SPORT 17 Pakistan Captain We Played Good Cricket but TODAY’S ACTION Sarfaraz Ahmed Haven’T Qualiﬁed

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SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019 SPORT 17 Pakistan captain We played good cricket but TODAY’S ACTION Sarfaraz Ahmed haven’t qualiﬁed. That one game Sri Lanka vs India Australia vs South Africa After narrowly missing against West Indies cost us the Match No: 44 Match No: 45 tournament. out on the semi-ﬁnals. Yorkshire Cricket Ground, Leeds Old Trafford, Manchester 12.30pm Qatar time 3.30pm Qatar time Marquez eyes magnificent seven in Germany

AFP MOTOGP WORLD Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during the second free practice session SACHSENRING, GERMANY CHAMPIONSHIP ahead of the Moto GP Grand Prix Germany at the Sachsenring Circuit in Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Marquez STANDINGS eastern Germany, yesterday. Marc Marquez heads into this weekend’s German MotoGP 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) 160pts quickest aiming for a little bit of history 2. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 116 as he looks to rack up his seventh successive MotoGP win 3. Danilo Petrucci (ITA/Ducati) 108 in practice 4. Alex Rins (ESP/Suzuki) 101 at Sachsenring. AFP The 26-year-old Spaniard, 5. Valentino Rossi (ITA/Yamaha) 72 SACHSENRING who leads the championship 6. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/Yamaha- standings by 44 points, took SRT) 67 Championship leader Marc Marquez pole and won in Germany in his again showed his mastery of the Sach- 7. Maverick Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) 65 first season in MotoGP back in senring circuit to clock the quickest 2013 and he has done the 8. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati-Pramac) 60 time in yesterday’s practice ahead of double in every edition since. 9. Pol Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 52 tomorrow’s German Grand Prix. “We now arrive at one of my 10. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/Honda- The Spaniard, who has won every favourite tracks,” Marquez told LCR) 51 edition of this race since 2013, ran his Honda team website. second behind Frenchman Fabio His remarkable record at Quartararo during the morning session the circuit actually stretches we have to keep working hard.” In his place comes test rider Maverick Vinales who cruised “The good thing is that now but turned things around in the back even further since when Marquez has won four of the Stefan Bradl. The 29-year-old to a comfortable win in Assen. we go straight to the Sach- afternoon. he has also won once in 125cc eight rounds so far in the cham- German rider has already raced Yamaha have some con- senring and we can immediately Marquez almost crashed his (2010) and twice in Moto2 (2011, pionship as he goes in search of once this year, in Jerez where cerns, however, over the form work on another GP weekend.” Honda on his first lap but after coming 2012). A win on Sunday would a sixth world title in seven years he finished 10th, and has twice of seven-time champion Val- Ducati also announced on out of the pits on soft rear tyres, he give him the perfect 10. - he missed out to his then finished in the top five at the entino Rossi who has crashed Thursday that Petrucci had went on to post a fastest time of 1min “Everyone says I am the Yamaha team-mate Jorge Sachsenring while riding a out of the last three races. extended his deal with the 20.705sec. That left him 0.341 seconds favourite because I won in the Lorenzo in 2015. Honda in 2012 and 2013. “This is not a positive time Italians until the end of next ahead of Suzuki’s Alex Rins who was past few years, but this sport is The pair are now spear- The Hondas can expect a for us,” said the 40-year-old season. marginally quicker than a disap- unpredictable and everyone heading the Honda challenge serious challenge from the Rossi. “In this first half of the pointed and disgruntled Quartararo. said the same in Austin (US but Lorenzo will be missing Ducatis of Andrea Dovizioso “The end to the race in season we were able to progres- The 20-year-old, who took pole Grand Prix) and I crashed,” said from Sachsenring after frac- and Danilo Petrucci, who are Assen was a real shame because sively increase our competi- in Assen last weekend, was impeded Marquez. turing a vertabrae during second and third respectively I felt good after the warm-up. I tiveness, taking two podiums by his own Yamaha teammate Franco “Past results don’t mean a practice ahead of last weekend’s in the championship standings, was fast but instead ended up and an unforgettable win,” said Morbidelli as he looked set to improve lot once we start on Friday so Dutch GP in Assen. as well as the Yamaha of with another zero. the 28-year-old. on Rins’ time. Tour de France: New generation ready to deliver

AP BRUSSELS Yellow jersey No matter who wins, this year’s Tour de France will see celebrates a changing of the guard. And if the names of Wout 100 years Van Aert, Kasper Asgreen, Enric Mas or Caleb Ewan REUTERS don’t ring a bell for now, they BRUSSELS Scott Piercy reacts after a putt might soon be on everybody’s during the ﬁrst round of the lips. Winning any Tour de France stage is a 3M Open. In the absence of many milestone in any cyclist’s career but to do stalwart riders who have so on the opening day of the annual three- stamped their mark on week trek comes with a very special bonus Piercy fires cycling’s marquee event in - the yellow jersey. recent years, new faces will Today’s Grand Depart in Brussels feels 62 to grab 3M emerge this summer. special enough anyway, coming 50 years There is a long list of top after the city’s most favourite sporting son Open lead riders missing the Tour, Eddie Merckx won the first of his five which starts today from Tours and 61 years after the race last AFP Brussels with a 194.5km stage started in the Belgian capital. BLAINE, UNITED STATES through Flanders and back to But when the top sprinters power the Belgian capital, including towards the city’s iconic Atomium at the American Scott Piercy caught four-time champion Chris end of the 194.5 km stage around Flanders The defending Tour de France champion, team INEOS rider Geraint fire on the back nine en route to Froome, who is missing out appearance to show off their they will do so knowing the overall maillot Thomas of Britain rides on a podium during the teams presentation, a nine-under 62 and a two-shot for the first time since 2011, skills and challenge the jaune is up for grabs. lead in the first round of the PGA 2018 runner-up Tom supremacy of their elders - at the Grand Place in Brussels ahead of the 106th edition of the race While it is the 106th edition of the Tour Tour’s 3M Open on Thursday. Dumoulin, Primoz Roglic, a starting today. which begins today. de France, this year marks the 100th anni- Piercy, who hasn’t won in 14 fourth-place finisher last The opening stage fea- versary of the what has become arguably months, finished his bogey-free year, former world champion tures two short climbs usually the most recognisable and fought-over round with a six-foot birdie putt Philippe Gilbert, ace sprinters taken during the one-day garment in sport. on the par-five 18th to pull Mark Cavendish, Marcel Kittel classic Ronde van Vlaanderen £ N It has been worn by the overall race ahead of Canada’s Adam and Fernando Gaviria. and a stretch of cobblestones leader since Henri Desgrange, editor of Hadwin and Hideki Matsuyama The generational change and also passes through Mer- !"#$%!&'(" )*+##,'$-'*(.$/+'00"-1'(#'+ L’Auto magazine, the publication that of Japan. is likely to be the most visible ckx’s childhood home. The ' ! 234 thought up the Tour, decided in July 1919 Hadwin and Matsuyama in the fight for the race day’s main difficulties come to act after complaints that the leader did both shot 64. leader’s yellow jersey, as too early to have a real impact : not stand out in the peloton. Piercy rolled in six birdies 22-year-old Egan Bernal on the final result, though, Inspired by a chat he had with sports & 5 4 ! over his final eight holes after seems ready to take over from and the stage is likely to end director Alphonse Bauge he went for a making the turn at the TPC Twin his leader at team Ineos, in a bunch sprint that could :; yellow jersey, similar to the colour of his Cities course in three-under. He defending champion Geraint award the first yellow jersey publication, and during a rest day in Gre- !6. 4"# also had a 30-foot putt for birdie Thomas. to a Tour debutant. noble Eugene Christophe, who had been on the par-four 16th. In the wake of an already The 24-year-old Ewan, ; in the lead since stage four, became the Hadwin birdied four straight successful season during who rides for Belgian outfit first rider to slip it on. 8 4$ holes among his final nine. He which he won the Paris-Nice Lotto-Soudal, is among an He was given half a dozen so that his made two putts from between and Tour de Suisse weeklong exciting group of competitors < support team could also wear them, 20 and 25 feet in his round. races, Bernal has been ele- that will try to derail three- helping him locate them, especially in the Brian Harman, Im Sung-jae, vated to a co-leader status time world champion Peter 1 9* 94 ! dark. The introduction of the yellow jersey Patton Kizzire and Sam after Froome, who also rides Sagan’s ambition to claim a < received just a short mention in L’Auto, Saunders are tied for fourth after for Ineos, was ruled out record seventh green jersey, but the message has endured. shooting six-under 65. because of an horrific crash which is awarded to the best * ! 6 4 ! Sadly for Christophe he never got to South African Dylan Frittelli, last month. sprinter. => wear the jersey in Paris after being struck and Americans Brendan Steele Despite his lack of expe- A colorful character with by cruel luck. and Bryson DeChambeau are rience - he will start his a spectacular style of racing, +'00"-1'(#'+-'*('(#&+8"%$(+ Still leading on the penultimate stage among a large group who shot second Grand Tour - Bernal Sagan has been the fastest & # from Metz to Dunkirk, 30 minutes ahead 03 6 five-under 66, four shots back is showing an impressive man in the Tour peloton in > of the second-placed rider, his forks broke of Piercy. maturity for his young age. recent years. Since 2012, he # on the cobblestones of Haisnes and, World Number One Brooks Many former Tour has failed to win the green >? ? / without being able to grab a spare bike as Koepka made five birdies for a winners including Eddy jersey just once, when he was is the case today, he spent an hour fixing : $ four-under 67 that left him five Merckx and Alberto Contador disqualified following a crash ;; them. : shots adrift. Koepka has won six have picked Bernal as their with Cavendish two years ago. . He ended up third with Belgium’s PGA Tour events of which four favourite to win a race that But Sagan has been strug- Firmin Lambot proudly adorned in yellow are major championships. features several grueling gling with form this season, <; = in the Parc de Princes Paris. Phil Mickelson had seven mountainous stages this year. boosting the hopes of younger &6 " It took a while for the jersey to weave penalty strokes, including two There will be many rivals including Ewan, who its way into the legend of the race, ! "#$$%#&' ()))*++,- on the par-five 18th, and fin- opportunities for the 33 riders already posted stage wins at ./ 0 $ #$ 1$$2#- however, and become the symbol of the ished with a three-over 74. making their first Tour the Giro and Spanish Vuelta. .!# ! $ ! $3# 4 ' world’s most-watched sporting event. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019

Shaun Marsh Pakistan exit despite victory as out of World Cup after Cummins blow

New Zealand qualify for semis AFP MANCHESTER AFP SCOREBOARD LONDON PAKISTAN Australia batsman Shaun Marsh Fakhar Zaman c Mehidy b Saifuddin ...... 13 has been ruled out of the rest Pakistan thumped Bangladesh Imam-ul-Haq hit wicket b Mustafizur ...... 100 of the World Cup after suffering by 94 runs in their last World Babar Azam lbw b Saifuddin ...... 96 a broken arm while batting in Cup group match yesterday but Mohammad Hafeez c Shakib b Mehidy ...... 27 the nets against team-mate Pat suffered a painful exit as New Haris Sohail c Soumya b Mustafizur ...... 6 Cummins. Zealand pipped them to a semi- Imad Wasim c Mahmudullah b Mustafizur .43 Thursday’s Old Trafford final place on net run-rate. Sarfaraz Ahmed not out ...... 3 training session, which took Sarfaraz Ahmed’s team Wahab Riaz b Saifuddin ...... 2 place two days before reigning needed to smash the world Shadab Khan c and b Mustafizur ...... 1 champions Australia’s final record for margin of victory in a Mohammad Amir c Mushfiqur b Mustafizur . 8 group game against South one-day international but a Shaheen Shah Afridi not out ...... 0 Africa at the Manchester miracle win never looked Extras (lb3, nb1, w12) ...... 16 ground, also saw all-rounder remotely likely at a sun- Total (nine wickets, 50 overs) ...... 315 Glenn Maxwell struck a painful 1-23, 2-180, 3-246, 4-248, drenched Lord’s. Fall of wickets: blow batting against left-arm 5-255, 6-288, 7-289, 8-314, 9-314 Pakistan’s total of 315 for quick Mitchell Starc. Bowling: Mehidy 10-0-30-1 (1w), Saifuddin nine meant Bangladesh needed 9-0-77-3 (3w), Mustafizur 10-0-75-5 (1w), No sooner had Maxwell been only eight runs to end the 1992 escorted away by medical staff Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi celebrates taking the Mashrafe 7-0-46-0, Shakib 10-0-57-0 (1w), world champions’ hopes of after going down in pain when a wicket of Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah during Mosaddek 4-0-27-0 (1w) advancing to the semi-finals. rising delivery from Starc, the the World Cup match at the Lord’s, yesterday. Teenager Shaheen Afridi BANGLADESH tournament’s leading wicket- returned the best-ever figures Tamim Iqbal b Shaheen ...... 8 taker, reared up and hit him on for Pakistan at a World Cup of qualified,” said Sarfaraz. “Only A late flourish from Imad Soumya Sarkar c Fakhar b Amir ...... 22 the right forearm, than Marsh, ICC WORLD CUP 2019 6-35 as they finished level on 11 the one match will cost us in the Wasim, who scored 43 runs Shakib Al Hasan c Sarfaraz b Shaheen ...... 64 batting in the same net, was POINTS TABLE points and games won (five) with whole tournament (against West from 26 balls, boosted the Mushfiqur Rahim b Riaz ...... 16 struck on the wrist by Cummins. fourth-placed New Zealand, Indies). We played very good score but Pakistan lacked the Liton Das c Sohail b Shaheen ...... 32 Both players were sent to RANK/TEAM M W L N/R PT missing out on the top four due cricket.” muscle to put themselves out Mahmudullah b Shaheen ...... 29 hospital for scans, with left- 1: Australia 8 7 1 0 14 to their inferior run-rate. Pakistan, backed by thou- of sight. Mosaddek Hossain c Babar b Shadab ...... 16 hander Marsh subsequently Mohammad Saifuddin c Amir b Shaheen ...... 0 2: India 8 6 1 1 13 The other teams in next sands of passionate flag-waving Mustafizur Rahman took five ruled out, although Maxwell has week’s semi-finals are Australia, fans in London, started curiously wickets for Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz not out ...... 7 not suffered any serious 3: England 9 6 3 0 12 India and hosts England, with the slowly, crawling to 38-1 after 10 including a superb caught and Mashrafe Mortaza st Sarfaraz b Shadab ...... 15 damage according to Australia 4: New Zealand 9 5 3 1 11 final group matches taking place overs. bowled to dismiss Shadab Khan. Mustafizur Rahman b Shaheen ...... 1 coach Justin Langer. 5: Pakistan 9 5 3 1 11 today. Imam-ul-Haq (100) and Extras (lb5, w6) ...... 11 The International Cricket Pakistan finished the tour- Babar Azam (96) eventually Pakistan ﬁnished level on Total (all out, 44.1 overs) ...... 221 Council confirmed Marsh’s exit 6: Sri Lanka 8 3 3 2 8 1-26, 2-48, 3-78, 4-136, nament with four straight wins stepped on the gas, reaching 11 points and games won Fall of wickets: from the World Cup in a 7: Bangladesh 9 3 5 1 7 5-154, 6-197, 7-197, 8-198, 9-219 but ultimately paid the price for their 150 partnership for the (ﬁve) with fourth-placed statement, saying its event Bowling: Hafeez 6-1-32-0, Amir 7-0-31-1 (1w), 8: South Africa 8 2 5 1 5 New Zealand, missing out a sluggish start. second wicket off 146 balls but Shaheen 9.1-0-35-6 (4w), Riaz 7-0-33-1 (1w), technical committee had 9: West Indies 9 2 6 1 5 “Unfortunately we played both fell in quick succession to on the top four due to their Imad 6-0-26-0, Shadab 9-0-59-2 approved Handscomb as a 10: Afghanistan 9 0 9 0 0 very good cricket in the last four suck the momentum out of their inferior run-rate. Result: Pakistan won by 94 runs replacement for Marsh for the matches but we have not innings. remainder of the tournament.

Cup final on free to air TV Australia, India chase top league spot AFP In order to leapfrog Australia, England captain Eoin Morgan if England LONDON Virat Kohli’s India need to beat has voiced his liking for Edg- get there Sri Lanka at Headingley but baston as a venue after his side, Australia and India will be also need help from South eyeing their maiden World Cup aiming to finish top of the World triumph, beat India by 31 runs in AFP Africa, who face Aaron Finch’s LONDON Cup league phase and so avoid side later on the same day at a league game on Sunday. facing hosts England in the semi- Old Trafford. The top-ranked The host nation, who The Cricket World Cup final finals as they prepare for the team will face the side that started the tournament as will be available to watch on final day of round-robin ﬁnishes fourth, New Zealand, favourites, lost their way with free-to-air television across matches. who have lost three straight consecutive defeats against Sri Britain if England reach the Defending champions Aus- matches. Lanka and Australia but hit climax of the 50-over show- tralia, two-time winners India back strongly to beat India and piece, Sky Sports announced and England along with New to beat Sri Lanka at Headingley New Zealand, rediscovering the India’s captain yesterday. Zealand have already booked but also need help from South zest that made them the world’s Virat Kohli bats in The broadcaster said their place in the final four ahead Africa, who face Aaron Finch’s most-feared one-day interna- their decision would “ensure of today’s games. side later on the same day at Old tional side. the nets during a as wide an audience as pos- Leaders Australia have 14 Trafford. The top-ranked team Former England Test captain training session sible is able to watch the points after seven wins and one will face the side that finishes Michael Vaughan said he could at Headingley game”. defeat, one point ahead of India, fourth, New Zealand, who have not see Australia slipping up. Stadium in England have qualified who have six wins plus one no lost three straight matches. “The team that you’d like to Leeds, yesterday. for the semi-finals and will result and a defeat. England are guaranteed to face is New Zealand and that’s meet either India or Aus- England have 12 points after finish third and will meet the side why I can’t see how Australia slip Trafford against South Africa. they can get their kit in the tralia on Thursday July 11. six victories and three defeats, that finishes second at Edgbaston up today,” he told the BBC. They know that if they finish top dressing room and they’re The final is at Lord’s on July one point ahead of New Zealand. on July 11. The first semi-final is “There’s two reasons why I they play New Zealand again potentially going to have two 14. International cricket in In order to leapfrog Aus- on July 9 at Old Trafford and don’t think that will happen. there on Tuesday and as a team games on the same pitch in the the UK has been behind sat- tralia, Virat Kohli’s India need pitches first against fourth. Australia are playing at Old they can settle in Manchester, space of four or five days.” ellite broadcaster’s sub- scription paywall since 2005. Many pundits claim the decision by the England Karunaratne blames domestic and Wales Cricket Board to Tahir set for take the game off free-to- air television has been a structure for Sri Lanka’s woes central factor in the sport’s declining popularity in its emotional exit birthplace, particularly REUTERS among younger age groups. LEEDS AFP Proteas have long been out of Meanwhile, the tele- MANCHESTER the race for semi-final vision audiences in Britain Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karu- qualification. for the Cricket World Cup naratne blamed poor domestic South Africa’s Imran Tahir is “As a team, we need to have been contrasted unfa- structure for the team’s decline readying himself for an think about finishing on a good vourably with the millions and said the players should be emotional farewell to one-day note,” he said. who watched the England allowed to play in leagues international cricket, although “But it makes me feel very team’s run to the semi-finals abroad to gain valuable expe- the veteran is upbeat about the sad and emotional that I’m of football’s Women’s World rience. Proteas’ future. going to leave. Cup on free-to-air The 1996 world champions, Today’s World Cup match “It was always my dream television. who reached the final in 2007 against reigning champions to play international cricket Sky UK and Ireland chief and 2011, remain in a seemingly Australia is set to be Tahir’s and I’m really grateful to eve- executive Stephen Van endless transition period since 107th and last ODI before the ryone who helped me along on Rooyen said: “We are proud stalwarts Mahela Jayawardene leg-spinner bows out of the the way. They accepted me for to be the broadcaster for a and Kumar Sangakkara quit 50-over game at international who I was, the guy who came Sri Lanka’s captain Dimuth Karunaratne addressing a press home Cricket World Cup -- international cricket in 2015. level. from overseas. conference at Headingley Stadium in Leeds, yesterday, ahead of one of the world’s biggest Karunaratne’s men are out Born in Pakistan but “It’s a big moment of my their Cricket World Cup group stage match against India today. and most exciting sporting of the semi-finals race after married to a South African, the life -- I always wanted to play events. managing only three wins in much-travelled Tahir made his cricket and play as long as I “Our aim has always their eight group matches and domestic season. The players have the selectors to frequently chop ODI debut in February 2011, could and now is the right time been to celebrate what could finish another disappointing only one chance to showcase their and change the squad. Karu- just a month before his 32nd to go. be a ‘once in a generation’ campaign against neighbours talent and we have to identify naratne blamed it on the young birthday. “It will be quite a hurtful moment of a home team in India on Saturday. players only from that. That’s the players’ struggle to adjust to the But the 40-year-old has and sad moment for me but a big final on home soil. “If you take other countries, reason,” he said. demands of international cricket. still taken 172 ODI wickets I’ve prepared myself for that, “So, if England reach the they play a lot of cricket,” Kar- Karunaratne was put in “When they come to the heading into this weekend’s so hopefully it will go well for final, we will make the unaratne told reporters at Head- charge of the team in April after international level, there’s a huge match in Manchester. me and the team.” match available to everyone ingley yesterday. Lasith Malinga, Angelo gap. We have to close that gap,” This has been a disap- Tahir added: “I’m not so the whole country can be “In India, they play IPL and Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal he said, adding that the way pointing World Cup for South worried about (the) future of part of a rare and special big their domestic structure is really, and Thisara Perera all had forward was to allow players to Africa, with just two wins from the team -- there are a lot of sporting moment.” really good. spells as captain. gain experience in leagues in eight games so far and the youngsters.” “In Sri Lanka we have one The desperation also drove India, Australia and England. SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019 SPORT 19

Argentina Peru eye another Copa America seeks answers on suspected VAR upset in final against Brazil interference

AP Peru’s defender Aldo Corzo (centre) takes part in a training in Rio de Janeiro AFP RIO DE JANEIRO yesterday, ahead of their ﬁnal against Brazil in the Copa America Championship. BUENOS AIRES

Peru is going for one last upset When you make it to Argentina’s Football Association in the Copa América. yesterday asked the company After a stunning run to its the final, you have supplying the VAR technology first final in more than four to try to win it. We being used at the Copa America decades, Peru will try to pull off reached the final to clarify whether Brazil Pres- the biggest shock of the tour- ident Jair Bolsonaro’s security nament in the title match against thanks to our own team interfered with Tuesday’s host Brazil tomorrow. merits. This group is semi-final. It would cap a remarkable very strong. I think Argentina lost 2-0 to hosts comeback for a team that barely that’s the key. It Brazil in front of the watching survived the group stage but Bolsonaro at the Mineirao eventually eliminated favorite has the strength to stadium in Belo Horizonte but Uruguay in the quarter-finals overcome adversities: were infuriated that they were and two-time defending Ricardo Gareca denied two penalty claims that champion Chile in the replays suggested should have semi-finals. been given. Less than two weeks ago, scored the third goal against And what angered them Peru was being counted out by Chile on Wednesday to become most was that Ecuadoran most. Now it has a chance to earn the Copa América’s all-time referee Roddy Zambrano what would be one of its greatest leading scorer among active refused to consult VAR to check victories. players with 13 goals. the validity of their claims. “When you make it to the On defense, the team has “We’re very concerned that final, you have to try to win it. been carried by goalkeeper Brazilian media and news web- There’s no other option,” said results in other matches. Gareca if you want to,” veteran striker four tournaments. It lost to Pedro Gallese, who made an sites are talking about possible Peru coach Ricardo Gareca, who said things are different now, and Paolo Guerrero said after the eventual champion Uruguay in embarrassing mistake against problems and interference in is an Argentine. Peru is in better position to try team’s 3-0 win over Chile on 2011 and Chile in 2015, finishing Brazil but rebounded with strong the system of communication “We reached the final thanks to defeat the host. Wednesday. third both times. In 2018, Peru performances. between the VOR (video oper- to our own merits. This group is “We have the players to do “But for us, there are no made its first World Cup He stopped penalties by Bra- ating room) and the field offi- very strong. I think that’s the key. it,” he said. favorites on the field. We have appearance in 36 years, being zil’s Gabriel Jesus in the group cials,” said the AFA federation It has the strength to overcome “We are peaking right now. to stay humble and do our job. eliminated in a group that stage, by Uruguay’s Luis Suárez on its website. adversities.” If I had to choose a time to make There are a lot of people not included eventual champion in a shootout in the quarterfinals It’s the second complaint The team’s comeback fol- it to the final, it would be now. showing respect for Peru right France. and by Eduardo Vargas in the made by AFA about the semi- lowed a resounding 5-0 loss to But we know that it will be dif- now. I have a lot of respect for Most players from that squad semifinals. Peru will be seeking final having protested on Brazil in the group stage, a result ficult against Brazil no matter Brazil, but I also respect my are back, including Guerrero, its third Copa América title, and Wednesday to South American that left Peru on the verge of how we are playing.” country.” who attracted headlines for first since 1975. Brazil is seeking football’s governing body CON- elimination. It advanced as one Brazil is considered the over- Peru has been enjoying one being allowed to play in Russia a ninth Copa title, and first since MEBOL over “serious and gross of the two best third-place fin- whelming favorite, but Peru of its best decades in soccer, after appealing a doping 2007. It has won the tournament refereeing errors”. ishers from the three groups doesn’t think of it that way. having made it to three Copa suspension. all four previous times it hosted “According to the afore- after a combination of favourable “You can call them favorites América semifinals in the last The 35-year-old striker the event, the last time in 1989. mentioned versions, this interference was caused by Pres- ident Jair Bolsonaro’s security Netherlands teams,” said the statement, which was signed by AFA’s ref- ‘love’ underdog Barca unveil new ereeing director Federico Beligoy. status in World On Wednesday, the Bra- signing De Jong zilian website Globoesporte. Cup final com reported that there had been a problem with VAR REUTERS REUTERS club as a player and later as a before the semi-final match, PARIS BARCELONA coach. “De Jong carries Cruyff’s claiming a “radio signal used spirit in his soul. We are so by” Bolsonaro’s security team Netherlands are relishing their New Barcelona signing Frenkie proud that one of the great stars affected the referee’s commu- underdog status ahead of the de Jong was greeted by 20,000 of Dutch football has decided to nication channel with the VAR women’s World Cup final supporters as he took his first come here,” said Barca president team. against the United States steps on the Nou Camp pitch at Josep Maria Bartomeu. Beligoy mentioned the two tomorrow, midfielder Danielle his unveiling yesterday, six “Everyone has followed De incidents that most angered the van de Donk has said. months after agreeing a $84.19m Jong since January and we have Argentines, one in which tele- The Dutch side will take on move from Ajax Amsterdam to found in him exactly what we vision replays showed Brazil the thrice champions in Sun- the La Liga champions. were looking for. Dutch players captain Dani Alves bodycheck day’s title clash at Lyon. The 22-year-old Nether- have always left their mark here Argentina forward Sergio “I love being underdogs,” lands international repeatedly and we are starting a new era Aguero to the ground in the Van de Donk told reporters. kissed the badge on his Bar- with him.” De Jong said he had penalty area in the build-up to “It’s the best role you can celona shirt while on the pitch, received offers from several top the hosts’ clinching second goal. be in. I like it. to the delight of the fans, and European clubs but was con- The other incident, later in “I don’t know the English told them: “Putting the Bar- vinced to move to Barca after the match, saw Brazil mid- word but I don’t think they (the celona shirt on for the first time being visited by Bartomeu and fielder Arthur shoulder charge US) think we’re that good. makes me feel very proud.” other club directors. defender Nicolas Otamendi in Underestimate? Yes, that’s it. De Jong played a crucial role “It was difficult because lots the throat in another off-the- That is going to be an advantage in Ajax winning the Dutch league of clubs were telling me things ball incident inside the penalty for us.” and Cup last season as well as and there was a moment when area. Reigning European cham- in knocking out Real Madrid and I couldn’t see things clearly. Neither incident was seen pions Netherlands struggled to Juventus on their way to the Then one day the board by Zambrano nor referred to qualify for the World Cup, Champions League semi-finals, members came to the Nether- the VAR team to see if an having progressed through where they suffered a painful lands on a surprise visit and they offense was committed. playoffs, but are now playing elimination to Tottenham convinced me,” he said. In AFA’s previous com- their second consecutive major Hotspur. “There has always been a plaint, its president Claudio final. The midfielder, who has great connection between Bar- Tapia had hit out at Bolsonaro’s Sarina Wiegman’s side have signed a five-year contract, celona and Ajax because of Cru- behaviour describing it as a Barcelona’s new Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong poses with shown they can find the extra strengthens Barca’s affinity with yff’s philosophy. Barca and Ajax “political demonstration” that his new jersey next to the football club’s president Josep Maria gear when needed and have Dutch football which began in want to play the same style of is against both CONMEBOL and won each of their six matches Bartomeu (right) during his official presentation at the Camp Nou 1973 with the signing of Johan football and that’s very special world football governing body in the tournament. Stadium in Barcelona, yesterday. Cruyff, who revolutionised the for me.” FIFA’s regulations. Africa Cup of Nations: Morocco crash out to Benin

AFP they prevailed 4-1 in the shootout reigning champions Cameroon. CAIRO following misses by Sofiane Boufal En-Nesyri and Ziyech both pro- and En-Nesyri to set up a clash with duced saves in a dreary first half Hakim Ziyech’s missed stoppage- Senegal or Uganda on July 10 for a from Saturnin Allagbe, who kept his time penalty proved extremely costly spot in the semi-finals. place in the Benin goal after as 10-man Benin stunned Africa Cup Morocco suffered a troubled replacing Fabien Farnolle for the of Nations title contenders Morocco build-up to the tie at Al Salam final group game. in a spot-kick shoot-out yesterday Stadium with captain and key Younes Belhanda skewed wide to reach the quarter-finals after a 1-1 defender Medhi Benatia lost to injury for Morocco shortly after the draw in Cairo. while Benin were without forward restart but it was Benin who Moise Adilehou forced home at Steve Mounie due to suspension. grabbed a surprise lead when a corner early in the second half to The Atlas Lions had been Adilehou broke clear of his marker put Benin on course for a shock win clinical, determined and efficient to turn in a corner on 54 minutes, but Youssef En-Nesyri equalised for so far in Egypt, mirroring the the Squirrels’ first goal since their Morocco before Ajax star Ziyech beliefs of Herve Renard, the only opening game in Egypt. blew the chance to snatch victory by coach to win the Cup of Nations A mistake from Jordan Adeoti striking the post from the spot in the with two countries. presented Morocco with the 96th minute. Benin, winless in 12 previous equaliser on 75 minutes, as he was Benin were forced to play most Cup of Nations matches, only caught in possession on the edge of of the additional 30 minutes a man scraped through to the knockout his area by Mbark Boussoufa who Benin players celebrate after winning the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Round of 16 down after Khaled Adenon received rounds on the back of three draws squared for En-Nesyri to stroke match against Morocco at the Al-Salam Stadium in Cairo yesterday. a second yellow card for dissent, but after holding both Ghana and beyond Allagbe. SATURDAY 6 JULY 2019 20

PAGE | 17 PAGE | 18 Marquez eyes Cricket World Cup: magniﬁcent Australia and India seven in chase top Germany league spot Infantino eyes women’s World Cup expansionsion

REUTERS tournament to 32 teams,” he told Nine countries have so far World Cup to $60m. The men’s established in 2005 aandnd is an LYON, FRANCE a news conference. submitted bids including edition in Russia last year, fea- annual tournament. “We will have to act quickly Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, turing 32 teams, had a total prize Infantino pledgeded FIFIFAFA FIFA President Gianni Infantino to decide if we are to increase it Brazil, Colombia, Japan, New money pot of $400m. would increase its investmentestment wants to expand the women’s for 2023, if we do, we should Zealand, South Africa and South “I would like to propose a Club in women’s football worldwideorldwide World Cup to 32 teams from 24 reopen the bidding process to Korea. World Cup for women starting as to $1bn (from $0.5bn) overver the for the next edition in 2023 along allow everyone to have a chance Infantino hailed the 2019 soon as possible, next year or the next four-year cycle. with doubling the prize money or maybe co-host. Nothing is tournament in France as “the year after,” Infantino said. He also spoke ofof to $60m, he said yesterday. impossible.” best women’s World Cup ever”, “We need a Club World Cup wanting to create an Ahead of tomorrow’s The deadline for submitting citing figures that show the global which can be played even every international women’sen’s Women’s World Cup final bid documents to host the next reach will exceed 1 billion year to expose clubs from all over league, with promotionion between holders the United States World Cup was in April, with a viewers across all platforms. the world, to make clubs invest and relegation like thehe and the Netherlands, Infantino host due to be appointed in He said it was an opportunity even more in women’s football, Nations League in thehe said he would take his proposals March 2020 by the FIFA council. to build on the game with a to really shine on the world men’s game, too to the FIFA council and member However, those plans may now number of proposals. stage.” improve competi- associations for approval. change should the expansion get One of which was doubling The men’s Club World Cup tiveness in the World “I want to expand the the go ahead. the total prize money of the has had 15 editions since being Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino

Romania's Simona Halep beats Victoria Azarenka Djokovic into Wimbledon last 16 of Belarus 6-3, 6-1 in 66 minutes in a battle of former world number as Gauff extends magical run ones on Centre Court. Argentina's Guido Pella AFP knocks fourth seed LONDON WIMBLEDON RESULTS Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning his Wimbledon third round match against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the All Kevin Anderson, last England Lawn Tennis and Croquet year's runner-up, out in Defending champion Novak MEN: THIRD ROUND Club in London, Britain, yesterday. the third round 6-4, 6-3, Djokovic went level with Boris Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Hubert Hurkacz (POL) 7-5, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 6-4 7-6(4) in a match that Becker’s mark of 12 appearances David Goffin (BEL x21) bt Daniil Medvedev (RUS x11) 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the Wimbledon fourth round lasted just over two- while teen sensation Coco Gauff Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 and-a-half hours. reached the fourth round Guido Pella (ARG x26) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x4) 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) yesterday. Milos Raonic (CAN x15) bt Reilly Opelka (USA) 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-1 Spain's Roberto Bautista World number one and four- Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x23) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x10) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 Agut beats 10th seed time winner Djokovic defeated and French Open Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 7-5, 6-7 Benoît Paire (FRA x28) bt Jiri Vesely (CZE) 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) (5/7), 6-1, 6-4. quarter-finalist Karen He will next face either Can- WOMEN: THIRD ROUND Khachanov 6-3, 7-6(3), ada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime who, Elina Svitolina (UKR x8) bt Maria Sakkari (GRE x31) 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-2 6-1 at Court Two to at 18, is the youngest man in the move into the fourth Petra Martic (CRO x24) bt Danielle Collins (USA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 draw, or Ugo Humbert of France, round. the world number 66. Karolina Muchova (CZE) bt Anett Kontaveit (EST x20) 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 Roger Federer and Jimmy Karolina Pliskova (CZE x3) bt Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE x28) 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 Connors lead the way with 16. Czech third seed Simona Halep (ROU x7) bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 6-3, 6-1 However, Kevin Anderson, the Karolina Pliskova 2018 runner-up, was dumped out, Coco Gauff (USA) bt Polona Hercog (SLO) 3-6, 7-6 (9/7), 7-5 survives scare against leaving just four of the top 10 Zhang Shuai (CHN) bt Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x14) 6-4, 6-2 Taiwan's Hsieh Su-Wei seeds in the tournament. Dayana Yastremska (UKR) bt Viktorija Golubic (SUI) 7-5, 6-3 to advance. Anderson slumped to a shock third round 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) defeat to Argentina’s Guido Pella, was not as assured as in her pre- of the 2hr 47 minute marathon. the 26th seed. vious performances. “I’m just super relieved that The South African’s defeat However, her 28-year-old it’s over, it was a long match,” said means that only Djokovic, Roger opponent let her nerves overcome Gauff. Federer, Rafael Nadal and Kei her at the most crucial moment, “She (Hercog) was playing I’m just super relieved Nishikori remain of the top 10 double faulting on her second unbelievable. It was my first Romania’s that it’s over, it was players who started out. match point in the second set. match on Centre Court, people say Simona Halep a long match. She Pella goes on to face 2016 Gauff came through in the tie Court One is my court, maybe prepares to runner-up Milos Raonic for a break which went back and forth Centre can be too. return against (Hercog) was playing place in the quarter-finals. as neither player could take “I knew I could come back in Belarus’s Victoria unbelievable. It was my “I played an unbelievable advantage of mini-breaks. the second set so I juts kept going Azarenka during first match on Centre three sets,” said Pella, who had Hercog, who has yet to make for my shots.” their women’s Court, people say Court never gone beyond the third the last 16 of a Grand Slam in 11 Gauff, who stll has a way to go singles third One is my court, maybe round of a Grand Slam tour- years of trying, went off for a to emulate the then 15-year-old round match. nament in seven years. medical time out at the end of the Jennifer Capriati reaching the Centre can be too. I In the women’s event, Gauff second set. semi-finals in 1991, will play knew I could come back showed remarkable resilience in However, despite being former world number one Simona and 42 winners, will next face Australian Open quarter-finals. in the second set so I saving two match points to reach broken by Gauff early on she Halep of Romania for a place in compatriot Karolina Muchova, the Yesterday, she fired 26 juts kept going for my the fourth round of Wimbledon, broke back only for her serve to the last eight. world number 68, who put out winners against just eight for shots: Coco Gauff beating Polona Hercog 3-6, 7-6 falter once again as she served to Czech third seed Karolina Estonian 20th seed Anett Kon- Wozniacki, the 2018 Australian (9/7), 7-5 yesterday. stay in the match. Pliskova reached the fourth round taveit 7-6 (9/7), 6-3. Open champion. The 15-year-old, who had Whilst her parents stood to for the second successive year Muchova is making her Wim- Zhang, the first Chinese already claimed the scalps of applaud their daughter, Gauff with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 win over bledon debut as is 19-year-old woman in the last 16 in five years, Venus Williams and 2017 semi- danced a little jig of joy as the Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan. Dayana Yastremska and the 35th- said: “These three matches, I’ve finalist Magdalena Rybarikova, umpire called the score at the end Pliskova, who fired 14 aces ranked Ukrainian marked the moved well. If I want to win, I occasion by also making the last must be focused, clear my mind He was fighting. He was 16. and play my game.” playing well, serving She put out Switzerland’s Raonic, the 15th seed, reached well and hitting clean Viktorija Golubic 7-5, 6-3 and next the fourth round for the fifth time and accurate shots. It meets unseeded Chinese player by seeing off the sport’s tallest was a great fight the Zhang Shuai. man Reilly Opelka of the United World number 60 Zhang States 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-1. first couple of sets. He made the fourth round for the first France’s Benoit Paire booked deserved to win the time, coming back from 0-4 down a last 16 place for the second time second one: Djokovic in the opening set to beat former with a 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) world number one Caroline Woz- win over Czech qualifier Jiri niacki 6-4, 6-2 who failed to see Vesely. He will meet Spain’s eye-to-eye with the Hawk-Eye Roberto Bautista Agut who line call review system. stunned Russian 10th seed Karen Before this year, the 30-year- Khachanov 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1. Nobody can simulate old Zhang had never won a main Romanian seventh seed what it feels like going draw match at Wimbledon in five Simona Halep came from 1-3 attempts. down in the first set to defeat out and playing the It was a record which fellow former world number one finals of a Grand Slam, US player Cori Gauff serves against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog reflected her previous struggles Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-1. semis and finals: during their women’s singles third round match yesterday. -- she was 0-14 at the Slams until Azarenka was undone by 33 Kevin Anderson she broke through to the 2016 unforced errors.