34 MONDAY, JULY 9, <strong>2018</strong>
MONDAY, JULY 9, <strong>2018</strong> 35 FIFA WORLD CUP RUSSIA <strong>2018</strong> June 14 – <strong>July</strong> 15 rld Cup quarter-final clash at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi…on sults after own goal racism. Nothing justifies racism. We are with you Fernandinho.” On Friday night, TV Globo journalist Glenda Kozlowski wept in front of the cameras, talking about how distraught the player’s family was. In the match in Kazan, Fernandinho’s own goal in Croatia defender Domagoj Vida escaped a FIFA ban on Sunday after posting a clip dedicating his country’s victory over Russia in the World Cup quarter-final to Ukraine. Vida scored an extra-time goal and one of Croatia’s penalties in a 4-3 shootout win over the World Cup hosts in Sochi on Saturday. Croatia will play England in the semi-final on Wednesday and some Russian officials had called on the football governing body to take tough disciplinary measures against the Balkan team. The ponytailed 29-year-old shouted “Glory to Ukraine!” in a video posted by former Croatia international OgnjenVukojevic the 13th minute allowed Belgium to open the scoring. The 33-year-old had already been severely criticised four years ago, when he was hauled off at half-time on Brazil’s way to a humiliating 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup. Belgium’s golden generation make their mark •Vida •Belgium players celebrating Croatia’s Vida avoids ban over pro-Ukraine celebration shortly after the match. Vida has just left Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv and Vukojevic also played for the club during his career. FIFA said it had studied the video and decided to issue a warning to Vida but will take no further measures. “We can confirm that FIFA’s disciplinary committee has sent a warning to the player Domagoj Vida due to his video statement,” a spokesperson told AFP. Vida told Russian media after the clip was made public that he had meant no offence. “I love Russian people,” Vida was quoted as saying. “It was just a joke.” “Glory to Ukraine!” was a Long touted as World Cup contenders thanks to an abundance of talent, Belgium claimed their biggest scalp ever in beating five-time winners Brazil to reach just their second semi-final. A ‘golden generation’ featuring Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku exited tamely to Argentina four years ago and blew a huge chance at Euro 2016 when on the kind side of the draw. Now in their prime, this group of players is unlikely to get a better opportunity to win a major international tournament than over the course of the next week, with France to come in the last four on Tuesday. Here, AFP Sports looks at Belgium’s rich resources in every area of the field. Courtois stands tall The giant Chelsea stopper needed every inch of his 6 feet 6 inch (1.99 metre) frame to prevent Neymar hauling Brazil into extra-time with a stunning stoppage time save on Friday. “I know Neymar likes to curl it that way. I was ready and made a good save,” said Courtois. “I have been unfairly criticised a lot this year. Today I proved again who I am and why I am here.” Widely regarded as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Courtois has won two Premier League titles with Chelsea and La Liga while on loan at Atletico Madrid, but his ninesave display against Brazil was one of his best yet on the big international stage. Last chance for ageing defence Trailblazers for a wave Fernando Hierro, who stood in as Spain coach when JulenLopetegui was sacked on the eve of the slogan of the former Soviet republic’s pro-EU revolution that toppled a Russian-backed president in 2014. The revolt was condemned as illegal by Moscow and sparked a crisis in relations between the two neighbouring states. of Belgian talent to make their way to the Premier League, Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen have battled back from years of injury problems just to make the squad at the age of 32. Before Toby Alderweireld’s own injury problems this season, he and Tottenham teammate Jan Vertonghen had been hailed as the Premier League’s best defensive partnership. However, Vertonghen, 31, and Alderweireld, 29, also do not have time on their side. The pace of KylianMbappe could cause problems in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday, but Belgium will not be short of experience at the back. Midfield maestros Coach Roberto Martinez had been criticised for not finding the right balance to get the best out of De Bruyne It was followed by Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula and a pro-Kremlin separatist war in eastern Ukraine that has claimed more than 10,000 lives. Vukojevic added in the video: “This victory is for Dynamo (Kyiv) and for Ukraine! Croatia onwards!” The clip was picked up by Russian state media and drew condemnation from some officials. “Such actions should be punished,” parliament’s sports committee member Dmitry Svishchyov told the RIA Novosti state news agency. “Political, nationalist and racist slogans are not welcome at the World Cup.” early in the tournament, but the Spaniard’s bold tactical plan worked to perfection against Brazil. MarouaneFellaini took De Bruyne’s place in a deeplying midfield role to free up Manchester City’s player of the year to play much further forward and to devastating effect as he blasted home Belgium’s second of the night and his first of the tournament. Captain Eden Hazard has been consistently brilliant, scoring twice against Tunisia in the group stage, and providing the teasing cross from which Fellainiequalised in a thrilling comeback from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2 in the last 16. As Belgium tired against waves of Brazilian attacks in the second half, Hazard carried his side up the field, winning free-kicks and relieving the pressure -- a sign Hierro resigns as Spain coach World Cup, will not continue in the role, the Spanish football federation said Sunday. Under the former Real Madrid and Spain defender, who had little previous coaching experience, 2010 winners Spain lost on penalties to host nation Russia in the last 16. “After travelling many kilometres together, the Spanish Football Federation and Fernando Hierro have put an end to their relationship,” the federation said. Hierro declined to return to his previous job as the federation’s technical director and “will undertake new professional challenges”, the federation wrote. Spain were tipped among the favourites until Lopetegui caused chaos by announcing he would become Real Madrid’s new coach after the World Cup. The federation, fearing a split between players of his and this side’s growing maturity. Lukaku more than a goalscorer Still in the race for the Golden Boot behind Harry Kane, with Belgium now guaranteed two more matches, Romelu Lukaku has shown another side to his game so far in the knockout phase after scoring four times in the group stages. His superb run off the ball and dummy in the final seconds against Japan cleared the space for Thomas Meunier to tee up Nacer Chadli’s winner. Against Brazil, again it was Lukaku’s link-up play that proved decisive as he powered past Fernandinho and Paulinho on a rapid counter-attack before feeding De Bruyne to smash home from the edge of the area. •Hierro from Barcelona and Real, sacked Lopetegui two days before Spain’s opening game against Portugal. He described it as the saddest day of his life since the death of his mother. Andres Iniesta, the former Barcelona great who scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final, retired from the international team after the defeat to Russia.
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