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Barca top the Power Rankings

With seven wins from seven games, Barcelona have set the pace in La Liga. They top Shaka Hislop's latest Top 10, followed by free-scoring PSG and the two Manchester clubs. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are on the rise. Read »
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/3219896/barcelona-and-psg-lead-the-way-ahead-of-the-manchester-clubs-in-shaka-hislop-power-rankings

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Pique voting in Catalan election leaves Spain in awkward spot ahead of World Cup qualifying

How long ago it must seem to Julen Lopetegui since his Spain side tore Italy to shreds and left themselves not only on the threshold of
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/team/spain/164/blog/post/3219565/pique-voting-in-catalan-election-leaves-spain-in-awkward-spot-ahead-of-world-cup-qualifying

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WATCH: September in the Premier League

The Exploding Heads review all of September's Premier League action, including Dele Alli's sign language course and Jurgen Klopp's German lessons.
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/23/video/3219170/watch-september-in-the-premier-league

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Transfer Rater: Leon Goretzka and Dael Fry to Manchester United

Things change in the blink of an eye in football.&nbsp;<a
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/soccer-usa/3/post/3219673/transfer-rater-leon-goretzka-and-dael-fry-to-manchester-united

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Bayern president Uli Hoeness has told Pep Guardiola identity of new coach

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness says he has already informed Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola who will succeed Carlo Ancelotti as coach of the
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/bayern-munich/story/3220141/bayern-president-uli-hoeness-has-told-pep-guardiola-identity-of-new-coach

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Tottenham vow to take action if fan carried Marcos Alonso banner

Tottenham Hotspur say they will investigate a banner allegedly carried by some of the club's supporters that referred to Chelsea wing-back
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/tottenham-hotspur/story/3219742/tottenham-vow-to-take-action-if-fan-carried-marcos-alonso-banner

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Arsenal Supporters' Trust against Usmanov selling shares to Kroenke

The Arsenal Supporters' Trust will continue to oppose any moves to take the club into single ownership and urge Alisher Usmanov not to sell
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/arsenal/story/3220069/arsenal-supporters-trust-urges-usmanov-not-to-sell-shares-to-kroenke

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Argentina doctor says Sergio Aguero 'can't leave his house,' out six weeks

Argentina's team doctor says he believes Sergio Aguero will be out of action for six weeks after breaking a rib in a car crash. The Manchester City
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/english-premier-league/story/3219903/argentina-doctor-says-sergio-aguero-cant-leave-his-house,-out-six-weeks

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Romelu Lukaku has scan on ankle injury, reveals no fracture - Belgium

Manchester United have received an injury boost after a scan on Romelu Lukaku's ankle revealed no fracture or ligament damage. Lukaku
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/manchester-united/story/3219674/romelu-lukaku-has-scan-on-ankle-injury-reveals-no-fracture-belgium

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Alex Morgan and Orlando City players removed from Epcot Center by police

Police told a group including U.S. women's national team star Alex Morgan and several Orlando City players to leave a Disney World theme park on
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/orlando-city-sc/story/3220005/alex-morgan-and-orlando-city-players-removed-from-epcot-center-by-police

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PSG's Edinson Cavani on Neymar dispute: 'Everything is calm now'

Edinson Cavani has played down his dispute with Paris Saint-Germain teammate Neymar and said that everything was blown out of
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/paris-saint-germain/story/3219816/psgs-edinson-cavani-on-neymar-dispute-everything-is-calm-now

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Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben denies reports he criticised Carlo Ancelotti

Arjen Robben has distanced himself from reports that he was among the players who led Bayern Munich to sack manager Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti left
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/bayern-munich/story/3220088/bayern-munichs-arjen-robben-denies-reports-he-criticised-carlo-ancelotti

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Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo: Being a father is 'a feeling I can't describe'

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo says that becoming a father has made him experience winning trophies in a new, more fulfilling
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/real-madrid/story/3219861/real-madrids-cristiano-ronaldo-being-a-father-is-a-feeling-i-cant-describe

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Vladimir Putin takes shot at Zenit St. Petersburg over lack of Russians

MOSCOW --
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/russia/story/3220084/vladimir-putin-takes-shot-at-zenit-st-petersburg-over-lack-of-russian-players

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CONCACAF World Cup qualifying - how United States can make Russia 2018

Taylor Twellman reacts to Fabian Johnson's exclusion from Arena's roster for the U.S.'s crucial final matches in the Hex.

        On Christian Pulisic's 19th birthday, Brian McBride says the teenager is on the path to becoming the best U.S. player ever. 
            
        The FC crew mark Christian Pulisic's 19th birthday by evaluating his progress and his ceiling for both club and country. 

The final rounds of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup take place on Oct. 6 and 10, with only one of the 3.5 available places currently confirmed after Mexico secured safe passage in September.
Already qualified: Mexico
Places to be decided: 2 automatic, 1 intercontinental playoff
Here, we take a look at which nations can still make it to Russia, and how they can get there.
The top three teams qualify directly, with the nation that finishes in fourth facing a two-legged playoff against either Australia...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup-qualifying-concacaf/64/blog/post/3210022/concacaf-world-cup-qualifying-how-united-states-can-make-russia-2018

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South American World Cup qualifying - how each nation can still make Russia

Currently fifth in CONMEBOL, Craig Burley still sees Argentina making it to Russia 2018, albeit in tense fashion.
The final rounds of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup take place on Oct. 5 and 10, with only one of the 4.5 available places currently confirmed after Brazil secured safe passage and top spot in the group.
Already qualified: Brazil
Places to be decided: 3 automatic, 1 intercontinental playoff
Here, we take a look at which nations can still make it to Russia, and how they can get there. Brazil are through, and Uruguay all-but qualified. However, the rest of the places are wide open with several nations...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup-qualifying-conmebol/65/blog/post/3210003/south-american-conmebol-world-cup-qualifying-how-each-nation-can-still-make-russia-2018

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African World Cup qualifying - how each nation can still make Russia 2018

The final two rounds of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup take place first between Oct. 6 and 8, and then the week of Nov. 6. None of the five available places have been confirmed as yet, but some should be settled in the next set of matches.
Already qualified: None
Places yet to be decided: 5 automatic
Here, we take a look at which nations can still make it to Russia, and how they can get there.
The five winners of the four-nation groups qualify automatically for the finals. There is no other route...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup-qualifying-caf/63/blog/post/3216378/african-world-cup-qualifying-how-each-nation-can-still-make-russia-2018

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European World Cup qualifying - how each nation can still make Russia 2018

Steve Nicol says FIFA are fixing a system that isn't broken by deciding to seed every team for the 2018 World Cup draw.
The final round of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup takes place between Oct. 5 and 10, with only one of the 13 available places currently confirmed after Belgium secured top spot in Group H.
Already qualified: Belgium (plus Russia as hosts)
Places yet to be decided: 8 automatic, 8 playoff places for 4 finals berths
Here, we take a look at which nations can still make it to Russia, and how they can get there.
The nine group winners qualify automatically, with the other four places decided by playoffs...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/world-cup-qualifying-uefa/67/blog/post/3204066/european-world-cup-qualifying-how-each-nation-can-still-make-russia-2018

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Which nations can be seeded at the World Cup finals draw?

Steve Nicol says FIFA are fixing a system that isn't broken by deciding to seed every team for the 2018 World Cup draw.
The World Cup draw will take place on Friday, Dec. 1, and FIFA has announced that it will seed all four pots based upon its October World Ranking.
It's very tricky at this stage to predict what all four pots will look like, but we can assess which seven nations will join hosts Russia as one of the eight top seeds.&nbsp;
The seven highest-ranked nations in the October FIFA Ranking, who also qualify for the finals, will be seeded with Russia.&nbsp;
Who is guaranteed to be seeded?
At present only Brazil...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/fifa-world-cup/4/blog/post/3209907/which-nations-can-be-seeded-at-the-world-cup-finals-draw

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Roy Keane tells players to 'play chess' if injuries, concussions worry them

Republic of Ireland assistant Roy Keane said concussions and other injuries are just part of sport.
Roy Keane has told footballers to play chess if they are worried about getting hurt.
Responding to a question about striker Kevin Doyle's retirement last week because of repeated bouts of concussion, the Republic of Ireland assistant manager admitted his sadness at the player's plight, but insisted that injury is an occupational hazard for professional athletes.
Keane said: "It's sad, but he's made the right decision, no doubt. He's had an excellent career and seems a real decent guy.
"It's sad...
Source: http://www.espnfc.com/republic-of-ireland/story/3219901/roy-keane-tells-players-to-play-chess-if-injuries-concussions-worry-them

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