Sports

AMMAN — Olympic swimmer Khader Baqleh has taken the Arab Swimming Championships by storm, winning two gold and two silver medals in Tunisia. Baqleh, who is impressing on the USA college scene, set a new Arab record in winning the 200m freestyle, before going on to also win the 1500m in a time of 15 minutes 50.20 seconds.

He settled for silver in the 400m freestyle in a time of 3:53.57, and also set a new Jordan record in the 100m butterfly with a time of 53.94 seconds on his way to silver. The event proved successful for Jordan with Khader’s sister, Talita, winning the 50m butterfly in 25.37 seconds before clinching bronze in the 50m backstroke.

The medals continued to come with Amro Al Wir winning bronze medals in both the 100m and 200m breaststroke. Lydia Al Safadi added a bronze in the 200m Medley. Jordan’s relay teams boosted the medals tally with the men taking bronze in the 4x100m freestyle and the mixed team taking silver in the 4x100m.

MOSCOW — France won the World Cup for the second time by ending battling Croatia's dream of a first title with a 4-2 victory on Sunday in one of the most entertaining and action-packed finals for decades.

France led 2-1 at halftime after a Mario Mandzukic own goal and an Antoine Griezmann VAR penalty, with Ivan Perisic briefly bringing first-time finalists Croatia level.

Quickfire strikes by Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappe midway through the second half put France on course for the title, but Mandzukic was gifted a goal by French keeper Hugo Lloris to set up a nervous last 20 minutes.

France, however, withstood a spirited Croatia assault to lift the trophy for the second time, following its success on home soil 20 years ago, and ensure there was no repeat of two years ago when it was beaten in the European Championship final by Portugal in Paris.

The victory means that Didier Deschamps, captain of the 1998 side, becomes the third man to win the World Cup as player and coach after Brazil's Mario Zagallo and Germany's Franz Beckenbauer.

It was the highest-scoring final since England beat West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in 1966, and the highest in normal time since Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 60 years ago.

The landmarks came thick and fast in the first half too.

Own goal

Croatia had started full of energy but fell behind when Mandzukic, who scored the extra-time winner against England in the semifinal, became the first man to score an own goal in a World Cup final when a Griezmann free kick skidded in off his head in the 18th minute. It was the 12th own goal of the tournament.

That meant it was the fourth successive knockout game that Croatia had conceded first but Perisic, who got the equaliser against England, was on hand again to level the scores ten minutes later, smashing in a low shot after Sime Vrsaljko had headed Luka Modric's free kick across the box.

But it was then Perisic's turn go from hero to zero when he flapped an arm at a corner and, after a VAR review, Argentine referee Nestor Pitana awarded the 28th penalty of the tournament, another record, which Griezmann stroked home in the 38th minute for his fourth goal of Russia 2018.

That made it the highest-scoring first half since 1974, when West Germany led The Netherlands 2-1 — also the final score then.

It was harsh on Croatia, which had made most of the running, and it was the on top again after the break, continually winning their one-on-one duels in the air and in every tackle and forging forward in the French box with plenty of variety.

But France's defence, so impressive all tournament, held and it went 3-1 up on the hour as Mbappe and Griezmann combined to set up Pogba on the edge of the box. His right-footed shot was blocked but he coolly curved the rebound in with his left.

After three successive extra-time knockout games the chances of another Croatian comeback seemed slight, but they looked dead and buried six minutes later. Lucas Hernandez tore down the left to set up Mbappe who drilled a low shot beyond keeper Danijel Subasic for the 19-year-old's fourth goal of the tournament.

An awful blunder by Lloris revived Croatia, as the French keeper tried to dribble around Mandzukic only for the striker to tap the ball straight into an unguarded net.

Croatia, beaten by the French in the semifinals in the first World Cup appearance in 1998, continued to press but its energy was sapped and France safely held out for the victory.

AMMAN — Abdulkareem Al Rasheed has clinched gold for Jordan at the Asian Ju-Jitsu Championships being held in Aktau, Kazakhstan, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

Rasheed took gold in the -77kg weight after beating the host nation’s Albert Adeove in the final. Earlier, he beat Chinese Taipei’s Tian Tu, Kazakhstan’s Nurtakano Olzahas and then he beat Mongolia’s Batgia Ekr, before seeing off Hong Kong’s Wi Yen in the semifinal.

The team has also won two bronze medals through Zaid Jarandoka (-94kg) and Yasmeen Al Khateeb (-49kg).

AMMAN — It was a glorious start to the 15th AKF Senior Karate Championships for host nation Jordan who won two gold medals and a silver medal on the opening day, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

First to stamp his name on the event, which is hosting 300 fighters from 29 countries, was Bashar Al Najjar who won gold in the -75kg weight, beating Iran’s Ali Asghar Asiabari, 6-1, in the final. His teammate, Abdulrahman Al Masatfah, added a second gold for Jordan in the -67kg category by beating Saudi Arabia’s Faed Al Khathami, 4-0, in the final.

Mahmoud Al Sajjan completed a successful start for the hosts by settling for silver in the -84kg weight after losing his final to Japan’s Araga Yurotara, 5-1.

LONDON - Angelique Kerber became the first German woman to win Wimbledon for 22 years as the 11th seed shattered Serena Williams' bid for Grand Slam history with a shock 6-3, 6-3 victory in Saturday's final.

Kerber avenged her defeat against Williams in the 2016 Wimbledon title match, overwhelming the seven-time champion with a stunning 65-minute upset on Centre Court.

"I knew I had to play my best tennis against a champion like Serena," Kerber said.

"It was my second chance to play in the final. I think I'm the next one after Steffi who won. That's amazing."

Williams had hoped to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles by winning her first major prize since becoming a mother in September.

The 36-year-old, who last won a Grand Slam at the 2017 Australian Open, went into the final as the title favourite, even though she was playing only the fourth tournament of her post-pregnancy comeback.

But instead World No. 10 Kerber sprang a huge surprise, making her Germany's first female champion at the All England Club since Steffi Graf in 1996.

"It's obviously disappointing but I am just getting started," said an emotional Williams after losing in the Wimbledon final for the first time since 2008.

"For all you mums out there I was playing for you. I really tried."

Graf helped Kerber get her game on track earlier in the her career, so it was an especially sweet moment for the 30-year-old to follow in her footsteps at Wimbledon.

Kerber had endured a significant slump last year after wining her previous major titles at the Australian and US Opens in 2016.

But, back to her best on the grass at Wimbledon, she needed only 11 winners and one ace to deny an oddly nervous Serena, who contributed to her own downfall with a whopping 24 unforced errors, compared to only five from Kerber.

In the first Wimbledon final for 41 years to feature two women 30 or older, Serena was cheered on by her friend the Duchess of Sussex, golf legend Tiger Woods and Formula One ace Lewis Hamilton.

Left needing several life-saving operations to deal with the threat of blood clots after Olympia´s birth, Williams was unable to walk for six weeks and even now is still haunted by harrowing flashbacks to that period.

Winning Wimbledon with Olympia at the tournament with her was supposed to be the crowning glory of her return to the top.

But, foreshadowing the pain to come, Serena's 30th Grand Slam final got off to a rocky start as she dropped her serve with four unforced errors in the opening game.

Play had started two hours late due to the conclusion of Novak Djokovic's win over Rafael Nadal in the men´s semifinals, and it was Serena who looked more affected by the delay

She briefly hit back, breaking to love in the fourth game, but then produced another error-strewn effort, including two double faults, to gift a 4-3 lead to Kerber.

Although Williams was on a 20-match winning run at Wimbledon and had lost only one set en route to the final, she was completely out of sorts, spraying wild ground-strokes wide time and again.

Kerber, cleverly moving Serena into awkward positions, took full advantage, winning four games in a row to wrap up the set.

The 11th seed knew what it took to beat Serena in a Grand Slam showpiece after winning their 2016 Australian Open final.

She kept nagging away at Serena and induced more miscues from the American in the sixth game of the second set.

On break point, the left-hander landed the knockout blow with a fierce forehand winner down the line that left Williams grasping in vain to reach it.

When Williams made another mistake to lose the next game, she gestured to her coaching team with a look of despair.

Her agony only increased with a woeful volley that flew long to put Kerber within two points of the title.

Moments later, Serena's misery was complete as a tame return left Kerber wiping away tears of joy.

MOSCOW — Mario Mandzukic struck an extra-time winner as Croatia defeated England 2-1 on Wednesday to advance to the World Cup final for the first time in the country’s history.

Kieran Trippier’s maiden international goal fired England ahead early in Moscow, but Ivan Perisic levelled in the second half before Mandzukic sent Croatia through to a showdown against France on Sunday.

With a population of just over four million, Croatia are the smallest nation to reach the final since Uruguay, the winners of the 1950 tournament.

AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Croatia’s victory over England:

Extra time hands France further advantage

With the bonus of any extra day’s rest and Croatia having been taken to extra-time for the third time in succession, France will be far the fresher of the two sides in Sunday’s final. 

Following a clinical 1-0 win over Belgium in yesterday’s semifinal, Didier Deschamps’ men have played a staggering 90 fewer minutes than their opponents in the knockout rounds. Croatia, which was beaten in extra-time by Portugal at Euro 2016, became just the second team to go to extra-time in three consecutive World Cup games. 

However, unlike England at the 1990 tournament, it was again third time lucky thanks to Mario Mandzukic’s 109th-minute goal.

Trippier gives weight to Beckham comparison

Former Manchester City reject Kieran Trippier, who grew up idolising David Beckham, conjured up an act of brilliance reminiscent of the former England captain. 

Only Neymar and Kevin De Bruyne have rivalled Trippier in terms of chances created at the World Cup, and the Tottenham defender produced his champagne moment of a breakout tournament for the 27-year-old with England’s opening goal. Trippier’s curling fifth-minute free-kick was his first international goal, a prominent example of the quality of his delivery that has given rise to the “Bury Beckham” moniker, because he was born in Bury near Manchester. 

It was England’s first goal scored directly from a free-kick at the World Cup since Beckham’s winner against Ecuador in 2006, and the team’s 12th goal of the competition — surpassing the 11 they netted en route to lifting the trophy 1966.

Croatia’s turn to break down barriers

England coach Gareth Southgate had spoken of his young side “breaking down barriers” in Russia after its biggest World Cup win and first penalty shootout triumph, but it was Croatia which forced its way into a relatively closed shop as just the 13th different country to progress to the final in 88 years. Spain, the 2010 champions, were the last first-time finalists in what is now the 21st edition of the competition. 

It is an achievement all the more remarkable for a country with a population of little more than 4 million. Only Uruguay — who lifted the inaugural title in 1930, and again in 1950 — has a smaller population among all World Cup finalists.

MOSCOW — Mario Mandzukic scored in the 109th minute as Croatia came from behind to beat England 2-1 after extra time on Wednesday and reach its first World Cup final, where it will face France on Sunday and send the Balkan nation into raptures.

England, appearing in its first semifinal since 1990, had looked on course for its first final since 1966, as it led through Kieran Trippier's fifth-minute free kick and totally dominated the opening half.

Croatia, in its first semi since 1998, levelled through Ivan Perisic after 68 minutes and then looked the more dangerous side.

It stayed level at 90 minutes, meaning Croatia faced extra time for the third successive game, having got past Denmark and Russia on penalties.

But just when it looked as if it would become the first team to appear in three shootouts at a single World Cup, Mandzukic struck with a well-taken low shot.

England had got off to a flying start when Trippier curled a superb free kick into the top corner.

It was his first goal for his country, England's 12th of the tournament and ninth from a set-piece, but it should have added more from open play as it revelled in the space they were being given in the first half.

Harry Kane shot weakly at Danijel Subasic when through, then forced the rebound against a post and Raheem Sterling was a constant thorn in the Croatian defence, though again his final ball was too often astray.

The best chance for a second goal, however, was wasted by an unmarked Jesse Lingard when he curled wide when a goal looked certain.

Croatia had been desperately poor but started to get a foothold in the game as the match rolled past the hour mark and Luka Modric's influence grew.

England paid the price for those early misses when Perisic showed great determination to get in front of Kyle Walker to meet a curling Sime Vrsaljko cross, and though his boot was arguably high, Walker was stooping and there were few complaints.

Perisic should have added another three minutes later when ragged defending presented him with a great shooting chance, but he cannoned the ball against a post.

It was a different game from then on, with Croatia suddenly playing with accuracy and purpose as England lost its shape and composure, though Kane missed a chance to win it in stoppage time when he headed wide from a free kick.

Vrsaljko cleared a John Stones header off the line midway through the first extra period.

But it was Croatia who struck in the 109th minute, when Perisic won a header on the edge of the box and the ball dropped for Mandzukic, whose firm low finish beat Pickford.

England plays Belgium for third place on Saturday.

AMMAN — All-rounder Zain Abdeen has won gold for Jordan at the third West Asian Athletics Championships being hosted at the Amman International Stadium, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service. Abdeen clinched the women’s Heptathlon after collecting 3,727 points, followed by Kuwait’s Nadia Al Haqan and Jari Farhan.

This is the second gold for Jordan following Mohammad Al Buhairi’s High Jump gold earlier in the tournament. Jordanian athletes have also added four silver medals to date through Baker Habahbeh (110m hurdles), Ashraf Malkawi (long jump), Shamma Arsheed (javelin) and Nareen Sako (high jump).

Another nine bronze medals have been won by Taima Jafar (long jump), Aliya Bushnaq (400m), Haneen Bakkar (shot put), Muath Turki (110m hurdles), Awwad Al Shorafat (1500m), Ahmmad Al Hawafzah (hammer), Hassan Al Daja (3000 steeplechase) and Nahed Al Rawashdeh (javelin). Bahrain lead the Medals Table following the fourth day of the competition with 17 medals.

REPINO, Russia — Two nations who have been waiting years to put right the bitter memories of World Cup semifinal defeats will face each other on Wednesday in Moscow with the chance to finally go one step further.

England’s last appearance at this stage was in 1990 when it lost in a penalty shootout to West Germany in Turin, while eight years later, in its first World Cup as an independent nation, Croatia lost to the host and eventual winners France.

While many outsiders view that unexpected Croatian run to the last four as a great success, inside the country many share the view of the team’s then manager Miroslav Blazevic that it was a missed opportunity.

England too left Italy 28 years ago feeling that the team featuring Gary Lineker and Paul Gascoigne could have gone all the way.

But neither side are in a mood for nostalgia or using the past as motivation.

While Croatian players, who have been asked constantly about the generation of 1998 and never fail to express their admiration for the likes of Zvonimir Boban and Davor Suker, those comparisons are a weight they feel is unneeded.

“We are not putting more pressure on ourselves with what happened in 1998,” said midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

“What they did was impressive but we want to keep writing our own history and enjoy what we are doing which is very positive,” he added.

England’s loss in 1990 was turned into a documentary film and has become a fabled part of the country’s “52 years of pain” since their 1966 World Cup triumph.

But on Monday, defender Ashley Young was quick to dismiss it’s significance.

“We are concentrating on what’s going on now. Not what’s happened in the past. We’re looking forward to the future,” said Young.

Underestimated

Neither team came to Russia being heralded as favourites, but they have produced performances throughout the competition which have shown they were underestimated by the pundits.

Croatia’s 3-0 win over Argentina in the group stage was a clear signal that the team led by midfield maestro Luka Modric was a real threat with its clever passing and movement.

In the quarter-final clash with Russia, the Croats showed a different side, being willing to slug it out with the Russians for 120 minutes before keeping their cool and winning the shootout in such a partisan atmosphere.

England, which made an early impression with a 6-1 crushing of Panama in the group stage, then overcame its shootout hoodoo in beating Colombia in the last 16 and looked composed and mature in the 2-0 quarter-final victory over Sweden.

England should come into the game fresher and it also has the edge in previous meetings, winning four of the seven encounters, including a 5-1 victory in the most recent match — a World Cup qualifier in 2009.

ST PETERSBURG — Roberto Martinez’s swashbuckling Belgium side head into Tuesday’s semifinal with familiar foes France as the World Cup’s leading scorers, but their old rivals has evolved as the tournament has progressed and will also be full of confidence.

Belgium has scored 14 goals in five matches and was hugely impressive in its 2-1 quarter-final victory over Brazil, with Romelu Lukaku, Eden Hazard and Kevin de Bruyne combining to devastating effect to oust the five-times world champions.

In contrast, France sleep-walked through the group stages, eking out wins over Australia and Peru before a stultifying 0-0 draw with Denmark.

Their early struggles had ‘Les Bleus’ being written off in some quarters, but all that changed when they faced Argentina in the last 16 in what must be a leading contender for the most exciting match of the tournament.

Didier Deschamps tweaked his formation, effectively freeing up Kylian Mbappe on the right to run at the Argentine defence, and what followed was a wonderful display of attacking football that France won 4-3.

The victory boosted France’s morale, and they followed it up with a workman-like 2-0 win over Uruguay that was impressive because of how well they managed to control the game against tricky opponents.

Belgium faced a heart-stopping moment of uncertainty in the first knockout round against Japan, when Martinez’s decision to rest players in its final group match against England almost backfired spectacularly.

Belgium’s returning first team players made a sluggish start against the Samurai Blue and suddenly found themselves trailing by two goals with time ebbing away.

Stung into action, Martinez sent on Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli in the 65th minute, and both were heavily involved as Belgium pulled off a late comeback, with Chadli securing victory with practically the last kick of the game.

Against Brazil in the quarters, Martinez showed tactical adventure, as he pushed target man Lukaku to the wing to allow De Bruyne to operate as a ‘false nine’. The strategy worked, and De Bruyne scored his first goal in Russia.

Tuesday’s clash in St Petersburg has all the makings of a classic, with fans and viewers likely to be treated to the sight of two wonderfully attacking teams going toe-to-toe.

“It’s a super exciting game with great players on both sides,” France defender Benjamin Pavard said. “It’s going to be a man’s match and we will have to step up.”

France, world champions in 1998, is slight favourites to go through according to most bookmakers, but Belgium tends to step up its game against these particular European rivals, if history is anything to go by.

Of the 73 meetings between the teams, Belgium have won 30 and France 24, with 19 draws between them.