I N T E R N A T I O N A L D A I L Y 14 WORLD SPORTS DECEMBER 2, 2019 Monaco vs. PSG postponed Portugal, France and Germany due to bad weather Sunday’s Ligue 1 game between Monaco and Paris St Germain has been postponed because of bad weather. in Euro 2020 super group “Following a decision by the Monaco authorities, the game between Monaco and Paris St Germain, scheduled today at 2100 Defending champions Portugal and the last Belgium’s opponents in Group B will be (2000GMT), is cancelled and will be played at a later date be- two world champions, France and Germany, Denmark and Russia —who are both host na- cause of the weather conditions,” Monaco said in a statement. were thrown together in what German coach tions — and Finland, who will be making their Torrential rain and the risk of flooding prompted local au- Joachim Loew described as the group of death first appearance in a European Championship thorities to issue a red warning in the region. following a lop-sided and complicated Euro or World Cup. PSG lead the standings with 33 points from 14 games with 2020 draw on Saturday. The Netherlands, who like Italy missed Monaco in 14th place on 18 points. England were drawn against Croatia in a out on the last World Cup, were pitted against (Source: Reuters) repeat of last year’s World Cup semi-final while Ukraine, Austria and playoff winner A or D in other favorites were given a much easier ride in Group C, which will be played in Amsterdam the 24-team tournament which will be played and Bucharest. Watford sack manager in 12 different countries across the region. Under the complex rules, all host nations The clear pick of the six first round pools was will play their group games at home, meaning Flores after 85 days in Group F, to be played in Munich and Budapest, a number of teams had been allocated their charge which pitted France, Portugal and Germany, groups before the draw plus the winners of either playoff A or D. “The rules are clear, they were accepted Watford sacked manager Quique Sanchez Flores on Sunday less However, the sting was slightly taken away by everybody,” said UEFA deputy general than three months into his reign following a poor run of results by the format which allows four of the six third- secretary Giorgio Marchetti. in which the club won only one of their 10 league matches with placed teams to qualify for the round of 16, “Portugal are in pot three because they didn’t the Spaniard in charge, the Premier League club said. UEFA’s decision to rank the teams accord- win their group, and the winner of their group Flores, who was reappointed in September for a second spell in ing to their result in the qualifiers, combined was Ukraine. And Ukraine, thanks to their charge, is the second manager to be sacked by the club this season with Portugal’s performance in their group, results, are in pot one, and everybody accepts after they let go of Javi Gracia four games into the campaign. meant they ended up among the third seeds it because once again we have clear rules.” “With regret, Watford Football Club confirms the departure of while France were one of the second seeds. Full Euro 2020 draw Head Coach Quique Sanchez Flores,” the club, who are bottom of “This is a group of death,” said Loew whose Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland the standings with eight points from 14 games, said in a statement. side will play all three games at home under up from Germany’s group in the round of 16 Switzerland in Group A, in Rome and Baku. Group B: Denmark, Finland, Belgium, The club have not announced a replacement but British media competition rules. “The expectations will be while the second-placed team will travel to “We have a slight advantage by playing Russia reported that former Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris quite high. For our young team, this will be Copenhagen to meet the Group E runners- at home. Maybe some will think we are fa- Group C: Holland, Ukraine, Austria, playoff Hughton was a candidate. huge challenge but also a big motivation.” up — potentially an easier match. vorites but we need to confirm everything winner D Flores was previously in charge of the club during the 2015- England and Croatia, who have met in the The Group will be played in London — host on the pitch, as always,” Italy coach Roberto Group D: England, Croatia, Czech Republic, 16 season, after which he was surprisingly sacked. He took over Nations League since Croatia’s 2-1 win in Mos- for the semi-finals and final — and Glasgow. Mancini said. playoff winner C from Gracia after his fellow Spaniard won only one point in the cow last year, will be joined in Group D by the Other favorites were given a much easier- Euro 2008 and 2012 champions Spain, Group E: Spain, Sweden, Poland, playoff first four matches of the season. Czech Republic and the winners of playoff C looking ride. who will jointly host Group E in Bilbao with winner B Under Flores, Watford’s solitary league win came against — either Scotland, Norway, Serbia or Israel. Italy, who won all 10 qualifying games as Dublin, play Sweden, Poland and playoff win- Group F: Portugal, France, Germany, promoted Norwich City last month while they beat Championship Easier match they bounced back from failing to make the ner B — either Bosnia, Slovakia, Ireland or playoff winner A side Swansea City in the League Cup before being eliminated in The Group D winners will face the runners- last World Cup, will face Turkey, Wales and Northern Ireland. (Source: Reuters) the fourth round by Everton. In the league, he oversaw five defeats — including an 8-0 humbling by champions Manchester City — and his last game Football star Benik Afobe ‘heartbroken’ Lewis Hamilton ends sixth title year in charge was Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Southampton where they let their lead slip in the final 12 minutes. after death of two-year-old daughter in winning style “Quique is a man of great integrity and it was clear how much he wanted to have a positive impact, but ultimately results have dictated our decision,” Watford chairman and CEO Scott Duxbury said. (Source: Mirror) Harden scores 60 points in Rockets win James Harden scored 60 points for the fourth time in his ca- reer during the Houston Rockets’ 158-111 NBA win over the Atlanta Hawks. He played just 31 minutes of the game and fell one point shy of his career-high points haul of 61 points, which he has achieved twice. Only Wilt Chamberlain (32) and Kobe Bryant (six) have more 60-point hauls and Harden is tied with Michael Jordan. “That’s a great list right there,” said Harden, who also had eight assists. Footballer Benik Afobe says he is “heartbroken” on in our hearts forever. I love you my friend Lewis Hamilton claimed one of the most ping McLaren’s Lando Norris to seventh “Those guys are something that I’m trying to get to. Hope- after the death of his two-year-old daughter. stay strong.” dominant victories of his glittering sixth on the final lap of the season. fully when it is all said and done, I can be mentioned in that The striker, who plays for Championship Bristol City said Afobe’s teammates were title-winning season at the Abu Dhabi GP Lewis Hamilton has admitted he is flat- group forever.” club Bristol City on loan from Stoke, announced informed of the news about Amora’s death to sign off from F1 2019 in ultimate style. tered by Ferrari’s interest, refusing to shut Harden is also the fourth player to score 50 or more points his daughter Amora had died on Friday even- after their 5-2 win over Huddersfield Town The Briton matched his personal-best down a move to the Italian giants. on 20 occasions, after Chamberlain (118), Jordan (31) and Bry- ing after “unexpectedly developing a severe on Saturday. tally of 11 wins in one year - and set a new Ferrari have ramped up their pursuit ant (25). infection”. Head Coach Lee Johnson said: “I’d like to points record for a season - with an im- of Hamilton at the season-concluding race Against the Hawks, he scored 13 points in the first quarter, A statement issued by his family said: dedicate that win to the big man and his fam- maculate performance under the lights in Abu Dhabi by publicly wooing Britain’s 18 in the second and 29 in the third. “It is with an extremely heavy heart that ily - much love to you all.” of the Yas Marina in which he won by 17 six-time world champion. (Source: BBC) the Afobe family have today confirmed the Afobe’s former club Wolverhampton Wan- seconds from Max Verstappen. Italian media have reported that Ham- devastating news that their first child, their derers posted a tribute on Twitter, saying: “Our Verstappen capped his own fine season ilton, who is out of contract with Mercedes beloved daughter Amora, 2, passed away late hearts break for Benik Afobe and his family with a second place after winning a duel at the end of next season, has spoken on Ronaldo ends goal drought on Friday evening. following the tragic news of his daughter’s with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.