It would be unfair to expect India to bedazzle crowds with eye-catching football. This team is built around stability, writes Dhruv Munjal
Images from the FIFA World Cup qualifiers matches.
India's FIFA U-17 World Cup team coach Luis Norton de Matos on Saturday refused to predict his side's chances in the upcoming tournament, saying that instead of thinking about the results the country should take it as "a first step for the future".
India put up a gallant fight before going down 2-3 to the Netherlands in their opening match of the Hero FIH Junior hockey World Cup, in Delhi, on Friday.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Friday.
The Egyptian Football Association denied reports that talismanic striker Mohamed Salah was on the verge of quitting international football
India's hopes of making it to the quarter-finals of the Junior Hockey World Cup were dashed after they were held 3-3 by Korea in their must-win third and final Group C match, at the Dhyan Chand stadium, in Delhi, on Tuesday. A brilliant hat-trick by Seungju You saw the Koreans rally from 1-3 down and snatch a place in the last eight stage.
Indian shooters got off to a positive start on day one of the ongoing International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup (Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun), clinching seven medals, including three golds, at Gabala in Azerbaijan on Sunday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Thursday
The top two teams in each group go into the last 16. In the case of teams finishing level on points, FIFA has put in place seven tie-breakers starting with goal difference and then the number of goals scored in all group matches.
Hosts Russia virtually sealed a place in the second round of the FIFA World Cup after a 3-1 victory over Egypt on Tuesday. The victory took them to top the of Group A with six points from two games.
Uruguay's Jose Gimenez scored with a thunderous 89th minute header to deal Egypt a 1-0 defeat in their World Cup opener on Friday, just as the North Africans appeared to have escaped with a point despite missing key striker Mohamed Salah.
Egypt have blamed their Confederations Cup exit on media 'lies' about their players consorting with prostitutes after beating world champions Italy. Head of mission Mahmoud Taher told a news conference on Monday that the team had been stunned by local newspaper reports.
With a specific aim on improving her fitness, Indian gymnast Pranati Nayak is hoping to garner success in four World Cup events and an Asian Championship to seal her berth in the Paris Olympics.
On Sunday, the Women's 25m Pistol Team won a silver and the Men's 50m Rifle 3 Positions (3P) team won a bronze, even as India ended their Paris 2024 Olympics quota quest at two from the championship. Their tally now stands at 12 gold, nine silver, and 13 bronze medals, as per a press release from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI).
An inspired display from captain Ahmed Hassan helped African Nations Cup holders Egypt come from a goal down to defeat Nigeria 3-1 in the opening Group C match in Benguela on Tuesday.
Ramzan Kadyrov, the Kremlin-backed head of Russia's southern Chechnya region, hosted a dinner in honour of Egypt's football team and presented the Liverpool star forward Mohamed Salah with an award, the Chechen leader's press service said on Friday.
Russia got their World Cup campaign off to a dream start with a 5-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia but face an entirely different beast in the form of Egypt, who should be revitalised by the return of their talismanic striker Mohamed Salah.
The Indian hockey team will start their defense of the Junior World Cup against Egypt.
Ramandeep Singh scored two field goals as India beat Argentina 4-2 and set up a mouth-watering clash against Pakistan in the 9th-10th place classification match at the Hero Junior Men's Hockey World Cup in Delhi, on Thursday.
Salah was seen with controversial Chechnya leader Ramzan Kadyrov while he was recuperating from the shoulder injury he suffered during the Champions League final.
Salah is still in doubt for Egypt's opening match in Group A on June 15 against Uruguay in Ekaterinburg after suffering a shoulder injury in the Champions League final for Liverpool late last month.
Hosts France reached the Olympic men's football semi-finals for the first time in 40 years with a 1-0 win over Argentina thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta's first-half goal in a grudge match in Bordeaux on Friday.
"That is why we should see this match (against Egypt) mainly as a wake-up call. It was also useful in giving some players much-needed minutes."
From the passion of MotoGP champions to the intensity of football pitches and the elegance of synchronised swimming, this collection of images captures unforgettable moments in sports and beyond.
If any England players need advice on scoring against an African team ahead of Sunday's clash, they need look no further than their manager Gareth Southgate.
India clubbed with Egypt, Switzerland, Jamaica in inaugural Men's Hockey5s World Cup
Winning the country's first ever bronze medal at the Tent Pegging World Cup in South Africa was a historic feat for the Indian riders, but instead of rejoicing the podium finish, the equestrians were struggling to hold their tears.
Retired Ivorian player and Chelsea legend Didier Drogba: "They did it!!!! Well done Morocco for this feat. Long live Africa."
Senegal's best World Cup performance was its debut in 2002 when it beat defending champion France in one of the tournament's great upsets and became only the second African team after Cameroon in 1990 to reach the quarterfinals.
'I was not scared because I knew I had not done anything wrong. And I was walking for a good cause.'
Egypt are hopeful Mohamed Salah will be available for the start of their World Cup campaign in Russia but the team must find a way to avoid depending too much on the striker, coach Hector Cuper has said.
Confident Dutch face tough examination from Senegal
Saudi Arabia have extended coach Juan Antonio Pizzi's contract until the end of the Asian Cup in February 2019, the FA said on Tuesday, a day after the 'Green Falcons' claimed a surprise victory over Egypt in their last World Cup game.
Senegal showed their teeth on the opening day of qualifiers for the 2021 African Cup of Nations but other continental heavyweights struggled to find form on Wednesday.
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Egypt's crucial performer has been battling against time to be fit for the Group A encounter since hurting ligaments in an awkward fall in the early stages of last month's Champions League final.
Carter was in politics, but not a politician, certainly not a transactional politician, points out Shreekant Sambrani.
Underdogs Egypt shook five-times world champions Brazil at the Confederations Cup on Monday but finally succumbed 4-3 when Kaka converted a penalty in time added on for stoppages. African champions Egypt had fought back from two goals down to level at 3-3, scoring twice in a minute early in the second half, and pressed forward in search of a winner which would have shaken world football.
The man, who declined to be named, said he charges "the most dedicated supporters" a 1,000% markup for tickets to sought-after matches featuring stars like Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
