Zidane-inspired Gundogan looking to banish Germany’s World Cup anguish

Ilkay Gundogan believes Germany will not be scarred by the events of 2018. (AFP)
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Updated 19 November 2022
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Zidane-inspired Gundogan looking to banish Germany’s World Cup anguish

  • The Manchester City captain believes lack of expectation and a crop of talented youngsters will help Hansi Flick’s team in Qatar

As a group of people huddled around a television set in the corner of a Turkish restaurant one late night in July, 1998, a young Ilkay Gundogan observed intently.

It was to be his first exposure to the World Cup.

He was seven, blissfully unaware of how football’s historic competition between nations would eventually play a major part in his life and career.

Inspired by two goals from Zinedine Zidane, hosts France beat favorites Brazil 3-0 that night at a euphoric Stade de France in Paris.

“We were on holiday with my parents and my brother, and we stopped before we entered the hometown where my grandparents lived in Turkiye,” recalled Gundogan.

“We always stopped at a local restaurant at night and had soup there. I remember it had one of those old TVs in the corner and the game was on and people were watching. So that was my first memory connected to the World Cup.

“That game in 1998 there was Zidane and then came his (volleyed) goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final a few years later for Real Madrid, so he was someone I remember and that everyone looked up to.

“He was one of the footballers I was idolizing in terms of how beautiful he played the game.”

It was to be eight years before Gundogan would again be captivated by the game’s showpiece.

Curiously, it was at the 2006 tournament in his homeland Germany and where Zidane infamously went from beauty to the beast.

The talismanic midfielder scored, but was then sent off in the final for a headbutt into the chest of Italy defender Marco Materazzi in an off-the-ball incident.

Italy won 5-3 on penalties as the game finished 1-1 after extra-time.

By then Gundogan, born and settled with his family in the city of Gelsenkirchen, was simply enamored by the huge spectacle of a World Cup.

“I was 15 then and at one of those fan festivals they had in Gelsenkirchen, watching games with my friends,” he told Arab News exclusively.

“I even won two tickets for the England game against Portugal in the quarter-final, the one with Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, when they were fighting and Rooney was sent off. I was at that game, which went to penalties and England went out.

“That was the first World Cup game I went to… and the only one since as a fan. It was amazing.

“Gelsenkirchen is a small place and the only thing we had was football, the joy of life was football.

“Having it as one of the cities with a stadium for a World Cup and seeing it all happen there was something just unbelievable, fun and a joy for everyone.

“At that time I was thinking I was quite good at football, but not dreaming of playing in a World Cup. I didn’t think it possible then and was just a fan.”

But Gundogan made it all possible. 

Having come through the youth ranks at Bochum and then impressing at club level with Nurnberg, Borussia Dortmund and now English Premier League champions Manchester City, the midfielder has 63 caps to his name for Germany.

Yet, so far, the 32-year-old associates only hurt and frustration with the World Cup as a player.

When Germany won the trophy for a fourth time in 2014, he was an observer as injuries ruled him out of those finals.

Four years later, Gundogan’s experience was soured when he — and team-mate Mesut Ozil — were criticized for a pre-tournament photograph with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The row was defused when German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said no political message was intended by the players — both Muslims who were paying respect to their Turkish roots — and their stories were a reminder that people could have “more than one homeland.”

The national team then exited at the opening round for the first time in 80 years, humbled 2-0 by South Korea in their final group game.

“It was hard, of course,” admitted Gundogan. “We had all these expectations.

“Going there as the former champions, the public expectations were also high and to be brutally honest, we failed.

“We were not good enough and, at the end of the day, we kind of deserved to get knocked out of the group stage. It was very sad and frustrating for us.

“The reasons were probably a mix of everything. Maybe just the expectations of being champions in 2014, maybe most players were not prepared well enough, we were not on top of our game, and maybe not hungry enough … I don’t know.
“But we were just lacking in everything a little bit. On the pitch you could see it was not the atmosphere we wished that we had.

“Preparations were maybe not on point either and it was quite difficult.

“Even with the disappointment, I was hoping back then to play in another World Cup, but of course I had to see how things evolved and the development, both for myself and the team.

“Fortunately enough I will have it now and hopefully we can do much better.”

With former Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick having replaced Joachim Low in charge and emerging talent, including Jamal Musiala, 19, and 17-year-old striker Youssoufa Moukoko in the squad, Gundogan believes they will not be scarred by the events of 2018.

“Too many things have changed since then for that to affect us in Qatar,” he said. “We have a different coach now and 95 percent of team has changed. 

“The experience is there and we can still use it, but it’s a completely new challenge, and the development over the past year has been positive even though we have had highs and lows.

“But it’s all a learning process and if we are able to filter everything we have lived in the last few months and get it to our best then we can have a really good tournament.”

In a group with Spain, Japan and Costa Rica, Germany are not among the favorites this time and, with no major expectations, Gundogan added: “Not having the pressure can be good because not everyone is going to put us up there as a main contender, but I always believe it’s what you make out of the situation.

“It’s important to get momentum, have the team vibing and to create a good atmosphere.

“I think there will be a lot of teams on the same level.

“The standard of the game has become so high and the development in other countries has gone in the right way so everyone is able to compete. 

“Japan are our first game and they have good players with good technical abilities so it will be tough, and we have Spain too.

“After the group stage you can say more, who looks settled and who looks strong.”

The Middle East’s first World Cup may provide a surprise winner but, while Gundogan is hoping Germany will be victorious, he believes England also have the strength to finally end their 56-year wait to lift the trophy again.

“There’s pressure on them, but it’s normal and I feel it shows the quality they have,” said the City captain. “Individually, they have one of the best teams.

“They have, in every position, two players who are on a world-class level. But that brings all the responsibilities of how people expect you to perform.

“That also does not mean you are the best team and it’s not about the best 11 players, but the most harmonious team. England did well at the Euros, went to the final, and I would not be surprised if they also go very far at the World Cup. 

“Of course they can win it with the quality they have in the squad, they are definitely able to go for it.

“Everyone is also looking at Brazil and Argentina, but that doesn’t mean anything. At the end, the one who deserves it should win it — and I hope that will be us… inshallah.”


Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

Updated 19 July 2025
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Pakistan dominate IBSF World Snooker Championship in Bahrain with twin titles

  • Veteran Mohmmad Asif beats India’s Brijesh Damani 4-3 in a nail-biting Masters encounter
  • Hasnain produces clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday stamped their authority on the global snooker stage as Mohammad Asif and Muhammad Hasnain clinched both the Masters and Under-17 titles after a thrilling finale at the IBSF World Snooker Championship 2025 in Bahrain.

Asif faced a stern test in the World Masters final, going toe-to-toe with India’s Brijesh Damani in a nail-biting encounter. After six fiercely contested frames, the Pakistani star cueist held his nerve in the decider to edge Damani 4-3, clinching yet another major title.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz congratulated Asif on his brilliant win in the Masters category.

“Mohammad Asif has brought pride to Pakistan on the global stage by defeating his Indian opponent through sheer hard work, skill, and determination,” she was quoted as saying by her Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Muhammad Asif of Pakistan receives the Masters title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

Asif advanced to the final with an impressive 4-2 win over India’s Manan Chandra in the semifinal on Thursday at the Crowne Plaza, Bahrain.

Meanwhile, Hasnain produced a clinical display of cue mastery, sweeping past Riley Powell of Wales 4-0 to seize the World Under-17 Snooker crown.

“The young prodigy remained unshaken throughout, showcasing composure beyond his years to secure the gold,” the IBSF said on its website.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Hasnain receives the Under-17 title award at the IBSF World Snooker Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on July 18, 2025. (Handout/IBSF)

 


Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks

Updated 19 July 2025
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Frustration hangs over WNBA All-Star weekend as players slam latest labor talks

  • Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports

INDIANAPOLIS: Labor negotiations between the WNBA and the players’ union hung over the All-Star weekend on Friday, as a dazzling showcase of the league’s progress kicked off amid frustration from the women on the court in Indianapolis.

The WNBPA admonished the league after their latest meeting on Thursday, saying the WNBA had failed to “address the priorities we’ve voiced from the day we opted out.”

Players in October voted to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, once seen as a landmark deal for women’s sports but now viewed by many players as woefully inadequate amid a surge of popularity in the WNBA.

Swarmed by reporters on Friday as part of a pre-All-Star Game media availability, WNBPA President Nneka Ogwumike said she felt the meeting was a missed opportunity.

“Yes, we’re celebrating amazing growth, but I think it’s not lost on us that we’re living the growth as we’re negotiating our worth,” she said. “The fans know what we’re worth. Now we need the league to know what we are worth.”

Reached for comment on Friday, the WNBA pointed to a statement Commissioner Cathy Engelbert provided to the Associated Press on Thursday, calling the meeting “very constructive dialogue.”

Engelbert is expected to meet with members of the media on Saturday for a press conference.

Ogwumike said there had been no direct conversation about a work stoppage but that union leadership cautioned players over the possible outcomes of a failed negotiation.

“What we want to do is negotiate a good deal,” she told reporters.

“But we also wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t let players know, ‘Hey the league is in a different place. We’re in a different place. Just be prepared for anything that can happen’.”

More than 40 players attended the negotiations on Thursday, including star rookie Paige Bueckers from the Dallas Wings, who said it was her first time at the negotiating table.

“It’s been powerful and I think we’re going to continue to fight for that because the proposal that they gave back to us was kind of disrespectful,” she said.


Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown

Updated 19 July 2025
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Pacquiao, Barrios make weights for Vegas showdown

  • Filipino star and eight-division world champion is returning to the ring after a four-year absence
  • Mario Barrios says he is unfazed by the prospect of taking on living legend Pacquiao

LOS ANGELES, United States: Filipino star Manny Pacquiao comfortably made the weight for his comeback world title fight against Mario Barrios on Friday, tipping the scales at just under the 147-pound welterweight limit.

The 46-year-old eight-division world champion – who is returning to the ring after a four-year absence – weighed in at 146.8 lbs during a packed ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao’s opponent in Saturday’s fight, reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion Barrios, was also inside the weight limit at 146.2 lbs.

“I’m so happy I’m back because boxing is my passion and I missed boxing,” Pacquiao said after making the weight.

The Filipino star – whose last victory came against Keith Thurman in 2019 – is aiming to pull off an upset victory in Saturday’s bout.

Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 knockouts) announced his return to boxing in May, taking advantage of a WBC rule that allows former champions to request a direct title shot when coming out of retirement.

He will be facing the much younger Barrios, who will take a 29-2-1 record in Saturday’s contest.

Barrios, 30, said he was unfazed by the prospect of taking on living legend Pacquiao, who could become the first fighter to win a major world title after being inducted to boxing’s Hall of Fame.

“I’m approaching this the same way I have all my other fights – I treat it as just another title defense,” Barrios said. “Manny has accomplished so much, but it’s my time now.”


Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win

Updated 19 July 2025
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Pogacar extends Tour de France lead with dominant time-trial win

  • Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting off and stunned rivals by using a road bike instead of one typically used for time trials
  • Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain

PEYRAGUDES, France: Tadej Pogacar powered to victory in an uphill time trial on stage 13 of the Tour de France on Friday to stretch his lead in the race to more than four minutes.

Jonas Vingegard and Remco Evenepoel clung on to their places in the overall top three, but this 10.9km time-trial triumph was defending champion Pogacar’s second crushing win in two days.

Pogacar was last down the start ramp of the 171 riders setting off and stunned rivals by using a road bike instead of one typically used for time trials.

“It’s more comfortable and I ride that 95 percent of the year,” he explained. “I went without a radio too, there are time clocks along the way so I just looked at them.”

Decked out in his overall leader’s yellow kit, the 26-year-old Team UAE rider was faster from the off, despite his exertions from the previous day, when he finished over two minutes ahead of main rival Vingegaard.

“I was feeling good all day, from when I got up. I was planning to go all in from start to finish and that’s what I did,” said Pogacar, who won the Tour de France in 2020, 2021 and 2024.

Pogacar had a sticker of the Hulk comic book superhero on his bike but said after the stage his hero was Spider-Man.

“Hulk though, he’s the one you don’t want to make angry,” said Pogacar.

By the time he finished stage 13 at the Peyragudes Altiport where the opening scene of the James Bond movie “Tomorrow Never Dies” was shot, Pogacar was 36 seconds faster than Vingegaard, while Primoz Roglic was third at 1min 20sec.

Evenepoel was overtaken close to the line by Vingegaard, but said he was too tired to care.

“I was drained,” he said, slumped in a chair. “I didn’t give a damn when Jonas went past.”

“I just wanted to finish. To be honest I’m relieved it’s over,” said the double Olympic champion.

Most riders warmed up for the time trial wearing ice jackets to combat the sizzling 30C temperature at the foot of the climb.

Australian champion Luke Plapp set the early pace and sat in the hot seat all day before suddenly packing his case and vacating it on seeing Vingegaard storm up the mountain.

Pogacar was even faster.

At 1580m altitude the ride remained beneath the clouds and below the treeline, but even atop the hill it was punishingly hot.

American Quinn Simmons gave hundreds of high-fives on the home straight as one of the rare riders appearing to enjoy the climb.

Saturday’s stage 14 is another punishing affair with around 50km of climbing but it will likely be raced in rain.

It starts with the famous Col de Tourmalet and ends at the Luchon-Superbagneres ski resort.

Stage 15 is a hilly run to the walled city of Carcassonne but for Pogacar there remains the specter of three more massive mountain stages in the final week.

There is also the prospect of potential chaos in Paris with three ascents of Montmartre’s old cobbled lanes on the final day.


Scottie Scheffler with a 64 sets a daunting target at the British Open

Updated 19 July 2025
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Scottie Scheffler with a 64 sets a daunting target at the British Open

  • Scheffler happily settled for a 7-under 64, his lowest round in a major, to take a one-shot lead over former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England
  • Harman played bogey-free for a 65 that left him only two shots behind, along with Li Haotong of China, who had a 67

PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland: Scottie Scheffler had no idea what was coming his way Friday in the British Open. He warmed up in a short-sleeved shirt. The umbrella was out when he walked off the first green.

For the thousands at Royal Portrush watching him, they knew exactly what to expect from the world’s No. 1 player, and Scheffler delivered another relentless performance. Three straight birdies to close the gap. Two more at the end to take the lead.

Scheffler had a 15-foot putt that was one turn away from dropping for a final birdie. He happily settled for a 7-under 64, his lowest round in a major, to take a one-shot lead over former US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick of England.

It was his lowest round in a major, yes, but there was a normalcy about it, too. Scheffler has been doing this for three years now and there is little left to say. Even when Sky Sports showed a list of his key statistics — driving accuracy down, greens in regulation great — that elicited little more than a shrug.

The statistics led to a shrug.

“Overall, I’m hitting the ball solid,” Scheffler said. “The tournament is only halfway done. I got off to a good start.”

Scheffler made eight birdies on another wild afternoon of weather, putting him at 10-under 132 as he chases the third leg of the career Grand Slam.

Fitzpatrick was equally dynamic when he began the back nine with four straight birdies, only to miss a 5-foot par putt on the 14th to slow his momentum, and a 3-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that was mildly irritating. He shot 66.

“I felt like every facet of my game was on today and I felt like I really played solid,” Fitzpatrick said. “To take advantage of the opportunities I had out there was obviously really positive.”

Brian Harman got the best of the weather — surprising sunshine — and took dead aim in his hunt for another Claret Jug. Harman played bogey-free for a 65 that left him only two shots behind, along with Li Haotong of China, who had a 67.

Everyone else was five shots behind or more.

That includes Rory McIlroy, who went around Royal Portrush in his native Northern Ireland with plenty of cheers but only a few roars. McIlroy had a 69 but lost a lot of ground because of Scheffler, Fitzpatrick and Harman.

McIlroy started the second round just three shots behind. He goes into the weekend seven shots behind the top-ranked player in the world.

“I’ve been somewhat close to my best over the first two days in little bits here and there,” McIlroy said. “I’m going to need to have it all under control and have it sort of all firing over the weekend to make a run.”

Fitzpatrick was at his lowest point just four months ago when he changed his caddie and coach and began pulling himself up. And now he takes that into the weekend against Scheffler.

“He’s going to have the expectation to go out and dominate. He’s an exceptional player. He’s world No. 1, and we’re seeing Tiger-like stuff,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think the pressure is for him to win the golf tournament. For me, obviously, I hope I’m going to have some more home support than him, but it’s an exciting position for me to be in given where I was earlier this year.”

Scheffler spent 20 minutes after his round going over video with Shane Lowry over Lowry’s ball moving a fraction in the rough on No. 12, which led to a two-shot penalty. Lowry wasn’t sure he caused his ball to move, but he said he would rather take the penalty to avoid even the slightest suspicion.

His attention turned to Scheffler when someone suggested he had been on the fringes of contention before the penalty.

“Eight shots behind Scottie Scheffler isn’t in the fringes of contention the way he’s playing,” Lowry said.

Scheffler was sharp from the start. He hit eight of the 14 fairways — compared with three in the opening round — though his misses never left him too badly out of position. But he is seeing the breaks on smoother Portrush greens, and he looks confident as ever.

None of his eight birdies were closer than 7 feet. Five of them were in the 10-foot range and then he threw in a 35-foot birdie on the sixth. His lone bogey came on a drive into deep grass on the 11th that kept him from reaching the green.

Harman was called the “Butcher of Hoylake” when he won the claret jug at Royal Liverpool two years ago because the British press was fascinated by the Georgia native’s love for hunting. Now it’s about his golf, and it was superb.

Harman played bogey-free, only once having to stress for par as Royal Portrush allowed for some good scoring in surprisingly good weather in the morning.

“They’re very different golf courses, but the golf is similar,” Harman said. “You’ve got to be able to flight your golf ball. You’ve got to know how far everything’s going. Then you can’t get frustrated. You’re going to end up in funny spots where it doesn’t seem fair, and you just have to kind of outlast that stuff.”

The group at 5-under 137 included Harris English (70), Harman’s former teammate at Georgia; Tyrrell Hatton of England (69) and Chris Gotterup (65), who wasn’t even planning to be at Royal Portrush until winning the Scottish Open last week.

Also still around is Bryson DeChambeau, who made a 13-shot improvement from the first round with a 65. Still, he was 11 shots behind.

McIlroy wasn’t at his best in the opening round and was pleased to be only three behind. Now he has a real mountain to climb. But at least he’s still playing, unlike in 2019 at Royal Portrush when he shot 79 and then had a terrific rally only to miss the cut by one shot.

“I didn’t have this opportunity six years ago, so to play an extra two days in this atmosphere in front of these crowds, I’m very excited for that,” McIlroy said. “I feel like my game’s definitely good enough to make a run.”

That was before Scheffler began to run away from so many except a small collection of challengers. But this is links golf. And this is the Emerald Isle, where the weather seems to have a mind of its own.

Still, Scheffler has gone 10 tournaments without finishing out of the top 10 and would appear to present a challenge every bit as daunting as Royal Portrush.