Established 1961 27 Sports Tuesday, June 12, 2018 Brazil set to put dour World Cup performances behind them Brazil have veered away from the great, attacking traditions

VIENNA: If anything summed up Brazil’s new approach come out playing,” he said after Sunday’s game, the last under , it was his celebration of the fact that before their opening Group E game against Switzerland on they committed only eight fouls in Sunday’s 3-0 friendly June 17. win over Austria. At the last two World Cups, Brazil have Under Tite, Brazil have regained the swagger that has veered away from the great, attacking traditions that used been missing from recent World Cup squads. The individ- to make them the team that everyone wanted to watch. ual talent is there as always but the team are better bal- The 2010 side, under anced than their unloved , was packed with mid- recent predecessors. field spoilers and looked to The defence is solid, the catch opponents on the count- forwards are lethal when they er-attack, or from set pieces. Sixty percent get a sniff of goal and they They lost in the quarter-finals. have the patience to unlock Four years later, playing as of our goals are the most stubborn defences. hosts under , Brazil have won 17 of their 21 Brazil were overly dependent scored in the games since Tite took over on as they muddled two years ago and lost only their way through to the semi- second half once. They have scored 47 finals before losing 7-1 to goals, conceded five and kept Germany, when he was injured. 16 clean sheets. Those teams had one thing in common: They used Yet, the 57-year-old coach remains little-known out- repetitive fouling in midfield to break up the opposition’s side his own country where he has spent nearly entire attacks, believing it to be a legitimate tactical ploy rather career, coaching more than 10 teams, and including three than a violation of the rules. stints at Corinthians where he made his name. The most extreme examples were the Confederations Sunday’s match suggested that Brazil could start the Cup final against in 2013 when Brazil battered their World Cup in Russia with the so-called magic quartet of opponents with 26 fouls and the infamous World Cup , Willian, and Neymar. The quarter-final against Colombia in 2014, where they gave foursome, starting together for the first time, worked away 31 free kicks. In fact, failing to commit enough fouls superbly in difficult conditions on Sunday to break down an has been a frequent Scolari complaint about his teams Austria side which had beaten Germany only one week SOCHI: Brazil’s Paulinho (L), (2-L) and Neymar (2-R) are seen upon the team’s landing at over the course of his career. earlier. “When you are always exchanging passes and mov- Sochi airport, in Russia yesterday, ahead of the FIFA World Cup. — AFP For Tite, however, fouling the opponents means his team ing the ball around, it wears the other team down,” said has wasted a chance to win back possession of the ball Tite. “Sixty percent of our goals are scored in the second scored a stunning goal and looked very close to full fitness. is,” said Tite. “His technical and creative ability is amazing. and start a new attack. “Eight fouls - that shows that we half.” Neymar played 83 minutes in only his second game He also seemed to revel in no longer having to carry the When we spring him into action in the last third of the use aggressive marking to try and win the ball and then since returning from a metatarsal injury in February but team on his shoulders. “I don’t know what Neymar’s limit field, he is lethal.” — Reuters

How World Cup favourites are ‘No chance!’, shaping up says Troussier

SOCHI: The phoney war is over and most of the big guns as Japan play have arrived in Russia ahead of the start of the World Cup on Thursday. AFP Sport takes a look at how the favourites Russian roulette are shaping up.

BRAZIL TOKYO: Crisis-hit Japan would struggle to In 2014, Brazil were being widely tipped for success on avoid an early World Cup exit even under Jose home soil but their campaign unravelled in spectacular Mourinho-that’s the stinging assessment of for- fashion with a 7-1 semi-final defeat to eventual winners mer coach Philippe Troussier. The Blue Samurai Germany. Now the five-time champions look the real deal controversially axed Vahid Halilhodzic in April again. Coach Tite has transformed their fortunes and they and replaced him with former Japan Football are confident mood. The absence of the injured Association (JFA) technical director Akira at right-back is a blow but Neymar has proven his fitness Nishino-a high-risk move that had a feel of in recent friendly matches, scoring in wins against Croatia Russian roulette about it. and Austria. His goal in Vienna on Sunday, after his first But Troussier told AFP that a Japan side start following a foot operation three months ago, was stunning. bereft of confidence had “no chance” of reach- Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus has been the most pro- ing the knockout stage in Russia, where they lific goalscorer during Tite’s time in charge, in which the face Colombia, Senegal and Poland. “Even if they team have won 17 out of 21 matches. “We are handling the play with Mourinho or Arsene Wenger, it would be so difficult for Japan to get to the last 16,” expectation. It’s good. We are going to challenge our- NIZHNY NOVGOROD: Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez controls the ball as he takes part in a training session selves,” said the coach after Sunday’s final warm-up game. said the Frenchman, who steered the former ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup at the Sport Centre Borsky, in Nizhny Novgorod yesterday. — AFP “There is only one little detail. A new stage begins now.” Asian champions to the second round as co- hosts of the 2002 World Cup. GERMANY - Krasnodar. It was not the most convincing performance though, and Deschamps appears to have found a formation “If Poland was the first match it would be dif- Germany are the holders and their reputation as a team but Iago Aspas advanced his case for a starting role in that suits him. A diamond midfield accommodates Pogba ferent. But the fact that Colombia is the first that always delivers on the big stage tempers the doubts attack in Friday’s Group B opener against Portugal with a and allows to play just behind Mbappe match and Senegal the second-for me, on paper arising from their performances in recent friendlies. late winner. Rodrigo of Valencia and the bruising Diego and up front, but there is maybe a worry in at least they have no chance, no chance.” Joachim Loew’s side went five games without a win before Costa are the other options up front for Lopetegui. The goal, where Hugo Lloris no longer looks so reliable. Nishino has long coveted the Japan job but labouring to a 2-1 victory over in their final coach has overseen changes but there are still likely to be Nevertheless, they are capable of reaching the last four. could quickly find it a poisoned chalice after 2-0 as many as seven starters against Portugal who also start- warm-up in Leverkusen on Friday. defeats by Ghana and Switzerland in his first two The fact that first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has ed the 2-0 defeat against Italy at Euro 2016. ARGENTINA “Whatever we happen to do in this World Cup will Argentina are lucky to be in Russia at all after a chaotic games in charge. hardly played since September after injury is a concern “I was so surprised about the decision (to but the Germans have made at least the semi-finals in each depend on the answers we give on the field. We are going qualifying campaign and their build-up to the finals has with a ticket to play three matches and the rest we have to been far from smooth. The cancellation of last week’s sack Halilhodzic),” said Troussier. “But for a long of the past four World Cups and are bound to feature time the JFA were not happy and decided maybe prominently again in Russia. And their recent friendly earn,” Lopetegui told El Pais. friendly against Israel in Jerusalem brought bad publicity it was better to take the decision before the results? “I am conscious of the fact that in friendly match- and also denied ’s side much-needed match es it is not necessarily about the result,” coach Loew-who FRANCE practice. The build-up has been further hampered by the World Cup and not wait for the first game to hit has left Manchester City’s Leroy Sane behind-reminded Optimism has been growing in France about the loss to injury of Manuel Lanzini and critics say Argentina the wall.” Kicker. prospects of Les Bleus, but Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the are relying solely on Lionel Messi for success. That may be The 63-year-old flagged his intentions by United States was a timely reminder for Didier unfair though. Sampaoli has talent in his squad, including turning to Japan’s old guard, in particular talis- SPAIN Deschamps’ side that they still have work to do. They the exciting in midfield and an attack manic forward Keisuke Honda and playmaker Like Brazil, Spain have come to Russia with something needed a late Kylian Mbappe goal to earn a draw in their also featuring Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Paulo -two of the players thought to to prove after a poor showing in 2014, when they were final friendly, which followed wins against Ireland and Italy. Dybala and Angel Di Maria. have been at loggerheads with Halilhodzic. knocked out in the group stage. They are yet to lose in two Sports daily L’Equipe called it a “cold blast” before the However, even if they manage to win a challenging But it has proved to be a baptism of fire for years under Julen Lopetegui, completing their prepara- French travelled to Russia on Sunday. group, Spain could lie in wait in the quarter-finals for the Nishino since Halilhodzic’s dismissal plunged tions with a 1-0 win over Tunisia on Saturday in ’s performance in that game was a boost, 2014 runners-up. — AFP Japan’s preparations into chaos before their sixth successive World Cup appearance. Leicester forward has also said Ryan. “We managed to do that twice in a couple returned from injury but Japan offered little Australia talk up of weeks. Egypt demands FIFA give against Ghana and Switzerland, after which “I feel like we’re benefiting and progressing from Honda warned of a “sense of crisis”. chances against our time together in this mini-camp in Turkey. For state TV World Cup rights Troussier warned that the JFA’s decision to myself and for the squad, the progress has been out switch coaches could backfire as Japan look to of sight.” After squeezing into the World Cup follow- CAIRO: Egyptians hoping to watch the World Cup for free have been avoid crashing out at the first hurdle again. fancied France ing a marathon 22-game qualifying campaign under offered a chink of light after the country’s competition authority said it “They face strong pressure because now they the helm of previous coach Ange Postecoglou, have to get to the last 16,” said the former KAZAN: Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan has was obliging FIFA to let state TV show games. Egypt’s national team- Australia then had to adapt to the arrival of Van Burkina Faso and South Africa coach. If they warned France that a new, improved Australia team including star striker Mohamed Salah-is gearing up for its first World Marwijk. Cup in 28 years, but matches are only being broadcast in the country don’t, it will be a failure for the JFA.” are plotting an early World Cup shock when the Known for leading the to the World by Qatar-based pay television network beIN. In a statement Sunday With lethal finishers Sadio Mane, James sides meet in Kazan on Saturday. “Come the France Cup final in 2010, the no-nonsense Dutchman has the Egyptian Competition Authority said it had decided to “enforce its Rodriguez and Robert Lewandowski bearing game, we’re going to be ready... and giving ourselves been rather less glowing in his appraisal of the authority” and “compel FIFA to give the right for direct ground trans- down on their goal in Russia, Japan could face opportunities to win this game,” the Brighton stop- Socceroos’ chances in Russia. “Only one thing per warned.”We can’t wait for Saturday.” mission to the (Egyptian) National Media Authority” for 22 World Cup death by a thousand cuts, Troussier fears. counts, to survive the group stage,” van Marwijk Barely a day after arriving in Kazan, Aussie confi- “Colombia and Senegal have three, four, five said previously. matches. dence could be mistaken for the adverse effects of players who can make the difference at any But his more disciplined approach, coupled with The authority said it received a complaint against FIFA, accusing jetlag. But ’s side, fresh from two time,” said the 63-year-old. the desire to get forward and take chances when the international football organising body of violating Egypt’s compe- morale-boosting wins over the Czech Republic (4-0) “This situation troubles me. It will be so dif- they come, said Luongo, has spread confidence tition law. “FIFA has deprived competitors of beIN company from and Hungary (2-1), arrived on a far shorter flight ficult for Japan given the individual potential of throughout the squad. “The manager doesn’t want to presenting better offers to the Egyptian viewer,” the authority said. It from Turkey. Senegal and Colombia.” However, Troussier lose or draw games, he wants us to win them,” added said it wrote to football’s world governing body on May 17 “calling on France, who boast “world-class” talent in Antoine FIFA to obey its publicised policy, but it has not cooperated with the said Japan could still spring a surprise at the Griezmann and Paul Pogba, according to Australia Luongo, a versatile who plays for Queens Park Rangers in the English Championship. continuous correspondence by the authority so far”. It remains World Cup. midfielder , are among the tourna- unclear if FIFA will comply with the demand by the time the World “You need luck and some refereeing deci- ment favourites in Russia alongside Brazil and Despite his admiration for France’s individual tal- Cup kicks off on Thursday. sions to go your way,” he said. “In 2002 South Germany. ents, the 25-year-old Luongo, whose father is Italian and mother is Indonesian, believes France are “there In Egypt, subscribers have to buy a beIN decoder for 1,630 Korea reached the last four and in France a third But the Euro 2016 finalists have been warned not division side (Les Herbiers) got to the final of the to take the new, improved and more determined for the taking”. “At this level, everyone’s even,” he pounds (78 euros) and pay a fee of over 2,000 pounds to watch the said. “As you’ve seen in the past it’s all there for the World Cup. In a country of 97 million people where the average wage cup (this year). That’s the story of the cup and Socceroos too lightly at Kazan Arena. “I read a stat sometimes you can be very surprised.” — AFP before the Czech game that we hadn’t won against a taking. Individually, they’ve got some big players, does not exceed 200 euros ($235), that means getting the subscrip- European opponent in Europe for quite some time,” world-class players, especially in midfield.” —AFP tion is beyond the means of many football fans.— AFP