US Open stars Argentina stroll ‘ready’ for stern as Chile advance Oakmont challenge at Copa America THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2016 16 17 Anglo-Welsh rivalry to reach new peak Page 18 VILLENEUVE D’ASCQ: Russia’s Sergei Ignashevich, left, and Slovakia’s Tomas Hubocan go for a Russia stunned by brilliant Hamsik LILLE: Marek Hamsik set up the opener and came up Hamsik. “This has perhaps opened up the gates to the to net in the opening match. After a slow start Russia was worse to come for them, and better from Hamsik, with a contender for goal of the tournament as Slovakia last 16. I did well and am very proud that I managed to grew into the game and their powerful centre-forward as the interval approached. beat Russia 2-1 in Lille yesterday to claim a first score such a goal. It was brilliant.” Artem Dzyuba, of Zenit St Petersburg, nearly caught out The Russian defence was still organising itself when European Championship finals win. Russia prop up the group with one point from two Slovakian ‘keeper Matus Kovacik with a header after Weiss played a corner short to Hamsik. Oleg Shatov Hamsik’s pass released Vladimir Weiss to score in the matches and will surely now need to beat Wales in their good play down the right by Igor Smolnikov. came across in an attempt to block Hamsik but the 28- 32nd minute at the Stade Pierre Mauroy and the Napoli final group game to keep their hopes of reaching the last Dzyuba then displayed his strength to set up Fedor year-old turned back onto his right foot and curled a star doubled the lead in style right on the stroke of half- 16 alive. The build-up to this match in far northern France Smolov for a low shot that fizzed inches wide of the left tremendous effort in off the far post.It was arguably the time. Russia pushed in the second half but were left had been overshadowed by hooliganism fears with Russia post as the half-hour approached, but soon after that goal of Euro 2016 so far and it had the Slovakians at that with too much to do, even if Denis Glushakov got one having been told they would be thrown out of the com- Slovakia were in front. end of the ground in raptures. Slutsky changed his two back in the 80th minute to set up a grandstand finale. petition if there was any repeat of the crowd trouble at central midfielders at half-time, replacing Roman The result allowed Jan Kozak’s team to bounce back the end of their draw with England in Marseille. WEISS OPENER Neustaedter and Aleksandr Golovin with Glushakov and from the 2-1 defeat to Wales with which they started There was a much calmer atmosphere inside the Hamsik undid the Russia defence with a superb left- Pavel Mamaev. It was Glushakov of Spartak Moscow their Euro 2016 campaign and put pressure on their stands as the match was played with the stadium roof foot pass in behind right-back Smolnikov. Weiss still had who reduced the arrears in the 80th minute, heading Group B rivals before England take on the Welsh in Lens closed. Kozak made three changes to the Slovakia team work to do though, as he cut back onto his right foot home after Shatov had played a one-two with Roman today. “We are very proud and happy with our first win beaten by Wales, including handing a start to Ondrej and finished with aplomb past Igor Akinfeev into the far Shirokov and crossed from the left byline. But Slovakia at a European Championship,” said man of the match Duda, the young forward who had come off the bench corner. Leonid Slutsky’s side were stunned but there held on. — AFP Switzerland on the brink of Debutants Iceland hold Portugal to shock draw last 16 after Romania draw PARIS: Minnows Iceland denied Portugal glorious return to the big time having not superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on his qualified for a major tournament since PARIS: Switzerland were on the brink of the record-equalling 127th international the 1986 World Cup. Austria, tipped as Euro 2016 last 16 yesterday after they salvaged a appearance to claim a 1-1 in their first tournament dark horses, dominated the 1-1 draw against Romania in a lively Group A ever major finals match at Euro 2016 on opening period, but went behind when clash at the Parc des Princes. Tuesday. Hungary top Group F after a Szalai ended an 18-month goal drought The Swiss, who owe their point to Admir day of surprises as they shocked well- to open the scoring. Mehmedi’s second-half strike, have four points fancied Austria 2-0 to register a first win And Stieber triggered delirious cele- from two games while Romania have one after for 30 years at a major international tour- brations when he raced from just inside Bogdan Stancu opened the scoring in the first nament. Ronaldo equaled Luis Figo’s the Austria half to beat Robert Almer half. Hosts France, on three points, will be the record number of caps yet, it was a quiet three minutes from time with a sublime first team to reach the knockout phase if they night for the Real Madrid forward, who chip. “The players played out of their beat Albania, who have yet to get off the mark, failed to become the first man to score in skins,” said Hungary coach Bernd Storck, in Marseille later yesterday. four European Championships as he was who had previously described just quali- Although the Swiss have a good chance to frustrated by Iceland’s dogged defence fying for the tournament as a “miracle”. qualify, at least as one of the four best third- and a great display from goalkeeper “This game today against such a difficult placed teams, they may regret missing several Hannes Halldorsson. team, we had to play some very good chances in a game that could have seen them A superb finish by Ronaldo’s former football. We had a bit of luck, but you move into their first European Championship Manchester United teammate Nani gave need a bit of luck in football.” knockout phase. Romania, instead, earned a life- Portugal a half-time lead in Saint Etienne. Austria coach Marcel Koller line ahead of their final game against Albania. However, Iceland-the smallest country bemoaned a disappointing perform- After a 2-1 defeat in the tournament opener ever to feature at a Euro finals with a pop- ance which cranks up the pressure on versus hosts France, Romania started cautiously, ulation of just 330,000 people-weren’t to his side ahead of Saturday’s crucial allowing their opponents to pick up momen- be denied as midfielder Birkir Bjarnason game against Portugal in Paris. tum. In the seventh minute, Switzerland’s Haris slammed home an equalizer just five “Unfortunately we weren’t able to do PARIS: Romania’s Claudiu Keseru, and Switzerland’s Fabian Schaer vie for the ball during Seferovic beat defender Vlad Chichires in the minutes into the second-half. “We were what we wanted today,” he said. “Maybe box but his right-foot effort then went just wide. the Euro 2016 Group A soccer match between Romania and Switzerland at the Parc des playing a really good team and the best some players were nervous because it The forward had another chance nine min- Princes stadium in Paris, France, yesterday. —AP player in the world, the last 35 minutes was the beginning. We can’t just push a utes later, only for goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu ting Romania ahead in the 18th minute against Romania had a huge opportunity to double were really long after we’d equalized,” button and say ‘Now I’m going to play at to deny him with his left foot. Romania, however, the run of play. Stancu, who also netted from the their tally but Cristian Sapuranu’s shot went just said Halldorsson. “I’m touched to have my best level’. “The situation now is we’ll scored with their first chance. spot against France last Friday, became the first wide. Blerim Dzemaili’s header was off target as experienced this moment with these have to try and win against Portugal.” Romanian player to score two goals at a Switzerland missed yet another chance before incredible fans behind us.” Whilst, group favorites Portugal and STANCU PENALTY European Championship. halftime. Romania defended well but there was In Bordeaux second-half goals from Austria face off for a first win, pool lead- Switzerland captain Stephan Lichtsteiner Two minutes later, Tatarusanu tipped Fabian nothing Tatarusanu could do in the 57th minute Adam Szalai and Zoltan Stieber saw ers Hungary next take on Iceland in grabbed Alexandru Chipciu’s shirt in the area Schaer’s fierce 20-metre volley over the bar as when Mehmedi drilled a half-volley into the far Hungary stun 10-man Austria to mark a Marseille on Saturday. — AFP and Stancu converted the resulting penalty, put- the game got livelier. side of the net. — Reuters.