FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW Spain and Portugal Thrown Together in 2018 World Cup ‘They Are the Champions of Europe and Have Fantastic Players’
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FFOOTBALLOOTBALL | Page 3 CCRICKETRICKET | Page 7 Borg inspires Wagner fl oors Mourinho’s Windies with pursuit of seven-wicket Man City haul on Day 1 Saturday, December 2, 2017 GOLF Rabia I 14, 1439 AH Woods happy GULF TIMES after solid return in Bahamas SPORT Page 6 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP DRAW Spain and Portugal thrown together in 2018 World Cup ‘They are the champions of Europe and have fantastic players’ AFP islav Cherchesov. Moscow Russia face a host of dan- gers in Group A in the shape of Uruguay, led by Barcelona’s he 2010 World Cup Luis Suarez and Paris Saint- winners Spain were Germain’s Edinson Cavani, and placed in the same Egypt, spearheaded by Liver- group as Cristiano Ro- pool striker Mohamed Salah. Tnaldo’s Portugal at the 2018 France and their potent strike- World Cup in Russia, while force of Antoine Griezmann England will face a talented and teenage sensation Kylian Belgium side. Mbappe will play Australia, Peru Spain’s clash with reigning and Denmark in Group C. European champions Portugal Spain and Portugal’s other in Sochi on June 15 was an ear- opponents in a tough-looking ly highlight thrown up by the Group B are Morocco and Iran. glitzy draw in the Kremlin. Spain coach Julen Lopetegui Neymar’s Brazil must nego- Russian President Vladimir Putin (left), Brazilian legend Pele and said the pairing with Portugal tiate a group including Swit- Argentine legend Diego Maradona (right) pose for pictures. (AFP) leaves little room for error. zerland, Costa Rica and Serbia “Portugal have won an im- as the South Americans seek a England were placed with Kevin focus on.” portant title and, moreover, very sixth title. de Bruyne’s Belgium, surprise Lionel Messi and his Argentina recently. They are the champions Holders Germany meanwhile packages Panama and, in their team which struggled to qualify of Europe and they have fantastic were paired with Mexico, Swe- opening game in Volgograd on will play World Cup debutants players,” Lopetegui told Spanish den and South Korea as Joachim June 18, Tunisia. Iceland as well as a dangerous TV station Cuatro. Loew’s men try to become the England manager Gareth Croatia outfi t and Nigeria. Japan will face a tough task to fi rst nation to retain the title Southgate said his mind went “You know football, you al- fi nish in the top two of Group H since Brazil in 1962. back to playing in the 2-0 ways have a chance,” said Iceland that features Robert Lewand- “I am certainly not scared,” group-stage win over Tunisia coach Heimir Hallgrimsson. “We owski’s Poland, Sadio Mane’s Loew told ZDF television. at the 1998 World Cup. have shown through the years Senegal and Colombia. “Other countries have been “Remembering the Tunisia that if we play well, we can at Russian President Vladimir watching us over the last few game in 1998, it was the fi rst least give them a good game.” Putin said in a speech at the years and they have progressed thing that went through my The tournament that spans 11 draw ceremony that Russia had and they have great players. This mind,” he said. “It was a fantas- cities and 12 stadiums kicks off a “strong aff ection” for football. will be an exciting World Cup.” tic day and it’s nice to be able to when host nation Russia take “Our country is looking for- relive that. on Saudi Arabia on June 14 in ward to the championship and MESSI VS ICELAND “We haven’t done as much Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium. intends to hold it at the highest In a draw overseen by their preparing on the African teams “We just didn’t want to get level,” Putin said. former striker Gary Lineker, yet so now that’s what we can Spain,” said Russia coach Stan- — More on Page 2 QNB STARS LEAGUE Hamroun penalty seals Sadd’s thrilling win over Khor By Sports Reporter al-Haydous saw his attempted lob drift of the league. a corner, delivered to Tayebi who was Doha just wide. Al Sadd next play Al Kharaitiyat and on hand to send in a right-footed volley Ten minutes into the second half and it will be Al Khor vs Al Arabi. from close. it was the captain again who showed his With the half drawing to a close, it was ugurtha Hamroun’s dramatic expertise. Xavi stepped up to hit a 20- QATAR SC BEAT KHARAITIYAT Mohy this time who won a penalty for his 87th-minute penalty sealed a yard free-kick up and over the wall to Earlier in the day, hosts Qatar SC won side as he was impeded inside the area. 3-2 victory for Al Sadd at the leave the goalkeeper with no chance. a thrilling encounter against rivals Al Tiberkanine stepped up and deceived Khalifa International Stadium From that moment on, Al Khor really Kharaitiyat. Qatar SC, who now have the keeper by shooting straight down the Jagainst a resilient Al Khor in Week 10 of came into life for the fi rst time and im- seven points, went 2-0 up through middle to pull a goal back. the QNB Stars League yesterday. mediately pulled one back through So- Michael Babatunde in the 18th minute They hosts were made to pay one Xavi Hernandez had put Al Sadd in roush. The Iranian midfi elder was able and Mohamed Tayebi in the 20th before more time when Deba came in from front with goals in the 15th and 55th to latch on to a defensive scramble and Rashid Tiberkanine (40th) and Anwar the right, skipped past his marker and minutes, while Al Khor’s Madson and slot home. Deba (53rd) pulled The Thunders level. unleashed a powerful left-footed drive Soroush Hossein scored in the 59th and At this point, it was one-way traf- Substitute Ali Awad sealed victory for into the bottom right corner. 70th respectively. fi c and The Knights got their equaliser the home side in the 69th. As Al Kharaitiyat, who stayed on The game was open from the off set when Naif al-Buraiki rose brilliantly to The fi rst half started in electric fash- nine points, exerted a growing domi- and the advantage was taken by a surg- head home a Soroush corner. ion, with Qatar SC on the attack and nance on the game, they were shocked ing Al Sadd. Some intricate interplay With Al Khor pushing for a win- winning a host of corners. They were when they found themselves behind down the right ended with Hamroun ner, having forced multiple saves from rewarded with a penalty when Goun- again. Ali Jasemi sent in a probing, pulling the ball back to captain Xavi, young goalkeeper Meshaal Barshim, erou Mohy swept the legs of Fahad out-swinging cross that escaped all but who was on hand to sweep home. The Wolves hit back when they won al-Balooshi. Babatunde stepped up to substitute Awad who was on hand to The Wolves, who raised their points a late penalty. Boualem Khoukhi was convert the kick past the keeper and slide in and fi nish at the back post. tally to 24, could have doubled their ad- felled in the area, allowing Hamroun grab his third goal of the campaign. Qatar SC will be at home against Al Al Sadd’s Jugurtha Hamroun (third from left) celebrates with his teammates after vantage not long after following Xavi’s to step up to clinch the game and get Al Soon, Qatar SC got their second goal Gharafa, while Al Kharaitiyat host Al he scored the winning goal off a penalty against Al Khor during their QNB Stars expert lofted through ball, but Hassan Sadd back in contention at the top end following a promising attack that led to Sadd at the Al Khor Stadium in Week 11. League match yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Gulf Times 2 Saturday, December 2, 2017 FOOTBALL SPOTLIGHT Doping not a big problem in football: Infantino AFP 50 or 60 matches every year. They are Moscow tested, I don’t know how many times eve- ry year. “If you would have a serious doping is- IFA president Gianni Infantino sue in football this would be known by yetserday sought to distance foot- now, whether in Russia or any other coun- ball from any suspicions of the try of the world.” widespread doping in other sports Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Fthat has cast a cloud over World Cup hosts Mutko, who is also in charge of the World Russia. Cup organising committee, has been im- Russia have been stripped of a third of plicated in the doping allegations. the medals they won as hosts of the 2014 That led to a question to Infantino ask- Winter Olympics in Sochi and last week a ing how Mutko could feasibly keep his ban on the country taking part in interna- World Cup position if the IOC decision tional athletics was upheld by the sport’s were to go against Russia. governing body the IAAF. “As far as I and FIFA are concerned, the Next Tuesday, the International Olym- answer is simple, it will have no impact,” pic Committee will meet to decide wheth- said Infantino with Mutko sitting along- er to ban Russia from the 2018 Winter side him. Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, over “I don’t, and FIFA doesn’t, participate allegations that it ran a state-sponsored in any speculation about any situation.” doping programme for years.