SPORT Tuesday 12 June 2018 PAGE | 24 PAGE | 28 Brazil set to end Portugal’s hopes dour World Cup aided by extra rest run in Russia for Ronaldo World Cup big guns ready to fire AFP in his foot in February, marked giving ourselves opportunities prepare to open the tour- his first start in more than three to win this game,” the Brighton nament, after failing to win in MOSCOW: The World Cup big months by scoring in Sunday’s stopper warned.”We can’t wait As the clock ticks down to the opener seven consecutive games. guns limbered up yesterday easy victory in Vienna, drawing for Saturday.” in Moscow’s imposing 80,000-capacity President Vladimir Putin, ahead of the tournament level with Romario on the list France, who boast “world- Luzhniki stadium, the tournament is who has spent billions to put opener in Russia while brash of Brazil’s all-time leading class” talent in Antoine on the biggest sports event in underdogs Australia warned scorers behind only Pele and Griezmann and Paul Pogba, beginning to catch the public mood. Russia since the 1980 Moscow Euro 2016 finalists France to Ronaldo. according to Australia mid- Olympics, has exhorted the brace for an early shock. As the clock ticks down to fielder Massimo Luongo, are team to raise their level. As the atmosphere built the opener in Moscow’s among the tournament Host nation Russia, ranked a lowly 70th in “I must acknowledge the before Thursday’s curtainraiser imposing 80,000-capacity favourites in Russia alongside the world, are under intense pressure as fact that, unfortunately, our between the hosts and Saudi Luzhniki stadium, the tour- Brazil, Germany and Spain. they prepare to open the tournament, after team have not achieved big Arabia, the French and nament is beginning to catch A big question mark hangs results in recent times,” Putin Argentine players were put the public mood, with about over the participation of Egypt failing to win in seven consecutive games. said last week. through their paces while 3,500 fans attending Australia’s and Liverpool striker Mohamed Even before the tour- Brazil took the day off. training session in the central Salah, who is still receiving nament gets under way, world World champions city of Kazan. treatment for the shoulder the other Egypt players took going through some difficult governing body FIFA has the Germany, seeking to equal Bra- Fans shouted “Austral-iya” injury he suffered in the Cham- part in a group warm-up. moments with the press,” the major task on Wednesday of zil’s record of five World Cup several times during training pions League final. Argentina captain Lionel Barcelona forward said. choosing the host of the 2026 wins, will land in Russia today, and also “Aussie, Aussie, Team doctor Mohamed Messi said his international Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup -- a straight fight along with Gareth Southgate’s Aussie, go, go, go”. Abou al-Ela admitted the future will be determined by World Cup final 1-0 to between a joint bid featuring youthful England side. Socceroos goalkeeper Mat striker, who scored 44 goals for his country’s performance at Germany after extra time, the United States, Canada and Brazil and Neymar arrived Ryan warned France that a Liverpool this season, was the World Cup. before suffering successive Mexico and Morocco. in the Black Sea resort of Sochi new, improved Australia team unlikely to play in Egypt’s “It will depend on how far defeats by Chile on penalties A long-awaited report from in the early hours in buoyant are plotting an early World Cup opening Group A match against we go, how we’re going to at the Copa America in 2015 FIFA inspectors left the North mood after hammering Austria shock when the sides meet in Uruguay on Friday. finish” at the finals, Messi told and 2016. American bid as the clear 3-0 in their final warm-up Kazan on Saturday. But Salah did some light Spanish daily Sport. Host nation Russia, ranked front-runner in the race to host match on Sunday. “Come the France game, running in Grozny yesterday, “We’ve just lost three finals a lowly 70th in the world, are the tournament, which will be Neymar, who broke a bone we’re going to be ready... and monitored by medical staff, as in a row, which has led to us under intense pressure as they the first 48-team World Cup. Argentina’s footballers (from left) defender Federico Fazio, midfielder Javier Mascherano and forward Lionel Messi warm-up during a training session yesterday. World champions Germany, seeking to equal Brazil’s record of five World Cup wins, will land in Russia today, along with Gareth Southgate’s youthful England side. Brazil and Neymar arrived in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in the early hours in buoyant mood after hammering Austria 3-0 in their final warm-up Belgium’s Thomas Meunier (front) vies for the ball with Costa Rica’s Celso Borges during their international friendly match at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium yesterday. It (international future) will I'm excited. God willing I'm well- ddepend on how far we go, how prepared and things are going wewwe're going to finish. We've just well and my morale is high. I lolosto three finals in a row, which cannot say what we're going to has led to us going through reach, but the players' ambitions some difficult moments with are high and I hope we get a goodd the press: Lionel Messi result: Mohamed Salah 22 SPORT TUESDAY 12 JUNE 2018 ‘Indebted’ Suarez vows to be a gentleman at Cup AP URUGUAY SQUAD against Italy in 2014. The 23-year-old Gimenez offers a MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY: Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Cam- solid companion to a player nine Uruguay’s priority will be keeping pana (Independiente) years his senior and already has Luis Suarez tamed at this World Defenders: Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Jose Maria Gimenez (Atletico Madrid), Maximil- one World Cup under his belt. Cup. iano Pereira (FC Porto), Gastón Silva (Independiente), Sebastián Coates (Sporting Lisbon), MIDFIELDERS: Tabarez has After the striker was expelled always had doubts about his mid- from the 2014 tournament in dis- Guillermo Varela (Penarol), Martin Caceres (Lazio) field’s attacking qualities. While grace for biting Italy defender Midfielders: Carlos Sánchez (Monterrey), Matías Vecino (Inter), Nahitan Nández (Boca the unit has usually been capable Giorgio Chiellini, Uruguay was Juniors), Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus), Lucas Torreira of defending well, the midfielders eliminated by Colombia in the (Sampdoria), Diego Laxalt (Genoa), Cristian Rodríguez (Penarol) have often struggled to generate round of 16. Forwards: Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Cristhian Stuani (Girona), Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint- chances for the forwards. Suarez promises he is a Germain), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Monterrey), Maximilano Gomez (Celta) During qualifying, Tabarez reformed character and will be called up several young players better behaved in Russia than in who improved in this area: Brazil, where he scored twice in 2011. As a club coach, he led Nahitan Nandez (22) and Rodrigo before being banned. Penarol to the Copa Libertadores Bentancur (20). “It was my mistake,” Suarez title in 1987 and Boca Juniors to FORWARDS: Uruguay said. “So I have a debt to repay to an Argentine league title in 1992. shouldn’t be short of goals. The myself and Uruguay, to try to The 71-year-old Tabarez has used strikers are the team’s greatest show a good image.” I have a debt to repay a wheelchair since he was diag- strength. Suarez is Uruguay’s all- Things were already starting to myself and Uruguay, nosed with Guillain-Barre syn- time leading scorer with 51 goals to look brighter for two-time to try to show a good drome in 2016. and is coming off the back of a World Cup champion Uruguay, image: Luis Suarez GOALKEEPERS: There is strong season with Barcelona. based on qualifying at least. little doubt Galatasaray goal- Paris Saint-Germain forward After enduring four consec- keeper Fernando Muslera will be Edinson Cavani is next on the list utive World Cup play-offs and between the posts for his third with 42, including a continent- only reaching three of the tour- World Cup after a first trip in World Cup. leading 10 goals in 18 matches in naments, Uruguay secured an 1990 followed by 2010 and 2014. DEFENDERS: The Atletico South American qualifying. automatic place in Russia by fin- A Tabarez team has always made Madrid partnership of Diego GROUP GAMES: Uruguay, ishing second behind Brazil in it out of the group stage, including Godin and Jose Gimenez also which will be based in Nizhny qualifying. a semifinal appearance in South anchor the heart of Uruguay’s Novgorod, will face Egypt in its first Here’s a closer look at the Africa eight years ago. defense. Godin has made more match on June 15. Uruguay’s forward Luis Suarez reacts as he takes part in a Uruguay team: A former school teacher and than 100 appearances since his That will be followed by training session ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup at the COACH: Oscar Tabarez will professional player, Tabarez led debut in 2005 and scored at his matches against Saudi Arabia on Sport Centre Borsky, in Nizhny Novgorod, yesterday. lead Uruguay into his fourth Uruguay to the Copa America title third World Cup with a header June 20 and Russia on June 25. Germany head German coach Joachim Loew Cahill chases history after to isolated World Cup making Australian squad base AP SYDNEY: Tim Cahill wants to AFP join an elite list of World Cup scorers to sit alongside Pele, VATUTINKI, RUSSIA: After the Uwe Seeler and Miroslav Klose.