French Open day three
May 26 : Highlights of the third day at the French Open on Tuesday (times GMT):
Croatia Sport News
After AFCON drama, Morocco head to World Cup with big ambitions
PARIS, France: Morocco produced a historic best performance for an African and Arab nation at the 2022 World Cup, but their hopes of another run to the latter stages this time may not have been helped by a turbulent few months. The Atlas Lions reached the semifinals in Qatar, eliminating Spain on penalties in the last 16 and knocking out Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the quarter-finals. Their remarkable run ended in defeat to France, before they lost the third-place play-off against Croatia. Morocco were a surprise package then, having only previously made the knockout stage of a World Cup once, when they reached the last 16 in Mexico in 1986. This time is different: they are ranked eighth in the world, in between the Netherlands and Belgium, and two places above Germany. At home, supporters want to see their side play more expansive football than the largely defensive style which proved so effective in 2022. Walid Regragui was the mastermind of Morocco’s run in Qatar, but he left the coaching job in March, six weeks after his side lost a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final to Senegal. With home advantage, Morocco were favorites to win that competition but appeared to blow it when Brahim Diaz — their outstanding performer — failed to score a penalty deep in injury time in the final in Rabat. Senegal were so furious at the decision to give the spot-kick that most of their players stormed off the pitch. They eventually came back on, an unsettled Diaz had his kick saved, and Morocco lost 1-0 in extra time. Having faced criticism from a demanding public and media, Regragui departed to be replaced by Mohamed Ouahbi. Born and raised in Brussels, Ouahbi was promoted to the top coaching role after overseeing Morocco’s triumph
Injury rules Spurs' Kudus out of Ghana's World Cup squad
May 26 : Tottenham Hotspur forward Mohamed Kudus will miss next month's World Cup due to injury after being ruled out of Ghana's preliminary 28-man squad named by Carlos Queiroz on Tuesday.
Toronto's multi-culturalism on full display for city's World Cup trophy visit
TORONTO, May 25 : Hundreds of fans draped in the colours of countries from across the globe gathered outside Toronto's city hall on Monday to catch a glimpse of the World Cup trophy, offering a preview of the multicultural spectacle the city promises to deliver when the tournament kicks off next month.
Djokovic to appear in record 82nd Grand Slam at the French Open with barely any match play
PARIS: Novak Djokovic will set a record the moment he steps on court for his opening match at the French Open against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the night session on Sunday. Two days after his 39th birthday, Djokovic will play a men’s record 82nd Grand Slam tournament — one more than Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez. For all his experience, though — he shares the record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles with Margaret Court — Djokovic comes to Roland Garros with hardly any match preparation. Djokovic lost to Croatian qualifier Dino Prižmić at the Italian Open in his only match on clay this year — after two months out due to a right shoulder injury. “I wanted to play more but my body was not allowing me,” Djokovic said, adding he “was far from ready to compete” in Rome. “But, still, I needed at least that one match just to have the score called by the chair umpire and have experience of the nerves before I eventually come to Roland Garros, which at that point I didn’t know if I was going to be able to play or not. “Thankfully, the response of the body and the preparation has been positive in the last 10 days, so here I am, and we’ll see what happens.” Djokovic will also tie French players Richard Gasquet and Antoine Gentian with a men’s record 22nd appearance at Roland Garros.
Ghana preparations begin after month of travel and study for new coach
May 20 : Ghana will begin their World Cup preparations in Wales this week at the end of a month-long odyssey for coach Carlos Queiroz after his belated appointment to take the team to the tournament in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
Modric included in Croatia's preliminary World Cup squad after cheekbone surgery
May 18 : Croatia captain Luka Modric was included in the country's preliminary World Cup squad on Monday, just weeks after undergoing cheekbone surgery, as the 40-year-old midfield maestro targets a fifth tournament.
Croatia Announces World Cup Roster, Luka Modrić Earns Spot In Fifth Tournament
Luka Modrić was included Monday in Croatia's squad and is set to play in his fifth World Cup.