SPORTS SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2016

Argentina’s assassin Messi could be unstoppable

SANTA CLARA: No amount of prepara- Both sides have three points after of the world player of the year award. “He is very motivated and was tion is enough to snuff out the threat of Panama marked their first appearance Gomez said his players were enjoy- enthused by the performance of his ’s “assassin” , in the world’s oldest international tour- ing facing world class teams as they team mates against .” It was the Panama coach Hernan Dario Gomez nament with a surprise 2-1 win over build towards the final stages of the first time he had stayed on the bench said ahead of Friday’s Copa America Bolivia, who face Chile in Foxborough CONCACAF 2018 World Cup quali- for a whole game in 10 years, since clash between the teams. Messi was an on Friday. “You can work a lot to build fiers. Panama face Chile in Argentina’s 2006 World Cup quarter- unused substitute in Argentina’s 2-1 a team, but against Messi there’s noth- Philadelphia on Tuesday. final loss to when he was a win over holders Chile in their opening ing you can do. If Messi’s inspired he Messi is keen to get some game teenager. Messi, who turns 29 two Group D match in Santa Clara, California can kill anyone,” Colombian Gomez time before the knockout phase of the days before the final in East Rutherford on Monday after a back injury but will told reporters. “One works on tactics centenary tournament begins. “Before on June 26, has said he is determined reappear when they face Panama in and has a team but individuals are the match against Chile, Messi had not to win the tournament after finishing Chicago. “Leo trained normally, he will above that in football. Messi is a man practiced with the ball,” Martino said. on the losing side in the 2014 World play,” coach told a who is above everyone,” he said of the “But from yesterday (Wednesday) he Cup final in Brazil and the 2007 and news conference on Thursday. Argentina captain, a five times winner has been training without any pain. 2015 Copa America finals. — Reuters

Pele’s memorabilia nets $5 million fortune at auction tumble out as Mexico

LONDON: The three-day sale of memorabilia belonging to world and Venezuela reach quarters football icon Pele ended in on Thursday with the artefacts sold for the princely total of £3.4million ($5million, 4.4million PHILADELPHIA: Uruguay were sent crash- euros). The final day of the sale-held in London but under the ban- ing out of the Copa America Centenario on ner of Los Angeles based auction house Julien’s-was lit up by the Thursday as Venezuela and Mexico sale of the 75-year-old Brazilian’s third and final World Cup win- marched into the quarter-finals. Uruguay, ners medal from 1970 which fetched £346,000. To put that price the record 15-time Copa America champi- into context, the ones from 1958, when he was just a teenager, ons, were eliminated in the group phase for and 1962 had sold collectively on Wednesday for £340,000. the first time since 1997 after slumping to a “It was a white glove auction where 100% of all the lots sold,” shock 1-0 loss to Venezuela in Philadelphia. Darren Julien, Chief Executive of Julien’s auctions told AFP. That result combined with Mexico’s 2-0 Julien’s had extra reason to be happy as they had placed an orig- Group C win over Jamaica in Pasadena left inal total estimate of £3million on the memorabilia. Another Pele the 2011 champions struggling to digest a item to make big money on Thursday was his 1000th game humiliating early exit. crown which eventually went for £162,000. Wednesday’s auction “We never found the game we wanted had seen the most money shelled out on a replica of the Jules and that cost us,” Uruguay’s revered Rimet trophy made for Pele after his third World Cup success coach Oscar Tabarez said, adding that the which fetched £395,000. That was bought by Swiss watchmak- ill-fated campaign should serve as a warn- ing giant Hublot. ing to his team as they now look ahead to For those with shallower pockets there were things to be had. the resumption of 2018 World Cup quali- Pele’s football boots that he sported in the film Escape To fiers. “It’s been a very different Copa Victory-which featured actors of the calibre of Michael Caine America. I’ve never experienced some- mixed in with footballers like ’s World Cup winning skip- thing like this before. “We knew it was per Bobby Moore-went for just over £8000. A portion of the pro- going to be difficult but this should be a ceeds from the sale will go to help Pequeno Principe, the largest wake-up call before the World Cup quali- children’s hospital in Brazil, which Pele said was close to his fiers,” Tabarez added. heart. Born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pele is held by many Uruguay’s defeat also capped a miser- as being the greatest footballer in history. He scored 1,281 goals able tournament for Barcelona superstar in 1,363 matches, appeared 91 times for Brazil between 1957 Luis Suarez. Suarez, nursing a hamstring and 1971 and played his club football for Brazil’s FC Santos as injury when he joined up with the squad, well as the New York Cosmos. — AFP has so far not played a single minute. Suarez appeared in the dugout and Guardiola won’t have it looked visibly frustrated at his failure to get on the pitch, at one point appearing easy in England: Pedro to punch the dugout wall. Tabarez defended his decision not to name Suarez MADRID: Chelsea forward Pedro fears , his for- in the matchday squad. “The player is not mer coach at Barcelona, could be in for a rude awakening at fit to play. It’s a matter of numbers. I will City next season. Guardiola, 45, was appointed to not select a player who is not 100 percent. succeed as City coach after spending three Was he angry? I am not aware. To me he years as Bayern Munich boss. “Although we know he is a great told me nothing,” Tabarez said. Venezuela’s winner came on 36 min- coach, Pep is not going to have it easy,” Pedro, who played PHILADELPHIA: Venezuela’s Tomas Rincon (8) kicks the ball over Uruguay’s utes, when Alejandro Guerra under Guardiola at Barcelona for four seasons before the Nicolas Lodeiro (14) during the second half of a Copa America Group C soccer cleverly spotted Uruguay goalkeeper coach’s departure in 2012, told . “It’s a difficult league, match on Thursday, June 9, 2016, in Philadelphia. Venezuela won 1-0. — AP complicated. I don’t think he will be able to express his foot- Fernando Muslera off his line. Guerra ball.” Guardiola’s coaching trademark has been an emphasis unleashed a long-range effort from near growing as a team,” he added. Venezuela The drama came in the 60th minute on ball possession, short passing and clever movement. He has the halfway line which the back-pedalling will now face Mexico in their final first when Donaldson rounded his marker enjoyed remarkable success, winning 14 trophies in his four Muslera could only parry onto the bar round game to determine who finishes top before being cut down by . years at Barca before leading Bayern to three straight before Salomon Rondon bundled in the of Group C. Mexico, who had beaten Replays showed the defender didn’t get a Bundesliga titles and two German Cups. rebound. Venezuela’s advance to the last Uruguay 3-1 in their opening game, mean- touch on the ball. Jamaica’s misery was “He is faithful to his ideas and he can convince his players to eight is the biggest shock of the tourna- while proved too powerful for Caribbean sealed when Mexico’s change the philosophy of direct play by playing more elabo- ment so far. The Venezuelans are current- minnows Jamaica in front of an 83,263 picked out Hector Herrera in the area and rate football,” said Pedro, who is currently with the Spain ly bottom of South America’s 10-team crowd at the Pasadena Rose Bowl. the midfielder nudged the ball on for sub- squad preparing for Euro 2016. “We shall see how his first year round robin qualifying competition for With California’s large population of stitute to stroke the ball first goes.” Pedro, however, expects Jose Mourinho to be a hit at the 2018 World Cup; Uruguay are on top Mexican-Americans making it a virtual time inside the right hand upright on the Manchester United. Mourinho, sacked by Chelsea in December of the standings. home game for ‘El Tri’, Mexico took the lead 81st minute. “It’s a tough loss of a game I after his team plummeted down the Premier League table, was on 18 minutes when former Manchester believe we dominated at times but we unveiled last month as United’s new manager following the Beating ‘the maestro’ United and Real Madrid striker Javier failed to take our chances,” Jamaica’s assis- dismissal of . “One thing is certain, he will bring a “To beat the ‘Maestro’ Tabarez is a privi- Hernandez nodded in his 45th internation- tant coach Miguel Coley said, refusing to be lot of intensity,” Pedro said. “It’s going to be a very strong team lege,” Venezuela coach Rafael Dudamel al . Jamaica were denied what looked drawn on whether he felt the overwhelm- and consistent at the back. He has a lot of character and very said. “For me it means a lot. He’s one of the like a clear-cut penalty in the second half ing Mexican support had influenced the clear ideas.” — Reuters best coaches in the world, in history. This after striker Clayton Donaldson appeared penalty decision. “I don’t want to go there- win will motivate us to keep winning and to have been fouled in the area. the referee’s decision is final.” — AFP