P27 2 Layout 1
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
27 Sports Wednesday, July 11, 2018 SNIPPETS England dreaming but Croatia set to provide biggest World Cup test Can Southgate win a World Cup semi-final with England MOSCOW: England are dreaming of a first World Cup final since 1966 but first they must come through today’s semi-final at the Luzhniki Stadium against Croatia in what looks like their toughest test yet in Russia. Excitement has reached fever-pitch levels back in England, with Gareth Southgate’s young team mak- ing it to the last four of a major tournament for the first time since Euro ‘96, and for the first time at a World Cup since Italy in 1990. Both of those runs ended in defeats on penalties, but there is a belief that something could be different this time. England have already won a shootout in Russia, against Colombia in the last 16. And a young, likeable side with an eminently sensible and humble manager in Southgate have captured the hearts of a nation. Can Southgate now become the first manager to win a World Cup semi-final with England on foreign soil as he bids ultimately to match the achievement of Alf Ramsey’s side? “We were not certain what this team might be capable of,” Southgate admitted to ITV, mindful of England’s many recent failures. They had won just one knockout match at a major tournament in 16 years before coming to Russia, a 1-0 victory against Ecuador at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. “We believed in its potential, and I think the games that KAZAN: Belgium’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois stops a shot on goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup we’ve prepared for, we had belief we would win, but quarter-final football match between Brazil and Belgium at the Kazan Arena in Kazan on Friday. — AFP there is still pressure in all of those matches, so I’m really pleased with how the team have emerged and developed.” Southgate has been just the voice of rea- at Tottenham Hotspur earlier in his career at the same League side Liverpool. son England have needed to prevent anyone from get- time a young Kane was starting out, has been a partic- Since 1998, Croatia have endured disappointments ting too carried away. For all of the hype around ular inspiration. at major tournaments themselves, notably losing on England, they have yet to come up against one of the The captain was the man of the match again in the penalties to Turkey in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals. really big guns at the World Cup. penalty shootout win over Russia in Sochi at the But there is less pressure on them now. “The biggest They beat Tunisia in their tournament opener weekend. That allowed Croatia to reach the semi-finals pressure came against Denmark in the round of 16 thanks to a late Harry Kane goal, brushed aside a poor for the first time since the 1998 World Cup in France, (which also went to extra-time and a penalty Panama, edged out Colombia on penalties and easily which was their first as an independent nation. For a shootout). We feel much easier at this point,” said beat Sweden in the quarter-finals. Their one defeat country with a population of little more than four mil- striker Mario Mandzukic. came against Belgium in their final group game, in a lion, making it all the way to the final would be a The fact that Croatia have had to play so much match between two essentially reserve sides. The chal- remarkable achievement. “There is still a lot to play. football could perhaps give England an edge, all the lenge posed by Croatia is likely to be more demanding, England is also one of the favourites to win the World more so given the injury problems faced by Dalic. especially as Zlatko Dalic’s side features one of the Cup and you need to respect that. But we have nothing Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic soldiered on against best midfield pairings around, in Luka Modric and to lose, we will enjoy this game, and hopefully we can Russia despite hurting a hamstring, while right-back Ivan Rakitic. Real Madrid playmaker Modric, who was write history,” said defender Dejan Lovren, of Premier Sime Vrsaljko is expected to miss the game.—AFP including Germany, Brazil and Argentina - have not and curb unauthorised ticket sales,” a FIFA Disappointed fans done as well as expected. spokesman said in a statement e-mailed to Reuters. Earlier this year Russian President Vladimir Putin However, he did not answer questions about the signed legislation that banned the resale of World fact the scalping has been taking place near its tick- join Moscow ticket Cup tickets. Offenders can face a fine of up to 25 eting centre in Moscow. Another scalper, speaking times the original price of the ticket. But outside Russian, told Reuters: “Some people pick up their Dobryninskaya metro station, no police officers were tickets at the FIFA centre, then come straight across scalpers as WCup visible on the street on Monday afternoon. One the road and sell them,”. He said he did not want give police car drove past but did not stop, and an officer his name since scalping was a crime. final nears in the metro entrance hall said he was not aware that Anyone who hands in their unwanted ticket to the ticket scalping taking place outside was illegal. FIFA is refunded its original price if the ticket is Another scalper, a man with an American accent, resold through its official online resale platform. MOSCOW: Across the street from FIFA’s World Cup said the police had intervened but had not stopped FIFA said that more than 95,000 tickets had been ticket office in Moscow, a man says he’ll give you a the resale of tickets. “The police have been down a resold via the platform and that fans could still submit “cheap price” for his ticket to today’s England- couple of times,” he said. “They grabbed some peo- their extra tickets for resale until the final. Croatia semi-final - just $1,500, double the official ple and took them away, but apart from that they “The stadiums would be empty without this cost of a seat. He knows he is breaking the law, but don’t really seem to care.” (scalping),” said a 28-year-old scalper from the man, from Colombia, says he purchased the ticket There have been a handful of reported cases of Kyrgyzstan. “Everybody does it and the cops won’t expecting his team to get further than the last 16. ticket scalpers being detained in some of the 11 stop you.” — Reuters Then Colombia lost on penalties to England on Russian World Cup host cities, but police have not Tuesday last week, and now he, along with dozens of released statistics regarding the number of ticket other ticket scalpers in the Russian capital, is trying resale offences recorded so far at the tournament. to resell his seat at a profit. Russia’s Interior Ministry did not reply to a “I don’t need the ticket, that’s why I’m selling,” the request for comment. Global soccer governing body man said, declining to give his name, although he still FIFA condemns scalping and permits ticket transfers Today’s Match (Local timing) had his World Cup fan ID slung around his neck, only if ticket holder has a “pre-existing relationship” meaning he had been vetted and cleared by the with the person receiving the ticket. 21:00 Russian authorities. “FIFA regards the illicit sale and distribution of Croatia England Four matches remain in the 2018 World Cup and tickets as a serious issue and in cooperation with ticket scalping seems to picking up momentum as the local authorities, including consumer protection July 15 final nears, especially as many top teams - agencies in numerous countries, strives to identify Sporting give Fernandes new 5-year contract to halt exodus LISBON: Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes, one of nine players who quit Sporting Lisbon last month after an attack by angry supporters, rejoined the club yesterday, saying he believed it had a more sta- MOSCOW: File photo shows Portugal’s defender Ruben Dias (L) and Portugal’s midfielder Bruno ble future. Fernandes (C) arrive at the Zhukovsky airport, about 40 km southeast of Moscow, on July 1, 2018. —AFP Fernandes, 23, signed until 2023 with a release clause set at 100 million euros ($117 million). He said he had received better offers from other clubs but Cup, would not confirm or deny media reports that performance last season. chose to return after Sporting guaranteed improved he had doubled his money under his new contract. Carvalho will still run for club presidency in security for him, other players and their families. “What I said was that I did not want to improve September. Fernandes did not rule out that other He said an invasion in May of the club’s training the contract... I have done no blackmail. If it were for players may return to Sporting, but said he could camp by hooded supporters, some armed with sticks, the financial side, I would not be here,” he said. only speak for himself. Most have already been in which Dutch forward Bas Dost was injured and the Interim club president Jose Sousa Cintra lauded signed by other clubs, including Portugal goalkeeper dressing room was vandalised, “left its marks”, but Fernandes over this attitude as “a case apart, the best Rui Patricio, now with Wolverhampton Wanderers of things were now looking up.