Ten Hag eager to boost Man United forwards' fitness levels
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag hopes a winter training camp in Spain can boost the fitness of the Premier League club's forwards.
Cristiano Ronaldo Sport News
Belgium star Hazard quits international football
DOHA: Belgium star Eden Hazard announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday, days after the team crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage. The Real Madrid forward, 31, made the announcement on social media, saying “a page turns today.” “Thank you for your unparalleled support,” he posted on Instagram. “Thank you for all this happiness shared since 2008.
Ronaldo a bystander as Portugal find magic touch at World Cup
DOHA: Cristiano Ronaldo first found himself unloved and unwanted by Manchester United. Now the unthinkable has happened — he has been dumped by Portugal. The superstar forward was largely a spectator as the side he has captained for so long threw off the shackles and romped to a 6-1 victory over Switzerland in the World Cup last-16 on Tuesday. Young striker Goncalo Ramos, brought in for Ronaldo, scored a stunning hat-trick and at least competed with his illustrious teammate for the headlines. Ronaldo came to the World Cup seeking respite after his troubled spell at Old Trafford this season, where he had become a peripheral figure under new manager Erik ten Hag. Those frustrations boiled over last month in an explosive TV interview in which he lashed out at the club and the coach, leading to an inevitable parting of the ways. The 37-year-old landed in Qatar to the usual fanfare, once again the focus of fawning attention from the world’s media. Things even went to script in Portugal’s first game, when he scored the opener from the penalty spot in a 3-2 win against Ghana, becoming the first man to score goals at five World Cups. But things went downhill from there. He huffed and puffed through games against Uruguay and South Korea but failed to find the net and Portugal were less than the sum of their considerable parts. Portugal coach Fernando Santos, who masterminded the side’s triumph at Euro 2016, finally took the decision to leave his star man out against the Swiss and was vindicated in spectacular fashion. Portugal turned on the style, with Benfica’s Ramos, 21, netting three times in a free-flowing attacking performance.
Morocco fans in London celebrate World Cup win over Spain
LONDON: Jubilant Morocco fans poured onto the streets of central London on Tuesday night to celebrate their team’s historic win over Spain in the last 16 of the World Cup.
How do you stop Mbappe? England wrestle with World Cup conundrum
England manager Gareth Southgate is wrestling with the biggest dilemma of his reign as he tries to plot a way to stop the "sensational" Kylian Mbappe in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.
Morocco knocks out Spain on penalties : the story of a stunning defence and three spotkick misses
The specialists had predicted a balanced game between Portugal and Switzerland but it ended with a spectacular result. 7-1 in favour of the Portuguese who immediately imposed their rhythm as the Swiss struggled not to concede any more goals . One player made a lot of noise during this game, it was Gonçalo Ramos. The 21-year-old started in the position usually occupied by Cristiano Ronaldo and scored a hat-trick for his team, a first since 1966.
Dropping Ronaldo purely 'strategic' says Portugal coach
Portugal coach Fernando Santos said his decision to leave Cristiano Ronaldo out of his starting team for Tuesday's 6-1 triumph over Switzerland in the World Cup last 16 had been "strategic and nothing more."
'Sorcerer' Ramos dazzles with hat-trick in first World Cup start
LUSAIL, Qatar: Few fans had heard of Goncalo Ramos before Portugal's 6-1 demolition of Switzerland on Tuesday (Dec 6) took them into the World Cup quarter-finals but after a hat-trick and an assist the striker made sure they will never forget him.