Sports
Chile ‘regaining identity’ in final World Cup push: Bravo
Santiago (Chile), Oct 8 (IANS) Chile are close to recapturing their best form as they seek to secure a place in next year’s football World Cup by beating Brazil on Tuesday, according to goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
The reigning Copa America champions defeated Ecuador 2-1 at home last Thursday — just their second win in five qualifiers – to rise to third in the CONMEBOL group standings, reports Xinhua news agency.
The Roja will be guaranteed of a berth in the quadrennial tournament in Russia if they beat group leaders Brazil at Sao Paulo’s Allianz Parque.
“We went some way toward regaining our identity in the last match and that has given us encouragement,” Manchester City’s Bravo told a news conference on Saturday.
“Brazil are a strong side but we have players who are capable of hurting them.”
The top four CONMEBOL teams will automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup while the fifth-ranked side will earn a playoff spot.
–IANS
sam/vd
Home
Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia
The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.
Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”
Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.