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Time for Qatar’s footballers to deliver on World Cup debut against Ecuador

DOHA: The preparation for Qatar finally ends on Sunday when the team begin their World Cup campaign.

Benzema injured in training, could miss entire WCup

DOHA: France striker Karim Benzema was reportedly injured Saturday during training in Qatar and is set to miss the defending champion’s World Cup opener against Australia — and possibly the entire tournament. L’Equipe reported that the 34-year-old Benzema, this year’s winner of the Ballon d’Or, “will not participate in at least the first match” of France’s campaign with a risk of not playing in any games.

Cristiano Ronaldo gambles on World Cup to restore reputation

DOHA: Not for the first time, Cristiano Ronaldo is trusting himself to deliver on the big stage. A man of seemingly boundless self-belief is struggling to accept the effects of age and banking on the World Cup to launch a glorious final act to his remarkable career. His explosive interview with Piers Morgan this week has set the stage for a make-or-break few weeks for the 37-year-old Portugal forward and left him with little room to maneuver if it goes wrong.

Unprecedented popularity of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix points to bright future for regional motorsports

ABU DHABI: The drivers themselves may play it down, but a year on from the last Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, few racing fans or pundits can resist recalling that famous final lap, which saw Max Verstappen overtake Lewis Hamilton to win his first-ever title. This season, Red Bull’s Dutch driver has retained his championship several weeks ago in less dramatic circumstances, but the memory of the 2021 finale lingers. “It was a historic race,” said Saif Al-Noaimi, the CEO of Abu Dhabi Motorsports Management.