<![CDATA[Malay Mail - Sports]]> https://www.malaymail.com/feed/rss/sports Sports en Malay Mail Copyright 2024 Malay Mail Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:40:23 +0800 <![CDATA[Alcaraz says Dimitrov made him feel like a 13-year-old in Miami masterclass]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/alcaraz-says-dimitrov-made-him-feel-like-a-13-year-old-in-miami-masterclass/126167 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/alcaraz-says-dimitrov-made-him-feel-like-a-13-year-old-in-miami-masterclass/126167 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 29 — World number two Carlos Alcaraz said he felt like a frustrated 13-year-old searching for answers after his crushing defeat by Bulgarian veteran Grigor Dimitrov in the Miami Open quarter-finals on Thursday.

Alcaraz, 20, arrived in Miami in top form after winning the Indian Wells trophy, but his hopes of becoming the first man to complete the Sunshine Double since Roger Federer in 2017 were dashed in a 6-2 6-4 defeat.

It was the Spaniard’s second consecutive defeat by the 32-year-old Dimitrov following last year’s three-sets loss in the Shanghai Masters.

“He played amazing tennis, almost perfect. I couldn’t find solutions. I couldn’t find a way to make him feel uncomfortable on the court. It was a great game from his side,” Alcaraz said.

“I left the court thinking that probably I had to change my game a little bit earlier, but anyway, I feel like I played good tennis. Not perfect but good.

“But I have a lot of frustrations right now, because he made me feel like I’m 13 years old. It was crazy. I was talking to my team saying that I don’t know what I have to do. I don’t know his weakness. I don’t know anything.”

Twice Grand Slam champion Alcaraz said that he was already looking ahead to his next meeting with Dimitrov and planned to switch his game to extend his 3-2 win-loss record over him.

“Probably the next match that I’m going to play against him, and I’m sure that there’s going to be another one, I’ll try to do a lot of different things,” Alcaraz added.

“Let’s see how it’s going to be.”

Dimitrov, ranked world number 12, will play his fourth semi-final of the season when he takes on Alexander Zverev and will enter the top 10 if he wins.

“I’m not going to think from now what I can do. It’s just very important to stay in the moment,” Dimitrov said.

“That’s what our game is about. That’s the beauty of our game and it’s always the most simple things that are the most difficult to do.

“This is actually what I did tonight. I was just trying to do everything as simple as possible ... I think in a way, same thing tomorrow, the same thing every match I’m going to be playing from now on. There’s no pulling back.” — Reuters

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 12:13:48 +0800 miami open,alcaraz,dimitrov
<![CDATA[What has gone wrong for Saudi-backed Newcastle?]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/what-has-gone-wrong-for-saudi-backed-newcastle/126148 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/what-has-gone-wrong-for-saudi-backed-newcastle/126148 Malay Mail

MANCHESTER, March 29 — Newcastle enjoyed a meteoric rise during the first 18 months of their new era under the control of the Saudi sovereign wealth fund but the Magpies’ progress has stalled this season.

Eddie Howe’s men are languishing in 10th place in the Premier League with 10 games to go and any hope of the club’s first major trophy since 1969 is over for another year.

AFP Sport looks at what has gone wrong on Tyneside.

Rules limit spending

In a season in which the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) have begun to bite, few clubs have been as affected as Newcastle.

In stark contrast to the early days of Abu Dhabi’s huge investment at English champions Manchester City, Newcastle have been limited on how heavily they can lean on their new-found wealth from the Gulf.

Despite qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, Newcastle still had to tread a fine line to avoid exceeding PSR after spending more than £250 million (US$315 million) in the first three transfer windows under the new ownership.

Chief executive Darren Eales has admitted they may even need to sell one of their prized assets in the summer if they are to invest again in the squad, with Bruno Guimaraes and Alexander Isak among those linked with moves away.

“If we’re going to get to where we want to get to, at times it is necessary to trade your players,” Eales said after the club posted a £73 million loss for the 2022/2023 season.

Injuries and suspensions

To compound their problems with PSR, Newcastle have reaped little reward from their outlay of more than £100 million in the 2023 summer transfer window.

Most of the transfer budget was splashed on Italian international Sandro Tonali, but he only played 12 games for the club before being hit with an eight-month ban for betting offences during his time with AC Milan.

Another major signing, Harvey Barnes, has been one of a host of key players who have spent months on the sidelines due to injury.

England internationals Nick Pope and Callum Wilson have missed chunks of the campaign, while Joelinton and Sven Botman will be absent for the rest of the season.

Newcastle’s season came off the rails during a gruelling December and January period as injuries mounted.

Howe’s men lost eight times in 10 games as they exited the Champions League at the group stage, lost a League Cup quarter-final to Chelsea on penalties and sank down the Premier League table.

Tough draws

Fortune has definitely not favoured Newcastle in the cup competitions.

They finished bottom of a competitive Champions League group featuring quarter-finalists Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund, as well as seven-time European champions AC Milan.

In the League Cup they eventually succumbed at Stamford Bridge after beating both Manchester City and Manchester United in the early rounds.

A quest for FA Cup glory was ended by a 2-0 defeat at City.

Ashworth uncertainty

Of more long-term concern Newcastle is the loss of sporting director Dan Ashworth.

The 53-year-old is on gardening leave awaiting the green light to join Manchester United after being head-hunted by Jim Ratcliffe’s new regime at Old Trafford.

Howe has expressed concern at what Ashworth’s exit will mean for his side’s plans in the transfer market.

Has Howe hit a ceiling?

The future of the manager is also in doubt, with rumours circulating that Jose Mourinho is keen on a return to the Premier League at St James’ Park.

Mourinho has been seen meeting Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi’s Public Investment Fund, during a recent trip to the kingdom to take in high-profile sporting events.

Howe has been hugely popular among Newcastle fans for leading the club away from a relegation battle and into the Premier League’s top four.

But he lacks the trophy-laden CV that the Saudis may seek for the next phase of their project in England’s north-east. — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:10:50 +0800 newcastle,profit and sustainability rules
<![CDATA[Mbappe set to measure up to Marseille for final time with PSG]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/mbappe-set-to-measure-up-to-marseille-for-final-time-with-psg/126147 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/mbappe-set-to-measure-up-to-marseille-for-final-time-with-psg/126147 Malay Mail

PARIS, March 29 — Kylian Mbappe is set to sample the fiercest rivalry in French football for the final time before his expected departure at the end of the season as Paris Saint-Germain make the trip to Marseille on Sunday.

There is no love lost between the two biggest clubs in France, even if Marseille have struggled to compete with PSG for honours since the Qatari takeover of the capital side over a decade ago.

The Parisians come into this game with a huge 12-point lead at the top of the table from nearest challengers Brest with just eight matches remaining, meaning Mbappe is surely certain to win a sixth title in seven seasons with the club.

Marseille, in contrast, are seventh, three points outside the European places despite a recent revival under new coach Jean-Louis Gasset, a former PSG assistant boss.

Mbappe has already told PSG that he intends to leave at the end of the current campaign when his contract expires, with Real Madrid his expected next destination.

That means he is unlikely to sample the heated atmosphere of the 67,000-capacity Velodrome again any time soon after this Sunday.

This will be his second visit there this week, after he turned out for France at the same venue in their 3-2 friendly win over Chile on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old’s status as national team captain did not prevent him from being whistled by sections of the crowd in the Mediterranean city, who were unable to forget his connection to PSG for the evening.

“Honestly I would understand if I were jeered,” he had said before the France game.

“I am a PSG player. If I am whistled, that’s life. I wouldn’t take it personally.”

“It shouldn’t happen,” complained France coach Didier Deschamps, himself a former Marseille captain. He admitted hearing the jeers for Mbappe was “disappointing”.

Mbappe recaptured his best form for PSG just before the international break after a run of games in which he lost his status as an undisputed starter.

A hat-trick in a 6-2 win at Montpellier two weeks ago took him to 38 goals in 37 appearances for PSG this season.

Luis Enrique’s side appear to be finding their best form at the right time, and are undefeated in 24 matches since early November.

This game begins a vital few weeks in which they will also host Rennes in the French Cup semi-finals and face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals.

Meanwhile Marseille lost their last two games after claiming five straight wins following Gasset’s appointment.

They have a Europa League last-eight tie against Benfica on the horizon but are in the midst of an injury crisis, with full-back Jonathan Clauss among those sidelined after coming off playing for France.

The France forward has yet to justify the €90 million (US$97m) transfer fee paid by PSG to sign him from Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of the season.

He has managed nine goals in 31 appearances for his new club but has not been a first-choice starter in recent months and has struggled to convince when named in coach Luis Enrique’s XI.

That did not prevent him from being called up to the latest France squad, though, and he scored one goal and set up another as Les Bleus beat Chile in midweek in Marseille.

Like Mbappe, he will be keen to silence the Velodrome crowd on Sunday as he prepares to make his 100th appearance in France’s top flight.

Key stats

3 - PSG have lost just three times in 30 meetings in all competitions with Marseille since the Qatari takeover of the capital club in 2011

188 - Mbappe’s overall goals tally makes him the eighth-top scorer in French top-flight history. Top of the list is Delio Onnis, with 299

12 - PSG’s lead in points at the top of the table with eight games left

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Lille v Lens (2000)

Saturday

Metz v Monaco (1600), Lyon v Reims (2000)

Sunday

Lorient v Brest (1100), Clermont v Toulouse, Le Havre v Montpellier, Nice v Nantes (all 1300), Strasbourg v Rennes (1505), Marseille v Paris Saint-Germain (1845)

— AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:07:55 +0800 mbappe,PSG,ligue 1,marseille
<![CDATA[Napoli relaunch Champions League push as Jesus racism storm rumbles on]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/napoli-relaunch-champions-league-push-as-jesus-racism-storm-rumbles-on/126146 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/napoli-relaunch-champions-league-push-as-jesus-racism-storm-rumbles-on/126146 Malay Mail

MILAN, March 29 — Napoli renew their bid for Champions League football on Saturday when they take on rivals Atalanta with the Juan Jesus racism storm making it a bitter Easter weekend for the ailing Scudetto holders.

Italy’s outgoing champions return from the international break outraged over Tuesday’s decision by the Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal to clear Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi of racially abusing Brazilian Jesus.

Racism from the stands is depressingly common in Italian football, where neo-fascist fan groups have been a common sight since at least the 1970s.

But such a serious accusation — which Acerbi denies despite apologising to Jesus on the pitch — aimed at a current Italy player caused a huge controversy which carried right through the international break.

The episode left a sour enough feeling in Naples that Napoli decided to pull their support for FIGC-sponsored anti-racism initiatives, calling them “purely cosmetic”.

Italy’s outgoing champions have also shown signs of life on the pitch since being taken over by Francesco Calzona last month and fought back impressively to stall Inter’s solo title march a fortnight ago.

Napoli are seventh and nine points behind fourth-placed Bologna with nine matches remaining, a gap which would ordinarily leave them way off the pace for the Champions League.

However Italy are favourites for a fifth spot in Europe’s top club competition, which means Napoli still have an outside chance of salvaging something from a largely disastrous season.

Roma currently sit in fifth, six points in front of Napoli ahead of their trip to Lecce on Easter Monday, and are one of three direct rivals for the Champions League yet to visit the Stadio Diego Maradona.

Sixth-placed Atalanta are the first of that trio with Bologna heading south in mid-May as the season draws towards its climax.

Atalanta are two points ahead of Napoli and have a game in hand on the rest of the Champions League challengers after their last match was postponed due to Fiorentina’s general manager Giuseppe “Joe” Barone being taken ill.

Barone subsequently died, leaving Fiorentina stunned and both clubs wondering when they can fulfil their unplayed fixture.

Italian Cup and European commitments have jammed up the two team’s respective schedules with less than two months of the season to go.

Calzona may have to do without star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who exited Georgia’s historic Euro 2024 play-off triumph in extra-time, while in-form Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere is also a doubt for Atalanta.

However Victor Osimhen will be back up front for Napoli after missing the 1-1 draw at Inter with a hamstring problem.

Meanwhile Acerbi is set to start Inter’s home clash with relegation-threatened Empoli on Easter Monday after being spared a minimum 10-match ban as the FIGC tribunal found insufficient proof of racist abuse.

Inter need 14 more points to guarantee their 20th league title and, with their closest rivals AC Milan at Fiorentina on Saturday night, Monday could be a chance to take another step towards glory.

Player to watch: Juan Jesus

Jesus is set to start against Atalanta in a match which kicks off the Easter action in Italy and he will inevitably be the focus of attention after a messy two weeks away from domestic football.

The 32-year-old has claimed a spot in the centre of Napoli’s defence ahead of countryman Natan who was supposed to take the place of Kim Min-jae in the summer but failed to plug the gap left by the South Korean’s departure for Bayern Munich.

He impressed at Inter, where he earned Napoli a point, and handled himself creditably during the racism controversy when he had initially wanted to leave the incident on the San Siro pitch.

Key stats

14 - Inter’s huge lead at the top of Serie A with nine games remaining.

6 - The points gap separating Napoli and Roma.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Saturday

Napoli v Atalanta (1130), Genoa v Frosinone, Torino v Monza (both 1400), Lazio v Juventus (1700), Fiorentina v AC Milan (1945)

Monday

Bologna v Salernitana (1030), Cagliari v Verona, Sassuolo v Udinese (1300), Lecce v Roma (1600), Inter Milan v Empoli (1845)

— AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 10:05:05 +0800 napoli,champions league,Juan Jesus
<![CDATA[Leaders Madrid face Athletic in final run towards Liga title]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/leaders-madrid-face-athletic-in-final-run-towards-liga-title/126145 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/leaders-madrid-face-athletic-in-final-run-towards-liga-title/126145 Malay Mail

BARCELONA, March 29 — La Liga leaders Real Madrid host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday as the Spanish top flight ramps up for an exciting end to the season.

Madrid have a firm grip on the title race after shaking free of Catalan minnows Girona before the international break, but Ernesto Valverde’s high-flying Athletic will be tricky opposition at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Basque side, in the Copa del Rey final, are fighting to secure a top four finish and a return to Champions League football next season.

Athletic are fourth, a point clear of Diego Simeone’s Atletico in fifth, who face Villarreal on Monday.

Madrid have a comfortable eight-point lead on champions Barcelona with nine matches remaining and if they can beat Athletic will be confident of holding on to claim a third title in five seasons.

The Catalans have found form in recent weeks after coach Xavi Hernandez said he would walk away at the end of the season, and face Las Palmas at home on Saturday.

Barcelona are unbeaten in 10 matches and thumped Atletico 3-0 at the Metropolitano stadium in their last outing, showing Madrid they would not relinquish their crown without a fight.

“All the players are giving their best and are at their best level,” warned Xavi before the international break.

“Now we’re at our best moment of the season, it’s a moment to dream.”

He added: “An eight point advantage is a lot (but) we have a direct clash against them and we will try to do it.”

Real Madrid are close to recovering defender Eder Militao from injury although he is unlikely to face Athletic.

Top goalscorer Jude Bellingham is set to return to the side after a two-match suspension, although he and Fede Valverde returned from international duty with minor fitness concerns.

Despite Madrid’s frequent injury problems this season, Ancelotti was positive about the team’s chances of silverware this season.

“I am quite optimistic and we are better than ever,” said the Italian, before Madrid beat Osasuna in their previous match.

“We have to be excited for the games to come, we have to be happy, satisfied and hopeful.”

Seven points clear of Atletico, Girona should be able to hold on to a top four spot, although their form has dipped badly with four defeats in their last six matches.

“Not reaching the Champions League would be a big blow,” admitted coach Michel Sanchez.

Girona host Real Betis, seventh, on Sunday before visiting Atletico Madrid.

Player to watch: Lamine YamalThe Barcelona winger continues to shine for his club and country, playing a key role for Spain against Brazil on Tuesday in an entertaining draw. Barca coach Xavi Hernandez is torn between trying not to burn out the 16-year-old and allowing him free reign to cause havoc down the right wing, with Las Palmas next visiting the Catalan capital on Saturday.

Key stats

3 - Real Betis striker Chimy Avila has been sent off more than any other player this season, twice with Osasuna

15 - Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Unai Simon has kept the most clean sheets

72 - percentage of tackles won by Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi, who recently made his Spain debut at 17

Fixtures

Friday

Cadiz v Granada (2000)

Saturday

Getafe v Sevilla (1300), Almeria v Osasuna (1515), Valencia v Mallorca (1730), Barcelona v Las Palmas (2000)

Sunday

Celta Vigo v Rayo Vallecano (1200), Girona v Real Betis (1415), Alaves v Real Sociedad (1630), Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (1900)

Monday

Villarreal v Atletico Madrid (1900)

— AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:49:21 +0800 la liga,real madrid,Athletic Bilbao
<![CDATA[Hope yet for future of battered and bruised Commonwealth Games]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/hope-yet-for-future-of-battered-and-bruised-commonwealth-games/126142 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/hope-yet-for-future-of-battered-and-bruised-commonwealth-games/126142 Malay Mail

PARIS, March 29 — The future of the Commonwealth Games has once again been plunged into doubt since Malaysia declined to host the 2026 edition last week, but according to former Olympic marketing guru Michael Payne “it would be wrong to write the event off just yet.”

Malaysia’s decision came despite the offer of a £100 million (US$126 million) sweetener from the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) towards the costs of hosting the event.

Organisers are trying to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal last year of the Australian state of Victoria, who were announced as hosts in 2022.

The financial support is available to any prospective host.

The CGF hopes that the Games’ perceived strengths of inclusivity and integration, with para sports mixed in seamlessly with able-bodied events, will secure a host just two years out from the multi-sport event.

Katie Sadleir, the CEO of the CGF, accepts time is pressing but says intensive efforts are under way.

“The process to determine a host for the 2026 Games is continuing at pace with interested Commonwealth Games Associations (CGAs),” she told AFP.

“While acutely aware of the incredibly tight timeframe, we have encouraged proposals that will reset the Games.

“Alongside this process, we have accelerated work to refresh and reframe the Games.

“This has included exploring innovative new concepts and event opportunities.”

Payne, who in nearly two decades at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was widely credited with overhauling the organisation’s brand and finances through sponsorship, told AFP that in an increasingly competitive world, the Commonwealth Games had one searing question to answer.

“The challenge is relevance — balancing history with evolution and maintaining some form of relevance,” said the 66-year-old Irishman.

“With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II everything just got a lot harder.”

‘Good, bad and the ugly’

Terrence Burns, who since leaving his role as an IOC marketing executive has played a key part in five successful Olympic bid city campaigns, told AFP his “first thought is they (CGF) have a brand problem.”

“This means two things in my world: one, a lack of differentiation of competitive products, and two, a lack of or declining relevancy for its core target audience.

“Without either of those core brand principles, no product or service has much hope of success or longevity.”

Burns said the Commonwealth Games faced a huge challenge to keep its core audience and attract a new one.

“The event, sport, and entertainment space is multi-fold more competitive for consumers’ attentions than even 10 years ago,” he said.

“The novelty of seeing all these nations come together in one place at one time has been muted by the internet and technology’s ability for one to literally carry the world — and all human history in the world — in one’s pocket.

“We tend to yawn at wonder now, which is a crying shame to me.”

Burns believes the Games “in their current format and form will continue to wither” but underlines that the IOC made significant reforms as a result of an intensive consultation process following the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Payne says the main takeaways from that were “the need to start managing the brand, and after the problems in Atlanta — greater control over the Organising Committee.”

For Burns, progress can only be made if the powers that be at the CGF take on board the responses from their ongoing consultation, regardless of how uncomfortable the answers might be.

“They need to understand the good, bad, and the ugly to have a place from which they can start,” he said.

“So, does it have a future? Let’s start with the fact it does have a vibrant and glorious past — but that past only exists within a market segment that is forever limited by its very name — the Commonwealth Games.

“By definition, it is not meant for anyone else.”

For Payne, though, the Commonwealth Games are a bit like a boxer who no matter the pounding he takes always defies expectations and comes back off the ropes.

“As long as I can recall, more than half a century, people have been asking whether the Commonwealth Games were finished,” he said.

“Each time they have come back and staged successful editions, (like) 2022 Birmingham, and 2006 Melbourne.” — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:35:38 +0800 commonwewalth games
<![CDATA[Dimitrov knocks out Alcaraz to set up Zverev Miami semi-final]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/dimitrov-knocks-out-alcaraz-to-set-up-zverev-miami-semi-final/126140 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/dimitrov-knocks-out-alcaraz-to-set-up-zverev-miami-semi-final/126140 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 29 — World number two Carlos Alcaraz was knocked out of the Miami Open quarter-finals on Thursday, beaten 6-2, 6-4 by Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Dimitrov, who played sparkling and energetic tennis to beat the Spanish top seed, will now face Germany’s Alexander Zverev for a place in the final.

Germany’s Zverev held off rising Hungarian Fabian Marozsan to book his place in the semis with a 6-3, 7-5 win.

Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev will play in the other semi-final -- a rematch of the Australian Open final won by Sinner in January.

Alcaraz came into Miami on the back of his title in Indian Wells and with his sights set on the “Sunshine Double”.

But from the outset, Dimitrov showed no fear as he attacked Alcaraz and broke early to take a 3-0 lead.

The Bulgarian pounced on every opportunity, coming to the net frequently and moving Alcaraz around the court.

He looked to be on his way to a comfortable two-set victory after he broke the Spaniard in the fourth game and then held for a 4-1 lead.

But Alcaraz was not about to roll over, breaking back to go 4-3 after smashing a cross-court winner at the end of an entertaining rally.

With the match back on serve, a tie-break seemed inevitable. But with Alcaraz serving to stay in the match, Dimitrov broke him when the Spaniard went wide and Dimitrov’s arms went high in the air in celebration.

“In order to win against him, you have to play at your best. That’s just how it is,” said Dimitrov.

“I came into the match very focused and I think extremely clear on what I had to do. Sometimes simplicity is genius. It’s very, very hard to do it, especially when you play against an opponent like that. But I was able to really dictate the game,

“Honestly, it was a very, very great match on my end. And I’m just happy I finished it straight sets for once,” he joked.

World number five Zverev knew he had to be wary of Marozsan, ranked 57th but heading into the top 40 having claimed two top-10 victories in this tournament beating Holger Rune and Alex de Minaur.

Big serve

But the Hungarian struggled to cope with Zverev’s big serve in the opening set and couldn’t find his rhythm.

There was little to choose between the pair in the second set, with the Hungarian keeping the pressure on Zverev.

But Marozsan missed some crucial points late in the set when going to the net and in the end was broken in his final service game.

Zverev was delighted to have the chance to return to the final.

“I mean, I love Miami, I always said that, obviously I’m happy to be back at these kind of late stages of these tournaments, playing the best players in the world. I think there’s only those left and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

The German was full of praise for his opponent, predicting he will continue to climb higher in the rankings.

“If he continues playing like that, he’s going to rise up the rankings very quickly and he’s going to be one of those guys himself,” he said.

“He always rushes us good players. All the top players, when they’re in control, they feel like they can manage the match, manipulate the match a little bit in their own favor and against him that’s not possible.

“So I think that’s why he has such a great top-10 record. He’s an unbelievable player.” — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 09:31:15 +0800 alcaraz,dimitrov,miami open
<![CDATA[Leverkusen will win Bundesliga to end Bayern run, says Lahm]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/leverkusen-will-win-bundesliga-to-end-bayern-run-says-lahm/126136 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/leverkusen-will-win-bundesliga-to-end-bayern-run-says-lahm/126136 Malay Mail

BERLIN, March 29 — Former Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm is convinced Bayer Leverkusen, who are seeking their first Bundesliga title, will end the Bavarian team’s 11-year hegemony this year.

Lahm, a 2014 World Cup winner and now tournament director for Euro 2024, has followed leaders Leverkusen’s remarkable unbeaten run this season which has taken them to 70 points, 10 clear of second-placed Bayern.

“There are eight games to play and 10 points is a very big gap. I believe that Leverkusen will become German champions this season,” Lahm told Reuters.

“I don’t think it’s bad for the Bundesliga if someone other than Bayern becomes champion. Last season was very exciting right up to the last match day, which is simply good for the league.

“Leverkusen have been great since the beginning of the season, they also have a bit of luck turning situations in their favour, specially because every player has a role. That’s what Xavi Alonso has accomplished with the team,” he added.

Bayern, bidding for a 12th successive title, face Borussia Dortmund in “Der Klassiker” on Saturday. Coach Thomas Tuchel is set to leave at the end of the season, however, and their squad has been hit by injuries.

“Bayern have to find the right coach for the team and for the club. The last coaches were only there for a year and a half. That’s why continuity is key, including at management level,” Lahm said.

He did not rule out working for Bayern in the future.

“That could be on the cards. I’m sure I’ll remain loyal to football in any role, but right now my focus is on the European Championship,” Lahm said.

He highlighted the challenges Germany, who hosted the tournament as West Germany in 1988 and staged the 2006 World Cup, will face this summer to ensure the safety of fans.

“Security is our top priority and we are in dialogue with all the authorities, the government and the police,” Lahm said.

“Overall, we want to have a big celebration where everyone is welcome. Not only inside the stadium, but also outside, we are trying to create places where people can gather.”

The European Championship starts on June 14 with Germany facing Scotland in Group A, which also includes Hungary and Switzerland. — Reuters

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:58:36 +0800 bundesliga,bayern munich,Leverkusen,Philipp Lahm
<![CDATA[‘Probably impossible’ Alonso will be Bayern’s next coach, says president]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/probably-impossible-alonso-will-be-bayerns-next-coach-says-president/126128 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/probably-impossible-alonso-will-be-bayerns-next-coach-says-president/126128 Malay Mail

BERLIN, March 29 — Honorary Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness admitted Thursday bringing in-demand manager Xabi Alonso to the club was “probably impossible.”

The Bayer Leverkusen coach, who spent three years in Munich as a player, is Bayern’s number one target to replace Thomas Tuchel who will leave his post in the summer.

Alonso’s Leverkusen are 10 points clear atop the Bundesliga table with eight matches left and on course for a first-ever league title.

Still unbeaten this season, Leverkusen are also in the semi-finals of the German Cup and the last eight of the Europa League, having won 34 and drawn four of 38 games this season.

Speaking with Bavarian television, Hoeness confirmed Bayern wanted Alonso but predicted he would stay at Leverkusen beyond the season.

“We’ll have to see if we can do it this year. It will be difficult, if not probably impossible,” he said.

The Bayern powerbroker, who grew the club into a global behemoth as an administrator and later president, said the German champions “value Xabi Alonso extremely.”

“(Alonso) is more inclined to stay at Bayer Leverkusen in view of their current successes, because he would not want to leave them behind.

“Let’s say if he had two or three more years of success, it would probably be easier to bring him out of there.”

Alonso has been linked to Bayern as well as Real Madrid and Liverpool, where he also spent time as a player. — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:03:46 +0800 bayern munich,Leverkusen,xabi alonso,uli hoeness
<![CDATA[Pochettino taken aback by Chilwell’s starts for England after injury]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/pochettino-taken-aback-by-chilwells-starts-for-england-after-injury/126127 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/pochettino-taken-aback-by-chilwells-starts-for-england-after-injury/126127 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 29 — Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday he was surprised Ben Chilwell started two games for England during the international break after the defender only recently returned from a knee injury.

Chilwell last started for Chelsea on March 2 against Brentford and has played just a few minutes for the London club since then, as a late substitute in the FA Cup against Leicester.

Nevertheless, the 27-year-old featured for the whole of England’s 2-2 draw with Belgium at Wembley on Tuesday, three days after spending 67 minutes on the field in a defeat by Brazil.

Chelsea currently have nine players ruled out of Saturday’s Premier League match with Burnley at Stamford Bridge, with several others to be assessed following international duty, including Chilwell — who suffered a blow to his knee against Belgium.

“He didn’t play after Brentford, then he played only a few minutes against Leicester,” said Pochettino. “(Then) he started two games (for England).

“It’s a surprise for us. It’s bad luck because he got a dead leg in the last moment against Belgium. Now we need to assess if he can be available.”

Enzo Fernandez, who played twice for Argentina in the United States during the break, will also have his fitness monitored ahead of this weekend’s match.

Chelsea confirmed earlier this week that Romeo Lavia would be out for the rest of the season.

The 20-year-old midfielder who joined Chelsea from Southampton in pre-season for an initial £53 million (€62 million), has managed just 32 minutes of first-team action this term following ankle and thigh problems.

“It’s a difficult situation for him,” said Pochettino. “He’s sad. He only played 30 minutes, for a new player at the club.

“When we signed him, he arrived with problems. He couldn’t train with us for the first months. Then when he was ready he suffered a problem in his feet.

“He recovered, he played 30 minutes then got injured in December. Then he didn’t have the possibility to train. It’s really sad news.”

But leading scorer Cole Palmer could face Burnley, with the 21-year-old having not featured in either of England’s recent games.

“I talked with him,” said Pochettino. “He’s a little bit disappointed because he couldn’t play with the national team.

“The first game he had a small problem,” the Argentinian added. “He thought maybe he’d play the second game. Now he’s OK, is training well. The plan is he will be available for Saturday.”

Chelsea are 11th in the table, with Burnley in the relegation zone. — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:01:59 +0800 chilwell,pochettino,chelsea
<![CDATA[Dyche hopes latest Premier League charge against Everton ‘comes to nothing’]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/dyche-hopes-latest-premier-league-charge-against-everton-comes-to-nothing/126126 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/dyche-hopes-latest-premier-league-charge-against-everton-comes-to-nothing/126126 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 29 — Everton manager Sean Dyche is hoping the latest profit and sustainability charge levelled against the Premier League club “comes to nothing”.

The Toffees, who have already been docked six points this season, are facing further punishment over a second alleged breach of the English top flight’s financial regulations.

A hearing took place earlier this week and a verdict is expected before April 8.

“They’ve shared the information that was asked of them,” Dyche told a pre-match press conference on Thursday ahead of Everton’s league fixture away to Bournemouth this weekend.

“It’s too early to get a feel of it and we’re just waiting, really, like we did last time. I’m sure everyone’s hoping that it’s fast-tracked slightly, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Dyche added: “We can only give the information that’s appropriate. I wasn’t there, obviously, but I’m told we’ve given every bit of information that we can give.

“We hope that they see, accordingly, what the club has been trying to do to make sure we’re within the right areas that they need us to be in. So, therefore, we’ll hope that it comes to nothing.”

The possibility of further punishment for Everton added to a four-point deduction for relegation rivals Nottingham Forest has created plenty of uncertainty at the foot of the table.

Everton are four points above 18th-placed Forest, but the Midlands club have an appeal pending.

There are fears that a final decision on which teams are relegated won’t be made until after the end of the season.

With Everton having been first docked 10 points reduced to six on appeal, with the Forest penalty for a similar offence another figure entirely, Dyche was far from alone in being confused.

“There’s no consistency,” said Dyche, whose side travel to Bournemouth on Saturday hoping to end an 11-game winless run.

“I don’t know the minutiae of our own, let alone theirs (Forest’s case). When you’re in that room, and the way they decide things, maybe there’s different reasons and I can only imagine there’s more depth to it.

“But in its simplest form, then I think everyone, not just us, said, ‘How’s that? Where did that come from? How does that work out?’

In the meantime, Dyche played down reports of a bust-up with Everton defender Nathan Patterson during the club’s recent training camp in Portugal.

It was claimed Dyche jokingly aimed a slap at the Scot but accidentally caught him harder than he intended, leading to a heated exchange between the pair.

“The old favourite — never let the truth get in the way of a good story,” Dyche said Thursday. “There’s nothing in it, really. It was a joke. I tapped him on the head like your older brother would, and he didn’t get the joke. That was it, basically. There’s no more to it.

“But of course, that wouldn’t have sold. So, when that does get out everyone has to add layers and layers and layers to it but it’s really that simple. That was it.” — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 08:00:26 +0800 sean dyche,everton
<![CDATA[Who knows who’s next, says Djokovic in new coach search]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/who-knows-whos-next-says-djokovic-in-new-coach-search/126123 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/who-knows-whos-next-says-djokovic-in-new-coach-search/126123 Malay Mail

BELGRADE, March 29 — Novak Djokovic said Thursday he was unsure who would be his new coach or even if there would be one, a day after ending a five-year association with Goran Ivanisevic.

Djokovic brought Croatia’s 2001 Wimbledon champion on board as a member of his team ahead of the grass court Grand Slam in 2019 and under his guidance won 12 of his 24 career major titles.

“Concerning my following stage about a coach for me I don’t have any clear idea who that might be and if anyone will be,” Djokovic said at a press conference in Belgrade.

“I have always had coaches by my side, since I was young. I am trying to feel what is good for me in this moment.”

Djokovic has had a poor start to the year by his standards, losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals.

The 36-year-old then lost to Sinner’s unheralded compatriot Luca Nardi in the third round at Indian Wells, prompting him to withdraw from the ongoing Miami Open.

He is due to return to the tour at the Monte Carlo Masters next month in the build-up to the season’s second Grand Slam of the year at the French Open. — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:57:37 +0800 djokovic
<![CDATA[Zverev ends Marozsan’s run and moves into Miami semis]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/zverev-ends-marozsans-run-and-moves-into-miami-semis/126122 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/zverev-ends-marozsans-run-and-moves-into-miami-semis/126122 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 29 — Germany’s Alexander Zverev held off rising Hungarian Fabian Marozsan to book a place in the semi-finals of the ATP Miami Open with a 6-3, 7-5 win on Thursday.

World number five Zverev, who reached the Miami final in 2018, will play the winner of Thursday’s other quarter-final between top seed Carlos Alcaraz and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

Marozsan, ranked 57th but heading into the top 40 having claimed two top-10 victories in this tournament with wins over Holger Rune and Alex de Minaur, struggled to cope with Zverev’s big serve in the opening set.

There was little to choose between the pair in the second set with the Hungarian keeping the pressure on Zverev.

But Marozsan missed some crucial points late in the set when going to the net and in the end was broken with his final service game.

Zverev was delighted to have the chance to return to the final.

“I mean, I love Miami, I always said that, obviously I’m happy to be back at these kind of late stages of these tournaments, playing the best players in the world. I think there’s only those left and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

The German was full of praise for his opponent, predicting he will continue to climb higher in the rankings.

“If he continues playing like that, he’s going to rise up the rankings very quickly and he’s going to be one of those guys himself,” he said.

“He always rushes us good players. All the top players, when they’re in control, they feel like they can manage the match, manipulate the match a little bit in their own favuor and against him that’s not possible.

“So I think that’s why he has such a great top-10 record. He’s an unbelievable player.” — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:56:18 +0800 miami open,zverev
<![CDATA[Rybakina roars back to end Azarenka’s Miami dream]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/rybakina-roars-back-to-end-azarenkas-miami-dream/126121 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/29/rybakina-roars-back-to-end-azarenkas-miami-dream/126121 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 29 — World number four Elena Rybakina was pushed all the way by veteran Victoria Azarenka before reaching the Miami Open WTA final with a 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (7/2) victory on Thursday.

Rybakina will meet the winner of Thursday’s other semi between American Danielle Collins and Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.

The 24-year-old returns to the Miami final for the second straight year after losing to Czech Petra Kvitova in 2023. Her form — and the absence of any of the top three in the world — suggests she will be the strong favorite whoever makes it to face her in Saturday’s title showdown.

So far this year, the Kazakhstan player has won titles in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and her first WTA 1000 final of the year in Doha.

Her serve looked too much for Azarenka in the first set but then faded badly in the second before breaking to go 3-2 up in the third.

But the 34-year-old Azarenka, a three-times winner at Miami, showed all her dogged spirit as she broke back to make it 5-5 and keep alive her hopes of an unlikely run to the final.

But in the tie-break, Rybakina found her serve in spectacular fashion, leaving Azarenka helpless with a fearsome ace to go 3-0 up.

The outcome never looked in doubt from that point on but 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, who withdrew from her Indian Wells title defence this month because of illness, said she had been in trouble physically in the second set.

“There was a pause where I stayed on the court and I think I should have maybe left (for) a bit because it was really humid and tough conditions, the energy just went down and Vika came back very aggressively.

“After three games when I lost so easily it was very difficult to regroup so I knew there would be a third set and I was just trying to prepare for it,” she added.

Rybakina said she was able to get in the zone for the tie-break.

“I switched off the mind a bit for the tie-break and I just went for it,” she said. — AFP

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Fri, 29 Mar 2024 07:55:03 +0800 miami open,rybakina,azarenka
<![CDATA[Nottingham Forest must focus on reality, says Espirito Santo]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/nottingham-forest-must-focus-on-reality-says-espirito-santo/126101 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/nottingham-forest-must-focus-on-reality-says-espirito-santo/126101 Malay Mail

NOTTINGHAM, March 28 — Nottingham Forest must deal with the reality of their four-point deduction and begin the task of climbing out of the Premier League drop zone, according to manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

A late equaliser denied Forest a win over fellow strugglers Luton Town in a 1-1 draw in their last game before the international break and worse was to follow days later as they were docked points for breaching financial sustainability rules.

That dropped Forest to 18th place in the table, one point behind Luton with both sides having nine games left.

Forest host Crystal Palace on Saturday, a fixture which offers them the immediate opportunity to respond on the pitch to the hammer blow suffered off it.

“It’s important now that we know the reality and the reality is that we had 25 points and now we have 21,” Espirito Santo said. “Our job is clear from day one — to prepare our team.

“The reality is we are in the relegation zone. Who are we to say (whether) it’s fair or unfair? We have to focus on what we have to do and what we have to do is on the pitch.

“Forget about everything and focus on our task to get out of the situation. It’s in our hands to reverse this situation and to get points on the pitch.”

Earlier this week Forest lodged an appeal against their four-point deduction, having said they were extremely disappointed with the decision to penalise them.

European champions in 1979 and 1980, Forest had admitted to breaching the threshold of £61 million (RM365 million) by £34.5 million, according to the Premier League.

Espirito Santo said he was leaving off-field matters to the club’s hierarchy and was concerned only with Palace’s visit.

“Our message is clear, forget about the past and focus only on what we have to do, which is to stick together, play football and win games,” the Portuguese said.

“We can’t control (the appeal). We are ready to go to get points on the pitch.”

After hosting 14th-placed Palace, Forest have another home game against Fulham on Tuesday, while Luton have two extremely tough tests — away at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and then a visit to title-chasing Arsenal on Wednesday. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:49:36 +0800 nuno espirito santo,football,Nottingham Forest
<![CDATA[Former China coach Li Tie pleads guilty to taking over US$10m in bribes]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/former-china-coach-li-tie-pleads-guilty-to-taking-over-us10m-in-bribes/126097 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/former-china-coach-li-tie-pleads-guilty-to-taking-over-us10m-in-bribes/126097 Malay Mail

BEIJING, March 28 — Former China football coach and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie pleaded guilty on Thursday to accepting over US$10 million (RM47 million) in bribes, a court said, part of a broader crackdown on corruption in Chinese football.

His former boss, the discredited Chinese Football Association chairman Chen Xuyuan, was jailed for life this week for taking bribes worth US$11 million.

China’s legal system is tightly controlled by the ruling Communist Party and courts have a near-100 per cent conviction rate in criminal cases.

Local journalists gathered in front of the court in central Hubei province where 46-year-old Li’s case was heard.

Li, who was China coach from January 2020 until December 2021, is accused of giving and taking bribes, as well as participating in match fixing, the Hubei court said in a statement Thursday.

Li accepted more than 77 million yuan in bribes from 2017 to 2021, including during his time working as coach for the Wuhan Zall club, the court said.

“Li Tie made his final statement, pleaded guilty and expressed remorse,” the court said, adding that a sentence would be announced at a later date.

Li, who played in the Premier League 34 times between 2002 and 2004, featured in a documentary aired by state broadcaster CCTV in January about widespread corruption in Chinese football.

CCTV regularly airs confessions by criminal suspects before they have appeared in court, a practice widely condemned by rights groups.

In the programme, Li said he had arranged nearly US$421,000 in bribes to secure the head coach position, and helped to fix matches when he was a club coach in the Chinese Super League.

“I’m very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path,” said Li.

“There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football.”

Li played nearly 100 games for China. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:24:47 +0800 li tie,china,corruption,football
<![CDATA[Newcastle’s Tonali charged by FA over betting breaches]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/newcastles-tonali-charged-by-fa-over-betting-breaches/126090 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/newcastles-tonali-charged-by-fa-over-betting-breaches/126090 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 28 — Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been charged by the FA over alleged betting breaches, English football’s governing body said on Thursday.

“It’s alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder breached FA Rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023,” the FA said in a statement.

“Sandro Tonali has until 5 April 2024 to respond.”

The 23-year-old Italy international was sanctioned with an 18-month ban last October by the Italian Football Federation, eight months of which was commuted to alternative treatment after an agreement was reached with the Federal Prosecutor’s Office. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 23:10:11 +0800 betting breaches,football,FA,Sandro Tonali
<![CDATA[Under pressure Juventus need result at Lazio to stop the rot]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/under-pressure-juventus-need-result-at-lazio-to-stop-the-rot/126084 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/under-pressure-juventus-need-result-at-lazio-to-stop-the-rot/126084 Malay Mail

TURIN, March 28 — Juventus’ Serie A title challenge is all but over, with Inter Milan strolling to the Scudetto, and defeat at Lazio this weekend would further damage their battle for Champions League football.

Last season, Juventus missed out on European football completely. First, they were docked 10 points in a case regarding the club’s player transfers.

This meant they dropped out of the top four and down to seventh, but they were also denied a Europa Conference League place after being banned over breaches of Uefa’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play rules.

Now, it is their dramatic drop in form which puts their Champions League participation next season in danger, something which seemed a mere formality until recently.

For a brief moment in January, Juventus held top spot while Inter Milan were busy winning the Super Cup, but two months later Juve find themselves 17 points adrift of the leaders.

A terrible run of just one win in eight league games has not only ended their title hopes, but they have slipped to third place, and need to stop the rot to avoid falling further.

In the same period, AC Milan have gained 10 points on Juve to move into second with a three point advantage, and unless Massimiliano Allegri’s side can get back to winning ways, they risk allowing others to overtake them.

Bologna in fourth are five points behind, with AS Roma a further three adrift, but recent form would suggest they are both capable of closing the gap.

Since Daniele De Rossi took over from Jose Mourinho, Roma have lost one league game, to Inter, and racked up seven wins from nine, while Bologna have won seven out of eight.

Juventus take on a Lazio under new management on Saturday, with Igor Tudor now in charge after Maurizio Sarri’s resignation. The Croatian spent the majority of his playing career at Juventus, and was assistant manager there in 2020.

Tudor’s first game in charge pits him against his old club, and a good start for the Croatian will pile even more pressure on Allegri’s side, who are without the suspended Dusan Vlahovic.

Milan are at Fiorentina on Saturday for what will be an emotional evening in Florence following the recent death of their GM Joe Barone.

Defending champions Napoli look to continue their unbeaten run in the league under Francesco Calzona when they host Atalanta on Saturday. A win for Napoli would see them leapfrog Atalanta who are sixth.

Inter’s 10-game winning streak in the league came to an end in their draw with Napoli, but with no real damage done to their title ambitions, and on Monday they host relegation battling Empoli.

Also on Monday, Bologna are home to bottom of table Salernitana and Roma are at Lecce. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 21:55:34 +0800 Juventus,serie a title challenge,serie a,football
<![CDATA[Arsenal head to Man City aiming to prove they are the real deal]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/arsenal-head-to-man-city-aiming-to-prove-they-are-the-real-deal/126081 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/arsenal-head-to-man-city-aiming-to-prove-they-are-the-real-deal/126081 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 28 — Arsenal were exposed as Premier League title pretenders when they were thrashed by Manchester City almost a year ago but Mikel Arteta’s side head to the north-west on Sunday as genuine contenders with momentum on their side.

With 10 matches remaining Arsenal lead a three-way title race having won eight successive games, scoring an avalanche of goals in the process, and are brimming with confidence.

Heading into what is shaping up to be a crucial week featuring two rounds of fixtures, Arsenal have 64 points, the same as Liverpool who they lead on goal difference.

With City on 63 points it is the first time since 2014 that one point separates the top three after 28 games.

Liverpool, whose audacious quadruple bid was ended by an FA Cup defeat at Manchester United, can go top when they host Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday before City kick off.

The mood in the Arsenal camp is a far cry from the build-up to last season’s trip to the Etihad Stadium when they arrived in trepidation after cracks had appeared in their facade.

They were duly thrashed 4-1 and from that moment on City’s third successive Premier League title was a formality.

City are unbeaten in the league since December 6 but have drawn two of their last five, notably the 1-1 draw at Liverpool earlier this month — a result that allowed Arsenal to stay just ahead of both their title rivals.

Injury worries

Pep Guardiola’s City side were a touch fortunate to escape from Anfield with a point and worryingly have injuries to several key players as they prepare to face Arsenal — the last direct clash between the three clubs vying to be champions.

Defenders Kyle Walker and John Stones picked up injuries on England duty while key midfielder Kevin De Bruyne’s groin issue meant he was withdrawn from Belgium’s squad to face England.

Defender Manuel Akanji was also withdrawn from Switzerland’s squad, meaning Guardiola has some headaches ahead of a game they dare not lose.

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon said the tactical mind games between Guardiola and his former assistant Arteta could go some way to deciding the outcome on Sunday.

“Arteta may look at his team and think they’ve developed and are better than they were last year so they can afford to play on the front foot,” Dixon told BetVictor.

“He will be scrutinising last year’ performance when they got beaten 4-1 and he’ll be rethinking his game plan.”

Liverpool should be top by the time City and Arsenal kick off, although they will be wary of a Brighton side who have proved capable of taking points off the big boys.

Juergen Klopp’s side then have another home game next Thursday against bottom club Sheffield United, a day after Arsenal host Luton Town and City welcome Aston Villa.

Villa hold a slight advantage in the battle for fourth. They have 56 points after 29 games while Spurs have 53 from 28.

Villa host Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday after Tottenham aim to bounce back from a 3-0 drubbing at Fulham as they welcome relegation battlers Luton.

The Hatters were lifted out of the bottom three after Nottingham Forest were deducted four points by the Premier League but they remain in a precarious position.

Emotions will be running high at the City Ground where Forest will aim to vent their frustrations on Crystal Palace on Saturday when Vincent Kompany’s second-bottom Burnley continue their escape bid as they travel to mid-table Chelsea. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 21:46:00 +0800 arsenal v man city,football,arsenal,english premier league epl
<![CDATA[Red-hot Bilbao face Real challenge with Cup final on the horizon]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/red-hot-bilbao-face-real-challenge-with-cup-final-on-the-horizon/126068 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/red-hot-bilbao-face-real-challenge-with-cup-final-on-the-horizon/126068 Malay Mail

MADRID, March 28 — Athletic Bilbao have been one of the surprises of the La Liga season so far, with brilliant displays from brothers Inaki and Nico Williams helping to spur a top-four challenge under the calm guidance of former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde.

Unbeaten at home since early August, the Basque club sit fourth in the table and will play in their 40th Copa del Rey final on April 6.

But before travelling to Seville to face Mallorca in their third Cup final in the last five years, when they will bid to end a 40-year major trophy drought, Athletic take on La Liga leaders Real Madrid in the Spanish capital on Sunday.

Coach Valverde will have to decide whether to rotate his team with the Cup final around the corner, or whether to go all-out against Real in an attempt to fire up his side after a two-week hiatus due to the international break.

He could opt to be cautious with Nico Williams, Oihan Sancet, Dani Vivian and Unai Simon all coming back from international duty with Spain, with veterans Yuri Berchiche, Ander Herrera and Oscar de Marcos returning from long injury layoffs.

After consecutive league wins on the back of holding second-placed Barcelona to a draw and knocking out Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey semi-final, a statement victory at Real would give Athletic a huge confidence boost and keep them on course for a spot in the Champions League next year.

Athletic have 56 points, one point ahead of fifth-placed Atletico, who travel to Villarreal on Monday.

Girona, who will host seventh-placed Betis on Sunday, are third on 62 points but have recently struggled and won two of their last seven matches.

If Athletic want to continue their winning run, they will have to do what no side has done this season — beat Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Undefeated at home, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have been held to only three draws at the Bernabeu in all competitions so far this campaign.

Real’s only two losses this season came at the hands of local rivals Atletico, a 3-1 La Liga defeat in September and a Cup exit on penalties in mid-January, both at a raucous Metropolitano stadium.

Yet Real will be missing Brazil winger Vinicius Jr, who is suspended after receiving a fifth yellow card in their 4-2 win at Osasuna before the international break.

Vinicius has hit a rich vein of form, scoring six goals in their last four games in all competitions. Real are comfortably top of the La Liga standings on 72 points, eight ahead second-placed Barcelona, who will host Las Palmas on Saturday. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 20:58:55 +0800 athletic bilbao,football,la liga,inaki williams,Nico Williams
<![CDATA[Williams will have two cars but still no spare in Japan]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/williams-will-have-two-cars-but-still-no-spare-in-japan/126067 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/williams-will-have-two-cars-but-still-no-spare-in-japan/126067 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 28 — Williams are confident they will be back up to strength with two cars at next week’s Japanese Grand Prix, after having only one in Australia last Sunday due to crash damage, but will still have no spare.

Logan Sargeant had to sit out the race in Melbourne after more experienced team mate Alex Albon, the effective number one driver, wrecked his car in practice and was then given the American’s due to the lack of a third chassis.

Team principal James Vowles said in a debrief posted on the www.williamsf1.com website that both drivers would be racing at Suzuka.

“I’m confident we’ll be able to fix the (damaged) chassis,” he said. “We put measures in place to make sure the chassis was back here (at the factory in England) pretty early on Monday morning, I think it arrived at around 2am.”

Vowles said it was then immediately stripped down and repairs carried out.

“In Suzuka we’ll have two cars without too many issues,” he added.

“We won’t have a spare chassis in Japan. The original plan before the season started was to have three chassis as you would expect at round one and that gently slipped towards round three as items became more and more delayed.

“Since then, and especially with the work we’re doing now on chassis number two, there is again going to be a small amount of delay. That said, we will have a (third) chassis soon.”

Vowles said building a chassis was thousands of hours of work in the composites department and one of the biggest jobs within a Formula One team.

Williams, seventh overall in 2023 with Albon taking 27 of their 28 points, have yet to score in three races so far this season.

Vowles expected the bottom five teams to be in a tight battle through the season, with the top five filling most of the points places.

He said prioritising Albon over Sargeant in Melbourne had been by far his hardest decision in Formula One but the correct one on performance.

“The whole world has seen where we are in reality and how far behind we are and what work we have to do to move forward,” he added of the Melbourne situation. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 20:47:58 +0800 williams f1 team,formula one racing F1,Japanese Grand Prix
<![CDATA[Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia to hold post-mortem on Bukit Jalil National Stadium pitch next week ]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/perbadanan-stadium-malaysia-to-hold-post-mortem-on-bukit-jalil-national-stadium-pitch-next-week/126023 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/perbadanan-stadium-malaysia-to-hold-post-mortem-on-bukit-jalil-national-stadium-pitch-next-week/126023 Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia is set to hold a post-mortem regarding the Bukit Jalil National Stadium (SNBJ) pitch early next week.

This was confirmed by the corporation in a statement on its website, which announced that the meeting regarding the iconic venue of the Harimau Malaya squad will be held with consultants and SNBJ contractors.

“PSM is committed to continuously improving and will provide feedback after the post-mortem,” said the statement.

The condition of the SNBJ pitch has been a hot topic following the circulation of a video and images showing damaged turf after the international singer Ed Sheeran’s concert on February 24.

The same thing occurred last November when PSM allowed the Coldplay concert to be held, resulting in turf damage despite the Zeon Zoysia grass being newly replaced.

In addition, the Malaysian and Omani teams were not allowed to train the day before the 2026 World Cup 2026/2027 Asian Cup Qualifying Group D match on Monday.

Netizens, particularly local football fans hurled criticisms about SNJB pitch, which was deemed unsatisfactory during the 2026 World Cup 2026/2027 Asian Cup Qualifying Group D match between Harimau Malaya and Oman, ultimately resulting in a 2-0 victory for the visitors on Tuesday. — Bernama

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 16:51:18 +0800 Perbadanan Stadium Malaysia,pitch condition,bukit jalil national stadium,football
<![CDATA[Japan leukaemia survivor Ikee to swim at Paris Olympics]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/japan-leukaemia-survivor-ikee-to-swim-at-paris-olympics/126014 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/japan-leukaemia-survivor-ikee-to-swim-at-paris-olympics/126014 Malay Mail

TOKYO, March 28 — Leukaemia survivor Rikako Ikee will compete for Japan in the 100m butterfly at the Paris Olympics after missing out on an individual place at the Tokyo Games three years ago.

Three-time world champion Daiya Seto will swim the men’s individual medley after Japan’s 27-member team for the Paris Games was announced by the country’s Swimming Federation on Wednesday.

An 18-year-old Ikee was named MVP of the 2018 Asian Games after claiming six golds and two silvers, and was expected to be one of the stars of the Tokyo Olympics.

In early 2019, a few months after those triumphs, she was diagnosed with leukaemia and spent around 10 months in hospital.

She only returned to competition in August 2020 and completed an incredible comeback by winning the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly at the 2021 Olympic trials.

Her times were not fast enough to qualify for the individual events in Tokyo but the performances gained her selection for both freestyle and medley relay teams at her home Olympics.

Now 23, Ikee secured her place in the 100m butterfly by just 0.01sec at Japan’s trials earlier this month as she held off the fast-finishing Matsumoto Shiho to finish second in 57.34sec.

“In the end I think it was my long arms that won the touch,” Ikee was quoted as saying by Olympics.com.

“I think God was on my side today.”

The race was won in an impressive 56.91sec by 17-year-old Haiari Mazuki, one of several talented Japanese teenagers in the team.

Also heading to Paris are Mio Narita, 17, in the women’s individual medley and Tomoyuki Matsushita, 18, who swims the same event for men.

“I’m glad lots of veterans and young talent made it to the national team this time,” Daichi Suzuki, the swimming federation chief, was reported as saying by Japan media.

“I hope to see them on the podium with Japan’s national flag on their shoulders in Paris,” he added. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:30:57 +0800 paris olympics,swimming,Rikako Ikee
<![CDATA[Thomas Cup: Crucial for doubles pairs to steal points against Denmark, says Rexy]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/thomas-cup-crucial-for-doubles-pairs-to-steal-points-against-denmark-says-rexy/126005 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/thomas-cup-crucial-for-doubles-pairs-to-steal-points-against-denmark-says-rexy/126005 Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 — The doubles pairs are expected to play a pivotal role in Malaysia’s match against European giants Denmark in Group D of the 2024 Thomas Cup finals in Chengdu, China, from April 28 to May 5.

Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) coaching director Rexy Mainaky said it is important for Malaysia to steal points in the doubles as 2016 champions Denmark are likely to parade world number one Viktor Axelsen and 2024 Malaysian Open champion Anders Antonsen in the first two singles.

“Denmark are strong in singles. They also have Rasmus Gemke (world number 28) and Magnus Johannesen (no. 34); I do not know (who will play).

“In doubles, our top pair Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik (ranked fifth) and Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen (world number four) are equally strong and know each other’s game well. The doubles need to pick up points but it all depends on our strategy on match day,” he said when met recently.

At the same time, he said Malaysia should also be wary of the threat posed by Hong Kong as they have two good singles players, namely Lee Cheuk Yiu (world number 14) and Angus Ng Ka Long (no. 26).

“We are not bad in singles too if Ng Tze Yong can regain full fitness.

“Lately, Lee Zii Jia has beaten Ka Long (in their last two meetings). We also have a good choice for third singles between Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe,” he said.

Tze Yong, the country’s number two singles, is still recovering from lower back surgery.

African champions Algeria are the fourth team in Group D. — Bernama

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:13:14 +0800 thomas cup,rexy Mainaky,badminton,badminton doubles
<![CDATA[Liverpool, Man United jointly launch programme to combat tragedy-related abuse]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/liverpool-man-united-jointly-launch-programme-to-combat-tragedy-related-abuse/125998 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/liverpool-man-united-jointly-launch-programme-to-combat-tragedy-related-abuse/125998 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 28 — Liverpool and Manchester United have jointly launched an education programme through their foundations to tackle tragedy-related abuse, the clubs said in the run-up to their Premier League game at Old Trafford on April 7.

The clubs have repeatedly condemned fans chanting in reference to the Hillsborough tragedy, the Heysel Stadium disaster, and the Munich air disaster to mock opposition supporters, a practice liable to criminal prosecution.

“We fully support this event hosted by Liverpool and Manchester United and are working closely with both clubs to develop and deliver this education initiative,” Premier League Director of Community Nick Perchard said in a statement.

The two foundations will develop the programme further in partnership with the league and are committed to making it an annual part of their engagement across the Merseyside and Greater Manchester regions.

Last week, a Manchester United supporter was charged by Greater Manchester Police in relation to tragedy-related abuse towards Liverpool fans during FA Cup quarter-final on March 17.

Arsenal also welcomed banning orders handed out to three fans after they pleaded guilty to tragedy-related abuse during an FA Cup match against Liverpool at Emirates Stadium on Jan. 7. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:04:10 +0800 liverpool,man united
<![CDATA[Sinner and Medvedev power into Miami last four]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/sinner-and-medvedev-power-into-miami-last-four/125990 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/sinner-and-medvedev-power-into-miami-last-four/125990 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 28 — World number three Jannik Sinner will face defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Miami Open — a re-match of last year’s final — after they both enjoyed victories on Wednesday.

Sinner moved into the last four in emphatic style, beating Czech Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-2 before Medvedev overcame a stern test against Chilean Nicolas Jarry before emerging with a 6-2, 7-6 (9/7) win.

Italian Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year, will play in his fourth semi of the season after dealing with lively Machac in 91 minutes.

Sinner broke the opening game serve from the Czech but Machac responded immediately to make it 1-1.

The crowd were on their feet to appreciate some brilliant defensive play from Sinner who eventually took charge of the set, breaking to go 4-3 up and then closing out.

The second set was more straightforward with Sinner breaking in the third game and never looking back.

Despite the comfortable margin of the win, Sinner said Machac deserved praise for his energetic and aggressive performance.

“He has an incredible talent. He is super fast, also physically he is in great shape,” said the world number three.

“I didn’t know exactly what to expect today. The first games I was looking a little bit at what kind of tactics could work or not,” he added.

“I played good, especially in the important moments of the match, which makes it... the scoreboard, you see the score, but it’s sometimes lying. Today was a little bit like that,” said Sinner.

The 22-year-old needs no reminder of the challenge that awaits him though after losing to Medvedev in last year’s final.

Roared on

Medvedev ran away with the first set against Jarry, who was slow out of the blocks.

But the second set was a different story with the Chilean, roared on by heavily Latin American crowd, finding his big serve.

The pair were inseparable, with plenty of entertaining rallies, until the tiebreaker.

Medvedev missed a chance to win the match at 6-5 up when he came to the net for a routine conversion on match point but found the net — prompting a huge roar from the Chilean fans.

A thumping ace from Jarry made it 7-7 but it was followed with a poor effort which flew long and then on the third match point Medvedev wrapped up the win.

“In the first set I feel like I was playing good level, but nothing extra and it was enough to win, so I was happy about it,” said Medvedev.

“Then he managed to play much better. It was tough rallies, tough points, he served better and yeah, it was a matter of a few points on the tiebreak like it is sometimes in tennis,” he said.

The Russian appeared to enjoy the extra spice provided by the Chilean fans in the stadium.

“To be honest I was ready for it and I was expecting worse, when I say worse (I mean) more cheering fans supporting him.

“It was a pretty good atmosphere, you know even many times the referee was saying like players are ready, but I was like I don’t care, it’s actually not too bad, I’ve seen worse,” he said.

Medvedev said he is looking forward to resuming battle with Sinner.

“He’s playing better and better, he’s confident, you even see some matches where you look and maybe he’s in a little bit of trouble, he manages to find solutions and that’s what champions do.

“It’s a great challenge for me to continue improving my game and I’ll try to show my 100 per cent and go for it.

“It’s not gonna be easy if I manage to do it,” he said. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:47:00 +0800 miami open,sinner,medvedev
<![CDATA[Former China coach Li Tie goes on trial over bribery allegations]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/former-china-coach-li-tie-goes-on-trial-over-bribery-allegations/125986 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/former-china-coach-li-tie-goes-on-trial-over-bribery-allegations/125986 Malay Mail

BEIJING, March 28 — Former China coach and ex-Everton midfielder Li Tie went on trial Thursday on allegations of bribery, state media said, part of a broader crackdown on corruption in football in the country.

His former boss, the fallen Chinese Football Association chairman Chen Xuyuan, was jailed for life this week for taking bribes worth US$11 million.

The Chinese legal system is tightly controlled by the ruling Communist Party and courts have a near-100 per cent conviction rate in criminal cases.

Local journalists gathered in front of the court in Hubei province where the 46-year-old Li’s case will be heard.

Li, who was China coach from January 2020 until December 2021, is accused of giving and taking bribes, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Li, who played in the Premier League 34 times between 2002 and 2004, featured in a documentary aired on CCTV in January about widespread corruption in Chinese football.

CCTV regularly airs confessions by criminal suspects before they have appeared in court, a practice widely condemned by rights groups.

In the programme Li said he had arranged nearly US$421,000 in bribes to secure the head coach position, and helped to fix matches when he was a club coach in the Chinese Super League.

“I’m very sorry. I should have kept my head to the ground and followed the right path,” said Li.

“There were certain things that at the time were common practices in football,” he added.

Li played nearly 100 games for China. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:30:55 +0800 china football coach,china corruption,li tie,match fixing
<![CDATA[Age won’t determine when I retire, says Messi]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/age-wont-determine-when-i-retire-says-messi/125968 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/age-wont-determine-when-i-retire-says-messi/125968 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 28 — Lionel Messi will not consider his age as a deciding factor in his retirement plans, the Argentine forward said, adding that he has no clear idea of what he will do when that time comes.

Messi, who played for 17 years at Barcelona before signing for Paris St Germain in 2021 and Inter Miami last year, will turn 37 in under three months but knows for sure that his age will not determine when it is time to hang up his boots.

“I know that the moment I feel that I am no longer performing, that I am no longer enjoying it or helping my teammates (I will retire),” Messi told the Big Time podcast in an interview published on Wednesday.

“I am very self-critical. I know when I am doing well, when I am not, when I play well and when I play poorly. When I feel it’s time to take that step, I will do it without thinking about age.

“If I feel good, I will try to continue competing because it’s what I like and what I know how to do.”

Asked whether he had started to think about what he does next, the record eight-times Ballon D’Or winner had no straight answer.

“I haven’t thought about it yet. For now, I try to enjoy each day, each moment, without thinking about the future. I don’t have anything clear yet,” Messi said.

“I hope to keep playing for a while longer, because that’s what I enjoy. When the time comes, I will surely find the path to what fulfils me and what I like, and a new role.”

Messi missed Argentina’s friendlies against El Salvador and Costa Rica in the United States this month due to a hamstring injury. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:10:13 +0800 messi
<![CDATA[Steiner not surprised by Haas’ scoring start to F1 season]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/steiner-not-surprised-by-haas-scoring-start-to-f1-season/125967 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/steiner-not-surprised-by-haas-scoring-start-to-f1-season/125967 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 28 — Former Haas boss Guenther Steiner said he was not surprised by the team’s stronger than expected start to the Formula One season and suggested they had deliberately talked down their prospects.

New principal Ayao Komatsu warned before the Bahrain season-opener on March 2 that US-owned Haas, who finished last of the 10 teams overall in 2023, were likely to be running near the back of the field initially.

Kevin Magnussen was 12th in that race before team mate Nico Hulkenberg finished 10th in Saudi Arabia. Both drivers were then in the points with ninth and 10th places in Australia last Sunday.

“The team and (former technical director) Simone Resta, they did a good job because the car was done last year. It was done before I left,” Steiner told a video call on Wednesday after being announced as an ambassador for May’s Miami Grand Prix.

“The car was finished, it was in assembly already,” added the Italian, who was replaced by Komatsu in January.

“I actually had it right, where they ended up to be, because I knew the numbers from the wind tunnel where the team should end up.

“I think at the beginning they played it down to have an excuse for it to start off with, and then it was better than they expected. That is for me wrong to do.”

Steiner, who was back in the paddock in Melbourne and conducted the interviews with the top three race finishers, said he was happy for the Ferrari-powered team and had no bad feelings.

“I know the technical people in Italy they did a good job last year, they worked very hard to produce the car that’s running now. Only time will tell what’s happening in the future,” he said.

Steiner has also worked with Formula One television after becoming something of an unlikely cult hero through his blunt, often expletive-laden appearances on the Netflix docu-series Drive to Survive.

The Italian assured fans of the series that he would still be a continuing presence.

“I’m working with them (Netflix), how much they (use) I never know,” he said. “Maybe now I’m the most boring guy ever and they don’t bring anything. They are still filming, they did quite a lot with me, my new jobs.

“They will keep on filming but I don’t know how much it will make (onto the screen).” — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 09:08:57 +0800 haas formula one team,Guenther Steiner
<![CDATA[Wolff puts Verstappen top of Mercedes’ list to replace Hamilton]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/wolff-puts-verstappen-top-of-mercedes-list-to-replace-hamilton/125963 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/wolff-puts-verstappen-top-of-mercedes-list-to-replace-hamilton/125963 Malay Mail

MELBOURNE, March 28 — Max Verstappen would be top of Mercedes’ list of possible replacements for seven times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton in 2025 if available, according to team boss Toto Wolff.

The triple world champion has a contract with Red Bull until 2028 but his future at the team has been clouded by a breakdown in relations between his father Jos and principal Christian Horner.

Mercedes are losing Hamilton at the end of the season to Ferrari, with Sunday’s Australian GP winner Carlos Sainz losing his seat.

“We have a slot free, the only one in the top teams — unless Max decides he goes and then the slot is not going to be free with us anymore,” Wolff told Fox Sports Australia in an interview in Melbourne.

The interview, conducted after qualifying, was not widely picked up at the time but the strong comments drew attention later.

Asked if Verstappen would be the number one pick, Wolff replied: “Yes. You see what his performance levels are but I wouldn’t want to discount the other ones too.”

Wolff tried to sign Verstappen as a teenager before he joined Red Bull but Wolff could not offer him an F1 seat immediately.

The Austrian said he had a good relationship with Jos Verstappen and had met at the time in Vienna to discuss future possibilities but the driver had already an offer from Red Bull at that point.

“It’s a kind of relationship that needs to happen at a certain stage, but we don’t know when,” he said when asked if signing Verstappen could close a circle.

Wolff also mentioned double world champion Fernando Alonso, Sainz and Mercedes-backed F2 rookie Kimi Antonelli as possible options.

“Obviously there’s Fernando, who’s very exciting, and Carlos, very good. So there’s a few ones,” he said.

Verstappen has not ruled out a move to Mercedes in the long term but said in Australia he was comfortable at his “second family” Red Bull and it would be a great story to finish his F1 career with them.

Once-dominant Mercedes failed to win a race last season and suffered a double retirement in Melbourne, their first since 2018. — Reuters

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:50:51 +0800 mercedes formula one team,Toto Wolff,max verstappen
<![CDATA[Liverpool ‘not the right option’ for Alonso, says Matthaeus]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/liverpool-not-the-right-option-for-alonso-says-matthaeus/125953 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/liverpool-not-the-right-option-for-alonso-says-matthaeus/125953 Malay Mail

BERLIN, March 28 — Ballon d’Or winner Lothar Matthaeus said Wednesday a move to Liverpool in the summer was “not the right option” for in-demand Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso.

Alonso has been linked with moves to Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, clubs where he all spent time as a player, having so far done a stunning job at runaway Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen.

Alonso has the unbeaten side 10 points clear of Bayern Munich and on track for a first-ever German title with eight games remaining this season.

In an interview with AFP and other media on Wednesday, Matthaeus said following outgoing manager Jurgen Klopp would be difficult for any coach and that the in-demand Alonso should stay with Leverkusen.

“Liverpool is not the right option for Xabi Alonso after this season. He has better options.”

Matthaeus spent the majority of his career at Bayern and said he would welcome Alonso as the replacement for outgoing coach Thomas Tuchel in the summer but admitted in Munich “(Alonso) would have to build a new team for the future, with new players”.

Leverkusen have won 34 and drawn four of 38 games this season. With the club in the final four of the German Cup and the quarter-finals of the Europa League, Alonso has Leverkusen on course for a treble.

“Why move to Liverpool? Why should he leave this beautiful team which makes us happy with their beautiful football, like Barcelona 12 years ago?”

Klopp shocked the football world in January by announcing he would leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years at the Reds, citing exhaustion.

Matthaeus said Klopp’s success at Liverpool made him a hard act to follow.

“To coach at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp is not easy because Jurgen is a hero, he’s fantastic. What he was doing is great and what could you do that was much better?”

The 1990 World Cup winning captain praised current Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and said the side was “on the right path” after returning to form with wins over France and the Netherlands in the last week.

However, Matthaeus did add: “In Germany, our dream and wish was that Jurgen Klopp would be the next national coach.” — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:09:57 +0800 liverpool,klopp,xabi alonso,Leverkusen
<![CDATA[Napoli’s Jesus ‘bitter’ over racist probe outcome ]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/napolis-jesus-bitter-over-racist-probe-outcome/125948 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/napolis-jesus-bitter-over-racist-probe-outcome/125948 Malay Mail

ROME, March 28 — Napoli defender Juan Jesus says he feels “bitter” at the Italian football federation’s decision not to act over alleged racist comments targeted at him by Inter Milan’s Francesco Acerbi.

The Brazilian spoke out Wednesday the day after the FIGC shelved their investigation into the incident citing insufficient evidence.

“Although respecting this decision I have difficulty understanding it and it leaves me feeling very bitter,” he declared in a statement published by his club.

Initially Jesus played down the matter following Napoli’s 1-1 draw at Inter Milan on March 17 after accepting Acerbi’s on-field apology for unspecified insults.

He now says his conciliatory approach had not had the desired effect.

“I am very discouraged at the outcome to a serious affair which I alone was in the wrong for handling it like ‘a gentleman’ in avoiding interrupting an important match, with all the hassle that would have caused for fans, with the hope that my attitude would have been respected and taken perhaps as an example.”.

He feared the federation’s handling of the matter could have undesired consequences.

“I didn’t expect this decision which I fear, but I hope I’m wrong, will create an unfortunate precedent to justify certain behaviour.”

Napoli had already said they were “stunned” by the FIGC’s non action.

Acerbi, 36, faced a possible Serie A season-ending 10-match suspension which could have ruled him out of Euro 2024 which starts on June 14.

At the time Jesus, 32, had initially explained that Acerbi “realised that he had gone too far” and apologised to him.

The day after the match Acerbi joined Italy’s training camp ahead of two friendlies after giving his version of events to his Azzurri teammates and coach Luciano Spalletti “on the alleged racist remark”.

That triggered an angry reaction from Jesus.

“I thought that the incident was done with on the pitch and frankly I was hoping not to have to come back to something so despicable,” he posted on social media.

“However today I read Acerbi’s comments which conflict completely with what happened, with what he himself said on the pitch which is backed up by video footage of him asking me for forgiveness.

“I’m not having it, racism is going to be fought here and now.”

Napoli on Wednesday confirmed that they would not take part in this weekend’s ‘Keep racism out’ campaign.

Napoli players will instead wear a jersey with a message of support for their teammate, local media reported. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:44:08 +0800 napoli,juan jesus,racism in football,Francesco Acerbi,inter milan
<![CDATA[Sinner powers past Machac into Miami semis]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/sinner-powers-past-machac-into-miami-semis/125942 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/sinner-powers-past-machac-into-miami-semis/125942 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 28 — World number three Jannik Sinner moved into the semi-finals of the Miami Open in emphatic style on Wednesday, beating Czech Tomas Machac 6-4, 6-2.

Italian Sinner, who won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year, will play in his fourth semi of the season after dealing with lively Machac in 91 minutes.

Sinner broke the opening game serve from the Czech but Machac responded immediately to make it 1-1.

The crowd were on their feet to appreciate some brilliant defensive play from Sinner who eventually took charge of the set, breaking to go 4-3 up and then closing out.

The second set was more straightforward with Sinner breaking in the third game and never looking back.

Despite the comfortable margin of the win, Sinner said Machac deserved praise for his energetic and aggressive performance.

“He has an incredible talent. He is super fast, also physically he is in great shape,” said the world number three.

“I didn’t know exactly what to expect today. The first games I was looking a little bit at what kind of tactics could work or not,” he added.

“I played good, especially in the important moments of the match, which makes it... the scoreboard, you see the score, but it’s sometimes lying. Today was a little bit like that,” said Sinner.

The 22-year-old will next face the winner of Wednesday’s other quarter-final between defending champion Daniil Medvedev and Chile’s Nicolas Jarry. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:27:40 +0800 miami open,tennis,sinner
<![CDATA[Korda and Ko among most fancied at new LPGA Arizona event]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/korda-and-ko-among-most-fancied-at-new-lpga-arizona-event/125940 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/korda-and-ko-among-most-fancied-at-new-lpga-arizona-event/125940 Malay Mail

LOS ANGELES, March 28 — Nelly Korda is off to her best start of any LPGA season and back atop the world rankings, but she wants to be boring at this week’s LPGA Ford Championship.

The 25-year-old American, the daughter of 1998 Australian Open tennis champion Petr Korda, will be among the favorites in the new tour event at Seville Golf and Country Club in Gilbert, Arizona.

Korda, the reigning Olympic champion, reclaimed the world number one spot by capturing her 10th career LPGA title last week at Los Angeles.

“It felt really nice to get the W and get to double digits,” Korda said. “My goal is to stay very present, take it — as boring as it sounds — one shot at a time and go from there.”

Korda’s first victory of 2023 came in January’s Drive On Championship in her hometown of Bradenton, Florida, and both her triumphs this year have come in playoffs, the intensity fueling her for future success.

“I feel like every single time you play under pressure you learn more about yourself and the way you handle it,” Korda said. “My last two wins were a little dramatic.

“The main thing I learned when I’m in contention is how to handle myself, how to calm myself and how to just take that moment on.”

More moments could be coming, as Korda has never won twice so quickly in a season. In 2021, she won four times, taking her second triumph in June a week before what is thus far her only major title at the Women’s PGA Championship.

The season’s first major comes next month at the Chevron Championship but before that, Korda will face a top field at the Ford event, including pal Lydia Ko of New Zealand.

Ko eyes Hall of Fame

Ko, who won the season-opening Tournament of Champions, needs one more victory to seal a place in the LPGA Hall of Fame and nearly took it earlier this month at the Blue Bay LPGA in China, sharing the lead entering the final round only to lose to US first-time winner Bailey Tardy.

“All you can do is do your best,” Ko said. “I’m just going to keep giving myself good opportunities and instead of setting my goal to just be in the Hall of Fame, I want to win and compete at the highest level as much as I can.

Not just kind of set my end goal as the Hall of Fame. I think sometimes that makes you more narrow minded and makes me feel like I just need to win one. But I want to win more than one as long as I’m still playing.”

Korda is a close friend of Ko and expects her to be more hungry and ready to bounce back this week.

“She’s super resilient and hard working and super dedicated and I definitely wish it upon her to be in the Hall of Fame,” Korda said.

Hall of Fame induction, Korda says, is not on her mind.

“I don’t think I ever think of that actually. I just think of everything in my present time and just take it one week at a time,” Korda said.

“If I get there, then great, but that’s not something I put on my goal sheet. I think small goals then eventually lead to your bigger goals.”

World number eight Ko’s career, with 20 LPGA titles including two majors, is proof of how things add up. But now, with her next win bringing Hall of Fame acclaim, Ko is on the brink of a big goal.

“Clearly Nelly is showing that it’s pretty easy winning two,” Ko said. “But when I’m out there I’m just trying to play the best golf I can.

“Being one point away seems a little easier than two. Sometimes it’s just easier said than done. Some players win for their first time in 10 years. It’s just not that easy.” — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:26:02 +0800 nelly korda,lydia ko,lgpa
<![CDATA[Collins beats Garcia to move into Miami Open semis]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/collins-beats-garcia-to-move-into-miami-open-semis/125938 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/28/collins-beats-garcia-to-move-into-miami-open-semis/125938 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 28 — American Danielle Collins powered into the semi-finals of the WTA Miami Open with an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win over France’s Caroline Garcia on Wednesday.

Garcia went into the match on the back of an upset win over third-seeded American Coco Gauff but was unable to get a foothold against the Floridian.

Garcia still appeared to be troubled by an injury to her right shoulder and received some treatment early in the second set.

Collins broke to go 5-3 up in the first set and then held serve for the set, then in the second set broke in the third game and never looked back as she wrapped up the win in one hour and 19 minutes.

Collins reached the semi-finals of Miami six years ago as a qualifier and at 53rd is the lowest ranked semi-finalist in the tournament.

The 30-year-old American now has a 4-0 record against Garcia and has yet to lose a set to the Frenchwoman but said the numbers didn’t tell the true story.

“I think against someone like Caro, it forces me to be more concentrated. I know I don’t want to give her an inch or she can get in there,” Collins said.

Garcia said she had felt the pace of back-to-back tournaments.

“It’s been a long two weeks for the body for me, between the back at the beginning and then the she shoulder which came back,” she told reporters, adding that the shoulder issue was a recurrence of a previous injury.

“I think it’s nothing too serious but (shoulder) is always quite problematic for a tennis player,” she said, before adding that Collins had played “an amazing match”.

Collins intends to retire at the end of the year but while she agreed she had a relaxed look to her play, she rejected the idea that it was a result of her impending departure from the sport.

“I think I feel pretty relaxed, but that could be due to a number of things. I’ve got a new hobby. I’m playing some more golf, running more, Pilates, all of these different things,” she said.

“My dog is here. I’m feeling relaxed because I get to be with him at night. I don’t know,” she said with a smile.

Collins will face the winner of Wednesday’s other quarter-final between her compatriot Jessica Pegula and Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, who knocked out world number one Iga Swiatek in the previous round. — AFP

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Thu, 28 Mar 2024 07:23:03 +0800 wta miami,miami open,Danielle Collins
<![CDATA[Djokovic splits from Ivanisevic with bittersweet message]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/djokovic-splits-from-ivanisevic-with-bittersweet-message/125930 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/djokovic-splits-from-ivanisevic-with-bittersweet-message/125930 Malay Mail

PARIS, March 27 — Novak Djokovic and Goran Ivanisevic are to go their separate ways, the tennis world number one announced on Wednesday, ending a five-year association which yielded 12 Grand Slams.

Djokovic brought Croatia’s 2001 Wimbledon champion on board as a member of the coaching team ahead of the grass court Grand Slam in 2019 and although the Serbian admitted their “on-court chemistry had its ups and downs”, it also resulted in huge success.

However, Djokovic has had by his high standards a poor start to the year, losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner of Italy in the Australian Open semi-finals.

The 36-year-old Serbian then lost to Sinner’s unheralded compatriot Luca Nardi in the third round at Indian Wells, prompting him to withdraw from the Miami tournament for what he claimed were scheduling reasons.

“Goran and I decided to stop working together a few days ago,” Djokovic posted on Instagram.

“Our on court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid.

“In fact, I am proud to say (not sure he is) that apart from winning tournaments together, we also had a side battle in Parchisi going on... for many years,” he said, referring to the online game.

“And — that tournament never stops for us. Šefinjo, thanks for everything my friend. Love you.”

Djokovic said the volatile and charismatic Ivanisevic had brought more than just his tennis acumen to the partnership, which was exactly what he and his then head coach Marian Vajda had been looking for.

“I remember clearly the moment I invited Goran to be part of my team,” said Djokovic.

“It was back in 2018, and Marian (Vajda) and I were looking to innovate and bring some serve magic to our duo.

“In fact, not only we brought serve, but also lots of laughter, fun, year end no1 rankings, record breaking achievements and 12 more Grand Slams (and a few finals) to the count since then.” — AFP

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 23:55:31 +0800 Novak Djokovic,goran ivanisevic,tennis
<![CDATA[Chelsea’s Lavia out for the season due to hamstring injury]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/chelseas-lavia-out-for-the-season-due-to-hamstring-injury/125929 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/chelseas-lavia-out-for-the-season-due-to-hamstring-injury/125929 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 27 — Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia will miss the rest of the season after suffering a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

The Belgium international was injured during his Chelsea debut, a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace in late December.

The 20-year-old former Manchester City and Southampton player joined Chelsea in August on a seven-year contract in a deal worth a reported £55 million (RM328 million).

Chelsea, 11th in the Premier League table, host Burnley on Saturday. — Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 23:51:56 +0800 Romeo Lavia,chelsea,football,hamstring injury
<![CDATA[Bayern’s Kane back but Neuer doubtful for Dortmund match]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/bayerns-kane-back-but-neuer-doubtful-for-dortmund-match/125926 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/bayerns-kane-back-but-neuer-doubtful-for-dortmund-match/125926 Malay Mail

BERLIN, March 27 — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane returned to team training on Wednesday while captain Manuel Neuer remains doubtful ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern released a statement saying Kane “was able to take part in team training again”, having returned to individual training on Monday.

Neuer, who turned 38 on Wednesday, tore a muscle fibre on duty with Germany, missing both of his country’s friendlies.

Kane injured his ankle after colliding with the goal post in Bayern’s 5-2 win over Darmstadt.

The England captain missed England’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium as a result of the injury.

The 30-year-old striker has a history of ankle problems but last missed a match due to injury back in April 2021 with previous club Tottenham.

Bayern said Neuer “completed an individual training session” on Wednesday.

Aleksandar Pavlovic, who was called up to the Germany squad for the first time in March but missed both matches due to tonsilitis, also trained individually.

Bayern sit 10 points behind Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the league with eight games to play this season. — AFP

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 23:41:17 +0800 bayern munich,harry kane,bundesliga,football,Manuel Neuer
<![CDATA[Spain prosecutors want Rubiales jailed for 2.5 years for World Cup kiss]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/spain-prosecutors-want-rubiales-jailed-for-25-years-for-world-cup-kiss/125919 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/spain-prosecutors-want-rubiales-jailed-for-25-years-for-world-cup-kiss/125919 Malay Mail

MADRID, March 27 — Spanish prosecutors are seeking two-and-a-half-years jail for disgraced ex-football chief Luis Rubiales who is facing trial for kissing Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips against her will, court documents showed Wednesday.

Prosecutors also want Rubiales, who has been charged with sexual assault and coercion, to pay at least €50,000 (RM256,050) in compensation to Hermoso, they wrote in a document sent to Spain’s Audiencia Nacional court, a copy of which was seen by AFP. — AFP

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 23:35:47 +0800 luis rubiales kissing,Luis Rubiales,spain prosecutors,jail sentence,Jenni Hermoso,football
<![CDATA[Richarlison battled depression after Brazil World Cup exit]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/richarlison-battled-depression-after-brazil-world-cup-exit/125904 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/richarlison-battled-depression-after-brazil-world-cup-exit/125904 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 27 — Brazil striker Richarlison battled with depression after his country’s quarter-final loss to Croatia at the 2022 World Cup and considered quitting football.

Richarlison, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur, said in September he would seek psychological help after he was photographed crying on the bench when he was substituted during Brazil’s 5-1 thrashing of Bolivia in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

The 26-year-old, capped 48 times by Brazil, has urged players to seek help for mental health issues.

“I’d just played in a World Cup, at my peak,” Richarlison told ESPN Brasil. “I was reaching my limit, you know? I don’t know, I’m not going to talk about killing myself, but I was in a depression there, and I wanted to give up.

“Even I, who seemed to be mentally strong. After the World Cup, it seemed like it all fell apart.”

After initial struggles at Spurs, who he joined from Everton for a reported fee of £60 million (RM358 million) in 2022, Richarlison has scored 11 goals in 26 appearances this season.

“Before I went to training, I wanted to go home, I wanted to go back to my room because I don’t know what was going through my head,” he said. “I even went and told my dad I was going to give up.

“It’s kind of sad to talk like that. What I went through after the World Cup ... To go to my father, who was the guy who chased my dream with me, and say, ‘Dad, I want to give up’, is crazy.”

He said going to therapy was the best decision he has made.

“I think the therapist, like it or not, saved me, saved my life. I only thought rubbish ... If you need a psychologist, look for one because it’s nice for you to open up like that, for you to be talking to the person,” Richarlison added. — Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 22:38:45 +0800 Richarlison,football,depression
<![CDATA[Kane’s Bayern to face Spurs in pre-season friendly]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/kanes-bayern-to-face-spurs-in-pre-season-friendly/125903 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/kanes-bayern-to-face-spurs-in-pre-season-friendly/125903 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 27 — Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane is set to return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face his former team in an August pre-season friendly, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Spurs’ all-time leading goalscorer joined the six-time European champions for £100 million (RM597 million) last year and was followed by defender Eric Dier, who made the switch to the German club in January.

The Visit Malta Cup clash will take place on August 10, a week before the start of the Premier League season.

“This mouthwatering curtain-raiser to the new season takes on extra significance, with the club’s all-time leading goalscorer, Harry Kane, and long-serving defender Eric Dier having recently joined the Bundesliga champions,” Tottenham said in a statement.

England captain Kane has been impressive in Germany this season, scoring 37 goals in 35 appearances across all competitions.

He leads the Bundesliga goalscoring charts with 31 so far for Bayern, who currently sit second, 10 points off league leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Last time Bayern and Tottenham met was in the 2019/20 Champions League group stage. Spurs were beaten 7-2 at home before Bayern won 3-1 in the reverse fixture. — AFP

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 21:50:35 +0800 harry kane,football,bayern munich,tottenham hotspur
<![CDATA[England’s Southgate ponders tough choices as Euro 2024 looms]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/englands-southgate-ponders-tough-choices-as-euro-2024-looms/125901 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/englands-southgate-ponders-tough-choices-as-euro-2024-looms/125901 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 27 — Gareth Southgate has watched his final England international before he names his Euro 2024 squad. Now he faces tough decisions that could make or break the campaign.

Jude Bellingham scored a last-gasp equaliser in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Wembley on Tuesday, which lifted the mood after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Brazil at the weekend.

Friendlies are not a reliable predictor of a team’s likely performance when the pressure is truly on but Southgate gleaned important information about his men over the two matches in London.

England will travel to Germany in June among the favourites to win the European Championship for the first time after coming up agonisingly short against Italy in the final in 2021.

In what could be Southgate’s last hurrah as England boss, the pressure will be intense on the side to finally deliver a first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.

The manager, who has been at the helm since 2016, admits he will have to take stock of his resources, especially given the spate of injuries that has disrupted his preparations.

“I’d have to sit and go through it all because I’m a little bit lost as to who we’ve got and we haven’t really,” he said after the draw against Belgium, who are ranked fourth in the world, one place below England.

“The great thing is definitely some players have emerged positively from the opportunities they’ve had so we’ve perhaps got more depth in one respect but the injuries are a concern.

“We’ve got so many players missing at the moment and we’ve still got the real heat of the (club) season to come, the intensity of the games, what’s resting on the games.

“We’re not going to know what we’re left with until right at the end but we’ll just make the best decisions that we possibly can.”

Battle for places

The reality is that if England have a clean bill of health, there will be limited places up for grabs in the 23-man squad.

Despite a flat performance against Brazil — the team’s first defeat since they lost to France at the 2022 World Cup — England showed over the two games they have attacking strength in depth.

In the absence of the injured Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, who are both certainties for the Euros, Jarrod Bowen and Ivan Toney, making his first England start, impressed their manager, with Toney scoring a penalty.

Midfield looks strong, with Bellingham and Declan Rice certain starters, but Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo appears close to booking his place on the plane after just two caps.

Southgate said the 18-year-old prodigy, who has played just 15 times for United in the Premier League, gives England a “different profile of midfield player to anything else we’ve got”.

“His attributes are there for everybody to see, that ability to receive under pressure and ride challenges, to manipulate the ball in tight areas,” he said.

“He’s adapted and adjusted brilliantly. You can’t believe his age really, that he’s taken it all in his stride.”

But doubts linger over whether England have what it takes in defence, particularly in central areas, with costly errors blighting the performances against Brazil and Belgium.

Southgate has been loyal to Harry Maguire even though the Manchester United man is not a regular for his club, partly due to a lack of compelling alternatives.

Maguire was an injury absentee on Tuesday, replaced by Lewis Dunk, who has done little to press his case, at fault for goals conceded in both matches.

“We’ve had a consistent defence because of the qualities that they have and that’s always been apparent to us,” said Southgate.

“We needed to test the other guys against high-level opponents and we’ve been able to do that in the two games so that allows us to go away, it allows them to think about how they’ve played and to win a tournament you’ve got to defend really well as a team, not just the back four.

“We definitely gave up more chances than we have, or better-quality chances than we have done for a while but we have also played two top-level teams and that’s the reality of those games as well.” — AFP

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 21:46:41 +0800 Euro 2024,england football team,football,gareth southgate
<![CDATA[Pitch not key factor in Malaysia's loss to Oman in Bukit Jalil, says Harimau Malaya’s Darren]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/pitch-not-key-factor-in-malaysias-loss-to-oman-in-bukit-jalil-says-harimau-malayas-darren/125753 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/pitch-not-key-factor-in-malaysias-loss-to-oman-in-bukit-jalil-says-harimau-malayas-darren/125753 Malay Mail

KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 ― Harimau Malaya forward Darren Lok believed that the pitch was not the determining factor in Malaysia's 0-2 loss to Oman in the Group D match of the second round of the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil here, last night.

The 34-year-old Sabah FC player emphasised that the condition of the pitch should not serve as an excuse since both teams encountered the same condition.

“It (pitch) wasn’t so bad, we can’t use the pitch as an excuse, both teams have to play on it and tonight (last night) is not our night, Oman got the win, and we are disappointed.

“Now we have to keep our heads up and focus on the games in June because now we have to win the next two games. Now is the time to put things right and come back with some confidence,” he said when met after the game.

At the same time, Darren said that time was not in Malaysia's favour during the two matches against Oman, including the recent 0-2 defeat in Muscat last week, following the absence of a competitive match for almost two months as the Malaysian League (M-League) still in the pre-season phase.

“We prepared well, the coaches gave us everything and we trained hard but the timing hasn’t been ideal,” he said.

Meanwhile, naturalised striker Romel Morales believes Malaysia still has a chance to grab the top two spots in the group to confirm a place in the 2027 Asian Cup earlier and qualify for the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

The 27-year-old Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) player said what is important is that the team must continue to work hard ahead of the remaining two games next June.

“We know we have a good team, good players, we will try our best, we know we can do it, we believe in that. We still have two more games and we believe we can collect six points to go to the next round,” said the Colombian-born player.

Last night’s loss was Malaysia's second defeat thereby making it difficult to achieve their mission of qualifying for the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and qualifying early for the 2027 Asian Cup.

Malaysia remain third in Group D with six points while Kyrgyzstan lead the group with nine points after beating Taiwan 5-1 last night, followed by second-placed Oman, also with nine points, while Taiwan is last without a single point.

Only the top two teams in each group qualify for the third round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers and confirm a place in the 2027 Asian Cup, while the bottom two teams will play in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Malaysia will next meet Kyrgyzstan in Bishkek on June 6 and finish Group D against Taiwan in Bukit Jalil on June 11. ― Bernama

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:11:39 +0800 harimau malaya,Asian Cup
<![CDATA[Belgium coach Tedesco content despite England's late equaliser]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/belgium-coach-tedesco-content-despite-englands-late-equaliser/125749 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/belgium-coach-tedesco-content-despite-englands-late-equaliser/125749 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 26 ― Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco said it would have been special had his team held on to their 2-1 halftime lead at Wembley today but he had no complaints about the result after Jude Bellingham snatched a stoppage-time equaliser for England.

Two goals by Youri Tielemans either side of an Ivan Toney penalty had the visitors eyeing the win in a clash between the teams ranked third and fourth, despite a stirring England display that ended with a last-gasp leveller.

“With five seconds to go it would have been something very special and fantastic,” Tedesco said. “I think that England were really strong, they created many, many chances. You had a feeling from the very beginning that they want to win the second game here (after losing to Brazil on Saturday). That’s why I think the result is OK in the end.”

Although they failed to claim a first win in England after six defeats and a previous draw, it did extend Belgium's unbeaten run under Tedesco to 12 games and they, like the hosts, will take much more from Tuesday's high-octane encounter than from their goalless draw with Ireland on Saturday.

“Their speed and one touch is unbelievable, it's not easy against them. They have quality in every position,” he said of England.

“But in the first 15 minutes we created our goal and some other chances on the counter-attack. Defensively we controlled it more in the second half but it's not easy to control a team like this for 90 minutes.”

Tedesco was asked why he thought Tielemans looked such an accomplished finisher on Tuesday having struggled against Ireland after the Aston Villa man cashed in on England mistakes to score two excellent goals.

“He had more space today than against Ireland,” the coach said. “You get that against a team who always want to play.

“Counter attacking is automatically a weapon and I think we can hurt teams with that ― but England have the same weapon.

“But we should have started the game with the same defensive intensity that we showed in the second half.”

Tedesco said he was less concerned about the result that extended his unbeaten run than taking lessons from the two matches in this international break.

“We still have to work, to select and take all the information we got out of this camp,” he said.

“We hope everyone is fit ― we missed Kevin De Bruyne tonight and a few others were not at their physical best.

“We are focused on the first game (of the Euros) against Slovakia and now we know we will also face Ukraine – but it’s step by step.” ― Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 11:03:53 +0800 Domenico Tedesco,england v belgium,international friendlies
<![CDATA[Mainoo gives England something different, Southgate says after Belgium draw]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/mainoo-gives-england-something-different-southgate-says-after-belgium-draw/125742 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/mainoo-gives-england-something-different-southgate-says-after-belgium-draw/125742 Malay Mail

LONDON, March 27 ― Kobbie Mainoo gives England a different profile of midfield player, manager Gareth Southgate said today as he weighs up his options for Euro 2024 after his side salvaged a late 2-2 draw against Belgium at Wembley.

Jude Bellingham struck in stoppage time to earn an impressive England a 2-2 draw with Belgium after a Youri Tielemans double had threatened a smash and grab victory in an entertaining friendly.

Manchester United's Mainoo, 18, who made his debut as a substitute in England's 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Saturday, impressed again in a midfield three with Bellingham and Arsenal's Declan Rice with a performance that earned strong praise from his manager.

“He gives us a different profile of midfield player to anything else we’ve got and we’re really pleased with what he's done,” Southgate said. “You can’t believe his age really.

“His attributes are there for everybody to see, that ability to receive under pressure and ride challenges, to manipulate the ball in tight areas.”

Southgate also singled out West Ham's Jarrod Bowen and Brentford's Ivan Toney for praise, both of whom may have forced their way into England's 23-man squad for the upcoming European Championship in Germany.

Toney, who started up front in captain Harry Kane's absence, scored England's first equaliser, converting from the penalty spot after being brought down by Jan Vertonghen following excellent build-up play from Mainoo and Bellingham.

“At 18 I was probably playing on the Xbox and he is out there being a man and playing for England,” Toney said of Mainoo on Sky Sports News. “He just glides with the ball and I'm sure there's more to come from him and he will go right to the top.”

Injuries to several first-team regulars have hampered Southgate's squad, but he acknowledged the benefits of being able to offer other players more game time.

“Definitely some players have emerged positively from the opportunities they've had,” he said. “So we’ve perhaps got more depth in one respect, but the injuries are a concern.” ― Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 10:05:19 +0800 Kobbie Mainoo,england football team,Gareth Southgate
<![CDATA[Ohtani scandal looms over baseball ahead of opening day]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/ohtani-scandal-looms-over-baseball-ahead-of-opening-day/125740 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/ohtani-scandal-looms-over-baseball-ahead-of-opening-day/125740 Malay Mail

LOS ANGELES, March 27 ― Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers take centre stage tomorrow as Major League Baseball's new season gets under way on US soil against the backdrop of a gambling scandal that has engulfed its brightest star.

When the Dodgers won the race to sign Japanese superstar Ohtani last December on a lavish US$700 million (RM3.3 billion) deal ― the richest contract in the history of North American sport ― the move was widely hailed as a blockbuster coup.

A two-time American League Most Valuable Player, Ohtani's once-in-a-generation combination of elite pitching and hitting has seen him compared to the legendary Babe Ruth since his arrival in the major leagues in 2018.

The skyrocketing euphoria amongst Dodgers fans was given another jolt when the team acquired pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani's highly rated Japan team-mate Yoshinobu Yamamoto, further proof that the franchise is determined to make a serious run at the World Series.

But fast-forward three months and some of the breathless giddiness that greeted the Dodgers' December shopping spree has dissipated as they prepare to host the St. Louis Cardinals in Thursday's home opener.

The Dodgers launched their regular season with two games in Seoul against San Diego, splitting the series 1-1 last week.

The results however were a footnote to the scandal that erupted around Ohtani after his longtime friend and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara was accused of swindling him out of millions of dollars to pay off gambling debts.

Ohtani's camp issued a statement saying the superstar had been the victim of a “massive theft” by Mizuhara, who was promptly fired by the Dodgers last week.

Unanswered questions

Yet details of the scandal remained murky, clouded by contradictory statements given by Mizuhara, who initially told ESPN that Ohtani himself had signed off on payments to an illegal bookmaker totalling US$4.5 million.

Twenty-four hours later, Mizuhara changed his story, insisting that Ohtani had no knowledge of his gambling debts and did not transfer the money from his account.

Major League Baseball announced a formal investigation on Friday as pundits across US media wondered out loud whether Mizuhara had in fact been placing bets on Ohtani's behalf ― something that could lead to a career-ending ban if the bets involved Ohtani's own team.

In his first public comments on the controversy on Monday, Ohtani denied ever betting on sport, accusing Mizuhara of transferring money without his knowledge and describing himself as “beyond shocked” at the betrayal of trust.

“I never bet on baseball or any other sports and I never have asked somebody to do that on my behalf and I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports,” Ohtani said.

“All of this has been a complete lie...Until a couple of days ago I didn't know this was happening... Ippei has stolen money from my account and told lies.”

Ohtani's 12-minute address did little to dispel the lingering questions surrounding the controversy, which were left hanging by the Dodgers' refusal to allow reporters to ask questions of the superstar.

How was Mizuhara able to access Ohtani's bank account to transfer vast sums?

How did no-one in Ohtani's entourage notice US$4.5 million go missing?

Why would an illegal bookmaker extend millions of dollars of credit to an interpreter earning a salary reported at around US$300,000-US$500,000?

Circling the wagons

The Dodgers meanwhile have circled the wagons around their beleaguered superstar.

“We're all behind the guy,” Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy said of Ohtani after his address to reporters on Monday.

“For me, where I come from, you're innocent until proven guilty. The guy has told us face-to-face what he believes is the truth, and that's what I'm going off of. I believe him 100%. I have his back on that.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani's version of events as “very honest.”

“I know that for me and the organization, we support him,” Roberts said on Monday.

“I got a lot of questions answered, as far as what he knew and didn't know. I'm looking forward to just moving forward and obviously letting the authorities take care of this and just focus on baseball.”

That kind of optimism may prove to be fanciful.

ESPN analyst Jeff Passan warned that the fallout from the revelations could haunt the Dodgers throughout the season as the MLB probes the case while US federal investigators carry out a broader inquiry into illegal betting.

“This is a sprawling investigation that could take a long time to be resolved,” Passan said.

“It's the sort of thing that's going to hang over the Dodgers all season. We'll just have to see how they respond.” ― AFP

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:14:59 +0800 Los Angeles Dodgers,major league baseball,Shohei Ohtani
<![CDATA[Alcaraz into Miami Open quarters with Sunshine Double still in sight]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/alcaraz-into-miami-open-quarters-with-sunshine-double-still-in-sight/125737 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/alcaraz-into-miami-open-quarters-with-sunshine-double-still-in-sight/125737 Malay Mail

MIAMI, March 27 ― Indian Wells champion Carlos Alcaraz kept his hopes for a Sunshine Double alive with a 6-3 6-3 win over Lorenzo Musetti to reach the Miami Open quarter-finals for the third straight year yesterday.

The Spaniard needed less than 90 minutes to dispatch the 23rd seed from Italy, pounding forehands and winning 18 of 22 points when he charged to the net.

Alcaraz broke serve to start the match and again to grab the drama-free first set against his overmatched opponent.

Musetti would finally secure his first break of the match to get back on serve trailing 4-3 in the second set when a suddenly error-prone Alcaraz misfired with a backhand.

The momentum would be short-lived, however, with the tournament's 2022 champion breaking back with ease in the next game and ending the affair when Musetti's shot landed in the net on match point.

Musetti's best moment came in the second set when he hit a front facing tweener lob over Alcaraz's head and ended the point with a volley to gasps from the fans at Hard Rock Stadium.

“Without a doubt, this is the best I've been feeling,” Alcaraz, who had struggled with an ankle injury earlier in the season, said after winning his ninth consecutive match.

“I'm feeling great on the court, I'm moving great with no injuries because I don't think about the ankle anymore on the court.”

Alcaraz will next face 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov after the Bulgarian's career renaissance continued with a gritty 3-6 6-3 7-6(3) win over Poland's Hubert Hurkacz.

Daniil Medvedev took another step towards retaining a title for the first time in his career as the Russian third seed beat Germany's Dominik Koepfer 7-6(5) 6-0 to reach the quarter-finals.

Medvedev overcame a shaky start and converted four break points while dropping serve just once to secure a spot in the last eight in Miami where he has yet to drop a set.

Koepfer was the early aggressor, using a pair of holds at love to build a 4-3 lead in the first set, but Medvedev forced a tiebreak in which he lost the opening four points before finding his way.

With a frustrated Koepfer suddenly losing control of his forehand, Medvedev enjoyed much smoother passage through the second set where he broke twice to build a commanding 4-0 lead before closing out the match with a break to love.

“Sometimes it happens when you lose the first set the way he lost ... it brings your (opponent's) energy down and I knew that I had to use it (to my advantage) in the beginning of the second set that's where it was the most important,” Medvedev said after collecting his 350th career win.

The Russian will face Chile's Nicolas Jarry, the 22nd seed, in the last eight, after he beat seventh seed Casper Ruud of Norway 7-6(3) 6-3.

In other early action, unseeded Czech Tomas Machac beat Italy's Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-3 to reach his first Masters 1000 quarter-final.

Machac faces a tough task against second seed Jannik Sinner, who overcame a first set deficit before ultimately coasting to a 6-4 6-3 victory to reach the quarters. ― Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:05:55 +0800 miami open tennis,Carlos Alcaraz
<![CDATA[Brazil fight back to draw 3-3 with Spain in friendly]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/brazil-fight-back-to-draw-3-3-with-spain-in-friendly/125722 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/brazil-fight-back-to-draw-3-3-with-spain-in-friendly/125722 Malay Mail

MADRID, March 27 ― Brazil's Lucas Paqueta scored a penalty deep in added time to rescue a fortunate 3-3 draw with Spain in an ill-tempered friendly at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium today.

The hosts dominated proceedings early on and opened a two-goal lead with a penalty from Rodri and a Dani Olmo strike, but Rodrygo reduced the deficit before the break after a mistake by goalkeeper Unai Simon.

Brazil teenager Endrick came off the bench to equalise from a corner four minutes into the second half, but Rodri put Spain back in the lead from the spot in the 86th minute.

However, Brazil managed to level again five minutes into added time when Galeno was fouled inside the box and Paqueta stroked home from the spot. ― Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:57:35 +0800 brazil v spain,international friendlies
<![CDATA[Jubilant Ukraine reach Euro 2024 finals with Iceland win]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/jubilant-ukraine-reach-euro-2024-finals-with-iceland-win/125721 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/jubilant-ukraine-reach-euro-2024-finals-with-iceland-win/125721 Malay Mail

WROCLAW (Poland), March 27 ― Ukraine's tears of despair turned to joy after qualification for the Euro 2024 football tournament was achieved with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iceland in their playoff final played in a neutral but partisan Wroclaw Stadium in Poland today.

Viktor Tsygankov and Mykhailo Mudryk scored second half goals as it was mission accomplished in a campaign where Ukraine have been forced to play ‘home’ fixtures in Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and Poland following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of the country that sparked a war which still rages.

Albert Gudmundsson had put Iceland ahead in the first half but they surrendered possession and the initiative as they struggled to contain their opponents for much of the contest.

It is a fourth straight visit to the continental finals for Ukraine who take their place in Group E with Belgium, Slovakia and Romania, who they open their campaign against on June 17.

“Thank you boys! Thank you to the team! For proving once again that when Ukrainians face challenges but refuse to give up and continue the fight, they invariably win,” Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a message on Telegram.

Chants of “Ukraine, Ukraine” rang around the stadium, the scenes of jubilation and yellow and blue flags waving not far removed from what might be expected if the game was in Kyiv.

Poland is home to a large number of refugees from the war, many of whom will have been in the stadium to witness one of their team’s greatest triumphs given the circumstances.

It makes up for Ukraine missing out on the last World Cup after a playoff defeat by Wales and for the second game running they had to come from behind to secure victory after snatching a 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in Thursday's semi-final.

“I think this is a very important victory for the entire Ukrainian people, for our soldiers,” coach Serhiy Rebrov told reporters.

“I am very happy for the players, because these two (playoff) games were very difficult and nerve-wracking. Both before and after the matches, we said that these victories are for our country, people, defenders who defend our freedom.

“Everyone understands how important this victory is.”

Sublime goal

Gudmundsson scored a sublime goal to give Iceland the lead on the half-hour mark as he picked up the ball just outside the box, beat two defenders to make the space and rifled a precise shot into the corner of the net.

The start of the second half was frenetic and Ukraine drew level with a fine equaliser.

Tsygankov was picked out on the right wing and cut inside, drifting into a central position before firing low into the bottom corner of the net with his left foot.

Ukraine keeper Andriy Lunin made a superb stop to deny Jon Thorsteinsson, sprawling to his left to claw away a curling effort from just inside the area, and it was Ukraine who then found the winning moment.

Mudryk scored only his second international goal as he latched onto a cut-back from Georgiy Sudakov and buried the ball into the net, as well as Iceland’s hopes, leaving Ukrainians to celebrate a victory that gives their team a place in Germany.

“We were still in it when it was 1-1,” Iceland winger Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson told newspaper Morgunbladid.

“Then comes the second goal and we've spent an incredible amount of energy trying to keep (the scores level), so that's what completely changed the game.” ― Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:56:52 +0800 Euro 2024 qualifying,ukraine v iceland
<![CDATA[France fight back to claim 3-2 home win over Chile in friendly]]> https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/france-fight-back-to-claim-3-2-home-win-over-chile-in-friendly/125719 https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2024/03/27/france-fight-back-to-claim-3-2-home-win-over-chile-in-friendly/125719 Malay Mail

MARSEILLE, March 27 ― France rallied from an early deficit to beat Chile 3-2 thanks to goals from Youssouf Fofana, Randal Kolo Muani and Oliver Giroud in a friendly at the Stade Velodrome today.

The visitors' early pressure paid off as they opened the scoring after six minutes with a low shot from Marcelino Nunez following a fine passing move from the right.

But Fofana equalised for France in the 18th minute when Kylian Mbappe set him up on the edge of the box to fire past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo off a deflection from the defence.

“We got that first goal (equaliser) early on in the game and it was good to come back, which we weren't able to do against Germany,” France boss Didier Deschamps told TF1 referring to Saturday's 2-0 loss to Germany.

“These are friendly matches and even though it's the French team our opponents put in a lot of energy and we had less. It's good to win but some of the things we did were a bit hard work.”

Kolo Muani put the hosts in front with a close-range header from Theo Hernandez's pinpoint cross in the 26th minute before Giroud sealed the win in the 72nd, extending his tally as France's all-time top scorer to 57 goals.

“Pretty tight game. We were determined to respond after the match against Germany,” said Kolo Muani. “We were able to step up both offensively and defensively.

“Every match is important but above all it's a collective effort. It's all good if I'm on the pitch but everyone showed their class today.”

The South Americans pulled one back eight minutes from time through Dario Osorio's long-range strike but could not prevent their first defeat under new coach Ricardo Gareca.

“I think we played a very solid game, we competed at the highest level and I think that's what we have to take,” Chile captain Bravo told ESPN.

“We have the players, we have the capability and I think this game was very useful to measure what we can do. In general terms we're happy.” ― Reuters

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Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:53:30 +0800 international friendlies,france v chile