MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2014 Nigeria knock Bosnia out CUIABA: Nigeria beat Bosnia 1-0 on Saturday to Dzeko had another shot saved by Enyeama melee hitting Enyeama’s legs and coming back FAN FERVOR record their first World Cup finals victory since but he was well off target with chances later in into play off the post deep into stoppage time. 1998 and condemn the European team to an the half as he fought a lonely battle with the Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi was rewarded early exit in their first appearance at the tourna- Nigeria defence. for his adventurous tactics while Susic packed ment. The more experienced Nigerians, playing in his midfield as he had done in the 2-1 defeat by Peter Odemwingie’s 29th-minute goal lifted their fifth World Cup, created several chances in Argentina and only sent on a second striker in the African champions to four points from two the first half but were let down by the final pass, Vedad Ibisevic, whose best headed effort went games, two less than Argentina who they meet poor control or wayward shooting and a couple over the bar, for the last half hour. Just before in their final Group F match on Wednesday with of smart diving saves by Begovic. the Nigerian goal, Enyeama had parried a shot top spot at stake. “It’s been 16 years and no wins The Bosnia keeper, a team mate of from midfielder Miralem Pjanic and the ball for our country so we are very excited,” Odemwingie’s at Premier League club Stoke rebounded into the middle of the box but no Odemwingie said in a television interview. City, made a string of saves, denying Emenike Bosnian player was following up to take advan- “We needed the win. They have some fantas- and midfielder Ogenyi Onazi to keep his side in tage. —Reuters tic players so we are happy to bounce back after the match in a second half of end-to-end excite- what our people thought was a poor perform- ment. ance in the first game (a 0-0 draw with Iran). Dzeko nearly “Victories affect people in different ways so stole an equaliser we are looking up now and for Bosnia, his shot if we get into the sec- in a goalmouth ond round anything can happen. Maybe we will be inspired as we were in the last African Nations Cup.” Iran are third in the standings with one point and could reach the last 16 if they inflict Bosnia’s third defeat in a row in their final group match and Nigeria lose to Argentina. Nigeria took the lead when Odemwingie fed Emmanuel Emenike on the right wing and raced into the box to receive the striker’s low return before sweeping the ball under goalkeeper Asmir Begovic. The Bosnian bench angrily protested that Emenike had fouled captain Emir Spahic as he bundled past him into the box before making his cross. The tournament newcomers had earlier been denied a goal after a poor offside decision against striker Edin Dzeko after he ran on to a through pass and beat goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in the 21st minute. “I did not see the situation, I was told there was no offside but this was not the first or last refereeing mistake,” Bosnia coach Safet Susic told reporters. “I don’t want to discuss that right now. We lost to a good team who played much better in CUIABA: Nigeria’s defender Juwon this match than against Iran,” he added. “They Oshaniwa (right) challenges Bosnia- scored that goal and they won deservedly, I can Hercegovina’s midfielder Izet only congratulate them and I have nothing fur- Hajrovic during the Group F football ther to add.” match.—AFP Preview Battle for Preview top spot ‘Evolving’ Brazil SAO PAULO: The Netherlands and Chile will fight it out for top spot in Group B today and hope they can avoid a fear- aim to secure passage some round two assignment against five-time World Cup win- ners Brazil. Both teams have won their opening two games, putting against Cameroon them into the last 16 with a maximum six points each and sending reigning champions Spain and Australia crashing BRASÔLIA: Stuttering Brazil will look to to Croatia in Manaus last Wednesday. out. clinch their berth in the last 16 of the While Samuel Eto’o struggles due to a Only goal-difference separates the two, with the World Cup as they host already-elimi- knee injury-he has not trained since the Netherlands narrowly top following their 5-1 win over Spain nated Cameroon in their final Group A Mexico game-Finke saw Alex Song’s and 3-2 scrap against Australia. match at the National Stadium in the tournament come to a premature end Brazil are favored to qualify top in Group A, meaning they capital Brasilia today. after he was sent off for a needless will face whoever finishes second in Group B-a match-up nei- Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side have beaten elbow in the back of Mario Mandzukic ther the Netherlands nor Chile will relish. Croatia and drawn with Mexico in their against Croatia, before left-back Benoit But with the outcome of Group A, where Brazil, Mexico and two games to date, struggling to con- Assou-Ekotto head-butted team-mate Croatia are separated by just one point, far from clear, Group vince in either match, but both the Benjamin Moukandjo on the pitch near B’s winners could still end up facing the hosts. coach and his players have claimed in the end of the game. It is a complicating factor that neither the Netherlands nor recent days that the World Cup hosts are “We will need to talk to certain play- Chile will want to dwell on before today’s game at Corinthians “evolving” as the tournament goes ers. The behaviour of some of them was Arena in Sao Paulo. Arjen Robben clocked 37 kilometres (23 along. not at all satisfying. It’s unacceptable to miles) per hour, a record for a footballer, as he inspired the Brazil head into their final group see that kind of thing,” bemoaned coach Netherlands’ deconstruction of short-passing Spain. game-their 100th at the World Cup- still Finke. But it remains to be seen if the Bayern Munich flyer will not certain of a place in the knockout Of his team’s performances he said: again hit the heights in today’s run-out, effectively a precur- rounds, but goalkeeper Julio Cesar “We have already analysed the first two sor for the knock-out challenges ahead. insisted during the week that the quali- games and worked well with the play- Robben and Manchester United’s Robin van Persie have lit ty of opposition they have come up ers. There have been some situations up this World Cup with three goals each and more will be against so far has helped the Selecao. where we have lacked concentration needed if the Netherlands are to reach their second final in a “This is a tough group, but that’s and we also lacked a finishing touch row. Coach Louis van Gaal, who will link up with Van Persie at great for us. We prefer to play against against Croatia but we can do better Old Trafford next season, will be looking for more solidity these sides and face these difficulties against Brazil.” after some distinctly worrying moments against Australia. because it gets you focusing right from Despite the problems, Brazil are wary Against one of the tournament’s least fancied teams, the the start, which is important in short- of Cameroon for what will be the Netherlands were trailing 2-1 early in the first half before Van term competitions,” he said. nations’ first competitive encounter Persie and Memphis Depay spared their blushes. The pressure on Brazil to do well at since the Indomitable Lions stunned the “I needed to change something at half-time to boost their these finals is enormous, but Scolari’s then world champions 1-0 in the 2003 confidence and change their mindset,” said Van Gaal. team need not panic about their situa- Confederations Cup in France. “Fortunately it turned out ok, but it could have turned out dif- tion in the group. They lead the group “Cameroon are coming without any ferently. To recover and correct that situation showed a lot of on goal difference from Mexico, and a responsibility but they will still be play- mental strength.” draw will be enough to take them ing for pride and looking for a reaction The Dutch may find themselves against an under-strength through to a second-round clash with after the first two games,” said Brazil either Chile or the Netherlands. defender David Luiz. Chile after Juventus star Arturo Vidal and Internacional’s Indeed, they would still progress “Their pride has been hurt and they Charles Aranguiz both skipped training on Friday. Both even in defeat, as long as Mexico beat will be looking to beat Brazil because it Aranguiz and Vidal, who is on a yellow card, came off injured Croatia in the group’s other game, due would be like winning the World Cup during the 2-0 win over Spain, which sensationally ended the to be played at the same time in Recife. for them,” he added. “Our objective is European champions’ title defence. In any case, the prospect of Brazil losing to get through the group and get But Vidal said he had no concerns about picking up a sec- to a Cameroon side in complete disarray through in first place.” For Brazil, pow- ond yellow card which would earn him a one-match ban, rul- seems slim in the extreme.