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Lionel Messi: Argentina forward retires from international football

Lionel Messi strike doubles Argentina lead



Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.
"It's not meant for me. For me the national team is over. I've done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America.With Barcelona, Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
But his only major international honour is 2008 Olympic gold.Argentina were beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germanybefore two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.
"It's been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over," he added.
"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone. I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.'
"It's very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."Messi had scored five times at the tournament, including a superb free-kick in the semi-final against hosts the USA to become his country's record scorer with 55 goals.
Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said he hoped Messi would "reflect" on his decision and reconsider, adding: "I think he spoke while he was heated, because a beautiful opportunity escaped us. I can't imagine a national team without Messi."
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero described the mood in the Argentina dressing room as "the worst I've ever been in", and was quoted by South American media as saying: "There are several players who are evaluating not continuing with the national team."
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years.
"It's not meant for me. For me the national team is over. I've done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America.With Barcelona, Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
But his only major international honour is 2008 Olympic gold.
Argentina were beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germanybefore two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.
"It's been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over," he added.
"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone. I think there's a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.'
"It's very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back."
Messi had scored five times at the tournament, including a superb free-kick in the semi-final against hosts the USA to become his country's record scorer with 55 goals.
Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said he hoped Messi would "reflect" on his decision and reconsider, adding: "I think he spoke while he was heated, because a beautiful opportunity escaped us. I can't imagine a national team without Messi."
Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero described the mood in the Argentina dressing room as "the worst I've ever been in", and was quoted by South American media as saying: "There are several players who are evaluating not continuing with the national team."
After Sunday's match finished 0-0 in 120 minutes, Chile won 4-2 on penalties.
Messi's miss was Argentina's first attempt in the shootout and it ballooned over the bar after Romero had denied Chile's Arturo Vidal.
Lucas Biglia also missed from 12 yards, with Chilean substitute Francisco Silva scoring the decisive spot-kick in the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Messi made his debut for Argentina in 2005, going on to make 113 appearances.
For Barca he has scored 453 times in 531 games, including a La Liga record 312 goals. He has won the Ballon d'Or award for the world's best player five times.
In 2014 he was named as the best player at the World Cup, with then-Fifa president Sepp Blatter saying he was "a little bit surprised" and Argentina legend Diego Maradona calling the decision "unfair".
Argentina are already six games into their qualification campaign for the 2018 World Cup. They are third in the table, two points behind leaders Uruguay.

The top four teams progress automatically to the finals in Russia, while the team finishing fifth qualifies for a two-legged play-off against the best team from Oceania.
source:bbc.com

David Cameron announces resignation after U.K. votes for 'Brexit'


AP BRITAIN EU I GBR


LONDON —  British Prime Minister David Cameron announced he will stand down after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union, a decision that sent global markets into a tailspin Friday.
The margin of victory was 52% to 48%.
“We should aim to have a new prime minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October,” Cameron said in a speech to the nation Friday. He said he informed Queen Elizabeth II of his decision.

It is the first departure from the alliance since the EU was formed 43 years ago. It could prompt other member nations to follow the U.K.'s lead and reverse a decades-long drive for European unity.
The outcome will have far-reaching political implications for the future of the 28-nation bloc as well as the political future of Prime Minister David Cameron.
Nigel Farage, leader of the U.K. Independence Party said that "dawn was breaking on an independent U.K." He is not an member of the official "leave" campaign, but supports an exit from the EU.
The White House gave a statement early Friday after the U.K.'s decision: "The President has been briefed on the incoming returns in the U.K. referendum, and he will continue to be updated by his team as the situation warrants. We expect the President will have an opportunity to speak to Prime Minister Cameron over the course of the next day, and we will release further comment as soon as appropriate."
The British pound fell 11% to a 31-year low as the "leave" camp appeared on course to win the historic referendum. Dow futures plummeted more than 600 points. Markets were also volatile in Asia. Japan's Nikkei 225 average dropped more than 1,000 points, or 7%, through late-afternoon trading.
The Bank of England — the U.K.'s central bank — said it was monitoring developments closely and "has undertaken extensive contingency planning."

Iain Murray, vice president for strategy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a Washington-based public policy organization, said Britain’s "surprising vote" to leave the EU is "only the start of uncertainty and opportunity."
"Negotiations over the terms of exit will take at least two years, and no one knows what form they will take or what deal can be struck,” he said.
Piers Hillier, the chief investment officer at Royal London Asset Management, an investment company, said he expected the U.K. to fall into a recession following the referendum result, the Guardian reported.
“Unfortunately I see unstable market conditions lasting for between three and five years whilst new trade agreements are drawn up,” he said.
The British currency initially soared to a 2016 peak of $1.50 amid signs that "remain" was winning the day, but then moved lower with losses accelerating. It fell from $1.50 to below $1.35 as results suggested a strong possibility the U.K. would vote to quit the bloc.
source: usatoday

June 3 disaster: Mass burial for 50 unidentified bodies


 
Kasapafmonline.com is reliably informed that a mass burial is being considered for fifty (50) bodies from Ghana’s worst disaster, June 3 Flood and Fire disaster which are yet to be identified and collected for burial by their respective families, one full year after the horrific incident.

This website has it on authority that these bodies are currently being kept at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and 37 Military Hospital morgues.

Ghana was thrown into a state of mourning after a tragic flood and fire disaster which claimed the lives of over 152 people following an explosion on that eventful Wednesday.

The Goil Filling Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra became the site of a cruel catastrophe after a gas explosion left charred remains of persons who had sought refuge from the floods in the area.

As the incident happened in the night, the dead bodies could only be found and carted away on the morning of the following day to the Police, 37 Military and Korle Bu Teaching Hospitals mortuary.

The gory incident resulted in hundreds of family members trooping to the named mortuaries to find out if their missing relatives had died in the event.

Some were fortunate enough to identify their dead relatives despite how charred some of the bodies were, following which the affected families later went for the bodies and to hold funeral services for them and eventually bury them.

It is however unclear why family members of these 50 dead people have not yet gone to the morgues to identify and collect their dead relatives.



Source:ghanaweb

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