as - players.bio | Page 2933

Nations League: Cody Gakpo, Steven Bergwijn Star As Netherlands Beat Poland 2-0

The Netherlands beat Poland 2-0 in Warsaw on Thursday to move closer to qualification for the Nations League finals, as Cody Gakpo and Steven Bergwijn continued their excellent starts to the season. Louis van Gaal's men maintained their three-point lead over Belgium, who edged out Wales 2-1, at the top of Group A4. They will need only a point from their last game against the Belgians in Amsterdam on Sunday to be sure of securing top spot. The Dutch appear to be in strong form ahead of their World Cup opener in Qatar against African champions Senegal on November 21, before further Group A games with the hosts and Ecuador.

Spain in turmoil as 15 players refuse to play unless head coach Jorge Vilda is removed

The Spanish women’s national team is in turmoil after 15 players said they will refuse to play unless head coach Jorge Vilda is sacked. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said they had received 15 emails calling for Vilda to be removed, with the players saying the current situation “significantly” affects their “emotional state and health”. Ad In an extraordinary statement, the RFEF rejected the call and threatened to ban the mutineers if they did not “accept their mistake and ask for forgiveness”.

US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz plots lengthy reign as world No. 1

The Spaniard climbed to the top of the ATP rankings this month when he claimed his maiden Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows. "One of my goals is to finish (the year) as number one," Alcaraz was quoted as saying by the ATP website. "Now that I've got there, my goal is to stay as many days, weeks and months as possible. We're going to work for that." Alcaraz and fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal, who won the Australian and French Open titles in 2022, are the only players to have sealed their spots for the ATP Finals in Turin.

Federer plans a party not a wake as he prepares to lay his professional career to rest

As Roger Federer prepares to say farewell to competitive tennis on Friday, teaming up with his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal, for one last doubles match, his millions of adoring fans around the world are bracing themselves for what is sure to be an emotional weekend.