Sports FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2014 47 Iran promise a battle to fancied World Cup foes STEGERSBACH: Iran will start the World Cup as rank out- siders but their players have vowed to make life tough for their fancied opponents in Brazil. “No game is going to be easy for us,” midfielder Andranik Teymourian said at a train- ing camp in eastern Austria. “But playing against Iran is not going to be easy for any of the opponents,” he warned. The Islamic Republic start their fourth World Cup finals in Group F against Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia. They have never made it past the first round and are widely predicted to struggle this time. Iran won just one point at their last appearance in Germany in 2006 with a draw against Angola. Their previous World Cup outings were in 1978 and 1998. They have a record of one win, two draws and six defeats from nine World Cup matches. They head to Brazil, however, having topped their Asian qualifying group ahead of South Korea-a fact the players will not let anyone forget. “This shows the enormous fight- ing spirit shown by the players, proven in the qualifications, and the fact that we could qualify is an absolutely tremen- dous achievement for our team and I personally hope that we can be one of the favorites also,” said Teymourian. Iran, coached by former Portugal manager Carlos Queiroz, want to use the World Cup stage to defy their 37th place on FIFA’s rankings and prove their worth. “That’s like a window TERESOPOLIS: Brazil’s Ramires (center) and Neymar (second from right) fight for the ball during a practice session at the for all the world, all the countries can see it, so we’re going Granja Comary training center in Teresopolis yesterday. Brazil will host the World Cup soccer tournament that starts in to be our best and get a result in the World Cup,” promised June. —AP Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who plays for Dutch side NEC Nijmegen. The first test will be against Nigeria on June 16. “I think Brazil remain the WCup favorites it’s going to be a tough battle,” said defender Steven Beitashour, a 2012 MLS All-Star player, now with the PARIS: Markets are bullish on Brazil, the semi-finals and only Germany from can lead them to being perceived as physicists say their victory in the World Europe. The Italian bank’s assessment more aggressive and dominant.” He also Vancouver WhiteCaps. “If you can start off the World Cup Cup is a near certainty, bookmakers are used FIFA’s world ranking, home coun- calculated a formula for the perfect right and get the win, I think you have a good chance of now giving only the shortest odds. try and continent advantage, number of penalty-shoot for the top corners. The getting to the next round.” The US-born Beitashour is one of Whatever way you look at it, the world’s years as a FIFA member, the number of economists and scientists mirror book- several dual-nationals called up by Queiroz, alongside biggest sporting prize to be awarded in appearances in semi-finals of the under makers’ predictions for the World Cup, Ashkan Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejhad-who played for Rio de Janeiro on July 13 is for the host 17 and under 20 world championships which starts on June 12. Ladbrokes on the German and Dutch youth sides respectively-and Iranian- country to throw away. Wall Street and results from the last World Cup. Wednesday offered 3-1 for a Brazil tri- German Daniel Davari from Eintracht Braunschweig. For the giant Goldman Sachs and Italian bank “The data say it all,” proclaimed the umph, Argentina 4-1 and Germany 5-1. WhiteCaps player: “The possibility to represent the country Unicredit both released studies bank, which highlighted Brazil’s heat Many football haters are wondering on the biggest stage, it’s a dream come true.” Wednesday using “stochastic” or “foot- and humidity, better record and home however why there is so much interest ballistic” models or a “Monte Carlo simu- advantage. Host nations have reached in the World Cup with more than two Passion and fight lation”. the semi-finals in 12 of the past 19 weeks to wait until the start. “Ever since Ahead of the camp, disputes between Queiroz and the The rival institutions agreed that it World Cups. They have won six. Brazil, the dawn of civilization, people have not Iranian football federation, as well as reports of shoddy kit- will be Brazil v Argentina in the final and however, has already been beaten at been content to see events as uncon- including shrinking socks-garnered a lot of attention. But that maybe it will not be worth the home-in 1950 — as it hates to be nected and inexplicable,” Hawking said. the players were keen to set these problems aside. “We had Argentines turning up in the Maracana reminded. World famed Cambridge “They have craved an understanding of some problems but now everything’s ok for us,” stadium. “The most striking aspect of University physicist Stephen Hawking is the underlying order in the world. The Jahanbakhsh insisted. “There is a lot of this kind of news, our model is how heavily it favors Brazil also backing ‘la Selecao’, even though World Cup is no different.” So now the some of it is true but more of it is wrong. “We don’t care to win the World Cup,” said Goldman’s he is not a football fan. Hawking, who is experts have decided, is it worth watch- much about these kinds of things because we should focus report. The American bank’s study relied nearly paralyzed by motor neurone dis- ing the World Cup? “Irrational exuber- on our team, just focus on the football and not anything on six parameters including the Elo ease, put his money on Brazil in a com- ance is everywhere,” commented one else.” The players are also realistic about the Group F moun- ranking of individual country’s football mentary hammering his native London share trader, who likened pre- tain ahead. “Regardless of who you’re playing, it’s going to success, goals scored and conceded in England’s chances. dicting the World Cup to guessing be a tough match-up. There’s a reason these teams are in recent matches, past World Cup results “You would be a fool to overlook which internet companies would survive the World Cup,” Beitashour cautioned. Without big-name and the advantage of the tournament Brazil,” said the author of “A Brief History the dotcom crash of 2000. “People were players, Iran are banking on simple qualities to make it venue. Goldman said Germany and of Time” who is more used to looking so certain but results were so unpre- Spain would be the losing semi-finalists. into the origin of the universe than for- dictable. Companies were worth billions through to the last 16. “With us, it’s just one of those things ward to football matches. Hawking is one day and nothing the next,” said the where we’re a good team and we stick together and we Bearish on Europe advising England to wear red as trader, a Brazil fan who declined to be really have a lot of fight. We have a lot of passion on the Unicredit predicted South American “Psychologists in Germany found red named.— AFP team for sure,” said Beitashour. —AFP domination with Uruguay also reaching makes teams feel more confident and ‘Little bike’ Valbuena on track for World Cup role PARIS: France midfielder Mathieu Valbuena role,” said Valbuena, who endured a difficult problems at club level contrast with his experi- a starting place with Real Sociedad’s Antoine hopes his standout performance in Tuesday’s 4- season with Marseille. ences while representing his country. Griezmann. Asked whether he felt he had done 0 friendly victory over Norway can help propel The midfielder, who was part of the France “Playing with the national team is something enough following Tuesday’s excellent display to him into a starring role at the World Cup in squad that returned home in disgrace after their different, my performances have been consis- earn the nod ahead of the inexperienced Brazil. Valbuena-known affectionately as the ‘lit- catastrophic 2010 World Cup finals campaign, tent since the coach (Didier Deschamps) arrived Griezmann for France’s opening match against tle bike’ due to his diminutive stature (1.67m) - scored just three times in Ligue 1 this past sea- two years ago. “There is this confidence, but I Honduras in Porto Alegre on June 15, Valbuena laid on three assists for his teammates at the son to go along with just six assists and even like also the energy of the team and it’s great. said he would leave that decision to others. “I’ll Stade de France in the first of Les Bleus’ three lost his place in the Marseille team towards the I’m lucky to be in this squad and I’m very happy. let you discuss that,” he said. “I do my job on the pre-World Cup friendlies and labeled the per- end of the campaign. “With OM things didn’t go “We play a 4-3-3 and I start out on the right. pitch, I have the confidence of the coach and my formance as one of his best. “It was one of my how I wanted them to. It was a difficult year However, I have a bit of freedom to roam the teammates.