Boban Marjanovic gives Strong Group giant boost in Jones Cup 3-peat bid

France have appointed former midfielder and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane as their new head coach, beginning a new era for the national team. The French Football Federation confirmed the appointment on Tuesday. The 54-year-old succeeds Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after 14 years in charge. Deschamps guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2020-21 Nations League trophy. He also led the team to the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals. Zidane now returns to the national setup more than two decades after helping France win the 1998 World Cup on home soil. He played a key role in that historic campaign and won the Ballon d’Or the same year. The appointment brings together Zidane’s successful playing career and an impressive managerial record. As Real Madrid coach, he won three consecutive Champions League titles and established himself as one of Europe’s most successful managers. Zidane’s first major challenge will be to build on France’s strong squad and prepare the team for the next international cycle. His appointment is expected to bring a fresh tactical approach while maintaining France’s status as one of the world’s leading football nations. His tenure is set to run through the 2030 World Cup. The new France boss is expected to begin his international campaign with a Nations League match away to Turkey. France will then host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

BANGKOK: Pakistan secured a significant victory over India at an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Bangkok, winning all three seats in the election for ACC directors in a closely fought contest. The meeting, chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, brought Pakistan- and India-backed panels into direct competition for the three director positions. According to sources, the contest remained tight, but the panel supported by Pakistan emerged victorious in all three seats. The result gives Pakistan an important voice within the regional cricket body as the ACC prepares for several major tournaments and administrative decisions. India was represented at the meeting by Rajeev Shukla. The discussions also turned towards next year’s Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh. Officials considered possible venues for the tournament, with Sylhet, Mirpur and Chattogram among the grounds discussed for staging matches. The final schedule and venue arrangements are expected to be settled through further consultations. The upcoming Asia Cup is likely to attract considerable attention across the cricketing region, particularly because Pakistan and India remain among the tournament’s biggest draws. Their matches traditionally generate huge interest among fans and broadcasters, making venue planning and tournament logistics especially important. The Bangkok meeting also covered financial and administrative matters. The ACC budget was approved, while preparations for the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai were reviewed. The decisions come as Asian cricket continues to expand its commercial and competitive footprint. With major bilateral and multinational events regularly drawing millions of viewers, the ACC plays a central role in coordinating tournaments, developing the game and managing regional cricketing interests. For Pakistan, the election result represents a notable administrative gain at a time when relations between the two cricket boards remain closely watched. Securing all three director positions backed by its panel strengthens Pakistan’s representation in the ACC and could give it greater influence in future discussions. The Bangladesh-hosted Asia Cup will be one of the key items on the ACC’s calendar next year. While Sylhet, Mirpur and Chattogram have emerged as possible venues, further decisions will be required regarding match allocation, logistics and other tournament arrangements. The latest ACC meeting therefore delivered more than routine administrative decisions for Pakistan. The successful election result, coupled with discussions over the next Asia Cup and women’s tournament, placed Pakistan at the centre of several important developments shaping the future of Asian cricket.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has reshuffled its recently appointed foreign coaching staff, elevating Bob Johan Veldhof from goalkeeping coach to head coach as Pakistan prepares for the upcoming FIH World Cup. The decision places Veldhof in charge of the national side for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30. PHF president Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani confirmed the reshuffle, explaining that Herman Kruis, who was initially appointed as the national team head coach and National Hockey Coaching Advisor, will now focus solely on his advisory responsibilities. Kruis was appointed on July 3 for an initial two-year period. Soon afterwards, Veldhof joined the coaching setup as goalkeeping coach, while David Dwyer was brought in as high-performance coach. Chris Bowen was assigned a dual responsibility as technical coach and sports psychologist, while Adnan Zakir became the only Pakistani among the newly appointed coaches, taking charge of junior talent identification. The latest changes have effectively altered the hierarchy of the coaching group just weeks before the World Cup, with Veldhof now taking on the most important technical role. The PHF has been looking to strengthen Pakistan’s coaching structure as the national team attempts to regain its place among the world’s leading hockey sides. Veldhof’s elevation also gives him a major challenge on the international stage. With the World Cup approaching, he will be expected to prepare the team tactically while ensuring the players are physically and mentally ready for a demanding tournament. Wani also provided an update on the role of former Pakistan captain and Olympian Tahir Zaman. Zaman, who was appointed Director High Performance on May 21, will now serve as an adviser to the PHF president. The latest reshuffle comes at a crucial stage for Pakistan hockey, with the federation relying on its revamped coaching setup to improve the team’s international performances. With the World Cup only days away, attention will now turn to how quickly Veldhof can settle into his new role and guide Pakistan through one of the sport’s biggest tournaments.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Hockey World Cup campaign reaches a decisive moment on Wednesday when the Green Shirts face arch-rivals India in a must-win Group D encounter at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. The match, scheduled for 6pm Pakistan Standard Time, carries enormous significance for Pakistan. After suffering a 4-1 defeat against England and being held to a 3-3 draw by Wales, Pakistan have only one point from two matches. India, meanwhile, have three points after defeating Wales 3-1. The equation is simple for Pakistan: win or exit. India can secure their place in the next stage with a draw, putting additional pressure on Pakistan to produce their first victory of the tournament. England currently lead the group after winning both of their opening matches and have already secured qualification for the top-eight stage. The high-pressure contest is expected to bring out the intensity traditionally associated with one of international hockey’s most closely followed rivalries. Former Pakistan captain and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medallist Nasir Ali believes the psychological battle could be just as important as tactics and fitness. “Both nations feel pressure when they play against each other,” Nasir said, stressing that India’s three-point advantage gives them greater room for error. Pakistan’s opening two matches have produced mixed results. The heavy defeat against England exposed weaknesses in finishing, while the comeback against Wales showed encouraging signs of improvement. However, Pakistan surrendered a lead late in the Wales match and were forced to settle for a draw. Nasir believes missed opportunities could prove costly against India. He pointed to chances wasted against England, including Rana Waheed’s effort that struck the post, and urged the players to be more clinical in front of goal. Despite the results, the former Olympian sees progress in Pakistan’s overall play. He highlighted the team’s improved possession compared with their performances in the Pro League, suggesting that the side is beginning to regain confidence and control. But possession alone will not be enough against India. Pakistan must turn their control into goals while maintaining composure during a fast-paced encounter. “Today’s hockey is very fast,” Nasir said, urging the players to remain accurate and deal with pressure professionally. The tournament’s new top-eight format has added another layer of importance to the group-stage results. The top two teams from each group progress to the next phase, with results against fellow qualifiers carried forward. For Pakistan, however, calculations have little value now. They need a win. With World Cup survival at stake and the India-Pakistan rivalry providing an emotional backdrop, Wednesday’s clash promises to be one of the most eagerly watched matches of Pakistan’s tournament campaign.