SPORT 16 SATURDAY 24 JUNE 2017 Pellegrino ‘Well prepared’ Portugal eye takes over as Southampton victory against New Zealand manager London Reuters Rizwan Rehmat have a team rule: the maximum Saint Petersburg trust, the maximum respect and rgentine Mauricio Pel- the maximum attitude. I think legrino was named as uropean champions once we emerge from the group Amanager of Premier Portugal have done and only then we will begin to League Southampton yester- their homework on study (semi-final) opponents,” day, the week after the club football minnows New Santos said. sacked Claude Puel. Zealand with coach When asked to predict the The 45-year-old has EFernando Santos predicting an outcome from the Russia vs Mex- agreed a three-year contract all-out attack against their Con- ico clash today, Santos refused and will arrive at St Mary's federations Cup rivals at to pick a winner. Russia and next week to prepare for the Krestovsky Stadium today. Mexico are the other two teams new season. Portugal beat hosts Russia in in Group A. Pellegrino, who won La their previous game in Moscow ”I believe we will win against Liga as a defender with where star striker Cristiano Ron- New Zealand but I can’t say what Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo Valencia, began his coaching aldo scored the only goal of the will happen in that match,” said takes part in a training session in Saint career as an assistant at Liv- match at Spartak Stadium. Por- Santos. Petersburg yesterday, on the eve of the erpool before spells with tugal kicked off their ”These are two high-quality 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup group A Valencia, Estudiantes, Inde- Confederations Cup campaign teams. And we will play against football match against New Zealand. pendiente and Alaves. with a 2-2 draw against South the third strong team in Group A All Whites coach Anthony Hudson said "I am delighted that after American giants Mexico. and this side has given their a diligent selection process Ronaldo was not the only threat for his ”We do not worry about rivals the heat in the two previ- we have recruited Mauricio side in today's clash. Inset: Portugal's what happens in the other group. ous meetings. Pellegrino as our new first We are only concentrating on ”New Zealanders will try to coach Fernando Santos arrives for a team manager," Southamp- New Zealand. In recent days we show their talent. We are aware press conference at Krestovsky Stadium ton vice chairman Les Reed have worked only on our next of that. We will be playing a dif- in Saint Petersburg yesterday. said in a club statement. opponents,” Santos said ficult side but we think that we "We had an impressive yesterday. will win,” Santos said. list of candidates and went ”We have watched both He added Russia and Mex- through a comprehensive matches (involving New Zea- ico could not be compared as interview process. Mauricio land) and studied their game. both teams play with different impressed us throughout with Today, the entire team met and tactics. his depth of knowledge, moti- discussed how we will play ”These are two completely well otherwise it would not important thing for me,” the ”After the game with Mex- vation and ability, against the New Zealanders. We different teams with different become European champions. coach added. ico, we had mixed feelings. The communicating this in a pro- are well prepared,” he added. characteristics. The only simi- The game is not limited to 90 Meanwhile, All Whites coach players have been proud of their fessional and passionate way. Santos said Portugal are tak- larity is that they play with three minutes. The match can last for Anthony Hudson said his team show,” the Briton said. "He has an excellent ing one match at a time. central defenders. Russian foot- 120 minutes also. At Euro 2016, was not just competing against New Zealand were beaten understanding of the South- ”We respect other teams but ball is very different from New we won four games and the fact Ronaldo in their clash today 2-0 by Russia in the opening ampton way, and his style of we are not afraid of anyone. We Zealand’s football. Their last that it was done in extra time against Portugal. Confederations Cup match. play and aspiration matches game was played in a style sim- shows our good preparation to ”This match is not different ”Everyone said that Mexico the philosophy, culture and ilar to the British,” Santos said. play long games,” he said. from any other game we have will score 3, 4 or even 5 goals. ambition of the club." Confed Cup fixtures ”Although English style is no Santos said key defender played so far,” Hudson said However, we have a good side. It is the second time South- Group Stage - Group A longer what it used to be but it is Luís Neto is certain to feature in yesterday. We had a chance to get a draw. ampton have turned to an Today (GMT) different from the football of the the game today. ”All coaches are asked about We are pleased that we showed Argentine coach having past. In general, all the players ”Luís came here (for the it but Portugal is not only about a good game but disappointed employed Mauricio Pochettino Mexico v Russia (1500) in my team are used to playing press conference) because I’m Ronaldo. If you remove Cris- with the result,” Hudson said of for 14 months before he joined New Zealand v Portugal (1500) in different championships with one hundred percent certain to tiano, they will still remain a side the 2-1 loss to Mexico. Tottenham Hotspur in 2014. Group Stage - Group B different styles,” he added. see him on the pitch,” he said. with a lot of high-quality play- ”We will try to approach it Pellegrino stepped down Tomorrow Santos said Portugal earned ”All our players are fit and ers. We have a definite plan but (the game against Portugal) with as Alaves manager last month their status as European cham- confident. We have a great team I would not want to go into the right attitude and organisa- after leading them to the Chile v Australia (1500) pions despite winning only two spirit. I repeat - some players details. We do not think that we tion. We need a positive result. Spanish King's Cup final and Germany v Cameroon (1500) games at Euro 2016 in regula- play more, some play less but will play only against Ronaldo. Yes, Portugal is a world class side finishing ninth in La Liga with tion time. everyone feels an important part We are thinking about how to but we will play for the result,” a team who had only been ”Portugal has always played of this team. This is the most achieve results,” Hudson said. Hudson said. promoted to the top flight the previous season. He said he was "excited and passionate" about the Qatar down North Korea in Doha friendly future with Southampton. "I think my philosophy and the culture of the club will work well together," he said. "We have to be a team on and off the pitch; I want to Action during the friendly match make the supporters proud between Qatar and North Korea of the players and to feel part at Aspire Academy football pitch of the game every week." on Thursday. Qatar displayed Frenchman Puel was a dominating show against fired after less than a year in their opponents to claim a charge despite taking South- comprehensive 2-0 victory. The ampton to the League Cup two sides also played a friendly final and eighth place in the match earlier this month which Premier League table. ended in a 2-2 draw. Southampton won only one of their final eight league games, scoring just one goal in their last five home matches, and ended with their lowest points tally in four years. Verstappen fastest in both practice sessions Azerbaijan GP second free practice times 1. Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:43.362 (36 laps), 2. Valtteri Bottas (FIN/ Baku excellent day with an improved several misjudgments on the of Renault also crashed into the Mercedes) 1:43.462 (32), 3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 1:43.473 (34), 4. Reuters time of 1:43.362 in the second ses- scorching Baku circuit. barriers after misjudging Turn Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari) 1:43.489 (35), 5. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) sion. The only disappointment for Force India's Sergio Perez had Eight. Championship leader 1:43.615 (35), 6. Lance Stroll (CAN/Williams-Mercedes) 1:44.113 (27), 7. Sergio ed Bull's Max Verstappen the pacesetter came when he been flying through the city cir- Sebastian Vettel on the soft com- Perez (MEX/Force India-Mercedes) 1:44.306 (34), 8. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro clocked the fastest lap in appeared to lose control late on cuit and registered the fourth best pound tyre registered times of Rosso-Renault) 1:44.321 (27), 9. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India-Mercedes) R both of yesterday's prac- before spinning sideways into the time in the first session before 1:44.967 and 1.43.615, finishing 1:44.484 (37), 10. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:44.525 (23), 11. Felipe tices ahead of the Azerbaijan advertising hoardings. crashing late on. third and fifth. It was a mixed day Massa (BRA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:44.609 (33), 12. Fernando Alonso (ESP/ Grand Prix tomorrow, but ended "It was very weird," Verstap- He escaped unscathed after for Mercedes duo Lewis Hamil- McLaren-Honda) 1:45.515 (15), 13.