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Spalletti sacked Head coach storms out of Italy press conference after dismiss confirmed L UCIANO SPALLETTI has revealed himself that he’s been sacked as Italy’s head coach following a catastrophic stint leading the Azzurri , with Claudio Moldova, which Spalletti will oversee before bowing out, he spilled the beans about his dismissal.

Portugal toast Ronaldo’s ‘winner mentality’ CRISTIANO RONALDO’S coach and teammates praised his leadership after yesterday’s Nations League final win over Spain in Munich. Portugal twice fell behind, but twice came back, with Ronaldo scoring the second equaliser. “A captain with the type of experience he has is essential, to show the necessary values and personality,” said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez. “Spain was ahead on the scoreboard twice, but the captain has a lot of experience and we used his experience to show we are ready to win.” The 40-year-old forward was subbed off with what looked like cramp, but Portugal fought through extra time after the match finished 2-2 and then triumphed 5-3 on penalties. On the sidelines, Ronaldo could not watch the final penalty, burying his face in a teammate’s back. Once Ruben Neves converted, the Portugal veteran fell to his knees and was embraced by players and staff. Ronaldo scored the winner in Portugal’s semifinal victory over Germany and the crucial equaliser against Spain. Nuno Mendes, who scored Portugal’s first, set up Ronaldo’s goal and converted a penalty in the shootout, praised the veteran’s impact. “He deserves everything. He helps us a lot on the pitch and off it,” Mendes said. “He’s got a winner mentality. He’s a role model. We’re happy we’ve got him.” Mendes, who won the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain on the same ground eight days ago, was named man of the match by Uefa after the game. Ronaldo made his debut in the national team in 2003 and has gone on to score 138 goals while picking up 219 caps for his national side. – AFP Poland defeated Moldova 2-0 in a friendly on Friday and are away to Finland in a World Cup qualifier tomorrow (2.45am Malaysian time). – Reuters Lewa will not play for Poland and Probierz ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI said he will not play for Poland again under the current manager, shortly after the striker was stripped of the captaincy role yesterday. Poland coach Michal Probierz made the decision to replace Lewandowski as national team captain with midfielder Piotr Zielinski. “By decision of coach Michal Probierz, Piotr Zielinski became the new captain of the Polish national team,” a Polish football federation (PZPN) statement said. “The coach personally informed Robert Lewandowski, the entire team and the training staff of his decision.” Lewandowski’s response via social media was swift. “Considering the circumstances and the loss of trust in the Polish national team coach, I have decided to step back from playing for the Polish national team as long as he remains the coach,” Lewandowski said. “I hope I will have the chance to play again for the best fans in the world.” Lewandowski is not with the current Poland squad, with the Barcelona player citing physical and mental exhaustion after a long season as the reason for his absence. The 36-year-old is Poland’s highest goal scorer with 85 goals for his country in a record 158 appearances, and had held the captaincy since 2014. Probierz replaced the sacked Fernando Santos as Poland manager in 2023, taking them to Euro 2024 where his side were the first team to be eliminated. The PZPN said Probierz will respond to questions on the situation in a press conference on Monday.

By accepting I knew that there would be difficult moments to get through,” he said. “You were also kind to comment on the game the other night. We deserved worse. I created problems for the movement. I was convinced that I could have done differently. We have to play a match worthy of the shirt we wear, of the name we represent. “I’ll be there tomorrow night against Moldova. These are the results under my management and I have to take responsibility. I love this shirt, this job and the players I’ve coached: tomorrow night I’ll ask them to demonstrate what I asked even if I haven’t been able to get them to express their best.” Spalletti remains optimistic about Italy’s chances, encouraging his players to strive for victory and end their World Cup drought. – Express Newspapers

“I spoke with (FIGC president Gabriele) Gravina last night and he informed me that I will be relieved of my duties as national team coach,” uttered a disheartened Spalletti during the press conference. “I am disappointed: given the relationship we have, I had no intention of stepping down. Especially when things are not going well, I would have preferred to stay and do my job. “However, it is a dismissal and I have to accept it. I have always seen this role as a service to my country and I want to facilitate the future of the national team. I think it is right to seek the best solution. “It hurt me not to have brought out the best in everyone, to reach the quality of play that I would have liked. I’m sorry for myself.

Ranieri tipped as the frontrunner to take over. His departure is on the heels of Italy’s crushing 3-0 loss to Norway in their first qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup. After missing out on the last two World Cups, Italy are desperate to dodge the embarrassment of missing out for a third consecutive time. The Italian took the helm in August 2023 after Roberto Mancini left for Saudi Arabia. Under Spalletti’s watch, Italy scraped together a measly 11 wins out of 23 games, marking the most disappointing record from an Italian national team manager since Cesare Prandelli’s tenure wrapped up in 2014. In the build-up to the qualifier against

Mbappe fires Les Bleus past Germany

KYLIAN MBAPPE bagged a goal and an assist as France beat Germany 2-0 in the Nations League bronze-medal match in Stuttgart on Sunday. Mbappe wove his magic in a heavily changed France squad. Germany dominated the opening half but Mbappe provided the breakthrough just before halftime, carving a shot through a crowded penalty box to bring up his 50th goal in France colours. Late in the second, with the hosts desperately looking for an equaliser, Mbappe snatched a poor Germany pass on the halfway line and rampaged forward, before setting up Michael Olise. Mbappe had not scored in open play for France for more than a year. After the match, the France captain hit back at criticism levelled against him, telling DAZN “since I arrived in the international team, everyone always talks about me. … when they have an opportunity to talk bad, they talk bad. “They did it with all the great players in history in France and I’m the next. But I’m OK with that. I just try and do my job.” France and Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni praised his club and international teammate Mbappe, saying “everyone in the team loves him. “He’s a very important player for us and when he plays like he did today, it’s just amazing.” For Germany, who lost two straight straight matches for the first time since 2023, questions remain over how much they have truly improved under Julian Nagelsmann. Striker Niclas Fullkrug lamented his side’s wastefulness, telling DAZN :“if we had taken our first chance and scored, it could have been three or four nil for us.” In the lead-up to Sunday’s encounter, France coach Didier Deschamps admitted the Nations League clash with old rivals Germany “isn’t the most important game for us,” with a clear focus on next year’s World Cup. Captain Joshua Kimmich told RTL : “We should have been leading 3-0 after six minutes. Then we went into the break a goal behind. “We lost patience too early and lost our structure in the second half. We made too many mistakes and gave them what they wanted.” – AFP/Agencies

Germany’s Niclas Fullkrug (left) and France’s Loic Bade vie for the ball during the Uefa Nations League third place playoff match. – AFPPIC

Spain focus on World Cup after defeat SPAIN coach Luis de la Fuente said his side were “already thinking about the World Cup” after yesterday’s Nations League final loss on penalties to Portugal in Munich. “From this very moment we are “Our team is always in a position to win, there is a lot of commitment, a lot of roots. We will always be close to winning.” Spain won the 2023 Nations

“Portugal have done things very well, they have players of the highest level,” de la Fuente said. De la Fuente backed Morata after his penalty miss, saying the veteran striker was “a real champion” and “a benchmark for us.” “I’m sorry he missed the penalty, but many players don’t want to take one. He took one and missed it, but that happens in football.” – AFP

finals have again highlighted their reliance on midfielder Pedri. In last Friday’s wild 5-4 win over France, Pedri came off the pitch with the score at 5-1 before France scored three late goals. Yesyerday, Spain lost shape after the Barcelona midfield was subbed off late in the game. The coach admitted his players were tired after a long season, but praised Portugal.

League and the Euros in 2024. Yesterday’s loss was their first competitive international defeat since going down to Scotland in March 2023 in a Euro qualifier. Spain’s young core again impressed but the Nations League

already thinking about the next World Cup, which is our goal. With the way we approach things, we are sure to go far in the future,” de la Fuente said.