SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 2021 10 Busquets to return for Spain after negative virus test Neymar inspires Brazil into quarters after Peru cruise Brazil beat Peru 4-0 to go top of Copa America Group B Brazil become first team• at tournament to register two wins Spain’s Sergio Busquets heads the ball during a training session (file photo) AFP | Madrid Colombia draw 68 therefore not trained for 12 0-0• with Venezuela goals have been scored by days. Busquets is more like- Neymar in 107 games for pain captain Sergio ly to return for Spain’s final Brazil SBusquets travelled with the group game against Slovakia AFP | Brasilia squad yesterday for their sec- on Wednesday. ond Euro 2020 Group E game “The captain of the nation- tearful Neymar inspired against Poland after being al team, Sergio Busquets, will hosts Brazil to become given the all-clear from Cov- join the Spain squad this Fri- Athe first side to qualify star waited to take the spot id-19 following a first positive day and will travel with the for the Copa America knock- kick, Argentine referee Patricio test. team to Seville having over- out stages following a 4-0 win Loustau went over to check the Busquets has been allowed come COVID 19,” the federa- over Peru in Rio de Janeiro on pitchside monitor and reversed to rejoin the squad, the Span- tion confirmed in a statement Thursday. his decision. Brazil’s Neymar scores the second goal against Peru ish football federation con- yesterday morning. Goals from Alex Sandro, firmed, after a negative result “The Catalan has given a Neymar, Everton Ribeiro and dismissed over a lack of evi- The Manchester City forward Fractious in his latest PCR test -- but he negative result in the last PCR Richarlison gave the holders a dence. picked out Alex Sandro arriving Venezuela held out under is not expected to play against test and, once all the health ninth straight win and a perfect His 68th goal in 107 games for unmarked six yards out to fire intense pressure in a fractious Poland. protocols have been fulfilled, six points from two games in his country took him to within home. local derby against Colombia The midfielder had to he will be able to return with Group B as Peru dropped to the nine of the record set by Brazil Fabinho was next to test his to secure their first point at the self-isolate at home after his the national team in the next bottom. great Pele. sights but fizzed a drive from 25 Copa America after a 0-0 draw positive test on June 6 and has few hours.” There was little between the “It’s an honour for me to be yards just wide. in Goiania. two sides in the first half but part of the Brazilian national It was a cagey affair, with Peru Goalkeeper Wuilker Farinez Brazil’s greater quality made team history. To be honest, my enjoying the greater possession made a string of fine saves, par- Today’s games the difference after the break as dream was always to play for but neither side really threat- ticularly in the closing stages, to Euro 2020 talisman Neymar inspired them the Selecao, to wear this jersey. I ened again until the stroke of keep out the Colombians, who to an ultimately comfortable never imagined achieving these halftime when Alex Sandro shot saw a late Miguel Borja goal Group F: Hungary vs France (16:00, Budapest) victory. numbers.” over from the edge of the box. ruled out for offside. Group F: Portugal vs Germany (19:00, Munich) “It’s emotional for me because It took Brazil 10 minutes to After the break, Brazil contin- Colombia also finished the Group E: Spain vs Poland (22:00, Seville) many things happened in these get a shot on goal, and when ued to create the better chances game with 10 men after Luis last two years that were diffi- they did it came from the un- as rightback Danilo got forward Diaz was sent off deep into in- cult, complicated,” said Neymar likely boot of defensive mid- to lash a half-volley wide from jury time. Results *Scores as of closing as the tears flowed. fielder Fred, who fired over. the edge of the area. Colombia finished the game EURO 2020 Two years ago he missed Bra- A minute later the Selecao Brazil thought they had a with 23 shots to just two -- in- Sweden 1 0 Slovakia zil’s Copa triumph on home soil were in front as Everton’s cross penalty on the hour mark when cluding none on target -- from through injury, although before from the left skimmed off a Peru Neymar tumbled in the box un- Venezuela but the “Red Wine” Croatia 1 1 Czech Republic the tournament began he was head and landed at the feet of der pressure from Renato Tapia, held out for a much needed England 0 0 Scotland accused of rape, a case that was Gabriel Jesus at the back post. but as the Paris Saint-Germain point. Depay and Dumfries send Netherlands Forsberg penalty puts Sweden into Euro 2020 knockouts AFP | Amsterdam on brink of Euro 2020 last 16 AFP | St Petersburg he Netherlands are through Tto the last 16 at Euro 2020 after Memphis Depay’s penalty mil Forsberg’s second-half set up a 2-0 win over Austria on Epenalty sealed Sweden a Thursday, their second straight 1-0 win over Slovakia in Saint victory securing top spot in Petersburg yesterday as the Group C as coach Frank de Boer Scandinavians moved top of declared there is much more to Euro 2020 Group E. come from his side. Janne Andersson’s men, who Depay made no mistake from played out a goalless draw with the spot in the 11th minute in Spain in their opener, now look Amsterdam after David Alaba’s set to reach the knockout stage foul on Denzel Dumfries was for the first time since 2004. spotted by the Israeli referee A point in their final game only after he came across to against Poland at the Krestovsky review the images. Denzel Dumfries of Netherlands scores their side’s third goal whilst under Stadium on Wednesday would Dumfries, so impressive in pressure from Oleksandr Zinchenko of Ukraine be enough to be sure of a top- Sweden’s Emil Forsberg kicks the ball past Slovakia’s goalkeeper Martin the thrilling opening 3-2 win last-16 tie on June 27 against a two finish in the group. Dubravka over Ukraine, added another third-place finisher. Slovakia could have qualified castle stopper Dubravka tipped midway through the second “We need to decide how to with a game to spare with a win, away Ludwig Augustinsson’s half, his second goal of the tour- prepare for the next game, but still have their fate in their header and Marcus Danielson nament. I know we can beat whether to keep working on own hands ahead of their final nodded over from the resulting The Dutch were comfortable anybody when we the system and improve that match against Spain in Seville. corner. at home in the Johan Cruyff are at our best but I or give some players extra time Yesterday, Sebastian Larsson KNOW WHAT Sweden continued to press Arena and De Boer’s side are think other teams are off,” De Boer added. had an early effort comforta- for the winner, as Alexander so far making a success of their thinking the same so He had said coming into the bly saved by Martin Dubravka, Isak’s header looped onto the first major tournament since let’s go game by game Euro that the 1988 champions but Slovakia otherwise start- roof of the net. the 2014 World Cup. were “between the fourth and ed brightly, with Juraj Kucka Slovakia could have Real Sociedad striker Isak That is great news for De and see where that eighth-best team” and already heading wide in the fifth min- then almost scored one of the takes us qualified with a game Boer, whose predecessor as they can see their path opening ute. to spare with a win, great European Champion- national coach, Barcelona boss FRANK DE BOER up to the quarter-finals. Both sides had spells of pres- ship goals, weaving past four Ronald Koeman, was among the They will still need to im- sure in the first half without but still have their defenders before seeing a low spectators. after Ukraine beat North Mace- prove if they are to go further, creating many chances, perhaps fate in their own strike saved by Dubravka at his “I know we can beat anybody donia earlier in Bucharest, with but they appear to be finding in the knowledge a point would hands ahead of their near post. when we are at our best but I the Balkan outsiders already their feet in the 3-5-2 system be a reasonably good result. final match against Sweden finally forged ahead, think other teams are thinking eliminated. that De Boer has controversial- Ondrej Duda made space for Spain in Seville though, in the 77th minute, as the same so let’s go game by That means De Boer can ly opted for. a shot shortly after the break, RB Leipzig midfielder Forsberg game and see where that takes rest players for the final group Austria, after all, are a medi- but fired over the crossbar. fielder was flagged offside. beat Dubravka from the pen- us,” De Boer said. game against North Macedonia, ocre side and were not helped Kucka drew a brilliant It was Sweden who almost alty spot after the ‘keeper had The Dutch now cannot be safe in the knowledge that the by the penalty given away by one-handed save from Robin made the breakthrough twice brought down substitute Robin caught at the top of the group Dutch will go to Budapest for a Alaba, their captain.