MADRID: Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says if the injured Karim Benzema is unable to play in next week’s La Liga derby against Atletico Madrid it will rule the star striker out of contention for France’s Nations League World Cup warm up games.
Benzema, hot favorite to pick up next month’s Ballon d’Or, suffered a right thigh injury in Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League win at Celtic.
And Ancelotti said on Saturday: “Karim? We’ll see if he can make the derby. What’s certain is that if he doesn’t play the derby he won’t be joining his national team.”
World Cup winners France continue the preparations for the defense of their 2018 crown against Austria on September 22 and Denmark three days later.
Ancelotti added of the French forward: “These are the sort of things that can happen
“There’s a minor issue, but last year too he had a physical problem in December and we were able to deal with it.
“This year, it’ll be the same thing.”
The 34-year-old striker hobbled off after half an hour of the game at Parkhead with Real going on to run out impressive winners as they kicked off their title defense in style.
“Without him the team played really well against Celtic, especially in attack,” Ancelotti observed, ahead of Sunday’s La Liga clash with Real Mallorca.
Eden Hazard will as he did in Glasgow step in to Benzema’s role on Sunday.
While praising the Belgian for his performance in Scotland Ancelotti noted: “Benzema doesn’t have a natural replacement.
“He’s the best center forward in the world, and there’s no substitute for him anywhere on the market.”
Whether Benzema is fit enough to face Atletico will determine in part on tests but mostly on his astute coach.
“We’ve got lots of information, physical and technical. I take them all into account but only to confirm what my own eyes are telling me.
“If my eyes tell me a player is well on the pitch but the data is saying he’s tired, he’ll remain out on the pitch.”
Benzema’s France call-up hinges on Madrid derby says Ancelotti
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Benzema’s France call-up hinges on Madrid derby says Ancelotti
- Benzema, hot favourite to pick up next month's Ballon d'Or, suffered a right thigh injury in Tuesday's 3-0 Champions League win at Celtic
- Ancelotti said: "Karim? We'll see if he can make the derby"
Acclaim for Bounou, Al-Dawsari as world reacts to Al-Hilal’s performance against Real Madrid
- New coach Simone Inzaghi’s tactics praised after Saudi club’s impressive 1-1 draw in FIFA Club World Cup
- It was on social media, however, that the impact of Al-Hilal’s performance reverberated most
DUBAI: An impressive 1-1 draw by Al-Hilal against Spanish giants Real Madrid in the FIFA World Club Cup has drawn praise from football fans and media alike, with goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou and captain Salem Al-Dawsari receiving particular attention.
Al-Dawsari caused a stir among the media, who recalled his heroics in scoring Saudi Arabia’s winner against Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while Bounou was a key player for Morocco who reached the semifinals in the same tournament.
There was also recognition of the role played by Simone Inzaghi, the new Al-Hilal coach, who took over the reins following his departure from UEFA Champions League finalists Inter Milan.
“For Al-Hilal, many foreign players who now play for the club have experience at top teams and stages of tournaments, like Manchester City and World Cup semifinals,” wrote the Washington Post after the encounter at Hard Rock Stadium in Washington.
“Inzaghi has made a big step after guiding Inter Milan to two Champions League finals, now stepping out of his comfort zone.”
Al Jazeera said Real Madrid had labored to the 1-1 result draw against a spirited Al-Hilal and that “Simone Inzaghi’s men showed defensive grit and enough attacking intent to rattle their illustrious opponents.”
The BBC compared the Al-Hilal coach’s debut to that of opposite number Xabi Alonso, saying: “Inzaghi will likely be the more satisfied, with his unfancied Al-Hilal side impressing and threatening to deliver a remarkable result even without a prolific marksman of their own, given Aleksandar Mitrovic was ruled out through injury.”
It was on social media, however, that the impact of Al-Hilal’s performance reverberated most.
Many commenters highlighted the challenges posed by 33-year-old Al-Dawsari to Real Madrid debutant Trent Alexander Arnold, who was involved in one of the most high-profile transfers of the summer when he joined the Saudi club from Liverpool just weeks ago.
“I was raving about Salem Al-Dawsari during the Arabian Gulf Cup as one of the best players I have ever seen. An unbelievable talent and Real Madrid found that out for themselves,” journalist David Rhys Williams wrote on X.
Seb Stafford-Bloor of The Athletic echoed the sentiments in his own tweet: “Salem Al-Dawsari is a super player — and he’s had an excellent half. Causing all kinds of problems down Real’s right.”
One user said: “Trent getting dunked on by Salem Al-Dawsari,” while another commented: “Trent getting cooked by Al-Dawsari.” Others posted memes of the Al-Hilal player’s success in the head-to-head battle.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois praised Bounou after a stoppage-time penalty save against Frederico Valverde secured a precious point for Al-Hilal.
“Fede has a very strong shot but he does not look at the keeper. Bounou moved early and could reach it. Bounou is good at penalties,” said Courtois.
On X, @Medias24, with over 180,000 followers, said: “A world-renowned drill specialist, Yassine Bounou, once again demonstrated his instincts against Real Madrid. Marca praises him, FIFA celebrates him, and the numbers confirm: the Moroccan goalkeeper has become a global icon.”
Meanwhile Moroccan football account @MoroccanGrinta proudly tweeted: “Penalty in the 90th minute against Real Madrid? Not a problem when you have Yassine Bounou. The Atlas Lion delivers a masterclass and secures a crucial point for Al-Hilal.”
Sports News Africa posted a video of Bounou’s save and said: “We’ll let you watch yet another save from the best African goalkeeper in history against the GREAT Real Madrid. Yassine Bounou…”
Olympic leader Bach got 10 percent raise in 2024 payment that trails far behind soccer’s elected leaders
- Bach on Monday will formally hand over to President-elect Kirsty Coventry
- The IOC has classed the 71-year-old Bach as a volunteer on a full-time executive mission
GENEVA: The International Olympic Committee paid its president Thomas Bach $350,000 in 2024, the Olympic body said Friday — a 10 percent raise for his final full year in office after a two-year freeze.
The payment, or “indemnity” in Olympic language, revealed in its annual report is small compared to soccer bodies that, like the IOC, are based in Switzerland and count annual revenue in billions.
Bach on Monday will formally hand over to President-elect Kirsty Coventry, who will start an eight-year initial term as the Olympic body’s first female leader and first from Africa.
The IOC has classed the 71-year-old Bach as a volunteer on a full-time executive mission who “should not have to finance activities related to his function from his personal savings.”
Bach, who also gets living allowances, was paid from 12 percent to 15 percent what soccer gives its top elected officials.
FIFA paid its president Gianni Infantino $5.2 million in taxable salary and bonus last year, plus other expenses. Infantino also is among the 109 IOC members and so can claim $7,000 each year for office costs and $450 daily allowance when on Olympic business.
UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin got almost $4.3 million in taxable income last year, including $300,000 from FIFA as one of its vice presidents.
It is unclear if the 41-year-old Coventry will be a salaried president of the IOC instead of officially a volunteer. The IOC was asked for comment.
The two-time Olympic champion in swimming left her job as sports minister of Zimbabwe after winning the seven-candidate IOC election in March.
Bach’s annual payment has been decided by the IOC’s ethics commission on the stated principle “the president should not financially benefit from his position.”
The German lawyer held a series of business consultancies and board of director seats before being elected in 2013 to lead the IOC.
The IOC paid Bach 225,000 euros ($259,000) in 2020. It rose to 275,000 euros ($317,000) in the year of his re-election, 2021, then was frozen for each of the next two years.
International sports bodies have typically published details of leadership pay as part of governance reforms, particularly after corruption scandals in soccer.
Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers postponed, relocated due to Israel-Iran conflict
- Preliminary matches involving Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, Bhutan and Singapore were due to kick off on Monday
- The Group A qualifiers will now take place from July 7 to 19
BEIRUT: Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers scheduled for next week in Jordan have been postponed until July and moved to Qatar due to the air war between Iran and Israel, the Asian Football Confederation confirmed on Friday.
Preliminary matches involving Jordan, Iran, Lebanon, Bhutan and Singapore were due to kick off on Monday and run through to July 5.
The Group A qualifiers will now take place from July 7 to 19, with further details regarding venues and match timings yet to be confirmed by the regional body.
The Football Association of Singapore had earlier said that the matches had been postponed by the AFC due to the “ongoing situation in the region and logistical concerns” raised by several participating member associations.
Qualifiers for the competition will begin elsewhere in the region on Monday, with the draw for the finals to be held on July 29. The 12-team tournament will be played in Australia next March.
Israel began attacking Iran last Friday, saying it aimed to prevent its longtime enemy from developing nuclear weapons.
Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on Israel. It says its nuclear program is peaceful.
Record participation as UAE students compete in annual contest at Yas Island
- The ADNOC Yas in Schools National Finals 2025 will bring together 1,400 students, 310 teams, and 113 schools with contests in F1 in Schools, Formula Ethara, and 4x4 in Schools
ABU DHABI: The 15th edition of the ADNOC Yas in Schools National Finals kicked off at Yas Marina Circuit, featuring a record-breaking number of participants from across the country. This year, 1,400 students representing 113 schools and 310 teams are competing in a series of STEM-focused competitions that run until June 22.
The event, a flagship initiative in the UAE’s youth and education landscape, aims to foster skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on projects and competitive challenges. The finals include contests in F1 in Schools, Formula Ethara, and 4x4 in Schools, which emphasize engineering, design, sustainability, and teamwork.
Throughout the week, students will demonstrate their abilities by engineering miniature race cars, developing branding and sponsorship strategies, and presenting their projects to judges. The winners of the F1 in Schools category will represent the UAE at the global finals later this year.
Ali Al-Beshr, general manager of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “This year’s finals showcase the ambition, creativity, and skill that define the ADNOC Yas in Schools program. We are proud to support ADNOC’s commitment to youth empowerment, sustainability, and STEM development, and to watch the UAE’s next generation rise to the challenge.”
The competition aligns with national priorities to nurture a knowledge-based economy and promote sustainable innovation. Notably, many participating teams include students from underrepresented groups, with sustainability integrated into their engineering designs and presentations.
Since its inception, the program has contributed over 1 million hours of student engagement across more than 1,100 schools nationwide. The event supports ADNOC’s corporate social responsibility efforts and aligns with the UAE’s broader goals in education, sustainability, and economic development.
The winners will be announced during an online awards ceremony scheduled for June 24.
No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner featured on Andrea Bocelli’s new single
- Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner is featured on Andrea Bocelli’s new single “Dust and Glory”
- The song blends Italian and English and mixes Bocelli’s vocals with spoken verses from Sinner
ROME: Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner is featured on Andrea Bocelli’s new single, “Dust and Glory” that was released Friday.
The song, which blends Italian and English, mixes Bocelli’s vocals with spoken verses from Sinner.
It’s a tribute to the struggle and beauty of life’s journey, and “the fine line that turns dust into glory.”
There’s also an accompanying four-minute music video featuring private footage from the childhoods of both Italian stars, with current scenes filmed at Bocelli’s home in Tuscany.
“Talent doesn’t exist; it has to be earned,” Sinner says in the recording.
“Sharing this journey with Jannik was fascinating,” Bocelli said. “We’re from different worlds but close in commitment and discipline in the constant search for authenticity and beauty. I have always been his fan, fascinated not only by his talent, but also by his humility and his inner strength.”
Sinner added: “I am very honored and happy to be part of this project with Andrea, who for 30 years has been a unique and extraordinary voice, a flag of our country in the world. I could never have imagined hearing my voice in one of his songs, all this is a strong emotion.”
