Ramos Endures a Miserable Landmark
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15 Sports Monday, November 16, 2020 France, Germany shine; Ramos endures a miserable landmark France eclipse holders Portugal to reach Nations League final 4 PARIS: World champions France and Germany roared back with three unanswered goals by Leroy rode on the influence of their Chelsea stars to rack Sane and Werner, who scored either side of half- up Nations League wins on Saturday while Spain’s time, to seal a deserved win. Sergio Ramos missed two penalties on the night he In Basel, Ramos missed two penalties as Spain celebrated a record-setting 177th international needed a late equalizer from Gerard Moreno to appearance. Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante draw 1-1 with Switzerland. Ramos was making his scored just his second international goal as France 177th appearance to break the international defeated European champions Portugal 1-0 in appearances record for a European player, pulling Lisbon to secure a place in next year’s finals. clear of Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon, who has 176. But it Kante was quickest to react to a rebound as he was a night to forget for the defender, who saw one netted the winner on 53 minutes that clinched spot-kick saved by Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer France top spot in their group. France lead Cristiano but backed himself to score a second, only to miss Ronaldo’s Portugal by three points ahead of again with a dreadful attempted ‘Panenka’. Tuesday’s clash with Sweden in Paris but are guar- Ramos had previously scored 25 penalties in a anteed first place by virtue of their superior head- row and his inaccuracy from the spot cost Spain, to-head record. who will now have to beat Germany to reach the “It’s very nice to see them snatch the win. It’s final stage. “Sergio’s numbers for penalties are out deserved. We’ve fulfilled our objective of finishing of this world,” said Spain coach Luis Enrique. “If first,” France coach Didier Deschamps said after the there had been a third penalty, he would have taken win over a Portuguese side which had won the inau- that one as well.” Remo Freuler gave the Swiss a gural Nations League title on home soil in 2019. 26th-minute lead but they had Nico Elvedi sent off LEIPZIG: Ukraine’s goalkeeper Andrey Pyatov (center) fails to save the 3-1 scored by Germanyís forward Timo Kante’s teammate in the English Premier League for conceding the second penalty with 11 minutes Werner (not in picture) during the UEFA Nations League Group 4 football match of Germany vs Ukraine on Timo Werner scored twice on his return to Leipzig left. Spain finally found an equalizer in the 89th November 14, 2020. — AFP as Germany enjoyed a 3-1 win over Ukraine. Werner minute as Moreno capitalized on a tiring Swiss spent four years at Leipzig before moving to defense by converting Sergio Reguilon’s cross. London and he flourished in familiar surroundings the 20-year-old controlled a long pass from Mikael fielder Marcelo Brozovic and defender Domagoj Vida, at the Red Bull Arena despite the absence of fans. Shadow of COVID-19 Lustig before scoring. Defender Marcus Danielson, both of whom had tested positive for Covid-19. The The win leaves Germany undefeated in their last After losing all four of their opening games in the who plays his club football in China with Dalian Pro, coronavirus pandemic also saw UEFA cancel Sunday’s 12 games and top of their group, a point ahead of Nations League, Sweden finally found some form in headed in the second from a corner in first-half match between Romania and Norway after Norwegian second-placed Spain with the sides due to meet in Solna, beating World Cup runners-up Croatia 2-1. stoppage time. Danielson had the misfortune to put authorities banned the squad from travelling to Sevilla tomorrow. “I had four good years here and it The Swedes, whose coach Janne Andersson has through his own goal with eight minutes left after Bucharest due to a COVID-19 case. Norway’s health was fun to come back and win,” Werner told ZDF. been sidelined with coronavirus, were 2-0 up at making contact with an Ivan Perisic header. minister had ordered the squad not to travel after full- Ukraine took an early lead when Roman Yaremchuk half-time. Juventus star Dejan Kulusevski opened Croatia had beaten the Swedes 2-1 in their first back Omar Elabdellaoui, who plays for Galatasaray in caught the German defence napping. The hosts his international account in the 36th minute when meeting but they arrived for the return without mid- Turkey, tested positive for coronavirus. — AFP England thrash Georgia in Autumn Nations Cup Nonu marks Toulon TWICKENHAM: Jamie George declined kickable penalties as they became the first England hooker to attempted to nullify the visitors’ comeback with win score a hat-trick of tries in a Test as scrum-the strongest part of their they opened their Autumn Nations game. over struggling Agen Cup campaign with a comfortable Meanwhile the players’ shouts 40-0 win over Georgia at were clearly audible in a match PARIS: Ma’a Nonu may be 38 years of age, but Twickenham on Saturday. Six Nations played behind closed doors because the ex-All Black centre showed glimpses of his champions England were out of sight of coronavirus restrictions. England’s former glittering past in an assured comeback at half-time, leading 26-0 after scor- pressure eventually told when Willis, for Toulon in their comprehensive 38-9 Top 14 ing four of their six tries. given a first cap on the back of an victory over Agen on Saturday. More than 900 Jack Willis marked his Test debut outstanding 2019/20 season with days since he last turned out for Toulon, the two- with the opening try before George Wasps, was driven over for a 15th- time World Cup winner, capped 103 times by crossed twice and full-back Elliot minute try that Farrell converted. New Zealand, again proved a menacing pres- Daly went over. The second half saw England, last year’s losing World Cup LONDON: England’s lock Joe Launchbury runs with the ball during the Autumn Nations ence in midfield, against an Agen side that has George complete his hat-trick before finalists, continued to play the game Cup international rugby union match between England and Georgia at Twickenham in now lost all nine games this season. replacement scrum-half Dan Robson deep in Georgia’s 22 but too often London on November 14, 2020. — AFP Nonu bossed Toulon’s effective defense, pro- snuck over. England captain Owen squandered promising positions by ducing a couple of turnovers and a solid tackling Farrell kicked five conversions. For all kicking possession away and knock- wins in succession with a hard-fought are due to face the afflicted Fijians. “I display, albeit against the club which has not that Argentina had caused a huge ing-on. It was not until the 29th 28-17 bonus-point victory over Italy always ask the boys to believe in only the worst attacking record of the Top 14, upset earlier Saturday by beating minute that England had their second in the Autumn Nations Cup in themselves as individuals and us as a but also the worst defensive one. A slick one- New Zealand in Sydney, there was an try when George was driven over Florence on Saturday. The Scots collective,” Scotland captain Stuart step pass by Nonu’s Australian midfield partner inevitability about this result even from a close-range line-out. played on the back foot for most of a Hogg told Amazon Prime Video. Duncan Paia’aua enabled winger Erwan Dridi a though it took England 15 minutes to And four minutes later, George first half which saw tries for Italy full- “The boys want to go out there clear run in for the opening try. open the scoring in what was had his second try, again from a back Matteo Minozzi and Scotland and express themselves. You can see The Kiwi’s attacking guile was demonstrated Georgia’s first Test at Twickenham. rolling maul. Farrell missed the con- wing Duhan van der Merwe. But after that we have a smile on our faces and as he produced a deft grubber through that was The teams had only met twice version but England still led 19-0. slipping 14-7 down early in the sec- we’re enjoying our rugby and ulti- collected on the Agen line by Fijian flanker before, with England enjoying com- And before half-time, England had a ond half, Gregor Townsend’s side hit mately we’re winning Test matches. Masivesi Dakuwaqa for try number two. France fortable 84-6 and 41-10 wins at the fourth try as their backs got in on the back with tries from prop Zander “That’s what we’re here to do and scrum-half Baptiste Serin missed the two con- 2003 and 2011 World Cups. And the act. Jonathan Joseph, playing on the Fagerson, lock Scott Cummings and long may it continue.” Scotland went versions, having hit an early penalty. Two Paul omens were not promising for a wing rather than his usual centre replacement hooker George Turner to into the game looking for their fifth Abadie penalties, allied with a Jean-Marcellin Georgia side rarely exposed to top- position, cut across field and deploy- complete the win. successive win but missing both first Buttin drop-goal, kept Agen in the game at 13-9 class opposition outside of World ing a clever dummy as he burst Italy’s 20-year-old fly-half Paolo choice fly-halves Finn Russell and at half-time.