Green Falcons ready for crunch Arabian Gulf Cup clash with Iraq
BASRA: Saudi Arabia concluded on Sunday preparations for their match against Iraq in the second round of matches at the Arabian Gulf Cup on Monday.
Iraq Sport News
Pep Guardiola tells Chelsea to back under-fire Graham Potter after 4-0 FA Cup rout
MANCHESTER: Pep Guardiola told Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly to back under-fire boss Graham Potter after Manchester City thrashed the Blues 4-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.Potter’s troubled side were beaten by City for the second time in four days as their hopes of winning a domestic cup this season came to a painful end.Already knocked out of the League Cup by City in November and defeated 1-0 by the Premier League champions on Thursday, Chelsea’s turbulent season was pushed deeper into crisis as Guardiola’s men ran riot at the Etihad Stadium.Riyad Mahrez started the demolition with a fine free-kick before Julian Alvarez’s penalty and a Phil Foden strike made it 3-0 before half-time.Mahrez’s late spot-kick capped Chelsea’s first FA Cup third round exit since 1998 after they had finished runners-up in the competition for the last three years.With Chelsea languishing in 10th place in the Premier League — 10 points adrift of the top four — Potter is already beginning to feel the heat just four months after replacing the sacked Thomas Tuchel.The former Brighton manager will hardly have been comforted by the sound of Chelsea fans chanting Tuchel’s name and sarcastically shouting “shoot” whenever they embarked on a rare attack during their latest abject defeat.Chelsea have won only three of their last 12 games in all competitions, but Guardiola came to Potter’s aid as he urged the Blues hierarchy to give him time to make his methods work.“I would say to Todd Boehly, give him time. I know in big clubs, results are important but I’d say give him time,” Guardiola said.“What he’s done at Brighton is outstanding, but we need time in the first season.
Loeb wins KSA Dakar Rally stage after Sainz penalty for speeding
RIYADH: Sebastien Loeb won his second stage of the week in the Dakar Rally after Carlos Sainz was penalized for speeding on Sunday.
Paris Saint-Germain to face off with Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr stars in Riyadh Season Cup match
RIYADH: French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), including stars Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Achraf Hakimi and Marquinhos, will face off against the stars of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr for the Riyadh Season Cup.
Prince Harry’s Invictus Games could be targeted by terrorists, ex-navy chief warns
LONDON: The Invictus Games, an international sporting event founded by Prince Harry to help injured veterans, could be targeted by terrorists in the wake of his comments over his kill count in Afghanistan, the former chief of the Royal Navy has warned.
Iraqi hospitality at the fore as Basra residents open homes to traveling fans
BASRA: Ever since Basra was announced as the host of the 2023 Arabian Gulf Cup, concerns over adequate accommodation were raised. With thousands of footballing fans descending on the southern Iraqi city, a limited number of hotel rooms has left many expecting a lodging crisis.
Valencia FC ‘honored’ to be first club to stage women’s football camp in Saudi Arabia: Academy technical coordinator
RIYADH: Valencia FC will hold a training camp, which will include women’s football, in the run up to the Spanish Super Cup tournament, which will be played by the first team.
Tears of joy as Basra puts on memorable Arabian Gulf Cup opening ceremony
BASRA: After hours of anticipation, the lights of the majestic Basra International Stadium switched off, stunning the audience into silence. Collectively, they held their breath in suspense for the opening ceremony of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq.