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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 SPORTS Sweden kicks off post-Zlatan reform phase STOCKHOLM: No longer able to call up keeper Andreas Isaksson, defender Erik BUILDING A BARBECUE down and said singing wouldn’t be Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden are in dire Johansson and midfielder Kim Kallstrom. To give Andersson the best shot at mandatory. And just last week, he took need of radical changes to win fans and The side on call for today’s match is full success, the Swedish Football Federation the squad out into the woods to have games, as it faces the Netherlands in their of new recruits. Two players are expected has provided him with an adviser who them build a barbecue as a team-build- Group A 2018 World Cup qualifying open- to make their international debut, Marcus worked miracles at the Euro as Iceland’s ing exercise. er. After a dismal showing at Euro-2016, Rohden, 25, and Alexander Fransson, 22. coach, Swede Lars Lagerback. But so far It took them two-and-a-half hours Sweden’s all-time high scorer put an end to But the pool of talent is clearly shallow. he has stayed in the shadows and it is and team spirit was bolstered. The same his 116-cap international career, leaving The pillars of the team are now captain unclear what exactly his role will be. day, the Netherlands played a friendly big boots to fill. Andreas Granqvist, his fellow defender Andersson, who won the Swedish against Greece and lost 1-2. As far as The Swedes are now turning the page Victor Lindelof, a young hopeful at Benfica, first division championship in 2015 with game strategy goes, Andersson hopes to to begin the post-Zlatan era. “I had a con- and Albin Ekdal, a playmaker who will sit Norrkoping, is known for his tough, no- forge a more well-balanced team that versation with Zlatan where he was per- out against the Netherlands due to injury. nonsense style and an offensive game, a works together-a change welcomed by fectly clear. This chapter is closed,” In other words, Sweden poses little threat stark contrast from his predecessor Erik observers. Sweden’s new coach Janne Andersson said in Group A, which also includes France, Hamren, who infuriated fans with his Sportswriter Mathias Luhr, of Swedish in late August. “There’s no point in think- Bulgaria, Belarus and Luxembourg. cautious, defensive style. SOLNA: Netherland’s national foot- daily Expressen, said he believed in “this ing about how things used to be.” Andersson is fully aware the team will Barely wet behind the ears, ball midfielder Wesley Sneijder attend much-needed and interesting fresh Andersson now finds himself building a need some time to find its form. “I can’t Andersson has already courted contro- a press conference on the eve of the start, with a team rather than a team from scratch. In addition to guarantee victory. But I can guarantee that versy by insisting that all players sing WC 2018 football qualification match Hollywood production made up of one Ibrahimovic, five other players have quit we are 100 percent professional,” he told the national anthem, something between Sweden and Netherland in superstar and slew of (pretty) anony- the squad after the Euros, including goal- daily Aftonbladet recently. Ibrahimovic never did. He later backed Solna, yesterday. — AFP mous sidekicks.” —AFP UAE surprise Japan, Australia beat Iraq PERTH: The United Arab Emirates upset had 20 shots to six and had 72 percent of Japan 2-1 to pick up a valuable three points possession but their passing wasn’t accu- away and Australia scored twice in six min- rate, while Iraq crowded the midfield and utes to hold off Iraq 2-0 to kick off the final defended well. “We’ve got this one out of round of Asian qualifying for the World the way, now we need to recover and play Cup. Ahmed Khalil scored twice in Saitama again in a few days,” Australia captain Mile to help the UAE team overcome an early 1- Jedinak said. 0 deficit against Japan in Group B. South Korea got away to a big lead and held on to SOUTH KOREA 3, CHINA 2 beat China 3-2 in Group A in Seoul, then South Korea held on to beat China. Uzbekistan beat Syria 1-0 in Tashkent, and Zheng Zhi’s own-goal put South Korea Iran defeated Qatar 2-0 at Tehran. ahead, Lee Chung-yong headed home the Saudi Arabia edged Thailand 1-0 in second, and Koo Ja-cheol made it 3-0 mid- Group B, leaving UAE as the only team with way through the second half. But Hai Yu an away win in the opening matches of the pulled a goal back for China in the 74th, round. The top two teams in each group and Hao Junmin curled home a free kick automatically qualify for the 2018 World two minutes later. South Korea, the 2002 Cup, and the third-place teams go into a World Cup semifinalist, plays Syria on playoff for an intercontinental qualifier for Tuesday, when China hosts Iran. the last spot in Russia. Asian Cup champion Australia’s next match will be a tough one - UZBEKISTAN 1, SYRIA 0 UAE on Tuesday in the heat and humidity Forward Alexandr Geynrikh went on in of Abu Dhabi. the second half and scored the only goal “This is no surprise, UAE is a very good late at Tashkent, pouncing on a rebound team, and this is a very difficult group,” and sending a half-volley into the Syrian Australia coach Ange Postecoglou said, goal. Syria had a late equalizer chance but when told of UAE’s win moments after the Omro Al Midani’s effort was blocked. Socceroos beat Iraq. IRAN 2, QATAR 0 UAE 2, JAPAN 1 Injury-time goals from Reza OSLO: Germany’s midfielder Thomas Mueller (R) vies with Norway’s Markus Henriksen during the World Cup 2018 football qualification match A month-long training camp in Spain Ghoochannejhad and Alireza Jahanbaksh between Norway and Germany in Oslo on Sunday. — AFP appears to have helped the UAE, while secured the win for three-time World Cup four-time Asian champion Japan struggled qualifier Iran at Azadi Stadium. Substitute to put together its top team after some Ghoochannejhad capitalized on a mistake players arrived only a few days ahead of the by Qatar goalkeeper Amine Lacomte to Mueller, Kimmich fire match. An unmarked Keisuke Honda gave give the home side the lead four minutes Japan the lead in the 11th minute from a into injury time, and Jahanbaksh’s long- free kick, but Khalil, the Asian player of the range strike clinched the win. year, equalized nine minutes later. Khalil Germany past Norway scored his second from the penalty spot SAUDI ARABIA 1, THAILAND 0 nine minutes into the second half. Attacking midfielder Nawaf Al Abed scored from the penalty spot in the 84th OSLO: Bayern Munich team-mates Thomas well.” The four-time world champions are trying over as full-time captain following the interna- AUSTRALIA 2, IRAQ 0 minute at Riyadh’s King Fahd International Mueller and Joshua Kimmich fired title-holders to become the first European team since Italy in tional retirement of Bastian Schweinsteiger, was Second-half goals from Massimo Stadium to give Saudi Arabia its fifth win Germany to a commanding 3-0 win away to 1938 to retain the trophy, and the visitors quick- largely untroubled, his opposite number Jarstein Luongo and Tomi Juric gave Australia the over Thailand - along with a scoreless draw Norway in their opening 2018 World Cup qualifi- ly took the game to Per-Mathias Hogmo’s tried his best to keep Norway in the match. win after a frustrating first half. Australia - in six internationals. — AP er on Sunday. Norway. Benedikt Hoewedes found himself in an The Hertha Berlin keeper raced off his line to Mueller struck in the 16th minute at the advanced position inside the Norwegian box claw the ball away from Julian Draxler as Germany Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo before Kimmich netted and Mueller’s cutback picked out the Schalke continued to look dangerous, but Loew’s side Germany’s second goal on the stroke of half- centre-back who forced Rune Jarstein to make grabbed a deserved second before the break as time. Mueller then scored again on the hour to an excellent save with his legs. Mueller’s deft touch released Kimmich to drill a ensure a winning start for Joachim Loew’s team superb low strike into the corner. Norway couldn’t in Group C as the world champions set off on the MUELLER SHINES have asked for a much tougher test as they seek to road to the finals in Russia. But Mueller edged the Germans ahead on the qualify for a first major tournament since Euro Germany top the group after the opening quarter-hour as the Bayern forward, having 2000, and their hosts took another hit as Mueller round of matches, with Azerbaijan also claiming fluffed his first attempt, reacted quickest amid a headed Sami Khedira’s cross past Jarstein early in a 1-0 victory against San Marino and Northern chaotic scramble to shoot beyond Jarstein, the the second half. Mueller failed to score even once Ireland holding Czech Republic to a 0-0 draw. Norway goalkeeper unable to keep the ball out during Germany’s run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, “We can always find things to improve, but as it squirmed inside the far post. but the 27-year-old rediscovered his best form in generally speaking, we were on the right track Kimmich nearly doubled the lead almost Oslo as he increased his international goals tally to tonight,” Mueller told RTL Television.