6 May 22, 2018 Swedes Beat Swiss in Iran Names Initial Penalty Shootout to Defend Squad for World Cup Ice Hockey World Title Hailing the Iranian players for their efforts, high morale and good training, Rouhani said victory and success in the upcoming competition are not out of reach. He also explained that success is not restricted to a win or scoring goals, but good performance in the field that attracts spectators would amount to real victory. The president went on to say that the Iranian footballers in the World Cup will be representing a great country with rich cultural and historical background, adding that good performance in the games could bring glory to the nation. The Iranian squad is in Turkey for a match in preparation for the World Cup. Iran has been drawn in Group B of the 2018 World Cup along with Morocco, Spain and Portugal. Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Rashid Sven Andrighetto of Switzerland scores during the penalty shootout. Mazaheri (Zob Ahan), Amir Abedzadeh (Maritimo/ COPENHAGEN (Reuters) caught out switching players. POR) – Sweden have defeated Switzerland had to endure huge Defenders: Ali Gholizadeh (Saipa), Majid Hosseini (Esteghlal), Milad Mohammadi (Akhmat Grozny/ Switzerland in a dramatic pressure from the defending RUS), Mohammad Khanzadeh (Padideh), Morteza penalty shootout after a champions for much of the President Rouhani takes a family photo with members of Iran’s national football team and their Pouraliganji (Alsaad/QAT), Pejman Montazeri Copenhagen pulsating Ice rest of the period and Mika coaches in Tehran, May 20, 2018. (Esteghlal), Ramin Rezaeian (Ostende/BEL), Roozbeh Hockey World Championship Zibanejad put the Swedes level Cheshmi (Esteghlal) final at the Royal Arena in again with a power play goal as TEHRAN (Dispatches) - Jalal Hosseini and Vouria also chosen. Midfielders: Ehsan Haji Safi (Olympiacos/GRE), Copenhagen to retain the title Enzo Corvi sat out a two-minute Ghaffouri have both been left off Iran’s provisional 24- Goalkeeper Amir Abedzadeh of Portuguese club Karim Ansarifard (Olympiacos/GRE), Masoud Shojaei they won against Canada in penalty for holding. man squad for the World Cup. Maritimo made the squad. His father, Ahmadreza (AEK Athens/GRE), Mahdi Torabi (Saipa), Omid Iran coach Carlos Queiroz did not say why Hosseini, Abedzadeh, was Iran captain and goalkeeper at the Ebrahimi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Amkar Perm/ similar fashion a year ago. The Swedes tried to make a Persepolis defender, and Ghaffouri were not included. 1998 World Cup in France. RUS) With the game finishing 2-2 the most of their superior Alireza Jahanbakhsh, a 24-year-old forward who Earlier on Sunday, members of Iran’s national football Forwards: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (AZ Alkmaar/NED), after overtimes, Swedish goalie skating with some mesmerising plays in the Netherlands with AZ Alkmaar, is also in the team, known as Team Melli, had a meeting with the Ashkan Dejageh (Nottingham Forest/ENG), Mahdi Anders Nilsson saved three of movement but the stifling Swiss squad, which was announced Sunday. president, a few weeks ahead of their first match in the Taremi (Al-Gharafa/QAT), Reza Ghoochannejhad five Swiss penalties and saw defense held firm and the game In the midfield, Queiroz chose Saeid Ezatolahi, World Cup 2018 in Russia. (Heerenveen/NED), Saman Ghoddos (Ostersunds/ another fly wide to put his nation finished 2-2, forcing a frenetic although the Amkar Perm player will miss the team’s Iranian President Hassan Rouhani praised the SWE), Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Vahid on the top step of the podium for scoreless overtime period in first World Cup match because he was given a red card country’s 2018 World Cup squad for their efforts and Amiri (Persepolis) the second year in a row. which Sweden’s Adam Larsson With all the pressure on hot hit a post in the dying seconds. Inter Milan Snatch Champions League Spot From Lazio favorites Sweden, the Swiss took Nilsson could not stop Sven the lead late in the first period Andrighetto’s first penalty but MILAN (AFP) - Inter Milan have slotting in a penalty after 78 minutes snatched the final Champions League following a Stefan De Vrij foul to join through Nino Niederreiter but that puck was the last to ripple berth with a dramatic come-from- Lazio’s Ciro Immobile as the top Serie Gustav Nyquist rifled the puck his net as Oliver Ekman-Larsson behind 3-2 win over direct European A scorer this season with 29 goals. into the top corner to level and Filip Larsson scored before rivals Lazio on the final day of the Lazio captain Senad Lulic was sent within a minute. Nilsson stopped Niederreiter’s season at the Stadio Olimpico. off late for a second yellow card with Undeterred, the Swiss went effort to claim the title. Inter had to win in order to take third Vecino heading in the winner minutes ahead once again early in the Earlier, Nick Bonino, Anders place from Lazio who had a superior later as the Roman side fell apart with second period when Nyquist Lee and Chris Kreider fired a head-to-head record and needed just Spanish defender Patric also sent off in to draw. the dying minutes of the game. was penalized for high sticking three-goal salvo in five minutes Late goals from captain Mauro Both Inter and Lazio finished equal as Timo Meier steamed down late in the third period as the Icardi and Matias Vecino ensured on 72 points but Inter are ahead on the right side and swept home United States outclassed Canada Inter return to Europe for the first time direct clashes leaving Lazio fourth, the puck as the Swedes got 4-1 in the bronze-medal game. since the 2011-2012 season, along five points behind Roma who beat with Juventus, Napoli and Roma. Sassuolo 1-0 on Sunday. Lazio had led 2-1 with a quarter Lazio go into the Europa League of an hour to go in Rome after Ivan along with AC Milan who sealed Yates Storms to Third Perisic turned the ball into his own net direct access to the group stage with and Brazilian Anderson got a second a 5-1 rout of Fiorentina, who finish Spanish striker Jose Maria Callejon scored the winner for Napoli. four minutes before the break. eighth. Giro Stage Win But Danilo D’Ambrosio got one “There is great regret for what could Inzaghi. “It takes nothing away from could compete with anyone, we beat back after 29 minutes with Icardi have been,” said Lazio coach Simone the season we had. We showed we Juventus twice.” Iraq to Host First Fired Coach Halilhodzic Suing International Japanese Soccer Association Football TOKYO (AP) - Vahid Halilhodzic Vincent said Halilhodzic feels is suing the Japanese soccer betrayed and hurt by the dismissal. Tournament association and its president after he He said the suit would be filed was fired as national coach only two Thursday in a Tokyo district court. BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraq is months before the World Cup. ‘’We’re doing this for honor, and to host a West Asia Football Lionel Vincent, the lawyer there’s no price for honor,’’ Vincent Federation championship in the representing Halilhodzic, told said. southern city of Basra in November, LONDON (Dispatches) - individual time trial and another the first international tournament to media on Monday that the suit asks Halilhodzic was fired on April Britain’s Simon Yates has stormed awarded to him after stage be staged in the country since the for an apology from association 7 and replaced by Japanese coach to a sensational solo win on stage winner Mauro Santambrogio 1990s. president Kozo Tashima and Akira Nishino. The JFA said 15 to take a tight grip on the tested positive for EPO and had Iraqi authorities late Sunday indemnification of 1 Japanese yen Halilhodzic was fired for a ‘’lack of overall lead at the Giro d’Italia. his results annulled. hailed WAFF’s invitation to host the - less than 1 cent. communication.’’ The 25-year-old attacked with Dumoulin stays second overall tournament, following the decision 18km to go off the stage to after battling through to finish in March of world football’s Sappada to blow away his rivals third on the stage, 41 seconds governing body FIFA to lift a for the pink jersey. behind Mitchelton-Scott rider three-decade ban on Iraq hosting Nadal Back at Number One Ahead of Bid On a day when Chris Froome Yates and picking up only four international football. lost more time, reigning bonus seconds for his placing Iraq is now “eager to organize a for 11th French Open Crown champion Tom Dumoulin also compared to Yates’ 10 for the fell back. stage win. major footballing event and to show ROME (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal become world number one for a long assured, Nadal will head to that it is ready at all levels”, Iraqi No Briton has ever won the Giro Monday is a rest day before returned to the top of the world sixth time ahead of the French Open. Paris next week a strong favorite but with one week to go Yates Tuesday’s time trial when Yates Football Association spokesman rankings on Monday after winning If the rankings were based solely to get his hands on the Coupe Kamel Zaghir told AFP, confirming now has a lead of two minutes 11 faces a battle to stay in the maglia his eighth Italian Open title at the on claycourt play, however, the des Mousquetaires for a record- seconds. rosa. Basra would host the tournament weekend to confirm once more his Spaniard would rarely have left extending 11th time.