McDonnell Schleck wins outpoints Kameda Vuelta stage to retain title

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 201517 18

Dutch defeat leave nation wondering what went wrong Page 19

RIGA: Latvia’s Vladislavs Gabovs (left) and Czech Republic’s David Limbersky fight for the ball during a Euro 2016 qualifying Group A soccer match. — AP Iceland, Czechs secure Euro berths

PARIS: Iceland made footballing history on Czechs sealed their place by beating Latvia 2-1 The Dutch were dishevelled and Burak would guarantee progress from Group B, but half. Both sides were reduced to 10 men after Sunday as they qualified for a major tourna- while the struggling Netherlands slumped to a Yilmaz sealed Turkey’s win late on, as Fatih had to settle for a 0-0 draw after failing to find a the restart as Everton’s Muhamed Besic was ment finals for the first time, joining the Czech potentially disastrous 3-0 defeat in Turkey. Terim’s side leapfrogged their opponents into way past Ofir Marciano in the away goal. sent off for the hosts along with Andorra’s Republic in securing their berth at Euro 2016. First-half goals from David Limbersky and third place in the section, leaving them in pole Belgium’s 1-0 win over Cyprus later on Victor Rodriguez. The island nation, with its population of Vladimir Darida put the Czechs in control in position to steal a play-off place. Sunday, secured by Eden Hazard’s 86th-minute edged closer to qualifying from Group barely 330,000, became the least populated Riga, and they held on after Arturs Zjuzins got a “We again shot ourselves in the foot,” said strike in toasty , means Wales still require H after ’s sixth-minute penalty country ever to qualify for a European goal back for Latvia. Blind, who lost 1-0 at home to Iceland on his one point from their final two qualifiers next proved enough to beat Bulgaria 1-0 in the Championship thanks to a nervy 0-0 draw with debut last Thursday. “You make things incredi- month, away to Bosnia-Herzegovina and at Sicilian city of Palermo. Kazakshtan in Reykjavik. DUTCH IN DANGER bly hard when you let in easy goals.” home to minnows Andorra. De Rossi and Bulgaria’s Ilian Mitsanski were Iceland only needed a point to secure one of Meanwhile, the Dutch are in real danger of “Our fate is no longer in our own hands. I “The atmosphere was great, but we have both sent off in the second half, while Italy the top two places in Group A, and captain missing out on a European Championship finals feel really terrible,” striker Robin van Persie told two games left,” said manager Chris Coleman. goalkeeper won his 150th cap. Aron Gunnarsson of Cardiff City was sent off in for the first time since 1984 after suffering a sec- Dutch media after the Netherlands suffered “It is in our hands so Israel and Belgium have to The Euro 2012 runners-up are two points clear the 89th minute just before celebrations erupt- ond loss in as many games under new coach their worst competitive defeat since Euro ‘96. do their work to catch us.” of Norway, who leapfrogged Croatia into sec- ed on the final whistle. The result allowed the Danny Blind. Belgium will also be through if they win in ond place thanks to a 2-0 win when the sides side coached jointly by Heimir Hallgrimsson Semi-finalists at last year’s World Cup, WALES FRUSTRATED Andorra in their next match, so Israel are likely met in Oslo, Jo Inge Berget of Malmo scoring and the Swede Lars Lagerback to follow the Holland fell behind inside eight minutes in a Meanwhile, Wales will have to wait before to have to fight it out with Bosnia for third twice. In the other game in Group H, and Czechs and England in being able to book packed stadium in Konya in central Turkey to an clinching qualification for a first European place. Azerbaijan drew 2-2, with Rahid Amirguliyev flights to France next year. Oguzhan Ozyakup goal and Barcelona’s Arda Championship, and a first major tournament Bosnia were comfortable 3-0 winners at scoring twice for the visitors either side of goals England became the first nation to qualify Turan doubled the hosts’ lead before the half- since the 1958 World Cup. home to Andorra, with Ermin Bicakcic, Edin by captain Michael Mifsud and Alfred Effiong for the 24-nation jamboree on Saturday and the hour mark. They knew a win at home to Israel in Cardiff Dzeko and Senad Lulic all scoring in the first for Malta. — AFP Azarenka in q-final Italy ponder Pirlo on

NEW YORK: Two-time runner-up “I felt at 5-3 that I never went for way to Euro 2016 Victoria Azarenka reached her my shots, she didn’t give me much fourth US Open quarter-final yester- rhythm,” she said. “But I told myself : ’s status as one of already come for him. It’s a decision only he day with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Varvara to be aggressive and go for it.” Halep Italy’s ‘untouchables’ has been shaken after can make.” Lepchenko of the United States. will bid to reach her maiden US the Azzurri legend was sidelined by coach Against Bulgaria, Roma’s midfield general Former world number one Open quarter-final and be the first in the wake of criticism fol- Daniele De Rossi stepped in for Pirlo in the Azarenka, the 20th seed, will face Romanian to make the last eight lowing a mediocre performance in a Euro middle of Italy’s three-man midfield, flanked either Romanian second seed since Irina Spirlea went to the 1997 2016 qualifier. by and . Simona Halep or Sabine Lisicki, the semi-finals. Pirlo has 116 caps and is widely regarded Italian sports media on Monday were 24th-seeded German, for a place in Lisicki, the 2013 Wimbledon run- as one of the world’s all-time great deep-lying quick to jump on the fact Verratti admitted he the semi-finals. ner-up, has never made the last playmakers. But the 36-year-old’s move from fared better playing alongside De Rossi than The Belarusian, whose season eight in New York. Halep, who has a four-time consecutive champions with Pirlo last week. has been stalled by a left thigh 3-1 career record over Lisicki, has Juventus to New York City FC has coincided But the Paris Saint Germain star explained: strain, appeared on Arthur Ashe hardly been tested at the tourna- with a dip in form and the ‘orchestrator’, as “Maybe I played a little better tonight Stadium with both biceps tightly ment, conceding just 14 games in Pirlo is often known, has looked somewhat (Sunday), but that was because Bulgaria gave strapped. three rounds. Czech fifth seed Petra out of tune. us more space than Malta did.” “It’s a little embarrassing. I have Kvitova has had an even easier path Pirlo looked far below his usual best during De Rossi, a no-nonsense defensive mid- blisters from my shirts rubbing through the first week, dropping a 1-0 win over Malta last Thursday and, fielder with a history of indiscipline, fired Italy against my arms so I needed the just 12 games. although he has Conte’s backing, he was side- into a sixth-minute lead from the penalty spot bandages,” said Azarenka, the run- The two-time Wimbledon cham- lined for Sunday’s 1-0 win at home to Bulgaria after Antonio Candreva was fouled in the area. ner-up to Serena Williams in 2012 pion takes on British qualifier which took Italy to he brink of booking their But De Rossi’s poor disciplinary record was and 2013. Johanna Konta, the world number ticket for next summer’s finals in France. blotted again when he was sent off 10 min- “It looks weird but I did what I 97. Victory would make Halep the The back-to-back wins sent Italy top of utes after the restart for retaliating to a foul by have to do.” Lepchenko, who was first Czech in the quarter-finals since Group H with a two-point cushion on Norway Iliyan Mitsanski by kicking back at the striker. bidding to become the first Daja Bedanova in 2001. and they require just one point from their Mitsanski was also dismissed. Conte’s feelings American woman not called Konta will be Kvitova’s third next two encounters-away to Azerbaijan and on the incident were clear after the game Williams to make the last-eight since opponent in four matches ranked at home to Norway-to qualify for the when the coach, before walking briskly away NEW YORK: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, reacts after beating 2009, was broken in the third and outside the top 90. The 24-year-old European Championships. from the interviewer, said curtly: “He shouldn’t ninth games of the opening set. Konta hopes to become the first Varvara Lepchenko of the United States, during the fourth round The Euro 2016 finals will Pirlo’s last interna- have done it.” She rallied to edge ahead in the British woman in the last-eight since of the US Open tennis tournament. — AP tional tournament, but his performance Indiscipline of the sort will not be welcome first game of the second but handed Jo Durie in 1983. to reach the quarter-finals for the the calendar Grand Slam. against Malta last week has prompted debate at next summer’s finals, where Italy would be the break straight back to the 26- The winner of that tie will face sixth time. Stosur, 31, boasts the Today’s other quarter-final sees that even that could be a step too far. looking to make amends for their first-round year-old Azarenka. The Belarus star either Australia’s 22nd seed accomplishment of being the last France’s Kristina Mladenovic tackle “I think every player has to know when it’s exit from last summer’s World Cup in Brazil. carved another break for 5-3 before Samantha Stosur, the 2011 champi- woman to defeat Serena Williams in fellow unseeded player Roberta time to hang up his boots,” said Beppe And Conte, perhaps riled by Marotta’s faltering when she served for the on, or Italy’s Flavia Pennetta, the New York in 2011. Vinci, who reached the last-eight Marotta. Coming from the CEO of Juventus, comments, continues to give Pirlo his backing. match. But she secured victory in 26th seed. Pennetta has established Serena features on Tuesday when when Eugenie Bouchard pulled whom Pirlo helped lead to four ‘scudetti’ and “What disappoints me most is the lack of the next game on her first match an iron-grip on the Australian, win- the quarter-finals get underway, fac- out of the tournament with a con- the Champions League final last season, it respect shown towards an immense player. point when left-handed Lepchenko ning all of their six career meetings. ing sister Venus for the 27th time as cussion suffered in a locker room must have been painful reading. Marotta He deserves more respect in every way,” Conte went wide. The 33-year-old Italian is looking she continues her bid to complete fall. —AFP added: “I don’t know if that moment has told Sky Sport after Sunday’s win. — AFP