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Efficient Denmark send Bulgaria out
Sweden battle for draw with Italy Germany to attack against Latvia
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Be zestful, coach Advocaat tells players Aveiro, June 18 Netherlands coach Dick Advocaat is demanding more zest from the ‘Oranje’ in tomorrow’s crucial Euro 2004 Group D clash against the Czech Republic here. The Dutch are seeking revenge as well as the Czechs topped their qualifying group for the championships on the back of a 1-1 draw and then a 3-1 victory over their rivals.
Wayne Rooney has football
world at his feet
Agreement on contract system soon, says Sachin Coup in WFI, Malik removed,
Kartar new chief Uppal in line for double crown
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Efficient Denmark send Bulgaria out Braga, June 18 Striker Jon Dahl Tomasson's 44th-minute goal ensured Denmark did not notch up a record five successive matches at European Championships without scoring, and substitute Jesper Gronkjaer added a deserved second in injury time. Bulgaria, thrashed 0-5 by Sweden in their opening match, never really threatened to score and following a succession of bookings their frustration was complete when captain Stilian Petrov was sent off seven minutes from time. Denmark dominated the first half but failed to find the net until just before the interval when midfielder Thomas Gravesen put a fine through ball low to Martin Joergensen on the right and he passed square in front of keeper Zdravko Zdravkov for Tomasson to tap into an unguarded net. The Danes were virtually camped in the Bulgarian half during the opening 45 minutes as Bulgaria appeared wary of conceding. Coach Plamen Markov had said on Thursday he wanted his team to show a different face. Zdravkov had to come out sharply to block a shot from Joergensen from the right after only five minutes and defender Vladimir Ivanov cleared from Ebbe Sand with the keeper out of position. The Danes created a string of chances which all went begging with Gronkjaer's low shot to the near post from the left the best. Zdravkov had to go down sharply to save it. Gronkjaer, who joined the squad after missing Monday's 0-0 draw with Italy following his mother's death, came on in the 23rd minute in place of Dennis Rommedahl, who limped off after a knock. Bulgaria's only true chance of the half, one minute before Tomasson's goal, ended with a Martin Petrov mishit straight to keeper Thomas Sorensen after a good one-two with Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian back four pushed forward from the restart and an early shot by Stilian Petrov from outside the box went just wide as the team became more ambitious in search of an equaliser. But Bulgaria's final pass was invariably poor and as their frustrations mounted Stilian Petrov saw red for arguing with referee. Gronkjaer finally added the Danes' second goal two minutes into stoppage time with a low angled shot from 10 metres. — Reuters
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Sweden battle for draw with Italy
Porto, June 18 The points seemed to be heading Italy's way when Ibrahimovic hooked the ball into the top corner with his back to goal from close-range after a scramble in the area in the 85th minute. Italy had taken the lead after 37 minutes with a header from 21-year-old Antonio Cassano and outplayed a determined Sweden team for long periods of an abosrbing match. Sweden next meet Scandinavian rivals Denmark in their final match with both teams on four points with Italy, who have two points, facing an easier match against eliminated Bulgaria. Only some inspired goalkeeping from former Juventus youngster Andreas Isaksson in the Swedish goal had prevented Italy from extending their lead. Totti, banned by the UEFA for three matches for spitting and booed by the Swedish fans when his image was flashed on the stadium TV screen, could only watch from the stands. He can return if they reach the semifinals, although Italy played well enough without him compared to their lacklustre display against Denmark in their goal-less opening match. Italy attacked for most of a pulsating first half and had five goal attempts from Alessandro Del Piero and Christian Vieri before breaking the deadlock eight minutes before the break. Christian Panucci, who had an excellent match marauding down the left flank, created the goal with a left-footed inswinging cross for Cassano who stooped low to glance the ball past Isaksson for his second goal in his fifth international. The only downside for Italy were bookings for midfielder Gennaro Gattuso and defender Fabio Cannavaro, and both will miss their final group match against Bulgaria, along with Totti. Bulgaria, already eliminated after their 0-2 defeat to Denmark earlier, will probably not pose too much of a threat to Italy if they show this kind of form again next Tuesday. With Alessandro Nesta and Cannavaro outstanding at the back and Gianluigi Buffon unbeatable in goal, Italy had looked impregnable. The tirless running of Gattuso and Simone Perrotta in midfield limited Sweden's options — so much so that their leading striker Henrik Larsson was limited to watching and waiting — and he did not have a goal attempt until midway through the second half when he blasted high and wide. Sweden, needing a win to ensure a quarterfinal place, looked lively on the break at times and both Fredrik Ljungberg and Ibrahimovic went close in the first half but failed to find the target until his late goal saved a point. —
Reuters
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Germany to attack against Latvia
Porto, June 18 ‘’We will have more possession and we will have to play a more attacking game,’’ said Voeller. ‘’We need to take more initiative and to be more dangerous in front of goal.’’ To do that, Voeller, who opted for a compact formation with only Kevin Kuranyi up front against the Dutch, will field a second striker at Porto’s Bessa stadium, probably Fredi Bobic. A defensive midfielder, possibly Frank Baumann, will likely lose his place in the lineup. Latvia are expected to rely on the same game plan they used against the Czechs, with a well-organised defence as the base on which to launch swift counter-attacks. Coach Aleksandrs Starkovs said his best player, attacking midfielder Marian Pahars, should play a bigger role after being a late substitute against the Czechs due to fitness worries. The Baltic side came to Portugal with absolutely nothing to lose and realised after their first game that they can give more prestigious opponents a hard time. ‘’Maybe we can grab a point against Germany or the Netherlands,’’ said goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko, who played his part in keeping the Czechs at bay until late in the game. A convincing performance against the Dutch that suggested Germany, who had a poor run-in to the tournament, may have a serious title chance. Voeller, however, remained cautious. Beating Latvia, Voeller warned, would not be a formality. ‘’We accept we are the favourites but talking about goal difference would be foolish,’’ he said. ‘’First of all we have to win the game and that will not be easy.’’
— Reuters
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Be zestful, coach Advocaat tells players Aveiro, June 18 The Dutch were slow starters against Germany on Tuesday but managed to sneak a point thanks to Ruud van Nistelrooy’s late equaliser, and Advocaat wants his players to be quicker off the mark when they face the Czechs, who top the group after defeating Latvia. “We played much too slowly and nobody was prepared to take responsibility and try something inspirational,” said Advocaat, who in his first spell as the Netherlands coach had a furious row with Ruud Gullit over selection policy which led to the dreadlocked star walking out before the 1994 World Cup finals. “It was all so conservative and it was only after making some changes at half-time that things changed.” Advocaat, who guided Scottish giants Rangers to two Premiership titles during his four-year spell there, said his team did not deserve the criticism it received for their lacklustre performance in their opening match. “I do not understand why people think we played badly,” he said. “It was the Germans’ best performance in two years and I think it was a good result for us. “We may not have the best team in these championships, so we have to be realistic. But we always enter a tournament with the intention of winning it. We have only played one game, so everything is still open.” Advocaat has faced a barrage of criticism, not only from the Dutch press but also from his predecessors in the hot seat such as Johan Cruyff and Louis van Gaal, neither of whom won anything when in charge of the national side. “It is normal to have to defend oneself,” Advocaat said. Advocaat said he hoped his players would be more adventurous against a Czech side that finished above the Netherlands in their qualifying group. “I hope that the nervousness will lessen as the tournament progresses,” he said. Dutch defender Jaap Stam said he was looking forward to facing Czech striker Jan Koller, having enjoyed two monumental battles with the giant marksman in their qualifying matches. “I enjoy that kind of physical challenge,” said the Lazio defender. Czech striker Milan Baros, scorer of the Czechs’ equaliser in their 2-1 win over Latvia, said his team will have to raise their game to outsmart the Dutch. “With all due respect to Latvia, the Dutch will be a tougher proposition,” said the Liverpool striker. “The first step was to win our opening match and maybe one more win will see us get through the group.” — AFP
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Wayne Rooney has football
world at his feet
Coimbra, June 18 A first-half header and a shot in the 75th minute that cannoned in off keeper Joerg Stiel blew away Dragan Stojkovic’s record of scoring for Yugoslavia in 1984 at 19 years, three months. "I just go out and play the game and I was lucky enough to score two goals," said Rooney, as bashful off the pitch as he is aggressive on it. "The first one Michael (Owen) put it right on my head and for the second I just hit it hard enough and luckily enough it went in. "Like any young lad I get nervous before a game... but once you get into a game, you get a bit more relaxed and you go out there and want to do your best." The championship accolade is only the latest to be given to a youngster who learned the game at Everton’s youth academy and playing on the tough city streets of Liverpool. At 17, he became the youngest player to pull on an England jersey in a 3-1 friendly defeat by Australia in February, 2003. He went one better last September by becoming his country’s youngest scorer in a 2-1 qualifying win in Macedonia and is not fazed by the responsibility of finding the net for England. "I think I’ve had that responsibility since I’ve come into the England squad," he said. "I’m just going to try and enjoy myself and get a good experience from this tournament." Everything is happening quickly to a youngster who caused a sensation in English football when he ended Arsenal’s 30-match unbeaten run in October 2002 with a superb strike as a 16-year-old, his first premier league goal. Born into a boxing family, his one weakness remains a volatile temperament. A rash challenge on a grounded Stiel earned him a yellow card and a barge that conceded a free kick just minutes before his goal suggested his afternoon could have ended with an early shower. For Rooney, though, that naked aggression is part of his game and no amount of advice is going to change him. "A few of the lads told me to calm down a bit but all the same if I’m going in for a tackle I’m going to give 110 per cent," he said. "I like to play with a bit of temper, I think it makes me play better. I’m not going to stop because it’s a major tournament like this." Carefully nurtured by Everton manager David Moyes, who has resisted all temptations to cash in and sell him to one of the biggest clubs in the country, Rooney has the football world at his feet. England owe their chances of progressing in this tournament to the precocious striker, and the fans at Coimbra’s Municipal stadium needed no encouragement to chant his name.— Reuters
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Agreement on contract system soon, says Sachin
Bangalore, June 18 Nair had said recently that the contract system was likely to come into force from the Asia Cup to be held in Sri Lanka from July 16. Meanwhile, Tendulkar emphasised the need to be selective while according Test nation status to any country. Responding to a question regarding interest in the game in the USA, he said it was a good thing that cricket was going more and more global. On the "magic ball" that off-spinner Harbhajan Singh claimed he was working on, Tendulkar noted that the players only had fitness training here. "I will come to know about it (magic ball) in Chennai (where the final preparatory camp for the Asia Cup probables is to be held from July 3)". He said it's a positive move to shift the camp from the Garden City to Chennai, because conditions were probably going to be closest to what the team would encounter in Sri Lanka. Asserting that he had not changed his usually aggressive style of batting, Sachin said that nowadays he was pacing his innings in line with the requirements of the team. 'I haven't changed my style of batting; I go and play according to the need of the team. Of late the opposition tactics have also changed, and there are defensive fields from the first ball itself,'' the master blaster said. — PTI, UNI
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Coup in WFI, Malik removed, Kartar new chief
New Delhi, June 18 Kartar Singh, who was the general secretary earlier, replaced Malik nine months before competition of his term as widespread resentment brewed among federation members. A no-confidence was also moved against senior vice-president S.S. Saini, vice-presidents Dhara Singh and Ram Singh and joint secretary Sukhbir Singh at the meeting. “Everybody (office-bearers and state presidents) had complaints against Malik. He practised favouritism and discrimination and never discussed important matters with other office-bearers who have done a lot for the sport,” Kartar Singh said at a press conference. Kartar Singh and former treasurer Prem Nath alleged that Malik indulged in “embezzelment”. “He authorised Vipin Kumar (vice-president) and office secretary Rajinder Singh, who were not among the elected office-bearers, as signatories for financial and other correspondence for the WFI,” Prem Nath, now the general secretary, said. Prem Nath, who preserved the copies of bills sent to him for signature as treasurer, said Malik used the federation money for personal expenses like foreign visits, payment of telephone bills and presenting gifts while the wrestlers at state-level struggled for funds. The meeting was attended by accredited representatives of 19 states. — PTI
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Uppal in line for double crown New Delhi, June 18 Vinod Sridhar posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory against second-seeded Norikazu Sugiyama of Japan in the first semifinal. In the morning, the top-seeded pair of Vishal Uppal and Ajay Ramaswamy defeated unseeded Rishi Sridhar and Vinod Sridhar 6-4, 6-2 to wrest the doubles title. Vishal, who had toppled top-seeded Sunil Kumar Sipaeya in three sets in the quarterfinal yesterday, showed amazing consistency in his service game and returns to tame the Pakistani. A strongly built-player, Aqeel Khan matched Vishal in every department of the game, but the Davis cupper rose to the occasion admirably to score the big points which turned the scales in his favour. Vishal’s potent service, and sharp returns put the Pakistani on his toes, though both refused to concede an inch, and the sets had to be decided in the tie-breaker. Vishal’s sliced backhands often caught Aqeel on the backfoot, and most of his big points were set up through his backhand. The second set was tantalisingly teasing, in particular, as the players kept their nerves intact and kept pace in the tie-breaker too, with the scores reading 3-3 and 6-6. Then Vishal put one past Aqueel, and the vital point was gained after a heart-stopping rally with Aqueel hitting into the net a nicely placed return by Vishal. Vishal fell on his back on the court as a thanksgiving prayer, while Aqeel tossed his racket up, in despair, for losing out after a close battle. |
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