Argentina
The new Argentina coach, Gerardo Martino, said yesterday he is set to hand Juventus striker Carlos Tevez an international lifeline after the former Manchester United and City star was left out of their World Cup squad. Martino said Tevez, 30, who began his career with Boca Juniors and then Corinthians before a one-season spell with West Ham, will be in competition for the No 9 shirt with Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City marksman Sergio Aguero. “If I have to say where I imagine Tevez in my game plan, it is only at No 9,” said Martino, 51, who left Barcelona at the end of last season after just one year in charge. “There is no other position and he will be in competition with Higuain and Aguero, and then it is the coach’s choice.”
Uefa Europa League
French midfielder Mathieu Valbuena will miss at least two of Dynamo Moscow’s next games after having an appendectomy, the club’s sporting director Guram Adzhoev said. “Mathieu felt acute pain Monday night,” Adzhoev said. “Our doctors reacted quickly and rushed him into the hospital where he underwent successful surgery. Valbuena is still in the hospital. It is hard to predict the exact period of his complete recovery, but I think he will definitely miss the next two matches.” Dynamo will face Greek club Panathinaikos in their opening Europa League group match on Thursday in Athens.
Algeria
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has ordered that an African Champions League semi-final in Algeria be played without fans because of repeated incidents of “unsporting behaviour”. CAF said Algeria’s ES Setif had previously been warned and received financial penalties because of the behaviour of its supporters. CAF ruled Setif will host Congo’s TP Mazembe behind closed doors in the first leg of their semi-final on Saturday. Security at Algerian stadiums came under intense scrutiny after a player was hit and killed by a rock thrown by supporters at a league game last month. JS Kabylie, the club hosting that game, was banned from playing at its home stadium for the rest of the season and its fans were banned from all games until next year.
England
Newcastle United midfielder Jonas Gutierrez thanked fans for their support after flying home to Argentina for testicular cancer treatment. “Thanks for all the messages. Always looking forward,” said Gutierrez, 31, on Twitter after revealing his illness in a television interview in Argentina on Tuesday. “I detected a tumour in a testicle. When I confirmed the cancer, I went home crying. I came here and I assumed the costs, despite having a contract with Newcastle. Money is not important. What is important is health. I had to start chemotherapy.” Gutierrez joined Newcastle from Spanish club Real Mallorca in July, 2008. He has made 177 league appearances and scored 10 goals. Gutierrez was on loan at relegated Norwich City last season, but has not played in 2014/15.
Ukraine
Former Ukraine international Andrey Gusin has died in a motorbike accident at the Chaika Raceway outside Kiev. His most recent appointment was as assistant coach at Anzhi Makhachkala, which he left in May. Gusin, 41, won 71 caps.
Liverpool
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson admitted that the Uefa Champions League would be a learning curve for most of the club’s players this season, but he was confident they would adapt quickly. The Reds laboured to a 2-1 win over Bulgaria’s Ludogorets as they ended a five-year absence from Europe’s elite competition at Anfield on Tuesday. Only captain Steven Gerrard survived from the team that played in Liverpool’s last match in December 2009 with nine players making their European debuts for the club and five playing in the Champions League for the first time. Henderson, who made his competition debut, accepted there was adjustments to be made but he said he felt they would soon click into gear. “[Champions League] is a little bit different, but you just have to adapt as best you can,” said Liverpool’s new vice captain. “You just have to play your own game. We did that at times but we can still be better.
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