West Ham Goalkeeper Alert, Conscious after Being Taken Off on Stretcher

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
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West Ham Goalkeeper Alert, Conscious after Being Taken Off on Stretcher

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska
Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v West Ham United - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - December 26, 2024 West Ham United's Lukasz Fabianski receives medical attention after sustaining an injury REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska

West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski is “alert” and conscious after being taken off the field on a stretcher during the team's 1-0 win at Southampton in the Premier League on Thursday, manager Julen Lopetegui said.
The game was delayed for around eight minutes as Fabianski received treatment on the field at St. Mary's Stadium. The 39-year-old Polish goalkeeper was hurt in a collision from a corner and was replaced by Alphonse Areola in the 36th minute, The Associated Press reported.
Southampton 'keeper Aaron Ramsdale had run the length of the field to check on Fabianski amid worrying scenes. Fabianski was then greeted by applause as he was taken off with an oxygen mask on, but did not need to go to the hospital.
“He had one big knock around the head, around the neck and he was not very sure about his actions. Fortunately the news is he is talking, he is alert, he is conscious,” Lopetegui said.
“I talk with him. The doctors say that he feels better and well. I am positive with him. He showed he more or less recovered his sense. I am not afraid. We feared but now he is better and it is a positive feeling because we were very worried.”
West Ham, which also saw defender Max Kilman go off in the first half, scored through Jarrod Bowen in the 59th.



Renard Stresses Importance of Saudi Arabia’s Match against Iraq in Gulf Cup

Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)
Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)
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Renard Stresses Importance of Saudi Arabia’s Match against Iraq in Gulf Cup

Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)
Renard speaks at the press conference on Friday. (SPA)

Saudi national football team coach Hervé Renard underlined on Friday the importance of his team's upcoming "challenging and crucial" match against Iraq in the Gulf Cup currently underway in Kuwait.

Winning the match is essential to advancing to the semifinals, he told a press conference.

The teams will clash on Saturday afternoon.

"The Saudi fans consistently support the national team. Although we did not begin the tournament at our usual level, we will strive to bring the Saudi national team to its normal situation," he vowed.

"I concentrate solely on football, analyzing matches and players' performances daily to achieve our objectives," he added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi national team coach Jesus Casas said the match against Saudi Arabia is a chance to evaluate the team's blend of youth and experience.

He emphasized the importance of achieving proper harmony for the team to deliver the best result.

"The last match was disappointing, and all the teams in the tournament are competitive. We do not make excuses; instead, we will concentrate on putting forth a solid performance against the Saudi national team," Casas said.