ANKARA: Turks voiced pride on Tuesday on hearing that their country was to co-host soccer’s 2032 European Championship with Italy, the most prestigious sporting event it has ever staged.
“The heart of football will beat in Turkiye in 2032. We are delighted to co-host Euro 2032 with our friendly country Italy,” said Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak.
“Hosting the Euros will be an important step forward for Turkish football. We have several great stadiums and more under construction,” he told reporters outside the Turkish parliament in Ankara.
Bak also hinted at the future possibility of Turkiye bidding to host the Olympics. The cities hosting games at Euro 2032 have yet to be decided, but Turkiye has options with the necessary stadiums and facilities, he added.
The news was welcomed in Turkiye’s largest city Istanbul.
“Of course, it is something that makes us proud. It’s the most beautiful thing in the world, soccer,” said Muammer Unluer, a 59-year-old car upholsterer.
“All the people of Europe will come to my country. They are going to contribute to my economy.”
A country of 85 million people, Turkiye has hosted the Champions League final and F1 races, but has never staged the most watched sporting events like soccer’s World Cup and European Championship or the Olympic Games.
Omer Ozturk, a 53-year-old textile worker, also focused on the economic benefits.
“It will reflect on the economy,” he said. “Our country is not embraced by world countries, but if we present ourselves nicely, people will be more sensitive toward our economy. Our country needs this for publicity.”
‘It makes us proud’ — Turks happy to host Euro 2032
https://arab.news/46tvy
‘It makes us proud’ — Turks happy to host Euro 2032
- “We are delighted to co-host Euro 2032 with our friendly country Italy,” said Sports Minister Osman Askin Bak
- He also hinted at the future possibility of Turkiye bidding to host the Olympics
Diaz scores again as hosts Morocco beat Cameroon to reach AFCON semis
- Diaz’s fifth goal in five matches at the tournament was followed by Saibari’s strike in the second half
- Morocco are under enormous pressure to win the Cup of Nations in front of their own fans
RABAT: Brahim Diaz kept up his remarkable Africa Cup of Nations scoring record and Ismael Saibari was also on target as hosts Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 in their quarter-final showdown on Friday to keep their title dreams alive.
Real Madrid winger Diaz got the decisive touch to Ayoub El Kaabi’s 26th-minute header in front of more than 64,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in capital Rabat.
Diaz’s fifth goal in five matches at the tournament was followed by Saibari’s strike in the second half, with Morocco well worth their victory as they progress to a semifinal against the winner of Saturday’s clash between Algeria and Nigeria.
That promises to be a stiffer test for Walid Regragui’s team than that posed by Cameroon, who were hoping to spring an upset having already exceeded expectations in coming this far after a troubled build-up to the tournament.
The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, created little with Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo struggling to make an impact.
Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked team and World Cup semifinalists in 2022, are under enormous pressure to win the Cup of Nations in front of their own fans, half a century after their last continental title.
There have been doubts as to whether they can handle the weight of expectation, but they remain on course to achieve their objective — it is the first time Morocco have reached the AFCON semifinals since they lost the 2004 final to Tunisia.
The hosts were unchanged from their 1-0 last-16 win over Tanzania as they looked to continue an unbeaten record going back to their defeat by South Africa at the 2024 AFCON.
Fresh from knocking out South Africa in the last round here, Cameroon were clearly banking on frustrating Morocco as much as possible in an attempt to turn the crowd against the home side.
- Saibari seals it -
Morocco were beaten by the Cameroonians in the semifinals the last time they hosted AFCON in 1988, but a repeat outcome never really looked likely.
David Pagou’s team were not helped by the early loss of right wing-back Jackson Tchamadeu, who tried to carry on after Noussair Mazraoui landed heavily on his knee before eventually being stretchered off.
Moments after that, Morocco scored. Achraf Hakimi sent in a corner from the right which was headed toward goal by El Kaabi at the near post, and the ball struck Diaz in the groin before going in.
That calmed a frenetic home support, who cheered their team off at the break after seeing Abde Ezzalzouli and El Kaabi come close to adding further goals.
Morocco were on top, and Cameroon’s response was to change formation after the break, from a back three to a 4-2-3-1, in an attempt to create more danger.
Ezzalzouli headed just over from a Hakimi corner, and then a cross by the Paris Saint-Germain star caused havoc in the Cameroon box as Samuel Kotto hooked the ball away from the line.
Mbeumo had appeals for a penalty dismissed by the Mauritanian referee before PSV Eindhoven’s Saibari fired in the killer second goal on 74 minutes after controlling Ezzalzouli’s dead-ball delivery, as Morocco march on to Wednesday’s semis.
