CCRICKETRICKET | Page 4 MMOTORCYOTORCYCCLINGLING | Page 6 Jamieson Marquez takes takes fi ve as risks in the rain Kiwis claim to win German day’s honours Grand Prix Monday, June 21, 2021 FOOTBALL Dhul-Qa’da 11, 1442 AH Shaqiri shines as GULF TIMES Swiss keep hopes alive in Euros SPORT Page 2 EUROS Italy beat Wales as both teams advance to last 16 Oman and Somalia battle for the ball during their FIFA Arab Cup play-off yesterday. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil FOOTBALL/FIFA ARAB CUP Oman hold off plucky Somalia to Italy players celebrate their win in the UEFA Euro 2020 Group A match against Wales at the Olympic Stadium in Rome yesterday. Reuters made eight changes to his team, make main draw a joint record number for the Az- Rome zurri between games at a major The Omanis scored twice in the first half of the lively game for a 2-1 victory tournament. taly fi nished top of their But the new-look Italy side By Sports Reporter Euro 2020 group yesterday appeared comfortable on a hot, Doha as Matteo Pessina’s fi rst half muggy evening in Rome. goal helped a much-changed Andrea Belotti fl ashed a shot IAzzurri side beat 10-man Wales wide from a tight angle, Chris omalia displayed a lot of 1-0 in Rome, while the visitors Gunter headed narrowly over pluck but were left ru- held on to second place despite from a corner for the Welsh and ing their luck as Oman the defeat. Federico Chiesa’s volley was advanced to the main The Italians had already guar- defl ected off the line during a Sdraw of the FIFA Arab Cup with anteed their progress from Group frantic fi ve-minute spell midway a 2-1 win last evening. A, but they assured themselves through the half. The Omanis scored twice in of fi rst place with victory, while Marco Verratti, making his the fi rst half of the lively game Wales secured a berth too by fi n- fi rst appearance at Euro 2020 af- at the Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad ishing ahead of Switzerland on ter a lengthy injury lay-off , was Stadium before Somalia pulled goal diff erence. infl uential in midfi eld and played one pack nine minutes after the The Swiss, who could still a key role in the goal after 39 min- break. advance as one of the four best utes as he won a free-kick on the Oman, who last week quali- third-placed teams, beat Turkey right wing and swung it in to the fi ed for the 12-team fi nal phase 3-1 in Baku. near post for Pessina to fi nish. of Asian qualifying for next Italy are now unbeaten in 30 It was Italy’s seventh goal of year’s FIFA World Cup in Qa- games, equalling their all-time the tournament, matching their tar, will now join join Qatar and best run recorded from 1935 to best-ever tally from the 1998 Iraq in Group A of the FIFA Arab 1939, and kept a clean sheet for an World Cup after three group Cup to be played later this year. 11th consecutive match to under- stage matches at a major tourna- A fourth team will be added to line their credentials as potential ment. the group later from the qualifi - tournament winners. Mancini’s side were inches ers now underway in Doha. Pessina volleyed the dominant away from a second early in the Oman, the reigning Gulf Cup hosts in front at a lively Stadio second half when Bernardeschi champions, were expected to Olimpico after 39 minutes as cannoned a free-kick off the foot coast to a comfortable victory they put in an impressive dis- of the post, and a few minutes over Somalia, ranked 197th in play despite coach Roberto Man- later the Italy winger had his foot the FIFA World rankings, but cini making eight changes to his stamped on by Ampadu, leading things didn’t go entirely their starting line-up. to the defender’s dismissal. way. Wales’ task was made harder Wales’ job got even harder Ranked more than 100 plac- when defender Ethan Ampadu when they were reduced to 10 es above Somalia at 80, they was sent off in the 56th minute men, and the Italian pressure should have coasted to a fl uent for a stamp on Federico Bernar- continued as Belotti’s close- win but struggled to put up a Oman’s scorers Muhsen al-Ghassani (11) and Salah al-Yahyaei celebrate at the Sheikh Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. At right, a piece of action deschi’s ankle minutes after the range shot was blocked by Danny cohesive display as the hard- from the match. Italian winger’s free-kick had Ward. running Somalis kept frustrat- struck the post. Wales had a golden chance to ing the time and again. that, Oman were awarded a from Abel Gigli. could have added one more but the South Sudan national team Italy’s relentless pressure con- snatch a draw when a free-kick The crossbar came in Oman’s penalty when Mustafa brought Following a free-kick, the al-Ghassani again saw his eff ort have tested positive for Cov- tinued as they pushed for a sec- was headed into the path of the way as early as in the sixth down al-Ghassani in the box in Omani defence was under hit the post, and al-Rushedi id-19. ond, but Gareth Bale squandered unmarked Bale in the area, but minute denying forward Muh- the 33rd minute. Salah al-Yahy- pressure and when Gigli rose brought off another good save In line with the medical pro- a rare chance to earn Wales a draw the skipper blasted his fi nish over sen al-Ghassani from close. aei, who stepped up to take the above the defence to send in off Anwar Shakunda in the last cedures in place, they have been when he volleyed over unmarked the bar. But fi ve minutes later, al- shot, easily sent Mustafa the his header from a pass from the minute of play to ensure their placed in isolation and the ac- from 12 yards. Mancini made sure to give all 11 Ghassani made amends with a wrong way with a powerful low left fl ank, goalkeeper Faiyz al- progress to the group stage. tivities planned for today have Italy will face the runners-up of the players who started the last deft left-footed fl ick over So- drive. Rushedi was found wanting. Meanwhile, FIFA confi rmed been postponed. of Group C next in London on game at least some rest, as Leon- mali goalkeeper Mustafa Mo- Oman went into the break A few minutes later, substi- yesterday that following the Protecting the health and June 26, while Wales will take on ardo Bonucci and Jorginho were hamed after he had failed to with a comfortable 2-0 cushion tute Issa Ahmed had a great standard PCR tests applied safety of all individuals in- the runners-up of Group B on the replaced in the second half and properly collect a shot from but were in for a shock after the chance to draw level for Soma- ahead of the FIFA Arab Cup volved in the FIFA Arab Cup same day in Amsterdam. even goalkeeper Gianluigi Don- Abdulaziz al-Maqabli. A few break which saw the Somalis lia but al-Rushedi was equal to qualifi cation matches, some remains a top priority for the With Italy already through to narumma was taken off in the fi - failed attempts at goal after break through with a fi ne eff ort the task on this occasion. Oman members of the delegation of organisers, QNA reported. the knockout stages, Mancini nal minute of regulation time. Gulf Times 2 Monday, June 21, 2021 FOOTBALL UEFA EURO World Cup facilities are 90 percent ready: Qatar’s ambassador to Mexico mbassador of Qatar to be characterised by the use He referred to the abolition of Mexico Mohamed bin of sustainable energy, ease of the sponsorship system and its AJassim al-Kuwari stated movement and the ability to replacement with a contractual that about 90 percent of the watch two matches per day. system, the abolition of legal Shaqiri shines facilities for the World Cup In another interview with restrictions related to chang- Qatar 2022 are ready. France 24, he aff irmed that ing jobs, and the enactment of In an interview with Fox Sport, Qatar is proceeding with a a law setting a minimum wage, he pointed out that Qatar comprehensive reform to explaining that the Internation- continues to host the most promote and protect the rights al Labour Organisation (ILO) important sporting events, of workers, noting that the last has stated that with the entry which is useful for testing the period witnessed a remarkable into force of these legislations, stadiums and infrastructure development in the promotion Qatar will become a model for as Swiss keep before the big event, stating and protection of the rights of the region regarding the rights that the World Cup Qatar will expatriate workers to Qatar. of migrant workers. (QNA) FOCUS hopes alive Lebanon, Djibouti teams arrive Midfielder scores twice in their crucial 3-1 victory over Turkey in Baku in Doha for Arab Cup qualifi ers QNA the departure date on June 25, Shaito, Nour Mansour, Maher Doha according to the instructions of Sabra, Abdullah Aish, Hus- the Organizing Committee that sein Munther, Hussein al-Zein, prohibits teams from moving Hassan Maatouq, Mohamed Ali he Lebanon and Dji- except for training and matches al-Dahini, Nader Matar, Ma- bouti national teams in implementation of the tour- jed Othman, Mohamed Haid- arrived in Doha yester- nament protocol.