SPORTS Monday, September 4, 2017 21

IscoMadrid sparks Spain rout of Italy the rest of his teammates,” said Euro 2016 little over a year pain took a giant step Spain coach Julen Lopetegui. ago with a comprehensive 2-0 towards qualifying for next “He opened the game up for last-16 win, the visitors were Syear’s World Cup as ’s us with his two goals.” thoroughly outplayed in the double and Alvaro Morata’s Italy’s first defeat in a first 45 minutes. late strike swept aside Italy 3-0 qualifier since 2006 means However, the Azzurri had at the Santiago Bernabeu on Spain now lead Group G of one glaring opportunity when Saturday. European qualifying by three ’s powerful Isco was the star performer points with just three games header produced an excellent in a brilliant team display from remaining and can also reaction save from David de the hosts as his early free-kick count on a far superior goal Gea. and long-range effort before difference. Spain’s passing and half-time put Spain in control The Azzurri are now likely pressing in the first period before Morata came off the to face a tricky two-legged was reminiscent of the glory bench to rub salt in Italian playoff in November to book period in which La Roja wounds. their place in Russia. won three consecutive major “Isco was magnificent, like “We’ve seen a match in which Spain’s Isco (2ndL) vies with Italy’s forward (L) and tournaments between 2008 there was a huge difference Italy’s midfielder (2ndLR) and Italy’s midfielder and 2012. Other results in the quality and physique And a flowing team move of the sides,” admitted Italy got the finish it deserved Croatia 1 Kosovo 0 boss Giampiero Ventura. striker as Real ’s opener, although it was his club Isco scooped the resulting five minutes before half-time Finland 1 Iceland 0 “Our objective is to work made his first teammate Isco who provided free-kick over the Italian wall when Isco cut inside onto Ukraine 2 Turkey 0 hard to get to the World competitive international start the killer touch on 14 minutes. and beyond legendary keeper his weaker left foot, but still Georgia 1 Republic of Ireland 1 Cup and be competitive at as one of six . was lucky , who was dispatched an unstoppable Serbia 3 Moldova 0 the World Cup.” Asensio has made a habit of only to see a yellow card for slow to react. effort from outside the box Wales 1 Austria 0 Lopetegui opted to scoring on his debuts for Real chopping down Asensio on the In stark contrast to when low past the helpless Buffon. Israel 0 Macedonia 1 start without a recognised and was heavily involved in the edge of the area. Italy dumped Spain out of (AFP) Rooney promises no Henderson keeps England England U-turn armband against Slovakia Enfield, United Kingdom Henderson, 27, captained the team in Rooney made his move despite England iverpool skipper Jordan Henderson England’s 4-0 win away to Malta on Friday ayne Rooney has insisted there will be manager Gareth Southgate offering to will captain England in their World and Southgate said he would lead the team no going back on his decision to retire recall him for the World Cup qualifier L Cup qualifier against Slovakia on out against Slovakia at Wembley. fromW England duty in a bid to at last enjoy a against Malta on Friday, a match England Monday, manager Gareth Southgate told reporters at Tottenham successful World Cup campaign. won 4-0. England have won the Southgate confirmed Hotspur’s training ground in Enfield, The former England captain, charged World Cup just once, on home yesterday. north London there was “no point” with drink-driving on Friday, retired from soil back in 1966 and Rooney’s Southgate has rotated changing the captaincy. international football last month having scored three editions all ended in bitter the captain’s armband Tottenham left-back Danny Rose and a national record 53 goals in 119 appearances disappointment. since easing former Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana are not that included three World Cups and three He was shown a red card skipper Wayne in the squad due to injury, but Southgate European Championships. during the 2006 quarter-final Rooney out of his reported no new injury problems after And the Everton striker said even the fact defeat by Portugal, with squad and with Sunday’s final pre-game training session. that the 2018 World Cup in Russia was on England suffering a second- Rooney having England are two points clear of Slovakia the horizon would not lead him to change his round loss to Germany in since retired from at the top of UEFA qualifying Group F and decision. 2010 and failing to get out of international football, if they win on Monday, they will require “My mind’s made up,” he told talkSPORT their initial group in Brazil England do not have only two points from their last two games radio on Sunday. four years later. a permanent captain. to secure their place in Russia. (AFP) “I’ve seen it a few times when players come Rooney said he had out of retirement and gone to tournaments been particularly and it’s not right. angered by the conduct “I think the lads now who are trying to of then England qualify for Russia, if they get there they’re manager Fabio Capello, the players who will deserve to play in the an Italian, and his staff at tournament, so my decision is made.” the 2010 edition. (AFP) Mbappe wants to “mark history” with PSG Paris Mbappe second only to new team- from aris Saint-Germain’s Kylian mate Neymar on the all-time list of Barcelona for a record Mbappe, at 18 the most expensive costliest transfers. 222 million euros PFrench player of all time, said “Big players have marked history affected his decision to yesterday he wanted to “mark the in their country whether with the join PSG, Mbappe said: history” of the French capital with his national team or their club,” Mbappe “No. new club. said in an interview with TF1, adding “Nonetheless, to play Mbappe joined PSG from Monaco that it would have been premature to with Neymar is on a season-long loan last week in a have left France. really something deal that will make him the second “What I want to do is to really mark extraordinary. We all most expensive footballer in history. the history of my city. PSG was really know the player he is. His overall transfer fee could rise the project that allowed me to carry on PSG already interested England’s striker Jermain Defoe (L) and midfielder Jordan to 180 million euros ($215 million) my progress while playing.” me but with Neymar it’s true Henderson attends a training session including add-ons, which would make Asked whether the arrival of that it was an extra boost. (AFP)