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Lakers and Ronaldo v Messi Bucks18 triumph show19 falls flat THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014 F1 showdown could spell double trouble Page 17 VIGO: Germany’s Sami Khedira (left) and Spain’s Isco Alarcon (right) fight for the ball, during an international friendly soccer match. — AP German Kroos missile sinks Spain VIGO: Germany edged the big match between the last in Poland in a Euro 2016 qualifier. Mueller and Mario Goetze started the game and it was a 2016 qualifiers have left them third in the group. Germany two World Cup winners on Tuesday as Toni Kroos’s last- While Spain have also been far from their own rampant similar case for Spain. suffered a post-Brazil hangover with a shock 2-0 defeat to gasp goal handed them a 1-0 friendly victory over Spain in form that saw them win Euro 2008 and 2012 plus the 2010 Bayern Munich striker Mueller, who had scored ten Poland and 1-1 draw with Ireland last month, then pro- rain-lashed Vigo. World Cup in South Africa, and neither side is leading it’s times during 2014 for the national team, limped out of the duced another below-par performance on Friday against The goal came in the 90th minute of a game between Euro 2016 qualifying group. game on 27 minutes after a clash with Sergio Ramos, to be minnows Gibraltar in a 4-0 victory. two experimental sides when Spain’s substitute goalkeep- Spain coach Vicente del Bosque remained upbeat replaced by Karim Bellarabi. The heavy rain dampened The world champions’ next international is away to er Kiko Casilla was guilty of a howler, fumbling Kroos’s despite the narrow defeat. “We had as many chances as what might have been expected to be a party atmosphere Georgia at the end of March and with the Bundesliga set innocuous looking shot from the edge of the area. they did and all in all it was a close game. We’re in a transi- given the profile of the teams, but the biggest cheer of the to break for winter in January, Loew wants a new approach Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas had started for Spain in tion period and we can continue to look to the future with night came with the news striker Nolito of local outfit Celta in 2015. “We haven’t delivered particularly convincing per- his 160th international appearance, but made way for his optimism,” said Del Bosque. would start the game. formances recently and lag behind a little in our European near namesake Casilla with 20 minutes to go. Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was looking for- Nolito sent a free-kick wide late in the first-half and was Championship qualifiers, so it’s nice to end this sensational “It was just what we’d been hoping for. It’s been a big ward to seeing both teams in action in the near future. “It also in a position to score from another chance when ruled year with the feeling of success against a top team,” said year and this was a fine way to close it,” Kroos said after the was a difficult match on a very wet pitch, but I felt we con- off-side on his international debut. Loew. “I still have a few appointments (in 2014), and after game. Spain’s best chance had come ten minutes earlier as trolled it well,” said Loew. “These two teams have marked Meanwhile, Joachim Loew is relishing a fresh start for such a great and exciting year, it will be good to come Barcelona’s Pedro tried to chip Germany keeper Ron- the recent history of football and I’m convinced we’ll both Germany in 2015 after their 1-0 friendly win over Spain back, following a bit of rest, after the winter break. Robert Zieler of Hannover 96, who produced a fine stop on play a decisive role at Euro 2016. Spain and Germany have capped their World Cup-winning year in style following “In January and February, we will then start working what was actually a quiet night for him. a host of good players with which to assure the future.” several below-par performances. again as a coaching team with the squad and individual Germany have been suffering something of a World Only four of the players that started the 2014 World Cup But Germany’s head coach admits there is work to be players.”We’ll also discuss which new approaches we’ll take Cup hangover with a run of poor form that saw them lose final for Germany, Benedikt Hoewedes, Kroos, Thomas done after their recent poor performances in the Euro in 2015.” —AFP Rooney’s double helps Joyless Brazil chalk up England floor Scotland GLASGOW: England captain turning the ball into the net from another friendly win Wayne Rooney scored twice after close range before leaping into Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain headed an acrobatic celebration. Oxlade- VIENNA: Brazil chalked up their sixth “I ask the referee if he left his yellow the opener in a 3-1 win over Chamberlain opened the scoring straight win, all in friendlies, since the cards at home,” Austria coach Marcel Scotland as the visitors dominat- when he glanced the ball home World Cup when they beat Austria 2-1 on Koller told reporters. “I was surprised that ed a typically passionate Auld with his head after a superb pass Tuesday in a joyless performance marred he allowed them to commit so many Enemy friendly at Celtic Park on from his Arsenal team mate Jack by tactical fouls and a negative approach. fouls without booking them.” Tuesday. Wilshere to score after 32 min- A stunning late strike by Roberto Brazil had a lucky escape when Marko Rooney took his tally to 46 in utes, reward for England taking Firmino, his first for his country, won the Arnautovic’s low ball across the penalty his 101st international to move control after a frenetic opening to match for Brazil, although Austria were area bounced off Filipe Luis’s knee to within three goals of Bobby the game. the more enterprising team and could safety, followed by another when Florian Charlton’s England scoring record Rooney headed England 2-0 in easily have gone in with a halftime lead. Klein’s shot deflected off a defender’s of 49 and led by example as skip- front in the 47th minute after Austria, previously unbeaten this year, knee and flew over. per with his composed side prov- Scotland failed to clear a free- at least had the consolation of being the Diego Alves also had to parry a corner ing too strong for the hosts. kick. The home side pulled a goal first team to score against Brazil since out from under his crossbar as Austria Before the game there were fears back when Robertson beat Dunga replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari as pushed forward. Brazil had to wait for that crowd trouble might erupt in Forster at his near post before coach following their woeful World Cup GLASGOW: England’sAlex Oxladw-Chamberlain (left) vies for the over half an hour for their first real shot the first football fixture between Rooney wrapped up the victory performance in July. when Oscar tested Robert Almer with a from close range after a superb ball with Scotland’s Andrew Robertson (right) during the interna- Aleksandar Dragovic converted a the two rivals since Scotland vot- low effort from 25 metres and a David ed to remain part of the United swift-passing move down the tional friendly soccer match. — AP penalty in the 75th minute, ending Luiz free kick flew over the crossbar Kingdom in a historic referendum right. Brazil’s run of five successive clean 60,000 crowd in the build-up to The opening 20 minutes were shortly afterwards. in September. The home side, who have kickoff. predictably frenetic without much sheets, to cancel out David Luiz’s header Brazil broke through in the 64th minute Tuesday’s friendly, however, improved since Gordon Strachan Tensions between the two shape or substance but England just after the hour. when David Luiz headed in from a corner passed off peacefully with no became manager early last year, not-always friendly neighbours gradually began to look the more Brazil were low on creativity, often although he seemed to tug his marker’s reports of violence. England were only had one real goal chance might have been exacerbated assured side with Wilshere in the struggling to play the ball out of their 2-0 ahead with seven minutes to before scoring when Russell away from the pitch by the middle and Nathaniel Clyne on own half in the face of the home team’s shirt as he got to the ball. Austria did not play but Scotland came back when Martin forced Forster to palm the recent independence referen- the right causing the home side aggressive pressing, and repeatedly give up and Arnautovic had a shot deflect- Andrew Robertson planted a left- ball over the bar early in the sec- dum in which the Scots voted 55 problems. interrupted Austrian moves with rough ed over the crossbar before Oscar tripped foot shot past former Celtic keeper ond half. percent to 45 to preserve the It was the first match between and cynical fouls in midfield. Andreas Weimann and Dragovic sent Fraser Forster to make it 2-1. 307-year union with England. But the two neighbours, who until Fernandinho escaped a booking Diego Alves the wrong way. A moment of But two minutes later Rooney RAUCOUS ATMOSPHERE apart from the obvious booing of 1989 met annually, on Scottish soil when he left Veli Kavlak with blood individual inspiration settled the game finished off a well-worked move There was a raucous atmos- the national anthems most of the since 1999 and England have now streaming from a cut near his eye when when Firmino unleashed an unstoppable involving substitutes Adam phere generated by both sets of derision was directed at the two won seven of their last nine meet- he went in for one challenge with his shot into the top corner with seven min- Lallana and Rickie Lambert by supporters in a near-capacity sets of players.