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Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Deschamps: Changes allow France to stake claim for World Cup spot
PA Media/DPA London France coach Didier Deschamps hopes the changes enforced on him for the Nations League third-place play-off against hosts Germany on Sunday will allow others a chance to stake their claim for the World Cup campaign. Already missing several regulars from the squad, Les Bleus saw Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Clement Lenglet all sustain injuries following Thursday night's thrilling 5-4 defeat by Spain in Stuttgart and released back to their clubs. Deschamps decided against calling up any late replacements, so the likes of Lyon winger Rayan Cherki - who impressed off the bench against Spain with a fine debut goal - could be handed another opportunity. 'As a result of having very little time, I will be forced to make a lot of changes,' Deschamps told a press conference ahead of Sunday's game, which will also be held at Stuttgart's MHPArena. 'There will be a chance to give game time to certain players. After all, it is an international encounter, against Germany and we will be doing our best to win. 'Once the players are on the pitch, they will all want to give their all to win. It will be an opportunity for me and my staff to take certain things into consideration.' Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is again expected to be deployed in the number nine role. With Paris St Germain frontman Dembele unavailable, the spotlight will again be on the 26-year-old to lead by example. 'Being a number nine at club level and international level isn't the same thing. I think it's a domain in which I have improved, because it's not necessarily a position I've played in before,' Mbappe said. 'Everything in football is a little unpredictable - I am trying to equip myself with the best tools possible to play in this position.' Mbappe feels France have enough strength in depth to test Germany, who were edged out by Portugal in their semi-final. 'This is a new side and there are a lot of players with less than 30 caps. It is a team that we are having to reconstruct,' he said. 'It is a team that has to create its own reputation. It can't ride on the reputation of teams that have gone before us, that is where the challenge is. 'There is a lot of talent in this team and we can achieve great things. 'We have to continue working as hard as possible to arrive at that World Cup with as much conviction as possible.'
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Carnival atmosphere in Paris after Champions League success
PAMedia/DPA London Thousands of fans lined the Champs-Élysées on Sunday as Paris St Germain celebrated their Champions League triumph. PSG brought the trophy back to Paris for the first time after thrashing Inter Milan 5-0 in Munich on Saturday night - the record margin of victory in a Champions League final. The number of fans on the Champs-Élysées was limited to 100,000 after violence marred PSG's stunning victory. Two people died and the French interior ministry reported 559 arrests were made across France during the celebrations. But there was a carnival atmosphere in Paris as fans waved flags, lit flares and belted out the Queen anthem 'We Are The Champions.' An open top double-decker bus in the PSG colours of blue, red and white, with the words 'Champions D'Europe' written on it, made its way slowly down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe. PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi, chairman of club owners Qatar Sports Investments, and head coach Luis Enrique - who won the Champions League in 2015 with Barcelona and became the seventh manager to lift the trophy with two different clubs - led the celebrations. The trophy was passed down the bus to every player, who were proudly wearing their winner's medals. Defender Presnel Kimpembe grabbed the microphone to sing 'Ici c'est Paris!' (This is Paris) and captain Marquinhos urged FIFA to reward Ousmane Dembele by saying 'Ousmane, Ballon d'Or.' France forward Dembele scored eight goals in PSG's European campaign and was named by UEFA as the best player in this season's Champions League. After the parade, the players and staff were received at the Élysée Palace by French President Emmanuel Macron. The celebrations concluded at the Parc des Princes on Sunday evening with a trophy presentation in front of the club's season ticket holders.
Qatar Tribune
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Sinner braced for hostile crowd in Roland Garros opener
PA Media/DPA London Jannik Sinner is braced for a 'different' reception from the crowd at the French Open. The Italian world number one returned from his three-month doping ban to a hero's welcome on home soil in Rome last week. But Sinner does not expect the Roland Garros crowd to be quite so cordial when he takes on Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech in round one. 'It's definitely going to be different. I know that,' he said. 'But I don't think they have something against me, no? 'It's right that they support the players who are from here, who are local here. It's the same when I play against an American player in the US Open. 'So it's normal. You know, I got an amazing atmosphere in Rome because I'm Italian. It's right that the player who plays in this city or country, that they got more support. 'Last year I played against some French players here. So I know a little bit what to expect. It's a different moment because whatever happened happened. So let's see.' Sinner reached the final in Rome, thrashing Madrid winner Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 on the way, before losing to Carlos Alcaraz. 'For sure it was great, after three months, coming back and making the final,' he added. 'We have seen a couple of things where I can improve, and grand slams are just different. You have to be mentally ready, physically too, trying to use the right energy. It's all about being consistent and solid. Let's see if I can do that.' Alcaraz, the second seed, begins his title defence with a first meeting against Kei Nishikori, the 35-year-old former world number four. 'I watched him play a lot when I was young,' said the Spaniard, 22. 'I was really happy when he came back again on tour. 'I know that he has been struggling physically in the last year, a lot of injuries that kept him away from playing for a bit. 'I know when he plays good tennis, he's really tough to beat. So I have to be ready for that, for the first round. I'm excited to play against a legend like Nishikori.'
Qatar Tribune
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Murray and Djokovic ‘will no longer be working together'
PA Media/DPA London Andy Murray's partnership with Novak Djokovic has come to an end after the pair announced they would no longer be working together. Djokovic shocked the tennis world in November when he revealed he had hired his former rival to lead his off-court team. But six months later the arrangement has come to an end, with Murray thanking the Serbian for the 'unbelievable opportunity'. The PA news agency understands it was a mutual decision, with Djokovic having endured a difficult first part of the season, including losing his first match at his last two tournaments. Murray said: 'Thanks to Novak for the unbelievable opportunity to work together and thanks to his team for all their hard work over the past six months. I wish Novak all the best for the rest of the season.' Their partnership began well, with Djokovic defeating Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, only to be forced to retire during his semi-final against Alexander Zverev through injury, but success has been hard to come by since. Djokovic added: 'Thank you, coach Andy, for all the hard work, fun and support over last six months on and off the court, really enjoyed deepening our friendship together.' Murray admitted at the Australian Open he had not wanted to jump straight into coaching following his retirement last summer but Djokovic's offer proved too tempting to turn down. Unsurprisingly, the Scot enjoyed the tactical part of the job, and did not find sitting on the sidelines uncomfortable, but revealed the role was more demanding than he had expected. Djokovic was glowing in his praise of the impact Murray had had, and it was announced in February that they would continue to work together for the big hard-court events in Indian Wells and Miami and some clay-court events. It was anticipated that would include the French Open, while Murray's success at Wimbledon made that a logical choice, too, but the arrangement has now run its course. Djokovic, whose only title since 2023 came at the Olympics last summer, reached the final in Miami but that was an exception, with early defeats following in Monte Carlo and Madrid. Speaking in the Spanish capital, the Serbian said: '(It's) kind of a new reality for me, I have to say. Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament. 'It's a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis, so it's kind of a challenge for me mentally to really face these kind of sensations on the court, going out early now regularly in the tournaments.' Djokovic, who turns 38 next week, subsequently pulled out of this week's Italian Open in Rome and his hopes of winning a record-breaking 25th grand slam title appear to be fading. He has taken a wild card into next week's Geneva Open as he seeks to avoid going into the French Open, which begins on May 25, without having won a match on clay. It remains to be seen what Murray's next move will be. The three-time grand slam champion appeared to be very happy spending time on the golf course and with his family prior to Djokovic's call, but it would be a surprise if this proves his only foray into coaching.
Qatar Tribune
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Ronaldo Jr in Portugal youth squad
PA Media/DPA London Cristiano Ronaldo's son has been called up to Portugal's Under-15 squad for the first time. Fourteen year-old Cristiano Ronaldo Jr - who is at Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr where his father plays - has been included in a 22-strong group for the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament in Croatia. The youth tournament will feature matches against teams from Japan, Greece and England from May 13 to 18. Ronaldo, 40, posted a picture of the Portugal Under-15s squad list on his Instagram story, with the message 'proud of you, son'. Cristiano Ronaldo Jr has also spent time in the youth set-up at Juventus and Manchester United, his father having played for both clubs before moving to the Saudi Pro League in December 2022. Ronaldo has won 219 caps and scored 136 goals for Portugal, both world records in men's international football.
