Muscobites

I am fine: maradona on health scare

MOSCOW: Diego Maradona says he is fine after sparking a health scare following Argentina's dramatic late win against Nigeria that saw them progress to the last 16 of the World Cup. Maradona had been visibly emotional during the match in Saint Petersburg, which Argentina had to win to stay in the tournament. He leaned over the front of the VIP box from where he was watching with friends and made an obscene gesture after Marcos Rojo scored a late winner. "I want to tell everyone that I am fine, that I am not and was not hospitalised," the 57-year-old wrote on Instagram on Wednesday. A video emerged showing the 1986 World Cup winner looking dazed. He walked with difficulty and was guided into the dining room of the VIP section by two friends before sitting down in a chair. "At half-time against Nigeria, my neck hurt a lot and I suffered a drop in my blood pressure," he said. "I was checked by a doctor and he recommended that I go home before the second half, but I wanted to stay because we were risking it all," he wrote. "How could I leave?"

Ramos seeks unity for La Roja

KRASNODAR:  Spain captain Sergio Ramos took to social media on Wednesday, urging fans to unite behind the national team as it builds up to play hosts Russia in the FIFA World Cup's last-16 knockout phase. The center-back, who also captains Real Madrid, said it did not matter whether fans were critical of La Roja so long as they felt proud to support the team. "We want you to feel proud of the team. The same pride we feel when we wear the shirt. Proud to be Spanish and proud to represent Spain," wrote the defender, who has made over 150 appearances for his country. The Spanish national team has had its fair share of criticism in a relatively underwhelming performance at the World Cup so far. Particular focus has been heaped on goalkeeper David de Gea, who has let a total of five goals in during the campaign.

critics leap Socceroos

SYDNEY: Australia's footballers were urged to rediscover their cutting edge and sense of direction as they headed home after a winless World Cup where they failed to score any goals from open play. National media called it a "meek exit" as the Socceroos, under caretaker coach Bert van Marwijk, lost 2-0 to Peru to finish bottom of Group C - their third straight failure to reach the knock-out rounds. The reigning Asian champions only scored two goals in three matches, both penalties drilled in by captain Mile Jedinak, highlighting their lack of a top-class striker.  TV commentator Craig Foster criticised van Marwijk's tactics after the Dutchman - who took the Netherlands to the 2010 World Cup final - abandoned the more adventurous approach employed by Postecoglou. "We showed what we could do it,' but we didn't do it enough," Foster said. "That wasn't the Australian way, That wasn't what we're capable of in terms of a football country. I can't accept that."

WC subsidies increases by $13 million

MOSCOW: Russia has increased its government subsidies for the World Cup by $13 million amid concerns over the legacy of the tournament. Two government orders allocate an extra 481.6 million rubles ($7.6 million) for temporary World Cup infrastructure and 334.2 million rubles ($5.3 million) to the state company responsible for maintaining the stadiums. That takes total spending on the World Cup to around 679 billion rubles ($10.7 billion), though that doesn't include some key spending on infrastructure. Analysis by Russian business news outlet RBK has put the total spend closer to $14 billion, which would make the World Cup the most expensive ever. Several Russian regional officials have asked for more federal spending after the World Cup to stop the stadiums losing millions of dollars a year, since they are expensive to maintain and often several times larger than the average crowd for Russian league games.

‘Winning trumps style for Portugal’

KRATOVO:  Portugal defender Cedric Soares said the European champions are more concerned about results than style ahead of a last-16 clash against Uruguay at the World Cup. Portugal will return to Sochi, the site of their thrilling 3-3 group stage draw with Spain, on Saturday to face a Uruguay side featuring Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Uruguay are the only team yet to concede at the tournament, while Portugal have relied heavily on Cristiano Ronaldo - the Real Madrid star has scored all but one of Portugal's five goals. "The most important thing is to win and our objective is to win every game," Cedric said on Wednesday. "Every team has its own strategy and we have ours. No matter if the game is spectacular or not our number one goal for now is to beat Uruguay."