Football

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Luciano Spalletti

De Bruyne secures Belgium win over Wales in seven-goal thriller

Sajjadkk — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 21:17:49 +0000

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Tue, 2025-06-10 00:09

BRUSSELS, Belgium: Kevin De Bruyne spared Belgium’s blushes after blowing a 3-0 lead to beat Wales 4-3 and kickstart the Red Devils’ 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign on Monday.
Goals from Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku inside half an hour had given Belgium a dream start.
Wales, though, rallied through a Harry Wilson penalty, Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson to stun the side ranked eighth in the world.
But De Bruyne rode to his nation’s rescue, as he has so often in a stellar career, by steering in Tielemans’ perfect cross in the 88th minute.

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FIFA World Cup qualifier

Belgium

Wales

Kevin De Bruyne

Cristiano Ronaldo sheds tears of joy after Portugal’s Nations League triumph

Sajjadkk — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 02:04:55 +0000

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Mon, 2025-06-09 05:02

MUNICH: Another trophy for Cristiano Ronaldo. More records, more adulation.
The Portugal star shed tears after helping his team win the Nations League on Sunday.
Ronaldo scored to help Portugal draw level with Spain 2-2 in the final, then watched as his teammates won the penalty shootout 5-3.
“I have many titles with my clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal,” Ronaldo said. “These are tears. It’s mission accomplished and so much joy.”

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Portugal beat Spain on penalties to win Nations League

Sajjadkk — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 22:32:36 +0000

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Mon, 2025-06-09 01:23

MUNICH, Germany: Ruben Neves scored the decisive spot kick after Alvaro Morata missed as Portugal beat Spain 5-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw in Munich on Sunday to claim their second Nations League title.
Portugal twice went behind in regulation time but twice fought back to level the scores.
Martin Zubimendi took advantage of some sleepy Portugal defense to put Spain in front after 21 minutes.
The brilliant Nuno Mendes levelled things up five minutes later.

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Kings League MENA drops line-up of superstar team presidents

Arbee — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 11:46:52 +0000

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Arab News

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Sun, 2025-06-08 14:42

PARIS: Kings League, former Barcelona player Gerard Pique’s revolutionary seven-a-side football competition, is set to debut its new Middle East and North Africa league in Riyadh, in autumn 2025, under a joint venture with SURJ Sports Investment announced last week.

As SXB FC, the team led by ��Ƶn streaming sensation SHoNgxBoNg, took the field for its second game at the Kings World Cup Clubs 2025 in Paris, the first team presidents of Kings League MENA were unveiled.

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football

Brazilian star Neymar tests positive for COVID-19

rbksa — Sun, 08 Jun 2025 11:18:22 +0000

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Reuters

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Reuters

ID:

1749381285713768600

Sun, 2025-06-08 10:36

Brazil forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, his club Santos said in a statement as quoted by Brazilian media.

The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the viral infection, the Brazil Serie A side said on Saturday.

The club did not disclose how long Neymar will be out of action and did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Neymar is already ruled out of Thursday’s league match at Fortaleza through suspension.

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Turkiye rally for 2-1 win in friendly against US, who lose 3rd straight under Pochettino

Sajjadkk — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 22:44:44 +0000

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Sun, 2025-06-08 01:41

EAST HARTFORD, Connecticut: Turkiye took advantage of a sloppy defense to beat the US 2-1 in a rainy friendly on Saturday, dealing the Americans their third straight loss as Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu scored in a 2-minute, 20-second span midway through the first half.

Jack McGlynn scored 59 seconds in for the US, who were missing many regulars as coach Mauricio Pochettino revamped his roster following a dismal performance at the CONCACAF Nations League final four in March.

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International friendly soccer match

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Turkiye

US soccer

Tuchel slams England’s lack of ‘seriousness’ in win over Andorra

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 20:33:59 +0000

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1749328166879638800

Sat, 2025-06-07 23:33

BARCELONA: Thomas Tuchel slammed England’s attitude and accused them of a lack of “seriousness” during Saturday’s lacklustre 1-0 win against minnows Andorra.

Tuchel’s side were booed at the final whistle in Barcelona after Harry Kane’s 50th minute tap-in saved England from a humiliating draw with a team ranked 173rd in the world.

Although England have won all three of their World Cup qualifiers since Tuchel took charge, they have struggled to fulfil the German’s desire for a more attacking style of play.

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Italy already fear missing yet another World Cup after Norway nightmare

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 15:25:23 +0000

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Reuters

Author:

Reuters

ID:

1749298476596264000

Sat, 2025-06-07 18:25

OSLO: Italy’s World Cup qualification campaign has barely begun and already the country is worried about the shocking possibility of failing to reach the final tournament for a third consecutive time after a humiliating defeat by Norway.

Norway already had two wins under their belt in Group I before Friday’s match in Oslo, while Italy had yet to play, having been involved in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, losing out to Germany.

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Reports: Bayern agree deal with Leverkusen to take Tah to Club World Cup

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 15:18:46 +0000

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Associated Press

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1749298433586262400

Sat, 2025-06-07 18:18

MUNICH: Bayern Munich have reportedly agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen to take Germany defender Jonathan Tah to the Club World Cup.

Kicker magazine and other media outlets reported Saturday that Bayern, which had announced Tah’s signing “without a transfer fee” on May 29, have agreed to pay Leverkusen up to 4 million euros ($4.6 million) for the player to take a full part in the Club World Cup starting in the United States on June 14.

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Spain-Portugal final more than just Cristiano vs Yamal says Ronaldo

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 14:51:40 +0000

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1749300951006444700

Sat, 2025-06-07 17:49

MUNICH: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo acknowledged he was “another generation” to Spain starlet Lamine Yamal but said Sunday’s Nations League final was more than just a battle between the duo.

The final in Munich has been framed as a showdown between veteran Ronaldo, 40, one of the game’s biggest names, and 17-year-old Yamal, the most exciting young talent in world football.

Ronaldo scored the winner to send Portugal past Germany into the final and Yamal was named man-of-the-match after bagging a brace in Spain’s wild 5-4 semifinal win over France.

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Luis Henrique joins Inter Milan ahead of Club World Cup

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 13:51:36 +0000

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1749301379206594900

Sat, 2025-06-07 16:50

ROME: Brazilian winger Luis Henrique has signed for Inter Milan from Marseille becoming the Italian club’s second signing ahead of the Club World Cup in the United States.

“A new Inter player joins the family, welcome Luis,” this season’s Italian Serie A and Champions League runners-up said on Saturday.

The Brazilian, who arrived in Marseille in 2020, made 108 appearances and scored 11 goals for the French club in all competitions.

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Mbappe ‘not bitter’ about PSG’s Champions League triumph

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 10:58:45 +0000

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AFP

ID:

1749293638655916500

Sat, 2025-06-07 10:52

STUTTGART, Germany: France captain Kylian Mbappe said Saturday he is not bitter Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League the year after his departure for Real Madrid.

“I didn’t leave too soon; my story with PSG was over. I am not bitter; I had reached the end of the road,” Mbappe said in a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Nations League third place match against Germany in Stuttgart.

PSG crushed Inter Milan 5-0 to win the Champions League in Munich last Saturday, the first time the club has won the competition.

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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)

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Kylian Mbappe

Cristiano Ronaldo rules himself out of Club World Cup

rbksa — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 10:47:18 +0000

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Author:

AFP

ID:

1749292947135854600

Sat, 2025-06-07 10:38

MUNICH, Germany: Cristiano Ronaldo confirmed he would not play in the upcoming Club World Cup on Saturday, dismissing rumors he was set to transfer to one of the participating clubs.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s Nations League final against Spain in Munich, The Portugal captain said suggestions he was set to take part in the newly expanded competition were wide of the mark.

“I will not be at the Club World Cup,” the Portugal veteran said, but added he had “been contacted” by several participating teams.

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Haaland scores again as Norway crushes Italy in World Cup qualifier and Croatia cruises

Sajjadkk — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 21:47:11 +0000

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Sat, 2025-06-07 00:39

Erling Haaland scored and Norway humbled Italy 3-0 for the first time in 25 years in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup on Friday.
Haaland collected a through ball from playmaker Martin Odegaard and rounded goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the box for the third goal three minutes before halftime.
It was his 41st goal in his 42nd match for Norway to the delight of the spectators at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo, including King Harald V of Norway.

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