Al Hilal showed Saudi league not just about money, says Koulibaly

3 days ago

'Everyone thinks that when we went there we only went for the financial argument but we showed that we are working over there,' Koulibaly said'We want to improve the league, we have improved a lot in two years'ORLANDO: Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal bowed out of the Club World Cup on Friday, after a 2-1 defeat to Fluminense, but after an unexpected run to the last eight they have left their mark on the global stage.Simone Inzaghi's team beat Manchester City 4-3 in the round-of-16, delivering the biggest upset of the tournament and one of the competition's most thrilling games.Al Hilal began their campaign with a draw against Spanish giants Real Madrid and they came through the group stage unbeaten with a draw against Champions League regulars Salzburg and a 2-0 win over six-times CONCACAF Champions Cup winners Pachuca of Mexico.With a squad that mixes local Saudi talent with international recruits, the newly appointed Inzaghi was able to take the team to the brink of the last four.For former Napoli defender and Senegal international Kalidou Koulibaly, one of the expensively recruited foreign players, the performances at the first 32-team Club World Cup, were a message that the Saudi league is not just a lucrative retirement home for European and South American players.'We showed that the teams from Saudi are very strong, very powerful and we have a lot of good players. Everyone thinks that when we went there we only went for the financial argument but we showed that we are working over there,' he told reporters.'We showed it at this World Cup and every team who played against us can see that we have talent. We want to improve the league, we have improved a lot in two years,' he added.Koulibaly was one of the early recruits to the Saudi Pro League, after leaving Premier League team Chelsea to join the Riyadh club and he said he has witnessed rapid growth in the league.'I was there at the beginning and I see today it is very tough. We saw it last year and next year it will be tougher as more players are coming. The Saudi league is taking a nice place in the football world and we are happy because we are part of a very nice project and want to show all the world that the football is improving,' he said.Inzaghi, who left Inter Milan and took charge of the team shortly before the tournament began, says he has been impressed with what he has seen from his players so far.'Clearly, for me and my staff, it was very important to be able to play in this World Cup. We realized what kind of team we have, the quality of our players, the pleasure with which they work every day. Now we are looking forward to a great season,' he said.

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Spain sweep aside Belgium 6-2 at Women's Euros

Arab News

6 hours ago

Arab News

Spain sweep aside Belgium 6-2 at Women's Euros

THUN, Switzerland: Striker Alexia Putellas scored twice for world champions Spain as they shook off a slow start to beat Belgium 6-2 in their Women's Euros Group B clash on Monday, a result that will guarantee the Spaniards' progress to the knockout stage if Portugal fail to beat Italy later in the day. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport

Grumpy Maresca Still Hopeful Chelsea Can Win Club World Cup He Thinks Needs Fixing

Asharq Al-Awsat

6 hours ago

Asharq Al-Awsat

Grumpy Maresca Still Hopeful Chelsea Can Win Club World Cup He Thinks Needs Fixing

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca remains one of the Club World Cup's harshest critics, despite his team reaching the semi-finals, and continued a stream of complaints about everything from the weather to the scheduling ahead of Tuesday's clash with Fluminense. The Italian has repeatedly complained about the heat, the calendar and the toll on his players' fitness at the tournament, while also criticizing FIFA for the weather delay that interrupted his team's round-of-16 clash against Benfica for nearly two hours. On Monday, ahead of the semi-final against Fluminense, the Chelsea boss refused to accept that his Premier League side were favorites, instead arguing that the tournament calendar unfairly benefited South American teams. Maresca said the South American sides had arrived with fresh legs in midseason while the Europeans were exhausted at the end of a long campaign. "It is not that we don't see this tournament as important, it's that teams have arrived in two completely different situations and realities. How many games have the Brazilian team played in their current season? We have played 63 games," Maresca told a press conference. Maresca said Chelsea took the competition seriously, but structural improvements were needed. "I see the Club World Cup as a top competition and we are very happy to be here, we want to win it, but at the same time that are several things I think could be improved probably due to the fact that it is the first time they are organizing it," he said. Maresca also said that "many other things have been done well" but did not specify what those positive things were. The manager praised Brazilian football quality ahead of facing his third Brazilian opponents, after Chelsea lost 3-1 to Flamengo in the group stage and beat Palmeiras 2-1 in the quarter-finals. "The quality from Brazilian players is probably the top, is the best quality," he said, while again highlighting the conditioning gap between fresh South American sides and exhausted Europeans. "There are two things that for me are very clear in the two games that we face (against) Brazilian teams. One is the quality but at the same time it is very clear the energy that they have, for different reasons, and we don't. Top quality and also defensively, they were very good. So it will be a tough game." Despite his litany of grievances with the tournament format and conditions, Maresca's Chelsea remain in contention for the title as they prepare to face the Brazilian underdogs who have defied all expectations to reach the semi-finals.

Spain's 6-2 Win Over Belgium Puts It On Brink Of Euro 2025 Quarterfinals

Al Arabiya

10 hours ago

Al Arabiya

Spain's 6-2 Win Over Belgium Puts It On Brink Of Euro 2025 Quarterfinals

World Cup champion Spain closed in on the quarterfinals of the Women's European Championship with another statement victory, 6–2 over Belgium on Monday. It was surprisingly the first time Spain won back-to-back matches at the Euros after beating Portugal 5–0 in its opener. With 11 goals in two matches, Spain and its star-packed squad is living up to its billing as the tournament favorite. Spain will secure a place in the quarterfinals if Italy avoids defeat against Portugal later – a result that would also eliminate Belgium. Spain laid siege to the Belgium goal from the start. Mariona Caldentey played in a lovely pass from the edge of the area to Vicky López, who cushioned it on for Alexia Putellas to sweep into the far corner. However, Spain's 22nd-minute lead lasted barely two minutes before Justine Vanhaevermaet headed in Tessa Wullaert's corner at the near post. Spain captain Irene Paredes was playing her first match of the tournament after being suspended from the opener, and she made it 2–1 before the break when she headed in a corner. Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí was brought on at halftime. She was hospitalized for viral meningitis before the tournament and played only eight minutes against Portugal. Belgium leveled again through Hannah Eurlings shortly after the restart. It was initially ruled out for offside but awarded by the VAR. Less than a minute later Spain led for a third time when Putellas played in Esther González for the veteran forward to score her third goal of the tournament. When a González effort was blocked, the ball was not cleared and Mariona Caldentey fired in Spain's fourth. Claudia Pina curled a sumptuous 20-yard effort into the top right corner, and there was still time for Putellas – another two-time Ballon d'Or winner – to net her second of the match.