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OSLO, Norway — Manchester City star Erling Haaland twice missed a penalty for Norway against Israel, but still wound up with a hat trick in a 5-0 World Cup qualifying win on Saturday.
OSLO: Norway secured a commanding 5-0 win at home to Israel in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, as Erling Haaland struck a hat-trick to celebrate his 50th international goal and helped move his side to the brink of a place at next year’s tournament. Norway had tightened security ahead of the match due to scheduled protests, closing off the stands around a section of roughly 100 Israel supporters waving national flags. Norwegian fans are divided over Israel’s participation in the World Cup qualifying competition due to the war in Gaza. Norway have now won all six of their Group I matches, boasting a goal difference of plus 26 ahead of their remaining two fixtures against Estonia and second-placed Italy, who sit nine points behind with two games in hand. Despite missing a twice-taken penalty early on, Haaland found his rhythm, scoring once in the first half and twice after the break to reach his 50-goal milestone and finishing the night with an incredible 51 in 46 internationals. Israel added to their own misery with two own goals in the first half from Anan Khalaili and Idan Nachmias.
OSLO: The build-up to the World Cup qualifier between Norway and Israel in Oslo on Saturday (Oct 11) was marked by protests and heavy security, as Norwegian fans remained divided over Israel’s participation in the tournament due to the war in Gaza.
OSLO: Hundreds of people attended a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Oslo on Saturday ahead of Israel’s World Cup qualifier against Norway, chanting “Free Palestine” to protest against Israel’s “genocide,” AFP journalists reported. Many demonstrators wore Palestinian keffiyeh shawls draped over their shoulders and waved Palestinian flags as they gathered in the city center before walking in a procession to the Ullevaal stadium. Smoke flares were lit but the atmosphere remained calm.
PARIS: Kylian Mbappe and Ibrahima Konate have been ruled out of Monday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier in Iceland where France could book their ticket to next year’s tournament. Already suffering from a “small niggle” in his right ankle from playing for Real Madrid, Mbappe took two knocks during Friday’s 3-0 World Cup qualifying win over Azerbaijan in Paris, where he opened the scoring but was substituted before the end of the match. Liverpool defender Konate remained on the bench with a right thigh problem with his place against Iceland now taken by Marseille’s Benjamin Pavard. Mbappe’s absence adds to the long list of forward unavailable for October’s World Cup qualifiers, which includes Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Marcus Thuram and Bradley Barcola. After returning to the Clairefontaine training ground on Friday night, “the French team captain spoke with (coach) Didier Deschamps who acknowledged his absence,” the French federation (FFF) said in a statement. Mbappe “has been released to his club (Real Madrid) and will not be replaced,” the FFF added, confirming hours later that Konate “has returned to his club’s availability.” Konate had joined the team with a slight injury and “underwent treatment and a specific protocol but will not be able to play Monday in Reykjavik,” the FFF said. Mbappe scored on the stroke of half-time against Azerbaijan and was then struck by a tackle from Rustam Ahmedzade. He took another knock to the same ankle late in the game, and was replaced by Florian Thauvin. “He has a sore ankle and he took a knock there.
WUHAN: Coco Gauff had more struggles with her serve but overcame seven double faults to beat Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 6-3 and reach the Wuhan Open final on Saturday. With both top-10 players struggling with their service games, Gauff edged Paolini winning the battle of converted breaks seven-to-five. The third-ranked Gauff fought back from three breaks in the second set and won the final four games to advance to the final. Gauff, who changed her serving coach in August, leads the women’s circuit this season with 378 double faults, over 120 more than the next player. Fifth-ranked Paolini had eliminated Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals. Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka faces Jessica Pegula in the other semifinal on Saturday.
DUBAI: On Sept. 17, New Yorkers and tourists in Times Square were greeted by a billboard that said: “Israel is committing genocide. No genocide on the pitch.”
ROME: The city of Udine has put extraordinary security measures in place ahead of Italy’s upcoming World Cup soccer qualifier with Israel, as a pro-Palestinian march will go ahead on the day of the game, even after Israel and Hamas agreed on a peace deal. The agreement, ratified by Israel’s government on Friday, includes a ceasefire and plan to free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. March organizer Committee for Palestine-Udine opposes what it calls the “violence of the Israeli occupation in Palestinian territories,” and expects over 10,000 people to attend on Tuesday, hours before the game kicks off at the Stadio Friuli. “Our demands remain unchanged,” a group spokesperson told Reuters, calling the match a “game of shame.” “We stand alongside the Palestinian people, for their right to self-determination, their right of return, and their right to live a life free from occupation, in Gaza and throughout Palestine.” “Our pressure will cease only when the Palestinian people are fully free.” More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s assault on Gaza, launched after Hamas-led militants stormed through Israeli towns and a music festival on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages.