France Through to World Cup Final

SPORT Wednesday 11 July 2018

PAGEE | 1199 PPAGEAGE | 20 Rooney llaudsauds SterlingSterlin has a ‘fantastic’ Englandgland key rroleo to play performancemance in KanKane’s team

Umtiti heads winner as former champions beat Belgium France through to World Cup final

France’s Samuel Umtiti (left) scores their ﬁrst goal past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois during their FIFA 2018 World Cup semi-ﬁnal played at the Saint Petersburg SStadiumtadium in SaintSaint PPetersburg,etersburg, RussiaRussia yesterday. BOTTOM: UUmtitimtiti celebratecelebratess aafterfter scorinscoringg the the winnwinninging goal.goal.

AFP teenager in the history of of the best ‘keepers in the world the more space to exploit Mbappe’s football showed why game remained goalless at pace, but it was a majestic piece of ST. PETERSBURG: Samuel inside the first 60 half-time. skill that nearly created a second Umtiti headed France into seconds. First, Lloris flew to his right to with a backheel that again freed the World Cup final in Saint He skipped turn Toby Alderweireld’s shot on the Giroud only for Mousa Dembele to Petersburg yesterday with a past Jan Ver- turn behind. block. 1-0 win, consigning tonghen with At the other end, Mbappe dem- Roberto Martinez introduced an Belgium’s ‘golden gener- ease and only onstrated the subtler side to his game extra attacker in Dries Mertens in an ation’ to another bitter a last-ditch to play in Benjamin Pavard, but attempt to turn the tide and he nearly disappointment. tackle by Courtois used his massive 6ft 5ins had an immediate impact as his France’s own supremely Vincent (199 centimetre) frame to deny the cross was headed inches wide by talented young squad will aim Kompany prevented Griezmann Stuttgart full-back his second goal Marouane Fellaini. to make amends for defeat on from latching onto his cross. of the tournament. That was as close as Belgium home soil in the final of Euro Thibaut Courtois rushed from his Didier Deschamps’ men ended came to taking the game to extra- 2016 in Sunday’s showpiece goal just in time to save Vertonghen the opening period on top, but again time, though, as Lloris parried a against England or Croatia. again from Mbappe’s pace on 12 Olivier Giroud looked short of con- long-range piledriver from Axel In a World Cup replete with minutes, but it was Belgium who fidence as the focal point of the Witsel. set-piece goals, a corner again started the better in possession. French attack. Giroud has not scored But for Courtois, France’s margin YESTERDAY'S proved decisive when Umtiti One of the Red Devils’ many in eight games and is yet to even of victory would have been even timed his run perfectly to meet French connections was the biggest have a shot on target in Russia. greater as he made saves from RESULT Antoine Griezmann’s delivery six danger as Eden Hazard, who began His best chance arrived via more Griezmann and Corentin Tolisso in FIRST SEMI-FINAL minutes into the second half. his career with Lille in Ligue 1, pulled good work from Mbappe with a stoppage time. France were thankful for the first attempt of goal just beyond cushioned cross, but the Chelsea For the generation of Hazard, De fine saves from goalkeeper the far post. striker could only slice horribly wide Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, beating 1-0 Hugo Lloris either side of The Chelsea forward’s next effort on his favoured left foot. Brazil in the quarter-finals was half-time. was arrowing into the top corner Giroud did at least have a part to meant to be the breakthrough on Belgium’s Kevin De Bruyne until it flicked off Raphael Varane’s play in the decisive opener as, after route to winning a major UMTITI - 51' warned Kylian Mbappe was head and deflected just over. his shot was deflected wide, Griez- tournament. ready to take the world by Lloris and Courtois played a mann’s corner was flicked in at the Instead, it proved to be another storm on the eve of the game huge part their sides’ quarter-final near post by Umtiti. false dawn as France march on to and the most expensive wins and it was only thanks to two Once in front, France had even Moscow.

TODAY'STOODDAYDAAYY''S SEMI-FINALSEMI-FISSEEMI-FEMMI---FFIFININAL

It won’t be easy for us. We will focus in the next VS Probably 18 months ago I talked to them about if fewf days to recover as much as possible. We will you have success with England, it will be so much look for the best solutions ahead the match. It bigger than anything you can imagine, and I think CROATIA VS ENGLAND wwon’t be easy, but to get into the semiﬁnals it’s a VENUE: LUZHNIKI STADIUM that is probably starting to register with them new motive for us: Croatia’s coach Zlatko Dalic MOSCOW now: England’s coach Gareth Southgate KICKOFF: 9.00PM 18 SPORT WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018

Germany make Mesut Ozil scapegoat for Cup debacle AP Madrid. He has made 92 appearances for Germany, contributing BERLIN: Same coach, same 23 goals from midfield. team manager, same president. Ozil was not the only player And yet after almost two Ozil, long a key player for Loew, has been in to underperform in Russia, weeks of reflection, the German the ﬁring line since he and national team-mate where defending champion soccer federation (DFB) appears Ilkay Gundogan posed for photos with Turkey Germany was knocked out after to have decided midfielder President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May. Both defeats to Mexico and South Mesut Ozil is the main culprit for Korea. But his performances the team’s shock early World German-born players have Turkish roots. have come under the most Cup exit. scrutiny because of the Erdogan Team manager Oliver photos and because of his own Bierhoff wondered in a news- “Only DFB officials can come That’s why it’s totally clear for high profile within the team. paper interview if Ozil should up with the idea that a photo me that Mesut should speak on “He and Gundogan suffered even have been taken to the with Erdogan is responsible for the issue.” from what happened before the tournament in Russia, while DFB a defeat against the football- Grindel has received just as World Cup because they have president Reinhard Grindel fol- giants of South Korea,” North much criticism as Bierhoff did. been vindicated in Germany,” lowed up by demanding the Rhine-Westphalia minister pres- The Berliner Zeitung newspaper Ozil’s former Arsenal coach, player provide an “answer.” ident Armin Laschet said on accused the DFB president of Arsene Wenger, told Bein Sports. Joachim Loew has not com- Twitter. “throwing oil on the fire to shine Gundogan and Ozil were mented on the matter since Following Germany’s first- a good light on himself.” whistled by German fans during deciding to stay on as coach. round exit, Bierhoff told news- The DFB itself arguably matches, while both have been Ozil, long a key player for paper Die Welt it might have made the Erdogan-photo affair subjected to abuse off the pitch, Loew, has been in the firing line been better to omit Ozil from the worse with its public admon- too. since he and national team-mate tournament. Bierhoff pulled ishment of Gundogan and Ozil. German comedian Oliver Ilkay Gundogan posed for photos back after criticism, saying it was Grindel was scathing in his crit- Pocher impersonated Ozil with with Turkey President Recep a misunderstanding and he did icism of the players, who were large fake eyes, saying he was Tayyip Erdogan in May. Both not intend to single out any summoned for talks. going “home” on vacation and German-born players have player for the team’s failure. Now Grindel says, “We have listing off the Turkish cities he Turkish roots. But Grindel kept the issue to wait for the sporting analysis was going to visit before While Gundogan attempted alive, telling the latest edition of and see whether Joachim Loew returning. to distance himself from the Kicker magazine: “It’s true that still counts on him.” Far-right politicians have Mesut Ozil incident in Britain, Ozil has Mesut has not commented yet. Ozil has been one of Ger- been slating the player, while maintained his silence - antag- That has disappointed a lot of many’s standout players since journalist Claus Strunz said: onising the same people who fans because they have ques- starring at the 2010 World Cup. “Mesut Ozil does not belong to said the issue had been dealt tions and expect an answer. They His performances earned a Germany” after noting he does with before the World Cup. are right to expect this answer. switch from Schalke to Real not sing the German anthem. Goodbye Real Madrid: Juventus next stop for superstar Ronaldo

REUTERS Real Madrid would like to RONALDO JOINS JUVENTUS: KEY FACTS expressexpress its gratitudegratitude to a playerplayer MADRID:MADRID: CCristianoristiano RRonaldoonaldo hhasas thatthat has pprovedroved to be the best in *Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Italian champions Juventus from Real joinedjoined Italian champions thethe worldworld andand hhasas carvedcarved out Madrid on a four-year contract for 100m euros ($117.34m). Juventus ffromrom ReaReall MaMadriddrid on a oneone ofof thethe most brilliantbrilliant eras in *The 33-year-old Portugal forward is the Spanish club’s all-time top four-year contract for 100m thethe history of our club and world scorer with 451 goals in all competitions and won two La Liga titles and euros ($117.34m)($117.34m) signalling the football.football. four Champions League trophies with them. endend of nine yearyearss at the SpaSpanishnish “Bey“Beyondond all the troptrophieshies and giantsgiants filled with trophies and matchesmatches he won on thethe pitchpitch *The signing also strikes a blow for the profile of Serie A against La Liga, goals.goals. duringduring tthesehese ninenine which has now lost two of its three most famous players in the last year TheThe two European giants years,years, Cris-Cris- ti tianoano after Paris St Germain signed Neymar from Barcelona for a world record yesterdayyesterday announcedannounced thethe much-much- RonaldoRonaldo has fee last August. anticipatedanticipated deal for the fivefive-- alsoalso beenbeen a rroleole modelmodel *The Portugal international scored two goals against Juventus in Real’s

times worldworld playerplayer ofof thethe year inin commcommitment,itment, hardhard 4-1 win in the 2017 Champions League final. whowho joinedjoined RealReal ffromrom MaMan-n- wwork,ork , chesterchester UnitedUnited in 2008 fforor a tthenhen rresponsi-esponsi- worldworld recorrecordd 80m pounpoundsds bbility,ility , ($106m).($106m). talenttalent andand himself.”himself.” Despite hhisis remarremarkablekable FlFlorentinoorentino Perez over a pay TheThe 33-y33-year-oldear-old PortugalPortugal a dedesiresire to consistency,consistency, RonaRonaldoldo ooftenften ddisputeispute and was intentintent on forwardforward is thethe SpanishSpanish club’sclub’s aall-ll- alwaysalway s appearedappeared unsettledunsettled at RealReal andand leaving,leaving, althoughalthough hhee stayedstaye on time top scorer with 451 goalsgoals in eexceedxceed hadhad threatenedthreatened to leaveleave onon to lleadead thethe cclublub to a tthirdhird suc- all competitions and won two La several occasions,occasions, first cessivecessive Champions LeagueLea LigaLiga tittitlesles anandd ffourour CChampionshampions airingairing hhisis ddissatisfactionissatisfaction triumph.triumph. LeagueLeague trophiestrophies withwith tthem.hem. withwith the clubclub’s’s hhier-ier- Ronaldo,Ronaldo, hhowever,owever, sosouredu TheThe signing ooff tthehe llatestatest archyarchy in 2012 bbyy thethe celebrationscelebrations immeimmediatelydia BallonBallon dd’Or’Or winner anandd toptop sayingsaying inin a post-post- afterafter tthehe 3-1 win over LiveLiverpoolr scorerscorer in the Champions LeaLeaguegue gamegame interview: “I’m inin the final in Kiev bbyy indicindicatinga forfor tthehe lastlast six seasons repre-repre- sadsad andand thethe clubclub hehe hadhad decideddecided to leave,leave, sayingsa sentssents a majomajorr cocoupup fforor Juve,Juve, who know whywhy”.”. inin a post-matchpost-match interviewinterview “It havehave hadhad a strangleholdstranglehold on thethe ReportsR eports wwasas bbeautifuleautiful to pplaylay fforor Real A journalist from Sky TV speaks as he holds a jersey of Portuguese ItalianItalian ttitleitle ssinceince 22012012 but havehave emergedemerged lastlast year Madrid.”Madrid.” forward Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of his official arrival at the Juventus not won Europe’s top prize since thatthat RonaldoRonaldo waswas The PortugalPortugal internationalinternati 1996.1996. again upset witwithh scoredscored two goalsgoals againstaga Football Club in front the Juventus training center in Turin yesterday. The signingsigning also strikes a thethe cclub’slub’s JuventusJuventus in Real’s 4-1 win iinn the blowblow forfor thethe profileprofile ofof Serie A PresidentPresident 20172017 ChampionsChampions LeagueLeague finalf against La Liga, whichwhich hashas now andand earlierearlier thisthis seasonseason struckstru a lostlost ttwowo ooff iitsts tthreehree mmostost ffamousamous jaw-droppingjaw-dropping bicyclebicycle kickk Real Madrid praise ‘best’ playersplayers in tthehe llastast year aafterfter againstagainst thethe ItaliansItalians in a 3-03-0 win Paris St Germain sigsignedned NeymNeymarar in a quaquarter-finalrter-final firstfirst-leg-leg ggame player in the world fromfrom BarceBarcelonalona forfor a worldworld inin Turin whichwhich promptedprompted Juve recordrecord ffeeee llastast August. supporters to give himhim a stastandingn Real paid tribute to Ronaldo, ovation.ovation. whowho is tthehe aall-timell-time totopp scorer in TheThe Portuguese convconvertede the Champions League,League, in a a stoppastoppage-timege-time penapenaltyl in llengthyengthy statement on ttheirheir thethe secondsecond legleg toto knockkn websitewebsite anandd saisaidd tthehe pplayerlayer hhadad the IItalianstalians out 4-4-3 on Today Real Madrid would like to express its askedasked to be transferred.transferred. aggregate.aggregate. gratitude to a player that has proved to be the “Real“Real MaMadriddrid annannouncesounces that it has agreedagreed to transfer best in the world and has carved out one of Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo to the most brilliant eras in the history of our club JJuventusuventus FC duedue to thethe Cristiano and world football. Beyond all the trophies and wwillill andand desdesireire Ronaldo matches he won on the pitch during these nine expresseexpressedd byby thethe pplayer,”l a y er,” theth e years, Cristiano Ronaldo has also been a role EuropeanEuropean cham-cham- model in commitment, hard work, responsibility, pions saisaid.d. talent and a desire to always exceed himself. “Today“Today WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 SPORT 19

England’s Harry Kane (right) Disappointed fans along with team-mates during training in Saint join ticket scalpers Petersburg, yesterday. as Cup ﬁnal nears

REUTERS people and took them away, but apart from that they don’t MOSCOW: Across the street really seem to care,” he from FIFA’s World Cup ticket added. office in Moscow, a man says There have been a he’ll give you a “cheap price” handful of reported cases of for his ticket to today’s ticket scalpers being detained England-Croatia semi-final in some of the 11 Russian - just $1,500, double the World Cup host cities, but official cost of a seat. police have not released sta- He knows he is breaking tistics regarding the number the law, but the man, from of ticket resale offences Colombia, says he purchased recorded so far at the the ticket expecting his team tournament. to get further than the last 16. Russia’s Interior Ministry Then Colombia lost on did not reply to a request for penalties to England on comment. Tuesday last week, and now Global soccer governing he, along with dozens of body FIFA condemns other ticket scalpers in the scalping and permits ticket Russian capital, is trying to transfers only if ticket holder Rooney lauds ‘fantastic’ resell his seat at a profit. has a “pre-existing rela- “I don’t need the ticket, tionship” with the person that’s why I’m selling,” the receiving the ticket. man said, declining to give “FIFA regards the illicit his name, although he still sale and distribution of England performance had his World Cup fan ID tickets as a serious issue and AFP slung around his neck, in cooperation with local meaning he had been vetted authorities, including con- ‘World Cup and cleared by the Russian sumer protection agencies in WASHINGTON: England and authorities. numerous countries, strives Manchester United top career showcasing Four matches remain in to identify and curb unau- goalscorer Wayne Rooney the 2018 World Cup and thorised ticket sales,” a FIFA praised his homeland’s ticket scalping seems to spokesman said in a “fantastic” World Cup effort strength of picking up momentum as the statement e-mailed to yesterday, cheering the buzz and July 15 final nears, especially Reuters. belief their semi-final run in Europe’ as many top teams - However, he did not Russia has inspired. including Germany, Brazil answer questions about the Rooney appeared at the AP and Argentina - have not fact the scalping has been ribbon-cutting ceremony for the done as well as expected. taking place near its ticketing new $200m home stadium of Earlier this year Russian centre in Moscow. DC United, where the 32-year- MOSCOW: The World Cup President Vladimir Putin Another scalper, old striker makes his Major semi-final stage is beginning signed legislation that speaking Russian, said: League Soccer debut on Sat- with the all-European lineup banned the resale of World “Some people pick up their urday against Vancouver. being celebrated by soccer’s Cup tickets. Offenders can tickets at the FIFA centre, “They are doing fantastic. governing body on the face a fine of up to 25 times then come straight across the Hopefully we can get the win,” continent. the original price of the road and sell them,”. Rooney said. Belgium and France play ticket. He said he did not want “It’s great. You see the in St. Petersburg and then But outside Dobrynin- give his name since scalping atmosphere back home. There Croatia and England meet the DC United player Wayne Rooney (foreground) skaya metro station, no was a crime. are billions watching it. Hope- following night in Moscow. takes part in a training session at the Robert police officers were visible on Anyone who hands in fully we can get through and go It is the fifth time the last F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium training field in the street on Monday their unwanted ticket to FIFA on to the final.” four has featured only afternoon. is refunded its original price Manager Gareth Southgate’s Washington, DC last week. European teams. One police car drove if the ticket is resold through England squad will face Croatia UEFA President Ale- past but did not stop, and an its official online resale in a semi-final today for a berth ksander Ceferin says “even officer in the metro platform. in Sunday’s championship worst record in the league with shirt with a DC United logo, though some of our tradi- entrance hall said he was FIFA said that more than match against either France or two wins and five drawn from thanked fans gathered at the tional contenders such as not aware that the ticket 95,000 tickets had been Belgium. 14 matches. But there is renewed facility. Germany, Spain and Portugal scalping taking place resold via the platform and “For the players and Gareth, hope in Rooney and the new “On the first day when I were eliminated, there are outside was illegal. that fans could still submit I wish them massive good luck. 20,000-seat Audi Field. landed at Dulles airport, the other teams which have sur- Another scalper, a man their extra tickets for resale They are making us all proud,” “I can’t wait. I’m looking reception you gave me was passed expectations and can with an American accent, until the final. Rooney said. forward to it,” Rooney said of something I will never forget,” now win the title.” said the police had inter- “The stadiums would be “Hopefully they can get that Saturday’s match. Rooney said. In a statement, Ceferin vened but had not stopped empty without this one step further and get to the Rooney will make his move “I’ve come here to help this added “these results validate the resale of tickets. (scalping),” said a 28-year- final and bring the Cup home. from Premier League side team win, to move forward and all the work that is being done “The police have been old scalper from “I’ve enjoyed all the buzz Everton official when the hopefully in the next few years across the continent to down a couple of times,” he Kyrgyzstan. coming out of this. We’re transfer period opens and he can we can climb the table and win develop football, and they said. “Everybody does it and enjoying it and we believe.” sign a three-year MLS deal titles and bring trophies to this also showcase the strength “They grabbed some the cops won’t stop you.” DC United, which last won worth $13m with DC United. wonderful new stadium,” he and quality that exists across the MLS title in 2004, has the Rooney, wearing a black said. the whole UEFA region.” Torres joins Japan relegation battlers Sagan Tosu AFP J-League, which used to attract lumi- This May 20, 2018 file naries such as Brazilian great Zico and photo shows Atletico TOKYO: Former Spain World Cup former England star Gary Lineker when Madrid’s Spanish forward winner Fernando Torres has signed for it began in 1993 but has struggled to get Fernando Torres clapping Japan’s Sagan Tosu, the J-League club A World Cup and European marquee players in recent years. during the La Liga match said yesterday. championship winner A World Cup and European cham- against SD Eibar in The former Liverpool, Chelsea and pionship winner with Spain, Torres Madrid. Spain striker left Atletico Madrid this with Spain, Torres made made his final appearance for Atletico summer after returning to his boyhood his final appearance for as a late substitute in Madrid’s Europa club in 2015. Atletico as a late substitute League final win over Marseille. Details of the move were not dis- in Madrid’s Europa League The Spaniard scored 126 goals in 314 closed but the 34-year-old Torres has matches in an eight-year spell in reportedly joined the relegation- final win over Marseille. England, his best years coming at Liv- threatened Japanese club on an erpool where he netted 81 times in 142 18-month contract. games to become an Anfield hero. Sagan, based on the western Jap- Torres’s decision to join Sagan “We had offers from every continent anese island of Kyushu and currently comes after fellow Spaniard Andres -- from France, Germany and even languishing second from bottom of the Iniesta signed for J-League rivals Vissel Spain,” Torres said at a media event at J-League top flight, confirmed Torres Kobe before the World Cup. a gym he owns in Madrid. will wear the number nine shirt. Dubbed ‘El Nino’ by Spanish media “But at no point did I think about The club posted a photo of Torres and fans, Torres had also been linked moving to another European team. I with club president Minoru Takehara to Australian club Sydney FC and Major wanted a new challenge in a completely waving a banner which read: “Not fake League Soccer’s Chicago Fire. different place.” news!” Iniesta’s move arguably represented Takehara added: “It is an honour to Embarrassed J-League officials were Japanese football’s biggest transfer coup, welcome the Spanish prodigy to Tosu. forced to issue an apology in May after with many top players now moving to With hard work and continued effort, jumping the gun on Sagan’s acquisition cash-rich Chinese clubs in the twilight we are trying to turn a little Asian team of the player in a post that was quickly of their careers. into a world player. Itwill be fun for the deleted. It also came as a timely boost to the Japanese fans to see Torres turn out.” 20 SPORT WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 SPORT 21

FROM LEFT: English players Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ashley Young, Fabian Delph and Kieran Trippier take part in a training KEY BATTLES BAATTLES EXPECTED session in Repino yesterday, on the eve of their FIFA 2018 World Cup semi-final match against Croatia. IINN TTODAY’SODAAY CLASH Croatia out to derail AFPAFP MOSCOW:MOSCOW: YYouthouth f facesac experience when England’sEngland’s young ggunsun and Croatia’s old guardguard face off in ttoday’soda World Cup semi- finalfinal in Moscow, wwithith the prize of a return trip to the LuzhnikiLuzhniki SStadium for the final. England in semi-final EnglandEngland havhavee nnot reached the last fourfour for 28 yeyearsars aand have only once AFP beforebefore reached ththee ffinal, when they won thethe World CCupup on hhomeo soil in 1966. MOSCOW: England are dreaming of a CroatiaCroatia have nneverev gone beyond the first World Cup final since 1966 but first semis,semis, but after mmatchinga the achieve- they must come through today’s semi- mentsments of their mumuch-reveredch 1998 side, final at the Luzhniki Stadium against a ririchlychly talented ggeneration’se luck may Croatia in what looks like their tough- havehaavev tturneduurned in titimeme to land the biggest est test yet in Russia. prpprizerizze in ffootball.ooo tball. Excitement has reached fever-pitch HereHere is a lolookook at three key battles levels back in England, with Gareth Southgate’s young team making it to thatththata ccouldoould ddecideeci where the game the last four of a major tournament for isis wwonon aandnd llost.os the first time since Euro ‘96, and for the first time at a World Cup since Italy in JORDANJOJORDAN HENDERSON VS 1990. LULUKA MODRIC Both of those runs ended in defeats JustJuusts ooverv six weeks on from Sterling has a key role on penalties, but there is a belief that Liverpool’sLLiiveverppool defeat to Real something could be different this time. MMaMadridadrd idd iin the Champions England have already won a shoot- LeagueLLeeague ffinal, Henderson has out in Russia, against Colombia in the last 16. And a young, likeable side with hishhis chcchancehaan to exact revenge to play in Kane’s team an eminently sensible and humble man- onon MModrico and extend his ager in Southgate have captured the incredibleiinnccrred run of 30 hearts of a nation. matchesmmaattch without defeat in AFP “The way Raheem’s handled every- the full 90 minutes of the 6-1 rout, setting Can Southgate now become the first anan EEngland shirt - the thing from when we met up until now up Jesse Lingard for England’s goal of the manager to win a World Cup semi-final longestlloonge unbeaten run for MOSCOW: Raheem Sterling found himself has been incredible,” said Dier. tournament so far. with England on foreign soil as he bids Croatian players attend a training session ahead of today’s semi-final against England. anyaanny pplayer in England’s at the centre of controversy in the run-up “It’s so clear to see if you were to watch He was rested for the 1-0 defeat to Bel- ultimately to match the achievement history.hhiistoro y to the World Cup and is still searching for back until now the importance he has on gium but restored to the line-up as of Alf Ramsey’s side? Henderson’sHeHen leadership, his best form in Russia but coach Gareth the team. He’s had a fantastic tournament England entered the knockout rounds. “We were not certain what this disciplineddisscipplin and distribution as Southgate insists he is a “fundamental” so far and hopefully he can continue to Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic iden- team might be capable of,” Southgate part of the England set-up. have one in the next week.” tified Sterling as one of the admitted to ITV, mindful of England’s GarethGGaarrethh SSouthgate’so deepest- Sterling has started four of England’s After a quiet opening World primary obstacles that stands many recent failures. Kane goal, brushed aside a poor Pan- For a country with a population of HEADA D lyingllying mmimidfielderdfd i has been key five games on their run to the semi-finals, Cup game against Tunisia, between his team and a place They had won just one knockout ama, edged out Colombia on penalties little more than four million, making TOO too allowingalloowing Jesse Lingard and looking threatening at times yet unable there was speculation Ster- in the final. match at a major tournament in 16 and easily beat Sweden in the it all the way to the final would be a DeleDDeele AAllilli to ggete forward and score to end an international goal drought that ling would be dropped for the “I think Raheem Sterling years before coming to Russia, a 1-0 quarter-finals. remarkable achievement. HEADA D goalsggooals in RRussia.ussia dates back to October 2015. following group match is an important player victory against Ecuador at the 2006 Their one defeat came against Bel- “There is still a lot to play. England HoHowever,wever, tthath midfield faces its England recordedd ffo ofouruurr w wins,inns,s twwo two The 23-year-old has scored just twice against Panama. because he is fast and dan- World Cup in Germany. gium in their final group game, in a is also one of the favourites to win the toughestttooughhest test yyetet with Modric in the in 42 appearances for England -- against Those rumours proved gerous alongside Harry “We believed in its potential, and I match between two essentially reserve World Cup and you need to respect losses and one draww iin nin t hhethee m matchup,atchc up, including a 4-2vi victoryccttoorry in in theh thee formffoorm ooff hihiss lilifefe aatt 332. modest Lithuania and Estonia -- a record unfounded as Sterling played Kane,” said Dalic ahead of think the games that we’ve prepared sides. that. But we have nothing to lose, we MModricodric has plplayedaya defence-splitting that stands in sharp contrast to his today’s clash in Moscow. for, we had belief we would The challenge posed by Croatia is will enjoy this game, and hopefully we group stage of the2 200400004 E uurEuropeanropeean passes,passes, scored ggoalsoa and dictated the increasingly prolific strike rate at club win, but there is still likely to be more demanding, espe- can write history,” said defender Dejan Championship.nnsship.p. level. cially as Zlatko Dalic’s side features Lovren, of Premier League side rhythmrhythm of the gagamemem during three man- In his second season under one of the best midfield pairings Liverpool. of-the-matchof-the-match perperformancesfor in the four Pep Guardiola, Sterling around, in Luka Modric and Ivan Since 1998, Croatia have endured The teams haven notot m metet s isincencec gamesgames hhee hhasas cocompletedmp at the World qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, bagged a career-best Rakitic. disappointments at major tournaments 2010 WWorlld Cup, Croatia’s Luka Modric Cup.Cup. when England won 4-1 in Zagreb and 23 goals in 46 Real Madrid playmaker Modric, themselves, notably losing on penal- 4-11 in Zagrrebb andand After a third CChampionsCha League suc- 5-1 at Wembley Stadium. appearances as City pressure in all of who was at Tottenham Hotspur ear- ties to Turkey in the Euro 2008 ey Stadium. cess in as many years,yea Modric has even stormed to the Pre- those matches, so I’m really lier in his career at the same time a quarter-finals. But there is less pres- beenbeen ttoutedouted as aa BBallona d’Or candidate mier League title. pleased with how the team have young Kane was starting out, has been sure on them now. 424/" +'%)424/424// " " +'%+'%)+ +'%)'%) should Croatia go all the way. Croatia won 3-2 at Wembley the Such efficiency emerged and developed.” a particular inspiration. The fact that Croatia have had to has so far been miss- Southgate has been just the voice The captain was the man of the play so much football could perhaps following year, causing England to HARRY KANE VS ing from his game at of reason England have needed to pre- match again in the penalty shootout give England an edge, all the more so miss Euro 2008. DEJAN LOVREN the World Cup, with a vent anyone from getting too carried win over Russia in Sochi at the given the injury problems faced by Guvxv Thqv Hp moment of indecision away. weekend. Dalic. Facing the tournament’s top scorer spoiling a clear-cut For all of the hype around England, That allowed Croatia to reach Goalkeeper Danijel Subasic sol- They are drawn into the same group /$0$ / brings back bad memories for Lovren. of the initial Nations League, a new The Liverpool defender was replaced after chance in the 2-0 quar- they have yet to come up against one the semi-finals for the first time diered on against Russia despite 6yyvr ter-final win over of the really big guns at the World Cup. since the 1998 World Cup in hurting a hamstring, while right-back competition kicking off this autumn. rrvt just half an hour into a 4-1 defeat by Tot- Sweden. They beat Tunisia in their tourna- France, which was their first as Sime Vrsaljko is expected to miss the tenham in October after being run ragged It was an other- ment opener thanks to a late Harry an independent nation. game. + & by Kane. wise-promising It was a performance that many performance for believed would end Lovren’s career at Sterling, arguably Anfield. But he fought to win back Jur- his best of the % ! gen Klopp’s confidence at club level and competition, as he has marshalled a Croatian defence that repeatedly found pockets of space and shut down Lionel Messi and Argentina in was a consistent danger against a the group stages. solid defence. #$% " In total, Kane has scored five times “I think Raheem has been fundamen- ((' %$& (%% in five meetings with Lovren and will look tal to the way we have played -- his 0/0! 2$423/ to seal the Golden Boot by adding to his movement, the positions he takes up, his six goals already at the World Cup. pressing of the ball, his work rate for the " +$' Hhpu " & +$% B 9 B B team, the winning of free-kicks, the win- vr " ! .$' Hhpu ! " ,$% r ning of corners, his speed to stretch KIERAN TRIPPIER VS " " +$% Hhpu " & '$% teams,” Southgate told the ITV World Cup IVAN PERISIC podcast. Qr "! ""# $ %$% Gh % ' %$% Qr #" Trippier has been one of the break- “He was a constant threat to Sweden. Qr #" ""%& +$+ Rsvhy +$' out stars of the World Cup. Nicknamed Of course he hasn’t scored the goals he the “Bury Beckham” for the similarities would have liked to score but for myself 01 2203!/2!2! in the quality of his crossing to the former and the players he has been a crucial part %' %% England captain, Trippier is rivalling Ney- of the way we have been playing.” () (' mar and Kevin De Bruyne for creating the Sterling endured vitriolic abuse after greatest number of chances at the tour- a series of tame performances at Euro %* %* nament so far. 2016, and he was widely criticised again ++,% +.%) Southgate’s 3-5-2 system with ahead of the World Cup for having a tat- +, .' another natural right-back, Kyle Walker, too of a gun on his leg. #&- ##- Some more hysterical commenta- in the back three has allowed Trippier to tors even called for him to be dropped get forward at every opportunity. from the squad. Crq But his defensive capabilities will be He explained that it was a tribute to (' examined up against Perisic. The Inter his father, who was shot dead in his 8hhpv) Pyvp Milan winger has scored five times in his birthplace of Jamaica when Sterling was ' Bhr past 11 appearances at major interna- just two years old. hq !' tional tournaments and is the one player The City star has learned to brush England’s Harry 8uhv English and Croatian supporters pose for a picture as they gather in Red Square in the Croatian attack with the pace to aside the off-pitch scrutiny, and team- Kane in action Grhtr svhy during a training in Moscow yesterday, ahead of the FIFA 2018 World Cup’s second semi-final. stretch the England defence. mate Eric Dier is in no doubt as to his & ()")! session. contribution to England’s success. &( " '%!+" , 22 SPORT WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 PGA Tour Barshim advised rest after season to end before football injury, to miss rest of season next year AP THE PENINSULA Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim reacts PONTE VEDRA BEACH: The during the high jump competition in DOHA: Qatar’s track and field PGA Tour has eliminated a FedEx star Mutaz Barshim has been this March 1, 2018 file photo taken Cup play-off event as part of a advised rest for at least three in Arena Birmingham, Birmingham, revamped, tighter schedule that months following an ankle Britain. Barshim is out of the season will allow its season to end a injury sustained a week ago. after injuring his ankle last week. week before the football season The lengthy lay-off means begins in the United States. Barshim will miss the remainder Most of the changes to the of the season that included his 2018-19 schedule released yes- participation at the Asian Games terday already had been in Indonesia next month. announced. Barshim, 27, suffered an The final piece was where to ankle sprain injury which led to put two new tournaments damaged ligaments in Hungary between the US Open and British on July 2. Open. The injury requires surgery Detroit-based Quicken Loans to repair the damage, the Qatar is calling its event the Rocket Athletics Federation (QAF) said Mortgage Classic on June 27-30. in a statement yesterday. It will be followed by the 3M The statement added that Open in Minnesota and the John the doctors said Barshim - who Deere Classic. won gold at the World Athletics The tour will feature 46 Championships in London last events over 41 weeks, down from year - will need at least three to 48 tournaments this year. four months to stage a full The addition of new tourna- recovery. ments in Detroit and Minnesota The Qatari high jump star is offset by eliminating the FedEx won a silver at the Rio Olympics statement released yesterday. “Injury is integral part of Dr Al Kuwari added in the heavyweight in high jump. All Cup playoff event in Boston, the in 2016 and a bronze at the “Of course my target next sport. We believe in fate but statement. Qatari fans love and support Quicken Loans National that had London Games in 2012. year is to participate in the IAAF hope that Barshim will recover “Despite this severe injury him,” he added. been run by the Tiger Woods “I’m not anxious. I received 2019 World Championships to quickly and we ask God to help - which will prevent him to Barshim was a hot Foundation in the Washington, positive news from my doctors be held in Doha,” the Olympic him to come back to active com- compete again this season - we favourite to cling the gold DC area, and a year off for the and the most important thing for champion added. petitions soon,” Dr Al Kawari are confident that he will medal at the Asian Games next Houston Open and Greenbrier. me is to recover from injury and QAF President Dr Thani bin said. recover and come back month but that opportunity is Houston and Greenbrier are be fit 100 percent so that I can Abdulrahman Al Kuwari wished “Mutaz is of a strong char- stronger,” the QAF President gone now with the Qatari star to return to the fall portion of the jump again,” Barshim was the high jumper a speedy acter. He is in high spirits and said. “Mutaz has achieved a lot set to begin his recovery schedule in 2019. The TPC quoted as saying in the QAF recovery. very determined to come back,” for Qatar in athletics. He is a period. Boston, meanwhile, will rotate with a New York-area course every other year for the opening FedEx Cup play-off event. Behind the tighter schedule Italy to bid for 2026 Games was a desire for the tour to com- Shehzad faces ban plete its season at the Tour with Cortina, Milan or Turin Championship before the start AP of college football and the NFL. Key to the changes was the PGA on failed drug test MILAN: Italy will bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics despite Championship moving from having withdrawn two bids to host the Summer Games in Rome. August to May, and The Players AFP month, managing scores of 14 The Italian Olympic Committee said yesterday that Cortina, Championship returning to and 24. Milan, and Turin have put themselves forward and the bid city March. LAHORE: Maverick Pakistan But missed out on playing will be decided on at its next meeting, on Aug 1 or Sept 10. The wraparound season opener Ahmed Shehzad for the tri-series Twenty20 in An evaluation committee of 11 people, including the pres- starts Oct 4-7 with the Safeway (pictured) failed a drug test Zimbabwe which ended Sunday. ident of the Italian ski federation and a CONI vice president, Open in Napa, California, one conducted during a domestic Pakistan’s cricketers have a will carry out feasibility studies and draw up a report for the week after the Ryder Cup in tournament in April, the coun- history of failing tests for per- board. France. The Mexico Champi- try’s cricket authorities formance enhancing drugs. Two years ago, Italy was forced to suspend Rome’s bid for onship will move to the end of confirmed yesterday, and could Pace bowlers Shoaib Akhtar the 2024 Olympics because of the staunch opposition of the the West Coast Swing, giving face a ban of up to four years. and Mohammad Asif were both city’s mayor. Florida four straight tourna- The offence is the latest in a caught using banned substances It was the second time in four years a Rome bid was with- ments in March. long litany of Pakistani players in 2006 but later reprieved after drawn or suspended. In 2012, then-premier Mario Monti The PGA Championship will charged with doping, and is a a tribunal set aside their drug scrapped the city’s bid for the 2020 Olympics because of financial be May 16-19 at Bethpage Black severe blow to the 26-year-old’s tests. concerns. on Long Island, splitting part of stuttering career. Shehzad lost his Test place Later rule changes led to a the Texas swing - the AT&T The Pakistan Cricket Board following Pakistan’s tour to the two-year ban for left-arm Byron Nelson in Dallas will be will issue a formal charge sheet West Indies in mid-2017 and has spinner Raza Hasan, who failed the week before the PGA, and the “later today” it said in a release, not played a one day interna- a doping test in 2015. Charles Schwab Challenge at confirming reports in recent tional since last October. Two other Pakistan Willemse speaks Colonial will be the week after days that Shehzad had tested He was part of Pakistan’s spinners, Yasir Shah and Abdur the PGA. positive for a banned Twenty20 squad for the team’s Rehman, have also received The RBC Canadian Open substance. two international matches last temporary bans in recent years. out over ‘racist’ moves a week before the US Open, held next year at Pebble Beach. spat on live TV The tour really gets busy at the British Open, set for next year Root will be spurred on at Royal Portrush in Northern AFP Ireland. Top players then go straight to Tennessee for the by T20 axe: Farbrace JOHANNESBURG: Former South African winger Ashwin FedEx Cup Invitational, a World Willemse who stormed off a live TV show alleging he was a Golf Championship in Memphis victim of racism from fellow pundits said yesterday he was that replaces the event held at REUTERS and back your players taking his complaint to the country’s human rights commission. Firestone in Ohio. publicly.” The black former international player spoke out for the first The three play-off events are LONDON: Joe Root’s (pictured) Despite Root’s recent time since the spat in March when he walked out of a post- The Northern Trust at Liberty exclusion from the Twenty20 struggles, Farbrace is confident match discussion with two white ex-Springboks, Nick Mallett National in New Jersey; the BMW series decider against India on the versatile batsman still has a and Naas Botha, who were also game analysts. Championship at Medinah Sunday will fuel the England major role to play in England’s “I will be allowed to engage at that appropriate forum and outside Chicago; and the Tour Test captain’s desire to improve red and whit-ball squads. hopefully in that process restore my dignity,” Willemse told 702 Championship, which will be going into this week’s opening “I still think that if England talk radio, referring the human rights commission, a statutary Aug. 22-25 at East Lake in one-day international between are to be successful in T20 body set up after the end of apartheid. “Let them tell us whether Atlanta. Two tournaments on the the sides, interim head coach cricket over the next couple of or not Ashwin you are legitimate in the pain which you are schedule no longer have title Paul Farbrace has said. years, Joe Root will play a big feeling or not,” he said. sponsors listed with their names Root, a staple of the England part in that. He’s our best player, An inquiry by the SuperSport channel found that Botha and - the Mayakoba Classic (previ- batting line-up across all a fantastic player in all forms of Mallett’s conduct in an off-air conversation and in the live ously OHL) in Mexico and Reno- formats in recent years, came the game,” Farbrace added. broadcast was not racist, but Willemse remained adamant about Tahoe in Nevada, which previ- under pressure after some “You need people who can his claim. ously had been called the Bar- sub-par performances in his disappointed to be left out... but manipulate the strike, who can “I was clear to them (SuperSport) that I believed this incident racuda Championship. previous three T20 outings we all know Joe very well -- he’ll play spin bowling well and can was rooted in racism,” he said. Black players were barred from Still to be determined is against Australia and India. be spurred on by that and he’ll keep you in tight games, that’s South Africa’s national squad under apartheid and the majority whether the PGA Tour will The poor run led to the do all he can to make sure he’s a skill Joe has and he has the of the current side is white despite 90 percent of the population change the structure for the 27-year-old’s omission in favour ready come Thursday’s game at ability to hit boundaries. being non-white. When he walked out of the studio, Willemse FedEx Cup, and how this new of returning all-rounder Ben Trent Bridge.” “He might not have the raw said he refused to be patronised by two men who played for schedule will work in 2020 when Stokes, but the change did little Farbrace is certain that Root power of a Stokes or a (Jonny) their country in the apartheid era. the Olympics are in Japan from to help England as the hosts fell will play in the opener of the Bairstow, but strong cricket July 24 to Aug 9. The Ryder Cup to defeat at Bristol. three-match series against India shots, even in 20-over cricket, Super Rugby Fixtures in 2020 will be Sept 25-27 at “Every player goes through but the interim boss has made will get you your reward.” Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. a period where you either find that assertion previously. Root was England’s top Fixtures for this week Friday, July 13 fixtures (GMT): The 46 events include four it tough or you’re left out the “I know I said 10 days ago scorer with 249 runs in six Chiefs vs Hurricanes (06:35) Reds vs Sunwolves (08:45) tournaments held opposite side,” Farbrace told reporters. that he wouldn’t get left out,” matches at the 2016 World Saturday, July 14 fixtures (GMT) World Golf Championships, and “We all know that (Joe’s) Farbrace said. “The key is when Twenty20 in India, leading the Highlanders vs Rebels (04:15) Crusaders vs Blues (06:35) one event opposite the British response will be to work harder, you have players in your side way for his side with 54 runs in Waratahs vs Brumbies (08:45) Lions vs Bulls (12:05) Open. That leaves 11 weeks when try harder and score more runs. under pressure, the honest a four-wicket loss to West Indies Sharks vs Jaguares (14:15) the PGA Tour does not have an “I’m sure he was bitterly answer for me is you support in the final. official event. WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 SPORT 23 Cycling: Serena reaches 11th Wimbledon Gaviria semi-final; Kerber advances claims 2nd AFP Tour win US player Serena LONDON: Serena Williams Williams celebrates survived a major scare before after winning against on Stage 4 sealing her 11th Wimbledon Italy’s Camila Giorgi AP semi-final appearance, while during their quarter- Angelique Kerber remains the final match on the seven-time champion’s main eighth day of the SARZEAU: Colombia’s Fernando title rival after the German joined 2018 Wimbledon Gaviria took his second win in her in the last four yesterday. Championships in four stages at the Tour de France Williams was in danger of a southwest London yesterday, while Olympic stunning quarter-final exit after yesterday. Williams champion Greg Van Avermaet world number 52 Camila Giorgi won the match 3-6, kept the yellow leader’s jersey. became the first player in this 6-3, 6-4. Gaviria won Stage 4 after year’s tournament to take a set edging world champion Peter off the former world number Sagan in a sprint finish to the flat one. 195-kilometer (121-mile) leg from But Serena bludgeoned her RESULTS: La Baule to Sarzeau that started way out of trouble, winning 3-6, WOMEN - QUARTER-FINALS and finished on the Atlantic coast. 6-3, 6-4 to stay on course for an Jelena Ostapenko (LAT x12) bt The 23-year-old Gaviria had eighth All England Club triumph. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 7-5, 6-4 already won Stage 1 - when he It was Serena’s 100th career Angelique Kerber (GER x11) bt also edged Sagan - on his Tour main draw victory on grass. Daria Kasatkina (RUS x14) 6-3, 7-5 debut for his Quick-Step team. The 36-year-old will play Defending champion Chris Julia Goerges (GER x13) bt German 13th seed Julia Goerges Froome of Sky, who remained 55 Kiki Bertens (NED x20) 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 tomorrow for a place in Satur- seconds back due to his fall in day’s final. Serena Williams (USA x25) bt Stage 1, finished safely in the pack “I knew after the first set, ‘all Camila Giorgi (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 with leader Van Avermaet. right, let’s go three sets’. I’ll just After Quick-Step hunted keep fighting,” Williams said. down the breakaway to set up “This is only my fourth tour- Gaviria, he powered his way nament back so I don’t feel Her path to the title has been defeats at the All England Club Serena in the 2016 Wimbledon said after she finally sealed the down the final meters of the four- pressure, I don’t feel I have to wide open from early in the tour- before this year. It also took her final -- as the highest ranked win on her seventh match point. kilometer finish - the longest win this. I still have a long way nament as Garbine Muguruza, until her 42nd Grand Slam player left. Kerber takes on Ostapenko is the first Latvian straightaway to conclude a leg on to go to be where I was.” Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, appearance to finally get through Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko in the woman to reach a Wimbledon this Tour. Serena is the first woman to Petra Kvitova, Venus Williams, to the last four at a major. other semi-final. semi-final as the former French Gaviria surged across the line reach a Grand Slam semi-final Caroline Wozniacki and Sloane “It is a great opportunity to The 30-year-old clinched Open champion beat Dominika just inches ahead of the hard- without facing a top 40 ranked Stephens have all been play Serena here where she has her third appearance in the Cibulkova 7-5, 6-4. charging Sagan, who was trying opponent since 2013. eliminated. won so many times and is a great Wimbledon semi-finals with a Just four years ago, to add to his Stage 2 win, and Williams is into the 35th Williams, a 23-time major champion. I think everyone here 6-3, 7-5 win over Russian 14th Ostapenko was winning the Andre Greipel in a close third. Grand Slam semi-final of her winner, is hoping to join a select has a great chance so you have seed Daria Kasatkina junior Wimbledon title and now Riders were enjoying a calm career and her first since group of women who have won to take it,” Goerges said. Kerber, who won the Aus- the youngest player left in the sunny afternoon in the cycling winning last year’s Australian Grand Slams after becoming With Kerber also in the last tralian and US Open titles in women’s singles is only one win hotbed of northwest Brittany until Open. mothers. four, it is the first time two 2016, will be playing in the away from the final. a pileup near the front of the Having shaken off the rust Goerges advanced to the German woman have made the seventh Grand Slam semi-final Ostapenko hasn’t dropped a peloton with just over 5K left that following her lengthy lay-off Wimbledon semi-finals for the semi-finals of a Grand Slam of her career. set in her first five matches and sent several riders to the tarmac. after the birth of her daughter first time with a 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 win since Steffi Graf and Anke Huber “We both played on a really the 12th seed said: “I’m just Last year’s runner-up Rigoberto Olympia in September, Williams against Dutch 20th seed Kiki at the 1993 French Open. high level. I was just trying to enjoying being here. I’m fighting Uran (EF Education First-Drapac) is on the verge of a 10th Wim- Bertens. Goerges had suffered The carnage at the top leaves stay focused on my serve. It’s until the end and I’m gaining and Katusha leader Ilnur Zakarin bledon final appearance. five successive opening round 11th seed Kerber -- beaten by great to be in the semis,” Kerber more confidence.” were slowed down by the accident. Van Avermaet, the 2016 Olympic road race champion, took the overall lead when his Djokovic wins Centre Court battle BMC team won Monday’s team time trial. A four-man breakaway of Dimitri Claeys and Anthony Perez as Federer pushed to Court No.1 (Cofidis), Guillaume Van Keirs- bulck (Wanty) and Jerome Cousin (Direct Energie) opened up a gap AFP Court One in 2015 for his of over seven minutes early on, quarter-final win over but they were slowly reeled in LONDON: Novak Djokovic Gilles Simon, will be and swallowed by the Quick-Step (pictured) won his battle to be playing in his 16th Wim- led pack with 2 kilometers to go. promoted to Centre Court billing bledon quarter-final and Fans cheered and waved the for today’s quarter-finals, forcing 53rd at all Grand Slams. black-and-white striped Breton eight-time champion Roger His opponent today is flag on the roadside as the peloton Federer off the sport’s most eighth-seeded Anderson, rolled through the country famous arena for the first time the first South African villages. in three years. since Wayne Ferreira in The Tour will spend three Three-time champion 1994 to get to the last eight. more days in northeastern Djokovic will open the Centre Top seed Federer, 36, Brittany. Next up is Stage 5, a hilly Court programme against Kei has now won 32 consec- Switzerland’s 204.5-kilometer leg from Lorient Nishikori followed by two-time utive sets at Wimbledon, Roger Federer to Quimper. winner and world number one just two behind his record practices at the Cycling’s most prestigious Rafael Nadal facing Juan Martin run from the third round training courts race will then work its way east del Potro. in 2005 to his title triumph on the eighth before hitting the feared cobble- Defending champion in 2006. day of the 2018 stones of Stage 9 and then Federer, who has played all of He also holds a 4-0 Wimbledon heading south and into the his Wimbledon matches since career lead over 2017 US Championships mountains. the 2015 semi-finals on Centre Open runner-up Anderson yesterday. Froome, who was cleared of Court, will instead open pro- fading light with the burden of who has yet to take a set doping allegations last week, is ceedings on Court One against having to return the following off the Swiss. trying to join the select group of Kevin Anderson. day. Federer hasn’t dropped serve Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, The other last-eight tie, He managed to finish off at Wimbledon so far but is wary Bernard Hinault and Miguel between Milos Raonic and John Russia’s Karen Khachanov in of the challenge posed by Indurain as the only riders to win Isner, finishes off the Court One straight sets in the gathering Anderson whose big serving style the Tour five times. schedule. gloom on Monday. is flourishing on courts cooked The three-week Tour ends Djokovic has featured just Twelve months ago, his by last week’s heatwave. July 29 in Paris. once on Centre Court -- against last-16 match with Adrian Man- “It’s definitely helped a British home favourite Kyle narino, also scheduled for Court certain style of player, maybe the Edmund in the last 32 -- in the One, was cancelled despite big servers,” said 20-time major opening four rounds. Centre Court with its retractable winner Federer. By contrast, Federer and roof being available. Nadal has made the quarter- Nadal have played exclusively Djokovic had to play that finals for the first time since fin- on the 15,000-seater Centre fourth round match on the ishing runner-up to Djokovic in Court. Tuesday and quarter-final on the 2011. Djokovic had told reporters Wednesday, when he was forced The world number one, that he had been hopeful of to retire against Tomas Berdych chasing an 18th major, will now anticipating a Sunday final last-eight debut at 33. And it playing his quarter-final match with an elbow injury. take on Del Potro boasting a 10-5 between Federer and Nadal, 10 won’t be pretty. on Centre Court before telling Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and career lead. years after their 2008 epic Isner, 33, has not been Serbian media that he “deserved” 2015 champion, will be favourite Del Potro is in his first championship showdown widely broken in 74 service games while the honour and intended to to see off Nishikori for a 14th quarter-final at the tournament regarded as the greatest final Raonic has dropped serve just lobby the All England Club. time in 16 meetings. since 2013 when he reached the ever played. three times in 72 games. Djokovic has played twice on Nishikori is playing in his semi-final. “Facing Roger again will be Isner has unleashed a tour- Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet, the 11,000-capacity Court One first Wimbledon quarter-final. Nadal demolished the giant something fantastic,” said Nadal. nament-leading 135 aces while wearing the overall leader’s yellow this year but was shunted off to He is also the first Japanese Argentine for the loss of just “But if you ask me if I prefer Canadian 13th seed Raonic is in the 4,000-seater Court Two for man to reach the quarter-finals seven games in the French Open another one, I say yes. It’s about second place, having fired 117. jersey, celebrates on the podium his second round clash against since Shuzo Matsuoka in 1995. semi-finals last month. being smart, no?” Raonic has the fastest serve after the fourth stage of the 105th Horacio Zeballos. “It’s always like a big war for He has also won both their Today’s other quarter-final of this year’s Wimbledon at 147 edition of the Tour de France. The Three times he has been me,” said Nishikori on facing meetings on grass, including at sees 2016 runner-up Raonic miles (236.5 kilometres) per fourth stage was held between scheduled last on court, putting Djokovic. Wimbledon in 2011. tackle US ninth seed Isner, hour, while Isner is just behind La Baule and Sarzeau, western him at risk of falling victim to Federer, who last went to Many are already making his Wimbledon on 144mph (231.7kph). France, yesterday. WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018 SPORT 24

Southgate’s England coach in no mood waistcoats just the right ﬁt for to change winning formula London museum AFP

REUTERS relatively stress-free 2-0 win LONDON: England manager over Sweden in the last eight, Gareth Southgate’s waistcoats REPINO: England coach Gareth Croatia had to come through a have become such a hit at the Southgate says he is not about gruelling extra time against World Cup that the Museum of to change his team’s approach To be able to keep hosts Russia and then a penalty London has announced plans to for today’s World Cup semi-final doing what we have shootout. acquire one for its fashion against Croatia, saying he wants been doing, play But Southgate thinks talk of collection. the “same again” from his with real defensive that handing a physical Marks and Spencer, official young side. discipline, good advantage to England is being tailors to the England team, Although Croatia are the overplayed. declared last Saturday #Nation- most difficult opponent England organisation, tactical “We experienced the extra alWaistcoatDay in honour of will have faced in the tour- awareness and then time and penalties (against Southgate and his team. nament, Southgate’s words with the ball play Colombia) and we know The Sun newspaper has suggest he will continue with with the freedom the physical and emo- urged fans to wear one on his attacking formation and and expression that tional consequence of “Waistcoat Wednesday” for the personnel. we have and the that,” he said. semi-final clash against Croatia Asked what he would be “But any team in a in Moscow. demanding from his players, the same patterns and World Cup semi-final Museum bosses said the England coach told ITV: “To be movements that we is going to find the waistcoats were helping to bring able to keep doing what we have shown: Gareth energy and going to the three-piece suit back into have been doing, play with real Southgate find the motivation. So fashion. defensive discipline, good we won’t win the “The Museum of London organisation, tactical awareness game just because have... announced their plans to and then with the ball play with then you will get picked through Croatia had half an acquire one of Gareth South- the freedom and expression and we have got to be con- hour more football gate’s suits as part of their per- that we have and the same pat- scious of that,” he said. than us three days ago, manent collection,” it said in a terns and movements that we The contribution of Raheem we’ve got to win because statement. have shown.” Sterling remains a polarising we play better.” “Southgate’s, now iconic, While Croatia possess debate in England with the In keeping with his waistcoats, have helped bring the arguably the best central mid- Manchester City player without even-handed and calm style, three-piece suit back into field pairing in the tournament a goal for his country since Southgate said his team fashion -- a trend that was in the shape of Real Madrid’s October, 2015 but Southgate were neither complacent nor started in 1666 by none other Luka Modric and Barcelona’s says the forward’s contribution too pumped up for today’s than King Charles II, who was Ivan Rakitic, Southgate’s lan- in Russia has been essential. clash at the Luzhniki spotted in London by (famous guage does not indicate he is “I think Raheem has been Stadium, England’s first diarist) Samuel Pepys in what is about to bring in Eric Dier as fundamental to the way that we World Cup semi-final since now known as the first an additional defensive mid- have played - his movement, 1990. waistcoat.” fielder alongside Jordan the positions he takes up, his “None of us are sat- Beatrice Behlen, Museum of Henderson. pressing of the ball, his work- isfied and none of us are London senior fashion curator, But he is certainly well rate for the team, the winning particularly hyped-up. It is praised Southgate for reviving aware of the threat that Croatia of free kicks and corners, his a game that is very evenly the fashion of wearing pose in the centre of the field. speed to stretch teams. matched, we know what we England coach Gareth Southgate (right) and Jordan waistcoats. “They of course have a very “He was a constant threat want to do and we have to Henderson on the pitch after the press conference “Waistcoats were born in strong midfield so, (it is about) to Sweden, of course he hasn’t focus on our preparation and in Moscow, yesterday. London in 1666, promoted by denying them space and making scored the goals he would have make sure that we control the King Charles II,” she said. sure awareness of distances liked to have scored but for controllables as we have “The new fashion soon and coverage of the pitch is myself and the players he has attempted to do for every spread and for at least 300 years correct and (knowing) the right been a crucial part of the way game,” the manager said. a three-piece suit formed a key moments to press. The higher that we have been playing,” he “We are just going to stick part of every man’s wardrobe. the level of opponent, if you said. with what we have been doing “Now Watford-born Gareth press in a disorganised fashion, While England enjoyed a all the way through”. Southgate is reviving that London tradition and bringing waistcoats home to the forefront of fashion.” Home grief for Djokovic FIFA says rescued for backing Croatia Thai boys won’t AFP the Russians rather than their neigh- attend ﬁnal bours from the former Yugoslavia. BELGRADE: Serbian tennis star Djukanovic, on holiday in AFP: Novak Djokovic (pictured) has come Greece, posted a video to social under fire for voicing support for media in which he indicated that MOSCOW: Football’s governing neighbours Croatia at the World Cup, “those who say ‘Nole’ (Djokovic) has body FIFA welcomed the rescue with one centre right lawmaker called for support for Croatia make of 12 Thai boys from a cave but dubbing his stance “idiotic”. me mad” and called the star an said they were too weak to “Only idiots can support Croatia. “idiot” for his stance. attend Sunday’s World Cup final Aren’t you ashamed Novak?”, “I repeat that all those who sup- in Moscow. tweeted Vladimir Djukanovic of ported Croatia against Russia are Elite foreign divers and Thai Croatia’s Domagoj Vida (left), Luka Modric (centre) and Tin Jedvaj during training President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling psychopaths and mad, fit for being Navy SEALs saved the final batch in Moscow on Monday. Serbian Progressive Party. locked up in an asylum. of four boys on Tuesday after an “I am backing Croatia... I know “Djokovic is a national hero and 18-day ordeal that captivated the who I would like to lift the trophy,” I thank him -- but support Croatia, world. ‘It’s a perfect storm’ for Croats Serbian media quoted Djokovic as how can he not be ashamed? So FIFA boss Gianni Infantino sayingsaying fromfrom Wimbledon. many Serbs from KrajinaKrajina (a regionregion had invited the boys’ Wild Boars SeveralSeveral wweekseeks beforebefore in CroatiaCroatia wherewhere SerbsSerbs werewere onceonce football team to the final “as our after years of heartbreak: Bilic thethe World CupCup the majority)majority) backed him and yet guests” last week. startedstarted DjokovicDjokovic hehe supports the countrycountry who But FIFA said it had been AFP Bilic, who is presently out of work postedposted picturespictures drove them out...” said informed “that due to medical having been sacked by Premier League of hhimselfimself wiwithth Djukanovic.Djukanovic. reasons, the boys will not be in LONDON: World Cup glory beckons for side West Ham last season, experienced CroatianC r oati a n PresidentPresident Vucic,Vucic, mean-mean- a position to travel to Moscow”. Croatian stars such as Luka Modric after some of the highs and the lows with the plplayersayers while,while, explainedexplained tthathat “I “FIFA’s priority remains the several traumatic experiences at major Croatian players such as being seconds includingincluding midmid-- backed Russia as that is mymy health of everyone involved in tournaments, says their former coach away from the Euro 2008 semi-finals fieldfield stars LukaLuka right.right. SerSerbiabia is a ddemo-emo- the operation and we will look Slaven Bilic. only for Turkey to level and progress on ModricModric andand craticcratic society andand eve-eve- into finding a new opportunity The charismatic 49-year-old -- who penalties. IvanIvan RRakiticakitic to ryoneryone has the rightright to to invite the boys to a FIFA event is in Russia as a TV pundit for English The Croats were to suffer a similar hishis Instagram supportsupport whoeverwhoever hehe to share with them a moment of broadcaster ITV -- told The Daily Mail late reverse when eventual champions account.account. wants.”wants.” communion and celebration,” a Modric and fellow superstar Ivan Rakitic Portugal defeated them in extra-time of When the Croatia’sCroatia’s rewardreward for spokesman said. will pose problems for England in their the Euro 2016 Last 16 clash. CroatiansCroatians ffacedaced endinendingg Russian hopes is a The Thai footballers, aged World Cup semi-final today they have “Those memories are painful and the offoff aagainstgainst hosts semi-finalsemi-final in Moscow from 11 to 16, had been stuck not had to encounter thus far. players realise this is their time,” said RussiaRussia inin theirtheir against England.England. deep underground after setting “Luka and Rakitic are the best mid- Bilic. quarter-finalquarter-final manymany off to explore the cave with their field pair in the World Cup,” said Bilic. “It’s a perfect storm. They are in the SerbsSerbs wwhoho gatgatheredhered to 25-year-old coach after training “But don’t underestimate the rest of better half of the draw and we have a watch in cafes inin on June 23. the team either. For me, Dejan Lovren proper team, full of quality, full of central BelgradeBelgrade FIFA also expressed condo- and Domagoj Vida have been fantastic experience. were lences to the family of a Thai centre backs, among the best in the “They play for big clubs like Bar- backingbacking Navy SEAL who died after World Cup. England will be a different celona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan. And running out of oxygen during the opponent to Denmark, Russia or even they have this incredible spirit, like rescue operation on Friday. Argentina.” England have.”