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Home , Foued Kadir, Igor Denisov, Islam Slimani, Kevin Mirallas, Madjid Bougherra

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014

Every goal counts for in World Cup

ALGERIA Russian pensioners seek World Cup breakthrough

MOSCOW: The collapse of the “Sport is out of politics, for me. I been hurt at only being called up Soviet Union delivered a political don’t understand when someone at the last minute. blow to the country and under- boycotts a competition,” Capello Age too is a concern in defence mined ’s football team. Shorn told CNN in March when asked where captain of players from the former Soviet about the US senators demand. is 34 and his central defensive part- Republics-with whom they had Capello can take confidence ners, one of the two Berezutski reached three quarter-finals and from the qualifying campaign twins Alexei or Vasili, are 31. the 1966 semi-finals-they have where they edged Euro 2012 semi- This is an area that the pacey failed since 1990 to qualify for finalists Portugal into second place. South Koreans could expose. It is three finals and in the two they did But he will be relying largely on the lack of young talent coming reach, in 1994 and 2002, they went the same team that predecessor through that has taxed Capello’s out in the first round. took to Euro 2012 mind, for while exciting playmaker Now an ageing squad will be and flattered to deceive after they is young-he will turn tasked with breaking new ground went out in the group stage 24 on June 17 — he is not a new in Brazil in June. Fortune has despite opening with a 4-1 victory face on the international scene favoured them with a kind draw in over the Czech Republic. having made his debut in 2008. Group H where aside from the The talent of Alexander “They (Russian club managers) highly-rated Belgians there are Kerzhakov-the only one of the need to prepare the under-21s, Algeria and South Korea, both of squad with World Cup experience under-20s to find new players,” : Algeria have promised to Kadir has been loaned to Rennes by three more coming from Valencia whom ’s men should having made one appearance as a Capello told CNN. “I need to speak improve on an embarrassing World fellow outfit Marseille and is wide midfielder . beat. substitute in 2002 — Roman with the managers. We need to put Cup record when they compete at the among numerous France-based However, veteran defender and The Italian coach can get on Shirokov, Igor Denisov and Yuri some young players in the first 2014 finals in Brazil. Algerians vying for squad places. captain was credit- with planning for the finals despite Zhirkov is not in doubt. But they team. This is the problem. The ‘Desert Foxes’ last won a Football ties between France and ed with the scrambled goal that took two United States senators have also shown a tendency to “We’ve got seven foreign players match at the tournament 32 years Algeria run deep with Lille-born his country to the finals at the demanding FIFA bar Russia from crack under pressure and fight every game, and four Russian play- ago and have scored only once in six Tottenham Hotspur central midfielder expense of Burkina Faso. the finals after President Vladimir among themselves. ers. If one of the best players is games during two subsequent opting for the ‘Foxes’. Algeria made a spectacular start to Putin’s annexation of Crimea. Not even their advancing years- injured, we lose a lot.” appearances. The 19-year-old played for France World Cup participation in 1982, Few people believe FIFA would all will be 30 or older by the time With Capello having signed a But midfielder says his at age-limit level before being per- shocking then European champions impose such a punishment on the the finals begin-has seemingly contract that will see him through country can do better with a more suaded to represent the country of and eventual finalists West Germany hosts of the 2018 finals, unlike the improved this facet of their charac- to the 2018 finals he can turn his experienced squad than that which his parents. He made his international with a 2-1 victory and also defeating former Yugoslavia who were ters. mind to that goal after Brazil. In the flopped in South Africa four years debut during March in a 2-0 win in a Chile after losing to Austria. expelled from 1992 European Shirokov has on more than one mean time the short term goal will ago. friendly at home to Slovenia, who However, the ‘Foxes’ were deprived Championships and not allowed to occasion been disciplined for mak- be for the ‘dribble of pensioners’ his “You will see a different Algeria in defeated Algeria at the 2010 World of a second-round place in Spain by participate in qualifying for the ing controversial statements while 30-somethings to at the very least Brazil, with more maturity and experi- Cup. goal difference after the Germans 1994 World Cup because of the Denisov refused to play at Euro reach the uncharted waters of the ence than the 2010 squad,” said Kadir. It was a rare victory over European beat the Austrians in controversial cir- Balkans War. 2008 because he said his pride had knockout stages.—AFP “Our ambitions are to win matches opposition and raised morale ahead cumstances. and qualify for the knockout stage. So of Brazil-an expedition pundits and Many who watched the game much hinges on the first game bookmakers believe will end in first- believed the result was contrived, and RUSSIA against . round failure. FIFA reacted by staging final group “Everybody is assuming the “A mediocre squad that has some fixtures simultaneously in future tour- Belgians are going to top the group, flair but remains largely cynical and naments. leaving the other three teams fight- committed to gamesmanship and Algeria also reached the following ing for second place. “If we can get at time wasting,” was the dismissive World Cup in 1986, but after drawing least a draw against Belgium our summary of one pundit. with Northern Ireland in Mexico they chances of making the knockout Scoring at the highest level has lost to Brazil and Spain. stages will greatly improve,” he long been a problem for the ‘Foxes’ A 24-year gap ensued before the added. and strikers and El Hilal next appearance and losses to South Korea and 2018 World Cup Soudani carry heavy burdens. Slovenia and the United States and a hosts Russia complete Group H, Slimani scored five goals and drab draw with England meant which is spread over five venues. Soudani three in the qualifiers with another early departure. —AFP

BELGIUM

South Korea under spotlight

SEOUL: South Korea are remem- Hee, who had declared he would key to improving South Korea’s scor- bered for their run to the 2002 only manage South Korea through ing record. World Cup semi-finals but they are the qualifiers when he took over in Son made his name netting 12 under pressure to create new mem- December 2011, stuck to his plan goals for Hamburg last season, ories this year in Brazil after an and resigned. earning a lucrative transfer to Bayer unconvincing build-up. And in came Hong Myung-Bo, Leverkusen. More goals have come The Taeguk Warriors enjoy an South Korea’s most-capped player this season for his new German club enviable record of qualifying for and captain of the squad that bat- and he is South Korea’s top-scorer eight World Cups in a row, a streak tled their way to the semi-finals, under Hong, with four in eight only bettered by Brazil, Germany, when they co-hosted the 2002 games. Italy, Argentina and Spain. finals. Where former coach Choi found But for their supporters, the South Korea’s 2002 World Cup little use for Son, the versatile for- looming Group H games against victories over footballing giants ward is a natural under Hong’s style Belgium resurgence Belgium, Russia and Algeria cannot Portugal, Italy and Spain are now a of play, which allows second strikers paper over South Korea’s struggles distant memory and the signs or wingers to roam behind the pri- to qualify this time when they under Hong, 44, so far have not mary line of attack. sparks optimism squeaked home on goal difference. been encouraging. Mainz 05’s Korean duo of attack- In a bad-tempered final game, In 14 matches under his watch, ing midfielder Koo Ja-Cheol and South Korea lost 1-0 to Iran and had South Korea were held scoreless six left wing Park Joo-Ho will also : A few years ago the Everton team-mate Kevin Mirallas Van Buyten revealed how the to endure anxious moments before times, and their 15 goals scored boost South Korea, along with notion of Belgium as fifth favorites ply their trade in Europe’s main shift in attitude to Belgium by his learning they had finished second in includes four against lowly Haiti and Sunderland midfielder Ki Sung- to win a World Cup ahead of leagues. German teammates at Bayern their group despite Uzbekistan’s 5-1 three against Mali. Son Heung-Min, Yueng and controversial striker France, Italy and England would And that presence beyond underscored his country’s dramatic defeat of Qatar. Coach Choi Kang- a 21-year-old forward, may hold the Park Chu-Young.—AFP have seemed ludicrous even to the Belgium’s borders according to recent progress. “It’s great that country’s most ardent supporters. veteran central defender Daniel such a big football nation knows a Just making the World Cup van Buyten is one of the reasons match against Belgium isn’t going SOUTH KOREA finals proved beyond the Red for Belgium’s footballing renais- to be easy.” Devils in 2006 and 2010, their last sance. Belgium’s former boss Georges appearance coming back in 2002 “We’ve got a good generation Leekens believes Hazard will shine when they lost to eventual winners of players, many of whom ply their on the World Cup stage, his move Brazil in the last 16. trade abroad and are playing regu- from Lille to Chelsea, coached by Yet here they are, bags packed larly in international competitions,” Jose Mourinho, taking his game to for Brazil with ‘dark horses’ firmly said Van Buyten, who plays for another level. stamped on their passports and German champions Bayern “The Chelsea manager has not yet only the hosts, Argentina, Munich. “That’s made us a lot only demanded Hazard scores Germany and Spain above them in stronger,” the decorated defender, more goals and produces more the betting. only the second Belgian to win the assists, but also that he works hard Coach ’ talented Champions League, told .com. defensively and takes responsibili- squad sailed through their qualify- “All the young players are sud- ty,” Leekens told London’s Evening ing group unbeaten, barely put- denly playing abroad. They all used Standard. ting a foot wrong against Croatia, to play in Belgium. They were still “The World Cup is the right and . good players, but only as good as moment to show himself, he will They sealed their berth to Brazil the Belgian league.” be excellent. His performances with a game to spare in Zagreb, Belgium’s best run in a World against the likes of Manchester ’s double doing the Cup so far saw them reach the City and Liverpool have shown he damage. They start in Group H 1986 semi-finals in Mexico where is ready for the biggest teams in against Algeria, Russia and South they met their match in a Diego the World Cup. “He has the talent Korea. Maradona-inspired Argentina. to be considered on the same lev- Star players like Chelsea’s Eden Van Buyten said that Group H is el as Ronaldo and Messi after the Hazard, Wolfsburg’s Kevin de “winnable.” If they do top their World Cup, maybe people will Bruyne, Lukaku (loaned by Chelsea group, Belgium could avoid stop comparing him to those to Everton), Manchester City’s Germany in the last 16, a major players and appreciate him for the and Lukaku’s incentive if ever there was one. player he has become.” —AFP