SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 19 Uruguay, Argentina rack up big wins

Reuters | Washington spot after 27 minutes, before Giovani Lo Celso doubled their Luis Suarez brace, the lead eight minutes later with a second a cheeky ‘Panen- Ever since I was a sweetly struck half volley from Aka’ penalty, helped Uru- boy my dad told 25 meters. guay ease to 4-1 win over Mex- Giovani Simeone, son of Ath- ico, while Argentina rebound- me that one day I letico Madrid manager Diego ed from a poor World Cup to would be here. No Simeone, scored the third on his thump Guatemala 3-0 in a pair matter the rival, national team debut two min- of big friendly wins in the United there was a lot of utes before halftime to complete States on Friday. anxiety to see this the scoring. The Uruguayans, knocked out new Argentina. In The game petered out in a of the World Cup by eventu - the first half we did second half following a raft of al winners France in the quar- substitutions but the win was a ter-finals, took the lead in Hou- everything we had welcome tonic for a team that ston in the 21st minute thanks to do disappointed in Russia, handing to Jose Maria Gimenez before GIOVANI SIMEONE caretaker coach Lionel Scaloni a Raul Jimenez equalised from solid start. the spot for Mexico four minutes “Ever since I was a boy my dad later. by keeper Fernando Muslera told me that one day I would be Man of the Match Suarez with 16 minutes remaining. here,” a delighted Simeone told grabbed his double in nine first- In Los Angeles, a new-look reporters. “No matter the rival, half minutes, the second an au- Argentina, missing , there was a lot of anxiety to see dacious 40th minute chipped who is taking a sabbatical from this new Argentina. In the first penalty, before Gaston Pereiro international football, and the half we did everything we had completed the scoring on the retired Javier Mascherano, were to do.” hour mark with his first inter- still too strong for an inexperi- In another friendly involv- national goal. enced Central American oppo- ing South American sides in the Jimenez could have pulled one sition. United States, Colombia came back for Mexico, but his second Gonzalo Martinez got Ar- from behind to beat neighbours penalty of the match was saved Giovanni Simeone of Argentina and Hector Moreira of Guatemala attempts to control a bouncing ball gentina’s first from the penalty Venezuela 2-1 in Miami. Balotelli in doubt for Jorginho grabs point for Azzurri

Portugal game AFP | , Italy AFP | Milan oberto Mancini’s first com- ario Balotelli is in doubt Rpetitive game as Italy coach Mto play Italy’s second ended in a 1-1 Nations League Nations League game against draw with Poland, Portugal in Lisbon on Mon- Jorginho saving Azzurri blush- day, according to press reports es with a second-half penalty yesterday. to level Piotr Zielinski’s first- The Nice forward was heav- half opener in Bologna on ily criticised for his perfor- Friday. mance in his first competitive Mancini, 58, was appointed game for Italy since the 2014 after the four-time winners’ World Cup, against Poland on shock failure to qualify for the Friday. 2018 World Cup for the first Balotelli limped off after an time since 1958. hour before Chelsea midfield- And the former Manchester er Jorginho rescued a point for City boss admitted there was the Azzurri in Bologna. work to do. And the 28-year-old forward “It’s the first important game, did not take part in a full train- so a few errors can happen, but ing session yesterday after un- overall the boys did well,” said Italy’s Jorginho in action dergoing tests. Mancini. Mancini confirmed he was “I knew it was going to be struggling for fitness, with the difficult. They are a team that, angry whistles from the crowd stituted by Mancini along with sure with two early scoring op- forward applying an ice pack at this moment, have more as- at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Insigne who spearheaded the portunities. to his thigh after being substi- surance than us. came off early Azzurri attack along with -- be- tuted on Friday. Marseille failed to materialise. “But in the second half we the bench in the 71st minute to . tween the posts after the re - “His fitness levels are an is- “I will have to talk to him a made less technical mistakes replace Lorenzo Insigne, and Zielinski and Robert Le- tirement of Italy icon Gianluigi sue right now,” Mancini told lot and he must improve a lot,” and I’m happy with those 45 when he was brought down in wandowski were in the front Buffon -- blocked a point blank Rai Sport. said Mancini. minutes. Before we made many the box minutes later Brazil- line for the Poles. Zielinski shot on six minutes. Balotelli has been short of “Mario has to find form. mistakes, too many.” ian-born Jorginho stepped up Mancini handed 26-year-old And the 19-year-old AC Milan match time as a result of a con- “I’m just disappointed be- Italy struggled in all areas, to beat Lukasz Fabianski. Fiorentina left-back Cristiano goalkeeper dived to clear off tract dispute with Ligue 1 club cause we didn’t win, not dis- Zielinski opening for Poland Striker Mario Balotelli played Biraghi his first cap. Bayern Munich’s Lewandowski Nice after a planned move to appointed in any player.” five minutes before the break to for an hour before being sub- But Poland piled on the pres- after 27 minutes.

Plane problems hit Wales trip to Denmark Germany’s Sane mystery solved AFP | AFP | Berlin

yan Giggs and his Wales here was speculation ahead Rplayers were severely de- Tof the weekend as to just My grandaughter layed on their journey to Den- why Manchester City striker was born yesterday mark due to an aeroplane tech- Leroy Sane had suddenly quit (Friday), we’re very nical problem. the Germany squad and the happy, her name is Giggs’ side are heading to answer is - to rush to his girl- Rio Stella Denmark for Sunday’s Nations friend’s side for the birth of League clash, but their plane their daughter. SOULEYMAN SANE was left grounded at Cardiff The winger who missed out Airport yesterday. on World Cup selection and Sane’s partner Candice Brook Wales face the awkward sce- who has been criticised by sen- had given birth late Friday, with nario of not being able to ar- ior members of the German reaction from Sane’s father. rive in Aarhus until the early Wale’s Gareth Bale speaks with coach Ryan Giggs (file photo) squad recently met with coach “My grandaughter was born hours of Sunday morning after Joachim Loew on Friday and yesterday (Friday), we’re very a new charter plane had to be then sparked a Twitter ava - happy, her name is Rio Stella,” ordered. The late nature of the flight miles away, and bus the players lanche when he quit the squad. Souleyman Sane told Bild. Aircraft technicians had meant that the squad were un- to Aarhus. Loew said Sane had with- Sane, 22, missed Germany’s failed to fix the fault and the able to land at Aarhus airport. An FAW spokesperson said: drawn from preparations for disastrous World Cup cam - earliest the Wales squad could Plans were being made to “We cannot at the moment pro- their game with Peru “for pri- paign in Russia but was brought leave Cardiff on a new plane land at another airport, pos- vide an estimate of what time vate reasons”. back by Loew into his first was at 1900 GMT local time. sibly Copenhagen nearly 200 the team will fly.” German daily Bild reported Leroy Sane squad since the tournament.