WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016 SPORTS ‘Zlincester’: Czech league’s answer to Leicester

PRAGUE: After only nine matches, a provin- bottom in the spring,” Panik said, referring to a vage a draw. “Given the development of the cial soccer club from eastern winless streak in early 2016. ZLIN: In this Oct. 1, game, it’s a victory for us that the team man- is starting to draw comparisons with Premier “The players well remember that and 2016 file photo Zlin aged to come back,” Panik said. Panik is an League champion Leicester. don’t want to go through it again. The team coach Bohumil Panik admirer of some great coaches, including FC Fastav Zlin, a 900-1 shot to win the has learned a lesson.” shouts during the Italian master tactician Giovanni Trapattoni Czech league title and already dubbed This season, Zlin is five points ahead of Czech First League and Karel Bruckner, known for his free-flowing “Zlincester,” is in the early title hunt with the Sparta and trails leaders Mlada soccer match attacking soccer as Czech national team coach. country’s traditional powers. “It’s a nice com- Bloeslav and Viktoria Plzen by only one point. between Zlin and The 59-year-old Panik, who has experi- parison,” Zlin coach Bohumil Panik said in a With its budget estimated to be less than $2 Jablonec in Zlin. The ence from coaching several Polish clubs, recent interview. “It pleases me. million a year, a stadium that seats just over top Czech league including Lech Poznan, applies tactics that Leicester is, for a small club like us, an 6,000 spectators and no big successes in the has a candidate to suit the players he has available at Zlin. example to follow.” Leicester surprised just past, Zlin is a very unlikely candidate to chal- win the title against For instance, attacking midfielder about everybody last season, starting well in lenge the Czech heavyweights. Under the all odds, and Vukadin Vukadinovic, one of the fastest play- the and holding on to win name Gottwaldov, it only once played in emulate Leicester’s ers in the league, has become a lethal the English title for the first time in its history. major European competition, and was elimi- stunning triumph in weapon under Panik by creating chances Zlin, a town of 75,000 where in 1894 Tomas nated in the first round of the Cup Winners’ the English Premier from his runs down the right flank. Bata founded what was to become a global Cup by PSV Eindhoven in 1970. League. — AP Vukadinovic’s previous club, Slavia Prague, shoe empire, started as a soccer team in Yet this season, the Cobblers beat defending failed to find use for his speed. 1919 and made its debut in Czechoslovakia’s champion Viktoria Plzen 2-0, held Sparta Prague It’ll take a team effort to win the title, but first division in 1938. The team has never won to a 1-1 draw and so far have six wins and three Zlin is on the right track so far - just like that the title, and did well to even stay in the top draws. Similar to Leicester, Zlin’s unheralded mistakes. But the team has also proved it is counters on Saturday. Zlin trailed 2-0, but in a team from England last year. “Leicester is a league after finishing only three points above players rely on a well-organized defense and ready to adapt, like when visiting Jablonec display of undying fighting spirit, the team ral- story that reminds me of a fairytale,” Panik the relegation zone last season. “We hit the fast counter-attacks, punishing any defensive altered its tactics and focused on defense and lied for two goals in the final six minutes to sal- said. “I like fairytales.” — AP Emotional Bonucci calls on spirit of Euro for Spain test

MILAN: Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci believes Italy will have to reproduce their stirring Euro 2016 last 16 victory over Spain if they are to beat ‘La Roja’ in Turin tomorrow. Italy began their World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign against Israel last month when Bonucci, despite undergoing a family crisis, was part of the team that secured a precious won 3-1 in Haifa. Giam Piero Ventura’s men now face the much tougher task of a Spain side that has its sights firmly on claiming top spot and automatic qualification for Russia 2018. The sides last met at Euro 2016 where Italy, then under the helm of Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, ended Spain’s chances of a hat- trick of titles with a 2-0 win in the last 16. BOGOTA: FIFA’s President Gianni Infantino takes selfies during a friendly football Bonucci hopes the familiar surroundings of match with former Colombian players and international football stars in Bogota, on Juventus Stadium will be beneficial. Monday. Infantino arrived in Colombia to attend the final of the Colombia 2016 FIFA “Walking out into Juventus Stadium is always Futsal World Cup. — AFP a special feeling, it feels like home and gives me a different kind of energy,” Bonucci said yester- day. But he warned: “Spain will be in a new state Infantino suggests of mind and will be looking to avenge their Euro 2016 defeat to us. “We will have to step up a gear 48-team World Cup with respect to how we played against Israel.” In the wake of their Euro 2016 exit, Vicente del Bosque was replaced by former Porto man- GENEVA: World Cup expansion plans got The FIFA ruling council’s decision on the FLORENCE: Italy’s Graziano Pelle, left, and Leonardo Bonucci attend a training session of the ager Julen Lopetegui, who steered Spain to an 8- even bigger Monday, and the 2026 tourna- 2026 format is expected within months and is Italian nationalsoccer team ahead of tomorrow’s World Cup Group G qualifying match against 0 win over Liechtenstein in their Group G opener ment could have 48 teams playing instead of set to be a defining issue of Infantino’s presi- Spain, at the Coverciano training center, near Florence, Italy, Monday. — AP in Leon last month. 32. FIFA President Gianni Infantino outlined dency before he is due for re-election in 2019. Chelsea striker Diego Costa, Real Madrid strik- a similar performance to the one at Euro 2016,” emotional as he admitted the experience had the idea that would see 16 teams go home Infantino wooed FIFA voters by promising er Alvaro Morata and Manchester City midfielder he said. “We need to be fast, and clinical.” put the importance of professional sport into after playing just one game in a new opening a 40-team World Cup before winning election David Silva all hit a brace, with Barcelona Italy conclude their autumn qualifiers with perspective. playoff round. in February. He is completing the mandate of defender Sergi Roberto and City striker Nolito back-to-back trips to Macedonia and “What happened in the past two months has The 16 playoff winners would join 16 seed- Sepp Blatter, who supported a 32-team World adding one apiece. Liechtenstein on Sunday and Wednesday made me stronger, and I want to thank my son ed teams to begin a 32-team group stage that Cup. Now Infantino believes that “with 40 It left Spain top of the group-synonomous respectively. For Bonucci, it will amount to more and my wife because we faced a tough time and follows the current World Cup format. teams, the math doesn’t work.” “You could with automatic qualification for Russia 2018. time spent with his family-a welcome luxury fought through it together,” said Bonucci. Expanding to 48 means “more countries and have a tournament in which the 16 best Bonucci said there will only be one team to beat only two months after he and wife Martina had “It’s time like these you realise what is regions all over the world would be happy,” teams advance to a group stage and the in this qualifying campaign. to rush their two-year-old son Matteo to hospital important in life. Hearing criticism always Infantino said in a speech in Bogota, other 16 will came out of a ‘playoff’ ahead “They have the best players. All you need is a for an emergency operation. makes you try to improve your performance Colombia.Infantino’s suggested format would of the group stage, and the World Cup could look at their squad list to tell you that. To upset Despite the 29-year-old’s commitment to but what happens in real life is more important create a tournament of 80 matches instead of end up with 48 teams,” Infantino said at a uni- the predictions, we’re going to have to produce the Juventus and Italy cause, Bonucci was than a bad pass.” — AFP the current 64 - driving up the price broad- versity in the Colombian capital. casters would pay for rights to the world’s How to define the “best” teams could most-watched sports event. FIFA earned ignite debate if seeding is decided on the around $5 billion from the 2014 tournament merit of recent results, or a national team’s in Brazil. The 2026 World Cup format and bid- historical record at past World Cups. ding process will begin to be discussed next On current FIFA rankings, the 16 best week when Infantino chairs a FIFA Council teams all come from Europe and South meeting in Zurich. America, except for 15th-ranked Mexico. The United States, Canada and Mexico are Infantino’s previous employer, UEFA, pro- potential bidders for a tournament that the voked anger in recent weeks by changing North American soccer body CONCACAF future Champions League seeding and prize believes it is overdue to host for the first time money distribution rules that favor traditional since the US staged the World Cup in 1994. powers over emerging teams. Confident Bradley ready for Swans challenge

LOS ANGELES: If self-belief was any guaran- that his team had stagnated under his reign. tee of footballing success, Swansea may have The Princeton graduate was not out of work picked a winner in appointing Bob Bradley as for long however, taking over as coach of their new boss. in 2011. He earned respect for opting The 58-year-old became the first American to continue to live in Cairo during the unrest ever to be appointed as head coach of a team in the years that followed the country’s revo- in one of Europe’s top five leagues on lution, eyes fixed firmly on the prize of help- Monday when he was named to take over ing the Pharaohs reach the World Cup for the from the sacked Francesco Guidolin at the first time since 1990. English Premier League side. For Bradley, the Ultimately though, Bradley’s reign ended appointment is the opportunity he has long in disappointment, his team soundly beaten craved to prove he is capable of mixing it at 7-3 on aggregate in their play-off with Ghana. the highest level after a career which has Bradley returned to club football after that included spells as the coach of both the USA setback, spending a year with Norwegian side and Egypt as well as stints in Major League Stabaek and helping them qualify for the Soccer, Norway and France. Europa League after securing a third place In an interview with Sirius XM radio earlier finish. In 2015, Bradley headed to France, and this year, Bradley maintained that despite his came within a whisker of gaining promotion relatively modest CV, he believes he is in the to with second tier side Le Havre. Le BURTON-UPON-TRENT: England’s caretaker manager Gareth Southgate (C) watches his players during a training session at England’s training same sort of bracket as some of the leading Havre just missed out on a place in the facility at St George’s Park in Burton-upon-Trent, in central England yesterday, ahead of England’s 2018 World Cup qualifying football match coaches in world football. “When I have a topflight after a wild final day of the season, against Malta on October 8. — AFP chance to observe different managers, the when his team won 5-0 but fell one goal short ones that do good work, I mention (Mauricio) of supplanting Metz for the final promotion Pochettino, (Jurgen) Klopp, [Thomas] Tuchel spot. Perhaps understandably, Bradley’s Rooney wants united front that took over for Klopp at Dortmund, he’s a appointment has so far failed to capture the fantastic young manager,” Bradley said. imagination of Swansea fans. “We haven’t even talked about the (Pep) after Sam Allardyce exit Guardiolas and the (Carlo) Ancelottis. But I’ll SHREWD FOOTBALLING MIND tell you what, maybe I’m stupid, but I think I’m Announcement of his appointment on the a manager in and around that level. “I’m not club’s Twitter feed on Monday drew howls of LONDON: Wayne Rooney has called on cerned about,” Rooney said on Tuesday. 21s, and he’s got an opportunity to show what saying I’m better than these guys-I haven’t anguish from supporters, many of whom England’s stars to stick together as they get back “It’s a shame, everyone could see how excited he can do at senior level,” Rooney added. had those types of opportunities-but I think expressed anger at the summary dismissal of to work following Sam Allardyce’s shock depar- Sam was for the job and he came in and showed “He’ll bring his own way of working, it’s going people that have played for me have always Guidolin by the club’s new American owners ture. Allardyce was forced to resign as England that enthusiasm to the players. “It’s a shame it’s to be good to see what that is in the next week. felt that the experience in the team was differ- after only nine months. Those who have manager after just 67 days and one game in happened and I’m sure he deeply regrets it. It We have to buy into his ways and take his ideas ent, that training was challenging, that there worked with Bradley, however, speak of a charge following his controversial comments to was a decision for the FA to take. on board.” Rooney’s role with England has been were a lot of things done to help them shrewd footballing mind who would have been undercover newspaper reporters investigating “As a group of players we need to stick under heavy scrutiny since his lacklustre displays become better players and better people.” granted a job in one of Europe’s top leagues football corruption. together and concentrate on the football. For during a disappointment Euro 2016 campaign. before had it not been for his nationality. Gareth Southgate will server as England’s the FA I’m sure it has been a tough couple of Relieved that Southgate remains firmly on his GLOBE-TROTTING CAREER “I am 100 percent convinced if he wasn’t interim boss for the next four matches and one weeks but for the players we’ve been with our side, Rooney hopes to repay his faith against Bradley, who did not play professionally, American he would have got a big job some- of his first decisions was to retain Manchester clubs and we have to focus on the games.” Malta and then in another qualifier next has endured highs and lows during a globe- where,” Le Havre assistant Pierre Barrieu told United striker Rooney as his captain. The start of Rooney’s England career inter- Tuesday. “There was a lot of talk over whether I’d trotting coaching career. the New York Times in January. “There is this Rooney is set to lead England in Saturday’s sected briefly with the end of Southgate’s inter- be captain or not, so it was good Gareth put that He took the USA into the last 16 of the US tag on his back.” Other observers are less World Cup qualifier against Malta at Wembley national days just over a decade ago. to bed quite early and there wasn’t the specula- 2010 World Cup, qualifying from the first sure. Gary Lineker, the former England cap- and the 30-year-old is eager to focus on football And Rooney backed the temporary appoint- tion,” Rooney said. “We’ve got two games this round ahead of England. Bradley was fired tain turned broadcaster, was among many after a difficult period for the national side. “We ment of the England Under-21 boss as the ideal week that we have to win. Whether that was from the US job in 2011 after a disappointing who questioned the appointment. “As gam- need to build on the three points we won in the solution to a difficult situation. with Gareth or Sam we have to try and get six defeat to Mexico in the final of the Gold Cup, bles go, this is right up there,” Lineker wrote last game (against ), and the other side “When I first got into the squad he was in the points. If we do that Gareth will be happy and ultimately paying the price for the perception on Twitter. —AFP of it isn’t our issue, it’s nothing for us to be con- squad then. He’s done a very job with the Under- we’ll be happy.” — AFP