Tuesday 15 October 2024
MARKO: VERSTAPPEN WILL WIN THE FIGHT OVER 'MENTALLY WEAK' NORRIS
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| XPB |
Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko is confident that Max Verstappen will prevail against Lando Norris in the 2024 F1 title battle, citing what he perceives as the "mental weaknesses" of the McLaren driver.
Norris has emerged as Verstappen’s closest challenger following the summer break, scoring 80 points – including two wins – to Verstappen’s 54 points and no victories in the same period.
However, the Dutchman still retains a 52-point lead over his rival with six rounds – including three Sprint events – to go.
Bit the momentum is clearly with McLaren, although Red Bull’s performance in Singapore last time out hinted at a potential turnaround for the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Marko remains unshaken in his belief that Verstappen’s talent and resilience will see him through to the end.
Asked on Motorsport Magazin's YouTube channel who he expected to emerge as the 2024 champion, Marko didn’t hesitate: "Verstappen!"
When pressed on why he was so certain, given Norris’ recent form and Red Bull’s inconsistencies, Marko was clear in his reasoning.
“He’s the best, he’s the fastest, and, above all, he has the mental strength to theoretically fight for the world championship more than Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris.”
Marko went further in his assessment of Norris, suggesting that the McLaren driver’s mental approach could be a weakness in the intense battle for the title.
"We know Norris has some mental weaknesses," Marko claimed. "I've read about some of the rituals he needs to do to perform well on race day."
While Marko did not elaborate on the specifics of these so-called weaknesses, his comments seem to point toward Norris’ own admission of pre-race nerves and anxiety.
Norris has been open about the psychological challenges he faces in the high-pressure environment of Formula 1, particularly as he now finds himself fighting for wins and podiums more regularly.
However, the 24-year-old has insisted that while nerves are a factor, they do not overwhelm him.
"I don't think of it at all," Norris said recently when asked if he feels extra pressure now that he’s contending for the title.
"I think there's always pressure, which is the main thing. For the races, I still get just as excited and just as nervous."
"I don't eat anything on Sundays. I struggle to drink on Sundays, just because I’m nervous, just because of the pressure."
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| McLaren |
Despite these nerves, Norris believes he has learned how to channel them into positive energy that enhances his performance.
"I think it's just how you turn it into a positive thing, how do you not let it affect you in a bad way," he explained. "How can you actually use it in a good way to help you focus on the correct things?"
With six races left and plenty of points still up for grabs, the battle between Verstappen and Norris is set to go down to the wire.
McLaren’s resurgence, combined with Norris' own determination, will certainly keep the fight alive.
But for Marko, there is no question: Max Verstappen’s mental strength will ensure he emerges victorious once again.
- Phillip van Osten
KYLIAN MBAPPΓ SAYS HE IS VICTIM OF 'FAKE NEWS' AFTER RAPE REPORT IN SWEDEN
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| Mbappe claims he is owed 55 million euros by PSG. AFP |
Kylian MbappΓ© said Monday he was the victim of "fake news" after a Swedish newspaper reported an investigation had been opened for rape following a visit by the Real Madrid star's entourage to Stockholm.
Mbappe claimed in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that there was a link between the report in the Aftonbladet newspaper and his hearing before a French league committee on Tuesday in his bitter dispute over unpaid wages with his former club Paris Saint-Germain. "FAKE NEWS !!!!. It's becoming so predictable, on the eve of the hearing, as if by chance," Mbappe posted.
The 25-year-old player's entourage called the report a "slanderous rumour" and threatened to take legal action. Mbappe claims he is owed 55 million euros ($60 million) by the Qatari-owned French champions. The 2018 World Cup winner was not selected for France's Nations League fixtures last week, and spent Thursday and Friday in the Swedish capital.
On Thursday, Mbappe and a group of people accompanying him dined at a restaurant, then went to a nightclub, according to reports from 'Aftonbladet'. The newspaper said a rape was committed "in Stockholm city centre", citing a formal complaint made to police on Saturday that it had seen. Aftonbladet said the complaint was made after the alleged victim had sought medical attention but did not say who was named in the accusation.
A prosecutor investigating the accusation told AFP: "A probe is under way into a crime that was reported on October 10 in the centre of Stockholm." Swedish police refused to give any further details. "In general, if we have received a complaint and decided to conduct interviews and we make it known (to the public), those involved in the case may take actions that delay and complicate the investigation," said police spokeswoman Carina Skagerlind.
The Swedish newspaper published photos on its website on Monday showing police officers in front of the hotel where Mbappe and the group with him had stayed. Mbappe's entourage said in a statement sent to AFP: "Today, a new slanderous rumour is starting to spread across the web from the Swedish media Aftonbladet.
"These accusations are completely false and irresponsible, and their propagation is unacceptable. In order to put an end to this methodical destruction of (the) image (of Kylian Mbappe), all necessary legal actions will be taken to re-establish the truth and pursue any person or media involved in the moral harassment and defamatory treatment that Kylian Mbappe is suffering repeatedly," the statement added. A source close to Paris Saint-Germain told AFP it would "ignore" Mbappe's claim that there was a link between the report in Sweden and his dispute with the club. Mbappe joined Madrid in the summer after seven years at PSG.
- BeSoccer
NIGERIA BOYCOTT AFCON QUALIFIER AGAINST LIBYA - FEDERATION
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| Nigeria forward Victor Boniface was part of the team stranded at a small airport in Libya. William Troost-Ekong on X |
Nigeria have pulled out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya on Monday, according to their captain William Troost-Ekong and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in protest at their flight to the country being diverted before players and staff were abandoned for hours in an airport far from the match venue.
The Super Eagles were due to play hosts Libya in the city of Benghazi, where they hoped to seal a qualification berth for the finals in Morocco late next year.
But after being stranded for more than 16 hours at an airport 250 km (155 miles) away from their intended destination, the Nigeria players said they will not fulfil the fixture and the NFF issued a statement.
"The delegation of Nigeria to Tuesday's 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya still remained at the Al Abraq Airport 12 hours after landing in Libya," the statement said.
"The chartered ValueJet aircraft was, strangely and in a dangerous manner, diverted to the small airport away from Benghazi just as the pilot was completing his approach to the Benghazi Airport.
"Fatigued players and officials have remained nonplussed as the host Libyan Football Federation failed to send any reception team or even vehicles to take the delegation members from the airport to their hotel, said to be 3 hours away in Benghazi.
"Players have resolved not to play the match any longer as NFF officials are making plans to fly the team back home."
Troost-Ekong said on X: "As the captain, together with the team, we have decided that we will not play this game. Apparently our plane is being fueled as we speak and we should be leaving to Nigeria shortly."
CAF said in a statement that they had been in contact with both countries' football federations and that the "matter has been referred to the CAF Disciplinary Board for investigation and appropriate action will be taken against those who violated the CAF Statutes and Regulations."
The Libyan Football Federation said the incident was not deliberate and urged Nigeria to be understanding.
"We have the utmost respect for our Nigerian counterparts and want to reassure them that the diversion of their flight was not intentional," it said, adding that disruptions can occur from routine air traffic protocols, security checks or other logistical challenges.
"We firmly reject any claims that suggest foul play or sabotage in this situation. We hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved with understanding and goodwill."
Nigeria striker Victor Boniface complained he had been stuck at the airport for almost 13 hours with no food, WiFi or place to sleep. "Africa, we can do better," he said on X.
It is unclear what will happen to the points from the game with the matter likely to be referred to CAF's Disciplinary Board.
Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 in the reverse fixture in Uyo on Friday thanks to a late goal from Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, taking them to seven points from three games in their group.
Benin have six points, Rwanda two and Libya one. The top two teams in each group advance to the 24-team finals.
Information from ESPN's Colin Udoh contributed to this report.
- Reuters
Monday 14 October 2024
TOP MOMENTS FROM THE 2024 BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME CEREMONY
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| Class of 2024 inductee Chauncey Billups speaks alongside presenters Tina Thompson (‘18) and Ben Wallace (‘21) during the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Reuters |
The latest inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame were officially enshrined Sunday, highlighted by a handful of notable moments.
The 2024 class included Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, Michael Cooper, Seimone Augustus and Doug Collins. Jerry West was inducted for his work as a contributor, largely focused on his work with the Los Angeles Lakers as an executive. West became the first three-time inductee into the hall.
This year's class also included the induction of four superfans into the James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery -- Billy Crystal, Alan Horwitz, Spike Lee and Jack Nicholson.
There was no shortage of memorable sound bites and moments during the ceremony in Springfield, Massachusetts. Here's a look at some of the highlights from the 2024 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony.
Family love between Carter and Tracy McGrady
Vince Carter speaks on the love and support he's received from his cousin, Tracy McGrady π€
πΊ #24HoopClass Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/3jf2UgtkEj
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2024
Cooper shows appreciation for West
"The logo. The icon of our game. He was a friend and a mentor. And I owe him more than he can ever understand."@ShowtimeCooper expressing his gratitude for the great Jerry West π pic.twitter.com/188jF58cDI
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 14, 2024
Billups gives a Detroit welcome, thanks Grandma
Chauncey giving a proper Detroit welcome in his Hall of Fame induction speech❤️ pic.twitter.com/BVHvGDmoIw
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 13, 2024
"We did it grandma, we did it."
Chauncey Billups with a very important thank you to his late Grandma ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jitOZ7oP5e
— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2024
Wise words from Collins
"In my life if you look at my career, I've never been afraid to fail."
Doug Collins with a message on growing from his failures π―
πΊ #24HoopClass Enshrinement Ceremony on NBA TV pic.twitter.com/tvftGGzzTl
— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2024
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME ❤️π₯#24HoopClass inductee, Doug Collins, gives a heartfelt message on what the game of basketball has meant to him. π pic.twitter.com/OTZ1RJ1Jfc
— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2024
Laker greats show support for West
Laker greats in Springfield to enshrine the late Jerry West into the @Hoophall for an unprecedented 3rd time ππ pic.twitter.com/RLeiKxFeHK
— NBA (@NBA) October 13, 2024
Augustus shows off her voice
Seimone Augustus started her Hall of Fame speech with a song dedicated to her home of Baton Rouge, LA π΅ pic.twitter.com/t2ppHEGBNp
— espnW (@espnW) October 14, 2024
Carter offers a congratulations to the class
"From now on, they don't just say you're first and last name without saying... 'Hall of Famer.'"
Vince Carter closes his induction speech with a congratulations to the entire #24HoopClass π pic.twitter.com/Kg2GonicYo
— NBA (@NBA) October 14, 2024
NEYMAR COULD RETURN FROM INJURY NEXT WEEK -;SOURCES
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| Neymar has been sidelined for a year. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images) |
Brazil forward Neymar has made significant improvement on his knee recovery and could be fit to play on Oct. 21, sources told ESPN Brasil on Monday.
The Al Hilal star has been sidelined for a year since sustaining a torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee while on international duty with Brazil.
Neymar, 32, returned to train with Al Hilal on Sept. 29. People closely monitoring Neymar's progress believe the player could return to play in time for Al Hilal's Asian Champions League game at Al Ain on Oct. 21.
Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus will have the final say on when Neymar will return to action.
However, he will first need the approval of Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who carried out Neymar's surgery.
Lasmar is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming days to evaluate the player's fitness.
Neymar, who is Brazil's all-time leading scorer, joined the Saudi Pro League side in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain but played just five games before getting hurt.
Brazil's Football Confederation is monitoring the situation closely and is hopeful of having Neymar available in time for the November World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Uruguay.
- Adriana Garcia
HIGH-FLYING JAPAN WARY OF REJUVENATED AUSTRALIA IN ASIAN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
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| Japan and Australia will once again lock horns in the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup on Tuesday -- with the Socceroos still looking for their first win on Japanese soil. Kaz Photography/Getty Images |
SAITAMA, Japan -- Though both history and form suggest his side will be heavy favourites in their FIFA World Cup Asian qualifier against Australia on Tuesday, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has moved to quash any sense of complacency against a newly rejuvenated, aggressive Socceroos outfit.
Fresh off a historic 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the Samurai Blue have already raced to a five-point lead atop Group C in the third phase of Asian qualifying after just three games, building off a run of form that has seen them win 20 of their last 22 games and not concede once during World Cup qualification.
And now, they will host an Australian side in Saitama that, despite being one of their great rivals, has only beaten them twice since the turn of the millennium and never triumphed on Japanese soil -- knowing a win will effectively give them one foot at North America 2026 already.
The Socceroos, though, sit second in Group C after recording a 3-1 win over China in Adelaide last Thursday, their first win of the third phase of qualification after an opening-day defeat to Bahrain and a subsequent draw with Indonesia in Jakarta saw Graham Arnold step down as coach and replaced with Tony Popovic.
"Data doesn't make us win tomorrow's match," Moriyasu said through an interpreter on Monday. "Whatever the data shows, we have prepared best for tomorrow's match at home. We want to make sure that we have the best performance tomorrow.
"Data tells us that we probably have an advantage, however, when I think about the situation of the Socceroos, even if the data says that they haven't been doing too well until now, the head coach has changed and they will do their best; they will challenge themselves and they will probably throw themselves at us.
"We have to prepare for that. And for the players, of course, it is important for players to be cautious but I also tell them to be confident. I tell them to try even more than they have been trying, and that is our challenge."
Former teammates at Sanfrecce Hiroshima and still good friends -- the Japan boss smiling as he revealed Popovic calls him his nickname 'Poichi' -- Moriyasu said that he had thoroughly reviewed Australia's win over China, in which the Socceroos' showed promise in a new 3-4-2-1 system, but warned his rival would likely have multiple plans prepared.
Declaring that Popovic had a "fighting spirit" that would be reflected in his players, he said this was something that his side would need to respond to in kind.
"We have a very good balance," said the coach. "We have a sense of danger but also a sense of pride. All of us are trying to make improvements. We will take it one match at a time. We are very well-balanced mentally and physically."
"I told the players to be very confident to win at our home stadium and give it their all. We were able to win all three games [so far] but that doesn't necessarily mean that we can win tomorrow. We have to make sure that we will tighten our belts, prepare well and be courageous."
"I understand that with Australia's mentality," added midfielder Hidemasa Morita. "They will really challenge us."
The Australians, for their part, know they will head to Saitama Stadium as the underdogs, with few of their supporters Down Under holding significant hope of taking a point off their high-powered rivals, let alone three.
But defying expectations is something the Socceroos have come to relish in recent years and with a new level of intensity and focus already instilled by Popovic across his three weeks in charge, they have struck a respectful but defiant tone in Tokyo.
"You don't travel ten hours to Japan to sit back and let them destroy you," said attacker Ajdin Hrustic. "We'll go out with our chests up and confident, especially after the important win against China.
"What's happened has happened. It's the past. And now we look forward. We started well against China and now we're going to continue that road."
- Joey Lynch, Australia Correspondent
OLYMPIANS NOAH LYLES AND JUNELLE BROMFIELD ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT
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| Junelle Bromfield and Noah Lyles announced their engagement on Saturday. (Photo by John Nacion/Getty Images) |
Noah Lyles proposed to his girlfriend, Junelle Bromfield, on Saturday, he announced in a video posted across his social media accounts.
The 2024 Olympic gold medalist in the men's 100m dash popped the question in front of a bundle of pink flowers shaped into a heart with petals on the floor and candles around them. Bromfield quickly said yes before flashing the ring on her finger.
Lyles and the Jamaican Olympic sprinter have been dating since summer 2022.
During the 2024 Paris Games, Lyles' post-victory activities after winning the men's 100m final included bringing Bromfield's spikes back to her hotel room at 2 a.m. after she left them at the Olympic Village.
"So here I am at 2 a.m., waddling with a spike bag, my bag and some toiletries, and I'm like, 'Huh. Here I am, Olympics champion, 100 meters, waddling to my girlfriend's room with all this stuff,'" Lyles said, laughing. "I'm a good boyfriend."
Bromfield ran in the women's 400m and 4x400m relay and the 4x400m relay mixed in Paris. She won a bronze medal as part of Jamaica's women's 4x100m relay team in Tokyo 2020.
- Anthony Gharib, ESPN
IS JAPAN THE WORLD'S BEST TEAM OUTSIDE EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA?
TOKYO, Japan -- In the modern age of football, extended coaching stints are rare; rare enough that if a coach leads a nation through multiple FIFA World Cup cycles, like Japan's Hajime Moriyasu, it's a genuinely notable event.
Just under two years on from its staging, just seven of the 32 coaches that stalked the touchlines of Qatar still find themselves in the same employment today. There's Lionel Scaloni, of course, who has been in the role since 2018 and guided Argentina to a World Cup crown against another who remains in the job, Didier Deschamps of France -- who, at more than 12 years possesses the third-longest active tenure in international football. There's Zlatko DaliΔ, who has led Croatia to a World Cup semifinal and final since taking over in 2017, as well as Walid Regragui who guided Morocco to an unprecedented semifinal berth in 2022. Even on the smaller stage of Asia, half the coaches from January's Asian Cup have departed, with Australia's Graham Arnold the latest to do so when he resigned last month.
Moriyasu, though, has persevered.
The 56-year-old has been at the helm of his native Japan since 2018, succeeding Akira Nishino after the Samurai Blue's exit in the round of 16 in Russia. And while it hasn't always been smooth sailing for the former midfielder -- the axe was reportedly hovering during 2022 qualification, only for him to oversee a 2-0 win over Australia and secure a spot in Qatar -- he will lead his side into another World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos this Tuesday as not just the most in-form side in Asia, but possibly global football.
Simply put, across both the second and third phases of Asian qualifiers, the Samurai Blue have been perfect.
Across the six games of the second phase of qualification, Japan scored 21 goals across five wins without conceding once. Across three games in this third phase, they've kept three more clean sheets whilst scoring 14 times: steamrolling China and Bahrain in their opening fixtures before defeating fellow Asian powers Saudi Arabia, led by Roberto Mancini, in Jeddah last week -- the 2-0 win the first time Japan has beaten the Green Falcons in the Gulf state.
"More important than scoring a goal myself is winning at this stadium for the first time. That's a huge thing for Japanese football," said Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada, who opened the scoring.
Going further back and examining the past 16 months, Japan has won 20 of their last 22 games, which included a three-game run in which they scored 12 goals against four conceded whilst downing Canada, Turkey, and, most impressively, Germany in Wolfsburg. Of the players who featured in the last year, 37 play with European clubs -- including 22 of the October squad -- which has brought a new level of depth and competition for places.
A young core of the squad that has been referred to as "The Tokyo Olympics Generation" has come to the fore; exposed to the senior national setup at the time Japan hosted the global showpiece in preparation to replace the old guard of stalwarts such as Maya Yoshida, Yuto Nagatomo, and Hiroki Sakai. And many of these aren't just in Europe, they're serving as key contributors to their clubs, too; Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, SC Freiburg's Ritsu DΕan, Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad, AS Monaco's Takumi Minamino, Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion, and Liverpool's Wataru EndΕ. Additionally, defenders Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal and Hiroki ItΕ of Bayern Munich are absent from the squad as they continue to work their way back from injury, with reports indicating that both are well on track to return.
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| With 20 wins in their last 22 games, Japan are in the type of form that could cause major shockwaves at the 2026 World Cup. AFP via Getty Images |
Already winners of the Women's World Cup, Japan has long been considered one of the most likely nations to break the European/South American duopoly in the men's and with the talent their producing and the continued maturation of the game in the nation -- the J1 League was only founded in 1992 -- one can see why.
In pursuit of this goal, the Japanese Football Association (JFA) released Japan's Way, described as being a "National Football Philosophy" that would work backwards from an ideal state of having "10 million football families and [winning] the FIFA World Cup by 2050." It makes for fascinating reading.
While there was the obvious focus on technical and physical excellence that has come to define Japan's status as Asia's leading power, its analysis of leading football nations found that while strengthening the national team was vital this was accompanied by the importance of fostering a culture around the game that stretches far beyond the elite. The construction of this was therefore one of its key findings, emphasising the importance of continued improvement of the J1 League, already Asia's best, and stating "We must create an environment that allows everyone to enjoy football at their level. An environment that brings joy to those who play, watch or support (players, coaches, referees, organisers, parents, fans, supporters and more)."
Seeking to reclaim and repurpose a phrase that had been a self-deprecating acknowledgement of weakness, it declared that Japan's Way needed to be one that resonated and was representative of the strengths of Japan, rather than seeking to copy and paste the culture of an existing successful nation, and serve as its compass as it adjusted and responded to the changing face of football. "In that boundless sea flows the current of world football," it read.
Which segues quite nicely to the potential stormy waters requiring navigation during this window, which will conclude this Tuesday in Saitama.
While Japan's recent run of 20 wins in their last 22 games is impressive, it's worth noting that those two defeats came at the Asian Cup, the first against Iraq in the group stages and then against Iran in the quarterfinals. Most observers were expecting the Samurai Blue to warm into the tournament, but their campaign failed to ever get out of first gear. And while Moriyasu's side has rightly been recognised as playing some of the best football in Asia as of late -- their new generation's free-scoring habits helping to shed the defensive, pragmatic tag that has accompanied the coach -- the October window represented a test of the side's progress in competitive fixtures.
While neither the Saudis nor Australians have been at their best in recent times, they still represent two of Asia's best, monopolising -- alongside Japan, South Korea and Iran -- places at the World Cup during its 32-team era. And with qualification for 2026 already looking almost certain, these two fixtures would give fresh insight as to the progression since the Asian Cup. They would be favoured in both and if they were able to meet those expectations -- perhaps this window could be considered something of a performance appraisal -- they, and the rest of the world, would glean a small insight into how close they are to realising the vision of Japan's Way.
And with a historic win in Jeddah secured last week, one tick, the focus now turns to the Socceroos in Saitama on Tuesday, a clash both history and form suggest Japan should win.
Though the two belligerents have established one of Asia's best rivalries, one born of mutual respect, Australia has never won on Japanese soil. Those in green-and-gold have won just two of their meetings since the turn of the century, and just one of the 12 staged since they joined the Asian Football Confederation following their win over Japan at the 2006 FIFA World Cup as a member of Oceania. A 3-1 win over China against Adelaide on Thursday finally got the Socceroos on the board in the third round of Asian qualification but after a loss to Bahrain -- who subsequently lost 5-0 to Japan -- and a draw with Indonesia in their opening two fixtures sparked Arnold's exit, and his replacement with Tony Popovic, few observers hold realistic hopes of an upset.
However, the Socceroos have also made a habit of raising their game when playing against the world's best: taking their struggles to break down low blocks while serving as the ball-dominant side in possession and turning them around on their highly ranked foes. And in Popovic, they have a coach that has a demonstrated history of defying the odds in Asia: leading Western Sydney Wanderers to an Asian Champions League crown in 2014 -- which included a round of 16 win against a Sanfrecce Hiroshima outfit coached by Moriyasu himself. So while scant few Down Under are expecting it -- moreso hoping their side can limit the damage -- it also wouldn't be unprecedented if Socceroos were able to emerge on Tuesday with some kind of smash-and-grab.
If Japan can avoid that, another question will have been answered by Moriyasu and his side.
- Joey Lynch, Australia Correspondent
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