09/09/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | SEPT 9, 2025

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M IKEL MERINO struck a hattrick as Spain hammered Turkey 6-0 yester day to take charge of their 2026 World Cup qualifying group. Barcelona’s Pedri Gonzalez netted twice with Ferran Torres also on target as Luis de la Fuente’s side topped Group E with their second victory from their opening two matches. After a comfortable 3-0 win in Bulgaria on Friday the coach pledged his Euro 2024-winning team had an even higher level to reach and they proved that in Konya. Some billed the match as a battle between Barcelona and Spain starlet Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid and Turkey playmaker Arda Guler, but the gulf in class between the sides did not allow for any reasonable comparison. The ruthless and goal-laden performance pleased De la Fuente immensely, and he was also delighted with the improvement from their previous match. “Today we were flawless, there’s not much more to say,” De la Fuente said. “We didn’t want to repeat the mistakes we made against Bulgaria. Today, we started think ing about how to be even better next month!” He also praised the overall quality of the

Spain hit Turkey for six Merino at the treble as La Roja top group with second straight win

page time after being teed up by Mikel Oyarzabal, who produced a hattrick of assists. Electric 18-year-old Yamal played in Barcelona teammate Torres for Spain’s fourth in the 53rd minute and then laid the ball off for Merino to curl home from distance for his treble. With Turkey six goals down, tempers frayed – the frustrated Guler shoved a grinning Yamal as the pair squared off. De la Fuente took off Yamal soon after as Spain saw out their emphatic victory without fur ther incident, sending an early warning that they intend to arrive at the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico as favourites. Spain, who won the tournament for the only time in 2010, have six points, with Georgia and Turkey on three each. Bulgaria are bottom with zero. – AFP/Agencies

“I believe that in many positions we have the best footballers in the world. As for the awards, I don’t know, but I do believe that in many posi tions we really do have the best.” Pedri broke the deadlock in the sixth minute with a fine finish from the edge of the box as Spain made a quick start. Arsenal’s Merino netted the first of his treble by blasting home at the end of a superb team move as Spain shredded Turkey’s defence with quick, incisive passing. At the other end Guler set up Kerem Akturkoglu, who hit the post, but was later shown to be offside. Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams was taken off before the break with an apparent thigh injury in the only negative note for Spain. Merino netted his second in first-half stop

squad at his disposal, believing that many are worthy of individual accolades going forward. While failing to get on the scoresheet, Yamal chipped in with two assists, while also ending the encounter with a game-high number of chances created (four) and successful dribbles (eight). Yamal and Fabian Ruiz are the only Spanish players on the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or , but De la Fuente is adamant Spain are worthy of more. “We remember Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, Xabi Alonso, Raul, players who, in my opinion, should not only have fought for a Ballon d’Or , but should have actually won it. “That said, whenever there is a Spanish foot baller on that shortlist I feel happy, and there are very good players.

Depay stars as Oranje survive Lithuania scare

De Bruyne, Doku on target for Red Devils KEVIN DE BRUYNE underlined his talismanic role for Belgium with a stunning goal to break the deadlock and set his side on their way to a comfortable 6-0 win over Kazakhstan in their World Cup qualifier yesterday. It was threat ening to become a frustrating night at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium for the Belgians before the 42nd-minute strike, but after that they were able to go on and register a comfortable victory with both De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku scoring twice. Belgium have 10 points from four games in Group J, ahead of Wales on goal difference but trailing leaders North Macedonia, who beat Liechtenstein 5-0 in an ear lier match, by a point. The group winners qualify automatically for next year’s World Cup while the runners-up go into a playoff. Nicolas Raskin got his first inter national goal and fullback Thomas Meunier completed a second successive 6-0 win for the Belgians who did the same away against Liechtenstein on Friday. Comoros dare to dream COMOROS beat the Central African Republic 2-0 yesterday to boost their hopes of a maiden World Cup appearance next year. The victory lifted the multi-island nation of less than 900,000 inhabitants off the south east coast of Africa two places to sec ond in Group I, one point behind leaders Ghana. The nine group winners in Africa qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, and the best four runners-up get a second chance in playoffs. Comoros are currently the fourth best second-placed team with 15 points, behind Cameroon and Senegal only on goal difference. Captain Youssouf M’Changama and Myziane Maolida, both born in France to Comoran parents, scored after 20 and 39 minutes to give the islanders a fifth victory in eight qualifiers. The match was played in the Moroccan city of Meknes because the Central African Republic does not have a Fifa-approved stadium. SIDENETTING

MEMPHIS DEPAY set a new scoring record for the Netherlands as his dou ble ensured they survived a scare in beating Lithuania 3-2 away in their World Cup qualifier yesterday. Two goals for the 31-year-old Depay took his national team tally to 52, going ahead of Robin van Persie’s previous record, and putting the Netherlands top of the Group G standings with 10 points from four games, ahead of Poland on goal difference, who defeated Finland 3-1. Depay had the Dutch ahead in the 11th minute as they looked to put aside the disappointment of Friday’s 1-1 home draw against Poland in Rotterdam, volleying home from close range as Cody Gakpo pulled back a pass from the byline and being hoisted onto his team mates’ shoulders in celebration. Midfielder Quinten Timber then got his first international goal as the Dutch doubled the lead in the 33rd minute and look to be cruising to an easy win. But Lithuania then scored twice in the space of seven minutes to level the score by halftime in a sudden turn around. First a mazy round from inside his own half by home captain Justas Lasickas drew the Dutch defence and set up Gvidas Gineitis for a 36th-minute strike. Gineitis then floated a freekick in the 43rd min

ute for Edvinas Girdvainis to power a header home as he rose easily above Gakpo. Dutch angst was extinguished in the 64th minute as Depay rose majestically to power home a header from Denzel Dumfries’ cross from the right flank and ensure a valuable three point haul as they seek a place at next year’s finals in North America. Gakpo hit the woodwork in the 70th minute as the Dutch sought an insurance goal but Lithuania never gave up their quest for an equaliser and it was with much relief that Ronald Koeman’s team greeted the final whistle. “I’m super proud and very glad I got past Robin. I thanked everyone in the dressing room,” he told Dutch NOS television. “I also want to thank old team mates like Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Arjen Robben, for example. They inspired me. The same goes for Patrick Kluivert. It was because of him that I wanted to reach the Dutch national team.” Depay, who now plays club foot ball in Brazil with Corinthians, also had a dig at critics who raised con cerns about his consistency. “People often say, ‘What are we supposed to do with our striker posi tion?’ But we actually have a striker who scores a lot of goals,” he said of himself. “I try to let my feet do the talk ing; they’re not going to get rid of me just yet.” – AFP/Reuters

Netherlands’ Memphis Depay (left) and Lithuania’s Paulius Golubickas vie for the ball during their World Cup qualifying match yesterday. – AFPPIC

PSG seek ‘corrective measures’ after Dembele, Doue blow PARIS ST GERMAIN said France’s medical staff ignored their recommendations on injury risks and acceptable workload for the club’s players, after Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue suffered inju ries during Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.

pened to another player.” France’s players’ union (UNFP) has criticised world governing body Fifa over what it called a reckless international calendar that is putting play ers’ health at risk, saying Dembele and Doue were among several to suffer injuries during this week’s World Cup qualifiers. “We are calling on the State to intervene since it is impossible, despite numerous communications, actions, and complaints, to make Fifa see reason,” David Terrier, president of the French players’ union said in a statement. “On the basis of genuine dialogue, which it refuses to establish and implement, Fifa ignores the health of players and continues with its interna tional calendar, a source of repeated excesses that are growing. “These excesses not only disrupt the organisa tion and financing of domestic and European foot ball but also undermine the preparation of national teams.” – Reuters

“The club regrets that these medical recommen dations were not taken into account by the French national team’s medical staff and that there was a total lack of consultation with its medical teams.” PSG said exchanges between clubs and France’s medical staff should be documented and a“precau tionary principle” should be followed when select ing players for national duty, particularly when they are undergoing treatment for a medical condition. “The recent serious and avoidable events must give rise to rapid and immediate corrective meas ures,” they added. France coach Didier Deschamps defended his decision to field Dembele, saying the forward was fit despite being substituted during a Ligue 1 game at Toulouse on Aug 30 following a right hamstring issue. “I was sure that he was capable of playing a high level match, otherwise I would not have played him. This time, it’s the other thigh,” Deschamps said. “He was fit. It is unfortunate for him but could have hap

Forward Dembele faces about six weeks on the sidelines with an injured left hamstring while winger Doue will be out for around four weeks due to a calf problem after they picked up the injuries during a 2-0 win over Ukraine in Poland. European champions PSG said yesterday that they had called for a“more transparent and collabo rative medical-sporting coordination protocol between clubs and the national team” in a letter to the French Football Federation. “(PSG) had sent the federation concrete medical information, even before the French national team began training, on the acceptable workload and injury risks for its players,” the club said in a state ment.