Spain Held by Sweden in Opener
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Established 1961 15 Sports Wednesday, June 16, 2021 Spain held by Sweden in opener GLASGOW: Spain opened their Euro 2020 cam- Scotland sunk by Schick paign with a goalless draw against Sweden in The Scots, absent from major tournament finals Seville on Monday after their preparations were since the 1998 World Cup, were sunk by Bayer badly affected by COVID-19, while Patrik Schick Leverkusen striker Schick in front of 12,000 fans at scored one of the championship’s great goals in the Hampden Park. The home side started the Group D Czech Republic’s 2-0 win over Scotland. Elsewhere contest brightly in Glasgow but fell behind shortly on day four of the tournament, Slovakia edged out before half-time as Schick headed home Vladimir 10-man Poland 2-1 in Saint Petersburg. They lead Coufal’s cross. There was even better to come from the early Group E table ahead of Spain and Sweden, the 25-year-old Schick, as he struck a high, curling after the Scandinavians held on for a point at La shot from just inside the Scotland half over the head Cartuja, with Alvaro Morata wasting the hosts’ best of backpedaling Scottish goalkeeper David opportunity. Marshall and into the net. “There are no doubts about a striker like The Scots will next face old rivals England, who Morata,” Aymeric Laporte said of his teammate. made a successful start to their campaign with a 1-0 “We know what he can do, it didn’t go in for him win over Croatia on Sunday, at Wembley on Friday. today it’s true, but in the next game he can score Poland will rue Grzegorz Krychowiak’s 62nd-minute three and shut everyone’s mouth.” Jordi Alba cap- second yellow card in Russia as the midfielder tained Spain in the absence of Sergio Busquets, became the first player to be sent off in this year’s who is still self-isolating at home after testing posi- tournament. tive for the coronavirus. Defender Diego Llorente Slovakia had taken an 18th-minute lead when was only allowed to rejoin the group on Saturday Robert Mak’s shot hit the post and bounced in off after giving a fourth consecutive negative test and Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny before Karol was an unused substitute against the Swedes. Linetty levelled shortly after the break. The game was The squad was forced to train individually and settled with 21 minutes to play, though, as Inter Milan their last friendly against Lithuania was passed defender Milan Skriniar drilled in to give Slovakia a over to the under-21s. But Spain, bidding for a winning start. Poland striker Robert Lewandowski record fourth European Championship title, started was a peripheral figure and has still only scored two strongly against Sweden, dominating possession. goals in 12 appearances at major finals. Morata fired the clearest chance of the first half SEVILLE: Spain’s midfielder Marcos Llorente jumps over Sweden’s goalkeeper Robin Olsen during the UEFA Euro wide though, while Alexander Isak saw an effort Eriksen ‘stable, good’ 2020 Group E match at La Cartuja Stadium on Monday. — AFP deflected onto his own post at the other end by The action on the pitch continues with Denmark Marcos Llorente. midfielder Christian Eriksen still in hospital follow- decision the team faced over whether to restart the had stepped in to say “that it wasn’t the time to Juventus striker Morata dragged another effort off ing Saturday’s shocking collapse. The 29-year-old’s match after Eriksen’s mid-game medical emer- take that decision, and that we should maybe wait target early in the second half, while Sweden striker condition was described as “stable” and “good” by gency. When the match did resume, Denmark lost until the day after to decide”. World Cup holders Marcus Berg miskicked wide of an open goal. Spain the Danish Football Union 48 hours after his car- 1-0. “We were put in a position that I personally France are the favorites to win the trophy and laid siege to the visitors’ net late on, but a series of diac arrest playing for his country against Finland feel that we shouldn’t have been put in,” said the began their campaign against Germany in Munich blocks and an excellent save by Robin Olsen to deny in Copenhagen. Leicester City goalkeeper. yesterday, as holders Portugal faced Hungary in the Gerard Moreno preserved Sweden’s point. Teammate Kasper Schmeichel questioned the Schmeichel said he wished someone more senior other Group F match. — AFP faster than that, but I’ll American record in as many nights as she stamped Ledecky punches take it for now.” The 24- herself a legitimate threat to reigning Olympic year-old who is target- champion Sarah Sjostrom of Sweden, who set the Stubblety-Cook Tokyo ticket at US ing an ambitious Tokyo world record of 55.48 in winning gold in Rio. program of 200m, 400m, “I don’t even know what to do,” Huske said. “I’ve 800m and 1500m been thinking about this a lot. I feel like it hasn’t swims 2nd fastest Olympic swim trials freestyles, said she was really sunk in. It’s really crazy.” She’ll spearhead a OMAHA: World record-holder Katie Ledecky is on just happy to be on her youthful US challenge in the event after 16-year- 200m breaststroke her way to a Tokyo Olympic showdown with way to Tokyo at last old Claire Curzan finished second in 56.43. Rio Australian Ariarne Titmus, locking up her 400m after the one-year pan- Olympian Kelsi Dahlia finished fourth as the ADELAIDE: Zac freestyle spot with a victory at the US Olympic demic dlay. expected trend toward youth in this year’s US team Stubblety-Cook pow- swimming trials on Monday. Ledecky was virtually “It felt pretty surreal gained steam. ered to the second that we were about to Huske said the one-year postponement of the unchallenged when she won the 400m free at the Katie Ledecky fastest 200m breast- Rio Olympics in a world record of 3min 56.46sec. walk out for a trials Tokyo Olympics because of the coronavirus pan- stroke in history yester- But Titmus - who toppled Ledecky in the 400m final,” said Ledecky, who demic had actually benefitted her. “I feel like it day, narrowly missing free at the 2019 World Championships - fired an spoke to reporters via virtual mixed zone but opted really helped me because I was able to work on my the world record, while Olympic warning shot this week when she threat- out of the usual winner’s press conference on her strength training,” she said. “I feel like it makes a Kyle Chalmers comfort- ened the world record in winning the 400m free at coach’s advice with both the 200m and 1500m free big difference in my second 50.” ably booked a ticket to the Australian trials in 3:56.90. Their next clash sud- preliminaries on her schedule yesterday. “A year Michael Andrew emerged victorious in a fierce defend his Olympic denly looks to be leaning in the Aussie’s favor as ago I didn’t think we would even be here, so it is 100m breaststroke battle, holding off Andrew 100m freestyle crown. Ledecky, who was close to her world record pace at nice to just lock in my spot.” Wilson by one one-hundredth of a second. Wilson The 22-year-old the 200m mark on Monday, touched in 4:01.27 for a Another four swimmers are headed to the surged from fourth at the turn to seize second Stubblety-Cook earned comfortable win over Paige Madden (4:04.86). Olympics for the first time, with Torri Huske leading place at the wall as Nic Fink, second at the turn, a berth at his maiden Zac Stubblety-Cook “It wasn’t the best-feeling 400,” admitted a one-two of teenagers in the women’s 100m but- was denied. Andrew, a 22-year-old touted as Olympics with an elec- Ledecky, who was more than two seconds off her terfly. Huske, 18, grabbed her first Olympic berth in Olympic material since he turned pro at 14, couldn’t tric swim at the best time of the year of 3:59.25 at the Mission Viejo sensational style with a world-leading time of match the American record of 58.14 he set in the Australian trials in Adelaide, tracking under Pro Swim in April. “I thought I would go a little 55.66sec. The 18-year-old notched her second semi-finals. —AFP world record pace until the final few meters to touch in 2mins 06.28secs. It was a new Commonwealth record and women’s world number one Tai Tzu-ying and dou- only a fraction outside the all-time best 2:06.12 Taiwan’s Chou eyes bles duo Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin, who are that Russia’s Anton Chupkov posted to win the ranked three globally. Despite a strong badminton 2019 world championship. The man Chupkov badminton gold, pedigree, Taiwan is yet to bring home an Olympic beat to that title, Australia’s Matt Wilson, was medal. But the team will arrive in Tokyo at some- second in 2:08.57, but narrowly outside the even without coach thing of an advantage. tough qualifying standard, leaving him in tears. Wilson, himself a former world record holder, ‘Psychological advantage’ TAIPEI: It’s an unorthodox approach, but Taiwan’s led through 100m, but Stubblety-Cook made While so many other governments failed to ade- Chou Tien-chen is hoping his decision to go without up time underwater at the turns before pulling quately prepare for the coronavirus pandemic, a coach will help him win badminton gold at the clear in the final 50.