A Ukrainian drone attack has destroyed more than 40 Russian planes
02:40
01/06/2025
Macron hosts European Champions PSG at Elysée Palace and delivers speech
Europe
01/06/2025
Ukraine is conducting an operation against military aviation in Russia
Europe
01/06/2025
PSG fans play tribute to Luis Enrique and his daughter Xana in Munich
Europe
01/06/2025
PSG parade on the Champs-Elysées: The fans are over the moon
Europe
01/06/2025
Polls begin voting for new president in pivotal runoff election
Europe
01/06/2025
PSG win first Champions League title: 'Doué will go very far in his career'
Europe
01/06/2025
Russia: Two bridges collapse in overnight 'blasts', 7 people died
Europe
01/06/2025
How Luis Enrique stripped PSG of their stars, and made them better
Europe
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France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Zico warns Japan players not to follow Brazilians into transfer trap
The midfield legend ended his playing career in Japan after helping to launch the professional J. League in 1993 and he also coached the country's national team from 2002 to 2006. He maintains a connection to Japan as an adviser to Kashima Antlers, the club he helped build into the country's most successful and where he has served as a player, coach and technical director for the past 30 years. During that time, Zico has seen Japan grow from football backwater to regular World Cup participant, with players thriving at some of Europe's biggest clubs. The 72-year-old says Japanese players looking beyond the J. League is a "positive" development -- as long as they move at the right time. He draws similarities with Brazil, where he says some players leave for Europe after only a handful of games in the domestic league. "Brazilian players go to Europe too soon, losing their Brazilian roots. If a player isn't resilient, they come back because they haven't achieved their full potential there," Zico told AFP in Kashima. "They leave very early, they don't play and that's happened in Germany, it's happened in Italy, it's happened in many places. "That's what's happening to many Japanese players -- they go there too early, lack confidence and then they come back." Zico says the trend is still overwhelmingly beneficial for Japan. He contrasts the situation to the early days of the J. League, when European clubs would sign Japanese players "for marketing reasons". Zico says the current picture is also different from his time as Japan coach, during which he won the 2004 Asian Cup and took the team to the 2006 World Cup. "We had some players in Europe but they would get half an hour, five minutes, 15 minutes in games -- they weren't starters like they are today, that's the big difference," he said. "So when they came back to play for the national team they didn't bring the same playing rhythm that they have today." 'Like my son' Zico was one of several international stars drafted in to help the launch of the J. League, which brought professional football to Japan for the first time. The Brazilian, along with England's Gary Lineker and Germany's Pierre Littbarski, raised the new league's profile and helped football take root in a country long obsessed with baseball. High-profile signings are now rare in the J. League, with Spanish World Cup winner Andres Iniesta's move to Vissel Kobe in 2018 a notable exception. Zico believes it was "not a coincidence" that Kobe won two straight J. League titles after Iniesta left the club in 2023. "It's an investment. Having a player of Iniesta's level at your club motivates everyone," he said. "You learn because he's a winner, it improves the performance of the other players and it motivates the supporters. Everything grows." Kashima currently top the J. League, even if the days when they could sign Brazilian World Cup winners like Jorginho and Leonardo are long gone. Zico joined the club when they were in the semi-professional second division and they have since won the J. League a record eight times and the Asian Champions League once. Zico visits Kashima regularly to interact with fans and sponsors, as well as working with the club's youth section. He says the club is "like my son". "I watched it being born, grow and become what it is now," he said. "We have been able to take my experience in professional football and put it into practice here. "A son is like that -- you educate him and watch him go through life." © 2025 AFP
France 24
5 hours ago
- France 24
South Korea on cusp, Uzbeks eye historic World Cup spot
Japan and Iran have already sealed their berths at the tournament next year in the United States, Canada and Mexico. South Korea are guaranteed to join them on Thursday if they avoid defeat against Iraq in Basra. Even if they lose, they will have another opportunity at home to Kuwait next Tuesday in Group B. South Korea and Spurs captain Son did not have his best club season but the 32-year-old attacker finished it off by lifting the Europa League trophy. Attacking midfielder Lee on Saturday collected a Champions League winner's medal with Paris Saint-Germain after they thrashed Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich, although he remained on the bench for the final. South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo suggested he could use Son sparingly at the end of a long campaign in which the country's talisman has struggled for form and fitness. "Since we have two matches coming up, I will not push him too hard," said Hong, who believes Son will have a role to play even if he does not feature against an Iraq side now coached by former Australia boss Graham Arnold. "We will probably play in a hostile environment in front of partisan fans," Hong said. "We have some players who have had experience playing in these situations." China in deep trouble Japan were the first country to qualify for North America after running away with Group C. With the top two from the three Asian groups automatically qualifying, second-placed Australia are in pole position to go through with Japan with two match days left. The Socceroos host Japan in Perth on Thursday knowing that if they win and third-placed Saudi Arabia fail to do the same at Bahrain, they will qualify. Most likely however qualification will go down to the final round of matches on Tuesday when Australia travel to Saudi Arabia for a winner-takes-all blockbuster. "We've put ourselves in a good position within the group to be in control of our destiny," said coach Tony Popovic, who took over the Socceroos in September following Arnold's resignation. Indonesia are still mathematically in the running for an automatic place out of Group C, four points behind Australia and one behind the Saudis. Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia host China in Jakarta on Thursday followed by a trip to Japan. China's World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread at the bottom of the group. Even if teams do not finish in the top two of their pool, their World Cup hopes are not over. Third and fourth go into a further round of Asian qualifying. In Group A, where Iran have already qualified, Uzbekistan are on the cusp of their first World Cup. Avoid defeat to third-placed United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi and the Central Asian country will make history. For Asian champions Qatar, the best they can hope for is to come third or fourth and go into the next qualifying round. They host Iran before travelling to Uzbekistan and will be coached for the first time by former West Ham United, Real Madrid and Spain boss Julen Lopetegui. © 2025 AFP
France 24
13 hours ago
- France 24
Who said what: French Open day 9
"I would not believe that if you told me that two weeks ago. But I trust in myself, but yeah, for sure, if you say that, no, I can't believe (it). Now it's that, and I'm so happy about it." -- French wildcard Lois Boisson on whether she could have dreamt of being in the quarter-finals after her shock victory over third seed Jessica Pegula. "I don't really watch football, and I don't really know things about football, so no, it's okay for me if I don't see him, because I will not know what (to) ask about him. Yeah, they won two days ago, and it's unbelievable for the French." -- Boisson on whether she wanted to meet Ousmane Dembele after the Paris Saint-Germain forward presented the Champions League trophy to the Roland Garros crowd. "Novak Djokovic will never be a black horse. For me, Carlos (Alcaraz) is the favourite. I have said that before. Then I would say the next three in line are Jannik, myself, and Novak, right? I still believe that. I still believe on tennis and on experience Novak is up there with us, no question about that at all." -- Alexander Zverev after setting up a quarter-final against Novak Djokovic. "It's been an amazing season for PSG, congratulations to all Parisians... It was very important for this city, this country... PSG to be Champions League winners for the first time. It was a bit complicated to get back to the hotel afterwards, and when I say complicated, I'm being nice." -- Djokovic on his Sunday trip back from the Parc des Princes, where he watched PSG celebrate their Champions League triumph. "I mean, it is true. I'm not going to argue with that. Most people do say I'm mature. I don't know. I feel like maybe just playing tennis it forces you to grow up faster for some people. Maybe not him (Frances Tiafoe). But yeah." -- Coco Gauff on being described by compatriot Frances Tiafoe as 'Little Miss Mature'. "Thank you guys. I can't cry here, come on, stop. Let me be in peace. I still have a match to go, I'm a professional tennis player, I've got to get ready." -- Alexander Bublik after reaching his maiden Grand Slam quarter-final with a surprise win over Jack Draper. "To lose to a friend is not that bad. Honestly, as I said before, on the tennis court for me it's fine. Playing a friend, I don't feel additional pressure or feeling uncomfortable or something." -- Daria Kasatkina after her loss to regular practice partner Mirra Andreeva. "He's just way too good of an opponent to beat. He's already very tough to beat when you are healthy, when you are fit. So when you are injured, it doesn't get any easier." -- Tallon Griekspoor after retiring injured from his match against Zverev. "I hope I'm going to win it all." -- World number 361 Boisson is not done yet.
