05-07-2018

SPORTS
THURSDAY, JULY 5, 2018
9
Five of the best players
at the FIFA World Cup
Sports Desk: Russia 2018 has been one of
the most entertaining FIFA World Cup
tournaments in recent history, reports AP.
Fans worldwide have been blessed with
riveting encounters between the world's
best players. Now only eight teams remain
and half of them have never lifted football's
most coveted crown.
The following five players who remain in
the tournament have been immense for
their countries and could potentially lead
them to football's Holy Grail.
Harry Kane: The England captain is
currently the tournament's leading
goalscorer with six strikes behind his
name.
Kane carries his country's best hopes of a
first world title since they won the crown
on home soil in 1966.
The Tottenham Hotspur forward scored
a brace in England's opening game against
Tunisia and then followed it up with a hattrick
against lowly Panama in a 6-1
thrashing of the central American side. He
again found the net from the penalty spot
in the last 16 clash against Colombia.
He might not be the most exciting
forward to watch but he gets the job done.
Coutinho: Neymar may be the poster boy
of the Brazilian side but Coutinho has been
the man at the forefront of Brazil's attacks.
Despite having a quiet game in the last 16
match against Mexico, the Barcelona
attacker was Brazil's best player in the
group stages.
With opposition defenders splitting their
attention between Neymar and Gabriel
Jesus, Coutinho could steer Brazil to a
record-extending sixth World Cup
triumph.
Kylian Mbappe: Pace, power and
passion, that's French teenager Kylian
Mbappe.
The French wonder blew Lionel Messi's
Argentina away in the last 16 knockout
phase.
A stern challenge against a resolute
Uruguay defence awaits in the
quarterfinals.
At the tender age of 19 years and wearing
the French number 10 jersey synonymous
with Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini,
the talented youngster has outperformed
his seniors.
His exuberance of youth and ruthless
nature in front of goal has been a welcome
addition to a French side full of attacking
talent.
Luka Modric: If Ivan Rakiti? is the heart
of the Croatian side then Modric is the
soul. The Real Madrid playmaker has been
the architect of Croatia's fluid display en
route to the last 8.
Modric is arguably the world's best
central midfielder. He has taken his club
form to the international stage leading an
unfancied side.
With Rakiti? by his side, the Croatians
are on course to matching their 1998
semifinal appearance.
However the hosts Russia could have
other ideas.
Romelu Lukaku: The Manchester United
forward has been pivotal for the Belgian
Red Devils. Lukaku has been an
uncomfortable brute force up front for
opposition defenders in Russia.
He has Kane in his sights for the coveted
Golden Boot award for the leading scorer.
His four goals have been crucial for
Belgium, who are considered dark horses,
but his silent role in the build-up to the late
dramatic winner against Japan in the last
16 was more important.
Japan captain
retiring after
World Cup
dreams dashed
Sports Desk: Japan captain
Makoto Hasebe has
announced his retirement
from the national team, on
the heels of the squad's
heartbreaking ejection from
the World Cup in a match
against Belgium, reports
BSS.
"I have decided to end the
chapter of my career with
the national team with this
tournament," Hasebe wrote
on his Instagram account.
The 34-year-old defensive
midfielder's departure from
the Blue Samurai could
mean a changing of the
guard for the team, with
former AC Milan striker
Keisuke Honda, 32, also
saying he plans to retire
from the national squad.
Hasebe, who won the
German Cup with Eintracht
Frankfurt last season, has
been on the national team
for more than 12 years under
five coaches.
This year's World Cup is
his third, after South Africa
in 2010 and Brazil in 2014,
and saw his team come
heartstoppingly close to the
quarterfinals before
crashing out against
Belgium.
Japan were ousted after
Belgium came from behind
to win 3-2 in their first
match in the knock-out
round.
Brazil's forward Roberto Firmino (L) celebrates with teammates scoring his team's second goal
during the Russia 2018 World Cup round of 16 football match between against Mexico at the Samara
Arena in Samara on July 2.
Photo: AP
Flashy Brazil relying on balance,
rock-solid defense at World Cup
Sports Desk: While the focus is on
Neymar's flashy scoring ability and his
other antics in Russia, Brazil's steady
progression at the World Cup has
solidified the team's status among the
favorites left in the tournament,
reports AP.
Nemesis Germany is gone. So are
Lionel Messi and Argentina. Cristiano
Ronaldo and Portugal are out.
But for Brazil, the word favorite -
"favorito" in Portuguese - is taboo.
"We feel confident but not like the
favorites because we know that there
are other quality teams that have great
potential. The favoritism comes from
the press and the fans," winger Willian
said. "We want to remain firm in our
goal, which is to move step by step and
reach the final."
The five-time World Cup champions
opened the knockout round on
Monday night by defeating Mexico 2-
0 for their third straight shutout in
Russia. Neymar scored his second
goal of the tournament in the 51st
minute, and substitute Roberto
Firmino scored in the 88th in Samara.
Neymar again grabbed attention for
his theatrics after he tangled up with
Mexico's Miguel Layun, who stepped
on the Paris Saint-Germain star's right
ankle. Neymar writhed on the field in
apparent agony before popping back
up and finishing the match.
Brazil goes on to face Belgium in the
quarterfinals on Friday in Kazan. The
Belgians are coming off a 3-2
comeback win against Japan in
Rostov-on-Don.
Brazil was ranked second by FIFA
upon arrival in Russia, but the team
opened with a lackluster 1-1 draw
against Switzerland. Since then, Brazil
hasn't conceded a goal, winning three
successive games 2-0.
Neymar, who had been recovering
in previous months from a broken
foot, gave the world-class
performance that everyone hoped for
on Monday. He has two goals and an
assist in the tournament, giving him
six career World Cup goals.
Other players have risen to the
occasion, too. In the group stage,
Philippe Coutinho had two goals and
an assist and earned Man of the Match
honors twice. Against Mexico, it was
Willian who showed flashes of
brilliance.
Additionally, the defense has been
steady throughout, anchored by
captain Thiago Silva and goalkeeper
Alisson. The only other team
remaining that has conceded just one
goal is Uruguay.
Brazil has allowed just five shots on
target at this World Cup, fewest of any
team.
"It's a huge joy to be doing an
excellent cup and to be growing with
every game," Silva said. "I hope that in
the next game of (the) quarterfinals,
we can even be better prepared
because with the victories the trust
automatically grows."
Defender Miranda echoed that
sentiment: "We're growing in the
tournament. We hope to continue this
way. We need to grow even more."
Coach Tite has put an emphasis on
balance since the South American
qualifiers, and Brazil was the first
team to earn its way to Russia. Brazil
has yet to lose in eight matches this
year.
Of course, the ultimate goal is to
erase some of the disappointment of
the last World Cup, when Brazil was
embarrassed on home soil by
Germany in a 7-1 semifinal loss.
"People have asked us a lot about
Germany. I don't think we should
worry about Germany and about what
happened. Soccer is to play it, not to
speak about it," Silva said. "We no
longer need to focus on Germany
because we don't have a way to change
that story. We only need to think
ahead now, game by game, and seize
our opportunities."
Perhaps that approach will give
Brazil a sixth star over its crest.
"I hope. I hope," Willian said about a
sixth title. "It's going to be difficult.
And like I said before, we have to
continue this way, work hard and
continue to improve ourselves."
The World Cup winner's trophy is seen during the 68th FIFA Congress at the Expocentre in Moscow
on June 13, 2018.
Photo: AP
Pakistan knocks
hosts Zimbabwe
out of T20I series
Sports Desk: Pakistan
knocked Zimbabwe out of
the Twenty20 tri-series in
Harare in a closely-fought
encounter on Wednesday,
beating the hosts by seven
wickets with five deliveries
to spare, reports BSS.
Captain Sarfraz Ahmed
saw his side home with an
unbeaten 38, meaning that
Zimbabwean allrounder
Solomon Mire's efforts
earlier in the game went in
vain. Mire struck 94, the
highest score by a
Zimbabwean in a Twenty20
international, but
Zimbabwe's 162 for 4 was
not enough to overcome the
world's top ranked T20I side.
Pakistan's chase was given a
rapid start by the openers.
Haris Sohail and Fakhar
Zaman took 56 from the
Powerplay, but Sohail holed
out soon afterwards.
When Zaman skied Mire
to depart for 47, Pakistan
needed more than eight runs
an over from the last eight
overs, but Ahmed's innings
of calm precision kept them
up with the asking rate.
Executing his attacking
strokes perfectly, Ahmed
found the gaps and the
boundaries whenever they
were needed.
He displayed a particularly
deft touch with his late cut,
taking boundaries off leftarm
spinners Tendai
Chisoro and Wellington
Masakadza with the stroke.
With four runs needed
from the final over, it was
also the shot he used to end
the game, gliding seamer
Chris Mpofu to the third
man boundary.
England's Anderson
to test injured
shoulder ahead of
India series
Sports Desk: England's all-time leading wicket taker
James Anderson could be in line for a return to the
national side for the upcoming five-Test series with India
after undergoing rehabilitation on a longstanding
shoulder injury, reports BSS.
The 35-year-old swing bowler - who has taken 540
wickets in 138 Tests -has been out of action since early
June, but will hope to prove he is fit in a second XI match
for his county Lancashire on July 15.
Anderson is then due to play a County Championship
match against old rivals Yorkshire in the "Roses match"
on July 22.
He has described the schedule for the Test series
against India, which begins at Edgbaston on August 1, as
"ridiculous" with all five matches crammed into a sixweek
period.
"England seamer Jimmy Anderson will make his
return to competitive cricket for Lancashire second XI in
a three-day match against Nottinghamshire at Old
Trafford starting on July 15," read a statement from the
England and Wales Cricket Board.
"Anderson, who has not played since the second Test
victory over Pakistan on June 3, has spent the past
month rehabilitating a long-standing right shoulder
injury and returned to bowling working with Lancashire
and England staff in the past seven days.
"As part of his plan, before the first Test against India
starting on August 1, he will play for Lancashire seconds
against Nottinghamshire and the Roses match in the
County Championship Division One match against
Yorkshire at Old Trafford starting on July 22."
Anderson has struggled with the shoulder injury over
the past two years and acknowledged after England
squared the two Test series with Pakistan - in which he
took nine wickets at an average of 19.11 - he needed to
rest it, with the India matches coming thick and fast.
"I just need to get in the gym and get it strong," he said
in June.
"The India schedule is ridiculous with five Tests in six
weeks and that will put a lot of stress on it."
Colombia coach
laments fouls
against England
at World Cup
Sports Desk: Eight yellow
cards. A head-butt. Yelling
players surrounding the
referee. Gamesmanship and
spikiness across the pitch.
Decided on a penalty shootout,
the World Cup drama of
England vs. Colombia would
have been better without the
ugliness. Among those who
thought so: Colombia coach
Jose Pekerman, reports
BSS.
"When there are so, so
many fouls and
interruptions I think that's
not good," he said. "We
shouldn't only look at
Colombian players. We
should also look at England
players."
Struggling at times to keep
control of the game,
American referee Mark
Geiger dished out six yellow
cards to Colombian players.
Four of them were in a
particularly ill-disciplined
12-minute second-half spell
that included Colombia
midfielder Carlos Sanchez
wrestling England striker
Harry Kane to the ground on
a set-piece in the penalty
box. Kane scored from the
spot. The two England
players cautioned were
Jordan Henderson and
Jesse Lingard.
"There were so many
interruptions in the game,
far too many interruptions,"
Pekerman said. "That hasn't
been good for us. It's hurt
our side a lot."
Wilmar Barrios got the
first yellow card, after he
butted his head into
Henderson's chest.
Determined Uruguay ready
to spoil French party
Sports Desk: Streetwise and
tough yet with a razor-sharp
edge, Uruguay have moved
serenely into the World Cup
quarter-finals, ignoring the
chaos that has swamped
former winners Argentina
and Spain, reports AP.
Uruguay have shown in
Russia they are extremely
difficult to beat yet
sometimes underwhelming
- all things you could have
predicted from La Celeste
before the World Cup.
A slow start and an 89th
minute winner that gave
them a forgettable 1-0 win
over a Mohamed Salah-less
Egypt in their first game,
has now given way to a
campaign with real hope of
winning the World Cup.
With a defence built
around the central pairing
of Jose Gimenez and the
vastly experienced 32-yearold
Diego Godin - they also
play together at Atletico
Madrid - Uruguay have won
all four games in Russia,
conceding a solitary goal.
They are also the only side
to have beaten Russia,
overwhelming them 3-0 in
the group stage in what
appeared to be a reality
check for the host nation
before they want on to stun
Spain in the last 16.
Uruguay extinguished
Cristiano Ronaldo's
Portugal on a thrilling night
in Sochi to reach the
quarter-finals, with Edinson
Cavani scoring two brilliant
goals.
Next up the grizzly,
experienced World Cup
campaigners take on a
young France - the exciting
Kylian Mbappe, and
Gimenez and Godin's
Atletico teammate Antoine
Griezmann - on Friday (Jul
6), bidding for a place in the
semi-finals.
It is as tough a World Cup
fixture as France could
have, and any hope that
their stars will enjoy the
same space they enjoyed in
their 4-3 win against a
disorganised Argentina
have already been
extinguished.
"France's strongest points
are the attackers,
Griezmann and Mbappe,"
Uruguay's veteran coach
Oscar Tabarez said in his
understated yet determined
way after the Portugal
victory.
"If you let France have
space it will be very
difficult."
The freedom experienced
in Kazan will not be granted
to the French by Uruguay's
suffocating defence in
Nizhny Novgorod.
"El Maestro" Tabarez has
been in charge of Uruguay
for 12 years and has not only
forged a strong team which
rarely fail to deliver on the
Edinson Cavani is an injury doubt for Uruguay.
big stage, but also a side
with an immense work ethic
and huge experience.
At this World Cup,
goalkeeper Fernando
Muslera and star striker
Luis Suarez both played
their 100th game for their
country.
Their main doubt for
France is Cavani, who has a
calf muscle injury that
forced him off against
Portugal. He did not train
on Tuesday.
Cavani has played 105
times for his country. If he
has not recovered in time,
he could replaced by
Cristhian Stuani, who has
played 42 times for
Uruguay, just 16 fewer times
than Griezmann has
Photo: AP
appeared for France.
And they are marshalled
by the incomparable Godin,
currently 121 caps and
counting.
Uruguay has a "unique"
team spirit because their
victories mean so much to
the players and the country,
one of those inside the
South American team camp
said this week.