SPORT Tuesday 3 July 2018 PAGEE | 18 PAGEPAG | 19 ‘Pointless’ to look ‘Remember‘Rem you’re beyond Colombia,mbia, one oof us’, Uruguay says Southgatehgate ttellell GGriezmann Brazil’s Neymar (left) scores their first goal during their FIFA 2018 World Cup Roundound of of 1166 matchmatch agaiagainstnst Mexico Mexico atat the the SamaraSamara ArenaArena yesterday.yesterday. Neymar dazzles as Brazil storm into quarter-finals BRAZIL MEXICO REUTERS YESTERDAY'S RESULTS Itt beganbegegan whenwhen he whilewhilwhw e preferringpreferringing to talkk aboutaaboout hishis darteded acrossacrocross thethe edgeedge ofof improvingimimprmmproving side,side, whow seemem to beb SAMARA: Neymar barged his BRAZIL 2-0 MEXICO the area beforebefbe ore a perfectperfect findingfindndn ingi their rhythmrhythm afterafterr a third 2 0 way into the World Cup lime- backheelkheel releasedreleased thethe successivesucccessiesssivev 2-02-0 victory.victory.y NEYMAR JR - 51' light with a goal, an assist and excellentellenent WiWWillian,llian, wwhosehose FIRMINO - 88' another helping of histrionics BELGIUM 3-2 JAPAN low croscrosss ffifizzedzzed intintoo ththee as Brazil roared into the dangergere areaareaea wherewhere NeymarNeymar quarter-finals with a 2-0 slid inn too turnturn the ballb homehome victory over Mexico yesterday. TODAY'S FIXTURES for his secondsecoond goalgoalal ofo the the The Paris St Germain tournament.namnament. forward was both architect SWEDEN VS SWITZERLAND Itt waswas a chochokingkingingg bblblobloww 5.00PM and executioner for Brazil, for Mexico,MMexiexico, whowh hadha who inflicted a seventh COLOMBIA VS ENGLAND beenn the betterbettteter sidede straight last-16 exit on the 9.00PM for thethhe openingopenpening halff central Americans, sliding an hour,hoour, butbu it was home in the second half and not thetht mannermannnner ofof then teeing up Roberto Firmino late ever really being put to the sword. defeat but Neymar’sNeymamar’s habithahabibit on. For all their quasi-mythological of constantlyy hittinghittinting thethhe Yet the less attractive side of attacking traditions, this Brazil side deck that mostost irkedirkedd theth his game was also on display, as he have a pragmatism that keeps them Mexico coach.h. writhed on the floor, seemingly in in check in such a way that you “Unfortunately,unately,, andd agony, after Mexico’s Miguel Layun cannot see them ever truly cutting it is a shamehame forfor had made the slightest contact with loose at this tournament. football, we wastedwasteed a his ankle, before making an imme- Having kept clean sheets in lot of time becauseecausee of diate and miraculous recovery. seven of their previous eight games, one player,”,” JuanJuauan That should not overshadow they were never going to commit Carlos Osorioo said.saaidid. his generally positive performance, men forward and allow Mexico to Brazil, whoho will however, as the five-times cham- pick them off in the same way that have to do pions beat an otherwise stubborn Germany did in the group stage. without defensivensive Mexico, whose World Cup began That is not to say that they midfielderd er with such promise with a victory were not under the cosh in the early Casemiro inn the over champions Germany, but stages, however, as Hirving Lozano quarters aftererrh hehe ended in familiar fashion in the first had an effort blocked after two picked up hishis knockout round. minutes, as did Hector Herrera, but second booking,ingng, It was the seventh World Cup as the first half wore on, Brazil got had to wait untilununtil running that Brazil have reached on top in the stifling Samara heat. the 88th minuteutete the last eight, where they will now A glaring spotlight had been on to put thethehe face Belgium or Japan, while Mexico Neymar after his opening three per- match to bed.d. have not made it to that stage since formances saw him miss a litany of Neymar wwasas Neymar they hosted the tournament in chances, frequently squander pos- the architect,iteitecct, celebrates 1986. session and spend far too long on crossing for Firmino,Firminono, after Mexico, who enjoyed an the turf. who is becomingommingin somethingsomsomeethithhinng ofo a scoring the enviable recent record against Yet he answered a number ‘supersub’ foror Brazil,Brazirazil, ttoo tatapp ththee baballalll opening Brazil having won seven of their of questions with his display and home. goal previous 15 matches against them, a decisive finish early in the Brazil coachach TiteTitte waswwaas unsurpris-unsurppris- against were a threat on the counter in the second half from a move that he ingly supportivertiveve of NeymNeNeymar,ar,, disdis-s- Mexico first half but then faded without had started himself. missing accusationsusatsations of playacting,playactintinng, yesterday. 18 SPORT TUESDAY 3 JULY 2018 England’s ‘Pointless’ to look beyond hungry to end 12-year knockout Colombia, says Southgate drought AFP AP England’s coach Gareth MOSCOW: England coach Southgate gestures on the MOSCOW: Young and inex- Gareth Southgate said it was touchline during the Russia perienced, England is still “pointless” to look beyond his 2018 World Cup Group G hungry to beat Colombia and team’s World Cup last-16 tie match against Belgium at end its run of 12 years without against Colombia today despite the Kaliningrad Stadium in winning a World Cup the wide open nature of their Kaliningrad on Thursday. knockout game. side of draw. England has the joint- Following Spain’s surprise youngest team left in the exit against hosts Russia, England tournament along with are the only team remaining in France, and the team with their half of the draw to have players who have the fewest previously lifted the trophy. international appearances. But they have not won a Today’s game against knockout game at a major tour- Colombia in the round of 16 nament in 12 years, since David is “a great opportunity to go Beckham’s free-kick sealed a 1-0 beyond where more experi- victory over Ecuador at the 2006 enced teams went before and World Cup. I think they’re relishing the “I think we’ve been in this chance,” coach Gareth position before many times over Southgate said yeserday. the last however many years,” “You want to be involved said Southgate. in the games that matter and “It’s pointless about us even the lads have the chance to thinking about what might write their own stories now.” happen after tomorrow’s game. The last time England We’re focusing on tomorrow’s won a World Cup knockout performance and then maybe game - or any knockout game things will fall into place.” - was a 1-0 victory over Victory against Colombia would Ecuador in the 2006 World send England through to a Cup. quarter-final against Sweden or “We are the youngest Switzerland. If they made it past team left in and we are the that hurdle, Croatia or Russia most inexperienced team left would be waiting in the last four. in, but we’ve got some old However, Southgate used fogeys as well who help the England’s shock defeat to tiny younger ones to get through Iceland in the last 16 at Euro 2016 it and show super lead- as a warning not to get carried ership,” Southgate said. away. They then lost 1-0 to Belgium poor record in penalty shootouts two games, but Colombia star dangerman for England’s One key player is “Maybe it’s a trap we’ve as Southgate made wholesale is well-documented -- they have James Rodriguez remains a defence. The Colombian is back 22-year-old Dele Alli, who fallen into in the past,” he said. changes, but the England boss lost six out of seven at major doubt. on top form at Monaco after two has recovered from a thigh “A few of these players were wants his players to stick with tournaments. The Bayern Munich mid- dismal years at Manchester strain that sidelined him from in the last (European) champi- the same philosophy that has Southgate himself missed the fielder limped off with a calf United and Chelsea. England’s last two games. onships. There was a fixture they brought them success. decisive spot-kick in a Euro 96 problem during the first half of “I think you have to At the older end of the felt was one that should be won. “It’s a game we’re really semi-final with Germany, but the Colombia’s 1-0 win over Senegal, remember when he was playing scale, the 32-year-old Ashley And then having gone behind looking forward to, the sort of former defender believes his although Jose Pekerman said it in England he was recovering Young said he would be keen from being ahead and feeling match you want to be involved team are ready for any such was not a “serious injury”. from an ACL (anterior cruciate to take a penalty if the comfortable they realised that in,” Southgate said. situation. “Whether James plays or not ligament) injury,” Southgate said. Colombia game goes to a maybe some of that approach “We’ve got to concentrate on “We’ve been through the changes the profile of the left “I think he was never quite shootout. wasn’t correct. our football, playing with the various drills to prepare,” he side a little bit, but they have very at full fitness but he seems to England fans and players “I don’t expect the same same style we’ve played said. “Once we get to that point good players to come into the have rediscovered that at have long worried about the tomorrow.” throughout the tournament. we sort of know our ranking of team,” Southgate said. Monaco. team’s poor run in shootouts, England scored eight goals “We need to play with the players. We’re prepared but “We’ve analysed them and “We know the quality of his without a win since 1996, but in their opening two matches, same mentality and freedom and there’s a lot of football before we think we know the areas finishing.