World Sports News in Brief

Soccer-Uruguay draw 0-0 with Paraguay in World Cup qualifier

Uruguay had the best chances but they could not convert and were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Paraguay in a South American World Cup qualifier on Thursday.

Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Uruguay v Paraguay - Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay - June 3, 2021 Uruguay's Matias Vecino in action with Paraguay's Angel Cardozo. (Photo: Reuters)
Soccer Football - World Cup - South American Qualifiers - Uruguay v Paraguay - Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay - June 3, 2021 Uruguay's Matias Vecino in action with Paraguay's Angel Cardozo. (Photo: Reuters)

The draw extended Paraguay’s unbeaten run to eight competitive games, their longest such streak since 2011. It leaves both teams with seven points after five games in the race to Qatar 2022, five points behind leaders Brazil, who play Ecuador on Friday.

* Mario Gavranovic scored a hattrick and Christian Fassnacht added two more as Switzerland beat their tiny neighbours Liechtenstein 7-0 in St Gallen on Thursday in their last warm-up international ahead of the European Championship.

* A spirited Greece fought back to hold top ranked Belgium to a 1-1 draw in their friendly international in Brussels on Thursday as Georgios Tzavellas’ second half goal cancelled out an early strike for the hosts from Thorgan Hazard.

* Roger Federer lost his trademark cool but found some vintage tennis as he beat Marin Cilic 6-2 2-6 7-6(4) 6-2 to move into the third round of the French Open on Thursday.

* World number one Novak Djokovic put on a clinical display to stroll past Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas 6-3 6-2 6-4 on Thursday and reach the third round of the French Open.

* Claycourt machine Rafa Nadal celebrated his 35th birthday by handing his longtime pal Richard Gasquet a 6-0 7-5 6-2 masterclass as he stormed into the third round of the French Open on Thursday.

* Last year's runner-up Sofia Kenin eased into the third round of the French Open with a 7-5 6-3 victory over fellow American Hailey Baptiste on Thursday as her claycourt form continued to improve.

* World number six Elina Svitolina wasted little time in advancing to the third round of the French Open with a 6-0 6-4 demolition of American Ann Li on Thursday.

* Women's world number one Ash Barty retired from her second round match against Poland's Magda Linette at the French Open on Thursday with an injury. The 2019 champion, who was trailing 6-1 2-2 against Linette, started the second-round match with taping on her left thigh, having said earlier that she suffered a flare-up through her left hip during the weekend.

* Coco Gauff reached the third round of the French Open for the first time as the 17-year-old American battled past China's Wang Qiang 6-3 7-6(1) on Thursday.

* Spanish prospect Carlos Alcaraz reached his first Grand Slam third round when he beat Georgian 28th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4 6-2 6-4 on Thursday. With a self-confidence belying his 18 years of age, Alcaraz peppered Court 14 with 27 winners in a one-sided encounter.

* Andy Murray has withdrawn from next week's Wimbledon warm-up in Nottingham, but the former world number one is still on course to play in the grass-court Grand Slam, according to reports on Thursday (Jun 3).

* Simone Inzaghi has been named the new Inter Milan coach on a two-year deal, replacing Antonio Conte, the Serie A champions confirmed on Thursday. Inzaghi stepped down as Lazio manager after 22 years at the club as a coach and a player last week, and takes over from Conte, who resigned despite guiding Inter to a first Serie A title since 2010 this season.

* Real Madrid winger Lucas Vazquez has signed a three-year contract extension with the club, committing his future to the La Liga side after running down his previous deal. Vazquez, 29, made 34 appearances in all competitions last season but his campaign ended when he injured his knee in a 2-1 win over Barcelona in April.

* Barcelona have appointed former player Jordi Cruyff as assistant sporting director, strengthening the bond between the club and the Dutchman's late father Johan. Jordi Cruyff, who made 54 appearances for Barca's first team, has worked as a sporting director and coach at several clubs since retiring as a player. He will leave his role as head coach of Chinese Super League side Shenzhen on Aug. 1 to work at Barca.

* Chris Froome has ruled himself out of contention for a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title later this month, saying he needs more time to rediscover the form needed to battle for the yellow jersey. Froome, who won the Tour in 2013 and from 2015-17, was not part of the Tour last year after being left out of the Ineos-Grenadiers squad, but is expected to line up with new team Israel Start-Up Nation.

* France's Ligue 1 will be reduced from 20 teams to 18 from the 2023-24 season after the French professional league (LFP) said on Thursday that over 97per cent of the votes at its general assembly were in favour of the proposal. The assembly reached an agreement to reduce the number of sides by relegating four teams from Ligue 1 at the end of the 2022-23 season while only two are promoted from the second tier Ligue 2.

* Ronald Koeman will remain as Barcelona coach next season after the club agreed to honour his contract, president Joan Laporta said on Thursday (Jun 3). Koeman, who was appointed on a two-year deal last August by Laporta's predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu, led Barca to victory in the Copa del Rey in his first season in charge.

* Trent Alexander-Arnold will miss the upcoming European Championship after the Liverpool right back withdrew from the England squad with a thigh injury, the national team announced on Thursday. He sustained the injury during the closing stages of England's 1-0 friendly win over Austria on Wednesday and British media reported he faces a recovery period of four to six weeks.

* The International Ski Federation (FIS) could have a woman at the helm for the first time in its 97-year history when members vote on Friday for a new president to replace long-serving Swiss Gian-Franco Kasper. Briton Sarah Lewis is one of four candidates, and the only woman, on the list for the election which will be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reuters, CNA