Dunga wary of Brazil injuries on sandy surface
SINGAPORE: Singapore’s sandy pitch heightens the risk of injuries and the lack of grass makes passing football difficult, Brazil coach Dunga said on Monday ahead of their friendly against Asian champions Japan.
The surface at the National Stadium, the centre piece of Singapore’s $1 billion Sports Hub complex, has been heavily criticised as ground staff struggle in the tropical climate amid the different demands of various concerts and sporting events.
Brazil trained on the patchy field for the first time on Monday, with sand kicking up when the ball bounced on it and as the players ran in a small game.
“The Brazil team will always try to produce a good spectacle but to do that, you need good conditions,” Dunga told reporters on Monday.
HK GOALKEEPER CHALLENGES MESSI
HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s goalkeeper threw down the gauntlet to four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi on Monday, declaring he was “very confident” he could stop any penalties by the Barcelona icon at a friendly in the Chinese city. Yapp Hung-fai drew laughter as he challenged the Argentinian player, who missed a first-half penalty against Brazil during a friendly in Beijing on Saturday. “I am very confident I could save a Messi penalty because I saw him miss in Brazil,” Yapp, told a press conference at the Hong Kong Stadium. WALCOTT RETURNS TO TRAINING
LONDON: Arsenal’s Theo Walcott returned to training on Monday after 10 months on the sidelines with a knee injury. The 25-year-old has not played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup victory at home to Tottenham in January. “Good to have you back, @theowalcott!” Arsenal wrote on Twitter, along side a picture of Walcott training with the rest of the squad.