Editor's Picks
Opinion
Travel & Tourism
Governments, tech companies, academics and civil society will spend two days at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance wrestling with how to regulate a technology that is evolving faster than the rules meant to contain…
Most Read
Share It!
Soccer
World News
Governments, tech companies, academics and civil society will spend two days at the Global Dialogue…
Addressing the inaugural UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, the Secretary-General insisted on…
Features
Featured
Health & Fitness
Trending Now
To understand the new politics stance and other pro nationals of recent times, we should look to Silicon Valley and…
Latest Articles
Governments, tech companies, academics and civil society will spend two days at the Global Dialogue on AI Governance…
France coach Didier Deschamps hailed his side for keeping their cool against an aggressive Paraguay team in heatwave conditions on Saturday as the favourites reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup. “It wasn’t easy. They used every resource possible. It is maybe not the kind of football that brings people to the stadium, playing with that aggression, exaggerating everything,” Deschamps told French broadcaster M6. Kylian Mbappe decided the game with a penalty in the 70th minute on a sweltering afternoon at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, following a foul on Desire Doue. Mbappe’s goal was his seventh so far at the tournament, pulling him level again with Lionel Messi as the joint-leading scorer. Before that, it had been a frustrating afternoon for Les Bleus, and a sharp contrast to their previous free-scoring matches at the tournament. France had scored 13 goals in their four World Cup outings prior to this game, but on Saturday they struggled to make clear chances despite totally dominating possession. Their most creative players – Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola – all found the going tough against a niggly Paraguayan team looking to cause another upset after ousting Germany in the last 32. “We stayed focused on our game. It was difficult, they had lots of men behind the ball and they defend well,” added Deschamps. “Obviously the temperatures made it hard to play with intensity and without that they defended well.” The match was played in the late afternoon heat, with temperatures hitting 38 degrees Celsius (100 Fahrenheit) in Philadelphia as the city marked the July 4 weekend and the 250th anniversary of American independence. Deschamps was also left perplexed that his team collected three yellow cards, while not a single Paraguay player was booked. “I am not going to criticise the referee but we finished the game with three bookings and yet there were a lot of things going on,” Deschamps said in his post-match press conference, as he suggested he and his team were subjected to verbal aggression too. “I won’t criticise Paraguay. Every team can play however they want, but I could do without the insults. “The most important thing is that there were no incidents at the end. But all that matters is that we have qualified.” Deschamps said he had to resort to using two of his strongest players to protect captain Mbappe against Paraguayan aggression towards the end of the match. “We kept our nerve and that is an essential thing. It doesn’t win you the game but it is important,” he added. “This experience will help us. After all, we have a lot of players who are playing at their first World Cup,” he added. “I wouldn’t say it had been easy for us up to now but now we have had a different type of game.” France move on to a quarter-final tie next Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, against Morocco, who beat Canada 3-0 in the last 16 earlier Saturday. That game will be a repeat of the 2022 semi-final which France won 2-0, before they went on to lose the final on penalties to Argentina. “Morocco are one of the best teams. We played them four years ago in Doha and they also got to the Africa Cup of Nations final,” Deschamps said. He will hope his squad recover quickly from the Paraguay clash, and that key midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni comes back after missing Saturday’s game with a thigh injury. “We have a few days now to recuperate. We have some tired players and a few little knocks too.” Related Story Source link
Swiss rider Nadja Peter Steiner stole the spotlight on the opening day of second tour of HH The Father Amir’s Prix at Al Shaqab Thursday, clinching victory in the CSI5 1.50m Faults and Time class with a superb clear round aboard Nice Van’T Zorgvliet. Steiner guided the BWP mare to the fastest time of 59.30 seconds to claim the top prize of €14,250. Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano finished a close second with Esteban de Hus after also jumping clear in 59.54 seconds, while Saudi Arabia’s Abdulrahman Alrajhi completed the podium with a faultless round on Ventago in 60.35 seconds. Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt took fourth place with Chaquitos PS in 61.59 seconds, and Qatar’s Sheikh Ali Khalid al-Thani rounded out the top five with Marco Monet after stopping the clock at 61.61 seconds. There was success for Qatar in the CSI5 Two Phases 1.40m, as Mohammed al-Baker guided Dukhan 3 to victory. After a clear opening phase, al-Baker produced a rapid second phase in 23.68 seconds. Fellow Qatari Ghanim Nasser al-Qadi followed in second with Isis in 24.61 seconds, while France’s Megane Moissonnier finished third aboard Chacarija PS in 24.86 seconds. Rashid Towaim Ali al-Marri ensured another home presence in fourth with Navaronne in 24.97 seconds, and American rider Eve Jobs completed the top five with Kannandillo in 25.32 seconds. “Winning here at Al Shaqab means a lot,” said al-Baker. “Riding at home, you really feel the support from the crowd, and Dukhan 3 was with me all the way today. We stayed focused in both phases, and I’m pleased with how he responded and how the round came together.” At CSI3 level, Emanuele Gaudiano dominated the Two Phases 1.40m class, taking first and third place. The Italian topped aboard Diarouge Blue PS with a double-clear round in 24.35 seconds, while he finishing third with Equine America Ivanhoe GPH in 25.83 seconds. Compatriot Roberto Previtali on Diasandro Blue cams second in 25.79 seconds. The CSI3 Special Two-Phase saw Egypt’s Ismail Osama El Borai take top honours on Incredible Z after posting a clear second phase in 26.86 seconds. Fellow Egyptian Mustafa Saed followed in second with Kalliope LVP Z in 28.69 seconds, while Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Alasaker finished third aboard Scoobylensky Theyss in 29.19 seconds. El Borai said the victory marked a breakthrough. “Last week I was very close, but something always went wrong, so to start this weekend with a win in the first competition feels amazing. It was also my first five-star class this evening, so it’s a positive start. Incredible Z was excellent today – he’s a very careful horse and very quick, so when we put in a good round, we’re usually right there on the podium.” Saudi riders led the CSI3 Faults and Time 1.25m, with Bader Alfard taking first place aboard Kimberly in 58.61 seconds. Mohammed Alasaker followed closely in second with Tinto de Nuit Z in 58.77 seconds, while Qatar’s Suhaim Hamad al-Yafei secured third place on Flash du Puits in 59.31 seconds. In the CSI1 Special Two-Phase, Qatar’s Ali Omar al-Ansari claimed victory aboard Nikita Eindeken Z in 28.48 seconds. Prince Mohamed al-Saud finished second for Saudi Arabia with Haroon in 30.12 seconds, and Salem Balharith completed the podium on Lovina in 30.94 seconds. Egypt’s Abdallah Haitham topped the CSI1 Faults and Time 1.20m, after producing a clear round on Consagros in 54.53 seconds. Qatar’s Ibrahim Yousuf al-Mahmoud finished second with Perle Van Dorperheide in 55.87 seconds, while Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed Aldalaan claimed third aboard Sarina Del Valle in 56.31 seconds. In the National Competition Optimum Time 0.60m, Qatar’s Almaha Mansoor al-Sulaitin took first place with Brooklyn, finishing just 0.09 seconds inside the optimum time. Shamma al-Hitmi followed in second on Zorro Z with a 0.31-second difference, while Abdullah Bahamdan placed third with Irbal at 0.32 seconds. Competition continues today across all arenas as the programme builds toward two major highlights: the CSI5 1.55m class with a jump-off and the first CSI5 Six Bars class of the Tour, a crowd-favourite format expected to draw strong interest. The Tour concludes tomorrow with Grand Prix Day across categories, featuring the CSI5 1.60m Grand Prix, the CSI3 1.50m Grand Prix and the CSI1 1.30m Grand Prix, all decided by jump-off. Related Story Source link
PSG’s players celebrate with the trophy after winning the French Champions’ Trophy (Trophee des Champions) football match between…
Clashes between government troops and Kurdish forces have intensified in recent days and tens of thousands of people have been…
The World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 predicts that global economic output will grow by 2.7 per cent this year, or slightly below…
Top Rated
