NNBABA | Page 5 GGOLFOLF | Page 6 Phoenix Suns DeChambeau scorch Denver feud good for Nuggets for 2-0 the game, says series lead Koepka Friday, June 11, 2021 CRICKET Dhul-Qa’da 1, 1442 AH Boult at the double GULF TIMES before England recover in 2nd Test SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL Euro 2020 fi nally set for lift -off under Covid cloud (Above) Jerseys The action in the continent-wide event kicks off today in of national teams hang in the Rome, where Italy take on Turkey in front of 16,000 fans streets of Baku, Azerbaijan, as part AFP also tested positive for the virus, favourites despite being one of UKRAINE, RUSSIA IN of promotions for Paris, France with six reserve players called up the few traditional giants not to SHIRT ROW the UEFA Euro on stand-by. have any games at home. The UEFA has also demand- yesterday. (AFP) But despite the ongoing threat, world champions’ fi rst match is ed that Ukraine makee he delayed Euro 2020 UEFA president Aleksander in Munich against Germany on changes to its jersey afterr will fi nally get under- Ceferin has been bullish, insist- Tuesday. Russia complained. way today, a year behind ing Euro 2020 will be safe. “All the other countries envy European football’ss schedule, with Covid “It will be the perfect oppor- us,” said a recent front page of governing body said thehe Tstill set to cast a shadow over the tunity to show the world that Eu- French sports daily L’Equipe message “Glory to thehe tournament. rope is adapting,” he said. “Eu- underneath pictures of Kylian Heroes”, a rallying cry dur-ur- The continent-wide event, rope is alive and celebrating life. Mbappe, Karim Benzema and ing the 2014 anti-Russiasia fi rst envisaged by then-UEFA Europe is back.” Antoine Griezmann. protests in Ukraine thatt is president Michel Platini when The clearest illustration of that All eyes will be on 33-year- featured inside the shirt, was he announced the tournament is set to come from Budapest, old forward Benzema, who was “clearly political in nature”ture” would be held across Europe, where it is hoped the new Puskas recalled after an international and must be removed. will be played in front of limited Arena will be packed to capacity. exile of five and a half years fol- However, the Ukrainiankrainian crowds and with strict health re- But the majority of the 11 ven- lowing a prolific season for Real football association saidd it was strictions in place. ues, all in diff erent countries, Madrid. in talks with UEFA to reverseeverse its The action kicks off at Rome’s will only be partially-fi lled for Holders Portugal, with a star- decision. Stadio Olimpico, where Italy take matches, although Denmark studded squad led by Cristiano The association said ttoo AFAFPP on Turkey in front of 16,000 fans. yesterday announced it would Ronaldo, and Hungary complete that “earlier UEFA had appapprovedroved Spain’s preparations for the lift mask rules and allow 25,000 a tough-looking Group F. the new kit and every elementement ooff month-long tournament have fans, instead of 16,000, to attend The other likely contenders it, including the slogan”. been hit after two players, Ser- games in Copenhagen. among the 24 nations include The build-up to the tourna-tourna- gio Busquets and Diego Llorente, Munich aims to host a mini- Belgium, sweating over the fi t- ment has also seen controversyntroversy tested positive for the virus, al- mum of 14,500 fans — around 22 ness of key player Kevin De Bru- over the anti-racism gestureesture ooff though Llorente yesterday re- percent of the Allianz Arena’s ca- yne after he suff ered facial in- taking a knee, which manyny teams turned a negative test. pacity, the lowest of the stadiums juries in the recent Champions have said they will continuenue to do In this June 4, 2021, picture, the The team even had to name a being used. League fi nal, and usual suspects before games. UEFA European Championship “parallel” squad of 17 reserve play- Dublin and Bilbao were Spain and Italy. England players weree booed trophy arrives at Kings Cross Station ers, fearing a possible wider out- dropped from the list of hosts In England, there are hopes by some of their own supportersupporters in London on the final leg of the break in the offi cial 26-man squad. after being unable to give guar- Gareth Southgate’s young side for kneeling in their wwarm-uparm-up trophy’s tour in preparation for the Although captain Busquets antees they could meet UEFA’s could take advantage of playing matches, while Croatia ssaidaid yeyes-s- UEFA Euro 2020. (AFP) still has Covid, Llorente’s test re- requirement of accommodating most of their games at Wembley. terday their players wouldould not sult will allay fears that the fi rst- limited numbers of spectators, England have never before be asked to make the gesturesture and choice side might have to miss but Seville stepped in for Bilbao reached a European Champi- Scotland said their teamm would Spain’s opening game against while Dublin’s games went to onship fi nal, but captain Harry stand. Sweden in Seville on Monday. London and Saint-Petersburg. Kane believes the team will start Hungarian Prime MMinisterinister Two Swedish players — for- their bid in a “better place” than Viktor Orban said he agreedreed with ward Dejan Kulusevski and mid- FRANCE THE FAVOURITES they were before reaching the supporters booing playersrs for the fi elder Mattias Svanberg — have On the pitch, France will be fi rm 2018 World Cup semi-fi nals. anti-racism protest. Mancini targets semi-fi nals, urges Benzema should be fi t to face Spain will wait for Busquets, says Italy to entertain 2 Germany 2 coach 3 Gulf Times 2 Friday, June 11, 2021 EURO 2020 SPOTLIGHT FOCUS Gundogan hoping to bounce back aft er CL Mancini targets fi nal defeat with City AFP anticipation is huge – especially Herzogenaurach, Germany before tournaments like this. We can hardly wait,” added Gundog- an, who is expected to partner anchester City mid- Toni Kroos in Germany’s mid- semi-fi nals, urges fi elder Ilkay Gun- fi eld against France. dogan plans to use He anticipates a busy night his frustrations trying to stem the French at- Mat losing another Champions tack, featuring Kylian Mbappe, League fi nal to help Germany Antoine Griezmann and Karim fi nd form at Euro 2020. Gundog- Benzema, and expects a thor- an lost a Champions League fi nal ough test of the shaky German for the second time in his career defence, which has conceded 20 Italy to entertain when Premier League winners goals in 13 games this season. City were beaten by Chelsea a “You know that you are play- fortnight ago, with Germany ing against a team that has a lot Italy go into the Euros on a 27-match unbeaten run stretching back to 2018 team-mate Kai Havertz scoring of talented footballers. We may the winner for the Blues. not have much possession,” said The defeat in Porto was the Gundogan. “It is all the more im- second time Gundogan, 30, has portant that the guys at the back lost a Champions League fi nal support us. It could be a key to having also been on the losing the game, which could allow us side for former club Borussia to win a lot of ball and force the Dortmund when they were beat- French to run after us.” en by Bayern Munich at Wem- Gundogan hopes his personal bley in 2013. disappointment in Porto could “It’s not easy to lose a game even help Germany. “Winning like that,” Gundogan admitted the Champions League gives you yesterday at Germany’s Euro- a boost and self-confi dence, es- pean Championship base in Ba- pecially for Kai (Havertz), his varia. “We (City) were working goal will give him a lot of belief up to it for a year – even eight that the team could use,” he said. years in my case. I lost the fi nal “I’m pleased for the boys who again, so I’m extremely disap- won (the fi nal) — they deserve it.” pointed. Still, life goes on – that’s Leon Goretzka has been ruled the beauty of competitive sport. out of Germany’s opening Euro Now I’m focusing on the next 2020 match against world cham- tasks and I look forward to the pions France. The 26-year-old tournament (Euro 2020 fi nals) Bayern Munich midfi elder is despite the defeat.” back in training after a leg injury, Gundogan was City’s top scor- but will sit out Germany’s Group er last season with 17 goals in all F match against the French on competitions. He hit the net for Tuesday. his national side on Monday dur- Goretzka, who has scored ing a 7-1 thrashing of Latvia in 13 goals in 32 appearances for Germany’s fi nal warm-up game. Germany, faces a race against Germany open their Group F time to prove his fi tness as the campaign against world cham- ‘Mannschaft’ also host holders pions France on Tuesday in Mu- Portugal on June 19, then Hun- nich, where they also host hold- gary four days later in their other ers Portugal four days later. “The group games. Italy coach Roberto Mancini (centre) looks on as players train yesterday in Rome, ahead of their Euro 2020 match against Turkey. (Reuters) Reuters wonderful time for everyone over 90 the pitch when Italy drew 0-0 with Swe- because he is an important player and Rome minutes, we will give it everything.