Rafa Marquez vows 'committed, disciplined' Mexico team with 'strong s…

Mexico: The new manager of the Mexico national team Rafael Marquez said on Thursday that he seeks to instill discipline, deep sense of identity, commitment in the team he is hoping to build. wlop.pl

Marquez will take charge of the national team for the first time in friendlies against Colombia, Peru, the United States and Chile in late September and early October. All games will be played in the United States.

Rafael Marquez Alvarez, known as Rafa Marquez, speaks during his presentation as the new head coach of the Mexican men’s national team at the High-Performance Center (CAR) of the Mexican Football Federation in Mexico City, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by Yuri CORTEZ / AFP)

الأخبارDoha to host Asian Open Beach Volleyball TourDoha, Qatar: Doha will host the Asian Open Beach Volleyball Tour- Doha 2026 from October 10 to 13, featuring 16 men's and 11 women's teams representing Australia, China, Japan, ...فتح →

"Establishing and strengthening the identity of this team, that is the goal - for everyone to identify with their national team," said Marquez, who replaced Javier Aguirre in July.

"I will look for players with willingness, who know they must put in their best effort to come to the national team, in the same way that Javier did. That is essential to generate more competition."

Marquez has never managed at senior professional level. He served as Aguirre's assistant for two years and previously managed Barcelona B-team.

The 47-year-old praised the work of Aguirre, who guided Mexico to four wins from its first four games at this year's FIFA World Cup before it fell to England in the round of 16.

"What we went through during the World Cup was important," he said. "I am very excited about this responsibility. I am extremely grateful to Javier because he opened the doors of his coaching staff for me."

He added "I won't be working from scratch. There is continuity and a solid base, I know the environment, and I have surrounded myself with experienced, highly capable people who have competed at a very high level."

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) issued a health advisory for Qatari athletes participating in the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

The advisory, shared by the committee on social media, highlights a number of precautions athletes should take to cope with host country’s weather conditions.

The QOC urged participants to acclimatise early to the weather and gradually adjust their sleep schedules before travelling to Japan to help minimise the effects of jet lag as there are six-hour time difference between Qatar and Japan.

Athletes have also been advised to use sunscreen and wear hats for protection against the sun, while maintaining adequate hydration throughout their stay.

The committee particularly recommended drinking electrolyte-rich fluids during long training sessions and competitions to help replace fluids and minerals lost through sweating.

Maintaining a balanced nutrition plan was also highlighted as an important part of preparations, alongside wearing lightweight and breathable sportswear suitable for the expected weather conditions.

Athletes were further advised to keep a light rain jacket handy as they prepare for potentially changing weather conditions during the Games.

Paris, France: Head coach Luis Enrique has agreed a three-year contract extension with two-time defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain, the Ligue 1 giants announced Friday.

The Spaniard's previous deal had been due to expire at the end of this season, but he has signed a new contract lasting until 2030.

The news was announced ahead of PSG's Ligue 1 match against Monaco at the Parc des Princes, with players Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, Willian Pacho, Lucas Beraldo and Senny Mayulu all also penning contract extensions.

"They represent the present and the future of our club's project," PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi said in a statement.

"Together, we're aiming to build for the long term, to remain true to our values, and to continue writing a story that our supporters can be proud of."

Luis Enrique, joined by those five Champions League winners, was given a raucous reception from the home fans when the announcement was made. PSG went on to lose the game 2-1, to leave them still without a win three matches into the new Ligue 1 season.

"It is not the best moment to talk about this but what I can say is that it is the first time in my career -- and I am an old coach -- in which I have stayed more than three years in the same club," said the 56-year-old after the match.

"I am more motivated now than I was in my first year here, which is bizarre for me. I am very happy and I hope to be up to the job."

The former Barcelona and Spain boss was appointed PSG coach ahead of the 2023/24 season, tasked with leading them to a long-awaited maiden European Cup.

He achieved that with a stunning 5-0 final victory over Inter Milan in the 2025 Champions League final, before Paris successfully defended their title by beating Arsenal on penalties in May.

PSG have also won three Ligue 1 titles and two French Cups since Luis Enrique replaced Christophe Galtier at the helm.

Spanish World Cup winner Ruiz has extended his deal until the end of next season, with an optional extra year.

Portugal midfielder Neves, Brazilian defender Beraldo, Ecuador centre-half Pacho and youngster Mayulu have all signed deals until 2031.

Doha, Qatar: Qatar will be hoping to add to its Asian Games medal tally through volleyball at the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, with its strongest medal hopes resting on beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan.

Qatar will field men’s and women’s teams in the indoor competition, in addition to four teams in beach volleyball, two men’s and two women’s pairs.

The men’s indoor team have been drawn in Group C alongside India, Vietnam and Hong Kong, while Group A comprises Japan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Group B features the Islamic Republic of Iran, Indonesia, Thailand and Kyrgyzstan, and Group D has the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei and the Philippines.

The men’s competition will run from September 27 to October 3, while the women’s event is scheduled from September 16 to 22.

Qatar’s men enter the tournament after an intensive preparation programme under Argentine coach Camilo Soto.

They held a training camp in Slovenia from August 15 to 26, playing friendly matches against Egypt and Slovenian league teams before competing in the Asian Championship in Fukuoka, Japan.

The women’s team are in Group D alongside Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, with Qatar aiming to produce a strong showing against experienced continental opponents.

Qatar have a strong record in indoor volleyball, winning the Asian Cup in Chinese Taipei in 2018 after defeating Iran 3-2.

They have also won the Gulf Cup and Asian Challenge Cup, claimed bronze at the 2023 Asian Championship in Iran and qualified for the 2022 and 2025 World Championships.

In beach volleyball, Qatar will be represented by four teams. The Qatar 1 men’s team features Cherif and Tijan, while Qatar 2 comprises Moussa El Kheir and Mohamed Ehab.

Malak Mohammed and Laila Mohammed form Qatar 1 in the women’s event, while Haya Abu Issa and Shaghaf Amin represent Qatar 2.

Cherif and Tijan are Qatar’s main medal hopes, having won Asian Games gold in Jakarta in 2018 and retained their title in Hangzhou in 2023.

The duo also won bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and gold at the Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, last April. They have won the Asian Beach Volleyball Championship three times, with their latest continental title coming in Bandar Abbas, Iran, in 2022.

They also won gold at the West Asian Beach Volleyball Championship in Doha in 2022.

Their continued excellence was recognised when they received the award for Asia’s best beach volleyball players for 2026 from the Asian Volleyball Confederation in Bangkok, Thailand. With QNA input.

London: Hull held free-scoring Chelsea 2-2 at Stamford Bridge to go third in the Premier League as Liverpool failed to find a way past struggling Fulham in a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

It was a familiar tale for Chelsea as the front three of Morgan Rogers, Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer dazzled, but the Blues were undone by an inability to defend.
In five games against top-flight opposition since Xabi Alonso took charge, Chelsea have scored 16 times and conceded 12.

Hull were the last side in the Premier League to concede, but after three clean sheets they were finally breached when Rogers drilled in at the near post on seven minutes.

Mohamed Belloumi took advantage of Chelsea's slackness at the back to blast home on the volley after Jorrel Hato got caught under a cross to the back post.

The Algerian winger then put Hull in front with a deflected strike after Emi Martinez failed to deal with a corner.

Pedro drilled a Palmer cross into the top corner to bring Chelsea level just after the hour mark.

But the home side could not find a winner as Hull's honeymoon back in the Premier League goes on with only defending champions Arsenal and Manchester City above them in the table.

"We have to be happy," said Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic. "It's a huge result for us."

Liverpool remain unbeaten under Andoni Iraola but there were boos at Anfield after Fulham picked up their first point under Alvaro Arbeloa.

Former Liverpool defender Arbeloa was reportedly fighting for his job after losing his first three league matches since arriving in west London from Real Madrid.

Yet a Liverpool forward line featuring three £100 million ($135 million) players in Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak failed to click against the Cottagers' leaky defence.

"When you draw, especially at home, you can't be happy," said Iraola, who blamed fatigue after his side's Champions League exertions against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.

"Today we lacked a bit of freshness and we did not do enough offensively to make the difference."

It was Fulham who had the better chances to take all three points as Gonzalo Garcia missed a glorious opportunity in the first half and Alisson Becker produced a brilliant save to deny Josh King the winner.

Liverpool climb to sixth but could find themselves already six points off the top should Arsenal win at Sunderland later on Saturday.

Aston Villa are rooted in the relegation zone after Nottingham Forest exacted revenge with a 2-1 win at Villa Park.

Villa beat their Midlands rivals in the Europa League semi-finals last season on their way to lifting a first trophy for 30 years.

Eyebrows were raised at the club record reported £45 million Forest paid Chelsea for Liam Delap after failing to make the grade at Stamford Bridge.

But Delap proved his worth with a long-range strike into the bottom corner to open the scoring.

Alysson levelled with Villa's first league goal of the season, but Igor Jesus secured Oliver Glasner's first win as Forest boss.

Glasner's old club Crystal Palace's poor start to the campaign continued with a 3-2 home defeat to Ipswich.

The visitors were aided by Axel Disasi's first half red card as Zian Flemming's first goal for the Tractor Boys snatched all three points in stoppage time.

Brentford remain unbeaten thanks to Kevin Schade's double in a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.

The Cherries, by contrast, are yet to win in the Premier League under Marco Rose despite leading in all four games.

Tottenham are aiming to kickstart their league season with a first goal and win at home to Everton later.

Manchester United host local rivals City in the pick of Sunday's action.