If Zinedine Zidane (R) is appointed manager of France, Karim Benzema (L) might reconsider his decision to retire, say french press.(Credit: Salih Zeki Fazlıoğlu/Anadolu Agency)
Football
Karim Benzema could reverse his international retirement if Zinedine Zidane becomes France boss, reports claim. The striker announced on December 19, his time with the national team was “ending.” The 35-year-old Real Madrid ace missed the World Cup after being ruled out with a thigh injury on the eve of the tournament. Benzema was expected to return to the squad for the final, but he appeared to rule himself out with a social media post. France were beaten by Argentina on penalties in the final, casting doubt on Didier Deschamps’ future as coach. And French outlet Foot Mercato says Benzema could change his mind on retirement if Deschamps is replaced by Zidane.
TRANSFERS NEWS
Barcelona are monitoring Morocco and Angers midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, according to reports in Spain. The North African side have been the surprise package in this year’s World Cup, becoming the first African side to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. Ounahi has been a revelation and a bright spark for Morocco in midfield, with impressive performances against Spain and Portugal in the knockout stages.
Liverpool have reportedly made Morocco star Sofyan Amrabat their top transfer target, and the midfielder is interested in moving to the Reds. Amrabat was a key part of Morocco’s memorable run at the World Cup, playing every minute in Qatar. The Fiorentina midfielder has widely been regarded as one of the breakout stars of the World Cup and has attracted interest from several top European clubs.
Cricket
Bangladesh lost both openers for 82 for two wickets at lunch on the opening day of the second and final test against India in Mirpur on December 22. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan, who won the toss and elected to bat, was on 16 after having survived a stumping opportunity against Ravichandran Ashwin.
Mominul Haque was batting on 23 at the other end. Seamer Jaydev Unadkat, playing his second test 12 years after his first, got the breakthrough for India when he had Zakir Hasan caught in the slip for 15. Spinner Ashwin removed Najmul Hossain LBW for 24 in the next over.
India are 1-0 ahead in the series following their 118-run victory in Chittagong on December 17.
England cricket team became the first visiting team in Test history to whitewash Pakistan on December 19, completing an eight-wicket in Karachi to wrap up a memorable 3-0 victory. The result means England have won nine Tests out of 10 under Ben Stokes—a 180-degree transformation after they had won just one of their last 17 under Joe Root.
The last time Pakistan lost more than a single Test in a home series was against India, who beat them 2-1 in 2003-04. England had previously won just two of their 24 Tests in this country and have now won more Tests in Pakistan (five) than they have lost (four).
Their nine Test wins in 2022 are also England’s second-highest tally, behind 11 in 2004. England also won nine Tests in 2010, though from 14 matches to the 16 they have played this year.
Mixed Martial Arts
Kickboxer Nora Abu Nab, became the first Palestinian athlete to qualify for the Asian continent’s World Martial Arts Games in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next year. Abu Nabgold won the Asian Kickboxing Championships in Bangkok in the weight category under 56 kg after winning three consecutive earlier this month fights against athletes from Cambodia, the Philippines, and Taiwan.
UFC
Khabib Nurmagomedov believes UFC champion Islam Makhachev could retire within three years. Makhachev, 31, won the vacant UFC lightweight title by tapping out former champion Charles Oliveira in October.
It was a full circle moment for Nurmagomedov as his childhood friend won the belt he held for several years, with ‘The Eagle’ only vacating the title last year after promising his mother he wouldn’t fight again following the death of his father.
Nurmagomedov was still in the prime of his career when he decided to retire, and many fans have since questioned his legacy in the sport because of the decision. The UFC legend now hopes Makhachev can make six defences of his newly-acquired title and retire from the sport on top. “I think he needs at least five title defences, maybe six; that would be ideal. Six seasons—that’s around three years—then it’s possible that the sport leaves him because nobody can stay on top forever.
The way the almighty created a man, he first becomes strong and then weak, he’s young and then he’s old. Knowing that the goal is five or six defences,” Nurmagomedov told reporters.
UFC FIGHT TRACK: (Nov 12 – Dec18)
Bantamweight
Said Nurmagomedov (RUS) Def. Saidyokub Kakhramonov (UZB) by ninja choke submission (R2).
Flyweight
Amir Albazi (IRQ) Def. Alessandro Costa (BRA) by KO, in round 3.
Charles Johnson (USA) Def. Zhalgas Zhumagulov (KAZ) by a split decision (R3).
Light Heavyweight
Magomed Ankalaev (RUS) Drew with Jan Błachowicz (POL) by a split decision (R5).
Lightweight
Arman Tsarukyan (ARM) Def. Damir Ismagulov (RUS) by unanimous decision (R3)
Rafa García (MEX) Def. Hayisaer Maheshate (CHN) by unanimous decision (R3).
Matt Frevola (USA) Def. Ottman Azaitar (GER) by KO (R1).
Welterweight:
Muslim Salikhov (RUS) Def. Andre Fialho (POR) by TKO (R3).
Rinat Fakhretdinov (RUS) Def. Bryan Battle (USA) by unanimous decision (R3).
UWW WORLD WRESTLING FREESTYLE WORLD CUP Iowa, US (Dec 10 –11)
Ali Savadkouhi won an epic match against Olympic and 6-time World Champion Jordan Burroughs, but Team Iran fell short against the US and lost the World Cup Freestyle title. The top two teams in freestyle wrestling, Iran and the USA, made the finals. Burroughs had never lost at home to a non-American wrestler. He had never lost in a World Cup. All that changed when 79 kg freestyler Savadkouhi used a takedown to gut out a 6-5 decision win over the 34-year.
However, his feat and three more wins by Rahman Amouzad, Mohmmad Sadegh Firouzpour, and Amir Reza Masoumi in the 65, 74, and 125 kg divisions, respectively, were not enough to propel Iran to the World Cup title, as they lost 6-4 and finished second.
Squash
Women’s World Team quash Championship Cairo, Egypt (Dec 10-16)
Host Egypt defeated the US to retain the Women’s World Team Squash Championship title in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,500 at the Madinaty Sporting Club in Cairo.
Egypt boasted the top three players in the women’s world rankings, but in the opening contest of the final, world number one Nouran Gohar was taken to five games by Amanda Sobhy of the US. Gohar opened up a 7-0 lead in game one, and although Sobhy reduced the deficit, Gohar took it 11-7. Sobhy took game two 11-5 and when the American took the third 12-10, Egypt were in uncharted territory as for the first time they were behind in the tournament.
Gohar had to show her battling qualities in game four as she saved two match balls, taking it 13-11. In the decider, Sobhy appeared to tire and Gohar took advantage of this, firing winners as she claimed it 11-8, and earned a 3-2 victory to put Egypt 1-0 up.
The defending individual and team world champion, Nour El Sherbini, faced Olivia Fiechter in the second match. El Sherbini was in control of the contest throughout, winning 11-3, 11-4, and 11-5 to claim a fifth-team title.
Weightlifting
The International Weightlifting Federation has announced it has chosen Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to host its senior world championships between September 2 and 17, 2023, which would serve as a qualification event for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A total of 1,500 athletes representing 130 countries are expected to participate in the IWF’s largest-ever contest since its formation in 1895. The tournament is compulsory for those wishing to compete in France the following year.
