Football

Italy's resurgence continued on Monday as they secured a hard-fought 2-1 Nations League victory over Israel in Budapest. The Azzurri, seeking redemption after their disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, now sit atop Group A2 with a perfect six points.Davide Frattesi opened the scoring in the 38th minute, capitalizing on Federico Dimarco's precise cross. Israel had a golden opportunity to equalize just after halftime, but Sagiv Jehezkel squandered a close-range chance.Moise Kean sealed the victory for Italy in the 62nd minute, scoring his first international goal in nearly three years. Mohamed Abu Fani's late strike for Israel proved to be a mere consolation.Luciano Spalletti's team has responded admirably to their Euro 2024 disappointment, showcasing a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Their victory over Israel, coupled with France's triumph over Belgium, has propelled them to the summit of their group.The match was played in a subdued atmosphere at the Bozsik Arena, with only 2,000 fans in attendance due to security concerns in Israel. A small group of Italy supporters turned their backs to the pitch during Israel's national anthem, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the region.Despite the subdued atmosphere, Italy controlled the tempo of the game and deserved their victory. They will now look to maintain their momentum when they face England in a friendly on Friday.

India vs Syria: Intercontinental Cup Final PreviewIndia's men's football team will face Syria in the final of the Intercontinental Cup on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. The match will kick off at 7:30 PM IST and will be telecast live on Sports 18.India began the tournament with a goalless draw against Mauritius, while Syria defeated Mauritius 2-0 in their opening match. This means that Syria holds a slight advantage heading into the final, as they only need a draw to claim the trophy.India is aiming for their second consecutive Intercontinental Cup triumph, and third overall. They won the tournament in 2018 and 2022. Syria, on the other hand, has a long history of playing tournaments in India but has never won the title. They lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 before finishing fourth in 2012.India will be looking to their captain, Sunil Chhetri, to lead them to victory. Chhetri is India's all-time leading goalscorer and has been in impressive form in recent months. He scored a brace in India's 4-1 win over Cambodia in a friendly match in June.Syria will be relying on their experienced midfielder, Omar Khribin. Khribin is a key player for the Syrian national team and has scored over 50 goals for his country.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair. India will be looking to attack from the start and will be hoping to take advantage of their home crowd. Syria, on the other hand, will be looking to defend deep and hit India on the counterattack.

Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable career reached a new milestone as his late strike secured a thrilling 2-1 victory for Portugal over Scotland in their Nations League clash. The 39-year-old forward's 901st career goal capped a stirring comeback for the hosts at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.Ronaldo had already etched his name into the history books with his 900th goal in Thursday's win over Croatia. However, he showed no signs of slowing down, coming off the bench to inspire Portugal to their second consecutive victory in Group A1.The match started with a surprise as Scott McTominay gave Scotland an early lead with a well-timed header. But Portugal responded with renewed vigor in the second half, with Bruno Fernandes equalizing with a powerful shot from outside the box.Ronaldo's introduction proved to be a game-changer. His presence lifted the crowd and energized his teammates. In the 88th minute, Nuno Mendes delivered a pinpoint cross into the box, and Ronaldo was there to apply the finishing touch with a clinical tap-in.The victory was particularly sweet for Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, who has family ties to Scotland. Martinez joked before the match that he would be delighted to upset his father-in-law by beating Scotland, and he did just that.For Scotland, the defeat extended their winless streak to 14 matches. They have now lost six of their nine matches in 2023, with their only victory coming in a friendly against Gibraltar.Despite the disappointing result, Scotland manager Steve Clarke praised his players for their performance. "I'm really disappointed for my players because I think they deserved to get something from the game," he said. "But with the amount of balls that go into the box, you know one of them can go in the back of the net and that's what happened to us."

The 60th Kerala State senior inter-district football championship witnessed a thrilling semifinal match between Thiruvananthapuram and Malappuram, played under torrential rain at the Municipal Stadium. The adverse weather conditions made it a challenging game for both teams, with the ball often failing to obey players' commands.Passes frequently dropped dead or lost pace, while players struggled to maintain their footing, leading to numerous slips and falls. The medical team was kept busy throughout the second half, attending to injured players.Despite the difficult conditions, the match remained fiercely contested. Thiruvananthapuram lost defender S.J. Shane to a second yellow card in the 48th minute, followed by another defender, S. Shinu, in the 65th minute. Malappuram also suffered a setback when defender M. Safwan was sent off in the 67th minute.The heavy rain created a level playing field, with both teams unable to control the slippery ball effectively. As a result, no goals were scored during regulation time, and the match went into a tiebreaker.In the penalty shootout, Thiruvananthapuram emerged victorious, winning 4-3. The team's goalkeeper made several crucial saves, while their forwards converted their spot-kicks with precision.Thiruvananthapuram will now face Kottayam in the final on Monday, September 9. Kottayam had upset defending champion Thrissur 2-0 in the other semifinal.

Hosts India and Syria will face off in a thrilling winner-takes-all clash in the final of the Intercontinental Cup on Monday. India, seeking their second consecutive and third overall Intercontinental Cup triumph, will need to overcome a slight disadvantage against Syria, who require only a draw to claim the trophy.Syria, with a long history of playing tournaments in India, has yet to secure a title on Indian soil. They lost back-to-back Nehru Cup finals to India in 2007 and 2009 and finished fourth in 2012. In their last trip to India for the 2019 Intercontinental Cup, Syria finished third.India, on the other hand, will need to end a winless streak dating back to November last year to deny Syria their first silverware in India. India head coach Manolo Márquez, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Saturday, expressed confidence in his team's ability to win the tournament."It will be a difficult game for both sides. It's a friendly game, but the team who wins the game wins the trophy. We expect to play a good game and win the tournament," said Márquez.However, Márquez emphasized the importance of playing good football, believing that results will follow. "If you ask me, I prefer to play a good game than to win the tournament. I don't want to win it 1-0, scoring with the hand. I want that, in this moment, the team understands our ideas and we play better because finally, it's not about winning or losing."Defender Jay Gupta echoed his coach's sentiments, stating that the team is focused on adapting to Márquez's style of play. "Obviously, it's a game where we have to fight for the cup, but we're just focused on how we adapt to what the coach wants as soon as possible."Syria, under new head coach José Lana, is also in a new era. Lana was pleased with their opening-game display against Mauritius, which they won 2-0. He hopes to continue progressing and improve against India."I think India are a great team. I like the way they play with this coach. They try to move the ball fast. I think it will be a difficult match for us. And our only objective for tomorrow is to be better than our previous match," said Lana.The match promises to be an exciting battle between two teams eager to claim the Intercontinental Cup trophy.

Germany's new generation of stars, Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, showcased their brilliance in a dominant 5-0 victory over Hungary on Saturday. The young forwards orchestrated goals for each other, highlighting the promising future of German football.After the retirements of Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller, and Ilkay Gundogan, Wirtz and Musiala have emerged as the torchbearers for the national team. Their chemistry was evident from the start, as Wirtz's incisive pass found Musiala, who set up Niclas Fuellkrug for the opening goal.In the second half, Wirtz's long pass released Musiala, who doubled Germany's lead. Musiala then returned the favor, assisting Wirtz for a clinical finish. Aleks Pavlovic and Kai Havertz added further goals to complete the rout.The convincing win suggests that Germany has the talent to overcome the departures of their veteran players. Wirtz and Musiala, both 21, and Havertz, 25, form a formidable attacking trio that can lead the team to success in the years to come."It's fun to play with Flo," Musiala said after the match. "We need to keep building our chemistry and use every game to improve."Coach Julian Nagelsmann praised the atmosphere in the camp and the chemistry between the players. "When Wirtz and Musiala are on the pitch and they connect with each other, it's nice to watch," he said.Germany's new-look team also featured Pascal Gross filling in for Kroos and Marc-Andre ter Stegen making his debut as the number one goalkeeper. Fuellkrug, who had struggled to score for West Ham, showed his class with the opening goal.The victory sets Germany up for a tough test against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Tuesday. Hungary, meanwhile, will host Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The United States men's soccer team suffered a humiliating 2-1 home defeat to Canada on Saturday, marking their first loss to their northern neighbors on home soil since 1957. The match, played in front of a half-full Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, exposed glaring defensive deficiencies and a lack of intensity that has plagued the team since their disappointing exit from the Copa America.Canada took the lead in the 17th minute when Jacob Shaffelburg capitalized on a defensive miscue by Tim Ream. The Americans' woes continued in the 58th minute when Jonathan David doubled Canada's advantage after another Ream turnover. Luca de la Torre scored a consolation goal for the U.S. in the 66th minute, but it was too little, too late.Interim U.S. coach Mikey Varas took responsibility for the team's poor performance, acknowledging that the players lacked the necessary mentality and intensity. "The mentality is on the players. Sorry, they know it," Varas said. "That mentality to fight and to run and to sacrifice, I can't do that for them."The defeat extended the U.S.'s losing streak to three games, their longest since 2015. It also raised concerns about the team's readiness for the upcoming World Cup, which begins in November.Canada, on the other hand, celebrated their second victory over the U.S. in 27 matches on American soil. The win was a testament to the progress made by the Canadian team under American-born coach Jesse Marsch, who took over in May."I'm not bitter," Marsch said. "Most people, if they ask me a question, I answer it. That's how I operate in the media."The U.S. will have a chance to redeem themselves on Tuesday when they face New Zealand in Cincinnati. However, another defeat would raise further questions about the team's direction and the future of Varas as interim coach.

Former Liverpool captain and Scotland defender Ron Yeats, a legendary figure in the club's history, has passed away at the age of 86. Yeats joined Liverpool from Scottish side Dundee United in 1961 and went on to become a cornerstone of the Merseyside giants' defense for eight seasons.During his tenure as captain, Yeats led Liverpool to two Football League First Division titles and their first FA Cup triumph in 1965. His leadership and unwavering determination on the pitch earned him the respect of both teammates and opponents alike.Yeats' impact on Liverpool extended beyond his playing days. He served as the club's assistant manager from 1971 to 1973 and later became a respected member of the coaching staff. His knowledge and experience proved invaluable in nurturing the next generation of Liverpool stars.Off the field, Yeats was known for his warm personality and infectious enthusiasm. He was a beloved figure among Liverpool fans, who fondly remembered his contributions to the club's golden era.In recent years, Yeats had been battling Alzheimer's disease. He passed away peacefully on Friday, September 6, 2024, surrounded by his family.Liverpool Football Club paid tribute to their former captain, stating, "The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Ron's wife, Ann, all of his family and his friends at this incredibly sad time."Ron Yeats' legacy as a Liverpool legend will forever be etched in the annals of the club's history. His unwavering spirit, leadership, and dedication to the game will continue to inspire generations of players and fans alike.

Luis Suarez, the legendary Uruguayan striker, bid farewell to international football on Friday, September 6, 2024, as his team played to a frustrating 0-0 draw against Paraguay in South American 2026 World Cup qualifying.Suarez, 37, had announced his retirement from international duty on Monday, September 2, 2024, after a glittering 17-year career for Uruguay. He finished as the country's top scorer with 69 goals from 143 appearances.However, the former Barcelona and Liverpool star, who now plays in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, was unable to add a 70th goal to his international tally in his farewell game at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.Despite enjoying 65% possession, Uruguay were unable to find a way through a dogged Paraguay defense in a disjointed match littered with 24 fouls. Suarez, whose career at international and club level was marred by controversies such as his ban for biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup, was one of four Uruguay players to be shown a yellow card in a fractious encounter.The result leaves Uruguay in second place in South America's 10-team round-robin qualifying tournament with 14 points from seven games, four points behind leaders Argentina. Colombia can leapfrog over Uruguay with a victory over Peru in Lima later Friday.The top six teams in the South America standings qualify automatically for the 2026 finals in North America with the seventh-placed team advancing to a playoff.