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EA Sports have revealed the first batch of FIFA 21 'Road To The Final' players, with some cracking player items now available in the game.

'Road To The Final' items have been a staple of FIFA Ultimate Team over the last couple of years, with player being rewarded in-game for their team's performances in real life.

Player items will be upgraded for every milestone their team reaches in the Champions League this season, such as reaching winning their first knockout game, reaching the quarter-final, the semi-final, and so on. This results in some incredibly powerful players if their teams can make a deep run in the competition.

The first batch of 'Road To The Final' players are now available in packs in FIFA 21, featuring some huge names.

The likes of Jan Oblak, Mohamed Salah, Marcus Rashford, and Alphonso Davies have all been included.

Europa League versions of these player items will also be available in the future.

Further batches of 'Road To The Final' player items will be released in the coming weeks in packs, but you can also get your hands on some featured players via other methods.

A number of squad building challenges will be available, as well as the ability to unlock player items via completing in-game objectives.

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EA Sports Reveal First Batch Of FIFA 21 'Road To The Final' Players - Balls.ie

Raphal Varane responded to questions from the media at the virtual press conference prior to Real Madrid's third Champions League match of the campaign against Inter Milan (Tuesday, 9pm CET): "It's a difficult match. We're up against a good side and we have to win. We're looking forward to it, we don't have to make predictions, we just have to attack and give it our all. We raise our game in matches when we're under pressure and we really like this competition"."It's a different situation to what we're used to. We have to look at it like it's a knockout game and we have to give everything and play as a team. We've got a team up for any challenge and it's another opportunity and we're looking forward to a big performance".Lukau and Inter"I played against him when I was at Manchester United, with the national team and as a kid when we played against Lens and Anderlecht. He's very good and has a spectacular physical qualities. Inter have got a great squad. Very well set up tactically, solid and dangerous up top. We've got to be prepared because we're up against a very good side.The importance of Sergio Ramos"As a defender I feel more comfortable when the team defends more compactly because with space we have to make difficult decisions at the back. Ramos brings a lot to the team and his character is very good for the side. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but without him we haven't been good on a defensive level. My qualities are complemented by his. I make him better and he makes me better. The important thing is the team and the answer is collective: everyone has to be in good shape and together".United dressing room"The dressing room is very tight. We know the responsibility that comes with playing for Real Madrid because of the pressure involved and what people on the outside have to say. We're used to this and we have to help each other. When the results don't go our way, the pressure is very strong and we know that we have to stay united and help each other on and off the pitch".The injuries in defence"We've got a very busy fixture list and we have to focus on being physically ready to play every three days. We have to work hard and not worry about injuries. In Europe, with this rate of games, a lot of players have picked up injuries and we know the risk, but you don't win games thinking about injuries. We must always be at our best to win".

"Hazard's a very good person to talk to about everything. He adapted very well to the dressing room and is a top player, with a lot of quality. He's special at unbalancing teams and will give us a lot at a technical level. He's always positive".Lack of consistency?"We've lacked consistency and it could be for different reasons. The preparation has been different and the schedule is very busy. There's still a lot to do and we're only focussed on improving. We've done some very good things and we have to continue improving. With the schedule how it is, we're going to need everyone and everyone giving their all so that this season goes very well. We have to find that regularity to keep on picking up results".The positive test for Milito"We have to be prepared for these unforeseen events and we have to adapt to any situation. We did two tests yesterday and today to be more reassured and we have to focus on what we can do and do it in the best possible way".His performance against Manchester City"It's in the past and we have to get stronger. They say that you can't live in the past after you've won, and when you lose, it's the same. We have to look ahead and be positive".Lack of patience with the youngsters"It's always complicated for young players. A club like this doesn't have much patience at the level of expectations and you always have to be calm and collected because you have to allow time to improve and gain experience. There are always young players who learn and grow quickly. Theres no better learning experience than coming to a club like this because you learn faster. I've been through it. You learn a lot and quickly at Real Madrid.Achraf"He has to make the decisions that he thinks are best for him. I think Real Madrid will always be special to him, but he also has his career to think about. The player will look at the offers and decide on his future".

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Varane: "We have to give our all and win" - Real Madrid

I'M sure Kieran Kingston was scratching his head at the end of the game last Saturday and maybe asking himself the question 'why did I come back to this?'

That is what managers do. Lots of things go around in your head, like, did we do enough on the training ground? Did we do too much?

Did I pick the right team? Could I have made more changes?

Are these players good enough?

All these thoughts can keep you awake at night, but I suppose the biggest question of all is 'how can I get this right for the next day?' Do I go with players who have done well in the past or do I go for wholesale changes?

The manager will have a little bit of doubt about themselves too. The hard calls must be made, a ruthless approach, because for Cork everything is on the line.

It's do or die. Those questions have to be answered by the management team but more importantly by the players.

Out of the championship after a week... not a nice prospect, especially for such a proud hurling county like Cork. Time to steel yourselves lads, and put your bodies on the line because this isn't going to be easy.

I think Cork have a lot of advantages. They have already played a game in Thurles. Dublin don't get to play much at this venue.

Also it is important Cork play right away after last week, still hurting big time, and after a lot of criticism especially from their own. They will surely go out to prove everybody wrong. Criticism can hurt, but it also can be very true. They are proud players and they will want to show what they're really about.

What Cork team will take the field? Will Eoin Cadigan, if fit, be there? And Colm Spillane. Will Stephen McDonnell's experience be added? I believe Niall O'Leary is worth his place.

Luke Meade could get a run. His work-rate is very valuable. Declan Dalton, a big physically imposing player in the forwards, offers something Cork badly need. He is well able to take his scores.

Youngsters like Patrick Collins and Billy Hennessy are options too. I think they will improve the team and need to.

Cork will need to bring savage intensity and aggression to this game, something they were missing big time last Saturday. Dublin here will bring plenty of that, the same as they did in the second half against Kilkenny last week.

Dublin have big physical players all over the field, guys like Eoghan O'Donnell, Daire Gray, Conor Burke, Cian O'Callaghan, all very good defenders. They have a good midfield paring in Sean Moran and Ryan McBride.

Dublin's attack is led brilliantly by Chris Crummey, another powerful hurler. Danny Sutcliffe and Cian Boland are there too.

And of course, the man that can do real damage, and I believe there is Cork blood in him, is Donal Burke. He's a brilliant free-taker and their leading score-getter.

This is not going to be an easy task for Cork.

Dublin ran the Cats very close last week, and lost by a whisker! But my question about Dublin and something Cork should be asking as well, why did they go 16 points behind in the game?

I think Cork will have to start really well here and not take the foot off the pedal till the final whistle.

It's a long long time since Dublin beat Cork in the championship, I think 1927 was the last time it happened. I know they do not meet too often, but that is a proud record for Cork to have.

I'm sure Kieran Kingston will be reminding players of that, a lot of history on the line here for this team, and for Cork.

It seems not so long ago that Cork would be unbackable favourites to win this game, It would actually be a foregone conclusion that Cork would run away with it.

It is not like that now.

Is that because Dublin have improved so much in the last few years? Or is it because Cork have gone backwards? Maybe we will know a lot more after this weekend.

This is going to be a very big battle, with plenty of physicality and intensity. This is the first knockout game of the championship and I am expecting fireworks.

And you know what this championship needs that. Let the referee throw it in and let them at it!

Originally posted here:
Cork hurlers to change their starting 15 and attitude says Tony Considine - EchoLive.ie

Most of the Kerry panel won't step onto enemy territory until the weekend. For Sean O'Shea, it's different. Kerry's dead ball specialist centre-forward is doing a Masters in Education at UCC. He's already in Cork ahead of Sunday's Munster semi-final at Pirc U Chaoimh.

"There has been a bit of slagging in the corridors and the staffroom," says O'Shea, who is on placement at a school in Ballincollig, "but its obviously do or die championship at this stage. Its going to be really ferocious. Cork are obviously going very well and theyre going to bring a massive challenge to the game.

"From tradition, the Kerry and Cork rivalry has always been big and will always be massive, especially now that it's a knockout game. That might add a bit more to it.

"They put up a big score [against Louth], five goals, so it was very impressive. Obviously, theyre unbeaten this year and we know from last year the challenge in the Munster final - it was nip and tuck right until the very end. We know the challenge theyre going to bring."

Pictured is Kenmare and Kerry footballer Sen OShea at AIBs launch of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

This is the second placement O'Shea as been on as part of his masters.

"It's obviously very different to last year," he says.

Last year you'd be trying to get students interacting with each other. It's a lot more difficult to do this year. Even handouts are gone. Students are wearing masks as well. Everyone is sanitising and making sure that's the most important thing at the moment. It's been a change but it's still good to be out there.

O'Shea's home town of Kenmare - a major tourist destination - is quiet at the moment with the country locked down by Covid-19. The 22-year-old knows he's in a special position, still being allowed to play football.

"Sometimes you can forget this, and take it for granted, but we're very lucky and privileged to be able to go out on the weekend and do something we love, put on the Kerry jersey and represent our towns, our clubs, our families and the people of Kerry," he says.

"Hopefully, we can give them something to look forward to. Level 5 will be tough with the nights getting dark and people stuck at home.

"If we have match on the weekend, people will probably start on a Tuesday or Wednesday talking about it, ringing their friends and finding out about the game. After the game, they'll be talking about it until Tuesday or Wednesday and then looking to the game the next weekend."

Now in their sixth season sponsoring the football county championship and their 30th year sponsoring the club championships, AIB are proud to support some of #TheToughest games there are. In addition to the launch, AIB will soon be releasing their new TV Ad, a fast-paced and upbeat celebration of the 2020 GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. For exclusive content and to see why AIB are backing Club and County, follow us on @AIB_GAA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Originally posted here:
'There Has Been A Bit Of Slagging In The Corridors And The Staffroom' - Balls.ie

Last year, indie game developer ExceptionNULL Games released the light-hearted, political-themed, cartoon boxing game Election Year Knockout.

As part of its efforts to promote Election Year Knockout, ExceptionNULL Games has attempted to run Facebook ads for the game multiple times since its launch.

But the developers attempts to advertise the game on Facebook have been repeatedly denied.

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The premise of the game is that all laws have been replaced with boxing. As an up-and-coming political candidate, the player boxes their way through various political opponents with the final boxing match being for the presidency of the United States.

While Election Year Knockout is politically themed,the producer at ExceptioNULL Games, Ben Ritter, saysit has no political agenda.

The game doesnt feature any real-life political candidates and instead contains caricatures of candidates who serve as boxing opponents. These opponents playfully reference their real-life counterparts with names such as Donald Thump, Birdie Sanders, Ted Bruz, and Uncle Joe.

Not only have ads for the game been rejected but Ritter says Facebook has even forced ExceptioNULL Games to go through the political ads authorization process.

According to Facebooks political ads policy, advertisers that run ads related to a candidate for public office, a political figure, a political party, the outcome of an election, election initiatives, and social issues (which are defined as sensitive topics that are heavily debated, may influence the outcome of an election or result in/relate to existing or proposed legislation) have to complete the ad authorization process.

Election Year Knockout doesnt appear to fall foul of any of these rules yet has had its ability to run Facebook ads squashed multiple times.

Im so sick and tired of this censorship. Theyve effectively nullified the last two years of my life, Ritter told Reclaim The Net.

With the election less than a month away, this rejection is likely to be even more impactful because the theme of Election Year Knockout is closely aligned with current events.

But without the ability to run ads, Ritter and ExceptionNULL Games are unable to connect with users who are looking for a fun way to unwind during election season.

Election Year Knockout is available on Steam, iOS, and Android.

Excerpt from:
Election Year Knockout game unable to advertise due to Big Tech's "political" ads block - Reclaim The Net