Established 1961 15 Sports Thursday, November 16, 2017 Khedira praises plucky Germany after France draw Didier Deschamps admits he was disappointed with the draw COLOGNE: Sami Khedira said world champions equaliser, Stindl said the result capped a good year for Germany proved their never-say-die spirit as Lars Germany, who qualified for next year’s World Cup with Stindl’s last-gasp equaliser preserved their 21-match a perfect 10 wins from 10 qualifiers. unbeaten run in Tuesday’s 2-2 friendly draw against “Luckily we scored in the last attack,” said the France. Moenchengladbach forward, who scored Germany’s A first international double by Alexandre Lacazette winning goal in the Confederations Cup final in July. in Cologne put France on the verge of a deserved vic- “All in all, we have put in two good performances tory in a clash of two of the favourites for next year’s against two strong opponents, and I think it was an all- World Cup. The Arsenal striker scored either side of a round successful 2017 for the German FA.” Germany Timo Werner goal, before Stindl struck in the 93rd head coach Joachim Loew said he was content both minute to maintain Germany’s unbeaten run dating back with the result in Cologne and the stalemate at to their 2-0 defeat by Wembley against England. France in the Euro 2016 “First of all, I’m very hap- semi-finals. py with both tests against “We had some luck in the England and France - they first half, but we also had were two tests at the high- our chances to score,” said We had some est level. “We played better Khedira, Germany’s stand-in in the second half, after not captain with Manuel Neuer luck in the everything worked out the injured. way we expected in the “It is quite normal when first half first. playing in different line-ups “It can always happen that you have one or two that you are behind at the problems,” he added after break, we wanted to put Germany made six changes from Friday’s goalless draw more pressure in the second half and then we got our with England. “I think that we have been able to com- chance.” Germany host Spain and Brazil in friendlies pete at a very high level overall this year. next March as the holders tune up for their defence of “We pressed hard after the break. “We conceded the World Cup title in Russia next June. the goal from nothing to make it 2-1, but we also Pleasingly for Loew, Mario Goetze, who hit the win- showed the morale to come back from behind.” ner in the 2014 World Cup final, came on for his first France coach Didier Deschamps admitted he was international appearance since last November, after ill- disappointed with the draw. “It’s a bit disappointing, we ness and injury, to set up the equaliser. were close to getting the win,” said the 1998 World “It was a positive story for me today and a step in COLOGNE: France’s forward Antoine Griezmann (R) and France’s midfielder Steven N’Zonzi vie for the ball Cup winner. “We didn’t pay enough attention at the the right direction and I’m glad I’m back in. That was a with Germany’s midfielder Mario Goetze (C) during the international friendly football match Germany against end, but we made life hard for a strong German team.” great thing for me,” said the Borussia Dortmund mid- France. — AFP Having rescued Germany’s unbeaten run with the fielder. — AFP we also played well tonight. Both of our recent friendlies have been very useful for our team.” The 2010 World Cup win- Russia snatch ners, fresh from Saturday’s 5-0 victory over Costa Rica in Malaga, dominated thrilling friendly posession early on and Alba put the Future of US away side into a ninth-minute lead by heading in a Marco Asensio cross. soccer at stake draw with Spain Ramos made it two in the 35th minute after Zenit midfielder Daler Kuzyayev MOSCOW: Spain were held to a handballed in the area. in election: Gans thrilling 3-3 friendly draw by World Cup Krasnodar forward Smolov halved the hosts Russia in Saint Petersburg on deficit four minutes before the break, LOS ANGELES: The United States’ humiliating fail- Tuesday, despite a brace of penalties when he received a pinpoint pass by ure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup may have left from centre-back Sergio Ramos. Miranchuk in the area and fired the ball millions of fans across the country in shock, but for Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba’s strike past David De Gea. Steve Gans, the debacle had been a long time coming. and Ramos’ first spot-kick put the visi- Lokomotiv Moscow midfielder The 57-year-old Boston attorney’s worst fears tors in control, but goals either side of Miranchuk levelled six minutes into the came to fruition last month when the USA were half-time from Fedor Smolov and Alexei second period, firing home after Yury eliminated after a 2-1 loss at Trinidad & Tobago in Miranchuk pulled Russia level. Zhirkov’s shot hit Nacho and bounced their final qualifying game. The defeat means the Although Real Madrid defender back into play. Ramos completed only United States will be frustrated spectators when next year’s finals in Russia kick off, the first time Ramos put Julen Lopetegui’s men back his second international brace after scor- ST PETERSBURG: Russia’s Daler Kuzyayev, atop, struggles for the ball with Spain’s in front, Smolov also completed a double ing two against San Marino in 2005, but Asier Illarramendi during the international friendly soccer match between Russia and since 1986 that the country has missed the world’s to grab a draw. Spain still extended their Smolov equalised again with a powerful Spain in St Petersburg, Russia. —AP greatest tournament. unbeaten run under Lopetegui to 15 strike from just outside the area with 20 Gans is now one of the front-runners in a crowded matches. “Russia showed a high level of minutes to go. Spartak Moscow mid- field bidding to unseat United States Soccer play tonight as their players all looked fielder Denis Glushakov was forced to Russia wing-back Konstantin Rausch, he said. “After Spain claimed a 2-0 lead Federation president Sunil Gulati when his post comes extremely motivated,” Lopetegui said. go in goal in injury-time after keeper who plays with German Bundesliga side we continued fighting and it paid off. up for re-election next February. So far, seven chal- “Russia haven’t played any competi- Andrei Lunev was knocked out in a clash Cologne, said he was happy with his “We’ve all been battling hard for every lengers to Gulati’s 11-year reign have emerged for an tive games and their players worked flat with Rodrigo, but Spain failed to find a team’s performance. “I’m really pleased single ball tonight. It was a good game election that promises to be the most significant for out in every single friendly match. But winner. that today we showed true team spirit,” for our team.” — AFP US soccer in decades. “The future of soccer in America is at stake here, including the future of the United States men’s national team, which is going in the wrong direction,” Gans told AFP in an interview. Gans was one of the first to declare against Gulati, Sublime Eriksen having embarked on a nationwide “listening tour” in May to take the temperature of American soccer at all levels of the game. He confirmed his plan to run before propels Denmark the US World Cup exit. “I wanted to hear if the things that I was hearing to World Cup from the people urging me to run, were representative of the wider soccer community,” Gans said, revealing that common themes soon emerged from different DUBLIN: Christian Eriksen’s magnificent hat-trick constituencies within the sport. inspired Denmark to a 5-1 demolition of the Republic of Ireland in Tuesday’s second leg of their play-off in ‘IGNORED, MARGINALIZED’ Dublin to clinch a spot at next year’s World Cup. Many youth and adult soccer officials from differ- Following Saturday’s stalemate in Copenhagen, ent states expressed frustration with the USSF leader- Ireland got their home leg off to the perfect start when ship, Gans said. “They have felt ignored, they have felt Shane Duffy headed them into the lead after only six marginalized, and they’re a very important historical minutes, but Denmark struck twice before the break part of US soccer,” Gans said. “The reality is they and three more in the second half to seal their place in need to be shown respect. Their ideas, their pro- Russia. grams, should be given seriousness of purpose. And “It is an incredible feeling. We have been fighting for they need to have input rather than top down edicts so long to get to the World Cup. We are very much coming from US Soccer telling them how it’s going to looking forward to it,” said Eriksen. “It is not often I be.” At the top of the pyramid, Gans emphasizes the score any hat-trick so of course it is incredible.” The DUBLIN: Denmark’s striker Nicklas Bendtner celebrates after scoring their fifth goal from the penalty spot during importance of making the right appointment to coach equaliser arrived in fortuitous circumstances on 19 min- the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifying football match, second leg, between Republic of Ireland and Denmark at Aviva utes when Cyrus Christie helped bundle in Andreas Stadium in Dublin.