SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2015 SPORTS Ireland to take on Poles DUBLIN: Roy Keane says the Republic of it has to come from the players. “Whether Ireland need to pull the welcome mat from that is by making tackles, creating chances beneath Poland’s feet if they are to take or putting their bodies on the line. three points from a crucial European “The old Lansdowne was brilliant and Championship qualifier in Dublin today. there was a great atmosphere but in terms Keane, the assistant to manger Martin of today, that is the least of our worries. O’Neill, has called for Irish fans and players That will take care of itself and it will be to turn the Lansdowne Road stadium into electric.” the fortress of old. With Poland top of Group D, three points ahead of Ireland, LARGE CONTINGENT Germany and Scotland, defeat for O’Neill’s Almost 10,000 Poles are expected to men could prove fatal to their dreams of attend, with a substantial number coming making it to a second successive European from the large contingent already living in finals-and the omens aren’t good. Ireland. Since 2001, when Keane and company There may be a familiarity in the stands, stunned Louis Van Gaal’s star-studded but Ireland Stephen Quinn says Netherlands team on the way to World Cup the players are also more than aware of 2002 qualification, Ireland have struggled what to expect on the field. to take a scalp of any significance at “We’ve watched a lot of videos on Lansdowne Road. Now, with Poland 32 Poland throughout the week already and I places ahead of them in the FIFA Rankings don’t think the manager wants to leave any (Ireland languish at 66), an opportunity stones unturned going into the game, for exists not only to make a case for their par- set-pieces etc,” the Hull midfielder said. ticipation at Euro 2016, but to also begin a “We know how strong they are and we new era of home dominance on a ground have done our homework so hopefully we that was once so profitable in the golden can deal with that. “We’ve watched them reigns of Jack Charlton and Mick McCarthy. and we will continue to throughout the Losing to Scotland in November has week so we can capitalise on their weak- increased the pressure ahead of Sunday’s nesses.” Poland travel in confident mood, game, but Ireland know victory will keep having beaten bitter rivals Germany for the them firmly in the hunt for automatic quali- first time in 19 attempts last October, with fication from Group D. coach Adam Nawalka so pleased with how “If we want to do well in any campaign things are going that he was willing to you have to have a decent home record,” leave out star Jakub Keane said. “A lot of teams have come here Blaszczykowski due to internal friction and probably enjoyed Lansdowne Road, between the midfielder and new captain but it’s up to us to be on the front foot and Robert Lewandowski. The 68-times capped get the fans behind us, which I sure they former skipper is not the only absentee, will be. with Lukasz Piszczek, Artur Jedrzejczyk, LONDON: England’s Harry Kane (right) is challenged by Lithuania’s Arturas Zulpa during the Euro 2016 Group E qualifying soccer match at “The atmosphere will no doubt be bril- Kamil Grosicki and Michal Zyro missing in London on Friday. —AP liant but that can’t just come from the fans, through injury. —AFP Sanchez plots Kane whips Lithuania revenge over Brazil as Spain sink Ukraine LONDON: Chile forward Alexis Sanchez The most impressive of those wins came plans to make the most of home advantage in Paris on Thursday when the Selecao as the Arsenal star plots on revenge against recovered from a goal down to beat France PARIS: Man of the moment Harry Kane scored next year’s finals in France, England are six Del Bosque’s side are now clear in second Brazil in today’s friendly at the Emirates 3-1 thanks to goals from Oscar, and just moments into his international debut to seal points clear of both Slovenia and Switzerland at place in Group C, although they remain three Stadium. Luiz Gustavo. a 4-0 win for England against Lithuania at the top of the section. points behind Slovakia, who won 3-0 at home to Sanchez is still smarting from Chile’s It was the kind of creative and coura- Wembley in Euro 2016 qualifying on Friday. The Swiss eased to a 3-0 win at home to Luxembourg for a fifth win from five outings. World Cup exit at the hands of the hosts geous display that suggested has The Tottenham Hotspur striker was called up Estonia with Fabian Schaer, Granit Xhaka and Elsewhere in Group C, Belarus came from behind less than 12 months ago and he would love managed to rid his squad of the psycholog- by Roy Hodgson having scored 29 goals for his Haris Seferovic all on target. to claim their first victory of the campaign, 2-1 in to make amends by leading his country to ical scars inflicted by their traumatising club this season, and he was brought on for - Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund’s Kevin Macedonia. victory over their South American rivals at World Cup exit on home soil. tain Wayne Rooney in the 71st minute of the Kampl was one of half a dozen different scorers Meanwhile, the Group G fixture between the home of his current club. Dunga, who captained Brazil to World qualifying Group E fixture with England leading as Slovenia hammered hapless San Marino 6-0. Montenegro and Russia in Podgorica was aban- The 26-year-old, who moved to north Cup glory in 1994 and coached the team 3-0. Reigning European champions Spain took an doned after the German referee stopped play on London from Barcelona last year, scored that lost in the last eight in South Africa in Within two minutes, the 21-year-old had his important step towards qualifying from Group C two separate occasions because of trouble. Chile’s equaliser in a dramatic last-16 clash 2010, is overseeing a period of transition as first goal for his country, heading home from a with a 1-0 victory at home to Ukraine in Seville. The first stoppage came with less than a in Belo Horizonte, but it was Brazil goal- his team build towards the Copa America in Raheem Sterling cross at the back post. Alvaro Morata of Juventus was handed a start up minute played after visiting goalkeeper Igor keeper Julio Cesar who finished as the hero Chile in June. Before that, Rooney opened the scoring early front in the absence of injured Chelsea star Akinfeev was hit by a flare thrown from the after saving two penalties, including one Only two members of his starting line- on with his 47th international goal, leaving him and took advantage to score his crowd. from Sanchez, to seal a 3-2 win in the up against France, Oscar and Luiz Gustavo, two shy of Bobby Charlton’s England record. first international goal in the 28th minute after The CSKA Moscow goalkeeper was shoot-out. began that defeat to Germany, although six Danny Welbeck was then credited with the being set up by Koke. stretchered off and taken to hospital as a pre- With that in mind, Sanchez has set his of his side were in the squad at last year’s second goal just before the break, although the Spain were still not entirely convincing, but caution, and play restarted after a half-hour sights on handing Brazil, including his World Cup. ball took a crucial deflection off Lithuania cap- they could and probably should have won by stoppage. good friend and former Barca team-mate “This year will be very important for us, tain Tadas Kijanskas before going in. more goals. However, , on the However, the game was abandoned altogeth- Neymar, a first defeat in eight matches when we will play the Copa America and And before setting up Kane’s goal, Liverpool ground where he first made his name with er with the score 0-0 midway through the sec- under new coach Dunga in front of a the qualifiers for the World Cup will also get winger Sterling claimed his first in an England Sevilla a decade ago, headed against the wood- ond half as tensions mounted between the two 60,000-capacity crowd at the Emirates. started,” Dunga said. shirt too as Hodgson’s side made it five wins work from a free-kick and only a teams after Russia’s Roman Shirokov had a hotly- “I’m so excited and honoured to be play- “Playing against Chile will be one more from five games in Group E. “I dreamed of this great Andriy Pyatov save stopped substitute disputed penalty saved. It remains to be seen ing for the national team of Chile, against opportunity for the team to get ready for and it’s just a bit of a blur at the moment,” Kane Santi Cazorla making it 2-0 after a one-two with what action UEFA will take, although Russia will our great rivals Brazil, in front of the incred- the next challenges. “Brazil vs Chile is told ITV. Isco. hope to be awarded the victory. Austria top the ible Arsenal fans at Emirates Stadium,” always a good game and I am sure that all “It’s the best moment of my career. To repre- “In the first-half we played well and we had group with 13 points after a 5-0 win in Sanchez said. fans will see a great show in London.” sent my country at senior level is the top and chances,” said Spain coach . Liechtenstein, with Sweden four points behind “I also look forward to playing against While Brazil are on the up, Chile, who hopefully I can continue to keep doing it and “In the second we had a few openings, but we in second. They won 2-0 in Moldova as captain my good friend Neymar. Matches between haven’t beaten their rivals in 13 attempts hopefully this goal is the first of many.” found it difficult to break them down. The sec- Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a second-half brace, Brazil and Chile are always exciting encoun- dating back to 2000, head into the fixture Halfway through the campaign to qualify for ond half left me with a bad taste in my mouth.” including a late penalty. —AFP ters, and for me, to play this game at keen for a morale-boosting win. Emirates Stadium will make the match They slumped to a surprise 2-0 friendly even more special.” defeat against Iran in Austria in midweek-a Preview Hired for a second spell as Brazil coach second loss in three games for Jorge in the aftermath of their humiliating 7-1 Sampaoli’s side. World Cup semi-final defeat against The Chile boss is likely to restore Germany last year, Dunga has led Brazil to Sanchez and Juventus star Arturo Vidal to Misfiring Germany under seven successive friendly victories, netting his line-up after they both started on the 17 goals in the process. bench against Iran. —AFP pressure against Georgia

Spanish star signs TBILISI: Germany coach Joachim Both defender Holger Badstuber, Loew is set to name a full-strength who has a hip injury, and winger with Qatari side — club side for today’s clash at Georgia as the Karim Bellarabi, who has a cold, have world champions look to get their stayed back in Germany and will not Euro 2016 qualification back on track. feature. DOHA: Barcelona and Spain’s Xavi The Germans are used to dominat- “We won’t make a false step in Hernandez, one of the greatest ing qualifiers for major tournaments, Georgia,” said Loew’s assistant Thomas of the modern era, has signed for Qatari but have picked up only seven points Schneider. “We are under pressure, but side Al Sadd, officials in the Gulf claimed from their first four matches so far on there is no panic in our ranks.” Having yesterday. the road to France 2016. experimented with a three-man Pictures posted on social media by Al The world champions find them- defence in Kaiserslautern, Loew is set Sadd first-team manager Abdullah Al-Berik selves in the unusual position of joint to revert to a four-man defence in said the 35-year-old 2010 World Cup win- second in Group D, three points Tsibili. ner had signed for one of Qatar’s top sides. behind leaders Poland and level on Alongside Schweinsteiger and “Al Sadd have just managed to sign seven with Scotland and Ireland while Neuer, Loew is set to also include Barcelona captain Xavi and this is a picture World Cup-winners Thomas Mueller, of him with sporting director Muhammed Georgia are second from bottom. With Ireland hosting Poland in Dublin today Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels and Ghoulam,” Berik wrote on Instagram. Xavi is Jerome Boateng, who all sat out the therefore set to move to Qatar after the and Scotland facing bottom side Xavi Hernandez Gibraltar in Glasgow, Germany need Australia draw. end of this season, despite having a con- “We will win on Sunday,” said Mario and he has a contract until the end of next the three points in Tbilisi in their bid tract with Barcelona until June 2016. Goetze, who scored Germany’s World The transfer brings the curtain down on season,” said Bartomeu. to go top of the group. Cup-winning goal in Rio, but failed to a 17-year first-team playing career with “If he decides to leave then he will have “We know that we have to win on impress up front alongside fellow Barcelona, during which time Xavi has won the full support of the board and I would Sunday,” said Loew. The Germans are attacking midfielder Marco Reus seven championships, three imagine the supporters. He has the two suffering a post-World Cup hangover against the Socceroos. On paper, the Champions League titles and two FIFA Club options and he has the right to decide.” after their shock 2-0 defeat to Poland match at Tbilisi’s Boris Paichadze World Cups. He was also an integral part of Xavi’s signing would also be one of the in Warsaw and a draw at home to Erovnuli Stadium should present the Spain’s World Cup-winning side in 2010 biggest coups for Qatari domestic football Ireland gave them only one point and their two European Championship tri- in a country set to host the 2022 World Germans few problems. from a possible six last October. Georgia have lost all three of their umphs in 2008 and 2012. Cup. Their defeat in Poland was their He has won more trophies — 25 — than Al Sadd are currently second in the previous games against Germany, first to their neighbours in 19 meet- who posted home and away wins any other Spanish footballer. Xavi has spent league, seven points behind Lekhwiya, the ings and ended their run of 18 com- when the sides met in qualifiers for his whole career at Barcelona, playing more side coached by former Barcelona player petitive fixtures without defeat. The the 1996 European championship, than 700 games for the Catalan side since and Danish international . world champions then laboured to a which the Germans eventually won. his debut in 1998. They are the most successful side in 4-0 win against part-timers Gibraltar Loew has already tasted victory Beyond mere figures, he will also be Qatari football and competed in the Club last November and needed a late against Georgia when Germany remembered as being a central figure of World Cup in 2011, finishing third after equaliser in Barcelona’s revolutionary ‘tiki-taka’ style of being knocked out by Barcelona in the Kaiserslautern on Wednesday to avoid enjoyed a 2-0 friendly win in Rostock football, which relies on possession and semi-finals. a shock defeat in their 2-2 friendly in 2006. passing, and helped the Catalan side to Xavi is thought to have signed a three- draw with Asian champions Australia. Georgia’s new coach Kakhaber become arguably the dominant team in year contract with Al Sadd. It is thought his “We know that things are now get- Tskhadadze will be in charge of his Europe in the first decade of the century. role will combine coaching as well. He fol- ting serious in terms of qualifying, but first match. His predecessor Temuri Barcelona president Josep Maria lows in the footsteps of former Real Madrid none of us need to worry,” said mid- Ketsbaia ended his five-year reign and Bartomeu said that if the transfer is con- star Raul Gonzalez, who played for Al Sadd fielder Sami Khedira. Germany captain resigned after last November’s 4-0 firmed, the club will not stand in the way of in 39 games between 2012 and 2014. Bastian Schweinsteiger, who sat out home defeat to Poland after opening what would be a surprise move for the Barcelona are currently four points clear the Australia draw, will make his first their qualifying campaign with three iconic . at the top of La Liga and also in the running appearance since the World Cup final, defeats and a 3-0 win over in Gibraltar. TBILISI: Germany soccer players attend a training session. “I will say what I did last summer, Xavi for more silverware in the Champions while goalkeeper Manuel Neuer Georgia are without a win in their last Germany will face Georgia in the Euro 2016 qualifying soccer has earned the right to decide his future League and Copa del Rey.—AFP returns after a minor knee injury. five competitive home games. —AFP match today. —AP