TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 SPORTS Sweet dreams are made of this — Fergie’s sleeping legacy MANCHESTER: Alex Ferguson was not day. “In reality though, if it wasn’t for that that was Ryan Giggs. “From there it ridiculous,” he said. “However, the answer phases, go away and lie on the floor for one for wishing his players sweet dreams particular manager, Alex Ferguson, I evolved into dealing with some of the is not sleeping tablets or snus 20 minutes every four hours, in the when he was Manchester United man- wouldn’t have had a response about England squad at the 1998 World Cup (Scandinavian tobacco powder rubbed foetal not the dominant position, staring ager after a poor performance, but one managing one’s sleep. “I worked locally and then a certain bespectacled on the gums), it is far better not to sleep at the wall.” However, for clients such as of his lesser-known legacies is his for- at the time in Oldham and Alex liked Frenchman came along at Arsenal at all. “Someone like (British rowing Team Sky, Littlehales recommends a ward-thinking on sleeping patterns. The that sort of thing, of helping local peo- (Arsene Wenger) and all of a sudden I great) Steve Redgrave would not sleep ‘bespoke service’. “Team Sky had the legendary United coach can also be ple, and I was also recommended to him was speaking to the whole squad, but he would still go out there and money and we especially focused on the thanked by British Cycling, Team Sky and by his good friend the then Bolton man- including the likes of Thierry Henry, as a destroy the opposition in the final.” Grand Tours,” said Littlehales. last year’s record-breaking British ager Sam Allardyce, who liked trying sleep coach.” Littlehales, whose book on the topic of “As they are three weeks long and (at) Olympic team, because without his sup- new things. managing sleeping patterns has been a different hotel every night, we went port, sleep guru Nick Littlehales would “If it was anywhere else in the United ‘CURL UP ON THE FLOOR’ published in 13 different countries, also down to (Bradley) Wiggins’ home and never have got the break that propelled Kingdom my letter wouldn’t have got Littlehales, who says the myth of recommends that athletes sleep with looked at his bed and checked out the him into becoming an essential part of read. Don’t forget at that time there was- needing eight hours’ straight sleep is just a 10-centimetre mattress. environment he slept in. many successful sporting teams. n’t such a thing as a sports science per- bogus and that everyone’s needs are dif- “As a human being you are designed “So we took (a) single version of the “I didn’t get my diploma from univer- son.” Littlehales said that Ferguson ferent due to some being morning peo- to curl up on the floor,” he said. mattress he slept on, plus the odours or sity, I got it from the media who said I encouraged him to come and sit in the ple and others night owls, says part of “Ethiopian marathon runners haven’t the air fresheners he was used to, and tucked up the Bolton and Manchester players’ lounge and see if they engaged his goal is to suggest a more radical rec- grown up on mattresses. “If you are advised the team to put fresh bed linen United players, including (Cristiano) with him. “Alex said, ‘let’s take it nice and ommendation for players or athletes on hanging off a mountain on a hook you on every night. “That has now been tak- Ronaldo, and read them bedtime sto- slow’, but he was very interested in it,” the eve of a big game. can’t tell them to take their mattress en to another level and become a pre- ries,” joked Littlehales, after speaking at said Littlehales. “However, only one play- “To think you can sleep on the eve of with them. requisite for the Winter Olympics next the Soccerex Global Convention yester- er came up and engaged with me and an Olympic final or a big match is plainly “Generally my advice is sleep in multi- year and Tokyo in 2020.” — AFP World Cup qualifying spots on the line in last games in Asia SEOUL: For five countries still contending 0 draw at home to Iran, which had already for two direct spots at the World Cup, the qualified for the World Cup and was Asian qualifying campaign has come down reduced to 10 men. “If we play our best and to 90 minutes. Iran and Japan have already stay focused, then we will win,” said Shin, secured places at Russia 2018 as winners of who is awaiting news on the fitness of cap- Groups A and B, but both countries still tain Ki Sung-yeung. could have a role to play in which of their Uzbekistan can qualify for a first-ever rivals - including Asian champion Australia World Cup if it can beat South Korea in and South Korea - will be joining them in Tashkent and Syria fails to win in Iran. If Russia. Syria plays to a draw in Iran, it can hold Seven Asian teams can still qualify either third place and go into a play-off with the by finishing second in their groups or by third-place team in Group B for a spot in an going through continental and interconti- intercontinental qualifier. Even China still nental playoffs. Iran hosts the surprising has a remote chance at one of the playoff Syria team, which has unable to play at spots, but needs to beat Qatar by a big home for security reasons during the ongo- margin and for Syria and Uzbekistan to ing conflict in their country, but which both lose. moved into third place in Group A last week with a 3-1 win over Qatar. GROUP B Despite the disrupted build up, Syria still Saudi Arabia and Australia each has 16 has a chance to qualify for its first World points and are vying for second spot, with Cup if results go its way today. To do so, the the group standings going down to the last Syrians need to win in Tehran and rely on game when the Saudis host Japan. South Korea losing by a narrow margin in The Saudis have a superior goal differ- Uzbekistan. ence of the two and hosts already qualified Iran is yet to concede a goal in nine Japan. Australia hosts struggling Thailand Group A games so far, but Syria has made a to Melbourne. If the Saudis and Australians habit of upsetting the odds by holding Iran both win, the World Cup spot will depend BUDAPEST: Portugal’s Andre Silva of Portugal, right, scores a goal, during the World Cup Group B first round soccer match between Hungary and South Korea to draws when playing in on goal difference. and Portugal, at the Groupama Arena, in Budapest, Hungary, Sunday. — AP its temporary - and usually mostly empty - Australia, bidding for a fourth successive home ground in Malaysia. To win in Tehran appearance at the World Cup, is taking would be the biggest result in the nation’s nothing for granted against a Thai team SOCCER history. “We know that we have a tough that has collected just two points from nine game ahead but we will do what we can,” games. One of those points was well Syria coach Ayman Hakee, who earlier in earned in a 2-2 draw at home against France held by Luxembourg, qualification had to deal with a number of Australia last November. important players refusing to appear for Star midfielder Aaron Mooy of English the national team in a reflection of the divi- Premier League team Hudderfield Town sions that have torn the country apart, was missed Australia’s loss to Japan because of Belgium qualifies for WCup quoted as saying after the win over Qatar illness but could recover to start in last Thursday. Melbourne. “We need to go out there and With stars such as Omar Al Soma and be fearless,” Tim Cahill, a veteran of TOULOUSE: France wasted its chance to move and Ricardo Rodriguez added to the lead in the making Belgium the first European team con- Firas Al Khatib returning to the team and in Australia’s World Cup campaigns since a step closer to World Cup qualification after a second half. Portugal remains three points firmed for the World Cup apart from host good form, there’s still potential for an 2006, said yesterday. “We all know what’s 0-0 home draw with Luxembourg that leaves behind the Swiss but kept pace with a seventh nation Russia. “We qualified, but it was not a upset win. “We have come this far,” Ayman on the line. automatic qualification from Group A wide straight victory, 1-0 away to Hungary. Newly great game,” Belgium full back Thomas Meunier said. “We will keep going to the end.” “This is a massive moment for our coun- open with two games to go. There were con- signed AC Milan striker Andre Silva headed in said. “We found it tough to find our groove.” Here’s a breakdown of the status of try to stake a claim in a World Cup. Goals trasting emotions afterward. after a cross by Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo Two goals from Edin Dzeko helped Bosnia- each of group with two automatic places will definitely come. I’m confident we’ll “We had the chances and didn’t take them,” three minutes into the second half in Budapest.