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Josh Ball

There is no World Cup qualification to fight for, or Nations League glory to chase, but Hong Kong’s footballers have their own challenges, namely a rise up the Fifa rankings.
A 3-1 win over the Philippines last night, sparked by a Matt Orr double, should help in that regard, boosting their chances of a favourable draw for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in the process.
The stars of the game, meanwhile, could be making their way to Hong Kong next summer, with one promoter promising the appearance of “top European teams” at Kai Tak Sports Park.
Of course, whether the actual big guns will come, or like half the England squad this week decide they don’t fancy it, only time will tell.
No Kane, no problem

England started the day by benching captain Harry Kane after his surprising rant at absent players, and ended it with a 3-0 win over Greece in Athens.
Ollie Watkins, who replaced Kane, got things under way in the seventh minute, but it took until 12 minutes from time for Lee Carsley’s side to get their second, when Jude Bellingham’s strike came back off the post, hit unfortunate goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos in the back, and rolled in.
Curtis Lee added a cheeky third four minutes later, becoming the first Liverpool player to score on their England debut since the diminutive Sammy Lee in 1982 – also against Greece.
The win puts England back in control of their Nations League B group, and means victory over Ireland on Sunday will earn them promotion back to the top competition.
Tonali on target
Sandro Tonali fired Italy into the Nations League quarter-finals with the only goal in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Belgium in Brussels, completing his Azzurri comeback from a gambling ban which cost him a place at Euro 2024.
The Newcastle United midfielder tapped home his first international goal 10 minutes into a hard-fought win at the King Baudouin Stadium.
Luciano Spalletti’s team, who have been rejuvenated over the course of the Nations League group stage, are unbeaten since the Euros and only drew with Belgium last month after having to play more than half the match in Rome with 10 men.
“We showed again that we give it a go and don’t just sit back in matches, that’s the big change,” Tonali told RAI. “There’s a great atmosphere in the squad and we all look forward to getting back together again every time the international break finishes.”
China win again
China rekindled their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 2002 when Zhang Yuning pounced in stoppage time to beat Bahrain 1-0 in Riffa.
Zhang, who missed two good opportunities to score earlier on, struck from close range in the 91st minute, moments after the hosts had seen Ali Haram’s effort ruled out by VAR for offside.
There was still time for some late drama, with defender Waleed Al Hayam sent off for clashing with striker Wang Ziming.
In an increasingly tight group, victory took China to six points from five games, moving them level with Australia and Saudi Arabia and four points behind leaders Japan in Group C, as the World Cup regional qualifiers reach the halfway point.
Son hits milestone
Son Heung-min scored his 50th international goal on Thursday as South Korea beat Kuwait 3-1 to take a big step toward an 11th successive World Cup appearance.
The Tottenham forward converted a penalty to make it 2-0 in the 19th minute and help South Korea earn a fourth successive win in Group B of Asia’s World Cup qualifiers to move five points clear at the top with five games to go.
In Group C, Australia and Saudi Arabia drew 0-0 in Melbourne after the visitors had a late goal disallowed when Sultan Al-Ghannam’s low shot from just inside the area was ruled out for offside, denying a winning return for Herve Renard, who replaced Roberto Mancini last month.
“I have to see it once again to be sure that they made the best decision,” Renard told reporters. “So I will not comment about this.”
Robinson elected

Australian Brett Robinson, the newly elected chairman of World Rugby, put financial sustainability of the game top of his agenda after narrowly beating former France captain Abdelatif Benazzi to lead the global governing body.
Robinson, who becomes the first permanent chairman of the game’s governing body from the southern hemisphere, was chosen over Moroccan-born Benazzi by 27 votes to 25. Italian Andrea Rinaldo was eliminated after the first round of voting.
The 54-year-old former flanker also pledged to focus on player safety and make the game far more attractive through the refining of new laws. He took over from Bill Beaumont, the former England captain who was at the helm for eight years.
But World Rugby have decided to delay a decision on the 20-minute red card trial until the end of the Autumn Series. Robinson said it was a contentious issue “misunderstood by some” and taking some more time was therefore worthwhile.
Sinner, Fitz through
World No 1 Jannik Sinner continued his perfect start at the ATP Finals with a dominant win over Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Playing on home soil in Turin, Sinner won 6-3, 6-4, to top the Ilie Nastase group with three wins from three. Sinner’s place in the semi-finals had earlier been confirmed by Taylor Fritz’s 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, defeat of Alex de Minaur.
He returned the favour by seeing off Medvedev, with the Russian needing to beat Sinner in straight sets if he was to qualify ahead of American Fritz.
Sinner and Fritz will discover their semi-final opponents on Friday with Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev still able to qualify.


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While you were sleeping

England’s Ollie Watkins made the most of his chance to start against Greece. Photo: AFP

England’s manager Lee Carsley hugs Curtis Jones after the win in Athens. Photo: AP

New chairman of World Rugby, Brett Robinson. Photo: World Rugby

‘World class’ Hong Kong racing can boost tourism across GBA, Jockey Club chief says

At Sha Tin. Photo: Kenneth Chan.

Jockey Club CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges was interviewed by the Post at Happy Valley racecourse. Photo: SCMP video

Racing fans at Conghua Racecourse during a meeting in 2019. The facility will eventually host one of the ‘most iconic grandstands ever built’. Photo: Noel Prentice

HKJC

‘I felt like a tennis player’: former Uruguay striker Diego Forlan debuts in ‘new’ sport

Diego Forlan, the 45-year-old former Manchester United, Uruguay and Atletico Madrid footballer, playing in his professional tennis debut in a doubles match at the 2024 Uruguay Open. Photo: AFP

Diego Forlan (left) conferring with partner Federico Coria between points in their Uruguay Open match. Photo: AFP

Diego Forlan was joint-top-scorer at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where Uruguay finished third. Photo: Reuters

Sport

Football

England’s win over Greece puts them in the driving seat for Nations League promotion, while China are right back in the World Cup mix


England’s win over Greece puts them in the driving seat for Nations League promotion, while China are right back in the World Cup mix.
