Sports — International

Brazil, Argentina target blockbuster World Cup semi-final

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Brazil seek to become the first team through to the World Cup semi-finals on Friday, while Argentina could set up a blockbuster all-South American clash if they get past the Netherlands. After three weeks of pulsating action, just eight teams are left standing as the 32-nation tournament heads into the final rounds of the knockout competition after a two-day break. Five-time champions Brazil kick off the quarter-finals against surprise 2018 runners-up […]

Portugal blow away Switzerland to reach World Cup last eight

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Portugal dismantled Switzerland 6-1 to charge into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as Goncalo Ramos started in place of Cristiano Ronaldo and scored the first hat-trick of the tournament. The Portuguese will face Morocco in the quarter-finals after sweeping aside the Swiss in a display that was every bit as impressive as Brazil’s demolition of South Korea 24 hours earlier. In a surprise move, 21-year-old Benfica forward Ramos replaced Ronaldo […]

World Cup win makes Morocco the ‘pride’ of Arab fans

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Thousands of Morocco fans descended on the streets of Doha to celebrate their country becoming the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday. Despite some minor trouble outside the stadium, the victory over Spain became a celebration of “Arab pride” for supporters from across the region. Walid Regragui’s side won 3-0 in a penalty shootout after the match finished goalless following extra-time. So many people packed Doha’s […]

Tatum leads Celtics over Raptors, Pacers beat Warriors

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Jayson Tatum scored 17 of his 31 points in the third quarter on Monday as the Boston Celtics earned an impressive 116-110 NBA victory over the Raptors in Toronto. Trailing 62-56 at halftime, the Celtics out-scored the Raptors 35-18 in the third period to take a nine-point lead, pushing their advantage to as many as 13 in the fourth as they handed the Raptors just their third home defeat. The […]

Japan wins count for nothing after World Cup exit, says Doan

  by Andrew MCKIRDY Agence France-Presse DOHA, Qatar (AFP) –Forward Ritsu Doan said Japan’s historic World Cup wins over Germany and Spain counted for nothing after the Blue Samurai were eliminated by Croatia in the last 16 on Monday. Japan missed out on a first-ever place in the quarter-finals after a 3-1 penalty shootout defeat to the Croatians, following a gruelling encounter that finished 1-1 after extra-time. Japan beat both Germany and Spain in the […]

Neymar returns as Brazil brush aside South Korea to reach World Cup quarters

by Andy SCOTT Agence France-Presse DOHA, Qatar (AFP) — Neymar returned from injury to help inspire Brazil to a 4-1 victory over South Korea on Monday as the favorites cruised through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The world’s most expensive player had sat out his team’s last two matches with a sprained ankle suffered in their opening 2-0 win over Serbia. But he came back for this last-16 tie as Tite’s team clicked […]

Bollettieri, coach of Agassi and other tennis superstars, dies

  Paris, France (AFP) Legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who helped develop superstars such as Andre Agassi and Maria Sharapova, has died aged 91, the IMG Academy announced in a statement on Monday. “Nick Bollettieri, the legendary tennis coach and founder of Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, which served as the foundation for today’s IMG Academy, has passed away,” read the statement. While his methods were sometimes controversial, his academy in Florida churned out top players […]

Japan primed to show ‘samurai spirit’ against Croatia at World Cup

Doha, Qatar (AFP) by Andrew MCKIRDY Japan will “fight like samurai” in Monday’s World Cup last-16 clash with Croatia as they battle to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, defender Yuto Nagatomo said. Japan reached the knockout round after stunning Germany and Spain to top Group E but they are not satisfied with what they have achieved so far in Qatar. Veteran Nagatomo is appearing at his fourth World Cup and urged his team-mates […]

Davis scores 55 to propel Lakers past Wizards, Celtics beat Nets

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) – Anthony Davis dazzled in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 130-119 NBA victory over the Washington Wizards on Sunday, scoring 55 points with 17 rebounds in his 10th straight game of at least 20 points. Davis added three blocked shots as he followed up a 44-point performance in the team’s triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. He said after that game he believed the team was turning a corner after a […]

Record-breaking Giroud brings goals to France’s repeat World Cup bid

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) – Olivier Giroud was an integral part of France’s 2018 World Cup-winning side, but in Qatar the striker has brought the goals missing from his game four years ago in Russia. On a night when the insatiable Kylian Mbappe scored two brilliant goals, Giroud wrote himself into the history books with his 52nd goal for Les Bleus — eclipsing Thierry’s Henry all-time record. In a last-16 tie billed as Mbappe against Robert Lewandowski, […]

MLS fines Galaxy, club exec over salary violations

  New York, United States (AFP) Major League Soccer fined the Los Angeles Galaxy $1 million and suspended club president Chris Klein on Friday for improper payments involving Argentine forward Cristian Pavon in 2019. “The LA Galaxy entered into agreements that were not disclosed that included payments that were not accounted for in the calculation of Cristian Pavon’s salary budget and roster category,” MLS said in a statement. The league said the undisclosed payments resulted […]

South Korea snatch last-16 place, Swiss edge fiery World Cup clash

  Doha, Qatar (AFP) Last-gasp South Korea reached the World Cup knockout phase in dramatic fashion on Friday to set up a last-16 match against mighty Brazil as Switzerland edged a bad-tempered encounter with Serbia to progress. With the clock ticking down at Education City Stadium, the Koreans knew they needed one more goal against Portugal to leapfrog the South Americans and Hwang Hee-chan delivered in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory. The Korean […]