46 Friday Sports Friday, June 1, 2018 Japan’s coach Nishino opts for experienced World Cup squad Honda, Kagawa and Okazaki included TOKYO: Japan head coach Akira Nishino named ted. Ideguchi and Asano’s non-selection means an experienced final 23-man squad for the 2018 that the players who secured Japan’s World Cup World Cup in Russia yesterday. Coming off the berth with goals against Australia will not feature back of a disappointing 2-0 loss to Ghana on in Russia, as well as former coach Vahid Halil- Wednesday, Nishino’s sole game in charge so far hodzic, who led them through Asian qualifying. since taking over in April, the former international Playmakers Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda midfielder decided to stick with a travelling party have also been included, with the former proving filled with established players. his fitness over 45 minutes against Ghana follow- The squad includes three players with more ing a troublesome ankle injury. Prior to that, Ka- than 100 caps-Yuto Nagatomo, Shinji Okazaki gawa had only played 15 minutes of football for and captain Matoko Hasebe-and only two out- Borussia Dortmund since February. Leicester field players with fewer than 10 international ap- City’s Okazaki will be relied on for goals, having pearances. Eleven of the selected players scored 50 for his country in 112 appearances. The featured at the last World Cup in Brazil. The play- other two forwards chosen, Werder Bremen’s ers cut from the original 27-man squad were for- Yuya Osako and Yoshinori Muto of Mainz, have ward Takuma Asano and midfielders Yosuke only scored nine international goals between them. Ideguchi and Kento Misao, while another mid- Turning his attention to the finals, Nishino said fielder, Toshihiro Aoyama, had already pulled out he was aim was to make the second round for the of the squad through injury. third time in Japan’s history. “If we can achieve YOKOHAMA: Japan’s head coach Akira Nishino speaks to the audience at a farewell ceremony for Ideguchi was the only one of the omitted that result then that means we have correctly ex- the national team after the international friendly football match between Japan and Ghana at Nissan players to take part in the loss to Ghana. “The ex- pressed Japanese soccer,” the 63-year-old said. Stadium in Yokohama on May 30, 2018. — AFP perienced players have been doing very well re- First up in Russia will be Colombia, who Japan cently. So the idea is to have a mix of face on June 19 in Saransk. “Now, I want to focus experienced players and the young players,” on defeating Colombia. That would be a small Colombia, Samurai Blue will face Senegal and squad before Russia when Japan face Switzer- Nishino said at a news conference in Tokyo, miracle,” added Nishino, who cast a glum figure Poland in a tough-to-call Group H. Nishino will land and Paraguay in their final warm-up matches without specifying why the trio had been omit- throughout the news conference. As well as get two more chances to run his eye over the early next month.— Reuters Ibrahimovic scores Danilo comes twice but Galaxy to Sterling’s fall to FC Dallas defense in gun tattoo row LOS ANGELES: Zlatan Ibrahimovic returned from a one-game suspension to score two goals Wednesday, but it was too little LONDON: Manchester City defender too late as his Los Angeles Galaxy fell 3-2 at home to FC Dallas. Danilo has played down the row surround- The Galaxy had won two games in a row and hoped to continue ing team mate Raheem Sterling’s gun tattoo. the trend when they welcomed back Ibrahimovic, who sat out a A picture of Sterling’s tattooed leg ap- match after receiving a red card for slapping Montreal’s Michael peared on the front page of Britain’s popu- Petrasso on May 21. But FC Dallas, solidifying their status as lar Sun tabloid on Tuesday and prompted Major League Soccer Western Conference contenders, had the criticism from anti-gun campaigners. But game well in hand by the time Ibrahimovic broke through. the 23-year-old England forward insisted Ryan Hollingshead scored his first goal of the season in the there was a deeper meaning behind the tat- 33rd minute as he finished off a crisp sequence by FC Dallas. too than was apparent from first glance. In Hollingshead then set up the visitors’ second goal, his cross from an Instagram post from England’s pre- the left headed in by Cristian Colman shortly before halftime. World Cup training camp at St George’s After Ibrahimovic had a goal waved off for offside just after the Park, Sterling wrote: “When I was 2 my fa- hour mark, the Galaxy saw two chances off of corner kicks go ther died from being gunned down to death begging. Dallas seized a 3-0 lead in the 66th minute after I made a promise to myself I would never Michael Barrios’ shot forced a one-handed save from Galaxy touch a gun in my life time, I shoot with my goalkeeper David Bingham and Carlos Gruezo to headed home right foot so it has a deeper meaning N still the rebound. Ibrahimovic, the former Manchester United and unfinished.” LONDON: Brazilís defender Danilo (center) takes part in a training session at Tottenham Sweden striker who made a dramatic arrival in MLS in March, England’s governing Football Associa- Hotspurís Enfield Training Centre, north-east of London. — AFP produced the Galaxy’s first goal in the 69th, and the hosts gained tion backed what it said was Sterling’s an edge when Colman was sent off in the 80th. Ibrahimovic took “honest and heartfelt account” of why he advantage with a goal in second-half stoppage time, but the rally had the new tattoo and now City teammate “It is something that is up to him. It is some- lighted by his time working with City man- would go no further. It was another disappointing home defeat Danilo has also come to his defense. “Many thing that he is feeling and makes sense to ager Pep Guardiola during the defender’s for the Galaxy, who have lost more matches at StubHub Center times in football we give too much attention him.” Danilo, 26, saw his first season in Eng- inaugural campaign in English football. “It than they have won. Dallas, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten to these details,” he said Wednesday at the land end with the Premier League title fol- was an incredible experience,” he added. run to five games and on 23 points are two points behind West- training ground of Tottenham Hotspur in lowing his arrival from Spanish giants Real “I’m a big fan of Guardiola and how he ern Conference leaders Kansas City.—AFP north London, where Brazil are holding a Madrid. Although he had to share full-back plans the game. It was a great experience pre-Russia 2018 training camp of their own. duties with Kyle Walker, Danilo was de- to work with him.”— AFP .