MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2015 SPORTS O’Neill urges Ireland to finish Euro job against Bosnia

DUBLIN: Martin O’Neill has challenged his Republic with a vital away goal, although there was still last possible moment because he’s come up with Asmir Begovic accepted his side would need to of Ireland side to carry on from where they left off in time on Friday for Bosnia’s Edin Dzeko to some big things for us. I’d say I’ll wait until about a offer more in attack after rarely threatening their 1-1 first leg draw away to Bosnia when they equalise. With O’Shea, Walters and possibly Long minute and a half to kick off!” joked O’Neill. Republic counterpart Darren Randolph on Friday. complete the Euro 2016 qualifying tie in Dublin available on Monday, Republic manager O’Neill The former Celtic boss again insisted he had no “Ireland are a hard working side and they have today. O’Neill’s men travelled to Zenica, two hours was in high spirits. thought of telling the Republic to play for a goalless some skill as well so they didn’t surprise me,” said north of Sarajevo, on Friday to the intimidating “Everybody walked off the field (fit) and in terms draw on Monday and so go through to next year’s the Chelsea star. “We need to work on that, analyse Bilina Polje stadium, where Euro qualifiers Wales of other players like Glenn Whelan, Seamus finals in France on the away goals rule. it and see if we can break them down on Monday. were beaten 2-0 in a recent clash. Coleman, Marc Wilson...all those people (avoided “I didn’t say that in the dressing room and I “Our late goal was good for our confidence and Shorn of a host of experienced stars like Shay bookings), so in that sense it’s really good news,” haven’t felt that way,” he said. “I think the message we have the players to go through as long as we Given, John O’Shea, Jon Walters and Shane Long, O’Neill said. “We have a number of people to for us is ‘we got to try and win the game’. “We will play smart, it sets it up for a good second leg. and with a handful of players one booking away choose from including Jon Walters and hopefully have that attitude, that’s been our attitude at home “We had decent possession but we just couldn’t from suspension, the Irish were more hopeful John O’Shea,” the former Northern Ireland midfield- in every single game that we play. get it going, we couldn’t see much of the opposing than expectant. But Robbie Brady’s 81st-minute er added. “I need to see Shane, but all his messages “Our attitude has been very, very positive at half in the second half. “We controlled the game strike, combined with some determined defend- for me the whole time have been ‘don’t exclude me home and Bosnia are capable of scoring. That puts which was pleasing and hopefully we can pick it up ing, saw them return to Dublin’s Lansdowne Road at this minute’ and I wouldn’t do. “I’ll wait until the it back into the melting pot.” Bosnia goalkeeper for today.”— AFP Merkel to attend German friendly after Paris attacks

BERLIN: Germany will face the floor, before flying home early Saturday. Netherlands in a friendly on Tuesday Prior to the match, the German team with chancellor Angela Merkel and sen- had to switch hotels in Paris after a bomb ior ministers to attend in a show of soli- scare. Head coach Joachim Loew has darity following the Paris terror attacks. explained why the world champions A spokesperson for the German govern- want to play the Dutch friendly.”Basically, ment confirmed to AFP that Merkel will I am of the opinion that we do not yield attend after the German Football to terror and terrorists should not be Association (DFB) announced yesterday allowed the triumph that we dance to that the game in Hanover will go ahead their tune,” said Loew, who described the as planned. events of Friday as a “nightmare”. “The message is clear: We will not The German team were all given allow ourselves to be intimidated by ter- Sunday off to be with their families and rorism,” said German Football Association will fly to Hanover on Monday, a day later (DFB) interim president Reinhard Rauball. than scheduled. At least 129 people were killed in a series Loew has opted to leave out six mem- of violent incidents across the French bers of the original squad, including cap- capital on Friday, with several deaths tak- tain Bastian Schweinsteiger, goalkeeper ing place near the Stade de France where Manuel Neuer, defenders Jerome France were playing Germany in a friend- Boateng, and Jonas Hector, plus forwards ly international. “The fact the team will Lukas Podolski and Leroy Sane. run out for a friendly against the Schweinsteiger, Podolski and Neuer Netherlands a few days after the bad are rested, Hector and Boateng are experiences in Paris sends a message,” injured, while teenager Sane will play for Rauball added. “Our head coach Joachim Germany’s Under-21 side. Loew and every one of his players “Yet we all know that it’s important to deserve respect for this demonstration of set an example and promote our values solidarity with the victims and the entire and culture,” said team manager Oliver French people.” Bierhof. “But under these circumstances, The presence of Merkel and members the sporting value of the game against of her cabinet amidst the expected tight- the Netherlands has, of course, been low- ened security in Hanover is seen in ered.” Germany as a show of support for the Schweinsteiger admitted on Facebook victims of the horrific scenes in Paris. and Twitter that he is still “speechless” “We will check and adjust the security about Friday’s events in Paris and the SOLNA: Sweden’s forward and team captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2ndL) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Euro 2016 measures in consultation with the local twin bombings in Beirut last Thursday. play-off football match between Sweden and Denmark at the Friends arena in Solna on Saturday. — AFP authorities. There’s a fine line, but you “My sincerest condolences to every- have to have a sensibility to the dangers,” body who is affected by this terrible said Hendrik Gross Lefert, the DFB’s head tragedy. My prayers also go out to all the Ibrahimovic on target of security. In the wake of Friday’s terror people who lost their lives the day attacks, the fearful German squad pre- before in Beirut,” wrote the Manchester ferred to spend Friday night at the Stade United midfielder. “No matter where you de France, attempting to grab some sleep come from and what religion you follow - as Swedes edge Denmark on mattresses on the changing room we are united.” — AFP

SOLNA: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored his ninth goal minute but his low, left-foot shot was well saved Leipzig winger buried a first-time shot into the in his last nine European qualifiers to give by Kasper Schmeichel. Berg went wide of the corner past Schmeichel. Sweden a 2-1 win over Denmark in the first leg target on the half-hour mark after being The Denmark goalkeeper rescued his team of their Euro 2016 play-off on Saturday. The 34- released by a fine pass from Ibrahimvic who was just before the half-time whistle with a diving year-old striker converted a second half penalty furious that he did not receive a return pass. save to deny Ibrahimovic’s power-packed free- after Emil Forsberg had scored his first interna- Ibrahimovic was becoming increasingly influ- kick from just outside the box. tional goal on the stroke of half-time as the ential as the game progressed and just missed Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 five minutes into the Swedes seemed to be coasting to victory. out on a goal after a smart turn and drive. At the second period, converting a penalty after But substitute Nicolai Jorgensen grabbed an other end, Nicklas Bendtner squandered Thomas Kahlenburg had clumsily tripped away-goal lifeline for Denmark 10 minutes from Denmark’s best chance, missing from just six Forsberg. It was the Paris Saint Germain star’s time ahead of the second leg in Copenhagen on yards out after an incisive pass from Christian first goal against the Danes in seven matches. Tuesday. After a minute’s silence to honour the Eriksen. The Danes were made to pay when But with 10 minutes left, substitute victims of the Paris attacks, Denmark, the 1992 Sweden grabbed the lead on the stroke of half- Jorgensen latched onto a Yussuf Poulsen flick-on champions, dominated early possession but it time. A backheel from Jimmy Durmaz allowed from an Eriksen corner to boost Denmark’s was Sweden who had the best opening. It fell to Mikael Lustig to sprint away down the right flank hopes of making the finals in France next sum- Panathinaikos striker Marcus Berg in the 18th and his pass reached Forsberg at speed and the mer. — AFP Ukraine too strong for Slovenia in Euro playoff

LVIV: Ukraine, who have never won a playoff “The President greeted us in the dressing was offside so the luck was not on our side for a major tournament finals in five previous room after and wished us good luck for the today. “The result is hard for us but there is attempts, took a firm grip on their Euro 2016 return game,” said defender Evhen Khacheridi. nothing impossible in football. We will do our qualifying tie with Slovenia by winning the Slovenia coach Srecko Katanec, who was also best to snatch a win with the right scoreline.” PACHUCA: Ariel Rojas (L) of Cruz Azul vies for the ball with Hugo Rodriguez (R) of Pachuca during their Mexican Apertura tournament football match at the Hidalgo first leg 2-0 on Saturday. at the helm for the Euro 2000 playoff, blamed A minute’s silence was observed before kick- stadium on Saturday, in Pachuca, Mexico. — AFP Winger Andriy Yarmolenko opened the the referee for the second goal. off in memory of the 129 people killed and scoring with a low shot into the far corner of “We started off with purpose but couldn’t 352 wounded during the attacks in Paris on the net in the 22nd minute that sparked wild keep it going,” he said. “I think the second goal Friday evening. — Reuters celebrations at a packed Lviv Arena. Ugandan teen Miya Yarmolenko also played a part in the second goal in the 54th minute, striker Yevhen bags World Cup brace Seleznyov converting his cross to supply the finishing touch to a swift counter-attack. Seleznyov could have added a third goal JOHANNESBURG: Seventeen-year-old up a shot from just outside the area 15 minutes later when he scuffed his shot Farouk Miya bagged a brace as Uganda that goalkeeper N’Guissan Djehani when well-placed but Ukraine will still be in a trounced Togo 3-0 yesterday and should have saved, but he allowed the strong position in Tuesday’s second leg to advanced to the group stage of 2018 ball to creep into the corner of the net. book their ticket to the finals in France. World Cup qualifying in Africa. Miya, a regular scorer this year for Slovenia provided little threat up front Captain Geoffrey Massa scored the the national under-23 team, struck although Branko Ilic fired just over the bar other goal in Kampala as Uganda qual- twice in the final five minutes of open- from the edge of the penalty area in the first ified 4-0 on aggregate after matching ing half as near-total Ugandan domi- half following a clever header from Milivoje their record home victory margin in a nance was translated into goals. Novakovic. qualifier for the global football show- He blasted a cross past Djehani for The visitors, bidding to repeat their Euro piece. his first goal, then latched on to a 2000 playoff victory over Ukraine, never Zambia also advanced from the sec- headed pass across the goalmouth to looked like getting back into the game after ond knockout round with post-half- net again. The woodwork foiled the the break. Keeper Samir Handanovic, captain- time goals by Lubambo Musonda and Ugandan Cranes of a fourth goal dur- ing Slovenia, produced a stunning save from a Winston Kalengo delivering a 2-0 win ing the second half as idea-less Togo header by Denys Gamrash before Seleznyov over Sudan in Ndola. offered little resistance. struck the woodwork in the 69th minute. The Chipolopolo (Copper Bullets), After a dreary opening half at Levy Ukraine coach Mykhaylo Fomenko warned his one of the strongest African national Mwanawasa Stadium, Zambia went players not to get carried away by the margin teams never to play at the World Cup, ahead just before the hour when of victory. progressed 3-0 overall. Gabon were Musonda pounced on a parried clear- first to reach the five-group stage, ance by goalkeeper Akram El Hadi Offside claim which kicks off next October, beating Salim to fire home. “We have only played the first leg.” he told Mozambique in a penalty shootout in Kalengo, scorer of the winner in national television. “We could have scored a Libreville Saturday after a 1-1 aggre- Sudan four days ago, doubled the sec- third goal and I’m glad Slovenia did not capi- gate stalemate. ond-leg lead with a run past several talise on our mistakes. Uganda, buoyant after a historic first defenders and an unstoppable shot. A “I think my players understand what they World Cup qualifying away win last further three second legs are sched- have to do and I should not need to find any Thursday, were ahead within five min- uled for later yesterday and 14 for additional words (of motivation) for the sec- utes before a packed, vibrant Nelson Tuesday. Five places have been ond leg.” Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko Mandela National Stadium crowd. reserved for Africa at the 2018 World LVIV: Ukraine’s Serhiy Rybalka (L) vies with Slovenia’s Milivoje Novakovic (C) during the Euro and Slovenia counterpart Borut Pahor Burly Massa was given time to line Cup in Russia. — Reuters 2016 play-off football match between Ukraine and Slovenia at the Arena Lviv stadium in Lviv watched the game from the stands. on Saturday. — AFP