SPORT Thursday 21 December 2017 PAGE | 30 PAGE | 31 PAGE | 32-33 Ronaldo trailing in Messi’s Gatlin agent sayss EEngland will have wake after mimicking doping claims to think about celebration ‘just big talk’ changes: Johnson Cup glory Doha fans set for stargaze as delights Al Gharafa PSG head for winter break coach The Peninsula FawadFawad HussainHussain its infrastructure and offerings The PeninsulPeninsulaa This is the fifth time that since our last visit,” Al Khelaifi arely does Al Gharafa PSG will hold their winter said in a statement released coach Jean Fernandez loballobal footballfootba icon camp in Doha. yesterday. Rexpress his emotions. NNeymareymar Jr wwill lead Hassan Al Ibrahim, Acting Win or lose, his face is as tthehe ststarar ccastas when Chairman at QTA, said: “We are impassive on the pitch as it is EuropeanEuropean giantsgian Paris PSG acquired Neymar delighted to be hosting the Paris at the pre-match or post- Saint-GermainSaint-Germa (PSG) from Barcelona in a Saint-Germain squad in Qatar match Press conferences. Glandland in Doha today forfo their world-record €222m once again. We hope the players However, on Tuesday, as annualannual mid-season QatarQatar Winter move during the summer will enjoy exploring what our his wards lifted the QSL Cup Tour trainingtraining camp, it was transfer window. country has to offer, from state- to end their long title drought announcedannounced yesterday.yesterday. of-the art sport facilities to that dated back to 2012 when TheThe Brazilian striker,strike who The winter break in France authentic tourist experiences.” they won the Emir’s Cup, the signed for the French giantsgia just is a short one and lasts Since 2012, QTA and PSG have Frenchman sported a delight- bbeforeefore tthehe start ooff tthehe nnewe foot- only for two weeks till the worked on a strategic partner- ful look, acknowledging the ball season in August, is expectede ship to promote Qatar’s sport and cheers from well-wishers. to be joinedjoined byby UruguayanUruguay for- first week of January. The leisure tourism offerings. QTA has Fernandez very well wardward EdinsonEdinson CavaniCavani andand French top-flight clubs then swing hosted several tours for PSG knew that they had brought star Kylian Mbappe as theth team back to action with the teams, including the Qatar Hand- the smile back on the faces of spendsspends time in Qatar.Qatar. French Cup. ball Tour 2014 and 2015, the passionate Al Gharafa fans The French champichampions,o who Qatar Ladies Tour 2015 and the whose morale was at a low are currentlycurrently leadingleading LigueLig 1 and Qatar Winter Tour in 2013 and ebb having gone through a have also qualifiedqualified forfo last 16 hold training at the world-class 2015. long phase without a stage of ChampionsChampions League Aspire Zone facilities while sev- A further aspect of this part- trophy. after a remarkableremarkab run in eral of French club’s players are nership affords QTA the In the process, Al Gharafa groupgroup stage, will be also expected to try spearfishing continuous presence at PSG’s became the first team in the arrivinarrivingg fofollowingl which is a popular local sport. home stadium in Paris where history of six editions of QSL ttheirheir game against Qatar Tourism Authority thousands of football fans expe- Cup to win it for a second SMSM Caen whichwh was (QTA) has also arranged the rience a flavour of Qatari culture time. played lastlast night. team’s visits to Msheireb Muse- and hospitality through interac- “Ours is a good unit which PSG’sPSG’s Qatar ums; as well as safari to country’s tion with Qatari cultural and can fight till the very end. Our Winter TourTo is yet magnificent Inland Sea. heritage offerings. defence was good. So was our another oopportu- Nasser Al Khelaifi, Chairman “Our partnership with Paris offence. (Luis) Jimenez played nityn ity for and CEO of PSG, hoped his team Saint-Germain has been invalu- the captain’s role to perfec- fofootball will benefit from the tour as able to our promotion efforts, tion and we were on top of fans in always. helping us spread understanding our opponents in every stage Qatar “We are excited to return to of Qatar and its offerings in of the final,” said to meet Qatar for this new winter tour. France and even beyond our tra- Fernandez. andand greetg the The team wants to benefit from ditional markets,” Al Ibrahim said. “Al Rayyan are a big side. superstarssupers of training in the country’s warm “This year in particular we are There’s a huge difference Paris Saint- tthehe clubclub,, owned winter weather and its remarka- looking forward to leverage the between us in the QNB Stars Germain’s byby their country.c ble facilities in Aspire Zone. Our team’s growing following to League standings. I had said Neymar, DuringDurin the team always enjoy visiting Qatar, spread our message of welcome that we fully deserved to Dani Alves short campcamp which experiencing first-hand the cul- to the world, following the deci- reach the final. We had and Kylian wwillill cuculminatelmin on ture, visiting various sites and sion to grant visa-free entry to 80 beaten formidable opponents Mbappe . DecemberDecember 23,23, PSG will witnessing the developments in nationalities,” he added. in our group and overcame the challenge from Umm Salal in the semifinal. Gulf Cup: Coach Sanchez names Qatar squad The Peninsula atar’s charge at the Gulf Cup QATAR SQUAD will be headed by feared FOR GULF CUP Q striker Hassan Al Haydos Saeed Al Shaeb who was named as the chief for- Yousuf Hasan ward in the 23-man squad Mohamed Al Kubri announced by interim coach Felix Pedro Miguel Sanchez. Assim Madibo Al Haydos, who plays for Al Akram Afif Sadd, has been the pillar of the Hassan Al Haydos national team in recent times and Almoez Ali finds his name before veteran for- Abdullah Al Harq wards Rorigo Tabata and Sebastian Bassam Al Rawi Soria. Tabata and Soria have not Al Mahdi Ali been considered recently. Abdulkarem Salim Al Haydos, 27, is likely to be Ahmed Fatehi joined by Mohammed Muntari in Hamad Al Obaidi the attack at the Dec 22-Jan 5 event Mohammed Muntari to be held at two venues in Kuwait. Ahmed Yasser Experienced midfielders Asim Ali Faredon Madibo and Musab Kheder are also Abdulkarem Hasan part of the squad. Al Duhail central Musab Kheder defender Karim Boudiaf is expected Ismaeel Mohammad to hold fort at the centre. Karim Boudiaf Saad Al Sheeb will be the first- Othman Al Yahri Ahmed Moein choice goalkeeper for Sanchez. Coach: Felix Sanchez Qatar, the defending champi- ons of the Gulf Cup, are placed in Group B with Yemen, Iraq and Bah- rain. Qatar open their campaign against Yemen on December 23 fol- in the 2014 final of the Gulf Cup. It The 23rd edition of the Gulf eight teams including Saudi lowed by games against Iraq (Dec was the third title win for Qatar Cup - the region’s most popu- Arabia, the UAE, Oman and 26) and Bahrain (Dec 29). who had won the title in 1992 and lar football tournament for hosts Kuwait who form Group Qatar coach Felix Sanchez Qatar beat hosts Saudi Arabia 2004 also. national sides - has attracted A. 30 SPORT THURSDAY 21 DECEMBER 2017 League Cup: City join Arsenal in semis after penalty drama London Tomas Rosicky AFP much-changed Man- Rosicky ends chester City held off a spirited challenge professional from Leicester on Tuesday to reach the career LeagueA Cup semi-finals follow- ing a dramatic penalty shootout, as Arsenal also progressed. Prague Pep Guardiola showcased Reuters the riches at his disposal by mak- ing nine changes as his runaway ormer Arsenal mid- Premier League leaders held fielder and Czech their nerve to edge through 4-3 Fnational side playmaker on spot-kicks after the two sides Tomas Rosicky – dubbed were locked at 1-1 following “Little Mozart” for his vision extra time. and pinpoint passing -- ended Arsenal beat West Ham 1-0 his professional career yes- to keep alive the prospect of two terday after years of injuries mouthwatering semi-finals fea- often kept him off the pitch. turing four of English football’s Rosicky, 37, retired at “Big Six”. Sparta Prague where he In an ironic twist at the King began his career before mov- Power Stadium Jamie Vardy -- ing to Borussia Dortmund in who had earlier scored a penalty 2001 and to Arsenal in 2006 deep into time added on to keep where he played for a dec- the tie alive -- missed his spot Manchester City’s Chilean goalkeeper ade. He returned to Sparta in kick in the shootout and Riyad Claudio Bravo (foreground) celebrates 2016 but only appeared 12 Mahrez had his effort saved by after saving the final Leicester penalty to times due to injury. City keeper Claudio Bravo. win the penalty shoot out after extra time “My body was telling me “The way we had to react during their League Cup quarter-final in for a long time that it does not was not easy, we were tired, we want (to do it) any more,” he Leicester on Tuesday. had a lot of young players, Danilo told a news conference. was playing at centre-back for “I would probably have the first time in his life,” said nothing to offer my team Guardiola. “It’s not easy because between them but Guardiola and to have a foothold in the game, were given fresh reason to hope It was a fantastic game between mates and Sparta.” Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez Foxes boss Claude Puel showed the visitors struck.