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Live updates: Saudi Arabia vs Socceroos, FIFA World Cup qualifier in Jeddah

Live updates: Saudi Arabia vs Socceroos, FIFA World Cup qualifier in Jeddah

The Socceroos need only to avoid a catastrophic defeat against Saudi Arabia in Jeddah to qualify automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Follow all the action from the King Abdullah Sport City, Jeddah, in our live blog or listen to live radio coverage.

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Shayne O'Cass' tips, race-by-race analysis for 2025 Winter Cup Day at Rosehill Gardens
Shayne O'Cass' tips, race-by-race analysis for 2025 Winter Cup Day at Rosehill Gardens

News.com.au

time29 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Shayne O'Cass' tips, race-by-race analysis for 2025 Winter Cup Day at Rosehill Gardens

Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses Saturday's 10-race card at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! â– â– â– â– â– Reckoning on the blinkers will be a big help to ARISTOCRAT (9). His two runs have been infinitely better than they read on paper and they actually don't read too bad as it is given the performance and potential and those around him like Agarwood and Providence, not to mentioned Regulated Affair. The Kermadec son, STATE OPERA (13), was $151 into $34 at one point on debut and ran more like a $34 shot than a $151 pop. He was coming again on the line in that midweeker at Warwick Farm. At home this time. Bet: Aristocrat to win, State Opera each-way â– â– â– â– â– RED RAG TO BULLS (18) has done more good than bad in nine starts (eight if you scrub the Failed to Finish at Scone first-up). Beat a subsequent winner, easily, 11 days ago. In a good place. SUPER NORWEST (6) is a Highway veteran. His record in the Highways is 10 goes; one win, three seconds and a third. This is not the hardest one he's run in either. Last week's Highway winning trainer Luke Pepper has HELL OF A FOX (5) aiming for four on the bounce. â– â– â– â– â– RACE 3: MIDWAY HANDICAP 1200m SILENTSAR (2) has some very deep form dating all the way back to his two-year-old days. He was second to Koshu at start two, fifth to Osipneko and Madam Pommery after that. First-up numbers read well as do his numbers at the track and the trip. Trialled well alongside World Alliance the other day. THE EXTREME CAT (4) was '00' in two runs in March and April but there were the Provincial Qualifier Heat and Wildcard. Still was pretty awful to be honest but the trial on May 7 was anything but. This looks well within the capabilities of EVERYONE'S A STAR (9). Bet: Silentsar to win â– â– â– â– â– CARRAZANA (9) looked like he could turn out to be another good horse for Waller, Morgan and Devine after his first two runs. There looks like there have been a few behind the scenes issues with this classically-bred now four-year-old gelding. Given where he is at in terms of absenteeism from racing, the market will say yeah or nay. Ditto that last bit for PRETTY POWERFUL (10). Form's there for all to see, but how about this breeding buffs; her dam threw 10 foals, all of them raced, all of them won and half of them won stakes races. Bet: Carrazana to place â– â– â– â– â– CODETTA (2) is a very valuable horse given she is a Nicconi half-sister to Riff Rocket. This Debbie Kepitis-owned three-year-old has run eight times for Michael Freedman, winning three and finishing runner-up three. She was $8.50 into $5.50 first-up and only needed another 50 or 100m and she beats King's Secret (who runs here also). USEAPIN (13) has raced three times first-up. One of them was a win and the other two were actually very good runs behind More Territories and then Aleiana. Bet: Codetta to win, Usapin each-way â– â– â– â– â– AGITA (13), I've said it before and say it every time, shaped as a Derby horse early on for AJC Derby-winning trainer David Payne but for one (good) reason or another, never got the opportunity. Here is now, first-up, at home over 1500m with 54.5kg. There's four good reasons why he can and there is no good reason why he can't. The $8 the place looks good value. CHICA MOJITO (2) has won one from 18 but the fact that she has placed eight times makes her $3.10 place price somewhat appealing. Bet: Agita each-way, Chica Mojota to place â– â– â– â– â– RACE 7: CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA HANDICAP 1300m TESTATOR SILENS (1) has finished sixth in both runs this preparation and in quite solid company (Dragonstone, In Flight, Storm The Ramparts, etc). His last 150m in both were eye-catching to put it mildly. Loves Rosehill. SNACK BAR (11) has raced at Rosehill three times for a third to Autumn Glow, third to Lady Shenandoah and fifth in the Tapp-Craig. Drawn to get every chance. UNSTOPABULL (7) is close to a peak. HIGH BLUE SEA (4) trialled well. Bet: Testator Silens each-way, quinella 1, 11, box trifecta 1, 4, 7, 11 â– â– â– â– â– Context time. I was a bit keen on MORMONA (9) in the Lord Mayors Cup here two weeks ago. The grey was rock solid at $41 and ended up running seventh of 14 beaten six lengths, keeping in mind that Touristic won by two lengths. This grey from France is a quality stayer and is crying out for 2400m (and more). Clearly TOURISTIC (3) is easy to like and hard to knock. Respect market on CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (1). Bet: Mormona each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 9, 2nd Leg 13 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 9: TAB HANDICAP 2000m KIND WORDS (10) has been the 'next time' horse in, and after, every one of her six runs this time in but just hasn't converted yet. To be fair to the mare, she went close at Scone on Dark Jewel Day and barriers have played their part too. Very fit and maybe 2000m does the trick. Sounds odd to say a 13th of 14 was 'good', okay maybe not 'good' but the run of LENAPE VIBE (15) here a fortnight ago was passable given that was 1500m and this is 2000m which is more her go. Bet: Kind Words, Lenape Vibe each-way â– â– â– â– â– MISS JENNIFER (13) is a big time blue blood. Her fourth dam is Toltrice who was a champion on the track and a broodmare gem in the breeding shed. As for Miss Jennifer herself, she is one of those horses that is very much reliant on outside factors given her slow early/fast late pattern but it when the stars align - boom. Ditto all that for TOTOKA (12) only double. Don't know if she'll be winning but I bet she'll challenge for the fastest last 400m on the whole card.

Alonso's new-look Real Madrid aiming for Club World Cup glory
Alonso's new-look Real Madrid aiming for Club World Cup glory

News.com.au

time32 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Alonso's new-look Real Madrid aiming for Club World Cup glory

After Real Madrid's hopes of major silverware this season faded the Club World Cup took on far greater importance for them and it will provide an insight into new coach Xabi Alonso's strategy. The 43-year-old Spaniard, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, along with new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen add a fresh look to a team that emerged battered and bruised from a domestic season dominated by bitter rivals Barcelona. Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Alonso may deploy his favoured 3-4-3 formation which would give England international Alexander-Arnold an important role on the right flank. Recent Spain debutant Huijsen also bolsters a back-line which has been badly hit by injuries this season. Madrid still have several players sidelined, including Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga, but some may be able to make their return during the tournament. Midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to have shoulder surgery after Real's participation ends which they hope is after they have been crowned champions. Their title ambitions is why they paid a reported £10 million ($13.5 million) to sign Alexander-Arnold early, his Liverpool contract was due to end on June 30. In Group H Real Madrid's campaign begins against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami, before facing Mexican outfit Pachuca in Charlotte on June 22. Alonso's team then face Austria's RB Salzburg in Philadelphia on June 26 in their final group game. Al-Hilal may be a tougher proposition than many expect, having recently appointed Simone Inzaghi as coach after he guided Inter Milan to the Champions League final. With a squad full of well-known names, including Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly, Al-Hilal will believe in their chances of causing an upset. Pachuca have former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon leading the line but are seen as the weakest team in the group. Madrid beat them 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup last December, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior all on target. Real also thrashed Salzburg 5-1 in January in the Champions League group phase, although the record 15-time winners were dumped out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals. - 'Ambitious' play - Ancelotti suggested a year ago that top clubs including Madrid would skip the Club World Cup, but was forced to backtrack, and with the winners bagging as much as $135 million, victory is important to the Spanish giants. After Barcelona reclaimed La Liga on the way to wrapping up a domestic treble, beating Madrid four times in the process, Madrid would also welcome some sporting success to raise morale and increase belief before the new campaign. Some of the same problems that Ancelotti could not solve are in Alonso's in-tray and the Club World Cup is the first chance for him to answer them. The Italian complained about a lack of balance because of the top-heavy attack, and Alonso has already suggested Bellingham will be used in a deeper role than previously. A classy midfielder at Madrid and Liverpool in his playing days, Alonso must find a way of playing both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe without causing Madrid too many problems at the back. "We have to get everything we can out of them -- I have ideas," said Alonso earlier this month. "I am thinking about how to make a balanced team... (and create) a stability that will allow individual qualities to flourish." Madrid's football was often criticised under Ancelotti, to the Italian's chagrin, and Alonso said he wants his team to excite the fans. "We want an ambitious and active game, knowing how to take the initiative, and we have the players for it," he added. "I want a team that transmits emotion, energy, ambitious play and connects with the fans." Alexander-Arnold's supreme passing range may help Madrid overcome the absence of Toni Kroos, who left last summer, while Croatian veteran Luka Modric is playing his final matches for the club before departing. Leaving with a trophy would be an appropriate farewell for one of the game's modern greats, while record 15-time European Cup winners Madrid would also take pride in being the first team to win the expanded Club World Cup.

Australia v South Africa World Test Championship Final Day 2 Live Scores
Australia v South Africa World Test Championship Final Day 2 Live Scores

News.com.au

time42 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Australia v South Africa World Test Championship Final Day 2 Live Scores

Beau Webster has made a statement at Lord's that even when Cameron Green returns to bowling he will be hard to dislodge from the Australian top six. The Tasmanian's 72 – just like his half century on debut in Sydney against India – could be the difference between the two teams in the WTC Final. Webster is a smart and mature cricketer who is not overawed by the Test arena and after four Tests he is making a habit of match-defining contributions – just as he did for Tassie in the Shield. Kagiso Rabada was all over Webster like a rash early in his innings, but after he got a life on 8 when he should have been out lbw if only South Africa had reviewed, the all-rounder flicked a switch with his game. It was a lesson to other Australian batsmen about being proactive as South Africa were left to lament letting the slug from snug find a way. 'It was a bit annoying. He didn't start off too well there. It looked like he was going to get out any ball but I guess his positive intent got him through,' Rabada said. 'Cricket's a funny game. That's just how it goes sometimes.' But the thing with Webster is more often than not, it seems to go his way. Many are predicting that Green's return for bowling in the Ashes could spell the end for Webster, but this would be selling his ability and cricket smarts criminally short. Imagine the flexibility in this Australian side if there were two all-rounders in the top six? There were fears that the Shield might be Webster's ceiling but he has simply transferred his nous in the domestic game to the highest level. The simplicity impressed his batting partner Steve Smith. 'He's done a terrific job. I think he was pretty annoyed at his first 30 balls today. He didn't feel like he could spell bat for a little bit there,' Smith said. 'But things can turn around really quickly in England and I think playing in England actually suits him the way he scores his runs. 'He scores really square of the wicket so when the ball is swinging around it suits him. He gets it on the top of the bounce being tall and like I said he defends nice and straight and scores really square which I think is a good trait in England.'

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