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‘Incredible feeling’ – Alonso toasts Leverkusen title

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Xabi Alonso expressed overwhelming joy as Bayer Leverkusen clinched their inaugural Bundesliga title with an emphatic 5-0 triumph over Werder Bremen, marking a historic moment for the club. This victory, achieved with five games remaining, ignited jubilant scenes at the BayArena, with fans joining the celebration on the pitch.

Alonso, reflecting on his debut season as a coach, couldn’t contain his excitement, describing the feeling as “incredible.” The match witnessed stellar performances, including Victor Boniface’s penalty and stunning goals from Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz. For Xhaka and Wirtz, the magnitude of their achievement hadn’t fully sunk in yet.

The win not only ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year Bundesliga reign but also positioned Leverkusen for a potential treble, with the German Cup and Europa League still within reach. The anticipation surrounding Leverkusen’s title triumph had been building for weeks, with fans eagerly awaiting the moment their team would lift the Meisterschale.

Despite an early scare from Werder, Leverkusen’s dominance prevailed, highlighted by Xhaka and Wirtz’s remarkable goals. The match was a testament to Leverkusen’s remarkable turnaround under Alonso, who took charge when the team was in the relegation zone just 18 months ago.

Overall, Leverkusen’s Bundesliga triumph symbolized a remarkable journey from adversity to glory, marking a new chapter in the club’s history.

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Oscars 2024: Zelensky hails Ukraine’s first-ever Oscar victory

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President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the historic win of Ukraine’s first-ever Oscar for the documentary “20 Days In Mariupol,” which depicts Russia’s brutal siege of the port city. Zelensky emphasized that the film reveals the truth about Russian terrorism and sheds light on the suffering endured by Mariupol’s residents during the city’s destruction.

Director Mstyslav Chernov, accepting the award for best documentary feature, expressed his honor at being Ukraine’s inaugural Oscar recipient. Despite this recognition, Chernov expressed regret, stating that he wished he had never had to make the film. He mourned the loss of Ukrainian lives due to Russia’s aggression and called for truth to prevail and the memory of Mariupol’s people to endure.

Chernov concluded his speech with the rallying cry “Slava Ukraini!” (Glory to Ukraine!), echoing the sentiment shared by millions of Ukrainians. The film’s victory is celebrated widely on Ukrainian social media, with many considering it a historic achievement. Chernov and his team risked their lives to document Mariupol’s plight, navigating Russian checkpoints to ensure their footage reached the world.

Mariupol, once a thriving port on the Sea of Azov, suffered extensive destruction at the hands of Russian forces. Despite Russia’s claim of “liberation,” the film serves as a poignant reminder of the devastation inflicted upon the city and its people.

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Davis Cup final 2023: Italy beat Australia to win first title for 47 years

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Italy clinched their first Davis Cup title in 47 years as Jannik Sinner dominated Alex de Minaur, securing a 2-0 victory over Australia in Malaga, Spain. Matteo Arnaldi set the tone with a tense 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win over Alexei Popyrin in the opening singles, giving Italy a 1-0 lead. Sinner, in exceptional form, then cruised to a 6-3, 6-0 triumph against De Minaur, sealing the historic victory.

The win marked Italy’s second Davis Cup triumph, the previous one dating back to 1976. Sinner’s outstanding week, including a crucial win against Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, underscored his late-season brilliance. Italy’s path to victory also featured Matteo Berrettini’s positive contribution.

Sinner, ranked fourth globally, showcased his dominance by breaking De Minaur early and maintaining control throughout. The victory was not only a result of individual brilliance but also a collective effort, with Arnaldi playing a crucial role in securing the initial lead.

The Australian team, aiming for their 29th Davis Cup title, faced disappointment after back-to-back final losses, having been defeated by Canada the previous year. Italy’s triumph was a testament to their resilience, overcoming challenges and celebrating the win with jubilation.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni congratulated the team for their talent and commitment, acknowledging the historic achievement. The week in Malaga was marked by a fabulous atmosphere, reigniting debates about the competition format while affirming the success of the event organized by Malaga and the International Tennis Federation.

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Spain defeats the Netherlands to advance to their inaugural World Cup semi-final

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Spain secured their place in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, thanks to a late goal from teenage winger Salma Paralluelo. Mariona Caldentey initially put Spain ahead with an 80th-minute penalty, capitalizing on a handball by Stefanie van der Gragt. However, Van der Gragt redeemed herself by scoring a stoppage-time equalizer. The game headed into extra time, where Paralluelo found the net, securing Spain’s first major semi-final in 26 years.

Despite the Netherlands’ status as runners-up in the 2019 tournament, they were outplayed for much of the match, and Paralluelo’s goal sealed Spain’s victory. Spain will face the winner of the Japan vs. Sweden match in the semi-finals. The match was marked by VAR interventions, including disallowed goals and penalty decisions. Paralluelo’s heroics ultimately stole the spotlight, making her the youngest Spanish scorer in a Women’s World Cup and a rising star in the tournament.

Van der Gragt, who is retiring after the tournament, experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, first conceding a penalty and then scoring an equalizer. The Netherlands, missing Danielle van de Donk due to suspension, struggled to find their rhythm and were largely reliant on their goalkeeper. Despite their manager Jonker’s pride in the team’s progress, their journey in this major tournament came to an end with this defeat.

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Left celebrates as Spain’s conservatives fall short of a decisive victory

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Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of Spain’s opposition conservative party, claimed victory in a snap election but fell short of the desired result as his Popular Party (PP) failed to secure a majority in parliament, even with the support of the far right. Meanwhile, the rival Socialist camp, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, celebrated as well. The inconclusive outcome leaves Spain facing uncertainty.

Despite the victory claim, Mr. Feijóo’s PP and Vox, the far-right party, together would still be seven seats short of an absolute majority of 176 in parliament, making another election likely towards the end of the year. Pedro Sánchez’s Socialists and their far-left allies appeared pleased with the result, as they criticized the “reactionary bloc” for opposing progress made in the past four years, particularly on issues such as sexual consent, abortion, and transgender rights.

The election turnout was high, with 70% of voters participating, partly due to almost 2.5 million postal votes being cast. Vox remained the third-largest party but experienced a drop in seat numbers, while the newly enfranchised young voters also played a significant role in the election.

Vox leader Santiago Abascal did not show signs of celebration, as his party viewed the election as a stepping stone to a potential “second round” by Christmas, aiming to gain further support for their anti-immigration and anti-feminism platform.

Overall, the outcome of the election left both major parties claiming some level of success, but Spain remains in a state of uncertainty as forming a government will be challenging without a clear majority in parliament.

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