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Established 1961 Sport THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2017 France to stage 2023 World Cup as Global media paid bribes, Khedira praises plucky 12rugby chiefs deny ‘humiliation’ 14 FIFA trial hears 15 Germany after France draw SYDNEY: Honduras’ Johnny Palacios (L) blocks Australia’s Robbie Kruse during their 2018 World Cup qualification play-off football match at Stadium Australia in Sydney yesterday. — AFP Australia qualifies for 2018 WCup Jedinak scores second-half hat-trick SYDNEY: Mile Jedinak stepped up when it counted Australia qualified for its fourth consecutive World Cup. by chance,” said Postecoglou, who took on the “Australia were very strong and aggressive and put most, propelling Australia into next year’s World Cup “It wouldn’t have mattered who scored. I’m happy to Australian job just before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. pressure on us. In the first half the game was more bal- with a hat trick yesterday in a 3-1 victory over chip in,” Jedinak said. “We got the job done and that’s “They believed in something that we started, and right anced - in the second half, the (first) goal took a toll,” Honduras that secured the next-to-last spot in Russia. all that matters - it’s going to be a big 2018.” Honduras to the end they displayed the kind of resilience and Pinto said. “The second goal, there was contact with The Australia captain was in doubt for the intercon- scored a consolation goal belief that has made me the player’s hand, but it wasn’t intentional.” tinental playoff series with a groin injury that had deep in injury time in a proud all the way along. Honduras earned its place in the playoff with a 3-2 forced him to miss the end of the Asian qualifying cam- scramble in front of goal They did it their way, and win over Mexico on a hectic last day of qualifying in paign, when the Socceroos narrowly missed out on with Alberth Elis and got great rewards for it.” North and Central America and the Caribbean, securing direct entry. Maynor Figueroa both tak- While the Australians fourth spot and ensuring the U.S. missed out. But Jedinak played a full game in the 0-0 draw in ing swipes at the ball from invested heavily in the char- Australia advanced after beating Syria for fifth place San Pedro Sula last Friday and, aided by the state-of- close range. It wouldn’t ter flight to get home in Asian qualifying, with veteran Tim Cahill scoring the-art rehabilitation program on Australia’s charter The result meant Asia Sunday after the first leg, twice in Sydney. Cahill was involved when Australia flight home, took the free kick that broke the scoring got a full quota of five have mattered the Honduras squad took a edged Uruguay on penalties in a playoff in 2005 to drought in the 54th minute at Sydney’s Olympic stadi- teams into the World Cup in commercial flight and qualify for the following year’s World Cup in Germany. um. His free kick curled to the left of the wall and Russia, with 31 of the 32 who scored arrived a day later. But with He was also there when the Australians qualified direct- deflected sharply in off defender Henry Figueroa, places decided. Peru was veteran skipper Maynor ly from Asia for 2010 and 2014. There is a good chance bringing the parochial 77,060-strong crowd at hosting New Zealand to Figueroa returning, and with he’ll be in Russia, too, well after he has turned 38 years Sydney’s Olympic stadium to life. He converted from determine the last qualifier Elis adding pace on the of age. the spot in the 72nd after referee Nestor Pitana penal- later yesterday. Under-fire coach Ange Postecoglou flank, Honduras lifted its tempo in the first half and frus- “To help my country qualify for four World Cups is ized Bryan Acosta for a hand ball and again calmly slot- said he was delighted for his Australian team, and trated the Australian attack. something I will be proud of when I get ... even older,” ted home another penalty in the 85th after Robbie declined to comment on his future amid speculation Honduras coach Jorge Luis Pinto said the Australians the former Everton player said. “I feel like a young kid. I Kruse was dragged down in the area. After 22 games that he may not stay on to take them to the World Cup. clearly worked to neutralize Elis out wide, and the would’ve done anything to be part of this group and I and 27 months, the win ensured Asian Cup champion “They got what they deserved - it wasn’t by luck or momentum shift was too great after the opening goal. will do anything to stay a part of it.” — AP Tour de France winner, retired from cycling last December. UKAD said it had been unable to confirm or refute the “removed from his post.” Italy were held to a 0-0 draw UK Anti-Doping account that the package delivered to Team Sky contained at home by Sweden in the second leg of their European Fluimucil. Team Sky general manager Dave Brailsford had playoff on Monday, losing 1-0 on aggregate, and will told British lawmakers that the package contained the Ventura parts miss the finals for the first time since 1958. closes Team Sky, legal decongestant Fluimucil. “Put simply, due to the lack Many Italian newspapers also called for the resigna- of contemporaneous evidence, UKAD has been unable to company with tion of FIGC President Carlo Tavecchio following the definitively confirm the contents of the package,” UKAD World Cup fiasco, but in Wednesday’s statement, the Wiggins ‘mystery said in a statement. soccer federation said he had declined to quit. “In light of the significant public interest in this particu- Italy after Instead, it said he would put forward “various propos- package’ probe lar investigation, which has previously been discussed by als” at a forthcoming FIGC meeting, without giving fur- the Parliamentary Select Committee for Digital, Culture, ther details. Ventura replaced Antonio Conte following Media and Sport, UKAD can confirm that this investiga- World Cup fiasco Euro 2016 and was initially given a two-year contract. In LONDON: The UK Anti-Doping agency (UKAD) has tion has now been drawn to a close,” it added. August, it was extended until the Euro 2020 tournament closed its Team Sky “mystery package” investigation and “It follows that UKAD does not intend to issue any anti- ROME: Veteran coach Gian Piero Ventura is no longer in because the FIGC said it was happy with the team’s will not be making any charges, it said yesterday. Team doping charges in relation to the package.” UKAD chief charge of Italy’s national team, the Italian football federa- progress. On announcing Ventura’s appointment, Sky have come under the microscope in recent months executive Nicole Sapstead said a lack of accurate records tion (FIGC) said yesterday, two days after the side failed Tavecchio had described him as a “master of football”. after an investigation was launched into a package had caused problems. “Our investigation was hampered by a to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Ventura has never won a major title or coached top tier ordered by former team doctor Richard Freeman and lack of accurate medical records being available at British It was not clear from the FIGC’s statement if Ventura teams such as AC Milan, Inter Milan or Juventus. He delivered to British rider Bradley Wiggins at the 2011 Cycling,” she said. “This is a serious concern.” The 37-year- had been sacked or had resigned, but the president of spent much of his career in the lower divisions, but Criterium du Dauphine race. old Wiggins welcomed the UKAD statement but strongly the referees association Marcello Nicchi told reporters enjoyed a long, steady career and had a reputation for Wiggins, a five-times Olympic champion and the 2012 criticised the way the case had been handled. —Reuters after a FIGC meeting in Rome that the coach had been nurturing young talent.—Reuters.