SUNDAY, JUNE 26, 2016 SPORTS Praise for Copa America Centenario, but hard to repeat

NEW YORK: The troika running the Copa “What I said at the start of the tourna- Future obstacles America Centenario proclaimed the soc- ment was our base line was at 30,000 Gulati pointed out obstacles to mak- cer tournament a rousing success on (per game). We thought 35,000 would ing an ongoing commitment to a com- Friday heading into the final weekend of be great, 40 would be beyond our petition between the confederations. the special event hosted by the US, but wildest expectations and obviously “The regular Copa America is not a pro- would not commit to a regular arrange- where we ended up is fantastic. “These tected competition on the international ment. The 100th anniversary of the are World Cup numbers for an event calendar for the non-CONMEBOL teams. world’s oldest international soccer tour- organized in seven months with 16 For the CONCACAF teams, we can’t have nament was a cooperative effort teams,” Gulati said. a mandatory release of our players,” he between South American confederation Dominguez said “from any point of said. “And with about half our team play- CONMEBOL, and CONCACAF, represent- view it has been a success” and that he ing in Europe we can’t get our players. ing North America, Central America and was open to new ideas about further And it’s also during our league in the the Caribbean, with US Soccer organiz- collaborations. Victor Montagliani, presi- . And in some years it’s ing the competition. “We were able to dent of CONCACAF, said: “We are open played in the same year as our (CONCA- bring whole continents together,” CON- to discussions moving forward but it’s CAF) Gold Cup. “It’s very difficult to go to MEBOL president Alejandro Dominguez not something we’ve been able to sit such a strong competition without our told a Manhattan news conference down and talk about in a concrete way.” best team.” through an interpreter. The 16-team tournament climaxes with Gulati, however, lit upon a tongue-in- “Fair play, good games, an average of today’s final between world number one cheek idea for a new international com- NEW YORK: (From left to right) CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani, CON- almost three goals per match, very good ranked and fifth-ranked petition, referencing the backlash to MEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez and US Soccer Federation President behaviour by the public ... integrating defending champions at MetLife Britain’s vote to exit the European Union. Sunil Gulati hold a press conference with the Copa America Centenario champi- cultures for people to live together and Stadium in New Jersey across the “Victor (Montagliani) and I actually onship trophy on display on Friday June 24, 2016 in New York. The final between respect diversity.” Sunil Gulati, the US Hudson River from New York City. The kicked around an idea this morning of 10 Argentina and Chile is set today at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. —AP Soccer president and head of the Local third-place match between the United teams from CONMEBOL, 10 teams from 24-team tournament to rival the Euro.” er the winners of the Copa America Organizing Committee, pointed with States and Colombia takes place in CONCACAF and the four British teams Dominguez had a more concrete vision, Centenario and the winners of the Euro pride to the massive average turnout of Phoenix on Saturday. who are now apparently looking for a saying: “We have challenged UEFA to 2016. “We are waiting for that answer. 46,000 per game, nearly 1.5 million in all. place to play. “It could be an interesting play one game this year, bringing togeth- They are studying our offer.”— Reuters Copa America, Euro 2016 - 5 differences

PARIS: For the first time the European Championship finals and the Copa America are taking place simultaneously, with and both facing crucial matches this weekend. Ronaldo’s Portugal faced a Euro 2016 last-16 tie against Croatia in France yesterday, before Messi’s Argentina take on defending champions Chile in the Copa final today night in the United States. The two tourna- ments could yet combine in some manner one day, after the Confederation of South American football (CONMEBOL) suggested a match NEW YORK: Auston Matthews poses for a portrait after being selected first overall by between the winners of the continental compe- the Toronto Maple Leafs in round one during the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, New titions. With that possibility on the horizon, AFP York. — AFP looks at five key differences between the two events this summer. NHL - Leafs select American Changing of the guard? The new format for Euro 2016, with 24 teams Matthews 1st in entry draft qualifying for the finals, was expected to favor the traditional powerhouses. All of the pre-tour- nament favorites have qualified for the knockout LOS ANGELES: The Toronto Maple Leafs son. Despite his young age, Matthews stages, with Portugal saved by a Ronaldo double selected Arizona teenager Auston scored 24 goals and 46 points in 36 games that helped them through by the skin of their Matthews with the No 1 pick in the while playing for Zurich in their elite teeth courtesy of a 3-3 draw with Hungary. But National Hockey League draft Friday as a league. He also led the USA to a bronze at in the 100th anniversary edition of the Copa, record 12 Americans were chosen in the the World Junior Championships and Brazil suffered a humiliating exit in the group first round. Matthews was considered to be played on the US national team that fin- stages that brought back painful memories of ARIZONA: Members of the Colombia team train on the eve of their COPA America 2016 3rd the consensus first overall pick heading ished fourth at the men’s IIHF World the 2014 World Cup debacle, and saw head place final soccer match against the US at the University of Phoenix Stadium, Arizona. —AFP into the entry draft, and he goes to a team Championships last month in Russia. He coach replaced by Tite. Record 15-time that desperately needs a goal-scorer and a posted nine points in 10 games at the winners Uruguay also failed to reach the quar- between Argentina and Chile, the average atten- ter-final hammering of Mexico. On the other leader as the Leafs are suffering through Worlds. Toronto has been in rebuilding ter-finals of international football’s oldest com- dance has only been 46,000. At the Euros, the hand, the top scorers of the main European one of the longest Stanley Cup droughts in mode for much of the last decade. They petition, giving Argentina the perfect chance to stadiums have been full for almost every match, leagues have struggled. Premier League Golden the league. missed the postseason 10 of the past 11 claim a first title since 1993. as supporters flock to France to cheer on their Boot winner has lost his place in the “It is a dream come true. Especially seasons a finished last with a dismal 29-42- teams. The atmosphere has been boosted by the England team, and Bundesliga stars Thomas going to the storied franchise like the 11 record a year ago. They have not won an The surprises... Or not smaller nations’ participations, with Welsh, Mueller and Robert Lewandowski have failed to Toronto Maple Leafs,” he said of the Leafs, NHL championship since the 1966-67 sea- The new expanded finals have thrown up Northern Irish and Republic of Ireland fans all find the net for Germany and Poland respective- who are also one of the original six NHL son. Puljujarvi is known for his playmaking plenty of surprise packages in Euro 2016, with out in great numbers. Iceland, making their ly. Even Ronaldo was left frustrated in Portugal’s franchises. Finnish goal scorer Patrik Laine and two-way game. He was named MVP of Wales, Northern Ireland and Iceland all reaching maiden appearance at a major tournament, first two outings, while Swedish talisman Zlatan went second overall to the Winnipeg Jets. the 2016 World Junior Championships with the knockout stages in their first appearances in have brought up to 30,000 supporters to France, Ibrahimovic bowed out of international football The Columbus Blue Jackets made the first 17 points in seven games. the finals. In the US though the rank outsiders which is almost 10% of the country’s entire pop- without scoring a goal. surprise pick of the day by choosing center struggled, with Haiti, Jamaica and Bolivia all ulation. Pierre-Luc Dubois of Canada with the third Ready to go dropping out at the first hurdle with three Final repeats pick at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, “I am ready to play next year,” said defeats from three matches. The goals are in America! One similarity is that both tournaments will New York. Puljujarvi. “It is a very exciting day for me. Apart from , who prioristised the Rio see final repeats in the coming days. Argentina The Oilers then wasted no time grab- Edmonton is a great hockey city.” There Where are the fans? Olympics in August, and an injured Luis Suarez, and five-time World Player of the Year Messi will bing Laine’s Finnish compatriot Jesse were also several significant trades made Traditionally the Copa America is known for the most well-known players have come to the have the opportunity to banish the memories of Puljujarvi for the fourth spot. Defenseman on draft day with the biggest being the its passionate fanbase and packed stadiums. But party in the USA. Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero a penalty shoot-out loss to Chile last year at the Olli Juolevi was taken by the Vancouver Calgary Flames acquiring goaltender Brian the centennial edition in the States, where foot- and Gonzalo Higuain have all been amongst the Metlife Stadium today. In Europe the rematch Canucks, giving Finland three picks in the Elliott from the St Louis Blues. The Blues ball is not a major sport, has failed to live up to goals during Argentina’s run to the final. has been thrown up much earlier in the tourna- top five. There were 12 Americans selected received the Flames’ second-round pick (No that hype. Except for the curtain-raiser between Chileans Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal have ment, with Italy’s reward for topping their group and 11 from Canada, making in the first 35 overall) and a conditional third-round the US and Colombia, and the expectations for a also fired, while striker scored a last-16 tie against Spain, who thrashed them 4- time that the United States has had more pick in 2018. The 31-year-old Elliott, of big crowd for the repeat of the 2015 final four goals in the defending champions’ 7-0 quar- 0 in the final four years ago.—AFP picks than their North American neighbor. Canada, played 41 regular-season games Matthews is also the seventh American to for St Louis in 2015-16 and ranked in the be taken first overall. The 18-year-old is the NHL’s top five in goals-against average. first player from the desert city of Phoenix He finished with a record of 23-8-2. He to be picked number one. He started play- also led the Blues to the Western Messi ready for crowning ing hockey at age 7. “Hockey is rapidly Conference Finals in 2015-16, posting a growing in all southern parts of the country 2.44 goals against average in 18 playoff and so to be a part of that is unique,” appearances. The Chicago Blackhawks glory in Copa America final Matthews said. acquired two second-round picks (39th and The last US player to go No 1 was 45th overall) from the Montreal Canadiens Buffalo’s Patrick Kane in 2007. Matthews in exchange for gritty veteran forward EAST RUTHERFORD: Lionel Messi will bid to a “great disappointment”, so far in the tourna- 4-1 quarter-final win over Venezuela. Against just missed out being eligible for the 2015 Andrew Shaw. The 24-year-old Shaw had gild his legacy as the greatest footballer of his ment he has shown no sign of being overbur- the US on Tuesday, he scored a magnificent curl- entry draft by two days, and scouts said he 14 goals and 20 assists this past season, but generation here today by ending Argentina’s 23- dened by pressure. After missing Argentina’s ing freekick to become his country’s leading would have been a top three pick in that he is set to become a free agent on July 1. year wait for a major title in a dream final against opening group match-a 2-1 win over today’s international goalscorer with 55, while setting draft as well. Matthews scored 79 goals in Shaw is reportedly seeking a contract holders Chile in the Copa America Centenario. opponents Chile-he scored an electrifying 19- up two more goals in a magical all-round dis- 45 games as a 14-year-old bantam AAA worth $4.5 million per season which the For Messi’s many millions of admirers, the five- minute hat-trick against Panama after coming play. He even found the time to sign the shirt of with the Phoenix Jr Coyotes. At one time Blackhawks are not willing to pay. “He’s the time world footballer of the year has already on as a substitute before going on to equal an autograph-hunting fan who sprinted onto had hoped to play for Druzbha-78 in the kind of player that drags his teammates achieved enough in his glittering career to be Gabriel Batistuta’s Argentina goals record in the the pitch at the start of the second half. —AFP Ukraine, but ended up going to into the fight,” said Montreal GM Marc considered in the same bracket as Pele and Switzerland where he played this past sea- Bergevin.— AFP . Yet the only hole in the Barcelona superstar’s CV-a major tournament title with Argentina-is invariably, and somewhat unfairly, cited as a justification to delay his eleva- tion to football’s pantheon. ‘We fear no team’ That could all change today before a sell-out crowd of 81,000 at East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium, the home of the NFL’s New York Giants, Egypt coach says when Argentina face the Chileans in a rematch of last year’s Copa America final. It is the third JOHANNESBURG: Egypt coach Hector Kwesi Nyantakyi believes the unexpectedly final in as many years for Messi and his team- Cuper says it is irrelevant that 2018 World big winning margin achieved by the Black mates, who suffered agonizing defeats in the Cup qualifying opponents Ghana humiliat- Stars at home three years ago will work 2014 World Cup final against Germany and to ed the north Africans three years ago, against them this time. “That triumph does the Chileans on penalties in Santiago last year. declaring: “We fear no team.” The two coun- not give us any psychological advantage,” On each occasion, Messi has borne the brunt tries were placed in Group E with Congo he stressed. “On the contrary, it is a disad- of the backlash from critics in Argentina who Brazzaville and Uganda when 20 nations vantage. “Egypt are thirsting for revenge trot out a familiar laundry list of grievances. He were split into five groups this weekend, and we must be aware that they have built has no passion. He doesn’t sing the anthem. He with the winners going to the finals in a new, very good team since Kumasi.” doesn’t “feel” the shirt. Barely a ball had been Russia. Ghana crushed Egypt 6-1 in the first Uganda coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic kicked in this Copa America before Maradona, a leg of a 2014 World Cup play-off and won says that although his team are seeded last regular sniper, accused him of lacking “personali- 7-3 overall to secure a place in Brazil. “I in the group, they can match Ghana, Egypt ty” and “leadership.” know what Ghana did to Egypt, but that is and Congo. “We can create shocks even Don’t come back history,” insisted Argentine Cuper, the for- though our budget is probably 10 percent Maradona amped up the rhetoric this week mer manager of Valencia and . of some rivals,” said the Serb, who has shortly after Argentina booked their place in the “We fear no team, our target is qualification worked in numerous African countries. final with a 4-0 demolition of the United States. for the 2018 World Cup, and what lies “While some other African countries “We will certainly win today... and if we don’t ahead for the Egyptian squad is work, work liken us to a motorcycle competing in a win, they shouldn’t come back,” Maradona told CAPE MAY: Argentina’s player Lionel Messi (center) practices during a training session at the and more work.” Formula One race, I disagree. We can match an Argentinean television network. Although Quest Diagnostics in Cape May, New Jersey. Argentina will face Chile in their final match of the Ghana Football Association president any team.” —AFP Messi admits that losing another final would be Copa America.— AFP