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Naomi Osaka moves into French Open third round

PARIS: Naomi Osaka advanced to the third round of the French Open for the first time in seven years Thursday with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 win over Croatia’s Donna Vekic.Four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka will next take on American teenager Iva Jovic as both players attempt to reach the last 16 at Roland Garros for the first time.Osaka, seeded 16th, retrieved an early break against Vekic and then broke back again when her opponent was serving for the first set.The Japanese star dominated a tie-break and came up with the decisive break late in the second set to put away the 72nd-ranked Vekic.Osaka’s run to the US Open semifinals last year is the only time she has made the second week of a major since her last Grand Slam triumph at the 2021 Australian Open.The former world number one returned to the courts in early 2024 after a year out following the birth of her daughter.

French Open day five

May 28 : Highlights of the fifth day at the French Open on Thursday (times GMT):

Morocco’s Hakimi among 9 picked for World Cup returning from historic 2022 squad

RABAT: Paris Saint-Germain standout Achraf Hakimi was among nine players from Morocco’s history-making 2022 World Cup squad picked Tuesday for the 2026 tournament in North America. Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who was hired only in March, drew heavily on the country’s diaspora in Europe where the majority of the 26 players he selected were born. Ouahbi was himself born in Belgium while Hakimi and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz are among five players in the squad born in Spain and whose family ties make them eligible for Morocco. Three of Morocco’s squad — Fulham defender Issa Diop, PSV Eindhoven defender Anass Salah-Eddine and 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi — had their change of national eligibility approved by FIFA in the past nine months. Diaz has played for Morocco since 2024 after previously representing Spain. Morocco will be based in New Jersey where they open against Brazil on June 13 in East Rutherford. Morocco then play Scotland in Massachusetts and finish Group C against Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta.

Panama name experienced squad for second World Cup appearance

May 26 : Panama named an experienced squad for the World Cup on Tuesday, with captain Anibal Godoy and midfielder Adalberto Carrasquilla included as Thomas Christiansen's side prepare for the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

French Open day three

May 26 : Highlights of the third day at the French Open on Tuesday (times GMT):

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.

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Croatia Sport News

Naomi Osaka moves into French Open third round

French Open day five

Morocco’s Hakimi among 9 picked for World Cup returning from historic 2022 squad

Panama name experienced squad for second World Cup appearance

French Open day three

After AFCON drama, Morocco head to World Cup with big ambitions

Injury rules Spurs' Kudus out of Ghana's World Cup squad

Toronto's multi-culturalism on full display for city's World Cup trophy visit