THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013 SPORTS19 Egyptian twins eye World Cup berth JORDAN: Jordan’s hopes of a first FIFA.com this week ahead of Friday’s Hossam felt his side lacked matches. But Jordan will not be overawed, well drilled outfit who recovered from World Cup finals appearance lie in the home first leg. “I would have liked to play more especially at home where they scored a sloppy start to just miss out on auto- hands of Egyptian twin brothers, with “There aren’t words for what I expe- games if there’d been time. After the victories over the continent’s top two matic qualification on goal difference. Hossam and Ibrahim Hassan leading rienced then and when I talk to the Syria game we were hoping to get a sides - Japan and Australia - in the Kasimov, who turned down the West Asians in the first leg of their players I impress that on them. I talk to fourth game in against Iraq, but it just fourth round of qualifiers and are con- requests from Reuters to speak ahead Asia zone playoff against Uzbekistan them about what it means to win and wasn’t possible, seeing as the most fident of taking a lead to Tashkent for of the key qualifier, will have to make tomorrow. Hossam Hassan was to have the honour of representing important members of the squad had the second leg on Sept. 10. do without first choice goalkeeper appointed head coach of Jordan in your country at the biggest festival of commitments overseas .... we’ll have “We have a lot of positives to draw Ignatiy Nesterov and defender June shortly after the surprise resigna- football in the world. “I can tell that to make do with intensive training.” on in Amman,” Hassan said. “When we Shohruh Gadoev for the matches, tion of Adnan Hamad, who had suc- this team have a huge desire to go all The Uzbeks are also looking for a play here we fight harder and the fans however. cessfully steered the Jordanians the way and achieve their dream.” first World Cup appearance and are give the players a huge boost. Speed “We know that our people want us through to the fifth round of Asian For the Hassan twins and Jordan to slight favourites to advance past in attack is one of our great qualities, to qualify and whatever it takes, and qualifying for the first time after beat- take part in Brazil they must first over- Jordan with a better FIFA ranking and but I’ll work to control the recklessness with God’s help, we will make that ing Oman in their final group game. come the Uzbeks before taking on the head to head, having lost just once in that might lose us the ball and give dream come true,” talented midfielder Hossam and twin brother Ibrahim, fifth-placed side in South America in seven matches played between the our opponents a chance to break Odil Ahmedov told FIFA. who is assistant coach, played for the intercontinental playoff in two. The Uzbeks, who were fourth at back.” Recklessness was something “We have a golden opportunity Egypt at the 1990 World Cup and November for a finals berth. Despite the 2011 Asian Cup, also have the previously associated with the Uzbeks against Jordan. If we win, we’ll take on Hossam said there was no bigger privi- overseeing friendly wins over experience of playing at this stage but not anymore. Their coach Mirjalol a team from South America, so we lege. “Playing in the World Cup is the Palestine and Libya and an Asian Cup before, although they were beaten by Kasimov has sharpened a technically have four decisive matches in which to dream of every player,” he told qualifying draw with Syria in August, Bahrain on away goals in 2005. sound but mentally frail side into a get to the World Cup.” —Reuters Injuries should not stop England beating Moldova LONDON: England will be without striker Wayne Rooney and defenders Phil Jones and Glen Johnson for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova at Wembley but should still easily pick up another three points on the road to Brazil. More worrying for coach Roy Hodgson is that Rooney, who faces three weeks out after suffering a nasty head wound in training last week, and the two defenders will also miss the far more difficult Group H qualifier against Ukraine in Kiev next Tuesday. England began their campaign with a convincing 5-0 win over Moldova in Chisinau a year ago but since then it has turned into a tense affair with three wins and three draws from their six matches. Montenegro top the standings with 14 points from seven games but blew a great chance to establish a five-point lead when they were beaten 4-0 at home by Ukraine in June. Ukraine are third, one point behind England, and are virtually guaranteed three points when they face minnows San Marino on Friday while Poland, who are fourth on nine points, will keep the pressure on the top trio if they beat Montenegro in Warsaw. If England are to qualify directly for the finals they have to win both matches. A draw in Ukraine would mean no margin for error in their final two home qualifiers against Montenegro and Poland. Hodgson will also be without Andy Carroll, Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain and goalkeeper Ben Foster, leaving him with a young and relatively inexperienced squad with 11 of the 25 players having fewer than 10 caps. Moldova, who have five points from their seven matches and no chance of qualifying for the finals, never recovered after conceding a third-minute Frank Lampard penalty in the opening qualifier before Lampard, Jermain Defoe, James Milner and Leighton Baines added more goals. Nevertheless, Moldova coach Ion Caras was optimistic his side would produce a “solid performance” against England and said play- ing at Wembley would inspire his team. “The mood of my players is good. To play at Wembley just once is something many footballers dream about. There is a saying: ‘If you played and triumphed in a lot of matches but did not play once at Wembley then you never got to the top’. “Given that the group situ- ation is a difficult one, England will strive to beat us and they have super-class players to do this.” In a show of loyalty to Moldova’s LONDON: England defender Ashley Cole does high kicks during a neighbors, he said he thought Ukraine would finish top of the group, training session ahead of their World Cup 2014 European zone with England in second place.—Reuters Group H qualifying football match against Moldova. —AFP Italy debates Prandelli successor Cesc Fabregas ROME: Group B leaders Italy seek goals in two games after coming to take another step towards World back from two successive knee Cup qualification with victory injuries. “I’m following him with In-form Cesc could against Bulgaria in Sicily tomorrow great interest. He’s now finding his amid speculation over who will suc- best condition again,” Prandelli ceed Cesare Prandelli as Azzurri said on Monday. “But we mustn’t be the key for Spain manager. Local media have said he push things by calling him up for is expected to announce his exit the national team at this point.” MADRID: Spain coach Vicente del (in training) but if I play or not I am here once qualification has been Given their lack of options in Bosque is missing several key performers to contribute, to give things to the secured, and then step down after attack on Tuesday Prandelli for tomorrow’s World Cup Group I quali- team,” Suarez, who plays at Atletico next year’s finals in Brazil. revealed that his game plan would fier away to Finland but one player who Madrid, told a news conference on The Gazzetta Dello Sport have be to pack the midfield and make will be available comes into the match in Wednesday. reported that Japan manager use of pace down the flanks. a rich vein of form. With Gerard Pique suspended, Raul Alberto Zaccheroni is favourite to This week Prandelli lamented Cesc Fabregas has impressed for Albiol will probably partner Ramos in take charge, with Juventus manag- the lack of convincing young talent er Antonio Conte, Milan boss coming through the ranks, but he Barcelona during the opening weeks of central defence, or Del Bosque may opt Massimiliano Allegri and former could offer Napoli’s home-grown the La Liga season and could make the to give 23-year-old Ignacio Fernandez, Manchester City manager Roberto rising star Lorenzo Insigne a start- difference for the world and European who plays with Ramos at Real, his first Mancini also in the frame. ing place alongside Lazio’s Antonio champions as they seek to maintain their cap for the senior side. Italy, who have 14 points from six Candreva in support of lone striker grip on top spot ahead of France and Playmaker Isco, who has been on fine games and are four ahead of second- Alberto Gilardino, a role he would take a step closer to securing an auto- form for Real in recent weeks, is a doubt placed Bulgaria, are missing five first- take from Sunderland midfielder matic berth at next year’s tournament in after injuring an ankle in training on choice players, including Milan pair Emanuele Giaccherini. Brazil. The 26-year-old former Arsenal Tuesday and sitting out Wednesday’s Mario Balotelli and Riccardo Bulgaria coach Penev is not captain has made five assists in his three session.