14 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, May 16, 2018 Injured Neuer in German World Cup squad as frictions stir

Manuel has not played for eight months with fractured foot

DORTMUND: Injured was named in and honestly, asking ‘is it possible to play at the World Germany’s extended 27-man World Cup squad for Cup?’” “We have to decide whether Neuer is able to Russia 2018, despite not playing since September, as put in his top performances. “I don’t think it is possible political frictions threw a shadow over yesterday’s to go into a World Cup without playing practice.” announcement. There is no place in Loew’s squad for Mario Goetze, Both midfielders Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan are who scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup included despite triggering friction between Berlin and finals, after an erratic season at . Ankara after the Premier League stars posed for pic- “It’s definitely not been his season. He has huge quali- tures with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in ties, but isn’t in form,” explained Loew. “Personally, I London. “From the DFB’s perspective, it has been made feel sorry for him and it was a hard decision.” clear that it was not a good decision, but I didn’t think of leaving them out for a second,” said Germany head PETERSEN SURPRISE coach Joachim Loew. However, Loew pulled a surprise by handing a first “I have a bit of understanding that two hearts beat in call-up to Freiburg striker , 29, the top- the chests of players with an immigration background. scoring German in the this season with 15 “They have have expressed regret and done a lot for goals. Yet there is no place for striker , integration in Germany.” There was more political ’s back-up at Bayern Munich, who activity as hosts Russia granted a World Cup visa to helped Germany win the Conferderations Cup in Russia German journalist Hajo last year. Seppelt, who had been banned Bayern Munich defender from the finals after he broke Jerome Boateng has been the story on the Russian state- called up even though he is sponsored doping scandal. No place in currently sidelined by a groin injury. Dortmund winger NO ROOM FOR GOETZE Loew’s squad has a spot in the However, Loew’s top con- extended squad after missing cern is whether his captain for Goetze out on the victorious 2014 and goalkeeper Neuer will be World Cup squad after tear- fit for the World Cup finals, ing ankle ligaments in a which kick-off on June 14. The warm-up game. 32-year-old Bayern Munich Germany open their Russia MARSEILLE: File photo taken on July 7, 2016, Germany’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stops the ball by star has not played for eight 2018 campaign against France’s forward Dimitri Payet (not pictured) during the Euro 2016 semi-final football match between months with a fractured foot. Mexico in Moscow on June 17, the defending champi- Germany and France at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. — AFP He has been named amongst four goalkeepers, one ons also facing South Korea and Sweden in Group F. of whom will be cut for the final 23-man squad which must be named by June 4. Neuer must now prove his GERMANY SQUAD Munich), (Bayern Munich), Marvin 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City/ENG), Sami fitness at a fortnight-long training camp in northern Goalkeepers: (Bayer Leverkusen), Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger Khedira (Juventus/ITA), (Real Italy, which starts yesterday. Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter (Chelsea/ENG) Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich), Madrid/ESP), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut “Manuel is getting back into full training this week at Stegen (Barcelona/ESP), (Paris Saint- (Bayer Leverkusen) Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Nils Petersen (Freiburg), Marco Bayern Munich, that assures us that he can tolerate the Germain/FRA) Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Midfielders/Forwards: (Bayer Reus (Borussia Dortmund), (Bayern full load in the training camp,” explained Loew. Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moechengladbach), Leverkusen), (Paris Saint-Germain), Munich), Leroy Sane (Manchester City/ENG), Timo “Then we want to get a full idea, talk to him frankly (Cologne), (Bayern Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), (Schalke Werner (RB Leipizg). — AFP

Former Aston Villa Wavering S Africa defender Samuel under pressure to killed in car crash back Morocco’s LONDON: Former Aston Villa and Bolton defend- er Jlloyd Samuel died in a car crash yesterday at World Cup bid the age of 37, Cheshire Police confirmed. Samuel, who also won two international caps for Trinidad and Tobago, was involved in a colli- JOHANNESBURG: African football’s leadership will sion with a truck in High Legh, north-west attempt today to persuade South Africa to keep England, after reportedly dropping off his chil- backing Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup, dren off at school. “At around 7.55am officials said yesterday. South Africa, who became (0655GMT) police were called following reports the first African country to host the World Cup in of a collision involving a van and a Range Rover,” 2010, are threatening to break ranks and vote for the said a statement from Cheshire Police. rival North American bid in what would be a blow to “Sadly the driver of the car, Jlloyd Samuel, 37, the African cause. from Lymm, died at the scene.” Samuel was born Confederation of African Football president in the city of San Fernando in the south-west of Ahmad will be hoping to pursuade South African Trinidad but moved to England as a youngster. Football Association (SAFA) representatives to back He was capped by England from Under-18 Morocco’s bid when they meet in Johannesburg. to Under-21 level and was an unused substitute Last week South Africa’s sports minister Tokozile for the senior international against Sweden in Xasa urged the football association not to vote for 2004 before switching allegiances to the coun- Morocco at the FIFA Congress in Moscow on June LONDON: This handout picture taken and released on May 13, 2018 and released on Monday by the Turkish try of his birth. 13, when each of the member countries of world Presidential Press office shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan(2nd R) posing for a photo with “We’ve received some terrible news that for- football’s governing body casts a vote to decide Turkish football players Ilkay Gundogan (L), Mesut Ozil (L 2nd) and Cenk Tosun (R) in London. — AFP mer national defender and ex-Aston Villa and where the 2026 finals will be played. Bolton Wanderers player Jlloyd Samuel died in a The two countries have had strained relations car crash this morning in England,” the Trinidad since Morocco withdrew its ambassador from and Tobago FA said on its official Facebook page. and Gundogan are in that squad. Pretoria in 2004 when South Africa recognised the “According to reports, Jlloyd was returning Erdogan is a keen soccer fan and as a young man independence of the Saharawi Arab Democratic German soccer home after dropping his kids off to school and played the game to a semi-professional level. Ties Republic’ also known as the Western Sahara. collided with an oncoming vehicle. “The Trinidad between the European Union and Turkey have dete- “We are very clear that we can’t support and Tobago Football Association and his former stars under riorated over the past two years amid a crackdown Morocco. Our parliament was very straightforward national team-mates at this time extend deepest by Erdogan’s government on suspected supporters in this regard’ it is the mandate of the country and it condolences to his family members both in the of a failed military coup in July 2016. Turkey has shut is an obligation for sporting bodies to understand fire for posing UK and here in Trinidad and Tobago.” down media outlets, detained 160,000 people and what the country’s agenda is’” Xasa said. Morocco Samuel spent nearly a decade at Villa Park sacked nearly the same number of public employees. annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in before joining Bolton in 2007. He also had loan with Erdogan It says the crackdown is needed for security reasons. 1975, and since then the territory has been the sub- spells at Gillingham and Cardiff before ending his ject of a dispute between it and the Polisario Front, playing career in Iran. Villa said their players will “POLITICAL IDIOTS, an independence movement backed by many African wear black armbands for Tuesday’s Championship FOOTBALL GENIUSES” countries, including South Africa. BERLIN/DORTMUND: Two top German soccer play-off second leg against Middlesbrough. “We DFB soccer federation President Reinhard SAFA president Danny Jordaan, a former parlia- players made a mistake by posing for a photo with are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our Grindel, who said earlier the players had been used mentarian with the ruling African National former player Jlloyd Samuel at the age of just 37 Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Chancellor by Erdogan in his campaign for the June 24 presi- Congress, received a Moroccan bid delegation last in a car accident,” said a post on Villa’s official Angela Merkel’s spokesman and national soccer dential and parliamentary elections in Turkey, said he month with much fanfare but has since sought to Twitter account. “Our players will wear black coach Joachim Loew said yesterday, amid concerns believed the two knew they had made a mistake. distance himself. armbands as a mark of respect tonight and our over Turkey’s human rights record. Merkel’s spokesman also weighed into the debate, Instead SAFA announced that their executive thoughts are with his friends and family at this The pictures, taken in London on Sunday and welcoming Gundogan’s statement which also made committee will make a final decision on whether to published by Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, show Mesut very difficult time.” —AFP support Morocco’s bid at a meeting later this month. clear that the players stood by German values. “The Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan standing next to the presi- players, who as national players have to set an exam- “SAFA wants to reiterate that no decision has been dent, all beaming, and giving him shirts from their taken at this stage on the matter on who to support,” ple, were in a situation that invited misunderstand- English clubs - Arsenal and Manchester City. ing,” said the spokesman, Steffen Seibert. said a statement. Gundogan’s shirt had “With respect for my presi- FIFA has strict rules on government interference A commentary in top-selling Bild, which ran the dent” written on it. He later said it was not the inten- photos on its front page, said: “The main question is in the affairs of its member associations. Countries tion of the two players, who have Turkish roots, to found to have broken those rules can face a number whether the two German national players still fit into make a political statement or be drawn into cam- our German team. I say yes. They are political idiots, of sanctions, including expulsion from FIFA and paigning for Turkey’s elections next month. playing bans. but football geniuses.” The photos unleashed a storm of criticism from Loew said he understood that players with roots Morocco have made a concerted effort in recent lawmakers across Germany’s political spectrum years to drum up support among African football in other countries sometimes “have two hearts beat- and the DFB football federation, all of whom ing”. “I have known both players a long time, they associations, signing co-operation agreements with argued that Erdogan does not sufficiently respect a myriad of countries and spending lavishly to host have done a lot for integration. It is a lesson for them German values. CAF events since Ahmad became president 14 we can discuss again in training,” he said. “From the side of the federation, it was made clear months ago. TFF Turkish Football Federation Vice President to them that it was an unfortunate action. When you The joint bid from Canada, Mexico and US is fan- Servet Yardimci denied the players had become part play for Germany you represent German values,” cied to beat Morocco to host the expanded 48-team of the election campaign. “We have to be fair, there Loew said at a news conference to name his provi- 2026 World Cup. —Reuters is no intention whatsoever to get them involved,” he Jlloyd Samuel sional squad for the World Cup in Russia. Both Ozil told a briefing in London on Monday. — Reuters