Latest news with #ThibautCourtois
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mark Harris set to come up against huge names after Wales inclusion
MARK Harris has been named in the Wales squad for 2026 World Cup qualifiers taking place in June. The Oxford United striker was previously included in a 29-man training camp, and is now set for involvement at home against Liechtenstein (June 6) and away to Belgium (June 9). The Belgium squad includes the likes of Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Manchester City duo Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, plus Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal) and Romelu Lukaku (Napoli). READ ALSO: Fans issued rallying call ahead of fast-approaching stadium deadline Wales began their World Cup qualifying campaign in March with a 3-1 victory at home against Kazakhstan and a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia. Harris, who has 10 caps for Wales, scored six goals in 46 Sky Bet Championship appearances for the U's this season, and was the only player to feature in every single league game. Mark Harris on the ball for Oxford United (Image: Mike Allen)
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Real Madrid's player of 2024-25: Kylian Mbappe shines in a season defined by disappointment
After a season defined by disappointment, choosing the best Real Madrid player of 2024-25 is no easy mission. That is partly down to injuries — several key players, including Dani Carvajal, David Alaba and Eder Militao, have been sidelined for much of the campaign. Stars such as Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior have not shone as brightly as last year. Advertisement A select few, chief among them goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Federico Valverde, have performed consistently but not as well as they did in 2023-24, when Madrid lifted a double of La Liga and the Champions League. Others such as Aurelien Tchouameni and Raul Asencio showed themselves to be vital players for Carlo Ancelotti, but are far from becoming true leaders. But if there is one player who has stood out during the season, it is Kylian Mbappe. The France captain arrived last summer with pressure on his shoulders from being a longstanding target for the club and its president, Florentino Perez, since his breakthrough at Monaco in 2016-17. There followed a saga that lasted several summers until Mbappe said no to Madrid in 2022. He finally joined as a free agent last summer after his deal at Paris Saint-Germain expired. While there was no big transfer fee to live up to, Mbappe became the highest paid player in the squad (based on his wage plus bonuses), which only increased the spotlight. Expectations were high — his presentation filled the Bernabeu with 80,000 fans, the same number Cristiano Ronaldo attracted when he joined from Manchester United in 2009. The comparisons with Ronaldo, Mbappe's idol and Madrid's all-time record goalscorer with 450 goals, were inevitable. During his first press conference as a Madrid player, he was asked several questions about the Portugal forward. But Mbappe chose to distance himself from that debate and his opening season was different to Ronaldo's. Mbappe took a while to make a breakthrough and failed to score in his first three games — which highlighted potential issues in the Frenchman playing as a No 9 with Vinicius Jr in his preferred left-wing position. Madrid's coaching staff, meanwhile, were unhappy with Mbappe's lack of work out of possession. Injuries did not help — he suffered from muscular problems at the end of September — and he was not called up to the France squad for either of the first two international breaks of the season. During the second international break in November, France head coach Didier Deschamps said he had 'taken this decision in this camp' and that he had not considered 'extra-sporting problems'. Advertisement Mbappe had to adapt to his new role as a striker and experienced a crisis of confidence in big games, including a crucial missed penalty in a defeat by Athletic Club at the beginning of December which he later called 'the bottom' for him in an interview with Real Madrid TV. Madrid sources, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, believed his last months at PSG and somewhat difficult exit impacted his start at Madrid. Madrid fans begin to catch a glimpse of Mbappe's true leadership qualities in the 5-2 defeat by Barcelona in January's Supercopa de Espana final, in which he opened the scoring in the fifth minute. His hat-trick against Manchester City in the second leg of the Champions League play-off underlined that Mbappe had finally arrived at the Bernabeu. It was the first time Madrid had clearly dominated Pep Guardiola's City in all their recent meetings and their headline summer signing was the man responsible for it. Mbappe was not as effective in other big games — he failed to score against Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final exit, for instance — but he still remained Ancelotti's most in-form player in attack. The best demonstration of that was in the final Clasico of the season. Mbappe became only the third Madrid player to score an away hat-trick against Barcelona but could only watch as his team lost 4-3 and squandered any chance of retaining their La Liga title from the previous season. His second goal of that hat-trick made Mbappe the highest-scoring Madrid debutant in history, surpassing Ivan Zamorano's 37 goals from the 1992-93 campaign. Mbappe now has 43 goals in 56 games, with the revamped Club World Cup in the United States to come. Twenty-nine of his goals have come in 2025. It is a stark contrast to how Mbappe started out at Madrid — not that he seems to have had any doubts he would succeed. Advertisement 'I was fine physically, but I had to do more and I knew it,' Mbappe told a pre-match press conference in January. 'It was time to change everything because I didn't come to Madrid to play badly. 'I thought a lot. Too much. How to do this, how to move… and when you think so much, you don't play well… For now, I'm only thinking about Madrid. I'm thinking about playing my best football.' From a Madrid perspective, the most exciting aspect is that Mbappe has even more room to produce his best football after being one of their only bright sparks this season. With a new coach in Xabi Alonso and a summer of change ahead at the Bernabeu, it is a tantalising prospect. (Top photo by Alberto Gardin/Quality)
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe leads football stars at the Monaco Grand Prix - with Thibaut Courtois and Patrice Evra also in Monte Carlo for the showpiece event
Kylian Mbappe jetted to Monaco for Sunday's Grand Prix - a day after scoring a brace for Real Madrid in their final game of the season against Real Sociedad. The French superstar scored goals number 30 and 31 in La Liga on Saturday to lead his side to a 2-0 victory. The game ended just after 5pm (UK time). Some 20 hours later, Mbappe was already in Monte Carlo, with fellow Madrid team-mate Thibaut Courtois joining him in the principality. 22-year-old Bayern Munich wonderkid Jamal Musiala also had a pitlane pass for the showpiece event. The Bundesliga season ended last week; nonetheless, the midfielder has not turned out for the German giants since suffering a muscle strain in his left hamstring at the start of April. Former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra joined Red Bull in their garage, while Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram was in the paddock on behalf of Mercedes. MORE TO FOLLOW...
Business Upturn
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Upturn
Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad: Top 6 players to watch in this La Liga clash
The 2024-25 La Liga season continues to captivate football fans as Real Madrid gear up to host Real Sociedad at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium this Saturday. With both teams aiming to secure crucial points, the spotlight will be on several standout performers who could shape the outcome of this highly anticipated encounter. Below, we break down the top players to watch from both sides in this pivotal La Liga showdown. Real Madrid: Players to Watch 1. Kylian Mbappé Arguably the biggest name on the pitch, Kylian Mbappé continues to prove why he's considered one of the best players in world football. The French superstar brings explosive pace, clinical finishing, and a knack for performing in big matches. Sociedad's backline will have their hands full trying to contain him. 2. Luka Modrić The Croatian maestro remains central to Real Madrid's rhythm. His vision, control, and ability to unlock defenses make him a crucial asset in midfield. Against Sociedad's high-energy midfield, Modrić's experience will be vital. 3. Thibaut Courtois Returning from injury, Thibaut Courtois remains one of the top shot-stoppers in Europe. His command in the box and crucial saves could be the difference-maker in a tight match. Real Sociedad: Players to Watch 1. Takefusa Kubo The Japanese international has been a creative force for Sociedad, delivering key goals and assists throughout the season. His dribbling and quick decision-making make him a constant threat on the flanks. 2. Mikel Oyarzabal As the captain and attacking spearhead, Oyarzabal carries the responsibility of leading Sociedad's frontline. His movement off the ball and ability to convert chances make him a danger to any defense. 3. Martín Zubimendi Zubimendi's role as the midfield anchor is crucial in breaking up Madrid's attacks and initiating counterplays. His tactical awareness and passing range will be key for Sociedad to control the tempo. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Real Madrid stay alive in title race with last-minute win in La Liga
Real Madrid 's title hopes in La Liga were hanging on by a thread ever since the 4-3 loss to rivals and likely winners Barcelona earlier last week. However, the Los Blancos' title hopes, no matter how small, almost came to a halt after narrowly escaping a draw in La Liga on Thursday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now With Carlo Ancelotti's departure confirmed, the Spanish giant's only hope of securing a title is in the rare outcome that Barca fails to win all three of their remaining games in the competition. The defending league champions were up against 9th placed Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu, needing a win to sustain any hope of not letting Barcelona win the title. However, things did not start off well for the hosts as they went a goal behind in the first ten minutes. A composed finish from inside the penalty area, placing the ball out of reach for a diving Thibaut Courtois put Real in a precarious spot. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. Needing at least two goals to get back in the game, the men in white started sending in a flurry of shots from outside the penalty box. However, Mallorca keeper Leo Roman's 10 saves throughout the game gave Real a difficult time in finding the net. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep 5: Shane Watson on IPL, India-Australia rivalry | Part 1 The goals finally came for Real in the second half, when found the net in the 68th minute. The Frenchman wriggled through the Mallorca defence and adeptly found the bottom right corner. With the shift in momentum, Real finally found themselves on the front foot. Poll Who do you think has been the best player for Real Madrid in La Liga this season? Vinicius Jr Thibaut Courtois Kylian Mbappe An impressive second half between the sticks for Roman came undone in what proved to be one of the last kicks of the game, as Real centre-back Jacobo Ramon forced the ball over the Mallorca keeper, winning it at the death. The win means that Real now have 78 points from 36 games, but will see their bitter rivals Barcelona crowned champions if they manage to win their game in hand against Espanyol on Friday.
