Sports Tuesday, January 15, 2019 17 Qatar’s Copa America inclusion more than just football: Cavani

Ayeni Olusegun Doha

When one of Europe’s big- gest football clubs visits town, particularly one with Paris Saint-Germain close ties to the host nation, stars Edinson Cavani Sport and every one is on the edge of (left), Kylian Mbappe culture their seats. (right), and Gianluigi Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Buffon (below) In South America, the Cavani, Neymar and Gian- during a media Copa is the biggest luigi Buffon lead an all-star conference in Doha Paris Saint-Germain team on Monday. (AFP) event after the World on their annual Winter Tour Cup. Qatar’s invitation of Qatar. During this visit, means football is more the French champions will launch a PSG academy and than a game. It is also also hold an open training about sharing cultures session for fans at the Khali- and experiences. fa International Stadium. As Qatar prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, ed the French league Uruguay striker and PSG’s since the takeover record goal scorer Cavani by Qatar Sports In- says Al Annabi’s surprise vestment in 2011, invitation to take part in the winning five of the Copa America in Brazil later last six Ligue 1 titles. this year means football is But with an influx of more than what happens on stars over the years, the the pitch. Champions league still “In South America, the eludes them. Copa is the biggest event af- The club has made no secret ter the World Cup. Qatar’s of their intention to conquer invitation means football is Europe having been to four more than a game. It is also quarter-finals in the last about sharing cultures and six years. The players aim experiences.” tion will be strong and I’m to end the skid ahead of Al Annabi will be the looking forward to playing their last 16 clash against first Arab team to play in the here (Qatar) in three years a resurgent Manchester Copa and will join another time.” United. AFC side in Japan who will Mbappe had a re- “After Jose left United, make their second appear- markable year in 2018, they have found a new ener- ance after 1999. winning the world cup in gy and we know their qual- Cavani also hailed Qa- Russia. He also became ity as a group. tar’s progress ahead of the only the second teenag- “But we are PSG. At our 2022 FIFA World Cup. “This er after Pele to score two level in Europe, we should isn’t my first time here and goals in a knockout stage be able to qualify for the next every year there’s something of the World Cup but still round of the competition,” different. This is a phenom- remains humble a trait he Cavani said. enal place and the sports in- attributes to his parents. For Mbappe, facing any frastructure is exceptional,” “My parents raised me to be team in Europe’s top club he said. humble so it’s nothing diffi- competition is always a In the same vein, World cult. I have been at big clubs tough encounter. Cup winner Kylian Mbappe obviously at Monaco and in “I think United says holding the tournament Paris, it’s just how I was will always be a strong in the summer or winter brought up,” Mbappe said. side. It’s not easy to doesn’t change much. “The play any team in the world cup in the winter or PSG Champions Champions League summer won’t change much League dream but we will give our either way. The competi- Les Parisiens have dominat- best to qualify.”

England women set for Wagner Out! ‘Another galaxy’: Messi’s 400 Huddersfield part company with head goals is ‘monstrous’ training camp in Doha coach David Wagner London: English Premier afp Tribune News Network League side Huddersfield Town Barcelona Doha said on Monday that head coach David Wagner had left the ’s total of 400 La England women’s football club by mutual consent, with Liga goals is “monstrous”, ac- squad is set to launch their the club saying the split was cording to Barcelona coach Er- training camp in Doha from amicable. nesto Valverde, who described Tuesday, 15 January. “I had no intention of sack- his Argentine superstar as be- Coached by former Eng- ing David this season,” Hud- longing to “another galaxy”. land and Manchester United dersfield chairman Dean Hoyle Messi hit his quadruple star Phil Neville, the English was quoted as saying in a club century in the 53rd minute of squad will be training at As- statement. Barca’s win over Eibar on Sun- pire Academy until Janu- “Subsequently David - being day to extend his record as the ary 21, Qatar Football Asso- the great man he is - came to division’s all-time top scorer. ciation (QFA) announced on us and made it clear that he He collected the ball off Sunday. needs a break from the rigours Luis Suarez and drove it into England are conducting of football management.” the bottom corner at the Camp the training camp in prepa- England women national football team. Hoyle said that the decision Nou to reach the historic land- ration for this year’s FIFA had been genuinely mutual: “I mark after 435 matches. Women’s World Cup to be Details released last week most popular destinations know the term ‘mutual consent’ Barca went on to win the held in France. showed 28 players will be for visiting clubs and nation- is often a byword for the manag- game 3-0, with Suarez twice One of 24 teams in the part of the squad in Doha. als team for training purpos- er being sacked in professional on target. tournament, England have England have won the es. football, but this is a truly joint “It’s monstrous,” said Val- Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates scoring their second goal against been paired with Japan, FIFA World Cup four times With Aspire Academy decision,” he said. verde, after the match. “It’s Eibar on Sunday. (REUTERS) Scotland and Argentina. and reached the quarterfinals providing for state-of-the-art Wagner, 47, took over at easy to say but you have to Fourth-ranked England are on three occasions (1995, facilities, around 10 different Huddersfield in 2015, with the score them one after the other, He is from another galaxy.” has gone on to build an enor- one of the favourites for the 2007 and 2011). They also European clubs will be seen club in the Championship. He it’s a long-term job. Messi has finished top mous lead at the top of the World Cup title. reached the Europe Women’s in action during this month. sensationally led them to a “Messi is an extraordinary scorer in La Liga five times. He league’s all-time scoring chart. The English squad’s visit Championship in 1984 and French giants PSG arrived in first promotion to the top tier player because he is not only a has 17 goals already this sea- remains to Doha is part of the arrange- 2009. In the last edition, Doha on Sunday with KAS in its current form - the Premier scorer. It’s everything that he son. the second highest scorer with ment between QFA and the England finished third in Eupen, Bayern Munich and League - in summer 2017 and creates around him too. It is 14 years since Messi 311 goals in 292 games while English Football Association Canada. PSV Eindhoven have already kept them in the division the He added: “His numbers scored his first La Liga goal Spain’s Telmo Zarra is third (FA) last year in February. Doha remains one of the landed in Doha. following season. (dpa) are stratospheric, incredible. and the 31-year-old Argentine with 251 goals in 278 games.

Quick read Klopp delighted Fabinho gives him options in defence QFA allows clubs to sign one Arab player afp recovering from a broken col- his young full-back Trent Al- Doha: Qatar Football Association (QFA) decided Monday to allow London larbone. exander-Arnold has not dam- the first division clubs to sign an Arab player. QFA Executive Com- Klopp, though, enthused aged his ankle too badly. mittee decided to allow each club to register only one player of Brazil midfielder Fabi- over Fabinho’s performance The 20-year-old England Arab nationality (the player must be a citizen of one of the member nho impressed Jurgen Klopp against an admittedly limited international failed to start states of the Arab League at the time of registration with QFA). enough in central defence Brighton attack which leaves against Brighton after turning The player will be registered in the 23-player list of the first team at in Saturday’s 1-0 win over his side seven points clear of his ankle when warming up. QFA and shall be subject to the same conditions of registration of Brighton to reassure the Liv- Manchester City, although the “Trent on the ground -- the foreign professional player. erpool manager he can be a champions can reduce it to he’s a hard boy so that’s not a QFA allowed each club to register and engage the Arab player in the reliable stop-gap partner for four if they beat Wolves later good sign and the doc came, match while maintaining the same system for the number of foreign Virgil van Dijk. on Monday. something with the ankle,” players allowed: three foreign players, one Asian player and one Croatian Dejan Lovren “He is a brilliant player said the 51-year-old German. player with Arab nationality while complying with the same number added to the problems in cen- and I am happy that he can “And it was pretty pain- of allowed homegrown players. The above-mentioned player shall tral defence when the World play (against Brighton) – it’s ful. He made the sprints, but not be a goalkeeper. Cup finalist suffered a ham- now pretty clear (that he can I didn’t like the way he did QFA Executive Committee also decided to allow the player to par- string injury in the FA Cup de- play in defence),” said Klopp. Brighton’s Glenn Murray in action with Liverpool’s Fabinho during their the sprints because when he ticipate in all competitions under the supervision of the association feat by Wolverhampton Wan- “It’s not like it came one Premier League match recently. (Reuters) slowed down, I thought it and the QNB Stars League, except the playoff match between 11th derers last Monday. attack after the other from looked a bit like limping. in QNB Stars League and second in the second division. Joe Gomez is still out with Brighton. “We had the ball “He did well in these situ- has a defending brain and can “I don’t know exactly what This circular will be applied from today until the end of the current a foot injury although Cam- most of the time, so then it ations (dealing with the high do it in different positions, it was and I hope it will not sports season 2018/2019, and this decision will be evaluated eroon international Joel Matip makes sense to have a good ball) and with (playing) the it’s good.” take long, that he doesn’t feel after the end of the current sports season. (QNA) has returned to training after footballer in that position. ball it’s absolutely clear. He Klopp is also hopeful that it any more.”