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
Djokovic eyes season turnaround as rain brings havoc to French Open
He also suffered the indignity of being accidentally hit on the head by a metal water bottle in Rome which caused nausea and dizziness
PARIS: Novak Djokovic begins the defense of his French Open title at Roland Garros on Tuesday, confident his Grand Slam pedigree will help turn around his lacklustre season as tournament chiefs battled a frustrating five-hour rain delay.
By late afternoon on the third day, only four of the scheduled 40 first-round ties had been completed.
Two-time runner-up Casper Ruud and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina were safely back in the locker room having benefitted from playing under the roofs of the Philippe Chatrier and Suzanne Lenglen courts.
World number one Djokovic, seeking a fourth Roland Garros title and record-extending 25th major, is enduring his worst run since 2018.
Djokovic, 37, has not won a title in 2024 and has yet to make a final with semifinal spots at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters his best performances.
He also suffered the indignity of being accidentally hit on the head by a metal water bottle in Rome which caused nausea and dizziness.
In Geneva last week, where he was knocked out by Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic, Djokovic said he had been suffering from a stomach problem.
“They are rather bumps on the road,” said Djokovic, who watched his long-time rival and 14-time champion Rafael Nadal bow out of the tournament against Alexander Zverev on Monday.
When asked to elaborate further on his difficulties so far this season, Djokovic opted for discretion.
“Various things have been happening in the last couple of months, but I don’t want to get into it. I don’t want to open Pandora’s Box.”
On Tuesday, Djokovic will take on French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert, the world number 142 who hasn’t won a match on the main tour this year.
Ruud, who won clay-court titles in Barcelona and Geneva in the build-up to Roland Garros, cruised to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves.
“It’s great to be back here at Roland Garros,” he said. “Hopefully I can make it another good year here.”
Ruud was beaten in straight sets by Novak Djokovic in last year’s final following a one-sided loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 showpiece.
He also lost the 2022 US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz.
Frenchwoman Alize Cornet’s career ended with a straight-sets defeat by Zheng Qinwen in her record-extending 69th consecutive Grand Slam appearance.
Cornet was no match for China’s Australian Open runner-up Zheng, losing 6-2, 6-1.
She made her debut at Roland Garros as a 15-year-old in 2005 and has not missed a Grand Slam tournament since the 2006 US Open.
Cornet reached a career-high ranking of 11th in 2009 and enjoyed a surprise run to the 2022 Australian Open quarter-finals.
“I already cried yesterday watching Rafa,” said a tearful Cornet after seeing Nadal lose what was likely his last match at the French Open on Monday.
Over on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Rybakina powered into the second round with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Belgian Greet Minnen and could face three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber for a place in the last 32.
Kazakh world number four Rybakina is the only player to defeat tournament favorite Iga Swiatek on clay this season, in the Stuttgart semifinals in April.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka gets her bid to reach a first Roland Garros final underway.
The world number two has reached at least the semifinals in each of the past six Grand Slam events.
Sabalenka is also the only woman to beat world number one and three-time French Open winner Swiatek in a final on clay — in Madrid last year — since the Pole lost her first WTA title decider as a teenager in 2019 at a low-key event in Switzerland.
The 26-year-old Sabalenka had never even reached the second week at Roland Garros until last year, when she was knocked out by Karolina Muchova in the semifinals.
She starts her Paris campaign against Russia’s Erika Andreeva.
Also on court in the men’s singles is Argentine qualifier Roman Andres Burruchaga who has sporting success in the blood.
His father Jorge famously scored the winning goal for Diego Maradona’s Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final against West Germany.
Ranked at 144, the 22-year-old is making his Grand Slam debut and takes on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
De Bruyne to lead Belgium at Euro 2024 with unretired Witsel
- Defender Maxim De Cuyper, who won the Belgian league with Club Brugge last weekend, was the only newcomer
- Tedesco said Witsel’s recent excellent showings with Atletico Madrid convinced him the 35-year-old midfielder was the right choice
BRUSSELS: Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will lead a rejuvenated Belgium side including a once-retired Axel Witsel at the European Championship next month.
De Bruyne and Witsel were on the 25-man list unveiled by coach Domenico Tedesco on Tuesday. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, preparing for the Champions League final, was not.
Defender Maxim De Cuyper, who won the Belgian league with Club Brugge last weekend, was the only newcomer.
De Bruyne and Witsel are remaining members of the so-called golden generation of Belgian players. While De Bruyne’s presence was expected, Witsel’s was a surprise after Tedesco dropped him from his first squad last year. Witsel soon after announced his retirement from international soccer and did not play in qualifying.
But Tedesco said Witsel’s recent excellent showings with Atletico Madrid convinced him the 35-year-old midfielder was the right choice. Tedesco also traveled to Spain to meet Witsel and discuss a comeback. There was no hard feelings, the coach said, and Witsel immediately agreed to return.
“First of all, it’s about the quality,” Tedesco said. “There is no doubt he is a high-quality player. We need him, he is an experienced player, he can help the young players. Either if he is playing or not, we have a good feeling with him.”
Witsel can play in midfield or defense, a versatility that increased his value.
“He has started to play as a central defender, it changed a lot,” Tedesco said. “As a (number) six, probably he would not be in the squad today. I have to be very transparent.”
Tedesco said Courtois was not ready for Euro 2024, which starts on June 14 in Germany, after recently returning from injury. The men have been at odds since a dispute last year, and Courtois announced in December he would miss the Euros.
“Of course, he knows his body the best,” Tedesco said about Courtois.
Tedesco succeeded Roberto Martinez as Belgium manager in February 2023. He has yet to lose a game in charge of the Red Devils.
Belgium will face Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine in Group E. Belgium’s best result at the continental tournament was runner-up in 1980.
Tedesco can still amend his squad before a June 7 deadline when teams must give UEFA a list with a minimum of 23 players and a maximum of 26. He said two extra “young” players will join the squad as training partners during the Euro preparations.
Tedesco said he had been following the left-footed De Cuyper closely since he took over as coach, but the defender had so far been overlooked because of strong competition.
“The situation changed a little bit, and we are open,” Tedesco said. “We have to choose the best players.”
Up front, strikers Romelu Lukaku and Lois Openda were chosen at the expense of Michy Batshuayi. Tedesco said it did not make sense to have Batshuayi in the squad knowing that Charles de Ketelaere, Dodi Lukebakio and Leandro Trossard can also cover his position.
“We did not see the necessity to take a third striker,” Tedesco said.
Belgium:
Goalkeepers: Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thomas Kaminski (Luton).
Defenders: Wout Faes (Leicester), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Arthur Theate (Rennes), Jan Vertonghen (Anderlecht), Axel Witsel (Atletico Madrid), Zeno Debast (Anderlecht), Thomas Meunier (Trabzonspor), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Brugge)
Midfielders: Aster Vranckx (Wolfsburg), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City), Arthur Vermeeren (Atletico Madrid), Amadou Onana (Everton)
Forwards: Romelu Lukaku (Roma), Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Lois Openda (Leipzig), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal), Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab)
Rohit, Kohli in focus as India look to end title drought
- Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, have long been the twin torchbearers for the hopes of their cricket-mad nation
- India made final of last year’s ODI World Cup at home but lost to Australia at world’s biggest cricket stadium
NEW DELHI: Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will look to end India’s global title drought as the star duo step out for what is likely to be their final World Cup appearance.
Rohit, 37, and Kohli, 35, have long been the twin torchbearers for the hopes of their cricket-mad nation, which last saw a major title triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy.
India made the final of last year’s ODI World Cup at home but lost to Australia in front of a crestfallen packed house at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
The T20 World Cup, starting June 1 in the West Indies and United States, may be the last chance both men have to hoist a trophy from one of the showpiece white-ball tournaments.
“Rohit Sharma knows he isn’t going to play for too long now. Just two to three years more. Same with Virat Kohli,” former India batsman Mohammad Kaif said on Star Sports.
“So this is the last chance for Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
“They lost the World Cup final in Ahmedabad. They played as if they had the cup snatched away from them. Hearts were broken and fans were devastated.”
The next T20 World Cup will be in in two years’ time followed by the 50-over tournament in 2027.
The veterans will combine for India after a contrasting IPL season where Kohli dominated as a one-man run machine and Rohit’s team floundered.
Kohli topped the batting charts with 741 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, forming a thrilling opening partnership with the skipper Faf du Plessis.
Former India batsman Ajay Jadeja said Kohli had made his case to open for his side at the World Cup.
“For me, Virat Kohli opens,” Jadeja told Jio Cinema.
“If you have Virat in your side, you know consistency is the one thing you will get, so, might as well use him. He’s the best at the top and the powerplay allows him to settle in.”
Rohit was replaced as captain of Mumbai Indians by Hardik Pandya for this year’s season and had a patchy tournament, finishing with 417 runs which included a 61-ball century against Chennai Super Kings.
Rohit, nicknamed “Hitman” for his attacking play and big-scoring, signed off in his last league match of the year with a 28-ball fifty but his previous seven innings had produced just 88 runs.
Both men have been part of India’s past World Cup glories.
Rohit was part of the team’s victory in the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007 when India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the final at Johannesburg.
India’s last World Cup win came in 2011 when a young Kohli carried cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on his shoulders during their victory lap of the field.
Both men have faced pressure to deliver their side a title in the years since, but Kohli stepped down as T20 captain in 2021 and was then removed as ODI skipper in the same year without delivering.
Rohit, who led Mumbai to five IPL titles, picked up the baton but a World Cup trophy has proven elusive under his leadership as well.
In this year’s T20 World Cup India face Pakistan, Canada, the United States and Ireland in the group phase of the tournament, with Kaif saying the team had a clear run to the knockout matches.
“India hardly have competition in the group stage. There are only two main matches — the semifinal and the final,” he said.
Saudi youth weightlifters take second place at world championships in Peru
- The event, held in Peru, concluded on Monday and featured teams from 51 countries
RIYADH: The Saudi national youth weightlifting team finished second in the World Youth Weightlifting Championships.
The event, held in Peru, concluded on Monday and featured teams from 51 countries.
The Saudi weightlifters totalled 498 points in finishing behind the Georgian team, with 539 points, while the Mexican team came third with 364 points, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Saudi team was represented at the tournament by Mohammed Al-Ajyan; Mohammed Al-Wubari; Abdullah Al-Muhaimid; Ali Al-Hawar; Mohammed Al-Zuri; Mohammed Al-Haliw; Abbas Al-Mahdi; Abdullah Al-Qaisum; and Muntazer Al-Mohsen.
The Saudi lifters won three silver medals and a bronze medal.
Joy for Jesus as Al-Hilal complete Saudi Pro League campaign unbeaten
- New champions beat A-Wehda 2-1 on the final day of the 2023-24 season
RIYADH: Al-Hilal’s coach, Jorge Jesus, on Monday night expressed his joy after his title-winning team beat Al-Wehda 2-1 to end the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season without a loss.
Jesus said he is enjoying the best days of his career with the Riyadh giants.
Mohammed Kanno gave Al-Hilal a 19th-minute lead, with the home team equalizing in the 77th minute through fellow Saudi international Yahya Al-Najei. But Aleksandar Mitrovic scored in stoppage time to ensure a final-day win for the “Invincibles.”
“We were keen to end our last match in the league with a victory to preserve this exceptional league season, during which we broke records after gaining 96 points, achieved the largest victory in a single match, and we also finished the league without a loss,” Jesus said.
“I experienced many happy moments during my career with the clubs I coached, but my happiness with Al-Hilal is more than wonderful, especially in this exceptional season,” he concluded.
