MONDAY, JUNE 13, 2016 19 Workmanlike mentality gives Italy hope against Belgium LYON: Plagued by injuries to his creative midfielders and although a tendency to tinker has led to mixed results since game. In contrast, the Red Devils appear spoilt for choice in without a talisman up front, Italy coach Antonio Conte is 2014. “You need to sacrifice yourself for the team,” Conte attack having scored an average of more than two goals per FAN FERVOR banking on a workmanlike team full of energy to outfox recently said in an interview. “The team isn’t a single per- game over their last 10 matches. After a terrible season at Belgium’s exciting young forwards when they meet today. son.” His best midfielders Marco Verratti and Claudio club level for Chelsea, Hazard has hit form. Atletico Madrid’s The Euro 2016 Group E match comes ahead of tough Marchisio are both ruled out through injury. Carrasco has turned games on their head and could be one encounters against Ireland and Sweden giving neither side Without the magic of Andrea Pirlo, pulling strings in the of the stand-out performers of the tournament. De Bruyne much respite should they lose the first game in Lyon. Once heart of midfield, old heads Thiago Motta and Daniele de is likely to be deployed in the playmaker role while any one famed for their “catenaccio”, a tactical system with an Rossi alongside Marco Parolo will try to stop the supply lines of Belgium’s four central strikers Michy Batshauyi, Christian emphasis on a strong defensive unit, Italy come to the tour- to creative Belgium attackers Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco Benteke, Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi, could be chosen nament with arguably their weakest team for years and and Kevin de Bruyne. Conte is hoping winger Alessandro to lead the line. conceding goals particularly against top teams. They face a Florenzi flourishes after an encouraging season with club AS Coach Marc Wilmots, however, has not had things all his Belgium side with a talented squad tipped by some to go Roma and inspirational veteran goalkeeper and captain own way in the build-up after losing defensive rock Vincent one better than the golden generation that finished as tour- Gianluigi Buffon will also need to galvanise his troops. Kompany and fellow centre back Nicolas Lombaerts. He nament runners up in 1980. looks set to play Tottenham pair Toby Alderweireld and Jan Despite opening the scoring, the Italians were beaten NO KILLER INSTINCT Vertonghen in the heart of defence, but a lack of cohesion comfortably 3-1 by Belgium in a November friendly. Conte, Yet the lack of a killer instinct among Italy’s strikers, was exposed in their three warm-up games. Tightening up who joins Chelsea after the tournament, is known for his notably target man Graziano Pelle, could make it difficult that defence may well be key to whether Belgium can over- motivational skills, team unity and tactical flexibility, should Belgium score first and force the Italians to chase the come a well-drilled Italian team. — Reuters MARSEILLE: England’s midfielder Adam Lallana (C, #8) passes the ball as he is marked by Russia’s defender Georgi Shchennikov (2-R) during the Euro 2016 group B football match between England and Russia at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday. — AFP Violence mars England’s 1-1 draw with Russia MARSEILLE: Russia fans stormed a section of England sup- demns such behavior,” said FA spokesman Mark Whittle, around lines of riot police. TV footage showed fans throwing porters inside the stadium moments after Saturday’s 1-1 adding that the body was calling on French authorities “to chairs yanked from restaurant terraces and scuffling on a stair- draw between the countries at the European Championship identify those involved in the troubles and deal with them case, where one man was seen kicking another one down the on another day of violence and rioting in the southern appropriately and quickly.” Vasily Berezutsky scored Russia’s stairs. Some fans walked through the city bare-chested and French city of Marseille. equalizer with a looping header in the second minute of with blood dripping from head wounds. The trouble that England and Russia fans clashed throughout the day at injury time, canceling out Eric Dier’s goal from a free kick in raged all day had largely died down by the time the match the Old Port district and briefly outside the nearby Stade the 73rd. Dier, a defensive midfielder, was a surprising choice started, but reignited just as it finished. Shortly before the final Velodrome before the match. Police in the Mediterranean to take the free kick for England, but his fierce strike curled whistle, Russian fans appeared to seize a power cable running port city fired tear gas and water cannons at fighting sup- into the top corner from the edge of the area. around the front of the stand. A group then attacked nearby porters in a largely unsuccessful attempt to rein in trouble English supporters. that authorities said left at least five people injured. BLOOD DRIPPING As England fans fled, Russian fans gave chase, snatching The clashes continued moments after the final whistle, “It’s disappointing because we were so close to an English flags that had been on display. Large numbers of when a large group of Russian fans in one of the stands important and big win in our first game,” Dier said. “I stewards struggled to restore order. The Russian fans were behind the goal advanced on England supporters in the thought it would have been well deserved. Our emotions kept behind while most England fans left, but were soon neighboring area, throwing objects and breaking through a went from a high to a low pretty quickly.” allowed to leave. Russia fans also set off flares late in the line of stewards. England fans - including young children - England failed to finish a flurry of chances in a dominant game. An Associated Press reporter said it was calm outside fled for the exits in panic, with some having to vault railings first-half performance and faded until Dier stepped up to put the stadium afterward, with Russia and England fans drifting to escape. UEFA will open disciplinary proceedings over the England ahead in the Group B match. However, what hap- away peacefully. England coach Roy Hodgson refused to violence in Marseille, with Russia facing the stronger sanc- pened during the match will be overshadowed by the fan vio- comment in detail on the incidents, but said the players tions from European soccer’s governing body after the inci- lence before and after. Amid the broken beer bottles and gray “weren’t particularly aware (of what happened) and it cer- dents inside the stadium. “The FA is very disappointed by clouds of tear gas that filled the Old Port, families and tourists tainly had no effect on our preparation for the game and the terrible scenes that we saw there and of course con- walked around the picturesque area, sometimes forced to skirt our performance in the game.” — AP Ireland, Sweden seek Matches on TV (Local Timings) redemption in Group E UEFA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP Spain v Czech Republic 16:00 PARIS: Ireland and Sweden meet in the Euro 2016 years ago, and he will be keen to erase the memories beIN MAX 2 HD Group E opener at the Stade de France today where a of a tournament in which the Irish failed to showcase beIN MAX 3 HD EN win would go a long way to redeeming their past fail- their famous fighting spirit. “Ireland and ourselves are beIN MAX 1 HD ures in the championship and getting them to the the underdogs in our group, and we’re quite close to beIN MAX 4 HD FR knockout stage. Drawn in a tough section with one another in the rankings. With regard to who is Ireland v Sweden 19:00 Belgium and Italy, a victory is of paramount impor- going to win or lose, it’s quite open,” Hamren told beIN MAX 2 HD tance to both sides’ fortunes. “The team that wins this Reuters. Sweden are 35th and Ireland 33rd in the FIFA beIN MAX 3 HD EN game has a very good chance of progressing,” rankings. With manager Martin O’Neill and his assis- beIN MAX 1 HD Sweden coach Erik Hamren told Reuters recently. tant Roy Keane in charge of Ireland, the clash is likely beIN MAX 4 HD FR “Even if we win or lose we still have a chance to go to be a physical battle but the Swedes are no shrink- Belgium v Italy 22:00 through but it’s a lot smaller. It’s a real key game.” Both ing violets and the high stakes ensure they will be beIN MAX 2 HD teams also have a point to prove following dismal ready for whatever the Irish throw at them. — Reuters beIN MAX 3 HD EN showings at Europe’s flagship tournament four years beIN MAX 1 HD ago. Ireland scored one goal and conceded nine to beIN MAX 4 HD FR become the first team eliminated from Euro 2012, while the Swedes threw away the lead twice in losing COPA AMERICA CENTENARIO their first two games, to Ukraine and England, pack- Ecuador v Haiti 1:30 ing their bags shortly after the Irish. beIN SPORTS 1 HD As ever, Sweden will rely on their enigmatic 34- beIN MAX 2 HD year-old captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has spent beIN MAX 3 HD EN the last four years banging in goals in the French capi- beIN MAX 4 HD FR tal for Ligue 1 side Paris Saint Germain, but who is Brazil v Peru 3:30 now leaving on a free transfer.