WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 2016 18 Iceland to stick with counter-attacking style versus Austria PARIS: Should tournament debutants Iceland reach the stopping. Against Portugal, he tried 28 passes-of which He urged his players to use the ball better against an FAN FERVOR knockout stages of Euro 2016 by securing the result 27 went long-which was the second most from any Austrian team who were considered potential dark they need against Austria today, much credit will go to Iceland player and against Hungary, his 35 attempted horses but who have registered only one point and no a dentist and a film director. passes were more than any teammate. goals so far. “They seem to be a little bit lacking in the Iceland, with a population of about 330,000, are the These are statistics that reflect the pressure Iceland two games they’ve played. Let’s hope it will continue,” smallest country ever to qualify for the Euros, yet have resisted in those two matches as they averaged 33.5 Hallgrimsson said of Austria. been undaunted by their casting as minnows, holding percent possession, the lowest at the Euros. “They have really good organisation but they also Portugal and Hungary to 1-1 draws in Group F through “If someone had given us the option of having this have really good individuals and that’s a lethal combi- resilient displays. position before the tournament we would have gladly nation.” Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored six of Iceland’s 17 That means a win, or perhaps another draw, against taken it,” joint-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told a news goals in qualifying as well as a penalty against Hungary, Austria, will put Iceland into the knock-out stages, a conference. “We’ve done quite well even though we is likely to again partner Aron Gunnarsson in central fairytale outcome which could make for an excellent have been pushed back. We’ve created some good midfield. Hallgrimsson indicated his combative captain movie script. Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson would be chances so maybe that is the way against Austria, to Gunnarsson had shrugged off a groin injury. the ideal judge of that, having halted his film career to stay back and let them come.” Hallgrimsson, who will For Austria, star turns David Alaba and Marko become a full-time professional in 2014, first in Norway take sole charge of the team when co-coach Lars Arnautovic have yet to make any impression in attack and then the Netherlands. Lagerback retires this summer, maintains a dental sur- but are likely to be retained, while coach Marcel Koller Halldorsson, who directed the video for Iceland’s gery in a small town in Iceland. His bilingual press con- must decide whether to risk Marc Janko. Janko, scorer 2012 Eurovision song contest entry, has made 14 saves- ference at the team’s Lake Annecy training base was of seven goals in qualifying, was surprisingly omitted the most by any keeper at the tournament, but the 32- markedly more relaxed than the tense affairs staged by against Portugal, although Koller subsequently revealed year-old’s game is about much more than just shot other nations. the striker was struggling for fitness. — Reuters Bale inspires as brilliant Wales cruise into last 16 TOULOUSE: Gareth Bale struck his third goal in as many Euro 2016 games as brilliant Wales cruised into the last 16 as winners of Group B with a clinical 3-0 dismantling of Russia on Monday. First-half strikes by Aaron Ramsey and Neil Taylor sent Chris Coleman’s men well on their way to a comprehensive win in Toulouse against an overwhelmed Russian side. But Bale was a constant threat all night and grabbed his third goal of the tournament when he cleverly dinked the ball past Igor Akinfeev with the outside of his right boot midway through the second half as Russia were eliminated. The last players to score in all three group games at a European Championship were Milan Baros for the Czech Republic and Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Netherlands, both in 2004. The win coupled with a 0-0 draw between England and Slovakia in Saint-Etienne allowed Wales to top the group and set up a last-16 tie in Paris this week- end. “Fantastic performance,” said Ramsey, who was named as the man of the match. “We topped the group, which nobody probably would have seen coming. Our main target was to get out the group. You can hear the fans still singing and I think we’ve made them proud.” In a match labelled ‘high risk’ following violent clashes between Russian and England supporters in Marseille last week, it was Wales who provided all the drama on a balmy night in Toulouse. Russia had to win to stand a chance of going through after a 1-1 draw with England and a 2-1 TOULOUSE: Wales’ Gareth Bale, left, and Russia’s Vasili Berezutski challenge for the ball during the Euro defeat to Slovakia left them bottom of Group B. But 2016 Group B soccer match between Russia and Wales at the Stadium municipal in Toulouse, France, against the backdrop of a 2000-strong police pres- Monday. — AP ence in ‘La Ville Rose’, Leonid Slutsky’s men were left clutching at straws after a lightning start by the fired- space as he powered up the middle, the Russians left only for Akinfeev to rescue Russia again. Akinfeev up Dragons. the left flank wide open for Taylor. Bale’s attempted was almost caught unawares by a vicious Ramsey After a promising start that saw Bale force pass took a deflection, but Taylor latched on to beat drive from 30 yards as the Russians backed off, and Akinfeev to save down low in the opening minute, it Akinfeev at the second attempt after the rebound fell Bale forced the Russian goalkeeper to block twice was Arsenal midfielder Ramsey who got Wales up and nicely to double Wales’ lead on 20 minutes. It was full- before setting up Ramsey for a shot that Akinfeev running in the 11th minute. Ramsey ran on to Joe back Taylor’s first goal for anyone in more than six blocked at the second attempt. Allen’s superb pass that split the Russian defence and years. Wales kept on knocking at the door and got their dinked the ball over the onrushing Akinfeev and in. Wales suffered a brief scare when captain Ashley third goal midway through the second half. Ramsey Ramsey’s maiden goal at a Euros sent the huge Welsh Williams directed Akinfeev’s long kick-out into the ran across the edge of the area to draw the Russian support behind the goal wild, and took the wind out path of Fedor Smolov, who could only fire wide as defence and slipped a pass through for Bale, who of Russia’s sails. Slutsky’s men quickly lost composure Wayne Hennessey came out to block. found himself one-on-one with Akinfeev before cool- in the key area of midfield, and Wales made them pay. But Wales threatened again, Bale waltzing past ly dinking the ball past the veteran ‘keeper to seal a When Allen’s smart ball found Bale in acres of several defenders to set up Sam Vokes to his right, famous Welsh win. — AFP Santos backs misfiring Ronaldo for Hungary clash LYON: Portugal coach Fernando Santos is backing misfir- ing Cristiano Ronaldo to break his Euro 2016 duck by netting against Hungary today to help fire his side into the last 16. Ronaldo is still waiting for his opening goal in France to become the first person to score at four consecutive European championship finals. The 31-year-old is the holder of numerous goal-scoring records, but he has yet to hit the net at Euro 2016, despite 20 chances so far. Ronaldo set a new Portuguese record with his 128th international cap in Saturday’s goalless draw with Austria - a milestone overshadowed by his penalty miss. He crashed a 79th-minute spot-kick against the post in Paris having also failed to score in the 1-1 draw with Iceland last Tuesday. The star that fans either love or hate won few Icelandic friends by slamming their team’s “small mentality” after the draw. This has been a frustrating tournament for Ronaldo. His Portugal side has failed to live up to their pre-tourna- ment billing as Group F favourites. They lie only third in the table behind Iceland and Hungary, who they must beat at the Stade de Lyon to be sure of reaching the last 16. “Ronaldo is a player who scores a lot of goals and I’m sure he will score in the next game against Hungary,” said Santos. UGLY VS PARSIMONIOUS Portugal had 23 shots on the Austria goal-hitting the woodwork twice-and Santos expects his side to find the net and win ‘ugly’ if need be. “It was the first time we failed to score during my reign,” said Santos. “We created so many chances, we didn’t score, but I think we will next time out. “We’re sad but we have things in our own hands. “It doesn’t matter if we play better or ugly football.” Hungary’s defence is not known for it’s generosity. MARCOUSSIS: Portugal’s defender Eliseu (TOP) and teammate take part in a training session at the Since their 8-1 thrashing by the Netherlands in October team’s base camp in Marcoussis, south of Paris, yesterday, on the eve of the Euro 2016 Group F football 2013 — their record defeat-Hungary has conceded just match Hungary vs Portugal.