News brief

Published July 3, 2018

Moscow cleans up huge party mess

MOSCOW: Moscow city worker Nikolai Bardayev did not celebrate Russia’s shock win against Spain on Sunday that sent scores of Russians to the streets to celebrate. He was too busy cleaning up the mess.

After a night of delirium as Russia reached the World Cup quarter-finals, on Monday morning cleanup crews tackled a mountain of trash and sweeping up cigarette butts and shards of broken glass left over from the celebrations on.

On a pedestrian street behind the Bolshoi Theatre, a loader drove away with 21 black bags filled with garbage and torn cardboard boxes as commuters wobbled through the city centre with an enduring feeling of elation and, in some cases, hangovers. The smell of beer and urine lingered in the morning air.

“I’ve been working this job for two years and have never seen anything like this,” said Bardayev as he took a break from scrubbing the stained pavement. “I think it’s related to Russia’s win last night but also to people’s upbringing.”—Reuters

Queiroz yet to agree to new Iran deal

TEHRAN: Carlos Queiroz has yet to agree to extend his stay as Iran coach despite claims by the president of the country’s football federation that the Portuguese would lead the team at January’s Asian Cup finals.

Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj was quoted following the team’s return to Tehran as saying Queiroz would remain at the helm following their elimination from the World Cup finals through to the continental championship in the United Arab Emirates.

But a source close to Queiroz denied an agreement has been reached between the two parties and that the former Real Madrid head coach is considering other options.

“There was a new approach from the IR Iran Football Federation, but the agreement is far from done due to the basic conditions that would be necessary for the federation to put in place towards the Asian Cup,” the source said. “In the present scenario, Carlos Queiroz’s contract with IR Iran Federation finishes at the end of July. Apart from Iran, Carlos has other proposals and options that are open.”

Queiroz stated before the World Cup that he would end his seven-year stint as Iran coach upon the completion of the country’s involvement in Russia 2018.—Reuters

Russia’s win perfect gift for newlyweds

PUSHKIN: Russian couple Yekaterina and Dmitry Vasilyev enjoyed a perfect wedding celebration on Sunday as they briefly halted their nuptials to watch the hosts defy the odds by beating Spain in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals.

The couple, along with their family and friends, got huddled around a mobile phone as they witnessed Russia goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev save shots from Koke and Iago Aspas to send unfancied Russia through to the last eight.

Their wedding ceremony — in a town outside St Petersburg — started at 1400 GMT, the same time as the Spain vs Russia match kicked off, and the guests kept track of the score in a Round of 16 tie that ended 1-1 after extra-time.

The penalty shootout commenced as they sat down for the reception and the soccer took centre stage with the blessing of the bride and groom. The room erupted into wild celebrations as Akinfeev’s save secured a 4-3 shootout win for Russia to confirm the host’s spot in the last eight.

“It’s the best gift ever,” the groom, who is a soccer fan and amateur player himself, said.—Reuters

Japan haven’t practised penalties

TOKYO: Japan’s Blue Samurai have defied expectations at this year’s World Cup, but coach Akira Nishino admits there’s one thing the team hasn’t practised: penalties.

That’s despite both Russia and Croatia relying on heart stopping spot-kicks to secure their places in the quarterfinals on Sunday.

“We’ve never practised penalty kicks as a team,” Nishino told reporters in Russia, the Sankei Shimbun daily said. “I don’t think it is really useful to practise for a penalty shootout. Individual players who wanted to be ready trained on their own, but not as a team.”

After a poor run-up to the tournament, few people expected Japan to get very far, with most predicting they would not make it out of their group. But despite the team’s success, Nishino has endured stinging criticism for instructing players to run down the clock and settle for a 1-0 defeat against Poland, knowing it was enough to advance.—AFP

France get Sidibe boost for quarter-final

ISTRA: France are expected to be at full strength when they take on Uruguay in their World Cup quarter-final on Friday after assistant coach Guy Stephan described Djibril Sidibe’s injury as a minor scare.

Full back Sidibe limped out of Sunday’s training session with an ankle injury a day after France beat Argentina 4-3 in the last-16 round match on Saturday.

“It’s nothing serious. I can’t say he’ll train with the others today and his ankle is bruised but it’s nothing big,” Stephan told a news conference on Monday.

He added that full back Lucas Hernandez was nursing a minor muscle problem. Another full back, Benjamin Mendy, had suffered a thigh muscle problem but “he will resume his activity soon,” said Stephan.—Reuters

Subasic ties Cup record in shootout

NIZHNY NOVGOROD: Danijel Subasic tied a World Cup record on with his three saves in the penalty shootout that helped Croatia beat Denmark for a spot in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Croatia won the shootout 3-2 after the round of 16 game ended 1-1 after extra time. Subasic joins former Portugal goalkeeper Ricardo as the only man to save three shots in a single World Cup shootout. Ricardo did it in the 2006 World Cup quarter-final match against England.

Subasic tipped Christian Eriksen’s first penalty for Denmark onto the post. Then dived to his right again to save from Lasse Schone. Finally, he used his feet to block Nicolai Jorgensen’s attempt.

Published in Dawn, July 3rd, 2018

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