SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2014

FAN FERVOR Messi breaks Iranian hearts

BELO HORIZONTE: No time for tears A stunning injury time strike from Lionel as Korea loom Messi spared Argentina’s blushes as they qualified for the last PORTO ALEGRE: Coach Vahid Halilhodzic has told Algeria now is 16 of the World Cup with a not the time for tears ahead of today’s date with South Korea hard fought 1-0 win over where defeat will spell yet another premature ending to a World in Belo Horizonte. Cup campaign. Argentina had been thankful to The Algerians, desperate to end a seven-match World Cup three fine second-half saves from winless run, are pointless and bottom after a 2-1 loss to Group goalkeeper Sergio Romero just to be lev- el heading into stoppage time, whilst Iran H favourites Belgium. had also had a strong penalty appeal waved With the notable exception of their stunning away when Pablo Zabaleta appeared to 1982 upset of Germany aside, the story of foul inside the area. their World Cup experiences does not make However, despite having endured a quiet happy reading for the proud Algerians. game by his standards, Messi produced a The north Africans have never made it moment of magic when his side needed it most past the first round, and Sofiane to register his second goal of the tournament. Feghouli’s penalty against Belgium was Argentina now lead Group F with maximum their first goal in the competition in 28 points from two games and will be confirmed as years. group winners should Saturday’s late game between With the stakes high, Bosnian-born Nigeria and Bosnia Hercegovina fail to produce a win- Halilhodzic told his men to man up. ner. “They made the game very difficult for us,” admitted “Now is not the time for crying, this Argentine boss Alejandro Sabella. match is decisive,” the 62-year-old noted “Messi was marked very tightly, but he showed persever- disciplinarian said. Victory meanwhile in ance, patience, attitude and always looked for the goal. He Porto Alegre for South Korea would put never gave up.” them on the verge of qualifying. Iran coach also praised Messi’s match-defining Pacy Korea produced a solid debut in contribution, but claimed his side had also been undone by Serbian Friday’s 1-1 draw with Russia, a perform- referee Milorad Mazic’s decision not to award a penalty when his side ance that gave coach Hong Myung-Bo’s were on top in the second-half. “Messi was fantastic, but the referee wasn’t,” said the former Real team encouragement after a lacklustre Madrid coach. “I don’t understand it, he had to have seen it was a penal- build-up. Korean defender Park Joo-ho is ty. He was five metres away, there is no way he couldn’t have seen it. “I predicting a tight tussle. “I don’t think either have the right to say this and I only hope I am now not punished for team will have a lot of attacking chances,” he telling the truth.” said. Sabella had resorted to the 4-3-3 system preferred by Messi with the “If we can score on the chances that we do four-time World Player of the Year joined by Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio get, we should have a good shot at winning.” Aguero in attack. Korean striker Ji Dong-Won suggested the However, despite enjoying the vast majority of possession in the first- signs were positive for the 2002 semi-finalists half, La Albiceleste struggled to create chances from open play against a who are appearing at their eighth consecu- well-organised Iranian defence. tive World Cup but who have only made it The first opening fell to Higuain from a fine pass by Fernando Gago, past the first round twice since 1986. but Iranian ‘keeper Alireza Haghighi bravely smothered the ball at the “I watched the game between Napoli striker’s feet. Algeria and Belgium,” the Bundesliga- Angel di Maria and Messi from a free-kick then fired over from the based forward who was on the bench edge of the area, but Argentina were having some joy from set-pieces for Russia said this week. and Marcos Rojo and Ezequiel Garay should have done better when they “Algeria’s attacking players are failed to hit the target from close range from fine deliveries by Messi. quick and each has their own qual- Iran were also dangerous from set-pieces, though, as they could even ity. Algeria are not an easy target. have gone ahead before the break when headed just over “If we play the match (against from a corner. It was the Asian side who threatened again at the start of the second Algeria) like we did with Russia, period as Reza Ghoochanneijhad forced a fine low save from Romero then our chances are good.” with a flashing header at the near post before Dejagah’s appeals for a Defender Kim Young-gwon penalty were turned down when he tumbled in the area under pressure believes the opening run-out will from Zabaleta. have proved beneficial to the Messi then had his first clear chance of the game as he raced onto young Korean squad. “We didn’t Javier Mascherano’s pass but curled the ball just wide of the target. have a lot of players with World Cup Romero was forced to come to his side’s rescue again moments later he experience, but after getting the first got fingertips to a fine header from Dejagah to turn the ball behind and match out of the way, I think we have the Monaco stopper denied Reza once more as Iran threatened to nick all regained our confidence,” he said. three points on the counter-attack two minutes from time. Korea will be looking to the likes of Instead it was Argentina who snatched victory at the last as Messi created Son Heung-min, elected man-of-the- the half yard of space he needed on the edge of the area before leaving match against Russia, to put in another Haghighi with no chance as he curled the ball just inside the far corner on his sparky effort in attacking midfield. favoured left foot. —AFP Son, one of three Koreans who will miss the finale against Belgium if they pick up a second booking, picked out Feghouli as one of Algeria’s dangermen. “Feghouli showed great form with Valencia this season and De Rossi in fitness race proved to be a threat on the field. Knowing that, we have to make sure he doesn’t become a threat,” said the Bayern Leverkusen star. as Italy look to Uruguay As Feghouli, one of nine players against Belgium born in France, concedes, the pressure is on. “It will be historic if we qualify, we have to fight like lions,” said RECIFE: Italy’s World Cup woes are set to Fears that Italy are suffering from the La Liga winger, who represented his country of birth at under deepen with reports that midfielder fatigue, having also had to prepare for a 18 and 21 level, before switching allegiances to Algeria. “We have Daniele De Rossi could miss their Group D Costa Rica side already used to playing in quality players, we’ll do everything to go through,” the 24-year-old decider against Uruguay yesterday after hot and humid conditions, were borne out told his club’s website. Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra said there being forced to undergo tests on his right by the players comments after the game. were positives to extract from their first game. “Despite the loss we calf. The four-time champions made a solid “In the second half we suffered, the have a solid team and don’t forget we put Belgium, one of the best start to the tournament thanks to a 2-1 win heat made it difficult to remain lucid,” said sides in Europe, under pressure.”—AFP over England but Azzurri hopes of making Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio. “But we the last 16 are now delicately balanced fol- didn’t concede a second goal so we’ve lowing a shock 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica. maintained our chances of qualifying.” With Costa Rica already qualified, Italy With England already eliminated, Italy and need a draw against Uruguay in Natal if Uruguay-who both have three points-will Matches on TV they are to avoid the fate of England, who battle for the second qualifying spot. (Local Timings) were eliminated by Friday’s result in Recife. But because Uruguay have a worse goal De Rossi, meanwhile, could miss the difference, they need to beat Italy if they FIFA World Cup game after finishing Friday’s clash with a are to repeat their exploits of 2010 when sore right calf which required him to they reached the semi-finals. Azzurri coach undergo an MRI scan. Cesare Prandelli admitted many of his Belgium v Russia 19:00 Team doctor Enrico Castellacci is players lacked freshness against Costa beIN SPORTS 1 HD expected to announce later Saturday Rica. With Uruguay also used to playing in beIN SPORTS 2 HD whether the Roma midfielder will be ruled such temperatures, he said “maintaining beIN SPORTS 11 HD out or not. order” on Tuesday will be crucial. beIN SPORTS 13 HD The loss of De Rossi, considered one of “I saw a lot of players who were tired, the pillars of Italy’s side, would prove a not just (Andrea) Pirlo,” said Prandelli beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR blow ahead of a match that Italy can ill responding to a question about the lack of South Korea v Algeria 22:00 afford to lose four years after suffering the impact from the experienced Italy mid- embarrassment, as defending champions, fielder, whose pinpoint passing had unset- beIN SPORTS 1 HD of first round elimination. tled the English in the opening game. beIN SPORTS 2 HD Uruguay appear to have the momen- “Among the problems we have to now beIN SPORTS 11 HD tum having bounced back from a 3-1 address is trying to maintain better order defeat to Costa Rica in their Group D open- on the pitch so that we can allocate our beIN SPORTS 13 HD er with a 2-1 win over England thanks to a resources better.” He added: “I’ve said it beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR double from Liverpool striker Luiz Suarez. before. We’re not as explosive as the teams “Right now, we have to focus solely on from Latin America. Tomorrow what we need to do against Suarez and “It’s going to be an especially challeng- United States v Portugal 1:01 company,” said Italy forward Antonio ing match. We played them last year in the beIN SPORTS 1 HD Cassano after making his World Cup debut Confederations Cup and after we played as a first-half replacement for midfielder well for 35 minutes, they took over. beIN SPORTS 2 HD Thiago Motta. The Azzurri were a pale “But right now, we have to chase all beIN SPORTS 11 HD shadow of the side that looked so in con- negative thoughts away. We have to pre- beIN SPORTS 13 HD trol against England in hot and humid pare from a mental and psychological beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR Manaus last week. point of view.” —AFP