Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/329964
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 15 JUNE 2014 53 (+356) 800 737 70 Freephone: cabs t minivans t vip transport t luxury coaches t vintage buses 2138 9575 / 9921 5286 info@cabs.com.mt w w w . c a b s . c o m . m t Beckenbauer to miss World Cup games after FIFA ban Franz Beckenbauer. Photo by EPA/PATRICK B. KRAEMER ERIC DOBIAS, DBA FRANZ Beckenbauer has can- celled plans to f ly to Brazil to attend the World Cup semi-final and final matches after world governing body FIFA banned the German icon from all football ac- tivit y for 90 days over his refusal to cooperate with an investiga- tion. "Franz Beckenbauer cannot participate in any football-related activit y, which includes, amongst other things, being invited to at- tend or attending on a private ba- sis any football match in any ca- pacit y," Alan Sullivan, the deput y chairman of the FIFA ethics com- mittee's adjudicatory chamber, wrote in a statement. The ban came after Beckenbauer declined to respond to inquiries by the chairman of the investiga- tory chamber, Michael J. Garcia, who is looking into corruption al- legations surrounding the award of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar. "The World Cup has been can- celled for me," Beckenbauer told Germany's Bild newspaper. "I as- sume that I am no more welcome by FIFA." Delia Fischer, FIFA's head of media, noted in Rio de Janeiro that Beckenbauer remained free to commentate on World Cup matches from afar if he wished to do so. "If he is doing something in Mu- nich, in a studio, that would not be affected," Fischer told report- ers. Beckenbauer is working for the Sky TV network, and had been planning to travel to Brazil for the World Cup semi-finals and the final. Germany looking for victory to establish World Cup credentials GERMAN Y plan to set their sig- nature on the World Cup by de- livering a good performance in the opening group match against Portugal, Lukas Podolski said Sat- urday. "The other teams will have nothing else to say, but 'Wow! the Germans are there'," the Arsenal midfielder told a press confer- ence before the squad left their training camp for Salvador, where Monday's game takes place. Defender Benedikt Hoewedes said the team has been training well "and will be ready to play with full power," although certain doubts remain. One concern is Sami Khedira, the Real Madrid midfielder, who has been struggling to regain his leadership role after coming back from surgery on his knee liga- ments. Coach Joachim Loew is expect- ed to draft captain Philipp Lahm into a defensive midfield position, while Bayern Munich 's Jerome Boateng has been designated to shadow superstar Cristiano Ron- aldo. Loew has warned his squad of the dangers posed by Ronaldo and co and has impressed on them the need for a compact and stable de- fence, something that has been lacking in recent games. "It is not a question of Germany against Ronaldo, but of Germany against Portugal," said Hoewedes, who is expected to make his World Cup debut in Salvador. Podolski might not make the starting line-up, with Loew said to prefer the speed of Chelsea midfielder Andre Schuerrle along the wing. Mesut Oezil (front L-R), Bastian Schweinsteiger, Erik Durm in action during a training session. Photo by EPA/Thomas Eisenhuth Download the MaltaToday App now