Friday 47 Sports Friday, June 14, 2019 Big hitters France and Germany grind towards WCup knockouts VALENCIENNES: Eugenie Le Sommer fired and Norway, who now need to hold off South Women’s World Cup hosts France to the top of Korea to be sure of arriving AT the knockout Group A after scoring the winning penalty to see stage. Thomas Dennerby’s Nigeria meanwhile off determined Norway on Wednesday, while are eyeing a first qualification to the knockout Germany virtually assured themselves of missing stage for 20 years after just their second World the rampant United States in the last 16 after Cup win in that time. The three points they have squeezing past Spain and taking control of could well be enough to see the Super Falcons Group B. Lyon star Le Sommer fired home from through as one of the four bes third place finish- the spot with 18 minutes left after referee Bibiana ers, but Dennerby is targeting a result against Steinhaus decided after a VAR review that Nor- France in Rennes on Monday to remove all way defender Ingrid Syrstad Engen had kicked doubt. “France are a very good team, if we come Marion Torrent on the knee after making a hash out of that with one point we’ll all be very of a clearance. happy,” Dennerby added. The 30-year-old’s second goal of the tourna- ment put France on a perfect six points after two GERMANY DOWN SPAIN games and saved the blushes of her club team- Earlier Germany brushed off the absence of mate Wendie Renard, who had cancelled out Va- injured star player Dzsenifer Marozsan as Sara lerie Gauvin’s 46th-minute opener for ‘Les Daebritz downed Spain to move her side top of Bleues’ with a barely-believable own goal. their group. Marozsan will miss at least the Ger- Renard, whose height and power had led to man’s final group stage match against bottom Norway using a similarly tall press officer to sim- side South Africa after breaking her toe in her ulate her presence in the area for set-pieces in side’s opening 1-0 win over China, but Wednes- training, was visibly distraught after tapping Is- day’s hard-fought win means her lay-off should VALENCIENNES: Spain’s midfielder Alexia Putellas (2R) vies for the ball with Germany’s de- abell Herlovsen’s cross into her own net under be less of a problem in the sort-term. Paris Saint- fender Kathrin Hendrich (R) and Germany’s defender Sara Doorsoun (2L) during the France no pressure. Germain midfielder Daebritz made Germany 2019 Women’s World Cup Group B football match between Germany and Spain, at the Hainaut “I made a big mistake, scoring a goal against strong favourites to top the group by pouncing Stadium in Valenciennes, northern France. — AFP my own team, unfortunately for me and unfortu- three minutes before the break ahead of dither- nately for my team,” said Renard to French ing Spain defender Marta Torrejon, who only broadcaster Canal+. “We didn’t let our heads had to clear the ball after her goalkeeper Sandra mans would take on one of the four best third- play the winners of Group F”. Second-placed drop ... and we were rewarded with the penalty.” Panos did well to save Alexandra Popp’s header. placed finishers who will make the last 16. Spain, who were wasteful despite dominating Le Sommer stepped up to save the points and They are three points clear of Spain and are “Our goal was always to win the group, and possession and will rue Nahikari Garcia some- put them to within a point of topping the group one better on goal difference, meaning they need now we are on the way to doing so. We want to how slicing wide when clean through in the 14th ahead of Monday’s final match against Nigeria, a point against bottom side South Africa on win our third game too,” Daebritz told German minute, should still qualify but face a trickier test who saw off South Korea 2-0 in Wednesday’s Monday to be completely sure of coming out on broadcaster ZDF. against China on Monday. early match thanks to a a comical own goal from top. That would leave whoever finished second Asked by reporters if watching the USA dis- They risk being caught by the Chinese or Kim Do-yeon and a superb burst and finish from below them to face the Americans, who were in mantle Thailand was “extra motivation” for her South Africa, who aim to boost their own quali- Asisat Oshoala. ominous form on Tuesday as they racked up a side to win the group, a smiling Voss-Tecklen- fication hopes today in Paris after losing their France are three points ahead of both Nigeria record 13-0 win over Thailand, while the Ger- burg said “both teams knew they didn’t want opening games. — AFP firmation. Chelsea will begin life ble Beach’s coastal views can distract from the challenge it City begin without the influential Eden Hazard Koepka, Woods presents, especially with the pinched fairways and deep at Old Trafford with United in need rough of a US Open. of a fast start after a dismal end to “The rough is definitely going to be a factor this week,” title defence last season under Ole Gunnar Sol- chase history Koepka said. “Very juicy. You need to put the ball in the fair- skjaer. On their return to the top- ways. “These greens are so small, you can almost put it in at West Ham flight Aston Villa host Spurs, whilst at Pebble Beach the center of every green and have 20 feet, no matter where Sheffield United are away at the flag stick is. It really comes down to who’s going to make Bournemouth. putts.” Woods said the 7,075-yard, par-71 course is playing LONDON: Champions Manchester City only edged Liverpool by a PEBBLE BEACH: Brooks Koepka launches his bid for an his- similarly to the last time it hosted the US Open in 2010, when City begin the defence of their Pre- point in last season’s thrilling duel toric US Open treble at Pebble Beach, where Tiger Woods Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell won. “We’re all going mier League title away at West but would appear to have the easier once separated himself from all rivals and now returns chas- to be playing from virtually the same spots, and especially if Ham, while Manchester United will run-in this time round should the ing a 16th major. Pebble Beach, where Woods won the first it dries out,” Woods said. host Chelsea in a blockbuster meet- title go down to the wire once more. of his three US Opens in 2000 with a breathtaking 12-under “How you put the ball in the correct position is key... We ing to start the campaign after next Pep Guardiola’s men do not face any par total and a crushing 15-stroke margin, is a vastly different don’t have greens like this, this small and steep, so it puts a season’s fixtures were revealed teams who finished in the top half player now at 43 and with spinal fusion surgery behind him. premium on iron play.” Koepka is scheduled to tee of at 1:47 yesterday. last season in their final six matches, But he cemented his return to golf’s elite with his 15th pm (2047 GMT) alongsid British Open champion Francesco City will be confident of a fruitful following the visit of Liverpool. major win at the the US Masters in April. Molinari of Italy and US Amateur champion Viktor Hovland start after scoring four times in each In contrast, the European cham- He has risen to fifth in the world rankings led by Koepka, of Norway. Woods tees off at 2:09 pm alongside former US of their last three visits to the Lon- pions travel to Arsenal and host who has won four majors in less than two years: back-to- Open winners Jordan Spieth and Justin Rose. Early starters don Stadium, but face a tougher Chelsea before a visit to Newcastle back US Opens in 2017 and 2018 and back-to-back PGA include Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson. clash when Champions League fi- in their final three games of the Championships in 2018 and last month at Bethpage Black. McIlroy, who goes off the 10th tee with Spain’s Jon Rahm nalists Tottenham Hotspur visit the campaign. For the first time in Pre- With his win at Shinnecock Hills last year Koepka became and Australian Marc Leishman at 7:51 am, is seeking to add Etihad on the second weekend of mier League history, the clubs will the first player since Curtis Strange in 1988-89 to win to his tally of four majors for the first time since 2014. the season. get a short mid-season break in conecutive US Opens. Willie Anderson, from 1903-05, is the The Northern Ireland star is riding high after a seven- Runners-up and Champions February. only player to have won three straight. “I’m not thinking shot victory romp at the Canadian Open on Sunday, his sec- League winners Liverpool begin Over a two-week period, there about it,” Koepka said of his treble chance. “I know the odds ond win of the season after the Players Championship. with a home game to newly-pro- will be only five matches on one are stacked up probably even more against me now.