Sports
Türkiye heads to Nations League playoffs after Montenegro loss
NIKSIC, Montenegro
Türkiye spurned the opportunity to finish atop its group in the UEFA Nations League and qualify for League A directly with a 3-1 loss at Montenegro on Nov. 19 night.
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Wales’ won 4-1 against Iceland to leapfrog the Euro 2024 quarterfinalist.
Türkiye coach Vincenzo Montella said the poor conditions of the pitch in Niksic played a big role in the result.
“It was a football game with little football played, the pitch was really too bad to play at this level,” the Italian told a post-game press conference.
“When you play at this level in these conditions, it is an unusual match. Our players fought until the end but we are a team with a higher technical capacity, we are not as physical as them and we paid for it with the score.”
Montenegro seemed comfortable throughout the match against Türkiye, which fell behind in the 29th minute as Nikola Krstovic pounced on Emirhan Topçu’s miscued challenge to race in on goal and fire home.
Juventus forward Kenan Yıldız leveled the match eight minutes later, but Krstovic punished Türkiye once again to reestablish Montenegro’s lead in the final minute of the first half.
Lecce forward Krstovic completed a hat-trick, his first-ever international, 17 minutes from the final whistle to secure his side’s first victory in its Nations League campaign and end a string of seven consecutive defeats.
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With the loss, Türkiye finished Group B4 in the second spot three points behind Wales. It will now play a playoff match against a third-place finisher from League A, with the winning side having a spot in the top division for the next season. The draw for the opponent will take place on Nov. 22.
Montella said the team’s target of promotion to League A has not changed.
“We will play playoffs in March, our goal is to reach League A, and we also want a spot in the [2026] World Cup,” he said.
“We also have players who will continue to develop in this process, the more they develop the stronger we will be.”
Asked about Türkiye’s possible playoff opponents, Hungary, Serbia, Belgium and Scotland, Montella said the draw result does not matter.
“The opponent is not important, it is only after a defeat that we lose our excitement, our balance, our will, our spirit and the love of our nation,” he said.
“These are very important balances in football. The opponent doesn’t matter, we will continue to play our own football. We will do our best. Sometimes we rush too much because we love too much, we have to be careful, we have to be patient, we have to progress step by step.”
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Also in the Nations League on Nov. 19, the Czech Republic booked the top spot in Group B1 with a 2-1 win over Georgia. Ukraine leapfrogged the Georgians into second place by downing Albania.
In League C, Sweden showcased its striking prowess with a 6-0 thumping of Azerbaijan as it emphatically topped its group.
Much-heralded 26-year-old striker Viktor Gyokeres netted four goals in the rout, with Dejan Kulusevski grabbing a brace.
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami were held to a scoreless draw by Egypt’s Al Ahly on Saturday, as FIFA’s expanded 32-team tournament kicked off smoothly before a crowd of 60,927 in Florida.
Messi was denied a storybook stoppage-time winner when he saw his curling shot from 20 yards out tipped onto the bar by Mohamed el Shenawy as Miami piled on the pressure in the final minutes of the game.
Al Ahly, who were cheered on by over 10,000 of their supporters, were left to rue a first-half penalty from Egypt international Trezeguet which was saved by Miami’s Argentine keeper Oscar Ustari.
But the Egyptians also had el Shenawy to thank for another fine save in the dying seconds to keep out a header from Maxi Falcon as Miami pushed for three points in the Group A clash.
For organizers FIFA, who have faced heavy skepticism over the necessity for the tournament, the absence of a goal was the only disappointment on a night that delivered everything else that their President Gianni Infantino had hoped for from the opening night.
Fears of a low crowd for the opener eased as the seats in the 64,000 venue began to fill up, with the stadium almost full at kickoff.
Thousands of fans of Al Ahly, record 12-time African Champions League winners and 45-time league champions of Egypt, arrived at Hard Rock Stadium well ahead of kickoff and made their presence felt with singing and chanting.
The stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, witnessed chaotic scenes last year at the final of the Copa America between Argentina and Colombia where fans broke into the ground after long delays to enter.
Penalty drama
But there was an efficient filter system set up for ticket and security checks well away from the stadium perimeter and there were no signs of any problems.
Nor was there any indication of the controversial crackdown on illegal immigrants from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration having any impact on the game in the heavily Hispanic South Florida community.
While there were no goals to celebrate, the game was far from boring, with Al Ahly enjoying the better of the first half before Miami improved significantly after the break.
Al Ahly opened up Miami’s defense with ease in the opening minutes of the game and Emam Ashour was denied by Ustari after being put through by Trezeguet.
Palestine international striker Wessam Abou Ali had an effort ruled out for offside in the 31st minute and then the Denmark-born forward had a fierce strike tipped over by Ustari.
The penalty came when Telasco Segovia bundled over Zizo, but Trezeguet’s spot kick was weak and parried out with the former Aston Villa forward unable to react fast enough to the rebound.
Miami were stronger after the break with Messi going close in the 64th minute with a free kick which grazed the post before hitting the side-netting, tricking part of the crowd into thinking he had scored.
He nearly did in stoppage time, after a well-worked short-corner but the outstretched fingertip of el Shenawy was to deny him.
Miami face Porto in Atlanta on Thursday before returning home to face Brazil’s Palmeiras on Monday and while those should be tougher tests, their Argentina coach Javier Mascherano was upbeat.
“The truth is we leave with the feeling that we could have won it in the second half. Going forward, we have to do what we did in the second half, not have any fear, shed whatever baggage we had, because when we play like that, we can play even with any team,” he said.
Al Ahly’s Spanish coach Jose Riveiro, who only took charge of the team for this tournament, said his team should have finished the game off in the first half.
“It’s a game of mistakes. We had a decent amount of chances in the first half to put the game in a different space,” he said before praising the team’s fans.
“It was like we were playing in Cairo and that was a surprise for me in my first official match with Al Ahly. To be here in the States and have it like you were playing at home is something that can probably only happen in this club,” he said.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner hopes to rebound from his heartbreaking French Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz and a string of sleepless nights by making a strong showing at the Halle Open.
In a thrilling showdown, Sinner took the first two sets and had three match points in the fourth set, but Spaniard Alcaraz persevered to grind out a 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) win in 5 hours and 29 minutes – the longest final at Roland Garros.
Asked if he had thought about the championship points he failed to convert, Sinner told reporters on Saturday: “Often. It happens. I don’t know how it will look in the future.
“I think that it is not the most important thing, but I nevertheless try to forget the negative things and see what I can do here,” in Halle.
“I think that for me to play another tournament is positive, because every match is a new beginning, and I must be mentally ready to give my all on the court. Therefore, it is great I can be here in Halle. Yes, I had already a few sleepless nights, but I think every day it gets better.”
The 23-year-old Italian is the reigning champion at Halle and will seek to defend his crown at the tournament, which starts Monday, as he gears up for Wimbledon, which will be held from June 30 to July 13 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.
“The first practice session was OK. I hadn’t played since Paris, so my general feelings on the court were not so perfect,” Sinner said.
“I think a good grass-court player can move well. The ball can bounce a bit funny because of the grass, and you have to serve intelligently.
“But in general, it is a surface on which I took a step forward last year and we will see how it goes this year.”
Lionel Messi takes center stage again as Inter Miami face Egypt’s Al-Ahly in the opening match of FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup, launching a bold 32-team experiment designed to reshape global club football.
But while FIFA President Gianni Infantino touts the tournament as a “new era,” cracks beneath the glitter hint at a bumpy ride.
The tournament opens at Hard Rock Stadium and runs through July 13 with 63 matches sprawled across 11 U.S. cities, ending at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Designed to mirror the prestige of the World Cup, the event brings together clubs from six continents – from Japan’s Urawa Red Diamonds to Brazil’s Fluminense – with Infantino framing it as a long-overdue global showcase.
“Think of legends like George Weah,” Infantino said. “He never played in a World Cup. This gives clubs and players from all corners of the world their shot.”
Billion-dollar bet
Backed by a $1 billion broadcasting deal with DAZN, FIFA has pledged free worldwide streaming – a rare offer in elite sports.
Over 130 countries have already secured tickets, with the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Canada leading the charge.
Fans from Europe and Asia, particularly France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan and Portugal, are also joining the frenzy.
Yet, that enthusiasm isn’t quite translating to ticket sales inside stadiums.
Shrinking hype
Despite early fanfare, empty stands loom large.
Ticket prices have nosedived: Inter Miami vs. Al Ahly seats once priced at $349 now go for under $80.
Dynamic pricing, meant to follow demand, has instead left fans fuming.
Some early buyers saw their seats moved without a clear explanation, with FIFA citing vague “stadium optimizations.”
Entire sections at Lumen Field and Lincoln Financial Field have been shut, though FIFA declined to confirm if sales were behind the decision.
Infantino brushed off criticism, blaming the fluctuations on the sport’s growing pains in the U.S. “We’ll have full stadiums,” he claimed. “Be part of history.”
Cramped schedule
For players, the Club World Cup is more burden than bonus.
Slotted into an already congested calendar, the tournament is pushing elite players, already fatigued from club and international duties, to their limits.
Messi, still active in MLS, faces sweltering Miami heat and tight turnarounds.
Top clubs like PSG, Bayern Munich and Manchester City arrive with squads battered from European campaigns.
Critics accuse FIFA of sacrificing player welfare for commercial gain. Infantino disagrees: “You can’t put a price on growing the game.”
With summer temperatures soaring above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (33 degrees Celsius) in some cities, and humidity draining legs fast, concerns mount over heat-related risks. FIFA has yet to confirm hydration breaks or additional safety measures.
Safety fears and the politics of play
Security will be under the microscope as Border Patrol and federal agencies coordinate with FIFA in the wake of recent unrest in U.S. cities.
The opening match follows last year’s Copa America final at Hard Rock, marred by fans breaching gates.
A now-deleted CBP post promised agents would be “suited and booted” at stadiums. FIFA insists it’s prepared.
“The most important thing is fan safety,” Infantino said. “We’re working with all necessary authorities.”
But the political undertone is hard to ignore. For international fans – especially from countries scrutinized by U.S. immigration policies – the atmosphere may feel tense.
Logistics, disconnects, cultural clashes
Eleven host cities across thousands of miles – from Seattle to Miami – make for a logistical headache. International fans face high travel costs and limited public transit options. Noon kickoffs and unfamiliar clubs aren’t helping.
American fans, more attuned to NFL rivalries than African or Asian clubs, might not flock to watch Urawa Red Diamonds or Al-Ahly.
Student ticket promotions and slashed prices aim to fill seats, but the struggle for atmosphere remains real.
Infantino dismissed the backlash with a smirk: “Too high, too low – FIFA gets criticized either way.”
Despite missteps, the Club World Cup still holds promise.
Young stars from Africa, Asia, and North America will share the field with global icons in what could become a new fixture in football’s calendar.
If FIFA can fix the potholes – ticketing, travel, safety, and scheduling – this could be more than a flash in the pan.
“This is football’s next chapter,” Infantino declared. “It begins now.”
Poland’s national football team coach, Michal Probierz, announced his resignation Thursday, just days after a public fallout with star striker Robert Lewandowski.
“In light of recent developments, I’ve concluded that stepping down is the best decision for the good of the national team,” Probierz said in a statement released by the Polish Football Association.
The move came after Probierz stripped Lewandowski of the captaincy ahead of a crucial World Cup qualifier against Finland earlier this week, handing the armband to Inter Milan midfielder Piotr Zielinski.
Lewandowski responded by saying he would no longer play for the national team as long as Probierz remained head coach. Poland went on to suffer an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Finland, putting its qualification hopes in jeopardy.
The 36-year-old Lewandowski, who has played a record 158 games for his country and is the leading scorer with 85 goals, is widely regarded as the most outstanding player in the history of Polish football.
He pulled out of last Friday’s friendly against Moldova, citing fatigue from a La Liga title-winning season with Barcelona.
Probierz, who took over in September 2023 following the disappointing tenure of Fernando Santos, managed to secure qualification for the 2024 European Championship but has since struggled to maintain form.
Polish Football Association President Cezary Kulesza summoned Probierz on Wednesday to discuss the situation.
“I give coaches a lot of freedom, but with that comes responsibility. I expect results, first and foremost,” Kulesza said. “These were difficult days for the fans of the national team.”
Ferrari may be struggling in Formula One, but the Italian marque heads into this weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans as the favorite, eyeing a third straight victory in endurance racing’s crown jewel.
Tennis legend Roger Federer will serve as the celebrity starter, waving the flag to kick off the 93rd edition of the legendary race at 4 p.m. local time (2:00 p.m. GMT) on Saturday.
Over the next 24 hours, 21 elite hypercars will battle through daylight, darkness and dawn, covering more than 300 laps – over 4,000 kilometers – in front of a sellout crowd of 320,000 fans fueled by caffeine and beer.
Ferrari ended a 50-year hiatus with a stunning win in the centenary race in 2023 and successfully defended its title last year.
The Prancing Horse stable ended Toyota’s run of five consecutive wins from 2018 to 2022. The Japanese manufacturer now seeks to reclaim its crown 40 years after its first Le Mans appearance.
A shake-up in regulations for 2023 sparked renewed interest in the premier class. This year, Ferrari, Toyota and Porsche face stiff competition from Aston Martin, Cadillac, BMW, Alpine and Peugeot.
Ferrari’s position as the team to beat is bolstered by a strong start to the season, reeling off wins in the first three World Endurance Championship races in Qatar, Imola and Belgium.
But Antonio Fuoco, who took the checkered flag last year alongside Miguel Molina and Nicklas Nielsen, is taking nothing for granted.
“Compared to last year, everyone is closer to the other. It’s going to be a tough battle,” said the 29-year-old Italian driver.
Ferrari team manager Batti Pregliasco is wary of the threat posed by Toyota.
“The idea of winning a third Le Mans in a row would be magnificent,” he said.
“But the Toyotas are very strong here because they have the experience, the ability and the means to win.”
Bittersweet memories drive De Vries
Nyck de Vries, who shared driving duties in the Toyota that finished second in 2024, is hungry for redemption.
“Finishing second last year was a great result, but after such a long race with so many different emotions, it felt bitter-sweet. We want to put that right this year,” said De Vries, who was summarily dropped by Red Bull’s then-AlphaTauri sister team midway through the 2023 Formula One season.
De Vries is one of several former F1 drivers – including 2009 world champion Jenson Button – lured by the chance to etch their name onto Le Mans’ roll of honor, as Fernando Alonso did for Toyota in 2018 and 2019. The veteran Spaniard joined a prestigious group that includes Graham Hill, Phil Hill and Jochen Rindt.
Joining the 21 hypercars are 17 entries in the LMP2 class and 24 in the LMGT3 category in an event that has not been without tragedy – 22 drivers have died in its history.
Le Mans, where cars have hit eye-watering speeds of up to 400 kph on the Sarthe circuit’s Mulsanne Straight, also marks the 70th anniversary of the 1955 disaster. That year, debris from Pierre Levegh’s car rained down on the crowd, killing 81 spectators – although the exact toll was never definitively established.
It serves as a somber reminder of the dangers facing the 186 drivers competing this weekend – including the all-women Iron Dames LMGT3 team of Sarah Bovy, Rahel Frey and Celia Martin.
The encouraging news for this brave bunch is that the French national weather service forecasts a dry and calm weekend, with no rain or storms expected as qualifying for pole position begins Thursday night.
Turkish Süper Lig champions Galatasaray have landed German winger Leroy Sane, a marquee signing that underscores the club’s ambitions to shake Europe and tighten their grip on domestic dominance.
Sane, 29, arrived in Istanbul on Thursday to finalize his sensational free transfer from Bayern Munich.
Touching down at Istanbul Atatürk Airport aboard a private jet, he was met by a raucous sea of yellow and red – Galatasaray ultras chanting, waving flags, and setting off flares in scenes more fitting for a title win than a summer signing.
Sane was clearly moved.
Moments after emerging from the terminal, he joined in the traditional “üçlü” chant, instantly connecting with the supporters. “I felt the energy,” he said later. “The fans, the passion – I couldn’t ignore it.”
That passion had first caught his attention two seasons earlier. In 2023, while playing for Bayern Munich in a Champions League clash at Rams Park, Sane experienced what he now calls a turning point.
“It was one of the loudest atmospheres I’ve ever played in,” he recalled. “It stayed with me. So when Galatasaray came calling, it just felt right.”
The club officially confirmed the talks with a filing to Türkiye’s Public Disclosure Platform (KAP): “Professional footballer Leroy Aziz Sane’s transfer negotiations with our club have officially commenced.”
What followed was a carefully orchestrated operation. Sporting director Abdullah Kavukcu, coach Okan Buruk, and club president Dursun Özbek each played key roles in wooing the German international, who turned down other suitors across Europe.
“I had options,” Sane admitted. “But Galatasaray stood out. They showed real intent. The club’s stature, the energy around it – everything aligned.”
While the medical and final paperwork remain, Sane’s signing is all but sealed. Contract length and salary details remain under wraps, though his Bayern deal expires July 1, meaning the Istanbul giants will pay no transfer fee – an extraordinary coup for a player of his pedigree.
Career built on speed and silverware
Born in Essen in 1996, Sane has left a trail of dazzled defenders from Gelsenkirchen to Manchester and Munich.
He burst onto the scene with Schalke 04, making 57 appearances and scoring 13 goals between 2014 and 2016.
That promise earned him a move to Manchester City, where under Pep Guardiola’s system, he flourished: 135 games, 39 goals, 45 assists, and two Premier League titles.
In 2020, Sane returned home to join Bayern Munich. Over five seasons, he lifted three Bundesliga titles and a Champions League crown, racking up 48 goals and 50 assists in 174 matches.
And now, Galatasaray.
What Sane brings to the Lions
Under coach Okan Buruk, Galatasaray is building something formidable. Fresh off back-to-back league titles, the Lions are hungry for European respect – and Sane may be the catalyst.
His versatility on both wings, eye for goal, and elite experience make him a dangerous addition alongside the likes of Mauro Icardi and Victor Osimhen. He adds depth, yes, but also something harder to measure: belief.
The club’s supporters seem to know it. X exploded with excitement. “Game-changer,” read one post. “A signing that says we belong at Europe’s top table,” said another.
The Turkish press has also hailed the move as a masterstroke, praising the board’s ambition in luring a player still in his prime, without spending a cent on a fee.
Sane is expected to undergo a routine medical before putting pen to paper. An official unveiling could follow within days, potentially in front of a packed crowd at Rams Park.
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