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EURO 2016 / GERMANY VS ITALY 10PM Germany attempt to throw off Italian shackles World champions insist they have no ‘Italy trauma’ as they attempt to beat the Azzurri at the ninth attempt on a big stage, while Conte’s men have compared today’s match against Loew’s squad to ‘climbing Everest’

AFP Bordeaux

urope’s titans clash today when Germany and Italy meet in the plum Euro 2016 quarter-fi nal with huge stakes for both coun- tries.E Germany captain Bastian Schwein- steiger is poised to make his fi rst start in the Bordeaux match, while Italy’s veteran defender Daniele de Rossi faces a race to be fi t. Like two heavyweight boxers eyeing up their opponent before the fi rst bell, both teams have talked up the respect factor and down played the signifi cance of Italy winning the last eight meetings at major tournaments. In the most recent matches, Italy claimed a 2-1 win in the Euro 2012 semi-fi nals while Germany romped to a 4-1 win in a meaningless friendly in March. Joachim Loew’s Germany insists they have no ‘Italy trauma’ as they look to beat the Azzurri at the ninth attempt on a big stage and throw off their Italian shackles. Antonio Conte’s Italy has compared taking on the world champions as foot- ball’s equivalent of ‘climbing Ever- est’. Italy have their own trauma after crashing out of the 2014 World Cup in the fi rst round. Both squads insist this will be their toughest test so far at the European Championship fi nals. No doubt penalties have been prac- tised behind closed doors, should the German players warm up during a training session in Evian, France, yesterday, on the eve of their quarter-final against Italy. (AFP) tie be decided by a shoot-out. The Azzurri proved they are up for “We know Germany are strong and the challenge by dumping previous will be sure of themselves. But our holders Spain out of the competition victory over Spain has really lifted our with a 2-0 win in the last 16. confi dence.” But Conte’s team will have to become Germany have all their players fi t and the fi rst team to score past the Germans no suspensions. at Euro 2016, unless the tie is settled by Centre-back Jerome Boateng has re- penalties. covered from a calf strain which made The clear, often repeated, German him doubtful for the 3-0 win over Slo- message this week has been of great re- vakia in the last 16. spect, but no fear of the Azzurri. The burly Bayern Munich defend- As has been well documented in the er scored his fi rst international goal media of both European footballing against Slovakia. powerhouses, Italy has a rare unbeaten record over Germany at major tourna- RECORD-BREAKER NEUER ments. After three Euro 2016 appearances off the bench, Die Mannschaft’s leader GERMANY’S ITALIAN CURSE Schweinsteiger is poised to make his “It doesn’t mean anything to me that fi rst start after a knee injury. we have never beaten Italy in a big tour- Germany’s shot-stopper Manuel nament”, said Germany midfi elder Toni Neuer is on a record run of fi ve games Kroos. unbeaten, a fi rst in the 108-year history “They are the best team we will have of the German FA, which includes the faced here. I’m looking forward to the 2-0 warm-up win over Hungary. game and I’m very optimistic.” Italy have Thiago Motta suspended But the question will be whether and are waiting on the fi tness of two previous failures appear at the back of other midfi elders. German minds should Italy take the Italy’s De Rossi is almost certain to lead in Bordeaux. miss out after injuring his right thigh in Torino striker Ciro Immobile, who the win over Spain. spent an unhappy season at Borussia Likewise, Lazio winger Antonio Can- Dortmund, is not impressed with the dreva is doubtful after suff ering a ham- respectful noises coming from the Ger- string injury in their 1-0 group stage mans. win over Sweden nearly two weeks ago. “We’ve beaten them so many times Neither took part in Thursday’s Italy ... they’re just trying to cover them- training session behind closed doors. selves,” he said. Let battle commence. Italy’s Daniele De Rossi (right) walks around the pitch of the Bordeaux stadium on the eve of the quarter-final against Germany yesterday. (AFP)

Venue: Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux SUSPENSIONS AND INJURIES COACHES SPEAK tant is what happens in the tournament.” dinary against Spain and Euro 2016 capacity: 42,000 ITALY “The Italians recovered — Joachim Loew, Germany coach have to do something truly Suspended: Thiago Motta from a loss in a friendly extraordinary tomorrow. FORM GUIDE (LATEST FIRST) Doubtful: Daniele De Rossi (knock), Antonio [against Germany] – we “We started our journey in this Euro com- That said, we have to look Germany: WWDWW Candreva (hamstring) know the Italians have petition and had very little credibility in the forward to tomorrow and Italy: WLWWW many good players playing eyes of the Italian press and the internation- really harness this emo- SUMMARY with each other at Juven- al media. Everyone thought it was dark days tional side of things without HEAD-TO-HEAD Germany have never beaten Italy in eight tus. They don’t look into for us, but some hard work and organisation losing track of what we’re Germany Draw Italy past tournament meetings friendlies too much. We’ve have helped to overcome obstacles that trying to do.” 8 10 15 — Antonio Conte, Italy coach

Match guide Match seen that. They know what is most impor- were high. We had to do something extraor- Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 2, 2016 EURO 2016

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Poles rally Ronaldo’s ‘dream’ round ‘Kuba’ aft er Portugal still alive aft er penalty miss

AFP a big friend,” said defender Kamil Marseille Glik, who is moving from Tori- no in Serie A to Monaco in the shootout win French league. eammates rushed to rally “He saved us a lot of times in round Polish midfi elder this tournament by scoring in ‘I’m not missing anything (in honours)... But I’ve always said, and I don’t hide it, that I Jakub Blaszczykowski other games. That’s what we told after a crucial penalty him.” would love to win a title with the national team. We’re on the right road’ Tmiss handed Portugal victory in Poland goalkeeper Wojciech their Euro 2016 quarter-fi nal on Szczesny, who left his place to Thursday. Lukasz Fabianski because of in- “We lost as a team, and not jury, suggested nerves may have just one player,” said striker Rob- got to Blaszczykowski. ert Lewandowski, who gave Po- But while admitting their dis- land a second-minute lead with appointment, he believes Po- his fi rst goal of the tournament. land’s march to the quarter-fi - With Cristiano Ronaldo again nals for the fi rst time augurs well subdued, 18-year-old compa- for the future. triot Renato Sanches took centre He said Poland had studied stage and hit Portugal’s leveller Portugal’s penalty-taking. “But on 33 minutes. you never know, under pressure With no more goals, and Ron- people can change where they go aldo missing chances, the match (shoot) and unfortunately for us was pushed to penalty kicks they took their penalties really where heartbreak is guaranteed. well today.” Blaszczykowski, popularly Szczesny added: “We’ve met known as ‘Kuba’, was Poland’s expectations ... we were one hero in their last 16 clash with step away from being among the Switzerland. The Borussia Dort- top four in Europe, so it’s disap- mund midfi elder hit Poland’s pointing on one hand but it’s also opener then booking their ticket a good reason for us to be proud their fi rst last-eight place at a of ourselves as well. major fi nals when he converted “We’ve had a fantastic journey, from the spot after Granit Xhaka it’s disappointing but we’ve done missed his eff ort at the penalty ourselves proud. We’ve done our kicks. fans proud and it’s a good start to The result meant Poland pre- build on for this team.” served their record of never hav- Former Polish great and now ing lost in 18 games when Blaszc- the president of the Polish Foot- zykowski has scored. ball Federation, Zbigniew Boniek In the latest penalty kicks, off ered his support to the team Blaszczykowski’s run was ended for reaching the last eight. by Portugal ‘keeper Rui Patri- Glik added: “It’s not the big- cio. When Ricardo Quaresma gest disappointment of my ca- stepped up to score on the next reer. That’s football, sometimes kick Portugal went through 5-3 you lose on penalty kicks. on penalties. “We have to stay positive. It Portugal’s Renato Sanches (right) celebrates his goal with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2016 quarter-final against Poland in Marseille on Thursday. (AFP) “It doesn’t matter that he was a balanced match in which (Blaszczykowski) missed his we had chances just as they did. AFP But the Real Madrid star acknowledged the Real Madrid star was bundled over by He made little of Portugal’s failure to kick, he’s still a great player and Portugal are a strong side.” Marseille again that the prize he really cherishes is centre-back Michal Pazdan as he went to make a clear win again. “People criticise a world or European title. And at 31, he meet a cross. us but we don’t care, because we are in knows time is running out. Two minutes later, Sanches collected the semis,” Sanches said. ristiano Ronaldo took his “The dream is getting closer and any- Nani’s cutback from the right side of the Ronaldo looked vulnerable, but Portu- “dream” of an international title thing can happen now. I’m not missing area and hit a fi erce shot that defl ected gal coach Fernando Santos hailed his per- another step closer when Por- anything (in honours) and even if my ca- off Grzegorz Krychowiak and beat Lukasz formance as “amazing”. tugal beat Poland in a penalty reer fi nished today I would still feel privi- Fabianski at his near post. “People focus on Ronaldo because he shootoutC to reach the European Champi- leged,” said the Real Madrid star. Portugal should have hit the winner has to score, but he played amazing, he is onship semi-fi nals. “But I’ve always said, and I don’t hide on 85 minutes, but after sneaking behind a great captain.” Robert Lewandowski scored barely it, that I would love to win a title with the Pazan to meet a high ball from substitute Santos said it was “an exaggeration” 100 seconds into the latest night of Euro national team. We’re on the right road.” Joao Moutinho, Ronaldo’s left foot failed to say Sanches was taking over from the 2016 drama before Portugal unleashed Poland started strongly, with Robert to connect with what looked like a simple team’s number one player. the player who many say could lead the Lewandowski scoring his fi rst goal of chance. “He played a great game, but he is still country’s post-Ronaldo era. Euro 2016 before the stadium had settled. Extra time was notable more for the growing. This is not the future Renato Making his fi rst start at Euro 2016, pitch invader who tried to reach Ronaldo because (in the future) he will be an even Renato Sanches, a powerful 18-year-old BAYERN BOYS than for real scoring chances. Fourteen better player. and already a 35mn euro ($38mn) player, Kamil Grosicki hurried past Southamp- security personnel carried the Ronaldo “Renato is still growing and he has to smashed home a 25m drive to equalise the ton right-back Cedric Soares to deliver a fan off after he was caught. take all his qualities and put it all on the match that went into extra time and then great cross for Lewandowski to drive past Goalkeeper Rui Patricio and Ricardo pitch.” penalties. a fl ailing Rui Patricio as Poland made a Quaresma were Portugal’s shootout he- Poland were disconsolate. Sanches followed Ronaldo in hitting fl ying start. roes. Patricio dived left to save Jakub “It hurts and it will hurt for a long home his spot kick as Portugal won 5-3, It was the Polish striker’s fi rst goal of Blaszczykowski’s tame fourth shot for the time,” Lewandowski said as he watched having again failed to win a game in the the competition, after hitting a record 13 Poles, who had reached the quarter-fi nals Ronaldo celebrate. allotted 90 minutes. That did not prevent in qualifying. for the fi rst time. Portugal play the winner of yesterday’s relieved Portuguese celebrations. Sanches, his new teammate at Bayern Quaresma was next up for Portugal and game between Belgium and Wales in Lille. Ronaldo said it had been an “unforget- Munich, came to Portugal’s rescue. made no mistake fi ring high into the net The fi nal two quarter-fi nals are be- table” night as Portugal had reached their German referee Felix Brych waved to beat Fabianski. tween Germany and Italy today followed Poland’s Jakub Blaszczykowski reacts after missing a shot in a target of a semi-fi nal place. “Everyone away Ronaldo’s claims for a penalty on Sanches said it was a “wonderful mo- by France against underdogs Iceland to- penalty shoot-out during the quarter-final against Portugal in should be congratulated.” 31 minutes despite replays suggesting ment for the team” and for himself to score. morrow. Marseille on Thursday. (AFP)

BOTTOMLINE Ferrari’s Vettel hopes Germany make De Sciglio relishing Italy chance against Germany his Italian colleagues miserable Today, Sebastian Vettel will forget that he earns his crust from an Ital- AFP wrapped up the win at the death. ian company. Montpellier, France It confi rmed Italy’s status as bona fi de ti- The German Formula One driver tle contenders, and De Sciglio as a potential will watch his country take on Italy star of Conte’s emerging Azzurri team. in football’s Euro 2016 quarter- taly’s Mattia De Sciglio remembers “I think I played well (against Spain) just final surrounded by his Ferrari watching Italy suff er joy and heart- like everyone else did,” he said modestly. colleagues — most of whom are break at major fi nals, but he is hop- “It’s one of the best matches we’ve Italians. ing to play a role when the Azzurri bid played. Spain were stronger than us but “It’ll be funny,” Vettel said after Ito book their Euro 2016 semi-fi nal spot we wanted it more. yesterday’s practice session at the against Germany today. “I’ve been going through a really positive Austrian Grand Prix. “I’ll obviously AC Milan midfi elder De Sciglio was only period the past few months, and I’m enjoy- be watching the game with my team, and I’m the only German. a teenager when he watched Italy upset ing it because you can go from being cham- “I’ll be the only one celebrating if we score.” pre-tournament predictions to beat France pions one day to being losers the next.” Germany have a wretched record against Italy, having never in the fi nal of the 2006 World Cup. And as he looks back on Italy’s past ex- beaten them in a major tournament, but Vettel is confident that it Six years later, he was on holiday — ploits and failures, he hopes an “emotional” is his Ferrari teammates who will be made to suff er. “probably in Ibiza” — when Spain broke encounter will go the Azzurri’s way. “I’m assuming that we’ll do it. I think it’s about time we got rid of Italian hearts in Kiev after a 4-0 rout in “In 2006 I was 13 (years old) and I was this stupid statistic,” he said. the fi nal of Euro 2012. at a friend’s house to watch the fi nal. I Vettel does have a contingency plan if things do not quite pan But two years after the humbling experi- remember a really tense match but when out for Germany, though. “I can always switch sides,” he said. ence of a second successive fi rst-round exit Fabio Grosso scored the decisive penalty from the World Cup, Italy are again defying we just about wrecked the house! expectations to reach the last eight — and “In 2012 I was on holiday, in Ibiza I think. UEFA charge Portugal aft er Euro De Sciglio has been given a key role to play. Spain’s David Silva (left) vies for the ball against Italy’s Mattia De Sciglio during the Euro Germany were strong even back then. It pitch invasion Antonio Conte’s men face Germany 2016 Round of 16 match in Saint-Denis, near Paris, on Monday. (AFP) was the same generation (of players).” less than a week after an impressive 2-0 Astonishingly, Germany have never UEFA have opened a disciplinary case against the Portuguese win over two-time holders Spain, but than Spain,” De Sciglio said. Marchisio to injury and the non-selection beaten Italy in eight previous encounters football federation after a fan invaded the pitch and spectators without midfi elders Daniele De Rossi “They have a diff erent style of play and of Andrea Pirlo, have been playing to their at a major fi nals. let off fireworks in their Euro 2016 quarter-final match against (thigh) and Thiago Motta (suspension). we’re probably going to suff er a bit more, strengths as a collective at Euro 2016, a That could all change in Bordeaux to- Poland on Thursday. It has given De Sciglio a chance to play but if we prepare well and believe in our- strategy that is paying dividends. day, but De Sciglio says he can’t wait to The Poland federation was also charged by European football’s “the biggest match” of his fl edgling Italy selves we can cause them problems. pull on the Italy jersey. organising body relating to crowd disturbances, the setting off of career, and although respectful of Joachim “We don’t have star players, so we have ‘CHAMPIONS TO LOSERS’ “It’s going to be emotional, as it was fireworks and a late kick-off in Marseille. Loew’s men, the 23-year-old believes he to work together, help each other and try After Juventus defender Giorgio Chiel- against Spain. It will be the biggest match Portugal won 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out after the match finished can help keep the Italian ‘tifosi’ dreaming. to leave everything out there.” lini’s fi rst-half strike against Spain, Italy of my career, so I’m very proud,” he said. 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra-time. “It will be an even more complicated Italy, whose midfi eld has been decimated restricted the holders to only a few chances “We’d do everything to score a repeat The cases will be heard by UEFA’s disciplinary panel on July 21. match because, physically, they’re better by the loss of Marco Verratti and Claudio before Southampton striker Graziano Pelle against Germany.” Gulf Times Saturday, July 2, 2016 3 EURO 2016

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Iceland’s new Sagna warns stars stay warm and improve in France to avoid winter chill

AFP density of certifi ed coaches as Reykjavik Iceland’s capital region, home to two-thirds of the 23-member last-minute heroics squad playing in the Euro 2016. olbeinn Sigthorsson, Signing up for the local foot- whose goal sent Eng- ball or handball team has long ‘...(against) a compact team that handles end of matches better, it will not work’ land packing from Euro been popular among Icelandic 2016, is a star example kids. They practice frequently Kof Iceland’s incubator clubs cul- in well-organised set-ups, with AFP Clairefontaine-en-Yvelines, France tivating talent with top-notch almost no tradition of pick-up coaching and indoor pitches. street games seen more com- When the striker joined Vikin- monly in other big countries. rance risk being “punished” if they gur Reykjavik at the age of six, Sverrisson long ago crossed keep on winning Euro 2016 games the club saw immediately that he paths with goalkeeper Hannes at the last minute, defender Bacary had something special. Halldorsson, one of Iceland’s Sagna warned yesterday. “He was strong, and fast. He’d biggest heroes right now. FThe Manchester City star said that Ice- always see the goal. He loved to Halldorsson was 21, in third land — France’s quarter-fi nal opponents score. And I’ve never seen a child division, and starting out on a tomorrow — are the Leicester City of the of his age with this talent,” re- career that saw him play for fi ve European Championship and France’s called Thrantur Sigurdsson, one Icelandic clubs before leaving for status as a favourite could be a handicap of Vikingur’s youth coaches. Norway at age 26. in the match. Sigthorsson stayed at Vikingur But Sverrisson saw already “We are the hosts and maybe we have for 10 years, fi nally fl eeing the back then, more than a decade put extra pressure on ourselves by tak- nest to join second division HK ago, that Halldorsson had the ing time to get into it,” Sagna told a press Kopavogur for one season, before potential to make the national conference at the French team base. moving to the Netherlands at 17. side. “There have been a lot of matches The blond 26-year-old for- “Yes, I saw his skills at the where we have made the diff erence in the ward now plays for France’s time. And he’s been doing hard fi nal minutes and one day we will be pun- Ligue 1 side Nantes. work since then,” he said. ished,” he added. Late goals saw France Like Iceland’s top clubs, Vikin- to group wins over Romania and Albania gur has made enormous progress NEW WAVE OF FIERCE and they drew their last game against in developing talent over the past VIKINGS Switzerland 0-0. 20 years. Arsenal once tried to At Afturelding Mosfellsbaer, Sver- Coach Didier Deschamps had to read a sign Sigthorsson when he was risson has his players run the same half-time riot act to get the French to step with Kopavogur. off ensive drill 10 or 15 times, a sin- up the pace against the Republic of Ire- But the teen chose Dutch fi rst gle defender passing to two relays land in the last 16. division AZ Alkmaar instead, who fi re long balls down the mid- “We have got to be active from the judging that the wealthy English dle and the right wing. warm-up and not wait for half-time to Premier League club did not off er In the distance, ominous dark talk to each other and get into it,” said young players the same opportu- clouds over Mount Esjan threat- Sagna. The veteran defender said France nity to get quality game time. en to put a quick end to the train- needed to concentrate from the start. It was a prophetic choice. Fast ing session. “When we meet a more compact team forward 10 years to Euro 2016 Outdoor practices are out of that handles the end of matches better, and Iceland showed the new gen- the question in winter, when the it will not work,” he warned of France’s eration of English stars — Jamie ground freezes, polar winds blow trend of scoring last-gasp winners. Vardy, Raheem Sterling, Harry and storms rage. Sagna hailed Iceland’s performance Coach Didier Deschamps had to read a half-time riot act to get the French to step up the pace against the Republic of Ireland in the Kane and the rest — that they are The winter climate was long a in slaying England to reach the quarter- last 16 on Sunday in Lyon. (AFP) a force to be reckoned with. handicap for Iceland but now the fi nals. many indoor pitches allow clubs we have a status and we have to live up to Sagna said this had brought “serenity” striker Karim Benzema was excluded over HIGH DENSITY OF CERTIFIED to practice despite the chill. NO HOLIDAYS it. We want to do too well and sometimes to the team. a police inquiry into a sex-tape blackmail COACHES According to Thrantur Sig- “They are kind of the Leicester of Euro that holds us back. We have to be ready “We need to be together. The public attempt. Icelandic football is reaping the urdsson, Euro 2016 is a unique 2016,” he said. and grab the match from the start.” fever in France is unimaginable and it is Sagna said he had “grown in maturity” benefi ts of its emphasis on good moment in the history of Icelan- “They deserve to be there. They Sagna said that France have to start good for the team but it does us good as by watching the chaotic events in the coaches, according to Bjarki Mar dic football. showed in the qualifying tournament that against Iceland like they fi nished against well to work together in calm. team camp in South Africa after Nicolas Sverrisson, who handles Af- But the foundations that have they could beat the big teams like Nether- the Irish, in complete control. “We can say things to each other with- Anelka was sent home. turelding Mosfellsbaer, a club been built enable Iceland to en- lands and Czech Republic. While Iceland have been enjoying out it being wrongly interpreted. We To lose in the quarter-fi nal or semi- just outside Reykjavik. visage a rosy future ahead for its “It is a quality team and you must not their newfound star status, France have know that things can degenerate.” fi nal would be “a failure”, he declared. “The Icelandic federation is national side. underestimate them. The danger is that it been cloistered away from the press France’s campaign at the 2010 World “I am not thinking about defeat today. doing a great job in educating “The current Under 21 team is Iceland and us,” said Sagna. for most of the past two weeks by De- Cup was ruined by a player strike and I am not thinking about going on holiday the coaches. We have educated is already really strong ... so I’m “We are capable of being the best, but schamps. scandal hit before this tournament when anytime soon.” coaches from under six up to the very confi dent about how they highest level,” he told AFP. will do in the future. The coming There are probably few cities kids are as strong as the current BOTTOMLINE in the world that have the same players,” he said. Euro minnows follow age-old formula for causing upsets

Reuters playing resources can make the squad Paris and even the team almost self-selecting, creating a tighter, more cohesive group. TEAM SPIRIT ake a tactically disciplined de- There are parallels with how Leicester fence, add an eye for a timely City shocked everyone to win the English counter attack and top off with Premier League, shunning possession in boundless team spirit and a re- favour of direct, counter attacking foot- Tlentless work ethic and you have a tried ball and starting fewer players than any of and tested formula for a so-called min- their title rivals. Iceland’s Kolbeinn Sigthorsson celebrates after scoring against now to succeed at the European champi- Iceland have used the same starting 11 England during the Euro 2016 Round of 16 match in Nice on Monday. onship. in all four of their matches. Compare that Sigthorsson is an example of Iceland’s incubator clubs cultivating Whether it is Greece’s victory at Euro to their last-16 victims England, who talent with top-notch coaching and indoor pitches (AFP) 2004, Denmark’s success in 1992 or Ice- started a diff erent team in three of their land’s run to the quarter-fi nals at Euro four games. 2016, the similarities between successful While it remains an almost unquanti- smaller countries and their approaches fi able quality, an elevated team spirit was England fan injured in Euro 2016 seem striking. certainly present in Denmark’s victory at violence leaves France for UK Iceland, who ended England’s tourna- Euro 92. The Danes had failed to qualify for ment hopes this week, are a perfect exam- the competition but were invited to replace AFP ple of how a team which lacks star players Yugoslavia at the last minute due to the Marseille or the technical ability to hog possession Iceland’s players take part in a training session ahead of their quarter-final match confl ict that was tearing that country apart. can still thrive on the big stage. against France in Annecy-le-Vieux, France, on Thursday. (Reuters) Their only real star player Michael Jointly coached by experienced Swede Laudrup had decided against taking part, n England football fan seriously injured in an attack by Lars Lagerback and Icelander Heimir into his players. half the amount of all the other three but they stunned everybody by reach- Russian fans before a Euro 2016 match in Marseille left Hallgrimsson, they do not try to domi- “It’s almost like he’s brainwashing us sides to reach the 2004 semi-fi nals. ing the fi nal where they beat then world Ahospital in France to be transferred to Britain yesterday, nate the ball against opponents stocked with his tactics,” Hauksson said prior to Similarly Iceland have had the fewest at- champions Germany 2-0. authorities said. with technically superior players. the England clash. tempts on goal of any of the teams left in They had a solid core of players, who Andrew Bache, 51, known as “Pepe”, will be transferred to a hospi- In fact, they have the lowest possession Euro 2016 with 29. They have still, however, had been or were at Brondby, the fi rst tal in the south of England near his home in Portsmouth. statistics of any side at Euro 2016 (35 per- TACTICAL DISCIPLINE scored six times. Belgium, by contrast, have Danish club to turn fully professional and He was left paralysed on the left-hand side of his body after being cent), the second-lowest pass completion German Otto Rehhagel, who led Greece had 84 attempts to score eight. described by former keeper Peter Sch- hit around the head with an iron bar in an attack which prosecu- percentage (72 percent) and have attempt- to their triumph against the odds, had a Tactical and defensive discipline, how- meichel as pioneers in the Danish game. tors said was carried out by Russian hooligans who investigators ed the fewest number of passes (907). similar dedication to tactical discipline. ever, seems to be only part of the story Like Greece 12 years later, Denmark have been unable to identify. These are often seen as the metrics that Greece went into the tournament as behind a successful minnow. were able to play with the freedom that His family launched a crowdfunding web page in an eff ort to raise defi ne the best teams. Prior to the quar- rank outsiders with a completely unsung They also seem to share an almost fa- came from being nobody’s favourites. the money to fly him home. ter-fi nals, world champions Germany, squad, but they played to their strengths natical team spirit and a Stakhanovite This pressure-free environment is also French prosecutors say they could still launch an attempted for example, topped Euro 2016’s posses- — a solid defensive unit, guarded by the work ethic. helping Iceland. murder investigation over the attack. sion table (64 percent) and had attempted prowling presence of combative mid- Perhaps counter intuitively, Albania “We want to win but we don’t abso- Another England supporter injured in the violence, Stewart Gray, the most passes (2,568). fi elder Theodoros Zagorakis, and a will- boss Gianni de Biasi, whose side were lutely need to. That is a big benefi t for us,” 47, was flown back to England on Thursday. So what are Iceland, and a host of suc- ingness to work hard all over the pitch. knocked out in the group stage, suggested Iceland co-coach Hallgrimsson said after Authorities said he is still in a “very serious clinical state” but his cessful minnows who have gone before, Rehhagel set out to frustrate opponents having a smaller pool of players might be downing England. condition is not as worrying as that of Andrew Bache. doing instead? Part of the answer is they are until they made a mistake and Greece won an advantage. The pressure will certainly be off when Prosecutors say a group of around 150 “well-prepared” hooligans rigidly disciplined in their defensive duties all of their knockout matches 1-0, includ- “It’s more diffi cult when you don’t Iceland, a country of 330,000 people, face carried out targeted attacks on England supporters. and meticulous in their preparation. ing an upset of hosts Portugal in the fi nal. have so much time together to try to de- France in the quarter-fi nals tomorrow. One Russian fan was arrested several days later and was jailed for Iceland defender Haukur Hauksson They, like Iceland now, were committed velop as a team and individuals, but per- Should they pull off another upset, it two years for his role in the violence. said that coach Lagerback becomes al- to playing on the counter attack and mak- haps, for the smaller countries, it is easier would seemingly be due to a blueprint Two other Russians received shorter sentences and six England most monomaniacal in the build-up to ing the most of limited opportunities. to create that spirit,” he said. that has served them and so many other fans were also jailed for their role in the fighting. a game, drumming tactical instructions Greece had 21 shots on target, around His point is seemingly that a lack of smaller countries well. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, July 2, 2016 FOOTBALL

FOCUS Del Bosque won it all but fell at the last

AFP honour at club and international level. For a man so used to winning with in goal, but his team seemed to lack bite Madrid Champions Leagues and La Liga titles humility, dealing with defeat and the and commitment in France. with Real Madrid were followed by win- questioning it entails was an uncom- There were dilemmas as to who ning Spain’s fi rst World Cup in South fortable new and diffi cult experience would replace the retired Xavi Hern- s a pot-bellied, softly spo- Africa in 2010 and becoming the fi rst for a respected veteran like del Bosque. andez and Xavi Alonso in midfi eld and ken 65-year-old, Vicente side to retain the Euros four years ago. Yet, his defi ance to stay on after the David Silva, Sergio Busquets and Cesc del Bosque, who has quit as Yet that track record did not protect Brazil fi asco for what he had long ad- Fabregas all failed to deliver in France. Spain coach, never looked like him from the stinging criticism that mitted was likely to be his last stand in Del Bosque also had to settle on a aA man on a mission. followed Spain’s collapse in Brazil, and a major tournament was also rooted in a regular striker since the ageing David That description could easily how- was compounded by their failure in desire to bury the ghost of 2014. Villa and Fernando Torres fell out of ever be applied to his nemesis, the France. Concerns he was too loyal to the “The federation are already working contention, with Alvaro Morata scoring manic Italy coach Antonio Conte, who old guard that won three back-to-back on it. There will be no gap, no problem, three fi rst round goals before struggling paced and ranted on the sidelines as major tournaments between 2008 and there are plenty of people prepared to badly against a well-organised Italian Italy took revenge for a fi nal defeat four 2012 meant he had to resist calls to re- be here,” he added on his future. defence made up of three of his Juven- years ago. sign ever since the World Cup fl op. The sobering blow of Brazil should tus clubmates. After a disastrous World Cup de- “It was a diffi cult moment for all of have meant complacency would not be “Our objective is not to think that fence in 2014, Spain’s bid to win a third us, we had received a lot of criticism the cause of Spain failing to live up to we have won two consecutive European straight European Championships from people in Spain, in some cases expectations once more. Championships because people aren’t disintegrated in a limp 2-0 defeat to disproportionate criticism considering But the defending champions, who going to value that, but what we do in Conte’s Italy in the last-16 in France, this is sport,” del Bosque said ahead of thrashed Italy 4-0 in the fi nal four years these Euros,” del Bosque’s last words making del Bosque’s position all but Euro 2016. “More than refuting them, ago, were beaten 2-1 by Croatia as they ahead of the Euro. untenable. they should serve as an incentive for came second in the group phase before And those words came back to haunt It was to be a sad end for del Bosque, the next time. We never know what is Italy and Conte outsmarted them. him, as the career high he craved and a coach who could lay claim to being the going to happen, but we will try to en- Del Bosque was brave enough to fi - many felt his status deserved eluded most decorated active manager in world sure there isn’t a repeat of what hap- nally discard captain Iker Casillas in fa- him in France, just as it had done in football having won virtually every major pened in Brazil.” vour of the more in-form David de Gea Brazil.

SPOTLIGHT OPINION England’s players refl ect us all, so Barca ties Neymar why so much hate aft er their ouster? No England exit these bery, ornate plumbing, owning days is complete without a telephone, wearing head- down with 277.5mn aggressive belittling phones, going to parties, being of the players, and the soft-skinned fancy-boys, hav- criticism oft en goes way ing inappropriately attractive beyond their footballing girlfriends, and generally re- defi ciencies vealing themselves to be over- grown men-child monsters. By Barney Ronay in London Two days after defeat in The Guardian Nice, the Daily Mail’s Lon- dollar buyout clause don offi ce published a hastily googled schedule of the full eak, shameful, range of England player shame, ‘I read that there are many clubs interested in Neymar. It’s normal they are, craven, imma- from Adam Lallana’s Nivea ture, shiftless, deal, to Tottenham’s Kyle but Neymar has never said he wants to leave Barca, just the opposite. Neymar gloating… Walker: excellent pro, fam- WLet’s face it—the wider ily man and also (it says here) wants to continue at Barca and Barca wants Neymar to continue with us’ mainstream media’s response “hippy crack idiot”. to England going out of the Eu- Plus, of course, it has been ros really has been a disgrace to the usual open-season on Ra- our once-brave nation. heem Sterling, a decent, tal- What a grim spectacle the ented, rather jaded 21-year- English are in defeat these old who really doesn’t deserve days. And not just for the com- the rubbish thrown his way. As plex and thrillingly sustained ever Sterling’s private life was layers of fury, innuendo and snickeringly bullet-point- full-on bullshit. But for the ed, complete with the usual loss of scale too. knowing, loaded sneers: Play- One of the best bits of being boy, had a kid at 17… out of England when England Are you thinking what go out is the clear evidence we’re thinking? The next day that in the wider world no one we learned, accompanied by really cares. much phoney outrage, about No tournament hopes are the house he’s bought his ever seriously built around mother. In the same newspa- expectations of a thrill- per a picture of Sterling was ing England team, no other used to illustrate a story about nation’s enjoyment notably an unconnected drug dealer. diminished by their departure. It is important to remember We’re not the good guys. it is not sports journalists do- We’re not the main charac- ing this, almost all of whom ters. We’re not even the main will be privately appalled, but villains. We’re disposable who will still get fl ak for what patsies, third bad guy from is a wider “news” agenda. the left behind Alan Rick- Not that Sterling is the fi rst man with a machine gun and England player to be treated power-ballad hair. Our role is with hostility and eventually to hang around and then die booed by his own fans. Either cinematically. way division, acrimony, al- And in this case England ienation, dog whistle sneering: did exactly that by going out as we’ve seen in the last week in fairytale and—let’s face it— these are dangerous things. very funny fashion. In at least So, bad, people then. But also one Parisian bar people were weak people. Another despair- openly laughing during the ing suggestion is that England’s Iceland game at every mis- players are part of the soft, placed pass and wild shot, gen- moneyed academy generation uinely enjoying the spectacle. and have therefore lost their ba- Not so in England of course, sic self-reliance and toughness. where a familiar process is in Our brave roaring lions have train. There has been a change been replaced by cowardly Wiz- of tone here. Once it was enough ard of Oz-style lions with fey to blame some external factor— speaking voices and fl icky tails referees, managers, Germans— they twirl as they prance about for England’s failure to win. performing song and dance Now though it seems, for rea- numbers. Hence the meltdown sons of unhappiness, envy and in Nice, the inability to make indeterminate rage, it is neces- hard decisions, bend the game sary to blame and hound and their way. Too infantilised, too aggressively belittle the players. middle-class, too boarding- AFP tional side for the Olympic Games. Neymar has been a huge success for Bar- clubs interested in Neymar. It’s normal Roy got his of course, even schooled. We don’t like it up us. Barcelona Neymar was already under contract un- ca on the pitch but a judicial nightmare off they are, but Neymar has never said he before he’d turned up at his In the end the players are us til 2018 with Barcelona, having transferred it. He helped them win the Spanish league wants to leave Barca, just the opposite,” press conference looking like and we are them. Like ill-man- in 2013 from Brazil’s Santos. last season for the second year in a row, nar- Bartomeu said. “Neymar wants to con- the fi nal detainee in an ex- nered parents enraged by their razilian striker Neymar has signed That transfer deal has haunted the club rowly beating their fi erce rivals Real Ma- tinue at Barca and Barca wants Neymar to tended supermarket hostage ill-mannered kids we stand a fi ve-year contract extension because of alleged hidden payments that drid. But he has been investigated in Brazil continue with us.” release saga, wild-eyed and there wondering why these nor- which includes a buy out clause of have sparked legal action. and Spain over his transfer from Santos. Neymar was named on Wednesday as skinny and frightened behind mal, receptive human beings— Bup to 250 million euros ($277.5 mil- The prolifi c Brazil striker has played Barcelona agreed on June 13 to pay a the star of a young Brazil Olympic football his plinth, looking like he’d not the best, but not the worst— lion), the Spanish club said yesterday. brilliantly for the Catalan club as part of 5.5-million euro ($6.2 million) fi ne over the squad for next month’s Games in Rio de spent the last six months eat- play with such fear and angst in a The deal will keep the 24-year-old in- a much feared attacking trident alongside transfer in a deal with prosecutors that sees Janeiro. Brazil are looking to bounce back ing tinned soup in a state of knife-edge fi ne-detail knockout ternational, widely regarded as one of the Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. the club avoid trial on tax evasion charges. from a humiliating group stage exit from increasing dependence on his game ringed by hostile faces. fi nest talents in world football, at Barce- Speculation had mounted around “The athlete, along with his fam- the Copa America Centenario this month. charismatic captors. You get the players you de- lona until June 30, 2021, the club said in a whether or not Neymar would extend his ily, has decided to stay with FC Barcelona They are also hoping Olympic gold will Roy was never going to be serve, that you can be bothered statement. stay at the Camp Nou or make another lu- and will renew his contract for fi ve more help soothe the trauma of their devastat- enough. It had to be the play- to make. Accepting this might “The player’s buy out clause has been crative move. years,” said NN Consultoria, the agency ing 7-1 semi-fi nal loss to Germany in the ers too. There are three main not make them any better. But fi xed at 200mn euros for the fi rst year of Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, representing the international forward, 2014 World Cup on home soil. routes of attack here. The fi rst it would at least allow us to his contract, 222mn for the second and Manchester United and Manchester City 24. “The contract will be formalised this “Neymar is diff erent. He is one of the is outright spiteful muck-rak- move away from a divisive and 250mn for the remaining three years,” the had been named as possible suitors. week. The decision puts an end to specu- best players in the world. Any national ing, the suggestion that defeat alienating aftermath. Mainly, statement added. The previous buy out “I am very happy to continue living this lation about the star’s future.” team would want to have a player of his is a consequence of complete though, lay off Raheem, eh? clause was 190 million euros. dream. Long live Barca and long live Cata- The Catalan club’s president Josep profi le,” the Olympic squad’s coach Rog- moral, personal and spiritual Defeat on the pitch is one The club said it will formally present lonia!” Neymar wrote on Twitter after his Maria Bartomeu had earlier rejected ru- erio Micale told a news conference. “He collapse. England’s players thing. This kind of insistent, the new deal in Barcelona on July 15, before agents announced the player would sign a mours over Neymar’s possible transfer to will mean a lot for the team. I hope he will have already been convicted of, oddly pointed scapegoating Neymar joins up with the Brazilian na- new fi ve-year contract. another club. “I read that there are many be able to help the younger players.” in no specifi c order, greed, yob- diminishes us all. Gulf Times Saturday, July 2, 2016 5 FOOTBALL

MOVERS & SHAKERS Resurgent Ben Arfa makes ‘dream’ move to Emery’s PSG ‘Paris Saint-Germain has always had a special place in my heart and wearing this jersey at the Parc des Princes is a childhood dream. I would like to thank Nice, who enabled me to refind pleasure in playing football and to show the French public what I’m capable of’

Agencies Crystal Palace because of the direction Paris they’re heading,” he told the Crystal Pal- ace website. “They play a system that suits wingers and you only need to look rance international midfi elder at Wilfried Zaha, Yannick Bolasie and Hatem Ben Arfa has signed a Jason Puncheon to see how they’ve ex- two-year deal with Paris Saint- celled and how infl uential they are for Germain from Ligue 1 rivals Palace. I want to be a part of that and Nice,F the French champions announced help this club reach its potential.” yesterday. Gayle, 25, has signed a fi ve-year deal. “Paris Saint-Germain is happy to He has been Palace’s top scorer for the announce the signing of Hatem Ben past three seasons, netting 25 times de- Arfa’s contract until June 30, 2018,” the spite fi nding his fi rst-team opportuni- club said on its Twitter account. ties restricted at Selhurst Park. The former Lyon, Marseille and Newcastle winger becomes the club’s Spain’s Nolito joins Man City, fi rst recruit since new Spanish coach Demichelis prepares to leave Unai Emery replaced Laurent Blanc this panish international forward No- week. Both Emery and the gifted Ben Slito has signed for Manchester City Arfa will be offi cially presented by the from Celta Vigo, the Premier League club at their Parc des Princes ground on club confi rmed yesterday. The 29-year- Monday by the club’s Qatari president old has agreed a four-year contract and Nasser al-Khelaifi . becomes new manager Pep Guardiola’s The 29-year-old Ben Arfa, who second signing after Germany mid- missed out on Didier Deschamps’ Euro fi elder Ilkay Gundogan. 2016 squad, is available on a free trans- It will be the second time both have fer after his contract with Nice expired worked together after Barcelona in this summer. 2011, before Nolito joined Benfi ca. “Paris Saint-Germain has always “Pep Guardiola is one of the best had a special place in my heart and managers in the world,” Nolito told wearing this jersey at the Parc des City’s offi cial website. “He knows a lot Princes is a childhood dream,” said Ben about the game and he’s going to help Arfa, who comes from Clamart on the me progress as a player and I’m sure outskirts of Paris. he’ll get the best out of me. “I’d like to thank Nice, who enabled “I’ll try to bring as much as I possibly me to refi nd pleasure in playing football can. I’ll do everything that the manager and to show the French public what I’m asks of me, try my absolute best and do capable of on the pitch,” he added on everything I can to try to repeat the form PSG’s website. I’ve shown throughout my career at var- Ben Arfa moves to the French capital ious clubs. It’s just about trying to play after a 17-goal haul last term which in- my normal game and let’s hope that I can spired Nice into a club-best third in the help Manchester City to win games.” table. At Nice, under the south coast Nolito, whose real name is Manuel club’s then coach Claude Puel, he shed Agudo Duran and who has been given the his sometimes badboy image forged by number nine shirt, started each of Spain’s various run-ins with former coaches. four fi xtures before their elimination He had a largely disappointing spell from Euro 2016. During his three seasons in England with Newcastle and a loan at Celta he scored 39 goals in 103 ap- spell with Hull City followed by six pearances. He will face stiff competition months out of the game in 2015 before Former Lyon, Marseille and Newcastle winger Ben Arfa becomes the club’s first recruit since new Spanish coach Unai Emery replaced Laurent Blanc earlier this week. in City with Sergio Aguero expected to his career-boosting move to Nice. remain their fi rst-choice striker, mean- His arrival came the day after PSG’s titles. He moved from there to Marseille to a football club like this,” Ritchie told restricted the 24-year-old to just 13 er Andros Townsend moving to London ing Nolito’s rivals include, among others, out-of-contract Swedish superstar in 2008, switching to Newcastle three Newcastle’s website (www.nufc.co.uk). appearances for Bournemouth last sea- for 13 million pounds ($17.3 million) and David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced he was years later. “It’s fantastic to be here and I’m really son, after scoring 23 goals in all compe- striker Dwight Gayle joining the recently Sterling, Jesus Navas and Samir Nasri. joining Manchester United. looking forward to the challenge of get- titions to help his side secure promo- relegated club for 10 million pounds. Meanwhile, defender Martin Dem- Ben Arfa is the fi rst signing of new Newcastle complete signing ting the club back in the Premier League.” tion in the 2014/15 season. Palace also announced the signing of ichelis left City at the end of his con- coach Emery, who was named on Tues- of Ritchie from Bournemouth The Scottish international made 142 “Callum has constantly improved French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda on a tract. The 35-year-old made 17 starts day as the man to fi nally achieve PSG’s ewcastle United have completed appearances for the south coast side, during his time here,” Bournemouth’s free transfer from Olympique Marseille. for City last season as he struggled to long quest for Champions League suc- Nthe signing of midfi elder Matt helping the club to a double promo- chief executive Neill Blake told the Townsend, who just missed out on make an impact, with former manager cess. Emery terminated his contract Ritchie on a fi ve-year deal from Premier tion from League One (third-tier) dur- club’s website (www.afcb.co.uk). “Only inclusion in England’s 23-man squad for Manuel Pellegrini preferring Eliaquim with Sevilla this month, having guided League side Bournemouth, the Cham- ing his three-and-a-half year stay with his injury stopped him from having a Euro 2016, has signed a fi ve-year deal at Mangala and Nicolas Otamendi to cover the Spanish side to three successive Eu- pionship club said yesterday. Bournemouth. The winger becomes big impact in the Premier League last Selhurst Park, the London club said. for the injured Vincent Kompany. ropa League titles. The 26-year-old made 42 appear- manager Rafael Benitez’s third signing year, now back to full fi tness, we’re ex- The 25-year-old former Tottenham A 2014 World Cup fi nalist with Ar- Ben Arfa signed for the four-time ances last season under manager Eddie of the summer following the arrival of cited to see Callum continue to improve Hotspur winger only signed for New- gentina, Demichelis was fi ned $29,000 French champions after reported inter- Howe, playing a key role in ensuring Gent goalkeeper Matz Sels and striker over the next four years.” castle last January in a bid to secure and warned by the Football Association est from Barcelona, Sevilla, and one of Bournemouth secured their Premier Dwight Gayle from Crystal Palace. regular fi rst-team football and save the in May for breaking betting rules. The his former teams, Lyon. He made his League status after being promoted to Striker Callum Wilson has also Crystal Palace sign Townsend, club from relegation from the Premier centre back, who joined from Atletico debut for Lyon at just 17-years-old in the top fl ight. No fi nancial details of the signed a new four-year deal with sell Gayle to Newcastle United League. Townsend scored four goals in Madrid in 2013, made 105 appearances 2004 and went on to play 91 times for transfer were disclosed. Bournemouth, keeping him with the rystal Palace and Newcastle United his 13 appearances at St James’ Park. for City and was part of the Premier the club, winning four straight Ligue 1 “It’s an unbelievable feeling to come side until 2020, the club said. Injury Ctraded players yesterday, with wing- “It was a pretty easy decision to choose League-winning squad in 2013-14.

BOTTOMLINE The ego lands and eyes fairytale end at United By Alan Smith in London The suggestion from certain quar- of the year awards. he has said but often those grandiose The Guardian ters was that he did not impress suf- However he was then sold to Bar- claims have backfi red with spectacular fi ciently against Premier League clubs celona for £40m plus Samuel Eto’o, consequences. and it was not until that stunning, near saying upon completion of the move One such example came before Swe- here are not many players, implausible overhead kick in Sweden’s that he was “living a dream”. That soon den’s 2014 World Cup play-off with in a world where some clubs 4-2 win against England in November became a nightmare as he clashed with Portugal. “Only God knows who will now attempt to exert control 2012 that his brilliance was accepted the then Barça manager, Pep Guardio- go through,” he said in a pre-match over individuals’ social media by all. That, of course, was his fourth la, and looked out of place during the interview. And when the journalist re- Taccounts, that could announce their goal—after completing the hat-trick embryonic stages of tiki-taka. sponded that it was hard to ask for an own transfer online before their new with a clinical free-kick. Mourinho had wanted to keep Ibra- answer from above, the instant dead- team, but Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not Questions over his powers waning himovic at San Siro but their admira- pan response from Ibrahimovic came: your average footballer. at 34 are tempered by last season be- tion for each other only grew after- “You’re talking to him.” In the 34-year-old Manchester ing his most prolifi c ever, recording wards. “A player who gave me as much Portugal won and he subsequently United have acquired not just one of numbers that are a far-fetched dream as Ibra will always be in my heart,” the threw his toys out of his pram, say- the modern-day great strikers, but also for the vast majority. He struck 51 goals manager has said. “He is very special, ing the World Cup would not be worth one of the all-time great personalities. in 50 games, 38 of those coming in 31 one of the best strikers in the world.” watching without his involvement. Ibrahimovic seems to have a killer league games. In his autobiography, ‘I am Zlatan’, Still, beneath the incomparable ego one-liner to match every killer goal, Sure, opposition defences in Ligue 1 Ibrahimovic writes of Mourinho: “He’s a rare and supreme talent lies and his but that outspokenness and penchant may not be feared and he was playing the leader of an army but he also cares. knack for producing the audacious and for controversy has often threatened for a team that had confi rmed the title He was sending me text messages all the decisive must not be underplayed. to cast a shadow over his success by early March but that prolifi c return time in Inter asking how I was feeling.” Some players have had types of goal as a player. is no less staggering. Ibrahimovic says the Portuguese or pieces of skill named after them – He has won the league in France, It- There is zero doubt that he remains is “a guy I could more or less die for” the Panenka penalty, the Cruyff turn aly, Spain and the Netherlands, and al- hungry for success but how much can a and recounts numerous tales from that – but Ibrahimovic may be the only one though one thing remains out of reach— striker not renowned for his speed and season at Inter where he would be des- with his own verb. the Champions League, in which United with his 35th birthday approaching in perate to impress the hard-to-please Zlatanera, meaning to dominate, will not compete next season—few can October bring to the frantic Premier manager—as much an illustration of was offi cially recognised in the Swed- rival his trophy cabinet. League? Mourinho’s ability to motivate as the ish dictionary four years ago. After Ibrahimovic has 28 major titles to be Plenty, according to José Mourinho, player’s irrepressible hunger. spending the same length of time as exact, not including the pair of Serie who believes the striker’s furious de- Similarities between the pair are the undisputed leading light in Paris, A titles revoked at Juventus due to the sire and ruthlessness will also help in a obvious and their mutual dislike of his ability to dominate in England will calciopoli scandal. fractured dressing room after the dis- Guardiola, the new City manager, will not come so easily. In the past 13 seasons he has won the appointing reign of Louis van Gaal. dominate discussion before the fi rst Either way it will be compelling domestic title at his club 12 times, with Their relationship is notably strong. Manchester derby of the season. viewing as he attempts to bring an un- the odd one out a second-placed fi nish Both have praised each other eff usively “If Mourinho lights up a room, derperforming club back to very top. at Milan in 2011-12. since fi rst working together at Inter- Guardiola pulls the blinds,” “I came like a king, I left like a leg- Yet he has faced plenty of criticism – nazionale during the 2008-09 season, Ibrahimovic wrote. end,” Ibrahimovic said of his time in nowhere more so than in Britain. Four where they won Serie A after Ibrahi- Yet his unwavering confi dence can France. To garner a reaction anywhere years ago Ibrahimovic said: “As always in movic scored 25 goals and made a clean rub people up the wrong way. “I can’t near that here would require some- England, all the media were against me.” sweep of the domestic player and goal help but laugh at how perfect I am,” thing very special indeed. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, July 2, 2016 CRICKET

SPOTLIGHT Despair at plans for split from Test cricket’s newest nations Three bottom countries with Test status would join a five-strong second division along with Afghanistan and Ireland

AFP Dhaka

est cricket’s newest nations are in de- spair at plans to split the format into two divisions, fearing it could undo decades of hard-fought progress on the Tfi eld and kill interest in the game. Cricket’s governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC) is meeting in Edinburgh this week to debate proposals for the seven top- ranked teams to establish a de facto premier league in a bid to boost waning interest in Tests. Under the scheme being considered by the ICC, the other three countries with Test sta- tus would join a fi ve-strong second division along with Afghanistan and Ireland. While the shake-up would guarantee cricket’s leading na- tions play each other every other year, the other sides would be starved of matches which draw in crowds and lucrative broadcast deals. As things stand, the two latest arrivals at cricket’s top table — Bangladesh and Zimbabwe — will be doomed to the second tier and could be joined by another relative newcomer Sri Lanka. “This will spell the death of international cricket as we’ve known it,” said Ahmed Sazzadul Alam, a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) direc- tor. Bangladesh lobbied for years to join cricket’s elite before playing their fi rst Test in 2000. Their record has been poor, winning just seven of their 93 Tests and they are currently ranked ninth, just above Zimbabwe. However, performances have improved signifi cantly of late and Bangladesh have only lost six of their last 18 Tests. BCB vice president Mahbubul Anam warned Bangladesh ‘would go backwards’ if they stop playing teams such as England and India, both of whom they are due to play later this year. “The more we play against competitive sides, the better we’ll get,” said Anam. Alistair Campbell, a former director of Zim- babwe’s board, appreciated the arguments for a split because of the gulf in class between the top and bottom sides. But Campbell, a former captain who played in Zimbabwe’s inaugu- ral Test against India in 1992, said it would be heartbreaking if current players would never be able to compete against the best. “It’s going to As things stand now, the two latest arrivals at cricket’s top table, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, will be doomed to the second tier and could well be joined by another relative newcomer Sri Lanka. (AFP) be a tragedy if you are growing up in a country like Zimbabwe or Bangladesh,” he told AFP. “It before taking a fi nal decision,” he wrote in a text means you might never get the opportunity to from Scotland. play with top tier sides. That might drive players But Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera in- ‘Cricket in 2024 Olympics if Rome wins hosting bid’ to go and seek greener pastures.” sisted the shake-up should be opposed as it There are similar fears in Sri Lanka which has would ‘have a negative impact’. Sri Lanka’s Rome: Italian cricket board president Simone ed World Cricket League Division four matches in the manner in which revenues are pooled fallen down the rankings in the last two years af- cash-strapped board is hugely dependent on TV Gambino has said the sport will be included in in 2010 and though the availability of turf and distributed among other things - it now ter batting greats Kumar Sangakkara and Mahe- money and ticket revenue from tours by the likes the 2024 Olympics if Rome wins the bid to host pitches may be an issue, there would be time appears it will take longer than anticipated for la Jayawardene retired. Sri Lanka are currently of India and Australia. the quadrennial sports extravaganza. to overcome that should the bid be successful. all the strands to come together. ranked seventh and in danger of being overtaken But neither broadcasters nor spectators will Rome is one of the cities bidding to host So, if only 12 teams were included, three might The next ICC board meeting takes place in by an improving West Indies by the time the pay signifi cant amounts for matches involving the Olympics in 2024 — alongside Paris, Los come from Europe, three from Asia, two from South Africa in October. Which nations would proposed split comes into force. minnows such as Ireland. “If you club the weak- Angeles and Budapest — and, under new regu- Africa, two or three from America and the Car- be involved remains open to debate. Sri Lanka also struggled in the fi rst decade af- est teams in one league, who’ll be interested in lations, will have the opportunity to add five ibbean and two or three from the South Pacific There would probably be a maximum of ter their inaugural Test in 1982 but then found watching those games? This will lead to fi nan- sports to the games as they deem fit. area. It could well be that some well-known 16 teams invited to take part, though there is their feet and won the 1996 World Cup. Sidath cial ruin,” Jayasekera told AFP. France Cricket is attempting to win a cricket nations — notably England, who are a possibility of just 12, with Olympic regula- Wettimuny, who scored Sri Lanka’s fi rst Test The BCB’s Alam also warned of dire fi nan- similar commitment from the Paris organis- part of the Britain in Olympic terms — miss out. tions suggesting they will be spread across century, warned the architects of the split were cial consequences. “There would be an inevi- ing committee. “If Rome hosts the Olympics, The news emerged as the ICC continued the globe. Meanwhile, there was unanimous playing with fi re. “It’s okay to make some tweaks table loss of interest among younger followers cricket will be included. We have had a firm its annual conference in Edinburgh. Having election of Saudi Arabia as the 39th Associate but what is proposed is going to be a disaster in of and a decline in interest from the media and commitment from the organising committee,” started the week with high hopes of win- member, and the unanimous ratification of the every sense of the word,” he said. sponsors,” he said. “The resulting downturn in Gambino was quoted as saying by espncricinfo ning agreement on a number of fairly radical suspensions of the USA Cricket Association Sri Lankan board’s secretary Mohan de Sil- revenues would undermine development pro- yesterday. proposals - the introduction of promotion and (USACA) and the Cricket Association of Nepal va was cool on the proposal. “We are not very grammes and funding of domestic leagues. It is likely that if Rome does host the games, relegation in Test and ODI cricket, the return (CAN). They were suspended in June 2015 and much in favour, but we need to discuss with our “It will eff ectively mean the end of cricket for cricket would be held in Bologna. The city host- of a World T20 every two years and a change April 2016, respectively. executive committee after studying it carefully countries like us.”

ROUND-UP FOCUS Lehmann urges ICC intervention ‘Ruthless’ Roy impresses Root to prevent player burnout AFP Cardiff , United Kingdom Reuters in the most recent IPL season. Lehmann believes Sydney that while players may be primed to perform un- der match-day stresses, it was the constant trav- oe Root has praised the el, variable conditions and lack of adequate rest ‘ruthlessness’ and ‘clar- ustralia coach Darren Lehmann has which was putting them most at risk. ity’ shown by fellow urged cricket’s governing body to “It’s not so much the cricket, it’s the travel to England batsman Jason help reduce the workload on play- these places. You’re on the road, you have train- RoyJ following the Surrey star’s ers competing in all three forms of the ing and all that stuff ,” he said. century-making exploits in the gameA as he fears the current packed schedule is The ICC is currently considering the intro- ongoing one-day international unsustainable. As the Indian Premier League duction of a two-tiered Test Championship and series against Sri Lanka. (IPL) appears set to capitalise on recent Inter- a one-day league, which would go some way to Roy made 112 not out as he national Cricket Council (ICC) changes to the lightening the workload. and opening partner Alex Hales schedule through a ‘mini IPL’ in September, (133 not out) set a new England Lehmann fears such a tournament would further ENGLAND CONFIRM 2017 SOUTH AFRICA ODI partnership record as they restrict time off for his players. AND WEST INDIES FIXTURES chased down a target of 155 and In 2015, Australian cricketers who played all England announced yesterday their 2017 home saw the team to a 10-wicket win three formats spent on average 280 days overseas. international fi xture programme with tours by in the second ODI at Edgbaston. Under Cricket Australia (CA) contracts, players South Africa and the West Indies included in a And Roy then followed that are given a six-week break from commitments, busy schedule that will also see England staging up with a stunning knock of which many use to sign lucrative IPL contracts. the ICC Champions Trophy in June. In addition, 162 off just 118 balls at his Oval Lehmann said that while the fi nancial incen- England will also play host to the women’s World home ground on Wednesday as tive to play in India was tempting, it often wore Cup from June 26 to July 3. England got to a target of 208 in players out and the ICC should use a common England will begin their 2017 home season with a shade over 40 overs to win the sense approach to future scheduling so that the two one-day internationals against Ireland at fourth ODI by six wickets and so toll on bodies was not too high. “If it keeps going Bristol and Lord’s on May 5 and 7 – the fi rst time take an unbeatable 2-0 lead in like this, with players playing IPL as well, they are they have met the Irish on English soil. Later in the fi ve-match series. inevitably going to break down,” Lehmann told May, they face South Africa in three ODIs which Born in South Africa, but England cricketers Steven Finn (left) and Joe Root play football during a training session in Cardiff . (Reuters) Australian media yesterday. “Hopefully changes will serve as warm-up fi xtures for the Champions brought up in Surrey, Roy fell for will happen at the ICC and then you will see a re- Trophy – a tournament for the world’s top eight three in the tied series opener end, you could see by his reac- with Jason. That shows how he’s Hales and Roy capable of mak- fi ned schedule which will be better.” teams in 50-over cricket – which begins with at Trent Bridge and was fi ve not tion when he got out,” Root said developed during his time in ing signifi cantly large hundreds. Lehmann said while players often consider set- England’s match against Bangladesh at The Oval out when rain led to a no result in in Cardiff yesterday, said of the an England shirt and where he “We’ve got a number of guys ting themselves up for life by playing in the IPL, it on June 1. Once the Champions Trophy, which game three at Bristol. 25-year-old Roy’s innings at The wants to take his game.” now who, if they get in on their was a ‘tough conundrum’ for national selectors, fi nishes with a fi nal at The Oval on June 18, is over, But the series has seen him Oval, which was just fi ve runs England have become an in- day, will be lining up scores of as they are reluctant to advise players not to take England and South Africa will play three Twen- score 282 runs at an average of shy of Robin Smith’s all-time creasingly bold side with the bat over 200, which is frighten- on out-of-contract commitments. ty20s – including the fi rst England men’s inter- 141 and a strike rate of more than England ODI record score. in ODI cricket following their ing,” said Root. “(Roy) got out in “If you look across a two-year cycle, all of our national at Taunton since the 1983 World Cup. 122 heading into today’s fi nale “There was real thought and tame fi rst-round exit at last the 38th over, so if he’d played players have had to come home at some point,” England then have a gruelling schedule of seven in Cardiff . “It was great to see, clarity in the way he went about year’s World Cup, with York- 50 overs he was on course for a he said, while referring to injuries Steve Smith Tests in just under 10 weeks, four against South the way he went about it and his business, which previously shire’s Root now one of several massive score. That’s the bench- (wrist) and Mitchell Marsh (hamstring) picked up Africa and three against West Indies. the ruthlessness as well at the you might not have associated top-order batsmen along with mark for everyone to follow.” Gulf Times Saturday, July 2, 2016 7 SPORT

MLB Carrasco strikes out 14 in Indians’ 13th straight win Espinosa had two homers and a career-high seven RBIs as Nationals had three home runs to blitz past Reds

Reuters cago Cubs. Right-hander Erik Goeddel (1-0) Toronto threw 1-2/3 perfect innings for the win. TIGERS 10 RAYS 7 arlos Carrasco struck out a season-best The Detroit Tigers rallied for eight runs in the 14, Rajai Davis and Jason Kipnis homer- fi nal inning to stun the Tampa Bay Rays with a ed and the Cleveland Indians matched 10-7 win. a club record with their 13th successive The Rays had held the Tigers to four hits en- winC by defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at the tering the ninth before reliever Ryan Garton Major League Baseball on Thursday: then gave up four singles without recording an Carrasco (4-2) held the Blue Jays to three out, and Erasmo Ramirez (7-7) gave up two more hits, including a home run by Josh Donaldson, hits, then a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. and two walks in 7-1/3 innings. After walking A three-run double by Cameron Maybin — who Ezequiel Carrera in the sixth, Carrasco struck led off the inning with a single — gave the Tigers out his next six batters before Darwin Barney the unlikely lead. doubled with one out in the eighth. The right- hander fi nished one strikeout shy of his career BRAVES 8 MARLINS 5 best, set last Sept. 25 against the Kansas City Brandon Snyder drove in two runs with a pinch- Royals. hit triple in a four-run sixth inning to help Atlata record a 8-5 victory over Miami. Tyler NATIONALS 13 REDS 4 Flowers had three doubles for the Braves, while Switch-hitting shortstop Danny Espinosa had Jace Peterson, Freddie Freeman, Nick Markakis, two homers and a career-high seven RBIs as Erick Aybar and Chase d’Arnaud all had two hits the fi rst-place Washington Nationals had three in the 14-hit outburst. homers to blitz the last-place Cincinnati Reds. Ryan Zimmerman added two hits, including a MARINERS 5 ORIOLES 3 homer, and three RBIs and Chris Heisey had two Taijuan Walker made a triumphant return to the hits and two RBIs. mound, and Seattle teammate Seth Smith hit The Reds scored three runs in the sixth as Joey a two-run homer as the Mariners ended Bal- Votto (two hits) led off with a homer, Adam Du- timore’s seven-game winning streak. Walker, vall had a run-scoring groundout and Tucker who missed his previous turn in the rotation due Barnhart had an RBI single. Washington’s Gio to foot soreness, allowed just one run on four Gonzalez (4-7) allowed four runs on six hits with hits over 6-1/3 innings. nine strikeouts in six innings before Matt Belisle Walker (4-6) retired the fi rst 11 batters of the came on in the seventh. game and had a shutout going through six in- nings. A lead-off home run by Orioles left fielder WHITE SOX 6 TWINS 5 Kim Hyun-soo in the seventh ended the shutout JB Shuck matched a career-high three hits, in- bid and cut Seattle’s lead to 4-1. cluding a go-ahead bloop single in the eighth inning to lift the Chicago White Sox to a 6-5 GIANTS 12 ATHLETICS 6 win over the Minnesota Twins. Shuck’s two-out Left-hander Madison Bumgarner made major single drove in Avisail Garcia. Rookie Tim An- league history at the plate and earned his ninth derson also had three hits for the White Sox (40- win of the season on the mound as the San 39). White Sox closer David Robertson pitched Francisco Giants defeated the Oakland Athlet- the ninth to earn his 21st save. ics. Bumgarner (9-4) became the fi rst starting pitcher in 40 years to intentionally hit for him- DODGERS 8 BREWERS 1 Cleveland Indians center fielder Rajai Davis (right) slides into second base as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Darwin Barney misses the throw in the self at an American League stadium. Kenta Maeda scattered three hits and struck out ninth inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Thursday. Cleveland defeated Toronto 4-1. (USA TODAY Sports) The White Sox had starting pitcher Ken Brett six and the Los Angeles Dodgers hit three home hit instead of using a designated hitter in two runs off Zach Davies in an 8-1 victory over the a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Headley rales became the fourth major league player this Reliever Dillon Gee (3-2) picked up the win games in 1976. Pitcher Andy Sonnanstine hit for Milwaukee Brewers. Maeda (7-5) worked six in- opened the inning with a walk against Tony Bar- year with multiple hits in six straight games, go- despite allowing a solo homer to Jhonny Peralta the Tampa Bay Rays in a DH game in 2009, but nings and walked two batters. nette (5-3) and was sacrifi ced to second by Didi ing 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer in his in the sixth. only because manager Joe Maddon made a mis- He allowed a sacrifi ce fl y in the fi rst inning Gregorius. The Yankees had second and third team’s 4-2 interleague victory. Gee pitched two innings after starter Chris take fi lling out his lineup card. Bumgarner, who but nothing after that, with only one Milwaukee after Starlin Castro weakly grounded out to Morales, who went 12-for-16 in the four- Young was hooked for a pinch-hitter in the fi fth. has 13 career home runs, hit a leadoff double in runner reaching scoring position in his fi nal fi ve fi rst but three pitches later, the ball went under game series and is 16-of-24 in the last six games, his fi rst at-bat, sparking a six-run rally in the innings. catcher Robinson Chirinos’ glove and reached lined an RBI double to right off Mike Leake (5-6) METS 4 CUBS 3 third inning. He went 1-for-4. the backstop and Headley slid in. in the sixth for a 3-1 lead. He capped his huge se- Rookie right fi elder Brandon Nimmo, making On the mound, he gave up four runs on seven YANKEES 2 RANGERS 1 ries with a 456-foot homer into the third deck in his fi rst major league start as a leadoff batter, hits, including two home runs, over 6-1/3 in- Chase Headley scored on a passed ball with two ROYALS 4 CARDINALS 2 left fi eld off reliever Tyler Lyons with two outs in keyed a three-run rally in the seventh inning as nings. Bumgarner struck out four and walked outs in the bottom of the ninth, giving New York Kansas City Royals’ right fi elder Kendrys Mo- the eighth inning. the New York Mets came back to edge the Chi- none.

NFL NBA REJECTS N CAROLINA’S REVISED TRANSGENDER McClain gets 10-game ban, Manziel four BATHROOM LAW AFP McClain missed a June workout camp to kill her. Manziel is pleading innocent New York that the defender was dealing with a but if a league review fi nds he commit- Miami: Proposed changes to their genders at birth, not their family matter in Alabama. ted a violation of the league’s domestic a controversial North Carolina gender identities, and prevents Dallas has other defenders facing bans abuse policy, he faces a six-game ban on law requiring residents to use local governments from allas Cowboys linebacker Ro- as well. Defensive end Randy Gregory top of the four-game suspension for the public restrooms correspond- passing anti-discrimination lando McClain was issued a will be suspended the fi rst four games substance abuse violation. ing to their gender at birth ordinances. 10-game ban and free agent and defensive end Demarcus Lawrence, Manziel told TMZ he plans to become don’t go far enough, the Yielding to pressure from quarterback Johnny Manziel who led the Cowboys in sacks last sea- ‘completely sober’. The NFL has also im- National Basketball Association numerous celebrities, sports wasD given a four-game suspension in son, is appealing a four-game suspen- posed a one-game ban against New York said on Thursday. organizations and companies Thursday by the NFL for violations of the sion. Manziel was released by the Cleve- Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson The US professional bas- that urged a boycott of North league’s substance abuse policy. land Browns in March after going 2-6 in for a violation of the NFL’s personal- ketball league has threatened Carolina, a group of state leg- McClain would miss the fi rst 10 games his eight NFL starts and the four-game conduct policy. He will miss the Jets’ reg- to relocate the NBA All-Star islators amended some of the of the upcoming season for Dallas after ban would be served when he returns to ular-season opener in September against weekend, which is scheduled law’s text. missing the fi rst four games of the 2015 the league, if ever. Cincinnati. to take place next year in Char- Leaked to local media on campaign for violating the same policy. The 23-year-old is among only a Richardson pleaded guilty to resisting lotte, North Carolina, unless the Tuesday, the proposed bill must The Cowboys re-signed him for 2016 for handful of fi rst-round NFL Draft selec- arrest in January stemming from his ar- bill that has been slammed by still be approved by the state $5 million. tions to be cut two years into his rookie rest for driving 143 mph while evading rights groups as discriminatory legislature. Last season, McClain recovered from contract and could face potentially more police with a 12-year-old in the car. is revoked. But critics joined the NBA in off -season surgery to make 97 tackles roadblocks to an NFL comeback. Rolando McClain He was not charged with child endan- North Carolina legislators calling for a complete repeal of over 11 games with two sacks, nine tack- Manziel would also face a review un- germent or a drug off ense despite the circulated a draft bill this week the bill. les for loss, 10 quarterback pressures, one der the NFL’s personal conduct policy Crowley, who accused him of domestic police report indicating offi cers caught showing some minor changes “Now I have to show my birth interception and three pass breakups. after facing misdemeanor assault charg- violence during a January incident in the aroma of marijuana while making the in the law, but keeping the con- certificate to go to a restroom? Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said when es from his former girlfriend, Colleen Texas, saying he hit her and threatened arrest. troversial bathroom provisions It’s just ridiculous,” Mavis, 45, a intact. The NBA and the Char- nurse in Raleigh, North Carolina lotte Hornets — North Carolina’s told AFP recently, declining to NHL resident team which is owned give her last name. by retired basketball legend NBA Commissioner Adam Michael Jordan — rejected the Silver said two weeks ago that proposed revisions, saying the the law was ‘problematic,’ but revamped bill still discriminates did not say in Thursday’s state- Bruins buy out Seidenberg’s contract against transgender people. ment whether another venue “We have been engaged in for the All-Star Game was being Reuters 758 career games with Boston, Florida, 10 games for the Capitals last season. dialogue with numerous groups considered. “There has been no Boston Carolina, Arizona and Philadelphia. In 93 career NHL games with Wash- at the city and state levels, but new decision made regarding The 34-year-old Seidenberg had ington, Toronto and Pittsburgh, Sill has we do not endorse the version the 2017 NBA All-Star Game,” one goal and 11 assists in 61 games last two goals and three assists. of the bill that we understand is it said. he Boston Bruins bought out season. currently before the legisla- The draft of the revisions, the fi nal two years of defense------ture,” a joint statement released obtained by the local televi- man DENNIS SEIDEN- The Washington Capitals re-signed The Chicago Blackhawks agreed to by the NBA said about the sion station WBTV, recognizes BERG’S contract, the team right winger Tom Wilson to a two-year, one-year contracts with defenseman measure known as House Bill changed genders via docu- announcedT on Thursday. The buyout $4 million contract and signed forward Michal Rozsival and forward Brandon 2, or HB2. “We remain commit- ments that serve as the equiva- makes Seidenberg an unrestricted free Zach Sill to a two-year, two-way deal. Mashinter, the team announced. Roz- ted to our guiding principles of lent of birth certificates. How- agent who is free to sign with any other Wilson will make $1.75 million in 2016- sival, 37, had one goal and 12 assists in inclusion, mutual respect and ever, the text does not mention NHL team. 17 and $2.25 million in 2017-18. 51 games last season. The 15-year vet- equal protections for all,” the the use of public toilets. Seidenberg’s salary was $4 million The 22-year-old Wilson totaled 23 eran has spent the past four seasons statement added. Chad Griff in, president of each of the next two seasons. By mak- points (seven goals, 16 assists) and 163 with the Blackhawks. Rozsival has 306 “We continue to believe that Human Rights Campaign, which ing the move, the Bruins will lessen penalty minutes for the Capitals last career points (67 goals, 239 assists) in constructive engagement with advocates for the rights of their cap hit to $1.166 million in 2016- season, establishing career highs in 941 NHL games. all sides is the right path for- LGBT people, tweeted: “Encour- 17. Thereafter, it will be $2.166 million points, goals, assists and plus/minus Mashinter, 27, had four goals and ward.” Enacted in March by Re- aged by the @NBA’s statement in 2017-18, $1.116 million in 2018-19 (+4) while playing in all 82 regular sea- one assist in 41 games with Chicago publican Governor Pat McCrory, & hope lawmakers will finally and $1.116 million in 2019-20. son games for the second time in his last season. He has also played for the the law requires people to use come to the table and do what’s The 13-year-veteran has 39 goals, NHL career. San Jose Sharks and New York Rangers bathrooms that correspond to right: #RepealHB2.” 185 points and 310 penalty minutes in The 28-year-old Sill had one goal in since beginning his NHL career in 2010.

Gulf Times Saturday, July 2, 2016 9 SPORTSPORT

SWIMMING Adrian sets up Rio repeat bid as Phelps, Lochte showdown looms Phelps will be gunning to add the 200m medley to a Rio slate that already includes the 200m butterfly

AFP Omaha, United States

athan Adrian stormed home to win the 100 metre freestyle at the US Olympic swimming trials punching his ticket to Rio where he’ll go for a second straight Ngold. Adrian clocked 47.72sec, improving on the 47.91 he produced in the semi-fi nals. Only Cam- eron McEvoy of Australia (47.04) has gone faster in 2016. The 27-year-old Adrian was just one veteran in the spotlight on Thursday as super- star Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte lined up a tantalising 200m individual medley clash with semi-fi nal victories. Phelps comfortably won the fi rst semi in 1:57.61. Lochte followed with a 1:56.71 that makes him the second-fastest in the world this year. “It’s going to be good,” Phelps predicted of last night’s fi nal. “You’ll have an exciting race.” Phelps will be gunning to add the 200m med- ley to a Rio slate that already includes the 200m butterfl y. Lochte, meanwhile, will be in search of a fi rst individual Rio berth as he and Phelps add another chapter to a rivalry more than a decade old. “It’s one of the greatest rivalries in sports,” said Lochte, who owns the world record and 2015 world title in the 200 IM, but has settled for two silvers and a bronze in behind gold medal- list Phelps in three Olympics. Adrian, who beat Australian James Magnussen to the 100m free gold in London by one one-hundredth of a sec- ond, hadn’t cracked 48 seconds since 2013. Now that he’s done it twice in as many days, he’s looking forward to taking on another Aus- sie challenger in McEvoy. “I just look forward to racing him,” Adrian said. “There is nothing more fun than getting the best guys in the world together in the same pool and just seeing what happens.” Caeleb Dressel, a double freestyle sprint gold Nathan Adrian (right) of the United States celebrates with Caeleb Dressel after winning the final heat for the men’s 100 metre freestyle during the Camille Adams competes in the final heat for medallist at the NCAA collegiate champion- 2016 US Olympic Team Swimming Trials at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska on Thursday. (AFP) the women’s 200 metre butterfly. (AFP) ships, seized second in 48.23, booking an indi- vidual berth in Rio as he edged another colle- ing the second-fastest performer all-time be- pace and it was Prenot who powered home for Adams, rattled by a disqualifi cation that was with the seventh-fastest time, while Missy giate standout, Ryan Held, who settled for third hind Japan’s Akihiro Yamaguchi — who holds the win with Cordes second in 2:08.00. “That is overturned on video review in the heats, clocked Franklin failed to advance. Franklin fi nished in 48.26. the current world record of 2:07.01. by far the most perfectly I’ve ever put it togeth- 2:06.80 with Hali Flickinger second in 2:07.50. 11th-fastest. She’ll have a chance to qualify in Held nabbed a trip to Rio as part of the relay Prenot, who missed out on a Rio berth in the er,” said Prenot.“So I’m just going to be working Elsewhere in the semi-fi nals, Abbey Weitzeil a second individual event, after punching her pool, as did fourth-placed Anthony Ervin — 100m breaststroke with a third place fi nish be- on putting another good race together in Rio.” led the times in the women’s 100m free in ticket with a runner-up fi nish in the 200m who earned a third Olympic appearance 16 years hind Cordes and Cody Miller, was fourth at the World championships silver medalist Cam- 53.57sec. Katie Ledecky, winner of the 200m free, in the 200m backstroke. “That speed just after he won gold in the 50m free in 2000. halfway mark as Cordes set a blistering pace. mile Adams won the 200m butterfl y to line up and 400m free already this week and a virtual doesn’t feel like it’s quite there this meet,” said Josh Prenot poured it on in the back half to Cordes was still leading at the fi nal turn, with another Olympic shot in the event in which she certainty to punch her ticket to Rio in the 800m Franklin, who also came up short in the 100m win the 200m breaststroke in 2:07.17 — becom- Prenot in second and both under world record fi nished fi fth in London. free, made the fi nal in the less familiar sprint backstroke.” No idea why.”

ATHLETICS Australia selects Bolt breezes into semis at Jamaican Trials 61-year-old as its oldest

AFP ever competitor Kingston, Jamaica Sydney: Dressage rider Mary Hanna was yesterday unveiled t was business as usual for Usain Bolt as Australia’s oldest ever as he easily qualifi ed for the semi- Olympian with the 61-year- fi nals of the men’s 100 meters on old grandmother selected Thursday at the Jamaican Olympic to compete in Brazil. She will ITrials at Kingston’s National Stadium. also become only the third Bolt, who will be seeking a third- Australian woman to represent straight triple-triple — gold medals in the her country at five Olympics, 100m, 200m and 4x100m relays — hardly alongside table tennis player worked up a sweat as he won his second Jian Fang Lay, who is also head- round heat in a pedestrian 10.15 seconds. ing to Rio, and retired beach There were no surprises in either of the volleyballer Natalie Cook. men’s or women’s 100m heats with all “Every time I have done the the big names advancing to set up what Olympics I’ve thought, this is Mary Hanna will also become promises to be an explosive race in the probably the last time I will only the third Australian semis and fi nals. do it,” said Hanna, whose first woman to represent her The only mild surprise was former Olympics was in Atlanta in country at five Olympics. world record holder Asafa Powell fi nish- 1996. “But after the last time ing third in his heat in 10.17 seconds be- I thought, ‘I am going to keep ahead of the women’s team. hind 20-year old Jevaughn Minzie (10.15) going with this because I feel fit South Korean archers have and Senoj-Jay Givans, who clocked 10.16. and healthy and why shouldn’t trained at ballparks since the Yohan Blake, who complained that his I’? So, here I am.” Hanna will be 2008 Beijing Olympics, where blocks slipped at the start, was an easy 61 years and 253 days when raucous Chinese crowds winner in his heat at 10.26. she competes on August 10 to made headlines at home Nickel Ashmeade won his heat in the surpass Bill Roycroft, who also almost as much as the athletes fastest time of the night 10.07, ahead of competed in the equestrian themselves. In the women’s 200m specialist Warren Weir, who fi n- event in Montreal in 1976 when individual final, favoured ished in 10.17. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce he was 61 years and 128 days. South Korean Park Sung-hyun cruised in her 100m heat to an easy win appeared visibly rattled by the in 11.38 seconds to beat former NCAA KOREAN ARCHERS conditions and fell to Zhang champions Remona Burchell (11.59). HOPE NOISY PRACTICE Juanjuan of China. Elaine Thompson also clocked 11.38 in COVERS ALL BASES The loss ended South Ko- her heat while Veronica Campbell-Brown South Korean Olympic archers rean victories in the discipline clocked 11.39. Simone Facey won her heat will be hoping to avoid striking stretching back six Olympic in 11.31 ahead of the veteran Kerron Stew- out in Rio after they announced Games. Afterwards, the sport’s art 11.44, but it was 21-year old Christa- plans to conduct open training national off icials decided to nia Williams trying to make her fi rst sen- sessions in a baseball dome to prepare the archers for noisy ior team who had the fastest time of the harden themselves for poten- and distracting environments night running 11.20. tially hostile environments at by making them stand on a NCAA triple jump champion Clive Pul- the Aug. 5-21 Games. baseball field, with crowds len, a senior at the University of Arkansas, The Nexen Heroes, a Korea on hand encouraged to make jumped a personal best 16.90 meters to Usain Bolt (right) hardly worked up a sweat as he won his second round heat in a pedestrian 10.15 seconds to qualify for the Baseball Organisation (KBO) noise and with loudspeakers qualify for the Olympic Games, winning semi-finals of the men’s 100 metres on Thursday at the Jamaican Olympic Trials at Kingston’s National Stadium. (AFP) club based at Gocheok Sky blaring music. the event. There was one disappointment Dome, said on Friday that the The Asian country remains as 400 meter runner Janieve Russell was a 100 meters silver medallist announced clude a two gold medals at the 2011 World black tape on his kit in Eugene in a protest archers would be taking aim the world’s premier archery no-show due to an injury. her decision on her Instagram feed on the Championships in Daegu, South Korea, against marketing restrictions placed on amid crowd noise and other power, with 19 gold medals and Garth Gayle, general secretary of the eve of the United States Track and Field where she won the 100m and 4x100m. athletes during the Olympics, also with- sound eff ects before the two 34 medals overall since the Jamaican Athletics Administrative Asso- Olympic trials. “Unfortunately due to Her preparations for the Rio Olympics drew Wednesday. weekend games, according to start of the modern archery ciation, said she had requested a medical me re-aggravating my left quad I will not had been disrupted by injuries which left Symmonds had been struggling to re- Yonhap news agency. competition in 1972. South exemption that would allow her to make be at 2016 Olympic trials,” Jeter said in a her an outside bet to make the team. cover from an ankle injury and on Thurs- The targets will be set up Korea is undefeated in the the team if she can prove her fi tness in video message. “It’s been a rough two years for me, day admitted defeat in his battle to be 70 metres from the archers, women’s team competition, time for the start of the Rio Olympics. Jeter, from California, was a member with two torn quads and a quad surgery,” fi t for the trials, where he was aiming to the same arrangement as the with seven straight gold med- of the American 4x100m relay team in Jeter said Thursday. challenge in the 800m. Olympics, and the athletes als since it became a medal JETER OUT OF OLYMPICS London four years ago which set a world The July 1-10 US Olympic trials begin “This ankle has taken me to 2 Olympic will take part in a simulated event in 1988, and they will be Veteran US sprinter Carmelita Jeter on record en route to a gold medal. She also on Friday at the University of Oregon’s Games, but it will not take me to a 3rd,” competition against national hoping their unique prepara- Thursday pulled out of the Olympics after won a bronze in the women’s 200m in Hayward Field stadium. Symmonds wrote on Twitter underneath team reserves. The male team tions will help them complete a failing to recover from a quadricep mus- London. Meanwhile US distance runner Nick a photo of his left ankle. "Forced to with- will compete on Saturday, a day grand slam. cle injury. The 36-year-old 2012 Olympic Other key career achievements in- Symmonds, who had vowed to run with draw from Olympic Trials.” Gulf Times 10 Saturday, July 2, 2016 SPORT

OLDER AND WISER Bitter London lesson drives Yadav on path to Rio Games Yadav secured his Rio spot only last week at an Olympic qualifier in Baku, where he settled for bronze after a cut he sustained rendered him medically unfit for his semi-final bout.

Reuters ‘In London, I was just for his semi-fi nal bout. New Delhi another clueless young “I qualifi ed for London eight months boxer in his fi rst Olympics. before the Games and probably got a bit Four years down the line and I’m too casual,” said the boxer who is sup- ikas Krishan Yadav has still young but I have Olympic ported, among others, by JSW Sports. learned from the bitterest experience behind me too’ “This time I could not qualify from experience that he can leave (last year’s) world championship, so the nothing to chance in the Ol- make my bouts one-sided and win it re- pressure was building. It helps in a way, ympicV ring and it is a lesson the Indian ally big. That will be my eff ort in Rio as for I’m now in competition mode and boxer will carry with him to the Rio well.” I’m not going to relax.” Games. Shattered by the London setback, For Yadav, who claimed the light- Four years ago, the then 20-year-old Yadav largely shunned the ring for the weight gold at the 2010 Asian Games welterweight thought he had clinched a next 18 months, undertaking training to and the middleweight bronze in the next place in the quarter-fi nals of the Lon- become a policeman in the northern In- edition of the continental gathering in don Olympic tournament after beating dian state of Haryana instead. Incheon, winning is all. American Errol Spence 13-11. “I was a lot younger and more vulner- He feels embarrassed when all he has His joy turned quickly to outrage able then. I saw no point in continuing to show from one of his trips abroad is when amateur boxing’s governing body boxing. I would wake up at nine, sleep a souvenir T-shirt or a bag full of duty- AIBA, after reviewing video footage, late and be casual about my training,” he free. To avoid any such embarrassment overturned the result and awarded the recalled. after Rio, Yadav is approaching the American four additional points for “But a boxer is like a caged bird which Games as if they were his last as he bids fouls committed by Yadav. doesn’t know what to do with freedom. I to emulate Vijender Singh, who won In- India subsequently took the case to started craving the rigour of boxing. dia’s fi rst boxing medal with a bronze, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), “The time away from ring allowed me also in the 75kg class, at the 2008 Beijing which rejected the appeal. to think about boxing. Now I’m better Olympics. Yadav has since moved up to the prepared to deal with any such heart- “I’m taking it as my last attempt at an 75kg category, but the feeling of being break.” Olympic medal and I feel I’m better pre- wronged in London has never left him. He is, though, determined to ensure pared this time,” Yadav added. “London taught me a big lesson,” the he does not have to deal with anything “In London, I was just another clue- softly-spoken boxer told Reuters in an similar in Rio. less young boxer in his fi rst Olympics. interview, sporting a mosaic of bruises “I have an unfi nished business in the Four years down the line and I’m still on the top half of his face and a couple of Olympics,” he said. “My dreams were young but I have Olympic experience stitches over his right eye. shattered in London. I want to fulfi ll behind me too. “It taught me I can’t leave anything them in Rio.” “My health is perfect, I got enough to chance. It taught me results of close Yadav secured his Rio spot only last ring experience and my coaches and contests can go either way even after week at an Olympic qualifi er in Baku, my family are right behind me. If I can’t you’ve been declared the winner. where he settled for bronze after a cut he win a medal this time, I probably won’t “Since then, I have always tried to sustained rendered him medically unfi t ever.”

SPOTLIGHT Jones urges Japan to adopt more professional approach

Reuters, Tokyo Jones cited England’s impressive IAAF rules Stepanova eligible forward Maro Itoje, who shone in both the Six Nations and the tour of ormer national coach Eddie Australia, as example of how Japan Jones believes Japanese should integrate young players into rugby is at a crossroads a professional environment and the to compete as an independent Fand needs to adopt a more national team. professional approach if it wants “We have a young lock who is just Reuters of the women’s 800m on Wednesday to avoid stagnating as the country 21. He studies full time at university Moscow 6 July,” European Athletics said in a gears up to host the 2019 World Cup. and plays professional rugby,” Jones statement. Jones enjoyed a successful spell in added. “Japan needs to be more ag- It was still unclear, however, if the charge of the Brave Blossoms from gressive in selecting young players ussian doping whistleblower middle distance runner would now be 2012-15 and has since led England and bringing them through.” Yulia Stepanova’s applica- eligible to compete at the Rio Olym- to a Six Nations grand slam triumph Jones was also critical of the JRFU’s tion to compete as an indi- pics, with the IAAF saying it was up to and a 3-0 series victory against his failure to replace him immediately, vidual athlete has been ac- organisers to decide. native Australia after taking over using two interim coaches until New cepted,R the International Association “Ms Stepanova’s participation as a from Stuart Lancaster last Novem- Zealander Jamie Joseph was con- of Athletics Federations (IAAF) said neutral athlete in international com- ber. firmed to be taking over at the end yesterday. The former drugs cheat’s petition is still subject to acceptance “Japanese rugby is at the stage of the Super Rugby season, putting revelations helped expose the massive by the organiser of the competition in where it can really progress or it Japan a year behind in preparations doping problem in her country and the question, in accordance with the rules can stagnate and go down,” Jones for the next World Cup. middle-distance runner left Russia of that competition,” the IAAF said. told reporters in Tokyo yesterday “Timing is so important as Japan and went into hiding after disclosing The International Olympic Com- after watching Japanese Super needs to rebuild,” he said. the issue. mittee (IOC) said it would study the Rugby franchise the Sunwolves train “At the present rate, by 2019 just 25 Stepanova could now make a come- decision once it received the fi le from ahead of today’s game against the % of the 2015 squad will be in the back as soon as July 6 in the 800m af- the IAAF. Waratahs. team. It’s going to be a big job (for ter European Athletics approved her “The IOC has taken note of the “The whole structure needs to be Joseph) rebuilding as you need an participation at the continental cham- IAAF press release,” it said in a state- more professional,” added the man experienced side to play in a World pionships in Amsterdam. ment. who masterminded Japan’s best Cup.” The IAAF said its doping re- “As said before, the IOC will care- ever World Cup campaign in Eng- Jones said that while the Super view board unanimously accepted fully study the case of Ms. Stepanova land last year, where they won three Rugby franchise would help players Stepanova’s application and that they once the IAAF has passed on the fi le matches for a first time, including a gain some of that valuable experi- had received more than 80 formal re- with all the available information as stunning 34-32 victory over South ence, a packed fixture list could have quests from Russian athletes seeking requested by the IOC.” Africa. a detrimental eff ect on the national exceptional eligibility to compete in an Russian track and fi eld athletes are “You need business men running side in the long term. individual capacity. suspended from competing anywhere the business side of things and “Japan needs to work out the struc- “Stepanova is now eligible to com- after a series of reports, triggered by professional rugby men running ture of their season. You can’t have pete in international competitions as Stepanova’s revelations, painted a pic- the rugby side. The JRFU (Japan players playing Top League and an independent neutral athlete,” the ture of systematic doping in the coun- Rugby Football Union) is an amateur Super Rugby continuously. You have IAAF said in a statement. try and led to the launch of several in- organisation and that is its challenge to ensure the players are in their European Athletics said it recog- vestigations. moving forward.” optimum condition,” he said. nised Stepanova’s “exceptional con- The IAAF has said only some Rus- tribution to the protection and pro- sian track and fi eld athletes fulfi lling motion of clean athletes” and cleared exceptional criteria, including re- her to compete in Amsterdam next peated drugs testing outside Russia, Cavendish can handle Tour and week. can take part in the Rio Games under Olympics, says former coach “If Stepanova takes her place in a neutral fl ag. 5 would do so under the country’s fl ag, since fi led an appeal to the Court of Amsterdam, she will compete un- The IOC, however, insists any Rus- appeasing Moscow in the run-up to Arbitration for Sport, saying they der the European Athletics fl ag and is sian track and fi eld athlete cleared to the Rio Games. should not be punished along with Reuters, London Times yesterday. “Road and track scheduled to compete in the fi rst round compete in the Games starting on Aug. More than 65 Russian athletes have drugs cheats. ambitions can work side by side. He knows he will get stronger by later ark Cavendish can han- in the summer.” BOTTOMLINE dle three weeks at the Cavendish now rides for Team Tour de France and still Dimension Data, the African outfit Mcontend for track gold that has built a team with a view to at the Rio Olympics, according to supporting the Manxman in his hunt Dhanraj appeals to PM for Shahid’s treatment one of his former coaches at Team for more Tour stage wins. Sky. This year’s route features some The sprinter, winner of 26 Tour tortuous climbs but Ellingworth IANS made the situation worse. The 56-year-old former stages and hoping to add to that expects Cavendish, who has previ- New Delhi forward was airlifted on Tuesday evening from Vara- figure when the race begins on ously struggled on mountain stages, nasi, to where he belongs, after his situation became Saturday in Normandy, has never to still be part of the peloton when it worse. claimed an Olympic medal and will arrives in Paris for the final sprint — ockey legend Dhanraj Pillay yesterday ap- “Shahid bhai is a legend, an icon, someone who compete in the omnium in the Rio which he has won four times. pealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi made India proud internationally. Indian hockey was velodrome in August. “Whether or not Cav agrees to finish to intervene in the treatment of former na- known across the world because of players like him. Three weeks hard riding towards the Tour, the one thing I know about tional captain Mohamed Shahid (pictured), As a person and as a player, he lifted the Tricolour Paris will not aff ect his medal him is that he can soak up the work whoH is fi ghting for survival in a Gurgaon hospital. high with pride in being an Indian,” Pillay said in a chances in Brazil though, says Rod as well as anybody,” he said. Shahid, a master of stick control and who is often statement. Ellingworth, Cavendish’s coach in Cavendish won three stages of the considered as one of the most exquisite proponents of “It is a pity that today not even a single senior po- the build-up to London 2012 and the 2012 Tour when riding for Team Sky the game for his ability to dodge and weave past any litical leader has bothered to even enquire about his man who steered him to the world but suff ered Olympic disappoint- opponent, has been admitted to Medanta Medicity condition even though he has been in the ICU (Inten- road title in 2011. ment a few weeks later when he Hospital for liver and kidney problems. sive Care Unit) for two days now,” the former captain “It’s doable,”Ellingworth said in The failed to medal in the road race. A bout of jaundice and dengue together have only added. Gulf Times Saturday, July 2, 2016 11 SPORT

CYCLING/ THE TOUR DE FRANCE SPOTLIGHT Suspicious bikes could be checked Froome wary of during Tour stages

Reuters the teams’ interest.” Paris Such checks would happen when a rider swaps bikes. The UCI and Tour de France ‘climber’s Tour’ ikes could be checked organisers Amaury Sport Organ- for hidden motors dur- isation (ASO) said this week that ‘The route this year is very much a climber-based route in terms of even the two ing stages as part of they would use thermal cameras Bplans to crack down in addition to the magnetic res- time-trials we have: one is straight uphill and the other one has two long climbs on it’ on cheats in this year’s Tour de onance method to detect hidden France, International Cycling motors. Union (UCI) president Brian In April, television station Cookson said yesterday. France 2, in collaboration with Other moves include the pos- Italian newspaper Corriere della sibility of night-time doping Sera, reported that hidden mo- controls and the detection of tors were used in the Strade micro doses of drugs, making the Bianche one-day race and the three-week race one of the most Coppi e Bartali race in Italy this scrutinised ever sporting events. season. Bikes are usually tagged in the The report used thermal im- fi nish area before being checked aging to show that fi ve motors for motors, but this year Tour were hidden in the seat tube and stewards will have the option of two in the rear hub, but added acting during the stages. they could not prove it beyond “We target and it will be un- all reasonable doubt. predictable. We are not going to The UCI did not respond spe- test every bike every day, every cifi cally to the allegation but said team, we’re going to test a large it were happy with its methods, number, probably do over 3,000 which found one hidden motor tests during the Tour de France, this year in the bike of Belgian compared to 20 or 30 last year,” Femke Van den Driessche at Cookson said in an interview. the Under-23 cyclocross world “We can do that at the start, championships. at the fi nish, we can take bikes The French WADA-accredit- during the race if there are any ed lab of Chatenay-Malabry will changes, it’s not just the bikes also be able to detect micro-dos- that the riders start off the race es of the banned blood-booster with, we test the bikes on the EPO (erythropoietin) for the cars, we test the bikes on the fi rst time and testers will be al- team trucks as well, and so far lowed to test between 11pm and we had a very good co-operation 6 am, which was banned until from the teams because it is in this year.

Five favourites for the title

Chris Froome gradient cranks up. But at 33, As reigning champion and there are question marks over twice winner in three years, Contador. He first won the Tour the Sky leader will be the man in 2007 and many feel he is to beat. This Tour may favour past his best having last tasted climbers but the 31-year-old victory in 2009. His form in Briton has proved himself as June’s Criterium de Dauphine good as anyone in that do- was not encouraging as he maine, and more so than any- faded to fifth, but this is a man Riders of Great Britain’s Team Sky cycling team, including Great Britain’s Christopher Froome (C), pose for a photo before taking part in a parade aboard a World War II US army one else capable of performing who won Grand Tours in three vehicle during the team presentation ceremony in Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Normandy, ahead of the 103rd edition of the Tour de France cycling race. The 2016 Tour de France will consistently over three weeks. of the last four years, so he has start today in the streets of Le Mont-Saint-Michel and end on July 24, 2016 down the Champs-Elysees in Paris. He also has what his team man- proved his ability over three ager Dave Brailsford described weeks numerous times. AFP won it on that first stage, that’s when I Four days back-to-back like that.” competition is that much higher,” said as “potentially the strongest Saint-Lô, France put time into Nairo Quintana and that’s Many may be expecting a straight Froome. “I’ve got more rivals and the team on paper”. With two time- Thibaut Pinot what I won by in Paris,” said Froome. battle between Froome and Quintana level of my rivals is that much stronger.” trials as well, Froome’s all round The 26-year-old Frenchman is Quintana was caught behind a crash but the defending champion says there The French challenge will come from strength will make him tough to considered his country’s lead- eigning champion Chris Froome when crosswinds caused a split in the are more names to look out for. a posse of young climbers led by Thibaut beat, and he heads into the race ing hope to end their miserable says this year’s Tour de France is peloton. Notably, twice former winner Alberto Pinot, third in 2014, with Romain Bar- in rich form having won June’s 31-year yellow jersey drought. made for the specialist climbers. He lost 1min 27sec that day to Contador, himself a talented climber det, top 10 finishes in the last two years, Criterium du Dauphine. Pinot finished third in 2014 and R Although there are two indi- Froome, who beat him by just 1min who has won seven Grand Tours in total. and Warren Barguil, 14th last year, two last year won a stage for the vidual time-trials totalling 54km, it is the 12sec overall. He also showed good climbing legs exciting prospects to look out for. Nairo Quintana first time. He is improving year mountainous terrain that appears most But with a raft of mountainous chal- earlier this season, winning the Tour of For Astana, Fabio Aru, the reigning Second to Froome in both by year and has shown consist- foreboding along the 3,500km route lenges in the final week of this year’s the Basque Country and coming second Vuelta a Espana champion, will have his 2013 and 2015, the time has ency in the build up, as he did starting in Normandy and finishing in race, Froome believes that is where the at Paris-Nice, to Froome’s teammate first crack at the Tour alongside Vin- perhaps come for the 26-year- last year. He was second at the Paris, having crossed a number of peaks difference will be made. Geraint Thomas, and Volta a Catalunya, cenzo Nibali, the Tour winner in 2014 old Colombian “to step up”, as Tour de Romandie, fourth at in the Pyrenees and Alps. “I imagine a lot of people will be to Quintana. But in early June he was a who claimed Giro d’Italia glory in May. Brailsford said. The emphasis the Tour of the Basque Country There are four summit finishes, seven looking at that last week given it’s so touch off the pace at the Criterium du It’s a tough ask to challenge for the on climbing should suit Quin- and fifth in Tirreno-Adriatico, hors category climbs and 14 first cate- heavily loaded with mountains — stage Dauphine, won by Froome, finishing Giro and Tour in the same season and tana, as will the concentration but he cracked badly in June’s gory ones to crest in what will be a bru- 17, 18, 19 and 20 — anyone trying to only fifth. Nibali will likely fall back into a support of tough mountain stages in Dauphine. tal test of leg strength. make up time, it will be a great oppor- At 33, his best days are perhaps be- role, unless Aru proves out of his depth. the final week. Quintana, who “The route this year is very much a tunity. hind him and he’s been talking of retir- Australian Richie Porte could feature won the 2014 Giro d’Italia, is a Fabio Aru climber-based route in terms of even “Whoever’s defending, it will be one ing over the next 18 months. and has the experience of helping Froome notoriously slow starter who At just 25, Aru could yet prove the two time-trials we have: one is of the toughest moments to defend. “This year more than ever the level of to his two Tour titles, but the Tasmanian, comes on strong in the final to be even better than his fellow straight uphill and the other one has two now riding for BMC having left Sky at the week of Grand Tours. Having Italian Vincenzo Nibali. He won long climbs on it,” reflected Froome. end of last season, has always fl attered to four consecutive tough moun- the Vuelta a Espana last year “Even though we have time-trials, Tinkoff riders during a training session deceive in three week races, despite great tain stages right at the end will and was second to Contador in they’re time-trials where a climber will ahead of the Tour de France. pedigree over one-week events. give him the chance to play his the Giro d’Italia. The previous do well.” He added: “It’s very much a Elsewhere, Germans Marcel Kittel favourite cards to perfection. year he had top five finishes in climber’s Tour de France this year.” and Andre Greipel should animate the both. He has matched Nibali’s When the 2015 Tour route was an- sprints, particularly with France’s Nac- Alberto Contador feat of winning a Grand Tour nounced, Froome had been highly criti- er Bouhanni missing out after injuring A twice former winner and at just 25. By then, though, cal of that one, saying it didn’t have his hand in a punch-up a week ago. seven-time Grand Tour cham- Nibali had already raced the enough time-trials and was designed But world champion Peter Sagan will pion, Contador has been there Tour twice, whereas this will be purely for specialist climbers. be favourite for the sprinter’s green jer- and done it before. He’s also Aru’s first crack at the Grand Yet despite Nairo Quintana having a sey due to his polyvalent ability to com- beaten Froome twice in the Boucle. This promises to be a narrow edge on him in the mountains, pete on all sorts of terrain, thus pick- Vuelta a Espana so he knows baptism of fire for Aru and a lot he actually made the difference on one ing up points when the more specialist he can not only compete with more will be known about him of the flat stages. sprinters have been dropped by a sud- but also beat the Brit when the in three weeks. “It could be argued that last year I den steep climb near the finish.

FORMULA ONE Rosberg fastest in Austria, come rain or shine

Reuters our car quite well, maybe better even third in the second session for Mer- Spielberg, Austria than the old,” said Rosberg, who will be cedes-powered Force India. chasing his sixth win in nine races to- Since Austria returned to the calen- morrow. “But tyre usage will be the de- dar in 2014, after an 11-year absence, ormula One leader Nico Ros- cisive factor this weekend...” Rosberg has been the only winner and berg clocked the fastest lap yet Hamilton, who has fi nished second Mercedes-engined cars have swept the around the scenic Red Bull Ring behind Rosberg in the last two years podium. Fyesterday as world champions in Austria, said his day had been more Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, celebrat- Mercedes dominated Austrian Grand tricky. ing his 27th birthday, was fi fth fastest. Prix practice. “It started coming together this Rosberg’s best lap, on the ultra- The German set a best time of one morning but then the rain in the second soft tyres, compared to the 2015 pole minute 07.373 seconds, 0.357 quicker session meant we had to adapt our pro- of 1:08.455 and the race lap record of than teammate and triple world cham- gramme,” said the Briton. 1:08.337 set by compatriot Michael pion Lewis Hamilton, in the morning “Luckily the high track temperatures Schumacher for Ferrari in 2003. and was again top in the afternoon with meant the circuit dried out very quickly While Rosberg had a clean fi rst ses- a 1:07.967. so I was able to get more running on the sion, Hamilton spun into the gravel and On a day of variables with the ultra-soft tyre before the session fi n- triggered the virtual safety car. French- weather swinging from bright sunshine ished and to get a feel for the balance man Romain Grosjean, in the Haas, to torrential rain and back again, and and performance.” spun off as he avoided the Mercedes. with waves of water rippling down the Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, who is set The circuit’s revised kerbs caused pit straight, Rosberg did not falter. for a fi ve-place grid penalty for an un- problems for Red Bull’s Dutch teen- Hamilton, 24 points behind Rosberg Mercedes AMG Petronas Team’s German driver Nico Rosberg in action during the first scheduled gearbox change, was third ager Max Verstappen, who called them with 13 races remaining, was second in practice session of the Formula One Grand Prix of Austria at the Red Bull Ring and fourth respectively after a big spin “unbelievable” and “dangerous” after both sessions. in Spielberg, Austria, yesterday. in the afternoon. riding over them and ending up in the “The new asphalt seems to be suiting Fellow German Nico Hulkenberg was gravel with a smashed suspension.

Saturday, July 2, 2016 GULF TIMES TENNIS

WIMBLEDON SPOTLIGHT Ranting Kyrgios overshadows battle Champion Serena of the entertainers survives mighty scare from McHale Several times throughout the match, Williams was left cursing the bounce or screaming at the heavens as she struggled to find her form against the world number 65

Pouille. “It feels amazing, it’s a great sensa- tion,” said the 27-year-old who has un- Australia’s Nick Kyrgios (L) shakes hands with Germany’s Dustin dergone three wrist surgeries in the last Brown after their men’s singles second round match at Wimbledon two years. yesterday. “I enjoyed the crowd. It’s an incred- ible feeling, that’s why my hands are still AFP to the Wimbledon quarter-fi nals shaking. London two years ago, spent most of the “I feel alive again. After sitting at match ranting, drawing a code home for two years, this feels like a sec- violation for an audible obscen- ond or third career,” added the former ick Kyrgios survived a ity and appearing to give minimal world number four. warning for bad lan- eff ort in protest as he sulked his Wawrinka, a quarter-fi nalist in 2014 guage and a third set way through the third set. and 2015, fi red 47 winners past Del Potro Nsulk to clinch a 6-7 Despite his stroppy antics, but was undone by 48 unforced errors. (3/7), 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory Kyrgios advanced to play Span- “We are happy that he’s back. He’s over Dustin Brown in an explo- ish 22nd seed Feliciano Lopez or a great guy off the court. He’s amazing sive Wimbledon second round Italy’s Fabio Fognini for a place in player on the court. He’s big champion,” clash yesterday. the last 16. said Wawrinka. Kyrgios, seeded 15th, has “This match was always go- Meanwhile, Wimbledon suff ered a earned a reputation as one of ing to go fi ve sets. He’s one of third day of rain delays. the most volatile players on the the toughest players to face on Only one minute of action was possi- men’s tour after a series of dis- this surface. I’m really pleased ble on the outside courts in the fi rst four tasteful antics, including briefl y to go through,” Kyrgios said after hours. appearing to stop trying during a match which was twice inter- The tournament already had a backlog his Wimbledon defeat against rupted by rain. of 16 second round ties and with more Richard Gasquet last year. “I knew I had to steady the rain expected Saturday, organisers ad- The temperamental Australian ship. I went off course a lot in mitted that play may take place on Sun- has been equally petulant on his the third, but I thought he barely day for the fi rst time since 2004 and only return to the All England Club. missed a shot. the third time overall. Kyrgios was warned for bad “I got back on track in the “Sunday play is being considered but a language following a foul- fourth and fi fth. It was a fun decision won’t be made until tomorrow,” mouthed rant during his fi rst match.” Serena Williams celebrates beating US a spokesman told AFP. round win over Radek Stepanek Kyrgios had predicted the player Christina McHale in second round All men’s second round doubles and he was at it again as he Court Two clash between two of match on the fifth day of the 2016 matches were reduced to best of three fought back to defeat German the tournament’s most fl amboy- Wimbledon Championships yesterday. sets rather than fi ve in an eff ort to get the wildcard Brown. ant players would be a “circus” tournament back on the schedule. The 21-year-old, who famous- and the Australian was on the Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych beat ly shocked Rafael Nadal en route money. Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 and French 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga got past Juan Monaco 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, also in UNFAZED the second round. Meanwhile, fi ve-time champion Venus Williams reached the Wimbledon last- 16, seeing off Russian teenager Daria Ka- City slicker Millman satkina 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 in a tie featuring a rain stoppage when she held match point. Williams, 36, was 7-6, 40-30 up on ready to trade blows AFP will face Germany’s Annika Beck for a but her fi rst serve deserted her at a criti- Kasatkina’s serve in the fi nal set on Court London place in the last 16. cal stage and Williams broke to serve for One when the tie was halted by the sec- “It was a really good match. She played the set at 5-4 up. ond rain delay of the day. with Murray great and she always plays great against Williams then rained down three con- Seventy-fi ve minutes later, the play- efending champion Serena me,” Williams said. secutive aces in the fi nal game — she ers returned with Wimbledon debutante Williams narrowly survived “I know mentally no-one can break passed the 800 aces at Wimbledon mark Kasatkina saving the match point, the AFP “Then I’d go and do a little bit a major scare at Wimbledon, me. I knew, down a break in the third, during the match — and sealed her place second of the day. London of rehab. It’s a slow process. Dcoming from behind to over- that I was going to have to put my mind in in the round of 32. But Williams eventually triumphed “I really have an appreciation come gritty US compatriot Christina it and that’s what I did.” As she left the court, a services stew- at the third time of asking when the of these moments right now be- McHale in a thrilling second round en- Several times throughout the match, ard retrieved the racquet she had thrown 19-year-old dumped a forehand into the ustralia’s John Millman cause there was a big time there counter yesterday. Williams was left cursing the bounce of away, and the champion duly signed it net. Williams, the eighth seed, goes on has traded in his smart where I wasn’t too confi dent. The world number one defeated the ball or screaming at the heavens as and gave it to a fan. to face Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro for a suit and the world of “I know that tennis can change McHale 6-7 (7/9), 6-2, 6-4 in two hours she struggled to fi nd her form against the Williams, 34, narrowly escaped what place in the quarter-fi nals. Acity fi nance for a shot pretty quickly, and I know you’re and 29 minutes on Centre Court, only world number 65. McHale was set point would have been her worst Grand Slam “I’m not sure I’ve ever played a 10-8 at former Wimbledon champion one big injury away from being just avoiding what would have been her down in the 10th game of the fi rst set loss since falling to world number 111 set. That was pretty intense. All you can Andy Murray. back at university.” earliest-ever Wimbledon defeat. but challenged when Williams thought Virginie Razzano in the fi rst round at the think is ‘hold serve’. Easier said than The world number 67 is up Now playing his seventh Grand The six-time Wimbledon champion she had won the point — and Hawk-Eye 2012 French Open. done,” said the American. against the British second seed Slam tournament, Millman’s technology showed the tiniest sliver of Earlier, Juan Martin del Potro admit- in the third round at the All Eng- habit of raiding the players’ free the ball was in, giving the outsider a re- ted he felt “alive again” after the injury- land Club — a world away from cold drinks to give to supporters prieve. plagued former US Open champion sent the injury misery that forced might have to change come today. McHale recovered and fashioned a few Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka crash- him to seek work in a friend’s “I do it at most tournaments, set points for herself before sealing it on ing out. fi nance fi rm while he rebuilt his actually. I try to raid the fridges. the tie break. On a day when rain caused a 10th delay career. Here it’s so overcast that you have At the end of the fi rst set, a raging Wil- of the week, forcing organisers to consid- Millman, who normally doles to hand out coff ee or something,” liams was given a warning after smashing er playing on the middle Sunday for the out drinks to the handful of fans he said. her racquet into the ground fi ve times af- fi rst time since 2004, the giant Del Potro who cheer him on, will have his “If I was a little kid and I want- ter sitting down, before letting go — the shone beneath the Centre Court roof. work cut out to keep up the tradi- ed some drinks, I would have racquet fl ying into the stomach of a tel- Playing in his fi rst Grand Slam tour- tion today. loved it. It’s always good to give evision cameraman. nament since the 2014 Australian Open, He is certain to play on either back.” Williams, trying to win a Open Era his 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 second Centre Court or the secondary record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam title, round victory over Wawrinka brought 11,000-seater Court One — both Millman, who normally broke in the third game of the second set back memories of his stunning 2009 US arenas that he has never even set doles out drinks to the and went on to win it. Open win before a series of wrist injuries foot inside. handful of fans who cheer But the champion rode her luck in the pushed him to the brink of retirement. “You dream of playing on the him on, will have his work third set. McHale hit two double faults to The world number 165 from Argen- biggest courts against the big- cut out to keep up the throw Williams a lifeline when she had tina, who was a semi-fi nalist in 2013 in gest players,” said the 27-year-old tradition today the chance to go 3-1 up. what was his last appearance at Wimble- from Brisbane. Juan Martin del Potro McHale was playing out of her skin, don, next faces French 32nd seed Lucas Venus Williams “I feel as if I deserve to be there. Millman’s place at the Rio Ol- And third round Wimbledon, it’s ympics was confi rmed on Thurs- uncharted territory for me. day, with Nick Kyrgios and Ber- BOTTOMLINE “I have never been one to go nard Tomic both failing to make out with an intimidated mindset the plane due to well-document- before I play. That’s being disre- ed behavioural issues and fall- spectful to the game. So we are outs with the authorities. Djokovic to dip his toes into Serbian wine making going to start at 0-0-0. I’m going But Millman knows he is go- to give it everything. ing to Brazil on merit thanks to his DPA cle, Goran Djokovic. The acreage land in the region can sell for up Johnson are acting as test beds for “These are the matches you ranking. London is located in the Balkan country’s to 9,000 dollars per hectare. the product on the Tour. “Many live for and these are the ones you “It’s the greatest honour to prime wine country. But prepar- *** ** *** people know me as a pro tennis will remember for the rest of your play at the Olympic Games and ing the ground will take years, not A quartet of US tennis players player but most don’t know that life.” represent your country. I’m ovak Djokovic, the son months. The land was last offi - have clubbed together to launch I am an avid golfer, basketball The Queenslander, who is now pumped,” the right-hander said. of a former pizzeria cially used to grow grapes more a new entrant into the crowded player and fi sherman who loves on a career high, required shoul- Millman is a fan of England’s owner, is expanding his than half a century ago and will energy bar market, with John Is- to be active,” said Isner in a pro- der surgery in 2013, which saw Liverpool Football Club, an ob- investment portfolio therefore need at least two years ner, Stevie Johnson and former motional campaign. him trade in the tennis shorts for session from childhood that Ninto the winemaking business. of regeneration. It currently professionals James Blake and “I truly believe that anyone some sharper attire. started out in winding up his The Wimbledon Championships comprises abandoned woodland. Michael Russell convinced the who is active and cares about “I worked in the city for a lit- Manchester United-supporting top seed has reportedly pur- “It is now being prepared for the gluten-free ArrowBar is the key what they put in their body will tle bit at one of my mate’s com- relatives. chased a block of Serbian land grapevines, with planting taking to their fi nancial future. love the long lasting energy and panies. I was dressed up in a suit “On my dad’s side of the fam- in which to start a vineyard, fol- place likely next spring,” Serbian The 200-calorie bar is said to great taste of the bars.” each day,” he said. ily, they’re all United supporters, lowing in the footsteps or other winemaker Vladimir Stojic said. provide a “boost of quick and Blake and Russell, with 31 com- “I was working at a fi nance and the team they hate the most is sportsmen including golfer Greg “It is not sure when the winery long-lasting energy” and comes bined ATP years between them, place. A mate of mine knew I was Liverpool,” he said. Norman. will be built, but it could be in in chocolate chip and cinnamon are also getting in on the market- annoying my mum too much at “So being an annoying lit- Local sources told Serbia me- 2017 or 2018.” honey fl avours in boxes of a dozen ing act, with Blake testing the ef- home. They needed to get me out tle six?year?old, you probably go dia that the world number one No price for the speculative selling for 20 dollars. fi ciency of the bars for months at of the house, so I needed to go in against the team they hate the bought the land through his un- purchase was disclosed, but top Active ATP players Isner and the end of his career in 2013. there and annoy them there! most.”