عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Sports

Croatia Prepared for Cool Conditions at ‘Fiery’ World Cup, Says Kramaric

Croatia's forward Andrej Kramaric celebrates his goal during a friendly football match between Saudi Arabia and Croatia, in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on November 16, 2022. (AFP)
Croatia's forward Andrej Kramaric celebrates his goal during a friendly football match between Saudi Arabia and Croatia, in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on November 16, 2022. (AFP)
TT
TT

Croatia Prepared for Cool Conditions at ‘Fiery’ World Cup, Says Kramaric

Croatia's forward Andrej Kramaric celebrates his goal during a friendly football match between Saudi Arabia and Croatia, in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on November 16, 2022. (AFP)
Croatia's forward Andrej Kramaric celebrates his goal during a friendly football match between Saudi Arabia and Croatia, in the Saudi capital Riyadh, on November 16, 2022. (AFP)

Croatia's Andrej Kramaric said he was pleasantly surprised by the conditions in Qatar and welcomed the prospect of playing the World Cup in winter as players would arrive for the tournament at their peak.

Croatia play their Group F opener against Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium on Wednesday but are aware that the 1 pm local time kickoff under the blazing sun and searing heat will not be a problem with air conditioning keeping the arena cool.

"The conditions here have been better than I expected, the conditions are a little bit windy. And considering the air conditioning in the stadiums, it will even get cold during the games," Kramaric said on Monday.

"Regarding the tournament's timing, a winter World Cup, it's great actually, we're not tired and it's not the end of the season.

"So I think we will see a burst of energy from a physical standpoint during this World Cup, which I think is going to be fiery!"

His team mate Borna Sosa echoed his sentiments about a mid-season World Cup being ideal for players except for those with injuries who did not have enough time to recover.

"For most players it's better to play right now," the VfB Stuttgart wing back said.

"The only downside I see is that minor injuries won't give you time to prepare for the World Cup in time."

Sosa is playing in his first World Cup but there was a time last year when he nearly made the switch to play for Germany. However, he was deemed ineligible and the 24-year-old was forced to issue an apology.

"For me my emotions for Croatia have always been very high since I was playing for the Under-17 teams at the World Cup and Euros," Sosa said.

"It's a special tournament with a lot of emotion, it's a dream come true to play for the national team."

Although Croatia reached the 2018 final, where they lost to France, they are far behind favorites Brazil and Argentina to lift the trophy according to betting odds.

Kramaric admitted he would like Argentina's Lionel Messi to finish his international career by adding a World Cup trophy to his glittering cabinet, but he expects Brazil to win a record-extending sixth title.

"I think 95% of players would agree Messi is the greatest player to ever play this game, I don't think we'll see a player like Messi again," Kramaric said.

"So I'm cheering in that regard for Argentina, but I think Brazil will win."

Most Viewed

 
 
Sports

South Korea Coach Reportedly Quits after Early World Cup Exit

South Korean men's national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo (L) and midfielder Hwang In-beom attend a press conference at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, 17 June 2026, a day ahead of their second Group A match. EPA/YONHAP
South Korean men's national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo (L) and midfielder Hwang In-beom attend a press conference at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, 17 June 2026, a day ahead of their second Group A match. EPA/YONHAP
TT
TT

South Korea Coach Reportedly Quits after Early World Cup Exit

South Korean men's national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo (L) and midfielder Hwang In-beom attend a press conference at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, 17 June 2026, a day ahead of their second Group A match. EPA/YONHAP
South Korean men's national football team head coach Hong Myung-bo (L) and midfielder Hwang In-beom attend a press conference at Estadio Guadalajara in Zapopan, Mexico, 17 June 2026, a day ahead of their second Group A match. EPA/YONHAP

Much-maligned South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigned on Sunday, reports said, a day after his side's group-stage exit from the World Cup.

The 57-year-old former captain, in his second stint as coach, oversaw an early World Cup exit for the second time to go with the failure in 2014.

South Korea were expected to get out of a Group A that included co-hosts Mexico plus South Africa and the Czech Republic.

But they lost 1-0 to South Africa and Mexico, and finished on three points, their only success a 2-1 win over the Czechs.

It left them hoping to squeeze into the knockout rounds as one of the eight best third-placed finishers.

That hope was extinguished on Saturday by results elsewhere, with Hong taking responsibility on Sunday and quitting, Yonhap News Agency said.

Sports

Japan's Ogura Wins Maiden MotoGP as Bezzecchi Crashes in Assen

Ai Ogura of Japan on his Aprilia celebrates winning the MotoGP race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Netherlands at TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands, 28 June 2026. EPA/VINCENT JANNINK
Ai Ogura of Japan on his Aprilia celebrates winning the MotoGP race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Netherlands at TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands, 28 June 2026. EPA/VINCENT JANNINK
TT
TT

Japan's Ogura Wins Maiden MotoGP as Bezzecchi Crashes in Assen

Ai Ogura of Japan on his Aprilia celebrates winning the MotoGP race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Netherlands at TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands, 28 June 2026. EPA/VINCENT JANNINK
Ai Ogura of Japan on his Aprilia celebrates winning the MotoGP race of the Motorcycling Grand Prix of the Netherlands at TT Circuit in Assen, the Netherlands, 28 June 2026. EPA/VINCENT JANNINK

Japanese rider Ai Ogura claimed his maiden MotoGP win as Aprilia achieved another 1-2-3 finish but Marco Bezzecchi crashed and surrendered the overall championship lead to Jorge Martin in Sunday's motorcycling Dutch Grand Prix.

At the heart of MotoGP thanks to their riders and manufacturers, Japan had been waiting nearly 22 years for a victory in the premier class.

And it was ultimately Ogura, the 2024 Moto2 world champion, who ended that interminable wait with a first Japanese win since Makoto Tamada in 2004.

The 25-year-old, who had already shown great promise ahead of his 2025 debut in the elite class, has confirmed his talent this year.

Ogura delivered a masterful display in the Dutch heat, despite being hampered by a technical issue early in the race.

Initially trailing and holding third place for much of the race, he once again produced a blistering finish.

Ogura finished over two seconds ahead of his Trackhouse teammate Raul Fernandez with another Spaniard Martin in third a further 1.5sec back on a winding and undulating track.

"It's fantastic, I don't have much to say but I'm really very happy. Many thanks to my team," AFP quoted Ogura as saying.

Fernandez, winner of Saturday's sprint, spent two-thirds of the race behind Martin before managing to overtake him only for Ogura, who had been biding his time, to pass his teammate shortly after and pull away for a scorching victory.

Ogura took pole last week in the Czech Republic but came second.

He also finished third at Le Mans in France in May to become the first Japanese rider to finish on a MotoGP podium since Katsuyuki Nakasuga at the Valencia Grand Prix in 2012.

In the championship, Martin takes the lead seven points ahead of Bezzecchi with Italian Fabio Di Giannantonio 16 behind the leader.

Bezzecchi crashed heavily on lap three at over 200kph.

The Italian Aprilia rider was fortunate to separate from his bike early in the fall and was transferred to hospital, conscious but suffering "intense pain.”

Ogura moved up to fourth position, 25 points behind the leader, while Marc Marquez, the reigning world champion, is 40 points behind his compatriot in fifth.

"It's incredible to lead the championship; the important thing for me is that I've made good progress with this bike and am increasingly adapting my riding style to this Aprilia," said Martin.

This tenth round of the season at Assen's "Cathedral of Speed" confirmed Aprilia's superiority over Ducati, a manufacturer that had dominated MotoGP for over five years.

Ducati's Marquez, who had won the previous two Grands Prix just a month after undergoing double surgery on his right shoulder and foot, was unable to match the Aprilias in the Netherlands.

Penalized one position for exceeding track limits, the 33-year-old Catalan finished a disappointing seventh and now trails Martin by 40 points.

However, the final round before the summer break, taking place in two weeks at his favorite circuit, the Sachsenring in Germany, where he has won nine times in MotoGP, could allow the seven-time world champion to narrow that gap.

Sports

Russell Holds Off Verstappen to Win Austrian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 28, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates on the podium after winning the Austrian Grand Prix REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 28, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates on the podium after winning the Austrian Grand Prix REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
TT
TT

Russell Holds Off Verstappen to Win Austrian Grand Prix

Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 28, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates on the podium after winning the Austrian Grand Prix REUTERS/Lisa Leutner
Formula One F1 - Austrian Grand Prix - Red Bull Ring, Spielberg, Austria - June 28, 2026 Mercedes' George Russell celebrates on the podium after winning the Austrian Grand Prix REUTERS/Lisa Leutner

George Russell returned to winning ways after a series of disappointments on Sunday when he claimed a measured victory for Mercedes ahead of Red Bull's four-time champion Max Verstappen in a thrilling Austrian Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old Briton, the pre-season favorite for the drivers' title and winner of the opening race, secured his second win of the year and the seventh of his career in a close race, declared to be a 'heat hazard' event, at the Red Bull Ring circuit.

Russell came home 1.611 seconds ahead of a charging Verstappen who in turn resisted championship leader Kimi Antonelli, in the second Mercedes, to finish 0.375 seconds in front of him as they crossed the line.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri was fourth, 20 seconds adrift, ahead of seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull and world champion Lando Norris in the second McLaren.

Charles Leclerc was eighth in the second Ferrari ahead of the two Red Bulls of Liam Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad.

"It's beautiful to be back on the top step," said Russell.

"It's been a while so I'm definitely going to enjoy this one tonight. Max and Red Bull were incredibly quick this weekend, so kudos to them. I had to push every single lap -- and I'm looking forward to a drink now."

Russell's win trimmed Antonelli's advantage ahead of him in the title race by 10 points to 40, the Italian teenager having reeled off five straight wins to establish a clear lead earlier in the season.

Verstappen, who started fifth, made light of the temperatures of 37C (air) and 62C (track). He said: "It was a very good race for us. The first laps were fun and then I managed the tires."

Antonelli said: "I was a bit too excited in the first laps and I didn't drive well, but after changing tyres, I re-set and the pace was strong. It's a shame I joined the party a bit too late."

On an afternoon of searing heat in the Styrian Alps, Russell made a clean start from his 11th career pole to lead while, behind him, Hamilton passed Leclerc for second and Antonelli, in pure exuberance, ran off twice on the opening lap.

He passed Leclerc on lap two, but had to give the place back, offering Verstappen a chance to sweep through for third.

By this stage, both Cadillacs had retired with overheating and Verstappen closed on Hamilton before diving past him on lap 11, prompting a wheel-to-wheel battle as the Briton hung on to second before pitting.

He returned on hards in 11th, with instructions to push as Russell pulled 5.4 seconds clear of Verstappen and Antonelli rose to third.

Verstappen pitted on lap 19, returning two seconds behind Hamilton before Russell came in and gave Antonelli the lead on lap 20, as Verstappen snatched third with a bruising move on Hamilton.

Antonelli then pitted on lap 24, seconds before a brief Virtual Safety Car when Carlos Sainz stopped on the main straight. He rejoined fifth while Hamilton pitted again for used softs for another spell of spicy racing.

All this left Russell leading ahead of Verstappen and Antonelli at half-distance with Hamilton chasing Piastri for fourth before both pitted on lap 43 followed by Russell.

Verstappen delighted his 'orange army' in the grandstands, with Antonelli 4.3 adrift and Russell third, but more stops loomed as a tactical race of shifting strategies and degrading tires took shape.

The Dutchman pitted again on lap 50, handing the lead to Antonelli who in turn pitted once more to give the initiative to Russell. With 21 laps to complete, Russell resisted as Verstappen chased him home.