Latest news with #Kicker
News18
4 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Nagal progresses to semifinals of Tampere Open
Agency: PTI New Delhi, Jul 25 (PTI) India's Sumit Nagal breezed into the singles semifinal of the Tampere ATP Challenger event in Finland following a straight-sets win over Argentine qualifier Nicolas Kicker on Friday. Nagal, ranked 306, pulled off a 6-4 6-3 win over Kicker, who is ranked 361 in the singles ATP chart. It was third meeting between the two players and Nagal now leads the head-to-head record 2-1. The last time they clashed was in 2022 when Kicker emerged winner in the Guayaquil pre-quarterfinals. The 28-year-old Indian won 67 points to 51 of his rival. Gradually getting back to form, Nagal has now matched his best finish of the season as he had ended a semifinalist at the Trieste Challenger in Italy. Nagal has won six Challenger singles titles from 10 finals. Meanwhile, competing at the Cranbrook Tennis Classic in Bloomfield Hills in the USA, second-seeded Indian pair of Anirudh Chandrasekar and Ramkumar Ramanathan made a quarterfinal exit after losing 6-4 4-6 7-10 to local wildcards Stefan Dostanic and Benjamin Kittay. PTI AT AM AT AM AM Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Giannis Konstantelias a confirmed 'no show' for VfB Stuttgart medical
Kicker confirms a Sport Bild report emerging earlier today concerning another twist in the matter of Giannis Konstantelias' transfer from PAOK Saloniki to VfB Stuttgart. The 22-year-old's move to the Bundesliga now well and truly appears to be off. Germany's preeminent footballing publication – after reporting yesterday that the deal was essentially sealed – now claims that the 22-year-old has not reported to the Baden-Württemberg capital for his medical. The madness over this particular piece of transfer business continues. Kicker cites uproar among PAOK fans as one potential reason why Konstantelias is still in the Netherlands training with his Greek club. Fan forums are overflowing with criticism. Supporters rail against the club potentially selling a top performer. This anger has probably had an effect on club management and owner Ivan Savvidis. Whether Stuttgart have any patience left to deal with this matter remains questionable. One assumes that VfB management considers pulling the plug amid all the back-and-forth. Kicker Stuttgart correspondent George Moissidis – an extremely well-sourced and reliable journalist – reports that the Swabians presently find themselves in no mood to negotiate further. GGFN |
News18
14-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
Ter Stegen's Demotion At Barcelona Raises Doubts For Germany's World Cup Squad
Last Updated: Marc-Andre ter Stegen's demotion at Barcelona under Hansi Flick raises concerns about his status in Germany's national team for the 2026 World Cup. Marc-Andre ter Stegen's reported demotion at Barcelona has sparked fresh concerns about his status in Germany's national team just a year before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spanish and German media, including Sport, Mundo Deportivo, and Kicker, report that new Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has informed the 33-year-old goalkeeper that he will be the third choice next season, behind new signing Joan Garcia and 35-year-old Wojciech Szczesny. Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has publicly sought clarification on Ter Stegen's future, emphasizing that regular playing time is essential for selection. 'Rhythm and consistent match practice are inevitable for anyone wanting to be part of the World Cup squad," Nagelsmann stated. Garcia, 24, joined Barcelona from Espanyol for a reported 25 million euros on a contract running through 2031, while Szczesny has agreed to a two-year extension. Ter Stegen, despite being under contract until 2028, now faces a threat to his role with Germany, according to Xinhua. Kicker described Barcelona's approach as a clear signal that the club wants to move on from Ter Stegen, despite his decade of service, 422 appearances, and 19 trophies. Adding to the complexities, the goalkeeper recently separated from his wife but remains committed to staying in Barcelona for personal reasons, as his children live there. Former Germany international and ex-Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler criticised Barcelona's treatment of Ter Stegen as disrespectful, considering his years of elite performances. Adler advised him to seek a transfer to protect his chances of being Germany's No. 1 at the World Cup. According to reports, Ter Stegen is both surprised and disappointed by the decision, though polls in the Spanish media suggest the majority of Barcelona supporters back Flick's move. The 2026 tournament represents Ter Stegen's first chance to start at a major competition after spending much of his international career as the backup to Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer, who withdrew from Germany duty after Euro 2024. view comments First Published: July 14, 2025, 19:27 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sammer: Germany has lost football identity, average sold as top class
Matthias Sammer, Borussia Dortmund consultant and TV pundit speaks during an interview ahead of the UEFA Champions League soccer match between FC Bologna and Borussia Dortmund at Renato dallZAra. German football has lost its identity and should stop selling mediocrity as world class, former national team player Matthias Sammer has said. Fabio Sasso/dpa German football has lost its identity and should stop selling mediocrity as world class, former national team player Matthias Sammer has said. Sammer, a Euro 1996 winner who later became a Bundesliga coach and German Football Federation sporting director, told Monday's edition of Kicker sports magazine that striking a balance between tradition and innovation has not worked. Advertisement "German football has lost its basic identity and with it its main strength," Sammer said. Sammer said that possession football and tactical flexibility through the influence of foreign coaches were necessary but had been rated higher than traditional values which were dismissed as "old school." "What does German football stand for today? We are head over heels in love with tactics and possession, have improved by adopting them, but we have lost essential things," he said. "As you can see from our football history, us Germans have always been united, robust and compact as a team. As a team, we were a machine. Today, we're just a little machine at best." Advertisement Germany are four-time World Cup winners and have three Euro titles. The last title came at the 2014 World Cup, they went out in the group stage of the past two editions, and finished fourth and last at last month's Nations League finals. "We are still stronger at glossing over things than at critical analysis. German football must learn again not to sell average as world class," Sammer said. He named the Euro 2024 home tournament, where Germany went out in the quarter-finals against eventual champions Spain, as a prime example. "The quarter-final at Euro 2024 was sold to the public like a title," he said. "But we no longer talk about the unpleasant things." Advertisement Sammer insisted that "the best must be our benchmark" again in the future in order to be successful again. Referring to Sammer's statements, former Germany captain Lothar Matthäus said in his Sky TV column on Monday that he didn't quite share Sammer's grim assessment. 'German football has always been about mentality," the 1990 World Cup winner said. "We've always believed in ourselves to the end and that's why other teams didn't want to play against Germany. "That was the case 40 years ago and we've also seen it recently with the U21 national team," he said, referring to the U21 team's run into the final at the recent Euros. Advertisement But Matthäus agreed with Sammer that "we are not as good as we sometimes say we believe we are. "Of course there is something missing, Matthias is right there, but we are not far off the top, although the Nations League went bad again," he said. Matthäus said that efficiency in front of goal was the main problem, and would welcome a debate on this issue. "(Coach) Julian Nagelsmann and (sporting director) Rudi Völler can't just gloss over everything, but you also have to realise that there is a lack of composure in finishing and of experience," he said.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Gossip: Leeds face competition for Bundesliga midfielder
Leeds are interested in Hoffenheim's Anton Stach but will likely face competition for the 26-year-old Germany midfielder's signature. (Kicker - in German), externalWant more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip columnFollow the gossip column on BBC Sport
