Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/899902
maltatoday SUNDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2017 53 Sports SPORTTODAY FOOTBALL Pirlo joins the criticism as Italy fears the worst FORMER playmaker Andrea Pirlo joined the criti- cism after Italy's 1-0 defeat to Sweden on Friday left the four-times champions on the brink of missing out on the World Cup finals for the first time in 60 years. Italy, whose last failure to qualify for the finals was in 1958, have to beat Sweden by two goals in the re- turn leg on Monday in Milan to avoid what the head of the federation Carlo Tavecchio has dubbed the 'Apocalypse'. But their toothless performance on Friday - the latest in a series of lacklustre displays - has done nothing to reassure their supporters that Gian Piero Ventura's side is up to the task. Gazzetta dello Sport described their display in Sweden as 'poor and confused' and Tuttosport said 'enough of excuses, now we have to avoid a historic embarrassment'. "Italy looked like a scared team that was playing for a 0-0 draw. In Europe, that is not enough," Pirlo told Sky Sport Italia. The 38-year-old, who confirmed his retirement on Monday, also had little sympathy for Ventura's com- plaints about the referee. "It's a red herring," he said. "Playing in Europe is not like in Italy, where you get a free kick for even the slightest contact. "In these matches you need to be above all that and give 100 percent; it's in these matches that you see the real players." "It will be tough for Ventura to find the right words to say to the group," added Pirlo, who was filmed watching the game on a sofa with a glass of wine in his hand and stroking his beard. "There will be two very intense days, full of pres- sure and the coach must have in mind the line-up that he is going to field." Pirlo added that it was no good hoping that home advantage would sway the tie Italy's way. "San Siro will make its presence felt but I've never seen a goal scored from the stands," he said. New York City FC midfielder Andrea Pirlo Tearful Neymar denies having problems at PSG BR AZIL forward Neymar de- nied he had problems with his team mates at his club Paris St Germain and was moved to tears after being given the backing of his national team coach Tite on Friday. After helping Brazil beat Japan 3-1 in a friendly, Neymar refuted suggestions that he regretted moving to the French club. "I don't like whispers and sto- ries so it's better that you hear it from the horse's mouth," he told reporters after scoring one pen- alty and missing another during the game in Lille. "I don't have any problems at PSG, the only thing that bothers me is the pressure from the me- dia. I'm a guy who likes to win, I like winning titles and that's why I came to PSG. "I'm very happy, I'm motivat- ed. They are inventing stories which aren't true, I don't have any problems with (forward) Edinson Cavani or with my coach (Unai Emery). "I came to help and to be happy, I didn't come to upset anyone or cause trouble." Tite backed Neymar and de- nied suggestions that he also had a troubled relationship with the player. "I keep hearing that Tite has problems with Neymar and I am tired of hearing that... we are tired of it," he said. "I know that if he did have prob- lems, then he would have the de- cency and the good character to talk about them in the dressing room. "I can talk about Neymar's tem- perament, his good nature and his big heart." Neymar was clearly moved by those words and left after being given a pat on the head by his coach. Neymar