BUDAPEST: Cristiano Ronaldo set the record for most goals at the European Championship with two of them Tuesday in Portugal’s 3-0 victory over Hungary at a packed Puskas Arena.
Ronaldo scored his 10th goal at the tournament from the penalty spot in the 87th minute and then added a second in injury time. He has now scored 11 goals over five continental tournaments. He entered the match even with Michel Platini at nine goals.
Portugal defender Raphael Guerreiro scored the opening goal three minutes before Ronaldo’s first with a shot that deflected off a defender and wrong-footed goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Ronaldo had missed an easy chance near the end of the first half when he hit a shot over the crossbar from close range.
It was the first match of the tournament to be played in front of a full crowd amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The 67,215-capacity Puskas Arena went wild with celebration after 80 minutes when substitute Szabolcs Schon cut inside from the right and planted a low shot into the corner of the net. But the goal was ruled out because Schon was offside when he ran onto the pass.
Ronaldo is now only three behind former Iran striker Ali Daei’s men’s record of 109 international goals.
Ronaldo scores 2, Portugal beats Hungary 3-0 at Euro 2020
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Ronaldo scores 2, Portugal beats Hungary 3-0 at Euro 2020
- Ronaldo scored his 10th goal at the tournament from the penalty spot
- It was Euro 2020’s first match to be played in front of a full crowd amid coronavirus pandemic
Saudi Logistics Services partners with Jeddah GT Race 2024
- SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 will take place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Nov. 29 and 30
- SMC’s acting CEO, Mansour Almokbel said: ‘This partnership represents a significant step toward fulfilling our common goals’
JEDDAH: Saudi Motorsport Co. and Saudi Logistics Services have signed a partnership agreement, making SAL the title partner of the inaugural 2024 Jeddah GT Race, it was announced on Thursday.
According to the partnership, SAL will become the main partner for the race that will be renamed SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 scheduled to take place at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Nov. 29 and 30.
The six-hour race will be the longest circuit motor race to be staged in Saudi Arabia.
The agreement reaffirms SAL’s commitment to social responsibility and its dedication to supporting the community and the national economy through various initiatives, programs, and collaborations with different entities, such as the SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024.
SMC’s acting CEO, Mansour Almokbel said: “This partnership represents a significant step toward fulfilling our common goals, contributing to achieving the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and improving the quality of life in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
Thunyan Al-Thunyan, president of logistics solutions at SAL, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Jeddah GT Race 2024 as the title sponsor, in which we collaborate to reflect SAL’s ongoing commitment toward supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, while also showcasing our dedication to excellence and innovation in logistics, by contributing to the success of the motorsports races and other international mega events happening in Saudi Arabia.”
The collaboration will contribute to the advancement of motorsports in Saudi Arabia and further strengthen SAL’s strategic partnership with SMC, which plays a pivotal role in the comprehensive development of motorsports in the region.
The SAL Jeddah GT Race 2024 will feature two major global races the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS, and the exciting GT4 European Series Powered by RAFA Racing Club, which will also include the longest racing event in Saudi Arabia’s history.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate says he won’t coach in the next year
- “I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I’m certain of that,” Southgate said
- “I need to give myself time to make good decisions”
ATHENS: Former England coach Gareth Southgate said Thursday he will be taking a year away from a club or national team job, after speculation he could be a target for Manchester United.
“I won’t coach in the next year, for sure. I’m certain of that,” Southgate said during an on-stage interview to an audience of hundreds of soccer officials at a European Club Association meeting.
Southgate stepped down from the England job in July, two days after losing in the final of the European Championship for the second straight tournament. England lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin, three years after losing the title match to Italy in a penalty shootout at its home Wembley Stadium in London.
His eight years in the job transformed England’s record and reputation in international soccer, also reaching a semifinal and quarterfinal at back-to-back World Cups.
Criticized by some fans for being too cautious, Southgate won praise for restoring his players’ enjoyment of being with the national team, protecting them from criticism, and being a thoughtful commentator on social issues during a polarizing period in British society.
“I need to give myself time to make good decisions,” Southgate said. “I’m fortunate that there are lots of opportunities presenting themselves.”
Southgate distanced himself even before Euro 2024 from speculation he could be a target for Man United, which has made a poor start to the season under coach Erik ten Hag.
“Clubs can only be successful if everything is aligned right the way through the club,” said Southgate, whose previous experience of club management was with Middlesbrough, for three years after he finished playing there in 2006.
“And I also know that maybe the smarter people sit in the boardrooms and the coaches are a little bit more dispensable than you think when you’re there,” he said.
The 54-year-old former England defender said he was “at an age where I want to work with good people” and was interested by the business side of soccer.
“I am not just set on being a coach moving forward,” Southgate said, adding he had been asked to speak at Harvard.
England in sight of victory against Pakistan after Harry Brook’s triple hundred
- Brook smashed 317 and Joe Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared
- It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan, with a top order collapse before 50
MULTAN: England’s bowlers sparked a Pakistan batting collapse after a brilliant triple century by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s double hundred had them closing in on victory in the first Test in Multan on Thursday.
Brook smashed 317 and Root a record-setting 262 in England’s mammoth 823-7 declared, giving the visitors a 267-run lead.
Pakistan in reply were struggling on 152-6 at the close of the fourth day, with Agha Salman unbeaten on 41 and Aamer Jamal on 27 not out.
The pair added a fighting 70 for the seventh wicket, with the home team still needing 115 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
Pakistan’s collapse marked a quick turnaround to the match after a flat Multan stadium pitch saw 1,379 runs scored for the loss of just 17 wickets.
Brook and Root earlier put on 454 for the fourth wicket as England piled up the fourth-highest total in Test cricket history.
It was England’s highest in Tests, eclipsing the 411-run fourth-wicket partnership by Peter May and Colin Cowdrey against the West Indies at Birmingham in 1957.
England declared their innings 33 minutes before tea and Chris Woakes dismissed Abdullah Shafique with the first ball of the innings.
It was a familiar story of second innings failure for Pakistan as skipper Shan Masood (11), Babar Azam (five) and Saim Ayub (25) were dismissed before the total passed 50.
Masood was dropped twice on five and seven but miscued a shot off pace bowler Gus Atkinson, who also had Azam caught behind with a sharp delivery.
It became 5-59 when Mohammad Rizwan fell for 10 to fast bowler Brydon Carse.
Saud Shakeel and Agha took Pakistan to 82 when spinner Jack Leach came into the act, getting Shakeel caught behind for 29.
Atkinson has figures of 2-28 and Carse 2-39.
Brook and Root enjoyed a run-feast with career-best knocks.
Brook completed his triple century with a boundary off part-timer Ayub, reaching the mark off 310 balls before he top-edged a sweep off the same bowler and was caught by Masood.
“It is amazing,” said the 25-year-old Brook.
“I am lost for words, to be honest, I’m just happy that the team is in a strong position to win the game... It’s been an incredible thing.”
He cracked 29 fours and three sixes in his 439-minute stay at the crease.
Root – who broke Alastair Cook’s England Test run record of 12,472 on Wednesday – fell short of a triple hundred when he was trapped leg-before by Agha after a marathon 10 hour-stay during which he hit 17 fours.
Ayub (2-101) and Naseem Shah (2-157) were the most successful Pakistan bowlers.
England resumed on 492-3 in the morning and looked for quick runs, which Root and Brook provided despite Pakistan’s defensive leg-side bowling, adding 166 runs in 29 overs in the session.
Root’s previous best of 254 was also against Pakistan at Manchester in 2016.
Brook’s previous best was 186, scored against New Zealand at Wellington last year.
Pakistan’s only chance came in the first hour when Root, on 186, failed to keep down a pull shot off Shah but Azam spilled the regulation chance at mid-wicket.
Root took full advantage and with a single off spinner Salman completed his sixth Test double-century, which came in 517 minutes off 305 balls.
Pakistan were without frontline spinner Abrar Ahmed, who suffered a fever and did not take the field on Thursday.
Andy Flower hopes to see more than two UAE players starting in future editions of the DP World ILT20
Andy Flower hopes to see more than two UAE players starting in future editions of the DP World ILT20
- Gulf Giants’ head coach believes the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2024 can transform Emirati cricket
DUBAI: Scouting the right talent at a suitable age is one of the most important aspects of a plan when the aim is to make progress in sport.
For those scouted, game time is important, and there is nothing better than high level cricket tournaments such as the DP World ILT20 for that, according to Zimbabwean legend Andy Flower.
The former international wicketkeeper-batter, now head coach of the Gulf Giants, believes that while the DP World ILT20 can help transform UAE cricket, the DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2024 is as important.
Flower is keeping a keen eye on the action at the development tournament currently being played at the ICC Academy Oval 1. The tournament provides competing players an opportunity to seal one of the 12 remaining berths in the six DP World ILT20 Season 3 squads (two squad spots up for grabs in each team).
Flower, who has coached around the world, said: “The DP World ILT20 is brilliant for cricket in the UAE and some of the guys get some excellent exposure from playing with the best players in the world during the tournament. And I expect the coming tournament (DP World ILT20 Season 3) is going to be very similar in standard and in terms of great exposure for the UAE players.
“The extension of that is this tournament (DP World ILT20 Development Tournament 2024), and I have come out for a bit of scouting for the Gulf Giants.”
He added: “Watching the players go at it in a highly competitive tournament is a great experience and a motivator for me as well. And a tournament like this is all part of the growth of cricket in the UAE.”
The 56-year-old called the DP World ILT20 crucial for the growth of cricket in the UAE.
He explained: “We have just seen a very apt example in the USA, and their growth as a team there is potential for something similar and more. At the DP World ILT20 there are currently two UAE players per playing XI, and I hope in the future that number grows and that allows for greater experience for the players and, crucially, confidence. That confidence and self-belief at international level is absolutely crucial. And it is at tournaments like the DP World ILT20 where you start to realise the international players are not invincible.”
Formerly the coach of the England cricket team, Flower, who has been watching the tournament from one of the best seats in the house, has been impressed by UAE players such as Aayan Khan, Zuhaib Zubair, Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Wasim, to name a few.
On a scouting trip for the Gulf Giants, who created history by becoming the inaugural champions of the DP World ILT20, the former Zimbabwe captain said: “We are aiming to bring home the trophy again after a sensational first season for the Gulf Giants. Working with the Adanis (team sponsor) was a fantastic experience for us and yes, we would like to do them proud. So, getting to the playoffs is the first step towards real success and strengthening our squad with the UAE players is just a small step in the same direction.
“We have a couple of UAE spinners in our squad, and I am very impressed with them, but we might look to cover a few different skills in terms of filling up the two spots we have for players from the UAE, just to cover all angles in terms of the balance of the squad.
“A specialist batter and quick bowler from the UAE, who know these conditions well, would probably give us more tactical flexibility,” Flower concluded.
Rafa Nadal announces retirement from professional tennis at end of season
- Decision effective after the Davis Cup final
MADRID: Rafael Nadal on Thursday announced he will retire after the Davis Cup finals in November, ending a career which brought 22 Grand Slam titles, global respect and inspired epic, iconic rivalries with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
"I am retiring from professional tennis. The reality is that it has been some difficult years, these last two especially," Nadal said in a video on social media.
"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make. But in this life everything has a beginning and an end."
The 38-year-old Spaniard is set to end his two decades as a professional with 92 titles and prize money alone of $135 million.
He dominated the French Open where he won 14 of his majors, his first arriving just days after his 19th birthday in 2005, his last in 2022 making him the event's oldest champion.
On the famous crushed brick of Roland Garros, he lost just three times in 115 matches.
He was also a four-time champion at the US Open and a two-time winner at the Australian Open, his first triumph coming in 2009; his second 13 years later.
Nadal also won Wimbledon twice, in 2008 and 2010 despite grass considered to be the surface most likely to expose any shortcomings in his game.
His five-set victory over Roger Federer in the 2008 championship match, which ended in almost complete darkness at the All England Club, is widely regarded as the greatest Slam final ever played.
Nadal claimed a career Golden Slam when he took Olympic Games gold in 2008. For good measure, he also won five Davis Cups.
Nadal was a five-time year-end world number one and never left the top 10 from 2005 until March this year.
In total, he spent 209 weeks in top spot and between 2004 and 2022, won at least one title every year.
In his long rivalry with close friend Federer, who retired last year, he enjoyed a 24-16 edge. Nadal surpassed Federer's mark of 20 majors in Australia last year.
He and Djokovic, the all-time leader with 24 men's Grand Slam titles, met 60 times with the Serb just ahead by two.
An underpowered Nadal was swept aside by Djokovic in straight sets in their final meeting at this year's Paris Olympics.
Despite his record-breaking career, Nadal was plagued by injuries, a painful by-product of his all-action, brutal-hitting style.
Ankle, wrist, knee, elbow and abdominal problems caused him to sit out 16 Grand Slam tournaments and withdraw mid-event on five occasions at the majors.
At the 2022 French Open, he admitted that his title charge would have been impossible without daily pain-killing injections in his foot.
Nadal then underwent a medical procedure which required nerves in the foot to be burned to allow him to extend his career.
However, the creaks in the body were getting louder.
An abdominal strain forced him out of Wimbledon where he had made the semi-finals.
He was then struck down with a hip injury at the Australian Open in January as he crashed out in the second round -- his earliest exit at the majors in seven years.
His wife Mery was in tears as she watched him struggle through to the end.
Nadal possibly sensed the writing was on the wall in the Laver Cup in London two years ago when he played alongside Federer in the great Swiss star's final tournament.
At 41, and unable to shake off a knee injury, Federer called it quits.
The two men wept and even grasped each other's hands as the Federer era ended.
"When Roger leaves the tour, an important part of my life is leaving too," said Nadal.