SPORT Thursday 14 June 2018 PAGE | 23 PAPAGES | 24-25 Former hero Ronaldodo SpanishSp turmoil backs Brazilzil addsad extra spice to to end long waitait IbIberian derby Argentina fields the oldest squad in Russia AFP BRONNITSY: Enzo Perez’s call-up as a last-minute replacement in the Argentina squad made his country the oldest team at a second World Cup in a row, with an average age of 29 years, six months and 24 days. River Plate midfielder Perez, 32, flew out to Russia after 25-year-old Manuel Lanzini injured his knee, pushing Argentina past Costa Rica as the oldest squad by a single day. Argentina also had the oldest squad in Brazil US, Mexico & Canada to four years ago, when they finished as runners-up to Germany, with an average age of 28 years, 11 months and six days. At 36, Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero is the eldest member of the squad, two years older than host 2026 World Cup Javier Mascherano, while Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Pavon are Argentina’s youngest players, both 22. AFP At the other end of the scale, Nigeria, who will face Argentina in Group D, feature the youngest MOSCOW: The United States, squad at an overall age of 25 years and 11 months. Mexico and Canada will host the 2026 World Cup after easily beating underdogs Morocco in a vote of FIFA member nations in VAR set for Cup debut Moscow yesterday. The joint North American bid defeated their north African rival REUTERS by a margin of 69 votes, 134 to 65, to win the right to organise the first World Cup to be expanded KAZAN: If the strongest advocates of Video Assistant to 48 teams. Referees are to be believed, World Cup football will The result at the FIFA Con- never be the same again after the TV review system gress on the eve of the 2018 tour- makes its debut at the finals today. nament means global football’s With this one innovation, they believe, conten- showpiece event will return to the tious refereeing decisions will be a thing of the past, North American continent for the wrongs will be righted and the prospering of cheats first time since the United States brought to an end. hosted it in 1994. Had VAR been around, goes the thinking, Bid leader Carlos Cordeiro German keeper Toni Schumacher’s assault on said his team was “humbled” by France’s Patrick Battiston in 1982 would have been the result and predicted the tour- properly punished, while Diego Maradona’s “Hand nament would put football “on a of God” goal in 1986 would have led only to a direct new and sustainable path for gen- free kick. erations to come”. For the opponents of the use of technology, video FIFA voters were faced with reviews, particularly of goals, interrupt the natural FIFA President Gianni Infantino (right) poses with the United 2026 bid (Canada-Mexico-US) officials, two starkly different choices. rhythm of the game as tension builds before being President of the United States Football Association Carlos Cordeiro (third, left), President of the Mexican The United States-led bid was released when the ball hits the back of the net. adjudged to be technically Football Association Decio de Maria Serrano (second, left) and President of the Canadian Soccer Others suggest it brings only confusion where superior by a FIFA taskforce, with Association Steve Reed (second, left), following the announcement of the 2026 World Cup host during it should bring clarity and some question the tech- 23 stadiums either already built the 68th FIFA Congress at the Expocentre in Moscow yesterday. nology itself, pointing to some embarrassing failures or under construction, and the That suggests that North in leagues around the world which were early inspectors made the US-Canada- United bid comfortably wins vote at FIFA American bid leaders’ promises adopters. Mexico bid the clear favourite Congress. to deliver a record $11bn profit FIFA, while accepting the technology is not yet after rating it four out of five for the 2026 tournament are perfect, believe it has this eventuality covered by In contrast, Morocco’s bid feasible. the sheer number of feeds the VAR and his assistants existed largely on paper -- it North American party gets 134 votes to 65 The decision will be a shot in will have at their disposal in their Moscow bunker would have had to renovate or for challengers Morocco. the arm for football in the United - some 37 during the knockout stages. build 14 stadiums and critics States after the national team questioned how it would have Expanded 2026 finals will be the first to failed to qualify for 2018 in a huge coped with the expanded setback for the game there. tournament. include 48 teams. It will also be celebrated in France’s Mbappe FIFA inspectors classified its football-crazy Mexico, which stadiums, accommodation and hosted the World Cup in 1970 and declares himself fit transport as “high risk”, awarding US President Donald Trump Canadian Prime Minister in 1986 -- the tournament it just 2.7 out of five in an evalu- tweeted: “The US, together with Justin Trudeau tweeted: “Congrat- remembered for Diego Mara- AP ation report. Mexico and Canada, just got the ulations to everyone who worked dona’s “Hand of God” goal. Morocco’s appeal to the heart World Cup. Congratulations - a hard on this bid - it’s going to be But the result was a bitter to take the tournament back to great deal of hard work!” a great tournament!” blow for Morocco after a fifth MOSCOW: Striker Kylian Mbappe has declared Africa for just the second time The North American team had Mexican President Enrique failed bid. himself fit for France’s opening World Cup Group after South Africa in 2010 was not been deeply concerned by Pena Nieto said the three winning Morocco was quick to con- C game against Australia on Saturday after taking enough to bridge the gap. Trump’s threat during the bidding countries were “deeply united”, gratulate the winner, tweeting a knock to his ankle in training. FIFA President Gianni process that nations that did not despite quarrels over the future “#Maroc2026 congratulates The 19-year-old cut short his training session Infantino was believed to have support it should not expect US of a free trade agreement that has @United2026 on their on Tuesday after a challenge from behind by central strongly backed the North support on other issues. bound them since 1994. victory.” defender Adil Rami. Mbappe fell following the heavy American campaign because the After the vote, Cordeiro said The 1994 World Cup in the France, in particular, contact and stayed on the ground for several trio of countries involved sup- he believed the North American United States set an attendance lobbied behind the scenes for moments. Mbappe said yesterday it was just a scare ported him in 2016 when he took approach of using three countries record that still stands, with nearly French-speaking Morocco and and maintained he is “100 percent fit.” He said that over after the corruption-tainted would become the “legacy for the 3.6 million spectators for only 52 the bid had the support of most he wanted to carry on training but was advised to reign of Sepp Blatter. future”. matches. African nations. go off as a precaution. 22 SPORT THURSDAY 14 JUNE 2018 England’s Kyle Walker during training Salah shrugs off injury yesterday. to join Egypt training AFP “I like the best players to play, I train with the best and I GROZNY: Mohamed Salah gave want the best players to play,” Egypt’s World Cup hopes a huge he said. boost yesterday when he joined Salah is regarded as a con- a squad training session at their tender for the Ballon d’Or, Grozny base. alongside Argentina’s Lionel Walker ready to The Pharaohs’ superstar was Messi, Portugal’s Cristiano sidelined after suffering a Ronaldo and Neymar of Brazil. shoulder injury in Liverpool’s Meanwhile, Egypt has said it sacrifice preferred Champions League final loss to will “oblige” FIFA to allow it to Real Madrid on May 26, casting broadcast 22 matches of the doubt on his World Cup 2018 World Cup which begins right-back role participation. in Russia tomorrow, challenging He took part in his first the control of global soccer’s REUTERS in the Premier League last training session since the injury, governing body over broad- season, outlined the impor- going through a range of casting rights. MOSCOW: England tance of reading the game warm-up exercises with his Egypt’s Competition defender Kyle Walker is as a centre-half. team-mates. Authority (ECA) said FIFA, being ready to sacrifice his “It is about reading the Team doctor Mohamed Abou the sole organisation able to preferred right-back spot game, I don’t want to leave al-Ela said Salah “participated grant broadcasting rights for the and play as a centre-half at space at the back to get on in part of the training with the World Cup, was in violation of his first World Cup, the a counter-attack,” he added. team and completed the other Egyptian freedom of competition 28-year-old has said. “I’m a defender first and part alone”. laws, the official gazette said on A key member of Man- foremost, and if I’m playing Team director Ihab Lahita Tuesday. chester City’s title-winning right centre-half I am even was cagey about his progress, Egypt is participating in this team last season, Walker more of a defender than the saying there was no guarantee year’s World Cup.