CRICKET | Page 6 SSWIMMINGWIMMING | Page 9 Despair at Adrian sets plans for split up Rio repeat To Advertise here from newest bid; Phelps vs Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 teams in Tests Lochte looms Saturday, July 2, 2016 FOOTBALL Ramadan 27, 1437 AH Barca ties Neymar GULF TIMES down with $277.5mn buyout clause SPORT Page 4 EURO 2016 / GERMANY VS ITALY 10PM Germany attempt to throw off Italian shackles World champions insist they have no ‘Italy trauma’ as they attempt to beat the Azzurri at the ninth attempt on a big stage, while Conte’s men have compared today’s match against Loew’s squad to ‘climbing Everest’ AFP Bordeaux urope’s titans clash today when Germany and Italy meet in the plum Euro 2016 quarter-fi nal with huge stakes for both coun- Etries. Germany captain Bastian Schwein- steiger is poised to make his fi rst start in the Bordeaux match, while Italy’s veteran defender Daniele de Rossi faces a race to be fi t. Like two heavyweight boxers eyeing up their opponent before the fi rst bell, both teams have talked up the respect factor and down played the signifi cance of Italy winning the last eight meetings at major tournaments. In the most recent matches, Italy claimed a 2-1 win in the Euro 2012 semi-fi nals while Germany romped to a 4-1 win in a meaningless friendly in March. Joachim Loew’s Germany insists they have no ‘Italy trauma’ as they look to beat the Azzurri at the ninth attempt on a big stage and throw off their Italian shackles. Antonio Conte’s Italy has compared taking on the world champions as foot- ball’s equivalent of ‘climbing Ever- est’. Italy have their own trauma after crashing out of the 2014 World Cup in the fi rst round. Both squads insist this will be their toughest test so far at the European Championship fi nals. No doubt penalties have been prac- tised behind closed doors, should the German players warm up during a training session in Evian, France, yesterday, on the eve of their quarter-final against Italy. (AFP) tie be decided by a shoot-out. The Azzurri proved they are up for “We know Germany are strong and the challenge by dumping previous will be sure of themselves. But our holders Spain out of the competition victory over Spain has really lifted our with a 2-0 win in the last 16. confi dence.” But Conte’s team will have to become Germany have all their players fi t and the fi rst team to score past the Germans no suspensions. at Euro 2016, unless the tie is settled by Centre-back Jerome Boateng has re- penalties. covered from a calf strain which made The clear, often repeated, German him doubtful for the 3-0 win over Slo- message this week has been of great re- vakia in the last 16. spect, but no fear of the Azzurri. The burly Bayern Munich defend- As has been well documented in the er scored his fi rst international goal media of both European footballing against Slovakia. powerhouses, Italy has a rare unbeaten record over Germany at major tourna- RECORD-BREAKER NEUER ments. After three Euro 2016 appearances off the bench, Die Mannschaft’s leader GERMANY’S ITALIAN CURSE Schweinsteiger is poised to make his “It doesn’t mean anything to me that fi rst start after a knee injury. we have never beaten Italy in a big tour- Germany’s shot-stopper Manuel nament”, said Germany midfi elder Toni Neuer is on a record run of fi ve games Kroos. unbeaten, a fi rst in the 108-year history “They are the best team we will have of the German FA, which includes the faced here. I’m looking forward to the 2-0 warm-up win over Hungary. game and I’m very optimistic.” Italy have Thiago Motta suspended But the question will be whether and are waiting on the fi tness of two previous failures appear at the back of other midfi elders. German minds should Italy take the Italy’s De Rossi is almost certain to lead in Bordeaux. miss out after injuring his right thigh in Torino striker Ciro Immobile, who the win over Spain. spent an unhappy season at Borussia Likewise, Lazio winger Antonio Can- Dortmund, is not impressed with the dreva is doubtful after suff ering a ham- respectful noises coming from the Ger- string injury in their 1-0 group stage mans. win over Sweden nearly two weeks ago. “We’ve beaten them so many times Neither took part in Thursday’s Italy ... they’re just trying to cover them- training session behind closed doors. selves,” he said. Let battle commence. Italy’s Daniele De Rossi (right) walks around the pitch of the Bordeaux stadium on the eve of the quarter-final against Germany yesterday. (AFP) Venue: Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux SUSPENSIONS AND INJURIES COACHES SPEAK tant is what happens in the tournament.” dinary against Spain and Euro 2016 capacity: 42,000 ITALY “The Italians recovered — Joachim Loew, Germany coach have to do something truly Suspended: Thiago Motta from a loss in a friendly extraordinary tomorrow. FORM GUIDE (LATEST FIRST) Doubtful: Daniele De Rossi (knock), Antonio [against Germany] – we “We started our journey in this Euro com- That said, we have to look Germany: WWDWW Candreva (hamstring) know the Italians have petition and had very little credibility in the forward to tomorrow and Italy: WLWWW many good players playing eyes of the Italian press and the internation- really harness this emo- SUMMARY with each other at Juven- al media. Everyone thought it was dark days tional side of things without HEAD-TO-HEAD Germany have never beaten Italy in eight tus. They don’t look into for us, but some hard work and organisation losing track of what we’re Germany Draw Italy past tournament meetings friendlies too much. We’ve have helped to overcome obstacles that trying to do.” 8 10 15 — Antonio Conte, Italy coach Match guide Match seen that. They know what is most impor- were high. We had to do something extraor- Gulf Times 2 Saturday, July 2, 2016 EURO 2016 FOCUS SPOTLIGHT Poles rally Ronaldo’s ‘dream’ round ‘Kuba’ aft er Portugal still alive aft er penalty miss AFP a big friend,” said defender Kamil Marseille Glik, who is moving from Tori- no in Serie A to Monaco in the shootout win French league. eammates rushed to rally “He saved us a lot of times in round Polish midfi elder this tournament by scoring in ‘I’m not missing anything (in honours)... But I’ve always said, and I don’t hide it, that I Jakub Blaszczykowski other games. That’s what we told after a crucial penalty him.” would love to win a title with the national team. We’re on the right road’ Tmiss handed Portugal victory in Poland goalkeeper Wojciech their Euro 2016 quarter-fi nal on Szczesny, who left his place to Thursday. Lukasz Fabianski because of in- “We lost as a team, and not jury, suggested nerves may have just one player,” said striker Rob- got to Blaszczykowski. ert Lewandowski, who gave Po- But while admitting their dis- land a second-minute lead with appointment, he believes Po- his fi rst goal of the tournament. land’s march to the quarter-fi - With Cristiano Ronaldo again nals for the fi rst time augurs well subdued, 18-year-old compa- for the future. triot Renato Sanches took centre He said Poland had studied stage and hit Portugal’s leveller Portugal’s penalty-taking. “But on 33 minutes. you never know, under pressure With no more goals, and Ron- people can change where they go aldo missing chances, the match (shoot) and unfortunately for us was pushed to penalty kicks they took their penalties really where heartbreak is guaranteed. well today.” Blaszczykowski, popularly Szczesny added: “We’ve met known as ‘Kuba’, was Poland’s expectations ... we were one hero in their last 16 clash with step away from being among the Switzerland. The Borussia Dort- top four in Europe, so it’s disap- mund midfi elder hit Poland’s pointing on one hand but it’s also opener then booking their ticket a good reason for us to be proud their fi rst last-eight place at a of ourselves as well. major fi nals when he converted “We’ve had a fantastic journey, from the spot after Granit Xhaka it’s disappointing but we’ve done missed his eff ort at the penalty ourselves proud. We’ve done our kicks. fans proud and it’s a good start to The result meant Poland pre- build on for this team.” served their record of never hav- Former Polish great and now ing lost in 18 games when Blaszc- the president of the Polish Foot- zykowski has scored. ball Federation, Zbigniew Boniek In the latest penalty kicks, off ered his support to the team Blaszczykowski’s run was ended for reaching the last eight. by Portugal ‘keeper Rui Patri- Glik added: “It’s not the big- cio. When Ricardo Quaresma gest disappointment of my ca- stepped up to score on the next reer. That’s football, sometimes kick Portugal went through 5-3 you lose on penalty kicks. on penalties. “We have to stay positive. It Portugal’s Renato Sanches (right) celebrates his goal with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo during the Euro 2016 quarter-final against Poland in Marseille on Thursday. (AFP) “It doesn’t matter that he was a balanced match in which (Blaszczykowski) missed his we had chances just as they did.