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Former Football Kenya Federation presidential contestant Twaha Mubarak has called for the forceful eviction of Nick Mwendwa from office.
 
Mubarak has cited a number of issues that have happened under Mwendwa's reign as reasons enough to have him kicked out as FKF president.

The FA chief found himself on the receiving end of criticism after AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia were fined and docked points for skipping a Premier League fixture.

"Since last week, the country has witnessed a lot of uncalled drama in the local football scene, with the main actor, once again, being Nick Mwendwa," Mbarak said in a statement obtained by Goal.
 
"In his signature fashion, the man illegally occupying office and who should be hounded out of Kenyan football for good was treating Kenyans to his malfeasance. He started by unveiling the so-called golden trophy at a cost of more than Ksh5.4 million. Anybody knows that this was a lie.
 
"How can Kenya have a trophy that is more costly than the English Premier League, the Uefa Champions League, and even the European Championship trophy, among other coveted pieces of silverware? What's the justification for having a trophy whose value is bigger than the prize money?
 
"The lie has been deconstructed as it is now confirmed that Mwendwa had inflated the cost of the trophy as he has always done. A trophy that cost not more than KSh1 million being inflated by more than Ksh4 million is unacceptable conduct by an official of a body like FKF.
 
"He has further failed to remit to clubs even after sponsors have paid the money to FKF and goes on to purport to sanction teams when they demand what's rightfully theirs, which is evidence of his high-handedness and dictatorship to the detriment of football development in the country.
 
"I, on behalf of football stakeholders, call for his immediate resignation together with his purported NEC members because they have outlived their usefulness at the federation."

When addressing the media on Sunday, Mwendwa was categorical that he will not be bothered by noise from any quarters as he is obliged to work and apply the laws as they are.
 
Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards were slapped with a combined Ksh10 million fine and each suffered a three-point deduction after skipping the Mashemeji derby on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers has sought to warn Arsenal off James Maddison, with the Leicester boss adamant no member of his squad is looking for a way out of King Power Stadium.

The highly-rated England international is among the playmakers said to be registering on the Gunners' recruitment radar, with a number of other sides reportedly keeping a close eye on events in the East Midlands.

Rodgers has no intention of parting with any prized assets, having seen the Foxes forced down that path in the past with N'Golo Kante and Harry Magure, and is confident Maddison will remain on his books.

What has been said?

Quizzed on the exit talk, Rodgers said: "In conversations with the club, we don’t have to sell. That’s something that’s been made clear. The players want to stay. It's a really exciting time at the club.

"There’s lots of gossip and speculation around but I’m loving working with the guys here, they love being here, and we certainly have no need to sell. So I would suspect we’re looking to keep our best players."

Why is Maddison in demand?

Leicester snapped Maddison up from Norwich in the summer of 2018. He settled quickly, with a solitary senior international cap collected in 2019.

In total, the 24-year-old has made 118 appearances for the Foxes, with 27 goals and 20 assists recorded.

He has been a model of consistency for Leicester when clear of injury, helping them to FA Cup glory last season and has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the past.

Arsenal are now the ones in the hunt for added creativity, with the Gunners also said to be mulling over moves for Wolves star Ruben Neves and former loanee Martin Odegaard.

Further reading

Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will resume their Premier Soccer League rivalry on November 6 after the league released 2021/22 fixtures on Monday.

However, the old foes might meet earlier if they proceed to the MTN8 semi-finals and are drawn together or if they both reach the final of the competition.

What is known for now is that the PSL Soweto derby will provisionally take place on November 6 at the FNB Stadium.

This follows Sunday’s Carling Black Label Cup which saw Chiefs beating Pirates 4-3 via a penalty shootout following a 0-0 regulation time draw.  

The traditional giants are now aware of which opponents they will start against in their respective bids to reclaim the league title.

Amakhosi begin with a trip to Mbombela Stadium to face TS Galaxy on August 22, while the Buccaneers host Stellenbosch at Orlando Stadium on August 21. 

Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns will set the ball rolling earlier than their Gauteng rivals when they welcome AmaZulu at Loftus on August 20.

This is a fixture headlining the opening weekend of PSL games as the Brazilians and AmaZulu finished strong in the last campaign which saw Benni McCarthy’s side ending as runners-up in the league race.

The season ahead comes again with the focus falling much on Chiefs and Pirates to see if they will be able to break Sundowns’ dominance in the league.

Masandawana have asserted their supremacy in the PSL by being crowned PSL champions consistently in recent seasons.

After Chiefs returned into the transfer market following the end of a Fifa ban to sign players, it remains to be seen whether they can build a squad capable of successfully challenging Sundowns for the championship.

Amakhosi last won the league title in 2015 under coach Stuart Baxter, who is now back at the club.

That was also the last time they claimed a major trophy.

As far as Pirates are concerned, they last clinched the league crown 10 seasons ago which is their longest championship drought during the PSL era.

There were reports of coach Josef Zinnbauer’s future being uncertain at the end of last season after they ended third on the table. 

Olivier Giroud has explained his decision to leave Chelsea, claiming "God wanted me to play for Milan".

Giroud completed a €2 million switch from Chelsea to San Siro on July 17, committing his future to the Italian giants through to 2023.

The France international is now eager to help Milan fight for success on both domestic and European fronts, having decided the time was right to embark on a new challenge in a different league after four years at Stamford Bridge.

What's been said?

Giroud was officially presented as a new Rossoneri player on Monday, after scoring on his debut in a 1-1 friendly draw with Nice at the weekend.

“I won many trophies at every club I’ve been at and would like to do the same here," he said. "I do have an objective in my mind, but I don’t want to reveal it, otherwise there’d be too much pressure. Let’s just say my final objective is to win with Milan.

“The time had come to leave Chelsea and discover a new league. God wanted me to play for Milan. This is one of the biggest clubs in the world and I really believe in the project here.

"We’ve got what it takes to have a very good Champions League campaign.”

What number has Giroud been given?

Giroud has inherited the coveted No 9 shirt at Milan, which has proved to be something of a poisoned chalice for a number of highly-rated strikers since Fillipo Inzaghi's retirement in 2012.

Gonzalo Higuain, Luiz Adriano and Fernando Torres all failed to follow in the footsteps of a club legend, but the new owner of the jersey insists that he can cope with the weight of expectation.

“I am not superstitious, a shirt number cannot change the way I play. Strikers like Inzaghi, Marco van Basten and Jean-Pierre Papin wore this shirt for Milan, but I don’t feel the pressure," said Giroud.

The 34-year-old went on to insist that he can still deliver the goods in the final third despite his advancing years, citing new teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic as the perfect example of how to ensure longevity at the highest level.

“My age means nothing," he added. "Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a few years older than me, but it’s all about your mentality. With the right motivation, you can still push hard.”

Further reading

The honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal assured East Bengal fans on Monday that the club will take part in the upcoming 2021-22 season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

There was a doubt over the club's participation in India's top tier league due to the ongoing tussle between East Bengal and their investor Shree Cement regarding the signing of the final agreement of a joint venture between the two parties.

But on Monday, the Chief Minister herself stated that the issue is getting resolved and the club will be in action soon.

What did Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee say?

"I want East Bengal to play in ISL. There are talks going on related to the contract (final agreement) and as per information, East Bengal will play in the ISL. Last time, I had to interfere. I had no other option because Mohun Bagan was already in the ISL and I had to make sure another club from West Bengal played there.

"This time too, I will request all parties to negotiate and everything will be okay. Taking responsibility for five years is also not a joke. The investor has to spend close to INR 50 crores. Last time we had convinced them to come and invest in the club. The little differences will be solved and I hope very soon the East Bengal fans will have a smile on their faces and the club will play in the ISL."

What is going on at East Bengal?

After Quess Corp parted ways with East Bengal in June 2020 after being the club's investor for two seasons, Shree Cement came on board as their new investor which facilitated the club's move to the Indian Super League (ISL).

They then proceeded to establish a joint venture named Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation, in which the cement giants held 76 per cent stakes while the club had 24.

After Shree Cement's arrival, a term sheet was signed by both parties in September 2020 in the presence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had played an important role in bringing the company on board as the club's new investor.

The Chief Minister had played a crucial role in bringing Shree Cement on board as the club's investor.

Bayern Munich's interest in Chelsea talent Emran Soglo has been confirmed by his agents.

Goal reported last week that Bayern are close to completing the signing of Soglo, who has been training with the club's U17 and U19 squads.

The German champions have been impressed with the 16-year-old, and are now planning to offer him a permanent contract at Allianz Arena .

What's been said?

Soglo's representatives, Willy Moupoupa and Jack Blouet, have now revealed that they are currently locked in negotiations with Bayern, but also claim that there are other clubs in the running for his signature.

"Yes, we are in talks with Bayern," the pair told Fussball Transfers .

"There is nothing official to announce. We are also talking to other clubs from Europe.

"We are looking for the best option at the highest level for Emran's career."

What has attracted Bayern to Soglo?

Soglo's versatility is what makes him so attractive to clubs like Bayern, with the teenager capable of playing as a traditional No.10, left-winger or holding midfielder due to his unique skillset.

The Bundesliga giants have been taken by the Chelsea starlet's footballing intelligence and direct style of play, and are convinced that he has a bright future ahead of him at senior level.

Should Bayern manage to push a deal for Soglo over the line, he will follow in the footsteps of Jamal Musiala, who was plucked out of the Blues' academy ranks back in 2019.

Musiala has since established himself as a key member of the first-team squad at Allianz Arena, while also switching allegiances from England's national team set-up to Germany's.

Goal has reported that Soglo, who has just been called up to England's U17s squad, is eager to tread a similar path as he prepares to graduate to the professional ranks.

Further reading

Andrea Barzagli has revealed that he urged Juventus to make a move for Kylian Mbappe after facing him in 2017, but even at that stage, the French forward was attracting plenty of interest.

The Bianconeri took on a star-studded Monaco side in the semi-finals of the Champions League when an exciting teenage forward was bursting onto the scene.

Veteran defender Barzagli saw enough in that contest to suggest that Juve should be in the mix for the hottest of prospects, but Paris Saint-Germain would win that race a matter of months later.

What has been said?

Juve legend Barzagli has told Tuttosport: "I remember like it was yesterday the feeling I felt in Monte Carlo against the 18-year-old Mbappe: he was going at  3000mph.

"At the end of the game I went to [chief football officer, Fabio] Paratici and told him: 'What are we waiting for to get him?'

"The director made me understand that everyone already wanted him and it was practically impossible to approach Mbappe."

Why was Mbappe in demand?

Mbappe helped to fire Monaco to the Ligue 1 title in 2016-17, with a breakthrough season seeing him net 26 goals in 44 appearances.

Such potential was never going to sail under the radar for long, with Europe's leading clubs quick to make their interest known.

Real Madrid were very keen on doing a deal, and still are, but a mercurial talent was kept in his homeland.

PSG put an initial loan agreement in that place that was eventually turned into a €145 million (£124m/$172m) transfer, with a further €35m due in add-ons.

He has continued to star at Parc des Princes, registering 132 goals in 171 games, and is generating transfer talk again after entering the final year of his contract.

Further reading

Ghana attacking midfielder Kwame Poku has sealed a move to Championship side Peterborough United from Colchester United.

The fourth-tier charges, who compete in EFL League Two, confirmed the teenager will not be part of their squad ahead of the new campaign.

"The exciting forward moves to London Road after two seasons in north Essex, having made more than fifty appearances for the U's," the club stated on their official portal.  

"He came to Colchester in the summer of 2019 after a successful trial, after scoring twice in a dozen appearances for non-league side Worthing in the second half of the 2018/19 season.

"Championship newcomers Peterborough have now secured his services, and he joins former U's stars Sammy Szmodics and Frankie Kent at Posh."

The 19-year-old has wished his now immediate former team the best, stating he enjoyed his time there.

"I really enjoyed it at the club, and I wish them nothing but good luck for the future."

U's Director of Football Tony Humes has stated they did not want to let the teenager leave but they had no option since the deal was right for all the involved parties.

"Kwame is a player with enormous potential and we didn't want to lose him," the official said.

"But the deal was right for all three parties, Kwame, us, and Peterborough, and when that happens, you can't stand in the way of a young player's path to a higher level.

"We all hope he enjoys the success that Sammy and Frankie have enjoyed in their time with Peterborough and wish him the best of luck."

The West African joined Colchester in 2019 after a successful trial and later impressive displays with the U23 team, he was eventually promoted to the senior team in the 2019/20 season.

He played 62 matches for them and scored five goals. At international level, he has been capped once by the Black Stars.

Mikel Arteta claims to be in the dark when it comes to Joe Willock's future at Arsenal, with Newcastle still hoping to take the 21-year-old midfielder back onto their books.

A highly-rated product of the Gunners' academy system took in a productive loan spell with the Magpies last season - scoring eight goals in 14 appearances.

Another stint at St James' Park is being mooted, either short or long-term, but Arteta has absorbed Willock back into his plans during pre-season in north London.

What has been said?

Asked for an update on Willock and the rest of those sparking exit talk after a friendly defeat to Chelsea, Arteta said: "I don't know (if they are leaving). 

"I'm going to coach them and train them, and respect and look after everybody, because they are our players.

"Hopefully, they can have their minds here, and prepare here, because they’re Arsenal players, and our job is to make them as good as we can."

What is Newcastle's stance?

Willock saw game time for Arsenal against Chelsea, but Arteta is looking to give as many players as possible an opportunity to impress.

Newcastle hope an exit door will swing open before an August 31 deadline, but Steve Bruce is still waiting on the Gunners to give him a definitive answer.

He told reporters after seeing his side beat Burton Albion 2-0 on Friday: "We haven’t made any bids for any player, because Joe’s been our No.1 target. 

"We have to make sure that if that doesn’t happen, we have got who we think is our second choice. We’ll what develops in the next few days."

Further reading

Harry Kane has fuelled rumours linking him with a move to Manchester City by failing to report for Tottenham training, Goal can confirm.

Kane was due back at Hotspur Way on Monday for series of tests, including one for Covid-19, ahead of his reintegration into the squad following a summer holiday.

However, the 28-year-old was a no-show amid persistent talk of an imminent move to Etihad Stadium, with City reportedly preparing to launch a big-money bid for his services.

Is Kane destined to join City?

Kane's current contract is not due to expire until 2024, but the England international reportedly reached a "gentleman's agreement" with Spurs chairman Daniel Levy last year which allows him to move onto pastures new this summer.

Goal understands that City are very interested in bringing Kane onto their books, and would be willing to spend at least £100 million to finalise a deal, but no formal negotiations between the two clubs have taken place as of yet.

Why is he seeking a move?

Kane opened up on his ambitions to win the biggest prizes on offer in the professional game back in March, admitting he would be open to leaving Spurs if the time comes when he no longer feels they can compete at the highest level.

"I love Spurs, I'll always love Spurs," the experienced frontman said. "But I've always said, if I don't feel we're going in the right direction then I'm not someone who will just stay for the sake of it. I'm an ambitious player, I want to become one of the best players."

Tottenham finished the 2020-21 campaign without a single piece of silverware, extending their trophyless run to 13 years. Kane would seemingly have a far better chance of success at City, who have won three out of the last four Premier League titles on offer under Pep Guardiola.

Kane's record at Spurs

Kane made his senior debut for Spurs back in 2011, and has since appeared in 336 games across all competitions for the club.

He has also hit 221 goals to become the second-highest goalscorer in their history, with 166 of those coming in the Premier League, which puts him seventh in the all-time list for the competition.

Further reading

Football Association of Zambia president Andrew Kamanga has pegged the country's World Cup qualification dream on Fashion Sakala, Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka.

The three Chipolopolo stars secured moves to new European clubs where they have already taken part in the pre-season programmes, and Kamanga, noting their progress so far, has stated how they promise a brighter future.

"In Europe, our boys that have broken new ground have been making the right noise as they settle into their new environs," Kamanga told Faz media.

"It may still be early days to make any wild pronouncements, but we are extremely happy with what we are seeing so far in Scotland, where [Fashion] Sakala who is on the books of giants Glasgow Rangers, coached by the legendary Steven Gerrard, is settling in admirably well. 

"We saw flashes of what we already know with that goal against Real Madrid announcing his arrival at Ibrox. Just across in England, [Enock] Mwepu and [Patson] Daka have also joined their clubs for pre-season at Brighton and Leicester, where they have seamlessly blended in. 

"By now everyone knows how they are faring, and our hope is that they keep pushing to break new ground. It is by having more players in top European leagues that we can have greater chances of taking our national team to the World Cup, which remains an elusive target."

The federation's top official is hoping the trio will open more doors for many Zambian footballers to enter into the European football market: "Currently, we are yet to make a lasting footprint in the top European leagues to open doors for more talents to showcase their talent," he added.

"The success of our current crop of players on European soil will inspire many others to dream of making it in the top leagues. We are proud of what our boys in Sweden, Russia, Poland, and Austria, among others, are doing. 

"Our prayer is that some of our best talents plying their trade domestically and on the African continent can step up and make a move into the top world leagues a realistic target. We believe that once the World Cup qualifiers kick off on September 1, 2021, we can count on the form of some of our top players.

After failing to qualify for the African Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon, and coupled with a poor performance in Cosafa, Zambia made a technical change by relieving Milutin 'Micho' Sredojevic of his duties as coach.

Newcastle have asked about Aaron Ramsey's availability at Juventus, Goal has learned, with the Magpies looking to step up interest in the former Arsenal star.

Questions are being asked of how long the Wales international midfielder will be sticking around in Turin.

A return to the Premier League has been speculated for some time with various landing spots mooted, and the Magpies have now joined the hunt.

What have Newcastle done?

Goal understands that there is no shortage of interest in Ramsey from English football, and Newcastle have approached Juve in an effort to determine where the Serie A giants stand.

For now, said discussions are very informal and no transfer talks have been entered into. That situation could change as the Bianconeri finalise their plans for 2021-22.

What has been said?

Juve have Ramsey tied to a contract through to 2023 and are under no pressure to sell. They have, however, seen a man snapped up as a free agent in 2019 endure more injury issues while in Turin.

Massimiliano Allegri is giving Ramsey every opportunity to prove his worth, and has asked him to fill a holding role in pre-season.

He told Sport Mediaset when asked about Ramsey and supposed interest in taking Miralem Pjanic back to Italy from Barcelona: "I don’t know about that. The club takes care of the transfer market, we talk every day. 

"Ramsey played very, very well in front of the defence and I think in that role he can really become an important player.

"I salute Mire, because we spent four years together with great victories. He is a Barcelona player now, we have talented players, and I think if Ramsey can be convinced to play in front of the defence, he can really do well there.

"He already can see passing channels, has a good sense of the geometry of the field and can also rest on the ball more than he does up front."

Further reading

Barnsley have confirmed the signing of Aaron Leya Iseka from French side Toulouse.

The 23-year-old striker, who is the brother to Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi, becomes the fourth signing for the Championship side and has joined for an undisclosed fee subject to international clearance.

“Barnsley is delighted to announce the signing of Aaron Leya Iseka from Toulouse, subject to international clearance,” the club confirmed on their official website.

“Our fourth signing of the summer, the strong and mobile forward joins from French outfit Toulouse for an undisclosed fee.

“Leya Iseka, a former Belgian U21 international can operate all across the frontline and spent the 2020-21 campaign on-loan with French Ligue 1 club FC Metz.”

The statement continued: “Despite being just 23-years-old, Aaron has plenty of experience having played in both France and his homeland, initially with Anderlecht where he first burst onto the scene as a teenager. 

“Another player with European know-how, our new forward has scored goals in the Europa League, including a famous winner against Italian giants Lazio whilst on-loan with Zulte Waregem three years ago.

“The striker, standing over six feet tall has put to pen paper on a four-year contract with Barnsley, and will be hoping to follow in his brother's footsteps - Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi - in making his mark in England this season.”

The club’s co-chairman Paul Conway has revealed the reason they signed Iseka.

"Aaron is a unique and aggressive attacker with extensive experience in top-flight football across the continent.

"Aaron’s quality and understanding of the game will help our squad to grow, and we are confident that he will also make his own impact on the field.

"We are excited that he has committed his long-term future to Barnsley and we all welcome him to Oakwell."

Iseka has taken to his social media pages to welcome the new move.

“Very proud to take this new step in my career, a new league in a new company, and can’t wait to get started."

He has already linked up with his teammates led by Markus Schopp on the Oakwell Training Ground ahead of the new campaign.

On July 23, 2016, Iseka joined Marseille in Ligue 1 on a season-long loan, a month after Batshuayi had left the club.

Iseka bears the surname of their mother rather than their father because of his Congolese origin, and he is available to represent DR Congo or Belgium.

Spain will look to guarantee a podium finish in the Olympic men's tournament when they take on home nation Japan in the semi-finals of Tokyo 2020 in Saitama.

Watch Japan vs Spain on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

La Rojita needed an extra-time blowout to beat the Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals, while the Samurai Blue had to muster a penalty shootout win to reach the final four over New Zealand.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch the men's Olympics soccer tournament on TV, how to stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream and how to watch

In the United States, this year's Olympics soccer games can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV.

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news and rosters

Having made every Olympic Games since Atlanta 1996, the Samurai Blue are no strangers to this tournament - but victory here would assure them of a best-ever finish, no matter what happens in the final.

They previously came in fourth at London 2012 - and in the evergreen Maya Yoshida, a veteran of three Olympics, they have a captain who will be determined to drive them on to make history.

Predicted Japan starting XI: Tani; Sakai, Yoshida, Itakura, Hatate; Endo, Tanaka; Doan, Kubo, Soma; Hayashi

Fears that La Rojita may have finally hit the wall against the Ivory Coast were put to bed in a freewheeling extra-time rout, but the fact remains that several of their players are at the end of a long season that included a Euro 2020 semi-final.

That defeat will surely only drive them on to go one better and reach the gold medal match this time around, with superstars of the future like Pedri and Mikel Oyarzabal leading the charge in pursuit of a first honour since silver at Sydney 2000.

Predicted Spain starting XI: Simon; Mingueza, Garcia, Torres, Cucurella; Merino, Zubimendi, Pedri; Asensio, Oyarzabal, Olmo

Recent results

Kurt Zouma continues to be heavily linked with a move away from Chelsea, with West Ham said to be one of his many suitors, but Thomas Tuchel has suggested that there could be a Stamford Bridge future for the defender.

The Blues are well stocked at centre-half and continue to pursue a deal for another France international in Sevilla defender Jules Kounde.

An agreement there could see Zouma used as a makeweight, but Tuchel is not ruling out the prospect of keeping a unit that delivered Champions League glory last season intact.

What has been said?

Tuchel has told reporters when asked about possible exits: "Kurt comes from a very different situation.

"Kurt was part of the team for half a year, I know him exactly, what I can demand from him, what he can give to the team. He was part of a very successful half a season.

"He was a very lively part of it, maybe not in minutes but I want to remember he was a crucial member of the team that won 2-0 against Atletico, for example.

"So when he was needed, and he had some tough decisions against him, but when he delivered. So the situation isn’t comparable to Ruben [Loftus-Cheek].

"Ruben needs to show now everything in some weeks if that’s possible. For Kurt, it’s different as I know what he can deliver."

The bigger picture

Zouma is tied to a contract at Chelsea through to 2023. He made 36 appearances across all competitions last season but did not figure in the latter stages of the Champions League or for France at Euro 2020, despite making Didier Deschamps' squad.

Tuchel handed Zouma 45 minutes in the 2-1 pre-season win over Arsenal on Sunday, with the Blues giving game time to as many players as possible.

It remains to be seen whether the Frenchman will still be involved at the club by the time the 2021-22 Premier League season opener against Crystal Palace comes on August 14 - with the UEFA Super Cup clash with Villarreal coming three days prior to that.

Further reading

U.S. women's national team star (USWNT) Megan Rapinoe admitted "we haven't had our joy" at the Olympics after her team's semi-final defeat to Canada on Monday.

The USWNT fell 1-0 after Jessie Fleming's second-half penalty kick, sending the pre-tournament favorites into the bronze medal game.

After winning the Golden Boot and Golden Ball at the 2019 Olympics, Rapinoe has failed to register a goal or assist at the Olympics thus far.

What was said?

When asked why the USWNT has underpeformed at the Olympics, Rapinoe told NBC: "I think about it every single day. I feel like we haven't had our joy a little bit. It just hasn't been easy. 

"I think we've tried to find it. It's not for lack of effort or anyone not giving everything they have. You can see everything is all the way out there every single game but it just didn't didn't click for us.

"I can't quite put my finger on it, I've kind of been thinking about the whole tournament we just didn't have that juice that we normally do."

Rapinoe emotional over Lloyd connection

Rapinoe, 36, grew emotional when she was asked about a moment she shared after the game ended with longtime teammate Carli Lloyd.

"Obviously you know we've been in this a long time together," Rapinoe said of the 39-year-old Lloyd. "We're both closer to the end than the beginning and we shared a lot of those happy moments on the field and not that many sad moments but we've had a few.

"We don't even really need to say anything, it just is tough. One of the greatest players that's ever pulled this jersey on. Who knows – it might not be her last Olympics, but it probably is. Obviously we want to send everybody out on the happiest note and we weren't able to do that today."

What's next for the USWNT?

After a tournament that has seen them win just one of five matches so far, the USWNT will aim to take home a bronze medal on Thursday when they face either Sweden or Australia.

The USWNT fell 3-0 to Sweden in the group stage, while they drew with Australia 0-0.

Further reading

Morocco assistant coach Mustapha Hadji believes Achraf Hakimi's unpredictability will be a nightmare for opponents in Ligue 1.

The 22-year-old sealed a move to PSG from Inter Milan in the ongoing transfer window and was part of the team that played Lille and lost by a solitary goal scored by Xeka in the 45th minute after a good pass from Burak Yilmaz. 

The tactician has further explained what the French heavyweights should expect from the North African.

"He can bring a lot offensively; he needs space," Hadji said as quoted by L'Equipe.

"And he will have some [freedom] with players like [Kylian] Mbappe, Neymar or [Angel] Di Maria. They will free him, he will be able to insert himself from the back, with his speed and his skill in front of the goal.

"[Hakimi's] unpredictability and his good health will be a nightmare for [League 1] opponents."

The 49-year-old has further predicted what he is expecting from the former Real Madrid player once he adapts to life in France.

"It can be huge, the coach can exploit his full potential," Hadji, who made 63 appearances for the national team, continued. 

"After a period of adaptation, I see him creating 10 goals in Ligue 1 for the Neymar-Mbappe duo."

Hakimi was developed at Colonia Ofigevi from 2005 to 2006, before joining the Real Madrid youth team where he played until 2016. He was later promoted to Real Madrid Castilla where he stayed for two years, making 28 appearances and scoring a goal.

The full-back was promoted to the senior team in 2017 where he played nine matches and scored two goals. From 2018-2020, he was loaned to Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund and he went on to score seven goals for them in the 54 matches he played.

Inter Milan went for his signature in 2020 and last season, he helped them to their first Serie A title after 11 years. He played a total of 37 matches and scored seven goals before PSG came in for his signature.

Hakimi has represented the Atlas Lions 36 times, scoring four goals in the process.

Brazil will take aim at sealing a spot at a second successive Olympic men's tournament final when they face off with Mexico in the last four of Tokyo 2020 in Kashima.

Watch Mexico vs Brazil on fuboTV (free 7-day trial)

The Selecao remain heavy favourites to defend the gold medal they won on home soil at Rio 2016 and can go one step closer with victory over El Tri in the semi-finals.

Ahead of the game, Goal has the details of how to watch the men's Olympics soccer tournament on TV, how to stream online, team news and more.

TV channel, live stream and how to watch

In the United States, this year's Olympics soccer games can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV.

New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.

Team news and rosters

With their senior compatriots coming up short in the Gold Cup final to the USMNT, El Tri's hopes rest with Olympic glory now, with the punishing test of Brazil between them and the gold medal match.

They will be riding high after a 3-6 demolition of South Korea in the quarter-finals - and with old hands like Guillermo Ochoa next to young talents such as Alexis Vega, they'll fancy their chances of springing an upset.

Predicted Mexico starting XI: Ochoa; Lorona, Montes, Vasquez, Sanchez; Roma, Esquivel, Cordova; Antuna, Martin, Vega.

The Selecao made it hard work for themselves in the last eight against Egypt, with Matheus Cunha's early goal the only finish to split the two - but they will now only be focused on ensuring they make it to Yokohama and the final in four days' time.

With generational superstars like Richarlison in the mix, their pedigree is hard to counter - but they will still have to live up to their billing if they hope to have a chance of making it two Olympic triumphs in a row.

Predicted Brazil starting XI: Santos; Dani Alves, Nino, Diego Carlos,Guilherme Arana; Douglas Luiz, Bruno Guimaraes; Antony, Matheus Cunha, Claudinho; Richarlison.

Recent results

The tickets for the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup, to be held in November and December this year, are set to go on sale from Tuesday, 3rd August.

The tournament, which features 16 teams, is set to commence on November 30 with hosts Qatar taking on Bahrain at the Al Bayt stadium, one of the venues for the 2022 World Cup. The Arab Cup will be held in six of the eight venues built for the 2022 World Cup and the tournament itself will act as a recursor to the showpiece event in 2022. 

The 16 teams will compete in a group stage, followed by knockout matches for a total of 32 games played over 19 days. The final will be held on 18 December 2021 at the Al Bayt stadium. 

The six stadiums hosting the matches are - Al Bayt, Al Thumama stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali stadium, Education City stadium, Ras Abu Aboud stadium and Al Janoub stadium.

Phase 1 of the tickets will be on sale from August 3 to August 17, 2021. The ticket sale will go live at 09:00 GMT on August 3 and VISA cardholders will have preference. In cases where the number of tickets applied for exceeds the available inventory, tickets will be allocated by a random selection draw process. All applications during this period will be treated with the same priority.

Phase 2 of the ticket sale will run from September 28 to October 12. This will be done on a first-come-first-serve basis. The final sales phase will start on November 2 and run until the end of the tournament. Information on tickets and phases can be found here.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Qatar have assured fans that it will provide the required safeguards to protect the health and safety of all involved in the competition. Importantly, it has also been mandated that ticket holders for the competition need to be fully vaccinated.