MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2016 SPORTS Coleman says Bale primed for Wales return CARDIFF: Gareth Bale takes his first step on the road capable of winning everything. “He’s getting better also out. Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey is expected to “But when it finishes, you don’t get weaned off it. to World Cup qualification with Wales against and better still. Along with that incredible ability, he’s start despite missing Palace’s 1-1 draw with It is over and you are back into reality as fathers and Moldova today and manager Chris Coleman believes got that first-class mentality as well. Bournemouth last weekend due to a leg problem. husbands. “It was really hard and I know a lot of the he is still getting better. Bale, 27, scored three times “It’s a winning formula for Real Madrid and for lads (found it hard), too. You miss that buzz. as Wales created a sensation by reaching the semi- Wales, and I think he will have another good season.” ‘CREATE SOMETHING NEW’ “You feel like you need a rest when it is going on, finals at Euro 2016, matching the best performance Wales were among the fourth seeds in qualifying Prior to the Euros, Wales had not competed at a but once it finishes, you pine for it. “It was so special, by a British team in an overseas tournament. for Euro 2016, but their exploits in France catapulted major tournament finals since the 1958 World Cup but it is gone, that moment is finished. We have to The challenge now facing him is to build on that them into Pot One for the World Cup qualifying draw. and their exploits electrified the nation. Cardiff City create something new.” An independent nation since momentum by firing Wales to the 2018 World Cup in In an evenly balanced group, they are likely to face Stadium will be packed to the rafters for the team’s 1991, Moldova have never qualified for a major cham- Russia and Coleman says the Real Madrid flier is hun- strong challenges for the one automatic qualifying return to action, but Coleman has warned that his pionship and have only won one of their last 21 gry to make more history. berth from Austria, Serbia and the Republic of Ireland. side’s achievements in France will count for nothing games. They finished rock bottom of their Euro 2016 “Gareth scored inside 75 seconds of Real’s first Georgia complete the pool. in the new campaign. qualifying group after losing eight and drawing two game of the season (against Real Sociedad), but I nev- While Bale is fit and firing, Wales will be without “When I got home, for the two weeks after it I of their 10 matches. er get surprised by him,” Coleman said ahead of the Aaron Ramsey against Moldova-as they were when think my wife was expecting me to be a certain way, The teams have only played each other twice, Group D opener at Cardiff City Stadium. they lost to eventual champions Portugal in the Euro and I was not,” said Coleman, whose side are unbeat- in qualifying for Euro 96, when they won one “I know he’s capable of almost anything and I think semi-finals. en in six competitive home games. game apiece. Late former Wales manager Gary Madrid are very excited about the future with Balo. The Arsenal midfielder has a hamstring injury. “I was on a bit of a downer. The situation is so Speed, Coleman’s predecessor, scored the only “They recognise that they’ve got someone who’s Attacking midfielder Jonathan Williams, who recently exciting. It is exhausting, but you have all that emo- goal when the teams met in Cardiff, with Coleman going to be there for a while and someone who is joined Ipswich Town on loan from Crystal Palace, is tion. also playing. — AFP Lopetegui’s new-look Spain begin long road to Russia MADRID: Faint hopes Spain’s spectacular fall ed prior to the Euros. Of the 11 that started in time with the Spanish youth teams. That youth- from grace at the 2014 World Cup was a mere Brussels on Thursday, nine were in Del Bosque’s ful core added to the likes of Gerard Pique, blip were extinguished as another early exit at Euros squad. Yet, Lopetegui has not shied away Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Euro 2016 finally ended Vicente del Bosque’s from big decisions. Captain and record caps Andres Iniesta and Silva still in their prime eight-year reign as coach. Julien Lopetegui is holder Iker Casillas was finally left out of the means there is no reason why Spain shouldn’t be the man charged with restoring Spain’s former squad, as was two-time European champion and contenders in Russia if Lopetegui rekindles the glories, but he faces a demanding task in just World Cup winner Cesc Fabregas. The selection hunger lost in the final years of Del Bosque’s getting La Roja to Russia in two years’ time with of Fabregas after a poor season with Chelsea reign. A change of coach even seems to have Euros’ conquerors Italy lying in wait in qualifying. ahead of Koke and Thiago Alcantara at the Euros done Diego Costa good as the nationalised Spain haven’t lost a World Cup qualifier for a was an unpopular one. Tellingly, having played Brazilian showed in Brussels much more of the remarkable 23 years and that record shouldn’t just a combined 45 minutes in France, the controlled aggression that saw him recruited by be challenged when Liechtenstein visit Leon at Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielders Del Bosque than the timid shadow of himself the start of the long road to Russia today. played all 90 minutes in Belgium. he’s often seemed in a Spain shirt. Yet, Lopetegui’s new era needs to hit the “If I was a Real Madrid or Barcelona player ground running with a trip to Italy next up in YOUTHFUL CORE they would say I played well...but given I am not early October and only the group winners guar- Dani Carvajal, 24, replaced 31-year-old a natural Spaniard...” raged Costa afterwards NEW YORK: Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland returns a shot to Daniel Evans of Great anteed to qualify. Lopetegui’s appointment Juanfran at right-back, whilst the only other when questioned about failing to score. Britain during his third round Men’s Singles match on Day Six of the 2016 US Open at after Del Bosque’s resignation was generally player to start who missed out on the Euros, Costa was one of the few players even Del the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on Saturday in the Flushing neigh- seen as an underwhelming one. Despite success Vitolo, played a crucial role in both goals scored Bosque lost patience with as he was dropped for borhood of the Queens borough of New York City. — AFP in winning the under-19 and under-21 European by Manchester City’s David Silva. “The young the Euros after a return of just one goal in 10 championships with the Spanish youth ranks, his players are here because I believe that they caps. However, boosted by the confidence of Wawrinka saves match debut in a top-flight managerial role with Porto deserve to be and they have the ability,” said early season winners against West Ham and ended without a trophy and the sack in January Lopetegui. Watford for Chelsea, Costa looks fit and back 2016. However, that scepticism eased after a “Little-by-little they have to assume that role close to his best. point to beat Evans convincing 2-0 win away to Belgium on his and continue developing.” Crucially, Lopetegui “We are all with him,” said Alba. “The best way debut. Tellingly, he has already begun to inject a has already coached David de Gea, Carvajal, Saul to defend Costa is the way he played (against NEW YORK: Third seed Stan Wawrinka saved a The pair traded breaks at the start of the tired looking squad with the fresh blood it need- Niguez, Koke, Thiago and Alvaro Morata in his Belgium).” — AFP match point at the US Open on Saturday fourth set but Evans, who surprised Wawrinka before squeezing past unheralded Briton Dan with his variety, had match point in the Evans in five sets to reach the fourth round. tiebreak as the crowd rose to their feet in The Swiss faced match point at 5-6 in the anticipation of a massive upset. fourth-set tiebreak but won it 10-8 and then But Wawrinka saved it with a volley winner, raced through the final set to clinch a 4-6 6-3 and that proved the last gasp for Evans as the 6-7(6) 7-6(8) 6-2 victory. “It was an unbeliev- Swiss, a semi-finalist in New York in two of the able fight,” Wawrinka said. “I’m for sure lucky to past three years, prevailed in the tiebreak and get through that match, saving match point. then dominated the fifth set. He played really great, he’s really talented and “Just a bit of a heartbreaker really,” Evans he was really pushing me. “To finish like that, told reporters. “It was a tough one to take. I’m really happy to get through. It wasn’t easy Probably hurt a bit for a while. Disappointing for me to find my best game.” World number how it sort of played out. Evans acknowl- 64 Evans described his loss as a “heartbreaker” edged that he was felt fatigued after failing to after coming so close to reaching the last 16 of close out the match in the fourth-set tiebreak.