FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018 20

Midfielder Mesut Ozil to skip ’s final warm-up game ‘Individual stars are good, Reuters | Munich

idfielder Mesut Ozil Mwill miss Germany’s fi- nal World Cup warm-up game but we’re not a team’ against Saudi Arabia today so that he can recover from a minor knee injury, manager Oliver Bierhoff said yesterday. “That knock on the knee is My worry is about something you don’t want to one thing; there risk (in a friendly match),” Bi- erhoff told reporters on the are only a few last day of their training camp days until the in northern Italy. World Cup starts “He has been sprinting and and we still don’t the knee is absolutely no issue have the right for the World Cup. We still team. Individually have a bit of time and it is noth- all the players are ing dramatic.” The 2014 World Cup win- very good. But ner has also had to deal with we’re not a team a barrage of criticism in Ger- PELE many after he was pictured with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

Pele (file picture) Germany’s Mesut Ozil stretches during a training session Reuters | Sao Paolo lies due to injuries. that kept them out of Sunday’s isn’t going to win the World Cup “I have the utmost confidence 2-0 win over . on his own. It’s teams that win KNOW WHAT Ozil caused a furore in Ger- razil may be five-time in ’s ability,” Pele said. “My returned at halftime the World Cup.” many last month after photos winners of the World worry is about one thing; there in that match to lead “The greatest Brazil team of taken in London showed him BCup and joint-favourites are only a few days until the to victory and Pele, the only all-time was the one in 1970, and Germany team mate Ilkay to make it six in Russia this year World Cup starts and we still player to have won the World with Tostao, , Gerson Ozil has also had Gundogan beaming while they but the South Americans do don’t have the right team. Indi- Cup three times, said the Paris and Pele all wearing the number to deal with a bar- presented Erdogan with shirts not yet have the right blend for vidually all the players are very Saint-Germain striker was ca- 10 shirts for their clubs. In the rage of criticism in from their success, three-time World Cup good. But we’re not a team.” pable of inspiring Brazil to the 1970 World Cup we spent more clubs - Arsenal and Manches- winner Pele said on Wednesday. Talismanic forward Neymar title in Russia. than six months together. That’s Germany after he ter City. Brazil have lost once in 20 injured a foot and ankle in Feb- “Neymar is to me one of the why it worked.” was pictured with The photos unleashed a games since coach Tite took ruary and full-back Dani Alves best players in the world,” Pele Brazil have played only three Turkish President storm of criticism from law- over almost two years ago but dropped out the squad due to a said. friendlies this year and face one Tayyip Erdogan makers across Germany’s po- he has been forced to chop and knee injury. Renato Augusto and “Today he is more mature and final warm-up match on Sunday litical spectrum and the foot- change his side in recent friend- Douglas Costa picked up strains he has more experience but he against Austria in Vienna. ball federation.

“We were robbed!” Panama WC team hotel raided fall to Czech Republic, 1-0 looking for clues.” Police say objects Police say objects worth Nigeria opening • around 53,000 euros ($62,000) • worth around 53,000 were taken from three rooms group game euros were taken in a downtown Oslo hotel, ex- against Croatia from three rooms plaining thieves are thought to have used an old magnetic Espn | Schwechat AFP | Oslo room key or a stolen one and that video footage would be examined. omas Kalas’s first-half win- t around the time that Police spokeswoman Aslaug Tner condemned an unin- AWorld Cup minnows Pan- Rohne said the robbery proba- spiring Nigeria to a 1-0 defeat 6days to go…… ama were playing Norway this bly took place at the same time in their final pre-World Cup week, thieves were busy rifling as Panama were being beaten friendly at the Rudolf Tonn Highlight of Nigeria vs Czech Republic match proving the Eagles’ fortunes. their Oslo hotel rooms, police by Norway on Wednesday in a Stadium in Schwechat, Austria Nigeria were living danger- told AFP on Thursday. match that ended 1-0. on Wednesday. It was a second ously early on, conceding seven The Panamanian football Panama will make their successive defeat in four days Africans, who have to improve the England defeat, with John corner kicks within the opening federation tweeted: “Three World Cup debut in Russia, for the Super Eagles, a disap- ahead of their opening group Ogu and the returning Wilfred 17 minutes. Abdullahi Shehu #Panamayor hotel rooms were where the central Americans pointing conclusion to prepa- game against Croatia on June 16. Ndidi coming into the line-up also had to produce goal-saving robbed in Oslo, Norway. Nor- will face England, Belgium and rations ahead of a sixth World Despite expectedly making for Ogenyi Onazi and Joel Obi, blocks to deny Josef Sural an wegian police are at the scene Tunisia in Group G. Cup appearance for the West two changes in midfield from the alterations did little in im- opener.

Group C: Favourable draw for Les Bleus PLAYER OF THE DAY

TEAMS: preparatory match for the forth- : FIFA ranking: 7 coming World Cup in , best achievement: Champion and Co lost 1-0, 1998 with scor- Coach: ing for the South Americans in the 82nd minute. Australia : FIFA ranking: 36 The number3 of World “Last time around, everyone Best achievement: Round of 16 Cups in which Cahill said that it was a fantastic draw, 2006 of Australia has found the even some of our players, but Coach: Bert Van Marwijk back of the net we’re not going to get through it just by clicking our fingers,” Peru : FIFA ranking: 11 said Didier Deschamps after Best achievement: Quarter-fi- Kylian Mbappe of France the Draw. The wily coach was nals 1970, 1978 clearly keen to keep feet in the Coach: Ricardo Gareca stage on two previous occasions, French camp firmly on the 2018, Luzhniki Stadium) both times in the final match of ground. Denmark: FIFA ranking: 12 This duel between two high- the group. He may have reason to do so, Best achievement: Quarter-fi- ly fancied European sides will as according to the latest FIFA nals 1998 likely be given top billing dur- What you need to know World Ranking in November, Gylfi Sigurdsson Coach: Age Hareide ing the third round of games in France and Peru have only Group C is in fact the most chal- Iceland’s talismanic midfield playmaker has been named his Group C. The countries know ever faced each other once be- lenging pool of Russia 2018, fea- country’s footballer of the year for the last five years running. KEY GAME each other well, having gone fore, on 28 April 1982 at the Parc turing France, Australia, Peru Sigurdsson supplied four goals and as many assists in the team’s Denmark-France, (26 June head-to-head on the World Cup des Princes. In what served as a and Denmark. Russia 2018 qualifying campaign.