Vi

Football: Europe's national teams back in action after 10-month gap

by NDO02 September 2020 Last updated at 17:43 PM

Comments0
Football: Europe's national teams back in action after 10-month gap
The UEFA Nations League trophy on display before the draw. (Reuters)
VTV.vn - Europe's national teams will emerge from a 10-month hiatus as the second edition of the UEFA Nations League kicks off this week, still under the shadow the COVID-19 pandemic which brought football to a standstill earlier this year.

* Serena Williams took her first step toward a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam title on Tuesday, defeating Kristie Ahn 7-5 6-2 in the first round of the US Open.

* Karolina Muchova took advantage of an error-prone Venus Williams to advance 6-3 7-5 into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday and hand the two-time champion her first opening-round loss at the tournament.

* American Sam Querrey confirmed after his first-round exit at the US Open on Tuesday that he had resigned from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Player Council and joined a breakaway players' group led by Novak Djokovic.

* Andy Murray showed the fighting qualities that he was renowned for in his prime, battling back from two sets down to progress to round two of his comeback Grand Slam at the US Open on Tuesday (Sep 1). Playing in his first singles Grand Slam in 18 months because of injury and the coronavirus pandemic, Murray dug deep to prevail in a 4hr 39min bruiser against Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka, winning 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

* UEFA says it is discussing entry requirements for this month's European Super Cup match in Budapest with the Hungarian government following the decision to close the country's borders to curb a rise in coronavirus cases. European champions Bayern Munich and Europa League winners Sevilla are due to meet in Budapest on Sep 24 in what is also planned to be the first UEFA match to take place with spectators since the COVID-19 outbreak.

* RB Leipzig have become the first Bundesliga club allowed to have some fans back in their stadium for their season opener next month after the city's health authority on Tuesday gave the green light for up to 8,500 spectators to attend. The city said the club could have fans back in their ground against Mainz 05 on Sep 20 if novel coronavirus infection rates in the region remain at current levels.

* Arsenal have signed Brazilian centre back Gabriel Magalhaes from French side Lille on a long-term contract, the Premier League club said on Tuesday (Sep 1). Financial details of the deal were not disclosed but British media reported Arsenal paid around £27 million (US$36.29 million) for the 22-year-old.

* Slovenian Primoz Roglic prevailed in the first mountain-top finish of this year's Tour de France on the fourth stage, a 160.5km ride from Sisteron on Tuesday (Sep 1). France's Julian Alaphilippe retained the overall leader's yellow jersey when he took fifth place.

* The 2020 edition of China's richest golf tournament, the WGC-HSBC Champions, has been cancelled because of government restrictions on international sporting events, the International Federation of PGA Tours said on Wednesday. The US$10.25 million tournament was scheduled to take place at the Sheshan Golf Club from Oct. 29-Nov. 1.