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Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Tarvet wins acclaim in entertaining loss to Alcaraz
PA Media/DPA London British qualifier Oliver Tarvet gave Carlos Alcaraz a run for his money before bowing out of Wimbledon on Wednesday. The 21-year-old will not see much of the £99,000 ($135,000) he has earned for reaching the second round as he is still a US college student playing under special rules. But Tarvet still enjoyed his Centre Court debut despite being unable to cash in on an inconsistent display from the defending champion, eventually losing an entertaining encounter 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. 'Big praise to Oliver,' said 22-year-old Alcaraz. 'Only his second match on the tour and I just love his game. Some great tennis. I had to be really focused and play my best tennis.' Tarvet, the world number 733, used his speed, skill and inventiveness to twice break the Alcaraz serve, thrilling the home crowd who were officially 'Oliver's Army' for the afternoon. Alcaraz had never faced a British player at the London grass grand slam, but he got a taste of that unique atmosphere when Tarvet got a first game on the board by winning a 27-shot rally with a drop-shot followed by a forehand volley. The din was cranked up further at the start of the second set when Tarvet finally converted a break point at the ninth attempt and celebrated with a waggle of his index finger. The Spaniard had struggled on serve in his first match, a five-set ordeal against soon-to-be-retired 38-year-old Fabio Fognini, and Tarvet was also making service games a chore for the second seed. But a stunning backhand smash put Alcaraz on the way to moving two sets up. There was still time for Tarvet to help himself to another break in the third, but it was quickly snuffed out with Alcaraz wrapping up victory in two-and-a-quarter hours. He added: 'Playing someone from here is not easy but once against the crowd were really respectful. In know it's not personal.'
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Guirassy brace powers Borussia Dortmund through to quarter-finals
PA Media/dpa London Borussia Dortmund will face Real Madrid in the Club World Cup quarter-finals after a narrow 2-1 win over Monterrey. Serhou Guirassy opened scoring for the German club with a right-footed shot from 12 yards out in the 14th minute following an assist from Karim Adeyemi. Adeyemi turned provider again as he set up Guirassy less than 10 minutes later after breaking free from Monterray's Julian Ryerson and sliding a square pass to his teammate. Dortmund could not add to their tally after that, although Guirassy squandered two good chances to complete his hat-trick before half-time. German Berterame pulled one back for Monterrey shortly after half-time, but it was not enough to spark a full comeback for the Mexican club. Jobe Bellingham will miss the upcoming match against Real, and a reunion with his brother Jude, due to suspension after picking up a second yellow card of the tournament in the 28th minute. Monterrey dominated the second half with 59 percent possession but squandered several chances to level the score, including a header from Sergio Ramos that went wide in stoppage time. Guirassy said the match had been 'difficult'. 'They are a great team. We had a good first half; it got a bit harder in the second,' he told 'We were quite tough from a mindset perspective. I should have scored at least three goals today, but the most important thing is the victory. 'It was a good experience. I like to play against players like Sergio Ramos. He is a good guy. Against Real Madrid, I expect another tough match. We will be prepared for them.'
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
English football union chief feels strike threat has not gone away
PA Media/dpa London English players' union chief executive Maheta Molango believes the threat of footballers striking over workload has not gone away and says tensions between his members and competition organizers have 'escalated' over the last four years. Some of the world's top stars are currently involved in the Club World Cup in the United States, often training and playing in high temperatures on the back of long domestic seasons and with new campaigns just around the corner. Manchester City midfielder Rodri said last year players were 'close' to striking over the demands being placed on them and Molango believes there remains concern among players that their voices are not being heard. Asked if a strike was still on the table, Molango said: 'It comes to a stage when you expect the authorities to look after you and they don't look after you. 'When you go to those pre-season meetings with other stakeholders, you can see the tension. I've been doing that now for four years and the tension has been escalating. 'People are saying, 'This is my career. And in the end, you (competition organizers) make decisions, but in the end, I have an average eight years to have a career'.' Molango says expanded international competitions may have the most direct, physical effect on the very top players, but that those underneath will suffer too and expects pressure to be brought to bear internationally on the Premier League to cut to 18 teams to accommodate overseas competitions. He cited the disappearance of FA Cup replays as an immediate example of a domestic repercussion and added: 'The next step is pressure on domestic leagues, pressure on, 'Why are we the only country with so many cups? Why don't we get rid of the League Cup?' 'Those are things that we can see would be in the pipeline. What about if they say, 'Let's reduce number of teams in the Premier League'. 'It isn't going to be a problem for the top clubs, it'll be a problem for the nine, eight clubs that fight for relegation. 'And I would say to them - don't be fooled. The TV money pot is what it is, it's not getting any bigger. And therefore a new competition means a new guest trying to eat into that pie.' Molango hopes the Club World Cup experience will make FIFA listen to calls to avoid afternoon kick-offs in certain venues especially prone to high temperatures for next year's World Cup finals in the US, Canada and Mexico, if for no other reason than tired players effectively playing walking football is bad for business. 'We've reached a stage where the quality is dropping,' he said.
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Giroud returns to French football with Lille
PA Media/dpa Paris Olivier Giroud remains determined to prove himself all over again after returning to French football on a one-year deal with Lille. France's record goalscorer has headed back to Europe following a campaign with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. Giroud, who turns 39 at the end of September, won the Serie A title at AC Milan in 2022, having moved to Italy from Chelsea where he had enjoyed success in the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup. The veteran forward helped Montpellier secure the 2011-12 Ligue 1 title before he joined Arsenal, winning the FA Cup three times while with the Gunners. Giroud, who retired from international football last year, having scored 57 goals in 137 appearances and lifted the 2018 World Cup, is relishing tackling the next chapter with Lille. 'I need challenges, to challenge myself, that is what has driven me forward in my career,' Giroud said at a press conference where he was officially presented by Lille on Wednesday. 'This challenge speaks to me - joining a club that beat Real Madrid and came close to reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.'
Qatar Tribune
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Garcia scores as Real beat Juve to reach CWC last eight
PA Media/dpa London Real Madrid reached the last eight of the Club World Cup as Gonzalo Garcia maintained his splendid scoring form in a 1-0 victory over Juventus. Garcia headed home his third goal of the tournament after 54 minutes from an intelligent Trent Alexander-Arnold cross. It was the Englishman's first assist for Real following his summer move from Liverpool. This was Real's third successive win in the competition and Xabi Alonso's side will now play either Borussia Dortmund or Mexican side Monterrey in the quarter-final. Kylian Mbappe was kept in reserve for Real, despite the France forward having recovered from illness to take his place in the matchday squad for the first time at the Club World Cup. Mbappe would eventually come on for the final quarter in Miami after his bout of gastroenteritis, showing a couple of promising flashes. Juventus had a golden opportunity to take the lead inside seven minutes after Alexander-Arnold was caught in possession. They countered at breakneck speed with Randal Kolo Muani backheeling the ball into the path of Kenan Yildiz and racing on to the return. Kolo Muani steadied himself as goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois advanced to meet him, but the France striker lifted the ball on to the roof of the Real net. Another fine piece of skill allowed Yildiz to drive at the Real defence, who were grateful Aurelien Tchouameni got in the way of his goalbound attempt. Francisco Conceicao headed straight at Courtois before Real eventually warmed to their task. Michele Di Gregorio was twice called upon to make smart saves in the Juventus goal, swatting away Tchouameni's deflected drive and then doing just enough to deny Jude Bellingham. Tchouameni failed to make contact from Arda Guler's brilliant centre, and Di Gregorio was at full stretch to keep out Federico Valverde from 25 yards as Real finished the half on top. It was the same story after the restart as Valverde and Alexander-Arnold fired wide and Di Gregorio excelled again to frustrate Bellingham and Dean Huijsen from range. Real's pressure eventually told when Alexander-Arnold found space down the right and set up Garcia. Conceicao and Nicolas Gonzalez sent dangerous shots across Real's bow from outside the box, but those efforts were very much against the run of play. Juventus were grateful for the outstanding Di Gregorio, who showed more agility to stop Guler and Tchouameni from extending the lead. Kolo Muani went to ground in the final moments as Antonio Rudiger closed him out, with Polish referee Szymon Marciniak waving away hopeful Juventus penalty claims.
