United News of Bangladesh

Sports fans: how about this for a Super Sunday? Start with the men's singles final at Wimbledon, then take in the soccer European Championship title match between Spain and England, before finishing the day with the Copa America soccer showpiece: Argentina against Colombia. From London to Berlin and all the way to Miami over the course of 13 hours, it’s quite the day of top-class sports to enjoy. Quite the cast, too. Potentially Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic in a repeat of the 2023 final at the All England Club. Spain's Lamine Yamal, soccer's newest superstar who will have just turned 17, against Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden at the Olympiastadion. Then, the great Lionel Messi — back in another major final for Argentina, 19 months after leading the team to the World Cup title — in what could yet be his swansong at an international tournament at Hard Rock Stadium. Wimbledon The men's singles final will take place at 2 p.m. local time (9 a.m. ET). The lineup will be decided after Friday's semifinals, with Alcaraz playing Daniil Medvedev and Djokovic facing Lorenzo Musetti. Alcaraz beat Djokovic in five sets in last year's final to capture his first title at Wimbledon and second Grand Slam trophy overall. If it goes that long again, armchair fans won't have too much of a wait until the soccer double-header begins. Euro 2024 Spain vs. England will kick off at 9 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET) and could be the crowning moment for Yamal in his breakthrough tournament, which the Barcelona winger has played while aged 16 for the most part. He turns 17 on Saturday. Spain starts as the favorite after winning all six of its games at Euro 2024 and is looking to capture the title for a record fourth time. England, the birthplace of soccer, is in a second straight European Championship final and is bidding for a first major title since its only one so far — the 1966 World Cup. Copa America The title match between Argentina and Colombia will begin at 8 p.m. local time (0000 GMT on Monday). It should still be hot and humid for the 37-year-old Messi and Argentina, which is bidding to clinch a record 16th Copa America title — breaking a tie for 15 with Uruguay. Argentina is the defending champion after winning it in 2021, so is going for a third straight major-tournament title. Colombia's only Copa America title came in 2001 — and that was the last time the team was in the final. Other Sports If all that still isn't enough for you, there's a bit more sport going on to fill the time. There's golf throughout the day at the Evian Championship, the fourth women's major of the year, and the Scottish Open, where Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Aberg are among the stars getting some links prep in ahead of the British Open. Also, there's the 15th stage of the Tour de France if you fancy a bit of cycling.  

Swadhinata Krira Sangha beat Jatrabari Jhotika Sangsad by a 1-0 goal in the Bashundhara Group Senior (First) Division Football League at the Bir Shrestha Shaheed Shipahi Mohammad Mostafa Kamal Stadium in  Dhaka’s Kamalapur on Thursday. Mohammad Saifullah scored the match-winning goal for Swadhinata KS in the 25th minute. Sr. Division Football : Mohakhali Ekadosh beat Bangladesh Boys by 1-0 goal In the day's other match, East End Club played to a 1-1 draw with Kashaituly Samaj Kallyan Parisad at the same venue. Mohammad Didarul put Kashaituly team ahead in the 41st minute (1-0)  while Faijul Karim Shawon levelled the margin for East End Club in the 79th minute from a penalty (1-1). The day's other match between Jatrabari Krira Chakra and Sadharan Bima Corporation SC ended in a goalless draw at the same venue on Thursday. South Korea appoints Hong Myung-bo as national soccer team's head coach for second time

Gregg Berhalter was fired 10 months into his second stint as U.S. men’s soccer coach, leaving the Americans searching for a leader less than two years before they host the World Cup. Berhalter was dismissed Wednesday, nine days after his team’s first-round exit from the Copa America flamed doubts he was the right person to remain in charge. “The Copa America result is extremely disappointing and I take full responsibility for our performance,” Berhalter said in a statement. “Our approach and process was always focused on the 2026 World Cup and I remain confident that this group will be one of the great stories in 2026.” After opening the Copa America with a 2-0 win over Bolivia, the U.S. lost to Panama 2-1 while playing most of the match a man short due to Tim Weah’s ejection, then were eliminated with a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay. The U.S. had seven wins, six losses and one draw in his second stint, leaving his overall record at 44 wins, 17 losses and 13 draws. Sporting director Matt Crocker rehired Berhalter and also will make the recommendation on his replacement. The team next plays in September friendlies against Canada and New Zealand. USSF spokesman Neil Buethe would not make Crocker available to answer questions from The Associated Press. “Our immediate focus is on finding a coach who can maximize our potential as we continue to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, and we have already begun our search process,” Crocker said in a statement. USSF president Cindy Parlow Cone also issued a statement. She did not immediately respond to a text message seeking additional comment. Jürgen Klopp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Marcelo Bielsa are among those being speculated about as candidates to replace Berhalter, along with Jesse Marsch, Hugo Pérez, Pellegrino Matarazzo, David Wagner, Steve Cherundolo, Jim Curtain, Massimiliano Allegri and Mauricio Pochettino. Salary could be an issue. Berhalter earned $2,291,136 in 2022, including $900,000 in bonuses for the Americans qualifying for the World Cup and reaching the second round. A top-level men’s coach could put pressure on the USSF to increase the salary of newly hired women’s coach Emma Hayes. Just 23 months remain before the World Cup comes to the United States for the second time and the Americans play their opener at Inglewood, California, on June 12, 2026. The only competitive matches with the full player pool before then likely will be in the CONCACAF Nations League. Berhalter, who turns 51 on Aug. 1, was the first American to coach the national team after playing for the team at a World Cup. He was hired to coach the U.S. in December 2018 after stints with Sweden’s Hammarby (2011-13) and Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew (2013-18). “I want to thank the U.S. Soccer Federation for entrusting me to lead this team for the past five years,” Berhalter said. “Representing our country is a tremendous honor and I am proud of the identity we have built on and off the field. It was very gratifying watching this team improve over the years and I remain grateful for the lifetime bonds created with our players, coaches, and staff members.” He led the U.S. to titles in the CONCACAF Nations League in 2021 and 2024, and to another with a B team in the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His players strongly supported Berhalter, saying he fostered a culture that bound the group. That support led to Crocker rehiring Berhalter 5 1/2 months after his initial contract expired amid an investigation of a decades-old domestic violence allegation that was brought to the USSF’s attention by the Reyna family, upset that Berhalter limited Gio Reyna’s playing time at the World Cup. A law firm retained by the USSF said there was no legal obstacle to bringing Berhalter back. Berhalter’s detractors cited lack of success against teams outside the region and struggles on the road against Central American rivals. The U.S. gained the region’s final automatic World Cup berth on goal difference, and it had the second-youngest team at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The U.S. wasted a second-half lead in a 1-1 draw with Wales, tied England 0-0 and defeated Iran 1-0 to reach the knockout stage, where the Americans played poorly in a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands. Players exhibited a lack of discipline: Defender Sergiño Dest got a red card last November at Trinidad and Tobago for arguing with a referee and Weah was ejected from the Panama match for punching an opponent on the head. “Gregg has earned the respect of everyone within our organization and has played a pivotal role in bringing together a young team and moving the program forward,” Crocker said in his statement. U.S. coaches have not fared well in a second cycle. Bruce Arena led the team to a quarterfinal appearance in 2002, its best since 1930, then failed to advance past the group stage in 2006. Bob Bradley’s team reached the second round in 2010, earning him a four-year contract extension only for the USSF to fire him 11 months later after the Americans wasted a two-goal lead and lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF Gold Cup final. Jurgen Klinsmann replaced him and led the team to the second round of the 2014 World Cup, then was fired after opening the final round of 2018 qualifying with a 2-1 home loss to Mexico and a 4-0 defeat at Costa Rica. Arena returned and the U.S. lost at Trinidad and Tobago on the final day of qualifying, ending a run of seven straight World Cup appearances. While the new coach inherits players such as Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams who have thrived with European clubs, goalkeepers Matt Turner and Ethan Horvath and Reyna have failed to gain playing time with first-tier teams.

England is into another European Championship final after its latest dramatic, come-from-behind win that even took King Charles III on a roller coaster ride. Ollie Watkins, who came on for captain Harry Kane in a bold call by England coach Gareth Southgate, scored in the first minute of stoppage time to earn England a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday and a shot at Spain in the title match. In the knockout stage at Euro 2024, England has scored a stoppage-time equalizer through Jude Bellingham before edging past Slovakia in the last 16 and needed a penalty-shootout to see off Switzerland in the quarterfinals. The English are keeping their supporters back home on the edge of their seats as the men’s team moves closer to a first title since the 1966 World Cup — and that includes its monarch. “If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!” the king said in a congratulatory message soon after the game in Dortmund. He had only made one previous appearance at Euro 2024 — as a substitute in the group game against Denmark — so it was a surprise when he was introduced by Southgate in the 80th minute in England’s biggest match so far. The gamble paid off. Fed by another substitute in Cole Palmer, Watkins took a touch with his back to goal just inside the area and, from a tight angle, smashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner. “Unbelievable — I’ve been waiting for that moment for weeks,” said Watkins, the Aston Villa striker who was the fourth-equal top scorer in the Premier League last season. “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. I got the opportunity and took it with both hands.” It was painful for Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman. BFF U-18 Football: Abahani maintain all-win run beating holders Bashundhara Kings 2-1 “I had a feeling toward the end of the match that maybe we could score,” Koeman said, “and for sure in extra time I’d have put money on us.” England will play Lamine Yamal and Spain in Sunday’s final in Berlin. It will be the nation’s first title match on foreign soil, having won the World Cup in 1966 and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final — both times at Wembley Stadium. “It’s going to be unbelievably tough – a really difficult game,” Kane said of the title match, with Spain widely regarded as the best team at the tournament. “One more game to make history.” The sea of orange in the giant South Stand at Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion fell silent for the first time after Watkins’ late goal. It housed the most vocal of the Dutch supporters who dominated the city center before marching in their thousands to the stadium ahead of the game. Police reported three separate clashes between fans from both countries in the city. It gave the occasion the feeling of a home match for the Dutch and England was up against it even more after the 21-year-old Xavi Simons became the second youngest scorer for the Netherlands at a Euros. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder dispossessed Declan Rice about 40 meters (yards) out, drove forward and unleashed a shot into the far corner from outside the area. Compared to the 16-year-old Yamal, Spain’s new superstar, Simons is a soccer veteran but this was another case of a young player shining on the big stage at the Euros. Kane has had plenty of big moments at major tournaments and he had another when he slotted home a penalty after Denzel Dumfries’ outstretched leg made contact with Kane’s foot as the England striker attempted a shot. Messi’s 109th goal leads defending champion Argentina over Canada 2-0 and into Copa America final Kane became the sixth player to be on three goals for the tournament. An open first half, which saw Dumfries and England’s Phil Foden hit the goal frame, made way for a tight and tense second half that had a huge two-minute spell when Bukayo Saka had a goal disallowed before Kane and Foden were taken off. It might rank as Southgate’s best call in his eight-year England tenure. And that the goal was set up by Palmer, who entered as a substitute the same time as Watkins, will have have made it even sweeter. “We are giving people some amazing nights ... but we are not finished,” Southgate said.

Didier Deschamps is staying on as France coach after being praised by the head of the country's soccer federation for leading the team “in the best possible way” at the European Championship. France lost 2-1 to Spain in the semifinals on Tuesday, ending an underwhelming tournament for Kylian Mbappé and his teammates. However, in an interview with French daily L'Equipe on Wednesday, Philippe Diallo said Deschamps fulfilled the objectives set before the tournament — reaching the semifinals — and will carry on as coach. Deschamps, who took the job after Euro 2012, has a deal through 2026. “I don’t see any reason to question his contract," Diallo said. "The results of the past speak in his favor and the objectives have been achieved. Didier will continue his mission.” “The balance is generally positive insofar as the objective set for the semifinal has been achieved." France was widely criticized for its pragmatic style of play at Euro 2024, with Randal Kolo Muani's header against Spain the team's first and only goal from open play by a France player all tournament. Under Deschamps, France has won the World Cup in 2018, reached the final of that tournament in 2022 and also lost in the European Championship final in 2016.

Dhaka Abahani Limited maintained their all-win record in the BFF Under-18 Football League' 2023–24, upsetting holders Bashundhara Kings by 2-1 goals at the Armed Police Battalion ground in Dhaka's Uttara on Wednesday. This was the fifth consecutive victory for the sky-blue Dhanmondi outfit Abahani in the league after beating Fortis FC 2-0, Sheikh Jamal DC 2-1, Brothers Union 2-0, and Rahmathanj MFS 4-1, while it was the second defeat for the Kings in their fifth tie. After a barren first half in the day's match, Abdullah Noman Dipu put Abahani ahead in the 47th minute (1-0), while Yeasin Arafat Sifat doubled the Abahani margin in the 56th minute (2-0). Abu Sayed netted the lone goal for the Kings in the 79th minute (2-1). In the day's other match, Rahmatganj MFS upset Dhaka Mohammedan SC, beating them by a 1-0 goal at the practice ground of Bashundhara Kings Arena on Wednesday afternoon. Sadek scored the match decider for Rahmatganj MFS in the 10th minute (1-0). In the day's other match, Fortis FC beat Sheikh Russel KC by a 1-0 goal at the Mohammadpur Physical Education College ground here on Wednesday. Swe Mong Sing Marma scored the match winning goal for Fortis FC in the 83rd minute (1-0).

When Joan Monfort took photos of Lionel Messi with a baby for a charity calendar almost 17 years ago, he knew the long-haired young man would make it big in soccer. He could not have imagined the little boy would as well. The baby in the photos — which have gone viral — was none other than Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wunderkind, who at 16 is showing such promise that he’s already being compared to the greats. The youngest to have played for Spain, he became the youngest player ever in the ongoing European Championship in Germany. Messi’s 109th goal leads defending champion Argentina over Canada 2-0 and into Copa America final One of the long-forgotten photos from 2007 resurfaced after Yamal’s father posted it on Instagram last week with the text “the beginning of two legends.” Monfort, 56, who works as a freelance photographer for The Associated Press and others, said the photo shoot took place in the visitors’ locker room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in the autumn of 2007, when Yamal was just a few months old. Barcelona players posed with children and their families for a calendar as part of an annual charity drive by local newspaper Diario Sport and UNICEF. Monfort was in charge of the photo shoots — and it just so happened that Messi was paired with Yamal’s family. His mother, who is from Equatorial Guinea, is next to Messi and the baby in one of the photos. “We made the calendar with the help of UNICEF. So UNICEF did a raffle in the neighborhood of Roca Fonda in Mataró where Lamine’s family lived. They signed up for the raffle to have their picture taken at the Camp Nou with a Barca player. And they won the raffle,” Monfort said. It wasn’t an easy assignment, he recalled, mainly because Messi wasn’t sure how to interact with baby Lamine, who was in a plastic tub for the shoot. “Messi is a pretty introverted guy, he’s shy,” Monfort said. “He was coming out of the locker room and suddenly he finds himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby in it. It was complicated. He didn’t even know how to hold him at first.” Messi was 20 at the time and already considered a big talent, but it would take a couple of years before he made his mark as the most outstanding player of his generation for Barcelona and Argentina. Sr. Division Football : Mohakhali Ekadosh beat Bangladesh Boys by 1-0 goal Like Messi, Yamal has gone through Barcelona’s renowned La Masia youth academy. Despite his age, he’s been one of Spain’s best players at Euro 2024, where his team will play France in the semifinals on Tuesday. Yamal will turn 17 on Saturday, the day before the final in Berlin. Monfort, 56, had no idea it was Yamal in those photos from 2007 until a friend messaged him as they started trending online. He’s had a long career as a sports photographer since 1991, following Barcelona around the world, but said he’s never experienced this level of excitement around any of his photos. “It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation,” he said. “To tell you the truth it’s a very nice feeling.”

Lionel Messi plans to keep playing for Argentina beyond Sunday's Copa America final. “As I’ve said before, I intend to continue," he said Tuesday night after Argentina's 2-0 win over Canada. "I intend to keep living day by day without thinking about what will come in the future or whether I’ll continue or not. It’s something I just live each day. I’m 37 years and only God knows when the end will be.” Messi scored his 109th international goal, his first in this year's tournament. It was his 14th in Copa America play, three shy of the record. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner spoke outside the locker room at MetLife Stadium, where he announced his retirement after missing a penalty kick in the shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final. He reversed his decision seven weeks later and has scored 54 goals in 73 international appearances since, raising his matches for Argentina to 186 as he helped win the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup. Teammate Ángel Di María does intend to retire after Sunday's game against Uruguay or Colombia at Miami Gardens, Florida. The 36-year-old Di María made his international debut in 2008 and has 31 goals in 144 appearances, “It’s my last battle. There's nothing left to say that I haven’t said a lot of times before,” Di María explained. “It’s my last game. I have to say thank you to all Argentineans and to this generation that has allowed me to lift so many trophies.” Di María joined with Messi to lead Argentina to it's third World Cup and 15th Copa America title. “We’ve enjoyed him so much,” Messi said. "He’s always given his all and the best of himself and that he will retire in a final is something he simply deserves.” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni held out hope Di María will reverse his decision. “We don't want to start crying right now. We don't want to feel melancholy,” Scaloni said. “We have to let him play and then we'll see if we can convince him or not to stay with us.” South American World Cup qualifying resumes in September, with each national team scheduled to play 12 more matches. The 2026 World Cup final will be at MetLife, that July 19. “We will never be the ones to close the door,” Scaloni said. “He can be with our team for as long as he wants to be. And if he wants to retire but still come and hang around, it would be great. And if he wants to come with me to somewhere else, I will take him everywhere so he can decide whatever he wants to do."

Lionel Messi scored his 109th international goal and first of the tournament, leading defending champion Argentina over Canada 2-0 on Tuesday night and into the Copa America final. Julián Álvarez put the Albiceleste ahead in the 22nd minute and Messi redirected Enzo Fernández’s shot in off the face of goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the 51st. Messi has 28 goals in his last 25 matches for Argentina and 14 in Copa America play, three shy of the record. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 130 has more international goals than Messi, who turned 37 on June 24. Iran’s Al Daei had 108 or 109 from 1993 to 2006, with a lingering dispute over whether a goal against Ecuador in 2000 occurred in a full international match. With a victory on its independence day, Argentina extended its unbeaten streak to 10 games. The Albiceleste seek a record 16th Copa title when they play Uruguay or Colombia on Sunday at Miami Gardens, Florida. Trying to string together championships in consecutive Copa Americas around the 2022 World Cup championship, Argentina is trying to match the feat of Spain when La Roja won the 2008 and 2012 European Championships along with the 2010 World Cup. “It’s insane what this team has done, what the Argentina national team is doing,” Messi said. “For those who remain from the old guard, it’s beyond impressive that the national team is in another final.” Argentina fans gathered in Times Square on the eve of the match and filled the streets on Manhattan before heading to MetLife Stadium, site of the 2026 World Cup final. The crowd of 80,102 on a night with an 82-degree temperature and 82% humidity was overwhelmingly pro-Argentina, with only a few sections dominated by red-clad Canadian supporters. England defender Luke Shaw 'ready to go' in Euro 2024 semifinal after injury It was among the biggest games for Canadian soccer, which went 0-6 in its only World Cup appearances in 1986 and 2022 and won its only major title at the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Argentina had beaten Canada 2-0 in the tournament opener on June 20. Canada star Alphonso Davies limped off after his right leg was caught in a clean challenge with Gonzalo Montiel and he was replaced in the 71st minute. Making his 38th Copa America appearance, Messi had missed Argentina’s group stage finale with a leg injury and was subdued while playing 90 minutes in the quarterfinal win over Ecuador. He was just wide from the top of the penalty area in the 12th minute after exchanging passes with Ángel Di María, then wide again in the 44th and put a chip over the crossbar in first-half injury time. MetLife’s temporary grass surface appeared heavy, with water splashing and sand popping up during dribbles. “It’s has been a very difficult Copa América, very competitive, bad surfaces, excessive heat,” Messi said. BFF U-18 Football: Bashundhara Kings beat Police FC 2-0 Argentina went ahead after Rodrigo De Paul from the center circle played a long pass to Álvarez, who took a touch at the top of the arc to control the ball from Moïse Bombito. Álvarez took another touch to create space from Bombito and from near the penalty spot slipped the ball between the legs of Crépeau for his ninth goal in 35 international appearances. Messi scored following a throw-in. He centered the ball to De Paul, who ran to the end line and cut the ball back. Koné’s attempted clearance went to Fernández, who teed up a shot that Messi redirected from just inside the 6-yard box. “I just put myself in the middle of it,” Messi said. “I wasn’t sure if Enzo’s ball was going to get in. It was a reflex.” Jonathan David was thwarted by Emiliano Martínez from close range in first-half stoppage time, and Martínez made a kick save on Tani Oluwaseyi in the 80th.

Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) Football champions Bashundhara Kings appointed Asian based Romanian football  coach Valeriu Tita as their new head coach initially for one year. Valeriu Tita, who guided the Syrian Club Al - Ittihad Aleppo to clinch the AFC Cup title in 2010, will replace the Kings Spanish head coach Oscar Bruzon, relieved in the last week. The 58 years old former Romanian footballer Tita is expected to join this season's treble winners  Badhundhara Kings by the end of this month. Sr. Division Football : Mohakhali Ekadosh beat Bangladesh Boys by 1-0 goal Tita has vast experience of coaching several Middle East and Arabian teams including head coach of Syrian national football team. He also acted as coach in the professional leagues in  Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Kuwait and  UAE, apart from his country Romania. Sr Division Football: Jatrabari Jhotika Sangsad outplay Little Friends Club by 4-1 goals