Established 1961 27 Sports Tuesday, June 5, 2018 Neuer in Germany World Cup squad, striker Sane left out Neuer key to Germany’s hopes of retaining the title

BERLIN: Germany have included 2014 World Cup- national squad. Apart from an appearance in a special- winning captain and goalkeeper in their ly-arranged match against Germany’s Under-20 team final squad for the 2018 tournament, even though he last week, the match in Klagenfurt in Austria was his has only just returned from a long-term absence first full appearance since September. “I always through injury. thought I would be going to the World Cup and I But in a surprise omission, coach Joachim Loew left didn’t want to take any risk,” Neuer said. Manchester City striker “Every training session is Leroy Sane out of his 23- a test for me. If I don’t feel player list despite a strong good I tell the coach because season with the Premier the success of the team is the League champions. “Leroy absolute priority.” has a huge amount of talent Leroy has a and he will be back in again Germany 23-man squad: because from September we huge amount Goalkeepers: Manuel will re-double our work with Neuer (Bayern ), him,” Loew said. of talent Marc-Andre Ter Stegen “But in his games with the (Barcelona/ESP), Kevin national team he hasn’t quite Trapp (Paris Saint- done the business.” Bayern Germain/FRA). Munich goalkeeper Neuer made his first appearance Defenders: (Hertha Berlin), since September in the 2-1 defeat by Austria in a rain- (), delayed friendly on Saturday and showed no ill-effects. (Moenchengladbach), (Bayern Munich), The 32-year-old who is considered key to Germany’s Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich), Antonio Rudiger hopes of retaining the title had been sidelined for eight (Chelsea/ENG), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), months after fracturing a metatarsal in his left foot last (Bayern Munich). September in a recurrence of the same injury he suf- : (Juventus/ITA), Julian fered earlier in 2017. Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Sane was cut from the squad with and (Real Madrid/ESP), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), the veteran Mario Gomez included as just two out- Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), and-out strikers. Neuer denied his inclusion was a risk, (Bayern Munich), (Bayer despite his lack of match practice. Leverkusen), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester “I’m not worried. I am no more a risk than any other City/ENG), (Schalke 04), Marco GIRLAN: Germany’s national football team head coach Joachim Loew (L) and Germany’s national goalkeeper player,” Neuer said. The ‘keeper said his careful rein- Reus (). Manuel Neuer greet each other during a press conference at the Rungghof training center yesterday in troduction had been a deliberate ploy-he didn’t play a Forwards: Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Mario Gomez Girlan, near Bolzano, northern Italy, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia. — AFP single match for Bayern before joining up with the (VfB ). — Reuters

Manuel da Costa, as well as Wolver Hampton’s Romain Saiss and Ettifaq of Saudi Arabia, and Ahmad Akaychi of Al-Ittihad of Saudi Lille’s . The midfielders are Dutch ’s Arabia as his strikers. The Egyptian team, however, is facing a set- Arab football teams internationals Karim Al-Ahmadi and , and Cannes back following the injury of Liverpool international Mohammad Youssef Bennasser. Mbark Bousoufa of UAE’s Al-Jazeera, Younes Salah. The 25-year-old English top scorer was pin high hopes on Belhanda of Turkey’s Galatasaray, Feycal Fajr of Spain’s outfit injured during UEFA Champions League final against Real Madrid. gamble on Getafe, of Germany’s Scalke 04, and Salah will need up to three weeks to recover. of Leganes, Spain, are also in the squad. Coach Hector Cuper’s initial squad includes Arsenal’s mid- international players Khalid Boutaib of Turkey’s Yeni Malatyaspor, Aziz fielder Mohammad Al-Neny, West Bromwich’s Ahmad Hejazi and Salah’s fitness Bouhaddouz of Germany’s St. Pauli and -Gonzalez Ali Jabr, as well as Stoke City’s Ramadhan Sohby. at 2018 World Cup of Belgian Standard Liege will be the strikers. Tunisia’s coach Egypt, ranking 5th in Africa and 46th internationally, also includes Nabil Maaloul’s squad mostly play in Arab and European coun- Aston Villa’s defender Ahmad Mohammadi, Omar Jaber of Los for World Cup KUWAIT: Arab national football teams are pinning high hopes on tries. Wahbi Kharzi, 27, the French Rennes striker scored nine Angeles and Amro Tareq of Orlando City. Representing Egypt in their international players to help them overcome fierce competi- goals in 23 games in the French league. Eyes will be on Kharzi in defense are Karim Hafedh of Lens, Mahmoud Hassan of : Egypt have gambled on return- tions during the 2018 Russia World Cup. Squads of Morocco, Russia. Turkey’s Kasimpasa’s defender will Kasimpasa, Wessam Morsi of Wigan Athletic, of ing to fitness in the coming weeks by naming him in their Tunisia and Egypt include international players while local ones have a huge burden to carry. Tunisia, African’s number one team Greece’s Atromitos and Ahmad Hassan of Sporting Praga. 23-man squad for this month’s World Cup in Russia. dominate the line-up of the Saudi team. Morocco’s coach Herve and 14th international, will be in same group of Belgium, England Egypt’s line-up also includes veteran goalkeeper Essam Al- Coach Hector Cuper yesterday also included Mohamed Renard’s 23-strong roster included three local players: goalkeep- and Panama. Hadhary, of Tawawun of Saudi Arabia, defender Mohammad Elneny, the midfielder who has not played since April er Mohammad Tagnaouti from IR Tangers, Bader Banoun from Goalkeepers will be , of Saudi Arabia’s Al- Abdulshafi, Al-Fath of Saudi Arabia, midfielder Mahmoud after suffering an ankle injury in action for Arsenal. Raja and Ayoub Al-Kaabi from RS Berkane. Batin, of Al-Shabab of Saudi Arabia, and Abdulrazzaq, Al-Raed, Mahmoud Abdulmunem of Ittihad and Salah is still recovering from the shoulder ligament The Lions of Atlas are headed by Juventus international Mouez Hassan of France’s Chateauroux. The defense line-up of Abdullah Al-Saeed of Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia. injury suffered in last month’s Champions League final Mehdi Benatia who played 19 games with his team in the 2017-18 the Eagles of Carthage includes of Belgium’s Gent, The fourth Arab team to qualify for the World Cup is Saudi when he went off early in the game in Kiev as Liverpool season and scored two goals. , the 25-year-old of English Premier League outfit Leicester Arabia, which signed a partnership agreement with Spain’s La lost to Real Madrid. Medical staff from Egypt and City, Belal Mohseni of Scotland’s Dundee United, Oussama Liga association with the aim of developing football in the Ajax defender scored nine goals and contributed to four others. Liverpool have suggested it will be touch and go for the Nineteen-year-old Real Madrid international striker Achraf Haddadi of France’s Dijon, of Al-Ahli and Ali Kingdom. This had paved way for transfer of nine Saudi players 25-year-old to be ready in time for the seven-time Hakimi was also in the squad. Maaloul of Al-Zamalek. Midfielders are of France’s to seven Spanish clubs in the premier and second divisions. Saudi The Moroccan squad, ranked four on Africa and 42nd on FIFA Montpellier, Saif-Eddine Khaoui of Troyes, Karim Laribi, and Arabia coach Juan Antonio Pizzi announced initial roster of 28 African champions’ opening World Cup Group A game ranking, included goalkeepers Munir Mohammadi and Yassine Mohammad Amine Ben Omar and who play in Saudi players, among them were Yahya Al-Shehri, Fahad Mowalled and against Uruguay in Ekaterinburg on June 15. Bounou. Renard’s defense line-up includes , Turkey’s Arabia’s Ahli and Nasser teams. Maaloul selected Naim Sliti, of Salem Al-Dosari. Saudi Arabia’s group includes Russia, Uruguay Salah posted a picture of himself exercising his Fenerbahce defender, and Istanbul Basaksehir international Dijon, Bassem Srafi, of Nice, , of Al- and Egypt. — KUNA shoulder on social media on Sunday with a teasing cap- tion of “good feelings” but no further comment on his progress. Egypt’s squad also includes veteran goal- keeper , who will be 45-years-old Security Administration when his side play Uruguay. Should he feature, El Hadary would become the oldest person to play in the wins Sheikha Salwa World Cup, beating the record the 43-year-old Colombian keeper Faryd Mondragon set in Brazil four years ago. Al-Sabah Ramadan Egypt also meet Russia and Saudi Arabia in their group as they participate in the finals for the first time Soccer Championship since 1990. By Hanan Al-sa’doun Squad: Goalkeepers: Sherif Ekramy (Al Ahly), Essam El KUWAIT: Under the auspices of HH the Amir and with Hadary (Al Taawoun), Mohamed El Shennawy (Al Ahly). the attendance of MOI undersecretary, Lt. General, Defenders: Mohamed Abdel-Shafi (Al Fateh), Ayman Mahmoud Al-Doussary, the 13th Sheikha Salwa Al- Ashraf (Al Ahly), (Aston Villa), Sabah Ramadan Soccer Championship which was held Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahly), (Los Angeles FC), from May 20 to June 3, 2018 was recently concluded at (Zamalek), (Zamalek), Martyr Yusif Thunayyan Al-Meshari Sports Complex at Ahmed Hegazi (West Bromwich Albion), Saad Samir (Al the Special Forces camp. Ahly). The conclusion ceremony was also attended by Midfielders: (Arsenal), (Al Ahly Jeddah), (Zamalek), MOI’s acting assistant undersecretary for Special Mahmoud (Al Ittihad Jeddah), Forces, Maj General Shokri Al-Najjar, Sheikh Duaij (Wigan Athletic), (Al Raed), Fahad Al-Sabah and other MOI officials. (Stoke City), Mahmoud Hassan (Kasimpasa), Amr The final match between the Security Administration Warda (Atromitos) and the Security Shields teams was a fierce and excit- Forwards: (Al Ahly), Mohamed ing match and ended up with the former winning the Salah (Liverpool). — Reuters match and the championship title.

on our face. “Scream at us, shout at us, abuse us, who India match sells knows one day we might change you guys,” he added in the message that he said was directed particularly at fans of the big European clubs. “Agreed, the level is not out after emotional the same, not even close but with our desire and deter- mination, we will try our best to make your time worth plea by captain it.” The national football team are 97th in the FIFA rank- ings, having risen from 166th in 2015 when English NEW DELHI: India’s football international against coach Stephen Constantine was appointed. But cricket Kenya yesterday sold out in hours following captain dominates Indian sport and they are number one in the Sunil Chhetri’s emotional plea for fans to support the Test rankings. team after barely 2,500 people turned up to watch them Cricket superstars Kohli and Tendulkar both took to play last week. Twitter to back the football player after previous games Chhetri’s heartfelt appeal-backed by India’s cricket opened to near-empty stadiums. Only a few hundred heroes Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar-went viral on turned up to see Kenya play New Zealand on Saturday. social media, prompting fans to shell out for tickets. But yesterday, the website selling tickets for the four- Every seat in the 15,000-capacity Mumbai Football nation tournament showed ‘Sold Out’ for the match Arena was quickly sold with one fan buying more than against Kenya. 1,000 tickets for the Intercontinental Cup game. A popular Mumbai social media commentator, Nikunj Chhetri’s plea came after India thrashed Taiwan 5-0 in Lotia, said he had booked an entire stand for the game front of just 2,569 people in the Mumbai stadium on which will be Chhetri’s 100th international. Lotia, whose Friday. The disheartened Chhetri, who scored a hat-trick YouTube channel Be YouNick has more than 1.7 million in the match, said in a Twitter video: “To everyone who subscribers, invited fans to use the tickets for free. “Have MUMBAI: Indian fans cheer before the start of the Hero Intercontinental Cup football match between India has lost hope in Indian football I request you to come booked entire STAND NUMBER 4 for all you football and Kenya in Mumbai yesterday. India’s football international against Kenya yesterday was sold out in hours and watch us in the stadiums. “It is not fun to criticise fanatics! All you have to do is just be there and cheer!” following captain Sunil Chhetri’s emotional plea for fans to support the team after barely 2,500 people and abuse on the internet, come to the stadium and do it Lotia, an ardent football fan, wrote on Twitter. — AFP turned up to watch them play last week. — AFP