Sports Tuesday, December 4, 2018 19

News England to meet Dutch in brief UEFA to use VAR from Champions League knockout rounds this season in Nations League semis Dublin: Video assistant referees will be used in the champi- ons league from the knockout stages of this season’s competi- tion and in the nations league inals in June, uefa conirmed on Monday. european football’s governing body had previously Hosts Portugal take on Switzerland; matches will be held on June 5-6 next year, inals on June 9 stated its intention to introduce Var only from the start of the 2019/2020 season. “if we can do it before, why wait? We cannot afford any mistakes if we can do it earlier,” said uefa president aleksander ceferin after a meeting of the european football body’s executive committee. “We are ready to use Var earlier than initially planned and we are convinced that it will be beneicial for our competitions as it will provide valuable help to match oficials and will allow to reduce incorrect decisions.” Var is already used in a number of europe’s top leagues, including spain’s la liga, Germany’s bundesliga and serie a in italy and was widely seen as a success at this summer’s World cup.

Croatia court drops perjury charges against Luka Modric ZaGreb: a Zagreb court has dropped charges that croatia captain and real Madric star luka Modric gave false testimony in a corrup- tion trial, a court spokesman said on Monday. “there is not enough evidence that he (Modric) committed the criminal offence of perjury,” Kresimir Devcic said. the ruling, which closes the case, comes as Modric is hoping to be awarded the 2018 ballon d’Or in paris on Monday for taking his team to the 2018 World cup inals in Moscow. in March, croatian prosecutors had charged Modric, 33, with committing perjury during evidence he gave in the multi-million-euro corruption trial of former Dinamo Zagreb boss Zdravko Mamic. Modric testiied in June last year over the details of his 2008 transfer from Dinamo to tottenham hotspur. he went on to join real Madrid in 2012. Mamic and three other defendants were found guilty of charges of abuse of power and corruption that cost Dinamo, the current croatian champions, more than 15 mil- lion euros ($17.3 million), and the state 1.5 million euros.

(From left) Netherlands’ coach Ronald Koeman, England manager Gareth Southgate, Portugal’s manager Fernando Santos and Switzerland’s head coach Vladimir Petkovic at a Sierra Leone’s disqualiication from press conference following the draws for the UEFA Nations League competition semi-inals, in Dublin on Monday. (afp) Nations Cup boosts Kenya, Ghana

DPA games both take place on June Coach Fernando Santos led to recognise their qualities.” Southgate said. cape tOWn: sierra leone have been disqualiied from the pre- Dublin 9. Porto will host Portugal’s the team to the historic Euro The Swiss are ranked eighth “We’re now looking forward liminaries for the 2019 african nations cup inals, conirming semi and the final while Gui- 2016 triumph in the world to Portugal’s sixth to the semi-finals. We play a places for Kenya and Ghana at the continental championship HOSTS Portugal will meet maeres has the England v Neth- in France and is now hoping but are hopeful of causing an team similar to us, developing next June-July. sierra leone’s fate was decided by the confed- Switzerland in the 2019 Na- erlands semi and third-place tie. to replicate that success in front upset. with lots of young players. It’s a eration of african football (caf) on Monday after the nation was tions League finals last four “It’s a great opportunity, I of their own fans. “It’s an interesting com- very exciting game to look for- suspended by fifa over government interference in football in with England taking on the think that we have a chance to “We have that dream of petition with some interesting ward to.” October. that meant that the leone stars were unable to fulil Netherlands. create great moments, great reaching the final and winning matches,” Swiss coach Vladimir The Netherlands, who their last three qualiication matches, and have now oficially European champions Por- emotions,” Fernando Gomes, the trophy in our country, but Petkovic said. “We have to go to missed the 2016 Euros and last been withdrawn from the preliminaries by caf and their previ- tugal were first out of the hat the Portuguese Football Fed- we will have to work hard for it win. World Cup, are on the up under ous two results annulled. Kenya, who will make a irst nations in Monday’s Dublin draw and eration president said. as we are going to face a great “We will have to prepare coach Ronaldo Koeman having cup inals appearance since 2004, head the revised three-team will not be unhappy to meet A senior finals is return- opponent in the semi-finals,” well and be ready in June - and enjoyed famous victories over qualiication pool with seven points, followed by Ghana who are the Swiss in the first semi-final ing to Portugal for the first Santos said. be ready to create a surprise.” France and arch-rivals Ger- a single point behind. With the top two sides advancing to the on June 5 next year. time since 2004 when Portugal They start with a rematch England survived an in- many. expanded 24-team inals, ethiopia are a distant third with a one Two improving sides meet reached the European Champi- against Switzerland, whom credibly tough group by beat- “We have a lot of respect point from four games and no more ixtures to play. on June 6 when Gareth South- onship final only to lose to un- they faced in 2018 World Cup ing Croatia, who knocked them for the English team,” Koe- gate’s World Cup semi-final- derdogs Greece. qualifying. Both sides won their out of the World Cup semi-fi- man said. “The way Gareth is ists England face the Dutch, “A fantastic environment, as home games. nals, and Spain. managing the England side Spurs fan arrested after banana skin who knocked out world cham- we saw in 2004, and I’m quite “Switzerland are a good “We’ve really enjoyed the - he is giving opportunities to thrown onto Arsenal pitch pions France and Germany in sure that it will be a fantastic team, we know them well, hav- competition already - the Na- young players - is the same as the group stage. tournament, with a fantastic at- ing played them in the qualifi- tions League has been a great we like to do. It’s a great op- lOnDOn: a football fan has been arrested after a banana skin The final and third-place mosphere,” Gomes added. ers,” Santos said. “It’s important success,” manager Gareth portunity.” was thrown onto the pitch at the emirates stadium as arsenal forward pierre-emerick aubameyang celebrated scoring a pen- alty in front of tottenham fans. the Gunners won a memorable match 4-2 on sunday and london’s Metropolitan police afterwards conirmed that seven Ceferin opposes arrests had been made. britain’s press association said it Klopp charged over wild celebrations understands that one of those arrests came after a banana intercontinental skin was hurled from the away end as aubameyang celebrated scoring in front of the tottenham fans. “behaviour such as this World Cup bid after Liverpool win against Everton is completely unacceptable and the supporter in question will be issued with a ban,” a tottenham spokesman said. there DPA AFP Wolfsburg, capitalised on Pick- were also six arrests for public order offences -- at least two of Dublin lOnDOn ford’s error to nod home from which are believed to be arsenal supporters who lit smoke can- close range -- his 22nd goal in isters during the match. former arsenal and england forward EUROPEAN football supremo LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen 79 matches for the club. ian Wright, speaking as a pundit on bbc television, said: “i’ve Aleksander Ceferin on Monday Klopp was charged by the Foot- “It was a crucial goal, one of played against spurs and i’ve taken a lot of abuse from spurs spoke out against a joint bid of ball Association on Monday the most crucial I have scored but never ever has it been racial. Spain, Portugal and Morocco after he raced onto the pitch to for Liverpool so it was special,” for the2030 World Cup be- celebrate his side’s late winner said the 23-year-old. “You could cause the tournament should against Everton in the Mersey- see the emotion of the fans and not be spread over several con- side derby. the coach and the players so we tinents. The German was overjoyed celebrated all together.” “I am not a friend of trans- by Divock Origi’s 96th-minute Prior to his 84th-minute continental candidatures,” he goal courtesy of a horrendous entrance on Sunday, Origi had said. Spanish politicians had misjudgement from Everton played just 11 minutes for Liv- suggested the three nations from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford and erpool this season in one sub- Africa and Europe could bid for raced over to Reds goalkeeper stitute appearance during the the event but Ceferin said it was Alisson Becker. Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp runs onto the pitch celebrating their 2-0 Champions League defeat “not up to politicians” to bid for He apologised for his ac- goal during an EPL match at Anields on Sunday. (reuters) in Serbia against Red Star Bel- tournaments and select hosts. tions after the 1-0 win at Anfield grade. After his disappointing Morocco bid in vain for but the FA announced he had didn’t want to run. It was not beaten Liverpool to 36 points loan spell in the Bundesliga it the 2026 tournament which in been charged with misconduct. in my plan. I didn’t want to -- just two behind leaders Man- appeared his chances would be June was awarded to the United Klopp has until 1800 GMT on run to Ali (goalkeeper Alisson), chester City. limited and he could have left States, Canada and Mexico. The Thursday to respond to the I couldn’t stop obviously. Not Liverpool hero Origi said the club in the summer but Liv- African nation said it would charge. “Immediately after the cool, but it happened.” his added-time winner was one erpool received no acceptable likely make another attempt for game I apologised to (Everton Silva said he did not hear of the most important he has offers. “As a player you always 2030. South America aim to bid manager) Marco Silva when we an apology from the Liverpool scored for the club. want to play a lot of minutes from Uruguay, Argentina and spoke to each other,” Klopp said boss, and added: “To be honest, The Belgium international, but as a team we have a lot of A banana thrown from the crowd is seen at the side of the pitch Paraguay for the tournament following the match. “I told him I didn’t see so I don’t know what making his first appearance at goals this season and I just try to as Arsenal’s striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates his 100 years after the inaugural how much I respect his work. he did and how he did it.” Anfield since May 2017 after shine my light and see wherever goal during the EPL match in London on Sunday. (afp) edition in Uruguay. “What can I say about it? I The last-gasp win took un- spending last season on loan at it goes,” he said. Pep urges Sterling to do even better for club & country

for his celebrations after his against them in last season’s TOP SCORERS he striker is the joint-leading English team’s late victory over Everton quarter-final defeat to Liver- scorer with eight goals alongside Kane on Sunday. pool, especially when Leroy P. Aubameyang Arsenal 10 The German may yet face Sane had a goal ruled out in the S. Agüero Man City 8 AFP ers on top of the assists table. FA action for sprinting onto tie at the Etihad. H. Kane Tottenham 8 Manchester But Guardiola says his star the pitch but Guardiola, who “I welcome the news, I’m 8 cannot rest on his laurels and was similarly criticised for his delighted with it,” said the City R. Sterling Man City PEP Guardiola challenged in- warned Premier League rivals response to a late win against manager. E. Hazard Chelsea 7 form Manchester City forward that there is far more to come Southampton last season, can “The Premier League is the A. Mitrovic Fulham 7 Raheem Sterling on Monday to from the 23-year-old. understand his actions. last one (to adopt VAR) and G. Murray Brighton 7 improve his game even further, “He can do better,” said “I did it, against Southamp- sooner or later it will happen. M. Salah Liverpool 7 despite his sparkling form for the City boss on Monday. “We ton,” said the City manager. “This season, our second 7 club and country. are so delighted with what he’s “There’s a lot of emotions in goal against Shakhtar was a C. Wilson Bournemouth Sterling has recently been done in three years but he can those moments. I know when ridiculous penalty. It’s so we Richarlison Everton 6 rewarded with a new five-year do better. I did it I was not happy to have don’t have to talk about it or to A. Lacazette Arsenal 6 contract, worth a reported “He can be more consistent, done it. talk about last season versus S. Mané Liverpool 6 £300,000 ($382,000) a week, his first touches, receptions, “So I can understand (Ever- Liverpool. A. Martial Man Utd 6 by the Premier League leaders many things. Definitely -- I’ve ton manager) Marco Silva, Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring his goal against “Now with VAR, we are 6 and is currently enjoying the said many times we are delight- (then Southampton manager) AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium, in Manchester, on Saturday. looking to make better football, G. Sigurðsson Everton best form of his career. ed but he can do better.” Mauricio Pellegrino when it better decisions. Most of the F. Anderson West Ham 5 He is the Premier League’s Guardiola, speaking ahead happens. have to be respectful of the oth- governing body UEFA will in- time, not always, the ref will joint-leading English scorer, of his side’s trip to Watford on “But sometimes it is what it ers.” troduce VAR for the knockout do a good job. Everyone makes der Zinchenko face late fitness his eight goals matching Harry Tuesday, leapt to the defence is and it’s an emotional game, - Pep backs VAR -Guar- stages of the Champions League mistakes and they’ll be helped tests before City travel to Wat- Kane’s tally after the weekend of Liverpool manager Jurgen everything happens in your diola has also welcomed the this season. by it and it will be good.” ford. Kevin De Bruyne is not yet games, and is joined by two oth- Klopp, who has faced criticism mind. I talk from my side, you announcement that European City felt decisions went Sergio Aguero and Alexan- ready to return to the first team.