Back home in Dublin after a whirlwind World Cup, Pico Lopes has called on the Irish football community to ‘Stop The Game’ at the FAI EGM on Wednesday to discuss the upcoming Nations League ‘home’ game against Israel at a neutral venue in Serbia.
Speaking to the Irish Sun’s Neil O’Riordan, Lopes urged voting members to reject a motion supporting the staging of the game. He told SunSport: “My decision hasn’t changed, the game for me has to be stopped, it shouldn’t be played. I know they were talking about neutral venues, it’s not really solving the problem, it’s just moving it..
“So I think hopefully the EGM goes the right way, some things are bigger than football and this is definitely one of them. My stance hasn’t changed, the game shouldn’t be played and hopefully the right decision will come out of it.”
Shamrock Rovers begin their latest European adventure in Malta on Tuesday evening when they face Floriana in the first round first leg of the Champions League with manager Stephen Bradley looking for his side to make a real impact in Europe this season.
He told RTE Sport: “For European football, we know what it means to all clubs around Europe, not just us - it’s important both on and off the pitch. It shows progress. I said the first time we did the group stage, if we’re sitting here after another 10 years and hadn’t qualified [for group stages again], it’s a big failure.”
League of Ireland clubs will chase millions in lucrative prize money when they kick off their European campaigns this week across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
Shamrock Rovers are first up away to Floriana of Malta on Tuesday evening and Mark McCadden of the Irish Mirror examines how much each club can potentially earn - Rovers have accrued €15million over the past four years.
Belgium triumphed over the USA and Presidential interference with a 4-1 thumping of the USA in their round of 16 game in Seattle on Monday night - then mocked Donald Trump.
Daniel McDonnell of the Irish Independent was on hand to witness the Belgian players do the President Trump dance as they celebrated their progression in a game marred by the lifting of a suspension for Americans striker Folarin Balogun after a direct request from Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Ronaldo exited the World Cup for the final time and Roberto Martinez exited the Portugal manager’s job as his side were pipped at the post by a last minute Spanish goal in Dallas.
BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton, the former Celtic striker, had little sympathy for either as Spain progressed to the quarter-finals. “He’s waddling around the field like a grandad, that’s why Portugal are out.
“Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez doing? How can you pander to a player so much? Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”
