Pitch not perfect: World Cup players find weirdness underfoot on innovative grass
INGLEWOOD, California, June 19 : As soon as Switzerland and Bosnia were off the pitch after their World Cup match on Thursday, another team were on it.
France Sport News
Tunisia’s new coach faces baptism of fire against ‘best team in Asia’
MONTERREY, Mexico: Tunisia will throw new coach Herve Renard straight into the deep end when they face Japan on Saturday in Monterrey, with the North Africans desperately needing points after their tournament got off to a nightmare start. The French coach has barely had time to settle into his new role after being rushed in to replace the sacked Sabri Lamouchi, who paid the price for Tunisia’s crushing 5-1 opening defeat to Sweden. Now Renard must somehow galvanize his shell-shocked squad against opponents he readily admits will be no pushovers. “I know very well the quality of this team,” he said. “Japan are the best team in Asia.” The four-time Asian champions lived up to that billing in their tournament opener, showing resilience to fight back twice and snatch a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands on Sunday in Dallas. Daichi Kamada’s dramatic 88th-minute equalizer underscored a never-say-die attitude that could spell trouble for a fragile Tunisian defense. Japan coach Hajjime Moriyasu was full of praise for his team’s grit and determination in battling back. “We were trailing behind a very difficult opponent (and) the players were united as one, tenacious, they fought to the end and did not cease to persevere,” Moriyasu said. Yet Moriyasu will be hoping to show more than just fighting spirit on Saturday and made it clear his team had been hoping for a win against the Netherlands. “We were aiming to get three points, not one point.
Goldfish Swimbappe's World Cup predictions make a splash in Toronto
TORONTO, June 19 : A tiny oranda goldfish named Swimbappe is making a big splash in Toronto with daily World Cup match predictions made from his own underwater pitch, capturing the curiosity and hearts of soccer fans in the city.
Moutet loses nearly all Queen's prize money after sweary interview
LONDON, June 19 : French player Corentin Moutet has lost nearly all his prize money from the Queen's Club tournament after being fined for an expletive-laden post-match interview.
Algeria complain to FIFA about refereeing in loss to Argentina
ATLANTA, June 19 : Algeria have lodged a complaint about alleged poor refereeing during their 3-0 World Cup defeat by Argentina this week, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Criticism of captain Odegaard is rubbish and nonsense, say Norway players
June 19 : Norway's players have mounted a strong defence of captain Martin Odegaard following intense domestic media criticism of his performance in their opening match at the World Cup.
Jack Draper set for first match since joining forces with Andy Murray
Jack Draper will make his return from injury at the Lexus Eastbourne Open next week.
Olympic hurdles medallist Bascou suspended for doping
PARIS: French hurdler Dimitri Bascou, an Olympic medallist in 2016, was banned for four years on Friday for a positive test for steroids. The 38-year-old athlete had been provisionally suspended since April 2024, three months after testing positive for testosterone and boldenone, two banned anabolic steroids. Bascou, Olympic bronze medallist in the 110m hurdles in 2016 and European champion the same year, said he was “stunned” after the announcement of his positive test in January 2024, which ended his chances of participating in his home Olympics in Paris. The Martinique-born athlete pleaded contamination via food supplements and hoped that his provisional suspension would be canceled in time to participate in the Paris Games. More than two years later, the sanctions commission of the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD) ruled to suspend him for four years. Bascou will be suspended until April 2028 but has already indicated in the past that he does not intend to resume his career.