THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2014 SPORTS English Premier League explores global expansion LONDON: English clubs’ interest in playing dition of anonymity because the discussions have Arnold told the AP: “That’s still an area that’s under watch, who knows?” Pointing to the crowds at matches abroad has prompted the Premier been in private. Although playing a regular season some development. You’ve seen on the tour the some pre-season friendlies in the United States, League to explore the possibilities of expansion game abroad would appear unlikely in the immedi- engagement we get abroad.” Scudamore said: “You wouldn’t get more even if overseas. ate future, the league is looking into organizing Premier League games are broadcast into 650 there was three points, six points, or even nine The league was forced to scrap plans six years lucrative pre-season friendlies and expanding the million homes in 175 countries, according to points riding on that particular game.” ago to add an extra 39th round of matches at ven- existing Premier League Asia trophy tournament to league statistics. The league has been wary about While clubs like United and Liverpool can secure ues across the world amid opposition domestical- other continents. reviving plans to take a game abroad after the ini- lucrative deals for pre-season games, it would be ly and from FIFA. But league chief executive The international interest in preseason games tial discussion in 2008 angered both domestic fans clubs with smaller global fan bases that could ben- Richard Scudamore recently acknowledged that was highlighted by Manchester United’s friendly and FIFA, with questions also about upsetting the efit from the Premier League helping to organize clubs still back the idea. against Real Madrid in Michigan in August. balance of the division by inserting an extra fixture. fixtures. The Spanish league organized its second People with knowledge of the situation have Organized by a third party company, it attracted a “The clubs wanted it (the regular season game “World Challenge” tour ahead of this season, for told The Associated Press that clubs have now crowd of more than 109,000. When asked about abroad in 2008) and they all would still probably Almeria, Atletico Madrid, Deportivo La Coruna, asked the league to conduct a feasibility study Premier League pre-season or even regular season want it now,” Scudamore told the BBC in August. “It Malaga and Valencia as Barcelona and Real Madrid into global expansion options. They spoke on con- games abroad, United managing director Richard will happen at some point. Whether it is on my cut its own deals.— AP Arsenal star Ozil out for 12 weeks BERLIN: Mesut Ozil will miss Germany’s Euro training the day after,” said team manager 2016 qualifier against Poland on Saturday and Oliver Bierhoff. faces up to 12 weeks out with a knee injury, Draxler, of Schalke, is expected to join the the German Football Association (DFB) con- squad once he recovers from illness. Even firmed yesterday. The 25-year-old Arsenal star without Ozil, Loew has targeted six points complained of pain in his left knee and was from their games against Poland and Ireland flown to Munich on Wednesday morning to be to give the Germans control of Group D after treated by the DFB’s doctor, who diagnosed a they beat Scotland 2-1 in their opening match. partial tear of the left cruciate knee ligament. Bierhoff said Germany are rebuilding after Ozil will miss the Group D qualifiers in established stars Philipp Lahm, Per Warsaw and against the Republic of Ireland in Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose all retired in Gelsenkirchen next Tuesday. He also misses a the wake of their World Cup triumph in Brazil qualifier against minnows Gibraltar in in July. Nuremberg on November 14, plus a friendly “We want to win both games and give our- against European champions Spain on selves a bit of a cushion in the qualifiers,” November 18. added Bierhoff. “It’s going to be a tough Ozil is also added to Arsenal manager October with two difficult games. Arsene Wenger’s mounting injury list and will “We have to introduce several new players miss the rest of the Gunners’ Champions into the squad because of injuries and a few League group stage matches, including the retirements. “The team will have a different key Group D showdown at home to Borussia look to how it was two months ago.” Dortmund on November 26. Germany coach With Schweinsteiger injured, Germany will Joachim Loew is already missing several stars be captained by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for for the trip to Warsaw with captain Bastian the next two games. “These are key games for Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Benedikt us, it is important to keep playing well after Hoewedes, Marco Reus and Mario Gomez all the win over Scotland,” said Neuer, of Bayern WARSAW: German players run during a training session of Germany’s national soccer team in Frankfurt. Germany will play against Poland in injured while midfielder Julian Draxler has the Munich. Loew is set to hand a first cap to Bayer flu. Chelsea forward Andre Schuerrle also Leverkusen attacking midfielder Karim Group D qualifying match for the Euro 2016 in Warsaw next Saturday. — AP missed training on Wednesday with a muscu- Bellarabi, who has opted to play for Germany lar problem, but is expected to be fit. “Things over Morocco, where his mother was born, on look good for Andre, he received some treat- the back of several impressive displays in the ment on Tuesday, so it’s normal that he sat out Bundesliga.— AFP Nations play catch-up in race for Euro 2016 PARIS: The campaign to qualify for Euro 2016 intensifies with two rounds of matches played back-to-back over six days, starting from today, offering the chance for those countries who started badly last month to play catch-up. That is the case for Guus Hiddink’s Netherlands, who entertain Kazakhstan and then go to Iceland looking to bounce back from a defeat in the Czech Republic, and for Group A rivals Turkey, who were beaten in Iceland last time out and now host the Czechs before an awkward trip to Latvia. Meanwhile, Portugal will play their first match under new coach Fernando Santos when they go to France for a friendly on Saturday before taking on Denmark away next Tuesday. Santos has replaced Paulo Bento, who departed following the shock 1-0 home defeat to Albania in September, and has resorted to recalling experienced faces in 33-year-old Tiago Mendes, Danny, 31, and Monaco defend- er Ricardo Carvalho, 36. Former Greece coach Santos, who is serving a touchline ban, said of Carvalho: “He was pun- ished for a year for his attitude. I know what I want and which players can serve me best. Perhaps other players will emerge in the next month, but we are thinking about the present.” BORISOV: Players of Ukraine’s national soccer team practice during an official training session Carvalho added: “As we lost our first match, in Minsk, Belarus. Ukraine will play against Belarus in Group C qualifying match for the Euro this has become more important for us. We 2016 in the town of Borisov today. — AP need to stick together and adapt to one anoth- BANANA SKIN matches that I have played I have not had a gen- er as quickly as possible so we come into the Reigning European champions Spain are on uine chance anyway. I need to keep working and Denmark game at as high a level as possible.” the road for two Group C fixtures against be ready to take the chance when it comes,” said Elsewhere, England entertain the whipping Slovakia and Luxembourg, with the first game in the Brazilian-born Chelsea star. Italy coach boys of world football, San Marino, at Wembley Zilina a potential banana skin for Vicente del Antonio Conte has recalled Andrea Pirlo, 35, for on Thursday before a trip to Tallinn to face Bosque’s men. “There’s going to be Spanish fever the Azzurri’s Group H matches against because everyone wants to see a game involv- Azerbaijan in Palermo on Friday and Malta away Mesut Ozil controls the ball in this file photo. Estonia in a Group E double-header that should provide few problems to Roy Hodgson’s ing one of the top teams in the world,” said on Monday. Germany, winners against Scotland side. Indeed, for England, after winning 2-0 in Robert Mak of Slovakia, whose team will rely on in September, go to Poland in Group D before England serious Switzerland in their opening qualifier last Napoli star Marek Hamsik to trouble the visitors hosting the Republic of Ireland in Gelsenkirchen, month, failure to beat San Marino, who have as they look to build on a 1-0 win in Ukraine last and will do so without Schalke’s Julian Draxler, lost their last 59 matches, is unthinkable. “You month. Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos will who has joined the likes of Bastian against San Marino can’t let your standards drop. miss the trip east with a calf injury, but Gerard Schweinsteiger and Marco Reus on the sidelines. Everyone knows it is a game we should win Pique of Barcelona is back in the squad. The World Cup winners’ superb record in LONDON: Having launched their 2016 European nity for England to hone their tactics against and we want to keep improving and play bet- Valencia strike duo Rodrigo and Paco Alcacer, qualifiers could come under threat from a Championship qualifying campaign with an defensive teams.