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SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2013 Asia, Oceania bid to merge WCup slots KUALA LUMPUR: Asia and Oceania are in talks to by quitting Oceania to join the AFC. But speaking after capable of reaching the tournament, also via a play-off. team that wants to come. Because what’s going to be share their World Cup qualifying slots to give teams the AFC awards dinner in Kuala Lumpur, Shaikh Growing market Asia has the world’s biggest confeder- left of Oceania?” more chance of reaching football’s biggest stage, Asia’s Salman said it would be better to combine Asia and ation with 46 members, while Oceania groups 11 Australia have reached both the 2010 and 2014 soccer chief said. Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Oceania’s World Cup quotas. “We had the Australians in island teams spread across a wide swathe of the World Cups through Asian qualifying, elbowing out Khalifa, president of the Asian Football Confederation but I think we should look at how can we combine our Pacific. competitors such as Saudi Arabia who reached four (AFC), said a proposal would be drawn up and submit- slot together,” Shaikh Salman said late on Tuesday. Asian teams have a poor record in the World Cup straight editions up to 2006. New Zealand’s appear- ted to world body FIFA for approval. The news comes “This is something that we’re discussing with play-offs, while the lure of automatic qualifying spots ance in 2010 - where they bowed out unbeaten after after Jordan and New Zealand lost intercontinental Oceania and hopefully we come to an agreement on were a key reason behind Australia’s switch to the AFC draws with Italy, Paraguay and Slovakia-was their first World Cup play-offs against Uruguay and Mexico how those legs are to be played, because I think geo- in 2006. “This is a decision that should be by FIFA as in 28 years. No other Oceania team has reached the respectively, with both teams shipping five goals in graphically we’re much closer and on a technical basis well, (combining) the half-slot,” Shaikh Salman said. World Cup. Shaikh Salman said the AFC’s competitions the first leg. we’re level or on the same par.” Asia has four automatic “We still have time but this is something we need to committee would discuss World Cup qualifying in After the loss to Mexico, outgoing All Whites coach World Cup places plus a “half-slot”-a spot in an inter- look at in the future.” He added: “I think we have to January, with proposals due to come before the execu- Ricki Herbert said New Zealand should follow Australia continental play-off-while only one Oceania team is look at the continent as a whole, not just inviting each tive committee by April. — AFP Gunners urged to finish the job LONDON: Arsenal manager take inspiration from team-mate Arsene Wenger urged his players Aaron Ramsey, who has already to “finish the job” after they found the net 11 times for the moved to within sight of the Premier League leaders this term. Champions League knockout “I like his first goal, because phase with a 2-0 win over before he rushed a little bit,” Marseille. Jack Wilshere scored Wenger said. “He’s starting to both goals at the Emirates think, ‘What Ramsey can do, I can Stadium on Tuesday to leave do as well.’ He’s calm in front of Wenger’s side with 12 points from goal; especially the first goal five games in Group F, but they shows that.” Wenger was, howev- are not yet assured of a berth in er, critical of Ozil, who saw a 37th- AMSTERDAM: Ajax Amsterdam’s goalkeeper Jasper Cillissen (right) vies with Barcelona’s Pedro during an the last 16. minute penalty saved by Marseille UEFA Champions League group H football match between Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona at the They need to avoid defeat at goalkeeper Steve Mandanda fol- Amsterdam Arena in Amsterdam on November 26, 2013. — AFP Napoli in their final group game lowing a truncated run-up. to be sure of going through, “Everybody can miss a penalty, although the qualifying permuta- but I think his run on to the ball Jolted Barca want more tions mean that they could still was a bit short. But it’s the way he progress even if they lose at takes them,” the Frenchman said. Stadio San Paolo on December He also expressed annoyance intensity from players 11. “It’s unbelievable (not to have with midfielder Mathieu Flamini qualified with 12 points), but it’s for cutting the sleeves on his the reality and we have to finish shirt. It is an Arsenal tradition that MADRID: Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino and are second on eight and Ajax, whose final game is the job,” Wenger said. “It is not an players take to the field wearing captain Carles Puyol have demanded more intensi- against the Italians at the San Siro, seven. easy situation. It’s a tricky situa- shirts with sleeves of the same Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger ty from the players after Tuesday’s 2-1 Champions tion because you could think, ‘OK, length, and with Flamini’s team- League defeat at Ajax Amsterdam. The Group H LETHARGIC START (the objective is) just not to lose mates having all-sported long- reverse was Barca’s first loss this season in all com- Puyol said the team would have no chance of big (to Napoli),’ but I think that sleeve shirts, Wenger pledged to petitions - and their first under Martino - which adding to their four European crowns if they start- would be a mistake from our- speak to the French midfielder Swans looking for cost them a chance to seal the top spot, having ed every match so lethargically. “The idea is to selves. about the matter. “I don’t like that already secured their place in the last 16. A fired-up have possession of the ball but when you are up “It is to put in our head to go and he will not do that again,” he spring season in Ajax, roared on by their vocal fans, took the game against a team that also knows how to play and is there, play in a positive way and said. “I was surprised and we to an injury-hit Barca in the first half, harrying and full of fight this is what happens,” he told reporters. try to win the game, because don’t want that.” With Marseille hassling them before taking a deserved 2-0 lead “If you do not have enough intensity they will everything else would be a dan- having already been eliminated, Europa League with goals from Thulani Serero and Danny Hoesen. roll right over you. “You have to gain experience gerous gamble.” Wilshere opened coach Elie Baup used the oppor- Although the Spanish champions dominated from all your matches and if we want to win titles the scoring after only 27 seconds- tunity to give some of his PARIS: Valencia travel to Wales today with their place after Ajax were reduced to 10 men shortly after we have to improve.” Puyol’s defensive partner the fastest goal in the Champions younger players a taste of the in the Europa League knockout phase assured and a halftime and pulled a goal back through Xavi’s Gerard Pique said it was Barca’s worst first-half per- League this season-and complet- Champions League. matter of pride to play for against a Swansea side look- penalty, they struggled against a home defense formance of the season. “We played very badly and ed his brace in the 65th minute Midfielders Mario Lemina, 20, ing to lay down new landmarks in their European his- tory. With two matches remaining in the 12 group, well drilled by coach and former Barca player Frank we were lacking in commitment,” added the Spain when he converted a low cross and 21-year-old Giannelli Imbula de Boer. “Ajax began with more intensity than us international. “In the second half, although we round-robin format, Tottenham, Salzburg, Esbjerg, from Mesut Ozil. The England both started the game and Baup Ludogorets Razgrad, Fiorentina and Dnipro and we paid the price,” Martino, who took over from improved, we did not create enough chances to midfielder had previously scored said he hoped that they would the ailing Tito Vilanova in the close season, said at a get the second goal. Dnipropetrovsk are also certain to be in the hat for the only twice this season, and he learn from the experience. “What I round of 32, as the long journey to the May 14 final in news conference. “The second half was a different “They can score a goal or dominate during cer- said he was keen to add more take from it is that for our squad, story and we played in a way more in tune with tain periods but what happened in the first half Turin continues. goals to his repertoire. tonight (Tuesday) there were lots Swansea are on the brink of playing in the spring what Barca represents,” the Argentine added. cannot be allowed to happen. That is not the Asked what his goals target for of young players who dipped “The problems in the first half came more when image of FC Barcelona.” Barca’s next match is at La phase of a European competition for the first time in the campaign was, Wilshere told their toes in this competition for club history, a far cry from their last continental we had the ball than when we didn’t.