Football Puts Too Many Obstacles in Paths of Youngsters

 Manchester City’s Phil Foden with his Golden Ball trophy from the Under-17s World Cup before the match with Arsenal at the start of November. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
Manchester City’s Phil Foden with his Golden Ball trophy from the Under-17s World Cup before the match with Arsenal at the start of November. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
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Football Puts Too Many Obstacles in Paths of Youngsters

 Manchester City’s Phil Foden with his Golden Ball trophy from the Under-17s World Cup before the match with Arsenal at the start of November. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters
Manchester City’s Phil Foden with his Golden Ball trophy from the Under-17s World Cup before the match with Arsenal at the start of November. Photograph: Lee Smith/Reuters

No offence intended, but I doubt I was alone, when José Mourinho took the job two summers ago, in wondering whether one of the more remarkable records in the business – the one that tells us a former youth-team player has been included in Manchester United’s match-day squad in every game since 1937 – would be one of the casualties.

Mourinho also seemed to sense it, judging by the way he came armed to his first press conference with a notebook featuring a list of names, colour-coded in red, blue and green, to nail “the lie” that he was somehow averse to bringing through players from academies.

Some list it was, too. Mourinho had scribbled 49 names into his notebook and was so determined to make his point he followed that up with an email where the number had gone up to 55. It was just a pity, perhaps, on closer inspection that he appeared to think Arjen Robben, Mikel John Obi, Lassana Diara, Marko Arnautovic, Raphaël Varane and Kurt Zouma were eligible – for no other reason, it seemed, than that they played for him when they were under the age of 21.

At the risk of being pedantic, Robben had made more than 100 appearances for Groningen and PSV Eindhoven, winning 10 caps for Holland and starring in Euro 2004, before Mourinho signed him for Chelsea. Carlos Alberto was also included despite playing 43 times for Fluminense and winning four Brazil caps before linking up with Mourinho at Porto. Mario Balotelli was also on the list, one of many who had made their debuts elsewhere, and when it came to the legitimate choices it turned out that 10 of the players Mourinho had cited had played fewer than 10 minutes on his watch. Only 11 of the original 49 had played 90 minutes or more and three – John Swift, Sam Hutchinson and Anthony Grant – had managed one minute each. How, Mourinho was asked, had people developed this unfair impression of him. “One lie, repeated many times,” he explained. Robert De Niro would have been proud of the acting from the top table.

It was a nice try – classic José – but perhaps those of us who doubted him might have to admit now that he is proving us wrong. Mourinho has been in the job for almost 18 months now and United’s record, stretching all the way back to Tom Manley and Jackie Wassall playing in a 1-0 defeat to Fulham in October 1937, is still intact.

Nobody else gets near and, judging by Mourinho’s comments in the last few days, that run is never going to be broken while he is in charge. “I feel it is a way to keep a certain identity of the club. To keep that identity means, basically, we should bring a new player from the academy every season. I don’t want to be the one that breaks that and I think the next United manager – it doesn’t matter when he comes – should also try not to break it.”

The manager who does, to quote one United executive, will probably be “run out of the city” and it is pleasing to hear Mourinho talk that way because, whatever your position might be when it comes to his football club, it is an incredible record to maintain.

It also made me wonder whether the people in charge at Old Trafford might ever be bold enough to formalise it as a part of the club’s statutes – “the United rule”, or something along those lines – to safeguard it in the future, too. True, perhaps it is not necessary if there is an unwritten rule that every manager should keep to the same anyway, but equally, why not make it official? It would be the first of its kind – and it would fit neatly with how United like to project themselves, as a club that nurture more young players than anywhere else.

On a similar theme, wouldn’t it be good if the Premier League might one day consider introducing a rule whereby every club did the same? Not every manager, perhaps, would embrace the idea and nobody wants a situation where a young substitute is on the bench purely for the sake of it, with absolutely zero chance of playing. But think about the good it would do, too, in these times when the biggest problem for some outstanding young talents is what is known as “the pathway” – the last part of the journey to make that jump from the various age levels into the first-team squad.

At the other Old Trafford, home of Lancashire County Cricket Club, I was at a dinner last week where Phil Foden of Manchester City was collecting a prize for being the rising star of 2017. Foden also brought the Golden Ball, the award he won as the outstanding player of the Under-17s World Cup, and to see him on stage was a reminder of his age. His tie wasn’t quite done right, he was wearing trainers with his suit and he had a request that brought an “aah” from his audience. “Can I thank my mum and dad?” he asked.

Nobody should expect him, at 17, to be a regular for a club with City’s ambitions. Not yet, anyway. But when a few of us had the chance to speak to Gareth Southgate after Brazil’s visit to Wembley the following night the England manager made the point that Foden’s biggest problem will be navigating a way past everyone else at City. Pep Guardiola already has David Silva, Leroy Sané, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin De Bruyne to operate just behind Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesus. Next season Alexis Sánchez could be added to the mix, Patrick Roberts might be back from his loan at Celtic and Aleix García likewise from Girona. Foden might be supremely talented but, with that kind of competition, don’t just assume it is going to be a seamless rise.

Not just Foden, either. All the time we hear stories about talented youngsters being nurtured by the leading Premier League clubs only to be held back at the last juncture. Just look at the number of brilliant talents developed by Chelsea who tend to hit a jam when it comes to the first team. Could something be done to make that pathway a clearer route? How much of an appetite is there among the clubs to help the next generation? Or is this something that concerns Southgate, and those who care about the England team, more than it does the clubs themselves?

It is certainly worth floating if the clubs at the top of English football are serious about promoting their own. Everybody likes to see a talented young footballer come through the ranks but that process is difficult, to say the least, when those clubs have the money to buy in ready-made first-team players. It isn’t easy for the managers either, when they are under pressure for instant results, but Mourinho certainly sounded like he, for one, was happy to go this way.

The game against Newcastle United was number 3,887 on an 80-year run for Manchester United that started in the year of the first 999 call, the birth of Robert Charlton (Bobby, to his friends) and Neville Chamberlain becoming prime minister. The next best is Everton, who have done the same for 21 years, but the rest are a long way behind and it is not easy to know sometimes whether they particularly care.

FA in a spin when it comes to the truth

After everything that came out during the Mark Sampson affair, how dismal that the Football Association was still incapable of offering a credible version of the truth when it came to the latest investigation about the England Women’s regime.

Unfortunately, while the FA’s chairman, Greg Clarke, promises to rebuild trust, the evidence suggests his organisation is still going in for the same kind of half‑truths and evasion judging by the statement announcing the resignation of Lee Kendall, the goalkeeping coach.

Kendall had admitted it was true, as alleged by Eni Aluko, that he used to speak to her, a player of Nigerian descent, with a fake Caribbean accent. The FA’s investigation lasted four weeks and concluded with a recommendation that he needed to go on a diversity course. Unlike Sampson, Kendall admitted that he had done what he was accused of.

That, however, was skilfully kept out of the statement in which the FA announced it had concluded no action was necessary. In fact, anyone reading that statement would have been entitled to think Kendall was completely exonerated and the allegations had been thrown out. “We wish him well for the future,” it concluded – and, yet again, like a conjuror waving a wand, the FA had presented a version of events that was wilfully designed to keep us from knowing the facts. It was afterwards the FA had to admit the truth was something completely different.

We should be used to it by now, I suppose, and it hardly comes as a surprise when, over time, it becomes apparent the FA uses more spin than Muttiah Muralitharan. Yet the latest mangling of the truth is particularly lamentable at a time when many of us might have hoped – more fool us – that the FA had learned a thing or two from the Sampson case. Clearly not.

“We have lost the trust of the public,” Clarke said in his speech to the FA council. Yes, and it will remain lost as long as the relevant people have the same relationship with the truth as Uri Geller used to have with his cutlery.

Jack’s all right but Sunderland aren’t

Chris Coleman’s reasons for choosing Sunderland might not automatically be clear when the club have become renowned as a managerial wasteland and a team that were relegated from the Premier League last season, finishing bottom, have been in freefall ever since.

Yet don’t underestimate the size of Sunderland, when the club had the seventh-highest gate in the top division last season and are still the joint sixth most successful team, level with Chelsea, when it comes to the number of league titles.

The problem is the last one was won in 1936, whereas the lack of thinking at the modern club can probably be summed up by the fact Jack Rodwell is earning £60,000 a week at the bottom of the Championship because when he signed his contract nobody thought it worthwhile to insert a relegation clause.

Rodwell – who has started one league game and recently played at centre-half in the Checkatrade Trophy – might yet become the best‑paid player in League One and, as long as Sunderland’s owner, Ellis Short, and the club’s other executives are capable of that kind of shortsighted thinking, it is going to be difficult for Coleman to flourish at a club where so many others have failed.

The Guardian Sport



Girona Beats Mallorca 5-3 to Take Provisional Lead of Spanish League

Girona's David López (R) celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Girona FC and RCD Mallorca in Girona, Spain, 23 September 2023. (EPA)
Girona's David López (R) celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Girona FC and RCD Mallorca in Girona, Spain, 23 September 2023. (EPA)
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Girona Beats Mallorca 5-3 to Take Provisional Lead of Spanish League

Girona's David López (R) celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Girona FC and RCD Mallorca in Girona, Spain, 23 September 2023. (EPA)
Girona's David López (R) celebrates after scoring the 1-1 equalizer goal during the Spanish LaLiga soccer match between Girona FC and RCD Mallorca in Girona, Spain, 23 September 2023. (EPA)

Girona routed Mallorca 5-3 to climb to the top of the Spanish league on Saturday ahead of other matches for this round.

Girona moved one point ahead of overnight leader Real Madrid, which visits Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Barcelona can pull level with Girona if it beats Celta Vigo at home later Saturday.

Under coach Míchel Sánchez, Girona is the revelation of the season so far. The modest team from Spain's northeastern Catalonia region has won five straight games since a season-opening draw with Real Sociedad.

After beating Granada 4-2 last round, it has now scored nine goals in its past two games.

“(Being leader) is anecdotal, we are happy for the victory. Winning five in a row in the first division is not at easy task,” Míchel said. “Even more important than the results is the sensation we have, knowing that we are competing well and have a clear idea of how we want to play.”

Mallorca went ahead early through a fourth-minute penalty converted by Vedat Muriqi. But Girona roared back with goals by David López, Artem Dovbyk, Iván Martín, Yangel Herrera and Sávio before substitute Ábdon Prats reduced the deficit for Mallorca with a late brace.

Also later Saturday, Sevilla visits Osasuna while Almeria hosts Valencia.


AlphaTauri Confirm Tsunoda and Ricciardo for 2024

Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Scuderia AlphaTauri arrives ahead of the practice session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 15 September 2023. (EPA)
Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Scuderia AlphaTauri arrives ahead of the practice session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 15 September 2023. (EPA)
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AlphaTauri Confirm Tsunoda and Ricciardo for 2024

Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Scuderia AlphaTauri arrives ahead of the practice session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 15 September 2023. (EPA)
Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Scuderia AlphaTauri arrives ahead of the practice session of the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 15 September 2023. (EPA)

AlphaTauri confirmed Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda as their 2024 Formula One lineup on Saturday and said current stand-in Liam Lawson would be reserve driver for both of Red Bull's teams.

The announcement at the Japanese Grand Prix ended speculation about which two of the three would be racing next year and left Williams as the only team with a potential vacancy.

New Zealander Lawson, 21, has impressed in three races as Ricciardo's replacement since the 34-year-old Australian broke his hand in a crash last month.

"We are in a privileged position, where we have access to multiple great talents from the Red Bull world," said AlphaTauri's new CEO Peter Bayer in a statement.

"Both Daniel and Yuki have not just shown fantastic race craft but are also great global ambassadors for our team and our sport.

"Liam put himself in the spotlight of F1 in only three races and I am very happy that we can continue to prepare him for his future."

Ricciardo, whose return to the team could still be some way off, said he was "stoked" to be continuing the career comeback he started this season.

The eight times race winner had begun the year taking time off following a difficult period at McLaren.

"Following the progress we have already made and the plans for the future, it's an exciting time for the team. We are building and it is a great feeling...bring on 2024," Ricciardo said in the statement.

Tsunoda, Japan's only current F1 driver and backed by AlphaTauri's engine partner Honda, will be racing for a fourth season after joining in 2021.

"Next year, the technical regulations remain largely unchanged and it was therefore logical to go for continuity in our driver line-up too," said outgoing team principal Franz Tost, who will be handing over to Laurent Mekies.

"I am very pleased with the development that Yuki has shown over the last two and a half years with our team and with Daniel´s great race-winning experience we will have one of the most competitive driver pairings on the grid in 2024."

"Peter and Laurent will have a great duo to start the new season in the right direction."

Lawson, the youngest driver on the grid, is also competing in Japan's Super Formula series this season and is second with one round remaining.

AlphaTauri said the Kiwi driver will attend all F1 races next season, focusing on testing, simulator and development work.


Sabalenka, Swiatek Lead First Set of Qualifiers for WTA Finals

Champion Coco Gauff (L) of the United States and runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus pose for a photo following their Women's Singles Final match of the 2023 US Open on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Champion Coco Gauff (L) of the United States and runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus pose for a photo following their Women's Singles Final match of the 2023 US Open on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Sabalenka, Swiatek Lead First Set of Qualifiers for WTA Finals

Champion Coco Gauff (L) of the United States and runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus pose for a photo following their Women's Singles Final match of the 2023 US Open on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)
Champion Coco Gauff (L) of the United States and runner-up Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus pose for a photo following their Women's Singles Final match of the 2023 US Open on September 09, 2023 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Getty Images/AFP)

World number one Aryna Sabalenka will make her third consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, as the governing body of women's tennis announced its first set of qualifiers for the season finale.

The tournament, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world, will return to Mexico after a gap of one year. The 2021 edition took place in Guadalajara.

Australian Open champion Sabalenka will be joined by four-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, whom she leapfrogged to claim the top ranking for the first time after the US Open earlier this month, the WTA announced on Friday.

The 25-year-old Belarusian is enjoying her best season on the WTA Tour with three titles and three more finals, including one at Flushing Meadows. She will look to improve on her runner-up finish at last year's WTA Finals in Fort Worth.

US Open champion Coco Gauff booked her place in both the singles and doubles competitions. The 19-year-old will partner fellow American Jessica Pegula.

Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina rounded off the initial set of entrants for the tournament as she became the first player from Kazakhstan to qualify in singles.

The WTA Finals run from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5.


West Ham Look to End Liverpool’s Unbeaten Start

 West Ham's manager David Moyes stands on the pitch before the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP)
West Ham's manager David Moyes stands on the pitch before the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP)
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West Ham Look to End Liverpool’s Unbeaten Start

 West Ham's manager David Moyes stands on the pitch before the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP)
West Ham's manager David Moyes stands on the pitch before the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester City at London stadium in London, Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023. (AP)

Liverpool will continue trying to prove they are the challenger most likely to wrest the league title from the defending Premier League champions when they host West Ham United on Sunday.

After finishing fifth last season -- their worst placement in seven campaigns -- the Reds (4-0-1, 13 points) are one of four Premier League teams still unbeaten heading into the weekend. Liverpool sits two points back of the leaders, three-time defending champion Manchester City.

However, it has been anything but a routine return to winning for manager Jurgen Klopp's group, who most recently in the league came from a goal down to win 3-1 at Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

"The things we went through now already in this season, that's usually enough for a whole season if you have done these things after 38 games, and we have it after five -- twice red card, 10 men, turning games and these things," Klopp said.

"And now (we) did it again, played a really bad half and a very good half and turned it around again (against Wolves). Again, it's not what you plan, it's not what you want. But when you have it, you have to go through it, and that's what we did."

Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez each have two league goals for Liverpool. However, the latter pair could be rotated after each played the full 90 minutes on Thursday in the Reds' 3-1 UEFA Europa League victory against LASK in Linz, Austria, where Liverpool again conceded first.

West Ham (3-1-1, 10 points) are playing the second half of a brutal league back-to-back slate after taking a 3-1 home defeat to Manchester City a week ago.

They were able to rebound with a 3-1 home win over TSC of Serbia in their Europa League opener on Thursday, when James Ward-Prowse contributed two more assists.

The former Southampton captain has been among the Hammers' most important contributors to their own strong following start, logging two goals and five assists in all competitions for the East Londoners following his summer move.

"I probably felt that he had the best chance of settling in quickly because of his Premier League experience," manager David Moyes said of Ward-Prowse. "We wanted to see if he could give us goals and assists, and he's certainly done that."

Fellow new arrival Mohammed Kudus scored a second-half goal in Europa League duty and may have performed well enough to earn his first Premier League start. Meanwhile, defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez is expected to return after he didn't play on Thursday while serving a suspension after getting red-carded in his final European game last season for Ajax.


F1 Leader Verstappen Returns to Dominant Form by Claiming Pole Position at Japanese Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, in Monza on September 3, 2023. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, in Monza on September 3, 2023. (AFP)
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F1 Leader Verstappen Returns to Dominant Form by Claiming Pole Position at Japanese Grand Prix

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, in Monza on September 3, 2023. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race at Autodromo Nazionale Monza circuit, in Monza on September 3, 2023. (AFP)

Formula One championship leader Max Verstappen stormed to pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix on Saturday, shrugging off a challenging weekend in Singapore a week ago with a dominant performance in qualifying at the Suzuka Circuit.
Looking to return to the top of the podium after missing out in Singapore, the Red Bull driver clocked a blazing lap of 1 minute, 28.877 seconds to finish .581 seconds ahead of McLaren rookie Oscar Piastri, whose teammate Lando Norris was third.
It was Verstappen’s ninth pole of the season but first since the Dutch Grand Prix a month ago.
“An incredible weekend so far and especially in qualifying when you can really push it to the limit, it felt really, really nice," Verstappen said. “We had a bad weekend in Singapore but from our preparation we felt this was going to be a good track for us.”
Verstappen, who has led every session since arriving in Japan, can’t secure the drivers’ championship in Sunday’s race but could wrap up his third consecutive title on Oct. 8 in Qatar.
The Dutchman saw his record streak of 10 consecutive wins end at Marina Bay — where Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz won — but looks to be back in winning form at the Suzuka circuit where he clinched his second consecutive drivers’ championship last year.
Australian rookie Piastri will start from the front row for the first time in his F1 career.
“It will be cool, there is only one car ahead to overtake so I will try to make it happen,” said the 22-year-old Piastri, who just signed a contract extension with McLaren until the end of 2026.
Norris completed an impressive day for McLaren.
“A great job by Oscar and Max today, but a good day for us in P2 and P3,” Norris said. “It is tricky to put everything together around the lap and the smallest mistake can cost a lot of lap time. It is still a good day and I am happy.”
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc edged the other Red Bull of Sergio Perez to fourth position with teammate Carlos Sainz rounding out the top six positions.
A front-row start is key at Suzuka. The winner has only come from behind the front row once in the past 12 races when Valtteri Bottas won from third in 2019.
Mercedes had to settle for seventh and eighth in qualifying, with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton ahead of George Russell.
AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda of Japan gave the home country fans a thrill when he finished ninth while Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 10.
Logan Sargeant lost control of his car on the final corner on his first run in qualifying, crashing into the wall which brought out a red flag.
Sergeant got out of his car and walked away but the timing couldn’t have been worse as he is fighting to retain his seat at Williams for the 2024 season. He will start last on Sunday.
ALPHA TAURI 2024 LINEUP
Tsunoda and Australian Daniel Ricciardo will form AlphaTauri’s lineup for 2024, the team announced on Saturday.
The 23-year-old Tsunoda, who made his debut for the team in 2021, has struggled this season and has only three points. But the team said it was impressed with his “natural talent” and “constant improvement.”
Ricciardo is currently on the sidelines with a broken hand but the eight-time Grand Prix winner impressed the team when he raced for them in Hungary and Belgium before the summer break.
New Zealander Liam Lawson, who is currently filling in for Ricciardo, will be a reserve driver next year.
“Obviously, I’ll push as much as possible for the rest of the season and beyond to progress as a driver,” Tsunoda said. “I’m grateful for Red Bull and Honda for continuing to support and believe in me, and very happy and thankful to continue the partnership.”


Inexperience Cost Brighton on European Debut, Says De Zerbi 

Football - Europa League - Brighton & Hove Albion Training & Press Conference - American Express Elite Football Performance Center, Lancing, Britain - September 20, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi during training. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Brighton & Hove Albion Training & Press Conference - American Express Elite Football Performance Center, Lancing, Britain - September 20, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi during training. (Reuters)
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Inexperience Cost Brighton on European Debut, Says De Zerbi 

Football - Europa League - Brighton & Hove Albion Training & Press Conference - American Express Elite Football Performance Center, Lancing, Britain - September 20, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi during training. (Reuters)
Football - Europa League - Brighton & Hove Albion Training & Press Conference - American Express Elite Football Performance Center, Lancing, Britain - September 20, 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi during training. (Reuters)

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Roberto De Zerbi said the lack of experience in his young squad cost them a victory at home after the Premier League club were narrowly beaten 3-2 on their European debut by Greek side AEK Athens.

Brighton, who finished sixth in the English top-flight last season and qualified for European football for the first time in the club's history, missed the experience of defender and captain Lewis Dunk through injury in the group Europa League stage fixture.

De Zerbi said he was proud of his team's performance regardless of the result.

"We were unlucky; I think the result is unfair," the Italian said. "I'm really pleased with the performance, we played very well with personality.

"Maybe we don't have the right experience, we have younger players, and we can pay (the price) for this.

"For us it was a really historic day. For our fans, I'm sorry for them. We can decide how we are going to play, but we cannot decide the result."

Brighton face a difficult task in their bid to progress past the group stage, where they will also come up against former champions Ajax Amsterdam and three-time finalists Olympique de Marseille.

Brighton will next host Bournemouth on Sunday in the Premier League, followed by a visit to Chelsea on Wednesday in the EFL Cup. They sit fifth in the league with 12 points from five matches, one point behind fourth-placed Arsenal.


Lawson Is a Talent for the Future, Says Horner 

AlphaTauri's New Zealander driver Liam Lawson arrives before the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 17, 2023. (AFP)
AlphaTauri's New Zealander driver Liam Lawson arrives before the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 17, 2023. (AFP)
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Lawson Is a Talent for the Future, Says Horner 

AlphaTauri's New Zealander driver Liam Lawson arrives before the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 17, 2023. (AFP)
AlphaTauri's New Zealander driver Liam Lawson arrives before the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix night race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit in Singapore on September 17, 2023. (AFP)

New Zealand's Liam Lawson has a future in Formula One after doing an outstanding job as stand-in for the injured Daniel Ricciardo at AlphaTauri, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said on Friday.

The 21-year-old will be starting his fourth race in Japan this weekend and has already produced the Red Bull-owned team's best result of the season so far with ninth place in Singapore last Sunday.

AlphaTauri look likely to continue with Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda and experienced Australian Ricciardo in 2024, although there has yet to be an announcement, leaving Lawson's future unclear.

Apart from AlphaTauri, Williams are the only team with a possible vacancy if they decide not to retain US rookie Logan Sargeant.

"I think he's done an outstanding job," Horner told reporters at Suzuka when asked about Lawson.

"Zandvoort was a bit of an eye-opener for him, but I thought he did well there. A week later in Monza he was unlucky to miss out on a point and then seeing Singapore for the first time and scoring a couple of points, he's a gritty racer we know that.

"He's grabbed this opportunity in Formula One that very seldom drivers get a chance to demonstrate their talent. I think he's done a tremendous job and has put himself firmly on the radar and cemented the feeling that we had about him."

Asked whether Lawson deserved to race in 2024, Horner said Red Bull had the "luxury problem" of three drivers and two places at AlphaTauri.

"He will be a grand prix driver, he already is a grand prix driver, at some stage. Whether he has to wait a little for that or not, I think he's demonstrating that he is a talent for the future," he added.

Williams' other driver Alex Albon, now a team leader on the track and increasingly highly regarded, previously raced for Red Bull with a deal brokered between the teams to keep him on the starting grid.

Ricciardo, 34, has his sights on replacing Mexican Sergio Perez alongside Max Verstappen at the main Red Bull team from 2025 while Tsunoda is backed by Honda, who will become Aston Martin's engine partners in 2026.


Murray Targets Paris Olympics After Tokyo Disappointment 

Andy Murray of Britain hits a return against Mo Yecong of China during their men's singles first round match at the Zhuhai Championships tennis tournament in Zhuhai, in China's southern Guangdong province on September 21, 2023. (AFP)
Andy Murray of Britain hits a return against Mo Yecong of China during their men's singles first round match at the Zhuhai Championships tennis tournament in Zhuhai, in China's southern Guangdong province on September 21, 2023. (AFP)
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Murray Targets Paris Olympics After Tokyo Disappointment 

Andy Murray of Britain hits a return against Mo Yecong of China during their men's singles first round match at the Zhuhai Championships tennis tournament in Zhuhai, in China's southern Guangdong province on September 21, 2023. (AFP)
Andy Murray of Britain hits a return against Mo Yecong of China during their men's singles first round match at the Zhuhai Championships tennis tournament in Zhuhai, in China's southern Guangdong province on September 21, 2023. (AFP)

Briton Andy Murray said he hopes to play in his fifth and likely final Olympic Games in Paris next year, after the two-times gold medalist endured disappointment in Tokyo due to injury.

The 36-year-old Scot claimed his first gold at the London Games in 2012 and backed it up with another at Rio 2016, but he pulled out of the singles competition in Tokyo two years ago with a thigh strain.

Murray continued to compete in the doubles tournament with Joe Salisbury in Japan, where the pair reached the quarter-finals.

"I'd love to play another Olympics. I've had thrilling experiences throughout my career at the Olympics. I've loved every single one I've been involved in," Murray said at the Zhuhai Championships.

"I was really disappointed last time. I'd gotten an injury before the tournament and I promised my partner I'd prioritize the doubles over singles if there was a problem. And we were very close to getting a medal in the doubles.

"We were up a set and 4-3, serving with game points in the quarter-finals and we had a really good chance and didn't quite do it. I'd love another opportunity to play next year in Paris. It would be my fifth Olympics and most likely the last one."

Three-times Grand Slam champion and former world number one Murray has fought his way up the world rankings since having hip resurfacing surgery in 2019 and is currently 41st.

Last week, he helped guide Britain into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup where they will take on Serbia in November.


South America’s 2030 World Cup Soccer Bid Seeks to Rise Above Political Tensions in the Region 

18 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Lautaro Martinez celebrate with the World Cup trophy after Argentina's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final soccer match against France at the Lusail Stadium. (dpa)
18 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Lautaro Martinez celebrate with the World Cup trophy after Argentina's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final soccer match against France at the Lusail Stadium. (dpa)
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South America’s 2030 World Cup Soccer Bid Seeks to Rise Above Political Tensions in the Region 

18 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Lautaro Martinez celebrate with the World Cup trophy after Argentina's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final soccer match against France at the Lusail Stadium. (dpa)
18 December 2022, Qatar, Lusail: Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Lautaro Martinez celebrate with the World Cup trophy after Argentina's victory in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final soccer match against France at the Lusail Stadium. (dpa)

The bid by four South American countries to host soccer's 2030 World Cup will stay intact until next year regardless of political tensions in the region, a top team bid official says.

Michael Boys, the executive secretary of the bid of Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay and Chile, said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that he and his team will approach only politicians who are already in office to discuss plans to host the centennial World Cup in seven years.

The South American proposal will be unveiled to FIFA in October in a process that was delayed so soccer’s governing body could better access data from its latest World Cup in Qatar last year.

The Juntos bid (Together in Spanish) is expected to face a serious challenge from one by Spain, Portugal and Morocco, which could also symbolically add war-torn Ukraine to the group. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, a decision that indicated FIFA is keen on joint bids.

“This is a 12-year-old project,” Boys said. “Administrations of different political colors at every level were in charge, both in national and in city hall levels. Each country has its own internal, external difficulties. Wherever there’s a threat, there is also an opportunity to tackle the problems in the region directly.”

Argentina, which is expected to host many matches of the 2030 World Cup if the joint bid is successful, has presidential elections this year that could result in Javier Milei, a far-right politician, becoming president.

Milei, who is an outspoken admirer of former US president Donald Trump, has repeatedly said he will trim public expenses and step away from leftist leaders worldwide, including Chile’s President Gabriel Boric.

Boric himself has faced protests in recent years. Some of the first outdoor marketing for the South American bid will appear during the Pan-American Games in Santiago, which begin on Oct. 20.

Paraguay has also seen street demonstrations challenging the election that elevated conservative Santiago Peña to the presidency in April.

Uruguay, which hosted and won the 1930 final at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo in the inaugural World Cup, is the only country in the South American bid in which political tensions have not risen dramatically.

Boys said the organizers so far have found 47 potential venues for the World Cup in the four countries. Many of those would be able to host events like the FIFA Congress and other meetings, but no matches.

He said he and his team are working to trim that list so a final technical proposal can be presented. He believes the best bid will definitely win, although the history of World Cup hosting selection shows politics playing a big role.

“(The process) has changed a lot. Before it was 20% technical and 80% political. Now it is 80% technical and 20% political,” Boys said. “That doesn’t mean politics doesn’t play a role. But we are working heavily in the technical part, (trying to) fulfill all the high demands that FIFA sets to host an event of these characteristics.”


Verstappen Hopes to End His Formula 1 ‘Losing’ Streak in Japan GP 

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen comes into pit lane during the first practice session for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, Mie prefecture on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen comes into pit lane during the first practice session for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, Mie prefecture on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
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Verstappen Hopes to End His Formula 1 ‘Losing’ Streak in Japan GP 

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen comes into pit lane during the first practice session for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, Mie prefecture on September 22, 2023. (AFP)
Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen comes into pit lane during the first practice session for the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka circuit, Mie prefecture on September 22, 2023. (AFP)

After one loss in a row, runaway Formula One leader Max Verstappen is confident he can get back to his winning ways at this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The Red Bull driver saw his record streak of 10 consecutive wins end in Singapore last weekend when he finished fifth. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz won at Marina Bay, knocking Red Bull off the podium for the first time this year.

Unlike the street circuit in Singapore, Suzuka is a track far more suited to Verstappen’s car. The Dutchman wrapped up his second consecutive championship in Japan last year.

“Singapore is so different to what we will experience here in terms of the way you set up the car, so I’m also not worried that a weekend like that will upset our weekend here,” Verstappen said.

Despite his worst result since last November, Verstappen increased his championship lead to 151 points over Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, who finished eighth in Singapore.

With seven races remaining, including three sprints, there are 206 points on offer, meaning Verstappen cannot close out the title in Japan this weekend. The earliest he can seal his third championship is in Qatar on Oct. 8.

While Verstappen can’t wrap up the drivers’ championship, Red Bull has more than twice as many points as the second-place team in the constructors’ championship and can win the title this weekend if the team outscores Mercedes by at least one point.

Last year, Verstappen became only the 13th driver in history to win the drivers’ championship in consecutive years when he won the Japanese GP. He won the rain-shortened race and secured the title when Charles Leclerc was given a penalty for cutting a chicane on the final lap, dropping the Ferrari driver down to third.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, third in Singapore and the drivers’ standings, has a history of success in Japan. He is a five-time winner of the Japanese GP, most recently in 2018.

But Hamilton is fully aware how tough Red Bull will be at Suzuka this weekend.

“I would think that if they’re not 30 seconds ahead like they have done in the past then something’s up,” he said. “But no, I think as Checo (Sergio Perez) said, it was obviously a difficult weekend their last one, but their car should be phenomenal here.”

Tsunoda battling for seat

Formula One’s only Japanese driver arrived in his homeland with his future for the 2024 season uncertain.

Yuki Tsunoda has had a difficult time in his last two races. He failed to start the Italian Grand Prix because of mechanical issues and then didn’t complete a racing lap in Singapore following contact with Perez.

“Monza was things I really couldn’t control,” Tsunoda said ahead of Friday’s practice. “Singapore, obviously there was room to improve for myself, but it just didn’t work out in the end. Things happened that I cannot really control so now, I’ll just re-set and think positive.”

He has only three points this season and AlphaTauri is last in the constructors’ standings with only five points.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo replaced Nyck de Vries at Red Bull’s junior team in July. The eight-time Grand Prix winner is considered a lock to have one of the two seats at AlphaTauri for the 2024 season.

Ricciardo made his return at the Hungarian Grand Prix but broke a bone in his hand at the Dutch GP at Zandvoort. He was in Singapore with the team in a supporting role when New Zealander Liam Lawson stepped in for the third race in a row.

Heading into the summer break, Tsunoda was a favorite to retain his seat for a fourth campaign but when Ricciardo crashed at Zandvoort and was replaced by Lawson, things changed.

Lawson has gone on to finish 13th and 11th before scoring points in Singapore.

Red Bull and AlphaTauri are mulling their options knowing Tsunoda is backed by Honda, which works with both Red Bull teams on their power unit until the end of 2025.

“It’s quite scary now talking about the drivers’ lineup,” Tsunoda said. “I’m in the Red Bull family so I want to stay part of Red Bull. My loyalty lies with Honda and Red Bull. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.”

Piastri extends with McLaren

Australian driver Oscar Piastri has signed a contract with McLaren until the end of 2026. Piastri already had a deal to race with the British team in 2024 but his performances have been so strong this year, McLaren wanted to firm up his long-term future.

The 22-year-old claimed his first top-three finish in F1 when he secured second in the sprint in Belgium and has scored points on six occasions.

In Singapore, he fought back from 17th to finish seventh. McLaren is fifth in the constructors’ standings with 139 points.

“I am thrilled to be extending my partnership with McLaren for many years,” Piastri said. “I want to be fighting it out at the front of the grid with this team.”

McLaren chief executive Zak Brown added: “Oscar is already proving what he can do out on track and has been instrumental in the turnaround we’ve had so far this season.”