- Man Utd ease pressure on Ten Hag, Spurs run riot
- 'Are you crazy?': Mainz fans slam Klopp's Red Bull move
- Outsider Anmaat stars on British Champions Day
- Man Utd hit back against Brentford to ease pressure on Ten Hag
- Boniface sends Leverkusen past Frankfurt, Leipzig go top
- Gaza rescuers say 400 killed in two-week Israeli assault in north
- On-form Maqala fires Bayonne past Farrell-less Racing
- Liam Payne's sister posts poignant tribute to her late brother
- 'Our world collapsed': Brazil dam disaster victims seek justice in UK
- Threats and diplomacy: Iran's dual strategy on Israel
- Spurs destroy West Ham in eight-minute blitz
- Japan 'zombie' train spooks passengers ahead of Halloween
- Spurs run riot to beat West Ham
- New Zealand beat Britain to defend America's Cup
- New Zealand need 107 to win after Sarfaraz, Pant heroics
- G7 defence summit considers Gaza, Lebanon as conflicts rage
- Austrian far-right radical arrested after defying Swiss entry ban
- New Zealand hit back after Sarfaraz, Pant heroics in rain-hit India Test
- Jailed Guatemalan journalist Zamora granted house arrest
- Netanyahu residence targeted as Hezbollah launches barrage at Israel
- Green leads at LPGA in South Korea as Jeeno surges
- Electricity blackout puts Cubans on edge
- North Korea troop deployment locks in Russia military alliance
- New Zealand and South Africa face off in Women's T20 World Cup final
- Maresca defies expectations with Chelsea revival
- G7 defence summit convenes during 'historic moment'
- Harris, Trump deploy celebrity power in must-win states
- Bella Nipotina wins world's richest turf race, The Everest
- Sarfaraz ton powers India to 344-3 in rain-hit Test
- Man arrested after 'Molotov'-like bombs tossed at Japan ruling party HQ
- Jane Goodall warns on 'false promises' at UN biodiversity meet
- Romantasy and dark college: young readers drive new literary trends
- King Charles given military honours on first day of Australia tour
- Martin extends championship lead with Australian MotoGP sprint win
- Chinese drone maker DJI sues Pentagon over blacklisting
- Lynx edge Liberty to force game five in WNBA Finals
- Indonesia's Prabowo targets growth spurt with big projects
- Spectre of royal meddling haunts Charles in Australia
- Pyongyang says recovered remains of South Korean drone
- Japan shifting back to nuclear to ditch coal, power AI
- Google wins delay in opening Android app store to rivals
- Martin takes dominant pole for Australian MotoGP
- Royal rest for cancer patient king on first day of Australia tour
- Man arrested after throwing suspected petrol bombs at Japan ruling party HQ: media
- Verstappen ends long wait for pole at US Grand Prix sprint qualifying
- 'Heartbreaking': Dad, fans grieve Liam Payne's death
- Ligue 1 leaders Monaco held by Lille in stalemate
- Record high Colombian cocaine production in 2023: UN
- McLaren boss blasts rival's comments on Norris as "tasteless"
- El Salvador activists acquitted after contentious trial
Furious Sagnol denies political influence in Georgia selection at Euro 2024
Georgia coach Willy Sagnol furiously denied on Tuesday that his team selection at Euro 2024 had been influenced by the political turmoil over controversial "foreign influence" legislation in the former Soviet Republic.
The law came into effect earlier in June after weeks of protests from opponents to the ruling Georgian Dream party, in a country which is a candidate for European Union membership.
Asked whether Budu Zivzivadze's playing time had been restricted due to his reported criticism of the law, which critics say is modelled on Russian legislation used to stifle dissent, Frenchman Sagnol unloaded a foul-mouthed sermon on reporters in Gelsenkirchen.
"It's funny because I remember six, seven months ago I was insulted by a big amount of people when I was putting (striker Georges) Mikautadze on the bench, and when I was letting Budu play," said Sagnol ahead of Wednesday's key clash with Portugal which will decide Georgia's Euros fate.
"And now I'm insulted, every day, by some twat -- and I can say it, I say it again, twat -- because for absolutely no football reasons. And I can't accept that any longer. I'm a football coach, I'm nothing else. That is clear to everyone. Who plays and who doesn't play it's my entire decision. That's it."
He later added: "If I had to listen to every one of you then we would have to change the rules and play with 25 players on the pitch."
Star winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia said he will seek out his idol Cristiano Ronaldo's jersey at the Arena AufSchalke where a win will take Georgia through to the last 16 and defeat sends them home.
It will be the first time Kvaratskhelia faces football icon Ronaldo in his career and the 23-year-old is hoping to take away a special present regardless of the result.
"I don't feel any anxiety about it because I dreamed of playing against Ronaldo and now it's no longer a dream... I hope to get Ronaldo's jersey at the end of the game," Kvaratskhelia told reporters.
Georgia have one point from their first two games in their major international tournament debut but could have had more after performing above expectations against Turkey and the Czech Republic.
Sagnol's team are bottom of Group F but a win against Portugal, who are already assured of top spot, will guarantee a place in the knockout phase at least as one of the four best third-placed teams.
"We're confident that we can win because we went close against Turkey and the Czech Republic," added Kvaratskhelia.
"Anything can happen at any moment, you can create something that can be a turning point in any match."
Th.Berger--AMWN