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Home , Lorik Cana, Olympique de Marseille, Taulant Xhaka

TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016 SPORTS

Euro 2016

SANTANDER: Football players vie during the 52nd Football Championship Santander beach football amateur match, on the beach of the Sardinero of Santander, northern Spain on May 8, 2016. —AFP Euro 2016 of ‘risk’ countdown launched

PARIS: is launching the final count- Portugal and England also from the top 10 in failed attempt to bomb the . appeared on a list along with the Eiffel Tower, time when we talk about other things. down to the European Championship finals the FIFA world rankings. the La Defense business district, the depart- “We are putting as much energy into secu- where the appeal of Cristiano Ronaldo The presence of Portugal’s Ronaldo, Security costs double ment stores, the RER commuter train network rity as proposing a warm, fraternal festive wel- and Zlatan Ibrahimovic risks being overshad- Ibrahimovic with Sweden, Thomas Mueller Organisers will take over the 10 stadiums in and I don’t know what else,” Lambert said. come to spectactors,” he said. A year ahead of owed by fears of a terrorist attack. Troops and with Germany, Wales’ Gareth Bale and Andres , Lens, Lille, Lyon, , Bordeaux, “It does not change anything for us. You the International Olympic Committee decision extra police have been patrolling the streets of Iniesta with Spain has helped sell all but about Nice, St Etienne and Toulouse from May 14 to don’t need to find the Euro name written on a on who hosts the 2024 Olympics, some Paris and other major cities since the 20,000 tickets of the 2.5 million tickets for the carry out final technical and security work, piece of paper to know that, because of the observers see Euro 2016 as having a crucial November 13 attacks in the French capital that 51 games. The competition starts at the Stade according to Lambert. Security costs for Euro event’s notoriety it is clearly a target. role in deciding the chances of Paris against left 130 dead. Chief organizer Jacques de France in Paris on June 10 with a Group A 2016 have doubled from the 12 million euros “Whatever happens in France during this Budapest, Los Angeles and . Lambert, Lambert said it was inevitable that Euro 2016 game between the hosts and Romania. The ($13.7 million) first planned to 24 million. month, it will be an attack on the Euro,” he who had key roles organizing the 1992 Winter would be “a target” for militants but also insist- final is in the same stadium on July 10 when Some cities wanted to cancel plans for fan said. Lambert said he regretted the “extreme Olympics at Albertville and the 1998 World ed that it must be “a breath of fresh air” for a the most expensive tickets cost 895 euros zones near the stadiums that would attract focus” on the security fears for the football Cup in France acknowledged the risks. “I don’t public weary of security threats. France was ($1,020). But the razzmatazz has been domi- tens of thousands of fans. The tournament extravaganza and insisted that it was not the know on what basis the IOC will decide in chosen in 2010 to host the event, that for the nated by security fears since the Charlie was on a list of potential targets found in raids only target. “I understand that security ques- 2017 but if the Euro goes well it will certainly first time will feature 24 teams including world Hebdo attacks in Paris in January last year and in Brussels after attacks by Islamist militants in tions are a priority but this event has also got not change much for Paris’ chances. But if the champions Germany and , Spain, new strikes in November which included a March. “From what we were told, the Euro to bring a breath of fresh air. This has to be a Euro goes badly, it can only do it harm.”— AFP 3- Cana plays ’s patriot card

TIRANA: “If I wanted to write a script I couldn’t he said. The team-which includes many second- have done it better,” according to -born Lorik generation children of migrants to , Cana who will lead Albania at Euro 2016, their first Germany, and Austria-has a similar make-up to ever appearance at a major tournament. “My goal Albanians themselves, “who are more numerous was always to play for Albania on the big stage,” the outside the country than inside it,” he told AFP. It is 32-year-old defender said in an interview. “It makes a symbol of “national pride,” he added. Capped a it more special that it will happen in France, the record 89 times, Cana has played in France (with country where I grew up with football, where my over 200 appearances at three different family lives,” said Cana, who lived in France from the clubs), England, Turkey and Italy. His experience is age of 17. unparalleled in the squad. In fact, he holds three : Albania, “He is more than a player, he is the heart of the Switzerland where he spent 10 childhood years, team, the boss of the dressing-room,” said Albania’s PARIS: kicks the ball during an exhibition match between former and France which he calls “my second home”. But Italian coach , who relies on his players from the 1998 France’s national team, and young players from a Parisian team Cana, who speaks Albanian and is fiercely proud of Italian-speaking captain to help translate team (Pitray Olier Paris JSC) on May 8, 2016, at the Jean Bouin stadium in Paris. —AFP his identity, never had any doubt that his allegiance talks. “He helps me get across to the players my phi- was with the “Kuq e Zinjte” (Red and Blacks). “I had losophy and my vision,” said de Biasi. After Cana the chance to grow up in a patriotic family that attracted the attention of Paris Saint-Germain as a Deschamps sets sights on always placed huge importance on preserving our teenager, the family moved to France, where a sev- language and culture,” he said. One of several en-year stint in Ligue 1 began in 2002, first with more host nation’s glory Kosovo-born players on the team - along with PSG, then with who he Fredierik Veseli, Berak Djimsiti, and Amir Rahmani- eventually captained. He then spent a season in PARIS: Having scaled the international foot- through to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Cana’s family moved from his birthplace , Sunderland - where he was the first Albanian to ball heights as a player, Didier Deschamps even though he has hinted at missing the then part of Yugoslavia, now capital of Kosovo, to play in the English - and another at now has his sights set on leading France to day-to-day rush of club management. “I am Switzerland in 1990 just before the Galatasaray in Turkey. European Championship glory on home flourishing,” he told L’Equipe recently when soil as coach. Deschamps was captain of the asked if he were still enjoying himself. “I am broke out. Four years in Italy with Lazio followed between French team that won the World Cup at privileged. I would like to spend more time The journeys of refugees and emigrants as well 2011 and 2015 before a return to France, and home in 1998 and also led Les Bleus to glo- with my players, as would all national as awareness of the hardships suffered by people Nantes. Two of the Euro 2016 Group A games have ry at Euro 2000, so could hardly be better coaches, but I live very well with my duties. who stayed behind gave him his desire to succeed, particular resonance for Cana. — AFP placed to handle the pressure and expecta- My objective is the Euro and I am focused tion that comes with being in charge of the exclusively on that.” Euro 2016 hosts. Schooled at Nantes under the legendary When asked by sports daily L’Equipe if he coach Jean-Claude Suaudeau, ‘DD’ was part 5 things on Switzerland felt France-also winners in 1984 - could lift of the France side that famously suffered a the Henri Delaunay trophy for a third time gut-wrenching last-gasp loss to Bulgaria to in July, Deschamps said: “We will go into it miss out on qualifying for the 1994 World GENEVA: Five things on Switzerland ahead of Euro tournament. They lost to Ukraine in a penalty that rankles some in the country. The 19-year-old with that objective. We can be humble and Cup in the United States. The heartache 2016 where they start in Group E against Belgium, shootout-the Swiss did not score any of their penal- will be one of the most watched players at Euro ambitious.” The 47-year-old who hails from marked a generation, with the exception of Italy and the Irish Republic: ties. Their World Cup defensive shield stayed up 2016 because his skills have already attracted the Bayonne, the capital of the French Basque Deschamps, who recovered to lift the World until the second group game of the 2010 finals scouts of top clubs from across the continent. His Country and very much rugby territory, has Cup at the Stade de France in 1998 and Seeking scalps when Chile scored against them. Switzerland went club side have reportedly already rejected a 27 been building towards the Euro climax. then the Euro two years later. He won the Switzerland have finished bottom of the first 559 minutes in all without conceding a goal at the million euro ($30.5 million) offer from German club Exiting the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at last of his 103 caps in September 2000 and round group at each of the three European World Cup finals in regular play. Wolfsburg. He has also been linked to Manchester the quarter-final stage was accepted, espe- retired from playing a year later at the age Championship finals they have played in. Swiss fans United and Bayern . Embolo was given Swiss cially as some of the performances were of just 32, bringing a premature end to a do not fancy their country’s chances at Euro 2016 Passport checks needed citizenship in December 2014 and played the first of encouraging and there was none of the off- glittering career as a defensive . either and luck is not always on their side. On their The Switzerland-Albania clash in Group A on nine internationals for the full team just four months field problems that marred previous major Euro debut against hosts England in 1996 they June 11 stands out because it could see Swiss star later. His only international goal came from the tournaments for the French. But an exciting ‘Blessed’ sneaked a 1-1 draw but then lost to Netherlands playing against his brother Taulant in penalty spot in a 7-0 win over San Marino that young team is now expected to deliver at Once described by as a and Scotland. In 2004, they managed a goalless the Albanian side. Because of Europe’s waves of secured Switzerland’s place in Euro 2016. Euro 2016. It has not been all plain sailing “water carrier”, he captained Marseille to draw against and then lost to England and migration in the 1990s to escape wars and political for Deschamps, who has had to deal with a Champions League glory in 1993 and won France. As hosts in 2008, they lost to Czech Republic upheaval, each team has at least six players who are Seferovic’s precious goals sex-tape blackmail affair involving Karim the trophy again with Juventus in 1996. His and Turkey, but finally got their first win when qualified to compete for the other side. Switzerland Haris Seferovic, Switzerland’s current top scorer, Benzema. “Nothing shocks me anymore,” he coaching CV is remarkable too, featuring a Hakan Yakin scored both goals in a 2-0 win over has the likes of Stoke City star Xerdan Shaqiri who nearly slipped through the national net. The said, but he must hope the decision to drop Champions League final appearance with Portugal, who did not use Cristiano Ronaldo. was born in Albania but moved to Switzerland with Eintracht Frankfurt forward was born in the Real Madrid striker from the squad does Monaco in 2004 and a French title triumph his parents. is among an opposing Switzerland in 1992 after his parents moved from not come back to bite the national federa- with Marseille in 2010. He departed OM Unwanted record wave born in Switzerland but who moved back or Bosnia. In 2013 he announced he wanted to play tion. under a cloud in 2012, though, and might Switzerland reached the World Cup quarter chose to play for Albania. for the country of his parents’ birth but then Nevertheless, public opinion appears to have done the same from the national team finals in 1934, 1938 and 1954. But in 2006 in accepted a callup to the Swiss national side and back the decision and Deschamps has plen- until a dramatic play-off win over Ukraine Germany, they set a record they will not want to be Embolo under scrutiny made his debut in February that year against ty of other attack options. Unless things go saw them snatch qualification for the last reminded off. The Swiss went out in the last 16 Breel Embolo, born in , symbolises the Greece. Seferovic, often used as a substitute, has badly wrong, Deschamps will be in charge World Cup. —AFP despite not having conceded a goal in the whole multicultural side of Switzerland’s national team, since scored seven goals.— AFP