Established 1961 25 Sports Thursday, June 28, 2018

Nishino’s born-again Japan aim to keep Honda’s dream alive against Poland Doubters silenced by Nishino’s tightly-organized Japan playing with pace

VOLGOGRAD: Akira Nishino might be forgiven for as an impact substitute under Nishino. Honda, who now pinching himself if Japan get the draw they need against plays for Pachuca in Mexico, became the first Japanese eliminated Poland today to reach the last 16 of the World player to score in three World Cups after he climbed off Cup. Just over two months ago he wasn’t even in charge the bench to secure the 2-2 draw in Yekaterinburg. of the Blue Samurai and their most recognizable player It was very different last August when Honda had sat Keisuke Honda was far from certain of being on the plane glumly on the bench as Japan secured their spot in Russia to Russia. with a home win against Australia. Before leaving for Now coach Nishino’s side need only a point against Russia, the outspoken striker whose goals at the 2010 the Poles in Volgograd to make it to the knockout stages, World Cup in South Africa shot him to fame, took the thanks to a late equaliser from Honda against Senegal. It opportunity to stick the boot into Halilhodzic. followed the first World Cup “To submit myself to the win by an Asian country kind of football Halilhodzic against a South American side played in order to get picked, when Japan overcame 10-man that would be shameful for Colombia 2-1. Even a defeat me,” he told national broad- may be enough if Senegal beat Right now we caster NHK. “I’m proud that Colombia, however Japan have I’ve stayed true to myself.” their fate in their own hands realise we didn’t Past meetings between Japan just months after their World and Poland give little clue as Cup hopes seemed in disarray. do well enough to Thursday’s outcome at the The Japan Football Volgograd Arena. They have Association took a massive played just two friendlies with gamble to sack Bosnian coach Japan winning both times, the Vahid Halilhodzic in April fol- last in 2002. lowing a string of poor performances and reports of fric- tion with senior players. But it has paid off handsomely BOLD PREDICTION and the doubters have been silenced by Nishino’s tightly- Poland skipper Robert Lewandowski urged his team to organized Japan playing with pace, guile and no little skill salvage some pride after a sorry World Cup campaign to remain undefeated at the top of Group H in Russia. saw them the first European side to be eliminated. The VOLGOGRAD: Japan’s midfielder Keisuke Honda (R) attends a training session on the eve of the Russia 2018 World Poles came to Russia with high hopes of reaching the Cup Group H football match between Japan and Poland at the Volgograd Arena yesterday in Volgograd. — AFP SPIKY-HAIRED LIVEWIRE knockout phase for the first time since 1986, but a 3-0 Indeed, the former AC Milan and CSKA Moscow strik- defeat to Colombia confirmed their early exit after an er Honda may not have been at the World Cup at all had opening 2-1 reverse against Senegal. “Right now we Lewandowski, who has been unable to make a mark in Honda, who is as famous for his bold statements as his Halilhodzic still been in charge, so poisonous had their realise we didn’t do well enough but that is something we the tournament, hinted at international retirement when he haircuts and goals, said he would not back down from relationship become. But the instantly recognisable cannot overcome,” said the prolific Bayern Munich striker said that the Japan clash would be “for some of us... our past predictions that he and Japan would lift the famous bleach-blond, spiky-haired livewire has been born again on Tuesday. last game for the national team”. His strike opponent golden trophy.—AFP

regulars. Rohr said after that match that his Young Nigeria side had been “naive” in conceding twice from set pieces in a 2-0 loss. Next up, against Iceland in Volgograd, head home with the Super Eagles looked lost once again as Iceland disappointed they failed to get a single shot away in the first half. Whatever Rohr said during the high hopes for interval appeared to have the desired but proud as World effect, however, and Leicester City striker next World Cup scored twice as Nigeria cruised to a 2-0 win. Cup saga ends Musa, who has struggled to nail down a place in ’s Foxes side, is a pop- KALININGRAD: Beaten late on in Saint SOCHI: Iceland’s Viking mentality meant they Petersburg Tuesday night by Lionel ular figure in Russia due to stints at CSKA Moscow and his brace made him Nigeria’s arrived at the World Cup without an ounce of fear, Messi’s Argentina, Nigeria head home from despite being dropped into a difficult group, and Russia disappointed to exit at the group top scorer at World Cups. They even had while they battled bravely every time they stepped stage but full of optimism for future tour- their chances against Argentina, and naments. Coach brought the stretched the South Americans with their onto the pitch their hopes were dashed by a lack youngest squad to Russia, and there is a pace and physicality. of firepower. sense with this Super Eagles team that But they were profligate up front and Two years after stunning world football by their time is yet to come. “We are a young paid the price when Manchester United reaching the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, Iceland, team and perhaps this World Cup comes a defender Marcos Rojo volleyed home LAGOS: Nigerian supporters react in Lagos on Tuesday, as they watch the Russia the smallest nation by population ever to qualify little bit early for them... I think they will be Argentina’s winner minutes before full time. 2018 World Cup football match between Nigeria and Argentina. — AFP for the World Cup, got off to a great start in Russia ready for 2022,” the German said before For Nigeria, a football-mad nation of 186 by holding Argentina to a 1-1 draw. Nigeria’s first Group D match, a disap- million people, the result condemned the However, Nigeria proved too tough a test in pointing 2-0 loss to Croatia. national side to yet another World Cup every reason to be optimistic, with young “Nigerians understand that,” he said. their second match of Group D, a 2-0 defeat, and Nigeria were poor first up in group stage exit and continued a poor run stars such as Arsenal’s and “But we want to make them happy and it’s while Gylfi Sigurdsson missed a penalty Iceland of just two wins in their last 14 games on Leicester trio , Kelechi not only the results, it’s also attitude and Kaliningrad, ponderous in possession and looked like they had no idea how to drag them- failing to unlock the obvious potential in a football’s biggest stage. Iheanacho and Musa set to learn and fair play. “Football must stay a sport that’s Yet Rohr insists that Nigerians have improve ahead of Qatar in 2022. bringing values in this big country.”—AFP selves out of a hole. team containing several Sigurdsson, by far Iceland’s most creative play- er, missed three months of action in the leadup to the World Cup due to a knee injury and did not so far. Not surprisingly, their sparkle has look his sharpest in Russia, and there did not seem Cairo. Cuper had looked set to sign a new come in midfield, where players such as Croatia on to be anyone capable of picking up the slack. Egypt set to deal before the World Cup but three Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic and Real Madrid’s defeats in Russia did not sit well at home. Luka Modric, both of whom are now in Having just five shots on target and scoring one Local media reports said the Egyptian course to rival their 30s, are savouring what could be goal in their first two encounters, Iceland needed a clarify coach government and parliament had called for their last shot at World Cup glory. win to have any chance of going through and investigation into the World Cup perform- Modric has been one of the outstanding threw off the shackles in their final game against ance. Parliament’s sports committee stunning players of the tournament so far and was Croatia, hitting the target six times and scoring Cuper’s fate described the team’s showing as a “dis- sublime in Croatia’s 3-0 win over through a Sigurdsson spot kick. graceful representation” and the loss to run of ’98 Argentina. Crucially, though, the ‘old guard’ They also restricted Croatia to just two efforts Saudi Arabia as “humiliating,” accusing the has been backed up by a younger genera- on target, but unfortunately for Iceland both went NIZHNY NOVGOROD: Hector Cuper’s EFA of committing “serious violations,” in tion - players like Ante Rebic, Mateo in. While the defeat dumped Iceland out of the future as Egypt coach is set to be clarified, a statement released on Monday. SOCHI: After breezing through one of the Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic - all of tournament and left them bottom of the group with two days after they ended their World Cup Other reports said some angry fans hardest groups at the World Cup, Croatia whom play in Europe’s top leagues. Their one point, there was plenty of praise to go round. campaign bottom of Group A, but the coun- hurled obscenities at the team when they appear to be on course to rival the exploits younger legs have given Croatia a remark- “I couldn’t be more proud of the players, but try’s football association has already arrived back in Cairo on Tuesday. Cuper, of their “Class of ‘98”, who were beaten in able strength in depth. we are disappointed to not go through,” coach dropped a broad hint that he is on his way. 62, was appointed in March 2015 and the semi-finals by eventual winners France. Of the 23 players in the squad, 22 have Heimir Hallgrimsson told reporters following his With Cuper’s contract at an end, the ensured Egypt’s first qualification to the Croatia’s 2-1 win over Iceland on been given playing time in Russia so far and side’s exit. “It’s a beautiful game but sometimes it’s Egyptian Football Association seemed to World Cup since 1990, as well as taking a Tuesday, which followed victories over it is a measure of how deep their talent pool really tough.” confirm they would not be renewing it after a relatively inexperienced side to the final of Nigeria and Argentina, secured their place is that reserve midfielder Milan Badelj was Iceland’s fans once again provided a vibrant post on their Twitter feed thanked “the tech- the last African Nations Cup in early 2017. at the top of Group D and a place in the named man-of-the-match against Iceland. dash of colour and noise to the stands as they nical staff following the end of its contract”. A former Argentine international, Cuper last 16. They can now dream of going one Croatia next face a defensive Denmark side proudly supported their team, and Prime Minister “We will hold a news conference later made his name as a coach by taking better than their third-place finish in 1998, in the last 16 and it is a match that will test to answer all the questions,” it added. Mallorca to the European Cup Winners which marked their first participation in the their ability to open up a tight defence. Katrin Jakobsdottir released a statement shortly Cuper had been noncommittal about his Cup final in 1999 and then Valencia to suc- World Cup finals as an independent nation. Victory would take them to a quarter-final after the final whistle summing up the nation’s future after they lost their last group game cessive Champions League finals in 2000 “We have to trust in our quality, we against either Spain or Russia. “I don’t think feelings. to Saudi Arabia on Monday and exited the and 2001. Egypt will have to move quickly respect all our opponents but we don’t our tournament will end in the last 16 but “It’s been extremely inspiring for all of us in tournament without a point, saying he to firm up their coaching situation with concede that anyone is better than us,” for now we can only focus on Denmark,” Iceland to see how their belief in the team and its would “see what will happen” after meet- 2019 African Nations Cup qualifiers com- coach Zlatko Dalic said after Tuesday’s win. Dalic said. “We can only think about what possible success despite the odds, has carried ing with the EFA when they returned to ing up in September. — Reuters The Balkan side and Uruguay are the only awaits us, but the most important things are them this far,” she said. — Reuters teams to have won all three of their games still to come.” —Reuters