BUENOS AIRES (ARGENTINA) (ITALPRESS) – Having cancelled the final against Spain due to conflict in the Middle East (the match between the world champions and the European champions was scheduled to be played in Doha, Qatar), Argentina has scheduled two warm-up friendlies for the World Cup.

The Albiceleste will face Mauritania on Friday, March 27, and Zambia on Tuesday, March 31. Both matches will be played at the Bombonera in Buenos Aires, home to Boca Juniors. In the World Cup group stage, the defending champions will face Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – On the eve of the derby against Atlético de Madrid, Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa presented the match in a press conference with a clear message: enthusiasm, collective responsibility, and confidence in the depth of the squad. A match that, beyond the importance of the three points, also represents a major emotional test.

The coach emphasized the importance of the match for the bond with the fans: “It’s one of the most beautiful matches you can experience as a player, as a spectator, and certainly as a coach.”

A key topic was the players’ physical condition, starting with Thibaut Courtois: “There are risks every time I put a player on the pitch. There are very few players who come on the pitch at 100%, without any discomfort or pain.” Regarding the Belgian goalkeeper, he added: “At half-time last season, Thibaut wanted to continue playing, but I was the one who decided to stop him.”

Andriy Lunin also expressed great confidence: “This is how fortunate we are to have a squad like this: the best goalkeeper in history is injured, and we still have another great goalkeeper.”

Positive signs also emerged for Kylian Mbappé: “The day he returned, he was 100% fit. From the moves we saw, he showed he was in great shape.”

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LIVERPOOL (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Racism has returned to the spotlight on the world of football. After the high-profile Prestianni case, largely linked to events that occurred on the pitch, this time social media has become the scene of further racist insults. In particular, the target was Ibrahima Konatè, Liverpool’s French defender. In a statement published on their official website, the Reds defended the player, calling the insults “vile and abhorrent.” “Racism has no place in football, in society, or anywhere, neither online nor offline,” the club began, “and the insults that continue to be directed at players are a stain on the game and the platforms that allow them to perse.”

An attack aimed at those behind these offenses, accompanied, however, by a tough stance against social media platforms. “Companies must assume their responsibilities and act immediately, because they have the power, the technology, and the resources to prevent all this, yet too often they fail to do so. Allowing racist hatred to spread unchecked is a choice that harms players, families, and the entire sports community.” “We will continue to offer Ibrahima our full support,” the statement continues, and will collaborate with the relevant authorities to identify those responsible. The situation must be addressed, responded to, and eradicated—not tomorrow, but now”.

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(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

BILBAO (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – A life at Athletic, a club legend who will no longer be on the Bilbao bench next season. Ernesto Valverde has announced that he will no longer be the coach of the rojiblancos at the end of this season. This decision was agreed upon with the club and, as Valverde himself explains, “we’ve been considering it for some time, we’ve discussed it with the club, and I think it’s right to inform you, the fans, too. We have 10 league games left, all of them important, starting with this Sunday’s game against Betis. We must achieve our goals, we’ll give everything to achieve it, and with your support, I have no doubt that we can do it.”

Valverde is the coach with the most appearances for Athletic (with Betis he will reach 495), having coached in three different stints: 2003-05, 2013-17, 2022-26). As a player, he wore the rojiblancos jersey between 1990 and 1996, making 188 appearances and scoring 50 goals. Iraola, Inigo Perez, and Pochettino are being mentioned as his successor, but the former is the favorite.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

LONDON (ENGLAND) (ITALPRESS) – Guglielmo Vicario was not in Rino Gattuso’s squad for the World Cup playoffs, and the reason for his exclusion was given by Tottenham. Spurs announced that the goalkeeper “will undergo surgery next week for a hernia. The minor procedure has been scheduled to have the least possible impact on the season,” i.e., taking advantage of the international break. Vicario “will immediately begin his rehabilitation program with the club’s medical staff and is hopeful that he will be able to return to the pitch within the next month,” according to a statement from the English club.

– photo IPA Agency –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta is the only European Union country capable of maintaining subsidies on fuel and electricity for all families and businesses, Prime Minister Robert Abela has stated.

Speaking after a marathon European Council summit lasting over 12 hours, Abela said the island nation’s strong economy allows it to provide support without jeopardising fiscal targets or commitments to the European Commission.

“What we are providing cannot be believed by others. Despite this, we are reaching our fiscal targets faster than agreed with the European Commission,” he said. “This is possible because of strong public finances and a robust economy generating significant wealth.”

The summit, initially intended to focus on strengthening Europe’s economy, was dominated by heated discussions on the energy crisis triggered by the war in Iran. Two camps emerged: one pressing for immediate relief measures for households and businesses, the other advocating long-term shifts away from polluting fuels such as gas and oil.

Abela reiterated Malta’s commitment to continuing support to families and businesses, a policy in place since the energy crisis began in 2022.

During the summit, Malta and four other Mediterranean nations raised concerns about a Russian tanker drifting in European waters. The vessel, Arctic Metagaz, carrying gas, is currently in Libya’s search and rescue zone and has not entered Maltese waters.

“As long as this vessel remains drifting unattended, there is the potential for an ecological disaster, apart from dangers to navigation,” Abela warned.

Prior to the summit, Dr Abela attended an informal meeting on migration. He stressed the importance of preventing departures from countries of origin and highlighted Malta’s strong migration policy developed over the past six years.

The discussions also addressed the Russia-Ukraine war and the Middle East crisis, with the Maltese Prime Minister calling for coordinated EU diplomatic efforts to de-escalate conflicts.

Leaders met with António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, during the summit. Abela emphasised the need for respect for international law and the central role of the UN in global affairs.

Malta’s position at the summit underscores its dual focus: providing domestic stability while actively engaging in European and global security and humanitarian challenges.

– photo DOI –

(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta recorded the highest death rate from respiratory diseases in the EU in 2023, according to new data published by Eurostat.

A total of 545 people died from respiratory conditions, excluding COVID-19, translating to a standardised rate of 121.8 deaths per 100,000 people—well above the EU average of 75.2.

Denmark and Romania followed, with rates of 114.3 and 108.9 respectively.

The figure marks the highest level recorded in Malta since comparable data began in 2011, and the first time the country has ranked highest in the EU for respiratory-related deaths.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS) – Engineers working on Malta’s second electricity interconnector with Sicily have begun clearing the seabed of potential hazards, following the identification of nearly 400 objects along the planned cable route.

Interconnect Malta said the project has entered its Identification and Clearance phase after completing a detailed marine survey for the 99-kilometre submarine link, known as IC2.

Initial scans detected 707 magnetic anomalies buried beneath the seabed. Further analysis narrowed these to 393 targets, which will now be examined individually using remotely operated vehicles, offshore vessels and explosive ordnance disposal teams at depths of up to 170 metres.

While such findings are common in Mediterranean waters affected by Second World War naval activity, they present an added technical challenge for the €300 million project. Any confirmed unexploded ordnance will be handled in coordination with Maltese and Italian authorities.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

MADRID (SPAIN) (ITALPRESS) – Real Madrid are in for a tough time. Arbeloa’s team will be without Thibaut Courtois for the next six weeks. The Belgian goalkeeper was replaced by Lunin after halftime against Manchester City following a sore spot early in the match.

The substitution was made to prevent a more serious injury, but today’s tests revealed a muscle tear in his right quadriceps, which will keep him out for approximately six to eight weeks.

The Blancos goalkeeper will therefore miss the crucial period of the season, when Real Madrid face both the derby against Atlético Madrid in the next round of fixtures and the Champions League quarter-final double-header against Bayern Munich (April 7 and 15). Courtois will also miss Belgium’s two friendlies against the United States and Mexico, scheduled for the coming days.

In his place, Lunin will play for Real Madrid, while Lammens, Manchester United goalkeeper, could take his place for the national team.

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews

PARIS (FRANCE) (ITALPRESS) – France coach Didier Deschamps has called up 26 players for the two-match friendly in the United States, on March 26 against Ancelotti’s Brazil in Boston and on the 29th against Colombia in Washington.

With Barcola out injured, Randal Kolo Muani and Maghnes Akliouche are back in attack, with Serie A represented by five players: AC Milan’s Maignan and Rabiot, Juventus’ Kalulu, Roma’s Konè, and Inter’s Thuram.

The full list is as follows

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (PSG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes);

defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Psg), Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich);

midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Psg);

forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembélé (Psg), Desiré Doué (Psg), Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool), Randal Kolo Muani (Tottenham), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter).

-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews