Spalletti Happy with Juve’s Character Despite Being Held by Sporting 

04 November 2025, Italy, Turin: Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti gestures on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Juventus and Sporting CP at the Allianz Stadium. (dpa)
04 November 2025, Italy, Turin: Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti gestures on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Juventus and Sporting CP at the Allianz Stadium. (dpa)
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Spalletti Happy with Juve’s Character Despite Being Held by Sporting 

04 November 2025, Italy, Turin: Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti gestures on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Juventus and Sporting CP at the Allianz Stadium. (dpa)
04 November 2025, Italy, Turin: Juventus head coach Luciano Spalletti gestures on the touchline during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Juventus and Sporting CP at the Allianz Stadium. (dpa)

Juventus failed to pick up a victory in their fourth straight Champions League game on Tuesday after drawing 1-1 with Sporting but new manager Luciano Spalletti said he was impressed by his side's heart and desire and is confident the wins will come.

Spalletti's predecessor Igor Tudor was sacked last month following an eight-game winless run in all competitions.

The new coach, who accepted a short-term deal to rescue the struggling side, picked up a Serie A win over Cremonese in his first game in charge but was unable to steer them to a win on home soil that would have reignited their European campaign.

The Italians, who have three points from their four games, fell behind to Maximiliano Araujo's early opener before Dusan Vlahovic equalized with a header in the 34th minute.

"I'm pleased with the performance of the team. We showed that we have character, and the guys showed their desire to win the game," said former Italy boss Spalletti. "If we play like this going forward, we'll win plenty of matches.

"The reaction we got right from the start gave me hope, it seemed as though the whole stadium understood the team's approach well, and that's a good sign."

Juventus midfielder Teun Koopmeiners said they showed a lot of good things against Sporting, but there were areas they had to improve on. The Dutchman was deployed in a deeper role against Sporting and said he felt more comfortable there.

"I feel much better in this position, because I am not a forward who plays with his back to goal, where I played in other games," he told Sky Sports Italia. "I told Spaletti and the representatives of the club that too."

Juventus will travel to Bodo/Glimt on November 25 for their next Champions League game.



Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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Antonelli Stays Cool to Win Chaotic Monaco Grand Prix

 Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)
Formula One F1 - Monaco Grand Prix - Circuit de Monaco, Monaco - June 7, 2026 Mercedes' Andrea Kimi Antonelli celebrates on the podium after winning the Monaco Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli stayed ice-cool to win a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix and extend his run of victories this season to five on Sunday.

The 19-year-old Italian built a commanding lead after starting from pole in his Mercedes but that evaporated after a late red flag to inspect a crumbling surface at the final corner following a crash that took out Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.

After a ‌delay of ‌around 40 minutes while repairs were ‌carried ⁠out, the race ⁠resumed with a standing start, but Antonelli remained unfazed as he became the youngest ever winner of the iconic race.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton was runner-up for the second successive Grand Prix with Red Bull's Isack Hadjar provisionally third, although he was one ⁠of a number of drivers under investigation ‌for a variety of ‌infringements.

Hamilton, who equaled the late Ayrton Senna's eight Monaco ‌podiums, moved above Antonelli's team mate George Russell ‌into second place in the standings, 66 points behind Antonelli.

"It's been an incredible weekend and an incredible race," said Antonelli, who was not even born the last time ‌an Italian won the Monaco Grand Prix - Jarno Trulli in 2004.

"We had ⁠incredible pace ⁠and it all came so natural and that gave me the confidence to push."

A year after finishing last on his F1 debut at Monaco, Antonelli showed incredible poise to shrug off the red flag drama that meant he effectively had to win two races.

"I wasn't super keen on re-starting but once the notification came out, I just gathered my emotions and re-focused again. Once I got away and was P1 into the first corner I could enjoy the last few laps."


Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
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Algeria Extend Coach Petkovic’s Contract

Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)
Football - Euro 2020 - Quarter Final - Switzerland v Spain - Saint Petersburg Stadium, Saint Petersburg, Russia - July 2, 2021 Then Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic applauds fans after the match. (Pool via Reuters)

Algeria have extended Swiss coach Vladimir Petkovic's contract until 2028, just days before the start of the World Cup.

Petkovic, 62, had been in charge of the Desert Foxes since 2024, taking over following Algeria's first round exit at the African Cup of Nations.

"The Swiss coach has managed some remarkable results since he took over," the Algerian federation said in a statement on Sunday.

Under Petkovic, Algeria have "won 21 matches, had four draws and lost only three matches", the federation added.

Algeria will line up in Group J at the World Cup alongside reigning champions Argentina, Austria and Jordan.

Petkovic was Switzerland coach from 2014 to 2021 and before that won the Italian Cup with Roma in 2013.


Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
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Makenzie Replaces Injured Yahya in Iraq’s World Cup Squad

Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)
Football - International Friendly - Spain v Iraq - Riazor stadium, A Coruna, Spain - June 4, 2026 Iraq's Ahmed Yahya Mhmood Al Hajjaj in action with Spain's Pedro Porro. (Reuters)

Iraq ‌have called up Ahmed Hassan Makenzie to their 2026 World Cup squad to replace Ahmed Yahya, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury, the national ‌team announced ‌on Saturday.

"Based on ‌the ⁠medical report, head ⁠coach Graham Arnold has decided to call up Ahmed Makenzie and register him in the final squad for ⁠the 2026 World Cup ‌finals ‌in place of Ahmed Yahya," ‌the national team said ‌in a statement on X.

The decision came as the Iraqi delegation arrived in ‌Chicago in the early hours of the ⁠morning ⁠to prepare for the tournament.

The tournament marks Iraq's first appearance at the World Cup since their sole participation 40 years ago. They are set to compete in Group I alongside France, Senegal and Norway.