Philipsen doesn't blame Coquard for heavy crash at Tour de France
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Qatar Tribune
a day ago
- Qatar Tribune
Bonmati puts Spain into Euro final after extra-time win over Germany
dpa Zurich Aitana Bonmatí netted with aplomb in extra-time to send world champions Spain into the Euro 2025 final following a 1-0 win over record eight-times winners Germany on Wednesday. Spain will meet holders England in Sunday's final in Basel, a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final won 1-0 by La Roja. It is a first Euro final for the Spanish women. Montse Tomé's side dominated possession as usual in Zurich but Germany, who somehow beat France on penalties in the last eight having been down to 10 players after 13 minutes, defended stoutly and were dangerous on the break. The contrast in styles meant the 90 minutes ended 0-0 before world player of the year Bonmatí produced a rare moment of class with a clever dummy. Her effort from a tight angle then went in at the near post. Bonmatí said: 'I feel proud because we deserve it. We suffered.' The 113th-minute goal was tough on Germany keeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who has shone this tournament but said she should have done better while expecting a cross. 'The disappointment is huge, we believed until the last second. One small mistake, one loss of focus and it is so bitter,' Berger told ARD. 'I take responsibility, the near post needs to be covered. I'm sorry so for the team, not just for me.' Bonmatí added: 'We had studied Berger, who made certain movements and sometimes left spaces at the near post.' Germany were without the suspended Kathrin Hendrich following her ponytail pull against France. Sophia Kleinherne replaced her in a back three, while wing back Carlotta Wamser returned from suspension and Sara Däbritz came in for suspended midfielder Sjoeke Nüsken. Spain made one enforced change from the 2-0 quarter-final win over hosts Switzerland as centre back María Méndez filled in for the suspended Laia Aleixandri. 'No blame,' says Germany coach Klara Bühl fired the first good chance wide for the Germans, watched in the Letzigrund stands by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Spain striker Esther González then tested Berger, who starred against the French, and the keeper made another smart save. The tournament favourites, who had scored 16 goals in winning all their previous four matches in Switzerland, upped the ante just before the break and Irene Paredes headed against the post before Berger again denied González. Half-time came at a good time for the Germans, who had at least kept Bonmatí and previous world player of the year Alèxia Putellas fairly quiet up to that point. Bühl had three further big opportunities in the second half - including a deflected effort clawed off the line by Cata Coll at the death. Otherwise the ball was mainly up the other end, although La Roja struggled to carve out clear-cut chances despite the multitude of short passes. Extra-time was largely a non-event until Bonmatí, who had meningitis at the start of the Euros, stylishly struck - assuming she meant it at Berger's near post. 'We imagined things differently,' Germany coach Christian Wück said. 'There is no blame, she is world player of the year. It can happen. We have played a really good tournament.'
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Milan avoids crash to strengthen grip on Tour de France green jersey
PA Media/DPA Paris Jonathan Milan avoided a late crash in Valence to sprint to his second victory of this year's Tour de France and strengthen his grip on the green jersey while Tadej Pogacar stayed safe in yellow. Several riders went down in wet, slippery conditions entering the last kilometre of the 160km stage from Bollene, blocking the road and leaving less than a dozen riders to contest the sprint. From their number, it was no surprise to see the in-form Milan hold off a late charge from Jordi Meeus. It was a victory Milan needed in the fight for the points leader's green jersey as his advantage over Pogacar at the start of the day was 11 points, and given this could prove to be the last chance for the sprinters with the Montmartre climb added to Sunday's final stage into Paris. The late crash meant that general classification times were neutralized for those in the front group, allowing Pogacar to roll home still four minutes and 15 seconds clear of Jonas Vingegaard going into two big stages in the Alps. Biniam Girmay was among the sprinters caught in the crash and the Eritrean looked in some discomfort after receiving treatment. Tim Merlier did not go down but was held up, unable to contest the sprint. 'I'm really happy, I'm without words,' said Milan, who credited his Lidl-Trek team-mates after getting through Tuesday's stage to Mont Ventoux. 'I didn't survive alone, it's always with the help of team-mates. Without all of this, I already would not be here ... 'They also helped me when I was dropped on the first climb and then on the second climb did a really good pace. 'It was a difficult final because of the weather and the roundabouts, I was a bit scared but they helped me and this is really fantastic, it's really a team victory.' In a Tour which has offered relatively few sprint opportunities, the fast men knew they needed to take this one, and particularly Milan, given the criticism directed at his team after they failed to fight for the points at Tuesday's intermediate sprint before Ventoux. Milan was dropped by the peloton on the first of two categorised climbs on this stage which had left open the possibility of a breakaway prospering here. But he recovered with the help of team-mate Quinn Simmons, who then put in another big turn to help reel in a four-man group up the road. The last of those escapees, Jonas Abrahamsen, was reeled in 4km from the finish but by then rain was falling heavily, creating the treacherous conditions that led to the crash which effectively blocked the road under the flamme rouge. Milan's points lead ballooned to 72 points, but he will still need to target the intermediate sprints in the mountains to be sure of holding off Pogacar, who has a narrow opportunity to become the first man to win all three major classifications at a Tour since Eddy Merckx in 1969.
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Rumours swirl over Max deal as Mercedes ready 2026 team
DPA Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) Speculation over a move by Formula One world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Mercedes for next season has hit overdrive with the Silver Arrows all but ready to announce their 2026 line-up. 'We as a team will know how we want to play it next year. When we announce it is not yet entirely certain,' Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff told Austrian broadcaster ORF on Wednesday ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. However, Wolff then appeared to dampen the speculation when he said: 'We want to continue with George and Kimi, that is the absolute priority.' Some media though think Kimi Antonelli could revert to being reserve driver, with George Russell keeping his seat alongside Verstappen. 'It's not just about the team making a decision. The drivers also need to know where they stand,' said Wolff. The 27-year-old Verstappen, a four-times world champion, appears to be dissatisfied at Red Bull this term having lost ground to championship leaders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the McLarens. However, the Dutchman still has a valid contract with Red Bull until 2028 and team boss Christian Horner, seen by many to have had a frosty relationship with Verstappen, was recently sacked. 'Of course, you can't overlook someone like Max and the plans he has for the future,' added Wolff cryptically.
