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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014 SPORTS Ukraine v US match to go ahead under ‘Peace for Ukraine’ slogan KIEV: Ukraine’s soccer friendly against the Ukraine would not travel to Cyprus for the United States today in Cyprus will be friendly, originally scheduled to be played played under the slogan “Peace for in Kharkiv but moved because of Ukraine’s Ukraine!,” the Football Federation of unstable political situation and following Ukraine said on its website yesterday. US requests. Federation president Anatoliy Konkov “We cannot hold the national champi- earlier said Ukraine had changed its mind onship so what kind of football can we talk about cancelling the match as a sign of of at all? If we do not have an opportunity respect for the United States. to play on home soil, why shall we go to “After announcing our intention to can- Cyprus in these troubled times for our cel the flight to Cyprus for a friendly against country?” Konkov said. the US soccer team and with regard to the “We play for our people and country. military aggression of Russian Federation in Our team do not fly to Cyprus and stay at Ukraine’s autonomous region of Crimea, I home,” he told the ICTV channel. Ukraine’s received numerous phone calls from public Premier League has postponed the restart and football representatives who of the domestic championship after the expressed various views on this decision,” mid-season break following Russia’s mili- STUTTGART: Germany’s players practice during a training session prior to the international friendly soccer match between Konkov said. tary intervention. Germany and Chile. Germany will face Chile today. —AP Konkov held a series of meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin team coach Mykhaylo Fomenko and received permission from his parliament on Minister of Youth and Sport Dmytro Saturday to use military force in Ukraine. Bulatov. The stated purpose was to protect ethnic German WCup preparations “As a result we arrived on a common Russians following the ousting of Ukraine’s idea we should play the scheduled friendly Russian-backed president a week ago. with US soccer team as they represent the Putin got the green light from parlia- begin with Chile friendly country that stood up to defend our ment after Russian forces had already national interests and territorial integrity of gained control of Crimea, an isolated Black Ukraine,” Konkov said. Sea peninsula with an ethnic Russian STUTTGART: Germany begins its World Cup returned to action too recently for Loew were “We’ve begun the period of truth and clarity. “This is a very important decision to majority and where Moscow has long had a preparations in earnest with today’s friendly Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez,Dortmund’s Mats We have to make decisions that will hurt one raise the patriotic spirit of the Ukrainian naval base. against Chile in Stuttgart. Coach Joachim Loew Hummels and Marco Reus, and Schalke’s Julian player or another.” Germany’s group oppo- people. It must unite the country and show The United States is preparing to has been at pains to focus his players’ attention Draxler and Benedikt Hoewedes. Borussia nents at the World Cup are Ghana, Portugal the whole world how high our flag waves impose sanctions on Russia for its military on the World Cup with 99 days to go. Moenchengladbach forward Max Kruse and and the United States. and how proudly sounds the anthem of the intervention in Crimea, although no deci- Preparations to date have been far from ideal, Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler were dropped CONFIRMED STARTERS: Bayern’s Toni Kroos independent state.” sion had yet been made, the US State with key players injured, returning from injury because of poor form. Leverkusen defensive will definitely play against Chile, while Loew Konkov had said on Monday that Department said on Monday. —Reuters or simply not in form. Chile is also gearing up midfielder Lars Bender dropped out on Monday said Philipp Lahm would start in midfield, a role for the tournament in Brazil. Here are five things with a hamstring injury, while Lazio striker his captain has filled impressively when asked to know ahead of the teams’ seventh meeting: Miroslav Klose was fighting to recover from a to play there by Bayern coach Pep Guardiola. “I Kosovo set for debut NEW FACES: Loew called up four new play- bruised pelvic bone and abdominal muscle also have the chance to test the wing-back ers to assess his options. Freiburg defender problems. position in this game,” Loew said. Lars Bender Matthias Ginter, Hamburger SV striker Pierre- Bayern’s Bastian Schweinsteiger, Dortmund had been an option. “But he won’t play now,” on international stage Michel Lasogga and Augsburg attacking mid- winger Kevin Grosskreutz and Arsenal forward said Loew, referring to the player’s injury. “Kevin fielder Andre Hahn are joined by Sampdoria Lukas Podolski are back in after recent injuries. Grosskreutz played this position in the first half MITROVICA: Kosovo make their debut on national coach Albert Bunjaki told Reuters defender Shkodran Mustafi, who was barely Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil’s of the season, also in the Champions League, the world soccer stage yesterday when they during a training session on Monday. “This is known in Germany before his call-up. Hahn form is a cause for concern. “The players have and he delivered strong performances. So my play Haiti in the ethnically-divided town of a journey, and we expect others to join us in thought somebody was pulling his leg when to do everything to get into top form. The time planning is leaning in the direction that he’ll Mitrovica, an encounter loaded with symbol- the future.” he received the call from one of Loew’s assis- before the tournament will be just as hard as at start on the right.” ism for the young Balkan country’s quest for Only one member of the 22-man squad tants. “When someone comes into the squad the World Cup,” Loew said. “Reality trumps the- FAMILIAR FACE: Juventus attacking mid- international acceptance. plies his trade in Kosovo. The rest were either for the first time and is still young, like ory. In theory we have a strong team, but in fielder Arturo Vidal will be well known to The friendly match marks the climax of a born in Kosovo or raised by Kosovar parents, Lasogga for example, there’s naturally a bit of reality it looks somewhat different.” many in the German squad from his time at long struggle for the right to play internation- but earn a living in the big-money European nervousness for the player,” Loew said. “That’s THE COUNTDOWN: “The clock’s ticking. Leverkusen. The Chile winger scored 21 goals al matches 15 years after NATO went to war leagues. why it’s very important to hold talks with the Only those who hear it have a realistic chance and set up 15 more in 117 Bundesliga appear- to wrest control of the region from Serbia and “It’s fantastic to be part of this team,” 17- players and show them the ropes. At the of being there,” Loew warned his players on ances over four seasons before his transfer to halt a wave of ethnic cleansing. Six years after year-old Manchester City forward Bersant World Cup we need the best players at the Monday. The coach, who is still seeking a Italy in 2011. Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli also it declared independence, majority-Albanian Celina, who grew up in Norway, told Reuters. time, not the best players in theory. Everyone major title with Germany, will name his pre- named Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez in Kosovo has been recognised by more than “It couldn’t be better than this,” he said, has the chance to get aboard the World Cup liminary squad for Brazil on May 8, before par- his 19-man squad. Chile was drawn in World 100 countries, but not Serbia or its big-power speaking in English. “I hope to get some play- train.” ing his selection to 20 outfield players and Cup Group B with defending champion Spain, backer Russia. Without a seat at the United ing time so I can show how good I am.” UNDER CONSTRUCTION: The coach has had three goalkeepers before FIFA’s deadline on beaten finalist the Netherlands and Australia. Nations, Kosovo is not a member of FIFA or All 17,000 tickets for the game were to tear up his first-choice lineup due to stars’ June 2. Germany will hold a training camp Germany and Chile have played six times, UEFA. snapped up within seven hours of going on injuries and inconsistency. On the injured list before that in South Tirol, Italy. “All players with the Germans winning four and Chile twice. Following negotiations with the Serbian sale. Some for the west wing of the stadium were midfielders Sami Khedira and Ilkay have to be completely fit and capable of tak- Germany won the last meeting 4-1 at the 1982 FA, FIFA ruled in January that Kosovo may were available on the black market for ten Gundogan, Bayern Munich’s Thomas Mueller and ing the load physically and mentally” by then, World Cup in Spain. Chile’s last win was in 1968 play friendlies against other nations as long times their original 10-euro price. Dortmund’s Sven Bender. Among those who Loew said last week. On Monday he added, in Santiago, Chile. —AP as no national symbols, including flags, are The game will be played in the former displayed or anthems played. mining hub of Mitrovica, split at the River Ibar The prospect has had soccer fans in between ethnic Albanians in the south and Kosovo compiling their own ‘dream team’ of ethnic Serbs, who reject Kosovo statehood, in Ryan: Australia on track European stars who trace their origins to this the north.

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