SPORT Saturday 16 June 2018 PAGEE | 19 PAGPAGESE | 20-21 Coach expectsxpects ArgentinaArgen seek Salah too playplay MMessiessi magic against RussiaRussia agaagainstin Iceland

Cristiano Ronaldo scores their third goal during yesterday’s match.

PORTUGAL SPAIN 3 3 Ronaldo - 4' PEN 24' - Diego Costa Ronaldo - 44' 55' - Diego Costa Ronaldo - 88' 58' - Nacho

Hat-trick hero Ronaldo saves Portugal in Sochi thriller

Portugal’s forward AFP Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring scores three goals his third goal during the SOCHI: Cristiano Ronaldo 2018 World Cup scored a stunning hat-trick as as Portugal snatch a Group B match against Portugal snatched a 3-3 draw Spain at the Fisht Stadium with Spain in a World Cup 3-3 draw with Spain in Sochi yesterday. classic yesterday. Real star Ronaldo YESTERDAY'S RESULTS crashed in an 88th minute free- nology showed it was not in. kick to snatch a point for Por- With Andres Iniesta, GROUP A tugal after a second-half goal and pulling the EGYPT 0-1 URUGUAY from Nacho put the Spaniards strings, Spain were on top, but 3-2 ahead. Portugal went back in front just GROUP B Ronaldo’s late equaliser as half-time approached. capped a storming encounter Goncalo Guedes teed up his MOROCCO 0-1 IRAN which came after a chaotic few captain Ronaldo, whose shot days which saw Spain coach from 20 yards was straight at GROUP B Julen Lopetegui sacked and , but the Man- PORTUGAL 3-3 SPAIN appointed as chester United goalkeeper his replacement. could only help it on its way. TODAY'S FIXTURES Earlier, Ronaldo had twice It looked like Ronaldo’s put the European champions first-half efforts might be in GROUP C in front only for Diego Costa to vain, as Spain regrouped at the bring Spain level on each interval and drew level 10 Arena, Kazan Spain’s forward Diego Costa (left) scores their second goal against Portugal yesterday. FRANCE vs AUSTRALIA occasion on a steamy night on minutes into the second half 1.00pm Russia’s Black Sea coast. with a textbook set-piece But then Ronaldo stepped World Cup finals goal tally, and right-back with ball, before breaking into the counter. GROUP D up to send his free-kick from made history by scoring at an not fit. box and planting a low shot A free-kick floated into the Spartak Stadium, Moscow 25 yards up over the wall and eighth consecutive major tour- Hierro, who cut an ani- into the bottom corner. area was headed back across ARGENTINA vs ICELAND into the net, as the Iberian nament going back to Euro mated figure as he stood on the The Portugal players were the face of goal by Sergio Bus- 4.00pm neighbours settled for a point 2004, when he was still a touchline with his sleeves furious that no foul was given quets and Costa was there to apiece in this Group B teenager. rolled up, must have wondered as Costa led with his forearm turn it in. Three minutes after GROUP C encounter. It was typical of the now at that point what he had let into the challenge on Pepe, but that, Nacho’s glorious effort , Saransk It was a remarkable signal 33-year-old to take the head- himself in for. the officials let the goal stand from 22 yards made it 3-2, his PERU vs DENMARK of intent from the current lines after news from the Spain Yet Spain responded well without feeling the need to call half-volley curling into the net 7.00pm Ballon d’Or winner, who had camp had dominated the build- and had the better of the game, on the Video Assistant Referee. off the left-hand post. GROUP D never made a serious impact up to this game. as they drew level for the first Spain then thought they That looked to be that, but Stadium, Kaliningrad in any of his previous three The evening had started in time in the 24th minute via a had taken the lead as Isco Ronaldo had the last word, and CROATIA vs NIGERIA World Cups, only managing to style for Ronaldo, as he scored trademark piece of centre- smashed in a shot that Morocco -- beaten 1-0 by Iran 10.00pm score one goal in each. a fourth-minute penalty after forward play by Costa. bounced down onto the line earlier on Friday -- will not In one night the Real going down in the box under a He left Pepe on the floor as off the underside of the bar, look forward to facing him in Madrid superstar doubled his foul from Nacho, playing at the pair challenged for a high yet this time goal-line tech- their next game. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018

FIFA probes empty seats in Yekaterinburg

AP it wasn’t very pleasant,” regional sports minister Leonid Rapoport told YEKATERINBURG: More than 5,000 Russia’s RIA Novosti state news people with tickets skipped agency. Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Egypt in “We thought Salah would play.” Yekaterinburg yesterday, the worst- Yekaterinburg is the furthest east attended World Cup game in eight of Russia’s 11 host cities and is about years. 1,400 kilometers (880 miles) east of FIFA said it is investigating why, Moscow in the Ural Mountains, which with “no-shows” one of the factors. are traditionally considered the Pockets of orange seats were border between Europe and Asia. clearly visible in the lower tiers of FIFA records show the last World the Yekaterinburg Arena, which has Cup match with a smaller crowd was a 33,061 capacity for World Cup Paraguay’s 2-0 win over Slovakia in games. The temporary stands behind South Africa in 2010, which attracted the goals for Russian fans appeared 26,643 fans. to be fuller. Five days before that game, FIFA said it allocated 32,278 23,871 attended a 1-1 draw between tickets and the official attendance New Zealand and Slovakia, the General view of Empty seats during the was 27,015 for the 5 p.m. kickoff. smallest number recorded for any World Cup Group A match between Egypt forward Mohamed Salah didn’t World Cup game this century. play in the game because of a At the last World Cup in Brazil, Egypt and Uruguay at the Ekaterinburg shoulder injury. no game had fewer than 37,000 Arena, Yekaterinburg, Russia, yesterday “There were some bald spots and people in the crowd. Saudis to hold players ‘accountable’ for Cup drubbing against Russia AFP Alongside the goalkeeper, blasted the “Green Falcons” for Saudi Arabia’s midfielder Taisir Al-Jassim controls Ezzat named two other their humiliating defeat. RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s sports the ball during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group players -- defender Omar “Falcons brought down to authorities threatened yesterday A match against Russia at the Hosawi and striker earth”, read a headline in the to hold members of the national in Moscow on Thursday. Mohammed al-Sahlawi -- English-language Arab News, a football team “accountable” after without specifying what Saudi daily, quoting fans’ dismay their crushing defeat against action would be taken. over the poor showing. hosts Russia in the opening Saudi sports authority chief “The bear eats the falcons”, match of the World Cup. Turki al-Sheikh, who is leading said Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anba, Russia defied expectations the kingdom’s multi-billion while the Oman Daily called the as the lowest-ranked side in the dollar push for global footballing defeat “the peak of disap- tournament by thrashing Saudi influence, said he took “full pointment” for Arab fans. Arabia 5-0 in front of an ecstatic responsibility” for the defeat. Privately-owned Egyptian home crowd in Moscow on But he also lashed out at the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm decried Thursday. players. the “painful fall of Saudi Arabia”. The match was attended by “We did everything for This year is the first World Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince them... we provided them the Cup finals tournament Saudi Mohammed bin Salman, who sat best coaching staff,” Sheikh said Arabia has reached since 2006. a couple of seats away from in a video posted on Twitter. Football’s global governing body Russian President Vladimir “Let no-one tell me FIFA last week ranked the team Putin. (Argentinian coach Juan 67th in the world, ahead of “The result was disap- Antonio) Pizzi is not a known Russia in 70th. pointing and unsatisfactory,” coach. But these are our Head coach Pizzi took over Adel Ezzat, president of the Saudi players. They did not do even the Saudi team in November last Football Federation, told Al- five percent of what was year after the football federation Arabiya television yesterday. Al-Mayouf would be held so they could rise to the occasion, because of fitness, but errors in required of them. This is a sacked , a fellow A “number of players” accountable, he added. Ezzat said. passing the ball, technical reality that we should admit.” Argentinian who had only been including goalkeeper Abdullah The team had been trained “The collapse was not errors,” he added. Regional Arab media also in charge for two months.

Sacked Lopetegui Russia’s Cheryshev erases years of gets behind Spain misfortune with spectacular display AFP SOCHI, RUSSIA: Julen Lopetegui REUTERS the area before smashing the (pictured) has given his backing to Spain ball into the roof of the net for at the World Cup, despite being fired as MOSCOW: Russia winger Russia’s second goal of the coach just 48 hours before their opening Denis Cheryshev has had a game. game at the tournament in Russia. career littered with mishaps Just as stoppage time was Lopetegui was sensationally sacked but he thrust himself into the approaching in Moscow he on Wednesday after the announcement limelight with two spectacular struck again, pinging in the that he would be taking over at Real goals from the bench in the fourth goal with a swipe of Madrid following the World Cup, with host nation’s rampant 5-0 win the outside of his boot from Fernando Hierro hastily brought in to over Saudi Arabia in Thurs- distance to take the party replace him. day’s World Cup opener. atmosphere inside the “All the best in this World Cup to A promising career as a Luzhniki Stadium to the next Fernando and a magnificent team and thrusting, speedy winger has level. group of people: our Spanish national been continually interrupted “I couldn’t have imagined team,” wrote Lopetegui on Twitter. Russia’s midfielder Denis by a series of muscle injuries, a day like this in my wildest “We will feel part of your strength, Cheryshev celebrates which led to him barely fea- dreams. I’m just happy to have union and passion,” added Lopetegui, who turing for current club Vil- been able to help my team and after scoring their fourth was unveiled by Real on Thursday after larreal for 18 months as he my family. They have suffered goal during the Russia his sudden dismissal from the Spain camp went in and out of surgery. a lot,” Cheryshev told a news 2018 World Cup Group in Russia. The 27-year-old only conference after being named A match against Saudi La Roja had been unbeaten in 20 made nine starts for the La man of the match in the biggest Arabia at the Luzhniki games under the former goalkeeper fol- Liga side last season and was win in a World Cup opener Stadium in Moscow on lowing his appointment two years ago, in danger of being left out of since 1954. Thursday. and came to the World Cup among the the World Cup squad after not Cheryshev is one of only favourites as a result. starting for the national team two members of Stanislav for four years and being dis- Cherchesov’s squad to play their history for the wrong Barcelona fans, who chanted “I remember his condition carded for last year’s Confed- outside of Russia and he has reasons after he inadvertently “Cheryshev we love you” for before the Confederation’s Cup erations Cup. spent most of his life in Spain, got them thrown out of the his role in one of their rivals’ and compared to his shape But Cheryshev emphati- moving to the Iberian penin- King’s Cup in 2015-16 for most embarrassing episodes now it’s two different people,” cally seized on the opportunity sular when his father Dmitri playing against Cadiz when he in recent memory. added Russia coach which Russia midfielder Alan signed for Sporting Gijon in was in fact suspended. But that incident and his Cherchesov. Dzagoev’s injury presented 1996. He was sent on loan to litany of injuries faded into “He knows it. He thanked him by producing a mesmer- The winger only made a Valencia and was subjected to insignificance after he helped me with two goals for helping izing piece of skill to dance past handful of appearances for humiliating taunts in a game fire his country to a remarkable him to achieve his dream and two Saudi Arabia defenders in Real Madrid but is etched into at the Nou Camp from win, their first in nine months. play at the World Cup.” SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018 SPORT 19

Uruguay coach Coach expects refuses to blame Suarez Salah to play REUTERS YEKATERINBURG: Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was at a loss to explain how Luis Suarez missed three golden chances in his against Russia side’s 1-0 win over Egypt in their opening World Cup Group A game but refused to blame his leading striker. AP The usually ruthless Barcelona forward was against Russia and Saudi Arabia.” saved embarrassment for his profligacy by a Egypt had only eight shots on goal and late header from centre back Jose Gimenez YEKATERINBURG: Egypt coach three on target against Uruguay as it which earned the twice world champions a first Hector Cuper couldn’t say for certain struggled to create opportunities ever victory in a World Cup opener. whether Mohamed Salah’s absence inside Uruguay’s well-organised “I don’t know what happened but I will was the thing cost his team during its defense. not speculate. I have seen many great players 1-0 loss to Uruguay at the World Cup. Marwan Mohsen did his best to like (Lionel) Messi and (Diego) Maradona not But he also wasn’t sure that his star push the action in Salah’s place. It just living up to their potential in matches. It is not striker couldn’t have helped the wasn’t the same. a sin,” Tabarez told a news conference. Pharaohs pull off an upset in their “I think we have what we have, “Suarez, as you say, was not playing as Group A opener. and we try to do our best with what well as he normally does but he had three “Mo Salah is an important player we have,” Cuper said. “I think we do scoring opportunities. The goalkeeper saved for us, that is without a doubt,” Cuper have good forwards and good players a couple of them. That happens to strikers.” said after Friday’s match. “Perhaps if to do a good job here at the World Egypt coach Hector Cuper opted against Mo had been on the pitch today the Cup.... Perhaps we should have risking his side’s talismanic forward Mohamed outcome could have been different, attacked more, but I think today we Salah as he continues his recovery from a but we’ll never know that.” The odds did go on the offensive.” shoulder injury, making Suarez the main of Salah sitting out back-to-back When Egypt did find a few attraction in his first World Cup match since World Cup games with his injured left openings in Uruguay’s defense, their biting Giorgio Chiellini in a last-16 game in Brazil shoulder are even slimmer. attempt to play the ball into dangerous four years ago. Suarez was immobile for large On Thursday, Cuper was optimistic positions were thwarted by deflections parts of the game had three glorious opportu- that Salah would play in the opener. or eventually smothered by multiple nities, hitting the side netting in the first half and But he said the decision was made to defenders. failing to beat Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El- be cautious on Friday. Though he As Salah looked on from the bench Shenawy twice in the second from close range. quickly added he thinks Salah will be and several times tried to clap his His struggles in front of goal mirrored his ready for Tuesday’s crucial match teammates into one final push, the dreadful start to last season with Barca after against Russia in St. Petersburg. Pharaohs spent most of their energy rushing back to action following a knee injury “The decision is always taken by in the second half simply trying to fend and Tabarez appeared to suggest his striker myself and the staff, especially in a off Uruguay’s increasing pressure on Egypt’s forward was lacking confidence in front of goal. case like Mo Salah’s case,” Cuper said. their end. Mohamed Salah “In good times, everything goes into the “Yesterday we were quite certain The effort was clearly there. Their walks on the pitch back of the net while at other times the goal during that training session he would luck and time simply ran out. after the final seems smaller. As long as he gives his all we play. After the session there was Afterward, even Uruguay coach whistle of their 2018 are happy,” added the 71-year-old coach, who question whether if he fell if he could Oscar Tabarez conceded that the result World Cup Group is suffering from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a get another injury. might have been different had Salah A match against rare degenerative disease, and had to be “So we decided not to take that been on the field. Uruguay at the helped into his dugout before the game. risk because we want to be sure we “Today,” he said, “could have Ekaterinburg Arena “I don’t discuss individual players in press have him in top form in our match easily been a draw.” in Ekaterinburg conferences. I don’t point fingers. I don’t yesterday. discuss players who have given glory to Uru- guayan football.” Peruvians bring high hopes to Saransk REUTERS

SARANSK: It’s a long way from the Andes mountains to the Russian steppes, but Gino Huaneo was not going to miss watching Peru make their first appearance in the World Cup finals in 36 years. Russian fans celebrate the fifth The 27-year-old goal against Saudi Arabia during engineer travelled from his the World Cup Group A match, hometown of Cuzco to in Rostov-on-Don, Russia on Lima, Amsterdam and Thursday. Moscow by plane, then took a nine-hour train ride to Saransk in the Republic of Mordovia, where Peru Supporters of the Peruvian team cheer during a gathering take on Denmark today in in central Moscow, Russia on Thursday. Russian views of their team their first Group C match. “I had to save a lot to make this trip,” he said. He was delighted by games, which also include go from shame to pride “But we have great possi- the return of star player France in Yekaterinburg bilities. We have a good and captain Paolo and Australia in Sochi. team.” Guerrero, who has been “One is in Asia, the REUTERS pride and the start of what looks like President Vladimir Putin watching He was one of several involved in a doping other is Europe,” he said a re-evaluation of Russia’s team. the game. hundred Peruvians who incident with a particularly with just a hint of MOSCOW: Millions of Russians have Ekaterina Andreeva, the but- Russia had “flattened” Saudi have made their way to Andean twist. trepidation. listened to and laughed at a song toned-down veteran newsreader on Arabia, it told readers. Saransk, seemingly all Guerrero was banned Other fans milled deriding their football team but the the main evening news show Vremya Yesterday, a reporter saw a van dressed in the red-and- after he tested positive for around outside the Mor- side’s 5-0 thumping of Saudi Arabia (Time), told viewers how pleasant it in central Moscow with the game’s white national colours, a cocaine byproduct con- dovia Arena on the out- in the World Cup’s opening game on was to announce that Russia had won score spray-painted onto the side, some sporting distinctive tained in a tea he said he skirts of the quiet city dom- Thursday has suddenly filled them 5-0, while popular pro-Kremlin while celebrations in the Urals city Indian-style woolly hats had drunk unwittingly. In inated by Soviet-style with pride and hope. Komsomolskaya Pravda tabloid of Yekaterinburg about 1,500 km and some even feathered Peru and other Andean architecture. The national team, ranked the lashed out at the team’s critics. (930 miles) east of Moscow went on head-dresses. nations, coca leaves are Milagros Huaita, a weakest in the tournament by FIFA, “Everyone who didn’t believe in into the small hours, with cars One man carried an often consumed legally 24-year-old student from had until Thursday not won a single our team, take that - 5-0!,” its front honking their horns and fans inflatable llama. with hot water as a kind of Lima, had come with her match since last October and has long page read on Friday. repeatedly shouting “Russia!” The Thursday evening tea. mother Berta, her uncles been derided by many Russians. Chants of gratitude from Russian Vitaly Milonov, an outspoken plane from Moscow to The suspension was and cousin, also after In the last three days alone, supporters in the stands had not been lawmaker from the ruling pro-Putin Saransk was almost temporarily suspended making the long journey by almost 8 million people have watched heard since 2012 when Russia beat United Russia party, suggested Rus- entirely full of Peruvians. pending appeal, allowing plane and train. a Russian comic’s song on YouTube the Czech team, it said. sians who insulted and ridiculed the They clapped when it took him to play in the “It’s the first time in my mocking the team as an embarrassing “This victory was important and Russian team should be fined 10,000 off, cheered when it landed, tournament. life Peru have been in the failure packed with irresponsible essential for us to believe in our roubles ($160) and said he had drawn and even broke into chants “He is our best player, finals,” she said. “The team losers. strength once again,” it reported. up draft legislation to that effect. when the bus dropped a Peruvian Messi. is very good. We haven’t The margin of their victory over Even the normally staid gov- “They (the team) represent our them off at the terminal. Tomorrow when we sing lost in 14 games. We are the Saudis - the second-lowest ernment newspaper Rossiiskaya state,” Milonov told Komsomolskaya “After 36 years, we our national anthem, the going all the way to the ranked team in the tournament - and Gazeta, a staple with senior gov- Pravda. have to give it everything,” whole world will feel it,” final.” the flair some of the Russian players ernment officials, had a big picture “So the reptiles pouring insults on Huaneo said, speaking Huaneo said. She picked out mid- showed on the pitch, however, has of a Russian player scoring a goal our team are insulting the whole outside the stadium on the Huaneo was following fielder as triggered an outpouring of national mid-air as well as an image of country.” eve of the match. the team through its three another player to watch. 20 SPORT SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018 SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018 SPORT 21

A mural France’s forward Ousmane Dembele (L) and forward Kylian Mbappe (centre) attend depicting a training session with team-mates at the Kazan Arena in Kazan yesterday, ahead of Peru set Argentina’s their World Cup 2018 Group C match against Australia. football star , created by for Eriksen Russian street Argentina seek Messi artist Sergey Erofeev is seen challenge in Bronnitsy near Moscow, REUTERS ahead of the Russia 2018 magic against Iceland SARANSK: Peru’s long-awaited return to the World Cup. World Cup could turn sour at the Mordovia Arena AFP major international tournament and “We must show patience and against Denmark today if they cannot keep play- time is running out as his 31st move the ball around to try and find maker Christian Eriksen in check and fail to nullify MOSCOW: Lionel Messi’s Argen- birthday looms. space, and look to get in behind with their opponents’ height advantage. tina aim to put a shambolic He briefly retired from interna- speed,” said Guzman, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur’s Eriksen has arrived in World Cup build-up tional football after the 2016 Copa Mexican club Tigres. Russia on the back of fine campaigns for both behind them and make America and has hinted he will do “It will be a very tight game in club and country. He was the joint third-best a statement in their so permanently if the campaign in which we’ll also have to control our scorer in European qualifying with 11 goals behind opening match against Russia ends in failure. nerves.” Robert Lewandowski (16) and Cristiano Ronaldo tournament debutants The Group D clash pits an Argen- ADA6X‚ yq8ˆƒ! ' Argentina only made it to the (15). Iceland today. tine side that critics say is too focused finals courtesy of a Messi hat-trick The 26-year-old also scored 10 league goals The two-time on superstar Messi against a band of 6 tr‡vh‰Dpryhq in their final qualifier against for Spurs last season and will carry the hopes of champions arrived in grafters who pride themselves on      Ecuador. an entire nation when Denmark start their cam- Russia dogged by poor teamwork.   Subsequent friendlies have given paign against Peru. form, injuries and On paper, the South Americans cause for concern -- there was a 4-2 “Eriksen is a very important player, very well controversy. should have little trouble disposing loss to Nigeria in November and a known and he will be a key player and we have But Messi is a man on of Iceland, an island nation of 6-1 humiliation by Spain in March, to be able to face players like him,” Peru coach a mission as he chases his 330,000 that is the smallest country although Messi did not play in either Ricardo Gareca told reporters yesterday. first World Cup winner’s to ever reach the finals. match. Time for France to show “But we also have players at that level. He medal and will not toler- But the Icelanders revel in their Argentina’s final warm-up $ % %& !! won’t be the player we have to concentrate on. ate complacency against underdog status and showed at Euro against Israel in Jerusalem was can- Playing against players like him will allow us to the minnows at Moscow’s 2016 they will not be cowed on the !!" '( ) !#$ celled after protests from grow and learn.” Spartak stadium. big stage. C@69UPC@69 Palestinians, miring the team in con- their world-class pedigree With France, one of the pre-tournament “Iceland showed they Spurred on by their fans’ thun- Av †‡€rr‡vt troversy and leaving players short of favourites, also in Group C, Peru cannot afford to could compete with any- derous “Viking clap”, they earned a match practice. XPSG98VQS@8PS9 drop points against Denmark if they are to one at the last Euros,” he 1-1 draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s To further compound their prob- AFP Cup debut. progress to the knockouts on their return to the said, referring to their Portugal then famously dumped out #!   lems, goalkeeper Sergio Romero and In comparison, Australia coach Bert global stage after a 36-year absence. giant-killing run at the England to reach the #   midfielder Manuel Lanzini both fell KAZAN: The ego-driven problems of van Marwijk has yet to decide who will Today’s match at the 44,000-capacity sta- 2016 European Champion- quarter-finals. !   victim to late injuries. the past that saw France players go on lead the Socceroos’ attack, with former dium could prove decisive for both Peru and ship in France. “We kept Ronaldo quite quiet so &    Accusing Argentina of over-reli- strike at the 2010 World Cup are well A-League reject Andrew Nabbout Denmark as both sides will fancy their chances Messi was devastated hopefully we can do the same against (    ance on Messi may seem unfair to a and truly consigned to the past as the appearing to be leading the race ahead to then pick up full points against Australia and by Argentina’s loss to Ger- Messi,” said Burnley winger Johann  '   team boasting the sharp attacking latest crop of Les Bleus target a repeat of Tomi Juric, who plays for Swiss side progress from the group stages. many in the 2014 World Berg Gudmundsson. talents of Sergio Aguero, Paulo of their 1998 glory. Lucerne. Schooled in the ways of total football during Cup final, with the agony “We know we’re probably going qualifying with comfortable wins Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain but it But coach Didier Deschamps, who The Aussies’ defensive game, a top a three-year spell at Dutch club Ajax Amsterdam, compounded by back-to- to be defending for a lot of the time over Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. is a view coach Jorge Sampaoli him- captained France to World Cup victory ADA6X‚ yq8ˆƒ! ' priority for Van Marwijk since he was Eriksen won praise from no less a judge than back Copa America defeats and obviously he’s one of the best Argentina reserve goalkeeper self has expressed. in Paris two decades ago, faces a parachuted in to replace Ange Postec- former Netherlands great Johan Cruyff for his to Chile in 2015 and 2016. players in the world and he can turn Nahuel Guzman said the squad “He can carry the team on his dilemma on the eve of a campaign A hpr‰6ˆ†‡ hyvh oglou in January, is still a work in skill and technique. Despite his achieve- it on.” would do everything in their power shoulders,” Sampaoli said of the which begins with a potentially tricky      progress. With his set-piece prowess and two-footed ments with Barcelona, the Iceland, ranked 17 places behind to give Messi the success he craves player who scored 45 goals in 54 opener against Australia today: mak-  Australia have few big name stars, technical excellence, Eriksen will be the engine five-time world player of Argentina at 22nd in the world, but they are expecting a tight match games for Barcelona this season. ing sure his wealth of young French but Nabbout insists the gulf in class is driving Danish hopes in Russia. the year is yet to win a topped their group in European against Iceland. “This is going to be his team.” talent live up to their heady not an issue. If dealing with Eriksen on the ground is a chal- reputation. “We’ve got a job to do against lenge, Peru will also have to ensure they are up Having steered France to the cusp France,” said Nabbout, who is now with for the battle in the air when the Spurs play- of Euro 2016 glory, Deschamps J-League side Urawa Reds. maker delivers from set-pieces. watched in dismay as Portugal pun- “We’re aware of the big name play- Denmark boast one of the tallest teams in ished France in extra-time at the Stade ers, the calibre they have. But we have Iceland charms before facing Messi in World Cup debut & % %& !! the tournament with an average height of 185cm de France. a structure and a strategy, and if we while Peru, who became the final team to qual- Two years on, France arrive in Rus- !$# '( ) #"-$ execute that to the best of our ability AP ify for the World Cup through a two-legged “I am still a dentist and I will never people in general. You can’t but love us,” every neutral’s favorite, it might be the 18-game South American qualifying pressure on the players, who have sia with high hopes of young players C@69UPC@69 then we can cause them some inter-continental playoff, are the shortest at the coach said at a packed news confer- only army it needs. group and needed Messi’s seven goals landed in a tough Group D which also like Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane problems.” stop being a dentist,” the coach said in %! ( 178. MOSCOW: Iceland is showing the Icelandic. ence at Spartak Stadium. “We haven’t attacked anyone. We in a relatively low tally of 19 to advance has Nigeria and Croatia. Dembele although it remains to be seen Australia defender Josh Risdon, Denmark will look to take advantage by win- charming, funny, friendly style that has Hallgrimsson acknowledged his A reporter from Colombia, which is haven’t been at war with anyone,” Hall- to Russia. “We have nothing to lose. We feel whether those are sufficient when it who postponed his honeymoon after ning the aerial battles, their Norwegian coach Age won friends worldwide before the team’s coaching staff has a “headache” prepar- also at the World Cup, told Hallgrimsson grimsson said, before citing a 1970s “I don’t have any magic formula,” good,” said the midfielder, who will lead comes to meeting the big guns of Ger- a call-up to Van Marwijk’s squad, Hareide predicted yesterday. World Cup debut against Argentina. ing to face Lionel Messi today in “the and captain Aron Gunnarsson they had fisheries dispute with Britain. “We have Hallgrimsson said. “Everybody has tried the postgame clapping ritual that closely many, Spain, Brazil and Argentina in admitted: “It’s going to be a tough one But Gareca said: “We know they are taller. In a witty meeting with international biggest game in the history of Icelandic “many supporters” in his country and only had the Cod War and nobody got everything against him and he always bonds fans and players. the later stages. to kick off our campaign.” We are used to playing teams that are good and media yesterday, Iceland coach Heimir football.” across South America. hurt there.” managed to score.” The so-called Thunderclap helped “You don’t win competitions on tal-  But he added: “The bigger the occa- have tall players and are very good in the air.” Hallgrimsson began by welcoming the He also knows the Nordic island of “People like that such a sparsely One obvious question that did get It would be “not fair” to assign one define the team at Euro 2016 in France ent alone,” 1998 World Cup winner    sion, the tougher the opponent, the “Up to now, we have been able to overcome room in Russian, praised his team’s hosts 330,000 people has global support from populated nation is in the World Cup,” asked arises before every game involv- player to stop Messi, he said, so Iceland where Iceland stunned at its first tour- Christope Dugarry warned. “You win $,#* %  ( better we get up for the game.” this challenge. I think we ready to stop that kind and its first opponent, then disarmed his its fairytale run to the 2016 European the coach said. “We feel it, not just from ing Messi - how to stop the five-time will take a collective approach as a team nament appearance. because you’ve got the right $,,# (  % Eight years on from an infamous of game. inquisitors by heading off the usual ques- Championship quarterfinals. Colombia, but all over the world.” world player of the year. that served it well in recent years. “We went on adrenalin in everything mentality.” France players’ strike in South Africa, “Fortunately our sport is made for players of tion about his day job. “It’s a pretty little nation and pretty If peace-loving Iceland really is Argentina stumbled through the Gunnarsson said there was no we did,” said Hallgrimsson. Fluffing their lines against Group XPSG98VQS@8PS9 from where striker Nicolas Anelka any size. Football is not like that. One of the char- C minnows Australia at the Kazan !'  ! was sent home in disgrace after acteristics of football is that anyone can play.” Arena would be unthinkable for most !  " insulting then coach Raymond French fans, although the Socceroos -- Domenech, Deschamps is in charge (  ' who have talked up how they will fight of a comparatively better behaved '   '$ Nigeria’s forward Victor Moses (right) attends a tooth and nail to get a result -- have and respectful team. !   ! training session with team-mates at Essentuki Arena pledged to provide the first hurdle. “The behaviour has been excep- in southern Russia yesterday, ahead of today’s World Youthful Nigeria brace for Croatia impact “(Against France) we’re going to be  '   tional, they’re polite and respectful,” Cup clash against Croatia. ready, and giving ourselves opportu- said French Football Federation pres- nities to win this game,” warned staying at Atletico Madrid, is one of he ident Noel Le Graet. AP qualifying campaign, questions have been played in Russia his whole life. He currently Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan. hottest properties in world football and, “There’s been a clear change when raised about Croatia’s attack. plays for Amkar Perm at the club level. ADA6X‚ yq8ˆƒ! ' “We can’t wait for Saturday.” as he did at Euro 2016, is expected to you consider the unbelievable stuff that KALININGRAD: The youngest team at the Nikola Kalinic, who plays for AC Milan, Ahmed Musa, the Leicester City forward, Bold predictions aside, on paper shine in Russia. went on in 2010. It couldn’t have been World Cup will need to grow up fast. believes Croatia’s strikers can score. played the second half of this season on loan 8 ‚h‡vh‰Ivtr vh France should breeze through a Group Two years after a disappointing worse. Nigeria will rely heavily on 31-year-old “Problems scoring goals? I would not to CSKA Moscow.      C which also features Peru and Euro 2016, Manchester United mid- “Didier (Deschamps) has done eve- captain to marshal the say there is any issue about it,” he said. “We He also played there before moving to     Denmark. fielder Paul Pogba could finally shine rything to make sure the (squad) youngsters when the Super Eagles meet scored four goals against Greece in the play- the . , who on the big stage, along with 19-year- conditions are optimal.” Croatia and its star-packed midfield in off game. We are always at our best when “So many signs, the team have a real announced on Thursday he was resist- old Paris Saint-Germain striker It is now up to Deschamps’ young Kaliningrad tonight. we need to be.” relationship with Russia,” said the Super ing advances from Barcelona and Mbappe, who will be making his World team to perform on the pitch. The opening Group D match pits mid- Group D is strong with Lionel Messi’s Eagles’ German coach Gernot Rohr. fielder John Obi Mikel and the young lineup Argentina and an Iceland team that is likely Zlatko Dalic turned around Croatia’s against a Croatia team powered by one of to have a well-drilled defense, so Nigeria qualifying campaign just in time. Now he the tournament’s strongest and most expe- and Croatia both need a strong showing in needs to find a winning formula in Russia. rienced midfields: Luka Modric and Mateo their opening match. Dalic was appointed less than a year ago Kovacic of Real Madrid, alongside Ivan Rak- “It’s important to get something out of when Croatia was in second place in its ! % %& #' itic of Barcelona. this game,” said Nigeria goalkeeper Francis World Cup qualifying group and facing a !** '( ) +$# “We’re a very young team and we have Uzoho. “Croatia have good players in top tough match against Ukraine. Croatia won to play without pressure,” said Mikel, the teams in the top leagues, but this is another that match 2-0 and then beat Greece 4-1 on C@69UPC@69 (Against France) we’ree’re former Chelsea midfielder who now plays tournament.” aggregate in the playoffs to earn a berth in Av †‡€rr‡vt going to be ready, in China. “We have energy in this team, we Croatia finished third in its inaugural Russia. and giving ourselveses want to fight, we’re determined to do well World Cup - in France in 1998 - but has been Dalic had been coaching clubs in the XPSG98VQS@8PS9 opportunities to wininin and we know we can do well.” eliminated at the group stage in 2002, 2006 United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia since $  Nigeria was the first African nation to and four years ago in Brazil. 2010 when he was plucked from relative this game. We can’tt '  # qualify for Russia, but the team has sput- Nigeria has never advanced beyond the obscurity to lead Croatia. Modric called the wait for Saturday: (  ' tered in preseason matches with losses to round of 16 in its five World Cup new coach “phenomenal” as he helped book Australia goalkeepererr both England and the Czech Republic. appearances. Croatia’s World Cup ticket. $"   %! Mat Ryan Croatia, meanwhile, needed a playoff Nigeria left back Brian Idowe should feel “This first match is very important, it will !!   " victory over Greece to qualify for the World at home during this World Cup. The defender set the tone for the rest of our tournament,” Cup. After scoring just 15 goals in its was born in St. Petersburg and has lived and Dalic said.  '   22 SPORT SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018 India hammer Test minnows Afghanistan AFP have a lot of time and we will work on our weaknesses” he Indian cricketers walk back after BENGALURU: Afghanistan’s added. their victory on the second day of fairytale entry into Test cricket Ravichandran Ashwin got ended in a bruising defeat inside last man Wafadar bowled for one-off Test against Afghanistan two days by world number one nought to complete the win after at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium team India yesterday. Umesh Yadav rattled the Afghan in Bengaluru yesterday. India bowled out Afghanistan top order with three early strikes. twice in a day as they completed Hashmatullah Shahidi stuck a crushing innings and 262 runs around for 88 balls trying to win over the outclassed salvage some pride by taking the debutants. match into a third day but the Cricket has become the Indian bowling was national sport of the country torn unforgiving. apart by decades of war but the Jadeja returned figures of first five-day game turned into 4-17 with his left-arm spin after a Test of fire for the Afghans. Ashwin had also got four wickets Ravindra Jadeja took four in Afghanistan’s first innings. wickets as India skittled out The Afghan players, many of Afghanistan for 103 in the final whom learned their cricket in session while following on at the refugee camps in Pakistan, got M Chinnaswamy Stadium. a bitter taste of the rigours of the The second innings lasted five-day game early on day one. just 38.4 overs with Hashmat- “The learning curve is huge, ullah Shahidi top-scoring with it’s a mountain to climb. But they an unbeaten 36. want to succeed and they work Earlier the Afghans fell for very hard but now we know that 109 in 27.5 overs in their first we have to work five times as innings, seeking to counter a for- hard,” said Afghanistan coach midable Indian score of 474. Phil Simmons. It was the 21st time that a “I believe we will get there,” Test had finished inside two days the former West Indian all- and just the fourth that a team rounder added. was bowled out twice in a day. Indian openers Shikhar Afghanistan also batted the Dhawan and Murali Vijay laid fewest overs for a team in their the foundations of the big win Test debut. during with a 168-run part- of the ground. Afghanistan took Afghanistan will make the step up. cricket. “With their bowling they paceman Wafadar and spin sen- “We were surprised by how nership on day one that exposed four Indian wickets late on “The more and more they play, can damage any team. They need sation Rashid Khan picked up quickly things ended because we the Afghan bowlers’ Thursday to raise hopes of a they will learn. It’s just the to learn with their batting. If two two wickets each. were a good team,” said Afghan inexperience. fightback. beginning for them,” Rahane told or three guys can bat for a long Afghanistan were only made skipper Ashgar Stanikzai. Dhawan, who smashed a But Hardik Pandya’s reporters. “You cannot blame period then they can be a decent full members of the Interna- “Test cricket is totally dif- merciless 107, and Vijay, who aggressive 71 kept the hosts in them,” he added. “They tried their side,” said India’s stand-in skipper. tional Cricket Council last year ferent from T20 and one day made 105, hit the Afghan control of the one-off game. best. Test cricket is all about Afghan paceman Yamin along with Ireland, who lost their matches. But this was good for spinners including teen sen- India skipper Ajinkya Rahane attitude and patience and they Ahmadzai made his presence felt debut Test to Pakistan last us and good for the future. We sation Rashid Khan to all parts felt for his opponents and said have been playing a lot of T20 with figures of 3-51 while fellow month.

SCOREBOARD England pacer India (I innings) R Khan c Yadav b Jadeja ...... 7 Sri Lankan Test greats M Vijay lbw b Wafadar ...... 105 Y Ahmadzai c Jadeja b Ashwin ...... 0 Willey is glad S Dhawan c Nabi b Ahmadzai...... 107 M Rahman st Karthik b Jadeja ...... 15 L Rahul b Ahmadzai ...... 54 Wafadar (not out) ...... 6 he made IPL C Pujara c Nabi b Rahman ...... 35 Total (all out) ...... 109 snub national selectors A Rahane lbw b Khan ...... 10 Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-21, 3-35, 4-35, 5-50, 6-59, ‘no-brainer’ D Karthik run out ...... 4 7-78, 8-87, 9-88, 10-109. AFP H Pandya c Zazai b Wafadar ...... 71 Bowling: Yadav 6-1-18-1, Sharma 5-0-28-2, Pan- world’s highest Test wicket taker with a haul move in April R Ashwin c Zazai b Ahmadzai ...... 18 dya 5-0-18-0, Ashwin 8-1-27-4, Jadeja 3.5-1-18-2. of 800. “I am of the view that it (the invi- R Jadeja c Shah b Nabi ...... 20 Afghanistan (II innings) COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricket legends tation) is an insincere, cunning move, to use I Sharma lbw b Khan ...... 8 M Shahzad c Karthik b Yadav ...... 13 Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Mura- us when the cricket administration is in such AFP U Yadav not out ...... 26 J Ahmadi c Dhawan b Yadav ...... 3 litharan have rejected a request to provide a deplorable state,” the spin maestro said in Extras (B1, LB12, NB1, W2) ...... 16 R Shah c Rahane b Sharma ...... 4 consultancy services to the struggling a statement on Friday. Total (all out)...... 474 M Nabi lbw b Yadav ...... 0 Fall of wickets: 1-168, 2-280, 3-284, 4-318, H Shahidi not out ...... 36 national team, saying they had no “trust in Late last year, Jayawardene was : England all-rounder 5-328, 6-334, 7-369, 8-436, 9-440, 10-474. A Stanikzai c Dhawan b Jadeja ...... 25 the system”. appointed to a special panel to advise the David Willey has insisted playing Bowling: Ahmadzai 19-7-51-3 (w1), Wafadar 21-5- A Zazai b Jadeja ...... 1 National selectors made a formal request then-sports minister on corrective measures. in this year’s edition of the Indian 100-2 (w1, nb1), Nabi 13-0-65-1, Khan 34.5-2-154-2, R Khan b Jadeja ...... 12 Thursday to hire several former players, He turned down the latest request saying Premier League was a Rahman 15-1-75-1, Stanikzai 2-0-16-0. Y Ahmadzai b Sharma ...... 1 including Jayawardene, Muralitharan and his recommendations in the past had been “no-brainer” even if it put his Afghanistan (I innings) M Rahman c Yadav b Jadeja ...... 3 Kumar Sangakkara, for a special committee ignored and that he did not want a repeat of county contract with Yorkshire M Shahzad run out ...... 14 Wafadar b Ashwin ...... 0 that would advise the team on how to return the experience. at risk. J Ahmadi b Sharma ...... 1 Extras (B4, LB1) ...... 5 R Shah lbw b Yadav ...... 14 Total (all out) ...... 103 to winning ways. “I don’t have any trust in the system. If The 28-year-old is adamant A Zazai b Sharma ...... 6 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-22, 3-22, 4-24, 5-61, 6-62, Last year, Sri Lanka suffered a Test and any one wants to buy time please don’t use he’s a better player for the expe- H Shahidi lbw b Ashwin ...... 11 7-82, 8-85, 9-98, 10-103. one-day whitewash to India on home soil, us!” the former Sri Lanka captain said on rience of working under Chennai A Stanikzai b Ashwin ...... 11 Bowling: Sharma 7-2-17-2, Yadav 7-1-26-3, Pandya lost a home ODI series to bottom-ranked Twitter. Super Kings coach Stephen M Nabi c Sharma b Ashwin ...... 24 4-2-6-0, Ashwin 11.4-3-32-1, Jadeja 9-3-17-4. Zimbabwe, and crashed out of the Cham- Jayawardene scored 11,814 Test runs in Fleming, the former New Zealand pions Trophy in the group stage. 149 matches. He also appeared in 55 captain, even though his stint They were also soundly beaten in the first Twenty20 internationals and 448 ODIs, with the IPL champions Test on the tour of the West Indies last scoring a century in Sri Lanka’s defeat by amounted to just three games. weekend, and skittled for 253 in the first India in the 2011 World Cup final. Now Willey, the son of the innings of the second Test on Thursday. There was no immediate response from ex-Test batsman and former Muralitharan, 46, retired from interna- Sangakkara and Sri Lankan cricket international umpire Peter tional cricket in 2010 after becoming the authorities. Willey, is looking to put that experience to good use by helping England win their first World Cup title when they stage the 2019 Ponting wants Maxwell showpiece tournament. A call to go to Chennai as an injury replacement came at the start of the English season and to be batting lynchpin meant Willey angered missed AGENCIES several weeks of Yorkshire’s After the early loss of Travis Head, Aaron county campaign. LONDON: Former captain Ricky Ponting Finch and Shaun Marsh put on 40 for the It was a move that angered believes Glenn Maxwell has nothing to prove second wicket only for both batsmen to be the Headingley hierarchy, to anyone and wants the big-hitting dismissed by Ali. although he has since signed a 29-year-old to become Australia’s batting “We lost an early wicket but I thought new Yorkshire deal, but Willey, mainstay in one-dayers. Marsh and Finch’s partnership looked really asked if it had been a difficult Maxwell topscored for Australia with 62 promising. But both of them getting out in decision replied: “It was a no- in Wednesday’s first ODI against England successive overs to Moeen Ali, and all of a brainer. You don’t get the chance which the visitors lost by three wickets. sudden we are behind the eight ball,” to go and play in the biggest Ponting, who is assisting head coach explained Ponting. Twenty20 competition in the Justin Langer for the tour, called for con- “It’s just little moments like that were world every day. I was threatened sistency from the explosive Victorian. someone just has to put their hand up and with them ripping my contract up “He (Maxwell) is at his best when the say ‘Right, I am going to be the man that’s -- which wasn’t great -- but that team is in trouble. When he goes out at 250 going to get through here and do what my has all been resolved now.” for three, that is when he makes silly mis- team needs me to do’ and it didn’t happen,” Willey, however, said playing takes,” Ponting told reporters. he added. in the IPL had seen him learn “a “Well done to Glenn (for his knock), but “These players need to be hard on them- lot from a tactical, mental and I am sure he will be analysing his own innings selves and work out how they can improve skill point of view” in a career that and thinking he could have done a bit better.” on a daily basis,” insisted Ponting, who made has so far yielded 36 one-day Ponting also said the top-order must a brilliant 140 not out when Australia beat international appearances and 20 deliver “big runs”. India in the 2003 World Cup final in Johan- in Twenty20 internationals for Ponting, one of the outstanding batsmen nesburg. Nevertheless, Ponting was confident England. England’s Alex Hales during nets of his generation, has joined the backroom of an improvement. “I found my love for the game at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, Britain, staff of new Australia coach and former Test “It didn’t happen (Wednesday) but there again while I was out there, and yesterday. team-mate Langer for the tour. is certainly enough skill and talent there to I really do think I’ve become a Reflecting on Australia’s slump to 90 for push on and win some games through the student of the game again,” he five on Wednesday, Ponting said: “It high- remainder of this series,” he said. added. “I’ve signed another year lighted again the importance of our top-order Reigning world champions Australia take at Yorkshire -- which is going batsman taking responsibility and getting on England in the second ODI at Cardiff through today -- and I still want some big runs.” today. to play all formats.” SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018 SPORT 23

Kyrgios stands in Federer’s path to No.1 in Stuttgart

AFP

STUTTGART: Roger Federer edged closer to displacing Rafael Nadal at the top of the world rankings as he hammered Guido Pella 6-4, 6-4 yesterday at the Stuttgart Cup. Top seed Federer needs to win today against Australian fourth seed Nick Kyrgios, who put out 2017 finalist Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, if the Swiss is to return to the No.1 spot for the second time this season. “I didn’t think of number one during the match today, I was French players yesterday warm up during the captain’s run training session at Westpac Stadium in Wellington ahead of their second Test match against All Blacks today. focused on the task at hand,” said Federer. “But when you play for number one (next match) I’m sure Under-20 side it will be in the back of my head.” The quarter-final victory in Wallabies expecting Irish to 55 minutes, which ended on a inspire French backhand, featured two breaks of serve for the Swiss, who exe- ahead of All cuted well in his second match in bounce back in second Test three months after skipping the Blacks clash clay season and last playing in AFP second match of the series. March. Australia’s rugby REUTERS “We saw a lot of opportu- “I was in good control player Marika MELBOURNE: The Wallabies nities to run the ball (in the first throughout,” added Federer. “I are prepared for a sterner Koroibete yesterday Test review),” Hooper said. WELLINGTON: The French served well and didn’t give him contest from Ireland with passes the ball “We put a lot of kicks up in under-20 team’s victory over too many chances to get into my adverse weather conditions during a visit to the air and that worked for us, New Zealand earlier this week service games. I thought I was expected for the pivotal second Melbourne Grammar and then you look at if you didn’t has provided the senior side with able to stay aggressive, and cut Test in Melbourne, skipper School in Melbourne kick there, maybe the next phase some inspiration ahead of their down the length of the points, Michael Hooper said yesterday. as the team prepares we could have got them with second test against the All Blacks, which I wanted to do.” There is a forecast for hail to take on Ireland running or shifting the ball and captain Mathieu Bastareaud has Federer said that he was able during today’s international with in the second Test changing the picture there. said. to train briefly on the grass court the Six Nations champions match today. “It was a good review to Led by a superb forward pack of a friend in Switzerland but said needing to win to keep the have, but there’s also so much and a try from inside centre that fitness work was the major three-Test series alive after that we can get better at.” Romain Ntamack, the son of part of his preparation after his losing the first Brisbane Test Hooper said he expected former French winger Emile, the absence from the clay court 18-9 last week. more involvement from No.8 French upset the ‘Baby Blacks’ campaign. Hooper, who with fellow Caleb Timu in attack this 16-7 in Perpignan to advance to “We used to have a shorter flanker David Pocock did much weekend. their first World Rugby under-20 turnaround from clay to grass. to negate the Irish ball in the “We’ve worked on a couple Championship final in the tour- Now we have many weeks to get rucks and mauls in Brisbane, of ways to find him carrying the nament’s 10-year history. ready (three weeks between the said he was expecting Ireland to ball more,” Hooper said. “We watched the game end of the French Open and start bounce back strongly in Mel- “He’s such a threat with ball together, Wednesday morning. It of Wimbledon). I was lucky to be bourne after their first defeat in in hand. was a good game for us. They able to get a few days on the grass 13 Tests. “Probably our back five -- played with passion and they before here, that was helpful.” Irish coach Joe Schmidt has talking from four to eight -- showed they love this game,” Federer is aiming for a first reacted to the first Test loss by didn’t carry the ball as much as Bastareaud told reporters in Wel- title in Stuttgart after losing in the making eight changes, including we would have liked. lington yesterday. 2016 semis to Dominic Thiem and the significant return of experi- “However, we were able to “It’s why I said to the team we going out in an opening match a enced duo Johnny Sexton and explore some of the wide have to play with passion and year ago to close friend Tommy Cian Healy. channels and get to the guys who take pleasure on the field, play Haas. “They’re such a class team are really dangerous,” he said. together, bleed together. The 36-year-old won his 19th the Irish and (I’m) expecting “It was Caleb’s debut game “Rugby is that (and) we have match from 21 played this season them to bring out some real heat as well last week, so he was to show that we are a team not as his Wimbledon build-up con- and some good firepower and “We know that he’s very today’s game, ideal for Sexton’s getting a feel for it,” Hooper said just a selection of players. tinues on track. play,” Hooper told reporters. experienced and I know from kicking game. yesterday, adding he was “We have a good atmosphere At the All England club next “We’ve got to be able to playing with experienced players Coach Michael Cheika has “expecting him to understand in the group but we have to show month, the 20-time Grand Slam weather that and also put out our that he’ll have a big impact on admitted his Wallabies kicked the pace now.” that on the field.” champion will be seeking a ninth stuff.” the game.” more than he expected in Also uppermost in Ireland’s Bastareaud’s side face a battle title at the grass-court major. Hooper said the Wallabies Ireland will also be well Brisbane and Hooper gave the thoughts is that they have not to stop the All Blacks from Kyrgios turned in a much were “fully aware of the threat” suited to the playing conditions clearest indication yet that they won in 11 internationals in Aus- clinching the series in Wellington more relaxed performance from Sexton. with rain and wind forecast for would run the ball more in the tralia dating back to 1979. with a game to spare. against Spain’s Lopez, admitting They were resolute in their he even had fun on court. defence for the first 50 minutes “Today was fun, I played during last week’s first test in better than the first match,” Auckland before being over-run Kyrgios said. “It will be exciting England’s hopes of series win in the final 30 minutes to lose to play Roger -- for both of us.” 52-11. At the bottom of the draw, Coach Jacques Brunel swung Milos Raonic reached his second the axe this week with five semi-final of the season to set up on the line in Bloemfontein changes to the starting lineup, a clash with defending champion with the loose forwards the main Lucas Pouille. AFP from camps since Jones took charge focus as both flankers Fabien Raonic used his big-serving two years ago. Sanconnie and Judicael Cancoriet game to dominate a pair of tie- JOHANNESBURG: England have turned to But the most pressing problem were dropped. breakers in a 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/1) snakes as they try and turn the tables on is on the field with England winning Mathieu Babillot and Kelian defeat of Tomas Berdych. hosts South Africa in Bloemfontein after an 24 of 25 Tests under Jones before Galletier, who were not con- extraordinary first match last weekend in failing in the last four. sidered for the first test after they the three-Test series. He wants England to dominate played in the Top-14 final and Stuttgart: Results at the ATP Stuttgart Another defeat today in the second South Africa early on at the arrived late in New Zealand, have Cup yesterday (x denotes seed): showdown and English dreams of winning 45,000-capacity Free State been named to replace the pair Quarter-finals a series in the republic for the first time will Stadium in central South Africa, but on the side of the French scrum. Roger Federer (SUI x1) bt Guido Pella disappear, reducing the Cape Town Test to not crumble this time. “We are upset with the (ARG) 6-4, 6-4 a dead rubber. “When you win like South flankers in the first test, and that They looked to be heading for a Africa did last Saturday you go into is the reason why I have made Nick Kyrgios (AUS x4) bt Feliciano Lopez handsome first Test triumph when leading the next game with a bit of confi- the changes,” Brunel said in (ESP x8) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 by 21 points after just 18 minutes in Johan- dence so we have to make sure we Auckland on Thursday. Milos Raonic (CAN x7) bt Tomas Ber- nesburg only to collapse and lose 42-39. dent that confidence early on,” he “The new players will be dych (CZE x3) 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/1) To get their minds off a fifth consecutive said. fresh, bring enthusiasm and had Lucas Pouille (FRA x2) bt Denis Istomin beating this year, the players opted for a France’s Uini Atonio warms up during the captain’s “Bloemfontein lies at altitude good seasons for their clubs.” (UZB) 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 snakes-and-spiders show. run training session at Westpac Stadium in Wellington and the ground is very fast. It has Brunel added that he had told “We had a reptile show and a barbecue ahead of their second Test match today. an average of 60 points per Test so his side they needed to perform so that the boys could get their minds away we are anticipating an ebb-and- from the opening whistle until the from what happened in Johannesburg,” said flow game like we had in Johan- 80th minute if they were to keep Nottingham: Nottingham WTA re- defence coach Paul Gustard. Africa. While his position does not appear nesburg. We were brilliant at times early on the series alive heading into next sults yesterday (x denotes seeding): “There were some long green snakes, to be in immediate danger, the Australian in the first Test. Perhaps we got a bit seduced week’s third test in Dunedin. Quarter-finals some long black-and-white ones too. The knows he was hired to transform England by our start, leading to uncharacteristic and “We were lucky the All Blacks Ashleigh Barty (AUS x1) bt Katie Boulter players chose to do it and organised the into world rugby heavyweights, not bum- costly errors.” made the same mistakes as us in (GBR) 6-0, 6-2 show. bling middleweights. Jones resisted calls from some pundits the first half (last week),” he “They reacted differently to the slippery Media reports suggest all may not be well to wield the axe mercilessly, making two added. “But why did we concede Naomi Osaka (JPN x3) bt Mihaela Bu- guests. Some seemed comfortable close to in the England camp with Gustard leaving changes to the starting line-up, both in the a lot of points ... in the second zarnescu (ROM x5) 6-4, 6-1 the snakes while others were quite nervous.” after the tour -- the latest departee from the pack. Flanker and former captain Chris half? Johanna Konta (GBR x4) bt Dalila Ja- Head coach Eddie Jones hopes the rep- coaching staff. Robshaw is dropped for the first time by “There was limited commu- kupovic (SLO) 6-4, 6-2 tilian diversion works as he tries to snap a The training methods of the Australian Jones, making away for New Zealand-born nication on the field between our Donna Vekic (CRO x6) bt Mona Barthel run of defeats since February by Scotland, have also come under fire from an English Brad Shields, who gives England an extra players and the All Blacks were (GER) 7-5, 6-1 France, Ireland, the Barbarians and South club boss with 15 players returning injured lineout option. of a higher standard.” SATURDAY 16 JUNE 2018 SPORT 24

Ronaldo Gimenez goal helps Uruguay agrees to €18.8m tax beat Salah-less Egypt 1-0 payment REUTERS REUTERS YEKATERINBURG, RUSSIA: Uruguay’s Jose Gimenez scored MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo with a thunderous 89th-minute has reached a deal with header to deal Egypt a 1-0 defeat Spanish authorities to settle in their World Cup opener a tax evasion case by paying yesterday, just as the North an €18.8m fine and accepting Africans appeared to have a suspended jail sentence, a escaped with a point despite source familiar with the missing key striker Mohamed matter said yesterday. Salah. Real Madrid’s all-time Gimenez rose perfectly to highest scorer, who played in meet a Carlos Sanchez free kick Portugal’s opening World Cup and score the goal that broke a match against Spain yes- 48-year Uruguayan curse of terday, is the latest in a long failing to win their opening game line of top soccer players to at World Cup finals. be accused of tax evasion “In the history of football we since a crackdown by Spanish have broken a spell,” said courts. Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez. The source confirmed “We either die or we kill, we Spanish newspaper El have to keep progressing,” he Mundo’s report of the deal but told reporters after a result that said it had yet to be signed by improved Uruguay’s already the lawyers. strong chances of advancing to The 33-year-old is the last-16 stage from Group A accused of evading 14.7m which also includes hosts Russia euros in taxes. He has denied and Saudi Arabia. the allegations. Egypt came within minutes Under the deal, Ronaldo of surviving largely thanks to the would get a two-year jail sen- heroics of goalkeeper Mohamed tence, but is unlikely to go to El-Shenawy, who bravely dived prison as Spanish law states Uruguay’s defender Jose Gimenez (third left) scores the opening goal during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group A match at the to snatch the ball from Luis a sentence of under two years Ekaterinburg Arena in Ekaterinburg, yesterday. Suarez’ feet and flung himself for a first offence can be through the air to tip a Edinson served on probation. Cavani volley wide. would not even make an “Perhaps if Mo had been on opening moments of the Barcelona’s Lionel Messi Cavani also hit the post as appearance from the bench. the pitch today, the outcome second period. was handed a 21-month Uruguay gained in strength and Until Uruguay’s second-half would have been different but “Suarez, as you say, was prison sentence in 2017 on purpose the longer the game surge, Egypt had rarely looked we can’t know that,” Egypt coach not playing as well as he nor- similar charges but under progressed, seemingly buoyed in trouble in a scrappy match Hector Cuper told reporters. URUGUAY EGYPT mally does but he had three Spanish law was able to by the realisation that Salah at the less-than-packed Yeka- The man who scored 44 scoring opportunities... the exchange the penalty for a terinburg Arena, though goals for Liverpool last season goalkeeper saved a couple of fine. without Salah they also did would be fine for the next match 1 0 them. That happens to strikers,” Ronaldo clouded fans’ little to threaten their oppo- against Russia, Cuper said, but Tabarez said. delight in Real’s 3-1 win over nents’ goal. he had decided after training on Gimenez - 89 “In good times, everything Liverpool in the European Speculation over the Liv- the eve of the Uruguay game not goes into the back of the net Champions League final in In the history of erpool striker, who injured his to take a risk with his talisman. Arabia.” For Uruguay, Suarez while at other times the goal Kiev in May by hinting he was football we have shoulder in the Champions “At the end of the training had a disappointing match seems smaller. As long as he about to leave the club. broken a spell. We League final against Real Madrid session we examined him and with several missed opportu- gives his all, we are happy.” The five-time Ballon d’Or last month, had dominated the there was some doubt if he fell nities. In the first half he fired Egypt next play Russia in St winner, was named the either die or we kill, build-up to the match and or was hit by another player, and into the side-netting when he Petersburg on Tuesday, giving world’s most popular athlete we have to keep obsessed the several thousand we wanted to avoid a risk found himself unmarked after Salah four more days to work on by ESPN on the basis of his progressing: Uruguay Egyptian fans who travelled to today,” Cuper said. the ball broke loose after a his fitness while Uruguay take social media following, coach Oscar Tabarez. Yekaterinburg from as far afield “We want to have him in corner, but he forced a good on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday endorsement deals and as Texas and Sydney. top form for Russia and Saudi save from El-Shenawy in the in Rostov. search score. Iran stun Morocco with stoppage-time goal

AFP onto the field and when the final whistle blew moments later they SAINT PETERSBURG: Iran’s were sprinting over again in players stormed the pitch at full- delight. time as if they had won the Morocco should at least take World Cup rather than just their heart from a blistering first half opening match after an own goal an hour, during which their zip from Morocco’s Aziz Bouhaddouz and zest deemed them virtually gifted them a dramatic 1-0 unplayable. But Hakim Ziyach, victory yesterday. Ayoub El Kaabi and Mehdi Wasteful finishing looked to Benatia all failed to capitalise. have consigned this compelling Instead, Iran showed the contest at the Saint Petersburg same grit that had frustrated Stadium to a goalless draw but Argentina for 91 minutes four Bouhaddouz’s mistake in injury- years ago but while Lionel Messi time means Iran emerge as the was the difference that day, this early challengers to Spain and time it was their turn to snatch a Portugal in Group B. last-gasp winner. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, Their build-up had not been once of Real Madrid and Man- smooth. Nike had blocked the chester United, insisted the chaos players’ supply of boots four days that has engulfed Spain this week previous while further back, offered no boost to these teams’ friendlies against Greece and chances, but this victory certainly Kosovo were cancelled. cranks the pressure up a notch. It gave Queiroz good reason Iran’s players celebrate at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B match against Iran at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint When Bouhaddouz nodded for positioning his team as the Petersburg yesterday. in at the near post, Iran’s substi- group’s outsiders but both teams tutes could not resist rushing had cause for optimism after his side strolled through 18 games a sea of red and white, and swarming forward with such Younes Belhanda and Benatia period or, more likely, reminded of Asian qualifying without buzzing with the hum of ferocity that on the line, Queiroz blocked. of their defensive duties during defeat while Morocco were vuvuzelas in a throwback to the spent most of the opening 20 The onslaught finally the interval, both teams were unbeaten too, with the added 2010 World Cup in South Africa. minutes urging his players to eased after half an hour and more cagey after the restart. coup of not conceding a single The only shame was the large pause, and take a breath. by the interval Iran had not They each made substitu- IRAN MOROCCO goal. number of empty seats at kick- The only surprise was only survived but finished the tions as the game drifted past the Morocco’s fans, at a World off, with many supporters still Morocco were not ahead as stronger, Sardar Azmoun, the hour and the closest it had come 1 0 Cup for the first time in 20 years, queueing to get through security Ziyach kicked the air from a ‘Iranian Messi’, spurning a to a winner was when a fizzing belted out their own national 15 minutes before kick-off. well-worked corner, El Kaabi one-on-one after a scintil- Ziyach drive had to be tipped Bouhaddouz anthem and then applauded Morocco started brilliantly, sliced wide and a penalty-box lating break. around the post by Ali - own goal Iran’s, the 67,000-seater arena hounding Iran’s every touch and scramble saw shots from Perhaps tired from the first Beiranvand.