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Preview: Four things to look out for in FIFA World Cup opener

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DOHA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) — The long wait for the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East is over as hosts Qatar and Ecuador prepare to raise the curtain on the 2022 edition of football’s biggest international tournament. Here are four things to look out for in Sunday’s match at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

ALMOEZ ALI THREAT

Almoez Ali has shown a penchant for performing well when it matters most. The 26-year-old striker was the top scorer at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which Qatar participated as tournament guests, with four goals in five games.

He was also his team’s leading marksman at the 2019 Asian Cup, netting nine times in seven matches.

Ali, who was born in Sudan and moved to Qatar as a child, has yet to score in six international outings in 2022, but is likely to be key to his team’s chances of a successful World Cup debut.

ALFARO IMPACT

Since replacing Jordi Cruyff as Ecuador’s boss in August 2020, Gustavo Alfaro has transformed a promising but erratic squad into one of South America’s most feared national teams.

An impressive World Cup qualifying campaign saw them finish fourth in the South American group, behind only Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and above teams of the caliber of Chile, Peru and Paraguay.

And Alfaro’s men appear to be peaking at the right time, going unbeaten in their past seven matches, a run that included victories over Nigeria and Cape Verde, as well as draws against Argentina, Mexico and Japan.

ECUADOR’S DEFENSE

Led by Bayer Leverkusen center-back Piero Hincapie and Brighton left-back Pervis Estupinan, Ecuador boasts one of the tournament’s most solid defenses.

Ecuador conceded just 19 goals in 18 qualifiers and have kept clean sheets in each of their past five games.

But, with only one goal in their past five outings, there are question marks over the team’s attacking options.

Ecuadorian fans will be hoping that 33-year-old Fenerbahce forward Enner Valencia can carry his club form onto the international stage. Ecuador’s all-time leading scorer has netted 13 goals in 12 league matches for the Turkish club so far this season.

QATAR’S HOME ADVANTAGE

No hosts have lost the opening match of a World Cup. Qatar have already proved how playing at home can provide a boost in a major tournament.

Felix Sanchez’s men won the 2019 Asian Cup on home soil, beating the likes of South Korea and Japan in the process.

“I hope it’s a great party where we can enjoy football,” Sanchez said in Saturday’s pre-match press conference. “I hope everyone from all countries in the world, together, can enjoy this experience. I’m happy to be the ones kicking off this competition.”

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Germany one of UEFA Euro 2024 favorites, says Matthaeus

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by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, March 27 (Xinhua) — Enthusiastic fan chants filled the Frankfurt arena as a determined team pushed its way to success, impressing pundits. The German national team seems rejuvenated after a remarkable transformation.

“We see and feel something that wasn’t there before,” remarked Real star Toni Kroos, the driving force behind the 2014 World Champions, upon his return after an absence of over two years.

“The team went through dark times and many months of drought, but we managed to build up faith and confidence in these two games and our training sessions,” the midfielder stated.

Having defeated France (2-0) and the Netherlands (2-1), two of Europe’s leading sides, feels like a refreshing restart without inherited burdens for the German national team.

The fundamental changes implemented by national coach Julian Nagelsmann have sparked a new spirit and opened doors for bold dreams, as not only German record international Lothar Matthaeus has redefined new goals for the Euro tournament host.

“From what I see, the team can win the trophy this summer,” said the 63-year-old former midfielder, who has been capped 150 times, referring to the Euro taking place from June 15 to July 15 in ten German arenas.

Just in time, Nagelsmann pressed the emergency button, leaving out established forces and relying on a strict performance pattern, only selecting players currently performing at a high level, regardless of the number of internationals in the German shirt.

Last autumn, Germany seemed to have hit rock bottom, suffering from two disappointing defeats against Turkey and Austria.

“We are back on track as we feel a new spirit, and things are going much better for everyone and the entire team,” said Bayern full-back and midfielder Joshua Kimmich.

Stuttgart full-back and national team newcomer Maximilian Mittelstaedt spoke of “something big” on the way.

Nagelsmann’s strategy to outline clear areas of responsibility for each of his players has created stability, while the coach has returned to a more conservative line-up, paying attention to the team’s defense.

A back row of four with two midfielders ahead is allowing offensive forces such as Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz, Ilkay Guendogan, and Kai Havertz to initiate surprising attacks.

With Mittelstaedt and Kimmich, the German coach seems to have solved the full-back problem that the team had been suffering from for several years.

With Union midfielder Robert Andrich, Nagelsmann seems to have found the holding six, covering the defensive midfield part aside from conducting Kroos.

While several newcomers and returnees enjoy the upswing, left-out players such as Dortmund’s stars Mats Hummels, Niklas Suele, Emre Can, and Julian Brandt, aside from Bayern’s Leon Goretzka, are in danger of missing Euro 2024.

Regarding his job as a project focused solely on the Euro outcome, Nagelsmann has instilled confidence by creating a tight-knit community.

Both recent victories have revitalized Germany’s national team, and as a side effect, previously disappointed fans are once again backing their team.

Source(s): Xinhua

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VAM appoints former president to lead once again

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Volleyball Association of Maldives (VAM) has appointed Mohamed Latheef, as its new president.

Latheef, who was the association’s president in 2016, was appointed to the position without an election. He was appointed at the association’s extarordinary congress held on Tuesday evening at Solite Restaurants.

He came to fill in the shoes of outogoing Mohamed Ranesh after his term expired on February 2024.

Since Latheef was the only one to submit his name for the position, the former Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) President was appointed without any competition.

Besides the president, the extraordinary congress saw the election of four other Vice Presidents to the executive committee of VAM, with Mohamed Sajid securing Senior Vice President’s position.

Ali Latheef was elected as Vice President, Volleyball, and Izzath Waheed was elected as Vice President, Administration. Aaidha Abdul Hakeem was elected for the female-designate Vice President’s seat.

Additionally, four more members were elected for VAM’s executive committee that include Fathuhulla Waheed, Shiyam Ali, Sofwan Ahmed and Aishath Fatheena.

Although Latheef was first elected as VAM’s President in 2016, he lost the position after the then Sports Commissioner Heena Ahmed Saleem announced the disolution of the association’s executive committee in 2019 following an investigation.

Previously, VAM’s election to elect executive committee members was scheduled for March 15th, but the current Sports Commissioner Mohamed Tholal demanded for a delay.

The association received permission to go ahead with the election under conditions.

Source(s): sun.mv

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ACC raids Badminton Association as part of corruption probe

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Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), on Tuesday, raided the Badminton Association of Maldives as part of a probe into corruption allegations.

ACC, on Tuesday, said an investigative team of the commission has entered the Badminton Association of Maldives to gather questions and information regarding multiple allegations of corruption filed against the association with the commission.

They did not disclose any further details regarding the case.

The case has come to light after major corruption cases against Football Association of Maldives (FAM) have been investigated following which charges have been sought against some individuals.

Source(s): sun.mv

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