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No team managed as many shots as Portugal in their opening two games at Euro 2016, yet all they have to show for it are one goal, two points and a possible early exit from the competition.

One of the most technically gifted of the 24 teams, Portugal managed 50 goal attempts in their two games, featuring 17 on target, 17 off target and 16 that were blocked.

After Germany, they are also the team that has enjoyed the most possession, at an average of 62 per cent per match.

But poor finishing means they go into Wednesday’s Group F match against Hungary in third place and a distinctly uncomfortable position.

Only a win over the unbeaten Hungarians will take them into the last 16 without depending on other matches.

Hungary, meanwhile, need a draw to make sure of a top-two finish although even if they lose they could qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of Portugal’s biggest culprits, missing an easy chance late in the 1-1 draw with Iceland and firing a penalty against the post late in the Austria match.

Portugal’s players have offered little insight into what is going wrong, saying merely that if they keep trying, the goals will start flowing eventually.

“We did everything well, but once again the ball didn’t go in... what can you say?” said Nani after the goalless draw against Austria on Saturday.

Coach Fernando Santos said that a more ruthless approach is required.

“Sometimes, I get the feeling that we are ashamed about being ugly, or not being pretty. If we have to be ugly and that brings us efficiency, we have to be ugly,” he said.

“I’m ugly by nature and I don’t mind being even uglier.”

Shot-shy Sweden

Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois may wonder whether he even needs to turn up to face Sweden on Wednesday given his opponents’ dismal attacking record.

The Swedes have failed to muster a single shot on target in their first two games, a statistic made all the more embarrassing by the presence of Zlatan Ibrahimovic in their attack.

Their only goal so far was scored for them by Ireland’s Ciaran Clark in a 1-1 draw but they have singularly failed to exploit Ibrahimovic’s presence and they are now in danger of a second successive group stage exit.

A draw at Nice’s Allianz Riviera in the Group E match would send Belgium to the last 16 alongside already-qualified Italy and almost certainly send the Swedes scuttling home.

A Swedish win would take them above Belgium and ensure second place providing Ireland did not beat Italy.

Forward Marcus Berg said that the statistics were not a fair reflection of their performances.

“I understand that from outside, it’s black and white, but for us it’s a little grey too. But now it has become an issue,” he said.

One of Sweden’s problems has been that Ibrahimovic has often dropped back into midfield so that he is no longer available to receive the ball in attack.

Midfielder Kim Kallstrom’s performances have suggested that, at 33, his role as a box-to-box midfielder is a little ambitious. The Swiss-based player has performed his defensive duties well but has had little to offer in attack.

Winger Emil Forsberg has been largely anonymous in both games after both Ireland and Italy managed to close him down completely.

Sweden are also searching for a suitable partner for Ibrahimovic after neither John Guidetti, who started alongside him against Italy, nor Berg himself, against Ireland, performed the role effectively.

Coach Erik Hamren acknowledged the problem although he did not give any clues about changes.

Under-strength Italy

For Ireland to reach the knockout stages they must achieve something they haven’t done in 28 years — win a game at the European Championsip.

Martin O’Neill’s team face an Italian side already guaranteed victory in Group E and manager Antonio Conte is likely to field many of his reserves, but it remains to be seen if Ireland can end their long winless streak in this must-win game.

Group rivals Sweden and Belgium meet at the same time, with the Swedes aiming to finish second in the group by beating the side who hammered Ireland 3-0 last time out.

But Ireland could also take that spot behind Italy if they win and pip Sweden on goal difference. An Irish victory and a draw between Belgium and Sweden could also see Ireland through as a third-placed team.

It’s a long time since Ireland managed such a heroic feat at the Euros.

Since then they have only qualified for the finals once — their disastrous Euro 2012 campaign under Giovanni Trapattoni, when they lost to Croatia, Spain and Italy to become the first team eliminated.

Four years on there was enough in the first hour of their 1-1 draw against Sweden to suggest that they could upset a few teams, but the Belgium defeat brought expectations crashing back down to earth.

Nor can they expect any favours from Italy, with Azzurri midfielder Marco Parolo telling the Irish they won’t be taking it easy on them.

“To end the group stage with nine points would be extra proof of our strength and character,” he told the Italian FA’s website.

“We want all three points.”

Iceland stick with counter-attacking style

Should tournament debutants Iceland reach the knockout stages of Euro 2016 by securing the result they need against Austria on Wednesday, much credit will go to a dentist and a film director.

Iceland, with a population of about 330,000, are the smallest country ever to qualify for the Euros, yet have been undaunted by their casting as minnows, holding Portugal and Hungary to 1-1 draws in Group F through resilient displays.

That means a win, or perhaps another draw, against Austria, will put Iceland into the knock-out stages, a fairytale outcome which could make for an excellent movie script.

Goalkeeper Hannes Halldorsson would be the ideal judge of that, having halted his film career to become a full-time professional in 2014, first in Norway and then the Netherlands.

Halldorsson, who directed the video for Iceland’s 2012 Eurovision song contest entry, has made 14 saves — the most by any keeper at the tournament, but the 32-year-old’s game is about much more than just shot stopping.

Against Portugal, he tried 28 passes — of which 27 went long — which was the second most from any Iceland player and against Hungary, his 35 attempted passes were more than any teammate.

These are statistics that reflect the pressure Iceland resisted in those two matches as they averaged 33.5 per cent possession, the lowest at the Euros.

“If someone had given us the option of having this position before the tournament we would have gladly taken it,” joint-coach Heimir Hallgrimsson told a news conference.

Germany have promised that their attack will pack a bigger punch when they face Northern Ireland on Tuesday after struggling up front in their first two Euro 2016 matches.

The Germans will definitely go through to the tournament’s last 16 with a win or a draw in their final Group C game but they will need to be more clinical in front of goal, having scored just twice in their two matches so far.

“In attack we have not had the goal success we want,” said attacking midfielder Thomas Mueller, who is fresh from his most prolific scoring season at Bayern Munich with 20 league goals.

“From forwards that is what is expected and we are measured by our goalscoring abilities.”

Neither goal in the 2-0 opening win over Ukraine came from a forward with central defender Shkodran Mustafi and holding midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger on target.

They followed that up with a goalless draw against Poland.

Coach Joachim Loew must decide whether to stick with misfiring attacking midfielder Mario Goetze up front or use his only out-and-out striker Mario Gomez, top scorer in the Turkish league last season, or even deploy winger Andre Schuerrle through the middle.

“Of course, we want to have more punch in attack. Both in training and in the analysis we are looking for some solutions but we are in a good position,” Goetze said.

Germany are expected to advance comfortably from their group but Mueller warned fans they were unlikely to see a high-scoring affair against the Northern Irish.

The Northern Irish are brimming with confidence after beating Ukraine 2-0 to notch their first win in a major tournament in 34 years, following a defeat by Poland in their opener.

They may not be able to match their upcoming opponents for class but they have so far demonstrated their credentials for concealing weaknesses and maximising their strengths.

Goals from Gareth McAuley and Niall McGinn against Ukraine ended their long wait for a tournament victory that stretched back to the 1982 World Cup, when Gerry Armstrong’s low finish famously downed hosts Spain.

Last chance against Czechs

Turkey have left it late to bid for a place in the knockout stage but defender Gokhan Gonul believes they still have a chance, if they can beat a buoyant Czech side in their final Group D game.

“There is a thing the Turkish national team always does, which is chasing the game until the last minute,” the 31-year-old defender said.

The Czechs are full of confidence after fighting back from two goals down to draw with Croatia on Friday.

Turkey, by contrast, were lacking in bite when they lost 1-0 to Croatia in their opening game before being given a footballing lesson in a 3-0 drubbing by reigning European champions Spain.

Aside from scoring their first goal of the tournament in Lens, Turkey would need other results to go their way even if they do win, while victory for the Czechs would put them on four points and in a good position to make the last 16.

“Turkey are a very strong side, they have a lot of good players who play for top teams,” said Czech forward Tomas Necid.

“As a team, they have good link-up play and plenty of flair.”

Poland wary of wounded Ukraine

Poland, bidding to reach the European Championship knockout stages for the first time, will take nothing for granted when they face neighbours Ukraine in their final Group C match.

Ukraine lost their first two games and cannot progress but Poland, second in the standings after beating Northern Ireland 1-0 in their opening match, will reach the last 16 if they overcome their co-hosts of Euro 2012.

“Third matches tend to be different from the first two,” Poland assistant coach Hubert Malowiejski told reporters.

“I don’t agree Ukraine play for nothing. They play for honour what is important for them. We are prepared for very dangerous opponent full of Shakhtar, Dynamo Kiev and Sevilla players.”

Poland have not beaten Ukraine in their last five meetings, including two defeats in 2014 World Cup qualifying, and they may be without first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny again due to a thigh injury.

Ukraine lost 2-0 to both Germany and Northern Ireland, the latter defeat coming as a bitter disappointment against a team ranked six places below them.

“We understand the fans and we are very sorry,” defender Olexandr Kucher said.

“Now we have to win their respect back in the game against Poland. Of course, this match has no tournament meaning for us but we have to finally show some positive football and get a result. This is most important so far. We will fight for our prestige.”

Ukraine midfielder Ruslan Rotan was at a loss to explain the poor performance against Northern Ireland.

“It is difficult to say now because we are full of emotions at the moment. The fact that we failed to progress to the round of 16 is definitely a bad result for us, as we wanted more. But we have to look forward,” he said.

“We have to play the next game for our honour, for the honour of the whole country.”

Eyes on troublesome fans

When Croatia meet Spain in their final group match there will be as much scrutiny of developments in the stands as on the pitch.

The wilder element of the Croatian supporters have caused trouble at both of the country’s games so far and European football’s ruling body UEFA was expected to make an announcement on its probe into their behaviour later on Monday.

UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings after Croatia fans threw flares and ran on to the pitch during their opening Group D game, a 1-0 win against Turkey.

Then Friday’s 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic was halted with four minutes to play when supporters again threw flares and fought among themselves.

After the teams returned to the pitch, Croatia’s players felt their concentration had been disturbed, which contributed to the Czechs scoring a late equaliser with a penalty.

That means instead of already having qualified for the last 16 along with Spain, Croatia still require a point from Tuesday’s game, adding to the tension of the occasion.

Spain want to win the group to meet a third-placed team in the last 16. Losing would mean coming second and facing Italy, winner of Group E.

Lionel Messi made his first start of the Copa America tournament and tied a national record with his 54th international goal as Argentina defeated Venezuela 4-1 on Saturday to set up a semifinal match against the United States.

In Saturday’s other quarter-final, Eduardo Vargas scored a career-high four goals and Edson Puch added two as Chile, the defending Copa America champions, routed Mexico 7-0.

Messi’s goal in the 60th minute gave Argentina a 3-0 lead and equalled the Argentine record for most international goals set by Gabriel Batistuta, according to Argentina’s governing body. The Barcelona star also took over the Copa America scoring lead with his fourth goal of the tournament.

Argentina now has two days to rest before playing the US in Houston on Tuesday. The Americans have been off since beating Ecuador on Thursday.

With many in the Foxborough, Massachusetts, stadium wearing No. 10 from Messi’s national team and La Liga jerseys, the five-time FIFA Player of the Year started the game after playing a total of just 74 minutes in the three group stage matches.

Just eight minutes in, he connected with Gonzalo Higuain on a long entry pass to make it 1-0.

“He knows that he’s a game-changing player,” Argentina coach Geraldo Martino said. “Everybody’s trying to cancel him. But he knows when to play one against one. He knows when to pass the ball to other players.”

Higuain scored again in the 28th to make it 2-0. Messi then padded the lead in the 60th after taking a pass from Nicolas Gaitan just outside the 6-metre box.

Venezuela finally beat Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero in the 70th minute when Salomon Rondon headed the ball in, nicking the post on the way. But Erik Lamela scored a minute later to make it 4-1.

Argentina is 6-2-2 against the US, with the teams last playing to a 1-1 draw in a 2011 friendly in New Jersey. The last American win was in a 1999 friendly.

Recovering from a back injury, Messi sat out the group stage opener this year and played just 29 minutes against Panama — but still managed to record a hat trick. He came on as a second-half substitute in the group stage finale against Bolivia.

Messi played the entire game on Saturday, despite getting a scare when he was taken down from behind in the first half and was slow to get up.

In Santa Clara, California, thousands of Mexico’s frustrated “fanaticos” were already long gone by the time El Tri’s worst defeat in a competitive match finally ended, along with its team-record unbeaten streak at 22 matches. It occurred almost a year to the day since Mexico’s previous loss, to Ecuador in the Copa group stage.

Vargas scored the first goal of his big night in the 44th, five minutes after an offside call cost him another score, then added goals in the 52nd, 57th and 74th.

“Everyone knows that we are the champions and today we showed it,” Vargas said.

Chile matched its scoring total from the entire three-game group stage. La Roja advances to take on Colombia in the semifinals Wednesday in Chicago.

El Tri’s worst competitive loss had been 6-0 to Germany in the group stage of the 1978 World Cup. Mexico was also beaten 8-0 by England in a 1961 friendly.

“First, I’d like to offer my most heartfelt apologies to the Mexican fans,” Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio said. “Today was a shameful presentation, an accident that happens in football. Obviously, there are bigger tragedies, but speaking in terms of sports, today was a very, very poor showing on our part.”

Mexico’s fans still regularly used their traditional homophobic chant, even after being urged to stop by tournament organisers, national sport officials and players, especially in the wake of the recent shooting deaths of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey — David Ospina dived to his left, and Peru’s Miguel Trauco sent his penalty kick down the middle, a yard above the ground. The 27-year-old Colombian goalkeeper kicked out his trailing right leg, and booted the ball away to give Colombia an advantage in the shootout.

About two minutes later, Christian Cueva stood over the ball, looked skyward, exhaled deeply and skied La Blanquirroja’s final attempt over the crossbar.

With a 4-2 penalty kicks victory after a 0-0 tie Friday night, Colombia reached the Copa America semifinals for the first time since 2004.

“We goalkeepers have the advantage that we can use any part of the body,” said Ospina, Petr Cech’s backup at Arsenal. “What matters is to stop the ball —with the ears, the nose, whatever. We goalkeepers have many resources.”

Third-ranked Colombia, which won its only Copa title at home in 2001, plays Wednesday in Chicago against the winner of Saturday night’s quarter-final between Mexico and defending champion Chile. The United States faces Argentina or Venezuela at Houston on Tuesday in the first semifinal of the expanded tournament, played with 16 nations from throughout the Americas to celebrate the event’s 100th anniversary.

“We came into this match feeling a greater obligation,” Colombia coach Jose Peckerman said.

After Cueva’s miss, Colombian players ran out to celebrate with Ospina, who pumped both arms three times. Cueva turned and contorted his face in pain and covered it with both hands. Ospina walked over to join Peruvian players in consoling the 24-year-old midfielder.

“Being eliminated on penalties hurts even more,” said Peru coach Ricardo Gareca, who overhauled his team, and used a mostly young roster in the tournament. “It was the least pretty game of all we played.”

Rodriguez, Juan Cuadrado and Dayro Moreno converted the first three penalty kicks for Colombia, beating goalkeeper Pedro Gallese. Raul Ruidiaz, Renato Tapia had made the first two for Peru.

Ospina played just four Premier League matches for the Gunners last season and a few others in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup. His sister, Daniela, is married to Colombia star attacker James Rodriguez.

“David is a great player,” Rodriguez said. “I wish he stays on the national team for many years. I love David, and today he was great.”

Before a sellout crowd of 79,194 at MetLife Stadium, most wearing yellow in support of Colombia, Ospina also made an outstanding save in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. Cueva took just the second corner kick for Peru of the night and Ospina leaped to tip Christian Ramos’ header over the crossbar.

“We felt like we were the home team every time we played here,” Ospina said.

Ranked 48th, Peru had advanced from the group stage with a controversial Ruidiaz goal on a hand ball that knocked out Brazil.

Rodriguez had the best chance of the first half, taking a lay-off from Edwin Cardona in the 22nd minute, dribbling through the midfield and curling a 23-yard right-footed shot that bounced off the inside of a post and bounded out. Carlos Bacca sent the rebound into the side netting.

Neither nation managed a shot on target in the first half, and each had just one on the second. Play became more open in the last 15 minutes as teams tried to avoid a shootout. Under the tournament’s rules, extra time is used only for the final, so the teams went straight to penalty kicks.

“We know that we can do better,” Peckerman said.

US depth

When Jurgen Klinsmann started experimenting with his roster following the 2014 World Cup, the US coach did it with the hope of building more depth for the next four-year cycle.

The quality of his reserves is about the get tested in a big way after the United States advanced to the semifinals of the Copa America for just the second time. The US will be missing three suspended starters: midfielders Jermaine Jones and Alejandro Bedoya, and forward Bobby Wood.

“Our programme is maturing. Our players are maturing. They are learning with every game that we can play in this type of environment,” Klinsmann said after Thursday’s 2-1 quarter-final win over Ecuador. “This is what we hoped for after breaking through in Brazil after getting out of the group of death. Hopefully we can find a couple of youngsters coming and keep the older ones on board and keep them going, push them. We’ve brought a few youngsters along the way the last few years and they’ve made a huge step forward tonight.”

Italy’s victory over Belgium was celebrated as a triumph of the team over individual talents, but Friday’s opponents Sweden are relying on the singular genius of frontman Zlatan Ibrahimovic to get their Euro 2016 campaign off the ground.

Italy had last won their opening match at a European Championship in 2000 — when they went on to reach the final — and having started strongly, Antonio Conte’s side are being talked of as contenders once again.

While Italy’s team is regarded as one of their weakest in years, they make up for their lack of star power with tactical nous, a flexibility of approach and an honest work ethic which proved too much for Belgium, who were beaten 2-0 in their opening Group E clash.

This is in stark contrast to Sweden’s supposed one-man band, which relies on the undoubted pedigree of Ibrahimovic, his country’s all-time leading scorer.

“Maybe we’re not who people said we were before the European Championship,” midfielder Alessandro Florenzi told reporters.

“Many are eating their words,” he added. “We’re focusing on the facts and leaving the talking to others.”

The tireless running of widemen Marco Parolo and Emanuele Giaccherini against Belgium typified Italy’s spirit of self-sacrifice and seemed a world away from Ibrahimovic’s trademark shrugs when passes failed to find him in Sweden’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Ireland.

However, memories of Ibrahimovic’s dazzling back-heeled volley against Italy at Euro 2004 and recollections of the 2014 World Cup — when the Azzurri fell at the first hurdle despite beating England in their opener — will prevent complacency.

“Ibrahimovic is a great player, he’d be a threat to any team,” midfielder Antonio Candreva told reporters.

“Ibrahimovic is the best forward since [Marco] Van Basten, except for Ronaldo,” added Daniele De Rossi. “We are a little bit scared of his power and his talent.

“However, we can beat [Sweden] the same way that we beat Belgium — with organisation and by hard work on the training field.”

Italy’s collective looks set to be weakened, however, with Italian media reporting that Matteo Darmian is injured, while forward Graziano Pelle missed training on Wednesday amid fitness concerns. De Rossi’s condition is also being monitored.

Yet regardless of the personnel, Italy will again keep faith in their team ethic, while Sweden need Ibrahimovic to start living up to his billing to boost their hopes of Euro 2016 success.

Croatia ready to seal berth

Rocked by a second family bereavement in three days, Croatia will be determined to seal a last-16 berth when they meet the Czech Republic in their Group D clash on Friday, defender Domagoj Vida said.

Following the death of captain Darijo Srna’s father on Sunday during Croatia’s 1-0 win over Turkey, the team’s media officer Tomislav Pacak said goalkeeping coach Marijan Mrmic’s father had also died during Tuesday night.

Srna, accompanied by coach Ante Cacic, went to his father’s funeral on Monday and returned to the team’s Deauville base camp in northern France ready to face the Czechs.

Vida, a tough-tackling centre back personifying Croatia’s willpower in the face of adversity, said the team would go the extra mile for their skipper and Mrmic, who travelled home early on Wednesday.

“We all mourn when someone here suffers a loss because we are one big family,” Vida told a news conference on Wednesday.

“We will be galvanised to play for our captain and put him straight back on the rails. He is a great character and I am totally convinced he will be at his best on Friday.”

“If we perform like we did against Turkey and show the same fighting spirit we should come out on top, although the Czechs are tougher opposition.

“I don’t think they will throw caution to the wind despite being under more pressure than us (after their opening 1-0 defeat by holders Spain). They are more likely to sit back and rely on fast breaks because that’s their style.”

However, the Czechs must come up with a bolder approach, having conceded a late goal against the Spaniards after working hard to contain the champions.

Striker Tomas Necid, who cut a lonely figure up front, said he hoped coach Pavel Vrba would field a more adventurous formation to haul them back into the race for a knockout stage berth.

“We haven’t discussed the tactics yet but I expect a more attacking set-up because only a win will do,” Necid told reporters at the team’s Tours base in western France.

“Croatia already have three points in the bag and if we are to advance, we simply have to win this game.

“They have top quality in midfield with Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic giving them attacking power but we will be ready.”

Turan sparkle needed 

Turkey need captain Arda Turan to spring into action if they are to have a realistic chance of upsetting holders Spain in their Group D match on Friday.

Turan, off the pace and substituted after 65 minutes, was one of the most heavily criticised players when Turkey lost their opening match 1-0 to Croatia on Sunday, going down with barely a whimper.

The Barcelona player produced very little in attack and not much in the way of tracking back either as Croatia overran the Turkish midfield. He later apologised to the Turkish public, acknowledging that he had played badly.

Coach Fatih Terim was equally disappointed in Turan and teammate Hakan Calhanoglu.

“These are important players,” he said. “We rely on their performances but they couldn’t deliver enough. We need them but these things happen.”

At his best, Turan, who first captained Turkey as a 21-year-old and helped them to reach the semi-finals at Euro 2008, has excellent technique and vision and Turkey are a different side when he is on form.

Terim had said before the match that Turan’s lack of playing time at Barcelona would not be a problem and that he remained an important player even when not fully fit.

However, the bearded 29-year-old has clearly suffered as a result of last July’s move from Atletico Madrid to Barcelona which seemed to be of questionable wisdom at the time.

Turan had flourished at Atletico under the inspirational leadership of coach Diego Simeone, becoming the first Turkish-born player to win La Liga when they upset all the odds by winning the title in 2014.

He had, though, always dreamed of playing for Barcelona and agreed to join them despite knowing that, with the Catalans serving a transfer ban, he would have to wait six months for his competitive debut.

Once he was allowed to play in January, he had a lot of catching up to do and Turan struggled to adapt to a Barcelona team whose slick passing style is a world away from combative, never-say-die Atletico.

He started only nine league matches and made a further nine appearances as substitute, several of them for only a few minutes.

Spain have a 1-0 win over Czech Republic under their belts and it is hard to imagine any other scenario than the titleholders dominating possession and Turkey trying to snatch a goal on the break.

AMMAN — Riyadi Club’s junior basketball teams have a packed summer agenda with the youngest players — the mini-basketball team — leaving home on Friday to take part in the 24th Mini-Basket in Piazza Tournament in Matera, Italy for the 16 time.

Riyadi were the first Arab team to compete in Matera — at the biggest annual European event for players U-11. With basketball enthusiasts gathering from around the globe, this year, Riyadi is one of record 62 clubs from over 14 countries playing in the tournament.

Riyadi Secretary General Fadi Sabbah told The Jordan Times his team has a “a tough draw” as they will play hosts Matera, compatriots Padova and a team from Bogota, Columbia in the first round. 

“We have an action packed summer,” Sabbah noted, adding “the event will be followed in July by tournament in Brindisi, Italy for U-13 boys where teams from Europe and Africa will be playing while the U-16 boys will head to a tournament in Dubai in August.”

Mini-Basket in Piazza is organised by Pielle Matera Club and endorsed by the Italian and European Basketball Federations. Riyadi first competed in Matera in 1998. Since then they have made Matera a cornerstone of their basketball programme and their best result came in 2003 with a 3rd place finish. Riyadi received the Italian president’s trophy in 1998. In 2004 the organising committee selected Riyadi’s Sabbah to coach the “Rest of the World All Star Team” against the “Italian All Star Team” in an exhibition game and in 2006 and 2008 Riyadi won the Sportsmanship Award.

Ever since their first time in Matera, Riyadi’s youngsters have always been warmly welcomed by residents of Matera. Reading the “Athletes’ Oath” in Arabic at the Opening Ceremony has now become a tradition. Organisers note that “’Mini-Basket in Piazza” is not just basketball, as children from different nations, races and cultures not only play but also to have a new experience, as they also visit cultural and historical monuments, participate in stimulating and interesting activities planned every year. Riyadi’s involvement has, therefore, been a chance to promote Jordan with the local newspapers extensively covering the Kingdom and its touristic sites. 

The club’s mini-basketball programme was established with the primary goal of introducing young children to the game, while providing them with the basic principles of basketball, all in a fun and competitive way.

The programme’s ultimate goal aims to prepare the young players for the U-14 and U-16 categories. With that in mind, in 1998, Riyadi was the first Jordanian club to reinstate a mini basketball programme after a 26-year hiatus. After years of sponsorship by Aramex, Riyadi’s junior basketball programme got a boost in 2009 with the partnership of Umniah, one of the providers in Jordan’s telecommunications services. The partnership is now mainly geared towards Riyadi’s over 400 boys and girls from ages 5-14, and includes players in the mini-basket league (ages 6–12) as well as the U-14 teams who represent the club in the local league as well as tournaments abroad. 

Besides playing in the official U-14 league, one of Riyadi’s many basketball programmes is the Super League, which has 300 players from ages from 6– 12 competing in 28 teams and is part of the club’s year-round mini-basket programme.

This season, Riyadi won the Jordan Basketball League crown to win the title which had eluded them for 20 years. Riyadi beat titleholders Orthodoxi 4-0 in the best-of-seven play-off series. The last time they had won the league was nearly 20 years ago in 1997 by then Jazira-Aramex team (formly Riyadi’s line-up).

PARIS — Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu must decide whether veteran left back Razvan Rat can repel the danger of Xherdan Shaqiri in what could be the defining confrontation of his team’s Euro 2016 clash with Switzerland on Wednesday.

The Romanians were crestfallen to lose 2-1 to hosts and favourites France in the dying moments of the tournament opener on Friday, Dimitri Payet’s long-range stunner ending their stout resistance.

Iordanescu’s team, which conceded just two goals in qualifying — the best defensive record in the preliminaries — were surprisingly enterprising going forward versus France and should pose even more problems to the Swiss, who beat Albania in their opening match, in their next Group A encounter.

But Rat’s form will surely be a concern. The 35-year-old recently returned from a shoulder injury and struggled to cope with the exuberance and trickery of France’s Antoine Griezmann in the first half, while substitute Kingsley Coman’s pace was equally troubling to the Rayo Vallecano defender late on.

Shaqiri, with 17 international goals in 54 appearances, boasts similar qualities to both those French attackers, and will fancy testing Rat’s possible shortcomings.

Should Iordanescu, in his third stint in charge of the national team, opt to drop Rat, he could select 22-year-old Steliano Filip.

A downbeat Iordanescu had warned after the France defeat that his players were exhausted and it would be difficult to rouse them psychologically to face Switzerland, which suggests he will freshen up his line-up for the Parc des Princes encounter.

Other selection dilemmas include whether to persist with young striker Florin Andone, second-top scorer in Spain’s second division this season, or instead start with Denis Alibec, a substitute at Stade de France.

Likewise, speedy winger Adrian Popa may give way to the more experienced Gabriel Torje, but Nicolae Stanciu’s place seems assured after his sparkling creative display.

The Swiss, seeking to advance to the knock-out stages of the Euros for the first time, were efficient in defeating debutants Albania 1-0.

Centre back Fabian Schaer’s early header proved decisive, although keeper Yann Sommer also made two outstanding saves to preserve their slender lead.

The Swiss line-up is likely to differ little against Romania, with coach Vladimir Petkovic preferring a settled team. Of the 11 players that started against Albania, eight played in at least eight of Switzerland’s ten qualifying matches.

That means Granit Xhaka will attempt to boss proceedings from midfield, Shaqiri will drift in from wide right and Stephan Lichtsteiner and Ricardo Rodriguez will surge forward from full back.

A win over Romania, or perhaps even a point, will all but ensure Switzerland’s progress to the next round. Yet defeat could still put their place in jeopardy, with France, who thrashed the Swiss 5-2 at the 2014 World Cup, to come in their final group game. 

Rise to the occasion

Albania are unlikely to pose much of a threat to France but Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann will be expected to produce sharper performances in Wednesday’s Group A match when victory should assure the hosts a last 16 spot in Euro 2016.

Midfielder Pogba and striker Griezmann were both lacklustre in France’s opening 2-1 win over Romania, a result that was salvaged thanks to Dimitri Payet’s stunning 89th minute strike.

Victory against Albania in Marseille would put France on six points from two games with their place in the knockout phase all but guaranteed.

“We all realise how important Antoine and Paul are for us and I’m sure you will see a great France team with both Antoine and Paul at their very best,” said midfielder Moussa Sissoko.

A long season with Atletico Madrid appears to have taken a toll on Griezmann. The 25-year-old played more than 50 official matches and was on club duty till May 28, when Atletico were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Pogba has struggled to recreate the impact he has with Juventus and coach Didier Deschamps said after the Romania game that he expected “much more” from the gifted midfielder.

“Paul can do better obviously but I’m not disappointed in his performance,” he said.

“The media are expecting too much from him. He has outstanding technical abilities but he’s also a player who does a lot of hard work, who wants to do well, maybe too well.”

Pogba, as well as fellow midfielder Blaise Matuidi and defender Laurent Koscielny skipped Sunday’s training session despite not reporting any injuries.

Matuidi believes France will fare better against Albania, who beat them 1-0 a year ago in a friendly game.

“We must be better than against Romania. We did not play the game we wanted to play but it was due to the context, it was the opening match [of the tournament]. There is no particular problem,” he said.

“We must be able to take risks, to show personality. It will be better against Albania, I’m not worried at all.”

While Romania were strong in the midfield, Albania may struggle in that area since captain Lorik Cana will be suspended from the match. He was sent off in the 1-0 defeat by Switzerland.

“There will be no easy matches but we’re more relaxed now and determined to go all the way,” said Matuidi.

Threat of more clashes

The Russian national football team has been handed a suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 and a 150,000-euro ($168,300.00) fine after their fans were involved in violent clashes in Marseille, the governing body UEFA said on Tuesday.

England coach Roy Hodgson and captain Wayne Rooney have appealed to supporters to behave after the team was threatened with being kicked out of the European Championship because of fan violence.

Russia will play Slovakia in Lille on Wednesday, and England faces Wales the next day in Lens, raising the prospect of more clashes.

Hungary’s Gabor Kiraly, one of the great goalkeeping eccentrics, is poised to become the oldest player to appear at a European Championship in Tuesday’s opening Group F fixture against Austria.

Aged 40 and two months, he will overtake German Lothar Matthaeus’ record, set at Euro 2000.

The balding keeper is universally recognised by his trademark jogging bottoms, first worn to protect his knees from rough surfaces.

Forced one day to change from black ones to grey, he has kept the colour ever since as one of numerous superstitions.

Playing against his country’s long-standing rivals will revive happy memories for Kiraly, although his mind will have to delve back a long way.

It was 18 years ago that he made his international debut against the Austrians and saved a penalty from Toni Polster after just four minutes.

Despite a three-year gap between 2006-09, he has slowly added to his tally of international appearances, becoming the most capped Hungarian with 103 and seeing off challengers for the jersey with heroic performances in the two play-off victories over Norway.

Meanwhile, he has appeared for three German clubs and five in England before coming full circle and returning to his first Hungarian team, Haladas.

Having finished only third in their qualifying group behind Northern Ireland and Romania, Hungary are one of the countries to have benefited from UEFA’s expansion of the finals to 24 teams, enabling them to reach a first major tournament since the 1986 World Cup.

Austria, in contrast, surprised many observers by strolling through their group.

Nine wins and a draw even propelled them into the top 10 of FIFA’s world rankings for June, although they benefited from playing some modest opposition.

Narrow home wins against Malta and Albania and home defeats by Turkey and the Netherlands since qualifying may have dented some of the initial optimism but Swiss coach Marcel Koller is expected to persevere with his high-tempo pressing game.

They will use the versatile Bayern Munich defender David Alaba as a midfielder with licence to go forward in support of Marc Janko, the lanky striker who scored five goals in qualifying.

New optimism

The resurgence of mercurial forward Ricardo Quaresma has raised Portugal’s hopes for Euro 2016 even though it is still far from certain whether he will start against Iceland on Tuesday.

Quaresma was given a rare start in the final warm-up match against Estonia on Wednesday and responded with a virtuoso performance, even overshadowing Cristiano Ronaldo, as Portugal hit seven goals without reply.

There was a “trivela”, a “rabona” and a stunning dinked goal and his exuberance rubbed off on his teammates as Portugal played with a verve that was missing from their qualifying campaign when they ground out seven successive wins by single-goal margins.

Coach Fernando Santos must now decide whether he wants to throw the always unpredictable Quaresma into the Euro 2016 fray, which would almost certainly be at the expense of former Manchester United forward Nani.

An attack featuring Quaresma and Ronaldo would make Portugal one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament but Santos, the wily former Greece coach, was making no promises even after the win over Estonia.

Nani, who in complete contrast to Quaresma often suffers from a lack of self-confidence, remained unruffled as his place came under threat.

“I’ve never had a guaranteed place,” he said. “I’m always prepared to fight for my place.

“It’s not a good sign when you don’t have to fight for your place. Our aim is to win the title and we have to believe in all the players.”

Portugal will need all the creative talent they can muster in the Group F match in St Etienne against an Iceland side who are making their debut in a major tournament and are notoriously hard to break down.

Quaresma was raised at the Sporting Lisbon youth academy at the same time as Ronaldo and many felt then that Quaresma was the more likely of the pair to set the football world alight.

Instead, Ronaldo went on to become three-times world player of the year while Quaresma’s misfortunes have included being kicked out of Turkish club Besiktas for indiscipline and missing out on three successive World Cups.

He has, though, always been a crowd pleaser and Portuguese fans will hope that he will finally get a chance to shine on the big stage on Tuesday.

TOULOUSE/PARIS/LYON, France — Titleholder Spain’s hopes of recreating the atmosphere that led to continental success four years ago has been tested ahead of their Euro 2016 opener with Czech Republic though the players remain confident.

Goalkeeper David De Gea has been dragged into an off-pitch scandal while Spain have also had a troubled build-up on the pitch, leaving the European champions with much to prove in their first Group C match in Toulouse on Monday.

Spain, who will also face Turkey and Croatia in a tricky section, were dominating international football when they became the first side to claim two consecutive European titles by winning Euro 2012 two years after a maiden World Cup win.

But that came to an abrupt end at the 2014 World Cup when they crashed out in the group stage, never recovering from a 5-1 demolition by the Netherlands in their opener, and they have endured some mediocre results ahead of this tournament.

However, forward Pedro says they are even more determined to do well after their poor display at the World Cup in Brazil as they chase an unprecdented third European title in a row.

“The mood reminds me of those of four years ago,” he told reporters at Spain’s headquarters on the Ile de Re on Saturday. “The group have a different mentality, they want to do something great and have a successful tournament.”

“We’re motivated. Maybe it’s because we didn’t have a good World Cup and we want to turn that situation around.”

Selection policy

A 1-0 friendly defeat by Georgia in their final warm-up game raised questions of Vicente del Bosque’s selection policy after he left a swathe of big names out of his Euro 2016 squad including Juan Mata, Paco Alcacer and Fernando Torres.

He also had to wait for the late arrival of the Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid players in the squad following their participation in the Champions League final.

Manchester United keeper De Gea has vehemently denied allegations in the Spanish media linking him to a prostitution case and he has the backing of his teammates.

“We’re with [De Gea] and we must support him,” said Pedro. “We are calm, as he is, and this won’t destabilise the group.

“It’s not affecting us,” he added. “The atmosphere’s good.”

De Gea’s situation may prompt Del Bosque to stick with Iker Casillas in goal, while Alvaro Morata leads the race to start in attack after overcoming a thigh injury.

The Czech Republic qualified ahead of Iceland, Turkey and the Netherlands and Pavel Vrba has every member of his squad — including captain Tomas Rosicky — fit for Monday’s match.

“I had to work hard during the last two months,” Rosicky told reporters. “I intensified my training and played with the [Arsenal] reserves to get ready for Spain.”

Ireland and Sweden meet in the Euro 2016 Group E opener at the Stade de France on Monday where a win would go a long way to redeeming their past failures in the championship and getting them to the knockout stage.

Drawn in a tough section with Belgium and Italy, a victory is of paramount importance to both sides’ fortunes.

“The team that wins this game has a very good chance of progressing,” Sweden coach Erik Hamren told Reuters recently.

Plagued by injuries to his creative midfielders and without a talisman up front, Italy coach Antonio Conte is banking on a workmanlike team full of energy to outfox Belgium’s exciting young forwards when they meet on Monday.

The Euro 2016 Group E match comes ahead of tough encounters against Ireland and Sweden giving neither side much respite should they lose the first game in Lyon.

Once famed for their “catenaccio”, a tactical system with an emphasis on a strong defensive unit, Italy come to the tournament with arguably their weakest team for years and conceding goals particularly against top teams.

They face a Belgium side with a talented squad tipped by some to go one better than the golden generation that finished as tournament runners up in 1980.

EVIAN/NICE, France — Germany’s defence will be put to the test in their opening Euro 2016 group match against Ukraine in Lille on Sunday with major questions still to be answered about the world champions’ new-look rearguard.

Coach Joachim Loew’s team will be without key central defender Mats Hummels, still recovering from a muscle injury, as they kick off their Group C campaign.

Hummels’ replacement Antonio Ruediger was ruled out with torn cruciate knee ligaments this week.

Holding midfielder and captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, still working on his comeback from injury, is also absent, further complicating Loew’s defensive conundrum.

Benedikt Hoewedes and Jerome Boateng are the two likely central defenders but both had a long injury break late in the season and are in desperate need of match practice.

Jonathan Tah, the 20-year-old who was only called up this week following Ruediger’s injury, is expected to be on the bench.

Toni Kroos, who will shoulder the biggest responsibility of connecting Germany’s defensive and attacking game, is brimming with confidence following his Champions League win with Real Madrid.

Assistant coach Thomas Schneider sounded confident on Friday that the team would quickly find their cohesion at the back.

“In the last few matches we thought a lot about our defensive operation and we came up with a few things, including for defensive set pieces,” he said.

“We have worked on that in training and everyone knows their job.”

Ukraine, while outsiders, are certain to test the Germans’ new-look defence with quick wingers Andriy Yarmolenko and Yevhen Konoplyanka capable of inflicting severe damage.

It will be up to Loew’s full backs to neutralise that threat but they must also break down a steely Ukraine defence.

The Germans, eyeing their fourth Euro triumph but first since 1996, have never lost an opening match at the European Championship and are aware a slip-up could prove costly.

“The first game is extremely important and it will determine our run in this tournament,” attacking midfielder Julian Draxler said.

Ukraine managed to keep six clean sheets in 10 qualifiers with coach Mykhailo Fomenko having taken over after the co-hosts’ disappointing Euro 2012 campaign.

They then came out on top against Slovenia in a play-off last year, with the 67-year-old having moulded them into an efficient unit.

Longest unbeaten run

Decades since Poland or Northern Ireland made a mark at an international football competition, both teams will be looking to get their European Championship campaigns off to a strong start on Sunday when they play each other in Group C.

Northern Ireland, playing in its first European Championship, has the longest unbeaten run of any team in the competition, while Poland has Robert Lewandowski, one of the most feared strikers at the tournament.

Northern Ireland’s 12-game unbeaten run and first place in its qualifying group were eye-catching but those achievements were helped by a comparatively easy group in which ultimately Romania and Hungary proved to be the biggest threats. Poland arguably arrives with the more impressive record, with only two losses since March 2014 and a victory over world champion Germany in qualifying.

Germany, which plays Ukraine later Sunday, is the clear favourite to top Group C. For Poland and Northern Ireland, their match in Nice offers them a great chance to forge ahead in the battle for second place, which would ensure automatic qualification to the round of 16.

Neither side has accomplished much since their glory days. Poland, which came third at the World Cups of 1974 and 1982, has yet to win a match in its two European Championship appearances, notably in 2012 when as co-host it came bottom of its group.

Northern Ireland hasn’t reached the finals of a major tournament since its second consecutive World Cup appearance in 1986. However, it’s going into the tournament with injury concerns. For a team that’s heavily reliant on players from the lower leagues in English football that’s an additional worry.

In the 3rd match of the day, Croatia will seek to erase the bitter memories of their Euro 2008 failure against Turkey, described by key players as their most painful defeat ever, when they meet in this year’s Group D opener in Paris on Sunday