TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Messi’s strike lights up Maracana

FAN FERVOR Argentina sink battling Bosnia 2-1

RIO DE JANEIRO: Argentina’s forward and captain (center) shoots the ball during a Group F football match between Argentina and Bosnia- Hercegovina at the Maracana Stadium on June 15, 2014. — AFP RIO DE JANEIRO: Lionel Messi finally made his mark ference. “In the first one I think we controlled the Senad Lulic and Edin Dzeko going close in the first on the World Cup and lit up the Maracana with his Bosnians well, but beyond that, we didn’t create the half. Substitute Ibisevic scored Bosnia’s first World first goal in the finals for eight years as Argentina kind of depth that we managed in the second half. Cup goal when he shot through Sergio Romero’s were forced to battle for a 2-1 win over debutants Obviously we need to improve.” legs, but it was too little too late. Bosnia were far Bosnia in their opening Group F match on Sunday. from outplayed, however, and capitalised on a cau- Messi, four-times world player of the year and Unwanted record tious safety-first approach from Sabella in the first Argentina’s best footballer since Diego Maradona The match began dramatically when Kolasinac half. Playing with five at the back against lone striker graced the 1986 tournament, put his side 2-0 ahead put through his own net after two minutes eight sec- Dzeko and with Sergio Aguero and Messi getting lim- on a night when the stadium was turned into little onds, beating the previous unwanted record set by ited service in attack, Bosnia dealt with their more Buenos Aires by tens of thousands of his country- Paraguay’s Carlos Gamarra against England in 2006 illustrious opponents with relative ease. men. Although they took the lead in the third minute by 38 seconds. He was in the wrong place when a Muhamed Besic did a good policing job on Messi when Sead Kolasinac netted the fastest own goal in Messi free kick, headed on by Marcos Rojo, hit him who was largely anonymous in the first half. Sabella World Cup history, Argentina looked unconvincing and went in. Bosnia, naturally shaken after making changed his formation at halftime, introducing until Messi struck with a dazzling run and sweet left- such a bad start to their first ever match in the finals, Fernando Gago in midfield and Higuain in attack but foot shot that went in off the post in the 65th minute did not dwell on their misfortune for long. After sur- in the end it was Messi’s magic, as so often is the after a one-two with substitute Gonzalo Higuain. viving a nervy spell, they began to look the better case, that made the difference. “The objective was to It was Messi’s first goal in the finals since scoring side against a subdued Argentina team who were in play as well as we can against Argentina, who are the in Argentina’s 6-0 win over Serbia & Montenegro danger of losing their record of winning their open- favorites to win the World Cup, and I think we played almost eight years ago to the day. Even then they ing match in their last five World Cups. a good match,” Bosnia coach Safet Susic said. “We could not afford to relax as substitute Vedad Ibisevic Messi, whose tepid displays in the last World Cup played well in both halves and it was only because of scored in the 85th minute for Bosnia to set up a in South Africa when he failed to score have been the psychological pressure that we looked as if we thrilling finale. “They were two different halves,” exhaustively documented, made little impression had run out of steam a little bit in the closing Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella told a news con- until his goal and Bosnia had their chances with both stages.”— Reuters Mexico-Brazil clash stirs bad memories

FORTALEZA: Brazil striker Hulk insists revenge is not on the agenda as the World Cup hosts bid to all but secure their place in the last 16 against rivals Mexico today. Mexico shattered Brazil’s dream of winning the only major prize missing from their honors list two years ago, when they stunned the South Americans 2- 1 to claim the Olympic gold medal in London. But Hulk insists there is no question of Brazil looking to settle a score as they face the Mexicans at Fortaleza’s Castelao Stadium. It is the same venue where they met in the group stage of the Confederations Cup last year when Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side claimed a 2-0 victory. That success means a measure of revenge has already been exacted, and forward Hulk insisted that Brazil will only have one thing on their minds come kick-off today. “In the Confederations Cup we tried to think only about winning the game and it will be the same this time. If we think about revenge it could cause us problems,” said the powerful forward, who scored in the Olympic final clash. Nevertheless, the Olympic defeat left its mark on him, Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Oscar and Neymar, the five members of Brazil’s 2014 squad who featured at Wembley. PORTO ALEGRE: The recording of the goal line technology is shown on a screen after Honduras’ goal- “Of course I was very sad. It is a medal that Brazil keeper Noel Valladares (bottom left) scored an own goal during the group E World Cup soccer match have never won and we lost the final. Mexico are a very between France and Honduras on Sunday, June 15, 2014. — AP good team. I just hope the Selecao, in the next Olympics (in Rio de Janeiro), can win gold,” said Oscar, one of the standout performers in Brazil’s opening 3-1 Goalline technology, French win against Croatia in Sao Paulo on Thursday. Of today’s encounter, the Chelsea player added: “It will victory a win-win for soccer certainly be as difficult as last year. In the World Cup there is an extra desire to win and I hope we can do so PORTO ALEGRE: Justice was done on all fronts in against Germany at the World Cup two years earlier as again this time. Mexico are a very different side to Croatia. They play the ball out from the back well and Porto Alegre on Sunday as goalline technology it convinced him of the need for goalline technology. are very good on the counter-attack.” passed its first World Cup test with flying colors and The current Mexico side, featuring eight members French free-flowing football conquered the heavy- Cinderellas or ugly sisters? of the gold medal-winning 2012 team, also started handed tactics of Honduras. With France leading 1-0 While technology played its part in France’s win, their Group A campaign in positive fashion, beating in Group E thanks to Karim Benzema’s penalty just ‘Les Bleus’ fully deserved the three points. Their pace, Cameroon 1-0 in Natal on Friday. Oribe Peralta scored before halftime, the GoalControl system took centre direct running and inventiveness was in stark con- the only goal in that game, although Brazil are quite stage three minutes into the second half. trast to the aggressive, confrontational approach of familiar with his threat - he netted a brace in the Benzema’s shot cannoned off a post, came back the Central Americans. Coach Luis Fernando Suarez Olympic final as well. The hosts are more concerned by across the face of goal before Honduran goalkeeper had called his side the “Cinderellas” of the World Cup Mexico’s left wing-back Miguel Layun, the Club Noel Valladares inadvertently nudged the ball but on Sunday it appeared the ‘ugly sisters’ had America player who was a constant danger against towards his own net. To the naked eye it was almost showed up as Honduras sought to prevent France Cameroon and who could cause problems for the right impossible to tell if it had crossed the line. Adding to from getting into a rhythm. Wilson Palacios became side of the Brazil defence, where Dani Alves was fre- the confusion Benzema wheeled away in delight, the second player at this tournament to receive a red quently caught out against Croatia. while Valladares played on trying to convince card after he barged into French midfielder Paul Brazilian referee Sandro Ricci he had gathered the Pogba with a reckless challenge seconds before the Pressure on referee ball in time. break. Of greatest concern to Mexico, however, would appear to be the potential of Turkish referee Cuneyt But there was no fooling GoalControl. The system, Honduras lived up to their reputation for playing Cakir to be swayed by the pressure from the passion- which features 14 high-speed cameras located with an intense, bruising style, and while France ate home fans, after seeing the Selecao benefit from a around the pitch, seven focusing on each goal- allowed themselves to be drawn into a physical bat- controversial penalty award against Croatia. “It is not mouth, confirmed to Ricci that the ball had crossed tle in the first half they were also responsible for the something you can compete against. You have to the line and he blew for a goal to put France 2-0 game’s brightest moments. ‘Les Bleus’ hit the wood- accept things and fight to try and prevent them from ahead. Benzema went on to crack home another for work three times and dominated possession, with happening,” said Mexico captain Rafael Marquez, a vet- France, giving the 1998 World Cup winners a com- Benzema and fellow frontman Antoine Griezmann eran of four World Cups. Mexico must also attempt to fortable 3-0 victory, but had the technology not particularly impressive. While there is a long way to improve on a miserable record against Brazil in World been available it is unlikely the referee would have go before France can exorcise the ghosts of their Cups-in three previous meetings, El Tri have been beat- been able to award the goal. woeful 2010 campaign, when the players mutinied en every time and have never scored a goal, although In 2012, FIFA President said it was “a against coach Raymond Domenech and returned the last clash came in Chile in 1962. —AFP historic day for international football” when England home in disgrace, it was a positive first step in repair- midfielder ‘scored’ his “ghost goal” ing their tarnished reputation. — Reuters