SPORT Friday 15 June 2018
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Russia’s Denis Cheryshev (second, right) scores their second goal against Saudi Arabia during the opening match of the FIFA 2018 World Cup at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia yesterday.
RUSSIA SAUDI ARABIA 5 0 Gazinskii - 12' Cheryshev - 43' Dzyuba - 71' Cheryshev - 90'+1' Golovin - 90'+4' Russia crush Saudi Arabia in opener
AFP the country since the 1980 Moscow TODAY'S FIXTURES Summer Olympics. MOSCOW: Russia kicked off their Brazil and their superstar GROUP A World Cup in style yesterday, Neymar are seeking a sixth global At Ekaterinburg Arena thumping Saudi Arabia 5-0 in front crown while Germany, who won Russia’s in Ekaterinburg EGYPT vs URUGUAY of an ecstatic crowd in Moscow their fourth World Cup in Brazil four forward KICKOFF AT 3.00PM after President Vladimir Putin offi- years ago, will be determined to Artem Dzyuba cially opened the tournament. draw level with the Brazilians. (second, left) GROUP B Putin told the 80,000-strong France boast possibly the most celebrates At Saint Petersburg Stadium crowd at the Luzhniki Stadium talented squad while Lionel Messi with his in St. Petersburg before the match kicked off: “I con- is desperate to make amends for team-mates MOROCCO vs IRAN gratulate all of you at the start of Argentina’s defeat in the 2014 final. after scoring KICKOFF AT 6.00PM the most important championship The preparations of 2010 the third in the world.” winners Spain are in tatters after goal against GROUP B “Love for football unites the coach Julen Lopetegui was sacked Saudi Arabia At Fisht Stadium in Sochi PORTUGAL vs SPAIN entire world in one team, regardless just two days before their opening yesterday. of people’s language or ideology,” game today against Portugal. He KICKOFF AT 9.00PM Putin said to thunderous cheers. had angered his federation by Then, to the delight of the home taking the job of Real Madrid fans, Iury Gazinsky headed Russia manager. Russia burst with joy after in front in the 12th minute after a Neymar, the world’s most cross from Aleksandr Golovin. Sub- expensive player, has recovered stitute Denis Cheryshev rifled from a broken bone in his foot in perfect start to World Cup home a second shortly before time. half-time. Egypt’s coach said prolific Another substitute, Artem striker Mohamed Salah is “almost REUTERS Dzyuba, made it 3-0 with about 20 100 percent” to play in their “We just didn’t expect it,” watching the game from a box minutes remaining, putting the opening match against Uruguay a Russia supporter dressed in in the stands with his arms game out of Saudi Arabia’s reach. today after he had intensive MOSCOW: Russian fans and a helmet and medieval garb raised in surprise. Cheryshev scored a stunning treatment on the shoulder injury he politicians joined in an told state TV. The public jubilation was goal with the outside of his left foot suffered playing for Liverpool outpouring of jubilation “Thank you guys, thank welcome for the Russian gov- in time added on and Golovin sealed against Real Madrid in the Cham- yesterday as the host nation you to the coach and thanks to ernment which on Thursday the rout with a goal direct from a pions League final. unexpectedly routed Saudi (President Vladimir) Putin for announced it would raise the free-kick. The money lavished on the Arabia 5-0 in the opening this celebration! It’s great.” retirement age for men and Victory for Russia, ranked a tournament will boost Putin’s match of the World Cup. “This today was the women, an unpopular decision lowly 70th in the world - three already sky-high prestige at home State television showed national team that we all want it has shied away from taking places below Saudi Arabia - was by giving many of the 11 host cities throngs of Russians outside to see,” Sports Minister Pavel for years, fearing popular vital for the home nation’s hopes of their first facelifts in generations. Moscow’s main stadium Kolobkov was quoted as saying discontent. progressing, with tougher games The tournament also offers cheering with flags but also by TASS news agency. “This is really cool,” against Egypt and Uruguay to come. Putin a chance to project Russia as stunned by the victory as the “Putin is also in shock,” the Russian opposition politician Russia is spending more than a global player that is accepted and hosts are the lowest FIFA TV Rain channel wrote on Alexei Navalny, who was $13bn on hosting football’s show- respected even while being at odds ranked team in the social media, posting a photo- released from jail earlier in the piece, the most important event in with the United States. tournament. graph of the Russian President day, wrote on social media. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018
Reporter who exposed Iranian team players gather during a training Russia doping ‘won’t session at the Saint Petersburg Stadium, be at the World Cup’ yesterday.
AFP broadcaster had held talks with Foreign Minister Heiko Maas BERLIN: German journalist over the security issue and the Hajo Seppelt, whose investi- ministry clearly indicated that gative reporting exposed it shared the intelligence Russia’s alleged state-spon- agencies’ concerns. sored doping, will not travel to Russia’s powerful Investi- the football World Cup tour- gative Committee has said it nament out of security intended to question Seppelt on concerns, he said yesterday. his arrival because he was a key World Cup host Russia had witness in its own investigation initially refused to issue Seppelt into the doping scandal. a visa, naming him persona non Seppelt’s documentaries on grata, but later relented after doping among Russian athletes massive international pressure, sparked a storm and ended up with FIFA stressing the impor- with Russia being banned from tance of media freedom to the 2018 Winter Olympics. President Vladimir Putin’s His TV reports concluded government. that Russia’s doping pro- But Germany’s security gramme was being overseen by agencies have since evaluated the state’s security service and the situation and found it was that orders for athletes to cheat risky for the journalist to travel on a such a scale could only to Russia for the tournament, have come from Putin himself said ARD in a statement. -- charges which have been “It is an alarming sign vehemently denied by Russia. Pre-World Cup chaos because it means that sports “Im’ not disappointed, I’m journalism in Russia carries disillusioned,” said the risks and serious conse- 55-year-old journalist of quences,” Seppelt said in an missing the June 14 to July 15 interview. tournament. motivates Iran: Coach “If reporting is hindered in “I can understand that this manner, that’s worrisome,” ARD’s highest priority is the AFP he added. safety of its employees,” he role of underdogs. We admit Representatives from the added. Iran’s coach that the favourites are SAINT PETERSBURG: Carlos Queiroz Morocco, Spain and Portugal Cancelled friendlies, world- due to history, World Cup class opposition and even a preparation, maturity and Mourinho confident shortage of boots will not dent players in the best teams in Iran’s World Cup dreams, says Europe,” he added. coach Carlos Queiroz, whose “We concede that favour- team England will side have become accustomed itism, but we don’t tolerate to upsetting the odds. that we are not capable to win. Iran open their fifth World Nobody can undermine our impress in Russia Cup campaign today against expectations and hopes. Morocco in what Queiroz “We are here to compete REUTERS “They have good squads but described as a “must-win” with the favourites and we good squads don’t always make match in Saint Petersburg with hope the gods of football LONDON: Manchester United good teams... (but) I don’t think the might of Spain and Por- speak higher and they make manager Jose Mourinho the underdogs will make a big tugal to come in Group B. decisions.” (pictured) has backed England surprise,” he added. Queiroz’s men romped Despite bowing out at the to shine at the World Cup due “In the end, the top teams group stage four years ago, to the depth of experience. in South America and Europe through Asian qualifying source of inspiration for our Iran returned home with “Theyyggp have a good group of are the ones that will be without tasting defeat in 18 motivations to be pride, having held Nigeria 0-0 young butbut experiencedexperienced pplayers,”layers,” fightingf i g h ting games. strengthened during the and come within seconds of Mourinhonho told BritishBritish media.media. forfor the We are not ever But their preparations for games,” said Queiroz. also taking a point off “Alll ofof themthem playplay in thethe title.”title.” using apologies Russia were disrupted as The former Real Madrid Argentina until a last-minute most competitiveompetitive comcompe-pe- warm-up friendlies against coach swerved questions on moment of magic from Lionel tition in tthehe world,world, thethe or justifications, Greece and then Kosovo were whether the sensational Messi undid a defensive mas- Premierer League,League, allall ofof themthem we are using the cancelled. sacking of Madrid-bound terclass from Queiroz. playingg forfor thethe bestbest teams difficulties as a Earlier this week, Nike Julen Lopetegui as Spain boss “No matter what happens with experiencexperience of pplayinglaying iinn announced it had stopped two days before their opening on the pitch I want my players the Championsampions League,League, which source of inspiration supplying boots to the Iranian game against Portugal raised to leave the pitch with their is a highigh level of football, for our motivations team due to US sanctions his expectations of progress to head up,” said Queiroz. obviously.”sly.” to be strengthened against the country. the last 16. “We leave the pitch Mourinhourinho saidsaid favouritesfavourites during the games: “We are not ever using For now, Iran remain the bringing home pride, joy and Brazil andand GermanGermanyy hadhad thethe apologies or justifications, we rank outsiders in the group but happiness to our fans,” the most balancedalanced squadssquads anandd hehe Carlos Queiroz are using the difficulties as a Queiroz is happy to play the coach said. did nott expectexpect thethe WorldWorld Cup to see a shock winnerwinner in Russia. Evergreen Cahill’s World Cup dream still alive
AFP remains intact. At 38 years old, Chile, and then underlined his Australia’s forward time is against the Australian, class with a stunning volley Tim Cahill attends a KAZAN: Australia talisman Tim who says he has “spent a whole that clattered in off the training session in Cahill shot down talk of year getting ready for three crossbar to level against the Kazan, yesterday. retirement yesterday as he games”. To get on the pitch Netherlands. targets becoming just the Cahill underlined his per- is going to be one Cahill now has to hope his fourth player to score at four sonal ambitions, and those of step, to score would “calculated decision” to return World Cups alongside lumi- an Australia team hoping to to England -- moving to Cham- naries such as Pele. stun Euro 2016 finalists France just be amazing. To pionship side Millwall in But first he has to hope in Kazan, tomorrow. join the list of names January in a bid for more Australia’s Dutch coach Bert Asked about his future that are on there playing time and to maintain van Marwijk gives him the nod plans, he said: “The factor is, now would just be the fitness levels demanded by from the substitutes’ bench. we train today, we train the day the World Cup -- pays off. Socceroos great Cahill is after, then we play France and priceless: Tim Cahill “It would (have been) a responsible for nearly half of that’s all that’s on my mind. massive heartache not to be Australia’s 11 World Cup goals “For me, being here now stun Japan, setting up a 3-1 win here but it wouldn’t have been to date. just means so much to me. To that was crucial to their march for the lack of trying,” said the And although he is get on the pitch is going to be into the last 16. seasoned player. expected to start all three one step, to score would just Four years later in South “The hardest thing as a Group C games -- against be amazing. To join the list of Africa, Cahill hit another footballer, leading into a World France, Peru and Denmark -- names that are on there now against Serbia in their ulti- Cup, is just to prepare. The on the bench, Cahill’s dream of would just be priceless,” he mately futile bid for a last-16 moment I decided to go to becoming just the fourth player added. place. Millwall it was purely to be after Brazil’s Pele and Germans At Germany 2006, then At Brazil 2014 Cahill struck involved, if I could physically Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose fresh-faced Everton striker again, reducing the team’s and mentally, in my fourth to score in four World Cups Cahill struck a late double to arrears while 2-0 down to World Cup.” FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018 SPORT 19
France seek thumping victory over Australia to quash doubts REUTERS On paper, they are paupers Godin offended to France’s footballing royalty, KAZAN: France head into their have little firepower up front and at suggestion World Cup opener against their modest defence faces a Australia in Kazan tomorrow huge task to fend off their oppo- over approach sweating on the fitness of nents’ raids. fullback Djibril Sidibe and under Dutchman Van Marwijk, to Salah pressure to deliver an emphatic meanwhile, has had only a win to erase doubts about the handful of games to imprint his REUTERS cohesion of a team of brilliant gameplan on the group’s lowest- individuals. ranked side. Monaco right back Sidibe has Although they thrashed YEKATERINBURG: Uruguay been battling to recover from a Czech Republic 4-0 in their captain Diego Godin knee injury, putting a query over penultimate warmup before (pictured) bristled at the one of the few positions in which Russia, their scratchy 2-1 win suggestion that his team France lacks ample depth. over Hungary in their last start might resort to a physical Six-cap defender Benjamin French national may be a better pointer to their approach to neutralise Egypt Pavard, who has played mostly players Antoine form, the side still grappling with forward Mohamed Salah on as a centre back for Bundesliga Griezmann (right) transition from defence to attack. his return from a shoulder side Stuttgart, is likely to fill the and Djibril Sidibe Despite all that, the Soc- injury in their World Cup role on his World Cup debut run during a training ceroos have assembled in Kazan opener today. against a Socceroos side that is session in Decines- with no shortage of bravado. Godin appeared offended something of an unknown They worked hard in their by a question from a reporter Charpieu near Lyon, quantity under new coach Bert pre-tournament camp in Turkey who asked whether they in this June 8, 2018 van Marwijk. to build fitness and structure, and would repeat what Real file photo. There is further uncertainty maximise their hopes of Madrid’s Sergio Ramos did to over the make-up of France’s emerging from a tough group Salah in last month’s Cham- forward line for the Group C winger Ousmane Dembele could Their sheer depth of talent their last warmup match and featuring 11th-ranked Peru and pions League final. encounter at Kazan Arena, with form a powerful trio with has made them among the tour- Australia will offer a tougher 12th-ranked Denmark. “That is a very inop- coach Didier Deschamps facing Antoine Griezmann. nament favourites, yet scep- proposition than the Americans, A result against France looks portune question,” Godin tough choices on his front three. Having captained Les Bleus ticism lingers over the manager’s according to Deschamps. fanciful, but if they are within responded, evidently irritated He fielded experienced to the 1998 World Cup triumph ability to get the best out of his Australia will also be des- touch late in the second half, by the implication that Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud on home soil, Deschamps knows stars. perate for a positive start, given look for Van Marwijk to inject Uruguay might attempt to with the substitutes team in a thing or two about global Barring Mbappe’s goal in the their last two World Cup cam- 38-year-old striker Tim Cahill, inflict the sort of injury on training on Wednesday, sug- success and is blessed with one 1-1 draw against the United paigns in Brazil and South Africa who is bidding to become only Egypt’s premier striker that gesting explosive 19-year-old of the strongest squads among States, there was little to like were all but ruined by first- the fourth player ever to score had materialised from the Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona the 32 in Russia. about France’s disjointed play in match drubbings. at four World Cups. Ramos clash. “I don’t think it’s per- tinent. I don’t think anyone has bad will or tries to delib- Morocco’s coach Herve erately injure a player. These Renard attends a things happen in football Morocco happy to be Dutch training session at Saint unfortunately.” Petersburg Stadium, Salah injured shoulder yesterday. ligaments in the collision with Ramos in Kiev, which led to representatives at World Cup the Egypt international leaving the pitch in tears in the first half. The 25-year-old AFP has been declared fit to play adopted side of many in called up by the Nether- Renard has carved out a part in Friday’s match. Holland, with former Man- lands before deciding to a reputation as a specialist “Salah is decisive but our SAINT PETERSBURG: chester United and Bar- represent Morocco. in African football, winning preparation does not depend Morocco coach Herve celona boss Van Gaal per- Ziyech won the Eredi- the African Nations Cup on the status of one player,” Renard has welcomed the sonally sending his support visie player of the year last with Zambia and the Ivory defender Godin added. support of Louis van Gaal to Renard and his squad season and Renard hopes Coast before leading “We’ve been preparing as fans in the Netherlands yesterday. the World Cup gives him Morocco back to the biggest for a long time and are rally behind his squad -- “This morning I the stage to win a big- stage. focused. We’ve thought about containing five Dutch-born received the message. Of money move to a top His experiences in club what we have to do and have players -- at the World Cup. course I was very happy, European league. football have been less suc- taken precautions.” Uruguay The Atlas Lions begin very proud for Morocco “I wish him all the best cessful in short spells in coach Oscar Tabarez echoed their first World Cup cam- and for myself, because to find the best club pos- France with Sochaux and his captain’s views. paign for 20 years against he’s a big coach,” said sible because he has all the Lille and Cambridge United “We have played against Iran in Saint Petersburg Renard. talent to do that,” said in England. the likes of Messi, Neymar today. “We know why your Renard. However, he said he and others. If Salah plays we But Renard has had to country is supporting a lot “He is a very important and his team will not settle will just have to control his make the most of the Morocco. We have some player for us and for a for just making it to the many strengths,” the 71-year- Moroccan diaspora in players who could play for coach like me it is fantastic World Cup. old coach said. Europe to get Morocco your national team and we to have a player with this “I’m a beginner but I “I would be happy if Salah back on the biggest stage, are proud to have them in skill. have to live this expe- could play. In a dream match, with 17 of the 23-man our team.” “There are not a lot of rience with a lot of for him to suffer that injury is squad born outside the The most promising of players with this talent. He intensity. We are not here sad. country. Morocco’s five-strong can see a lot of things to take pictures of monu- “I don’t know about his The Netherlands’ Dutch-born contingent is before other players (can). ments in St. Petersburg, recovery as it was in the failure to qualify means Ajax midfielder Hakim In one word, he is a fan- we are here to compete,” United Kingdom. It’s a private Morocco have become the Ziyech, who was once tastic player.” he said. matter. We haven’t planned a strategy whether he is on the pitch or not.” Eriksen set to come of age as Denmark take on Peru REUTERS Denmark’s berth at the World Cup. the back as they did under Morten Olsen. The Irish managed to keep him The rugged style of centre back SOCHI: Denmark playmaker Christian under wraps in the away leg in Copen- pairing Simon Kjaer and Andreas Chris- Eriksen (pictured) was a callow teenager hagen, but in Dublin he ran riot with a tensen served them well against the Irish. mostly confined to the bench at his first man-of-the-match performance. Having missed out on the They will face a similar physical World Cup in South Africa, but eight He topped the scoring charts in qual- finals in Brazil in 2014, challenge from Peru captain Paolo years later he will carry his country’s ifying for Denmark with 11 goals. While Tottenham Hotspur’s Guerrero, who was cleared to play at hopes on his shoulders as they kick off he is surrounded by attacking talent for Eriksen has developed into the World Cup when a Swiss court against Peru tomorrow. the national team, it is the 26-year-old agreed to temporarily lift his doping Making their return to the World Cup Tottenham man that keeps Denmark the complete playmaker suspension. finals after a 36-year absence, the South ticking over. for club and country, and Despite their underdog status, the Americans will provide a stern test for He reinforced his importance in the it was his hat-trick in Peruvians are endowed with plenty of Age Hareide’s Denmark side, and with run-up to Russia as the Danes failed to pace and skill and looked dangerous on France installed as Group C favourites, find the net against Sweden while he a stunning 5-1 play-off the break in their World Cup warmup neither team will want to drop points at was at home awaiting the birth of his demolition of Ireland that against Sweden. this early stage. first child. secured Denmark’s berth at With France up next, Peru will need Having missed out on the finals in On his return, he scored one goal the World Cup. to shackle the irrepressible Eriksen and Brazil in 2014, Tottenham Hotspur’s and made another in a 2-0 win over get a good result against Australia if they Eriksen has developed into the complete Mexico that served as a dress rehearsal are to have any chance of progressing. playmaker for club and country, and it for their World Cup opener. preferring to move the ball up the field Yet keeping Eriksen under wraps at was his hat-trick in a stunning 5-1 play- Under Norwegian coach Hareide, quickly and establish their attack from his second World Cup may be easier said off demolition of Ireland that secured Denmark have become more direct, there, rather than passing it out from than done. 20 SPORT FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018 FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018 SPORT 21
POTENTIAL BREAKOUT STARS Spain and Portugal COLOURFUL CEREMONY MARKS IN RUSSIA Salah fit and ready to fire both distracted KICKOFF IN RUSSIA General view during the FIFA 2018 World Cup opening ceremony AFP REUTERS Group A, which also includes at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia yesterday. Russia and Saudi Arabia. "# $ '( & MOSCOW: Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and YEKATERINBURG: Egypt Cuper added that Salah’s Neymar are all aiming to leave an indelible mark before opening clash forward Mohamed Salah has inclusion would depend on &123 -" )& *++ + ' on the World Cup but with billions watching, it recovered from a shoulder him coming through their is the perfect stage for a new generation to injury and is almost 100 final training session 0!1 AP showcase their talents. percent certain to play in their unscathed. Watched closely 2!1 athat 3-0 winning preseason squad vic- in ! Here is a look at five players who could World Cup opener against by dozens of cameras yester- +! MOSCOW: Spain and Portu- tory over Algeria. emerge as breakout stars in Russia. Uruguay, coach Hector Cuper day, the striker appeared not gal meet for just the second $ "& %, &-0 said yesterday, ending weeks to overstrain himself during time in the World Cup in one EGYPT VS HIRVING LOZANO (MEXICO) of suspense about the fitness training. of the most intriguing games URUGUARY Temperamental but extremely gifted, Hir- of his most dangerous striker. A Russian reporter stay- of the group stage. Spanish Meanwhile, Egypt ving Lozano followed in the footsteps of a Cuper went further by I know Salah very well and ing at Egypt’s team hotel said team in chaos after firing its are making their first number of Latin American stars by swapping predicting on the eve of the I’m sure he’s not afraid, he’s that Salah had also been coach two days before today’s World Cup appearance home for an introductory taste of European match that Salah could not fearful,” he said. working with a trainer until ,$ -*+ ' match, and Portugal has been in 28 years today and football in the Netherlands. emerge as one of the tourna- “In terms of him on the after midnight following their fending off distractions since their success will He hit 17 goals in 29 games in his debut ment’s most prolific pitch - if he does decide to arrival in Yekaterinburg on 3 1 star Cristiano Ronaldo hinted depend on the health Former Brazilian star Ronaldo gestures during the opening ceremony. season abroad as PSV Eindhoven won the Dutch goalscorers. play he’ll have full guarantees Wednesday. at an upcoming announcement of Mohamed Salah, the * *+ title and has drawn comparisons with Luis Sua- “Mo is doing very well in terms of his physical con- Cuper also entertained a about his future. Liverpool star who ($ ' ,- ! (' $ rez -- both for his ability and disposition -- while indeed. He’s recovered very, dition, he’s going to be fine. question from a reporter The Group B match in injured his shoulder in placing Europe’s bigger clubs on alert. very quickly - we’ve paid a lot Certainly he doesn’t feel about Salah’s prospects of +/+01+ .- /-+ Sochi is at Fisht Olympic Sta- the Champions League He has a knack for the spectacular, scoring of attention to him,” the vet- afraid.” emerging as the top scorer at dium, the first World Cup game final. the winner for Pachuca minutes into his pro- 50 2 !1 1 !1011 - 4 "4 eran coachach told a news EgyptEgypt are bbackack iinn the totournament.urnament. to be played at the venue. Oscar Tabarez fessional debut, while needing just half an hour conferencece b beforeefore the the sq qsquad’suad’s the WorldWorld CuCupp finafinalsls “WhyWhy not? HHee coulcouldd 0!1*151 4513 !101 The Spanish soccer feder- leads two-time cham- to find the net for PSV. At 22, the hope is last trainingng sesssessionion ahaheadeaddf of of for thethe firsfirstt time since 19901990 becomebeco the ttopoppg goagoalscorerlscorer 510!1 61 +5 1 51 0 ation fired coach Julen pion Uruguay into his “Chucky” will mature given time, with Mexico Friday’s matmamatch.ch. and ththeireir prprogressogressgr ttoto ththee llastlast here andand one ofof ththee -/* * ' Lopetegui because he fourth World Cup - coach Juan Carlos Osorio counting on him to “I cann almoalmosalmostlmost assu assurere youyou 166 coucouldco ldd hinhingegee on SalahSalahh greatestgreategre test accepted a job to coach Real most among all sparkle. 100 percentent thatthatat hhee will willlll play,play play, enjoyingenjoyiennj ng theth fofformorm players.”playererss.” Madrid after the tournament. coaches in this year’s save unforeseenforesf seenn ccicircum-rcumr - thatts ssawaw him votedvoted Lopetegui was unbeaten in his tournament - and third GONCALO GUEDES (PORTUGAL) " &# '( & stances at tthehee ververye y last England’sEnglangland’sdss PlPlayerayerayere o off 20 matches in charge of the in a row. His teams #$'# - " Offloaded to Valencia on loan after finding minute.” theh YeYearY ar by hiss &123 7856 )& *++ + ' national team. have always made it #$'$ - " himself stuck behind a queue of talent at Paris Salah,h, wwhowh sscoredcoredd 4444 fellofelfellowell lolow Fernando Hierro, a former out of the group stage, Saint-Germain, Goncalo Guedes played just one goals for LLiLiverpoolverpooerpoolll lastlastast seasea-ea- professionals.profesprofeofeffe sionasionalsiononala s. "1 Spain player who had been including a semifinal minute of Portugal’s qualifying campaign. After 3- 1 son, injurednjureduredd shoulshoshoulderou dererr UruguayUUrugUruguaruguaguay areare acting as the team’s sports appearance in South a frustrating yet brief spell in France, a brilliant ligamentss inin tthethehee CChampionshahampioh mpmpiopions thehe ttotoughestougheughest oppoopoppo-ppopo- 9 director in Russia, will lead the Africa in 2010. That start with his new club in La Liga thrust him League finalinainal defdefeadefedefeatfeaattb by RReal eal nentsnenentsn forr thetheeno northnortnor h country in his first major was the last time Uru- back into the national team spotlight. Madrid onnMn Ma Mayayy26a 26 26 a andnd has has nnot nott AfricaAfricAfAfricanrican teamteam,, andan coaching job. guay moved past the ! The 21-year-old scored five goals and laid played since,ncee, keepkeekeepingeppingng fafansnns in in theyheyy wwillilll ffafancyncy thttheireire Prior to the stunning fir- round of 16 in its last 4 4 on 11 assists to help Valencia earn a place in suspense befbbeforeeforeororeE EgEEgypt’sypt’syp ’ss firstfirstirsts chanceschancechh c ssosof of aadvanc-dvancn - ing of Lopetegui, it had been six World Cup the Champions League, and struck twice in his World Cupupp fifinalsnalsalssi iinnn2 288 y years.eaearears.e s. ingngg fr ffromom Portugal trying to stay focused appearances. ' country’s final World Cup warm-up match Cuperr shrugshrushruggedhrhruh uuggeded offoff anyaanny on the match. against Algeria to further advance his case for doubts oververveerer wwhethwhethewhetherether SalaSalah,alalah,h ,$ -*+ ' Ronaldo hinted after the MOROCCO VS IRAN and has never gotten past the a starting berth in Russia. Powerful and capa- who turnsns 26 26 oon thtthehe dayayy off Champions League final he This match of Group B first round. ble of slashing through defences, whether by the match,hh, wwouldououldouldd ffeeleel susuffi-uffi- 91 61 might leave Madrid, but said underdogs at St. Petersburg But Iran has a two- dribbling or passing, Guedes could leave PSG ciently conconfconfidentnfnfidentdentent of hhihiss -1-6 he wouldn’t reveal his plans Stadium, and Morocco is the pronged threat in Alireza with a fight on their hands to keep hold of a physical staststatetaate to to beb ablaablee to until he joined the national only one of the teams that has Jahanbakhsh, the top scorer talent whose potential is far from fulfilled. perform ata hhisis bbesbest.t.t team. It’s had the attention ever made it out of group stage in the Dutch league, and “We’ree ttryintryingnggtom to to m makeakeakkee hhi himm +/+01+ .- /-+ on Ronaldo instead of the - but that was in 1986. Sardar Azmoun, who is fifth TIMO WERNER (GERMANY) feel confidentdedentt - - e evenvenn tht theeedo doc doc-oc- 1 1 :-11 ; 1 match. Morocco is unbeaten in its on Iran’s all-time list with 23 Regarded as the heir to Germany’s record tors are ggivgivinginginngg hihhimm thethe 0161 061 0 -6161 Portugal won the 2016 last 12 matches, but only two goals despite being only 23 goalscorer Miroslav Klose, Timo Werner already option to plpplayayayoy oor or nnot,notnot,ot, bbututu European Championship, has of those games were against years old. boasts vast Bundesliga experience and a ten- 1 91< 8 1.9!1< 13 players from that team in World Cup teams. Iran has lost This match is expected to -/* * ' dency to deliver on the big occasions. The Russia, and looked much like twice in its last five friendlies decide third place in Group B. 22-year-old was the top scorer at last year’s English musician Robbie Williams (left) and Confederations Cup, won by Germany, and a Russian soprano Aida Garifullina perform during return of seven goals in 12 appearances since the opening ceremony. his international debut in March 2017 suggests he will be a mainstay in the national team for the next decade. UruguayU pin high hopes on Suarez Armed with searing pace -- he was clocked running 100 metres in 11.1 seconds -- the RB Leipzig forward is a constant threat on the coun- REUTERSREREUR U ter and thrives by hanging on the shoulder of the last defender. YEKATERINBURG:YEYEKK Luis Suarez A deep run by Germany in Russia could set hashaasas hugely matured in four years Werner up for a shot at the tournament’s golden sincesincsisinsincc he disgraced himself at the boot. WorldWWoo Cup by biting an Italian opponent,oppopppp Uruguay coach Oscar SARDAR AZMOUN (IRAN) TabarezTabb said yesterday, making Sardar Azmoun has been piling up the inter- ! ! ! ! clearcclealeleale he has high expectations of national goals for an Iran squad that has hishiss key striker in Russia. regularly superseded expectations. With 23 "#"# $% " &# Suarez, 31, arrives at this international goals in just 32 games, the year’syeayeyeaa tournament looking to dis- 23-year-old is already fifth on Iran’s list of all- pelpepeel the memory of the infamous time leading scorers. Azmoun was a standout bitebibitt on Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in volleyball player as a teenager before concen- BrazilBraBrBraa in 2014, as well as the goal- trating solely on football, and uses his linel nene handball that earned him a athleticism and acceleration to great effect. sending-offssenseen in the quarter-final He was snapped up by Rubin Kazan in 2013 againstagaaggaga Ghana four years and while Arsenal and Liverpool have report- earlier.earaarr edly showed interest in the past, he remains in “What happened in Brazil is Russia. He will team up with Alireza Jahanba- ppaparpartarr of real life and of course it’s ** *+ *+ khsh, who became the first Asian to finish as bbeebebeenee a lesson for him to achieve But Tabarez is taking nothing the Dutch league’s top scorer this season, as &' # # ,,- !- ! ( () &) & greatergregree maturity not only as a for granted especially since, as he Iran try to punch above their weight in a sec- footballerfoofofoooo but also in other areas noted, it has been 48 years since tion featuring Portugal and Spain. awayaaww from the football pitch,” Uruguay won their opening game !" ..-- -! TabarezTaTabTabb told reporters on the eve at the World Cup finals. HAKIM ZIYECH (MOROCCO) of Uruguay’s opening match “It’s a statistic, a rather spe- A Dutch youth international, Hakim Ziyech todaytodod against Egypt. cial one. We think we are cursed, ultimately elected to represent Morocco rather “He’s prepared a lot, he’s got in fact. We have had that track than the country of his birth in 2015. It was a thethhe right mindset for this World record, but we are obsessed about decision blasted by Netherlands great Marco Cup,CupCuup and I do believe he’s meet- winning,” said Tabarez. van Basten but one that helped Morocco end inginng all my expectations. In The professorial 71-year-old, a 20-year World Cup absence. additionaadd to being a great player, who Uruguayans address rever- An attacking midfielder with the facility to #$$% !"!" .- --!! he’shee very smart, very intelligent, entially as ‘Maestro’, made clear penetrate the opposition, he is the fulcrum in anandandn he comes to the World Cup he was not underestimating Egypt an underrated Morocco side and has an eye Egypt’sEgypt’s MohamedMohamed withwwit a great deal of maturity so and their Argentine coach Hec- for goal, finding the net eight times in 15 SalahSalah trains on the wewe are going to really capitalise tor Cuper. Uruguay’s forward Luis eve of theirtheir FIFA FIFA matches. ono him.” “When the draw happened, I Suarez takes part in a World Cup 20201818 Two prolific seasons at Twente earned him Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time remember journalists from Uru- training session of Uruguay’s match against a move to Ajax in 2016 but the 25-year-old is match against leadingleaeaa scorer and, with strike guay talking about the national football team at Uruguay at the looking for a new challenge after landing the Uruguay at the ppaparpartner Edinson Cavani, is quarter-finals, as if this was a the Sport Centre Borsky, in Ekaterinburg league’s player of the year award and will be Ekaterinburg eexpexpectedxpx to pose the biggest walk in the park and I told them Nizhny Novgorod, Russia Arena yesterday. desperate to prove his value in Russia. Arena yesterday. thrthtthreathr to Egypt’s defence in off. We have enormous respect yesterday. ' ' Yekaterinburg.YeYekY for our opponents.” 22 SPORT FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018
Kiwi teenager History-making Afghanistan fight sets ‘surreal’ record in women’s back after Dhawan ton in debut Test one-day cricket
REUTERS AFP BENGALURU: Afghanistan clawed their way back after SCOREBOARD DUBLIN: New Zealand teenager India’s Shikhar Dhawan hit a India Amelia Kerr shattered a world blazing century yesterday as the M Vijay lbw b Wafadar ...... 105 batting record in women’s minnows capped their aston- S Dhawan c Nabi b Ahmadzai...... 107 one-day international cricket ishing rise from war and refugee L Rahul b Ahmadzai ...... 54 with a blistering 232 not out camps to joining the sport’s elite. C Pujara c Nabi b Rahman ...... 35 against Ireland on Wednesday. Test cricket’s newest team A Rahane lbw b Khan ...... 10 Kerr amassed the record total D Karthik run out ...... 4 were on the receiving end of H Pandya (batting) ...... 10 just days after her team’s 490 for some aggressive batting as R Ashwin (batting) ...... 7 four against Ireland set a record Dhawan, who smashed 107, and Extras (B1, LB11, NB1, W2) ...... 15 for cricket’s highest-ever one-day Murali Vijay, who made 105, put Total (6 wkts) ...... 347 international total. on a 168-run opening stand after Still to bat: R Jadeja, I Sharma, U Yadav The 17-year-old, whose the hosts elected to bat first in Fall of wickets: 1-168, 2-280, 3-284, 4-318, average was just 29 going into the 5-328, 6-334 Bengaluru. Bowling: Ahmadzai 13-6-32-2 (w1), Wafadar match, blasted 31 fours and two But the Afghan bowlers 15-4-53-1 (w1, nb1), Nabi 8-0-45-0, Khan 26-2- sixes to surpass the 229 scored struck back with four wickets, 120-1, Rahman 14-1-69-1, Stanikzai 2-0-16-0 by Australia’s Belinda Clark and a run out, in the final session Afghanistan: A Stanikzai(captain), M Shahzad, against Denmark in 1997 -- three as the hosts slipped from 280-1 J Ahmadi, R Shah, A Zazai, M Nabi, H Shahidi, R years before Kerr was born. to 347 for six at stumps at Ban- Khan, M Ur Rahman, Y Ahmadzai, Wafadar Kerr’s onslaught is also the galore’s M Chinnaswamy third-highest individual score by Stadium. a man or woman in one-day Hardik Pandya, on 10, and international history. Ravichandran Ashwin, on 7, India men’s player Rohit were at the crease when play Sharma is at the top of the pile ended after an extended final Indian batsman Murali Vijay (left) looks on with his 264 scored against Sri session but only 78 overs were as team-mate Shikhar Dhawan celebrates Lanka in 2014. possible due to two rain his century (100 runs) during the first day New Zealand’s Martin Guptill interruptions. of the one-off cricket Test match against made 237 against West Indies in Fast bowler Yamin Afghanistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium 2015. Ahmadzai, who gave Afghanistan in Bangalore yesterday. At 17 years and 243 days, Kerr their first Test scalp after getting is the youngest double-centurion Dhawan out early in the second in international men’s or women’s session, led the attack with two cricket. wickets. deliveries, becoming the first with fellow spinner Mujeeb Ur Afghans took to social media countries, despite unrest at “It was pretty surreal. It was “This was a dream come true Indian batsman to reach three Rahman as the pair got a wicket to celebrate the start of the Test, home which has forced them to just nice to get the opportunity to for our nation. It was enjoyable figures on the opening day each of skipper Ajinkya Rahane which comes amid a gov- train in India since 2015. open and get some time out in the and a little bit stress. Playing in before lunch. and Cheteshwar Pujara to pull ernment ceasefire during the Afghanistan last year middle,” Kerr told the New India with India, the number one Dhawan hit 19 fours and things back. holy month of Ramadan. achieved full member status of Zealand Cricket website. team, was a good experience,” three sixes as he set about the “They came back very well “As a cricket fan I salute you the International Cricket Kerr was also involved in the Ahmadzai, who returned Afghan bowlers including spin in the final session and I am sure all for bringing Afghanistan Council, making them one of second-highest partnership in impressive figures of 2-32 in his sensation Rashid Khan, they are going to learn a lot of great pride,” Jamal Sahar only 12 Test teams. women’s ODI cricket, as she and 13 overs, told reporters. smashing three boundaries in things, and go long way ahead,” Kanwal from the eastern city of They gained one-day inter- Leigh Kasperek (113) put on a “Still, there are four days to the teenager’s opening over. Dhawan said of Afghanistan,” Jalalabad wrote on Facebook. national status in 2009 and mammoth 285 runs for the go. We will try to do our best.” Vijay took control after Dha- he said. Earlier, Afghan President have qualified for their second second wicket. Afghanistan have become wan’s departure, putting “Of course I enjoyed my Ashraf Ghani sent his congrat- 50-over World Cup to be held “I had to work hard at the one of only 12 nations sanctioned together a 112-run second- battle with him (Khan) and I ulations for what he called a in England and Wales next year. start but once I got through (that), to play Tests, the five-day format wicket partnership with Lokesh dominated but he is a great “historic day”. Afghanistan have also been I got going and had a good part- considered cricket’s peak, after Rahul who made 54. bowler and on his day he will Afghan cricket grew out of part of four Twenty20 World nership with Leigh which allowed defying heavy odds to emerge as Ahmadzai bowled Rahul, take some serious wickets.” refugee camps in Pakistan Cups. me just to play how I wanted to a force in the game. who dragged a delivery on to Most cricket-loving Afghans where many families were Last week they secured a play and try to hit boundaries But soon the rookies, cap- his stumps, and Wafadar were watching the match on TV based after they fled conflict in T20 series sweep over Bang- because we weren’t losing tained by Asghar Stanikzai, trapped Vijay lbw to lift Afghan back home as they prepared for the 1980s and 1990s. ladesh helped by spin bowler wickets,” explained Kerr. realised they were up against the spirits. a three-day public holiday The national team have Khan, 19, the stand-out star of Asked if her approach had world’s top Test side as Dhawan Khan, who gave away 120 marking the Muslim festival of made giant strides against much this year’s Indian Premier altered after she reached three galloped to his century in just 87 runs in 26 overs, then combined Eid. richer and more stable League. figures, Kerr replied: “Not much changed too much; I just wanted to keep batting. “I thought ‘put the bad ball Smith-led Aussies were ‘spoilt brats’: Langer away and keep scoring off most balls’. I knew that the powerplay was coming so once we got to the AFP “It’s easy to dislike the opposition if the aggressive side he once played in and “It meant that something like Cape powerplay, with only three out, I SYDNEY: New coach Justin Langer says they’re good, but there have been too Smith’s team, Langer pointed the finger Town was probably going to happen, due was going to try to go hard then.” the Australian side were behaving like many whispers in the last 12 months or at the captaincy. to brushing over little things. Kerr said it was only when “spoilt brats” ahead of the Cape Town so about the abuse on the field, or dare I “I think Steve Smith maybe just wasn’t “But the little things can turn into big she came off the field, to be told ball-tampering scandal and Steve Smith say, the side playing like spoilt brats.” strong enough in his leadership,” he said. things when you take your eye off the by her team-mates, that she wasn’t a strong enough leader to handle He said that as a former player he “But he loves the game of cricket -- ball.” realised she had rewritten the situation. “nearly died” when he heard about the he practises harder than anyone I’ve ever Warner, who like Smith is serving a cricket’s record books. Smith, David Warner and Cameron scandal. met -- and he is a very, very nice young one-year ban from state and international “I had no idea. I think I heard Bancroft were all suspended for their roles “So you’ve got to wonder why it gets lad. There’s no doubt about that,” he cricket, was blamed for developing the them say stuff on the speaker, but in the incident when sandpaper was used to that point? But it has happened now added. ball-tampering plot and instructing Ban- I couldn’t hear because everyone to rough up the ball during the third Test and we have got to make sure we learn Current skipper Tim Paine was also croft to carry it out. kept clapping.” in South Africa in March. from it and get better from it because we asked during the same television Langer said he “has got that -- you Kerr’s innings was far and “The whispers were there,” Langer can’t shy away either.” interview about how the Australia team used the word, mongrel -- bit of bite in away the largest of a fledgling, yet said of the team under former coach The scandal was preceded by several found itself in such a dark place during him”. impressive career which had seen Darren Lehmann in a British Sky TV other unseemly incidents in the South the South African tour. “The question I’d ask with David is her become known primarily as interview reported in Australian media African series: a stairwell clash between “I don’t think it goes back to any one how he got so angry?” a leg-spin bowler. yesterday. “Once upon a time, the oppo- Warner and Quinton de Kock, and Nathan individual, but not living by our behav- Langer took charge of his first game “I had 152 against Otago sition didn’t like us because we played Lyon dropping the ball on a prone AB de iours over a sustained period of time -- on Wednesday, with Australia losing the Under-21s a few years ago, so this really good, hard cricket -- we were very Villiers after he was run out. not one year, two years, but probably even opening match of their one-day series in is comfortably my highest score,” skilful and we won a lot of games. Asked about the difference between longer than that,” he said. England by three wickets at The Oval. she said. England look to discipline to turn tide of defeats REUTERS you take that penalty count and it outstanding for us but we just felt we becomes eight-four we win the test needed another lineout (option),” BLOEMFONTEIN: It will be hard to match. Hopefully we will fix that this Jones said. “Brad’s lineout jumping replicate the drama of their epic first week,” Jones told SkySports will come in handy for us. He is a test when South Africa and England yesterday. tough workrate player like Robbo is clash again in Bloemfontein tomorrow “The team has been very good. so we want to pick up what Robbo as the tourists seek to improve their They are making more steps forward has been doing and take to another discipline and accuracy to end a four- to have more ownership of the team level plus his lineout jumping.” game losing streak. which is what we want. Jones could also give a first test The Springboks rallied from 24-3 “They are all big contests for us runout in three years off the bench to down after 17 minutes to claim a 42-39 now. We want to win test matches flyhalf Danny Cipriani. victory in the opening game of the and there is a lot of noise, a lot of “His desperation impresses me, three-match series at Ellis Park last pressure, but we have to find a way he really wants to play. We know he Saturday, prompting South African through this. We have a young bunch has got nice skills and his attitude has fans to wonder what is possible under of players who are trying to do that.” been outstanding.” new coach Rassie Erasmus. With a little over a year to go until Joe Launchbury also starts at lock Ireland rugby player Johnny Sexton (centre) yesterday goes through his Yet for England it was another the next World Cup, Jones has handed after recovering from a calf injury. dismal loss, beset by the same a first start to New Zealand-born flank South Africa have made two stretching exercises during training in Melbourne ahead of their Test match problems they encountered in the Six Brad Shields in place of one of his changes to their starting side, with against Australia tomorrow. Nations as they once again showed stalwarts, Chris Robshaw, a move he utility forward Pieter-Steph du Toit an inability to stay on the right side says is intended to counter the South coming in at flank and Frans Malherbe Tendai Mtawarira will become the know Eddie Jones will have his team of the referee, with a penalty count African lineout. taking over at tighthead prop. On the sixth Bok to reach 100 test caps. super prepared for Saturday,” Bok coach of 17-4 against Eddie Jones’ side.“If “Chris Robshaw has been other side of the scrum, loosehead “England is a powerful side and I Rassie Erasmus said. FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018 SPORT 23
Stroemoey Australia’s Stosur is knocked out in is a female F1 winner Nottingham; ‘Bad boy’ Coria banned on water REUTERS AGENCIES against Heather Watson. Konta Coria, younger and Watson have long been Brit- brother of former LONDON: Formula One has not LONDON: Australia’s former US ain’s two leading female tennis world number three had a woman driver for more Great Britain’s Katie Open champion Sam Stosur was players and, as in their previous and 2004 French than 40 years but, on water if not Boulter in action during knocked out of the WTA WTA meeting in Indian Wells last Open runner-up four wheels, Norwegian Wimbledon warm-up event in year, it was Konta who emerged Guillermo Coria, her second round match powerboat racer and part-time Nottingham yesterday after victorious on a day when a was also fined against Samantha Stosur pop singer Marit Stroemoey is a suffering a straight sets defeat blustery wind made conditions $10,000 with half of of Australia at Nottingham female F1 winner mixing it with by Britain’s Katie Boulter. difficult. that total Tennis Centre, Nottingham, the men. The British number four Although Konta won in suspended. Britain, yesterday. The 41-year-old, who tours reached her first WTA quarter- straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), she At a hearing in at home with her band when not final with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 win was 4-1 down in the second May an independent making waves around the world over Stosur, the champion in before edging the tie-break. Anti-corruption in a carbon-fibre catamaran, is New York in 2011. “One hundred percent it was Hearing Officer the only woman to have won a It was one of the most signif- not easy and conditions made it ruled that the UIM F1H2O championship race. icant victories of the 21-year- that much harder,” said Konta. 26-year-old had Standing out in the male- old’s career, who has been on an “It’s never easy to play a compa- failed to report dominated sport as much as upward curve in 2018 as she triot. I just tried to keep my focus being offered a when holding the microphone in looks to improve on a world on my side of the court. I feel for- payment to lose a front of a concert crowd, Stro- ranking of 156. tunate to come through, there set in a lower tier emoey would, however, rather Boulter face either top-seed was very little in it.” Futures tournament be recognised first and foremost Ashleigh Barty or China’s Duan Fourth-seed Konta, who in Sassuolo, Italy, in as a racer. Ying-Ying in the last eight. reached last year’s Nottingham 2015. It said he had “Racing is my life. I’ve done “It’s really exciting,” Boulter final, will play Slovenia’s Dalila also been it all my life,” she said ahead of told Eurosport. “It’s a huge step Jakupovic in the quarter-finals. approached with a this weekend’s London Grand for me. She’s a Grand Slam Meanwhile Argentine player financial incentive Prix in the city’s Docklands. winner, and it’s the first one of Federico Coria has received an to lose other “It’s about winning or losing. those that I’ve beaten. eight-month suspension after matches during the year. because he felt threatened and the top 100, was also found guilty And the moment I put the helmet “It was a really quick second being found guilty of a breach of The investigation found that was fearful for the safety of last month of match-fixing and on, I think we’re all the same. The set but I dug in really deep in the the Tennis Anti-Corruption world number 301 Coria “did not himself and his family. other offences by the TIU. only thing that counts is to win. first. I thought I held my nerve Program. accept any financial incentive or His suspension was effective Kicker attempted to fix the “I think I’ve proven that it’s really well and found a way to A statement from the Tennis take action to comply with the from Wednesday and he will be outcome of two matches, at ATP possible for a woman to win the win.” Integrity Unit (TIU) said six corrupt approaches”. eligible to resume playing pro- Challenger tournaments in Italy race as well and I definitely hope Boulter will not be the only months of the sanction were sus- His brother offered his fessional tennis from Aug. 12, and in Colombia in 2015, the TIU to do so here.” home hope in the quarter-finals pended on the condition he support last month, saying on his assuming no further offences are said in a statement at the time. Stroemoey’s sport is not for after Johanna Konta won commits no more breaches of Twitter account that his sibling committed. Coria’s compatriot He will be sanctioned at a the faint-hearted, with the light- through in an all-British contest the code. had not reported the approach Nicolas Kicker, ranked just inside later date. weight tunnel-hulled powerboats hitting speeds of more than 220kp and cornering with G forces comparable to an F1 car Tomas Berdych of the Czech under braking. Republic returns the ball to French Berdych beats Paire Powered by muscular V6 out- AP Benoit Paire during their match board engines producing 400 at the ATP Tour event in Stuttgart, horsepower at nearly 10,000 southern Germany, yesterday. STUTTGART: Tomas Berdych beat Benoit Paire 7-6 (3), 6-4 to end rpm, the closed cockpit boats his five-match losing streak and reach the quarter-finals of the weigh in at around 500kg with Stuttgart Open yesterday. racers battling often stifling The third-seeded Czech dropped just six first-serve points and conditions. saved the only break he faced. “It’s a mind game as well as a Berdych next faces Milos Raonic, who beat Marton Fucsovics physical game and a mechanical 6-2, 6-4. The seventh-seeded Canadian is going for his first title game,” Stroemoey, who took her on grass. first pole position in 2011 before Guido Pella of Argentina beat Indian qualifier Prajnesh Gun- becoming a winner in Sharjah in neswaran 7-6 (4), 6-3 to set up a quarter-final against Roger 2015, said. Federer. “It has lots of things that need Also, fourth-seeded Nick Kyrgios returned from a right elbow to be 100 percent for you to win injury to beat Maximilian Marterer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 for a match against the race. In many motorsports Feliciano Lopez. Lopez progressed past Gilles Simon 7-6 (6), 6-4. people tend to say it’s all about the car, it’s all about the engine, the equipment. But here it has a French Benoit lot of other aspects...and the racer Paire reacts is very important.” after a point Formula One motor racing Real men don’t play during his has had a lively debate about a match against woman-only championship, with Tomas Berdych Spain’s Carmen Jorda drawing in Stuttgart, flak when she said women could southern not compete equally with men football, says Cash and needed such a series. Germany, Stroemoey, who has set up AFP yesterday. “As someone who had the support of a nation when her own young driver programme you won Wimbledon, I find it offensive that you would with three girls among the current SYDNEY: Australian tennis great Pat Cash has taken mock football and, by extension OUR Socceroos,” five, will be one of three women a swipe at football on the eve of the World Cup by tweeted Ray Gatt, chief football writer for the Aus- in the 20-strong field in London directing his Twitter followers towards Australian Rules tralian newspaper. and rejected such a suggestion. -- a “real man’s sport”. “Shouldn’t you, as a proud Australian, actually “A women’s championship for The former Wimbledon champion sparked crit- support OUR national team?” me would be to totally go back to icism with his comment as he posted a highlights Others also took aim at Cash, who was known the 1940s,” she said. “It’s not easy, package of Aussie Rules hero Shaun “Silk” Burgone, during his heyday for a signature headband. I think I have to work hard. But suggesting the country’s most popular spectator sport “(Poor) effort at trying to find relevance in a country as long as it’s possible, why not was tougher than soccer. that has mostly forgotten you Pat,” tweeted Manfred go for the real thing? I would not “#worldcup approaches here some highlights from Von Gonagall. “A ‘real man’s sport’ like tennis? Funny be happy to win a secondary one of the #greatest in a real man’s sport #afl,” Cash that, as historically tennis has been seen as the sport championship that is seen by tweeted. “They don’t call him “SILK” for nothing. (No kids play when they can’t handle contact sport. Any- other people as a step down. For rolling around on the ground trying to cheat a free kick thing to stay relevant though, hey @TheRealPatCash,” me it would never work like that.” from this man).” added Tom Duffy. Australian powerboater Grant Burgoyne, considered one of the greatest players Stevo tweeted: “Think your headband is too tight.” Trask, who did not let losing a leg in modern Australian Rules, a game similar to Gaelic However, some social media users acknowledged as a child deter him from racing, football, lines up for his 350th game this weekend. that football had its flaws. “I love the world game as hailed Stroemoey as a fierce Dozens of soccer supporters where outraged by much as anybody -- but let’s face it, there WILL be competitor. Cash’s comment, which came as Australia prepare to cheating. There will be feigning, rolling around, “She drives as hard, if not open their World Cup campaign against France writhing in pain, as if their legs had been kicked off. harder, than most of the men out tomorrow. That’s football,” wrote Big Darrell. there. She’s very competitive and very quick, you don’t take into consideration she’s a female,” he said. Daughter of a mechanic and Beast reaches 100; Shields gets the nod racer, Stroemoey has still had to overcome obstacles despite AP ‘Beast’ is not someone who likes the spot- South Africa was undefeated in five will also start in place of flanker Chris growing up around the sport. light,” South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus series against England, but Erasmus Robshaw. Jones looks to draw on the Hur- “A lot of people have told me CAPTE TOWN: A week after celebrating said of Mtawarira yesterday. “However, expected a backlash from the tourists. ricanes flanker’s experience of the higher that I shouldn’t do it,” she said. Siya Kolisi’s elevation to Springboks his contribution to Springbok rugby “They will no doubt want to bounce tempo that is prevalent in southern hem- “Because the way to reach captain, prop Tendai Mtawarira will play during the past decade has been enormous back to level the series, so it’s going to be isphere rugby. Formula One has a lot of his 100th rugby test against England in and I want to congratulate him on another huge test of our resolve and char- Jones also cited Shields’ lineout ability obstacles. It’s economic, physical, Bloemfontein tomorrow. reaching 100 test caps.” acter,” he said. as something that gave him the edge over mental and not to mention the The 32-year-old loosehead was born Erasmus was able to name Frans Mal- After watching his side lose a fast- Robshaw, who was dropped for the first time. When I reached 30, people in Zimbabwe but made his debut for South herbe at tighthead prop following a paced first test 42-39 in Johannesburg last time in Jones’ 2 1/2-year tenure. started to ask me when are you Africa 10 years ago. He will be the sixth lengthy absence for a neck injury. He weekend, England coach Eddie Jones was “It is tough on Chris Robshaw as he going to get kids? My way is not Springbok to the milestone after Percy replaced Stormers teammate Wilco Louw boosted by the return to fitness of lock has been an outstanding player for us but the normal way to go. Luckily, we Montgomery, John Smit, Victor Matfield, in the starting side. Also, Pieter-Steph du Joe Launchbury, who missed the opening I know he will bounce back,” said Jones, see more and more people who Bryan Habana, and Jean de Villiers. Toit swapped with Jean-Luc du Preez for game with a calf problem. who also named Danny Cipriani and Mark are not walking the normal way, “Much like a typical front-rower, the No. 7 jersey. Brad Shields, who replaced Isiekwe, Wilson among the substitutes. the traditional way.” FRIDAY 15 JUNE 2018 SPORT 24
European giants Spain, Portugal in mouth-watering showdown
AP $ "& '( & League title, Ronaldo hinted Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo smiles during a training that perhaps his time at Real session at the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi, yesterday. SOCHI: They’re the reigning &123*0 )& *++ + ' Madrid was at an end. champions of Europe with : 1 "1 “He’s an extraordinary arguably the best player in the captain. He’s an extraordinary world. player,” Portugal coach And yet there seems to be Fernando Santos said. little talk about Portugal and “He’s very positive and a Cristiano Ronaldo heading into decisive influence as the today’s much anticipated World captain of the team, whether it ,$ -*+ ' Cup match against neigh- be on the pitch or off the pitch -0131 bouring Spain in Group B. ,-1 0 1 or in practice. He’s an important In a way it’s understood. = 91:= 9 figure.” Spain dominated the headlines +/+01+ .- /-+ Portugal needs Ronaldo this week with the chaos sur- 911* 1 9 1:=*01 today to overcome its nagging rounding its coaching situation, - 13 -1 3=*013 1 problem of getting off to good to the point a large number of "11 3 - 10= 9 starts in major tournaments. It questions yesterday at Portu- -/* * ' has been 10 years since Por- gal’s news conference were tugal won its opener at either based around their opponent’s the European Championship or decision to replace coach Julen , &-0 '( & World Cup - the team beat Lopetegui with Fernando &123>- " - )& *++ + ' Turkey 2-0 to begin Euro 2008. Hierro just days before the 65 1 At the past two World Cups, game. Secondary was the fact 01 Portugal played to a 0-0 draw this is the first match between with Ivory Coast in 2010 and the Iberian neighbours since four years ago was routed 4-0 2012. by Germany on its way to being “We’re focused, we’re ousted from the tournament in united and I don’t think we’re the group stage. ,$ -*+ ' concerned with anything else,” Even two years ago on its "1 1 Portugal midfielder Joao 0 1<6?-6 way to the European title, Por- Moutinho said. tugal started with a 1-1 draw “We have to focus on the +/+01+ .- /-+ against Iceland and barely action of the team and what we 6" -1 9@ 1 1 1:-?-1 advanced to the knockout can do to attain our goal in this > 0 513 1 1 1 14 +1 round. World Cup. We’re not really 70 6 1?-1 -61 9 Today’s game will be only looking at what is happening -/* * ' the second World Cup match with other teams.” between the neighbours. The Perhaps a bit more respect mentioned, yet the players favourites. We are European previous was in 2010 when should be paid to Portugal seem to understand their place champions, but that doesn’t Spain eliminated Portugal 1-0 based on its last major tour- in the hierarchy of give us the right to be in the round of 16. nament. The team won the 2016 contenders. favourites.” “Well that question has European Championship “The favourites are the ones Any team that has the talent been asked often when we play thanks to a magical run through you have just listed,” Moutinho of Ronaldo has to be considered other countries. What’s history the knockout stage led by said. a threat, even though the dis- is history. The present is now Ronaldo. “Portugal is, I think, among cussion about what the Real and the present is tomorrow,” Spain, Germany, Brazil and the candidates to be able to take Madrid forward could do on Santos said. France are all talked about as this cup home. It’s normal to this stage has been sidetracked “We have a team of high potential winners of this have other favourites with all with talk of what awaits in his quality.... We’d like to put an tournament. they’ve obtained, all they’ve club career. After winning his end to that story of not being Rarely is Portugal achieved. Of course you have third straight Champions able to win that first game.”
I won’t change Spain sacking was ‘saddest day since Spain’s winning death of my mother’: Lopetegui ways, says new We need to respect the AFP acted in an absolutely honest Iran and Morocco in Group B of coach Hierro work that has and clear way.” the tournament. been carried MADRID: Julen Lopetegui said Spain’s World Cup prepara- There were fears REUTERS out over the yesterday that the day he was tions were thrown into turmoil Lopetegui’s appointment by the last two weeks sacked as Spain coach was the on Wednesday after Real Madrid European champions could SOCHI: Fernando Hierro stressed “saddest” since the death of his confirmed Lopetegui would take open up old divisions between the importance of calm and conti- in the run-up: mother as he was officially over at the Bernabeu for the next the Real Madrid and Barcelona nuity for Spain on the eve of their Fernando Hierro unveiled as Real Madrid’s new three seasons, catching the factions in the Spain squad. World Cup opener with Portugal manager. Spanish Football Federation by Real Madrid president after he was thrust into the spot- “Yesterday was the saddest surprise. Florentino Perez called the light as their new head coach day of my life since the death of Spain players reportedly Spanish football federation’s following the shock departure of my mother. But today is the hap- resisted his sacking, which came reaction to the club’s signing of Julen Lopetegui. piest day of my life,” Lopetegui as Spain are due to face Lopetegui “disproportionate” Hierro was appointed in the said as he fought back tears. European champions Portugal and “unfair” at his presentation wake of Lopetegui’s dismissal on “We are convinced that we in Sochi today before taking on yesterday. Wednesday for agreeing to take over Real Madrid following the World Cup without informing the have our principles very clearly games as “three finals”, Hierro Spanish football association, a in mind, and we are not going said that all 23 players would drama that threw the team’s to change that reality need to give their all if Spain preparations into disarray. overnight.” were to succeed in Russia. “We are not going to deviate Flanked by Spain captain “To win this game we need one iota from our footballing con- Sergio Ramos, a relaxed Hierro, to do our homework. We need cepts and what we’ve been doing once the national team skipper to know that we are going in for a long time now,” the distin- himself, seemed to have put the there fully fit and guished former Spain defender turbulence of the previous 36 well-prepared.” Hierro told a media conference hours behind him as he stressed “These last two weeks have The new in Sochi yesterday. that little would change with been quite intense, but we have Real Madrid “You’re going to see the him at the helm. a clear idea of what we want to coach Julen Spanish squad that you’re used “We need to respect the achieve tomorrow,” he Lopetegui to, the Spanish squad that likes to work that has been carried out explained. (centre) be the protagonist in the match, over the last two weeks in the Even if he wanted to, Hierro poses with that likes to play beautifully, and run-up,” the 50-year-old said. is unlikely to have the time to his family we have a very clear strategy in “We respect the European change much about the Spanish members mind. champions (Portugal), we know style of play ahead of their first during the “We have a very clear goal in that they have one of the best game. presentation, mind, we’ve worked for two solid players in Ronaldo and a coach “It’s true we don’t have yesterday. weeks before the competition. with experience, but we trust much time to work with, so “We still have a lot of the fully in our lads.” we’re not going to change that coaching staff from before, we Describing their Group B much,” Hierro said.