Saudi Arabia Seeks to Repeat Argentina World Cup ‘Miracle’ Against Spain

Saudi Arabia national football team head coach Georgios Donis attends a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Saturday, 20 June 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Arabia national football team head coach Georgios Donis attends a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Saturday, 20 June 2026. (EPA)
TT

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Repeat Argentina World Cup ‘Miracle’ Against Spain

Saudi Arabia national football team head coach Georgios Donis attends a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Saturday, 20 June 2026. (EPA)
Saudi Arabia national football team head coach Georgios Donis attends a press conference in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Saturday, 20 June 2026. (EPA)

Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis said his side cannot show Spain too much respect as they aim to repeat a shock victory over eventual winners Argentina at the 2022 World Cup.

Spain are under pressure to bounce back from a 0-0 draw against World Cup debutants Cape Verde, but face a Saudi side that themselves held Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in their opening game.

Donis only took charge of the 2034 World Cup hosts in April after short-lived reigns for Roberto Mancini and Herve Renard.

It was Renard who oversaw the famous win over Lionel Messi's Argentina in Qatar during his first spell as Saudi boss and Donis is hoping those memories can inspire a similar outcome in Atlanta on Sunday.

"It's nice to have miracles in football and we've seen it many times. We've seen it in the World Cup, we've seen it in other tournaments, we've seen favorites losing against underdogs," the Greek coach said at his pre-match press conference.

"It's great to have great memories in our national team such as the game against Argentina.

"We have to play against one of the best teams in the world and it's very important when you get to this sort of tournament and you have this sort of joy of playing against these teams to be able to enjoy those games, to respect the opponent but also not to respect them more than you should."

Spain's inability to break down the Cape Verdean defense highlighted La Roja's reliance on the brilliance of Lamine Yamal.

The 18-year-old only featured as a second half substitute as he is eased back to fitness after a hamstring injury.

Yamal is expected to take his place in the starting line-up on Sunday, even though he is not yet ready to play 90 minutes.

Donis hailed the Barcelona winger as the "biggest talent" in world football right now and did not hold back in recognizing that Spain are less effective without him.

"Spain is not the same team when Yamal is on the bench," added Donis.

"I think Yamal is maybe this period the biggest talent in the world. I think he started to replace Messi in Barcelona in the best way.

"I didn't see a player at this age to make this difference and to have this quality and to play with this maturity.

"For me the most important is not about the skills, but about the maturity and he knows what he can do every moment and that is the biggest difference."



Sandro Mazzola, Italy and Inter Milan Soccer Star, Dies at Age 83

FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
TT

Sandro Mazzola, Italy and Inter Milan Soccer Star, Dies at Age 83

FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
FILE - Inter Milan's former players Sandro Mazzola, second left, with Jair of Brazil, left, Mario Corso and Luis Suarez, right, prior to the start of the Champions League first knockout round, second leg soccer match between Inter and Ajax at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, March 14, 2006. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)

Sandro Mazzola, the former Inter Milan captain who was one of Italy’s most acclaimed players, has died. He was 83.

His death was announced on Saturday by Inter, the soccer club where he spent his entire 17-year playing career. No cause of death was given, The Associated Press said.

“FC Internazionale Milano, its President Giuseppe Marotta, Vice President Javier Zanetti, head coach Cristian Chivu and his staff, the players, and everyone at Inter mourn with profound sorrow the passing of Sandro Mazzola, a Nerazzurri and world football legend,” Inter said in an emotional statement.

“Sandro Mazzola was one of the greatest footballers in history. Not only in the history of the Nerazzurri.”

Mazzola, an attacking midfielder or second striker, scored 158 goals in 565 matches for Inter, helping the Nerazzurri to four Serie A titles and two European Cups.

He also won the European Championship with Italy in 1968.


Arabian Gulf Cup Marks Historic Milestone in Jeddah's Long-Standing Football Heritage

Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)
Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)
TT

Arabian Gulf Cup Marks Historic Milestone in Jeddah's Long-Standing Football Heritage

Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)
Arabian Gulf Cup marks historic milestone in Jeddah's long-standing football heritage. (SPA)

For decades, football has formed an integral part of Jeddah's social fabric, with neighborhood pitches serving as foundational training grounds that have nurtured generations of talent for local clubs and national squads, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

The city's institutional sporting history began in 1950 with the opening of Al-Sabban Stadium in Al-Qurayyat district. As the Kingdom's first official sports venue, the 12,000-capacity facility hosted the inaugural King's Cup final and successive title matches. In 1973, it drew massive crowds when it hosted Brazilian club Santos, led by global football icon Pelé, for an exhibition training session.

Jeddah's sports infrastructure expanded in 1970 with the opening of the Jeddah Youth Welfare Stadium in Al-Waziriyah, accommodating roughly 22,000 spectators. Renamed Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in 2001, the venue underwent extensive modernization beginning in 2012, reopening in 2021 as a 27,000-seat stadium within the integrated Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City.

In 2014, the opening of King Abdullah Sports City, featuring a stadium exceeding 62,000 seats, further reinforced Jeddah's capability to stage elite global and continental tournaments.

For the first time in the tournament's history, Jeddah will host the 27th Arabian Gulf Cup from September 23 to October 6, 2026. Featuring eight Gulf national teams, matches will be staged across both King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City, continuing the coastal city's tradition of drawing record crowds and hosting premier regional competitions.


Carrick Confident Man Utd Can 'Work Through' Tough Time

FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
TT

Carrick Confident Man Utd Can 'Work Through' Tough Time

FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa
FILED - 16 September 2026, United Kingdom, Manchester: Manchester United manager Michael Carrick reacts during the English Carabao Cup third round soccer match between Manchester United and Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford. Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/dpa

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick said he expected to have to ride out a storm at some point this season after a dreadful start to the current campaign.

Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis after his successful temporary spell at the end of last season secured third place in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League.

But United have taken just four points from their opening four league games this season and were dumped out the League Cup in a 3-2 defeat by Brighton in midweek after blowing a two-goal lead at Old Trafford for the first time in 50 years.

"History tells you that any team that's successful goes through periods when you have to work through it, come through it and improve," Carrick said ahead of Sunday's trip to Fulham, according to AFP.

"We've had a small period, in recent time, when it hasn't been exactly what we want it to be.
"I was expecting a point when we would go through it, it was going to come. We had such a good spell last season, going into this season."

Former United and England midfielder Carrick also has reason to bemoan his side's luck in recent weeks.

United received a swift apology from referees' chiefs after Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City last weekend was wrongly awarded because the VAR officials did not spot an offside against Enzo Fernandez in the build-up.

Carrick's men were also heading for three points at Everton last Sunday before until Toffees defender Ainsley Maitland-Niles produced a stunning strike into the top corner from long range.

"It is a week or two, the games haven't gone our way," added Carrick. "It's tiny margins in some of those games. We will work through it. Winning games is always the answer, it can cover up a lot of things at times as well.

"Sometimes it's the small disappointments that lead to something a bit bigger. It's part of coping and being at this great football club."

United could be boosted by the return of Luke Shaw from injury for the visit to Craven Cottage.

Carlos Baleba is also in contention to make his first appearance since a £70 million ($95 million) move from Brighton.