SATURDAY-JUNE 26, 2021 Sport 05 Here’s why Rameez Raja says Pakistani Germany 2-2 Hungary: Leon team could lose against Afghanistan Goretzka's late equaliser sees Germany survive Euro 2020 scare Leon Goretzka's late equalis- came out to collect a good pass old Jamal Musiala who created er was enough for Germany to from . the much-needed leveller mere draw 2-2 with Hungary and se- But Neuer found himself beat- minutes after coming on. cure second spot in Group F, set- en soon after. It was a classic He twisted past ting up a last-16 showdown with counter-attack from the Hungari- on the left, before cutting the ball England. ans, with Roland Sallai and Loic back to Goretzka. He laid it off Germany were hoping to fol- Nego linking up superbly. It was for Timo Werner, but the Chelsea low up their 4-2 win against Por- Sallai who sent in a superb, diago- forward's shot was deflected back tugal on Saturday with a comfort- nal cross into the middle and Hun- into Goretzka's path. He then able victory against Group F un- gary Adam Szalai was there powered a volley goalwards, se- derdogs Hungary, but made the to flick a header home, sending the curing Germany's spot in the last- worst possible start as Adam Sza- ball past Neuer's fingertips. 16 in the process lai (11) nodded home. Germany then had a few It was an impressive night's The hosts were mostly la- chances to equalise. Soon after the work from Hungary captain Adam boured in their play, but were goal, Havertz made a superb run Szalai. Hungary had little pressure handed a lifeline as Mats Hum- between Adam Nagy and Attila on them, but his opening goal was mels and Kai Havertz took advan- Szalai, but the slightest of touch- taken superbly. He then unself- tage of an error from goalkeeper es from Gulacsi sent the ball away ishly set up his team-mate for the Peter Gulacsi, allowing the from the paths of Leroy Sane and second as Hungary dared to dream Chelsea forward (66) to nod home Robin Gosens. of the knockout round. from close range. Germany's best effort of the While Hungary did not quite But 91 seconds later and first half came in the 21st minute. make it through, Szalai was still straight from the restart, Hunga- Kimmich delivered their first cor- making the tackle and passes need- KABUL: Everyone has be- team may win the match. “Zazai is full of potential, and this. Najibullah Zadran is also a ry re-took their precious lead. ner of the game, but Hummels ed, even late in the day. A fine Szalai set up Andras Schafer (68) could only direct his powerful come a fan of Afghan star Hazrat- “Pakistani fans haven’t seen he can play lengthy innings as well. good batsman. Pakistan should performance to finish Euro 2020. to slot past Manuel Neuer, send- header onto the crossbar. Soon ullah Zazai in the second qualifier Zazai much before,” Rameez Raja In a T20 encounter, I wouldn’t be raise the alarm and figure out why Germany coach Joachim Low: of the Pakistan Super League 2021 said on his YouTube channel. In surprised if Afghanistan beats Pa- players like Zazai aren’t being re- ing Germany to the bottom of after, Matthias Ginter poked the Group F and on the verge of a ball goalwards, but it was straight "We showed great morale, but we (PSL 2021). Zazai’s 66 runs se- Afghanistan, there are other play- kistan,” Rameez Raja added. cruited. Pakistan’s existing middle- also made mistakes. It was good cured a spot in ers similar to him. The Islamabad Rameez Raja also praised Af- order appears to be very weak. second successive exit in the group at Gulacsi. stages of a major tournament. Although Sallai hit the cross- to see that we fought hard until the PSL 2021 final. After witness- United line up had three Pakistani ghanistan’s spin bowlers, saying When it comes to , the en- There was more drama to bar early in the second half, it was we got the equaliser. It was a nervy ing Zazai’s batting, former Paki- T20 players, all of whom comfort- that Pakistan needs players like tire team appears to be based sole- come though as Goretzka fired Germany who hauled themselves match. We knew Hungary would stani captain Ramiz Raja remarked ably handled the pressure. Shadab them. “Afghanistan has terrific ly on skipper Babar Azam and home in the 84th minute to fire level in the 66th minute. Kimmich give it their all. I am just happy that Afghanistan’s squad has more Khan, Pakistan’s T20 captain, too spinners,” he remarked. Mohammad Rizwan,” Raja added. Germany into second place, set- swung in a free-kick, which Gu- we got through in this group. batsmen like Zazai and that if they bowled to Zazai but failed to make “This team will become stron- Pakistan is about to embark on ting up an enticing last-16 tie with lacsi came out to punch away, but "All the 'small' teams invest compete with Pakistan, the Afghan an effect. ger if Zazai continues to play like a challenging tour of England. old foes England at Wembley on missed the ball completely. Hum- so much work and defend well. Tuesday. mels was lurking just behind to Hungary played with ten men in Anthony Joshua's ideal rival for a fight in It was heartbreak for Hunga- nod it goalwards, with Havertz their own half and they had noth- ry, who were minutes away from helping to guide it home from close ing to lose. It's great that we got reaching the knockout rounds for range. through in this tough group. Now a second European Champion- But the 1-1 scoreline lasted we can look forward to a match Nigeria is Joe Joyce, says Sam Jones ships. It echoed their 3-3 draw for all of 91 seconds. Hungary against Portugal from Euro 2016 pumped the ball forward, with against England." Hungary coach Marco Rossi: Anthony Joshua's dream of a could be huge. Joshua's undisputed title fight hours after Joyce fights Takam. too, where they were pegged back Adam Szalai there to flick the ball fight in Nigeria could be aided by "If AJ needs a dance partner in with WBC champion Fury could Joyce was initially in talks to three times during a thrilling en- on for Schafer's run in behind. It "We went very close to a qualifi- the emergence of Joe Joyce as a Nigeria, look no further. That fight be resurrected if they each come contest a WBO interim belt with counter. However, in a tough was a sweeping finish from the cation which would have not just challenger, says Sam Jones. would be something very, very through summer fights. Fury will Usyk when Joshua and Fury were group, they are able to exit Euro forward, to once again send Ger- been historic, it would have been Joyce could become the man- special. face Deontay Wilder on July 24, on a collision course but he could 2020 with their heads held high. many to the bottom of Group F incredible and almost unimagin- datory challenger to Joshua and still force himself into the world Both sides had snapshot ef- and set up a tense, nervous finish. able. But unfortunately even in enforce a world title fight, his man- title picture. forts in the opening ten minutes. Germany continued to push the greatest fairy tales, there can Gulacsi made a good, reactive save for an equaliser, opting for cross- ager Jones says. "Joe will be mandatory to the be some less than happy endings, as Joshua Kimmich fired his way es into the box to target their tall- Undefeated Joyce will face world title," said Jones. "Hopeful- and that was the way it went to- from a tight angle, before Neuer er players. But it was 18-year- night. Carlos Takam on July 24, while ly Joshua and Fury get it on, and Joshua is set to defend his IBF, Joe will get the winner. WBA and WBO heavyweight "Joe's time will come. He belts against Oleksandr Usyk at wants to see Joshua vs Fury too - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in there needs to be an undisputed September. title fight. He doesn't care who "There is a possibility Joe and wins." Joshua could fight in Nigeria," Joyce earned a career-best win Jones told Sky Sports. "They are by stopping the previously-unde- both of Nigerian descent so that feated Daniel Dubois last time out. Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty named top seeds at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty have been named as the top seeds in the men's and ladies' sin- gles draw at this year's Wimble- don, as Great Britain boast three hits fifty as England seeded representatives at SW19 for the first time since 1978. hammer in T20 series opener British No 1 Dan Evans oc- cupies the No 23 spot in the men's England romped to an eight- while (0-14) proved ka's score with some lusty late draw, while Cameron Norrie (No win over Sri Lanka in the particularly tough to get away in blows, bringing up his half centu- 30) is seeded at a major champi- first T20 international of their his first T20 international for six ry in the final over before top- onship for the first time in his ca- three-match series in Cardiff on years. edging Curran's last ball behind. reer, fresh from reaching the final Wednesday night. After winning the toss and In reply, Buttler and Roy were at Queen's Club last weekend. Restricting Sri Lanka to a well- opting to bat first, Sri Lanka lost in no mood to hang around. Roy Johanna Konta - a semi-final- below-par score of 129-7 when opener Avishka Fernando for a cracked four fours and cleared the ist four years ago - is seeded No getting first use of the Sophia in the second over, plinking rope once, swinging Nuwan 28 in the ladies' draw, as two-time Gardens surface, England then Curran to mid-off, where Chris Pradeep away over deep midwick- winner Andy Murray prepares to chased down their total with 17 Jordan claimed the first of three et. Buttler, meanwhile, found the make his first Wimbledon appear- balls to spare, with Jos Buttler catches for the innings. eight times and ham- ance since 2017 as a wildcard en- firing an unbeaten 68 off 55 balls. Gunathilaka (19) cracked mered Akila Dananjaya for a glo- try. Buttler and Jason Roy (36 off for back-to-back rious straight six down the ground Cameron Norrie is seeded at a 22) raced through to a fifty stand boundaries in the fourth over, only shortly before bringing up his 13th Grand Slam for the very first time inside five overs, blasting 61 from to depart in the fifth, skying an T20I fifty. following his exploits at Queen's the opening powerplay. Sri Lan- attempted ramp off Jordan behind After Roy fell to Gunathila- Club last weekend ka, by comparison, were only 39- to Buttler. ka's superb diving grab, Dawid However, much of the focus 2 after their first six. The tourists put up little fight Malan (7) contrastingly looked far will centre on Djokovic's bid to Roy departed in the 10th over, for the remainder of their innings; from comfortable during his 14- draw level with Roger Federer and with pull- (1-9) trapped ball stay at the crease before be- Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam ing off a stunning catch at mid- Kusal Mendis (9) lbw, Wood (1- ing bowled by Isuru Udana. singles titles, with the world No 1 off, but Buttler bought up his fif- 33) picked up Dhananjaya de Sil- But England were never in eyeing a sixth Wimbledon crown ing a second French Open title champion Dominic Thiem is due sparingly over the last 12 months, ty in the 12th and steered the va (3) caught at third man, while danger of stuttering over the fin- in 2021. The Serbian is the de- earlier this month. Russia's Daniil to be the No 4 seed, although the but he enjoyed a successful return hosts through to a comfortable Rashid claimed Sri Lanka captain ish line; (13no off fending champion at the All En- Medvedev will feature on the op- Austrian is a major doubt for the to Grand Slam action at Roland victory. Kusal Perera (30) and Wanindu 12) smashed Dananjaya for a big gland Club, having beaten Federer posite side of the draw from Djok- tournament after withdrawing Garros - progressing to the last was the pick of Hasaranga (5) in consecutive six over deep midwicket a ball in an epic 2019 final, and he kept ovic as the No 2. Seed, while Par- from an ATP event in Mallorca 16 before withdrawing as a pre- the England bowlers, taking 2-17 overs. before Buttler was dropped by alive his hopes of completing the is runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas is with a wrist injury on Tuesday. caution ahead of his clash against from his four overs. Dasun Shanaka (50 off 44) put Perera, allowing him to scamper coveted 'calendar slam' by scoop- seeded third. Former US Open The Swiss icon has featured Matteo Berrettini. (2-25) too picked up a couple, some respectability on Sri Lan- through for the winning run.