theScore is your one-stop shop for Tuesday’s first-leg Champions League qualifying play-off matches, which will go a long way in determining five of the final 10 teams that will reach the 2017-18 group stage.
Young Boys 0, CSKA Moscow 1
Goals
CSKA Moscow: Kasim Adams – 90th minute (own goal)
Young Boys had more possession and more shots on goal, but the only net they were able to score on was their own.
FK Qarabag 1, FC Copenhagen 0
Goals
This was a one-sided affair from the start, despite the narrow scoreline. FK Qarabag dominated possession 60-40 and had more shots on goal (8) than FC Copenhagen had attempts (7).
Sporting CP 0, Steaua Bucuresti 0
(Photo courtesy: Action Images)
What this match lacked in goal-scoring, it made up for in aggressive belligerence. Sporting CP was handed five yellow cards, while FCSB was dealt three yellows, plus Mihai Pintilii’s 32nd-minute yellow, and his red card in the 80th minute.
TSG Hoffenheim 1, Liverpool 2
Goals
Nordtveit’s own goal proved costly, as TSG Hoffenheim was able to notch a late marker that would have been the equalizer if it weren’t for his earlier mistake. Those are the ones that will keep a player up tossing and turning all night.
Apoel Nicosia 2, Slavia Prague 0
Goals
Slavia Prague came out of the gates sluggish, and Apoel Nicosia made them pay, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes, all but ending this match before many patrons found their seats.
The 24 nominees for The Best FIFA Men’s Player award were announced Thursday.
The list will be whittled down to three final nominees by votes from national team coaches, international captains, select media, and fans. The voting closes Sept. 7, with the ceremony taking place Oct. 23 in London.
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo is a clear favourite to collect the prize, but his adversary at Barcelona, Lionel Messi, is also in contention for the gong in a shortlist comprised entirely of players who plied their trade in Europe last season.
The inaugural Best FIFA Football Awards show was held in Zurich in 2016, with Ronaldo taking top honours in the men’s category. Carli Lloyd was named Best FIFA Women’s Player, and former Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri beat Zinedine Zidane to the coaches’ accolade.
Here are the 24 contenders for The Best FIFA Men’s Player distinction:
The finalists for FIFA’s Player of the Year award obviously feature some of the sport’s most talented footballers, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi leading the charge.
While few can argue with the inclusion of the 24 finalists, who’ll each hope to take home the prize from an October ceremony in London, a handful of other players made a convincing case for the shortlist with strong campaigns last term.
Here’s a look at the biggest snubs:
Isco – Real Madrid
The buzz around stadiums is unmistakable when the ball’s at Isco’s feet, yet the excitement he generates in the stands didn’t necessarily catch the attention of the decision-makers in Zurich, Switzerdland.
The Real Madrid midfielder, 25, is rapidly evolving into one of the game’s prominent generals in the heart of the pitch. His ability to pull the strings in the middle of the park and his otherworldly vision stand out, and should earn Isco some recognition if he’s able to produce a season similar to his 2016-17 campaign.
Kevin De Bruyne – Manchester City
Few would describe Kevin De Bruyne’s season as disappointing following a campaign in which he produced a Premier League-leading 18 assists. But Manchester City’s shortcomings last season – including the club’s failure to win a single trophy – may have cost the gifted midfielder his chance to become the first Belgian to win FIFA’s Player of the Year award.
De Bruyne doesn’t necessarily need to score more goals to change his fortunes, but lifting silverware could garner some extra attention.
Edinson Cavani – PSG
Winning the top scoring honour in France apparently wasn’t enough for Edinson Cavani to be recognised as one of football’s top 24 players.
Yet, after a season in which he starred for the capital-city side with 35 goals, there’s seemingly not much more the Uruguayan can do other than lead Paris Saint-Germain to glory in the Champions League. Even then, his efforts could be overshadowed by a guy called Neymar.
Kylian Mbappe – Monaco
If the second half of last term was enough to qualify, AS Monaco wunderkind Kylian Mbappe would have had a chance to compete with the Ronaldo and Messi for the individual honour.
Instead, the coveted 18-year-old likely needs to replicate his dominant display over the course of a full season if he wants to truly elevate his status as one of the world’s best.
Whether he does it in a Monaco shirt, however, remains to be seen.
Gonzalo Higuain – Juventus
Surrounding himself with an improved cast of teammates could have cost Gonzalo Higuain a chance at some individual hardware following his debut season with Juventus.
The Argentine, who led all Serie A scorers during the 2015-16 term with Napoli, likely won’t complain after a season that saw him lift the league and domestic cup trophies, as well as appear in the Champions League final.
Despite seemingly giving up the chance to be the face of a club in order to win trophies, Higuain’s tremendous scoring rate shows no signs of slowing down after banging in 24 league goals in his first season in Turin.
Winning seven trophies in 18 months on the job has earned Real Madrid’s Zinedine Zidane a spot among the 12 managers up for this year’s Best FIFA Men’s Coach award.
World football’s governing body released the list Thursday, which was put together by a panel of legends including World Cup winners Cafu, Diego Maradona, and Carles Puyol.
Along with Zidane, Bayern Munich’s Carlo Ancelotti, Chelsea’s Antonio Conte, Juventus’ Massimiliano Allegri, and AS Monaco’s Leonardo Jardim are nominees who won their respective league titles last season.
Here’s the full 12-man shortlist:
Massimiliano Allegri (Juventus)
Carlo Ancelotti (Bayern Munich)
Antonio Conte (Chelsea)
Luis Enrique (Barcelona)
Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Leonardo Jardim (AS Monaco)
Joachim Low (Germany)
Jose Mourinho (Manchester United)
Mauricio Pochettino (Tottenham)
Diego Simeone (Atletico Madrid)
Tite (Brazil)
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid)
Pep Guardiola earned the nod despite enduring the first trophyless season of his managerial career with Manchester City.
A combination of votes from national team captains and coaches, media representatives, and the public will determine the winner.
Claudio Ranieri was named the Best FIFA Men’s Coach of 2016 after guiding Leicester City to an odds-defying Premier League triumph.
