Buffon Reaches 1,000 As Italy and Spain Cruise
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SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 SPORTS Satisfied Scolari has no plans to quit Guangzhou Evergrande GUANGZHOU: World Cup-winning Evergrande is due until the end of this and has since led the club to the Asian for China in the 1-0 win. China won the match against South manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has denied year and I have the option of a one-year Champions League title and two “Lippi is my good friend. We’ve chat- Korea and the other is that Paulinho reports in his native Brazil that he will extension. Chinese Super League crowns. ted a few times. I’m happy to see what scored a hat-trick for the Brazil national retire from coaching at the end of the “I love my job in Guangzhou, and I He has followed in the footsteps of he has done to the national team. I team. “Paulinho was not in the national current Chinese Super League season. love my players. My family in Brazil don’t fellow World Cup winner Marcello Lippi watched the whole 90 minutes and I like team list, but he fought his way back. Scolari, who signed a new contract need me to quit my work here to take in leading the club to domestic and con- the way it went.” That is why I am very proud of the with Guangzhou Evergrande at the end care of them at home. tinental success. The Brazilian also praised Paulinho, Chinese Super League. You see Paulinho, of last year, called the reports “fake “It is normal that I take some holidays Scolari praised the Italian’s impact on who scored a hat trick in Brazil’s 4-1 win Renato Augusto and Gil have all gone news” and said he hoped to remain in back in Brazil, and I haven’t seen my wife the China national team after Lippi guid- in Uruguay in World Cup qualifying. The back to the national team. “So it is wrong China beyond his existing deal. for four or five months. I went back and ed them to victory over South Korea in midfielder forced his way back into the to say that the CSL is for players who “It is completely untrue,” he told brought them to Guangzhou, that’s it. I World Cup qualifying on Thursday national team after impressing for have come to the end of their career. The Chinese media. “I don’t know what the believe I will spend more time here.” evening. “I always tell my players to be at Guangzhou during the season. CSL has showed it is competitive and it intention was behind this fake news. I Scolari took over as head coach at their best for the national team,” said “There are two reasons why I’m hap- is able to give players the chance to play have to repeat that my contract with Guangzhou Evergrande in June 2015 Scolari, who saw five of his players start py tonight,” said Scolari. “One is that for their country again.” — Reuters England’s Dier wary of Lithuania threat LONDON: England’s Euro 2016 humiliation absence of nearly four years. by Iceland means they will never again underestimate teams like today’s oppo- TERROR TRIBUTES nents Lithuania, according to Tottenham Lithuania made a steady start to qualify- Hotspur midfielder Eric Dier. Dier was a ing, drawing with Slovenia and Scotland member of the team stunned 2-1 by before beating Malta 2-0, but were then Iceland in Nice last year as England crashed given a rude awakening by a 4-0 defeat in to their most embarrassing defeat since a Slovakia. Edgaras Jankauskas’s side, who 1-0 loss to the part-timers of the United are without an away win in six competitive States at the 1950 World Cup. Gareth games, sit fourth in the group, five points Southgate’s men will start as strong below England and three points off the favourites at Wembley, as they look to play-off place. defend their place at the Group F summit, The Lithuania manager, whose side but Dier says thoughts of Iceland will not were beaten 3-0 by the Czech Republic in a be far away. friendly on Wednesday, says his team will “Whenever you’re in an England squad, draw encouragement from England’s you’re going to think about it. It’s a painful defeat by Iceland. “World-class players reminder and it’s a good lesson for the should not be affected by pressure,” future,” he told reporters on Friday. Jankauskas told The Times newspaper. “We can look back on that game and “When you are privileged to play every what we didn’t do and in games like the week in great stadiums and the best league one on Sunday try to do what we didn’t.” in the world, then you should get used to He added: “We have to be confident the pressure and you have to cope with the going into it, try to play quick, attacking pressure. “It is your job week in, week out. In football and hopefully they won’t be able the Euros we saw that on the day England to handle that.” Having tested a 3-4-2-1 sys- were not ready. I have total faith in my play- tem in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to Germany, ers.” Following Wednesday’s terror attack in Southgate may decide to revert to the back London, which left four people dead and four he used in the three qualifiers he over- over 50 injured, British police have pledged saw at the end of last year. to boost security for Sunday’s game. With Chelsea’s Gary Cahill suspended “In collaboration with the local authori- and Manchester United pair Chris Smalling ties and Met Police there will be an and Phil Jones having withdrawn due to enhanced security operation for England v injury, John Stones will expect to regain his Lithuania today, to ensure a safe and secure place at centre-back. environment,” said a Football Association The Manchester City defender started spokesperson. “Supporters are encouraged on the bench in Dortmund, where to arrive as early as possible to avoid any GIJON: Spain’s forward Vitolo (L) vies with Israel’s defender Rami Gershon during the WC 2018 group G football qualifing match Spain vs Israel Burnley’s Michael Keane made an accom- delays in entering the stadium.” There will at El Molinon stadium in Gijon on Friday. — AFP plished debut. Uncapped Middlesbrough be armed patrols around the stadium, defender Ben Gibson has been drafted into while England’s players will wear black the squad to provide cover at centre-back. armbands and there will be a minute’s SOCCER Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford is silence prior to kick-off. The match pro- also pushing for a starting berth, while grammes will also contain a tribute to for- Jermain Defoe will hope to feature after mer England manager Graham Taylor, who returning to the squad following an died in January at the age of 72. — AFP Buffon reaches 1,000 as Italy and Spain cruise PARIS: Italy kept pace with Spain in European Kacharava gave the hosts a fifth minute lead but for a first competitive victory goes on. World Cup qualifying as goalkeeper Gianluigi Dusan Tadic equalised from the penalty spot on Bjorn Sigurdarson gave the visitors a 25th Buffon played his 1,000th professional match in the stroke of half-time. Aleksandar Mitrovic minute lead before Gylfi Sigurdsson doubled a 2-0 victory over Albania on Friday. A first-half gave Serbia the lead before Mijat Gacinovic the advantage from the spot 10 minutes later Daniele De Rossi penalty and late second from sealed the victory late on. after Benjamin Kololli had brought down Birkir Ciro Immobile was enough to earn the Azzurri Serbia now lead the Republic on goal differ- Saevarsson. But seven minutes into the sec- three points but they remain behind Spain on ence with Wales and Austria, 2-0 winners over ond period Atdhe Nuhiu headed home a goal difference at the top of Group G after La Moldova, four points behind. Croatia went three Herolind Shala corner to give Kosovo a lifeline- Rioja downed Israel 4-1. Manchester City for- points clear at the top of Group I with a 1-0 victo- although it wasn’t enough. A brace from Cenk ward David Silva and Chelsea’s Diego Costa were ry over Ukraine courtesy of Nikola Kalinic’s goal Tosun kept Turkey’s qualifying hopes alive as on the scoresheet alongside Vitolo and Isco, seven minutes from half-time. Iceland moved up they beat Finland 2-0 to stay fourth, five while Lior Refaelov netted Israel’s consolation. to second with a 2-1 win at Kosovo, whose wait points off Croatia. — AFP In Palermo it was a day for Buffon to savour as he won a European record 168th cap and helped Italy extend their unbeaten run in qualifiers to 55 matches (41 wins, 14 draws). Wales boss Coleman defends De Rossi converted the spot-kick on 12 min- utes after Migjen Basha, one of six Albanians ply- Bale after Ireland battle ing his club trade in Italy, brought down Andrea Belotti. Albanian fans threw flares onto the pitch DUBLIN: Wales manager Chris Coleman hint of that in my dressing room. There’s no in disgust and when they did so again just spoke out in defence of his players after Bale saying, ‘I got that one wrong.’ He wants before the hour mark, the game was suspended for five minutes.