Manchester United’s Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates against Viktoria Plzen on December 12, 2024. — Reuters
Rasmus Hojlund scored twice to help Manchester United secure a 2-1 victory against six-time Czech champions Viktoria Plzeň in the Europa League on Thursday.
Substitute Hojlund needed just six minutes on the pitch to cancel out an early second-half opener by Plzen forward Matej Vydra before sealing the win with another strike just before fulltime for United’s third consecutive win in the competition.
United, who remain unbeaten after six games, provisionally moved up to fifth in the standings on 12 points as they continue to eye up an automatic qualification spot into the last 16.
Coming on the back of two Premier League defeats against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, United survived an initial spell of pressure from the hosts, who had conceded just once in their previous 12 European home games.
Plzen kept their defence compact against the determined visitors in Ruben Amorim’s first European away game as United boss, and the game was goalless at the break.
Vydra put the hosts in front just after the restart, shooting into the middle of the net after Pavel Sulc intercepted a poor pass from United goalkeeper Andre Onana and cut the ball back to his team mate.
However, their joy was short lived as Danish striker Hojlund — who came on for Marcus Rashford in the 56th minute — levelled just after the hour mark, scoring from close range with a tap-in.
Amad Diallo collected a pass from Antony on the right flank and struck from a tight angle, an effort which was blocked before Hojlund sent the rebound into an empty net.
Neither side wanted to settle for a draw and Hojlund added a second goal in the 88th minute, scoring after a neat, low free kick from captain Bruno Fernandes to condemn Plzen to their first defeat in the competition.
United, who visit Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, next host Rangers on Jan. 23 before their final league-phase fixture at Steaua Bucharest a week later.
Pakistan’s red-ball coach Jason Gillespie (L) and high-performance coach Tim Nielsen during training camp for Bangladesh Test series on August 21, 2024. — PCB
Neilsen’s contract expired after Pakistan’s Australia tour.
Gillespie says decision taken due to personal reasons.
Decision to not renew Neilsen’s contract leaves him frustrated.
Pakistan team’s head coach Jason Gillespie decided to take early retirement ahead of the upcoming South Africa Test series, sources told Geo News on Thursday.
Gillespie’s decision comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to not renew red-ball assistant coach Tim Nielsen’s contract.
Neilsen, who was appointed as the high-performance red-ball coach in August, saw his contract expire after the Green Shirt’s recent tour of Australia.
The assistant coach revealed that the cricket body informed him his services were no longer required despite him expressing his commitment to the upcoming South Africa and West Indies series.
Gillespie told the board that his decision to not go to South Africa was due to personal reasons, said the sources. The head coach was supposed to arrive in the country tomorrow (Friday) to oversee the pre-Test camp.
Further reports suggest that the decision to not renew Neilsen’s contract, which caught the former Australian cricketer off guard, left him frustrated.
Sources close to the matter indicate that he was not consulted before the decision was made, further intensifying his dissatisfaction with the board.
Gillespie’s unease with the PCB stems from recent administrative changes. In October, he was removed from the Test side’s selection panel, with his role reduced to that of a “match-day strategist”.
Since the conclusion of Pakistan’s white-ball series in Australia, where he briefly served as interim coach following Gary Kirsten’s resignation, communication between the board and the former Australian legend has reportedly been minimal.
Adding to Gillespie’s frustration is his belief in Nielsen’s strong rapport with the players.
Both Kirsten and the coach of the longer format suspected that Nielsen’s absence from Pakistan contributed to the non-renewal of his contract, despite his availability for the full South Africa and West Indies tours.
The PCB’s reluctance to extend Nielsen’s contract aligns with its broader trend of prioritising locally based coaching staff.
The board previously expressed dissatisfaction with overseas coaches’ limited time spent in Pakistan — a criticism that also preceded Kirsten’s resignation in October.
However, Gillespie consistently defended his adherence to contractual obligations concerning his presence in Pakistan.
His current deal runs until mid-2026, and his departure — whether through resignation or dismissal — could have significant financial implications for the PCB.
The PCB has yet to announce a replacement for Nielsen, creating uncertainty about the coaching structure for the crucial Test series.
UFC star Colby Covington wasted no time taking shots during a media appearance Wednesday, but he didn’t target upcoming opponent Joaquin Buckley.
Covington instead ripped into NBA superstar LeBron James.
It wasn’t a question from a reporter that prompted Covington to launch into a rant about basketball’s all-time leading scorer.
He started off his press conference by questioning James about an old video that resurfaced with James talking to disgraced music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs about his now-infamous “Diddy Parties.”
Colby Covington of the United States before a welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards of England during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena Dec. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas.(Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
“I’m gonna start this off, you know, since I’m the man of the hour, man of the show,” Covington said. “I want to ask Lebron what does he mean by, ‘There’s no party like a Diddy party.’ I truly want to know. And not only that, LeBron, how many Diddy parties have you actually been to? I’m really curious to know. And is that the reason you left social media because all the backlash you were getting for going to so many Diddy parties?”
The comment Covington is talking about was an old Instagram Live of “P. Diddy” and James in which the basketball star said, “Ain’t no party like a Diddy party,” which the music mogul loved.
It’s a comment that didn’t age well since Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution in a federal indictment unsealed Sept. 17.
Authorities alleged Combs ran a criminal enterprise through his business, which includes Bad Boy Entertainment, and he would frequently have “Freak Offs,” described as “elaborate produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded,” according to an indictment.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James gestures to a teammate during the first half against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.(John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
James was recently confronted by an NFL fan who accused him of attending Combs’ parties until security intervened. It’s unknown whether James attended any of Combs’ parties in the past.
“It’s pathetic, man,” Covington added. “People think this guy is a role model. He wants to defund the police, the most patriotic people in America, serving and protecting our country.
“LeBron, you’re a f—ing scumbag, and I hope you get locked up in the same cell with Diddy.”
James wasn’t the only target of Covington, who also took shots at fellow fighter Jon “Bones” Jones, among other fighters in the sport.
Covington has been vocal about James in the past, and he’s always been one to speak his mind and stir some controversy during media appearances.
Colby Covington rests between rounds in the UFC welterweight championship fight during UFC 296 at T-Mobile Arena Dec. 16, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The American fighter is 17-4 in his UFC career. He lost his last fight at UFC 296 against Leon Edwards. He’s 2-3 in his last five fights, with his last win coming against Jorge Masvidal in March 2022.
Argentina players celebrate with the trophy after winning the World Cup in 2022. — Reuters/File
LAUSANNE: FIFA is set to confirm on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup while a joint bid by Morocco, Spain and Portugal which also features matches in South America will be awarded the 2030 tournament.
The awarding of hosting rights for both tournaments will go to a vote during a FIFA Congress to be held virtually, but there is no doubt about the outcomes with neither bid having a rival.
As for 2034, FIFA invoked its principle of rotating its flagship tournament between continents, only welcoming bids from Asia or Oceania — the 2026 World Cup, the first involving 48 teams, will take place across North America.
Controversially, the body gave potential bidders barely a month last year to submit candidacies, and Australia and Indonesia quickly abandoned their interest.
That left Saudi Arabia as the sole candidate, clearing the way for the World Cup to return to the Gulf region so soon after Qatar hosted in 2022.
Saudi Arabia already hosts several high-profile events including a Formula One Grand Prix, heavyweight boxing contests, the LIV rival golf circuit funded by Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund, and the WTA Finals tennis.
Being handed the 2034 World Cup will be a crowning moment, and Saudi will secure hosting rights despite currently only boasting two stadiums with a capacity of 40,000, when 14 are required.
Beyond that logistical challenge, the baking temperatures in the northern hemisphere summer could mean pushing the tournament back to later in the year, as happened in Qatar in 2022.
However, the fact that Ramadan will take place in December that year is an added complication.
Moreover, the awarding of the World Cup to Saudi will make the issue of human rights a major talking point again, just as two years ago.
Unprecedented bid
The 2030 tournament will mark a century since the first World Cup was held in Uruguay, and as a result the bid will also see the South American nation handed a game along with Argentina and Paraguay.
That makes it a completely unprecedented bid, involving three different continental confederations.
FIFA confirmed over a year ago that the joint proposal led by Morocco, Spain and Portugal was the sole contender for 2030, with all other potential candidacies having fallen by the wayside.
A joint British and Irish bid was abandoned when they decided to focus on hosting Euro 2028, while there were suggestions of a bid from South Korea, China, Japan and North Korea.
Four South American countries launched a joint bid in 2019, convinced that the centenary World Cup should entirely take place on the same continent where it all began.
In late 2022, UEFA promoted a bid uniting Spain and Portugal with war-torn Ukraine in a show of “solidarity” following the Russian invasion.
However, Ukraine was quietly dropped from that candidacy last year as Morocco joined forces with the Iberian neighbours, while South America agreed to step aside in exchange for being awarded the hosting of three games, one each for Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina.
Morocco plans mega stadium
Following these “centenary celebrations” in the comparative chill of the southern hemisphere winter, the six teams involved — along with their fans — will have to cross the Atlantic Ocean to play the rest of the tournament.
This tentacular tournament will conclude with the final on July 21, and it remains to be seen where that game will be staged.
Spain, which hosted the 1982 World Cup, is set to be the centrepiece as it boasts 11 of the 20 proposed stadiums.
Morocco — which has tried and failed on five previous occasions to be awarded the staging of the tournament — will become the second African nation to host the competition after South Africa in 2010.
Potential venues for the final include the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid and Barcelona’s Camp Nou, which is nearing the end of a substantial renovation project, as well as the planned Hassan II stadium between Casablanca and Rabat, which is set to become “the biggest stadium in the world” with a capacity of 115,000.
Portugal, which hosted Euro 2004, will offer two stadiums in Lisbon and one in Porto, and hopes to stage a semi-final.
Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s celebrates after taking a wicket during the first T20 International against South Africa on December 10, 2024. — Author
KARACHI: Pakistan’s pace sensation Shaheen Afridi added another milestone to his illustrious career, becoming the first Pakistani bowler to take 100 wickets in each of cricket’s three international formats.
Afridi reached the landmark during the first T20 international against South Africa on Tuesday when he completed his 100 T20I wickets.
The 24-year-old achieved this feat in just his 74th T20I match, making him the second-fastest Pakistani to claim 100 T20I wickets after Haris Rauf, who accomplished the milestone in 71 games.
Afridi also joined an exclusive club of cricketers, becoming only the fourth player globally to take 100 wickets in each format in international cricket, alongside New Zealand’s Tim Southee, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, and Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga.
In addition to his T20I tally, Afridi has taken 112 wickets in ODIs and 116 in Test matches. He is also the third Pakistani to achieve 100 T20I wickets, following Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan.
Eli Manning stunned Giants fans last week when he revealed he had only just now taken his first subway ride, despite spending his entire 16-year NFL career playing in New York.
On Monday night, the Giants great had a pretty good reason why he never opted for that form of transportation.
NFC head coach Eli Manning, right, and AFC head coach Peyton Manning talk during the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 5, 2023 in Las Vegas.(Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
During Monday night’s broadcast of the “ManningCast,” Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning began teasing his brother about the fact that he never braved the subways despite his tenure in New York.
“Eli, this was very shocking to me, I thought you were a man of the people,” he quipped. “You’ve lived there since 2004. First time riding the Subway? Disappointed.”
Eli first pointed out the obvious that, despite the name, the Giants play at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
“I am a man of the people. I live in New Jersey. I’m not in the city that often. I was in the city last week. I had to get from uptown to downtown – I hopped on the subway. I’m a man of the people.”
Retired Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the pregame at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on April 14, 2024.(Jonathan Jones-USA TODAY Sports)
He also pointed out that it was a business decision.
“It was in my contract when I was playing, I wasn’t allowed to ride the subway. I could get pushed in front of a train.”
NFL contracts unsparingly bar players from participating in activities outside of football that could risk injury. According to an ESPN report from June, those activities range from high-risk, like rock climbing and skiing, to other sports, like playing basketball.
NJ/NY Gotham FC minority owner Eli Manning looks on before the 2024 NWSL Playoffs quarterfinal match against Portland Thorns FC at Red Bull Arena on Nov. 10, 2024.(Lucas Boland-Imagn Images)
In 2023, former Buffalo Bills running back Nyheim Hines was injured during the offseason in a freak jet ski accident. He missed the entire season after he tore his left ACL and MCL, and the Bills were off the hook for his contract. According to EPN, they eventually reached an agreement, and he was released in March.
Former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed poses with the Champions Trophy in 2017. — AFP
RAWALPINDI: After his previous statement triggered speculations about his potential retirement from international cricket, former Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed said on Monday that it would be his “personal decision” whether to quit or not.
The experienced wicketkeeper batter, who is mentoring Faheem Ashraf-led Dolphins in the ongoing Champions T20 Cup earlier opened up on his future as a player, stating “there is nothing left to say”.
“Look, as far as my career is concerned. I think, I don’t need to say anything. Nothing is left. I know what you are waiting for and it will happen soon,” Sarfaraz had said.
Meanwhile, during an exclusive interview with Geo News, the 37-year-old clarified that he is still playing regardless of his selection in the national team.
He further shared that the decision regarding his retirement would be personal.
“Yes, I said ‘nothing is left to say’ the other day. Look, I am still playing cricket and will avail whatever opportunity I would get,” said Sarfaraz.
“In Pakistan team, I never said that ‘I want to bat on this position or that position’. If I could be selected [in the national team], I would be.
“As far as leaving cricket is concerned, that is my personal decision. When I feel that I should quit cricket, I will quit.”
For the unversed, Sarfaraz, who made his international debut for Pakistan in 2007, went on to represent the green shirts in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is, accumulating 6164 runs with the help of six centuries and 32 fifties.
The wicketkeeper batter led Pakistan to their maiden ICC Men’s Champions Trophy title in 2017 after a thumping 180-run victory over arch-rivals India in the blockbuster final.
He also captained Pakistan to 11 consecutive T20I series victory, the most by a Pakistan captain.
His last appearance for the green shirts came in a three-match away Test series against Australia last year.
The right-handed batter could score seven runs in the opening Test of the aforementioned series and was subsequently dropped from the side.
Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Ahmed’s last white-ball appearance for Pakistan dates back to November 2021.
Pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and former cricketer Shahid Afridi during Nikah ceremony in Karachi on February 3, 2023. — Instagram@ishaheenafridi10
Former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi has disclosed that he conducted an inquiry into pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi before agreeing to get his daughter married to the fast bowler.
Speaking at the ‘Main Hoon Karachi’ session during the International Urdu Conference in the metropolis, Shahid shared insights into his decision-making process regarding his daughter Ansha’s marriage to the young paceman.
The star all-rounder said: “No father hands over his daughter’s life to someone without careful thought. Shaheen’s upbringing was commendable, and although our families lost touch after we shifted to Karachi, Shaheen’s coaches always spoke highly of him.”
Shahid Afridi shares a photo of himself with daughter Ansha and son-in-law Shaheen Shah Afridi. — X@SAfridiOfficial
Addressing a question about the inquiry, the former spinner stressed its importance, saying: “It is essential to ensure compatibility for a successful relationship, and both partners must contribute to building a strong future generation.”
Shahid playfully dismissed suggestions of embracing the title of grandfather, adding: “Perhaps after my youngest daughter marries and has children, I’ll consider it.”
The former cricketer is the father to five daughters and Ansha, who is married to Shaheen, is his second born.
The couple tied the knot in a ceremony in 2023. The nikkah was solemnised in February at a local mosque in Karachi and they celebrated their wedding months later in September in the same year.
Shaheen and Ansha welcomed their first-born son, Aaliyar, in August, 2024.
Meanwhile, Shahid’s eldest daughter Aqsa is also married.
Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne lamented the Crimson Tide being left out of the College Football Playoff on Sunday and suggested the football program would rethink its non-conference schedule.
Byrne had pointed to the Crimson Tide’s strength of schedule during the season as to why Alabama deserved to be in the playoff as a three-loss team over someone like SMU. Byrne made the case before the bracket was revealed, but the selection committee didn’t take the bait.
It led to questions about whether strength of schedule mattered to officials who decided the bracket.
“Disappointed with the outcome and felt we were one of the 12 best teams in the country,” Byrne wrote on X. “We had an extremely challenging schedule and recognize there were two games in particular that we did not perform as well as we should have.”
“We have said that we would need to see how strength of schedule would be evaluated by the CFP. With this outcome, we will need to (assess) how many P4 non-conference games make sense in the future to put us in the best position to participate in the CFP. That is not good for college football.”
Alabama was ranked No. 11 in the penultimate release. But they didn’t have a conference championship to play for. If SMU had defeated Clemson, the Crimson Tide might have been the team in the tournament.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer(John Fisher/Getty Images/File)
College Football Playoff selection committee chair Warde Manuel explained why SMU made the field.
“Your debate on television really sums up the debate in the room,” he said, per Saturday Down South. “We looked at the number of wins that Alabama had against ranked opponents. We looked at SMU’s schedule, and they were undefeated in conference. Their losses were to ranked teams. But we also looked at Alabama’s losses to unranked teams. And it was quite a debate. We value strength of schedule. That’s why Alabama as a three-loss team is ranked ahead of other teams that have two losses. It is something that we talked about quite a bit.”
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia (2) celebrates the team’s 40-35 win over No. 1 Alabama after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/George Walker IV)
“But in the balance of it, in the way that SMU played in that game, losing on a last-second field goal, great win by Clemson, great game. We just felt like SMU, in this particular case, still had the nod at 10 above Alabama. But it’s no disrespect to Alabama’s strength of schedule. It’s merely looking at the entire body of work for both teams.”
Indian and Australian players come together after the match on the third day of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide on December 8, 2024. — AFP
ADELAIDE: A dominant Australia hammered India by 10 wickets in the day-night second Test to level the five-match series 1-1 on Sunday.
Needing just 19 to win after bowling out India for 175 in their second innings, Australia sealed victory in the first session on day three of the contest to maintain their perfect pink-ball record at Adelaide Oval.
Skipper Pat Cummins led by example, claiming 5-57 to help Australia bounce back from their comprehensive defeat in the series opener in Perth.
India, resuming on 128-5, saw their slim hopes of saving the Test evaporate when Mitchell Starc dismissed Rishabh Pant for 28 in the first over of the day.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s defiant 42 saved India the innings defeat but the miracle they needed to save the Test did not materialise, with Cummins using the bouncer to great effect as he ran through the visitors’ lower order.
Australia needed only 20 balls to secure the win and move to a perfect 8-0 record in day-night Tests at the venue.
Usman Khawaja scored the winning run, watched by opening partner Nathan McSweeney, in what was the shortest Test between the sides.
“That was a great week. We were far away from the kind of team we want to be in Perth, but this is back to kind of how we want to play,” said Cummins.
“I wasn’t too upset with how I bowled in Perth. The rhythm felt pretty good this week, and good to get a few wickets.”
Travis Head was adjudged player of the match for his blistering 140 in the first innings, which tilted the match in Australia’s favour.
India, despite welcoming back skipper Rohit Sharma and number three Shubman Gill, lasted a collective 81 overs in the entire match.
“A disappointing week for us,” rued Rohit, who missed the opening Test to care for his newborn son in Mumbai.
“We didn’t play well enough to win the game. Australia played better than us.
“There were times when we could have grabbed the opportunity but failed, which cost us the game,” he added.
During the match, Rohit managed three and six in his new middle-order position having vacated the opening slot for KL Rahul.
