shooter Rashid strikes skeet gold SUNday, JANUARY 20, 2019 in Kuwait page 19

Paris Saint-Germain thrash Guingamp ASIAN CUP 2019 page 18 9-0 for record home win iran vs oman Qatar’s Almoez pick of the bunch in Asian Cup for young forwards DPA chart on four goals ahead of his next chance to impress against champions Australia Almoez Ali has written his in the last 16. name in big letters at the Asian The 23-year-old Rostov for- Cup in the UAE but the Qatar ward has been in dazzling form striker is merely the pick of a so far to net in each of his side’s handful of young forwards all group games against Oman, making a name for themselves. Turkmenistan and Japan. “I don’t think about the Media reports have linked golden boot, I am thinking to a host of European clubs with win the competition. First the teenager Mohanad Ali, team, then my achievements,” who is officially the youngest he told broadcaster beIN Sports. player at the UAE. Ali had just netted a dou- While there is some dubiety ble to down arch-rivals Saudi Star turn over the Al-Shorta attacker’s of- Arabia 2-0 to ensure Qatar, In an Asian Cup ficial age of 18, there has been hosts of the World Cup in featuring players from no doubt about his two goals 2022, progressed as winners the Premier League and and high quality of overall play. of Group E and the three-time “After his performances champion Saudis were left as Bundesliga, few would with the Iraq national team, runners-up. have expected a young it is only natural that there That followed a goal Qatari striker to hog is enormous interest in Mo- against Lebanon in the open- the headlines from hanad Ali, as well as some of ing game and a record-equal- the group stage. the biggest clubs in the Arabic ling four against North Korea. countries”, his agent Christian While the 22-year-old Ali Emile told Football Insider. may not be thinking about “However, we are calm the golden boot trophy for the and will make a decision when competition’s top scorer, it is the time is right. For now, the almost certainly his already - player’s focus is fully on the the last to score more than sev- Asian Cup.” en in a single tournament was Iran’s Sardar Azmoun, 24, Iranian great in 1996. has three goals from the group “Of course, I am playing phase ahead of his team’s as striker and I have to kill the meeting with Oman on Sunday teams, this comes from the and is only likely to improve as good work with my team,” he the effect of a pre-tournament said. “I scored the goals but we injury wears off. all worked together.” “What is the most impor- While football in Qatar tant is that we keep progress- does not yet match the stand- ing in the tournament,” he said, ard in Europe, or even some dismissing personal ambition other Asian leagues, the mon- in favour of Iran ending a 43- ey invested to make the team year wait to lift the Asian Cup. competitive for 2022 is bring- Youth, however, is not ing a return. everything. The only other -born Ali came player to have scored three through the times so far is Kyrgyzstan’s and though a first crack at Eu- Vitalij Lux, thanks to a hat- rope, with Linz in Austria and Almoez Ali (left) celebrates after scoring for Qatar against Saudi Arabia in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Group E preliminary match in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on Thursday. (EPA-EFE) trick against the Philippines. then the Spanish lower-leagues The 29-year-old journeyman failed, he thrived on his return Capable of finishing well and constantly on the move, notebooks on him when they the tournament. stan striker Eldor Shomuro- has spent his career in the to Al Duhail in . with both feet, good in the air scouts will have plenty in their report back to their clubs after Were it not for Ali, Uzbeki- dov would top the scoring German lower leagues. Iran wary of Gulf Cup Practise penalties? No point, says China’s Lippi AFP kicks,” Lippi shrugged. reach the quarter-finals so we Al Ain “From my experience, you are highly motivated.” don’t have to practise penalties China’s also hopes received champions Oman China coach Marcello Lippi because it depends on the mo- a lift when Lippi described Wu, revealed a relaxed approach to ment, it depends on the play- who missed Wednesday’s 2-0 AFC penalty shoot-outs on Satur- er, his character, his mood, if defeat to South Korea, as “ready Abu Dhabi day but declared key man Wu he’s strong enough to handle to go” for Sunday’s game. Lei fit to face Thailand in their the pressure,” he added. Reports from China had Iran head coach Carlos Qui- Asian Cup knockout tie. China coach Marcello Lippi. “You can train every day suggested a serious shoulder eroz has labelled his side’s AFC Although Sunday’s last-16 but in the end training doesn’t injury for the highly influ- Asian Cup Round of 16 match game could go to penalties, England’s penalties win over really help.” ential forward, who scored a against Oman as a ‘50-50’ tie. Lippi, 70, said there was little Colombia at last year’s World China last endured an Asian sparkling double in the Group Queiroz is highly impressed point practising spot-kicks, Cup. But the veteran Italian Cup penalty shootout in 2004, C win over the Philippines. with Pim Verbeek’s Oman and and that he hadn’t yet decided campaigner is no stranger to when they edged Iran to reach Lippi warned that Thailand has warned his players to be on who would take them. shoot-outs after his Italy side the final – with current captain would pose a serious threat in Al their toes against the Gulf Cup The old-school approach is beat France on penalties in the Zheng Zhi one of the scorers. Ain, noting their revamp since champions ahead of the last at odds with the intricate prep- 2006 World Cup final. “The mood in the team is sacking coach Milovan Rajevac 16 tie at the Mohammed bin arations of the likes of Gareth “We haven’t done any very good,” said Zheng, 38. following their 4-1 group defeat Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi Southgate, who masterminded particular training on penalty “We want to do our best to to India. on Sunday. Iran coach Carlos Quieroz feels his side’s AFC Asian Cup Round of 16 Today’s Matches match against Oman on Sunday is a ‘50-50’ tie. Jordan vs Vietnam (2pm) pressive but having said that, aspirations and our targets. Female adulation floors Kyrgyz heartthrob Lux Thailand vs China (5pm) I am confident that if we play When we started, I said we had Iran vs Oman (8pm) our game and the players ex- seven finals to play and tomor- Kyrgyzstan ace Vitalij Lux claims he Cristiano Ronaldo’s 152 million Insta- press themselves, we will pro- row is the fourth one. I am con- would rather sit in his hotel room alone gram followers but a Kyrgyzstan official gress,” said Queiroz. fident my players will deliver than be a sex symbol after his Asian Cup whispered conspiratorially: “girls love him “The Oman team is a very Focus, said the Portuguese what is expected of them.” hat-trick sent female fans into a spin. back home.” Kyrgyzstan will play hosts good team. They have prepared tactician, will be key. Verbeek’s Oman are also The 29-year-old hunk with the James UAE in Abu Dhabi on Monday. well and have achieved fantas- “The group stage results do equally confident, despite hav- Dean film-star looks and a name that “It will be a tough game but they tic results over the last year or not matter now. We played for ing to face the Continent’s top sounds like a designer shampoo, plun- have the pressure, we don’t,” said Lux, so. They played 23, 24 matches points then but now, it is about ranked team. “We will do eve- dered a midweek treble against the Philip- who revealed that Kyrgyzstan President and only lost two or three. survival. I rate the match as 50- rything we can to advance to the pines to fire the White Falcons into the Sooronbai Jeenbekov had delivered a “They have a very good 50 with everything for the win- quarter-finals. My players are last 16 on their tournament debut. rousing pep talk over the phone before coach in Pim Verbeek and we ners and nothing for the losers. excited and confident,” said Ver- “This is new for me,” hat-trick hero Lux their last game. must be careful against them,” “There is no room for mis- beek, who has guided Oman to told AFP in an interview on Saturday. For Kyrgyzstan – hitherto better said Queiroz. takes, regrets, apologies and to- their first AFC Asian Cup knock- “I can’t believe it. I have a lot more known for horseback wrestling, eagle Oman may have qualified as morrows. It all comes down to out stage in four attempts. Instagram followers suddenly.” hunting and dead goat polo -- simply one of the four best third-placed 90 minutes and we must make “Iran are a fantastic team Lux admits he is footloose and fancy- reaching the Asian Cup was an astonish- teams but turned heads with sure we come out on top.” and they will be a challenge free, but the Kyrgyz heartthrob insists he’s shows pictures of him training or lounging ing achievement, given the parlous state fighting performances against Iran, stressed Queiroz, will but as everyone saw, we are a finding it hard to come to terms with his bare-chested by the pool. of football in the former Soviet state. Uzbekistan and Japan before keep the game simple. team who fight till the end,” new-found fame. “It’s definitely an unusual situation But after finishing third behind South losing 2-1 and 1-0 respectively. “I always tell my players to said Verbeek. “I’m still single, I’m searching for the for me but I feel proud the fans believe Korea and China in Group C to squeak Their determination to keep it simple. Control the ball, The Dutchman said he isn’t right one,” he blushed. “But I’m a very shy in me. through themselves, the Kyrgyz players qualify for the knockout pass the ball, don’t lose the ball concerned about Iran’s defence, person. I prefer to sit in my room and just “I get goosebumps just thinking about are daring to dream. stage was so great that they and score. When we have the which has been a fortress. work hard at training.” the hat-trick,” added Lux, who plays his “It’s the biggest achievement in our kept pushing right till the ball, we must always be posi- “They are very strong in Lux’s Instagram followers jumped club football in Germany with SSV Ulm. football history,” said Lux of Kyrgyzstan’s end against Turkmenistan tive and think of scoring.” defence but we have seen some by some 6,000 overnight -- to just over “It was a fantastic feeling – awesome, run to the knockout stage, noting the on Matchday Three, with the That they have done very weaknesses and if my players 9,000 -- after his sharp-shooting swept amazing. It’s given me more self-belief. I country has won Olympic wrestling third goal coming deep in well, having defeated Yemen can create chances, I am sure Kyrgyzstan into the next round. feel stronger, bigger. I didn’t expect it, it medals and long-distance track athlete stoppage time, with the 3-1 5-0 and Vietnam 2-0 before we will score. We have a chance “I’m proud that I have so many follow- was just a perfect day.” Darya Maslova’s gold at last year’s Asian win sealing their place. playing to a 0-0 draw with Iraq. to make more history and there ers,” said the blond bomber, whose feed Lux still has some way to go to catch Games. “They have been very im- “We have our dreams, our will be total commitment.”