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. “We lacked Liga rivals Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, when they ITV: “At the start of the season I the first or second time,” he said. appearance when they were hammered 10-1 on mobility and precision. In a Champions League will be seeking a 14th win in 15 matches but will said 10 goals. I’ve never scored “We have to analyze all of that aggregate in the 1991-92 Cup Winners’ Cup, by match against a rival who is fighting to qualify for again be without World Player of the Year Lionel four in a season (before), so we’ll and show them how to progress Monaco. A Swansea win at the Liberty stadium will seal the next round you need intensity for the full 90 Messi and goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who are both see. I’m feeling good at the from matches like tonight. “There their status in the next round although should FC minutes.” Barca have another chance to seal the injured. The Spanish champions, unbeaten in La moment.” Wenger praised the were lots of young players of 19 Kuban Krasnodar and Swiss club Saint Gallen draw, the top spot in the group when they host Celtic on Dec Liga, have a three-point lead over second-placed coolness of Wilshere’s opening or 20 who have great talent, but Welsh club advance regardless of their result against 11. The Scottish champions lost 3-0 at home to AC Atletico Madrid. The only points they have goal, which saw him cut inside a who need to understand the Valencia. Milan on Tuesday and are bottom of the group on dropped were in a 0-0 draw at Osasuna last defender before curling a shot demands of the high level in the Michael Laudrup brought the club their first English three points from five games. Barca have 10, Milan month. — Reuters home, and suggested he should Champions League.”— AFP major trophy last season when they defeated Bradford City 5-0 to win the League Cup and the former Danish captain is working his magic again this season with the Mourinho admits mistakes club solid in tenth place in the Premier League. The 49- Inter will not year-old, who scored 37 goals in 104 international matches, also has fond memories of his counterpart BASEL: Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho accepted that he got Mourinho was quick to praise Murat Yakin’s Basel side for their Miroslav Djukic when the Serbian memorably missed a splash cash, his team selection badly wrong after his side were beaten 1-0 display - which followed a 2-1 victory in London in September penalty for Deportivo La Coruna in the last minute of by Basel at the St Jakob-Park on Tuesday. Mohamed Salah’s - but he acknowledged that his decision to make just one the 1994 season against Valencia, handing Laudrup’s president says solitary strike with three minutes remaining gave the Swiss change to the team after Saturday’s 3-0 win at West Ham was Barcelona side one of his four Liga crowns. champions their second win over the London club in this sea- wrong. Djikic served the club he now coaches as a sweeper son’s Champions League, although Chelsea still clinched their “I want to praise Basel. They won because we were sleep- between 1997 to 2003, but the 2002 Spanish title won MILAN: President Erick Thohir said his priori- place in the last 16 thanks to Schalke’s goalless draw with ing in the last minute. But they won also because they were during a golden spell for the club is overshadowed by ty will be putting the club back on a sound financial Steaua Bucharest in Romania. the best team and deserved to win,” said the former Real Champions League final defeats in 2000 and 2001 footing and not splashing the cash on top drawer play- That meant it was job done for Chelsea, who came to Madrid boss, who dropped Eden Hazard for Willian. “I think ers, according to reports yesterday. Thohir, who recently against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively. Switzerland with the aim of ensuring qualification with a from the first minute I was getting signs that my team was acquired a 70 percent majority stake in the Nerazzurri He will hoping his side improve on their first leg per- game to spare in Group E, but Mourinho was unable to muster tired. My team paid the price today of the international week, from former owner , was elected presi- formance when Swansea played the Spaniards off the a smile after watching a substandard performance. “We don’t where I was afraid of the reaction in the game against West dent of the giants two weeks ago. park at their own Mestalla stadium to the point, the go through because we got a result, we go through because Ham. “Maybe because that game was so important for us, the Fans are hoping his investment will lead to a move home fans applauded their opponents off the pitch away from the San Siro ground Inter share with city Schalke did not get a result, and for me it’s not the same,” said whole team focused a lot, and everybody made a good indi- after a 3-0 defeat. rivals AC Milan to a new, purpose-built arena. Having the Portuguese. vidual and collective performance. Swansea winger Roland Lamah expects a tough finished ninth in the league last season under former “In the end, we qualified, which is our first objective, and “Tonight we made a big mistake in the first second of the match against a team he is familiar with following his coach Andrea Stramaccioni, there are also hopes Thohir now we have the last match at home to get the result to finish game, immediately. After that, we made mistakes defensively, time playing in Spain with Osasuna. “I know Valencia will attract big name players to the club. However the first,” he added, with Chelsea knowing that a win at home we made mistakes with the ball, we lost easy passes, we lost very well from my time in La Liga. They are a very 43-year-old Indonesian businessman, who has already against Steaua on December 11 will guarantee them top spot every second ball, late decisions, people thinking late, and we strong side and they will want to confirm their qualifi- invested in Major League Soccer club DC United and the and secure, in theory, an easier draw in the next round. finished with a ridiculous goal. “It is not the kind of game cation today. “There are a lot of similarities between Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team, indicated that where we are upset with the players, because I think I under- Valencia and ourselves and I think it will be a great fans may have to be patient. stood, and I maybe should have made more changes.” Chelsea game because both teams love to pass the ball and “If you ask me if I’m going to buy new players, my begin a run of nine games in December with a home clash retention is a big part too. “I know we won 3-0 out answer is always the same,” Thohir told La Gazzetta dello against Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday, and there, but that result is in the past. That has no bearing Sport yesterday. “Our decisions will be taken together, new faces will come into the side for that game. today night, and we will have to be at our best if we but with one eye on the budget. There would be no want to get a good result. unilateral decision on my part, that’s what’s different CONCERN FOR ETO’O “To qualify for the next stage today would be great from the past. “We will buy players, but we’re going to One man who looks certain to miss that encounter is for us, but it will be a very tough night as they are a be careful with our spending. Our objective is financial Samuel Eto’o, who was stretchered off just before half-time class outfit.” “There’s a good feeling in this camp - the restructuring, creating a club which is in sound financial following a clash with Basel midfielder Serey Die, with fit- players are all together, and I think you can see that health, as agreed with Moratti.” again Fernando Torres taking his place. “Samuel has a muscu- out on the pitch in our performances.” Seven-time One player reportedly on Thohir’s radar is Radja lar injury. I don’t know the dimension - we will have to wait to French champions Lyon can also advance after a stut- Nainggolan, a Belgian international of Indonesian her- do scans - but it is a muscular injury,” Mourinho said. tering start to their season under Remi Garde, and the itage who currently plays at Serie A strugglers Cagliari. “This situation maybe helps me to make decisions when embarrassment of failing to reach the knockout phase The eventual purchase of Nainggolan could theoretical- you have consecutive matches. I got signs that some players will only compound their misery of falling in the final ly boost Thohir’s wish to open up new markets and fan struggled to play two matches in three days so that will push Champions League qualifying round at the hands of bases in Asia, where Inter already have thousands of fol- me, for sure, to make different decisions. That is obvious.” Real Sociedad. lowers. Thohir admitted Nainggolan had caught his eye: Basel’s recent record against English sides at the St Jakob-Park They host Group I leaders Real Betis at the Gerland “It’s true... but only if there’s agreement between myself, is impressive, with this latest win against Chelsea following stadium, trailing by two points with Vitoria de the managers and the technical staff.” victories over Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in Guimaraes a further two back and on the road at But a new stadium could be further in the future. Europe in the last two years. Croatia’s winless outsiders Rijeka Alexandre Lacazette “One day we will have our own new stadium, but at this Tuesday’s success also means they are now in a position to has been Lyon’s main source of goals in domestic point we can’t say if we’re going to build one,” added qualify for the last 16 for the second time in three seasons, action with six, but their inability to kill off matches Thohir. However the Inter chief, who says he has no wish with a draw against Schalke in Germany next month all they came back to haunt them again at the weekend to follow AC Milan owner Sivio Berlusconi into the politi- now require. “Everyone knew it would be historic for us if we when they were pegged back to 1-1 at home to third cal arena, insists he is taking the “big responsibility” of could beat Chelsea twice, and I think we wouldn’t have from bottom Valenciennes. English FA Cup winners leading the Serie A giants seriously. “I have a big respon- deserved just a draw,” said Yakin. “It will be a nice final match Wigan will keep their adventure going if they can sibility because I’m the first foreign president of the against Schalke. That is what we worked for and we will try to defeat Zulte Waregem and already qualified Rubin club. And I’m not just representing myself, what I do qualify for the knockout stages.” Even if Basel lose in Kazan avoid defeat at home to Slovenia’s NK Maribor reflects on all of Indonesia,” he added.—AFP Gelsenkirchen, they are guaranteed the consolation of drop- in Russia. — AFP Chelsea’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho ping into the Europa League in the New Year. — AFP