TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 SPORTS Sweden kicks off post-Zlatan reform phase

STOCKHOLM: No longer able to call up keeper , defender Erik BUILDING A BARBECUE down and said singing wouldn’t be Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sweden are in dire Johansson and 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. , 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 , 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 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. “We’re very immediately as he escaped behind the defence 34. Loew has vowed to blood the country’s next happy, even if there is room for improvement.” and struck firmly at Jarstein, but Norway should generation as part of their World Cup preparations Loew added: “I think we played a good have equalised on 24 minutes when Josh King and 20-year-old Julian Brandt, the Bayer match, we dominated our opponents. Norway rifled narrowly over rather than playing in an Leverkusen winger, went close to grabbing his weren’t at their best tonight, they never got into unmarked Veton Berisha. first senior Germany goal after coming on as a the match but that’s also because we played While Neuer, in his first game since taking substitute. — AFP Northern Ireland hold Czechs to goalless draw

PRAGUE: Northern Ireland opened their World Television. “I was alone and I could have asked front three and obviously Paddy McNair.” “We Cup 2018 qualifying campaign with a goalless him (McGovern) where I should place it. weren’t as big a threat in terms of being on the draw against Group C rivals the Czech Republic Unfortunately I missed.” counter-attack (in the second half), but again in Prague on Sunday. the spirit of the team, to defend and to make Playing their first competitive game since ‘FATIGUE ELEMENT’ sure we took something from the game, was SAITAMA: United Arab Emirates (UAE) midfielder Omar Abdulrahman (R) and Japan’s their 1-0 defeat to Wales in the last-16 phase of Jarolim said the second half “was better” and admirable.” “We’re not going to come here to a midfielder Makoto Hasebe (L) fight for the ball during their football match in the Euro 2016, Northern Ireland relied on solid showed his team the way to go in the games to team of the Czech Republic’s calibre and domi- final round of Asian qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup at Saitama Stadium. — AFP defence and breakaways throughout the game. follow. “We had enough scoring chances but nate possession of the ball. “We’re pleased with the point,” said Northern failed to convert them.” O’Neill blamed the “We’re a very good team when we don’t have Ireland manager Michael O’Neill. “fatigue element” for his team’s lack of stamina the ball but we have to improve a lot when we do FIFA clears Kosovo players “It’s a better point for us than it is for them, after the break. have it.” Germany lead Group C after beating obviously.” In their best scoring chance of a “We started the game with four players that Norway 3-0 at Oslo on Sunday, ahead of rather dull first half, Paddy McNair saw his low have played very little club football this year, the Azerbaijan who won 1-0 at San Marino. — AFP to make World Cup debut shot stopped by Czech keeper Tomas Vaclik. The ZURICH: Amid last-minute confusion had represented other countries at youth Czechs never managed to put the defensive visi- about which players are eligible to play or senior level while their home country tors under real pressure during the first 45 min- for Kosovo, soccer’s newest national was not recognized in international soc- utes. Pavel Kaderabek, Milan Skoda and Vladimir team will have almost a full squad to pick cer. Kosovo’s assistant coach, Tord Grip, Darida all sent shots wide, leaving Northern from in its World Cup debut yesterday. said the confusion has been unsettling. Ireland keeper Michael McGovern with little to FIFA said hours before kickoff in “Maybe it’s both the Kosovo federa- do. “I thought first half we were very good at Finland that it approved several former tion and FIFA that have messed this up. I times, we defended well, we counter-attacked Albania players to represent Kosovo. don’t know all the details,” Grip, a former well, but... we should have done better with the Five of the six players confirmed by longtime assistant to Sven-Goran final pass,” said O’Neill. FIFA, including goalkeeper Samir Ujkani, Eriksson, told Swedish radio yesterday. “We set our team up to play that way so it were in the squad to play Finland in Kosovo’s entry into FIFA membership was pleasing to see the players took that on Turku. The cases of midfielder Valon has tested the rules on switching alle- board.” Czech coach Karel Jarolim, who took over Berisha, who played for Norway before giance. Created to regulate typical cases from Pavel Vrba after Euro 2016 at which the Kosovo gained FIFA and UEFA member- in which players had nationality of two Czechs bowed out following the group phase, ship in May, and one other player were existing FIFA member federations, the said he was upset with the loss of points. still not resolved before the 9:45 p.m. rules have struggled to cope with a new “But we have to raise our heads and go on,” (1845 GMT) kickoff. national team like Kosovo. he added. The hosts created better chances ear- Confusion over paperwork threatened FIFA had in recent months approved ly in the second half, but Vaclav Kadlec sent his to mar Kosovo’s first World Cup qualifying requests from nine Kosovo players who low shot straight at McGovern after three Czechs match, more than eight years after the for- had represented six different European had stormed into the visitors’ box. mer province of Serbia declared inde- countries, including Albania, Germany Czech winger Filip Novak then squandered pendence. FIFA’s players’ status committee and Switzerland. Kosovo’s qualifying his team’s best chance as he blasted wide from has been evaluating requests to switch group also includes Croatia, Iceland, five yards, while Ladislav Krejci and Jan Kopic MONTEVIDEO: Claudia Umpierrez, the first woman to referee first division men’s football in allegiance of Kosovo-eligible players who Turkey and Ukraine. — AP both missed the target in the closing stages. Uruguay, referees a match between Uruguayan teams River Plate and Boston River on Sunday “I should have scored,” Novak told the Czech in Montevideo. — AFP