SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014 46

FAN FERVOR

NATAL: Greece’s Giorgos Samaras (center) is surrounded by Japanese defenders during the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Greece on Thursday, June 19, 2014. — AP Ten-man Greece hold firm to frustrate Japan

NATAL: A desperate rearguard action from 10-man Greece Japan face the Colombians on Tuesday in Cuiaba, when held Japan to a 0-0 draw that suited neither side in a match Greece meet the African team in Fortaleza. which ended with boos ringing around the Dunas arena and Japan, who started with attacking Shinji sent Colombia into the last 16 of the World Cup on Thursday. Kagawa on the bench, had the better of a goalless first half Both sides were looking to get their campaigns back on track without ever really penetrating the Greek defense. Yuya after losing their opening encounters and Greece will be the Osako created the best of Japan’s chances - coming closest happier after playing for 52 minutes without skipper Kostas when he curled a shot just wide of the post after 21 minutes - Katsouranis, who was sent off for two yellow card offences. while a free kick from the edge of the box Japan dominated possession but were unable to make tested Greek goalkeeper . the most of the chances they created against a Greek Katsouranis had been cautioned for fouling defense which once again looked like the one that conceded in the 27th minute and was sent off 11 minutes later after four goals in 10 qualifying matches for Brazil. “We tried to picking up a second yellow card for taking Japan captain attack. We had to play our match. We couldn’t settle for a ’s legs away from underneath him. A veteran draw. This is not a positive result. We absolutely needed to of Greece’s Euro 2004 triumph, midfielder Katsouranis is just win,” said Japan coach , whose side two days away from his 35th birthday and will be particularly opened their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast. “We disappointed that both offences took place deep in the lacked ideas for the final ball. We did a lot of good things but Japan half well away from the danger area. It was Greece we really lacked speed.” The Asian champions stayed true to who came closest to opening the scoring in the remaining the attacking style that made them the first country to quali- minutes before halftime, though, when Vassilis Torosidis fy for Brazil but will now need to beat Colombia in their final launched a thunderbolt of a shot which par- match to have a chance of reaching the knockout stages for ried away at full stretch. a third time. Kagawa came on to a great ovation in the 57th minute but Greece nearly snatched the lead three minutes when No penetration substitute striker got a header on target Greece, who lost their opener 3-0 to Colombia, have nev- which Kawashima got down well to turn around the post. er been past the group stage at a World Cup but victory over Japan should have been ahead after 68 minutes when a sub- Ivory Coast could still get them through to the last 16. “We lime pass set free in the were good in terms of determination, courage and defense box but when the defender’s square ball found Yoshito but we weren’t able to counter-attack,” said Greece coach Okubo, the striker could only blast the ball into the crowd Fernando Santos. “Without the red card we probably could from close range. Another Okubo long-range effort had have won the game.” Colombia top Group C with six points Karnezis parrying away again 10 minutes later and the from their first two games ahead of Ivory Coast with three. Japanese continued to pour forward.— Reuters Why so many goals at the World Cup? RIO DE JANEIRO: After a steadily diminishing football and aggressive pressing now widespread. goals-per-game ratio at recent World Cups, the The example set by players such as Xavi and 2014 tournament has bucked the trend in spectac- Andres Iniesta means that players have become ular fashion. A week into the competition, the accustomed to taking more risks in possession, average number of goals scored per game is just which leads to more turnovers, and in turn, more under 2.9, leaving the tournament on course to goals. become the most high-scoring World Cup since the 1958 event in Sweden (3.6). Here, AFP Sports Warm weather identifies six factors behind the unexpected goal Compared to the cold weather of South Africa, explosion: where the 2010 World Cup took place, games in tropi- cal and sub-tropical Brazil have in the main taken The legacy of ‘tiki-taka’ place amid warm conditions. The heat and humidity Spain’s tournament may have been ended by means that players tire more quickly and when players Chile on Wednesday, but the defending champi- get tired, they make more mistakes. “Certainly (the ons’ six-year reign as the world’s pre-eminent conditions) are playing a part,” said coach national team has had a profound impact on the Ange Postecoglou, quoted by the Daily Telegraph. “It’s way that teams play. The ‘tiki-taka’ passing style contributed to the openness of the competition, pioneered by Spain and Barcelona has been because games get spread in warmer climates. That’s copied around the world, with proactive, attacking why you’ve seen some pretty open games.” — AFP