22 Saturday, March 4, 2017 SPORTS SPORTS Saturday, March 4, 2017 23 FIFA targets video refs for World Cup London IFA president Gianni Infantino believes there is a realistic chance Fvideo assistant referees will be used at the 2018 World Cup in Souza to Russia. Murray eases into Video assistance was introduced to support referees with “game- changing” decisions for the first time in a FIFA competition at the Club World Cup in Japan in December. The four areas covered by the VAR official were goals, penalties, red cards and cases of mistaken identity and, although there was controversy over the delayed award of a penalty during the tournament, Infantino would like to see the technology fine-tuned in time for next year’s World Cup. Verdasco showdown replace Speaking at a press conference following a meeting of the International Football Dubai meetings with Murray, who will be after his epic quarter-final win over as ready as possible for tomorrow.” Association Board at Wembley on orld number playing his second final of the season which saw the The Spaniard improved his career Friday, he said: “That is our aim. Wone Andy after losing to in Doha world number one save seven match record over Haase to 4-3 thanks to I’m very confident. The signs are Murray showed no at the start of January. points in a 31-minute, 38-point second Friday’s victory which was sealed in two encouraging. signs of weariness to For Murray, a leisurely first set took set tiebreak. and a quarter hours. “The little hiccups we have seen ease into the Dubai Tennis 67 minutes to complete on Friday, with Verdasco won his last trophy 11 Verdasco recovered from a break are to do with the training of the Championships final Pouille coming from a break down but months ago on clay in Bucharest and in the opening game of the match, referees, but they will be able to take where he will be chasing his losing serve for 4-4 on a double-fault. was a Doha semi-finalist at the start of winning the first set in a tiebreaker Jesus decisions much faster when they 45th career title. Murray broke in the final game to the season. before his Dutch opponent levelled at use it more often. The top seed defeated secure the match lead. The Scot then “It was a really tough match, I needed a set each. “It is realistic for us (to use it at the seventh-seeded Frenchman shifted up a gear, and ran out the winner to be there till the last point,” Verdasco However, Verdasco ran off with the World Cup) because of the experience Lucas Pouille 7-5, 6-1 and with a 27-minute second set. said. “I’m really happy to be in the final, win in the decider, overcoming eight Gabriel Jesus we had in the Club World Cup last will face veteran Spaniard Murray’s win improved his 2017 to win this match. aces while producing just two himself Sao Paulo December in Japan. who broke record to 11-2 as he seeks a 45th career “I’ll just will try to recover and to be for his eighth victory of the season. eteran teenager is out of contention after ITA), Weverton (Atlético “We will use it for sure in the three times in the deciding set title -- he lost the 2012 final in forward suffering a broken bone in his foot Paranaense), Ederson Confederations Cup, the Under-20 of Great to defeat 7-6 (7/5), Dubai to , his best Quarter-finals V 5-7, 6-1 in the other semi-final. performance at the event. Diego Souza while on club duty for Manchester (Benfica/POR). World Cup and the Club World Britain returns the ball Andy Murray (GBR x1) bt Lucas Pouille (FRA x7) 7-5, 6-1 was called up to City last month. Defenders: Gil (Shandong Cup. VAR is positive because it to France’s Lucas Pouille Verdasco, 33 and ranked 35th, The Wimbledon champion Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Robin Haase (NED) 7-6 (7/5), 5-7, 6-1 replace injured Sport Recife veteran Souza, 31, Luneng/CHI), Marquinhos (Paris will allow the right decision has managed just one win from 13 returned to the court just 24 hours Manchester earns his call-up after a successful Saint-Germain/FRA), Miranda to be taken in a game- City star season last year in Brazil’s top- (Atletico de Madrid/ESP), Thiago changing circumstance.” Gabriel Jesus flight, scoring 14 goals and six Silva (París Saint-Germain/ (AFP) Gianni Infantino as Brazil assists. FRA). Daniel Alves (Juventus/ made three Tite has also opted for ITA), Fagner (Corinthians), Filipe Messi, Aguero lead Argentina German Bundesliga: changes to experienced former Atletico Madrid Luís (Atlético de Madrid/ESP), (Trabzonspor/TUR) Ronaldo their squad midfielder Flamengo Diego. Marcelo (Real Madrid/ESP). Augsburg 2 RB Leipzig 2 ionel Messi and Sergio Aguero will lead Midfielders: for upcoming The Brazilian team, which still Midfielders: Casemiro (Real French Ligue 1: LArgentina’s bid to resurrect their flagging (Barcelona/ESP), (Lazio/ 2018 World boasts Neymar in attack, is on a Madrid/ESP), Diego (Flamengo), Bordeaux 1 Lyon 1 World Cup campaign in crucial qualifiers ITA), (Tigres Cup qualifiers roll, with six consecutive victories Fernandinho (Manchester City/ Spanish : against Chile and Bolivia later this month. Monterrey/MEX), Ever feels pain against under Tite’s stewardship. ENG), Giuliano (Zenit San Real Betis 2 Real Sociedad 3 Barcelona star Messi and Manchester City Banega (Inter Milan/ITA), Madrid Uruguay and Three China-based players Petersburgo/RUS), Paulinho Portland Timbers v Minnesota United striker Aguero were named in the squad by Enzo Perez (Valencia/ tar striker Cristiano Ronaldo trained alone FOOTBALL Paraguay -- defender Gil and midfielders (Guangzhou Evergrande/CHN), English Championship: coach Edgardo Bauza on Friday. ESP), Angel Di María Syesterday after feeling pains and was ruled yesterday. . Renato Augusto and Paulinho -- Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool/ Argentina face Copa America (PSG/FRA), Angel out of Real Madrid’s game against Eibar at the Diego Souza Birmingham 1 Leeds 3 Jesus made an are also in the squad. ENG), Renato Augusto Scores as of closing champions Chile on March 23 in Buenos Correa (Atlético weekend. electrifying start to his Brazil face historical rivals (Beijing Guoan/CHN), Willian Aires and Bolivia at Santa Cruz five Madrid/ESP), “He felt something, but nothing serious. He didn’t international career last Uruguay in Montevideo on March (Chelsea/ENG). days later. Marcos Acuña train with us this morning,” coach Zinedine Zidane year with five goals in six 23 before hosting Paraguay in Sao Forwards: Diego Souza The former champions are fifth in the (Racing Club). told a press conference ahead of Saturday’s La Liga games as Brazil roared to the Paulo five days later. (Sport Recife), Douglas Costa Turkey or Germany South American qualifying table with 19 Attackers: game. top of the qualifying standings (Bayern Munich/GER), Roberto points from 12 games. Brazil lead the way for In a list of players for the game published under new coach Tite. Squad: Firmino (Liverpool/ENG), the 2018 finals in Russia on 27 points. (Barcelona/ on the club website, Ronaldo was an absentee However the gifted Goalkeepers: Alisson (Roma/ Neymar (Barcelona/ESP). ESP), Lucas as was Welsh star Gareth Bale who has been to host Euro 2024 Squad Pratto banned for two matches following his red card Lausanne Goalkeepers: (Man Utd/ (Atletico against Las Palmas this week. ermany and Turkey look set to contest the right to host Euro ENG), Mariano Andujar (Estudiantes La Mineiro/BRA), While the Real squad was put through its paces on 2024 after confirming themselves as the only candidates as Plata), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres/MEX). Sergio Agüero (Man City/ Friday, Ronaldo did sprints on his own. Zidane will Gthe deadline for applications passed yesterday. Defenders: (Celta Vigo/ ENG), rest Ronaldo ahead of Real’s Champions League last 16 A joint bid from the four Nordic nations of Denmark, Finland, ESP), Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal/ESP), (Juventus/ITA), Gonzalo return game at Napoli next Tuesday. “As you know, all Luca Zidane out Sweden and Norway had been prepared but was decided against (Everton/ENG), Marcos Higuain (Juventus/ITA), matches are important but the most important is that the in the end. Rojo (Man Utd/ENG), (Man (Hebei player is OK,” Zidane said. Real Madrid’s Barcelona’s Argentinian The German Football Association (DFB) declared their City/ENG), (Sevilla/ESP), Fortune/CHN). A 3-3 draw at home to Las Palmas on Wednesday saw Portuguese forward forward Lionel Messi with shoulder injury candidacy back in January, having last hosted a major tournament Nicolas Otamendi (Man City/ENG), Julio Real Madrid lose top place in the Spanish championship for Cristiano Ronaldo with the 2006 World Cup. Buffarini (San Paulo/BRA), Emanuel Mas the first time since October. Paris “The 2024 European Championship could be a major project inedine Zidane’s son Luca, a goalkeeper with Real for the whole of German football,” DFB president Reinhard Madrid’s under-19 side, will miss the remainder of the Grindel said. seasonZ with a shoulder injury, Spanish daily Marca reported “We’ll be presenting a high quality dossier featuring the best yesterday. ten stadiums in Germany,” he added. Chinese buyers to complete AC Milan purchase The 18-year-old is part of the Real Madrid youth team, Turkey’s intentions weren’t revealed until last month, with Milan to Sino-Europe Sports (SES) by mystery man Li Yonghong, disappointment at the delay statement clearly calling for of Milan as soon as possible,” which is taking part in both the Spanish youth league and Turkish Football Federation (TFF) president Yildirim Demiroren Chinese consortium that in a deal that values the Serie failed to stump up the rest of in completing the deal, due SES to get their house in order. said a statement read out to the Champions League youth competition. making the announcement on February 15. Ahas made a mammoth A giants at 740 million euros the cash. to circumstances outwith its Confirming the sale had shareholders by club CEO “The (Real Madrid) medical staff feel an operation is “I want this candidature to be victorious,” said Demiroren after down payment to buy seven- ($825.4 million). Reports early evening control, SES confirms it is been postponed after failure Adriano Galliani on Friday needed,” Marca reported. three previous failed bids to host the tournament. time European champions SES has already made two suggested Berlusconi, who strongly committed to continue to meet the March 3 deadline, morning. Luca, the second of Real Madrid coach Zidane’s four sons, Turkey had been a candidate to host final stage matches for AC Milan has reiterated its separate instalments of 100m bought AC Milan in 1986 and working with Fininvest to Fininvest said it would look to Earlier this week, sources featured in the first team squad as recently as February 18 the 2020 showpiece but withdrew its bid to concentrate on the “commitment” to completing euros on two occasions, overseen the most successful complete the deal as soon as have the takeover completed told AFP the consortium had: for the 23rd Liga match of the season as the third goalkeeper. 2024 event. the deal after missing yet totalling 200m. period in its history, was even possible, and that a detailed “as soon as possible”. “Asked to postpone the signing Luca’s older brother Enzo, 21, scored on his senior They also lost out to Tokyo to host the 2020 Olympic Games. another deadline yesterday. But doubts about the veracity ready to scupper the deal. investment plan is ready.” Fininvest “welcomes the by a month. That should be debut for Real Madrid’s first team in a Spanish Cup tie last The 2020 European Championship will be hosted across 13 Milan’s media tycoon owner of the deal, and whether it A hastily-released statement Fininvest is Berlusconi’s opportunity to enter into an possible with the payment of a November. European cities with the semi-finals and the final taking place in Silvio Berlusconi agreed in would go through at all, have by SES on Friday evening holding company, and early agreement with Sino-Sports new instalment of 100 million London at Wembley stadium. (AFP) August 2016 to sell the club emerged after the investors, led said: “While expressing its Friday morning it released a Europe that will lead to the sale euros.”