SOCCER
France U21 players scolded
France manager Didier Deschamps criticized the “intolerable behavior” of five players from the under-21 France squad on Tuesday for going to a nightclub between two playoff games for next year’s junior European Championship. Midfielders Yann M’Vila and Wissam Ben Yedder, winger Antoine Griezmann, striker Mbaye Niang and defender Chris Mavinga all left the Le Havre training camp late at night and drove two hours to Paris and back before the return match against Norway last week. France lost that match 5-3 to end its qualification hopes and under-21 manager Erick Mombaerts quit immediately after the defeat. “I have a big problem accepting what happened between the two games because it led to a sporting failure that cost the coach his job,” Deschamps said in an interview with Eurosport. “It was intolerable behavior on the part of the players.” M’Vila and Mavinga have both been dropped by Stade Rennais and ordered to train and play for the reserves until further notice. Deschamps insists M’Vila, touted as a major talent two years ago, still has a future with France if his attitude improves.
CRICKET
Murali to coach NZ bowlers
Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker, Muttiah Muralitharan, will be asked to pass on his expertise to New Zealand’s bowlers and batsmen on their tour of Sri Lanka, the country’s head coach has said. The New Zealand-based members of the team leave for the tour, which includes a Twenty20 match, five one-day internationals and two Tests, today with new bowling coach Shane Bond making his first tour with the side. The former New Zealand paceman was only appointed to the role last week and has had little to do with spin bowlers throughout his career, hence head coach Mike Hesson’s decision to seek Muralitharan’s help. The 40-year-old off-spinner retired from the longer form of the game in 2010, capturing his 800th wicket with the final ball of his Test career.
BASKETBALL
Nowitzki encouraged
Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki says he felt encouraged after the first knee surgery of his career, but says a timetable for his return is “pretty ridiculous to talk about.” Nowitzki walked gingerly, but without a noticeable limp, on Tuesday, four days after arthroscopic surgery on his ailing right knee. Macericks coach Rick Carlisle said the 11-time All-Star was expected to miss six weeks. The 34-year-old Nowitzki battled soreness and swelling in the knee throughout training camp and only played in one preseason game — the opener in his native Germany. Nowitzki has never missed more than nine games in a season during his 14-year career.
BOXING
Berto insists he is clean
Even after a failed doping test earlier this year, Andre Berto insists he has always been a clean fighter. The former welterweight champion believes the only way to overcome the stigma on his name is by getting back in the ring with his eyes on another belt. Berto and Robert Guerrero met on Tuesday at the Grammy Museum to announce their Nov. 24 welterweight title bout in Ontario, California. Berto said he realizes his reputation was indelibly stained by a positive test for norandrosterone in May. The fighter and his camp claimed the positive test resulted from contamination. The California State Athletic Commission believed them, licensing Berto in August. Guerrero said he has no idea whether Berto is telling the truth.
Soccer officials yesterday offered “full support and assistance” to the Iranian team in Australia for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after the US and Israel launched massive attacks on their homeland. Iran’s 26-strong squad arrived on the Gold Coast days before the strikes on Saturday killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as Washington and Tel Aviv seek to topple the Islamic republic. They are due to open their tournament today against South Korea. The AFC in a statement said it “continues to closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period.” “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and
ROAD RASH: Marc Marquez retired after a crash, marking the first time after 88 consecutive races stretching back to 2021 that a Ducati bike failed to make the podium Marco Bezzecchi yesterday won the MotoGP season-opening grand prix in Thailand from pole position as defending world champion Marc Marquez retired late with a buckled wheel. Aprilia’s Bezzecchi led from start to finish to top the podium in Buriram, with KTM’s Pedro Acosta second and Trackhouse’s Raul Fernandez third. Ducati’s Marquez is chasing a record-equaling eighth world title this season, but he exited the race in dramatic fashion while in fourth place with five laps to go. The Spaniard, who started from second on the grid, took a corner wide, with the jolt to his bike dislodging the rear tire, badly damaging his
EVERY DAY A VICTORY: Players on the women’s team faced pressure from society just getting out onto the field as they prepare for their first Women’s Asian Cup game today Bangladesh’s national soccer team face daunting odds at their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup, but have already scored a major victory by qualifying. In the South Asian nation of 170 million, social stigma, family expectations, poverty and religious hardliners have long relegated women and girls to sports sidelines. The first women’s soccer league matches took place in 2011 and the squad, known to fans as the Red and Green, have kept pressing forward despite deeply embedded prejudices. “Many more girls would have joined us if the community had been even slightly supportive,” captain Afeida Khandaker told AFP ahead of her side’s March 3
Liverpool on Tuesday suffered an embarrassing 2-1 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers as Andre’s stoppage-time strike sealed a dramatic victory for the English Premier League’s bottom club. Arne Slot’s side fell behind to Rodrigo Gomes’ strike in the closing stages at Molineux. Mohamed Salah hauled Liverpool level with his first goal in 11 top-flight games dating back to November last year. However, Andre’s first goal for Wolves inflicted the latest humbling loss in a chastening season for Liverpool. It was the first time the Premier League’s bottom club had beaten the reigning champions since Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in 2017. Liverpool
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