MOSCOW: France fine-tuned their preparations for the World Cup final against Croatia on Friday, desperate to overcome the bitter disappointment of losing the Euro 2016 final as FIFA declared Russia 2018 the best-ever tournament.
Didier Deschamps’ team are firm favorites to win Sunday’s showpiece in Moscow and become world champions for the second time — 20 years after their first triumph in 1998.
But they will come up against a hungry Croatia side boasting one of the players of the tournament in Real Madrid star Luka Modric, who is desperate to win the trophy for the nation of just over four million people.
France failed to click in the group stages but they have gone up through the gears during the knockout rounds and look a formidable blend of youthful vitality and experience.
They will approach the match at the 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium full of confidence and with the pain of losing the final of Euro 2016 on home soil to Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal spurring them on.
“The tears have dried from Euro 2016 but it’s still there in a little corner of people’s minds,” said midfielder Blaise Matuidi on Friday.
“It will be useful for us on Sunday, even if I don’t like to keep bringing up the past. It will serve as a lesson to us and it means we know what it is to play in a final.
“We’ll approach it differently and hope that we play really well and win it. It’s up to us to put everything into place to achieve our dream of lifting the World Cup.”
Deschamps’ team are packed with attacking stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann but it is their defense that has shone in the past two rounds, not conceding a single goal.
Croatia — the smallest nation to make it to the final since Uruguay in 1950 — have battled through three periods of extra-time to reach the final. That means they have played the equivalent of a whole extra match more than France.
But coach Zlatko Dalic said there would be no excuses despite their exertions.
“We prepared to get to the final and we want to play it,” he said. “Going to extra-time might be a problem along with the fact France have had an extra day to recover but there will be no excuses.”
As the tournament drifts toward its end, FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared it the best ever.
“I was saying this would be the best World Cup ever. Today I can say it with more conviction... it is the best World Cup,” Infantino said in Moscow.
More than one million foreign fans have visited Russia during the World Cup, according to FIFA figures.
“A lot of pre-conceived ideas have changed thanks to this World Cup,” said Infantino.
“Everyone has discovered a beautiful country, a welcoming country, full of people keen to show to the world what maybe sometimes is said is not what happens here.”
He also said the use of the VAR (video assistant referee) had been a success and praised the quality of the football, with just a single 0-0 draw in 62 games so far.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to pour onto the streets of Paris at the weekend, 20 years on from the 1998 win on home soil, when Deschamps was captain of the side.
A security operation swung into full gear, with plans for 110,000 law enforcement officers to be deployed across France as the country celebrates the national Bastille Day holiday and the World Cup final.
“Everything is being done so the French can live these festive moments with peace of mind, despite the terrorist threat which remains at a high level,” Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said.
Before the final, England will play Belgium in a low-key battle for third place in Saint Petersburg on Saturday.
Gareth Southgate said his young team, who were just 22 minutes from reaching the final before Croatia’s impressive comeback in the semifinal, would have to learn from their bitter disappointment.
“The team will be better in a couple of years,” Southgate said in comments to the British press. “We have to build. We have some good young players coming through. We’ve had success at youth level.
“What we’ve done over the last few weeks has shown what is possible. We want to be in semifinals and finals and we’ve shown to ourselves that can happen.
“Now we have to use it as a springboard to reach the latter stages of tournaments consistently.”
France focus on World Cup glory, spurred on by 2016 Euro pain
France focus on World Cup glory, spurred on by 2016 Euro pain
- France failed to click in the group stages but they have gone up through the gears during the knockout rounds
- Deschamps’ team are packed with attacking stars such as Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann but it is their defense that has shone
Pakistan to face off Myanmar in AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday
- The Pakistan team arrived in Yangon via private airline flight on Sunday
- Pakistan are placed in Group E alongside Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Syria
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will face off Myanmar on Tuesday to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup tournament, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said on Sunday.
The Pakistan team arrived in Yangon via private airline flight on Sunday, according to the PFF. They will train in Yangon on Monday.
“The match between Pakistan and Myanmar will be held at Thuwana Stadium,” it said. “It will start at 3:30 PM according to Pakistani time.”
Pakistan have been training under the supervision of head coach Stephen Constantine in hopes of bouncing back from a 2-0 defeat to Syria in the campaign opener back in March.
Pakistan are placed in Group E alongside Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Syria.
Dubai remains a cornerstone in Carlsen’s journey, says father after Norway chess triumph
- Carlsen’s deep ties with Dubai began in 2004, when he achieved his final grandmaster norm at the sixth Dubai Open at just 13 years old
STAVANGER: As Magnus Carlsen lifted a record-extending seventh Norway Chess title on Friday, his father Henrik Carlsen reflected on the enduring significance of a city that has long been woven into the fabric of his son’s chess journey — Dubai.
“Dubai has been part of Magnus’ chess journey for over 20 years now,” Henrik said after his son secured victory with a final-round win over India’s Arjun Erigaisi.
“He took his final GM norm there in 2004, won his first double crown in 2014, and played his last World Championship match during World Expo 2020. That kind of continuity is rare.”
Carlsen, 34, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in chess history, finished with 16 points — narrowly edging out American grandmaster Fabiano Caruana (15.5) and reigning world champion D Gukesh of India (14.5). The win meant the Norwegian star extended a remarkable run at the top of the sport that now spans over two decades.
“I used to say that everything after he became a GM was a bonus — and the bonuses just kept coming,” Henrik said. “He’s still winning tournaments, still competing at the highest level even as he’s preparing for a new chapter, becoming a father himself.”
Carlsen’s ties to Dubai began in 2004, when he achieved his final grandmaster norm at the sixth Dubai Open at just 13 years old. The performance made him the youngest GM in the world at the time and the second youngest in history behind Sergey Karjakin.
A decade later, he returned to Dubai to make history again, clinching both the World Rapid and World Blitz Championships in June 2014 — becoming the first player to simultaneously hold world titles in all three time controls.
In 2021, the city again played host to a milestone moment. At Expo 2020 Dubai, Carlsen defended his World Chess Championship title against Ian Nepomniachtchi, including a marathon Game 6 that lasted nearly eight hours and 136 moves — the longest match in World Championship history.
Dubai was also the stage for Carlsen’s appearance in the inaugural Global Chess League in 2023, where he reaffirmed his dominance and trademark confidence. “I’m still the best,” he declared, a statement made with calm assurance and underlined by his relaxed demeanor.
Despite an evolving look — in Stavanger this week, rather than sporting his trademark ponytail his tousled hair whipped in the breeze — Henrik said little has changed beneath the surface.
“He’s still the same cocky young man — and I mean that in the best way,” he said, referring to a famous moment of frustration when Carlsen slammed a table after his loss to Gukesh in Round 6. “In our family, arrogance isn’t a flaw if you’ve earned it — and Magnus certainly has.”
Henrik also dismissed recent speculation about a possible move to the UAE for his son.
“He’s spent a lot of time there lately, mostly playing golf, but there are no plans to move,” he said. “He knows all the golf courses there, but he’s staying in Norway.”
Nevertheless, Dubai’s imprint on Carlsen’s chess legacy is undeniable.
“Chennai was his first World Championship match, but Dubai remains his last [as of now]. And in between, so many important things happened there,” Henrik said. “For Magnus, it may well be the most special place in the world.”
Elsewhere at Norway Chess, GM Anna Muzychuk claimed the women’s title, finishing ahead of China’s GM Lei Tingjie and India’s Koneru Humpy.
The tournament also marked a breakthrough moment for 15-year-old Emirati prodigy Rouda Al-Serkal, the UAE’s first Woman Grandmaster and a former world youth champion, who wrapped up her debut in the open category with three consecutive wins.
Farida P wins UAE President’s Cup in Sweden
- Racing series continues its successful run across European tracks
ABU DHABI: Farida P secured a valuable victory at Gardet Turf Racecourse in Stockholm on Friday, winning the UAE President’s Cup for Purebred Arabian Horses at its sixth stop. The race coincided with Sweden’s National Day celebrations and attracted more than 50,000 spectators.
The UAE President’s Cup Series is held under the patronage and guidance of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice president of the UAE, deputy prime minister and chairman of the Presidential Court. It supports a forward-looking vision for the development of Arabian horse racing and promotes breeding and ownership to preserve the breed’s noble heritage.
With the conclusion of the Swedish leg — the sixth race on the 32nd edition’s calendar — the series continued to record remarkable success across European circuits and has cemented its place among the world’s premier equestrian events held in Europe and America.
Farida P, descended from (Al-Mourtajez x Hania Dea by Majd Al-Arab), owned and trained by Pieter Dekkers and ridden by jockey Fabian Lefebvre, delivered a brilliant performance in the most valuable Arabian horse race in Scandinavian history. With a prize purse of $114,000 (€100,000), the Listed race was run over 1,500 meters on turf and open to horses aged four and above. It featured nine of the top Arabian horses from Sweden and Europe.
The mare surged from behind with a powerful burst in the final stretch to take the lead and claim the title in spectacular fashion. Wissam Al-Khalediah, trained by Janusz Kozlowski and ridden by Per-Anders Graberg, secured second place while Gindor de Bozouls, owned by Omar Jorjar, trained by Elizabeth Bernard Jean-François and ridden by Mickael Forest, finished third.
Farida P completed the race in 1:38.08 minutes, raising her win tally to 13 and securing her second UAE President’s Cup title after winning the Dutch leg last year.
The race was attended by Faisal Al-Rahmani, secretary-general of the Higher Organizing Committee of the UAE President’s Cup Series for Purebred Arabian Horses, Ahmed Al-Mansouri, representative of the UAE Embassy in Sweden, Suhail Zbibi, vice president of the Swedish Arabian Horse Association, and Saeed Al-Muhairi, representative of the organizing committee.
Musallam Al-Amri, member of the Higher Organizing Committee, said: “We are proud of the impressive success that the UAE President’s Cup continues to achieve across European tracks. The Swedish race has been a prime example of this success and reflects the Cup’s significance among Arabian horse owners and breeders around the world.
“Hosting the race on Sweden’s National Day, with such a large audience, demonstrates the committee’s commitment to embodying the vision of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed and his leadership in elevating Arabian horse racing through participation in major global events. These strong races and generous prizes continue to support breeders and owners worldwide.”
Kings League MENA drops line-up of superstar team presidents
- Region’s biggest content creators join SURJ Sports Investment-backed Kings League MENA as team presidents
- Tryouts open, giving talented amateur players from across the region an opportunity to join Gerard Pique’s seven-a-side competition
PARIS: Kings League, former Barcelona player Gerard Pique’s revolutionary seven-a-side football competition, is set to debut its new Middle East and North Africa league in Riyadh, in autumn 2025, under a joint venture with SURJ Sports Investment announced last week.
As SXB FC, the team led by Saudi Arabian streaming sensation SHoNgxBoNg, took the field for its second game at the Kings World Cup Clubs 2025 in Paris, the first team presidents of Kings League MENA were unveiled.
At the same time, the application portal for player tryouts was opened for the newest competition in Kings League’s growing global ecosystem. Talented amateur players from across the MENA region have a life-changing opportunity to play in Kings League, as the selection process gets underway.
Kings League MENA is the latest expansion of the rapidly-growing Kings League global competition ecosystem. This covers leagues in Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Latin America and Spain, plus two annual international competitions: the Kings World Cup Clubs and the Kings World Cup Nations.
Through this partnership, SURJ is revolutionizing sport in the region — bringing the MENA region its first digitally native, fast-paced, always-on, creator-powered football league, as it continues to drive investment that helps elevate the area’s sporting ecosystem.
In a dramatic video presentation before the start of last night’s Kings World Cup Clubs match between SXB FC and Kunisports (the team led by football legend Sergio “Kun” Aguero), the first Kings League MENA team presidents were announced:
SHoNgxBoNg (27.6 million social media followers) — The Saudi Arabian streamer vies with Drb7h for the title of number one streamer in the Arab world. He is a two-time winner of Best Influencer at the regional Joy Awards and one of the founding figures of the POWR esports team. He is currently taking part in his second Kings League World Cup, after leading the Saudi Arabian national team to the Kings World Cup Clubs in Italy in January 2025.
Drb7h (8.6 million followers) — Drb7h and SHoNgxBoNg are considered the leading streamers in the Arab world. Drb7h is also from Saudi Arabia and is part of the Falcons Esports team. In 2024, he won the Best Streamer award from the Saudi Esports Federation.
Ilyas Elmaliki (3.9 million followers) — Morocco’s biggest streamer, the man from El-Jadida led the national team that rocked the Kings League universe with a sensational run to the semifinals at the Kings World Cup Clubs 2025.
Tarboun (11.2 million followers) — After a long break from streaming, the gaming legend from Egypt is back and has his eyes on glory in Kings League MENA.
Maherco (12 million followers) — The veteran PUBG and Fortnite streamer is representing Jordan. He will aim to make experience count against his young gun rivals.
Fwaz (861,000 followers) — A rising star of streaming from Kuwait and a key member of the TheUltimates.gg esports team.
Absi (9.9 million followers) — Another up-and-coming streamer, representing Jordan’s next generation.
MENA fans can expect big announcements about more team presidents, the participation of iconic football players, and other exciting developments in the build-up to Kings League MENA.
In the coming months, the players selected during the tryouts will be allocated to their Kings League MENA teams at a draft.
Then, at a special presentation in the weeks leading up to kick-off, the team names, kits, and logo designs will be revealed.
Brazilian star Neymar tests positive for COVID-19
- The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities
- The former Barcelona forward’s future at Santos remains undecided, with his contract set to expire on June 30
Brazil forward Neymar has been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19, his club Santos said in a statement as quoted by Brazilian media.
The 33-year-old began showing symptoms on Thursday and was immediately removed from team activities. Medical tests later confirmed the viral infection, the Brazil Serie A side said on Saturday.
The club did not disclose how long Neymar will be out of action and did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Neymar is already ruled out of Thursday’s league match at Fortaleza through suspension.
The Fortaleza match will be Santos’ last outing before the Brazilian league pauses for the June 14-July 13 Club World Cup in the United States.
The former Barcelona forward’s future at Santos remains undecided, with his contract set to expire on June 30. Limited by injury, he has made 12 appearances for Santos across all competitions this season, contributing three goals and three assists.
