Sports Hot News Morning March 14: Japanese Media Reports on the Match Between Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Vietnam's Top Supporting Attacker

Sports Hot News Morning March 14: Two Vietnamese Volleyball Players Draw Attention Ahead of SV League Round; Pep Guardiola Wins Best Manager of the Month Award...

Thanh Thuy and Bich Thuy Mentioned by Japanese Newspaper

Prior to the match between Gunma Green Wings and Okayama Seagulls in the SV League this weekend, Japan's Volleyball King website mentioned two Vietnamese volleyball stars, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Tran Thi Bich Thuy. According to Volleyball King, Thanh Thuy will be a key factor for Gunma in the upcoming match.

"Gunma will play their first home match after a month. In their most recent encounter with Okayama last November, the second match had to be decided in the fifth set, so this rematch is also predicted to be very intense. In that match, Nasia Dimitrova achieved an attack efficiency of up to 72.0%. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy scored 28 points, the highest on Okayama's side and became the biggest threat to the opponent. Alongside Olivia Rojanski, who is leading the individual rankings in total points scored, Thanh Thuy will undoubtedly continue to be a key player in this match," the Volleyball King website wrote.

The Volleyball King website wrote about Bich Thuy, Vietnam volleyball's number one supporting attacker and Okayama Club: "In the previous round, Okayama faced Himeji and lost 0-3 in both matches. In the second match, Tran Thi Bich Thuy scored 13 points, the highest in the team. However, the overall attack efficiency of the entire team was only 26.4%, much lower than Himeji's 43.9%. Okayama is currently experiencing a streak of 11 consecutive losses, and the question is whether they can escape this difficult period."

Julian Alvarez Pursued by Multiple Clubs

Julian Alvarez is becoming a transfer target for several European giants after hinting at the possibility of leaving Atletico Madrid. According to multiple sources, Paris Saint-Germain has joined the race alongside Barcelona, Arsenal, and Chelsea to recruit the Argentine forward in the summer transfer window. Manager Luis Enrique is reportedly very impressed with Alvarez's versatility and tireless work rate, especially after his standout performance in the UEFA Champions League against Tottenham Hotspur, where he scored a brace helping Atletico win 5-2.

While affirming he is still happy at Atletico, Alvarez does not rule out the possibility of moving in the future, prompting interested clubs to continue closely monitoring him. The 26-year-old forward also stated that his goal-scoring form is returning after a rather difficult early 2026 period, and he wants to continue contributing with goals and assists for the team.

Pep Guardiola Wins Best Manager of the Month Award

Pep Guardiola ended a streak of over four years without winning the Premier League Manager of the Month award when he was honored for February. This is the first time since December 2021 that the Spanish strategist has received this award, despite Manchester City maintaining dominance in English football for many seasons.

This award also marks Guardiola's 12th Manager of the Month honor, helping him rise to third place in history, behind Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, and surpassing David Moyes.

Guardiola's success came from Manchester City's impressive form in February. After drawing with Tottenham Hotspur, the team earned 13 points through victories against Liverpool, Fulham, Newcastle United, and Leeds United. Additionally, forward Antoine Semenyo was also voted Player of the Month, giving Manchester City a double personal award for the month.

Tottenham Considering Sacking Manager Tudor

Tottenham is considering sacking interim manager Igor Tudor after a disastrous start with four consecutive defeats. The Croatian coach was appointed to replace Thomas Frank on a short-term contract but has not been able to improve the team's performance.

The poor run of results began with a loss to Arsenal, followed by a defeat to Fulham. Spurs then lost 1-3 to Crystal Palace in a match where center-back Micky van de Ven received a red card. In the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, they also lost 2-5 to Atlético Madrid in the first leg.

Tottenham's leadership is reportedly preparing a plan to replace the manager after their upcoming away match against reigning champions Liverpool at Anfield. With only 9 rounds remaining in the season and the team embroiled in a relegation battle in the Premier League, the match against Nottingham Forest on March 22 is seen as a crucial game determining Spurs' fate this season.

Mexican National Team Player Misses 2026 World Cup

Midfielder Marcel Ruiz will not be able to participate in the 2026 World Cup after suffering a severe knee injury. Club Deportivo Toluca F.C. confirmed that the 25-year-old player suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial meniscus in his right knee during the match against San Diego FC in the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Ruiz left the field in the 40th minute and will require surgery soon, ensuring he will definitely miss this summer's World Cup.

This is a significant loss for the Mexican national team under manager Javier Aguirre, as Ruiz had started all three of the team's matches in 2026 and was almost guaranteed a spot in the tournament. Previously, Club América goalkeeper Luis Ángel Malagón also suffered an Achilles tendon rupture and missed the World Cup.

Besides these two long-term injuries, many Mexican national team players such as Edson Álvarez, César Montes, and César Huerta are also in recovery. Mexico will play friendlies against the Portugal national team and the Belgium national team before entering their World Cup opening match against the South Africa national team.

China U23 Calls Up Squad for Friendly Match Against Vietnam U23

China U23 is preparing for a training camp this month to participate in a four-team friendly tournament organized in Xi'an. In the tournament, the host team will successively face Thailand U23, Vietnam U23, and North Korea U23. Vietnam U23 participates in the tournament as a last-minute replacement for Iran and aims for a good performance in their rematch against China U23 following their loss in the Asian U23 Championship semifinal earlier.

In that semifinal match, China U23 manager Antonio Puche surprised by changing tactics, using the striker duo Kuai Jiwen and Xiang Yuwang instead of familiar names. This adjustment caused difficulties for Vietnam U23 and helped China secure victory.

In the preparation list for the friendly tournament, young forward Zhu Pengyu carries high expectations. The 2005-born player has scored 8 goals and provided 8 assists in 59 matches, seen as a promising candidate for the center-forward position and has the potential to become Zhang Yuning's successor in the future.