What to look out for in the UEFA Nations League

What to look out for in the UEFA Nations League
Spain's players and Spain's coach Luis de la Fuente (L) celebrate on the podium with the UEFA Nations League cup after winning the penalty shootouts and the UEFA Nations League final football match between Croatia and Spain at the De Kuip Stadium in Rotterdam on June 18, 2023. (AFP)
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Updated 04 September 2024
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What to look out for in the UEFA Nations League

What to look out for in the UEFA Nations League
  • Spain are on a high after their magnificent triumph at the Euros and their gold medal success at the Olympics
  • After missing out on Euros glory, England begin a new era with Gareth Southgate having stepped down

PARIS: International football returns across Europe this week, less than eight weeks after Spain edged out England in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin.

AFP Sport picks out five storylines to follow around the continent ahead of two rounds of fixtures over six days starting Thursday:

Spain are on a high after their magnificent triumph at the Euros and their gold medal success at the Olympics.

Luis de la Fuente’s side are quickly back in action and have another title to defend, having won the last edition of the Nations League. La Roja are in Group 4 of League A and begin with an awkward double-header, a trip to Serbia being followed by a meeting with Switzerland in Geneva. Denmark complete the group.

Their squad does not feature the injured Alvaro Morata, Unai Simon or Mikel Merino, who all played in the Euros final, but wing stars Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams are involved. There are also new faces in Oscar Mingueza, the ex-Barcelona right-back now at Celta Vigo, and Valencia midfielder Pepelu.

“We will keep fighting and trying to go as far as possible in every competition,” insisted De la Fuente.

After missing out on Euros glory, England begin a new era with Gareth Southgate having stepped down.

He has been replaced on an interim basis by Lee Carsley, the England Under-21 coach. Carsley, 50, is for now only in charge for this double-header of Nations League matches, as England play Ireland in Dublin and host Finland at Wembley.

The English Football Association are buying themselves time as they search for a permanent successor to Southgate, with 2026 World Cup qualifying not beginning until next March.

But a good start may see them keep faith in Carsley for the rest of the Nations League campaign, in which England also play Greece after being relegated from the top-tier League A following the last edition.

Carsley’s first squad is missing the injured Jude Bellingham, but there are call-ups for the uncapped quartet of Noni Madueke, Morgan Gibbs-White, Tino Livramento and Angel Gomes.

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a disappointing Euro 2024, failing to score in five matches as Portugal went out in the quarter-finals. Many thought the 39-year-old might then accept it was time to retire, but coach Roberto Martinez has continued to back the former Real Madrid striker, naming him in the latest squad.

“When the time comes, I’ll move on,” Ronaldo, of Saudi club Al-Nassr, insisted on Monday after teaming up with the squad to play Croatia and Scotland at home.

Portugal will also come up against Poland in Group 1 of League A, as they aim to win the Nations League for the second time after triumphing in 2019.

An injury to Paris Saint-Germain striker Goncalo Ramos means Ronaldo is likely to play from the start.

There are other nations beyond England starting afresh under a new coach.

Ireland’s meeting with England will be the first game for their new Icelandic coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. Aged 57, the former Jamaica boss was appointed in July and will also lead the team in World Cup qualifying.

Wales are also under new management after failing to reach the Euros, with Craig Bellamy having replaced Rob Page.

Sweden play their first competitive matches under new coach Jon Dahl Tomasson, the ex-Denmark forward. Mircea Lucescu, now 79, has returned for a second stint in charge of Romania, 38 years after ending his first spell.

This is the fourth edition of the Nations League, but the format has not got any simpler. New this time is the introduction of quarter-finals next March, involving the top two from each group in League A. The four-team finals will take place next June.

Teams finishing third in League A, and second in League B, will face off in relegation/promotion play-offs, with identical play-offs between Leagues B and C.

There is an impact on World Cup qualifying too.

The 12 group winners in European qualifying will go to the World Cup, with another four places going to winners of play-offs featuring the 12 runners-up plus the four highest-ranked teams in the Nations League who have not otherwise made it.


Disappointment for Team Abu Dhabi pair as Sharjah’s Wyatt claims power boating win in China

Disappointment for Team Abu Dhabi pair as Sharjah’s Wyatt claims power boating win in China
Updated 22 sec ago
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Disappointment for Team Abu Dhabi pair as Sharjah’s Wyatt claims power boating win in China

Disappointment for Team Abu Dhabi pair as Sharjah’s Wyatt claims power boating win in China
  • Al-Qemzi and Comparato set sights on Zhengzhou after Shanghai race brought to an early finish

SHANGHAI: Sharjah Team’s Rusty Wyatt extended his lead in the 2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship with victory in the Grand Prix of Shanghai, where hazardous conditions brought the race to an early finish.

Just 11 of the scheduled 32 laps had been completed when the Grand Prix was halted for safety reasons, with Team Abu Dhabi’s Thani Al-Qemzi and defending world champion Jonas Andersson among those to suffer as the weather took its toll.

After climbing two places to sixth as he looked to fight his way through the storm, Al-Qemzi slipped to a 10th-place finish, while Andersson narrowly avoided a spectacular crash and conceded second place in the title race as conditions deteriorated.

Under pressure from fellow-Swede Erik Stark, Andersson dramatically saved himself after spinning sideways, but was unable to prevent the Victory Team driver nudging him down to third spot in the Grand Prix, and the championship.

It was a tough weekend all round for Team Abu Dhabi, with Alberto Comparato finishing 14th and, like Al-Qemzi, he will be aiming for a big lift when the penultimate round takes place in Zhengzhou in two weeks’ time.

Championship rookie Wyatt was the driver who coped best throughout as the weather first ruled out the first free practice session, and yesterday forced the cancellation of the two sprint races.

He was fastest in the second practice session before clinching pole position and built a comfortable lead from the Grand Prix start, eventually finishing with a 7.2-second advantage over Stark, and now leads him by 17.5 points in the championship.

Twice a Grand Prix winner in China, veteran Emirati driver Al Qemzi will seldom have raced in more challenging conditions during an F1H2O career stretching back to 2000.

He will now look forward to his 157th race start in Zhengzhou with the intention of adding to a Grand Prix record that includes 10 race victories and 45 podium finishes.

With the threat of a typhoon ever present in Shanghai, his Abu Dhabi team-mate Comparato had joined race and team officials to carry out a safety check on the circuit in a rescue boat, before the decision was taken to cancel Saturday’s sprint races.

“It was very bad,” he said. “It was even tricky with the rescue boat, For me, it was too dangerous.”

2024 UIM F1H2O World Championship standings
Rusty Wyatt (CAN) 87pts
Erik Stark (SWE) 69.5
Jonas Andersson (SWE) 69
Peter Morin (FRA) 54.5
Bartek Marszalek (POL) 48
Stefan Arand (EST) 34.5
Marit Stromoy (NOR) 32
Sami Selio (FIN) 31
Thani Al Qemzi (UAE) 27.5
Ben Jelf (GB) 26.5


Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers

Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
Updated 06 October 2024
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Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers

Five of the best: Pakistan-England Test thrillers
  • Pakistan, England will play first Test of three-match series on Monday at Multan 
  • England skipper Ben Stokes has been ruled out of first Test due to injury

MULTAN: The history of Tests between England and Pakistan is resplendent with memorable matches since the very first series in 1954.

Ahead of their three-match series starting on Monday in Multan, AFP Sports recalls five of the most exciting Tests between the two countries:

Pakistan had been playing Tests for less than two years when Fazal Mahmood took 12 wickets to beat England by 24 runs in the final Test at The Oval — a shock the home media dubbed “England Fazalled” as it gave Pakistan a 1-1 series draw.

Chasing just 168, England were cruising at 109-2, but lost their last eight wickets for 34 as seam-bowler Fazal took 6-46 making Pakistan only the second country to win a Test on their maiden tour of England after Australia.

Fazal also bagged 6-53 in the first innings, figures that Wisden noted “would have been much better but for dropped catches.”

After two tame draws, Pakistan were chasing a modest 231-run target at Headingley to win a series in England for the first time.

England captain Ray Illingworth removed three of the top order with his off-spin as Pakistan were reduced to 65-4, but Sadiq Mohammad and Asif Iqbal put their side back on course with a fifth-wicket stand of 95.

All-rounder Iqbal was out for 33 but opener Sadiq was still there, batting serenely.

After Sadiq fell, caught and bowled by Basil D’Oliveira for 91 with 44 more still needed, England paceman Peter Lever ripped through the tail and the visitors were all out for 205 to lose by 25.

Pakistan squeezed home by two wickets in a pulsating second Test at Lord’s where pace spearheads Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis starred with ball and bat to create the legend of the “two Ws.”

The menacing Waqar had match figures of 5-91 and 2-40, while left-armer Wasim returned 2-49 and 4-66 as England collapsed from 108-3 in their second innings to 175 all out.

Chasing just 138 to win, Pakistan were in trouble at 95-8 when Waqar joined Wasim at the crease.
Wasim hit 45 and Waqar 20 as they put on an unbroken 46 for a famous victory.

England bowled out Pakistan for 158 on the final day leaving them 176 to win in only 44 overs, in fast fading light.

Pakistan skipper Moin Khan employed every time-wasting trick in the book to escape with a draw, appealing to the umpires that it was too gloomy for his fielders to see the ball near the end.

But the officials and Graham Thorpe were having none of it and kept going as dusk closed in.

From 65-3, Thorpe steadily accelerated as the light grew dimmer, putting on 91 with Graeme Hick off 21 overs to take England within 20 of only their second win on Pakistan soil, and on a ground where the hosts had been unbeaten for a staggering 34 Tests.

Nasser Hussain joined Thorpe at the crease and the pair gleefully reached the target less than three overs later in almost total darkness with Thorpe a triumphant 64 not out.

England were denied a Lord’s victory as Pakistan completed a 75-run win in a thrilling first Test largely due to slow bowler Yasir Shah’s 10 wickets in the match.

Pakistan’s bowling attack was too powerful for England with pace trio Rahat Ali, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir, who was returning to Test cricket after serving a ban for spot-fixing, supporting leg-spinner Yasir.

Chasing 283 to win on the fourth day, Alastair Cook’s side collapsed from 195-6 with victory sealed by Amir on his first Test appearance since 2010 when he shattered last man Jake Ball’s stumps.

It sparked a joyous celebration which culminated in the entire Pakistan team doing military-style press-ups on the outfield. A brilliant series went on to be drawn 2-2.


Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes

Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
Updated 06 October 2024
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Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes

Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
  • “After seven games, we have 19 points, that’s the reality and the truth, and we’re really happy about that,” said Monaco coach Adi Huetter

PARIS: Monaco went top of the Ligue 1 table on Saturday with a 2-1 win away to Rennes, moving three points ahead of reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Goals from Thilo Kehrer and Folarin Balogun sent the principality side to 19 points. PSG, who are on 16 with a better goal difference, will have the chance to overtake them when they play Nice on Sunday.
“After seven games, we have 19 points, that’s the reality and the truth, and we’re really happy about that,” said Monaco coach Adi Huetter.
However, he added: “The championship is not a 100-meter sprint, it’s a 400-meter race, and we’ve started very well.”
Monaco’s match in the rain in Brittany was decided early in the first half. Kehrer opened the scoring before Ludovic Blas levelled and Balogun then tucked home the winner, all in the first 22 minutes.
Continuing his fine start to the season, Monaco youngster Eliesse Ben Seghir had a part in both of his side’s goals.
His sixth-minute corner met the head of Kehrer, who glanced it into the back of the net despite the efforts of a defender on the line.
Blas put Rennes back on terms five minutes later with a rocket of a left-foot strike from more than 35 yards that flew past Philipp Koehn.
But Balogun wrapped up the points for Huetter’s side when he clipped the ball past an advancing Steve Mandanda in the 22nd minute after a defense-splitting pass from Ben Seghir.
Earlier on Saturday, Lille moved up to fourth, coming from behind to win at home against lowly Toulouse.
Zakaria Aboukhlal gave the 16th-placed side a surprise lead six minutes before the interval when he squeezed a shot on the rebound over the line from a tight angle.
But former Manchester United playmaker Angel Gomes levelled for Lille on 57 minutes when he prodded home Osame Sahraoui’s lofted pass from close range.
Mitchel Bakker made it two wins in a week at home for Lille — after Wednesday’s 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League — with a composed finish in the 72nd minute, rounding off a swift counter-attack.
A hat-trick from Zuriko Davitashvili propelled Saint-Etienne out of the relegation zone as they beat Auxerre 3-1 at home.
The Georgian opened the scoring first after a quarter of a hour with a thumping finish after carrying the ball 40 yards into the visitors’ penalty area.
He hit his second on 54 minutes after again cutting in from the left flank and taking aim with his right foot.
Theo Bair halved the deficit with 15 minutes remaining, before Davitashvili completed his triple with a dinked finish on 87 minutes.
On Sunday, Lyon host Nantes while Reims and Lens are also in action, before PSG travel to ninth-placed Nice.


Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory

Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory
Updated 06 October 2024
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Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory

Inter Miami dampens Toronto FC’s postseason hopes with 1-0 victory
  • Campana scored for the eighth time this season for Inter Miami (21-4-8), which has already wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield

TORONTO: Leo Campana took a pass from Luis Suárez and scored in the third minute of second-half stoppage time, 38-year-old goalkeeper Oscar Ustari had seven saves and a clean sheet in his first start in the league, and Inter Miami put a damper on Toronto FC’s playoff hopes with a 1-0 victory on Saturday.
Campana scored for the eighth time this season for Inter Miami (21-4-8), which has already wrapped up the Supporters’ Shield and the top seed in the postseason that comes with it. Suárez notched his seventh assist to go with 18 goals after subbing into the match in the 71st minute.
Toronto (11-19-4), which played without top scorer Federico Bernardeschi after he drew a red card in a match against the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, will have to way until the end of the day to find out whether it has been eliminated from the postseason. A win or draw by the Philadelphia Union or D.C. United would end Toronto’s slim playoff hopes. Both clubs also have a game in hand on Toronto, which has a bye Oct. 19 on Decision Day.
Sean Johnson finished with one save in goal for Toronto.
Lionel Messi, coming off a two-goal effort in Inter Miami’s win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, entered in the 61st minute. He has 17 goals and 15 assists in 18 appearances this season.
Inter Miami is off until Oct. 19 when it will host the New England Revolution to close out the regular season. A victory would give the club 74 points, one more than the New England Revolution had in their record-setting 2021 season. Inter Miami is the fourth team in history to top 70 points.


Al-Hilal come from behind to beat Al-Ahli and stay top of Saudi Pro League

Al-Hilal come from behind to beat Al-Ahli and stay top of Saudi Pro League
Updated 06 October 2024
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Al-Hilal come from behind to beat Al-Ahli and stay top of Saudi Pro League

Al-Hilal come from behind to beat Al-Ahli and stay top of Saudi Pro League
  • Going into the game, Al-Hilal had won 38 and drawn three of their previous 41 league games

JEDDAH: Al-Hilal came back from a goal down to defeat Al-Ahli 2-1 on a dramatic Saturday evening in Jeddah to maintain their perfect record at the top of the Saudi Pro League.

Two goals from Aleksandar Mitrovic at a packed King Abdullah Sport City made it six wins from six for last season’s champions and this season’s league leaders.

Going into the game, Al-Hilal had won 38 and drawn three of their previous 41 league games, a quite staggering statistic. No wonder then that in the week, coach Jorge Jesus had said that his team would be competitive in any of the big leagues in Europe. On this showing, few would disagree.

Yet, inspired perhaps by an electric atmosphere, Al-Ahli took the lead after 12 minutes. Firas Al-Buraikan in the centre circle chipped a simple pass over the top for the sprinting Gabri Veiga. The Spaniard, onside by a whisker, outpaced the chasing defenders into the right-side of the area, ran past Yassine Bounou and then fired into the empty net to the dismay of the blue-shirted fans behind the goal. They did not feel any better when the former Celta Vigo man held out his arms in the style of Jude Bellingham and then put his fingers to his lips

But the goal seemed to wake Al-Hilal. After 20 minutes Renan Lodi curled a delightful ball into the area. Mitrovic got there before Abdulrahman Al-Sanbi, in goal for the injured Edouard Mendy, but Merih Demiral managed to get back to hook the ball clear off the line. Soon after, Mitrovic fired just wide from the edge of the area.

It looked like being third time lucky for the Serbian sharpshooter two minutes before the break. Joao Cancelo floated over the perfect cross from the right and there was no way that Mitrovic was going to waste such an invitation and he headed firmly into the net. But what would have been his eighth goal of the season was ruled out for offside.

After the break, the Blues continued to push for the equaliser and did not have to wait too long. It was Mitrovic again and it was an excellent Lodi cross again. The Brazilian found the former Fulham forward on the edge of the six-yard box and there was only going to be one outcome. It was the 69th successive game in which Al-Hilal have scored — a phenomenal record.

There was almost another on the hour as Al-Sanbi had to dive smartly to push away a Ruben Neves free-kick that was destined for the back of the net. And then, somehow, a few minutes later, Hilal were denied again. Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s shot from inside the area was blocked on the line, then Al-Sanbi got down very well to keep out Salem Al-Dawsari’s attempt from the rebound.

Al-Hilal were turning the screw and got their big chance with 18 minutes remaining when Rayan Hamed brought down Malcom in the area. Mitrovic stepped up to take the spot kick but Al-Sanbi guessed right and made another fine diving save. Unfortunately for the home fans, and perhaps all those hoping to see Al-Hilal drop points, the keeper had come off his line to make the save and a retake was ordered. Mitrovic made no mistake at the second time of asking.

The hosts did their utmost to get an equaliser but were unable to do so — Riyad Mahrez came close with a shot that went just wide in the 95th minute — and have now lost three of their first six games. Al-Hilal moved three points clear of Al-Ittihad in second while Al-Nassr are third thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Al-Orubah.

Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring after 17 minutes, firing home from the spot after a handball in the area to record his fifth league goal of the season. The Portuguese megastar then turned provider 12 minutes later with a smart pass from the left into the feet of the incoming Sadio Mane who took one touch and then fired a low shot into the far corner.

Mane grabbed his second to seal the win, not that it was really in doubt, with a side-footed volley 19 minutes from time that was originally ruled out for offside before a VAR intervention.