SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2014 46

Colombia, Greece plagued by striker setbacks

BELO HORIZONTE: Colombia and Greece phase matches.” Greece, the shock European clash today in Group C plagued by fears over champions in 2004, were knocked out in the where their World Cup goals will come from. first round in South Africa in 2010. The South Americans were rocked when talis- They can call on first-choice striker Kostas manic striker Radamel Falcao lost his battle to Mitroglou who has plenty to prove after his be fit for the finals after suffering a serious £12 million (15m euros, $20m) move from knee injury playing for French club Monaco in Olympiakos to Fulham turned into a night- January. Immediately, Jose Pekerman’s team mare. The player called ‘Pistolero’ by his ador- lost a man who has scored 20 goals in 51 ing Greek fans made just one start for the internationals since his debut in 2007. London club, who were relegated from the The 28-year-old was his country’s top scor- Premier League while he spent most of his er in the qualifying campaign as his nine goals time fighting a knee injury. The 26-year-old helped Colombia make the finals for the first has eight international goals but he has a time since 1998. In the absence of Falcao, knack of scoring at the right time. He scored Teofilo Gutierrez, who plays his club football twice in Greece’s 3-1 home win against at River Plate in Argentina, is expected to car- Romania in the first leg of their World Cup ry his team’s goal-scoring burden starting play-off and found the target again in the against the Greeks. return leg in Bucharest. Gutierrez, 29, has scored 12 goals in 30 That ended in a 1-1 draw as Greece made internationals and will be supported by Victor it to Brazil 4-2 on aggregate. Mitroglou made Ibardo, the Cagliari winger, or Porto’s Jackson his name at Olympiakos, once scoring 15 Martinez. Colombia, whose best World Cup goals in 17 matches, including a Champions run was a last-16 appearance in 1990, have 18 League hat-trick. Greece will be skippered players who feature in the European leagues. MANAUS: Photo shows a general view of the Arena Da Amazonia in the World Cup host today by another Fulham player, Georgios One of those is Falcao’s Monaco teammate city of Manaus, Brazil. — AP Karagounis, the 36-year-old who has 135 James Rodriguez, a key figure in midfield who matched groups at this World Cup,” said the Few mysteries caps. “Our main goal is to make it to the is a genuine threat from free-kicks. However, Porto player. “Ivory Coast have very experi- Colombia skipper Mario Yepes, 38, believes knockout rounds, which is something we his appetite for the hard yards of defense has enced players with a lot of quality, Japan are there will be little to choose between his side have never done before,” said Karagounis of often been called into question. always at the World Cup and cover every and Greece. “In football, there are few myster- a Group C which also includes Japan and Martinez believes the 2014 Colombia team blade of grass, and Greece are tactically very ies. We have an overview of what Greece are Ivory Coast. “In order to do this, we have to has more talent than the 1994 squad who strong. “When you’re at a World Cup, the first like and I would think they have a clear idea of take each game as it comes. The most impor- went to the United States finals as one of the thing you say to yourself should be, ‘We don’t Colombia,” said Atalanta defender Yepes, who tant game for us is against Colombia. This is favorites but flopped in the first round. “I know how far we’re going to go, but we do sees possession of the ball as key. “It’ll be a our first game and they are a dangerous think that it’s one of the most evenly- know how far we want to go’.” very complicated game, as will all the first team.” — AFP England, Italy braced FIFA bans Beckenbauer for rumble in jungle RIO DE JANEIRO: FIFA yesterday Beckenbauer case has now been started and that it would have to be played in MANAUS: Cloying humidity and a parched pitch will add to the sense banned German football legend Franz by investigatory chamber member winter.” According to British media of danger when England and Italy launch their World Cup campaigns in Beckenbauer from any football-related Vanessa Allard, added the FIFA state- reports, quoting thousands of emails the steamy Amazon jungle city of Manaus today. With South American activity for 90 days after he refused to ment. The international spotlight has linked to the case, Beckenbauer went to champions Uruguay also lurking in Group D, along with Costa Rica, both speak to an inquiry into allegations that fallen on Garcia’s investigation following Qatar as a guest of bin Hammam before Roy Hodgson’s England and Cesare Prandelli’s Italy approach the game Qatar paid bribes to secure votes for its allegations reported by the Sunday the 2010 vote and met the state’s emir. knowing they can scarcely afford to lose if they are to reach the last 16. 2022 World Cup bid. “Franz Times newspaper that a former Qatar They added that he returned after the The rainforest humidity, which hovers at around 80 percent, is likely to Beckenbauer was today provisionally football boss and FIFA vice-president, weigh heavily on the tempo of the game and the two sides must also banned from taking part in any football- Mohamed bin Hammam paid more than get to grips with a desiccated playing surface at the purpose-built related activity, at any level, for 90 days,” five million dollars to get support for the Amazonia Arena. said a statement released by football’s emirate’s bid. Head groundsman Carlos Botella has admitted that the pitch is in governing body. The ban against Beckenbauer is “bad shape” and emergency work was required on Thursday to cover The 68-year-old Beckenbauer, who largely symbolic as he is no longer on up its dry brown patches with green dye. The teams last met in the won the World Cup as a player in 1974 the FIFA executive and has no real role quarter-finals of the 2012 European Championship in Kiev, when Italy and as a coach in 1990, was on the FIFA in German football, apart from being prevailed on penalties after a 0-0 draw that they largely dominated. executive board in 2010 when the 2022 Bayern Munich’s honorary president. Possession of the ball will be key amid the intense heat, but England tournament was awarded to Qatar. He Because of his playing and coaching striker Wayne Rooney is convinced that his side now possess the has always refused to declare who he record and his role as head of the weapons to unsettle opponents of Italy’s calibre. voted for, but has expressed surprise at German committee which organized the “We’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of pace in the team, and if we can pick the right moments, we can really hurt teams with the pace and Qatar’s victory. Beckenbauer left the 2006 World Cup he remains very influ- tempo that we can hit them at,” said the Manchester United forward. FIFA executive in 2011, but remains on ential in international football. In an “But in international football, you can’t just go out there and attack, FIFA’s football committee. Beckenbauer, interview with Bild newspaper pub- attack, attack. We have to be a bit cautious. “This is the top end of foot- known as “the Kaiser”, refused to coop- lished this week, Beckenbauer said he ball and you might get picked off. We have to stick to our plans that erate with Michael Garcia the former US had nothing to hide, but complained we’ve worked on the last few weeks and pick the right moment.” While federal prosecutor who headed an that Garcia had refused to pose his expectations of an English triumph in the final on July 13 are low, investigation in the votes for the Qatar questions in a language he understood. Hodgson’s squad is dotted with exciting young players who thrilled vote and another that awarded the 2018 “I have absolutely nothing to hide World Cup to Russia. and I am clearly also of the opinion that neutrals during the 2013-14 Premier League season. Franz Beckenbauer The ban was ordered by FIFA’s Ethics there must be sanctions for those All eyes on Pirlo Committee adjudicatory chamber responsible when corruption is proved,” vote. Beckenbauer has not confirmed Everton midfielder Ross Barkley, 20, and 18-year-old left-back Luke because a breach of FIFA’s code of he told Bild. “I was ready to answer all any trip to Qatar. Shaw will start on the bench, but 19-year-old Liverpool winger Raheem Ethics “appears to have been committed pertinent questions, but they sent them The Sunday Times said that bin Sterling could line up in attack alongside Rooney and club-mate Daniel and a decision on the main issue may to me in a legal English that I could not Hammam paid the millions of dollars to Sturridge. With Danny Welbeck an injury doubt due to a thigh problem not be taken early enough.”The appar- understand in such a compex case. “So I dozens of football federation officials and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain recovering from knee ligament damage, ent breach relates to Mr Beckenbauer’s politely asked that the interview be held around the world, many from Africa, in Southampton’s Adam Lallana seems likely to occupy one of the flanks. failure to cooperate with an Ethics in German and I was refused. So I said: return for support for Qatar’s campaign. Rooney and the livewire Sterling are vying for the number 10 role Committee investigation despite repeat- ‘Never mind,’” Beckenbauer added. The allegations have caused a major in England’s 4-2-3-1 formation, and whoever plays there will have the ed requests for his assistance, including Beckenbauer said he had a right to controversy for FIFA leader Sepp Blatter. responsiblity of keeping Andrea Pirlo under close surveillance.Eight years after masterminding Italy’s triumph at the 2006 tournament in requests that he provide information keep his FIFA vote in 2010 secret. But he Major sponsors have called for a proper Germany, the 35-year-old Pirlo is embarking upon his final World during an in-person interview or in added: “People with a memory will inquiry and European football bosses Cup. Italy are seeking to atone for their wretched showing at the response to written questions provided remember that I declared just after (the have said Blatter should stand down 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when the holders crashed out in the in both English and German,” said the vote) that the choice of Qatar surprised when his term ends next year. Blatter, first round. —AFP statement. me. And I was one of the first to say that 78, has said he wants to stand for anoth- A formal investigation of the a World Cup over there was impossible er four years. — AFP