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THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016 France to deploy 90,000 security for Euro 2016 PARIS: France said yesterday it will deploy thing to avoid a terrorist attack, and we are more than 90,000 police and security preparing to respond.” guards for Euro 2016, vowing to do “every- The Stade de France, which will host the thing possible to avoid a terrorist attack” opening game and final, was targeted by during the football tournament that starts suicide bombers during the attacks by the next month. The announcement followed Islamic State group on the French capital in chaos on Saturday at the Stade de France November. The assailants tried unsuccess- national stadium when smoke bombs were fully to get inside the security perimeter. set off during the national cup final, spark- ing panic. Interior Minister Bernard No ‘specific threat’ Cazeneuve told the sports daily L’Equipe Cazeneuve said security inside the stadi- that the match between Paris Saint- um is the responsibility of UEFA, while safe- Germain and Marseille should not be con- ty at the “fan zones”-which will accommo- sidered a test for Euro 2016. “They were not date seven million people-will be in the the same spectators, not the same organis- hands of private security agents. “Fan ers, nor the same security deployment,” he zones are secure spaces,” he said. “I took the said. “However, what happened will be tak- decision to impose security pat-downs at en into account” ahead of the month-long entrances, to use metal detectors and to football tournament, which kicks off on ban bags inside. If there were no fan zones, June 10 with matches to be played at 10 fans would regroup in an ad hoc setting venues around the country. Cazeneuve lat- and the risk (of an attack) would be greater.” er wrote on Twitter that 77,000 police and Despite the beefed-up measures, the paramilitary police would be deployed, interior minister said there was no particu- along with 13,000 private security guards. lar threat against the football tournament. Some of the 10,000 soldiers deployed “At this time we do not have a specific around France since last year’s jihadist threat to a specific team or a specific player, attacks in Paris will also be used to secure a specific match, or a specific fan zone,” he the matches, he said. “Our objective is for said. He added that protests would not be the Euro to be a big festive gathering, but banned but did not rule out possible disor- we owe the French the truth. Zero percent der as the country is gripped by a major precaution means 100 percent risk, but 100 labor strike. “It remains an open possibility... percent precaution does not mean a zero that security cannot be guaranteed by law ROME: Antonio Conte (C), Italy’s national football team head coach and former coach of Juventus, is seen in the stands before the Italian Tim percent risk,” he said. “We are doing every- and order forces.” —AFP Cup final football match AC Milan vs Juventus on May 21, 2016 at the Olympic Stadium. — AFP Germany’s Hummels injured while Disruptions, distractions Schweinsteiger remains on track ASCONA: World Cup winners Germany were Schweinsteiger, who had an injury-plagued could undo Conte’s Italy without stalwarts Mats Hummels and first season at United and played just 18 Bastian Schweinsteiger as they began league games, also had to race to get fit for preparing yesterday for Euro 2016 but coach the 2014 World Cup with Germany winning ROME: Italy coach Antonio Conte goes into the brilliant goalkeeper in captain Gianluigi Buffon. tract with Juventus beyond his 40th birthday Joachim Loew was confident both would be the trophy for the fourth time. “There is a European Championship with questions hang- However, injuries have disrupted Conte’s mid- as he also seeks the equally elusive fit for the finals. Central defender Hummels plan for me and I follow it by the hour,” he ing over his team after injuries disrupted his field plans with Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Champions League. picked up a calf muscle injury in Borussia said. “It worked two years ago. Maybe I was selection plans and a lack of punch was exposed Verratti and Claudio Marchisio of Juventus He has been a runner-up in both, finishing on Dortmund’s German Cup final defeat by even worse back then than today. Little by up front. Adding to the frustrations of only occa- both out of the tournament after injuries the losing side in the Euro 2012 final against Bayern Munich on Saturday. little I will move forward.” — Reuters sional get-togethers with his players has been requiring surgery. Spain in Kiev. The question is whether Antonio “He has a muscle fiber tear in his calf and the distraction of his impending move back to He is sure to turn to PSG’s Thiago Motta, Conte’s Italy will be good enough to go one bet- will be out for a few days. At the moment club football with Chelsea. whose only appearances under Conte were in ter even with record holder Buffon, ripening the only thing possible is treatment,” Loew However, the former Juventus coach was the two March friendlies, to fill the breach. Italy with age like a vintage Chianti, between the told reporters after Germany’s first training relieved to be cleared of any role in a 2011 can field an impressive all-Juventus defense with posts. Buffon, Italy’s most capped player with session in their camp in northern Italy. Loew, match-fixing scandal while in charge of Serie B Buffon in goal and Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio 156 appearances, set a Serie A record in March of who trained with only 16 players yesterday side Siena a month before the tournament’s Chiellini and even 2006 World Cup veteran 974 minutes without conceding a goal. morning, also sounded upbeat about cap- June 10 kickoff. The passionate Conte showed Andrea Barzagli in the back line. “I was born for this type of work and to be the tain Schweinsteiger’s recovery with the his frustration with managing a national team Up front, Conte will be looking to talented lit- exception,” Buffon was recently quoted as saying Manchester United player out of action when he graphically described his displeasure tle Napoli winger Lorenzo Insigne and striker in La Gazzetta dello Sport. “If it could happen since March with a knee injury. “Physically he with the long spells “in the garage” and far Stephan El Shaarawy, who has spent the season that I’d be the first player to compete in six has done everything asked of him. from the track. at AS Roma on loan from AC Milan, for flair and World Cups, it would certainly mean something Sometimes he trained as much as three That will not lessen his desire to bow out in goals. Italy open their Group E campaign on because of its rarity,” he added with the 2018 times a day,” Loew said. “He has a good basis glory in France and he has the tactical nous and June 13 in Lyon against second-ranked Belgium, tournament in his sights. He has seen action at now and I am optimistic for the coming motivational powers to succeed. “I’m very tired who beat Conte’s team in a friendly last year, and the last four tournaments after being an unused weeks.” Loew said the 31-year-old of spending so much time in the garage,” he also face Ireland and Sweden. reserve at France 1998. Schweinsteiger, who has 114 caps, could said before two March friendlies in which Italy Any goalkeeper keeping a string of clean train fully in terms of running and sprinting drew 1-1 with European Championship holders Legend Buffon still standing sheets needs the help of a good defense and but would need a few days before starting Spain and were beaten 4-1 by World Cup win- There is no stopping master goalkeeper Buffon has that at Juventus with Italy team mates to work with a ball. ners Germany. Gianluigi Buffon in his ambition to add more Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Germany, drawn in Group C along with “In the garage, I smelt the smell of the major titles to his collection of the 2006 World Barzagli, but he also has to be a rounded per- Ukraine, Poland and Northern Ireland, are machine, or rubber and motor oil, not the grass Cup and seven Serie A championships. Buffon, former. Buffon is a remarkable shot stopper, com- looking for their first continental trophy in of the pitch.” Italy, who lost the Euro 2012 final to who will lead Italy in France when they look to manding in the air, a fine reader of opposition 20 years, with the last of three Euro titles Spain in Kiev, were unbeaten in the qualifiers end a 48-year wait for their second European attacks and organizer of the defense and a back in 1996. “I am doing well at the BERLIN: Dortmund’s defender Mats this time round thanks to a strong defense and a Championship crown, has extended his con- respected voice in the changing room. — Reuters moment and I am very optimistic,” Hummels reacts during the German Cup Schweinsteiger told reporters. “The good (DFB Pokal) final football match Bayern thing is that I can deal with these situations. Munich vs Borussia Dortmund at the I have had difficult times before.” Olympic stadium. —AFP Swedes hope Ibrahimovic Striker Kane sees able keeps on scoring in France STOCKHOLM: Having secured their These include six of the side who and Emir Kujovic topped the scor- tral midfield that will give Hamren partnership with Vardy spot at Euro 2016 by beating were victorious at last year’s U21 ing charts in Sweden’s Allsvenskan his biggest headaches.