Thiago Motta Signs 3-Year Deal to Coach Juventus

Bologna's head coach Thiago Motta waits for the start of an Italian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Inter Milan and Bologna, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
Bologna's head coach Thiago Motta waits for the start of an Italian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Inter Milan and Bologna, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
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Thiago Motta Signs 3-Year Deal to Coach Juventus

Bologna's head coach Thiago Motta waits for the start of an Italian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Inter Milan and Bologna, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)
Bologna's head coach Thiago Motta waits for the start of an Italian Cup round of 16 soccer match between Inter Milan and Bologna, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, on Dec. 20, 2023. (AP)

Thiago Motta was announced as Juventus’ new coach on Wednesday, replacing the fired Massimiliano Allegri.

Juventus said Motta signed a three-year contract with the Bianconeri, having just steered Bologna to a Champions League finish.

“I am really happy to begin a new chapter at the helm of a great club like Juventus,” Motta said. “I thank the owners and the management, who can be sure of my ambition to keep the Juventus flag flying high and to please the fans.”

Allegri was fired last month for his ugly outburst toward the referee and others in the Italian Cup final.

Allegri lost his cool in stoppage time when he grew angry at a decision, ripped off his jacket and earned a red card for sarcastically applauding the referee. Juventus beat Atalanta 1-0 for the title — the only real highlight in a season in which the Bianconeri finished third in Serie A.

The Brazilian-born Motta, who played for Italy, began his coaching career with Paris Saint-Germain’s youth team. Then his first senior job was at Genoa before moving on to Spezia and Bologna.



Argentina Shakes off Chaos of Morocco Game by Beating Iraq 3-1

 Argentina's Ezequiel Fernandez celebrates after scoring during the men's Group B soccer match between Argentina and Iraq at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP)
Argentina's Ezequiel Fernandez celebrates after scoring during the men's Group B soccer match between Argentina and Iraq at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP)
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Argentina Shakes off Chaos of Morocco Game by Beating Iraq 3-1

 Argentina's Ezequiel Fernandez celebrates after scoring during the men's Group B soccer match between Argentina and Iraq at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP)
Argentina's Ezequiel Fernandez celebrates after scoring during the men's Group B soccer match between Argentina and Iraq at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP)

Argentina got its Olympic men's soccer campaign back on track by beating Iraq 3-1 on Saturday in Lyon.

Argentina, one of the pre-tournament favorites, suffered a shock 2-1 loss to Morocco in its Group B opening game marred by a pitch invasion from Moroccan fans and a two-hour delay.

While Iraq threatened to pull off another surprise when Aymen Hussein leveled the game in first-half stoppage time, goals from Luciano Gondou and Ignacio Fernandez sealed victory for Argentina.

Thiago Almada, who Argentina coach Javier Mascherano said had a watch stolen when the team's training base was robbed earlier this week, opened the scoring with a volley in the 14th minute at Stade de Lyon.

But Hussein's header in the fifth minute of first half-time added time evened the game before the break.

Gondou's far-post header in the 62nd restored Argentina's lead and Fernandez curled in a long-range shot from the edge of the box in the 85th.

The win leaves Argentina level with Iraq and Morocco on three points. Morocco was playing Ukraine in a later kick off.

Spain advances Spain reached the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic in Bordeaux.

Goals from Fermín Lopez, Alex Baena and Miguel Gutierrez made it two wins from two for Spain in Group C.

Lopez — one of Barcelona’s rising stars — scored in the 24th, but Angel Montes de Oca evened the game in the 38th.

Baena restored Spain’s lead in the 55th and Gutierrez sealed it in the 70th.

Spain’s men are aiming to add to a golden period for its nation’s soccer teams after the women’s team won the World Cup last year and the men won the European Championship earlier this month.