SPORT Saturday 30 June 2018

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AFP TODAY'S FIXTURES World Cup shifts into high avoid is the gear this weekend with drawing of MOSCOW: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel ROUND OF 16 lots,” Colin Messi take centre stage as the World Cup the start of the knockout Smith, FIFA’s shifts into high gear this weekend with the FRANCE VS ARGENTINA matches as the top 16 chief tournament start of the knockout matches in the loaded 5.00PM heavyweights of football and event officer, top half of the draw. said yesterday. Football heavyweights France, URUGUAY VS PORTUGAL begin the battle for African nations Argentina, Portugal and Brazil are all clus- 9.00PM supremacy. are licking their tered in one section of the competition, with wounds after Senegal’s only Spain among recent winners in the elimination meant no team other half. draw and already a record number of pen- Uruguay defence that did not concede a from the continent reached the The unbalanced nature of the knockout alties, with the video assistant referee (VAR) single goal in the group phase. tournament’s second round for phase sparked debate ahead of Thursday’s often in the spotlight. Aside from their watertight defence, the first time since 1982. England-Belgium group match -- was it Of the half-dozen winners of the trophy two-time winners Uruguay boast two of Didier Drogba, who better to win and enter the tougher side of since 1970, Germany have gone home in the the greatest goal-scorers of their gener- appeared at three World the draw or lose and face potentially easier biggest shock of the tournament by far while ation in Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Cups with Ivory Coast, fixtures down the line? In the event, third- Italy never even qualified for Russia. The Uruguayans are aware that said African teams had ranked Belgium won, adding even more The standout last-16 tie on paper pits Ronaldo is not the only threat for the taken a “big step back” firepower to the top half, while if England France against Messi and Argentina, two European champions -- he is supported by in Russia. can get past Colombia they will fancy their teams who laboured through the group younger talents such as Bernardo Silva and “Africa is going to chances of reaching a potential semisemi-final final stage.stage. Goncalo Guedes.Guedes. bbe successful one day againstagainst 2010 winwinnersners FranceFrance are packedpacked withwith firepower,firepower, “We“We willwill markmark himhim withwith the samesame butbu we need to think Spain.Spain. boastingboasting Antoine Griezmann, KylianKylian respect we mark everyone, despite hhimim againa how we TheThe first pphasehase MbappeMbappe and Olivier Giroud, but being a superstar,” said Sebastian CoCoatesates approachap these big inin Russia featuredfeatured theythey havehave failedfailed to clickclick so far,far, ofof Ronaldo.Ronaldo. competitions,”co he told justjust one goalless finding the net just three times “You“You don’t prepare a match just lookinglooking theth BBC in his role as a in threethree matchesmatches -- one of atat one pplayer.”layer.” - ‘Fair play’play’ ddebateebate - DeDebatebate TVTV pundit. thosethose was a penaltypenalty anandd was still ragingraging on over Japan’s approachapproach to another an own goal.goal. theirtheir final group game against Poland afterafter “A wholewhole new competition the AsiaAsiann sisidede sneakedsneaked iintonto the last 16 on begins now, direct elimi-elimi- the back of their superior disciplinary record.record. nation,”nation,” saisaidd manamanagerger DiDidierdier TheThe Asian sideside facedfaced an angryangry backlashbacklaash Deschamps.Deschamps. for running down the clock in the lastlast 15 “We ggotot whatwhat we minutes even thoughthough ttheyhey were llosingosing 11-0-0 wawanted.nted. Now the mmountainountain on Thursday, gambling that SenegalSenegaal lloomsooms up in ffrontront ooff us bbutut wouldwould not equaliseequalise againstagainst CoColumbialumbia iin we’rewe’re there and we’rewe’re aimingaiming thethe otherother Group H game.game. to getget tthroughhrough toto thethe nenextxt Kozo TasTashima,hima, ppresidentresident ooff tthehe roundround afafterter that.”that.” JapanJapan Football Association (JFA),(JFA), Five-timeFive-time woworldrld playplayerer ofof insistedinsisted the team deserved a pplacelace in thet yeary MesMessisi uunderlinedndernde lined hishis thethe knockoutknockout stagestage in Russia, won at importanceimpompoortanrt ce ttoo ArArgentinagentina with thethe expenseexpense ofof thethe westwest AfricanAfrican team a sublimelysus blimlimely taketaktakenn opopeningening ggoaloal by virtuevirtuirt e ooff hhavingaving picpickedked uupp ffewerewer againstagaiinst NigeNigNigeriag riar butt thattha camcamee afafterter yellowyelly ow cards.cardsar . hishis penapenaltylty miss againstaagag instnstn IceIcelandlandand in a “ItIt isi ourour commitmentc ommiom tment to fairfair playplay thatthat lackllacklustrelustre 11-1-1 drawdraw that set theh tonetone fforor hash got us tthrough,”hrouhhr gh,gh,” TasTashimahima toltoldd llocalocal a ddidisappointingsappsapa ointi ing campcampaignaignn so far. mediamedia afterafter JapanJapaJappannmo movedmoved on ttoo fafaceace RonaldoRonaR ldo ono thethe otherother handhand startedstarteddh hishis BelgiumBelgium nextn week.weeeek.k tournamenttournamem nt withwith a hahat-trickt-trt ick agaiaagagainstnst SpaiSpainn “We had fewerfewer yellowyellow cardsccarards ssoo we wwerwerere !"!     #$ % %  & but hasa slippedslippedpe behindbehihhind England’sE ngland’snd HarHarryarry ableable to progress.progress. It’sIt’s thethe resultresultoft of the ‘Japan‘Jaapan       Kanea in the raceace for thethe GoldenGolden Boot afteraftaf er Way’Way --- a thoroughthorough dedicationdedication to passingpapasssing  ' seeingseeieeing hish iss penaltypenaln ltyysy ssavedaved inn PortPoPortugal’srtugalugagaal’s’ 11-1-11 footballfootfootballbalallll ananda pplaplayingyingyi in a fairfair manner.”manner.” FIFA       drawaw wwitwithhIrh IrIran.an.ann saidsaid it hadad no pplanslanslanlaans to chancchangenge itsits fairfair playp    (( The Reale MadMadridrid starstar,ar, whwhoooha hahasssf fofourur ccriteria.riteriari .      )  goalsgoals in RusRuRussiausssias andand lookslklookooko s certaincertair nnt to be “This“Thi“T s is thee firstfirfi stt timetimeimmem (the( fairfaiaiir playplay rule)rule)      crownedcrowcro nednen worlwworldd playerpplayera ofof thethe yearyear forf a hash beenbeb useduseddin inn aas seniorseenior WorldWorld CupCuupup ini    *  sixthssixtx h titime,me,me willwil comcocomemeeueup uup aagagaagainstgainstinsini a ttightightigght thist waywaway.. 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Large screen in the VAR checked 335 incidents in stadium displays message after a VAR review during a Group H match between Senegal World Cup group stage: FIFA and Colombia in Samara on Thursday. AFP chairman of FIFA’s referees Collina said the three or even mistakes, so it’s a not committee, said yesterday. cases where the VAR directly a perfection that can be MOSCOW: FIFA said video With 48 matches in the intervened were for an reached having imple- assistant referee (VAR) crews group stage, the figure offside call, an incident that mented VAR.” conducted checks on 335 averages out to almost seven took place inside the area The average time incidents during the World incidents per game in Russia. and mistaken identity. required for a VAR review Cup group stage, helping “Within these 335 Of all the incidents scru- has been 80 seconds, achieve a 99.3 percent rate checks, we had 17 so-called tinised by the video officials, although that number is of correct decisions. VAR reviews,” said Collina. 95 percent of the initial deci- slightly higher for a pitchside The VAR system is being “We had 14 decisions sions taken by referees review. used at a World Cup for the changed by the intervention would have been correct “In a couple of cases the first time in Russia. of the VAR. without VAR intervention. final answer could have been “335 incidents were “We had 14 on-field That rate increased to given even earlier,” Collina checked by the VAR team. All reviews, with the referee 99.3 percent with the said. the goals scored (122) were going to the monitor on the assistance of VAR. “But in terms of being checked by the VAR, and in side of the pitch, while there “VAR doesn’t mean per- very accurate, the VAR pre- addition many other inci- were three decisions taken fection,” Collina said. ferred to spend five to 10 dents occurring on the field,” only by the VAR on direct “There could still be seconds more to be very, Pierluigi Collina, the review.” some wrong interpretation very sure.” Injured Mendy England turn focus to knockout ruled out of Argentina clash games and dreaded shootouts AP

MOSCOW: Left-back REUTERS semi-final against Germany at Benjamin Mendy, yesterday Wembley Stadium. ruled out of France’s last 16 ST PETERSBURG: England head He later featured in a pizza World Cup match against into their last 16 clash with commercial that mocked his Argentina because of a Colombia looking to improve on miss along with Stuart Pearce muscle injury. a poor record in knockout games and Chris Waddle, who missed France coach Didier Des- in major tournaments and with penalties in the 1990 World Cup champs said Mendy, who half an eye on the risk of a semi-final shootout loss to West returned from injury to make penalty shootout. Germany. an appearance as a substitute Since the Three Lions won But the England manager in France’s last group game the World Cup 52 years ago, they later opted against appearing in against Denmark, “has a little have managed just a paltry six a documentary about Euro 96, muscular problem and victories in knockout games in hosted by ex-team mate Alan won’t be available major tournaments. Shearer, because he did not want tomorrow.” Penalty shootouts have to talk about his miss. He did not disclose any proved to be England’s undoing England’s failures have detail of the injury. on several occasions - they lost become a recurring national The attack-minded via penalties at the 1990, 1998 joke, with acres of newsprint Mendy was included in Des- and 2006 World Cups, as well as and even academic studies champs’ squad for the World devoted to why their players Cup despite his lack of are found wanting in such playing time with Manchester situations. City. Mendy only returned to The conclusions have competition from a serious included the speed at which knee injury in April. Mendy’s We’ve been practising England take penalties - an absence means Atletico and going through average 0.28 seconds response Madrid defender Lucas Her- England’s forward Harry Kane (centre) takes part in a training session in Repino on Wednesday. strategies on penalties time from when the referee nandez will start at left-back since March. We’ve the 1996, 2004 and 2012 through that in an little more England’s last win in a tour- blows his whistle - to being against Argentina. European Championships. detail now,” he said after Thurs- nament knockout game was 12 trapped in a decades-long cycle Meanwhile, England mid- been doing studies Not surprisingly, coach day’s final Group G game ended years ago when they beat of failure. fielder Fabian Delph is and having individual Gareth Southgate says his team in a 1-0 defeat to Belgium. Ecuador 1-0 in the World Cup in Statistics suggest that the returning home temporarily practice and we’ll go have been working on “We’re aware the margins Germany but then lost the next players have an 89 percent from the World Cup because through that in an penalties. are going to be really fine in game on a penalty shootout to chance of scoring if the team’s his wife is due to give birth to “We’ve been practising and these knockout phases. We have Portugal. last two shootouts have been their third child. little more detail now: going through strategies on pen- to be prepared physically and Southgate himself has successful. Delph flew back home England coach Gareth alties since March. We’ve been mentally to go to extra time, and painful memories of shoot out The figure drops to 57 per from Kaliningrad, where he Southgate doing studies and having indi- beyond if that’s what it takes,” failure as he missed the decisive cent if they have failed, as played for England in its 1-0 vidual practice and we’ll go he said. spot kick in the Euro 96 England almost always have. loss to Belgium on Thursday. Panama’s pioneers get reality Iran striker retires check at Russia World Cup at 23 over criticism REUTERS Since 2005, they have twice AFP reached the final of the CON- Portugal. The striker said the MOSCOW: Panama’s delight at CACAF Gold Cup and the semi- Tehran: Iranian striker Sardar “insults” had caused his mother’s Azmoun has announced his fragile health to deteriorate and their first appearance in a World The Central Americans finals on another two occasions, Cup will have been tempered including a stormy defeat to retirement from international he had decided to retire from the somewhat by the reality check head home after Mexico in 2015. football aged just 23, saying crit- national squad to spare her the they received in Russia. losing all their three With the United States in icism from fans of his per- upset. The Central Americans head games in Group G and disarray and a favourable com- formance at the World Cup had “I had to make a choice and home after losing all their three bination of results elsewhere, harmed his mother’s health. I chose my mother,” he wrote on games in Group G and con- conceding 11 goals. Panama finished third in the Azmoun, a rising star, who Instagram. ceding 11 goals -- including six final stage of the CONCACAF with 11 goals had been Iran’s top “It was the most painful Iran’s Sardar Azmoun in their thrashing from England, sense that Panama’s real qualifiers, despite winning only scorer in qualification for the decision of my life.” reacts after World Cup a 3-0 loss to Belgium and Thurs- achievement was to be among three out of 10 games and finals in Russia, drew brickbats The loss of Azmoun is a blow day’s 2-1 defeat to Tunisia. the 32 teams at the finals given scoring a modest nine goals. from fans after he failed to to Iran, who had given a good match against Morocco No team had a worse record the limited material he has to It will again be a tough battle deliver in last week’s Group B account of themselves in Russia, on June 15, 2018 in than Hernan Dario Gomez’s side work with. for the Central Americans to game against Spain. almost snatching a last-gasp Saint Petersburg. but he was quick to reject the Unlike in most Latin make it to Qatar in 2022 Expectations had been raised victory against Cristiano Ron- labelling of his side as the American countries, football although the expansion of the by Iran’s opening victory over aldo’s Portugal that would have weakest in the competition. does not have a strong tradition tournament to 48 teams from Morocco, which sparked exu- seen them progress to the last “You shouldn’t call us the in Panama and it lagged behind 2026, doubling the automatic berant celebrations in the streets 16 for the first time. worst team. We are the youngest boxing, baseball and basketball qualification slots for CON- of Tehran. Several Iranian sports writers team with most difficulties. How in popularity until a few years CACAF, should keep the door Defeat in the following game, expressed hope yesterday that many pitches do we have? What ago. open for the future. even at the hands of one of the the young striker, who plays his kind of infrastructure do we Panama did not even enter That future will require a tournament favourites, drew an club football in Russia for Rubin have?... Look at the history of the the World Cup until the quali- new generation to come through avalanche of calls on social media Kazan, could yet go back on an other countries here... You fiers for the 1978 tournament as several of the country’s pio- for Azmoun to be benched for emotional decision taken in the should respect our team more,” but that has changed and in the neering World Cup squad won’t the final group game against heat of the moment. he said. last decade they have become a likely be around for another Gomez has a point in the force in the CONCACAF region. cycle. SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018 SPORT 19

FIFA to review fair play tiebreaker but unlikely to change AP first approach against a team that He said the ‘fair play’ rule Senegal’s defender Salif Sane (right) and forward Diafra was already out of contention - was clear to all teams. Sakho react at the end of the Russia 2018 World Cup Group MOSCOW: FIFA plans to review because it was due to qualify on Smith added that FIFA had a rule that resulted in Senegal its disciplinary record ahead of no complaint about England’s H match against Colombia in Samara on Thursday. being eliminated from the World Senegal. 1-0 loss to Belgium on Thursday, Cup because it had more yellow At the time, Senegal was which was widely likened to a cards than Japan, but is unlikely losing 1-0 to Colombia, which friendly game because of the to remove the measure. jumped from third spot to top of combined 17 changes to the “We will review after this the group. starting lineups and perceived World Cup, we will see what the Previously the situation lack of attacking intent. Both feedback and the situation is,” would have been resolved with teams had already qualified for FIFA’s competition director Colin the drawing of lots, which would the knockout stages, and the Smith said yesterday, “but as it have meant that during the losing team could face lower- currently stands we don’t see any game, no team would have been ranked opponents in subsequent need to change.” assured of going through in the rounds. The rule, in use for the first same circumstances. “Fans who have paid money” time at the World Cup, caused a “What we want to avoid is deserve to see competitive stir when the last games in Group the drawing of lots. We believe games, Smith said, but he added H were being played simultane- that teams should go forward on that he Adnan Januzaj’s curling ously and it became obvious it their performance and what shot for Belgium’s goal showed We will review after this World Cup, would be needed as a tiebreaker happens on the pitch, not in a the game was indeed we will see what the feedback and the between two teams finishing draw bowl,” Smith said. competitive. situation is but as it currently stands equal in every other way. “The preference is that slots “If Belgium didn’t want to Japan barely attacked in the and teams advancing is on the win, they obviously forgot to tell we don’t see any need to change: FIFA’s end of its 1-0 loss to Poland - basis of goals and results and the goalscorer,” Smith said, Competition Director Colin Smith preferring instead to take a safety there’s clear winners.” “Because it was a cracker.”

WHO’S SAYING WHAT AT WORLD CUP Injuries raise doubts about

“Ask Neymar.” -- Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic’s terse response when quizzed about what Brazil’s Cup preparations he said to Neymar as the Brazilian AP star writhed on the ground in front The team’s physical of him after being tackled during trainer, Fabio Mahseredjian, Soft mattress Brazil’s 2-0 win. SOCHI: Brazil is going out of admitted the training load had “The players listened to me and its way to defend its World Cup to be adjusted in cases like contributes were loyal and determined to keep preparations and show its Augusto’s, but defended the players’ injuries can’t be squad’s training regime during to Marcelo’s the status quo.” blamed on excessive training. the World Cup. -- Japan coach Akira Nishino praises Doctors will blame a soft “Injuries will happen, it’s injury: Doctor his players for following his instructions mattress for an injury before inevitable, and for the most to take it easy in the closing stages of admitting they made mistakes varied reasons,” he said on AP the match against Poland to ensure getting the players ready for Thursday, a day after the Bra- last-16 qualification. the tournament in Russia. zilians advanced by beating Questions were raised Serbia. MOSCOW: Brazil’s team “It’s the law of football.” after Renato Augusto, Fred, “It’s all under control.” doctor yesterday said -- Senegal coach Aliou Cisse takes his Danilo, Douglas Costa and Although doctors said none of Marcelo’s back injury side’s elimination from the World Cup Marcelo all got hit by injuries the injuries was serious, it may have been caused on yellow cards on the chin. before and during the World wasn’t immediately clear which by a soft mattress. “But while they have many strengths, Cup. player would be available for Doctor Rodrigo they also have flaws and we have to Augusto himself was the Monday’s round-of-16 match Lasmar said after the first to put the team’s prepa- against Mexico in Samara. team’s 2-0 win over take advantage of them.” rations under the spotlight The Brazilian soccer fed- Serbia that the back -- Argentina midfielder Giovani Lo after he said an inflammation eration said Marcelo had spasm that prompted Celso looks ahead to the threat posed on his left knee was caused by improved from its back Marcelo to leave the by Saturday’s last-16 rivals, France. the amount of training he was problem but did not provide a match early in the first “Dear fans, we’re just as disappointed subjected to when he reported timetable on his recovery. half may have been as you. We’re sorry we didn’t play to the national team. “Thank God it wasn’t any- sparked by the type of The midfielder hinted he thing serious,” Marcelo said on mattress being used by like world champions. That’s why was not used to this type of Instagram. “I’ll be back in the defender at the we deserved to be eliminated, as training load with his team in action soon.” team’s hotel. bitter as it is.” China. Costa and Danilo, who was Lasmar made the Chastened Germany apologise to the And after Costa hurt a right nursing a hip injury, did not comment while dis- entire country after their premature thigh muscle in the game again travel with the rest of the missing rumors that the World Cup exit. Costa Rica, it was the player’s squad for the match against problem might have wife who raised more doubts Serbia in Moscow. Doctors had been related to excessive “I can say it’s not a comfortable about the team’s preparations, said Costa’s problem was likely physical training by the situation for us.” telling Brazilian newspaper to take more time to heal. team in Russia. -- Colombia coach Jose Pekerman Extra that her husband told her Neymar dealt with an The Brazilian feder- voicing concern over forward James training with Brazil was too ankle injury after the opener ation says Marcelo is Rodriguez after the 2014 Golden Boot intense and he was used to against Switzerland but he was recovering well from the winner limped off against Senegal. lighter practice sessions with back in action against Costa injury but it remains Italian club Juventus. Rica and against Serbia. unclear if he will be “Biggest game for a decade.” Brazil’s defender Marcelo (right) is seen wearing flip flops during After Marcelo had to be a training session at the Yug Sport Stadium, in Sochi, yesterday. Doctors also had to take available for the team’s -- England coach Gareth Southgate replaced only 10 minutes into care of coach Tite, who pulled round-of-16 match cranks up the pressure ahead of the match against Serbia, training load, but team doctor by the type of mattress he was a muscle while celebrating one against Mexico on Tuesday’s last-16 clash with Colombia. doctors were immediately Rodrigo Lasmar said Marcelo’s using at the team’s hotel, not of the team’s goals against Monday. questioned about the team’s injury might have been caused because of too much training. Costa Rica. Mission accomplished: Tunisia’s best hope was for 3rd spot: Coach REUTERS and thumped 5-2 by Belgium in fight in their first match with their second, ending their hopes England, where Tunisia defended SARANSK: Tunisia have of progressing to the knockout heroically before being undone achieved their target at the stages before their final group by a late Harry Kane strike, but World Cup because they arrived game. When we landed in conceded that their performance in Russia fully aware the best But the North Africans fly this group, I think we against Belgium was consid- they could hope for was to finish home with a sense of satisfaction knew that our best erably poorer. third in their group, coach Nabil after ending a 40-year wait for hope would be to “Perhaps in the second Maaloul said after their 2-1 a World Cup victory with their match we should have been victory over Panama on come-from-behind win over come third: Tunisia better,” the coach said. Thursday. Panama at the Mordovia Arena. coach Nabil Maaloul “Our performance against Making their fifth World Cup “Today’s match was a well- England was very good, we were appearance, ‘the Eagles of deserved win for the Tunisian level with them technically. They Carthage’ were drawn with side. When we landed in this a World Cup when they beat have some of the best players in European powerhouses Belgium group, I think we knew that our Mexico in Argentina in 1978, but the world and we had to sit deep. and England, as well as debu- best hope would be to come had since drawn four matches “We should have been more tants Panama, in Group G. third,” Maaloul told reporters. and lost nine before Thursday’s defensive against Belgium. We Tunisia’s Fakhreddine Ben Yousseff (centre) celebrates with team- Tunisia were beaten 2-1 by Tunisia became the first victory. shouldn’t have been so offensive mates after scoring their first goal against Panama on Thursday. England in their opening match African country to win a game at Maaloul praised his team’s and conceded so many goals.” 20 SPORT SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018 SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018 SPORT 21

%%2 .*'5 How the 16 teams are ranked     ahead of the knockout stage     Uruguay look to stop Ronaldo AFPAFP

12#(!(12# AFP goal-scorersgoal-scorers of theitheirr gegenerationneration SAINTSAINT PETERPETERSBURGSBURG:: After After 15 15 days days of of triumphs, tears and controversy, the World Cup’s group  inin LLuisuis SuaSuarezrez aandnd EEdinsondinson stage drew to a close on Thursday.  SOCHI: The man who has marshalled the Cavani.Cavani. Here, AFPAFP SSportport rranksanks thethe 1616 teateamsm to have made it through based on their performances best defence in the World Cup so far will Suarez mimightght llackack tthehe sasameme in RussiaRussia so far.far. $%&%* %&' relish the task of trying to stop his old foe ssharpnessharpness ooff oold,ld, bbutut hhee hhasas s stilltill Cristiano Ronaldo when Uruguay and scored twicetwice in in Ru Russia.ssiaa. O Onene m moreore 1. CRCROATIAOATIA Three wins out of three, includinginclud a thumping of Argentina, sends Croatia through top   Portugal meet in Sochi today. andand hhee wiwillll equaequall 11950 WWorldororld The Madrid derby comes to the shores Cup-winnerCup-winner Oscar MMiguez’siguez’s UruUru-- of arguably the toughest grogroupu in the draw. Fears the corruption scandal would affect    #  ' %  of the Black Sea in the last 16 with Uru- guayan recorrecordd o off eig eightht g goalsoalss a att the thee the playersplayers have not materiamaterialised while Nikola Kalinic’s hint of rebellion was swiftly ! "    guayan captain Diego Godin, of Atletico, tournament.tournament. dealt with. Luka Modric has bbeen arguably the player of the tournament so far.   and his club team-mate Jose Maria Gimenez “They are a typicaltypical Sout Southth Amer Amer-er- #     coming up against Real and Portugal’s five- ican side,”side,” saisaidd Portu Portugalgal coa oaccoachh FernFe Fernandornnandondo 2. BELBELGIUMGIUM $   Wins over Panama and TunisiaTunisi were backed up by a victory over England and even if    time Ballon d’Or winner. Santos.Santos.   It will be a fascinating battle at the Fisht “It’s not jjustust inin ththisis W Worldorldrld C Cupup thaha thatat they thehey theyy thethe llatteratter matcmatchh waswas pplayedlayed b between two second-string line-ups, Belgium have hardly   !" $%&% '(' %& !&    Stadium with Ronaldo, at 33, enjoying his havehave not been conceconcedingding goal goals.als. It It ha hass beenbee beenn put a ffootoot wrong. Romelu LuLukaku and Eden Hazard are both firing and, after being  ## %& )(* $%&%  best World Cup but Uruguay the only side likelike that foforr thethe wwholeholle of of 2 2018.0188. Osc Oscaraar Tab Tab-ab- rested against England, ffresh.resh This team can go far. to come through the group stage in Russia arezarez is the longest-servinglongest-serving iniinternationalternanationonal 2#! 2!'0 without conceding a goal. manager.manager. TThathat meanmeanss h hee h hasass a a v veryeryy st strongrorong 3. UURUGUAYRUGUAY Godin is an expert at keeping clean relationshiprelationship witwithh hhisis pplayers.”layersrs.” TheTheseese twotwo Also throughthrough with maximum points, Uruguay’s advance through a kind Group A has    & '(*   #  )()   sheets, as the leader of an Atletico defence countries with a combinedcombined popup populationlaationn of of ggoneone rather unnoticed. Led bby the imperious Diego Godin, they are yet to concede a     *+ '(*   , '(* that is the most formidable in the European 13.5 millionmillion hhaveave llongong bbeeneen ov ooverachiev-eracachieev- ggoaloal in Russia and at the othothere end, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani are up and run-  % )(*   #  '(' club game -- they kept 34 in all competi- ersers oonn tthehe ininternationalternationnal scene scenee -- -- th thee laast last nning.ing. ThTheyey hhaveave tthreehree ggoalsoals b between them. tions last season -- and of a Uruguay side decadedecade ununderder TaTabarezbarez hhasas seensseen twottwo-o-   that has not conceded a goal in 2018 in six timetime former winnerswinners UrugUruguayuuay rereachacch 4. BRAZIL    3 !!4!2!!     games. oneone WorWorldld CupCup semisemi-final--final an andnd w wininn one neone Neymar’sNeymar’s hhistrionicsistrion have proven tedious but the striker is getting sharper + ' + Ronaldo, though, has already scored Copa America, whilewhile PortPortugalrtugalal ttri-rri- withwith every ggame.ame. A As he has regained fitness, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho ,, ( ). four times at this World Cup, including a umphedumphed at Euro 2012016.6. havehave ffilledilled the vovoid while the depth of attacking options came up trumps '+ & - hat-trick on his last visit here when Portu- AndAnd tthehe UruUruguayansguaayans holdh tthetheireir againstagainst Costa RicRica. Marcelo’s back injury is a concern. gal drew 3-3 with Spain. That means he has opponentsopponents in equallyequallly hhighigh regregard,egardrd, )' ')-+ ''0' 85 international goals, more than any other consciousconscious tthathat RonaRonaldolddo i sis susupsupp supportedppporteorteded 5. ENGLAND '.  ', Uruguay’s Luis Suarez (centre) takes part in a training sessionlong along with with team-mates team-mates A young squad arrived with low expectations but a male European player in history. in Nizhny Novgorod yesterday. byby younger talents llikee BeBernardoernrnrnaarddoo +)/  +'/ In the last two years, he has scored two SilvaSilva aandnd GoGoncaloncalo GuGuedes.ueddees. late win over Tunisia was followed by a storming 6-1 hat-tricks for Real against Godin’s Atletico, “We“We will mark hhim wwitwiththh tthehehe victory over Panama. Defeat to Belgium can be put having also emerged victorious in two a game,” said Diego Maradona recently. defending Europeann cchampionshampions toto tthishis tie tie same respect we mmarkark eeveevery-eryr - downdow to a heavily rotated side and with Harry Kane leading Madrid derby Champions League finals. On Saturday, Gimenez -- who scored rather than a meetingting witwithh tthehe hhostsosts in one, ddespiteespite hhimim bbeingeininng a thethe race for the Golden Boot, England are growing in  &"'(  But the rugged and brave Godin, who Uruguay’s late winner against Egypt -- is Moscow. superstar,” saisaidd SeSebastianbbastiiann confidence.con      Portugal’s needed reconstructive dental surgery after set to rejoin Godin in central defence after Portugal surely wouldwould havehave preferredpreferred Coates of RoRonaldo.naldo. ““YouYou ! "# N forward having three teeth punched out in an aer- missing the 3-0 victory over Russia due to that, for while Uruguayguay continue to propro-- don’tdon’t ppreparerepare a matmatchch $%  *$  Cristiano ial challenge with Valencia’s goalkeeper injury. duce tough centre-backs,-backs, ttheyhey are byby nono justjust llookingooking at ononee + Ronaldo attends 6.6. SSWEDENWEDEN earlier this year, has succeeded in muzzling Ronaldo, meanwhile, will look to get means completely rrelianteliant on them. player.”player.” a training session ( , + Few would have expected SSwedenw to progress at all let alone finish top of Group F. Ronaldo on plenty other occasions at club back among the goals having had a pen- This is a side wwithith exceexcellent,llent, ItaItalian-lian- at the team’s base in ! OnlyOnly Toni Kroos’ 95th-minutew winner spoiled an unbeaten record and Sweden responded level going back almost a decade. alty saved in Portugal’s 1-1 draw with Iran. based midfielders iinn RodriRodrigogo Bentancur, Kratovo yesterday. %-. . “Godín is a star. He defends, commands, That, and the VAR-awarded late spot-kick Lucas Torreira and MatiasMatias Vecino.Vecino. AndAnd uupp withwith an emphatic win over MMexico.e What Sweden have lost in Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they %- )& '  '   scores goals, wins titles, and does not miss for the Iranians, condemned the front they boast two ooff tthehe ggreatestreatest appear to hhaveave ggainedained inin ddisciplineisc and spirit.

77.. SSPAINPAIN TheyThey certainly would have tatakenk this position when Julen Lopetegui was sacked two days before the start of the ttournament but Spain have been a mixed bag. In spells they were excellent against PPortugal but defensive errors and the worrying form of Messi and France must deliver in Kazan David de GGeaea are both big asasterisks.t There is room for improvement.

8.8. PPORTUGALORTUGAL On the one hand, Ronaldo hasha four goals already and as Portugal proved two years Argentina’s forward ago, he can take a team a lonlongg way, particularly with a sound defence behind him. But Lionel Messi AFP %%2 .*'5%%2%%%2%22       ..* .*'5**'5'5 when Ronaldo missed a penpenaltya against Iran, they drew 1-1. If their star man has an off-day, what else have PortPortugalu got? KAZAN:KAZAN: ArgentArgentinaina anandd Lione Lionell Messi Messi nee needd to to fin findd % 2  % 2  form fast if theythey are are to to g goo an anyy further further in in the the World World 9.9. COLOCOLOMBIAMBIA CupCup totodayday wwhenhen ttheyhey meetmeet aa FranceFrance teamteam wwhoho      Had Carlos Sanchez not been sentse off in the third minute of their opening defeat to Japan, have yet to live up to their billing. ./ ColombiaColombia migmightht bebe amonamongg ththoseo considered dark horses in the knockout stage. James TThehe first last-16 match in Russiap promisesromises RodriRodriguezguez was superb aagainstgainst Poland but then forced off injured against Senegal. to bbee a ffascinatingascinating cclashlash o off two two un under-achievingder-achieving 12#(!(12#12#(!(12# sidessides who araree supposedlysupposedly on different  110.0. MEXIEXICOCO trajectories.trajectories.  A convincingconvincing defeatdefeat toto SwedeSwedenn has tempered expectations slightly but Mexico showed All the flaws of an ageing and unbalanced enough in their opening two games to suggest they can be a real threat. They beat ArgentinaArgentina team were rutruthlesslyhlessly exposeexposedd inin tthehe ... &&0 GGermanyermany 1-1-00 but should havhavee scored four or five while Hirving Lozano on the left has thrashingthrashing bbyy CroatiaCroatia inin thethe g grouproup sta stage.ge. been one of the plplayersayers ofof ththee tournament so far. But, roaredroared onon bbyy aa pumpepumped-upd-up Diego Diego Mara Mara--        dona,dona, Messi finallyfinally openedopened hishis account in this #  ##     77 11. FRANFRANCECE ##)) tournament before Marcos RoRojojo volleyedvolleyed in a # & ## ## &   &&               They remain unbeaten but, sasavev Germany, there is no team to have disappointed more. stunningstunning winnerwinner aagainstgainst Ni Nigeriageria as as th thee losin losingg 20 201414       TacticalTactical upheaval and painfupainfullyl ponderous performances suggest Didier Deschamps finalistsfinalists punchedpunched theirtheir ticketticket to thethe knockoutknockout 111      isis still working out how to mmake the most of his talented squad. Is Nabil Fekir the stage.stage.   333  answer?answer? OOutut wide or uupp fronfront?t France have more questions than answers. DidierDidier Deschamps’Deschamps’ France, meanwhile,meanwhile,         12.12. RRUSSIAUSSIA aamongmong thethe pre-tournament favourites,favourites, have   "// .. *(.*(. &&         A blisteringblistering start, a ststrongrong mmiddle and a discouraging end. After thrilling wins over lookedlooked ssluggishluggish d despiteespite easing easing t hthroughrough th thee group group Frenchrencncnchch pplaplayers take part in a training session at the Tsentralnytadiumtadiumadi diuStadium,um, inn K azan,aazinzan, anaan,Kazan,n yester yesterday,dadayday,ayayy,, % %%% "//! .. *('*(' && -%% -%--%-%-%%% %% %% stagestage ununbeaten.beaten. ono thet th evevevve of their FIFA 2018 World Cup round of 16 match againstnstnsstt Argentg Argentina.inaina.inna.naaa. SaudiSaudi Arabia and Egypt, RusRussias were dealt something of a reality check by Uruguay. First-choiceFirst-choice stristrikerker AntoineAntoine GriezmaGriezmannnn has has 2#!2#!#! 2!2! '0 But the hosts have proven ttheirh doubters wrong and shown they will be no pusho- beenbeen unaunableble to recapture hhisis bbestest f formorm an andd t hthee vvers,ers, particularly in Moscow, wwhere they play Spain next.  ! !  %% ..('('     # ' ' '('  0 0 creativitycreativity hhasas ffailedailed toto flflowow f fromrom mi midfield.dfield. TheThe tentensions of the win over Nigeria had 1986 tally steered Francence to thethe finalfinal ofof Euro 2016,    %% '(*      **()()  DeschampsDeschamps is aadamantdamant tthathat France France wi willll get get it it WorldWorld Cup wwinner Maradona grimacing towards where France lostt to PortugaPortugal.l. 13.13. SSWITZERLANDWITZERLAND allall rirightght on tthehe ninightght wwhenhen t thehe b businessusiness en endd o off thethe ssky,ky, a crcrazed look in his eyes. His campaign so ffarar hhasas b beeneen more more remar remark-k- # 0)10)1 **(*(*     && .(' ControversyControversy andand thethe threatthreat ofof suspensions could have diverted focus but Granit Xhaka and Xherdan SShaqirihaqiri escapeescapedd punishment for their politically charged celebrations thethe tournament kkicksicks ooffff onon totoday.day. MMaradonaaradon later played down concerns over able for the controversyroversy causecausedd byby hhisis d decisionecision   against Serbia, and their goalsgoals carried Switzerland through. They did just enough but, ““AA wwholehole new competitionb beginsegins now, now, hishis hhealthealth aafter he was checked over by para- to announce his commitmentommitment to to At Atleticoletico Ma Madrid,drid, 6 3" 6 3"  3 !!4!2!!3 !!4!2!!  3  3 direct elimination,” DeschampsDeschamps said.said. “We“We medicsmedics ininsidesid his VIP box. rejecting Barcelonana in in the the process, process, in in a a 40-minute 40-minute in truth, not much more. ) '' ) gotgot wwhathat we wantewanted.d. Now tthehe momountainuntain ButBut Argentina,Arge and Messi’s health is under video which airedd onon tthehe eve eve o off France’s France’s o opener.pener. loomslooms up in ffrontront ooff us, bbutut we’re ttherehere scrutiny too,too according to former France captain “He’s fine, he’s’s ffine.ine. YouYou mustn’tmustn’t everever d doubtoubt )0 (( ,,,, 14.14. DENMARK andand we’re aiming to get htthroughrough to to th thee next next MarcelMarcel DesDesailly.a one of the best playersplayers in thethe world,”world,” saidsaid hishis ') && ', Denmark held France to a goallessgo draw and Christian Eriksen is continuing to show roundround afteafterr that.that.”” FivFive-timee-time BBallonallon d’Ord’Or A WorWorldld Cup winner with France in 1998, Atletico teammatee LucasLucas HernanHernandez.dez. ')'+ )')' '+,' himselfhimself as one of the finest plplaymakersa in the world. Those are the positives. But there winner Messi underlined his importanceimportance DesaillyDesailly toltoldd Britain’s Guardian newspaper: “We Les Bleus shoulduld havehave thethe measuremeasure ofof MessiMessi,, was also a turgid draw agaiagainstn Australia and a win over Peru that might well have '.  .* toto Argentina withwith a sublimely-takensublimely-taken knowknow Messi is great but we’re confused and sad according to Mariusrius Tresor, tthehe fformerormer FranceFrance been differentdifferent had their oppopponentso scored a penalty. opening goalgoal against Nigeria onon foforr hhim.im. defender who helpedped Les Les B Bleusleus to to a a f ourtfourth-placeh-place +./  0+/ Tuesday.Tuesday. “He is suchsu a pure Barcelona product but with finish at the 1982 WWorldorld Cup.Cup. 15.15. JAPAN But it only partly made amends for Argentina rightrig now, Messi’s in a mess.” “And let’s “Against Messi,i, they they ( France(France)) will will have have to to play play JapanJapan took four points and ththeire only win came against Colombia, who played with 10 thethe Barcelona icon’s penaltypenalty miss faceface it, FranFrancec have yet to show anything to make intelligently,” Tresorsor said.said.    00++ men for 8877 minutes. They thethen scraped through ahead of Senegal on fair play points. againstagainst IceIcelandland in in a a l aclacklustreklustre 1-1 1-1 d drawraw usus ffeeleel optioptimistic,m to give us hope,” said Desailly. “If Messi comeses tthroughhrough t thehe mi middleddle we we h haveave ! !   '"'" Perhaps it would be harsh to say Japan were lucky but a shaky defence can only last thatthat ddampenedampened Argentine Argentine h hopesopes f romfrom WithWith jujusts three goals from three games, an a guy called N’Gololo Kante Kante w whoho d doesn’toesn’t l etlet peop peoplele !! "# "#    ( ( ssoo long against better opponopponents.e theirtheir opening matcmatch.h. attackingattacking llinein featuring Griezmann, 145-million- past him easily. $$      MessiMessi was tthenhen virtuavirtuallylly missi missingng euro teenageteenage sensation Kylian Mbappe and Olivier “On his (Messi’s)si’s) right side there’s HernaHernan-n-    16.16. ARRGENTINAGENTINA inin action when JorJorgege Sam Sampaoli’spaoli’s men men Giroud has hhardly set the tournament on fire. dez, who knows himim well well from from the the Spanish Spanish lea league.gue.  " " "  FourFour minutes awayaway f fromrom goin goingg out and seemingly saddled with a coach without author- sufferedsuffered thethe chasteningchastening defeatdefeat to Griezmann,Griezma particularly, is facing increasing Messi “likes too move arounaround,d, soso wewe h haveave to to    ity, Argentina’sArgentina’s proprogressgress coul couldd hardly have been bumpier. They ran out of ideas against Croatia.Croatia. scrutinyscrutiny twtwoo years after his six-goal, seven-assist try and control him.”m.” %-. .%-. . Iceland, were outplayed byCr Croatia and survived only thanks to a last-gasp win over %- )&%- )& '  '   Nigeria. They are through though,th and they still have Lionel Messi. 22 SPORT SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018 Wimbledon: Federer to face Lajovic

REUTERS after being paired with takes on Swede Johanna two and Argetine Juan Halep’s potential Argentina in round three. 107th ranked Dutchwoman Larsson. Martin del Potro in round quarter-final opponent is Nadal, who has been vul- LONDON: Defending Arantxa Rus. Men’s second seed three. two-times champion Petra nerable on the Wimbledon champion Roger Federer The 36-year-old Rafael Nadal, champion in The biggest match of the Kvitova, with third seed lawns in recent years, will will begin his quest for a American, who has played 2008 and 2010, starts men’s first round will be Muguruza seeded to play be a little more wary. record-extending ninth only a handful of matches against Israel’s Dudi Sela sixth seed Grigor Dimitrov’s against her in the semis. Surprise French Open Wimbledon title with a first- this year after giving birth while three-time champion tussle with three-times Women’s second seed semi-finlaist Marco Cecch- round clash against Serbian last September, is seeded Novak Djokovic faces Grand Slam champion Stan Caroline Wozniacki starts inato, seeded 29, or German world number 57 Dusan 25th after being bumped up American Tennys Sandgren. Wawrinka, who is unseeded against American Varvara serve-and-volleyer Mischa Lajovic. from her world ranking of British favourite Andy after an injury break. Lepchenko. Zverev could await in the The 36-year-old Swiss, 183. Murray, still a doubt for the Women’s top seed Federer and Nadal, who third round. seeded one, appears to have It could soon get harder tournament as he makes a Simona Halep will play contested a memorable final Should he reach the been given a smoothish for Williams, though. comeback from nearly a year Japan’s Kurumi Nara in the 10 years ago and are again quarter-final, Nadal could route to the latter rounds, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, the out with a hip injury, is first round. dominating men’s tennis, can face Del Potro or even though in-form third seed fifth seed, lies in wait as a unseeded and was drawn to The Romanian world have few complaints about Murray. Marin Cilic, who he beat in potential third-round play Benoit Paire. number one, who claimed their draws. Federer will open Centre last year’s final, could be opponent. Twice champion Murray, her first Grand Slam title at Federer could face 94th- Court action on Monday waiting in the semi-final this Defending women’s whose last Grand Slam the French Open this month, ranked Lukas Lacko or while Serena Williams also time. champion Garbine match win came against could face a rematch with 285th-ranked Benjamin starts on Monday. Seven-times women’s Muguruza of Spain will play Paire in the fourth round of Britain’s Johanna Konta in Bonzi in round two and his Murray will have a champion Serena Williams Briton Naomi Broady in the last year’s Wimbledon, could the fourth round, having lost first seeded opponent Tuesday start against Paire, was handed a comfortable- first round while Venus Wil- face Canadian teenager an epic quarter-final last would be 32nd seed giving him an extra day to looking first-round draw liams, runner-up last year, Denis Shapovalov in round year. Leonardo Mayer of assess his fitness. Ageless Swiss targets title number nine

REUTERS surprisingly beaten by Croatian Borna thrive in the predicted hot conditions. Coric. “He doesn’t necessarily love grass LONDON: Roger Federer is already While Coric’s victory offers some the first week because it’s green and the most prolific and oldest winner encouragement for the rest of the slippery,” Wilander said. of the Wimbledon men’s singles title field, Federer will not have dwelled “But if the weather’s hot and it but when he saunters into the All on it. gets quick and bouncy, watch out in England Club on Monday he will do After all, he lost to veteran the second week.” so as favourite to lift the trophy for a German Tommy Haas in the build- Third seed Cilic saw his final ninth time. up to last year’s Wimbledon but was hopes wrecked last year by a painful The seemingly ageless Swiss, who untouchable once he arrived in his blister but he won the Queen’s club turn 37 in August, has planned his favourite English country garden. title last week and according to year around defending the title he “Federer is the favourite, he is Wilander is a player even Federer claimed last year by beating Croatia’s playing at least as well as he was last fears. Marin Cilic. year,” former world number one Mats “Cilic for me is second favourite,” If anything Federer’s 2017 Wim- Wilander, the face of Eurosport’s cov- Wilander said. “You do not want to bledon fortnight was the most erage, told said. play against Cilic. He has won one impressive of his career as he swept “Yes he has lost a few three-set (Grand Slam title) and he feels like through the draw without losing a set matches this year but Wimbledon is he’s overdue a second one. for the first time -- ending a five year completely different.” “It’s just a matter of time.” Three- wait to nudge ahead of Pete Sampras Yesterday’s draw handed Federer times champion Novak Djokovic on the all-time list. a comfortable looking route into the appears to have rediscovered his In this file photo taken on July 06, 2017 Nothing that has happened in the second week but while Wilander says ‘human brickwall’ capabilities but Switzerland’s Roger Federer attends a past 12 months suggests Federer’s the Swiss will again be the man to twice champion Andy Murray is only hunger is diminished with victory at beat, he believes there are enough a handful of matches into a comeback practice session at The All England Lawn this year’s Australian Open taking his threats to make this year’s tour- from a hip injury that needed surgery Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest Grand Slam title haul to 20. nament the most intriguing for years. in January. London. He skipped the claycourt season “It’s not like Nadal at the French Of the new generation Alexander which was against dominated by his Open,” Wilander said. Zverev is seeded fourth but it is Aus- great rival Rafael Nadal who earlier “I would back the field over tralian Nick Kyrgios who looks the  & ! S 0   this month won the French Open for Federer, just.” most likely to make an impression on  & !    &     S  & = . &     an 11th time to move to within three Second seed Nadal, who won the Wimbledon lawns. + & .    #>?     +        of Federer’s record Grand Slam tally. the first of his two Wimbledon titles The maverick 23-year-old almost 8  9. .= + +   +  S  0+ 5>$  55# Federer returned to the grass- in an epic final against Federer 10 beat Federer in Stuttgart and at . 4%'(4'# >> 7:2,5( 5$:$ courts in Germany, winning the title years ago, has not been beyond the Queen’s club last week served 98 aces in Stuttgart before reaching the Halle fourth round since 2011 but arrives in four matches before being edged final this month where he was full of vim and vigour and could out by Cilic. ##2 ##4 ##3

Wozniacki saves match point  & !  4  & !    & !   !,4''((( ... ,  ... ,  >>  >> * > >>   >>  to make Eastbourne final $3  $2  # $2 *  $ * AFP Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki waves to the crowd after ## ##> ##5 she beats Germany’s Angelique Kerber in their singles semi-final match at the ATP Nature Valley tennis in EASTBOURNE, UNITED KINGDOM: Former world number Eastbourne, southern England yesterday. one Caroline Wozniacki reached the Eastbourne final for the third time after saving a match point in her 2-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 victory over Angelique Kerber yesterday. While the draw for Wimbledon was taking place at the All England Club, Wozniacki warmed up for next week’s Grand Slam by surviving a tense duel with German star Kerber.  & !    & !   ... ,  Kerber, a two-time Grand Slam champion, hit 42 winners 5 .  5 .   & !   to Wozniacki’s 39, but she couldn’t deliver the knock-out  >>   >5 * >>   > $ $3  * blow. 3 > > 2 $ > In sweltering heat on the south-coast, Wozniacki saved 9 $ > ) $  $   # > > )  a match point in the second set before making the most of her escape by taking the deciding set. # #> The 27-year-old Dane is back in the Eastbourne final after winning the title in 2009 and finishing as runner-up to Karolina Pliskova 12 months ago. Her form on grass at Eastbourne should boost her con- fidence ahead of Wimbledon, where she has never gone beyond the fourth round in 11 appearances. Wozniacki, who won her maiden Grand Slam title in Aus- tralia in January, has been drawn to play Varvara Lepchenko  & !  2 !76 > in the Wimbledon first round. 4 2 Before that, the world number two faces Aryna Sabalenka .!  & !  of Belarus in today’s Eastbourne final. * >   )  * Sabalenka ended Agnieszka Radwanska’s run on her  # ) *    return from injury, beating the former Wimbledon finalist 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach her third WTA Tour title match.  3 .7( 2  (3(( .(( '   SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018 SPORT 23

Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the second practice session ahead of the Austrian Formula One Grand Prix in Spielberg, Central Austria, Austria. Mercedes dominate Austrian practice AFP That was enough for him to second Ferrari. Verstappen be 0.176 seconds quicker than revealed that he had completed SPIELBERG, AUSTRIA: Lewis Bottas and 0.236 seconds faster the session with a damaged floor. Hamilton gave his Mercedes than fellow four-time champion “Something broke off the team a vote of thanks yesterday Vettel, who was third. inside of the floor so, in my after he headed Valtteri Bottas Bottas also praised Mercedes, second practice session, I had to twice in a commanding one-two who have won every race in run with a floor that was a little at the Austrian Grand Prix. Austria since it rejoined the cal- bit cut, let’s say it like that. The championship leading endar in 2014, for the updates “Anyway, it was an old Briton and his Finnish team- package. floor. We’ll have a new one mate were fastest in both “The initial feeling is that tomorrow, but we were a bit practice sessions on the debut of they work well. The team has limited by that.” Frenchman their upgraded aerodynamic done a really good job -- every Romain Grosjean was seventh package, just a week after intro- single person in the team has ahead of his Haas team-mate ducing a revised engine. worked really hard on them.” Kevin Magnussen, Pierre Gasly “It’s been a good day -- Vettel, who has yet to top the of Toro Rosso and Stoffel pretty straightforward with no times in any Friday session this Vandoorne. real issues,” said Hamilton, who year, said: “It’s quite close. I think Frustrated and luckless two- leads nearest rival Sebastian Mercedes had the upper hand time champion Fernando Alonso, Vettel of Ferrari by 14 points in today, they looked very quick in who won the Le Mans 24-Hours the title race. all conditions, but I think it was race with Toyota two weekends “There are not many corners a tricky Friday. ago, was 19th in the second here in Austria. It’s a very fast “We did a lot of laps, which McLaren. Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton signs his autograph for a young fan during practice session of the Austrian track and it’s very close between was good, and we should be well The session was interrupted Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria, yesterday. all the tyres. prepared for tomorrow and also by one red flag -- for four “The harder tyre seems to be for Sunday.” minutes -- when Gasly ran over the better for me. And it’s really “The car feels better in pushing, trying to maximise a bit 33-year-old clocked a best lap Australian Daniel Ricciardo, the ‘sausage’ kerbs at the final great to see the updates here -- certain areas around the track more out of it.” time of one minute and 4.579 who will 29 on Sunday, was corner of the short power-ori- the guys at the factory have been which is already a step forward Five days after his triumph seconds in the afternoon’s fourth ahead of his Red Bull entated circuit. working so hard to bring quality from last week. It feels good in last Sunday’s French Grand second session at the Red Bull team-mate Max Verstappen with “I broke the suspension on components. overall and I am going to keep Prix at Le Castellet, the Ring circuit. Kimi Raikkonen sixth in the the kerbs,” he said. Diamond League: Qatar’s Samba eyes more success at Paris meet THE PENINSULA place. In so doing, the ebullient to test himself to the maximum Warholm has lowered his in the concluding event of the PARIS: Qatar’s Abderrahman national record to 47.81, but programme against a 100m field Samba (pictured) will seek to Samba has made even better that includes Ronnie Baker, who continue his dominance in the headway, lowering his own set a legal personal best of 9.90 men’s 400m hurdles event at the Diamond League and Asian in finishing second behind Noah IAAF Diamond League meet at record to 47.41 in Stockholm. Lyles’s season-leading 9.88 at the Charlety Stadium in Paris The presence of the British the US Championships in Des India’s Lokesh Rahul hits a six to bring up his half century during today. Virgin Islands athlete Kyron Moines last weekend. the Twenty20 International match against Ireland at Malahide At its halfway point on the McMaster, who beat Warholm Also in the mix will be South road to the finals, the IAAF to the Diamond League title last Africa’s Commonwealth cricket club, in Dublin, yesterday. Diamond League is now headed year’s final, is likely to make it champion Akani Simbine, who for the Charlety Stadium in Paris, more interesting. has run 9.98 this year, Baker’s where on Saturday (30) a Kerron Clement,the Olympic compatriot Michael Rodgers, India rout Ireland stacked field will attempt to champion from the United second in this year’s world match the stupendous athletics Norwegian Karsten Warholm, States, is also in the field and leg- rankings with 9.89, and spectacle that took place in who broke through to win the endary Ed Moses 1986 meeting Jamaica’s 2011 world champion by 143 runs in T20 Stockholm’s 1912 Olympic world title last year. record of 47.66 looks in serious Yohan Blake. Stadium on 10 June. Three times Warholm has danger. The women’s 100m will The event has produced faced Samba in Diamond League With the European Athletics feature the sprinter who took AFP months ago, and was only extraordinary drama this season races, and on each occasion, in Championships in Berlin world silver over 100 and 200m behind Sri Lanka’s 172-run win with the emergence of 22-year- Rome, Oslo and then Stockholm, looming on the horizon, home last year, but who is now moving DUBLIN: India routed Ireland over Kenya at Johannesburg in old Samba as one of the new Samba has finished on top talent Jimmy Vicaut, who has up to gold standard – Marie- by 143 runs in the second 2008. Once again Ireland had young challengers to the forcing Warholm to the second run 9.92 this season, will be able Josee Ta Lou. Twenty20 international no answer to India’s spin twins, yesterday, the joint second- Kuldeep Yadav and man of the highest margin of victory in the series Yuzvendra Chahal, who game’s shortest format. shared six wickets for 37 runs. Iran edge Ireland, chasing 214 to win, Ireland’s top scorer was were dismissed for just 70 in captain Gary Wilson with 15 and only 12.3 overs. it needed two runs by tailender Qatar in The margin of victory Boyd Rankin to get Ireland past matched Pakistan’s win over their lowest ever T20 total of 68 Doha thriller West Indies at Karachi three against Windies eight years ago. QNA SCOREBOARD India J Shannon c Rahul b Kaul ...... 2 DOHA: Qatar lost to Iran Rahul c and b O’Brien ...... 70 W Porterfield b Umesh Yadav ...... 14 77-75 in the fifth and final Kholi c Dockrell b Chase ...... 9 A Balbirnie b Chahal ...... 9 round of Group D of the Asian Raina c Dockrell b O’Brien ...... 69 G Wilson b Kuldeep Yadav ...... 15 qualifiers for the 2019 FIBA Sharma c Stirling b O’Brien ...... 0 K O’Brien c Kuldeep Yadav b Pandya ...... 0 Pandey (not out) ...... 21 S Singh lbw b Chahal ...... 0 Basketball World Cup at the Pandya (not out) ...... 32 S Thompson b Chahal ...... 13 Al Gharafa Sports Hall Extras (12w) ...... 12 G Dockrell c Umesh Yadav b Kuldeep Yadav ...... 4 yesterday. Total (4 wkts) ...... 213 B Rankin st Khartik b Kuldeep Yadav ...... 10 Qatar showed a strong Did not bat: Dinesh Karthik, Kuldeep Yadav, Sid- P Chase (not out) ...... 0 performance over Iran during darth Kaul, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal Extras (3W) ...... 3 the first half of the game with Action from the Group D match of Fall of Wickets: 1-22, 2-128, 3-128, 4-169 Total (12.3 overs) ...... 70 Bowling: Singh 2-0-32-0, Rankin 3-0-33-0, Chase Fall of Wickets: 1-0, 2-16, 3-22, 4-30, 5-32, 6-36, a score of 38-29. However, the Asian qualifiers for the 2019 4-0-42-1, Thompson 1-0-17-0, Dockrell 4-0-30-0, 7-44, 8-56, 9-68, 10-70 the Qatari team lost by nine FIBA Basketball World Cup between Stirling 2-0-19-0, O’Brien 4-0-40-3 Bowling: Umesh Yadav 2-0-19-2, Siddarth Kaul points, to tie the two teams Qatar and Iran at the Al Gharafa Ireland 2-0-4-1, Hardik Pandya 2-0-10-1, Yuzvendra Chahal before the fourth and decisive Sports Hall yesterday. P Stirling c Raina b Umesh Yadav ...... 0 4-0-21-3, Kuldeep Yadav 2.3-0-16-3 stage. SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018 SPORT 24

Current Brazil team doesn’t BEST QUOTES AT THE WORLD CUP:

“In general, I wish my Bar- celona colleagues success, really scare rivals in Russia unless they’re playing against Croatia, and I’m glad he scored (against Nigeria) and REUTERS or folklore and make them seem reached the next round. He more serious.” Had seriousness deserved it, he plays so well. SOCHI, RUSSIA: The biggest been a factor in years gone by I wish him good luck.” change for Brazil at this World the story of Brazilian football Croatia midfielder Ivan Rakitic Cup is not on the field, or on the would be very different. has only good words for his Bar- training ground, or even in the Instead of Pele, a nonsensical celona teammate Lionel Messi. dressing-room. It’s on the team name he picked up as a child, the sheet. record books would be filled For the first time since 1974 with the legend of Edson Arantes “He has a way of playing that Brazil have arrived at a World do Nascimento. doesn’t necessarily fit eve- Cup without a player better Garrincha, who was named ryone. But it’s him, it’s his known by his nickname than his after one of the birds he so loved, style. He’s been getting given name. would be known as Manuel dos better and better during the Brazilian players usually go Santos, a name as common in competition. He’s not by one name but while they Brazil as John Smith is in thinking about his injury.” might all sound exotic to England. Rakitic is not quite as effusive foreign ears, there is a big dif- And rather than chant the in his praise for former club ference between those who use name of Zico, one of their most teammate Neymar. their given names and those illustrious successors, fans would better known by their sing the praises of Arthur nicknames. Antunes Coimbra. “Crowds of Mexican louts This year there are no little Brazilian supporters might would have passed by the coins (Tostao in Portuguese), no not care what their players are necropolis of the country’s superheroes (Hulk), and none of called if they win the World Cup best people wearing cos- the seven dwarves (Dunga, or for the sixth time and many tumes of smiling skeletons, Brazil’s midfielder Casemiro arrives for a press conference at the Yug-Sport Stadium in Sochi yesterday, Dopey). foreign ears will not even notice jumping, dancing, tooting during the 2018 FIFA World Cup football tournament. In their place are Fred, the change. horns, ringing bells, flirting Douglas and Marcelo, names that But the standardisation of and playing love games.” would not be out of place in a sports editor at Rio de Janeiro as Alemao (German, because he football clubs have stopped monikers has drained some Communists of Russia party London accountant’s office. newspaper O Globo. was blonde and blue-eyed); or a players from using nicknames,” colour from the most vivid of all spokesman Sergei Malinkovich, The slow death of the Bra- From an early age, players colour, like Branco (White, Dos Anjos said. footballing nations, according to after Mexican fans were told to zilian nickname is a conse- now aim to become brands and because he was the only white “If your name is Hulk then Dos Anjos. abandon plans to hold a “Day quence of football becoming that is harder if you are named player in a team of you will be painted green and “You start to see that they are of the Dead” parade in Red more corporate and less irrev- after a body part, such as Bigode Afro-Brazilians). made to look like your name. It taking some of the fun out the Square. erent, said Marvio dos Anjos, (Moustache); a nationality, such “Agents and the directors of is a way to neutralise any irony game,” he said.

“First of all I want to thank God for this win. I always give glory to God. (Radamel) Falcao is also a Christian, as Club rivalry pushed De Gea ‘working is (Juan) Cuadrado. Our team is very much connected to God. We’re always praying like an animal’ and giving glory to him.” Barcelona defender Yerry Mina, aside vs Ronaldo at AFP he has not made any more whose header against Senegal costly errors since the game on Thursday sent Colombia KRASNODAR, RUSSIA: Spain with Portugal, criticism has through to the last 16, thanks World Cup: Suarez goalkeeper David de Gea is persisted. the team’s supposed 12th man. “working like a bloody animal” “It is the most unfortunate and has the full backing of his position on the pitch but if you AP “This is a World Cup and of Arabia and Egypt. Uruguay teammates in the face of have seen David’s games for “Somehow, some way, you course we’re all defending and coach Oscar Tabarez was com- stinging criticism from the Manchester United and his need to decide a winner.” SOCHI, RUSSIA:Luis Suarez we’re all working for our plimentary of Ronaldo and the national media for his World other games for Spain you’ll be Colombia coach Jose Pekerman, (pictured) believes any rivalry national teams, and that’s the rest of the Portugal squad, Cup displays, midfielder Thiago able to tell he is an outstanding when asked whether the disci- he may have with Cristiano essential aspect. And everybody noting several times Uruguay Alcantara said yesterday. goalkeeper,” Thiago told a news plinary record rule, which saw Ronaldo is limited just to their will try and give their utmost will be facing the reigning De Gea made a high-profile conference. Japan into the last 16 and club teams playing the past four tomorrow as to prevail.” champions of Europe. But he blunder in Spain’s 3-3 draw “The media also need to Senegal exit the tournament, years against each other in La While Suarez seemed to play also admitted it’ll be a group with Portugal by allowing a take a look at themselves and was fair. Liga. down or avoid questions about effort trying to slow down Por- shot from Cristiano Ronaldo realise what a great player he In other words, it won’t be Ronaldo, it’s clear Uruguay must tugal’s star. through his hands, which led to is. Look how many times he has Suarez vs. Ronaldo when continue to have the tightest “Cristiano Ronaldo is one of his status as number one keeper been named best goalkeeper in “It is our commitment to fair Uruguay and Portugal meet in defense in the tournament to the best strikers in the world,” being called into question. the Premier League. He works play that has got us through.” the World Cup round of 16 keep Ronaldo and others under Tabarez said. “He has a great The Manchester United like a bloody animal and the Japan Football Association pres- tonight, it’ll be team against control. potential obviously and in goalkeeper made his first save confidence we have in him is ident Kozo Tashima on the con- team. Ronaldo scored four goals planning the match, especially in the tournament in the 2-2 gigantic.” Spain meet hosts troversial defensive tactics that “When it comes to the in Portugal’s first two group focusing on the opponent and draw with Morocco in Spain’s Russia in the round of 16 saw Japan reach the last 16. rivalry with Ronaldo at club stage matches. Uruguay is the considering the level that every final group game and although tomorrow. level that’s a different thing all only team that didn’t concede a player has... what Ronaldo has together,” Suarez said goal in the first round - in a on top of the qualities is that he’s yesterday. group containing Russia, Saudi the leader of that team. That is an additional factor. There is not a single player that can contain him there. Not just (Diego) Godin. We will have to work collectively in order to try and contain him or in order to try and limit the effect he can have.” Portugal coach Fernando Santos knew the question about Portugal’s dependence on Ronaldo was coming, and said he even won a coffee because of it after making a bet with the team’s press officer ahead of yesterday’s news conference. “I have to repeat it time and time again,” Santos said. “He is the best player in the world in my opinion and it’s natural that the team depends on him, but you can ask the same question to Uruguay’s coach too, if his team depends on Suarez or (Edinson) Cavani... All great players are always very important to their teams.” But Santos reiterated that not even A woman looks through the window of a bus which has the FIFA 2018 World Cup mascot painted Ronaldo can solve things by on it in Yekaterinburg, Russia, yesterday. himself.