THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2018 15

Last-minute goal gives Chile win over Lloris hails ’s mental Mexico Reuters | Queretaro, Mexico

icolas Castillo followed Nup his own stinging strength after Germany win drive to score in the 89th minute and hand Chile a 1-0 AFP | Paris a win in the competition so win over Mexico in a thrill- far following their draw with ing friendly in Queretaro on ottenham ‘keeper Hugo France and a humbling 3-0 de- Tuesday. Lloris hailed the mental feat to the Netherlands at the Both sides had come close Tstrength that saw World weekend. to scoring before that in an Cup winners France overcome Despite an average age of 25, end-to-end game but just as a patchy opening period to beat France are showing maturity it looked like it would finish Germany 2-1 on Tuesday. beyond their years -- a tendency 0-0 substitute Castillo ham- Germany travelled to the Sta- vice-captain Raphael Varane be- mered in a shot from just de de France looking for the lieves was crucial to their World outside box then muscled win that would salvage their Cup success. his way past the Mexican Nations League campaign, and “We managed to win the defence to prod home when some pride, following their dis- World Cup thanks to our men- goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez astrous World Cup. tal qualities, despite some diffi- spilled the ball. Joachim Loew’s side got the cult moments,” said Varane. Al- Chile also had a goal start they wanted when Toni though he is only 25, the central chalked off for offside 15 Kroos fired a 14th minute pen- defender has already won four minutes from time, while alty past Lloris. Champions League titles with at the other end Jurgen But after a much-needed half- Real Madrid. Damm missed Mexico’s time pep talk from coach Didier He added: “We have to keep best chance when he shot Deschamps, the hosts emerged these values, and not allow panic wide after running on to a after the interval to see Antoine to set in. We have confidence in defence-splitting pass from Griezmann level just after the ourselves, and we know what Erick Gutierrez. hour, and he clinched the win we’re capable of.” Chile host Costa Rica by converting an 80th minute France goalkeeper (C) comes to the rescue in a 2-1 Nations League win over Germany Yet without Griezmann mak- and Honduras next month, penalty. ing the difference on Tuesday, while Mexico will go to Ar- Les Bleus captain Lloris was promise. minutes. against Germany in Munich, a and the telling contribution of gentina to take on the home one of several players who ad- “When we lift our level, the “We had to stay alert at the 2-1 win over the Netherlands second-half substitute Kylian side twice in four days. mitted the hosts had desperate- players’ talents really come to back... stay calm and composed and a tense 2-2 draw with Ice- Mbappe against Iceland, France ly needed to raise their game the fore,” said Lloris. so as not to concede the second land, France sit top of Group 1. would have perhaps been faced against a rejuvenated Germa- He also hailed France’s de- goal.” Germany are bottom on one with their first defeat since ny side that showed plenty of fensive efforts in the closing Following a scoreless draw point after failing to register March. Perotti, Karsdorp injury blow for Roma Henry hopeful playing Real outlines opposition to La AFP | Milan success rubs off on S Roma will be without Liga’s Miami game in letter to Fed Ainjured pair Diego Per- otti and Rick Karsdorp for Reuters | Barcelona Saturday’s game at home to SPAL as well as next week’s eal Madrid has written to visit by CSKA Moscow in the RSpain’s football federation Champions League. outlining its opposition to La Argentine winger Perot- Liga’s plans to stage a match ti, 30, injured his left calf between Girona and Barcelona in training on Tuesday and in Miami, delivering another will be out for at least three blow to league hopes of playing weeks, according to Italian one game a season in the United press reports, while Dutch States. full-back Karsdorp, 23, will A spokeswoman for the fed- be sidelined for ten days eration confirmed to Reuters with a thigh injury. Thierry Henry during a training session for Belgium that it had received the letter, Eusebio Di Francesco’s which was widely quoted by Real Madrid’s (L) reacts kicking the field after Alaves’ goal side are sixth in af- AFP | Monaco there are some great managers local media yesterday. beside Nacho Fernandez (C) and Toni Kroos during the match between ter winning three consecu- who haven’t played football, The Miami match, pencilled Deportivo Alaves and Real Madrid tive games before the inter- hierry Henry hopes his and vice versa.” in for Jan. 26, would be the first national break. Tillustrious playing days The former striker will be game to take place as part of a asked our opinion on it,” Real iterated yesterday that no club will help underpin a success- joined at Monaco by Joao Car- 15-year deal struck between La said in the letter, signed by the would be forced to play in the ful career in management as he los Valado Tralhao, under-23 Liga and entertainment compa- club’s Director General Jose United States and that it was embarks on his first top job in coach at Benfica, and Patrick ny Relevent. Angel Sanchez. entirely voluntary. Liverpool’s Mane club football at Monaco. Kwame Ampadu, coach at Ar- “First of all we would like to “Nor, obviously, did The 41-year-old French senal’s academy and father of declare that Real Madrid were obtain Real Madrid’s agree- has surgery on hand World Cup winner, who had Chelsea player Ethan Ampadu. never informed that La Liga ment, despite the fact that this injury been working as an assistant to Henry graduated from Mo- had requested to play the game game affects a competition in Belgium coach Roberto Mar- naco’s youth system and made nor of the intention to make which we participate.” AFP | London tinez since 2016, returned to his debut for the club in 1994. the request, and we were never A spokesman for La Liga re- the club where he began his “To have the chance to come iverpool said yester- professional career after re- back is incredible,” he said. Lday that forward Sadio placing . “When the offer came it Mane had undergone suc- Henry scored a record 51 seemed logical to me, it was cessful surgery on a hand goals in 123 appearances for the choice of my heart. You Fellaini should be fit for injury he sustained while France, win- know my fond- on international duty with ning not only ness for Lon- Chelsea clash - Martinez Senegal. the 1998 World don, but here is Jurgen Klopp has a num- Cup but also where I start- Reuters | Brussels game at the weekend and ber of concerns ahead Euro 2000, When the offer ed.” this wasn’t the game to of his team’s return to while starring came it seemed Henry’s first arouane Fellaini should use players who weren’t action for almost a game in charge Mbe fit for Manchester 100 percent.” against Huddersfield on decade at Ar- logical to me, it will be against United’s Premier League trip United, eighth in Saturday, with doubts senal before was the choice Strasbourg in to Chelsea on Saturday despite the standings on 13 over forward Mohamed claiming the of my heart. You the league on sitting out Belgium’s friendly points after eight Salah and treble with Bar- know my fondness Saturday with against Netherlands, the mid- matches, will be Naby Keita. Defend- celona in 2009. for London, but a must-win fielder’s national team manag- hoping to carry the er has “I hope it will here is where I Champions er Roberto Martinez has said. momentum from been playing despite a be an advan - League tie The 30-year-old was not in- their come - rib problem. tage,” Henry started against Club volved in the 1-1 draw against back win over “Mane’s recovery said yesterday, THIERRY HENRY Brugge four Ronald Koeman’s Dutch side Newcastle in will be monitored when asked days later. in Brussels on Tuesday, with their last fix- over the next couple how his success However, he Martinez confirming Fellaini ture to Stam- of days ahead of the as a player would serve him as was reluctant to look too far was not “100 percent fit”. ford Bridge Reds’ return to ac - a manager. ahead with Monaco languish- “He should be fine, it’s just as they bid tion at Huddersfield “But that doesn’t mean it’s ing 18th in the league after just he wasn’t 100 percent,” Mar- to make up Marouane Town on Saturday,” going to be easy because of one win in 12 matches in all tinez told reporters. ground on top Fellaini said a statement on that. I think it will help. But competitions this season. “He’s got an important four. Liverpool’s website.