SPORTS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2013

The Polish hero who stopped England

WARSAW: Through the windows of the bus that In an Associated Press interview, Tomaszeswki After 55 minutes of frustration, the unthinkable manager six months after the upset, one of the took them to Wembley, Poland’s players saw English recounted how in 1973 the crowd yelled “animals, happened for England. Hunter missed a tackle on biggest in World Cup history. fans flashing five, sometimes all 10 fingers: one for animals” at the Poland squad as the players filed Grzegorz Lato, on the half-way line as he was sprint- Too emotional to sleep that night, Tomaszewski each goal they believed Alf Ramsey’s team would onto the pitch in their red jerseys. ing down Poland’s left wing. Lato veered inside and went out the next morning for an early stroll to dis- score. Their confidence before that Oct. 17, 1973 “You could not hear your own thoughts,” he passed to Jan Domarski. His shot streaked under cover his name plastered on Britain’s front pages. match England needed to win to qualify for the 1974 recalled. Tomaszewski was so stressed he almost gift- Peter Shilton. “They did not know our names so they took the World Cup was understandable: England had ed the ball to England striker Allan Clarke after two Hunter wished a hole could have opened up and first one from the lineup,” he said modestly. “The man become world champions in that same stadium just minutes. But from that point on, he put in the per- swallowed him. “That’s probably one of the worst who stopped England was made of 12 parts: (coach) seven years earlier. formance of a lifetime. England threw everything at feelings I’ve ever had on a football field,” he said. Kazimierz Gorski and 11 players who he precisely But the fans underestimated Jan Tomaszewski. Tomaszewski, and got 26 corners compared to Later, Clarke scored from the penalty spot to level placed on the pitch like pieces in a puzzle. With save after save, playing with an injured hand, Poland’s two. “I’ve never played in a more one-sided the scores at 1-1. “I made plenty of mistakes at Wembley, but my Tomaszewski became “the man who stopped game in my life,” England’s Norman Hunter said years “He is standing there, hands akimbo, as if ready to colleagues saved me. They made mistakes, and then England.” later in a television interview. dance. That showed how great he was, his body lan- I saved them.” England and Poland meet in a World Cup qualifier With acrobatic dives and a dose of luck, guage gave nothing away,” Tomaszewski said. “The Poland’s then-communist government blocked on Tuesday night, when Joe Hart will be the goal- Tomaszewski kept out a barrage of goal-bound shots referee whistles. He runs up sort of casual, I go to one British clubs, including Tottenham, from recruiting keeper under most pressure because he has been so and headers. He recalled, in particular, a volley by corner, he shoots in the other one. That’s top class.” Tomaszewski with rules barring players under 30 error-prone of late. But as he pulls on his gloves and Clarke from five yards (meters) out. But with more saves from Tomaszewski and a from moving abroad. stares down the field at Poland players wanting to “I blindly threw myself to the left and felt the ball goal-line clearance, Poland denied England the win- “I never regretted it,” said Tomaszewski, now 65 make his poor start to the season worse, Hart could hit me and it was out. And then I saw Clarke standing ner it needed. The “Miracle of Wembley” was com- and a lawmaker. “We won the hearts of the Poles. We perhaps draw inspiration from the heroics 40 years there and looking at me: how was it possible? But I plete. Poland, instead of England, went to the World were heroes. We were received by kings, presidents earlier of the Polish ‘keeper with shoulder-length also saw in his eyes a professional appreciation of the Cup in Germany. There, it beat Brazil 1-0 in the match and government leaders. You cannot buy that with rock-star hair. adversary.” for third place. Ramsey was replaced as England any money.” — AP Newell’s win Negredo keen to over River take his chance BUENOS AIRES: Newell’s Old Boys beat River Plate 1-0 in Rosario on Sunday to stay three points clear at the top of MADRID: World champions Spain can seal their “Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn’t. The the Argentine Inicial championship. place in next year’s World Cup in Brazil with just a truth is in the last few games I have had good luck Victor Lopez scored the only goal 10 minutes from time point when they host Georgia in Albacete today. and I need to take advantage of that.” after the match at the Marcelo Bielsa stadium was inter- The task appears a simple one against a side ranked Spain needed a 85th minute winner from rupted for 23 minutes in the second half due to a lighting 97 in the world given La Roja have never lost a Roberto Soldado to beat Georgia in their opening failure. World Cup qualifier on home soil. game in the group last September. Newell’s enjoyed more possession but missed the fire- However, despite weaving a relatively comfort- And while Negredo admits his side have had power up front of top scorer Maxi Rodriguez, who was able passage through a tricky group that includes trouble breaking down limited teams recently, he away on international duty with Argentina. 1998 world champions France, Vicente del Bosque’s believes their tried and trusted short passing style is The introduction of substitute David Trezeguet, on loan men have come in for some criticism for their lack still the best way forward. “It will be difficult from River, was the catalyst for the goal scored seconds of cutting edge in recent games. because Georgia will stick 11 players in their half, after the former France striker came on. Friday’s 2-1 win over Belarus did little to con- but we have a way of playing we need to maintain,” A free kick from the left was headed upwards by Karim Benzema vince the doubters with Spain producing just three said Negredo. Newell’s midfielder Pablo Perez and central defender Lopez shots on target throughout the 90 minutes. “Despite the fact that many games have become nipped in to head home from one metre past goalkeeper Del Bosque sprung a surprise by starting Michu more difficult for us, there are very few games we Marcelo Barovero. France out to win up front on his debut against the Belarussians, but haven’t won. We need to keep the ball and take River claimed they showed have been awarded a penal- it wasn’t until Manchester City striker Alvaro advantage of the chances we have.” ty in added time when striker Federico Andrada went hearts and minds Negredo was introduced that they started to pose a Del Bosque’s patience with Iker Casillas’ lack of down in the box - and TV replays appeared to show he had more serious threat. And after Xavi had given the first-team action at Real Madrid ran out on Friday as his ankle clipped by Gabriel Heinze - but the referee waved hosts the lead, it was Negredo who headed home Victor Valdes replaced the 32-year-old in goal and play on. PARIS: With results elsewhere Friday antagonistic relationship between his third goal in four internationals this season to now seems certain to retain his place until Casillas’ Newell’s remain three points ahead of Arsenal with San guaranteeing France a World Cup players and fans. Star forward Karim make the game safe 15 minutes from time. position as back-up to Diego Lopez at Real changes. Lorenzo and Boca Juniors three points further back. Boca’s qualifying play-off spot, Les Bleus tack- Benzema was jeered more than That goal took Negredo’s overall tally for his Andres Iniesta should though return to the start- push to keep pace with the leaders suffered a setback le Finland in their final Group I match cheered when he entered the fray as a country to nine in just 18 games at a very impres- ing line-up after he only featured as a second-half when they were held 1-1 by Rosario Central at La at the Stade de France today with second-half substitute for Olivier sive strike rate of a goal every 78 minutes. And Del substitute on Friday due to a slight muscular prob- another challenge altogether. Giroud, paying for a run of 1,222 min- Bombonera. A poll published on Sunday in Le utes without scoring in the blue shirt Bosque is expected to hand him a rare start in a lem. Boca went ahead in the 13th minute when striker Parisien newspaper found that 82 per- of the national team. competitive international as he looks to wrap up And there could even be a change at centre- Emmanuel Gigliotti scored his fifth goal in five matches cent of French people have a “bad When he did find the net, six min- qualification in style. back as Gerard Pique finished the Belarus game with a low shot from outside the box. opinion” of the national football team utes after his introduction, he did “It is very difficult in the national team, there are struggling with a minor injury so Inigo Martinez Central’s deserved equaliser came in the final minute while 54 percent expect them to fail in seem to be forgiven his previous profli- many good players and that is why when we go out may get his first taste of competitive interna- from veteran former Uruguay striker Sebastian Abreu and their bid to reach Brazil next year. gacy. Marseille playmaker Mathieu onto the field we all give everything,” he said. tional action. — AFP was the first Boca have conceded in five matches. While France’s bid to reach the Valbuena was roundly booed every “We have to admit they played better than us, they con- global footballing showpiece is likely time he touched the ball, paying for trolled the match but we were 1-0 up and had three to rest on a two-legged play-off clash his association with the fierce and bit- chances to settle the match,” Boca coach Carlos Bianchi in November, barring an unlikely ter rivals of the host club at the Parc told reporters. Spanish defeat to Georgia today, it des Princes, Paris Saint-Germain. Bianchi said that being without midfielder Fernando seems Didier Deschamps’s players face Valbuena, though, failed to let the Gago, who is nursing an injury, was no excuse for the an infinitely tougher task in winning moment pass and his reaction could over the hearts and minds of their only serve to further tarnish an already dropped points. countrymen. It is the personalities of strained relationship. “We had a bad day just when he wasn’t there but we the players who infamously refused to “Not much affects me. You have to must try to play well without him, or Roman (Riquelme),” get off the team bus and train one day forgive them, maybe they thought Bianchi said. during the 2010 World Cup in South Paris were playing,” said the diminutive Racing Club’s record worst start to a season was extend- Africa that still irks the French public. midfielder after the game. “You can’t ed to 11 games without a victory after a 1-0 defeat at It seems they have not been forgiv- turn idiots into intelligent people. It’s a Estudiantes left them at the foot of the standings with just en. Judged unpleasant (85 percent), shame because when you’re wearing two points. overpaid (86), individualist (84), talent- the France shirt they should get Estudiantes ended a run of six matches without a victo- less (76) and vulgar (73), it seems behind us, but it doesn’t bother me.” ry thanks to an own goal by Racing defender Jose Luis almost as if the French public would Perhaps it wasn’t just a case of Gomez less than a minute after halftime. rather see their national team fail. And Valbuena being a Marseille player in Racing were under caretaker Nacho Gonzalez, in charge yet it can’t all be doom and gloom as PSG’s stadium, though, as the Le six million people tuned their televi- Parisien poll suggested. When asked for one match before Reinaldo Merlo’s return for a third sions into a festival of attacking and which of six star players was their spell in charge from late yesterday. creative football as France dismantled favorite, the respondees shunned the Merlo, the team’s third coach this season after the Australia 6-0 at the Parc des Princes on likes of Valbuena, Benzema, Franck departure of Luis Zubeldia and Carlos Ischia, steered Friday. Ribery, Samir Nasri and even Blaise Racing to the last of their seven league titles in 2001. Yet even then, on what was sup- Matuidi, plumping instead by a wide Arsenal came from a goal down to beat nine-man San posed to be a celebratory evening, margin for Tottenham’s low-profile Lorenzo 2-1 at home on Saturday with two late goals from there was more than a hint of the goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.—AFP Alvaro Negredo former Saints striker Julio Furch. San Lorenzo’s midfielder Leandro Navarro was sent off in the 48th minute and defender Santiago Gentiletti in the Footballers striving to bring joy to war-torn Syria 64th, both for second bookings. — Reuters SINGAPORE: For Anas Makhlouf and his “The players are aware of the fans feel- camps, bringing professional players from that Makhlouf faces preparing a team for Syrian team, even the so-called home ings, our fans who are following us across the region and a few from an international tournament. He coached games in the Asian Cup qualifying cam- through the internet or live communica- Damascus. “We can only have the players the Iraq national team from 2002-04. paign are played a long way from the fans tions, we know how much our supporters on FIFA days for short camps of two or After the US-led invasion in 2003, who desperately want them to win so are waiting to feel happy especially that three days and this doesn’t help working “there was nothing left - not footballs, no they’ve got something to celebrate amid a tomorrow is the Eid day,” Makhlouf said on the coherence of the team but we equipment. It was very difficult,” Stange bloody civil war. Monday. “We wish them, we wish our hope this doesn’t affect them because said. “We couldn’t play any matches in The Syria national team coach gets his Syrian people all the best and peace. most of the players have been playing Iraq.” team of mostly foreign-based profession- “I hope tomorrow we will give them a together for a while,” Makhlouf said. “But the players are very, very motivat- als together for a few days around sanc- small present on this occasion.” The Syrian Singapore coach Bernd Stange knows ed to play for their country, to show the tioned international dates for football, and squad assembles in Beirut for training from experience the kind of challenges people who suffer at home under very dif- really can only hope they can compete ficult circumstances that, ‘We are here, we fueled by emotion. want to deliver something.’ And it was “Everyone knows about our bad situa- very dangerous to play against Iraq. Even tion but we try to do something for our in this difficult time, (Iraq) had their most people over there to help them to be in a successful period.” good situation,” Makhlouf said. “The Syrian Iraq produced some stunning upsets to people, they love football and they are win the 2007 Asian Cup, including a looking for a good team and a good result group-stage win over an Australian team and that’s why we have to do this for playing in the continental tournament them.” only a year after a narrow loss to eventual This week they’re in Singapore, prepar- champion Italy in the second round of the ing for an Asian Cup group match. They’ve World Cup. got one point from two matches and are Syria captain Sanhareb Malki said it in third place in Group A, just ahead of would give the Syrian people a significant Singapore and well behind Oman and boost if his team could achieve anything Jordan. They’re playing their next two near that. home games in Oman and Iran. Still, the “It would give happiness to the people 2015 Asian Cup in Australia is on the radar. on this tragic period for us, for the Makhlouf knows three points in moment,” Malki said. “It’s like Iraq ... we Singapore on Tuesday will be crucial to need to try to do the same. get the qualifying campaign back on track “Everyone in Syria loves football - they and bring some joy to the people of Syria follow us on Facebook, Twitter, on this amid a conflict that has killed more than kind of things. They try to send us mes- ARGENTINA: Boca Juniors’ midfielder Gonzalo 100,000 people, forced more than 2 mil- sages to encourage our team, because we Escalante (top) vies for the ball with Rosario Central’s lion Syrians to flee the country and caused SINGAPORE: Sanhareb Malki, team captain of Syria’s soccer team (right) and his team can’t play at home. For these kinds of peo- midfielder Diego Lagos during their Argentine First untold suffering - psychological, emotion- participate in a training session. Syria will play Singapore during their 2015 Asian ple we need to give everything and we Division football match. — AFP al and physical - across the nation. Cup qualifier soccer match today. — AP will fight.”— AP