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CYCLING | Page 6 NBA | Page 7 German Kittel Wade seeks claims stage more than in photo-fi nish $40mn off er Wednesday, July 6, 2016 CRICKET Shawwal 1, 1437 AH Trescothick GULF TIMES issues Amir warning for England SPORT Page 5 WALES VS PORTUGAL/ 10PM Wales out to infl ict more semi-fi nal woe on Portugal This will be Portugal’s fourth semi-final in the last five editions of the Euro competition stretching back to 2000, but for all their success in reaching the latter stages of the tournament, there has been little glory along the way Agencies Lyon t will be virgin territory for Wales when they face Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-fi nals, yet their opponents could be forgiven a Isense of deja vu as they step on to the pitch in Lyon tonight. This will be Portugal’s fourth semi- fi nal in the last fi ve editions of the competition stretching back to 2000, but for all their success in reaching the latter stages of the tournament, there has been little glory along the way. Only once have they overcome the last-four hurdle and then they were beaten in the fi nal by Greece as hosts at Euro 2004. If you include their defeat in the semi-fi nals of the 2006 World Cup and a loss at the Euros in 1984, they are becoming all too familiar with the pit- falls of this stage of major tournaments. Portugal’s conquerors in their recent last-four clashes have included football powerhouses France, at Euro 2000 and the World Cup in 2006, and Spain at Euro 2012. Should they lose to Wales, playing their fi rst major tournament in 58 years and their fi rst ever semi-fi nal, it would be a devastating blow. Yet, Wales are arguably the form team coming into the match. Chris Coleman’s side have revelled in their underdog status to win their group, which also included England, Russia and Slovakia, ease out British rivals Northern Ireland in the last 16 and sweep past heavy fa- vourites Belgium in the quarters. Portugal are yet to win a match at the tournament inside 90 minutes, having drawn all three group games, beaten Croatia in extra-time and squeezed past Poland on penalties. Things are yet to click for Portugal, and by extension for captain Cristiano Ronaldo, who has at times looked exasperated by his team- mates’ attacking shortcomings. Yet, Portugal are unbeaten in 12 The spectre of Real competitive internationals since Fern- Madrid teammates ando Santos took over as coach at the Cristiano Ronaldo start of the Euro 2016 qualifying cam- and Gareth Bale (left), paign. With Ronaldo’s Real Madrid the world’s two most teammate Pepe marshalling an in- creasingly assured defence, they will expensive players, be tough to break down. going head-to-head Especially for a Wales side deprived adds extra spice to of one of their most talented creative an already dazzling infl uences in midfi elder Aaron Ramsey, encounter in Lyon who will be suspended after picking tonight. (AFP) up a booking in the win over Belgium. While Gareth Bale has been Wales’s at- tacking talisman, scoring three times in a semi-fi nal,” insisted Bale yesterday Austria, Croatia and Poland. in their last fi ve Euros. “We know what things with our national team. It is as many games at the Euro as possible. to lift them out of their group, Ramsey in a bid to defuse the billing of he and However, Portugal midfi elder Andre tournament they have had. We have great to be a part of.” Bale praised underdogs Iceland for their has been arguably their most infl uen- Ronaldo’s all-star showdown. “He’s a Gomes defended his captain’s displays. watched all their games on TV. They Should Bale reach the fi nal, he could “amazing journey” to the quarter-fi - tial player, scoring one and producing fantastic player, everyone knows what “He has worked a lot for the group are a dangerous team. They are ranked fi nd himself facing Germany midfi eld- nals, where they lost 5-2 to France. four assists in the run to the last four. he can do. We concentrate on what we and that is the most important thing. very highly and are not in the semi- er Toni Kroos, his Madrid teammate, With Wales now fl ying the fl ag alone The match is likely to be billed as a can do as a team, and not concentrate He has given his all,” said the Valencia fi nal for no reason,” added Bale. “Even who took a dim view of Wales’s chanc- for the minor nations, Bale is drawing contest between the two most expen- on individuals.” man. “Bale is a reference for Wales just if they haven’t won, they’ve got the re- es prior to the tournament. inspiration from Denmark and Greece, sive players in the world—Ronaldo, Despite winning the Champions as Cristiano is for us. Bale knows the sults needed. We will do our homework “I remember Toni Kroos saying we’d who defi ed expectations to win the who will play a record third European League twice in three years with Ma- Spanish league, but I have also played as normal. Hopefully on the night we only have three games. So it would be European Championship in 1992 and Championship semi-fi nal, and his Real drid, Bale has tended to be overshad- against British teams before and I know can put in another great performance nice to meet him in the fi nal,” Bale said 2004 respectively. Madrid teammate Bale. Perhaps omi- owed by Ronaldo in the Spanish capital, their style. and make more history.” with a smile. “It was a good laugh and Both sides will be disrupted by sus- nously for Wales, Ronaldo has netted where the Portuguese is a living legend “They are strong, aggressive, they Bale will also have the taunts of a joke, a bit of banter. But we’ve obvi- pension with Ben Davies and, in par- twice in each of his last two games in as the top scorer in Real’s history. attack and counter-attack very well. teammates past and present echoing in ously exceeded a lot of people’s expec- ticular, Arsenal midfi elder Ramsey a Lyon for club and country. However, of the two Bale has been You can’t talk about favourites in a his memory when he takes to the fi eld. tations. We understand that and we’re huge miss for Wales. Crystal Palace’s Wales are have already surpassed all in better form in France, scoring in semi-fi nal. If Wales have got this far it Bale saw fi ve major tournaments come just enjoying it now.” Jonny Williams is expected to replace expectations on their fi rst ever appear- all of Wales’ group games and forcing is because they have deserved too. We and go over the fi rst 10 years of his ca- Bale says that the atmosphere with- Ramsey, whilst Davies’s absence could ance at the European Championship Northern Ireland’s Gareth McAuley have to have respect.” reer, but with Wales having ended their in the Wales camp is joyous, with regu- provoke a reshuffl e in defence with fi nals by reaching the last four with a into the own-goal with a devilish cross Portugal have reached the last four 58-year wait on the international side- lar quizzes helping in preventing the Chris Gunter moving from right wing- rousing 3-1 win over the highly-fan- which decided their last 16 tie. By con- despite not winning a game in 90 lines, the 26-year-old is keen to make players from dwelling on the enormity back into the back three making way cied Belgium. trast, Ronaldo has look surly, stressed minutes as they were the only side to up for lost time. of what they have achieved. for Fulham’s Jazz Richards to make his However, the spectre of the Real and well off his usually impeccable progress having drawn all three group “I have had a lot of abuse over the “We’re still doing our quizzes,” said fi rst start of the tournament. Madrid teammates, the world’s two standards in front of goal. games before Ricardo Quaresma’s years,” the Real Madrid forward said. Bale, who is on a quiz team with Chris Portugal are shorn of the banned most expensive players, going head- The three-time world player of the 117th-minute extra-time winner saw “Just when we used to lose and when Gunter, Joe Allen, Hal Robson-Kanu, William Carvalho, but Gomes and Joao to-head adds extra spice to an already year scored twice against Hungary to off Croatia and penalties were needed we were (ranked) 100th in the world. Danny Ward and Ben Davies. “We won Moutinho are in contention to start af- dazzling encounter in Lyon. become the only player to score in four to oust Poland in the quarter-fi nals. You have nine weeks’ holiday instead again today. That is six in a row now. ter recovering from injury. Danilo is the “It’s not about two players, every- separate European championships. But Bale, though, refused to be fooled by of two. It is good to fi nally be in a ma- We’re on fi re!” most obvious option to occupy Carval- one knows that, it’s about two nations he failed to fi nd the net against Iceland, Portugal’s route to a fourth semi-fi nal jor tournament, actually doing great The squad have also been watching ho’s holding role in midfi eld.

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