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 . “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. Herzegovina win 4-0 away at Gibraltar to and two play-off places still up for grabs: score a lot of goals.” Saudi Arabia has not France coach said. “We It was Silva’s ninth international goal in only his leapfrog Greece into second place, and taking appeared at the World Cup since 2006 and should have done more.” But Luxembourg 15th appearance. the Roma striker’s international tally to 52 GROUP A will be hoping that Japan is still in a cele- counterpart Luc Holtz could barely contain his “We were always in control,” Portugal coach goals. Mattias Kait may not be a household South Korea can qualify for a ninth suc- bratory mood after clinching qualification. delight. “It’s a historic result,” he said. “Yes, it’s a Fernando Santos said. “But it was a difficult and name but he is making a name for himself. The cessive World Cup if it takes all three points The Samurai Blue are without injured mid- glorious day for Luxembourg football.” Belgium uncertain match.” Portugal, which lost the 19-year-old Fulham midfielder struck two min- in Uzbekistan, though that is far from cer- fielders Shinji Kagawa of Borussia overcame stern resistance from Greece to quali- opening group game to Switzerland, hosts the utes into injury time as next-to-last Estonia tain with the team winning just one of its Dortmund and captain Makoto Hasebe of fy for Russia 2018, winning 2-1 away from Swiss in a table-topper in Lisbon on Oct. 10. beat fourth-place Cyprus 1-0. last five qualifiers. Eintracht Frankfurt. home. Manchester United striker Romelu Meanwhile, the Faeroe Islands moved up to Poor form cost Uli Stielike to lose his job The United Arab Emirates needs a big Lukaku’s winning goal put the other Red Devils fourth place after a 1-0 win against fellow GROUP I as head coach in June. Shin Tae-yong was win over Iraq in Amman combined with out of reach at the top of Group H. struggler Andorra. Defender Domagoj Vida headed in a free appointed as the replacement but in his losses for the Saudis and Australians to Sweden moved one point behind France kick from Real Madrid’s Luka Modric on his 50th first game last week, could only record a 0- have a chance of finishing third. — AP after easing to a 4-0 win away to Belarus, while GROUP H international appearance to give Croatia a 1-0 a selection choice from Netherlands coach Dick A tense match in Greece was goalless until win against Kosovo. The match started on Advocaat paid off as midfielder Davy Proepper the 70th minute, when Tottenham defender Jan Saturday but was abandoned after about 20 scored his first two international goals in a 3-1 Vertonghen blasted Belgium ahead with a minutes due to a torrential downpour and home win against Bulgaria. fierce shot. Greece responded three minutes postponed. It resumed Sunday on 21 minutes. Advocaat’s side is three points behind later through Zeca, but Belgium retook the lead Croatia leads the group with 16 points, two Sweden with two games remaining and still in thanks to Lukaku’s header one minute later. ahead of Ukraine. Iceland is third on 13 points with an outside chance of securing a playoff Belgium has an unassailable eight-point and Turkey has 11. Ukraine plays Iceland today, spot. Group B rivals Switzerland and Portugal lead over second-place Bosnia-Herzegovina, while Turkey hosts Croatia.— AP both won, with the Swiss maintaining a perfect record and three-point lead. An Oct. 10 show- down in Lisbon will likely decide which team qualifies automatically. The two sides have Spanish league wants UEFA to already secured the top two spots. Only the group winners automatically investigate Man City’s spending advance in European qualifying for the World Cup. Elsewhere, defender Domagoj Vida’s head- MANCHESTER: The Spanish soccer league imposed on their spending and squad size for er gave Group I leader Croatia a 1-0 win against wants UEFA to investigate Manchester City’s matches. Kosovo in a match which started Saturday spending and expand its newly-launched Then, UEFA judges told PSG that a sponsor- before being called off due to a torrential probe into whether Paris Saint-Germain has ship deal with Qatar’s tourism authority had TEHRAN: Iran’s national football team Head Coach Carlos Queiroz, center, conducts a downpour. breached Financial Fair Play rules. been inflated above fair market value to help training session a day ahead of a Group A match against Syria during the 2018 FIFA Spanish league president Javier Tebas said the club comply with the rules. It was only in World Cup Russia Qualifier in Tehran, Iran, yesterday. — AP Here is a closer look at the qualifying groups in a statement to The Associated Press yester- April that UEFA declared that PSG had fulfilled in action Sunday: day that Abu Dhabi-funded City and Qatari- its obligations of stricter ongoing scrutiny. owned PSG are benefiting from state aid But Tebas said both City and PSG are still ‘Outrageous’ to say England GROUP A which distorts European competitions and “is trying to evade spending rules intended to While France fluffed countless chances, the irreparably harming the football industry.” ensure clubs break even. “PSG is a habitual don’t care: Netherlands and Sweden had no problem find- Tebas wrote separate letters to European offender and has been violating UEFA’s ing the net. Proepper’s first international goals soccer’s governing body on Aug. 22 request- Financial Fair Play regulations for years,” Tebas ENFIELD: It is “outrageous” to suggest “The easiest, basest reaction is to say: ‘Oh, helped the Dutch keep their slim qualifying ing investigations into Man City and PSG. said. “It is important that UEFA doesn’t just England’s players do not care about repre- they don’t care.’ “More often than not, players hopes alive - albeit four points behind Les UEFA said Friday it would look into whether look at the most recent player transfers, but at senting their country, manager Gareth have cared too much and have been Bleus. PSG was flouting rules designed to control PSG’s history of noncompliance. The transfers Southgate said ahead of pivotal World Cup wrapped up in the whole experience too Proepper replaced veteran Wesley Sneijder excessive spending by top European clubs. are merely the result of years of financial dop- qualifier against Slovakia. England were much and not been able to give their best for and tapped in from close range in the seventh Tebas wants UEFA to go further and look into ing at PSG.” jeered by their own fans during Friday’s that reason. minute. Veteran winger Arjen Robben doubled “PSG’s history of noncompliance.” UEFA’s club finance monitoring panel inter- laboured 4-0 win in Malta and critics on social “Having worn the shirt, that’s where I the lead in the 67th minute with his 34th inter- Both City and PSG spent hundreds of mil- vened last week to open a fresh investigation media claimed the players were not motivat- think I can bring some context to it. Because national goal. Georgi Kostadinov pulled back a lions of dollars in the transfer window that into PSG after the Frenchclub broke the world ed. Southgate lamented the booing directed it’s not about ‘caring’.” Southgate, capped 57 goal just two minutes later before Proepper closed last week, and the Spanish league record fee to sign Neymar from Barcelona for at his players-”I don’t see how it can help the times by England as a player, suggested sealed the win in the 80th. claims the teams “benefit from sponsorships 222 million euros ($262 million) and on team”-and said the age-old English obsession there might be historical explanations for On a night for firsts, Christoffer Nyman got that make no economic sense and lack any fair Thursday signed Monaco forward Kylian with passion and pride missed the point. why debates about the national team are his first Sweden goal to make it 2-0 midway value” to help them comply with FFP. Mbappe. “I fully recognise that our job is to try and often framed in simplistic, emotional terms. through the first half. Emil Forsberg scored in Ultimately, clubs breaching rules can be The deal for the 18-year-old Mbappe was entertain and excite the supporters,” “I think it’s a national characteristic,” said the 18th and, after Nyman’s goal, striker Marcus banned from playing in the Champions unusual as a one-season loan with a commit- Southgate told journalists at the Tottenham Southgate, who played for the fondly Berg popped up with his 14th for Sweden to League or Europa League. “PSG and Man City’s ment to pay a reported 180 million euros Hotspur training ground in Enfield, north remembered England team that reached the put the result beyond doubt at halftime. Center funding by state-aid distorts European com- ($216 million) next year, delaying PSG’s finan- London on Sunday. semi-finals of Euro 96 on home soil. “We are a half Andreas Granqvist completed the scoring petitions and creates an inflationary spiral that cial commitment to the deal. “But we’re all Englishmen, we want to country that’s an island. We have fought wars near the end with a penalty. is irreparably harming the football industry,” City was the biggest spending club in progress to a World Cup and we’re in this to remain as an island. My family have been Tebas said. “UEFA must enforce FFP regula- European soccer’s recent transfer window, together. “The notion the players aren’t involved in that. GROUP B tions to avoid discrimination among clubs.” with an outlay exceeding 220 million pounds proud to play is outrageous, really, because “So there’s always been a sort of aggres- Switzerland scored early and twice shortly In 2014, PSG and City were the main targets ($285 million). The purchase of defenders Kyle they’re unbelievably proud to play. “At times sive side to that. But we’ve got to win foot- after halftime to keep its impressive qualifying of the first round of FFP sanctions. Both had 20 Walker (Tottenham) and Benjamin Mendy we won’t play as well as we’d like to, but ball matches and we’ve got to be tactically run going. Forward Haris Seferovic netted his million euros ($24 million) of their Champions (Monaco) accounted for about 100 million there’s nobody in that dressing room that’s and technically right to do that. Just working fourth goal in the qualifying campaign with a League prize money deducted and had limits pounds ($130 million) of the spending.—AP giving me less than 100 percent.” He added: hard won’t be enough.—AFP neat flick from close range, and Blerim Dzemaili