18 SUNDAY, MAY 27, 2018 sports Can Uruguay create history? The Hindu | London Bentancur of Juventus were pro- profligate when presented with moted to occupy key positions simple chances. Of late though fter a swift start to its in the midfield. Pace was added he hasn’t missed much, as his qualification campaign, on the wings and in the full-back performance in the China Cup AUruguay collapsed losing regions and Uruguay qualified in March showed, scoring both three successive matches –3-1 with ease. in the semifinal against Czech in Chile, 4-1 at home to Brazil, This supply-line of players Republic and the final against 2-1 in Peru. Until then manager is probably Uruguay’s biggest Wales. Oscar Tabarez’s strategy was to strength. Of the last 24 players drop deep and hit on the coun- Tabrez has added after the 2014 The Key Player: Luiz Suarez ter, relying on Edinson Cavani World Cup in Rio, only three Luiz Suarez and Edinson Cavani and Luiz Suarez upfront. hadn’t featured in junior com- 18 days to go…… both play the No.9 position for But as key components of his petitions. Such youthful exu- their respective clubs but that team – particularly the midfield berance coupled with the ex- hasn’t stopped them from com- – started ageing and two teams perience of Cavani, Suarez and South American CONMEBOL re- bining effectively as a strike duo which didn’t even qualify for the defender Diego Godin, makes gion charts with 10 goals. Quick, nationally. Suarez is Uruguay’s World Cup – Italy and Ireland it the favourite to top Group ‘A’ strong, good both in the air and all-time leading scorer with 50 – thrashed Uruguay, Tabarez ahead of Russia, Egypt and Saudi with his feet, Cavani is known goals, while Cavani has 42. But changed his tactics. Some of the Arabia. for his incredible work-rate Suarez has more than double best talents from the under-20 and positioning. The 31-year- the number of assists which team such as Federico Valverde The Goal-poacher: Cavani old has a penchant for scoring makes him crucial to his coun- of Real Madrid and Rodrigo Edinson Cavani Edinson Cavani topped the spectacular goals, but is oddly try’s chances.

Coutinho reveals his Mexico head to Russia with biggest football Idol Soccer Laduma | Rio de Sport. one aim ‘to win’: Moreno Janerio “When Barca’s interest came up, I thought that it had always AFP | Los Angeles C Barcelona superstar been my dream to come. That’s FPhilippe Coutinho, who something I can’t deny. exico head to the World will taking great form into the “My biggest idol was MCup in Russia with a clear 2018 FIFA World Cup with Ronaldinho, now I have the objective, to reach the final and Brazil, has revealed who his same opportunity.” win it, defender Hector Moreno KNOW WHAT biggest footballing idol was Ronaldinho made 207 ap- said Friday. growing up. pearances for “We are going to play the The playmaker has been in Barca, scoring World Cup to win it,” the Real fantastic touch since he joined 94 goals and Sociedad defender said as Mex- Mexico’s defender Hector the Catalan giants in January, assisting a ico prepared to face Wales on Moreno is aiming to play and has already contributed further 71 Monday at the Rose Bowl in in a third World Cup after to 16 goals in 22 games for his strikes, and Pasadena. “For me the impor- South Africa in 2010 and new club. also won tant thing is to get home and Brazil 2014 In a recent interview, the five tro - not have any regrets.” “We know Hector Moreno 25-year-old Philippe Coutin- phies with that we are not favourites. We ho revealed that he wants to the club. know that no one thinks that stay with the Blaugrana for Mexico will win. I think the Carlos Osorio this month. Osorio was also bullish on the “We believe that we can go to a long time, and hopes Mexican team is ready.” Hector Moreno is aiming to chances that Mexico, who have the final, as athletes and human to emulate his idol Moreno, 30, is part of the play in a third World Cup after fallen in the last 16 in the last beings it’s our right to believe, Ronaldinho. 28-player preliminary World South Africa in 2010 and Brazil six World Cups, can surprise because we work hard for it,” “I hope to stay Cup squad named by coach Juan 2014. in Russia. Osorio said. for many years to win as many titles as pos- sible,” he told Saudi Arabia’s Al Shehri Peru’s Paolo Guerrero not short of creative spark PLAYER OF THE DAY Reuters | Hong Kong

hat Yahya Al Shehri appeals to Swiss court Wlacks in stature he more than makes up for in influence in the Saudi Paolo Guerrero Arabia side that is heading • to the World Cup finals in had just completed a Russia. six-month ban by FIFA Standing at just 1.6 metres tall, the versatile attacker plays a major role in the Reuters | London creation and scoring of op- portunities for Saudi Arabia eru captain and top scorer and he was a central figure PPaolo Guerrero on Friday in the country’s qualifica- asked Switzerland’s highest tion for the World Cup for court to overturn a drugs-re- the first time since 2006. lated ban that will keep him Although capable of play- out of Peru’s first World Cup in Paolo Guerrero ing on the wing, Al Shehri 36 years, the Peruvian Football is most effective when giv- Federation said. The world players’ union FIF- Tribunal with written support en licence to roam behind Guerrero had just completed Pro and the captains of Peru’s from the head of the Peruvi - lone striker Mohammed Al a six-month ban by FIFA after World Cup group rivals in Rus- an Football Federation, Edwin Sahlawi. testing positive for a byproduct sia next month have appealed to Oviedo, the federation said. He can often be seen of cocaine consumption when soccer’s world governing body “He is the unquestioned cap- dropping deep to collect the Court of Arbitration for FIFA to lift the ban. Both FIFA tain of the Peruvian team and the ball from defensive Robert Lewandowski Sport (CAS) extended the sus- and CAS are based in Switzer- a national emblem of hope for midfielder Abdullah Otayf With 16 goals in ten appearances, the Poland captain was the top pension, ruling him out of the land. the whole country,” Oviedo said or the centre backs in an at- scorer in Europe’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Lewandowski, World Cup. Guerrero denies Guerrero filed an appeal be- in his sworn statement to the tempt to start Saudi Arabia’s hailed as “the best striker in the world” by coach Adam Nawal- having used cocaine. fore the Federal Swiss Federal court. attacking moves. ka, also became his country’s all-time leading scorer.