Monday, November 17, 2025
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France’s early qualification helps Kompany – Kane follows in Pelé’s footsteps

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The international record of Bayern’s professionals has been mixed so far, with one talented player even suffering a bitter disappointment. Coach Vincent Kompany could now benefit from resting his stars.

The record champions have a busy schedule ahead of them before the short Christmas break: five Bundesliga games, two Champions League games and the DFB Cup round of 16 at Union Berlin are still to come within a month. The workload remains high, so any rest in between is welcome. For two French players, this was hinted at before Sunday evening.

Because the two-time world champions have qualified early for the World Cup, coach Didier Deschamps is likely to plan without several stars for the final qualifying game in Azerbaijan. Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano will probably travel with the team, but are likely to get a well-deserved break after the 4-0 win against Ukraine. Olise scored once and played 89 minutes. With Upamecano on the field, the French have now gone 18 of their last 23 international games without conceding a goal. Both should therefore be rested enough when Munich host SC Freiburg next Saturday.

Wisdom Mike back unexpectedly quickly

Wisdom Mike is another talented player being brought through by the record champions, but the 17-year-old’s U-17 World Cup in Qatar ended in bitter disappointment. A 0-1 defeat to Burkina Faso ended the tournament in the round of 32, meaning Mike is already available as an alternative against Freiburg. He started in three of the four games in the tournament, scoring twice, but was also ineffective in the defeat to the Africans.

Meanwhile, Harry Kane is following in the footsteps of one of the greats in soccer history. If the Three Lions captain scores against Albania, he will equal Brazilian legend Pelé’s tally of 77 international goals. Kane failed to score in last Thursday’s 2-0 win over Serbia, coming off after 65 minutes. Keyword: rest. Perhaps his coach Thomas Tuchel will also use him sparingly now that qualification has been secured.

Josip Stanisic already gained World Cup experience in 2022 and has qualified again with a 3-1 win over the Faroe Islands. The defensive player was on the field for 90 minutes and has a good chance of going into the tournament as a regular this time.

Min-Jae Kim also played 90 minutes in South Korea’s 2-0 friendly win against Bolivia. Konrad Laimer also started for Austria at left-back and impressed in the 2-0 win in Cyprus. To qualify for the World Cup, he and his country need a draw in their final home game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday evening.

Nicolas Jackson, meanwhile, played 40 minutes for Senegal in their 2-0 defeat to Brazil. Colombia, meanwhile, won 2-1 against New Zealand in Fort Lauderdale with Luis Diaz, but Kompany will be happy with that, as he also only played for a good hour before being allowed to rest.

Muscle tear: Poulsen out for weeks

On Wednesday, HSV striker Yussuf Poulsen had to leave the Danish national team due to injury, and it is now clear that he will be out for a longer period of time. The 31-year-old suffered a muscle tear. This forces sporting director Claus Costa to take action in the winter.

On Friday, Claus Costa extended his contract with Hamburger SV, and in January, the sporting director faces his next big task: he must search for a new center forward. Yussuf Poulsen’s recent injury shows that it would be negligent to rely on the injury-prone Dane. Poulsen was supposed to be the anchor in the center of the attack, bringing experience, power in the run-up and force to the team. But his starting debut last weekend was followed by two muscle injuries at the beginning and now the next setback.

Glatzel ponders his future

After the Hamburg captain’s departure, the Danish Football Association had reported only a “minor injury,” but detailed examinations in Hamburg revealed a torn muscle fiber. This means another weeks-long absence, after two minor injuries had already put him out of action at the start of the season.

The latest injury shows how fragile Poulsen’s body is. And how shaky the plans for him are. Costa had repeatedly emphasized that the value of the model professional went beyond his influence on the pitch because he was recognized as a leader in the dressing room. But it is also clear that he can only fulfill his intended role as leader in the long term if he plays regularly. And the bosses have to admit that, as right as they were with most of their squad decisions after promotion, the plan with Poulsen has not worked out so far.

Most recently, the coaching team and medical staff had been pushing for a cautious build-up, specifically managing the striker, who has been injured repeatedly over the past two years, because Merlin Polzin naturally needs not only the guy but also the goal scorer Poulsen in the fight to stay in the league. The coach’s motto: “It’s not about getting Yussi fit as quickly as possible, but about getting the most out of him for as long as possible and making the best use of his abilities.”

However, just a few days after his debut in the starting lineup, his body is on strike again – for the third time since his arrival in Hamburg in July. Costa also needs to take action because Robert Glatzel’s future is uncertain. The long-time second division striker is now only third in the striker hierarchy behind Ransford Königsdörffer and Poulsen, and wants to reassess the situation for himself in the winter. In the summer, the crowd favorite had ruled out a departure, but now he wants to weigh up his options carefully. Coupled with Poulsen’s recurring setbacks, this is a situation that is forcing Costa to take action.

Initial diagnosis for Gabriel: Arsenal fears for key players ahead of Bayern clash

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta is losing another key player ahead of two immensely important matches. The latest cause for concern is center back Gabriel, who has not missed a single minute of Premier League action this season.

Time and again, club coaches watch their players’ performances for the national team with a worried look on their faces. Mikel Arteta is likely to feel much the same during the last international break of the 2025 calendar year. And there has already been two pieces of bad news: first, Riccardo Calafiori left the Italian national team injured, then Brazilian Gabriel was also sent back to the Gunners due to injury.

Defensive specialist Calafiori is struggling with a hip injury, which is why he missed the entire match in Moldova (2-0) and left Italy’s training camp early on Saturday. National coach Gennaro Gattuso revealed this at the press conference ahead of the final World Cup qualifier against Norway: “We tried with Calafiori, but he had a few problems. I thank him for his commitment: he stayed here for a week and could perhaps have played, but that would not have been fair to him or Arsenal.”

According to consistent reports in the English media, Calafiori’s participation in next Sunday’s eagerly awaited North London derby against Tottenham (5:30 p.m.) is not in jeopardy.

Gabriel to miss Brazil vs. Tunisia match

The situation is different for one Arsenal defender who has not missed a single Premier League minute this season: Gabriel was injured at the Emirates Stadium during his international match for Brazil against Senegal (2-0). He had to be replaced by Roma’s Wesley in the 64th minute. Gabriel buried his head in his jersey when he was substituted, after receiving treatment on the pitch. The Brazilian Football Confederation reported on Sunday that further examinations of the 27-year-old had revealed a “muscle injury in his right thigh.” Gabriel will therefore not be available for Brazil’s second match against Tunisia in Lille on Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) and will instead remain in London.

Major concerns in attack as well

Not only does Gabriel’s participation in the league derby appear to be in jeopardy, but also the Champions League clash with FC Bayern on November 26. That match will see two of the three teams still undefeated (along with Inter) face each other. With Gabriel out, it would make sense for Calafiori to move from left back to center back and for former Leverkusen player Piero Hincapie to take the Italian’s position. It remains to be seen who Arteta will have available against Bayern – immediately before the international break, Martin Ödegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Viktor Gyökeres, Noni Madueke, and Kai Havertz were all missing due to injury.

Struber: “Coaches just have to let things run their course”

On his return to Cologne, Gerhard Struber spoke about his new role in Bristol, his time at FC Cologne, and why less is sometimes more when it comes to young players.

The return to Cologne was of course special, even though Gerhard Struber was not even supposed to be coach of 1.FC Cologne for a whole season. Nevertheless, the Austrian was delighted, as he explained during his appearance at the Matchplan conference at the German Sport University.

There, Struber spoke with organizer Prof. Dr. Daniel Memmert and moderator Franzi Müllers about his new job in the Championship, where he currently ranks eighth with Bristol City. He is particularly fascinated by the focus on soccer on the island. “Soccer is also of interest in Austria, but there’s also skiing,” Struber explained, elaborating on why he believes the game is even more important in England than in Germany: “The influence of coaches is different than in Germany. That’s why England is very sexy when it comes to soccer.”

The biggest differences between the lower leagues in England and Germany are the number of games and the enormous physicality. And then there’s the money factor: “The quality is incredibly high because there are clubs that invest a lot.” This also applies to innovation and science, of course, because the owners, who are often from the US, have a completely different approach to data.

A long evening at the wine tavern with the WAC president

For Struber, who had already gained experience abroad with Barnsley FC and the New York Red Bulls before his time in Cologne, this was certainly a culture shock in a positive sense. He recounted his time at Wolfsberger AC with humor and a grin: “I spent the night at a wine tavern talking to the president about a GPS system. At 2 or 3 a.m., he finally agreed.”

Despite being fired at the end of the season, he now looks back fondly on his time in Cologne: “There was incredible pressure on the club and the players. We struggled to get into a football flow.” The transfer ban and relegation had “mentally shaken the team. Nevertheless, we got them into a promotion spot. So I look back positively.”

Struber’s advice to youth coaches: “Don’t coach everything”

Now he wants to reach the promotion playoffs with Bristol in the grueling Championship, as he did last season – even though the club from the southwest was able to spend significantly less on transfers than many of its competitors. Struber’s team is capitalizing on its good start and a special game: “The 4-1 win against Sheffield United gave us a boost.”

And, of course, at a conference on match analysis, coaching, and scouting, the question of what could be done better in youth development is a must. Struber’s motto: Less is more. For the 48-year-old, “coaches, especially in youth development, should learn to just let things happen and not coach everything.”

What Struber means is: don’t overcomplicate everything and don’t incorporate endless topics and details into every exercise. Young players need time on the ball. “And we have to create the conditions in training so that players have to make as many decisions as possible.”

Stock trading also suspended: Ubisoft postpones annual report

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Ubisoft’s crisis has entered a new chapter. The company was supposed to publish its financial results for the first half of 2025 on Thursday. However, this did not occur.

On Thursday, the gaming scene was eagerly looking towards Saint-Mandé. From there, east of the French capital Paris, groundbreaking insights into Ubisoft’s economic situation were expected. At 6 p.m., the struggling video game giant was supposed to publish its financial results for the first half of 2025 – but it failed to do so.

Instead of detailed reports and the obligatory earnings call, in which Ubisoft executives answer questions from investors, the developer’s website merely posted a brief statement: “Ubisoft announces the postponement of the publication of its results for the first half of the 2025 fiscal year.”

But that’s not all. The company also asked European stock exchanges to suspend trading in Ubisoft shares and bonds. The trading halt is to remain in place “from the market opening on November 14, 2025, until the publication of the results for the first half of 2025/26.” However, officials in France announced that the missing figures would be submitted “in the coming days.”

Trading halt just a precaution?

Ubisoft’s CFO Frederick Duguet confirmed the schedule shortly afterwards. In a memo to staff, which Insider Gaming has seen, he is said to refer to “several days” and also comment on the suspension of share trading. This was a preventive measure to minimize the consequences of inevitable speculation in the form of price fluctuations.

If Duguet is correct, there was naturally plenty of speculation about Ubisoft’s last-minute cancellation. There are many possible reasons for this unexpected development. Objections from tax auditors are just as likely as the redistribution or sale of company shares. The sale of brands is also conceivable. Back in March, Ubisoft had already moved three of its most prominent franchises to a new subsidiary.
Around the turn of the year, there were also layoffs as part of a restructuring process, before Ubisoft put all its eggs in the Assassin’s Creed basket – and failed to achieve the hoped-for results. More than ever, the question of the company’s future is being asked.

F1 2026: Alpine opts for Mercedes, but Nielsen dampens the euphoria

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Alpine is bidding farewell to its own engines in Formula 1 and will be relying on Mercedes from 2006 onwards: Why the move is still fraught with uncertainty

Alpine is giving up the production of its own engines in Formula 1 after the 2025 season and will become a Mercedes customer in the future. Despite the switch to the long-standing successful manufacturer, however, Managing Director Steve Nielsen does not see this as an automatic guarantee of success.
“Mercedes has a long history in Formula 1. They were very successful when the last major rule change took place,” Nielsen said in an interview with Motorsport.com, referring to 2014. At that time, the Mercedes engine was initially vastly superior to the competition after the last major change.

“But that doesn’t mean it will be the same this time, because back then we switched from naturally aspirated engines to turbo hybrids with MGU-K and MGU-H. That was a massive change,” says Nielsen. “This time, the change is not as big because we already have turbo hybrids.”

Alpine believes it is on the right track

As part of the rule change for the 2026 season, the MGU-H, which recovers energy from the exhaust, will be eliminated. Overall, the electrical share of the drive system’s power output will be significantly increased. Although the change is not as dramatic as in 2014, some observers in the Formula 1 paddock believe that Mercedes could once again have the edge due to its vast experience. “We are confident that we have chosen the right partner. Whether they have done a better job than the others, I don’t know,” says Nielsen. He does not want to overestimate rumors of a possible Mercedes advantage: “In Formula 1, there is never a shortage of rumors about who is the best in this or that area. The reality is that no one knows anything for sure at the moment.”

Nielsen believes Alpine is on track with the development of its own car for next season. “We are currently running a very intensive wind tunnel program for the 2026 car. We believe we are making good progress, but ultimately you are measured against the competition,” he says. “You can work as hard as you want, strive for the best combination of performance, downforce, reliability, and strategy, but you only really know when the stopwatch is running.”

Integration of the Mercedes powertrain into the Alpine chassis

The move from a manufacturer team with its own engine department to a customer team is nevertheless a significant change for Alpine. However, Nielsen emphasizes that integrating the Mercedes powertrain into the 2026 chassis is less complex than in previous eras of Formula 1.

“In the past, a Ferrari engine was very different from a Renault engine, which in turn was very different from a Honda engine,” he explains.

“In recent years, regulations have meant that the powertrains are no longer so different physically, either in size or volume.” There are still differences in cooling systems and connections, but nothing fundamentally unknown.

Alpine has also been working closely with Mercedes since the technical agreement was signed in November 2024. “When you sign an agreement like this with a technical partner, the engineers receive the basic information very early on. It’s not as if we only found out about all this last week. We’ve been working with them for months.“

”The integration is complex, but it’s been planned over a long period of time and with many experts involved. So there shouldn’t be any problems physically fitting the engine into the car,” he concluded.

“If I had the talent”: Verstappen reveals his love—and more—for MotoGP

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If he hadn’t been successful in his career in formula racing, Max Verstappen might even have pursued a career in MotoGP, as he now reveals.

Surprising statement from Max Verstappen! “If I could choose anything, let’s say if you couldn’t race on four wheels or race in general, I would say MotoGP,” said the four-time Formula 1 world champion a few days ago in an interview for the Pelas Pistas podcast, for which he sat in the studio with Gabriel Bortoleto.

When asked which racing series he loves the most, Verstappen answers without hesitation: “MotoGP,” but admits that active participation would not be so easy: “If I had the talent!”

The 28-year-old Dutchman was introduced to racing by his father, former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, and started karting at a very early age. But the young Verstappen also tried his hand at two-wheel racing.

“I rode these mini bikes when I was around eight to twelve years old,” recalls Max Verstappen. Although he “really enjoyed it,” the now four-time Formula 1 world champion “quickly realized that I had more talent on four wheels.”

Now, at the age of 28, Max Verstappen already holds several records in Formula 1. Among other things, he is the youngest race participant and the youngest race winner in the history of Grand Prix racing on four wheels.

Max Verstappen’s (current) Formula 1 records

Verstappen was 17 years and 166 days old when he made his Formula 1 debut at the 2015 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. He was 17 years and 180 days old when he scored his first points at the 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang. He was 18 years and 228 days old when he claimed his first victory at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, making him the youngest driver ever to finish on the podium.

But Max Verstappen holds several Formula 1 records, and not just in terms of age. He is also the record holder for the most wins in a season, with 19 in the 2023 season. Verstappen has even set the record for the most pole positions in a season (22) twice, in 2021 and again in 2023.

Max Verstappen is also the driver with the most consecutive Formula 1 victories, namely 10 between Miami 2023 and Monza 2023. In terms of the most consecutive pole positions, Verstappen is tied with record holder Ayrton Senna with 8 (Abu Dhabi 2023 to Imola 2024).

Max Verstappen describes his passion for MotoGP

Verstappen says of his love for the MotoGP scene: “I still enjoy watching MotoGP races. The guys are crazy, but in a positive way.” He even explains that motorcycle racing could have become his Plan B if things hadn’t worked out with formula racing: “Yes, if I hadn’t been successful with what I do on four wheels. You have to do something.”

Verstappen has demonstrated his love for motorcycle racing on several occasions. In an interview with ServusTV alongside seven-time MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez, the four-time Formula 1 world champion confirmed: “I’m a big fan. I try to watch every race. I always have my iPad and everything with me at the track too.”

As for riding a MotoGP bike himself, Verstappen is well aware of the risks.
“Of course, I’d love to do it. But I think it might be better to start with a Moto3 or Moto2 bike first. Just riding MotoGP wouldn’t be possible, of course,” says the Red Bull Formula 1 star. In this respect, Lewis Hamilton is one step ahead of Max Verstappen.
The seven-time Formula 1 world champion has already tested a MotoGP bike. In December 2019, Hamilton rode Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha M1 in Valencia. It was the famous vehicle swap, when seven-time MotoGP world champion Rossi drove Hamilton’s Mercedes F1 W08 from the 2017 Formula 1 season.

Brazilian Diogo Moreira is Moto2 World Champion 2025

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Diogo Moreira becomes the first Brazilian to win the motorcycle world championship – IntactGP rider Manuel Gonzalez beaten after leading the world championship for a long time

Diogo Moreira from the Italian Italtrans team is the 2025 Moto2 World Champion. With eleventh place in the season finale in Valencia, the 21-year-old became the first Brazilian in the history of the Motorcycle World Championship to be crowned champion. IntactGP rider Manuel Gonzalez had to make a pit stop and finished the race lapped.

“I’m so happy, I have no words to describe it,” said Moreira at the moment of his greatest success to date. “I can only thank all the people who supported me this year and last year. Thank you very much. Now we have to enjoy the moment and try to put everything behind us. But yes, really: just thank you to everyone, and see you next year.”

Gonzalez started the season with a victory in Thailand, followed by second place in Argentina. With his victory in the fifth race in Jerez, the Spaniard took the lead in the World Championship and remained at the top of the table for a long time.

After France, the sixth race, Gonzalez had a 61-point lead over Moreira. Moreira claimed his first victory in Assen. But even after the twelfth race in Czechia, the gap between the two riders was still 60 points.

Then Moreira started a comeback, winning in Austria and finishing on the podium in Hungary and Japan. Gonzalez, who won four races in the first half of the season, only managed one more podium finish in Hungary.

In Indonesia, Gonzalez was disqualified and lost 20 World Championship points for second place. The ECU software did not comply with the currently permitted version. In Malaysia, the IntactGP rider crashed and finished outside the World Championship points.

Moreira took the lead in the World Championship for the first time with fifth place in Malaysia and had a nine-point lead. With his fourth win of the season in Portugal, the Brazilian increased his lead to 24 points ahead of the season finale in Valencia.

In the last qualifying session of the year, Moreira had to compete in Q1, but he mastered this hurdle. Gonzalez qualified fifth and Moreira ninth. Gonzalez drove in fifth place for a long time, while Moreira drove alone in ninth place.

From lap 14 onwards, Gonzalez’s lap times dropped off because his rear tire was worn out. The Spaniard lost positions and was also overtaken by Moreira five laps before the finish. That was the final decision. At the end of that lap, Gonzalez pitted and continued one lap down after a tire change. Moreira was confirmed as world champion. He eventually finished eleventh.

After the race, Filip Salac, who was fifth, received a 16-second time penalty for violating the minimum rear tire pressure. This meant that Moreira was classified tenth. His World Championship lead was 30 points.

Next year, Moreira will compete in MotoGP with the LCR Honda team. Gonzalez will remain with the IntactGP team for another Moto2 season.

Kalex won the constructors’ championship for the 13th time. Fantic won the team championship for the first time. Daniel Holgado was named Rookie of the Year.

Cold shock instead of title party? Lando Norris warns about Las Vegas

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Lando Norris is skeptical about the Las Vegas weekend: Despite the chance to win the world championship, he warns about old McLaren problems and the cool conditions.

Lando Norris is cautious about the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Although McLaren has the opportunity to secure the drivers’ title there for the first time in the 2025 Formula 1 season, the Briton expects a complicated weekend.

Norris leads the overall standings by 49 points ahead of Max Verstappen and would need to extend this gap to at least 58 points after the upcoming race to knock the Red Bull driver out of the title race early. 

However, McLaren’s memories of Las Vegas in 2024 are not very positive. At that time, the MCL38 struggled massively with graining. Norris and teammate Oscar Piastri missed out on the top 5 in both qualifying and the race.

Norris: Las Vegas was the worst race in 2024

The team is looking stronger for 2025. McLaren dominates the constructors’ championship, and team boss Andrea Stella believes that the current Pirelli tires are less prone to graining. However, the forecast low temperatures of up to seven degrees Celsius could once again be a problem.

When asked after the race in Sao Paulo whether the cold would affect McLaren, Norris replied: “Affect us, definitely. I think it was our worst race last year. So I’m not really looking forward to it.“

Unlike McLaren, its immediate rivals are likely to benefit from the cool conditions. ”We know that Mercedes was incredibly strong there, as were Red Bull and Ferrari. I think we were at the back of the pack of those four,” Norris said, looking back on 2024.

Playing down expectations? Lando Norris reacts irritably

“Of course, we’ve improved a lot of things this year, so I don’t want to be too negative. Abu Dhabi and Qatar are races we’re looking forward to. Las Vegas a little less so, because it was probably one of our weakest races of the last two years,” said the championship leader.

When a journalist interpreted his assessment as too negative, Norris reacted indignantly: “I can say what I want. I can think what I want. I always try to be as honest as possible. If I don’t think we’ll be fast, then I don’t think so.”

“I’m not saying I’ll finish tenth. I’m just saying it’s going to be difficult to win. Look at last year’s data. Look at the race charts. We were miles off,“ the Brit continued.

”We weren’t fast enough in many races”

Norris also pointed out that McLaren was not dominant in every race in 2025 either: “There were many races this year where we weren’t fast enough. It’s not like we won every race. I’m just saying what I think, whether I believe it will be easy.”

Finally, he made it clear that despite all his skepticism, he remains open to surprises: “We’ve never been good in Vegas, so why should I think it will be easy? Maybe I’ll win, then we’ll see. But I’m not going to lie and say I’m very confident. I’ll do what I want.”

Although McLaren is significantly stronger than last year, Las Vegas remains one of the biggest unknowns on the calendar from the world championship leader’s perspective. The decisive factor will be whether the team has been able to sufficiently eliminate last year’s weaknesses.

Duo celebrates maiden title

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After winning the Australian Open, Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara also triumph at the ATP Finals.

Australian Open winners Henry Patten and Harri Heliövaara secured the doubles title at the ATP Finals tennis tournament.

Britain’s Patten and his Finnish partner defeated British duo Joe Salisbury/Neal Skupski 7-5, 6-3 in the final of the year-end tournament.

ATP Finals: German doubles team fails in the group stage

Heliövaara/Patten celebrated their first title at the ATP Finals and their fourth tournament victory on the tour this year. Salisbury/Skupski, meanwhile, extended a tragic streak: the two Brits lost their sixth final this year.

The German defending champions Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz had already failed in the group stage.

Last year, Krawietz/Pütz surprisingly became the first German doubles team in history to win the tournament, celebrating their greatest joint success. But two defeats in the group stage dashed all hopes early on this year.