Five civilians, four soldiers and 40 armed attackers were killed Sunday in a clash in Niger’s restive southwest region near the border with Mali, the government said.

Around 100 heavily armed “terrorists” riding motorcycles attacked the Tchoma Bangou village, striking around 3 pm Sunday, Niger’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement read on public television that did not identify who it suspected was behind the latest deadly incident.

The “prompt and vigorous reaction” by the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), “made it possible to repel the attack and inflict heavy losses on the enemy”, the ministry said, adding that its soldiers had seized motorcycles and a cache of weapons, including AK47s and machine guns, from the assailants.

Tchoma Bangou is located in the Tillaberi region, bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, an area known as “the three borders” that has been regularly targeted by jihadist groups.

Tillaberi has been under a state of emergency since 2017. The authorities have banned motorbike traffic night and day for a year and ordered the closure of certain markets suspected of supplying “terrorists”.

One of the poorest countries in the world, Niger has for years battled jihadist insurgencies on its southwestern flank with Mali, as well as Boko Haram on its southeastern border with Nigeria. The repeated attacks have claimed hundreds of lives and forced thousands to flee their homes.

Visuals show an overflowing river Manjhi river in Dharamshala, wiping away nearly 10 shops in the area. Meanwhile, three people were killed at a village in Uttarakhand after their house collapsed in a landslide.

As the southwest monsoon continues to elude Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, it is wreaking havoc in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

In Himachal Pradesh’s Dharamshala, flood waters swept through the streets of Bhagsu Nag village, damaging parked vehicles. The district administration has instructed tourists to postpone their visit to Dharamsala in view of the heavy rains.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday to take stock of the situation arising due to the floods in several districts of the state and assured him all possible help from the Centre.

States such as Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, too, witnessed torrential rain. Visuals from ANI show debris from a landslide blocking the Rishikesh-Badrinath national highway number 7 near Chamoli. In a separate incident, three people, including an eight-year-old boy, were killed at a village in Uttarakhand after their house collapsed in a landslide caused due to heavy rains.

Italy defeated England 3-2 in the penalty shootout denying the home team its first title after a gap of 55 years.

Italy continued their 34-match winning streak as it defeated England in the final of Uefa European Championship (Euro 2020) that went into a penalty shootout after a 1-1 scoreline after extra time at the Wembley Stadium in London on Monday. England missed three penalties in the shootout as Italy defeated England 3-2 in the Euro 2020 final. The loss for the home team meant their search for a second major title after their 1966 World Cup, 55 years ago, and first European title continues.

Argentina claim the Copa America crown for the first time since 1993, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final at the Maracana. Angel Di Maria’s strike in the 22nd minute was enough for the Albiceleste to overcome Tite’s men and end their run of failures in in major finals. Although Lionel Messi was not at his best tonight, he ends his drought without an international title. It was far from a classic, but Lionel Scaloni and his men will be elated to end Argentina’s 28-year wait for the Copa America trophy.

Both teams return to action in September for their World Cup qualifying campaigns. The newly-crowned Copa America champions Argentina are away against Venezuela, while Brazil are on the road to Chile.

Manchester City contact A.Griezmann

Goal takes a look at the biggest transfer news and rumours from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and around the world.

Benzema staying at Real

Karim Benzema will be staying at Real Madrid even if they land Kylian Mbappe this summer, reports Marca.

Los Blancos are keen to bolster their frontline this summer, with a move for France superstar in their sights.

That will have no impact on Benzema’s future however, with the 32-year-old hoping to extend his contract for a further year through to 2023.

Head-to-Head England have won just two of the recent 14 matches against Italy. Overall, the two have met 27 times with Italy winning on 11 occassions, England eight and the remaining eight ending in stalemate. In EUROS also, Italy have the edge winning 1-0 in 1980, and drawing 0-0 before winning on penalties in the 2012 edition.

Predicted line-ups

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Immobile, Insigne
Out: Spinazzola (Achilles)

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane

Prediction

The is Azzuri’s 10th final while the Three Lions are appearing in the title clash of a major tournament for the first time since 1966 FIFA World Cup. Italy are unbeaten in their last 33 matches across all competitions, while England have not lost in their last 12 outings.

It is Mancini’s team who have a better best chance of lifting the trophy — currently rated at 60.1 per cent. Only three teams have ever won the EUROs on home soil — Spain (1964), Italy (1968) and France (1984). England, who have won 15 of their last 17 matches at Wembley Stadium in all competitions, will be hoping to join that list. But their task is easier said than done against an Italian side, who are eyeing their first EURO since 1968.

14 years since their last meeting in a Copa America final, Brazil are set to face Argentina in the final of the 2021 Copa America, in a clash of the titans on Saturday at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.

The Selecao come into this game after an unbeaten run in the group stage which they had continued into the knockout stage as well. After their free-flowing play in the opening matches, Brazil have shown grit and determination to their game in the two 1-0 wins against Chile and Peru, in the quarterfinals and semi-finals, respectively.

GAME CHANGERS

NEYMAR

As seen in the previous group stage games, most of the Brazilian attacks have to go through Neymar, and that is not a surprise at all. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is one of the best players in the world and can break open defence at will with his silky footwork and goalscoring abilities.

With two goals and three assists in the campaign, Brazil’s talisman is in superb form and Tite will hope that he continues to do the same, while also expecting the continuation of the support offered by his fellow attackers Lucas Paqueta, Richarlison, and Gabriel Jesus.

LIONEL MESSI

This tournament might well be Lionel Messi’s last chance at winning a Copa America title and the mercurial forward will look to pounce upon every opportunity that arises in the game against Brazil and has been unstoppable in the tournament.

The mercurial magician is topping the charts in both goals and assists, four and five, respectively, and will be Scaloni’s primary weapon in opening up a resolute Brazilian defence. Striker Lautaro Martinez also has had a tremendous Copa campaign and the manager will hope that the Inter Milan striker continuous his rich goalscoring form.

PREDICTION

With both squads having filled with a plethora of talent and having a near-identical run into the final, it is difficult to pick a winner out of the blue and proclaim them as the champions of the 2021 Copa America.

Brazil will want their attacking superstars to finish the job, while also banking on their resolute defence while Argentina will depend on the magic of arguably the best player in the world, hence, FootTheBall says, Brazil 1-1 Argentina, Brazil win on penalties.

England reach the final of a major tournament for the first time since 1966 after defeating Denmark after extra-time. Mikkel Damsgaard put the Danes ahead at Wembley with a stunning free-kick to breach the Three Lions’ defence for the first time of the tournament. An own goal from Simon Kjaer levelled the scores before half-time. Neither team could find a winner in 90 minutes, sending the contest to extra-time. Raheem Sterling drew a foul from Joakim Maehle, earning his team a penalty. Harry Kane missed the spot-kick as Kasper Schmeichel produced the save. However, luck was on the side of England as Kane converted the rebound. It was enough to send the Three Lions through to the final.

England will take on Italy in the European Championship final at Wembley on Sunday. Denmark deserve a huge amount of plaudits for their run in the competition in light of the circumstances following Christian Eriksen’s life-threatening collapse in their opener. They leave with their heads held high and return to action on September 1 against Scotland in their World Cup qualifying campaign.

It doesn’t usually end well for England when they reach the semi-finals of a major tournament. Since a 2-1 win over Portugal in the 1966 World Cup the Three Lions have been beaten twice by Germany on penalties (Italia 90 and Euro 96) and 2-1 by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup in Russia.  

England captain Harry Kane, who has now scored three times at Euro 2020, says “we need to try to focus on ourselves; it is a semi-final at our national stadium and we’ve got to use all those positives to worry about us”. The striker added: “We know if we get it right and play how we know we can then we have a great opportunity to get to a final. It’s going to be incredible.”

Denmark forward Kasper Dolberg, who has scored three goals at Euro 2020, said: “Everyone in the camp has a lot of faith in the team. It’s outstanding what we’ve done over the past few weeks, and we must take that with us into the semi-final. That belief that we can do it. Of course, we have to look at England and maybe also adapt a little, but we also need to play to our own strengths.”

England possible starting lineup:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane

Denmark possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Vestergaard, Christensen, Kjaer; Stryger Larsen, Delaney, Hojbjerg, Maehle; Damsgaard, Dolberg, Braithwaite

In the first semifinal of Euro 2020, Italy continued its unbeaten run to defeat Spain 4-2 via penalty shootout on Wednesday (India time) at Wembley Stadium, London. Italy will play against the winner of the second semi-final which will be played between England and Denmark at Wembley on Thursday at 12:30 AM (IST). The final will be played on 12th July, 2021 at 12:30 AM (IST) at Wembley Stadium, London.

It is Brazil vs Argentina in the Copa America 2021 final!

Colombia cause all sorts of problems for Argentina after the Luis Diaz equaliser but eventually falter in the penalties due to Emiliano Martinez’ excellence at goal to save three penalties as Argentina advance 4-2.

In tears, Martinez said after the match he wanted to face the Brazilians in the final in the Maracana Stadium.

“It is a great team, the favorite. But we have a great coach, we have the best player in the world and we will try to win it,” he said.

Argentina are set to play Colombia at the Estadio Nacional de Brasilia Mane Garrincha on Tuesday in the semifinals of the Copa America.

Argentina come into this game on the back of a 3-0 win over Gustavo Alfaro’s Ecuador on Saturday in the quarterfinals. Goals from Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez and Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi ensured victory for Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina. Ecuador had Talleres centre-back Piero Hincapie sent off late in the second-half.

Colombia, on the other hand, beat Oscar Tabarez’s Uruguay 0-0 (4-2 p) on Saturday in the quarterfinals. Despite the likes of James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado not playing for Colombia, Reinaldo Rueda’s men managed to emerge victorious on penalties.

Argentina vs Colombia Head-to-Head

In 40 head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Argentina hold the clear advantage. They have won 23 games, lost nine and drawn eight.

The two countries last faced each other earlier this year, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw. Early first-half goals from Atalanta centre-back Cristian Romero and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes for Argentina was cancelled out by second-half goals from Atalanta striker Luis Muriel and Junior forward Miguel Borja for Colombia.

Argentina form guide at Copa America 2021: W-W-W-W-D

Colombia form guide at Copa America 2021: W-L-L-D-W

Prediction: Argentina 2-0 Colombia

Lucas Paqueta’s first-half goal is enough to propel Brazil in the Copa America 2021 final! The Brazilians were all over Peru in the first half and looked like the dominating side. Peru came back strongly in the second half with some tactical substitutions in the break but were too short of quality and time to score the equaliser as Brazil hold on to their slender 1-0 goal lead.

Brazil now lay in wait for the outcome of the second semi-final game between Argentina and Colombia for the final to be played on Sunday, 11th July at 05.30 AM IST. 

Click on the link below to watch the highlights of the match:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiz0e70_c3xAhXL7XMBHdN6CTMQsk4oAHoECAEQDA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sonyliv.com%2Fsports%2Fcopa-america-2021-1700000734%2Ffootball-hls-brazil-1-0-peru-6-jul-2021-1000124710%3Fwatch%3Dtrue%26utm_source%3DGoogle%26utm_medium%3DOnebox%26utm_campaign%3Dfootball_hls_copaamerica2021_brazil-vs-peru&usg=AOvVaw0ORqn_ehdJAMIXFi1JNjWC

Explosives-laden drones were used to carry out an attack on the Jammu Air Force station on Sunday

New Delhi: 

The drone strikes in Jammu airbase were an act of terror that was aimed at targeting key military assets, Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria said today, adding that the Indian Air Force is in the process of bolstering its capabilities to deal with such security challenges.

The Chief of Air Staff said the IAF has carried out a detailed analysis in terms of implications of drones and other similar capabilities falling into the hands of non-state actors, and taking a series of measures to counter them.

The Chief of Air Staff said a detailed investigation into the attacks was underway and that all sets of measures would be on the table based on the findings of the probe.

“We have gone over the subject in terms of the implications of this kind of capabilities in the hands of non-state actors and the kind of effect the armed drone capabilities would have in future conflicts,” Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria said.

He said the IAF analysed a large extent the requirements in terms of planning and required systems and infrastructure to enhance its abilities to go for “soft kill” and to have a counter-drone system.

Referring to the attacks, he said there was no visibility when the incident took place. “Very soon we will have enough systems and we will target.. we will find ways to tackle this threat,” the Air Chief Marshal said.

Team News & Tactics

Brazil

The absence of Gabriel Jesus does not bode well for a Brazil team that might lack productivity going forward. Nevertheless, Tite has no option but to replace him, with Lucas Paqueta likely to come in, having scored the winner in the quarter-final against Chile.

Paqueta should operate in the number ten position, allowing Neymar and Richarlison to play out wide. The Brazil attack will be spearheaded by Neymar, even though Roberto Firmino is likely to operate in the number nine position.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Danilo, Silva, Marquinhos, Lodi; Fred, Casemiro; Richarlison, Paqueta, Neymar; Firmino

Peru

While Brazil misses Gabriel Jesus, Peru will have to make do without their key frontman Andre Carrillo following his dismissal in the quarter-final. His absence at right-wing should give Alex Valera an opportunity to impress.http://assets.vlitag.com/plugins/safeframe/src/html/r.htmlAd by Valueimpression

The 27-year-old is expected to form Peru’s creative trifecta alongside Sergio Pena and Christian Cueva as they look to provide the supply for top-scorer Gianluca Lapadula. Santiago Ormeno is a potential alternative for Lapadula or even Valera, while Raziel Garcia is another option.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Gallese; Corzo, Santamaria, Ramos, Trauco; Yotun, Tapia; Valera, Pena, Cueva; Lapadula

Prediction

Brazil 2-0 Peru

After stumbling to a 4-0 defeat in the group stages, Peru are expected to provide a much more resilient display on Monday, knowing what’s at stake. However, without their key frontman Andre Carrillo, they might struggle to breach the star-studded Brazilian defence that showcased excellent solidity in the quarter-final affair against Chile.