SPORT Monday 17 December 2018 PAGE | 08 PAGE | 09 Kohli joins Off-spinner Tendulkar with Nathan Lyon looms six centuries in as Australia’s Australia Test hero Yazeed wins Qatar National Day Trophy Minister of Culture and Sports, H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, with the team-members of Yazeed who won the Qatar National Day Trophy (Gr2 PA, Purebred Arabian horses) during the presentation ceremony held at the Al Rayyan Park, yesterday. Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) General Manager Nasser bin Sherida Al Kaabi (right), Turkish actor Camal Hunal (third, right) and QREC officials are also seen. Southampton Qatar will ‘surprise’ everybody end Arsenal’s unbeaten run at 2022 World Cup, says Xavi AGENCIES Arsenal’s 22-game unbeaten run FAWAD HUSSAIN in all competitions came to an end THE PENINSULA with a 3-2 loss at Southampton in Moment of ‘pride’: Al Thawadi the Premier League on Sunday, Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez with Charlie Austin’s 85th-minute is confident Qatar will host an goal sealing a first win for new ‘amazing’ FIFA 2022 World Cup, THE PENINSULA fantastic as well, having Secretary General Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuettl. saying the country is ready to DOHA of the UN (Antonio Guterre), President of Arsenal twice came from give a unique experience to Ecuador (Lenín Moreno), and high level of behind through goals from Henrikh football fans from all over the Expressing his delight on unveiling of the delegation attending the dinner is no Mkhitaryan and looked like pre- globe. design for Lusail Stadium, Hassan Al doubt for us a moment of pride,” Al serving an undefeated streak in the The former Barcelona Thawadi Secretary-General, Supreme Thawadi said. league stretching back to August captain, who is the brand ambas- Committee for Delivery and Legacy, termed Commenting on the matter of expanding 18 - a stretch of 14 games. sador of the 2022 FIFA World the development as ‘very important’. the World Cup to 48 teams, Al Thawadi, But Shane Long got free down Cup, was speaking to the media Lusail Stadium, the 80,000-capacity said: ”FIFA President (Gianni Infantino) has the right and sent in a cross that on the sidelines of the design venue will play host to opening and final commended the great work that he has seen went over Arsenal goalkeeper unveiling ceremony for Lusail games of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. It is the on the ground. The great progress that has Bernd Leno and was headed in at Stadium, which will host the eighth venue for the 2022 World Cup. been made so we focus on that. In relation the far post by Austin. It was a opening and final matches of the “The announcement of the design of to the issue of 48 teams, he has also men- winning goal that lifted South- 2022 World Cup, on Saturday the stadium is very important. It’s the last tioned that there is a feasibility study that ampton out of the relegation zone night in Lusail City. stadium and the main stadium as well. Off is being undertaken and ultimately the Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General of the with 17 of 38 matches gone. “I am very excited as an course, having the honour of His Highness decision will be made by FIFA and Qatar. So Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) Danny Ings had earlier put ambassador of the Supreme the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani until the feasibility happens and finalised addressing the gathering during the unveiling of Southampton ahead on two occa- Committee. Qatar is preparing attending the gathering is absolutely there is not much to comment about that.” the Lusail Stadium’s design on Saturday. sions with headers. everything well. I think they (Qatar) are ready. These stadiums Chelsea hold on against are amazing. Everybody will be Brighton surprised a lot that how Qatar Chelsea consolidated fourth will organise the World Cup. I place in the Premier League with think the country is ready in eve- I am very excited as a 2-1 win at Brighton & Hove rything,” said Xavi. Albion yesterday that became The Al Sadd midfielder said an ambassador of the harder work than had seemed preparations of team Qatar, Supreme Committee. likely in the first half. which will make World Cup Qatar is preparing Having won 4-0 at the Amex Stadium last season, they were on debut on home soil, were also on everything well. I think the right track. course for a repeat after taking a “I think they are preparing they (Qatar) are ready. 2-0 lead at the interval. very well. The team is doing very These stadiums are Eden Hazard set up the first well. They have a very good amazing. Everybody goal for Pedro after 17 minutes and coach in Felix Sanchez. He is a scored the second himself before brilliant coach, so they can will be surprised a halftime following a defensive compete. Let’s see at the Asian lot that how Qatar error. Brighton came back into con- Cup in January. will organise the tention through Solly March’s goal “They have a culture of midway through the second half football. They are ready to World Cup. I think the and Lewis Dunk went close to an compete. Everybody can see that country is ready in equaliser. in the last games they won everything: Xavi against Switzerland and drew Liverpool beat United 3-1 with Iceland. So they are ready Substitute Xherdan Shaqiri FROM LEFT: Barcelona’s French defender Samuel Umtiti, former Dutch player Ronald de Boer, Al and they have time, four years degrees (Celsius), which is perfect scored two goals from deflected Sadd’s Spanish legend Xavi Hernandez, Mainz’s Dutch midfielder Nigel De Jong and former Dutch more,” he said. for playing football. So I am not shots to help Liverpool beat fierce The current Al Sadd captain, star Ruud Gullit during the Lusail Stadium’s design unveiling ceremony. worried about it. The most beau- rival Manchester United 3-1 and lift who has earlier showed his desire tiful thing is it is so compact. You his team back atop the Premier to coach Qatar, hinted to retire “Spain are doing well. Luis won’t be different. The only dif- Qatar better and ready for the can see three games in one day. League on Sunday. as a footballer next year to start Enrique is the best coach. I know ference is that you can now 2022 World Cup,” Sneijder, who The most important thing is that Shaqiri put Liverpool back in his coaching career. him very well that he can do best watch three games in the same captains Al Gharafa, said. you can feel that there is a World front in the 73rd - within three “I am preparing as a coach, in the national team, but it’s still day. So all these kind of things Cup going on,” he added. minutes of coming on as a sub- maybe next season I will start as early to predict something,” he are an advantage. Let’s take for No problem with Qatar “In Russia, they did a great stitute - with a low strike that a coach. At the moment, I am still said. example Brazil, South Africa and weather: De Boer job but it is so spread out that you deflected off United defender a player at Al Sadd,” said the Russia, it was impossible to travel Dutch great Frank de Boer, don’t really feel that a World Cup Ashley Young and went in off the 38-year-old. World Cup in Qatar a big to watch all the games in three while backing Qatar to deliver a is going on. A World Cup should crossbar. Shaqiri’s second goal Commenting on Spain’s ‘advantage’ for fans: Sneijder days. Now you have this successful World Cup, assured be for the fans. What I experi- clinched Liverpool victory and chances at Qatar 2022, Xavi, Meanwhile, Dutch star advantage and for sure the fans that the weather in Qatar enced in South Africa, in Johan- again came via a ricochet, this time backed his national side to Wesley Sneijder said Qatar 2022 organisation will be perfect. will not affect the mega nesburg where so many teams off Eric Bailly, to deceive United bounce back from heartbreak in will offer huge advantage to fans “The changes that I have seen tournament. were together. The fans together goalkeeper David De Gea in the Russia 2018 where they were who will visit the country for the over one year, it’s amazing. The “I don’t see any problem with celebrating the World Cup. We 80th. stunned by the hosts in the last-16 World Cup. roads, the parks that they are the weather,” he said. are going to experience this even Sadio Mane had given Liv- stage. “It (the World Cup in Qatar) building, they are really making “Right now outside it is 18-25 more,” said De Boer. erpool the lead in the 24th. 08 SPORT MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2018 SCOREBOARD Australia (I innings) .......................... 326 Masterful Kohli joins India (I innings) K Rahul b Hazlewood ......................................2 M Vijay b Starc ..................................................0 C Pujara c Paine b Starc .................................24 Tendulkar with 6 V Kohli c Handscomb b Cummins ..............123 A Rahane c Paine b Lyon ............................... 51 H Vihari c Paine b Hazlewood .....................20 centuries in Australia R Pant c Starc b Lyon .....................................36 M Shami c Paine b Lyon ..................................0 I Sharma c and b Lyon ......................................1 AFP with 127. Countryman Tendulkar is third with 130, U Yadav (not out)..............................................4 PERTH while Don Bradman managed it in just 68.