TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015 SPORTS Preview Revenge on Spanish minds AMSTERDAM: European champions Spain for Spain after a relatively lean spell in front travel to face the Netherlands in a friendly of goal since winning the third of three today with the pain from their 5-1 thrash- consecutive major tournaments at Euro ing at the hands of the Dutch at last year’s 2012. “Possibly in the national team we are World Cup still fresh in the memory. The not scoring many goals lately, but we are hammer blow delivered by Louis van Gaal’s creating plenty of chances and it is some- men in Salvador last June was one from thing that can change from one game to which Spain never recovered as their another. It is a question of being more defence of the title they won with a 1-0 deadly.” final victory over the Netherlands four That is an opinion shared by his coach years previously in South Africa ended after Vicente del Bosque, who believes his side’s just two games. performances in recent months have been Just over a year out from the European seen through the prism of disappointment Championship in France there are plenty of at the World Cup. questions over both sides’ form. Spain sit “Everything seems bad and it is not like only second in Group C of qualifying after that. We are doing some things well,” he limping to a 1-0 win over Ukraine on Friday, said on Saturday. “Spain aren’t so far away while the Netherlands have plenty of work from what they were.” to do just to qualify having won just two of Despite their lean form in front of goal their opening five games in Group A. Del Bosque’s men will be confident of over- However, there are high hopes for powering an under-strength Dutch side Spain’s new generation of stars that have which has looked a shadow of the team graduated from winning back-to-back which finished third at the World Cup since European Championships at under-21 lev- Guus Hiddink replaced Van Gaal as coach. el. Wesley Sneijder’s effort that deflected in Isco, Koke and goalscorer Alvaro Morata off Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in injury time could all started against Ukraine, while David de only salvage a 1-1 draw at home to Turkey Gea is expected to get his chance ahead of on Saturday, and they will be without the Iker Casillas in goal in Amsterdam. two men who tore Spain to shreds in Brazil And Isco believes it is only a matter of as both Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben time before the goals begin to fly in again miss out through injury.—AFP Preview GLASGLOW: Gibraltar’s midfielder Anthony Bardon (left) vies with Scotland’s midfielder Shaun Maloney during the Euro 2016 qualifying foot- ball match. —AFP Italian Conte set for tense friendly against England Scotland thrash Gibraltar MILAN: Former Juventus coach Antonio starting line-up for Tuesday, with Eder, GLASGOW: Gibraltar could at least savour the lawyer, slipped a lovely ball on the counter embarrassing struggle against a minnow-think Conte has been given a warm welcome on Manolo Gabbiadini, Graziano Pelle and consolation of unearthing a policeman-turned- attack to Casciaro, who fired low into the corner Costa Rica, San Marino and Liechtenstein-only his return to Turin but the Italy boss could Franco Vazquez all waiting in the wings. footballing ‘Rock star’ as they reprised their new of the net to the delight of 500 travelling fans evaporated when Sunderland striker Fletcher, be under the spotlight when the Azzurri Off the pitch, the jury is also still out on role as the whipping boys of the Euro 2016 qual- from the Rock. who had not scored for six years for Scotland, host England in a friendly today. Conte who has fought Italy’s Serie A clubs ifiers with a 6-1 hammering by Scotland in At that point, the visitors were dreaming furi- put them ahead after 29 minutes with a looping Conte is considered a legend by the to have more regular access to his squad, Glasgow on Sunday. ously. Until then, the side managed by a Scot, header. ‘Bianconeri’ part of the northern Italian city although his efforts so far have been in A hat-trick from Steven Fletcher, the first by a Davie Wilson-splendidly dubbed the “Jock of Six minutes later, hero Casciaro turned villain, having won three consecutive league titles vain. Scottish international striker since Colin Stein in Gibraltar”-had been every bit the equal of the a rash foul in the box leading to Maloney’s sec- as coach of Juventus. Reports on Sunday claimed Conte had 1969, decorated the romp and ensured that home side. ond penalty conversion before Steven Naismith But despite being met with warm also been refused permission by Italian fed- UEFA’s new boys have now conceded 27 goals in Even Scotland’s manager Gordon Strachan made it four after 39 minutes. applause upon his return to Turin on eration (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio to their first five pointless competitive internation- conceded in an interview with the BBC: “All the In the second half, Gibraltar resisted stoutly Sunday, the 45-year-old is showing signs of commit to his role part-time, to allow him als. Yet still nothing could deflect from the pure credit should go to Gibraltar. They made my life until Fletcher’s second headed goal after 78 min- discontent only months after replacing to also coach a club side. joy of the moment at Hampden Park when, after a misery for periods of that game and a long utes and a cool hat-trick strike in the final sec- Cesare Prandelli following Italy’s disastrous Conte last week was also a target for 379 minutes of trying, Lee Casciaro, an officer game for me as a coach.” He also reckoned that, onds. World Cup in Brazil. fans unhappy at his decision to call up Eder with the Royal Gibraltar Police force, scored the unlike his goalkeeper David Marshall, his two Strachan revealed he had also been at Italy could only eke out a 2-2 draw and Argentinian-born Vazquez to his squad part-timers’ first ever goal in qualifying ties. reserve keepers were thankful to have been on Scotland’s game at the same Hampden venue against Bulgaria on Saturday, a result which at the expense of Italy-born players. Very good it was too. Scotland had just gone the bench. against Cyprus in 1969 when Stein scored four. left them second in Group H qualifying for Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini said ahead after 18 minutes through a Shaun “Allan McGregor and Craig Gordon now love The victory leaves Scotland on 10 points in Euro 2016, two points adrift of leaders it was time the coach was given a break. Maloney penalty, courtesy of a rash challenge on me and think I’m the best manager in the world Group D, alongside Germany, who won 2-0 in Croatia. “Conte and the Italy set-up don’t deserve to Maloney from Gibraltar’s keeper Jamie Robba. for not picking them; they’re not in the history Georgia, and a point behind leaders Poland, who However their performance at the Vasil be in this situation,” he said. “Everyone has Just a minute later, though, Aaron Payas, a books!” The Tartan Army’s early fears of a familiar drew 1-1 with Ireland. —Reuters Levski stadium left Conte with perhaps to look at the national team in a different more questions than answers. After trailing light, without always being critical, to allow through an own goal in the fourth minute, it to grow.” Bulgaria struck twice in the space of six Conte said he would remember the flak first-half minutes following two incisive aimed his way for a long time. “A lot of what Germany ease past Georgia counter-attacks that exposed holes in has been written hurt me, but I have a Italy’s defence. Conte has since brought in memory like an elephant,” he said. “I’ve TBILISI: World Cup winners opponents’ box for most of the first to the winger, who drilled home for the break but it was Reus who came reinforcements, with AC Milan defender worked hard throughout my life, and that’s Germany eased past hosts Georgia half. Mueller fired at goal from a cor- his second goal this week, after also close again, rattling the bar for a sec- Ignazio Abate and Inter Milan defender what I intend to keep on doing with Italy, if 2-0 in their Euro 2016 qualifier on ner only to see the ball fly just wide scoring in their 2-2 draw against ond time on the hour with another Davide Santon called to plug the gaps, I am left to do my job in peace.” Sunday with two goals in five min- and Mesut Ozil missed another big Australia. powerful shot. although if used they could be handed England come to Italy on the back of a utes from Marco Reus and Thomas chance as the visitors had the hosts Mueller then fired in another on “We are not yet fully on track and wingback roles in Conte’s preferred 3-5-2. one-sided 4-0 win over Euro 2016 group Mueller enough to get their Group firmly on the backfoot. the stroke of halftime to firmly put still have to improve,” said Germany “We conceded two goals after two rivals Lithuania, in which Tottenham sensa- D campaign back on track.