Tottenham: Spurs Weighing Move For "The Best" Striker

Tottenham Hotspur are "considering a move" for Flamengo star Pedro with star striker Harry Kane's future uncertain, according to journalist Miguel Delaney.

Who will Spurs sign?

New manager Ange Postecoglou has been left delighted with some of the business Spurs have conducted so far this summer, England international James Maddison in particular.

The former Leicester City playmaker has officially joined Postecoglou's side with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and winger Manor Solomon, with Tottenham's head coach expressing his excitement recently.

“Really excited to get James as part of the group," said the Australian.

"Any manager will tell you that part of the key to being a dominant team is having multiple attacking threats and having a midfielder who can score and create goals.

“They’re not easy to come by. He’s proven himself at that lvel in the last few years as somebody who can do that. When you look at Tottenham the last few years, they’ve been really reliant on the front three to get their goals.

“I thought it was a really good fit for us to look for a player like James – even better if we could get James, so we ended up getting James."

However, Tottenham aren't though to be finished just yet, as links still surround the signing of a new first team centre-back. Indeed, Wolfsburg's Micky van de Ven. Meanwhile, Edmond Tapsoba of Bayer Leverkusen, Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo, Barcelona's Clement Lenglet, Galatasary's Victor Nelsson and Bremer have all been linked with moves.

Spurs, with Kane's contract expiring in just 12 months, are also now being tipped to potentially source a replacement if their superstar doesn't pen fresh terms with the north Londoners.

There have even been suggestions that Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, who will command a large transfer fee, is a player of serious interest to chairman Daniel Levy.

Now, according to Delaney of The Independent, Spurs could look across the Atlantic for options as news emerges on Flamengo's exciting star Pedro.

Flamengo's Pedro during the warm up before the match

Tottenham are apparently "considering a move" for the 26-year-old, who was called up to Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

While he struggled at Fiorentina four years ago, there is a feeling the big move came too early and he is now ready to ply his trade in Europe's top five leagues once again.

He is one of many options they're weighing right now, as Kane leaving is now seen as much more realistic given the uncertainty surrounding his contract.

How good is Pedro?

The Rio-born forward boasts a fine scoring record for Flamengo in the Brazilian top flight, having netted an impressive 93 goals and a further 23 assists in 141 Brasiliero Serie A appearances (Transfermarkt).

Pedro has also been praised by footballing icon Ronaldo, not just as a "quality striker", but also the "best player" in America right now.

"The top scorer and Craque of the Brasileirão will be Pedro," said Ronaldo.

"Also the best player in America in 2023. Pedro is a quality striker who makes the difference in Flamengo's attack, he has a huge future ahead of him, with a future also in the national team".

Smith relishes chance to put off-field frustrations to one side

England are in the unusual position of entering an ODI match against Australia as favourites. But their upsurge owes much to a common adversary

Melinda Farrell at Edgbaston09-Jun-2017So far, Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign has run about as smoothly as a three-wheeled cart on gravel.The players are in the middle of a fractious employment dispute with Cricket Australia, with David Warner going so far as to question CA’s desire for a successful campaign, and they could effectively be unemployed in three weeks’ time. To top it off, they haven’t played a single full match in this tournament.And now they find themselves in the position where they must beat England; tournament favourites, already secure of a semi-final berth, playing at home and on a ground that has brought success and joyful memories.It has clearly been a frustrating tournament for Australia, providing a challenge for Steven Smith to keep his players focussed on the elements they can control. But while he is adamant the MoU discussions haven’t clouded the team’s preparations, it can’t be helpful to have the topic raised at every media appearance and dominate their social media landscape. Nor can it be easy to forget the more literal clouds that have doused their first two matches.But Smith hopes the tribulations and the knockout pressure of this match will bring out the best in his players and see them emerge as cornered kangaroos, if you will.”Obviously, a must-win match for us,” said Smith, speaking at Edgbaston. “Yeah, it usually does bring out the best of the Australia cricket team in big tournaments. So let’s hope this is the case tomorrow.”It’s not ideal we haven’t got through a full fixture yet, but we can’t control the weather. We can only control what we’re doing, and we’ve prepared really well in the nets.”The guys are looking forward to tomorrow. It’s essentially a quarter-final for us, so we’re ready to come up against a good England outfit.”Steven Smith and his team have spent much of the tournament watching from the sidelines•Getty ImagesWhile Australia’s batsmen have struggled to find either time or many runs in the middle, Smith can at least take encouragement from the improvement shown by Mitchell Starc. After a wicketless innings in his first match back from a foot injury, Starc was menacing at The Oval, taking 4 for 29 as he tore through the Bangladesh tail.A new pitch has been prepared at Edgbaston and, while there has been much anticipation to see Australia’s four quickest bowlers in the same side for the first time, John Hastings has strong claims for inclusion. He was in the team selected for the eventual washout against New Zealand at Edgbaston, in which he took two wickets.”I’m sure he’ll be talked about, particularly as there’s a new wicket,” said Smith. “He’s a guy that bowls that little bit slower and can hit the seam and generate, or get, whatever’s in the wicket.”Being a fresh wicket, there could be a little bit there, and he’ll certainly come into contention, I’m sure.”It must almost be a relief for Smith to ponder selections and contemplate how the pitch might play. It the midst of the nagging MoU uncertainty, those thoughts provide a slice of cricket normality and, once they walk onto the Edgbaston field, it will become clear whether the obstacles have been a distraction or a means of galvanizing the players.”I think the players have been really united through everything that’s going on with the MoU back home,” said Smith. “So the guys are in a good place. There hasn’t been that much talk about it as a team.””I said at the start before we got here, this is an ICC tournament. It only comes around every four years, the Champions Trophy, and it’s the second-biggest tournament after the World Cup.”So we’ve got to be focused on that. It’s a very sort of cut-throat tournament with only three pool matches. So you’ve got to be switched on for each and every one of those, albeit we’re only going to be getting through one potentially.”I made sure that coming over here, that we’re completely focused on this tournament and getting the job done at hand.”

How Liverpool Could Line-up After £170m+ Spent On Transfers

After their worst full season under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool's summer rebuild has officially started, with a number of players linked and Alexis Mac Allister already signed.

The midfield was particularly an issue throughout a campaign to forget, and now that James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have all departed, Liverpool's problem in the middle of the park has only grown – while Roberto Firmino has also left too.

Securing Mac Allister started the solution to that midfield problem, but the Reds know that one man alone can't put an end to their midfield woes, with plenty of names rumoured to be coming in at Anfield this summer.

With that said, we've taken a look at the fresh faces that Klopp could start on the opening day of the 2023/24 Premier League season against Chelsea.

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RB: Benjamin Pavard (£25.78m)

Bayern Munich defender Benjamin Pavard.

This one's an interesting one, as a move for Benjamin Pavard could finally see Trent Alexander-Arnold get his place in midfield for Liverpool, which could help to solve their aforementioned issues. Or, he could step into a centre-back role.

The Bayern Munich man has attracted interest from Liverpool, according to CalcioMercatoWeb, but a deal is far from nearing any final stages at this moment in time.

According to Sport1, via Sport, Bayern want €30m (£25.78m) for the defender, who has just one year left on his current contract in Germany.

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CM: Alexis Mac Allister (£35m)

Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

Outrageously priced given his quality, Mac Allister represents a bargain deal at Liverpool, who got off to the perfect start this summer by welcoming the midfielder from Brighton & Hove Albion.

After winning the World Cup with Argentina, the 24-year-old continued to enjoy a sensational rise at the Amex, ending the season with 10 goals and two assists from midfield.

He should get himself an immediate place in Klopp's starting line-up.

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CM: Kephren Thuram (£51.56)

It's no real surprise that another midfielder makes this list, with Kephren Thuram also linked with a move to Anfield this summer.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Reds held talks with the young Frenchman earlier this month, though reports over a potential move have slowed in the last week or so.

As per Jacque Talbot of Football Transfers, Nice are reportedly looking for €60m (£51.56m) to sell Thuram this summer amid interest from Klopp and co.

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CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (£61m)

dominik-szoboszlai-newcastle-united-transfer-premier-league

Adding to Liverpool's midfield rebuild looks increasingly likely to be RB Leipzig's Dominik Szoboslai, who reportedly has a release clause of €70m (£61m).

According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Liverpool are pushing ahead with the deal and are confident of getting it done after Newcastle United recently dropped out of the race for the midfielder.

Szoboszlai would represent the Reds' biggest deal of the summer so far, as their rebuild continues.

Liverpool's potential line-up: Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold; Benjamin Pavard; Virgil van Dijk; Andy Robertson; Kephren Thuram; Alexis Mac Allister; Dominik Szoboszlai; Mohamed Salah; Cody Gakpo; Luis Diaz

Liverpool line up

Aston Villa Could Sign Kamara 2.0 In £25m Star At Villa Park

Aston Villa reportedly remain interested in Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams, as Monchi prepares to raise the stakes in his first transfer window at the club.

The Spaniard could equip his fellow countryman with a player that could bolster the squad, as Unai Emery bids for a busy summer of recruiting efficiently ahead of his first full campaign at the helm.

The link between the United States international and the Midlands club came last month, as the Daily Mail named Villa among those interested in poaching the talent from newly relegated Leeds.

Since then, rumours have remained, with news reported by transfer expert Dean Jones via Football FanCast this week revealing the Villans’ plans to launch for the 24-year-old.

Jones stated that the former RB Leipzig whizz is “certainly” a player on Monchi’s “radar”, with any deal set to potentially cost around £25m.

After spending just a year at Elland Road, the midfielder’s time could be up after their relegation to the Championship, with Brighton, Everton and Nottingham Forest listed alongside Villa as those eyeing the ace.

What could Tyler Adams offer to Aston Villa?

Hailed as a “machine” by journalist Wes Rucker, Adams would be a worthy addition to most sides in the league, asserting himself as a strong defensive-minded asset in the engine room.

In 24 appearances, the 24-year-old won an average of six total duels per game, identifying as one of the best-performing defensive midfielders in the Premier League in his debut season, via Sofascore.

As per FBref, the New York-born gem ranked in the top 3% of those in his position in the 2022/23 campaign in terms of tackles per 90, averaging a monstrous 3.72 as well as two blocks and 1.46 interceptions per 90.

His numbers saw him likened to a star player at Villa, who could see one of their top players cloned should Emery opt to duel for the signature of Adams.

tyler-adams-leeds-united-arsenal-transfer-gossip-edu-arteta-romeo-lavia

Likened by FBref to Boubacar Kamara, the American flexes a strong passing and technical ability as well as displaying how effective he is defensively, highlighted by his pass completion rate of 82.5%.

Villa’s Frenchman recorded a completion rate of 84.8% via FBref, however, attempted an average of fewer passes with 47.66 attempted to the Leeds man’s 56.06 per 90.

In signing Adams, Emery could have two players that are competent ball players and impressive tacklers, in an area of the pitch integral to pulling the strings going forward.

The similarities are evident in their progressive play also, with Kamara averaging an impressive 4.25 progressive passes per 90 to the American’s 5.68 per 90, displaying his comprehensive ability in the middle of the park and suggesting his suitability for Emery’s project.

Hailed as a “monster” by members of the media, Kamara could line up with a second helping of himself should Monchi opt to take the plunge to sign Adams, who could be an individual to take Villa to new heights next term.

Bloemfontein, Potchefstroom to host Bangladesh Tests

Bangladesh will tour South Africa for the first time in nine years, and the centres of Potchefstroom and Bloemfontein are set to host Tests after a long tim

Firdose Moonda29-Dec-2016

Senwes Park, Potchefstroom has only hosted one Test previously, against Bangladesh in 2002•Getty Images

South Africa will host Bangladesh for the first time in nine years to open what is set to be a bumper 2017-18 summer, although their opponents for the Christmas-New Year period are yet to be confirmed. South Africa will host at least 10 Tests, including four each against India and Australia. Details of those tours are expected early in the new year.Bangladesh’s itinerary in South Africa

September 21-23: Three-day tour match v SA Invitation XI, Benoni

September 28-October 2: 1st Test, Potchefstroom

October 6-10: 2nd Test, Bloemfontein

October 12: Tour match v SA Invitation XI, Bloemfontein

October 15: 1st ODI, Kimberley

October 18: 2nd ODI,Paarl

October 22: 3rd ODI, East London

October 26: 1st T20I, Bloemfontein

October 29: 2nd T20I, Potchefstroom

The Bangladesh visit, between September and October 2017, has created the opportunity for Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom to host their first Tests since 2008 and 2002 respectively. The two venues had hosted Bangladesh in those years but have not hosted matches in the longest format since.Bangladesh’s tour includes two Tests, three ODIs – all day-games – and two T20s. All matches will be played at South Africa’s lower-profile grounds. Kimberley, Paarl and East London will host the three ODIs.After the Bangladesh series, South Africa are scheduled to host India for a full tour comprising four Tests, five ODIs and three T20s but it is yet to be confirmed whether these will take place over the Christmas and New Year period or later in the summer. The FTP originally had Sri Lanka down to tour over Boxing Day and New Year, for the second season in succession, but there has been no mention of whether that series will take place. There was also a suggestion that Pakistan could be invited. According to the FTP, Pakistan are scheduled to play India in November-December 2017.”Our scheduling discussions with the BCCI are in progress and we hope to be in a position to announce the fixtures for this tour in the new year,” Haroon Lorgat, CSA CEO said.India’s previous visit to South Africa was in 2013-14, when they cut short a tour that was due to be of the same length as the upcoming one because of disagreements over the scheduling. India only played two Tests and three ODIs on that visit but hosted South Africa for four Tests, five ODIs and three T20s late in 2015.

Chelsea In Talks For £55m ‘Colossus’ As Caicedo Alternative

Chelsea's long search for a new holding midfielder may be coming to a conclusion after opening talks with one of their Premier League rivals.

After being linked with a number of players in the January window, Chelsea were unable to bring in Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion, nor Amadou Onana from Everton.

The need to strengthen in that position is even more paramount now following strong reports that N'Golo Kante is on his way to Saudi Arabia this summer.

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea are now back in for one of their former targets, having held talks with Everton over a potential £55m deal for Onana.

Is Amadou Onana a good option for Chelsea?

Onana arrived at Everton from Lille in a £33m deal last summer and featured in 33 of their 38 Premier League matches, starting 29 of those.

In what was a hugely disappointing campaign for the Toffees as they narrowly dodged relegation, Onana came in for praise for his midfield displays.

Indeed, Daily Mail reporter Dominic King described the Belgium international as a "colossus" for his performance in February's 1-0 win over Arsenal.

Onana had a team-high 47 touches that day, intercepted the ball a game-high two times and passed the ball 30 times – the most of any outfield Everton player.

moises-caicedo-brighton-arsenal-transfer-gossip-declan-rice-west-ham-edu-arteta

That was not even necessarily Onana's best display of the season, either. With a 94% pass accuracy, six ball recoveries, five tackles won and even a key pass, Onana's first-half display against Newcastle United in April was described as "wonderful" by football analyst Statman Dave.

With a reported valuation of £55m, Onana is considerably cheaper than Caicedo, who is also aged 20 but is said to cost in the region of £70m. That is due to the Brighton ace signing a new deal earlier this year, shortly after handing in a public transfer request.

Both men are very similar in terms of their defensive numbers last season, with Onana tackling 2.61 players per game, as per FBref, compared to 2.87 for Caicedo. Interestingly, the latter fared better in terms of his success rate when it came to challenging players – 71.4% v 58.8%.

However, Caicedo did edge things in terms of blocks per 90 minutes (1.23 v 0.91) and interceptions (1.60 v 1.34). Unlike Caicedo, though, Onana made zero mistakes leading to an opponent's shot, whereas his positional peer was guilty of doing so three times in the Premier League last season.

Onana also won more aerial duels per 90 minutes (2.17 compared to 1.06), while it was Caicedo who came out on top for passing accuracy – 88.5 v 83.3.

Ultimately, the two men have strengths in different departments, but they are both solid holding midfielders that have proved themselves in the Premier League, albeit with contrasting fortunes for their respective teams.

Chelsea may yet have the funds to sneer Caicedo from Brighton. Otherwise, bringing in Onana from Everton is far from a bad alternative.

Leeds United Eyeing 40-Year-Old As New Manager

Leeds United reportedly see West Brom boss Carlos Corberan as a possible ideal option to be their next manager moving forward.

Has Corberan been linked with Leeds job?

The 40-year-old has done a hugely impressive job at the Hawthorns during his short spell there to date, having arrived when they were second-bottom of the Championship late last year.

West Brom ended up coming close to finishing in the playoff positions, however, and if Corberan had been in charge a little longer, chances are they would have achieved that goal.

Since Sam Allardyce's exit as Leeds manager was confirmed last week, numerous names have been linked with replacing him in the Elland Road hot seat. Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers have emerged as high-profile options, but Corberan's name has also been thrown into the hat.

The Whites seemingly consider the Spaniard as a strong choice to come in, having seen the job he is doing with the Baggies, but it remains to be seen if he will eventually be the man to be handed the reins.

carlos-corberan-west-brom-leeds-united

Is Corberan really a target?

According to Football Insider, Corberan is indeed "on the shortlist" at Leeds currently, and it is unlikely that they will look to bring in a "traditional figure" in the mould of Allardyce.

Interestingly, the West Brom boss is seen as "ideal" by those high up at the club, should they want to bring in a long-term appointment who can build something special over time.

Leeds are further boosted by a claim in the report that states that Corberan's future with the Baggies is also in doubt "amid a backdrop of financial issues at the club".

It is so important that the Whites get this decision spot on, avoiding the same ludicrous situation they have found themselves in this season, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Garcia and Allardyce all in charge at some point in the campaign.

Corberan may still be a young manager – one who isn't as proven or well-known as the likes of Gerrard and Rodgers – but the progress he has made at West Brom has been bordering on astonishing, and he has even reportedly been inspired by the style of former Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa.

The fact that Corberan has worked at Leeds in the past is also a bonus, having spent three years in charge of the Under-23s between 2017 and 2020, and he will have learned plenty from Bielsa in that time.

Chelsea Could Still Move For "Spectacular" £184k-A-Week Ace

Chelsea could potentially make a move for Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez in June, according to an update from journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Is Martinez enjoying a good season?

The Argentine has enjoyed as 2022/23 season to treasure to date, enjoying plenty of memorable moments for both club and country. Firstly, he has helped Inter reach the Champions League final against Manchester City next month, scoring in last week's semi-final second leg triumph over rivals AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Martinez also became a World Cup winner with Argentine back in December, in what was surely the crowning moment of his career to date. The £184,000-a-week attacker's future is up in the air, however, and Chelsea have been linked with a move for him in the recent past.

The Blues are badly in need of signing an elite striker once the summer transfer window arrives and it looks as though he could be a leading candidate to come in. His current deal expires in the summer of 2026, though, so it could take a huge bid to be able to sign him.

Inter Milan'sLautaroMartinezcelebrates scoring their second goal

Is Martinez off to Chelsea this summer?

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Romano admitted that there are no strong links between Chelsea and Martinez yet, but that a move is still far from out of the question:

"At the moment, with Martinez, it is not concrete because we know Inter are busy with the Champions League. At the moment, they have no intention of negotiating for any player. This will be something for June.

"Honestly, at the moment, I'm not aware of any concrete discussion between Martinez’s camp and Chelsea. So, we have to wait and see on that one. I think this is a very normal link because he’s Argentinian. But it's not something concrete at this stage."

Martinez could be exactly what Chelsea are after this season, having been hailed as "spectacular" by compatriot Lionel Messi in the past. At 25, he is at a brilliant age to come in and be a key figure for five or six years at least, leading the line and adding more of a goal threat in that position than someone like Kai Havertz.

His tally of 99 strikes in 223 appearances for Inter highlights his attacking prowess, while a total of 34 assists also shows that he can create for teammates. Whether he opts to join the Blues remains to be seen – a lack of Champions League football could be a drawback – but he ticks all the boxes when it comes to summer additions.

Beale Eyes Up Rangers Swoop For "Enthusiastic" Titan

When Glasgow Rangers signed defender Connor Goldson back in 2018 during the embryonic stages of Steven Gerrard’s tenure, it was looked upon as a solid signing and one that could significantly improve their defence ahead of a Premiership title tilt.

Fast-forward five years later and Goldson has become a mainstay at the heart of the Ibrox defence, making 261 appearances for the Light Blues, missing only 14 games during that time through injury, proving just how reliable he has been for the club.

The Englishman played a major role in the Rangers side that secured league title number 55 during the 2020/21 campaign, being part of a defence which conceded just 13 goals across 38 matches – and his importance to the side hasn't waned.

Michael Beale will be hoping to secure another defender from England who could potentially have a similar impact that Goldson has had and with the Gers linked with Nottingham Forest defender Jonathan Panzo ahead of the summer transfer window, he could perhaps be that player.

Could Rangers sign Jonathan Panzo this summer?

Having joined Forest for £1.5m in 2022 from French side Dijon, it remains to be seen just how much he could cost the Gers, but if he is available for around a similar sort of fee, it could be a solid investment from Beale.

The 42-year-old could certainly repeat Rangers’ Goldson masterclass by making a move for the young defender, especially following his impressive performances for Coventry City this term during his loan spell.

Being able to play as a centre-back or at left-back is an added bonus for the Light Blues, and Panzo has averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.99/10 across 29 league appearances while making 1.7 interceptions and 1.6 tackles per game along with winning 58% of his total duels, indicating that he is strong in the tackle and these stats are fairly similar to Goldson’s, with the Rangers' defender winning 67% of his total duels while making 1.5 tackles per game, although he has made only 0.8 interceptions in the Premiership.

The 6 foot 2 Panzo was praised by Dave Rogers, his former U21 coach at Forest, who said: "He is a great professional. He's enthusiastic and has got good experience and energy too. He brings a great vibe to the dressing room too.

Blackburn's Sammie Szmodics in action with Coventry'sJonathanPanzo

"It's great to see Panzo getting more game time because he seems to be getting better and better each time he plays. It's been fantastic to have him with us and the boys have really enjoyed having him around. He's been great to coach."

Nearly five years on from signing an English defender who has gone on to become a reliable performer in the first team, could Beale repeat that masterclass this summer? Only time will tell.

فيديو | اليابان ترافق العراق إلى دور الـ16 من كأس آسيا بثلاثية أمام إندونيسيا

حسم منتخب اليابان تأهله إلى دور الـ16 من بطولة كأس آسيا 2023، بالفوز بثلاثية مقابل هدف على إندونيسيا، ضمن الجولة الثالثة من المجموعة الرابعة.

المباراة التي أقيمت على ملعب الثمامة، شهدت تقدم الكمبيوتر الياباني في الدقيقة السادسة عن طريق أياسي أويدا من ركلة جزاء في زاوية صعبة.

طالع أيضًا.. فيديو | العراق تواصل التألق وتفوز على فيتنام وتُحقق العلامة الكاملة بكأس آسيا

ثم عاد اللاعب ذاته ليضيف الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 52، بعد عرضية من ناكامورا، حولها في مرمى منتخب إندونيسيا.

وفي الدقيقة 88، حُسمت المباراة بالهدف الثالث، بعدما سجل هوبنير هدفًا بالخطأ في مرماه، ليزيد من أوجاع إندونيسيا.

ساندي والش، سجل هدف شرفي لمنتخب بلده في الدقيقة 91، لينهي دور المجموعات في انتظار نهاية الدور الأول لمعرفة موقفهم من التأهل لدور الـ16 ضمن أفضل ثوالث.

وحسم صدارة المجموعة منتخب العراق بـ9 نقاط، وجاء المنتخب الياباني في المركز الثاني بـ6 نقاط، بينما احتلت إندونيسيا المركز الثالث بـ3 نقاط، وفي المؤخرة يأتي منتخب فيتنام بدون رصيد بعد 3 هزائم. أهداف مباراة اليابان وإندونيسيا في كأس آسيا

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