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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 SPORTS Unglamorous Uzbeks eye World Cup chance SINGAPORE: Uzbekistan can take a huge step towards becoming the first Central Asian team to reach the World Cup when they host Jordan in the second leg of their Asian play-off today. The Uzbeks brought home a pre- cious away goal from last week’s 1-1 draw, giving them the edge as they seek to reach an intercontinental showdown against a team from South America. Uzbekistan have been this far before, only to see their hopes dashed by some bizarre officiating in the 2005 play-offs against Bahrain. Mario Balotelli But Friday’s draw in Amman, where Jordan beat Asian giants Japan and Australia earlier in qualify- Azzurri makes changes, ing, has raised hopes of better luck this time for the White Wolves. but set sights on Brazil “We achieved the minimum goal and now I believe we will do our job TURIN: Italy will look for another solid and emerged victorious in Sicily last week, in Tashkent and qualify for the next qualifying performance today as they look the performance-especially in the second round,” said Uzbek coach Mirdjalal to seal their ticket for the 2014 World Cup half-was at times disorganised and ragged. Kasimov. against the Czech Republic today. A switch to a formation that should “It will be decided in Tashkent, A win for Cesare Prandelli’s side would allow Italy to dominate the midfield and but with our supporters we will play seal Italy’ trip to Brazil with two games provide ball to the likely strike partnership for them and I believe we will quali- remaining in Group B, which the Azzurri of Balotelli and Osvaldo will allw the Azzurri fy,” he added, according to the Asian AMMAN: A Jordanian boy waves his national flag and cheers as he watches his national team currently lead with a seven-point advan- to approach Tuesday in a more relaxed Football Confederation (AFC) web- play their 2014 World Cup qualifier football match against Uzbekistan at the King Abdullah tage on Bulgaria. manner. In defence, Juventus centre-back site. Kasimov was among the players international stadium in Amman on September 6, 2012. —AFP Italy are missing several players who fea- Leonardo Bonucci could be shifted to the in 2005 when Uzbekistan, 1-0 up tured in the 1-0 win over Bulgaria on Friday right-back position, making way for against Bahrain in the first leg in goals, losing out to Trinidad and would be a proud moment for the Hassan, who saw action at the 1990 and the Czechs will be determined to pro- Daniele De Rossi, while Juve club-mate Tashkent, had a successful penalty Tobago for a berth at the 2006 World unglamorous, landlocked nation, World Cup as a striker with Egypt, is duce a solid performance following a shock Giorgio Chiellini occupies the left-back role. kick chalked off for encroachment. Cup in Germany. Now Kasimov has sandwiched between Turkmenistan hoping the desert kingdom can still 2-1 defeat to Armenia which has compro- Prandelli has yet to name his starting XI but Instead of a re-take, referee the chance to right that wrong with and Kazakhstan in a row of former poach victory in the tough away tie. mised their hopes. Bonucci sees no problem in the switch. Toshimitsu Yoshida mistakenly gave a team including captain Server Soviet states. “It is still half-time and we will However Prandelli welcomes back sev- “It’s not a problem for me. Daniele has an indirect free-kick, and when Djeparov, Uzbekistan’s scorer in Uzbekistan have long been one play the second game in Tashkent eral players who were missing in Palermo better feet than me, he’s perfect for this Uzbekistan protested after the game Amman and a two-time Asian player of Asia’s better sides and they today,” he said. The winner will face that should allow him to switch to a forma- kind of situation,” Bonucci told Gazzetta FIFA surprisingly annulled the of the year, as well as Anzhi reached the 2011 Asian Cup semi- the fifth-placed team from South tion that has worked in past encounters. dello Sport yesterday. Uzbeks’ 1-0 win. Makhachkala midfielder Odil finals before being walloped 6-0 by American qualifying, a position cur- AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, missing The changes in defence come after Bahrain drew the replay 1-1 and Ahmedov. Australia. rently occupied by Uruguay who Friday due to suspension, returns to the Prandelli lost Ignazio Abate and Luca went on to win the tie on away Progression at Pakhtakor Stadium But Jordan’s coach Hossam have three games left to play. —AFP fray alongside club-mate, midfielder Antonelli to injury, both of whom limped Riccardo Montolivo and Southampton off late in the win over Bulgaria. striker Pablo (Pablo) Osvaldo. Today’s match at the Olympic Stadium Their return means Prandelli is likely to could be cause for another celebration as France targets playoff spot switch from the 4-3-2-1 used against Gianluigi is expected to make his 136th Bulgaria with goalscorer Alberto Gilardino appearance for Italy and thus equal the all- GOMEL: After a disappointing draw last week, France winger Franck Ribery is doubtful for against Georgia. Benzema was replaced in the the lone striker, to a possible 3-5-2. time national record held by retired Fabio France is now focused on second place in its the match because of injury and his absence 62nd minute by Marseille striker Pierre-Andre Although Italy ultimately dominated Cannavaro. —AFP World Cup qualifying group. would be a blow to France. The pacy winger was Gignac. The 1998 world champions visit Belarus on recently named best player in Europe after lead- Giroud could be given the chance on Tuesday Tuesday, and a win in Group I will edge them ing Bayern Munich to success in the Champions to play up front as a lone striker the way he does closer to clinching at least a playoff spot for next League, the Bundesliga and the German Cup last at Arsenal. France has not found the net in its last year’s tournament in Brazil. season. five games, the worst drought in its history. With two matches left, France trails world “I can’t say that I’m 100 percent fit but I hope “We can’t win a match if we don’t manage to champion Spain by three points but is five points to play,” Ribery told French daily L’Equipe. Also, open the scoring,” Deschamps said. “We can do ahead of Finland. Belarus is last and can no Karim Benzema’s starting spot is under threat. and we must do more.” longer qualify. The Real Madrid striker has not scored in his last France beat Belarus 3-1 last year in World Cup “We’re targeting a second-place finish to 15 games for France. Benzema is the most prolific qualifying. But Belarus has created problems for reach the playoffs,” France midfielder Mathieu player in the current France squad with 15 goals France in the past, winning 1-0 three years ago Valbuena said. “We were not the favorites in this from 60 matches. France coach Didier and drawing 1-1 in June 2011 in a European group but at one stage we dreamt of the top Deschamps has backed him despite a nagging Championship qualifier. Midfielders Blaise spot. Now we must get back to reality, which is lack of efficiency at the international level. Matuidi and Paul Pogba were suspended for the the playoffs in November. We must think positive Benzema last scored for France in a friendly, a 4-0 Georgia match but will be available in Belarus. and find the net again.” The top teams automati- win over Estonia in June 2012. Spain has the week off but will host Belarus and cally qualify for the World Cup while eight of the Deschamps paired Benzema with Arsenal for- Georgia in October while France will take on nine second-place teams go into the playoffs. ward Olivier Giroud in the 0-0 draw in Tbilisi Finland. —AP Argentina, Colombia close in on World Cup berths BUENOS AIRES: Goalkeeper Sergio Romero returns to the scene of his international debut looking to equal a record run of 26 matches unbeaten as Argentina visit Paraguay determined to book their World Cup ticket today. Colombia, equal on 26 points with Argentina at the top of the South American group, can also book their passage to next year’s finals in Brazil with a draw against Uruguay at the Centenario in Montevideo (2200 GMT). Along with third-placed Chile, who have a bye, the top three are guaranteed of at least reaching the fifth-place playoff against an Asian qualifier. Romero, who made his debut in a 1-0 defeat in the equivalent fixture in Asuncion under then coach Diego Maradona on the way to the 2010 finals in South Africa, is eyeing RIYADH: UAE’s national football team player Omar Abdulrahman (front) dribbles Sergio Goycochea’s 26-match Argentina record. past New Zealand’s player Jacob Spoonley during their international friendly foot- Penalty specialist “Goyco” had his ball match at the King Fahad stadium in the Saudi capital. —AFP unbeaten run between Argentina’s defeat in the 1990 World Cup final in Rome and a 2-1 loss in a qualifier Argentina thrash Boca Juniors in Colombia in August 1993. Romero returns to the side along BUENOS AIRES; Argentina’s gain in recov- for the club where he began his career.