Herve Renard looks to solve World Cup selection issues as Saudi face Ecuador in friendly 

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Herve Renard with his players at their training camp in Alicante, Spain. (SAFF)
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Updated 22 September 2022
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Herve Renard looks to solve World Cup selection issues as Saudi face Ecuador in friendly 

  • Mohamed Kanoo and Fahad Al-Muwallad return after lengthy suspensions while question could arise over exclusion of goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf

A little history will be made on Friday as Saudi Arabia take on Ecuador in Spain. According to reports, Herve Renard will take charge of the national team for the 31st time, equalling the number reached by Jose Peseiro from 2009 to 2011. It is an impressive record and would have been even better had COVID-19 not hit in 2020.

The Frenchman won’t care too much about that as his time will not be judged only on what he has done since his appointment in July 2019 but what happens in November and, hopefully, December in Qatar.

Unlike Peseiro, Renard has taken the Green Falcons to the World Cup and finished qualification on top of a group that also included Japan and Australia. It was an impressive campaign. Renard crafted a team that was more cohesive, flexible and tactically astute than before and got his just rewards with a contract extended to 2027 and a spot at Qatar 2022 in a group with Argentina, Poland and Mexico.

Preparations started almost immediately with June friendlies against Colombia and Venezuela in Spain, two South American opponents that had not qualified for the World Cup. Both games were lost 1-0 and showed there was work to do.

There was a little too much space behind the defense and perhaps a little too much respect given to the opposition, especially Colombia. Still, there were some absences, including star player Salem Al-Dawsari, and Renard himself missed the first due to illness and, as tests go, they were valuable.

Just how valuable will be seen on Friday against a South American team that will be at Qatar — and will face the hosts in their opening match and see Saudi Arabia as good preparation for that — and then a clash with the US four days later.

After three years in charge, Renard has a good idea of his best team and there were few surprises in his squad. An eyebrow or two had been raised at the exclusion of Al-Hilal right-back Mohammed Al-Breik, though there are decent options in this position. The main talking point concerned goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Mayouf. The 35-year-old retired from international football in 2019 but then indicated earlier this year that he would be available once more.

It is not going to happen.

“His level is excellent at the moment but Al-Mayouf decided to retire more than three years ago,” Renard said. “We currently have a good goalkeeper, Muhammad Al-Owais, who has played well with the national team.”

Al-Mayouf himself has said that he respects the decision.

As always, a coach will live and die by such decisions but this is an unusual situation and will be discussed by the international media at the World Cup. Al-Mayouf is the number one at Al-Hilal while Al-Owais is his number two and therefore not playing regularly. Many feel that the former is the best domestic shotstopper in a league that is dominated by foreign goalkeepers and not only that, is better on the ball and playing out from the back. He also recently broke the league record for total number of clean sheets.

Yet Al-Owais did perform well in qualification and it is understandable that a coach wants to stay loyal to the man that has consistently delivered. It may be wise, however, to consider taking Al-Mayouf to Qatar to at least give some strength in depth if anything does happen to Al-Owais. Any goalkeeping mistakes in Spain in the next few days will surely lead to a greater debate at home in the next few weeks.

Renard has also called two players who have been serving lengthy bans: Mohamed Kanoo and Fahad Al-Muwallad. Both served well during qualification and will be looking to show the fans, as much as the boss, what they can do. Al-Muwallad has recently left Al-Ittihad to join Al-Shabab and the winger’s attacking qualities are likely to be needed in Qatar. Their experience appeals especially as captain Salman Al-Faraj has been picking up knocks on a regular and worrying basis of late. All hope that the Al-Hilal man stays fit for the big event.

In attack, Renard has recalled Haroune Camara, understandably so, given the lack of options. The mercurial Al-Ittihad forward has not played much this season but has scored one good goal and offers something a little different. Abdullah Al-Hamdan is out, perhaps paying the price for the striking riches that his club Al-Hilal have, which means he is very much a squad player, while club-mate Saleh Al-Shehri is still injured with an achilles tendon and so is touch-and-go for November. Saudi Arabia would welcome any sign of goalscoring prowess from anyone but, at the moment, Firas Al-Buraikan is the main man, even if some feel he is more effective coming off the bench.

Ecuador finished fourth in CONMEBOL qualification and have a squad with plenty of experience in their home continent, Europe and MLS. They arrive in Spain full of confidence and on the back of an unbeaten run of four games, which includes draws against Argentina and Mexico and a win over Nigeria.

So a tough test awaits, which is how it should be just two months out of the World Cup. For Saudi Arabia and their record-breaking coach, it is as much about the performance and fine-tuning the team ahead of Qatar as it is about the result and not falling to a confidence-sapping third defeat in a row against Latin American opposition.


Celtics’ Jayson Tatum progressing well, but won’t return until ‘fully ready’

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Celtics’ Jayson Tatum progressing well, but won’t return until ‘fully ready’

  • Boston president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the All-Star is progressing well following surgery last month
When Jayson Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the Celtics’ conference semifinals loss the the New York Knicks, everything about Boston’s immediate future changed.
But what won’t change is the Celtics’ front office’s prudence in making sure he has the space and time to make a full recovery.
Boston president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said the All-Star is progressing well following surgery last month. But asked about whether the team had put a potential timeline on Tatum’s return, Stevens was definitive that there would be no rushing the star’s rehabilitation.
“We don’t and we won’t,” Stevens said Wednesday night following the first round of the NBA draft. “We won’t put a projected timeline on him for a long, long time. ... It’s baby steps right now. He’s actually progressed great, but I don’t know what that means in regard to projected timelines. But that will be in consultation with him ... and everybody else to make sure when he hits the court he is fully ready, and fully healthy. And that will be the priority.”
Tatum is expected to miss most if not all of next season. It has already had implications for next season, with the team opting to trade Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday – both key contributors from the 2024 title team – in an effort to get the team’s salary under the luxury tax second penalty apron.
But Stevens said All-Star Jaylen Brown has already been back to the Celtics’ training facility since he had minimally invasive surgery to clean up his right knee. Brown is doing some light ball handling and work around the rim, Stevens said.
“We said be ready for training camp and I think he’ll probably be going full well ahead of that,” Stevens said.
While Stevens said league rules wouldn’t allow him to address the pending trades of Porzingis or Holiday, he said anything they do this offseason is with an eye toward regaining flexibility after multiple seasons with a high payroll.
“As far as whatever moves that those are a apart of, they’re all separate and hard and things that you’re going to have to do your best to make sure you put yourself in the right positions,” Stevens said. “We knew this was coming. This isn’t a huge surprise. ... The biggest thing for us is making sure that we balance that, maximizing what we can with regard to what we bring back so we can continue to build and grow.”

Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe first picks of 2025 NBA Draft

Updated 26 June 2025
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Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, VJ Edgecombe first picks of 2025 NBA Draft

  • The Mavericks’ announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Flagg, who had long been projected as the top pick
  • The San Antonio Spurs followed with the No. 2 pick, which they used to select Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper

Cooper Flagg anticipated the moment for many months.

Still, when Flagg heard his name called No. 1 overall by the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night in the NBA Draft, he felt a flurry of emotions.

“I’m feeling amazing,” Flagg said as he stood with his family. “It’s a dream come true, to be honest. I wouldn’t want to share it with anybody else.”

The Mavericks’ announcement ended a months-long buildup for the 18-year-old Flagg, who had long been projected as the top pick. The only question was which team would get the chance to select him, and Dallas earned that opportunity when it won the NBA Draft lottery last month, despite having just 1.8 percent odds of moving into the top spot.

Flagg figures to quickly provide a new face of the franchise for the Mavericks, who drew ire from their fan base for trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in February.

The 6-foot-9, 205-pound Flagg helped guide Duke to an NCAA Final Four appearance while averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks as a freshman. He won the Wooden Award as the nation’s best player while taking home ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC All-Defensive Team honors.

The San Antonio Spurs followed with the No. 2 pick, which they used to select Rutgers freshman guard Dylan Harper. The son of longtime NBA player Ron Harper will join a talented roster that includes prized big man Victor Wembanyama.

Harper said he could not wait to get to San Antonio to prepare for the season.

“I’m feeling everything — all the emotions mixed in one bucket,” Harper said. “I think when you play with a bunch of great players, it brings the best out of you. They’ve got a great young core over there. I’m just ready to get in there and make an impact any way I can with those guys.”

At No. 3, the Philadelphia 76ers selected guard VJ Edgecombe out of Baylor. He was named Big 12 Freshman of the Year after averaging 15 points and 5.6 rebounds for the Bears.

The Charlotte Hornets selected Duke guard Kon Knueppel next, which gave the Blue Devils two freshmen in the top four picks. Now, Knueppel will stay in North Carolina to play in the NBA.

“It was a big spotlight at Duke,” he said. “(We) freshmen didn’t shy away from that, and it prepared us for the next level. Hopefully, that will carry over.”

The Utah Jazz selected Ace Bailey out of Rutgers to round out the top five picks. Harper and Bailey marked the highest draft picks in Rutgers annals.

The next three selections featured three more freshman guards: Texas’ Tre Johnson to the Washington Wizards at No. 6, Oklahoma’s Jeremiah Fears to the New Orleans Pelicans at No. 7 and BYU’s Egor Demin to the Brooklyn Nets at No. 8.

The Mavericks had the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in franchise history. When they owned the top selection in 1981, they drafted DePaul’s Mark Aguirre over Indiana’s Isiah Thomas. 


Pacquiao ‘hungry’ for comeback after four-year layoff

Updated 26 June 2025
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Pacquiao ‘hungry’ for comeback after four-year layoff

  • The 46-year-old Filipino boxing icon faces World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, four years after his last fight ended in defeat
  • Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning

LOS ANGELES: Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday that his lengthy layoff from boxing has reignited his passion for the sport as he prepares for next month’s world welterweight title comeback against Mario Barrios.

The 46-year-old Filipino boxing icon faces World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Barrios in Las Vegas on July 19, four years after his last fight ended in defeat.

Pacquiao has reunited with long-time veteran trainer Freddie Roach for next month’s title tilt, and spoke to journalists on Wednesday as he worked out at the Hall of Famer’s Wild Card gym in Hollywood.

“Four years rest has been good for me,” Pacquiao said after showing off some impressive hand speed in an open pads session.

“I’ve been in boxing for so many decades, so it’s good for my body to rest for four years.

“Now I’m back, I’m hungry to fight again. I’m hungry to fight in a big fight like this. To work hard, have discipline, everything like that.”

“I’ve missed boxing. I feel like the passion, the fire in my eyes, working hard — it’s still there.”

Pacquiao said while his recovery times were now slightly longer, he had not noticed any drop off in his physical conditioning.

“I’m fast, I can move like I did before. I can run in the mountains with the young boxers, so I’m happy,” he said.

“I’m enjoying this training camp. There’s a couple of adjustments for bodily recovery. We have to control the body, give my body time to rest and recover.”

Pacquiao, who won 12 world titles in eight different weight classes during a glittering professional career that began in 1995, refused to be drawn on whether his comeback next month would be “one and done” or just the first step of a full-fledged return to the sport.

“It’s hard to say,” he said when asked about future bouts. “Now I’m back so one at a time, after this fight we can plan whatever we want.”

For some in boxing, however, Pacquiao’s return to the ring represents an unnecessary risk.

British promoter Eddie Hearn was the latest to cast doubt on the wisdom of the Filipino’s comeback earlier this month, predicting that the 30-year-old Barrios will be “too young and too strong” for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao smiled on Wednesday when asked for his response to Hearn’s remarks.

“Just watch on July 19th,” he said. “It will be a good fight.”


Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F

Updated 26 June 2025
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Borussia Dortmund defeat Ulsan HD 1-0 to win Group F

  • With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup’s round of 16 in Atlanta

A 36th-minute goal from Daniel Svensson was all Borussia Dortmund needed to put away winless Ulsan HD in a 1-0 Group F win in Cincinnati on Wednesday.
With the victory, as well as a draw by Fluminense, Dortmund (2-0-1, 7 points) claims the top spot in Group F to earn a July 1 matchup in the Club World Cup’s round of 16 in Atlanta with an opponent that has yet to be determined. Fluminsense, which could have won the group with a victory over Mamelodi Sundowns, also moves on to the knockouts as the group’s No. 2 seed.
While the score indicates a close match, Dortmund dominated the pitch, putting 11 shots on goal among their 28 overall attempts. Compare that with Ulsan’s three shot attempts, all on goal and all occurring within a 16-minute period in the second half.
Dortmund put the pressure on early and often to open the match, ripping off 20 shots — eight on goal — in the first half. While Ulsan didn’t even get a shot off during the first 45 minutes plus stoppage time, goalkeeper Jo Hyeon- woo continued to deny Dortmund with seven saves.
That included a seven-minute stretch midway through the first half during which BVB put four shots on goal, only for Hyeon-woo to turn away each attempt.
Dortmund did not relent, however, and it paid off in the 36th minute as Svensson collected a touch pass from Jobe Bellingham in the box and put a left-footed shot past the keeper to put BVB in front 1-0.
Both Serhou Guirassy and Bellingham had prime chances to add to that advantage in the closing minutes of the half. Again, though, Hyeon-woo stood his ground to keep Dortmund from extending its lead.
Ulsan strung together their first strong chances at goal early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Kang Sang-Woo’s attempt from the right side of the box was saved by BVB’s Gregor Kobel. The goalkeeper was tested again in the 60th and 64th minutes as Kobel saved left-footed blasts by Lee Jin-Hyun and Ko Seung-Beom, respectively, to maintain the one-goal edge.
That was all that Ulsan (0-3-0, 0 points) could muster, however, as the South Korean side wrapped up Club World Cup play last in Group F. Hyeon-woo finished the day with 10 saves.


Mbappe returns to Real Madrid training at Club World Cup

Updated 25 June 2025
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Mbappe returns to Real Madrid training at Club World Cup

  • The French superstar was taken to hospital last Thursday
  • Alonso said: “He is doing better, he is recovering“

PHILADELPHIA: Kylian Mbappe returned to training on Wednesday after missing Real Madrid’s first two matches at the Club World Cup in the United States due to illness, the Spanish giants confirmed to AFP.

The French superstar was taken to hospital last Thursday for tests and treatment after suffering gastroenteritis, before later being released.

He played no part in Real’s opening game at the tournament, a 1-1 draw with Saudi side Al-Hilal in Miami, or the 3-1 defeat of Mexico’s Pachuca at the weekend.

Coach Xabi Alonso did indicate after the latter game that Mbappe was on the mend, saying: “He is doing better, he is recovering.”

Real posted images of Mbappe in training on Wednesday on their website, as the squad worked out at their Florida base before traveling north in the afternoon to Philadelphia.

That is where Madrid will take on Red Bull Salzburg of Austria on Thursday in their last Group H match and will be looking for a victory which will confirm their progress to the last 16 in first place in the section.

A draw can also take them through to the next round, with Manchester City and Juventus the possible opponents in the last 16.

Mbappe has scored 43 goals in 56 appearances since joining Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain
last year.

His last game was for France in a 2-0 win away to Germany in the UEFA Nations League on June 8.