BASEBALL | Page 8 BBADMINTONADMINTON | Page 9 Kinsler helps Saina clinches Tigers to 6-1 Australian To Advertise here victory vs Open title aft er Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 Yankees hard fought win Monday, June 13, 2016 EURO 2016 Ramadan 8, 1437 AH UEFA threaten Russia, GULF TIMES England with Euro exit if more violence SPORT Page 3 SPOTLIGHT Modric’s stunning strike sees Croatia past Turkey Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric scored a brilliant volley as Croatia defeated Turkey 1-0 in their Group D opener AFP tion in a 4-2-3-1 system. Paris But Croatia continued to boss pro- ceedings and Srna twice went close, fi rst clipping the crossbar with a free- eal Madrid midfi elder Luka kick and then lashing wide left-footed Modric scored a brilliant vol- after Babacan could only parry Ivan ley as Croatia defeated Turkey Perisic’s cross. 1-0 in their Euro 2016 Group Marcelo Brozovic also threatened RD opener yesterday. twice, volleying narrowly over and Ante Cacic’s Croatia dominated then just failing to make telling contact throughout, twice hitting the bar in the with a devilish cross from the hard- second half. But it only Modric’s 41st- working Perisic, who later struck the minute strike — his 11th international bar with a glancing header. goal — that separated the teams at the The introduction of 18-year-old fi nal whistle. Emre Mor, the Denmark-born forward Victory gave Croatia revenge for their dubbed ‘The Turkish Messi’, drew roars elimination on penalties by Turkey in the of approval from Turkey’s fans. quarter-fi nals at Euro 2008, although Yet it was Croatia who came closest they had previously beaten them in a to scoring in the closing stages as Ba- qualifying play-off prior to Euro 2012. bacan tipped a header from Brozovic Fatih Terim’s Turkey now have it all to over the bar and then rushed out to do ahead of their meeting with defend- thwart Perisic. ing champions Spain in Nice on Friday. Croatia can already go into their ‘Magical’ Modric leaves game against the Czech Republic with Croatia coach purring one eye on the last 16. “We are defi nitely in the hardest Croatia coach Ante Cacic hailed Luka group, with Spain, so it is a perfect Modric’s “magical” goal after the Real start to get three points,” said Barce- Madrid playmaker’s strike secured a lona midfi elder Ivan Rakitic. 1-0 win over Turkey in his side’s Euro The talent in both line-ups had 2016 opener yesterday. raised hopes of an open contest and it Modric was voted man of the match took Croatia less than two minutes to after settling the Group D opener in threaten. Ivan Rakitic fl ung himself at Paris with a sweetly struck 41st- Darijo Srna’s cross and hooked a volley minute volley from outside the box across goal. that flashed past Turkey goalkeeper But the two teams’ determination Volkan Babacan. to play through the middle of the pitch “Luka really deserves to be talked made for a narrow, niggly encounter at about, especially after this match,” the Parc des Princes home of French Cacic told a press conference at Parc champions Paris Saint-Germain. des Princes. When Croatia did procure sights of “It was one of his best matches in goal, their eff orts went either too close Croatia’s history. He was really playing to Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Babacan well. He was really our leader. or too far from the target. “He scored a magical goal and at the Turkey’s only opportunity of note end it was the only goal. We need in the fi rst half saw Ozan Tufan meet Luka in this form. All the team looks Gokhan Gonul’s right-wing cross with better and more aggressive when he a downward header that was awk- plays like that.” wardly fi elded by Croatia goalkeeper Croatia’s midfielder Luka Modric (C) celebrates a goal during the Euro 2016 group D match between Turkey and Croatia at Parc des Princes in Paris yesterday. Croatia, who twice hit the bar through Danijel Subasic. Darijo Srna and Ivan Perisic, play the Modric illuminated the game with Selcuk Inan appeared to have cleared emphatic, dipping volley past Babacan There was embarrassment, too, for Turkey coach Terim made a change Czech Republic in their next game on his deft fl icks and surefooted touches, the danger by hooking the ball high to from 25 yards. the tournament organisers as a fan ran at half-time, sending on Volkan Sen for Friday when Turkey face defending and with half-time approaching he the edge of the Turkey box, but Mo- The replays did not make kind view- on the pitch to embrace Modric and Oguzhan Ozyakup and moving captain champions Spain. provided the breakthrough. dric watched it drop before spearing an ing for Babacan. fl ares were let off in the Croatia end. Arda Turan infi eld to a number 10 posi- BOTTOMLINE Poland’s Milik breaks Northern Ireland hearts AFP Lewandowski bottled up by a dogged Nice Northern Ireland defence and Milik misfi ring on several occasions, it was a frustrating opening period for Poland. jax striker Arkadiusz Milik Top scorers in qualifying for Euro broke Northern Ireland hearts 2016, they managed just two shots on yesterday after rifl ing home target in the fi rst period. the only goal in their Euro The fi rst was on the half-hour when a A2016 Group C opener in Nice. left-footed drive by Milik from outside Poland had never won a game before the box was parried by Michael McGov- at the European Championship, with ern. Milik should also have scored after a three draws and three losses over two cut-back by Piszczek put him in space 10 appearances in 2008 and 2012 — the yards out but he sliced high and wide. latter a tournament that they co-host- Then as a scrappy half drew to a close, ed with Ukraine. Poland almost broke the deadlock when Now they can look forward to a spicy Poland fans celebrate after Milik scores against Northern Ireland yesterday. a left-foot snapshot by the lively Bartosz tie with neighbours Germany in the Kapustka from the edge of the area was Stade de France on June 16 with eyes on stubborn defence, Milik’s strike early a record 12 matches, but although they superbly tipped over by McGovern. a spot in the last 16. in the second half coming after several held their more vaunted opponents Northern Ireland, whose striker Kyle The result dents Northern Ireland’s missed chances in the fi rst. scoreless until half-time, they ulti- Laff erty was their only player in the op- pre-tournament hopes of qualifying For Michael O’Neill’s side, it was a mately paid for an over-defensive ap- posing half for much of the game, soon from a tough group as one of the four disappointing end to their fi rst ever Eu- proach in the impressive Stadium Nice. paid for their defensive approach. best third-placed teams, with a win ropean Championship match, and fi rst From the off Poland dominated pos- Six minutes into the second period now essential against Ukraine in Lyon major tournament appearance since session but struggled to penetrate close Milik made no mistake when fi ring the same day. the 1986 World Cup. to goal against a back-four stoutly mar- through the legs of Craig Cathcart after Adam Nawalka’s side dominated the They entered the game unbeaten in shalled by West Brom’s Jonny Evans. Jakub Blaszczykowski found him un- game but took time to break down a Poland’s forward Arkadiusz Milik (C) celebrates after scoring a goal yesterday. The off icial mascot - Super Victor. With Bayern Munich star Robert marked on the edge of the area. Gulf Times 2 Monday, June 13, 2016 EURO 2016 IRELAND VS SWEDEN 7PM CHANCE AT REDEMPTION Ireland return to scene of infamous Irish seek to stop Henry handball AFP it’s a case of we go, we deal with Paris Sweden there, they are the fi rst team up.” Nevertheless, Henry’s hand- he Euro 2016 match ball will be on the minds of many Zlatan in vital with Sweden at Stade de of the Irish fans making their way France today off ers the to the Stade de France for the Republic of Ireland the Group E encounter. Tchance to exorcise the ghost of France had won the fi rst leg one of the most notorious inci- of the play-off 1-0 in Dublin but dents in international football. Keane’s fi rst-half goal in Saint- Thierry Henry’s handball in Denis levelled the tie and forced extra time set up William Gal- extra time. That was when Henry opening game las for the decisive goal when controlled the ball with his hand France played Ireland in a World in the penalty area before squar- Cup qualifying play-off in No- ing across goal for Gallas to score ‘He’s a fantastic player, one of the best centre-forwards in the world, but we’ve got to vember 2009. and secure Les Bleus’ berth at the It sparked an international South Africa World Cup. keep him quiet and the rest of them quiet as well’ outcry. Of the Ireland team that Henry later admitted his mis- started that night, goalkeeper demeanour, and, with the stakes Shay Given, John O’Shea, Glenn so high, the Irish demanded the Whelan and striker Robbie Keane match be replayed.