HAMBURG: Albania left Croatia in danger of a group-stage exit from Euro 2024 after a thrilling 2-2 draw on Wednesday as Albania’s Klaus Gjasula scored at both ends, including a dramatic injury-time equalizer.
After a disappointing 3-0 loss to Spain in their opener, Croatia were behind again when Qazim Laci gave Albania an early lead in Hamburg.
But Croatia improved after making two half-time substitutions and Andrej Kramaric levelled with 16 minutes remaining, before Gjasula put through his own net.
The Albania midfielder became the last-gasp hero, though, slotting into the bottom corner in the fifth minute of injury time to snatch his team a point.
Croatia, World Cup semifinalists in 2022, will now likely need to win their final Group B match against holders Italy on June 24 to reach the knockout phase for a fifth straight major tournament.
Albania have won plenty of plaudits with their performances against both Italy, in a 2-1 defeat, and Croatia, but could not hold a lead in either game and will probably have to beat Spain to keep their last-16 hopes alive.
Croatia’s ‘golden generation’ were ultimately made to pay for a poor first-half display and are in danger of bowing out from major tournament football in limp fashion.
Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic opted against a change in formation from the Spain defeat, sticking with his midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic.
But he brought in Ivan Perisic at left-back, moving Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol into central defense.
The smell of smoke from flares filled the air outside the stadium as the supporters of both teams created one of the best atmospheres of the tournament so far.
Albania scored the fastest goal in European Championship history after just 23 seconds against Italy and they made another quick start.
It took until only the 11th minute for Sylvinho’s men to break the deadlock this time, as Sparta Prague midfielder Laci ghosted into the area unmarked to nod home an inch-perfect, inswinging cross from Jasir Asani.
Croatia tried to impose their passing game, but Albania were constantly in their faces and continued to look the more dangerous side, with right-back Elseid Hysaj firing off target.
The underdogs could have doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark, but Kristjan Asllani was denied by Dominik Livakovic when face-to-face with the Croatia goalkeeper.
Albania striker Rey Manaj passed up another excellent opportunity, failing to get enough purchase on his free header in first-half added time to seriously trouble Livakovic.
Dalic responded by making two changes at the interval, bringing on 21-year-old Luka Sucic and Mario Pasalic for the ineffective Lovro Majer and Brozovic.
Those substitutions brought about a quick improvement from Croatia, as Albania goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha made a good save to keep out Sucic’s left-footed shot, before Pasalic headed over seconds later.
Albania continued to threaten on the counter-attack, though, with Nedim Bajrami drilling wide of the near post in the 67th minute.
But Croatia finally found a way through in the 74th minute as substitute Ante Budimir picked out Kramaric inside the box and the forward cut inside before sending a composed finish inside Strakosha’s near post.
The turnaround appeared to be complete two minutes later as Sucic’s close-range effort was blocked, but only against the unfortunate Gjasula and into an empty net.
Albania did not give up, missing a series of chances as it appeared Croatia would cling on.
Gjasula had other ideas though, sweeping a loose ball home before a chaotic denouement that saw both sides throw bodies forward in search of a winner, to no avail.
Albania dent Croatia’s Euro 2024 hopes with dramatic draw
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Albania dent Croatia’s Euro 2024 hopes with dramatic draw
- Klaus Gjasula put through his own net and then became the last-gasp hero by slotting into the bottom corner in the fifth minute of injury time to snatch the draw
- Albania have won plenty of plaudits with their performances against both Italy, in a 2-1 defeat, and Croatia, but will probably have to beat Spain to keep their last-16 hopes alive
Casa Riyadh win Silver Cup polo championship
- Polo teams show ‘good technical performance and strong competition’ in first championship of the season
RIYADH: Casa Riyadh won the Silver Cup polo tournament after beating the Tuwaiq Team 5-4 in the final match at the Nova Equestrian Resort field, west of the capital Riyadh.
On Saturday, Casa Riyadh’s captain, Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Salman, accepted the championship trophy from Amr Zidane, the president of the Saudi Polo Federation. Ibrahim Al-Harbi, Salman bin Haif and Mohammed Nafeed won golden medals alongside Prince Salman.
Zidane said that the third edition of the Silver Cup was the first championship of the polo season in Saudi Arabia and that teams delivered a “good technical performance and strong competition” in the latest tournament.
The Tamam team of Hashem Al-Alawi, Abdulmohsen Al-Hokair, Faisal Abunyan, and the Argentine Marcelo Antonio came second, while Tuwaiq players Khaled bin Muammar, Mudhar Al-Zoubi, Asif Shah and Britain’s George Amor secured third place.
The Silver Cup is played using a points system. In the event of a tie, the team with the most goals wins.
Zidane said that there are six local competitions in the current polo season that “will enhance the technical performance and readiness” for the Saudi national polo team’s international competition.
Rory McIlroy ends his year with another win in Dubai and a 6th title as Europe’s best
- He birdied two of the last three holes Sunday for a 3-under 69 to win by two over Rasmus Hojgaard
DUBAI: Rory McIlroy capped off a tumultuous year by winning the World Tour Championship and his sixth title as Europe’s No. 1 player. He birdied two of the last three holes Sunday for a 3-under 69 to win by two over Rasmus Hojgaard.
McIlroy hit wedge to within a foot on the 16th hole to break out of a tie with Hojgaard, then closed with a 6-foot birdie for his third title in the European tour’s season finale.
He won the Race to Dubai — previously known as the Order of Merit — for the sixth time in his career, leaving him two behind the record held by Colin Montgomerie and tying him with the late Seve Ballesteros.
Hojgaard, who rallied to stun McIlroy in the Irish Open in September, didn’t make a birdie over the final 11 holes and had to settle for a 71.
McIlroy was emotional when he came off the 18th green, his final event of a year memorable for so many reasons. He won four times — twice on the PGA Tour — but went a 10th consecutive year without a major when he threw away a late lead in the US Open.
He announced he was getting a divorce before the PGA Championship, and then scrapped those plans and said he and his wife would try to reconcile.
“I’ve been through a lot this year, professionally and personally,” McIlroy said. “It feels like the fitting end to 2024. I’ve persevered this year a lot.”
‘Bright is an understatement’ says Golf Saudi CEO about the sport’s future in the Kingdom
- Noah Alireza speaks to Arab News about the Aramco Team Series, the GoGolf programs and producing homegrown talent
On a weekend that included the start of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, WWE Crown Jewel, as well as the Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam derbies in the Saudi Pro League, you could be forgiven for thinking there was any space left for any other sporting event to shine.
But golf’s Aramco Team Series — Riyadh, however, more than held its own and even drew in higher crowds than some of the rival events. The aim, said Golf Saudi CEO Noah Alireza, is to spread the golfing gospel.
“Our focus on global events comes with a primary objective of growing the game locally,” Alireza said. “(At Aramco Team Series) we (saw) a really vibrant crowd thatwas really getting into it.
“It’s all about creating the right environment and with this crowd being here as a captive audience, we, as much as possible, push towards them signing up for GoGolf, the program, and converting them into future golfers.”
As the 2024 golf season draws to a close, Alireza said that his federation’s mandate is to act as an “catalyst and incubator” to create a golf industry.
“For us in Saudi, we have a blank canvas,” Alireza told Arab News. “We’re starting from scratch, and that provides an opportunity not to catch up, but hopefully to leapfrog because as is everything (in the Kingdom) today, Saudi doesn’t look at things in terms of just taking what was there and bringing it here. It’s taking and learning from what was, and doing it better.
“So for us to grow the game in Saudi Arabia, our primary focus today is on the development of innovative supply and infrastructure, and hopefully when we build it, the demand will catch up and that’s how we're going to hopefully be creating a viable ecosystem for golf.”
One of the ways that Golf Saudi is looking to increase participation in the game, in accordance with Vision 2030, is through its GoGolf programs.
“GoGulf is for us a complete product from end to end to get people from Saudi and living in Saudi Arabia to get into Golf. So we’re starting with a program that answers the question why golf? What is golf? And then a call to action is GoGolf. GoGolf is a three-month (program), maybe you can look at it as getting a license to drive.”
Alireza appreciates that taking up golf comes with a significant sporting and financial dedication, and GoGolf aims to give budding players an early advantage.
“Golf is not an easy game to play. In order to break that barrier, three months’ worth of free lessons, or a package of 12 free lessons, will get you the license to be able to play on golf courses and other areas. So it’s a teaching methodology, but beyond the teaching phase, there is other infrastructure under the GoGolf brand that we will be deploying in addition to other things we’ve launched outside golf courses, like Top Golf — a project that’s going to be taking place over the next year and a half.”
Alireza has a message for parents looking to introduce their children to new sports and activities: “The choices are plenty to get kids into sports, and all sports will teach kids certain traits,” he said. “Whether it is discipline, motivation and so many other traits.
“Growing up around golf, I had the opportunity to see it first hand, and golf is slightly different from other sports in that it takes up so much time and you’re moving an object, you’re not reacting to a ball, you’re having to impart impact on to a ball and a lot of time in between there are so many things that you have to exercise. Patience, resilience, determination, the seeking of perfection and getting better every day, and I believe those traits are really good traits to start to ingrain into kids, and hopefully one day from that some of the kids will specialize in golf and create those future champions that we’re looking to create.”
Alireza is bullish about golf’s trajectory in the Kingdom over the coming years.
“Bright is an understatement,” he said. “With the incredible support that we’re seeing in Saudi Arabia today across all the sectors, we have an incredible opportunity to bring the world of golf here to co-innovate with us on creating a platform that defines what future golf will be in terms of the infrastructure, golf courses, practice facilities and beyond.”
While there are several Saudi golfers already making moves in the professional game, Alireza’s aim is to see a whole generation of golfers emerging from the Kingdom over the next decade.
“I think it's important that we focus on building that generation for two important reasons,” he said. “No.1 is that creating champions is an element that we’ve seen as a story throughout history that helps generate future generations of champions.
“So when Saudi beat Argentina in the World Cup, that was a generational moment that not only created future football stars but athletes in general,” Alireza said. “Everyone could now believe if somebody that I know of that is from my city, my country can do it, then so can I. And that element, that barrier, as a threshold is extremely important. So for us, the focus on creating those champions is really important because then it goes to the second reason.”
“The second reason is that that tipping point, when that champion is created, inshallah, and our goal is to have that happen within the next five to 10 years, is that it creates a whole new generation of golfers that sustains the golf economy that we’re seeking to create.”
Brazil crowned champions at NEOM Beach International Cup
- Spain defeated Germany 2-1, while Japan won 8-2 against England to finish fifth
NEOM: Brazil were crowned NEOM Beach Soccer Cup champions for the third time in a row at Gayal Beach after a 6-1 win over the UAE in the final on Saturday night.
The Samba Boys dominated the first period, scoring four goals and the one-sided affair continued in the second period, with the UAE struggling to find their footing.
The defending champions’ relentless pressure paid off in the third period, as they extended their lead to 6-0 with a late consolation goal for the UAE.
In the match to decide third and fourth places, Spain defeated Germany 2-1, while Japan won 8-2 against England to finish fifth.
Saudi Arabia grabbed sixth after beating China 5-3.
In the women’s competition, Spain were crowned 2024 NEOM Beach Soccer Cup champions after a 5-1 win against Brazil.
How Saudi agent Ahmed Almualim defied the odds to take Saud Abdulhamid to Roma
- Saudi international’s agent tells Arab News he risked his own money to seal the historic summer transfer
- Abdulhamid has become one of the standout players for the Green Falcons and will line up for Herve Renard’s team against Indonesia on Tuesday
RIYADH: At the end of August, Saud Abdulhamid became the first Saudi player to join a club from a top European league on a permanent basis. The right back left Saudi Arabian powerhouse Al-Hilal to sign for AS Roma in Italy’s Serie A for a reported fee of $3 million.
Now a Champions League player, he continues to be one of Saudi Arabia’s standout players in a difficult period in which Robert Mancini departed and Herev Renard returned to take charge of the 2026 World Cup campaign.
Thursday’s 0-0 draw with Australia leaves the Green Falcons in third place on six points, behind Australia on goal difference. Hope of automatic qualification remain a strong possibility, but there is little margin for error as Saudi travel to Indonesia for their sixth match in the 10-qualifier group.
Since impressing with Al-Ittihad and then Al-Hilal, the clubs he represented at professional level since 2018, Abdulhamid’s career has been on upward trajectory in recent years.
Football agent Ahmed Almualim, the man behind Abdulhamid’s move to AS Roma, spoke exclusively to Arab News about the financial and professional risks he took to get his client to Italy and the changing landscape of Saudi football.
Ahmed, how did you become an agent, were you always passionate about football or is it business first of all?
I became an agent in 2014. Since I was young, I was always passionate about football. I started my career as a sports journalist when I was very young, aged 19, back in 2009. Before that, I used to write some articles about football, about transfers, on a few blogs. I kept working as a sports journalist until 2014, when I stopped and I started my career as a football agent. It’s more than 10 years now that I’ve been an agent!
Do you have a favorite team in Saudi Arabia?
Yes, it’s not a secret (he laughs). My favorite team in Saudi Arabia is Al-Ahli from Jeddah. I worked as a sports journalist and I used to specifically cover news about Al-Ahli’s transfers. From there, people got to know more about me. I used to go to the stadium when I was young with my friends. Nobody in my family took me, but I went with my friends and neighbours. They all supported Al-Ahli. We were so passionate.
Was it difficult for you to move into this field?
It’s very difficult to work as a football agent because you need certain tools. These tools are the local and the international connections. You need to know people inside clubs, the presidents, the sporting directors, the players. It’s the same for clubs abroad. I work full-time as a football agent and I really enjoy what I’m doing.
Of course, sometimes, in some moments, during some windows, when I have a bad window, I really start thinking: “OK, why do I have to do this job as a full-time job? I can do it as a part-time job like most of the agents in Saudi.” But then I start to motivate myself again and I say: “No, this is my job in football, I’m an agent, a professional one like in Europe, so I have to continue.” And I try to move on.
Did you ever think it was possible to do business with local players moving outside Saudi Arabia?
One of my most important goals when I started was to do business like this, taking players to Europe and opening the borders. And I started this at a lower level. I took a Syrian player, Mahmoud Al-Mawas, to Romania. I had one player in Denmark. Two years ago, I signed a player in Portugal. The most important goal I set for myself was to do something different to what was already on the market.
Saudi players were moving from one domestic club to another, but I wanted to do things differently and not just to transfer a player from Ittihad to Al-Hilal, from Al-Hilal to Al-Ahli, from Al-Ahli to Al-Nassr and so on. I wanted to be the first different agent in this market. I brought many offers from abroad to Saudi national team players but they didn’t want to move on.
How did Roma's interest in Saud Abdulhamid come about?
It’s a story with two chapters. The first one was written in May, when I received a communication from one of the head scouters asking about the player and the conditions for a potential transfer. It started from there. And the second episode started when Florent Ghisolfi became the sporting director of AS Roma. Previously, he was the sporting director of Nice and there he also showed interest in Saud. He knew Saud was in his last year of contract at Hilal. So when he was appointed this season as a sport director of AS Roma, he reconnected with us and showed his interest again.
Do you think that this would have been possible without the Saudi Pro League expanding to the level it has?
People now know the Saudi league more and more. And I think also the players. More and more international players are involved in the league. This gave Saudi a push and a dose of belief that the whole product can be trusted. So, yes, the development of the Saudi league definitely helped. Without the current vibe, it would have been really difficult for such a transfer to take place.
How does it make you feel knowing you orchestrated Abdulhamid’s historic move?
I believe this transfer helped the image of the whole footballing country. It will help other Saudi players to get a chance in Europe, maybe. I believe this move has opened the door for Saudi players in years to come. I’m really proud we did it. It was one of the targets I had set for myself and I’m happy I delivered.
Many people were against this transfer. People who didn’t look at the bigger picture. As an agent, I dropped my interest just to support Saud, in the interests of Saudi Arabian football. I sacrificed a lot of money for this deal to happen.
Can you tell us something about this transfer that an agent would normally try to keep as a secret?
Tough one. OK, let me tell you that right before he signed for Roma, Saud was close to joining Rennes in France. They had a very strong interest in him. He chose to go to Rome because of the challenge. Rennes’ interest was kept secret, it wasn’t mentioned anywhere.
How has Saud settled in Rome?
He’s happy in Rome and everything is in progress for him. He got some minutes. He’s an international player. He featured for the national team on plenty of occasions. He played in the biggest tournament there is, the World Cup. He also played in the Asian Champions League. It wasn’t that big a deal for him to adapt. He was prepared mentally for it to happen. He’s really aware of the challenges that are in store for him. He lives a normal life. He got a house. It was normal for him to start on the bench, we were speaking to the coach and the sporting director and they explained everything. He needs to know the culture of the league, Italian football is difficult. It’s different to any other European country.
Is the development of the SPL helping you as an agent?
It has helped me. And that’s because now it’s so easy to be connected to international agents. They want to do business in Saudi Arabia. From that point, we can cooperate. I can help the international agents to place their players in the Saudi market. And they help me connect to the European clubs. By doing so, I can place the players I already work with in Europe.
From an agent’s perspective, how did Ronaldo signing for Al-Nassr change the landscape of the Saudi League?
In the beginning, I thought it was just a rumor. When I saw he had arrived in Riyadh, I started believing everything was possible in Saudi, starting at that point. It was a big, big, big thing, a massive event. Nobody could believe it. And Ronaldo became the icon of the Saudi league. Because of Ronaldo, many world class players started joining the league. He showed them that it’s a good championship. And this league can grow further and improve in the next few years.
Do you, as an agent, feel that you’re playing a part in this football revolution?
Now, after I did the deal for Saud to AS Roma, I see myself as a small part of this revolution in Saudi sport. I am privileged to have been able to send the best Saudi player to one of Europe’s most historic clubs.
Do you think big stars in Europe might start looking for local agents in Saudi Arabia, were you approached by any big names?
Yes, there are many stars in Europe who got in touch. They showed interest to join the league. They saw how strong it is and how it’s improving. It’s better and better every year.
Of course, the financial aspect plays a big role in the players’ wishes to join. Many top players, including from the Premier League and LaLiga, have contacted me to see how they can come to the Saudi championship.
Many deals that seem done then collapse. What is the most frequent cause?
One of the craziest reasons is that some clubs refuse to pay the agents. They agree about terms with other clubs, they accept the salaries that the players want, but then they don’t take the agents seriously. That’s wrong, because agents are an important part of any deal. It’s not just happened to me, but to many agents, many times, to find themselves in such situations.
What do you do for your players apart from representing them in negotiations?
I try to hire specialists to take care of them. For example, one to take care of nutrition. We need to find the right way to develop their body structures. I have my people working in communications, so players receive professional guidance in this area as well. It’s important that they are aware of how they should handle their media duties. We have a team working together, in my company everyone is a specialist in what they need to do.
Did you ever advise a player to do something even if it was outside your financial interests?
I lost a lot of money after Saud’s move to AS Roma. I did it because I thought he should go to Europe. I believed he could develop more if he went there. That’s my principle, I say the truth whatever it costs me financially. I don’t like to control players.
