TENNIS | Page 4 NHL | Page 5 Bigger house, Rask spoils bigger TV? Blues’ party as Nadal cool on Bruins keep Slam record hopes alive Tuesday, June 11, 2019 CRICKET Shawwal 8, 1440 AH India World Cup GULF TIMES hero Yuvraj ends roller-coaster SPORT Page 2 FOOTBALL Brazil trip ‘signifi cant step’ for Qatar ahead of 2022 WC ‘You have to always focus on your overriding goal. The State of Qatar is heading towards a historic event’ AFP Doha Qatar win warm-up game against Brazilian club Madureira irst-timers Qatar go into the Copa America with the young team riding high following their tri- Fumph in the Asian Cup but hum- bled by “higher calibre” compe- tition than they encountered in the Emirates. Head coach Felix Sanchez also said that the tournament would be a “signifi cant step in our jour- ney towards the World Cup” which Qatar will host in 2022. “We’ll play against experi- enced teams that are certainly of a higher calibre than what we saw at the Asian tournament,” he said in an interview with FIFA ahead of the Brazil tournament. “Our group includes Argen- tina, whose abilities are well known, and Colombia, who are exceptionally good performers, whether at World Cups or the Copa America. Paraguay also boast a pedigreed history.” The South American conti- nental championship gets un- derway on June 14 with the hosts Brazil looking for their fi rst title since 2007. “So, I believe these matches will serve as an important stag- Action from the match between Qatar national team (in maroon) and Brazilian club Madureira (in yellow) in their final Copa America tune-up game in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday. Qatar scored a 2-1 win. After losing to ing post for me and the players. five-time World Champions Brazil in an international friendly on Wednesday, Felix Sanchez’s men put up a good show against Madureira, which was played behind closed doors. Qatar and Japan are the two guest They’ll tell us where we currently teams at the Copa America, which will be held in Brazil from this Friday till July 7. Qatar are in Group B and will open their campaign against Paraguay on June 16 at the prestigious Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro. stand and what we need to do in They then face Colombia on June 19, before taking on Lionel Messi’s Argentina on June 23. Qatar has never played in the Copa America before and will be using the experience of the tournament to get used to a higher the next phase,” added Sanchez. standard of football ahead of their hosting of the 2022 World Cup. Chile are the two-time defending champions, having won the 2015 and 2016 editions of the tournament, though host nation Brazil will be eager to win Qatar got off to a cautious start their first major title since 2013 on home turf. in a friendly against Brazil who won 2-0, although the visitors’ credible performance was over- outing since the Asian Cup. Ali said the Copa was all about America we will learn more.” “We need to make sure the tournament would be a proving a major tournament in front of shadowed by Neymar’s travails. Qatar’s inclusion in the Copa learning for Qatar, continuing The team source acknowl- squad are in top form and up to ground for his side’s young stars. many fans. It will also allow us to The forward sprained his an- America initially raised eyebrows the methodical approach which edged to AFP that “it won’t be the nation’s expectations. This After spending many millions of address important details on and kle and was forced to limp off the but both they and Japan reached has already paid dividends. easy”. means that we’ll not be partici- dollars on their world-class Aspire off the pitch. pitch on crutches, ruling him out the Asian Cup fi nal in Abu Dhabi. Qatar also has one eye clearly pating just for its own sake, but Academy, and scouring the world “I want the team to perform in of the tournament. Qatar triumphed in that tour- ‘IT WON’T BE EASY’ fi xed on the 2022 World Cup. that we’re determined to leave for top coaches, Qatar are begin- a proper and honourable way and “It was a great game for us. nament going from zero points “We’re not expecting to win, but “You have to always focus on our mark on World Cup history, ning to recoup their investment. demonstrate that they’ve pro- (But) we should learn from our at the last Asian Cup to their just to learn because after the your overriding goal. The state especially since this will be Qa- “Since our squad has many gressed. That’s not just measured mistakes,” said a Qatar team of- fi rst continental title in record- World Cup, the Copa America is of Qatar is heading towards a tar’s fi rst World Cup. young players, we look forward in accumulating points and pro- fi cial. “In the second half we breaking style, beating Japan 3-1. the biggest competition in the historic event: hosting the 2022 “Our participation in the 2019 to gaining as much experience gressing to the next round, but if played better.” Forward Almoez Ali’s bicycle world,” Ali said following the World Cup,” said Sanchez who Copa America can be seen as a as possible in this high-profi le that happens, it would of course The side, which with Japan was kick helped bring home the tro- Asian Cup win. was given a mandate last month signifi cant step in our journey tournament,” said Sanchez. be great.” invited to make up the required 12 phy and broke Ali Daei’s 23-year- “The weakest teams are in to lead Qatar into the global soc- towards the World Cup, a journey “Specifi cally, that means ex- Qatar’s Copa America cam- teams, has struck a cautious tone old mark for goals at a single Asia, Asia is the weakest conti- cer spectacle when his contract that we started some time ago.” periencing the Latin American paign will begin on June 16 ahead of their highest profi le Asian Cup. nent for football so in the Copa was extended to 2022. Sanchez said that above all the style of play and taking part in against Paraguay. 2019 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP Winning matters more to Mashrafe than respect AFP suff ered an agonising two-wicket out of the group stage on the way ers Afghanistan. Bristol, United Kingdom loss to New Zealand before being to reaching the quarter-fi nals of But Mashrafe insisted he felt on the wrong end of a 106-run the 2015 World Cup. no extra pressure with Bangla- thrashing by tournament hosts But this year’s format is diff er- desh being regarded as favourites angladesh captain and favourites England in Cardiff ent, with 10 teams taking part in to beat Sri Lanka. Mashrafe Mortaza can last weekend. a round-robin group stage that “Even the New Zealand match, live without the respect Those defeats make Bangla- will see the top four qualify for even the England match, I’m of his opponents so long desh’s match against a struggling the semi-fi nals. not sure what other people were Bas his side are winning matches Sri Lanka in Bristol today all the “If you are asking all 10 captains thinking, but we were expecting at the World Cup. more important. this question, they will look to the to win,” he said. The Tigers launched their “I’m not worried about who semis, which is an honest call,” said “I think the pressure will be campaign with an impressive win is respecting us, I’m more wor- Mashrafe as he answered a query there every match. I don’t want over South Africa but afterwards ried about our performance,” about Bangladesh’s ambitions for to say there’s no pressure — 100 Mashrafe was annoyed by sug- Mashrafe told reporters in Bristol this World Cup. percent pressure will be there. gestions the result constituted an yesterday. “Obviously we would like to “But at the same time we have upset. “Winning matches is more be in the semis but right now, the to cope with that pressure and “Do you think this was a sur- important for us. I don’t think calculation is diffi cult. make sure we deliver.” prise?,” he asked pointedly. “If respect is going to work in the 22 “But again I’d say it’s very Forecast rain in Bristol, how- we can deliver our best we knew yards (of a pitch). It all depends much possible. We have to make ever, could scupper the hopes of what we could do. I’m sure some on how we react on the ground. sure we come back onto the win- both sides for a morale-boosting people don’t think well of our “If we can win two points, this ning track.” win. cricket. We are concentrating on is more important than respect at Sri Lanka were overwhelmed “I hope that we’ll play a full our game and letting other peo- the moment,” added the 35-year- by champions Australia and then match tomorrow,” said Mashrafe. ple talk.” Bangladesh’s captain Mashrafe Mortaza (second from right) celebrates with teammates after taking a catch old veteran paceman. suff ered a batting collapse before “The boys are really hungry to Since then Bangladesh have to dismiss England’s Jason Roy (not pictured) during the match in Cardiff , Wales, on Saturday.