Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/323754
19 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 4 JUNE 2014 SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL - 2014 WORLD CUP TENNIS - FRENCH OPEN Frank Lampard to captain England Frank Lampard will captain England against Ecuador today in the penultimate friendly before the World Cup THE midfielder was confirmed as skipper for the clash in a press conference in Miami with England manager Roy Hodgson. It caps off a big few days for Lam- pard, who confirmed on Monday he will be leaving Chelsea this summer. "I'm proud to be captain tomor- row and looking forward to the game," he said. When asked about his Stamford Bridge departure, he reiterated how difficult it will be but insisted he is now focusing on England. "It is very difficult after 13 years but you have to move on, I move on, the club moves on and it's as simple as that," he told Sky Sports 1. "I'm here now to concentrate on being with England. It was a relief to say it last night and now I per- sonally, and the team, can focus on the game. "It is something I will address more to Chelsea fans and Chelsea people at another time." With Hodgson's squad having to adapt to the heat and humidity in Miami ahead of the clash, Lampard has highlighted the importance of the game ahead of the World Cup opener against Italy in the swelter- ing heat of Manaus. "Certainly the humidity can suck a bit out of your legs but I do feel the acclimatisation plans do help and it's up to us as individuals and a team to get to the stage were we can deal with it," he added. "There are no excuses. We're playing Italy and it's no different for them, they will have to get used to the conditions and we'll have to do the same." Hodgson acknowledged the threat posed by Ecuador, but stressed that his main focus ahead of the friendly is on what his own side are doing instead of worrying too much about the opposition. "We think that Ecuador can make life difficult for us because they have qualified for a World Cup so we have enormous respect for them, but where it comes to indi- viduals our main priority is mak- ing sure our own game is satisfac- tory." The England manager swerved questions about what he thought would represent a successful World Cup for his side, suggesting all they are thinking about is doing as well as they possibly can. Despite the emergence of exciting players such as Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Daniel Sturridge raising expectation levels, Hodg- son is refusing to get carried away. "We're trying to focus hard on what it is possible for us to do, what we can do well and not get too hung up on the outcome," he said. "We are taking a simple approach. If we play well then we think our players, if they play to the best of their abilities, and we get some luck, which everyone needs, then we can have a very good World Cup. "We will focus on the things we can control. Who knows if we will have a good World Cup or bad one? "But we will make sure we take every measure possible to help us have a good World Cup." Frank Lampard Sharapova survives scare to reach semis at Roland Garros Maria Sharapova succeeded where Serena Williams failed in quelling the fire of Garbine Muguruza to reach the semi-finals of the French Open for a fourth straight year TWENTYYEAROLD Spaniard Mugu- ruza caused the biggest upset of an unpre- dictable tournament in the second round with a stunning 6-2 6-2 win over defending champion Williams. For a long time on Tuesday it looked like she would achieve a feat never before seen at a grand slam by beating both Williams and Sharapova at the same tournament. But Sharapova's competitive instincts kept her in the match and she took her chance as the youngster faded to win 1-6 7-5 6-1. The Russian - the champion in 2012 and runner-up last year - started nervously with a double fault and quickly found herself 4-0 down. Muguruza appeared nerveless in her first slam quarter-final and was trading power and shrieks with Sharapova, and after 27 minutes she had the first set. It looked like Sharapova had turned the match around when she broke serve for 2-1 in the second but, after missing a chance to lead 4-1, two double faults helped Mugu- ruza back to 3-3. At 5-4, the Spaniard was a game away from the semi-finals, but Sharapova made sure her opponent did not have a sniff be- fore breaking for 6-5 and clinching the set on her third chance. Sharapova had done an excellent job of slowing Muguruza down, although she was less than impressed to be given a time viola- tion in the second game of the decider. She moved ahead for the first time in the match at 2-1, and the key game was the next one as the seventh seed saved four break points. That proved to be the end of Muguruza's challenge, the Spaniard's error count shoot- ing up as Sharapova sealed victory after two hours and six minutes. Sharapova had also recovered from a set down to beat Sam Stosur in the fourth round and has now won her last nine three- set matches. In the semi-finals she will play Eugenie Bouchard, who also came through a three- setter against Spain's Carla Suarez Nav- arro. The 20-year-old Canadian has remark- able poise on the big stage and, after reach- ing the last four at the Australian Open in January, she has matched that in Paris. Bouchard fought back from 5-2 down in the opening set and 4-1 in the decider to win 7-6 (7/4) 2-6 7-5. Bouchard's approach was summed up by her statement after beating Angelique Ker- ber in round four: "I don't think the tennis tour is the place to have friends." Sharapova hails from the same school of thought and their semi-final clash will be eagerly awaited. Maria Sharapova came from behind to beat Garbine Muguruza in the French Open quarter-finals