Onana to Miss Belgium Matches Due to Hamstring Injury

Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
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Onana to Miss Belgium Matches Due to Hamstring Injury

Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)
Football - Champions League - Aston Villa v Bayern Munich - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 2, 2024 Aston Villa's Amadou Onana celebrates after the match. (Reuters)

Belgium defensive midfielder Amadou Onana will miss this month's Nations League matches due to a hamstring injury, the national team said on Monday.

VfL Wolfsburg midfielder Aster Vranckx has been called up to replace Onana for the games against Italy and France on Oct. 10 and 14, the team posted on X.

Onana, 23, missed Aston Villa's goalless draw with Manchester United on Sunday after picking up the injury during their 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Belgium, who beat Israel and lost to France in their first two group matches, will also be without captain Kevin De Bruyne, who was injured playing for Manchester City last month.



Renard Confirms Saudi National Team's Readiness for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup

The Saudi team is set to face Bahrain on Sunday - SPA
The Saudi team is set to face Bahrain on Sunday - SPA
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Renard Confirms Saudi National Team's Readiness for the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup

The Saudi team is set to face Bahrain on Sunday - SPA
The Saudi team is set to face Bahrain on Sunday - SPA

French coach Hervé Renard has confirmed the Saudi national football team's readiness to compete in the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait, from 21 December 2024 to 3 January 2025, and stressed that the team aims to achieve great results, rather than merely gain experience.
Renard also said the tournament is a valuable opportunity to enhance the players' technical and physical capabilities, SPA reported.
Speaking at a press conference, Renard said: "We are here to participate effectively and win. This tournament provides a great platform to work with the players and prepare them for future competitions."
Regarding the team's condition, Renard said that player Hassan Tambakti is ready for action, while Salem Al-Dawsari is "working on regaining full fitness".

He commended Al-Dawsari for his dedication to speeding up his recovery. Meanwhile, Firas Al-Brikan is dealing with an injury, and his availability will depend on further evaluations, said Renard.
Acknowledging the challenges ahead, Renard said: "I accepted this challenge because I believe in the players' capabilities. We must work with team spirit and focus on improvement in the coming period."
As far as the team's opening match against Bahrain is concerned, Renard said: "We are preparing for a tough game. The preparation period was crucial, and our focus now is on delivering a strong performance."
The Saudi team is set to face Bahrain on Sunday in what promises to be an exciting start to their Gulf Cup matches. Both teams are eager to make a strong impression in their opening match.