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PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil: Argentina will start from afresh in the Copa America after averting disaster with Sunday's (Jun 23) 2-0 victory over Qatar that sent them into the knock-out stages, star Lionel Messi said. Goals from the Barcelona icon's forward partners Lautaro Martinez and Sergio Aguero were enough to propel Argentina from bottom of Group B to second and into a quarter-final meeting with Venezuela on Friday at Rio's Maracana stadium. "The important thing was to win to keep going in the Copa, to get through the group stage," said Messi, who will turn 32 on Monday. "This will be an important boost for what's to come ... another Copa begins now. "This victory must give us strength and make us grow as a team." Argentina's performance was far from pitch-perfect, but they were good enough to beat a limited Qatar side, who gifted them the opening goal after four minutes when Bassam Hicham played a suicidal ball across his own box straight to Martinez. Messi admitted, … [Read more...] about Football: Copa America starts anew in quarters, says Argentina’s Messi

RIO DE JANEIRO: Underdogs Peru may have missed out on a third Copa America title after losing 3-1 to Brazil in Sunday's (Jul 7) final but they are on the right track, coach Ricardo Gareca said. Although the surprise finalists ultimately came up short, they at least provided a much sterner test for the hosts than in a group stage encounter earlier in the competition when Gareca's side were trounced 5-0. "We're in good shape, despite the pain of defeat we're on the right path," said the veteran Argentine. "The most important thing is to realize that we've improved over time and that should... strengthen us." Gareca said Brazil were "worthy winners" but added that Peru had "improved since the last game" against the hosts. Still, he felt they would always struggle to compete at this level due to having a smaller pool of players to choose from. "Brazil have 1,000 players, we only have 50. Uruguay have 300" to choose from, said the 61-year-old. "We need more players. When … [Read more...] about Football: Peru on right path despite Brazil Copa defeat, says Gareca

BIARRITZ, France: EU Council president Donald Tusk said it was hard to imagine the bloc ratifying its trade pact with South America's Mercosur grouping as long as Brazil fails to curb the fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest. The European Union "stands by the EU-Mercosur agreement", Tusk told reporters at a G7 meeting in Biarritz in southern France on Saturday (Aug 24). "It is hard to imagine a harmonious process of ratification by the European countries as long as the Brazilian government allows for the destruction of the green lungs of planet earth," he said. French President Emmanuel Macron has said the G7 should hold emergency talks on the Amazon fires, taking the lead in piling pressure on Brazil's far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro. He and Irish leader Leo Varadkar have both pledged to block a new trade deal between the EU and Latin American trading bloc Mercosur, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. But Spain, which has close ties to South America, … [Read more...] about Tusk says ‘hard to imagine’ EU-Mercosur trade deal while Amazon burns

LYON: The archbishop of Lyon, the most senior French cleric caught up in the global paedophilia scandal that has rocked the Catholic church, announced his resignation on Thursday (Mar 7) after being given a six-month suspended jail term for failing to report sex abuse. A court in Lyon, in southeastern France, had ruled that 68-year-old Cardinal Philippe Barbarin, who was not present for the verdict, was guilty of failing to report allegations of abuse of minors committed by a priest in the 1980s and 1990s. He is the third senior French cleric to be found guilty of failing to report sex abuse. "I have decided to go to see the Holy Father to hand him my resignation. He will receive me in a few days' time," Barbarin told a news conference after the verdict. "Independently from my own fate, I wish once again to stress my compassion for the victims," he said. He was on trial at a time when the Catholic Church has been hit by abuse scandals in countries as far afield as … [Read more...] about French cardinal Barbarin convicted over sex abuse cover up

LIVERPOOL, England - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will not allow his players to travel to international matches this month if they have to quarantine on their return. Under current coronavirus guidelines, arrivals from countries that Britain regards as high risk are subject to 10 days of hotel confinement. Portugal and all of South America are on the so-called “red list” so it would apply to Liverpool’s Brazil internationals — Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Fabinho — and Portugal forward Diogo Jota. FIFA has given clubs dispensation during the pandemic to prevent players who may be affected by the regulations from joining up with their countries, and Klopp intends to do so. “I think all the clubs agree that with the same problems, we cannot just let the boys go and then sort the situation when they come back by placing our players in a 10-day quarantine in a hotel. It is just not possible,” Klopp said. “I understand the needs of the different FAs but this is a time where … [Read more...] about Klopp won’t allow players to travel if need to quarantine