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Rohr makes U-turn on<br />
home-based Eagles<br />
•H<strong>in</strong>ts on <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g 'em for World Cup qualifiers<br />
Super Eagles coach Gernot<br />
Rohr has h<strong>in</strong>ted he could<br />
<strong>in</strong>clude Nigeria Professional<br />
Football League players <strong>in</strong> his<br />
squad for their 2022 Fifa World<br />
Cup qualifiers which will beg<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> September.<br />
He was on the bench as the<br />
home-based players suffered<br />
a 4-0 defeat to Mexico <strong>in</strong> an<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational friendly game on<br />
Sunday.<br />
Despite the disappo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />
score, Rohr commended the<br />
NPFL stars for their efforts <strong>in</strong><br />
Los Angeles and he is look<strong>in</strong>g<br />
forward to work<strong>in</strong>g with some<br />
of them <strong>in</strong> his regular team<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g the next w<strong>in</strong>dow.<br />
“Mexico is number eleven<br />
<strong>in</strong> the world and they showed<br />
why," the former Bordeaux<br />
manager said. "Our young<br />
team is the best professional<br />
players from Nigeria play<strong>in</strong>g<br />
at home. They tried too so well,<br />
they learnt a lot and I saw some<br />
<strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g players who could<br />
be part of the next World Cup<br />
qualifiers <strong>in</strong> September.<br />
“This match, we learnt a lot<br />
and that’s why we are happy<br />
to see this match <strong>in</strong> these<br />
Euro 2020:<br />
Morata can hurt Italy,<br />
Bonucci warns teammates<br />
taly's stand-<strong>in</strong> capta<strong>in</strong><br />
ILeonardo Bonucci is<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g noth<strong>in</strong>g for granted<br />
when he comes up<br />
aga<strong>in</strong>st Juventus teammate<br />
Alvaro Morata <strong>in</strong><br />
their Euro 2020 semi-f<strong>in</strong>al.<br />
The Spa<strong>in</strong> striker has<br />
been the target for much<br />
criticism <strong>in</strong> his homeland<br />
due to his relatively poor<br />
form with two goals <strong>in</strong> five<br />
matches at the f<strong>in</strong>als, a<br />
disappo<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g return for<br />
the number of chances he<br />
gets.<br />
Bonucci saw Morata<br />
score 19 goals while on<br />
loan at Juve from Atletico<br />
Madrid last season and<br />
while he has every<br />
sympathy for what his club-mate has had to<br />
endure with offensive messages on social<br />
media, the veteran defender will not treat him<br />
differently to any other opponent at <strong>We</strong>mbley<br />
today.<br />
"Alvaro is a friend of m<strong>in</strong>e, we often spend a<br />
lot of time together <strong>in</strong> Tur<strong>in</strong> and I was really<br />
struck by what happened to him and what we<br />
all have to go through," he told a pre-match<br />
press conference.<br />
"I've had to go through what he went<br />
through and I know what it’s like to read and<br />
feel certa<strong>in</strong> th<strong>in</strong>gs as well<br />
"I’ve always been right beh<strong>in</strong>d him. He’s<br />
•Bonucci, morata<br />
conditions like a normal football<br />
game.”<br />
After qualify<strong>in</strong>g for the 2022<br />
Africa Cup of Nations <strong>in</strong><br />
Cameroon, the Super Eagles<br />
always had my support. He’s a great guy and a<br />
terrific footballer, a complete striker because he can<br />
run <strong>in</strong>to space, he holds the ball up well.<br />
"He is one of the best centre-forwards <strong>in</strong> world<br />
football and we need to make sure we are switched<br />
on tomorrow, not only to keep an eye on Morata<br />
but the team as a whole."<br />
Bonucci and his centre-back partner, regular<br />
skipper Giorgio Chiell<strong>in</strong>i, are the only survivors<br />
from the chasten<strong>in</strong>g 4-0 defeat <strong>in</strong> the f<strong>in</strong>al of Euro<br />
2012 when Spa<strong>in</strong> became the first side to w<strong>in</strong> backto-back<br />
European Championships.<br />
IT'S COMING ROME<br />
England only second-fav<strong>our</strong>ites to w<strong>in</strong><br />
Euro 2020, says supercomputer<br />
NGLAND are only SECOND-fav<strong>our</strong>ites to w<strong>in</strong> Euro 2020,<br />
Eaccord<strong>in</strong>g to a supercomputer. The Three Lions booked a<br />
date with Denmark at <strong>We</strong>mbley <strong>in</strong> <strong>We</strong>dnesday night's<br />
second semi-f<strong>in</strong>al after thump<strong>in</strong>g Ukra<strong>in</strong>e 4-0.<br />
Despite the impressive performance <strong>in</strong> Rome, England<br />
aren't yet fav<strong>our</strong>ites to lift the trophy come Sunday.<br />
In fact, dark horses Italy are now fav<strong>our</strong>ites after<br />
beat<strong>in</strong>g Belgium <strong>in</strong> their quarter-f<strong>in</strong>al, say the<br />
numbers from Stats Perform. Roberto Manc<strong>in</strong>i's side<br />
have looked <strong>in</strong> imperious form s<strong>in</strong>ce day one of<br />
the t<strong>our</strong>nament after beat<strong>in</strong>g Turkey 3-0.<br />
Italy then thumped Switzerland 3-0 before<br />
beat<strong>in</strong>g Wales 1-0 to top their group with a<br />
maximum n<strong>in</strong>e po<strong>in</strong>ts.<br />
They then won their last 16 and quarterf<strong>in</strong>al<br />
ties 2-1 aga<strong>in</strong>st Austria and Belgium<br />
respectively. And thanks to their 100 per cent<br />
record, the supercomputer has given the<br />
Italians a 39.8 per cent chance of w<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the t<strong>our</strong>nament. England come <strong>in</strong> secondfav<strong>our</strong>ites<br />
hav<strong>in</strong>g won all but one match -<br />
the 0-0 group stage draw with Scotland -<br />
with a 29.4 per cent shot. Spa<strong>in</strong> rank third<br />
with a 22.4 per cent chance of go<strong>in</strong>g all the way, with<br />
Denmark the outsiders with a mere 8.4 per cent shot.<br />
have their sights set on the<br />
World Cup <strong>in</strong> Qatar next year.<br />
Rohr concluded that<br />
Sunday’s encounter aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
Mexico came as a good lesson<br />
for the home-based players<br />
who could play a part <strong>in</strong> their<br />
qualify<strong>in</strong>g campaign to the<br />
global competition.<br />
Vanguard, TUESDAY, JULY 6, 2021 — 29<br />
Exposure programme for<br />
Eagles B will cont<strong>in</strong>ue<br />
—P<strong>in</strong>nick<br />
he plan of the Nigeria<br />
TFootball Federation to get<br />
the Super Eagles B exposed<br />
to high grade <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
games to improve their level<br />
of confidence and aptitude<br />
rema<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong> place, despite the<br />
defeat by Mexico’s ‘A’ Team <strong>in</strong><br />
Los Angeles on Saturday,<br />
President of the NFF, Mr<br />
Amaju Melv<strong>in</strong> P<strong>in</strong>nick has<br />
stated.<br />
P<strong>in</strong>nick, also a Member of<br />
the FIFA Council, has also<br />
counseled the players to<br />
discountenance the highscore<br />
defeat and rather take<br />
to heart the great lessons of<br />
the encounter, while<br />
embrac<strong>in</strong>g the fact that they<br />
need such games to come to<br />
great stead and be able to<br />
compete creditably at<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternational level.<br />
“There is noth<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
has happened here that<br />
will disc<strong>our</strong>age us from<br />
push<strong>in</strong>g ahead with the<br />
plan we have for the<br />
team,” P<strong>in</strong>nick said after<br />
the match watched by<br />
an impressive 53,258<br />
•P<strong>in</strong>nick<br />
Dessers pushes to<br />
replace Onuachu <strong>in</strong> Genk<br />
Cyriel Dessers was on target twice,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g produc<strong>in</strong>g a wonderful<br />
overhead kick goal, as Genk recorded<br />
a big w<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> a pre-season friendly<br />
ahead of the big kick-off <strong>in</strong> Belgium.<br />
One of Dessers goals was a<br />
spectacular bicycle kick aga<strong>in</strong>st<br />
non-league Eendracht<br />
Termien <strong>in</strong> the second half<br />
as Genk cruised to an 8-1<br />
w<strong>in</strong>.<br />
Dessers celebrated his<br />
effort on social media.<br />
The striker, who made his Super<br />
Eagles debut last year, will want<br />
to push for a first-team place <strong>in</strong><br />
the com<strong>in</strong>g season as everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ts to the departure of<br />
compatriot Paul Onuachu this<br />
summer.<br />
Dessers fired five goals <strong>in</strong> his<br />
first season back at hometown<br />
spectators <strong>in</strong>side the LA<br />
Coliseum <strong>in</strong> the State of<br />
California. “Our programme to<br />
get the team to a higher level<br />
through regular exposure to<br />
the toughest games possible<br />
will cont<strong>in</strong>ue apace.<br />
“I believe the players gave<br />
their best <strong>in</strong> the encounter, and<br />
the result could have been<br />
different if we didn’t concede<br />
those early goals and we took<br />
<strong>our</strong> chances that came<br />
immediately after. The<br />
difference was <strong>in</strong> greater<br />
experience and much more<br />
exposure, and noth<strong>in</strong>g stops<br />
<strong>our</strong> boys from stand<strong>in</strong>g up to<br />
the Mexicans with a number<br />
of games under their belts <strong>in</strong><br />
the next few months.”<br />
Star –studded El Tri m<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
immense psychological<br />
advantage from scor<strong>in</strong>g two<br />
goals <strong>in</strong> the open<strong>in</strong>g f<strong>our</strong><br />
m<strong>in</strong>utes as Nigeria’s defenders<br />
were still settl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to the<br />
encounter. Livewire Anayo<br />
Iwuala muffed an opportunity<br />
and tripped on another, and<br />
El Tri went ahead to score two<br />
second half goals to wrap up<br />
the tie.<br />
“I am strongly of the belief<br />
that the players should be<br />
commended for their efforts <strong>in</strong><br />
the game. They did not just<br />
lie down to slaughtered. They<br />
put up a fight and were only<br />
unlucky.<br />
“<strong>We</strong> will go ahead and<br />
deliver on the programme we<br />
have for them to be a much<br />
stronger team, as we look<br />
forward to the next African<br />
Nations Championship.”<br />
Djokovic cruises <strong>in</strong>to<br />
Wimbledon last eight<br />
ovak Djokovic eased <strong>in</strong>to<br />
Nhis 50th grand slam<br />
quarter-f<strong>in</strong>al with a straight<br />
sets victory over Cristian Gar<strong>in</strong><br />
on Centre C<strong>our</strong>t at<br />
Wimbledon.<br />
The world number one<br />
made it 18 consecutive slam<br />
w<strong>in</strong>s as he chases a third title<br />
of the year and 12 consecutive<br />
sets taken at the All England<br />
Club this year with a 6-2 6-4 6-<br />
2 success.<br />
Had he been able to pick an<br />
opponent for a last-16 clash at<br />
Wimbledon, he could have<br />
done a lot worse than Chilean<br />
Gar<strong>in</strong> who, despite be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
seeded 17th, is a clay-c<strong>our</strong>t<br />
specialist and had never won<br />
a match at SW19 prior to this<br />
year.<br />
he first batch cont<strong>in</strong>gent of Team Nigeria<br />
Twill today depart Abuja for the Tokyo 2020<br />
Olympics.<br />
Accord<strong>in</strong>g to the Director, Federation of Elites<br />
Athletes Department, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye,<br />
members of the Canoe<strong>in</strong>g team, Ayomide<br />
Bello and her coach Ebenezer Ukwunna,<br />
Esther Toko and her coach, Reg<strong>in</strong>a Enofe of<br />
Row<strong>in</strong>g event alongside Secretary General<br />
Olubunmi Oluode will depart through the<br />
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by<br />
Ethiopian Airl<strong>in</strong>e.<br />
Also <strong>in</strong> the team is the Special Adviser on<br />
Sports to the M<strong>in</strong>ister Ambassador Mary<br />
•Djokovic<br />
He had benefited from a<br />
k<strong>in</strong>d draw to make it this far<br />
and he got a taste of the<br />
afternoon he was <strong>in</strong> for as<br />
Djokovic won the first eight<br />
po<strong>in</strong>ts of the match and raced<br />
through the open<strong>in</strong>g set.<br />
•Onuachu and Dessers<br />
club, but could have enjoyed<br />
more game time but for the<br />
awesome form of Onuachu.<br />
Cup w<strong>in</strong>ners Genk will take<br />
on champions Club Brugge <strong>in</strong><br />
the Belgian Super Cup <strong>in</strong> a<br />
fortnight.<br />
Anelka<br />
urges<br />
Mbappe to<br />
dump PSG<br />
ylian Mbappe needs to<br />
Kleave Paris Sa<strong>in</strong>t-Germa<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> order to "echo Cristiano<br />
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi" by<br />
becom<strong>in</strong>g a Ballon d'Or w<strong>in</strong>ner,<br />
claims Nicolas Anelka, with the<br />
France <strong>in</strong>ternational urged to<br />
consider moves to the likes of<br />
Chelsea, Manchester City and<br />
Liverpool.<br />
Interest from England <strong>in</strong> the<br />
highly-rated 22-year-old has<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ued to build over recent<br />
years, with the World Cupw<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g<br />
forward cement<strong>in</strong>g<br />
his reputation as one of world<br />
football's brightest stars.<br />
Anelka, who spent many<br />
years <strong>in</strong> England dur<strong>in</strong>g his<br />
play<strong>in</strong>g days, believes<br />
Mbappe needs to spread his<br />
w<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> order to reach the<br />
very top, tell<strong>in</strong>g The Athletic<br />
of his illustrious countryman:<br />
"If you want the biggest<br />
accolades, you will have to<br />
move from PSG at some po<strong>in</strong>t.<br />
"Whatever you will do <strong>in</strong><br />
Paris will be good but<br />
somebody will always say,<br />
‘<strong>We</strong>ll, you did great for PSG<br />
but it was only <strong>in</strong> France. The<br />
best leagues are <strong>in</strong> England<br />
and Spa<strong>in</strong>, so you didn’t<br />
compete with the best players<br />
<strong>in</strong> the best league’.<br />
"You will have to decide. If<br />
you want to w<strong>in</strong> the Ballon<br />
d’Or, which is what you should<br />
be look<strong>in</strong>g at to echo Cristiano<br />
Ronaldo and Lionel Messi,<br />
you will have to compete with<br />
the best.<br />
"You can’t say you compete<br />
with the best all the time when<br />
you are at PSG. The French<br />
league is not easy, don’t get<br />
me wrong, but I th<strong>in</strong>k the<br />
toughest league is <strong>in</strong><br />
England.”<br />
•Mbappe<br />
Team Nigeria 1st batch departs for Tokyo<br />
Onyali, MFR, Medical crew of Dr. Samuel<br />
Ogbondem<strong>in</strong>u, Messrs Okoh Joseph,<br />
Abdulsalam Shuaibu and Ekundayo<br />
Ogunkunle.<br />
Earlier on Monday, an advance team of the<br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry of Youth and Sports Development<br />
departed via the Muritala Mohammed<br />
International Airport <strong>in</strong> Lagos. The second<br />
batch will depart on July 13.“Nigeria will be<br />
compet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> n<strong>in</strong>e sports at the rescheduled<br />
Tokyo Olympics which runs from July 23- August<br />
8, 2021 while the Paralympians will be<br />
compet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> f<strong>our</strong> Sports from August 24-<br />
September 5, 2021.