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Germany crashes out at group stage

KAZAN, RUSSIA — Holders Germany sensationally crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history — failing to make it past the opening round for the first time since 1938.
In a stunning reverse by the footballing superpower who have reached either the final or semi-finals of every World Cup since 2002, the Germans stumbled to a 2-0 loss to South Korea that left them rooted to the bottom of Group F.
Germany went into the game knowing that a win by two clear goals would have seen them into the last 16. But instead it was Sweden and Mexico who advanced after the Swedes romped to a 3-0 win over the Mexicans in Yekaterinburg.
“The disappointment of us being eliminated is just huge,” said Germany coach Joachim Loew, who is now under pressure to quit despite signing a contract extension until 2022 last month.
“It’s too soon for me to answer, it will take a few hours to see things clearly, the disappointment is very deep in me,” the 58-year-old said when asked if he would resign.
“It is a really, really bitter evening for us,” defender Mats Hummels added. “The situation is very difficult to put into words.”
“We had plenty of opportunities, we broke our necks trying out there today,” he added.
Germany qualified for Russia with a perfect record of 10 wins, but Hummels said the team had not played well since they wrapped up qualification late last year.
Hummels said the warning signs had been there after Germany lost their opening game 1-0 to Mexico.
“We put ourselves in this situation after the Mexican game,” he admitted. “The last game we delivered a good performance was in the autumn of 2017.”
Sweden coach Janne Andersson spoke of his immense pride after his side topped the group with second-half goals against Mexico from Ludwig Augustinsson, Andreas Granqvist and an own goal from Edson Alvarez to move into a last-16 meeting with Switzerland.
“We’ve done a fantastic job today with this match,” Andersson said.
“I’m so incredibly proud, almost moved as the thought of how we performed on the pitch, so disciplined. I think we’ve grown since our last match.”
Andersson said he refused to take any pleasure in the demise of the Germans whom he had accused of distasteful celebrations when they beat Sweden.
“I am not like that, it is not like that in sport. I was very angry, but that was then and this is now.”
BRAZIL EASES THROUGH
Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to top Group E and cruise through to a last-16 meeting with Mexico.
Philippe Coutinho’s sublime pass was converted by Paulinho in the 35th minute and Thiago Silva powered in a second-half header at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.
The Brazilians had to soak up spells of intense pressure from Serbia but finish unbeaten in the group stage.
After failing to fire in their opening match in Russia, a 1-1 draw against Switzerland, Brazil appear to be finding their normal fluency with each match as they go in search of a sixth World Cup. The Mexicans will need to regroup fast before facing them in Samara on Monday.
With Germany out, Brazil coach Tite was confident his team could cope with being the new favorites.
“We can take the pressure, we are a balanced team and for us, this is about getting stronger and growing,” the Brazil boss said.
Mladen Krstajic’s talented Serbia team will always wonder what might have been. They will inevitably point to the disallowed penalty in the highly charged 2-1 defeat to Switzerland when Aleksandar Mitrovic was wrestled to the ground as the point when their World Cup went awry.
Switzerland joined Brazil in the second round as runners-up after they drew 2-2 with Costa Rica in Nizhny Novogrod.
The Swiss will face the Swedes in Saint Petersburg on Tuesday but must do so without captain Stephan Lichtsteiner who will be suspended after picking up a yellow card.
A 93rd minute own goal by the unfortunate Yann Sommer from a Bryan Ruiz penalty gave the central American side a deserved 2-2 draw on a night of late drama.
Switzerland’s earlier lead lasted just two minutes after substitute Josep Drmic slotted home to seemingly give them three points.
Earlier Blerim Dzemaili had thumped home to give Switzerland the lead against the run of play against the team which finished bottom of Group E.
That goal was canceled out by Kendall Waston’s header in the 56th minute, the central Americans’ first goal of the tournament. — AFP

England, Belgium battle for Group G top spot

KALININGRAD, RUSSIA — England and Belgium battle it out for top spot in their group on Thursday as the remaining teams at the World Cup digest Germany’s astonishing exit from the tournament in Russia.
Both sides — packed with Premier League talent — have sailed through Group G, winning their two games and are now in the curious situation of weighing up whether they even want to top the section.
Their battle in Kaliningrad follows the dramatic exit of Joachim Loew’s 2014 winners, who finished rock bottom of their group after a 2-0 defeat to South Korea, the final humiliation after a campaign that never caught fire.
Loew, who led his side to glory against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, refused to be drawn on his future in the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s result.
Despite a huge scare for Lionel Messi’s Argentina, who needed a late goal from Marcos Rojo to edge through to the knockout phase on Tuesday, all of the tournament’s remaining big guns are through to the last 16 in Russia.
There has even been some talk that England might have an easier route at the World Cup if they lose in Kaliningrad.
But coach Gareth Southgate said his team are focused on winning, not on plotting a particular route through the knockout stages.
“We need to keep winning football matches and we want to breed a mentality that everybody in our squad wants to constantly win,” said the manager, who has created a relaxed atmosphere for his young charges.
“We’ve not won a knockout game since 2006. Why we would be starting to plot which would be a better venue for our semifinal is beyond me really.”
England impressed in their opening two World Cup games, beating Tunisia 2-1 in Volgograd and thumping Panama 6-1 in Nizhny Novgorod.
But in Belgium they face the world’s third-ranked side, and a squad loaded with world-class talent such as Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne.
KANE FACTOR
Captain Harry Kane is the top goalscorer at the World Cup with five goals so far and the Tottenham talisman is likely to start against Belgium.
But Southgate did concede he would probably make some changes for a clash that neither side needs to win.
Opposite number Roberto Martinez is expected to make wholesale changes to his team, with Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku almost certain to miss out after picking up an ankle knock in Belgium’s 5-2 win over Tunisia.
Unlike Southgate, the former Everton and Wigan manager said he was approaching Thursday’s game with one eye firmly on the knockout rounds.
“We want to perform well but I think the priority is not to win,” he said.
“That’s the reality. We wanted to qualify, we’ve done that. There are players who have been in very demanding games so it’s very important for us to protect and give every player the best opportunity to be in the best condition in the knockout games.”
In the other remaining first-round games on Thursday, Japan, Senegal and Colombia are all chasing the two qualification spots in Group H, with Poland out of the picture.
Japan, on four points alongside Senegal, take on Poland in Volgograd while the African team play Colombia, who have three points, in Samara.
Japan coach Akira Nishino has warned his players against complacency when they meet the already eliminated Poles.
After years of struggling to progress to the latter stages, James Rodriguez’s tournament-topping six goals steered Colombia to their best-ever finish of the quarter-finals in Brazil four years ago.
Jose Pekerman has refused to entertain the prospect of seeing Colombia’s stuttering World Cup campaign end at the first hurdle.
“We came here for more, so it wouldn’t be a good result for us not to reach the second round,” Pekerman said.
Aliou Cisse’s Senegal will attempt to succeed where the rest of their continental rivals failed, with Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria and Tunisia all out.
Friday is a rest day in Russia. The last-16 ties start Saturday, with France taking on Argentina in Kazan and Uruguay facing Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Sochi. — AFP

PHL vs Chinese Taipei today

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE Philippines and Chinese Taipei get their campaigns going today in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers as they collide against each other at the scheduled 7 p.m. match at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium.
The second of two encounters in Group B of the Qualifiers between the squads, both are angling to get the victory in their rematch to give their thrusts a boost as they try to make their way to the next round of the competition.
Gilas Pilipinas, which took the first encounter over Chinese Taipei, 90-83, back in November in the first window, is already assured of a spot in the second round of the tournament with a 3-1 record but is determined nonetheless to keep rolling since win-loss records are carried over to the next phase.
Bannering the Philippines’ campaign in Taiwan is a 15-man pool handled by national team coach Chot Reyes.
The players are Philippine Basketball Association stalwarts Jayson Castro, Terrence Romeo, Baser Amer, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright, RR Pogoy, Calvin Abueva, Troy Rosario, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Allein Maliksi, Gabe Norwood and Carl Bryan Cruz.
Also included in the pool are naturalized player Andray Blatche and Gilas Cadet member Troy Rike.
Now playing in enemy territory, Gilas is expecting an all the more determined Chinese Taipei team, which is why it has been preparing hard for the challenge.
“We are expecting a determined Taipei team [on Friday]. Good thing the players are showing that they are attuned with the task at hand and really working hard in practice,” said Mr. Reyes in the lead-up to their game against Chinese Taipei.
For Mr. Pogoy, the difficulty they had against Chinese Taipei in the first game should serve as a reminder to them to be on top of their game for the rematch.
“We had a hard time beating them (Taiwanese) in Manila, and this time it will be harder because they have home court. We just have to be ready and have to be more aware of the mistakes we made when we last played them,” said Mr. Pogoy, who finished with 11 points last time around.
In the first game, the Philippines struggled to find form in the early goings but managed to step up down the stretch to hack out the win.
Jayson Castro led the way with 20 points followed by June Mar Fajardo with 17 points.
PAD CAUSE
Over at the Chinese Taipei camp, the team, sporting a 1-3 card, looks to pad its push to the next round by winning its last two games, including against the Philippines.
A win by Chinese Taipei over Gilas today almost assures it of advancing and puts a lot of pressure on Japan (0-4) to win its game against Group B-leading Australia (4-0).
If the host team loses to Gilas though, it may find itself in a still murky situation with Japan for the third spot and rendering their last game in the window on July 2 as a virtual do-or-die.
But Chinese Taipei has made it known that it is out to win against the Philippines in front of its hometown fans.
“Playing at home has always been very important. In home games, the whole country will cheer for the players, and it will stimulate the players more. It will strengthen our desire to achieve victory,” said Chinese Taipei player Huang Tsung-Han, who was not part of the team which met the Philippines the first time around but was a valuable cog in Chinese Taipei’s lone win so far in the tournament against Japan, 90-89, in February, where he scored 11 points.
“This time, we also have some stronger players joining us. As long as we control our fouls, I believe that we will win this time!” he added.
For the third window of the Qualifiers, Chinese Taipei will be backstopped by players from the Chinese Basketball Association like former Super Basketball League most valuable players Chou Yi-Hsiang and Liu Cheng, upcoming stars Chen Ying-Chun and Hu Long-Mao and veterans Tseng Wen-Ting and Yang Ching-Min.
The Gilas Pilipinas-Chinese Taipei game will be shown live on ESPN5 with livestream on ESPN5.com.

Under-19 men’s national team prepares for AFF tournament

THE Philippine U19 men’s national football team is stepping up its preparation as it competes in the ASEAN Football Federation men’s championship in July in Indonesia.
Coached by Reiji Hirata, the Philippine team will begin its campaign in Group A of the competition.
It will first take on Singapore on July 1 before facing Vietnam two days later. The Philippines then faces off with Indonesia on July 5, Thailand on July 7, and Laos July 9.
University Athletic Association of the Philippines rookie of the year Fidel Tacardon of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons leads the team roster.
He is joined by the likes of Gio Pabualan of Far Eastern University, JR Suba of San Beda, Iloilo player Martini Rey and Jed Bode of De La Salle Zobel.
“These players have a lot of potential and are very creative,” said Mr. Hirata, who is the head of youth football development in the Philippines Football Federation and has also served the Chinese Taipei Football Association in youth national team coaching.
Mr. Hirata holds a Japan Football Association “A” license, the equivalent to an Asian Football Confederation “A.”
The U19 squad has already played two friendlies. One against San Beda’s college team, where it won 3-0 with starters against starters, and then drawing 3-3 with their second team.
It also faced Philippines Football League squad Davao Aguilas FC in a friendly, where it showed a gallant stand before bowing down, 4-2.
The team is using the PFF Artificial Turf Pitch in Carmona, Cavite within the San Lazaro Leisure Park as training venue, which has been a great help to their preparations, team officials said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Jeremy Miado looks to build on last victory

FOLLOWING a breakthrough victory in ONE Championship in his last outing, Filipino mixed martial arts fighter Jeremy “The Jaguar” Miado now looks to sustain it as he gets back into action today in Myanmar.
The lone Philippine representative at “ONE: Spirit of a Warrior” at the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Mr. Miado (7-2) is eyeing back-to-back wins in ONE Championship when he collides with Thai Kritsada “Dream Man” Kongsrichai in a strawweight joust.
Mr. Miado, 25, is coming off an impressive win in March this year where he defeated former ONE world strawweight champion Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke of Thailand by knockout in the first round.
The Marikina City resident connected with a perfectly timed right hook, which sent Mr. Amnuaysirichoke crashing to the canvas.
The referee quickly rushed forward to stop the contest before Mr. Miado was able to land any follow-up shots, with the end coming at 1:29 of the opening round.
Mr. Miado became the first person to finish Mr. Amnuaysirichoke in an MMA competition and now owns the second-quickest knockout in ONE Championship’s strawweight history.
“The game plan was to counter his aggressiveness and throw out combinations. The plan was to defeat Dejdamrong, but the knockout was unexpected. I felt really shocked because I defeated my idol,” said Mr. Miado of his debut ONE victory following two straight losses to open his bid in the promotion.
The Filipino fighter went on to say that he is expecting to get another tough challenge from Mr. Kongsrichai (7-3) but is welcoming it, seeing it as an opportunity to grow himself as a fighter and sharpen him as he goes for his dream of becoming a world champion.
“Here we are again. Another tough challenge is on our way. To be able to compete against a highly decorated wrestler like my next opponent, it will only be good for my experience as a martial artist,” Mr. Miado said.
“I want people to know that I am a simple guy with a big dream. And I have the goal of becoming a world champion in my division. One win at a time,” he added.
Spirit of a Warrior is to be headlined by hometown hero and concurrent middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion Aung la “The Burmese Python” N Sang, who will stake his middleweight belt against Japan’s Ken Hasegawa. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Tiger eyes new putter in bid to end five-year win drought

POTOMAC — Tiger Woods, bolstered by surprising power in his return from back surgery, has tested new putters while hosting the US PGA Quicken Loans National in hopes of ending a five-year win drought.
The 14-time major winner plays his 11th event of the year, and only planned tune-up for next month’s British Open, starting Thursday at TPC Potomac.
“I’m pretty excited the way I’ve hit the golf ball. I’ve done some things I haven’t done in over a decade,” Woods said Wednesday.
“No one has had clubhead speeds as what I’ve had on the tour this year with a lower back fusion. These are things that I didn’t know I could do and all of a sudden I’m doing it.”
What the 42-year-old American hasn’t done lately, however, is show the sharp putting that saw him share second at the Valspar Championship and fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.
“If I have the same putting stroke I had earlier in the year with the ball-striking I’ve had, that would be where I want to get to,” Woods said. “Just got to put both those things together at the same time.”
Frustration on the greens in recent weeks has prompted Woods to work with an Ardmore mallet putter rather than the Scotty Cameron model he used in 13 major wins and so far in his comeback.
“What changed? I don’t know. That has been the frustrating part,” Woods said. “I’ve had to just log in time and putt for hours to try to figure it out. I haven’t putted well for about four tournaments now. I’ve struggled.
Former world number one Woods, ranked 82nd this week, tested several kinds Wednesday but didn’t guarantee he would use the mallet putter this week.
“I put it in early last week. Tried a bunch of different shapes and sizes,” Woods said. “I tried and tried to come up with something that I felt I could swing and trust.”
Woods hasn’t played in his Washington event since 2015 because of back issues, but recalls wondering last year if he might ever play again.
“It’s basically a gift to be able to play again. There was no guarantee I would ever play golf again, forget the PGA Tour. So to go from that to here, I didn’t foresee that happening, I really didn’t,” Woods said with a laugh. — AFP

NBA extends Adam Silver’s contract as commissioner into 2024

NEW YORK — Adam Silver’s contract as commissioner of the NBA has been extended through the 2023-2024 campaign, NBA board of governors chairman Larry Tannenbaum announced Wednesday.
Tannenbaum, owner of the Toronto Raptors, did not disclose financial terms of the new deal, which will stretch Silver’s time as the fifth commissioner in NBA history beyond a full decade.
Silver, who began working for the league in 1992, served as deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the NBA for eight years until replacing David Stern on Feb. 1, 2014.
Other former NBA commissioners include Maurice Podoloff, J. Walter Kennedy and Larry O’Brien.
Silver’s tenure saw major controversy after only three months when former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling was banned from the league for life by Silver over racist comments made by Sterling revealed during a private telephone conversation with Sterling’s girlfriend.
Silver fined him the maximum $2.5 million allowed under NBA rules and urged league owners to expel Sterling as owner of the Clippers, which they eventually did, selling the club to former Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer. — AFP

Lakers deals

The clock is ticking for the Lakers, and not just because President Magic Johnson promised results at risk of losing his job. Even as he did say his was a two-year project that includes the 2019 offseason, the deadline for LeBron James to opt out on the final season of his contract with the Cavaliers ends in hours, and he aims to make sure it leads to the King moving to La-La Land. It’s a tall order, to be sure, and one that involves the consummation of multiple deals in the immediate term.
To get James, the Lakers need to first acquire Kawhi Leonard from the Spurs. And, in this regard, it helps their cause immensely that the two-time Defensive Player of the Year has made known his intent to: 1) distance himself from the franchise that drafted him 15th overall in 2011; and 2) don the purple and gold regardless of circumstance when he becomes a free agent next year. Needless to say, the latter declaration increases the risk for other parties interested in engaging his services.
To be sure, Leonard’s preferences haven’t stopped the influx of overtures coming the Spurs’ way. Among the suitors who have come knocking are the Clippers, Cavaliers, Sixers, and Celtics, and perhaps with the exception of the Eastern Conference runners-up, all likewise view his transfer as a significant factor in positively influencing James’ decision. No doubt, the competition has considered the Thunder’s experience in trading for Paul George, who also said he would be bolting for the Lakers, but who now appears to be willing to remain in the fold.
Nonetheless, the Lakers should have the inside track. For all the pronouncements of Gregg Popovich and Company that retaining him is the Number One priority, and that, if talks break down, sending him East is the better proposition, Johnson knows the right package of assets should close the deal. And while they have already been cited for tampering, it’s fair to contend that — short of flouting league rules outright — they’re doing all they can to get James’ assurances that he will follow once Leonard comes on board.
Certainly, the opportunity at hand is why the Lakers’ odds of bringing home the Larry O’Brien Trophy have increased significantly. In turn, it’s a function of how much James moves the needle, how highly Los Angeles is viewed, and how professionally the franchise is run. No wonder fans are abuzz. They haven’t had a whiff of the playoffs in five years, and they’re all too ready to sing “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

LBC acquires remittance, cargo firms abroad

LBC Express Holdings, Inc. has acquired remittance and cargo companies based in Singapore and Australia with the goal of upping its global revenue.
In a disclosure on Thursday, the listed company said its board of directors gave the green light on Wednesday to buy LBC Australia PTY Ltd., LBC Money Transfer PTY Ltd., LBC Express Airfreight (S) PTE LTD, and LBC Aircargo (S) PTE LTD.
“The acquisition is expected to benefit the Company by contributing to its global revenue stream,” it added. — Denise A. Valdez

Stocks dive on growing trade war concerns

Shares took another dive on Thursday, June 28, quickly reversing gains in the previous session as trade tensions pulled down most markets overseas.
The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index plunged 1.53% or 109.86 points to 7,066. The broader all shares index also lost 1.28% or 56.07 points to 4,323.23.
“It looks like yesterday’s 169-point gain wasn’t enough of a push as investors took profits today instead…Value turnover was weaker than yesterday at only P5.8 billion as some may be looking forward to the aforementioned window dressing tomorrow,” Papa Securities Corp. Trader Gabriel Perez said in an email.
The local index also tracked the lower finished seen abroad as developments in the trade war between the United States and China continued to affect markets.
“Trade tensions took center stage locally and regionally along with US stocks reversing earlier gain despite oil surging,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile message.
Four sectoral indices moved to negative territory, led by the property sub-index that gave up 2.54% or 89.80 points to 3,444.08, followed by holding firms which dipped 2.05% or 145 points to 6,937.59. Industrial slumped 1.36% or 140.92 points to 10,254.44, while services declined 0.39% or 5.36 points to 1,371.74.
Meanwhile, mining and oil went up 0.1% or 9.84 points to 9,631.53, while financials added 0.06% or 1.04 points to 1,772.24.
Some 623.63 million issues switched hands, resulting to a turnover of P5.79 billion, lower than Wednesday’s P6.5-billion turnover.
Foreign investors were net sellers for the second day, dumping a net of P362.06 million worth of funds, higher than the P235.14 million net sales generated in the previous session. — Arra B. Francia

Meralco sees around 6.5% sales growth in first half

Electricity sales in June has eased because of the cool weather, tempering power sales growth for the first half to around 6.5%, the top official of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said.
“For the first five months year-to-date, growth of 7.5% per annum, but June is trending a little softer because, number one, the rains have started. It’s been cool during the last three months — April, May and June,” Oscar S. Reyes, Meralco president and chief executive officer, told reporters.
“So I think we will probably end June by roughly at around 6%, 6.5%,” he added in a chance interview after the annual stockholders meeting of another company on Wednesday where he sits as board director.
But he said, sales in the first half should be better than last year, without citing the comparative growth rate or the sales figure in gigawatt-hours.
Based on Meralco’s previously released figures, consolidated sales volume in the first half of 2017 grew by 3% year-on-year to 20,338 GWh despite the high base in the previous year.
Mr. Reyes said the sales improvement was “because I think to the country’s credit, industrial and commercial activities have been strong. Maybe, it’s the growth of the economy.” — Victor V. Saulon

GT Capital to invest around $200 million in Japan’s Toyota

GT Capital Holdings, Inc. is investing 22.2 billion Japanese yen, or around $200 million, in Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota Motor Corp., noting that it is “timely” to invest in the world’s fifth largest firm.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Thursday, June 28, the holding firm of tycoon George S.K. Ty said it will be buying shares in TMC from the Tokyo Stock Exchange based on prevailing rates on the date of purchase.
The listed conglomerate took out a yen-denominated loan to fund the purchase of shares, which is now ongoing.
GT Capital Head of Investor Relations Jose B. Crisol, Jr. said the company took into account the opportunities and positive outlook for Toyota when deciding to invest in the automotive manufacturer.
“It’s opportunistic because Toyota Japan recently announced the share buyback program so we feel it’s a timely opportunity to take a position in that because numbers show that Toyota Japan is a very good investment in terms of share price valuation, P/E (price-to-earnings) and price-to-book are all very attractive,” Mr. Crisol said in a phone interview on Thursday.
He noted that there is a consensus among key research reports that there will be some price appreciation on the stock, in addition to the amount of dividend yields.
Toyota is cited as the fifth largest company in the world in terms of revenues. In its fiscal year ending March 2018, the firm reported that it sold 8.96 million vehicles in the world, translating to net revenues of 29.38 trillion Japanese Yen. — Arra B. Francia

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