JAKARTA: Japan stand in the way of a Saudi Arabia team burning with desire to win an international trophy, but this new generation of Saudi youngsters are aiming to take another significant step forward on the country’s quest to become a major footballing power.
The Young Falcons take on Japan in the semifinal of the U-19 Asian Championships at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta tonight with a place in next year’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland already secured.
Defeating the talented “Samurai Blue” to earn a final against either Qatar or South Korea would be cause for celebration, but for coach Khalid Al-Atawi there is much more to come even beyond that. Saudi Arabia have been impressive with four wins from four games. And it is not just the results and performances that have won plaudits back home, but the way the team has played with spirited confidence and determination.
Six of the nine goals scored so far in the tournament have come in the final third of games in energy-sapping conditions in south-east Asia’s tropical climate.
“The players have done all that I have asked of them and they keep going until the end,” coach Al-Atawi told Arab News. “We have worked hard in training and during the games. We are growing in confidence and show that even when things sometimes don’t go our way, there is no reason why we can’t keep going.
“Every game we are improving and I believe there is more to come.”
That self-belief was on display in Monday’s quarterfinal. After taking an early lead against Australia, the Young Falcons held their nerve after conceding a second-half equalizer to run out 3-1 winners, a victory that secured a place at the U-20 World Cup in Poland next year.
“We have achieved our goal to qualify for the 2019 World Cup but this is not the end of our ambition,” Al-Atawi added. “We want to do as much as we can in this tournament and then keep progressing in the future. This is not the end.”
It has been an encouraging year for Saudi football. The senior team ended this summer’s World Cup — their first appearance on the global stage since 2006 — with a win over Egypt, their first victory since 1994.
The Saudi Pro League is booming with increased attendances and improved standards. And an inexperienced U-23 team impressed at the Asian Games in August before narrowly losing 2-1 to Japan at the quarterfinal stage.
Japan, who defeated Saudi Arabia in the final of the 2016 tournament, will once again be the opposition this evening. Japan have also won all four of their games, but the Saudis are looking forward to the challenge of taking on a team that has scored 15 goals in those four games.
“Of course we know that it will be a tough game,” Al-Atawi said. “Japan are always strong and have excellent players, but we have shown we also are strong. It should be a great game.”
Saudi Arabia’s exploits have been praised back in Riyadh too. Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), sent his congratulations.
Qusay bin Abdulaziz Al-Fawaz, the president of the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF), also heaped praise on the team.
“We are delighted that our team have qualified for the U-20 World Cup (next year),” he said.
SAFF also announced that any members of the U-19 squad who had been handed disciplinary punishments at home, for whatever reason, would have those punishments lifted.
Good wishes also came piling in from various clubs. Defending champions Al-Hilal said: “Officially we are off to Poland next year. Congratulations to Saudi Arabia and well done to those young players.”
Similar messages came from Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr and Al-Hazm.
Al-Hilal’s star striker Bafetimbi Gomis was also delighted.
“Congratulations to the U19 team and the Saudi federation for the work that has been done and in qualifying for the World Cup,” the former Lyon forward said.
“I hope that those little lions will grow up to be proud lions in the future.”
First, though, comes a tough Japan challenge. The “Samurai Blue” defeated hosts Indonesia in their quarterfinal in front of more than 60,000 fans, who turned the famed Gelora Bung Karno into a cauldron.
“It was a good experience for us and a good win,” said Japan coach Masanaga Kageyama. “Now we are focusing on Saudi Arabia. We know they are a strong team and are playing well. We will have to be at our best but we are looking forward to a good game.”
Saudi Arabia coach Khalid Al-Atawi relishing tough Japan challenge in Jakarta
Saudi Arabia coach Khalid Al-Atawi relishing tough Japan challenge in Jakarta
- The Young Falcons take on Japan in the semifinal of the U-19 Asian Championships at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta
- Japan, who defeated Saudi Arabia in the final of the 2016 tournament, will once again be the opposition this evening
Bellingham leads Madrid past Mallorca to set up a Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona
- Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post
- Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time
JEDDAH: Jude Bellingham scored again to lead Real Madrid into the Spanish Super Cup final with a 3-0 win over Mallorca in Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
The England midfielder, who led Madrid in scoring last season, started this campaign slowly but has netted seven goals in his last eight Spanish league games.
He notched another goal in 63rd minute of the Super Cup semifinal when he finally broke down a tough Mallorca that until his goal had imposed their defensive style on the star-studded Madrid.
Bellingham blasted in the third shot in a row by Madrid after Rodrygo initially hit the post and goalkeeper Dominik Greif blocked a follow-up by Kylian Mbappé.
Bellingham collected the rebound and slotted his shot from just outside the six-yard box under the on-rushing Greif and past three defenders who were trying to protect the goalmouth.
Madrid tacked on two goals late in stoppage time. Mallorca’s Martin Valjent scored an own goal when he inadvertently turned a pass by Brahim Díaz into his net. Rodrygo then took Madrid’s third.
The match ended with a short scuffle after the final whistle before calm was restored.
Barcelona await Madrid in Sunday’s final.
Madrid lost Aurélien Tchouaméni, a midfielder playing as a central defender, in the 54th after he took a hard knock to the head during a collision with a Mallorca player.
Youth player Raúl Asencio replaced him.
Madrid were competing as last season’s Spanish league champion, while Mallorca were invited as the runner-up in the Copa del Rey.
Former Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who now plays in the Saudi Arabian league, was in attendance.
The minor trophy has become a major cash maker for the federation and competing clubs since the federation struck a deal in 2019 to hold it in the Middle Eastern kingdom.
Ronaldo penalty and Mane double propel Al-Nassr to 3-1 victory
- After Savior Godwin gave Okhdood an early lead, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane leveled after 29 minutes
- Ronaldo, who signed for Al-Nassr two years ago, put the Riyadh club ahead from the penalty spot three minutes before the break
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 11th goal of the season to help Al-Nassr defeat Al-Okhdood 3-1 on Thursday as the Saudi Pro League restarted after a month’s break.
After Savior Godwin gave Okhdood an early lead, former Liverpool star Sadio Mane leveled after 29 minutes.
Ronaldo, who signed for Al-Nassr two years ago, put the Riyadh club ahead from the penalty spot three minutes before the break.
The 39-year-old Portugal star was top scorer last season and is now one goal behind Aleksandar Mitrovic of Al-Hilal in the current rankings.
Mane added his second in the 88th minute as Al-Nassr moved into third in the standings, six points behind Al-Hilal and eight behind leader Al-Ittihad.
Atletico blast decision to let Barca’s Olmo play as dissent grows
- The Catalans sought and were granted a precautionary measure by the CSD on Wednesday
- Las Palmas were also upset with the decision by the CSD
MADRID: La Liga team Atletico Madrid criticized on Thursday a “dangerous precedent” set by the Spanish national sports council (CSD) to allow Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo to play on a temporary basis after his license expired.
Olmo and forward Pau Victor were unregistered by La Liga after Barcelona failed to get their short-term licenses extended before the end of 2024.
The Catalans sought and were granted a precautionary measure by the CSD on Wednesday, while their case against La Liga and the Spanish football federation’s decision is analyzed, which would allow Olmo and Victor to play until there is a final ruling.
“Atletico Madrid wish to express their deep concern about the situation in Spanish football following the resolution adopted this Wednesday by the (CSD),” said the club in a statement.
“We believe that this decision puts the current system in jeopardy, questioning the rules of the game.
“This government intervention creates a very dangerous precedent, as it opens the door to breaking the rules and making the same serious mistakes of the past.”
Financially-struggling Barcelona were not in a position to register Olmo and Victor under La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules, until they agreed a deal to sell some VIP seats to Middle Eastern investors in late December, with the paperwork not ready until after the deadline.
Without the missing players Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao to reach Sunday’s Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.
Las Palmas were also upset with the decision by the CSD.
“We believe that this decision poses a serious threat to the integrity of the competition and sets a worrying precedent that could destabilize the foundations of professional football in our country,” said Las Palmas in a statement.
La Liga president Javier Tebas railed against the decision to let Olmo and Victor play, calling the situation a “tragicomedy” in a post on social media.
Tebas expressed his surprise at the CSD measure and highlighted that it contradicted previous decisions made by the council and some courts.
Continental Europe and Great Britain & Ireland set for Team Cup showdown in Abu Dhabi
- Europe captain Francesco Molinari faces off against fellow major champion and Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose, who leads GB&I
- The event tees off on Friday with a fourballs session, is followed on Saturday by 2 sessions of foursomes and concludes with singles on Sunday
ABU DHABI: Continental Europe, led by captain Francesco Molinari, begin their defense of the Team Cup against Great Britain & Ireland at Abu Dhabi Golf Resort on Friday.
The Italian, who became the first golfer from his country to become a major champion when he triumphed at The Open in 2019, was in charge when the Europeans claimed a 14½-10½ victory over GB&I, captained by Tommy Fleetwood, at the inaugural event (then called the Hero Cup) in 2023, personally contributing three-and-a-half points to the cause.
This time, Molinari is facing face off against fellow major champion, and Ryder Cup teammate, Justin Rose, who is captaining the opposition in an event that serves as an important part of Europe’s Ryder Cup preparations ahead of this year’s contest at Bethpage in New York in September.
The members of the two, 10-man Team Cup squads boast a combined total of 69 DP World Tour titles between them, and include four Ryder Cup players: Molinari, Rose, Fleetwood and Tyrrell Hatton.
“I think that the experience from two years ago is going to come in handy,” Molinari said. “I think a lot of the stuff that we did worked. I think obviously we were lucky to get the support from my brother and the other past Ryder Cup captains.”
Rose said of his role as captain: “It’s an honor, first and foremost. I think it’s been something that’s sort of been on my mind. Because, obviously, sometimes when you play as a player, you’re obviously preparing all the time for tournaments that come up but when you have something like this looming large, you start thinking about it months in advance.”
The Team Cup is a matchplay contest that tees off on Friday with a fourballs session, is followed on Saturday by two sessions of foursomes, and concludes with singles on Sunday. Every player competes in each of the sessions.
Rose will be in action in the first match on the opening day alongside five-time DP World Tour winner Matt Wallace. They will take on the French pair of Romain Langasque, who won the Amateur Championship in 2015, and Matthieu Pavon, who last season became the first Frenchman for more than 100 years to win on the PGA Tour.
Five-time DP World Tour winner Rasmus Hojgaard, who missed the 2023 event as a result of injury, will partner last year’s Challenge Tour Road to Mallorca Rankings winner Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen against the English pair of Laurie Canter and Jordan Smith.
Alongside the action on the course, there will be a host of activities and events throughout the three days of the event for fans to enjoy. This includes musical entertainment, which begins on Friday with a performance by Irish singer Rory McGettigan. On Saturday, Shades of Jade will take the stage with their dynamic blend of jazz, pop, funk and party classics. After the champions are crowned on the 18th green on Sunday, singer-guitarist The Dazzler will round off the event with an evening of his signature singalongs.
Everton fire manager Dyche hours before a game in first big call by new American owners
- Everton announced the move just hours before hosting third-tier Peterborough in the FA Cup third round
- “The process to appoint a new manager is underway and an update will be provided in due course,” Everton said
LONDON: In the first big call by its new American owners, Everton fired manager Sean Dyche on Thursday with the team just two spots above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
Everton announced the move just hours before hosting third-tier Peterborough in the FA Cup third round.
The storied club — a nine-time English champion which have been without a major trophy since 1995 — were bought last month by the Texas-based Friedkin Group in a deal reportedly worth in excess of 400 million pounds ($495 million).
Fronted by Dan Friedkin and his son Ryan, the group also owns Italian team Roma and has made itself unpopular with supporters of the Serie A club for making contentious management changes — including firing Daniele De Rossi, the club’s beloved former captain, early this season.
Removing Dyche might have been necessary, however, with Everton having won just one of their last 11 league games and scoring in just three of them. With 15 goals from their 19 games, Everton are the second-lowest scorer in the division and have plunged to just one point above the bottom three.
“The process to appoint a new manager is underway and an update will be provided in due course,” Everton said in a statement.
Dyche was in charge for nearly two years, during which he maintained Everton’s status as an ever-present in England’s top division since 1954. His style of play was pragmatic and often turgid, relying on not conceding goals more than providing entertainment — and that might be something the Friedkins look to change.
Everton said Leighton Baines, a former player and the club’s under-18s coach, and current club captain Seamus Coleman will take charge of the team on an interim basis.
Everton’s next Premier League game is on Wednesday against Aston Villa.
