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World Cup legend Just Fontaine Dies at Age 89

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Former French international footballer Just Fontaine poses in front of a trophy commemorating the top-scoring record at the 1958 World Cup. Copyright AFP

By: AP

Just Fontaine’s Stade de Reims, and the French soccer association confirmed Fontaine’s death on Tuesday. The French star had scored 259 goals in 283 club matches.

Fontaine scored 13 goals at the World Cup, a record. It took Fontaine six games to accomplish his feat in 1958 at the tournament in Sweden. This was shortly after he won a French League and French Cup Double for his team.

Didier Deschamps, France’s coach, said: “Justo has been and will continue to be a legend for the French team.”

Fontaine, a Moroccan-born forward, was little-known outside of France’s top league when he entered the World Cup. He tormented his opponents with his speed, finishing touch and even using someone else’s boot. He had to borrow a set of cleats when he damaged his own boots during practice.

Fontaine scored four goals against West Germany in the third place game, but he could have had five had he taken the penalty kick.

Fontaine, who played for USM Casablanca and Nice, won the French Cup four times and reached the finals of the 1959 European Cup.

Fontaine served as chairman of the French Players’ Union for a few decades after he retired. Fontaine briefly coached the France national team, before stints at Luchon, Paris Saint-Germain and Toulouse, as well as the Moroccan national football team.

Paris Saint-Germain released a statement saying that “a French football icon passed away, and would like to pay homage to the man who guided them to the First Division some 50 years ago.” PSG was referring to Fontaine, who led the club to the top division after a playoff victory in 1974.

The French soccer federation announced that tributes to Fontaine would take place in France this weekend. A “minute of homage,” will also be observed Wednesday before French Cup matches at Toulouse, Marseille, and Nantes.

The death of Just Fontaine has plunged French soccer into deep emotions and immense sadness, said Philippe Diallo. “He was an iconic figure, with his incredible 13 goals at 1958 World Cup. He wrote “one of the most beautiful chapters in the history of France’s national team.”

In 213 games, Fontaine scored 200 goals. He scored 30 goals for France in 21 games

Fontaine’s career ended abruptly when he was 28. The Frenchman, known for his lightning speed and ruthless finish, suffered a horrific leg fracture in March 1960 after a mistimed tackle.

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Roland Garros qualifiers: Napolitano and Giant ok, Fognini out

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Positive results for the Blue tennis on the first day of qualifying at Roland Garros. Stefano Napolitano and Matteo Gigante, in fact, qualified for the second round of the qualifying draw, while Fabio Fognini was eliminated.

Napolitano, who dropped in the ATP rankings to position number 603, surprisingly overcame the U.S. Colton Smith, world number 162, in three sets with a final score of 6-4 4-6 6-2 after two hours and twenty minutes of play.

A three-set victory also for Gigante, ATP ranking number 167, who beat Swiss Jerome Kym, world number 123, with a final score of 6-3 3-6 6-3 after two hours of play.

Nothing to do, however, for Fognini. The Ligurian tennis player, seventh seed in the seeding, lost decisively to American Nicolas Moreno De Alboran, who prevailed in two sets with a final score of 6-3 6-2 after an hour and 23 minutes of play.

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A fairytale Monday for Lorenzo Musetti

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It is a fairytale Monday for Lorenzo Musetti. After celebrating his personal best ranking in the morning, hoisting himself to number eight in the world rankings, the Carrara-based tennis player announced the’arrival of his second child.

Through a post shared on Instagram with partner Veronica Confalonieri, the azure revealed that he will become a father again. “The family expands” wrote the couple under a photo showing little Ludovico, their firstborn, and Musetti touching his mother’s belly.

There was no shortage of reactions from her colleagues and former ones: from the hearts of Flavio Cobolli, Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani to the good wishes of Flavia Pennetta and Tathiana Garbin.

After his excellent results in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, the new world number eight has decided to withdraw from the Hamburg tournament in order to better prepare for Roland Garros, which kicks off on Sunday, May 25, on the red clay of Paris.

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Matteo Arnaldi recovers Gaston and hits the round of 16 in Geneva

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Matteo Arnaldi is off to a good start at the Geneva ATP 250. After a surprising elimination in the first round at the Internazionali d’Italia, the tennist from Liguria redeemed himself in his debut at the ‘Gonet Geneva Open’, defeating Hugo Gaston, world number 74, in a comeback.

The Blue won with a final score of 6-7 6-4 6-4 after nearly two and a half hours of struggle. In the first set it was the serve that dominated. The’only one to concede break points – two – was Gaston but the Frenchman saved himself and made the tie-break his own (8-6).

With the momentum in his favor, Gaston pulled ahead by a break in the second set, taking the serve away from Arnaldi in the sixth game (2-4). Here, however, came the Sanremese’s angry reaction, stringing together a run of four consecutive games (6-4), putting everything back on an even keel.

In the third and decisive set Arnaldi immediately escaped to 2-0 but was taken back by the transalpine (2-2). After another exchange of breaks, the’decisive stretch was signed by the Azure at 4-4, winning the last two games (6-4) and thus reaching the round of 16.

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