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SPORTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2013 Portugal to deploy untried defense against Israel LISBON: Portugal are close to securing at least a Hugo Almeida told reporters in the medieval fortress camp),” Andre Almeida said. to finish among the top two in the group after World Cup playoff place but their untested back four town of Obidos, where Portugal are training. Israel “We both came here to work hard and I will be drawing both their fixtures with Azerbaijan. will be under scrutiny against Israel in tomorrow’s held Portugal to a 3-3 draw in Tel Aviv in March. “It’s happy for Cedric if he starts. I’ve known him for a few Blighted by injuries and a lack of match fitness to a Group F qualifier at the Alvalade stadium (1945 their last chance to try and qualify so they will surely years now after playing together at Portugal youth number of players, coach Eli Guttman has used over GMT). Coach Paulo Bento must patch up his defense come at us with everything.” teams,” the 23-year-old said. Striker Helder Postiga is 50 players during the campaign. Maccabi Tel Aviv after a string of injuries affected right backs Joao Bento will probably opt for Malaga’s Antunes on also out suspended, leaving it unclear who will dep- forward Barak Yitzhaki has been recalled after a Pereira and Miguel Lopes, as well as centre back the left, partner Pepe with Zenit St Petersburg’s Luis utize - Hugo Almeida or Stade Rennes sharpshooter long absence from the national squad, and striker Bruno Alves. Left back Fabio Coentrao is also out sus- Neto in the centre of defense and hand a debut Nelson Oliveira. “I don’t think we are weaker with Eden Ben Basat of Toulouse, who missed the last pended as Portgual, a point behind leaders Russia, international cap to either Cedric or Andre Almeida these absences. The new picks step in because they two national team fixtures through injury, also look set to miss out on automatic qualification unless on the right. “It will be a good duel between us two have a lot of worth,” Almeida said. “I feel confident makes a return. Veteran goalkeeper Dudu Aouate the Russians slip up against Luxembourg and for the right back position,” said 22-year-old Cedric, a and full of energy. The start to the season is going has been retained despite getting little time Azerbaijan in their remaining fixtures. Sporting Lisbon defender. “To play for Portugal is a well for me,” said the Besiktas striker, one of the top between the posts recently for Spanish side Third-placed Israel are five points behind dream of mine since a young boy.” Despite the tussle goalscorers at the Turkish Super League this season. Mallorca. There is still no place for veteran midfield- Portugal. “We simply must win. We know Israel’s and the fact their clubs are fierce rivals, Benfica’s er Yossi Benayoun, who has been without a club strong points, how much we suffered there and how Almeida said Cedric was a good friend. “I took the ini- PLAYER ROTATION since the start of the season and he has hardly fea- good their finishers and counter attacks are,” striker tiative to ask Cedric for a lift (to Obidos training The Israelis were mainly undone in their efforts tured in Guttman’s plans. — Reuters Holders Spain poised to secure their WCup berth MADRID: With holders Spain poised to secure their berth at next year’s World Cup finals, thoughts are already turning to what might happen after the tour- nament when coach Vicente del Bosque’s contract is due to expire. An avuncular character known for his ability to foster harmony in his hugely talented squad, Del Bosque will be 63 by then and whatever happens in Brazil next year he has already earned his place in the pantheon of soccer’s greatest managers. After tak- ing over from Luis Aragones following Spain’s Euro 2008 victory, he led the Iberian nation to their first World Cup triumph in South Africa in 2010 and a sec- ond straight continental title in Poland and Ukraine two years later. As Spain prepare for their qualifiers against Belarus Daniel Agger in Palma de Mallorca tomorrow and Georgia in Albacete four days later, Del Bosque’s record is an out- standing 65 wins from 80 matches, with eight draws Erratic Denmark look and seven defeats, only three of which were in com- petitive games. One indication of Spain’s success under the former Real Madrid coach is that the three to snatch playoff place goals Brazil put past them in their 3-0 victory in June’s Confederations Cup final was the same number they COPENHAGEN: Denmark look to put an over. I’m the same footballer as before. “It’s conceded in all 13 of their games at the 2010 World erratic World Cup qualifying campaign great to be back, I’ve missed it an awful lot. Cup and Euro 2012. behind them by snatching a playoff place It’s great thing for a player to be involved Although Del Bosque, who won two Champions for next year’s finals with wins over already- with the national team.” League crowns with Real, has hinted he will step down qualified Italy and Malta. Italy will be without Roma midfielder after the World Cup, the Spanish soccer federation Morten Olsen’s side lie third in Group B Daniele De Rossi, who was sent home from (RFEF) will try to persuade him to stay on for two more on 12 points, one behind Bulgaria and eight their training camp on Monday after team years until after Euro 2016, As newspaper reported behind Italy. The inconsistent Danes, who doctors discovered a tendon injury in his left yesterday. The idea is he will oversee the transition to a have won only three of their eight games thigh. new generation of players as the likes of Xavi, Iker and suffered a shock 4-0 defeat at home to However, they are bolstered up front Casillas, Fernando Torres and David Villa wind down Armenia in June, host Italy on Friday before with the inclusion of Giuseppe Rossi, who their glittering international careers, the paper said. welcoming bottom side Malta on Tuesday. makes his international return just over two “We have not considered any alternative for the “We have to admit we haven’t been good years after he last played for the national post of national team coach,” As quoted RFEF general enough, but we still have a chance to qualify team. American-born Rossi has been secretary Jorge Perez as saying. “Del Bosque will con- and that’s what is most important at this plagued with knee problems since he first tinue with us for as long as he wants and for as many stage,” captain Daniel Agger told Reuters. suffered a cruciate ligament injury while years as he wants,” he added. Victory against last- SPAIN : Spain’s forward Isco (left) vies with Spain’s midfielder Cesc Fabregas (top), midfielder The group situation is further complicat- playing for Spanish side Villarreal in 2011, placed Belarus tomorrow would mean unbeaten Juan Mata (bottom) and defender Alvaro Arbeloa during a training session ahead of their FIFA ed by the fact that Bulgaria, alongside but he has started this season in blistering Spain need a point against Georgia on Tuesday to be World Cup 2014 qualifier football match. — AFP Iceland in Group E, have the lowest points fashion for Fiorentina, scoring five goals in certain of top spot in qualification Group I ahead of total of any second-placed side, meaning their first six games. France. The French, who snatched a 1-1 draw in Barcelona’s Jordi Alba. “For any footballer, playing for tion, according to their coach Georgi Kondratyev. that even if Denmark do finish second they “I’ve learned not to not think too far Madrid in October last year before losing to their the national team is as good as it gets, it’s the “We are going to try not going on the defensive, risk not even making the playoffs. ahead. Today’s training, this season with southern neighbors 1-0 in Paris in March, play their biggest achievement of my career,” Michu told a not to ‘park the bus’, as they say,” Kondratyev was quot- Eight of the nine second-placed sides will Fiorentina, what I need to do to return to final game against third-placed Finland at the Stade news conference yesterday. ed as saying on the Spanish team website (www.sefut- compete in the playoffs. Olsen can count on 110 percent of my physical condition: the de France on Oct 15. “I was a bit nervous coming here but once you get bol.com) this week. “We will try to play our game the return of striker Nicklas Bendtner, who is World Cup comes after all this, and I need to on to the pitch everything is much easier,” he added. based on rapid counter attacks,” he added. “We will try back in the Danish squad following a six- get there in form, if I get there at all,” he said. NEW FACES “Right now I am just enjoying the training sessions. For to play like we did against France, which was a 3-4-3 month suspension imposed by the Danish “I’ve worked really hard to be here, but I nev- With a number of regulars injured, Del Bosque me it’s a gift being here with some of the world’s best formation, not 4-5-1 as some said, as our fullbacks are FA (DBU) for his involvement in a drink-dri- er had any doubt that I would come back has brought in two new faces for the Belarus and players and I am ready to play wherever the coach very attacking and are really like forwards.

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