SUNDAY, JANUARY 8, 2017 SPORTS Germany set to regain FIFA Council seat in European election NYON: Germany is set to regain a place tournament. Germany, the World Cup conduct linked to 2006 World Cup He is poised to join several new 2021 are: former AC Milan player Dejan on FIFA’s ruling council in an election champion, prefers the current 32-team organizers led by Franz Beckenbauer, European members on FIFA’s strategy- Savicevic of Montenegro; Sandor Csanyi, forced by corruption allegations linked format. A former federal lawmaker, who also captained and coached West setting council after UEFA’s April election a UEFA executive committee member to the 2006 World Cup. Grindel must pass a FIFA integrity check Germany to World Cup titles. meeting in Helsinki, Finland. from Hungary; Geir Thorsteinsson, presi- German soccer federation president to be an official candidate to replace his Beckenbauer and other officials are Four more FIFA seats are being voted dent of Iceland’s soccer federation; and Reinhard Grindel is the only contender German federation predecessor, being investigated by Swiss federal pros- on by European soccer federations and, Costakis Koutsokoumnis, the Cyprus fed- in an April 5 election to fill a vacant FIFA Wolfgang Niersbach. ecutors, German tax officials and the of the five applicants, only Vitaly Mutko, eration president. Mutko must also pass seat, UEFA said Friday. Grindel’s likely Niersbach resigned from FIFA last FIFA ethics committee. the Russian deputy prime minister and an integrity test while under ethics com- path to a senior FIFA role was confirmed month after losing an appeal against his Grindel is not implicated in any alle- head of the 2018 World Cup organizing mittee scrutiny over allegations in World in the same week he criticized FIFA pres- one-year ban for unethical conduct. gations about the 2006 tournament, a committee, is a current member seeking Anti-Doping Agency investigations that ident Gianni Infantino’s plan to expand FIFA’s ethics committee ruled that huge success in Germany which was to keep his place. The new contenders he helped cover-up doping by players in the World Cup to 48 teams at the 2026 Niersbach failed to report possible mis- called the nation’s “summer fairytale.” for four-year FIFA mandates through Russia. —AP Klopp hopes reserves can avoid FA Cup slip-up LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp cited fixture Klopp will also rest a number of key first- congestion as the chief reason for fielding team players who picked up relatively an almost unrecognisable Liverpool line-up minor injuries during or before the holiday in the third round of the FA Cup at Exeter period, including James Milner, Jordan last season. A year on, the 49-year-old Henderson, Joel Matip and Daniel German is following the same path against Sturridge. It means there will be opportu- League Two (fourth tier) opposition from nities for players who have largely been on the south-west of England once more, this the fringes, such as midfielder Kevin time in the form of Plymouth. Stewart, and for young players seeking to Klopp has to factor in the effects of the gain match experience, such as defender demanding Christmas schedule, which Trent Alexander-Arnold. At least, unlike a forced his side to play two matches in less year ago, Liverpool start their FA Cup third- than 48 hours last weekend, beating round tie with home advantage. Manchester City 1-0 on the Saturday before That ought to give Klopp a chance of conceding two penalties in a 2-2 draw at avoiding the scares of last season, when his Sunderland. team of fringe players and youth products He also has to consider the fact had to come back from behind twice to Liverpool play the first leg of their EFL Cup draw 2-2 at Exeter before winning the semi-final at Southampton on Wednesday, replay. Plymouth, FA Cup semi-finalists in meaning rotation to keep players fresh is 1984 and quarter-finalists as recently as inevitable. Klopp has indicated Loris Karius, 2007, are second in League Two, having dropped midway through last month after responded well to the disappointment of mistakes brought heavy criticism, will losing to AFC Wimbledon in last season’s return in goal, in order to give Simon promotion play-off final. Manager Derek Mignolet a breather. Adams has reshaped his squad consider- “There is a big chance Loris will play,” ably since last season’s promotion failure, said Klopp. “He has been training outstand- signing 14 players on a permanent basis ingly well which is good to see. during the summer and two more since the “It’s difficult to speak about these things January transfer window opened. Perhaps in public because it becomes a story but the most intriguing of all the arrivals are we cannot ignore the pressure you make. former Cameroon Under-20 international “That’s how it is, we have to cope with it, defender Yann Songo’o, who has played deal with it. “That is why you see I made club football in Spain and the United the change and I am sure Loris will benefit States, and striker David Goodwillie, who LIVERPOOL: Leicester City’s Robert Huth, left, and Everton’s Seamus Coleman battle for the ball during the English FA Cup, third round soccer from this step back, or step aside. has rather lost his way since winning three match at Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, yesterday. — AP caps for Scotland between 2010 and 2011. ‘NO ONE WILL BE DAUNTED’ “I’m sure no-one will be daunted by it and “Simon has done a really, really out- we’re going up there to enjoy it,” said standing job for us since he’s been playing Plymouth midfielder David Fox. “There’s no again and forced Loris to train at the high- pressure on us at the end of the day. “We’ve Leicester hit back as est level because we have two really good got a huge following going, backing us and goalkeepers. It was good for him.” we’re going to really enjoy it.” —AFP Ronaldo favored to win 4th Musa downs Everton FIFA award as world’s best LIVERPOOL: Leicester fought back to move into the FA Cup ZURICH: Cristiano Ronaldo’s remarkable ANTOINE GRIEZMANN run of success can continue with a fourth Griezmann’s goals helped get France fourth round as Ahmed Musa’s City routs West Ham to FIFA award as the world’s best player and Atletico Madrid into major finals in double clinched a 2-1 win at tomorrow. A European champion with club 2016. In the Champions League final in Everton yesterday. and country last year, the Real Madrid and Milan, Atletico trailed 1-0 to its city rival Claudio Ranieri’s side fell reach FA Cup 4th round Portugal forward is favored to beat great when Griezmann missed with a penalty behind to Romelu Lukaku’s strike rival Lionel Messi and France forward kick that struck the crossbar. Still, he confi- after the break, but Musa had LONDON: Manchester City put a smile back on Pep Aguero brought a fine save from Adrian from the Antoine Griezmann when winners of the dently converted his kick in the penalty come off the bench as a first half Guardiola’s face as they swaggered into the FA Cup resulting corner and City’s pressure was rewarded fourth round with a 5-0 demolition of West Ham on in the 33rd minute. rebranded Best FIFA Football Awards are shootout. substitute and the Nigeria forward Friday. Guardiola showed signs of feeling the strain Pablo Zabaleta, usually a right-back, was presented in Zurich. Griezmann’s six goals at Euro 2016 made made the most of his opportunity. of City’s inconsistent season when he snapped at deployed in City’s midfield and the Argentine took Messi leads Ronaldo 5-3 in their career- him the tournament top scorer. In a tricky He scored twice in five minutes to notch his first goals since October reporters during a series of tetchy interviews fol- advantage of a rare chance to get forward when he long duel for FIFA’s top individual prize. round of 16 match, his two goals over- lowing Monday’s win against Burnley. surged onto Silva’s reverse pass and went to ground However, Ronaldo is set to complete a hat- turned an early Ireland lead, and he also and settle a hard-fought third round tie at Goodison Park. Musa’s The Spaniard was also forced to backtrack this after the slightest contact from Angelo Ogbonna. trick of major awards for 2016 after taking struck twice - including a coolly taken week after appearing to suggest he wouldn’t be in West Ham complained Zabaleta had dived, but heroics ended Leicester’s run of 10 home trophies presented by UEFA and penalty - against favored Germany in the management much longer and seeming to admit Toure ignored the fuss as the Ivory Coast midfielder France Football magazine’s prestiguous semifinals. However, he missed two good away games without a win in all City weren’t as big a club as rivals Manchester emphatically dispatched the spot-kick. Golden Ball. chances in the final against Portugal as competitions and ensured the United. But the City manager’s image issues looked At times this season, City have had an alarming FIFA will also name the best women’s France 1-0 in extra time. English champions avenged their a lot less problematic after his team destroyed West habit of switching off at the back and Michail player, and the best coaches in men’s and Premier League defeat against Ham with a three-goal blitz in the space of 10 min- Antonio nearly took advantage of another lapse in women’s soccer.