MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2015 SPORTS

Soccer schools: China’s play for World Cup glory

HONG KONG/SHANGHAI: Wang Shijie, Manchester City - Beijing’s biggest Scolari, are current Asian club champi- qualifies for the tournament. For the clubs regularly visit China in their sum- 11, is a rising star among the nearly investment in the sport overseas. ons but China’s national team has a long clubs, China is a huge, still untapped mer off-season, drawing huge crowds. 3,000 students at Guangzhou The tie-up will help Abu Dhabi- way to go to World Cup glory. Even in market for fans, merchandise sales and Chinese authorities are squarely Evergrande’s huge soccer academy in owned City tap the fast-growing sports Asia, fierce rivals Japan and South Korea TV audiences. behind the drive to develop local foot- south China. He wants to join the nation- and entertainment market in the world’s have a far stronger reputation in the The country aims to grow its sports ball, providing the vital political support al team and help achieve President Xi most populous nation, and at the same game. market to 5 trillion yuan ($782 billion) by to the move. Local governments have Jinping’s dream of winning the World time give China international soccer The only time China qualified for the 2025, around a five-fold leap from its helped subsidise television licence fees Cup. knowhow, on the field and off. finals of the World Cup was in 2002, current size, and football will play a big to support local teams, while the recent In schools like this around the coun- “The Chinese government wanted to when the tournament was jointly hosted part. That’s good news for franchises Manchester City deal was led by a state- try, China is training an army of young make a statement,” said Alexander Jarvis, by South Korea and Japan. China was tapping into local media distribution backed firm. players it hopes will help the nation chairman of Blackbridge Cross Borders, dismissed at the group stage without rights, sponsorship and merchandising. Xi himself visited City’s academy last shake off its lowly place in the world’s which brokers deals between Chinese scoring a goal and conceding nine. It’s also a boon for sports-focused com- month during a trip to Britain, where he football ladder: 84th out of 209 coun- investors and European teams. Its hopes of qualifying for the 2018 panies such as adidas AG and Nike Inc. posed for a selfie with Argentinian strik- tries, just above Qatar and below teams Jarvis said he was currently working finals have been dealt a blow after a “The willingness to pay for sports isn’t er Sergio Aguero and British Prime like Jordan, Montenegro and Gabon. on six deals with Chinese firms looking goalless draw with tiny Hong Kong last limited to watching them; membership Minister David Cameron. “When I join the national team, I will to buy into clubs in Europe - including in month. at sports clubs is up, as is the amount However, corruption and player quali- do my best to help China become World England, Germany and Spain - and that There is no evidence that investing in people are willing to spend on sporting ty remain serious hurdles in Chinese Cup champions,” Wang, wearing golden- there would be even bigger Chinese football clubs overseas has contributed equipment,” said Liu Yue, a former football. A crackdown to clean up the coloured boots and a yellow jersey, told investment in 2016, usually with a to any Asian soccer team’s prowess. national football player and now a com- game has seen at least nine officials, four Reuters during a break in training at the China-based soccer school or training Businessmen from Singapore, Malaysia, mentator. judges, 13 footballers or coaches and 17 school that has 50 full-size pitches and base thrown in. Thailand, India and China all have stakes Increasingly, the way into China’s club workers jailed or punished since coaches flown in from European giant “Pretty much every football club in European clubs. football market is made easier by pro- 2009. Real Madrid. which has some type of deal with the moting the local game. “A short-term goal for China is to gain Led by Xi, an avid fan, China has Chinese will have an academy. It’s very AMBITIOUS GOALS Germany’s adidas and former Brazil a leading role in Asia,” said Fernando clearly made it a goal to become a soc- much Xi’s long-term dream of World Cup But if the investments help improve star Ronaldo have launched football Sanchez Cipitria, technical director at cer superpower. A consortium led by glory, and building the infrastructure on China’s soccer infrastructure, it could academies and England’s David the academy in Guangdong and a for- state-backed China Media Capital took a the ground is exactly what they want.” lead the way to a successful bid to host Beckham is an “ambassador” for Chinese mer player for Real Madrid. “For China to $400 million stake last week in the own- Guangzhou Evergrande, coached by the World Cup finals, sports executives football. win the World Cup it could be a long er of English Premier League champions World Cup-winning Brazilian Luiz Felipe say. The home nation automatically Premier League and other European journey.” — Reuters Lyon beaten 2-0 in final league match

LYON: Lyon bid a disappointing farewell three points above to its famous stadium as it lost 2-0 to Toulouse, which lost 3-2 at home to Angers in its last Ligue 1 match at the Lorient. Bottom club Troyes picked up its Stade Gerland on Saturday. More than a second point in nine matches with a 1-1 100 former Lyon players were present at draw at Reims, but is nevertheless 12 the Stade Gerland - which has been points from safety. Lyon’s home since the club was founded Ajaccio drew 1-1 with Nantes. Lyon in 1950. was trying to end a four-match run with- The players on the pitch were booed out a victory. However, it was Angers off by their own fans after a dismal per- which took the lead in the 17th minute formance. The last competitive match at when Thomas Mangani lofted a free kick the Gerland will be on Dec. 16, against toward the far post and N’Doye rose Tours in the league cup. above the Lyon defense to head power- Cheikh N’Doye scored in each half for fully into the right side of the net. The Angers and, apart from a brief period Angers captain almost doubled his tally during which hit the six minutes from halftime but his header bar and Alexandre Lacazette had a goal from Gilles Sunu’s free kick went just ruled out for offside, Lyon rarely threat- past the left post. ened. Lyon seemed reinvigorated after the Angers moved second, 15 points break and Valbuena hit the bar nine min- behind runaway leader Paris Saint- utes into the second half. Lacazette also Germain and a point above Caen, which went close, as well as having an effort lost 2-1 against struggling Lille. ruled out when he and a teammate were It was Lille’s second successive win, clearly offside on Clement Grenier’s pass. after having not won in two months pri- Angers weathered the storm and all or to its surprise victory over Saint- but sealed the match nine minutes from Etienne midweek. Lille leapt out of the time when N’Doye headed Billy relegation zone and into 12th spot, Ketkeophomphone’s corner into the ahead of the rest of the weekend’s bottom right corner. Caen could have games. moved back into second but Lille FROSINONE: Frosinone’s Luca Paganini, left, vies for the ball with Chievo Verona’s Alessandro Gamberini during a Serie A soccer match in Lyon, winless in five matches in all secured a first away victory of the season Frosinone, Italy, yesterday. Chievo won 2-0. — AP competition, slipped to fifth after thanks to Yassine Benzia’s double. Benzia Monaco won 2-1 at Bastia, thanks to a opened the scoring in the 28th, finishing double from Lacina Traore. “The strength off a swift counterattack by rounding of great teams is their ability to react Caen goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre and Van Gaal baffled by fans’ and today we’re not a great team,” slotting into an empty net. Valbuena said. “We’re having catastroph- Caen defender Damien Da Silva also ic performances and even today there cleared Renato Civelli’s header off the wasn’t really much reaction. We’re at our line, while Lille could have been award- criticism of dour United lowest.” ed a penalty too for a handball by Lyon coach Hurbert Fournier said he Alaeddine Yahia at the end of the first MANCHESTER: Louis van Gaal insists he still has madness, he deserved to be sent off. But the refer- this season. is not planning on quitting, while club half. Lille did get a second shortly before the support of Manchester United’s frustrated fans ee told me he didn’t see it, which is fair enough. I “They had chances of course but we deserved a president Jean-Michel Aulas assured he the hour when Vercoutre could only despite claiming he can’t understand their plea for believe it,” Bilic said. West Ham twice hit the post point. I have nothing but praise for my players. will lead the team at least for the next push Sofiane Boufal’s lob into the path more attacking football during a dour 0-0 draw and had one-on-one chances for both Victor Moses They did magnificently,” Bilic said. “It is not very two matches - against Valencia in the of Benzia, who fired under the bar. Caen against West Ham. and Mauro Zayate as they threatened to add a vic- common for West Ham to come here and take Champions League and at PSG next set up a nervy final 20 minutes as Andy United’s failure to score for the fifth time at Old tory at Old Trafford to the away wins they have something at Manchester United. It is a good day, Sunday. Delort converted from the penalty spot Trafford this season means four of their last six enjoyed at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City especially with a clean sheet.” — AFP Bastia slipped into the bottom three, after Djibril Sidibe hauled down Herve home games have finished in goalless draws. Van below safety on goal difference. It is Bazile in the area.— AP Gaal’s team, without injured top scorer Wayne Rooney, were guilty of poor finishing against a West Ham side who arguably had the better Marseille fights back for chances to have won for the first time in five Spanish League results/standings Premier League matches. Not for the first time this draw against Montpellier season, disgruntled United supporters chanted “attack, attack, attack” during the game and booed MARSEILLE: Marseille twice came back to gone out of play before Georges-Kevin 2, Eibar 1; Saturday, December 5; Deportivo Coruna 1, Sevilla 1; Granada CF 0, Atletico secure a 2-2 draw at home to Montpellier in Nkoudou’s cross. It was Marseille’s sixth home Madrid 2; Real Betis 1, Celta Vigo 1; Real Madrid 4, Getafe 1; Valencia 1, Barcelona 1. van Gaal’s side off at the end as they remained unbeaten at home this season but slipped to Ligue 1 yesterday, while Bordeaux recorded a match without a win and left it ninth P WD L FAPts Real Betis 14 54 513 18 19 fourth in the Premier League. crucial 1-0 win against fellow struggler although Michel’s side will be overtaken if Barcelona 14 11 1234 13 34 Espanyol 13 51 714 24 16 Yet, asked about the mounting criticism of his Guingamp. Rennes wins at Saint-Etienne later. Atletico 14 10 2220 6 32 conservative tactics, United boss van Gaal said: “I Montpellier top scorer Casimir Ninga Montpellier moved a point above the bot- Real Sociedad 14 43 716 19 15 notched his second double in three matches tom three, above Guingamp on goal differ- Real Madrid 14 93 232 12 30 don’t understand that they are shouting ‘attack, Getafe 14 42 815 23 14 attack’ because we are the attacking team and not to twice put his side ahead. The 22-year-old ence, but was leapfrogged by Bordeaux Celta Vigo 14 74 325 22 25 Rayo Vallecano13 42 714 23 14 West Ham. “That is not only today but in every scored his first following a one-two with Ryad which is up to 12th, three points above the Deportivo 14 57 221 14 22 Boudebouz and doubled his tally with an drop zone in a tight bottom half of the table. Sporting Gijon13 33 712 20 12 game it’s like that because we are always more Villarreal 13 63 416 14 21 dominating than our opponents. effort that went in off the left post. Both Bordeaux and Guingamp were hop- Granada CF 14 25 715 24 11 Valencia 14 55 418 11 20 “When they don’t like the style of play for Remy Cabella, who progressed through ing to avoid a third consecutive defeat but the ranks at Montpellier and spent five years the home side, which was booed off the pitch Club 13 62 521 16 20 Malaga 13 24 7 713 10 Manchester United everybody knows it didn’t fit. in the first team, starred against his old side at halftime by its fans, managed to break the Eibar 14 55 418 16 20 Las Palmas 13 24 710 19 10 All the teams of mine are playing like that. “When I have been in Barcelona or Bayern Munchen or AZ and netted the first equalizer, although the deadlock on the hour mark when Cedric Sevilla 14 54 519 19 19 Levante 13 24 710 24 10 (Alkmaar), we have played like that. ball appeared to come off his arm in the Yambere headed in Wahbi Khazri’s corner. “But I think when I meet the fans on the streets buildup. Guingamp almost leveled 12 minutes later as or wherever, they are very happy with Manchester Bouna Sarr fired in Marseille’s second after Nicolas Benezet’s effort crashed off the left Agirretxe’s brace gives united and with me, but you have to score. “And the officials did not spot that the ball had upright. —AP when you don’t score, then it lets points go. Because of that now we are three points behind Sociedad 2-1 win over Eibar Leicester City because we don’t score one goal today and that is the difference.” BARCELONA: Real Sociedad striker the relegation zone. Eibar stayed ninth. scored his second goal “We are happy because it was very MOMENT OF MADNESS in the 90th minute for a 2-1 comeback important to get our second win at Van Gaal admitted that he may need to add victory over Eibar in yesterday’s Basque home after our poor start to the season,” another striker to his squad, but he claimed that Country derby in the Spanish league. Agirretxe said. “We have started to move even a player of the quality of Manchester City’s Agirretxe tapped in the late winner away from the bottom and now can look Sergio Aguero or Barcelona’s Luis Suarez would not after substitute Bruma used his thigh to toward the top.” be guaranteed to score. The United manager, knock on Esteban Granero’s lobbed pass. Eibar started strongly and Baston net- whose side will have to score to get the win they Agirretxe’s first goal at Anoeta Stadium ted his team-high seventh goal of the need at Wolfsburg on Tuesday to progress in the came in the 10th to cancel out Borja campaign in the fourth minute from Sergi Champions League, added: “There is always a ques- “Baston” Gonzalez’s early opener. The Enrich’s pass. But Agirretxe soon equal- tion mark but I’m pleased with the performance. “When you create these kind of chances you have goals were his 10th and 11th of the sea- ized when Sergio Canales raced down the to finish. But you can’t say we played badly. son, making him the league’s third-lead- left flank and sent in a cross that Eibar “The most important aspect of football we ing scorer. Only Barcelona pair Neymar defender Aleksandar Pantic couldn’t suc- didn’t do. My opinion about scoring goals is not (14) and Luis Suarez (13) have scored cessfully clear and Agirretxe fired in. Later, only about composure but also a lot of luck. “I am more in the competition through 14 Villarreal hosts Rayo Vallecano, Athletic not so worried but we have to pass over this period rounds. Bilbao welcomes Malaga, and Las Palmas because it is too long that we don’t score.” After failing to win at home this sea- visits Sporting Gijon. Leader Barcelona Meanwhile, West Ham manager Slaven Bilic BORDEAUX: Guingamp’s Belgian forward Nill de Pauw (top) falls over Bordeaux German son under former coach David Moyes, drew 1-1 at Valencia on Saturday, allow- claimed United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger defender Diego Contento during the French Ligue1 football match between Bordeaux Sociedad’s second win in three rounds ing second-place Atletico Madrid and should have been sent off for what he said was an and Caen yesterday at the Matmut Atlantique stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern under new manager Eusebio Sacristan third-place Real Madrid to close the gap elbow to defender Winston Reid in an off-the-ball France. — AFP lifted it into 13th place, five points above with victories. — AP incident just before half time. “It is a moment of