Category: Football

BANGALORE: Aashish Chaudhary struck late and powered Nepal to a narrow 1-0 victory over Pakistan in the ongoing South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship on Tuesday.

In the dead rubber Group A clash of the SAFF Championship since both sides were already out of the race to qualify for the semi-final, Pakistan locked horns with Nepal in a bid to taste their maiden triumph in the tournament.

The two sides, however, put on an enthralling contest and made several attempts of scoring the opener.

Pakistan had the best opportunity to fire the opener in the 21st minute when Pakistan captain Hassan Bashir was fouled which resulted in a free-kick for Pakistan.

Otis Khan took the spot kick just outside the Nepal box but Syed Abdul Shah headed it over the crossbar.

Nepal had their best chance in the dying minutes of the first half as a brilliant build-up lifted them to finally breach the Pakistan defence.

Bimal Gharti Magar got the ball inside Pakistan’s penalty area and had only Pakistan goalkeeper Yousaf Ijaz Butt to beat but failed.

Click to watch SAFF Championship Live on ARY ZAP

The two sides went into the break with the scoreboard still intact at nill.

Following the break, both sides looked more determined and Pakistan also benefitted from fresh legs courtesy of triple substitution in the 63rd minute.

But it was Nepal who made lethal attempts to fire a late winner and they succeeded just 10 minutes before the conclusion of the regulation time.

Laken Lambu set up a perfect chance for the substitute Aashish Chaudhary, who fired a low strike to put Nepal into the lead.

Nepal’s defence then managed to keep the blank sheet until the regulation time and a four-minute extra time as Pakistan succumbed to their third consecutive defeat in the SAFF Championship.

Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan suffered a 0-4 defeat against India and Kuwait respectively.

Following their dismal show in the SAFF Championship, the green shirts finished at the bottom of the Group A standings.

READ: Wasim Akram backs Pakistan ahead of ICC Men’s World Cup in India 

Experienced midfielder Luka Modric will stay with Real Madrid for another season after signing a contract extension with the Spanish club.

Modric, 37, remains an important player for Real Madrid and chose to stay at the club despite heavy interest from Saudi Arabia, trying to rope him in when his previous contract expired last month.

The Croatian great followed the footsteps of Toni Kroos, Dani Ceballos and Nacho Fernandez in extending his stay at the club this summer.

“Real Madrid C. F. and Luka Modrić have agreed to extend the player’s contract, which sees him contracted to the club until 30 June 2024,” the club said in an official statement.

“Luka Modrić joined Real Madrid in 2012. During his eleven seasons in our jersey he’s made 488 appearances and won 23 trophies: 5 Champions League, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 3 LaLiga titles, 2 Copa del Rey and 4 Spanish Super Cups.

“Modrić has won the ultimate individual awards during his career as a Real Madrid player, including the 2018 Ballon d’Or, the 2018 FIFA The Best Player of the Year Award, the 2017/18 UEFA Player of the Year Award, the 2017 Club World Cup Golden Ball, and this season he was part of the FIFA/FIFPro World XI for the sixth time in his career.

“He also won the Golden Ball at the World Cup in Russia and the Bronze Ball at the World Cup in Qatar.”

Since joining Real Madrid in 2012 from Tottenham Hotspur, Luka Modric has won five Champions League and three LaLiga titles.

Luka Modric finished second in the Nations League with Croatia and has yet to say whether he would retire from international football, as had been speculated, or whether he will play until the 2024 European Championship next summer.

READ: Mohammad Amir names his three favourite batters and bowlers

Inter Miami announced on Friday they are signing former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets to team up with Lionel Messi at the Major League Soccer club.

Lionel Messi said earlier this month he was moving to Miami and he will now be reunited with his former Barca team-mate Sergio Busquets.

Inter Miami posted a tweet heralding the arrival of the player.

“Si, Busi” read the Twitter post, referring to Sergio Busquets’ nickname. The tweet included quotes praising Busquets from several people in the game including former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque.

pic.twitter.com/Mil6KD4l7M

— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) June 23, 2023

Sergio Busquets said in May that he would leave Barcelona in the summer at the end of his contract.

The 34-year-old made 143 appearances for Spain before announcing his retirement from the team in December.

Busquets has been a central part of Barcelona’s successes in the past 15 years, including nine Spanish league titles and three Champions League triumphs.

Sergio Busquets played as pivot behind Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez in an iconic midfield trio, and the three of them also won the World Cup with Spain in 2010.

Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas said this week that the club expected to make between three to five new signings to join Lionel Messi.

“We’ve been preparing our roster for Messi’s arrival in ’23, so we left an enormous amount of flexibility,” Mas told the Herald.

“We will be making additional signings during the summer window, more than what people anticipate… I can say we will potentially be making between three and five signings.”

Sergio Busquets is likely to occupy one of the three ‘Designated Player’ spots, an MLS designation for high-earning players, whose wages do not count against the salary cap.

Inter Miami have also been linked with another Spain and Barcelona favourite, left-back Jordi Alba.

READ: Netherlands storm into CWC Qualifier Super Sixes as Nepal crash out 

BENGALURU: Mubarak Al Faneni scored twice and powered Kuwait to a dominant 4-0 victory over Pakistan in the ongoing South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship on Saturday.

Kuwait started their second fixture of the SAFF Championship campaign on a high as the side took an early lead just 10 minutes into the game as Hasan Al Enezi fired the opener after a patient build-up from the right flank.

Al Enezi received a fine cross on the far post and made a gentle touch before burying the ball into the net.

Mubarak Al Faneni then doubled Kuwait’s lead in the 17th minute by tapping the ball in after Alrashidi had plenty of room to run into on the break before aiding the goalscorer as Pakistan’s defence was exposed.

The green shirts then made desperate efforts to push their way back into the game after being put under immense pressure but failed to breach Kuwait’s defence.

Kuwait then put on a cagey show as the contest moved closer to the break and held possession without making any further attempts.

As the game further advanced, Kuwait finally dropped their plan of playing defensively and made a move towards Pakistan’s post after a swift build-up from the midfield.

Mubarak Al Faneni was once again there for Kuwait and he dodged the charging Pakistan goalkeeper by chipping the ball over his head and into the net in the dying minutes of the first half.

Kuwait went into the break with a convincing 3-0 lead over Pakistan, who were in dire need to produce a contrasting outcome in the second half.

However, the second half also followed the same pattern as Kuwait once again looked more threatening with their possession and attempts.

Kuwait soon converted their dominance into the fourth goal after Eid Khaled Al Rashedi made no mistake in guiding the ball into the net in the 69th minute.

This was Pakistan’s straight second defeat in the ongoing SAFF Championship and came two days after they suffered a 0-4 loss at the hands of India.

On the contrary, Kuwait registered their second consecutive win in the tournament and firm their hold on top of Group A standings.

In today’s second fixture, hosts India will lock horns with Nepal. A victory for India would propel them and invitee Kuwait into the semi-finals of the event while Nepal and Pakistan would crash out.

READ: Kuwait humble Pakistan in SAFF Championship 

BENGALURU: India skipper Sunil Chhetri was unstoppable in the high-octane SAFF Championship clash against Pakistan as he led his side to a dominating 4-0 victory.

The star Indian footballer decimated Pakistan’s defence and scored a hat-trick in his side’s thumping 4-0 victory over Pakistan.

Sunil Chhetri scripted a perfect start for the hosts as he capitalised on a costly error by the Pakistan goalkeeper Saqib Hanif, who lost control of a regulation pass and left the room for Chhetri to slot the ball into the nets.

India were then awarded a penalty just five minutes later as Anirudh Thapa kicked the ball from the left-hand corner of the box which caught the hand of a Pakistan defender.

Sunil Chhetri opted to go for the penalty himself and he made no mistake in firing his second goal with utter composure.

Briefly, ahead of the break, things got heated up on the field when Indian coach Igor Stimac knocked the ball from Abdullah Iqbal’s hands who was ready for a throw-in.

Following the offence, the Indian coach was given a send-off while Pakistan’s Rahis Nabi and Sandesh Jhingan were given a Yellow card for their involvement in the altercation.

At the halftime mark, India had a healthy 2-0 lead over clueless Pakistan.

Sunil Chhetri then completed his hat trick in the 74th minute as he converted another penalty after he was fouled in the box by Mohammad Sufyan.

Udanta Singh Kumam then joined the party for India as he registered himself on the scoresheet with a fine field goal in the 81st minute.

With their dominant 4-0 victory over Pakistan, India registered their seventh consecutive clean sheet.

Pakistan’s schedule in SAFF Championship

June 24 – Kuwait
June 27 – Nepal

READ: Oman stun UAE, Scotland edge Ireland in CWC Qualifier

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a late winner on his 200th international appearance as Portugal beat Iceland 1-0 on Tuesday to maintain their perfect start to Euro 2024 qualifying.

The 38-year-old striker steered in from close range in the 89th minute for his 123rd Portugal goal on a night he also extended his men’s international caps record in Reykjavik.

“For me it’s an unbelievable achievement, it’s amazing. And of course to score the winning goal, it’s even more special,” Ronaldo told UEFA.com.

“We didn’t play so well but sometimes football is like that,” added Cristiano Ronaldo, who made his international debut at 18 in August 2003.

“But we scored a goal and, in my opinion, we deserved it. I’m so happy because of 200 caps, but this is even more special.”

Cristiano Ronaldo received a bouquet of flowers and a certificate to commemorate the landmark occasion, the latest in a long list of records for the former Real Madrid and Manchester United star.

Having scored twice in each of Portugal’s qualifiers in March, albeit against Liechtenstein and Luxembourg, Ronaldo failed to find the net in last week’s 3-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He was repeatedly caught offside against Iceland and headed narrowly over at corner early in the second half.

But he again silenced those who have doubted coach Roberto Martinez’s wisdom in calling him up, grabbing the winner after Iceland were reduced to 10 men with Willum Thor Willumsson sent off.

Goncalo Inacio knocked the ball across for Ronaldo to turn home in the 89th minute, with the goal initially ruled out for offside before the decision was overturned and the Portugal captain was mobbed by his team-mates.

Portugal are already cruising towards a place at next year’s European Championship in Germany, sitting top of Group J after scoring 14 goals without reply in four straight wins.

READ: Joe Root pips Marnus Labuschagne as new No.1 ranked Test batter 

A Kylian Mbappe penalty gave France a 1-0 victory over 10-man Greece on Monday that maintained their perfect record in qualifying for Euro 2024.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar, and France captain, had his initial kick saved early in the second half but was allowed a second attempt because of encroachment into the area by a Greek defender.

He made no mistake second time around and France could have gone on to win by a greater margin after Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent off for barging Randal Kolo Muani to the ground, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

France’s win in their last outing this season follows their 3-0 defeat of minnows Gibraltar last Friday and leaves them clear on top of qualifying Group B with 12 points from four games.

They have not conceded a goal so far and are six points clear of Greece, albeit having played a game more.

“It has been a very long season for the players. They have been waiting for their holidays but we did what we needed to do to win the match,” coach Didier Deschamps told broadcaster TF1.

“This is a team with less experience than six months ago, but there is plenty of quality.”

Having already opened their campaign with wins against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in March, last year’s World Cup runners-up appear certainties to qualify for next year’s finals in Germany.

Their next match is against Ireland in September, by which time it will be clear where Kylian Mbappe will be playing his club football next season.

The 24-year-old, who took over as skipper of Les Bleus when Hugo Lloris quit international football following the World Cup, last week confirmed he would not extend his contract at PSG, which expires next year.

That has raised the prospect of the Qatar-backed club selling him in this transfer window, even if he has said he intends to stay with the French champions next season.

Kylian Mbappe put the talk of his future to one side to score a penalty against Gibraltar and he was the matchwinner here in what was not a vintage French display.

He had been frustrated in the first half before a sell-out Stade de France crowd as Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz dismissed his appeals for a penalty when he went down under a George Baldock challenge.

Kolo Muani and Jules Kounde both came close for the hosts in the first half, with the latter seeing his shot saved by goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos just before the interval.

France got the chance to go in front when Mavropanos caught Antoine Griezmann in the head with a high boot four minutes after the restart.

A spot-kick was awarded and VfB Stuttgart stopper Mavropanos was booked with Griezmann needing his bloodied head bandaged.

Vlachodimos saved Kylian Mbappe’s penalty the first time but he could not repeat his heroics when a retake was ordered, despite diving the right way.

It was Mbappe’s 13th goal in 13 games for France this season, to go with 41 in all competitions for PSG.

He now has 40 goals in 70 games for his country and needs just one more goal to equal Michel Platini’s tally in a France shirt.

Greece, the 2004 European champions, have been enjoying something of a revival under their Uruguayan coach Gustavo Poyet, but their chances of claiming anything from this game died when Mavropanos was dismissed in the 69th minute.

Kolo Muani was sent through on goal by a Kingsley Coman pass only to be bundled over by Mavropanos. Already on a yellow card, this time the defender saw a straight red.

However, France could not add to their lead with the extra man, with substitute Ousmane Dembele just unable to get on the end of Mbappe’s low centre.

“This is the hardest match we have had to play since I came here,” admitted Poyet, who became Greece coach in February last year.

“The difference between France and us is incredible. I don’t like to lose but we learned a lot today.”

READ: Sikandar Raza lifts Zimbabwe to crush Netherlands in CWC Qualifier

Pakistan men’s football team will depart for Mumbai on Tuesday evening to participate in the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, scheduled to take place from June 21 to July 4.

According to the details, the national football team will depart from Mauritius Island in the evening today to Mumbai.

Upon their arrival in Mumbai, Pakistan men’s football team will then fly to Bengaluru where the eight-team SAFF Championship 2023 will take place.

Earlier, the Pakistan team received a two-day delay in the issuance of the Visas due to which they could not depart for Bengaluru as per schedule on Sunday.

Pakistan will start their SAFF Championship campaign against arch-rivals India on June 21 before taking on Nepal and invitee Kuwait.

Notably, the Pakistan football team are currently in Mauritius where they participated in the four-nation tournament.

The national team failed to impress in the four-nation tournament as they remained winless in the entire competition, losing to Mauritius, Kenya and Djibouti respectively.

After concluding their campaign in the four-nation tournament, the Pakistan men’s football team will mark their return to the SAFF Championship after missing the last two out of the 13 editions held since 1993.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) could not send its men’s team for the 2015 edition held in India due to the lack of funds.

The national side then missed the 2021 edition as they were serving a suspension from FIFA, which was lifted last year in June.

Sri Lanka will not be participating in the tournament as they are serving a suspension from the football governing body FIFA, while Afghanistan left SAFF and joined the Central Asian Football Federation.

READ: Schedule, venues for Pakistan Test tour of Sri Lanka unveiled 

Pakistan men’s football team on Monday, received the Visas to participate in the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in India, scheduled to take place from June 21 to July 4.

According to the details, the Indian High Commissioner in Mauritius issued the Visas to the Pakistan football team, which will now travel to India via the first available flight.

Notably, the Pakistan team received a two-day delay in the issuance of the Visas due to which they could not depart for Bengaluru as per schedule on Sunday.

Pakistan will start their SAFF Championship campaign against arch-rivals India on June 21 before taking on Nepal and invitee Kuwait.

Notably, the Pakistan football team are currently in Mauritius where they participated in the four-nation tournament.

The national team failed to impress in the four-nation tournament as they remained winless in the entire competition, losing to Mauritius, Kenya and Djibouti respectively.

After concluding their campaign in the four-nation tournament, the Pakistan men’s football team will mark their return to the SAFF Championship after missing the last two out of the 13 editions held since 1993.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) could not send its men’s team for the 2015 edition held in India due to the lack of funds.

The national side then missed the 2021 edition as they were serving a suspension from FIFA, which was lifted last year in June.

Sri Lanka will not be participating in the tournament as they are serving a suspension from the football governing body FIFA, while Afghanistan left SAFF and joined the Central Asian Football Federation.

READ: Oman stun Ireland, Sri Lanka thump UAE in CWC Qualifier

Dani Carvajal chipped home a Panenka penalty to win Spain the Nations League on Sunday, with a 5-4 shoot-out victory over Croatia, after a tense match finished 0-0 following extra time.

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon denied Lovro Mayer and Bruno Petkovic from the spot, before Carvajal cheekily chipped home to earn La Roja their first trophy since Euro 2012 and break Croatian hearts.

Zlatko Dalic’s side, runners-up at the World Cup in 2018 and third in 2022, have never won a major trophy and were hoping Nations League success would cap a glittering international career for captain Luka Modric, who played his 166th international game.

The victory is a confidence boost for new Spain coach Luis de la Fuente after heavy criticism in March after a defeat by Scotland in Euro 2024 qualifying. It also avenged their 2021 final defeat by France.

“For us it was a unique opportunity, we went out early in another tournament (at the World Cup in Qatar) and today we had to take advantage,” Real Madrid defender Carvajal told Spanish broadcaster TVE.

“We had confidence with the penalties and it went well, I knew how I was going to shoot it, and I knew I was going to be sixth… I wanted to take it Panenka style and it went well.”

Dalic warned over 25,000 Croatian fans were expected to travel to Rotterdam and they filled the majority of the stadium, De Kuip a sea of red and white checkered squares, save for a modest area of Spanish fans.

The Croatians chanted Luka Modric’s name in the 10th minute, matching his shirt number, a plea for him not to retire from international duty after the tournament, as had been rumoured.

On the pitch, Spain made the early running, with Gavi drilling narrowly wide after pressing furiously to win the ball back.

Just when the game started to fall into a slight lull, under the pink haze of smoke from Croatian flares, Spain were nearly caught out by Josip Juranovic’s long ball over the top for Andrej Kramaric.

The striker ran through on Unai Simon’s goal but just as he pulled the trigger, Aymeric Laporte made a superb lunging block.

Despite 14 goals in the three preceding games, the first half finished goalless, just as in the prior two Nations League finals, won by Portugal and France in 2019 and 2021 respectively.

La Roja were unable to muster a shot on target in the first 80 minutes of an extremely tense battle.

Mario Pasalic headed wide before being replaced by Petkovic, who was Croatia’s semi-final star against the Netherlands — to the extent one Croatian newspaper described him as “Bruce Willis in football boots”. It did not prove the case this time.

Spain sent on their own semi-final match-winner in response, with Joselu replacing Morata, while Ansu Fati also entered the fray.

It was the young Barcelona forward who came closest to scoring in the 90 minutes for either side, with his low strike cleared off the line by the diligent Ivan Perisic.

Croatia appealed in vain for a penalty after Nacho tangled with Borna Sosa, and Spain substitute Dani Olmo, who spent six years with Dinamo Zagreb, hammered over as extra time continued in the same tight pattern.

With the sides inseparable, the match was decided on penalties.

After Simon denied Mayer, Aymeric Laporte had the chance to earn victory but hit the bar.

Athletic Bilbao stopper Simon flung himself to his right at full stretch to save from Petkovic and set the scene for Carvajal to spark Spanish celebrations.

They became the second country to have won the World Cup, Euros and Nations League, after France in 2021.

“We’re so happy, it was a really tough game and this is so difficult to do,” said Manchester City’s Champions League final goalscorer Rodri, man of the match.

“This generation promises a lot. We were very strong mentally. There are things to improve, but winning is always good — we have to celebrate.”

Croatia were left with the taste of disappointment yet again, but Dalic said another podium finish was a positive sign.

“We’ve won medals, one after another, that’s great — three medals is history, a really great thing to have achieved,” said Dalic.

“This shows that there is still lots of potential, we can do a lot.”

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