Thailand go down fighting against USA to end volleyball campaign
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand suffered heartbreak at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship on Saturday night after threatening to shock USA with two match points.
The world No 15 Thais roared to the brink of a stunning upset win before the No 4-ranked team clawed their way back for a 3-2 victory at Atlas Arena in Lodz, Poland.
The Thais’ fourth consecutive loss in Pool F ended their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the event, which is being co-hosted by the Netherlands and Poland.
Saturday’s match followed defeats against Canada (3-1), Germany (3-1) and Serbia (3-0).
Thailand stunned USA by winning the first two sets, 25-23 and 25-21. The Thais then came within one point of victory twice after securing match points in set four.
However, the Americans escaped both times before winning the fourth set 27-25 and sealing the deal 15-13 in the decider.
The USA’s reward was a place in the quarter-finals.
Thailand ended their tournament seventh in the eight-team Pool F with 11 points (points from the first round were carried over to the second round).
The top four teams in each pool will advance to this week’s quarter-finals, with the final due on Saturday.
Safety and security of the eight stadiums being used at the World Cup in Qatar this year will be overseen in a centralised, state-of-the-art Command Centre.
Security personnel at the Aspire Command Center will monitor – through a sophisticated system – each of the arenas, indentifying any potential problems early to keep fans safe.
Overcrowding or crowd trouble will be picked up on cameras at the ground, while even doors at the stadiums can be opened or closed remotely.
Executive director Niyas Abdulrahiman told Reuters Qatar 2022 would be the first time such an idea had been implemented at a World Cup, describing the system as a “powerful tool”.
One of the reasons why such a system can be built is due to the compact nature of the World Cup, with all eight venues within an hour’s drive of each other in and around Doha.
“The monitoring is done in a proactive manner, in a sense that before it something goes wrong, we are able to detect it,” Abdulrahiman said.
“And once we receive these alarms, our operators here are able to take corrective actions, which mean they can actually control these systems remotely, and centrally from here as well.”
The facility, located next to Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, has around 80 staff members split into three teams. Part of their monitoring is done by approximately 15,000 CCTV cameras in total set up across the stadiums.
The World Cup will run from November 20 to December 18.
De Bruyne threatens to torch Man U shirt after burning Man U
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2022
THE NATION
Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne was shocked to be handed a Manchester United shirt adorned with his name just days after masterminding a heavy defeat for the Red Devils.
Manchester City thrashed their biggest rivals 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday, with De Bruyne laying on two goals for striker Erling Haaland.
His reaction to being given a United shirt with his name emblazoned across the back shot around the world quicker than a City counter-attack as football fans shared the incident on social media.
“Do I burn it now?”, said a disgusted looking De Bruyne, as he was presented with the jersey by the Play Sports Mid Mid podcast in his home country of Belgium.
The Red Devils’ home jersey came with his name and number – “De Bruyne 17” – across the shoulders.
The City star also burst out laughing, giving a “neck-cutting” hand gesture to show his disapproval of the gift and his loyalty to the Sky Blues.
Manchester City are currently second in the Premier League table on 20 points after six wins and two draws from eight games, one point behind Arsenal. De Bruyne also tops the list of Premier League assists this season with eight – twice as many as his nearest challengers.
Manchester City kick off at home against Southampton today at 9pm, Thai time.
United, sixth in the EPL with 12 points, face Everton away on Sunday (kick-off 1am Monday, Thai time).
PSG’s Mbappe beats Messi and Ronaldo to top Forbes rich list
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2022
Reuters
Paris St Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has emerged as the world’s highest-paid soccer player, according to Forbes magazine, the first time a player other than Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo has topped the list in eight years.
Mbappe, 23, is estimated to earn $128 million for the 2022-23 season before agents’ fees, a record for Forbes’ annual rankings, with PSG team mate Messi second at $120 million and Manchester United’s Ronaldo ($100 million) occupying third spot.
PSG’s Neymar ($87 million) and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah ($53 million) rounded off the top five.
Erling Haaland, who has made a blistering start to his Manchester City career after joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in the close season, makes his debut in the top 10 with earnings of $39 million.
The rise of Frenchman Mbappe and Norwegian Haaland, the only players under the age of 30 on the list, signals a shift in the global game, the Forbes report said, as Messi and Ronaldo edge closer to the end of their glorious careers.
In total, the 10 highest paid soccer players are expected to collect record earnings worth $652 million this season, up 11% from last year’s $585 million.
Liverpool need to become unpredictable again, says Klopp
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2022
Reuters
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said his team must become unpredictable to return to winning ways, as last season’s Premier League and Champions League runners-up look to recover from a poor start to the campaign ahead of Sunday’s (October 9) Premier League game against Arsenal.
Liverpool challenged on all four fronts last season thanks to their counter-pressing style, but they have struggled to replicate that form and are languishing in ninth place in the league after winning two of their seven games so far.
Their disjointed performances led to Klopp fielding a four-man attack of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez against Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the move resulting in a morale-boosting 2-0 victory.
Klopp cautioned against saying he has found a solution to Liverpool’s woes but said the team’s ability to alternate between systems could make things more difficult for opponents, starting with league leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
“It’s more important that we become unpredictable again, so we need different systems,” Klopp told reporters on Friday (October 7). “We don’t want to make it more complicated than it needs to be but we need to find the best one for our next opponent and for us.
“Teams have worked out how to play against us when we’re not at our best… There’s no system in the world with no weakness. It’s all about how we perform and what we did and with what intensity.
“We are still a work in progress to find a way out. So you cannot say now we’re back, we need consistency. I am not interested in this short-term. We have to be good until we are outstanding.”
Klopp heaped praise on Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta after the north London side’s flying start to the season but said he hoped to “cause them problems” at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal are a point clear of champions Manchester City after winning seven of their opening eight games.
“All my respect, wow,” Klopp said. “It’s a really, really good job from Mikel. When you need some time, nobody wants to give you time… He has a young, exciting team doing really well.”
Andy Robertson and Curtis Jones are back in training and closing on returns, Klopp added. Midfielder Arthur Melo will miss Sunday’s game with a muscle injury, while Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remain sidelined.
Thai spikers face win-or-die match against USA after 3rd straight defeat
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 08, 2022
THE NATION
Thailand lost their third consecutive match in the second round of the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship in Lodz, Poland on Friday night.
The world No 14 Thai women had no answers for the power and accuracy of No 4-ranked Serbia, going down in straight sets, 25–23, 25-17, 25-15 in their Pool F match at the Atlas Arena.
Thailand remain winless in the second round, having lost their previous two group matches against Canada and Germany.
The Thais went into Friday’s clash having beaten Serbia in two of their last five encounters, including the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Nations League in June.
Friday’s loss left Thailand seventh in Pool F on 10 points, just ahead of bottom team Germany. Serbia top the pool with 24 points, followed by USA with 18 points, Turkey with 17, and co-hosts Poland with 15.
The top four teams from each of the two second-round groups will advance to the quarter-finals.
The Thai team need a win in their next match, against USA, to retain their chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Footballers to observe a minute’s silence before league games to mourn massacre victims
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 07, 2022
THE NATION
A minute’s silence will be observed at all professional football matches in Thailand this weekend to mourn the victims of the shooting spree on Thursday in Nong Bua Lam Phu province.
The Football Association of Thailand and Thai League Co Ltd sent a letter to all clubs that will play as home teams in Thai League 1-3 this weekend, asking them to hold a minute’s silence before the match.
Meanwhile, the match between Nongbua Pitchaya FC and BG Pathum United on Saturday at 7pm has not been postponed yet.
Several clubs in Thailand posted messages to mourn the tragedy, including Nongbua Pitchaya FC, which posted about the club’s former footballer being killed in the shooting rampage.
Former player Weerachon Butrwichian was killed at the market while the shooter was travelling back to his house.
Weerachon played for the club in its early years.
The shooting spree at the Uthai Sawan Tambon Administration Organisation and its nursery in Na Klang district saw 38 people killed, including 24 children. Twelve others were injured.
Manchester United will remain in Cyprus overnight following the exciting 3-2 Europa League victory over Omonia Nicosia on Thursday evening.
Erik ten Hag’s side returned to the team hotel after the game and will train nearby before embarking for the flight home to Manchester on Friday afternoon.
United would usually set off for the UK within hours of the final whistle, and did so for our last European game, the 2-0 victory over Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova on 15 September.
The squad will be able to enjoy the warm weather in Cyprus for an extra day, though, with Ten Hag explaining his decision to remain on the Mediterranean island to reporters at the GSP Stadium.
“Because it’s best in relation to recovery and to preparation for the game on Sunday,” Erik said.
Our next test, of course, involves an unusual Sunday 19:00 BST kick-off, as we take on Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League.
United will land back at Manchester Airport on Friday evening, which still gives the squad 48 hours to prepare for that game on Merseyside.
Ten Hag was pleased the Reds responded to the setback of falling behind and recovering, but he still feels that there is room for improvement.
“It’s a process. A project and a process, we knew that from the start,” he added.
“We have to give every day our maximum. We have to improve every day and also sometimes you fall back. We have to get up again and that is what I demand from my squad. We have to carry on and every time learn the lessons and give the maximum.
“Only good, for me, is good enough and by far we are not that good. We have seen on Sunday [against Manchester City]. We have to do much better and that is what we did in games before – better intensity.
“We have to bring much better intensity. That was the big difference between City and us. That’s the demand to the squad and the players have to take responsibility for that.”
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was pleased to take all three points from our away trip to Omonia Nicosia in the Europa League but says his side can play with more responsibility to avoid making further potentially costly mistakes going forward.
The Reds had dominated proceedings early in the matchday three contest in Cyprus but conceded the lead to the hosts after an error in the middle of the park.
United were able to rally to turn the game on its head however, and eventually triumph 3-2, thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Marcus Rashford (2) and Anthony Martial, prior to a late consolation from the home side.
Ten Hag can therefore be pleased overall, but acknowledged that the Reds still have room for improvement when conducting his post-match media duties with MUTV and BT Sport, as well as in his press conference.
You can see all the key quotes from those media briefings below, including the boss’ thoughts on Rashford, Martial, Cristiano Ronaldo, the fans, Everton on Sunday
A MIXED FIRST-HALF PERFORMANCE
“A good start to the game. The first 30 minutes were really well done, a couple of chances against a compact team is not that easy. But then we make a mistake and then for 10 minutes, we were really bad. That cannot happen, we have to take responsibility by, first, not giving goals in such a manner away, and then by dealing with it, staying composed, sticking to the plan and keeping in position.”
THE IMPACT FROM OUR SUBSTITUTES “Yes [it’s pleasing]. First of all, we need more movement, runs in behind, that was the first thing and then the subs had an impact on the score. I’m really happy for Marcus and Anthony that they came in, also Luke [Shaw] I have to say, and had an impact on the game. The tempo kept high, there was more movement and much more ability to make an effect on the goal.”
MARTIAL’S RETURN “I want to do it really careful because he had a good pre-season and then the last 10 minutes against Atletico Madrid he fell out [injured] and then he returned against Liverpool, and so another injury from far back. I cannot force it. I have to do it with a plan and I’m trying to do it at the moment but it’s quite clear I’m happy with his performance. All the subs had a really good impact and that’s what I expect from players on the bench. You’re not playing with XI, we can sub five so every sub has to be ready. Tonight, was the best example you can get.”
RONALDO’S INFLUENCE ON THE MATCH “I think the first two [shots he had produced] good saves from the goalie. He had a couple of chances, also he created a couple of chances. He was in for a good move and run for the first goal with Marcus Rashford, so he had an impact in this game.”
AN IMPORTANT WIN IN GROUP E “[That’s clear]. It gives us a better position in the group, we have to win this group, that’s also clear.”
OUR TRAVELLING SUPPORT “We always get big support. As you say, 1,100 fans are supporting us from the UK, a lot of fans here in Cyprus, and as Manchester United, you want to give them the best performance. There were stages in the game that they saw a good Manchester United but also some development to make. If we learn such lessons, then we can be successful, that is what we have to do.”
OUR PROCESS “It’s a process. A project and a process, we knew that from the start. We have to give every day our maximum. We have to improve every day and also sometimes you fall back. We have to get up again and that is what I demand from my squad. We have to carry on and every time learn the lessons and give the maximum. Only good for me is good enough and by far we are not that good. We have seen on Sunday. We have to do much better and that is what we did in games before – better intensity. We have to bring much better intensity. That was the big difference between City and us. That’s the demand to squad and the players have to take responsibility for that.”
ON TO EVERTON ON SUNDAY “We don’t have so many moments in training [before that game] but it was the warm-up, Sunday we have to be ready for a fight, for a battle there. It’s about intensity, that has to be much more and really improved. When you compare that last Sunday with City, that was the main lesson for us. We have to bring much more intensity in games, like against City and Everton is the same. That’s going to be a hard battle and we have to be ready for that.”
RECOVERY IN CYPRUS ON FRIDAY “Because it’s best in relation to recovery and to preparation for the game on Sunday.”
Thai football star Chanathip Songkrasin will not join Thailand’s squad in the 2022 AFF Championship in December because he is injured and wants young players to get experience.
Despite the persuasion of the Thai Football Federation and head coach Mano Polking, Thailand’s captain, Chanathip, has confirmed that he will not attend the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022.
“Honestly, it’s not that I don’t want to play for the national team. But I have to be honest that I played 4 times in this tournament. but this year I think I’m not ready” . “I regret that I did not play for the Thai national team. But it’s been a few months since I decided. I’m really injured and want to give the young players a chance at the upcoming tournament,” the 29-year-old concluded.
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