Tite Expects 'Beautiful'

SPORT Friday 6 July 2018 PAGEE | 18 PAGPAGE | 19

Southgate pickedcked Guardiola’sGuar City England’s path but now plaplayersye dominate at praises Swedeneden WorWorldl Cup

Brazil’s coach Tite (centre) speaks to his team during a training session during the FIFA 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

TODAY'S FIXTURES QUARTER-FINALS

URUGUAY VS FRANCE 5.00PM BRAZIL VS BELGIUM 9.00PM Tite expects ‘beautiful’ Belgium clash REUTERS the tournament so far, with his tally of transitions, defensive transitions and midfielder Casemiro who picked up a With Brazil’s last World Cup ending 23 more than Uruguayan duo Luis if you look, you see how much he has second yellow card against Mexico. on home soil with a 7-1 semi-final KAZAN: Brazil coach Tite has defended Suarez and Edinson Cavani contributed.” The dominant win over the Mex- humiliation by Germany that shocked Neymar from criticism over his histri- combined. Tite confirmed that his preferred icans cemented Brazil’s status as the soccer-mad nation, Tite called on onics on the pitch and said he was just “I’ve already talked about Neymar left back Marcelo would return to the favourites to win a record-extending his players to ignore the pressure and happy to have the team’s talisman and I’ve been very specific about what starting side in place of Filipe Luis sixth World Cup trophy, but Tite said expectations inevitably put on the side. playing “at his best” ahead of today’s happened,” Tite told reporters on the after the Real Madrid defender missed it would take a whole team effort to “If you ask me what is the greatest quarter-final against Belgium. eve of the quarter-final at Kazan the 2-0 win over Mexico through get past Roberto Martinez’s Belgium challenge of a World Cup? It’s the Neymar has scored two goals in Arena. injury. and their array of attacking stars. mental fatigue, the pressure is Brazil’s four matches, but he has been “You should look at the videos. All “I’ve spoken with both Marcelo “It will be a great match. Both immense, it’s extraordinary. slammed by soccer pundits across the you have to do is look at the images. and Filipe Luis. Filipe played very well teams excel with a beautiful football. “(It) proliferates through the family. world for diving and rolling on the “What makes me happy is to have in both matches. But now we are going Belgium have great players and a great I hope the family can keep their heads ground theatrically in Russia. him playing at his best. It’s not just with Marcelo again,” said Tite. coach as well. I’ve always put them in cool. Don’t listen, don’t watch (the He has, however, also suffered a with the ball, it’s not just dribbling. Fernandinho is also expected to the group of favourites (for the title). attention) because there is a lot of psy- disproportionate number of fouls in There are actions, there are replace the suspended holding “It’s the same now.” chological pressure.”

What to watch for in today’s matchups %&%' ()*+,-. Google Translate to $ /0 the rescue in Russia AP -. 0 1 2 3 0 2 REUTERS TEAMMATES VS. TEAMMATES The first match features a number of team-mates on their professional KAZAN: Soccer might be the most universal clubs facing off against each other when France takes on Uruguay in Nizhny " language on the planet. But when it comes Novgorod. France forward Antoine Griezmann plays at Atletico Madrid to deciphering the Cyrillic alphabet or alongside Uruguayan defenders Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez; Godin communicating with locals at the World Cup is godfather to Griezmann’s daughter. ! in Russia, the love of the game is sometimes Those ties are so thick that Uruguay striker Luis Suarez needled not enough. Griezmann this week for trying to be Uruguayan. Suarez himself will find To get around language barriers in a Barcelona teammate on the other side of the pitch in French defender Russia, World Cup fans from around the Samuel Umtiti. ! globe have been actively using the Google Translate applications on their mobile With so much talent on both sides, the late game in Kazan features even more intrasquad intrigue: Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus, Fernandinho and phones. Danilo against team-mates Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium; The software has proven indispensable # Brazil’s Willian against Chelsea teammates Eden Hazard, Michy Batshuayi for many fans to communicate with locals and Thibaut Courtois, all Belgian; and Belgium’s Thomas Meunier against his in restaurants and hotels in the 11 host cities. Brazilian team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain - Marquinhos, Thiago Silva and N Some foreign fans type what they want Neymar. # to say in Russian in their native language and show the translation to locals. Others SPEED AND SKILL VS. SOLID DEFENCE use the app’s voice function that allows them to virtually speak to people in other Belgium is scoring almost a goal a game more than any other team in the # tournament, with 12 in four matches. Brazil, to the surprise of some, has allowed languages. just one goal in its four games. Only one other team has been that stingy: Some reporters have also used the tool Uruguay, which will face a France attack loaded with speed and scorers. In # to circumvent language restrictions imposed both cases, something will have to give. at the press opportunities of certain teams. At a news conference with France star Antoine Griezmann last month, a Spanish NEYMAR BEING NEYMAR reporter wanted to ask him about his future The most expensive player in the world has had a strong tournament so # far and is the biggest star whose team is still alive. Some think Neymar could at his club, Atletico Madrid. even win his first FIFA player of the year award if Brazil wins it all. But he’s $ !" But France media managers had said increasingly catching grief about his flopping, diving and writhing around # questions would only be taken in French, a after minor contact. Will that prompt the referee to give the Belgian defenders language the reporter did not speak. He got more leeway, or will Neymar keep getting the calls? around the restriction by having Google # $ % #" ' ''''' Translate render his question in French. 18 SPORT FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2018

Tabarez brings Uruguay in from the wilderness

REUTERS effectively taken charge of youth time to talk about widely-seen tele- MOSCOW: Oscar Tabarez began his development in Uruguay in what has vision images which showed children second stint as Uruguay coach in May become known as the “Tabarez in a Uruguayan school bursting out of 2006, one month before the World process”. their classroom to celebrate the late Cup. But they were not going to Not even ill-health has In an interview with Reuters 10 winning goal against Egypt in the Germany -- in fact, they struggled even stopped the 71-year-old years ago, Tabarez, who also coached group stage. to find anyone who would play them who was expected to Uruguay at the 1990 World Cup in “Those kids will never forget that in friendlies. resign in 2016 after he Italy, outlined his plans for football in moment,” he said. “We were hardly competing inter- the country and the challenge facing “I’m very proud about the way in nationally,” he said in one interview. was diagnosed with a him. which we live and experience football “We had to travel to the most rare neurological disease He spoke of the importance of in our country. I talk to the players distant parts of the world just to have known as Guillain-Barre keeping the under-20 and Olympic about this and use it as part of their matches.” teams active and bringing players over motivation.” Known as the school- Meanwhile, their training base syndrome but has carried from Europe to receive additional teacher -- a profession he briefly exer- outside Montevideo was nicknamed on regardless with the coaching and keep them in touch. cised during the 1980s -- Tabarez has “the Low Performance Centre” by help of a walking stick or The subject matter extended to managed to retain Uruguay’s players who complained of cold rooms electric wheelchair. pressure exerted by parents on their renowned fighting spirit while curbing and lumpy mattresses. children to make it as professionals their wildest excesses. Uruguay, who had lost to Australia which turned matches even at Uruguay have the best disciplinary in the playoff for a place in Germany, Not even ill-health has stopped the under-10 level into battlefields. of the eight quarter-finals with only were in the wilderness. 71-year-old who was expected to “There are more or less 200,000 one yellow card so far. “When we won Nobody would say that of the team resign in 2016 after he was diagnosed boys playing football in Uruguay, of the Copa America in 2011, we also took nowadays. with a rare neurological disease this only 0.14 percent may have a pos- the fair play title and that was very sig- Tabarez is still in charge 12 years known as Guillain-Barre syndrome but sibility of going to Europe,” he said. nificant,” said Tabarez. on, having led them to one World Cup has carried on regardless with the help “The parents are making the wrong His approach is summed up by a semi-final, one round of 16 and the of a walking stick or electric gamble and we have to make them message which adorns the wall of his Copa America title in 2011. wheelchair. aware of these facts.” house and is attributed to Che Guevara: Today, they face France in the Tabarez is more than just the Even amid the heat of the World “You must toughen yourself without quarter-finals of the 2018 World Cup. national team coach and has Cup battle in Russia, Tabarez found losing tenderness.” Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez

Dzagoev ﬁt for Southgate picked England’s Croatia clash path but now praises Sweden AP REUTERS We can make life SAMARA: Having intentionally MOSCOW: Russia steered England into what’s midfielder Alan Dzagoev widely considered the weaker difficult for England, has recovered from half of the World Cup’s knockout injury and is fit for their bracket, coach Gareth Southgate World Cup quarter-final is now casting the upcoming says Larsson match against Croatia quarter-final against Sweden as REUTERS tomorrow as the hosts “bloody difficult.” of the 33-year-old player. look to book their first Southgate sent out a crew of “It’s a game I’m really semi-final spot in more reserves who lost 1-0 to Belgium GELENDZHIK: Sweden’s looking forward to, it’s the than half a century. in their group-stage finale, and strong collective is aiming to quarter-finals of the World Cup Dzagoev has not after both teams survived scares make life difficult for their more and for me personally to be played since leaving the in the round of 16, Belgium now illustrious English counterparts going up against England, the pitch after 23 minutes faces Brazil while England meets when the two sides meet in country where I spent 17 years, with a hamstring injury a Sweden side that gets far less their World Cup quarter-final it’s obviously a little bit special,” during the tournament respect. clash tomorrow. he said. opener against Saudi But Sweden got to this same The Swedes trained at their “We’ve got huge respect for Arabia last month. point by playing smart and hotel on the Black Sea before England, they’ve got quality The 28-year-old unselfish soccer. departing for Samara where players all over the pitch, made the squad for their “Sweden are a team I they will face England in their they’re a good team, but for us, round of 16 match respect hugely,” Southgate said. first World Cup last eight match like we have been doing for against Spain last week “You know we’ve not got a since 1994, when they came most of this tournament, we’re but was an unused sub- good record against them, I third in the tournament. trying to focus mostly on stitute during their think we’ve always underesti- “All we (can) do is focus on ourselves.” penalty shootout victory mated them. They’ve got good our own game. We’ve proven After knocking out Italy in over the 2010 players and they’ve got a clear to other people and to ourselves a qualification playoff for champions. way of playing. It’s bloody dif- This combination of pictures created yesterday shows Sweden’s that when we’re at the right Russia, the Swedes won a group He then missed ficult to play against. They are coach Janne Andersson (top) and England’s coach Gareth Southgate . level we can make it very dif- containing world champions training on Wednesday greater than the sum of their ficult for teams, and we’re not Germany before defeating with a back muscle parts more often than not.” “It shows the togetherness, know that we are a good team. going to try to do anything else Switzerland in the last 16, but injury. The two teams meet shows the character,” Kane said. We’ve earned our success we against England,” midfielder England will be a step up again “It was an old back tomorrow at Samara Stadium “We spoke about it before, but know how we’ve got this far,” Sebastian Larsson said. for Larsson and his injury. It was a bit for the right to advance to a these are the moments you he said. Larsson has spent his adult team-mates. jammed. Today I was semi-final against Russia or really see it.” “What other teams and life in England playing for a “We know we have to reach training in a main group. Croatia. England and Sweden England went 2-1-0 in the countries think about that, that’s variety of clubs in England’s our own standards, which is Everything is fine. I am have met twice previously in group stage to finish second to not terribly interesting.” top two divisions, and with a very close to our maximum like ready for the game,” World Cup play, a 2-2 draw in Belgium. Meanwhile, Fabian Delph is move back to Sweden and AIK we have done, and that’s the Dzagoev told reporters 2006 and a 1-1 draw in 2002. The round was highlighted back with England after leaving already secured, this might be only way to win football games yesterday at their Overall, England has won by Kane’s hat trick in a 6-1 Russia for the birth of his third the last English fans get to see at this level,” he said. training base on the out- just two of the last 15 meetings. thrashing of Panama. Kane leads child. He and his wife Natalie skirts of Moscow. The last was an exhibition the field in Russia with six goals. welcomed their daughter on The Russians have in 2012. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Sweden finished atop its Wednesday. never reached the World scored four times to lead the group in Russia to face Swit- Delph left the team fol- Cup quarter-finals since Swedes to a 4-2 victory in zerland in the opening match of lowing its 1-0 loss to Belgium in the end of the Soviet Stockholm. the knockout round. Emil the group stage finale and Union, who were semi- Ibrahimovic is retired from Forsberg scored on a deflection missed the match against finalists in 1966. international football now, and in the 66th minute of a grinding Colombia. Sweden captain But the home team while Sweden has since forged 1-0 victory. Andreas Granqvist and his wife has so far exceeded a stout defensive identity, its Coach Janne Andersson was are expecting a child any day expectations, coming out post-Zlatan attack hasn’t asked afterward if Sweden has now, but the centre back says of their group with wins inspired fear in opponents. been underrated at the World he won’t sit out the match over Saudi Arabia and The English are coming off Cup. against England. Egypt and defeat to a tense but ultimately euphoric “I think you’ll have to ask Sweden’s fans hung around Uruguay, before elimi- round-of-16 game against everyone else that question. We following the victory over Swit- nating Spain in the last Colombia. After giving up an zerland, chanting the coach’s 16. injury-time equaliser that forced HISTORY name. Andersson came back out “As they say appetite a 1-1 draw, England triumphed to the field for a curtain call to comes when you eat,” 4-3 in a shootout. England won its only World Cup in 1966 and acknowledge them. Dzagoev said. “Why It was a morale booster for hasn’t made it to the semi-finals since 1990 in “Well, of course it’s sort of a not?,” he said of his the Three Lions, who had been Italy, when it was eliminated on penalties by surreal feeling to be standing in team’s chances against knocked out of three World West Germany en route to a fourth-place fin- St. Petersburg on the pitch favourites Croatia, per- Cups on penalties since 1990. ish. Sweden last made it to the semifinals in afterward and a number of Sweden’s defender Andreas Granqvist celebrates with Sebastian ceived to be a dark horse Harry Kane said the young 1994 but fell 1-0 to Brazil in Pasadena. people are calling out my name. Larsson (left) after defeating Switzerland in their round of 16 in this tournament. English side grew up a lot in that The Swedes have never won a World Cup title. That’s quite extraordinary and match. quite strange,” he said. match in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday. FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018 SPORT 19

Belgium’s assistant coach Thierry Henry applauds at the end of Guardiola’s City players the Russia 2018 World Cup round against Japan at the Rostov Arena in Rostov-On- Don on Monday. dominate at World Cup REUTERS

SAMARA: With many of Manchester City’s players still competing in the later stages of the World Cup, the influence of Pep Guardiola’s English champions is being felt across the globe. Mbappe and Henry As eight teams prepare for the quarter-finals, the majority of the City team that ran away would have another with the Premier League title by a record 19 points are still Belgium’s midﬁelder competing in Russia trying to Kevin De Bruyne cap the season with the link if France clinch reacts during the ultimate prize -- a World Cup winners medal. Russia 2018 World The likes of club captain Cup round of 16 title in Russia Vincent Kompany and midfield match against Japan maestro Kevin de Bruyne are in Rostov-On-Don getting ready to face their City on Monday. INSET: AP team mates Gabriel Jesus, Danilo Brazil’s goalkeeper and Fernandinho of Brazil. Ederson looks on ST PETERSBURG: Meanwhile, the Manchester prior to the Russia Kylian Mbappe and club’s English contingent of Kyle 2018 World Cup Thierry Henry both Walker, Fabian Delph, Raheem round of 16 match attended France’s Claire- Sterling and John Stones are all against Mexico in fontaine academy before key members of Gareth South- Samara the same playing as left wingers at gate’s team preparing for day. Monaco, and they both Sweden. won French league titles With City’s goalkeeper as teenagers. Ederson also in the Brazil squad, Mbappe wants to the English side have more rep- Bayern Munich have one repre- exited in the group stage, with secutive tournaments, he has replicate another one of resentatives in the last eight than sentative left in the quarter- many commentators wondering been the coach of the club cham- Henry’s accomplish- any other club, with 11 players finals in France’s Corentin why Sane was not selected. pions of the nation who went on ments - a World Cup title still in Russia. Paris St Germain Tolisso. It has not all been plain to win the World Cup -- Spain for France in his first and Barcelona, the French and The Germans may have sailing for City’s players as and Germany. tournament. Spanish champions respectively, faired better at the tournamenttournament Spain’sSpains David Silva and Spain’s 2010 world cham- Henry, 40, is France’s are also well represented with ifif City’s in-form forward ArgentinaArgentina paipairr pions had a squad containing leading scorer with 51 Kylian Mbappe six key players remaining at the LeroyLeroy Sane had been in NicoNicolaslas OtaOta-- seven players managed by then- goals, the 19-year-old World Cup. theirtheir squad. Despite 10 mendmendii andand Barcelona coach Guardiola, Mbappe is Les Bleus’ new Bundesliga champions goalsgoals and 15 assists in SSergioergio AguerAgueroo while four years ago in Brazil the sensation, with three, the league for Guardi-Guardi- couldcould not rep-rep- Spaniard’s Bayern Munich side matching Henry’s total ola’sola’s team lastlast season, licatelicate ttheirheir cclublub also had seven representatives from 1998 and 2006. GermanyGermany boss Joachim form in Russia.Russia. in Germany’s World Cup- If Mbappe scores again, France plays Uruguay in today’s LoewLoew left Sane at ThisThis is notnot winning team. quarter-final, he would become the first Frenchman since With Manchester home.home. thethe first timtimee With Guardiola among the 1958 to score four at a World Cup since Just Fontaine’s record GermanyGermany playersplayers from a cluclubb world’s top managers and with 13 over six games in 1958. City’s goalkeeper onlyo nly managed by GuarGuar-- his teams possessing enviable Henry and Mbappe both share the electric pace Fon- Ederson also in the scoredscored ddiolaiola havehave mademade an talent, it is perhaps no surprise taine had, but with a far more rounded game than their Brazil squad, the twictwicee impactimpact at ththee that his influence has been felt illustrious predecessor. English side have aass WorldWorld Cup.Cup. at the sport’s showpiece “I don’t really like to compare players from different they InIn cocon-n- tournament. generations, but they have a similar profile, with their speed more representatives If history is to repeat itself and ability to beat players,” said France coach Didier Des- in the last eight than and City’s success is replicated champs, captain of the 1998 champions. any other club, with by the national team in the “I can only wish Kylian the same career as Thierry.” 11 players still in World Cup final then England Deschamps said that after Mbappe’s debut in a qual- Pep Guardiola fans may just have a Catalan to ifier at Luxembourg in March 2017. He already was hailing Russia. thank. Mbappe’s maturity. “His biggest strength is his composure when he’s through on the goalkeeper,” Deschamps said. “That’s very rare at his age, and it’s why he’s so Moscow to open efficient.” Japan not to extend Mbappe showed that in a 4-3 win against Argentina last new fan area Saturday, scoring two clinical second-half goals after earning a first-half penalty kick with an astonishing run from deep ahead of Russia’s inside his own half. Mbappe stole the spotlight from five- Nishino’s contract time FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi, and he emerged REUTERS as a candidate to join Neymar in the conversation for who quarter-ﬁnal is the world’s best player after Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Japan coach Akira REUTERS move on. SAMARA: Japan coach Akira Mbappe has played as a wide forward and as a central Nishino will not be asked to Nishino arrives for a press striker for both France and Paris Saint-Germain, joining continue in the role when his conference following the MOSCOW: Moscow will open a new from Monaco last year in a deal worth 180m euros ($216m). contract expires at the end of team’s return at a hotel in fan area in the capital ahead of Playing alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani in a star- this month, the Japanese Narita, Chiba, yesterday. Russia’s World Cup quarter final studded attack, he helped PSG win all three domestic titles. Football Association (JFA) and against Croatia, local officials said Like Henry, Mbappe grew up in a Paris suburb: Mbappe the manager said yesterday. yesterday citing heavy demand from in Bondy, Henry in Les Ulis. Mbappe has been active in the Speaking as the squad soccer fans. community and he says he will donate his World Cup returned to Tokyo following Russian fans are spellbound by earnings to a charity that organizes sports for children with their World Cup last 16 defeat the surprise success of the national disabilities. by Belgium, Nishino said this team which has advanced to the Mbappe scored six goals in his first 19 international had always been the plan. quarter finals despite being the lowest games and Henry seven: three at the 1998 World Cup and “My contract ends at the ranked side in the tournament. two when France won the European Championship in 2000. end of this month,” Nishino The hosts’ penalty shootout Henry’s pro career was launched in 1994 by Monaco told reporters at Tokyo’s victory over Spain on Sunday coach Arsene Wenger, who brought him to Arsenal from Narita airport. prompted extraordinary scenes of Italian side Juventus five years later. “And I have been working well in Russia, qualifying “I think everyone became street celebration in Moscow. Henry scored at least 20 league goals in six consecutive on the assumption that this from a tricky Group H before interested in soccer again, so Moscow has one official FIFA fan seasons for Arsenal, and a club record 228 in all competi- job would last from the running Belgium very close in that way, I think we did a zone located on the Sparrow Hills tions for the Gunners. moment I was appointed to in the last 16. good job.” Japan also drew campus of Moscow State University Wenger moved Henry to Monaco’s first team after Henry the end of the World Cup.” Japan held a 2-0 lead plaudits from around the and there have been fears of over- scored more than 40 goals the under-17 team in one year. The JFA said they will before the European side world for their fans who crowding as fans without tickets have “Henry already had a great attitude. He was already decide on Nishino’s successor came back to win 3-2 with a cleaned up stadiums after flocked there to watch games on giant mature and didn’t need anyone to control him,” youth coach by the end of the month. last minute winner. each of their fixtures in outdoor screens. Paul Pietri said. Nishino, JFA’s former Japan’s captain Makoto Russia. “The fan zone is hugely popular. “He crushed everyone with his physique, his strength. technical director, took over Hasebe, who announced his Photographs of the team’s Tens of thousands of people are gath- He could carry the attack all by himself, he could do as national team coach in retirement from the national changing room also showed ering to watch the games on Sparrow everything.” April following the surprise team, said the team could it to be pristine but Hasebe Hills. For fans’ comfort we decided A 76-year-old Corsican now in retirement after nearly dismissal of Vahid Halil- reflect on the World Cup with said this was due to the team’s to organise an additional space to 30 years on Monaco’s staff, Pietri recalled exactly when hodzic, who had secured pride. support staff, not the players watch the games near the Spartak Henry’s “natural class” first stood out. Japan’s qualification to the “People had low expecta- themselves. stadium,” Moscow Mayor Sergei Sob- “We went to a tournament in Italy, which we always World Cup. tions of us, and we talked about “Staff of the team cleaned yanin wrote on Twitter. did at the start of the year,” Pietri said. Despite having very little turning the situation around,” up our locker room perfectly The new fan area will open on time to work with the squad, said Hasebe, who finishes with at each of our games before Saturday (tomorrow) afternoon, Sob- Nishino’s Japan performed 114 caps for his country. leaving the venue,” he said. yanin wrote on Twitter. 20 SPORT FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018 FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018 SPORT 21

There won’t be many secrets to the game. I have to be one of the calm We want to deny them space, We have to defend as well as we can and ones, because there are a lot of stop them playing, make their Belgium pin hopes on Hazard Godin won’t then punish them when we have the ball. youngsters here now in the squad, strikers uncomfortable - that’s It’s that simple, and this team is ready for some for the first time. I must lead our weapon: French midfielder REUTERSREUTERS years ago at the European Cham- the Chelsea gym for the first time give ground that: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez by example: Luis Suarez Diego Laxalt pionship when Belgium’s ‘golden -- four years after he first signed NIZHNY NONOVGOROD: Eden generation’ stood on the brink of for the club. HazardHazard lleadseads h his team into today’s delivering on their potential but “I told him recently that he to Griezmann World Cup quarter-finalqu match then imploded. must thank God for the talent he against Brazil on a stage built to In the 2014 quarter-final has been given. He answered, ADA6X yq8! ' showcashowcasese his ttalent but whether against Argentina he drifted out ‘Maybe I should thank him a little’,” AFP BelgiumBelgium get ttheh full benefit of his of the game and was replaced recalled former club mate Demba 7 hvy7rytv mercurialmercurial aabilitybil is to be seen. after 75 ineffective minutes as Ba. It all comes easy to Hazard, SAINT PETERSBURG: A self-confessed Brazil out to spoil Cup HazardHazard is uundoubtedly one of Lionel Messi won their head-to- rarely bothered by the pressure and lover of all things Uruguayan, from the stastarsrs of ththe tournament in head in a 1-0 Argentina victory. expectation. That supposed indif- grilled meat to bitter-tasting infusion Russia and at 27-years-old,2 wear- Two years later, the stage was ference was often a cause of mate, France’s Antoine Griezmann C@69UPC@69 inging tthehe capcaptain’st armband, at set for him to lead Belgium past irritation for managers like Jose knows not to expect any favourable the pepeakak of his powers. outsiders Wales in the Euro quar- Mourinho and Antonio Conte. treatment when confronted by close ! hopes of Belgium’s BButu there is always a ter-finals but, in the face of But Belgium see what he is friend Diego Godin in today World Cup naggingnagg doubt that determined defending, he faded capable of and have placed their quarter-final. $" %&' wwhenhe the going gets when it mattered most and drifted faith firmly in him. Teammates at Atletico Madrid, toutough, the attacking out of the game with a shock 3-1 “He’s a not a natural leader Griezmann and Godin have formed such midfieldermid might once loss. like Kompany but rather a leader a bond over the past four years that the Uvr Sir ‘Golden Generation’ againag prove Hazard is admired for his who shows through example on rugged defender is the godfather of " #! anonymous.ano attacking flair, ability to run at the field,” fullback Thomas Meu- Griezmann’s daughter Mia. Hh vr It happened at the defences and finishing but it is his nier said last month. “Diego is a great friend. I am with U78 Brazilian @qr last World Cup in Bra- maverick genius that sets him “He’s got extraordinary qual- him every day in Madrid,” Griezmann AFP Manchester City and Manchester Becoming the first team in 48 could be piercing a robust defence forward Chh q zil anda two apart. ities, does things other players told reporters ahead of the clash in Srprrrvt United striker Romelu Lukaku years to overcome a 2-0 deficit in that has conceded just once, in Neymar in “Ice bbaths,aths,aths massagmassamassages,as geses,esh hhe canncannot.annnnot. AAndAn youu ddodon’ton’tnnt’t jujustst run NizhnyNizhny NovgoNovgorod. “It is a nationality that KAZAN: Belgium coach Roberto have the potential to cause a a World Cup knockout match was their 1-1 opening draw with action during doesn’tdoesn’t reallyreallyy ddodoo allaall thtthathat stustuff,”ff,” him ovover.ver.r. HeHHe’s’ss vveververyy strostrongroonng on on his his I love, a ppeopleeop that I love. 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(5-2) and England (1-0) before the champions target a place in the HHazaHaHazaaz zaardar r d wwent ttoo formf ooff his lifefe aandnddredrd reareadyddyy to HavingHaving sspent his entire career in Monday. X * ! $%& X %( eration” have been reminded that Third-ranked Belgium reached Japan game, Belgium will have to semi-finals and a match with deliver.delivede r.r Spain,Spain, GriezGriezmann has always had a XX+, ! '! - "! the match against the favourites the quarter-finals in 2014 in Bra- lift their game significantly to beat either France or Uruguay. “I’ve“I ve knknownhim himm fo forr yearyea yearss anda and steadysteady strstream of Uruguayan could represent the last chance zil but before that the last time a well-drilled Brazil side increas- “We’re progressing, that’s evi- thee wawayy hehe h hasas trat trainedinednedd a andndd pla ppl playedayedyey team-mates.team-mates. for them to shine on the world they got so far was in 1986, when ingly dancing to the tune of star dent,” Silva said after their win Irh 8PHQ@UDUDPITU6UDTUD8T Frvqr7 r overv thethe laslastt weekweekse s hhashaa beenbeeenen He bbeganegan at Sociedad with former stage. ‘Little Prince’ Frank Vercauteren forward Neymar. over Mexico. “It was a complicated & ( ! exceptional,”exceptexcepexce ional,onalonan ” saidai goggoalkeeperoaoalkalkkeepee pererr UruguayUruguay stristrikerk Carlos Bueno and was “It’s a dream match for our steered them to the semi-finals Neymar signalled he had well match against a dangerous side, ThibaultThibauThibaa ltt CouCoCourtois,rtois,s, wwhowhwhohoho iiss alsoaalso persuadedpersuad to join Atletico in 2014 && ) && players,” Martinez told Belgian before a Diego Maradona double and truly put a recent injury lay- but we were solid at the back.” at Chelsea,Chelsea, this wweek.eeeekek.ek.k ““II by Godin.G !( % " press after sealing qualification ended their hopes in a 2-0 defeat off behind him with an incisive Mistakes such as the ones that tthinkhink he canann rerreacheeaeachaachacchh “He says he is Uru- !' '( (# for the last eight with a last-gasp in Mexico. performance in a 2-0 win over allowed Japan to grab a two-goal anotheranothen r levelevel.”l.”l ” guayan,” said Godin. “He "# !% 3-2 victory over Japan in the first Vercauteren said before the Mexico in Samara, where he lead are sure to be punished by made his debut with phase of the knockout rounds. tournament that Russia repre- scored the opener and set up Rob- Neymar but it is Brazil’s defence $$, $$, Martin Lasarte and had “There won’t be many secrets sented “perhaps one of the last erto Firmino for his maiden World that is also catching the eye of a lot of time for him. to the game. We have to defend chances for this generation of Cup goal. observers. “He“He hhasas aalways been surrounded by as well as we can and then pun- players to live up to expectations, Even more is expected from “As a former defender, I love " ! UruguayanUruguayan plplayers. He likes how we are ish them when we have the ball. because in 2022 a lot of them Neymar, whose pace, technique watching Silva and Miranda play,” - ! and our customs:custo eating the barbecue, + , ) . “It’s that simple, and this team won’t be there”. and all-round vision allied to Wil- former France defender William ourour mumusic,sic, hhe even drinks more mate % ! is ready for that.” On Monday, Belgium mounted lian’s slick movement gave Brazil Gallas said in his role as a consult- thanthan mme!”e!” ! # On paper, a Belgium side con- a stirring fightback to beat Japan, another dimension. ant for French radio station RMC. At Atletico,Atletico Griezmann is the star and taining the talents of Chelsea’s with Nacer Chadli scoring the win- For all Brazil’s attacking “They’re the best centre back top scorer. GoGodin, though, is the embod- Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne of ner in the 94th minute. riches, Belgium’s biggest problem partnership of this World Cup.” iment ooff tthehe dogged, determined and &./ / Belgium’s defensively bbrilliant side Diego Simeone &. '% ' ' Eden Hazard hashas createcreatedd in the Spanish capital. “They will waste time, they will fall down, surround the referee. It’s their game, it’s the same at Atletico,” said Griezmann. “The match will be bor- ADA6X yq8! ' ing, they will want us to fall into Former villain Suarez is now their trap.” Uruguay ready for charged-up France Much as they may not seem it, V thA hpr those are meant as words of REUTERS respect. Griezmann turned down his team’s elder statesman overtures from Barcelona to com- NIZHNY NOVGOROD: Fleet- /% / 0 mit his future to Atletico just before C@69UPC@69 footed France will have to find a his World Cup began. way past the tournament’s joint- REUTERS scenes were examples of Luis Suarez’s his rasping, pinpoint Griezmann turned down over- meanest defenders Uruguay in the well-established on-pitch insanity,” sen- cross that led to Edinson tures from Barcelona to sign first of two inter-continental ! NIZHNY NOVGOROD: It was tenced one sports writer of a man the Cavani’s opener. a new deal at Atletico 1&%&" / World Cup quarter-finals today. mid-2006 when scouts for Dutch club world struggled to understand. Suarez’s past sins on the just days after the The South Americans kept Groningen travelled to Uruguay to check During a brilliant but tempestuous field are in stark contrast World Cup Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo at out a promising young striker called club career, Suarez also failed to con- with his friendly, family- began. bay in their 2-1 last-16 win, and Pph 9vqvr Elias Figueroa. trol his inner demons, facing sanctions man image off it. that goal conceded was the only Uhih r 9rpuh Instead, they witnessed another for biting, diving, and racially abusing In Europe, he 9# one against them so far in Russia teenage forward play like a man pos- an opponent. did eventually - a defensive feat only matched 9vrt Ct sessed and score a wonder goal. Yet in recent times, the now 31-year- catch up and by Brazil, who play Belgium later Bqv Gy v Groningen signed him up on an impulse old has largely avoided controversy, marry his Srprrrvt today. and flew him to Europe. The name? Luis while also netting more than 150 goals childhood !0 1&%& / But France banged in four Xvr Xvr Suarez. for Barcelona. sweetheart goals in their last 16 game against & ! / 1&%& While those roots may be little Indeed, Surez comes to Uruguay’s Sofia Balbi, Argentina, and will be hoping their known, including an impoverished World Cup quarter-final against France and is often SP69UPRV6SU@SADI6G formidable attacking trio of Anto- % $% upbringing and yearning for a girlfriend today an all-together wiser and maturer, seen with her ine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and X X & ! who moved to Spain, from there the albeit lacking a bit of the spark and and their ( ) 2* $% ( )+ Kylian Mbappe can turn it on again # X X & # Suarez story is familiar. speed of his earlier days. two children at the Nizhny Novgorod & " $%& His relentless goal-scoring took him “I have to be one of the calm ones, around X 9 3'4 stadium. &% ! '! quickly to Ajax, then Liverpool, and now because there are a lot of youngsters matches. Nineteen-year-old Mbappe XX% #" Barcelona, while along the way he also here now in the squad, some for the first In his scored two goals in the Argentina 8PHQ@UDUDPITU6UDTUD8T became Uruguay’s all-time top scorer. time. I must lead by example,” Suarez youth, Sua- game, becoming the first teenager GvTh r FyvhHihr Yet the same explosive style and told reporters this week, relishing his rez used to since Brazilian great Pele in the win-at-all-costs character that turned transformation from wild child to elder walk to & ( & 1958 final to score two goals in one him into one of the world’s elite strik- statesman. training to World Cup match. $ ) #$ ers also made Suarez notorious for the “With so many games in the national save money But it was his amazing ' % & wrong reasons. squad, I’ve learnt a lot about how to and had to bor- 70-metre sprint earlier in the French forward Kylian Mbappe (right) controls $' '( % Most infamously, he was sent home handle this situation,” he added. row boots. He has match, to win France a penalty, the ball as he takes part in a training session # ! in shame from the 2014 World Cup in After the trauma in Brazil, coach retained the down-to-earth man- that stunned viewers with team-mates at the Nizhny Novgorod Arena $, $, Brazil for biting an Italian defender - Oscar Tabarez kept faith with Suarez, ner of those early days - though worldwide. in Nizhny Novgorod, yesterday, on the eve of something he had done before in a trusting he would learn, which is exactly coaches do recall his transformed “I was wondering whether he their quarter final match against Uruguay. seemingly impossible-to-control, what seems to have happened. Where nature and fiery temper during was riding a scooter,” joked bizarre impulse linked to his despera- once he looked up to Diego Forlan as a games. France midfielder Florian Thau- 1! tion to succeed. mentor in the Uruguay squad, now Sua- Having now surpassed For- vin of the teenager whom Mbappe and their friend and hotel outside Nizhny Novgorod semi-final in 2010 - though Cav- to recreate the black-and-white- - 2 Four years earlier, Suarez deliber- rez has that role. lan’s six World Cup goals, Suarez Uruguay’s defenders must be hav- Atletico Madrid team mate which, oddly, is painted in the col- ani is sweating on a calf injury that era glories of their 1930 and 1950 ) ! ately handled a goal-line header against In Russia, Uruguay have won all four is just one behind Uruguay’s top ing nightmares about. Griezmann. ours of Brazil. may keep him out. trophies. + , #%!% ! Ghana - then further offended against games, with Suarez bagging two goals, scorer at the tournament and ! - ! On the surface, though, Uru- “We want to deny them space, With an impressive strike ‘Les Bleus’ will be inspired by The winners will play Brazil sportsmanship by wildly celebrating the avoiding controversy, and exuding 1950s hero, Oscar Miguez, who % ! . guay look relaxed and their stop them playing, make their partnership of their own in Luis the two-decade anniversary of or Belgium, who meet in their # ensuing penalty miss - to deny them experience. had eight. experienced central defenders strikers uncomfortable - that’s our Suarez and Edinson Cavani, the their only World Cup win in 1998, quarter-final in Kazan on Friday what would have been Africa’s first ever He may not have scored in the exhil- If he equals or surpasses that # Uruguay’s Luis Suarez Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin are weapon,” said midfielder Diego Uruguayans believe they can sur- while double winners Uruguay’s evening, for a place in the July 15 &./ / World Cup semi-final. arating 2-1 defeat of Cristiano Ronaldo’s in Russia, surely Suarez’s relishing the chance to foil both Laxalt at the Uruguay camp in a pass their most recent best of a modern generation are desperate final. &. '% ' ' “Both of those instantly iconic Portugal in the Round of 16, but it was redemption will be complete. 22 SPORT FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018 Al Rayyan welcome coach Arruabarrena for new QSL season

THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Football giants Al Rayyan have welcomed new coach Rodolfo Martin Arrua- barrena who will replace Michael Laudrup. The former Argentina left back has signed a contract with Al Rayyan who finished third in the QNB Stars League season in April Pakistan’s bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi (second right) celebrates with team-mates including captain Sarfraz Nawaz (second left) after this year. taking a wicket during the fifth T20 cricket match against Australia at the Harare Sports Club in Harare yesterday. Pakistan won the Arruabarrena will match by 45 runs. Pakistan and Australia will clash in the final on Sunday. Hosts Zimbabwe were the third team in the event. lead Al Rayyan in the pre-season training camp in Austria, the club said. SCOREBOARD Al Rayyan had been in negotiations with some coaches over the past few months and in the end settled for a deal with Arruabarrena. PAKISTAN Pakistan cruise to big The new coach’s mission would be to help Al Rayyan win a trophy F. Zaman c Maxwell b Stoinis ...... 73 or two after a barren time in the 2017-18 season. H. Sohail c Short b Richardson ...... 0 The new coach arrived in Doha on Wednesday evening and was H. Talat b Maxwell ...... 30 greeted by Omar Al-Azani, the manager of Al Rayyan (pictured S. Ahmed c Carey b Tye ...... 14 above). S. Malik c Finch b Tye ...... 27 win over Australia He is scheduled to meet with the club’s members before meeting A. Ali not out ...... 37 with the players in preparation for the start of the pre-season training. F. Ashraf c Maxwell b Richardson ...... 0 AFP Arruabarrena’s task will be cut out in the new season as Al Rayyan S. Khan c Stoinis b Tye ...... 7 morning in Harare, but Zaman flowing. He hit 15 off the 17th - with one of the largest fan-base in Qatar - usually end in top-four M. Amir not out ...... 0 and Hussain Talat wrested back over, bowled by Marcus Stoinis, Extras (w6) ...... 6 HARARE: Pakistan’s opener control back with a rapid 72-run boosting Pakistan beyond 150. in the Qatar in the regular season and also features in the AFC Cham- Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) ...... 194 Fakhar Zaman blazed his way to stand. After he fell, Asif Ali struck three pions League. Did not bat: U Khan, S Afridi a career-best 73 as his side Talat cracked three fours and fours and two sixes in an Al Rayyan will be seen in action on August 1 when they take on Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Sohail), 2-80 (Talat), 3-107 completed a clinical 45-run a six before playing one shot too unbeaten 37 to keep the pressure Al Duhail in the one-off Sheikh Jassim Cup at Jassim Bin Hamad (Ahmed), 4-132 (Zaman), 5-158 (Malik), 6-176 victory over Australia yesterday many to be bowled by Glenn on Australia right to the end of Stadium. (Ashraf), 7-190 (Khan) in the Twenty20 tri-series in Maxwell’s offspin. the innings. Four days later, Al Rayyan will play first QNB Stars League game Bowling: Stanlake 4-0-30-0; Richardson 4-0- Zimbabwe. Zaman continued to middle “We didn’t execute our plans against Al Ahli. 43-2 (3w); Tye 4-0-35-3 (1w); Stoinis 3-0-29-1 Zaman’s knock helped his his aggressive strokes and went very well,” said Tye. (1w); Maxwell 3-0-30-1; Agar 2-0-27-0 side race to 194 for 7 before left- to a 33-ball 50, his third for “We probably set our fields AUSTRALIA arm seamer Shaheen Afridi Pakistan in this format, with a a bit wrong at times as well. They D. Short b Afridi ...... 28 A. Finch c Ahmed b Afridi ...... 16 starred with three wickets as slog sweep for six, while another knew what we were going to Pakistan’s bowlers held Australia big hit off Tye’s seamers took the come out and do and they Qatar SC in Belgrade T. Head b Ashraf ...... 7 G. Maxwell lbw Afridi ...... 10 to 149 for 7 in a match which was batsman past his previous best attacked us pretty hard at the N. Maddinson st Ahmed b S Khan ...... 5 effectively a dress rehearsal for of 61. start. Once they got away, we M. Stoinis c Ali b U Khan ...... 16 Sunday’s final. An edged four took Pakistan found it hard to bring it back.” for training camp A. Carey not out ...... 37 Australian seamer Andrew beyond 130, and Zaman into the Pakistan kept up the pressure A. Agar b Amir ...... 11 Tye admitted his disappointment 70s, in the 15th over, but he with the ball, with Afridi taking THE PENINSULA A. Tye not out ...... 12 after the loss. pulled the next ball he faced the vital early wicket of Aaron Extras (lb5, w2) ...... 7 “We were just well off the straight to Maxwell on the edge Finch when the Australian DOHA: QNB Stars League side Qatar SC have departed for Serbia Total (7 wkts, 20 overs) ...... 149 mark today in all aspects,” said of the circle at midwicket. captain had made just 16. for their pre-season training camp. Did not bat: J Richardson, B Stanlake Tye. “With the bat, the ball and The quick dismissal of Bowling from the Golf Course The team - coached by Abdulla Mubaraq - will remain in Bel- Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Finch), 2-38 (Head), 3-49 in the field we were a bit sloppy. captain Sarfraz Ahmed, edging End, Afridi swung and seamed grade until July 24. (Maxwell), 4-67 (Maddinson), 5-75 (Short), The team will stay in Belgrade for the first 11 days of the training 6-106 (Stoinis), 7-131 (Agar) We definitely expect more from a Tye legcutter into the hands of the ball prodigiously to trouble Bowling: Amir 4-0-25-1; Ashraf 4-0-30-1; Af- ourselves.” wicketkeeper Alex Carey, put a the batsmen. He trapped Glenn camp in Belgrade and spend another 10 in Novi Sad, a city in northern ridi 4-0-37-3 (1w); S Khan 4-0-26-1, U Khan Pakistan had lost Haris Sohail further dent in Pakistan’s batting, Maxwell lbw, and then rattled Serbia on the banks of the Danube River. 4-0-26-1 (1w) for a golden duck after being put but the experienced Shoaib Malik D’Arcy Short’s stumps as Aus- The Qatar SC mission is headed by Hassan Ansari, the club’s in to bat on a chilly midwinter ensured that the runs kept tralia slipped to 75 for 5. sports director. The team batch of 23 players also includes youngsters from the Under-23 set-up. It is worth mentioning that the Syrian professional Osama Omri will join the team on arrival in Serbia while Iraqi professional Hussein CA dismisses Ali Saadi is expected to join the team in the next few hours. Prolific opener Markram Meanwhile Brazilian signing Joao Marcelo is set to join the squad reports of following a medical in Doha. He was unveiled on Wednesday. Coach Mubaraq has been supervising a training camp in Doha relaxed Warner, prior to the team’s departure for Serbia today. ready for new challenge Qatar SC are scheduled to feature in friendlies during their pre- Smith bans season training camp in Serbia. REUTERS came here to simulate the con- best in the world,” Markram said. Last season Qatar SC finished the QNB Stars League season in REUTERS GALLE: Opener Aiden Markram ditions of how we think it is “Dale is the kind of guy that 10th spot. is looking forward the challenge going to play. puts the team as his sole focus. of his maiden Test series outside “At home the wickets do get He has not mentioned it (the MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia of South Africa as well as the lower in winter compared to record), nobody else has men- (CA) has denied reports that return of seamer Dale Steyn as summer, so that naturally tioned it. former Australia captain Steve the Proteas prepare for the first helped us. And then we batted “We will keep it in the back Smith and batsman David Al Arabi prep up test of the two-match series in different creases, worn-out of our minds, because it is a Warner’s suspensions had been against Sri Lanka in Galle on July creased and that kind of thing, great achievement, but Dale is relaxed to allow them to partic- 12. to try and simulate some spin.” the kind of guy that will just ipate in domestic first-class ahead of regular Markram has scored exactly Seamer Steyn returns to the brush it under the carpet and cricket ahead of the 2019 World 1,000 runs at an average of squad after two years of injury keep on playing for the team.” Cup. 55.55 in his first 10 tests, all at setbacks and finds himself three South Africa will also play CA handed 12-month bans to football season home, as he helped South Africa short of breaking all-rounder their first Test series since the Smith and Warner while batsman to series successes against India Shaun Pollock’s South African retirement from international Cameron Bancroft received a THE PENINSULA and Australia earlier in the year. record of 421 test wickets. cricket of AB de Villiers, but nine-month suspension after the But on lower, slower turning Markram says that while it Markram believes there is trio were found guilty of ball- wickets in Sri Lanka, he admits is a major milestone for one of enough depth in the squad to tampering during the third test DOHA: Al Arabi squad yesterday morning flew out to Slovenia for it will be an altogether new cricket’s great fast bowlers, it cover the loss. against South Africa in March. their pre-season training camp ahead of the new season that kicks challenge. has not been a topic of dis- “It is never nice to lose a “At no stage have we, or are off in August. “I would like to do well this cussion in the camp. player like AB, the quality we we considering lessening the Coached by Luka Bonacic, Al Arabi will be based on Moravske tour because it is outside of “Dale in any conditions is lose is a massive hole to fill. But current sanctions in place for Toplice until July 22. South Africa. You don’t want to great to have back in the having said that we have got respective players in relation to During the training camp, Al Arabi are scheduled to play a series be labelled as a guy who only camp. He brings a wealth of plenty of depth within our the incident in South Africa,” a of friendlies. does well in home conditions,” knowledge, a good energy system at home and we have spokesperson from CA told The friendly matches will help coach Bonacic work on his starting he told reporters yesterday. and a buzz to the side. With guys on this tour who can play cricket.com.au. line-up ahead of the new season. “We tried our best before we ball in hand he is one of the the same sort of role,” he said. “The CA Code of Conduct Al Arabi, meanwhile, will also be looking to welcome their does not allow for reversal or overseas players Franco Faustino Arizala of Colombia, Fahad Khalfan lessening of sanctions once and Shatee Abbasi, the goalkeeper in the coming days. players have fully accepted the Al Arabi will start the QNB Stars League season with a game charges. against Al Khor on August 4. We want guys like him to step up and “The current articles pub- Meanwhile, QNB Stars League side Al Ahli have signed Moroccan bat even more strongly, so we have lished are purely speculative.” attacking midfielder Mohsen Metwalli, formerly of Al Rayyan. flexibility for the other guys to move Media reports yesterday sug- Metwalli’s contract is for one season and can be extended by around and play with more freedom gested that Smith and Warner another year if both parties agree to it, the club said. and go up and down the order. We don’t could be allowed to play in the The new signing performed remarkably well for Al Rayyan the want to be one-dimensional. The way Sheffield Shield for the 2018-19 previous year. He now joins Yassine Chikhaoui, Al Ahli’s Tunisian K L Rahul is batting, he gives us so much season, but CA’s bans do not end midifielder. flexibility. As you saw, he has great until late March next year, with The midfielder will continue to train with Al Ahli team mates shape, he has good technique, he has the final scheduled from March ahead of the pre-season training camp in Austria. The training camp got a great temperament. And he is very will last from July 7 to 27. hungry: Indian captain Virat Kohli 28-April 1. Bancroft should be available Coach Milan Macala is currently heading the team training ses- for selection for Western Aus- sions in Doha. English cricketer Alastair Cook and wife Alice watch Spain’s Rafael Today’s T20 fixture: tralia for the final four rounds of The new QNB Stars League season begins on August 4. Nadal play at Wimbledon Championships yesterday. England vs India at Cardiff matches, which start in late Last year, Al Ahli finished the regular football season in 9th spot. February. FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018 SPORT 23 Nadal, Djokovic through; Cilic falls

AFP

LONDON: Former champions Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic battled into the Wimbledon third round yesterday but third seed and 2017 runner-up Marin Cilic crashed out. World number one Nadal defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and will next face Australian teenager Alex de Minaur. Djokovic, the three-time champion, needed treatment on his left thigh on Court Two but still had too many weapons for Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-3. Djokovic has now made the third round for 10 consecutive years and will face either British 21st seed Kyle Edmund or US qualifier Bradley Klahn. Cilic blew a two-set lead in his 3-6, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 loss to Argentina’s Guido Pella, ranked at 82. When rain forced the tie to be postponed on Wednesday, Cilic was leading by two sets against an opponent who had never won a match at Wimbledon before this year. Argentina’s Guido Pella reacts after winning against Croatia’s But the Croatian collapsed Marin Cilic during their second-round match on the fourth day once the match resumed on Court of the 2018 Wimbledon Championships. Pella won 3-6, 1-6, One yesterday and Pella took full 6-4, 7-6, 7-5. advantage to set up a third-round clash with Mackenzie McDonald. “It was very tough because he The world number 133 is in Cilic, the 2014 US Open played very well,” said 11-time the third round for the first time champion, had been expected to French Open champion Nadal, after winning back-to-back mount a strong challenge for the who is chasing an 18th major. matches on the main tour for only Wimbledon title after winning the “On grass, the ball bounces the second time in 2018. grass-court warm-up at Queen’s really low so it was a good test. John Isner, the US ninth seed, Club two weeks ago. “I knew it was going to be a saved two match points, fired 64 But his defeat is good news tough match, so I went onto the aces and 88 winners to defeat for defending champion Roger court with the determination and Belgian qualifier Ruben Federer, who was on course to intensity, thinking I can’t make Bemelmans 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), face Cilic in the semi-finals. any mistakes.” 6-7 (3/7), 7-5. “Yesterday he was playing so For Djokovic, meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios, seeded 15, good, hitting the ball so hard that victory was his 60th at Wim- unleashed 42 winners to see off I couldn’t do anything,” Pella said bledon -- making him just the Robin Haase of the Netherlands yesterday. fifth man to claim 60 wins at the 6-3, 6-4, 7-5. “So the rain helped me a lot. All England Club in the Open Era. Kyrgios could next face lucky Today I played differently, tried Djokovic hit 15 aces and 31 loser Bernard Tomic if his Aus- to be more aggressive, he started winners in a commanding win tralian compatriot can shock to feel uncomfortable. over 33-year-old Zeballos, who Japan’s Kei Nishikori. “I tried to hit the ball hard and was a top 40 player in 2013 but Australian 17th seed Ashleigh fight for every ball and I think in was playing at Wimbledon Barty reached the third round for the end that’s why I won.” ranked a lowly 126. the first time with a 6-4, 7-5 win Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 Three-time major winner over fellow former Wimbledon champion, was tested by world Stan Wawrinka was unable to junior champion Eugenie Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates number 77 Kukushkin, a player follow up his first round defeat of Bouchard. winning the second-round match who is coached by his wife. sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov when Barty came back from 2-5 against Kazakhstan’s Mikhail The Kazakhstani was made he lost 7-6 (9/7), 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) to down in the second set to see off Kukushkin at Wimbledon yesterday. to pay for converting just two of Italian qualifier Thomas 2014 runner-up Bouchard who 13 break points in the match. Fabbiano. came through qualifying this year. ‘I’m dream chasing’: Young Tiafoe Isner averts defeat with dedicates win to immigrant parents ace barrage AFP match for the powerful REUTERS Tiafoe, who faces Russia’s LONDON: Frances Tiafoe used to fall US player Frances Tiafoe Karen Khachanov or Cypriot asleep on the floor of an American returns to Spain’s Fernando Marcos Baghdatis for a place LONDON: John Isner said he had slept badly after tennis centre while imagining what Verdasco on the second day in the last 16. tossing away a two-set lead in his second-round it would be like to play at Wimbledon of the 2018 Wimbledon Tiafoe has already beaten match against Ruben Bemelmans before rain inter- -- now the rising star’s dreams are Championships yesterday. Spanish 30th seed Fernando vened at Wimbledon on Wednesday. coming true at the culmination of an Verdasco in the first round When he returned a day later he spared himself incredible journey. -- maintaining the another nightmare by saving two match points on Tiafoe moved into the third round momentum of a break- his way to securing a 6-1 6-4 6-7(6) 6-7(3) 7-5 of a Grand Slam for the first time yes- through season that saw him victory. terday with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win became the youngest The American had led by two sets and 4-0 in over French veteran Julien Benneteau American for 16 years to win the third-set tiebreaker then missed a match point at Wimbledon. an ATP title at Delray Beach before rain intervened on Wednesday with the It was a sweet moment for the in February. players locked at two sets apiece. 20-year-old American, and even Yet even Tiafoe, up to a On the resumption yesterday, Isner found more so because his mother Alphina career high 52nd in the himself staring down the barrel in the 10th game of was there to share in the triumph. rankings, is surprised by his the decider but he served two of his 64 booming Tiafoe know that, but for the sac- Wimbledon run. aces to save two match points before taking the rifices of Alphina and his father Con- He loves the tourna- next two games to reach the third round. stant, he wouldn’t be fulfilling his ment’s unique atmosphere Isner had got into a furious argument with childhood ambitions. but admits to despising grass umpire Mohamed Lahyani the previous evening “It’s great to be at Wimbledon and courts when he first played after Belgian Bemelmans twice got the benefit of just dream-chasing. We had one goal night shifts as a nurse, Tiafoe and his attitude. “It’s cool. I tell them all the on the surface. Hawkeye decisions that left Isner questioning as a kid and here we are,” Tiafoe said. twin brother would live with their time, it’s not even about me. They “I like being here. There’s good whether the line-calling technology had “My mum’s enjoying it. I know father in a cramped office at the sacrificed way more than I did,” he vibes here, it’s pretty prestigious,” he malfunctioned. she’s having a blast. She’s on site Tennis Centre that served as their said yesterday. said. He is no stranger to drama at Wimbledon having talking her mouth off right now.” apartment -- the siblings sleeping on “They had to come to the States, “But I hadn’t played on grass until played for 11 hours and five minutes over three days Constant fled to the United States mattresses on the floor or treatment my mum was working double over- 2014. I hated it. It was quick, low to beat Nicolas Mahut in 2010 -- the longest match from war-torn Sierra Leone in 1993, tables for five night a week. time being a nurse while my dad was bouncing. I didn’t even think it was in tennis history. with his Alphina joining her husband Yet from the hardship, Tiafoe a maintenance worker living at tennis. “It was a tough match. I have of course been in three years later to avoid the civil forged a passion for tennis. College Park. They did loads for me Having found his footing, Tiafoe this situation before where the match has not fin- conflict. From the age of four, Tiafoe and my twin brother. wants to keep chasing his dream deep ished, and I’m not just talking about 2010,” Isner Tiafoe was born two years after would pass the time hitting tennis “We couldn’t be anymore into the tournament. told reporters. It’s not all that uncommon with how that and, with his father working as balls against the walls of their tem- thankful. Right now I’m just returning “It took a while for me to wrap it can rain and whatnot. But I certainly didn’t sleep the head of maintenance at the US porary home and by the time he was the favour. I don’t have an excuse my head around it. like a baby last night. When you’re up two sets and Tennis Association’s Regional 11 he had told his family he was going never to not compete in a match.” “But it’s an honour to play at 4-0 in the third-set tiebreaker and you let that slip Training Centre in Maryland, it wasn’t to be a top player. Benneteau made his Wimbledon Wimbledon,” he added. through, it’s tough. long before the youngster was given All these years later, Tiafoe’s pre- debut in 2004 when Tiafoe was just “Usually I would use the grass “A lot of stuff goes through your head. I’m half his introduction to tennis. diction has come true and he is quick six. season as a pass-time but now I want asleep, I’m not really asleep. We’ve all been there With his mother often working to pay tribute to his parents’ selfless But the world number 63 was no to make a difference.” when you have something weighing on you.” FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018 SPORT 24

Maradona apologises over Colombia-England referee slur

AFP a mea culpa on Instagram. Geiger for the South American Gold Cup semi-final between MOSCOW: Diego Maradona “Caught up by the side’s loss in an ill-tempered Panama and Mexico. (pictured) has apologised for excitement and support for affair. Maradona had attended the questioning the impartiality of Colombia the other day, I said He had told Venezuelan TV Colombia v England match as a the referee in charge of some things that, I admit, are channel Telesur: “I apologise to guest of FIFA and was pictured England’s last-16 penalty unacceptable. all the Colombian people, but before the game in Moscow shootout win over Colombia. “My apologies to FIFA and the players are not to blame. wearing a Colombia shirt. The Argentina legend had its president (Gianni Infantino): “Here is a gentleman (FIFA FIFA had responded, saying landed himself in hot water with even if sometimes my opinions referees boss Pierluigi Collina) it was “extremely sorry” to read FIFA over his outburst at US are different to those of the ref- who decides to choose a referee the comments from “a player official Mark Geiger when he erees I have total respect for who, if he had Googled him, (he who has written the history of described England’s win on their work.” would know) can’t be used for our game”. Tuesday as a “monumental He admitted that “although a match of this magnitude.” It added: “Furthermore, it also robbery”. I sometimes have opinions con- Geiger was suspended from considers the additional com- But after a firm rebuke by trary to those of referees, I have international football for six ments and insinuations made as football’s governing body the absolute respect for the work -- referees do.” Maradona, who Colombia following Argentina’s months after several contro- being entirely inappropriate and 1986 World Cup winner issued not easy -- which (FIFA) and the had come out in support of premature elimination, blamed versial decisions during a 2015 completely unfounded.” Mexico win perfect prep for title triumph, says Juninho

REUTERS are aware they are facing team Mural of Brazil’s that will be more difficult to beat Neymar in Kazan. SOCHI: Brazil’s hard-fought win than Mexico.” over Mexico in the last 16 of the “They know that they are World Cup is the kind of victory good players,” he added. that transforms a team that “They haven’t yet had to play thinks they can win the tour- in top gear. Technically they are Neymar joins Messi nament into one that knows they solid. I think now they are solid can, one of the last Brazilians to emotionally.” lift the trophy has said. Brazil are the only team to and Ronaldo in Every side that goes on to win the World Cup five times become world champions has a and with Germany, Spain and ‘Eureka’ moment, Juninho Pau- Argentina already out they are Kazan mural club lista, the former Middlesbrough favourites to make it six in REUTERS and Atletico Madrid midfielder Moscow on July 15. To the embarrassment of who took home a winner’s After a difficult 1-1 draw with city officials, it turned out that medal in 2002, said. Switzerland in their opening KAZAN: It has been a busy Argentina would be staying at It might be a come from game, Brazil won their next two World Cup for Kazan’s mural the same hotel ahead of tomor- behind win, an unexpected group games 2-0 against Costa artists and in the early hours row’s World Cup last 16 clash victory over a superior team, or Rica and Serbia before beating yesterday they were back at against France with Messi even a piece of luck, the shot that Mexico by the same scoreline in work again painting the face of potentially being able to see the hits the post and goes in the net the last 16. Neymar on a wall behind the Ronaldo mural from his room. rather than out for a goal kick. They now face Belgium, the Brazil team hotel. To avoid to appear to be Brazil’s moment in Russia tournament’s highest scorers, in The Brazil forward, in taking sides in the eternal was weathering Mexico’s early the quarter-finals in Kazan Kazan for today’s quarter-final debate over which of the Spain- storm and coming back to win today. against Belgium, is the third based forwards is the world’s the tie, Juninho said. Juninho said the ‘Eureka’ footballer to receive the honour best player, the city commis- “This team struggled a bit, game for the 2002 team came with Portugal’s Cristiano sioned the smaller side profile they didn’t expect to draw the against Belgium in the last 16 in Ronaldo and Argentina’s Lionel of Messi, also a five-times first game,” he said in an Japan. Messi having already been World Player of the Year. interview. Marc Wilmots had a goal immortalised on the city walls. With Ronaldo and Messi chalked off with the scoreline at While the images of having already departed the Brazil’s forward 0-0 and Belgium never Ronaldo and Messi were cheek- tournament after losses in the Neymar celebrates with recovered. Rivaldo and Ronaldo by-jowl near the Ramada Hotel round of 16, the path is clear for midﬁelder Paulinho after each scored in the second half along with a cheeky message Neymar to challenge the stran- scoring the opening goal Brazil are now more to give Brazil the win and set challenging the Argentine to glehold the pair have had on against Mexico in Samara them on their way to victory. match his rival’s goal tally in such discussions over the last sure of themselves, on Monday. “There was an incident when Brazil, Neymar has his own spot decade. even though they are Belgium scored and the ref near the other official team While the Kazan murals aware they are facing “Then they got it together mentally, they suffered the first chalked it off and that could hotel, the Mirage. have been popular with and they got two wins. And then 20 minutes but after that they have made things complicated The three-storey portrait of picture-snapping fans, one in team that will be against Mexico, it’s the knockout composed themselves. I think for us,” Juninho recalled. Ronaldo was painted to Moscow proved more contro- more difficult to beat round, you can’t lose, that worry Brazil now go into the (quarter- “So we struggled a bit and welcome the five-times World versial when it emerged that than Mexico: Juninho is on your mind, and Brazil got final) match against Belgium when we won we thought, ‘we Player of the Year when Por- the man tasked with decorating Paulista through it, they passed that emo- with a lot more confidence. got through that, we passed a tugal played in the capital of the city for the World Cup had tional test. Brazil are now more sure of test’. That strengthens the feeling Tatarstan in the 2017 Confed- commissioned a 12-storey por- “Brazil were very strong themselves, even though they in the squad.” erations Cup. trait of his wife. Can Lingard be England’s X-factor? AFP Sometimes it is difficult to farmed out for multiple loan pinpoint what exactly Lingard spells before he made his full MOSCOW: Jesse Lingard has provides and he has a frustrating debut at Old Trafford in August earned himself a reputation as a tendency to go missing for The tournament in 2014. man for the big occasion at periods. But the 25-year-old has Russia has showcased Lingard, who admires Spain’s Manchester United. Now he could the knack of coming up with Andres Iniesta, rose through the be England’s X-factor at the something special when it really the best and worst ranks at United when Ryan Giggs, World Cup. counts. of Lingard -- a clutch Rio Ferdinand and Wayne The tournament in Russia has Former Manchester United of missed chances in Rooney were still at the club, but showcased the best and worst of captain Michael Carrick, who has it was Paul Scholes whom Lingard -- a clutch of missed just joined the club’s coaching England’s opening Lingard looked up to most. chances in England’s opening win staff, says Lingard’s best attribute win against Tunisia “Whatever I got I had to make against Tunisia before an out- is his movement. before an outstanding sure I made the most of it,” standing 20-metre curling effort “He moves off the ball very 20-metre curling effort Lingard told reporters on Sunday. in the 6-1 Panama rout. well. It’s something that sounds He said Manchester United Now he is expected to face quite simple, but it’s difficult to in the 6-1 Panama rout. manager Jose Mourinho had been Sweden tomorrow’s quarter-final defend against,” he told United’s a key factor in his success. in Samara. website. “He’s been great with me,” Lingard, for so long a fringe “He senses where the space everyone wants to get on the ball Lingard said. “He’s put that trust player for United and England, is and how to use it. I wouldn’t and do something on the ball. Off and faith in me to play me in big does not have the profile of a necessarily say he’s a dribbler the ball, he’s very effective.” matches week in, week out. It was Kane or even Manchester City’s with skills and tricks but he’s An FA Youth Cup winner in up to me to repay that faith by Raheem Sterling, who came to dynamic. 2011, the livewire forward who playing well and putting in the England’s midﬁelder Jesse Lingard reacts during the Russia Russia following an outstanding “How he plays, he is unique plays with a smile on his face had performances. He’s played a 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match against Colombia season for the Premier League in some ways. You don’t see so to bide his time before making massive part in my development in Moscow on Tuesday. champions. much of that in the game as his name at his boyhood club, and I can only thank him for that.”