15 THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019 sports Sevilla sign defender Kounde from Bordeaux Brazil through to Copa final AFP | Madrid evilla announced the Lionel Messi fails Sclub-record signing • of French defender Jules again as hosts Brazil Kounde from Bordeaux yes- clinch place in 2019 A lot of people doubt terday. Copa America final us but we have a lot Kounde has agreed a five- of faith in ourselves, year contract with Sevilla, Brazil win semi- in our plan, in our who will pay 25 million eu- • hard work. We’re ros ($28.2 million), accord- final 2-0 thanks to a ing to reports in Spain. goal in each half from reaping the fruits An official club statement strikers Gabriel Jesus of the seeds we’re read: “The defender, who and Roberto Firmino sowing every day arrived yesterday night in DANI ALVES Seville, passed a medical in the morning before signing a AFP | Belo Horizonte, Brazil contract with his new team until 2024.” abriel Jesus and Roberto two men on the right, won back The 20-year-old, who can Firmino scored the goals the ball with a sliding tackle also play at full-back, played Gas Brazil beat arch-rivals after overrunning it, but then 55 Ligue 1 matches for Bor- Argentina 2-0 on Tuesday to wastefully shot high and wide. deaux after making his first- qualify for the Copa America At the other end, Arthur shot team debut in January last final. powerfully, but straight at goal- year and has represented Jesus and Firmino netted a keeper Franco Armani. France at under-20 level. goal apiece in each half to give His arrival also continues Brazil a victory which ensured Pirouetting Jesus a busy summer for Sevilla, Lionel Messi’s frustrating wait Argentina pushed Brazil back who have now signed five for a major international tour- Argentina’s goalkeeper Franco Armani (R) eyes the ball as Brazil’s Roberto Firmino tries to score at the start of the second half players since the return nament title with Argentina work. to be a feisty affair there were mazy run before sending Firmi- and Aguero picked out Lauta- of Monchi as sporting di- continued. “We’re reaping the fruits of some wild early tackles flying in, no clear down the right with a ro Martinez in the box but he rector and ahead of Julen Hosts Brazil will play the win- the seeds we’re sowing every and Argentina’s Nicolas Tagliaf- no-look pass, the Liverpool for- didn’t catch his left-foot volley Lopetegui’s first season as ners of the second semi-final day.” ico was first to be booked for a ward crossing for the unmarked cleanly and Alisson gathered coach. between champions Chile and But it was a miserable night lunge at Jesus. Jesus to tap home. comfortably. Peru in Sunday’s final. for Messi, whose hopes of land- The uneven pitch looked like Two-footed lunges were fly- Another promising attacking It was the first time these age- ing a major international honour it had been trampled by a herd ing in as the match threatened move ended with Rodrigo de old rivals had met in a major with Argentina ended in disap- of wildebeest before kick-off to descend from niggly to dirty. Paul blazing over from 20 yards. Manchester City competition since Brazil beat pointment once again. and both sides struggled to play Argentina almost levelled on But Jesus produced a beau- Argentina 3-0 in the 2007 Copa He will get another opportu- flowing football. the half hour when Sergio Ague- tiful piece of skill, including a activate Rodrigo final. nity next year, though, with the Brazil’s Casemiro was even ro headed Messi’s free-kick onto pirouetting drag-back, before release clause, English-based Jesus and fourth Copa America in the last jeered after sending a long the bar, the ball bouncing down teeing up Philippe Coutinho Firmino were the stars, each five years, due to be played in crossfield ball straight out of just in front of the line before who should have done better confirm Atletico creating the other’s goal, al - Argentina and Colombia. play. Brazil scrambled it clear. than shooting over. though captain Dani Alves had “We should have been the The first chance came when Messi then burst into life, Moments later, though, a AFP | Madrid a major say in the opener. team going to the final because Argentina’s Leandro Paredes driving at heart of the Brazil blocked shot from Martinez “It was another step towards we deserved it, no doubt about let fly from 30 yards but the ball defense and playing in Aguero, looped over to Messi who lashed anchester City are set our objective. We’re achieving that. But sometimes football is whistled just over the top of who took advantage of a Thiago a shot from an angle against the Mto sign Atletico Ma- all the goals that we’re setting unfair,” complained Argentina goalkeeper Alisson’s goal. Silva slip to make space for him- post, with Alisson beaten. drid’s Rodrigo Hernandez ourselves,” said Alves. coach Lionel Scaloni. Brazil took the lead on 19 min- self but Marquinhos was quickly Alisson was alert to clutch a after activating the mid - “A lot of people doubt us but utes after a piece of individual across to block the Manchester Messi free-kick on 66 minutes fielder’s release clause with we have a lot of faith in our - Tackles flying brilliance from Alves. City striker’s shot. that looked destined for the top a club-record fee of 70 mil- selves, in our plan, in our hard In what was always expected He beat three players on a Moments later, Messi beat corner. lion euros yesterday. Atletico confirmed that City have paid the $79 mil- lion fee which automatically terminates Rodrigo’s con- Murray, Serena form tract with the Spanish club. Wawrinka falls for tall tale “La Liga informed Atlet- ico Madrid yesterday that AFP | London Wimbledon mixed representatives of Rodrigo Hernandez and Manches- hree-time major win - ter City have deposited Tner Stan Wawrinka was doubles dream team the amount of the release knocked out of Wimbledon AFP | London clause in the name of the yesterday, falling in five sets player,” Atletico said in a to 6ft 11in (2.1m) Reilly Opelka he all-star duo of former statement. as defending champion Novak Tworld number ones Andy Djokovic waited to push his bid Murray and Serena Williams for a fifth title. will play German Andreas Two-time quarter-finalist Mies and Alexa Guarachi of Lyon sign Mendes, Wawrinka, 34, was beaten 7-5, Chile in the first round of the 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 8-6 by his Ameri- mixed doubles at Wimbledon. Kone from Lille can opponent, the tallest man in Mies, 28, comes fresh from after sales of young the sport and 13 years his junior. creating a major surprise part- Opelka fired 23 aces and 59 nering Kevin Krawietz to win stars winners and goes on to face the French Open title beating AFP | Lyon, France Reilly Opelka shake hands with Stan Wawrinka either 2016 runner-up Milos home hopes Jeremy Chardy Raonic of Canada or Robin cramping. 52nd-ranked Puig was clearly and Fabrice Martin in straight rench club Lyon yes - Haase of the Netherlands. Although she bravely tried to over-awed, winning just nine sets. Fterday completed the Opelka will be appearing in continue, the Russian, who has points in a 20-minute first set. American-born Guarachi, Andy Murray on the practice court at signing of Brazilian mid- the third round at a Slam for undergone three knee surgeries Former world number one who is also 28, has a more mod- Wimbledon fielder Thiago Mendes from the first time having never won in her career, was forced to quit. and double Australian Open est record though she won the Lille, reinvesting some of a grass court match in his career Czech third seed Karolina winner Victoria Azarenka Swiss Open doubles final last “With what’s happened the the 70 million euros ($79 prior to coming to Wimbledon. Pliskova reached the last 32 swept past Australia’s Ajla Tom- year and reached the Istanbul last year or so, you never know million) they received from Also feeling the pain was Rus- with a 6-0, 6-4 win over Puerto ljanovic 6-2, 6-0. Cup final this season. what’s round the corner, so it’s Tottenham for French inter- sia’s Margarita Gasparyan who Rico’s Olympic champion Mon- Azarenka, now at 40 in the Murray, who is easing his a great opportunity. national midfielder Tanguy was forced to retire when just ica Puig. world, was a semi-finalist at way back into the sport fol - “I’ll look forward to it.” Ndombele. two points from victory against Pliskova, one of four players the All England Club in 2011 lowing a radical hip resurfac- The 32-year-old, who won Mendes, 27, was signed Ukraine eighth seed Elina Svi- who could end Wimbledon as and 2012. ing, announced he was joining two of his three Grand Slam for a fee reported to be 25 tolina. world number one, will face Next up is a last-32 clash with forces with Williams in an all- singles titles at Wimbledon, is million euros, before Lyon World number 62 Gaspar- Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan for a fellow ex-world number one star partnership on Tuesday. already entered into the men’s announced they had also yan was 7-5, 5-4 ahead when spot in the fourth round.