'Felt Like an Eternity': Rodrygo Grateful Upon Brazil Return

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Brazil - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 25, 2025 Brazil's Rodrygo reacts during the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Brazil - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 25, 2025 Brazil's Rodrygo reacts during the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo
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'Felt Like an Eternity': Rodrygo Grateful Upon Brazil Return

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Brazil - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 25, 2025 Brazil's Rodrygo reacts during the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Argentina v Brazil - Estadio Mas Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - March 25, 2025 Brazil's Rodrygo reacts during the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle/File Photo

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo is eager to return to action for Brazil in their friendlies against South Korea and Japan after being overlooked for the last two squad selections during a "difficult" spell in his career.

Rodrygo has slipped down the pecking order at Real in the last two seasons and has started just two matches for the LaLiga side this season, Reuters reported.

His lack of minutes at Real has coincided with his exclusion from the Brazilian team for matches in June and September, with his last international appearance coming in a 4-1 defeat to rivals Argentina in March.

"It was a really long time, being away from the Brazil team felt like an eternity. It was difficult, I went through a lot during that period," the 24-year-old told reporters on Tuesday.

"But it was a good thing, it allowed me to think things through, calm down and get my head straight. I feel good and ready to be here again, to give my best, to show my best side with the Selecao (Brazil's national team)...

"It's been a long time, but now I'm back, I'm feeling good and I hope to help as much as I can."

Rodrygo added that the appointment of former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil's coach would give the five-times World Cup winners an edge over their opponents.

"I think that when you're on the pitch, you look out and see Ancelotti guiding you, it gives you a different weight. I think that's also the case for our opponents," he said.

"'We're going to play against Brazil, whose manager is Ancelotti'. People respect him more. It gives us greater credibility.

"And, of course, I'll always speak highly of him, because he's someone who has always helped me a lot, who has helped me grow, and having a manager like that guiding you leaves you speechless."

Brazil play South Korea in Seoul on Friday, before travelling to face Japan in Tokyo four days later.



Cobolli Downs Zverev to Set Up Munich Final with Shelton

Flavio Cobolli of Italy in action during his semi-finals match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the BMW Open tennis tournament in Munich, Germany, 18 April 2026.  EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI
Flavio Cobolli of Italy in action during his semi-finals match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the BMW Open tennis tournament in Munich, Germany, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI
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Cobolli Downs Zverev to Set Up Munich Final with Shelton

Flavio Cobolli of Italy in action during his semi-finals match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the BMW Open tennis tournament in Munich, Germany, 18 April 2026.  EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI
Flavio Cobolli of Italy in action during his semi-finals match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the BMW Open tennis tournament in Munich, Germany, 18 April 2026. EPA/ANNA SZILAGYI

Flavio Cobolli ended top seed Alexander Zverev's Munich Open title defense on Saturday as the Italian breezed past the world number three in straight sets to book his place in the final against Ben Shelton.

Fourth seed Cobolli downed the home favorite 6-3, 6-3 in just under 70 minutes in their semi-final meeting.

The 23-year-old's blistering performance put paid to Zverev's hopes for a record fourth title on the red dirt in Munich.

"It was one of my best matches ever against one of my biggest friends on tour," AFP quoted Cobolli as saying.

"I'm a little bit shy when I play with a big player, but today I played one of my best performances and I'm really happy."

Cobolli edged ahead of Zverev when he broke the German to love in the fourth game of the first set.

Zverev struggled to make inroads on Cobolli's serve over the course of the match, and when the world number 16 pounced on his opponent's first service game of the second set the writing was on the wall for Zverev.

Two punishing crosscourt forehands followed up by a crisp volley to finish off game seven secured Cobolli a double break and gave him the chance to serve for the match.

But Zverev hit back immediately as he secured his first break points of the encounter, converting at the second time of asking to halt his opponent.

A brilliant forehand on the run handed Cobolli match point in the next game and when Zverev framed a deep return the match was decided.

Cobolli advances to his second final of the season, where he will look to add to the title he picked up in Acapulco in February.

Shelton, who later Saturday beat qualifier Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4, will be the man standing in Cobolli's way as the American seeks to go one better than last year when he lost the Munich title match to Zverev.

Second seed Shelton broke in the sixth game of the first set to get his nose in front against the 166th-ranked Slovakian and then secured a crucial second break of the match to go 5-4 up in the final set.

The 23-year-old was on form with his serve as Molcan managed to engineer just one break point across the two sets, which Shelton saved.


Eta Makes History as Bundesliga's 1st Female Coach, Dortmund Gives Bayern Chance to Seal Title

Union’s new head coach Marie-Louise Eta reacts during the Bundesliga soccer match 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg in Berlin, Germany, 18 April 2026.  EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
Union’s new head coach Marie-Louise Eta reacts during the Bundesliga soccer match 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg in Berlin, Germany, 18 April 2026. EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
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Eta Makes History as Bundesliga's 1st Female Coach, Dortmund Gives Bayern Chance to Seal Title

Union’s new head coach Marie-Louise Eta reacts during the Bundesliga soccer match 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg in Berlin, Germany, 18 April 2026.  EPA/CLEMENS BILAN
Union’s new head coach Marie-Louise Eta reacts during the Bundesliga soccer match 1. FC Union Berlin and VfL Wolfsburg in Berlin, Germany, 18 April 2026. EPA/CLEMENS BILAN

Marie-Louise Eta has made history as the first female coach in the Bundesliga, but her Union Berlin team failed to live up to the occasion on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat to Wolfsburg.

She has four more games to ensure Union stays in the top division before she takes over Union’s women’s team for next season.

Patrick Wimmer and Dženan Pejčinović scored early in each half for the visitors to end their 12-game run without a win and revive their hopes of escaping relegation. Wolfsburg remains second to last but it’s just two points behind St. Pauli in the relegation playoff place with four rounds remaining.

Union ultimately paid the price for a lack of efficiency after creating the better chances and finishing strongly. Oliver Burke’s goal in the 85th minute was too late for the Köpenick-based team, The Associated Press reported.

Union, which has only won two games in 2026, fired Steffan Baumgart after last weekend’s loss at Heidenheim and finds itself just six points above the relegation zone.

Eta previously made history in 2023 as the first female assistant coach in the men’s Bundesliga, also at Union, and has been coaching the under-19 men’s team at the club.

Bayern can clinch the title on Sunday Andrej Kramarić scored two penalties for Hoffenheim in a 2-1 win over second-placed Borussia Dortmund. That opens the way for Bayern Munich to seal the title at home against Stuttgart on Sunday.

Bayern, which has five games remaining compared to Dortmund’s four, leads by 12 points and needs just one more point to be sure of finishing top.

Werder Bremen boosted its survival hopes with a 3-1 win at home against Hamburger SV in their northern derby. Bremen moved level with the visitors on 31 points, five points above St. Pauli.

Midtable Augsburg defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 away and dented the home team’s hopes of Champions League qualification.

Eintracht Frankfurt hosted Leipzig later.


Morocco Frees Senegal Fans after Sentences Served

The Moroccan flag is seen in front of a destroyed building following the devastating earthquake in Marrakesh last month. (Reuters)
The Moroccan flag is seen in front of a destroyed building following the devastating earthquake in Marrakesh last month. (Reuters)
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Morocco Frees Senegal Fans after Sentences Served

The Moroccan flag is seen in front of a destroyed building following the devastating earthquake in Marrakesh last month. (Reuters)
The Moroccan flag is seen in front of a destroyed building following the devastating earthquake in Marrakesh last month. (Reuters)

Morocco on Saturday released three Senegalese fans from jail after they completed a three-month prison sentence for participating in the violence that broke out during the Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, an AFP journalist saw.

The trio left Al Arjat 2 prison, northeast of Rabat, in a police vehicle to go to a police station before being released.

Upon leaving the police station, the three smiling Senegalese fans were greeted by members of the Senegalese embassy. One said to AFP, "dima Maroc, dima Maghrib" ("long live Morocco").

Senegalese defense lawyer Patrick Kabou thanked "diplomatic and consular representation for their efforts" in a post on X.

On the eve of the trio's release, he asked that the public "support them and, above all, help them come to terms with the initial shock of leaving prison".

In connection with the same case, 15 other Senegalese fans remain incarcerated after receiving sentences ranging from six months to one year and which were upheld on appeal on Monday.

Detained since the January 18 final, won by Senegal but later awarded on appeal to hosts Morocco, they were charged with "hooliganism," an offence including acts of violence, notably against law enforcement, as well as damage to sports facilities, invading the pitch and throwing projectiles.

A Frenchman of Algerian origin was also released on Saturday after serving three months in prison for throwing a water bottle during the final.