6 October 15, 2019 Iran to Take on Bahrain for Italy Stun Iran With 2022 FIFA World Cup Great Comeback TEHRAN (Tasnim) – FIFA free-scoring Iran will likely said on Monday that Iran national have its first real test against football team will be tested against host Bahrain who famously Bahrain on Tuesday’s matchday 4 inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Team of Asia’s Round 2 qualifying for Melli on the road to Korea/ the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. Japan 2002. Any slip-ups by Iran national football team Iran will benefit Iraq, who can (also known as Team Mel- move to the top of the table li) will meet Bahrain at the with a win in Cambodia,” Bahrain National Stadium in FIFA.com reported. Riffa. Iran has defeated Hong Kong “In Group C, Marc Wilmots’ 2-0 and Cambodia 14-0 so far.

TOKYO (Dispatches) – Italy while Milad Ebadipour scored 23 Poland, Russia Reach Euro 2020 as Germany, Netherlands Close In came from two sets behind to win for the 2019 Asian Champion. Iran on Monday in the 2019 edi- This was the sixth defeat of Iran PARIS (AFP) - Poland and Rus- Any thoughts of a Cyprus come- tion of FIVB Men’s World Cup in in the event while the team has sia secured their places at Euro back were ended in just the 28th Japan. gained four victories. The team 2020 on Sunday with victories over minute when Kostas Laifis was Italy edged strong Iran 3-2 (25 now stands 7th in the table with North Macedonia and Cyprus re- dismissed for a nasty lunge on - 27, 27 - 29, 30 - 28, 25 - 17, 15 - 12 points. Brazil leads the table spectively, while Germany and the Russian full-back Sergei Petrov. 13) in a thrilling encounter. with nine wins while Poland and Netherlands boosted their hopes of Striker Artem Dzyuba scored his Igor kolakovic’s men sought to USA stand next. reaching the finals. third goal in two games in the 79th regain confidence spirit after yes- Team Melli will lock horns with Russia eased to a 5-0 thrashing minute, before Aleksandr Golovin terday’s loss against their Asian the World Champion Poland on of 10-man Cyprus, with Poland and Cheryshev’s second complet- archrival Japan as they won the Tuesday as their final match of joining them, Belgium and Italy ed the rout late on. first two sets but it was Italy that the competitions. in qualifying this week by seeing Russia will attempt to overtake conducted fewer errors in the tree The two-week long event kicked off North Macedonia 2-0. Belgium, who beat Kazakhstan remaining sets. off on October 1 in Japan with 12 ’s Russia, 2-0 earlier on Sunday, at the sum- Dick Kooy led the scoring for teams competing in a round-robin who reached the World Cup quar- mit when they host the world’s Italy with a match-high 28 points format. ter-finals on home soil last year, number one side on November 16. Magomed Ozdoev scored for the second time in four days as Russia only had to avoid defeat in Nico- The European Championship fi- qualified for Euro 2020 sia to follow Belgium in qualify- nals, which start on June 12 next Argentina Rout Ecuador 6-1 ing from Group I. year, are being held at 12 differ- They were forced to be patient stitute in the 74th minute, before Valencia winger Denis Chery- ent venues across the continent, by the visitors, who could qualify Akardiusz Milik made the points Without Suspended Messi shev fired in a ninth-minute including in Rus- through the playoffs after winning safe. opener for the visitors, before Ma- sia. their Nations League group if they Poland remain three points clear gomed Ozdoev, who scored a fab- Poland went into their game fail to do so automatically. of Austria, who won 1-0 in Slove- ulous long-range strike on Thurs- against North Macedonia know- But Przemyslaw Frankowski nia, at the top of Group G, with day against Scotland, made it two ing victory would punch their prodded home less than 60 sec- North Macedonia and Slovenia midways through the first half. ticket for the Euros. onds after coming on as a sub- five points further adrift. Andriy Shevchenko, Ex- Star Aiming for Euro 2020 as Coach KHARKIV, Ukraine (AFP) On his watch, the team fell - Andriy Shevchenko enjoyed an short of qualifying for the illustrious career as Ukraine’s 2018 World Cup after a home greatest striker. Now as coach loss to Croatia in the final of the national team, he is on the round of games knocked them brink of guiding the side to Euro out of contention. Argentina rout Ecuador 6-1 in absence of suspended Lionel Messi 2020. But ahead of next year’s ELCHE, Spain (AP) - Argen- goal in the second half before Ar- The former Dynamo Kiev European Championship, tina have routed Ecuador 6-1 in a gentina added three more. and AC Milan star, nicknamed Ukraine need just a point from friendly game in Spain despite the There was a brief dispute be- “Sheva”, was appointed their remaining two matches absence of suspended Lionel Messi. fore Argentina’s third goal, which Andriy Shevchenko made the step up from assistant manager to take Ukraine coach in July 2016, to reach the final stages of the Lucas Alario, Leandro Pare- came from a penalty kick. Lautaro over the reins of Ukraine’s national team after Euro 2016 des, German Pezzella, Nicolas Martinez had the ball and wanted his first managerial role. tournament. Dominguez and Lucas Ocampos to take the penalty, but Paredes scored for Argentina, which also prevailed after a discussion be- got on the board with an own-goal tween the two. Martinez left com- by Ecuadorean defender Jhon Es- plaining but celebrated the goal Federer to Play at 2020 Tokyo Olympics pinoza. along with his teammates. TOKYO (AP) — Roger Federer says he plans to play at the 2020 Tokyo Argentina, without many of the Messi was serving a three-month Olympics. starters who played in the recent suspension from internationals The Swiss great, a four-time Olympian, says “at the end of the day my 2-2 draw against Germany, was because of comments he made heart decided I would love to play at the Olympic Games again.” up 3-0 at halftime in the south- against South American soccer eastern Spanish city of Elche. An- body CONMEBOL during this Federer made the announcement in Tokyo during at an exhibition event gel Mena scored Ecuador’s only year’s Copa America in Brazil. for his Japanese uniform supplier. Federer will turn 39 shortly after the Olympic tournament. He had pre- viously planned his schedule up to Wimbledon, which ends two weeks Teenager Gauff Becomes Youngest before the Tokyo Games. He will need a wild-card exemption because he has not played Davis WTA Winner in 15 Years Cup games to be eligible LINZ, Austria (AP) - Coco Gauff is still just 15. She also is already the owner of a WTA singles title. The American beat 2017 Mountains Galore Again for 2020 Tour de France French Open champion Jelena PARIS (AFP) - The 2020 Tour fending champion Egan Bernal, the Tokyo Olympic Games with “From there we hardly leave Ostapenko 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the de France will be as mountainous who grew up in the Andes, and its Mount Fuji road race. the medium of high mountains at final of the Upper Austria La- and open to attacks as this year’s his Ineos teammate, four-time Embarking from the Promenade all, that’s the general spirit of this dies tournament Sunday, making Gauff the youngest winner of a vintage edition, the race designer champion Chris Froome. des Anglais, scene of terror at- Tour,” said Gouvenou, the man singles trophy on the WTA tour hinted to AFP a day ahead of the The route will be unveiled at a tacks in 2016, the opening stage charged with the task of penning a since 2004. official Grande Boucle route un- ceremony in Paris on Tuesday. offers a run along the Mediter- new and exciting event each year. ‘’This is a special moment for veiling. The race opens in Nice a week ranean coast, but mountains are “If you’re looking for the spirit me,’’ Gauff said. And Gauff managed to do it If what Thierry Gouvenou sug- earlier than usual on June 27 and also on the early menu as the Tour of the thing in terms of general Coco Gauff gested to AFP on Monday is ac- finishes on the Champs Elysees climbs into the low Alps as of difficulty, it’ll be almost identical after losing in the last round of qualifying, then moving into the when another player withdrew curate, the course would suit de- on July 19, just a week ahead of stage two. (to 2019),” he said. main draw as a ‘’lucky loser’’ from the field.