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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 SPORTS Preview Favors needed again as Juve look to clinch title MILAN: After their weekend derby dis- to the semi-finals of the Champions ahead of a game that he will miss due to run of just one defeat in six. who are into the Europa League semi- appointment, Juventus will need favors League for the first time in 12 years to suspension. Paul Pogba is still sidelined, “We will have to grit our teeth finals and have won their last three Serie from elsewhere if they are to secure a the low of losing 2-1 to city rivals Torino, but Claudio Marchisio is back after a ban because a very difficult week awaits. I A matches, scoring 10 goals in the fourth consecutive Serie A title in front their first defeat in the so-called ‘Derby and the likes of Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio am convinced that our season will be process. of their own fans today. della Mole’ since 1995. Chiellini and leading scorer Carlos Tevez decided on the final day,” said Lazio Their latest victory was a 4-2 crushing Fourteen points clear at the top of That match was also marred by crowd are in line to return to the team. coach Stefano Pioli after his team’s 1-1 of fellow European hopefuls Sampdoria the table with six matches remaining, trouble, with the Juve team bus being Fiorentina are dangerous opponents draw with Chievo on Sunday. Lazio are a and their run has revived their Massimiliano Allegri’s side entertain attacked on its way to the ground and on paper, although a 3-1 home loss to point better off than capital rivals Roma, Champions League hopes before Rafa Fiorentina at the Juventus Stadium several Torino fans then being hurt struggling Cagliari on Sunday was their who go to Sassuolo looking to improve Benitez’s men go to Empoli on Thursday. knowing a win will see them confirmed when a paper bomb was thrown inside third in a row in Serie A, with coach on a run of just three wins in their last 15 Meanwhile, under-pressure AC Milan as champions provided nearest rivals the stadium. Vincenzo Montella admitting their run to Serie A games, the latest outing a 2-1 coach Filippo Inzaghi is keeping his Lazio slip up at home to Parma. Juve risk having part of their stadium the Europa League semi-finals has defeat away to Inter on Saturday. “We under-performing players in retreat at A draw could also be enough for the closed as a punishment, which would sapped energy. need to have a burning desire to start their Milanello training ground ahead of Bianconeri to clinch their 31st scudetto take some of the gloss off an end to the Rather than postponing Juve’s title winning again. Things are not going today’s home clash with Genoa. this midweek, but only if Lazio, Roma season which promises so much. celebrations, Lazio’s priority is on hold- well, we need to change things in the six Inzaghi blasted his team after the and Napoli all fail to win, with the latter “Sorry to have lost the derby. We did- ing on to the second automatic matches that are left,” declared midfield- weekend defeat at Udinese, which left not in action away to Empoli until n’t get much luck. We continue to pedal Champions League qualifying spot as er Miralem Pjanic. them in 10th place and appeared to kill tomorrow. In the last week, Juve have towards winning the scudetto,” defender they entertain a Parma side who have Roma’s position on the podium is off their chances of European qualifica- gone from the high of winning through Leonardo Bonucci wrote on Twitter delayed their inevitable relegation on a under threat from a resurgent Napoli, tion. —AFP Al Mohannadi withdraws from FIFA executive race MANAMA: Qatar Football Association vice-pres- Figo will hope to convince delegates at this increasing the number of teams participating in ident Saud Al Mohannadi has pulled out of elec- week’s Asian Football Confederation Congress the World Cup, we not only make sure that we tions for a place on the FIFA executive commit- that a vote for him would boost the region’s include more countries from across the world, tee, saying West Asia should support one candi- chances of more places in future World Cup but also enable FIFA to raise significant date. finals. increased revenues that can be used to invest in Olympic Council of Asia president Sheikh Figo told Reuters before he left for tomor- the growth of the game globally.” Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait, one of row’s congress in the Bahrain capital of Manama sport’s most influential powerbrokers in the that he also wanted more non-Europeans FOOTBALL HUBS world, is heavily expected to be voted on to involved in working for FIFA, which should Figo will also tell Asian delegates of his plan FIFA’s decision-making board. Al Mohannadi become more of a multi-cultural organisation. for what he calls “football hubs” involving called on Sheikh Ahmad and Oman’s Khalid Al The former Portugal international, 42, said in localised regular meetings with presidents and GERMANY: Berlin’s mayor Michael Mueller lifts the trophy of the 2015 FIFA Women’s Busaidi to settle on one candidate from West an email exchange that the increased populari- general secretaries of national associations. Football World Cupat the Rotes Rathaus city hall in Berlin. The FIFA Women’s World Asia. “I am grateful to the football fraternity for ty of the sport in Asia and rising standards of “I think these would benefit the AFC. Cup will take place from June 6 to July 5, 2015 in Canada. —AFP their wholehearted support,” Al Mohannadi said play were just two reasons why he wanted to Representing countries from the Middle East to in a statement. “I hope Asian football remains see the World Cup expanded. “I think the grow- Australia, the AFC is the confederation with united and prospers as a powerful football ing popularity and quality of football in the dif- more time zones than any other.” body.” ferent regions represented within AFC are argu- Figo, however, will have his work cut out in Bournemouth awakes to The Qatari, who will be elected one of the ments in favour of opening the debate around getting Asian delegates to vote for him when Asian Football Confederation’s vice presidents expanding the World Cup to 40 or 48 teams most have already pledged their support for English top-flight reality on Thursday at the body’s congress in Bahrain, with additional teams weighted towards non- incumbent Sepp Blatter. was one of seven candidates vying for the three European nations,” he said. A similar problem faces the other candidates, LONDON: The genteel English seaside town “unbelievable”, they was no exaggeration. places on FIFA’s all-powerful executive commit- Figo’s proposal for a larger World Cup is one Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein of Jordan and Michael of Bournemouth awoke yesterday to the Bournemouth has always been better known tee. of the cornerstones of his manifesto and he van Praag of the Netherlands, who will also be astonishing prospect that its soccer club, on for its sandy beaches, leafy parks and Victorian AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al intends to tell Asian delegates exactly how they in Bahrain, but Figo believes the time has come the brink of extinction only five years ago, will pier than for footballing prowess. Khalifa, who is standing unopposed for re-elec- can benefit from his plan. for change. be revelling in the glamour and wealth of For decades, the club’s notable achieve- tion in his hometown, will take up one spot The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will comprise “I also want to bring more people from non- Premier League football next season. Barring a ments were restricted to Ted MacDougall’s after pushing through changes to ensure the 32 finalists but nothing is yet written in stone European confederations into the FIFA staff,” he near-impossible 20-goal swing in the final record tally of nine goals in an 11-0 FA Cup head of Asian soccer was automatically on the for tournaments beyond that date with Asia cur- said. “A staff that would really represent the games on Saturday, Bournemouth will be pro- win over Margate in 1971 and an upset victory board. rently allocated four guaranteed berths at finals world and benefit from multicultural human moted from the Championship to challenge over holders Manchester United in the same Incumbents Worawi Makudi of Thailand and and the possibility of a fifth via an inter-conti- resources. There are a lot of competent people the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United in competition in 1984. China’s Zhang Jilong are also standing for re- nental playoff. in the AFC federations who could do a good job English soccer’s top flight for the first time in Those moments looked set to be their epi- election at the AFC Congress in Bahrain on Figo added: “I propose the FIFA Congress in FIFA,” he added. their 116-year history. It is a turnaround few taph when they were forced into administra- Thursday along with Japan’s Kohzo Tashima, should study and decide on a new format for The presidential election takes place during would have thought possible. “It’s been an tion seven years ago. Two years of desperate Chun-Mong-gyu of South Korean and Malaysian the best competition in the world.