03/06/2025

SPORTS TUESDAY | JUNE 3, 2025

/thesuntelegram FOLLOW / Malaysian Paper

ON TELEGRAM m RAM

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‘This is a nightmare’

SIDENETTING Spalletti confident in Italy’s World Cup return ITALY MANAGER Luciano Spalletti is framing Friday’s (Sat 2.45am Malaysian time) clash at Norway as a decisive moment in their 2026 World Cup qualification and says his side are fully equipped to deliver. Spalletti’s side begin their qualifying campaign in Group I in Oslo against hosts off to a flying start with six points from two matches and nine goals scored. Four time World Cup champions Italy have failed to reach the World Cup finals since 2014, and are only now beginning their qualifiers after competing in the Nations League quarterfinals in March, where they lost to Germany. “Let’s be clear: in Norway, everything is on the line when it comes to whether or not we’ll qualify for the World Cup,” Spalletti told reporters. We have a duty to fulfil this task that’s been entrusted to us. We need to qualify because it’s absolutely crucial for us. As for us, we have everything we need to play our game. We have all the potential for a great match, and that’s exactly what we intend to put into practice.” … but will have to do without Acerbi INTER MILAN’S veteran defender Francesco Acerbi withdrew from the Italy squad yesterday, the day after his club’s humbling defeat to Paris Saint Germain in the Champions League final, citing a lack of respect from manager Luciano Spalletti. Acerbi has not played for Italy since November 2023, but after his recent exploits with Inter, Spalletti named him in his squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The 37-year-old’s announcement comes immediately following Inter’s 5-0 loss in Munich on Saturday, but Acerbi, who spoke with Spalletti on Sunday morning, said this had nothing to do with his decision. “I felt that, in light of recent events, the conditions to continue this path peacefully do not exist today,”Acerbi said in a social media post. “I don’t seek alibis or favours, I demand respect. And if this respect is lacking on the part of those who should lead a group, then I prefer to step aside. I’ve always given everything, but I don’t stay where I’m no longer really wanted and it’s clear that I’m not part of the manager’s project.” Kelleher set to join Brentford LIVERPOOL goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is set to sign for Brentford in a deal that could rise to £18m (RM99m), according to reports yesterday. Kelleher was backup to Liverpool’s first-choice keeper Alisson Becker during their Premier League title-winning campaign this season. Although the Ireland international featured 10 times in the League when Alisson was injured, he was keen to leave Anfield in search of regular first-team action. Brentford have agreed a reported initial fee of £12.5m (RM69m) for Kelleher that can rise to £18m if performance-related requirements are met. Kelleher, who has a year left on his Liverpool contract, also attracted interest from Leeds, West Ham and Bournemouth. The 26-year old will be replaced at Anfield by Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili. Mamardashvili will join up with Arne Slot’s side in time for next season after the Georgian agreed his move to the Reds last year.

Ű BY HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

“Last night, on a warm early summer night in Bavaria, Inter left the wonderful Allianz Arena in Munich in pieces. From every point of view.” The verdict of prominent sports columnist Paolo Condo in Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera was damning about the coaching of Simone Inzaghi after the defeat, suggesting that the Inter manager made all the wrong substitutions, and questioning where all the qualities shown in the wins over Bayern Munich and Barcelona had gone. A solitary fan showed up to greet the team at Malpensa Airport after they landed, Gazzetta dello Sport reported. “I’m the only idiot here, but they still deserve applause,” the lonely Inter supporter named Marco was reported as saying by Gazzetta . – The Independent/AFP

was the club’s worst performance ever. “For Inter, it was the worst match of the year – and of history? – in the most important match of the entire season, after losing the Scudetto , Coppa Italia and Supercoppa. “The feared number zero in the titles category (excluding the Club World Cup). In March, after (beating) Feyenoord, Inzaghi raised three fingers to indicate the “treble”. All he has left is his fist.” Rome sports newspaper Corriere dello Sport , meanwhile, said that PSG had “humiliated” Inter. “Two years ago, Inter emerged from the defeat against (Manchester) City with their legs and spirit shattered but their minds stronger. “Because they had put under pressure for a long time what was, at the time, the strongest team in Europe.

INTER MILAN’S record Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain has been branded a “nightmare” after their European dream came crashing down in Munich. PSG were irresistible on their way to a first triumph in the competition, with Desire Doue among their attacking talent to sparkle en route to a 5-0 victory. The final had looked an intriguing clash of styles but the defensive solidity that Inter had showed at times on their run to the decider was no match for the French capital club’s heavily-resourced forward line and creative midfield. “Inter, this is a nightmare”, sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport said, before questioning if this

Paris explodes

Paris Saint-Germain’s players celebrate as they parade on a bus on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris. – AFPPIC

Jubilant PSG party into night with Champions League trophy P ARIS SAINT-GERMAIN players, staff and fans stretched their Champions League celebrations deep into Sunday evening as they finished a day of festivities in the French capital at a packed and delirious Parc des Princes stadium. European club football for the first time. The players brandished the trophy and addressed the crowd as they drove. After parading down the Champs Elysees, coach Luis Enrique and his team went to a reception at the Elysee palace hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron who lavished praise on the team. “You are the champions and you have put Paris at the top of Europe,” he said.

boy died after being stabbed in the chest. A 23-year-old man riding a scooter in central Paris also died after being hit by a vehicle. A policeman was in an induced coma after being injured by a firework. PSG concluded their day’s festivities with a party at their Parc des Princes home ground. Each player walked onto the pitch to a different song and each received a standing ovation. Club captain Marquinhos, who joined the club in 2013, was the last to take centre stage, holding one handle of the trophy as club president President Nasser al-Khelaifi held the other. “After all these years, I can cry now, this is the day of glory!” Marquinhos said, before telling the crowd: “We love you. Enjoy it! We are European champions!” Even the club president received praise, with the crowd cheering: “Thank you Nasser.” “The objective now is to win again,” Nasser said after the game. “It has taken 14 years of hard work but we are building something for the future.” – AFP is uncertainty about who else will be in contention for a place next season. Captain Bruno Fernandes has received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, which he is considering, though Amorim has said he is confident his fellow Portuguese will stay. Marcus Rashford will return to Old Trafford after the end of his loan spell at Aston Villa, but seems to have no future there with United putting a £40 million (RM220m) price on him and Barcelona going public in their interest. Antony’s productive loan spell at Real Betis has ended but he is likely to be available for transfer while United are waiting to discover if Chelsea will complete a deal for Jadon Sancho or pay a £5 million (RM28m) penalty and return him to Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho is unsettled and was unhappy not to start the Europa League final. – The Independent

Players sung and danced and waved the trophy on their home pitch as music blared and star Parisian rappers performed before a jubilant crowd. The well-wishers included tennis player Novak Djokovic, hours ahead of his fourth-round match at nearby Roland Garros, and former French President Nicolas Sarkozy. After thrashing Inter Milan by a record 5-0 in Saturday evening’s final, the squad flew into Paris from Munich at just before 4pm (10pm Malaysian time). They then set off on a triumphal procession on an open-top, double-decker bus. They were greeted along the route by crowds of jubilant supporters. Waving flags and letting off flares, they savoured their club winning the biggest prize in MANCHESTER UNITED have agreed to sign Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million (RM344m). The forward will put pen to paper on a five-year contract at Old Trafford, with United possessing the option to extend his deal until 2031, after agreeing personal terms. The transfer will be officially completed when Cunha returns from international duty with Brazil and subject to a visa, which is expected to be a formality. United triggered Cunha’s release clause at Molineux last week and will pay the fee in instalments over the next two years. Cunha will become United’s third buy in Ruben Amorim’s reign, after Ayden Heaven and Patrick Dorgu, and much the biggest. Ű BY RICHARD JOLLY

“There were 11 of you on the field, but there was clearly a 12th man – the entire French public, regardless of traditional allegiances,” said Macron. An estimated 11.8 million viewers watched the game on French television as PSG became just the second French side to become European champions, after Marseille in 1993. The president however condemned the violence which had marred the victory celebrations across France on Saturday night. Police made nearly 600 arrests across France, the interior ministry said, after more than 200 cars were torched and police clashed with youths. In the southwest town of Dax, a 17-year-old But while he is the first part of their plan to reshape the attack, they face defeat in another with Ipswich’s Liam Delap preferring to join Chelsea instead of United. Cunha scored 15 Premier League goals for Wolves last season, earning a further six assists, while no United player scored more than eight times in the top flight as they came 15th, their worst finish in half a century. Cunha expressed his delight at sealing the move, praising his new boss Amorim and expressing confidence he will be a success at Old Trafford. “Talking about him is easy, I think he’s a great coach and I wish him nothing but the best,” Cunha said to CNN Brasil . “I hope he conquers the world as he did Portugal. God willing, we’ll always do our best to help.” Amorim was quick to target Cunha as a player who could add goals to the United attack, but there

United agree Cunha transfer from Wolves