ROSTOV-ON-DON: Following a white-knuckle week of hand-wringing, Juan Antonio Pizzi and his Saudi Arabia team will on Wednesday return to the international spotlight keen to put the events of the past seven days behind them and demonstrate to the world an improved image of team.
The Green Falcons were humiliated 5-0 by hosts Russia in the opening match of the World Cup last Thursday, prompting much criticism from their own football federation and the country’s General Sports Authority. Then, after leaving their base in Saint Petersburg for Rostov-on-Don where they will meet Uruguay in their second Group A match, a technical fault aboard their plane caused an engine to catch fire as it prepared to land.
Pizzi, playing down the incident and insisting it has not affected their preparations, said expectations have had to be recalibrated after last week’s defeat. He made a point in stressing that the result is less important than the performance and insisted he trusts his players to demonstrate their true level against a Uruguay side boasting world-class players such as Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez.
“We have an opportunity to try and turn around our results so far,” Pizzi said.
“Our performance against Russia was not what we expected nor wanted. Against Uruguay, we need to try to match the level of our opponents and try to win it. But we have other priorities that are more important than worrying about Suarez and Cavani. We have to show that we deserve to be here.
“As for the events (with the plane), we have had no further information. There was no panic; we were not afraid. We fully trust the pilot, staff and plane. The pictures point to something else, but we were very calm and it will not effect our performance.”
After the Russia match, Turki Al-Sheikh, the head of the General Sports Authority of Saudi Arabia, called it a “fiasco,” and criticized the players, but refused to blame Pizzi. Asked for his thoughts on Al-Sheikh’s comments, Pizzi preferred to focus on the next game.
“I really do not want to have an opinion on what people say,” he said. “We too are being very critical about our first match. I am the top person in charge here and want to change the perception people now have of this team. It is clear in my mind, these players have demonstrated to me that they can compete. We have played games against some very strong teams and in almost all of them we have shown a level of competitiveness.
“We have to demonstrate that we have the ability to compete, especially against a team that is combative. We have to compete with the same energy as them and that is what we will try to do.”
Midfielder Taiser Al-Jassem reiterated his coach’s words, insisting that he and his teammates are focused solely on righting last week’s wrong. Everything that has gone before is forgotten.
“We were all very upset after the Russia game,” he said. “We are all determined to change this image because it is not the true image of Saudi football, Saudi players. We want to make our country proud. It’s the scoreboard that wins the day. We have encountered similar problems in the past but we need to forget this and focus on the next game. We are all very anxious to change this image.”
While Pizzi played a very attack-minded side in the opening game, it is widely accepted that Uruguay — ranked 14th in the world — could wreck havoc if given space in front of goal. With that in mind, he is expected to call upon Abdulmalek Al-Khaibri to sit in front of his four-man defense. Fahad Al-Muwallad may also be given a starting berth in place of Mohammed Al-Sahlawi, despite some players making it known they feel more comfortable playing behind the veteran striker.
“Tactics, strategy, system, individual qualities … we have different priorities,” Pizzi concluded.
“Uruguay are a very difficult team with players who are world class. But I want to reiterate that it’s not about our players. I just want to see a competitive performance on the pitch. We want to show that we can be competitive and have the ability to compete at a World Cup. That is the priority.”
Juan Antonio Pizzi confident the real Saudi Arabia will turn up to face Uruguay in crunch World Cup clash
Juan Antonio Pizzi confident the real Saudi Arabia will turn up to face Uruguay in crunch World Cup clash
New arrival Jhon Duran starts for Al-Nassr but it’s Ronaldo who shines in Asia
- The Riyadh side hammer Al-Wasl of the UAE 4-0 in AFC Champions League Elite
- Al-Ahli defeat Al-Sadd of Qatar 3-1 as Saudi clubs continue to dominate group stage
RIYADH: Jhon Duran, Al-Nassr’s latest big signing, made his debut for the club on Monday but it was Cristiano Ronaldo who once again grabbed most of the headlines in a 4-0 win over Emirati side Al-Wasl in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Earlier, Al-Ahli defeated Al-Sadd of Qatar 3-1 to ensure it was another good day for the Kingdom in Asia. The victories mean that the top-three spots in the 12-team West Asian group are all still occupied by Saudi Pro League sides, with Al-Ahli in first place on 19 points, three ahead of both Al-Hilal, who can go back on top with a win against Persepolis of Iran on Tuesday, and Al-Nassr.
Al-Nassr and Al-Wasl had already secured their places in the knockout phase ahead of Monday’s game but both teams nonetheless fielded strong starting lineups for match day seven of eight in the group stage.
Duran started the game just three days after arriving in Riyadh from Aston Villa, but it was to be the familiar figure of Ronaldo who did most of the damage.
The opening goal, however, came after 25 minutes from a less likely source in Ali Al-Hassan. The midfielder picked up possession 30 meters from goal, took a step forward and then unleashed a low shot that flew into the bottom corner of the Al-Wasl net.
Just before the break, Cristiano Ronaldo, just two days shy of his 40th birthday, extended the Yellows’ lead from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. The Portuguese megastar made it 3-0 after 78 minutes with a flying header, and there was still time for Mohammed Al-Fatil to add a fourth.
Meanwhile, Al-Ahli had to come from a goal behind at Al-Sadd. Akram Afif opened the scoring for the 2011 champions with just 47 seconds on the clock, as he raced onto a through pass. The Asian player of the year spotted Edouard Mendy was off his line and lifted the ball over the ex-Chelsea shot-stopper.
Nine minutes later, Roberto Firmino silenced the home fans in spectacular fashion. Riyad Mahrez headed the ball across goal to where the former Liverpool star was waiting to find the back of the net with a perfectly-executed bicycle kick.
Six minutes before the break and the Jeddah giants were ahead thanks to Roger Ibanez. It was all over in the 81st minute after Ivan Toney got to the ball ahead of the goalkeeper at the edge of the area, leaving Mahrez to fire home.
Five things to look out for at the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open
ABU DHABI: The Women’s Tennis Association’s Middle East swing kicks off its three-week stint in the Gulf on Monday with the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
Defending champion and top seed Elena Rybakina headlines a stellar field at Zayed Sports City that also includes Tunisian fan favorite Ons Jabeur, recent Australian Open semi-finalist Paula Badosa, last year’s Abu Dhabi finalist Daria Kasatkina, and British wildcard Emma Raducanu.
Here are the main talking points surrounding the action in the UAE capital this week:
Rybakina debuts new coaching partnership
After parting ways with coach Goran Ivanisevic post-Australian Open, World No.5 Rybakina has a new figure in her corner in Abu Dhabi in the form of ex-Association of Tennis Professionals player Davide Sanguinetti.
Stefano Vukov is still part of Team Rybakina but is currently provisionally suspended pending an investigation for an alleged breach of the WTA Code of Conduct. This means he cannot be credentialed at any sanctioned tournament.
Rybakina lost to eventual champion Madison Keys in the Australian Open fourth round last month and says she suffered a back problem during her time in Melbourne.
The Kazakhstani big hitter went straight to Dubai after the opening Grand Slam of the season and underwent treatment for her back before a week’s training with Sanguinetti and Vukov.
“It's really nice to be back,” she told Arab News in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. “I feel like it’s really like a second home for me, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, it’s really nice. I always spend my preparation here and I spend a lot of time here. I’m just really happy to be back and I’m looking forward to start(ing) here.”
Rybakina has a bye in the first round and awaits one of two qualifiers — Sonay Kartal or Katie Volynets.
Elena Rybakina has added Davide Sanguinetti to her coaching staff.
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 2, 2025
He is with her here in Abu Dhabi and in communication with Stefano Vukov, who is still provisionally suspended by the WTA as they investigate alleged breach of Code of Conduct. pic.twitter.com/qVnlYES1NB
Blockbuster openers
The draw revealed several juicy opening matchups with three-time Grand Slam finalist Jabeur taking on former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, seeded No.7 in Abu Dhabi.
In a clash between two Grand Slam winners, 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu will square off with 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, who have both accepted wildcards into the tournament.
Other exciting first rounds include a meeting between recent Australian Open quarterfinalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin, who made her way through qualifying to claim a place in the main draw.
Jabeur took four months off at the end of 2024 to recover from a shoulder injury and returned to action in Australia in January. She made the quarterfinals in Brisbane and the third round in Melbourne and is pleased with her competitive level this early in her comeback.
“It was nice to have a long break. I think mentally and physically it helped me a lot to be back to normal, to have the motivation back, the pleasure of playing tennis back. I feel like, surprisingly, the level was good. I’m not very good at taking long breaks and come back stronger. So it was nice to see that the level is back,” said the 30-year-old.
If @Ons_Jabeur could take these skills from players, who would she pick? #MubadalaAbuDhabiOpen #WTA #AbuDhabiSC
— Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open (@MubadalaADOpen) February 2, 2025
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أنس تختار مهارات التنس من اللاعبين، من ستختار؟
Badosa out to build on strong start
Spanish No.2 seed Badosa reached a maiden Grand Slam semifinal in Melbourne last month and is hoping to keep up the momentum that has propelled her back into the top 10 for the first time since October 2022.
After almost retiring last year due to a stress fracture in her back, the 27-year-old has made a remarkable recovery and has won 30 of her last 39 matches on tour.
Speaking of her biggest takeaways from Australia, Badosa said: “I think emotionally how I handled everything, how I managed the pressure, the expectations also, because I think I was coming from a very good preseason, a very good end of the season, so you always have big expectations, I had big expectations of myself. So dealing with all that. I think also the level I gave there, I’m really happy with it and hopefully I can continue that momentum.”
Badosa has a bye in the opening round and will commence her Abu Dhabi journey against Magdalena Frech or Linda Noskova.
Former champ back from maternity leave
Swiss Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic lifted the Abu Dhabi trophy two years ago then walked away from the tour seven months later when she became pregnant.
She gave birth to daughter Bella in April 2024 and returned to competitive tennis last October, playing some lower-level tournaments.
Bencic competed in her first WTA-level event post-maternity leave at the United Cup last month and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open shortly after.
Still climbing back up the rankings, Bencic is currently 157th in the world. She will hope to capitalize on her fond memories in Abu Dhabi from two years ago when she faces Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia in her first round on Tuesday.
Japanese teen set for tour-level debut
Barely 10 days ago, 17-year-old Wakana Sonobe became the first Japanese player to win the Australian Open girls’ singles title and just the second to win a Grand Slam junior singles crown.
This past weekend, she accepted a wildcard into the qualifying draw of the WTA 500 in Abu Dhabi and posted two impressive victories over Hailey Baptiste and Cristina Bucsa to claim a spot in the main draw.
The talented lefty will now make her WTA main draw debut when she takes on China’s Yuan Yue in the opening round on Monday.
A moment Wakana Sonobe will never forget #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lS5JsqvlBN
— ITF (@ITFTennis) January 25, 2025
Doncic releases emotional farewell message to Dallas after trade sends him to Lakers
- A native of Slovenia, Doncic had built deep ties to Dallas off the floor, including through many charitable organizations
- Doncic: As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home
NEW YORK: Luka Doncic released an emotional farewell to Dallas on Sunday, the same day a trade sending him from the Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a swap for fellow All-NBA player Anthony Davis was finalized.
Doncic said in a letter to the city that he “wanted so badly to bring you a championship” and that he thought he’d spend his career in Dallas.
“For a young kid from Slovenia coming to the US for the first time, you made North Texas fell like home,” Doncic wrote. “In good times and bad, from injuries to the NBA Finals, your support never changed. Thank you not only for sharing my joy in our best moments, but also for lifting me up when I needed it most.”
Doncic was enormously popular in Dallas — and everywhere else. His No. 77 Mavericks jersey ranked eighth among best-sellers through NBAStore.com over the first half of the season. On Sunday night, some Doncic items remained for sale on the Mavs’ shopping site.
His jersey sales will likely skyrocket again now, when the Lakers make his new ones available.
“Grateful for this amazing opportunity,” Doncic wrote in another social media post, linking it to one from the Lakers’ accounts welcoming him to Los Angeles. “Basketball means everything to me, and no matter where I play the game, I’ll do so with the same joy, passion and goal — to win championships.”
Doncic had built deep ties to Dallas off the floor, including through many charitable organizations. He had given large sums of money to various entities in North Texas and arranged for Jordan Brand sneakers — he represents the brand — to be given to frontline workers in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The appreciation was mutual. When Doncic led Slovenia to a berth into the Tokyo Olympics that were held in 2021, Dallas County Commissioners declared July 6 of that year as “Luka Doncic Day” in celebration of both his on- and off-court accomplishments.
In only 422 games, he ranks sixth on Dallas’ all-time scoring list, is second in 3-pointers in Mavs history behind only Dirk Nowitzki, is third on the club list in rebounds and fifth in assists.
“To all the organizations I’ve worked with throughout the Dallas community, thank you for letting me contribute to your important work and join you in bringing light to those who need it,” Doncic wrote. “As I start the next part of my basketball journey, I am leaving a city that will always feel like a home away from home. Dallas is a special place, and Mavs fans are special fans.”
Rory McIlroy overpowers Pebble Beach and wins in a runaway
- McIlroy won for the 27th time on the tour and is 21st on the career victory list
PEBBLE BEACH, California: Rory McIlroy played a game nearly as magnificent as the Pebble Beach scenery Sunday as he powered his way past a pack of contenders and closed with a 6-under 66 for a two-shot victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
McIlroy is one of the top attractions in golf, which only added to the appeal of the surprising sunshine and crashing surf at America’s most famous coastal golf course. And just like that, a sleepy start to the PGA Tour season had some life to it.
On a day when six players had at least a share of the lead, McIlroy took the top spot for good with an 18-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole into a stiff breeze along the Pacific. He effectively ended the drama with a towering drive and a 7-iron into the 571-yard 14th hole, setting up an eagle putt from just outside 25 feet.
“To win at one of the cathedrals of golf is really cool,” McIlroy said.
Shane Lowry fell out of a share for the lead when he sent his second shot over a cliff to the right of the par-5 sixth. But he shot 31 on the back nine, including a birdie on the final hole for a 68 that gave him second place alone.
Lucas Glover (67) and Justin Rose (68) were another shot behind. Sepp Straka, who started the final round with a one-shot lead, had a 72 and tied for seventh.
Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player whose season was delayed by minor hand surgery from punctured glass while making ravioli, closed with a 67 and tied for ninth.
McIlroy has talked about this being an important year for him, though his focus was more on April through September — an 11th chance to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters, a return home to Northern Ireland for the British Open, a road Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
This wasn’t a bad start.
“It’s a really cool way to start the season,” said McIlroy, who won for the second time in California. “To get this win this early means a great deal, and hopefully I’ll keep the momentum going into Torrey Pines in a couple weeks’ time.”
The sixth hole began to separate the pack a little. In consecutive groups, Rose went over the cliff with his tee shot and Tom Kim hit down the hill toward the ocean with his second shot. Lowry followed him in the final group, leading to bogey.
But really, McIlroy looked as though he was the player to beat from the second hole, when he hit a tough pitch from 50 yards away over a bunker to a back pin with enough height and spin to set up a 2-foot birdie putt.
But it was after his lone bogey on the tough eighth hole where he pulled away — the 18-foot birdie on the 10th, a tee shot into 8 feet for birdie on the par-3 12th and finally get his due on the 14th hole. McIlroy drilled his drive for the third straight day over a tree, over the bunker complex and into the fairway. The previous two days, he had to settle for par.
This time, he cashed in for an eagle, extending his lead to four shots. And when he hit wedge into 3 feet for birdie on the 15th, it led to one of the best stress-free and gorgeous walks on the PGA Tour.
Everyone else was left in a hopeless chase.
“When he’s good, he’s great. And when he’s not great, he’s good,” Glover said. “There’s a reason he’s got 20-something wins and a bunch of majors and the game he has. Impressive round out there today under the pressure and under the conditions.”
McIlroy won for the 27th time on the tour and is 21st on the career victory list. He’s been stuck on four majors since winning the PGA Championship 11 years ago, and that he is sure to be reminded of that as the Masters gets closers.
For now, this will do. It’s his second victory in a signature event that McIlroy and other top players helped to create.
“When he’s good, he’s great and when he’s not great, he’s good,” Glover said. “There’s a reason he’s got 20-something wins and a bunch of majors and the game he has. Impressive round out there today under the pressure and under the conditions.”
McIlroy won his second signature event — he won at Quail Hollow last year — to earn $3.6 million. He finished at 21-under 267, one shot to par away from the tournament record.
Lowry at least tried to make him sweat, staying within range until missing a 7-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that would have narrowed the gap to two. His final birdie, however, gave him a tidy consolation of $2.16 million for second place.
“I always say I believe when players like Rory McIlroy turns up and they have their ‘A’ game, they’re pretty impossible to beat,” Lowry said.
Olympic champions Lyles, Holloway blast to victory in Boston
- Lyles said afterwards he has finally put victory in Paris last year behind him as he prepares to tackle a new season
- Holloway has not lost an indoor hurdles race since 2014, and said afterwards that with world and Olympic golds in the bank, he is now running to cement his legacy
- USA’s women’s Olympic 100m hurdles gold medallist Masai Russell was a comfortable winner of the 60m hurdles in 7.80sec
NEW YORK: Noah Lyles powered to victory in the men’s 60m while fellow Olympic champion Grant Holloway extended his 11-year unbeaten streak with victory in the 60m hurdles at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix meeting in Boston on Sunday.
American sprint king Lyles, the reigning Olympic and world 100m champion, scorched over the line to win in 6.52sec with the Bahamas’ Terrence Jones second in 6.57sec and P.J. Austin third in 6.60sec.
Italy’s Tokyo Olympic 100m champion Marcell Jacobs was fourth in 6.63sec.
Lyles said afterwards he has finally put victory in Paris last year behind him as he prepares to tackle a new season.
“I’m not gonna act like it’s easy, it’s a little difficult,” Lyles said. “But I know there’s a job to be done and I’m trying to transcend my sport.
“My first job is to make sure that everybody knows that even though I won the (Olympic) medal, I’ll go everywhere and I’m gonna win because I’m the world’s fastest man.”
In other events on Sunday, reigning Olympic 110m hurdles champion and three-time world champion Holloway scorched to victory in the men’s 60m hurdles in a season-best time of 7.42sec. Fred Crittenden was second in 7.54sec with Cordell Tinch third in 7.54sec.
Holloway has not lost an indoor hurdles race since 2014, and said afterwards that with world and Olympic golds in the bank, he is now running to cement his legacy.
“It’s just about building legacy, man,” Holloway said. “I’ve been doing this for so long. I’ve accomplished all my goals. So now it’s just about motivating the youth and then continuing just to build whatever I got to do.”
Holloway joked though that he has not been thinking about being remembered as the greatest sprint hurdler in history.
“I don’t even want to be the G.O.A.T (greatest of all time),” he said. “Usually, when people start calling themselves the goat, that’s when they get worse.”
Elsewhere Sunday, the USA’s women’s Olympic 100m hurdles gold medallist Masai Russell was a comfortable winner of the 60m hurdles in 7.80sec, edging out second-placed Grace Stark (7.81sec) and the Bahamas’ Devynne Charlton, who was third in 7.85sec.
In the women’s 300m meanwhile, Olympic 100m gold medallist Julien Alfred impressed with a blistering victory in 36.16sec.
The 23-year-old Alfred — whose 100m gold in Paris last year was St. Lucia’s first ever Olympic medal— cruised home ahead of Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith, who took second in 36.87sec, with France’s Emma Montoya third in 38.37sec.
In the men’s 300m, Olympic 400m hurdles champion Rai Benjamin secured a comfortable victory in 32.21sec, taking first ahead of compatriot Vernon Norwood (32.39sec) with Matthew Boling third in 32.82sec.
