TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018 20 Captain Son strikes as South Korea Messi would swap down Honduras Barca title for WC Messi has won 32 trophies since making his first-team debut with Barcelona

ESPN | Buenos Aires

ionel Messi is so desper- ate to win the World Cup I would swap a title Lwith Argentina that he with Barcelona would trade success with Bar- for one with the celona to triumph in this summer. national team. Messi, 30, has been on the While I want to win losing side in four finals with things again with Argentina, including the World my club, I want to Cup final in 2014 against Ger- win something with many in Brazil. the national team Titles with Barca have not been so hard to come by -- Mes- si has won 32 trophies since making his first-team debut, against Chile. including a domestic double The Albiceleste struggled to this season. hit the heights which carried However, he says he would them to three successive finals be willing to forgo another title in qualifying for this summer’s with the Catalan club if it meant World Cup, though, needing a he could finally get his hands on Messi hat trick to beat Ecuador South Korea’s Son Heung-min, centre, fights for the ball against Honduras the World Cup trophy. as they booked their place in Henry Figueroa, left, and Brayan Beckeles during their friendly soccer match “Winning the World Cup is a Russia in their final match. in Daegu, South Korea huge personal challenge for me, Their poor performance in for the group [of players Argen- qualifying, coupled with a 6-1 tina have] and for the country, defeat to Spain in March, mean Reuters | Hong Kong who have the same dreams as Lionel Messi they are not among the outright us,” he told El Trece. “It’s a nice favourites going into the finals. on Heung-min scored with responsibility to represent a “We have a really complicated Sa 25-yard drive to ensure whole country at a World Cup. national team.” thing unique.” draw,” Messi added. “Iceland South Korea secured a 2-0 “I would swap a title with “I know it would be spe - Since an extra-time defeat showed they can compete with friendly win over Honduras KNOW WHAT Barcelona for one with the na- cial for what it means, to be to Germany four years in the anyone at the [European Cham- as Shin Tae-yong’s side con- tional team. While I want to [world] champions with Ar- World Cup final, Argentina have pionships in 2016], Croatia have tinued their preparations for win things again with my club, I gentina would be different to lost two Copa America finals, a great midfield and it’s always next month’s World Cup finals want to win something with the everything, it would be some- too, both times on penalties tough for us against Nigeria. in Russia. South Korea Son, named Korean captain became the first with regular skipper Ki Sung- and only Asian yueng left on the bench, gave team to reach his side the lead just before the hour mark and debutant Moon semi-final stag- Get out and see the world: Draxler Seon-min added the second 18 es of FIFA World minutes from time. Cup when they Reuters | Berlin “It is only an advantage if Shin handed highly rated co-hosted 2002 you play abroad. There is a new Hellas Verona midfielder Lee tournament erman players should look language, a new environment, Seung-woo his senior debut in Gto grab an opportunity to a new mentality. You have to midfield and the former Bar- play abroad in order to enrich overcome big challenges and I celona B youngster put on a side the area. their game and add to the na- can understand (German play- lively display to push his case Moon doubled the advan- tional team’s strength, winger ers) who want to move aboard for inclusion in the final 23- tage twelve minutes later Julian Draxler said yesterday. and I can only advise them to man squad. when he skipped past a chal- The 24-year-old Paris St Ger- do it,” he said. Lee and Son carried much lenge to score after impres- main player, who started his No single German player on of the attacking threat and the sive work down the flank by professional career as a teen- their 2010 World Cup squad Tottenham Hotspur forward Hwang Hee-chan. ager at Schalke 04, joined the was playing abroad at the time. put his side in front in the 60th South Korea kick off their French champions in early 2017. There were seven Germans minute when Lee found him World Cup campaign on June Draxler was also part of Ger- from clubs outside Bundesliga with the time and space to 18 when they meet Sweden many’s 2014 World Cup-winning in 2014 and currently nine on smash a shot past goalkeeper before facing Germany and team and was captain at 2017 Germany’s Sami Khedira, Julian Draxler, Mesut Ozil and Jonathan Tah during preliminary squad for the tour- Donis Escober from well out- Mexico in Group F. Confederations Cup victory. training nament in Russia next month.

PLAYER OF THE DAY ‘not yet at 100pc’

AP | Rio De Janeiro

eymar admitted Sunday Nhe is not 100 percent in shape after a week’s training with Brazil in its World Cup preparations. The striker said he still feels discomfort in his recovering right foot but be - lieves he will be better for the tournament in Russia, which begins June 14. 16 days to go…… “Physically I am well, my foot is fine. I am adapting in a few said. “What I feel today is this things. I still feel some discom- fear because I am coming back.” fort, but it is not something that Neymar The Brazilian was forced to will trouble me,” the 26-year- leave the 2014 World Cup with old Neymar told journalists at a vertebral fracture in the 2-1 Brazil’s football confederation that I have this fear of making match since February but hopes victory against Colombia in the headquarters in Rio de Janeiro. complete movements. Let’s take to be on the pitch again in Bra- quarterfinals. Mohammad Al-Sahlawi Asked how well he was feel- it easy, there are still many days zil’s friendly against Croatia on “I hope that dream is not in- Saudi Arabia’s dynamic forward enjoyed the rare distinction ing now, Neymar answered: until the (World Cup) opener June 3 in Liverpool. terrupted once more and that it of finishing joint-top goalscorer in Russia 2018 qualifying with “Not 100 per cent yet. But that and I will be 100 percent then.” “I am ready to play, there is is consolidated with a title for 16 goals. Fast feet and a rare turn of pace make Al-Sahlawi a comes with time. It is normal Neymar has not played a nothing that can stop me,” he us,” Neymar said. genuine star in Saudi football.