SPORTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2014 Rooney can take World Cup by storm: Hodgson

LONDON: Manchester United striker Wayne finals. Four years later, when England lost to the world stage he hasn’t exploded as he has on Hodgson said the possibility of Rooney’s Rooney can be one of the outstanding talents of Germany in the round of 16, his form was again our national stage, where we all accept him as United team mate Adnan Januzaj qualifying to this year’s World Cup in Brazil, according to disappointing, while at Euro 2012, having been being an outstanding player. play for England was a long way off and added England manager . It will be banned for the first two games, he scored against “The message to him is ‘This is your chance’. I that it is up to the English FA’s Board to pursue the Rooney’s fifth major tournament, but in two pre- Ukraine but struggled in the quarter-final loss to just rejoice in the fact that he’s playing so well.” matter if they want the current rules changed. vious World Cups he has not lived up to the stun- Italy. Rooney has scored 11 goals for United this sea- Januzaj, who is being wooed by a number of ning impression he made as an 18-year-old at the Hodgson believes that this time he will benefit son, although none since Dec. 26, and has stood national teams, would not be eligible for England 2004 European Championship finals in Portugal. from a recent break through injury, telling out for the champions during an otherwise poor until 2018 at the earliest. Even then it would He was named in UEFA’s team of the tourna- reporters: “I think with Wayne it’s a great opportu- campaign. require the FAs of England, Scotland, Northern ment there after scoring four goals in four games. nity this year to really show on a world stage what His record for England is 38 goals in 88 games, Ireland and Wales to scrap their present residency At the 2006 World Cup, having barely recovered a magnificent player he is. the fifth highest tally behind (49), agreement, under which a player must have been from a foot injury, he did not score and was sent “Maybe once or twice in the past I can say (48), Jimmy Greaves (44) and educated in that country for five years under the off as England lost to Portugal in the quarter- without too many fears of contradiction that on (40). age of 18. — Reuters Revenge in the air in FA Cup blockbusters

LONDON: It may be Saint didn’t concede against a top side Valentine’s Day, but it is revenge, with fantastic strikers, and we hope rather than romance, that is in the to do that against Liverpool.” Matches on TV air ahead of the weekend’s FA Cup Liverpool captain fifth-round matches. has warned his team-mates that (Local Timings) A lack of major head-to-head Arsenal will not display the same clashes and true upsets means that generosity when the teams resume this season’s FA Cup has yet to - hostilities. England FA Cup ture the imagination, but that could “Top sides, when they get beat Sunderland v Southampton 15:45 change in round five as four of the 5-1, they are hurt,” said the England beIN SPORTS country’s biggest teams prepare to midfielder, who gave his side victo- City v Wigan 18:00 face off. ry at Fulham with a nerveless beIN SPORTS Manchester City host Premier injury-time penalty. v Charlton 18:00 League title rivals Chelsea on beIN SPORTS ROME: The former Argentinean football player Diego Maradona (R) arrives for a press conference at the Saturday, with Arsenal tackling Tight game Man City v Chelsea 20:15 European Union offices in central Rome, yesterday, to appeal to the European Union in a legal conflict Liverpool a day later, and both ties “We’re expecting a tight game at beIN SPORTS against the Italian tax authorities. — AFP carry extra intrigue due to recent the Emirates and I think the 5-1 encounters between their respec- game will have no bearing on this Italian Calcio League tive protagonists. game coming. We’re expecting a Fiorentina v Internazionale 22:45 Barca out to maintain Chelsea took control of the title really tough game.” beIN SPORTS race with a 1-0 victory at City on City had an unwanted night off February 3, while Arsenal’s own on Wednesday after their home Spanish League lead ahead of City clash championship ambitions were match with future League Cup final Atletico v Valladolid 18:00 ruthlessly undermined in a chasten- opponents Sunderland was called beIN SPORTS MADRID: Barcelona recovered top spot in La Liga Tiredness ing 5-1 defeat at last week- off due to high winds. Levante v UD Almeria 20:00 just one week after being knocked off their perch for Martino could also be tempted to rest a few of his end. They will be doubly eager to beIN SPORTS the first time in 59 league games last weekend as star names with the trip to the Etihad in mind having Liverpool’s 3-2 win at Fulham on return to action today, having seen Barcelona v Rayo Vallecano 22:00 they took advantage of Atletico Madrid’s shock played a full-strength side at Anoeta in midweek. Wednesday means that just four their 100 percent home record in beIN SPORTS defeat to Almeria. Victories for Barca away to Sevilla Atletico are the first of the three title contenders points now separate the four teams the league this season ended by and Real Madrid at home to Villarreal mean both in action as they host Valladolid earlier on Saturday. at the head of the table, with Chelsea less than two weeks ago. German Bundesliga sides are now level with Atletico in a three-way tie at A 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the Cup on Tuesday Chelsea leading the way and the Chelsea are unlikely to return to Bayern Munich v Freiburg 17:30 the top on 57 points. made it three consecutive defeats for Diego club from Merseyside bringing up the Etihad Stadium with quite the The Catalans lead thanks to a superior goal differ- Simeone’s men, having previously lost just twice in Dubai Sports the rear. same swagger, however. Jose Borussia Dortmund v Eintracht 17:30 ence and will fancy themselves to rack up a few 36 games this season. Liverpool’s victory over Arsenal Mourinho’s side let slip an opportu- goals when relegation-threatened Rayo Vallecano The Argentine has admitted that tiredness may Dubai Sports may have left deep scars, with the nity to extend their lead in the SV Werder Bremen v Borussia 17:30 visit the Camp Nou today. be beginning to affect his stretched squad and con- London club’s manager Arsene Premier League after drawing 1-1 at Rayo’s visit comes in the midst of a big week for tinued to play down any expectations they can last Dubai Sports Wenger admitting after a 0-0 draw West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday Barca as they sealed their place in the Copa del Rey the pace with Madrid and Barcelona until the end of Hoffenheim v Stuttgart 17:30 final against Real Sociedad on Wednesday and will the campaign. “I am not worried by the defeats, eight with Manchester United on and could be missing both John Dubai Sports travel to face Manchester City in the first leg of their days ago we were top of the league”, he told Italian Wednesday that his players had Terry and Gary Cahill due to injury. Braunschweig v Hamburger 17:30 Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday. newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. become “nervous”. “We are not happy because we Dubai Sports Gerardo Martino’s men’s performances against “All teams, sooner or later, will go through a bad Wenger saw his side’s defence drew 1-1, but that’s football, that’s Bayer Leverkusen v Schalke 20:30 Sevilla and Sociedad also suggested they are finding moment. We will have to see how we respond to this. breached four times in the first 20 life,” midfielder Nemanja Matic told Dubai Sports their form at just the right time of the season, and If one looks at a league of 38 games, it is impossible minutes at Anfield, but Arsenal the Chelsea website. “Now we have defender Gerard Pique said they can’t afford any slip to think that we could compete with Real Madrid or goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to concentrate on the next training French League ups with so many important games on the horizon. Barcelona. They have the quality that makes the dif- believes there is no chance of a session and the next game.” Bastia v AS Monaco 19:00 “I don’t know if we’re back in our stride, but we ference in the long run.” Real Madrid, meanwhile, will repeat at the Emirates Stadium There are two other all-Premier beIN SPORTS certainly put in a good performance against a good once again be without the suspended Cristiano tomorrow. League ties in the last 16, with Stade Reims v Girondins 22:00 team,” he said after the Sociedad game. Ronaldo when they travel across the Spanish capital “You can’t say you saw the real Sunderland hosting Southampton beIN SPORTS “Now we’re coming into the most exciting part of to take on Getafe on Sunday. Arsenal at Anfield. You have to and Everton manager Roberto OGC Nice v Nantes 22:00 the season, we have three months ahead of us in Carlo Ancelotti’s side are in fine form having won judge us over a longer period of Martinez coming up against his for- beIN SPORTS which we’re alive in all three competitions. 13 of their last 14 games in all competitions and will time,” said the Poland international. mer club, Swansea City. Lorient v Toulouse FC 22:00 “We have to keep up this level in every game be heavy favourites for another three points against “People have seen the real Holders Wigan Athletic visit beIN SPORTS because every match that we have left is a Cup final a Getafe side that hasn’t won since November. Arsenal over the last year. We con- Cardiff City, while the lowest- Stade Rennes v Montpellier 22:00 and at this stage of the season there is no room for Other than Ronaldo and long-term injury absen- ceded five on Saturday, but our ranked side left in the competition, beIN SPORTS error.” Brazilian forward Neymar is expected to get tee Sami Khedira, Ancelotti has a full squad to defensive record over the last year third-tier Sheffield United, welcome Sochaux v Guingamp 22:00 some playing time on Saturday to improve his match choose from so Gareth Bale is likely to continue in or so has been amazing. Championship team Nottingham fitness ahead of the City game having been out for attack alongside Karim Benzema and Jese beIN SPORTS “You saw that against United. We Forest to Bramall Lane. three weeks due to a sprained ankle. Rodriguez. — AFP

ATLANTA: Rachel Van Hollebeke #16 of the United States battles for the ball against Ekaterina Pantyukhina MEDELLIN: Maxi RodrÌguez of Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys, right, challenges goalkeeper Luis MartÌnez of #17 of Russia at Georgia Dome on Thursday in Atlanta, Georgia. — AFP Colombia’s Atletico Nacional during a Copa Libertadores soccer match in Medellin, Colombia, Thursday. — AP Brazil ambition spurs Fernandinho in FA Cup

MANCHESTER: Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho is maybe the most important thing in my career. “The next one Gary Cahill is set to be rested because of a calf problem Defensive midfielder Nemanja Matic is doubtful after hoping to enhance his World Cup chances by impressing in Brazil might be in a 100 years. It’s the only opportunity. I and fellow centre-back has still not fully recov- being hurt in the West Brom match and Mourinho is expect- against Chelsea’s fellow Brazilians in the FA Cup fifth round put in my head that if I played well for Manchester City, then ered from a muscle injury sustained in training. ed to keep other first-choice picks fresh for league and today. The 28-year-old earned a recall to the national squad I had a chance to get myself back in the national team. That forced the former England captain to miss the 3-0 European action. this week for a friendly against South Africa next month “After a few months with good performances by myself home win against Newcastle United today and the 1-1 draw That could see experienced duo John Mikel Obi and after a two-year absence. and by my team-mates, it shows they have paid attention in at West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday. handed recalls in midfield, along with Andre It will be a chance to impress coach Luiz Felipe Scolari Brazil. The 33-year-old could play against City if asked, but it is Schurrle, new signing Mohamed Salah, and Fernando Torres before he announces the squad that will attempt to win the “The Brazilian players at Chelsea sent me messages and expected that manager Jose Mourinho will give him extra further up the pitch. World Cup on home turf later this year. Scolari will almost congratulated me. They said I deserved this call-up by the hours to recover, with a home league game with Everton It would allow Mourinho to rest , Oscar and certainly keep a close eye on Sunday’s game as the Chelsea national team. And we are friends, so they say I deserved it scheduled for February 22 plus a Champions League trip to Samuel Eto’o, but he may be tempted to stick with Eden squad has a backbone of Brazilian talent in , and I thanked them.” Galatasaray four days later. Hazard after the Belgian masterminded Chelsea’s 1-0 victory Ramires, Oscar and Willian. City manager Manuel Pellegrini will check on the fitness Mourinho is likely to switch Branislav Ivanovic-who over City earlier in the month. And Fernandinho, who joined City from Ukrainian side of centre-back Matija Nastasic (knee), striker Sergio Aguero scored the only goal at the Etihad in the Premier League The 23-year-old’s impressive form has led his national Shakhtar Donetsk last June, has made it clear that winning (hamstring) and midfielder Samir Nasri (knee). encounter-from right-back to central defence alongside team coach Marc Wilmots to label him a world number one over Scolari, who had a short, unsuccessful spell as Chelsea David Luiz. in waiting. manager in the 2008-09 season, was high on his list of priori- Extra hours That would open the door for a rare start for England vet- “I’d put him on my podium for the Ballon d’Or because he ties. The Chelsea side that starts the game at the Etihad eran Ashley Cole, with the man currently keeping him out of totally convinced me of his talent,” Wilmots said. “If you ask “It is a dream for me to play in the World Cup in my coun- Stadium is likely to resemble only slightly the one that won the side, Cesar Azpilicueta, expected to switch from left- me if I want (Lionel) Messi, (Cristiano) Ronaldo or Neymar, I’d try,” said Fernandinho, who has won five caps for Brazil. “It is 1-0 there in the Premier League on February 3. back to fill the slot on the right. keep Hazard.” — AFP