Sports Hot News Morning Feb 27: Thai Player Declares Victory Over Vietnam Team in Semifinal

Sports Hot News Morning Feb 27: Thai Women's Futsal Team Aims for Southeast Asian Championship; Ronaldo Welcomed in Almeria...

Thai Player Announces Win Over Vietnam Women's Futsal Team

The 2026 ASEAN Women's Futsal Championship has determined its two semifinal pairings following the conclusion of the group stage. The four teams advancing include Thailand and Indonesia (Group A), Australia and Vietnam (Group B). According to the schedule on Feb 28, Australia faces Indonesia at 3 PM, while host Thailand takes on Vietnam at 6:30 PM. Ahead of the semifinal, Thai women's futsal player Areeya Saeten declared victory over the Vietnam women's futsal team: "We will overcome the Vietnam women's futsal team to secure a spot in the final."

Meanwhile, the head of the Thai women's futsal team, Mr. Kritsada Sajjakul, stated: "On behalf of the Thai women's futsal team players, I would like to thank the fans for their encouragement, especially after the team missed out on the SEA Games gold medal on home soil recently. Scoring many goals will be motivation for us to be more determined in the semifinal against Vietnam."

Pep Guardiola Recommended for Director Role at Man City

Pep Guardiola is being recommended for a new role at Man City amid rumors he could leave the club at the end of the season. Former manager Stuart Pearce believes Man City should keep Guardiola "for as long as possible," even considering appointing him as sporting director in the future.

"There have been rumors about him leaving for years. Personally, if I were Man City, I would keep him, perhaps even in a sporting director role later," manager Stuart Pearce commented.

Guardiola has repeatedly stated he has one year left on his contract and will leave at the appropriate time, but there are no concrete plans yet. Man City's leadership is also said to be unclear about his intentions. Meanwhile, the team trails Arsenal by 5 points but has a game in hand. Guardiola insists he is not worried about the title race and is only focused on each remaining match.

Ronaldo Welcomed in Almeria

Cristiano Ronaldo has purchased a 25% stake in Almeria, a club playing in Spain's Segunda Division, thereby becoming a co-owner. The deal has sparked speculation he might leave Al-Nassr to return to play in Spain. Manager Rubi confirmed Almeria would welcome Ronaldo if he joins the club: "We are very pleased. Of course, we welcome him. Someone with Ronaldo's football knowledge and experience can greatly benefit the club. The whole team and the city are excited."

"It would be extraordinary and fantastic if Ronaldo played here, but that's his decision. This is his club, and if he wants to continue playing, he will always be welcomed with open arms," Almeria's manager stated.

President Mohammed Al-Khereiji also praised the Portuguese superstar's influence and understanding of Spanish football. However, Ronaldo affirmed he is happy in Saudi Arabia and wishes to continue with Al-Nassr. His contract runs until 2027, when he will be 42. Currently, Almeria is competing for promotion to La Liga, while Al-Nassr leads the Saudi Pro League.

Chelsea Warned About Cole Palmer

Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) chief executive Maheta Molango has warned Chelsea that Cole Palmer is facing a risk of "burnout." The Chelsea star is expected to have a congested schedule at the season's end as the club pushes for a Champions League spot, and he is also likely to join the England squad for the 2026 World Cup in North America, Mexico, and Canada this summer.

Molango said Palmer was "exhausted" before the season concluded. The England international has played 19 matches this season, though somewhat limited by injury. In the 2023/24 season, he played a full campaign, then participated in the Euros, and continued with the Club World Cup last summer.

Molango revealed he visited Chelsea's training ground and believes Palmer, along with other players, faces a serious injury risk due to the packed fixture schedule.

"Our concern, of course, is player welfare. Looking at a case like Cole Palmer, if he goes to the World Cup, he could experience three consecutive summers without a break," Mr. Molango stated.

Benfica Denies Information Regarding Gianluca Prestianni

Benfica has completely denied reports claiming Gianluca Prestianni admitted to teammates that he engaged in racist behavior towards Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior. Portuguese media previously reported the Argentine player had confessed, but the club clarified he only apologized to teammates for the incident and stressed he is not racist.

Prestianni was provisionally suspended for the Champions League playoff after Vinícius accused him of insulting language during the first leg. Kylian Mbappé stated he heard the slur five times and confirmed some other Benfica players also heard it. According to ESPN, Prestianni told UEFA investigators he used offensive language related to homosexuality, not racism.

The match was halted for nearly 10 minutes following the anti-racism protocol. Vinícius later scored, helping Real Madrid win 3-1 on aggregate.

Vietnam Women's Team Finalizes Squad for 2026 Women's Asian Cup Finals

The Vietnam Women's Team has officially finalized its 26-player squad for the 2026 Women's Asian Cup Finals, commencing in March in Australia. Before the final training session on Feb 26, coach Mai Duc Chung expressed satisfaction with the preparation work and the team's spirit before departure. Notably, forward Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan (HCMC Women's Club) was added from Feb 18 to replace an injured player and strengthen the attack.

In the tournament, Vietnam is in Group C, facing India (March 4), Chinese Taipei (March 7), and Japan (March 10) in Perth. The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the quarterfinals.

Ahead of the tournament, the team played four friendlies: one win, one loss against Uzbekistan, and two losses during training in China.