14 Established 1961 Sports Tuesday, March 23, 2021 Euro teams start World Cup qualifying campaign amid COVID-19 chaos France host Ukraine behind closed doors tomorrow

PARIS: Holders France begin their defense of the U-turns World Cup this week as European qualifying for “I’m not a politician, I’m just an ordinary guy, the 2022 finals in Qatar gets underway against a but it’s not fair. It is not wise at the moment either. backdrop of confusion and chaos over the release We need to stick together and not show discrimi- of players in a worrying health context across the nation or racism. It doesn’t give a good image,” continent. said Lyon captain , with the Dutch While this month’s scheduled qualifiers in South international at risk of missing his country’s quali- America were called off and most matches in Asia fier in Turkey as a result. were postponed, players in Europe are having to Realizing it was not a good look, the French work their way around travel restrictions in order sports ministry announced over the weekend that to join up with national teams. all players could be released after all, saying they FIFA’s decision to relax rules forcing clubs to would be “exempt from a seven-day isolation as release players during an international window long as they respect a strict health and medical remains in place until the end of April, with world protocol” on returning. football’s governing body unable to ignore the U-turns have happened elsewhere, with Bayern wider context of the COVID-19 crisis. The conse- Munich announcing on Saturday that star Polish quences of that have largely been confusion and striker Robert Lewandowski and Austrian defend- plenty of backtracking by clubs and authorities in er David Alaba would be released for international recent days. Winners in 2018, France host Ukraine duty due to a change in Germany’s COVID-19 behind closed doors tomorrow before flying 5,500 travel restrictions. kilometers (3,418 miles) to Kazakhstan and stop- Lewandowski can now play for Poland against ping off on the way back in Sarajevo for another England at Wembley on March 31, while Alaba game against Bosnia and Herzegovina. can feature for Austria against Scotland in The trip has caused some controversy in France, Glasgow on Thursday. Bayern had initially said with authorities allowing members of the French neither player would be released to play in the team to go to Central Asia and then the Balkans UK as Germany had insisted on a two-week SAINT-DENIS: In this file photo taken on October 07, 2020 France’s forward Kylian Mbappe (right) is while the French league said it would not release quarantine for anyone travelling from Britain. congratulated by France’s forward after scoring a goal during the International players to travel out with the 27-nation European “We gave the go-ahead for both players,” con- friendly football match between France and Ukraine in Saint-Denis, outside Paris. —AFP Union or European Economic Area (EAA), which firmed Bayern coach Hansi Flick. also includes Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. That was due to clubs being worried about Punishing schedule their return to the United Kingdom. June 11. For now it is all about the road to Qatar. players having to self-isolate for a week on their Some countries have been forced to take The decision to make teams play three quali- Despite qualifying automatically as hosts, return, thereby missing their team’s next league quite drastic action to get around possible fiers in seven days just before the run-in to the Qatar have already taken part in the Asian quali- game. A row ensued, with the decision affecting restrictions. Portugal moved their qualifier club season, despite the travel difficulties, also fying tournament and will now be involved in the several European nations with players based in against Azerbaijan to Turin in Italy. Had the raises eyebrows as it means no let-up for elite European competition too. They will be sparring , but also many African national teams game gone ahead in Lisbon, they feared having players in a punishing schedule. It is worth pon- partners for teams in Group A and will play games looking to call up players for Africa Cup of to leave out 10 Premier League-based players dering what kind of physical condition they will be in Hungary against Luxembourg, Azerbaijan and Nations qualifiers. who faced having to self-isolate for 10 days on in by the time the delayed Euro 2020 starts on the Republic of Ireland. —AFP

of Europe’s greatest teams. I told the Leicester rock players they were three games from history. Now it’s two.” Man Utd to reach United’s limp exit ended their run of 29 away games without defeat in FA Cup semis all domestic competitions since los- ing at Liverpool in January 2020. LONDON: Leicester sent Without a trophy since the 2017 Manchester United crashing out of Europa League, that competition is the FA Cup as Kelechi Iheanacho’s now their last realistic chance of win- double sealed a 3-1 win, while ning the first silverware of boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign. TURIN: Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Chelsea will face Manchester City in Ronaldo reacts during the Italian Serie A football the semi-finals after beating Sheffield “We didn’t have the spark but it’s match Juventus Turin vs Benevento on Sunday at the United on Sunday. Brendan Rodgers’ understandable. We played every Juventus stadium in Turin. —AFP side can look forward to meeting three days and been on a great run. Southampton in their first FA Cup It just caught up with us, all the semi-final since 1982 thanks to games and travels,” Solskjaer said. Iheanacho’s predatory finishing at the “Thursday in Milan was a big night Juve’s title hopes King Power Stadium. He put Leicester and took a lot of out of us physically. LEICESTER: Manchester United’s English defender Harry Maguire is con- ahead in Rodgers’ 100th game in We didn’t have the extra zip, author- soled by ex-teammates from Leicester after the English FA Cup quarter- charge before Mason Greenwood ity and confidence today. We’ve got final football match between Leicester City and Manchester United at King rocked, Milan keep equalized late in the first half. the Europa League and Premier Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Sunday. —AFP Youri Tielemans restored League to concentrate on. Yes we Leicester’s lead and Nigeria striker would’ve liked to go to Wembley but pressure on Inter Iheanacho wrapped up only their now all the focus is on the games we panicked response was a weak back- Kasper Schmeichel from 12 yards. MILAN: Juventus’ hopes of winning a 10th consec- second win over United in 23 years do have.” pass towards United keeper Dean Lacklustre United were still out of utive Serie A title took another blow on Sunday and their first since 2014. Leicester, After reaching the Europa League Henderson. sorts and Tielemans put Leicester with a 1-0 home loss to lowly Benevento as AC who have never won the FA Cup and quarter-finals with a win at AC Milan Iheanacho nipped in to intercept it back in front in the 52nd minute. The Milan closed the gap on leaders Inter Milan with a last reached the final in 1969, will in midweek, Solskjaer made five before rounding Henderson and tap- Belgian midfielder advanced hard-fought 3-2 win at Fiorentina. head to Wembley to face changes and United’s reshuffled line- ping into the empty net to make it unchecked as United backed off and Adolfo Gaich scored the only goal in the 69th Southampton in April. “I’m obviously up never looked comfortable. Fred eight goals in his last nine games. he took full advantage with a fine low minute at Juve’s Allianz Stadium following a bad delighted. It was a great perform- paid the price for a woeful mistake in United equalized in the 38th minute finish from the edge of the area. pass across his own penalty area by midfielder ance. Every aspect of the game was the 24th minute. When Harry Maguire when Pogba’s cross was cleverly dum- Iheanacho killed off United in the 78th Arthur. Andrea Pirlo’s side stay third, 10 points complete,” Rodgers said. “We played a risky ball out to Fred on the mied by Donny van de Beek and minute with a clinical header from behind Inter whose match against Sassuolo was showed courage to play against one edge of the United area, the Brazilian’s Greenwood slammed his shot past Marc Albrighton’s free-kick. —AFP postponed because of a COVID-19 outbreak at the league leaders. Second-placed Milan are four points ahead of tional break might offer Diego Simeone’s the reigning champions after they recovered from Messi on song side a chance to reset and refresh ahead their Europa League exit to Manchester United by of the run-in. “There are games where cutting the deficit to Inter to six points with a 3-2 you suffer but that’s what makes football win over Fiorentina. as Barca thrash beautiful,” said Oblak. Simeone said: For Juve, who have 11 games left to play this sea- “Like all great teams, there is always one son, it was another blow after being dumped out of Real Sociedad that scores a lot of goals and one that the Champions League at the last 16 stage by Porto makes a lot of saves. They are both deci- earlier this month. “We performed poorly, in every MADRID: Lionel Messi scored twice on sive players who make the team aspect,” said Pirlo. “We have to continue to believe Sunday as Barcelona trounced Real stronger.” in the title. The objective does not change, it’s the Sociedad 6-1 to keep the pressure on Barcelona have hit their stride, their mindset which must.” Atletico Madrid, who squeezed past six goals against Real Sociedad no less Serie A top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, who has Alaves thanks to a late penalty save from than they deserved for a scintillating netted 23 times in the league this season, drew a Jan Oblak. Oblak’s 86th-minute heroics attacking display, and perhaps their best blank in Turin a week after reaching 770 goals to ensured Luis Suarez’s 500th career goal since Ronald Koeman took charge. “The beat Pele’s all-time mark of 767, with Benevento was enough for a 1-0 victory at the team has improved a lot recently,” said goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo pulling off a string of Wanda Metropolitano, meaning the gap Koeman. “We’ve gone a lot of games fine saves. at the top of La Liga remains at four without losing in the league, which was Benevento broke the deadlock following Arthur’s points, with 10 games left to play. the only way to get back in the fight for horrendous pass across the face of goal towards But the contrast between Atletico’s the title. “But we’re still behind Atleti, SAN SEBASTIAN: Barcelona’s US defender Sergino Dest celebrates with Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (back) after scoring a goal Danilo, which allowed Gaich to pounce and score nervy win against 19th-placed Alaves Real Madrid are stronger. We have to and Barca’s demolition of a Real keep going to the end.” during the Spanish League football match between Real Sociedad and his second goal in five games since arriving on loan Barcelona at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian on Sunday. —AFP from CSKA Moscow. Sociedad side with hopes of qualifying Montipo denied Ronaldo twice late on as Juve for Europe spoke volumes about Messi breaks record pushed for a leveler, first from close range with 10 where the momentum lies in the Messi scored his 11th and 12 goals in equaled against Huesca last week. opener. Ousmane Dembele and Real minutes to go and again in the final minute, with Spanish title race. his last 10 games, and made it 16 in 12 Messi did not plough a lone furrow at Sociedad’s Ander Barrenetxea — with Danilo sending the subsequent rebound over the Atletico will hope Oblak’s save can this year. The 33-year-old has also now the Reale Arena, where Sergino Dest arguably the goal of the night — both bar. Benevento now sit seven points away from the prove to be a turning point after a chal- passed Xavi Hernandez’s record of 767 scored twice either side of half-time registered between Messi’s double in the drop zone in 16th. —AFP lenging few weeks, while the interna- Barcelona appearances, which he had after Antoine Griezmann slammed in the second half. —AFP

ous leaders Lille earlier. Monaco are another point back in fourth It was a perfect night for PSG, as the lowing up to find the net after Marco PSG beat Lyon Mbappe netted twice at the Groupama after winning 4-0 at Saint-Etienne on reigning champions bounced back from a Verratti’s shot was parried by Lyon goal- Stadium with Danilo Pereira and Angel Di Friday. Mbappe is Ligue 1’s leading scorer surprise 2-1 home loss to relegation- keeper . Maria also on target before with 20 goals this season and has reached a threatened Nantes last week and claimed then nodded down a to go top in and Maxwel Cornet pulled goals back for century of goals in France’s top flight in 142 a win against a direct rival in the title race Presnel Kimpembe cross for Pereira to the home side. The result allowed appearances at the age of just 22. for the first time this season. slam in and make it 2-0 just after the half- France Ligue 1 ’s team to move into “I knew I was just two goals away. It’s They also saw return after a hour mark, and any hopes Lyon had of a first place on goal difference from Lille, a new step in my career, another step month and a half, and nine games, out comeback were blown away at the start of PARIS: Kylian Mbappe warned he is “only who were beaten 2-1 at home by strug- towards history. These are things that stay injured. The world’s most expensive the second half. First Di Maria whipped in just getting started” after scoring his gling Nimes in a huge blow to their own with you,” Mbappe told Canal Plus. “I am player came on as a substitute, replacing a free-kick from wide on the right that 100th goal in France’s top flight as Paris title hopes. only just getting started. I still have a lot Mbappe midway through the second evaded everyone on its way into the net, Saint-Germain swept aside title rivals Lyon would have gone top themselves of years in front of me to perfect and half. Mbappe was close to his electrify- and then Verratti released Mbappe to Lyon 4-2 on Sunday to move to the top of with a victory but instead they remain three improve my game so I think it can only get ing best and the World Cup winner break clear and finish for his second of the Ligue 1 following a shock defeat for previ- points off the lead in third place, while better.” opened the scoring 15 minutes in, fol- game on 52 minutes. —AFP