TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 15

Turkish star Turan could face more Despair turns to optimism than 12 years jail AFP | Istanbul

urkish prosecutors Tcharged Barcelona play- as Mancini’s Italy take shape er Arda Turan over a brawl with a prominent singer, Reuters | Milan bring on for his asking for the footballer to international debut at the age be sentenced to twelve-and- he despair which fol - of 26 rather than Lazio’s prolific a-half years in jail. lowed Italy’s defeat by marksman Ciro Immobile. The prosecutors charged TPortugal a month ago has Lasagna, whose flick on at the Turan, who is currently on suddenly turned to unbridled near post set up the goal, has loan to Istanbul’s Basakse- optimism following Sunday’s little more than two seasons of hir, with sexual harassment, 1-0 stoppage-time win away to experience. unlicensed possession of Poland in the Nations League. “Five years ago I was playing weapons and causing inten- Italian media agreed the per- in Serie D (the fourth tier) and tional injury over the fight formance was one of the best now, I’m making my debut for with singer Berkay Sahin, in the last few years as Roberto Italy,” Lasagna said. the state-run Anadolu news Mancini’s new-look side domi- “I put Kevin and not Immobile agency said. nated the match in Chorzow and because he’s stronger in the air Sahin, who goes on stage created chances almost at will. and we needed a few centime- by his first name Berkay, It was very different to the tres,” said Mancini was also charged, with pros- mood after Italy were outplayed Another surprise choice was ecutors demanding up to by Portugal, prompting Gazzetta Cagliari’s 21-year-old two years in jail. dello Sport to publish the head- Nicolo Barella who made his de- Turan, 31, had last week line “Italy always going down- but in last Wednesday’s 1-1 home been summoned to an Is- wards”. draw with Ukraine and excelled tanbul police station to give Yesterday, the same paper on Sunday. a statement about the in- boomed: “This is Italy”. Mancini sent the team out in a cident but was allowed to “Finally, Italy win and 4-3-3 formation with no recog- walk free. convince,” it added. nised striker. The incident, which took A headline in Corriere dello Marco Veratti and Jorginho place outside an Istanbul Sport, meanwhile, simply read: took control of the midfield and nightclub and reportedly “Bellissima.” the attacking trio of Federico left Sahin with a broken Mancini was appointed with Chiesa, Federico Bernardeschi nose, has transfixed Turkey the job of rebuilding Italy fol- Italy’s midfielder Nicolo Barella and Italy’s defender Cristiano Biraghi (L) vie for the ball with Poland’s forward Arkadiusz and Lorenzo Insigne caused Po- over the last days. lowing their failure to qualify Milik land many problems. for this year’s World Cup, the class players in abundance and was going to take time. Left back Cristiano Biraghi, “I wanted a team that plays at first time they have missed the teams such Juventus, Napoli It was a case, he said, of put- who scored the winning goal, home and away with the same tournament in 60 years. and AS Roma are dominated by ting faith in younger and less- was relegated with Pescara two mentality,” Mancini said. England fans It was never going to be an foreigners, as Mancini pointed er-known players and having seasons ago and was making his “We are starting a new chap- easy task for the former Man- out last month. patience. third appearance for Italy at the ter but, in football, you need disorder chester City and But Mancini said there was There were certainly some age of 26. time and there are no magicians. ‘unacceptable’: FA coach. still enough talent around to interesting choices in Sunday’s With Italy struggling to break We have simply started working Italy no longer produce world- make Italy great again, even if it line-up. the deadlock, Mancini chose to and getting to know the players.” AFP | Seville, Spain

he Football Association Thas condemned the be- haviour of some England Bolt fumes over drug test fans in Seville ahead of their Barca defensive problems team’s UEFA Nations League AFP | Sydney match against Spain. Riot police intervened on mount with Vermaelen injury print legend Usain Bolt says Sunday night to break up a She’s stunned after being group of English supporters Reuters | Barcelona Friday, when Vermaelen had handed a drug testing notice who had been drinking and to come off during Belgium’s despite retiring from athlet- were behaving badly as they arcelona were dealt a new UEFA Nations League match ics and having no professional wandered round the centre Bdefensive blow yesterday versus Switzerland. Vermael- contract as he bids to launch of the Spanish city. There with news that centre back en will miss Belgium’s coming a football career in Australia. have been no confirmed ar- Thomas Vermaelen has been match versus The Netherlands The 100m world re - rests or injuries. ruled out for six weeks with a in Brussels, as well as upcoming cord-holder quit athletics last An FA statement read: torn hamstring as the stuttering Barca matches.” year and is yet to be offered “We condemn the unac - champions prepare for Barcelona only have two a deal by Australia’s Central ceptable behaviour wit- a gruelling set of fixtures. natural centre backs in Gerard Coast Mariners, where he is nessed in Seville. The Catalans were already Pique and Frenchman Clement currently on trial. “With the Spain fixture short-staffed in central de- Lenglet available for a demand- “So guys I’ve retired from Usain Bolt still to come on Monday fence due to the prolonged ing run of games starting with track and field looking to be- night, we urge those follow- absence of France interna- a top-of-the-table clash against come a footballer but look at am I getting drug tested when ing the team to respect our tional Samuel Umtiti, who Sevilla on Saturday. this,” Bolt said yesterday via an I haven’t signed for a club yet?’ hosts and act in a responsi- is out with a knee problem Barca visit Inter Milan in Instagram video as he zoomed and she said they told her I’m ble manner.” and with no date set for his the Champions League next in on the notice. an elite athlete so I have to get return. Tuesday and play arch-rivals The demand for the out of tested. Okay then.” “Medical tests carried Real Madrid in the “Clasico” competition test -- to collect Despite his displeasure, it out this Monday confirmed on Oct. 28. urine and blood -- appears to appears the Australian Sports Sainsbury, coach’s that Barca defender Thom- Barca are second in the La have been issued by Football Anti-Doping Authority guide- as Vermaelen has suffered an Liga standings, one point be- Federation Australia. lines mean he is eligible to be son-in-law, eyes injury to the biceps femoris of hind Sevilla, although they are “How am I going to get a tested. Socceroos captaincy his right leg. He will be out ap- in the midst of a poor run of drug test today? I’m not even Their legislation defines an proximately six weeks,” Barca domestic results, having lost a professional footballer yet. athlete as a “person who com- AFP | Sydney said in a statement. one and drawn three of their Seriously,” said Bolt. petes in sport” if “the sport has “The injury happened on last four games. “So I asked the lady, ‘Why an anti-doping policy”. rent Sainsbury has put This hand up to be the new Socceroos captain, but his father-in-law, new coach Graham Arnold, is Del Potro suffers fractured kneecap after fall unlikely to make a long- term decision before their Reuters | Shanghai fracture of his right patella defence of the Asian Cup in bone in Shanghai”. January. S Open runner-up Juan “In the coming days, doctors Australia has only had Thomas UMartin del Potro has suf- It’s very difficult for will evaluate the recovery pro- two permanent skippers Vermaelen fered a fractured right knee- me to think about cess needed to return.” over the past decade -- Lu- cap following his fall during a The 30-year-old Argentine, cas Neill and Mile Jedinak -- match in Shanghai this week, recovery again, I did who is ranked fourth in the and Arnold is keen to make his spokesman said in a state- not expect this to world and had been enjoying the right choice. ment on Sunday. happen one of the best seasons of his He oversees his first Del Potro, who has been un- JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO career, is wearing a splint on game in charge against lucky with injuries through- his right leg Kuwait in Kuwait City and out his career, retired from The statement said that “the “It’s a very difficult mo - plans to trial three play - his round-of-16 match medical studies carried out on ment,” he said. “I feel very sad. ers in their three friend - against Borna Coric after Saturday showed that Juan It’s a hard blow that leaves me lies before the Asian Cup falling heavily. Martin del Potro suffered a Juan Martin del Potro without strength. tournament.