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De Bruyne, Belgium Need 2nd Chance to Impress at World Cup 

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
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De Bruyne, Belgium Need 2nd Chance to Impress at World Cup 

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)
Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne arrives at a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 25, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (AFP)

Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne knew he didn't play well in his team's opening World Cup game. He said as much when he accepted the man of the match award. 

"I don’t know why I got the trophy," De Bruyne said. "Maybe it’s because of my name." 

With De Bruyne looking to improve after the unimpressive 1-0 win over Canada, Belgium has a second chance against Morocco on Sunday to show why it is the No. 2-ranked team in the world behind Brazil. 

This could also be the last World Cup chance for many on the highly-rated Belgian squad, as the "golden generation" has often been reminded in the runup to Qatar. The spine of the team — De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois — are all in their 30s. 

Coach Roberto Martinez, who said the performance against Canada was one of Belgium's worst since he's been in charge, might be tempted to bring in fresh faces against Morocco. 

Martinez would dearly love to bring back powerful striker Romelu Lukaku, who missed the Canada opener with a left thigh injury and is doubtful for the entire group stage. Some Belgian media has been reporting that Belgium's record goal-scorer could make an earlier-than-expected return against the Moroccans at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. 

Morocco will be less fazed at the prospect of trying to contain De Bruyne having already succeeded at subduing another of the world's best midfielders in Luka Modric. 

A 0-0 draw with 2018 World Cup finalist Croatia in their first Group F game was a promising start to the World Cup for Morocco and especially for coach Walid Regragui, who had less than three months to prepare his team having only been hired at the end of August. 

He had coached Morocco in just three friendly games before entering the World Cup. Compare that to Zlatko Dalic's five years in charge of Croatia. Or Martinez's six years with Belgium. 

The World Cup schedule gave Morocco a daunting start with 2018 runners-up Modric and Croatia followed by De Bruyne and Belgium, who finished third in that last World Cup. But the point against Croatia provided a real confidence-booster. 

"Arriving in these conditions is not easy, but I accepted the challenge," Regragui said. And the Croatia result "made us believe," he added. 

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Russell Fends Off Verstappen to Win in Baku, Antonelli 5th

26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
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Russell Fends Off Verstappen to Win in Baku, Antonelli 5th

26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
26 September 2026, Azerbaijan, Baku: British formula One driver George Russell of team Mercedes celebrates on the podium after winning the Azerbaijan Formula One Grand Prix at Baku City Circuit. Photo: James Gasperotti/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

George Russell closed the gap to championship-leading Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli at the top of the Formula One standings after fending off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to complete a lights-to-flag win in Saturday’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the Italian fifth.

Russell took the flag just 0.196 seconds ahead of the flying Dutchman, who had started eighth but crossed the line nearly side-by-side with his Mercedes rival, after two safety car phases turned a Saturday cruise into a fight for survival for the Briton.

Frenchman Isack Hadjar completed a double podium for Red Bull, repaying the team’s decision to give him a contract extension with third on his return to racing action.

“It’s amazing to be back on the top step of the podium,” said Russell, after closing the gap to Antonelli from 81 to 66 points in the overall standings with 15 races completed.

“Every ⁠race since the (summer) ⁠break I have gone from strength to strength and I feel more like myself again.”

Antonelli had started 16th after a rare error saw him crash out of Friday’s qualifying.

His drive on Saturday was less like his Monza charge – where he went from 19th to first – and more a slow-burn recovery.

Saturday’s win was the eighth of Russell’s career, his third of the season and first since the Austrian Grand Prix in June, Reuters reported.

It capped a dominant weekend for the Briton and had seemed a mere formality, with the 28-year-old leading off the line and opening up a ⁠comfortable lead ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, Verstappen and Hadjar.

But all that changed on the 31st of the race’s 51 laps when a crash for Williams racer Alex Albon brought out the safety car.

Russell’s 11-second lead evaporated as the safety car bunched up the field.

Verstappen snatched second from Piastri into the first corner as the action resumed, with Russell unchallenged.

But the race was neutralised almost instantly by another safety car when Argentine Franco Colapinto locked up and ploughed into Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, who in turn collected McLaren’s reigning champion Lando Norris.

Colapinto, who was given a 10-second time penalty, continued but the contact put both Gasly and Norris out of the race.

The fuming Briton called for the 23-year-old Colapinto to be banned.

Russell had Verstappen right on his tail at the second restart.

The Mercedes driver kept the lead but was unable to shake off the chasing Red Bull, with the pair trading fastest laps.

It ⁠looked like the Dutchman, brushing ⁠the barriers as he hunted down his first win of the season, might just snatch victory on the final dash to the line but the Briton doggedly clung on.

“We had a good race, a tricky first stint on the mediums (tires) but we got a good restart,” said Verstappen.

“Then the final lap George lost boost and I got close, but it was not enough.”

Behind them, Hadjar inherited third when Piastri locked up and took to the run-off area.

The Australian, who had started third, dropped to 14th compounding a miserable day for McLaren.

“It has been a very long six weeks since I injured myself,” said Hadjar, who missed the last three races with a wrist injury.

“It was the right time to come back, I felt strong, I took it step by step to gain the confidence,” added the 21-year-old who was also on the podium in Monaco.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari. His seven-times world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton was sixth.

Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad was seventh while Esteban Ocon took eighth ahead of teammate Oliver Bearman in a double points finish for Haas.

Carlos Sainz rounded out the top 10 for Williams.

Sports

Ireland Players Vote to Play Israel Tie despite Gaza Unease

Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo
Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo
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Ireland Players Vote to Play Israel Tie despite Gaza Unease

Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo
Ireland's Seamus Coleman walks as tennis balls are thrown on to the pitch during the international friendly soccer match between Ireland and Qatar in Dublin, Ireland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison) License this photo

Players from Ireland's football team voted on Saturday to fulfil a UEFA Nations League tie with Israel despite player unease over the war in Gaza.

"We carried out a vote amongst the squad to establish their sentiment on fulfilling the (Israel) fixtures," Football Association of Ireland head David Courell told reporters in Debrecen, Hungary, where the game will take place on Sunday.

"It was a significant majority that was returned with the intention to continue," said Courell, AFP reported.

"Based on that, the association took the decision on behalf of Irish football that this fixture would continue as we have always intended to fulfil the fixtures," he said.

Ireland are scheduled to play two Nations League fixtures against Israel, with the first -- officially Israel's home fixture - to be played at the neutral venue in Hungary.

Ireland's designated home match on October 4 was moved from Dublin's Aviva Stadium to Backa Topola, Serbia, following concerns over disruption and security.

Ireland has long been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, with sympathy often linked to the country's own history of British rule.

Dublin formally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 alongside Spain and Norway, and has repeatedly criticised Israel over the Gaza conflict.

Israel strongly rejects allegations its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide.

Since Ireland were drawn in the same Nations League group as Israel prominent Irish figures including sportspeople, as well as fan groups and pro-Palestinian campaigners have protested against the ties going ahead.

Ireland's Icelandic manager Heimir Hallgrimsson told the press conference that one unnamed player has decided to withdraw from the squad for the Israel game.

The player's decision triggered the delay of a scheduled press conference on Saturday, and a decision to hold the vote amongst the squad about whether to fulfil the fixture or not.

"Nobody is comfortable playing these games for many reasons," said Hallgrimsson.

"We are trying to tackle it in the best way we can at the moment," he said.

Ireland players will not fulfil any media duties tomorrow, or against Austria in Dublin on October 1st, or around the game against Israel in Serbia three days later, said Courell.

The players will wear black armbands "for all lives lost in the conflict" during Sunday's match with profits from the Austria game to be donated to charity, while the players will also donate their match fees, he said.

There will be no handshakes or a pennant exchange with Israeli players before kick-off, he added.

Sunday's match comes days after national broadcaster RTE confirmed Ireland would again boycott the Eurovision Song Contest next year because of Israel's participation.

In a rare move for a state broadcaster RTE said earlier it will show the game, but without Irish commentary or pundits.

 

 

 

 

Sports

Man City Confident they Can Prove 'Innocence' over Charges, Says Chairman

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
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Man City Confident they Can Prove 'Innocence' over Charges, Says Chairman

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo
Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak is seen before a match. Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - September 18, 2024. Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith/File Photo

Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Saturday that the club were confident they could prove their innocence after they were reportedly found guilty of more than 100 charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial rules.

News of the decisions reached by an independent tribunal was reported on Friday but no official announcement has been made by the Premier League and there is no firm indication of any potential punishment, according to AFP.

"The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the club's innocence is just as strong as when this began," he said in an open letter to City fans on the club's website.

"There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position.

"But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment."

"While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed," he said.

"We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our club. We will not give them that opportunity."