16 SPORT SATURDAY 1 JULY 2017 'Brilliant' Germany can win Confed Cup: Loew Sochi goals, our single-minded goal AFP CONFEDERATIONS CUP was to reach the final so (Tomorrow's fixtures - Qatar time) we're delighted," said oachim Loew hailed Ger- From the Goretzka. many's "brilliant" 4-1 win Third-place play-off beginning, we "There is only one match over Mexico in the Con- PORTUGAL VS MEXICO to go. federations Cup (3.00pm) did exactly what "We're looking forward Jsemi-final and said his Final we set out to do, to playing Chile again, youthful squad are ambitious CHILE VS GERMANY we were very because in the second half (of enough to beat Chile in the (9.00pm) the group stage match) we final. dominant and had the feeling the draw was Loew opted not to bring "They pushed us back a brilliant in the not enough. Now we have his World Cup winning stars bit in the second phase of the opening stages: another chance against this to the Confed Cup, but Ger- first half, which was to be top flight team." many's young guns booked expected, and we gave up a Germany's head "In the first few minutes, their place in Sunday's final lot of ball. All in all, 4-1 is a coach Joachim we didn't do so well against in St Petersburg after a dev- great result. Chile, so (against Mexico) we astating opening spell in "We wanted to go far, but Loew really wanted to get down to Sochi. this is nothing that we could brass tacks and the two quick Attacking midfielder have expected at the start of goals really calmed the team. Leon Goretzka, 22, hit two the tournament." "We now need to reward goals in the first eight min- After Germany drew 1-1 ourselves for our hard work utes to stun Mexico. with Chile in the group stages Goretzka and Werner are and we want to get the title." Timo Werner, 21, made it last Thursday, Loew says his now the tournament's joint After rallying from 2-0 3-0 midway through the sec- team is hungry enough to top-scorers with three goals down, Mexico are justified in ond half, then Marco Fabian beat the Copa America cham- each. After scoring twice in being unhappy with the scored Mexico's late stunning pions in the final. Sochi, Goretzka says the Ger- unflattering scoreline after consolation with a thunder- "Chile is the most power- mans have a score to settle having twice as many shots bolt free-kick before ful opponent in this against Chile. on goal as the Germans. Germany's substitute Amin tournament, we know them Lars Stindl equalised in The Mexicans play Por- Younes, 23, netted Germany's pretty well and we expect the second-half of the group tugal in Sunday's third-place fourth. them to go for it in the final," stage draw in Kazan last play-off in Moscow. "From the beginning, we said Loew. Thursday after Alexis With 15 minutes left did exactly what we set out "They will be trying flat Sanchez rattled the Germans against Germany, Raul to do -- we were very dom- out to pull it off, as they are by poaching an early goal for Jimenez headed against the inant and brilliant in the coming to the end of their the South Americans. crossbar as Germany's goal- opening stages," said Germa- season, and we will have to "I was really happy to keeper Marc-Andre Ter ny's head coach Loew. try and counter that. help the team with the two Stegen made a string of saves. Germany's head coach Joachim Loew. Al Arabi placed second in Group C in Vietnam Ninh Binh, Vietnam together to tactically match kills, two blocks and two as we would like to play in The Peninsula the last year’s silver medal- aces, while Vitaliy Vorivodin the final round.” lists. Their utmost efforts contributed 10 points. The Altay and Al Arabi have atar's Al Arabi went worked out pretty well as the Germany-import Gyorgy already paraded to the round down fighting to Kaza- Kazakhs took 27-25, 26-24 Grozer scored 15 points for of the last eight teams as both Qkhstan’s Altay VC for a commanding 2-0 lead. Al Arabi Sports Club. recorded straight two wins. during the SMM 2017 Asian Al Arabi improved their Altay’s head coach Rafail Altay, which defeated Hong Men’s Club Volleyball Cham- first-ball reception, hoping Gilyazutdinov commented Kong’s Yan Chai and Can- pionship at the Ninh Binh to make amends in the third after the match, “Al Arabi berra Heat from Australia in Gymnasium yesterday. set. Nonetheless, Altay were Sports Club are a strong team straight sets in their previous In a hard-fought three-set- just in terrific form, coming with many good players. But matches, topped Pool C with ter, Altay VC prevailed 27-25, up with exceptional tactics today maybe they had some nine points from straight 26-24, 25-22 over the Qatari including Vitaliy Vorivodin’s problems. It was not their three wins. side to make a perfect sweep spectacular attacks and best day. I am quite satisfied Al Arabi Sports Club in Pool C. splendid teamwork to cap- with my team’s secured the second place Altay VC, the fifth place ture the set 25-22 and performance. with six points from two wins at the previous edition in match. They did a good job on against one loss. Myanmar last year, faced a Hard-attacking Vasyl attacks and defense. We pre- Yan Chai finished third, Sha’Hir (Amer), owned by H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al tough task against Al Arabi, Tuphii scored a match-high pared intensively about one with winless Canberra Heat Thani gets ready for the race during the DIAR Stockholm Arabian but tried to put their acts 17 points for Altay from 13 month for this championship in fourth place. Cup (Gr3 PA), at Bro Park in Sweden. Sha’Hir and Rawah Djokovic marches into emerge victorious final at Eastbourne The Peninsula are aiming for Newbury, and we Eastbourne a nasty fall in Thursday's quarter- will see how he is. We never know; AFP final win over world number one ha’Hir (Amer), owned by H E he might go; who knows! We will Angelique Kerber and was subse- Sheikh Mohammed bin Khal- think about it when it’s the right ovak Djokovic eased into the quently diagnosed with a thoracic Sifa Al Thani, won its second time.” Eastbourne final yesterday spine injury. Group title by imposing itself in the On the same day, H E Sheikh Nafter beating Russia's Daniil Djokovic's match yesterday was DIAR Stockholm Arabian Cup (Gr3 Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani’s Medvedev, but Johanna Konta's delayed by rain, but the Serb gained PA), at Bro Park in Sweden. Rawah (Amer) was also a winner. Wimbledon participation is in doubt control when he broke his fellow Ridden by Mickael Forest, Trained by Rohaut and ridden by after the Briton withdrew from her wild card to take the opening set, Sha’Hir won the 1,800-metre race Forest, as well, she won the DIAR women's semi-final. with an early break in the second easily. Maria Hagman-Eriksson’s Arabian Fillies and Mares Turf. Al Top seed Djokovic, playing the steering him through to just a third Jaldi Karo was the runner up. Jaldi Nujaifi Racing LTD’s Hurra came week before Wimbledon for the final of the year. Karo was trained by Hagman- second. She was trained by Pia first time since 2010, brushed aside The world number four is Eriksson and ridden by Per-Anders Hoiom and ridden by Shane Karls- Medvedev 6-4, 6-4 and will face seeded second at Wimbledon on Graberg. Landgoed Waterland’s son. Yas Horse Racing Management either Gael Monfils or Richard Gas- the strength of three titles at the All Athlete Del Sol, trained by Karin R LLC’s Maolie was third. She was quet for the men's title today. England Club but is looking for his van den Bos and ridden by Carlos trained by Van den Bos and ridden But British hopes were extin- first trophy since winning at Doha Lopez finished third. by Fanny Olsson. guished as a back injury forced in January. “He was very impressive”, said The three winners of the Pure- Konta to pull out of her clash against As for Konta, the 26-year-old Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates Sha’Hir’s trainer François Rohaut, bred Arabian races held last Karolina Pliskova, with Heather is Britain's best hope of ending a victory over Russia's Daniil Medvedev “I don’t think he will go to New- Tuesday at Bro Park qualified for Watson then falling in three sets, los- long wait for a women's Grand Slam after their men's semi-final at the ATP bury because I have better horses the Dubai International Arabian ing 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 to former world champion that dates back to Vir- Aegon International tennis tournament in for the month of July. Sha’Hir will Races to be run at Newbury on July number one Caroline Wozniacki. ginia Wade winning the 1977 Eastbourne, southern England yesterday. go to Deauville, like the horses who 30. Seventh-ranked Konta suffered Wimbledon singles title. SATURDAY 1 JULY 2017 SPORT 17 Australia pay dispute set to miss deadline Sydney player payments model." firing line, with its fate unknown AFP Ashes threat if a new accord is not struck.