Sports
Ademola Lookman Talks Tough Ahead Of Liverpool Vs Atalanta Clash
Super Eagles of Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman has stressed that he and his club, Atalanta, have earned the right to play against in-form Liverpool.
Ademola Lookman will lead Atalanta to the Anfield Stadium for the first leg of the Europa League quarter-finals at 8 p.m. later today, April 11.
Just like Liverpool who have not suffered a defeat in the Europa League this season, Atalanta are enjoying a very smooth run in the tournament.
Ademola Lookman is one of the club’s most reliable players and the Italian side will depend on him to help stop Liverpool at Anfield.
The 26-year-old Nigeria international has scored three goals in Europa League and has made a total of 15 appearances in the tournament so far in the competition.
Ademola Lookman has played against Liverpool five times in his career. In those five meetings, he recorded two wins, two defeats, and a draw. He has scored once and provided an assist against the Premier League giants.
Ahead of Atalanta’s visit to Anfied Stadium for the Europa League clash with Liverpool, Lookman told The Athletic that he and his team would show their hosts their worth.
“The spectacle speaks for itself, but for us, there is an opportunity for us to go and show what we are about,” Lookman said.
“We’ve earned the right to be here, so let’s go there and play our football.”
Interestingly, Ademola Lookman named Liverpool’s former forward, Sadio Mane of Senegal as his role model.
He said, “The guy who I always looked at the most would have to be Sadio Mane.
“Looking at his threat in the box, his threat in those little tight spaces, his movement—I have watched a lot of his game in particular.”
Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili made a spectacular debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, delivering an impressive performance in the women’s 200m event.
After a disappointing setback in the women’s 100m, Ofili showcased her resilience by clinching victory in her heat with a new season’s best time of 22.24 seconds on Sunday, August 4. The victory has qualified her for the 2024 Olympics 200m women’s semi-finals which will take place this evening.
Argentine football icon, Lionel Messi, has stressed that he doesn’t care how much movement he makes in a game as people continue to take note of his walking technique.
In recent times, videos of Lionel Messi practically walking while his team are off the ball have kept many football enthusiasts talking. Many believe that it is a technique to prevent being injured, some say he does that because other players are doing the hard work for him.
But in an interview with Clank Media, Lionel Messi who turned 37-year-old earlier today, June 24, 2024, said not running when he is off the ball has been a part of his game from his days at his boyhood club, Newell, in his native country, Argentina.
“When I was at Newell’s, there were two or three times a week we were sent to run around the grounds. I used to hide behind a tree. Running without a ball was never my thing. Heh”, Lionel Messi said.
“I have always been very self-critical. I am the first to know what I do right and what I do wrong. When I walk, I analyse the opponent’s positioning, how we stand when we don’t have the ball, get away from the marker and be able to initiate a counterattack.
“I don’t pay much attention to GPS, statistics or data. I never cared how much I ran in a match.”
Note that Lionel Messi had used his walking technique while off the ball to win virtually everything in world football including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League, one FIFA World Cup, and a record 8 Ballon d’Or.
In just two matchdays in the ongoing European Championship (Euro 2024), three countries have secured their place in the tournament’s round of 16.
Interestingly, the Three Lions of England and France, seen as the Super favourites to win the Euro 2024, will have to wait until the last day of the group stage to confirm their place.
Earlier today, June 22, 2024, Portugal’s national team, ably led by five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, defeated Turkey 3-0 to book themselves a place in the round of 16.
Goals from Bernardo Silva, Bruno Fernandes, and an own goal from Samet Akaydin made all the difference.
Ronaldo provided an assist for Portugal’s third goal, which was his 7th in the history of the tournament, and the all-time highest in the European Championship.
Recall that Portugal defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in their opening game in Group F. Hence, the Portuguese side now have 6 points in two games.
Whether or not they beat Georgia in their last group stage game on Wednesday, June 26, the Portuguese side will play in the round of 16. However, they need to win the game to ensure they finish top of Group F.
Other two teams that have already booked themselves a place in the Euro 2024 round of 16 with a game in hand are the hosts, Germany, and Spain.
Germany are topping Group A with 6 points in 2 games, while Spain are topping Group B with 6 points in two games.
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