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Friday, February 06, 2026 | Daily Newspaper published by GPPC Doha, Qatar.

Tag Results for "Champions Trophy" (2 articles)

PSG's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the French Champions' Trophy (Trophee des Champions) football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique de Marseille (OM) at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City on January 8, 2026. (AFP)
Sport

PSG beat Marseille on penalties to win French Champions Trophy

Paris Saint-Germain beat Marseille on penalties to win a topsy turvy French Champions Trophy in Kuwait on Thursday.PSG goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was the hero of the night, saving two spot-kicks as PSG took the penalty lottery 4-1 after a frenetic end to the match left the two sides locked at 2-2.Desire Doue converted the decisive spot-kick after Chevalier had saved efforts from Marseille's Matt O'Riley and Hamed Traore.PSG had taken an early lead when their Ballon d'Or winning attacker Ousmane Dembele deftly lifted the ball over Marseille 'keeper Geronimo Rulli.Only Rulli's quick thinking prevented Nuno Mendes doubling PSG's advantage minutes later.Rulli's opposite number Chevalier displayed his own goalkeeping prowess when denying Marseille defender Emerson's goal bound shot after the half hour.PSG had Chevalier to thank again when the stopper somehow kept out Igor Paixao's header near the hour mark.But with a quarter of an hour remaining, an ugly challenge by Chevalier triggered a Marseille penalty and, after confirmation from VAR, former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood coolly converted the spot-kick.With the match only three minutes away from penalties, centre-back Willian Pacho's ill-advised clearance flummoxed his 'keeper as Marseille suddenly seemed set to seal their first silverware since their 2012 French League Cup title.But in the fifth minute of injury time Goncalo Ramos poked Bradley Barcola's cross in to level and send the game to penalties, and ultimately victory for Luis Enrique's PSG.This was PSG's record-extending 14th win in the equivalent of France's 'Super Cup' in a game virtually shunned by both sides' fans due to travel costs.A banner unfurled at Marseille's Stade Velodrome last Sunday during their 2-0 upset loss to lowly Nantes in Ligue 1 summed up the general mood of dissatisfaction from supporters hanging over the encounter.It read: "FCT 2026 in Kuwait. And for 2027, on the moon?"The fixture traditionally between the Ligue 1 champions and French Cup winners has led a nomadic existence over the years as the French Football Federation seeks to promote Ligue 1 beyond its borders.Previous editions have been staged in Canada, China, Gabon, Israel, Qatar, USA, Morocco and Austria, amongst other venues.After this awayday in the Middle East the two teams refocus on domestic matters next week, with French Cup outings before PSG, one point behind Lens in second, host Lille next Friday, and Marseille, seven points adrift of PSG in third, travel to Angers.And in Europe, PSG will also be keen to wrap up automatic qualification to the Champions League last 16.The holders are third in the league phase standings with two games remaining while Marseille are 16th and in contention for a play-off spot.With PSG winning both the league and French Cup last season, Marseille owed their presence in Kuwait to being league runners-up in 2024/25, albeit a yawning 19 points behind their arch rivals.

Australia’s captain Mitchell Marsh (left) and India’s captain Shubman Gill pose for pictures with the trophy on the eve of their first ODI in Perth Saturday. AFP
Sport

Big shoes for me to fill, says Gill as Virat, Rohit return

All eyes in Perth are on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as the two India stalwarts prepare for the opening one-day international against Australia Sunday, marking the first national team outing for the pair since winning the Champions Trophy in March.India’s new ODI skipper, Shubman Gill, told journalists Saturday that he had had numerous conversations with his predecessors who had retired from the shortest and longest forms of the game, about how to take the team forward.“Definitely very exciting – big shoes for me to fill carrying over the legacy (Virat and Rohit) left for us,” the 26-year-old said.“These are the kind of players when I was a kid, I used to idolise them. The kind of game that they used to play, the kind of hunger that they had is something that inspired me. It’s a big honour to lead such legends of the game and learn from them.”Gill has already captained at T20I and Test level, but the upcoming three-match series will be the first time he has led in ODIs, where he averages nearly 60 with the bat.“I think in front of a difficult situation, I wouldn’t shy away from getting any suggestions or advice from them,” he said.“How they converse and what kind of communication or messaging they had with the players is something that helped me get the best out of myself. That’s the kind of captain I would want to be, where all my players feel very secure in the job they have to do.”Australia captain Mitch Marsh acknowledged that India’s two returning batsmen are partly responsible for an expected bumper crowd at the 60,000-seat Perth Stadium, which is nearing a sell-out despite a forecast of rain.“A lot of people are going to come and watch them. If it is their last time on Australian soil, I hope they enjoy it,” the 33-year-old said, before cheekily adding that he would prefer “not too much good cricket from them”.The Perth local, who struck two hundreds and averaged 70 across white-ball formats against South Africa and New Zealand in recent months, dead-batted any suggestion that continued goodform might prompt a Test recall ahead of the Ashes series this summer.“I’ve got tickets for day one and two, I haven’t asked the wife yet, but that’s about as much thought as I’ve given it.”