Mataf nearly empty as entry to Makkah restricted to Hajj visa holders    Cinema revenues account for SR845.6 million in 2024 17 Saudi films among 504 films screened    Will US tariff hikes affect Saudi Arabia? Kingdom largely insulated as oil exports remain exempt and non-oil sectors gain a pricing edge    Expat arrested for immoral act at a massage center in Jazan    Saudi Transplant Congress discusses scientific advancements and innovations on organ donation and transplantation    Mawani and Alissa Universal Motors sign agreement worth SR300 million to establish Logistics Zone at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam    Al-Khereiji at BRICS: Saudi Arabia a reliable and neutral partner in endeavors for de-escalating tensions    Saudi market shows resilience in Q1 2025 despite global volatility: Report    Saudi Arabia urges India and Pakistan to de-escalate tensions    Trump congratulates Canada's Carney as they agree to meet in 'near future'    Sánchez vows to uncover reasons behind massive Iberian power outage    Guterres warns two-state solution is 'near a point of no return'    Al Ahli stun Al Hilal to reach AFC Champions League Elite final    4 Chinese nationals arrested in Makkah for promoting fake Hajj campaigns    SR200,000 reward for each player of the Saudi club winning AFC Champions League title    William and Kate celebrate anniversary on Isle of Mull    HONOR KSA expands its presence with new flagship Experience Store in Riyadh HONOR's first flagship store in KSA provides visitors with a premium experience, exciting offers and free services    Rock & Roll Hall of Fame picks Outkast but not Oasis    Duran leads Al Nassr past Yokohama Marinos into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Al Ahli cruise past Buriram into AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



France struggles in Iceland warmup
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 29 - 05 - 2012

Franck Ribery scored his first international goal for more than three years and Adil Rami grabbed a late winner as France rallied to beat Iceland 3-2 at home Sunday in a European Championship warmup match.
Coach Laurent Blanc picked an experimental and attacking lineup, featuring several fringe players. The move soon backfired as Iceland went 2-0 up at halftime thanks to goals from Birkir Bjarnason and Ajax striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.
Right back Mathieu Debuchy pulled one back early in the second half but France struggled until Ribery and striker Olivier Giroud came off the bench.
Giroud set up Ribery's 85th-minute goal with an exquisite chip over the defense, and then showed great composure a minute later to head a cross down to Rami, who blasted the ball home.
Mexico blanks Wales
In New Jersey, Aldo de Nigris scored a goal late in each half as Mexico beat Wales 2-0 Sunday in an international friendly.
De Nigris put Mexico ahead with a header, and the Monterrey striker sealed it in the 89th by converting a pass from Edgar Andrade. A crowd of over 35,000 saw Mexico open a three-match tour that includes games against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Chicago Thursday and Brazil next Sunday in Arlington, Texas. Mexico will host Guyana in a World Cup qualifier on June 8. Wales plays its first qualifier for the 2014 World Cup by hosting Belgium in September.
Serbia suspends Ljajic
Serbia's football association has said midfielder Adem Ljajic has been suspended from the Serbian team for failing to sing the national anthem before a friendly against Spain.
The association said in a statement that Serbia's new coach Sinisa Mihajlovic “sent Ljajic home” because he did not comply with his rules that stipulate players have to sing the anthem before matches.
The statement said Ljajic, who is a Muslim, did not sing the anthem “because of his personal reasons.” Serbia lost 2-0 against Spain in St. Gallen, Switzerland, Saturday. “The player will only be allowed to return to the national team if he changes his attitude and officially notifies Mihajlovic that he has done so,” it added.
Ljajic was involved in an incident earlier this month with his former Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi who slapped him as he returned to the bench after being substituted in a Serie A game. Ljajic had stuck his thumb up ironically. Campbell warns Euro fans
Former England defender Sol Campbell has warned fans against traveling to Poland and Ukraine to watch the European Championship, claiming authorities have failed to tackle entrenched racism and violence in the countries.
Campbell, who is black, told the BBC: “Stay at home, watch it on TV. Don't even risk it ... because you could end up coming back in a coffin.”
The families of two of England's black players, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, have indicated they are unlikely to travel to the Euros because of fears of racist abuse.
After witnessing footage of fans from the host countries giving the Nazi salute and taunting black players with monkey noises, Campbell said UEFA was wrong to award the tournament to Poland and Ukraine.


Clic here to read the story from its source.