France Focus on World Cup Glory

SPORT Saturday 14 July 2018 PAGEE | 18 PPAGEAG | 24

2018 World Cupup is DejectedDejec England, the ‘best ever’: FIFAFIFA BelgiumBelgi aim to leave President Infantinontino WorldWorl Cup on a high

Maaloul leaves Tunisia job to join Al Duhail

THE PENINSULA North African side last April and Nabil Maaloul to be the new tech- Maaloul, who has prior helped the team qualify for this nical manager of the first football coaching experience in Qatar DOHA: Tunisia head coach Nabil year’s World Cup in Russia, with team...” Al Duhail said on their with El Jaish, will take the reins Maaloul has stepped down from Tunisia winning one of their three website of Al Duhail from Djamel his role with the national team to group games to finish third in “Coach Nabil Maaloul will Belmadi, who left the club for join Al Duhail as their new Group G, behind Belgium and arrive to Austria in the upcoming “special reasons” and is widely manager, it was revealed England. hours to join the team’s camp expected to be named as the yesterday. “The club’s management con- which is held in Austria these Algerian national team’s new The 55-year-old rejoined the tracted with the Tunisian coach days.” coach. Nabil Maaloul France focus on World Cup glory

AFPAFP Didier Deschamps’ men are firm favourites to win tomorrow’s MOSCOW:MOSCOW: FranceFrance finfine-tunede-tuned ttheirheir showpiece in Moscow and become preparations fforor tthehe WorWorldld Cup ffinalinal world champions for the second againstagainst Croatia yesterday, desperate time -- 20 years after their first to overcome thethe bbitteritter ddisappointmentisappointment triumph in 1998. of losing the Euro 2016 final as FIFA declared RussiaRussia 20182018 ththee bebest-everst-ever tournament.tournament. DidierDidier Deschamps’Deschamps’ men are firmfirm favouritesfavourites to recover but there will be no excuses.” toto win tomorrow’s showshowpiecepiece in Moscow and As the tournament drifts towards its end, becomebecome worworldld cchampionshampions fforor thethe seconsecondd time FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared it -- 20 yeyearsars after their first triutriumphmph in 19981998.. the best ever. But theythey willwill come up againstagainst a hungryhungry “I was saying this would be the best World CroatiaCroatia side boasting one of the players of the Cup ever. Today I can say it with more con- tournamenttournament in Real Madrid star Luka Modric, viction... it is the best World Cup,” Infantino whowho is desperatedesperate to win thethe trophytrophy forfor thethe said in Moscow. nation of just over four million people. More than one million foreign fans have FranceFrance failed to click in the group stages visited Russia during the World Cup, according butbut they have gone up through the gears to FIFA figures. duringduring tthehe knockoutknockout rounroundsds anandd llookook a for-for- “A lot of pre-conceived ideas have midablemidable blend of youthfulyouthful vitalityvitality and changed thanks to this World Cup,” said experience.experience. Infantino. TheyThey will approach the match at the “Everyone has discovered a beautiful 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium full of con-con- country, a welcoming country, full of people fidencefidence andand withwith tthehe pain ooff llosingosing tthehe ffinalinal keen to show to the world what maybe some- ofof EuroEuro 22016016 oonn homehome soilsoil to CCristianoristiano Ron-Ron- times is said is not what happens here.” aldo’s Portugal spurring them on. He also said the use of the VAR (video “The“The teatearsrs hhaveave ddriedried frfromom EEurouro 22016016 but assistant referee) had been a success and it’sit’s stistillll ttherehere in a llittleittle corner ofof people’speople’s praised the quality of the football, with just a mminds,”inds,” saisaidd mimidfielderdfielder BBlaiselaise MatuiMatuididi single 0-0 draw in 62 games so far. yesterday.yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of people are “It will be useful for us on Sunday,Sunday, even if expected to pour onto the streets of Paris at I ddon’ton’t llikeike to kkeepeep bbringingringing up tthehe past. It wiwillll the weekend, 20 years on from the 1998 win serve as a lessonlesson to us andand it means we knowknow on home soil, when Deschamps was captain what it is to plplayay in a final. of the side. “We’ll“We’ll approach it differentlydifferently and hope A security operation swung into full gear, thatthat we plaplayy reallreallyy well and win it. It’s up to with plans for 110,000 law enforcement usus to put everyteverythinghing into pplacelace to acachievehieve our officers to be deployed across France as the dreamdream ofof lliftingifting tthehe WorWorldld CupCup.”.” country celebrates the national Bastille Day Deschamps’Deschamps’ team is packed with attacking holiday and the World Cup final. stars such as KylianKylian Mbappe and Antoine “Everything is being done so the French Griezmann but it is their defence that has can live these festive moments with peace of shoneshone in thethe past two rounrounds,ds, not concedingconceding mind, despite the terrorist threat which a sisinglengle goal.goal. remains at a high level,” Interior Minister CroatiaCroatia -- the smallest nation to make it Gerard Collomb said. to thethe finalfinal since Uruguay in 1950 -- hhaveave Before the final, England will play Belgium battledbattled through three periods of extra-time in a low-key battle for third place in Saint to reach the final. That means they have played Petersburg on Saturday. thethe eequivalentquivalent of a whole extra match more Gareth Southgate said his young team, who tthanhan France.France. were just 22 minutes from reaching the final ButBut coach Zlatko Dalic said there would before Croatia’s impressive comeback in the bebe no excuses dedespitespite their exertions.exertions. semi-final, would have to learn from their “We“We preparepreparedd to get to thethe ffinalinal anandd we bitter disappointment. want to playplay it,” hhee saisaid.d. “Going to extra-time “The team will be better in a couple of mightmight be a problem alonalongg with the fact France years,” Southgate said in comments to the havehave had an extrae xtra British press. “We have to build. We have some day good young players coming through. We’ve had success at youth level. “What we’ve done over the last few weeks has shown what is possible. We want to be in French forward Antoine Griezmann (right) and defender Lucas Hernandez in semi-finals and finals and we’ve shown to our- action during a training session at the Glebovets Stadium in Istra, Moscow on selves that can happen. Thursday, ahead of their FIFA 2018 World Cup final against Croatia. 18 SPORT SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018

2018 World Cup is the ‘best ever’: Infantino

REUTERS used. “For a couple of years, I better than the past,” he said. was saying it would be the best FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks “VAR is not changing football, MOSCOW: FIFA President World Cup ever, today I can say during a press conference at the it is cleaning football.” Gianni Infantino described the that with more conviction,” he “It is difficult to think of the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, 2018 World Cup as the best- said. Infantino promised that World Cup without VAR, it has yesterday. ever yesterday and said it had the tournament would leave a been certainly a more just changed perceptions of the host lasting legacy and there were competition...The goal scored nation Russia. “concrete plans” to make sure from an offside position is fin- Infantino, dressed in a red the stadiums were used in the ished in football, at least in volunteer’s uniform and in tri- future. football with VAR,” Infantino umphant mood, hailed the “This country, Russia, has added. success of video assistant ref- changed. Russia has become a He said VAR’s deterrent erees (VARs) and predicted that real football country... where effect had reduced the number goals scored from offside posi- football has become part of the of direct red cards for violent tions would be a thing of the country’s DNA and the culture,” play from 16 in the 1998 tour- past, at least in competitions he said. nament to none this time. where the new technology was “We had 98 percent occu- “Everyone knows that, pancy of the stadiums, one whatever you do, someone will million fans from abroad to dis- see it... one of the 30-odd cover this country, more than cameras will spot it and you three billion viewers on tele- will be sent off,” the 48-year- It is difficult to think vision and there will certainly old said. of the World Cup be one billion for the final. Infantino did not give any “Everyone has discovered new information on the without VAR, it has a beautiful country, a wel- whether the first 48-team been certainly a more coming country, full of people tournament would be in Qatar just competition... who are keen to show to the in 2022 instead of in 2026 as The goal scored from world that what maybe is originally planned. sometimes said is not what “First we will discuss with an offside position is happens here.” were not paid. “We are all, as tournaments and we help initial fears, the VAR system had the Qataris and then with the finished in football, at Infantino, who is paid an well, volunteers,” he said. selling drinks, preparing sau- worked well, it had reviewed a FIFA Council and stakeholders least in football with annual salary of 1.5m Swiss “Maybe not at the World sages, or helping in the of 19 decisions in the 62 and decide calmly what the VAR: FIFA President francs ($1.49m) according to Cup, because we have a job, but restaurants.” matches so far and had cor- decision is,” he said. FIFA, faced an awkward as soon as we go back home we rected 16 decisions which were “For the moment, we have Gianni Infantino question when he was asked drive our children to their VAR SUCCESS initially wrong. a World Cup with 32 teams,” why the 17,000-odd volunteers football or basketball Infantino said that, despite “This is progress, this is the FIFA president added.

Belgium better than England: Meunier FIFA fines Swedish

REUTERS and Croatian FAs

MOSCOW: Belgium are a better over break of team than England and to finish third at the World Cup is a equipment rules minimum for their squad, full back Thomas Meunier said yesterday. REUTERS The two countries meet in the third place play-off in St Petersburg today and the defender is expected MOSCOW: The Swedish and Croatian Football Asso- to be back in the line-up after ciations were fined 50,000 Swiss francs each by missing the 1-0 semi-final defeat FIFA yesterday for breaches by some of their players by France on Tuesday because of of the global soccer body’s marketing and media suspension. regulations regarding equipment. “We are better than England. The Swedish FA had confirmed at the time Winning the match is not an obli- that it had received the sanction about its kit and gation but something we want to socks. do. Third place is a minimum for “Despite having been previously requested to us,” he told a news conference at cease the activity that led to the breach and receiving the team’s training base in Moscow. a sanction on 6 July 2018, one member of the “We beat England in the group Swedish national team (as opposed to several phase and so we can do it again.” players in the previous case) displayed unauthorised Both countries rested regulars for commercial branding on playing equipment items the Group G match in Kaliningrad during the... quarter-final match between Sweden on June 28 which Belgium won 1-0. and England,” FIFA said. The two teams had already secured World Cup finalists Croatia, who face France at qualification for the round of 16 Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium tomorrow, were also Belgium players during training in Moscow, yesterday. before that encounter. fined. “We want third place for our- something in two years,” he said in Southgate said his selection will The players did that this morning “A fine of CHF 50,000 and a warning to the selves on a personal level, for those a reference to the 2020 European be based primarily on the fitness in training,” Southgate said. Croatian Football Federation for breaching the whose supported us over the last Championship, “but in four years’ of individual players suggesting he “We have to decide who can go Media and Marketing Regulations and the FIFA years and for all the work we did time, many will have left.” will resist the temptation to give again physically. Everyone wants Equipment Regulations,” FIFA said. in qualifiers. We have a fantastic “But there are a lot of exciting some fringe players a run-out. to play. Everyone trained this “In particular and despite having been previ- squad and to finish on the podium youngsters coming through who All 23 players in Southgate’s morning. Sometimes it’s not always ously requested by FIFA to cease the activity that would be something.” Meunier might continue our expedition,” the squad trained yesterday at the a good decision to play if people’s led to the breach and receiving a sanction on 5 July admitted Belgium’s ‘golden gener- Paris St Germain player added. team’s Repino base. energy isn’t quite there. 2018, one member of the Croatian national team ation’ of players had likely lost their Meanwhile, England manager “We’ve set the standard of how “It won’t be exactly the same displayed unauthorised commercial branding on last chance at World Cup glory after Gareth Southgate hoped to make we work, the standard of how we starting eleven, but we want ideally playing equipment items during the... semi-final their 1-0 loss in the last four. “as few changes as possible” for play, and we want to maintain to make as few changes as match between Croatia and England,” it said. “This group could still do play-off against Belgium. those standards right to the end. possible.”

Ivan Rakitic Rakitic promises ‘excess energy’ for final

AFP Croatia have played 90 more a little bit of luck to get the result,” in the tournament, former Wim- minutes and had a day’s less rest he said. bledon champion Djokovic caused MOSCOW: Croatia midfielder Ivan than the French ahead of the final. Ivan Perisic, who scored his a stir when he said he would Rakitic insisted fatigue will not be But Rakitic believes the pride side’s equaliser and set up Mario support Croatia in their semi-final an issue for the biggest game of of representing the smallest Mandzukic’s winner against against England. his career despite being pushed to country to make the World Cup England on Wednesday, is nursing “I tip my hat to him, I root for three periods of extra-time to final in 68 years, with a population a thigh injury. him at Wimbledon. I would like to make tomorrow’s World Cup final. of just over four million, will Perisic missed training on see him play the final so we both Barcelona’s Rakitic will make motivate Croatia to create history. Friday along with Ivan Strinic, have a great day,” he said. his 71st appearance of the season “This is a historic game for not Dejan Lovren, Sime Vrsaljko and Tensions between Serbians against France in Moscow after just us, for everybody who is a Danijel Subasic. and Croats have run high for years winning a La Liga and Copa del Croat. There are 4.5 million players Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic’s and Vladimir Djukanovic, an MP Rey double with the Catalans, on the pitch,” added Rakitic. controversial decision to back in the ruling Serbian Progressive more than any player at the World “We will carry one another, Croatia at the World Cup has Party, went on social media to Cup. we will have the energy, we know earned the Serbian tennis star berate Djokovic. “There will be excess power this is the biggest game of our lives. praise from the finalists’ midfielder “Only idiots can support and energy, no worries about We want to leave the pitch with Rakitic. Croatia. Aren’t you ashamed that,” Rakitic said yesterday. our heads held high. We just need With Serbia eliminated earlier Novak?” he wrote. SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018 SPORT 19

France’s head coach Didier Deschamps looks on during a training How Deschamps’s pragmatic session at the Glebovets stadium in Istra, some 70 km west of Moscow on Thursday. approach took France to final

REUTERS and to do that you have to make sacrifices. Defending isn’t my MOSCOW: Despite having the strong point, I’m not Kante, but I’ll most talented squad at the World happily do it. I have grown up and Cup, France have made it to The 1998 winners have not blazed their way to a matured,” he said. tomorrow’s final against Croatia third final in 20 years. Instead, their path has been France’s defence consists of by embracing pragmatism over a calculated shuffle, with coach Didier Deschamps the highly capable centre back adventure, subsuming their indi- abandoning plans for a free-flowing side in favour pairing of Raphael Varane and vidual flair for the collective Samuel Umtiti, key players for benefit. of a no-frills but highly effective winning machine Spanish aristocrats Real Madrid The 1998 winners have not that has kept four clean sheets in six games. and Barcelona respectively and blazed their way to a third final in who each broke the deadlock in 20 years. tight knockout games. Instead, their path has been a opponents off on the break. The team instantly had more Varane’s powerful header calculated shuffle, with coach It has not been the sweeping balance and grabbed a 2-1 win from a freekick opened up an Didier Deschamps abandoning display many believe the team are with a scrappy deflected goal. unforgiving Uruguay side, while plans for a free-flowing side in capable of, but it has been good Deschamps has largely stuck Umtiti’s glancing nod proved the favour of a no-frills but highly enough to take them to a second with the same side since, and the difference against Belgium. effective winning machine that has consecutive major tournament key to his strategy has been his Both deliveries came from kept four clean sheets in six games. final and Deschamps has altered ability to convince flair players like Antoine Griezmann, the top scorer France’s only truly impressive his strategy to get them there. Paul Pogba to take on extra at Euro 2016 who has enjoyed little display in Russia was their epic 4-3 The captain of the 1998 side defensive duties. freedom in attack but who has win over Argentina in the last 16, who was nicknamed the water Assisted by the tireless N’Golo proved just as effective in other when they cut through Jorge Sam- carrier, Deschamps appeared to Kante, the once most expensive ways. paoli’s dishevelled side on the have ambitious plans for France player in the world has limited his The background of France’s counter-attack as Kylian Mbappe when he picked speedy winger attacking tendencies to construct two full backs is another sign of used his frightening power and Ousmane Dembele in a front three a formidable shield in front of the the durability of Deschamps’ side. pace to devastating effect. in their opener against Australia defence. Both Lucas Hernandez and Ben- That thriller was followed by and benched the powerful but Deschamps called the Man- jamin Pavard have plenty of expe- solid 2-0 win over Uruguay in ungraceful Olivier Giroud. chester United man’s display rience playing in central defence, the quarter-finals and a slender But with his plan falling flat against Belgium in the semi-final meaning they do not madly 1-0 victory over Belgium in the and his side drawing 1-1 midway win “monstrous”. commit themselves forward. semis. through the second half, Des- Pogba, meanwhile, said he was Both have proved highly useful In both games they found an champs reverted to type, bringing happy to oblige his coach’s in attack, though: Pavard struck a opening from a set piece and then on Giroud for Dembele and requests in order to win football’s sensational equaliser against sat back, ceded possession, stayed replacing Corentin Tolisso with the biggest prize. Argentina, striking first time a pass solid and looked to pick their more experienced Blaise Matuidi. “I want to win this World Cup made by Hernandez.

FATE OF RECENT EPL TOP ANTONIO WINNING MANAGERS CONTE QUOTES Chelsea parted company with Antonio Chelsea finally put an Conte a year after the Italian guided them to the Premier League title. “Now after this win I think we must be His rapid fall from grace is not unique as happy and pleased for all the season. It listed below the fate of previous managers wasn’t easy for me to arrive in England this decade to win the title (season, club, and try a different language after a bad manager, fate): end to Conte’s reign season (for the club).” 2009-10 -- Chelsea - Carlo Ancelotti - AFP -- Happier times when victory at West sacked at end of 2011/12 season Bromwich Albion secured the 2016/17 2010-11 -- Manchester United - Alex Fergu- title in his first season at the club, son (see below) LONDON: Antonio Conte’s 2011-12 -- Manchester City - Roberto Man- two-year tenure as Chelsea although his remark stirred things up cini- sacked in May the following season manager which began with a with Jose Mourinho who had been 2012-13 -- Manchester United - Alex Fergu- bang last year after winning sacked the previous campaign months son - retired the Premier League title ended after they were crowned champions. 2013-14 -- Manchester City - Manuel Pel- sourly yesterday with the club legrini - survived two seasons. announcing they had parted “In the past he was a little man in many 2014-15 -- Chelsea - Jose Mourinho - company with him. The 48-year-old Italian circumstances, he’s a little man in the sacked in December 2015 had been seen as vulnerable present and for sure he will be a little 2015-16 -- Leicester City - Claudio Ranieri - despite winning the FA Cup man in the future. I consider him a little sacked February 2017 last term having fallen out man and I consider him a man with a 2016-17 -- Chelsea - Antonio Conte - with both the board and senior very low profile.” sacked July 2018 players. -- Conte and Jose Mourinho had heated 2017-18 -- Manchester City - Pep Guardiola The former Italy national - one year left on his contract coach returned to take exchanges throughout his tenure. Antonio Conte factfile training this week but the This was the Italian’s angry riposte Antonio Conte writing was on the wall and to the Manchester United manager Date of birth: July 31, 1969 the drawn out process was raising the topic of matchfixing Birthplace: Lecce, Italy reportedly due to how much which enveloped Conte in 2012 but Married: Elisabetta Muscarello compensation the club should was eventually cleared of, although Children: One daughter, Vittoria pay Napoli for his likely suc- cessor Maurizio Sarri. he originally received a 10 month Playing career suspension. Club “Chelsea Football Club and Antonio Conte have In this file photo taken on November 05, 2017 Chelsea’s Italian head coach Antonio Conte 1985-91 Lecce parted company,” the club gestures on the touchline during the English Premier League match against Manchester “We are having the season that we 1991-2004 Juventus said in a terse statement. United in London. Honours (all with Juventus) are deserving. It is only a problem of “During Antonio’s time at time - don’t forget in the last two or Serie A titles (5): 1994-95, 1996-97, 1997- the club, we won our sixth Premier League era. carping over the club’s failure football before he took up 98, 2001-02, 2002-03 league title and eighth FA Cup. Former banker Sarri, 59, to replace top players with coaching aged 40, has not won three years we lost important players Italian Cup (1): 1994/95 “In the title winning will be Chelsea’s eighth those of similar ability. a major honour in three years for Chelsea. When you lose important Champions League (1): 1995/96 season, the club set a then- manager inside a decade as However, while present at Napoli but has guided the players with great experience and UEFA Cup: 1992/93 record 30 wins in a 38-game Russian owner Roman players may have had issues club to finishes of second, charisma and players used to winning, Italian Super Cup (4): 1995, 1997, 2002, Premier League season, as Abramovich has never shown with Conte, former Chelsea third and second again. you lose a lot.” 2003 well as a club-record 13 con- a sentimental side to his legend John Terry, who left Conte is due a reported £9 -- Conte’s frustration, a constant Italy secutive league victories. nature regarding them, no after the league title winning ($11.9m) if he remains out of “We wish Antonio every matter the trophies they won campaign had nothing but work for the season and with refrain during last season, at leading Caps (1994-2000): 20 (2 goals) players not being replaced by similar Selected for both the 1994 World Cup and success in his future career,” the preceding season as praise for him. the major jobs such as Real quality surface again in April. Euro 2000 squads in which Italy reached the club added. Roberto di Matteo found just “Thank You Boss,” Terry Madrid and the Italy national Conte leaves with the best months after delivering posted on Instagram alongside post -- which he occupied for the final of both. win percentage 65.1% of any Abramovich’s holy grail the a photo of the two of them two years till after Euro 2016 “I can’t change. My way is always the of Chelsea’s managers in the Champions League. holding the Premier League -- filled it is likely he will sit same; hard work and to build a strong Coaching career Conte -- who had a year trophy. the year out. 2006-07 -- Arezzo to run on his contract -- is “Great man, Great Napoli are also expecting mentality with my players. I’m this and 2007-09 -- Bari seen to have contributed to his manager. I wish you every compensation of around I think my past speaks very clear as a 2009-10 -- Atalanta own demise by falling out both success in the future.” £4.5m for Sarri, who is under player and as a manager. You can say 2010-11 -- Siena with the players and the board Sarri has been favourite to contract even though he is no what you want, but I’m a serial winner.” Conte leaves 2011-14 -- Juventus as the sheen of the title victory succeed his compatriot after longer their coach. -- Conte’s defiant message to the 2014-16 -- Italy with the best win quickly disappeared. impressing as manager of Sarri is believed to have Chelsea board after saving something His intense training Serie A side Napoli, who have agreed to bring former 2016-18 -- Chelsea (ENG) percentage 65.1% from last season with the FA Cup win Honours of any of Chelsea’s methods angered senior replaced him with former Chelsea favourite Gianfranco players and he alienated the Chelsea handler Carlo Zola -- whose managerial over Mourinho’s United.

Juventus managers in the

Serie A titles (3): 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 board with disparaging Ancelotti. career has stalled after a series Italian SuperCup (2): 2012, 2013 Premier League era. treatment of Spanish striker Sarri, who split his time of failures -- along as one of Diego Costa and constant between banking and playing his backroom staff. 20 SPORT SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018 SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018 SPORT 21

French midfielder N’Golo Kante (front), Kylian Mbappe (centre) and Paul Pogba FIFA 2018 WORLD CUP - A TO Z warm up at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg in this file photo. Modric’s masterclass France not expecting REUTERS A - AFRICA: For the first time since 1982 no African teams made it to the knockout stage. Egypt and Tunisia never got close, Morocco were a bit unlucky, while Nigeria and Senegal were a matter of minutes away - but when the dust settled it was a huge disappointment for the continent to spend the second tired Croatia in final half of the tournament watching from home. B - BOOT (GOLDEN):With the final and third-place playoff to come, England’s Harry Kane is in key to Croatia’s success pole position on six goals, ahead of Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Russia’s REUTERS team playing in the World Cup Denis Cheryshev, all on four. Kane’s tally matches Gary Lineker in 1986 as England’s tournament best final, a team with players who and is the first to include three penalties. Brazil’s Ronaldo, who got eight in 2002, is the only player in REUTERS MOSCOW:MOSCOW: FrFranceance hhaveave bebeenen have a lot of experience. It will be the last 10 tournaments to score more than six. surprised by the physical fortitude a match they will be ready for and C - COUNTER-ATTACK:Belgium proved the masters of the counter-attack and there can have MOSCOW: In Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final against England offC CroatiaCroat iia and d areare nnotot expecting i It’s the game of our I don’t think extra timetime or penal-penal- been few better, or more dramatic, examples than their brilliant 94th-minute winner against Japan. Luka Modric showed, for the umpteenth time in his career, that you a tired opponent inin tomorrow’stomorrow’s lives to play in a World ties has been or will be a handicaphandicaap From a Japanese corner, via the hands of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, four Belgians somehow found can’t keep a good man down as he orchestrated a third successive WorldWoW rld CuCupp fi final,nall, m midfielderidfielder BlB Blaiseaises Cup final, a dream I’ve forfor ththem.”em.”. the will to drive the length of the pitch to create a wonderful goal of pace and precision, finished off by Nacer Chadli. comeback that sent Croatia into the dreamland of the final. MatuidiMatuuidi sassaidid yyesterday.essterdayay. had since I was a kid. The 31-year-old,31-yyear-old, who saisaidd itit For almost an hour of Wednesday’s game Modric just could not CroatiaCroaatia hahaveve bbeeneen fo forcedrced i ntintoo wouldwow uld be hhisis llastasst WoW Worldrld Cu Cup,p, p pre-ree- D - DEBUTANTS: The cup feels so close Iceland continued from where they left off at the 2016 Euros, drawing with get a foothold, as England’s relentless pressing harried him into mis- extraexe trra tittimemee iinn eaeeachachh ooff ththeireir ththreehree dicteddicted aann exexcitingcitiing f infinalal w withith a a hi highghg Argentina, giving their all and coming up just short in a tough group. Panama were horribly outclassed takes and cut down his supply line. knockoutknoockoouut mmatches,atatchheses, ededgingdgig ng DDen-en- we can almost touch it levellevev l off eexpertise.xpx ertise. - thrashed by Belgium and England and even beaten by Tunisia. England deservedly led and should have had more goals as markmmarkk aandndn hhostsosts RRussiausu sisia onn but there is still a lot to “They“Thehey araarere aa teteamam w whoho d defendefennd E - EUROPE:For the third tournament in four, there is an all-European final. This and the previous Modric and his misfiring team mates were perhaps perceived post-matchpopostt-mmatatchc p penaltiesene ala ties b beforeefe oore sc cscor-oror- do to get there. We’ve wellweellll aandndn aattackttt acck wewellll aafterfter rrecov-ecovv- Europe-based tournament also featured all-European semi-final lineups. Once again the continent’s top as suffering the effects of back-to-back extra time and pen- inginng lalateate iinn adaaddedded d plplaylaya ttoo cocomeme prepared everything to eringerring ththee baball.alll . WeWe aareree uupp agagainstainsst sides, and some of its lesser ones, have left the rest of the world trailing - and that was with Italy and alty shootout wins over Denmark and Russia. fromffrom bbehindehhinnd anandd bebbeatatt E Englandnglandn i nin win the game even if its playersplayyerers ofof aa hhighiggh quq qualityuallity an andd wi withtht the Netherlands watching from home. However, as the second half unfolded, if England thought Wednesday’sWWeednd ese dday’y s sesemi-finalemmii-ffini ala iinn extra time or penalties: lotsloottss ooff exexperience,”xperiiencee,”” MMatuidiata uiu di s said.aid.d F - FORGOTTEN:It could have been one of the greatest-ever World Cup goals and instead turned the job was done and they had run the legs off the 32-year- Moscow.MoMosccowow. “It“I“ t iss ggoingoiingn ttoo bebee iimportantmpmportant tot to Blaise Matuidi into one of the greatest-ever World Cup saves, but Jordan Pickford’s unbelievable stop from Mateus old, they had clearly not been paying attention to his FranceFrFraancee by cocontrastonntraasst hhaveaave wow wonon concentratecoc ncceentrt ate hahhardrd bbecauseecause ttheyheey Uribe’s 30-metre top-corner piledriver was not even repeated on the big screen in the Spartak Stadium extraordinary career. allalll ofo ttheirheeiri mmatchesattcchheess ssinceinncec tthehee havehahavev ttremendousreemendn ouus ququalities.”alitiei s.” as from the resulting corner Colombia snatched a mayhem-inducing equaliser. As befits a man playing his 111th international and 11th rorroundounund ofo 1166 ininsidensiiddee 9900 mimminutes,nun tes,s ButBuB t it wwasas m muchuch th hthee sa sameme w withitth G - GOLDEN GENERATION:Belgium’s players were sick and tired of hearing about and being in the World Cup, Modric did not panic and did not waver, efeeffectivelyffecttivvele y plplayingayayinng a fullfuf lll matchmatatch “We“WWe ssasaww iniin tthehhee l lastasa t gag gameme t hathatat thethe FrFFrencheenchh tteameaam totoo,oo, hhee adaadded.ded. asked about the tag and how it was “time to deliver.” In most ways they did, performing superbly, scoring instead he gradually found a way to shoehorn himself and his lessleesss tthanhaan CrCroatiarooaatiia at tthehehe ttourna-ournrna- theyttheyy ffinishediinisishheed ththehe ststrongertrorongngerer ooff ththee “It’s“IIt’s thtthee gagamemem ooff ouourur lillivesves totto memorable goals and dispatching Brazil in the quarter-finals, but they could not muster enough ideas team back into the game. mentmmeentn iinn RuRRussia.ussssiaa. twotwtwo tetteams.amms. TTheyhey did didd no notot lol lookokok l ikilikee playplaya iinn aa WWoWorldorld Cu Cupup fi final,naal, a ad dreamreamm to unpick the French defence in the last four. The bulk of the team, certainly its creative end, is still far There were no extravagant 50-yard passes or wavy runs ButBuut MaMMatuidituuiddi ssasaididd hhee diddidid nnonott a sidesis dede wwhohho wwereeere pplplayingayyining exextraxtra I’veII’vve hhadada ssinceininccee I I w wasass a a k kid.idd. TTh Thee cu upcup from retirement age so stand by for more GG headlines in two years. leaving multiple defenders in his wake, just a steady cranking up thinktht ini k thtthee CCr Croatsoaatsts w wouldoouldld b bee faf fatiguedtiiggueded timetiimem ffororr aa tthirdhiirrdd t iimtimee in in a a r owrow.w. SuS uSur-r- feelsfeels sosoo ccloselosee w wee cac cann al almostmoost tou touchchc H - HAZARD:Finally he wore the mantle of superstar like it was not a hair shirt. After disappearing of the momentum. The movement got sharper, passes were more byby ttheirheh irir aaddeddddeded ttimeiimme onon tthehhee prisingly,prisininglg y,y theythheey lookedloooko ed likeliki e theyththeyy itt bbutuut tthereheree iiss ststilltill a a lol olott to oto d doo to to g getete as Belgium slipped out of the last World Cup and 2016 Euros, Eden Hazard really stepped up to the quickly released and there was the trademark bodyswerve and pitchpipitctch ovooverveerr tthehhee llastasast wewweek.eekek. werewerree pplayinglaayiy ngng ttheirheh irr ffirstirst ggame.aame.e there,”thhere,” heh ssaid.aid.d mark in Russia. Demanding the ball, dominating the key games, he could not quite get them over the check to suddenly create a yard of space from nothing. “II don’tdonn’tt thinkthih nknk it’sit’t s a “They““Thee y “We’ve“WWee’ve ppreparedreparred eveverythingvere ythingn line in the semi-final but nobody can this time accuse him of not trying. Galvanised by their leader, his team-mates, far from flagging, factor,”faacttor,”,” hhee ssasaidaid aatt areare a too wwinin tthehe ggameama e evevenen i iff it itss I - “IT’S (NOT) COMING HOME”: England’s unexpected run to the semi-finals launched looked the fitter of the two teams and started giving him and the newsnen wss cconferenceonfereencn e atatt extraexe trra ttitimeimeme oorr peppenal-nan l- a nationwide reprise of the 1996 anthem “Football’s coming home,” which also boomed out of the equally re-energised Ivan Rakitic targets - and the passes started thethhe FrFrenchennch ttrain-raainin- ties.tit eess. IItIt’st’ss tthehehe loudspeakers at every stadium before they played and after every goal. Back at Euro ‘96 they sang about to stick. inginng babbasease oonn ththehe winningwiw nnnninng ththatata “30 years of hurt” in relation to the barren spell after the 1966 World Cup. It’s now up to 52... and counting. Ivan Perisic duly equalised and Mario Mandzukic won it in extra oououtskirtsutst kikirtrts off counts.”coounts.” J - JAPAN:Flew the Asia flag with pride on and off the pitch. After their heart-breaking late defeat time, where it was Modric still skipping around the turf like a spring Moscow.MoMosccoww. by Belgium Japan’s players might have been forgiven for throwing a few cups and punching the odd lamb who had emerged as the dominant force on the pitch while wall. Instead they picked up every piece of debris and left their dressing room looking as if it had never an exhausted Jordan Henderson had to be substituted after chas- been used. All they left behind was a note, in Russian, thanking their hosts. Pure class. ing him all night. K - KANTE: “Luka has never conformed to the norm when it comes to the Can any player ever have had so much influence on the success of his teams while usual positions a central midfielder would take up to receive the attracting so little attention? N’Golo Kante patrols the area in front of his defence with such understanding ball,” Jermaine Jenas wrote this week as he contemplated the chal- and appreciation that he rarely seems to need to sprint, let alone stretch. He is a dream-screen for the men behind him and, as so many teams in Russia have discovered, an absolute nightmare to lenge England faced in nullifying his former Tottenham Hotspur have to get past. Kante having team mate. L - LATE GOALS: “In training he would get the ball from anywhere and all of a Barely a day seemed to pass without some team snatching a goal in the dying sudden he would be at you - and past you. He is quicker than moments - helped by what seemed to be the new minimum of five minutes’ stoppage time. Iran, most people think, and a lot stronger too. Colombia, England, Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Tunisia and others all enjoyed that explosion “When you consider how well balanced he is, I just don’t of joy and relief that comes with a last-gasp winner or equaliser and that have contributed to so much the World of this tournament’s excitement. see a better player in that area of the pitch anywhere on the planet right now.” M - MODRIC (NOT MESSI):Luka Modric has matured through the tournament, and matured Now, it is France’s turn to try to keep the lid on the Real through the game in Croatia’s semi-final victory over England. His ease of movement, eye for the right Madrid man and if they task N’Golo Kante with the job it could pass and overall class eventually shone through as those around him fell away. Cup of his life be the most pivotal match-up of the final. Not so Lionel Messi, who left with his World Cup dream unfulfilled. One of the greatest players of all time alongside Pele and Diego Maradona went out with barely a whimper to join the sub-set of GOATs Kante reigns supreme at snuffing out danger at source, who have never won the World Cup - including Ferenc Puskas, Johan Cruyff and George Best, who yet even the arch anticipator might find himself torn between never even got to play in one. abandoning his preferred zonal patrol nd chasing Modric into REUTERS his unconventional shadows. N - NEYMAR:Option 1. Bravely recovering from a long injury absence, Neymar, the most-fouled France did a superb job at generally forcing Eden Hazard There is more to Croatia player in the tournament, had more attempts on goal than any other player and did all he could to drag MOSCOW: It is easy to ignore diminutive N’GoloKante Kante amid amid all all and Kevin De Bruyne into cul-de-sacs in their semi and they a disappointing Brazil team towards a first final for 16 years. Option 2. Neymar personified everything of France’s star-studded World Cup squad thatincludes includes $100 $100 know they will to repeat the job tomorrow - and not just for an bad about the world’s most popular game - his amazing talent overshadowed by diving, cheating, and million-plus players such as Paul Pogba, Kylian MbappeMbappe andand hour. truly ridiculous rolling around that made him the planet’s biggest laughing stock. Antoine Griezmann. than just Modric magic O - OLDEST:Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary became the oldest player to appear in a World But when the French take on Croatia on Sundayay in inthe the World World Cup finals game when he played in his country’s final group game against Saudi Arabia at the age of Cup final, Kante will have contributed as much oto that that success success Luka Modric has matured through the 45 years, 161 days. P - PENALTIES: if not more than the big name team mates, as eveeveryry oneone ofof tournament, and matured through the game REUTERS Rakitic, who have five Champions League Mandzukic the chance to score the win- The 28 awarded up to and including the semi-finals was a tournament record by a France’s opponents in Russia can testify. titles between them, unable to feed their ner and send his team into the final. distance with the previous highest being the 18 given in 2002. Several were the result of VAR intervention. The 27-year-old does not have the statureof of fellow fellow mid mid-- in Croatia’s semi-final victory over England. MOSCOW: Croatia’s run to the World forwards. With opponents’ defenders kept busy Q - QATAR:Host country for the next World Cup, to be held in November/December 2022, where fielder Pogba, nor does he have the lightning speeded of of Mbappe Mbappe His ease of movement, eye for the right pass Cup final is largely down to Luka Modric’s But after the break, a quick switch with trying to contain the three strikers determined fans will be sometimes able to watch three games in a day - instead of taking three days or the goal-scoring ability of Griezmann. and overall class eventually shone through tireless work in midfield but their abil- from their favoured 4-3-3 to a 4-1-4-1 and the holding midfielders working to to get to a game in Russia. He has, however, “15 lungs”, according to Pogba,gba, an an incom incom-- ity to switch tactics efficiently should be meant that suddenly the game moved deal with Modric and Rakitic, it is the full- R - RONALDO:With his shorts hitched to the max, Ronaldo’s last-gasp, free-kick equaliser in the parable work ethic and a unique ability to readthe the game game like like as those around him fell away. a warning for opponents France tomor- higher up the England half and the wings backs who could prove to be key. 3-3 draw with Spain was one of the highlights of the early matches. He continued to perform heroics few others, a fact that makes him a one-man wallwall asas row. became Croatia’s main points of attack. With a strike force that is the envy of but was unable to drag a very limited Portugal team into the quarter-finals. Of the “Big Three” in Russia, beaten semi-finalists Belgium can attest after heelped helped When the two sides meet at Moscow’s Sime Vrsaljko is not your average almost every other World Cup team, with however, he can probably be most pleased with his contribution. neutralise their famed attacking threat. Luzhniki Stadium all eyes will be on rightback. At times he operates as a players such as Mandzukic, Perisic, Ante S - SNEAKY:Colombia’s players appeared to have been overtaken by mass hysteria when a penalty Playing in front of defenders, for much of hiss Modric and how the French will attempt world-class winger whose power, accu- Rebic and Andrej Kramaric, Croatia can was awarded against them for hauling down England’s Harry Kane but in the midst of the four-minute career Kante’s abilities had gone unnoticed givenn to put shackles on the creative midfielder, racy in crosses and passes have little to be lethal. protest one of them was “in the moment” enough to repeatedly dig his heal into the grass around the that as recently as 2013 he was playing in France’ss who at 32 is eyeing the biggest prize of do with that of a full-time defender. But they can equally turn into a hard- penalty spot in a feeble attempt to make things difficult for the penalty-taker. It didn’t work as Kane second division. the sport. When Modric is bogged down in mid- working defensive mechanism as they converted and England went on to win on a penalty shootout. Only when he came to Leicester City in 2015did did While Modric may be a worthy con- field, it is Vrsaljko who will often shoulder showed when Russia pressed high in their T - TIKI-TAKA:Spain made an astonishing 1,137 passes in 120 minutes against Russia but barely the world start to take notice of the player who atrolspatrols tender for Footballer of the Year, his the duty of carrying the ball past the mid- quarter-final stopping from unfolding created a scoring opportunity and went out on penalties. Pointless passing suddenly looked so last the area in front of his defence in such a way thatat allows allows team’s quick switch in tactics during their field and it was one of his forays into the their attacking game plans. decade. Back to the tactical drawing board. both midfielders and defenders to play up. World Cup semi-final against England English half that allowed him to cross for France will obviously need to use V - VAR: With very few exceptions the first use of the Video Assistant Referee system has been a Leicester’s shocking run to the Premier Leagueue title title in in 2016 2016 shows that danger lurks around every Ivan Perisic to level. N’Golo Kante’s and Paul Pogba’s power huge success. Several penalties were awarded, and a handful overturned, on the basis of replays and was as much down to Kante’s interceptions andd tackles tackles as as it it corner playing against this Croatia squad. The same goes for the other wing, and stamina to rein in Modric and Rak- fears of repeated and lengthy delays proved largely unfounded. was to James Vardy’s goals. The English were already with one with Ivan Strinic equally attack-minded itic early but their defence must also be U - UPSETS:In World Cup terms they don’t come any bigger than Germany losing to South Korea to At the end of that season he had more tackleskles and and inter inter-- CroatianCroatian mmidfielderidfieldl er L Lukauka Mo Modricdrric foot in the final after leading 1-0 and and his replacement late in the game, equally alert to the danger from the wings finish bottom of their group. Spain being knocked out by 70th-ranked Russia, Argentina held by Iceland ceptions than any other Premier League player. completely dominating the game, with Josip Pivaric, doing as he was told, cross- if they are to shut out the Croats and lift and torn apart by Croatia and Spain and Portugal clinging on by their fingertips to draws against Morocco But the 1.68m-tall Frenchman was just warmingrming upup.. HiHiss Modric and fellow midfielder Ivan ing into the box from the left to give Mario their second World Cup. and Iran also had the neutrals cheering. move to Chelsea may have surprised some at the time but by W - WRESTLING:For some unknown reason, dozens of players decided that the best way to the end of the 2016/17 season there was no doubt who one defend a corner was to ignore the ball and instead wrap their arms around their opponent and wrestle of the best defensive midfielders in the world was. them to the ground. After initially turning a blind eye, FIFA and its referees decided to clamp down and “NG is always very reserved, very calm and very timid,” Pogba NG (N’Golo Kante) is always very They (Croatia) are a team who defend well Luka has never conformed to the norm when it started awarding penalties - much to the shocked outrage of those who had grappled with impunity said on Thursday. “Except when he is playing cards.” in their opening games. “We understand each other very well, we talk, we give each reserved, very calm and very timid. and attack well after recovering the ball. comes to the usual positions a central midfielder X - XENOPHOBIA:Despite all the dire warnings, there has been none, and Russians have shown other advice. It is a very special relationship. He is just a great Except when he is playing cards. We We are up against players of a high quality would take up to receive the ball. In training themselves to be friendly hosts in every city. guy.” Y - YELLOW:The famed and adored kit of Brazil, which they chose to sometimes replace with a France could win their second World Cup title on Sunday understand each other very well, we talk, and with lots of experience. It is going to be he would get the ball from anywhere and all new shiny blue one, as did Colombia. Nigeria introduced a kit that was a world-wide best-seller, then and while everyone could be hailing their big-name players, we give each other advice. It is a very important to concentrate hard because they of a sudden he would be at you - and past you. wore a change strip for their first game. Commercial imperative blew tradition out of the window and Pogba, Griezmann and Mbappe know well any title would not special relationship. He is just a great have tremendous qualities: French midfielder He is quicker than most people think, and a lot left fans scratching their heads. have been possible without Kante’s tireless work in Z - ZAGALLO:Mario Zagallo won the World Cup twice with Brazil in 1958 and 1962 then managed midfield. guy: French midfielder Paul Pogba Blaise Matuidi stronger too: Retired English star Jermaine Jenas them to the title in 1970. Franz Beckenbauer followed him (1974 and 1990) and now Didier Deschamps, captain of France’s 1998 winners, has the chance to join a very exclusive club. 22 SPORT SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018

Groenewegen Spinners put Sri Lanka on top wins seventh stage of Tour against South Africa in Galle AFP CHARTRES, FRANCE: AFP SCOREBOARD Dutchman Dylan SRI LANKA 1st innings 287 Groenewegen burst past GALLE, SRI LANKA: Spinners SOUTH AFRICA 1st innings (overnight 4-1) Colombian sprint rival led by Dilruwan Perera put hosts D. Elgar c Mathews b Perera ...... 8 Fernando Gaviria to win the Sri Lanka in firm command of A. Markram c Mathews b Herath ...... 0 Tour de France seventh stage the first Test yesterday after K. Maharaj lbw b Herath ...... 3 at the end of a 231 km run South Africa were bowled out for H. Amla c Mendis b Perera ...... 15 from Fougeres to Chartres 126 -- their lowest Test innings T. Bavuma b Sandakan ...... 17 yesterday. in the country. F. du Plessis b Lakmal ...... 49 The Lotto NL-Jumbo First innings centurion Q. de Kock b Perera ...... 3 rider, who won the final stage V. Philander lbw b Perera ...... 18 Dimuth Karunaratne then made to Paris last year, beat Quick K. Rabada b Lakmal ...... 2 a fluent 60 as the hosts ended D. Steyn c Mathews b Lakmal ...... 8 Step’s Gaviria into second day two on 111 for four, leading T. Shamsi not out ...... 0 place with Slovakian Peter by 272 runs at the Galle Interna- Extras (b2, nb1) ...... 3 Sagan (Bora) taking third. tional Stadium. Total (all out, 54.3 overs) ...... 126 Belgian Greg Van Angelo Mathews, on 14, and Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Markram), 2-9 (Maharaj), 3-13 Avermaet, of BMC, retained Roshen Silva, on 10, were batting (Elgar), 4-40 (Amla), 5-48 (Bavuma), 6-51 (de Kock), the leader’s yellow jersey at close of play after left-arm 7-115 (Philander), 8-115 (du Plessis), 9-123 (Rabada), ahead of today’s eighth stage. spinner Keshav Maharaj claimed 10-126 (Steyn) French duo Arnaud three wickets for South Africa. Bowling: Herath 19-5-39-2, Perera 23-8-46-4, Demare and Christophe But it was the Sri Lankan Sandakan 8-1-18-1, Lakmal 4.3-0-21-3 (nb1) Laporte were fourth and fifth bowlers who starred on a dra- Sri Lanka’s Dilruwan Perera respectively as the home SRI LANKA 2nd innings matic day that witnessed South (left) celebrates after D. Gunathilaka c Rabada b Maharaj ...... 17 nation were left empty- Africa slip to 51-6 before being dismissing South Africa’s D. Karunaratne c Amla b Rabada ...... 60 handed for the seventh day bowled out in the second session Quinton de Kock (not pictured) D. de Silva b Maharaj ...... 9 in succession. of play. during the second day of the K. Mendis lbw b Maharaj ...... 0 With a notoriously dif- The dismal effort set a new opening Test match at the A. Mathews not out ...... 14 ficult 90 degree bend with low for South Africa in Sri Lanka, Galle International Cricket R. Silva not out ...... 10 2km to go and speeds hitting worse than their 169 in Colombo Stadium in Galle yesterday. Extras (lb1) ...... 1 60 km/h, tensions were high in 2006. Total (4 wickets, 37 overs) ...... 111 over the closing kilometres as “We wanted to take a lead. Still to bat: N. Dickwella, D. Perera, R. Herath, S. the sprinters’ teams jockeyed We stopped easy runs, put Perera soon took crucial wickets angles and Herath even changed extending it when they began Lakmal, L. Sandakan for position. pressure and got the wickets including the dangerous Hashim ends. If the wicket is turning, I their second innings, with the Fall of wickets: 1-51 (Gunathilaka), 2-64 (de Silva), But the peloton slowed early and things went on pretty Amla for 15. tend to change those angles,” openers putting on a 51-run 3-64 (Mendis), 4-92 (Karunaratne) and hostilities began with a Bowling: Rabada 7-0-28-1, Steyn 5-1-15-0, Maha- well I thought,” Perera told Skipper Faf du Plessis said Perera. partnership. raj 16-4-37-3, Shamsi 6-0-20-0, Philander 3-0-10-0 ‘faux plat’ incline to the final reporters. made a gritty 49 and his 64-run Lakmal did not bowl at all Karunaratne became only 150m, with Sagan’s Bora, “We didn’t expect to get them seventh-wicket partnership until the 37th over of the innings, the second Sri Lanka batsman to Gaviria’s Quick Step and the bowled out for 126 though,” he with Vernon Philander, who but was effective after lunch on score a hundred and a fifty in the that type of wicket is a lot of winner’s Lotto outfit prom- added. made 18, was the best that day two, rattling the off-stump same Test against South Africa, runs. If we manage to restrict inent into the final stretch. Perera returned impressive South Africa could muster in of du Plessis with a delivery that but was caught at slip off the them to I’d say 320, then cer- The peloton set off amid figures of 4-46 with his off-spin, their 54.3 overs. jagged in sharply. bowling of Kagiso Rabada late tainly that would be a good good racing conditions for the while paceman and stand-in Herath grabbed two wickets Lakmal then quickly got rid in the day. target for us,” said Amla. longest stage on the race, with skipper Suranga Lakmal took while left-arm wrist spinner of the number nine and 10 Amla said a lot would “Any of the batsmen in the a finish line opposite the three wickets. Lakshan Sandakan claimed one batsmen to end the innings with depend on South Africa’s top top six would like to occupy the 800-year-old cathedral of Veteran spinner Rangana -- the three spinners sharing figures of 3-21 from only 4.3 order if they have to chase over crease for a long time and get us Chartres, a UNESCO world Herath started Sri Lanka’s dom- seven wickets in total. overs. 300 runs on a seemingly turning close to the total we have to heritage site. inance by sending back night- “We were trying not to let a Having established a lead of sub-continent pitch. chase. We want to get stuck in Around 95km from watchman Maharaj early, and batsman settle. Keep changing 161, Sri Lanka quickly set about “272 (Sri Lanka’s lead) on and bat for as long as possible.” Chartres the peloton split in a cross wind, trapping Thurs- day’s stage winner Dan Martin (Team Emirates) in the second group. The Irishman was swift to Imam, Khan propel Pakistan to react leading his team across the breach within a couple of kilometres. crushing win over Zimbabwe Craddock turns AFP SCOREBOARD A, in 2016, and I knew it was a over. Zimbabwe’s bowlers misfortune into PAKISTAN ZIMBABWE slow pitch. And it helped us as struck back at the death with BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE: I. ul Haq c Musakanda b Muzarabani ...... 128 B. Chari c Zaman b U Khan ...... 2 well, especially me as a spinner.” Tendai Chatara and Donald fundraising Pakistan leg spinner Shadab F. Zaman c & b Roche ...... 60 C. Chibhabha b H Ali ...... 20 Imam was backed up by Tiripano picking up two apiece, Khan yesterday credited his B. Azam c Chibhabha b W Masakadza ...... 30 H. Masakadza c Zaman b U Khan ...... 7 Fakhar Zaman, who continued as Pakistan lost five wickets in opportunity team’s recent successes on their S. Malik c Murray b Tiripano ...... 22 T. Musakanda c Malik b Ashraf ...... 21 his good form with 60, and Asif the last 10 overs. camaraderie after a crushing win P. Moor c Azam b Ashraf ...... 2 Ali, who smashed a rapid 46 on “We thought 300 was a very A. Ali c Tiripano b Chatara ...... 46 AFP over Zimbabwe in the opening F. Ashraf c Chari b Chatara ...... 0 R. Murray not out ...... 32 debut to boost Pakistan’s total. good total,” said Khan. “In the game of a five-match one-day S. Ahmed not out ...... 13 D. Tiripano b S Khan ...... 12 Pakistan started slowly with first few overs it was very dif- L. Roche c Ashraf b S Khan ...... 4 series. H. Ali c Musakanda b Tiripano ...... 0 the bat. With the new ball ficult to survive out there, but CHARTRES, FRANCE: When W. Masakadza b S Khan ...... 0 After Pakistan won by 201 S. Khan not out ...... 2 nipping around Imam played Imam and Fakhar batted really Lawson Craddock pinned his T. Chatara c Ahmed b Amir ...... 5 Extras (lb5, w2) ...... 7 runs in Bulawayo, Khan, who B. Muzarabani b S Khan ...... 0 and missed at several deliveries well so we were happy to even- race number - 13 - on his Tour starred with the ball, was asked Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) ...... 308 Extras (lb1, w1) ...... 2 and was lucky to survive an edge tually get 300.” de France jersey last to explain his team’s form. Did not bat: M Amir, U Khan Total (10 wkts, 35 overs) ...... 107 off fast bowler Blessing Muz- Pakistan’s seamers were weekend, he had no idea just “We’re very good friends, Fall of wickets: 1-113 (Zaman), 2-172 (Azam), 3-235 Fall of wickets: 1-3 (Chari), 2-11 (Masakadza), 3-45 arabani, the ball dropping just in disciplined with the new ball, how unlucky it would be. and maybe that’s why,” Khan (Malik), 4-268 (ul Haq), 5-287 (Ashraf), 6-292 (A Ali), (Musakanda), 4-53 (Chibhabha), 5-55 (Moor), 6-79 (Tiri- front of second slip. But Imam and were rewarded with five A crash in the opening said. “If anyone in the team per- 7-295 (H Ali) pano), 7-91 (Roche), 8-93 (W Masakadza), 9-106 (Ch- gritted his way through the dif- top-order wickets inside the first stage left him with a bloodied forms, the whole team appre- Bowling: Chatara 10-0-49-2 (1w); Muzarabani 10-1- atara), 10-107 (Muzarabani) ficult patch, and, with Fakhar 15 overs. face and a fractured scapula. ciates them.” 56-1; Tiripano 10-0-66-2; Chibhabha 3-0-22-0; Roche Bowling: Amir 7-1-21-1; U Khan 5-1-21-2 (1w); Ashraf scoring fluently, Pakistan put on Ryan Murray, on debut, was Since then, the 26-year-old Khan and opening batsman 7-0-54-1; W Masakadza 10-0-56-1 (1w) 5-0-14-2; Ali 4-2-6-1; S Khan 9-0-32-4; Malik 5-0-12-0 an opening stand of 113 in under the only Zimbabwean batsman Texan has been riding Imam-ul-Haq delivered career- 25 overs. to come to terms with Pakistan’s through the pain. best efforts to ensure that bat under grey, wintery skies this “I’m very happy with the Fakhar brought up his fourth attack, compiling a tidy unbeaten “My body is fighting Pakistan controlled the match morning. Then Khan made short career best, and I’ll try to bowl fifty of Pakistan’s tour but then 32 but Khan dismissed four of extremely hard just to recover throughout. work of Zimbabwe’s lower order even better in the next game,” hit a return catch to debutant off- Zimbabwe’s last five to ensure from a broken bone, and Imam cracked a career-best to collect 4 for 32 as the hosts Khan said, adding that the spinner Liam Roche. Imam then the hosts slumped to the lowest when you add the toll the 128 to set up Pakistan’s 308 for were bowled out in the 35th surface “was a bit on the slow shifted through the gears to bring ODI total recorded at the Queens Tour de France naturally 7 after they had been put in to over. side. I’ve been here with Pakistan up a 109-ball hundred in the 37th Sports Club takes on one’s body, it’s quite a lot,” Craddock, his eyebrow still swollen from the crash, told reporters before the start India’s Natwest hero Kaif retires at 37 of stage four. After seven stages, AFP Kaif played that I retire from all forms the win by taking off his Craddock may be firm 125 one-day of cricket on this day,” Kaif shirt and waving it from the favourite to remain the race’s NEW DELHI: Indian said in a video message on Lord’s balcony, one of the ‘lanterne rouge’ or red lantern batsman Mohammad Kaif internationals Twitter. game’s most enduring - the last rider in the yesterday retired from all during his six- “It’s been a while since images. standings, a full hour off the forms of cricket -- nearly 12 year career and I last played for India, so Kaif, who played just 13 leader and about 17 minutes years after he last stepped is famous for his people think that I am Tests for India, last featured down on the second-last out to play an international already retired but I was in an ODI against South rider. The EF Education First- match for his country. match-winning 87 busy playing domestic Africa in November 2006 Drapac rider, however, has Kaif, who played 125 in the Natwest final cricket. before falling off the turned his misfortune into one-day internationals against England at “But it’s time to thank selectors’ radar. fundraising. or every stage he during his six-year career, Lord’s in 2002. all those who helped me He scored 2,753 runs in finishes, Craddock donates Indian batsman is famous for his match- along this journey, my one-day cricket and 624 $100 to the Greater Houston Mohammad Kaif (left) winning 87 in the Natwest family, and team-mates.” runs from 13 Tests. Cycling Foundation, which celebrates with Zaheer final against England at memorable knock -- July Kaif anchored India’s Kaif rose to prominence runs the Alkek Velodrome Khan after winning the Lord’s in 2002. 13. 326-run chase during his after captaining India to after it was badly damaged Natwest final against The 37-year-old Kaif, a “It was 16 years back 121-run partnership with their first Under-19 World by Hurricane Harvey last England at Lord’s in this lightning quick fielder and on this day -- July 13 -- Yuvraj Singh to give his Cup title in 2000. year. 2002 file photo. a useful middle-order that we won the Natwest team a two-wicket win in He is now a cricket He has also started an batsman, decided to quit on Trophy and I played an the last over. Indian captain analyst and a popular Hindi online fundraiser and after six the same day he hit the important role. So it’s apt Sourav Ganguly celebrated commentator. stages has collected $40,000. SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018 SPORT 23 Anderson topples Isner in Wimbledon epic to reach final REUTERS

LONDON: It was a case of better late than never as Kevin Anderson reached his first Wimbledon final with a heart- stopping 7-6(6) 6-7(5) 6-7(9) 6-4 26-24 win over the sport’s perennial ultra marathon man John Isner yesterday. After being kept on the run for six hours and 36 minutes, the longest ever singles semi-final at the All England Club, how the 32-year-old was still standing was anyone’s guess. When it was all done and dusted, there were no wild roars, no fist pumping and no raised arms in celebration - all Anderson had left in him was to give Isner a sympathetic hug after he came out on top in the second longest match ever con- tested at the All England Club. “I don’t know what to say right now. Just playing like that in those conditions was really tough on both of us. At the end you feel like it is a draw, but someone has to win,” a drained Anderson, who had sensationally beaten defending champion Roger Federer in another nail-biting five South Africa’s Kevin Anderson setter two days ago, said. celebrates winning his Wimbledon “John is a great guy and I semi-final match against John Isner really feel for him. If I was on the of the USA at the All England Lawn opposite side I don’t know how Tennis and Croquet Club, in London, you can take that playing for so Britain yesterday. long and coming out short... getting through something like that is quite different. success he has had. I have to say enshrined in Wimbledon folklore first South African man to reach thunderbolt aces but it was the The eighth seed will face “I’ve known John for such a congratulations to John on a for winning the “endless match” the Wimbledon final for 97 years. 32-year-old South African who either twice champion Rafael long time, he is a great guy. To great tournament, semi-finals - an 11 hour five minute hum- A showdown between two delivered the knockout blow. Nadal or three-times winner be honest he has pushed me here is a remarkable dinger against Nicolas Mahut in tennis skyscrapers - with Isner After watching Isner strike a Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final. through my career and had a achievement and hopefully he 2010 - Anderson needed five topping the 6 foot 8 Anderson by weary forehand wide, Anderson Brian Norton was the last great one himself. I have pushed can come back stronger.” nerve-shredding sets to topple two inches - predictably featured advanced to the Wimbledon final South African man to reach the myself harder because of the Playing Isner who is the American and become the three tiebreaks and 102 at the 10th time of asking. final in 1921. Lorenzo fastest in German Moto Grand Prix practice AFP MotoGP website. time world champion. Reigning world champion “We tried to do something SACHSENRING, GERMANY: Marquez has won the top-class about it this afternoon, but Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo race at the Sachsenring for the unfortunately we weren’t able recorded the quickest time in last five years and is bidding for to improve. We have to continue practice on Friday for the his ninth straight German GP and try to be stronger German Grand Prix at the Sach- win in total. tomorrow.” senring, with championship The Honda rider, who leads Marquez’s Honda team- leader Marc Marquez fifth the riders’ standings by 41 points mate Dani Pedrosa, who fastest. from Italian great Valentino announced on Thursday that he Three-time MotoGP world Rossi, was 0.464sec slower than will end his 17-year career at the champion Lorenzo clocked a Lorenzo. end of the season, was almost a best time of one minute and “It was a good first day, even second-and-a-half down on 20.85 seconds on his Ducati. if our opponents are all closer Lorenzo in 20th on the Danilo Petrucci, who is compared to last year,” Marquez timesheets. The surprise of the reportedly replacing Lorenzo at said. “Tomorrow we’ll try and day was Japanese rider Takaaki the factory Ducati team next take another little step with the Nakagami, who was seventh, Japan’s Ryuya Yamanaka (right) and Vic Saludar of the Philippines fight during their WBO season when the Spaniard setup, because I’m not yet able while Finn Mika Kallio, a KTM minimumweight title boxing bout in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture, yesterday. leaves for Honda, was second to make the bike slide like I wild-card, was taken to hospital on a Ducati Pramac, 0.257sec want.” for tests after injuring his right behind. Andrea Iannone, who Yamaha struggled all day, knee in a fall. recorded the best time in the though, as Maverick Vinales had In Moto2, Spaniard Xavi Rage against ‘The Machine’: opening session, was third for to settle for the sixth-quickest Vierge edged compatriot Alex Suzuki at 0.319sec while Andrea time, with the 39-year-old Rossi Marquez and German Marcel Dovizioso was fourth on the all the way down in 17th place. Schroetter. In Moto3, German second factory Ducati. “When we try to put power Philipp Oettl, on a KTM, finished Pacquiao puts career on line “We have a good oppor- on the ground we spin the tyre faster than the Hondas of Italian AFP tunity here to fight for the a lot and we suffer, because Tony Arbolino and Spaniard in a glittering 23-year career, senator in the Philippines and podium and victory is not when we lose acceleration we Jorge Martin, the championship would extend his legendary is tipped one day to run for pres- impossible,” Lorenzo told the lose drive,” lamented the nine- leader. KUALA LUMPUR: Filipino status and his life in the ring ident. “His metabolism is ridic- legend Manny Pacquiao chal- beyond his 40th birthday in ulous. He’s a freak.” Matthysse Ducati Team’s Spanish rider Jorge Lorenzo lenges Lucas “The Machine” December. (39-4, 36 KOs) paid tribute to steers his bike during the second training Matthysse for the World Boxing “I am not saying it will be Pacquiao but warned that his session of the Moto GP for the Grand Prix Association welterweight belt the last (fight), but it will be the admiration for one of the of Germany at the Sachsenring Circuit in tomorrow knowing defeat could basis to think about (whether) world’s greatest pound-for- Hohenstein-Ernstthal, eastern Germany, lower the curtain on one of the to continue or not,” Pacquiao pound fighters would not stop yesterday. greatest careers in boxing SAID at his training camp. him from taking his belt back to history. But “Pac-Man’s” condi- South America. Pacquiao, 39, faced calls to tioning coach Justin Fortune “He is a great champion but retire from friends, family and thinks the world will see “the old he still hasn’t faced ‘The even his Hall of Fame trainer Pacquiao” return and silence Machine’,” Argentina’s Mat- Freddie Roach when he lost the those who question whether his thysse told a pre-fight press WBO belt to journeyman Aus- aging body still has the ability conference. tralian Jeff Horn a year ago. to compete against the world’s “If he decides to retire after A second successive defeat, best. I beat him then that is his this time against the dangerous Pacquiao is going for his decision. I am here to defend my Argentine at Kuala Lumpur’s 60th victory since turning pro title.” Axiata Arena tomorrow, could in 1995, but despite winning 38 Knock-out specialist Mat- see the veteran “National Fist” of his first 47 fights by knockout, thysse has finished 36 of his 39 hang up his gloves for good. he has not stopped an opponent wins inside the distance and But victory for Pacquiao in nine years. took the vacant WBA belt after (59-7-2, 38 KOs), who has won “He looks like the old Pac- an eighth-round stoppage of world titles in an unprece- quiao,” declared Fortune of the Thailand’s Teerachai Sith- dented eight weight divisions boxer who is also an elected morseng in January. SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018 SPORT 24

Dejected England, Belgium aim to leave World Cup on a high

AFP

SAINT PETERSBURG: England manager Gareth Southgate admits the World Cup third- place play-off is a game that no team wants to play, but today’s match against Belgium offers the chance to finish the tournament on a winning note. A gut-wrenching 2-1 loss to Croatia after extra-time denied England a shot at a second World Cup triumph, instead setting up a consolation game against familiar foes Belgium. Roberto Martinez’s side, who were beaten 1-0 by France in the last four, topped Group G ahead of England after an Adnan Januzaj goal settled a low-key encounter in Kaliningrad. That game saw both coaches heavily rotate their teams, and a similar scenario is likely in Saint Petersburg, with several fringe players pushing for a start. “The honest thing is, it’s not a game any team wants to play in,” said Southgate, whose side have drawn praise for the way they have briefly united a country bitterly divided over Brexit. However, he insisted that will not alter England’s approach as they look to achieve their best finish since they won the com- petition in 1966. “We’ll want to give a per- formance of huge pride, there’s no question about that,” said Southgate. England’s Harry Kane during a training session in Saint Petersburg, Russia, “Every time we wear the yesterday. INSET: Belgium players during a training session in Moscow on Thursday. shirt of our national team we want to play with pride, we want to play well and we want to win.” Reserve goalkeepers Jack Butland and Nick Pope are the only two members of England’s Vertonghen will probably be 23-man squad yet to feature in gone by then. Russia, as Southgate stuck with Martinez, who signed an the same line-up throughout the extension until after Euro 2020 knockout phase. in May, can guide Belgium to the You need to try to England’s Southgate For Belgium and their nation’s best result at the World see the opportunity “golden generation”, many of Cup. They finished fourth in the key players should return 1986. of finishing third at for the 2022 World Cup, even “We want to finish on a high the World Cup. That cites Germany blueprint if Vincent Kompany and Jan and these players deserve to doesn’t happen too often, so we need 3.  1 (!#- to understand that as model for success this is an important    AFP could be extended until beyond     game: Belgium coach Thv‡ Qr‡r †iˆ t the 2022 World Cup, giving Roberto Martinez SAINT PETERSBURG: England England stability.  .,"/0" ., manager Gareth Southgate “We’ve set a benchmark for 6yy‡v€r (pictured) hopes his team can how we work,” he said. €rr‡vt† finish on a high,” said the ride the momentum generated “There is a culture that #%&( #$#* Spaniard. “You need to try to see by their run to the World Cup exists now that any new player the opportunity of finishing third semi-finals and follow the path that comes in has to follow.”   at the World Cup. That doesn’t Germany took to the top of “We’re here to improve every ,*    happen too often, so we need to international football. time we play,” he continued.      understand that this is an Southgate and his players “There were low expecta-   important game. have been hailed back home tions that relieved the pressure         “But I would accept it is very after reaching the last four for coming into the tournament       difficult when you had the the first time since 1990, and but still pressure to get out of    !" #$ !"# #%&   ambition of getting to the final. for bringing together a nation the group, win a knockout ('% ! #$ #"! #%& (%% It’s very difficult to prepare for bitterly divided over Brexit. game and win a shootout and 0., /0 /3, 25.1 25.6"0 the next game.” “They see a team that they coped with that. & &"! Hh‡pu '% ("# European teams have leaves everything on the pitch, “If you want to play for B ‚ˆƒ B B ‚ˆƒ B claimed third place at the past which they have, and played England you have to cope with vr '% *"( Hh‡pu ! & '"# ˆr ˆƒ nine World Cups. with style. I think the public that. Players can now associate #$ #"! Hh‡pu " 5 #%& !"# The Netherlands beat Brazil have enjoyed it,” Southgate said of their public,” said Southgate. playing for England with ( &"( Gh†‡ % &+ #"# Qr† #" 3-0 in 2014 after the hosts were before today’s third place play- “The downside was it took enjoyment, fun and not feeling ) ("# Rsvhy $ ("! embarrassed 7-1 by Germany in off against Belgium. them another eight years to win under siege as if everything is 55* !"# Tsvhy  #"( 6@U the semi-finals. “They’ve got to know the (the World Cup). I’m not against them.”   102 /3/304 /./3 /31 England skipper Harry Kane players a little bit better and looking for eight years by the The sense that a once-in-          is the tournament’s top scorer on realised the perception is dif- way but internationally you a-lifetime opportunity may #$ $ #( six goals, while Belgium striker ferent from the reality. I feel have to wait every two years. have passed Southgate and his %$ ' -# Romelu Lukaku trails by two in there’ll be an affinity and “We’ll be stronger then squad by still clearly resonates &' # (! the race for the Golden Boot. something we can build on.” because of age and big-match with the England boss. ())' &$ ('%* With one more goal Kane He used the example of the experiences that build “None of us knows if that’s &*  &$ would become the highest scorer feel-good aspect of Germany’s resilience.” as good as it gets,” he said, after  *$+ *&+ at the competition since 2002, performance at the 2006 finals, Bobby Robson and Terry England were beaten 2-1 by when Ronaldo struck eight times, where the hosts -- with a young Venables, the last two men to Croatia in extra-time on     Tƒhpr†uvƒyvxr including twice in the final, as team like the current England lead England to semi-finals -- Wednesday.   r †‡hqvˆ€ Brazil clinched a record fifth title. crop -- won over a nation at the 1990 World Cup and “We were 20 minutes from 8hƒhpv‡’) qr†vtrq The Tottenham forward despite losing to Italy in the Euro 96 -- left their jobs imme- a World Cup final and then in %& i’ ‚‡rq Ehƒhr†r would be just the second England semi-finals. “The youth and diately afterwards. extra-time about 10 minutes h puv‡rp‡ player to scoop the award, after enthusiasm of the team pro- However, Southgate has a from penalties to get into the ,-&  Gary Lineker was the top scorer pelled them back into the minds contract until 2020, which final.” %.* *  in 1986.