THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 14 Ronaldo nets 100th, France see off Croatia Cristiano Ronaldo brace sees him up to 101 International goals as Portugal down Sweden in Nations League

with goals from Dries Mertens ‘Proud’ Camavinga (50) and new cap Jeremy Doku • (80) combined to put the game breaks France record out of sight. in Croatia World Cup Belgium’s win moves them final victory repeat KNOW WHAT to the top of League A Group 2 ahead of their trip next month Experimental to England, who were lucky to • Ronaldo, capped 165 escape with a 0-0 draw away England fail to click in to Denmark in Copenhagen on draw with Denmark times by Portugal, is second only to Iran’s Tuesday. Gareth Southgate’s prepara- Ali Daei, on 109, in tion for the game was thrown Batshuayi double the list of top men’s helps• Belgium to 5-1 into turmoil when Phil Foden international goal and Mason Greenwood were win over Iceland scorers sent home after breaching coro- navirus protocols following Sat- AFP | Paris Antoine Griezmann, Dayot urday’s 1-0 victory in Iceland. Upamecano, Olivier Giroud as Southgate can use that distrac- ristiano Ronaldo scored well as an own goal from the tion and a lack of match fitness a stunning brace to take visitors’ goalkeeper Dominik ahead of the start to the Premier Chim to 101 international Livakovic secured a repeat result League season on Saturday as goals for Portugal in a 2-0 vic- from Russia two years ago after excuses for the Three Lions’ lack tory over 10-man Sweden in Dejan Lovren had opened the of sharpness going forward, in the Nations League on Tuesday, scoring for Croatia, Wolfsburg’s sharp contrast to their free-scor- while France won a repeat of the Josip Brekalo adding their sec- ing form in qualifying for Euro 2018 World Cup final 4-2 over Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) shoots past Sweden’s (C) and ond in the 55th minute. 2020 prior to the coronavirus Croatia. The result sees Didier Des- shutdown. Ronaldo broke the mythical reach this mark I’d been seek- international appearance as an of Paris, Eduardo Camavinga champs’ World Cup winners Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips and 100-goal mark on the stroke of ing,” Ronaldo told Portuguese 18-year-old in 2003, Ronaldo became France’s youngest inter- second on goal difference in Wolves Connor Coady half-time, the 35-year-old Juven- public television RTP. notched up his first goal for Por- national in 96 years as les Bleus Group A behind Portugal. were handed their international tus attacker curling in a free-kick “I’m very happy, first because tugal in a 2-1 defeat by eventual won a repeat of the 2018 World debuts, but clear chances were from 25 yards over the wall and the team won and of course to winners Greece at Euro 2004. Cup final over Croatia. Belgians thrash Iceland few and far between. into the far left corner beyond score the 100th and then the Ronaldo, capped 165 times by Midfielder Camavinga, aged FIFA’s number one ranked side The best opportunities to Sweden’s stranded goalkeeper 101st, two great goals.” Portugal, is second only to Iran’s 17 years and nine months, re- Belgium, led superbly by Man- break the deadlock for both for a memorable While acknowledging health Ali Daei, on 109, in the list of top placed Ngolo Kante in the sec- chester City playmaker Kevin sides came in the final 10 min- milestone in his trophy-laden came first, he lamented the Cov- men’s international goal scorers. ond half and is only surpassed De Bruyne, handed Iceland a 5-1 utes as firstly Christian Eriksen career. id-19 enforced empty stadium “The record, it’s step by step,” by Julien Verbrugghe, aged 16 drubbing to follow up on their blazed over from Yussuf Pouls- The bonus second goal, and in Solna. Ronaldo said. “It’s not an ob - years and 10 months in 1906, and 2-0 win over Denmark. en’s cushioned header. his 101st, came in the 72nd min- “It’s sad playing without fans, session because I think records Maurice Gastiger, at 17 years and The Islanders actually opened At the other end, his former ute, the former Manchester it’s like going to the circus with come naturally.” 4 months in 1914. the scoring through an 11th-min- Tottenham teammate Harry United and Real Madrid forward no clowns or into a garden with Incredibly for Ronaldo, just Deschamps made seven ute deflected shot from Holm- Kane thought he had notched cutting back inside the Swedish no flowers,” Ronaldo said. 17 of his 100 goals have come in changes from Saturday’s win bert Fridjonsson. the winner deep in stoppage defence and producing a deft “Speaking for myself, when I friendly matches, and his nine over Sweden in Solna with Wis- But a reshuffled Red Devils time as he rounded Kaspar finish into the far corner from play away matches I like being hat-tricks all came in FIFA or sam Ben Yedder and Anthony outfit hit back almost immedi- Schmeichel and fired goalwards 20 yards. whistled, it gives me motiva - UEFA tournaments or qualifying Martial leading the attack af- ately through Axel Witsel in the only for Mathias Jorgensen to “They are two important goals tion.” games. ter Kylian Mbappe contracted 13th minute, before a Michy Bat- make a brilliant goal-line clear- because it means I managed to After making his first senior At the Stade de France north Covid-19. shuayi double (17, 70) coupled ance.

Kevin De Bruyne, Beth England win PFA Player of the Year awards Australia ease past England in third T20 AFP | Australia reclaim top anchester City midfield- • Mer Kevin De Bruyne was spot in T20 rankings We know where we named men’s Player of the Year 13 messed up in the first while Chelsea forward Betha- goals AFP | London game, we know where ny England won the women’s were scored by Kevin De award, England’s Professional ustralia avoided a series we could improve. We Bruyne last season who played good Footballers’ Association (PFA) also equalled the league Awhitewash as they sur - announced. record with 20 assists vived a mid-innings wobble to but couldn’t finish it De Bruyne, 29, scored 13 beat England by five off, but tonight Mitch Premier League goals last in the third T20 international and Ashton (Agar) got season and the Belgian inter- praise after he finished with and regain their top-ranking in us over the line national also equalled the four goals and 13 assists -- sec- the sport’s shortest format on league record with 20 ond behind De Bruyne on the Tuesday. assists which helped charts. Having restricted England to AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN him become the first Beth England beat three 145 for 6 at Southampton they Manchester City player Chelsea team mates and appeared to be cruising as they Bairstow was caught and to win the award. holder Vivianne Miede- reached 70-1 off seven overs be- bowled by Agar after top-edging The midfield- ma of Arsenal to win fore three wickets for inspired and then superb- er was also the women’s Player of spinner Adil Rashid slammed ly caught Moeen on the deep named in the the Year award after her the brakes on their progress. Australia’s hits the winning run mid- off the team of the 14 goals in 15 matches But England’s fielding was rapid bowling of . year which helped the Londoners ragged and they spilled several after falling 2-0 down in the Morgan having a night off, la- Opener gave was dom- pip Manchester City to catches before Mitchell Marsh series. boured early on after Josh Australia a fast start and after inated by the title on a points-per- plundered 13 off paceman Mark Captain Aaron Finch said it Hazlewood had Tom Banton he departed for 14, Stoinis con- champions game basis. Wood’s final over to ease Aus- was a relief to get a first win on caught behind in the second tinued the attack. Liverpool City’s 20-year-old tralian nerves and put them the board since they returned over. Bairstow dropped a sitter off with five forward Lauren Hemp firmly back in the driving seat. from a long international hiatus Bairstow initially struggled to Finch before Stoinis fell to Cur- players took home the wom- In the end it was reasonably caused by the COVID-19 pan- middle anything and England ran for 26 off 18. --defenders en’s Young Player of comfortable for Australia with demic, especially after throw- were 33-1 after the six power- Australia were in danger of Trent Al- the Year gong for Marsh striking the winning sin- ing away the first match from a play overs. imploding when Glenn Max- exander-Arnold, Vir- the second time in gle off Chris Jordan with three winning position. Dawid Malan and Bairstow well reverse swept Rashid to gil van Dijk, Andrew her career, finishing balls left to finish unbeaten on “We know where we messed broke the shackles before Malan backward point and two balls Robertson, midfielder the season with four 39. up in the first game, we know was out for 21, later Rashid bowled Finch (39) Jordan Henderson and goals in 12 starts. had earlier where we could improve. We taking a good catch at deep through the gate with a ripper. forward Sadio Mane. Manchester Unit- top-scored for England with 55 played good cricket but couldn’t mid-wicket off spinner Adam Malan failed to even get a Liverpool’s 21-year- ed forward Marcus in 44 balls. finish it off, but tonight Mitch Zampa. hand on a routine catch when old full back Alexan- Rashford received the England won the series 2-1 and Ashton (Agar) got us over Bairstow found his range Marsh edged Denly but Smith der-Arnold was named PFA merit award after he and will now face Australia in the line,” he said. “It’s been great with one huge slog-sweep six chipped one straight back to the Young Player of successfully campaigned three ODIs in Manchester, start- learning curve after a long lay- off Zampa but the spinner hit Rashid for a routine catch to the Year with his per- for school food vouchers to ing on Friday. off.” back to dismiss Sam Billings leave Australia on 100-5. formances on the right be provided over the summer Australia had slipped to sec- England, captained by Moeen who gloved an attempted re- Marsh kept his cool though to flank earning all-round holidays in Britain. ond in the ICC’s T20 rankings Ali for the first time with Eoin verse sweep to Finch. guide Australia home. Kevin De Bruyne