Established 1961 27 Sports Sunday, June 10, 2018 ’s Brazil look strong as Germany, Argentina tackle problems

Spanish are back among the genuine contenders

MOSCOW: Neymar’s acclaimed return ahead of the Cup rivals with a 6-1 demolition of Argentina in March. World Cup supplied Brazil with an immeasurable boost, But they will be tested immediately in Russia when but holders Germany and Argentina arrive at the tour- they launch their group stage campaign against nament confronting inconsistent form and disrupted ’s Portugal on June 15. preparations. The Paris Saint-Germain superstar’s swashbuckling TROUBLE AHEAD FOR GERMANY? display in a 45-minute appearance against Croatia last ’s comeback following eight months weekend largely dismissed lingering concerns over his out with a foot injury has given Germany a much-need- fitness after more than three months out with a frac- ed shot in the arm, with Joachim Loew’s side struggling tured foot. to hit their stride ahead of their title defence. The 26-year-old admitted he was only at “80 per- An unconvincing 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia on cent” but promised he would be raring to go come Friday halted a five-match winless run, although Ilkay Brazil’s first game at the finals against Switzerland on Gundogan was booed by Germany supporters after June 17. “For the first match back I actually expected meeting Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and less from him! I would have been happy with a quieter calling him “my president”. performance,” Brazil coach said of Neymar. “What “The fact that a national player is booed like that he did was really extraordinary.” helps nobody,” Loew told broadcaster ARD, insist- Brazil’s form under Tite, ing the incident be put in appointed midway through the past. a faltering qualifying cam- “He took a picture, okay, paign, suggests it will be but he has addressed it with difficult to stop the five- the press and underlined his time world champions from We have to support for German values. adding another title in “The topic has to be Russia. A reinvigorated grow again ticked off.” Selecao have won 16 of 20 Argentina’s build-up was matches with the former as a team jolted by the cancellation of Corinthians boss at the a controversial VIENNA: Brazil’s forward (L) and Casemiro attend Brazil’s training session helm, a 1-0 loss to friendly against Israel in at Ernst Happel stadium in Vienna, Austria, yesterday, on the eve of their friendly football match Argentina last year in Jerusalem, a fixture set to be against Austria. —AFP Melbourne the only defeat since he took charge. their final outing ahead of the World Cup. Spain, unbeaten since Julen Lopetegui was named The sold-out game had been due to take place on coach after Euro 2016, are back among the genuine Saturday but was hotly opposed by Palestinians, who 40km southeast of Moscow, later on Saturday. not a number 10, nor a forward,” said Deschamps. contenders after a catastrophic 2014 World Cup and claim the eastern part of the city, annexed by Israel, as “He has the ability to score goals and create them, another early exit the European Championship. the capital of their future state. POGBA WORRY FOR FRANCE? which he does often. He’s a complete midfielder: he can “Spanish football has lived through an extraordinary, With goalkeeper Sergio Romero already ruled out, A hugely talented France squad head to Russia with do everything but he can’t do everything.” historic period in 2008, 2010 and 2012, but after that Argentina’s plans were further complicated by the high expectations, but Didier Deschamps is still strug- Unburdened by modest expectations, England’s the team has not found the same consistency or suc- loss of Manuel Lanzini to injury, but team manager gling to find a system that will enable him to unlock the youthful side will go into the tournament riding a 10- cess,” Lopetegui told AFP. “We have to grow again as a Omar Souto believes all is in place for a successful full potential in his team. match unbeaten run that stretches back nearly a year. team. We have the biggest ambitions but we are also competition. Paul Pogba, who will have a huge role to play if Gareth Southgate admitted he faces a selection very aware that we arrive at this World Cup feeling “I have been at five World Cups and this is the best France are to succeed, was jeered by a smattering of dilemma after Marcus Rashford starred in a 2-0 humble and wanting to prove ourselves.” set-up because it has everything... there’s never been a home fans after an underwhelming performance in a win over Costa Rica, but a reasonable draw could Spain cruised through a qualifying section featuring place like this for the national team,” he told AFP, with recent 3-1 win over Italy. allow them to reach a first World Cup quarter-final Italy, and delivered a further warning to their World Argentina due to arrive at their Bronnitsy training base, “People talk a lot about Paul. He’s a midfielder, he’s since 2006. — AFP

Council in September 2016, was filmed by Brazil’s blind Ghana football an investigative journalist in a hotel room appearing to take a $65,000 bribe from a boss resigns supposed businessman seeking to sponsor footballers see the Ghanaian football league. FIFA said on Friday it was suspending Nyantakyi for 90 way to their own after being days. The Ghanaian government has begun a process to dissolve the national banned by FIFA soccer body, Information Minister World Cup glory Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said on ZURICH/ACCRA: The head of Ghana’s Thursday. On Friday, Ghana’s police SAO PAULO: Brazil’s all-conquering blind soccer federation, Kwesi Nyantakyi, said locked down the GFA offices, declaring footballers kick off their blind world cup cam- on Friday he had resigned after he was the building a crime scene. paign Friday knowing they’re not only top suspended by global soccer body FIFA for Segments of the recording by under- dogs-but top targets. The International Blind possible ethics violations having been cover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas Sports Federation’s Blind Football World accused of taking kickbacks. appeared to show Nyantakyi also Championships began in Madrid Thursday Nyantakyi, a member of FIFA’s deci- demanding kickbacks to pass on to top and runs through 17 June. Reigning world sion-making Council, also apologised to government officials, including the presi- and Paralympic champions, the Brazilian team Ghana president Nana Akufo-Addo and dency. Ghana president Nana Akufo- hopes to strike gold yet again, setting the the government for what he called his Addo has called for criminal investiga- example for their colleagues at the World Cup “indiscretion”. “After a meeting of the tions against Nyantakyi. FIFA has not yet in Russia. Executive Committee this afternoon I commented on whether any action will be Brazilian star Ricardinho, who already has decided to resign as President of the taken over the government’s plan to dis- three Paralympic golds, says he’s ready to Ghana Football Association (GFA),” he said solve the GFA. The global soccer body battle for a back-to-back world title, starting in a statement. does not accept any third party, including with Friday’s game against Mali. “Everybody Nyantakyi, who has been GFA president government, interference in its member wants to take down the reigning champs, MADRID: Blind football players vie during the match Brazil against Mali of the International since 2005 and was elected to the FIFA associations. — Reuters Brazil, and we want to get the title again. It Blind Sports Federation’s Blind Football World Championships in Madrid on Friday. — AFP will be complicated but we’re going to fight a lot,” he said. Ricardinho, 29, was born to play soccer. Lacking access to the proper blind foot- for Brazil. His sporting idols, whom he always Even as a tiny kid, when he still had good balls, he’d wrap regular balls in plastic, so that followed by listening to radio commentaries, eyesight, admiring neighbors told his father to they’d make noise, allowing him to practice. are France and Real Madrid legend Zinedine take him for trials at the big clubs. However a Then his family moved to the seaside city of Zidane and Brazil’s own World Cup champion problem in his retina that appeared at six year Porto Alegre so that he could attend a special- striker Ronaldo “the Phenomenon.” But a challenge from as old left him totally blind at eight. ized school. Dumbo’s true sights go much further. Germany Germany hung on to claim a morale- “In addition to the shock that I couldn’t At 17, he played in his first world champi- Although he arrived in Brazil all but unable to boosting victory. There was frustra- see, I was in pain because I thought I’d never onship and he went on to score more than a read, he now has a law degree, and he wants tion for Germany coach Joachim Low, play football again,” he said at Brazil’s century of goals for the national team, earning the public to recognize him and his team- survive late as Ilkay Gundogan’s every touch was Paralympic football field in Sao Paulo before two world titles-and now gunning for his third. mates as top-flight winners. “My dream is booed for the second game in a row. leaving for Spain. At 10, though, he discov- Every player on a team of the blind has his that we be seen as professional athletes, scare to end German fans are angry over a picture ered blind football, which is five-a-side and own compelling story. Ricardinho’s teammate which is what we are,” he said. That 2016 he took with Turkish president Tayyip uses a ball with a bell. Only the goalkeepers Mauricio Dumbo escaped war in Angola and Olympics gold medal in also Erdogan last month, addressing him in are sighted. “I started to train. It was a sec- was brought to Brazil at 11. Childhood brought rewards of another kind: a chance to winless streak a message as “my president”. ond chance to chase a dream I’d had since I measles robbed him of his sight but not his return to Angola and hug his mother again for “He’s a member of the national love of football and now at 28 he plays winger the first time in 15 years. — AFP MADRID: World champions was very small,” he said. Germany survived a late scare to see team and that (booing) does not help off Saudi Arabia 2-1 on Friday and anyone,” said an irritated Low. The claim a first victory this year, putting a coach went on to voice his discontent the best players in the world because he has and then Liverpool as a 15-year-old. five-game winless run behind them as at his side’s performance, but was Sterling relishes everything,” said City boss Pep Guardiola. He shot to fame as part of a free-flowing they finalised their World Cup prepa- adamant they will ready when they “He is a fighter, he is dynamic, he’s so good, Liverpool side that just missed out on a first rations. face Mexico in their opening World World Cup stage but he has to improve that.” league title for over two decades in 2013/14 There were also wins for Iran, Cup game next Sunday. To prove the point, Sterling hasn’t scored to force his way into England’s World Cup Croatia and Switzerland, while Poland “Today we missed a lot of chances, in his last 20 games for England, stretching team four years ago, and was one of few were held to a 2-2 draw by Chile. were really open in defence and as England’s back to 2015. Sterling has also had to cope bright sparks in a group stage exit. Germany looked to be heading for a allowed too many counter attacks with consistent negative publicity from some A £49 million move to Manchester City comfortable win as they sought to put from Saudi Arabia. In the end we sections of the English press, often for issues followed in 2015, but it wasn’t until their worst run of form for 30 years were lucky to win,” he said. “I’m not number 10 far removed from football. Treated as a Guardiola’s arrival as coach a year later that behind them as Timo Werner opened worried because I know we’re going scapegoat during a series of poor England Sterling started to deliver on his potential. to keep on improving. When it gets LONDON: Fresh from the best season of his the scoring and Omar Hawsawi’s own performances before a humiliating exit to Unlike at City, where Guardiola still largely doubled their lead on the stroke going, we’ll be ready. Next week we’ll career, Raheem Sterling has been handed the Iceland in the last 16 of Euro 2016, Sterling utilises Sterling’s pace on the wing, Southgate be sharper, more dynamic and have responsibility and role he craved by England of halftime. dubbed himself “The Hated One” on has handed him the number 10 shirt to create Yet Saudi Arabia, who will also be even more power.” manager Gareth Southgate to deliver on his Instagram during the tournament. He most from a central role just off England’s talisman Croatia battled back from an abundant potential at the World Cup. in Russia, fought back, looking partic- recently hit the headlines last week for a tat- Harry Kane. ularly dangerous on the counter. They Ismaila Sarr opener to defeat Senegal Sterling scored 23 goals in all competitions too of an M16 assault rifle on his leg. “I know I shouldn’t mention it but I’ve got 2-1 thanks to second-half goals from as Manchester City romped to the Premier grabbed a lifeline as Taisir Al-Jassim Sterling’s route to the top hasn’t been easy. a tattoo of it on my arm!” he said this week of smashed in the rebound after a Ivan Perisic and Andrej Kramaric and League title in record-breaking fashion and Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he said the gun the No.10 after some unwanted attention for Switzerland continued their impres- lifted the League Cup. Yet in keeping with his Mohammad Al-Sahlawi penalty was tattoo is a tribute to his dad who was mur- tattoos. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen five sive form with a 2-0 win over Japan. career so far, there was still a feeling that dered there when he was just two. Sterling do: wear the number 10 for England. “I feel, Iran scored a late winner to defeat more is to come if his finishing can match the minutes from fulltime. moved to North London at the age of five because I’m really fast, that’s one of the rea- Al-Sahlawi then had strong claims Lithuania 1-0, while Poland blew a 2-0 quality of his skill and movement. “The with his mother, and his abundant talent on sons I’ve been put out there (on the wing), lead to draw 2-2 with Chile, who did moment he is going to be able to increase for a second spot kick waved away in the football field soon became recognised as and now I’m closer to the goal and the area I stoppage time as he went down under not qualify for Russia. — Reuters (the number) of goals he will become one of he was snapped up by Queen’s Park Rangers want to be.” — AFP