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Riyad Mahrez Retires from Algeria National Team After World Cup Elimination

Riyad Mahrez #7 of Algeria applauds fans after the 0-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Switzerland and Algeria at BC Place Vancouver on July 02, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Getty Images/AFP)
Riyad Mahrez #7 of Algeria applauds fans after the 0-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Switzerland and Algeria at BC Place Vancouver on July 02, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Getty Images/AFP)
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Riyad Mahrez Retires from Algeria National Team After World Cup Elimination

Riyad Mahrez #7 of Algeria applauds fans after the 0-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Switzerland and Algeria at BC Place Vancouver on July 02, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Getty Images/AFP)
Riyad Mahrez #7 of Algeria applauds fans after the 0-2 loss during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between Switzerland and Algeria at BC Place Vancouver on July 02, 2026 in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Getty Images/AFP)

Riyad Mahrez, a five-time Premier League winner, announced his retirement from international football following Algeria’s World Cup exit, a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the round of 32 on Thursday.

"There were good times and difficult times as well, of course. That’s part of a career," he said afterward. “But representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been an immense honor and a great source of pride.”

He added: “It is the new generation’s turn to play.”

As he walked off the field following the match, Mahrez gave a thumbs-up, then patted his heart and waved to the fans.

Mahrez, who plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, has had an illustrious career at the club and international levels.

The 35-year-old forward retires with the second-most appearances for Algeria (119) and the second-most goals (40). Mahrez was a part of the Algerian team that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

At the domestic level, Mahrez won a Premier League title with Leicester City and four with Manchester City, as well as a Champions League title with Manchester City.

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Sabalenka Makes Dominant Start in China Open Title Bid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
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Sabalenka Makes Dominant Start in China Open Title Bid

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in action against Renata Zarazua of Mexico during their women’s singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, 02 October 2026. EPA/ANDRES MARTINEZ CASARES

Aryna Sabalenka sent down 11 aces as she dismissed Renata Zarazua 6-1, 6-3 to launch her China Open title charge on Friday in Beijing.

The world number two from Belarus next faces Czech player Nikola Bartunkova in the round of 32.

Sabalenka groaned over a smattering of unforced errors during the 62-minute match but had the clear edge over Mexico's Zarazua, ranked 94th, breaking to win on the second time of asking.

"I was just trying to stay focused on myself. Tried to stay aggressive on my serve, on the return as well," the 28-year-old said, according to AFP.

"So happy with the game I played today."

Next on center court Novak Djokovic was scheduled to play Chinese world no. 104 Bu Yunchaokete in the second round of the men's 500-level event also taking place.

The 39-year-old Serbian great owns six titles from the China Open and is looking to extend an extraordinary unbeaten streak in Beijing.

Earlier on Friday, Japan's Naomi Osaka wrestled back control to survive her second-round clash with Uzbekistan's Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

The four-time Grand Slam champion next plays Sara Bejlek of the Czech Republic.

French Open champion Mirra Andreeva of Russia overcame a first-set wobble to beat Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0.

Wimbledon winner Linda Noskova, a 2025 Beijing finalist, beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1.

Andreeva next faces Uzbekistan's Polina Kudermetova and Noskova will meet Switzerland's Viktorija Golubic in the third round.

In the men's draw, a series of searing forehands from Daniil Medvedev sent qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta home 6-4, 6-2, earning the Russian world number six a second-round meeting with Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.

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Man City Launch Appeal Against Explosive Financial Ruling

A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
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Man City Launch Appeal Against Explosive Financial Ruling

A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)
A logo is pictured outside the Etihad Stadium, the home ground of Manchester City football club, in Manchester, north-west England on September 30, 2026. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Manchester City confirmed Friday they had launched an appeal against a damning judgement that found the club guilty of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules.

An independent commission delivered its findings on the club earlier this week and City had until Friday to appeal.

The Premier League leaders announced shortly before midday (1000 GMT) they had done so.

No sanction has yet been decided upon but City could face substantial points deductions, a fine or even expulsion from the top division.

The 10-time English champions, who continue to deny any wrongdoing, said Friday they had lodged a "comprehensive appeal" the previous evening.

"The club's firm position is that, on multiple grounds, the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact and is unsafe," City said in a statement.

"The club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case.

"We will continue to respect due process and are necessarily restricted in what we can say further until all proceedings are complete."

Earlier on Friday, the English Football Association broke its silence on the case, saying that the commission's decision "has significant implications for the integrity of the game".

"We are carefully considering the decision and its implications and will take action where appropriate," the national governing body said in a statement.

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Netherlands Coach Xavi Says he Was at Fault for Poor 1st Half in Greece

Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS
Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS
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Netherlands Coach Xavi Says he Was at Fault for Poor 1st Half in Greece

Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS
Netherlands Xavi Hernadez reacts during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Greece and Netherlands in Thessaloniki, Greece, 01 October 2026. EPA/ACHILLEAS CHIRAS

Netherlands coach Xavi Hernandez said he was to blame for his side’s poor first-half performance in Thursday’s Nations League game against Greece after they trailed 2-0 before fighting back to draw.

The result maintained the former World Cup winner’s unbeaten start to his tenure in charge of the Dutch national team, but it proved a close-run contest with Tijjani Reijnders equalizing a minute from the end at Stadio Toumbas.

Greece had opened up a two-goal lead at the ⁠break through Fotis ⁠Ioannidis and Georgios Masouras before Virgil van Dijk halved the deficit just before the hour mark.

“I’m never happy with a draw. But the first half was very poor. That was my fault as a coach. Maybe I made things unclear ⁠for the players by making too many changes,” Reuters quoted Xavi as saying.

Xavi made three changes at the start of the second half, and the Dutch dominated from then on.

“I’m just trying to be honest, because that’s who I am," said Xavi. "At halftime, I told the players exactly the same thing: sorry, because I think this is my fault. Forget the first half, now we’re going to restructure things in ⁠the ⁠second.”

Ryan Gravenberch, Noa Lang, and Reijnders all made a big impact, but Xavi preferred to talk about a change in approach after the break.

“I think above all that the system was different. We played with a diamond in midfield, and that created more chances," he explained. "The pitch became more open, and we had more speed with the ball.”

The Dutch play the last of their four fixtures in the international window against Serbia in Eindhoven on Sunday.