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Real Madrid Captain Carvajal Sidelined with Calf Injury

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, right, grimaces in pain after being tackled down during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Metropolitano stadium, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, right, grimaces in pain after being tackled down during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Metropolitano stadium, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
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Real Madrid Captain Carvajal Sidelined with Calf Injury

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, right, grimaces in pain after being tackled down during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Metropolitano stadium, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal, right, grimaces in pain after being tackled down during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid at Metropolitano stadium, in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has suffered a calf injury, the club said on Sunday, with Spanish media reporting that the defender will be out for at least four weeks.

He has played in seven of Real's eight games in all competitions this season but had to come off after an hour in Saturday's 5-2 derby loss at Atletico Madrid in LaLiga, Reuters reported.

The 33-year-old had returned to action in July for the Club World Cup semi-finals after nine months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

"After the tests carried out today on our player Carvajal by the Real Madrid Medical Services, he has been diagnosed with an injury to the soleus muscle of his right leg," Real said in a statement.

The club did say how long he would be out but newspaper Marca said Carvajal will be sidelined for around a month, meaning he is likely to miss Barcelona's visit on October 26.

Fellow right back Trent Alexander-Arnold and center back Antonio Ruediger are also injured, leaving manager Xabi Alonso short of options in defense.

Real next travel to Kazakhstan to take on Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Tuesday.

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Sports

Cunha Scores Twice as Brazil Win 3-0 and Eliminate Haiti at World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City
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Cunha Scores Twice as Brazil Win 3-0 and Eliminate Haiti at World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City

Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 at the World Cup as Matheus Cunha struck twice and Vinicius Jr added another first-half goal to send the five-times champions top of Group C on four points and eliminate their opponents on Friday.

Morocco are level on points with the Brazilians after their earlier 1-0 win over Scotland, who have three, while Haiti are bottom with none and became the first side out of contention for the knockout stage at the tournament, Reuters reported.

Brazil took control in the 23rd minute when Vinicius's shot was parried by Johny Placide and Hannes Delcroix's attempted clearance deflected off Cunha and over the line. Cunha doubled the lead in the 36th, racing clear to fire into the top corner after a fine through ball from Vinicius.

Vinicius made it 3-0 in first-half added time, running on to Lucas Paqueta's long pass and finishing calmly. Brazil eased off after the break, with goalkeeper Alisson rarely troubled as Carlo Ancelotti's side eased to victory.

Sports

Portugal Tuning Out ‘Noise’ as Ronaldo Criticism Mounts at World Cup, Says Dias

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)
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Portugal Tuning Out ‘Noise’ as Ronaldo Criticism Mounts at World Cup, Says Dias

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)

The Portugal squad are shutting out criticism of the team and captain Cristiano Ronaldo following an underwhelming draw in their World Cup opener against Democratic Republic of Congo, defender Ruben Dias said on Friday.

Congo, playing in their first World Cup for 52 years, frustrated Portugal in a 1-1 draw that left the European side with just one shot on target despite completing 740 passes, prompting a barrage of criticism.

Ronaldo, in particular, found himself in the firing line as ‌the 41-year-old's goal ‌drought at major tournaments extended to 10 games stretching ‌back ⁠to the 2022 ⁠World Cup, despite being the all-time top scorer.

"The criticism is not significant for us, it's noise and part of the competition ... It's all noise," Dias told reporters at Portugal's training camp.

"It always happens if you have a match that doesn't go well. We're closing ourselves off from unnecessary criticism."

The Portugal captain was dealt a sharp critique by former France striker Thierry Henry, who ⁠suggested Ronaldo was playing for personal glory rather than ‌team success.

"One thing that's important: the team ‌needs to score, not you need to score," Henry said in his analysis ‌on Fox, adding that Ronaldo was getting in the way of team-mates ‌in a better position to score.

RONALDO 'USED TO MEDIA PRESSURE'

But Dias refused to single out Ronaldo, who is competing in his sixth World Cup.

"Cristiano, of course, is used to dealing with the media pressure we usually face in the club, the national ‌team, world tournaments, European competitions," Dias said.

"In this sort of competition, it will never be perfect ... This is ⁠a competition ⁠you can win only if you play well game after game," he added.

READY FOR UZBEKISTAN CLASH

Dias, who was benched for the opener while recovering from injury, declared himself ready to play for Tuesday's second group match against Uzbekistan.

Having faced Congo's defensive back five, Portugal could encounter a similar strategy from Uzbekistan, and Dias said it was a tactic he had seen repeatedly while playing for Manchester City.

"I come from playing most of my club matches against teams that use a back five, so I have a very clear idea about it," Dias said.

"Respecting positional discipline becomes decisive in matches like these.

"I believe we have players with enough quality that, by respecting our positions and making the right decisions, we can make the difference."

Sports

Arsenal Will Start Premier League Title Defense Against Coventry

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
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Arsenal Will Start Premier League Title Defense Against Coventry

Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Arsenal's manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the Champions League final soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)

Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title defense against promoted Coventry on August 21.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026-27 campaign were released on Friday, with the Gunners' home game against Frank Lampard's Coventry among the highlights in the opening round of matches.

Coventry are back in the top-flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.

Andoni Iraola's first Premier League game as Liverpool manager will be at Newcastle on August 23.

Former Bournemouth boss Iraola's Anfield debut is set for the weekend of August 29 against Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City start life after Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on August 23.

City are expected to appoint former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso begins his reign with a west London derby at Fulham on August 24, AFP reported.

Hull City, who won promotion via the Championship play-offs, begin their first Premier League season since 2017 with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22.

Ipswich, promoted in second place in the Championship, host Sunderland on August 22.

Elsewhere on the first weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton.

Brentford host Tottenham, Everton welcome Crystal Palace and Leeds visit Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, champions for the first time since 2004, face a testing period after they host Coventry.

Mikel Arteta's side head to Villa for their first away league game of the season, then meet Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 5.

Trips to Sunderland and Brighton follow for the north Londoners.

The weekend of September 12 brings the first Manchester derby of the post-Guardiola era, while Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21.

City and Arsenal do not face each other until November 28 at the Emirates Stadium.

The first Merseyside derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is scheduled for November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi will get his first taste of the north London derby on December 5 when Tottenham host Arsenal.

The pick of the Boxing Day schedule sees Coventry boss Lampard facing his old club Chelsea on December 26.

Liverpool travel to arch rivals Manchester United on January 23 and a week later City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The final day of the Premier League will take place on May 30, with Arsenal at home to Brighton while City travel to Sunderland and Liverpool host Bournemouth.

Chelsea and United finish at home to Brentford and Fulham respectively.

The start and the end of the coming season are later than usual as a result of the World Cup, which finishes just 34 days before the Premier League begins.

Arsenal will face FA Cup winners City in the Community Shield, which serves as the curtain raiser to the top-flight season, on August 16.