MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2014

GROUP B Never a dull moment SPAIN with coach Sampaoli

SANTIAGO: Nothing stops Chile’s take charge of Chile after his compa- Sampaoli orders a high energy World Cup coach Jorge Sampaoli get- triot Claudio Borghi was sacked, hav- charge into the opposition half with a ting his hyper-active point across- ing guided Universidad de Chile to playmaker behind two forwards who even if he has to sit in a tree to shout three national titles and the Copa press wide, a style that can be spec- at his players over a stadium wall. Sudamericana, as well as the semi- tacular but is difficult to maintain. The 54-year-old Argentine is a bun- finals of the Copa Libertadores, South The Chilean squad now know each dle of energy at matches, charging America’s leading club competition. other well, and in friendlies ahead of along the touchline in a trademark A double fracture of the leg ended the World Cup they have beaten baseball cap, urging the likes of Alexis Sampaoli’s playing career at Newell’s England 2-0 at Wembley, drawn with Sanchez and Arturo Vidal to attack. Old Boys at the age of just 19, but he Spain and only narrowly been beaten Though discreet with journalists, went into coaching and his tigerish by Brazil. Sampaoli rarely holds back in firing character quickly became apparent. In typical aggressive style, verbal assaults against refereeing In the year that he took Belgrano Sampaoli insists that Chile can win the decisions that go against his players. de Arequito to a local Argentine World Cup. “It’s safe to say that Chile Sampaoli’s arrival as coach in championship in 1996, Sampaoli was are contenders,” he said. December 2012 transformed a side ordered out of a stadium because of a “History says that in World Cups that had lost three World Cup qualify- verbal assault on a referee. people always list the same favourites ing matches in a row and seemed The Rosario newspaper La Capital and names, but we will be as competi- something of a disorganised rabble. published a picture of Sampaoli sat in tive as possible. Five wins and a draw from their last a tree shouting instructions at his “We will not change how we play. six matches in the marathon South players. Newell’s president Eduardo We will not allow ourselves to be American qualifying campaign saw Jose Lopez saw the image and put modified by our opponents. We have them through, but they were handed him in charge of one of the club’s to want it more than opponents, to a tough draw in Brazil, alongside reserve teams. surpass them in spirit. Spain, the Netherlands and Australia Sampaoli had a journeyman career “We will go man to man against in Group B. with teams in Peru, Chile and Ecuador anyone. Our idea is to surprise oppo- Spain aim to extend historic run Nevertheless, they are considered before taking over at Universidad de nents who are used to having oppo- among the teams capable of causing Chile in 2011 and demanding the nents play against them in a certain MADRID: an upset as they look to reach the unrelenting attacking football that he way.” There will not be a dull moment Spain aim to extend a his- None of the winners in each of the Martinez offer high quality reserve quarter-finals for the first time since learned from his mentor Marcelo in any World Cup game where toric run at the World Cup in Brazil as previous four Confederations Cups options in central midfield and hosting the World Cup in 1962. Bielsa, another Argentine who Sampaoli is involved.—AFP they target a fourth successive major held the year before a World Cup have defence respectively. Sampaoli seemed a natural choice to coached Chile at the 2010 World Cup. tournament triumph. been able to repeat their success Given the draining conditions that Vicente del Bosque has created a when the stakes are raised 12 months all sides will encounter in Brazil, formidable football machine that won on. though, fatigue remains the biggest CHILE the European Championship in 2008, Indeed, Spain suffered a shock 2-0 worry for the reigning champions. the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa defeat to the United States in 2009 On top of their commitments at and a second European title two years before returning to conquer the world international level, the majority of the ago. in 2010. A slow drip of fresh faces into Spanish squad have been involved in Should Spain retain the World Cup, a highly experienced squad has also the final stages of European competi- it would be the first time any country sparked optimism that this Spain side tions for a number of years without a has sealed consecutive triumphs since will have the requisite hunger to drive break. Brazil in 1958 and 1962. They start in a them to success once more. This season is no different as all tricky Group B however against the The most noteworthy addition is three of the country’s best teams Netherlands, Chile and Australia. that of Atletico Madrid striker Diego Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico And there is scepticism as to how Costa, who completed his controver- Madrid cruised into the quarter-finals long a squad of players that have won sial conversion from Brazilian interna- of the Champions League. almost everything at club as well as tional to Spain’s first-choice centre for- “The competitions are very intense, international level can dominate. ward in under 12 months. Costa was there are games every three days. All Those fears were realised when a allowed to switch allegiance as he had the games are hard and we have to be young and highly-motivated Brazil only previously represented Brazil in prepared in case we lose someone to side destroyed Spain 3-0 in the final of friendly matches and could prove to injury,” warned Del Bosque. the Confederations Cup last year. be a huge asset for Del Bosque in one However, with their tournament “Brazil are the big favorites for me,” of the few positions where Spain are know-how and depth of squad, Spain goalkeeper Pepe Reina admitted lacking in depth. remain one of the most feared sides recently. Yet, Spain can point to their The emergence of Cesar on show in Brazil. As Del Bosque said own experience in South Africa to Azpilicueta at Chelsea this season has after learning that his side will face prove that the dress rehearsal of the made him the favourite to cover the Dutch in a re-match of the 2010 Confederations Cup isn’t always the another problem position at right- final in their opening game, “I am sure best indicator of how the World Cup back. Meanwhile, the Bayern Munich they didn’t want to face us as much as will develop. duo of Thiago Alcantara and Javi we didn’t want to face them.”—AFP Dutch old masters must raise their game for World Cup NETHERLANDS Australia look to Ange for glory

SYDNEY: Ange Postecoglou has experience for us all, but I don’t “We want all our teams to be promised to restore positive, want a team of players that just attacking teams, and our players attacking football as he leads want to go to the World Cup,” said like to play that way. That’s been Australia’s transition away from Postecoglou, who was capped my philosophy-to play attacking, their “golden generation” at the four times by the Socceroos be aggressive.” World Cup. before a knee injury ended his A major part of Postecoglou’s Greek-born Postecoglou, 48, career early. coaching remit is to bring who migrated to Australia as a “I want a team of players who through a new younger genera- five-year-old, was flung into the want to make a difference. It’s a tion of players, looking ahead to coaching hot seat in October, just tough group, but the flip-side of next year’s Asian Cup in Australia eight months ahead of the Brazil that is that there’s an opportunity and beyond to the 2018 World finals. to do something that no one Cup in Russia. Goalkeeper Mark He was given a five-year con- expects us to do. We can capi- Schwarzer, Harry Kewell and Brett AMSTERDAM: A pivotal figure in European football in ruled out of the finals with ruptured knee ligaments. tract by Football Federation talise on that. Holman have retired from inter- recent years, Arjen Robben leads a clutch of Dutch masters “It’s a small catastrophe,” said Van Gaal, who made his Australia (FFA) after the sacking of “Australia is a sporting nation national football, and skipper who know this year may represent their last chance to help name as a top-level coach with a young Ajax side that won German Holger Osieck who paid and we never go into any contest Lucas Neill has been told he will the Netherlands finally get their hands on the World Cup. the Champions League in 1995. “Kevin was in his best fo rm the price for 6-0 thrashings by thinking we can’t win and football miss out because of a lack of Bayern Munich winger Robben and Manchester for both the national team and Roma. It is an enormous Brazil and France. is no different. “There’s a real game time. United’s Robin van Persie, both 30, Hamburg’s Rafael van loss for the Netherlands because he co ntributed largely to Postecoglou, the Socceroos’ chance for us all to create a spe- Luke Wilkshire and Mark der Vaart, 31, and Galatasaray’s Wesley Sneijder, who will qualification.”—AFP first full-time Australian coach in cial moment that lasts longer Bresciano have also been left out be 30 on June 9, are driven by the memory of their extra- nine years, won two A-League than the competition.” Dutch of friendlies under Postecoglou’s time defeat to Spain in the 2010 World Cup final in Robben unbreakable championships with Brisbane coach Pim Verbeek was criticised watch. Johannesburg. Roar and gained a reputation for for his negativity at the last World New faces are in the squad, Eu ropean champions in 1988, the Netherlands have man of glass fast-paced, aggressive, passing Cup in South Africa after setting plenty of home-based players are reached three World Cup finals and lost them all. An ele- football. up the Socceroos with the onus getting a chance and Postecoglou gant side were beaten by hosts West Germany in 1974 and MUNICH: Arjen Robben’s ability as a footballer has nev- But Postecoglou and his on defence. is building his squad around Tim Argentina four years later. In 2010, a team full of talented er been in doubt but it is the ease with which the Dutch Socceroos face a monumental That is something that does Cahill, Tom Rogic and Mile players eliminated Brazil in the quarter-finals but they are winger falls that makes many reluctant to adorn him challenge in Brazil, drawn along- not sit well with Postecoglou and Jedinak. best remembered for their aggressive tactics which includ- with the ‘legend’ epithet. ed a studs-up challenge by Nigel de Jong on the chest of The 30-year-old began his career with local club side World Cup holders Spain, irrespective of Australia’s formida- “Everything I’ve done is about Spain’s Xabi Alonso in the final. Groningen, but has since starred at Chelsea, Real Madrid 2010 runners-up Netherlands and ble opponents in Brazil, the new growing the game. I win if this Coach Louis van Gaal, in his second spell in charge hav- and the side where he has really flourished, German Chile. coach wants to encourage his game grows and is the biggest ing stood down when they failed to qualify for the 2002 giants Bayern Munich. Australia could struggle to get players to be attack-minded. game in the county. That’s what I World Cup, has injected some younger talent into the side It is this form that has made him indispensable to a point, let alone advance from “Having grown up in this coun- want,” Postecoglou said. In that failed so abysmally at Euro 2012.Just two years after Dutch coach Louis van Gaal as he prepares for a tough Group B, but the low expectations try, I’ve got an awareness of what Postecoglou’s mind Australia reaching the World Cup final they went out in the group Group B at the World Cup against holders Spain, Chile do not dampen Postecoglou’s the public expects from its have nothing to lose, but plenty stage in Ukraine. and Australia. Van Gaal, who signed Robben when he positivity. national teams. Our players will to gain at the World Cup in Van Gaal, who is standing down after the finals whatev- was coach of Bayern Munich for 25 million euros “The World Cup will be an respond to that,” he said. Brazil. —AFP er the outcome, has not let an excellent qualifying cam- ($34.4m) from Real Madrid in 2009, will be hoping he paign-they won nine and drew one of their 10 games — brings this form to Brazil. AUSTRALIA cloud his appraisal of their chances of success in Brazil. While van Gaal has complete faith in Robben, man- The 62-year-old’s attempts to play down expectations agers such as Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger have been driven look even wiser given the tough draw they were handed. to distraction by a side of Robben’s game that many find Indeed, they could even struggle to reach the knockout unattractive and potentially controversial with so much stages from a group also containing reigning champions focus on refereeing at the World Cup. Spain, dark horses Chile and rank outsiders Australia. “He is a very good diver, but that is the way it goes. It “We are not one of the favo rite s,” he said back in Ma rch.”I is the referee - Robben is a fantastic player, but he view Brazil and Argentina and, from Europe, Spain and doesn’t need to do it.” Germany as the favorites. “If the referee gives him a yellow card he won’t do it “We consider ourselves as outsiders. I arrived as coach again,” Wenger griped after Bayern eliminated Arsenal (after Euro 2012) with certain targets: qualify for the finals from the Champions League in the last 16 this season. and then reach the semi-finals. However, Robben is a hardheaded character. His “We have introduced a lot of fresh young blood into the unsmiling exterior and habit of wagging his finger at ref- team and played really nice football and scored a lot of erees as if they are always in the wrong has not goals in the qualifying group. endeared him to many fans. And he has shown real steel “However, the semi-finals will be a really hard goal to to prove his detractors wrong. He arrived at Bayern in achieve.” A 2-0 defeat in their friendly with France in March- 2009 after a troubled spell at Real despite having their first loss since August 2012 — added weight to van accrued league title winners medals in the Netherlands- Gaal’s comments. with PSV Eindhoven-two with Chelsea in England and a It was followed shortly afterwards by a hammerblow Primera Liga crown with Real Madrid. But the Spanish when 24-year-old Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman - fans dubbed him ‘crystal man’ because he spent more along with Robben and van Persie one of the three players time injured than on the pitch.—AFP the coach had singled out as being indispensable - was