TUESDAY, JULY 5, 2016 19 UEFA says new convention can avoid repeat of Euro 2016 violence PARIS: Russia was among 14 countries which recent international competitions. of information between countries and police sidered high risk. Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, signed a convention between the Council of The worst incidents happened in Marseille forces will go on, problems like the one we “The authorities were very well prepared to Portugal, Russia, Switzerland, Macedonia and Europe and European soccer body UEFA on before and after the match between England had in Marseille and in many competitions in organise this match but nobody expected this Ukraine were the countries who signed on Sunday aimed at stopping a repeat of fan vio- and Russia where clashes lasted several days. Europe will belong in the past,” the Dutchman (violence) to happen on such a level,” he said. Sunday. lence which has marred Euro 2016. “I’m sure that in the future we can use the told reporters. “You cannot expect the tournament organisa- Council of Europe Secretary General UEFA said the convention would include a intelligence of various police forces,” said Van Praag said that “we can and must do tion to beforehand change kickoff times, or Thorbjorn Jagland said he expected more better exchange of intelligence between Michael van Praag, head of UEFA’s Stadia and more” to avert hooliganism and described the beforehand change the venues. countries to sign up. police forces to warn countries hosting match- Security committee. Council of Europe convention as a “significant “We knew for months in advance that this “This is the opening day for signing the es of potential troublemakers. “That has not been working 100 percent step” forward. match had to be played in Marseille and there convention and it is extraordinary that so The Euro 2016 tournament being played in until now and this is the reason why we have However, he rejected a suggestion that were no signals whatsoever that the game many signed on the first day, it’s nearly a France has seen a return of football hooligan- this convention. tournament organisers should change venues would be disturbed in the way it was.” record. We expect that many will follow suit,” ism which had been largely absent from “I am sure in the future when this exchange and kickoff times for matches which were con- France, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, he said. — Reuters New City boss Guardiola aims to prove himself in England LONDON: New Manchester City manager not?’ That’s why I’m here - because I want to Pep Guardiola has no intention of ditching try,’” he added. Guardiola will take his first the methods that brought him success in training session on Monday as he prepares Spain and Germany and wants to prove it is for his City debut against Bayern on July 20 possible to win in the Premier League by at the Allianz Arena before taking his new playing attractive football. Guardiola won squad to Asia for their pre-season tour and two Champions League trophies, three La he was fully aware of the task ahead of him. Liga titles and two King’s Cup crowns as “We have to find a way to win and if we win Barcelona coach before two domestic dou- one game, the next week we will say, ‘OK, bles followed at Bayern Munich. He took let’s try and do the same things this week’ - over at City from Manuel Pellegrini, who and if we win again, we’ll say, ‘let’s do the guided the club to one Premier League title things that won us those two games’ and and two (Capital One) League Cups in his so on,” he said. “I’ve been told it will be three years in charge. hard to do that in the Premier League but “I have no preconceptions at all about we did it at Barcelona and Bayern Munich coming to England or the football in the and people may say, ‘Yes, that’s because it Premier League. I want to learn as much as was Barcelona and Bayern - it won’t be pos- possible,” he said in an interview on CityTV sible to do that in England’ and I just say on Sunday. “I have an idea of how we will OK, let’s try.” Guardiola was earlier present- play, but when I arrived in Germany with ed to about 7,000 City fans at the Etihad Bayern Munich, I had some ideas of how Stadium where he conducted a question the team would play but changed them as I and answer session and was asked if he went along. “I know how hard the Premier would sign Lionel Messi. The Spaniard League is and some people have said that I replied: “He’s not a bad player this guy. will find it hard to play the football I like to Messi has to stay in Barcelona for the rest of play in England, so I said to myself, ‘Why his career.” —Reuters Iceland hungry for PARIS: Portugal’s Christiano Ronaldo stretches during a training session in Marcoussis, near Paris, France, yesterday. Portugal will face Wales in more of ‘big stage’ a Euro 2016 semi final soccer match in Lyon tomorrow. —AP PARIS: Gylfi Sigurdsson promised Iceland to qualify (for the World Cup). Bashful Bale has ruthless will not be content to bask in the glory of “I think we’ve shown with the consisten- their Euro 2016 heroics having had a taste cy we had in the tournament other than of the highs and lows of tournament foot- tonight that we belong up there with the ball. The smallest nation ever to take part big boys and we can get results and we’ll Ronaldo in his sights in the European championship with a pop- go for it.” Sigurdsson was the only Premier ulation of just 330,000 stunned England to League player in the 23-man Icelandic reach the last eight. They received a reality squad, but he believes many more of his LYON: The two most expensive players in foot- love to win a title with the national team. We’re difficult to focus on the personal objective like check in a 5-2 thrashing by hosts France on compatriots deserve a chance to ply their ball go head-to-head tomorrow when Cristiano on the right road,” he said after squeezing past this, he doesn’t lose sight of achieving it,” said Sunday. But Iceland’s cool blue replica trade in the world’s richest league. Ronaldo leads Portugal against club teammate the Poles on penalties. Madrid sports daily Marca on Sunday. “He is not shirts had already sold out before the “Lots of the players probably want to Gareth Bale and Wales in a Euro 2016 semi-final However, Ronaldo will also have his eyes on just playing for the first (tournament win for France defeat. They have made their mark. play in the Premier League, but it is a ques- which could lead one to unprecendented glory. the individual prize when facing Bale in Lyon. Portugal), but also his fourth (Balon d’Or).” “Of course this experience was (an) tion of right place at the right time,” said Bale is junior partner when the two line up With both having contributed to Madrid’s By contrast, Coleman insists a Zurich gala in incredible, fantastic three or four weeks for Sigurdsson. “They are good guys, good for Real Madrid, despite winning two Champions 11th European Cup win in May-and hot on the January will be the furthest thing from Bale’s us and I’m sure all the players want to expe- personalities and good players as well.” The Leagues in three years since arriving in Spain for heels of Lionel Messi’s retirement from interna- mind in Lyon. rience this again,” said Swansea City play- big challenge ahead of Iceland is replacing a world record fee to team up with Ronaldo. tional football — whoever emerges victorious “I don’t think that is in Gareth’s head. Of maker Sigurdsson. veteran Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, However, his performances and three goals in from Ronaldo and Bale’s personal duel will be course he’s a human being. Thoughts will run “We’ve got the World Cup coming up who will hand over the reigns to co-coach France in leading Wales to their first semi-final in favourite to win the Ballon d’Or as the world’s through his mind, but he’ll be thinking about and hopefully we can qualify again.” and part-time dentist Heimir Hallgrimsson a major tournament, allied to his starring role at best player for 2016. “Ronaldo is a cannibal. He how we perform in the next game and nothing Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson had a after the tournament. the end of Madrid’s season, suggest Bale at 26 is wants it all. Even in a situation where it seems so beyond that.” — AFP night to forget at the Stade de France as a “It’s been a fantastic journey these last in line to take over from Ronaldo now 31. double from Olivier Giroud bookended four-and-a-half years. All the support I’ve The key to Bale’s and Wales’ success has been goals from Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and got from everywhere I’ve been in Iceland built upon a remarkable unity which their star Antoine Griezmann to send France into a and around the game has been absolutely man fosters. I’ll never manage semi-final meeting with old foes Germany.