UEFA Nations League - players.bio

Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final

LONDON: Liverpool can win the first trophy of the Arne Slot era in Sunday’s League Cup final against a Newcastle side desperate to end the club’s 56-year wait for major silverware. In the first final of the English domestic season, runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool head to Wembley aiming to erase the bitter taste of their Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. The Reds were beaten 4-1 on penalties by PSG in the last 16 second leg at Anfield. It was a rare blow in what has been a successful first season in charge for Slot, who arrived from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp last year. Sitting 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Reds are within touching distance of a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020. That will be the culmination of Slot’s seamless transition to life with Liverpool. But first the Dutchman has his sights set on putting yet another League Cup in the Anfield trophy cabinet. Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in last season’s final, have won the League Cup a record 10 times and are looking to lift the trophy for a third time in four years. “You play games like this to win it, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Slot, who will be without injured right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. “We’re really looking forward to it because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams.” Slot, who will be making his first ever visit to Wembley, hopes Liverpool can recover quickly from having their treble bid shattered by PSG. “It’s a great occasion to be in and especially after losing against Paris Saint-Germain.

Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash

BARCELONA: Hansi Flick warned his Barcelona stars they need to focus to avoid crumbling against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga as they have in their previous two meetings this season. Leaders Barcelona are a point ahead of Diego Simeone’s Atletico, third, going into the huge title clash at the Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital. Barcelona led against Atletico in the first league match in December but Rodrigo De Paul levelled for the visitors and Alexander Sorloth hit a 96th minute winner which helped them usurp the Catalans at the top of the table. Then in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg Barcelona let in two goals in the first six minutes and two late goals, including another Sorloth stoppage time strike in a wild 4-4 draw. “I think we have had really two great matches and of course we have to be focussed from begninning to the end of the match,” Flick told reporters Saturday. “I think in the first match, at the end of the match we were not so focussed like we can be, and also the second match was (the same) in the beginning and also at the end, so we have to take care about that. “When you make mistakes Atletico can hurt you and this is what we have to defend against.” Atletico Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday on penalties by rivals Real Madrid, while Barcelona beat Benfica to reach the quarter-finals. Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez scored a penalty in the shoot-out for Atletico which was controversially disallowed because he may have touched the ball twice when he slipped as he took it. “It was an unlucky situation, I feel for him, he’s one of the best strikers,” said Flick, adding that it was “not a problem” for Atletico to have played 120 minutes

Norris edges Piastri for pole as McLaren lock out Melbourne front row

MELBOURNE: Lando Norris clinched pole position on Saturday for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri as McLaren fired a warning shot to their rivals. In scorching hot conditions at Melbourne’s Albert Park, world champion Max Verstappen came third in tense qualifying. Mercedes’ George Russell will keep Red Bull’s four-time world champion company on the second row. Lewis Hamilton will start in eighth on his Ferrari debut. “It’s the perfect way to start the year. A big congrats to the team, everyone has done an amazing job to start with a one-two,” said Norris after his 10th career pole. “But it is just quali, right? Let’s see tomorrow,” he added. “The car is extremely quick. When you put it together it is unbelievable, but it is hard to put it together. “I’m never going to get ahead of myself, I’m confident the car is in a good place but we have never run it in the wet.” The forecast for Sunday’s race is cooler temperatures and rain. Norris eclipsed his rivals with a flying lap of one minute 15.096 seconds on soft tires, 0.084sec ahead of Piastri. “Pretty happy, great to start the year on the front row,” said Piastri. “Pretty happy with how qualifying went but just not quite enough in Q3, but it is a long season so a good start,” added the Australian. “Maybe left a little bit on the table.” No Australian driver has won their home race since Alan Jones in 1980, but that was a non-championship race before Australia was added to the F1 calendar in 1985. Verstappen, who was the pole-sitter in 2023 and 2024, was three-tenths behind Norris. But his rookie teammate Liam Lawson, who replaced the underperforming Sergio Perez, failed to get out of Q1.

Spain call up Asencio for Nations League quarters

In-form Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio was named Friday in the Spain squad to play the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of the Nations League.

Skuad Italia untuk Melawan Jerman di UEFA Nations League

Pelatih Timnas Italia Luciano Spalletti menyiapkan 25 pemain untuk melawan Jerman di perempatfinal UEFA Nations League bulan ini. Tak banyak utak-atik skuad yang dilakukan olehnya untuk menghadapi duel krusial ini.

Daftar 27 Pemain Spanyol untuk Hadapi Belanda Bulan Ini

Pelatih Timnas Spanyol Luis de la Fuente mengumumkan 27 pemain yang dibawa untuk menghadapi Belanda di perempatfinal UEFA Nations League bulan ini. Salah satu yang menjadi sorotan adalah bek Real Madrid Raul Asencio.

Leclerc fastest in second Australian GP practice, Hamilton fifth

MELBOURNE: Charles Leclerc powered to the quickest time ahead of Oscar Piastri in second practice at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Friday, with Lewis Hamilton fifth and Max Verstappen only seventh. Hamilton’s Ferrari team-mate Leclerc blasted to a best lap round the Albert Park circuit of one minute 16.439 seconds on soft tires, 0.124 clear of McLaren’s Piastri. Leclerc set the pace with 25 minutes to go and no-one could catch him, with Piastri’s teammate Lando Norris third ahead of surprise-package Yuki Tsunoda in an RB. Seven-time world champion Hamilton was fifth as he gradually adjusts to life in a new car after his shock move to Ferrari from Mercedes after 12 years. The Briton cautioned this week that everything at Scuderia was different and there could be a transition period while he settles in. He was better than in first practice, where he came 12th, but still fourth-tenths behind his teammate. Rookie Isack Hadjar came sixth in the second RB ahead of world champion Verstappen, who never looked comfortable in his Red Bull, clocking 10 laps fewer than Leclerc as he pitted for fine-tuning. Verstappen is chasing a second win in Australia after his 2023 victory to kickstart his bid for a fifth consecutive world title, a feat only Michael Schumacher has achieved. But he said on Thursday that Red Bull was “not the quickest at the moment.” The prediction appeared true, with his new teammate Liam Lawson, who took over from the axed Sergio Perez, slumping to 17th. Mercedes also struggled with George Russell 10th and Kimi Antonelli, who replaced Hamilton, 16th. On a perfect Melbourne afternoon, Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto led the way out of the pits as the lights went green, but it was Alpine’s Pierre

Ittihad’s late show maintains title challenge

Al-Ittihad left it very late to defeat Al-Riyadh 2-1 on Thursday to move seven points clear at the top of the Saudi Pro League and stay on course for a 10th title.

Contacts

UEFA Nations League Sport News

Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final

Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash

Norris edges Piastri for pole as McLaren lock out Melbourne front row

Spain call up Asencio for Nations League quarters

Skuad Italia untuk Melawan Jerman di UEFA Nations League

Daftar 27 Pemain Spanyol untuk Hadapi Belanda Bulan Ini

Leclerc fastest in second Australian GP practice, Hamilton fifth

Ittihad’s late show maintains title challenge