June 19, 2021 Brooklyn decider The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Brooklyn Nets 104-89 to force a decider in Brooklyn today in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference NBA play-off 7 semi-final, BBC Sport reported. Sports Health experts warn of Olympic COVID-19 threat, prefer no spectators Skocic future Japan’s top medical experts warned on Friday that hold- limiting restaurant hours, have been lifted. ing the Olympics during the COVID-19 pandemic could Tokyo is scheduled to be under the lesser restrictions until increase infections, and said banning all spectators was the July 11 after the state of emergency – the third since April least risky option, setting up a possible collision with organ- last year – expires for the capital on June 20. isers. The lifting of earlier emergencies has been followed by on Iran bench The report, led by top health adviser Shigeru Omi, was fresh increases in infections and strains on hospitals. released after Tokyo 2020’s organising committee chief told The experts’ report said organisers should be prepared to the Sankei newspaper she wanted to allow up to 10,000 spec- act swiftly to ban spectators or declare another state of emer- tators at stadiums for the global sport extravaganza, which gency if needed. It also recommended that if spectators are kicks off on July 23, Reuters reported. allowed, restrictions should be tough, including limiting in doubt Japan is pushing ahead with hosting the multi-billion- them to residents of the local area. dollar delayed Games despite worries about another surge in CO- VID-19 infections and strong public opposition, although organisers have the-afc.com banned spectators from overseas. Sports Desk federation – his appointment drew criticism from many in Cancellation of the the country, who argued he did not have the experience, event – originally meant roatian manager Dragan Skocic will be facing profile, and charisma to get the job done. to showcase a revital- an uncertain future over his job at Iran’s national Skocic’s spell in Iran had seen him manage mid-table ised nation after decades Cteam before the final round of World Cup Asian sides at the Persian Gulf Pro League, though he was praised of doldrums – would be qualifiers begins in September. for his managerial approach in Malavan, Foolad Khuzestan, costly for organisers, the When asked if Skocic will remain in charge for the up- and San’at Naft Abadan. Tokyo government, spon- coming event, Iran Football Federation chief declined to However, the 52-year-old surely believes he has earned sors and insurers. give a clear answer. the right to steer Iran through the end of the qualifications. “This event is differ- “It’s up to federation’s presiding board to make the final He took charge of a disappointed Iranian team, whose ent from ordinary sports decision over Skocic’s future,” said Shahabeddin Azizi- chances of progress hung by a thread after successive de- events in scale and so- Khadem upon Iran’s arrival from Bahrain, after an impres- feats against Bahrain (1-0) and Iraq (2-1) under Skocic’s cial interest and because sive campaign in preliminary qualifiers saw Iran win 4-in-4 predecessor Marc Wilmots. it overlaps with summer to top Group C. Skocic’s man management and ability to establish soli- vacations ... there is a risk Azizi-Khadem cast further doubts on Iran’s job, saying darity among the players led to four wins in the reverse the movement of people he would obey “a collective decision” to whether stick with fixtures which included a 3-0 triumph over Bahrain and a and opportunities to inter- the Croatian, or opt for a more high-profile figure for next first victory over familiar foes Iraq in 10 years – his sev- act during the Olympics round of qualifiers, where Iran will face the likes of Japan, enth in the same number of outings with Iran. will spread infections and South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Australia for a place in Qa- It will be a short period before Iranian fans find out if strain the medical system,” EPA-EFE tar’s showpiece next year. the Croatian will be awarded with a new contract or the the experts said. “Holding with Games without spectators is the Omi, a former World Health Organization official has When Skocic was named Iran’s manager in February federation comes up with a more justified alternative to least risky option and we think desirable.” become increasing outspoken about the risks the event may 2019 – a year before Azizi-Khadem took the helm at the replace him. A final decision on domestic spectators will be made at a spread the virus. Earlier this month, he told parliament it was meeting to be held as early as Monday among Tokyo 2020 “not normal” to hold the Games during a pandemic. organisers, the International Olympic Committee, Interna- Hiroshi Nishiura, a Kyoto University professor and epi- tional Paralympic Committee, Japanese government and To- demiology adviser on the government’s pandemic response kyo Metropolitan government. who is a signatory to the Omi recommendations, said he be- “I would like it to be held with spectators. I plan to head lieved cancelling the Games would be best, but that decision Germany desperate into the five-way meeting with that in mind,” the Sankei was for the government and organisers. newspaper quoted Tokyo 2020 head Seiko Hashimoto as “If the epidemic situation worsened, no spectators and saying in an interview published late on Thursday. cancelling the Games in the middle (of the event) should be for more cutting edge against Portugal Hashimoto said the advice from Omi would inform talks debated,” he told Reuters. among the IOC and others. Japan’s public remains concerned about the health risks. A survey by NHK public TV this month showed 32% favoured Germany coach Joachim Loew is under pressure to find a way The Juventus superstar has now scored a record 11 goals at ‘Not normal’ a cap on spectators, 29% wanted no spectators and 31% for his side to create more chances when they host holders Por- five consecutive Euro finals. wanted the Games to be cancelled. tugal at Euro 2020 today, with their hopes of reaching the knock- But he has never scored against Die Mannschaft. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s government decided on Japan has not experienced the explosive outbreaks seen out stage hanging in the balance. “We hope that we will come out of it with a fifth (successive) Thursday to ease emergency coronavirus curbs in nine pre- elsewhere but a recent surge and initially slow vaccinations win,” said Germany defender fectures including Tokyo while keeping some “quasi-emer- rollout prompted concerns about strains on the medical sys- Matthias Ginter with a grin on gency” restrictions. tem. Thursday. Omi’s experts agreed earlier this week that the number of The country has recorded more than 776,000 cases and However, the fear in Ger- spectators at domestic events could be raised to 10,000, but over 14,200 deaths, while just 15% of its population has re- many is that a loss to Portugal only in areas where “quasi-emergency” measures, including ceived at least one COVID-19 vaccination. could see Euro 2020 become a repeat of the national hu- miliation suffered at the 2018 World Cup. The Germans finished bot- tom of their group in Rus- Wimbledon blow sia after losing their opening game – also by a 1-0 margin – to Mexico in Moscow. as Osaka and Nadal pull out “If some national players, or even the coach, actually Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal have believe that we will walk into pulled out of this year’s Wimbledon, the round of 16, there is a risk depriving the tournament of two of its of repeating the failure of the biggest stars. 2018 World Cup,” read Ger- Osaka, the world No 2, has decided man daily Bild on Thursday. to spend time with her friends and But the players remain family as she recovers from the men- confident they can turn things tal health issues that led her to miss around. “We have an awesome the French Open. But, encouragingly, AFP team, we have the quality and a statement from her management Germany head coach Joachim Loew (L) talks to Mats Hummels during a training session in Munich, Germany, on June 17, 2021. can go more, we still believe in company IMG said she would return us,” said midfielder Emre Can. for her home Olympics next month. A win in Munich would “Naomi won’t be playing Wimble- A tense 1-0 defeat by France in their opening Group F game send Portugal into the knockout phase for a seventh straight Eu- don this year,” the statement read, the leaves the Germans needing a result at the Allianz Arena against ropean Championship. Guardian reported. Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, AFP reported. “It was fundamental to start on the right foot to gain confi- “She is taking some personal time Loew’s efforts to strengthen Germany’s defence meant only dence and now we have to continue in the next game and win with friends and family. She will be a Mats Hummels own goal was the difference against world too,” said Ronaldo after the win over Hungary. ready for the Olympics and is excited champions France. With 106 goals in 176 games for Portugal, Ronaldo is three to play in front of her home fans.” However, the hosts managed just one shot on target on Tues- short of the all-time international record, set by Ali Daei who Nadal, who won the last of his day. scored 109 goals for Iran between 1993 and 2006. two All England Club titles in 2010, “If we can be more vigorous up front, we will be able to beat “We all know his qualities and how easy it is for him to score admitted the fortnight gap between ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP Portugal,” said Loew. goals,” said Portuguese playmaker Bruno Fernandes. the French Open and Wimbledon “The goal is to prolong my career in Beijing in 2008 and in the doubles Germany have won their last four meetings with Portugal over Ginter has admitted “it would be a mistake” for Germany’s this year, rather than the usual three and continue to do what makes me with Marc López in Rio in 2016, con- the last two decades, most recently with a 4-0 victory in the 2014 defence to focus completely on Ronaldo. weeks, had played a significant part in happy, that is to compete at the high- firmed he would also miss the Tokyo World Cup group stage as the Germans went on to win the title Portugal’s Premier League trio of Fernandes, Diogo Jota and his surprise announcement. est level and keep fighting for those Games. in Brazil. Bernardo Silva are all also capable of match-winning moments. “It’s never an easy decision to take professional and personal goals at the “The Olympic Games always However, much has changed in the last seven years. Coach Fernando Santos was even able to start with Andre but after listening to my body and dis- maximum level of competition. meant a lot and they were always a Germany have steadily fallen from being the world’s number Silva, who scored 28 Bundesliga goals for Eintracht Frankfurt cussing it with my team I understand “The fact that there has only been priority,” he added. “But prevention one side to 12th in the FIFA rankings. last season, Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix and Lille’s Ligue 1 that it is the right decision,” said the two weeks between Roland Garros of any kind of excess in my body is a Portugal have risen to fifth and are appear have a much stron- title-winner Renato Sanches on the bench against Hungary. 35-year-old Spaniard, whose run at and Wimbledon didn’t make it easier very important factor at this stage of ger squad than when they were crowned European champions “Now it’s about Germany and we must keep improving,” said Roland Garros this year ended with on my body to recuperate.” my career in order to try to keep fight- in 2016. Santos. an intensely physical 4hr 11min semi- Nadal, a double Olympic cham- ing for the highest level of competi- Portugal sit top of the early Group F table after Ronaldo “’Kill or be killed’, as (ex-Portugal coach Luiz Felipe) Scolari final defeat by Novak Djokovic. pion having won gold in the singles tion and titles.” scored twice in their 3-0 win over Hungary. used to say.”