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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.

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