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Donnarumma warns PSG 'hungry' for more success at Club World Cup

Donnarumma warns PSG 'hungry' for more success at Club World Cup

France 2420 hours ago

The French giants launched their Group B campaign in impressive style on Sunday, sweeping aside Atletico Madrid 4-0 at the Pasadena Rose Bowl.
The victory marked a seamless entrance to the tournament for PSG, a little over two weeks after their 5-0 drubbing of Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League final.
Italy's Donnarumma said the team were intently focused on winning a fifth piece of silverware this season after starting the tournament "the same way we finished" the Champions League.
"The Club World Cup is a very important competition for us, we must continue to remain 100 percent focused to reach the final and the trophy," the goalkeeper told reporters ahead of Thursday's clash with Botafogo at the Rose Bowl.
"Everyone is hungry for victories, to win titles; it's important for now and for next year," he added after training at the University of California.
Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz said that PSG were comfortable with being tournament favourites.
"It's positive if everyone is talking about us, isn't it?" he said.
"For our game, what we're doing. But we don't feel that pressure, we don't think about that, but rather about the next match."
PSG's opponents Botafogo reached the Club World Cup by winning the Copa Libertadores for the first time in 2024.
The Brazilian side opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.
PSG's Portugal international striker Goncalo Ramos said Botafogo were an unknown quantity.
"I know them a little, I know the coach, but I don't watch many of their matches because they play late. But they're a good team, it's different for us to play against a team from Brazil," Ramos said.
After Thursday's game at the Rose Bowl, PSG will travel north to Seattle for their final group match against the Sounders on Monday.

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Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup
Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup

France 24

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  • France 24

Jorginho gunning for old side Chelsea with Flamengo at Club World Cup

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Chelsea boss Maresca 'trusts' Mudryk after doping charge
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Chelsea boss Maresca 'trusts' Mudryk after doping charge

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Mahuchikh, Holloway headline Paris Diamond League
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France 24

time7 hours ago

  • France 24

Mahuchikh, Holloway headline Paris Diamond League

Here, AFP Sport looks at four stand-out disciplines at the eighth meeting of the 15-event Diamond League circuit at the Stade Charlety: Women's high jump Mahuchikh has conquered the world of high jumping at the age of 23. The world and Olympic champion set the current world record of 2.10 metres at last year's Diamond League meet in Paris. It was a jump that erased the legendary world record of 2.09m set by Bulgarian Stefka Kostadinova at the worlds in Rome way back in 1987 "I don't like the world 'pressure'," said the Ukrainian, adding that her coach insisted she focus on herself and jumping technique. "It's so exciting to jump here again after the world record, I want to do my best and give a memory to spectators on Friday." Mahuchikh, looking ahead to the worlds, added: "Every Diamond League and every competition now shows what we did, what we should do better, and get in better shape for the season. "I think something special is coming." Also vying to top the podium will be the Australian pair of Eleanor Patterson and Nicola Olyslagers, a two-time world indoor champion who has won twice in Paris (2021, 2023) and beat Mahuchikh in Stockholm last weekend. Men's 110m hurdles US star Grant Holloway makes his return to the track after flopping in the opening Diamond League meet in China. Holloway finished last after leading for much of his race but losing momentum disastrously after the eighth hurdle. The three-time world champion and Olympic gold medallist trailed across the line in 13.72sec, way behind fellow American Cordell Tinch. "Everybody wants to win every track meet they go to," Holloway said. "But you've got to be able to give and take. "The ultimate goal is definitely the world championships in Tokyo." Back competing, he added, would allow him to "re-evaluate and attack and do the same thing again". Tinch is absent from the French capital, but Holloway will feel the heat from compatriots Trey Cunningham and Freddie Crittenden, Japan's Rashid Muratake, and the French trio of Wilhem Belocian, Just Kwaou-Mathey and Sasha Zhoya. Women's 400m Dominican Republic's Marileidy Paulino tops the field for the women's 400m, and will be up against a strong field including last summer's runner-up, Bahraini Salwa Eid Naser, and Dutch athlete Lieke Klaver. Paulino, gold medallist at last year's Paris Olympics and the 2023 worlds in Budapest, has been the star of the show for the past two years. She won the one-lap race in Paris meets in 2023 and 2024. However, it is Eid Naser, world champion in 2019 and victor at Charlety in 2018, who has set the standard this term thanks to a time of 48.67sec in Kingston. "I believe I can continue to be the star of the show," Paulino said. "I've worked hard to be strong and in track, fans like the show, and between me and Salwa we're capable of putting on a show. "It's been a packed season, preparing for the worlds, that's the focus." Men's 3000m steeplechase Ethiopia's Lamecha Girma lit up the 2023 edition of the Meeting de Paris by smashing the previous world record (7:52.11). There was disaster at the Paris Olympics, however, after Girma fell heavily in the last lap of the Stade de France track. "I'm very happy to be able to come back here," said Girma. "Paris is like my home! "After falling in Paris, the feeling was very bad and my head hurt for a long time. It took some months to return to training. "I'm happy to be healthy and back competing." Morocco's Sofiane El Bakkali is the two-time Olympic steeplechase champion. He will also be at Charlety, but this time around he'll be lining up for the 5,000m, alongside the Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha, who boasts no fewer than 10 Diamond League victories. © 2025 AFP

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