KUWAIT CITY: The Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation announced on Wednesday that Kuwait will host the 26th Gulf Cup in December 2024, the Kuwait News Agency reported.
It will be the fifth time Kuwait has hosted the competition following previous tournaments in 1974, 1990, 2003, and 2017.
Kuwait holds the record for Gulf Cup titles having won the championship 10 times.
In January, Iraq organized and won the 25th Gulf Cup, defeating Oman 3-2 in the final to lift the trophy for the first time since 1988.
The tournament was held in Basra between Jan. 6 and 19. However, the final was clouded by the tragic death of a supporter during a crush in the crowd before kick-off.
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While Marmoush has been in Germany since 2017, there is no question he has had a move to one of Europe’s big guns on his mind.
Born in Cairo in 1999, Marmoush stood out early in the academy of club Wadi Degla.
At just 17, he was promoted to the first team and joined Wolfsburg’s reserves a year later.
At Wolfsburg, Marmoush initially struggled for consistency and game time, resulting in loans to St. Pauli and Stuttgart.
He also struggled to adapt to life in Germany.
Unable to speak German, Marmoush recalls standing near the counter at coffee shops and waiting until he saw the order he wanted, before pointing and telling the waiter he wanted the same.
Marmoush’s agent told AFP these initial struggles laid a foundation for his achievements.
“Marmoush’s command of German, French and English has greatly contributed to his success. He is thriving at Eintracht Frankfurt,” said Ahmed Abdoun.
“The Bundesliga has always been a stepping stone to the big leagues like the Premier League or La Liga. If there are any offers, we will discuss them with the club and make the best decision.”
In 2021, the same year he made his Wolfsburg first team debut, Marmoush — who was also eligible to play for Canada through his father — received his first Egypt call up.
Making his international debut alongside Liverpool superstar Salah, Marmoush scored the winning goal against Libya in AFCON qualifying.
After moving to Frankfurt on a free transfer ahead of the 2023-24 season, Marmoush scored 12 goals in 29 league games.
He continued to improve this season. After scoring the equalizer in a 3-3 home draw with Bayern Munich in October, visiting coach Vincent Kompany praised the forward.
“Marmoush is a player who is only going to get better with time,” saying the forward’s skill was “not normal.”
Marmoush’s development drew inevitable comparisons with Salah, but the Liverpool star warned against comparisons.
“Omar has great potential and is an important player for his team and the national team currently, but I hope we stay away from the idea of comparisons, because it will put him under pressure,” Salah said in November.
“Do not compare him to me, do not say the ‘new Mohamed Salah’, let him live his career. Comparing a player at the beginning of his career with another who has achieved a lot over many years does not help him.”
While Marmoush may wish to blaze his own trail, a move to Manchester City would make comparisons with Egypt’s best-known sporting export unavoidable.
Kuwait to host 26th Gulf Cup in December 2024
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Kuwait to host 26th Gulf Cup in December 2024
- Kuwait holds record for Gulf Cup titles with 10 championship wins
Red-hot Marmoush has Frankfurt flying and Europe on high alert
- The Egyptian’s stunning 2024-25 has led to speculation of a winter move to faltering English champions Manchester City
- Frankfurt last finished in the top four in 1992-93 and risk being a victim of Marmoush’s success should the 25-year-old move on
BERLIN: With half a season played, red-hot Omar Marmoush has put Eintracht Frankfurt on course for a first top-four finish in over 30 years and placed Europe’s elite clubs on high alert.
The Egyptian’s stunning 2024-25 — he sits one behind top scorer Harry Kane in the Bundesliga with 15 goals, along with 10 assists, in 17 league games — has led to speculation of a winter move to faltering English champions Manchester City.
In Europe’s top-five leagues, his 25 goal contributions rank second only behind countryman Mohamed Salah, who has 31, having played three games more.
Third-placed Frankfurt host Borussia Dortmund on Friday and sit eight points ahead of last season’s Champions League finalists.
Frankfurt last finished in the top four in 1992-93 and risk being a victim of Marmoush’s success should the 25-year-old move on.
While Marmoush has been in Germany since 2017, there is no question he has had a move to one of Europe’s big guns on his mind.
Born in Cairo in 1999, Marmoush stood out early in the academy of club Wadi Degla.
At just 17, he was promoted to the first team and joined Wolfsburg’s reserves a year later.
At Wolfsburg, Marmoush initially struggled for consistency and game time, resulting in loans to St. Pauli and Stuttgart.
He also struggled to adapt to life in Germany.
Unable to speak German, Marmoush recalls standing near the counter at coffee shops and waiting until he saw the order he wanted, before pointing and telling the waiter he wanted the same.
Marmoush’s agent told AFP these initial struggles laid a foundation for his achievements.
“Marmoush’s command of German, French and English has greatly contributed to his success. He is thriving at Eintracht Frankfurt,” said Ahmed Abdoun.
“The Bundesliga has always been a stepping stone to the big leagues like the Premier League or La Liga. If there are any offers, we will discuss them with the club and make the best decision.”
In 2021, the same year he made his Wolfsburg first team debut, Marmoush — who was also eligible to play for Canada through his father — received his first Egypt call up.
Making his international debut alongside Liverpool superstar Salah, Marmoush scored the winning goal against Libya in AFCON qualifying.
After moving to Frankfurt on a free transfer ahead of the 2023-24 season, Marmoush scored 12 goals in 29 league games.
He continued to improve this season. After scoring the equalizer in a 3-3 home draw with Bayern Munich in October, visiting coach Vincent Kompany praised the forward.
“Marmoush is a player who is only going to get better with time,” saying the forward’s skill was “not normal.”
Marmoush’s development drew inevitable comparisons with Salah, but the Liverpool star warned against comparisons.
“Omar has great potential and is an important player for his team and the national team currently, but I hope we stay away from the idea of comparisons, because it will put him under pressure,” Salah said in November.
“Do not compare him to me, do not say the ‘new Mohamed Salah’, let him live his career. Comparing a player at the beginning of his career with another who has achieved a lot over many years does not help him.”
While Marmoush may wish to blaze his own trail, a move to Manchester City would make comparisons with Egypt’s best-known sporting export unavoidable.
Isak fires Newcastle into Premier League top four, Moyes misery
- The striker is just the fourth different player to score in eight successive Premier League appearances
LONDON: Alexander Isak fired Newcastle into the Premier League’s top four on Wednesday, scoring twice in a 3-0 cruise against Wolves as David Moyes endured a miserable return to the Everton dugout.
Red-hot Isak found the net for the eighth league match in a row as the Magpies leapfrogged faltering Chelsea into fourth spot in the table.
The Swedish international put the home side ahead in the 34th minute when his shot took a huge deflection off Wolves defender Rayan Ait-Nouri, leaving Jose Sa wrong-footed.
The striker is just the fourth different player to score in eight successive Premier League appearances, after Jamie Vardy (twice for Leicester), Ruud van Nistelrooy (twice for Manchester United), and Daniel Sturridge (for Liverpool).
Isak doubled Newcastle’s lead shortly before the hour mark, controlling Bruno Guimaraes’ pass before firing home for his 15th league goal of the season and Anthony Gordon added a third.
Eddie Howe’s men, who have now won six straight league games, have recovered strongly from a lengthy poor spell to make a powerful case for a Champions League spot next season.
Taking advantage of the faltering form of Manchester City and Chelsea, they are just three points behind third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Moyes, in the first game of his second spell in charge of Everton, watched his toothless side lose 1-0 to Aston Villa at Goodison Park.
Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, slotting past England teammate Jordan Pickford after he was sent clear by Morgan Rogers.
Everton huffed and puffed but showed a lack of creativity — unsurprising for a team who have scored just 15 league goals in their 20 matches this season.
The result lifts Unai Emery’s Villa to seventh in the table but Everton remain in deep trouble, just one point above the relegation zone in 16th spot.
The Liverpool club’s new owners, the American-based Friedkin Group, sacked Sean Dyche last week and brought back 61-year-old Moyes, who enjoyed success during an 11-year stint at Goodison Park from 2002 to 2013.
But the Toffees, ever-present in the top flight since 1954, have battled relegation for the past three seasons and are once again in deep trouble.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester suffered their sixth straight league defeat, losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace to leave the Foxes second from bottom of the table.
Jean-Philippe Mateta put the visitors ahead early in the second half and Marc Guehi made the points safe with a late second.
Arsenal, winless in three matches in all competitions, are hosting injury-hit Tottenham in the late kick-off on Wednesday.
Police probe abuse of Havertz’s wife after Arsenal star’s woes
- Havertz missed a penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup
- The Germany international’s wife, Sophia, reposted two abusive messages she had received on Instagramhavertz
LONDON: Police have launched an investigation into social media abuse aimed at Arsenal forward Kai Havertz’s wife after his latest poor performance.
Havertz missed a penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat against Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
Following Arsenal’s second successive loss, the Germany international’s wife, Sophia, reposted two abusive messages she had received on Instagram.
A police spokesman told Britain’s Press Association: “Officers have received a report of malicious communications toward a Hertfordshire resident on Sunday 12 January. Enquiries are under way.”
Speaking on Tuesday, on the eve of Arsenal’s Premier League match against Tottenham, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta flagged the “terrible consequences” of online abuse.
“It’s something that we really have to eradicate from the game, because it’s so cynical as well,” he said.
Havertz has scored 12 goals in 27 matches for Arsenal this season.
But his woeful finishing in the United game and the preceeding 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the League Cup semifinal first leg has reopened criticism of the German.
Havertz, who scored the Champions League final winner for Chelsea in 2021, has endured an erratic spell with Arsenal since moving across London in 2023.
But Arteta said there is no excuse for the abuse, saying: “We can accept it and say ‘that’s our job’, but there are certain limits and the line has to be drawn. It cannot happen. That’s it.”
Lyon dumped out of French cup by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu
- The hometown hero was Mehdi Moujetzky
BOURGOIN-JALLIEU, France: Seven-time French champions Lyon were sent crashing out of the French Cup when they were beaten 4-2 on penalties by fifth-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu in their last-32 tie on Wednesday.
The hometown hero was Mehdi Moujetzky, who scored both goals for Bourgoin-Jallieu in normal time as the game ended 2-2.
He put his side ahead after 20 minutes and scored his second in the 69th to level the scores after Nemanja Matic and Georges Mikautadze appeared to have put Lyon, who are sixth in Ligue 1, en route for the last 16.
Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso both missed penalties in the shoot-out to send Bourgoin-Jallieu through.
There was another upset when Ligue 2 side Troyes beat Ligue 1’s Rennes 1-0.
BBC’s Match of the Day unveils new hosts to replace Lineker
- Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will share presenting duties on the iconic show
- Cates, Dalglish’s 49-year-old daughter, is part of Sky Sports’ presenting team and will continue in that job alongside her new Match of the Day role
LONDON: Match of the Day, the BBC’s flagship Premier League highlights program, has unveiled three new hosts to replace Gary Lineker, including the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish.
Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman will share presenting duties on the iconic show, which celebrated its 60th anniversary last year, when current host Lineker steps down at the end of this season.
Cates, Dalglish’s 49-year-old daughter, is part of Sky Sports’ presenting team and will continue in that job alongside her new Match of the Day role.
“Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know that’s going to be a really incredible moment,” she said.
“I’ve worked with a lot of the pundits before and they’re all fantastic, so I’m just looking forward to getting started.”
Former Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker Lineker is the BBC’s highest-paid presenter, earning £1.35 million ($1.65 million) a year, and has been the face of Match of the Day for 26 years.
Lineker, 64, will remain on the BBC’s coverage of the FA Cup next season and is also set to present shows during the 2026 World Cup.
In August 2016, Lineker made good on a promise to present Match of the Day in his underpants after his boyhood club Leicester won the Premier League.
But he was briefly taken off air by bosses in Match 2023 after comparing the language used to launch a British government asylum policy to the rhetoric of Nazi-era Germany on social media.
In solidarity with Lineker, a number of fellow presenters and pundits including Alan Shearer and Ian Wright refused to appear on the program.
An episode was reduced to 20 minutes and aired without its host, pundits and commentary before Lineker was reinstated just over a week later.
“Gary has done a phenomenal job at Match of the Day for the last 26 years, he’ll be missed greatly and we all still get to enjoy him on our screens across some of football’s greatest tournaments,” the BBC’s director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski said.
Match of the Day, which was first broadcast in 1964, averages around four million viewers each week during the Premier League season.
For decades, the show with the memorable theme tune was a Saturday night institution, but audiences have dropped significantly from its peak in the 1970s and 1980s.
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