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 them about what it means to win and wasn’t possible, seeing as the most fident of taking a lead to 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, , 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 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 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. Montolivo and Southampton striker entirely happy with the form of PSV league appearances this term, already Finland, ranked 65 in the world and Pablo Osvaldo. The suspended trio Eindhoven midfielder Stanislav half as many as the whole of last season, bidding to qualify for the finals of a will be available for Tuesday’s clash Manolev, who is their top scorer in and Del Bosque will look to him to help World Cup for the first time, are third in with third-placed Czech Republic, in the qualifying campaign with three unlock Finland’s stubborn defence. the group, four points behind the which Italy could secure qualification goals including a stunning strike in Spain struggled in their qualifier French, who play minnows Georgia in if they win tomorrow. the 2-2 draw with Italy last Lorenzo Insigne against them in Gijon in March, taking a Tbilisi tomorrow. “Spain know we are Juventus defender Andrea September, as he lacks match prac- 1-0 lead through centre back Sergio able to make it very difficult for them, we Barzagli had to leave Italy’s training tice. Local media expect that draw at Denmark in March. to collect points in Italy, although Ramos before conceding a late equaliser can dull their attacks,” Finland coach camp at Coverciano with an Manolev, who has yet to play for his Experienced Georgi Iliev is expect- Bulgaria’s record is not a proud one to draw 1-1. Mixu Paatelainen told a news conference Achilles tendon problem while club this season, could be dropped ed to step in. with six defeats and only two draws Del Bosque has often deployed last week. team mate Claudio Marchisio has from the starting line-up with Coach Penev will also have to dating back to 1966. The former solve a goalkeeping dilemma as Valencia and Atletico Madrid Fabregas, who has played 83 times for “But this is of course a David and been ruled out with an injury to his youngster Todor Nedelev ready to left knee. deputise. first choice has striker needs to find some spark Spain, as a so-called “false nine”, forego- Goliath situation, what happened in Despite being relatively thread- Bulgaria will definitely miss failed to break through at his new and a sharper cutting edge from ing a traditional striker and using him in Gijon is in the past now.” The task facing bare up front, Prandelli did not pick another regular starter, CSKA club Hellas Verona and his team after a below-par show- a roving forward role that is tricky to Paatelainen’s young squad has been Giuseppe Rossi even though the Moscow midfielder Georgi Milanov, Ludogorets’s ing against Macedonia in an defend against. At Barca he typically made even harder due to the absence of Fiorentina striker has started the as he is suspended after receiving could get a chance to play. Penev is international friendly in Skopje plays further back in midfield and had an Chievo Verona midfielder Perparim season in great form with three his second yellow card in the 1-1 confident his team is good enough last month.—Reuters excellent game there at Valencia on Hetemaj through suspension. Sunday when he twice set up World However, Paatelainen is not throwing Player of the Year Lionel Messi to score. in the towel and believes Finland can “We are not going to be over-confi- steal a place in the playoffs. “The group Germany’s defensive woes offer ray of hope dent against a team like Finland, not at will be decided in the next few games MUNICH: Germany’s recent defensive deba- European football, into something of a damp six games, five behind the Germans who all,” sports daily Marca quoted Fabregas and we will be a difficult opponent,” he cles may give Austria some encouragement as squib. Austria’s last win over Germany was in appear almost certain to finish top and qualify as saying on Wednesday. said. “Everything is still open.” they attempt to end a run of eight successive 1986 and the last time they avoided defeat directly for Brazil next year. “We already experienced the match in Tight defending will be vital if Finland Gijon and those are things that you learn are to avoid defeat, according to left defeats against their larger neighbors in was a goalless draw 21 years ago. When they Loew is certainly familiar with Austrian from.” Del Bosque’s main concern is the back Jukka Raitala. “We know they will tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier. Joachim visited Germany in the Euro 2012 qualifying football as he won the league with Tirol absence of midfield stalwarts Sergio hit back hard if they are given too much Loew’s team conceded nine goals in three campaign two years ago, they came away Innsbruck in 2002, only to lose his job when Busquets and Xabi Alonso, who are space,” he said on the team’s website friendlies they played during the summer, battered and bruised after a 6-2 defeat. they club were declared bankrupt. injured along with Javi Martinez. (www.palloliitto.fi). “But we will not aim including three at home to Paraguay last Their performance in European Group C, He then spent a season at Austria Vienna, Javi Garcia and Mario Suarez are in the at 0-0,” he added. “Surely we must look month and four away to the United States in however, has been encouraging and they are his last job in club football before becoming squad as cover and could get the chance to score as we are playing at home. “We June. But Friday’s match in Munich still repre- locked in an intriguing battle with Sweden Germany’s assistant coach in 2004. to impress their coach and improve their have a great chance to show what we sents a daunting task for Austria, whose and Ireland for second place and a two-leg “Everyone knows that our neighbours are chances of selection for next year’s finals. can do and again snatch something like unhappy long-term decline has turned the playoff against another European side. always enormously motivated for a match “The coach has tried various options the miracle in Gijon.”—Reuters fixture, once one of the most compelling in All three teams have 11 eleven points from against Germany,” said Loew. —Reuters