Al-Hilal captain Al-Dawsari out with Injury
Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari celebrates scoring their second goal during Saudi Pro League match against Al Orubah on May 12. PHOTO: REUTERS
Al-Hilal captain Salem Al-Dawsari will miss the remainder of the Club World Cup with a hamstring injury, the Saudi club said on Saturday.
"Medical tests have confirmed that Salem Al-Dawsari has suffered from a hamstring injury. He will be undergoing a treatment and rehabilitation program that will last between four to six weeks," Al-Hilal said in a statement via X.
This means Al-Dawsari will miss Monday's round of 16 clash against Manchester City. Al-Dawsari played a pivotal role in Al-Hilal's campaign in the club world cup, after scoring the opening goal in the team's 2-0 victory over Pachuca on Friday in the third round of the group stage.
The win against Pachuca secured the four-times Asian champions qualification for the last 16 after they finished second in Group H behind Real Madrid.
Chelsea's logistical nightmare
Chelsea are facing a logistical headache at the Club World Cup after finishing second in their group, forcing an unexpected trip to Charlotte for their last 16 match instead of staying in Miami, where the club thought they would be based for the knockout stage.
A club source told Reuters that travel, accommodation and training arrangements were all made with the assumption that the West Londoners would top Group D and play their round of 16 match at Hard Rock Stadium.
Instead, after a 3-1 loss to Brazil's Flamengo and only managing second place despite a 3-0 win over Esperance Tunis in their final group stage fixture in Philadelphia, Chelsea will now face Benfica on Saturday at the Bank of America Stadium.
The detour means reorganising bookings and schedules at short notice, but the club still intends to return to its Miami base after the match, adding more miles to an already hectic itinerary.
If Enzo Maresca's side reach the quarter-finals, they will return to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face the winner of the all-Brazilian clash between Palmeiras and Botafogo.
Players forced to give up vacation to play Club World Cup: Raphinha
Brazil's Barcelona forward Raphinha regretted that the players were not consulted about extending their season to play at the Club World Cup, adding that nobody should be obliged to give up their vacation time.
The first expanded edition of the Club World Cup started on June 14 and will run until July 13.
The competition followed the European league season which concluded in late May and an international window at the beginning of June.
"Speaking particularly as someone who plays for a European team, we would (currently) be on vacation," Raphinha said. "Marquinhos and Beraldo, from Paris St Germain, won the Champions League and didn't even get to celebrate properly. They came to the national team and then went to the Club World Cup. They still haven't stopped.
"Many say that this is an excuse. It may or may not be, but having to give up our vacations out of obligation is very complicated. It's our right.
Everyone deserves at least a month of vacation. And many of them won't get it."
Most of the major European leagues will be back in action in mid to late August, with the pre-seasons starting early in the month. "If PSG reach the Club World Cup final, they will have the Super Cup right away. It doesn't stop," Raphinha added.
"It depends on your point of view. From my point of view, it's very bad to give up your vacation to play something that you are forced to do. At no point did they ask the players if they wanted to. "It (should be) up to us to accept it. Having to give up your vacation to play in a new tournament is very complicated."
PSG will face Tottenham Hotspur for the Super Cup on August 13.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Chelsea overcome CWC weather delay
Pedro Neto celebrates scoring Chelsea's third goal as they beat Benfica 4-1 after extra time at the Club World Cup on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP Chelsea beat Benfica in a game which went on for close to five hours at the Club World Cup on Saturday to set up a quarter-final showdown with Brazilian side Palmeiras at the tournament in the United States. The London club were grateful to extra-time goals by Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to give them a 4-1 victory over Benfica. Their late burst of scoring settled a last-16 tie which took four hours, 39 minutes to complete at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina after a near two-hour weather delay. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was left satisfied with his team's victory but slammed the delay that turned the tie into a near five-hour marathon. "I think it's a joke, it's not football," Maresca said. "For 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We created enough chances to win the game. Then after the break, the game changed — for me personally, it's not football." Earlier, Chelsea had been seemingly poised for victory after Reece James' opportunistic second-half free-kick had left them 1-0 up with four minutes of regulation time remaining. But just as Chelsea began to think about their quarter-final assignment, the arrival of a storm over Charlotte triggered local safety protocols which required the game to be halted. It marked the sixth occasion during the Club World Cup that a game has been disrupted by a weather warning. When play resumed just under two hours later, a revitalised Benfica grabbed an injury-time equaliser after Chelsea substitute Malo Gusto was adjudged to have handled in the penalty area following an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee. Benfica's Argentine veteran Angel Di Maria stepped up to roll in an ice-cold penalty, sending the game into extra time. An end-to-end first half of extra time saw Benfica, reduced to 10 men following Gianluca Prestianni's second yellow card at the end of regulation, threaten to take the lead as they chased an improbable victory. But instead it was Nkunku who fired Chelsea back in front, the French international bundling in from close range after Moises Caicedo's low shot squirted underneath Benfica goalkeeper Antoliy Trubin. As the game opened up, Benfica were increasingly vulnerable on the counter-attack and Chelsea pounced. Neto made it 3-1 with a nerveless finish after going clean through on goal in the 114th minute, and three minutes later Dewsbury-Hall completed the rout to send Chelsea through to the last eight. They will now return to Philadelphia, where they played two games in the group stage, to play Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on Friday. The Brazilian club were grateful to an extra-time winner by substitute Paulinho as they edged domestic rivals Botafogo 1-0 in a battle of attrition earlier Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The winger came on at the same time in the second half as Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira withdrew teenage sensation Estevao Willian, a move that appeared baffling in the moment but ultimately proved inspired. The tie had reached the 100th minute without a goal when Paulinho collected a pass by Richard Rios on the right flank and was afforded the time and space to come inside into the box before slotting a low shot into the far corner. That sparked wild celebrations among the Palmeiras fans who made up the vast majority of the 33,657 crowd, and the side from Sao Paulo held on to win the tie despite having captain Gustavo Gomez sent off late on. "That is why he came, so he could play for long enough to decide a game. He is going to have to stop again after the tournament," Ferreira said of Paulinho, who has struggled with injury since signing for Palmeiras at the start of the year. Winners of the Copa Libertadores in 2020 and 2021, Palmeiras will now hope to match the feat of their Brazilian rivals Flamengo, who defeated Chelsea during the group stage. The last-16 action continues on Sunday when European champions Paris Saint-Germain take on Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in Atlanta. Later on Bayern Munich face Flamengo in Miami.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Master meets maestro as Luis Enrique prepares PSG for Messi challenge
Paris St Germain coach Luis Enrique will face former protege Lionel Messi on Sunday in a Club World Cup clash at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium that pits the European champions against Inter Miami's team of former Barcelona veterans. The 54-year-old Spaniard, who led PSG to the Champions League crown in May, will now be tasked with confronting the same player who helped him secure nine major titles during their distinguished three-year association at Barcelona. 'I had the chance to coach Leo Messi at the peak of his game. But his peak has actually lasted 10–15 years or more,' Enrique told reporters on Saturday. 'That's why I'd say he's the best football player in history… I had the chance to win every possible title with him at Barcelona.' However, the PSG coach warned there is more to Inter Miami than just Messi. 'There's no doubt whatsoever that they have the right skills and quality,' he added, noting that the American side's lineup features former Barcelona players Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. Asked about neutralising the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Enrique stressed a collective approach. 'If we want to stop Leo Messi, we can't rely on just one player because we'll be dead. We need collective defence, he can dribble past any player.' Despite being favourites, PSG remain driven after lifting the Champions League trophy. 'We just won the Champions League, but we're thirsty and eager to keep showing that there's room for improvement,' he said. 'What better place to do so than here in this amazing stadium, facing a team that includes Messi?' mascherano ready for challenge Luis Enrique also highlighted the involvement of former mentee Javier Mascherano as the opposing coach. 'He has everything it takes to become a top coach. I'm not surprised because I knew Mascherano very well as a player. He has been ready for a long time,' he said. Mascherano acknowledged the scale of the task facing PSG. 'We are not naive and we know that we are the weaker team, but that doesn't mean that they will kill us beforehand. We will fight,' the Argentine manager told reporters. Chelsea boss lashes out at Club World Cup organisers after yet another weather delay 'The challenge tomorrow is to test ourselves against the best team in the world. We know how difficult the match will be.' The knockout encounter represents a significant test for both sides, with PSG seeking to add global honours to their European success while Inter Miami aim to prove themselves against elite opposition.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Vega's strike, Madu's own goal send Mexico to semis with 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia
Alexis Vega's strike just after the break and an own goal by Abdullah Madu secured a 2-0 victory for Mexico over Saudi Arabia in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, setting up a clash with Honduras in the last four. Fulham forward Raul Jimenez's quick through ball set up Vega's sprint into the box, and although keeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi blocked the first attempt, the Toluca striker found the target from the rebound, putting the 12-time champions ahead in the 49th minute. Tournament debutants Saudi Arabia had done well to stay even in the first half, with Ali Majrashi's overhead kick clearing Roberto Alvarado's dangerous ball and Vega shooting wide off a cross from Gilberto Mora, who became the youngest to play for Mexico at 16. Al-Hilal Captain Al-Dawsari Out of Club World Cup with Hamstring Injury But Matteo Chavez's cross from the left took a deflection off defender Madu and went into the net in the 81st minute, ending Saudi Arabia's hopes of making a comeback and ensuring Mexico's progress to Wednesday's semi-finals.
