Frenchman Monfils to retire after 2026 season
Former world number six Gael Monfils will retire at the end of next season, the Frenchman said on Wednesday.
France Sport News
Paixao shines as Marseille crush Ajax 4-0 in Champions League
MARSEILLE, France :Igor Paixao's early double and goals from Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang secured Olympique de Marseille a 4-0 win over Ajax Amsterdam at home in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Griezmann scores 200th Atletico goal in 5-1 win over Frankfurt
MADRID :Antoine Griezmann scored his 200th goal for Atletico Madrid as they secured their first Champions League win of the season with a 5-1 home victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday after Julian Alvarez also netted twice.
Mbappe hat-trick powers Real Madrid to 5-0 win over Kairat in Champions League
ALMATY :Kylian Mbappe scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid eased to a 5-0 victory over Champions League debutants Kairat Almaty on Tuesday, bouncing back emphatically from their weekend LaLiga defeat.
Mbappé rewards Madrid’s long journey with hat trick in 5-0 win at Kairat Almaty in Champions League
ALMATY: Kylian Mbappé scored a hat trick as Real Madrid shrugged off any travel weariness in a 5-0 win at Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan on Tuesday. The 15-time European champions traveled nearly 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) to play the game in the eastern Kazakh city, Kairat’s first home match in the competition. The enthusiasm showed with Dastan Satpayev testing Thibault Courtois after just 13 seconds and Jorginho trying his luck a minute later. Mbappé settled any visiting nerves by dispatching a penalty in the 25th after goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza had brought down Franco Mastantuono. Mbappé went close again before the break but ultimately the visitors appeared content to let the ball circulate without forcing the initiative too much. The second half started in the same vein until Courtois caught the Kairat defense out with a long clearance and Mbappé lobbed the ball over Kalmurza in the 52nd for his second goal. Kairat might have had a way back into the game when Dani Ceballos was penalized for an apparent foul on Valery Gromyko, but referee Marco Guida changed his mind after a VAR review. Arda Güler sent Mbappé though for his third goal in the 73rd, when the France star completed his fourth hat trick in the competition.
Barca star Yamal must ‘work hard’ to reach top level, says Flick
BARCELONA: Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Tuesday if teenage star Lamine Yamal is to improve he must focus on improving his work rate, ahead of the Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain. The holders visit Barcelona on Wednesday and 18-year-old winger Yamal is keen to shine after finishing as runner-up at the Ballon d’Or gala last week, behind PSG’s Ousmane Dembele. Yamal returned from a groin injury on Sunday against Real Sociedad in La Liga and provided an assist a minute after coming off the bench during a bright second-half cameo. “(Calling him) super, super, super... I don’t like this... he’s 18 years old and for me he also has to focus on working hard,” Flick told reporters. “It’s not always easy, with talent you can get to this point, but to reach the next level, one or two steps more — and I think he’s able to do that — he has to work hard.” Last season Barcelona won a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup, but fell just short in the Champions League, beaten in the semifinals by Inter Milan despite two sensational displays by Yamal. Against Luis Enrique’s attacking PSG side Flick demanded Yamal and his team-mates knuckle down when the French champions are in possession. “It’s not only about playing with the ball, it’s also defending,” continued Flick. “This is what we need from every player — even a great player with the ball like him — and this makes the difference.” Flick said to beat PSG his team had to concentrate from “the first second to the end of the match” and play at their highest level.
Yamal boost as Barcelona bid to end losing run against PSG
BARCELONA : Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is embracing the challenge of facing Paris St Germain in the Champions League group stage on Wednesday, despite the French side having caused the Spanish side problems in recent years.
Defender Saliba commits long-term future to Arsenal
Centre back William Saliba has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Tuesday, following media reports that Real Madrid had shown interest in the Frenchman.