Saudi coach Renard expecting a tough game against Japan
TOKYO: Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard says Japan’s qualification for the World Cup will not affect how either team plays when they meet on Tuesday at Saitama Stadium just north of Tokyo.
FIFA World Cup Sport News
Spain oust Netherlands on penalties to reach Nations League semis
VALENCIA, Spain: Nations League holders Spain reached the final four with a 5-4 win on penalties against the Netherlands, after a thrilling 3-3 quarter-final second leg draw on Sunday (5-5 on aggregate). Donyell Malen missed and Barcelona’s Pedri slotted home to settle a gripping match in which the Netherlands came from behind three times to force the shoot-out. Mikel Oyarzabal opened the scoring for Spain but Memphis Depay levelled from the penalty spot. Oyarzabal grabbed Spain’s second before Ian Maatsen rifled home to force extra-time. Barcelona starlet Yamal, who also missed a penalty in the shoot-out, scored a brilliant goal to put Spain ahead but Xavi Simons netted another spot-kick to force penalties. After Spain’s struggles in Rotterdam on Thursday in the 2-2 first-leg draw, coach Luis de la Fuente made a handful of changes. Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo came in for Alvaro Morata and Pedri, while Dean Huijsen made his first start, against the country of his birth, and excelled. Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman brought in debutant Maatsen at left-back, giving him the unenviable challenge of shackling 17-year-old prodigy Yamal at Valencia’s sold-out Mestalla stadium. Spain’s success in recent years has inspired their supporters and over 20,000 watched them train ahead of the second leg, which also served as a fundraiser for damage caused by the devastating storms which hit the Valencia region last October. They won a penalty early on when Jan Paul van Hecke clumsily brought down Oyarzabal, who scored the winning goal for La Roja in the Euro 2024 final last summer. The Real Sociedad forward took it himself, smashing into the bottom right corner, past Bart Verbruggen’s dive. Oyarzabal beat the Brighton goalkeeper again a
Germany survive Italy scare to make Nations League semifinals
DORTMUND, Germany: Germany survived a spirited second-half fightback from Italy, letting a three-goal lead slip to draw 3-3 in Dortmund on Sunday, before reaching the Nations League semifinals 5-4 on aggregate. A first-half Joshua Kimmich masterclass, with a penalty and two assists for Jamal Musiala and Tim Kleindienst, had Germany 3-0 up and cruising at the break. However, injury-hit Italy kicked into gear in the second half, Moise Kean scoring a double to rattle the hosts. Italy looked on course to level the scores when they were awarded a penalty with 73 minutes gone, but it was overturned by VAR. Giacomo Raspadori then converted a stoppage time penalty to give Italy a glimmer of hope. The result not only secured Germany a first-ever Nations League semifinal spot, but it means the remainder of the tournament will be held on German soil, in Stuttgart and Munich in June. Despite the second-half scare, the victory continues Germany’s resurgence under Julian Nagelsmann. Germany’s only loss in their past 17 matches came in extra-time at Euro 2024 against eventual champions Spain in the quarter-finals. Nagelsmann said Germany “learned lessons for our development” from the game, adding “we know how well we can play football — but we have to show it throughout the game. “I’m going home with an understanding of what we’re capable of, but it’s also nice that we’ve got a bit more to do,” he said. Italy coach Luciano Spalletti admitted his side lacked “maturity” and said “you always learn from games like this.” “The second half was very good, but we were too afraid to play like that for the whole game.” Italy traveled to Dortmund, the site of their 2006 World Cup semifinal win over the same opponents, with a mountain to climb. A
Saudi duo triumph in Kingdom’s first Red Bull Padel Dash tournament
RIYADH: Saudi players Abdullah Adel Al-Butti and Yazid Ali Al-Uthman of Team YO3 made history on Sunday by winning Saudi Arabia’s first-ever Red Bull Padel Dash tournament.
Season-opening wins for Hyderabad and Chennai in IPL
HYDERABAD, India: Ishan Kishan scored 106 not out off 47 balls as Sunrisers Hyderabad beat Rajasthan Royals by 44 runs in their season-opening encounter in the 2025 Indian Premier League on Sunday. Kishan smacked 11 fours and six sixes in his first IPL hundred on debut for his new franchise, which notched up its second-highest total in tournament history. Travis Head scored 67 off 31 balls as the Sunrisers picked up where they left off in 2024 to reach a mammoth 286-6 in 20 overs. Hyderabad’s previous highest score was 287-3 — the highest IPL total — against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season. In the evening game, Chennai Super Kings beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets with five balls remaining in a high-profile clash. Afghanistan’s left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad took 4-18 in four overs for Chennai as Mumbai was restricted to 155-9 after losing the toss. Tilak Varma top-scored with 31 off 25 balls. Rachin Ravindra’s unbeaten 65 off 45 balls, along with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s quick-fire 53 off 26, helped Chennai score 158-6 in 19.1 overs. Royals fall short despite reaching 242-6 Rajasthan Royals fought well to post 242-6 (20 overs) in reply to Hyderabad’s huge target.
Saudi national team continue preparations for crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan
SAITAMA, Japan: The Saudi Arabian national football team continued their preparations on Sunday evening ahead of their highly anticipated clash against Japan in the eighth round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday.
Goldberg, Life, Zaag celebrate Super Eagles, urge win over Zimbabwe
Nigerian Breweries, through its flagship brands—Goldberg, Life Continental, and Zaag Energy Drink—has extended heartfelt congratulations to the Super Eagles for their resounding 2-0 victory over Rwanda in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.