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Cristiano Ronaldo admitted at the World Cup on Sunday he is not the player he once was but came out fighting against critics ‘trying to kill me for the past 23 years’. The 41-year-old Portugal superstar was in turns bullish, jovial and sentimental on the eve of the last-16 showdown with Spain at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in what will be his last World Cup. One of the finest footballers in history, the former Manchester United, Juventus and Real Madrid superstar refused to say when he will end his international career. But to numerous questions about what lies ahead and the flak that has come his way in recent years, Ronaldo conceded that ‘I am not the player I used to be’. But the attacker and Portugal skipper said ‘I am not doing too bad’, pointing out that he has scored three goals in North America – two against Uzbekistan in a 5-0 thrashing in the group phase and a penalty in the 2-1 win over Croatia in the last 32. Relishing taking on journalists eager to ask about his future and the harsh spotlight on him, he told reporters: ‘It's been like this since I was 18, it is not going to change. ‘I always put body and soul trying to get our goals – playing or not playing, I will always have an important role to play. ‘As I said before, (I will stop) when I choose, not when you choose, you always ask the same question. ‘I don't want to draw attention to this because it is less important.’ 'Waste of time' Ronaldo said this was the World Cup he had enjoyed the most, citing the ’emotions’ of it on and off the pitch. Asked again about his international future, he shot back: ‘You have been trying to kill me for the past 23 years, but you must have seen that is not worth it, it's a waste of time, but you try and try and try and try and try. ‘I am so used to this,’ said the veteran, who is the leading scorer in the history of international football. Ronaldo, who was clapped out of the press conference, added: ‘I am not going to be more Cristiano Ronaldo or less because I win the World Cup.’ ‘Age gives you maturity and experience to see how relative things can be,’ he said. ‘I even say thanks for the attacks I feel after I turned 40… the criticism is how you grow, so thank you for doing this.’ Ronaldo even picked out one reporter because “I know he does not like me” and challenged him to ask a question. “To speak to you, some of you, those who do not like us especially – I remember people’s faces very well,” he said grinning. “Listen, I am going to be honest: whatever happens tomorrow, Cristiano Ronaldo will leave with a clear conscience – not 100 percent but 1,000 percent because in life and football I gave everything.” On the encounter in Texas with Spain, a country he considers a second home after playing for Real Madrid, Ronaldo conceded Portugal were underdogs. “It’s going to be a very hard battle,” he said. “We need a lot of faith, we need to run and we need to be brave.” Source link
Pakistan on Sunday replaced struggling Test captain Shan Masood with Babar Azam, who will start a third stint as skipper on the tours of the West Indies and England starting later this month.Masood, 36, took over from Azam in December 2023 and led the side to 12 defeats in 16 Tests. Pakistan finished ninth and last in the last World Test Championship cycle.They again lie ninth in the current cycle after a 2-0 series defeat in Bangladesh in May.”Azam will be our new Test captain as we feel that Masood could not lead as desired,” said Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed at a news conference to announce the squad on Sunday.”The selection committee discussed who could be the best player to lead Pakistan and Azam is the best option,” said Javed.This will be top-order batsman Azam’s third spell in charge of the side, having stepped down in November 2023 and then again in October 2024.Pakistan will play the first of two Tests against the West Indies in Tarouba, Trinidad, from July 25. The second begins in Port-of-Spain from August 2,Pakistan will then travel to England for Tests at Headingley, beginning August 19, Lord’s from August 27 and Edgbaston starting on September 9.Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali were omitted after being part of the squad that lost 2-0 in Bangladesh.Selectors awarded a place to 20-year-old uncapped fast bowler Ubaid Shah, the younger brother of Naseem, who was left out of the squad.Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali were the three other fast bowlers selected.Uncapped middle-order batsman Awais Zafar and left-arm spinner Ali Usman were included for the first time.Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Awais Zafar, Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Agha, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness for England). Related Story Source link
Saudi Arabia’s Khaled al-Eid claimed top honours in the Gold Tour as the 14th and final round of the Qatar Equestrian Tour – Longines Hathab continued at the indoor arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation.Competing in the Gold Tour Table A special two-phase event over 140cm, al-Eid partnered Rakker Dmc to produce a flawless round in 32.37 seconds to finish first among 17 participants. Qatar’s Faris Saad al-Qahtani riding Gaya des Cours secured second place in 34.34secs, while Sultan Salem al-Naemi aboard Gannan de La Luce finished third in 35.40secs.In the Gold Tour team event, Al Shaqab delivered a strong performance to take first place in 66.36secs. Al Shaqab Academy finished second in 69.62secs, while Alsalam came third in 71.06secs. The Open Tour accumulator with joker competition over 110cm saw another impressive outing from Khaled al-Hadi of Saudi Arabia, who clinched first and second places. Riding DSP Cessy, he topped the standings with 65 points in 39.74secs, before taking second on Carlton de Sauvageonn with the same score in 40.00secs. Qatar’s Abdulla Faisal al-Mana riding Kontiki Dice completed the podium in third place with 65 points in 40.37secs. In the Junior category, al-Mana secured first place, while Sharida Nasser al-Kaabi finished second riding Gravity and Extra Pam respectively.The Future Riders optimum time competition over 70cm attracted 38 participants, with Mohammed Sami al-Boenain claiming first place aboard Volnay M'Aurea after recording a difference of just 0.04 seconds from the ideal time. Hissa Ali al-Jaber riding Violet Van Het Koetshuis finished second with 0.11, while Abdulaziz Ibrahim al-Baker took third on the same horse with -0.27.The final day of the season concludes today with the Diamond Tour competitions over 150cm, the Bronze Tour individual and team events at 120cm, and the Future Riders contest over 90cm. Source link
The risk from the deadly Ebola outbreak has been raised to the highest level for the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization said yesterday, as the toll continued to rise. There are now 82 confirmed cases and seven confirmed deaths in the DR Congo, with almost 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths, the WHO said. The outbreak, which experts suspect was circulating under the radar for some time, was caused by the less common Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. The WHO is prioritising certain existing treatments to see how effective they might be in combating the strain. Related Story Source link
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Thomas Tuchel said on Friday he has no fears after leaving ‘extraordinary talents’ out of England's World Cup squad, boldly stating his aim is to win the tournament.The German coach omitted a clutch of big names for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Harry Maguire, Adam Wharton, Morgan Gibbs-White and Luke Shaw are others overlooked as Gareth Southgate's successor made an eye-catching selection.Saudi-based Ivan Toney was the most surprising pick, having played just a handful of minutes as a substitute since Euro 2024. England are among the favourites at the World Cup, 60 years after they won their only major international trophy.Tuchel told a press conference at Wembley that the balance of his squad was more important than picking star names. ‘From day one we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select the best 26 most-talented players,’ he said. ‘Teams win championships, it's as simple as that.’The former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain boss admitted he had had to make painful decisions but said he had ‘no fear’ over his choices. ‘It was a given that from these 55 players (in the provisional squad), we have to leave some extraordinary talents and extraordinary personalities at home,’ he said.The 52-year-old added: ‘I like these kind of decisions, even if it took us weeks and sometimes months to verify the decisions. I think they bring clarity, I think they bring a certain edge in the end that is necessary.’Tuchel, appointed with a brief to win the World Cup, said he wanted to create a ‘brotherhood’ and believes England have the world-class players to make a difference.’The goal is to try to win it and not be shy about it, and then just to respect the game and the opponents and the amount and the obstacles that come with the tournament itself,’ he said.Tuchel admitted the selection of Toney, who plays for Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, was ‘a bit of a surprise to us’ but said he ‘ticks some boxes that we wanted’.The former Brentford striker has scored 32 goals in 32 league games this season. ‘I think he has very special skills that could help us, meaning the situation, the scenario when we are chasing a result, when we are chasing a goal,’ added Tuchel.’I think he can be a very valuable addition to Harry Kane. He can be a presence in the box when we are pushing for a goal. He is a natural finisher, he can help us with set pieces, he is very strong in the air, very good in using his body.’England kick off their World Cup campaign against Croatia in Dallas on June 17 with group games to follow against Ghana and Panama. SquadGoalkeepers: Jordan Pickford (Everton), Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), James Trafford (Manchester City)Defenders: Reece James (Chelsea), Tino Livramento, Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi, John Stones, Nico O'Reilly (all Manchester City), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham)Midfielders: Declan Rice (Arsenal), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid/ESP), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal)Forwards: Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli/KSA), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa), Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona/ESP), Anthony Gordon (Newcastle) Source link
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