SPORTS TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014 France’s ‘next Zidane’ Gourcuff chasing past glory : Once hailed as France’s next , his clever back-heel set up Clement Grenier for a goal line Gourcuff. He has started 54 of a possible 131 in Romania a few months earlier also was magnifi- Yoann Gourcuff should be peaking. Instead, the ele- in a 2-2 draw at . Gourcuff’s ratio of assists to games since his move. “At certain times I felt that cent. But France’s awful 2010 World Cup campaign gant but fragile is still trying to become time played is the best in the league. (Lyon) didn’t show enormous faith in me,” Gourcuff sapped his confidence. Gourcuff was heavily criti- the player he once was. How someone so promising There have been other glimpses of his natural tal- said recently. “It doesn’t upset me but I’ve taken cized after starting the first game, a dull 0-0 draw fell so far, so quickly is one of French football’s great ent, too. He scored with a splendid 30-meter strike in note.” Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas responded against Uruguay. That and Franck mysteries. The 27-year-old with 31 international a League Cup win against Reims in December. The last week that he is willing to sell the player who has Ribery hardly ever passed to Gourcuff seemed to appearances hit rock bottom when a handful of fans week before, his neat turn inside the area earned a 18 months left on his contract. lend credence to whispers that he was unpopular in watched him play for Lyon’s reserves in early penalty in a 2-1 win at Vitoria Guimaraes. His brilliant With Lyon financing a new stadium, Aulas is limit- ’s team bent on self-destruc- November. It was Gourcuff’s latest comeback from timing to wrong-foot the defender had also been a ed in the transfer market unless he can offload top tion, which alienated all of France by going on strike injury, yet his improved recent form suggests the Gourcuff hallmark when he helped Bordeaux win the earners. That no team took Gourcuff on loan this sea- during training in South Africa. whose shoulders were crushed by the title in 2008-09. “When he’s in perfect shape, he’s a son shows how far his stock has fallen. Domenech’s replacement, , gave weight of expectation could now be turning the cor- great teammate and a great player,” Lyon striker Five years ago, the over-used “next Zidane” label Gourcuff several chances. But Blanc didn’t take ner. After scoring twice in August, Gourcuff again Bafetimbi Gomis said. However, he has shone only seemed to fit Gourcuff. His solo goal for Bordeaux Gourcuff to the 2012 European Championship. dropped off the radar before returning to Lyon’s first sporadically for Lyon since he joined from Bordeaux against Paris Saint-Germain in January 2009 - con- Current France coach has twice team on Nov. 7. Last weekend’s clinical, curling strike in 2010 in a transfer worth up to 26 million euros and trolling the ball and turning into space in one fluid selected Gourcuff. But his midfield is taking shape against Sochaux was only his third league goal of on wages of 400,000 euros ($545,000) per month - a movement and then finishing powerfully - bore the around , and Paul another difficult season. draining outlay for the club. To the annoyance of class of France’s World Cup-winning maestro. Pogba. Gourcuff may well have peaked when he In the final game before December’s winter break, Lyon fans, the slightest muscle twinge seems to side- Gourcuff’s 35-meter strike in a World Cup qualifier was 22. —AP

Preview Struggling Santander seek King’s Cup solace MADRID: Racing Santander are seeking a get of last week’s protests, has pledged to much-needed boost when the financially do all he can to rebuild a team like the one troubled club, the only third-tier side left in that qualified for Europe when they fin- the King’s Cup, play their last 16 second leg ished sixth in La Liga in 2007-08. at top-flight Almeria today. “I have the soul of a sailor and I have to Last week’s first leg in Santander, which be the last person to abandon ship,” Lavin ended 1-1, was disrupted when a group of said last week as he condemned those disgruntled fans tried to storm the VIP trib- behind the attack on club officials. une, and Spanish police have launched an If they manage to get past Almeria, investigation after a security guard needed Santander will play Real Sociedad or stitches in a head wound. Villarreal, who drew their first leg in San The home team also staged a brief Sebastian 0-0 and meet at the Madrigal on protest over unpaid wages by standing still Thursday (1900), in the quarter-finals. for around 10 seconds after kickoff and On their side of the draw they also have only began playing when their opponents Barcelona, who have a 4-0 cushion when obligingly put the ball into touch. they play at Getafe on Thursday (2100). Santander have fallen on desperately Barca have back after a hard times since they were taken over in two-month injury absence although the January 2011 by Indian businessman Argentina forward was unable to break the Ahsan Ali Syed, who set out his vision of a deadlock when he played the second half bright future for the north coast club. of Saturday’s 0-0 draw in the top-of-the- Founder and chairman of investment table La Liga clash at Atletico Madrid. company Western Gulf Advisory, Ali Syed Barca’s Spain playmaker Andres Iniesta is said Santander could become a “third force” a doubt after he took a knock to his left in Spain to challenge Real Madrid and knee in the Atletico game and had to be Barcelona. replaced by Messi. : AC ’s Japanese midfielder Keisuke Honda (right) vies for the ball with Sassuolo’s Alessandro Longhi during the football However, they were relegated from La Cup holders Atletico have work to do match. — AFP Liga at the end of the 2011-12 season after when they host Valencia on Tuesday (2030) finishing 10 points adrift at the bottom of after last week’s first leg at the Mestalla the table. Ali Syed disappeared from view ended 1-1. and the club’s crisis deepened as they Atletico have a potential meeting with dropped down to the third tier at the end local rivals Real Madrid, whom they beat 2- Berardi scores four as of last term. 1 in last year’s final at Real’s Bernabeu stadi- The future looked bleak after a capital um, in the last four. Real beat Osasuna 2-0 increase in October designed to save them at home last week and play the return in from ruin flopped and had to be aban- Pamplona tomorrow. Second-division doned and they remain mired in bankrupt- Alcorcon surprised Espanyol 1-0 in their Sassuolo stun Milan cy proceedings. first leg and the pair clash in Barcelona ITALY: Nineteen-year-old forward Domenico accept responsibility for this defeat.” games all season, looked to be cruising after Current president Angel Lavin, the tar- tomorrow). — Reuters Berardi scored four quickfire goals to give Speculation mounted when club director Robinho and Mario Balotelli put them two goals Sassuolo a 4-3 win over AC Milan on Sunday Barbara Berlusconi, the daughter of club presi- ahead after 13 minutes. after they overturned an early two-goal deficit dent Silvio Berlusconi, told Italian media that the Berardi began Sassuolo’s fightback in the against the seven-times European champions. performance was unacceptable. 15th minute when he rounded Christian Abbiati Chivas win, Queretaro Berardi became the first player in Serie A’s 85- “It was a disappointing evening, which con- to score from a narrow angle. He levelled with a year history to score four goals against Milan in a firms that it’s necessary to change,” she said. “It’s clever half-volley in the 28th minute and com- undefeated in Mexico league match as he wrote another chapter in not tolerable for our fans to watch unacceptable pleted his hat-trick just before the break when their miserable season. performances such as this.” he got between two defenders to fire past MEXICO CITY: Aldo de Nigris scored the Christian Valdez curled an effort into Milan’s defeat, against a team who had not Berardi, a lanky striker with a fiery temper, Straight after the re-start, Berardi struck again lone goal in the second half as Chivas the far corner in the 39th to once again scored in their previous five league games, left had not even played organised football until he with a deflected shot to become the first player defeated Chiapas 1-0 on Sunday, while hand Morelia the lead, before Pablo them languishing in 12th place in Serie A and was 16. His fortunes changed when he visited to score four goals against Milan in Serie A. Queretaro is the only team to have won Velazquez equalized from the penalty renewed the speculation over coach his brother at university, took part in a match Milan dominated the final half hour and Japan its opening two matches of Mexico’s spot in the 55th. Massimiliano Allegri’s future. Allegri announced and was pointed out to a Sassuolo youth-team midfielder Keisuke Honda hit the crossbar after Clausura tournament after it overcame Monterrey went ahead in the 3rd with over Christmas that he would leave at the end of coach. coming on in the second half for his debut. They Pumas 1-0 on Friday. Marlon de Jesus converting after a defen- the season but Italian media were speculating Having turned professional in 2012, he hit the woodwork three times, repeatedly Rodolfo Vilchis volleyed in Queretaro’s sive mistake, but Puebla leveled when on Sunday that he might not even last that long. helped Sassuolo out of Serie B last season as appealed for penalties and pulled one goal back winner four minutes from the final whis- Matias Alustiza sent a looping head over “I’ve no intention of resigning,” he told televi- they reached the top flight for the first time, and through Riccardo Montolivo, but they could not tle. Toluca drew 2-2 Morelia and Puebla goalkeeper Jonathan Orozco. In other sion reporters. “If I had, I would have done it a was bought by Juventus who then loaned him force an equaliser despite five minutes of stop- and Monterrey drew 1-1 in Sunday’s oth- weekend matches, Leon overcame Atlas while back. The club can make its judgment, I back.Milan, who have won only five league page time. — Reuters er games. 3-1, Cruz Azul won 2-1 against Santos A Carlos Morales shot beat Toluca Laguna, Veracruz defeated Atlante 2-1, ‘keeper Alfredo Talavera at the near post Tijuana secured a 1-0 victory over in the 4th, but Edgar Benitez struck back America and Tigres drew 0-0 with for Toluca two minutes later. Pachuca. — AP Milan sack coach Allegri

ITALY: AC Milan coach Massimiliano over half an hour. Allegri was fired yesterday following a The defeat left Milan languishing in series of dismal results from the seven- 11th place in Serie A with 22 points from times European champions. 19 games, 20 adrift of Napoli who occu- “AC Milan wish to communicate that py the Champions League playoff spot in Massimiliano Allegri and his staff have third position. Allegri’s side have won been relieved of their duties with imme- only five league games all season. The diate effect”, the Serie A club said in a phlegmatic 46-year-old, in his fourth year statement. at the club, has faced constant media speculation over his future in the last few weeks and said during the Christmas break that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season. The writing was on the wall for Allegri when club director Barbara Berlusconi, daughter of club president Silvio, told the ANSA news agency that Sunday’s performance was unacceptable. “It was a disappointing evening that confirms it’s necessary to change,” she said. “It’s not tolerable for our fans to watch unacceptable performances such as this.” Former Milan and mid- fielder Clarence Seedorf, now with Brazilians Botafogo, is among the favourites to take over although he has LISBON: FC Portos Brazilian midfielder Carlos Eduardo (left) vies with Benfica’s Argentine midfielder Nicolas Gaitan (right) during the no coaching experience. Portuguese League football match. — AFP Allegri took charge in 2010 and led Milan to the Serie A title in his first sea- son and second place the year after. His fortunes changed dramatically when the Benfica win emotional Classico Massimiliano Allegri club sold several top players in the mid- dle of 2012 to balance the books, saying : Benfica won a league match against and synchronised placards produced a huge fired his shot past Helton. Jackson Martinez nearly “AC Milan would like to thank Mr they were putting the emphasis on arch-rivals Porto for the first time in more than image in the stands of the player nicknamed the levelled for Porto in first-half stoppage time but Allegri and his staff for their time with youth. four years on Sunday, beating them 2-0 on an ‘Black Panther’, who died on Jan. 5 aged 71. the result was never in doubt after Ezequiel Garay the club and wish them the best for the Milan finished third last season but, emotional afternoon marked by tributes to their There was also a minute’s silence before the headed Benfica’s second following a corner in the future. Coach Mauro Tassotti will take plagued by injuries, have struggled former forward Eusebio. game for the Mozambique-born player who was 53rd minute. Porto’s frustration boiled over when charge of the team in the meantime.” domestically this term. Despite their poor Goals in each half from Rodrigo and Ezequiel the top-scorer at the 1966 World Cup with nine Brazilian right back Danilo was sent off after Allegri was dismissed less than 24 Serie A form, they are the only Italian sur- Garay took Benfica top of the table with 36 points, goals that helped Portugal reach the semi-finals being given a second yellow card for diving in the hours after his team squandered a two- vivors in this season’s Champions League two ahead of Sporting with champions Porto a and inspired Benfica to 11 domestic titles. penalty area in what seemed a harsh decision. further point behind in third. The Eagles went ahead in the 13th minute Benfica last beat Porto in the league in December goal lead to lose 4-3 at promoted and face Atletico Madrid in the last 16 Benfica’s players all wore the name of Eusebio when they won possession in midfield, Lazar 2009 with five wins for Porto and two draws in Sassuolo, conceding four times in just next month. —Reuters rather than their own on the back of their shirts Markovic burst forward and fed Rodrigo who the seven meetings since then. — Reuters