Nov. 10, 2020 Tokyo meeting International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach is expected to visit Tokyo from November 15-18 and meet with Japanese Prime Minister 11 Yoshihide Suga, insidethegames.biz reported. Sports Taremi off the mark Iran’s women’s in Porto win over Portimonense 3x3 basketball team Sports Desk Portimonense 3-1 at Estádio do Dragão on lead right after the break. Sunday. Beto had put the visitor in front in the C Porto’s Iranian striker Mehdi Tare- Taremi, who came in for injured Mateus 14th minute before Chancel Mbemba to play in Olympic qualifiers mi opened his account for the club Uribe in the 31st minute, headed home a bagged the equalizer for Porto in the third Fas the champion beat Sérgio Oliveira’s cross to give his side a 2-1 minute of the first-half stoppage time. Sergio Oliveira sealed the victory for Porto as the Portuguese giant stands fourth in the table with 13 points – six behind leader Sporting Lisbon. Taremi, who signed for Porto on a four- year contract – worth €4.5 million – in the summer, is yet to find his way into the start- ing eleven under manager Sergio Concei- cao, despite having a stellar campaign with Rio Ave, which saw him finish the joint topscorer of the Portuguese league last sea- son with 18 goals. However, Conceicao, who has been un- der scrutiny in recent weeks for not giv- ing the Iranian more playing time, was full of praise for the former Persepolis striker. “Taremi was a decisive substitute as he scored an important goal for us. We needed a striker who could penetrate the opposition backline and keep hold of the ball,” Con- ceicao said in the post-match press confer- fcporto.pt ence. Porto striker (2nd L) celebrates with teammates after scoring during a 3-1 victory over Taremi was awarded with the Man of the MEHR NEWS AGENCY Portimonense at Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal, on November 8, 2020. Match prize by Porto. Sports Desk tria, then it will have to win the FIBA 3x3 Univer- sality Olympic Qualifying Tournament (UOQT) in Iran’s women’s 3x3 basketball team will take part Budapest – with the date yet to be confirmed by the No excuses for Madrid frailties, in two Tokyo Games qualification tournaments next world basketball governing body. year. When asked about Iran’s chances of a first-ever Sixteen teams – including eight in the women’s qualification for the Olympics, Beiklikli said, says Zidane after Valencia rout competition – will play in next July’s Games in the “Both events will be tough competitions. Teams Japanese capital. such as USA, France, and Italia, who are all ranked Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said his side Iran’s head coach Nika Beiklikli said her team in the top 20, will play in Austria. Some high-rank- could not hide behind the referee’s decisions or will soon begin preparations for the two qualifica- ing sides will also take part in the Budapest com- its injury and illness woes after it stumbled to a tion events in Austria and Hungary. petition.” 4-1 defeat at Valencia on Sunday. The FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualifying Tournament The Iranian manager, however, believes in her Real conceded three penalties for the first time will take place in Graz, Austria, from May 26-30. team’s qualities. in its history, all of which were scored by Valen- A top-three finish will secure a place in the Olym- “We were once ranked fifth in the world and have cia’s Carlos Soler, while Raphael Varane also pics for Iran – alongside other Asian representatives never gone below the 14th spot, but all teams will scored an own goal, after Karim Benzema had China and Mongolia. surely come to Austria and Hungary with high ambi- given the champion the lead, Reuters reported. Should Iran fail to claim a top-three spot in Aus- tions.” Zidane had to make do without a total of six players for Sunday’s match after midfield anchor Casemiro and signing Eden Hazard tested positive for COVID-19, but the coach said noth- Klopp, Guardiola urge ing excused Real’s performance. “We can look for one thousand excuses and everyone can find any reason they want to ex- to allow five substitutes plain this,” Zidane said. “But we should not be looking for excuses; Liverpool manager Jurgen everyone in this squad is a Real Madrid player.” Klopp said it is “necessity” The coach criticized his side for reacting so for clubs to have five substi- badly to Soler canceling out Benzema’s opener. tutes per match in the Premier “We played well in the first half an hour but the JUAN MEDINA/REUTERS League, while Manchester City game changed completely after they equalized. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane (L) looks on as his team plays Valencia in La Liga boss Pep Guardiola labeled the at Mestalla Stadium, Valencia, Spain, on November 8, 2020. This has happened to us a number of times and I current three sub limit a “disas- don’t like it,” he said. ter.” “We need to really analyze what is going wrong because any then we conceded two penalties,” he said. Klopp and Guardiola re- little thing can cause us lots of difficulties. Once we conceded the “I think (Valencia striker) Maxi Gomez fouled Marcelo but newed their calls for the rules to first goal we couldn’t get back into the game. A lot of things went Maxi shouted louder and they gave a penalty. There was also a be changed after Liverpool de- against us today.” foul on Asensio, we were talking about that in the dressing room fender Trent Alexander-Arnold Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, however, felt his side was but you can’t change anything in the dressing room. suffered a suspected calf injury unlucky. “I don’t know how to explain it, they didn’t create too many during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at the “We were very motivated to turn the game around at halftime chances but we had three penalties go against us and their second Etihad, Sky Sports reported. but I had to make a save as soon as the second half started and goal was very bad luck.” The Liverpool manager has rejected claims that reintroduc- ing the five substitutes rule, which was briefly used last sea- son after Project Restart, could Recovered Thiem starts preparations for ATP Finals favor the ‘big six’ and insists Austrian Dominic Thiem Stefanos Tsitsipas in the fi- player welfare should be the said he has recovered from a nal of last year’s tournament priority this season. foot injury he suffered dur- after defeating Alexander “All the teams have to under- ing a tournament in Vienna Zverev in the semifinals stand why it’s so helpful. It’s and will travel to London and Roger Federer and No- not an advantage, it’s a neces- this week to take part in the vak Djokovic in the group sity. 100 percent,” said Klopp. season-ending ATP Finals. stages. “In all other countries it hap- US Open champion “On Wednesday I am pens and here we make a bit Thiem struggled with blis- leaving for London with a more fun of the competition by ters during the Vienna Open ‘mini-team’. The final goal having only three subs. That is last month and his title de- of 2020, the memories of really incredible, so we have to fense at his home tourna- last year are nice!” he said. talk again.” MARTIN RICKETT/GETTY IMAGES ment ended when he lost in Last week, Thiem’s home Klopp believes the Football Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (R) and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp the quarterfinals, Reuters country reported record num- Association should take action look on as their sides square off in the Premier League at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain, on November 8, 2020. reported. ber of infections from the over the substitutes rule, or risk The world number three novel coronavirus. The capi- having more international players ruled out through must be increased. subsequently pulled out of tal Vienna witnessed a lone injury. “All around the world it’s five substitutions, but the Paris Masters to give gunman kill four people in a “In my understanding it is a lack of leadership,” here we believe we are more special people,” said himself time to recover rampage on November 2. Klopp added. “It is the only big league where you Guardiola. for the ATP Finals, which Thiem called the attack have only three subs. Surprise. “We don’t protect the players, and that’s why it’s is played between the top “very, very sad” and said “The FA has to be involved. Tonight we lost Trent a disaster. In this calendar, especially. I will demand, eight men’s single players his coach was close to the Alexander-Arnold. I’m pretty sure Gareth Southgate if the people allow, we have to come back to five and doubles teams and will scene. is not fine [with that]. substitutions. If not, it’s difficult to sustain it.” be held in London from No- “It was a week with thou- “If we continue like this and hopefully we can The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) vember 15-22. DANIELLE PARHIZKARAN/USA TODAY SPORTS sands of thoughts in my play the Euros in the summer… if they happen, let’s has confirmed it remains in support of allowing “Nothing is quiet in mind. My coach Nicolas see who will be part of that.” clubs to use five substitutes. fall – the last weeks have been busy,” the my foot injury. It took me two, three days to Massu literally experienced the atrocious Manchester City has used all three of its substi- “We told the Premier League we would support 27-year-old said in a post on his website. recover, then I started my preparation for the terror attack in Vienna, was close having tutes twice this season and only two clubs have such a move on health and safety grounds for our “After losing in the quarterfinal at my final in London at the O2-Arena.” dinner at a restaurant and was locked up un- made fewer total substitutions, but manager Guar- members before the first vote and our position has home tournament in Vienna I recovered from Thiem went down narrowly to Greek til 2:30 at night,” Thiem said. diola said he fully agrees with Klopp that the limit not changed,” a PFA statement read.