Kane hat-trick sends Bayern eight points clear

Bayern’s Harry Kane reacts in front of Augsburg’s goalkeeper Nediljko Labrovic during their Bundesliga match at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Nov. 22, 2024. (AP)

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Updated 23 November 2024

AFP

November 22, 2024 00:52

Kane hat-trick sends Bayern eight points clear

Bayern, still yet to lose in the league in 2024-25, were dominant throughout but kept at bay by some dogged defending from their Bavarian neighbors
With 61 minutes gone, the ball connected with Augsburg’s Mads Pedersen’s outstretched arm in the box, bringing the England captain to the spot after a VAR review

Updated 23 November 2024

AFP

November 22, 2024 00:52

MUNICH: A second-half Harry Kane hat-trick took Bayern Munich to a 3-0 home win over Augsburg on Friday, sending them eight clear atop the table ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
Bayern, still yet to lose in the league in 2024-25, were dominant throughout but kept at bay by some dogged defending from their Bavarian neighbors.
With 61 minutes gone, the ball connected with Augsburg’s Mads Pedersen’s outstretched arm in the box, bringing the England captain to the spot after a VAR review.
Kane cooly converted to give Bayern the lead.
In stoppage time, Kane went down in the box after contact from Keven Schlotterbeck and Bayern were again awarded a penalty after a VAR review, which the 31-year-old converted.
Schlotterbeck was sent from the field after picking up a second yellow for his challenge.
Kane then added a third, this time controlling a cross and heading in, his seventh hat-trick since joining Bayern.
The England captain now has 14 goals in 11 league games for Bayern this season, five of which have come from the spot.
Leipzig can cut the gap back to five when they play at struggling Hoffenheim on Saturday, while defending champions Bayer Leverkusen host Heidenheim.
The German giants received a boost pre-match, with captain and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer cleared to start after missing training with a rib issue.
Bayern were in control of possession and field position but could not break through.
Augsburg offered little in attack but defended stoutly, holding Bayern’s glittering attacking riches at bay.
Augsburg goalie Nediljko Labrovic held firm to snuff out first-half chances from Jamal Musiaia and Leon Goretzka.
The Bavarian giants, still smarting after going trophyless for the first time in 11 seasons last campaign, eventually broke through with half an hour remaining, breaking Augsburg’s resolve.
Riding high in the league, Bayern have struggled in the Champions League format, sitting 17th after four games — six behind leaders Liverpool.
Tuesday’s home match with PSG, who are even further down the Champions League table, could be crucial for the German side in their top-eight bid to avoid the extra playoff round.

Topics: Bayern Munich Harry Kane Bundesliga

Netflix signs US broadcast deal with FIFA for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031

Updated 32 sec ago

December 21, 2024 06:04

Netflix signs US broadcast deal with FIFA for the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031

The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament
Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a heavily hyped boxing match between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul

Updated 32 sec ago

December 21, 2024 06:04

GENEVA: Netflix has secured the US broadcasting rights to the Women’s World Cup in 2027 and 2031 as the streaming giant continues its push into live sports.

The deal announced Friday is the most significant FIFA has signed with a streaming service for a major tournament. The value was not given, though international competitions in women’s soccer have struggled to draw high-value offers.

“Bringing this iconic tournament to Netflix isn’t just about streaming matches,” its chief content officer Bela Bajaria said in a statement. “It’s also about celebrating the players, the culture and the passion driving the global rise of women’s sport.”

Netflix dipped into live sports last month with more than 60 million households watching a heavily hyped boxing match between retired heavyweight legend Mike Tyson and social media personality Jake Paul. Some viewers reported streaming problems, however.

Netflix also will broadcast two NFL games on Christmas Day: the Kansas City Chiefs at the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at the Houston Texans. That’s part of a three-year deal announced in May.

World Cups are typically broadcast on free-to-air public networks to reach the biggest audiences, and the last women’s edition in 2023 earned FIFA less than 10 percent of the men’s 2022 World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had publicly criticized public broadcasters, especially in Europe, for undervaluing offers to broadcast the 2023 tournament that was played in Australia and New Zealand. That tournament was broadcast by Fox in the US

“This agreement sends a strong message about the real value of the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the global women’s game,” Infantino said.

The World Cup rights mark another major step in Netflix’s push into live programming. It’s recipe that Netflix has cooked up to help sell more advertising, a top priority for the company since it introduced a low-priced version of its streaming service that includes commercials two years ago. The ad-supported version is now the fastest growing part of Netflix’s service, although most of its 283 million worldwide subscribers still pay for higher-priced options without commercial.

But Netflix is still trying to sell more ads to boost its revenue, which is expected to be about $30 billion. Netflix executives have predicted it might take two or three years before its ad sales become a major part of its revenue.

Netflix expects to spend about $17 billion on programming this year — a budget that the Los Gatos, California, company once funneled almost entirely into scripted TV series and movies. But Netflix is now allocating a significant chunk of that money to sports and live events, a shift that has made it a formidable competitor to traditional media bidding for the same rights.

FIFA will likely use the Netflix deal to drive talks with European broadcasters that likely will be hardball negotiations.

Soccer finance expert Kieran Maguire, a co-host of The Price of Football podcast, suggested the deal was “a bit of a gamble” for FIFA and “saber-rattling” by Infantino.

“(Netflix) get experience of football broadcasting, FIFA can say, ‘we are now partnering with a blue chip organization, so watch out you nasty Europeans,’” Maguire, an academic at the University of Liverpool, said in a telephone interview.

FIFA and Infantino also want to raise the price of broadcast deals to help fund increased prize money and close the gender pay gap on the men’s World Cup.

At the men’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 32 team federations shared $440 million in prize money. For the women’s 2023 tournament, FIFA had a $152 million total fund for prize money, contributions to teams’ preparation costs and payments to players’ clubs.

In FIFA’s financial accounts for 2023, the soccer body reported total broadcasting revenue of $244 million. In the year of the men’s 2022 World Cup it was almost $2.9 billion.

The next Women’s World Cup will be a 32-team, 64-game tournament in 2027, played in Brazil from June 24-July 25. The US originally bid jointly with Mexico.

The 2031 host has not been decided, though the US likely will bid for a tournament which FIFA is expected to try to expand to 48 teams. That would match the size of the 104-game format of the men’s World Cup that debuts in 2026 in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Spain won the 2023 Women’s World Cup after the US won the two previous titles — in France in 2019 and Canada in 2015.

More than 25 million viewers in the US watched the 2015 World Cup final, a 5-2 win over Japan, played in Vancouver, Canada, in a time zone similarly favorable to Brazil.

FIFA tried to sign Apple+ to an exclusive global deal to broadcast the inaugural 32-team Club World Cup which is being played in 11 US cities next June and July.

Broadcast networks showed little interest in the FIFA club event that will now be broadcast for free on streaming service DAZN, which is building closer business ties to Saudi Arabia.

Ahead of the next Women’s World Cup, Netflix will “produce exclusive documentary series in the lead-up to both tournaments, spotlighting the world’s top players, their journeys and the global growth of women’s football,” FIFA said.

Topics: Women’s World Cup Netflix FIFA

Bayern Munich rout Leipzig on somber night in Germany

Updated 3 min 46 sec ago

AFP

December 21, 2024 06:01

Bayern Munich rout Leipzig on somber night in Germany

Ayern are now seven points clear of second place Bayer Leverkusen, who have the chance to close the gap back to four points when they host Freiburg in Saturday’s late game
The small ceremony that the Munich club traditionally offers its supporters before Christmas was cut short, reduced to a rendition of “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night“), due to the events in Magdeburg

Updated 3 min 46 sec ago

AFP

December 21, 2024 06:01

BERLIN: Bayern Munich swept RB Leipzig aside 5-1 on Friday to extend their lead at the top of the Bundesliga on a somber night in Germany following a deadly car attack at a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg.

Bayern are now seven points clear of second place Bayer Leverkusen, who have the chance to close the gap back to four points when they host Freiburg in Saturday’s late game.

However, there was little mood for celebration after at least two people were killed and more than 60 injured when a vehicle barrelled through a crowd of revellers in Magdeburg at high speed, leaving a trail of bloody carnage.

“It’s almost impossible to talk about football, the people of Magdeburg are in our thoughts tonight,” said Bayern coach Vincent Kompany in a press conference reduced to a short statement.

“We won tonight, but I wish victories for peace next year.”

The small ceremony that the Munich club traditionally offers its supporters before Christmas was cut short, reduced to a rendition of “Stille Nacht” (“Silent Night“), due to the events in Magdeburg.

A minute’s silence was also observed in the Allianz Arena.

On the pitch, Jamal Musiala scored after just 30 seconds for Bayern.

Musiala steered the ball in from close range from Michael Olize’s cross after a sublime flick by Harry Kane, returning from an injury lay-off, had opened the door for Olize.

But Bayern’s lead lasted barely a minute. Lois Openda’s stepover left Kim Min-jae in his wake and the Belgian sent a perfect low cross for Benjamin Sesko to score with a first-time finish.

Both teams took a breather after an intense opening, but it wasn’t long before Bayern were back in front.

Konrad Laimer exchanged passed with the dangerous Olize, and the Austrian volleyed expertly past Peter Gulacsi in the Leipzig goal.

Bayern added a third courtesy of a Joshua Kimmich piledriver in the 36th minute. The midfielder, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Manuel Neuer, found some space 25 yards out and let fly with an unstoppable drive.

Leipzig, who have won twice their last three visits to the Allianz Arena, steadied the ship a little after the break but Bayern were in no mood to compromise and continued to produce some of their best football of the season.

They extended their lead in the 75th minute through Leroy Sane, who just managed to stay on side as he collected Alphonso Davies’ through pass, rolling the ball into the bottom corner.

Bayern were hungry for more though. Kimmich, a thorn in Leipzig’s side all night, found space on the right and whipped a cross in for Davies, who connected to score a rare headed goal and bring up Bayern’s fifth of the night.

Kane joined Kompany in offering his sympathy to the victims of the Magdeburg attack.

“Sometimes, there is a bigger picture than football. All the team and FC Bayern presents its condoleances to anyone who is affected by this,” said the England star.

Topics: Bayern Munich Germany

Guardiola confident of Haaland revival if Man City ‘play better’

Updated 21 December 2024

AFP

December 20, 2024 23:07

Guardiola confident of Haaland revival if Man City ‘play better’

Guardiola said he had no interest in reverting to the ‘false nine’ system that he has used to good effect in the past.

Updated 21 December 2024

AFP

December 20, 2024 23:07

LONDON: Pep Guardiola believes Erling Haaland will find his form so long as the rest of his Manchester City team-mates raise their game but has not ruled out January transfer window signings as he looks to revive the Premier League champions’ fortunes.
City are enduring a slump unlike any Guardiola has known in his celebrated managerial career, having lost eight and won just one of their last 11 games in all competitions.
The downturn has seen the usually prolific Haaland, a key figure while City were winning an unprecedented four successive Premier League titles, denied of service and chances while scoring just once in his last five appearances.
Guardiola, however, said he had no interest in reverting to the ‘false nine’ system that he has used to good effect in the past.
“I prefer to play with Erling,” said Guardiola ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Aston Villa.
“I don’t think in the situation that I have that I don’t let Erling play — absolutely not. No, no, I didn’t think about that.
“Always I play false nines for the quality specifically of the players I have in that moment.
“In some games playing man to man, I love to play against false nines but I have an Erling, I have to adapt.”
The Catalan boss added: “I see him well, I see him fine. The reason why maybe he’s not so productive in this situation is for the way we are playing, that we don’t produce the amount of chances that we were able to do in the past.
“When he’s surrounded by two or three or four central defenders it’s not easy for him. We have to play better, to create the spaces for him.”
City have rarely ventured into the transfer market during the January window in Guardiola’s eight years in charge but he accepts that policy could change this time around.
“We’ll see,” he said. “I don’t know how many times in the last years we’ve gone into the winter (market) — maybe just Aymeric Laporte seven years ago.
“We’re not a big fan of that but the circumstances of this season have been special. We have to see if something is possible and if not we will wait until the summer time.”

Tiger in family golf event but has ‘long way’ before PGA return

Updated 21 December 2024

AFP

December 20, 2024 22:43

Tiger in family golf event but has ‘long way’ before PGA return

Updated 21 December 2024

AFP

December 20, 2024 22:43

MIAMI: Tiger Woods will play alongside his 15-year-old son Charlie in this week’s PNC Championship, but the 15-time major winner said Friday his PGA Tour return remains distant.
The 36-hole parent-child tournament at Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando will be the first quasi-competitive event for Woods since he underwent back surgery in September.
Back trouble and leg injuries from a 2021 car crash have limited Woods’ ability to play in the regular tournaments he once dominated.
“My leg is what it is. It’s still here,” said Woods, who turns 49 on December 30. “But this year I struggled a lot with my back and it’s a lot better, but I still have a long way to go.”
Woods was 60th at the Masters and missed the cut in the year’s other three majors, struggling to recover form between rounds. In his only other start this year, Woods withdrew after one round at the Genesis Invitational, the February event he hosts at Riviera.
“The recovery has gotten to be the hardest part,” Woods said. “But over the course of rounds, weeks, months, it gets harder.”
Even getting his surgically repaired body ready to compete is difficult.
“Preparing for competitive play is different. That takes months, weeks,” Woods said. “But it starts with each and every day. You just do the little things correctly and they add up.
“It’s frustrating. It’s hard. I have an amazing team, amazing support. But I have to do the little things on a daily basis and away from everybody. It’s hard.”
Woods has been impressed with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, who won nine times this year including a second Masters and Paris Olympic gold. It’s a domination unseen since Woods in his heyday.
“How he has handled the pressure and the expectations for he and his family, I think he’s doing an unbelievable job,” Woods said. “He’s just coming into his own. This is the fun part of watching him develop. This is going to be the start of an unbelievable year.”
Woods said a commonality in their success styles is avoiding errors.
“It’s not making that many mistakes,” Woods said. “Over the course of big events, lots of play at an elite level, not making mistakes adds up.”

Woods, who shares the record of 82 PGA Tour wins with Sam Snead, has a new rival to challenge him in Charlie Woods, who recently defeated his dad over nine holes.
“He beat me for nine holes. He has yet to beat me for 18 holes,” Woods said. “That day is coming. I’m just prolonging it as long as I possibly can.
“We have so much fun out there. It’ll be a fun atmosphere tomorrow and we’re just going to have a blast.”
This week marks the fifth time the Woods duo has played in the event, with a runner-up finish in 2001 their best showing. They were fifth last year.
Woods hopes playing this week can be a step back to competing once more.
“I’m not competitive right now, but I just want to be able to have the experience again,” Woods said. “This has always been one of the bigger highlights of the year for us as a family.
“We want to win, but it’s about the bond. It’s about having the family. It’s about us having a father-son moment together.”
His next competition is planned for January’s launch of TGL, the six-team tech-golf league developed by Woods and Rory McIlroy. It features a specially built arena with video screens and rotating greens.
“It’s absolutely incredible. The rotating green blew me away,” Woods said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of fun for not just us but also the fan experience.”

Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

Updated 21 December 2024

Arab News

December 21, 2024 00:20

Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

A former player from Germany, she came to the Kingdom in August 2021 as the first head coach of the Saudi women’s national team
Appointed technical director in February 2023, she is credited with transforming the women’s game in the country and inspiring a new generation of players

Updated 21 December 2024

Arab News

December 21, 2024 00:20

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation announced on Friday the departure of Monika Staab, its technical director of women’s football, after more than three years with the organization.

She was credited with transforming the women’s game in the Kingdom during her tenure and for inspiring a new generation of players to take up the sport.

Staab, a former player from Germany, joined the federation in August 2021, initially as the first head coach of the Saudi women’s national team. The federation said her leadership and vision played a pivotal role in shaping its strategy for women’s football, driving growth both on and off the pitch. She was appointed technical director in February 2023.

She coached the women’s national team in their first-ever match, a landmark 2-0 victory over the Seychelles in February 2022. Under her guidance, the Kingdom launched its first regional league for women in 2021, followed by a national football championship in 2022.

Staab also spearheaded the introduction of under-17 and under-20 women’s national teams, laying the foundations for the development of future talent.

In March 2023, she helped the Saudi women’s national team secure its first-ever FIFA ranking, and this month they reached their highest-ever position, climbing eight places to 166th. The team is now about to begin its campaign to qualify for the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup.

Staab leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of milestones that have shaped women’s football in Saudi Arabia, the federation said.

“We bid farewell to Monika and thank her for helping to transform women’s football across Saudi Arabia,” said Lamia Bahaian, the organization’s vice president, as she expressed her deep gratitude for Staab’s contributions.

“Her vision, passion and tenacity have inspired us all. There are young girls across Saudi Arabia now playing football at all levels thanks to the work she has done and the impact she’s had.

“Although her time with SAFF has drawn to a close, her legacy will continue for generations.”

Bayan Sadagah, the captain of the women’s national team, said: “Monika has inspired both myself and all my teammates to believe in ourselves and our team. Our journey as a team is inspiring so many girls across the country to play and follow football, and I know we all wish her the very best for the future.”

The federation said women’s football has become a cornerstone of its strategy to grow the sport at all levels and participation has surged, with more than 70,000 schoolgirls playing football across the country.

Topics: football soccer Saudi Arabia Monika Staab

Kane hat-trick sends Bayern eight points clear

Kane hat-trick sends Bayern eight points clear

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Bayern Munich rout Leipzig on somber night in Germany

Bayern Munich rout Leipzig on somber night in Germany

Mainz hand Bayern first league loss under Kompany

Musiala strikes twice to help Bayern end mini-skid without the injured Kane

Guardiola confident of Haaland revival if Man City ‘play better’

Guardiola confident of Haaland revival if Man City ‘play better’

Tiger in family golf event but has ‘long way’ before PGA return

Tiger in family golf event but has ‘long way’ before PGA return

Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

Monika Staab steps down as technical director of women’s football in Saudi Arabia

Staab appointed director of football; Lappi-Seppala takes over as coach of Saudi women’s team

Monika Staab hails Saudi tournament as ‘hugely important’ for women's game in Kingdom

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Kane hat-trick sends Bayern eight points clear

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