Morocco beat Congo to set new record 16-match winning run

PRAGUE: The Czech football federation (FACR) announced the sacking of national team coach Ivan Hasek on Wednesday, following a humiliating 2-1 defeat in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands.

Seeking their first World Cup appearance since 2006, the Czechs are not even completely sure of a berth in the playoffs next March — a situation compounded by their loss in Torshavn on Sunday.

Croatia top Group L, three points ahead of the Czech Republic, and the 2018 World Cup runners-up also have a game in hand on their rivals.

The Faroes lie one point behind the Czechs, with both having one match remaining in their campaign.

“We have terminated cooperation with Ivan Hasek as of today,” FACR head David Trunda told reporters.

Trunda added that the FACR would now look for a new coach, possibly a foreigner.

An “interim coach” is meanwhile likely to lead the team in their last World Cup qualifier at home to Gibraltar in November.

Hasek started his second stint as national team coach ahead of Euro 2024, at which the Czechs were knocked out in the group stage.

Pundits criticized the 62-year-old former midfielder for his unattractive style of play, while he bemoaned having no players coming even close to the level of former Czech greats such as Pavel Nedved or Tomas Rosicky.

Hasek came under heavy fire following a 5-1 defeat in a World Cup qualifier in Croatia in June.

As a player. Hasek scored five goals in 56 games for Czechoslovakia and led the country as captain to the World Cup quarter-finals in Italy in 1990.

As a coach, he took Sparta Prague to back-to-back Czech league titles in 2000 and 2001.

Since then he has had a nomadic coaching career taking him to France, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and even the Lebanese national team.

His first stint as the Czech national team coach was in 2009 when he oversaw just five games.

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s rising tennis star Haniya Minhas claimed victory in the Tennis Foundation’s Ghana Open — Accra ITF J100 girl’s singles title last week.

Minhas triumphed in the final against the tournament’s top seed, Tunisian player Lamiss Houas, with a score of 6-4, 6-2.

This victory marks her sixth gold medal in International Tennis Federation tournaments for the 2025 season.

The Saudi star was recently crowned champion of the ITF Junior Championship, following her victory over British player Alisha Nduku, continuing her strong presence in international competitions.

The 14-year-old represented the Kingdom at Wimbledon 2024 in the Girls’ 14 & Under Singles competition.

Minhas displayed impressive skills and determination at the All England Lawn Tennis Club event. Although she did not reach the finals, her victories in the round robin stage and first round of the consolation playoffs showcased her natural talent, commitment to training and growing potential.

Her participation marked a significant moment for Saudi Arabia, with Minhas becoming the first player from the Kingdom to compete at Wimbledon in the junior categories and the only athlete to represent the nation in Wimbledon competition.

UDINE, Italy: The World Cup qualifier between Italy and Israel took place amid a heavy police presence that included snipers on the stadium roof.

Italy won 3-0 Tuesday in a game that soccer and security authorities had placed in the highest risk category despite a breakthrough ceasefire deal that has paused two years of war in Gaza.

There were skirmishes between protesters and police nearby on the streets of Udine at a pro-Palestinian demonstration before the match, but no serious disruptions at the venue during the game. Although, stadium staff had to act quickly to prevent some fans from running onto the field carrying Palestinian flags.

“Today wasn’t easy for us,” Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso said. “I want to thank the police who have done an incredible job in these days.”

The Israel team bus was escorted to the stadium by 13 police vehicles, including some from the special forces, and several motorbikes.

The sound of helicopters over the city had filled the air from early morning, with drones spotted in the sky and snipers also seen on the roof of the Israel team’s hotel.

In the city center, around 10,000 people attended a pro-Palestinian march which was incident free for nearly three hours before arriving at its final stop. Then about 50 people — with their faces covered — started clashing with police, who used water cannons and tear gas to try and disperse them.

The group was apparently trying to get past the police cordons to head toward the stadium, which is on the outskirts of the city. They threw metal barriers and other objects at riot police, fired flares and set fire to garbage cans.

Public broadcaster RAI said one of its journalists was taken to a hospital after being hit in the face by a rock.

Many shops and restaurants decided not to open for business Tuesday and there were strict rules for those that did — including the removal of any outdoor furniture or other objects that could potentially be used as weapons.

Italy also played Israel a year ago in Udine, which was chosen because of its location in north-east Italy, near the Slovenian border, and the ease of isolating the stadium, where road blocks were set up all around.

The area was declared a “red zone,” and supporters were strongly advised to arrive early because of rigorous security checks, with everyone attending having to pass through metal detectors.

Fewer than 10,000 tickets were sold for the qualifier at the 25,000-seat Stadio Friuli, and there appeared to be fewer people inside the stadium than at the demonstration.

The staging of the game was thrown into doubt last month when UEFA considered suspending Israel over the war and Udine Mayor Alberto Felice De Toni called for the game to be postponed.

“Honestly it wasn’t easy … for many days we were always there thinking that maybe there was the possibility of not playing the match,” Gattuso said. “We came, we prepared for it with an environment that we knew was not a festive environment and we felt that.”

There were boos from some fans when the Israeli anthem was played but many other people in the stadium tried to drown that out with loud applause.

Mateo Retegui converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime and doubled his tally with a curled strike into the top right corner in the 74th minute. Gianluca Mancini headed in a third goal for Italy in stoppage time.

Italy secured at least a playoff spot as it attempts to avoid missing a third straight World Cup.

The Azzurri are second in their group, three points behind Norway and six ahead of Israel, which has played one game more than Italy.

Only the group winner advances directly to next year’s tournament being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The second-place finisher progresses to a playoff — the stage where four-time champion Italy was eliminated during qualifying for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Sport Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal has congratulated the Green Falcons for qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Kingdom will make their seventh appearance in next year’s tournament, which will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Prince Abdulaziz, who also heads the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee, lauded the team and staff, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

“The wise leadership has provided every means to keep the Kingdom’s flag flying high at international sporting events, including the world’s greatest football tournament, the FIFA World Cup.”

He said preparations will now focus on ensuring a strong performance next year.

Saudi Arabia secured a place at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday with a goalless draw against Iraq in Jeddah, in the fourth round of the Asian qualifiers.

The hard-fought point was enough to give the Green Falcons top spot in Group B and guarantee their appearance at the finals.

The Green Falcons played in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with the team recording a historic group stage win against eventual champions Argentina.

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