Iran focused on fitness in Turkiye after war-enforced furlough

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said he ‌and his staff would have their work cut out getting their squad ready for the World Cup at their training camp in Turkiye with most of the players having been out of action for the last seven weeks.
The domestic Arabian Gulf Pro League season was suspended after the United States and Israel launched air strikes on Iran in late February and will not resume until after the World Cup.

Mohamed Salah made comments on the Reds’ dip in form, sparking reaction from Liverpool teammates, pundits, and supporters. cricket-ipl.co.za

Mohamed Salah has sparked a major reaction around Liverpool after he criticised the team’s form. He called for the club to restore the high-intensity identity that defined its success under Jurgen Klopp.

The Egyptian forward posted the statement after the Reds lost to Aston Villa, a result that left Arne Slot’s side fifth in the Premier League. The loss leaves Champions League qualification hopes still unresolved before the final match against Brentford.

In his statement, Salah said Liverpool’s latest defeat was “very painful” and called for the team to return to being a “heavy metal attacking team” that opponents fear. He also said Liverpool’s identity “cannot be negotiable” and that every player who joins the club must adapt to it.

Salah also said Champions League qualification remains the “bare minimum” for Liverpool this season. The club host Brentford in their final league match, with Salah and Andy Robertson set to receive farewell tributes at Anfield. Liverpool confirmed that the Kop will display a mosaic for Salah before kick-off.

The post drew public backing from several Liverpool players. Dominik Szoboszlai, Harvey Elliott, Andy Robertson, Hugo Ekitike, Curtis Jones, and Wataru Endo were among those who supported the Egyptian’s comments, while Ekitike and Jones also commented on it.

The reaction from former players and pundits was more divided. Wayne Rooney criticised Salah and urged Slot to leave him out of the Brentford match, calling the statement selfish and disrespectful toward the manager. While Rio Ferdinand said the statement was “raw,” and that he “love[d] it.”

Gary Neville also criticised the timing of the comments, while former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol described what Mohamed said as “complete and utter madness,” adding that Salah had shown a lack of class. As for Jamie Carragher, who is perhaps the forward’s most vocal critic, he falsely accused Salah of not apologizing to his Liverpool teammates following previous comments he made in December 2025.

Others viewed the statement as a sign of deeper problems at Liverpool. Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant backed the substance of the criticism, arguing that the club’s issues go beyond the squad and that Salah was only “stating the obvious.”

Slot had previously said Salah deserved “a big send-off” before the forward returned from injury. The latest controversy now leaves Liverpool balancing his farewell, the reaction to his public criticism, and the need to secure Champions League football in their final match.

The post Salah Statement on Liverpool Form Sparks Media Frenzy appeared first on KingFut.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar have ramped up World Cup preparations with a high-intensity camp in Doha ahead of Thursday’s friendly against Sudan at 6:30pm.

Doha, Qatar: The Asian champions are using the fixture as part of their build-up to football’s biggest stage, with head coach Julen Lopetegui continuing to assess his options as he prepares to trim the preliminary squad before the team’s departure to North America later this month.

Al Annabi will also face Ireland on May 28 and El Salvador on June 6 in further warm-up matches before opening their World Cup campaign against Switzerland on June 13.

Qatar will then take on co-hosts Canada and Bosnia in their remaining group-stage fixtures. The FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19.

Meanwhile, Lopetegui has also called up goalkeeper Fahad Younes to the training camp. The preliminary squad already includes Mahmoud Abunada, Meshaal Barsham, Salah Zakaria and Shehab Ellethy.

أشاد السيد عبدالله علي المطوع الحمادي، رئيس اللجنة الفنية ومدير مسابقات الرماية بدورة الألعاب الخليجية الرابعة، بالمستويات الفنية القوية التي قدمها رماة دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي خلال منافسات الرماية سواء في مسابقات السكيت أو التراب أو البندقية، وبالأداء المتميز والروح التنافسية العالية التي ظهرت منذ انطلاق البطولة.

وقال الحمادي، في تصريح لوكالة الأنباء القطرية قنا إن المنافسات شهدت مستويات متقاربة بين الرماة، الأمر الذي يعكس التطور الكبير الذي تشهده رياضة الرماية الخليجية في السنوات الأخيرة، مشيرا إلى أن رماة قطر قدموا أداء لافتا في منافسات السكيت والبندقية، ونجحوا في تحقيق نتائج مميزة وحصد عدد هام من الميداليات الملونة، ما يؤكد جاهزيتهم الفنية وقدرتهم على المنافسة بقوة في مختلف المسابقات.

وأوضح أن منافسات الرماية تشهد مشاركة نخبة من الحكام الدوليين أصحاب الخبرات الكبيرة، تجاوز عددهم 30 حكما في مختلف مسابقات الرماية، من بينهم 20 حكما من قطر، فيما يشارك بقية الحكام من الهند والمملكة العربية السعودية وسلطنة عمان ودولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة ومملكة البحرين، وهو ما يعزز من قوة المنافسات ويضمن تطبيق أعلى معايير التحكيم الدولية.

وكشف رئيس اللجنة الفنية عن نظام التأهل إلى نهائي مسابقة التراب، المقرر إقامته غدا الثلاثاء ، موضحا أن أفضل راميين من كل دولة سيتأهلان إلى النهائي، بإجمالي 8 رماة، مؤكدا أن النظام ذاته سيتم تطبيقه في منافسات المسدس.

وفيما يتعلق بمسابقة التراب المختلط، أوضح الحمادي أن لكل دولة الحق في تسجيل فريقين، إلا أن أفضل فريق فقط من حيث النتائج سيتمكن من التأهل إلى النهائي، الذي سيضم أربعة فرق، يتكون كل فريق منها من رام ورامية.

وقال إن منافسات التراب لفئة الفرق مختلط، ستنطلق بعد غد الأربعاء، حيث سيخوض كل فريق (رامي ورامية) منافسات قوية من خلال رماية 150 طبقا، على أن تتأهل أفضل أربعة فرق إلى النهائي.

وفي ختام حديثه، أعرب الحمادي عن أمله أن يواصل رماة قطر تحقيق النتائج الإيجابية وحصد المزيد من الميداليات خلال بقية مسابقات الرماية.