Sports

LONDON — Harry Kane raged at Dutch referee Danny Makkelie for ruling out a late equaliser as Spain punctured England’s post World Cup euphoria by winning 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday to hand coach Luis Enrique a winning start in the Nations League.

In their first game since reaching the semifinals in Russia, England was denied a point when Makkelie awarded a foul in favour of Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea for minimal contact with Danny Welbeck.

“In the big moments you need the referee to stay strong, but unfortunately he has bottled it,” said Kane.

“Big moments you need a firm referee who don’t, under the pressure, get wrong decisions, basically.”

However, England manager Gareth Southgate admitted his side weren’t good enough as Spain bounced back from Marcus Rashford’s opener to go ahead before half-time through Saul Niguez and Rodrigo.

Despite the joy at reaching the last four in Russia, England has now lost three consecutive games for the first time in 30 years.

“We have to accept Spain was better than us for long periods of the game,” said Southgate.

“Their retention of the ball was top class. We were a bit disjointed in our pressing, but even when you press well against them they have some wonderful players.

“We aren’t able to do that when teams press high against us yet.”

There was some relief for England, though, as left-back Luke Shaw confirmed he is fine after being stretchered off early in the second half with a nasty head injury.

Fast start

Kane was presented with his Golden Boot for being top scorer at the World Cup amid a buoyant atmosphere before kick-off that continued with a fast start from the host, thanks in large part to the unfortunate Shaw.

The Manchester United left-back was making his first international start in three years after battling back from a broken leg and loss of form in the past two seasons.

Kane released Shaw free down the left on 11 minutes and his teasing cross curled perfectly into the path of Rashford to slot past United team-mate De Gea.

However, the England fans had barely retaken their seats by the time Spain levelled two minutes later when Saul swept home Rodrigo’s cross.

De Gea denies England

England’s strength at set-pieces was one of the key factors for its success at the World Cup, but it was easily outdone for the winner by a simple Thiago Alcantara free-kick that Rodrigo slotted home at the near post.

De Gea had been labelled as one of the main culprits for Spain’s poor showing in being knocked out by the host at the last 16 in Russia as he made just one save in the whole competition.

However, the United keeper produced the sort of stunning save he does routinely at club level to deny Rashford an instant equaliser with a powerful header from point-blank range.

“I am especially happy about De Gea’s performance,” said Enrique.

“We have one of the best goalkeepers in the world, he’s showed that for many years in the Premier League. We are talking about a player of a top level.”

The second period had barely begun when Shaw suffered a sickening blow to the head as he clashed with Dani Carvajal.

A five-minute stoppage ensued as Shaw was carefully carried from the field on a stretcher and with an oxygen mask strapped around his face.

England, though, finished the stronger and only De Gea with two more stunning saves from Rashford and the referee denied them at least a share of the points.

NEW YORK — Novak Djokovic sat out last year’s US Open to rest an elbow injury that eventually required surgery, but that pain and frustration felt like a distant memory on Friday when the Serb completed his march to the New York final with authority.

Djokovic barely played in the second half of 2017 as his ailing body demanded a lengthy hiatus and the rejuvenated Serb now appears hungrier than ever, intent on making up for lost time by claiming a second Grand Slam title of the year.

“There was always part of me that believed I could come back relatively quickly to the level of tennis that I once was playing,” sixth seed Djokovic told reporters after he completed a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 semifinal demolition of Japan’s Kei Nishikori.

“But at the same time, I felt like the six months off served me very well to find new motivation, inspiration, to recharge my batteries.”

Djokovic roared back into the spotlight when he ended a 54-week title drought in style by securing a fourth Wimbledon championship and 13th career Grand Slam crown with a performance that suggested he has plenty of majors left in him.

The 31-year-old Serb, clearly enjoying the fruits of his labour, delivered a comprehensive performance against Nishikori as he served impeccably, was solid with his returns and dominated from the back of the court.

Next up is a mouth-watering clash against Argentine third seed Juan Martin del Potro and should Djokovic bag a third New York crown, he would join 14-times Grand Slam winner Pete Sampras in third on the all-time list, trailing only Roger Federer (20) and Rafael Nadal (17).

Few would have predicted such a remarkable season for Djokovic, who lost in the fourth round of the Australian Open, underwent surgery on his right elbow and fell at the first hurdle in Indian Wells and Miami on his return.

But Djokovic, who looked on from the sidelines while Federer and Nadal padded their Grand Slam totals, now stands one victory away from winning Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year for the third time in his career.

“These are pinnacles of our sport: majors. It’s where you want to play your best,” Djokovic added. “There is something special about them.

“Especially the top players, they always try to set their own form, so to say, around the Grand Slams because that’s where they want to play their best.” 

Nadal retires

A weary and wounded World No. 1 Rafael Nadal retired from his semi final while trailing Del Potro 7-6(3), 6-2, sending the Argentine back to the Flushing Meadows final for the first time since his 2009 triumph.

Nadal, who had never before retired from a US Open match, showed signs of distress almost from the start as he limped noticeably after a gruelling 69-minute opening set.

He called for the trainer during the changeover on serve at 2-1 in the second.

The defending champion had his knee massaged and re-taped and bravely continued through the second set before telling the umpire he was unable to continue.

“It’s not the best way to win a match,” said Del Potro. “I love to play against Rafa because he’s the biggest fighter in this sport.

“I’m sad for him.”

Nadal’s stamina and famous fitness have been put to the test on the sweltering Flushing Meadows hardcourts as he has logged nearly 16 hours through five matches.

The Spaniard was made to work for his place in the last four, needing a fifth set tiebreak to see off Dominic Thiem in the quarters.

It was the second time this year that the World No. 1 has retired from Grand Slam as he also quit during his quarter-final against Marin Cilic at the Australian Open in January.

PARIS — France star Antoine Griezmann insists he deserves to be on the podium for this year’s Ballon d’Or after winning the World Cup and major silverware with Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann came third in 2016 in the voting behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the most prestigious individual award in football, despite not winning anything.

That year was agonising for the forward as he lost the Euro 2016 final with France and the Champions League final with Atletico.

But this season fortune has smiled on Griezmann, who starred in France’s triumphant World Cup winning campaign in Russia after an impressive year at Atletico, who won the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup.

“Comparing 2016 and this year, for me I have to be in the top three,” the 27-year-old told French sports daily L’Equipe.

“In 2016, I lost two finals and was in the top three. This time I have won three finals.”

Asked if not winning it would be unfair, Griezmann replied: “Not unfair, but I would wonder what more I could do. I have won three trophies, stood out at decisive moments, but it is not me who votes.”

Ronaldo and Messi have dominated the Ballon d’Or over the last decade and the Portuguese superstar will be a contender again this year after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid.

But Griezmann, who rejected a move to join Messi at Barcelona in the close season, admits ending their stranglehold over the award would be special.

“I think about it, especially the closer I get to it. The Ballon d’Or is a prestigious award, and it is the highest you can go as a player. There are trophies in your league, in the World Cup, the Euro, but it’s not the same,” he said.

However, there are signs that Griezmann’s glorious 2018 on the field might not be enough.

UEFA gave their award for the best player of last season to Luka Modric, skipper of the Croatia side that reached the World Cup final and a Champions League winner with Real.

And Griezmann was omitted, along with the rest of his France team-mates, from the final three nominees for FIFA’s player of the year award.

The finalists for that prize are Modric, Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah, the same three who made up the podium for UEFA’s award.

Asked about the FIFA snub, Griezmann replied that “it’s bizarre, and a shame. It is a trophy given out by FIFA, isn’t it?

“And the World Cup is organised by FIFA, right? We win the World Cup, and there is no French player there. That is their choice but it is surprising that there is no world champion.”

The Ballon d’Or award was run jointly by FIFA and magazine France Football until the end of 2016, since when world football’s governing body have reverted to giving out their own prize.

While a panel of supporters, national team captains, coaches and journalists vote for the FIFA award, only journalists vote for the Ballon d’Or.

NEW YORK — Defending champion Rafa Nadal failed to win a single game in the opening set of his US Open quarter-final against Dominic Thiem on Tuesday, but fought back to beat the Austrian 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7(4), 7-6(5) in a match that ended after 2 am in New York.

Nadal won 40 per cent of his first serves in the opener as he struggled with the high humidity on Arthur Ashe Stadium court, with Thiem becoming the first player to “bagel” the Spaniard at Flushing Meadows since Andy Roddick 14 years ago.

“It’s been a great battle,” an exhausted Nadal said. “The conditions were tough, very humid for me.” 

Thiem, who lost to Nadal in the French Open final, but had beaten the Spaniard three times in 10 previous meetings, struck 74 winners, including 24 with his stylish single-handed backhand, to keep the champion under constant pressure.

“I’m very sorry for Dominic,” Nadal added. “He’s a close friend on tour, a great guy and I wish him the very best... He is young and has plenty of time to win tournaments.”

After Nadal roared back to take a 2-1 lead, the fourth set went to a tiebreak. Thiem raced to a 3-0 lead before Nadal fought back, but the Austrian held his nerve to level the match.

There were no breaks of serve in the deciding set and a second tiebreak ensued. The two were neck-in-neck at 5-5 when Nadal carved out a match point with his forehand.

Thiem’s wayward overhead smash handed the match to Nadal, who stood midcourt with his head thrown back and arms raised in the air in celebration.

“It’s going to be stuck in my mind forever,” Thiem said. 

“I’m going to remember this match, for sure. It’s cruel sometimes in tennis, because I think this match didn’t really deserve a loser. But there has to be one. 

“If we skip the first set, it was a really open match from beginning to the end. The way it ended up in the fifth set tiebreaker, from there it’s 50-50. He made one more point than me.”

Nadal paid tribute to the crowd for hanging on until the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“Thank you very much everybody for staying here tonight,” Nadal said after the four hour, 49 minute marathon. 

“It’s been an amazing feeling. I’m playing a lot of hours this year at this beautiful stadium.”

Next up for the top seed is a semifinal clash with big-serving Argentine and third seed Juan Martin del Potro.

Juan Martin Del Potro outslugged John Isner 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the US Open on Tuesday after a towering battle in a sweltering Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The three hour, 31 minute quarter-final was played in suffocating humidity so extreme that officials called a halt to junior matches on the outside courts for more than two hours.

Play continued on Arthur Ashe but with temperatures nudging 37.7ºC the stadium was turned into a sauna, leaving the 2.08m American Isner and 1.98m Argentine Del Potro, suffering.

“I weigh 108 kilogrammes, so I have always said it’s pretty difficult to play in hot conditions,” said Isner, who had 11 shirt changes during match. “I weigh a lot and I sweat a lot.” 

“It takes its toll on bigger guys, in my opinion.

“I don’t know what I weighed before the match. I did not weigh myself, but I can tell you I lost a lot of weight out there.”

Anyone looking for serve and volley came to the wrong place as the pair traded bombs from the baseline with Isner, bidding to become the first American since Andy Roddick in 2006 to reach US Open semifinals, belting 26 aces and Del Potro 14.

Break chances were few and far between, Isner managed just three and was unable to convert any, while Del Potro had 11, cashing in on three, including one to close out the match.

It was enough to see Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, through to the last four at Flushing Meadows for a third time where he will face either top seed Rafa Nadal or Austrian ninth seed Dominic Thiem, who were playing later on Tuesday.

“I think I played very solid this game,” said Del Potro. “In particular I made good returns every service game.

“I saw John a little bit tired also. That’s give me a little bit more energy to keep trying.

“I don’t know if I’m playing my best tennis ever but I’m feeling good. I reach another semi finals in this Grand Slam, which means something big to me.”

AMMAN — Three of Jordan’s top drivers resume their battle for the right to be called the Kingdom’s fastest driver, when round four of the Jordan Speed Test Championship is held on Friday, according to the Jordan Motorsport Media Service.

After three rounds, 2016 champion, Mohammed Tayseer, holds a slender four-point lead from veteran campaigner, Husam Salem, with Ghaith Wreikat just a single point further back.

With this being the penultimate round and 25 points up for grabs to the winner, Friday’s event has attracted a bumper entry of 48 drivers with the likes of Mustafa Attari, Ihab Al Sharafa and Ameer Nassif all being capable of putting pressure on the podium placings.

There is a close battle taking shape in the Rear Wheel Drive category with just eight points separating the top six drivers, while the Front Wheel Drive battle is led by Mohammad Al-Azzeh by just four points from Assem Aref. The action will start from 9:30am at the Royal Automobile Club.

BARCELONA — Lionel Messi has admitted he was surprised by Cristiano Ronaldo’s decision to leave Real Madrid and join Juventus.

Messi also believes the transfer will leave Madrid worse off and says Juve are now among the clear favourites to win this season’s Champions League.

Ronaldo swapped Spain for Italy in a deal worth 100 million euro in July, after securing a third consecutive European crown, and his fourth in five years with Real.

But Messi, who missed out on a three-man shortlist for FIFA’s world player of the year award, feels the balance may have shifted following the 33-year-old’s exit.

“I was surprised, I didn’t imagine him leaving Madrid or that he would go to Juve because there was talk of many clubs [interested]. The truth is I was very surprised but Juve are also a very good team,” Messi told Catalunya Radio.

“Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world and they have a great squad but it’s obvious the departure of Ronaldo makes them less strong while Juve have become a clear favourite for the Champions League.

“They already had a good team and now they also have Cristiano Ronaldo.”

Madrid’s dominance in Europe has made failure even harder to swallow for Barcelona, whose shock defeat by Roma in April meant crashing out in the quarter-finals for a third consecutive season.

Even winning both La Liga and the Copa del Rey last term for a domestic double was not enough to extinguish the disappointment.

“It’s time to win the Champions League,” Messi said. “We’ve been knocked out in the quarter-finals three seasons in a row and maybe the last one was the worst of all because of the result and how the match was played.

“I think we have to aim for that, as a club, as a team and as a collective. We have a spectacular squad and we can do it.”

Ronaldo’s move was the latest example of increasingly lavish spending by Europe’s biggest clubs, with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Philippe Coutinho and Paul Pogba all snapped up for more than 100 million euros over the past two years.

Messi believes the lure of Barcelona and Real Madrid is now being neutralised by the mouth-watering sums on offer.

“There are clubs now with a lot of money and players move for that reason,” he said.

“Wherever the most money is, that’s where they end up going. Things have changed and now the owners of clubs are multi-millionaires.

“Before, everyone wanted to play for Barca or Madrid, who were the best, but now everything’s tighter and there’s not much of a difference between the teams in Manchester, PSG, Madrid, us, Bayern [Munich] and the Italian [teams].”

Barcelona signed four players this summer, with Arthur Melo, Clement Lenglet, Arturo Vidal and Malcom all arriving at the Camp Nou.

Messi singled out Arthur, the 22-year-old Brazilian playmaker, for special praise.

“If I have to say one, I’ll go with Arthur, who surprised me because I did not know much about him,” Messi said.

“He has a style very similar to Xavi’s, he always wants the ball, does not lose it, plays short passes and is very reliable.

“He has the style we always look for here.”

AMMAN — Following their recent successes, Jordan’s taekwondo fighters are moving up on the world rankings, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

After winning silver at the latest World Grand Prix round in Moscow, and securing bronze at the Asian Games, Saleh Al Sharabati moved up 10 spots to 25th on the -80kg standings released by the World Taekwondo Federation.

Juliana Al Sadeq climbed seven spots to 23rd after winning bronze in Moscow and a historic gold at the Asian Games. Hamzeh Qattan, a bronze medallist at the Asian Games, moves up to 31, while Olympic gold medallist Ahmad Abu Ghaush, another bronze medal winner in Jakarta, remains fourth missing the Grand Prix event through injury.

AMMAN — Shergo Al Kurdi beat a host of top young golfers to land the Faldo Series England Midlands Championship event at Trentham Golf Club at the weekend, according to the Jordan Olympic Committee News Service.

The youngster carded a final round 70 (two-under) to win his age category and provide a timely reminder that he is in top form going into the U-16 Italian Championship, where he will be the first ever Jordanian taking part.

“It was a tough three days of competition,” said Shergo. “I had a difficult start, but I bounced back on the final day to win. I couldn’t be happier.”

JAKARTA — With a glittering ceremony marking the end of the 2018 Asian Games, here are five top moments from the world’s second-largest multi-sports event:

Falling standards

A flag blunder punctured Sun Yang’s joy at winning the 200m freestyle — and prompted the Chinese swimming star to demand a re-run of his victory ceremony. The triple Olympic champion was overjoyed at winning his first gold of the games, and all was going swimmingly until the flags of China and Japan came loose and crashed to the ground as Sun was belting out the national anthem from the podium. After a delay, the ceremony began again, to titters from the audience as three officials held up the flags, one self-consciously bending his knees as he tried to adjust it to the correct height.

Stray cat strut

A humble cat stole the show on the opening day of the athletics competition when it made an unexpected appearance during the women’s 100m hurdles heats. The tortoise-and-white cat trotted nonchalantly down the track and onto the infield, as athletes and officials did a double take.

It was not the first animal intruder at a major sports event: a squirrel risked its life when it dashed in front of a snowboarder at this year’s Winter Olympics, and at Formula One’s 2011 Indian Grand Prix, a stray dog held up practice when it wandered onto the track.

Two Koreas

A joint team of athletes from North and South Korea reached an emotional women’s basketball final — before falling at the final hurdle in a tense match against China. Nevertheless, the Unified Korea team was a resounding success in Jakarta. The neighbours marched together at the opening ceremony and also formed joint teams in canoeing, in which they clinched a gold and two bronze medals. The athletes even learnt a thing or two about each other: one South Korean basketball player said she had realised that North Koreans are not “scary” after all.

Jokowi’s motorbike skit

The opening ceremony got off to a roaring start with a skit purportedly starring President Joko Widodo on a motorbike doing stunts in Jakarta’s streets. With the crowd whooping, he rode into Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The scene appeared to take inspiration from the opening ceremony for the 2012 London Olympics when Queen Elizabeth II seemingly made a dramatic entrance to the stadium by parachute along with James Bond.

Son’s tears

After tears of anguish at the 2016 Rio Olympics when South Korea were defeated by Honduras in the quarter-final, Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min sobbed with joy as his team was crowned 2018 Asiad champions. It was an emotional rollercoaster ride for Son as he played to secure a gold that would spare him a career-threatening stint of military service. But it all went to plan in the end, with a 2-1 win against Japan leaving Son beaming from ear to ear and poised to return to Spurs to see out his new five-year deal.