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JAMMU | THURSDAY | JUNE 10, 2021 JB SPORTS JAMMU BULLETIN 9 Hunger intact, motivation the difficult part Euro 2020 warm-up: Spain’s young debu- but not going anywhere: Sunil Chhetri tants beat Lithuania 4-0, France win 3-0 MADRID,JUN 9: NEW DELHI, JUN 9: minute against Bangladesh, India (six Spain’s group of young The never-ending queries on retire- points from seven matches) are in a debutants beat Lithuania 4-0 ment notwithstanding, inspirational strong position to advance to the next in a warm-up match for the Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri round of the 2023 Asian Cup quali- European Championship on on Wednesday said he is not hanging fiers. They are already out of reckon- Tuesday. up his boots anytime soon as his ing for a World Cup berth. The Spain team was made hunger to perform is still intact even Talking about the shortcomings of up of players from the under- though finding motivation can be dif- the team against Bangladesh, Chhetri 21 squad, as well as its coach, ficult sometimes. said, “We were trying too hard and we after captain Sergio Busquets The 36-year-old, who scored two were not sharp enough at the final tested positive for COVID- superb goals against Bangladesh to third. But that happened because we 19. From the 20 players lead India to a 2-0 win in the World were not playing together for long.” called up for the match, 19 Cup qualifier match in Doha on Chhetri was seen gesturing to had never played for the sen- Monday, also refrained from setting Stimac while he ran into the coach ior national team. The friend- any long-term targets. after scoring the first goal against ly counted as a first-team “I’m not thinking about hanging my “The only difficult part is the moti- any player in that category. There are Bangladesh, and he said he was “apol- match, with players getting boots. I’m not arrogant here. I am vation. The older you get and more thousands of players better than me. ogising” for missing a sitter earlier. caps and an official debut for Díaz doubled its lead in the until Saturday to make enjoying my football. I have never you achieve, the motivation goes People who understand football, they The star striker failed to score from a coach Luis de la Fuente with 24th before Abel Ruiz had a changes to his squad because been fitter than now. I am 36 but the down.” India coach Igor Stimac, on know it,” he said. “I am proud of scor- penalty saved by Lithuania of injuries or COVID-19. header just minutes before he netted the main squad. De la Fuente zeal and hunger of playing for the Tuesday, lavished praise on Chhetri ing 74 goals for my country. Till the named 10 debutants plus goalkeeper Tomas Šved- Karim Benzema’s return to India’s opening goal. “I should have country is still there,” Chhetri said in saying that he trains and plays like a last match I play I will give my best.” Bryan Gil in the starting line- kauskas. international soccer contin- an online interaction from Doha. 25-year-old. Chhetri went past Asked about his targets for the future, done better and it was a simple tap-in. up. The last time Spain had Juan Miranda curled in a ues to go awry as the France “A lot of people ask I am 36 and Argentine maestro Lionel Messi as the Chhetri said, “We have a match So, I was kind of apologising to him 10 debutants for a senior free kick nine minutes into forward limped off injured in how long I will continue. I am not second most prolific scorer among against Afghanistan (on June 15) and (Stimac).” Chhetri said the players, international was in 1941, the second half and fellow his team’s 3-0 victory over bothered. People will have opinions active footballers with his 74th strike after that my club BFC will play in the including him, were enjoying the style against Portugal, after the substitute Javi Puado capped Bulgaria. Benzema had a and I am fine with that. The day I for the country in his 117th match. But AFC. I am not looking beyond that.” of football under Stimac. “The players team had not played since a great night for the young- penalty saved and hit the post don’t enjoy my football, I will go, I he dismissed any comparison with He conceded that the “results have not are enjoying possession based football Spain’s Civil War broke out sters in the 73rd. last week in his first appear- will not be there.” Messi or any player in that category. “I been that great” but said the “silver and I am also enjoying. I like this in 1936. Valencia defender Euro 2020 starts Friday. ance for France in nearly six He said with age, he is more aware am not annoyed with this comparison lining is that a lot of young players are passing and moving system. It gives Hugo Guillamón got Spain Spain will play its first game years. He lasted just 41 min- of his game than before and knows but my take on it is this: there is no getting to play”. Courtesy Chhetri’s more one-to-one movements and off to the perfect start in the on Monday against Sweden utes on Tuesday before being exactly what works for him. comparison whatsoever with Messi or double strike in the 79th and 92nd more chances to score. third minute and Brahim in Seville. Luis Enrique has forced off. Argentina allow last-minute draw ISL’s new regulation mandates clubs to Ashton Agar not surprised by at Colombia in WC qualifiers field minimum 7 Indian players at one time top Aussie players potentially with- leading the 10-team competi- ment to India’s premier foot- tion with 15 points, followed ball event,” it said in the drawing from upcoming tours by Argentina (12), Ecuador release. MELBOURNE,JUN 8: (9) Uruguay and Colombia The cap on foreign players Australia spinner (8). to a maximum four is in Paraguay is still to play accordance with the Asian Ashton Agar is “not against Brazil, and Chile Football Confederation’s club surprised” that the could jump into one of the top competitions’ regulations. country’s leading positions if it beats Bolivia at With the changes, clubs can cricketers may opt out home later on Tuesday. sign a maximum of six for- of the upcoming win- Earlier, Peru won its first eign players of which one is ter tours, saying such match in this edition of World required to be from an AFC breaks are inevitable Cup qualifiers, thanks to two member nation. A club also considering the impact assists from Peruvian-Italian has an option to sign a foreign of lonely quarantines Gianluca Lapadula. In the marquee player within the on players’ mental SAO PAOLO,JUN 9: and gently sliding a shot into 61st he found Christian League-approved classifica- health during the pandemic. Australian cricketers spent 14-days Miguel Borja scored in the the back of the net. Cueva in the box and in the MUMBAI,JUN 9: (FSDL) now mandates clubs tions. Starting this season, in quarantine in Sydney before reuniting with their families after last seconds of added time to But Colombia lifted in the 88th he assisted Luis The Indian Super League’s to have a minimum of seven FSDL (Football Sports the Indian Premier League was suspended. They are again gear- second half, as Argentina was secure a 2-2 draw for Advíncula, who shot from 2021-22 season will witness (7) Indian players on the field Development Limited, which ing up for limited-overs tours of the West Indies and either failing at the finishing Colombia against Argentina close range. an increase in local players’ at any point of time,” the ISL runs the league) will mandate or being stopped by Ospina. Bangladesh. It has been reported that at least seven top players, on Tuesday in one of the best Gonzalo Plata scored on-field participation thanks said in a release on Tuesday. clubs to increase their devel- matches yet in South Argentina’s Nicolás including Steve Smith and Pat Cummins, may withdraw from Ecuador’s only goal in added to a new set of guidelines that The inaugural edition in opment player signing from American qualifying for the Otamendi conceded a penalty the tours. The speculation gained momentum when six more time. mandates clubs to field a min- 2014 had witnessed a playing minimum two to four, while players were added to the 29-man preliminary Australian squad. 2022 World Cup. and Luis Muriel scored from continuing to have two of Uruguay drew 0-0 at ninth- imum of seven footballers at composition of six foreigners “I’m not surprised at all (by potential withdrawals), and very The match at the the spot at the 51st. But just place Venezuela in a match such development players be when it appeared Argentina one time from the previous and five Indian players. understanding of that,” Agar was quoted as saying by Metropolitano stadium in with few exciting moments. part of the match-day squad. Barranquilla was attended by would take another step clos- six. A rise in the number of Over the years, the league ‘cricket.com.au’. “It’s hard not to be (understanding), really; Recent matches in World has gradually increased the “The league witnessed a 10,000 fans despite the er to the World Cup with an Indian players means one spot these guys are away for a very long time and unless you really Cup qualifying — the first less for foreign stars which spots for Indian players, with significant improvement in region’s alarming COVID-19 away win, Borja’s header put yourself in their shoes, it’d be tough to imagine the mental since November because of will now be capped at four.

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