IRAN COACH RUSHED TO HOSPITAL
SAINT PETERSBURG: Iran manager Carlos Querioz has revealed that one of his coaches was taken to hospital in the wake of Iran’s Var-disallowed equaliser against Spain on Wednesday night. Post-match, Querioz explained how the unnamed member of his staff suffered health difficulties after Saeid Ezatolahi’s goal was ruled out for offside.
by Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha, and Costa went on to find the net with a 54th minute strike that rebounded off the leg of defender Ramin Rezaeian.
Costa now has three goals from two games, only one less than Portugal star Cristiano
Ronaldo’s tally of four.
The big Spain striker admitted his goal against Iran was fortuitous.
“I had a bit of luck with the goal, but I’m happy because it was a very tight game. The important thing was to win,” he added. KALININGRAD: Serbia will face a big challenge bidding to register their second consecutive win, this time against a Swiss side that is confident after holding Brazil to a draw when they face-off in a FIFA World Cup Group E game here on Friday.
Serbia defeated Costa Rica 1-0, riding on Aleksandar Kolarov’s left-footed free-kick, in their group stage opener. And a win over the Swiss at the Samara Arena will nearly propell them to the second round but it will be yet another complex game. Switzerland have lost just one of their past 23 matches: a 0-2 defeat to Portugal in a World Cup qualifier last October. In pre-world Cup friendlies, the European side drew 1-1 with Spain and beat Japan 2-0. Vladimir Petkoviccoached Switzerland carried on that form with an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil in their World Cup opener on Sunday, showing remarkable defensive solidity and enough potency in attack to suggest that they might cause Serbia problems in Kaliningrad.
For Switzerland, Fabian Schar and Manuel Akanji are likely to play in central defence and there is a chance Johan Djourou could also start. Stephen Lichtsteiner and Ricardo Rodriguez will be the full backs with Granit Xhaka, Blerim Dzemaili and Valon Behrami in midfield. Up front Xherdan Shakiri, Steven Zuber and centre-forward forward Haris Seferovic will provide pace on the break. SOCHI: Neymar and Brazil will need to step up their game when they take on Costa Rica in a must win Group E FIFA World Cup clash here on Friday.
Brazil drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their opener last weekend, and Neymar was much criticised for his underwhelming performance.
He was hunted down mercilessly by the Swiss, drawing 10 of Brazil’s 19 fouls, as many as some entire teams.
Neymar also lacked the zip which made him the world’s most expensive footballer when French heavyweights Paris St Germain signed him from Spanish giants FC Barcelona last August.
There was an injury scare after he limped out of Tuesday’s training session with a sore ankle but to his team’s relief the forward is expected to be fit for what could be Brazil’s fourth World Cup match without a win.
Costa Rica, on their part, are desperate for points after they lost their opener to Serbia.
Quarter-finalists in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Costa Rica have lost seven of their last nine matches and scored only five goals in the process.
“It is going to be a difficult game as are all games in the World Cup,” Brazil attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho was quoted as saying.
“They are a good team. We saw the game against Serbia, and it was only decided through a dead ball situation.”
“This is another opportunity for us. We need to do it, we are all focused. We are mentally strong to play a great game.”