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SPORTS Saturday 17 November 2018

Dutch win over France demotes Germany in UEFA Nations League

Associated Press erlands.
ROTTERDAM - When the Depay doubled the lead
Netherlands beat Germa- with a “Panenka” penalty
ny 3-0 last month the score in stoppage time, chipping
flattered the Dutch. Ronald the ball over Lloris to com-
Koeman’s resurgent young plete a memorable victory.
team beat France 2-0 on The Netherlands must wish
Friday and this time the they could play every
margin of victory flattered match at Feyenoord’s De
the French. Kuip stadium — the victory
The rampant men in or- extended the Dutch run of
ange, driven forward by wins there to 15.
the pinpoint passing of A depleted France arrived
midfielder Frenkie de Jong in Rotterdam after injuries
and given a creative spark sidelined Paul Pogba, An-
in attack by Memphis De- thony Martial, Benjamin
pay’s trickery, could have Mendy, Thomas Lemar, Lu-
scored five. Only a string cas Hernandez and Thom-
of saves by France captain as Lemar.
and goalkeeper Hugo Llo- Deschamps refused to use
ris managed to keep the their absence as an excuse
score respectable for the for his team’s lackluster dis-
recently crowned world Associated Press play. “We had confidence
champion. “This was a complete had a lot of quality.” Cup star. in the players we had here,”
The Dutch victory relegat- match at the very highest Midfielder Georginio Wi- “It is exceptional how he he said. “We lost to a Dutch
ed Germany from the top level,” said Netherlands jnaldum scored just before reads the game,” Koeman team that played very well
tier of the new UEFA Nations coach Ronald Koeman, halftime and Memphis De- said of De Jong. and we did not play well.”
League, a second hum- who has in a matter of pay converted an auda- The result left the Dutch Elsewhere in the Nations
bling this year after Germa- months turned an under- cious stoppage-time pen- one point behind France in League, Denmark beat
ny crashed out of the World achieving team into a Eu- alty as the Dutch overran League A Group 1 ahead Wales 2-1 in Cardiff to
Cup at the group stage ropean force to be reck- the world champion. of the group’s final match, secure promotion from
four years after winning the oned with. In its last three France tried to play a wait- between the Netherlands League B Group 4. Nico-
tournament in Brazil. matches, the Netherlands ing game, sitting back and and Germany on Mon- lai Jorgensen and Martin
Now the Netherlands, has beaten Germany 3-0, hoping to launch speedy day, when Joachim Loew’s Braithwaite scored for the
which didn’t even qualify drawn with top-ranked Bel- 19-year-old striker Kylian team will be playing only Danes before Gareth Bale
for the last World Cup or gium 1-1, and outclassed Mbappe on the break. But for pride. hit a late consolation goal.
the 2016 European Cham- France. “I want to con- led by midfielder De Jong Wijnaldum broke the dead- Slovakia beat Ukraine
pionship, needs just a draw gratulate this Dutch team,” and center back Virgil van lock just a minute before 4-1 in League B Group 1.
against Germany on Mon- France coach Didier Des- Dijk, the Dutch not only halftime with his 10th inter- Ukraine had already se-
day in Gelsenkirchen to win champs said. “They played dominated possession, but national goal in his 52nd cured promotion before
League A Group 1. a very good match. They also shut down the World appearance for the Neth- the match.q

Ogier in driver’s seat for World Rally Championship title

COFFS HARBOUR, Australia said. “I was on the limit.” ville is in 10th place after
(AP) — Thierry Neuville fin- With Ogier on sweeping six stages. Roles will reverse
ished the sixth stage of Ral- duties the back markers on Saturday, with Ogier
ly Australia on Friday with- flourished, and Mads Ost- to start further back in the
out a rear left tire, damag- berg took the lead in his field and do his best on
ing his chances of catch- return to the series. cleaner roads to make up
ing five-time defending Ostberg was forced to miss the day-one deficit before
champion Sebastien Ogier the previous round in Spain Sunday’s final stages.
for the World Rally Cham- to make way for rally win- Andreas Mikkelsen, the
pionship title. ner and nine-time world 2016 Rally Australia cham-
The Belgian driver entered champion Sebastien Loeb, pion, was an early dropout
the rally just three points who was making the last after rolling into a ditch in
behind Ogier in the closest of his three guest appear- his Hyundai. Mikkelsen had
title fight in 15 years. Australian rally driver Hary Bates steers his car during a leg of ances for Citroen. only just avoided a trac-
He held the upper hand Rally Australia on the Coffs Coast, Australia, Friday, Nov. 16, Now back in the seat, Ost- tor that had found its way
on his French rival, build- 2018. berg leads Jari-Matti Lat- onto the course.
ing a near-10 second gap Associated Press vala by 6.8 seconds in the Former winner Molly Tay-
through the first five stages all six forestry stages and fore a move to Citroen next Australian rally, with sixth- lor and co-driver Malcolm
at Coffs Harbour before avoid a retirement. But the year, Ogier struggled as stage winner Craig Breen Read were also forced out
hitting a chicane and fin- mistake cost him 40 sec- the first to drive the dusty, in third. of their event when their
ishing the stage with only onds and gave Ogier, who slippery forest routes. Ogier was seventh, 38.2 Subaru hit a hay bale at
three tires on his Hyundai. is 33 seconds ahead of “I pushed like crazy, I was seconds off the pace, but high speed on the morn-
Neuville was fortunate the him, a clear run at his sixth on the limit over the jump only needs to finish ahead ing’s second stage. Both
puncture occurred late straight championship. and everywhere, I can’t of Neuville to claim the reported soreness but suf-
enough in the day to finish In his last start with Ford be- do (any) more,” Ogier championship title. Neu- fered no serious injuries.q