Isaac Drogba, who – like his father – plays as a striker, has previously played for Chelsea’s academy.

He joins Guingamp 16 years after his father signed for the club in an £80,000 move from Le Mans.

Didier Drogba, who scored 24 goals in 50 appearances for Guingamp, posted on Instagram: “Couldn’t be more proud of you Isaac Drogba.”

Two of his former Chelsea team-mates were among those to reply.

Frank Lampard wrote: “Congratulations! I remember Isaac as the small polite boy! Now a man!”

And ex-Blues captain John Terry wrote: “Can’t believe how big he is mate, congratulations.”

Didier Drogba spent less than two seasons at Guingamp’s Stade de Roudourou before signing for Marseille, where he spent a year before joining Chelsea in 2004.

He went on to win the Premier League four times, the FA Cup four times and the Champions League, as well as playing 104 times for the Ivory Coast.

In an interview in 2015 he said his son, who was born in France, wanted to play for England.

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Source: BBC

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The Portuguese confirmed Jones is unavailable for Manchester United’s game against Newcastle on Saturday, after a recurring thigh injury forced him to come off 25 minutes into England’s friendly against Germany which ended 0-0 last Friday.

Jones had played with the injury in crucial games against Tottenham and Chelsea, but Mourinho was left shocked by the decision of Gareth Southgate and the England medical staff to allow him to play in a friendly while recovering from injury.

Phil Jones went off injured during England’s friendly against Germany

A host of England players dropped out of Southgate’s squad for the friendlies against Germany and Brazil through injury, which sparked talk of a club versus country row.

“As a manager, since 2000, in 17 years I don’t have one single player that has injections of anaesthetic to play a friendly. Never,” Mourinho told reporters.

“I’m not an angel and I’ve had players to be injected to play official matches and crucial matches.

“To get six injections of local anaesthetic to play a friendly, I have never heard about it and Phil Jones had it.

Mourinho was left angered by Gareth Southgate’s decision to give Jones six injections to play in a friendly match

“He had it before the match and, after fifteen minutes, he was out and obviously Saturday he is out.”

Sources close to the England camp insist Jones received treatment in line with usual medical practices but did confirm the player received a number of injections before the game.

When asked whether he had spoken to Southgate, Mourinho replied: “No, I’m just telling a fact. He was injected in the afternoon of the match, he didn’t feel good during the warm-up.

“Between the warm-up and the start of the match he had five more local injections to play the friendly.”

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Source: Sky Sports

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The Three Lions had never gone beyond the quarter-finals in the tournament before but emulated England U20s who won their World Cup in June.

The margin of victory did not flatter Steve Cooper’s side, who were superb throughout and could consider themselves unlucky to fall behind to a double from Barcelona forward Sergio Gomez.

Heads did not drop, and from the moment Morgan Gibbs White added to Rhian Brewster’s eighth goal of the tournament to equalise, England looked the most likely to go on and win.

Phil Foden, an outstanding talent form Manchester City and the man of the match, stole in at the back post to put England ahead, and slotted in the fifth late on with a neat shot.

Chelsea defender Marc Guehi also got on the scoresheet, prodding home the fourth from close range, as England avenged Spain’s victory in the European Championship final back in May.

Who starred?

The stereotypical roles of the two nations were reversed, as England bossed possession and Spain looked to hit on the counter, a tactic that worked as Gomes twice profited from half-cleared balls inside the area.

Those goals were two of just five Spanish efforts on target though, while England had 25 shots on goal, 11 of which found the target.

Liverpool striker Brewster secured the tournament’s golden boot with the goal that put the game back within reach but it was the players just behind him who really stood out.

In player of the tournament Foden and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, this England side had the players to seriously hurt Spain, almost at will in the second half.

Right-back Steven Sessegnon also impressed, setting up the first two goals with powerful overlapping runs, while another major player, Jadon Sancho, was not involved at all after being recalled by new club Borussia Dortmund.

Sancho has already made his Bundesliga debut. How long until we see some of this squad playing in the Premier League? Foden, for example, was told by his Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola that he would have played in the League Cup had he not gone to India.

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Source: BBC

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It was England’s first appearance in the final of a global tournament since their World Cup victory 51 years ago.

Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s first-half goal was enough for victory thanks to Newcastle goalkeeper Freddie Woodman’s second-half penalty save.

Woodman denied Adalberto Penaranda from the spot after the Malaga forward was fouled by Kyle Walker-Peters.

With 17 minutes to play, the referee pointed to the spot to signal a penalty before immediately referring to the video assistant referee.

The decision stood – there was the slightest of contacts – but Newcastle keeper Woodman’s strong palm kept out Penaranda’s effort.

In the first half Ronaldo Lucena hit the post with an audacious long-range free-kick that had Woodman well beaten, while Tottenham midfielder Josh Onomah saw a powerful effort strike the underside of the Venezuela bar after the break.

England’s youth teams have won the Under-17 European Championship twice – in 2010 and 2014 – and the Under-21 European Championship twice – in 1982 and 1984.

Their previous best at the Under-20 World Cup was third place in 1993.

Six of the squad that triumphed in South Korea on Sunday were part of that Under-17 success in 2014. Woodman, Jonjoe Kenny, Dominic Solanke and captain Lewis Cook all started in Sunday’s final, while Dael Fry and Adam Armstrong were on the bench.

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Source: BBC

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A statement issued on behalf of Rooney, 31, called the images “inappropriate”.

The Sun has published the images, which it says shows Rooney at a party late on Saturday night – a day after England’s World Cup qualifying win over Scotland.

The FA, meanwhile, says it will review its policies around players’ free time.

“Naturally Wayne is sorry that pictures taken with fans have been published,” the statement from Rooney’s management read.

“Although it was a day off for the whole squad and staff, he fully recognises that the images are inappropriate for someone in his position.

“Earlier today Wayne spoke privately to both Gareth Southgate and [FA technical director] Dan Ashworth to unreservedly apologise.

“He would like to further extend that apology to any young fans who have seen these pictures.”

Rooney missed Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw with Spain with a minor knee injury.

Rooney’s apology came as the FA issued a statement saying “England personnel have a responsibility to behave appropriately at all times”.

The governing body added: “We will be reviewing our policy around free time while on international duty.”
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Source: BBC

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Interim manager Gareth Southgate said the decision was tactical and not a reflection of the forward’s form.

Rooney, who was booed by sections of the Wembley crowd during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Malta, has not started Manchester United’s past three matches.

The 30-year-old said there was “no embarrassment” in being on the bench.

Rooney will retain the captaincy but Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson will be the on-field skipper on Tuesday.

England’s record scorer and most-capped male outfield player, with 53 goals in 117 appearances, Rooney has netted once in 12 games for club and country this season.

“My game now? Of course, I’m not denying it is in a difficult period. I’ve been on the bench the last few games for Manchester United but that’s part of football,” said Rooney.

“I have to work hard and, when I’m needed for both club and country, I’ll make sure I’m ready.”

Tottenham’s Eric Dier will replace Rooney in midfield against Slovenia.

Southgate added: “We have looked at the way Slovenia play and I knew in my mind the profile of the midfield I wanted to play in this game. In no way is it a reflection of Wayne’s performance on Saturday.

“He had a lot of the ball and played with great tactical discipline. It’s not an easy decision to take because of the respect I have for him as the captain of this team.”

Rooney said being dropped by England had not changed his plans to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Asked if he was surprised to be left out, he added: “No, I think it is football.

“I’ve played 13 years non-stop for England and given everything. A time comes when you’re not the first name on the team sheet, which I have been in the past.”

Rooney also praised Henderson, 26, who succeeded Steven Gerrard as Liverpool captain.

“I think Jordan is a fantastic leader,” added Rooney. “He has taken a difficult job from Steven Gerrard and grown into the position.

“He has great leadership qualities and he deserves his chance. It will be an incredibly proud moment for him and his family.”

‘Rooney has acted with a lot of class’
Wayne Rooney has acted with a lot of class and it is not easy for him to take being dropped. He has taken it gracefully.

Southgate has made the right decision. There isn’t a place for Rooney in the current England team, it is as simple as that and we have to move on now.

You have to credit Southgate. The past two England managers didn’t have the gumption to drop him and he should have been dropped.
Settled position would help – Rooney

Rooney has mainly played in an advanced midfield role for United this season, but deeper for England.

Asked if his game would benefit from a settled position, he replied: “It would, of course. But that’s the managers’ decision where they want me to play.

“I am not naive in terms of thinking that I am still a 20-year-old who could do what I could do when I was 20.

“I am 30 years of age. I am not 35 or 36 where you are thinking, ‘can you get back from it?’ I feel fine.

“[Manchester United great] Ryan Giggs at 30 wasn’t the same player as at 18 – and he played till he was 40. Players re-evaluate and work out the best way to move forwards. I’m sure that will happen with me.

“After the summer it would have been easy for me to walk away and say: ‘That’s it, I’ve had enough.’ But that’s not me.”

We haven’t looked after Wayne – Southgate
Southgate said he did not like the idea of “satisfying” Rooney’s critics by dropping his captain, and said he was “more annoyed” than Rooney by the negative reaction.

“There is a thing of respect and unfortunately very often we don’t see it fully until players retire and they are finished. I know that is the case,” he said.

Southgate said he remembered former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson saying of a young Rooney: “Look after him, he’s your future.”

He added: “I’m not sure we’ve always done that.”

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Source: BBC

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It came after a newspaper reported he had offered advice on how to “get around” player transfer rules. Allardyce made a “wholehearted apology” and said he recognised some of his comments had “caused embarrassment”.

The FA called his conduct inappropriate and said his contract was ended by mutual agreement. Gareth Southgate will be in charge for four England matches.

‘Great honour’ Allardyce was filmed by undercover reporters from the Daily Telegraph,who posed as businessmen for a meeting in which he reportedly said it was “not a problem” to bypass rules on third-party player ownership, and claimed he knew of agents who were “doing it all the time”.

It was also claimed that a £400,000 deal was struck for him to represent the company to Far East investors and to be a keynote speaker at events. Allardyce also referred to his predecessor Roy Hodgson as “Woy”, making fun of his manner of speaking, and criticised Gary Neville, one of Hodgson’s assistants. Further details of the Telegraph’s wide-ranging investigation are published in Wednesday’s edition of the paper – including a claim that eight past and present Premier League managers have been accused of receiving illicit payments for transfers.

Five of the un-named eight have denied the allegations while three are yet to comment, the paper says. In a statement on the Football Association website, Allardyce said it had been “a great honour” to be appointed England manager and that he was “deeply disappointed at this outcome”. “Although it was made clear during the recorded conversations that any proposed arrangements would need the FA’s full approval, I recognise I made some comments which have caused embarrassment,” he said.

“As part of the meeting, I was asked to clarify what I said and the context in which the conversations took place. I have co-operated fully in this regard. “I also regret my comments with regard to other individuals.” ‘Tough decision’ FA chief executive Martin Glenn said Allardyce was “distraught” to have left his role.

“He recognises that he made a terrible error of judgement,” he said. “Sam understands why the FA has had to take this tough decision.” The FA said it would begin its search for a new England manager while Southgate takes charge for the World Cup qualifiers against Malta, Slovenia and Scotland plus a friendly with Spain.

Allardyce succeeded Hodgson in July following England’s disastrous performance at Euro 2016 in France. After just one match in charge – a 1-0 win over Slovakia in England’s opening World Cup 2018 qualifier – he becomes the national side’s shortest-serving full-time manager.

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Source: BBC

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Amoako-Ackah , who has been staying in Scotland for 14 years, took up the sport less than a year ago but he has managed to make the grade for the Games and he believes he can match the best riders in the event.

“I have been doing the track cycling event for ten months now nut I know it is not enough of a preparatory period for anyone to really expect so much from me. The Indian team from the last Commonwealth Games (in Delhi) has had four years to get ready but they did not do well then.

I started out recording a time of 19.57 seconds from flight to hundred but now, I can do the track in a time of 11.70 seconds and that is better than the times that two of India’s track cyclists from the last Games did,” he said in an interview with the Ghana Olympic Committee.

Amoako wants the sport of track cycling to grow in Ghana and he is confident enough to believe that a good showing from him will make that possible.

“All the preparation I have done puts Ghana in a good stead and it speaks well of us. It shows that we are serious about this sport and we surely do want it to grow.”

ABOUT JEDIDIAH AMOAKO-ACKAH

He took up the sport through a local businessman in Glasgow and he began training in September 2013 at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow for the Games.

He describes the experience of learning the rudiments of the event as “a steep learning curve” but he says it has been exciting as well.

Jedidiah has always been interested in sports; before taking up cycling, he practised football, basketball, judo, boxing and basketball. His love for sport has even transcended into academics as he is taking a course in Sports Therapy at the University of Chichester, West Sussex, England.

One of his friends from his boxing days will be competing for Scotland.

He sees the opportunity for Ghana as a “great privilege” and he is very pleased to represent Ghana though he has lived in Scotland since 2001. He hopes to get the support of the Scottish people as gets his cycle on the velodrome.

He has been pleased with the level of training he has had so far with the Ghana team in Ayrshire, Scotland.

His daily training involves doing road trips to develop his sprinting efforts or doing laps at the velodrome.

His dream is to develop the sport of track cycling in Ghana and he has already set up the Accra Velodrome Project and the Gift A Bike Foundation to spread the word on the sport of track cycling.

Fans can check him out at www.iamjeddie.com

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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