Qatar Get Set for Copa America Debut, but First Brazil Beckons
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Pradeep, Malinganga lift Lanka to win over Afghanistan in low-scoring thriller WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 PAGE 15 Steyn ruled out, but India won’t take CRICKET WORLD CUP South Africa lightly, says Kohli PAGE 15 INDIA VS SOUTH AFRICA Qatar get set for Copa America debut, but first Brazil beckons The Qatar national football team during a session at their training camp in Porto Belo, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil last week. Al Annabi to meet Samba Boys in friendly tonight at 3.30 am Doha time AYENI OLUSEGUN in Group B of the tournament. sults is not easy. We have to tournament. Specifically, that DOHA Coming up against the likes of see which level we arrive at. means experiencing the Latin Messi, Aguero, Dybala, James Let’s see how long we compete American style of play and tak- WITH the Copa America less Rodriguez, Falcao and co is no for. We have three very tough ing part in a major tournament than two weeks away, the Qa- small task, but Al Annabi for opponents who also want to in front of many fans. It will also tar national team begin their now have their sights on the go forward in Copa America. allow us to address important preparation for South Ameri- big friendly against Neymar- After this competition, we will details on and off the pitch. I ca’s biggest football showpiece led Brazil. be a better team after facing want the team to perform in a with a friendly against Brazil After leading the team to big teams.” proper and honourable way and at the Mane Garrincha Sta- their biggest accomplishment Qatar’s core of young stars, demonstrate that they’ve pro- dium in Brasilia on Thursday, in football with the Asian Cup who honed their skills through gressed. That’s not just meas- (3.30am) Doha time. triumph, Qatar coach Felix the famous Aspire Academy, ured in accumulating points and The Asian champions join Sanchez, whose contract with play professionally for some progressing to the next round, Japan, who they beat in the the national team was recently of the biggest clubs in the but if that happens, it would of AFC Asian Cup final in Feb- extended till 2022, described country like Al Sadd, Al Du- course be great,” he said. ruary, as invited participants the team’s participation as a hail and Al Rayyan. Sanchez The Samba Boys will pro- in the 12-team tournament huge challenge. has been around these players vide a stern test of Qatar’s which will be played from “It will be a huge challenge for a number of years, but the qualities ahead of the Copa, but June 14 to July 7. for Qatar but my players are Spaniard believes his wards they are not without their own Brazil’s Neymar, Thiago Silva and Gabriel Jesus during a training session at Granja Comary in Teresopolis, For Qatar (the FIFA World confident and focused with still have a lot to learn. weaknesses. The team has been Brazil, on Monday. (REUTERS) Cup 2022 hosts), however, giving their best,” Sanchez “Since our squad has many mired in controversy and have this is more than just another said before the team departed young players, we look forward come under scrutiny since their the quarter-final. The five-time the 2013 FIFA Confederation have also failed to add to their tournament – they face Argen- for their first camp in the US. to gaining as much experience 2018 World Cup performance, World Cup winners have not trophy and the Summer Olym- eight Copa America titles with tina, Colombia and Paraguay “To talk about possible re- as possible in this high-profile where they fell to Belgium in won a major tournament since pics gold medal in Rio. They the most recent victory in 2007. Federer subdues Wawrinka in Swiss classic REUTERS injury then the 2017 and 2018 against Stefanos Tsitsipas on champion is usually clinical PARIS editions to concentrate on Sunday, would not buckle. in tiebreaks though and duly Wimbledon, has played like he In a tense final game Feder- took the first set on a breaker. ROGER Federer came through had never been away. er wasted one match point with Wawrinka was straight his first serious test on his re- He cruised through his a double-fault but clinched vic- back at him though and broke turn to the French Open as opening four rounds with- tory with a volley on his third to serve with a clubbing forehand he subdued some fierce Stan out dropping a set but knew reach a record-extending 44th winner to lead 3-1. Wawrinka resistance to reach a rejuvenated Wawrinka, ap- Grand Slam semi-final. Serving for the set, the the French Open semi-finals proaching his best again after “Hmm, the next opponent 34-year-old Wawrinka frit- on Tuesday. knee surgery in 2017, would be is okay,” Federer said on court. tered away a 40-0 lead but Wawrinka beat fellow Swiss a dangerous beast. “He knows how to play on clay, whipped away a forehand to Federer at the same stage four So it proved as “Stani- unfortunately. convert his fourth set point. Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning against Japan’s Kei years ago on his way to winning mal” stood toe-to-toe with his “But thinking back, what a He looked to be gaining Nishikori at the Roland Garros on Tuesday. (AFP) the title, but this time came Roger Federer on way to over- friend and rival for three hours pleasure to be back at Roland- the upper hand when Federer up just short as Federer won powering his compatriot from 35 minutes of sublime action Garros. If I came back on clay, hit a limp volley into the net to 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(5) 6-4. Switzerland Stanislas Wawrinka in front of a captivated Court it’s also perhaps to play Rafa. lose serve in the seventh game Nadal demolishes Nishikori Federer, 37, is the oldest on Tuesday. (EPA-EFE) Suzanne Lenglen crowd. Here it is. I have the match.” of the third set but Federer re- man to reach the French Open Even after he dropped Federer failed to convert any sponded to break back imme- on way to semi-final semi-finals since Pancho Gon- They will meet on Friday serve after a cloudburst in the of the four break points that diately with the help of some zales got there aged 40 in 1968 for the 39th time with Nadal fourth set to give Federer the came his way in a tight first set unforced errors. REUTERS finals is an extra thing. We but will need to find a way to having won all of their previ- chance to serve for the match – a theme of the match with The third-set tiebreak PARIS shared the most important beat French Open nemesis Ra- ous five French Open duels. at 5-4, Wawrinka, who must the usually lethal Swiss taking always looked like a “must moments of our careers to- fael Nadal if his quest for a sec- Federer, who missed the have been feeling the pace only two of his 18. win” for Wawrinka but it was RAFAEL Nadal continued his gether on court facing each ond title in Paris is to continue. 2016 French Open because of after a five-hour marathon The 20-time Grand Slam Federer who dominated it. march towards a record-extend- other. So it is another episode ing 12th French Open title by of this, and happy for that and steamrolling a sorry Kei Nishi- excited, no? It will be a special kori 6-1 6-1 6-3 to book his place moment, and let’s try to be in the semi-finals on Tuesday. ready for it.” Playing on the Konta leaves Evert ‘speechless’ with Open breakthrough The second seed, who now back of two consecutive five- has a 91-2 win-loss record at set matches, Nishikori never AFP to you, I have never seen her me and feel like they’ve defi- Konta after her third win in the claycourt Grand Slam, was managed to mount any form PARIS play that kind of tennis, she nitely got it. 2019 over Stephens. barely bothered by the seventh- of a challenge and was easily would’ve beaten anybody the “I definitely back myself Both players complained seeded Nishikori as he set up wiped off court by Nadal. JOHANNA Konta became the way she played today.” and my ability that way.” about the famed Paris clay a mouth-watering last-four There was a sense of in- first British woman in 36 years The 28-year-old Konta had Next up for Konta is a blowing away off the court in a meeting with 20-time Grand evitability when Nadal and Ni- to reach the Roland Garros not won a match at Roland Gar- clash with either Czech teen- stiff breeze. Slam champion Roger Federer. shikori stepped onto Philippe semi-finals on Tuesday in a per- ros in any of her previous four ager Marketa Vondrousova or But at least they had the “Being honest, personally Chatrier Court. formance which left US legend visits. But now she has emulated Croatian 31st Petra Martic for a advantage of getting back into for me the main thing is being in Not only did Nadal have and seven-time Paris champion Jo Durie who was the last Brit- place in Saturday’s final. the locker room before torren- the semi-final,” said Nadal, who the numbers in his favour, but Chris Evert “speechless”.