THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016 SPORTS

Germany’s Mueller surprised by San Marino row

BERLIN: Thomas Mueller admits having white socks with sandals and accused headline and then makes an impression, en out of context. “My statement in the Mueller says he will not shy from been surprised by accusations of arro- the Germans of thinking they could win which I had once again underestimated.” interview after the match on Friday speaking his mind. “I will continue to gance and disrespect for saying by “bullying” San Marino. Last Friday’s 8-0 drubbing in heavy related to the question of the sporting express my opinion in the future, even if Germany’s 8-0 rout of minnows San Having captained Germany in rain kept Germany top of their 2018 value of the game in San Marino in rela- I run the risk of getting a few flies Marino had “nothing to do with profes- Tuesday’s goalless draw with Italy in World Cup qualifying group with a per- tion to the risk of injury,” Mueller wrote buzzing around my ears,” added the 27- sional sport”. Milan, Mueller said he had meant no dis- fect record of four wins while San on his Facebook page on Tuesday. year-old. The matter could be put to bed On Sunday, Alan Gasperoni, the San respect. Marino, ranked 199 places below the “It was taken out of context by some over a beer. Marino National Olympic Commitee’s “I was a bit surprised, because I Germans by FIFA, remain bottom. media, which seems to have given some Gasperoni has apologised for poking press officer, posted an open letter to hadn’t meant that at all,” Mueller told When asked about the value of such people the wrong impression, influ- fun at Germans in his rant and wants to Mueller on Facebook, listing 10 reasons German broadcaster ARD. international miss-matches, Mueller enced by a sometimes humorous social meet Mueller when San Marino play the Germany’s trip to the minnows for a “I had been asked a few questions, admitted the question was “hard to media post by a former official of the return qualifier in Nuremberg next June. 2018 World Cup qualifier was useful. which I had answered honestly and seri- answer”, adding “romantics say such San Marino Football Association. “I am sure everything will be settled with Mueller said he was taken aback by ously, and had tried to look at both games have their place”. “I want to clarify here that I replied in a hand shake and when we are in Gasperoni’s angry rant, which poked fun sides. Mueller says his “nothing to do with the answer respectfully to illuminate Germany, we could go for a beer togeth- at the cliched German habit of wearing “The reader often reads only the professional football” comment was tak- both sides of the topic.” er,” added Gasperoni. — AFP Barca seals big deal with Japan’s Rakuten

BARCELONA: Spanish giants FC Barcelona new partner. Rakuten, seeking to boost its sealed a massive shirt sponsorship deal global image, is Japan’s biggest e-com- yesterday with Japanese online retailer merce company with more than 13,000 Rakuten worth at least 55 million euros employees in Japan and turnover of more ($59 million) a year. One of world football’s than two trillion yen (18.2 billion dollars) in most lucrative shirt sponsorship deals sees the first three quarters of the year. The Japan’s leading e-commerce company company is already involved in domestic replace Qatar Airways, Barcelona’s shirt sport in Japan, owning J-League club Vissel sponsor since 2013, confirming Asia’s Kobe and pro baseball outfit Tohoku appetite for major investment in European Rakuten Golden Eagles. Barcelona took its football. first step towards ending its tradition of With the pulling power of top stars like shunning sponsors on its shirts in 2006 Lionel Messi and Neymar, Barcelona’s suc- when it agreed to bear the logo of Unicef. cess on the pitch ensures the club exerts a In 2011 Qatar Foundation replaced the huge draw on advertisers. charity on the club’s shirts under a new “The base contract is 55 million euros deal. per year, with a bonus of 1.5 million euros per year if the club wins the La Liga and Second shirt sponsorship deal five million euros if it wins the Champions Qatar Airways signed its first sponsor- League,” Barcelona’s head of marketing, ship deal with the club in 2013. But many Manel Arroyo, told a news conference at of Barcelona’s members had expressed the club’s Camp Nou stadium. Qatar their opposition to the club’s relationship Airways were reported to have paid 35 mil- with the Gulf state. lion euros for the final year of their deal tak- Former club president Joan Laporta has ing them up to the end of the 2016-17 sea- pledged to end the sponsorship deal if re- son. elected to the post but he was soundly beaten by Josep Maria Bartomeu in the MESSI, NEYMAR TOP DRAW club’s 2015 election. Barcelona boasts some of the world’s Barcelona’s new sponsorship deal con- most recognisable stars-vital marketing firms the interest in Asian investors in assets for the club’s partners — who have European football and it comes as the club millions of followers on social media, prom- is set to begin work in 2018 on an extensive ising invaluable exposure to sponsors. renovation of their Camp Nou home. The Argentine striker Messi is one of the most refurbishment will see the capacity of SAN JOSE: United States’ Omar Gonzalez, left, clears the ball under pressure by ’s during a 2018 World Cup qualifying popular athletes in the world on social Europe’s biggest stadium extended to soccer match in San Jose, Costa Rica, Tuesday. Costa Rica won the game 4-0. —AP media, with more than 78 million fan fol- 105,000 and an open facade to allow views lowers on Facebook alone. Barcelona’s new across the city. A budget of 420 million sponsorship deal however falls short of the euros has been estimated for the project seven-year deal which Manchester United that will be financed in large part by pro- Costa Rica routs US as signed with Chevrolet which will earn the ceeds from sponsorship. Barcelona in May English club $560 million-about $80 million signed a 10-year kit agreement with Nike, (70 million euros) per year. Barcelona-once which it expects to bring in at least 150 mil- renowned for never having had a sponsor lion euros per season when the arrange- Americans drop to 0-2 on their shirts — had been looking to ment takes effect in the 2018-19 season. replace their Qatar Airways contract which The club is expected to post a record was seen as below market value for a num- turnover of 679 million euros in the 2015- SAN JOSE: The United States put itself in a deep Venagas, and his cross found Bolanos in front, Jermaine Jones are suspended for the next qual- ber of seasons. 16 season and surpass arch-rival Real hole in World Cup qualifying with one of its with Chandler a step late. Ronald Matarrita creat- ifier, at home on March 24 against Honduras, It extended its contract last year with Madrid as the world’s richest club in the worst performances in decades. Taking advan- ed the final two goals by Campbell. On the last because of yellow-card accumulation. Both were the airline for one year while it looked for a annual rankings by Deloit.—AFP tage of defensive mistakes, Costa Rica routed goal, Campbell took the ball over Brooks’ right cautioned by Mexican referee for fouls against the U.S. 4-0 Tuesday night to drop the Americans foot as the American defender stabbed to make Costa Rica captain , Chandler in the to 0-2 for the first time in the final round of the a play to no avail. He was a step behind all night 11th minute and Jones in the 37th. North and Central American and Caribbean on the slick, chunked-up turf. Costa Rica, a 2014 World Cup quarterfinalist, region. “A very, very bitter moment for us. There’s “I said to the team that it won’t be the last 4- nearly went ahead in the 14th minute when no doubt about it,” US coach Jurgen Klinsmann nil defeat in their career,” Klinsmann said. “We’ll Bolanos centered for Ruiz, who chested the ball said. “We didn’t imagine going into the hexago- get here some lessons but definitely it’s a bitter and sent an overhead kick directly into Guzan’s nal with two defeats right at the beginning.” moment because we wanted to do far, far better face. And in the 57th, Venegas beat Chandler to Johan Venegas scored in the 43rd minute, than what we did.” a punt by Navas and had a clear shot on Guzan, Cristian Bolanos doubled the lead in the 69th There was some whistling during “The Star- who made a leg save. and second-half substitute beat Spangled Banner” from the capacity crowd of While Bolanos repeatedly sliced diagonal beleaguered goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 74th about 35,000 in Estadio Nacional, where the field long balls through the midfield, the U.S. rarely and 77th minutes in the worst margin of defeat is surrounded by an athletics track and crowd threatened. Pulisic took a pass from Jones in the for the US in a qualifier since a 5-1 defeat at noise dissipates - even from a band in the sec- 20th, dribbled to the end line and crossed, but Mexico in November 1980. ond deck. The venue appears less intimidating Bobby Wood couldn’t get to the ball before goal- It was the biggest losing shutout margin in a to visitors than old Estadio Ricardo Saprissa, keeper . Wood slid the ball behind qualifier since the U.S. fell 6-0 at Mexico in 1957. where fans were directly behind the benches. Navas in the 41st, but the U.S. didn’t have any- Combined with Friday’s 2-1 loss to Mexico at Chandler at right back and midfielder one in front. — AP Columbus, Ohio, the US finds itself in a quick deficit in the hexagonal, which resumes in March. “I’m very disappointed, obviously,” US Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said. Buffon reaches landmark “There’s obviously some concern. Mexico quali- fied with 12 points. There’s a lot of points left on as Germany hold Italy the board - 24 to be exact.” Ticos fans sounded air horns at the end of a MILAN: Gianluigi Buffon earned a handing Bernd Leno the gloves for the match that reignited questioning of Klinsmann’s European record-equalling 167th cap as night. tactics. The US dropped to 0-9-1 in qualifiers at Italy played out a goalless friendly draw Buffon had to be alert to thwart Thomas Costa Rica. Klinsmann is still confident he’s the with their Euro 2016 quarter-final tormen- Mueller as he chased a ball over the top right person to lead the team, but understands tors Germany in Milan on Tuesday. and the Juventus ‘keeper was also grateful BARCELONA: CEO of Japanese company Rakuten Hiroshi Mikitani (R) exchanges doc- the scrutiny. “When you lose two games and The 38-year-old Buffon, who made his to Davide Zappacosta for producing a uments with Barcelona’s president Josep Maria Bartomeu after signing an agree- obviously two World Cup qualifiers right after Italy debut in 1997, is now level with timely block after Leon Goretzka’s flick sat ment between FC Barcelona and its new sponsor Rakuten Inc., at Camp Nou stadium each other, there will be a lot of comments,” he retired Spain legend and fellow goalkeep- up nicely for Mueller to unleash a first-time said. The Americans, who had had not lost a in Barcelona yesterday. — AFP er Iker Casillas. drive. home qualifier in 15 years before last week, fig- ure they will win their four remaining home Although Buffon is now just 17 behind Donnarumma, just 17, replaced Buffon games and pick up points on the road. world record-holder Ahmed Hassan of to warm applause for the start of the sec- The top three teams qualify for the 2018 tour- Egpyt (184), the appearance of AC Milan’s ond half, claiming only his second cap EPL’s shake-up nament in Russia, and the No. 4 finisher Gianluigi Donnarumma for a more positive after making his debut against France in advances to a playoff against Asia’s fifth-place second half was a reminder that retire- September. nation. “There’s going to need to be some ment may not be too far off. Italy threatened when Belotti drilled a plans abandoned urgency,” US captain Michael Bradley said. “We’re Hosting Germany just four months after high shot wide of post and bar after find- going to have to look collectively real hard in the a dramatic penalty shoot-out defeat end- ing space from 20 yards out. Belotti and mirror at ourselves and understand it’s not been ed their Euro 2016 hopes in Bordeaux, Italy Ciro Immobile, who combined have scored LONDON: Plans for the biggest shake-up in to tinker with, from the FA’s point of view, a good start but the reality of this hexagonal for- English football since the introduction of and it refused to agree a new calendar for were looking to end their three-game win- seven of Italy’s last nine goals, were finally mat is that nothing is lost yet, not even close. So the Premier League have been abandoned the changes which would have been intro- less streak against the world champions. beginning to gel. anybody who thinks that is sorely mistaken.” after talks between the main participants duced for the 2019-20 season. But the hosts failed to transform a But the hosts saw claims for a penalty Central defenders John Brooks and Omar broke down. “The stance the FA has adopted has promising finish to the game into a win, waved away after Belotti squeezed Gonzalez, and right back Timmy Chandler had The Football League (EFL) proposed a brought the discussions to a premature Torino striker Andrea Belotti notably hit- between Shkodran Mustafi and Jonathan particularly poor games. Brooks and Omar raft of changes called the Whole Game end before fully understanding what the ting the upright late on. “We were facing Tah before tumbling in the area. Gonzalez started in the center of the back line. Solution, including a five-division league - financial outcome from the creation of a the world champions and gave very little Germany brought on Serge Gnabry, Geoff Cameron, who usually starts alongside one more than present - with 20 teams in new distribution model could be,” added away,” said Italy coach Giampiero Ventura. who hit a hat-trick on his debut in a 8-0 Brooks, missed both qualifiers this month after each, and a winter break. But discussions Harvey.The EFL believes change is neces- hyperextending a knee during Stoke’s Premier “Apart from hitting the post, we had rout of San Marino last Friday, for Goretzka with the Football Association (FA), the sary to ease fixture congestion, make week- League match against Hull on Oct. 22. four or five situations that we could have while Mueller made way for Kevin Volland. English game’s governing body, foundered end games more special and help support- Costa Rica, which won its opener 2-0 at done better with.” Like Ventura, Germany And Volland had the ball in the net on a proposal to move FA Cup games to ers by cutting down midweek travel. Trinidad and Tobago, went ahead after a Brooks boss Joachim Loew has one eye on the when he flicked Joshua Kimmich’s drive midweek from their traditional weekend Under the plans, unveiled in May, each giveaway. Randall Azofeifa took a short pass future and made several changes to his across goal past Donnarumma, only to be slots, the EFL said in a statement on club outside the Premier League would from Jose Salvatierra in the center circle and established starting line-up. By the end, he ruled offside. Italy enjoyed a positive fin- Wednesday. “If the weekend slots are not have seen their home fixtures reduced played a long ball into the corner, where Bolanos was largely happy with their performance. ish, but failed to breach the Germany goal. available (for league games), then there is from 46 to 38, a contentious proposal that ran it down on its third bounce. Gonzalez was “It was a good and important result for Substitute Federico Bernardeschi simply no way we can meet the financial some clubs opposed. Reacting to the news slow to close on Bolanos, who crossed for conditions as outlined at the very outset,” that the changes would not now go ahead, us, especially our young players,” he said. should have done better than shoot tame- Venegas just outside the 6-yard box. Bolanos said EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey. Julian Tagg, chairman of League Two “We can be totally satisfied, even ly at Leno and Lazio striker Immobile beat Brooks to the ball and sent a header across Earlier this month, the FA announced a (fourth-tier) side Exeter City, told the BBC: though we could have tightened up a little curled a shot wide after being set up by Guzan for his seventh goal in 30 international new six-year international broadcasting “Many fans across the country didn’t like in defence.” Juventus midfielder Sami Belotti. The Torino forward could have appearances. deal for the FA Cup, with British media the idea of change and I think that was the Khedira and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil were nicked the win late on, but he saw his low Bolanos scored after a turnover by 18-year- reports putting its value at about 820 mil- same with our club. I think there’ll be a little both rested, and regular skipper and goal- angled strike come off the base of the far old midfielder Christian Pulisic near midfield. lion pounds ($1.02 billion). bit of a sigh of relief.” The FA was not imme- keeper Manuel Neuer was out with a virus, upright with Leno beaten. — AFP Salvatierra sent a pass down the flank to This made the competition too lucrative diately available to comment. — Reuters