COPA AMERICA | Page 5 SWIMMING | Page 10 Colombia Phelps down US to ready for To Advertise here grab Copa fi nal races Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 third spot in America

Monday, June 27, 2016 EURO Ramadan 22, 1437 AH Luck of the draw GULF TIMES gives Ronaldo cause to believe SPORT Page 4

FRANCE 2 IRELAND 1 Griezmann brace breaks Irish hearts, puts France in quarters ‘It was diff icult for us, because there was a penalty at the start which was a bit of a shock. We really only woke up after 15 minutes and now we’re going to enjoy watching to see who our next opponents will be’

AFP from fi nishing with a hat-trick. “It was Lyon stormy,” said Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann after the match. “In the second half, we were more like a team ntoine Griezmann scored which wanted to fi ght until the end.” twice in four minutes as Euro “I can raise my voice at half-time,” 2016 hosts France came from said French coach Deschamps. “We behind to claim a 2-1 win over needed to keep things calm, but also Aten-man Republic of Ireland yesterday. shake things up a bit. The players all got The goal hero said tough words were involved in the break, some of whom exchanged at half-time to lay on the last were on the pitch, they had their part to 16 victory that means France face Eng- say in what was said.” land or Iceland in the Stade de France Griezmann said the penalty, the sec- quarter-fi nal next Sunday. ond quickest goal in Euro history, had Paul Pogba brought Shane Long down shaken France. “We were all shouting within seconds of kickoff and Robbie each other on after the penalty and we Brady converted the penalty to put the knew we had to improve,” he said. Irish ahead with just two minutes gone. Griezmann’s strike partner Olivier But Griezmann underlined a superb per- Giroud said France had had to throw formance as the main strike threat with caution to the wind in the second half. two knockout goals in the second half as “The match was going in their favour the hosts fl oored the Irish. (Ireland’s) so we told each other that we It was “annoying” to go behind, mustn’t have any regrets and that we Griezmann said. “In the dressing had to lift our game,” the Arsenal for- rooms, we had words and that brought ward said. out a diff erent French team,” he added. Deschamps said France got better “It was diffi cult for us, because there when they shook off the early tension was a penalty at the start which was a and went “a bit crazy”. bit of a shock,” French coach Didier De- “Sometimes it’s diffi cult. When schamps said, expressing relief at the you concede a penalty at the start of a fi ghtback as French fans celebrated. “We match it made us tense and the Irish can really only woke up after 15 minutes and play a bit,” Deschamps said. now we’re going to enjoy watching to see Deschamps said the three tight last- who our quarter-fi nal opponents will be.” 16 matches on Saturday, two of which Ireland’s problems were compounded went to extra-time, showed there are Antoine Griezmann (left) celebrates with by playing the last 25 minutes with ten no easy games in the tournament. strike partner Olivier Giroud after scoring men. Centre-back Shane Duff y was sent “It was hard for us too, but mission his second goal against Ireland in their Euro off on 66 minutes for bringing down accomplished,” he said. “You shouldn’t Round of 16 match in Lyon yesterday. (AFP) Griezmann, who was through on goal. be too calculated. The players need France’s win came at a cost though, discipline but sometimes we’re bet- as both midfi elder N’Golo Kante and de- of the traps in Lyon. A long ball caused after 67 seconds against Greece in 2004. cards dished out in the fi rst half. Des- only for the back of the net. ter when we go a bit crazy. We really fender Adil Rami are suspended for the the French all manner of problems and Celebrations erupted amongst the small champs then injected some pace after the Griezmann struck again in the 61st speeded things up and that’s when we quarter-fi nal after picking up bookings. when Southampton striker Long tried band lucky enough to get one of the pal- break by bringing on fl eet-footed winger minute when Giroud headed down into are most dangerous.” Defeat means more heartache for the to turn and shoot, Pogba made contact. try 4,500 tickets allocated to Irish fans at Kingsley Coman for N’Golo Kante. the Atletico Madrid winger’s path to A lot of that speed was added by Irish in their fi rst meeting with France With just 70 seconds played, referee the 59,000-capacity stadium. The French played at a much higher slam his shot past Randolph. Coman, who was introduced at half- since a controversial World Cup play- Nicola Rizzoli pointed straight to the The hosts responded by laying siege tempo and Randolph was thoroughly With France in top gear, Duff y’s des- time, and Griezmann said he was de- off in November 2009. Thierry Henry’s spot. Brady was again the darling of the to the Irish goal. Griezmann, twice, and tested by Blaise Matuidi’s shot from perate lunge clipped Griezmann’s ankle lighted with the tactical change. “The infamous handball, dubbed ‘Le Hand of travelling ‘Green Army’ as the Norwich Olivier Giroud both tested Irish goal- just outside the box on 55 minutes. The on the edge of the area and Rizzoli had manager brought Kingsley Coman on God’, helped seal a 2-1 aggregate victory City winger put the Irish ahead with a keeper Darren Randolph, as did Pogba hosts drew level when Griezmann rose to show the Irishman the red card on 66 and he caused some damage. I was clos- to send France to South Africa 2010 at shot that rebounded off a post. with a long-range free-kick. highest to meet Sagna’s pin-point cross minutes. er to the striker and the penalty area,” Ireland’s expense. It was the fastest goal at a Euro fi nals No quarter was asked or given as things on 58 minutes. Randolph got a glove on Only Irish determination, and a lack Griezmann said. “I hope we continue Yesterday, the Irish came fl ying out since Russia’s Dimitri Kirichenko scored got heated on the pitch with four yellow the bullet header, but it was destined of a fi nal touch, prevented Griezmann that way.”

GERMANY 3 SLOVAKIA 0 Germany blast three past hapless Slovakia AFP Slovakia have a recent history of pulling alty missed by a German player in a European Lille, France off surprise results, from their defeat of Spain Championship fi nals match. in qualifying to the recent friendly victory in The miss did nothing to halt Germany’s mo- Germany and the goalless draw with England mentum, though, and it remained one-way erome Boateng scored his fi rst interna- that saw them progress from the group stage. traffi c after that with Ozil fi zzing a half-volley tional goal to set Germany on their way But their hopes of another day to remember inches past as the ball dropped after Gomez and to a 3-0 win against Slovakia at Euro were rapidly nipped in the bud by the world Jan Durica had gone up to contest another cross 2016 yesterday as the world champions champions, who underlined their credentials into the area. Draxler shot wide on the turn from cruisedJ into the quarter-fi nals. and sent a clear message to their Euro rivals. 18 yards before Jan Kozak’s side fi nally worked Boateng opened his account eight min- Sami Khedira was fi rst to threaten with a Manuel Neuer four minutes prior to the break. utes into his 63rd international appearance header from a Toni Kroos free-kick that was Peter Pekarik’s cross from the right found and Joachim Loew’s side never looked back tipped over by Slovakian ‘keeper Matus Koza- AC Milan midfi elder Juraj Kucka six yards against outclassed opponents. cik, and from the corner that followed Ger- from goal but his header was tipped over the Mesut Ozil had a penalty saved soon after many were in front. bar by the Germany captain. but Julian Draxler set up Mario Gomez to dou- Kroos’ delivery from the German left was And Germany went on to increase their ble the lead two minutes before half time and headed out by Milan Skriniar but the ball fell lead two minutes after that as Draxler com- the impressive Draxler then completed the for Boateng on the edge of the box and the bined with Jonas Hector down the left before scoring just after the hour mark. Bayern Munich stopper met it on the volley, heading for the byline and cutting the ball There was never any threat of a repeat of Slo- fi nding the bottom-left corner with the aid of back for Gomez to fi nish at the near post. vakia’s 3-1 win when the teams met in a friendly a small defl ection off the unfortunate Skriniar. Any hope of a contest in the second half just four weeks ago and Germany move on to a Slovakia were overwhelmed and they con- depended on Slovakia quickly pulling a goal last-eight tie against either reigning champi- ceded a penalty in the 13th minute when skip- back but a neat 49th-minute move ended ons Spain or old rivals Italy next weekend. per Martin Skrtel grappled with Gomez as the with Marek Hamsik hitting straight to Neuer. Loew had been unhappy with his team’s two went for a high ball in the box. Skrtel was And, if there were any lingering doubts about fi nishing during the group stage and he opted booked for his intervention, but Slovakia were the outcome, Germany put the game to bed on to drop the underperforming Mario Goetze as let off the hook as Ozil’s kick was well saved by 63 minutes, Mats Hummels heading down a Draxler, of Wolfsburg, started in the only change Kozacik diving to his left. corner for Draxler, who volleyed in at the back Germany midfielder Julian Draxler (centre) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Slovakia. (AFP) from their 1-0 win against Northern Ireland. Excluding shoot-outs, it was the fi rst pen- post to get the goal his performance deserved. Gulf Times 2 Monday, June 27, 2016 EURO 2016

ENGLAND VS ICELAND 10PM SPOTLIGHT Iceland’s ‘Gunnar’ Iceland tightrope on English radar AFP “All the Icelandic people Nice, France watch the Premier League and they follow English football,” said the self-avowed Manchester ngland coach Roy Hodg- United fan. “Everyone back home son is keeping a wary eye knows the England players, we on the powerful throw- know their style and hopefully ins of Iceland’s bearded we minimise their quality”. beckons England Ecaptain Aron Gunnarsson Now capped 62 times for his ahead of their Euro 2016 clash. country, Gunnarsson was part of ‘As far as I’m concerned, I will prepare the team for Iceland and we will do the best we can “You’d have to be a bit blind the Iceland Under-21 team that not to realise that Gunnarsson is qualifi ed for the 2011 European to win the game. Then after the game we will either be heavily criticised as we haven’t won a weapon for them,” said Hodg- Championship fi nals. He made son ahead of tonight’s David his international debut at the age it or with any luck, if we played well and won the game, people will maybe say we did well’ v Goliath clash in Nice. “He of 18 and was handed the nation- doesn’t only throw the ball into al team captaincy aged just 23. the box, but he takes the throw- Another member of the gold- ins by his own corner fl ag and en 2011 crop, Gunnarsson’s co- tries to throw it to the half-way hort in Iceland’s midfi eld core is line. So these are things we will Gylfi Sigurdsson, who also plays be aware of and will prepare for.” for a Welsh club in the Premier The Scandinavians deployed League, Swansea City. the 27-year-old Cardiff City But while Gunnarsson carries midfi elder’s aerial missiles to out a sentry role in front of the maximum eff ect against Aus- back four, Sigurdsson, Iceland’s tria in their fi nal Group F match six-goal top scorer in qualify- on Wednesday. His raking arrow ing, has license to rove freely. from the sideline reached the His set-piece skills were also on heart of the box where, with Aus- show when he slotted home a slick tria’s defence slow to react, Jon penalty against Hungary in Ice- Dadi Bodvarsson fi nished from land’s second group ame, which close range to put Iceland ahead. the Magyars drew thanks to a late “If we don’t do our home- own-goal by Birkir Savarsson. work properly and get our po- More English Premier League sitional play correct and the experience is supplied by Jo- challenges, (Gunnarsson’s hann Gudmundsson (Charlton throw-ins) will be a big chance Athletic), and veteran Eidur for them to score again. I’d like Gudjohnsen who had spells to think we prepare for every- with Tottenham, Bolton, Chel- thing, really, when it comes to sea, and Fulham. opponents,” said Hodgson. “The big advantage for us, as Iceland’s fairytale fi rst win at a it was when we played England major tournament was clinched with Sweden, is that we know when substitute Arnor Ingvi English football very well,” said Traustason’s last-gasp winner Lars Lagerback, former Sweden made it 2-1 and propelled them boss now joint coach of Iceland into the knockout stages. with Heimir Hallgrimsson. Gunnarsson is taking his The warning is stark for Eng- trademark throw-ins and years of land, ranked 11th in the world experience in the English Premier entering the tournament, one League into battle against Eng- place below Iceland’s last con- land, the fi rst ever competitive quest Austria. meeting between the nations. “We have players who have Known variously as the played (in England) and every- ‘Gunnar’ and the ‘Ice Man’ by body knows their players. I don’t Cardiff fans, he also played for know if you ask English players Coventry City for three seasons they knew many of our squad before joining the Welsh club, who haven’t played in England. scoring their fi rst ever goal in It’s one explanation of why Swe- the Premier League. den did so well,” said Lagerback.

England’s Daniel Sturridge, Wayne Rooney, Ross Barkley, Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling during a training session yesterday. (Reuters)

AFP going out to Roundly criticised for mak- Arnor Traustason’s 94th- the manager of Swedish club Chantilly, France Iceland,” Hodgson told reporters ing six changes to his starting XI minute winner, deliriously Halmstad when the latter was in Chantilly, north of Paris, prior against Slovakia, Hodgson is ex- described by Icelandic televi- beginning his own coaching ca- to the game. “As far as I’m con- pected to restore captain Wayne sion commentator Gudmundur reer in the late 1970s. pportunity knocks for cerned, I will prepare the team for Rooney, Dele Alli, Kyle Walker Benediktsson, had the eff ect of Lagerback says that Hodgson Iceland and potential Iceland and we will do the best we and Danny Rose to his line-up. tipping Iceland into the draw’s “meant a lot to me, both as a nice disaster looms for Roy can to win the game. Then after But his attacking confi guration thorny bottom half. person and also as a coach”. Hodgson’s England in the game we will either be heav- remains problematic. Harry Kane But where England will see Hodgson has been similarly theirO David-and-Goliath last 16 ily criticised as we haven’t won it and Raheem Sterling disappoint- only danger in Nice, Iceland see complimentary, saying that La- clash at Euro 2016 tonight. or with any luck, if we played well ed in England’s fi rst two games, only opportunity. “I would guess gerback “more than deserves” For Iceland, whose popula- and won the game, people will but Sturridge and Jamie Vardy, that in the mind of the people any praise he receives. But with tion of 330,000 makes them the maybe say we did well.” decisive against Wales, failed to in England, it is only a game to the English press corps ready to smallest country to have quali- A quarter-fi nal at Stade de impress against Slovakia. lose,” said co-coach Heimir Hall- write his obituary, Hodgson is fi ed for a major tournament, the France against the Republic of There is little mystery about grimsson. “For the people of Ice- not allowing the bonds of friend- game in the Mediterranean city Ireland or hosts France awaits how Iceland will set themselves land, this game is not seen in that ship to blur his vision. of Nice brings the chance to score the victors, but England’s group- up. Lars Lagerback’s side secured way. I wouldn’t want to be Roy “If you want me to add my one of the biggest upsets in foot- stage travails means they cannot a second-place fi nish in Group Hodgson if he lost to Iceland.” voice to people saying Lars La- ball history. aff ord to look that far ahead. F with a low defensive bloc and Defeat for England would rank gerback has done a fantastic job, For England—haunted by 50 Held 1-1 by Russia in their clinical counter-attacks. alongside their 1-0 loss to the then I am more than happy to do years of hurt since their 1966 opening game, they edged Wales After earning the scorn of Cris- part-timers of the United States at so,” he said. “But of course on World Cup triumph—and their 2-1 courtesy of a stoppage-time tiano Ronaldo by holding Portugal the 1950 World Cup in the annals Monday night he will be my en- under-pressure manager Hodg- Daniel Sturridge goal, only for a to a 1-1 draw, a late own goal gave of the team’s most dismal failures. emy, like all coaches during the son, it represents the wobbliest 0-0 draw with Slovakia to con- away a 1-1 draw with Hungary and Hodgson, 68, and Lagerback, 90 minutes, as the aim is to win of tightropes. demn them to the more daunting Iceland needed a dramatic 2-1 win 67, have been friends for close to that game and there won’t be any “I am not even contemplating half of the tournament draw. over Austria to secure a last 16 place. 40 years, the former having been time for sentiment.”

BOTTOMLINE Poland prove they are not a one-man team

The scoring problems of Robert “Robert Lewandowski is doing phe- Winger Jakub Blaszczykowski netted Lewandowski have not derailed nomenal work for this team, he’s an in- against the Swiss and another striker the Polish charge at Euro 2016 credibly important player for this side,” Arkadiusz Milik, though he missed an and the striker is being backed to Nawalka said after the Switzerland game. open goal when Swiss goalkeeper Yann fi nd the net again soon “Both mentally and in football terms, he Sommer was pressed into a mistake by helps us to be stronger. Most important Lewandowski after just 60 seconds, was DPA is the victory for the whole team and more dangerous than his more illustri- St Etienne, France Robert Lewandowski is part of it.” ous colleague throughout the contest. The coach could hardly be expected “You’ve got to say that Robert does to throw his superstar under the bus for his job as well,” keeper Lukasz Fabian- hen an undisputed star his below-par performances but not ski said. “Even though he’s not scoring claims that he is noth- only is Lewandowski not scoring, he is goals he gives a lot to the team. Even in ing without the rest of his not even getting opportunities. He had the fi rst minute of the game, we cre- teammates, it is a cliche only a single half-chance against Swit- ated something from his pressure, that oftenW met with condescending nods of zerland, created by himself with quick put them under a stressful situation. agreement, but Poland are showing at feet in the box, which he poked straight That’s what he gives us, even though Euro 2016 that sometimes one great into the arms of keeper Yann Sommer. we’re not creating as much as we would player can also be carried by the other 10. And there is evidence his goal like to for him. He’s still trying to do his Bayern Munich striker Robert drought is aff ecting other parts of his best for the team.” Lewandowski was the top-scorer in game—on more than one occasion he Dropping Lewandowski is not a seri- Euro qualifying and is undeniably Po- hesitated in playing a fi nal pass when ous prospect for Nawalka and though land’s only world class player. But at the chance was there to set up team- the rest of the squad have stepped up, Euro 2016 not only has he not scored, mates to shoot at goal. getting his main forward fi ring again his overall contributions have been “Robert Lewandowski is giving and would be a big help towards winning minimal, regardless of what coach creating other chances for other play- the upcoming clash with Cristiano Ro- Adam Nawalka claims. ers, opening space, creating positions naldo’s Portugal. Regardless, Poland survived a penal- for them,” Nawalka insisted. “He takes “We are happy to bring so much ty shoot-out with Switzerland follow- the opponent’s attention from other pleasure to our fans but now we’re ing a 1-1 draw in the last 16 on Saturday players, it’s great work. And I’m confi - thinking of the next match,” Nawalka and now look ahead to a fi rst-ever Euro dent and sure the break will happen in said. “We’re prepared for this match quarter-fi nal clash against Portugal in the next match. And then let the oppo- mentally and emotionally, we’re high Marseille on Thursday. nents be afraid.” up there and ready for it.” Poland players celebrate their team’s penalty shootout win over Switzerland in the Round of 16 clash on Saturday. (AFP) Gulf Times Monday, June 27, 2016 3 EURO 2016

FOCUS Pique, Ramos unite to face Italian brute force often clashed, particularly this season Roja didn’t conceded in the fi ve games more collective and individual honours. AFP Sergio Ramos (left) and Gerard Paris as the old fault lines of Spanish football that followed, culminating in a 4-0 Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli have reappeared. Pique joke during Spain team’s thrashing of the Azzurri in the fi nal. never won a World Cup, Euros, multiple Pique was repeatedly booed and training session yesterday. (AFP) Pique has already come to Spain’s res- Champions Leagues or the inclusions nemies at club level, Spain’s jeered by Spain fans after poking fun at cue at the other end of the fi eld in Euro in the FIFA team of the year that Spain’s Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique Real following Barca’s treble success in 2016, scoring a late winner in their 1-0 duo boast. have united to build the bed- the 2014/15 season. And he refused to opening win over the Czech Republic. Pique and Ramos’s style, on and off rock upon which a quest to win back down, stating: “I always want Ma- Ramos was fi rst to congratulate his the fi eld, earns more plaudits because it aE third consecutive European Champi- drid to lose.” central defensive partner, leaping onto is easier on the eye. Indeed, Pique was onship is built. Ramos bit back: “Veterans like Pique Pique’s shoulders with the latter post- even crowned most handsome player at The two-time defending champions should avoid such childishness.” ing the picture on Twitter, adding: “I the Euros by dating site Match.com. face a horrible draw if they are to make As a proud Catalan, Pique’s com- suppose I don’t need to say anything By contrast, Italy’s ‘BBC’, formed it back to Paris on July 10th for the Euro mitment to the Spanish national team more... we are a magnifi cent team!” into a relentless winning unit by Italian 2016 fi nal. A blockbuster last-16 clash has also been questioned. As recently Spain hadn’t conceded for 10 com- coach Antonio Conte during his glori- with old foes Italy today could be fol- as Tuesday he had to fend off ludicrous petitive games stretching back to Oc- ous three-year reign at Juventus, know lowed by meetings with world cham- accusations he had raised his middle tober 2014, but the fi rst cracks in their how to win ugly. pions Germany and hosts France af- fi nger during the Spanish anthem. defence of the title appeared with the Chiellini has taken four fractures to ter Spain conceded late to lose and let “I am crossing my fi ngers during the 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Bordeaux. his nose—plus a bite from Uruguay’s top spot in Group D slip away against anthem,” Pique posted on Twitter. “We Ramos was particularly culpable, er- Luis Suarez—for the Italian cause. Croatia in midweek. should stop looking for controversy ror-strewn in defence as well as miss- “I am the most aggressive one,” A rematch of the Euro 2012 fi nal where there is none and try to win the ing a crucial second-half penalty. Chiellini explained of his role within brings with it the challenge of breach- Euros together.” “Analyse, refl ect, learn and improve. the trio to the Guardian. “I go hunting ing Italy’s famed ‘BBC’ defensive trio of Winning the Euros together was ex- This is our true path in Euro 2016,” for my opponents high up the fi eld.” Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and actly what Ramos and Pique did four Ramos tweeted. Whoever stands strongest between Giorgio Chiellini. years ago, when they twice came up But that path now sees Spain come up Spain’s glamour centre-back couple Real Madrid captain Ramos and against Italy. against the widely regarded most solid and Italy’s trio of warriors will go a long Pique—the most outspoken member of After Antonio Di Natale breached the defensive unit in the competition, de- way to deciding who emerges victori- Barcelona’s star-studded squad—have Spain defence in the opening game, La spite the fact Ramos and Pique have far ous in Paris today.

ITALY VS SPAIN 7PM Hodgson happy to continue but won’t ‘beg’ to stay

AFP Spain hope to extend Chantilly, France ngland manager Roy Hodgson believes that Ethe achievements of his four-year tenure speak for themselves ahead of his side’s slippery Euro 2016 last 16 tie against underdogs Iceland. their winning trend Hodgson, 68, goes into the game under extreme pressure, with England having finished second behind Wales in Group B and failed to secure a place in the less daunting other half of the draw. Defeat in Nice would almost against old foes Italy certainly lead to Hodgson’s con- tract not being extended, but although he has made no secret ‘We need to get back to playing our best football because they will not stop running and of his desire to continue in the role, he said he would not be fight for every ball. They have a very strong defence and they know how to take their chances’ shouting it from the rooftops. “I am prepared to carry on. It is diff erent to wanting it. I’m prepared to carry on if the FA want me to,” Hodgson told re- porters during a testy briefing at England’s Chantilly training centre this week. “If they don’t want me to, then my contract will have run out and that is how that will be. So I’m not begging for the job. “I believe in what I’ve done in particular over the last couple of years. I believe in the team I am working with and believe the team is showing such potential that it will go on and do good things. “If the FA want me to contin- ue with me looking after them, I will be happy to do so.” After a quarter-final exit to Italy at Euro 2012 and a crush- ing group-stage elimination at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, tonight’s game is likely to be Hodgson’s last chance to deliver success. But he said: “I am not even contemplating going out to Spain’s head coach Vicente del Bosque speaks to his players during a training session yesterday, ahead of the defending Euro champions’ Round of 16 clash against fierce rivals Italy today. (Reuters) Iceland. I haven’t contemplat- ed losing a game yet. I’ve had AFP to accept two draws (against Paris Russia and Slovakia) that I FIVE CLASSIC ITALY VS SPAIN CLASHES would have liked to have seen before Baggio ran on to a cross to round maintained their tradition of coming up header, and Jordi Alba, scoring his first us win. So I am not contem- eeking to win an unprecedent- Four years aft er routing Italy 4-0 Zubizaretta and beat the Spanish legend short from the penalty spot. Spain had Spain goal, gave Vicente del Bosque’s men plating anything there.” ed third consecutive European to win the the Euro 2012 title, with a crisp finish from a tight angle. shaded a mouthwatering quarter-final a two-goal lead at the break. Italy struggled Asked if it was cruel to be Championship, Vicente del Spain meet them again in the last clash in regulation time against the then to respond and Torres and Juan Mata add- judged on just one game, he Bosque’s Spain will once again 16 of Euro 2016 today. Here are fi ve Spain 1 Italy 1 World Cup champions as Marcos Senna ed two more Spain goals inside the final six showed a flash of anger, say- haveS to see off old foes Italy today to re- classic Italy-Spain clashes: Euro 2012 group stages hit the post in the final stages. In the minutes to hand La Roja an unprecedented ing: “I am not prepared to go tain their crown. shootout, Casillas saved from Daniele hat-trick of major tournament wins. into that. I’ve been working for Before winning back-to-back Euros Italy 2 Spain 1 lthough still at the group stages, De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale. Cesc 40 years. Don’t ask me those and a maiden World Cup in 2010, Spain 1994 World Cup quarter-fi nal this was an eagerly-awaited fixture A Fabregas then made no mistake against Spain 0 Italy 0 sort of questions. suff ered an inferiority complex with Ita- talians will forever remember the 1994 between a desperate Italy side and the Gianluigi Buff on to send Spain in the (Spain won 7-6 on penalties) “The game is cruel. There ly having never beaten them in fi ve tries World Cup for Roberto Baggio’s stun- defending champions. Italy were given a I semis and on their way to ending a 44- 2013 Confederations Cup SF is no correlation sometimes at major fi nals. ning penalty miss in the final over Brazil. 61st-minute lead in Gdansk by Di Natale. wait to be crowned kings of Europe. between how well a team has A quarter-fi nal clash between the two Yet, it was an 88th-minute winner from But a slick Spain rescued a share of n the searing heat of Fortaleza neither done and the result. That is in Vienna in 2008 changed that. the ‘Divine Ponytail’ that helped the Az- the spoils shortly after when Fabregas Iside could find the breakthrough as something that is part and par- zurri overcome a stubborn Spanish side finished off a move of lightning-quick Spain 4 Italy 0 Italy midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini hit Spain—who had previously suff ered Euro 2012 fi nal cel of my life as I deal with criti- a terrible record on penalties—went in a lively quarter-final in Boston. Dino passes from Andres Iniesta and David the post, while at the other end Buff on cism and judgements that are through in a shootout before going on to Baggio’s 25-yard piledriver gave Arrigo Silva to fire first-time past Buff on. taly had upset pre-tournament predic- tipped Xavi Hernandez’s long-range made. So don’t ask me to make win the tournament. Sacchi’s men a 25th-minute lead, only Itions to book a place in the final with eff ort onto the woodwork. It went to stupid comments like that.” “That is the most important day for Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Luis Spain 0 Italy 0 Spain after a pair of Mario Balotelli goals penalties, and after both sides hit the Hodgson also took um- in the history of the Spanish national Caminero to level just before the hour. (Spain won 4-2 on penalties) in a 2-1 semi-final win over Germany. But net six times apiece, Italian defender brage at criticism of England’s team,” said captain Iker Casillas. Spain were livid when Mauro Tassotti’s Euro 2008 quarter-fi nal the fairytale campaign enjoyed by Cesare Leonardo Bonucci blasted over. Jesus performances in the opening After winning the World Cup, Spain vicious elbow that left now Barcelona n a humid night in Vienna, Spain Prandelli’s men went awry before half-time. Navas stepped up to beat Buff on and 1-1 draw with Russia and 0-0 had to face Italy twice more in retaining coach Luis Enrique bloodied and prone Ogoalkeeper Iker Casillas was the Making amends for their 1-1 draw with send Spain in to the final, where they suc- draw with Slovakia, as well as the Euros four years ago. in the penalty area went unpunished hero for Luis Aragones’s men as Italy Italy in the group stages, Silva, with a rare cumbed 3-0 to Brazil. suggestions that his decision A 1-1 draw in the opening match was to rest six players against the long forgotten as del Bosque’s men Slovaks—including in-form thrashed Italy 4-0 in the fi nal. against his future manager as Italian defend their title in Paris on July 10. draw for the second round, but those are to them, didn’t really count for us. captain Wayne Rooney—had La Roja then also won another shoot- boss Antonio Conte will take over at “We need to get back to playing our the rules and we have to respect them,” “And if we play to our potential, give backfired. out between the two in the Confedera- Stamford Bridge next season. best football because they will not stop said Conte. it everything and limit them where they “I accept so many nonsenses tions Cup semi-fi nals in 2013. “The way they play will demand running and fi ght for every ball,” added The former Juventus boss made eight are strong, I think we can create some- that are said to me and written Indeed, the European champions the absolute most of us,” Fabregas told Fabregas. “They have a very strong de- changes for the 1-0 defeat to the Repub- thing special,” he added. that I don’t often get a chance have lost just one of their last 11 Spanish sports daily Marca. fence and they know how to take their lic of Ireland on Wednesday with quali- Chiellini will also come head-to-head to put things right. So I’d like to meetings with Italy—a 2-1 friendly Spain started the tournament in great chances.” fi cation to the last 16 already assured. with another former Juventus teammate put one or two of them right,” defeat in 2011. form, sweeping aside the Czech Repub- Italy have been dealt a huge blow with Juventus stalwart Giorgio Chiellini will Alvero Morata, who Real Madrid exer- he said. Chelsea midfi elder Cesc Fabregas has lic and Turkey. However, a shock 2-1 de- infl uential midfi elder Antonio Candreva return to partner club teammates And- cised a buyback clause on last week. “The criticism is very simple. been a constant menace to the feat to Croatia in Bordeaux on Tuesday ruled out due to a groin injury. rea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci. “I wish him well for the rest of his At the end of the game you can Azzurri. He scored the winning pen- cost del Bosque’s men top spot in Group Conte’s men have been unfortunate And Chiellini is hopeful Italy can re- career but I hope he has a bad match on play well or you can play badly. alty in 2008, Spain’s equaliser in the D and a much easier route to the fi nal. to fi nd themselves on the tougher side verse their recent run against Spain. Monday,” joked Chiellini. We won all our three prepara- 2012 opening game and set up David Even if they see off Italy, Spain face of the draw despite beating the highly- “In a way, they’re our bogey team,” he “He’s a special kind of guy and a play- tion games (against Turkey, Silva’s opener in the fi nal. having to beat world champions Ger- fancied Belgium to top Group E. said. “But let’s keep things in perspec- er who, as well as having great skills, is Australia and Portugal).” Fabregas will also be coming up many and hosts France for the right to “There is a crazy imbalance in the tive. The Ireland match, with all respect only going to get better.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, June 27, 2016 EURO 2016

REPORT SPOTLIGHT Luck of the draw gives Ronaldo Portugal substitute cause to believe

AFP Germany or Spain to reach the Lens, France fi nal, Traustason’s injury-time goal to beat Austria 2-1 dumped Ronaldo’s men into third place ortugal superstar in the group, but onto the Quaresma snatches Cristiano Ronaldo weaker side of the draw. will rarely get a better Portugal next face Poland in chance than at Euro the quarter-fi nals in Marseille, P2016 to land the only major while a mouthwatering clash honour lacking in his glittering with Madrid teammate Gareth career by leading his country Bale and Wales or Belgium, to victory in a major fi nals. should they see off Hungary, It took Ronaldo 117 minutes is likely to await the winners in extra-time winner to get a meaningful touch in the semis. the Croatia penalty area in the last 16 match against on Sat- No Euros love aff air ‘Everything was perfect except we didn’t score. So we weren’t successful in attack’ urday, yet he was decisive in Ronaldo’s relationship with helping his country to reach the Euros has been a compli- another European Champion- cated one. He has already bro- ship quarter-fi nal. ken records as the only player Ronaldo’s old friend Ricardo to score in four editions of the Quaresma applied the fi nish- competition and for appear- ing touch after the Real Madrid ances, yet Portugal’s exits have star’s initial eff ort — Portugal’s been among the most painful fi rst on target — was parried by moments of his career. Danijel Subasic into the Besik- There were tears when Por- tas winger’s path for a simple tugal shockingly lost 1-0 on fi nish to snatch a 1-0 win on home soil in the fi nal to rank Saturday. outsiders Greece in 2004. It was a cruel end for In 2008 he was expected to Croatia, who were arguably the shine as World Player of the best side in the group stages. Year, but scored only once as A Croatia coach Ante Cacic Seleccao fell to Germany in the believed his team had deserved quarter-fi nals. to win the match, knowing Four years ago in Donetsk he that the half of the draw they looked to the sky and mouthed are in arguably off ers an easier “no justice” as Spain prevailed path to the fi nal than the one on penalties in the semi-fi nals. containing France, Germany, He had chosen to take the last title holders Spain, Italy and of Portugal’s fi ve spot kicks, England. hoping for his glory moment, “I think Portugal are the fa- but instead did not even get a vourites now (to reach the fi - chance to take one as Cesc Fa- nal),” Cacic said. bregas converted to give Spain The early signs of Portugal’s an unassailable 4-2 lead. campaign were not promising. “There will be many other They were the only side to opportunities to win in Europe progress from the group stages throughout my career, and with three draws — fi nishing make up for this huge disap- behind Hungary and tourna- pointment,” Ronaldo said as ment debutants Iceland. a 19-year-old after the 2004 If they are to go all the way, defeat to Greece. At 31, even if Portugal’s forward Ricardo Quaresma celebrates a seemingly inconsequential the does make a fi fth Euros in aft er scoring a goal during the extra-time in the Euro goal by Iceland’s Arnor Ingvi 2020, he will be far from his 2016 round of sixteen match against Croatia at the Traustason will have played a prime. Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens. (AFP) huge role. Portugal had settled A three-time World Player for a 3-3 draw with Hungary in of the Year and Champions their fi nal group game having League winner, Ronaldo is ap- come from behind three times proaching last chance saloon as Ronaldo scored his fi rst two to crown his career with inter- goals of the tournament. national glory. Yet, instead of having to face Yet, thanks to the luck of the England in the last 16, then draw, his last chance has never most likely France and then been a better one. Reuters plenty of passes also went astray but their wasteful fi nishing con- with Portugal keeper Rui Patri- “We conceded no chances, ex- Lens in a tense, cagey last 16 game in tinued as Marcelo Brozovic nar- cio stranded after coming out for cept the last one. which neither side managed to rowly failed to connect with Ivan the cross. “They scored in the 117th register a shot on target until Strinic’s cross and then followed Perisic fl ashed the ball across minute, I congratulate them. close-range header Ronaldo’s late eff ort led to the up by blazing over from the re- the goal and then saw a header They kept us far from goal and from Portugal substi- winning goal. sulting corner. come back off the post before that’s why they scored from the tute Ricardo Quaresma Croatia were on top for most Sanches registered Portugal’s Portugal countered and Ron- counter-attack. secured a 1-0 win over of the fi rst half but Portugal fi rst shot of the second half when aldo’s shot was parried into the “That was our mistake and we CroatiaA after the game burst into had the fi rst chance when Pepe he broke forward and played a path of Quaresma who scored. were punished,” Cacic added, life late in extra time on Saturday headed Raphael Guerreiro’s free one-two with Joao Mario but Croatia poured forward in “but that’s football and many and set up a Euro 2016 quarter- kick over the bar after Ronaldo steered the ball wide of the tar- search of an equaliser and Vida times the best team doesn’t win.” fi nal against Poland next week. was tripped by Perisic. get. Croatia centre-back Vida made it a hat-trick of misses as Croatia’s odds of winning the Quaresma struck three min- Perisic, who had a patch of his then had a glorious chance to he hooked the ball wide leaving tournament were slashed after utes from the end of the extra hair dyed to match the red-and- give his side the lead on the hour Portugal to go through to face they came from behind to beat period after a Cristiano Ron- white checked pattern of his but headed wide with the goal at Poland in Marseille on Thursday. Spain 2-1 and top Group D, but aldo shot was brilliantly saved shirt, then cut in from the right his mercy and Mandzukic lurk- Cacic lamented his fancied they failed to produce a dynamic by Danijel Subasic to settle the but he dragged his shot outside ing behind him. side’s failure to score. Croatia performance against Portugal. tie just a minute after Croatia’s the near post. Earning his 100th cap, Nani enjoyed 17 shots to their oppo- “I am really sad as we had Ivan Perisic had hit the post with Luka Modric and Mario Man- had a penalty appeal turned nents’ six, but failed to register a great chance,” added Cacic. a header. dzukic returned from injury for down when he went sprawling a single eff ort on target though “The draw was perfect for us, we Croatia almost snatched an Croatia, with Mandzukic spurn- in the box under pressure from they did hit the post through knew if we beat Portugal we had equaliser at the death but Doma- ing an excellent fi rst-half chance Strinic. Ivan Perisic’s header just before an open path.” goj Vida hooked the ball agonis- when he headed Dario Srna’s Ronaldo did not fare much Portugal scored. Quaresma’s left coach Fern- ingly wide. corner wide of the target. better and, despite occasional “Everything was perfect ex- ando Santos praising his team “We expected Portugal to With Mandzukic on his own fl ashes of skill, he was kept quiet cept we didn’t score,” Cacic told for executing his orders after a counter and we were playing re- up front and Nani and Ronaldo for most of the game. reporters. “So we weren’t suc- tactical game ally well for 120 minutes, con- shackled, neither side could The match fi nished scoreless cessful in attack.” “It was a very tactical match. trolling the match, not conced- break the deadlock and a smat- and went into extra time with Croatia scored fi ve goals in the Portugal tried to take over but ing any chances except the last tering of boos and whistles were Nikola Kalinic, who replaced group stage but have failed to Croatia didn’t let us, but when one that was our mistake and heard at the halftime whistle. Mandzukic, blasting a shot wide fi nd the net against Portugal in they tried to take over we didn’t we were punished for that,” said halfway through the fi rst period. all four of their matches, losing let them,” Santos told reporters. Croatia coach Ante Cacic. WASTEFUL FINISHING Croatia still looked livelier and every one. “We played really well “You have to look at both sides There was some lovely one- Croatia continued to domi- Vida was frustrated again as he and were controlling the match,” of the coin. We faced an amazing touch play from both sides but nate possession after the break, headed another corner just over he added. team.”

FOCUS Ronaldo, Bale, Lewandowski go through on ‘cruel’ day

AFP Northern Ireland’s Gareth Euro roulette chance to settle the game for basic. scored the crucial opening goal vic was another who felt his side Lens, France McAuley turned into his own Northern Ireland manager Croatia, but headed wide af- “We cannot say football is fair, for Poland but Switzerland drew had lost despite dominating. net in the only goal of their game Michael O’Neill said his team ter Portuguese goalkeeper Rui we had many chances, we domi- level in spectacular style through “Penalties are like roulette,” he Saturday. Wales now play the deserved more after keeping Bale Patricio failed to collect a corner. nated for the whole match, so it Shaqiri. moaned. t was “ugly”, “unfair” and winner of Sunday’s game be- in check for so long. was not a psychological prob- The match went to a penalty France’s clash with the Re- “cruel” but Cristiano Ron- tween Hungary and Belgium. “I felt it was a very tight game lem,” said Croatia coach Ante shootout but Arsenal-bound public of Ireland on Sunday, aldo, Gareth Bale and Robert Bale, the tournament’s joint and I felt we had the better of it Cacic. “The best team doesn’t Granit Xhaka’s wild and wide which evokes memories of Thi- Lewandowski got through to leading scorer with Alvaro Mor- to be honest,” said O’Neill. “It always win and that happened spot-kick cost the Swiss dear. erry Henry’s infamous handball Ithe Euro 2016 quarter-fi nals and ata of Spain on three goals, was was a very, very cruel was to lose tonight.” The Poles went a perfect fi ve in a 2009 World Cup playoff , that is all that Portugal, Wales brutally honest after the Parc des the game. I didn’t think we de- He did name Ronaldo’s team, from fi ve from the spot. was given further edge with a and Poland care about. Princes game in Paris. It does not served to lose.” however, as favourites to reach “POL!!! Final 8!!!” tweeted row over tickets. Ricardo Quaresma’ header matter how you win. In Lens, a Croatia team — led the July 10 fi nal in Paris. “Gladiator” star Russell Crowe, Ireland coach Martin O’Neill after skipper Ronaldo’s shot Northern Ireland closed down by another Real Madrid star Luka First, however, Portugal must who has taken this rugged Polish is angry because Irish fans re- was defl ected with extra time Bale for so long. But Wales have Modric — that has played some beat Poland who reached the team and swashbuckling winger ceived just 4,500 tickets for the running out saw Portugal de- reached the last eight of a ma- of the most attractive football of Patricio saved his country European Championship quar- Blaszczykowski to his heart. match in the 59,000-capacity feat Croatia 1-0 and set up a last jor tournament for the fi rst time the fi nals failed to fi nd a way past seconds later when he turned ter-fi nals for the fi rst time after “I’m delighted, it was a his- Stade de Lyon. eight clash against Poland. since the 1958 World Cup. the Portuguese defence. Ivan Perisic’s header onto the conceding probably the best goal toric moment for us, because we “It’s totally disproportion- Bayern Munich star Lewand- “What can I say? We knew it Ronaldo was muzzled for the post. of the tournament so far, a spec- are in the top eight in Europe,” ate for a stadium of this size,” owski again failed to score but was going to be an ugly match,” vast majority of a dull encoun- Portugal then snatched their tacular scissors kick by Xherdan Blaszczykowski said. Poland O’Neill complained. Poland beat Switzerland 5-4 in a Bale said. “Northern Ireland ter that became the fi rst match fi rst victory of the tournament at Shaqiri. coach Adam Nawalka was de- “For us, or any team that was penalty shootout after they were made it diffi cult to play. There in Euro history in which neither the death as Quaresma was per- With Lewandowski drawing lighted with the result but said going to be playing in the round deadlocked 1-1 at 120 minutes. was not much space up front. team managed a shot on target fectly positioned to head in after another Euro blank at Saint- his team must improve their fi n- of 16 here, to be allocated less Wales’s Bale hit the 75th- You can’t ask for any more. It’s during the regulation 90 minutes. Ronaldo’s low shot was parried Etienne’s Stade Geoff rey Gui- ishing. that 5,000 tickets is, I think, minute pinpoint cross that incredible.” Domagoj Vida had a golden away by goalkeeper Danijel su- chard, Jakub Blaszczykowski Swiss coach Vladimir Petko- pretty unfair, honestly.” Gulf Times Monday, June 27, 2016 5 SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Controversial Lampard goal lifts New York City A controversial goal by Frank Lampard and a key mistake by Seattle lifted New York City FC to a 2-0 Major League Soccer victory over the Sounders on Saturday in Seattle. Former England and Chelsea midfielder Colombia down US Lampard scored in the 38th minute. A corner kick by New York’s Andrea Pirlo was cleared away from the goalmouth but not from the area and RJ Allen sent it back. Lampard, inside the six-yard box, chested the ball to the ground and into the net — but Sounders keeper Stefan Frei immediately protested and video replay showed the ball to grab Copa 3rd spot bounced off Lampard’s left hand. After extended discussion, the goal stood to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. ‘There were enough chances for us to put one in but we just weren’t clinical enough’ “Yeah, it wasn’t the most beautiful goal. It came off my chest,” Lampard said. Sounders coach Sigi Schmid, however, said in his view it was a “handball goal”. “But that’s just the way it’s been going,” Schmid said. “We’ve got to find a way to find our own luck, and we’ve got to find a way to pull ourselves up.” Ronald Matarrita capitalised on Frei’s error in the 86th to double the score, lofting a pass from Mikey Lopez past Frei who had come out to challenge David Villa. New York City FC notched their fourth away win of the season. They took sole posses- sion of second place, just two points behind Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia. The Sounders, meanwhile, have lost five of their last six matches and are languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference. The Sounders were playing without stan- dout Clint Dempsey, who remained with the USA for the Copa American third-place playoff against Colombia.

Argentina chief slams FIFA dismissal The president of the Argentina Football As- sociation (AFA) angrily lashed out at FIFA on Saturday after the sport’s world governing body removed him from off ice and ap- pointed a committee to take charge of the organisation’s aff airs. FIFA on Friday said it had appointed a normalisation committee that would see AFA President Luis Segura removed from his job in the latest twist to the organisation’s troubled recent history. The FIFA committee will be in charge of run- ning the AFA and organising elections for its new leadership following a governance crisis triggered by the death of long-serving chief Julio Grondona in 2014. Carlos Bacca (No 7) of Colombia celebrates with James Rodriguez aft er However, the ousted Segura slammed the Bacca scored a fi rst half goal against the US in the 2016 Copa America FIFA move on Saturday in New York, where Centenario third place match in Glendale, Arizona. (Getty Images/AFP) Argentina are preparing for Sunday’s Copa America Centenario final against Chile, decrying it as an “unforgivable mistake.” AFP by some superb goalkeeping from Tim Howard save on 12 minutes. Hamburg’s Bobby Wood, but the one in but we just weren’t clinical “Argentina is to play a final on Sunday and Glendale, United States David Ospina. Rodriguez was the architect for Bundesliga-based striker was un- enough and the players know that.” FIFA announces on Friday that they are It was the second time the US had Colombia’s goal just after the half able to get his shot away cleanly. However, Klinsmann was satis- appointing a normalisation committee,” been beaten by Colombia in this hour mark, chipping a wonderful Dempsey produced the best fi ed with what he described as a Segura told reporters at Argentina’s hotel in C Milan striker Carlos tournament. The Colombians also pass into the path of Santiago Arias, American chance of the second successful campaign. Hoboken, New Jersey. Bacca scored the only goal defeated them 2-0 in the tourna- who headed across the six yard box half, with his long-range curling “The players realised tonight that “It seems a nonsense, madness, an unforgiv- as Colombia defeated the ment’s opening match. for Bacca to score. free-kick drawing a brilliant save if they raise the level of commit- able mistake,” said the off icial, adding that United States 1-0 to clinch US coach Jurgen Klinsmann had The US responded gamely to the from Ospina, clawing the ball away ment and aggressiveness they can he would return to Argentina on Saturday thirdA place in the Copa America blamed his side for being “too nice” setback however, with Jermaine one-handed as it rocketed towards compete with these kinds of teams,” and miss the final. Centenario here Saturday. against Argentina in the semi-fi - Jones almost equalising when his the top corner. US coach Klinsmann Klinsmann said. “I’m going today,” said Segura, whose term Bacca, 29, bundled home the nals, when they failed to register a low shot defl ected off Arias and just later bemoaned his team’s inabil- “Getting in the fi nal four of such ends on June 30. winner on 31 minutes, nudging in single shot either on or off target. missed the target. Seattle Sounders ity to fi nish off any of the several a huge competition is a wonderful Grondona’s death led to a farcical leadership from close range to settle a hard- However, they were unlucky not veteran Clint Dempsey, arguably chances created throughout. achievement and they should be election last year which ended in a 38-38 fought contest. to score during an entertaining the best US player of the tourna- “Ultimately they were clinical,” very proud of themselves.” draw between Segura and television person- The US, beaten 4-0 by Argentina game in Arizona. ment, had another good game but Klinsmann told reporters. “They The fi nal of the Copa America ality Marcelo Tinelli — even though only 75 in the semi-fi nals on Tuesday, ral- Colombia had gone closest to was unable to add to his Copa tally took their one chance in the fi rst takes place on Sunday, with Argen- delegates were able to vote. lied desperately to get back into the scoring fi rst, Real Madrid star James of three goals and three assists. half — we couldn’t take ours. There tina facing Chile in East Rutherford, game but ultimately were frustrated Rodriguez being denied by a fi ne Dempsey almost laid on a goal for were enough chances for us to put New Jersey.

FOCUS Ramadan Sports Festival fi nishes on a high note

By Sports Reporter Doha

spire Zone Foundation (AZF) has brought the fi fth annual Ramadan Sports Festival (RSF) to aA close, adding another sports mega-event, which attracted more than 1,000 participants in 11 diff erent sports over two weeks, to its list of achievements. For the duration of RSF, AZF’s indoor and outdoor venues host- ed members of the community taking part in football, volleyball, basketball, futsal, cricket, tennis, and table tennis tournaments, as well as a walking competition around Aspire Dome and many other family-focused activities. Commenting on the conclu- sion of RSF chairman of the Ra- madan Organising Committee at AZF Abdullah Aman al-Khater said: “We have successfully con- cluded the fi fth edition of RSF and are proud of our accom- plishments, both from an or- ganisational perspective and in alike, including large numbers community during Ramadan.” 3-1 in the fi nal to bring home ment favourites Hyper Spik- encourage members of the local Foundation’s various facilities. terms of the level of engagement of participants in the pre-Iftar On Friday, Aspire Dome host- the title. Bayern and AK Legend ers continued their superb run, community to adopt healthier Such success can be attributed from the community, which has walking competition around ed the fi nal rounds of this year’s then battled for third place in a seizing the tournament from lifestyles through its provision to AZF’s world-class logistical exceeded expectations.” Aspire Dome. The festival’s suc- RSF as the junior futsal and la- closely fought match that ended team Aktor in a thrilling fi nale. of exciting, accessible and en- and technical capabilities that He added: “This year’s edition cess is a testament to our eff orts dies’ volleyball tournaments in a draw and a penalty shootout Team TWS earned the third joyable sports, complete with have equipped it with the capac- had several memorable moments to promote physical activity came to a close. In junior futsal, that Bayern went on to win. place title. The success of RSF year-round events and tour- ity to organise, host and manage for organisers and participants amongst members of the local team Barcelona stunned Brazil In ladies’ volleyball, tourna- demonstrates AZF’s eff orts to naments that take place in the mega events of this size. Gulf Times 6 Monday, June 27, 2016 SPORT

MLB Sixers’ Simmons can learn from career of his mentor: LeBron James

The biggest season of Ben Simmons’ career, to date, was doomed from the start. He had left Montverde Academy, where he was the beloved Australian import who led the Florida school to three national Johnson’s home run titles and a 62-1 record during his three seasons. His next stop was Louisiana State University to join his godfather, David Patrick, a Tigers assistant coach at the time. However, Sim- mons’ one year at LSU was far from enjoyable. The 6-foot-10, 243-pounder was criticised for everything, from not having a good jump shot to not shooting enough 3-pointers to not lead- ing a selfish and injured LSU squad to the NCAA Tournament. “Going to LSU was lots of up and downs,” he said. in 11th lift s Mets to “But I learned a lot from going there. I think it kind of prepared me. I needed to go through that to prepare for this next level.” As the 76ers’ first overall pick, he’s bound to experience some ups and downs - many downs in the early going - during his NBA career. If Simmons struggles, some of the same people who praised the pick Thursday night will wonder whether he’s a bust. He is about to be analysed on and off the court for eve- rything from his accent and style of dress to his shot selection 1-0 win over Braves and his head-to-head statistics against other elite players. And even if Simmons becomes a perennial NBA all-star, he’ll have to deal with the pressure of leading the Sixers to an NBA title. ‘Any time you are playing against a former team, you have a little extra pep in your step’ So he’s lucky to have a mentor in LeBron James. It can be argued that no basketball player has been scrutinized as much as James has throughout his career. It can also be ar- gued that no basketball player has had to deal with the amount of pressure that the four-time NBA MVP has. Nowadays, the Akron, Ohio, native is being praised for lead- ing the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA championship. He’ll always be loved for ending a 52-year pro-sports championship drought, which felt more like a curse, in the sports-mad city of Cleveland, about 38 miles from his hometown. But it wasn’t too long ago that some Clevelanders burned James’ No. 23 jersey after he said, “I’m going to take my talents to South Beach and join the Miami Heat.” That was on July 8, 2010, when ESPN televised a live special dubbed “The Decision. But seven years earlier, James was in a situation similar to the one Simmons is in today. Yet it was a little more pressure-packed. He was picked first overall by the Cavaliers in the 2003 draft as an 18-year-old graduate of Akron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. Talk about pressure. The Cavs’ colours were changed and a new team logo was cre- ated to celebrate a new era. While not quite like last season’s 10-72 Sixers, the Cavs were in disarray the season before drafting James, winning just 17 games. They went on to make an 18-game improvement in James’ initial season. James was named rookie of the year, and made his first of 12 straight all-star selections the following season. He’s been to seven NBA Finals - three in Cleveland and four in Miami. Before this year’s championship series with the Golden State Warriors, James was criticised for having a Finals record of 2-4. Some even criticised his unselfish style of play. The thought was that at 6-8 and 250 pounds he should always take over games. The equally unselfish Simmons is going to receive the same criticism if people think he didn’t shoot enough in a close loss. But the criticism never really seemed to publicly bother James, who hasn’t had any negative media attention away from the game. He always took the high road and kept playing hard while ignoring the outside noise. The folks who burned his jerseys welcomed him back with open arms when he returned to Cleveland before the start of the 2014-15 season. He rewarded those fans last week with a long-awaited title. Simmons knows that the criticism will come, just like it did at LSU. “That’s always going to happen when you are one of the best guys,” he said of the negative talk in college. Simmons said he has matured and has become a better player since his days at LSU. No one knows when or if he will lead the Sixers to their first title since 1983. Nor does anyone know whether he’ll become a perennial all-star like James. What we do know is he’ll have a great mentor to lean on when he goes through tough times. And there are definitely going to New York Mets second baseman Kelly Johnson hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves in the eleventh inning at Turner Field. PICTURE: USA TODAY Sports be tough times in the beginning.

By Marc Carig fi rst major league game from the bat into the ground and didn’t bulk of which has been powered er to another frustrating night. Newsday bench, the contours of an 11-in- bother running. Noticing this, his 17 shutout frames against the Over deGrom’s last fi ve starts, ning 1-0 win over the Braves Braves reliever Jim Johnson Mets. the Mets have scored just two looked all-too familiar. Even alertly let the ball drop, then The Mets collected four hits runs for him. They have none in anager Terry Collins Reyes at the height of his powers fi red to second base to begin a through the fi rst three innings, each of his last three outings. promised a shake- couldn’t make a dent in what has double play. the last coming on a Yoenis Ces- Not since June 7 had deGrom up, and over the become the nightly dysfunction De Aza’s average dropped pedes single that was wasted be- looked on the scoreboard when course of an event- known as the Mets off ense. to .169. The play encapsulated cause he attempted stretching it he’s started and seen anything Mful Saturday afternoon, the Mets Kelly Johnson, traded from the what has been a run of futility into a double. but a zero next to the Mets’ total. delivered. Within the span of Braves earlier this season, lined a for the Mets, who nevertheless From there, Teheran clicked Even then, the fi gure he saw was an hour, Brandon Nimmo was solo homer in the 11th inning off gained a game on the Nationals, into cruise and retired the next modest: one. on the way to Atlanta, Michael left-hander Dario Alvarez, the who are up only two games in the 15 batters he faced until Curtis DeGrom, whose ERA dropped Conforto was on the way Las former Met. But fi rst, the Mets NL East after dropping their sev- Granderson’s two-out single in to 2.67, has gone a career-high 10 Vegas, and Jose Reyes was on the wasted eight shutout innings from enth in a row. the eighth. starts without a win. way to Brooklyn. Jacob deGrom, endured an off en- For the third straight start, He swiped second, putting RESULTS The Mets had swapped one sive gaff e in the 10th and needed the Mets failed to score a single the Mets just one hit away from Baltimore 5 Tampa Bay 0 slumping young player for an- a double play for closer Jeurys Fa- run for deGrom, who sidetepped breaking Teheran’s shutout. But NY Yankees 2 Minnesota 1 other who had surged in Triple- milia to save it in the 11th. trouble while working through even that hint of life quickly Toronto 10 Chicago White Sox 8 A. Then they reached into their “Any time you are playing stifl ing heat. evaporated. After running the Cleveland 6 Detroit 0 past, sending Reyes to the mi- against a former team, you come Meanwhile, Julio Teheran’s count full, Asdrubal Cabrera Colorado 11 Arizona 6 nors for a crash course in playing in here and have a little extra pep last start came against the Mets struck out. Miami 9 Chicago Cubs 6 anything else but shortstop. in your step,” said Johnson, who on June 19, a brilliant one-hit Even with Teheran out of the San Diego 3 Cincinnati 0 Perhaps, the moves eventu- has played for the Braves over shutout in which the Braves game after eight, the Mets missed Milwaukee 6 Washington 5 ally translate into more life for a three diff erent tenures. right-hander struck out seven. a chance to make noise in the Baltimore 8 Tampa Bay 6 lineup that has wilted in the heat After Wilmer Flores lined a He didn’t look that good on Sat- ninth. Cespedes began the inning Houston 13 Kansas City 5 of the summer. But on Saturday leadoff single, scuffl ing veteran urday, though he wasn’t that far with an infi eld single on a bouncer Pittsburgh 6 LA Dodgers 1 night, they proved only to be a Alejandro De Aza popped up off , either. that rolled under Adonis Garcia’s NY Mets 1 Atlanta 0 (11 innings) distraction, for the Mets once his try at a sacrifi ce bunt with He fi nished with eight score- barehanded attempt at third base. Texas 10 Boston 3 again strained to survive against pinch-runner Matt Reynolds on less frames, giving up fi ve hits But Neil Walker hit into a double Oakland 7 LA Angels 3 the worst team in the division. fi rst base. while striking out seven. He has play, killing any momentum. Philadelphia 3 San Francisco With Nimmo watching his Frustrated, De Aza spiked his a 23-inning scoreless streak, the For deGrom, it was the clinch- Seattle 5 St. Louis 4

FOCUS Warriors Kerr makes emotional gun control plea

AFP even have a vote on gun restriction dead and 53 others wounded in the some checks. It’s easier to get a gun “And until we vote these senators San Francisco proposals. Kerr’s father, Malcolm, deadliest mass shooting in US history, than it is to get a driver’s license. It’s and congressmen and women out of was the president of the American a massacre that came the night before insane. offi ce, the same thing is going to hap- University of Beirut. He was gunned Kerr’s Warriors lost game fi ve of the “And as somebody who’s had a pen. And it’s infuriating.” olden State Warriors coach down in the hallway outside his offi ce NBA Finals on their way to squander- family member shot and killed, it dev- Kerr wondered how US lawmakers Steve Kerr, whose father was in 1984 while his son was a freshman ing a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven astates me every time I read about this might react if their family members murdered by a violent Islamic basketball standout at the University series, the worst collapse in fi nals his- stuff — like what happened in Orlando were at greater risk of being slain in group in 1984, has made a pas- of Arizona. tory. — and then it’s even more devastating mass shootings. Gsionate plea for stronger background “When 90 % of our country wants “What bugs me is this adherence to see the government just cowing to “You wonder if any of these sena- checks on US gun purchases. background checks on gun purchases to the right to bear arms,” Kerr said. the NRA (National Rifl e Association) tors and congressmen and women Kerr spoke Friday on a podcast by and we’ve got our Senate and our “That was back in 1776. People didn’t and going to this totally outdated Bill who are so opposed to even holding San Jose Mercury News sports col- House not only voting it down but own automatic rifl es. Of Rights, right to bear arms.” a vote on not only the right to buy an umnist Tim Kawakami about the using the Bill of Rights as a reason for “You had to have a musket in case automatic weapon but just the back- Warriors’ loss to Cleveland in the NBA people to have rights to carry these the Redcoats were coming, the Brit- Kerr wants political change ground checks and the lists and all the Finals then took the conversation into automatic weapons, and we’re get- ish were coming. And the beautiful Kerr, who spent much of his youth stuff , how would they feel about this politics. ting people murdered every day at an thing about the Constitution is they overseas, called for political change if their own child, their own mother, “Our government is insane,” Kerr alarming rate — I just have to get this left open amendments to change to toss out those who back the NRA’s their own father, sister, brother, wife, said, for failing to pass gun control off my chest — our government is in- things because things change over desire to avoid any limits on gun own- husband was murdered. Mass mur- legislation. Democratic members of sane. We are insane.” time. “I kind of think that our forefa- ership. “If you want to own a musket, dered,” Kerr said. the House of Representatives staged Kerr’s call for arms control came thers would not have OK’d automatic fi ne, you know, but come on. The rest “How many times do we have to go a 24-hour sit-in Wednesday and two weeks after a terror attack at a gay weapons to be sold to everybody if of the world thinks we’re insane. We through this before our government Thursday to protest the inability to nightclub in Orlando, Florida, left 49 they existed back then. Let’s have are insane,” Kerr said. actually does something about it?” Gulf Times Monday, June 27, 2016 7 SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT Els surges but England lead resurgent Hurley still leads north, while All Blacks at PGA National

AFP on a note like that.” Bethesda, United States Spaniard Jon Rahm, a 21-year- old in his professional debut, was third on 201 with Americans Bill still a class apart rnie Els, a four-time Haas and Webb Simpson fourth major winner trying to on 203 and 53-year-old Fijian end a three-year title Vijay Singh sharing sixth on 205 Coach Cheika defiant even as Wallabies have question marks all over the park drought, fi red a six-un- with US rookie Harold Varner. derE par 65 and leaped into sec- Els, ranked 296th, has not Reuters ond place after Saturday’s third won since the European Tour’s Sydney round of the PGA National. 2013 BMW International, has The 46-year-old South Afri- not won a US PGA-sanctioned can eagled the 12th hole at Con- event since the 2012 British Open ew Zealand’s long dominance gressional Country Club, holing and has not won a US tourna- of world rugby shows no sign of his second shot on the fl y from ment since 2010 at Bay Hill. He coming to an end any time soon 157 yards in the fairway with a seeks a 20th US PGA title, which but England’s historic sweep of 9-iron, and ran off three bird- would bring US PGA Tour life NAustralia and Ireland’s June tour of South ies in a row starting at the par-5 membership. After sandwiching Africa off ered some hope of a northern sixth in the day’s low round on three-foot birdie putts at six and hemisphere resurgence. the course where he won the eight around an 18-footer at the Southern hemisphere teams fi lled all 1997 US Open. seventh, Els made his stunning four semi-fi nal spots at last year’s World “The way I’m hitting it now, eagle at 12. Cup as European teams proved unable to the way I’m swinging, I’m get- “When the game gives you deal with the power, pace and depth of ting more confi dence,” Els said. something there’s a lot of ex- the Rugby Championship sides. I’ve had a terrible time last year citement and that was really one While the June window following a and a half in results but I feel of the more exciting moments,” World Cup year is a period of transition good. I want to go out there and Els said. “I don’t think I’ve ever for many sides, there were some early in- prove something to myself again. slam-dunked it into the hole like dications that the southern hemisphere Nothing to anybody else. that. It was a great feeling.” powers might not have it all their own “I’m going to love being in Els curled in a 23-foot birdie way at the next global showpiece in 2019. contention.” putt at the 14th but missed a England, knocked out of their own Els fi nished on 13-under par fi ve-foot birdie putt at 15 and World Cup at the pool stage last October, 200 after 54 holes, two strokes lipped out a three-foot birdie set out their stall in no uncertain fashion behind leader Billy Hurley, a putt at the par-5 16th or he might and decisively broke the southern grip on 607th-ranked resident of nearby have shared the lead. the top three in the world rankings with a Annapolis who fi red a bogey-free 3-0 triumph Down Under. 67 to stand on 198, a three-round HURLEY HOPES GROWTH Replacing World Cup runners-up Aus- event record, in search of his fi rst SHOWS tralia as the second best side in the world PGA crown. Hurley, 34, spent fi ve years in was no mean feat and coach Eddie Jones “I played pretty solid golf and the US Navy before reaching the has made it plain it is not the extent of his I hope to do the same tomor- tour. He hasn’t fi nished in the or the Six Nations champions’ ambitions. row,” Hurley said. “No lead is big top 30 in a stroke-play event for “New Zealand have been up there all enough. The idea is to make some more than a year and lost at the the time and it’s about time someone put more birdies. I don’t think even 2014 Greenbrier Classic in his in a real challenge to them and we’re go- par will get it done.” only other 54-hole lead position. ing to be the side to put the challenge to Els, a member at Congression- “I’ve been here before and the them,” the Australian said last week. al, managed his fi rst bogey-free growth and experience to have Many a team riding a wave of success round in 115 PGA rounds. been in the position to win tour- have plotted similar challenges but New “Playing with a little confi - naments will show,” Hurley said. Zealand have proved resilient in the face dence in the swing,” Els said. Hurley, whose father was a of all-comers over the best part of the last “Found my swing and putting former policeman that died last decade. touch and just enjoying it. The August of a self-infl icted gun- Despite the Test retirement of two putter was hot for me most of the shot wound, thought of his dad greats in Richie McCaw and Dan Carter round.” when fi nding himself fl anked by after their second successive World Cup policemen for security, a rarity in triumph last October, Steve Hansen’s ELS RESETS AFTER MASTERS his career. side barely missed a beat in their June se- It was a far cry from the hum- “I think about my dad a lot,” ries against Wales. bling Masters meltdown Els had Hurley said. in April, making a quintuple bo- Rahm endured a roller coaster BRAVE WALES gey nine on the fi rst hole at Au- round with fi ve birdies and four The Welsh put in a suitably brave showing gusta National, six-putting in his bogeys. Not since Russell Henley in all three Tests but the All Blacks always fi rst round the worst-ever score at the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii had another gear and eased away in the fi nal on the opening Masters hole. has a player won his PGA pro de- quarter of each match to register a comfort- “The one at the Masters was but. “No matter what happens able sweep of Warren Gatland’s tourists. probably the lowest of what can tomorrow, I feel like I belong “They were pretty outstanding,” New happen to a player, but I just hit here,” Rahm said. Zealander Gatland, who is likely to lead the reset button, started working Singh, ranked 210th, could the British and Irish Lions to his home- England coach Eddie Jones celebrates with player Maro Itoje after defeating Australia in Sydney on Saturday. (Reuters) on positive stuff and getting my become the PGA’s oldest win- land next year, said of the world cham- mindset diff erent,” Els said. ner and snap an eight-year title pions. “It’s an incredibly tough place to ever, with the Irish battering away at the FIJI TRIUMPH soms in Tokyo secured by seven penalties. “I had a lot of practice on that drought. Sam Snead, who was come on tour. Until I went away to work, I try line with time running out in Satur- France also fought back after defeat for Despite their try-scoring prowess, the fi rst green but I try to put it be- 52 when he won the 1965 Greater didn’t realise how hard it was to come and day’s third Test in Port Elizabeth as they an experimental team in the fi rst Test of biggest losers of the June international hind me. It’s very tough to do but Greensboro Open, has the age win here.” sought the converted try that would have their two-match tour of Argentina, rout- window were undoubtedly Australia, I enjoy the game too much to end mark now. Perhaps the June match that gave the clinched the series. ing the Pumas 27-0 in Tucuman on Sat- whose ‘Cheika Revolution’ was stopped best indication of the superior depth “The last couple of minutes we showed urday to square up the series. in its tracks by Jones and the English. of New Zealand rugby at the moment, a lot of character,” said Adriaan Strauss, Fiji too rescued an unpromising start The Wallabies have question marks all though, was the 40-7 drubbing a weak- who led South Africa’s fi ght back for a 2-1 to the Pacifi c Nations Cup in June, com- over the park but no more so than in their ened Waikato Chiefs side gave the Wales series win after they lost the fi rst Test and ing from 15-0 down to beat Tonga 23-18 set piece as they look forward to opening second string. trailed 19-3 in the second. in their opener before securing a fourth the Rugby Championship with back-to- Ireland also boast a New Zealand coach “They were still in the game at that successive title with a 26-16 victory over back Tests against the All Blacks in August. in Joe Schmidt and came close to embar- time and we defended for our lives, so the Samoa last weekend. “I don’t think anyone is expecting any- rassing the Springboks in their own back eff ort was brilliant,” Strauss added. Scotland needed no fi ght back on their thing to happen there for us now after yard before their hosts rediscovered the “I think we progressed technically and tour of Japan, though, sweeping the 2019 this,” defi ant coach Michael Cheika said. traditional strengths of the South Afri- tactically over the three weeks. We had to, World Cup hosts 2-0 with Saturday’s “All we need to do is to get in, work hard can game. It was a close run thing, how- we played against a very good team.” scrappy 21-16 victory over the Brave Blos- and prove people wrong.”

GOLF / BMW INTERNATIONAL OPEN Stenson survives wobble to claim 10th title

AFP Sergio Garcia, another player known FOCUS Pulheim, Germany as one of golf’s perennial ‘nearly-men’, soared into contention as an eagle on the par-fi ve 13th hole dragged him to within enrik Stenson sealed a second two shots of the lead. Sizzling Ko seizes BMW International Open ti- But in trademark fashion, the unpre- tle in Germany yesterday, after dictable Spaniard double-bogeyed the recovering from a mid-round next hole and ended up in a tie for fi fth share of LPGA lead Hwobble to win by three shots. place. The Swede went into the fi nal round Defending champion Pablo Larrazabal AFP Kung, who signed for a 66. with a one-stroke lead from Dane Thor- could not quite launch a bid to become Los Angeles Ko is in search of her third LPGA bjorn Olesen, and he fi nished strongly to the fi rst player to win the tournament win of the season, after victories in reach 17 under par and hold off the chas- three times and had to settle for tied- the Kia Classic and ANA Inspira- ing pack. ninth. ew Zealand’s world tion in consecutive weeks. It is a 10th European Tour title for a number one Lydia Ko Ko has contended before in player who is regarded by many peers and FINAL ROUND SCORES fi red a record-equalling Arkansas, never fi nishing outside pundits as one of the best to have never 271: Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 68-65-67-71 second-round 62 on the top six in three starts. won a major crown, and a fi rst since his NSaturday to seize a share of the “Yes, but you can see by the 274: Darren Fichardt (South Africa) 68- second World Tour Championship win 69-68-69, Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark) lead with Morgan Pressel at the scores, there are some low num- two seasons ago in Dubai. 67-67-67-73 LPGA NW Arkansas Champion- bers out there, so typically you “It was hairy all the way, it was a tough 277: Raphael Jacquelin (France) 65-68- ship. could be fi ve, six shots behind one,” Stenson, who also won the 2006 72-72 Ko’s nine-under eff ort equalled and you may shoot a magical edition of this event, said. 278: Sergio Garcia (Spain) 71-68-70-69, the tournament scoring record number and be right up there in “I had to dig deep to come back. I didn’t When Stenson birdied the opening most likely to hang onto Stenson’s coat Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) 69-64- and put her in a tie with America’s contention, like I’ve experienced play well on the front nine, made a couple hole a runaway victory looked likely in tails, but the talented 26-year-old made 74-71 Pressel on 14-under par 128. in the past, so I don’t think you of mistakes. Pulheim, but the world number seven too many mistakes in a one-over-par 279: David Horsey (Britain) 73-70-66-70, Pressel posted her low round can take anyone out of it,” said “I felt like I was starting to make a bit stuttered around the turn with three bo- round of 73 to fi nish in a tie for second Bernd Wiesberger (Austria) 68-70-70-71 of the year with a bogey-free Ko, who had nine birdies and an of a mess of it and then I came back and geys in fi ve holes from the sixth. with Fichardt. 280: Michael Lorenzo-Vera (France) eight-under par 63 on the Friday eagle at the par-fi ve 18th. made the birdies on the par fi ves. That allowed South African Darren The 40-year-old Stenson took advan- 69-69-67-75, Robert Dinwiddie (Britain) at the Pinnacle Country Club in “It’s a fi eld with a lot of big “I really feel like I played well in 2015 Fichardt to draw level at the top of the tage with three birdies in fi ve holes to 69-73-69-69, Graeme Storm (Britain) Rogers, Arkansas. names, so even though I’m cur- and I just couldn’t get a trophy. It was a leaderboard, but a bogey on the fi nal hole card a 71, as he closed out the title for the 69-70-71-70, Pablo Larrazabal (Spain) The two go into the fi nal round rently leading and tied with bit hard at times but you’ve just got to gave the world number 348 a clubhouse fi rst time in his last three attempts after 68-69-72-71 of the 54-hole event with a two- Morgan, you just can’t take any- keep on trying and put yourself in posi- leading mark of only 14 under par after a following up a playoff defeat in this tour- 281: Matteo Manassero (Italy) 72-67-73-69, stroke lead over China’s Yan Jing, one out of it within that fi ve, tion. I did that once again and this time I fourth-round 69. nament in 2014 with another runner-up Paul Dunne (Ireland) 69-71-70-71, Lee Slat- and Canadian Alena Sharp, who four?shot lead range. So I just managed to go all the way.” For most of the day Olesen looked the eff ort last year. tery (Britain) 74-68-71-68 carded 65s,and Taiwan’s Candie have to focus on my game.” Gulf Times 8 Monday, June 27, 2016 SPORT

MOTOGP FORMULA 1 Hamilton and Aussie Miller wins Rosberg getting along swimmingly

Reuters In Belgium two years ago they London were barely on speaking terms after a collision. in chaotic Assen Hamilton said the marked im- ewis Hamilton says his provement since then was partly relationship with Mer- down to age and maturity, with Repsol Honda’s Marquez finishes second to extend lead over champion Lorenzo cedes teammate and Rosberg now a father, and also Formula One leader Nico mutual respect and dialogue. LRosberg has become ‘surpris- “Whether we’re unhappy ingly’ good, thanks in part to a about something or not, we dis- shared swimming pool at their cuss it face to face,” he said. “If Monaco apartment block. I have a problem, I knock on his “It’s actually really good with door and ask if I can speak to him Nico at the moment,” the triple privately. We never address it world champion told the Mail on publicly or in front of the team. Sunday newspaper. “We say straight up ‘Hey man, “Really, really good. Surpris- I wasn’t cool with that’. And he ingly,” added the Briton. “I would does that to me as often as I do defi nitely not have expected it to to him.” be where it is.” Hamilton explained how he Rosberg has won fi ve of the had been swimming in the com- eight races so far this season, munal pool in his Monaco apart- including the fi rst four, and the ment block when Rosberg came German is now 24 points ahead down and joined him. of Hamilton after also winning “I guess he saw me from his the fi rst Grand Prix in Azerbaijan apartment and came down and last weekend. sat on the diving board and when The pair collided in Spain, I fi nished a few laps, we sat and with both retiring from the race talked for 20 minutes or half an immediately, and had another hour, in a relaxed state,” said the minor coming together at the champion. start in Canada. “We are going to have our ups They have been friends and and downs and there are going rivals since their early teenage to be times where we hate each years but the relationship was other and when we like each oth- tested to breaking point as they er but ultimately when we have battled for the title in 2014 and all retired and got kids and stuff , 2015 — with Hamilton trium- the respect is always going to be phant both times. there.”

Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton (left) and Nico Rosberg

Australian rider Jack Miller of the Honda Marc VDS team receives his trophy after winning the MotoGP race of Dutch TT Assen in Assen, the Netherlands, yesterday. (AFP)

AFP “I don’t know what to feel at the mo- hann Zarco and Italian Franco Morbidelli. 5. Andrea Iannone (Ducati) +17.835 Tyson Fury denies doping claim Assen, the Netherlands ment,” said Miller, who was listed at 750/1 Zarco is tied with Spaniard Alex Rins, 6. Hector Barbera (Ducati Avintia) +18.692 before the race. who fi nished sixth in Assen, in the over- 7. Eugene Laverty (Ducati) +22.605 Controversial British heavyweight “A lot of people... said this project all standings on 126 points, fi ve ahead of 8. Stefan Bradl (Aprilia) +23.603 world champion Tyson Fury ank-outsider Jack Miller won a wasn’t going to work and I just hope I’ve Briton Sam Lowes, who came in fourth. 9. Maverick Vinales (Suzuki) +26.148 strongly denied a newspaper claim chaotic and rain-disrupted As- shown them wrong and that I can ride a In the Moto3 race, Bagnaia of Mahindra 10. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) +27.604 yesterday that he failed a doping sen MotoGP yesterday that saw bike.” stormed to victory as Italians took the top Standings (top three) test last year. second-placed Marc Marquez Marquez extended his lead over Span- fi ve places. 1. Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) 145points The Sunday Mirror alleged that consolidateR his lead atop the champion- ish compatriot Jorge Lorenzo to 24 points. Bagnaia, 19, came home ahead of Fabio 2. Jorge Lorenzo (Movistar Yamaha) 121 Fury — who won the belt in an upset ship standings after his rivals suff ered in “Today was a race to lose the points,” Di Giannantonio of Honda and Andrea 3. Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha) 103 defeat of Wladimir Klitschko last the wet. he said. Migno of KTM. November — returned a sample with The 21-year-old Australian Miller, “I stayed quiet and really concentrated. “I was quick all weekend but I never MOTO2 RESULTS (top three) a banned steroid in it. riding a Honda Marc VDS, finished I just did my race. I saw Valentino was dreamt a victory here was possible,” he 1. Takaaki Nakagami (Kalex) 34:33.948 “We are baff led by today’s story in ahead of Marquez (Honda) and Briton pushing a lot and I said, ‘Ok, I cannot fol- said after the race. 2. Johann Zarco (FRA/Kalex) +2.435 the Sunday Mirror,” said a statement Scott Redding (Ducati Pramac) for his low him’. South Africa’s Brad Binder remains 3. Franco Morbidelli (ITA/Kalex) +5.670 from Fury’s promoter Hennessy maiden victory in the elite motorcycling “When I saw him crash I saw Miller 48 points clear at the head of the world Standings (top three) Sports. “Tyson Fury absolutely denies any allegation of doping. category. was behind me and when he passed me, I championship standings despite losing 1. Alex Rins (Kalex) 126 points He looks forward to recovering from his injury and defending his The race started in overcast conditions, just said, ‘Ok!’. control of his bike in the closing laps, 1. Johann Zarco (Kalex) 126 titles against Wladimir Klitschko in October.” but heavy rain started to fall and with 12 “This second place today is like a vic- dropping from the lead group and ending 3. Sam Lowes (Kalex) 121 The allegation comes only two days after the 27-year-old — who laps to go of the fabled Assen circuit the tory because of the very critical condi- up 12th on the day. has sparked a furore with sexist remarks about women, homosex- race was red-fl agged. tions. These 20 points will be really im- Spain’s Jorge Navarro, who won last MOTO3 RESULTS (top three) uality and paedophilia — said he would not be able to defend the At the time Italians Andrea Dovizioso portant in the championship race.” time out at Catalunya, is second in the 1. Francesco Bagnaia (Mahindra) 38:11.535 WBA, WBO and IBO belts in a rematch with Klitschko in July after (Ducati), Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Pramac) Earlier Moto2 and Moto3 races also standings while Romano Fenati is third. 2. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Honda) +0.039 injuring his ankle during a run. and Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) were lead- heralded in maiden victories for Japan’s 3. Andrea Migno (KTM) +0.018 The Mirror claimed that the banned steroid nandrolone — which ing. Takaaki Nakagami and Italian Francesco MOTOGP RESULTS (top 10) (relegated one place) aids muscle growth — had been discovered in a test Fury under- The restart after the torrential down- Bagnaia respectively. 1. Jack Miller (Honda Marc VDS) 22:17.447 Standings (top three) went either in February or March last year, well before his remark- pour eased off saw a raft of riders, includ- Kalex rider Nakagami, 24, who made 2. Marc Marquez (Honda) +1.991 1. Brad Binder (KTM) 151 points able win over the ageing Klitschko. ing the former podium sitters, crash out his world championship debut back in 3. Scott Redding (Ducati Pramac) +5.906 2. Jorge Navarro (Honda) 103 UK Anti-Doping agency refused to confirm or deny the allegations. in the tricky conditions. 2007, fi nished ahead of French rider Jo- 4. Pol Espargaro (Yamaha Tech3) +9.812 3. Romano Fenati (KTM) 93

BOXING Clinical Joshua ready for all-comers aft er victory over Breazeale

AFP ber in which time Joshua has registered him there and have fi ghts and that’s London three knockouts, won a version of the something I’d like him to do. Certainly world title and defended it once. in America, Dubai. “I’m in a good position,” said Joshua. “I’ve seen Deontay Wilder calling out nthony Joshua feels ready to “Wilder, Fury, Haye, I’d fi ght any one AJ’s name. That’s a fi ght we’d like to build take on any of the world’s elite of them, and they all want me. towards, a dual Pay-Per-View on Show- heavyweights after a seventh “I was really looking at Tyson Fury. I time in the US, and Sky here. We prob- round victory over Dominic hope he gets better soon, as I was hop- ably need a couple of more fi ghts, maybe BreazealeA on Saturday. ing to get that sometime in the winter if even a fi ght in America in early 2017. In a fi rst defence of his International everything went well. “Our conversations with [Tyson Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight “We’re going to have to reschedule Fury’s trainer and uncle] Peter Fury title, Joshua fl oored his American chal- that and look at other opponents like were to look at the Fury fi ght for No- lenger twice in a comfortable victory at Parker if he’s vacant or anybody else vember, December, or spring, summer the O2 Arena in London. that the people want. next year, but you never know with Ty- Such has been the rapid rise of Josh- “I need to rest. I’m tired. I’m working son Fury how long someone’s going to ua, a gold medallist at the 2012 Olym- hard. And now I can get some rest and be in the game, because he’s a little bit pics, that he is now talking about world recharge my batteries and start afresh out there. The (ankle) injury has kind of title unifi cation fi ghts. again.” made the decision for us.” And it is hard to see who else will be Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn plans Joshua was taken beyond three left to fi ght if 26-year-old Joshua con- to take the Briton overseas in the future rounds for just the second time in his tinues his astonishing run of knock- and says a fi ght against Parker will hap- career but did not think his win over outs, with Breazeale being his 17th pen in November at the earliest. Breazeale was harder than his seventh stoppage victory from as many bouts And Hearn said a fi ght against Fury is round stoppage win over fellow Briton since turning professional in October not looking as likely now. Dillian Whyte in December. 2013. Anthony Joshua (left) lands a punch on Dominic Breazeale during the IBF World Heavyweight Title bout at The O2 Arena in “The Parker fi ght’s going to hap- “Defi nitely Whyte was tougher than But Joshua’s next fi ght is likely to be London on Saturday. (Reuters) pen in either November, December, or Breazeale, it was a diff erent kind of against New Zealand’s Joseph Parker, March, April,” said Hearn. fi ght as well,” said Joshua. who is his mandatory challenger, while sation (WBO) titles, while American year after he last week pulled out a claimed he had allegedly tested posi- “Klitschko is a fi ght we’d love as well, Joshua will travel to Rio to offer a fi ght against fellow Briton Tyson Fury Deontay Wilder is the World Boxing scheduled fi ght date of July 9 due to a tive for the banned anabolic steroid but I’m always reluctant to make a fi ght help and support to the Great Brit- has now been cast into doubt. Council (WBC) champion. sprained ankle. nandrolone in a sample taken last year of that magnitude in November. ain boxing team, some of whom like Fury holds the World Boxing Associ- Fury, 27, is due to fi ght former world Fury’s future was further in doubt before he fought Klitschko. “We’ve had approaches from Africa, super-heavyweight Joe Joyce he has ation (WBC) and World Boxing Organi- No 1 Wladimir Klitschko later in the after a report in the Sunday Mirror Fury has not fought since Novem- China, United Arab Emirates, to bring been sparring with. Gulf Times Monday, June 27, 2016 9 SPORT

FUTSAL INTENCONTINENTAL CUP Hidden motor checks for Tour de France

A wide reaching series of checks for hidden motors in bicycles is to be employed at the 2016 Tour de France, yesterday’s French weekly le Journal du Dimanche has reported. Three systems will be used for the checks; an already existing magnetic resonance method screening the start and finish lines, a motorbike mounted thermal detector and a third system provided Al Rayyan bounce by the French state from military sources. The Tour gets underway next weekend at Mont Saint Michel and runs from July 2-24. The Journal de Dimanche cited evidence suggesting motorised cycle use had been strongly suspected at recent Tour de France and other races. “This problem is worse than doping. The very future of cycling is hanging in the balance,” French Sports Minister Thierry Braillard back with win over told the newspaper. “Under my orders research centres have been hard at work to establish the best way to combat this menace.” Femke Van den Driessche of Belgium was banned for six years for the first recorded case of using hidden motors in racing last April Magnus Futsal after early motor check tests were used. FOCUS FC Barcelona Lassa win second straight game; Carlos Basbosa beat Tasisat Daryaei

By Sports Reporter Nissan to power Doha

atar’s Al Rayyan stunned Bra- Qatari driver zil’s Magnus Futsal 4-2 on day two of the Futsal Intenconti- nental Cup on Saturday. Abdulla in WRC QAl Rayyan scored three goals in the sec- ond half to win the intense game at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena. Agencies ternational and regional events. Al Rayyan’s Arthur Linhares opened Dubai, United Arab Emirates He has become a regular fi xture the scoring in the 10th minute, unleash- on the podium, too, having taken ing a powerful left-footed strike to the top honours in the Kuwait In- left of goalie Tiago de Melho. issan Middle East and ternational Rally, Qatar’s Inter- In the 16th minute, Magnus Futsal ‘s Saleh Al Hamad Al national Baja and Saudi Arabia’s Diego Rodrigo beat Al Rayyan defense Mana Co, its exclusive Ha’il International Rally – some and the goalie but his powerful close- dealer in Qatar, ex- of the world’s toughest motor- range shot hit the crossbar and landed in Ntended their commitment and sport challenges – as well as nu- the hands of Pereira da Silva. support to Qatari rally driver merous top three fi nishes in cars A minute from half-time, Magnus Fut- Adel Hussain Abdulla by spon- and on quad bikes. sal’s Borja Diaz smashes a powerful shot soring him as he takes his cham- This year will see Abdulla that was well saved by Da Silva. pionship-winning driving to participate for the fi rst time in In the 25th minute, Thiago Trippi the World Rally Championship the FIA World Rally Champi- scored Al Rayyan’s second goal following (WRC) 2016. onship with French co-driver a goalie blunder by De Melo. The sponsorship deal, under- Jean-Micheal Polato, who brings Leandro Simi reduced the defi cit for pinned by a new Nissan Patrol a wealth of experience having the visitors in the 29th minute. XE for the WRC, also provides competed in many WRC events. Al Rayyan’s Linares found and empty complete race support and cov- The duo will also be supported by net in the 33rd minute. Rodrigo Hardy of ers all expenses incurred, includ- the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Magnus Futsal scored his team’s second ing parts and technical support. Federation (QMMF). goal two minutes later. Nissan Middle East manag- The Nissan Patrol is very fa- Al Rayyan’s Amro Mohssein added Al Rayyan’s Thiago Trippi (second from left) celebrates a goal with teammate Arthur Linhares (second from right) during their Futsal ing director Samir Cherfan said, miliar to Abdulla, who drove it his team’s fourth goal in the 37th minute Intencontinental Cup match against Magnus Futsal on Saturday.PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil “Motorsport is in the DNA of to fi rst place in the T2 category from close range. Nissan, which makes it vitally of this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert After a subdued start, FC Barcelona important for us to support Challenge, as well as competing Lassa beat Russian giants FC Dynamo champion racers around the in it on the Sealine Cross-Country Moscow 3-2 at Ladies Sports Hall at As- world. Adel is an exceptionally Rally in his homeland, Qatar. He pire Academy. talented driver and a credit to the is currently second place in the Lozano (22), Diego (25) and Saad (31) region as a whole. He has al- T2 Championship rankings and is scored for the winners in what turned out to ready enjoyed extensive success aiming to take fi rst, which would be a feisty contest between the two equally- in Middle East championships secure Nissan’s second overall win matched sides. Pula (31) and Nando (38) with the Patrol, and we support in a row, after Denis Berezovsky’s scored the goals for Dynamo Moscow. his ambitious attempts to take victory in 2015, also supported by It was the second successive win for the on the World Rally Champion- Nissan Middle East. Spanish giants who are placed in Group ship by continuing to drive in the During the 2016 season, Ab- A. On Day One of the event, FC Barcelona ‘Hero of all Terrains in Life’.” dulla’s Nissan Patrol will be Lassa beat Iran’s Tasisat Dareyaei 4-2. Qatar-based Abdulla has been prepared, maintained and su- Tasisat Daryaei went down in their competing in rallies as co-driver pervised by the leading Turk- second straight match of the campaign, and driver for the past 26 years, ish motorsport company, TOK with Brazilian giants Carlos Barbosa win- taking part in more than 140 in- Sports. ning 4-3 on Day Two. Bruno scored two goals as Carlos Bar- bosa picked up vital points in their Group a clash at Ladies Sports Hall. Bruno scored in the 5th and 22nd min- utes. He was supported by goals from teammates Rafa (14) and Murilo (38). For Tasisat Daryaei, Vafaei (18), Hajibandeh (24) and Sangsefi di (39) scored the goals in a losing cause. It was Tasisat Daryaei’s second successive loss in the eight-team tournament. Also on Saturday, Inter Movistar of Spain dropped points when they were held to a 1-1 draw by SL Benfi ca of Portugal. SL Benfi ca opened the scoring through Brandi in the 2nd minute but Inter produced the equal- Nissan Middle East managing director Samir Cherfan (left) signs the iser through Borja in the 8th minute. Action from the match between Tasisat Daryaei and Carlos Barbosa. The latter won 4-3. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed sponsorship agreement with Qatari driver Adel Hussein Abdulla.

FIA WORLD CUP FOR CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES Abdulla suff ers fi nal stage setback at punishing Italian Baja

Agencies through the stage that was used on Pordenone, Italy Saturday. The Saudi extended his advantage over Abdulla to 3min 06sec before in- atar’s Adel Hussein Abdulla curring a one-minute time penalty that suff ered a setback in his push reduced the defi cit to 2min 06sec. Mo- for a maiden FIA T2 World hamed al-Harqan had retired and Ja- Championship title by slip- roslaw Kazberuk was the nearest chal- pingQ from second to fi fth position on lenger to the Saudi and the Qatari with the fi nal special stage of the Italian one stage to run. Baja, round four of the FIA World Cup Saeidan secured the victory with a for Cross-Country Rallies, in Porde- fi nal stage time of 1hr 00min 15sec and none yesterday afternoon. extended his series lead to an unoffi cial Running with support from Nissan 27 points, but there was frustration for Middle East and the Qatar Motor and Abdulla when he ground to a halt after Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) for his the water splash and the time delay cost powerful Nissan Patrol Y62, Abdulla him three positions in the general T2 produced a determined performance standings. Poland’s Lukasz Lechowicz on one of Europe’s toughest Baja rallies was the main benefi ciary and he fi n- to hold second in the T2 category be- ished second, well clear of fellow Pole hind Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Saeidan until Jaroslaw Kazberuk. he ground to a halt after a water splash on the fi nal special stage and the time FINAL POSITIONS (T2 CLASS): delay cost him three positions on the 1. Yasir Seaidan (SAU)/Sebastien Delau- T2 leader board. nay (FRA) Toyota Land Cruiser 200 4hr The Qatari’s Nissan had been the 15min 16sec model of reliability over the three days 2. Lukasz Lechowicz (POL)/Lukasz of competition in northern Italy and Solecki (POL) Nissan Navara D40 4hr aptly lived up to its reputation as the 41min 50sec ‘King of all Terrains’. 3. Jaroslaw Kazberuk (POL)/Robert Abdulla said: “The stage was very Qatar’s Adel Hussein Abdulla in action during the Italian Baja yesterday. Abdulla finished fifth in the fourth round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. Szustkowski (POL) Ford Raptor 4hr muddy because of the rain and not 55min 53sec much fun. I was pushing at the begin- we put the marks in the road book after go, so the championship has a long way 74.40km Arzena special, where he ing by 2min 27sec. 4. Tomasz Piec (POL)/Gabriel Prochacki ning, but it was like driving on ice in the the fi rst pass to let us know where the to go.” had lost so much time in the dust of Saeidan was the man to beat on the (POL) Nissan Navara D40 5hr 15min middle of the stage. It was very slip- diffi cult sections were. I was thinking Abdulla trailed Saeidan by 2min other competitors in the morning. He first of two runs through the 74.50km 38sec pery. One time, my engine cut in one about the points. 14sec after the opening two stages on dropped just 13 seconds to the Saudi of the Rauscedo special between 5. Adel Hussein Abdulla (QAT)/Jean- corner and I had to switch off and start “Second place would have given me Friday afternoon and Saturday morn- on the second run through the stage San Lorenzo and Ponte della Delizia Michel Polato (FRA) Nissan Patrol 5hr again and that cost me some time. But 18 points and there are still fi ve races to ing and then tackled a repeat of the and reached the overnight halt trail- on Sunday morning – a reverse run 17min 08sec Gulf Times 10 Monday, June 27, 2016 SPORT

SWIMMING TENNIS Phelps ready Murray plans more for his fi nal races misery for Broady

Reuters well. Yeah, look forward to it but, in America London I mean, it will be a bit strange.” Broady inhabits a diff er- ent world to Murray, scrabbling ‘We have almost 2,000 people here, and a maximum of 52 will make the team’ ndy Murray once tried around in Challenger and Fu- to make his interna- tures tournaments to make his tional teammate Liam way in the game as the world Broady’s life a misery number 234. byA ensuring his fi rst speech at a Yet on the Davis Cup beat, Davis Cup welcome dinner was they have got to know each other a disaster. pretty well. When he fi rst joined Now the world number two the British team, Broady recalled, is planning to make Broady’s Murray was vociferous in trying life just as uncomfortable in the to ensure he went through the unforgiving world of grand slam newcomers’ initiation ceremony tennis. of having to make a speech at his For the fi rst time in 56 match- fi rst welcome dinner. es over 11 years, Britain’s twice “He had obviously never been grand slam champion Murray to one of the dinners before, fi nds himself drawn at Wimble- so wasn’t sure exactly what he don against a fellow countryman should say,” Murray smiled. and he admits that playing his “We were telling him the 22-year-old colleague will feel wrong things to say and hoping “weird”. he would stand up and actually For a former champion long say them.” Disappointingly for buoyed by support from the him, though, Broady “did fi ne”. home fans, Murray could in- However fi ne he is tomorrow, stead fi nd the showcourt crowds though, he will only be a launch cheering for a lad from Stockport pad for Murray to kick off a cam- – home town of Murray’s only paign in which, even Roger Fed- rival for the accolade of Britain’s erer concedes, the Scot and No- best player ever, Fred Perry – vak Djokovic are the outstanding when they play tomorrow. favourites. Broady reckons he is playing Djokovic won their last battle the part of Leicester City, the in the French Open fi nal, leav- 5,000-1 no-hopers who went on ing Murray able once again only to win the Premier League. Only to marvel at the world number one thing; he believes he’s prob- one’s extraordinary level of ex- ably an even bigger outsider to cellence. pull off one of Wimbledon’s great “His consistency and drive sensations. over the last few years has been It has all left the tournament’s incredible. I don’t know if that’s second favourite Murray admit- ever happened before, where ting he does not quite know what someone’s pretty much gone to expect with their fi rst round over a year consistently reaching match. the fi nals of tournaments,” said “It will be interesting. Obvi- Murray. ously never happened before, “In an individual sport, if you not for me anyway,” Murray told have a really bad day, wake up, a news conference on Saturday. you feel terrible, you lose at this “Liam’s a good guy. Works level. He hasn’t had really any of hard. I would imagine we’d prob- those results or those matches ably play on one of the big courts, over the last few years. That’s so a big experience for him, as very impressive.”

Reuters time Olympic gold medallist will face the my fi rst child, be able to watch me at some Looking forward to it, though.” Omaha, Nebraska same pressure packed challenge as every of my last competitions I think is pretty Phelps was aged just 15 when he made other swimmer climbing onto the starting special,” said Phelps. his Olympic debut at the 2000 Sydney blocks during the June 26-July 3 meeting. “I’m sure he’s not going to remember Olympics and failed to win a medal but in fter the cut-throat competition “I think for us being as strong of a it, but just to be able to document that is three Summer Games since has gone on of the US Olympic Trials, the swimming country as we are, I think something that will be cool and be pret- to become the most decorated Olympian Rio Games will be a swim in the there’s probably more pressure at Trials ty fun to share with him years down the ever, capturing 22 medals. Apark, Michael Phelps said yes- than the Games,” said Phelps. “We have road.” Now 30, engaged and a dad, Phelps is terday as the most decorated Olympian of almost 2,000 people here, and a maxi- Filled with regret over the way he preparing for a Rio programme far less all time prepared for his fi nal races in the mum of 52 will make the team, so it’s a prepared for the 2012 London Summer ambitious than in 2008 at the Beijing United States. pretty small chance. Games where he won four golds in what Summer Games where he claimed eight “So it is challenging, and I think this is he declared would be his Olympic fare- gold from eight events. Filled with regret over the way more pressure, I don’t want to say more well, Phelps is keenly aware of the occa- In Omaha, he is scheduled to swim fi ve he prepared for the 2012 London excitement, but more pressure here than sion and ready to embrace the moment. events: the 100 metres and 200m butter- Summer Games where he won four the Olympics for sure. It’s harder here.” It is certainly hard to ignore. fl y, the 200m individual medley, and the golds in what he declared would Phelps will have a new motivation and a From his hotel bedroom, Phelps says he 100m and 200m freestyle. be his Olympic farewell, Phelps is new fan among the soldout crowd of close looks out on the arena where his face cov- The swimming world has come to ex- keenly aware of the occasion and to 14,000 on the days when he races with ers almost the entire side of the building. pect nothing but excellence from Phelps ready to embrace the moment infant son Boomer in the stands watching “I said to somebody the other day, I was and he has rarely disappointed. his famous father. like, ‘Wow, 16 years ago I swam in my fi rst But Bowman insists that he just does A refl ective, relaxed and at times play- Determined to share his journey into trials’,” recalled Phelps. “I was like, ‘That not know what he is going to get from ful Phelps was in a sentimental mood as retirement, Phelps said that if he makes is nuts!’ I’ve spent more than half of my Phelps next week. he and longtime coach Bob Bowman, now the US squad and qualifi es for his fi fth life in a swimming pool and swimming at “I say this with 100 percent honesty, referred to as “Grandpa Bob”, met with Olympics, Boomer and his partner Nicole this level. we’re in the ‘I don’t know stage’ right the media on the eve of the trials where will also make the trip to Rio for his com- “I’m just going to go out and have fun, now,” said Bowman. “I think he’s trained a Phelps is down to compete in fi ve events. petitive swan song despite Zika fears. that’s really all I’m going to do, allow my- lot better than he has. He seems to be do- With only the top-two fi nishers in each “I’m looking forward to having him self to swim however I’ve prepared. ing well in practice, and that’s all we can Great Britain’s Andy Murray and coach Ivan Lendl during a practice event clinching tickets to Rio, the 18- here and just being able to have my son, “It could be good, it could be bad. ask for.” session yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE Franklin looking to slam dunk US trials

Reuters Schmitz, who started coaching her when she with her enthusiasm intact. Omaha, Nebraska was a seven-year-old and turned her into a Despite the ups and downs of the last few record smashing gold medal machine. years, the eff ervescent Franklin remains as Reigning Olympic champion in the 100 bubbly as a bottle of French champagne. issy Franklin was selected this and 200 metre backstroke, Franklin will also It is that joy for her sport that put Franklin week in the Harlem Globetrotters’ be bidding for spots in the 100m and 200m in the company of Brazilian soccer star Ney- 10th annual celebrity player draft, freestyle at the US trials that begin on Sunday mar and American golfer Jordan Spieth who all Myet she comes into the US Olym- and run through July 3 but she insists she is claimed a ‘Globies’ in the Globetrotters’ an- pic Swim Trials that begin as anything but a focused more on her times than the Olympics. nual exercise of selecting world-class athletes slam dunk for Rio Games gold. The two-top fi nishers in each event at the “who all embody the Globetrotters’ spirit and With a resume that includes four gold cut-throat US Trials will secure tickets to Rio. passion for basketball”. medals and a bronze from the 2012 London “That’s really the goal coming in here is I “It’s funny because I fi nd myself similar in Games followed by six more golds at the 2013 have times that I really think I’m capable of so many ways and also diff erent in so many world championships, Franklin had looked as doing this summer, and right now I want to get ways,” said Franklin, who is back home living unbeatable in the pool as the barnstorming as close to those times as I possibly can,” Fran- in her parent’s basement. Globetrotters do on the hardwood. klin said during a pre-meet news conference “I think overall my attitude, my optimism, But Franklin’s golden glow has dimmed over on Saturday. kind of the bubbly girl that won’t stop talking the last two years. “I’m hoping that gives me a spot on the on deck, that’s all exactly the same. She hurt her back at the Pan Pacifi c cham- team. We know how it works so we know that “But I’ve also grown a lot the past four pionships in 2014 and did not win an individ- I’m going to be ready when I need to be ready, years, I’ve been through a lot more than when I ual gold medal at last year’s world champion- and that’s right now. was 17, so I also feel like I have this new wisdom ships in Russia. “This is my goal; I need to make the Olym- that I’ve gained throughout the successes and There has also been a change of coaches pic team. That’s what I’m here to do.” the challenges of the past four years. and scenery, Franklin leaving the University Four years ago, Franklin arrived in Omaha “You feel like it really helps add to who you of California, Berkeley and returning home to as a wide-eyed 17-year-old phenomenon. She are as an athlete and as a person.” Colorado last year and reuniting with Todd returns as a 21-year-old seasoned veteran but Gulf Times Monday, June 27, 2016 11 CRICKET

SPOILSPORT FOCUS Test cricket could have two divisions Rain has fi nal say in new shake-up

AFP still take place even if England London and Australia were in diff erent divisions, as countries would be allowed to schedule extra match- as Hales goes from ne of the biggest es. shake-ups in cricket Similar considerations are history could take behind plans to introduce a 13- place when the sport’s team ODI league which, as with globalO governing body convenes the new Test structure would be- in Edinburgh today. gin in 2019. Radical plans for the creation The set-up could also see of two divisions in Test cricket countries such as Ireland, long hero to zero and a one-day international the leading Associate ICC na- league will be on the agenda of tion, fi nally get a crack at Test the International Cricket Coun- cricket. Woakes had figures of three for 34 in his maximum 10 overs, including two wickets cil’s week-long annual meeting Under the revised arrange- in the Scottish capital. ments the 50-over Champions with his last two balls, after Plunkett made early inroads on his way to three for 46 Since Australia and England Trophy would be scrapped as played the fi rst Test in 1877, in- the new league, which could act AFP ternational matches have largely as a qualifi er for the World Cup, Bristol been matters for the two coun- would give ODIs all the ‘context’ tries concerned and the same has they needed. generally been true of ODIs out- There are also proposals for ngland were left 1-0 up with two side of tournaments such as the the popular World Twenty20, to play after rain meant the third World Cup. won in April by the West Indies one-day international in their The ICC has introduced when they beat England in a fi ve-match series against Sri weighted Test rankings but the thrilling last-over fi nish in Kolk- LankaE ended in a no result at Bristol yes- complicated formula has failed ata, to revert to being staged once terday. to capture the imagination of every two years. Chasing a target of 249 for victory, cricket fans and the wider sport- According to a report by the England were 16 for one off four overs ing public. ESPN Cricinfo website, this when rain stopped play. With many top players in- could raise an extra $400-500 A minimum of 20 overs needed to be creasingly tempted by off ers million in every eight-year cycle. bowled in the second innings for a result to play in domestic Twenty20 Such funds could help bank- to be declared under the Duckworth/ events such as the Indian Pre- roll Test cricket, which now Lewis method for rain-aff ected matches. mier League, where they can struggles to attract spectators But the players were still off the field earn more money in less time outside of major series such as when the umpires abandoned the match than by playing Tests, offi cials the Ashes. at 5:30pm local time (1630 GMT). are keen to give the long-format It is perhaps no coincidence On Friday, Sri Lanka had 34.1 overs in game greater “context”. that plans for the restructur- the fi eld without any success as England This, they believe, would make ing of Test cricket have gained won the second ODI at Edgbaston by 10 it more attractive to broadcasters greater impetus while Shashank wickets to go 1-0 up in the fi ve-match and so help generate greater rev- Manohar has been ICC chair- series after Tuesday’s tie at Trent Bridge. enues. man. At Edgbaston, England openers Jason “We are looking at com- Two years ago, the ICC was Roy (112 not out) and Alex Hales (133 not petition structures across all restructured so that the sport’s out) both posted their ODI best scores in three formats (Tests, ODIs and three biggest nations – Aus- an unbroken stand of 256. Twenty20),” ICC chief executive tralia, England and India – were It was a very diff erent story for Hales David Richardson told AFP at the given an even greater grip on the at the County Ground yesterday when he launch of the 2017 Champions game’s fi nances and levers of fell for nought off the fi rst ball he faced Trophy earlier this month. power. when caught behind chasing a wide de- “We want to fi nd ways of play- Indeed the new set-up meant livery from Suranga Lakmal. ing slightly less cricket but more the ‘Big Three’ had more ICC Earlier, Chris Woakes and Liam Plun- meaningful cricket.” revenue than the other 102 mem- kett both took three wickets apiece as Sri Richardson is behind a scheme bers combined. Lanka were held to 248 for nine after Eng- that would see the creation of However, ever since Manohar land captain Eoin Morgan won the toss. seven teams in Division One and replaced Narayanaswami Srini- All-rounder Woakes had fi ne fi gures fi ve, including two new Test na- vasan as president of the Board of of three for 34 in his maximum 10 overs, tions, in Division Two. Control for Cricket in India and including two wickets with his last two They would play in a league chairman of the ICC last year, balls, after fast bowler Plunkett made system where there was promo- there has been an unravelling of early inroads on his way to three for 46. tion and relegation. the ‘Big Three’ scheme. Three Sri Lanka batsmen – Dinesh Each team in the top tier would Manohar insisted the ICC Chandimal (62), captain Angelo Mathews play every other side home or chairman be independent, rather (56) and Kusal Mendis (53) – all made fi f- away in a two-year cycle. than also serving as a national ties. Matches and series would representative, and quit his BCCI But the trio all fell going for big legside each be given a set number of post. shots, with Sri Lanka’s total looking well points – the exact fi gures are still “I don’t agree with the three below par. to be decided – to determine the major countries’ bullying the England had a wicket just fi ve balls into standings. ICC,” he said in November. Sunday’s match when Danushka Gunath- At the end of the cycle, the “You cannot make the poor ilaka played on to left-arm quick David bottom team would be relegated, poorer and the rich richer, only Willey when trying to leave the ball. with the team on top the new because you have the clout. The Kusal Perera fell for nine when he got a world Test champions. ICC runs cricket throughout the top edge off Plunkett and wicket-keeper Series such as the Ashes could world. Jos Buttler held a skyer. First-change Plunkett had now taken a wicket with his second ball on Sunday Anderson a doubt for Pakistan Test series after striking with this third delivery on Friday. Mendis pulled all-rounder Chris London: England’s all-time of the four match series begin- Jordan, recalled in place of off -spinner leading wicket taker Jimmy ning on July 14 at Lord’s. Moeen Ali, for four and six off successive Anderson is a doubt for the “Jimmy Anderson has sus- deliveries. upcoming Test series with tained a stress fracture in the But Mendis was out for his ODI best Pakistan, the England and right shoulder blade, which score when he holed out off Plunkett to Wales Cricket Board announced he sustained in the third Test Hales at deep mid-wicket. yesterday. match against Sri Lanka at Mathews, like Chandimal troubled The 33-year-old – who has 454 Lord’s earlier this month,” read by a hamstring problem, drove Plunkett Test wickets to his name – has the statement. down the ground for six. a shoulder blade injury which “Due to the nature of the injury, Chandimal completed a 65-ball fi fty he suff ered in the third and final Jimmy’s availability for the Pa- but then, trying to hit Woakes legside, Test against Sri Lanka earlier kistan Test series, commencing got a thick edge straight to Jordan at third Spectators sit under umbrellas as rain stops play in the third one day international (ODI) cricket match between England and Sri this month. on July 14, will be determined man. That was the end of a fourth-wicket Lanka at Bristol cricket ground in Bristol yesterday. He is definitely going to miss following ongoing management stand of 80 with Mathews, who later sky- the next two county champion- and review by both the ECB and ed a pull off Jordan to Buttler. Farveez Maharoof caught in the deep and middle stump. match at The Oval in south London on ship matches with the first Test Lancashire’s medical teams.” Woakes ended his spell by having next ball bowling Upul Tharanga (40) The series continues with a day/night Wednesday.

BOTTOMLINE West Indies T20 league eyes India bounce

AFP based franchise, even the timing of the Lanka have played T20 Internationals decade as the West Indies fortunes con- feez, New Zealander Ross Taylor and Port of Spain four home matches (9pm local time) to previously there but this is the fi rst time tinued on a downward trend. South African Herschelle Gibbs. catch the morning television audience that the CPL is venturing to America. Many fans in the region now priori- In 2016 though, the increasing pres- in India refl ects the outward-looking The format of the game is seen as tise the CPL ahead of the representative tige and appeal of the tournament has est Indies cricket’s in- perspective of the competition organis- ideal to capture the interest and pa- Caribbean team, a reality that is likely to attracted a host of international talent creasing fi xation with the ers that has often been at odds with the tronage of the expatriate West Indians be even more evident over the next two with A.B. de Villiers, arguably the most T20 format comes clearly preferences of West Indian audiences. and Indian sub-continentals who have months. complete batsman in world cricket, and into focus over the next Most matches in the three-week often complained of being starved of While players’ salaries pale by com- fellow South Africans Hashim Amla Wsix weeks with the fourth edition of the inaugural season of the CPL in 2013 opportunities to see their cricketing parison to what is available in the IPL, and Faf du Plessis featuring for the fi rst Caribbean Premier League getting un- started at 8pm and attracted capacity heroes fi rst-hand. the combination of the joyful, tourist- time. derway on Wednesday. crowds for almost all fi xtures, but since Another fi rst this year, and one that oriented Caribbean setting and con- Also a fi rst-timer at the CPL is re- Defending champions Trinidad and then there has been an increasing move is likely to have a detrimental impact on tracts that reach an upper limit in the cently-retired New Zealand captain Tobago face St Lucia at the Queen’s towards midday and afternoon matches the traditional game, is the clashing of region of $150,000 continues to attract Brendon McCullum. Park Oval in the opener. that are seen to be more attractive to the CPL schedule with the West Indies more of the best available international Eight years ago he savaged the Royal That the franchise previously known television audiences in larger cricket- home Test series. talent. Challenges Bangalore attack on the way as the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel watching markets internationally. Four Tests are to be played against However, that excludes the notable to 158 for the Kolkata Knight Riders in now carries the branding of Trinbago Last year’s international television India in July and August with the fi rst exception of Indian players who have the very fi rst match of the inaugural IPL Knight Riders refl ects the increasing audience totalled 90 million and the two in Antigua and Jamaica likely to feel never featured in any competition out- season. international appeal of the tournament, Movie star Shah Rukh Khan, who is CPL 2016 goes a step further with the the impact of cricket fans being drawn side of their multi-million-dollar do- On Wednesday, he will at least at- and more specifi cally, the growing at- owner of the Kolkata Knight Riders, staging of six preliminary matches – to their television sets at home rather mestic event. tempt to have a similar impact mak- traction to the immensely lucrative In- also owns the majority stake in more than at any other venue – in the than to the venues as CPL matches are Three years ago, the top-ranked in- ing his debut for the Trinbago Knight dian market. Trinbago Knight Riders. United States at the internationally- played in St Lucia and Florida simulta- ternational players in the inaugural CPL Riders as they take on a St Lucia Zouks With Bollywood superstar Shah approved Central Broward Regional neously. were Australia’s Ricky Ponting, Muttiah team led by Darren Sammy, the man Rukh Khan, owner of the Indian Pre- Kolkata Knight Riders, now the control- Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. Home Test cricket audiences have Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, the Pakistani who captained the West Indies to their mier League two-time champions ling stakeholder of the Port-of-Spain- West Indies, New Zealand and Sri dwindled signifi cantly over the past pair of Shoaib Malik and Mohamed Ha- second World T20 title earlier this year.

Monday, June 27, 2016 GULF TIMES SPORT

SPOTLIGHT Qatar beach volleyball duo qualify for the Olympics ‘The last month was so stressful, we trained just for this moment’

FIVB Volleyball World Championships nate to the Australian Olympic Cairns, Australia quarter-fi nals. Committee, after fi rst Nicole Jeff erson Pereira (left) and Cherif Younousse “We worked so hard for this Laird and Mariafe Artacho del moment,” Jeff erson, originally Solar, and then Becchara Palmer atar will be represented from Brazil, said. “The last month and Phoebe Bell, beat their Van- at an Olympic Games was so stressful, we trained just uatu opponents to book Austral- beach volleyball tour- for this moment. ia’s Rio ticket. nament for the fi rst “The last two months, when timeQ after their men’s teams won we brought the team together, ‘The country has no history the AVC Continental Cup yester- in beach volleyball, I moved they bought in 100 percent as a day. to Qatar to try and raise team,” Australian coach Lauren Hosts Australia won women’s beach volleyball, and now Soderberg said. gold and they will now have a we have made a huge step “Nikki and Mariafe have been second team to travel to the Rio towards growing the sport asked so many tough questions de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games in Qatar’ over the last two months to be alongside the already-qualifi ed better, and to make sure they Louise Bawden and Taliqua “Everyone left their family were on their game, and they did Clancy. and went outside to train, it was it. I just feel so proud to be part of Countries are represented by so stressful, but we did it. We are this Australian team today.” two teams at the Continental Cup going to the Olympics. We are China and Kazakhstan, who and matches are played over the now part of the history of Qatar won silver and bronze in the best of three rubbers. Qatar were now. men’s competition and Vanuatu represented by Jeff erson Pereira “The country has no history in and China, the women’s silver and Cherif Younousse and Julio beach volleyball, I moved to Qatar and bronze medallists will now Junior and Ahmed Tijian. to try and raise beach volleyball, have one last chance to reach Jeff erson and Cherif are the and now we have made a huge Rio 2016 when they face the pair likely to travel to Rio having step towards growing the sport in other Continental Cup silver and won the Kish Island Open in Feb- Qatar.” bronze medal winners at the fi nal ruary this year and reached the Australia will now need to de- Olympic qualifi ers in Sochi, Rus- Netherlands 2015, FIVB Beach cide which two players to nomi- sia, from July 6-10. TENNIS Serena I can get even better, Djokovic unruffled by warns Wimbledon rivals expectations

AFP top of the women’s game. London Muguruza avenged her Wimbledon loss by beating A general view ahead of Williams in the French Open Wimbledon. At bottom, erena Williams insists final earlier this month and, like Novak Djokovic she doesn’t feel under the Spanish world number two, pressure to retain the German fourth seed Angelique SWimbledon title and fi- Kerber has no reason to fear nally end her long wait to win a Williams after her Australian 22nd Grand Slam crown. Open triumph in January. When Williams left the All Williams, aware of the fierce England Club after defeating competition to knock her off Garbine Muguruza in the final the top, admits she has tried to 12 months ago, she held all analyse those defeats to find four major titles and was on reasons why she has lost her the verge of a historic calendar way this year. Grand Slam. “It’s important to learn from But the world number one’s bid every loss. I think I usually do for tennis immortality crumbled that,” she said. when she suff ered a shock de- “Throughout my whole career feat against Italy’s Roberta Vinci I’ve have been able to learn a in the US Open semi-finals. lot and come back a much bet- Since then the 34-year-old ter player.” American has looked scarred Williams opens her Wim- by her loss in New York and bledon campaign with a also burdened by the expecta- first-round tie against Swiss tion she will equal Steff i Graf’s qualifier Amra Sadikovic on Open era record of 22 Grand Tuesday and she can’t wait to Slam titles. get back in action on the fast Williams stumbled in the grass that so suits her power Australian and French Open game. finals this year and, if she fails “I enjoy it just being on grass. to retain the Wimbledon trophy It’s usually the only tourna- AFP that keeps me grounded in a way, this kind of pressure and emo- in two weeks’ time, she will be ment I play on grass,” she said. London gives me more reason to practise. tions, the better you are in cop- left without a single Grand Slam “It’s a unique experience. It’s “I can certainly say I’ve been ing with it and handling it. in her possession. just that one time a year you working hard to get consistency “Of course, the situation this Asked if she felt a growing just get to get on this amazing, ovak Djokovic warned on all kinds of surfaces.” year is quite diff erent from pre- desperation to get her hands beautiful surface. It feels really his Wimbledon rivals While Djokovic might see a vious years because I’m coming on some silverware again, good.” that he still hasn’t few imperfections that can be in with a Roland Garros title for Williams said: “It was a great Since making her Wimbledon reached his full po- worked on, those fl aws have the fi rst time. accomplishment to win four debut in 1998, Williams has Ntential as the world number one been almost impossible for op- “That gives me a lot of confi - Grand Slams in a row twice in enjoyed some of the great- bids to move a step closer to a ponents to detect. dence prior to this event.” my career. It’s pretty cool. est moments of her glittering historic calendar Grand Slam. The 29-year-old has won six Djokovic has beaten Murray “This year I don’t feel as much career at the All England Club, Djokovic is a strong favour- of the last eight Grand Slams, in 13 of their last 15 meetings, tension as I usually do. but she makes a point of avoid- ite to win Wimbledon for the taking him to a career tally of 12 but he still named the world “I’m feeling pretty good. ing nostalgic thoughts of past fourth time after lifting the tro- — within two of Rafael Nadal’s number two, along with seven- Honestly, I don’t feel any pres- glories. phy at the All England Club for mark and fi ve behind the record time Wimbledon winner Fed- sure or stress. I feel good and “When I’m walking down those the last two years. 17 of Roger Federer. erer, as his main rivals. confident.” corridors or hallways, you Beating Andy Murray in the Djokovic last failed to reach a “I would say Andy Mur- With opponents no longer think of diff erent moments that French Open fi nal earlier this Grand Slam fi nal at the 2014 US ray and Roger because of their seeming so intimidated by her you’ve had, diff erent moments month brought the Serb the only Open and has reached seven fi - rankings, their history of play- and the American spending that you’ve won, or didn’t win,” Grand Slam missing from his nals, winning six of them, in 2016. ing well, and winning this tour- time on her interests in the she said. collection and if he can retain Asked how it would feel to face nament, especially Roger for so fashion and entertainment in- “I try not to focus on those mo- the Wimbledon and US Open ti- a player of his calibre, Djokovic many times,” Djokovic said. dustries, there is a sense that ments because I try to create a tles he will become the fi rst man refl ected the thoughts of the ma- Although Djokovic skipped a long-awaited changing of new moment every time I walk since Rod Laver in 1969 to com- jority of the men’s tour when he the Wimbledon warm-up the guard could happen at the out there.” plete a remarkable sweep of the laughed: “Well, I don’t want to go events to wind down after his four major prizes in one year. on the other side! (of the net).” success in Paris, he is adamant But, on the eve of his Wim- Chasing a calendar Grand his preparation has been good bledon fi rst-round tie against Slam proved too much for enough to avoid any early strug- British wildcard James Ward, women’s number one Serena gles on the grass. Djokovic made a revelation Williams to handle last year as “Winning Roland Garros was about the need to further im- she suff ered a shock US Open obviously one of the most mem- prove his game that should give semi-fi nal defeat. orable and beautiful moments of his fellow contenders for the ti- But Djokovic’s spirits are so my career, but it took a lot out of tle a few sleepless nights. high after fi nally ending his long me. I thought that it’s more im- “Obviously I’m at the peak of wait to win at Roland Garros that portant for me to just rejuvenate my career at the moment. I see he insists the pressure of his his- and rest a little bit and then pre- still lots of room for improve- tory bid won’t be a problem. pare for Wimbledon,” he said. ment, things that I can work “Pressure is part of what we “Even though I’ve been very on,” Djokovic told reporters at do. It’s inevitable to face this blessed to win this tournament Wimbledon. kind of sensation as a top play- three times, I still feel that kind “That’s something that en- er,” he said. of excitement as though I’m courages me. That’s something “But the more you get to face coming in for the fi rst time.”