WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 2014

FAN FERVOR Van Persie bids to end knockout-phase hoodoo

SAO PAULO: Prior to the Netherland’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina today, is still waiting for his first goal in a knockout match at a major international tournament. The Manchester United striker’s flying header against Spain helped set the tone for a group-phase of joyous football, but since then-and in keeping with the tournament as a whole-the goals have gradually dried up. Having claimed two goals in the 5-1 rout of Spain, he netted in the 3-2 win over Australia, but has since gone 225 minutes without scoring. Suspended against Chile, he was substituted in the 76th minute against Mexico and had to watch from the bench as his replacement, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, scored the injury-time penalty that sent Holland through. Against Costa Rica in the quarter-finals, he was unable to convert a string of chances, notably seeing an injury-time shot blocked on the line by Yeltsin Tejeda, before scoring in the penalty shootout. The 30-year-old spoke openly of his desire to become the tournament’s top scorer after his first two appearances, but with two games remaining, he trails Colombia’s James Rodriguez by three goals in the race for the Golden Boot. As things stand, the former Arsenal forward appears destined to pursue a pattern that has seen him score all his major tournament goals in the group BRAZIL: Netherlands’ coach Louis van Gaal speaks with his footballers before a training session at the phase. At each of his previous World Cups, in 2006 Paulo Machado de Carvalho Stadium. — AFP and 2010, he scored only once in the first round, fail- ing to add to his tally in South Africa four years ago light.” Van Persie’s preparations for the tournament has accepted his lot. despite starting every game as Holland reached the were complicated by the fact he spent six weeks on “We’re a squad of 23 players,” Van Persie said. “The final. At the 2008 European Championship he scored the sidelines after spraining his knee against atmosphere is excellent. I don’t have anything at all to two group-stage goals, only for Holland to lose to Olympiakos in the Champions League in late March. complain about.” Van Persie’s excellent relationship Russia in the quarter-finals, while at Euro 2012 he He made only one start for United before the end of with Van Gaal, who takes over at United after the found the net only once as his side fell at the first hur- the season and was used sparingly in Holland’s warm- World Cup, means he has less reason to fear for his dle. It was doubtless with these disappointments in up games, scoring twice-against Ecuador and Ghana- place in the team than another goal-shy striker might. mind that he announced on the eve of Holland’s but being removed early in all three matches. But while Argentina’s commitment to going for- departure for Brazil: “This World Cup is not about Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has continued to exer- ward means that he should have more room to Robin van Persie. cise caution in Brazil, substituting Van Persie in his manouevre than against the deep-lying Costa Ricans, “It is about our team doing well,” he added. “I love three first appearances, but in keeping with the nas- he is running out of opportunities to truly leave his a big tournament, but I don’t need to have the lime- cent spirit of harmony within the squad, the captain mark on the tournament. — AFP Brazil 2014 World Cup killed ‘beautiful game’ : Because it is turning out better Brazil’s fifth World Cup win in 2002. But South Korea ’s goal against Colombia, arching over the than expected, the World Cup is doing more good than won the FIFA award as the most entertaining team at wall and back down past David Ospina, was a gem, as harm to brand Brazil. The opposite is true for Brazil’s that tournament it co-hosted with Japan. spell-binding as ’s free-kick against Scotland in brand of football. Naively in hindsight, because of its glorious past, I 1982. also scored a pretty good goal against The national team’s grinding route to late yester- tricked myself into believing this time that Brazil might Croatia, although the toe-poke from his teammate day’s semifinal against Germany, its play pockmarked want to shine on home soil, that its fine players would Oscar at the end of that opening match to make the with fouls, gamesmanship and win-at-all-costs realpoli- want to live up to the standards of predecessors who score 3-1 for Brazil was probably better. Oscar’s run, tik, has driven a stake through the myth of Brazilian put the five stars one for each World Cup win on the however, started with charging into Ivan football as art and through the hearts of us fools who shirts they now wear. Rakitic, clattering him off the ball and to ground, which nurtured and clung to it. This, the marketers assured us, would be the Copa the referee chose to ignore. I can’t have been the only one before this World Cup das Copas the cup to beat all World Cups, a return after Neymar also scored a couple for the highlight reel who dusted off precious memories of falling under the 64 years to the country that took a game born in against Cameroon. But other Brazilian goals were spell of Brazil’s yellow-shirted Selecao. Too young for England and elevated it to a higher plane. You can be unspectacular. Thiago Silva used his knee to bundle in the era of Pele, Brazilians who bewitched me were Zico sure that fans hummed Gilberto Gil tunes to them- against Colombia. Luiz barely touched the goal FIFA and the teams of 1978 and 1982. selves on flights over here, heads full of dreamy expec- credited to him against Chile. Striker Fred isn’t even a ’s thunderbolt in the match for third place tations and flashbacks of Socrates and other futebol pale imitation of Ronaldo, Romario and other illustrious against Italy in 1978, arcing off his right foot across the sorcerers with one name and two magical feet. And Brazilian goal-getters of the past. Fred’s only goal was a penalty area and bending majestically beyond Italy there has been fabulous football, but only smatterings header against Cameroon. He hoodwinked the referee goalkeeper and captain Dino Zoff. Falcao against the of it from Brazil, mostly from Neymar, the team’s princi- into awarding a penalty against Croatia by tumbling Soviet Union in 1982, letting a pass from Paulo Isidoro pal entertainer now out with a broken back. over like Bambi on ice. Brazil has simply become like run between his legs to Eder, who flicked the ball up The pre-game soundtrack played in stadiums to many other teams in doing these things. In winning and volleyed it in. Eder celebrated by doing a forward whip up the crowds includes “Thunderstruck” by hard- ugly, rather than losing beautifully, Brazil is merely roll. This wasn’t just football, it was narcotic. Those rock band AC/DC, appropriate for the muscular, func- marching to modern football’s tune that victory is all teams didn’t win the World Cup. But for those of us who tional football Brazil played in the group stages and to that matters. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his players weren’t Brazilian, that didn’t matter. We were hooked. knock out Chile and then Colombia to advance to the have 200 million Brazilians breathing down their necks, Even when Brazil reined in the beauty to win in 1994 semifinal against Germany, a team easier on the eye. expecting deliverance. So the players can perhaps be and 2002, it still did enough to enchant. ’s rock- Brazil has been a scrappy team, committing more fouls forgiven for doing whatever it takes to get that weight a-bye-baby goal celebration against the Netherlands √¢¬Ä¬î 96 so far √¢¬Ä¬î than any other and collecting off their back. “What’s remembered in the history of helped wash down the bile of Brazil drawing 0-0 with 10 yellow cards, again the most with Costa Rica. Against football is the victory,” Zico said on the eve of Tuesday’s Italy in the final and needing a penalty shoot-out to Colombia, Brazil’s players ganged up on James semifinal. “Our team in 1982 scored goals because we secure its fourth World Cup. Rodriguez, taking turns to foul the 22-year-old because played beautifully but didn’t win, so we’re not part of The story of Ronaldo’s resurrection, his eight goals he was central to that team’s electric attacks and scored history.” Maybe not, but that team lives on fans’ hearts. with surgically repaired knee ligaments, put glitter on half of its tournament-leading 12 goals. If it doesn’t win, this Brazil team won’t do that. — AP Dutch Queen ‘divided’ by Netherlands v Argentina clash

THE HAGUE: Dutch Queen Maxima will no tioned: “At this time, at the palace in doubt watch with mixed emotions as the Wassenaar. Another tweet shows the palace Netherlands take on Argentina in today’s half-painted orange, the other half painted in World Cup semi-final, her loyalty split between Argentina’s white and blue. A third shows a her birth and adopted countries. For the sec- shirtless Willem-Alexander sporting a ond time since her marriage to Dutch King “Holland” tattoo while standing next to Willem-Alexander in 2002, Maxima-born and Maxima, who has been body-painted in bred in Buenos Aires-will look on as the Dutch Argentinian colours. “The royal couple is ready Oranje play Argentina’s La Albiceleste. for the semi-finals” the picture’s caption reads. Only this time the stakes - a ticket to Today, Maxima will be “just another rival for Sunday’s 2014 final at Rio de Janeiro’s mythic most Argentinians,” Argentinian website con- Maracana stadium - could not be higher, A texto.com.arg suggested, while another said previous World Cup encounter in 2006 ended “Maxima Zorreguieta will bet on the Dutch.” in a goalless draw, with both teams having But Ariel Covarrubian who owns an already qualified for the next stage. That result Argentinian restaurant in The Hague, main- was a “great relief” it was reported at the time. tains Maxima will root for ’s “Argentina’s results are important to me, but troops. “No matter how much you love your I’m Dutch,” Maxima said. This week the RVD new country, it’s always your country of birth unequivocally told AFP: “The Royal Family sup- that comes first,” he told the Algemeen ports the Dutch team.” “The semi-final (on Dagblad tabloid. Wednesday) has special importance for the De Telegraaf took a more pragmatic view: royal family,” Dutch popular broadsheet De “Whatever the result on Wednesday night, Telegraaf wrote on the eve of the highly-antici- Maxima will have a team to support in the pated clash in Sao Paulo. But some final.” The future Dutch queen was only seven Argentinian media has reported that the during the infamous 1978 World Cup final upcoming duel is “causing tension between clash between La Albiceleste and the Oranje, the royal couple” while others are talking which Argentina won 3-1 in extra time. about a “kingdom divided”. Social media users Maxima Zorreguieta was born in Buenos Aires also teased the royals, with one posting on in 1971, where she spent her childhood before Twitter showing Maxima and Willem- eventually marrying Dutch Crown Prince Alexander turning their backs on each other in Willem-Alexander in 2002. After former Dutch bed, looking visibly upset. The picture is cap- queen Beatrix’s abdication last year, Willem- Alexander was crowned King while the Dutch gave the popular Maxima the honour of Matches on TV becoming Queen. (Local Timings) Her marriage into Dutch royalty and her subsequent title was not without controversy. Maxima’s father Jorge Zorreguieta was a min- FIFA World Cup ister in the bloody dictatorship of Jorge Videla that saw thousands of political opponents dis- appear in Argentina in the 1970s. Netherlands v Argentina 23:00 Videla’s dictatorship lasted from 1976 to beIN SPORTS 1 HD 1981. An investigation commissioned by the beIN SPORTS 2 HD Dutch government later concluded that beIN SPORTS 11 HD Maxima’s father probably knew something about the murders and torture under Videla’s beIN SPORTS 13 HD BRAZIL: A file picture taken on June 18, 2014 shows Netherlands’ King rule, but was almost certainly not personally Willem-Alexander (left) and Queen Maxima (right) cheering their team beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR involved. Zorreguieta is still being investigated prior to a Group B football match between Australia and the but has never been prosecuted. —AFP Netherlands. — AFP