Sports

LOS ANGELES — A weary, honest admission that one of the greatest careers in NBA history could be over?

Or a calculated move designed to spur the Los Angeles Lakers into bolstering their roster?

One day after LeBron James sent shockwaves rippling through basketball by revealing he was considering retirement, analysts are divided over whether the “King” is truly ready to give up his throne.

The 38-year-old delivered a vintage 40-point performance in a losing effort for the Los Angeles Lakers as Denver completed a 4-0 series sweep of the 17-time champions to reach the NBA Finals.

The defeat drew an unusually cryptic response from James in his postgame press conference as he reflected on a roller-coaster season that saw the Lakers emerge as title contenders despite a dismal 2-10 start.

“I don’t like to say it’s a successful year because I don’t play for anything besides winning championships at this point in my career,” said James.

“We’ll see what happens going forward. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about to be honest.”

In remarks to an ESPN reporter after the press conference, James made it clear that retirement was under serious consideration.

Asked what he planned to “think about” in the offseason, James replied: “If I want to continue to play.”

That startling admission marked a sharp departure from James’ previous public statements about how he sees the remainder of his career playing career.

He inked a lucrative two-year contract extension with the Lakers last August that takes him through to the end of the 2024-2025 NBA season. 

That would potentially provide him with the opportunity to play in the NBA with his eldest son Bronny James — something James has repeatedly said is his dream.

‘Athletic mortality’

Dazzling game-four’s display came at the end of an injury-disrupted regular season in which he averaged an impressive 28.9 points per game across 55 games.

Nevertheless, James hinted that the punishing nature of the NBA season, citing the “bus rides and plane rides” might be losing its appeal after two decades. “It’s challenging,” he said.

Former NBA player and ESPN pundit J.J. Redick said the comments might be designed to signal to the Lakers front office that the team needed strengthening.

“I think as an athlete there’s always a moment when you sort of begin to question your own athletic mortality,” Redick said. “Maybe in some ways LeBron is at that stage. 

“Am I buying that he’s going to retire? No, absolutely not. LeBron is one of the most calculated athletes in the history of professional sports. Everything he does is for a reason. And whether this is to put a little bit of pressure on the Lakers to improve the roster...whatever it is, there’s a reason he did this.”

ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst said James was “essentially sending a message” to the Lakers by inviting speculation about his future.

“There is something for the Lakers to consider here,” Windhorst told ESPN’s First Take discussion show. 

“The Lakers have four or five weeks to consider the direction they are going with this team. They’ve got to make a decision about whether they want to hold this team together.”

Analyst Stephen A. Smith meanwhile is convinced that James will stay in the NBA to realise his dream of playing with his son. 

However, Smith said James’ intended to signal his dissatisfaction with the Lakers roster.

“He put on a show and received minimal help,” Smith said of James’ game four performance.

“No-one is going to convince me that that doesn’t play a role in what he disseminated to everybody last night. Now, do I think he will retire? I don’t. 

“He wants to hang around long enough to be in a uniform on a basketball court with his son, that is his dream.

“But it hurts that much to put in all that work and come up short. I think we heard what we heard last night because LeBron James has serious questions as to what the Lakers can truly accomplish. 

“For him it’s about championships or bust.”

SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD, Austria — Defending champion Max Verstappen continued his relentless charge towards a third world title on Sunday when he claimed a record fourth Austrian Grand Prix victory in emphatic style.

The 25-year-old Dutchman finished 5.155 seconds clear of a revived Charles Leclerc of Ferrari, in second, with Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez, showing revitalised form, taking a battling third after starting 15th on the grid.

In a race of attrition, punctuated by Safety Cars and influenced by a high number of drivers’ receiving penalties for exceeding track limits, Verstappen’s unbroken run of laps led ended on 249, when he pitted.

But it was only a pause in his serene progress to a fifth consecutive victory, seventh in nine races this year to extend his lead ahead of Perez in the title race to 81 points.

It followed the Dutchman’s success in Saturday’s sprint and with the fastest lap gave him a maximum points haul from the weekend.

“That is the full sweep, classy Max, very very classy,” said Red Bull boss Christian Horner over the team radio.

“The car was on fire!” replied Verstappen after his 42nd career win.

Despite a third title being his to lose Verstappen said he preferred to take it one race at a time.

“I don’t like to think about that yet,” he said.

“I am just enjoying driving this car and racing for this team. The sprint weekend can be very stressful so I’m just glad it all went to plan.”

His win total lifted him to fifth in the all-time list of winners and clear of Ayrton Senna, with whom he had shared 41 victories since winning in Canada.

Including a triumph in the 2022 Styrian Grand Prix, run during the Covid pandemic, this was Verstappen’s fifth win at the Red Bull Ring circuit overall.

Leclerc and Perez were also pleased with their performances.

“We have maximised what we have,” he said. “It was just yesterday that I was off it a bit. The upgrades have worked as expected, but there is still a lot of work to do.”

Perez said: “It’s been a rough patch for me so I hope we are back now and we can keep some consistency.”

Leclerc’s second place earned Ferrari their 800th podium finish as teammate Carlos Sainz finished fourth ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris, two-time champion Fernando Alonso and the Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell.

Pierre Gasly was ninth for Alpine and Lance Stroll 10th in the second Aston Martin.

The race was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of Dutch racer Dilano van’t Hoff, 18, who was killed racing in heavy rain at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday.

In warm and dry conditions, Verstappen made a clean start and on lap 25 of the 71, he pitted, handing the lead to Leclerc to end his run of 249 consecutive laps led since lap 48 at the Miami GP.

The Dutchman swiftly regained second, however, and then swept inside Leclerc at Turn Three, on lap 35, to regain the lead before both Norris and Hamilton pitted, the latter serving his penalty, as did Sainz, after taking new hard tyres.

Verstappen pitted again on lap 50, for fresh mediums, retaining his lead, and was followed by teammate Perez, in a rapid 2.4 seconds that sent him out fifth to chase both Ferraris and Norris over the closing laps.

By then, seven drivers had taken penalties — including Sainz, Ocon, Gasly and Albon — with Tsunoda adding a further 10-second hit for track limits a second time and Hamilton’s frustrated fuming prompted a radio rebuke from team boss Toto Wolff.

“Lewis, the car is bad,” he said. “We know it. Please drive it.”

SPIELBERG BEI KNITTELFELD, Austria — Max Verstappen led teammate Sergio Perez home with a dominant display as Red Bull stormed to a comfortable one-two in Saturday’s wet-dry sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix.

The defending double world champion and series leader added eight points to move into a 70-point lead in the drivers’ title race as he won by 21.102 seconds.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz finished third ahead of the two Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and two-time champion Fernando Alonso with Nico Hulkenberg finishing sixth for Haas ahead of Alpine’s Esteban Ocon.

Mercedes’ George Russell took a bold eighth ahead of Lando Norris in his upgraded Mercedes and teammate seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton who had started 18th.

The Red Bull drivers exchanged sharp words after an opening lap battle that saw Verstappen run wide on the grass at one point, but they recovered to triumph.

“Once I got back in the lead, it was a good race,” said Verstappen. “I had to manage the tyres, 24 laps is a lot for ‘inters’ and we had a hairy moment out of Turn One.”

Perez said: “I had a good start and a bit of a fight with Max before I lost a position to Nico. I had to fight to get back past him.

“I think Max was angry at Turn Two, but I didn’t see him there. Visibility was so bad. I gave him the place back.”

Heavy rain showers left the track in semiwet conditions and everyone except Valtteri Bottas began the race on intermediate tyres, the Finn, starting 19th, gambling on dry mediums. He pitted for intermediates after the formation lap.

Charles Leclerc in the second Ferrari started ninth, after taking a three-place grid penalty for impeding Oscar Piastri, before the lights went out and Perez out-started Verstappen to prompt an opening lap scrap for positions.

Hamilton, from 18th, rose to 13th through the plumes of spray while the champion recovered to pull 1.5 seconds clear of Hulkenberg with Perez third.

After four of the 24 laps, Perez was still grumbling about his tussling teammate. “What’s wrong with Max, man?” said the Mexican, who had lost a place as a result of their duel.

The flying Dutchman soared five seconds clear by lap 10 and eight by 12 as Perez passed Hulkenberg for second at Turn Five while Hamilton finally overtook Kevin Magnussen after a wheel-to-wheel battle.

Lacking traction, the German driver struggled on the exit from slow corners, Sainz blasting by on lap 13 before Russell pitted for slicks on lap 17, rejoining last, as the track dried. By lap 20, he was 10th.

Hulkenberg and Hamilton led a group of others who followed for dry tyres with five laps remaining, but the Red Bulls had the luxury of track positions and remained out on intermediates to the flag.

Verstappen also heads the grid for Sunday’s main race where he is hunting his seventh win from nine this year.

LONDON — Manchester City’s class of 2022/23 have staked their claim to be ranked as English football’s greatest ever team after the treble winners’ historic Champions League triumph against Inter Milan.

City’s tense 1-0 victory in Istanbul on June 10 made them only the second English club after Manchester United to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in a single season.

But Pep Guardiola’s stars are not the only team with a strong case to take that prestigious honour.

United’s own treble winners, Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ and Liverpool’s legends of the 1980s all have deserving cases in a fascinating debate.

Stating City’s credentials comes with a barrage of jaw-dropping statistics.

They won 44 of their 60 games in all competitions this term, completing a hat-trick of Premier League titles and claiming a fifth in six seasons.

Arsenal’s eight-point lead in the title race in early April was reeled in with contemptuous ease as City sealed the title with three games to spare, eventually finishing five clear of the Gunners on 89 points.

Guardiola’s men plundered 150 goals in all competitions, the most of any team in Europe’s top five leagues this season.

Erling Haaland grabbed the headlines for his 52-goal haul in his debut season, that included setting a single-season Premier League record of 36 goals.

But City’s brilliance comes from a collective effort.

Rodri was the unlikely goalscoring hero against Inter in Istanbul and City needed goalkeeper Ederson to produce a series of important saves to conquer Europe for the first time.

Last weekend, Ilkay Gundogan’s double delivered the FA Cup, while Kevin De Bruyne has been the standout individual of Guardiola’s glorious seven years in charge.

So how do the other contenders stack up against City in the battle to be the best of the best?

Powered by “Class of 92” youth academy graduates David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville, United could also call on Roy Keane, Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole and Jaap Stam.

Yet, the Red Devils had to wait until the last day to win the 1998-99 Premier League, beating 2-1 Tottenham at Old Trafford to finish one point ahead of Arsenal on 79 points.

Alex Ferguson’s men also beat Arsenal in a memorable FA Cup semifinal before going on to lift the trophy against Newcastle in the final.

But their crowning glory came in a remarkable fightback to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League final.

Goals from Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the final seconds at the Camp Nou prompted the exhausted and overjoyed Ferguson to exclaim; “Football, bloody hell!”.

If United’s treble was a rollicking rollercoaster ride of emotions, Arsenal’s unbeaten 2003-04 icons were the model of consistency and quality.

Arsene Wenger’s team won 26 and drew 12 of their 38 league games to take the Premier League title by 11 points as they became the second English team after Preston in 1888/89 to go through a top-flight campaign without defeat.

Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires provided the eye-catching elegance for the Gunners, while Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell added the muscle.

“To remain unbeaten in a championship like the England now is really unbelievable,” Wenger said.

But despite their incredible season that Arsenal side suffered a shock Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Chelsea and bowed out in the FA Cup semifinals against United.

In the midst of their reign over English football in the 1970s and 1980s, arguably Liverpool’s finest vintage came in 1983-84.

Joe Fagan’s side swept to the title by 13 points, winning 22 times and losing six in a 42-game schedule.

Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen were all at their peak as Liverpool beat Everton in the League Cup final.

The Reds then defeated Roma in the European Cup final — in the Italians’ own Stadio Olimpico no less — to win the European Cup and claim a treble of their own.

Liverpool devotees would point out that was their fourth European crown in eight years and their third successive top-flight title.

City’s challenge now is to establish a European dynasty to rival that of the Reds four decades ago.

“You have to win in Europe to be considered a great team and we did it,” said Guardiola.

“I don’t want to disappear after one Champions League. We have to work hard next season and be there.”

NEW YORK — Zharnel Hughes broke Linford Christie’s 30-year-old British 100m record on Saturday, closing late from third to win in 9.83 seconds at the New York Grand Prix athletics meet.

The 27-year-old Anguilla-born Briton sped past Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake and American Christian Coleman over the second half of the race to capture the title in a key warmup meet for qualifying for August’s World Championships at Budapest.

“Anything is possible,” Hughes said of the remainder of the season. “And the great thing is we haven’t started speed work yet. So this is just raw speed and endurance.”

Hughes, the 2018 European 100m champion, defeated runner-up Blake by 0.1 of a second with 2019 world champion Coleman third in 10.02.

Hughes lowered the old British mark of 9.87 set by Christie in 1993 at Stuttgart.

It prompted Hughes to recall a prior New York meet where he raced sprint legend Usain Bolt, now among his training partners in Jamaica.

“In 2015 I came here and I ran against Usain Bolt and it was memorable,” Hughes said. “I wanted to come back here again and prove myself, and prove to the world, that I’m here.”

Hughes did that with a closing spurt that came from the discipline of following his race instructions.

“Patience. Patience. Patience. That’s what I’ve been told. Go through the phases. Don’t get carried away by anyone,” Hughes said. “Just relax and trust yourself. You will be good.”

American Noah Lyles, the two-time reigning 200 world champion, won the men’s 200 in 19.83 with Suriname’s Issam Asinga second by .42 of a second.

“It was not perfect but it was very fun,” Lyles said. “Coming off the turn was a little bit of a jerk. We’ll clean that up later.”

Reigning world and Olympic 800m champion Athing Mu made her 2023 season debut with a victory in 1:58.73, beating fellow American Sage Hurta-Klecker by 2.04 seconds with Ajee Wilson, the 2022 world indoor champion, 11th and last in 2:07.97.

“First meet, just coming out, trust the training,” Mu said. “This is just an opportunity to see where I’m at and make adjustments.”

American Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, the reigning world and Olympic 400 hurdles champion, captured the 400 metres in 49.51 with compatriot Gabby Thomas second in 50.29.

“We wanted to take it out a little more conservative,” the winner said. “Work on the back end, see what the closing speed was like. Much better execution. Still things to work on. So happy overall.”

American Aleia Hobbs won the women’s 100 in 10.98 with Jamaican Briana Williams second in 11.04 and reigning US champion Melissa Jefferson third in 11.06.

“It just takes a lot of patience and executing in the race,” said Hobbs, who expects to need a faster effort to qualify for worlds.

“It’ll definitely take 10.8,” she said. “I’ve got it in me. It’s going to be a fast one. I’m ready for it.”

Jamaica’s Zandrion Barnes won the men’s 400 in 45.05.

World champ Ealey third

American Maggie Ewen won the women’s shot put at 19.68 with US reigning world champion Chase Ealey third at 19.25.

Reigning US champion Kendra Harrison won the women’s 100 hurdles in 12.29, outleaning compatriot Alaysha Johnson at the line to win by .01.

American Abby Steiner won the women’s 200 in a season-best 22.19.

Daniel Roberts won the men’s 110 hurdles in 13.01, edging Devon Allen by .03 to lead an all-USA podium.

American Eric Holt won the men’s 1,500 in 3:37.07 and American Bryce Hoppel won the men’s 800 in a season-best 1:44.55.

American Vashti Cunningham, a former world indoor champion, cleared 1.95m to win the women’s high jump while Donald Thomas of the Bahamas won the men’s high jump clearing a season-best 2.27m and American Payton Otterdahl took the men’s shot put with a heave of 21.50m.

Dominica’s Thea LaFond won the women’s triple jump with a leap of 14.47m while Cuban Yaime Perez won the women’s discus with an effort of 67.44m and Jamaican Traves Smikle won the men’s discus in 65.36.

NEW YORK — France’s Victor Wembanyama was chosen with the top pick in the NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, sparking wild celebrations as the Texas club revelled in landing the gifted teenager seen as a once-in-a-generation talent.

The 2.24-metre 19-year-old hugged family members as the Spurs confirmed a decision which had been a mere formality ever since San Antonio were handed the No. 1 selection in the Draft last month.

“Just accomplishing something that I’ve been dreaming about my whole life,” Wembanyama said after his No. 1 status was announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at the Barclays Center in New York.

“Hearing that sentence from Adam Silver, I’ve dreamed of it so much — I’ve gotta cry,” he added.

Wembanyama is widely regarded as a transformational talent, who arrives in the NBA as the most coveted No. 1 pick since LeBron James entered the league in 2003.

In San Antonio, Spurs fans packed into the team’s 19,000-capacity AT&T Centre to watch the draft ceremony on a giant screen and roared with delight as Wembanyama’s selection was confirmed.

Celebrations also erupted in the streets of the Texas city, with fans honking car horns in celebration of Wembanyama’s selection. 

“My message to them is I’m going to give 100 per cent, make all that’s in my power to make this franchise win, to have impact on the franchise and the fan base and the community,” Wembanyama said.

Wembanyama has cut a relaxed figure since arriving in the United States earlier this week, brushing off the soaring hype that has surged in the build-up to the draft. 

On Thursday, the Frenchman, wearing a dark green suit, happily signed autographs for fans in the minutes before the draft ceremony got under way.

In an interview with ESPN before his selection, Wembanyama said he was relishing the challenge of being a star both on and off the court.

More than basketball

“I know I can bring so much more than just basketball to a franchise,” Wembanyama said.

“My goal is always going to be to win titles, obviously. But also to the community, the franchise, to the fan base I know I can bring so much more.”

Wembanyama will begin his NBA career under the watchful eye of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, the widely revered 74-year-old who has led San Antonio to five NBA Championships since taking over in 1996.

“We’re thrilled that we’re able to bring Victor on board,” Popovich said at a press conference in San Antonio on Thursday. 

“Anybody would be excited about getting the number one pick. I’m very excited. You don’t want me to jump and down, or put on a show do you? I’d do a somersault but I’d be out for three months.”

Popovich, meanwhile, brushed off invitations to compare Wembanyama with some of the greats of NBA history.

“I don’t compare players, that’ll never happen,” Popovich said. “He’s Victor — and that’s who I want him to be, and that’s who myself and my staff will coach.”

Wembanyama meanwhile earned a congratulatory message from France’s President Emmanuel Macron.

“You’re already making us dream...no doubt about it: you’ll change the game,” Macron wrote on Twitter.

With his potentially dominant blend of size and skill, Wembanyama has already drawn a legion of admirers across the NBA before even setting foot in the league.

LeBron James says Wembanyama’s skillset makes him less a “unicorn” and “more like an alien.”

“No one has ever seen someone as tall as he is and as fluid and as graceful as he is on the floor,” James said last year. 

“He’s for sure a generational talent.”

If Wembanyama manages to live up to the hype, he could conceivably be one of the faces of the NBA for years to come, with the likes of stars such as James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant all well into the final phase of their playing careers.

NBA officials, meanwhile, say there is already evidence of a “Wembanyama effect”, citing spikes on streaming platforms and social media.

“Victor is an incredibly promising young player who seemingly has all the attributes of a true game-changer,” NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said.

RIYADH — France’s World Cup-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante has joined Saudi Arabian champions Al Ittihad, the club said in a statement on Wednesday, joining up with compatriot Karim Benzema.

“Kante is an Ittihad player now!” the club said on Twitter, while chairman Anmar Al-Hailee tweeted: “Welcome to our new tiger Kante,” a reference to the team’s nickname.

The 32-year-old becomes the latest in a line of European stars choosing to ply their trade in the desert kingdom, which is making big-money moves across elite sport.

A dynamic and industrious midfielder, Kante won the World Cup with France in 2018.

His club career also glitters. He won the Champions League and World Club Cup with Chelsea, as well as back-to-back Premier League titles with Leicester City and Chelsea.

Kante’s contract with the London club was set to expire this month and they paid him a handsome tribute in bidding him farewell.

“N’Golo’s impact and influence during his time at Chelsea cannot be overstated,” said Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley in a club statement.

“His tireless performances in midfield contributed to several trophy wins and has guaranteed him a place in the club’s history.”

He has signed a three-year deal with Al Ittihad, the Jeddah-based team said in a statement, though it gave no details of how much Kante will earn.

The Saudi club said: “Kante’s addition to Al-Ittihad is considered one of the most high-profile and impactful signings in the club’s history.

“It is part of the club’s efforts to establish itself as a top choice for world-class players in the Saudi Professional League.”

He will wear the number seven shirt, which he also donned at Chelsea.

Current Ballon d’Or holder Benzema joined Al-Ittihad earlier this month, after 14 seasons with Real Madrid in which he won five Champions Leagues, four La Liga titles and three Copas del Rey.

‘Very excited’

In a video posted online by the club, Benzema, 35, said in a message to his fellow Frenchman: “One time I told you, you’re the best player, box to box, in the world. Now I’m happy to play with you again, and of course in the best team in Saudi.”

Kante said he was “very excited to play for the Tigers”.

The kingdom’s league had already signed up five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in January.

His fellow Portuguese international Ruben Neves, currently of Wolves, is reportedly set to join Al Hilal.

Argentina legend Lionel Messi, widely considered the greatest player of all time, declined to make a similar move despite a lengthy Saudi courtship, and will instead join Inter Miami in the United States.

With its oil riches, Saudi Arabia has swiftly achieved a prominent role in world sports.

In football, the presumed goal is hosting the World Cup, which is intended to lift Saudi Arabia’s profile and prestige as it tries to diversify its oil-reliant economy by attracting tourists and investors.

In the coming years, Saudi Arabia will organise the men’s Asian Cup football, the Olympic-style Asian Games and even the Asian Winter Games in 2029.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), the state’s sovereign wealth vehicle, holds an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle United, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season.

In golf, the PIF has also ruffled feathers. It bankrolls LIV Golf, whose clash with the PGA Tour nearly caused a rupture in the sport.

A surprise merger between the rival tours earlier this month settled a legal battle, only a year after LIV Golf launched with several stars who had jumped from the PGA for big-money offers from the upstart series.

PARIS — Cristiano Ronaldo marked his 200th international appearance with the winner as Portugal beat Iceland 1-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying on Tuesday, while Erling Haaland netted twice for Norway.

Elsewhere, Belgium brushed aside the Thibaut Courtois captaincy row by seeing off Estonia thanks to a Romelu Lukaku double in Tallinn and Moldova came from two goals down to stun Poland.

Portugal appeared to be heading towards a drab goalless draw in Reykjavik until Willum Thor Willumsson was sent off late on.

Ronaldo struggled for much of the match but repaid coach Roberto Martinez’s faith by slotting home from Goncalo Inacio’s knock-down in the 89th minute.

“It was a nice script [for Ronaldo]. There was incredible celebration, the first men’s player ever in world football to get 200 international games,” Martinez told uefa.com.

The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star’s record-extending 123rd international goal was initially ruled out for offside before being awarded by VAR.

“For me it’s an unbelievable achievement, it’s amazing,” said the 38-year-old Ronaldo. “And of course to score the winning goal, it’s even more special.”

Portugal remains two points clear of Slovakia at the top of Group J after a fourth straight win.

Slovakia, which is Portugal’s next opponents in September, won 1-0 away to Liechtenstein to stay unbeaten.

Luxembourg gave its unlikely bid to reach a maiden major tournament a boost with a brilliant 2-0 away victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina to move third, just three points behind Slovakia.

The top two from each group qualify automatically for next year’s finals in Germany.

Captain Lukaku stars

Belgium goalkeeper Courtois had said he was “surprised” that coach Domenico Tedesco told a press conference he had refused to travel to Estonia after being overlooked for the stand-in captaincy last week.

Tedesco had wanted to hand Lukaku the armband for Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Austria and give Courtois the honour in Tallinn, with regular captain Kevin De Bruyne absent.

But with Courtois instead back home, Lukaku was named skipper again and responded by scoring two goals in a 3-0 success which helped Belgium stay second in Group F.

Austria remained three points clear in first place, albeit having played a game more than Belgium, as Christoph Baumgartner scored twice in the last 10 minutes to clinch a 2-0 win over Sweden.

The Scandinavians are in danger of failing to reach a Euro tournament for the first time since 1996, sitting four points behind Belgium.

Haaland’s brace helped Norway bounce back from their dramatic defeat by Scotland at the weekend with a 3-1 victory against Cyprus.

That kept their slim hopes of reaching a first major tournament since 2000 alive, although they only sit third in Group A and just one point ahead of Spain having played two games more than the three-time champions.

Group leader Scotland was not blown off course by a near two-hour interruption caused by heavy rain as they maintained their 100 per cent record with a 2-0 win over Georgia.

Callum McGregor scored in the sixth minute in farcical conditions before the game was suspended.

A number of pitch inspections then took place amid reports that Georgia wanted the game postponed before it eventually restarted at 9:35pm local time and Scott McTominay secured the points.

Poland in trouble

Poland fell to fourth place in Group E after blowing a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Moldova in Chisinau.

Moldova, which had won only one of its last 43 Euro and World Cup qualifying matches, appeared to have been safely dispatched by first-half goals from Arkadiusz Milik and Robert Lewandowski.

But Ion Nicolaescu’s double left Poland reeling and Vladyslav Baboglo, who plays his club football for Ukrainian team Oleksandriya, headed past Wojciech Szczesny to score a dramatic 85th-minute winner.

Moldova, 171st in the FIFA rankings, are now third in the group standings, a point behind second-placed Albania who saw off the Faroe Islands 3-1.

Hungary moved top of Group G by cruising past Lithuania 2-0, level on points with Serbia after a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria.

PARIS — A Kylian Mbappe penalty gave France a 1-0 victory over 10-man Greece on Monday that maintained it perfect record in qualifying for Euro 2024.

The Paris Saint-Germain superstar, and France captain, had his initial kick saved early in the second half but was allowed a second attempt because of encroachment into the area by a Greek defender.

He made no mistake second time around and France could have gone on to win by a greater margin after Greece defender Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent off for barging Randal Kolo Muani to the ground, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.

France’s win in its last outing this season follows its 3-0 defeat of minnows Gibraltar last Friday and leaves them clear on top of qualifying Group B with 12 points from four games.

They have not conceded a goal so far and are six points clear of Greece, albeit having played a game more.

“It has been a very long season for the players. They have been waiting for their holidays but we did what we needed to do to win the match,” coach Didier Deschamps told broadcaster TF1.

“This is a team with less experience than six months ago, but there is plenty of quality.”

Having already opened their campaign with wins against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland in March, last year’s World Cup runners-up appear certainties to qualify for next year’s finals in Germany.

Their next match is against Ireland in September, by which time it will be clear where Mbappe will be playing his club football next season.

The 24-year-old, who took over as skipper of Les Bleus when Hugo Lloris quit international football following the World Cup, last week confirmed he would not extend his contract at PSG, which expires next year.

That has raised the prospect of the Qatar-backed club selling him in this transfer window, even if he has said he intends to stay with the French champions next season.

Mbappe put the talk of his future to one side to score a penalty against Gibraltar and he was the matchwinner here in what was not a vintage French display.

Griezmann’s 

bloodied head

He had been frustrated in the first half before a sell-out Stade de France crowd as Spanish referee Mateu Lahoz dismissed his appeals for a penalty when he went down under a George Baldock challenge.

Kolo Muani and Jules Kounde both came close for the hosts in the first half, with the latter seeing his shot saved by goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos just before the interval.

France got the chance to go in front when Mavropanos caught Antoine Griezmann in the head with a high boot four minutes after the restart.

A spot-kick was awarded and VfB Stuttgart stopper Mavropanos was booked with Griezmann needing his bloodied head bandaged.

Vlachodimos saved Mbappe’s penalty the first time but he could not repeat his heroics when a retake was ordered, despite diving the right way.

It was Mbappe’s 13th goal in 13 games for France this season, to go with 41 in all competitions for PSG.

He now has 40 goals in 70 games for his country and needs just one more goal to equal Michel Platini’s tally in a France shirt.

Greece, the 2004 European champions, has been enjoying something of a revival under their Uruguayan coach Gustavo Poyet, but its chances of claiming anything from this game died when Mavropanos was dismissed in the 69th minute.

Kolo Muani was sent through on goal by a Kingsley Coman pass only to be bundled over by Mavropanos. Already on a yellow card, this time the defender saw a straight red.

However, France could not add to their lead with the extra man, with substitute Ousmane Dembele just unable to get on the end of Mbappe’s low centre.

“This is the hardest match we have had to play since I came here,” admitted Poyet, who became Greece coach in February last year.

“The difference between France and us is incredible. I don’t like to lose but we learned a lot today.”