FF11 | Page 2 FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 7 Vettel shines Guardiola in the rain urges Man to give City to extend Ferrari hope mastery

Saturday, July 18, 2020 SPOTLIGHT Dhul-Qa’da 27, 1441 AH IOC chief Bach GULF TIMES announces bid for re-election SPORT Page 5

RACING SPOTLIGHT Shaqab’s Qous, son of mighty 72 NFL Treve, wins at Chantilly players

Agencies Chantilly, France have virus ous, who is the fi rst product AFP training camp recommendation of the mighty Treve, opened Los Angeles from a joint NFL-NFLPA com- Qhis scorecard at Chantilly in mittee in favour of a 23-day ses- France yesterday on his second out- sion before the fi rst of two pre- ing. eventy-two NFL play- season games, down from four The Al Shaqab Racing’s homebred ers have tested positive in prior years. However Tretter bay colt ran patiently in the back of Sfor Covid-19, the league’s said league chiefs were risking the field in the Prix du Mont Alta and players union confi rmed on the entire season if they failed to showed a very nice turn of foot to Thursday. fully address concerns over the beat more experienced horses. In the fi rst major announce- virus. “Every decision this year The son of Dubawi is trained by Andre ment of coronavirus results that prioritizes normalcy over Fabre and was ridden by Vincent concerning the NFL, the NFL innovation, custom over science Cheminaud to a short-head win in the Players Association said dozens or even football over health, sig- 2,100m Class2 run for three-year-olds. of players had tested positive as nifi cantly reduces our chances L’aigle, trained by S. Nigge and ridden of July 10. of completing the full season,” by Mickael Barzalona, was the runner- The tally was revealed in a da- Tretter said. “We don’t want to up. Dge Of Victory was a further short tabase described as a “one-stop merely return to work and have head behind in third. He is trained by shop of information” for play- the season shut down before we JC Rouget and was ridden by Cristian ers. It was unclear, however, how even get started,” he added. Demuro. many of the league’s roughly The sense of uncertainty was Rupert Pritchard-Gordon, Al Shaqab 2,900 rostered players had been underscored on Thursday by Racing’s representative, said : “He did tested or how often. Houston Texans star J J Watt, not have an easy trip for his debut. The test results come as the who said players remained in He has progressed since. He is a NFL and NFLPA are locked in the dark over several key details very nice horse, very relaxed, and negotiations over the terms and concerning Covid-19’s impact he showed a nice turn of foot today. conditions of pre-season train- on the upcoming season. André Fabre will decide for his next ing and exhibition games. “We don’t know if there are start. He is not very precocious and Players have requested more pre-season games or not, we I think he is good enough to win a time to address fi tness concerns don’t know if there will be daily Listed race.” and want no pre-season games testing, semi-daily testing etc,” Treve, the two-time winner of the in August. Watt wrote on Twitter. Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in NFLPA president J C Tret- “We don’t how a potential 2013 and 2014, also has a two-year-old ter, a centre for the Cleveland positive COVID test would af- filly by Shalaa, named Paris, a yearling Browns, accused the NFL last fect contracts, roster spots, etc.” filly by Siyouni and a filly foal by Sea week of failing to prioritise Watt added that he had also The Stars, and has been covered by Vincent Cheminaud (foreground) rides Al Shaqab Racing’s Qous to Prix du Mont Alta victory at Chantilly in France yesterday. (Scoop- player safety in the face of the not seen an infectious disease Kingman. dyga) pandemic. emergency response plan from The league rejected a 48-day either the NFL or any team.

CRICKET Stokes puts England on top Sibley’s ton was one of the slowest in Tests by an England batsman, taking nearly eight hours with only 5 fours

AFP Manchester MANCHESTER SCORECARD England 1st Innings (overnight: (1nb); Chase 44-3-172-5; Brathwaite en Stokes’ impressive 176 207-3) 3.5-0-9-0; took England to an imposing R. Burns lbw b Chase 15 fi rst-innings score of 469-9 D. Sibley c Roach b Chase 120 West Indies 1st Innings declared in the second Test Z. Crawley c Holder b Chase 0 K. Brathwaite not out 6 Bagainst the West Indies at Old Traff ord J. Root c Holder b Joseph 23 J. Campbell lbw b Curran 12 yesterday. B. Stokes c Dowrich b Roach 176 A. Joseph not out 14 The tourists, faced with a tricky O. Pope lbw b Chase 7 Extras 0 hour to bat until stumps on the second J. Buttler c Joseph b Holder 40 Total (1 wkt, 14 overs, 59 mins) 32 day, lost John Campbell to the recalled C. Woakes c Hope b Roach 0 To bat: S Hope, S Brooks, R Chase, Sam Curran and were 32-1 at the close. S. Curran c Brathwaite b Chase 17 J Blackwood, J Holder, S Dowrich, K They could have lost nightwatch- D. Bess not out 31 Roach, S Gabriel man Alzarri Joseph to the penultimate S. Broad not out 11 Fall of wickets: 1-16 (Campbell) ball of the day but the hosts, looking to Extras (b4, lb7, nb8, w10) 29 Bowling: Broad 5-1-14-0; Woakes 4-3-2- level the series, opted against review- Total (9 wkts dec, 162 overs, 715 0; Curran 3-1-8-1; Bess 2-0-8-0 ing a Curran lbw shout. mins) 469 Earlier, Dom Sibley made a pains- Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Burns), 2-29 Match position: West Indies are 437 taking 120 and put on 260 with Stokes (Crawley), 3-81 (Root), 4-341 (Sibley), runs behind with nine first-innings after England had been in trouble at 5-352 (Pope), 6-395 (Stokes), 7-395 wickets standing 81-3 on Thursday following the loss of (Woakes), 8-426 (Buttler), 9-427 (Cur- returning captain Joe Root. ran) Toss: West Indies England had been forced into a late Bowling: Roach 33-9-58-2 (1w, 3nb); Umpires: Michael Gough (ENG), change to their pace attack after fast Gabriel 26-2-79-0 (5w, 4nb); Joseph Richard Illingworth (ENG) bowler Jofra Archer was dramatically England’s Ben Stokes celebrates his 23.1-5-70-1 (1nb); Holder 32-10-70-1 TV umpire: Richard Kettleborough omitted Thursday for breaching the century as Dom Sibley looks on in bio-secure bubble by making an un- Manchester yesterday. authorised trip home to Brighton after from the front bat, even though he had six over midwicket off Joseph. the West Indies’ four-wicket win in handed back the captaincy to Root, Having batted for over nine hours last week’s fi rst Test at Southampton. even though this match was taking drey at Edgbaston in 1957. And he made normally reliable West who missed last week’s match to at- Sibley holed out to deep midwicket off But left-arm paceman Curran, who place at the Lancashire home ground Sibley’s hundred was one of the Indies captain Jason Holder pay for tend the birth of his second child. Chase. might not have played if Archer had of England’s all-time leading wicket- slowest in Tests by an England bats- dropping him in the slips on 68. England resumed on 207-3, with Kemar Roach checked England’s been retained, made the breakthrough taker, with Chris Woakes recalled in man, the opener batting for 471 min- Run-scoring was diffi cult against a Sibley 86 not out and Stokes, unbeaten progress when he struck for the fi rst when an inswinger had Campbell lbw place of Mark Wood after he too was utes — nearly eight hours — to com- swinging ball and on a sluggish out- on 59. time this series with two wickets in on review to leave West Indies 16-1. given a breather. plete a 312-ball century featuring a fi eld, with even the usually fl uent Stokes, 99 not out at lunch, went to two balls. England came into this match al- But the day was about Sibley and mere fi ve fours. Stokes taking nearly six hours and 285 three fi gures with a cheeky reverse- In his 71st over of the campaign the ready planning to revamp their pace Stokes, whose partnership was the But the 24-year-old Warwickshire balls to complete his 10th Test century. swept four against off -spinner Roston persevering paceman had Stokes, at- attack, with Stuart Broad — angry at second-highest for the fourth-wicket right-hander’s second hundred in his But Stokes’ third fi fty came off just Chase. tempting an ambitious reverse sweep, being rested for the series opener — by England against the West Indies, eight Tests, following his 133 not out 46 balls and, having given Sibley a The left-handed batsman then caught behind to end a 356-ball in- back in action. behind the celebrated stand of 411 against South Africa at Cape Town in “head start” of 31.2 overs, he over- upped the tempo against the new ball, nings featuring 17 fours and two sixes James Anderson, was rested in turn, shared by Peter May and Colin Cow- January, was a valuable innings. took his team-mate’s total as he led notably with a remarkable check-drive before Woakes was caught in the gully. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 18, 2020 SPORT

FORMULA 1 SPOTLIGHT Du Plessis says he Vettel shines in will ‘take the knee’ Hungary rain as Hamilton sits out For Vettel and Ferrari, it was a welcome boost after last Sunday’s ignominious exit

Blink and we’ll be swallowed up, warns Mercedes’ Allison

BudapestFormula One champions in a dry opening session at the Hun- Mercedes risk being ‘swallowed up’ garoring before rain limited running AFP said Du Plessis. “Slowing down by rivals if they lose concentration, in the afternoon. Johannesburg my point of view, but quicker to the team’s technical director James Hamilton was 1.197 seconds quicker hear the pain of someone else. I Allison warned yesterday despite a than the nearest non-Mercedes pow- knew that words would be lack- dominant start to the season. ered car, Daniel Ricciardo’s Renault, ormer South African cap- ing and that my understanding is The Briton, whose team have won in that first practice. tain Faf du Plessis yes- not close to where it needs to be. the first two races after taking six Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was Fterday came out in support “I surrender my opinions and successive drivers’ and constructors’ meanwhile 1.432 off the champion’s of Black Lives Matter and said take the knee as an intercessor. titles, said the campaign would be pace, but Allison was not taking any a comment he made in January I acknowledge that South Africa no “easy cakewalk”. false comfort. that “we don’t see colour” had is still hugely divided by racism “It doesn’t feel like that sitting in our “We’re expecting this year to be a been a mistake. and it is my personal responsi- shoes,” Allison told a video news fight. We’re expecting to have to The BLM issue has shown up bility to do my best to empathise, conference ahead of Sunday’s Hun- develop strongly because if we blink racial divisions in South African hear the stories, learn and then garian Grand Prix. we’ll be swallowed up,” he said. cricket, with 30 black former be part of the solution with my “In our shoes, we think OK, we went Allison cited the example of the international players claiming thoughts, words and actions.” to Austria, a track that we haven’t second Austrian race at the Red Bull earlier this week that racism re- Du Plessis was criticised for been strong at in the past and we Ring, where Hamilton struggled on mained a factor in the game, 29 being naive when explaining had a decent performance in the the Friday while Verstappen set the years after the formation of a the selection of white batsman second race but we were in a fist- pace. The Briton ultimately won on single controlling body. Rassie van der Dussen ahead of fight in the first. Sunday, to cut team mate Valtteri Du Plessis, who resigned as Temba Bavuma, who is black, for “And we’re now at a second track Bottas’s overall lead to six points. captain of the national team in the second Test against England where we ran on greasy cold asphalt “We were beaten handsomely in February but remains available in January by saying he didn’t see against Red Bull, who were clearly free practice on Friday because we as a player, said in an Instagram colour. not running their engine at the same weren’t paying enough attention,” post that his support for BLM He admitted: “ I have gotten level of power that we had chosen said Allison. came at a time when there were it wrong before. Good intentions for that session, and the gap looks “And if we don’t pay enough atten- many injustices in South Africa. were failed by a lack of perspec- bigger than it truly is.” tion, either to how we approach “If we wait only for the ones tive when I said on a platform Six-times world champion Lewis each race weekend or how we de- that attack us personally, we will that I don’t see colour. In my ig- Hamilton, who has won a record velop the car through the year, we’ll always live for ‘my way versus norance I silenced the struggles seven times in Hungary, was fastest get overrun very, very quickly.” your way’ and that way leads us of others by placing my own view nowhere,” he said. on it.” Some white South Africans, Du Plessis concluded: “So Ferrari’s German driver Sebastian Vettel steers his car during the second practice session for the Formula One Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring circuit in Mogyorod including former players, have I am saying that all lives don’t near Budapest yesterday. linked the BLM issue with the matter UNTIL black lives matter. murder of white farmers, claim- I’m speaking up now, because if I AFP the dry morning session, who Hamilton was one of several ing opening session, was sixth of his greatest laps to take pole. ing that all lives matter. wait to be perfect, I never will. I Budapest remained the ruling force as drivers who decided to sit out ahead of Max Verstappen of Red “Let’s see what happens,” “I’ve remained silent, with the want to leave a legacy of empa- Mercedes continued to look the the session without clocking a Bull, Romain Grosjean of Haas, Hamilton said. intent to listen, but not respond,” thy.” dominant team. fl ying lap in the diffi cult condi- Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo “But, speaking personally, I ebastian Vettel provided For Vettel and Ferrari, it was tions. and Leclerc. Verstappen, who would prefer it to be dry because a reminder of the talents a welcome boost after last Sun- “It was a great fi rst session for is expected to mount a serious I love this track in the dry — it is Sthat won him four driv- day’s ignominious exit from us,” he said. “We got everything challenge to the two Mercedes very tricky in the wet.” BCCI likely to appeal as ers’ world titles yesterday when the Styrian Grand Prix where that we needed to do done and men, said he was disappointed. Sunday’s race, in its 35th he topped the times for Fer- Charles Leclerc collided with it was just a shame that it rained “It was not so good for us in consecutive year, is the third court asks board to pay rari in a wet second practice for him on the opening lap, causing as it did. It’s very strange that FP1,” he said. “We have plenty to be run this year in the Cov- the Hungarian Grand Prix with both men into early retirement. here we are in the summer and of work to do and it was a shame id-19 delayed season and takes Deccan Chargers $640mn Lewis Hamilton opting to sit out It meant little, however, in the we have had this rain over two that we couldn’t do anything in place behind closed doors and the session. broader picture following Ham- weekends. second practice. I am glad we under strictly-controlled pro- fter a major boost when does have a very good case,” Vettel, looking for a new team ilton’s masterful triumph at last “It did not leave us with a lot have a night to look at things and tocol conditions that do not al- the Board of Control for he pointed. for 2021 after being told he will Sunday’s Styrian Grand Prix and to do in the afternoon session.” to make changes.” low anyone from the travelling ACricket in India (BCCI) The IPL Governing Council had be surplus to Ferrari’s needs, his 1:16.003 lap on hard tyres, He warned against drawing More wet weather conditions F1 circus to go anywhere other won a legal battle against terminated DC in 2012 and the clocked a best lap in one minute which lifted him clear of Bottas. conclusions from Friday’s ac- are forecast for Budapest and than their hotels, the circuit World Sports Group (WSG), it Hyderabad franchise had chal- 40.464 seconds to outpace Carlos Sainz, the man chosen tion. the surrounding region on Sat- or the airport. Bottas won the has suff ered a blow as Bombay lenged the ‘illegal termination’. nearest rival and championship to replace Vettel at Ferrari, was “Everyone is doing a dif- urday, making it likely another season-opening Austrian Grand High Court appointed arbitra- To go back to the case, Deccan leader Valtteri Bottas of Mer- third fastest for McLaren ahead ferent programme, but it was wet qualifying session will take Prix and Hamilton last Sunday’s tor passed an award in favour of Chargers had approached the cedes by 0.272s. of Lance Stroll and his Racing OK, though I expect it to be a place. Last weekend’s qualify- Styrian Grand Prix. Bottas leads now defunct IPL side Deccan Bombay HC and with an eye But it was six-time champion Point ‘pink Mercedes’ teammate lot closer on Saturday.” Pierre ing was a thrilling spectacle in Hamilton by six points in the ti- Chargers which may see the on the IPL franchise agree- Hamilton, the fastest man in Sergio Perez. Gasly, who sat out the morn- which Hamilton produced one tle race. Indian board having to shell ment, the process of arbitration out Rs4800 crore ($640mn) started with Justice (retd) C K to Deccan Chronicle Holdings Thakar as the sole abitrator. BOTTOMLINE (DCHL). DCHL had claimed damages of Speaking to IANS, a BCCI off icial Rs6046 crore plus interest and said that the turn of events was charges as per reports. surprising, but a final decision The BCCI had obviously will be made only after going brought in it’s own reasoning to through the complete order. An the whole decision behind the appeal though is on the cards termination and made its own Fans could return to stadiums from the board against the claim. award. Earlier, in a majority decision, “To be honest it has come an Arbitral Tribunal consist- as a surprise and it would be ing of Supreme Court Justices fascinating to see what the Ld. (Retd) Sujatha Manohar, Muku- in October, says British PM Arbitrator has relied upon and nthakam Sharma and S S Nijjar AFP bring back audiences in sta- are keen to act as “test pilots” one can only make a proper have upheld the termination of London dia and allow conferences and for any experiments around a assessment only upon reading the media rights agreement for other business events to recom- phased reopening of grounds. the order but you can be sure overseas territories with World mence,” he added. The World Top-fl ight matches have been that the BCCI would go in ap- Sports Group (WSG) by the Snooker Championship, the played behind closed doors since peal against this award since it BCCI on June 28, 2010. pectators could return Glorious Goodwood horse rac- action resumed last month due to sports stadiums in ing festival and two county to coronavirus restrictions. October after a series of cricket friendly matches will Tottenham manager Jose test events that will start be among pilot events, starting Mourinho said it was “great Archer breach could have cost laterS this month, British Prime later this month. news”. “Between the economic ECB millions, says Giles Minister Boris Johnson said The government said the side and the passion side, we’d yesterday. “events have been carefully se- all be so, so happy to see people London: Paceman Jofra 25-year-old exited the bio-se- Mass gatherings have been lected to represent a range of back in stadiums,” he said. “If Archer’s breach of bio-secure cure bubble to go to his fl at in banned since March as part of sports and indoor and outdoor it’s impossible to have the full protocols could have been a Brighton after the series opener social-distancing measures spectator environments”. stadiums we dream of, at least “disaster” and ended up cost- in Southampton. brought in to combat the coro- Sports minister Nigel Hud- some people would be a good ing the board tens of millions “This could have been a dis- navirus pandemic. But as John- dleston said he recognised for start.”Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta of pounds, England and Wales aster. The ripple eff ect this could son set out the next stage of the many sports, fans were their is also eager for fans to be al- Cricket Board (ECB) director of have had through the whole recovery road map for England, “lifeblood”. lowed back but urged caution. cricket Ashley Giles has said. summer could have cost us tens he said the government was “Although it will remain some “I think we have to be pa- England dropped Archer from of millions of pounds,” Giles told working towards a return of time before venues are full to tient,” he said. “I think we are the second Test against the West British media. spectators. capacity, this is a major step in all desperate to have our people Indies following the breach, “The potential knock-on ef- “We will pilot larger gather- the right direction for the re- back in the stadium and make announcing the decision only fect I don’t think he could have ings in venues such as sports sumption of live spectator sport football what it is again.” hours before the start of the understood. He’s a young man, stadia with a view to a wider re- across the country,” he said. Clubs in the English Football match on Thursday. young men make mistakes. He opening in the autumn,” he said Premier League chief execu- League have been particularly The ECB did not state the na- has to learn from them.” at a Downing Street briefi ng. tive Richard Masters has pre- hard hit by the loss of matchday ture of the violation but media Archer, who has apologised, is “From October we intend to viously said top-fl ight clubs revenue. reports said the Barbados-born now in isolation. Gulf Times Saturday, July 18, 2020 3 SPORT

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Report: Beasley Harden returns as won’t return to Nets NBA looks at creating home-court advantage ‘Everybody doesn’t have any fans. It’s you versus us and we’ll just have to figure it out’ The Miami Heat’s Michael Beasley (centre) drives against the Philadelphia 76ers at American Airlines Arena on April 16, 2014.

Reuters ley hasn’t played in the NBA Los Angeles this season. He signed with Brooklyn on July 10. Beasley played 26 games eteran forward (two starts) for the Los An- Michael Beasley, who geles Lakers last season, av- Vreportedly tested eraging 7.0 points and 2.3 re- positive for the coro- bounds, before being traded navirus, will not return to the with Ivica Zubac to the Los Brooklyn Nets, The Athletic Angeles Clippers for Mike reported on Thursday. Muscala on Feb 7. The Clip- Beasley’s positive test was pers waived him two days reported earlier this week by later, and Beasley fi nished the The Athletic. He left the Or- season playing in China. lando, Fla., area after the test, Beasley has played for seven and it is unclear if he will at- NBA teams in 11 seasons since tempt to sign with another the Miami Heat selected him club. with the No 2 overall pick in Small forward Justin An- the 2008 NBA Draft out of derson is a candidate to re- Kansas State. He has averaged place Beasley on the Brooklyn 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds roster, according to The Ath- in 609 career games (238 letic. He is currently under starts). quarantine in the Orlando Anderson played in three area, before he can be permit- games for the Nets in Janu- ted into the secure zone. ary under a 10-day contract. The Nets are attempting to He averaged 1.0 points and put together a roster for the 0.7 rebounds. Overall, he is upcoming season restart but averaging 5.3 points and 2.5 are running into obstacles. rebounds in 219 games (23 Guard Spencer Dinwid- starts) over fi ve NBA seasons die, centre DeAndre Jordan with four teams. and forward Taurean Prince Brooklyn (30-34) resides in are done for the season due to seventh place in the Eastern contracting Covid-19, while Conference and is solidly po- forward Wilson Chandler sitioned for one of the con- opted out of the resumption ference’s eight playoff spots. for family reasons. The Nets have eight games re- Meanwhile, guard Kyrie Ir- maining and are a half-game ving (shoulder) and forward ahead of eighth-place Or- Kevin Durant (Achilles) aren’t lando (30-35) and six ahead of available due to injuries. the ninth-place Washington Houston Rockets guard James Harden reacts during a regular NBA game against the Miami Heat at the AmericanAirlines Arena on November 3, 2019. (TNS) The 31-year-old Beas- Wizards (24-40).

Reuters “Seventy-two hours later, we Covid-19 tests taken on Friday. tone echoed Nationals reliever The 33-year-old Doolittle Los Angeles have yet to receive the results Due to the delay in receiving Sean Doolittle, who said Sun- also pointed out the irony of of those tests,” Rizzo said. “We these results, coupled with the day that the team still hasn’t starting the season later this Bledsoe tests positive for Covid-19 cannot have our players and contagious nature of the virus, received promised personal month with the coronavirus ilwaukee Bucks Disney World in a quarantine scheduled yesterday staff work at risk. Therefore, we we felt it was prudent to can- protection equipment — such outbreak still out of control. point guard Eric environment and plan to workout was cancelled have cancelled our team work- cel today’s workouts at Minute as masks and gloves — for at- “We’re trying to bring base- MBledsoe has resume the season July 30 Aby the Washington Na- out scheduled for this morn- Maid Park and the University risk individuals. Doolittle said ball back during a pandemic tested positive with no spectators at games tionals as a precaution ing. We will not sacrifi ce the of Houston. Players and staff he was stunned not to have test that’s killed (nearly) 130,000 for Covid-19 and not joined and hopes to decide an NBA as they await results of team- health and safety of our play- continue to participate fully in results. He plans to opt out of people (in the United States),” his teammates in the NBA’s champion in early October. wide coronavirus testing. ers, staff and their families.... the screening and testing pro- the 2020 season if the coro- Doolittle said. “We’re way Florida restart bubble. Milwaukee’s first scheduled Nationals president and gen- Major League Baseball needs tocols while we await these re- navirus pandemic becomes a worse off as a country than The 30-year-old American, game in the restart is July 31 eral manager Mike Rizzo said to work quickly to resolve the sults. Despite these delays over strain on his mental health. where we were in March when in his 10th NBA campaign, against Boston. all players and staff were tested issues with their process and the holiday weekend, we’re op- “I think I’m planning on we shut this thing down. has averaged 15.4 points, 5.4 The Bucks won their only NBA Friday and without timely and their lab. Otherwise, Summer timistic that the process will be playing,” Doolittle told report- “And like, look at where other assists and 4.6 rebounds for title in 1971. They reached the accurate testing deemed it un- Camp and the 2020 Season are ironed out and we’ll be back on ers on Sunday during a Zoom developed countries are in their the Bucks, who were an NBA- Eastern Conference finals last safe “for us to continue with at risk.” the fi eld and ready to compete call. “But if at any point I start response to this. We haven’t best 53-12 when the season year for the first time since Summer Camp.” Astros general manager for a championship soon.” to feel unsafe, if it starts to take done any of the things that oth- shut down March 11 due to the 2001 but haven’t reached the The Houston Astros, who James Click said the team is Two Nationals players test- a toll on my mental health with er countries have done to bring coronavirus pandemic. NBA Finals since 1974. lost to the Nationals in the 2019 in limbo awaiting test results, ed positive for coronavirus all these things we have to wor- sports back. Sports are like the “I am asymptomatic and feel- Bledsoe joins a list of top NBA World Series, also cancelled which prompted the cancella- — swabs were taken two days ry about and kind of this cloud reward of a functional society, ing fine,” Bledsoe told ESPN. players to test positive that yesterday’s workout. tion of yesterday’s practice. earlier on Wednesday for those of uncertainty hanging over and we’re trying to just bring it “Once I meet the NBA proto- includes Houston Rockets Rizzo called on Major League “The safety of our players players — creating urgency everything, then I’ll opt out. back, even though we’ve taken cols, I look forward to joining guard Russell Westbrook and Baseball to quickly “resolve is- and staff remains our top pri- to receive results for play- But for now, I’ve prepared for none of the steps to fl atten the my teammates in Orlando.” Sacramento Kings forward sues with their process and ority at the Astros. The team ers who have been in contact the last three months like I’m curve, whatever you want to Teams have gathered at Harrison Barnes. AFP their lab.” is still awaiting results from with those individuals. Rizzo’s going to play. I feel ready to go.” say.”

BOTTOMLINE Lakers’ cohesiveness could be paying dividends in bubble By Tania Ganguli Vogel said. “It’s something that team can feel some level of co- Los Angeles Times I think all 22 of us teams are hesiveness and being together measuring, but I feel really good in this very strange and diff erent about the vibe that we had in time,” said Kate Hays, a sports os Angeles Lakers guard the regular season, prior to the psychologist based out of To- Quinn Cook’s face con- hiatus, and it feels the same ronto. “I think having that sense Ltorted into a bewildered now.” of peers who know a whole lot expression when he was The Lakers’ chemistry be- about each other and appreci- asked to describe his day. But he gan to grow with a players-only ate idiosyncrasies and individ- answered anyway. camp in Las Vegas that was or- ual diff erences will be very, very “I woke up, took my Covid chestrated by LeBron James. helpful and very important to test, went to breakfast, played They then experienced a series their mental well-being as well video games, chilled with my of unusual events together that as their playing capacity.” teammates, went to practice, bonded them more closely. So far, the Lakers haven’t came back, ate dinner with my Their personalities seemed minded. There are some ways teammates, played more video to mesh seamlessly and could to be apart, but many of them games with my teammates,” be seen during games in the way choose to do things like eat and Cook said, dryly. “So uh, very players on the bench erupted for relax together anyway, whether eventful day.” their teammates, or the way the that’s with a game of Connect Although lacking highlights, whole team would fl ock to one Four or a video game contest. Cook’s description emphasised player who’d been knocked onto “We’re very, very close-knit,” one thing — just how much time the ground to help him up. Cook said. “So all of us are al- he and his teammates spend Back then, though, they got ways together.” together as the league seeks to some time apart. They would Lakers backup point guard restart its season. And as the shower and change after home Rajon Rondo had successful Lakers go into their second games, then go home to their surgery to repair his fractured week of non-stop time together, families or their pets, or both. right thumb on Wednesday. their famously close-knit team For the next few months, they’ll Rondo left the NBA campus in chemistry might help them have to ride to their temporary order to have his surgery and avoid the pitfalls present in so home on a bus while still wear- Vogel said he will also rehab much proximity. ing their sweaty uniforms. After elsewhere. “If you have a team where a loss, they won’t get much time Rondo broke his right thumb maybe that chemistry isn’t as apart. during practice Saturday. The strong, there’s great risks of “A lot is going to depend on team said he is expected to re- spending too much time to- how the team functions and in turn to full basketball activities gether,” Lakers coach Frank particular ways in which the in six to eight weeks. The Lakers’ chemistry began to grow with a players-only camp in Las Vegas that was orchestrated by LeBron James. (TNS) Gulf Times 4 Saturday, July 18, 2020 SPORT

MLB Thaiss ready for season aft er mentally draining battle with Covid-19

By Maria Torres later that he was still positive as thought that it was gonna be 14 Los Angeles Times “mentally defeating.” days and boom, I’m ready July “I was asymptomatic the 1 to report to camp and hope- whole time, which was — I fully have some sort of antibod- eeks before MLB’s was lucky,” Thaiss said. “Very ies and be ready to go,” he said. health and safety thankful that I was healthy. But “The days just kept dragging on Wprotocols were at the same time, it’s also a little where it was July 7, July 8, where implemented and frustrating when you know you I was still in isolation. So that players were subjected to near- feel perfectly fi ne but, for me, was tough.” daily coronavirus testing, An- personally, it took me 20-some- Despite the time missed, gels infi elder Matt Thaiss be- thing days of testing to test neg- Thaiss believes he will be ready came intimately familiar with ative.” to play when the season begins nasal swabs and saliva tests. Thaiss fi rst learned June 14 next week. He spent the months Thaiss revealed Thursday in that a friend with whom he’d before testing positive for the his fi rst videoconference with been working out had tested virus working out in Arizona, reporters since arriving at An- positive for Covid-19. He im- getting his batting and fi elding gels camp earlier this week that mediately went into isolation reps where he could and train- he was infected with Covid-19 in his Arizona apartment, and ing at a gym. Now he’s back for about a month. By the time remained there for roughly four to his normal routine, work- he was cleared to join the team weeks. There wasn’t much for ing with hitting coaches Jer- Sunday, he had missed nine him to do to keep busy besides emy Reed, John Mallee and Paul workouts. Yet he had still had watch Bundesliga soccer — he’s Sorrento and taking advantage his saliva tested for traces of a fan of Bayern Munich now — of intrasquad games. He had the coronavirus nearly a dozen and golf. His baseball activity about 10 at-bats in Tuesday’s times before arriving in Ana- was limited to miming swings in game, his fi rst since rejoining heim. his mirror. the team. Thaiss found out June 17 that He watched helplessly from The dry swings didn’t help he had tested positive. He never hundreds of miles away as his “prepare me for the blisters I developed symptoms but the teammates reported to train- was going to get when I came virus lingered in his system for ing camp and began intrasquad back,” Thaiss joked. almost a month. He described games. “I’m feeling good,” he said. the repetitive process of getting “I was thankful I didn’t “Feeling ready and excited get Matt Thaiss (right) of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim celebrates with Brian Goodwin after hitting a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds tested only to fi nd out 24 hours have any symptoms, but I also going.” at Great American Ball Park on August 05, 2019. (TNS)

FOCUS NHL Bruins’ Pastrnak unfi t to Chiefs, Texans fi rst NFL participate in practice teams told to report for All NFL teams are scheduled to begin training camps with their training camp full rosters by the end of July

The Boston Bruins’ David Pastrnak takes a shot against the Calgary Flames at TD Garden in Boston on February 25, 2020. (TNS)

Reuters the fi rst two practices of train- Los Angeles ing camp before participating on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Pastrnak oston Bruins forward shared the Maurice “Rocket” David Pastrnak was Richard Trophy in 2019-20 as Bruled “unfi t to par- the NHL’s leading goal scorer ticipate” and missed with Washington Capitals su- practice Thursday, one day perstar captain Alex Ovechkin. after making his training camp Pastrnak needed just 70 debut. games to score 48 goals, “As for the League, it’s ‘un- eclipsing his previous career fi t to participate’ right now,” high — set last season — by 10. coach Bruce Cassidy said of He also set career highs in as- Pastrnak’s absence. “Hope- sists (47), points (95) and plus- fully that changes in the near minus rating (plus-21). future. Any time players miss a Fellow forward Ondrej Kase session where we expect them also was ruled unfi t to partici- back at full speed, then until pate for the Bruins (44-14-12, he’s out there it is a concern 100 points), who will play in for us as a team. But we’re just the round-robin portion of going to forge ahead.” the Stanley Cup qualifi ers in Pastrnak returned to the Toronto. They will square off Czech Republic after the NHL against Philadelphia on Aug. 2 season was paused March 12 before facing Tampa Bay three due to concerns surrounding days later and Washington on the coronavirus. He missed August 8.

SPOTLIGHT Arena says storm Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Chris Jones (centre) in action against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on December 8, 2019. (TNS)

Reuters and then begin conditioning pro- Watt tweeted earlier on Thursday NFL vows action aft er ‘disturbing’ damage unlikely to Los Angeles grams once cleared. to say the players “want to play” The Chiefs and Texans are re- while also outlining a number of harassment claims porting before the rest of the NFL unanswered questions, including he NFL vowed yes- are serious, disturbing and hurt restart plans he Kansas City Chiefs and because they’re scheduled to open what the training camp and pre- terday to act on contrary to the NFL’s values. Houston Texans are sched- the regular season on September season structure will be, how of- Tfindings from an Everyone in the NFL has the AFP “A signifi cant storm came Tuled to start reporting to 10. ten players will be tested and how a owner-financed right to work in an environ- New York through (Edmonton on training camp on time on Beyond concerns about testing potential positive test would aff ect investigation of the Wash- ment free from any and all Thursday night). As a result, Monday, according to multiple re- and health, the sides are still dis- contracts and rosters. ington Redskins after 15 forms of harassment,” the #RogersPlace has suff ered ports on Thursday, despite ques- cussing how to handle the expected Chiefs quarterback Patrick Ma- women said they had been league said in a statement dmonton’s Rog- some water damage to the ter- tions lingering about a variety of economic impacts of the corona- homes retweeted Watt’s tweet late sexually harassed while on its website. ers Place, one of two minus of Ford Hall, along with protocols. virus pandemic, with a revenue Thursday, adding, “Thank you!” employed by the team. “Washington has engaged Eplanned hub are- some smaller leaks in other According to NFL Network, the shortfall likely to impact future sal- Mahomes also retweeted NFL The Washington Post outside counsel to conduct nas for the National parts of the building,” a twit- league and the NFL Players Asso- ary caps. Network’s report and added, “Stuff reported the detailed allega- a thorough investigation Hockey League season restart, ter statement from the arena ciation are still trying to reach an NFL Network reported the is crazy man. All this time we had tions on Thursday, prompt- into these allegations. The has suff ered storm damage said. agreement on Covid-19 testing and league’s latest proposal removed a and now we are down to this....” ing team owner Dan Snyder club has pledged that it but it shouldn’t hinder the “We are assessing the dam- other health and safety protocols previous provision requesting 35 As to contract and salary impli- to hire Washington law firm will give its full coopera- league’s return. age & at this time are confi - ahead of Monday, when Chiefs and % of player salaries in escrow, but cations of positive tests, Pro Foot- Wilkinson Walsh to conduct tion to the investigator and The NHL selected Edmon- dent that it will not hamper Texans rookies and quarterbacks it proposes cutting player costs in ball Talk reported earlier Thursday a review of the team’s cul- we expect the club and all ton and Toronto as hosts for our planning & preparation & are scheduled to report. All other 2020 by $40mn per team in salary that the league intends to have a ture and policies as well as employees to do so. games starting August 1 as we will be ready to host the re- players on both rosters are sched- cap or benefi ts. Under the proposal, Covid-19 list, where players would workplace misconduct. “We will meet with the attor- 24 teams play for the Stanley turn of @NHL hockey as hub uled to report next Saturday. any remaining revenue shortfall be paid as normal and spend a min- Rather than launching its neys upon the conclusion of Cup after the season was shut city.” Per NFL Network, the collective would be made up in 2021. imum of three weeks before being own probe, the NFL said it their investigation and take down March 12 due to the Toronto will host 12 Eastern bargaining agreement allows teams However, per the report, player able to return. will meet with the investi- any action based on the coronavirus pandemic. Conference teams for playoff to tell players to report or face leadership “strongly” opposes that All NFL teams are scheduled to gating attorneys paid for by findings.” The newspaper A dozen Western Confer- contests, two of which are set discipline. If an agreement is not sort of short-term impact, prefer- begin training camps with their full Snyder, who was not among report said the harassment ence teams are set to travel to go to Edmonton once the reached by Monday, the players un- ring to spread it out over multiple rosters by the end of July. the executives accused of took place from 2006 to Edmonton on July 26 and NHL playoff s are down to the ion could choose to fi le a grievance. years. One player told NFL Net- The pre-season has already been inappropriate behaviour, through 2019 and led to the stay at hotels attached to the last four clubs. According to the Houston work, “No thanks. Not taking the cut to two games per team, al- and act upon their findings. departure of three team arena or near the 18,500-seat The Stanley Cup is set to be Chronicle, players would undergo Covid risk and (the) fi nancial bur- though the union has pushed for all “These matters as reported employees in the past week. venue that opened in Septem- awarded in late September or coronavirus testing on Monday, den.” Texans star defensive end J J contests to be cancelled. ber 2016. early October in Edmonton. Gulf Times Saturday, July 18, 2020 5 SPORT

FOCUS MOTORCYCLING Marquez tops practice times for ‘No solution today’ season-opening MotoGP in Jerez

AFP African MotoGP rookie on a Jerez de la Frontera, Spain KTM. The 2020 MotoGP world for Tokyo Olympics championship fi nally gets un- derway on Sunday, behind onda’s world cham- closed doors and more than Bach announces re-election bid; World Athletics chief Coe approved as IOC member pion Marc Marquez four months late, with Span- Htopped the time iard Marquez going for a sev- AFP sheets after yester- enth top-class title to match Lausanne day’s two practice sessions Valentino Rossi. ahead of the delayed MotoGP Jerez in Spain hosts the fi rst curtain-raiser in Jerez. two races a week apart. The homas Bach said yes- Yamaha’s satellite SRT rid- championship will then move terday he will stand in ers Franco Morbidelli and Fa- to the Czech Republic for one T2021 for a second term as bio Quartararo took the hon- race, and then to Austria for president of the Inter- ours in the afternoon session, the next two, probably still national Olympic Committee, but could not better Marquez’s without spectators. admitting however there is “no eff ort in cooler conditions in Today sees a third practice solution today” to the challeng- the morning. session before qualifying. es posed by coronavirus to the Track temperatures soared postponed Tokyo Games. to 54 degrees Celsius for the COMBINED FIRST AND The 66-year-old German was second session, with similar SECOND PRACTICE TIMES elected for an eight-year term blistering conditions forecast 1. Marc Marquez (ESP/Honda) as Olympic chief in September for Sunday’s Spanish MotoGP 1min 37.350sec, 2. Maverick 2013, taking over from Belgian in Andalusia. Vinales (ESP/Yamaha) at Jacques Rogge. Bach will be eli- Marquez, and his younger 0.024s, 3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR/ gible for a second and fi nal four- brother Alex, who has joined Honda-LCR) 0.088, 4. Andrea year term. him at Honda for the season, Dovizioso (ITA/Ducati) 0.121, Speaking at an IOC Session both came off their bikes in 5. Joan Mir (ESP/Suzuki) 0.131, held virtually because of the second practice, but both were 6. Jack Miller (AUS/Ducati- Covid-19 pandemic, Bach said: quickly back on board, un- Pramac) 0.137, 7. Alex Rins “If you, the IOC members, want, scathed. (ESP/Suzuki) 0.219, 8. Pol I am ready to run for a second Quartararo’s promising Espargaro (ESP/KTM) 0.362, 9. term as IOC president and to performance came after the Iker Lecuona (ESP/KTM-Tech3) continue to serve you and this Frenchman was forced to sit 0.364, 10. Brad Binder (RSA/ Olympic movement we all love out 20 minutes of the fi rst ses- KTM) 0.573, 11. Johann Zarco so much for another four years.” sion because of a penalty. (FRA/Ducati-Avintia) 0.590, The IOC presidential elec- Third in second practice 15. Fabio Quartararo (FRA/ tions are slated to take place in came Brad Binder, the south Yamaha-SRT) 0.802. Athens in June 2021. Bach, who won gold for West Germany in the foil fencing team event at the 1976 Olym- pics, claimed a large number of IOC members had recently ap- proached him asking if he would seek re-election. “I am grateful and deeply touched by the many words of encouragement and confi dence,” Bach said. Turning to the Tokyo Olympics, which were post- poned in March until July 2021, Bach expressed hope that they could be “a unique milestone for the entire world”. “They will be the fi rst world- wide gathering after coronavi- President of the IOC Thomas Bach hosts the first ever remote IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, yesterday. (Reuters) rus.” But Bach warned that the un- for criticism from some quarters ain who became head of track precedented health situation for not issuing Moscow with a and fi eld’s world governing body meant multiple scenarios were blanket ban over its state-spon- in 2015, was blocked from mem- being considered in planning the sored doping system. bership as recently as December format for Tokyo. “There is no Bach also came under fi re for over a confl ict of interest. Repsol Honda Team’s Spanish rider Marc Marquez rides during solution today, it is too much (to reinstating the Russian National But Coe changed his role at the the second MotoGP free practice session of the Spanish Grand be) expected,” he said. Olympic Committee after the marketing company he is cur- Prix at the Jerez racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera yesterday. (AFP) Bach said the scenario of 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Ol- rently running as managing di- holding the Games without ympics despite failed drugs tests rector to a passive position, thus spectators was one that had been there. paving the way to IOC member- examined, although he stressed He is credited, however, with ship. US Olympic gymnastics trials that he was opposed to the idea. having put in place the Olympic Coe’s belated entry into the set for next June “It’s one of the scenarios we Agenda 2020, reforms aimed at IOC club is signifi cant because have to look in to because the cutting costs and streamlining he has been mentioned as a po- USA Gymnastics will hold its pionships, which were called debate has to do with travel re- bidding processes to better at- tential future president of the Olympic Team Trials on June off in May, will take place in strictions and quarantine. tract potential host cities. Olympic movement. 24-27, 2021, after postponing conjunction with the trials, “It’s too early to tell (if there But the German lawyer and “Thank you to all of you who them in March because of June 22-27. The champi- will be no spectators). It’s not businessman could well have his voted for our sport, our federa- the Covid-19 pandemic. onship will serve as final what we want. We want stadia President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee Yoshiro Mori arrives biggest challenge ahead of him, tion today,” said Coe. The Tokyo 2020 Games are Olympic selection events full of enthusiastic fans.” at a news conference after giving a presentation to the International in the form of the COVID-19 “I look forward, our whole set to run July 23 to August for trampoline and rhythmic Tokyo 2020 organisers said Olympic Committee about the rearrangement of the Tokyo Summer pandemic, with Beijing sched- sport looks forward, to work- 8 of 2021, after the novel gymnastics. Friday they had secured all the Olympic Games for next year yesterday. (AFP) uled to host the 2022 Winter Ol- ing even more closely with all of coronavirus outbreak forced Top American Simone Biles, a venues needed to hold the Ol- ympics just six months after the you in reforming and building all their postponement, putting four-time Olympic champion ympics next summer, clearing member at the age of 37 and has notably overseen the 2014 proposed Tokyo Games. sports because at this time, of hundreds of would-be Olym- and the most decorated a major hurdle to hosting the went on to play a series of infl u- Sochi Winter Olympics and the The IOC Session also saw Se- all times, the need for commu- pians’ plans on hold. gymnast in world champion- event. ential roles within the organi- 2016 Rio Summer Games, both bastian Coe, the head of World nity in elite sport to thrive and The trials will take place at ship history, has said she will They added that refunds for sation before being elected its perceived as the most trouble- Athletics, voted in as an IOC fl ourish is probably never more the originally planned-upon make a run for the Games ticketholders unable to attend ninth president. some in recent years. member after being turned important.” venue, the Enterprise Center after shaking off doubts that the rescheduled games will begin Under his reign as IOC chief, He has also been a key player down several times. As Coe signed his IOC oath, in St. Louis, Missouri. a year delay would derail her in late 2020. Bach has had to grapple with in the ongoing Russian doping Coe, the two-time Olympic Bach let slip a telling greeting: The USA Gymnastics Cham- training. (Reuters) Bach was elected an IOC several political challenges, and saga, although the IOC came in 1,500 metres champion for Brit- “Finally, welcome!”

FOCUS NZ plan to dump SA, Argentina from Super Rugby

AFP the new competition, saying it bitter internal ructions when the this year has not been one to Lions in 2017. Wellington meant long-distance travel was Perth-based Western Force was celebrate, as the Covid-19 pan- A confusing conference sys- impossible. dropped in 2017. demic not only halted cross- tem did not help, nor did the “We have a huge amount of However, it may have little border competition but brutally competition’s giant geographic ew Zealand Rugby re- sympathy for what’s happening choice, with RA chairman Hamish exposed its fl awed format. footprint, which meant sup- vealed plans yesterday to rugby in Argentina and South McLennan last week saying the With 15 teams in fi ve countries porters wanting to follow their Nto cull South African Africa and their inability to play relationship between the two un- straddling 16 time zones, it has team’s fortunes on the road had teams and Argentina’s at the moment and the uncer- ions was “a bit master-servant”, long been criticised as unwieldy, to tune into games in the middle Jaguares from Super Rugby next tainty that’s creating,” he said. with New Zealand holding the expensive to run, exhausting for of the night. year, in what would be a ruth- The coronavirus halted this whip hand. Proposals for a Pacifi c elite players and diffi cult for fans Outspoken England coach Ed- less shake-up for the struggling year’s Super Rugby season in team in the past have suggested to follow. die Jones summed up the problems competition. March, forcing New Zealand and players from Fiji, Samoa and Ton- Once lauded as the best club facing Super Rugby in 2016, when NZR’s planned revamp of the Australia to set up domestic ver- ga who could all be based in Auck- competition in the world, Super the Australian remarked: “Some of fl agship southern hemisphere sions of the competition, while land, but Robinson declined to say Rugby’s problems began when the games put me to sleep.” club tournament would con- South African clubs and the Jag- what NZR had in mind. administrators launched an am- Robinson said the NZR blue- tain New Zealand’s fi ve existing uares remain sidelined. He was also unable to provide bitious expansion programme. print was a chance to revive Su- teams, two to four from Australia Rugby Australia acknowl- details of whether governing The number of clubs ballooned per Rugby. “We want teams that and one newcomer from the Pa- edged NZR’s plans in a brief body SANZAAR (South Africa, to 18 at one stage as extra teams are competitive and that fans will cifi c, giving the sprawling com- statement, recognising the need New Zealand, Australia and Ar- were added in Japan, Argentina want to watch go head-to-head, petition a strong trans-Tasman to review Super Rugby’s “sus- gentina Rugby) would oversee and previously unrepresented week-in, week-out,” he said. focus. tainability and practicality” in the new competition, the club areas of Australia and South Af- South Africa, which co- the current environment. ownership structure or even rica. There was even talk of going founded Super Rugby in 1996 South Africa Rugby said it whether it would be called Su- global with franchises in North with Australia and New Zea- would give a full response next per Rugby. Super Rugby was America and Europe, but it soon This file photo taken on March 7, land, would see its four teams week, but noted that Covid-19 launched in 1996, emerging became apparent the model was 2020, shows Sharks lock Hyron dumped, along with the Buenos had “asked fundamental ques- from the amateur South Pacifi c unsustainable. Playing resources Andrews (left) and Jaguares’ Aires-based Jaguares. tions of the viability of competi- Championship as a 10-team were stretched among too many Argentine lock Guido Petti (right) NZR chief executive Mark tions and fi xture scheduling”. professional competition fea- teams and fans began to lose in- competing to grab the ball in Robinson blamed the Covid-19 RA will want all four of Aus- turing clubs from Australia, New terest in lop-sided matches such a line-out during their Super pandemic for the “extremely tralia’s existing Super Rugby Zealand and South Africa. as the Tokyo-based Sunwolves’ Rugby match at the Kings Park tough” decisions made around teams included after undergoing Its 25th anniversary season 94-7 humiliation by the Golden Rugby Stadium in Durban. (AFP) Gulf Times 6 Saturday, July 18, 2020 SPORT

GOLF TENNIS German Davis Cup chief calls for Rusty Woods 5 shots US Open clarity, backs Zverev

DPA The French Open Berlin was then rearranged for adrift as Finau leads late September because of the coronavirus crisis and Wim- ermany’s Davis Cup bledon cancelled. ‘I was very pleased with the way I drove it, my captain Michael Kohlmann has called Serena to play the new Top G Seed Open in August feel for my irons, I just didn’t quite hit the putts on US Open organ- isers to confi rm just how the Serena Williams will return hard enough. Most of my putts were dying’ tennis major will run in New to the court for the fi rst time Memorial York when it is scheduled to since the start of the coro- begin at the end of next month. navirus pandemic when she “It is not yet clear if players competes at the inaugural edi- in New York have to undergo tion of the Top Seed Open in 14-day quarantine to enter,” he Lexington, Kentucky begin- told yesterday’s Rhein-Neck- ning Aug. 10, the WTA said on ar-Zeitung. “It is also unclear Thursday. if they have to go into quar- It will mark the 23-time antine after the tournament if Grand Slam champion’s fi rst they want to continue to play match since she helped Team in Europe. “It is clear that a USA defeat Latvia in Fed Cup mammoth task awaits.” play in Everett, Washington The US Open at Flushing in February. Another US Open Meadows is planned August champion, fellow American 31 to September 13 despite the Sloane Stephens, will also country struggling to contain compete at the event, the WTA the coronavirus. New York was said. Last week, the WTA con- previously centre of the out- fi rmed the addition of events break in the country. in Prague, Czech Republic and Should the competition go Lexington to its provisional ahead, the 46-year-old Kohl- calendar, which now features mann has backed compatriot 21 tournaments. Alexander Zverev to do well. The WTA Tour, suspended There is “not much more since March due to the pan- missing” for the 23-year-old demic, last month announced to claim his fi rst grand slam it would resume in Palermo, title, said Kohlmann. “His de- Italy on August 3. velopment tends towards him The Cincinnati Masters belonging to the top favourites is scheduled to be played at at the next big events.” Flushing Meadows, New York World number six Zverev in mid-August followed by reached the last four of a major the US Open, also at its usual for the fi rst time at the Aus- Flushing Meadows home, from tralian Open earlier this year. August 31-September 13.

Tiger Woods of the United States reacts on the sixth green during the first round of The Memorial Tony Finau of the United States plays a shot on the ninth hole during the first Details set for ATP, WTA US Open Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, on Thursday. (Getty Images/AFP) round of The Memorial Tournament. (Getty Images/AFP) tuneups in New York AFP a good start,” Woods said, add- LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES was pretty breezy today,” he said, Next month’s ATP and WTA top players at a facility which Los Angeles ing that he was happy to feel the adding it took more patience and tuneup event for the US Open was used as a temporarily old pre-tournament “edginess” (USA unless noted, par-72): Ryan Moore, Max Homa, Jordan a more conservative approach that was moved from Cincin- coronavirus hospital area despite the lack of fans on the 66-Tony Finau Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, Patrick than the course accommodated nati to New York due to the when the area was the epi- iger Woods showed signs course. 67-Ryan Palmer Rodgers, Jimmy Walker, Rory last week, when Collin Mori- coronavirus pandemic will centre of the pandemic. of his fi ve-month layoff “It was a good feeling,” said 68-Brendan Steele, Gary Wood- McIlroy (NIR), Harris English kawa beat Justin Thomas in a feature 56-player draws. Both the ATP and WTA fields TThursday, his one-un- Woods, who opened with a land 71-An-Byeong Hun (KOR), Scottie playoff after both fi nished 72 Details for the Western and will feature 39 direct accept- der-par 71 putting him birdie at the 10th hole and was 69-Charles Howell, Lucas Glover, Scheff ler, Patrick Reed, Vijay holes at 19-under par. Southern Open to be staged ances based on rankings after fi ve strokes behind fi rst-round two-under through three before Jon Rahm (ESP) Singh (FIJ), Paul Casey (ENG), World number two Jon Rahm, at the Billie Jean King Nation- the entry deadline of July leader Tony Finau at the Memo- bogeys at the sixth and eighth. 70-Luke List, Mark Hubbard, Tiger Woods, Chez Reavie. who has a chance to topple Rory al Tennis Center unveiled on 27 and 12 spots for qualifiers rial Tournament. His birdie at 15 was his fi rst McIlroy from the number one Thursday revealed that eight plus five more places for Woods hadn’t teed it up on the all day at a par-fi ve, but he gave ranking this week, shared fi fth top seeds in the ATP and WTA wildcards. US PGA Tour since a stiff back a shot back with a bogey from a Finau’s six-under eff ort, which said. “Honestly I didn’t feel like on 69 with Lucas Glover and events will have opening byes Neither Arthur Ashe Stadium hindered him at the Genesis greenside bunker at 16 before included nine birdies, all the I hit it great off the tee. I didn’t Charles Howell. when play begins August 22. nor Louis Armstrong Stadium Open at Riviera in February. closing with a 14-foot birdie more impressive. hit enough fairways to shoot six- McIlroy, playing alongside The finals will be played on will be used for the event, He opted to sit out the fi rst fi ve putt. Finau strung together three under.” Woods, fi red a two-under 70 August 28, giving players a which features the US Open events since the tour returned to “I got a feel for the round early, straight birdies at the ninth, Woodland was among the while Thomas and Dustin John- weekend off before the Flush- grandstand court as its main action in the wake of a three- I just didn’t make anything to- 10th and 11th, and closed with players who teed it up last week son, who also went into the week ing Meadows fortnight begins showcourt along with other month shut down caused by the day,” Woods said. back-to-back birdies at 17 and at Muirfi eld Village, which host- with a chance to topple McIlroy August 31, with the second outer courts at the complex. coronavirus pandemic. “I was very pleased with the 18 to pull one stroke clear of Ryan ed the Workday Charity Open from atop the rankings strug- Grand Slam event of 2020 set The ATP is scheduled to The 15-time major champion way I drove it, my feel for my Palmer. Palmer had an impres- as part of the tour’s revamped gled. to run through September 13. return with an event August had four birdies in his one-under irons, I just didn’t quite hit the sive fi ve birdies without a bogey schedule. But he said course set After posting four rounds No spectators will be allowed 14-21 at Washington while the eff ort, rolling in a 14-foot birdie putts hard enough. Most of my in his fi ve-under 67. up and the windy weather made in the 60s last week, Thomas at either tournament, part of WTA’s first US event since the at the 18th at Muirfi eld Village to putts were dying.” It was a further stroke back for a diff erent challenge. opened with a 74 while Johnson the safety measures in place pandemic shutdown is set fi nish the day in red numbers. Woods was very much in the to Brendan Steele and 2019 US “It’s a diff erent golf course,” carded an eight-over 80 that to try and prevent Covid-19 for the week of August 10 in “I felt good, I was little bit mix, however, on a day when Open champion Gary Woodland. Woodland said. “It’s fi rm, the included a triple-bogey and two infections among the world’s Lexington, Kentucky. rusty, but I felt like overall it was tough, windy conditions made “I made a lot of putts,” Finau conditions were pretty tough, it double-bogeys.

FOCUS ‘St. Nick’ – how combustible Kyrgios became ‘voice of reason’ AFP Troicki all tested positive for Cov- “St Nick. Moral guardian. Who’d a “This whole celebration thing Sydney id-19. “Don’t @ me for anything thunk it?” (blowing kisses to the crowd) that I’ve done that has been ‘irresponsi- Tennis great John Newcombe also he does after matches, it’s like so ble’ or classifi ed as ‘stupidity’ – this praised him for calling out players cringeworthy,” he added. he coronavirus has turned takes the cake,” Kyrgios tweeted. fl outing Covid-19 protocols, but Kyrgios also has history with sport on its head and no- Kyrgios also lashed “selfi sh” Al- suggested he should do so less pub- Zverev, whom he enraged in January Twhere more so than in ten- exander Zverev after he was spotted licly. by provocatively performing push- nis, where the often-con- partying despite vowing to self- “I know when we were playing, if ups when the German was serving troversial Nick Kyrgios has been isolate following Djokovic’s Adria you had a problem you took it to the double faults during the ATP Cup. anointed as “St. Nick” for his moral Tour, while questioning Dominic person. You didn’t make it public. While Kyrgios, 25, will always have leadership during the pandemic. Thiem’s intellect after the Aus- But it’s a diff erent world, I guess,” his knockers, he also has a big fan- Best known for his fl amboyant trian hit out at his criticism. The he told reporters. The “new Nick” is base with 1.4 million Instagram fol- persona and spectacular on-court exchanges follow Kyrgios’s admira- not to everyone’s liking, with some lowers and hundreds of thousands tantrums, Kyrgios has long been a ble, and often emotional, eff orts to on social media suggesting he was on Twitter. provocative and polarising fi gure drum up support for victims of the using the pandemic to raise his pro- As Serena Williams’ coach as he racked up a string of fi nes and devastating bushfi res that ripped fi le and re-ignite feuds with players Patrick Mouratoglou noted this bans. through Australia this year, earning he doesn’t get on with. week: “He (Kyrgios) is one of the But the combustible Australian him new respect. “He’s trying to be relevant off only guys beside the top three who has shown a diff erent side in recent Often lamented in the media as a the court cuz everyone knows he fi lls up the stadiums.” weeks as he took Novak Djokovic loud mouth and wasted talent, Syd- can’t ever deliver on the court,” said “He is provocative and he exag- and other top players to task for ney’s Daily Telegraph is now calling one user, while another suggested: gerates but that’s how he is and their “stupidity” and risky behav- 40th-ranked Kyrgios the “voice of “He’s using the virus as an excuse that’s why he is an interesting char- iour. reason”. to do what he’s always done which acter and a lot of people like him,” It followed the world number “Crazy events are happening is criticise other players on social he added. The Sydney Morning Her- one’s decision to press ahead with every day in sport but the wacki- media.” ald suggested Kyrgios’ Covid-19 an exhibition tournament in the est of all is Nick Kyrgios becoming That criticism includes Djokovic, criticisms were “part of an image- Balkans, where social distanc- a Covid crusader and the clear- after last year Kyrgios said of the rebuild” that started with his bush- ing was minimal. Djokovic, Grigor thinking conscience of a twisted Serb: “I just feel like he has a sick fi re fundraising after a series of on- Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor tennis world,” it wrote recently. obsession with wanting to be liked.” court scandals last year. Gulf Times Saturday, July 18, 2020 7 FOOTBALL

FA CUP SPOTLIGHT ‘Long time coming’, World Cup winner Guardiola urges Schuerrle retires at 29

AFP Berlin

Man City to extend ermany winger Andre Schuerrle yesterday Gannounced his retire- ment, aged just 29, as the 2014 World Cup winner opened up on his experiences of profes- sional football. On Wednesday, Wembley mastery Borussia Dortmund cancelled the former Chelsea player’s contract by mutual consent with a year City are bidding to retain the FA Cup after thrashing Watford in last season’s final left to run and Schuerrle said the revealed. decision to retire “has long been He returned to the Bundesliga AFP maturing in me”. in 2015 with Wolfsburg and a year London “You always have to play a cer- later joined Dortmund for 30mn tain role to survive in the busi- euros ($34mn), but it was not a ness, otherwise you’ll lose your successful move. After failing to ep Guardiola has challenged job and won’t get another one,” win a fi rst-team place and pick- Manchester City to extend his Schuerrle told Der Spiegel maga- ing up injuries, Schuerrle was Pimpressive record at Wembley zine. “Only performance on the loaned out to Spartak Moscow when the FA Cup holders face pitch counts. Vulnerability and last season after spending the Arsenal in today’s semi-fi nal. City have weakness shouldn’t exist at any 2018/19 season at Fulham. won the League Cup three years in a row time,” he added having come to As far back as 2015 at Wolfs- and are bidding to retain the FA Cup after the conclusion, “I don’t need any burg he had thoughts of “throw- thrashing Watford in last season’s fi nal. more applause”. ing everything away” and again With City also having enjoyed two It was Schuerrle’s extra-time came close to retiring at Dort- Community Shield victories and an FA cross in the 2014 World Cup fi - mund when twice sidelined by Cup semi-fi nal success against Brighton nal which Mario Goetze volleyed injury in 2017. “The social expec- at Wembley since Guardiola took charge home to seal Germany’s 1-0 win tation is that you can’t really stop in 2016, the national stadium is clearly a over Argentina. Schuerrle said until in your mid-30s,” he added. happy hunting ground for the Spaniard. Brazil 2014 was “the best time of The German media often re- Not only that, Guardiola also won the my life” and saw being with the ferred to Schuerrle as a “dis- European Cup at the old Wembley during German national team as a safe carded world champion”, which his playing days with Barcelona in 1992, haven. “It was an escape from hit him hard. “There were things returning to lift the Champions League the rut that you have at your club that I took very much to heart. in the rebuilt stadium as Barca manager every day,” said Schuerrle. You’re either a fool or a hero. in 2011. However, he admits he “fell There is nothing in between,” The City boss admitted his players into a deep hole” playing under added Schuerrle, who made 57 generally thrive on the big stage, but he Jose Mourinho during his two appearances and scored 22 goals pointed to their 2017 FA Cup semi-fi - years at Stamford Bridge from for Germany. He says he will take nal defeat against Arsenal as proof that 2013 until 2015. “I didn’t want his time to decide on his future nothing should be taken for granted this to play football any more. I was career and admits “all the money weekend. “It shows the team likes and completely fi nished,” Schuerrle I have earned is a huge relief”. enjoys playing the fi nals. Wembley is an incredible place to play,” Guardiola said. “But no semi-fi nal was easy in my career, SERIE A never ever. They are always tight and we lost semi-fi nals in my fi rst year here.” The FA Cup has taken on extra impor- Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola. (Reuters) tance for City this year after they were Sanchez helps Inter forced to surrender the Premier League future of the club, is more important than Guardiola’s usual cup policy is to play set by City in 2018 if they can won their title to Liverpool. Guardiola said secur- domestic cups,” Guardiola said. reserve goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, but he last three games. ing a place in next season’s Champions “So if I fi nish fourth, in the Champi- is sidelined with an injury so Ederson will But a defeat at Arsenal, managed by Milan move within six League was their biggest priority, with ons League, next season, in terms of the keep his place. “We are playing Ederson. Guardiola’s former City assistant Mikel second placed City’s successful appeal prestige, that’s so, so important. The FA Claudio is a little bit injured. In the last Arteta, ended Liverpool’s hopes of mak- against their two-season European ban Cup is more historical and a beautiful days he was not on bench, he has mus- ing history. “From my point of view it points of Juventus ensuring that target has been met. cup and we are one step closer to getting cular problems and can’t play,” Guardiola doesn’t cancel the league that Liverpool Now the FA Cup has Guardiola’s full to another fi nal and we’re going to try to said. have done. It’s been incredible, we con- AFP tion,” said Conte. “These games attention as City look to emulate their do a good game. When you play in the FA Guardiola also denied taking any pleas- gratulate them,” Guardiola said. “Always I Milan on paper may seem obvious or 3-0 win over Arsenal in their fi rst game Cup semi-fi nal it becomes so important, ure in Liverpool’s failure to break City’s thought that the record is there to be bro- easy, but we know they are not after the coronavirus hiatus. “Qualifi ca- especially when you have qualifi ed for the Premier League points record. Liverpool ken and one day it will happen, but 100 and as long as SPAL remained in tion for the Champions League, for the Champions League for next season.” would have shattered the 100-point total points is not easy, nothing has changed.” ntonio Conte hailed in- the game they were tough. form Alexis Sanchez as “We wanted to secure a Cham- Aan ‘extra weapon’ as the pions League berth, to get back FOCUS Chilean inspired Inter to second place and to get close Lampard denies extra rest gives Milan to a 4-0 win over lowly to those who are ahead, who are Chelsea advantage in United FA Cup semi SPAL to move second in Serie A, still far away. Juve’s six points are six points behind leaders Juven- still many.” Arteta targets end to Arsenal’s London: Frank Lampard has rejected Manchester United tus. Sanchez’s Inter career start- Juventus have taken just two boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s claims that Chelsea will have ed off badly, with injuries holding points in their last three matches, an unfair advantage in tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final be- him back, but the on-loan for- but have the advantage of a su- miserable record against Man City cause they have had more time to rest. Chelsea slipped up ward is now proving to be a key perior head-to-head record over AFP at Arsenal, replied: “Yes. “But if I 3-0 at Sheff ield United on Saturday but then beat Norwich player in Inter’s title challenge. Inter. Maurizio Sarri’s cham- London look at the trends as well before at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, leaving five days until “He is a rediscovered football- pions next play fourth-placed we played Liverpool, with the tomorrow’s last-four Wembley battle. er, with the right hunger,” said Lazio, still only eight points off calendar year or the last two cal- United drew 2-2 with Southampton at Old Traff ord on Conte. “He suff ered a lot, he is the pace themselves, while Inter ikel Arteta said endar years that they’ve had, you Monday, then won 2-0 at Crystal Palace on Thursday. now well, he is an extra weapon take on fi fth-placed Roma this he would be “de- get depressed. Despite United having just three days’ preparation for for us.” weekend. Mpressed” if he fo- “What I need now is energy to Sunday’s clash, Blues boss Lampard has dismissed the idea Conte’s side revived their title Inter are bidding for their fi rst cused too much on transmit to my players, belief and the Londoners have an extra edge. challenge, taking advantage of Scudetto since winning the tre- Arsenal’s recent record against it’s the FA Cup — we have a lot “We’re in a period where we’re playing games all the defending champions Juventus’ ble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho. the top clubs as he prepares his of experience here and we have time very regularly, and you become ‘play, recover, play draw with Sassuolo on Wednes- Luigi Di Biagio’s SPAL are bot- team for an FA Cup semi-fi nal a history related to that. Let’s go again, recover’, and you work with the squad as it is,” day, with Atalanta a further point tom of the table, 11 points from clash with Manchester City. The for it. I want to focus on what we he said. “It’s an age-old question. A lot of managers, you adrift in third with fi ve games safety, with a return to Serie B Gunners head coach needs to want to do. If I worry too much probably dig out the times when I’ve mentioned it, but at left to play. Former Manches- looming. Torino, in 15th, moved rewrite recent history if Arse- about them, it’s not the message the same time it isn’t about advantage or not. Sometimes ter United and Arsenal forward eight points clear of the drop nal, who have won the trophy a that I want to send to the players.” it works in your favour to be playing regularly and ticking Sanchez teed up Antonio Can- zone with a 3-0 win over relega- record 13 times, are to beat hold- But Guardiola gave an upbeat over, so, no, I don’t see it.” dreva for the opener eight min- tion rivals Genoa. ers City at Wembley today. just twice. But after ending a assessment of his opponents, Chelsea, also battling United for a Champions League utes before the break in Emilia- Bremer rose highest to nod in Pep Guardiola’s side have won similarly wretched run against saying Arsenal were creating spot, must do without France’s World Cup winner N’Golo Romagna. for the hosts after half an hour. the past seven meetings between Liverpool by beating the Pre- “something special” under his Kante at Wembley. The former Leicester midfielder remains Cristiano Biraghi added a Andrea Belotti set up Serbian the two sides — with Arteta part mier League champions 2-1 on former assistant. “I expect a sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving Jorginho in the second on 55 minutes and then substitute Sasa Lukic to fi re in of the coaching staff at the Etihad Wednesday, Arteta is keen not to tough, tough game,” he said. frame to sit at the base of midfield again. Lampard admit- crossed for Sanchez to head in his fi rst goal this season with 14 Stadium during the one-sided dwell on past results as he aims to “They have something special. ted he expects a strong examination of Chelsea’s qualities on the hour mark. Ashley Young minutes left, with the Torino run. Arsenal’s last victory in the secure a place in the fi nal. Asked Mikel has created — they have this weekend, heaping praise on United’s in-form forward picked out Roberto Gagliardini captain then scoring himself. fi xture was the FA Cup semi- at his pre-match press confer- team spirit — how they celebrate trio of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason to tap in a fourth with 16 minutes Genoa are hovering one point fi nal meeting in 2017 and since ence if he was worried by the goals, how they fi ght for every Greenwood. “We know they are playing well, they’ve got a to go. “It was important for us to above Lecce, who occupy the fi - then they have lost seven games, recent trend against City Arteta, ball, they have started to create very, very potent front three.” give a signal of consistency, con- nal relegation place, with the two shipping 20 goals and scoring who won two FA Cups as a player something special.” viction, desire and determina- teams meeting tomorrow.

PREMIER LEAGUE Rashford, Martial and VAR keep Man United on course for top-four fi nish

AFP one thought in January that we would Neither referee Graham Scott nor a cente Guaita and Fernandes smashed London be in with a shout for top four,” said review awarded a penalty and moments against the post. Rashford is to become Solskjaer. “These are the games that later United led. Bruno Fernandes the youngest person to receive an hon- matter. That is the thing at Manchester fed Rashford inside the area who sold orary doctorate from the University of le Gunnar Solskjaer told United, you have to step up and show Patrick van Aanholt a dummy and cut Manchester for his work campaigning Manchester United to enjoy your personality.” onto his right foot before fi nding the against child poverty and he rounded Othe pressure of fi ghting for Solskjaer bemoaned having 48 bottom corner for his 22nd goal of the off another fi ne week for the 22-year- a place in the top four after hours’ less preparation time than Chel- season. “Is the VAR broken?” tweeted old on and off the fi eld with a major needing a 19-game unbeaten run just to sea for tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-fi nal, Palace chairman Steve Parish. role in Martial’s second to clinch a vital give themselves a chance of a return to but that made little diff erence to the Unfortunately for Parish and Palace, three points. the Champions League next season. Norwegian’s team selection with only VAR was fully in operation 10 minutes The England international burst United rarely hit the heights of recent two changes from the side that started into the second half when Jordan Ayew through three Palace players before weeks in beating Crystal Palace 2-0 on Monday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton. converted Zaha’s low cross but was de- feeding Fernandes. The Portuguese’s Thursday as goals from Marcus Rash- Fatigue seemed to play a factor in a nied an equaliser by a millimetric off - pass through the legs of Luka Milivo- ford and Anthony Martial, allied to a slow start from the visitors and Sol- side decision on review. jevic found Rashford again on the edge helping hand from VAR, kept a top-four skjaer warned his side they cannot af- “If there was ever a game I should be of the area and he cushioned a pass into fi nish in their own hands. ford a repeat in a big 10 days ahead. “Of sat here congratulating the team on the Martial to slide home. Solskjaer’s men remain in fi fth, course it’s tight scheduling but we can’t Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford celebrates after scoring against Crystal performance and result tonight is the Palace’s misfortune was rounded off but moved back level on points with aff ord starts like that,” he added. “We Palace during the Premier League match on Thursday night. (Reuters) night,” said Hodgson. “Having to come as Van Aanholt had to be stretchered Leicester, who they face on the fi nal day didn’t get the rhythm in our passing but to terms with something you don’t de- off after dislocating his shoulder in a of the season, and to within one point two fantastic goals won it for us.” did not get what they deserved, partic- before the break when Wilfried Zaha serve is very diffi cult.” collision with Martial, which Hodgson of third-placed Chelsea. “We need to Palace have now lost six games on the ularly with two controversial VAR re- went down in the penalty area claiming At the other end Rashford did not get confi rmed could see the Dutch interna- smile, we have earned this right. No- spin, but Roy Hodgson believed his side views. The game turned in the minutes to have been tripped by Victor Lindelof. enough power on his shot to beat Vi- tional miss the start of next season. Saturday, July 18, 2020 GULF TIMES FOOTBALL

SPOTLIGHT Messi rages as failing Barca lose La Liga and risk getting even worse AFP shown to be the case in La Liga too,” said a And it is not just Messi nearing the end. club to come next year, the position is Madrid frustrated Messi after the loss to Osasuna Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets, Luis Sua- not an attractive one for an elite coach. If on Thursday. “If we want to fi ght for the rez and Jordi Alba are all 31 or older. Off the Bartomeu’s successor loses, Victor Font, Champions League we will have to change pitch, political blunders have angered the a rival candidate, wants to appoint Xavi arcelona made it all about the a lot because otherwise the match against dressing room, with Messi issuing a pub- Hernandez. Champions League and after sur- Napoli, we will lose that as well.” lic rebuke to sporting director Eric Abidal It means either Setien or his replace- Brendering La Liga to Real Madrid, Just over a year on from almost winning in February over the sacking of Ernesto ment face the prospect of one full season now it is all they have left. Win- the treble, Barca look set to fi nish without Valverde. Removing Valverde might have in the job, all the while lacking either au- ning the title last season for an eighth time a trophy of any kind for the fi rst time in 12 been understandable last summer after thority or certainty in the long term. Zin- in 11 years was never going to be enough. years. And yet the concern is not so much two successful years appeared to have run edine Zidane has shown what can be done Winning the double had not been either the many failures of this season but the their course. But a change mid-season, with an ageing Real squad that appears the year before. La Liga and the Copa del possibility they could be just the start. with Barca top of the table, and to a coach dead on its feet. Rey had become Barca’s default, their do- Messi is 33 and his anger is directed pri- like Quique Setien, whose ideas need time But it is hard to see who could perform mestic dominance taken for granted and marily at the board, whose leadership has to be absorbed, now looks reckless. an equivalent rescue act at Barca or who Barcelona’s captain then diminished by disappointment in left Barcelona with a team seemingly nei- Setien has admitted managing a squad would be prepared to do it with this board Lionel Messi looks Europe. A mess of a season could still be ther for the present nor the future. There like Barcelona’s has been a challenge for still in place. Without money to spend in dejected after the saved by the Champions League but even has been no succession plan for Messi him. He has intimated that some players the aftermath of the coronavirus pan- loss to Osasuna in the most optimistic of fans expect the since Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain need to think more about the team. He has demic, the answer could be to turn again Barcelona. (AFP) worst against Bayern Munich, Barcelona’s in 2018 and that world record fee has been made mistakes too and it remains to be to youth, with Riqui Puig and Ansu Fati al- probable opponents in the quarter-fi nals. squandered on players that have failed to seen if he pays with his job. ready breaking through this season. Many, including Lionel Messi, are worried settle or been sold to balance the books. Bartomeu has said Setien will stay for Yet in a dysfunctioning team, desperate even about getting past Napoli, with the Antoine Griezmann, bought for 120mn the Champions League but the 2-1 home to win before Messi retires, that approach pandemic-delayed last 16 matchup poised euros, left Atletico Madrid for the Camp defeat by Osasuna intensifi ed the doubts. off ers no guarantees. Messi’s clock hangs at 1-1. Nou and what he thought would be the “I hope so,” said Setien, when asked on over everything, with every failure en- “I said long ago that if we continued in pinnacle of his club career. Yet earlier this Thursday if he would be in charge next hanced by the sense that the club’s great- this way, it would be very diffi cult to win month, he was reduced to coming off the month. est ever player is being wasted. The biggest the Champions League and that has been bench, against Atletico, in injury-time. But with presidential elections at the worry now is it could get even worse.

FOCUS AL ARABI WIN FRIENDLY MATCH Real clinch 34th La Liga title with game to spare Zinedine Zidane’s side have won 10 games out 10 since the restart Al Arabi beat Al Shahania 3-0 in a friendly match on Thursday night, in preparation for the resumption of the QNB Stars League season, which will begin from July 24.

Captain Hassan al-Haydos returned to training on Thursday, as Al Sadd con- tinued with their prepara- tions for the resumption of the QNB Stars League season. Al-Haydos has recovered from an injury that had kept him away from action since the end of the national team training camp in June. Sadd will play a friendly against Al Shamal at the Education City Stadium today. The coaching staff are working towards bring- ing the players up to the required level ahead of the league’s resumption, after the break forced by the Covid-19 outbreak. Sadd will resume the league campaign with the Week 18 encounter against Al Khor, which will be played on Saturday, July 25.

Real Madrid players celebrate with the trophy after winning the La Liga title at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium in Madrid. (Reuters) END OF EXILE

AFP anyone else. It’s bloody fantastic.” tions. Yet few could argue Madrid deserve the Madrid Madrid have also been awarded fi ve pen- title and it was fi tting that Benzema delivered alties during the run-in, some of them con- it, his double taking his tally for the season to Leeds promoted to Premier League troversially, and this one caused a stir too as 26 in all competitions. His fi rst came after 28 AFP fi nals by Derby. Notorious for eal Madrid were crowned La Liga Sergio Ramos tried to roll the ball to Benzema, minutes when Casemiro stole possession in London working his players so hard in champions for the 34th time on who fi nished, but had entered the area too midfi eld and freed Luka Modric. training that they often burn RThursday night after Karim Benze- early. Much to Villarreal’s irritation, Madrid He slid through Benzema, who fi red out by the end of the season, ma scored twice in a 2-1 victory over were allowed to retake and this time Ben- through the legs of Sergio Asenjo. Ramos had eeds United were pro- Bielsa has benefi tted from the Villarreal which clinched the title with one zema made no mistake, before Vicente Iborra scored fi ve goals himself since the restart and moted to the Premier coronavirus hiatus allowing his game to spare. Benzema’s double included headed in what proved a late consolation. could have had a sixth after he was tripped by LLeague yesterday after players to come back refreshed a second-half penalty at the empty Alfredo “It’s a prize for all the work we’ve done, this is the dangling leg of Sofi an Chakla. But his ploy West Bromwich Albi- for the fi nal furlong of the pro- di Stefano Stadium as Madrid moved seven the reward,” said Ramos. “We have one more to tee up Benzema backfi red when his team- on’s 2-1 defeat at Huddersfi eld motion race this term. points clear to end Barcelona’s two-year hold match and we want to win 11 out of 11.” mate encroached too early. Benzema convert- ensured the Championship In typically contrary style, on the trophy. After three months away, Barcelona had re- ed the re-take. leaders will end their 16-year the 64-year-old Argentine said Barca had to prevail against Osasuna at turned sitting top of the table but draws with Iborra headed in Mario Gaspar’s cross to exile from the top-fl ight. he wouldn’t watch Leeds’ rivals home and hope Madrid slipped up but their Sevilla, struggling Celta Vigo and Atletico set up a nervy fi nish but Barcelona were still Marcelo Bielsa’s side were able on television to see if promotion fading challenge ended with a 2-1 defeat at Madrid allowed Madrid to take charge. Barca being held by Osasuna. Messi’s curling free- to celebrate promotion without would be wrapped up. Camp Nou, despite a brilliant Lionel Messi were also in fi rst place when they sacked Er- kick into the top corner had cancelled out kicking a ball as second placed Leeds coach Marcelo Bielsa. But no matter where Bielsa free-kick. It means Madrid claim their third nesto Valverde in January and while the club’s Osasuna’s opener from Jose Arnaiz, once of Albion’s failure to take three heard the news of Leeds’ return La Liga title in 12 years, after a relentless run problems go deeper than their coach, Quique Barca B. points guaranteed Leeds will Leeds are one of England’s to the big time, it was moment of form since Spanish football resumed on Setien’s position will come under scrutiny. But Osasuna had a fi nal trick up their sleeve fi nish in the top two. biggest clubs, with their legion to savour after such a long pe- June 11 following the coronavirus pandemic. “Things have to change,” said Messi. “Eve- as Roberto Torres fi nished at the back post to West Brom fell behind to of fanatical fans following them riod in the shadows. Zinedine Zidane’s side have won 10 games ryone here in the club will be feeling very an- wrap up Barca’s miserable night at the end of Chris Willock’s early goal and around the country and regu- Champions of England in out 10 since the restart. They have conceded gry about what has happened this season and a turbulent season. Real Mallorca’s hopes of although Dara O’Shea equal- larly attracting home crowds 1969 and 1974 under Don Re- four goals in that time and never been behind that’s normal. The players feel like that too. survival are over after they lost 2-1 at home ised, Emile Smith-Rowe won of over 30,000 despite years of vie, then in 1992 when Howard in a match. “For me this is one of the best days We have to be self-critical, starting with the to Granada but Alaves guaranteed their safety it for struggling Huddersfi eld underachievement. Their long- Wilkinson called the shots, in my professional career,” said Zidane. “After players, but across the whole club.” by winning at Real Betis. in the 86th minute. “We are awaited return to the top tier Leeds have a rich history. But lockdown and everything, it’s astonishing.” Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu With Espanyol already down, the fi nal rel- back. Leeds United are Premier completes a turbulent journey since being relegated from the Asked if it trumps the Champions League said this week that Setien will remain in egation spot will be between Celta Vigo, who League,” the club said on their that saw them become a laugh- top tier, Leeds have stumbled titles Madrid won in his fi rst spell as manager, charge for next month’s Champions League lost 3-2 to Levante, and Leganes, who beat Twitter account moments af- ing stock when they languished from fi nancial disaster off the Zidane said: “This is better than anything. tie against Napoli but the coach’s decision to Athletic Bilbao 2-0. Leganes are a point be- ter the fi nal whistle. Leeds are in third tier obscurity. pitch to despair on it. It takes a tremendous eff ort to win La Liga. leave Luis Suarez out of the starting line-up hind and play on Sunday at home to Real Ma- points fi ve clear at the top and Leeds have been away from Describing the club’s as- After 38 matches, you have more points than for a second consecutive game will raise ques- drid while Celta visit Espanyol. they can clinch the Champion- the Premier League for so long cent to the heady heights of the ship title with a draw against that Twitter and Instagram Champions League in the early Derby at Pride Park tomorrow. didn’t exist the last time they 2000s, former chairman Peter A tense 1-0 win over Barns- played in the top-fl ight. Leeds Ridsdale claimed he had “lived ley at Elland Road, secured by went through 14 diff erent man- the dream.” Their subsequent Bayern star Thiago Alcantara set to join Liverpool: report Michael Sollbauer’s own goal, agers following their 2004 fall was a never-ending night- Berlin: Spain midfielder Thiago Alcantara and German Cup double last season, but contract, Alcantara has stalled on signing an had moved Leeds to the brink of relegation from the Premier mare that hit its lowest ebb in is on the verge of joining Premier League the clubs have yet to agree a transfer fee. extension, but Bayern clearly want to keep promotion on Thursday. Now League, until the sleeping gi- 2007 when Leeds went into ad- champions Liverpool after stalling over sign- According to Bild, Liverpool are not willing him. “We negotiated with him and granted they can look forward to renew- ant was awoken by former Lazio ministration and were relegated ing a contract extension at Bayern Munich, to pay more than 25mn euros, while Bayern his wishes, but it looks like he wants to do ing old rivalries with Manches- and Marseille boss Bielsa. to the third tier for the fi rst according to a report in Bild yesterday. want around 40mn euros for the 29-year- something new at the end of his career,” ter United and Chelsea next He led Leeds within touch- time. No wonder the much- The paper claims Liverpool manager old. Earlier this week, there were widespread Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge season. Bielsa has earned iconic ing distance of promotion in travelled Bielsa, nicknamed El Jurgen Klopp wants to sign the playmaker reports that Alcantara’s house in Munich is said in early July. Alcantara joined Bayern in status in west Yorkshire after his fi rst season, but they crum- Loco for his intense personality, who helped Munich win the Bundesliga title already up for sale. With a year left on his 2013, when Pep Guardiola arrived as coach. the Leeds boss fi nally put his bled in the fi nal weeks and were is so beloved after just two years club back on the football map. beaten in the play-of semi- in charge.