Cristiano Ronaldo sheds tears of joy after Portugal's Nations League triumph
MUNICH: Another trophy for Cristiano Ronaldo. More records, more adulation.
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Asharq Al-Awsat
43 minutes ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Relief for Belgium but Questions for the Defense After Dramatic Win Over Wales
There was relief for Belgium after scraping through a dramatic World Cup qualifier against Wales on Monday, but plenty for coach Rudi Garcia to ponder after a narrow 4-3 home win. Belgium had been cruising at 3-0 up inside the first half-hour of the Group J match at the King Baudouin Stadium but Wales fought back to 3-3 with 20 minutes left before Kevin De Bruyne grabbed the winner two minutes from time. "The most important thing is that we won. Psychologically it is tough to give away a three-goal lead, but we showed our mental strength," said Garcia after Belgium's second game in their qualifying group for the 2026 finals in North America. "We kept fighting. It is symbolic that Kevin of all people scored the winning goal." De Bruyne had been a key factor throughout, ghosting in at the back post to convert Youri Tielemans' cross for the winner. Tielemans, who was captain for the night, said relief was the primary emotion after the game. "We are happy with the victory, but we know that should not have happened to us," he said of the Welsh comeback. "I have no explanation for how that happened. But the craziest things can happen with the national team. "We felt we could finish the match earlier, but then we dropped off a bit. Then we conceded a goal and their confidence grew. They were simply the better team at that moment. "We had to defend together as a team, choose the right moment to react and get back into the match but we didn't do that well." Belgium conceded a late equalizer in their group opener against North Macedonia on Friday and the defense will come under more scrutiny after allowing Wales to score three. Belgium travel to Liechtenstein on Sept. 4 for their next qualifier before hosting Kazakhstan three days later.
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
Italy struggle but give sacked Spalletti winning send-off against Moldova
ITALY: Sacked Italy manager Luciano Spalletti bowed out with a victory after his side labored to an uninspired 2-0 home win over Moldova in their World Cup qualification match on Monday thanks to goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Andrea Cambiaso. Spalletti announced his own dismissal on Sunday following Italy's 3-0 loss in Norway in their opening group game on Friday, but took charge for one final time where again the performance showed why a change of leadership was required. Norway, who won 1-0 in Estonia with Erling Haaland netting the winner, top Group I on 12 points from four games, with Israel on six points after three matches while Italy are third with three points from their two games. 'I asked the guys to let me go out with a victory,' Spalletti told Sky Sport shortly before kickoff. While his players duly obliged, it was perhaps a fitting end to Spalletti's time on the bench as another lacklustre showing failed to light up a far from full Stadio Citta del Tricolore. With Italy's slow, predictable build-up play failing to break through the visitors' rearguard, the hosts were given an early wake-up call when Ion Nicolaescu found the net only for his goal to be ruled out for offside. Italy's first threat came when defender Luca Ranieri, making his international debut, hit the crossbar with a header, and they found the breakthrough five minutes before the break. A headed clearance fell to Raspadori in the box who struck first time into the bottom corner but Moldova almost levelled before halftime when Oleg Reabciuk's shot from distance was parried away by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Artur Ionita's follow-up effort went wide of the far post and Daniel Dumbravanu's header from a corner was cleared off the line by Federico Dimarco as Italy hung onto their lead. Italy doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when substitute Riccardo Orsolini sent a low cross into the area which Davide Frattesi knocked on to Cambiaso who fired past keeper Cristian Avram. The two-goal cushion failed to inspire Italy. Frattesi was sent through on goal from a ball over the top by Alessandro Bastoni but he sent his shot straight at the keeper and Moldova continued to create chances of their own. 'We struggled again tonight,' Spalletti told Rai Sport. 'When you are the coach of the national team you cannot have alibis because he chooses the players and if they don't do well he can change them.' Spalletti's name was booed by large sections of the crowd when read out before kickoff, and the game failed to improve the mood, and Italian fans will hope for better when a replacement, rumored to be Claudio Ranieri, is installed.
Arab News
11 hours ago
- Arab News
De Bruyne secures Belgium win over Wales in seven-goal thriller
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. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
