SUNDAY, JULY 2, 2017 SPORTS PREVIEW Portugal without Ronaldo for Mexico play-off MOSCOW: European champions Portugal “It will be a game with the same com- will have to make do without captain mitment with the same willingness to win Cristiano Ronaldo as they seek the consola- from both sides, I believe,” said Santos. tion of a third-place finish in today’s “None of us wanted to play this game as Conderations Cup play-off against Mexico. our main goal was to reach the final. But as The Real Madrid star was excused from we failed to get that result we have to be the squad following Wednesday’s penalty motivated for Sunday’s encounter. shootout defeat to Chile in the semi-finals, “We have the same objective as we have returning home to meet his newborn had in the last two and a half years to play twins. The 32-year-old, who already has a for the win in every game.” Mexico’s Hector seven-year-old son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jnr, Moreno headed a late equaliser in a 2-2 from a previous relationship, is believed to draw with Portugal in the group stage, and have fathered the twins with a surrogate Santos is well aware of the threat posed by mother in the United States. the Gold Cup holders. “We knew he was having family matters “Mexico had an excellent tournament in at home,” Portugal manager Fernando the group stage, and even in the game Santos told a news conference yesterday. against Germany they looked a very “Obviously it was an important moment in dynamic team that always tries to win the his life to have these children, whom he game they’re playing. hasn’t seen yet. “They’re a team with a lot of determina- “And as we failed to reach the final here tion. But I hope that tomorrow my team the president of our football federation and will be able to score while not conceding me decided that it will be a nice gesture to any goals, unlike in our first meeting here.” give him a chance to be with his family.” Mexico are appearing at their seventh Portugal are often accused of relying Confederations Cup and are hoping to heavily on Ronaldo, but they claimed their restore their pride after Thursday’s 4-1 first major title without their injured talis- semi-final defeat against world champions man when they beat France 1-0 after extra- Germany. time in last year’s Euro 2016 final. Mexico, who won the tournament in Borussia Dortmund’s Raphael Guerreiro 1999, have fallen behind in each of their is also missing for Portugal through injury, four matches in Russia but will welcome but veteran defender Pepe returns after he back captain Andres Guardado, who was KRAKOW: Germany’s team celebrate 1-0 victory with the trophy after the UEFA U-21 European Championship football final match Germany v was suspended for the Chile clash. banned for the Germany game. —AFP Spain in Krakow, Poland, on Friday. —AFP BOXING SOCCER Manny Pacquiao’s title on the line in ‘Battle of Brisbane’ Germany beat Spain BRISBANE: Manny Pacquiao has ducked and Pacquiao hasn’t won by knockout since weaved, has been accused of being late and 2009, but Roach said the 38-year-old eight- to win under-21 Euro rude, and of thinking more about a Floyd division champ has knocked down sparring Mayweather rematch than his WBO welter- partners and is in vintage form. weight world title defense against Jeff Horn. KRAKOW: Mitchell Weiser scored with a looping striker Davie Selke to injury but welcomed back Dani Ceballos then blasted a shot just past After week of fine-tuning in Australia, SNAP IS BACK first-half header to hand Germany the under-21 defender Niklas Stark, who had missed the semi- the post while Gerard Deulofeu’s shot was Pacquiao and Horn easily made weight at the “Freddie is very happy because that snap European Championship title after a 1-0 win final drama against England when Germany won cleared by the German defence which easily sur- Saturday morning weigh-in. The Filipino sena- is back, the power is there,” Pacquiao said in over Spain in the southern Polish city of Krakow on penalties. Spain started in high spirits, but vived the inefficient Spanish pressure of the final tor did a quick TV interview before making a an interview with ESPN after the weigh-in. “I on Friday. Germany soon regained their composure to out- minutes. With the exception of 2015 when swift exit to eat. feel good. Weight is not a problem. Let’s get it It is Germany’s second title in the age group play their rivals in the first half, with their Sweden lifted the trophy in the Czech Republic, Locals have grumbled that Pacquiao only on.” Roach believes Pacquiao’s boxing future following their triumph in 2009, while Spain defence close to the half-way line and forwards Germany and Spain have dominated the compe- attended a formal pre-fight function for a few depends on how the fight goes against Horn. failed to expand their collection of four titles. never missing an opportunity to attack. Max tition since 2009 with Spain earning the honours minutes on Friday, and Horn’s camp accused If he were to lose, Roach said he’d likely rec- Hertha Berlin winger Weiser sent a header arcing Meyer headed against the post early on and in 2011 and 2013. — AFP Pacquiao earlier in the week of being late for ommend retirement. A comfortable win over Spanish keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and into Germany deserved the breakthrough when it the official news conference and then con- would add ammunition for a rematch with the far corner on 40 minutes for his first goal of arrived with the interval approaching, with Jesus stantly texting on his cell phone through the Mayweather. the tournament following a cross from right- Vallejo not getting close enough to Weiser as he event. What nobody can complain about is Pacquiao has more than a decade of expe- back Jeremy Toljan. “The goal made everything met Toljan’s cross. “We trusted that in the final all Matches on TV the pulling power of the 11-time world cham- rience in this environment, and said he likes very difficult,” said Spanish coach Albert Celades, players can bring again close to 100 percent of (Local Timings) pion. More than 50,000 tickets have been sold to take on a boxer who has hometown advan- a former defensive midfielder with Real Madrid their performance and that was right,” said for the outdoor bout today afternoon at tage because he enjoys the extra buzz. Horn and Barcelona. “The first half was key for us, we Kuntz. “We had to bring our best technical game Suncorp Stadium, and the so-called “Battle of (16-0-1, 11 knockouts) is unbeaten in his 17 tried to do everything in the second half but today with a lot of courage. “We had a plan and FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP Brisbane” is expected to set records for pay- fights since turning pro in 2013, but has never time was running out for us. they did it really, really good. It’s not easy to play per-view in Australia. confronted anyone of Pacquiao’s caliber. “Of course we’re sad, this was the final (but) against our team when they have so much For the first time since 2005, a Pacquiao Experience, “is my advantage,” Pacquiao Portugal v Mexico 15:00 Germany is a fabulous team... playing very courage.” Spain came out of the changing room beIN SPORTS HD 1 fight hasn’t been restricted to pay-per-view in said. “But I want to make sure that I ... use it good football.” Spain came into the final hav- more determined to attack in the second half, America. ESPN will broadcast the fight to an properly and maximize it.” ing claimed four wins in as many games at the but the closest they came to equalising was a Chile v Germany 21:00 estimated 95 million US homes in prime time Pacquiao tipped the scales at 66.1 kilo- tournament and Celades went with the same left-footed curler from Saul Niguez that was Saturday night. grams (146 pounds) on Saturday, and Horn beIN SPORTS HD 1 team that started in the 3-1 semi-final victory saved by Julian Pollersbeck. At the other end, beIN SPORTS HD “This is the time that I give back to the weighed in at 63.35 kilograms (147 pounds) over Italy. Meyer put through Serge Gnabry who failed to fans,”Pacquiao said, adding that he’d suggest- after shedding 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) in Opposing coach Stefan Kuntz lost his leading beat Arrizabalaga with a low shot. ed “let’s do free TV for the fans,” to Top Rank recent days. promotor Bob Arum. “I have to give a good Horn, a former school teacher and show for them,” he added. “This is it. I’m excit- Olympic quarterfinalist before turning pro, ed.” Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 knockouts) is said he had the reach and weight advantages defending the WBO title he won on points over Pacquiao, and had the range of punches against Jessie Vargas last November. That was that could cause the Filipino great some trou- one of the two fights he’s had - the other was ble. During the week, he has talked about a points win over Tim Brady in April of last being disrespected amid talk of another year - since he lost the 2015 mega fight to Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, and said he had Mayweather.