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Ticket tout probe opens ahead of q-finals

RIO DE JANEIRO: As and prepare to serve minnows Costa Rica. History hangs heavy over the have 200 million Brazilian hearts fluttering again as they up the first dish of a mouth-watering World Cup quarter- encounter as it evokes memories of the ‘82 semi-final which embark on the latest step of a journey they pray will lead to final menu, a ticket tout inquiry continues late yesterday Germany won 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 extra- a sixth world title and first since 2002. with Brazil’s 2002 title winner ’s brother one of time draw. The ‘Tragedy of Seville’ attained notoriety when Neymar shrugged off criticism at the way Luiz Felipe those wanted for questioning. Germany keeper Harald Schumacher shoulder-charged Scolari’s side had eschewed their famed ‘jogo bonito’ (beau- Brazilian authorities are investigating whether members Patrick Battiston, leaving the Frenchman unconscious on tiful game) for a more prosaic style. of the Brazilian, Argentine and Spanish football federations the ground. Under 1998 World Cup winning captain Didier “You can’t always enjoy yourself and win 4-0 or 5-0. were involved in the illegal sale of World Cup tickets after Deschamps Les Bleus have firmly left behind the miserably Football nowadays is so difficult, so even, that the team police dismantled a scalping gang. The brother and agent chaotic last World Cup campaign in South Africa. who is the most committed on the pitch ends up winning,” of Ronaldinho, Roberto de Assis Moreira, will be questioned “ has turned France around since said the Barcelona star on Wednesday. “I don’t want a show. in the case, though he is not under investigation, said 2010 and we’re looking forward to another classic,” said his That’s the last thing we are trying to do. We are not neces- Marcos Kac, the Rio de Janeiro prosecutor. German opposite number Joachim Loew. sarily here to produce a spectacle. We are here to run to the The probe comes as the 2014 World Cup prepares to A cluster of former German captains have queued up to end, until we are tired, and come out as winners,” the enter its gripping concluding stage. Rio’s iconic Maracana attack Loew’s selections with playmaker Mesut Ozil strug- scorero of four of Brazil’s goals added. stadium is the fitting backdrop for Friday’s meeting of the gling and centre-backs Jerome Boateng and Benedikt In their first ever World Cup quarter-finals, Colombia two European powerhouses, with France falling to Germany Hoewedes being played out of position as wing-backs. have only beaten Brazil twice in 26 meetings. But ahead of in the semi-finals at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups. “That was the worst performance for years,” the biggest game in their footballing history tournament, The victor will face either hosts Brazil, or one of the sen- reflected after the 2-1 extra time last 16 win over Algeria, topscorer James Rodriguez suggested Brazil should be just sations of the tournament Colombia, who clash in Friday’s while was equally unimpressed: “This line-up as worried about him as his countrymen should be about second quarter-final in Fortaleza. isn’t working anymore”. Neymar. “We’re facing a very tough rival, which has great The last eight drama continues tomorrow with Five hours after the match at the Maracana, up the coast players, but they also have to think that we have great play- Argentina facing Belgium and the Netherlands up against in Fortaleza, talismanic striker Neymar and company will ers,” said the Monaco playmaker. —AFP

Belgium match sharpens Adidas Q&A on Brazil Messi-Maradona focus BRASÔLIA: As the former Argentina international Jorge Valdano Oscar once observed: “One does try to avoid comparing and . The problem is that Messi doesn’t help.” The comparisons will only increase ahead of Argentina’s World BRAZIL: At only 22 years old, Brazil’s attack- Cup quarter-final with Belgium tomorrow, for it was against the ing midfielder, Oscar, is making waves on the Belgians that two of Maradona’s most iconic moments occurred. pitch. Hailed as one of the top players to In a 1982 World Cup group-stage match in Barcelona, a photo- emerge from this year’s World Cup host graph was taken of Maradona facing up to a throng of six Belgian nation, he helped Brazil’s World Cup cam- defenders that has become one of the most well-known of him as paign off to a strong start with an impressive a player. The image was slightly misleading-the Belgian players performance in their opening match against were fanning out from a defensive wall, rather than massing in Croatia. Wearing Adidas’ deadly Battle Pack opposition to the squat, raven-haired Argentina number 10 — Predator boot, his talent for pure accuracy in but it vividly evoked the terror the 21-year-old was liable to passing and shooting continues to be dis- spread in opposition defences. played. Argentina lost the game 1-0 Adidas sat down with Oscar and here’s and Maradona’s tournament what he had to say as he prepares for Brazil’s ended in disgrace when he was match against Columbia, July 4th. Follow sent off against Brazil. But in the @adidasfootball to be the first to see exclu- 1986 competition another meet- sive content from Adidas in Brazil. ing with Belgium saw him pro- duce one of his defining per- You are very young, but do your gener- formances. ation ever think about the 1950 World Cup In a 2-0 semi-final win at final which Brazil lost at home to Uruguay? Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, he Obviously it was well before my time, and scored both goals, the second a before my parents’ time, but we are all aware Brazilian midfielder Oscar vicious strike after a viperish dart of it. It shaped Brazilian football and felt like a adapted instantly and have become one of Which European sides do you think will through the heart of the Belgian tragedy at the time. But it was also a catalyst Chelsea’s most influential players. Were do well at the World Cup? defence that left four defenders for improvement and we have won five you surprised how quickly you settled? I have been very impressed with Germany floundering in his wake. World Cups since. It’s a good story and I I was always sure of my abilities and atti- in the last few years. They have so many Maradona was said to have car- understand that if we reach the final in the tude. You have to be if you want to make it as young but established players and a new Argentina’s Lionel Messi ried Argentina to glory in summer there will be lots of mentions of a top level player. There have been some dif- generation coming through. Anyone who has Mexico, scoring five goals and 1950. But the current squad won’t be think- ficult moments in the , but watched Bayern will know how pow- laying on five assists as his country claimed their second title, and ing about it. You can never undo the pain of the truth is hard-work, preparation and eat- erful and complete 28 years on, Messi is doing the same in Brazil. Having scored four that match but we can bring joy by doing ing and living properly give you an excellent and are in midfield. And in goal goals in the group phase, Messi’s creative side came to the fore in something beautiful in 2014. That is our aim. chance to adapt and thrive in new environ- there is who is a brick wall, but Tuesday’s last-16 win over Switzerland in Sao Paulo. While his ments. Skill and technique are useful and I try an extremely agile one with good feet! team-mates toiled around him, Messi was a ceaseless hub of Non-Brazilian fans were amazed by the to develop that side every day, but they are invention, and with penalties looming, it was his burrowing run passion and belief of your supporters dur- nothing without hard work. That goes double What are you looking forward to most and pass that allowed Angel di Maria to stroke home the 118th- ing last summer’s Confederations Cup. at a World Cup. off the pitch in Brazil? minute winner. How much impact do your followers have? There are the obvious things like seeing In total, Messi carved out eight chances against Switzerland, Inside the stadium, before the matches There are some big men in the Premier my family and friends, although obviously we which is more than any Argentine player-Maradona included-has and during the national anthem, our fans League, and you are not a huge person, but won’t be there on holiday, but relaxation and ever created in a single World Cup finals game. give us so much energy and motivation. You you don’t just cope with the physical side, doing some pleasurable things in your spare Messi faces swarms of defenders wherever he turns, but by can see it their eyes and hear it in the way but you seem to love it. Do you agree? time can be key to succeeding at tourna- luring them towards him and then releasing the ball, he can be they sing, it means everything. The fans are I always knew English football would be ments. You can’t think about football all day decisive even when his route to goal is blocked. very expressive and when you do something tough and physical, but it didn’t worry me. I every day, I don’t think that is my style. Being Maradona also learnt to use heavy marking to his advantage, well they let you know. The other side of that love getting stuck in and battling with other back in my home country is always a boost. notably teeing up Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal against is that they also let you know if they are dis- players, within the rules of course. This will You can relax very quickly when you are back West Germany in the 1986 final with an incisive pass from his own appointed or feel you have let them down. also help me in the World Cup. Being able to among your own language again. It’s always half. He played a direct part in 10 of Argentina’s 14 goals at the They are very much part of the team and withstand strong players who are much larg- nice to watch ‘your own’ TV and listen to tournament. Four games into the 2014 competition, Messi has squad. But it isn’t just the people at the stadi- er than me, and coping with physical tactics ‘your own’ radio and read the papers and scored or assisted six of the seven goals scored so far. The um. We are driven and amused by messages can only help me in the World Cup. And I magazines that you can’t always get hold of Barcelona superstar told FourFourTwo magazine prior to the tour- on twitter and Facebook. You know yourself think a lot of it is in the mind. If you play with in Europe. I am also looking forward to nament that emulating Maradona was “not a motivation for me when you have had a good game, but to read fear or worry about getting injured or authentic Brazilian food. It’s what I grew up to win the World Cup”, but the similarities between the two make fans’ comments and praise is always nice. knocked off the ball, you will. I just give 100% with and am used to. For me it is the best. comparisons unavoidable. Like Maradona, Messi is a short, left- every game. I think the Chelsea fans like the The food Chelsea prepare for us at training is footed number 10 whose key attribute is his dribbling. —AFP Some people thought you’d take time way I get ‘stuck in’. It’s almost a mandatory very nice and healthy, but nothing beats to settle in the Premier League, but you requirement in the Premier League. Brazilian food if you ask me.