Sports43 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2015

Trajectories cross as Wales face hurting Dutch

LONDON: A rising power in European foot- they didn’t qualify. They’ve got some very Kanu also sidelined, Burnley’s Sam Vokes is resolved during a “positive chat” between ball meets a fading force this today as Wales good players we have to be aware of and in line to start up front if he can overcome a the pair. Having failed to qualify for the begin their Euro 2016 preparations against they’ll be out to prove a point that they’re groin complaint. European Championship for the first time a Netherlands team still reeling from their not the team everybody is saying they are.” since 1984, Holland face 10 months without failure to qualify. While Wales are looking Wales have lost just one of the 10 games Depay U-turn a competitive fixture before qualifying for forward to their first major tournament they have played since that encounter in Coleman’s opposite number Danny the 2018 World Cup begins next since the 1958 World Cup, the Netherlands Amsterdam, but the one defeat, away to Blind marked a break from the past when September. But for Wesley Sneijder, the will spend next summer kicking their heels Bosnia-Herzegovina last month, fell on the he named his squad by omitting 32-year- meeting with Wales brings with it an oppor- after missing out on a place in France just night that their qualification was confirmed. old Fenerbahce striker Robin van Persie, tunity for renewal. “It’s time to make a new 15 months on from a stunning third-place June’s 1-0 win over Belgium demon- whose own goal against the Czech Republic start,” the Galatasaray playmaker told public finish at last year’s World Cup in . strated their ability to compete with the condemned the Netherlands to a miserable broadcaster NOS. “We’re not going to beat When the teams last met, Holland winning sport’s heavyweights and Chris Coleman’s 3-2 defeat in their final qualifying match. Wales 10-0, but we have to ensure that we 2-0 in Amsterdam in June 2014, it was the side finished their qualifying campaign hav- Blind also omitted Memphis Depay from get a good result. Dutch who were using the match to tune ing conceded only four goals. But they will his provisional squad in light of the winger’s “It doesn’t help thinking ‘We’re the up for a major tournament, and Wales take on the Dutch in today’s friendly at the slow start to life at Manchester United fol- Dutch 11’ of old. That time has passed. defender Ben Davies is thrilled that the boot Cardiff City Stadium bereft of their two star lowing his transfer from PSV Eindhoven, Quality-wise, we’re not among the top is now on the other foot. players, as Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale only to perform a U-turn and bring the 21- teams in the world anymore, I would say for “We were a preparation game for them and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who year-old back into the fold. Blind, whose a few years now. “That’s why we have to last time and now it’s their turn,” the between them scored nine of their 11 goals side also face in Hannover on fight from the moment we walk onto the Tottenham Hotspur left-back said this week. in qualifying, have both been ruled out by Tuesday, had accused Depay of playing self- field and realise that achievement doesn’t “But it’s still a good test for us, even though injury. With Reading forward Hal Robson- ishly, but the winger said matters had been come naturally.” — AFP Cahill scores; canter past

CANBERRA: scored his 42nd international goal as Australia turned on the sparkle to fuel their World Cup qualifying hopes with a 3-0 win over Kyrgyzstan in yesterday. The Shanghai Shenhua- based Cahill scored the second goal for Australia just after half-time following a 40th-minute penalty by skipper and finished off by a 69th-minute own goal from defender Ildar Amirov. The Australians moved to within one point of inactive lead- ers Jordan in Group B and face in on Tuesday. The Socceroos turned on the razzle-daz- zle with their midfield of , and substitute dictating the play and setting up many scor- ing chances. “We had a game plan and the boys stuck to it and maybe it could have been a little bit more at the end, but we take the victory and the three points most impor- tantly,” Jedinak said. “Our plan was to keep them under pressure, stay on them, don’t sit back, stay on the front foot and we did that really, almost suffocated them.” Talisman Cahill went close early and struck the wood- work with a volley in the 15th minute. Kyrgyzstan’s Viktor Maier appealed to the referee for a penalty when Preston North End defender put his arm across his chest in a tussle for the ball, but it was turned down in their only major scoring chance of the first half. missed an open goal after goalkeeper Pavel Matiash beat out fierce shot. But CANBERRA: Tim Cahill (right) of Australia fights for the ball with Valerii Kichin of Kyrgyzstan during the Asia FIFA world Burns, who came off the bench for injured cup qualifier football match between Australia and Kyrgyzstan in Canberra yesterday. — AFP (groin) in the 29th minute, was brought down on the edge of the Kyrgyz area moments later. Crystal Palace’s Jedinak fired home the penalty to put Australia a Judge freezes assets of Maradona former wife goal up after 40 minutes and they had the Kyrgyzs under pressure for the remaining minutes to halftime. BUENOS AIRES: An Argentine judge has 53, insists on her innocence. “I think what invested some of the money in the United The Socceroos jumped out of the blocks frozen the assets of Diego Maradona’s ex- they want to do is instill fear, but I’m not States. Villafane acknowledges holding the in the second half when Mooy putting Cahill wife, whom the football legend blames for afraid because I did nothing wrong, and football jerseys from Maradona’s glory days clear and the former English the disappearance of millions of dollars have no regrets,” Villafane told the TV show playing in Europe, as well as newspaper star finished clinically across goalkeeper from his fortune. Following a request by Intrusos. Maradona and Villafane, childhood clippings dating to 1977, when they started Matiash into the far corner. The contest was Maradona, Judge Gladys Carminati on sweethearts, divorced in 2003. Both howev- dating. She says she was the one who col- over for Kyrgyzstan when defender Ildar Wednesday ordered a freeze on the assets er agreed that Villafane would handle their lected the memorabilia. “I feel that it of ex-wife Claudia Villafane as a precaution- joint accounts to benefit daughters Dalma belongs to me and also to Benjamin,” she headed into his own net off a Mooy corner ary measure until the case is resolved. (28) and Gianinna (26), who support their said, in reference to their grandson, the son to put the home side three up with 20 min- Maradona, 54, says the funds were taken mother in the dispute. of Gianinna and Manchester City player utes left. The Socceroos could have scored from several of his Argentine and foreign The former Argentina football captain Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero. Maradona has two more, Cahill was twice denied in the final bank accounts. Local media estimate the receives funds tied to his activities as hon- sons and another daughter with three other minutes and goalkeeper Matiash made a amount in question is $8 million. Villafane, orary sports ambassador of Dubai, and has women. — AFP couple of instinctive saves. — AFP