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موعد مباراة السعودية واليابان في تصفيات آسيا لكأس العالم لعام 2026 والقنوات الناقلة

موعد مباراة السعودية واليابان ،من أهم المباريات في التصفيات الآسيوية المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026، ويترقبها جميع عشاق كرة القدم في دول آسيا والعالم العربي. كما يبحثون عن موعد مباراة السعودية...

ظهرت المقالة موعد مباراة السعودية واليابان في تصفيات آسيا لكأس العالم لعام 2026 والقنوات الناقلة أولاً على سعودي 24.

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ليفربول يجديد تعاقده مع كوانساه

ليفربول يجديد تعاقده مع كوانساه، أعلن نادي ليفربول الإنجليزي، اليوم الثلاثاء، عن تجديد عقده مع مدافعه الشاب جاريل كوانساه، بعقد جديد طويل الأمد، خاصة بعد المستويات الرائعة التي قدمها اللاعب...

ظهرت المقالة ليفربول يجديد تعاقده مع كوانساه أولاً على سعودي 24.

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Tyson Fury hints at dramatic change of tactics for huge Oleksandr Usyk rematch

TYSON FURY hinted he could make a huge tactical change heading into his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk became the first four-belt undisputed champion in heavyweight history after taking Fury’s WBC title and unbeaten record in May.

a man without a shirt is standing in front of a tv with the caption " was in the shape of my life "
Tyson Fury hinted he could make a tactical change heading into his Oleksandr Usyk rematch
a picture of tyson fury with the caption this is him19:11lbs
Fury hinted at bulking back up in weight

The Gypsy King scaled 18st 7lb for the fight of his life, while Usyk was smaller at 16 stone.

But Fury appears to believe the 19st 11lb he weighed before knocking out Deontay Wilder in their 2021 trilogy bout was his optimum weight.

He posted a picture of himself before fighting Usyk with the caption: “Was in the shape of my life. But this is not the GK.”

Fury followed up with a snap from his Wilder trilogy and added: “This is him. 19:11lbs bruiser.”

The former WBC champion weighed 18st 4lb in 2018 when he controversially drew against Wilder, 38, after twice being floored.

But he bulked up to 19st 7lb for the rematch two years later, which he dominated in seven rounds.

And Fury went one further to 19st 11lb – a career-heaviest – when he stopped Wilder in 11 thrilling rounds.

Despite teasing the weight gain, Fury, 36, maintained he will not change his coaching team ahead of his rematch with Usyk, 37, on December 21.

a boxing match between tyson fury and oleksandr usyk

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His crowded corner, led by Sugarhill Steward but also involving assistant Andy Lee and Fury’s dad John, came under fire.

John was especially singled out by pundits for shouting over head trainer Sugarhill during the valuable 60 seconds in the corner.

But Fury has vowed to stick with his team when probed during the console release of boxing video game Undisputed.

He said: “I know what I’ve got to do, nothing drastic.

“People can say ‘I want to change trainers or I’ll blame it on me conditioning coach or I’ll blame it on the cook or I’ll blame it on the mouse next door.’

“I’m not interested in all that. For me, it is the same team, same everything. I know what I’ve got to do. I thought I won the fight last time.

“I give him – me boxing all my life and watching boxing my whole career – I give him rounds eight, nine and ten, and round nine was a 10-8.

“So that’s what I give him out of the fight, but obviously the judges saw it a bit different, couple of them did.

“One of them had me winning. That’s what it was. It was as close as it can be. I didn’t get the nod on the night, I’ll make it back next time.”

a poster for a boxing event called boxfest
GETTY
Usyk and Fury rematch on December 21[/caption]

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Luke Humphries fumes ‘I just can’t be bothered’ as he warns rowdy crowd ‘leave it at home’ after World Grand Prix

LUKE HUMPHRIES hit out at supporters after a dramatic win at the World Grand Prix Darts.

The world champion produced a remarkable comeback against Stephen Bunting to win 2-1 last night.

a man wearing a shirt that says sky on it
Live Darts TV
Luke Humphries fumed at the crowd post-match[/caption]
a man wearing a shirt that says sky sports throws a dart
Getty
He survived a match dart to win 2-1[/caption]

Humphries was just a throw from defeat with him a set and two legs down when he launched a stunning fightback.

But despite his brilliant win, Cool Hand raged post-match about the fans inside Leicester’s Mattioli Arena.

Humphries was unhappy with the crowd after they spent much of the evening singing football chants.

The Leeds United fan said: “It was kind of hard with the crowd behind you just chanting football chants all the time.

“Lets leave football at home, we are at the darts now.

“But I was not going to retaliate because I just cannot be bothered, we are here to play darts.

“I support Leeds, everyone knows that, but lets leave the football chants at home. We are darts players – not footballers.

“If I’m in a football field and Leeds are playing against whoever and they’re chanting it to me whilst I’m there, then I’ll accept it, love it, and embrace it.

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“It’s just constant but it will not impact me and it did not impact me winning that game.”

Humphries also said players demand “respect” from the crowd after they allegedly made off-putting noises while he was at the oche.

He is back in action on Wednesday when he faces Ricardo Pietreczko, who squared up to Luke Littler on stage in March.

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Who is Neymar’s ex-girlfriend Bruna Biancardia and how many children do they have?

BRAZIL ace Neymar and Bruna Biancardia have a child together – but the pair will now have to co-parent after announcing their break up.

The 31-year-old announced his and girlfriend Bruna Biancardi’s fantastic news on Instagram.

a man wearing a balenciaga shirt holds a baby
neymarjr/Instagram
Neymar and Bruna have announced the great news[/caption]

Here is all you need to know about Neymar’s ex-partner Bruna Biancardi.

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Who is Bruna Biancardi

Biancardi is a social media influencer and model who boasts 3.8million followers on Instagram.

The 29-year-old from Sao Paulo also owns her own clothing brand.

The pair are thought to have started dating in 2021, but kept their relationship quiet for months.

The couple eventually became official in January 2022, letting fans know that they were engaged on Instagram.

a woman in a bikini is taking a picture of herself in the ocean
Splash
Bruna Biancardi on holiday with Neymar[/caption]

Did Neymar and Bruno Biancardi break up?

The two broke up in the summer of 2022 after rumours regarding their split started after Neymar stopped wearing his engagement ring in public.

After taking a break from social media, Biancardi confirmed her split from the ex-Barcelona star, addressing various reports that Neymar had cheated.

She was quick to dismiss these claims, writing on her social media:

“Don’t believe everything that happens out there. I am very fond of him [Neymar] and his whole family. Please stop involving my name. Thank you.”

Bruna and Neymar reignited their relationship after the two spent the Brazilian star’s 31st birthday together in February this year.

How many children do they have?

Neymar and Bruno Biancardi have one child together – a beautiful baby girl named Mavie.

She was born, in the early hours of Saturday, October 7.

The pair posted a heartwarming picture on Instagram with Mavie and the caption reads: “Our Mavie came to complete our lives. Welcome daughter!

“You are already very loved by us… thank you for choosing us.

a man in a black hat holds a baby while a woman in a pink robe looks on
neymarjr/Instagram
Neymar Jr announces birth of baby daughter Maive with very intimate snaps from labour[/caption]

Is she the mother of his first child?

Neymar also has an 12-year-old son, named Davi Lucca.

The Al-Hilal star had his first child with former girlfriend Carolina Dantas at the age of just 19.

a boy is being carried by a soccer player wearing a qatar airways jersey
AFP or licensors
Neymar and his son Davi Lucca[/caption]

Dantas, who was one year younger at the time, has since remarried but is thought to have a harmonious relationship with Neymar.

The pair were even seen hugging on a boat in Ibiza in the summer of 2021, when relaxing on holiday with their friends and family.

Neymar is now expecting his second child with his partner Bruna Biancardi after she shared images confirming on Instagram.

She wrote: “You will arrive in a beautiful family, with your brother, grandparents, uncles and aunties who already love you very much!

“Come soon son/daughter, we are waiting for you!”

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Asda urgently recalls popular £2.20 chicken product & issues ‘do not eat’ warning over health risk fears

a row of cars are parked in front of an asda store
Birkenhead, UK – Nov 6 2020: The car park, entrance and green sign of a store of the ASDA British supermarket chain, located in a residential area in the North of England. Taken on a sunny day in autumn with a blue sky in the background.

ASDA has urgently recalled popular chicken product over health risk fears.

The supermarket chain has urged customers to return the meal so they can claim a full refund.

Birkenhead, UK - Nov 6 2020: The car park, entrance and green sign of a store of the ASDA British supermarket chain, located in a residential area in the North of England. Taken on a sunny day in autumn with a blue sky in the background.
Anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk, egg, or gluten could be at risk
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning any Asda customers with any a number of allergies or intolerances not to eat the product -
pictured: Asda Chicken dinner
https://groceries.asda.com/product/traditional-meals/asda-chicken-dinner/910000048147
Credit: Asda
ASDA Chicken Dinners is being recalled due to it containing milk, egg, barely

ASDA Chicken Dinners is being recalled due to it containing milk, egg, barely – as not stated on the label.

In fact, some of the Chicken Dinner boxes shockingly contain Asda Beef Dinners.

Anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk, egg, or gluten could be at risk.

The supermarket chain has also issued a point-of-scale notice to its customers, explaining why the product is being recalled.

An FSA spokesman said: “Asda is recalling the above product from customers. The company has also issued a point-of-sale notice to its customers.

“These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents and/or egg and/or barley (gluten), do not eat it.

“Instead, return the product to the nearest Asda store for a refund, with or without a receipt. For more information contact Asda Customer Relations on 0800 952 0101.”

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Middle East just a ‘misjudgement’ away from all-out Israel v Iran WAR, CIA chief warns as more troops pour into Lebanon

THE embattled Middle East is just a “misjudgement” away from an all-out war between Israel and Iran, CIA chief William Burns has warned.

Tensions in the region have spiralled in recent weeks – with Israel last night expanding its ground assault in Lebanon.

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EPA
Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike near the villages of Khiam and Kfar Kila[/caption]
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EPA
Damage following an Israeli military strike targeting Ghazieh town[/caption]
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Rex
Israeli soldiers pictured in southern Lebanon[/caption]
a man with gray hair and a mustache is wearing a suit and tie
Reuters
CIA chief Williams Burns[/caption]

CIA boss Burns said the region could be teetering on the cusp of a dramatic escalation as clashes could spread across the Middle East.

He said that while the US intelligence community believes neither Israel nor Iran wants “all-out conflict”, there is a huge risk of miscalculation.

Burns added: “We face the very real danger of a further regional escalation of conflict.”

He said Israel is “weighing very carefully” how it would respond to Iran’s unprecedented missile barrage last week – but warned “misjudgements” could lead to an escalatory spiral.

“The Middle East is a place where complicated stuff happens all the time,” Burns said.

Tensions between Iran and Israel have become palpable in recent weeks.

Reeling from the assassination of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Israel’s invasion into Lebanon, Iran fired 181 missiles at Israel last Tuesday.

But Israel’s Iron Dome provided a near-total block of the blitz – following the success of its pager and walkie-talkie blitz which maimed and decimated enemy ranks.

Furious PM Benjamin Netanyahu however warned the terrorist state had made a “big mistake” and “will pay”.

The region has since been bracing for a major response – with an attack likely to hit Iranian oil plants and air defence systems.

A revenge plot against Iran comes as Israel continues its mission to wipe out Hezbollah’s war machine at its northern border with Lebanon.

Thousands of civilians have already fled the country’s south as the showdown between Hezbollah and Israel intensifies.

The Israel Defense Forces has now poured more troops into Lebanon – deploying a fourth division last night.

Its 146th Reserve Division has joined three standing army divisions –  the 98th, 36th, and 91st – already operating in the south.

Israel now has a likely 15,000-strong army in Lebanon.

The focus of the operation is clearing out Hezbollah terror sites to halt rocket attacks which have driven 60,000 from homes in Northern Israel in the last 11 months.

It claimed actions there would remain “limited and localised”.

a large fire is coming out of a building at night
AFP
Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted a neighborhood in Beirut’s southern suburb[/caption]
three fireworks are flying in the night sky
Reuters
Rockets fly in the sky after Iran fired a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel[/caption]

Clashes between Hezbollah and Israel have been simmering for a year after the terror group started firing rockets over the border in solidarity with Hamas following the October 7 atrocity.

Yesterday – on the first anniversary of the attack – the IDF said they had foiled a Hamas terrorist bid to unleash mayhem among mourners at vigils.

Israeli spotters were said to have detected threats from Gaza close to events where a thousand relatives of Nova Festival victims had gathered at dawn.

Commanders feared rockets were being prepared to explode among those gathered to grieve in southern Israel’s Negev Desert.

But the terror attack was suppressed by withering artillery plus drone and air strikes directed at rocket launch sites in the terrorist enclave.

Constant outgoing artillery rounds closeby and occasional bursts of heavy machine gun fire were heard as the vigil got underway.

The huge operation – carried out as Israeli president Isaac Herzog consoled relatives – succeeded in protecting the event.

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Mum shares haunting last words of daughter, 13, who died suddenly after complaining of ‘cold symptoms’

A 13-YEAR-OLD girl in “unbearable” pain asked her mum if she would die hours before she passed away from sepsis amid alleged delays in treatment.

Chloe Longster was complaining of cold and flu symptoms before being taken to A&E on November 28, 2022.

a girl in a school uniform and tie smiles for the camera
PA
Chloe Longster died just hours after being admitted to hospital with cold and flu symptoms[/caption]
a woman sitting on a couch with her hands folded
PA
Her heartbroken mum Louise Longster speaking at her home in Foxton, Leicestershire[/caption]
a girl wearing a blue top and a silver necklace
PA
The 13-year-old was described as ‘a vibrant, talented and compassionate individual’[/caption]

She was admitted to the paediatric ward at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire that evening and later transferred to intensive care, where she died the following morning.

At an inquest which began on Monday, Chloe’s mother Louise Longster told assistant coroner Sophie Lomas that pain relief for her daughter was “delayed”.

Her parents were “devastated” by her death, which they believe was “completely preventable”.

Mrs Longster, 40, told Northampton Coroner’s Court that her daughter was “wincing and squirming” from pain while in hospital.

“Chloe asked if she could be put to sleep because it was unbearable,” she added.

“I remember thinking how pale and clammy she looked.

“It’s harrowing to see your own child in so much pain.

“She was clock-watching constantly – she knew when her paracetamol and ibuprofen were due and it was always delayed.

“It was like we were chasing her pain rather than getting on top of it.

“Chloe asked me if she was going to die. It’s haunting that the 13-year-old was the one that was right. It’s devastating.”

Mrs Longster said she heard Chloe’s chest “crackling” as she lay in the hospital bed, which she flagged to a nurse.

She said she felt that she was being a “nuisance” and “dramatic” because she was trying to get more help for Chloe.

It was not until Chloe was put in a side room and diagnosed with influenza A that it was “taken seriously or acknowledged how much pain she was in”, Mrs Longster told the court.

Chloe’s blood pressure was recorded for the first time on the system nearly eight hours after she arrived at the hospital.

A&E consultant Dr Marwan Gamaleldin saw Chloe three or four times before she was transferred to the paediatric ward and believed she had a chest infection at the time.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

SEPSIS is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that happens when your immune system overreacts and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.

Symptoms of sepsis in an adult include:

  • Acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
  • Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • Difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast

Symptoms in a child include:

  • Blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
  • A rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
  • Difficulty breathing (you may notice grunting noises or their stomach sucking under their ribcage), breathlessness or breathing very fast
  • A weak, high-pitched cry that’s not like their normal cry
  • Not responding like they normally do, or not interested in feeding or normal activities
  • Being sleepier than normal or having difficulty waking

They may not have all these symptoms.

If you think you or someone else has symptoms of sepsis, call 999 or go to A&E.

Source: NHS

He said: “It was already flagged that pain was the main thing. She did not come across as struggling to breathe.

“The pain was described as severe so the next logical step was to jump to morphine.

“She had four doses of pain relief with three different medications.

“I appreciate that maybe it was not enough, but it was four doses of pain relief.”

Dr Gamaleldin said that in the two-hour period that he observed Chloe, he “did not think” that she had sepsis.

He told the court that there are four markers to diagnose the condition.

Two of these are high white blood cell count and fever, which the patient needs to have one of to be diagnosed with sepsis, and two other criteria which are heart rate and respiratory rate.

two women are sitting next to each other on a bus
PA
The teenager with her mum Louise[/caption]
a girl sits at a table with a menu in front of her
PA
Chloe passed away 18 and a half hours after arriving at the hospital[/caption]
a girl in a school uniform is looking at her phone
PA
Chloe was a year nine pupil at Robert Smyth Academy[/caption]

He said that Chloe had neither of the mandatory signs – high white blood cell count or a fever.

Dr Gamaleldin said: “There are other things I should have started if I was thinking of sepsis, rather than antibiotics.

“I did not think Chloe had sepsis at this point.”

He said that Chloe’s chest X-ray showed “consolidation” on her lower left lung, where there is solid material rather than air, which suggested an infection.

Mrs Longster said the scan looked “terrifying” and Chloe’s lungs were not symmetrical.

Chloe brought so much joy, life, happiness and kindness to all those that she came into contact with

Dan ClearyPrincipal at Robert Smyth Academy

Nurse Tricia Martinez triaged Chloe when she arrived at the hospital and had only recently joined the paediatric ward.

She told the court that Chloe looked in “agony” when she arrived in A&E so she “escalated” the issue and asked for the X-ray, but did not tick one of the boxes on a sepsis screening document.

She said: “The fault on my part was that I was not able to complete the sepsis form or go back to it after escalating.

“During the time that I saw her, something within said that there is something wrong with this child.

“We can only suggest or say she has possibly this or that, but the diagnosis will be given by the doctor.”

Chloe, a year nine pupil at Robert Smyth Academy with no underlying health conditions, died 18 and a half hours after arriving at the hospital.

She was prescribed by principal Dan Cleary as “a vibrant, talented and compassionate individual”.

“She brought so much joy, life, happiness and kindness to all those that she came into contact with,” he added.

The inquest continues.

a woman sits on a couch with her hands folded
PA
Louise believes Chloe’s death was ‘completely preventable’[/caption]
a girl in a school uniform giving a thumbs up
PA
The schoolgirl had no underlying health conditions[/caption]
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Google
Chloe was a patient at Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire[/caption]

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Who is Xavier Worthy’s mom Nicky Jones? Woman cheering Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver on from the sidelines

Not only is Xavier Worthy is lighting up the NFL in his debut season, he’s making his mother incredibly proud along the way.

Here we get to know Nicky, the lightening-quick rookie‘s mom and ‘best friend’.

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Xavier Worthy with his mom Nicky Jones[/caption]
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Nicky has supported her son’s football career since his school days[/caption]

Touchdown to treasure

On October 7, 2024, Kansas City Chiefs‘ wide receiver Xavier Worthy made headlines during a Monday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints.

Worthy’s mother Nicky Jones was sitting in the end zone on the front row when the rookie took a handoff out of the backfield from Travis Kelce on a trick play.

Quick as a flash he broke through New Orleans’ defense and scored a diving touchdown, giving the Chiefs a 23-13 lead.

After scoring these crucial points in the fourth quarter, Worthy immediately ran to the stands to present the game ball to his mother, who was celebrating her birthday.

Special bond

ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters shed some light on their relationship, sharing: “Xavier Worthy says his mom Nicky is his best friend.

“He says that she had him when she was 18, so she’s like really his sister.

“He said, ‘Our relationship is really close. She’s meant the world to me. She’s just been there for me every step of the way. We have that special bond. Talk all the time’.”

The Chiefs shared a clip of Worthy’s touchdown and subsequent celebration with his mother on social media.

It was captioned: “Celebrating mom’s birthday with a touchdown.”

A pillar of support

Nicky has been a constant source of support throughout Worthy’s football career.

She was by his side throughout his high school days in Fresno, California, as well as his college career at the University of Texas, and now into his rookie season with the Chiefs.

In January 2024, as Worthy was preparing for the NFL Draft, Jones expressed her pride in her son on social media.

She posted: “Thank you for representing yourself, family, & city the way you did these past 3 yrs.

“No off the field issues. Played every game, even when injured.

Xavier Worthy says his mom Nicky is his best friend

Lisa SaltersESPN

“Persevered thru bad times & stayed humble during good times.

“Being your mom is one of my greatest joys in life! So thankful!”

Nicky’s kids

Worthy was born on April 27, 2003, in Fresno, California.

He is the eldest of Nicky’s three children — he has two younger sisters named Ree and Onie.

Getty
Xavier Worthy giving the ball to his mom after scoring a touchdown on October 7th, 2024[/caption]

The family’s close-knit relationship has been a cornerstone of Worthy’s support system throughout his athletic career.

Journey to the NFL

Worthy’s progress to the NFL has been marked by a number of impressive achievements.

At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, he set a record with a blazing 4.21-second 40-yard dash, cementing his status as one of the fastest players in the draft class.

This performance, coupled with his successful college career at the University of Texas, led to his selection by the Chiefs in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Throughout his rookie season, Worthy has shown flashes of the incredible potential that made him such a highly sought-after pick.

His speed and route-running ability have made him a valuable asset to the Chiefs’ offense.

Worthy’s touching touchdown celebration with his mom on her birthday has already become one of the memorable moments of the 2024 NFL season.

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There’s no such thing as football clubs having their own ‘DNA’ – unless you’re talking about being ‘Spursy’

SIXTEEN years have passed since Dimitar Berbatov left Spurs, so we should forgive him a memory lapse.

But when the great Bulgarian soft-shoe shuffler turned up as a Sky pundit to watch his former club at Brighton, and claimed that tossing away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 “was not Spurs”, he could barely have been more wrong.

a soccer player wearing a green jersey with the letter a on it
Getty
Tottenham were beaten by Brighton on the weekend[/caption]
a man with a beard is wearing a black coat
Alamy
Manager Ange Postecoglou watched on as his team threw away a two-goal lead[/caption]
two soccer players wearing american express jerseys celebrate a goal
Getty
Danny Welbeck headed in the winner for the Seagulls[/caption]

In fairness to Berbatov, while the term ‘Spursy’ feels like the oldest of cliches, it only actually entered the footballing lexicon ten years ago.

Although that’s only because, by 2014, Spurs had already been ‘Spursy’ for several decades and so everybody instinctively knew exactly what it meant.

It meant stuff like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, style over substance, softness under stress, bottling it — and choking.

But can ‘Spursiness’ really be an actual thing?

Because most football supporters are fatalistic, believing their own club is cursed by bad luck and prone to most of those characteristics which define being ‘Spursy’.

To chuck in another old chestnut — can any football club really possess a ‘DNA’? Fundamental and distinctive qualities which are unchangeable?

In the decade since ‘Spursiness’ was coined, the club have gone through five managers, changed their entire playing squad apart from Ben Davies, moved into a magnificent new stadium and won nothing.

If we accept that Davies isn’t the problem, then we’re going to have to believe that several entirely different bunches of blokes have, by signing on the dotted line for Spurs, become individually and collectively flaky. Which is like believing in mermaids or unicorns.

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And yet, the thing is, it is actually true, isn’t it?

Giorgio Chiellini said it best, after Spurs blew a lead and were knocked out of the Champions League by his Juventus side back in 2018.

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EPA
Giorgio Chiellini fired a jibe at Spurs back in 2018[/caption]
a soccer player with the number 21 on his jersey
Reuters
Antonio Conte slammed the club during his tenure[/caption]

“It’s the history of the Tottenham,” said the legendary Italian defensive b*****d.

“They always create many chances and score so much but, in the end, they miss always something to arrive at the end. We believe in history.”

That’s Chiellini — who knows a thing or two about being definitely not, in any way, Spursy — telling us that Spursiness exists.

And to such an extent that even foreign clubs know exactly what it means.

Sunday’s capitulation was the tenth time Spurs have lost a Premier League match having led by two or more goals. No other club has achieved this ‘feat’ on more than seven occasions.

So the idea of an inherent ‘Spursiness’ is only a cliche because it holds large elements of truth.

Usually, great managers give a team an identity. But they don’t tend to give a club a ‘DNA’.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United always found a way to win.

Since he left, United have found many different ways in which to lose.

Arsenal’s last two title-winning bosses, Arsene Wenger and George Graham, employed chalk-and-cheese playing styles.

Just five years apart, Chelsea won titles under Jose Mourinho, with the meanest defence English club football has ever seen, and Carlo Ancelotti, winning three of their final four home matches 7-1, 7-0 and 8-0.

So there’s no such thing as a football club’s ‘DNA’.

Except, perhaps, at Tottenham, who employed Mourinho and Antonio Conte — cynical men after Chiellini’s stony heart — and still ended up pretty damned Spursy all the same.

Ange Postecoglou has dismissed the ‘Spursy’ tag as ‘playground stuff’ because he is a big, gruff Aussie who doesn’t believe in pixies at the bottom of the garden.

And because he is paid handsomely not to believe that Tottenham’s problems are genetic and incurable.

But back in May — on the extraordinary night when Spurs lost 2-0 at home to Manchester City and most supporters went home happy because the result went a long way to denying Arsenal the title — Postecoglou suggested a fundamental weakness.

“The foundations are really fragile,” he said. “The last 48 hours have shown me that. It’s inside the club, outside the club . . . everywhere.”

Of course, the one permanent feature of any club is its fanbase. True supporters are in it for life.

So, do Spurs supporters make Spurs ‘Spursy’?

By lacking a big-club mentality, by being happier to see Arsenal denied the title than to see their own club qualify for the Champions League, as they would have done had they beaten City that night

This is surely too simplistic.

There are almost 60,000 match-going Spurs fans at every home game and hundreds of thousands more who are devoted to the club — some old, some young, some cynical, some dreamy, some who even wanted Spurs to beat City that night.

Perhaps it’s just that Spurs are in a unique position among English football clubs.

They are bracketed as one of the ‘Big Six’, suggesting they ought to win things, but do not enjoy the wealth of the other five, nor  Saudi-backed Newcastle.

They have an enviable ancient history and a ‘To Dare Is To Do’ ethos which encapsulates the essence of the game, as part of the entertainment industry.

As Conte never tired of mentioning, Spurs also boast a world-class stadium and a training ground without a playing squad to match.

They now have a promising first-team forward, Mikey Moore, who was born on the first day of the 2007-08 season, the last campaign in which Tottenham actually won a trophy.

Postecoglou has pretty much promised to end that barren run by stating that he ALWAYS wins a trophy in his second season at a football club.

As if openly defying the idea of ‘Spursiness’ by saying such a thing out loud would banish any hint of Spursiness.

After that, Spurs won five matches in a row and went 2-0 up away at Brighton.

And then, as Chiellini would have it, ‘the history of the Tottenham’ repeated itself.

As if it were as fundamental and unchangeable as DNA.

SLOT MACHINE

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Alamy
Arne Slot was not impressed about Liverpool’s 12.30pm kick off on Saturday[/caption]

HAVING promised not to do so, Arne Slot was reading from the Jurgen Klopp hymn sheet when he moaned about Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off at Crystal Palace.

Slot has enjoyed the smoothest imaginable start to life as Liverpool boss — none of the seven teams the Reds have played are in the top nine of the table.

Next he must face Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Newcastle as six of his next seven Premier League fixtures, as well as European ties against Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid — the champions of Germany and Spain.

After that little lot, we can properly judge whether the Dutchman has more in common with Klopp than merely the ability to whine about TV scheduling.

A VIEW TO A VILL

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Getty
Jhon Duran netted the winning goal against Bayern Munich[/caption]

THE atmosphere at Aston Villa’s Champions League win over Bayern Munich was one of the best I’ve ever experienced at a football ground, and the spectacular winner by Jhon Duran was unforgettable.

Which made it all the more sad to hear a radio phone-in during which Villa supporters spoke of being priced out by tickets costing between £85 and £97.

Last Wednesday night at Villa Park was a true ‘I was there’ occasion.

But clearly that was only for those who could afford it.

STRENGTH IN DEPTH

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Mikel Arteta has plenty of options in his squad this season[/caption]

MIKEL ARTETA freshened up his Arsenal side for Saturday’s clash with Southampton by bringing in three fringe players.

Those bench-warming ‘stiffs’?

Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, who have eight Premier League titles between them.

And Jorginho, a European champion at club and international level.
Whatever problems the Gunners may encounter during this season’s title bid, it won’t be a lack of strength in depth.

Who are these famous footballers?

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