SPORTS - Page 27

FRANCE expect a brutal clash with South Africa in their World Cup quarter-final, but strategy will probably play a more important part at the Stade de France. Both teams know that sheer power will not be enough to win them a place in the semi-finals, which start on Sunday. South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber was surprised when he selected a lighter, more mobile version of the team that started the tournament to face France. He retained the side’s core that

The United Kingdom and Ireland will host the 2028 European Championship, while Italy and Turkey will stage the 2032 edition of the tournament, UEFA confirmed on Tuesday. The UK-Ireland bid ran unopposed, while the Italy-Turkey plan had no rivals. UEFA’s executive committee will be asked to approve the hosts for both tournaments at a meeting next week in Nyon, Switzerland. The British and Irish federations have compiled a strong case for hosting, highlighting the economic benefits for the countries, including

Indonesia wants to co-host the 2034 World Cup along with Malaysia and Singapore, the president of the country’s football federation said on Wednesday. Erick Thohir, a billionaire businessman who is also a political figure, said officials from his Federation of the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) have been talking with their Australian counterparts about trying to stage the sport’s flagship tournament on home soil for the first time. The move comes days after Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said ten member

The Australian Open will welcome Rafael Nadal back to Grand Slam tennis in January, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday. Tiley told Channel Nine’s ‘The Today Show’ that the 37-year-old former world number one will participate in the Melbourne Park major. “We can reveal exclusively here that Rafa will be playing,” Tiley said. The Spanish legend has not played a tour match since hurting his hip flexor in a second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Melbourne Park major

An NFL executive told Reuters that some young NFL stars have expressed interest in playing for the U.S. flag football team if the sport is included in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. On Monday, LA28 organizers formally asked that flag football for the men’s and women’s competitions and four other sports be added to the event. Final approval of the program is expected to come when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meets later this month in Mumbai. Unlike

The upcoming Asian Cup in Qatar will be held across nine stadiums, including seven used for last year’s World Cup. Hassan Al Kuwari, the committee’s marketing and communications executive director, said the tournament would generate “tremendous interest.” The competition runs from January 12 to February 20, with the opening game and final set to be played at Lusail Stadium – an 88,966-seat venue that hosted the World Cup final. The 24 participating teams will be split into six groups. Earlier

Henry Arundell has retained his England eligibility despite a move to French club Racing 92 – and the wing is set to start for the Red Rose against Ireland on St Patrick’s Day. The 20-year-old, who scored a record-equaling five tries in the 2022 World Cup pool match against Chile, will be available to play for England if the RFU’s ‘exceptional circumstances’ rule is invoked, which recognizes players who have moved abroad for financial reasons or because their clubs have

Manchester United are still in the running for a place in the Champions League knockout phase despite Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat by Galatasaray, leaving them bottom of Group A. The Red Devils, who lost 4-3 at Bayern Munich in their opener last month, twice took the lead against the Turkish champions through Rasmus Hojlund but were pegged back by goals from Wilfried Zaha and Kerem Akturkoglu before Mauro Icardi scored the winner. The result left United seven points adrift of the

Brazilian superstar Neymar was on target as Al Hilal secured a crucial victory in the group phase of the Asian Champions League on Tuesday as the Saudi Pro League side saw off Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran 3-0 in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. The 31-year-old Neymar scored his first goal since his high-profile move to the club from Paris St Germain in the summer and was on the mark with a sweeping left-footed finish in the 58th minute as Al Hilal moved into

Cristiano Ronaldo was on target as Al-Nassr survived a scare in the Asian Champions League on Monday, with the Saudi Pro League side coming from a goal down to hand Tajikistan’s Istiklol a 3-1 defeat in Riyadh. The defending champions from last season had started the group stage with a comfortable victory over Persepolis, and they kept up their perfect record with a win at home to Istiklol. Luis Castro’s sides were well below par in the first half but