LONDON: Former playmaker Andrea Pirlo joined the criticism after Italy’s 1-0 defeat to Sweden on Friday left the four-time champions on the brink of missing out on the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.
Italy, whose last failure to qualify for the finals was in 1958, have to beat Sweden by two goals in the return leg tomorrow in Milan to avoid what the head of the federation Carlo Tavecchio has dubbed the “Apocalypse.”
But their toothless performance on Friday — the latest in a series of lacklustre displays — has done nothing to reassure their supporters that Gian Piero Ventura’s side is up to the task.
“Italy looked like a scared team that was playing for a 0-0 draw. In Europe, that is not enough,” Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia.
The 38-year-old, who confirmed his retirement last week, also had little sympathy for Ventura’s complaints about the referee.
“It’s a red herring,” he said. “Playing in Europe is not like in Italy, where you get a free kick for even the slightest contact.
“In these matches you need to be above all that and give 100 percent; it’s in these matches that you see the real players.
“It will be tough for Ventura to find the right words to say to the group.”
• Anthony Hudson has backed his New Zealand side to get the result they need to make it to Russia after they held Peru to a 0-0 draw in Wellington.
The hosts overcame a lack of possession and territory to get the result against their more fancied opponents, with All Whites’ goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic making a series of impressive saves in the intercontinental playoff first-leg.
Ryan Thomas had arguably the best chance but his 85th-minute shot flashed centimeters wide of the right-hand post and the sides head to Lima all square ahead of the second-leg on Wednesday.
“It is a really strong result for us, big result and we are pleased with where we are at,” All Whites coach Hudson said.
“But our feet are right on the ground. We haven’t achieved anything yet. We still want to get to Russia. All we have to do is score one goal and that puts added pressure on them.
“We are very confident we can go there and score.”
• Australia coach Ange Postecoglou accused the Honduras media of being disrespectful to his team and said his players had used it as motivation before Friday’s 0-0 draw in the first-leg of the playoff.
Australia missed a number of chances in San Pedro Sula but had the better of a scrappy game played on a soggy pitch and will head to the second-leg in Sydney on Wednesday confident of qualifying for the finals in Russia next year.
Postecoglou took exception to a local newspaper that dismissed his team as “11 kangaroos” in a headline and used the post-match press conference to berate the home journalists.
“Maybe you thought we were going to be easy,” Postecoglou said. “I saw in the newspaper you said it was 11 kangaroos out there, but kangaroos can play football, eh?
“We had two players (Aaron Mooy and Mat Ryan) who play in the (English) Premier League, we’ve got players in the first divisions in Europe.
“All I heard was we have a simple game plan and no stars — that was our motivation. We do our talking when the game comes.”
Pirlo predicts tough task for ‘scared’ Italy
Pirlo predicts tough task for ‘scared’ Italy
Team Brady lead the way in Jeddah’s UIM E1 World Championship
- Tom Brady-backed outfit top breathless qualifying session
- Team AlUla provide fierce competition on the water
JEDDAH: Team Brady on Friday secured pole position in the 2025 UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF, the world’s first all-electric race boat series, which is taking place in Jeddah.
The 2024 Champions of the Water reigned supreme on the Red Sea, as the Tom Brady-backed team topped a breathless qualifying session.
The team’s Emma Kimilainen proved the fastest pilot in qualifying following a day of intense competition to put her team in the driving seat at the E1 Jeddah GP.
Her side overcame fierce competition from Team AlUla, championed by LeBron James, in second place and Aoki Racing Team in third.
Kimilainen said: “As reigning champions the pressure was always going to be on us. But as Tom (Brady) tells us, we should embrace it, and that’s exactly what we did today.”
E1 newcomers Team AlUla, competing for the first time after entering the championship this week, proved to be the surprise package thanks to a blistering qualifying time trial by their Canadian pilot Rusty Wyatt.
The result paved the way for a gripping race day on Saturday with the championship’s nine teams looking to establish an early lead to take the fight to Team Brady.
Friday marked the championship’s return to Jeddah, the location for E1’s first-ever race.
Maresca happy with Chelsea wide men as Garnacho rumors swirl
- The 20-year-old Argentina international has reportedly been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Napoli
- The Italian said the club were keeping a close eye on options in the transfer market
LONDON: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said Friday he is happy with his wide options despite reports linking the London club with a move for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.
The 20-year-old Argentina international has reportedly been the subject of interest from Chelsea and Italian side Napoli during the January transfer window.
Representatives of Garnacho were in attendance as Chelsea beat Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Monday.
Maresca, who is likely to be without Mykhailo Mudryk for an extended period as the Ukrainian awaits the outcome of a doping investigation, handed a Premier League debut to academy graduate Tyrique George during the 3-1 win, after being left with only three available senior wide forward.
Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho have shared the two wide starting berths since Mudryk has been unavailable, while Joao Felix can also operate on the wings.
Maresca, whose team face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, was asked at his pre-match press conference about the Garnacho reports.
“I’m happy with the ones that we have in this moment,” he said. “We said many times, on the right side is Pedro (Neto) and Noni (Madueke) and on the left side is Jadon (Sancho).
“Misha (Mudryk) was with us but now he is not with us but (we also have) Tyrique, I think it’s a young profile that can help us. In this moment, we are OK.”
The Italian said the club were keeping a close eye on options in the transfer market, with the window closing on February 3.
Fourth-placed Chelsea are seeking to open up a five-point gap on the champions in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Maresca was employed by City, first as coach of their elite development squad then latterly as an assistant to manager Pep Guardiola, either side of an unsuccessful and brief spell in charge of Italian Serie B side Parma.
The Chelsea boss spoke warmly about City, referring to the “trust, confidence and faith” they showed in him after his sacking by Parma.
And he downplayed suggestions that it was a good time to face Guardiola’s men, who have had a miserable season.
“It is probably on the other side,” he said. “I think this kind of club with these kind of players, when they are in a difficult moment, it’s when they want to show how good they are.
“They want to come against everyone and say: ‘OK, if you think we are not good enough, we are going to show you how good we are’, so I don’t think there is a good moment to play against City.”
UIM E1 World Championship begins in Jeddah
- Event ‘represents yet another big step,’ says Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman
- E1 CEO Rodi Basso: ‘We look forward to a continued and long-lasting association with Saudi Arabia’
JEDDAH: Chairman of the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Salman has said that the Kingdom is fully equipped to host major sporting events on water — including the UIM E1 World Championship which began on Friday — for many years to come.
At a press conference on Friday at the Jeddah Corniche, the chairman said: “Hosting E1 Jeddah GP represents yet another big step toward bolstering Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global destination for sports and an active contributor to the international sporting community.
“We are thrilled to host this major race here in Jeddah for the second year in a row. We have gained more experience and everything is in place to make this race a success.
“Now, we really know what our partner wants to do much better. I always tell people that when you go to another season and work with other people, you become one family in order to contribute to the Saudi sports community. To keep this going is always great.”
Rodi Basso, the CEO at E1, said he was excited at the return to Saudi Arabia.
He added: “Last year it was the first ever in Saudi Arabia and definitely we had some doubts and uncertainties on the technical side, but the power of our collaboration with the SWSDF allowed us to be very ambitious and we managed to have an amazing round in Jeddah.”
Basso added: “I would like to thank everyone involved for their hard work and cooperation, which have enabled us to consolidate our racing footprint in Jeddah, and we look forward to a continued and long-lasting association with Saudi Arabia.”
The first round of the UIM World Championship began with its first race of the year at the Jeddah Corniche on Friday morning in front of thousands of water sports enthusiasts.
The weekend’s events span two days. Teams had free practice sessions early in the morning on Friday, allowing pilots to get a feel for the course, and qualifying rounds were taking place in the afternoon, including sprint and match races.
Saturday will include the semifinals and finals. The top teams from the semis will compete in the finals.
Pakistan stick with spin as they chase West Indies series sweep
- Pakistan completed a 127-run win inside three days in the opening Test, with spinners Sajid Khan taking nine wickets
- West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican also grabbed a career-best 7-32 as 34 of the 40 wickets in the match went to spinners
MULTAN: Head coach Aaqib Javed brushed aside criticism of Pakistan’s reliance on spin bowling as they seek a clean sweep against the West Indies in the second Test starting on Saturday.
Pakistan completed a 127-run win inside three days in the opening Test, with spinners Sajid Khan taking nine wickets, Noman Ali six and Abrar Ahmed five for their third straight win at home.
West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican also grabbed a career-best 7-32 as 34 of the 40 wickets in the match went to spinners.
The second Test will also be played on a dry and grassless pitch in the central city of Multan.
Former Pakistan players and analysts hit out at the spin-heavy strategy, saying the team would struggle on away tours where pitches may not be as conducive to spin.
Aaqib, a fast bowler from an era dominated by the great pacemen Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, insisted the spin assault would continue.
“We found that the West Indies have a weakness in dealing with the spin bowling, so we exploited that and will do that again,” Aaqib told a news conference on Friday.
West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite had no qualms about Pakistan’s tactics.
“Pakistan are playing at home and if they believe spinning pitches are their strength then that’s fine and that’s how cricket is played,” Brathwaite said.
“I have played on pitches which took turn from day one but not like this, which had cracks from day one,” he said.
West Indies will be without injured pace bowler Jayden Seales, who took three wickets in the first match and will be replaced by the experienced Kemar Roach.
Pakistan are unlikely to make any changes.
Brathwaite said his batters need more faith after the first Test, in which his team managed just 137 and 123 in their two innings, with Alick Athanaze the only one to reach a half century.
“It was a difficult pitch to bat in the last game,” Brathwaite said.
“I would say you need to believe in your plan from ball one and not think of the third or fourth ball.”
Pakistan are eighth and the West Indies ninth and last on the World Test Championship table.
Another victory in Multan could see the hosts rise to seventh.
Pakistan were forced to make radical changes last year after losing the first of three Tests against England, their 11th straight home Test without a win.
The Aaqib-led selection panel dropped out-of-form batter Babar Azam and rested pace spearheads Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah.
The tactics worked on the spin-friendly pitches in Rawalpindi and Pakistan went on to win the series 2-1.
“If we had taken these decisions earlier we would have been in the race for World Test Championship final,” Aaqib said.
Former AC Milan coach fined 10,000 euros for ref rant
- “The referee decided the result of this match, and it is not the first time,” insisted the Portuguese coach.
- Fonseca was sacked in December after just six months in charge with compatriot Sergio Conceicao taking over
ROME: Former AC Milan coach Paulo Fonseca was fined 10,000 euros ($10,466) by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday for a post-match rant against the referee last year.
“During interviews after the match against Atalanta, the former AC Milan coach expressed judgments detrimental to the reputation of the referee and the arbitration institution as a whole,” the FIGC said.
AC Milan were fined 5,000 euros.
At the end of the Italian league match which AC Milan lost 2-1 in Bergamo last month, Fonseca said that the result had been “determined” by referee Federico La Penna.
“The referee decided the result of this match, and it is not the first time,” insisted the Portuguese coach.
Fonseca was sacked in December after just six months in charge with compatriot Sergio Conceicao taking over.
“I have always respected the work of referees, but there are so many mistakes every weekend, always at the expense of the same clubs. The way the referee officiated during this match is a lack of respect toward Milan,” he added.
AC Milan won the Italian Super Cup at the beginning of January under Conceicao but remain stuck in eighth place in Serie A — 19 points behind leaders Napoli.
