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Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying

SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Dorival Júnior was fired on Friday after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team. Júnior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier. Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked. Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically. Under the 62-year-old Júnior, Brazil won seven matches, drew another seven, and lost two.

PSG ‘feel like champions’ as Ligue 1 title nears, says Luis Enrique

POISSY, France: Coach Luis Enrique said Paris Saint-Germain “can feel like champions” knowing they could seal the Ligue 1 title this weekend but warned his players not to let their level drop. The unbeaten league leaders go to second-bottom Saint-Etienne, where a win would secure an 11th French title in 13 seasons if Marseille lose away to Reims and Monaco draw with Nice on Saturday. “We’re never champions until it’s mathematically certain, but we can feel like champions, we’re the best team in Ligue 1,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Friday. “We’re going to use these last eight matches for other goals, to be competitive against all opponents... to be ready for the three months that remain. “There’s the French Cup and the Champions League, where we want to be right to the end.” PSG face second-tier Dunkerque in the semifinals of the French Cup in Lille next week before taking on Aston Villa in the last eight of the Champions League. Luis Enrique doesn’t believe the possibility of wrapping up a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title on Saturday should have any effect on his team’s mindset. “It seems totally unimportant to me, there are eight games left in the league, we want to be competitive because that will prepare us in the best way for the other competitions,” said the Spaniard. “I feel almost the same as I did this time last year, we were almost champions, in the semifinals of the cup and quarter-finals of the Champions League, with young players who have a year’s more experience.” PSG will be without Lee Kang-in against Saint-Etienne after the South Korean picked up an ankle injury on international duty.

’We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola

LONDON: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted he and his players do not deserve a bonus even if they salvage their dismal season by winning the Club World Cup. Guardiola’s side are languishing in fifth place in the Premier League and crashed out of the Champions League and League Cup. English champions for the previous four seasons, City could finish without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s maiden season in charge in 2016/17. Their last hope of landing domestic silverware lies in the FA Cup, with a quarter-final tie at Bournemouth looming on Sunday. But even if they win the FA Cup or the Club World Cup in June and July, Guardiola believes City have underachieved so badly that they will not deserve a bonus from the big prize pot on offer at the post-season tournament in the United States. FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, confirmed this week that the Club World Cup winners will earn up to $125 million in prize money, with a total pot of $1 billion going to the 32 participating clubs. “We don’t deserve it this season. We don’t deserve a bonus this season.

Kevin Durant scores 42 points as Suns eclipse Cavs

LOS ANGELES: Kevin Durant scored 42 points as the Phoenix Suns reignited their playoff hopes with a 123-112 upset of the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday.

Argentina without Messi win at Uruguay, need a draw with Brazil to qualify for 2026 World Cup

MONTEVIDEO: Argentina didn’t miss Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez and other key players on Friday and beat Uruguay away 1-0 in convincing fashion in their South American World Cup qualifying match.

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76. Foreman’s family announced his death on social media. “A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote. A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973.

Struggling Medvedev suffers early exit in Miami

MIAMI, United States: Daniil Medvedev crashed out of the Miami Open in the second round on Friday after suffering a 6-2, 6-3 upset defeat to Spain’s 56th-ranked Jaume Munar. Medvedev, the 2023 winner in Miami, showed his frustration, hurling his racket on several occasions as the Mallorca-born 27-year-old picked up his third career win against a top 10 opponent. The Russian made 32 unforced errors and although he gave himself a chance of a comeback in the final game, he couldn’t convert on two break points. Karen Khachanov ensured the Nick Kyrgios comeback trail was cut short with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 win. Australian Kyrgios, who has struggled since wrist surgery, defeated Mackenzie McDonald in the first round to earn his first tour-level win since October 2022 but was unable to overcome Khachanov, who reached the semis in Miami in 2023. In the women’s draw, world number two Iga Swiatek advanced into the third round after surviving a second set dip to beat France’s Caroline Garcia 6-2, 7-5. Swiatek had beaten Garcia with ease at the same stage at Indian Wells earlier this month but she faced a little more resistance at Hard Rock Stadium. Swiatek was 3-1 down in the second set and had to save a set point, when serving at 5-4 down before rallying to win the last three games. “My energy level got down really fast.

Mexican club Leon banned from FIFA Club World Cup

PARIS: Club Leon from Mexico were incensed Friday after they were banned from the June-July Club World Cup in the United States for violating rules on multi-ownership, FIFA announced Friday. Leon expressed their “anger and indignation” on social media, saying the decision “goes against the spirit of fair competition” and aim to appeal. A FIFA appeals committee, responding to a complaint by Costa Rican club Alajuelense, ruled that Leon and another club from Mexico, Pachuca, failed to meet tournament regulations on multi-club ownership. Both sides are owned by Grupo Pachuca. Leon, the winners of the 2023 CONCACAF regions Champions Cup, were thrown out of the World Club Cup.

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FIFA Club World Cup Sport News

Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying

PSG ‘feel like champions’ as Ligue 1 title nears, says Luis Enrique

’We don’t deserve bonus’: Man City boss Guardiola

Kevin Durant scores 42 points as Suns eclipse Cavs

Argentina without Messi win at Uruguay, need a draw with Brazil to qualify for 2026 World Cup

George Foreman, the glowering heavyweight who became a lovable champion, dies at 76

Struggling Medvedev suffers early exit in Miami

Mexican club Leon banned from FIFA Club World Cup