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Sergino Dest, a Dutch-born USMNT player, has a World Cup match against the Netherlands.

Published

1 year ago

December 1, 2022

Rodrigo

Sergino Dest, a Dutch-born USMNT player, has a World Cup match against the Netherlands.

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The USMNT will face the Netherlands in a World Cup round-of-16 encounter on Saturday, and although the moment will be significant for everybody involved, it will be extremely special for defender Sergino Dest.

Dest was born in Almere, a Dutch village about 12 miles east of Amsterdam. He attended the renowned Ajax academy and became a professional there. Dest, on the other hand, has played international soccer for the United States owing to his American father, Kenneth, so when the two teams line up on Saturday, he’ll meet a lot of familiar faces.

“I know practically every single player over there,” Dest said via a team spokesperson after the US’s 1-0 win against Iran on Tuesday, which guaranteed the US’s place in the knockout rounds. “Of course, it’ll be entertaining. I was born there, speak the language, and know all of these people. They want to proceed, but we both share the same dream. It’s going to be another struggle.”

Dest was significantly featured in the match against Iran. According to the Group B rankings coming into the last round of games, the US needed to win to progress, whereas Iran merely needed to draw. As a result, Iran was content to sit back and absorb up pressure before launching counterattacks. And for the first 35 minutes or so of Tuesday’s play, the United States’ collective heads were slamming against Team Melli’s defense. The strategy worked well, but the US seemed satisfied to play it safe. It was going to take something unique to bring Iran down.

Dest stepped in at this point. In the 17th minute, the US right-back caused chaos with a low cross that goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand could only push away, and later with a spectacular run that ended with his shot being blocked. But the road to the goal had been set, and it was with Dest’s assistance that the breakthrough occurred in the 38th minute. The defender headed across goal after Weston McKennie’s lofted pass out to Dest, allowing Christian Pulisic to cut in and score from close range.

The United States had to do more defending in the second half and faced difficult moments, but a team effort allowed them to see the game out and achieve a significant victory that secured second place in Group B.

“I’m quite proud of them,” Dest stated. “We truly fought for each other during all three games. We have formed a brotherhood. Iran pressed us a little more in the second half, but we finished the job. We are content. We can finally unwind.”

It’s hardly surprising that Dest was engaged in the goal. His attacking instincts have always been his most valuable quality. And he’s demonstrated a flair for making huge plays in big games, as as his goal against Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier.

However, there were concerns prior to the World Cup. Dest has played 373 minutes in total for AC Milan since being loaned from Barcelona in September. The move occurred while Barcelona tried to balance its accounts. In terms of playing time at Milan, it didn’t help that his rival for the position, Davide Calabria, is the club’s captain. Dest’s defense hasn’t always been steady, even without the concerns of accumulated rust, and his location is also an issue. During his time at Barcelona, then-manager Ronald Koeman complained that Dest was too easily distracted during games.

“He needs to be more aggressive, more focused,” Koeman stated in February 2021, during a Champions League match against Paris Saint-Kylian Germain’s Mbappe. “He had too many times in the game where he wasn’t completely concentrated.”

In Qatar, this has not been an issue. Dest has been superb on both sides of the ball at this World Cup, even when he was alone against Iran’s forwards. It’s been observed by the guy who has the finest view of defenders in the house: US goalkeeper Matt Turner.

“He was incredible, running up and down the field,” Turner added. “What I’ve observed about Sergino is that he always seems to show up defensively in key occasions, and he tracks runners in the box really, very well.”

The same could be said of the US defense as a whole, which allowed just one goal and none from open play in three group-stage games. Although the backline has performed, US boss Gregg Berhalter believes it has been a team effort. And Dest and Antonee Robinson have given the management exactly what he wants.

“The full-backs have been excellent,” Berhalter added. “Today, we want them to be a little more provocative. And we had help from [Dest]. As a result, it’s a positive thing. We need our full-backs to be aggressive, and it was encouraging to see them do so today.”

The Dutch have a great team that finished first in Group A with seven points, but there is a sense that Louis van Gaal’s side hasn’t yet found top gear. The same may be said of a US squad that only scored twice. For the time being, Dest and his teammates will face former Ajax teammates Frenkie de Jong and Jurrien Timber.

“I can’t wait to play the next match because it’s going to be a lot of fun, playing against my birth nation,” he remarked. “I am completely confident.”

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He is the editor of River C Sports. Previously, he was editor-in-chief at other news sites . Rodrigo has spent most of his career as editor-in-chief of various websites and has more than 7 years of experience in the industry.

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SOCCER

Lionel Messi’s PSG contract deal has enraged Kylian Mbappe, who wants to quit the club. – Reporting

Published

11 months ago

December 29, 2022

Rodrigo

Lionel Messi’s PSG contract deal has enraged Kylian Mbappe, who wants to quit the club. – Reporting

According to reports, Kylian Mbappe is upset over Lionel Messi’s extension at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Barcelona, a powerhouse in La Liga, has taken notice that the Frenchman is thinking about leaving the team.

According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, Mbappe is upset over rumors that Messi may stay at PSG longer. According to the Spanish daily, the Frenchman wants to either become the club’s major attraction or leave.

They say that the Barcelona board has taken note of the issue and that preparations are being made. The Catalan side is still experiencing a financial crisis, and rumors indicate that they will likely soon pull another lever.

Nevertheless, the club has continued to sign players for Xavi, with last summer serving as a prime illustration. Real Madrid had been connected to Kylian Mbappe up until last summer, but after the 24-year-old sensation signed a new contract with PSG, Los Blancos felt betrayed and apparently discontinued their pursuit of him.

At PSG, Kylian Mbappe dislikes Lionel Messi.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup final celebrations have been said to be the source of Kylian Mbappe’s discontent with Lionel Messi by PSG manager Christophe Galtier.

While fans from the South American team burned a coffin with the name of the PSG star on it, Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was seen carrying a baby doll with Kylian Mbappe’s face on it.

Galtier said the following during a press conference before the Ligue 1 match versus Strasbourg:

“I make no judgments about how they celebrate; that is Argentine territory. The Argentine goalkeeper’s predicament is not mine to handle. What I witnessed in the final is what matters the most. Leo and Kylian shook hands, and Kylian demonstrated exceptional character before the trophy ceremony and after the game.”

He added:

“He congratulated Leo and the Argentine coach. I remain attached to that, the relationship between Kylian and Leo. It is not Leo who celebrated, we have to leave him out of it.”

The PSG manager continued:

“There is no need to jumble things up, and I am not required to address the goalkeeper’s actions. Kylian was really positive despite his defeat. Despite his disappointment, he managed to applaud Leo politely, which is excellent for the club.”

After the New Year, Lionel Messi will re-join Kylian Mbappe and his PSG colleagues while he is still in Argentina partying.

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SOCCER

Results, highlights, and analysis from Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa.

Published

11 months ago

December 27, 2022

July Neves

Results, highlights, and analysis from Liverpool’s win over Aston Villa.

The 3-1 victory over Aston Villa marked Liverpool’s return to Premier League play, but they had to battle hard for their triumph in an exciting game at Villa Park.

With barely five minutes remaining, Mohamed Salah scored the opening goal for the Reds, setting a Premier League defense assist record with Andrew Robertson’s help. Just before the halfway point, Virgil van Dijk increased the Reds’ lead.

The hosts, though, more than justified the Ollie Watkins header that got them back in the game in the second half, and that scoreline did not provide a totally fair portrayal of the game up to that moment.

Unfortunately for Unai Emery, his team’s brave attempt to gain an equalizer left them vulnerable to the counterattack. Stefan Bajcetic, a replacement, sealed the win late in the contest.

Aston Villa vs. Liverpool final score

	1H	2H	Final
Aston Villa	0	1	1
Liverpool	2	1	3

Goals:

LIV — Salah — 5th min
LIV — Van Dijk — 37th min
VIL — Watkins — 59th min
LIV — Bajcetic — 81st min

Nunez’s mixed Liverpool start continues

It is typical to point out that strikers are, at the very least, setting themselves up to attempt shots when they consistently miss opportunities.

Darwin Nunez, who might have possibly scored two hat-trick goals in Liverpool’s first two games following the World Cup, can attest to the fact that.

Unfortunately, the Uruguayan’s finishing has left a lot to be desired, and he doesn’t have a single goal to show for the raft of chances he has been involved in since returning from Qatar

Among the flaws Klopp has sought to iron out in Nunez’s game since he joined the team are his failure to finish off opponents and a concerning propensity to veer offside.

The manager still has a lot of work to do since, alarmingly, it appears that whatever advancement achieved in that direction prior to the mid-season break has been lost in the most recent weeks.

Vamos, @Darwinn99 👊 pic.twitter.com/kjASzGYRvN

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2022

Control abandons the Reds once more

During the early part of the season, Liverpool’s inability to consistently dominate games was one of their main flaws, and it was anticipated that they would use the break to focus on improving it.

However, it is clear that they still have a long way to go based on how they played against Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Both contests turned into end-to-end brawls where the result was practically decided by the toss of a coin. If this trend continues, Klopp’s team will lose more games than they win.

By this time, it must be hard to argue that a center midfield acquisition in January will increase the likelihood of improvement on that front.

Rewarding young people’s faith

The more cynical Liverpool supporters may think that Klopp’s usage of Bajcetic here was intended to convey to the team’s owners the necessity for midfield reinforcements.

However, the Reds manager has a lot of trust in the young player and undoubtedly saw a chance to utilise him when his more seasoned heads grew weary in the face of a late Villa attack.

That bold decision was rewarded in the greatest manner imaginable when Bajcetic, in one of his few first-team appearances, calmly scored a crucial third goal late in the game.

🥰 pic.twitter.com/d3ZzklH6Xi

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 26, 2022

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Liverpool vs. Manchester City Prediction, Odds, and Line: EFL Cup predictions from experts and top bets for December 22

SOCCER

Liverpool vs. Manchester City Prediction, Odds, and Line: EFL Cup predictions from experts and top bets for December 22

Published

11 months ago

December 22, 2022

Rodrigo

Liverpool vs. Manchester City Prediction, Odds, and Line: EFL Cup predictions from experts and top bets for December 22

The 2022–23 English League Cup fourth-round encounter between Liverpool and Manchester City at Etihad Stadium will be challenging for the defending champions. The Reds defeated Chelsea in the EFL Cup final on penalties back in February, but they also had to defeat Derby County in the third-round matchup this year on November 9. Man City won their match against Chelsea on the same day, and they want to advance after losing to West Ham in the fourth round the year before. Man City has eight EFL Cup victories, while Liverpool has a record nine. The Premier League champion Citizens are ranked second in the 2022–23 standings, five points behind Arsenal. The Reds finished second in the EPL in 2021–22 but are currently sixth, 15 points behind the Gunners.

Manchester, England is scheduled to kick underway at 3 p.m. ET. The most recent Manchester City vs. Liverpool odds from Caesars Sportsbook have Manchester City as -150 underdogs (risk $150 to win $100). Liverpool are -330 underdogs, a tie is -310, and 3.5 total goals are the set over/under. Check out Martin Green’s English League Cup predictions and best bets before committing to any Liverpool vs. Manchester City choices or EFL Cup wagers. Martin Green is a seasoned SportsLine soccer insider.

Green became a professional sports journalist and handicapper after working in the sports betting sector for a number of years. He has covered the sport internationally. His predictions for European soccer have proven accurate ever since. Since the 2017–18 season, Green has produced roughly $33,000 for $100 bettors.

The USMNT to progress (+100), Kylian Mbappe to win the Golden Boot (+900), and Netherlands, England, and Argentina to all win their groups (+210) were among Green’s winning World Cup predictions on the Early Edge.

Green has just finalized his choices and EFL Cup forecasts after thoroughly dissecting the Man City vs. Liverpool clash. To see his choices, go to SportsLine right away. The odds and trends for Liverpool vs. Man City are as follows:

Liverpool vs. Man City line: Man City -0.5 (-140)
Over/under 3.5 goals for Man City vs. Liverpool
Money line for Man City vs. Liverpool: Liverpool +330, Man City -150, and a Draw +310
In their last 10 games in all competitions, they have outscored opponents 17-6.
Over their last 10 competitive games, they have outscored opponents 20-6.
Picks for Man City vs. Liverpool: Find selections here.

Why You Should Support City of Manchester

Due to some important players taking their time getting back from the World Cup, the Citizens will be lacking some firepower. With Argentina, Julian Alvarez won a championship, and England’s Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, among others, advanced to the semifinals. Erling Haaland, whose country Norway did not qualify for the World Cup, will be eager to put on a show and City should have two of their greatest players. Kevin De Bruyne, a star midfielder for Belgium, should also be prepared to go after leaving the team early. This season, Haaland has scored 18 goals in EPL action, six more than any other player.

Ilkay Gundogan started with them in a friendly game against Girona last weekend. De Bruyne now leads the EPL with nine assists. In the 2-0 triumph, goals were scored by De Bruyne and Haaland. After scoring 21 goals in each of the previous two seasons, Gundogan now has two. Haaland and 18-year-old Carlos Borges likely start with Riyad Mahrez, who has 31 goals in the last three games. In 10 games for City’s U21 squad, the City academy product has four goals and five assists. Man City is 3-2-4 away from home this season, while Liverpool is 11-0-2 overall.

Reasons to Support Liverpool

In their last five encounters with City, the Reds are undefeated and have won the last three. Liverpool won the 3-2 FA Cup in April, the 3-1 Community Shield soon before the EPL season, and the 1-0 EPL triumph in October. The Reds have gone four games without a loss, with their lone loss coming in a 0-0 tie at Derby City. They won 7-2 against the remaining three foes. Both Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, who have combined for 14 goals and five assists in 21 games across all competitions, should be available. Firmino has also scored nine goals and assisted on four others.

Although Liverpool has four less attempts than City, which has the most in the league with 244, it still leads the EPL with 87 shots that are on target. With 50 shots and 20 shots on goal, Salah and Firmino are in a three-way tie for third place in the league. The Reds’ defense will be a touch porous, but Joel Matip should be available in the center. Alisson, the goalkeeper, Trent Alexander-Arnold, a crucial fullback, and Jordan Henderson, a midfielder, all worked out this week and might all contribute. City’s starting 11 and reserves are missing a lot more players overall.

How to make predictions for Man City vs. Liverpool and the EFL Cup

Green has examined every aspect of the Man City vs. Liverpool EFL Cup game. He offers his three assured best bets and is leaning Over the goal total. One of these would pay off at a ratio of more than 2-1. At SportsLine, he solely offers predictions and analyses for the EFL Cup.

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