ARAB TIMES, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 SPORTS 52 Australia, Japan, S. Korea ready for showdown Asian teams turn focus from Brazil to Asian Cup SEOUL, South Korea, Sept 3, (AP): Less than three months after Asia’s teams earned just three points at the World Cup, Australia, Japan and South Korea are back in action and ready to put Brazil behind them as the countdown to the 2015 Asian Cup begins. Much has changed since June — Australia is the only team with the same coach in charge. Japan has a new foreign tactician and South Korea is still seeking a new coach after Hong Myung-bo resigned in July. Of the four nations that participated in Brazil, South Korea has endured the toughest time. The Korea Football Association’s senior members have resigned and talks with the Netherlands’ 2010 World Cup coach Bert van Marwijk did not lead to an appointment. With just four months until the Asian Cup kicks off in Australia, South Korea takes on Venezuela on Friday followed on Monday by Uruguay, which will be without suspended star striker Luis Suarez. Former South Korea assistant coach Afshin Ghotbi, now in charge of Asian rival Iran, says South Korea needs good results. “”Korea had the quality and passion to perform better at the World Cup, and fans and media expect to see that,” Ghotbi told Associated Press on Monday. “These two games are important to restore some good feeling in the national team and to identify players for the Kagawa Asian Cup just around the corner.” The Korean public is normally fiercely supportive of the national team, but its standing among the people is the lowest in years. With just one win in the past eight matches, players know they must urgently improve. Wilkins named Jordan coach LONDON, Sept 3, (RTRS): Former England international Ray Wilkins has been appointed as the new head coach of the Jordan national team. The Jordan Football Association (JFA) announced on Wednesday that Wilkins was given the job on the recommendation of Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, who has been head of the Jordanian FA since he was 25. Wilkins will take over the running of the team next week when they return home after playing friendlies in Uzbekistan and China. The JFA also announced that former Irish international Frank Stapleton had been appointed as his assistant. “The decision was taken under the guidance of JFA President HRH Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein, who was trusted by the JFA Executive Board to choose the suitable candidate for the Jordan National Team’s coaching post due to his great vision in leading Jordanian Football towards success...” the JFA announced. Jordan’s current coaching staff, consisting of Ahmad Abdul Qader, Anzor Hina, Waleed Michael and Manuel Barriounuevo, would all be retained although their exact roles were not revealed. “We are ready to show that we have recovered from the World Cup in which we were lacking,” said Korea and Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yeung. “There is no coach at the moment and that is a little awkward and it is true that the atmosphere around the team is unsettled but the players have to show what they can do on the field.” There was plenty of disappointment elsewhere after Brazil. Japan held hopes of making the quarterfinals at the World Cup, but like Korea, it collected only one point. The Japan FA moved quickly to replace Italian Alberto Zaccheroni with Javier Aguirre, two-time coach of the Mexican national team. Administrators hope that the experienced tactician can install a stronger mentality and make the Asian champion tougher to beat. Aguirre has already omitted eleven members of the World Cup SOCCER squad from his first selection against Uruguay on Friday, with Yasuhito Endo, Yasuyuki Konno and Yoshito Okubo unlikely to feature again for the national team. Aguirre told reporters he would have called on Shinji Kagawa had the midfielder not picked up a head injury while in action last month for Manchester United. Kagawa has since left England to return to German club Borussia Dortmund, while Keisuke Honda, who scored for Milan in the opening game of the Serie A season, has been selected in his place. Despite failing to collect a single point in Brazil, Australia is perhaps the most optimistic. Creditable performances by an inexperienced squad in a tough World Cup group were better than most expected and gave coach Ange Postecoglou something to build on ahead of the Asian Cup. The Socceroos face World Cup quarterfinalist Belgium in Liege on Thursday and take the field again three days later, against Saudi Arabia, which is also preparing for January’s continental tournament. Along with the fact that a number of Australian players are struggling for playing time in Europe, Bayer Leverkusen’s Robbie Kruse is a doubt after injuring his knee during training on Tuesday and Sydney midfielder Terry Antonis has withdrawn through injury. Older players arrive Plenty of ‘leftovers’ for Italy’s Serie A ITALY, Sept 3, (RTRS): At various stages during the transfer window, Juventus hoped to sign Chile forward Alexis Sanchez and prolific Colombian Radamel Falcao to boost their attack and mount a serious challenge in the Champions League this season. Instead, they ended up with Alvaro Morata, who spent most of last season as a Real Madrid substitute and then suffered a knee injury in his first training session after his move to Turin. Morata, 21, has played for Spain at several age levels and Juventus clearly believe in his potential as they showed by spending 20 million euros ($26.27 Falcao million) on him. But it was hardly the sort of marquee signing to be expected from one of Europe’s biggest and most ambitious clubs. Once the first choice destination for the world’s top players, Serie A increasingly seems to be looked upon as a place for older players to see out their careers. Among those to arrive during the transfer window were 33-year-old Patrice Evra, who moved from Manchester United to Juve, his 32-yearold former team mate Nemanja Vidic, who joined Inter Milan, and Ashley Cole, 33, who went from Chelsea to AS Roma. Verona, possibly encouraged by veteran striker Luca Toni’s scoring achievements last season, brought in SOCCER 35-year-old Mexico defender Rafael Marquez and former Argentina forward Javier Saviola, 33, while 34-year-old Mali international Seydou Keita, once at Barcelona, joined AS Roma. Meanwhile, fallen European giants AC Milan, who missed out on Europe after finishing eighth in Serie A last season, signed misfiring Chelsea striker Fernando Torres after they allowed maverick forward Mario Balotelli to join Liverpool. Milan supporters have become used to seeing their club sign players who have struggled elsewhere, including Michael Essien who joined last year. Then, they also brought back Kaka for a second stint in an attempt to revive his career, a move known locally as “reheated soup.” Kaka had won the World Player of the Year award during his first stint at the club and then moved to Real Madrid, where he never found his best form. Not surprisingly, his return to Milan was less impressive than his first spell. Clubs in countries such as Portugal and the Netherlands seem to have accepted their fate to act as springboards for players moving between Latin America, Eastern Europe or Africa and Europe’s biggest clubs. Colombians James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao sharpened their teeth at Porto, making it their first stop in Best of the Rest Santos fires Oliveira: Santos has fired coach Oswaldo de Oliveira after poor results in the Brazilian league following the World Cup break. Santos has had six losses in nine league matches since the World Cup, and dropped to 11th in the 20-team standings. The team added former Brazil star Robinho to the squad last month but the struggles continued. Oliveira coached Santos in 44 games, winning 25 and losing 10. He previously coached the club made famous by Pele, in 2005. Santos reportedly already reached a deal to replace Oliveira with newcomer Enderson Moreira, who was without a club since being fired by Gremio in July. The 42-year-old Moreira is expected to be officially introduced on Wednesday. He gained notoriety in Brazil after a good campaign with Goias in 2013. (AP) ❑ ❑ ❑ The Philippines’ Jason de Jong (6) and Taiwan’s Weng Wei-pin (15) and Chiu J-huan (7) outdo each other to chase the ball during the Peace Cup 2014 soccer friendly match Sept 3, at the rain-soaked Rizal Memorial Football Stadium in Manila, Philippines. (AP) Javi Martinez optimistic: Spain international Javi Martinez said he was feeling optimistic after beginning rehabilitation following a knee operation. Two weeks ago the 26-year-old went under the knife in Colorado to repair his torn cruciate ligament. Now back in Munich, he is already set to begin physiotherapy. “I’m feeling good and I’m taking a positive approach. The knee’s feeling a little better every day,” he told Bayern’s website. “I’m severely restricted in terms of movement at the moment, so I have to be even more careful to eat the right things. (AFP) ❑ ❑ ❑ New-look Spain set for test vs revived France Walker has surgery: Tottenham Hotspur’s England right back Kyle Walker, who has not played for the Premier League club since March, has had lower abdominal surgery. “His pre-season preparations were disrupted by the abdominal injury and the decision to have surgery was taken following further medical assessment by specialists,” Spurs said on their official website (www.tottenhamhotspur.com). “Kyle is good some days. On other days he has a bad feeling. We believe he may recover soon but we need to be calm with him because it is an injury that he has had for five months,” Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino said of the 24year-old. (RTRS) ❑ ❑ ❑ PARIS, Sept 3, (AFP): After their abject failure at the World Cup, Spain have a new look as they begin preparations for the defence of the European Championship with a friendly against France on Thursday. Van Basten given time: Marco van Basten will not return to his post as AZ Alkmaar coach until mid-September after being given more time to recover from personal and health problems, the Dutch club said on Wednesday. The 49-year-old Van Basten, former European Footballer of the Year, was given leave last week and missed the 31 win at Dordrecht on Saturday. (RTRS) Europe following moves from South America, while compatriots Jackson Martinez and Juan Quintero are still at the club. Familiar faces, potential stars ready for action Just over two months on from their group-stage elimination as World Cup holders in Brazil, coach Vicente del Bosque takes a squad that is a mixture of familiar faces and potential stars of the future for the match at the Stade de France, the venue for the Euro 2016 final. Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso, veterans of the side that won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, have retired from international football, following in the footsteps of David Villa. Pepe Reina, Fernando Torres and Juan Mata were all omitted, while fitness problems of varying degrees have ruled out Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Javi Martinez. Of the new faces, five are uncapped and four are aged 23 or under, includ- African Nations Cup campaign starts Cameroon seek fresh start after WC YAOUNDE, Sept 3, (RTRS): Cameroon need a fresh start after a controversial World Cup campaign and the retirement of talismanic captain Samuel Eto’o when they begin their African Nations Cup qualifying campaign on Saturday, coach Volker Finke said. “This is a new departure for Cameroon, after the Brazilian World Cup which will still haunt the mind for a long time,” he told reporters in Yaounde. “I’ve had to standardise many things and this is why I have made some sharp changes in the selection of the players. “The idea is a balance between youth and experience, to build a competitive team for a better future. The talent is there, but you have to train them. “It is possible that it can take a while but not too much. I’m ready to lead this reconstruction,” added the veteran German coach, whose contract expires after next year’s African Nations Cup finals. Cameroon begin their qualifying campaign away against the Democratic Republic of Congo in SOCCER Lubumbashi and then host Ivory Coast on Wednesday in Yaounde in a difficult start to the Group D fixtures. Cameroon had a dreadful World Cup, losing all three Group A matches as they arrived on the back of a strike by their squad over promised payments for participation. During the tournament in Brazil, two of their players fought on the field and midfielder Alex Song got a three-match suspension for a vicious elbow in the back of Croatia’s Mario Mandzukic. He sits out the two Nations Cup qualifiers as a result. Later the team were accused of match fixing but the results of a promised investigation by the Cameroon Football Federation not been released. Four-time African footballer of the Year Eto’o quit the international arena last month after 56 goals in 115 appearances for the Indomitable Lions. ing Valencia striker Paco Alcacer. Others, like 28-year-old Atletico Madrid midfielder Raul Garcia, have had to wait a little longer for their opportunity. They all join 22-year-old Atletico midfielder Koke, who went to the World Cup but is now expected to take on extra responsibility. “It’s a team for now with a view to two years down the line,” explained SOCCER del Bosque after unveiling his squad, with the aim of Thursday’s match being to prepare for their opening Euro 2016 qualifying Group C fixture against Macedonia in Valencia on Monday. “We have come up with a squad that is a consequence of our bad performance, (but) the World Cup has not left any effects nor do I think we need to change our way of acting in the future.” Defender Sergio Ramos, another survivor from Euro 2008, called for La Roja to get back to basics. “We are going to try to get back to what we were and forget about the success we have had because we can’t always live off that,” said the Real Madrid defender, a veteran of over 100 caps, as he arrived for the squad get-together this week. French national football team head coach Didier Deschamps gives a press conference on Sept 3, on the eve of the team’s friendly football match against Spain at the Stade de France in SaintDenis near Paris. (AFP) In contrast to Spain, France came out of the World Cup with their reputation greatly enhanced, a narrow quarter-final defeat to eventual winners Germany coming after some impressive performances in the group stage. Coach Didier Deschamps is now embarking on a two-year run of friendlies before France hosts Euro 2016, where they will be expected to feature prominently with a squad that is a healthy mix of youth and experience. Indeed, Deschamps only made three changes to his World Cup squad for the game and Sunday’s friendly against Serbia in Belgrade, with one the return of fit-again Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in place of the retired Mickael Landreau. Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette and Barcelona defender Jeremy Mathieu have also been recalled with Arsenal duo Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny injured. But Deschamps has admitted that his starting line-up against the reigning European champions may be the same as that which took to the field against Germany at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro on July 4. “We have two matches very close together but the team which starts on Thursday will be close to that which started against Germany,” said Deschamps, who added that his priority is to make sure his team are “as competitive as possible in two years.” There will of course be no Franck Ribery, the Bayern Munich winger who missed the World Cup with a back injury and has now retired from international football to the surprise of many. France lost 2-0 to Spain at the Euro 2012 quarter-finals and finished second behind La Roja in qualifying for the World Cup, drawing 1-1 in Madrid and then losing 1-0 at home in Paris in March last year. However, full-back Bacary Sagna insists France are a different proposition now. “We are more respected than a few years ago,” he said. “We have shown that we are ready to fight, to give everything for the shirt. We have more confidence in ourselves. Other countries fear France more and more. Zico into ISL Chopra ready to give up passport MUMBAI, Sept 3, (Agencies): Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra is ready to surrender his British passport to represent the country of his origin, India, and realise his dream of playing senior-level international soccer. The 30-year-old Chopra, whose grandparents moved to England from Jalandhar in Punjab in the 1950s, has represented England at the age-group tournaments. He was approached by the All India Football Federation in the past to play for the national team but things did not work out. Chopra qualifies to play for India due to his parentage as per FIFA rules but government regulations in India allow only a person holding a valid passport to represent the national team. “I was going to play for them four years ago. But at that time I was only 26 and I was too young to give up my British passport and travel around the world at that age,” Chopra told Reuters in an interview. “I just had a little boy that was born and things like that, so it would have been difficult. My boy is six now and he has grown up and understands what his dad has got to do. “So I plan to move to India and give up my British citizenship and get an Indian passport to play for the national team and take them forward.” SOCCER Chopra, who has also played for a host of other Premier League clubs, was last month picked by the Kerala Blasters, coowned by cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar, for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL). ❑ ❑ ❑ Brazilian legend Zico has signed up to coach a team in the Indian Super League, joining other former stars in the new franchise-based venture to be played later this year. Zico, 61, who played in three World Cups and has coached around the world, will manage the Goa franchise for the 10-week tournament that begins in October. The tournament has been modelled along the lines of cricket’s cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) and hopes to raise football’s profile in the cricketmad nation. Zico, one of Brazil’s great exponents of “the beautiful game” who played in World Cups from 1978 to 1986, signed the contract in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday, a statement from Goa franchise said. “FC Goa is proud to announce that the legendary Brazilian football player Zico has agreed to be the manager of their team that will play in the Indian Super League,” the statement said. It added that representatives of the club, owned by a group of football-loving Goa businessmen, will travel to Brazil soon to help Zico complete visa formalities.