Saudi national football team prepares for Asian qualifiers

Saudi national football team prepares for Asian qualifiers
Al-Nasser and Al-Hilal, who will meet in the final of the King’s Cup on Friday, will join the national team’s preparations on Sunday after head coach Roberto Mancini gave them a day off on Saturday to recover. (SAFF)
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Updated 19 September 2024
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Saudi national football team prepares for Asian qualifiers

Saudi national football team prepares for Asian qualifiers
  • Players participating in the King’s Cup final between Al-Nasser and Al-Hilal on Friday will join the national squad on Sunday
  • Green Falcons fly to Islamabad on Wednesday for their game against Pakistan on Thursday, and then host Jordan in Riyadh on June 11

RIYADH: The Saudi national football team gathered at their training camp in Riyadh on Thursday to begin preparations for the upcoming Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup.
As the Green Falcons held their first training session on Thursday evening behind closed doors at Mahd Academy, members of the squad from Al-Nasser and Al-Hilal, who will meet in the final of the King’s Cup on Friday, were absent. They will join the national team’s preparations on Sunday after head coach Roberto Mancini gave them a day off on Saturday to recover.
The 31-player squad, announced by Mancini last week, will fly out on Wednesday for their game against Pakistan in Islamabad on June 6, and then host Jordan at Alwal park in Riyadh on June 11.
Saudi Arabia currently tops Group G of the Asian qualifiers, with 10 points from four games, ahead of Jordan (7 points) and Tajikistan (5). Pakistan are bottom of the group having lost all four games so far.


Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro draws at Argentina’s River Plate and reaches Copa Libertadores final

Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro draws at Argentina’s River Plate and reaches Copa Libertadores final
Updated 30 October 2024
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Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro draws at Argentina’s River Plate and reaches Copa Libertadores final

Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro draws at Argentina’s River Plate and reaches Copa Libertadores final
  • Atletico’s rival in the decider will be decided on Wednesday, and it is very likely to be fellow Brazilian side Botafogo

BUENOS AIRES: Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro drew 0-0 at Argentina’s River Plate on Tuesday and reached the final of the Copa Libertadores for the second time.
The team of veteran striker Hulk had beaten its rivals 3-0 in the first leg of the semifinal.
The festive atmosphere at the full Monumental de Nunez Stadium with more than 80,000 fans did not affect the Brazilian side, which had some of the clearest chances to score.
Atletico’s rival in the decider will be decided on Wednesday, and it is very likely to be fellow Brazilian side Botafogo. The Rio de Janeiro-based team will play at Uruguay’s Penarol after winning the first leg 5-0.
Brazilian teams have won the tournament for the past five years.
The final will be played on Nov. 30 at the same Monumental de Nunez Stadium in Buenos Aires.


Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach

Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach
Updated 30 October 2024
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Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach

Amorim says future ‘hasn’t been decided’ as Man United show interest in Sporting Lisbon coach
  • Sporting released a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange, saying it has told United that Amorim has a release clause worth €10 million ($10.8 million) in his contract
  • The 39-year-old Amorim has coached Sporting since 2020, leading the team to Portuguese league titles in 2021 and last season

Sporting Lisbon coach Ruben Amorim said Tuesday his future “hasn’t been decided yet” amid interest from Manchester United.

“Nobody knows if this was my farewell match, or if there will be a farewell match,” Amorim said in quotes reported by Portugal’s sports daily A Bola after Sporting’s 3-1 win over Nacional in the Portuguese League Cup quarterfinals.

Hours earlier, Sporting released a statement to the Lisbon Stock Exchange, saying it has told United that Amorim has a release clause worth €10 million ($10.8 million) in his contract.

The Portuguese champions said United “has shown interest” in paying that amount for Amorim.

United are looking to replace Erik ten Hag, who was fired on Monday with the team languishing in 14th place in the Premier League.

Ten Hag was the 20-time English champions’ fifth permanent manager since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. United have not won the league since Ferguson’s departure.

The 39-year-old Amorim has coached Sporting since 2020, leading the team to Portuguese league titles in 2021 and last season.

Sporting lead  the league this season, too, having won all nine of its games, bolstering Amorim’s reputation as one of Europe’s most talented coaches.

He reportedly held talks with West Ham last season and was linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool before Arne Slot was hired.

Amorim is a former Portugal midfielder who spent the majority of his club career at Benfica.

His contract at Sporting expires in 2026.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked earlier Tuesday if he thought Amorim has what it takes to succeed in the Premier League.

“All I can talk about is the experience of playing twice against Ruben’s Sporting Lisbon team (in the Champions League’s round of 16 in 2022), and the pressure was really, really good,” Guardiola said.

“I spoke with (current City player) Matheus Nunes, and he was his player, and he speaks highly about him. And look this season, he is unbeaten and winning all the games in the Portuguese league and (in) the Champions League, (they have) the same points as us. So a high manager. I have the feeling that Man United, what I hear, that they are thinking about him, it’s because he’s a good manager.”

Ten Hag’s assistant at United, Ruud van Nistelrooy, will take interim control of the team for Wednesday’s English League Cup match against Leicester at Old Trafford.


Manchester United target Amorim after axing Ten Hag

Manchester United target Amorim after axing Ten Hag
Updated 29 October 2024
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Manchester United target Amorim after axing Ten Hag

Manchester United target Amorim after axing Ten Hag
  • Time finally runs out for Dutchman with after a fourth defeat in nine league games at West Ham on Sunday
  • One of the world’s wealthiest clubs have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions

MANCHESTER, UK: Manchester United are reportedly in talks with Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim to become their next manager after sacking Erik ten Hag following a disastrous start to the season.

Time finally ran out for Dutchman Ten Hag with United 14th in the Premier League after a fourth defeat in nine league games at West Ham on Sunday.

Despite spending big in the transfer market this season, one of the world’s wealthiest clubs have won only one of their last eight games in all competitions.

Former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, a member of Ten Hag’s coaching staff, was named interim boss.

According to multiple British media reports, United want to turn to Amorim, the 39-year-old Sporting Lisbon manager who is considered one of Europe’s leading young coaches.

Sky Sports reported United had held discussions with Amorim and are prepared to pay his release clause.

Amorim was linked with the manager’s role at Liverpool following the departure of Jurgen Klopp this year, but Dutch coach Arne Slot headed to Anfield instead.

The position of Ten Hag, 54, had been repeatedly called into question after United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe retained him following an internal review at the end of last season when the club finished eighth in the league but won the FA Cup with a shock victory over Manchester City.

Ten Hag was even rewarded with a one-year contract extension to June 2026.

But United have shown little improvement this season and the 2-1 loss at West Ham was the final straw.

A club statement on Monday said: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.”

EXPENSIVE SIGNINGS

Former Ajax coach Ten Hag, who joined United in May 2022, had fiercely defended his record in recent weeks after winning two trophies in his two full seasons in charge.

United ended a six-year wait for silverware by beating Newcastle in the 2023 League Cup final.

The Red Devils also reached the FA Cup final and finished third in the Premier League in an encouraging debut season for Ten Hag.

However, the wheels came off in his second season.

Injuries to key players, the lack of a meaningful impact from expensive signings like Brazilian forward Antony and Ten Hag’s failure to implement a clear playing style led to a number of embarrassing results.

United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage while Bournemouth, Brighton and Fulham were among the teams to win at Old Trafford in the 2023/2024 campaign.

The implementation of a new sporting structure at United, spearheaded by Ratcliffe, saw widespread change over recent months off the field.

But Ten Hag’s surprise victory over Pep Guardiola’s City in the FA Cup final led to him receiving a stay of execution.

He was further backed in the transfer market with the signings of Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, taking the total spent in his reign to over £600 million ($778 million), nearly half of which went on former Ajax players.

Yet early hope this season evaporated as Liverpool and Tottenham coasted to 3-0 wins at Old Trafford in September.

‘UNACCEPTABLE’

Former United captain Gary Neville said Ten Hag had paid the price for an “unacceptable” league position.

“The big shock for me is how bad they’ve been with the new signings that have come in,” Neville told Sky.

He added: “You can’t be in 14th after nine or 10 games with the level of spend that’s occurred without being under significant pressure – and that’s what’s happened.”

Former United defender Rio Ferdinand compared Ten Hag to “a boxer getting hit and knocked down in the third round and never recovering and getting knocked out”.

Ex-England striker Alan Shearer said Ten Hag had been “a dead man walking” as soon as it was revealed United had talked to other potential managers in the summer.

For all the Dutchman’s faults, he oversaw just a small period of United’s more general decline since legendary former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

Since the Scot’s departure, five permanent managers have now been dismissed without United even challenging for the Premier League title – a trophy they won 13 times under Ferguson.


Spaniards Rodri and Bonmatí win Ballon d’Or award for best men’s and women’s players in world soccer

Spaniards Rodri and Bonmatí win Ballon d’Or award for best men’s and women’s players in world soccer
Updated 29 October 2024
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Spaniards Rodri and Bonmatí win Ballon d’Or award for best men’s and women’s players in world soccer

Spaniards Rodri and Bonmatí win Ballon d’Or award for best men’s and women’s players in world soccer
  • While Rodri is not a flamboyant player or a prolific scorer like Messi and Ronaldo, he had a huge influence on City’s team with his ability to protect the defense and distribute passes cleanly from the back
  • The 26-year-old Bonmatí retained her award after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League

PARIS: Spanish midfielders Rodri and Aitana Bonmatí won the men’s and women’s Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best soccer player on Monday.
The 28-year-old Rodri won the prestigious award for the first time after helping Manchester City win the Premier League and being a key player in Spain’s European Championship triumph. He succeeded eight-time winner Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Rodri put his hands over his face when his name was read out by former winner George Weah.
“Incredible night for me,” said Rodri, who is out for the season after injuring his ACL last month and arrived on crutches to the ceremony. “One of my key things is I always try to improve every game.”
The 26-year-old Bonmatí retained her award after helping Barcelona win the Spanish league, the Spanish cup and the Champions League. Bonmatí joined Barca teammate Alexia Putellas in winning two titles since the women’s trophy was first awarded in 2018. She beat her teammates Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway and Salma Paralluelo of Spain as Barcelona completed a 1-2-3.
“It’s a pleasure to be here again,” said Bonmatí, who received the award from Oscar winner Natalie Portman. “Thanks to my teammates and the clubs who make me a better football player every year.”
Vinícius Júnior was among the four men’s finalists with his Real Madrid teammates Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal. But no one from Madrid attended the gala in central Paris, even though Carlo Ancelotti won the coach of the year award.
Vinícius had been seen as one of the favorites for the award until making the decision not to travel to Paris for the ceremony. The decision was made by Madrid, according to a person who works with Vinícius and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak about the player’s whereabouts publicly.
Vinícius finished second in the voting, with Bellingham third.
Neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo — winners of the prestigious individual award a combined 13 times — were in the running for this year’s prize — the first time that’s happened since 2003.
While Rodri is not a flamboyant player or a prolific scorer like Messi and Ronaldo, he had a huge influence on City’s team with his ability to protect the defense and distribute passes cleanly from the back.
“I try to be a leader and try to improve every day from the best,” Rodri said.
City looked unbeatable at times with him in the side, while his excellent technical ability enabled him to slot smoothly into the quick-passing style made so effective by Spain at Euro 2024.
Bonmatí scored 19 goals for the second straight season for Barca and this year has netted five in five games for Spain, taking her international tally to 26.
The Ballon d’Or was created by France Football magazine and has been awarded since 1956 for the men, and since 2018 for the women. It is voted for by journalists from the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings.
Each journalist, one per country, selects 10 players in ranked order, with points attributed to each position. The winner is the player who receives the most points. Unlike FIFA’s awards for the best players each year, fans aren’t part of the voting system.
Yamal’s trophy and other awards
On a good night for Spain and Barca players, teen prodigy Lamine Yamal — the youngest-ever scorer at a European Championship — won the Kopa award for best Under-21 player and Barca won the best women’s team award.
Real Madrid was voted the best men’s team.
Former PSG forward Kylian Mbappé and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane shared the Gerd Mueller award for most club and country goals last season with 52. Mbappé joined Madrid during the offseason.
Argentina’s penalty-saving specialist Emiliano Martínez retained the Lev Yashin award for best goalkeeper.
Ancelotti and Olympic-winning coach Emma Hayes won the Johan Cruyff award for best men’s and women’s coach.
Spain forward Jenni Hermoso, who has fought sexism in Spanish soccer after she was kissed on the lips at last year’s Women’s World Cup final by former federation president Luis Rubiales, collected the Socrates award for humanitarian work.
A special award was given by France Football to the wife and son of late Germany great Franz Beckenbauer.


Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico

Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico
Updated 27 October 2024
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Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico

Real Madrid condemn racist abuse of Barca players in Clasico
  • The Spanish football federation expressed its “absolute condemnation” of the abuse

MADRID: Real Madrid condemned racism from some of their supporters aimed at Barcelona players including teenager Lamine Yamal during the club’s 4-0 Clasico defeat on Saturday.
La Liga said they would report the incidents to Spanish authorities, while the government was also critical of the abuse.
“Real Madrid strongly condemns any kind of behavior involving racism, xenophobia or violence in football and sport, and deeply regrets the insults that a few fans uttered last night in one of the corners of the stadium,” said Los Blancos in a statement Sunday.
Videos emerged on social media after the game of racial abuse aimed at Barcelona players including Yamal, with 17-year-old Spain star Yamal targeted during a goal celebration after becoming the youngest Clasico scorer.
The Spanish champions said they had “opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults.”
“La Liga will immediately report the racist insults and gestures directed at Barcelona players to the hate crime unit of the national police,” said the Spanish top flight in a statement.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, who has often been the victim of racial abuse in Spain himself, offered his support to Yamal and other Barca players who were abused.
“It’s regrettable what happened yesterday at the Bernabeu with the racist insults,” wrote Vinicius on social media network X.
“There’s no space for these criminals in our society. All my support to Lamine, Ansu (Fati) and Raphinha.
“I know that Madrid and the police will work to identify and punish those guilty.”
The Spanish football federation expressed its “absolute condemnation” of the abuse.
Spain’s sports council (CSD) said their Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in sport would meet Monday to discuss the case.
“The Clasico is one of the greatest spectacles in the world, a true expression of the importance that football has in our country,” said the CSD in a statement.
“In it, as in any other sporting event, there can never be any room for expressions of violence, racism, xenophobia, hatred or intolerance.”
“Neither racism, nor insults, nor violence have a place in our country’s sport,” wrote Pilar Alegria, Spain’s minister for education, professional development and sports on X.
Elma Saiz, Spain’s minister for inclusion and migration, also offered support to Yamal.
“The racist insults aimed at Lamine Yamal in the Clasico are everything we in the government will fight against,” she wrote on X.
“We will not allow attacks that we do not tolerate in other spaces to become normalized in sport.”
Spanish football is struggling to combat racism in stadiums across the country.
Real Madrid forward Vinicius has become a figurehead in the fight against racism and has been targeted on numerous occasions since arriving in Spain in 2018.
The Brazilian winger earned worldwide support in May 2023 when he squared off with Valencia supporters after suffering abuse at their Mestalla stadium.
In June three Valencia supporters were sentenced to eight months in prison as a result.
In January 2023, an effigy in a Vinicius shirt was found hanging from a bridge near the club’s training ground alongside a banner saying: “Madrid hates Real.”
In December, four Atletico Madrid fans were charged over the incident, with prosecutors pushing for jail terms of four years.
This week Spanish police arrested four men suspected of inciting an online hate campaign against Vinicius.