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UEFA Super Cup betting preview: PSG favourites to beat Aston Villa and claim another trophy

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Paris Saint-Germain are odds-on favourites to pick up another European trophy this week as they face Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup.

This is the annual meeting between the winners of the Champions League and the Europa League, serving as a curtain-raiser to the new season. Wednesday’s game pits French champions and Champions League winners PSG against Premier League side Villa, who lifted the Europa League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Freiburg.

PSG’s status as clear favourites to lift the trophy fits with their back-to-back Champions League triumphs. They arrive on the back of retaining their European crown in dramatic fashion, holding their nerve to beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties after a tense 1-1 draw, following extra time, in May.

It was another statement result but the timing of this latest fixture may offer Aston Villa hope of an upset.

Timing is a complication for PSG, with several of their World Cup contingent, including Ousmane Dembélé, Fabián Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi, only just returning to the fold this week. That means coach Luis Enrique may not have his strongest XI fully sharp or fully integrated.

PSG’s system is well ingrained throughout the squad, and they are built around a fluid 4-3-3 that causes problems all over the pitch. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a constant threat cutting in from the left, and if Dembélé features, he will be given the freedom to drift and find pockets of space centrally. The full-backs are just as important to the picture, pushing high to overload wide areas and stretch defences.

Behind all of it sits one of the best midfield trios in world football in Vitinha, João Neves and Ruiz, when all three are available. Vitinha, in particular, loves to drop deep, receive from the centre-backs and dictate the tempo from there.

It was a similar pattern in the Champions League final, where Hakimi, Desire Doué and Kvaratskhelia combined to provide support for Dembélé further forward.

New arrival Maghnes Akliouche adds another attacking option this summer, while the signing of Lucas Digne from Villa gives this particular fixture an early subplot, with the full-back facing his old club straight out of the gate.

Villa go in as considerable underdogs — 7/2 to win in normal time and 2/1 to lift the trophy — and pulling it off would represent another big result in what has already been a landmark year for the club.

Their task is complicated by the loss of Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea over the summer, while Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United and Amadou Onana is sidelined with a long-term knee injury.

New signing Alejandro Garnacho now inherits a considerable stage on which to prove he can replicate that spark, while Villa also signed midfielders Johan Manzambi and João Gomes.

Realistically, Unai Emery’s side will need to be patient and disciplined rather than expansive. Emery knows this PSG side well enough to understand that, while the individuals shift in and out, the underlying system and principles stay largely the same, and he will set Villa up accordingly.

Without the ball, that discipline will be non-negotiable, but Villa’s real chance may lie in transition. PSG, still finding their rhythm this early in the term, could be vulnerable to being caught on the counter.

Villa’s recent warm-up defeat to Bayern Munich, though a 2-1 loss, will have offered a useful gauge of what facing elite opposition demands and should stand them in good stead for the level of intensity this game in Salzburg will require.

PSG certainly have the quality to win this comfortably if their returning stars settle in quickly, but Villa showed all last season that they are capable of raising their game for the biggest occasions.

If they can stay compact and hurt PSG on the break, this has the makings of a tight contest.

The most favoured outcome is a 1-0 PSG win at 6/1, but a draw after 90 minutes is 21/10, with 0-0 priced at 10/1, 1-1 priced at 6/1 and 2-2 priced at 13/1.

If the game is level after regulation time, the match will go straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time to be played. That was the outcome last year, as PSG drew 2-2 with Tottenham Hotspur, then went on to win the tie on spot kicks.

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US President Donald Trump issues backing for under pressure Fifa chief Gianni Infantino

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US President Donald Trump says it would be a “terrible mistake” if under pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino was ousted from his position.

Trump’s backing followed Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation issuing an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” with his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.

FFE would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company.

“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on social media.

“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again.”

The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, this summer, with Spain crowned champions after beating Argentina in the final.

More to follow.

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Cricket World Cup: Scotland and Netherlands criticise format changes to 50-over tournament announced by ICC | Cricket News

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Scotland and the Netherlands have criticised the restructuring of next year’s 50-over World Cup, saying the changes “risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket”.

At last month’s board meeting in Edinburgh, the International Cricket Council announced the main part of the tournament in southern Africa will contain a dozen teams split into two groups of six.

There will still be 14 participants, but the tournament is slated to start with a preliminary round involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers, with only one team progressing to the group stage.

A qualifying tournament will be held from February 22 to March 23 next year, with the winner going through to the main tournament and the second, third and fourth placed teams entering the first round.

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Australia are reigning 50-over champions having defeated India in the 2023 World Cup final

In a joint statement, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) said they were “deeply disappointed” by the ICC’s decision, announced less than 18 months before the tournament is due to start.

The statement said: “At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message.

New Cricket World Cup format

  • Round One: Teams 12, 13, 14 in round-robin ‘Super Series’
  • Top team progresses to Round Two
  • Round Two: Two groups of six teams (30 matches)
  • Top three teams in each group plus next best across both qualify
  • Round 3: Super 7 – Round robin (21 matches)
  • Top four teams progress to semi-finals
  • Semi-finals
  • Final

“We have significant concerns about both the impact of these changes and the process through which they have been introduced.

“The changes risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket, and only highlight the importance of strong governance, transparent decision-making and effective engagement with members.”

Scotland and the Netherlands are currently 13th and 14th respectively in the men’s ODI rankings.

Monday’s statement follows the World Cricketers’ Association expressing its concerns about the tournament revamp although Cricket Scotland and the KNCB say they are “fully committed to working constructively with the ICC and fellow members to strengthen the global game”.

However, the statement added: “Following the announcement of the changes, Cricket Scotland, the KNCB and other associate members met twice with the ICC, seeking official written communication on the changes and greater clarity around the processes involved.

“We also requested positive action to strengthen future operational decision-making and an invitation to bilateral planning meetings with full members.

“Since the second meeting more than two weeks ago, there has been no further response from the ICC, which is disappointing and disrespectful given the significance of the issues raised.”

Sky Sports News has contacted the ICC for comment.

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Solheim Cup – Anna Nordqvist captain’s column: Team Europe’s pairings ‘puzzle’ and why ‘aggressive’ rookies can impress | Golf News

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Team Europe is finalised!

I feel this is a big milestone in this captaincy and the Solheim Cup journey, because we can now focus on preparing the 12 players for the Solheim Cup and the event ahead.

It was a quite hard and emotional part of the journey having to make so many phone calls, letting players know they didn’t make it and they weren’t getting a pick.

Speaking to some past captains, they encouraged me to do my best and try to get through it because once it was done, then the hardest part would be behind me.

Surprising the three rookies – Julia López Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes – by letting them know they were among my four picks was very exciting!

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Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Mimi Rhodes have been named as Anna Nordqvist’s Solheim Cup captain’s picks for Team Europe

Julia, Nastasia and Mimi all joined me for interviews and a live show down at the Sky Sports News studio, the day after the AIG Women’s Open, where the team was finally announced.

I feel very good about the team we have selected and who has qualified. We have a great mixture of experience and personality, plus four rookies who bring a sense of fresh air and aggressive playing styles.

I’m excited to continue to work on the pairing “puzzle” over the coming weeks and figure out the best strategy for us to take on Team USA. I’m also excited that everyone is so supportive and looking forward to what is ahead next month.

There is still a couple more weeks until we all head to the Netherlands, but there is constant work and preparation being done behind the scenes – including from the vice-captains, backroom team, helpers and caddie captains!

Anna Nordqvist’s column was provided by the Ladies European Tour ahead of the Solheim Cup, live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

When is the Solheim Cup and who features for Team Europe?

Team Europe will be looking to regain the trophy at Bernardus Golf from September 11-13, the first time the tournament has been held in the Netherlands, with Nordqvist having four rookies in her 12-strong line-up.

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Highlights of the final day from the 2024 Solheim Cup, where Team USA secured a 15.5-12.5 victory over Europe in Virginia

Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit qualified through the LET Solheim Cup Points List, while Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen earned their spots via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.

Leona Maguire, Ramirez, Nadaud and Rhodes were the four captain’s picks for Team Europe, while defending champions Team USA – captained by Angela Stanford – will announce her team later in August.

Leona Maguire will make her fourth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance for Team Europe
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Leona Maguire will make her fourth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance for Team Europe

Sky Sports Golf will have exclusive live coverage from all three days of the biennial contest, with live coverage getting under way at 6am on Friday September 11. Coverage then starts at 6am on September 12 and 10am on September 13.

Team USA need 14 points to retain the trophy after their 15.5-12.5 victory in 2024, while Team Europe would need 14.5 points to claim their first outright Solheim Cup win since 2021.

Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch Team Europe’s bid to regain the trophy exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all three days live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.

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