Man Utd: Louis van Gaal defends reputation at first news conference

Louis van Gaal described himself as a "democratic" manager in his first news conference as Manchester United boss.

Van Gaal, who was appointed in May but was at the World Cup with the Netherlands until last weekend, arrives at Old Trafford with a reputation as a fearsome individual.
But the 62-year-old countered: "I'm democratic, empathetic to human beings.
"Of course I have a strong personality, but the other characteristics are more important."

Van Gaal's major titles
Domestic leagues: Ajax (1993-94, 1994-95, 1995-96), Barcelona (1997-98, 1998-99), AZ Alkmaar (2008-09), Bayern Munich (2009-10)
Champions League: Ajax (1994-95)
Uefa Cup: Ajax (1991-92)

He said speculation over his management style was "unfair", adding that "the media want to show that part of the personality. When you repeat that, everybody thinks like that".
Van Gaal, who also revealed that midfielder Michael Carrick had been injured in training this week, called United "the biggest club in the world".
He wants to see how the current squad performs over the next three or four weeks before deciding on any additional signings.
Asked if he was targeting a top four finish, he replied: "To me the challenge is always first, and not fourth."
Speaking to the media ahead of United flying out to the United States on Friday for a five-match tour, Van Gaal answered a range of questions:

• Personality - Described himself as "democratic and empathetic" but conceded he had a "strong personality"
• Sir Alex Ferguson - The record-breaking United manager called to congratulate him on his appointment, and he hopes they drink coffee or wine together soon: "Maybe the best wine, I can imagine"
• Ander Herrera & Luke Shaw - New signings were on list of transfer targets: "I gave my approval because I like them."
• Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes & Phil Neville - Wants to find roles for member of 'Class of '92' if possible
• Captains - "All the players are possible candidates. I have to get to know them."

The squad returned for pre-season training on 4 July, with assistant Ryan Giggs taking charge while Van Gaal was helping to guide the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-final.
Van Gaal, who was introduced at Thursday's news conference alongside United legend Sir Bobby Charlton, has been asked to rejuvenate the Old Trafford club following last season's disappointing campaign under David Moyes.
United made the Champions League quarter-finals, but finished seventh in the Premier League in their first campaign following Ferguson's retirement.
"I will do my best and that's what I can give," said Van Gaal, who has won league titles with every club he has managed.
"I have to adapt to this club. It shall not be easy, but I will do my utmost. When you see my career, you can see what I have won and that is what I can say. The future shall show if I can do that again."
He added: "It's a great challenge because of the expectation.
"I worked for Barcelona, in my opinion number one in Spain; I have coached Ajax, number one in the Netherlands; I have coached Bayern Munich, number one in Germany, and now Man United, who are number one in England and I hope I shall fulfil expectations."

Van Gaal revealed in the news conference that Michael Carrick had been injured in training

Van Gaal appeared relaxed and raised the odd laugh when answering questions

England drop in Fifa world rankings to 20th

England have fallen to 20th in the latest Fifa world rankings, their lowest position since May 1996.

The drop of 10 places following a poor World Cup means they are behind Bosnia-Hercegovina, Costa Rica and the USA.

Spain have gone from top to eighth, with Germany leading the rankings for the first time in two decades.

Scotland remain 27th but Wales have dropped three places to 44th. Northern Ireland are up one to 89th, while Republic of Ireland stay 70th.

World top 10 (compared to June rankings)
1 - Germany (+1)	6 - Uruguay (+1)
2 - Argentina (+3)	7 - Brazil (-4)
3 - Netherlands (+12)	8 - Spain (-7)
4 - Colombia (+4)	9 - Switzerland (-3)
5 - Belgium (+6)	10 - France (+7)

England were third in August 2012 but World Cup defeats by Italy and Uruguay and a draw against Costa Rica have seen their standing fall.

After failing to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and just prior to the 1996 European Championships, England were ranked 24th. Their lowest ever placing came in February 1996, when they were 27th.

World Cup finalists Argentina are second, while the Netherlands have climbed 12 places to third after their impressive run at the tournament.

Brazil drop four places to seventh, while Colombia, who lost to the host nation in the World Cup quarter-finals, rise to fourth.

Belgium and France benefited from reaching the World Cup quarter-finals, climbing to fifth and 10th respectively.

Yanga draw easy group in Kagame Cup.

They have been placed in Group A together with Rayon Sport of Rwanda, Ethiopia’s Coffee FC, KMKM of Zanzibar and South Sudan’s Atlbara in the tournament scheduled for next month

Mainland giants Young Africans have been handled what many might consider to be a fair draw in the 2014 East and Central Africa Club Championship (Kagame Cup).

They have been placed in Group A together with Rayon Sport of Rwanda, Ethiopia’s Coffee FC, KMKM of Zanzibar and South Sudan’s Atlbara in the tournament scheduled for next month in Kigali, Rwanda. The tournament which has attracted a record 14 clubs will kick-off on August 8 and not 9 as earlier announced. It will end on August 24, one day more from the earlier schedule. A total of 34 matches will be telecast live by Supersport and will be staged at Amahoro and Nyamirambo stadiums in Rwanda.

Commenting, Yanga Secretary General, Beno Njovu said they are okay with the draws because the tournament involves the very same teams of the East and Central Africa zone. Yanga are five times Kagame Cup champions.

“I haven’t seen which teams we have been pooled together with, I have only heard from media about the draw and group, but we are ok to face any teams because it’s our job to play and another thing is that we are going to meet the usual teams we’ve played against in the past,” said Njovu.

Cecafa Cup draw:Group A: Yanga (Tanzania), Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Coffee (Ethiopia), Atlbara (South Sudan) and KMKM (Zanzibar).Group B: Gor Mahia (Kenya), KCCA (Uganda), APR (Rwanda), Telecom (Djibouti) and Flambeau (Burundi).Group C: Vital ‘O’ (Burundi), El Merreikh (Sudan), Police (Rwanda) and Benadeir (Somalia).

Manchester United confirm 10-year Adidas deal

The Premier League side, imminently to be taken over by Louis van Gaal, have agreed a huge kit sponsorship guaranteeing them at least £750 million, starting in 2015

Manchester United and Adidas have agreed a 10-year sponsorship deal worth upwards of £750 million, the Premier League club have confirmed.

As exclusively revealed byGoal, the German sports manufacturer emerged as frontrunner to replace former sponsors Nike in April and has now clinched a world-record deal.

A statement read: "Manchester United plc (NYSE:MANU) has reached a 10-year agreement with adidas for a global technical sponsorship and dual branded licensing deal for a minimum guarantee of £750m, subject to certain adjustments, beginning with the 2015-2016 campaign.

"For the 2014-2015 season, Nike will continue in its role of technical sponsor and trademark licensee."

It represents a world record for any sportswear deal in any sport and dwarfs the fee paid by the same company to sponsor Chelsea's kit by £45m per season.

United's new Nike kit, their last under the current arrangement, was revealed earlier in July.

James Rodriguez wins Golden Boot

World Cup 2014: Best goals of the tournament

World Cup Golden Boot winners
1930 - Guillermo Stabile (Arg) eight goals	1934 - Oldrich Nejedly (Cze); five
1938 - Leonidas (Bra); seven	1950 - Ademir (Bra); eight
1954 - Sandor Kocsis (Hun); 11	1958 - Just Fontaine (Fra); 13
1962- Florian Albert (Hun), Valentin Ivanov (USSR), Garrincha & Vava (Bra), Drazan Jerkovic (Yug), Leonel Sanchez (Chi); four	1966 - Eusebio (Por); nine
1970 - Gerd Muller (Ger); 10	1974 - Grzegorz Lato (Pol); seven
1978 - Mario Kempes (Arg); six	1982 - Paolo Rossi (Ita); six
1986 - Gary Lineker (Eng); six	1990 - Salvatore Schillaci (Ita); six
1994 - Oleg Salenko (Rus), Hristo Stoichkov (Bulgaria); six	1998 - Davor Suker (Cro); six
2002 - Ronaldo (Bra); eight	2006 - Miroslav Klose (Ger); five
2010 - Thomas Muller (Ger); five	2014 - James Rodriguez (Col); six

GERMANY ARE THE FIFA WORLD CHAMPIONS

Germany's Mario Gotze became the first substitute to score the winner in a World Cup final

More than 250,000 German fans are estimated to have watched the game at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate

More than 25,000 police, soldiers and firefighters ensured there was tight security around the Maracana

Thousands of supporters packed on to Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach to watch the match on big screens

Colombian singer Shakira performed some of her most recognisable hits at the closing ceremony

Fifa president Sepp Blatter is by Russia President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel

Brazil legend winner, compatriot Kaka and ex-England skipper David Beckham were in attendance

Germany fans were determined to see their side stop Argentina winning in the home of Brazilian football

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain had spurned a golden opportunity in the 21st minute of the final

Napoli striker Higuain did sweep Ezequiel Lavezzi's cross into the net shortly after - but was offside

Germany defender Benedikt Howedes headed against the post in first-half stoppage-time

Argentina did not manage a shot on target, with Lionel Messi dragging a decent chance wide

Some Argentina fans inside the Maracana could barely watch the action in a tense period of extra time

Germany's win was their fourth World Cup triumph - and the first since reunification in 1990

Gotze's winning goal was the 32nd goal by a substitute at the tournament, a World Cup record

Alexis Sanchez: Arsene Wenger's style of play key to Arsenal move

Alexis Sanchez says Arsenal's style of play under Arsene Wenger was a key factor in his £35m move from Barcelona.

The Chile international, 25, has penned a long-term deal at Emirates Stadium and will join up with his new team-mates at the end of July.
"Arsenal plays very well, which fits my style. That is why I moved here," he said.
"Arsene Wenger's style of play is the sort of style the Chilean national team has, so therefore I am used to it."
He added: "I know this club has a manager that looks after his players and takes care of them as well. He wants to achieve great things in football and that helped me make the decision to sign for Arsenal."

“We have a great squad and we are a big club. We can achieve big things”

Alexis Sanchez

Sanchez has scored 24 goals in 71 appearances for Chile, two of those strikes coming as he helped his country reach the World Cup last 16, where they lost on penalties to Brazil.

He had been tipped to join Liverpool as part of the transfer taking Luis Suarez to the Spanish side, but no agreement was reached and Arsenal were able to wrap up a deal that sees Sanchez become the first Chilean to play for the club.
"I am certainly glad to be the first Chilean ever playing for Arsenal," he added on Arsenal.com.  "The team not only plays really good football, but the squad is really good and we can win silverware.
"We have a great squad and we are a big club. We can achieve big things."
Sanchez is likely to make his first outing when Arsenal host Benfica, Valencia and Monaco in the Emirates Cup on August 2-3.
The FA Cup winners' first competitive match of the new campaign is the FA Community Shield against Manchester City on August 10.

Luis Suarez: Liverpool & Barcelona agree £75m deal for striker

Liverpool have agreed to sell striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona for a fee thought to be about £75m.

The Uruguayan, 27, who is serving a four-month ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup, will sign a five-year deal.

Suarez, who scored 31 league goals last season, will travel to the Spanish club next week for a medical.

"Luis is a very special talent and I thank him for the role he has played," said Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

Suarez - last season's Premier League top scorer and winner of the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards - signed for Liverpool from Ajax in 2011 for £22.7m, and had four years left on his contract.

Suarez says he and his family will "always be Liverpool supporters"

The move to Barcelona takes him closer to his wife Sofia's family.

"I hope you can all understand why I have made this decision," said the striker, who is banned from "all football-related activity" until the end of October as he serves his third suspension for biting an opponent.

"This club did all they could to get me to stay, but playing and living in Spain, where my wife's family live, is a lifelong dream and ambition. I believe now the timing is right."

Luis Suarez controversies
June 2014	Banned for four months from any football-related activity, plus nine international matches, for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini
April 2013	Apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic and receives a 10-game ban
Dec 2011	Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra
Nov 2010	Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax
July 2010	Handles on the line to deny Ghana a winner in the last minute of extra-time in the World Cup quarter-finals. Asamoah Gyan misses the resulting penalty and Uruguay win the shootout to reach the semi-finals

Suarez thanked the "wonderful" Liverpool fans in a letter - tweeted from his account  - for supporting him "in good times and bad".

When he is eventually eligible to play again, Suarez is expected to wear the number nine shirt in a formidable Barcelona front line including Argentine Lionel Messi and Brazilian Neymar.

The club is looking to rebuild under new coach Luis Enrique after its first season without a major trophy in six years.

If the transfer fee is confirmed at £75m, it will be the third biggest in football history after Gareth Bale (£86m Tottenham to Real Madrid, 2013) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£80m Manchester United to Real Madrid, 2009)

"It is with a heavy heart that I leave Liverpool for a new life and new challenges in Spain," said Suarez.

"Both me and my family have fallen in love with this club (Liverpool) and with the city, but most of all I have fallen in love with the incredible fans.

"You have always supported me and we, as a family, will never forget it. We will always be Liverpool supporters."

World Cup 2014: Uruguay's Luis Suarez bites Italian Chiellini

In his statement, released on Liverpool's official website, Suarez concluded: "Thank you again for some great moments and memories. You'll Never Walk Alone."

The transfer means Liverpool do not have to deal with the fall-out from a Suarez suspension for the second season running.

They supported the player after another biting attack - on Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic at Anfield in April 2013 - which led to a 10-game ban, and he signed a new contract in December.

"The club have done all they can over a sustained period of time to try to keep Luis at Liverpool," added Rodgers.

"It is with great reluctance and following lengthy discussions we have eventually agreed to his wishes to move to Spain for new experiences and challenges. We wish him and his young family well; we will always consider them to be friends."

Suarez in stats (Opta)
43: Involved in 43 goals in 2013-14 season (31 goals, 12 assists), more than any other player in the top five leagues.
92: Only Robin van Persie (103) has scored or assisted more Premier League goals than Suarez (92) since his debut

Suarez leaves Liverpool having scored 82 goals in 133 appearances, but also serving two bans - he was given an eight-game suspension in for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.

He had tried to force a move away last summer, prompting an ill-fated £40,000,001 bid from Arsenal to trigger a release clause.

Meanwhile, Barcelona face a logistical conundrum regarding his presentation as their player - usually done at the Nou Camp which is opened up to fans - as his worldwide suspension extends to entering any football ground.

They are permitted to buy and sell players this summer after football's governing body Fifa suspended its 14-month transfer ban on the club pending an appeal.

Barcelona were given the 14-month suspension after being found to have breached rules on signing international players under the age of 18.

World Cup 2014: Fifa announces Golden Ball shortlist

Fifa has announced the shortlist for the 2014 Golden Ball, the prize awarded to the best player at the World Cup.

Argentina have three nominees in Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi, while their opponents in Sunday's final, Germany, have four.

Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Phillip Lahm and Thomas Muller are the players nominated from Joachim Low's side.

Colombia's James Rodriguez, Brazil's Neymar and Arjen Robben of Netherlands complete the 10-man shortlist.

Fifa has also announced the nominees for the Golden Glove competition, awarded to the best goalkeeper at the World Cup.

Costa Rica's Keylor Navas, Germany's Manuel Neuer and Argentina's Sergio Romero will compete for the prize.

Meanwhile, Netherlands' Memphis Depay and Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane of France have been nominated for the best young player at the tournament.

The winners of each competition are to be announced after Sunday's final. 

Angel Di Maria scores late winner for Argentina

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Lionel Messi scores stunning goal in stoppage time

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World Cup 2014: Arjen Robben fires Netherlands into lead

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Javier Mascherano's last-ditch block on Arjen Robben

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Neymar's opening match double for Brazil

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World Cup 2014: James Rodriguez's six World Cup goals

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Thomas Muller's hat-trick against Portugal

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Highlights: Brazil 1-7 Germany

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Toni Kroos scores Germany's third goal against Brazil

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World Cup 2014: Mats Hummels heads Germany in front

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The best saves of the 2014 World Cup so far

Brazil 1-7 Germany in ten incredible pictures

 Neymar on their minds

 Kroos control

 Muller time!

 Brazil fans are dejected

 Klose is a record-breaker

 High five for the Germans

 Schurrle slams home another goal

 David Luiz...Tears of a clown

 Angry Brazil fans

Scolari sees Germany go seven up

ARGENTINA YAITOA UHOLANZI KWA PENALTI NA KUTINGA FAINALI KOMBE LA DUNIA

Ahead of kick-off, Argentina fans were hopeful that their team could reach their fifth World Cup final

Lionel Messi and his team-mates wore black armbands in tribute to Argentina-born legend Alfredo Di Stefano, who died aged 88 on Monday

There was also a moment's silence for the former Real Madrid forward in the Arena De Sao Paulo

Argentina supporters taunted their arch rivals Brazil, following their 7-1 semi-final defeat by Germany

Until the shootout, excitement levels were low for soaked supporters inside the Arena de Sao Paulo

Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain prodded the game's best chance into the side-netting

Argentina will head to Rio de Janeiro and a date with Germany in the final at the Maracana

Patrice Evra: Man Utd defender wants Juventus move

Patrice Evra has asked to leave Manchester United - but stopped short of handing in a transfer request.

Juventus had earlier approached the Old Trafford club over the France international's availability.

United recently triggered a clause in 33-year-old Evra's contract that saw him sign a one-year deal.

However, the player has contacted officials at United in a bid to push through the move to Italy and it may happen on Thursday. 

Evra made 45 appearances for United in all competitions last season as they finished seventh in the Premier League after a disappointing campaign under former manager David Moyes.

He was part of the France World Cup squad and played in four out of their five games, including the quarter-final defeat by Germany.

Evra joined United for £5.5m from Monaco in January 2006.

He has made 379 appearances for the club, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2008. It was anticipated he would replace Nemanja Vidic as club captain following the Serb's summer exit to Inter Milan.

Manager Louis van Gaal does have a ready-made replacement for Evra in new signing Luke Shaw should a deal with Juventus eventually be concluded, although with Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs no longer available, it would mean a significant loss of experience.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have announced their first game at Old Trafford with Van Gaal in charge will be a friendly against Valencia on 12 August.

'Sanchez in London for medical???

Chile attacking midfielder Alexis Sanchez is in London for a medical with Arsenal according to the Daily Telegraph.

Arsenal have reached a deal in principle with Barcelona and the 25-year-old has agreed personal terms.