FOOTBALL | Page 3 FORMULA 1 | Page 6 Argentina’s Hamilton Messi seeks boosted for redemption ground-breaking against Croatia F1 triple-header

Thursday, June 21, 2018 FOOTBALL Shawwal 7, 1439 AH Ronaldo earns GULF TIMES edgy Portugal 1-0 win against Morocco SPORT Page 2

REPORT IRN 0-1 ESP Lucky Costa goal sees Spain past Iran

It was Costa’s third goal in this World Cup

AFP Spain coach Fernando Hi- ing close in the fi nal minutes Kazan, Russia erro welcomed Real Madrid’s when midfi elder Mehdi Tare- Dani Carvajal back into the mi headed just over. starting line-up following his Shortly after the restart an lucky Diego Costa recovery from a hamstring Isco corner was fl icked on by goal handed World injury suff ered in the Cham- Costa to Gerard Pique but his Cup hopefuls Spain pions League fi nal win over eff ort was cleared off the line. their fi rst win of the Liverpool. Sergio Busquets’ drive WorldA Cup although dogged With Lucas Vazquez re- from 20 yards was then par- Iran came close to causing a placing Atletico Madrid mid- ried by Beiranvand, who major upset yesterday. fi elder Koke, it gave La Roja palmed the rebound away The victory in Kazan puts a distinctively Real Madrid before Lucas Vazquez could the 2010 winners on course feel. pounce. for the last 16. By the end of a pulsating Some great vision from Costa, who scored twice in opening half in which Iran’s Iniesta, and a slice of luck, a 3-3 opening draw with Por- defence thwarted the few real however broke Iranian hearts tugal in Sochi, courted con- chances La Roja were able when Costa spun and latched troversy early in the Group B to create, Hierro’s men left on to the ball before seeing encounter when he stepped the pitch looking rather red- his shot rebound off Ramin on the toes of Iran ‘keeper Ali faced. Rezaeian and into the net. Beiranvand as he waited to Costa got so frustrated Spain, however, were still kick the ball out. with Iran’s defensive tac- fl attering to deceive. His gesture went unpun- tics that he approached Bei- On a rare counter goal- ished, and the Atletico Ma- ranvand and provocatively keeper David De Gea was left drid striker required another stepped on his toes, leaving irate when Taremi rose to stroke of luck on 54 minutes the ‘keeper in visible pain. head a metre wide. when his shot came off Ram- It went unpunished by Moments later, the sta- in Rezaeian to beat Beiran- Uruguayan referee Cunha, dium erupted when Ezatolahi vand after he had been sent who had awarded France a fi red through a packed Spain through by Andres Iniesta. historic fi rst VAR-assisted area to beat De Gea but the The entire Iranian bench penalty that saw Antoine assistant referee’s fl ag was poured onto the pitch when Griezmann score Les Bleus’ up. Saeid Ezatolahi fi red an opener in a 2-1 win over Aus- In the fi nal quarter hour equaliser for the Lions of tralia. Iran battled for a late equal- Persia just before the hour. Spain resumed in more iser, but after Vahid Amiri But the thousands of Ira- positive fashion after the showed class to nutmeg nian supporters that fi lled the break, Beiranvand forced to Pique deep on the left and fi re stadium with the sound of produce heroics twice in the over an inviting cross, Tare- vuvuzelas throughout were space of four minutes. mi’s thundering header fl ew left disappointed when it was But Iran refused to buckle, just over the bar as a relieved Spain’s Diego Costa ruled out for off side. Carlos Queiroz’s men com- De Gea looked on. celebrates after scoring a goal against Iran yesterday. (Reuters)

SPOTLIGHT ‘Better me than the players’: Southgate, Never mind Neymar — does Coutinho hold the keys for Brazil? England’s fi rst AFP the wake of Neymar’s departure for says he is not motivated by personal injury casualty Sochi, Russia Paris Saint-Germain, the two players glory. fi nd themselves playing on the same “I don’t like to speak about myself. side of the pitch for their country. It is not something I have in my head,” AFP hatever becomes of Brazil “For me the last six months have he says. Repino, Russia at this World Cup will in- been really good,” said the softly- But the question is whether he is evitably be seen through spoken Coutinho as he appeared for the man to dictate the rhythm of the the prism of Neymar the media at the Brazilian team’s game for Brazil, with Tite — whose ngland manager Gareth Southgate Wand his state of fi tness, but Philippe training camp in the Black Sea resort players call him The Professor — se- admitted his World Cup celebra- Coutinho has already shown that he of Sochi this week. lecting him on the left of a midfi eld tions will be more muted for the re- could hold the keys for Tite’s side. “In terms of my role in the national three. mainder of the tournament after Coutinho’s trademark, curling team, we have a squad of great play- Rather than starting on the wing, dislocatingE his shoulder while out running strike from outside the box in Sun- ers. Everyone knows his responsibil- he fi nds himself behind an attack of yesterday. day’s 1-1 draw against Switzerland ity.” Willian, Gabriel Jesus and Neymar. Southgate leapt from the bench in joy as that kicked off Brazil’s campaign in Renato Augusto has made way, Harry Kane scored an injury-time winner Russia capped a performance that led TENDENCY TO DISAPPEAR while Fernandinho, brilliant for Man- to get England’s campaign off to a winning to him winning the man of the match The former Liverpool player was left chester City, is also reduced to the start against Tunisia on Monday. award. out of the squad by Luiz Felipe Scolari role of substitute. “I might not be celebrating any goals as Neymar, meanwhile, only showed four years ago, but became key for his Brazil legend Zico has accused athletically in future,” joked Southgate, in a fl ashes of his genius. country when they sought to rebuild Coutinho of “disappearing” from statement from the Football Association af- On other occasions he appeared to in the wake of the 7-1 humiliation games at times, but he does off er a ter being treated in hospital near England’s slow Brazil down, and his inability against Germany in that year’s semi- very diff erent profi le to the more ro- training base in Repino, 45 kilometres north- to change the game for the Selecao is fi nals. bust Paulinho or Casemiro alongside west of Saint Petersburg. “The doc has made hardly a surprise given it was just his After being reduced to the role of him. it clear that punching the air is not an option.” second start since a foot operation in spectator in 2014, his introduction to “I have already played in that po- England have been blessed by a lack of March. the Brazilian camp in Russia involved sition a lot for Liverpool, and some- injuries in the build-up to their bid to end In contrast, Coutinho looks in being the victim of an ‘ovada’ — he times for Barcelona. In terms of dis- a 52-year wait to win a major international prime form coming into tomorrow’s was chased by his teammates before appearing, I just always try to do my tournament. game against Costa Rica in Saint having an egg cracked over his head best,” he said. And Southgate said he was happier to take Petersburg, fresh from a successful and being showered in fl our to mark “Sometimes things don’t come off the blow rather than one of his players. bedding-in period at Barcelona after his 26th birthday. the way we want them to and people “It is better this is me than one of the his 160 million euro ($194mn) switch Coutinho is the same age as Ney- he had contributed four goals in a friendly. comment, but I just need to keep in players,” he added. “I am just a bit gutted there in January. mar, and capable of being just as de- storming second half to Brazil’s qual- However, while Neymar appears to my head the idea of helping the team because I was on for my record 10k time!” While he moved to the Camp Nou cisive. ifying campaign, and netted another be driven by the prospect of being the in the way I know how and the way ‘O England’s campaign continues on Sunday as part of Barcelona’s rebuilding in Before his strike against the Swiss in Austria in their fi nal warm-up world’s best player, Coutinho himself Professor’ Tite needs.” against Panama. 85 international goals for Cristiano Ronaldo is a new record for a European player 2 Gulf Times Thursday, June 21, 2018

REPORT POR 1-0 MAR

Morocco, who failed to convert Ronaldo earns edgy their chances, have no points and cannot progress to the Portugal 1-0 win second round

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates his goal during the match against Morocco yesterday. (Reuters)

Reuters tournament after four minutes, fol- Moutinho swung in a cross from a Moscow lowing his last-gasp equaliser in a short corner and Ronaldo duly bur- hat-trick in the 3-3 draw with Spain, ied the header. to take the European champions to It was his 85th international goal, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez celebrates his goal against Saudi Arabia yesterday. (Reuters) below-par Portugal four points and top of Group B. Iran taking him beyond Hungarian Ferenc were again rescued have three points and Spain one Puskas’s European record, with only by Cristiano Ron- ahead of their meeting later yester- Iran’s Ali Daei ahead of him on 109. aldo’s eye for goal as day. Morocco coach Herve Renard said Athey stumbled to 1-0 victory Morocco, who had a real go at the he was unhappy at what he felt was REPORT URU 1-0 KSA over Morocco yesterday Luzhniki Stadium but failed to con- a foul by Pepe on Khalid Boutaib that that meant the unlucky vert their chances, are pointless hav- opened the way for the goal. North African side be- ing also lost 1-0 to Iran and cannot “We put a man at the front post come the fi rst to be progress to the second round. and when there is a crude foul on eliminated from Portugal struggled to impose this man who is prevented from get- the 2018 World themselves and ended up defending ting to the ball, it passes over and it’s Cup. for long spells, leaving coach Fern- Cristiano Ronaldo who pops up,” he Suarez marks 100th cap Ronaldo ando Santos unimpressed. “We have said. headed his to look at this, we lost control of the fourth game,” he said. PENALTY CLAIM goal of “We misplaced a lot of passes, we Morocco, in their fi rst fi nals appear- the lost confi dence... it was inexplica- ance for 20 years, regrouped well and with goal; Uruguay in KOs ble. If in a match against players like showed some real positivity in at- they have, if you don’t have the ball, tack with Hakim Ziyech and Nordin Reuters they wear you down and you get into Amrabat seeing plenty of the ball. Rostov-on-Don, Russia trouble.” Amrabat was furious at not being Despite their battling display, Mo- awarded a penalty after wrestling rocco will rue the unforgivable defend- with Raphael Guerreiro. uis Suarez marked his 100th rez ing that made all their subsequent The midfi elder had begun the international cap by sending has good work irrelevant — though game with head protection after be- Uruguay into the last 16 of the now they claimed a Portuguese foul ing seemingly knocked unconscious World Cup as the striker ben- scored was at the root of it. against Iran fi ve days ago in a sight Lefi ted from some poor goalkeeping to in three They qualifi ed for the that will have left medical profes- eliminate Saudi Arabia with a 1-0 win consecutive fi nals without conced- sionals fuming about football’s fee- yesterday. World Cups. ing a goal in six matches ble concussion protocols. Suarez tapped in midway through The Sau- yet somehow opted “I’m not a doctor. He is a warrior the fi rst half after keeper Mohamed dis continued against marking who wanted to play,” said Renard, al-Owais failed to grab the ball on a to move the ball the most danger- echoing the refrain that has caused corner. The goal put Uruguay second around but barely ous attacker at so much damage to sportsmen for in Group A with a maximum six points threatened the typi- the tourna- decades. behind hosts Russia. cally gritty Uruguay de- ment in the When they did manage to stop ap- Saudi Arabia, who have not won a fence. six yard box pealing and concentrate on playing, World Cup game since their debut in They suff ered a setback when Joao Morocco looked dangerous and were 1994, have zero points, just like Egypt, shortly before the interval as the dominant side in the second half. who lost 3-1 to Russia on Tuesday. veteran Taisir al-Jassim was Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio Depending on the result of their last replaced by Housain al-Mogahwi made a fantastic diving low save to group game against Russia, Uruguay with an apparent thigh injury. touch clear Younes Belhanda’s sharp will take on either Spain, Portugal or The second half was even scrap- header but Medhi Benatia’s blazed Iran, who are still on course in Group B Fans in Montevideo, Uruguay, celebrate Suarez’s goal during the match against Saudi Arabia yesterday. (Reuters) pier, with Saudi Arabia too limited to eff ort over the bar was more typical for a place in the quarter-fi nals. run riot as Uruguay were happy with a of their fi nishing from half-a-dozen Suarez’s goal was by no means pret- Arena before 42,678 fans. numerous chances, including one in The stadium burst into life in the 23rd narrow advantage. reasonable chances and they paid ty, but it did the trick. With temperatures reaching 33 de- the 14th minute when he skied a half minute however, when an unmarked They did come close to doubling the the ultimate price for their lack of “All we wanted to do was to win and grees Celsius, two-time world cham- volley over the bar. Suarez coolly tapped into an empty tally in the closing stages, however, a proven goalscorer. qualify for the next round. Today was pions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia got The Russian fans were the loudest, net from a corner kick after keeper when Lucas Torreira’s wild shot took Portugal have no such con- another demonstration that it is so off to a cautious start. chanting “Russia, Russia” as the rest al-Owais came out but misjudged his a defl ection off of Cavani and almost cerns and will seek to win the diffi cult to win a game in a World Cup,” Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani wasted of the arena appeared to doze off . jump and couldn’t reach the ball. Sua- beat al-Owais. group in their fi nal game said man-of-the-match Suarez. against Iran, while Mo- “This World Cup is proving that rocco face Spain, both what matters most is the result, and Standings on June 25. we’re very proud to have reached the last 16 for the third time in a row.” RESULT At least Suarez, who missed three P W D L GF GA Pts P W D L GF GA Pts P W D L GF GA Pts P W D L GF GA Pts Group B: Portu- sitters in Uruguay’s 1-0 opening win Group A Group C Group E Group G gal 1 (Ronaldo against Egypt, was his vintage effi cient Russia 2 2 0 0 8 1 6 France 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 Serbia 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Belgium 1 1 0 0 3 0 3 4) Morocco 0 self with his 52nd international goal Uruguay 2 2 0 0 2 0 6 Denmark 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Brazil 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 England 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 although he will not have dismissed Egypt 2 0 0 2 1 4 0 Australia 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Switzerland 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Tunisia 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 fears he was not 100 percent fi t. Saudi Arabia 2 0 0 2 0 6 0 Peru 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Costa Rica 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Panama 1 0 0 1 0 3 0 Saudi Arabia have not found the back of the net in their last four World Group B Group D Group F Group H Cup outings. Spain 2 1 1 0 4 3 4 Croatia 1 1 0 0 2 0 3 Mexico 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Japan 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 After a 5-0 drubbing by Russia in Portugal 2 1 1 0 4 3 4 Argentina 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Sweden 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 Senegal 1 1 0 0 2 1 3 the tournament’s opening game, they Iran 2 1 0 1 1 1 3 Iceland 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 Germany 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Colombia 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 were more playful but ultimately Morocco 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 Nigeria 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 South Korea 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Poland 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 comparatively toothless at the Rostov It’s 32 years since Argentina last won the World Cup and 25 since their last silverware, the Copa America in 1993 3 Gulf Times Thursday, June 21, 2018

PREVIEW ARG vs CRO NIZHNY NOVGOROD, 9PM Messi seeks redemption against dangerous Croatia Croatians are ebullient after comfortable 2-0 win over Nigeria, while Argentina played out 1-1 draw against Iceland

Reuters Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

tung by his failure to score a penalty and avert a disap- pointing draw against Iceland, Argentina’s brilliant forward andS captain Lionel Messi would love to make amends in their World Cup Group D match against Croatia today. But the Croatians go into the game in ebullient mood after a comfortable 2-0 win over Nigeria, and will look to add to the frustrations of Messi who has failed Croatia’s Luka Modric attends a training to replicate the glories of his Barcelona session near Saint Petersburg. (AFP) career on the international stage. Having led Argentina to an agonising fi nal defeat by Germany four years ago, Key facts Messi turns 31 in a few days and may be playing his last World Cup. He would Argentina began their World need to win it to rival fellow great Di- Cup with a disappointing 1-1 draw ego Maradona for the eternal love of his against Iceland that included a compatriots. missed penalty by Lionel Messi. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic has una- Croatia comfortably beat Nigeria shamedly turned to midfi elder Ivan 2-0. Rakitic — a teammate of Messi’s at Bar- Winners in 1978 and 1986, celona — for ideas and tactics to stop Argentina have qualified for 11 him. consecutive World Cups. They last picked up major silverware at the “There is no perfect way to stop 1993 Copa America. Lionel Messi... he is the greatest Despite the individual renown player in the world. But while of their attackers, Argentina man- one excellent player can make a aged just 19 goals in the South great result, a great team does the American qualifiers, the lowest by a job much better,” Croatia coach qualifying team since the single- Zlatko Dalic group format was adopted ahead of the 1998 finals. “I will use all the information I can,” Croatia have qualified for five he said, declaring Rakitic his temporary out of six World Cup tournaments “assistant” before the game. as an independent nation since “There is no perfect way to stop Li- they broke away from the former onel Messi... he is the greatest player in Yugoslavia in 1991, having missed the world. But while one excellent play- out only on the 2010 event in South er can make a great result, a great team Africa. does the job much better... We will go Their best result came in 1998, into the game a little bit more relaxed when they reached the semi-finals than them.” and finished third after a 2-1 win Those who followed closely Argen- over the Netherlands in the playoff . tina’s shaky qualifi cation for the World Argentina’s Lionel Messi (second from left) vies for the ball with Marcos Acuna (third from left) and Javier Mascherano (third from right) during a training session on the Cup were not so shocked by the result eve of their Group D match against Croatia in Bronnitsy, near Moscow, Russia, yesterday. (AFP) HEAD-TO-HEAD against Iceland, and do not expect them Argentina Draw Croatia to roll over Croatia despite their abun- boasting Messi and other big names like Iceland defeat, seeking to stir his team Croatia themselves are not short on and in pole position in the group, 2 1 1 dance of individual talent. Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio into collective greatness. top-quality players. As well as Rakitic, Croatia dream of rivalling the glories For reasons hard to fathom, they Aguero and Angel Di Maria. Nevertheless, it is 32 years since Ar- they also have the talented Luka Modric of 1998, when they reached the World Last meeting: Argentina 2 Croatia 1 have looked ponderous and lacking “We will learn from what happened gentina last won the World Cup and in midfi eld, and towering hitman Mario Cup semi-fi nals and fi nished third af- (2014, friendly) in creative thrust throughout coach and we have to have the strength to win 25 since their last silverware, the Copa Madzukic up front. ter a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the Jorge Sampaoli’s year in charge despite the next game,” Sampaoli said after the America in 1993. With their strongest squad for years playoff .

PREVIEW FRA vs PER YEKATERINBURG, 6PM France wary of Peru as they seek second win

Reuters Yekaterinburg, Russia Key facts VAR helpful but not perfect solution, says France will qualify for the fter struggling to beat Aus- knockout phase if both they and Peru coach Gareca tralia in their opening World Demark win their second Group Cup Group C game, France C matches. The 1998 champions eru coach Ricardo Gareca will not be relishing the chal- will also go through if they win and said yesterday that human lengeA of facing Peru today as they have Denmark draw with Australia. Perror was one of soccer’s often struggled to make an impact Peru are taking part in their charms and that the Video Assistant against Latin American opposition. first World Cup finals since 1982. Referee (VAR) system was a useful In their last 12 World Cup matches Peru head coach Ricardo solution but not the perfect one. against Latin American teams, France Gareca is one of five Argentine Gareca was speaking to report- have won four — including beating Bra- coaches at the World Cup. The ers on the eve of Peru’s Group zil in the 1998 fi nal — drawn four and others are Hector Cuper (Egypt), C match against France, where lost four. Jose Pekerman (Colombia), Jorge defeat could end their World Cup They defeated Australia 2-1 to go top Sampaoli (Argentina), Juan Antonio journey. The South Americans of the group while Peru, in their fi rst Pizzi (Saudi Arabia) were beaten 1-0 by Denmark in fi nals since 1982, lost 1-0 to Denmark. None of them won their open- their opening clash. But the results do not say how France ing match at the 2018 World Cup Peru were awarded a penalty in stuttered and they do not show how France have not lost to South that game, which Christian Cueva Peru looked inspired even though they American opposition at a World missed, after the referee consulted lacked effi ciency. Cup since 1978, when Argentina the VAR before making a decision. “I don’t think France like to play beat them 2-1. But that has not changed Gareca’s against South American teams. With view. our style of play, our way to hold the HEAD-TO-HEAD “Mistakes will always occur. That’s ball, I think we can cause them trouble,” France Draw Peru one of football’s attractions. It is said fullback Miguel Trauco. 0 0 1 (my) private perspective,” Gareca France centre back Raphael Varane said yesterday, seemingly in added: “We know that they’re an oppo- Last meeting: Peru 1 France 0 defence of referees. nent who will put a lot of intensity on (1982, friendly) “Football is inextricably linked everything they do. with mistakes and I don’t think this “We will need to be aggressive and (VAR system) is going to be the solid.” perfect solution. It is an add on, it To achieve that, coach Didier Des- tivity against Australia, France were the can be helpful.” champs could hand a starting spot to only team among the title favourites to VAR is being used at the World Blaise Matuidi, who can be an imposing win their opening game. While defend- Cup finals for the first time. Al- presence in midfi eld. ing champions Germany were unex- though it has been used in domes- Matuidi replaced Corentin Tolisso in pectedly beaten by Mexico, Spain, Bra- tic competitions across Europe in the opening match, bringing steel to the zil and Argentina were all held to draws. the past year, some concerns have midfi eld instantly. Hence victory against Peru could France’s Antoine Griezmann (left) and teammate Kylian Mbappe attend a training session in Ekaterinburg yesterday. (AFP) been raised about the system. “Blaise came on showing that he was send France into the knockout phase “Imagine if we waste three or four a leader,” said midfi elder Paul Pogba. with one game to spare. Ousmane Dembele started against South Americans in a friendly interna- who was a substitute against Denmark. minutes every time we use VAR “He reacted the way the coach wanted In contrast, Peru will have to take the Socceroos but he could sit on the tional in March. The 34-year-old, whose doping ban to challenge a call. You could start him to. For a usual starter who had been risks as they seek their fi rst win in Rus- bench with Olivier Giroud debuting at France will no doubt be hoping for a was frozen just before the World Cup, to review things ad nauseam, ad sat on the bench, maybe for his last sia and that strategy could give France the front of the attacking line. better result. is a likely starter against France after infinitum. Potentially we could World Cup, he showed he was an exam- some space to hit them on the break, “It could be like against Colombia Peru, who beat France 1-0 in their he impressed with his footwork when review any number of situations,” ple to follow.” using the pace of Kylian Mbappe and so we know what to expect,” said Gir- only meeting in a friendly in 1982, will he came off the bench in Peru’s open- Gareca added. Although they lacked pace and crea- Antoine Griezmann. oud referring to their 3-2 defeat by the rely heavily on striker Paolo Guerrero, ing match. England are based in Repino, north of St Petersburg, away from the hustle and bustle of the city 4 Gulf Times Thursday, June 21, 2018

PREVIEW AUS vs DEN KAZAN, 3PM SPOTLIGHT Australia bid to Australia urged to go shape destiny as old and new they meet Danes to revive Socceroos need win to stay in the hunt for last 16 spot after defeat to France fortunes Reuters in western Iran and had barely AFP Samara played any senior A-League Kazan, Russia football until January. He made his international de- ustralia should unleash but against Czech Republic ear- aptain Mile Jedinak says Australia veteran Tim Cahill and lier this month and scored his cannot aff ord to focus solely on tyro Daniel Arzani in fi rst goal against Hungary a week dangerman Christian Eriksen their World Cup match later, while his dream of appear- when they face Denmark look- againstA Denmark if they are to ing in Russia was fulfi lled when ingC for the win that could save their World have any hope of reaching the he came on as a late substitute Cup campaign. knockout stages, according to against France. A gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat to France former Socceroos Mark Bosnich “He was a refugee from Iran in their Group C opener has left the Soc- and Stan Lazaridis. and he played street football and ceroos targeting a win today as they seek to The 38-year-old Cahill and you can see that in him as well, qualify from the group stages. Arzani, who at 19 is the youngest and that is something that is in Tottenham Hotspur midfi elder Eriksen, player at the tournament, were all of world football’s hearts es- who scored 11 of Denmark’s goals in quali- both left out of Bert van Marw- pecially for us,” Bosnich added at fying, is the key threat for Age Hareide’s ijk’s starting line-up that put up a match between Australian fans side at the Samara Arena. a brave fi ght before falling 2-1 to and a local Samara team. But Jedinak, who scored from the pen- France in their Group C opener. Another player the former alty spot against France, says improving The objective then was to Manchester United keeper would on a disciplined performance — which saw frustrate their opponents and like to see against Denmark is Antoine Griezmann hit a VAR (Video As- snatch a creditable draw that Cahill, who was left kicking his sistant Referee)-assisted penalty before an would have teed them up nicely heels on the bench in the opener. Aziz Behich own goal in the dying minutes for their remaining fi xtures. The former Everton forward is — is also key for Australia. That defeat, however, left far and away his country’s most “We know he (Eriksen) is a fantastic them facing a potential exit prolifi c international scorer with player and obviously he’s got a huge role to should they lose again to Den- 50 goals and would be bidding play for them,” said Jedinak. mark in Samara on Thursday, to fi nd the net at a fourth World “But we’re not trying to focus on that. prompting calls for Australia to Cup providing he can get on the We’ll defi nitely focus on them as whole add bite to their attack. pitch. and as a collective. We have to worry about “A guy that must start in my Lazaridis, the former West ourselves as well, and how we’re going to Australian players take part to a training session at the Samara Arena in Samara yesterday. opinion is the youngest player Ham United and Birmingham implement our style on them.” here at the World Cup, Daniel City winger who was part of A solid defensive display against France header that had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris so well,” said Peter Schmeichel, in com- on the telephone before the fi rst half was Arzani,” Bosnich, who played in Australia’s 2006 World Cup won Australia plaudits but Bert van Mar- scrambling to save early on. ments made in his role as television pun- even over. goal for Australia between 1993 squad, would like to see Cahill on wijk’s men are on the ropes. Schmeichel, the son of Manchester dit. “The biggest thing for us is that we and 2000, told Reuters. the pitch against Denmark from And with the psychological advantage United goalkeeping great Peter, will prove Australia’s Trent Sainsbury, too, im- know we can do better, that’s the biggest “He is a player that we have kickoff . of a 1-0 win over Peru from their opening another formidable obstacle to Australia’s pressed on his World Cup opener against confi dence boost that we need.” not had since the likes of Harry “For me I would start him and game, in which goalkeeper Kasper Sch- plans. the French. Lacking attacking options in Kazan, Kewell and he is somebody that at least try to play him for an meichel produced a string of fi ne saves to Kasper has already beaten his father’s And the Jiangsu Suning defender, 26, Australian fans will hope Van Marwijk can provide us with something hour,” Lazaridis told Reuters. deny the South Americans, the Danes can record for the longest time without con- believes Australian confi dence is “still bends to popular demand to give 19-year- diff erent. “I feel that he is one that can aff ord to be more fl exible with their strat- ceding a goal — 534 minutes to Peter’s 470. running high”. old starlet Daniel Arzani his full debut, “We have lacked it in all our score goals and we are struggling egy. And against Australia, he will look to “I don’t think that’s going to change un- having come off the bench against France. history, we have never had a at the moment to score goals so Australia, on the other hand, showed extend that streak. til the last game against Peru,” said Sains- “I feel like I’m ready,” said Arzani, who player of that type, the only one I feel that rather than bringing little attacking threat against France, their “Nothing surprises me about him any bury, whose strong performance against scored his fi rst goal in a 2-1 friendly win that comes close was Kewell, the him on, you are chasing the game best opportunity coming from a defl ected more. He has conducted his whole career France saw several clubs contact his agent against Hungary last month. one who gets the ball and will that way, I would rather have take on people and create things.” Timmy try and score and get us Melbourne City youngster Ar- out in front.” zani was raised in Khorramabad Danish players fl y teammate home to see newborn daughter KEY FACTS Denmark play Australia in a World Denmark’s players clubbed together so de- Cup Group C match today: fender Jonas Knudsen could fly home on a pri- Where: Samara Arena, Samara vate jet to see his new-born daughter shortly Capacity: 41,970 after the win over Peru in their first match at When: Thursday June 21, 3PM Qatar the World Cup. Time Knudsen’s wife Trine gave birth to a girl sev- Denmark have progressed from eral weeks earlier than expected after he had the Group Stage of the World Cup already arrived in Russia. on three occasions. They have only In a gesture of team unity, the players decided failed to once, in 2010. to pay for the jet to fly Knudsen home shortly z19-year-old Australian forward after the 1-0 victory against Peru in Group C on Daniel Arzani is the youngest player Saturday. at the 2018 World Cup “I think you have to remember we are human zAustralia are taking part at their beings as well as footballers,” said goalkeeper fifth World Cup. They got past the Kasper Schmeichel. group stage once, in 2006, before los- “As a father myself I cannot imagine how hard ing 1-0 in the second round to a late it was for Jonas getting that message and not goal from Italy’s Francesco Totti. being there. Previous meetings: The two sides “There are lots of fathers in the squad and so have never met in a competitive we wanted to look at the human side and do fixture. However, Denmark won the anything for him to see his daughter.” most recent friendly match 2-0 in It was only a brief visit for Knudsen, who re- June 2012. turned to the camp on Monday in preparation for Denmark’s meeting with Australia today in HEAD-TO-HEAD Australia’s forward Tim Cahill (L) and teammate forward Mathew Samara. Denmark 1 Australia 0 Leckie takes part to a training session at the Samara Arena in Samara yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE Relaxed England nourishing World Cup dream DPA just one game, a new era has started. Gareth nament for years, creating several clear chances. Repino, Russia Southgate was appointed in November 2016 The team are staying at the FoRestMix Hotel, after taking over initially as a caretaker, and the embedded among dense woods. It is tranquil, former Middlesbrough defender has overseen but not far from the town of Repino itself or the ngland have repeatedly suff ered under an overhaul of the national team. sea. The facilities are far from the luxury hotels the pressure and weight of expectation As well as equipping England with a well-fi t- which the team has used before, like in Rusten- at international tournaments. As the ting 3-5-2 formation and fi lling the squad with burg at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, but Premier League’s profi le has rocketed, young players, Southgate and his team have they are comfortable and friendly, helping to fansE and media expect similar growth on the worked hard to ease the burden of pressure. The keep expectations grounded and the team less England players world stage. attend a training team’s World Cup base camp in Repino, north of isolated. However results have not been forthcoming. session in Saint St Petersburg, is a good example of the change They train a short 15-minute drive away in Ze- After fi nishing fourth in the 1990 World Cup Petersburg. in atmosphere and attitude under Southgate, lenogorsk, at the Spartak Stadium, which again in Italy, England stuttered. In 1998 and 2010 the which came through in an energetic 2-1 win over is no-frills but is a more than adequate set-up Three Lions were eliminated in the last 16, they Tunisia in Volgograd on Monday. “We want to for the players. Southgate believes the low-key went out at the quarter-fi nal stage in 2002 and mix and engage with the local community but surroundings increase focus on the task at hand 2006 and worst of all, they did not make it out equally it’s important to have a base where the and help a young squad aiming to fulfi l a dream, of the group in 2014, fi nishing bottom behind players can relax and switch off without being rather than pampering a smorgasbord of indi- Costa Rica, Uruguay and Italy. disturbed,” Southgate said ahead of arrival in vidual stars who already feel they have made it. But after an embarrassing elimination by Ice- Russia. Although only Harry Kane’s late header At Brazil 2014, the players had to drive a two- land in the last 16 at Euro 2016 and coach Roy earned them three points in Group G, England hour round trip to reach their training facilities. Hodgson’s replacement Sam Allardyce lasting put in one of their best performances at a tour- Here the players have more leisure time. On Monday, a magnitude 6.1 earthquake had struck Osaka, killing fi ve people and injuring hundreds more. 5 Gulf Times Thursday, June 21, 2018

FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Japan’s win over Colombia lift s Blatter attends mood aft er quake

Reuters Sayoko Fujisawa, who was Tokyo watching the game at home and screamed when Yuya Os- ako headed in the second-half apan yesterday basked in winner. match, says ‘It’s the glow of its World Cup “I was hopeful, but that we soccer team’s historic win won was beyond my expecta- Jover Colombia, a vic- tions.” tory that has lifted the nation’s University student Tatsuya mood after an earthquake Abe said that a loss to 10 men struck its second-biggest me- would have been tough to take tropolis Osaka. for Japan, who had fi red head Fans watching Tuesday coach Vahid Halilhodzic two my World Cup’ night’s match at pubs and out- months before the tourna- door bars in the downtown To- ment and brought in Akira kyo area of Shibuya celebrated Nishino as his replacement. Blatter is serving a six-year ban from ‘all football activities’ for unethical conduct when Japan clinched a 2-1 vic- “If we’d lost, everyone tory, exchanging high-fi ves would’ve been in shock and Reuters with strangers on the street unable to recover,” he said. Moscow and fl ooding into Shibuya’s “A lot of people were negative famous “scramble crossing,” (about the team) before the prompting scores of police to game, with the last-minute anned former FIFA president come out to ensure order. change of the coach and other Sepp Blatter attended a World On Monday, a magnitude 6.1 stuff . But with this win, Ja- Cup match in Moscow yesterday earthquake had struck Osaka, pan as a whole is going to turn and said the soccer tournament killing fi ve people and injur- positive.” Bwas a bit like “my World Cup” because ing hundreds more. Newspa- Abe, 19, added that Tues- of the warm welcome he had received in pers splashed photos of ju- day’s win would bring some Russia. bilant Japan players in their cheer to Japan in the after- Blatter, who led FIFA for 17 years, is blue jerseys on front pages on math of the quake. serving a six-year ban from “all foot- Wednesday, and government “This win will lift people’s ball activities” for unethical conduct spokesman Yoshihide Suga spirits,” he said. after soccer’s world governing body was highlighted that it was the The second half of the rocked by a global corruption scandal in fi rst time an Asian team had match, shown live on public 2015. beaten a South American side broadcaster NHK, received a His appearance at the World Cup in at the World Cup. viewer rating of 48.7% in the Russia is potentially embarrassing for “This was a historic start,” Kanto region that includes To- FIFA and its new head, Gianni Infantino, Suga said. “Veterans and kyo. In Kansai, which includes who has promised to draw a line under young players worked togeth- Osaka, 44.1 % of viewers tuned FIFA’s corruption problems and clean up er as one to show the power of in, according to ratings agency the organisation. teamwork and a certain Japa- Video Research. TASS news agency quoted Alexei So- nese-ness.” Abe said he planned to travel rokin, head of the Russia-2018 organ- It was a win worth savour- 20 hours later this week from ising committee, as saying he had seen ing over a team that had beat- Niigata, in north-central Ja- Infantino and Blatter at Moscow’s Luzh- en Japan 4-1 at the 2014 tour- pan, to Ekaterinburg, Rus- niki stadium watching Portugal’s 1-0 nament in Brazil — although sia, for Japan’s next Group H win over Morocco. Colombia played nearly the match against Senegal on Sun- “Today I saw Infantino and Blatter at entire match with just 10 men day. the stadium, it’s true,” TASS quoted So- after defender Carlos Sanchez “If they beat Colombia, they rokin as saying, adding that the former was sent off for blocking a can defeat their next oppo- FIFA head had praised Russia’s organi- shot on goal with his arm less nent, too,” Abe said. “I think sation of the World Cup. than three minutes into the they can get as far as the last game. eight.” ‘I was suspended, I’m still a “When that happened, I That would be a fi rst for Ja- suspended president. I’m still Former FIFA President thought this might lead to pan, who got as far as the last president, but suspended. It was Sepp Blatter speaks to the a miracle,” said 35-year-old 16 in 2002 and 2010. not an easy time for me, it’s media in Moscow yesterday. still not the easiest time’

Speaking in an interview with Russian news channel RT, Blatter said he had ad- England should mount 2030 World Cup bid with Ireland — Blatter vocated for Russia to be chosen as the World Cup host in 2010. Reuters, Moscow: England deserve to England bid for this year’s tournament wrongdoing. “When I arrived yesterday, I saw it host the World Cup finals in 2030 and but lost out to Russia despite being one Blatter pointed out that the new ‘one a little bit, it’s my World Cup. How I should mount a joint bid with Ireland, of the favourites. person one vote’ ballot system that was received here, television, cameras, banned former FIFA president Sepp Blat- Blatter, who led soccer’s world governing resulted in the US, Canada and Mexico people photographs and so on,” he said ter said yesterday body for 17 years, is serving a six-year being chosen as joint hosts for the 2026 in the interview filmed in front of the “I think that England, or the islands, they ban for unethical conduct after FIFA was World Cup on the eve of this year’s finals Kremlin. Blatter told Reuters in March deserve to organise the World Cup,” Blat- rocked by a global corruption scandal in was one of his legacies. he had been invited to attend the World ter, in Russia to attend the World Cup as 2015. “This is what I introduced in 2011,” said Cup by President Vladimir Putin, with a guest of President Vladimir Putin, told The ban on Blatter from “all football Blatter. “But the elections should be whom he has a long-standing close re- Sky Sports. activities” was imposed shortly after the made by secret ballot, this is also in the lationship. A spokesman for Blatter said “They had it in 1966 so it’s a long time Swiss attorney general’s off ice began statutes of FIFA and the regulations and he was scheduled to meet with the Rus- ago. (I was told that) it could be with criminal proceedings against him on you should not announce who votes for sian leader while in Moscow. Wales and Scotland together but I said suspicion of criminal mismanagement whom.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov why not Ireland altogether? and misappropriation. The result of each ballot and related told reporters yesterday Blatter was vis- “With 48 teams you need more than one No charges have yet been brought votes by members of the FIFA Congress iting Russia in a non-official capacity. country to host it.” and Blatter has repeatedly denied any for the 2026 hosts were made public. “Any meetings that could be held are being realised in the framework of his private visit and are not official,” he said defiant tone in Moscow, describing the cupying his time since the ban, Blatter they deserve to organise the World Cup,” when asked if Blatter has met or would criminal probe as “an attack on FIFA” said he was grappling with how to solve Blatter told Sky Sports. meet Putin. Blatter’s ban was imposed and saying he was still president of the the problem of political intervention in “They had it in 1966 so it’s a long time shortly after the Swiss attorney gen- organisation. world football. ago. (I was told that) it could be with eral’s office began criminal proceedings “I was suspended, I’m still a sus- “Football should not be dominated by Wales and Scotland together but I said against him on suspicion of criminal pended president. I’m still president, politics. Football should help, perhaps, why not Ireland altogether?” he said. mismanagement and misappropriation. but suspended,” he said. “It was not an to solve political problems. But in the “With 48 teams you need more than No charges have yet been brought easy time for me, it’s still not the easi- past we have seen that there is political one country to host it,” he added, refer- and Blatter has repeatedly denied any est time.” intervention for football,” he said. ring to a FIFA plan to expand the compe- Japanese football fans celebrate Japan’s victory over Colombia at wrongdoing. The 82-year-old struck a When asked how he had been oc- “I think that England, or the islands, tition to 48 teams from 32 now. a fan zone in Tokyo yesterday.

BOTTOMLINE VAR, free-kick crackers make it ‘set-piece World Cup’

AFP point had come from set plays. seen than before. Yekaterinburg That chimes with the calculations of Mads But the tournament in Russia has also thrown Davidsen, technical director at the Chinese up three spectacular direct free-kick goals. top-tier side Shanghai SIPG, who said: “That Ronaldo completed his hat-trick with a late AR and a trio of spectacular free kicks is signifi cantly higher than previous tourna- strike in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Spain while have led to a spike in the number of ments. Aleksandar Kolarov fi red home the winner for goals from set plays in Russia, with “At Euro 2016, in total 30% of goals were Serbia in their 1-0 victory over Costa Rica. Ale- Vsome already calling it “the World scored from set pieces and the last World Cup ksandr Golovin struck a stunner for hosts Rus- Cup of set pieces”. in 2014 the number was around 38%.” sia in their 5-0 win against Saudi Arabia. With all the teams having played at least one Davidsen, a UEFA Pro coach from Denmark, Goalkeepers in the past have complained game, roughly half of the goals at the tourna- added: “Cup tournaments will always have a about World Cup balls that wobble and dip ment so far have come from set pieces — which higher set-piece scoring percentage than do- unpredictably, making it a nightmare to catch will disappoint the football purists. mestic leagues because it’s ‘easier’ to prepare or stop, particularly when the likes of Ronaldo It led to one joke doing the rounds on social and train set pieces, and national teams have have perfected their technique from set plays to media saying that the Video Assistant Referee the time issue of having few training sessions get maximum movement. (VAR) system, which is making its World Cup together during a year, so it’s diffi cult to work The Adidas Telstar 18 ball used for this World debut, will have more assists than Lionel Messi detailed on your style of play. Cup was supposed to be more stable in the air. and Cristiano Ronaldo. “There is no doubt VAR has had an eff ect as Not so, say several goalkeepers, including Aliou Cisse, coach of Senegal, said: “We well.” Russia’s Igor Akinfeev, who believes the ball at know that nowadays defensive systems are very There were 13 penalties awarded during the this tournament is partly responsible for goals tight so set pieces will be decisive weapons dur- whole of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, not in- from long-distance such as Philippe Coutinho’s ing the group matches.” cluding penalty shootouts. curler from open play for Brazil and free kicks The numbers bear that out. There have already been 10 awarded in Russia like the ones by Ronaldo and Kolarov. Following Sweden’s 1-0 win against South even though the tournament is still only in its “There is a lot of criticism of this ball but we Korea on Monday, thanks to a penalty awarded early stages. cannot change this now,” said Akinfeev. “As with the help of VAR, football analytics fi rm Belgium’s forward Eden Hazard (L) shoots a free-kick during his team’s match against Panama at the VAR has vastly increased the number of spot goalkeepers we have to keep the ball, make it Opta Sports said 53.8% of the 26 goals up to that Fisht Stadium in Sochi on June 18. kicks because more infringements are being stick to our palms.” Gulf Times 6 Thursday, June 21, 2018 SPORT

MOTORSPORT CRICKET Al Hamra, CBQ enter Ramadan Cup semis Hamilton boosted two fours. Inam, Waseem and By Sports Reporter Doha Arslan all shared six wickets. But when Redco launched the pursuit, CBQ bowled quite l Hamra and Com- wayward and conceded 34 mercial Bank Qatar extras, including 21 through posted contrasting wides. As a result, Redco wins to enter the threatened to script a surprise for ground-breaking semi-fiA nals of the Ramadan triumph. However, Lithan and Cup Twenty20 Cricket Tour- Bilal put the brakes with two nament, organised by the Qa- scalps each to restrict the ri- tar Cricket Association. vals at 174 for nine. At the Asian Town Cricket Izhar led the batting hon- Stadium, Al Hamra crushed ours with 30, including two Khyber Club by 10 wickets in sixes and three fours. Rawid the B and C Divisions category, added 26 and Rasmy made 23 F1 triple-header while CBQ endured many anx- off 13 balls, Marso and Rifan ious moments before winning got 14 each. Asanka’s haul cost ‘France should be an interesting race. We don’t often get to race on a track where we have by nine runs against Redco. him very dear (two for 47). Dinesh of Al Hamra was a little to no historical data. It makes preparing for the weekend a bit trickier than usual’ standout performer. His four BRIEF SCORES for 13 and Shafi q’s two for 15 B & C Divisions Reuters shot out Khyber Club for 95 Al Hamra beat Khyber Club by Le Castellet, France LEWIS HAMILTON in 15.1 overs. Khalid played a 10 wickets splendid knock despite deep Khyber Club: 95 all out in 15.1 crisis and his 28-ball 49 in- overs (Khalid 49 in 28 balls, ewis Hamilton can ex- cluded three sixes and as Gul Hayat 14 in 8 balls; Dinesh pect a welcome boost many boundaries. Gul Hayat 4/13, Shafiq 2/15) in engine power this (14) and Basharat (10) were the Al Hamra: 98 for no loss in 7.5 weekend as Formula One other double-digit scorers. overs (Dinesh 41 not out in 24 Lembarks on an unprecedented Omar, Aman and Lasantha balls, Ajmal 40 not out in 24 triple-header at a French grand took one wicket each. balls) prix returning to the calendar Dinesh, the man of the Man of the match: Dinesh after a decade’s absence. match, struck seven bounda- (Al Hamra) Le Castellet’s Paul Ricard cir- ries in his unbeaten 41 to set cuit last hosted a Formula One up the victory in 7.5 overs. CBQ beat Redco by nine runs race in 1990, before 10 of the Other opener Ajmal smashed in 18 overs current 22 drivers were born, and two sixes and four boundaries CBQ: 183 for seven (Israr 75 has been reconfi gured from the to make 40 not out in 24 balls. in 40 balls, Moazzam 34 in 33 one fondly remembered by older In other match, CBQ put up balls, Hadi 17 in 9 balls; Inam generations. a massive 183 for seven against 2/26, Waseem 2/27, Arslan France’s most recent grand Redco as man-of-the-match 2/47) prix was at Magny-Cours in Israr slammed four sixes and Redco: 174 for nine in 18 overs 2008, the year Hamilton won his eight fours during his thrilling (Izhar 30 in 14 balls, Rawid fi rst world championship with 40-ball 75. Moazzam struck a 25 in 26 balls, Rasmy 23 in 13 McLaren, and it remains a rare six and three fours to post 34 balls; Lithan 2/17, Bilal 2/28, country that has yet to see the off 33 balls. Asanka 2/47) Mercedes driver triumph. Hadi added a crucial 17 off Man of the match: Israr If the four-times world cham- nine balls, including a six and (CBQ). pion does so on Sunday, he will take another record from retired great Michael Schumacher; that of the most wins at diff erent grands prix. The pair are tied on 22 at present, although Hamilton al- ready holds the record for diff er- ent tracks (25) after winning in Azerbaijan this year. Hamilton is one point behind Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel after seven races, with the German Dinesh of Al Hamra (left) and Israr of CBQ. taking the lead in Canada two weekends ago when he celebrat- ed his 50th career win. Ferrari Wizards, Knicks set for London game in Jan and other rivals had an engine upgrade for that race and Mer- The Washington Wizards and New York Knicks will be featured cedes did not. in next year’s NBA regular-season game in London, the league Reigning champions Mer- announced yesterday. The matchup, to be staged January 17 cedes had delayed the intro- at the O2 Arena, will be the NBA’s ninth regular-season game duction of their planned up- in London and the third for the Knicks, who faced the Detroit grade due to what they said was Cup soccer fi nal in Russia on Le Mans 24 Hours at the week- endar for a further three years,” nault that turned sour. Pistons in 2013 and Milwaukee Bucks in 2015. The Wizards will a ‘quality issue’, a problem that July 15. “France should be an in- end. said F1 business development “After careful consideration be playing in London for the first time. also aff ected customer teams teresting race. We don’t often get Renault will have plenty of offi cial Chloe Targett-Adams. and evaluation we are certain “We’ve been playing regular-season match-ups in London for Williams and Force India. to race on a track where we have support for their fi rst home race, “Formula 1 was born in Europe this partnership with Honda is nearly a decade and over that time the games and the sur- That should change as of this little to no historical data,” said as will the country’s Formula and the future of this sport needs the right direction for the team,” rounding festivities have grown into the equivalent of an NBA weekend, with Mercedes plan- team boss Toto Wolff . One drivers Romain Grosjean to maintain its solid roots, while Red Bull Racing principal Chris- All-Star experience transported to Europe,” NBA commissioner ning on making the change and “It makes preparing for the (Haas), rookie Pierre Gasly (Toro expanding globally and Spa- tian Horner said in a statement Adam Silver said. “Fans and partners from across the continent Hamilton determined to hit back weekend a bit trickier than usual, Rosso) and Esteban Ocon (Force Francorchamps is part of that announcing the deal for 2019 and come to celebrate basketball and enjoy the excitement and hard in the fi rst of three races on but that element of the unknown India). fantastic history.” 2020. experience of an NBA game.” successive weekends. also adds to the challenge. Sauber’s Charles Leclerc is the Pierre Yves-Jeholet, minister Red Bull won four drivers’ and The Wizards feature All-Star guards Bradley Beal and John Wall “I’m really going to make “The triple header... will test most local of the lot, growing up for the economy in the Wallonia constructors’ championships in as well as Polish centre Marcin Gortat. “It will be an honour to sure that we come back strong all F1 teams to their limits, but in Monaco, about three hours region, added: “This is a good a row with Sebastian Vettel, now represent the Washington Wizards organisation as we play our at the next race,” he said after also off ers the chance to score a up the road from the circuit be- deal which makes sure that such at Ferrari, and Renault between first game in the UK,” Wall said. “I look forward to connecting Canada. The France-Austria- lot of points over the course of tween Marseille and Toulon. an important event stays in our 2010 and 2013. with our fans in London and using the experience to further Britain sequence of races poses three weeks – which is precisely The Belgian Grand Prix will region, thus placing us on a glo- The pairing also won 47 races bond as a team.” The Knicks, who replaced Jeff Hornacek as a fresh logistical challenge for what we’re setting out to do.” remain on the F1 calendar until bal visibility platform.” before the current V6 turbo coach with David Fizdale after missing the playoff s for the fifth teams hitherto committed only McLaren’s Fernando Alonso at least 2021 after Formula 1 and The 2018 Belgian Grand Prix hybrid power units were intro- consecutive season, are sparked by Latvian forward Kristaps to back-to-back weekends, with and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, 36 the Spa GP signed an extension will take place on August 24-26. duced but Renault’s struggles Porzingis, French guard Frank Ntilikina and US guard Tim the 21-round season hurrying to and 38 respectively, are yesterday. Meanwhile Red Bull will use with the new format stretched Hardaway Jr. “I am excited to return to London,” Hardaway said. the halfway point. The three- the only current drivers to “We are really pleased to have Honda engines next season in a the relationship to breaking “We had a great experience during our last visit in 2015 playing in-a-row format was scheduled have won a grand prix on French reached this agreement which switch that marks the fi nal sev- point and the British-based in front of passionate fans and are looking forward to another specifi cally to avoid a clash with soil – although former double means that the Formula 1 Belgian ering of a once-dominant For- team now brand their engines trip overseas.” the World world champion Alonso won the Grand Prix will stay on the cal- mula One partnership with Re- Tag Heuer.

HORSE RACING Poetry in motion as Stoute reaches Royal landmark AFP weeks,” he said. engaged in a long chat with the heir Ascot, United Kingdom “These fi ve day meetings haven’t to the throne, said he would not be been around so long and there we retiring anytime soon. are. “I love the game, I have a great ichael Stoute became the “To be honest I spent more time staff and supportive owners so I hope most successful trainer looking to get off the mark at Royal to keep going for a while,” he said. in Royal Ascot history Ascot and have my fi rst winner!” Poet’s Word was given a sublime as Poet’s Word pulled Stoute, who has accrued fi ve Ep- ride by James Doyle tracking Frankie Moff a shock in the feature Prince of som Derbies amongst many other Dettori on the odds-on favourite Wales’s Stakes yesterday. major wins, used an analogy of his Cracksman throughout the race. The 72-year-old Barbados-born beloved cricket when he refl ected on Dettori hit the front halfway down trainer moved to 76 career wins at his favourite moments at the meet- the fi nishing straight but Doyle came probably the most famous racing ing. upsides him and then made light of carnival in the world having jointly “My fi rst win was in the Jersey the seven lengths that Cracksman held it with his former great rival and Stakes which is a favourite of mine had beaten Poet’s Word by last Oc- friend the late Henry Cecil. and particular satisfaction for me is tober in the Champion Stakes easing Stoute – most famous for train- Shareef Dancer. away to victory. ing the great Shergar who later was “He was a very expensive yearling Stoute said it was due reward for kidnapped from his stud in Ireland and the fi rst horse Sheikh Maktoum his horse after some near misses in – had played down the prospect of al-Maktoum sent me. elevated company. breaking his and Cecil’s record. “He won the King Edward VII “He is a very honourable horse but Stoute, who has been knighted by Stakes here having had a blip in his has just met some good ones before Queen Elizabeth II, said the thought fi rst run and then beat Caerleon and I am glad he did this today and got of the record hadn’t been playing on (Epsom Derby winner) Teenoso in one,” said Stoute. his mind. the Irish Derby. “We came here with hope which is “I came here last year needing one “Of course there was my win often a good thing to come with.” winner and none of my runners won, for Queen Elizabeth II in the Ascot As for his winner’s future plans so I haven’t been thinking about it,” Gold Cup with Estimate but that has Stoute said they would have a sit said Stoute. been well documented so I thought down and think about it. Stoute as has been his wont said I would change the bowling a bit,” “We’ll stop and think, it could be that Cecil’s record was more impres- he added chuckling. Stoute, who the Eclipse or could be King George. sive. “Sure I have had more cracks accepted the trophy from Prince “Anyone would love training him James Doyle on Poet’s Word celebrates winning the 4.20 Prince of Wales’s Stakes with owner Saeed Suhail and trainer Michael at it than he did in terms of fi ve day Charles and his wife Camilla and as he is sound and honest.” Stoute at the Royal Ascot yesterday. (Reuters) Gulf Times Thursday, June 21, 2018 7 SPORT

TENNIS RUGBY Mass changes, four new faces in All Wawrinka rocked Blacks shake up

AFP the Tongan born Frizell was a Dunedin, New Zealand late sighting on the All Blacks radar having only started in three of 10 games in his maid- here are four new caps en Super Rugby year with the by Queen’s blow and Sonny Bill Wil- Otago Highlanders. liams returns in an All In the backs, Damian Mc- Querrey, who won Queen’s in 2010, will play Croatian top seed Cilic in the last eight Blacks shake up for Kenzie will start at fl y-half out- Tthe third Test against France in side Aaron Smith with Sonny AFP Dunedin on Saturday. Bill Williams and Jack Goodhue London With the series already forming a new midfi eld combi- wrapped up, coach Steve nation. Williams was initially Hansen has made 11 changes ruled out of the series after tan Wawrinka’s Wimble- to the match-day 23 to both undergoing knee surgery but don preparations suff ered cover injuries and to give has been brought back into the a blow as the Swiss star four new players a taste of side following a quicker than crashed to a 7-5, 6-7 (3/7), Test Rugby. Flanker Shannon expected recovery. 6-1S defeat against Sam Querrey Frizell and centre Jack Good- In a back three reshuffl e, at Queen’s Club yesterday. hue will make their debuts in Ben Smith moves to fullback to Wawrinka has struggled to the run-on side with Jackson make way for Waisake Naholo return to peak form since sus- Hemopo and Richie Mo’unga to make his fi rst appearance of taining a left knee injury last to come off the bench. the series on the right wing, year that required two opera- From the side which won with Rieko Ioane on the left. tions and wiped out the sec- the second Test in Wellington Liam Coltman, whose one ond half of the Swiss star’s 26-13 last weekend, Beauden previous Test was two years season. Still hampered by the Barrett, Liam Squire and Vaea ago, comes in as the reserve problem this term, Wawrinka Fifi ta were ruled out because of hooker with the untested He- was sidelined again for three injury. The All Blacks won the mopo as the lock cover. months in between a second fi rst Test 52-11 and Hansen said Mo’unga will earn his fi rst round exit at the Australian with the series won he could Test cap as the replacement Open and a fi rst round loss in the now focus on building depth fl y-half although he and French Open. as he swapped 10 players and Goodhue have had All Blacks The three-time Grand Slam made one positional change. experience having played in champion had swatted aside “We think this is the right the midweek fi xture against British youngster Cameron Nor- time to do that,” he said when a France XV on last year’s rie in the fi rst round of the Wim- naming the side on Thurs- northern tour. After the runa- bledon warm-up at Queen’s. day with the promise of a way win in the fi rst Test, the But Wawrinka faded badly in fast-fl owing game unaff ected All Blacks were brought down the fi nal set against Querrey as by the weather in the roofed to earth by a determined the American world number 13 Dunedin stadium. French unit a week later. condemned the 33-year-old to “It’s an exciting mix of Despite having a one-man his seventh defeat in his last nine players with big-match expe- advantage for most of the ATP Tour matches. rience, newer All Blacks who game after France fullback It is a major setback for are continuing to grow their Benjamin Fall was sent off , the Wawrinka ahead of the July 2 game, and four players who All Blacks struggled for par- start of Wimbledon, where he has have been named in the Test ity and training this week has never made it past the quarter- 23 for the fi rst time.” centred on getting core roles fi nals. Querrey, who won Queen’s There are two changes in the right. “Our focus this week in 2010, will play Croatian top starting forward pack, with has been concentrating, fi rst- seed Marin Cilic in the last eight. Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka reacts during the Ardie Savea getting his fourth ly, on getting our individual Cilic maintained his mastery over quarter-fi nal against America’s Sam Querrey at start in the seven jersey and processes done well, and then Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller, hit- the ATP Queen’s Club Championships in west Frizell is at six. Like replace- working on these collectively ting back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in London yesterday. (AFP) ment prop Karl Tu’inukuafe, as a team,” Hansen said. their latest big-serving battle. Chasing his second Queen’s title and his fourth fi nal appear- ance, Cilic once again frustrated Australia’s fi ve-time British Open Muller 12 months after beating champion Thomson dies him in the fi nal set in both the Svitolina eases into Birmingham quarters Wimbledon quarter-fi nals and Five-time British Open champion Peter Thomson died at his Queen’s semi-fi nals. World number five Elina Svitolina continued nice to win when somebody’s injured,” the final victory over Sloane Stephens. It was home in Melbourne yesterday after a four-year battle with Cilic, who lost last year’s her good form on grass ahead of Wimble- 27-year-old Jakupovic said. “I was trying to an emotional moment for Halep, who had Parkinson’s disease, Golf Australia said. He was 88. Queen’s fi nal against Feliciano don, easing her way into the quarter-finals focus on my play, and I didn’t really look on lost her three previous Grand Slam finals Considered one of Australia’s greatest golfers, Thomson was Lopez, hit 19 aces to 17 from of the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham her side. I hope (Osaka’s) going to be better and trailed by a set and a break against the first from the country to win the British Open when he took Muller as he made the quar- yesterday. The second seed Ukrainian for the next tournaments.” Stephens before fighting back. the title in 1954. He won it again in 1955, 1956 and 1958, and was ter-fi nals for the seventh time. found her rhythm early in the contest and Jakupovic will next take on Slovakia’s But the Romanian world number one will runner-up in 1957. Thomson won the fifth of his British Open American prodigy Frances Tia- powered past France’s Alize Cornet 6-4 6-2 Magdalena Rybarikova, who mounted a go into Wimbledon, which gets under way titles in 1965, a record only since matched by American Tom foe moved into his fi rst ATP Tour in one hour and 22 minutes. The 23-year-old, comeback to win 3-6 6-2 6-1 against world on July 2, without a competitive match on Watson, who won the last of his five titles in 1983. Thomson grass-court quarter-fi nal with a chasing her first grand slam title, will hope number 56 Kristina Mladenovic. Rybariko- grass. “I’m very sorry to announce that I’m also had 13 other top-10 finishes at the British Open and won 24 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 win against Argen- to improve on her last-16 appearance at last va, who reached the Wimbledon semi-finals withdrawing from next week’s Nature Valley other tournaments in Europe. He won events in Asia and South tina’s Leonardo Mayer. year’s Wimbledon, when she lost to Latvia’s last year, converted five break point oppor- International,” Halep tweeted. Africa and clinched 11 victories on the US Senior PGA Tour, in- Tiafoe, ranked 62nd, is looking Jelena Ostapenko. “I was expecting a good tunities and struck five aces in the encoun- “I was experiencing Achilles tendon pain cluding nine in 1985 alone. His only other major victory was the to add a second ATP title to his match and she (Cornet) was producing ter, which finished in just under two hours. and inflammation during the French Open PGA Seniors’ Championship in 1984. A successful golf course maiden success at Delray Beach some great rallies,” Svitolina said. and it has yet to fully recover. I’ve been ad- designer upon his retirement, Thomson was the Australian PGA in February. “She plays well against the top players, she French Open champ vised by my doctors that it needs more rest President for 32 years and helped establish the Asian Tour. He The 20-year-old out-lasted beat a couple of them in the past, and she Halep to miss Eastbourne while continuing treatment. I loved compet- was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988, the same Mayer to stop the world number really steps up her game. I’m very happy French Open champion Simona Halep will ing at Eastbourne last year and hope to see year as Watson. Thomson, who spent more than 60 years as 38 building on his surprise fi rst with the performance today.” miss next week’s Wimbledon warm-up you at this wonderful event next year.” a respected golf columnist for newspapers and magazines, is round victory against third seed Japan’s Naomi Osaka was forced to retire at Eastbourne after suff ering an Achilles Halep’s withdrawal leaves four top-10 survived by his wife Mary, a son and three daughters, 11 grand- Kevin Anderson. Tiafoe next due to an abdominal injury in her last-16 problem. Halep won her first Grand Slam players in the Eastbourne event, including children and four great-grand children. faces France’s Jeremy Char- clash against Dalila Jakupovic, with the title earlier this month after lifting the last year’s champion Karolina Pliskova and dy, who beat Russia’s Daniil Slovenian qualifier leading 6-3. “It’s never silverware at Roland Garros with a three-set runner-up Caroline Wozniacki. Hubert Green dead at 71 Medvedev 7-6 (8/6), 6-3. Two-time major champion Hubert Green, a 19-time US PGA Tour winner and 2007 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, has died at Sugita stuns French Open bledon tuneup by Japanese sev- styled as a smaller replica of the grass court quarter-fi nal for the serve in the last game. Nishikori age 71, the tour announced yesterday. Green, who won the 1977 runner-up Thiem in Halle enth seed Kei Nishikori, a 6-2, All England club’s iconic Centre second time in his career when has a mixed record at the Wim- US Open and 1985 PGA Championship, died Tuesday night after Japan’s Yuichi Sugita shocked 6-2 loser to Karen Khachanov. Court at Wimbledon. The Aus- he takes on American qualifi er bledon tune-up event, domi- a lengthy battle with throat cancer. The American famously took Dominic Thiem to send the Aus- In 2017, the 36th-ranked Rus- trian was on the back foot early Denis Kudla, who defeated Greek nated over the past decade and his first major title 41 years ago at Southern Hills in Tulsa, Okla- trian out in the second round of sian also beat Asia’s top player in as he lost the opening set to his teenager Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, a half by Roger Federer with nine homa, after being notified by tournament off icials of a phoned-in the ATP Halle grass court event the second round at Halle, when 52nd-ranked opponent. Sugita 6-4. Against Thiem, who leads titles. death threat as he walked to the 15th tee in the final round with on Wednesday, 6-2, 7-5, Nishikori was forced to quit with was unable to convert on three the ATP with 36 match wins this The world number 27 Japa- a one-stroke lead. The threat said Green would be shot when he Third seed Thiem, French a hip injury. Thiem switched over match points but hammered his season, Sugita kept up the pres- nese is coming back from wrist reached the 15th green. Off icials said he could continue, wait for Open runner-up to Rafael Nadal to grass this week and came to sixth ace to claim victory on a sure on his rival’s serve, forc- injury problems and working to off icials to clear the course of spectators before continuing or earlier this month, was joined on the court with a fi rst-round win fourth after 88 minutes. ing the Austrian to save 10 of 13 rebuild his ranking, which once suspend play until Monday and finish without spectators. the sidelines of the pre-Wim- in northern Germany at a venue The Japanese will be playing a break points before dropping placed him fi rmly in the Top 10.

GOLF Low-key, long-hitting, Johnson reigns as No 1 AFP “And the attitude, the work ethic, eve- sion. Johnson returned in February 2015 Washington rything that he brings to it - he will, when and won his fi rst title the following month Mickelson apologises for US Open rules violation he’s done, go down as one of the best of all at Doral. He shared the 54-hole US Open time.” lead but missed a birdie putt on the fi nal Five-time major Golf champion Phil Mickelson apologised yes- ustin Johnson overcame injuries Johnson joined the US PGA Tour in 2008 hole that gave Jordan Spieth the victory. terday for hitting a moving ball in Saturday’s third round of the and personal issues to become a and has won at least once in each of his 11 US Open in a text message to Golf.com yesterday. major golf champion, the long- seasons, capturing January’s Tournament Major breakthrough The 48-year-old left-hander, six times an Open runner-up in hitting American star with a low- of Champions in Hawaii before collecting Johnson’s major breakthrough came at the only major he has never won, sent a text message blaming keyD attitude grabbing the world number his 18th US PGA title at Memphis. the 2016 US Open, when he won by three his anger and frustration on a diff icult day for his major rules one ranking in 2017. Johnson matched Tiger Woods for the strokes over Ireland’s Shane Lowry, Ameri- violation. After losing the top spot to compatriot most tour wins since 2008. can Scott Piercy and Jim Furyk, who will “I know this should’ve come sooner, but it’s taken me a few days Justin Thomas in May, the 33-year-old “It’s very diffi cult to win out here. The captain the 2018 US Ryder Cup team upon to calm down,” Mickelson wrote to the website. son-in-law of ice hockey legend Wayne talent level of the guys on tour is very high which Johnson fi gures to be a key player. “My anger and frustration got the best of me last weekend. I’m Gretzky bounced back with a PGA Tour win and it’s hard to get it done,” Johnson said. The 2016 campaign fi nished with John- embarrassed and disappointed by my actions. It was clearly not in Memphis to reclaim the top ranking. “So to win 11 consecutive years is some- son as the US PGA’s top money winner and my finest moment and I’m sorry.” Even after a disappointing third place thing I’m really proud of and I want to con- Vardon Trophy winner for the lowest aver- The incident took place on the 13th hole at Shinnecock on a fi nish in the US Open - where he led by four tinue that streak as long as I can.” age score. He also won the PGA Tour Player blustery day when some players said the US Golf Association shots through 36 holes only for his putting The only longer US PGA season win In 2011, Johnson shared second behind of the Year award. “lost the course” trying to make conditions so diff icult. touch to desert him at the weekend – John- streaks belong to 18-time major win- winner Darren Clarke at the British Open. Another breakthrough awaited Johnson Mickelson hit a putt that was going to roll off the 13th green but son, a man fi guring to take a leading Ryder ner Jack Nicklaus at 17 and 14-time major He suff ered a back injury in 2012 and in in 2017 when he won at Riviera in February chased after the ball and hit it back toward the hole while it was Cup role, was promptly installed by West- champion Woods at 14. 2014 announced a break from the tour to to claim the world number spot for the fi rst still moving. gate Las Vegas SuperBook as the early 12-1 Johnson nearly captured his fi rst major seek professional help for “personal chal- time. He stayed there for 64 weeks before He was given a two-stroke penalty for the violation but many betting favorite to win the British Open. title at the 2010 PGA Championship, with lenges.” Justin Thomas briefl y displaced him, and suggested he should have been disqualified for the move. US Open winner Brooks Koepka, a good a one-shot lead entering the fi nal hole. He Golf magazine reported Johnson was admits that holding the top spot is a moti- The report said Mickelson’s wife, Amy Mickelson, said her hus- friend of Johnson, sounded like someone appeared to have made bogey after landing banned by the tour for six months after vator for him. band had off ered to disqualify himself from the event to USGA who would take that bet. “He’s going to in a sandy nature area but was issued a two- testing positive for cocaine following two “It’s defi nitely a spot where I want to be,” president Mike Davis. win another (major),” Koepka said. “In my stroke penalty after it was deemed he had prior positives for recreational drugs. PGA he said. Mickelson eventually shared 48th place at 16 over par for the mind, he’s probably one of the most talent- grounded his club in a bunker, dropping to Tour offi cials indicated Johnson’s leave was “It’s motivation to keep me working hard tournament. ed guys to ever play the game. fi fth place. voluntary and he was not under suspen- and keep doing the things I’m doing.”

Thursday, June 21, 2018 GULF TIMES SPORT

ITALIAN BAJA Qatar’s Adel teams up with Frenchman Polato By Sports Reporter Michel. He was with me in 2016 for three ceremony in the town centre at 17.00hrs Pordenone, Italy races in Italy, Hungary and Poland. He tomorrow evening and the opening su- has good experience. per special stage on a track between “For sure, I am coming here to win Cordenons and Zoppola from 17.30hrs. atar’s Adel Abdulla is in this race. It is important for me. We will Teams will tackle a selective section north-eastern Italy this week- try to do our best and aim for the maxi- between San Lorenzo de Arzena and end bidding to close the gap mum points. I never try the car before. Valvazone on Saturday morning and the on the FIA T2 World Champi- This race can be tricky in some places timed section will be repeated later in the onshipQ leader Ahmed al-Shegawi at the and fast. We cross some small rivers. It day on two occasions before the over- Italian Baja, round six of the FIA World can be risky in some places, but it is a night halt in Pordenone. The action takes Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. good race and a challenge for me.” place over gravelly river beds crossing The Qatari reduced the Saudi driv- Adel Abdulla’s campaign to win back San Giorgio della Richinvelda, Spilim- er’s T2 lead to just 26 points with third the FIA T2 Championship is running bergo, Valvasone and the Arzena areas. place at the recent six-day event in Ka- with valuable support from the Qa- The fi nal action takes place on two zakhstan and will be hoping to guide tar Motor and Motorcycle Federation reverse passes through a special stage his Toyota Land Cruiser to the category (QMMF), Ooredoo Qatar. between Valvasone and San Lorenzo di win across the demanding gravely fl ood In addition to Ahmed al-Shegawi Arzena on Sunday, before the podium in plain tracks that make up the route for and his French co-pilot Laurent Lich- Piazalle Venti Settembre in the centre of the three-day event in Italy. tleuchter, the Qatari also faces T2 com- Pordenone. French navigator Jean-Michel Po- petition in Italy from the Polish crew of lato replaces Adel’s usual partner Nasser Tomasz Baronowski and Grzegorz Kon- FIA World Cup for Cross-Country al-Kuwari in the battle for honours czak in a Toyota LC155 and their fellow Rallies – T2 standings after round 5: for drivers of series production cross- countrymen Tomasz Piec and Michal 1. Ahmed al-Shegawi (SAU) 125pts country vehicles. Marczewski in a Toyota Land Cruiser. 2. Adel Abdulla (QAT) 99pts Adel said: “I have a new car and a Formalities, such as documentation 3. Konstantin Ivanov (RUS) 50pts new team and no Nasser al-Kuwari this and scrutineering, get proceedings un- 4. Yuliya Khegay-Migunova (RUS) 42pts week. He is busy with his job with the derway today at Fiera Pordenone and the 5. Marat Abykayev (KAZ) 36pts World Cup. This race I will be with Jean- event fi res into life with a podium start 6. Alexey Titov (RUS) 25pts

CRICKET FOCUS Ashes to kick off new World Test England eye 500 Championship

AFP ine solution that gives fans New Delhi around the world the chance to engage regularly with in- ternational cricket that has he Ashes between meaning and the possibility of aft er smashing ODI arch rivals England a global title at the end”. and Australia will kick The new Future Tours Pro- off the mammoth new gramme (FTP) released by the TWorld Test Championship in ICC features all series and July next year, according to a tournaments of Test, ODI world governing body sched- and Twenty20 cricket for the ule released yesterday. 2019-2023 period. The nine top-ranked sides New Test entrants Ireland mark against Aussies in the world will compete in and Afghanistan will play the new tournament, with against each other in February ‘What was most pleasing was the level of intensity we operated at’ each side playing six series next year and go onto play 12 on a home-and-away basis fi ve-day games each between against mutually selected op- 2019 and 2022. Afghanistan ponents in a two-year cycle. have matches scheduled at The fi ve-Test ashes will kick their home base India and off the fi rst championship in away against Australia, while July next year, with the top Ireland will host New Zealand two teams to square off in a and travel to England. June 2021 fi nal. Other Test se- The 12 Test playing na- ries in the programme include tions and the Netherlands will the West Indies’ three-Test also participate in a 13-team tour of India and New Zealand one-day international League hosting Sri Lanka, both in July, that will act as a qualifi cation while the last league game will pathway for the 50-over 2023 be in April 2021 with the West World Cup.Hosts India along Indies visiting Sri Lanka. with the seven highest-ranked Meanwhile Pakistan, who sides in the ODI league at the start their Test champion- end of March 2022 will directly ship journey in October next qualify, while the bottom fi ve year in Sri Lanka, have not sides will get a second chance been given a series against to enter through qualifi ers. India amid growing politi- cal tensions between the two THE STRUCTURE OF THE countries. South Africa will MEN’S FTP (2018-23) kickstart their campaign in INCLUDES: India in October 2019. The ICC Cricket World Cup - 2019 ICC gave its nod to the Test and 2023 championship last year as ICC World T20 - 2020 and part of measures to boost the 2021 fl agging fortunes of the tradi- World Test Championship tional fi ve-day format beloved Cycle 1 - 2019-2021 (final 2021) of purists but with often lack- Cycle 2 - 2021-2023 (final lustre spectator and television 2023) viewer numbers. All bilateral Tests, ODIs and England players celebrate their victory in the third One-Day International over Australia at Trent Bridge cricket ground in Nottingham, England, on Tuesday. (AFP) ICC chief executive David T20Is outside of the above Richardson called it a “genu- competitions. AFP Tuesday, his fourth hundred in both Hales and Morgan, who put absence of two of the world’s Tim Paine, the hurt was even Nottingham, United Kingdom six ODIs that included a century on 124 for the fourth wicket, off best batsmen in Steve Smith and worse than the blow to the face in a shock loss to Scotland just successive balls in the 48th over. David Warner after the former he suff ered while keeping wicket before this series. captain and his deputy were in Cardiff . “It’s tough. I thought Rohit clears fi tness test ahead of UK tour ngland one-day captain Meanwhile Morgan, who ‘Perfect storm’ both given year-long bans by I had some headaches in Car- Top batsman Rohit Sharma one-day international squad Eoin Morgan said “the missed the second ODI in Cardiff “When ‘Morgs’ came out, he Cricket Australia for their roles diff after 25 overs when I hit my cleared a fitness test yester- for England after Rayudu was sky’s the limit” for his on Sunday with a back spasm, said ‘If we’re ever going to (get in a ball-tampering scandal in head, but I had a few more out day and will join India’s tour found unfit. Board adminis- record-breaking side, smashed England’s fastest fi fty 500), now’s the time’ - but we Cape Town. there today to be honest,” he said of the United Kingdom, bring- trator Vinod Rai said “there withE a total of 500 fi rmly in their at this level, off just 21 balls. didn’t quite get there,” Hales Even with Smith and Warner, after Australia’s 14th defeat in 16 ing relief to selectors after was no time to organise” the sights after their rout of Australia. “I think (we’re) defi nitely very told Sky Sports. Former England Australia might have struggled to completed ODIs. two others recently failed to tests because the names of Morgan’s men posted a new close (to 500),” said Morgan. captain Michael Atherton, com- avoid what became their heavi- “I’ve been playing cricket pass muster. all prospective players for the all-time ODI record of 481 for “In the position we found our- mentating for Sky, labelled the est defeat at this level, in terms since I was a kid and that is the Sharma, whose inclusion in tour had to be submitted for six at Trent Bridge en route to a selves today, with six overs to go, match a “perfect storm” in that a of runs, and England’s larg- hardest day’s cricket I have ever the limited-overs squad was travel visas to the UK. 242-run thrashing of their arch- we’d have never imagined - cer- talented England batting line-up est win. England spinners Adil had in my life,” the 33-year- considered vital for any hope “Because of that, the cart was rivals to go an unbeatable 3-0 up tainly after that game against were able to make the most of a Rashid and Moeen Ali shared old added ahead of Thursday’s of Indian success, passed put before the horse and we in the fi ve-match series. Pakistan - that we’d come close, good pitch on a ground with rel- seven wickets between them as fourth ODI in Chester-le-Street. the ‘yo-yo’ running exercise will ensure that this doesn’t Man-of-the-match Alex pass, maybe stare down the bar- atively short boundaries, while Australia were dismissed for 239 “Everything we tried didn’t introduced to ensure players happen from now on,” he Hales top-scored with 147 on his rel of scoring 500.” facing an inexperienced attack. with 13 overs to spare. work, everything they tried were up to scratch. told AFP. India will play two Nottinghamshire home ground, “The sky’s the limit with these World champions Australia “What was most pleasing was came off . Normally that hap- All eyes were on Sharma as Twenty20 internationals in just as he had done when making guys,” Morgan added after Eng- were without their injured Ash- the level of intensity we operated pens for an hour or two then you he proved his endurance Ireland before travelling to 171 in England’s 444 for three - land, the 2019 World Cup hosts, es-winning fast-bowling trio at, and continued to operate at get a couple of wickets. But for it against the clock after pace England for a three-month the previous ODI record total - cemented their place at the top of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins throughout the whole game,” said to happen as long as it did, you spearhead Mohammed tour starting with the first of against Pakistan at Trent Bridge of the ODI rankings in style. and Josh Hazlewood. And their Morgan, who hopes to lead Eng- have to take your hat off . They Shami and batsman Ambati three T20 matches on July 3. two years ago. Opening batsman England might well have broken hopes of chasing down a daunt- land to a maiden World Cup title struck the ball as well as I have Rayudu failed the same test The Virat Kohli-led side will Jonny Bairstow made 139 on the 500-barrier had they not lost ing target were not helped by the next year. For Australia captain ever seen.” despite already being chosen also play three ODI matches for the India squad. and five Tests. Langer hopes Australia will be better for ‘brutal’ England loss Players are supposed to take the yo-yo test before selec- Australia coach Justin Langer Bridge run-spree. In reply, world fours, while Australia paceman that they are No.1 in the world. ball-tampering scandal in Cape tion under rules introduced hopes his side will be better for champions Australia were Andrew Tye’s nine wicketless “I’ve never seen nothing like that. Town - which also led to then by India’s cricket board last a “brutal” and record-breaking dismissed for just 239 as England overs cost 100 runs. Former I was in Johannesburg when coach Darren Lehmann’s resigna- year and a break in protocol defeat by England in the third won by 242 runs – their heaviest Australia batsman Langer admit- Australia got 400 and South tion and his subsequent replace- for Shami has caused one-day international in Not- victory and Australia’s largest ted the crushing reverse which Africa then got it, but that was ment by Langer. In addition, the controversy. tingham on Tuesday that was defeat, in terms of runs, at this condemned his side to their just brutal,” he added. “Hopefully Ashes-winning fast-bowling trio Shami was chosen for the “nothing like” anything he had level. Langer said Australia, fourth straight bilateral series de- our young guys can learn from of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins Test squad against Afghani- ever seen before. England piled now 3-0 down in the five-match feat in this format, topped even it - it doesn’t get harder than and Josh Hazlewood are all stan last weekend without up 481 for six, the highest ever contest against 2019 World Cup an extraordinary 2006 ODI that that.” Australia are, however, in injured, as is all-rounder Mitchell running the yo-yo. He was total in men’s ODI history, follow- hosts England, “can’t have had saw South Africa make 438 for England without six first-choice Marsh. The upshot is that Langer replaced in the one-off match ing hundreds by Alex Hales (147) a worse day” as they suff ered a nine in reply to Australia’s 434 for players. Former captain Steve has still to enjoy an international by uncapped paceman and Jonny Bairstow (139), with 14th defeat in 16 completed ODIs. four at Johannesburg’s Wander- Smith and his deputy David win as Australia coach. “I’ve Navdeep Saini after failing to Jason Roy (82) and skipper Eoin Amid a welter of depressing sta- ers ground. “It’s a shock,” said a Warner, two of the world’s best known what the task is before prove his fitness. Morgan, who made a quickfire tistics for the tourists, England stunned Langer. “That is literally batsmen, are serving year-long this game, it’s to build a team and Left-handed batsman Suresh 67, also taking part in the Trent hit a staggering 21 sixes and 41 England at its best. It’s no fluke bans for their roles in March’s to get better,” said Langer. Raina was called up for India’s