Neymar jrs five

/ December 4, 2020

PSG lifted by crucial Champions League success as Neymar courts Messi

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian defender Marquinhos celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goalduring the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Manchester United and Paris Saint Germain at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England, on December 2, 2020.(Oli SCARFF / AFP) Neymar scored twice in Manchester and then publicly stated his wish to team up again with his old Barcelona teammate next season, telling ESPN: "I want to play with him for sure, next year we have to do it." With Messi having spent the last close season trying to engineer a move away from Barcelona, who are suffering badly from the economic impact of the coronavirus, Neymar perhaps feels a reunion in Paris is more likely than his return to the Camp Nou. Meanwhile PSG are pondering how to deal with Neymar's contract, and that of Kylian Mbappe, which both expire in 2022. The Qatar-owned club are also feeling the effects of the pandemic, which has slashed ticket revenue in particular, with games in France being played behind closed doors. Qualifying for the Champions League last 16 would provide a financial boost. Thomas Tuchel's team only require a draw at home to Istanbul Basaksehir next week to seal their progress. "I didn't come to Paris to play in the Europa League," Neymar told Brazil's Esporte Interativo. However, Tuchel warned: "We have almost qualified, which means we have not qualified yet. That is the reality. Being almost pregnant does not mean you are pregnant." Last season's Champions League runners-up are a work in progress and they have allowed the chasing domestic pack to catch up. A loss at Monaco and a draw with Bordeaux in their last two matches have left PSG just two points clear of Lille, Lyon, Monaco and Montpellier in Ligue 1. PSG go to Montpellier this weekend knowing a defeat would knock them off top spot. Montpellier, though, are without their top scorer Andy Delort after he tested positive for coronavirus for …

/ October 19, 2020

PSG look to go one better in Champions League but doubts remain

Paris Saint-Germain's Spanish midfielder Pablo Sarabia celebrates after scoring a goal with Paris Saint-Germain's French defender Presnel Kimpembe during the French L1 football match between Nimes (NO) and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at the Costieres Stadium in Nimes, southern France, on October 16, 2020.(Pascal GUYOT / AFP) Bayern Munich's greater experience told in Lisbon in August, and there were tears at the end for Neymar as the French champions agonisingly lost 1-0 in their first ever Champions League final. Two months on, Thomas Tuchel's side begin their latest bid for European success at home to Manchester United on Tuesday, in a rematch of the last-16 tie in 2019 which PSG lost to a controversial late penalty. It therefore brings back memories of just one of several painful defeats in the Champions League in recent years, but the reality is that Paris should be considered favourites against the Old Trafford side and to win a group also containing RB Leipzig and Istanbul Basaksehir. Yet whether this will be the season that they do go all the way remains to be seen. Tuchel has been the first to complain that his squad is weaker than it was last season as PSG -- having already seen several key players depart over the summer -- have started the new campaign hamstrung by injuries, suspensions and coronavirus cases. - 'Clumsy and rushed' - Right-back Thomas Meunier and all-time record goal-scorer Edinson Cavani left when their contracts ended, not even sticking around for the latter stages of the Champions League in August -- Cavani is now at United and so could come back to haunt his old side this week. Skipper Thiago Silva did stay for the 'Final Eight' in Lisbon but has since joined Chelsea and complained that sporting director Leonardo had been "clumsy and rushed" in refusing to offer him a deal to stay. "Not only with me," the Brazilian told France Football. "Cavani is the top scorer in PSG's history. I am saying this so that the club …

/ June 20, 2019

After Filipinos, Vietnamese fishermen harassed by Chinese forces in South China Sea

The Hanoitimes - Recently, Chinese vessels have tormented many Vietnamese fishing boats within the Vietnamese waters. A number of Vietnamese fishermen have recently been harassed by Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, sparkling public indignation. Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang of Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: MOFA The harassment includes bullying and seizing fishing equipment in the sea around Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) islands, according to issues raised by reporters at a press conference held on June 20 by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). In response to the press, the MOFA’s Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said Vietnam strongly condemns the harassment towards the Vietnamese fishermen, demanding Beijing strictly punish the doers of those actions. “On June 19, the MOFA worked with the Embassy of China in Hanoi to protest the activities and demand China to compensate for the victims,” Hang said at the press conference on June 20. Beijing must educate its enforcement forces to avoid recurrence, Hang added. She affirmed that Vietnam has jurisdiction and sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands. The Chinese vessels’ actions obviously violate the Vietnamese waters and infringe international treaties and the two countries’ agreement on maritime settlement. Last week, a Chinese vessel was blamed to hit and ram a Filipino fishing boat, leaving 22 crew members in distress at sea. The fishermen were then rescued by a Vietnamese fishing boat which was fishing in Truong Sa Islands’ Bai Co Rong (Reed Bank) which is also claimed by the Philippines. Strongly protesting the ship sinking by the Chinese vessel, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr at the United Nations on June 17 slammed the “felony” of abandoning persons in distress. Regarding this issue, Vietnamese Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said at the press conference today [June 20] …