager to represent Malaysia

"We are trying to discuss how to bring him home because the government is yet to allow travellers to enter the country yet," he noted.

EA Sports have confirmed FIFA 21 will be releasing worldwide on October 9 after giving fans a first peek at the new game. 

The October 9 release date relates only to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC as things stand with no word yet on when the next generation versions will be available as uncertainty surrounds when the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X will officially hit the market.

For those looking to access FIFA 21 early on the current generation or PC, pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition or Champions Edition will grant gamers early access from October 6. Alternatively, EA Access (PS4, Xbox One) and Origin Access (PC) will give subscribers their first taste of the game on October 1. 

Previous FIFA games have generally released in late September with the coronavirus pandemic likely causing a slight delay to this year's edition. 

With uncertainty surrounding when FIFA 21 will be available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, EA have confirmed 'Dual Entitlement' which enables gamers to upgrade their copy of FIFA 21 on PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5, or from Xbox One to Xbox Series X, at no extra cost. The upgrade can be made anytime before the release of FIFA 22 with Ultimate Team progress guaranteed to carry across. 

No release date for FIFA 21 has been confirmed as yet for the Nintendo Switch or Stadia but EA have promised more details on those editions later this year. 

At EA Play Live on Thursday, fans got their first glimpse of what the new FIFA will look like on the next generation of consoles. 

In the short clip, footage of both FIFA 21 and Madden 21 are shown, with Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe particularly prominent, suggesting he could be FIFA's next cover star. 

Last year's cover star, Eden Hazard, also features briefly with Premier League leaders Liverpool also included in a number of shots. 

EA Sports have promised to reveal more details about FIFA 21 gameplay, career mode, Volta, Pro Clubs and Ultimate Team in August. 

FIFA 20 was met with mixed reactions by fans last year with career mode criticised heavily upon release and a significant update subsequently made to fix a number of issues. 

Karim Benzema never imagined he would be among Real Madrid's top five goalscorers after surpassing Ferenc Puskas on Thursday.

The striker scored a brace as Madrid moved back within two points of rivals and La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 3-0 win over Valencia.

Benzema moved past Puskas (242 goals) and into fifth on Madrid's all-time list with 243, behind only Cristiano Ronaldo (451), Raul (323), Alfredo Di Stefano (308) and Santillana (290).

The Frenchman, who arrived at Madrid from Lyon in 2009, was happy with his achievement.

"I didn't imagine anything like this, I'm very happy. I've been working for a long time now and I always put it in to keep improving," Benzema said, via the club's website.

"I hope I can keep going. I'm very happy to be playing for this club."

Benzema's second goal was spectacular as he controlled a Marco Asensio pass brilliantly before unleashing a volley past Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.

The 32-year-old said everything moved so quickly as he scored to make it 3-0, before Lee Kang-in was later sent off for Valencia.

"It wasn't an easy game due to the opposition who made it hard, but we won and didn't concede," Benzema said.

"It's very important because Valencia are a very good team. For the second goal everything happened so fast.

"It was a cross from Marco, I control it, I shot with the left foot and it went in. It looks easy, but you have to do it so fast."

Benzema has scored 21 goals in 38 games this season, with Madrid back in action against Real Sociedad on Sunday. Benzema is also now only the fourth player in Madrid's history to have hit 20-plus goals in eight or more seasons. 

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane singled out both Benzema and Eden Hazard for praise following the important victory over Valencia which keeps them within touching distance of Barcelona. 

"It was a great goal, for the move and the finish – I'm delighted for Karim's goals," Zidane said. 

"This was a really good game from Hazard. Physically, he was good and played 80 minutes. Sometimes you might think he's starting to look tired, but then he picks up the ball and sprints away."

Sochaux have announced the signing of Yann Kitala from Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyon.

The DR Congo forward was offered a three-year deal having passed his medical at the French second division team.

According to Lyon, they received €300k for the deal, with a potential €500k in further bonuses while they have a considerable 35% profit sharing on the capital gain of a possible future transfer.

Kitala would be hoping to start a new life at Montbeliard’s Stade Auguste Bonal upon completing his loan spell at Lorient.

A Clairefontaine academy graduate who played alongside Kylian Mbappe, the Franco-Congolese joined Lyon in July 2013.

He was Lyon’s highest goal scorer in the French fourth tier for the reserve team in the 2018-19 season scoring 20 goals in 63 matches across all competitions before moving to Lorient on loan without an option to buy.

He made his debut with Lorient in a 2–0 Ligue 2 win over Clermont Foot on 14 September 2019. Overall, he played in 11 league matches and scored two goals.

Following this move, he becomes the 10th African in the Yellow and Blues team after compatriot Salem Mbakata, Mehdi Jeannin (Algeria), Adolphe Teikeu (Cameroon), Ousseynou Thioune (Senegal), Sofiane Daham (Algeria), Thomas Toure (Cote d'Ivoire), Amadou Dia N'Diaye (Senegal), Christophe Diedhiou (Senegal) and Abdoulaye Sane (Senegal).

Meanwhile, he took to social media to appreciate Lyon for all they have done for him while expressing his desire to start his new adventure as soon as possible.

“My heart club engraved for life. Thank you for everything,”

“New challenge. Very impatient to start the season and very proud to join Sochaux.

Sochaux was far from getting a promotion ticket to the French elite division having finished 14th in Ligue 2 last term with 34 points from 28 appearances.

Kitala played for Congo U20 in a friendly against England U20 on October 7, 2015, and is eligible to represent the country’s senior national team.

Cameroon will host the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations, and should he prove his worth with his new French team, he could get an invite to the competition as the Leopards eye their third African diadem.

Marco Asensio was delighted his hard work paid off as he made a stunning return from injury in Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Valencia.

Making his comeback from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), Asensio scored seconds after coming on and then set up Karim Benzema's sealer at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on Thursday.

Asensio, 24, was pleased to be back, with the appearance his first competitive club outing since May last year.

"I really wanted to return. It has been many months of hard work," the midfielder told Movistar. "I am very happy to play, to score and for the team's victory."

On his goal, Asensio added: "A lot of excitement and satisfaction, because there is a lot of work behind this. I am in the final stretch of the season."

Asensio also set up Benzema for the striker to complete his brace, the Frenchman's first touch setting up a spectacular volleyed finish.

Spain international Asensio lauded Benzema, who became Madrid's fifth all-time top goalscorer with 24, surpassing Ferenc Puskas (242).

"It was a great goal. He has made a great control and in general we have made a great match," he said.

Madrid's win saw them climb back to within two points of rivals and leaders Barcelona with nine games left to play.

"We have nine finals left that we have to win," Asensio said. "We are now focusing on the Real Sociedad match [on Sunday], which is the objective we have in mind."

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was delighted to see Asensio return to the pitch and make an immediate impact on the game. 

"This means a lot for him. We're happy to see him back on the pitch," Zidane said. "After so many months out, to come back and score a great goal in his first involvement makes me really happy.

"He was already happy just to get out on to the pitch and then he was able to score straight away, which shows he is already involved."

Madrid remain just two points shy of league leaders Barcelona with nine matches remaining in the coronavirus-impacted 2019-20 La Liga season. 

Real Madrid head coach Zinedine Zidane said he was "delighted" for Karim Benzema after the star forward surpassed Ferenc Puskas on the club's all-time scorers list.

Benzema scored a brilliant brace to inspire a 3-0 La Liga win over 10-man Valencia at Madrid Castilla's Alfredo Di Stefano stadium on Thursday.

After opening the scoring just past the hour-mark, Benzema completed the victory in stunning fashion with four minutes remaining – rifling a volley past Valencia goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen following Marco Asensio's 74th-mintue effort.

Benzema's two-goal display in the Spanish capital took his tally to 243 goals for Madrid across all competitions, leapfrogging club great Puskas (242) for fifth on the all-time list.

"It was a great goal, for the move and the finish – I'm delighted for Karim's goals," Zidane said after Madrid moved back within two points of leaders and rivals Barcelona.

Eden Hazard also impressed for Madrid – the Belgium star combining with Luka Modric to tee up Benzema for the opening goal in Madrid.

Injury and fitness have hampered Hazard's maiden Madrid campaign, but the former Chelsea attacker showed glimpses of why Los Blancos invested so heavily in the 29-year-old.

"This was a really good game from Hazard," Zidane added. "Physically, he was good and played 80 minutes. Sometimes you might think he's starting to look tired, but then he picks up the ball and sprints away."

Madrid remain within touching distance of Barca with nine matches remaining in the coronavirus-impacted 2019-20 La Liga season.

On the title race, Zidane said: "We know that it will be like this until the end, but today we can be happy because of what we've done in the game.

"They are the ones fighting; we have to enjoy and congratulate the players because it was a complete game and then think about the next game against Real Sociedad."

Barca will face third-placed Sevilla on Friday and Zidane added: "We depend on what we are going to do, knowing the situation. I'll watch the game, but I don't have the idea in my head that Barcelona will slip up; we have to think about ourselves."

Kelechi Nwakali made his long-awaited Huesca debut in Thursday’s 2-1 home defeat to Mirandes.

After completing a loan spell at Porto B, the Nigeria international joined the Segunda division outfit on a three-year deal from Premier League side Arsenal.

Since his move in September 2019, the 22-year-old has waited patiently for his maiden appearance – with his closest attempt an unused substitute role in the 3-1 triumph at Malaga on June 12.

However, he ended his wait as manager Michel brought him as an 83rd-minute substitute for Sergio Gomez.

Despite featuring for seven minutes, he could do little as his team bowed at home to the Reds at Estadio El Alcoraz.

After a goalless first-half in the Week 33 fixture, Alvaro Rey powered Mirandes ahead in the 62nd minute, but the hosts levelled matter through Rafa Mir eight minutes later.

Alvaro Pena handed Andoni Iraola’s team all points a stake with his 72nd-minute effort.

Cote d’Ivoire midfielder Cheick Doukoure who is on loan from Levante was an unused substitute by the hosts, while Ghana’s Ernest Ohemeng was not considered for action by manager Iraola.

This defeat marks a setback for Huesca who are chasing promotion to the Spanish elite division. They are currently fourth in the log after garnering 53 points from 33 outings – seven points below leaders Cadiz, while Mirandes moved to sixth.

Nwakali is pleased with his debut and assured that the Azulgranas will bounce back in their next outing.

“Thank God though it wasn’t the best result for the team we keep the focus on the next game,” he wrote on Instagram.

The ex-Arsenal player burst into limelight after captaining the Nigeria U17 team that paraded the likes of Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze to win the 2015 U17 World Cup in Chile.

His inspiring displays earned him the tournament’s Golden Ball ahead of Lille’s Osimhen and Mali’s Aly Malle. Nwakali’s stock rose after joining Arsenal on a five-year deal from Nigeria’s Diamond Football Academy.

After failed loan expeditions at MVV Maastricht, VVV Venlo and Porto B, the youngster was shipped out of the Emirates.

Karim Benzema has surpassed Ferenc Puskas in Real Madrid's all-time scoring charts after scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Valencia.

The Blancos made it two wins from two since the return of La Liga by putting Albert Celades' side to the sword at an empty Santiago Bernabeu on Thursday night.

Zinedine Zidane's men came into the contest high on confidence following Sunday's 3-1 win against Eibar, during which Benzema failed to score despite playing the full 90 minutes.

The 32-year-old looked as though he might also be shut out by Valencia's defence for 60 minutes, before he produced an expert finish after being played through by Eden Hazard.

Marco Asensio doubled Madrid's lead before Benzema grabbed his second of the night with just four minutes left on the clock, controlling the ball in mid-air before turning to fire in an unstoppable volley past Jasper Cillessen in the Valencia net.

The experienced striker's latest double saw him move above the legendary Puskas as the fifth-highest scoring player in the club's history with 243 goals.

Benzema is also now only the fourth player in Madrid's history to have hit 20-plus goals in eight or more seasons, as he joins Cristiano Ronaldo, Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul in the Bernabeu's hall of fame.

Asensio, meanwhile, became the fastest scoring substitute for the Blancos since 2005-06, with his second-half effort coming just 31 seconds after he was brought on for Federico Valverde.

The Spanish forward volleyed a pin-point Ferland Mendy cutback into the far corner of the net in the 74th minute, which marked his first goal of the season after making a full recovery from a cruciate ligament injury.

Speaking after the match, Asensio admitted it was emotional to return to the pitch in such stunning fashion. 

"First of all, thank you, it's really so emotional coming on to the pitch and scoring such a quick goal," he said. 

"I'm really happy and want to thank all those that have helped me in this process. The team, the medical staff, those who have supported me from afar who have helped me. This is for all of them." 

Zidane's side moved back to within two points of La Liga leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona after securing another three points, with a tough trip to the Anoeta to face Real Sociedad up next on Sunday.

Watford striker Isaac Success will miss Saturday’s Premier League encounter against Leicester City because of a ruptured Achilles, coach Nigel Pearson has confirmed.

The English topflight returns after over three months in a hiatus owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Success, 24, who signed from Granada on July 1, 2016 in a record transfer fee, has played only five times in the EPL this term without a goal.

His injury means he will be added to a growing list of key Watford players to miss out on the Vicarage Road showdown, including Gerard Deulofeu and Daryl Janmaat.

During Thursday’s chat with club website, Pearson confirmed the development without indicating the length of time he will miss.

“Isaac Success has ruptured his Achilles. Deulofeu won’t be available this season, he’s got a serious knee injury with his cruciate. Janmaat won’t be available either,” he said.

“But everybody else more or less is available. We’ve tried to prepare the players at a pace which really does reflect very much where they are themselves.”

Nigeria’s Tom Dele-Bashiru and Senegalese star Ismaila Sarr are fit and could play a key role against Wilfred Ndidi’s team who are Champions League-bound.

“The players came back in good condition,” he continued.

“We had players who re-joined at different stages based on their own feelings, but during that time some of those players had one-to-one sessions so they were integrated back in.

“We’ve at least had the last two weeks where the squad has really been together, and it’s allowed us to work at a pace where we think we’re as prepared as we can be given the circumstances.”

Injuries could become more frequent due to the break in the season, but manager Pearson has expressed his satisfaction with how rapidly his men have returned to fitness.

“We have to understand there might be a greater injury risk,” he added.

“Having said that, I’ve been delighted with how the players have both returned to training and embraced the need for us to get back to a game situation as quick as possible given the circumstances we’re working in.”

Watford are in the relegation zone as they account for 27 points from 29 league outings so far, and victory over Brendan Rodgers’ men will see them move up the log.