EUROS
Netherlands players ill
Five players in the Netherlands squad to face World Cup finalists France in their opening qualifier for next year’s UEFA Euro 2024 have been sent home after contracting a viral infection. Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt along with Sven Botman, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen all left the training camp, the Royal Dutch Football Association said yesterday. It did not elaborate on the virus. The departures were another blow to coach Ronald Koeman ahead of the first match of his second stint in charge of the national team. Already this week, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn dropped out due to injuries. Koeman called up Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, Vitesse Arnhem’s Kjell Scherpen and Inter defender Stefan de Vrij as replacements for the five ill players. The Netherlands play France at the Stade de France today in a Group B qualifier before returning home to take on Gibraltar on Monday in Rotterdam.
FRIENDLIES
NZ and China draw 0-0
New Zealand yesterday held on to secure a 0-0 draw with China in a friendly in Auckland after defender Tommy Smith was sent off in the second half. Smith, earning his 50th cap, was red-carded after a mix-up with goalkeeper Oli Sail saw him bring down China striker Wu Lei in the 63rd minute. New Zealand dominated the opening 45 minutes, but it was China, playing their first game under new coach Aleksandar Jankovic, who went closest to scoring. Winger Wei Shihao sent a 32nd-minute free-kick just wide before forcing a fine save out of Sail two minutes before the break. China grew in confidence after the interval and Wu Lei should have put his side ahead three minutes into the second half when he was released by Wu Xi’s through-ball, but the forward curled his shot high and wide. It marked a sixth consecutive match without a goal for New Zealand, who last found the net when they put five past the Solomon Islands in March last year. The two sides are to meet in another friendly in Wellington on Sunday.
PREMIER LEAGUE
Mancini not expecting call
Roberto Mancini said he does not expect to receive a call from investigators about Manchester City’s alleged breaches of finance rules and that his spell as manager of the Premier League club was “all above board.” The Premier League last month referred City to an independent commission over more than 100 alleged breaches since the club was acquired by the Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group. Among the charges, City are alleged to have not fully disclosed managerial remuneration from 2009 to 2013, when Mancini was manager. Mancini is now the coach of the Italy national team. When asked on Wednesday if he had been contacted as part of investigations, Mancini told reporters: “No, I haven’t been contacted or called up by anyone, and I don’t think anyone will contact me.” He added: “I have paid my taxes. It’s all above board, so I don’t think anyone will be in touch.” In a statement last month, Manchester City said that “the club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position.”
Freddie Freeman homered and drove in four runs, Shohei Ohtani also went deep and Roki Sasaki earned his first major league win as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Atlanta Braves 10-3 on Saturday night for their seventh straight victory. The Dodgers have won the first two games of the series to improve to 5-0 against Atlanta this year. Los Angeles’ three-game sweep at home early in the season left the Braves 0-7. Sasaki allowed three runs and six hits over five innings. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up a home run to Ozzie Albies, but received plenty of offensive support in his
INTER AWAIT: Superb saves by PSG ’keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma inspired the victory, as Arsenal were punished for misses, including one by Bukayo Saka Arsenal on Wednesday fell short on the big stage again as their painful UEFA Champions League semi-final exit against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta to rue his club’s failure to provide him with enough attacking options. Arteta’s side were unable to reach the Champions League final for the first time in 19 years as PSG clinched a tense 2-1 win at Parc des Princes. Trailing 1-0 from last week’s first leg in London, the Gunners made a blistering start to the second leg, but could not convert their chances as Gianluigi Donnarumma’s superb saves inspired PSG’s 3-1 aggregate victory. Arsenal were punished for
Bayern Munich on Sunday were crowned German champions for the 34th time, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer 04 Leverkusen drew 2-2 at SC Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equalizer, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the final 10 minutes, but Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after
THRILLER: Raphinha gave Barca a 3-2 lead with two minutes remaining of regular time, but Francesco Acerbi equalized the game in the second minute of added time Davide Frattesi on Tuesday fired Inter into the UEFA Champions League final with an extra-time winner that gave the Italians a stunning 4-3 triumph over Barcelona, 7-6 on aggregate. Italy midfielder Frattesi won a tie for the ages under a downpour in Milan when he lashed home in the 99th minute, sending a packed and rocking San Siro wild with joy. Simone Inzaghi’s team will face either Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain at the end of this month in Munich, Germany, where they would feel they have a great chance to be crowned kings of Europe for a fourth time after
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