France substitute Michael Olise scored two minutes from time as the visitors snatched a late 1-0 win against Belgium in the Nations League on Monday, while Italy returned to winning ways with a thumping 4-1 away triumph over Turkey.
Fortunes ebbed and flowed in Brussels but Olise kept up France coach Zinedine Zidane’s winning start to his new job with a surging run from midway inside the Belgian half before a superb finish to win the Group A1 fixture.
France were without captain Kylian Mbappe and Zidane made nine changes to the side that edged Turkey 1-0 last week but it was after bringing on the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Rayan Cherki and Olise that the French turned the game in their favour.
“We played a good game, we deserved to win, and we are all relieved by Michael’s goal,” said France debutant Lucas da Cunha. “My performance? The coach gave me his full confidence and told me to express myself, to do what I do at club level. I felt good on the pitch.”
Desire Doue was a persistent danger as he took on the home defence and twice hit the woodwork but Belgium will rue the opportunities they spurned with Mika Godts outstanding for them.
“It is a pity, especially because the goal came so late. We created chances ourselves, looked dangerous, and gave very little away. A draw would have been a fairer result,” said Belgium centre back Brandon Mechele.
Italy lost last Friday’s opening fixture of their Nations League campaign 2-0 at home to Belgium in a false start for Roberto Mancini on his return to the coaching job, but in the rain in Bursa they looked a very different outfit.
Alessandro Bastoni gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead from a corner and 13 minutes later Davide Frattesi pounced on a rebound after Michael Kayode’s shot from the left was parried by goalkeeper Altay Bayındır.
Italy were 3-0 up in the 27th minute as debutant Kayode hit home a low effort and the visitors finished the half with 10 attempts such was their dominance.
FRENETIC GAME IN THE RAIN IN TURKEY
The frenetic nature of the game continued after the break as Barıs Alper Yılmaz pulled one back for Turkey, who made three substitutions at halftime, but Italy’s three-goal advantage was restored as Pio Esposito headed home a fourth in the 50th.
“The team played well, pressed high, kept possession and played the ball through. We had to focus on this match, which was a difficult one,” said Mancini, whose team go to Paris on Friday to face the French.
Bosnia registered an emphatic 4-2 win away to Romania in Bucharest in Group B4 as former great Gheorghe Hagi suffered another setback on his return to the manager’s post.
But Sweden lead the group two points above Bosnia after a second home win, this time 3-1 over Poland in Stockholm.
The two Group B2 fixtures ended goalless with Ukraine away in Georgia and Northern Ireland home to Hungary.
Montenegro’s Aleksa Latkovic scored a last-minute winner as they won 3-2 in Armenia to move three points clear of their opponents on six points atop Group C2 where Latvia and Cyprus drew 0-0 in Riga to each pick up their first point. (Reuters)
The post France snatch late winner in Belgium, Italy thrash Turkey 4-1 away first appeared on Fastbreak.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is preparing for a new chapter with the Miami Heat, but his first adjustment to South Florida life has come from an opponent he never encountered during his years in Milwaukee – iguanas.
The two-time NBA MVP recently shared a video showing the large reptiles appearing around his new home, including near his swimming pool. The unexpected encounters quickly became a talking point as Antetokounmpo settles into Miami.
“If the iguanas keep on coming, I’ll probably move, maybe get an apartment. No pools, no grass, none of that stuff,” Antetokounmpo said.
“When I came here in July somebody told me they were kind of cute. They’re not cute. They’re not cute. It’s scary. But I’ll get used to it, hopefully. We’ll see.”
The iguanas, however, are hardly the biggest adjustment facing Antetokounmpo.
Miami officially began its new era Tuesday as training camp opened in Boca Raton, Florida, with Antetokounmpo at the center of a major offseason overhaul.
The Heat acquired Antetokounmpo during the offseason and also brought in Klay Thompson, Bobby Portis and Tim Hardaway Jr. to join a roster featuring Bam Adebayo, Andrew Wiggins, Pelle Larsson and Davion Mitchell.
For Antetokounmpo, the move means adapting to a new coaching system, teammates and defensive responsibilities after spending his entire NBA career with the Milwaukee Bucks.
“This is all new for me,” Antetokounmpo said Monday during his first Heat media day.
“I’m trying to learn defense. I’m learning offenses. I am trying to fit in the locker room with new faces. I’m trying to be able to play with players that I’ve never played before. It’s all new for me. It’s exciting.”
Antetokounmpo said he intends to approach the transition through hard work, regardless of the outcome.
“I know that I’m going to put in the work. Succeed or fail, I’m going to fail by working, or succeed by working. And the goal is to win a championship. That’s the goal.”
Antetokounmpo enters his Miami tenure with 21,531 points, 8,882 rebounds and 4,484 assists over his NBA career. Those totals rank fifth in points and rebounds and 13th in assists among players during the period since he entered the league in 2013.
“I really do believe that if not the best, I’m one of the best players in the world,” he said. “I know when I’m at my best, when I’m locked in, when my body is right, I really do believe that I can dominate the game and I can impact the game in both ways, offensively and defensively. I think I’ve shown it over the years.”
For now, Antetokounmpo has a new team, a new city and plenty of new teammates to learn — along with an unexpected group of backyard visitors. (Adrian Co)
The post Giannis Antetokounmpo begins Miami Heat chapter with iguanas as unexpected challenge first appeared on Fastbreak.
