19/06/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | JUNE 19, 2025

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Inter held in CWC opener T HE 39-year-old Spanish great Sergio Ramos scored as Monterrey held Inter Milan 1-1 in a hard-fought Fifa Club World Cup Group E opener in Pasadena yester at the Rose Bowl. Inter, playing their first game since being thrashed 5-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, were left ruing their failure to turn their dominance of possession and territory into goals. Ramos gives Serie A runner-up a scare in stalemate

Chivu, in his first match in charge after the departure of Simone Inzaghi, denied the Champions League finalists had underestimated the Mexicans. “We respect every team we play and we knew what kind of team they were, we tried to do our best,” he said. “Sometimes you get the best out of it, sometimes you don’t. We created a lot of chances. Football’s not won on paper.” Meanwhile, River Plate opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Urawa Red Diamonds yesterday, with goals from Facundo Colidio, Sebastian Driussi and Maxi Meza enough to see off a spirited challenge from the Japanese side. In Group F, Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup. South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund. – AFP/Reuters

Inter coach Cristian Chivu said his team had struggled to break down a Monterrey team who sat deep for long periods.

“We played well in the first half even though we went behind,” Chivu said. “We could have attacked better in the second half. It’s not easy to play against a very low block.”

day. Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez scored a well-worked equaliser to cancel out Ramos’s opener for the Mexican side in front of 40,311 fans

But the draw was a boost for Ramos and Monterrey, who face Argentina’s River Plate in their next game on Sunday. “When you don’t get all three points you’re never entirely happy,” Ramos, the former Spain and R e a l M a d r i d defender, said. “But one point is better than no point. “They were a tough opponent and have just played in the final of the Champions League. We were a little bit nervous but in the second half we stayed organised and kept the ball better. Now we need to think about the next game.” ARSENAL have been urged to press ahead with a move for Julian Alvarez after putting their interest in Viktor Gyokeres on the backburner. The north Londoners are believed to be in the market for a new striker, having been made to pay for their failure to sign one in January. Mikel Merino was forced to deputise up front last season with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both suffering injuries. Gyokeres has been linked with the Gunners for some time, having established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific strikers while at Sporting. The forward is widely expected to move on this summer and is attracting no shortage of interest. A move to the Premier League has been heavily touted amid interest from Arsenal and Manchester United. However, the Gunners are also pursuing Benjamin Sesko and the Red Devils are considered outsiders after they failed to qualify for Europe. SACKING coach Ange Postecoglou soon after he delivered Tottenham Hotspur’s first major trophy in 17 years was “emotionally difficult”, but the club needed a change after a poor Premier League season, chairman Daniel Levy said. Postecoglou was dismissed earlier this month, just over two weeks after leading Tottenham to a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final, securing the club’s first silverware since 2008 and earning them a place in next season’s Champions League. Levy noted that while the decision divided supporters, the Australian manager ultimately paid the price for a dreadful league campaign that saw his side finish 17th in the table – their worst finish since they were relegated in the 1976-77 campaign. “I don’t regret appointing Ange, I’m very grateful to Ange. In his first season we finished fifth and in his second we were over the moon to win a trophy,” Levy said

18/06/2025 (WED)

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Draw Date: 18/06/25 (Wed)

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Sergio Ramos. – REUTERSPIC

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Arsenal move for Alvarez after Gyokeres U-turn

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Juventus have emerged as the favourites to sign Gyokeres given their willingness to match his £211,000-per-week (RM1.2 billion) salary demands, according to Corriere dello Sport . Arsenal are said to have shelved their interest in the Sporting man as a result of this development. They could still complete a move for Sesko, who is another long-term target, but former England winger Shaun Wright Phillips is convinced that Alvarez would be a better fit. Speaking to Prime Casino , he said: “If I was Arsenal, I’d want Julian Alvarez ahead of any other option. Alvarez is unique with his mobility and finishing. “He’s got experience, having won everything so much. To have him in your armoury, it would just be exceptional.” Alvarez has already been linked with a move to Liverpool, who are reportedly eyeing a new forward to replace Darwin Nunez. – Express Newspapers in an interview released by the club yesterday. “But we need to compete in all competitions, and we felt that we needed a change. Emotionally it was difficult but we feel that we’ve made the right decision for the club. Tottenham last week named former Brentford boss Thomas Frank as their fifth fulltime manager in six years and the 13th since Levy became chairman over 25 years ago. “Failure is not an option, the desire (is) to succeed. And because it’s so difficult, I want to succeed even more,” Levy added. “Whenever you have a new coach, it’s always a fresh start. (There are) always different ideas but we want to build on the success of winning a trophy last season. “One of the things that stood out to me with Thomas was that he is clearly highly intelligent, a great communicator, super human being plus all the technical aspects which are obviously important.” – Reuters

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Sacking Postecoglou was ‘emotionally difficult’: Levy

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