Pirates end Bale inspires as Giants’ 8-game brilliant Wales winning streak cruise into last 16 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 22, 201616 18 Maradona not alone in World Cup controversy Page 17 PARIS: Germany’s Mario Gomez, left, scores his side’s first goal during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Northern Ireland and Germany at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, France, yesterday.— AP Gomez guides Germany into Euro 2016 knockouts PARIS: Mario Gomez struck as world champi- teams in what is their first European Gomez, who steered the ball through a thick- ons Germany beat Northern Ireland 1-0 in Championship finals. O’Neill kept faith with et of defenders and into the net. Paris yesterday to qualify for the Euro 2016 the team that had overcome Ukraine, but Mueller then placed a shot against the bar Ibrahimovic to quit knockout phase as winners of Group C. whereas his side had set the tempo in Lyon, from a Hector cut-back, while Gomez could Drafted in to address the goal-scoring they were immediately on the back foot only scuff meekly at McGovern when Ozil’s problems witnessed in Germany’s 0-0 draw against Germany. pass and Goetze’s dummy left him one-on- football after Euro with Poland, the on-loan Besiktas striker net- With full-backs Jonas Hector and Joshua one. All Northern Ireland offered in response ted from Thomas Mueller’s pass in the 30th Kimmich pushing high up on either flank and was a Jamie Ward shot that went straight at NICE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is ending his international career after the European minute at Parc des Princes. Jerome Boateng and Toni Kroos lofting passes Manuel Neuer, but their green-clad fans Championship, meaning he could represent Sweden for the last time today. The 34- That Germany did not win more hand- behind the Northern Irish defence, Germany remained unbowed, volubly belting out their year-old striker said yesterday ahead of Sweden’s final Group E game against Belgium somely was due largely to the excellence of effectively took up residence in the final third. famous ode to flaming striker Will Grigg. that it would be his last appearance for his country if the team gets eliminated. Northern Irish goalkeeper Michael McGovern. Goetze’s luck did not change in the second “The last game for Sweden in Euro will be my last game with Sweden, so I hope it But it was enough to preserve their position WOODWORK DENIES MUELLER half as he was brilliantly thwarted again by will not be tomorrow,” he said. “Let’s hope it goes as long as possible.” Even if Sweden at the top of the group on goal difference McGovern was solicited three times in the McGovern before sliding Hector’s cross wide loses and fails to qualify for the knockout stages, Ibrahimovic said he would not be above Poland, who beat Ukraine by the same first 12 minutes, saving alertly with his body at the near post, and he was soon replaced by disappointed with such an end to his 15-year international career. “To finish on a dis- scoreline in Marseille. and feet from Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Mario Andre Schuerrle. appointment, never, because I’m very proud to be captain of Sweden and what I Joachim Loew’s side will now turn their Goetze, who dropped into an attacking mid- Kyle Lafferty, Northern Ireland’s top scor- achieved. So I want to take this moment and thank all the supporters, because they thoughts to a last 16 tie against either field role to accommodate Gomez up front. er in qualifying, also entered the fray, replac- make it possible for me to achieve what I have achieved,” he said. “For me disappoint- Albania, Slovakia or the third-place team in Mueller twice went close, thrashing a shot ing Conor Washington, but still Germany ment doesn’t exist, only proudness and grateful and very thankful.” Group F-which is yet to conclude-in Lille on across goal and then striking the base of the dominated, with McGovern again taking He added that he “will not participate in the Olympics” in Rio de Janeiro. He had Sunday. Michael O’Neill’s Northern Ireland, right-hand post with a plunging header, centre-stage. been named in a provisional Swedish squad. Ibrahimovic is Sweden’s record scorer meanwhile, must wait to have their qualifica- before creating the opener for Gomez. The 31-year-old goalkeeper, who plays for with 62 goals and can become its joint sixth most-capped player with 116 appear- tion confirmed. They finished third in the Gomez’s subtle pass sent the Bayern Scottish club Hamilton Academical, saved ances today. Sweden, which has one point after its opening 1-1 draw against Ireland, group, but their 2-0 win over Ukraine last Munich forward scampering through and one-handed from Sami Khedira’s drilled effort still has a chance of qualifying for the round of 16 even though it has yet to register a week puts them in a strong position to go after luring McGovern from his line, he and then produced a superb finger-tip stop to single shot on target. Its only goal at Euro 2016 was an own goal. The Swedes almost through as one of the four best third-place showed great awareness to lay the ball off for tip away a firm header by Gomez. — AFP certainly need a win against Belgium to qualify. — AP Poland ease into last-16 over hapless Ukraine MARSEILLE: A second half strike by substitute Jakub With impressive teenager Olexandr Zinchenko, 19, Blaszczykowski booked Poland’s ticket into the last-16 orchestrating from midfield, Poland were stretched at Euro 2016 and sent hapless Ukraine home without a on occasion. point. The 30-year-old Fiorentina veteran had been Winger Yevhen Konoplyanka drilled a low effort nar- rested by coach Adam Nawalka who made four changes rowly wide on the half hour. Soon after left-back in all but scored minutes from his introduction at half- Bohdan Butko crossed when a shot seemed a better time to decide the tie. option. But with lone striker Roman Zozulya proving With two 1-0 wins in Group C against Northern ineffective, Ukraine could not find their first goal since Ireland and the Ukrainians either side of a scoreless their opening game at the Euro 2012 tournament that draw against Germany, Poland finished in second place they co-hosted with Poland. in the group on goal difference. Instead, it was Poland’s half-time sub Blaszczykowski After defeats to Germany and the Irish, Ukraine were who broke the deadlock with a delightful strike. already eliminated before the game in the Stade Fed by Milik on the right of the area in the 53rd Velodrome. Their latest failure meant they became the minute, he worked the ball onto his left foot and curled first team to go five matches without a goal in Euro his- a shot inside the far-post to send the Velodrome, tory. With pride at stake for Mykhailo Fomenko’s men decked out mainly in Poland’s red and white, into rau- and a chance of topping the Group C table beckoning cous celebration. for Poland, both teams attacked from the off. A minute later, with the fans still jumping, Poland’s Poland’s formidable strike pair Arkadiusz Milik and own 19-year-old Bartosz Kapusztka nearly made it two Robert Lewandowski each had early chances, the but fired wide of both Pyatov and the post. Bayern Munich star volleying the more clearcut of the The Poles eased up after that, a Milik header well two over Andriy Yatov’s crossbar. wide with 15 minutes to go the nearest they came to Ukraine’s Andriy Yarmolenko should have scored on making it two. the quarter hour but chipped wide when one-on-one In truth Mykhailo Fomenko’s men rarely troubled against Lukasz Fabianski. Fabianski. Captain Ruslan Rotan forced him to dive Lewandowski found more room than in the previous eight minutes from the end and Zozulya headed nar- two games and had a drive deflected wide on 20 min- rowly wide soon after but two second-half blasts over utes, but from the half-hour Ukraine began to assert the bar from Konoplyanka and Zinchenko were more MARSEILLE: Ukraine’s midfielder Olexandr Zinchenko (C) jumps for the ball during the Euro 2016 group C foot- themselves. typical of Ukraine’s miserable tournament. — AFP ball match between Ukraine and Poland at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille yesterday. — AFP.