NBA | Page 7 CRICKET | Page 8 LeBron out, Coach Kumble Carmelo in hopes to To Advertise here for US team make India Call: 444 11 300, 444 66 621 at Rio Games better tourists Saturday, June 25, 2016 EURO Ramadan 20, 1437 AH Open draw GULF TIMES off ers N Ireland, Wales chance of a lifetime SPORT Page 3 PORTUGAL VS CROATIA/ 10 PM Re-awakened Ronaldo up against a Croatia with teeth ‘We made it and now we face a very good team, but the odds are 50/50. Croatia are a tough team, with good players. Not every team manages to beat Spain. We respect them, but we know our strengths and we’ll look them in the eye’ AFP ment in France has rekindled memories Lens, France of their fairytale run to the World Cup semi-fi nals in 1998 before losing out to the hosts 2-1. Ivan Perisic was the hero ristiano Ronaldo awoke from against Spain, drilling home the winner his Euro 2016 slumber in time three minutes from time. to rescue Portugal from an However, Croatia cannot get carried early exit, but faces a greater away despite fi nding themselves in the Cchallenge against a classy Croatia side weaker half of the draw avoiding Ger- that Portugal coach Fernando Santos many, France, Italy, Spain or England called “sharks”. until the fi nal. Ronaldo made history as the fi rst “We made a really great job in the player to score in four European Cham- group stages, but this is just the be- pionships with a double in a thrilling ginning. If we lose the next match this 3-3 draw with Hungary. doesn’t mean anything,” Perisic said. The result saw Portugal just squeeze “We have to stay at the same level and through behind Iceland and Hungary in fi ght as we did in the fi rst three matches third-place in Group F. if we want to recreate memories of 1998.” The Real Madrid star has more The sour note for Croatia has come records in his sights as he is just one off the fi eld as their football federa- goal behind French legend Michel tion (HNS) was fi ned 100,000 euros Platini’s mark of nine in European ($113,000) for disturbances when fans Championship fi nals. threw fl ares onto the pitch during a 2-2 However, Ronaldo refused to draw with the Czech Republic last week. accept Portugal were underdogs against HNS president and hero of the 1998 a Croatia side that shocked two-time World Cup run Davor Suker praised defending champions Spain to top the security eff ort that ensured there Group D. were no problems in the stands against “We made it and now we face a very Spain. However, he called for stricter good team, but the odds are 50/50,” said controls on those allowed to enter the Ronaldo. “Croatia are a tough team, grounds in France to ensure there is no with good players. Not every team repeat of the Lens trouble. manages to beat Spain. “In any other country this would last “We respect them, but we know our one day. There are between 300 and strengths and we’ll look them in the eye 500 hooligans in Croatia that are listed, when we face them.” that cause problems in any place in Eu- Croatia are likely to be even stronger rope and came to Saint-Etienne. You for today’s clash in Lille (10pm Qatar have to stop them entering the ground. time) than against Spain with the re- “There was exceptional security (in turn of Ronaldo’s Real Madrid team- the Spain match), there were no prob- mate Luka Modric from injury. lems and exceptional fair play. Juventus frontman Mario Mand- “Ninety nine point nine percent (of zukic is also likely to shake off a knock KEY MEN: Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic will have to be at their best in their Euro 2016 Round of 16 clash tonight. (AFP) fans) are great, but there are 0.01 per- to retake his place after Croatia coach cent of radicals that want to destroy Ante Cacic made fi ve changes for the been trying to avoid,” admitted Portu- you need to know about them.” try’s call after his double strike. “This this will have boosted him for the next football and we have to stop them now historic win over Spain. gal boss Santos. “They placed fi rst in However, Santos has placed his faith will have increased his confi dence lev- game against Croatia.” because we have paid over one million “Croatia are one of the sharks we had a group with Spain, which tells you all in Ronaldo to again answer his coun- els. He’s a confi dent player anyway, but For Croatia a bright start to a tourna- euros in fi nes for nothing.” SWITZERLAND VS POLAND/ 4 PM Bundesliga intel preps Swiss for Poland clash AFP hind Germany. not scared.” Saint-Étienne, France Dortmund left-back Lu- Lewandowski was the top kasz Piszczek is always a threat scorer in Euro 2016 qualifi ers with with crosses from the left fl ank for 13 goals and bagged 42 goals in xperience forged in the Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik in the all competitions for Bayern last German league will help middle. season. The 27-year-old has yet Switzerland’s Bundesliga “They’re defi nitely a diffi cult to open his account at the fi nals stars when they face Rob- opponent,” said Switzerland goal- in France and says the Swiss will Eert Lewandowski’s Poland in the keeper Yann Sommer, who plays start as favourites to reach the last 16 at Euro 2016 today. for Borussia Moenchengladbach. quarter-fi nals. Switzerland and Poland have “We all know Lewandowski from “The Swiss are a very good team, both qualifi ed for the knockout the Bundesliga. It would be fool- one of the best in Europe, and they phase of a European Champion- ish to call Poland a one-man team are the favourites,” Lewandowski ship fi nals for the fi rst time. though. There are many other told Polish news agency PAP. “But But Adam Nawalka’s Poland quality players in their side.” like any team they have their weak have reason to be more optimistic The Swiss could have played points and I hope that we’ll be able with four wins in their ten meet- Germany in Saint-Etienne, but to take advantage of them.” ings, while the Swiss have won just they face just as tough a challenge Since their goalless draw once. With 11 of the Swiss squad against Poland. against France on Sunday, the having plied their trade in Germa- The Poles held the world cham- Swiss have had two extra rest days ny’s top fl ight last season—includ- pions to a goalless draw in Paris in to recover compared to the Poles, ing Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka— their group stage game. who beat Ukraine 1-0 on Tuesday. the Swiss know what to expect at “They might not be as big a “Four days rest will be enough the Stade Geoff roy-Guichard. name as Germany, but Poland for us,” said Lewandowski. The main threat to the Swiss proved how strong they are when “I feel this won’t make much of goal comes not just from Bayern we drew 2-2 with them in Wroclaw a diff erence.” Munich striker Lewandowski, in November 2014,” said Switzer- The Swiss have no injury con- but Borussia Borussia Dortmund land’s Hoff enheim defender Fabi- cerns before Vladimir Petkovic’s winger Jakub Blaszczykowski. an Schaer. “Lewandowski is their side head to Saint-Etienne. Po- His goal off the bench sealed biggest player, but other members land’s main concern is injury to Switzerland players attend a training session Poland’s 1-0 win over Ukraine of their squad play for clubs in goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny yesterday ahead of their Euro Championships which confi rmed their place in the some of the best leagues in Eu- with Lukasz Fabianski again set to Round of 16 clash against Poland today. (AFP) last 16 as Group C runners up be- rope. We respect them, but we’re deputise between the posts. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, June 25, 2016 EURO 2016 SPOTLIGHT Door ajar for lesser lights to make their mark AFP respective paths to the July 10 fi nal The teams in the bottom half of the draw have combined to win 11 World next round. hosted the 1954 World Cup, and mid- Paris have given them plenty of reason to Cups and nine European championships, whilst no side in the top half “In this phase of the competition fi elder Fabian Frei admits anticipation dream about a fi rst international title. has won a major tournament. But for the likes of Belgium, Switzerland, there are no easy opponents and we is building in the Swiss camp. “There is a crazy imbalance in the Croatia, Poland and Wales their respective paths to the July 10 fi nal have probably got the most diffi cult,” said “We’re ready. Every player in our ith the continent’s peren- draw for the second round, but those given them plenty of reason to dream about a fi rst international title Croatia coach Ante Ancic. squad is of great quality and as a team nial powers shoehorned are the rules and we have to respect “But we were in the toughest group we can beat anyone,” he said.