MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016 SPORTS Ukraine’s Yarmolenko must stay cool in Euro 2016 heat KIEV: Ukraine forward Andriy and Stoke City,” Surkis told Ukrainian tel- Fiery temper Yarmolenko will have to cool his fiery knee,” Stepanenko said. “On the field, we Yarmolenko is one of a host of players evision, adding that transfer negotia- Yarmolenko started with Ukraine’s FC temper to ensure success on the interna- are a team and I give it my all. But off the hoping to use Euro 2016 to get a ticket tions would begin after the European Desna Chernihiv in 2006 after spending tional stage after a mass brawl against field, I’m not required to associate and out of his crisis-hit country to England’s Championship finals. He has also turned one year as a junior with Dynamo Kiev Shakhtar Donetsk on May 1 soured rela- have friendly relations with a given per- Premier League but he may have to calm down big money offers from China. where he struggled with the training tions with Ukraine teammate Taras son.” Ukraine manager Mykhalylo his temper. Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton “We are playing in the Champions regimen. But Dynamo kept an eye on Stepanenko. Fomenko has the uneasy task of ensur- and Stoke City are among clubs linked to League and Stoke City is fighting for sur- the forward, offering him a five-year During the scuffle, Yarmolenko kicked ing rows involving Yarmolenko do not a 32 million euro bid to sign the 26-year- vival.” If he signs with a big foreign club, contract in December 2016 after solid Stepanenko after the Shakhtar Donetsk seep into the team’s play. old playmaker. Yarmolenko would join Sevilla’s Yevhen appearances with Chernihiv. midfielder celebrated a goal during his Fomenko’s squad failed to reach the Everton failed to sign Yarmolenko- Konoplyanka leading Ukraine’s foreign Early in his career Yarmolenko was team’s 3-0 win against Dynamo. 2014 World Cup finals as fighting raged who has 13 goals in 23 games for legion. Yarmolenko helped Dynamo compared to Shevchenko, who had an Yarmolenko was suspended for three between pro-Russian separatists and Dynamo Kiev-after negotiations unrav- reach the Champions League’s round of illustrious career with Dyname Kiev, matches and fined 50,000-hryvnia government troops in east Ukraine. elled last year. They may try again. But 16 this year for the first time in more Milan and Chelsea and won the 2004 ($2,000) over the incident. Stepanenko Ukraine also struggled in the Euro 2016 the Ukrainian flagship club’s president, than 15 years. Since joining the national Ballon d’Or. Yarmolenko’s international told Ukrainian television his “friendship qualifying campaign, finishing third in Igor Surkis, has said he would only con- team in 2009, Yarmolenko has earned 57 career has occasionally delivered striking is over” with Yarmolenko but would try their group. The team beat Slovenia 3-1 sider an offer for Yarmolenko from a “top caps and scored 23 goals, trailing only moments, including a cross that led to a to forget the incident for the sake of the in a playoff to qualify for the tourna- club”. “My position is that we should not retired striker Andriy Shevchenko in the headed goal by Shevchenko in Ukraine’s national team. “The incident was inten- ment, breaking its losing streak in the let Yarmolenko go to clubs like Everton national team’s goalscoring rankings. 2-1 win against Sweden at Euro 2012. tional and he could have broken my qualifying play-offs. —AFP Loew waits on Schweinsteiger, Hummels for opening match GELSENKIRCHEN: Germany Coach defender Adam Lang and a second from Joachim Loew says his priority is getting Thomas Mueller sealed the Germans’ win, captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and key but the biggest boost was seeing defender Mats Hummels fit for Euro 2016, Schweinsteiger play his first football since following Saturday’s 2-0 confidence-boost- injury in March. “It was good to get the first ing friendly win over Hungary. 25-odd minutes under my belt, but I don’t Schweinsteiger played the last 23 minutes honestly think I can play the 90 minutes of in Gelsenkirchen after three months side- our first game,” admitted Schweinsteiger. lined by a torn medial knee ligament, while “That said, I could do much before this Hummels is out with a calf tear. Euro than I could two years ago before the Manchester United star Schweinsteiger World Cup,” he added, having carried an admits he is unlikely to play the full 90 min- ankle injury before Brazil 2014, but went on utes of Germany’s opening Group C game to produce a commanding performance for at Euro 2016 against Ukraine in Lille on Germany the Rio de Janeiro final. Having June 12 before facing Poland four days lat- toyed with playing a three-man defence, er, then Northern Ireland on June 21. Loew reverted to the 4-2-3-1 which won Hummels has said he does not expect to be Germany the title in Brazil. fit until at least their second game against He started with Cologne’s Jonas Hector Poland in Paris on June 16. at right-back for the first-half, then “He hasn’t got any playing rhythm at the Liverpool’s Emre Can for the second, in the moment, so we’ll have to see,” said Loew only defensive position still to be decided when asked if Schweinsteiger will play in before the Euro starts. This was no more the world champions opening game. “We than a satisfactory performance from the have to see how Hummels gets on.” But world champions, who have a habit of rais- Loew is confident both Sami Khedira and ing their game for major tournaments. Jerome Boateng, who had to be treated on “We started well and let the ball run for the pitch in Gelsenkirchen, will be fit to face us, perhaps a bit too much,” said Germany Ukraine. “We took Sami Khedira off at the defender Boateng, whose superbly floated start of the second half as a precaution, cross led to their second goal by Mueller. Boateng had a pressed nerve, but was able “After the break, we gave the ball away too to play on,” added Loew. Germany’s head much, but all in all it was a good perform- coach was pleased to leave Gelsenkirchen ance. “I believe we can be happy, we played with no significant injuries. Just as he did better than in our previous game.” for the 2014 World Cup, Loew had to strike Hungary play Austria in their first Group PASADENA: Brazil’s Dani Alves heads the ball during their Copa America Centenario football tournament match, at the Rose Bowl stadium. — AFP off winger Marco Reus from his final squad F match on June 14 in Bordeaux, before last Tuesday, this time with a groin injury also facing Portugal and Iceland, and their after torn ankle ligaments ruled the German coach Bernd Storck was pleased, Borussia Dortmund winger out of Brazil. despite the defeat. “We had a few good Ecuador holds Brazil to 0-0 attempts to play from the back, but of Big boost course it’s very difficult against such a good This was the first time Germany had opponent,” said Storck. tie in Copa America opener kept a clean sheet in the last year and Loew “It was obvious that we would be under was grateful for the win after an experi- pressure, but we did our best and gave a mental side was humbled 3-1 by Slovakia good account of ourselves. “Our strength is PASADENA: Neymar showed up at the Rose in the 15th minute and Coutinho’s shot from 25 tripped Valencia after the Ecuadorian fouled in Augsburg last Sunday. “It was important how compact we are in defence and that is Bowl for Brazil’s Copa America opener against yards out two minutes later may have put some him. Fouls dominated the early moments of the to keep them down to nil, the win gives us just how we’ll be against Austria. “We Ecuador, but was unable to influence his team- fear into Ecuador, but each went wide. Casemiro second half. Ecuador’s Arturo Mina picked up a bit of stability and a good feeling for next picked up some good insights ahead of the mates from his luxury suite. Playing without its picked up a yellow card in the 18th minute for Ecuador’s first yellow card of the match two min- week,” added Loew. Euro and that will help for our first group star attacker, Brazil was held to a scoreless draw elbowing Enner Valencia while both leaped to utes after the intermission after fouling A first-half own-goal by Hungary game.” —AFP with Ecuador on Saturday night in the Copa try and win a header. After standing its ground, Coutinho. Ecuador picked up two more yellow America opener for both teams at the Rose Ecuador won more of the ball in the final 15 min- cards in the second half, with Valencia and Jaime Bowl. “We have to get better but watching the utes of the first half and put Brazil on its heels. Ayovi earning cautions for reckless fouls. game we were only missing the score,” Brazil Forced to defend hastily, Brazil reacted with a Brazil’s Dani Alves donned the captain’s arm- coach Dunga said. “The way we played, being pair of cautions in a three-minute span. First, band, replacing club teammate Neymar with the our first game and playing against a good team, Elias took down Jefferson Montero after Ecuador captaincy.