Observador Deportivo - Los Deportes

septiembre 5, 2024

Dani Carvajal opina sobre racismo; nominaciones al Balón de Oro.

Dani Carvajal comenta sobre el racismo de Vinicius. Nominaciones al Balón de Oro y el regreso de Isco en noticias deportivas de España.

Fútbol

septiembre 5, 2024

San Marino, el equipo de fútbol más pequeño del mundo

Write informative laconic excerpt under 30 words in mexican spanish for news below. Do not wrap it into quotation marks or html tags. Michael Battistini plays for the San Marino national team but works by day as a metal mechanic. Like his teammates, he dreams of a San Marino win. Clara Vannucci for ESPNEditor's Note: This piece was originally published on Oct. 11, 2023 after some time reporting around the team's attempts to break their all-time winless streak. We're republishing this on the night they finally managed to get a victory, with Thursday's 1-0 win over Liechtenstein in UEFA Nations League Group D play.SERRAVALLE, San Marino -- "Highway to Hell" rings out around San Marino Stadium as the world's worst football team prepares to face Slovenia in a Euro 2024 qualifier. The stadium DJ clearly has a sense of humour, unless the playlist is part of some cunning plan to strike fear into the hearts and minds of Slovenia's players.San Marino sits 207th out of 207 in the FIFA men's rankings -- they climbed up from 208th spot in September because Eritrea, previously above them, was removed from the list after four years without a game -- and they have been rooted to rock-bottom since November 2018. The only fear being felt by Slovenia is probably about suffering the ignominy of being one of a few teams that hasn't beaten San Marino.April 2024 will mark the 20th anniversary of their last -- and only -- victory, when Andy Selva's sixth-minute goal sealed a 1-0 home win in a friendly against Liechtenstein in front of just 200 supporters. While it is a harsh label to apply to a team from a tiny country of 33,000 inhabitants, it is an inescapable fact that San Marino are the worst football team in the world.If you have 11 minutes and 48 seconds to spare, you can watch every goal San Marino have ever scored since their first game in 1990, with all 28 of them neatly packaged together in one YouTube video. Alas, on this September night there is no win, and no more goals, for La Serenissima as Slovenia run out 4-0 winners in front of 844 spectators to extend San Marino's winless run to 132 games.The only excitement comes off the pitch, when supporters watching the game for free in the woodland behind the goal inadvertently set fire to bushes with pyrotechnic flares, causing the final 20 minutes to be played out with thick smoke drifting across the field.If it is a "Highway to Hell," San Marino seem to be stuck on a never-ending journey, desperately searching for a way to find that elusive victory to end their nightmare run of failure.But is it really even failure?San Marino, a landlocked, mountainous microstate, is the world's fifth-smallest country. It has no airport, not even a train station, and its football team is a collection of part-time players who get to face some of the game's biggest stars while holding down day jobs: the recent squad included a mechanic, delivery driver and a worker in a jewellery factory. San Marino's coach, Fabrizio Costantini, works in a furniture warehouse.When they fly to Belfast to face Northern Ireland in another qualifier this Saturday, Costantini and his players will be forced to take Friday off work so they can travel. All this losing hurts, but there is also a deep sense of pride within the squad that they're able to represent their country. These are just normal guys living a dream."It's not the same for us because we are not professionals," San Marino captain Matteo Vitaioli, a graphic designer, tells ESPN. "I have to work, my teammates have to work, but that's normal for us. The most important thing is to have the heart and passion to succeed and fill the gap."It's difficult, but of course we are proud, even if we are at the bottom of the FIFA ranking. We are here: we are one of the smallest countries in the world, but we play with 100 percent and it is just us, no other nationalities. Even Italy uses players from other countries, but we are just San Marino, so we are very proud of that."San Marino players and coach, photographed after the match vs. Slovenia. Top row, from left: Matteo Vitaioli, coach Fabrizio Costantini and Battistini. Second row, from left: Lorenzo Lazzari, Luca Ceccaroli and Roberto Di Maio. Clara Vannucci for ESPNAs the Slovenia team bus pulls away and heads for nearby Rimini, Italy, where they'll fly back to Ljubljana, San Marino's players head to their cars. It's almost midnight on Sunday; many of them are expected at work the following morning.TRISTAN CESELKOVSKI IS 16 YEARS OLD and is sitting on a bench on Via della Fratta with his father, Boris. Tristan is wearing a full San Marino kit. It's matchday in San Marino, but Tristan is the only person wearing the team's colours, making him stand out immediately among the tourists who have come to take in the stunning views of the Adriatic coast from the top of Monte Titano or visit the 14th century Church of San Francesco.But Tristan is no ordinary supporter. He and his father have just arrived in San Marino after a 540-mile drive from their home in Vienna. The journey took 8½ hours, and they will be heading back after the game. "He's my son and he loves San Marino, so it's what you have to do," Boris tells ESPN with a laugh and shrug of the shoulders."San Marino are my favourite team," Tristan says. "I know they don't win, but it's the way the players never give up. They always play with passion and I have always wanted to watch them play."The San Marino team is a strange phenomenon. Walking around San Marino in search of supporters is no easy task because, for locals at least, there is simply no sense of connection to the players who represent their tiny country. "You won't find any San Marino fans here," a waiter named Matteo at Birrificio Abusivo, the bar that sells the only beer brewed in the micronation, tells ESPN. "You only know that San Marino are playing because the fans of the other team come into town to drink."San Marino fought hard vs. their latest visitors, Slovenia, but ultimately lost 4-0. Clara Vannucci for ESPNSan Marino -- or the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, to use its full name -- is serene as in "sovereign" rather than "calm and stable," although it is both of those things, too.It was once one of many similar city-states on the Italian peninsula, dating back to its founding in 301 A.D. But while bigger city-states, including Venice and Genoa, were all part of the unification of Italy in 1861, San Marino retained its independence and sovereignty because, as legend has it, the country offered refuge to unification movement leader Giuseppe Garibaldi and his troops during conflict with the Austrian Empire and Papal States. When Garibaldi succeeded in unifying Italy, San Marino was granted its wish of independence in an 1862 treaty and has kept it ever since, even to the extent of remaining neutral during World War II.It also managed to retain its own currency, the Sammarinese lira, until it was replaced by the euro in 2002, and Italian is the only language spoken, which is useful considering San Marino is surrounded by Italy on all sides and neighbours Rimini, the five-star resort on the Adriatic Coast. It's also small, covering just 24 square miles, and has the same population as Helena, the capital of Montana.Imagine Helena having its own team, playing games against the U.S. or Mexico, and you get the picture.Dan Thomas is joined by Craig Burley, Shaka Hislop and others to bring you the latest highlights and debate the biggest storylines. Stream on ESPN+ (U.S. only). Finding a San Marino shirt among the shops selling clothes, fragrances and guns -- there are lots of places to purchase firearms in San Marino -- is also a challenge. It turns out just two shops stock the pale blue home shirt. "We don't sell many," a shopkeeper at one, Roberto, tells ESPN. "It's usually visiting supporters who ask, but I did sell one this morning to the Ukrainian match officials. They came in looking for it specifically."At the other sportswear shop, they even sell San Marino's dark blue away kit. This weekend, the store was busier selling Ducati and Yamaha merchandise to the bikers in town for the San Marino MotoGP, but the owner, Michele, says business is good when big teams play San Marino."I sell lots of shirts to English, Spanish and German fans," she tells ESPN. "The San Marino shirt is a novelty. Nobody from San Marino buys them, but it seems as though foreign visitors like it because the team is not so good."There is a souvenir stand at the stadium although there is an element of farce as Martina and Francesco, who work for the San Marino Football Federation, attempt to sell shirts, scarves and pendants to supporters. Their wooden cabin is positioned in a dark corner away from the stadium, facing away from the coach park used by Slovenia fans. There is no electricity in the cabin; everything is in darkness until Francesco uses the spotlight on his phone to highlight the merchandise."I'm usually the team liaison officer," Martina tells ESPN. "But I help out with the shop at games. It's not so busy tonight, but we had long queues when England played here."Linea Sport San Marino is one of the only two stores selling official national team gear. Said the store owner, 'Nobody from San Marino buys the shirts, but it seems as though foreign visitors like it because the team is not so good.' Clara Vannucci for ESPNSan Marino do have a small and loyal fanbase, but the emphasis is on the word "small." Inside the stadium, Tristan and Boris have met up with a tiny group of San Marino's most ardent supporters: Josef Junker, Nicolo Vallone and Daniele Dei.Daniele is from Modena, 150 miles away. He watches every home game and does one away trip each year, while Josef has travelled from his home in Bavaria to watch every home game for the past 10 years. "My first game was 20 years ago," Josef tells ESPN. "I am German, but I am not a fan of the Germany team. They are too arrogant. I come to watch San Marino because of the honesty and the amateur element of it. It's real football."Why do I come? To see San Marino draw and score: those moments are special. And hopefully, someday soon, a win." It perhaps sums up the nation's hard-luck story that super-fan Josef was not among the 200 who saw them beat Liechtenstein in 2004.SAN MARINO PLAYED THEIR LAST HOME GAME, against Kazakhstan in June, 200 miles away in Parma, Italy, to upgrade the playing surface at San Marino Stadium so it met UEFA standards."It's too good now," one of the San Marino officials tells ESPN. "It makes it even harder for the players to compete against the top teams." The suited official then points to an overgrown field next to the stadium car park and jokes, "We prefer it to be like that."San Marino is a beautiful, hilly micro-nation within the borders of Italy. Clara Vannucci for ESPNThe problem for San Marino is that it is not only the top teams against whom they struggle. Since the start of last year, they have also lost to Cape Verde, Malta (twice) and St. Lucia. Yet despite the recurring nightmare of playing and losing (sometimes heavily), there is an absence of cynicism or weariness among the players when asked whether they grow tired of experiencing defeat virtually every game.Perhaps it is down to their everyday reality of their lives: they're working men who get to live the dream of playing football against some of the world's best players before going back to reality the following day. There are no hard-bitten, professional egos among them. They are simply enthusiastic amateurs who want to do their best, no matter the opposition.Defender Roberto di Maio, who at the age of 40 in March became the oldest footballer in Europe to make his international debut, admits every game is a test of physical and mental capabilities. "Of course, it's complicated because we're facing such skillful nations," Di Maio, who works for the federation, tells ESPN. "We are 90 minutes-plus under pressure every time, so it's difficult. We have to stay focused all the time."Sometimes it's good when we're facing not-so-good teams. Others, like for example Denmark, whom we faced in September, they're very tough to play. You have to stay focused all the time. No mistakes."As San Marino's goalkeeper, Elia Benedettini, who works for his parents' transport company, has one of the toughest jobs in sport. He concedes goals in most games -- he has managed two shutouts, against the Seychelles and Gibraltar, in 45 games -- and it took Slovenia just four minutes to open the scoring in this match. But the 28-year-old, who has played as high as Serie B in Italy, does not regard his role as a thankless task."I know it's difficult," he says. "But it's always a good feeling to play in a San Marino shirt, no matter the results. It's a dream to play in these matches, even though it's tough. I think it is a beautiful experience and all of our opponents, even the big stars, treat us with respect."San Marino midfielder Alessandro Golinucci works by day at a toy company's distribution factory. Clara Vannucci for ESPNPlaying against San Marino is not easy either, despite the reality that it usually results in three points for the opposition. Germany inflicted San Marino's heaviest defeat with a 13-0 win in September 2006, while England recorded a 10-0 victory in November 2021. Yet San Marino famously scored the then-fastest-ever international goal when Davide Gualtieri put the team ahead after just seven seconds against England in November 1993. That game still ended in a 7-1 defeat.Former Manchester City and England defender Joleon Lescott, who played in an 8-0 win in San Marino in March 2013, told ESPN that games against them come with unique challenges."When you play against San Marino, you just have to get to 2-0 as quickly as possible," he says. "The last thing you want is to be in a situation where they could score and make things difficult for you. If you concede against them, or fail to win, it's a historical moment and the kind of history that you will never be allowed to forget. You have to treat the game with absolute focus and just score as early as you can."When told of Lescott's admission that even England players worry about facing San Marino, defender Simone Franciosi, a student by day, smiles. "If great players from England are maybe, I would say, a little bit stressed about facing San Marino, it's good news," he says. "It's great news. Thank you!"Our objective is always the same: keep it 0-0 for as long as possible to feed the pressure, but sure, it's not easy. We don't play to lose; we always want to win, but I have just started my international career and I know it will be tough to win these games."Despite the apparent futility of San Marino games, the fans and team are still brimming with passion and pride. Fans at the San Marino Stadium tried to get a memento from goalkeeper Elia Benedettini after the Slovenia game. Clara Vannucci for ESPNRegardless of the likely outcome of every game they play, none of the San Marino players suggests that representing their country is a burden and Di Maio is perhaps the best example of the joy that it brings. Born in Naples, he is the only non-Sammarinese in Costantini's squad, having waited 13 years for his San Marino nationality. He's now making up for lost time."There are some special laws in San Marino," he says. "I waited 13 years and married a San Marino girl, so I have my nationality now. It's a very long time, but I succeeded."As long as I have fun, I want to play again. Again, again. If the mind is good, the body will follow the mind, so of course I can go on. It's fun for me, even to have four goals to zero. But the most important thing for us is to compete and we do that."There are so many players here who, tomorrow, will go to work, but they have a job and we have to applaud these guys because they are perfect."Battistini's colleagues -- he's a mechanic by trade -- also acknowledged that sense of awe at being able to keep up. "He's never here at work, always playing, but we need him here too because he is so good!"Vitaioli wears the captain's armband against Slovenia and is back in his studio as a designer by 9 o'clock the following morning. That's the reality for this group of players. "It's normal for us," he says. "We all play for semi-professional clubs in San Marino, some of us in Italy, but when we work, we're just normal guys in the office or the factory."His workmates are still impressed -- "He knows how to do everything -- both to play soccer and being a great designer" -- but Vitaioli has a more grounded perspective."Nobody sees us as stars," he says with a smile.Lorenzo Lazzari, 20, is a student by day and recently enrolled in university. He's also the most recent San Marino player to score a goal, having notched against St. Lucia in a recent friendly. Clara Vannucci for ESPNSAN MARINO ARE READY TO WIN. Twenty years without a victory is an unwanted milestone that is fast approaching, but the team is improving -- Costantini's side has conceded just 21 goals in six Euro 2024 qualifiers -- and they can see light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. When the UEFA Nations League resumes in 2024, San Marino will be in League D alongside fellow minnows Andorra, Gibraltar and Liechtenstein, the only team they've ever beaten.The losses in their Euro 2024 group have been expected, but by making themselves more organised defensively, there is a genuine hope that the tactical work will pay off when playing against teams of a similar standard."The Nations League is a big chance for us," San Marino Football Federation president Marco Tura tells ESPN. "That's the opportunity for us to draw or even win. This is our competition, so it's like tailor-made for us. We want to practice good and perform good and if the feeling is good for the players on the pitch, maybe it would be a dream for us to succeed, to draw or win, which is our goal."Costantini, who has been in charge since November 2021, agrees that the Nations League offers San Marino their best chance to win for 20 years."We should focus on preparing for the best of our opportunities with the Nations League next year," he says. "Because in that tournament we will have the opportunity to share the pitch with the teams that aren't better than us in terms of physical approach, athletic skills and technical ones. They are closer to our level and we will have the opportunity to get the result."Matteo Vitaioli works as a graphic designer and isn't bothered by the part-time distinction. 'When we work, we're just normal guys in the office or the factory. Nobody sees us as stars,' he said with a smile. Clara Vannucci for ESPNSelva remains the only player to have scored a winning goal for San Marino. He is the country's all-time top scorer with eight international goals during an 18-year career and speaking to The Times (UK) in 2021, he recalled the feeling of beating Liechtenstein in 2004."The emotion was indescribable," Selva says. "We felt something different on the pitch during that game. We were very focused, there was an electricity in the air. We felt that sooner or later the result would come, and that maybe that was the right time. For a team used to always losing, getting a win, even in a friendly, is something so beautiful. Those moments will remain in history for every player."Lorenzo Lazzari, San Marino's centre-forward and a full-time student, dreams of emulating Selva and scoring his country's first winning goal for two decades. The 20-year-old was born two months after that solitary victory, but he already holds the distinction of being the last player to score for San Marino, seven games ago, in a 1-1 draw against St. Lucia in November 2022.Lazzari made his San Marino debut as a second-half substitute in that game and he became an instant hero by equalising in the fourth minute of stoppage time. "It was a big emotion for me," Lazzari tells ESPN. "It was even unbelievable. I didn't expect it, so it was special for me."Of course it's difficult to play as a striker for San Marino, but it's a dream to score and it'll be a dream even bigger than the one in St. Lucia if I can score a winning goal."Midfielder Luca Ceccaroli works at a jewelry factory when he's not representing San Marino. Clara Vannucci for ESPNAS THE SAN MARINO PLAYERS WALK OFF THE PITCH at the end of their latest defeat, this time against Slovenia, the bond between themselves and their small band of supporters is evident. Members of the team seek out young fans in the crowd to whom they can pass on their kit -- even down to the shorts and socks. The players are determined to win; the fans are equally desperate to witness it."It's amazing for us to have supporters all around the world," goalkeeper Benedettini says. "Even on social media, we get some messages from Argentina, Brazil, which is, for us, something crazy."But there are the fans who are here too. There are not so many, but we appreciate them and for those guys that are supporting us all the time, maybe next year we will do something special and dedicate it to them."Sooner or later, San Marino will be ready to celebrate. They might even get the locals along to the party, too. ,San Marino, el peor equipo de fútbol del mundo, lucha por romper su racha sin victorias en un emocionante intento por lograr un triunfo histórico.

San Marino, el peor equipo de fútbol del mundo, lucha por romper su racha sin victorias en un emocionante intento por lograr un triunfo histórico.

Fútbol

septiembre 5, 2024

San Marino logra histórica victoria en la Liga de Naciones

Write informative laconic excerpt under 30 words in mexican spanish for news below. Do not wrap it into quotation marks or html tags. Sep 5, 2024, 05:20 PM ETSan Marino defeated Liechtenstein 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday for their first-ever competitive win and first win in any game in 20 years.Nicko Sensoli scored in the 53rd minute to give the tiny nation surrounded by Italy their first triumph in a competitive game.San Marino are No. 210 -- last -- in FIFA's world rankings. Liechtenstein aren't far ahead at No. 199.San Marino's last win came in a friendly against the same opponents in April 2004.Thursday's victory improves San Marino's record to 2-10-199 all-time.The victory came in Group D1 of the competition.Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report. ESPN BET is owned and operated by PENN Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries ('PENN'). ESPN BET is available in states where PENN is licensed to offer sports wagering. Must be 21+ to wager. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.Copyright: © 2024 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. ,San Marino vence a Liechtenstein 1-0 en la UEFA Nations League para su primera victoria competitiva en 20 años. El gol de Sensoli fue crucial.

San Marino vence a Liechtenstein 1-0 en la UEFA Nations League para su primera victoria competitiva en 20 años. El gol de Sensoli fue crucial.

Deportes de combate

septiembre 5, 2024

Conor McGregor critica gobierno irlandés por derroche millonario

Conor McGregor slams ‘Greedy and corrupted’ officials over expensive bike shed

Conor McGregor critica funcionarios irlandeses y considera postularse a presidencia tras revelar costo excesivo de cobertizo.

Deportes de combate

septiembre 5, 2024

Nate Diaz en la polémica: Se enfrenta a guardia de seguridad

Ex-UFC star Nate Diaz involved in latest viral scuffle with bouncer

Nate Diaz en altercado con vigilante, mientras Dustin Poirier expresa interés en combate de boxeo. Informa Ross Markey.

Sin categoría

septiembre 5, 2024

Nate Diaz se vio involucrado en un altercado físico con un vigilante en un evento reciente. Dustin Poirier expresó su interés en enfrentarse a Diaz en un futuro cercano en un combate de boxeo. Nate Diaz, un ex retador al título de peso ligero y estrella de la UFC, fue captado en un video en […]

Fútbol

septiembre 5, 2024

Lesiones en Real Madrid: Éder Militão fuera por lesión

Write informative laconic excerpt under 30 words in mexican spanish for news below. Do not wrap it into quotation marks or html tags. Sep 5, 2024, 04:56 PM ETReal Madrid centre back Éder Militão has left Brazil's training camp ahead of their South America World Cup qualification fixtures against Ecuador and Paraguay due to a leg injury, the Brazilian FA (CBF) said on Thursday."Defender Eder Militao complained of muscle pain in his right thigh after training on Wednesday and after medical exams carried out on Thursday, it was identified a small muscle injury in his right thigh," CBF said in a statement."The player has been ruled out of Brazil's next two qualifying matches and CBF expresses its solidarity with the player at this time and wishes him a speedy recovery."The 26-year-old Militao, who missed most of last season due to a torn ACL, is the latest Real Madrid player to suffer injury problems at the start of the season.Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and left-back Ferland Mendy left France's camp ahead of their Nations League clashes against Italy and Belgium due to injuries sustained in Madrid's 2-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday.Midfielders Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Ceballos and Jude Bellingham also suffered injuries in the last few weeks and defender David Alaba is still recovering from an ACL tear suffered last season. (Reporting by Fernando Kallas, editing by Ed Osmond) ,El defensor Eder Militão de Real Madrid se retira del campamento de Brasil por lesión en la pierna antes de los partidos de clasificación al Mundial.

El defensor Eder Militão de Real Madrid se retira del campamento de Brasil por lesión en la pierna antes de los partidos de clasificación al Mundial.

Fútbol

septiembre 5, 2024

Inter Miami firma al portero argentino Óscar Ustari.

Write informative laconic excerpt under 30 words in mexican spanish for news below. Do not wrap it into quotation marks or html tags. Sep 5, 2024, 04:33 PM ETInter Miami is set to sign Argentinian goalkeeper Óscar Ustari as a free agent, a source told ESPN.Ustari last featured for Chilean first-division side Audax Italiano before being released from the roster midseason. Now, he'll arrive in MLS as a substitute for Inter Miami starting goalkeeper Drake Callender.Ustari started his career with Independiente, spending two seasons in the Argentine first division to inspire a move to LaLiga's Getafe in 2007. While abroad, the goalkeeper saw time with Almeria and then-Premier League team Sunderland.He also featured for Liga MX teams Atlas and Pachuca, racking up 169 appearances in Mexico.Internationally, Ustari formed part of former manager Jose Pekerman's Argentina roster for the 2006 FIFA World Cup and joined the Under-23 team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He's managed two senior team appearances and three Olympic game appearances overall for Argentina.Ustari is set to join a dominant Inter Miami team under head coach Gerardo Martino. The Herons lead the Eastern Conference and Supporters' Shield standings with 59 points in 27 games.Inter Miami remains on course to break the league record for most points recorded during the regular season, a mark set by the New England Revolution when they hit 73 points in 2021.Inter Miami returns to action after the international break on Saturday, Sept. 14, with a home game against the Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium. ,Inter Miami fichará al portero argentino Óscar Ustari como agente libre. El exjugador de Audax Italiano se unirá al equipo de la MLS como suplente de Drake Callender.

Inter Miami fichará al portero argentino Óscar Ustari como agente libre. El exjugador de Audax Italiano se unirá al equipo de la MLS como suplente de Drake Callender.

Deportes de combate

septiembre 5, 2024

Conor McGregor: ¿Está listo para regresar al octágono?

Chael Sonnen Criticizes Conor McGregor’s Slow, Soft Training: “Isn’t ready to fight”

Sonnen critica a McGregor; lesión en el pie posterga pelea, busca diciembre. Masvidal interesado en Chandler.

Fútbol

septiembre 5, 2024

Australia enfrenta a Indonesia tras derrota en calificación mundialista

Write informative laconic excerpt under 30 words in mexican spanish for news below. Do not wrap it into quotation marks or html tags. Sep 5, 2024, 03:57 PM ETGOLD COAST, Australia -- Jackson Irvine has acknowledged that Australia's upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifier against Indonesia has become a "huge game" for the Socceroos after a 1-0 loss to Bahrain that captain Mat Ryan simply declared to be "not good enough".After a perfect second stage of Asian qualification in which his side won all six of their games without conceding, an 89th-minute own-goal from Harry Souttar snapped that run and condemned Australia to defeat in the opening game of the third phase on Thursday evening.It marked just the second time the Socceroos have been defeated at home in a 'live' World Cup qualifier since 1981, the other occasion coming during the 2022 qualification cycle when they fell to a dour 2-0 defeat to Japan in Sydney -- coach Graham Arnold being at the helm for both results.As has become a theme for the side, Australia's men struggled to break down a well-organised, dogged and crafty defence: ending the game with 71% of possession but struggling to create anything in the way of goalscoring opportunities that troubled the Bahranis even before striker Kusini Yengi's 77th-minute red card."Not good enough, obviously," said Ryan. "I felt like we were too naive in the way we played the game. I don't think it's a case of needing to work harder but needing to work smarter; we didn't ask enough of the right questions in the right areas."We gave their goalkeeper a pretty quiet night and didn't test him and didn't test their defence well enough in the final third. Defensively, the goal we conceded after the red card is not good enough."But those things happen if you're not doing the other things well enough and you put yourself in that scenario."With fixtures against Japan and Saudi Arabia to come in future windows, this month's games against Bahrain and Indonesia had been viewed in Australia as an important six points to bank in their efforts to directly qualify for the 2026 World Cup and avoid a fourth phase of qualification.Now, though, anything less than victory on Tuesday evening in Jakarta could see their goal of a top-two finish in the group become a mammoth one after just two of the ten games on their fixture."I think it's massive," Irvine said of that contest. "The boys, we need to recognise it; it's a huge game ... recognise the magnitude of what that could look like in the context of these ten games."[There were a] few harsh truths [delivered in the dressing room post-defeat]."We have to learn the lessons from this immediately and move to Tuesday because it's an unbelievably disappointing result in performance, and we need to be far better."The kind of naivety and understanding the realities of Asian football ... and how games can be managed. How games can slip away from you through not understanding the things that happen here."We try to prepare, especially the younger guys who haven't been a part of this before of how [timewasting and gamesmanship] can happen. A few boys have learned very quickly tonight about that as well."There's a little bit of bad luck as well. Putting some balls into some good areas and things just weren't dropping for us. On another night, if one of them goes in early, that forces them to open up. And we see these games go very differently."We need to find ways to ask more questions of defences because that's the way that you can make your own luck, in the in the box, in particular: when you can keep asking those questions, then something will drop for you."After picking up a straight red card for a high boot on Sayed Baqer, Yengi will miss Tuesday's clash against Indonesia through suspension -- with Mitch Duke and Adam Taggart now Arnold's sole striking options.After missing Wednesday's game through injury, midfielder Keanu Baccus and defender Lewis Miller will both be in contention to return -- with the former considered the more likely of the two to feature."You've got to take the good with the bad," Souttar reflected after the defeat. "There's no getting away from it, it was a disappointing performance. We all looked at ourselves in the mirror ... I don't think anyone played 100% tonight."But we've got a game on Tuesday and we've got to put this behind us because that's so important that we get a victory there." ,El mediocampista Jackson Irvine destaca la importancia del próximo clasificatorio del Mundial de la FIFA para Australia tras la derrota ante Bahréin.

El mediocampista Jackson Irvine destaca la importancia del próximo clasificatorio del Mundial de la FIFA para Australia tras la derrota ante Bahréin.

Deportes de combate

septiembre 5, 2024

Toda la emoción del UFC París: Renato Moicano vs. Benoit Saint-Denis

UFC Paris: Renato Moicano vs. Benoit Saint-Denis: – Fight Card, Betting Odds, Start Time

Evento UFC París: Moicano vs. Saint-Denis, Accor Arena, 28 de septiembre de 2024. Cartelera con Imavov vs. Allen, de Randamie vs. Cornolle.

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septiembre 5, 2024

UFC París: Renato Moicano vs. Benoit Saint-Denis el sábado 28 de septiembre de 2024 en Accor Arena, París. Cartelera incluye peleas como Nassourdine Imavov vs. Brendan Allen y Germaine de Randamie vs. Nora Cornolle. La UFC llevó a cabo el evento UFC Paris con Renato Moicano enfrentando a Benoit Saint-Denis como pelea principal el sábado […]

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