FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Eighty years in Federer holds the making, off Ebden to Germany’s reach Halle record in peril semi-fi nals
Saturday, June 23, 2018 FOOTBALL Shawwal 9, 1439 AH Nigeria bounce GULF TIMES back at World Cup to beat Iceland 2-0 SPORTSPORT Page 2
REPORT BRA 2-0 CRC NNeymar,eymar, CoutinhoCoutinho putput BBrazilrazil bidbid backback onon ttrackrack Costa Rica are out of World Cup
AFP points collected from their Saint Petersburg opening two matches. Costa Rica, meanwhile, are out but the Central eymar broke down Americans were far from in tears, Brazil disgraced here. breathed a sigh “I don’t know what else of relief and their we could have done,” their coachN Tite pulled a muscle coach Oscar Ramirez said. as he celebrated a last-gasp “Considering what I have at 2-0 win over Costa Rica yes- my disposal and what they terday. have, I think it is reasonable Philippe Coutinho fi nally what we did.” broke a dogged Costa Rica’s Neymar started despite resistance in the 91st minute limping out of training on before Neymar added a sec- Tuesday with a hurt ankle, ond in the 96th to propel the which the Brazilian FA said fi ve-time champions to- was sustained as a result of wards the World Cup last 16. snapping Swiss defenders. At the fi nal whistle, Ney- He faced the most devoted mar sat down on the grass of markers in Costa Rica’s and wept, with the emotion Cristian Gamboa, the Bra- of victory hitting home af- zilian spending most of the ter a tense Group E contest half hopping over scything at the Saint Petersburg Sta- tackles or dodging past a dium. barging shoulder. Tite, meanwhile, was left After a slightly ponder- limping, after the 57-year- ous fi rst half, Brazil cranked old reacted to Coutinho’s up the pressure in the sec- strike by bursting onto the ond as Gabriel Jesus’s head- pitch and tripping over his er crashed own feet. against “I think I kind of pulled the a muscle!” Tite said. “I’m cross- limping now after the cele- bar and bration. We were a bit over- Coutin- excited.” ho was Costa Rica looked likely denied to hold on for a hard-earned by the ever- draw, particularly after Ney- present Gamboa on the line. mar had a penalty award Frustration brewed but chalked off by referee Bjorn Costa Rica’s resistance Kuipers, following a con- was finally ended in stop- sultation with the Video As- page-time as Marcelo’s sistant Referee. deep cross was kept alive This was only Neymar’s by Roberto Firmino and a fourth outing since return- loose touch by Jesus drib- ing from three and a half bled perfectly into Coutin- months out with a foot in- ho’s path. Six yards out, he jury and Tite admitted his sidefooted home. star player will need time to Broken, Costa Rica hit top form. conceded again right at Brazil will now head the death. Firmino drove into their fi nal group game through the middle before Brazil’s Neymar (left) scores past Costa Rica against Serbia next week Douglas Costa squared for goalkeeper Keylor Navas during their match confi dent of reaching the Neymar fi nally to fi nd the yesterday in Saint Petersburg yesterday. knock-out stages,, withwiw thth fourfour net.net.t (Inset) Neymar and teammate Philippe Coutinho (left) celebrate a goal. (Reuters/AFP) Striker hits back at World Cup critics
AFP “Things were never easy in my Saint Petersburg life, so why would they be now? Tears worry nervous Brazilians The dream — no, the OBJEC- TIVE — is still alive. Congratu- AFP At the final whistle, the World Cup,” Brazil’s biggest eymar rounded on his lations for the performance, Rio de Janeiro striker — described as a newspaper, O Globo, head- critics and defended guys.” genius by his coach Tite lined the main article on its his emotional reaction The world’s most expen- and a petulant brat by website after the drama. to scoring in Brazil’s sive player was making just his razilians watched his many detractors — While acknowledging that N2-0 World Cup win over Costa fourth appearance after break- their team’s excruciat- sank to the turf, sobbing. Neymar has had a torrid Rica after he broke down in tears ing a bone in his foot in Febru- Bingly hard-fought win Later, Neymar tweeted that buildup to the tournament, at the fi nal whistle. ary. yesterday over Costa Rica in “these were tears of joy, of with surgery for a broken A largely frustrating after- And Brazil coach Tite admit- a cold sweat but it was Ney- having overcome.” foot bone and a hugely noon for the fi ve-time world ted the Paris Saint-Germain star mar’s hot tears that really “It’s one of the big images disappointing first game champions was forgotten thanks is still not fully match-fi t. made the footballing-mad of the World Cup: Neymar, against Switzerland, Globo to two goals in stoppage time. “He needs some time to nation sit up. alone, collapsed and in said the tears were just too Philippe Coutinho broke the resume his high standard. Be- “Neymar’s crying is the big floods of tears,” the UOL much. deadlock before Neymar tapped fore then there is a team that has news,” declared the Blog esporte blog said. “A team needs to demon- home with virtually the last kick to be strong and not depend on do Menon on the leading “These were the tears of a strate mental strength, not of the game. him.” UOL Esporte website. football player. The tears of fragility. Genuine or not, “Not everyone knows what Neymar’s emotions at the The world’s most expensive someone who cares.” Neymar’s crying is worry- I went through to get here,” he end highlighted Brazil’s relief footballer had just scored But many asked if so much ing,” Globo said. posted on Twitter and Insta- at getting their fi rst win of the the second of Brazil’s two emotion after beating a “It was either the symptom gram. tournament after being held 1-1 extra-time goals, finally supposedly far inferior of troubling instability or it “Even parrots can talk, but by Switzerland in their opening subduing Costa Rica’s team pointed to crackups was a return of Neymar’s walking the walk... not everyone match. stubborn resistance — and to come? narcissism that Neymar had does it. I cried out of happiness, Tite fell to the fl oor as he sped getting a monkey off the “It’s not normal to cry managed to control so well overcoming, grit and desire to onto the pitch following Coutin- star-studded team’s back. in the second game of a for nearly the whole match.” win. ho’s strike. Neymar’s strike seven minutes into stoppage time against Costa Rica was the latest ever at a World Cup in regular time 2 Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018
REPORT NGA 2-0 ISL REPORT SRB 1-2 SUI Musa magic gives Last gasp Shaqiri seals Nigeria 2-0 victory Swiss win It was only the second win for an African side in over Serbia AFP almost scored with a spectac- Russia World Cup so far Kaliningrad, Russia ular bicycle kick that went the over Iceland same way minutes later. Switzerland, who came to last-minute Russia ranked ahead of the Xherdan Sha- likes of France and Spain, felt qiri breakaway goal their way into the game as the handed Switzer- fi rst-half progressed. landA victory yesterday as they On the half-hour mark, came from behind to defeat Steven Zuber cleverly teed up Serbia 2-1 in Kaliningrad. Blerim Dzemaili but the Hof- The win puts Switzerland in fenheim man got his feet in a pole position to make it out of muddle and Vladimir Stojko- a tough Group E that contains vic was able to parry away. fi ve-times winners Brazil but But it was Serbia, who beat they were pushed all the way Costa Rica 1-0 in their Group by the Serbs. E opener, who nearly went in It was a sweet victory for two up. Shaqiri and fellow Swiss Nemanja Matic missed a goalscorer Granit Xhaka, glorious chance to double who along with team-mate the lead just before the break Valon Belrami were booed when Tadic’s in-swinging relentlessly by Serbia’s fans corner found him unmarked throughout. at the back post but the Man- Shaqiri, Xhaka and Belrami chester United midfi elder trace their roots to Kosovo, couldn’t sort his feet out. a former province of Serbia, Matic said during the build- a fact which had stoked ten- up the team were expecting sions before the match. a “hellish” encounter with Both Shaqiri and Xhaka the Swiss, who in their game pointedly celebrated their with Brazil fouled star forward goals by making an eagle ges- Neymar 10 times alone. ture with their hands, viewed Switzerland grew in stat- as a symbol of defi ance. ure after the break and were Serbia raced out of the rewarded with a spectacular blocks, funnelling possession equaliser courtesy of Xhaka’s to Southampton winger Du- 52nd-minute piledriver. san Tadic on the right fl ank, They had the better chances who troubled Switzerland in the second period, with Sha- with his crossing all match. qiri’s curling eff ort from the An Aleksandar Mitrovic edge of the area grazing Stojko- header forced a smart save vic’s bar on the hour mark. from Swiss keeper Yann Som- Coach Vladimir Petkovic mer after four minutes. brought on attackers Breel Seconds later, Tadic took Embolo and Mario Gavranovic Nigeria’s Ahmed Musa (rights) scores the team’s first goal during the match against Iceland in Volgograd, Russia, yesterday. (Reuters) the ball past left-back Ricardo in a bid to force a winner, and Rodriguez, cut back on his fa- Gavranovic forced a smart Reuters side in the Russia World Cup so far, Ni- sisted Referee system to confi rm that Nigeria’s 4-2 in a friendly when Lionel voured left foot and delivered save from Stojkovic from a Volgograd, Russia geria broke a stale deadlock in the heat of striker Alfred Finnbogason had been Messi was absent. a majestic cross that Mitrovic close range eff ort with 10 southern Russia in the 49th minute when fouled by Tyronne Ebuehi in the 80th “We know we can do it, our confi dence duly buried with his head. minutes remaining. wing-back Victor Moses lofted a pass minute. is coming back.” In a frenetic fi rst half, Swit- But it was Stoke City winger igeria beat Iceland 2-0 to re- towards Musa who deftly controlled the But playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson, Ice- Iceland, the smallest country ever to zerland had more of the ball Shaqiri who struck the deci- vive their hopes of advancing ball and smashed in the half volley. land’s most gifted player of his genera- play in a World Cup, were roared on by an but were sloppy with it, giving sive blow, breaking through into the knockout stages of the Musa was on the bench for Nigeria’s tion, blasted his kick high over the bar. army of their fans. away possession in advanced Serbia’s off side trap to slot World Cup in Russia yester- limp defeat to Croatia in their opening The win vindicated the decision of But they missed the pace of winger positions and sending Serbia home calmly as the 90 min- Nday as striker Ahmed Musa dramatically game in Russia, and the announcement Nigeria’s German coach Gernot Rohr to Johann Berg Gudmundsson who was in- on the break. utes wound down. marked his return to the team with two of the Leicester City striker’s name in the overhaul his attack after the 2-0 loss to jured in the Argentina game. Lazio’s highly rated Sergej Serbia will now need some- fi ne second-half goals. starting team on Friday drew thunderous Croatia, bringing in Musa and Kelechi Coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said Milinkovic-Savic fi zzed a thing from their fi nal Group E The result pushed Nigeria up to the cheers from Super Eagles fans before the Iheanacho at the expense of strikers Odi- things had been going to plan with the right-footed shot narrowly match against Brazil, while a second qualifying spot in Group D but game. on Ighalo and Alex Iwobi. scores 0-0 at halftime but the heat of wide of Sommer’s right post draw against Costa Rica would both sides, and struggling Argentina, are He made it 2-0 in the 75th minute when He also moved to a system using three Volgograd, with temperatures of around on 15 minutes, and Mitrovic see Switzerland through. still in the hunt to go through along with he used his pace to beat Iceland defender central defenders fl anked by wing backs, 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) throughout the already-qualifi ed Croatia. Kari Arnason and rounded goalkeeper which seemed to give Nigeria more zip, game, sapped his team. However, Argentina and World Cup Hannes Por Halldorsson before slamming and told John Obi Mikel to play deeper in “That’s a strange fact that we still are debutants Iceland must win their respec- the ball into the net. midfi eld. in the race, and that’s fun,” he said. “We tive games against Nigeria and Croatia Iceland, who caused one of the biggest Rohr said his side would not fear Ar- didn’t think we would go through this next week to have any chance of advanc- upsets in the tournament so far by hold- gentina when they meet on Tuesday. World Cup without a loss. Losses are al- ing. Nigeria could qualify with a draw if ing two-time champions Argentina to a “We will play to win the game,” he said. ways hard to swallow. We only need to Iceland fail to beat Croatia. draw on Saturday, won a penalty when “We played them in a friendly but there win (over) Croatia — but that might be In only the second win for an African referee Matt Conger used the Video As- was no Messi then,” he said, referring to easier said than done.”
Iceland can beat old fl ame Croatia to go through, says coach
Reuters risks, and they are very good, very games,” Hallgrimsson said. Volgograd, Russia quick going forward, and they scored “Normally it’s steel to steel, not a lot of two goals like that,” Hallgrimsson told chances, always a lot of yellow cards. In reporters. three games out of four, we’ve had a red celand need to beat a Croatia side Nigeria, Iceland and Argentina can card,” he added. their coach Heimir Hallgrimsson qualify from Group D, but the latter two The teams met in the qualifying cam- Idescribed as being like the other half sides need to win to have any chance of paign for Russia, with each winning at of a married couple to make the last 16. making the knockout stage, with Iceland home as Iceland topped the group, but Having drawn 1-1 with Argentina in their facing Croatia in their final group game. Croatia’s 3-0 hammering of Argentina opener, Iceland got a rude awakening “We’ve played Croatia four times in marked them out as one of the teams to from their World Cup fairytale as Ahmed four years, we’ve often said we’re like watch in Russia. Musa scored twice for Nigeria and Gylfi a married couple — we’re trying to get The Croatians, who top the group on six Sigurdsson missed a penalty in the divorced, but we always meet up again,” points with Nigeria second on three and African team’s 2-0 win. the Iceland coach told a news confer- Iceland and Argentina on one apiece, The Iceland coach said his side got their ence. may take the opportunity to rest players tactics right, stopping Nigeria from The Croatians ended Iceland’s 2014 on Tuesday, but Hallgrimsson is taking managing a shot on target in the first World Cup dream by beating them in a nothing for granted. half, only to concede two goals after the two-legged playoff , and the relationship “We were ahead of them in our group interval. between the sides on the field has often and we’ve already beaten them once “What changed the game was the goal been tempestuous. in Iceland, so we at least have that they scored in the second half. We had “We know the scenario when we play confidence with us when we play them,” to go further forward and take more Croatia — it’s going to be really tough he said.
Standings
P W D L GF GA Pts P W D L GF GA Pts P W D L GF GA Pts P W D L GF GA Pts Group A Group C Group E Group G Russia 2 2 0 0 8 1 6 France 2 2 0 0 3 1 6 Brazil 2 1 1 0 3 1 4 Belgium 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 Uruguay 2 2 0 0 2 0 6 Denmark 2 1 1 0 2 1 4 Switzerland 2 1 1 0 3 2 4 England 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 Egypt 2 0 0 2 1 4 0 Australia 2 0 1 1 2 3 1 Serbia 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Saudi Arabia 2 0 0 2 0 6 0 Peru 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 Costa Rica 2 0 0 2 0 3 0 Panama 1 0 0 1 0 3 0
Group B Group D Group F Group H Spain 2 1 1 0 4 3 4 Croatia 2 2 0 0 5 0 6 Mexico 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Japan 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 Portugal 2 1 1 0 4 3 4 Nigeria 2 1 0 1 2 2 3 Sweden 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Senegal 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 Iran 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 Iceland 2 0 1 1 1 3 1 Germany 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Colombia 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Morocco 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 Argentina 2 0 1 1 1 4 1 South Korea 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Poland 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio has fi elded 49 diff erent line-ups in his 49 matches as coach 3 Gulf Times Saturday, June 23, 2018
PREVIEW GER vs SWE SOCHI, 9PM SPOTLIGHT Germany’s Hummels unlikely to play Eighty years in the against Sweden: Loew
Reuters “Mats Hummels will most Sochi, Russia likely not be able to play because he injured his neck in training yesterday and it has not im- ermany central de- proved until today,” Loew told making, Germany’s fender Mats Hummels reporters in Sochi yesterday. is unlikely to feature “He has not trained and obvi- in their second World ously there are still a few hours GCup Group F game against Swe- but usually these things do not den today after hurting his neck improve considerably overnight in training, Germany coach and tomorrow we need fi t play- Joachim Loew said. ers. I think it makes no sense (for The world champions, who him to play).” record in peril suff ered a shock opening loss to A likely replacement for Hum- Mexico, must avoid another de- mels is Antonio Rudiger but feat which could see them crash Loew said he would wait until In every World Cup since 1938, Germany have made it past the group stage out at a World Cup group stage tomorrow to see Hummels’ con- for the fi rst time in 80 years. dition. Key facts