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Home , Bebeto, Harry Kane, Mauricio Pochettino, Neymar, Robinho, Zico (footballer)

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014 SPORTS on path to greatness with

SAO PAULO: Despite being only 22 great as he was thanks to what he years old, Neymar has already done could do with his left foot, but he enough to be ranked among was never able to use his right leg Brazil’s greatest players of all time. If effectively. Neymar has this ability he can keep it up, not even the to play well using both of his legs.” great Pele may be standing in front But even pointed to some of him when the youngster hangs of Neymar’s weaknesses at the up his boots. time, including his less-than superb Brazil’s most promising player in heading skills, an area where Pele decades is living up to expectations thrived. Neymar also was criticized and has set himself on a path to because of his dives and for failing greatness. He is enchanting with to perform well with the national his brilliance and putting up num- team early in his career. bers that few others have achieved He has steadily improved in at his age. He is already Brazil’s fifth- most areas and is a much more greatest scorer with 40 goals with mature player today. Neymar has the national team, and is well on been diving less often and is : Arsenal’s English striker in action in this file photo. —AFP pace to surpass Pele’s record of 77 behaving better both on and off as the nation’s most prolific scorer. the field. A season playing along- Wenger expects Arsenal If Neymar keeps scoring like this, side the best in the world in Europe he may break Pele’s record before helped him progress rapidly. he turns 28, in 2020. Pele was only He also improved with the to bounce back from slump two months older than Neymar national team, becoming Brazil’s SWANSEA: Arsene Wenger believes up after such a length lay-off. “In our job, when he netted his 40th . Only captain and the player carrying the Arsenal will make an immediate recovery every time you have a big injury, there is a Pele and Romario have a better fans’ hopes for a sixth world title. from their European meltdown when they bigger chance of having another,” Wenger goal average than Neymar with the “I don’t know what my limit is,” return to action at Swansea said. “He is now ready to play again and we national team. Neymar said after he surpassed today. just have to leave him in peace and give “I am very happy and proud of as Brazil’s fifth-best scorer. Wenger’s side squandered a three-goal him the time needed to come back. He is in the progress of Neymar since he “I’m not thinking about surpassing lead as they crumbled in spectacular fash- the squad. His ability to start is that if I moved to play in Europe,” Pele told Pele, that’s not my goal. My goal is ion in the final 29 minutes against unher- decide to start him he can start.” The in an email. to keep scoring to help the national alded Belgians Anderlecht on Tuesday. The Meanwhile, Swansea striker Wilfried “This season, he keeps proving that team and to help my teammates.” woeful collapse once again exposed the Bony, who interested both Tottenham and he’s one of the best players in the It’s not only the goals that make soft centre of Arsenal’s defence and Liverpool in the close-season, is set to world. His growth as a player is fan- Neymar a special player. sparked a torrent of criticism for Wenger extend his stay in south . tastic and very beneficial for the He lacks the physical strength and his players. And Swansea manager Garry Monk has Selecao.” that Pele used to have, and also But the Gunners boss says his team’s revealed the Ivory Coast forward could Among the few Brazilians who doesn’t seem to have the same morale has not been affected by either the even sign a new deal before the fixture have more goals than Neymar are above-average quick-thinking of result or the abuse and he is confident of with Arsenal. Zico, Romario and Ronaldo, long- the three-time World Cup champi- returning to winning ways at the Liberty “Hopefully we can get it done before time heroes in the land of soccer. on, but Neymar has similar light- Stadium this weekend. Arsenal - it has to go through the legal pro- Neymar reached his 40th goal footed skills and uses his incredible “I have managed 2000 games and can cedures but fingers crossed it can be done,” after scoring four times in a friendly speed to make up for some of his anticipate what people will say. If you Monk said. against Japan last month, and in weaknesses. Like Pele, Ronaldo and defend and get back to 3-3, people will ask “We’ve had a great relationship. We the coming weeks he has a chance Romario, he also has outstanding why you defend and not continue to play a spoke a lot over the summer and I know to move closer to Zico’s mark of 48 precision on his finishes. normal game. If you continue to attack, how committed he is and how much he goals when Brazil plays friendlies Neymar does have some advan- people ask why you attack. It is so pre- enjoys it here. This contact is a symbol of against Turkey and Austria. tages over players such as Ronaldo dictable,” Wenger said. that. Romario has 55 goals in official and Romario, who became stars “We can learn a lot from what happened “It would be a very big thing for the matches with the Selecao, while mostly because of their goal-scor- on Tuesday. We have special incidents. club, the player and his team-mates. “It’s Ronaldo had 62. “We both came ing ability. Neymar is not only Some things we can correct, like the sec- good for them to see a big player commit from Santos FC where we devel- about scoring goals, he is more of a ond and third goals. to the club. Hopefully it’s a boost for every- oped the same set of skills: creativi- , and uses his ball skills “We are very positive inside the camp. one.” ty, passing, clinical finishing and, of and speed to create scoring oppor- We are not touched by that (the negativity). Monk denied the move to tie Bony to a course, insatiable hunger for goals,” tunities for himself and his team- When we do not win, we are not happy. longer deal, which could see his release Pele told the AP. mates. Ronaldo used mostly his The rest, we can live with.” Wenger will clause taken over, was a move to keep the While Pele spent most of his strength to get past defenders, adopt a cautious approach by carefully 25-year-old from the clutches of Premier career in Brazil, Neymar was quick while Romario was more about managing Theo Walcott’s return to first- League rivals. to move to European soccer. He using good positioning inside the team action following a long-term injury. “It’s not why we’re doing it, it’s just went straight from Santos to area and precise strikes. The winger has just returned about having good players here and on , and it didn’t take long Contrary to a classic No. 10 such from a serious cruciate knee ligament contracts that suit the club,” he added. “It’s for him to start succeeding along- as Zico, who had outstanding ball injury which he sustained in the Gunners’ a sign of how committed he is. That’s the side the likes of Lionel . control and was always trying to FA Cup third round win over Tottenham biggest message, his commitment to the In Brazil, many say Neymar put his teammates in position to back in January. club and his team-mates. “Speculation over already has what it takes to score, Neymar is constantly chal- the summer saw Ashley Williams and Wilf become the best player in the lenging defenders and using his LONG LAY-OFF linked away but they gave their commit- world. “Maybe it won’t happen this skills to get near the Walcott has sat on the substitutes bench ment to the club and team-mates which is year, but by next year he will be opponent’s area. for the wins over Sunderland and then great for them to see. Speculation will named the best in the world, I’m Although it remains too early to Burnley last weekend, where he was able to always happen. “In the times we’re in and certain,” former Brazil coach Carlos tell how Neymar will be compared make an eye-catching comeback at the the players we have, they will attract atten- Alberto Parreira told Brazilian to other Brazilian greats, it’s likely Emirates. And Wenger won’t rush the 25- tion. I’m sure he’ll be linked again but that’s media recently. “He’s already an that his success will depend largely year-old straight back into his starting line- not a concern.” —AFP idol.” on whether he can win with Brazil Neymar had just started to catch and lead the five-time world cham- Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar da . —AFP everyone’s attention when Zico, the pion back to its glory days. star of Brazil’s 1982 World Cup Pele had already won two World be as good as everyone expects, as tions. He played in two World Cups Players want Women’s team, said the youngster could Cups by the time he was 22. happened to , who also and remains with the national become as good as Pele or Diego Neymar missed out on a chance to was touted as a promising star team, but never became the type Maradona. win his first world title thanks in when he transferred to European of star that Brazilians had hoped for World Cup played on grass “He does things that Maradona part to a back injury that ruled him soccer as a 21-year-old. Also a after he started making headlines was never able to do,” Zico told out of some of this year’s tourna- Santos player, Robinho moved to as a teenager. Only time will tell if local channel Esporte Interativo a ment in Brazil. And there is always Real instead of Barcelona, Neymar will be more like Robinho SYDNEY: The Canadian Soccer Association few years ago. “Maradona was as the chance that Neymar may never but never played up to expecta- or more like Pele.—AP (CSA) says it will not participate in media- tion to resolve a dispute over the proposed Matches on TV use of artificial turf at next year’s Women’s (Local Timings) World Cup. Kane leads the way as Spurs show toughness Jo-Ann Pickel, vice chair of the Human English Premier League Rights Tribunal of Ontario, had declined on Sunderland v Everton 16:30 LONDON: believes that we’re going to fight through.” Friday the players’ request for an expedited beIN SPORTS 11 HD Tottenham are finally demonstrat- Tottenham head into the latest hearing but said the parties should go to Tottenham v Stoke City 16:30 ing the mental toughness manager round of matches in eighth place in mediation. beIN SPORTS 1 HD has been the Premier League and injuries “I find it appropriate in the circum- Bromwich v Newcastle 16:30 demanding this season. Pochettino could hamper their hopes of stances of this case for the Tribunal to schedule an early mediation to provide the beIN SPORTS 7 HD questioned the resilience of his extending their recent winning run. opportunity for the parties to resolve the Swansea v Arsenal 19:00 players after a recent home defeat and Emmanuel matter in a timely way,” Pickel wrote in her beIN SPORTS 1 HD against Newcastle, but since then Adebayor will face late fitness tests decision. beIN SPORTS 11 HD Tottenham have progressed into after missing the trip to Greece the League Cup quarter-finals, with hamstring strains and Nabil Lawyers for the players responded by Spanish League stating they were ready to enter mediation staged a late recovery to win at Bentaleb is sidelined with an ankle but the Canadian Soccer Association said Celta v Granada 0:00 Aston Villa, and on Thursday beat problem. they were not. beIN SPORTS 5 HD Asteras Tripolis in the Europa Stoke travel to the capital still “The Canadian Soccer Association has Malaga v Eibar 0:00 League. upset by their treatment from refer- advised the Tribunal that it is not willing to beIN SPORTS 6 HD Now Pochettino’s team will ees, with manager set participate in an early mediation in this Sevilla v Levante 14:00 attempt to record a fourth succes- to speak with the head of matter,” the CSA statement said. Canada beIN SPORTS 2 HD sive victory when Stoke visit White Professional Game Match Officials will host the June 5-July 6 event in six cities Espanyol v Villarreal 19:00 Hart Lane today. Yet while results Limited Mike Riley next week. - Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, beIN SPORTS 9 HD have improved, Pochettino’s team The Welshman is far from happy Montreal and Moncton. Valencia v Bilbao 21:00 were below their best in the nervy after a series of decisions went One of the main reasons given by Pickel beIN SPORTS 2 HD 2-1 victory over Asteras when they against his side, including an for refusing to fast-track the case was the Sociedad v Atletico 23:00 almost allowed a two-goal lead to unpunished two-footed challenge fact that the players did not take legal steps beIN SPORTS 2 HD slip. by Alex Song on Mame Diouf dur- until 18 months after venues, and surfaces, Italian Calcio League In the end the north Londoners ing last weekend’s 2-2 draw with had been announced. were grateful for Kane’s 10th goal West Ham, who trailed 2-0 at the “The Canadian Soccer Association is Cagliari v Genoa 14:30 of the season that gave them a time. pleased with the Tribunal’s decision. We beIN SPORTS 3 HD much-needed cushion and rein- Hughes is also less than pleased continue to move forward with our prepa- Empoli v Lazio 17:00 forced the young striker’s growing that captain Ryan Shawcross has beIN SPORTS 2 HD rations for what will be a world-class com- reputation. been highlighted for alleged grap- beIN SPORTS 2 petition played on consistent, top quality Kane will hope his efforts earn pling offences at set pieces after he Juventus v Parma 17:00 FIFA 2-Star certified football turf surfaces,” him a first Premier League start of gave away a penalty against beIN SPORTS 3 HD said Victor Montagliani, President of the the season against Stoke and the Swansea, while chairman Peter Citta v Calcio 17:00 Canadian Soccer Association, in the state- forward believes there are plenty of Coates could face FA sanction for ment. beIN SPORTS 8 HD Fiorentina v Napoli 20:00 other positives to be drawn from accusing referees of bias against his FIFA, which is also named in the case, Spurs’ recent upturn. side. has so far refused to recognise the jurisdic- beIN SPORTS 9 HD “I think we’ve got what it takes. “There’s meetings planned for tion of the Ontario court, according to AS Roma v Torino 22:45 There is steel in this team. We had a next week,” said Hughes. “we felt we Pickel. beIN SPORTS 3 HD great comeback against Aston Villa had observations that we made as Over 40 top players have argued that beIN SPORTS 1 HD women are being discriminated against beIN SPORTS 1 in the last game and we dug deep a club and individuals in certain given that World Cup finals for men, con- Inter v Verona 22:45 to get the result here,” Kane said. games. “We just need a little bit of tested every four years, have always been beIN SPORTS 7 HD “You can develop a steely streak clarification and we’re pleased that played on natural grass. from getting results like this, they’ve accepted our invitation and Attorney Hampton Dellinger, who is rep- German Bundesliga because they build confidence. We we can have conversations. There resenting the players, said he intends to Wolfsburg v Hamburger 17:30 all stuck together against Asteras are any number of themes. “But it’s challenge the decision not to expedite the beIN SPORTS 4 HD and we can only build from that. probably better to have the talks case. A group of 13 US senators have urged Dortmund v Monchengladbach 19:30 “When we go into our games, first with the people involved. Will FIFA to switch the tournament to natural beIN SPORTS 4 HD every player knows that everyone we tell you what happens? Well it GREECE: Tottenham Hotspur Harry Kane controls the ball in this file grass. — else has got his back covered and depends how it goes.” —AFP photo. —AFP