SPORTS TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014

Brazil pays price for lack of goalkeeping culture

SAO PAULO: Goalkeeper Julio Cesar - the wrong Zetti opened Brazil’s first academy exclusively those from rival teams. for the FIFA Ballon d’Or. side of 30 and past his prime - is the weakest link in for goalkeepers six years ago. Brazil long neglected Ceni was a reserve keeper for the World Cups of But Cesar - now 34 - has been less impressive the team which all of Brazil expects to win the to take goalkeeping seriously, he explained. Teams 2002 and 2006, where he came on as a substitute since moving to Queens Park Rangers, dropping World Cup this July. And that is no accident: The didn’t hire trainers for that position, so goalkeepers for Brazil No.1 and captain Dida late in a 4-1 demo- out of the Premier League with the London club in nation of Pele has long paid far more attention to couldn’t match strikers and for quality. lition of Japan in the group stage. 2013. Rob Green replaced him in QPR’s starting players who score and make goals than to those But Zetti said things have changed in recent Ceni has won three Brazilian championships and line-up and the club then loaned him to Toronto in who save them. The country’s best-known goal- decades. Marcos and Rogerio Ceni, goalkeepers in the 2005 Club World Cup with Sao Paulo, where he Major League Soccer after he failed to find another keeper was probably Barbosa, and he became the 2002 World Cup-winning squad, both influ- remains a starter. He stands out for scoring goals, not club in Europe. Although none of this has been ide- famous not for a great save but for the national enced the Brazilian game with their successes and just saving them. He has netted more than 100 penal- al preparation for the World Cup, Brazil coach Luiz agony he caused by letting in Uruguay’s two goals become idols for a new generation. ties and free kicks, by far the most for a goalkeeper. Felipe Scolari is sticking with Cesar, in part because against Brazil that won the World Cup in 1950. “Marcos and Rogerio Ceni really contributed to Cesar was a reserve with Ceni in the 2006 World he has few other options. Not that many Brazilians The first thing Brazilian kids often do before get more kids to want to become goalkeepers,” Cup squad before getting Brazil’s No. 1 spot at the will care. From 2002, they mostly remember pick-up games is play “rock, scissors, paper” to Zetti said. “In my academy, I can see this. Because of 2010 World Cup. Fans remember his mistake in Ronaldo and Rivaldo, not that Marcos starred decide who gets stuck in goal. With so many out- them there is a generation coming up that really Brazil’s 2-1 quarterfinal elimination by the between Brazil’s posts in the 2-0 defeat of Germany. standing strikers and midfielders in Brazilian histo- likes goalkeepers. They are not ready to play yet, Netherlands. Obstructed by midfield teammate Taffarel played well in goal in 1994, but Romario ry, few chose keepers as their childhood idols. but in a few years we may be able to start seeing Felipe Melo, Cesar failed to punch away Wesley and captain Dunga are the standout names from “If the kid is good enough with the ball, proba- some results.” Marcos’ saves in the 2002 final Sneijder’s cross that zipped past him into the goal that team. Pele, Gerson, Rivelino and Tostao over- bly he will not want to play in goal,” Zetti, a reserve against Germany helped Brazil secure its fifth world for the Dutch equalizer. shadowed Felix’s goalkeeping for the winning team goalkeeper in Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning title. He also enjoyed success with Palmeiras, win- At Inter Milan from 2005-2012, Cesar became of 1970. As Brazil now attempts to win its first squad, said in a phone interview. “Kids are usually ning the 1999 Copa Libertadores with the Sao one of the world’s best goalkeepers, winning five World Cup at home, Brazilians only have eyes for scared of playing in goal, and most of the time par- Paulo club where he played for nearly two decades. Italian championships and the Champions League the likes of Neymar and Oscar, the creative talents ents are always trying to convince them to play in a Easy-going and known for speaking his mind, in 2010. He and Spain’s 2010 World Cup winner Iker they so admire. Only if he makes howling mistakes different position.” Marcos was easy to like for fans of all ages, even Casillas were the only goalies nominated that year will Cesar compete with them for attention. — AP Pirlo punishes Genoa

ITALY: Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved a penalty and curled in a trademark free kick late in the game to give the leaders a dramatic 1-0 win at Genoa on Sunday. Germany forward Mario Gomez scored for the second match running to help Fiorentina beat Chievo 3-1 and AC Milan’s crisis deepened when they lost 4-2 at home to Parma after playing for almost the entire match with 10 men. Lazio eased their problems with a 2-0 win at Cagliari, Livorno’s 2-1 win over Bologna pulled them out of the relegation zone and Sassuolo came from behind to beat Catania 3-1 in the meeting of the bot- tom two. Juventus forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo had two first-half goals disallowed for offside with television replays suggest- ing that the first decision was correct and the second was not. Buffon, equalling Dino Zoff’s record of 476 Juventus appearances, rescued the visi- tors when he saved Emanuele Calaio’s penalty in the 72nd minute after a handball by Arturo Vidal. There was an air of inevitability about FRANCE : Saint-Etienne’s French defender Loic Perrin (top) vies with Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish for- ITALY : Juventus’ defender fights for the ball with Genoa’s forward the outcome when Juventus won a free ward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) and Italian Marco Verratti (center) during the French League Giuseppe Sculli during the Italian Serie A football match. — AFP football match. — AFP kick on the edge of the area with two min- utes left and, sure enough, Pirlo curled a trademark effort over the wall and into the top corner. Bayern chief set for jail term Prolific Ibrahimovic Juventus, who have 75 points from 28 games and are almost certain to win their as prosecutors won’t appeal third successive title, are 17 clear of AS sets PSG goals record Roma who host Udinese on Monday (2000) BERLIN: German prosecutors said yesterday No date has yet been fixed for Hoeness, when third-placed Napoli visit Torino they won’t appeal the tax fraud verdict who also runs a successful sausage business, PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic took his season tally to a increased the pressure, coming close twice through (1800). David Pizarro missed a penalty for against football legend Uli Hoeness, former to begin his jail term, but it is expected to club record 40 goals as the Sweden forward’s double Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani. Both combined per- Fiorentina but it did not matter as Juan boss of powerhouse Bayern Munich, freeing start in the coming weeks. inspired runaway leaders Paris St Germain to a 2-0 fectly in the 42nd, and Ibrahimovic stabbed in a close- Cuadrado, Alessandro Matri and Gomez, the way for his jail term to begin. Hoeness, 62, “The district court’s verdict is justifiable,” home win against St Etienne in Ligue 1 on Sunday. range volley with the outside of his foot from the back in action after a knee injury, were on who spent four decades at the champion said Florian Gliwitzky, a spokesman for the The French champions maintained their eight-point Uruguay forward’s perfect cross. target against lowly Chievo, who replied club, will in coming weeks start a three-and- public prosecutor’s office. lead over second-placed Monaco, who had Dimitar St Etienne had a clear chance to reduce the arrears through Alberto Paloschi. Gomez also a-half-year prison sentence handed down by Berbatov to thank for a 3-2 win at Olympique Lyon. after the break but Benjamin Corgnet inexplicably scored in the Europa League draw against a court last Thursday, which he has also said ‘MISTAKE OF MY LIFE’ PSG have 70 points from 29 matches after shot wide from point-blank range. Juventus on Thursday. he will not contest. Heidenreich told AFP that he assumed Ibrahimovic surpassed Argentine Carlos Bianchi’s PSG Earlier on Sunday, Dimitar Berbatov scored one The Bayern chief is currently due to serve Hoeness would receive the same treatment in record of 39 goals scored in all competitions in a sin- goal and set up two more in Monaco’s win at Gerland. MILAN CRISIS his term in Landsberg prison in southern Landsberg prison as other inmates. He was gle season (1977-78). Berbatov created Valere Germain and James Milan slumped to a fourth consecutive Bavaria state, prosecution spokesman Ken unable to say exactly when Hoeness’ jail time St Etienne stayed fourth on 48 points, five points Rodriguez’s first-half goals before chipping in the defeat in all competitions and conceded Heidenreich told AFP. That is the jail where would begin as the prosecution service adrift of third-placed Lille who occupy the Champions third. Lyon stayed fifth on 45 points. four goals in a game for the second time in Adolf Hitler wrote “Mein Kampf” while serving would first have to receive the written verdict. League third qualifying round spot. Germain put the visitors ahead after four minutes a week.Milan, who had goalkeeper a sentence for treason after the failed 1923 “It will take a few weeks,” he said. Laurent Blanc’s PSG side predictably dominated from close range after Berbatov had tapped the ball Christian Abbiati sent off in the fifth Beer Hall Putsch uprising in Munich. A After Thursday’s court ruling, Hoeness possession but the first clear chance was for St into this path. The Bulgarian was at it again in the minute, came to life as they clawed back a Munich court sentenced Hoeness for having walked out of the courtroom in the southern Etienne when Salvatore Sirigu tipped away Franck 27th minute, setting up Rodriguez from close range 2-0 deficit, only for Parma forwards Amauri, cheated the state out of 28.5 million euros city of Munich, pending his initially planned Tabanou’s spectacular rising shot on the turn from again. with a brilliant back-heeled flick, and ($39.5 million) after a spectacular four-day tri- appeal. But a day later, a remorseful Hoeness outside the box in the 13th minute. But Lyon did not give up and reduced the arrears Jonathan Biabiany to win the game with al that riveted football-obsessed Germany. said he would forego appealing the sentence Ibrahimovic, however, opened the scoring in the five minutes later as Jimmy Briand latched onto late goals. He admitted to hiding his wealth in secret and resigned from his posts as president and 16th minute at the end of a bizarre move. The Swede Miguel Lopes’s pass to beat Danijel Subasic. Milan, knocked out of the Champions Swiss bank accounts while obsessively “gam- board chairman of Bayern Munich. “Tax eva- played the ball into Blaise Matuidi, who was flagged Rodriguez repaid Berbatov’s favour by setting up League after an emphatic 4-1 defeat by bling” on stock and currency markets for sion was the mistake of my life,” he said in a offside but referee Lionel Jaffredo ignored the lines- the former Tottenham and Manchester United striker Atletico Madrid, are stuck in 12th place with years before seeking to come clean in return statement, adding that his decision not to man’s call and the ball fell for Ibrahimovic who found for Monaco’s third, a fine chip past Anthony Lopes. 35 points from 28 games after their 11th for immunity from prosecution. But his appeal corresponded to his understanding of the back of the net with a low cross shot. Remi Garde’s team, however, were back in con- league defeat of a miserable campaign. January 2013 attempt to turn himself in to “decency, conduct and personal responsibility”. TV replays showed that Matuidi had gained pos- tention with 12 minutes left as Briand scored his sixth It quickly got worse when goalkeeper authorities was deemed too little too late. Bayern Munich have since named succes- session from St Etienne defender Mustapha Bayal league goal of the season with a volley. But it was not Abbiati clattered into Ezequiel Schelotto Prosecutors originally suspected the tax fraud sors to Hoeness, with Adidas chairman Sall’s back pass. Brandao was lucky to escape a red enough as the Monaco defence, perfectly marshalled and suffered the so-called triple punish- case to amount to about 3.5 million euros, Herbert Hainer taking over as interim board card after elbowing Yohan Cabaye in the face as PSG by Ricardo Carvalho, held on. — Reuters ment of penalty, red card and automatic but on the trial’s opening day Hoeness admit- chairman. one-match suspension. ted it was more in the realm of 18.5 million Hoeness has spent more than four Midfielder Michael Essien was sacrificed euros. decades with the Bavarian sporting giants to make way for substitute goalkeeper A day later that figure again jumped, this first as player, helping win then West , whose first job was to pick time to 27.2 million euros, before the court Germany the 1974 World Cup, then as team Williams drive out the the ball out the back of the net as former recalculated it 28.5 million euros. The prose- manager and, since 2009, as club president. Milan player Antonio Cassano fired home cution had said it would mull appealing Bayern became Germany’s first side to win the penalty. Hoeness’ sentence, having called for a longer the treble titles of Champions League, ghosts of dismal 2013 It seemed to be all over when Cassano jail term of five and a half years, but it Bundesliga and German Cup last season. was given too much space and added a announced yesterday it had decided against. News of the scandal sent shockwaves in LONDON: Valtteri Bottas scored twice as many finish both cars and in a similar position to McLaren, second six minutes after halftime, but “The Munich II public prosecutor’s office Germany where Hoeness was a hero to many points in Sunday’s season-opening Australian so maybe we were going to be first in the champi- Roberto Donadoni’s team then relaxed. will, in the criminal proceedings against young fans and was seen as a moral authority Grand Prix than Williams managed in all of last year onship,” the former Ferrari driver told reporters. Both Adil Rami headed one back from a cor- Ulrich Hoeness over tax fraud, not file an as a conservative commentator on TV talk but the Finn and his Formula One team still left Williams had qualified in the top 10 and ahead of ner five minutes later and Balotelli levelled appeal against the verdict,” its statement said. shows. — AFP Melbourne knowing they could have done better. Button, but Bottas dropped to 15th on the grid due with a 76th-minute penalty, harshly award- The 24-year-old finished fifth, thanks to the dis- to a five place penalty for an unscheduled gearbox ed after Riccardo Montolivo went down qualification of Red Bull’s second placed Australian change. under Joel Obi’s challenge. Daniel Ricciardo hours after the race, in a car that He had climbed to sixth when he clouted the A heroic draw or even win was on the showed pre-season’optimism was not misplaced. wall and had to limp back on three wheels and a cards but it quickly turned to disaster when Although Germany’s Nico Rosberg took a domi- rim, with the safety car coming out to enable mar- Schelotto fired over a low cross from the nant win for Mercedes at Albert Park, after team shals to clear up debris. The Finn dropped back to right and Amauri got in front of Nigel de mate Lewis Hamilton had retired from pole, 16th - and charged through the field again. Jong and brilliantly flicked the ball in with Mercedes-powered Williams laid down a marker for “I’m quite mad about myself for the mistake,” he his heel. the future. They are still a long way from where they told Britain’s Sky television. “I just need to learn from Milan finished dispirited and demor- want to be but there is a new sense of optimism, it and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to do that kind alised, leaving the pitch to a howl of and purpose, about the former champions as they of mistake again. protests after Biabiany headed the fourth fight back from the wilderness of last year. “The team have done such a good job here dur- with the last move of the game. “I think Mercedes are a standout team in terms ing the winter. It’s going to be a good season,” he Lazio, whose fans are furious with club of pace - and I still think there’s another team that’s added. Claire Williams, deputy principal of the team president Claudio Lotito over a lack of very quick, they just didn’t really show it today or founded by her father Frank, said the former cham- investment in the team, won 2-0 at Cagliari they made mistakes,” said McLaren’s Jenson Button - pions - winners of nine constructors’ titles between with goals by Senad Lulic and Keita Balde who started out with Williams in 2000 - after the 1980 and 1997 - had come a long way since last to climb to seventh (41 points). race. Both McLaren drivers ended up on the podi- year when they scored only five points. Teenager Balde’s goal came one minute um, with Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen second “I think we entered the weekend with lots of high after Mauricio Pinilla missed a penalty for and Button third, to send that team top of the con- hopes and there was a lot of expectation on us from Cagliari, who again played in front of less structors’ standings. the media as well but we were really trying to damp- than 5,000 fans due to ongoing rebuilding Bottas and new Brazilian team mate Felipe en that a bit and not get anyone’s hopes up too work at their Sant’Elia stadium. Massa felt it could just as easily have been them. “If high,” she said. “But coming into the race we really Sassuolo’s win lifted them off the bot- we had a good qualifying, a clean race, we had a car were hoping for both cars to get some strong points. tom to 19th with 21 points, where they here to fight for the podium,” Bottas said, and Massa “It was so disappointing for Felipe to have been were replaced by opponents Catania (20). — whose car was rear-ended at the start by knocked out on the first corner but Valtteri drove Bologna (23) dropped into the bottom Caterham’s Japanese Kamui Kobayashi — agreed. such an amazing race...I think he overtook more three below Livorno and Chievo (24). “I would say Australia was a race where we could than 20 cars which was phenomenal.” — Reuters Sampdoria’s revival was abruptly halted with a 3-0 loss at Atalanta. — Reuters Bayern Munich’s President Uli Hoeness