Italian world number one Jannick Sinner postponed his return to action after announcing his withdrawal on Friday from the Beijing 500 tournament scheduled for next week, due to an injury to his right knee that has kept him out of competition since winning the Wimbledon title in mid-July.
The defending Italian champion said in a video clip posted on the “X” platform: “I will not be able to play in Beijing this year. “My knee is not in the condition I would like it to be in, and I am not yet ready to compete.”
His withdrawal increases the chances of his German runner-up, Alexander Zverev, to top the ATP World Rankings for the first time by the end of the season.
Portuguese star Bruno Fernandes, a Manchester United player, made a positive start this season despite his club's modest performance.
Despite United being in twelfth place in the English Premier League standings, in addition to their early exit from the third round of the League Cup this season, Fernandes has scored 4 goals in various competitions so far, including a hat-trick against Ipswich Town.
Fernandes also participated as a starter with his country's national team during its valuable 1-0 victory over its guest, Wales, on Thursday evening, in the opening round of Group Four in the first level of the European Nations League.
Fernandez played in an unusual position for him, which is the left side of midfield, under the leadership of new coach Jorge Jesus, and the United captain made five (key) passes during the match, achieving a passing accuracy of 86 percent.
In the press conference that followed the match, Jesus stated that Fernandez “can perform better” in the future in this position compared to what he performed against Wales.
In statements to the “Sport TV” television channel, reported by the Portuguese newspaper “Record”, Fernandez defended his coach’s choice, saying: “If you notice, I rarely played on the wing. I played defensive roles, yes. “I was monitoring the full-back and putting pressure on him in advanced areas of the field.”
Fernandez explained: “Other than that, it is about the coach’s vision: relying on a midfielder who is able to connect the lines, drop back to help build the game, support both the direct striker and the second striker, create playing triangles in depth and on the sides, and help on both sides of the field. "And that's exactly what I did."
Fernandez (32 years old) also stressed that Jesus is expected to play in different positions and roles throughout his tenure as coach of the Portuguese national team, as he said: “The coach asked me to play this role in this match. He already told me that I might play in different positions under him.”
He explained: “Therefore, what is most important to me is that everything I do is in the interest of the team, and I will always do my best in whatever position the coach puts me in.”
Fernandez is scheduled to play his next match with the Portugal national team, on Sunday, against its host, the Norway national team, before facing Patrick Dorgo, his teammate in Manchester United, when his country goes out to meet its host, the Danish national team, next Thursday evening, in the third round of the group.
The Portugal national team occupies second place in the group standings with three points, on goal difference behind the Norway national team (leader), which is equal with them on the same score, and which achieved an exciting victory over its guest, the Danish national team, with a score of 3/2 in the first round of the group.
To emerge from an unprecedented quagmire and rebuild itself, Italy dreamed of Spaniard Pep Guardiola, then pinned its hopes on Andrea Pirlo, before ultimately turning to Roberto Mancini, who begins his second term, Friday, in Rome against Belgium in the European Nations League for football.
Three years after leaving the national team in trouble, Mancini (61 years old) returned this week to take over the reins of the Azzurri, in a return that seems unlikely and logical at the same time.
It is unlikely because the former Sampdoria and Lazio striker lost, in the eyes of many officials, observers and fans, all his credit after he responded, in the midst of the 2024 European Cup qualifiers, to the temptations of Saudi Arabia and its huge contract.
It is logical because he led Italy between 2018 and 2023 to win the 2021 European Cup, and achieve a record series of 37 consecutive matches without defeat.
Since the departure of “Mancho”, the Italian national team, led by Luciano Spalletti (2023-2025) and then Gennaro Gattuso (2025-2026), has lost contact with the greats of world football.
After missing the last three editions of the World Cup (2018, 2022 and 2026), Italy, the world champion four times and European champion twice, occupies a very modest position of 15th in the FIFA rankings, before facing Belgium and Turkey twice and France within 11 days.
Since the blow to Bosnia, Italian football and its new strongman, Giovanni Malago, who was elected in June as president of the Italian Football Federation after the resignation of Gabriele Gravina, believe that they have identified the reasons for this decline. The formation process must be reconsidered, as the Italian League gives very large space to foreign players (71.8 percent of playing time during the first five stages of the new season, according to the specialized website “Transfermarkt”), while clubs hesitate to give the opportunity to young Italians.
Mancini was the third choice of the Italian Federation, which faced Guardiola's rejection, shortly after his departure from Manchester City, and then wanted to appoint Pirlo before the latter withdrew due to his controversial partnership with a Russian sports betting site. Mancini understood the message well.
In his first list, which included 34 players, he called up 9 new faces, including players of immigrant origins whom the Italian national team, unlike Spain, France, and England, had not relied on much until now, such as Issa Doumbia, Michael Kayode, and Eddie Quadio.
Mancini confirmed in a press conference at the beginning of the week: “The aim of this is not to cause shock or suggest a new beginning. “I am convinced that we must bet on the young men, and we must quickly know who we can rely on.”
Mancini, who as a coach won three Italian League titles with Inter and one English Premier League title with Manchester City, added: “In the next four years, I am confident that we will regain our position. “I see quality and potential.”
Although his last two experiences ended prematurely, first at the helm of the Saudi national team and then with the Qatari club Al-Sadd, and his return did not arouse much enthusiasm, Mancini may ultimately be the man capable of bringing life back to the “Azzurri.”
Fabio Licari, who has followed the Italian national team since 2002, told La Gazzetta dello Sport: “I am not his biggest fan, but Mancini is someone who has always given young people their chance.”
He added: “Italy does not have the technical quality of Spain nor the physical strength of France, but he will know how to find the appropriate playing style for the players he has available.”
