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As it happened: Egypt 0 Uruguay 1

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Mohamed Salah waves to supporters as he arrives for the Group A match between Egypt and Uruguay. The Liverpool forward will start the match on the bench. (AP)
Updated 15 June 2018
Arab News
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As it happened: Egypt 0 Uruguay 1

  • Jose Giménez scores after 89 minutes in Yekaterinburg
  • Mohamed Salah left on the bench for Egypt
Updated 15 June 2018
Arab News

REACTION: Jermaine Jenas: "Egypt were strong in the early stages but they lacked creativity."

Gary Lineker. "It was a valiant effort from Egypt. They held on for so long."

Phil Neville: "That was a cruel, cruel blow at the end for Egypt. The goalkeeper had a fantastic game but Uruguay had the best chances. They probably should have won by two or three."

Matthew Upson: "To lose a point through a set-piece will be so disappointing for Egypt."

FULL-TIME: Uruguay have their first opening game World Cup win since 1970 after Jose Giménez scores a brilliant header late on

4.52pm: Martin Keown on the unused Mohamed Salah: 'If he's been fit to train then what have you got to lose? He's not been allowed to come to the party."

4.49pm: GOAL! Heartbreak for Egypt as Jose Giménez comes up from the back and rises highest to thump home a header. What a time to score for Uruguay. That should win it for them.

4.48pm: CLOSE! Edison Cavani strikes the inside of the post with a free-kick. Boy, that was a close call for Egypt.

4.44pm: El-Shenawy, the Egypt keeper, has just made the save of the match to deny Cavani. "That's an excellent save," said Keown.

4.42pm: There will definitely be no Mohamed Salah this afternoon as Hector Cuper has just made his final sub and used it to bring on Ramadan Sobhi. "Salah clearly can't be fit," said BBC Sport pundit Martin Kewon.

4.34pm: You do have to wonder how fit Mohamed Salah actually is because if he was anywhere near ready and up to speed, coach Hector Cuper would surely have thrown him on in this one. The game is crying out for his brilliance.

4.33pm: Fathy goes closest for Egypt with a shot after he surged forward from defence. "It's wonderful strike, so clean," said BBC Sport pundit Martin Keown. 

4.29pm: Will Mohamed Salah be called on to break the deadlock with 20 minutes remaining here?

4.26pm: A good game here, against Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani, really will put Egypt defender Ahmed Hegazi in the shop window. He was relegated from the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion, but there should be plenty of takers for him.

4.35pm: "This game has been poor and after what Russia did last night, they'll believe they can beat these two sides, too," said Martin Keown.

4.23pm: Egypt have made their second substitution, bringing on Kahraba for Mohsen, so that means there is now only one more chance for Hector Cuper to bring on Mohamed Salah.

4.19pm: "This game just hasn't got going," said former England defender Martin Keown.

4.14pm: Egypt have done well to keep Edison Cavani quiet so far. He has only had 17 touches so far, the fewest of any Uruguay player in the first half.

4.10pm: Egypt do make a change but it's not Mohamed Salah coming on. Sam Morsy is the man picked to replace the injured Tarek Hamed. He should be on the crest of a wave after helping Wolverhampton Wanderers gain promotion to the Premier League.

4.08pm: Tarek Hamed looks like he's going to have to come off because of injury. "He's very important to them," said former England defender Martin Keown.

4.05pm: And we are back underway. Mohamed Salah remains on the bench.

4pm: We like this...

3.54pm: "It's shocking," said former England defender Matthew Upson on the dive by the Egypt forward Abdallah El-Said. "I can't believe El-Said hasn't been given a yellow card. It is such a glaring dive."

3.52pm: The question for Egypt coach Hector Cuper now is when and if does he risk Mohamed Salah in the second half? Or does he keep him for easier games against Russia and Saudi Arabia.

3.51pm: "Egypt will be the happier of the two sides," said former England striker Gary Lineker. "A draw will suit them massively."

3.45pm: And that's half-time. Egypt will be happy to go into the dressing room all square after giving as good as they got against the much-fancied Uruguay. 

3.44pm: Egypt have not kicked off a World Cup with a win since they beat Israel in 1970. 

3.39pm: Marwan Mohsen is leading the line for Egypt but he is without a goal for his country since January 2017.

3.36pm: "Egypt's defeat to Belgium has done them a favor," said BBC Sport pundit Martin Keown. "They've actually started the game here much better. They are first to every ball and are winning every battle."

3.24pm: Big let off for Egypt as Luis Suarez fires into the sidenetting from less than six yards out. Could fatigue have been a factor as this represents Suarez's 59th game of the season?

3.23pm: Egypt, who are ranked 45th in the world, are certainly holding their own against 14-ranked Uruguay, enjoying 49 percent of the possesion. 

3.19pm: SNAPSHOT: Egypt midfielder Amr Warda hits the turf but he was quickly back up again.

3.18pm: "Egypt look well organised and happy in posession," said former England defender Martin Keown. 

3.16pm: A blatant dive there from Abdallah Said. He should really have been booked. 

3.15pm: Egypt are not the most prolific side. They have only scored more than one goal in a game once in their last 14 matches. 

3.10pm: These two have only met once before and that was in 2006 when Uruguay won 2-0 in Alexandria. 

3.06pm: "Egypt will be quite happy with the way they have started," said former England defender Martin Keown.

3.03pm: Egypt have got to try and find a way past Diego Godin, Uruguay's teak tough defender. "Godin is fantastic," said former England defender Phil Neville. "When we faced him in Spain I watched him warm up and he didn't look like an athlete. He couldn't run, couldn't jump. On the pitch he was an animal. "A simple no-nonsense defender, so aggressive. He sees the ball and he will go and win it, reads the game so well. He's so so key for Uruguay."

3pm: And Uruguay get us underway. This is Oscar Tabarez's 187th game in charge or Uruguay. That's some going.

2.59pm: And we're ready to go at the Yekaterinburg Arena in Yekaterinburg.

2.55pm: Luis Suarez has scored seven of Uruguay's last 13 goals. Egypt really do need to keep him quiet on his 99th appearance for his country.

2.53pm: "I would like to have seen Salah play," said former England defender Martin Keown. "He gives the team belief. I'm disappointed but I see the bigger picture."

2.46pm: 

2.42pm: Uruguay have a rich World Cup pedigree. They have won the World Cup twice and reached the semifinal three times. "If any country punches above its weight then it's Uruguay," said former England striker Gary Lineker. 

2.40pm:  "I think it's the right decision not to start Salah," former England midfield Jermaine Jenas told BBC Sport. "Uruguay is their toughest game. Looking at Russia and Saudi Arabia, those are the games where you'd look for Mo Salah to come back in. Uruguay are a seriously physical side, and it may be he wouldn't be able to perform at the level we know he can."

2.37pm: Egypt's last World Cup game was in 1990 when they lost 1-0 to England. There was no disgrace there as England went on to reach the semifinal. 

2.33pm: Luis Suarez will win his 99th cap for Uruguay this afternoon. He has scored 51 goals in that time which is pretty good going.

2.26pm: Uruguay come into the tournament on the back of three straight friendly wins, against Czech Republic, Wales and Uzbekistan. 

2.22pm: Egypt's squad will certianly not lack big-match experience. Their squad includes 15 foreign-based players, most notably Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny, Mahmoud Trezeguet, Ramadan Sobhi, Ahmed Hegazi and Abdallah El-Said.
The eight Egypt-based players are Al-Ahly’s Sherif Ekramy, Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ayman Ashraf, Ahmed Fathi Saad Samir, Marwan Mohsen, and Zamalek’s Mahmoud Hamdy El-Wensh and Tarek Hamed.

2.19pm: A reminder that Essam El-Hadary is on the bench for Egypt. If the 45-year-old goalkeeper comes on, he will be the oldest player to ever play at the World Cup.

2.16pm: The Egyptian fans have descended on Yekaterinburg in their numbers are are making plenty of noise

2.13pm: Ahmed Hegazi is the linchpin of the Egypt defence, but the West Brom defender is going to have his work cut out to keep Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani quiet. They have 93 international goals between them.

2.11pm: "In terms of commitment and desire, I'm sure we are amongst the very top," said top Uruguay striker Edison Cavani pre-match

2.06pm: Uruguay XI: Muslera; Varela, Gimenez, Godin, Caceres; Nandez, Betancur, Vecino, De Arrascaeta; Cavani, Suarez.

2.05pm: Egypt XI: El-Shenawy; Fathy, Gabr, Hegazi, Shafy; Elneny, Hamed; Warda, El-Said, Trezeguet; Mohsen.

Right, we've put Saudi Arabia's thrashing at the hands of Russia behind us and are now ready for Egypt to restore some Arab pride this afternoon. You may have heard that Mohamed Salah has had a shoulder problem (where have you been if you haven't?) and Hector Cuper has decided this game comes too soon for the Egyptian star. He is named among the substitutes and it will be interesting to see if he is called on if the game is not panning out the way Cuper hopes. Join us here to see how Egypt get on without their talisman against a Uruguay side boasting Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez.

Topics: Arab Nations at Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup Egypt Mohamed Salah

Habib is 1st Lebanese player in Open era to play in a Grand Slam men’s singles draw

Updated 10 January 2025
AP
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Habib is 1st Lebanese player in Open era to play in a Grand Slam men’s singles draw

  • He advanced through three rounds of the qualifying at Melbourne Park, winning his third match in a tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) over Clement Chidekh of France
  • The 26-year-old Habib was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Lebanon as a young child, learning how to play there
Updated 10 January 2025
AP

MELBOURNE: Hady Habib isn’t likely to find anything too daunting at the Australian Open now that he’s become the first Lebanese player in the Open era to reach a Grand Slam men’s singles draw.
He advanced through three rounds of the qualifying at Melbourne Park, winning his third match in a tiebreaker 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8) over Clement Chidekh of France on Thursday to secure a place in the main draw of the tournament that starts Sunday.
It continued a rapid rise for Habib, who made his Olympic debut last year in Paris, running into eventual silver medalist Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time major winner, in the first round. It was two sets he’ll long remember.

Late last year, he made history at Temuco, Chile by becoming the first ATP Challenger Tour champion from Lebanon.
The 26-year-old Habib was born in Houston, Texas and moved to Lebanon as a young child, learning how to play there. He returned to the US to pursue a pro career and feels now like he’s representing of the spirit of Lebanese people.
“I know it’s just a sport, but I feel like representing Lebanon and sacrificing all the things I had to do to get here, it kind of resembles how our nation has fought back,” Habib told Australia’s SBS News this week.
His personal success has come at a difficult time during the war between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.
A fragile ceasefire deal was struck on Nov. 27 following nearly 14 months of war.
Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel on Oct. 8, 2023 — the day after Hamas launched a deadly attack into Israel that ignited the ongoing war in Gaza. Subsequent Israeli air and ground assaults have killed more than 4,000 people in Lebanon, including hundreds of civilians. At the height of the war, more than 1 million Lebanese people were displaced.
“Every morning, I was waking up during that challenging time, I was contacting all my family members, my friends, making sure they’re okay,” Habib told SBS News. “My heart’s just shattered to see what’s happening to our country and people.
“It was a hard time mentally for me, knowing that you can’t do anything to help, but I’m glad things are calming down now. Hopefully we’ll find some peace.”
The 219th-ranked Habib’s first-round opponent was determined Friday — it will be 65th-ranked Bu Yunchaokete of China.

Topics: Australian Open Hady Habib Lebanese Grand Slam

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Newcastle boss Howe eager to hang onto goalkeeper Dubravka

Updated 10 January 2025
AFP
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Newcastle boss Howe eager to hang onto goalkeeper Dubravka

  • Newcastle manager Eddie Howe still hopes goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will stay at St. James’ Park beyond the end of the January transfer window
Updated 10 January 2025
AFP

LONDON: Newcastle manager Eddie Howe still hopes goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will stay at St. James’ Park beyond the end of the January transfer window.
The in-form 35-year-old Slovakia international has been heavily linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al Shabab as he enters the final six months of his contract with the Magpies.
Dubravka has conceded just two goals in seven games in all competitions — all of them victories — while deputising for the injured Nick Pope during a run where Newcastle are closing in on a place in the English League Cup final and are fifth in the Premier League table.
“Martin’s been in a difficult situation,” Howe said Friday.
“Like any player that is coming out of contract in the summer, with every player that I’ve ever worked with, there’s always that feeling of doubt.
“He will naturally want some conclusion to his future, whether that’s a new contract with us, whatever the outcome. But he’s certainly played very well and I’ve been really pleased with him.
“He’s more than played his part in our recent run of fixtures. Again against Arsenal (a 2-0 win in the first leg of a League Cup semifinal), I thought he was very, very good, so hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement with him.”
Dubravka was seen to be in tears following the conclusion of Tuesday’s game against Arsenal, in what many observers interpreted as a farewell to Newcastle.
He was signed by former Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez, initially on loan, in January 2018, but has largely been a back-up to England international Pope for the last two-and-a-half years, a period which included a loan spell at Manchester United.
But he has shown his value in recent weeks with Howe, who must decide whether or not to rest Dubravka for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against fourth-tier Bromley, saying: “I know how much Newcastle means to him and you can see that emotionally, he’s very invested.
“Of course, all those things will be playing a part in his decision-making and our decision-making and hopefully there’s a successful outcome at the end.”
Newcastle have been linked with a move for Burnley’s England under-21 international James Trafford should Dubravka move on.
And Howe refused to say whether Pope, who is back in training, remained his first-choice goalkeeper.
“It’s always in a state of flux,” he said. “It’s always changing and moving because that’s down to the player’s performances.”

Topics: Newcastle Dubravka

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Manuel Neuer set to return in goal for depleted Bayern as Jamal Musiala is out with illness

Manuel Neuer set to return in goal for depleted Bayern as Jamal Musiala is out with illness

Updated 10 January 2025
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Manuel Neuer set to return in goal for depleted Bayern as Jamal Musiala is out with illness

  • Musiala hasn’t been training because of illness and now is confirmed to miss Bayern’s first league game of the new year
Updated 10 January 2025
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MUNICH: Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set to return for Bayern Munich for the first time in more than a month in Saturday’s Bundesliga game against Borussia Moenchengladbach but Jamal Musiala will miss out.
The 38-year-old Neuer missed Bayern’s last four games of 2024 with a broken rib and wasn’t in the squad for a friendly against Salzburg on Monday, but now looks fully fit again, coach Vincent Kompany said Friday.
Neuer’s return for Bayern’s first league game of 2025 is all the more important after backup Daniel Peretz injured a kidney in a training incident on Wednesday. He’s expected to miss a few weeks, Kompany said.
Kompany confirmed Musiala, who hadn’t been training because of illness, won’t be available Saturday for the German league leader.
Among several other absences are midfielder João Palhinha, who hasn’t played since early November with an adductor muscle tear, and defender Dayot Upamecano, who’s serving a one-game Bundesliga suspension for five yellow cards.

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Sowter, Hose shine for Desert Vipers in warm-up match against Gulf Giants ahead of DP World ILT20 start

Updated 10 January 2025
Arab News
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Sowter, Hose shine for Desert Vipers in warm-up match against Gulf Giants ahead of DP World ILT20 start

  • Vipers’ win sees team easily surpass Giants’ total of 125 at the ICC Academy in Dubai
Updated 10 January 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: Ahead of their opening match of the DP World ILT20  against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders on Sunday, the Desert Vipers produced an impressive performance against the Gulf Giants in a warm-up match played at the ICC Academy in Dubai.

The Giants batted first and were bowled out for 125,  a target the Vipers chased down with ease to the extent that the two sides’ head coaches, James Foster of the Vipers and the Giants’ Andy Flower, agreed on a new target of 186. The Vipers fell just three runs short of that mark, but it was still an encouraging display

The Vipers bowling was highlighted by Nathan Sowter’s four for eight, while Dhruv Parashar and David Payne contributed with two wickets apiece. Speaking with the Vipers Voices podcast after the match, Sowter said he was pleased with what he delivered in match conditions.

“Yes, it was obviously a great start and it was nice to get a few wickets,” he said. “I was happy with how they came out and I hit my lengths quite well. It is nice to get a win for the boys and get the feeling of how we want the competition to go.”

Speaking about bowling in partnership with UAE finger-spinner Dhruv Parashar, Sowter said the duo worked well together and also used their time together after time in the field to discuss strategy ahead of the main competition.

“I think they (Gulf Giants) got off to a good start, and then we kind of just pegged them back a little bit. And then we started getting wickets and it happened quite quickly. I think we took maybe six wickets in three overs there.

“So, it put a bit of sting in the tail and that was nice. Dhruv bowled really well and we have had a few conversations after, about how we can go about things through the competition as well, either if we play together or if Dhruv plays with (Wanindu) Hasaranga.

“It is good to have those conversations because you can have days like this where you can learn a lot more than just getting a few wickets.”

Sowter added that he felt pleased with how preparations have gone ahead of Sunday’s opening encounter with the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders.

“It is going well,” he said. “I think the Vipers’ mantra is you get what you need (at training) and you get out of there.

“So, I think the boys are building up really nicely. I think, for myself, it is about making sure you do not overdo it. But you do not want to underdo it as well. And I think the coaching staff here give you a great mix of that and they allow you to take control of your own cricket. I think that helps players a lot, or it does help me a lot, to just pick and choose when I need to do what or how much I need to do.

“I feel like we have got a good mix of players who know each other, and have played a lot of cricket against each other or with each other. So, I think we will be all right going forward.”

Meanwhile on the batting side of things, Adam Hose was top scorer for the Vipers with 47 from 23 balls, including four fours and three sixes, and said he was glad to have put on a good show.

“Yes, it was a nice start to it, from a personal and a team’s perspective,” he said. “I think it is always tough to gauge where you are at, especially since I have not been here (in the UAE) too long.

“We have had a couple of really good outdoor sessions, but having not played much (after the English domestic season) prior to this competition, it is always fairly tough to know where you are.

“I think I just gave myself a little bit of a chance, faced a few balls, and then I felt like I got into my work, started picking the ball up early and seeing the length. Fortunately, a few came out the middle of the bat tonight.”

Hose was the Vipers’ top scorer last year in a pre-tournament practice match against the Dubai Capitals, but that came off the back of time in Australia at the Big Bash League with the Adelaide Strikers.

This time, the build-up has involved rest and reflection for the player, and he said he thought it had been a positive for him.

“(I am here) off the back of a little bit of time off back in England for New Year and Christmas which, to be honest with you, was really nice.

“I have just tried to focus, especially in the last two days, on the basics of what I know works well for me — that is having a good, strong base, tracking the ball for as long as possible and being as still as possible.

The Desert Vipers’ first match of the 2025 DP World ILT20 is on day two of the tournament, against the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders at Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Topics: Desert Vipers Gulf Giants

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Former champs Medvedev and Rublev set for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships return

Updated 10 January 2025
Arab News
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Former champs Medvedev and Rublev set for Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships return

  • Lineup for the 2025 edition of the ATP 500 Event includes world No.8 Alex de Minaur, two-time Grand Slam finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas
Updated 10 January 2025
Arab News

DUBAI: The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships return on Feb. 16 with the 33rd edition of the ATP 500 tournament featuring some of the biggest names in the sport.

Daniil Medvedev, the 2023 champion, heads to Dubai after a challenging season in which he finished without a title for the first time since 2017. Currently ranked world No.5, the 28-year-old Russian boasts an impressive 20 career titles, including the 2021 US Open. Despite his year ending in defeat at the Nitto ATP Finals, Medvedev will hope to start 2025 on the right foot by reclaiming his crown.

Also playing will be Andrey Rublev, the 2022 champion who is currently the world No.9 after claiming two ATP titles in 2024, picking up trophies at the Madrid Open and Hong Kong Open. With 16 titles to his name, the 27-year-old stands as a strong contender for another successful campaign in Dubai.

“This year’s ATP 500 tournament is shaping up to be another memorable event, and we’re excited to welcome back former champions Medvedev and Rublev,” said Ramesh Cidambi, managing director of Dubai Duty Free and chairman of the tournament’s organizing committee.

“This is the 25th year of the WTA week and the 33rd year for the ATP week. Over that time we have always had a fantastic line-up of players who provide the fans with a stellar fortnight of tennis and this year will be no exception.”

Adding to the men’s roster is Alex De Minaur, currently No.8 in the world. The 25-year-old Australian reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in July 2024 and has secured nine ATP singles titles.

Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas, ranked No.11, brings additional firepower. The former world No.3’s career highlights include an ATP Finals victory and multiple Grand Slam final appearances, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

Completing the confirmed lineup is No.19 Karen Khachanov, a 28-year-old renowned for his performances in high-stakes matches. A former world No.8, Khachanov memorably defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2018 Paris Masters final to claim his biggest crown to date and reached the men’s singles final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Tournament Director Salah Tahlak, who is also deputy managing director of Dubai Duty Free, added: “Fans from across the globe will be treated to another fantastic edition of the ATP 500 tournament. With some of the top players already confirmed and more to be announced in the weeks ahead, we’re excited about the competitive level of this year’s event.”

Meanwhile, a star-studded Women’s Tennis Association lineup will see the world’s top 10 female players descend for the 25th Dubai women’s tournament. Defending champion Jasmine Paolini and the world’s top three players — Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, who won a third consecutive French Open in 2024, and Coco Gauff — lead an impressive pack.

The emirate’s long-standing tennis championships will again run as back-to-back competitions, with the WTA week getting under way on Feb. 16, followed immediately by the ATP event on Feb. 24.

Topics: Medvedev Dubai Duty Free tennis

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