TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 2017 SPORTS Heaton replaces Hart for England in France CROISSY-SUR-SEINE: Tom Heaton of Burnley will of Croissy-sur-Seine yesterday.“Tom has had an (Sunderland’s) Jordan Pickford and then a couple the armband in the manager’s first two matches replace Joe Hart in goal for England in today’s outstanding season, and we have got to maintain of lads coming up potentially from the in charge, against Malta and Slovenia last friendly against France in Paris, manager Gareth the squad environment, make people feel Championship next year, we are very healthy.” autumn. Southgate has confirmed. involved by giving them game time. “Harry will captain the team. It is probably a The 31-year-old Heaton will win his third inter- “In the past, one or two goalkeepers have giv- KANE CAPTAIN AGAIN similar scenario to October when Jordan national cap in the match at the Stade de France, en up international football because they have Harry Kane will once again wear the captain’s Henderson captained the team in the first game as Hart-criticised following his performance in not had that chance, so I am conscious of keeping armband, just as he did at the weekend when his and was starting the second so it made sense to Saturday’s 2-2 draw against Scotland-is left out. them involved.” stoppage-time strike rescued a point for England keep it as it was, and it’s the same with Harry this Stoke City’s Jack Butland will play the second Butland is not long back from a lengthy spell in the World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park. time,” said Southgate, while insisting no long- half, as Southgate reiterated that it was always his out injured, and the decision to give him a chance The Tottenham Hotspur striker, who has won term decision had been made on the issue. plan to give someone else a chance in England’s for part of the friendly means Southampton’s the Premier League’s Golden Boot for the past After Tuesday’s game, England are next in final run-out of the season, having named four Fraser Forster is the goalkeeper to miss out. two seasons, will again take advantage of the fact action in early September with a World Cup quali- goalkeepers in his squad. “Jack is coming back from a long lay-off. We England have no permanent skipper with Wayne fying double-header against Malta and Slovakia. “It was never my intention to start Hart in this think he can also challenge for the number one Rooney now out of favour. “I’m not committing to a timescale on that. I’m game. Tom Heaton will start and Jack Butland will spot moving forward,” added Southgate. Southgate said Kane would follow in the foot- not in a rush to make that decision. At some point play the second half,” Southgate told reporters “It is difficult on Fraser, who is also a very good steps of Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, it’s something we should do but it’s been good to after England trained in the leafy Parisian suburb goalkeeper, but with those four and currently recovering from injury but who wore devolve the leadership.” — AFP Russia eyes World Cup MOSCOW: Alexei Sorokin has the daunting definitely not a steady trend in our country. task of making sure Russia is ready to host Russia’s multi-ethnic society is not mired in fans and teams from around the globe at racism. For me it’s an obvious fact. the World Cup in 2018. The clashes between the fans in One year ahead of the tournament, the Marseille last year were a kind of ugly CEO of Russia’s organising committee is deeds. But Russia’s authorities have worked looking to meet construction deadlines out a comprehensive security concept that and calm security fears as the country will act during these football tournaments gears up for the warm-up Confederations to avoid any chance of the repetition of Cup on June 17. such kind of events here. We’re confident Q: What does it mean for Russia to that the Confederations and World Cups in host the Confederations Cup and World Russia will be completely safe. We’ve imple- Cup? mented the special Fan ID, which gives foot- A: We were so excited when FIFA ball lovers from all over the world the right entrusted us with holding the World Cup. to enter the country without a visa and to It’s the first time this event will take place in move between the host cities for free dur- Eastern Europe. And for us it’s a great ing the events. But this ID will also serve as chance to present our country to the entire an additional security measure. world the best way. And we will be happy A number of international agreements to host all the guests, who decide to attend have been recently signed giving Russia’s the events, and to make their stay here law enforcement authorities a chance to pleasant and unforgettable. exchange information with foreign police Q: What have been the major chal- to identify the worst hooligans and keep lenges in preparing for the them from football venues. Confederations and the World Cups Q: Critics say that hosting of these across such a vast country? major events is a PR stunt Russia’s A: The preparations for the World Cup President Vladimir Putin, but offers little MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s Hirving Lozano (L) vies with US’s Geoff Cameron (R) during their 2018 FIFA World Cup Concacaf qualifier football are still going on but I can say that we for average Russians. How can you match in Mexico City, on Sunday. — AFP experienced few troubles in our prepara- ensure there is a lasting, positive legacy tions for these events so far. The prepara- from these tournaments? tions for the Confederations Cup run A: I think it’s not fair to say that the Bradley’s stunning early goal smoothly as the four cities that will host hosting of major football tournaments is the event (Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan just a PR move for the Kremlin. Russia has and Sochi) are well-known sporting centres invested huge sums into the preparations helps US to 1-1 tie at Mexico with developed infrastructure and solid for the Confederations and the World Cups. experience of staging major events. And The infrastructure in the host cities was MEXICO CITY: Michael Bradley watched Hector the fourth-place team faces Asia’s No. 5 nation in decided as far back as January to start five they’re all ready to receive the large flow of being upgraded anyway but the World Cup Moreno’s pass to Javier Hernandez in the center a playoff. defenders at Mexico. “We tossed it around in our tourists. has sped up this process a great deal. The circle and thought back to the videos he had Panama hosts Honduras today, when Costa office with our coaches and they were probably Q: There are serious worries over preparations for the World Cup have devel- seen of the star pushing the ball back. So even Rica hosts Trinidad and Tobago. Quite a turn- not real supportive of the idea since they maybe hooliganism and racism at these events oped not only the football venues and before Chicharito tapped the ball toward Hector around since November, when a 2-1 home loss don’t have enough experience in that forma- and critics say Russian officials do not training grounds but the transportation Herrera, Bradley stepped up. to Mexico and a 4-0 wipeout in Costa Rica tion,” Arena said. “I was pretty confident we take the problems seriously enough. systems, the hotel networks and other The US captain knocked the ball toward caused the US Soccer Federation to fire coach could implement it. We have very good center How can Russia ensure safe and enjoy- facilities in the host cities. Mexico’s goal, sprinted to catch up and lofted a Jurgen Klinsmann and bring back Arena, the US backs, and that’s the key to that system.” able tournaments for fans? It will definitely be good for people right-footed chip from about 40 yards over goal- coach from 1998-2006. “It’s going to be very DeAndre Yedlin remained on the right, with A: Of course there have been outbreaks regardless of their relation to football. I keeper Guillermo Ochoa’s outstretched arm and challenging right to end, but I feel good about Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez joining Geoff of racism in Russia in the past and some- believe that you can’t argue with these under the crossbar. The crowd of 81,000 at where we are,” Arena said. “We’ve made up some Cameron in the center and 35-year-old times they still happen here. However it’s benefits. — AFP Estadio Azteca was stunned. The United States lost ground, so I feel good about that.” DaMarcus Beasley on the left, Beasley, who had had taken the lead six minutes into Sunday not started for the US since October 2015, night’s World Cup qualifier. “Here you know that ADVANTAGE became the first American to appear in qualifiers if you catch a ball right, that with the thin air the Herrera nearly put El Tri ahead in the 71st of five World Cup cycles. ball’s going to really fly,” Bradley said. with a 30-yard free kick that rebounded off the “Mexico does an unbelievable job in their US coach Bruce Arena changed seven of 11 crossbar.