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FOOTBALL | Page 4 RRUGBY|UGBY Page 9 Chile down Confi dent To Advertise here Colombia England target Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 to reach whitewash of Copa fi nal Wallabies Friday, June 24, 2016 TENNIS Ramadan 19, 1437 AH Federer reaches GULF TIMES crossroads at Wimbledon SPORT Page 5 CRICKET Ex-captain Kumble named India coach for one year ‘Anil Kumble is now transforming himself from being a great on the cricketing field to becoming a great coach’ AFP New Delhi ormer Test captain Anil Kum- ble was yesterday named the new head coach of India for a one-year period, taking over Fthe reins of one of the most high-pro- fi le sides in world cricket. The highest Indian Test wicket-tak- er, Kumble, 45, is known for his work ethic and never-say-die attitude — at- tributes that tipped the scale in his fa- vour during a tough selection process. The Indian team, ranked number two in Tests, enjoys the adulation of mil- lions of cricket crazy fans ensuring high TV viewership that in turn translates into lucrative profi ts for the board. “After doing discussions with vari- ous stakeholders we have selected Anil Kumble for a period of one year,” Board Board of Control for Cricket in India president Anurag Thakur (left) speaks during a of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) press conference in Dharamsala yesterday. (AFP) president Anurag Thakur told reporters in the northern town of Dharamsala. coach of India. The expectations from England’s Jim Laker to have taken all 10 The spin great was chosen from a list him will be huge,” popular cricket com- in a Test innings. of 57 applicants received by the BCCI mentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted. One of the most enduring memories which was later pruned and placed in Kumble has previously served as the of the leg-spinner dates to the Antigua front of an advisory panel. president of his state association in Test in 2002 when he bowled despite a Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar, from being (a) great on the cricketing Fletcher’s exit in 2015, was also in the “It’s a huge responsibility, I have al- Karnataka and headed BCCI’s technical broken jaw to help the Indian team sal- Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman were fi eld to becoming the great coach that frame for the coach’s role. ways put my hand up for challenges and committee. He is currently the chair- vage a draw against the West Indies. among the panel members involved in we expect him to be.” The month-long process for select- I am ready to take up this role,” he added. man of the International Cricket Coun- The gutsy cricketer, who became the selecting Kumble as coach. Kumble did not fulfi l the BCCI’s ing the coach culminated during the Kumble has a tough road ahead as In- cil (ICC) cricket committee. fourth Indian to be inducted into the “This is the fi rst time we have gone stated criteria of “having coached an penultimate day of an ongoing BCCI dia look to a gruelling season of cricket, “Jumbo”, as he was fondly called ICC Hall of Fame in 2015, even has a through an elaborate process... inter- international side”, yet he managed to conclave in Dharamsala. including hosting top sides like New during his playing days for his bowling Test century to his credit during his 18- views (were conducted) by cricketing sneak past many prominent Indian and Zealand, England and Australia. prowess, has mentored Indian Premier year illustrious career. legends,” BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke foreign candidates. ‘GREAT HONOUR’ His fi rst coaching assignment will League sides such as the Mumbai Indi- Kumble captained the India Test side said. Former team director Ravi Shastri, “It’s a great honour to be back again in be India’s upcoming tour of the West ans and Royal Challengers Bangalore. for just over a year after replacing Rahul Asked why Kumble was given only a who was performing coaching du- the Indian dressing room in a diff erent Indies in July where the team will play The leg-spinner bagged 619 Test Dravid in 2007. He led India in 14 Tests, one-year contract, Shirke replied: “Anil ties for the team under a stop-gap ar- role and in a diff erent capacity,” Kumble four Tests. wickets in 132 matches and is only the winning three, losing fi ve and drawing Kumble is now transforming himself rangement after Zimbabwean Duncan told reporters after his appointment. “Kumble is an outstanding choice as second bowler in cricket history after the remaining six. BOTTOMLINE Sweden bids adieu to ‘proud’ Ibrahimovic AFP nated but I think he can still do a lot of Nice, France things at club level.” Indeed Chelsea midfi elder Hazard could well be facing ‘Ibra’ in the Pre- weden bid farewell to Zlatan mier League next season as the Swede Ibrahimovic with noisy trib- is rumoured to be heading to Manches- utes but no goals and exited the ter United after parting company with European Championship fi nals Paris Saint-Germain following four Smeekly after a 1-0 defeat by Belgium. highly successful seasons. The brash giant of football ended Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, his 116-cap international career on Ibrahimovic thanked supporters who Wednesday with 62 often spectacular he said “made it possible for me to goals yet not a shot on target during achieve what I have achieved”. Sweden’s three matches at Euro 2016. “So wherever I go, wherever I come, Ibrahimovic brushed away the disap- I’ll always bring the Swedish fl ag with pointment of elimination at the group me and stand with it. So for me disap- stage and said he was proud of having pointment doesn’t exist, only pride, emerging from “the ghetto” to become and gratitude. I’m very thankful. So Sweden’s record goal scorer. thank you,” he said. “It’s heavy, it’s disappointing, but at The Swede has almost guaranteed the same time I enjoyed it,” he said. “This success wherever he played with league was my last game in the national team. I titles in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and have many fantastic memories, because France. However, the Champions League it’s a nice story because where I came has proved frustratingly out of reach. from, a little... what people call the ghet- Ibrahimovic made his international to, and I made that country my country.” debut against the Faroe Islands in Janu- Ibrahimovic, 34, was born to a Bosnian ary 2001, but he has been unable to fi re father and a Croatian mother in the tough Sweden beyond the quarter-fi nals of a Malmo neighbourhood of Rosengard and major tournament. had a diffi cult childhood. Sweden’s forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic The striker missed a penalty in a He will be dearly missed by Sweden acknowledges the spectators at the end of shootout defeat to the Dutch at Euro and many of their opponents as the Euro 2016 Group E match against Belgium 2004 with subsequent appearances at Zlatan portraits on yellow fl ags and in Nice, France, on Wednesday. (AFP) the European Championship ending at thousands of Swedish fans chanting the group stage. his name to the Pet Shop Boys song “Go He featured at just one World Cup, West” testifi ed. Euro fi nals but barely got a look-in in not a Zlatan as I don’t think in a small you fi nish your international career,” said Ibrahimovic as “a big man in football”. in 2006, and missed out on the last two Triumphant Belgian fans in the Nice France. country like Sweden you can fi nd Belgian coach Marc Wilmots. “He has “He did a lot of important things. Of global showpieces. stadium only slightly spoiled the occa- “I hoped for a better fi nish for him,” someone like that, he’s really unique.” done a lot of things for Sweden.” course he wanted to go further in this He famously said the 2014 fi nals in sion when they changed the words to said Sweden coach Erik Hamren, who “He is a big personality of football, I tournament but our objective today was Brazil would “not be worth watching” “Bye Bye Ibrahimovic”. admitted he was losing a rare talent. told him ‘bravo’ for your career. I was a ‘BIG MAN IN FOOTBALL’ to qualify and we did that,” Hazard said. after Sweden lost to Portugal in a two- Ibrahimovic scored at three previous “I hope we can fi nd another player, player myself so I know how it feels when Belgium captain Eden Hazard described “Unfortunately for him he was elimi- legged play-off . Gulf Times 2 Friday, June 24, 2016 EURO 2016 FOCUS SPOTLIGHT England hold Ireland can compete no fear for with France: Brady Iceland boss ‘I think we can go as far as we allow ourselves in this tournament’ Lagerback AFP our squad who haven’t played in Annecy-le-Vieux, France England. It’s one explanation of why Sweden did so well.” The clash in Nice has been oasting a personal six- hailed as David vs Goliath by game unbeaten record Magnus Ver Magnusson, the Ice- against England, Iceland land powerhouse who has four co-coach Lars Lager- times won the world’s strongest Bback insists his side won’t be man title. overawed by facing a selection Iceland have enjoyed huge of Premier League stars in their support across France with more Euro 2016 last 16 clash Monday. than 25,000 fans at some of their Lagerback enjoyed plenty of matches despite being the small- success against England in nine est nation ever to take part in a years as Sweden coach and be- Euro fi nals with a population of lieves a similar familiarity with just 330,000.