P18 W 4 Layout 1

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2014 FAN FERVOR Schuerrle, Ozil strike late as Germany sink Algeria PORTO ALEGRE: Extra-time goals by Andre Schuerrle made too many defensive errors and allowed them to fective Mario Goetze at the break. and Mesut Ozil sealed Germany’s 2-1 win over Algeria in counter-attack us. A blocked Goetze shot and a Thomas Mueller header Monday’s last 16 clash to put the three-time winners “It was just as well that (Germany goalkeeper) were all Germany had to show for an opening 45 min- into the World Cup quarter-finals. The victory at Porto Manuel Neuer came out time and time again. “Our fin- utes which allowed Algeria to grow in confidence. Alegre’s Beira-Rio Stadium was Germany’s first over ishing must be better against France.” Much of the pre- Algeria had by far the better of the opening exchanges Algeria at the third attempt, but this was a far from match talk had been of Algerian revenge more than and forward Islam Slimani had the ball in the German impressive display by the Germans over 120 minutes. three decades after the ‘Shame of Gijon’ when net on 16 minutes, but was flagged for offside. Schuerrle’s deft flick on 92 minutes, then Ozil’s Germany’s mutually beneficial 1-0 win over Austria sent Schuerrle made the difference after the break as left- 119th-minute tap-in was enough to put Joachim Loew’s Algeria home from the 1982 World Cup. back Benedikt Hoewedes headed straight at M’Bolhi, Germany into Friday’s quarter-final at Rio de Janeiro’s But Germany progress to the last eight at the while Germany captain Philipp Lahm fired wide with a iconic Maracana stadium against France. expense of the north Africans, who had reached the last long-range effort on 54 minutes. “We’d have prefered to win in 90 minutes, but the 16 of a World Cup for the first time. Algeria kept pushing forward, but only a crucial Algerians did a good job,” said goal-scorer Schuerrle. Algeria goalkeeper Rais M’Bohli produced a string of M’Bolhi save denied Mueller with a bullet-header on 80 “We don’t care how we did it, the main thing is we’re in saves to frustrate Germany’s mis-firing attack in a man- minutes before he hit the side netting moments later. the quarter-finals.” of-the-match performance. “We’re very disappointed, Extra-time had barely begun when Mueller fired in a Algeria grabbed a deserved consolation just before because we felt there was something to have been had cross which Schuerrle deflected into the back of the net the final whistle as replacement Abdelmoumene from this match,” said M’Bolhi. with a deft flick to spare German blushes. Ozil looked to Djabou claimed his second World Cup goal. The stats “We’re part of Algerian football history, no other have killed off Algeria’s hopes when he added the show Germany had more than three times as many team went so far before and we showed we can play on Germans’ second just before the final whistle after an shots on goal as Algeria and their lack of finishing is a an equal footing at the highest level. exchange of passes with the impressive Schuerrle. But concern for Loew. “We really want to build on this and push on.” there was still enough time for Djabou to blast home a “That victory was down to sheer willpower,” admit- Schuerrle’s goal was just reward for a battling display as thunderbolt of a shot to spark faint hope before the ref- ted the German coach. “We gave away a lot of ball, he created a string of chances after replacing the inef- eree ended Algeria’s quarter-final dreams. —AFP BRAZIL: Germany’s forward Thomas Mueller (right) fails to score past Algeria’s goalkeeper Rais Mbohli during the Round of 16 football match during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. — AFP ‘Invisible man’ gives Scolari headache TERESOPOLIS: It is usually Neymar, the creative genius Paulinho was dropped from the side against Chile, mak- he is quite comfortable with. of the Brazil side and the country’s most recognisable ing way for Fernandinho, but now he could be set to get Having undertaken that less glamorous job through- and highest-paid athlete, who dominates the headlines. the nod ahead of Hernanes and Ramires and be recalled out last season at City, giving Yaya Toure the freedom to When it’s not him, it is Oscar, or perhaps Thiago Silva alongside the Manchester City man. roam, Fernandinho also performed the same task while and David Luiz who get the most attention. “A lot of people said that I was downbeat after losing partnering Paulinho in Brazil’s 5-0 friendly win against But the man who holds Brazil together arguably my place in the team but that wasn’t the case. I will keep South Africa in March. more than anyone else is the unassuming holding mid- working hard in training to be at the coach’s disposi- “When I was called up, it was to play in the holding fielder Luiz Gustavo, and his absence due to suspension tion,” said Paulinho, who still took centre-stage before role,” said Fernandinho. “That is how I played in England for Friday’s World Cup quarter-final against James the dramatic penalty shoot-out against Chile, rousing throughout last season. For me it is no problem what- Rodriguez’s Colombia in Fortaleza is a serious blow for his tense and nervous team-mates one by one. The soever. “If ‘Felipao’ opts for somebody else, that is also the hosts. return of Paulinho would see Fernandinho drop back not a problem. The important thing is to find the bal- “I prefer to leave the fame to the more popular play- into the holding role, where he would assume the ance we need to keep the midfield secure against ers,” says the 26-year-old of the wealthy but unfashion- responsibility of keeping an eye on Rodriguez, one of Colombia. “When I play in that position, my job is to able German Bundesliga side Wolfsburg. “I take satisfac- the players of the tournament so far. But if the 29-year- mark, close down spaces. Whoever plays alongside me, tion from the feeling that I have given my best.” old has all the characteristics of a box-to-box player, he we will do our best to cover for the absence of Luiz The Brazil team’s technical director Carlos Alberto is quick to point out that the more defensive role is one Gustavo.” —AFP Parreira, meanwhile, describes him as “the invisible man of the team with the best defence in the world.” During the group stage, Luiz Gustavo won the ball back more than any other Brazil player and did more Africa’s good, bad and running than any of his team-mates too while covering to allow full-backs Daniel Alves and Marcelo to join the attack. The former Champions League winner with the ugly at World Cup RIO DE JANEIRO: Algeria and Nigeria headed home with Iran to prove worthy opponents for former yesterday after another five-prong African World Cup world champions Argentina and France. challenge came to a disappointing end in Brazil. 5. Cameroon gave glimpses during the first half against While the ‘Desert Foxes’ and ‘Super Eagles’ proved hosts Brazil of what they might have achieved had combative last-16 opponents for Germany and France, they concentrated on football rather than bonuses. the lack of a cutting edge in attack led to defeats. The losses against the former world champions were hardly THE BAD ... surprising as African teams have won just 16 of 80 1. Africans were generally woeful at set-pieces, with cor- matches against European opponents at the global ners under or over-hit and free-kicks not carrying the showpiece. African football supremo Issa Hayatou threat posed by European and South American stars. echoed the pre-tournament hopes of football followers 2. Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah must regret his pre-tour- from Cairo to Cape Town when he wished for “one or nament we-can-be-world-champions quote as it put even two” African semi-finalists. unnecessary pressure on a mentally brittle squad. But Algeria, Nigeria and Ivory Coast won only once 3. After all the hype around outspoken Cameroon cap- each, Ghana collected a solitary point, and shambolic tain Samuel Eto’o, he barely threatened Mexico and Cameroon lost all three matches for the second World missed the other two losses through injury. Cup in succession. Slack defending, a lack of midfield 4. Amateurish Ghana defending allowed American John creativity and below-par set-piece executions were con- Brooks to head a late winner that put the ‘Black Stars’ tributing factors to an underwhelming African showing. on the back foot after just one game. There was some cause for celebration, though, as 5. Nigeria were shocking in a goalless stalemate with two African teams reached the last-16 for the first time Iran, barely posing a threat up front. and Nigerian Stephen Keshi became the first African coach to make the knockout phase. ... AND THE UGLY AFP sports looks at some African highlights and low- 1. So-called Algerian supporters who shone green lights from the World Cup: lasers at the Russia goalkeeper, who claimed he was blinded when conceding an equaliser. THE GOOD ... 2. Bonus-obsessed Cameroon and Ghana players who 1. Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama enhanced his seemed more interested in dollars than qualifying for growing international reputation even though a flap the knockout stage.

Load more