Spurs’ Kulusevski out for a few months after knee surgery, Postecoglou says

Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski will be out for a few months after having knee surgery, said manager Ange Postecoglou, and will miss Wednesday's Europa League final. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 May 2025
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Spurs’ Kulusevski out for a few months after knee surgery, Postecoglou says

  • The Sweden international was injured in the 2-0 Premier League defeat to Crystal Palace
  • “Obviously disappointing news,” Postecoglou told reporters

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski will be out for a few months after having knee surgery, said manager Ange Postecoglou, and will miss Wednesday’s Europa League final.

The Sweden international was injured in the 2-0 Premier League defeat at home to Crystal Palace at the weekend

“Obviously disappointing news. Initially we thought it wasn’t too serious ... it kind of blew up the day after and we knew there was an issue,” Postecoglou told reporters on Thursday.

“He’s had the surgery which will put him out for at least a few months.”

Asked if Kulusevski would be back for the start of next season, Postecoglou said it was too early to say.

“We’ll see. I only have basic information at the moment in terms of recovery, but it’ll certainly put him out for a while,” he added.

Spurs face fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao.


Milan wins crash-marred sprint as Tour approaches Alpine end game

Updated 8 sec ago
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Milan wins crash-marred sprint as Tour approaches Alpine end game

  • On the rain-slick roads at Valence once one rider had fallen his interminable slide across the tarmac sent riders flying like skittles leaving only 10 to contest the sprint
  • The 24-year-old Lidl Trek rider now has 312 points, and is in a powerful position to win the battle for the green jersey in Paris

VALENCE: Italy’s Jonathan Milan escaped a spectacular pile-up of flying bikes and bodies to win stage 17 of the Tour de France in lashing rain on Wednesday, extending his lead in the sprint points race.

Overall leader Tadej Pogacar and his closest rival Jonas Vingegaard (4min 15sec behind) finished safely despite a mass fall 800m from the finish line at Valence at the foot of the Alps.

On the rain-slick roads at Valence once one rider had fallen his interminable slide across the tarmac sent riders flying like skittles leaving only 10 to contest the sprint.

“It was chaotic but incredible. I was expecting a bit of rain. We placed as best as we could and the guys put me in the best spot just before the fall,” said Milan.

This was a second stage win for Milan, who won Italy’s first stage since 2019 on stage eight.

The 24-year-old Lidl Trek rider now has 312 points, and is in a powerful position to win the battle for the green jersey in Paris as Pogacar is second at 240 with only two possible sprints left at 50pts each.

 

As the remaining 164 riders embarked from the sleepy Provence village of Bollene, the collective will of the peloton made for a slow approach of the Alps.

Billed as a sprinters stage on an unusually mild (22C) day the riders were also spared the 50kph winds that had been forecast.

But the rain deprived the stage of a full bunch sprint due to the horrid fall.

Attention now turns to three massive climbs culminating with the ascent to the 2304m altitude Col de la Loze on stage 18 will sort the wheat from the chaff on Thursday’s Queen stage.

Team UAE rider Pogacar seemed unperturbed.

“We can’t get arrogant, we need to keep it simple and stay quiet,” said the 26-year-old.

“I’m really looking forward to it. I have been beaten there before but I have good legs and maybe I’ll get my revenge,” he said.

After 10 opening days of rolling terrain in the north and west of France where Pocacar and Vingegaard kept a watchful eye on each other as emerging riders stole the headlines, week two was where the real fight began.

The defending champion Pogacar attacked the Dane Vingegaard on the first mountain, smacking over two minutes into him on one climb as things looked grim for the Slovenian’s rivals.

The following day on a regular bike on a time-trial Pogacar whacked another 40sec into the Visma star who has however taken over four minutes off the Slovenian on a single stage to win the 2023 Tour.

While Friday’s hellishly-designed five mountains of madness on stage 19 sound the final call for any pretender to knock Pogacar off his high perch.

Unless that is the three ascents of the cobbled roads to the Sacre Coeur Basilica in old Montmartre descend into chaos on Sunday.

Another Slovenian rider Matej Mohoric of Bahrain Victorious said he was confident Pogacar would close out his fourth Tour de France win.

“He was born with a machine inside him, and he was born with the brain to use that machine,” Mohoric said.


Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final

Updated 24 July 2025
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Germany exits Euro 2025 after sheer doggedness nearly gets team to the final

  • Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance
  • It was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended

German chancellor Friedrich Merz never got to see Germany play at the Women’s European Championship.
“If it goes well we’ll see each other Sunday evening in Basel for the final,” Merz posted on social media before the German team faced World Cup champion Spain in the semifinal match on Wednesday.
It didn’t go quite that well. Aitana Bonmatí scored late in extra time for Spain to win 1-0 and avoid a penalty shootout that the Germany team had been holding out for.
Germany’s Euro 2025 campaign had been full of promise, but not matched in substance.
Merz was filmed watching Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger’s amazing save in the quarterfinal win over France as if he’d never seen it before. He was never so excited during a football game than he’d been watching Germany win on penalties the previous weekend.
A commitment to meet France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, meant Merz couldn’t attend the semifinals in Zurich.
Anyone watching Germany during the tournament was left wondering what the team is really capable of.
A highlight reel would feature a string of fine saves from Berger, committed defending from Franziska Kett, Giovanna Hoffmann and Jule Brand – who are all forward – and only occasional flashes of brilliance in attack, such as Brand’s opening strike in the team’s first game against Poland.
Germany, the eight-time European champion, only nearly reached the final through sheer dogged determination.
Captain Giulia Gwinn was injured against Poland and ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. A 2-1 come-from-behind win over Denmark ensured early progress from the group, before a chastening 4-1 loss to Sweden in the last group game.
Germany had defender Gwinn’s replacement, Carlotta Wamser, sent off early against Sweden for swatting the ball away from goal with her hand, then Kathrin Hendrich sent off early in the quarterfinal match against France for pulling French captain Griedge Mbock back by her hair.
It meant Germany reverted to defensive tactics in both games, protecting Berger’s goal while hoping the likes of Brand and star forward Klara Bühl might score on counterattacks.
Bühl’s corner allowed Sjoeke Nüsken to score the equalizer against France and the team held on despite French dominance to win 6-5 on penalties after Berger’s heroics.
The Germany goalkeeper was feted afterward for her amazing save to stop stand-in captain Janina Minge’s backward header from going into her own net when she leaped backwards and somehow clawed the ball away from the line. Berger also saved two penalties and scored her own spot kick in the shootout.
The win filled the German players and supporters with confidence ahead of the game against Spain, despite the overall performance against France.
“We dominated them from start to finish. Now they’re through. I’m sorry, but they don’t deserve it,” France winger Selma Bacha said.
Germany was short on defenders against Spain with Sarai Linder joining Gwinn on the injury list and Hendrichs and Nüsken both suspended. But it didn’t stop the team defending, with forward helping out at the back, producing timely blocks and committed challenges to frustrate Spain’s star forward. Berger again made a host of saves until she left space at her near post and Bonmatí squeezed the ball through.
It ended Germany’s hopes of a rematch with defending champion England in the final, and left Merz with an opening in his schedule.
 


Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m

Updated 23 July 2025
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Liverpool sign Ekitiké from Frankfurt and take offseason spending to $342m

  • Ekitiké is Liverpool’s latest big-money signing after Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez
  • The 23-year-old Ekitiké has joined for a fee of $93.5m

LONDON: Liverpool signed France forward Hugo Ekitiké from Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday to continue the Premier League champion’s offseason spending spree.

Ekitiké is Liverpool’s latest big-money signing after Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez — taking their outlay to around $342 million.

The 23-year-old Ekitiké has joined for a fee of 69 million pounds ($93.5 million) and signed a six-year contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because details have not been made public, said the fee could rise by a further 10 million pounds ($13.5 million).

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has been busy strengthening a team that won their record-equaling 20th English league title last season — in particular in attack.

Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen last month for a fee that could rise to a British record 116 million pounds ($156 million), is considered one of the brightest talents in Europe. And Etikité is another player who has shone in Germany after leaving Paris Saint-Germain last year.

He scored 22 in 48 appearances in his one full season with Frankfurt, which have made a big profit on him after buying him for a reported $19 million last year.

Ekitiké’s move comes weeks after Liverpool forward Diogo Jota died in a car accident in Spain.

There is uncertainty about the future of other Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, who have both been targeted by teams in Europe during the offseason.

The Merseyside club have not retained a league title since winning three in a row between 1982 and ‘84, which was before the inception of the Premier League.

They are likely to face challenges from Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, who have all been active in the transfer market since the end of the season.

Ekitiké is the latest big-money departure from Frankfurt after forward Omar Marmoush joined Man City for a reported $73 million in January.

Marmoush was the team’s top-scorer at the time, but Ekitiké responded with his best performances in a Frankfurt shirt to help the team finish third in the Bundesliga for Champions League qualification.


Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region

Updated 23 July 2025
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Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing’ esports growth in MENA region

  • Last year, the American filmmaker showcased the competition’s athletes and their stories in a five-part documentary
  • R.J. Cutler: ‘To see the infrastructure that’s been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing’

RIYADH: Emmy Award-winning director R.J. Cutler is no stranger to esports.

As part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh in 2024, the American filmmaker showcased the competition’s athletes and their stories in the five-part documentary “Esports World Cup: Level Up,” streaming on Prime Video.

Cutler’s series delves deep into the lives of these elite players, revealing the dedication, skill and passion that drive them, offering a platform to connect with a global audience. 

During his visit to Riyadh, Cutler discussed the significance of the Esports World Cup.

“The Esports World Cup is incredibly impactful because esports is still new and emerging on the global stage,” Cutler said. “To see the way Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people have gathered around the Esports World Cup is amazing, to see the infrastructure that’s been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing.”

By highlighting the human stories and showcasing Esports World Cup Foundation’s significant investment in the gaming and esports industry, Cutler believes the series is able to reach new audiences and showcase how the Esports World Cup is changing people’s lives.

“One of the things we hoped to do, and we were successful in doing, was making the show accessible to everybody whether you were a fan of esports, or not.

“It’s a human sport and that’s what we wanted to show (the audience), we wanted to reflect exactly what we experienced ourselves first-hand in Riyadh.”

Growing from a niche sport to a global phenomenon, the Esports World Cup had elevated the esports and gaming industry, added prestige, provided a global platform for teams and players to thrive, while fostering a community of passionate fans from across the world. 

“The cliche of what a gamer is, is totally defined by the Esports World Cup, it’s as broad a sport as any sport there is and with every single player you have a different extraordinary story, that’s what we see in Level Up,” Cutler said.

“Humanizing the esports industry was our whole objective, we tell human stories and we’re making real films. We want the audience to connect with other people and to project themselves into the scenario so that anybody playing games at home can think that ‘I could be there, that could be me.’

“The series showcases a full range of human stories, it’s character-driven, it’s emotional, it’s dramatic; we want you to laugh, cry and stomp your feet and in season one that was definitely happening.”

The Esports World Cup is a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, and a significant part of the Kingdom’s national gaming and esports strategy, which aims to foster talent development, establish a world-class gaming and esports ecosystem, and support economic diversification. The goal is to create 39,000 jobs and contribute $13.3 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030.

The inaugural Esports World Cup was a watershed moment, as the world’s best players converged in Riyadh to compete across the most popular games and win their share of a record-breaking prize pool, but in 2025 things are bigger, better and bolder.

Competing for a $70-plus million prize pool, the largest in esports history, more than 2,000 players, from 200 clubs, representing more than 100 countries, have returned for the Esports World Cup 2025, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, League of Legends, EA FC 25, Rocket League, and PUBG Battlegrounds.

The event runs until Aug. 24, and is held alongside the Esports World Cup Festival, a celebration of esports and gaming culture that features interactive experiences, live performances, competitions and global cuisine, facilitating cultural exchange and showcasing Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage to global visitors.

For 2025, the prize pool has grown, ticket sales and visitor numbers have swelled, and its global appeal has increased exponentially, bolstered by the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo as the global ambassador and a live performance from Post Malone at the opening ceremony.

“There was a $60 million prize pool last year, more than $70 million this year, this incredible infrastructure has sprouted up around it, the passion of the audiences and those following all of the teams is amazing,” Cutler said.

“The Esports World Cup is something that you really have to experience to believe it.”


GCC Esports League wraps up second event

Updated 23 July 2025
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GCC Esports League wraps up second event

  • Competition looks to strengthen competitive gaming in the region and provides potential pathway into Esports World Cup
  • Turki Al-Fawzan: These memoranda of understanding with our GCC counterparts mark a pivotal moment for the region’s esports ecosystem

RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation has concluded the second event of the GCC Esports League.

Held at the SEF Arena in Riyadh and presented by Korean automotive brand, Genesis, the league saw competition between elite players and esports clubs from across the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Turki Al-Fawzan, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Congratulations to all the incredible players who participated in the second edition of the GCC Esports League. This event has been instrumental in fostering the next generation of talent and showcasing the remarkable depth of quality among players from across the GCC. Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to the gaming and esports sector is not only transforming our region but also solidifying our role as a global hub for this dynamic industry.”

This year’s league featured competition across two fan-favorite titles: EA Sports FC 25 and Street Fighter 6, with a total prize pool of SR100,000 ($26,600), split evenly between the games. Representing their nations and highlighting the depth of emerging talent across the GCC, players from Gulf countries showcased their skills and talents in front of passionate fans at the SEF Arena and a global online audience.

Seven clubs representing six GCC countries competed in the EA Sports FC 25 tournament: Team Falcons from Saudi Arabia, TriForce from Kuwait, Al-Nasr Club from the UAE, KHK Esports from Bahrain, Al-Seeb and Al-Nahda from Oman, and Alrayyan from Qatar. In a highly anticipated all-Saudi grand final, Abu Makkah took on Falcon Msdossary7, both from Team Falcons. With a dominant 12-3 victory, FalconMsdossary7 secured the title and reaffirmed his place among the top esports athletes in the region.

Nine clubs from six GCC nations participated in the Street Fighter 6 competition, including The Vicious and Twisted Minds from Saudi Arabia, TriForce from Kuwait, Al-Ain Chess and Mind Games Club from the UAE, KHK Esports from Bahrain, Al-Seeb and Al-Nahda from Oman, and S-City and Team Mana from Qatar. The grand final featured a thrilling showdown between Twisted Minds’ Latif and Al-Ain Chess and Mind Games Club’s GTR. Latif secured a decisive 3-1 victory, marking an emotional and inspiring return to professional play after a seven-year break.

“Winning this tournament means a lot to me,” Latif said. “Coming back after seven years away from professional competition and proving that I can still compete and win against the best players in the region is an incredible feeling. This special win reminded me that age is just a number when you have the drive and determination to succeed.”

Beyond the competition, the 2025 GCC Esports League marked a significant step toward deeper regional collaboration, as the Saudi Esports Federation signed five memoranda of understanding with esports governing bodies from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE.

“These memoranda of understanding with our GCC counterparts mark a pivotal moment for the region’s esports ecosystem,” Al-Fawzan said. “Strategic collaboration is paramount to fostering talent development, launching impactful education initiatives and strengthening grassroots growth across the GCC, ultimately elevating the gaming and esports ecosystem on the global stage.”