Friday 47 Sports Friday, March 22, 2019 Germany’s new-look team make promising start with Serbia draw Goretzka on target for Germany, Serbian Pavkov sent off WOLFSBURG: Germany’s new-look team for this season, is likely to made a promising return to the international be among the biggest transfer targets this sum- stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a mer, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among friendly on Wednesday, showing signs of im- clubs reportedly interested. provement following a disastrous 2018. Werner twice went close to an equaliser be- The Germans, knocked out of the World Cup fore Serbia, who won promotion in the Nations in the group stage and relegated in the Nations League after an undefeated run in their group, League last year, had only one player from their wasted a chance when Adem Ljajic fired a shot 2014 World Cup victory in the starting line-up over the bar. and their oldest outfield player was aged 24. But the Germans kept their foot firmly on the More aggressive and quicker than in recent gas and wasted several chances in the second games, with Kai Havertz, and half before substitute grabbed Leroy Sane playing behind forward Timo a deserved equaliser in the 69th minute. Werner, the hosts needed only three minutes to “In the first half the automation in this new get a shot on target with Havertz firing the ball team, playing together for the first time, did not at Serbia keeper Marko Dmitrovic following a function that well,” Loew told reporters. “In the quick passing move. second half the team sent a very good signal Coach Joachim Loew sent world champions that we can increase pressure and we can in- , Jerome Boateng and Thomas crease the tempo. We had a lot of chances and Mueller into international retirement in a sur- we missed the final touch a bit. That is also part prise decision last week as his team prepare to of the learning experience. launch their Euro 2020 qualification campaign “Overall, I am very satisfied with the men- against the Netherlands on Sunday. tality, the pressure we created.” Serbia, who WOLFSBURG: Germany’s defender (C) controls the ball during the friendly football Serbia went forward after 11 minutes and had Dmitrovic to thank for hanging on to the match Germany v Serbia in Wolfsburg, western Germany on Wednesday. —AFP their first corner bounced off the back of two draw as the keeper made several saves to deny players to land perfectly for Luka Jovic to head the Germans a second goal, were left with 10 The Manchester City winger was taken off cious foul. Sane was lucky and got away with in for his first international goal. The 21-year- players when Milan Pavkov was sent off for a but Loew said his injury was not too serious not getting hurt but such fouls can break old, who has scored 22 goals in 35 appearances reckless challenge on Sane. and he would be fit for Sunday. “It was a vi- bones.” — Reuters

“It is good, those younger players have so much talent. It’s Youthful talent gives good for England because I can see in a few years we are going to have big, big players,” he said. “Young players who are maybe only starting now who are going to be more expe- England a bright rienced and even better in a few years. Juve opt for Asian “The future is bright really with all the young players com- ing through and how well they are doing, that’s really good future: Henderson for England. “It’s up to me to try and help them when they pre-season amid Ronaldo come here and perform and feel comfortable around the lads LONDON: Jordan Henderson says England are ready to fulfil and the squad to go out in a game and do what they do for US rape claims: Report the growing expectations around their vibrant young team as their clubs.” the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign starts with the Czech Re- Southgate’s job has been aided by the rapid progress of MILAN: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Juventus will play the pre-season In- public’s visit to Wembley today. the young English players under the astute guidance of Jurgen ternational Champions Cup in Asia and not in the United States amid Gareth Southgate’s squad are back together for the first Klopp at Liverpool, Pep Guardiola with Manchester City and the Portugal star’s rape investigation there, the New York Times has time in 2019, with the Czechs their first test before a trip to Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham. reported. Montenegro for the second qualifier on Monday. For the first In the past, club allegiances have created damaging divi- Most of the matches take place in the United States but organisers time in years, there is a sense England can emerge as one of sions in the England squad, but Henderson insists the cama- are planning to play Juventus’ elsewhere amid Ronaldo’s legal case, the main contenders for international football’s top prizes. raderie is now strong enough to withstand that pressure. “I’m eliminating the risk of the Portuguese star being detained by author- After reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time good friends with Raheem as you know. I played with him at ities in the US as part of their investigations, the newspaper reported. since 1990, England rounded off a memorable 2018 by de- Liverpool and speak with him regularly. When I first came in Juventus have confirmed their participation in the event with the feating Spain and Croatia to reach this year’s inaugural Na- this week we had a bit of banter. But your focus has got to official programme to be unveiled on March 27. Juventus’ games will tions League finals. While that stands as impressive progress change,” he said. “mostly likely be in China and Singapore”, where they will be joined for England after decades of underachievement, Liverpool “We’re teammates at the end of the day, and what’s impor- by teams Manchester United and Tottenham Hot- midfielder Henderson is confident the best is still to come for tant to us now is the next two England games. “In the past it spur, the New York Times said. Southgate’s men. might have been a little bit different but I feel this group of Ronaldo, 34, has denied allegations made by former model With promising teenagers and Callum Hud- players now is very together. And things like that don’t really Kathryn Mayorga that he sexually assaulted her in Las Vegas in son-Odoi and 20-year-old Declan Rice joining an England happen.” 2009. Las Vegas police asked Ronaldo to submit a DNA sample in squad already bolstered by the rise of Harry Kane, Raheem England will be expected to qualify for Euro 2020 with few January as part of their investigation into rape allegations made Sterling, Marcus Rashford and Dele Alli, among others, Hen- alarms as they aim to make an impact at next year’s tourna- against him. Contacted by AFP, a spokeswoman for Juventus said that derson is enjoying the fresh feel to a group that plays without ment, which includes several games at Wembley. But Hender- “going east to Asia was normal after spending recent preseasons in fear. son warned that England’s recent rise makes them a prize the United States”. Juventus signed the five-time Ballon d’Or winner Sancho is unlocking his potential with Borussia Dortmund scalp for underdog opponents like the Czech Republic and for 100 million euros ($117 million) last summer from Real Madrid after leaving Manchester City, while Hudson-Odoi is a hot Montenegro. and pay him a 31-million-euro annual salary. property despite still awaiting his first Premier League start “Expectation will change and things like that, but that is The team are on track for an eighth consecutive Italian league with Chelsea. Two more youngsters, Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus- good for us, as long as we know what we want to do and title, while his hat-trick against Atletico Madrid sent them through Cheek and Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. were also in achieve as a group that will be really important,” he said. “But to the Champions League quarter-finals. Ronaldo, meanwhile, re- the original squad but have dropped out injured. Another of from the outside and from other teams, whenever they play joined his Portugal team-mates this week ahead of Euro 2020 qual- Henderson’s Liverpool teammates, Joe Gomez, has won six England they are always going to want to win and be right at ifying, as they begin their title defence, following a nine-month England caps but is recovering from a broken leg. it really so we need to make sure that we are as well.” — AFP absence from the national team. —AFP