VISION SPORT NEW VISION, Tuesday, July 8, 2014 45

2014 Brazil make for Thiago’s AGUERO clemency BRASILIA

Brazil launched a desperate appeal to have skipper Thiago Silva’s ban for their against Germany over- turned on Sunday. Brazil captain Thiago Silva (bottom) was also expected to miss the semi-finals after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament in the 2-1 win over Colombia in the last eight on IS VITAL Friday. The central defender was cautioned for needlessly blocking keeper David Ospina as he was taking a kick and FIFA said they Striker makes timely return were analysing an appeal from the Brazilian Football Assocition. His presence in the team on Tomorrow, 11pm That early goal proved de- Tuesday would be a huge fillip Argentina v Netherlands cisive for Alejandro Sabella’s for a Brazilian public still reeling men to stroll through just as from the loss of talismanic striker Argentinian fans here do Di Maria had done in the the tournament, more Neymar, who was ruled out of not know whether to cry second round fixture against so if the opponents in the rest of the tournament after or rejoice. Switzerland, where his strike waiting are a Dutch team fracturing a vertebra in the win The Sky Blue and White was equally vital. that is extremely solid and over Colombia. army that has grown by Sabella must now find an athletic. That incident continued to the day since the knockout immediate solution to his Sabella, might consider appear on Sunday’s sports news stages started, have been FRED KAWEESI side’s attacking ‘crisis’ –but Enzo Perez as Di Maria’s bulletins on local television caught between two huge IN BELO HORIZONTE one that has been rela- replacement. but Brazil’s former World Cup pillars. tively fixed with the return of But given that Netherlands’ winning captain Carlos Alberto Just a day after Brazil lost Aguero. game-plan duels so much Torres hoped it might end up be- poster boy Neymar to a back remainder of the tournament “Di Maria is vital, almost on wing-play, it would be ing a good omen for the current injury, Argentina suffered a with a muscle tear in his irreplaceable,” coach Sabella prudent to start with either squad. similar injury curse –los- right thigh. was quoted as saying before Ricardo Alvares or Rodrigo The 1970 skipper recalled how ing star midfielder Angel Di It is understood that the the World Cup. Palacio. Amarildo and Garrincha had Maria to a thigh injury. injury is not severe but is Apart from his exciting Aguero missed two games stepped up to fill the void left But unlike Brazil, Argentina serious enough to keep the dribbling skills, Argentina due to a muscle strain but by an injury to Pele in 1962 and have been blessed with the Real Madrid midfielder out will also miss Di Maria’s on the evidence of Sunday’s helped steer Brazil to the title. return of Sergio Aguero from of Wednesday’s semi-final electric pace considering that afternoon training session “In the 1962 World Cup, we injury. against Netherlands. the 26-year-old is Argentina’s at the team’s camp in Belo lost Pele,” he told Sportv. “Maybe “We have missed Aguero. The absence of Di Maria, quickest player. Horizonte, the speedy Man- someone will wake up and be- We are happy he is back. Argentina’s most creative The New York Times once chester City forward should come the Garrincha of 1962.” But we needed Di Maria too. player after team captain Lio- reported that Di Maria ran at least make the substitutes Germany were sure Neymar’s What do you do here, cele- nel Messi, will be a big blow with such vigor during a bench. absence would not weaken the brate or cry?” an Argentinean partly because of his assists World Cup qualifying match Over the last two years, challenge facing them in Belo fan wondered yesterday. and knack to score. last year against Bolivia — Aguero has formed a formi- Horizonte, with Bastian Sch- Di Maria limped out of the Before he departed the played in the thin air of La dable attacking trident with weinsteiger expecting Brazil to quarter-final clash against field in Brasilia on Sunday, Paz, 12,000 feet above sea Lionel Messi and Gonzalo draw strength from the adversity Di Maria had set Argentina Belgium after just half an level — that he needed to be Higuain. suffered by their posterboy. on their way to victory. He hour. given oxygen from a small He is fast, he is quick and striker Aguero is a timely Schweinsteiger’s coach Joachim set up Gonzalo Higuain for And after thorough ex- cylinder. any side would do with such replacement for injured Loew, however, was more con- the all-important goal on amination, the 26-year-old Now that’s a player any side immaculate qualities around Di Maria against the cerned about the methods Brazil eight minutes. has been ruled out of the would need at this stage of the box. Netherlands tomorrow might use in the mouth-watering last four clash, wary of a repeat of the tough tackling that marked their win over Colombia. “There’s precious little left of that traditional Brazilian style of soccer, that artistic style of Chameleone, Radio & Weasel team up for World Cup final playing that we all know so well,” Loew said in an interview. By James Bakama event organiser Ronex Kisembo who, wake of terrorist bomb blasts that left Kampala Metropolitan Police Reuters besides the huge scoreboard, will also over 70 people dead in Kampala dur- spokesman Patrick Onyango said Jose Chameleon together with have two giant screens. ing the 2010 World Cup final, has had much as the force will have serious Radio and Weasle have joined “We want to create something close organisers taking precautions. deployment, the public should also the cast of star artistes that will to the exact stadium atmosphere in Security officers last week said be vigilant. Brazil. It’s a new concept here, but deployment had already began at the On the security measures in place, Namboole. one that should thrill Ugandans,” said sports facility to ensure maximum Onyango explained: “We shall have a They will, together with King Saha, Kisembo. safety. composite effort with different crime Sheebah and DJ Shiru give a musical Gates into the stadium open at mid- “We call upon Ugandans not to be units.” touch to the final that will for the day. “There will also be several other afraid. Come and watch the match. Counter terrorism officer David first time in Uganda be shown on a artistes. It is a Sunday, come and Namboole will be secure,” stated Owinjo said there will be a thorough stadium scoreboard. enjoy a football cup final with lots of Kira Divisional Police Commander sweep for explosives, access control “I’ve concluded contracts with music eats and drinks.” Peter Nkulega at a security briefing at measures on top of counter terrorism them. All is now set,” confirmed The live show, which comes in the Namboole. sensitisation.