WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 13

England captain Root ‘would Inter demolish Shakhtar love’ to tour Pakistan to reach Europa final Lukaku, Martinez fire five-star Inter into Europa League final against Sevilla

Romelu Lukaku and• Lautaro Martinez both scored twice in Inter’s 5-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk Joe Root celebrates during a match (file photo) AFP | London AFP | Lisbon ngland captain Joe Root nter Milan are destined for Ehas said he “would love” to It would be a great “great things” under Anto- play in Pakistan but is unsure opportunity to go and Inio Conte, according to Lau- when the space could be found play there personally. taro Martinez after the Argen- in a crowded schedule ahead of Unfortunately, it’s tine and both a planned tour in 2022. scored twice to thrash Shakhtar England have not played in not my decision to Donetsk 5-0 in Dusseldorf and Pakistan since 2005/06. An make but it looks a reach the Europa League final. attack by armed militants on wonderful country to Danilo D’Ambrosio was also Sri Lanka’s team bus in Lahore go and play cricket in on target for the Italian giants, in 2009 ended major cricket JOE ROOT who will face Sevilla in Friday’s tours for a decade, with Pa- final in Cologne. kistan playing the majority go and play cricket in. Inter have endured a lean dec- of their subsequent ‘home’ “The wickets look nice ade since winning the Champi- matches in the United Arab and flat, which will be a nice ons League in 2010, but closed Shakhtar Donetsk’s Brazilian Dodo and ’s Argentinian forward Lautaro Martinez (R) vie for the ball Emirates. change to what we have just the gap on Juventus at the top But Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, played on here,” the top-order of Serie A to just one point in ered home Nicolo Barella’s cross Matviyenko’s cross picked out West Indies and Bangladesh batsman added. Conte’s first season in charge to open the scoring on 19 min- Junior Moraes, but the Brazil- have all since made the trip to and are now one win away from utes. ian-born Ukrainian interna- Pakistan. ‘Emotion’ a first trophy in nine years. Shakhtar are one of European tional’s header was too close to Pakistan are 1-0 down in Test cricket returned to Pa- Martinez and Lukaku’s pro- football’s great survivors as the Samir Handanovic. a three-Test series in Eng - kistan in December, when Sri lific partnership has been the Ukrainian champions continue KNOW WHAT Two minutes later, Inter land- land after a weather-affected Lanka were the visitors. source of much of Inter’s suc- to thrive despite not playing ed the killer blow when D’Am- drawn second Test at South- “You see could see the emo- cess and they took their tally to a match in their home city of brosio met Marcelo Brozovic’s ampton on Monday followed a tion of everyone back in Pa- a combined 54 for the season. Donetsk for six years due to a Inter Milan have not corner with a powerful header. three-wicket loss at Old Traf- kistan when Test cricket was “It was an incredible night, war in eastern Ukraine between won a trophy since “When Inter scored their sec- ford earlier this month. there at the back end of last something we have been dream- government forces and Rus- a 2011 Coppa Italia ond goal we simply collapsed,” “I’d love to go and visit Paki- year,” said Root. ing of,” said Martinez, who has sian-backed separatists. said Castro. “After 2-0 we made stan,” Root told reporters after “Also, speaking to a few been strongly linked with a Luis Castro’s men had scored triumph so many terrible mistakes.” stumps at the Ageas Bowl in of the players, how much it move to be Luis Suarez’s suc- 14 goals in five Europa League “Don’t get fooled by the re- Only a brilliant save from an echo of recent comments meant to them as well and they cessor at Barcelona. games since dropping into the sult,” said Conte. “We were 36-year-old Andriy Pyatov had made by England coach Chris really appreciated being able “We proved that Inter are competition form the Cham- good not allowing them to play denied Martinez classy second Silverwood. to play back in Pakistan too.” ready for great things, we are pions League, but their talent- the way they wanted. The lads with a lob long range early in “It would be a great oppor- Earlier this month, Pakistan ready for the final.” ed array of Brazilian forwards played exactly how a European the second half, but he gave the tunity to go and play there Cricket Board (PCB) chief ex- After a slow start, Martinez barely laid a glove on a charac- game should be played.” veteran ‘keeper no chance to set personally. Unfortunately, it’s ecutive Wasim Khan, voiced put Inter on course for their teristically well-organised Con- Shakhtar had one golden himself with brilliant quick hit not my decision to make but it the hope that England could 10th European final as he pow- te defence. chance to level when Mykola for his 21st goal of the season. looks a wonderful country to tour before 2022.

David Silva returns to Man Utd’s shrugs off criticism to sign for Reuters | London United goalkeeper David de Gea says he is still safe pair of hands

panish midfielder David David de Gea had SSilva has agreed a two-year • contract with Real Sociedad 11 a disastrous game I showed my qualities following his departure from domestic trophies against Chelsea in the all the years, so I just Manchester City, the have been won by FA Cup semifinal keep available for the club announced. in his time in Manchester and is manager. I’m always Silva, 34, spent a decade AFP | London with City and made his final widely regarded as one ready to play and appearance as a substitute in of the ’s try to help the team Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Lyon in finest imports avid de Gea says he has as always, as I did the Champions League Dfaith in his abilities de - always quarter-finals. He is ed next year in his honour, spite a torrent of criticism in DAVID DE GEA expected to join his while a pitch at the club’s recent months and questions new Sociedad team- training ground will also be over whether he should re- mates in the coming named after him. main Manchester United’s first days for pre-season Silva is the choice goalkeeper. City in the League Cup -- saw training. fourth-highest The 29-year-old Spanish in- definite progress at the club un- The 2020/21 La goalscorer in Spain’s ternational’s position has come der Solskjaer. Liga campaign is history and sixth for under increasing pressure due Manchester United’s goalkeeper David de Gea is unable to prevent a shot from “I think we improved already scheduled to be- all-time appearanc- to the form shown by Dean Chelsea’s striker Olivier Giroud (file photo) this season,” said de Gea. gin on September es, and was part Henderson on loan at Premier “We were 14 points behind 12. Sociedad fin- of the squads League rivals Sheffield United. the Europa League semi-finals. glaring errors in their FA Cup the third position in the Premier ished sixth last which won the The 23-year-old Englishman Solskjaer showed his faith in semi-final defeat by Chelsea. League (at one point). season to qualify 2010 World is believed to have told United De Gea in selecting him for the “No, I trust in myself,” De Gea “We finished third (securing a for the Europa Cup and two manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Sevilla clash ahead of Sergio told the Press Association news place in next season’s Champi- League. European he will seek a move away if he is Romero, who usually played in agency. ons League) at the end.” Silva won 11 do- Champi- not given the number one spot. the Europa League. “I showed my qualities all the However, de Gea believes that mestic trophies in onships, Chelsea are reportedly keen De Gea has been at United years, so I just keep available for to make the leap from semi-fi- his time in Man- in 2008 to sign Henderson as they seek since 2011 and signed new and the manager. nalists to trophy winners, the chester and is widely and to offload . improved terms with them until “I’m always ready to play and club needs to add new faces regarded as one of the Premier 2012. His understudy Willy Caballero at least 2023 last September. try to help the team as always, who bring a more streetwise League’s finest im- is 39. He has been United’s player as I did always.” approach to their play. ports. David Silva De Gea, though, sounded a of the year on four occasions but De Gea said that despite los- “Maybe we need a bit of expe- City said a stat- defiant note following United’s last season was a trying one for ing in three semi-finals last sea- rience, more experience in the ue will be erect- 2-1 loss to Spanish side Sevilla in him reaching a nadir with two son -- they lost to Manchester team,” he said.