Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo are the standouts in a superb Spanish side that also won the UEFA Women’s Nations League this year and are now making their Olympic debut The US come to Paris under the leadership of English former Chelsea boss Hayes, probably the outstanding female coach in the sport PARIS: A rejuvenated US team under new coach Emma Hayes are targeting a record-extending fifth women’s football gold medal at the Paris Olympics but face stiff competition, not least in the shape of World Cup holders Spain and their all-star lineup. The USA just about remain the biggest draw in women’s soccer despite disappointing recent results and the departures of several veteran stars. They won gold when women’s football was introduced to the Olympics in 1996, and won three in a row in 2004, 2008 and 2012. But they exited in the quarterfinals in 2016 and settled for bronze three years ago in Tokyo after losing to eventual champions Canada in the semis. That was followed by a shock last-16 exit at the World Cup a year ago in Australia and New Zealand, a disappointing end to the iconic Megan Rapinoe’s international career and an outcome that precipitated the exit of coach Vlatko Andonovski. They come to Paris under the leadership of English former Chelsea boss Hayes, probably the outstanding female coach in the sport. She made a striking decision when naming her squad for the Games by choosing to leave out Alex Morgan, one of the leading players in the sides that won the 2015 and 2019 World Cups but now in her twilight years at the age of 35. “It was a tough decision of course...especially considering Alex’s history and record with this team, but I felt I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players,” said Hayes. It is a younger USA squad now, although players like Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith will benefit from the experience garnered at the World Cup. Experience is still there, too, notably in the shape of Lindsey Horan and Rose Lavelle, members of the side that won the World Cup in France in 2019. The USA are in a difficult Group B with Germany, Australia and a Zambia team who are outsiders but boast exciting forward in Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji. The format — with 12 teams in three groups of four — means the two best third-placed sides advance to the quarterfinals, providing a safety net in the event of slip-ups. Germany, gold medalists in 2016, will aim to bounce back from their group-stage exit at the World Cup but have lost key midfielder Lena Oberdorf to injury. Australia are hoping to build on their run to the semifinals in that World Cup on home soil, yet they are missing Sam Kerr, their captain, as she recovers from an ACL injury. Spain, in Group C with Japan, Nigeria and Brazil, will take some beating as they arrive in Paris with the stars who led them to World Cup glory 11 months ago. Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmati, Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo are the standouts in a superb side that also won the UEFA Women’s Nations League this year and are now making their Olympic debut. “I’m sure lots of people and lots of teams see us as favorites, but this competition is a bit different,” Bonmati told Marca. “We play lots of matches in a short space of time, and against good sides, so it will be very difficult. But obviously we have the maximum ambition and are going for gold.” Spain kick off against 2012 silver medalists Japan, whose side includes Hinata Miyazawa, top scorer at the World Cup. Nigeria are the top-ranked African nation, while Brazil are two-time silver medalists and hope to contend again in legendary forward Marta’s sixth Olympics at the age of 38. France, meanwhile, are aiming big on home soil as they face reigning Olympic champions Canada, New Zealand and the Colombia of teenage sensation Linda Caicedo in Group A. “The objective, like that of every French athlete, is to win a medal. It won’t be easy, but it has to be the aim,” said coach Herve Renard, who will leave after the tournament which begins on Thursday and runs until Aug. 10. Games will be played around France, with the semifinals in Lyon and Marseille. However, the gold-medal match will be in Paris. Follow Topics: SPAIN USA PARIS OLYMPICS 2024 RELATED 2511The Sapium sebiferum, or Chinese tallow tree, was planted by King Faisal during his 1966 visit to Pakistan. (SPA) Thriving tree planted by King Faisal a symbol of Saudi-Pakistani relations 971First edition of Olympic Esports Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025 First edition of Olympic Esports Games to be held in Saudi Arabia in 2025 Messi-less MLS fall 4-1 to Mexican league in All-Star Game Messi-less MLS fall 4-1 to Mexican league in All-Star Game Updated 14 sec ago AFP July 25, 2024 06:41 1 Follow Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi did not play for MLS due to a right ankle injury suffered in Argentina’s victory over Colombia in the Copa America final Argentine striker German Berterame and Moroccan winger Oussama Idrissi also scored for the Mexican league’s elite squad in the triumph at Columbus, Ohio WASHINGTON: Second-half goals by Argentine strikers Juan Brunetta and Maximiliano Meza gave Mexico’s Liga MX a 4-1 victory over Major League Soccer in Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game. Argentine striker German Berterame and Moroccan winger Oussama Idrissi also scored for the Mexican league’s elite squad in the triumph at Columbus, Ohio. MLS had won both prior All-Star meetings with Mexican league rivals, playing to a 1-1 draw and winning 3-2 on penalty kicks in 2021 and taking a 2-1 triumph in 2022. Berterame, a 25-year-old forward for Mexico’s CF Monterrey, opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Cucho Hernandez, a Colombian winger for the Columbus Crew, equalized for MLS in the 17th minute. Idrissi answered for Liga MX in the 41st minute to give his squad a 2-1 lead at halftime. Reserve Brunetta, a striker for Tigres UANL, boosted Liga MX’s lead in the 68th minute and Meza, a winger for Monterrey who also came off the bench to start the second half, added another goal in the 69th for the final margin. Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi did not play for MLS due to a right ankle injury suffered in Argentina’s victory over Colombia in the Copa America final. Messi, who also missed two MLS games last week, is uncertain for Miami’s home game Saturday against Puebla as Inter begin defending the Leagues Cup, a second-year tournament involving MLS and Liga MX clubs that begins on Friday. Follow Topics: LIONEL MESSI MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RELATED 242Miami’s Messi, Suarez out for MLS All-Star Game Miami’s Messi, Suarez out for MLS All-Star Game 247Costa Rica keeps USA to 0-0 draw in Olympic sendoff game Costa Rica keeps USA to 0-0 draw in Olympic sendoff game Iga Swiatek: Clay queen targets Olympic gold Iga Swiatek: Clay queen targets Olympic gold Updated 37 min 31 sec ago AFP July 25, 2024 06:04 15 Follow The Polish world No. 1 has been dominant on the red clay of Paris, winning four of the past five tournaments Swiatek has sporting pedigree — her father Tomasz represented Poland in rowing at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul PARIS: Iga Swiatek is returning to a happy hunting ground as she seeks a first Olympic crown to add to her four French Open titles at Roland Garros. The Polish world No. 1 has been dominant on the red clay of Paris, winning four of the past five tournaments and is unbeaten there since a quarterfinal loss to Greece’s Maria Sakkari in 2021. The five-time Grand Slam champion, who won the US Open in 2022, is seeking to go much further than she did at the Tokyo Games in 2021, where she lost to Paula Badosa in the second round. Swiatek, 23, has had plenty of time to prepare for the Paris Olympics after her early exit from Wimbledon, where she lost in the third round to Yulia Putintseva. The painful defeat on the grass at the All England Club brought Swiatek’s 21-match winning streak to a shuddering halt. She was asked afterwards how she would prepare for the Olympics in Paris. “For sure I’m going to take a lesson and rest a bit more,” she said. “I don’t know, I feel like even though I didn’t perform well at this tournament, because of how the whole season is looking, I deserve it. “I should literally do it better because I’m not going to be able to go through the whole season playing good tennis.” In 2020, Swiatek announced herself to the tennis world when she won the French Open without dropping a set. She was the first Polish player, male or female, to win a Grand Slam singles title and has dominated the event since, with her one blip coming three years ago. Last month she beat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in a one-sided final, becoming the fourth woman in the modern era to lift the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen four times after Justine Henin, Chris Evert and Steffi Graf. The world No. 1 also completed a Madrid-Rome-Roland Garros clay treble. The only other woman in history to do it in the same season is Serena Williams. Swiatek has sporting pedigree — her father Tomasz represented Poland in rowing at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. “Normally a small child has trouble hitting even one or two balls but she could keep it going for dozens of shots,” recalls Artur Szostaczko, her first coach. “She was a fighter.... I knew that if it went to a super tie-break, there was no need to worry — Iga wouldn’t crack under the pressure.” Szostaczko taught Swiatek until she was 10 years old. She was then coached by Michal Kaznowski, who remembers that Swiatek always wanted to be treated on an equal footing with her hard-working big sister Agata. “Iga got really mad at me because I proposed some basic drill where I would feed Agata eight balls but only six to Iga because she was younger,” he said “That made her angry. She went to her dad and said she wants just as many as Agata.” Swiatek will hope that determination carries her all the way to the gold medal on her favorite courts in Paris. Follow Topics: 2024 PARIS OLYMPICS IGA SWIATEK RELATED 114France struggles with its hijab rules for Olympics opening ceremony France struggles with its hijab rules for Olympics opening ceremony 270Morocco fans rush field during Olympic soccer opener vs Argentina. Game suspended, goal disallowed Morocco fans rush field during Olympic soccer opener vs Argentina. Game suspended, goal disallowed Late-night gamer Verstappen eyes redemption at Belgian Grand Prix Late-night gamer Verstappen eyes redemption at Belgian Grand Prix Updated 25 July 2024 AFP July 25, 2024 04:39 16 Follow A week after ranting on the team radio in Budapest, Max Verstappen heads to the Belgian Grand Prix warned to take “nothing for granted” and advised by Red Bull to give up late-night simulation racing during race weekends. The series leader and three-time world champion departed Hungary in a petulant mood after finishing a frustrated fifth, swearing on team radio and in post-race interviews, having gone to bed at three am before the race. It was his and Red Bull’s third consecutive race without a win and he will need to deliver a more composed and professional performance on his preferred circuit on Sunday to avoid extending his winless run to four for the first time since 2020. Another defeat and his commanding supremacy of the past, he won 19 of 22 races last year, will be forgotten. “Hungary was a tricky race and a weekend to forget and move forward from,” said Dutchman Verstappen, whose combative manner did not go unnoticed. “We have been working to optimize our performance and get the best out of the car that we possibly can. “Spa has always been my favorite track with fast corners and lots of opportunities to overtake. The fans are also great and we get a lot of support there,” he added. After winning the last three Belgian Grands Prix, Verstappen will be seeking to return to form with a fourth victory, but he may have to start from the back half of the grid if, as expected, Red Bull, fit his car with a fifth new engine of the season. The limit for new power units is four, but Verstappen has proved at Spa in the past that he can overcome grid penalties when he seizes the momentum. Born in Belgium to a Belgian mother, but grew up in the Netherlands, Verstappen always enjoys passionate backing from the local crowd and he may need it as he bids to extend his lead, trimmed to 76 points last Sunday, ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris. Coincidentally, Norris, who was also involved in some colorful ‘team orders’ radio exchanges last Sunday, also has a Belgian mother and he will be seeking to reduce the gap further by winning on Sunday, after handing victory last weekend to his team-mate Oscar Piastri following instructions to do so. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has warned the threat from McLaren, the in-form team with the fastest car, and both Mercedes and Ferrari, could wreck their season if they cannot respond and gather points more emphatically than they have. “We’re just going to develop the fastest car we can, and that’s what we’ll continue to do,” said Horner. “In the drivers’ championship, obviously Max has a good lead — but that can diminish very quickly, so, nothing can be taken for granted.” The team’s influential director Helmut Marko, a close adviser and confidante to the world champion, told speedweek.com: “We agreed that he would no longer run simulations so late in the future.” Most attention may be focussed on the leading title contenders, but that will suit Piastri who showed commendable assurance as he claimed his maiden victory last Sunday. “Spa’s not been the happiest of hunting grounds for us recently, but I’m confident we’ll be strong,” said the 22-year-old Australian. “We’ve got a car that’s become a real all-rounder so I’m super confident and I think the team should be as well.” After winning his home British race and then finishing third for Mercedes last weekend, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton will also be a challenger on a track where he has won four times as will Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who took pole last year and won in 2019. Follow Topics: MAX VERSTAPPEN RELATED 79Verstappen counting on Red Bull upgrades for ‘important weekend’ Verstappen counting on Red Bull upgrades for ‘important weekend’ 143Friends again: Norris, Verstappen make up after Spielberg drama Friends again: Norris, Verstappen make up after Spielberg drama Moussa Diaby joins Al-Ittihad from Aston Villa Moussa Diaby joins Al-Ittihad from Aston Villa Updated 25 July 2024 ARAB NEWS July 25, 2024 00:51 80 Follow Moussa Diaby joins fellow Frenchmen Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante in Jeddah RIYADH: Frenchman Moussa Diaby has joined Al-Ittihad, the club announced on Thursday. The Jeddah team posted an announcement video with the player wearing Ittihad’s black and yellow jersey. He will join the Tigers on a five-year contract after successfully passing a medical exam in Alicante, Spain, a club statement said. “Hello Tigers, I am here,” Diaby announces in the video, holding a vintage rotary phone. “I am thrilled to join Al-Ittihad and be part of a project that aims to build a strong team reflecting the club’s rich history and values. I look forward to collaborating with my new teammates to achieve victories and bring joy to our dedicated fans,” said the Frenchman. “Diaby has an impressive track record, having played in the top leagues of France, Germany, and England, where he has showcased his talent and skill as a winger,” the statement read. Domingos Oliveira, the CEO of Ittihad, said: “Our sports committee identified the need to strengthen the winger position with an exceptional player, and we are confident that Moussa Diaby is one of the top players who stand out globally in this role.” The 25-year-old midfielder played 54 games for English Premier League side Aston Villa, including 25 appearances last season during their impressive fourth place finish. In Spain, the player was welcomed by the team’s sporting director, Ramon Planes, and introduced to his new teammates and the technical and administrative staff. He joins fellow Frenchmen Karim Benzema and Ngolo Kante in the west coast city. The left-footed Diaby, a pacy and versatile player, is not known for scoring lots of goals but his attacking threat will be an advantage for the Tigers. Ittihad had a disappointing season last year with a fifth place finish, after winning the Saudi Pro League title a year earlier. The Jeddah side has brought in veteran French player Laurent Blanc as coach to boost their chances against the other big three clubs in the SPL: Al-Hilal, Al-Nassr and Al-Ahli. Ittihad are currently in pre-season training in Spain and will play Seville on Friday. Follow Topics: MOUSSA DIABY AL-ITTIHAD RELATED 418Al-Ittihad unveils new kit for 2024-25 season Al-Ittihad unveils new kit for 2024-25 season 942Karim Benzema welcomes Houssem Aouar to Al-Ittihad’s training camp in Alicante, Spain. (X/@ittihad_en) Al-Ittihad sign Algerian midfielder Houssem Aouar on a four-year contract Egypt and Dominican Republic grind out goalless draw in their Paris Olympics opener Egypt and Dominican Republic grind out goalless draw in their Paris Olympics opener Updated 24 July 2024 ARAB NEWS July 24, 2024 23:33 71 Follow Peter Gonzalez has the ball in the net for the Dominicans in the 13th minute but referee disallows it for a foul on Egyptian defender Hossam Abdelmajeed Egypt are competing in the Olympics football contest for the 13th time, the most of any African nation, while the Dominican Republic are making their debut PARIS: Egypt and the Dominican Republic battled their way to a scoreless draw on Wednesday in their opening Group C match on the first day of the men’s soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics. The Dominicans, who are playing for the first time ever in the football competition at the Games, had the ball in their opponents’ net in the 13th minute, courtesy of Peter Gonzalez, but the referee ruled it out over a foul Egyptian defender Hossam Abdelmajeed. Both teams had chances throughout the match, which took place at Nantes’ Stade de la Beaujoire, but goalkeepers Xavier Valdez and Hamza Alaa were not to be beaten on the day. Alaa made a great save to tip away a Gonzalez free-kick in the 70th minute, and his Egyptian teammates worked hard to grab a winner late on but the Dominican defense refused to yield. Egypt are competing in the Olympics football contest for the 13th time, the most of any African nation, but has never finished higher than fourth place, which it achieved in Amsterdam in 1928 and Tokyo in 1964. The team made reached the quarter-finals at Tokyo 2020, losing 1-0 to Brazil. It had been hoped that Mohammed Salah might join the Egyptian side as a senior player at the Olympics but he declined to do so, opting instead to focus on Liverpool’s preseason preparations. Former Arsenal midfielder Mohammed Elneny captained Egypt. Earlier, Spain, silver medalists in Tokyo three years ago, kicked off their Group C campaign with a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan at the Parc des Princes. Their squad included two members of their Euro 2024-winning squad: Alex Baena and Fermin Lopez. Follow Topics: PARIS OLYMPICS 2024 EGYPT DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RELATED 270Morocco fans rush field during Olympic soccer opener vs Argentina. Game suspended, goal disallowed Morocco fans rush field during Olympic soccer opener vs Argentina. Game suspended, goal disallowed 135Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhy. credit: Egyptian Olympic Committee Egypt sends biggest team ever to Paris Olympics Latest Updates Messi-less MLS fall 4-1 to Mexican league in All-Star Game Messi-less MLS fall 4-1 to Mexican league in All-Star Game 1 NASA telescope spots a super Jupiter that takes more than a century to go around its star NASA telescope spots a super Jupiter that takes more than a century to go around its star 4 Iga Swiatek: Clay queen targets Olympic gold Iga Swiatek: Clay queen targets Olympic gold 15 Saudi deputy FM participates in Sudan peace efforts meeting Saudi deputy FM participates in Sudan peace efforts meeting 18 US files details of Boeing’s plea deal related to plane crashes. It’s in the hands of a judge now US files details of Boeing’s plea deal related to plane crashes. It’s in the hands of a judge now 35