FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2018 19 Saudis rank second Japan’s Nishino opts globally on tweets Saudigazette | Riyadh ith Saudi Arabia’s foot- for experienced squad Wball team preparing to take part in the FIFA World Cup 2018, Saudi fans cannot Eleven of the selected contain their excitement, es- • pecially on Twitter, where they players featured at the have already begun enthusias- last World Cup in Brazil tically supporting their team. KNOW WHAT Over the last six months, Saudi football team is set to play Yosuke Ideguchi Saudi Arabia has ranked sec- against Russia for their first match was• the only one of the ond globally in the number of tweets about the World Cup, omitted players to take Playmakers Shinji with Japan leading in first found that 96 percent of Twit- part in the loss to Ghana Kagawa and Keisuke place and Brazil in third. ter users in the UAE are excited Honda have also According to a survey con- about the FIFA World Cup. been included, with ducted by Twitter, 97 per - When asked which country Reuters | Tokyo the former proving cent of Saudi Twitter users will win the World Cup, Bra- his fitness over 45 showed excitement about the zil took the lead with 25 pc apan head coach Akira FIFA World Cup 2018, where followed by Germany with 18 Nishino named an experi- minutes against 43 percent planned to watch pc and Argentina with 18 pc Jenced final 23-man squad Ghana following a every game and 92 percent as well. The majority of Twit- for the 2018 World Cup in Rus- troublesome ankle plan to use Twitter as their ter users backed the Brazilian sia on Thursday. Japan’s national soccer team’s head coach Akira Nishino attends a news injury main platform to share their team. As for the Arab coun- Coming off the back of a dis- conference to announce his 23-man squad thoughts. tries, 29 pc of users support appointing 2-0 loss to Ghana The Saudi football team is Egypt, 27 pc support Saudi on Wednesday, Nishino’s sole set to play against Russia for Arabia and 18 pc support Mo- game in charge so far since tak- forward Takuma Asano and who secured Japan’s World Cup their first World Cup 2018 rocco. Egyptian forward Mo- ing over in April, the former in- midfielders Yosuke Ideguchi berth with goals against Austral- match on June 14. The Twit- hamed Salah has become the ternational midfielder decided and Kento Misao, while another ia will not feature in Russia, as ter survey by marketing con- third most mentioned football to stick with a travelling party midfielder, Toshihiro Aoyama, well as former coach Vahid Hal- sultancy firm Hall & Partners player globally on Twitter. filled with established players. had already pulled out of the ilhodzic, who led them through The squad includes three squad through injury. Asian qualifying. players with more than 100 caps Ideguchi was the only one of Playmakers Shinji Kagawa -- Yuto Nagatomo, Shinji Okaza- the omitted players to take part and Keisuke Honda have also FIFA World Cup Video Assistant Referee ki and captain Matoko Hasebe in the loss to Ghana. been included, with the former Video Assistant Referees (VARs) aim to help referees reach more correct -- and only two outfield players “The experienced players proving his fitness over 45 min- decisions. The system was introduced to most top European leagues, with fewer than 10 international have been doing very well re- utes against Ghana following a and was trialled in England’s FA Cup, in the 2017–18 season appearances. cently. So the idea is to have a 13 days to go…… troublesome ankle injury. VARs CAN BE USED IN FOUR SCENARIOS Goals: Penalty: Eleven of the selected players mix of experienced players and Prior to that, Kagawa had only 1 Check for 2 Double- featured at the last World Cup the young players,”Nishino said had been omitted. played 15 minutes of football infringement check no wrong in Brazil. The players cut from at a news conference in Tokyo, Ideguchi and Asano’s non-se- for Borussia Dortmund since that would decision is disallow goal. made with the original 27-man squad were without specifying why the trio lection means that the players February. Match already award (or paused so no non-award) impact on game of penalty kick Red card Mistaken 3 incidents: 4 identity: Ensure no VARs can obviously identify Peru’s Guerrero cleared to play wrong decision correct player is made when to discipline, kept the Andean nation on sending if referee player off is unsure Swiss court tenterhooks, the Swiss Feder- • al Tribunal acknowledged that REVIEW CAN BE INITIATED BY REFEREE OR VARs temporarily lifts it would be harsh for Guerre- Referee Video doping suspension ro to miss what is likely to be 1 informs 2 footage his only chance to play at the VARs (or VARs reviewed by tournament. “The President of recommend VARs, who Says would be to referee) that advise referee harsh• for Guerrero the court took into account the decision or via headset setbacks of all types that the incident should what video to miss finals appellant would suffer if (he) be reviewed shows was prevented from participat- Referee Referee OR Adds that the ing in a competition that will be 3 accepts decides • the culmination of his career as information to review video player “did not act from video footage at intentionally” a footballer,” it said in a state- footage side of pitch and takes before taking appropriate appropriate action action Reuters | Zurich Referee makes final decision, VARs have no power to overrule eru captain Paolo Guerre- Paolo Guerrero Sources: FIFA, Bundesliga, Sky News Pictures: Bundesliga © GRAPHIC NEWS Pro was cleared to play at next month’s World Cup after a 36 Swiss court yesterday agreed to was the number of years ment. It also recognised that sider the merits of the appeal PLAYER OF THE DAY temporarily lift his doping sus- after Peru national football Guerrero, who tested positive itself once it had the full rea- pension while it considered his team qualified for the for a cocaine byproduct in Oc- soned decision from the Court appeal against a 14-month ban. World Cup 2018 in Russia tober, “did not act intentionally of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) In the latest twist to a or with significant negligence.” which imposed the ban earlier long-running saga which has The court said it would con- this month. Neuer will be first choice if he makes WC squad Reuters | London tournament starting in Russia on June 14. He played in both ermany’s Manuel Neu - recent training matches against Ger will be the first choice Germany’s Under-20 team at keeper at next month’s World their training base in Italy and Cup if he makes the final squad, KNOW WHAT is set to play in their friendly team manager Oliver Bierhoff international against Austria on said yesterday, even though the Saturday. 2014 World Cup winner has not Germany’s Manuel “Manuel will go to the World played a competitive game since Neuer missed al- Cup as our number one,” Bier- September. hoff told reporters. Neuer missed almost the en- most the entire sea- Coach Joachim Loew has tire season after breaking a bone son after breaking a picked four keepers, including in his foot and undergoing sur- bone in his foot and Barcelona’s ter Stegen, Paris St Sardar Azmoun gery. His comeback for Bayern undergoing surgery Germain’s Kevin Trapp and Bay- Touted as the heir to Iran goalscoring icon Ali Daei, striker Az- Munich was repeatedly delayed er Leverkusen’s Bernd Leno, for moun has enjoyed prolific form for his country since bursting and the 32-year-old has had no his 27-man preliminary squad, on to the scene at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Azmoun plays his match practice ahead of the Manuel Neuer preparing in the Italian Alps. club football for Russian side Rubin Kazan..