Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts
Monday, 3 August 2026
Sunday, 2 August 2026
Saturday, 1 August 2026
Tuesday, 28 July 2026
Monday, 1 June 2026
HOW BVB STAR FAIRED IN GERMANY'S 4-0 OVER FINLAND
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| Germany - Finland | picture alliance/GettyImages |
Germany's final home game before the 2026 FIFA World Cup resulted in a dominant 4-0 win over Finland in Mainz on Sunday.
Deniz Undav struck a brace whereas Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala also scored apiece as Die Mannschaft were given a cheerful send-off from the home fans.
The four-time champions will now travel to Chicago for their last warmup friendly against the United States before kicking-off their campaign against Curacao on 14 June.
Which BVB stars featured?
Earlier in the day, it was confirmed that Felix Nmecha would start for Germany. Turns out, Nico Schlotterbeck was also in the mix, starting in their four-man backline.
Maximilian Beier and Waldemar Anton were on the bench. But while Beier was subbed in after the break, Anton didn't feature at all.
How did Dortmund player fare?
Now speaking of their performance, Schlotterbeck displayed excellent vision to make one interception and two clearances while also winning two of his three ground duels.
Combining his towering stature with strong physical attributes, the BVB star made sure that Finnish forwards didn't have any time or space to work into.
As for Nmecha, the midfielder was heavily involved in the passing game and registered a 91% completion rate. He also laid one key pass while making two shots in the game.
The 25-year-old was involved in Germany's second goal as his high-press promoted a Finnish defender to make a backward pass that was intercepted by Undav for Wirtz to score.
In the build-up to their third one, Nmecha released Aleksandar Pavlovic on the right to race ahead and set up Undav.
Having made only six appearances for Germany before this, Nmecha displayed tactical intelligence that belied his age and experience.
Naglesmann's intent behind starting him tonight was perhaps to get the player more accustomed to his set-up before the cup and the Dortmund star seemed to thrive in his role.
With that performance, his place in the XI for the tournament might just be confirmed now.
Beier came on for the final 17 minutes but made two attempts, both of which forced Finnish custodian Lukas Hradecky to intervene.
What about Anton?
Naglesmann clearly gave the younger players a chance here and Anton remaining on the bench is in no way a cause for concern for the BVB players.
Having played such a crucial role in Dortmund's defensive backline in 2025-26 season, he is sure to get his moment to shine with Germany too.
- Sachin Bhat
Monday, 10 November 2025
Sunday, 16 February 2025
FANS IN MONTREAL LOUDLY BOO U S. ANTHEM PRIOR TO AMERICANS' 4 NATIONS GAME VS. CANADA
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| Players and fans stand for the U.S. national anthem prior to the first period of 4 Nations Face-Off hockey game between Canada and the United States in Montreal on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press via AP |
MONTREAL — Fans in Montreal loudly booed the U.S. national anthem prior to the 4 Nations Face-Off game between the Americans and Canada on Saturday night.
It's the second time "The Star-Spangled Banner" drew that reaction in two games the United States has played at the NHL-run international tournament.
And it came after public address announcer Michel Lacroix asked the crowd, in French and English, "In the spirit of this great game that unites everyone that you kindly respect the anthems and the players that represent each country."
This time, far more of the fans at Bell Centre booed than Thursday night before the U.S. beat Finland. The booing began when warrant officer David Grenon of the Royal Canadian Air Force Band started singing and lasted the entire length of the song.
"We knew it was going to happen," U.S. defenseman Zach Werenski said after beating Canada 3-1 and quieting the crowd of over 21,000. "It happened the last game, it's been happening in the NHL before this and we knew tonight was going to be the same way. We obviously don't like it."
U.S. players have been trying to tune it out. After beating Finland 6-1 on Thursday, goaltender Connor Hellebuyck said he "paid no attention to" the booing.
"You have free speech," Hellebuyck said. "You can do whatever you want. If you're going to boo the anthem, we sing it for the troops that protected our freedom. That doesn't really mean anything to me. You can do whatever you want. But I don't use it at all."
Werenski said it provided some fuel with the U.S. serving in the villain role in Canada.
"It is what it is," Werenski said. "We kind of had an idea. We used it as motivation the best we could and found a way to get a win. But we had an idea going into it, so it wasn't a surprise. Definitely don't like it, though."
U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk, who fought Canada's Brandon Hagel off the opening faceoff, setting off a series of three bouts in nine seconds, said it had nothing to do with the anthem booing. If anything, players felt it added to the fun of the night.
"It's just unbelievable, the atmosphere, to play on this stage in Canada, that was pretty cool for all of us I think," said winger Jake Guentzel, who scored twice, including the empty-netter that sealed it. "There's a lot of excitement from our team coming out for warmups and just seeing how packed it was. That was pretty special."
Fans across Canada have booed the U.S. anthem at NHL and NBA games since President Donald Trump began making repeated references to the country becoming "the 51st state." Trump also threatened tariffs against the country, prompting backlash from a close neighbor and longtime ally.
Asked Friday at practice about fans booing the U.S. anthem, veteran Canada defenseman Drew Doughty voiced opposition to it.
"Obviously, I know what's going on, and I understand the Canadians' frustration, but I think we should respect the anthems and stuff like that," Doughty said. "I don't think anyone should be booing."
- The Associated Press
Sunday, 28 July 2024
Wednesday, 19 June 2024
INDIA'S CHOPRA EASES FITNESS CONCERNS WITH GOLD IN FINLAND
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| Reuters |
Olympic javelin champion Neeraj Chopra won gold at the Paavo Nurmi Games in Finland on Tuesday and while the winning throw was well short of his personal best the Indian said he is happy with his fitness ahead of the Paris Olympics.
The mop-haired 26-year-old became India's first track-and-field athlete to win an Olympic gold in Tokyo and will carry the hopes of a nation on his shoulders in Paris.
Chopra had pulled out of the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting last month after injuring his adductor muscle but there was no signs of any discomfort on Tuesday as he hurled a winning throw of 85.97m in his third attempt.
"I am happy with my adductor now because I could do all six throws," Chopra, who has a personal best of 89.94m, said on the tournament website.
"I will try to stay healthy in the next weeks, because then I will throw my best throws."
Chopra had also missed the Ostrava meet last year because of a similar injury.
"Every year I have some problems with my adductor, maybe after the Olympics I am going to talk to different doctors," he said.
"Initially I wanted to compete more this season, but it was not possible due to my niggles."
Chopra will move to Germany to continue training under his German coach Klaus Bartonietz and is also considering training in Turkey before the Olympics.
"Most of the time I train with my coach and physio, but from time to time we exchange with other coaches like Jan Zelezny," he said referring to the Czech javelin great.
Tuesday, 19 March 2024
HOLDERS ITALY TO FACE BELGIUM, BRAZIL AND NETHERLANDS IN DAVIS CUP
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| Reuters |
Champions Italy will face Belgium, Brazil and the Netherlands in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage in September.
The draw for the International Tennis Federation's flagship men's team competition took place in London on Tuesday.
Italy, who claimed the title for the first time since 1976 thanks to the brilliant play of Jannik Sinner, will have home advantage in Group A with Bologna one of four host cities selected by the ITF.
Last year's runners-up Australia will be in Group B in Valencia alongside the Czech Republic, France and Spain.
Group C, hosted by Zhuhai in China features Germany, the United States, Slovakia and Chile.
Britain will also have home advantage in Group D as they face 2022 champions Canada, Argentina and Finland in Manchester.
The top two teams from each group qualify for the Final 8 knockout phase in Malaga in November.
The group stage will take place after the U.S. Open, the year's final Grand Slam, from Sept. 10 to 15.
- Reuters
Monday, 26 February 2024
JAKE KNAPP HOLDS ON TO WIN MEXICO OPEN AND EARN MASTERS SPOT
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| AP Photo |
VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) — PGA Tour rookie Jake Knapp lost a four-shot lead in seven holes and then held it together with a remarkable short game Sunday, closing with an even-par 71 to win the Mexico Open at Vidanta and earn a trip to the Masters.
Knapp said he still sends a text after each round to his grandfather, who died last year, and this message might require a lot of detail.
He didn't hit a fairway until the eighth hole and found only two the entire round. He never lost the lead, but twice allowed Sami Valimaki of Finland to catch him. They were tied with six holes to play until Knapp took over, getting up-and-down on four of the next five holes, one of them for birdie.
“I woke up in the middle of the night and I could fee my heart racing,” he said. “I was more excited to get things going. I wasn't worried about performing — maybe I should have been.”
Tee-to-green, Knapp had his worst performance. But he spent extra time Saturday night on his short game, and it won the day for him.
“We talked about it last night ... if the ball-striking is off, we're going to have to trust our hands. And we did that, grinding out some pretty tough pars,” he said.
It wasn't easy until the end.
Thursday, 28 December 2023
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