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Ratcliffe gives Amorim three years to prove himself at Man Utd

LONDON: Ruben Amorim has been given three years to prove himself at Manchester United after co-owner Jim Ratcliffe insisted he will not make a knee-jerk decision about the under-fire manager’s future. Amorim has endured constant speculation that he faces the sack throughout this season as United lurched from one crisis to another. The former Sporting Lisbon boss, who was hired by Ratcliffe in November 2024, admitted earlier this term that he had considered quitting during United’s darkest moments. Amorim’s side finished 15th in the Premier League last season — their lowest final top-flight position since 1973-74 — and squandered a chance to qualify for the Champions League when they lost the Europa League final to fellow strugglers Tottenham. Tenth-placed United have fared little better this season, losing three of their first seven league games and crashing to a shock League Cup defeat at fourth-tier Grimsby. Amorim has yet to record successive Premier League wins since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag, with a trip to champions Liverpool next up for United after the international break. Despite the talk that Amorim, whose side beat promoted Sunderland in their last game, remains in danger of being axed Ratcliffe said the 40-year-old would be given time to turn things around. “He has not had the best of seasons. Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years.

Zidane’s son Luca ‘proud’ to play for Algeria

“It makes me proud and I will give everything at 100 percent to make the Algerian people proud,” the goalkeeper saidHe received his first call up for Algeria in a 26-man squad for the next two qualifiersORAN, Algeria: French football legend Zinedine Zidane’s son Luca said on Wednesday he is “proud” to represent Algeria ahead of the north African country’s World Cup qualifier against Somalia.Luca Zidane, 27, turned out for France’s youth team but has chosen to play for Algeria where his grandparents were born.“I’m very happy to be here. It makes me proud and I will give everything at 100 percent to make the Algerian people proud,” the goalkeeper told a press conference in Oran.Zidane junior, who plays for Spanish second tier side Granada, changed sporting nationality last month having never represented France at senior level.He received his first call up for Algeria in a 26-man squad for the next two qualifiers.“All my family are proud of me and back my choice, my grandfather is happy that I’m in Algeria and that I’ve made this decision,” he added.His father, who was a World Cup winner for France in 1998, “had his journey, his career.

Saudi Arabia in sight of World Cup finals thanks to Al-Shamat strike and Al-Buraikan double

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia came from behind to defeat Indonesia 3-2 on Wednesday and take a giant step toward the 2026 World Cup finals. Two goals from Firas Al-Buraikan and a fine strike from his Al-Ahli team-mate, Saleh Abu Al-Shamat, at their home ground in Jeddah means a victory over Iraq on Tuesday will ensure Herve Renard’s men make their seventh appearance at the World Cup finals, and even a point might be enough to book their tickets to North America. This opening game of the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers began, and would end, as a tense affair. The crowd at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, which is hosting all three Group B games, was silenced, aside from a small pocket of away fans, when Indonesia took the lead in the 11th minute. After a cross into a crowded area was adjudged to have been handled by Hassan Tambakti, Kevin Diks stepped up to take the spot kick and found the bottom corner of the net despite the best efforts of Nawaf Al-Aqidi. Given that the Saudis scored only seven goals across all 10 games in the third round of qualifiers, there was plenty of apprehension among the home crowd, but just six minutes later the hosts equalized and did so in style. Musab Al-Juwayr flicked a pass to Al-Shamat, who turned inside a defender just outside the area and then fired a left-footed shot into the bottom corner of the goal past the outstretched arms of goalkeeper Maarten Paes. Ten minutes before the break, Saudi Arabia were in front.

First 2 championship titles of the Saudi eLeague season decided

RIYADH: The first two championship titles of the Saudi eLeague season have been decided, with team Bright Future lifting their first-ever trophy in the EA FC25 competition, and team The Vicious claiming the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 crown.

Jeddah Season gearing up to host 4th round of F1 Powerboat World Championship

JEDDAH: The city of Jeddah is gearing up to host the fourth round of the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship on Nov. 27-29.

La Liga confirm ‘historic’ Barcelona match in Miami

BARCELONA: Barcelona will face Villarreal in Miami in a La Liga match on December 20, the Spanish top flight said Wednesday, making it the first European league fixture to be played abroad. Earlier this week, European football governing body UEFA said they opposed the idea of games being played overseas but would permit it on an exceptional basis, along with a Serie A match in Australia in February between AC Milan and Como. “With this match we take a historic step that projects La Liga and Spanish football into a new dimension,” said La Liga president Javier Tebas in a statement. “We understand and respect the concerns that this decision may generate, but it is important to put it into context — it is a single match out of the 380 that make up the season.” The game was due to be played at Villarreal’s home stadium but will now take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States, in Florida. Villarreal will take measures to compensate season ticket holders after the game was moved. “Villarreal season ticket holders will be able to travel for free to the match, and those who choose not to travel to Miami will enjoy a 30 percent discount on their season ticket price as part of the measures designed to reward their support and loyalty,” said La Liga. In September a total of 18 fan groups from both teams involved expressed their “complete opposition” to the match taking place abroad. La Liga have attempted to play matches overseas dating back to 2017 but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) frequently resisted, despite hosting the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia themselves. Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid have also expressed their disapproval at the decision to take a La Liga game abroad. They said in August hosting

Salah scores twice as Egypt qualify for 2026 World Cup

CASABLANCA: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scored twice to help Egypt beat Djibouti 3-0 in Casablanca on Wednesday and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire, says Bloomberg

RIYADH: Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has become football’s first billionaire player, according to figures released Wednesday in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

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Ratcliffe gives Amorim three years to prove himself at Man Utd

Zidane’s son Luca ‘proud’ to play for Algeria

Saudi Arabia in sight of World Cup finals thanks to Al-Shamat strike and Al-Buraikan double

First 2 championship titles of the Saudi eLeague season decided

Jeddah Season gearing up to host 4th round of F1 Powerboat World Championship

La Liga confirm ‘historic’ Barcelona match in Miami

Salah scores twice as Egypt qualify for 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire, says Bloomberg