SPORT Wednesday 13 June 2018 PAGE | 23 PAGE | 28 England aim Messi the star to reverse Cup attraction as fortunes in Russia Banega trains apart Champions Germany join World Cup party AFP “We have a young, hungry team The FIFA world Cup that wants to achieve greatness. We will be played at MOSCOW: Reigning champions want to bring the country together Germany arrived in Russia yesterday and achieve something great,” said 12 stadiums in 11 to join the World Cup party as Tottenham forward Alli. cities across the Belgium downplayed an injury scare England’s Group G opponents European portion over star player Eden Hazard in their Belgium showcased their talents in final warm-up match. a 4-1 victory against Costa Rica in Germany's of Russia starting Gareth Southgate’s youthful Brussels on Monday, featuring two tomorrow for a England team also touched down as goals from Manchester United Mats Hummels 32-day, 64-match excitement mounts ahead of tomor- forward Romelu Lukaku and a glit- (right) and Thomas Muller championship. row’s opening fixture in Moscow tering performance from Chelsea’s between host nation Russia and Saudi Hazard. disembark from Arabia. Hazard limped off with 20 an aeroplane The Germans are Germany, aiming to join Brazil as minutes to go but coach Roberto Mar- as they arrive five-time winners of the World Cup, tinez brushed off concerns, saying in Moscow with among a select landed near Moscow, ahead of their there was “nothing to worry about”. team-mates group of favourites first match against Mexico on Sunday. “He’s very strong, he just had a yesterday. alongside Spain, The Germans are among a select dead leg towards the end of the group of favourites alongside Spain, match,” he said. France and Brazil. France and Brazil but there are lin- Brazil and Neymar attracted an gering questions over their form. army of excited youngsters -- The defending Joachim Loew’s side went five including one who managed to break games without a win before onto the pitch for a selfie -- as they champions open labouring to a 2-1 victory over Saudi held their first training session on their World Cup Arabia in their final warm-up and Russian soil. against Group F first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Around 5,000 locals turned out Neuer has been injured and hardly to watch the relaxed session next to opponents Mexico played since September. the Brazilians’ hotel in the Black Sea in Moscow on But the Germans have made at resort city of Sochi. June 17. least the semi-finals in each of the The €222m ($261m) Paris Saint- past four World Cups and have a Germain forward made his first start habit of finding form when they need on Sunday, against Austria, since Brazil and Neymar it most. undergoing surgery on a foot fracture attracted an The defending champions open at the start of March. army of excited their World Cup against Group F “Neymar is doing great, thanks opponents Mexico in Moscow on June to God,” said goalkeeper Alisson. “I youngsters at 17. They also play Sweden and South think the way the whole process has their first training Korea. been dealt with was perfect. He has session in Russia. Loew warned Germany’s rivals fully recovered.” had all made strides since 2014. But before the action on the pitch England are not among gets under way, today FIFA As soon as the the favourites in Russia members must choose whether final whistle of but the third-youngest to award the 2026 World Cup ThereThTheh will be a high standard Three Lions squad to North America or Morocco. the tournament is to head to a World They will choose of opposition. Spain have blown at Moscow’s Cup boasts between a joint US- imiimproved,m while Brazil and Luzhniki Stadium, Premier Canadian-Mexican bid or Argentina are up there: attention will shift League stars the north Africans to host such as Harry a tournament that will GeGGermane coach Joachim loew to the 2022 World Kane, Dele Alli feature 48 teams for Cup in Qatar. and Raheem the first time. Sterling. General view outside the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, Russia. 22 SPORT WEDNESDAY 13 JUNE 2018 Moscow urges Eriksen’s Denmark not a locals not to drive ahead of one-man show, says coach Cup opener AFP AFP MOSCOW: Moscow ANAPA: Tottenham midfielder authorities are pleading (pictured Christian Eriksen It’s not quite true with locals not to drive below) is Denmark’s standout in the runup to tomor- star but the Nordic side are far that Denmark is row’s World Cup opening from a one-man team, coach Age over-dependent on ! match to avoid causing Hareide said yesterday. Eriksen We have a gridlock in the city. Nicknamed “King Christian”, team that works for The Russian capital Eriksen is one of the top players of 12 million people is in the Premier League and has him but he also works creaking at the seams as been voted Danish Footballer of for us: Age Hareide it starts receiving hun- the Year four times. dreds of thousands vis- The Dane arrived at the itors for the month-long World Cup on a hot streak of Eriksen,” the Norwegian coach football final. international form, with 12 goals said. Fans from the 32 in 13 games, the latest being a “We have a team that works participating nations will strike against Mexico in Den- for him but he also works for us. "# # almost all either be based mark’s final warm-up match. It’s not a one-man show.” $% in Moscow or fly in and His sensational hat-trick “That is the best combi- & out of the sprawling and against Ireland in November nation. Christian is a part of the # chronically congested secured his side’s place in Russia. team but he is also a star, a fan- megalopolis to the other “It’s not quite true that tastic football player,” said 11 host venues. Denmark is over-dependent on Hareide before a training session #$ Moscow officials had in sunny Anapa near the Black &),) $' () *$ insisted for months that Sea coast. #'-# )+# they had planned every- “He can observe space thing out to make sure ' quicker than anybody else, that the city functioned like is his key value for the team.” clockwork once the Hareide said Denmark were not Eriksen, 26, who took time off as it would mean less focus on “I saw that T-shirt picture, games begin. alone in having a standout star. from World Cup preparations other creative players who can it’s funny, people have a good They sounded less “Look at Portugal with (Cris- earlier this month to attend the create chances. imagination, but hopefully there confident yesterday. tiano) Ronaldo or Argentina with birth of his first child, is modest A picture posted on social will be some other tactic,” he The city’s transpor- (Lionel) Messi,” he said. and discreet, even after stellar media of a World Cup T-shirt on said. tation department said “There are many teams with performances on the pitch. sale in Copenhagen jokingly claims Denmark, in Group C, open some of Moscow’s one outstanding player but that He said if opponents con- that Denmark’s sole tactic in Russia their World Cup against Peru in busiest roads will have to is important in a side. It can sider Denmark a one-man team, will be to keep giving the ball to Saransk on June 16 before facing be closed off to general change the game for everyone.” that could play into their hands Eriksen until he scores. Australia and France. traffic to make way for dignitaries arriving for the opening ceremony. “Due to the high number of events and the arrival of important France ready to outgun any guests, additional road restrictions are possible -- especially in the city centre,” the transpor- opponent, says Griezmann tation department said. The city said traffic cops will also be stopping REUTERS traffic to make room for various FIFA delegations MADRID: France forward and busses shuttling in Antoine Griezmann says his I believe in this group and in the important fans from Moscow’s four country have the firepower to airports. achieve their dream of moments we’ll all be there. In attack we “We strongly urge winning the World Cup in know we can do harm to any team. I city residents to use city Russia. feel comfy in the system and I’m close to transport and to leave And he says he doesn’t manager, Didier Deschamps. It’s a good their cars at home for the mind how they do it. coming days,” said the “My objective is to win the setup to get us good results: Griezmann transportation World Cup with France and it department. doesn’t matter how we do it “This will make your or our style of play,” he told a and I’m close to (manager, we know they defend well as trips easier to plan.” news conference yesterday. Didier) Deschamps. It’s a good a unit, but right now we’re Russia has inherited Atletico Madrid striker setup to get us good results.” focused on Australia and the Soviet-era practise of Griezmann, linked with a Griezmann is expected to watching videos of how they shutting down roads move to Barcelona, revealed spearhead the attack for the play.” travelled by senior offi- he had also made up his mind 1998 winners, who are among The much-vaunted striker cials or visiting foreign about his personal future but the pre-tournament refused to answer questions dignitaries.