SPORTS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014 Curitiba’s honor saved as it earns reprieve from FIFA BRAZIL: Curitiba won a last-minute reprieve from host cities,” said Valcke, who confirmed news to Many Brazilians believe the cost of hosting the as a whole benefit from the investments being FIFA yesterday, retaining its status as a World Cup that effect posted on his website just minutes tournament has come at the expense of public made in all 12 host cities. finals venue despite construction work delays, FIFA before he spoke. services and there have been protests which came FIFA president Sepp Blatter recently chided secretary-general Jerome Valcke said. “That shows I’m not really responsible for the to a head at last year’s World Cup finals dress Brazil for not starting preparations quickly enough FIFA judged that work on the stadium, which Twitter account,” he joked. FIFA assessor Charles rehearsal the Confederations Cup. and said it was further behind than any other host will host four games in the finals that start in Brazil Botta had earlier completed the world body’s lat- There are fears that those were just a foretaste in his four decades with football’s world body. in June have made enough progress to warrant est appraisal of the Arena da Baixada site which of what is to come in June when the finals take The decision over Curitiba has overshadowed being retained. has been beset by delays that had increasingly place. Curitiba residents are angry at what they say the arrival of the coaches of the 32 qualifying It had previously missed a series of deadlines- caused concern after costs rose almost threefold is a lack of transparency on spending. nations in the southern city of Florianapolis for a FIFA dropped an initial deadline of December 31 from an initial $60 million. The city was one of six The stadium was due initially to cost 130 mil- pre-World Cup seminar which will allow them to for all 12 venues after six failed to meet the date. which saw action when the continent-sized nation lion Reais ($65 million). The stadium’s owners discuss logistics and assess facilities. A double fatality at Sao Paulo, which will stage first hosted the tournament back in 1950. Just pri- Atletico Paranaense initially hoped to fund the Yesterday’s decision vindicated Brazilian the opening game, put that venue’s pre-event or to Valcke’s announcement, Curitiba prefect venue privately themselves but costs have mush- President Dilma Rousseff’s insistence when she tests back until mid-April. In addition, there have Gustavo Fruet had already let slip on Twitter that roomed to 320 million reais, forcing local authori- met Blatter in Zurich last month that Curitiba been three construction deaths at Manaus in the the venue would not be dropped. ties to step in and organise bank loans worth some would make it. Amazon region and one at Brasilia. “Total confidence! The meeting with the FIFA $30 million. Local protesters called a march for The highest profile match at the stadium, now But it has been the Curitiba delays which have team has finished and it is retaining the stadium,” Tuesday afternoon to slam the rising costs and use 91 percent complete, according to Atletico posed FIFA a severe headache to the extent Valcke Fruet tweeted. If the axe had fallen on Curitiba, it of public funds. Paranaense, will be Australia versus reigning threatened to scrap it from the list altogether. would have been a humiliating blow to the foot- Some protesters have marched under the slo- champions Spain on June 23. After his January vis- Yesterday, he confirmed the stadium had done ball-mad nation, which has also been trumpeting gan ‘There Will Be No Cup’-and in Curitiba that it, Valcke had said bluntly: “We cannot organise a enough to stay on board, heading off a potential its economic progress over the past few years. wish came close to being granted. match without a stadium, this has reached a criti- legal minefield of challenges from the city, which Work on Curitiba has been even slower than on Deputy sports minister Luis Fernandes insisted cal point.” had faced claims from hotels losing weeks of fan the other 11 venues, which two months ago won that the stadium was “beautiful” and that lessons But local organzizers redoubled their efforts business. “Yes, Curitiba will remain as one of the 12 an extended deadline from FIFA to finish the work. had been learned. But he insisted that Brazil would and have now been rewarded. — AFP Balotelli tired of critics as Atletico approach

MILAN: AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli Balotelli says he is spurred on by the hit out at his critics a day before the chance to make partial amends for Italy’s struggling Serie A giants host in-form last final defeat at a major international Atletico Madrid. tournament. Balotelli made partial amends for a A brace from the Italy striker in the string of mediocre performances for semi-final of Euro 2012 against Germany Clarence Seedorf’s side with a stunning set up a final against Spain, who went on long-range strike which sealed a late 1-0 to rout the Azzurri 4-0. win against Bologna on Friday. Balotelli admits the ‘Rioja’ are a tough It came in timely fashion, only days nut to crack but added: “Their national ahead of the first leg of a Champions side is a little difficult to beat, but maybe League last 16 tie against Diego we can start (avenging) by beating a Simeone’s Spanish title chasers. Spanish club side. Balotelli hopes it has silenced his “Games like tomorrow’s are different, detractors for a game for which Milan, but the objective remains the same, like going on recent statistics, are the under- having the determination to win and dogs. “I criticise myself enough, so when helping the team reach that objective.” I hear it coming from other people I get Seedorf, meanwhile, admitted earlier really fed up,” the 23-year-old told media this week that Atletico will be formida- yesterday. ble opponents. But the Dutchman, the Atletico, who are pushing Barcelona only player to have won Europe’s most and Real Madrid for command of La prestigious club trophy with three differ- Liga, are firm favourites for a win that ent clubs-Ajax, Real Madrid and twice would boost their quarter-final chances with Milan-is relishing the challenge. “I ITALY: Atletico Madrid players attend a training session ahead of today’s Champions League, round of 16, first leg soccer match against AC ahead of the return leg at the Vicente hope tomorrow we will reap what we Milan. — AP Calderon in a fortnight. However, have sown over the past weeks,” said the 37-year-old. To discerning fans of the Rossoneri, however, that could sound Seedorf looking to lift Milan Today’s ominous. matches on TV Seedorf took charge of the ailing MADRID: Clarence Seedorf will need to tap into all knows well from his playing days, Atletico’s Argentine ing Milan in recent seasons but has already said he Italian giants following the sacking of the experience he gained as the only player to win the coach Diego Simeone, who had stints at Italian clubs wants his players to exert more control. Champions League with three different clubs if his AC including Inter Milan and Lazio and Spanish sides “You need time to create your style of play and a UEFA Champions League former handler Massimiliano Allegri in early January when they were languish- Milan side are to get past Atletico Madrid into the Atletico and Sevilla. Simeone, 43, has transformed the bit of luck too,” he said on Friday. “It’s in the club’s ing below mid-table. And after three quarter-finals. Milan host the Spanish club, who are Madrid side into genuine contenders in Spain and DNA to have control of the game. If you’re in control, AC Milan v Atletico 22:45 riding high in La Liga, for their last 16, first leg today, Europe since taking over at the end of 2011 and they the adversary can do less damage. 2HD - 5HD,14HD wins in five league games and a quarter- when Seedorf will make his coaching debut in are joint top of La Liga with heavyweights Barcelona “I ask the players to stick together and to show final exit from the Italian Cup at the Europe’s elite club competition after taking over last and Real Madrid. They were one of only three teams fighting spirit to get out of the difficult situation Arsenal v Bayern 22:45 hands of Udinese, the jury remains out month from Massimiliano Allegri. undefeated in the Champions League group stage, that we find ourselves in.” 3HD, 11HD on the Dutchman who spent 10 success- The 37-year-old former Netherlands midfielder winning five and drawing one, and are unbeaten in Atletico have stumbled in recent weeks, suffering laden years at the club. — AFP won the Champions League once with Ajax their last four away games in Europe. “Atletico seem a surprise defeat at Almeria in La Liga and being Amsterdam and once with Real Madrid before a like an Italian or Argentine team since Simeone eliminated from the King’s Cup by city rivals Real. decade playing at Milan yielded two more continental arrived, they are extremely tough,” Demetrio Albertini, They returned to winning ways at the weekend with titles. However, the seven-times European champions a former Milan and Italy midfielder who also had a a 3-0 league win at home to Real Valladolid. Hull grab late draw have fallen on hard times and sit ninth in Serie A, 31 brief loan spell at Atletico, said in an interview with Simeone bolstered his squad with last month’s points behind leaders Juventus, and Seedorf has tak- Spanish sports daily As published on Monday. signing of Brazilian playmaker Diego and believes en on the task of lifting them out of their slump and “Above all they are a balanced team and the coach he has enough depth to compete successfully on in FA Cup fifth round reviving past glories. “The match against Atletico will has imposed a very well defined style and character,” two fronts. be a great chance to take a big step forward,” Seedorf he added. “Atletico have an advantage, they are the “We have a very competitive team now,” he said LONDON: Yannick Sagbo kept Hull City Ivory Coast striker Sagbo’s smart control said after Milan won 1-0 at home to Bologna on favourites as their position in the (Spanish) league after the Valladolid game. “When I felt we had to in the FA Cup with a late strike in their 1- and shot five minutes from time levelled Friday. “We’ll play our game as Milan always have suggests. “But let’s not forget one thing. The keep the ball I brought him (Diego)on and things 1 fifth-round draw at second tier matters. something extra in the Champions League,” he added. Champions League is Milan’s home. They have won became easier and the game was basically over. Brighton & Hove Albion to prevent an Poyet left Brighton last June after a “I’m confident that the stadium will be full as it was in seven European titles and the history is there.” “We won in two ways today: playing more direct- the old days with a great atmosphere. The fans and ly at the start and then closing the game down with upset on Monday. clash with the board and in October the stadium will give the players what they need.” LESS DAMAGE more possession.” The return leg is at Atletico’s The pair now face a replay at Premier joined top flight strugglers Sunderland, Seedorf will be going head to head with a man he Seedorf will need time to fix what has been ail- Calderon stadium on March 11. — Reuters League Hull next Monday with Brighton who are already through to next month’s looking to set up a quarter-final clash at last eight. home to Sunderland and their ex-man- Hull, without cup-tied strikers ager Gus Poyet. Hull boss Steve Bruce Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, hit the Arsenal wary of Bayern also used to manage Sunderland. woodwork twice and now face the bur- Championship promotion hopefuls den of an extra game as they try to Brighton went ahead when Argentine stay out of the relegation zone, which LONDON: Arsenal will be out to show they have Leonardo Ulloa started and finished an they are three points above with 12 learnt the lessons of last season’s painful home incisive move after half an hour but games left. — Reuters defeat by Bayern Munich when the sides meet again in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in London today. Holders Bayern were utterly dominant in 3-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium, and although Arsenal went on to salvage pride with a 2-0 win in Munich in the return leg, it was not enough to prevent the Gunners going out of the competi- tion in the round of 16 for the third consecutive season. They face a daunting task to avoid making it four years in a row, however, with the Bayern juggernaut showing little sign of slowing under Pep Guardiola, who led Barcelona to victory over Arsenal at this stage in the 2010-11 season. Despite recent wobbles, Arsenal are a sterner proposition this time as they mount their first serious Premier League challenge for years, and should be boosted by a 2-1 FA Cup victory over Liverpool, eight days after the same opponents thrashed them 5-1.

TWO PERFECT GAMES German defender Per Mertesacker acknowl- LONDON: Arsenal’s German players Lukas Podolski (left), Mesut Ozil (centre) and Serge edged that it would take “two perfect games” for Gnabry walk to the pitch during a training session at the club’s training ground. Arsenal will Arsenal to progress, but that it was important play against Bayern Munich in a Champions League match today. — AP not to show Bayern too much respect. “We have to go for two perfect games against them,” he BAYERN DOMINANT “That game is a warning sign to us,” Lahm told reporters. “We know we can beat them now, Bayern’s domestic dominance shows no sign said. “We had been very good in London, we so maybe mentally we are in a better condition of slowing, with Saturday’s 4-0 win over Freiburg thought nothing can happen to us in the return than last year. “We respected them too much in coming despite Jerome Boateng, David Alaba, leg. All of a sudden you are 2-0 down and there the first leg then, so it was too easy for them. Thiago and Mario Goetze being rested. are still some minutes to play. It shows that “Maybe we have learned something from Their Bundesliga winning streak is 13 match- things can go really quickly in the Champions those lessons and will do better this time. “Now es and victory extended their unbeaten run to League. We will have that in the back of our we have another chance and an opportunity to 46. Their only loss in this season’s Champions minds.” beat the champions. We want to achieve some- League group stage came at home to Lahm said he kept a close eye on Arsenal giv- thing exceptional this season, so we have to Manchester City, with qualification already en their strong German contingent of beat the best. “That is not only Manchester City assured. They will be without France winger Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, as and Chelsea, that is Bayern Munich in the Franck Ribery, who is suffering with a buttock well as uncapped youngster Serge Gnabry. Champions League.” Midfielder Mikel Arteta is injury, and his potential replacement Xherdan “They’re fighting for the championship, that’s suspended after being sent off in the group Shaqiri, who scored twice against Freiburg, is not a coincidence: I believe they have developed stage loss to Napoli, while Jack Wilshere and also out with a thigh strain. Despite the compre- as a team. They’ve become much stronger, the Bacary Sagna, who remained on the bench hensive nature of last season’s victory in London, squad is more balanced,” he said. “And they still against Liverpool, Kieran Gibbs and Santi where early goals by Toni Kroos and Thomas play the way Arsenal always play. They want to BRIGHTON: Hull City’s Ivorian striker Yannick Sagbo (left) is surrounded by Cazorla, who were second half substitutes and Mueller put the visitors 2-0 up after only 21 min- have the ball, they like playing it short, and they Brighton & Hove Albion players during the English FA Cup fifth round football Tomas Rosicky, who was rested, were expected utes, Bayern captain Philipp Lahm remained have outstanding individuals.” The return leg in match. — AFP to return. wary of Arsenal. Germany will be played on March 11. — Reuters