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Post by Everton News. on Jun 4, 2022 22:16:14 GMT
Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced a faultless performance but his England side were beaten 1-0 by Hungary in their Nations League opener on Saturday evening.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s second-half penalty proved the difference in a tightly-contested battle in Budapest.
Both sides created chances in an entertaining first half, with the in-form Pickford forced into action early on when Roland Sallai fired at goal – the Everton stopper safely gathered his effort.
Pickford – who was recently crowned Everton’s 2021/22 Player of the Season – made an excellent save on the half-hour mark, diving full-stretch to tip Zsolt Nagy’s drive around the post.
The home side were given a golden opportunity to take the lead on 66 minutes when awarded a penalty after Reece James was adjudged to have bundled over Nagy in the box.
Szoboszlai stepped up to take the kick and duly rifled an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
England pushed for an equaliser and Conor Coady’s glancing header went agonisingly wide of the post.
Pickford then kept the game alive when he athletically kept out Laszlo Kleinheisler’s powerful strike.
Harry Kane hammered a shot into the side-netting in the game’s final moments, but Gareth Southgate’s side were unable to find a breakthrough.
The Three Lions will aim to get their Nations League campaign back on track on Tuesday night when they face Germany in a mouthwatering encounter in Munich.
Everton skipper Seamus Coleman, meanwhile, started as the Republic of Ireland were beaten 1-0 at Armenia in their Nations League curtain-raiser.
The right-back played for 81 minutes of the contest before being substituted for Will Keane, brother of Coleman’s Everton teammate Michael Keane.
Armenia’s Eduard Spertsyan scored the only goal of the game on 74 minutes.
Ireland’s next Nations League game is on Wednesday night when they host Ukraine in Dublin.
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Post by Everton News. on Jun 7, 2022 8:45:05 GMT
Vitalii Mykolenko’s Ukraine were beaten 1-0 by Wales in Sunday’s World Cup play-off despite a valiant and determined effort at Cardiff City Stadium.
Ukraine qualified for the play-off final with a superb 3-1 win over Scotland on Wednesday and again performed admirably in the Welsh capital.
Mykolenko and his teammates’ collective courage, skill and resolve during an unimaginably difficult time will have provided every Ukrainian with a monumental source of pride.
Everton left-back Mykolenko set up golden chances for Ukraine to equalise after Andriy Yarmolenko’s own goal gave Wales the lead. Mykolenko’s precision crosses found Viktor Tsygankov and Artem Dovbyk, but man-of-the-match Wayne Hennessey athletically kept out both efforts.
Wales’ victory means they will compete at a World Cup finals for the first time in 64 years, with their qualification sparking joyous scenes at Cardiff City Stadium.
Ukraine’s football was bright and inventive from the outset, with Mykolenko offering an important attacking outlet on the left flank.
Ukraine dominated possession for large periods and Hennessey was the busier keeper in the opening half, making fine saves from Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk.
Wales also looked dangerous every time they advanced into the final third, however, and they took the lead on 34 minutes when Gareth Bale’s free-kick delivery was headed into his own goal by Yarmolenko.
Ukraine looked to deliver an immediate response and had strong shouts for a penalty turned down when Joe Allen appeared to have kicked Yarmolenko.
Wales were an improved side after the half-time break and Aaron Ramsey and Dan James came close to extending their advantage.
In a breathless encounter, Mykolenko’s driven low centre was then met by Tsygankov 15 yards out but the forward saw his shot well saved.
Wales almost made the game safe when Brennan Johnson fired against the post and Bale forced an excellent stop from Georgi Bushchan,
Hennessey then came to the home team’s rescue again six minutes from time when Mykolenko expertly landed a cross on Dovbyk’s head, but the Burnley keeper made a spectacular fingertip save.
Ukraine continued to throw men forward in search of a leveller but Wales defended with resilience and spirit to see out the game and book their spot at the World Cup in Qatar.
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Post by Everton News. on Jun 7, 2022 8:45:33 GMT
Everton forward Richarlison made a near-immediate impact from the substitutes' bench as Brazil beat Japan 1-0 in an international friendly on Monday.
Richarlison was introduced after 71 minutes of the Tokyo clash and wasted no time in making his presence felt.
Just four minutes after entering the fray, Richarlison looked poised to fire his country ahead when he seized on a loose ball after Neymar's shot was saved, only for the Toffees attacker to be tripped in the penalty box by Japan's Wataru Endo.
The referee duly pointed to the spot and Neymar slotted home from 12 yards for the game's winning goal.
Brazil finished the game with 21 shots to the home team's seven but had been frustrated by a well-organised Japan outfit, who defended resolutely to keep the five-time world champions at bay.
Neymar's penalty, however, ensured Tite's team stretched their unbeaten record to 12 matches.
Richarlison was making his 36th senior international appearance. He has scored 14 goals for his country, the latest of which coming in Brazil's 5-1 victory over South Korea on Thursday.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Jun 7, 2022 13:11:27 GMT
Ireland and Everton captain Séamus Coleman has been ruled out of Wednesday’s Nations League tie against Ukraine at the Aviva stadium.
Coleman suffered a “groin, pubis issue” during the 1-0 defeat to Armenia in Yerevan on Saturday but Irish manager Stephen Kenny remains “hopeful” that the veteran defender will feature in the return leg against Ukraine in Lodz, Poland on June 14th.
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Post by Everton News. on Jun 8, 2022 22:31:02 GMT
Everton left-back Vitalii Mykolenko played the full 90 minutes as Ukraine bounced back from their World Cup play-off disappointment by beating the Republic of Ireland 1-0 in Dublin.
Mykolenko was the only Ukraine player to retain his place in the starting XI from Sunday’s defeat to Wales and delivered an accomplished performance in the Nations League encounter.
Everton and Republic of Ireland skipper Seamus Coleman missed the game with a groin injury, however.
Ahead of the match, Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said he was unsure whether Coleman would be able to feature in their clash with Scotland on Saturday or the return game against Ukraine in Poland three days later.
Coleman was at Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night, however, and before kick-off he took part in a moving show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people when he and team mascots presented the away team’s supporters with sunflowers – their country's national flower.
The only goal of the match came two minutes after the half-time interval when Viktor Tsygankov’s inswinging free-kick delivery from the right flank eluded every player in the penalty box and beat Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Taras Kacharaba thought he had doubled Ukraine’s lead with a superb volley only for the strike to be chalked off for offside, while former Everton defender Shane Duffy came closest to equalising for the hosts when Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin tipped his late header on to the bar.
Ukraine return to Nations League action on Saturday when they take on Armenia in Lodz.
Nathan Patterson, meanwhile, was introduced as a 76th-minute substitute in Scotland's 2-0 Nations League victory over Armenia at Hampden Park.
Patterson – playing his first match since sustaining an ankle injury in early April – came on in place of Anthony Ralston, who opened the scoring for the Scots on midway through the first half.
Scott McKenna was also on target for the home side, heading home on 40 minutes.
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