CRICKET | Page 5 MMOTORSPORTOTORSPORT | Page 11 India thrash Mercedes Zimbabwe want a re-think To Advertise here to level T20 on radio ban Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 series in Formula 1 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 NBA Ramadan 16, 1437 AH LeBron delivers on GULF TIMES promise, leads Cavaliers to title SPORT Page 6 CROATIA VS SPAIN 10PM Eyes on troublesome fans as Croatia meet Spain Although Spain have already qualified, they want to win the group and meet a third-placed team in the last 16 Croatia’s midfielder Ivan Rakitic (right) arrives to attend a training session in Deauville, France. (AFP) Spain’s coach Vicente del Bosque speaks to his players during a training session at Complexe Sportif Marcel Gaillard in Saint Martin de Re, France. (Reuters) Reuters expected to make an announcement on After the teams returned to the pitch, haviour from fans. “We lost our pace when play was hold our own against them. We have to Bordeaux its probe into their behaviour later yes- Croatia’s players felt their concentra- Three of Spain’s followers were ar- suspended because of our supporters,” impose ourselves and make them worry terday. tion had been disturbed, which con- rested in Nice for carrying neo-Nazi midfi elder Ivan Rakitic told reporters. about us.” UEFA opened disciplinary proceed- tributed to the Czechs scoring a late banners, and another three for trying On Sunday he preferred to talk about That will be more diffi cult if Croatia’s hen Croatia meet Spain in ings after Croatia fans threw fl ares equaliser with a penalty. to bring fl ares into the stadium ahead of the pleasure and apprehension of fac- infl uential playmaker Luka Modric is their fi nal Euro 2016 group and ran on to the pitch during their That means instead of already hav- the match against Turkey. ing friends and teammates from Bar- unfi t, as expected, placing even greater match today there will be opening Group D game, a 1-0 win ing qualifi ed for the last 16 along with The Croatian FA’s security offi cer celona in the Spain team, like Andres importance on Rakitic’s role. as much scrutiny of devel- against Turkey. Spain, Croatia still require a point from said on Saturday they had told UEFA Iniesta and Sergio Busquets. Although Spain have already quali- Wopments in the stands as on the pitch. Then Friday’s 2-2 draw with the today’s game, adding to the tension of and the police there would be a planned “I’ve spoken to them a bit,” he told fi ed, they want to win the group and The wilder element of the Croatian Czech Republic was halted with four the occasion. demonstration near the end of the a news conference. “We know it’s go- meet a third-placed team in the last 16. supporters have caused trouble at both minutes to play when supporters again The Spaniards, however, have not Czech game and they have further in- ing to be tough because we are aware of Losing to Croatia would mean coming of the country’s games so far and Eu- threw fl ares and fought among them- been blameless in a tournament which formation about today’s match, which their individual and team quality. second and facing Italy, the winners of ropean soccer’s ruling body UEFA was selves. has seen several incidents of bad be- they will pass to the authorities. “But we have to show that we can Group E. NORTHERN IRELAND VS GERMANY 7PM Mueller steels Germany for Northern Ireland scrap AFP without question that we’re favourites a fi rst major tournament success since Paris against Northern Ireland. I would take a the 1982 World Cup in Spain and for- tough win and tolerate what is written.” ward Jamie Ward says it has given his With Goetze having been withdrawn side belief that they can hustle the Ger- homas Mueller has defended after 66 minutes against Poland in mans out of their stride. Germany’s misfi ring forwards Paris, Gomez could be handed his fi rst “We know what Germany are all about ahead of their pivotal fi nal Euro start of the tournament in place of the and they have some of the best players in 2016 Group C game against under-performing Bayern forward. the world,” said the Nottingham Forest TNorthern Ireland today. player. “We respect them, but do not fear The world champions opened their ‘WE DON’T FEAR THEM’ them. Our game is all about working hard campaign with a scratchy 2-0 win over Jerome Boateng is expected to keep his and not giving people time on the ball. Ukraine and then drew 0-0 with Po- place at centre-back despite a bruised That might be diff erent to what Germany land, leaving them needing at least a hip, while Bastian Schweinsteiger is have experienced before. point from their last pool match in Paris again likely to start on the bench as he “We know we will not dominate pos- to be sure of a place in the next round. builds up fi tness following a knee liga- session. Our strength is pressing and Mario Goetze, who has been de- ment injury. making life diffi cult for our opponents.” ployed as a ‘false nine’, is still to fi nd Regardless of Poland’s result against Coach O’Neill made fi ve changes for the net, while playmaker Mesut Ozil eliminated Ukraine in Marseille, the win over Ukraine and must decide has been criticised by former Germany Northern Ireland need to win at Parc whether to restore Kyle Laff erty — his midfi elder Mehmet Scholl, but Mueller des Princes if they are to secure one of top scorer in qualifying — to the start- cites the defensive tactics his team have the two automatic qualifying spots. ing XI after Conor Washington took his faced as a mitigating factor. Germany’s striker Mario Goetze (left) warms up with his teammates during a training session in Paris yesterday. (AFP) But with three points in the bag al- place in Lyon. “They (Northern Ireland) will put ready following Thursday’s 2-0 win The Irish Football Association has a lot of players around their own pen- you have to be realistic.” football” over winning. “You have rarely been impressed over Ukraine, Michael O’Neill’s side requested permission for Northern Ire- alty area and when 11 players defend Former Germany captain Michael Mueller, Germany’s top scorer at the with our results, apart from the 7-1 could qualify as one of the four best land’s players to wear black armbands together, it is never a walk in the park,” Ballack has taken Goetze and fellow 2014 World Cup, is also yet to get off against Brazil (in the World Cup semi- third-place sides even if they lose. in memory of 62-year-old supporter said the Bayern Munich star. striker Mario Gomez to task over their the mark in France, but he believes that fi nals),” he told reporters. The win in Lyon, courtesy of second- Robert Rainey, who died after report- “I do not expect that it’ll be a shoot- shortcomings in attack and has accused criticism of the team’s displays to date “We expect a good performance, half goals by Gareth McAuley and Ni- edly suff ering a heart attack during the ing fest for us. I wish it would be, but Loew’s side of prioritising “beautiful has been excessive. but we can’t guarantee the result. It’s all McGinn, earned Northern Ireland game against Ukraine. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, June 21, 2016 EURO 2016 UKRAINE VS POLAND 7PM CZECH REPUBLIC VS TURKEY 10PM Turkey hope Poland wary of to seize last chance wounded Ukraine against Czechs Reuters and in a good position to make Lille the last 16. Spain, who have already quali- as they eye last 16 fi ed for the knockout stages with urkey have left it late two wins in their fi rst two games, to bid for a place in face a Croatia side looking for the Poland have not beaten Ukraine in their last five meetings the knockout stage of win that would guarantee their Euro 2016 but defender progression in the tournament. TGokhan Gonul believes they still The Czech Republic and Reuters Marseille have a chance, if they can beat a Turkey claimed away victo- buoyant Czech side in their fi nal ries against one another in a Group D game today. topsy-turvy qualifying group oland, bidding to reach the Eu- “There is a thing the Turk- that the Czechs won, with Ice- ropean Championship knockout ish national team always does, land coming second and the stages for the fi rst time, will take which is chasing the game until Turks qualifying directly as the nothing for granted when they the last minute,” the 31-year-old best third-placed team, while a Pface neighbours Ukraine in their fi nal defender said. much-fancied Netherlands side Euro 2016 Group C match today. “Again we have left it until the missed out altogether. Ukraine lost their fi rst two games and last game, maybe we don’t have “Turkey are a very strong side, cannot progress but Poland, second in much of a chance this time, but they have a lot of good play- the standings after beating Northern we will still do our very best and ers who play for top teams,” said Ireland 1-0 in their opening match, will hopefully, with the help of some Czech forward Tomas Necid.