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FOOTBALL

Enke poised to keep German goal at World Cup in South Africa

Hannover goalie Robert Enke is set to win the battle to be his country's number one keeper in next summer's World Cup finals in South Africa, former shot-stopper Andreas Köpke said Friday.

Enke poised to keep German goal at World Cup in South Africa
Photo: DPA

“Robert is ahead, he has been playing very well and if all proceeds normally he will be between the sticks against Russia,” Köpke, Germany’s goalkeeping coach, told Bild newspaper.

Germany play Russia in an October 10 qualifier which should determine which of the two countries tops Group Four.

“Up to now, in the three (league) matches he has played he has only conceded two goals with Hannover and he has been very solid in the matches he has played for the national side,” added Köpke.

Enke, 32, has won eight caps to date and faces competition from Rene Adler (Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Schalke O4) and Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen). Wiese

is predicted to be the man who misses out when coach Joachim Löw finally

announces his squad.

Enke was number two to former Arsenal veteran Jens Lehmann at Euro-2008. He began his career at Borussia Mönchengladbach in 1996 and then had three years

with Benfica in Portugal. Thereafter he lost his way somewhat after Barcelona signed him up in 2002 only to loan him out to Fenerbahce of Turkey, then Spain’s Tenerife.

Despite interest from other German sides he elected to join Hannover in 2004 to relaunch his career back in the Bundesliga.

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RACISM

VIDEO: Spain’s La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

Spain's La Liga on Monday said it was reviewing a video of a child making racist insults towards Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior during the 2-2 draw with Valencia at the weekend.

VIDEO: Spain's La Liga reviews video of boy racially abusing Vinicius

“We’re in the process of studying and analysing the facts from a legal standpoint to see what we can and should do,” La Liga sources said.

In a video published by a journalist for ESPN Brasil, and picked up by Spanish media, a boy sitting in a woman’s lap can be heard calling Vinicius a “monkey”.

https://twitter.com/GravesenFumado/status/1764242481984491822

The Brazilian scored twice for Madrid as his team recovered from two goals down at Mestalla on Saturday.

Vinicius raised his fist in a “Black Power” salute after the first of his two goals at a ground where he was racially abused last season. Valencia subsequently banned three people from the stadium for life.

The 23-year-old has become a symbol of the fight against discrimination in Spanish football after suffering racist abuse on many occasions, and he was jeered repeatedly by home supporters on Saturday.

Jude Bellingham was sent off after the final whistle against Valencia for protesting after the referee blew the final whistle right before the England midfielder headed home what he thought was the winning goal.

READ ALSO: Football star Vinicius highlights racist behaviour from Spanish fans

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