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IN THE NEWS
Feat on clay
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The football World Cup has occasionally seen midgets slaying giants. The tradition of upsets is likely to continue this time, writes
Vikramdeep Johal Expect the unexpected. Anything is possible. Impossible is nothing — One can’t help using these clichés while talking about the football World Cup. Bizarre things have happened on the biggest stage of them all. Europe and South America have traditionally been the powerhouses, but minnows from other continents have sometimes humbled them most dramatically. The upcoming World Cup should be no exception. Here are the greatest upsets in the history of this quadrennial event, some of which seem to be straight out of Ripley’s Believe it or Not. USA 1, England 0 (1950) North Korea 1, Italy 0 (1966) Cameroon 1, Argentina 0 (1990) Algeria 2, West Germany 1 (1982) Senegal 1, France 0 (2002) South Korea 2, Italy 1 (2002) At the World Cup in Germany, the teams which can become giantkillers include Ivory Coast, who are grouped with former champions Argentina and the Netherlands; Trinidad and Tobago, who are clubbed with England and Sweden; and above all there is South Korea, who have it in them to knock out one of their formidable group rivals, either France or Switzerland. |
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Ready
for his final goal
It will surely be our last chance to see the soccer sorcerer in action. Zinedine Zidane, the linchpin of the French team, will hang his boots after the World Cup. This means, he is left with just seven big games at the most, provided France reach the final.
The 33-year-old, who led France to victory at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, gave two reasons for his decision — first, his fitness, and second, the idea of taking his last bow at the World Cup. “I wanted everybody to know before the World Cup, to dedicate myself fully to it. It’s my last big objective and I don’t want to have anything else on my mind. It’s my decision and it’s final,” said Zidane, who made thousands weep with joy after the 1998 World Cup final. The son of an Algerian night watchman, born in the immigrant melting pot of Marseille, Zidane came to symbolise the hopes of a new France, proud of its mix of cultures and races. Algeria is in North Africa and at one time was a colony of France. Few have matched the career highlights of Zidane and he will forever be remembered for the two headers he scored against Brazil on July 12, 1998, to win France their only World Cup so far. Voted European Player of the Year in 1998 and World Player of the Year in 1998, 2000 and 2003, he is second only to Michel Platini as France’s most respected footballer and the country’s all-time top goal-scorer. While Platini scored 41 goals in 72 matches, Zidane has 28 to his credit from 99 matches. Nicknamed Zizou, Zidane has been the natural successor to Platini as a dynamic midfielder. Zidane’s dribbling and passing ability has earned him the nicknames of “genius” and “magician” by the world’s sport media. Even Platini is impressed by his game: “His two goals (in the 1998 final) left an indelible mark on the whole generation. Technically, I think he was the king of what’s fundamental in the game: control and passing.” This father of four has been playing for Real Madrid since 2001. He became the world’s most expensive footballer when Madrid signed him from Juventus (Italy) for $ 66 million in 2001 and he scored a superb winner to earn Madrid their ninth European Cup in the 2002 final against Bayer Leverkusen. Earlier, too, Zidane, who will turn 34 during the World Cup, had declared his retirement from international football after France’s early exit from Euro 2004 but he changed his plans in August, 2005, with France struggling to qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany. Immediately he was reinstated as captain of the French team, where he wears jersey number 10. But many of his fans still harbour hopes of another Zidane U-turn. Zidane is respected not only for his game but also for his charity work, especially in helping handicapped children. Zidane, who has never forgotten his humble origins, will not mind being out of the limelight once his playing days are over. France coach Raymond Domenech believes Zidane’s finest moment may still come with the classy playmaker inspiring his country to another World Cup triumph before calling it a day. “I know he’s eager to have a great World Cup in Germany and I’m convinced he can still write the finest page of his sporting history by winning another World Cup with Les Bleus,” Domenech said. Zidane had a golden debut when he scored twice against the Czech Republic on September 17, 1994. The last time he scored was against Cyprus on October 12, 2005. Now the French dream is that Zidane will again carry Les Bleus to the final on July 9 in Berlin and that his last match will finish with him holding the trophy once more. But if France collapse, as they did at the 2002 World Cup, Zidane’s last match could fall on his 34th birthday, on June 23. That is when France plays their last Group G match, against Togo. Only time will tell whether his heroics will lead him to yet another moment of glory on the biggest stage or will he walk away quietly from the football arena. Regardless of the outcome, this living legend will surely be missed. |
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IN THE NEWS
With the emergence of Robin Uthappa, India seems to have found a solid opening batsman in one-dayers. Uthappa set the record for the highest score by an Indian debutant in an one-day match when he made 86 against England at Indore recently.
Playing for India A in the Eurasia Cup, Uthappa stamped his authority with a knock of 116 in the first match against Holland, followed by a fifty against Pakistan A. The 20-year-old from Karnataka started off as a wicketkeeper-batsman but is now concentrating on batting which has paid rich dividends. It is surprising that despite his mediocre record in domestic cricket — 1,037 runs from 20 matches at an average of 32 — he batted against England with flair and maturity. His 166-run opening stand with Rahul Dravid laid the foundation for India’s victory. Uthappa carried the day for the Indians in the absence of stalwarts like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif were rested. The youngster grabbed the opportunity with both hands and played a sterling knock. Unfortunately, his innings was cut short by a run-out. The blossoming of Uthappa has lessened the worries of the captain, the coach and the selectors, particularly in view of Sehwag’s indifferent form. No doubt it is too early to say that India have found a reliable opener in the young lad, but the team has certainly found a good backup player who can shoulder the responsibility of opening the innings. Uthappa’s real test will be on the upcoming West Indies tour. If he comes good in the Caribbean, he will virtually secure a place in the World Cup squad. |
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Feat on clay
Rafael Nadal, in sight of Argentine Guillermo Vilas’s record claycourt streak of 53 successive victories, is dreaming of a successful French Open title defence later this month.
The 19-year-old Spaniard overtook Swede Bjorn Borg in the Open Era list on April 30, claiming his 47th consecutive win on clay by beating compatriot Tommy Robredo
6-4, 6-4, 6-0 to capture the Barcelona Open for the second year in a row. Victory in the Rome Masters Series event would put Nadal level with Vilas on 53, although he said the record was not his main goal. “I’ve achieved my main objective (taking the title) and I’ve overtaken Borg’s number of wins,” the world number two said. “I guess I could try to go for Vilas’s total in Rome but I have my sights set on Roland Garros.” Borg achieved his run of 46 wins between October, 1977, and May, 1979, while Vilas’s mark of 53 was set in 1977. Borg sent a message of congratulations to Nadal after he passed the former world number one on the list. The Spaniard said: “Borg is one of the greatest players of all time. I have only seen bits of his play on video but he won six French Open and five Wimbledon titles, I don’t know if I can do that." Victories over Roger Federer in the finals of Dubai and Monte Carlo tournaments this year, in an era when the Swiss is all but unbeatable, have extended Nadal’s winning record against the world number one to 4-1. Nadal will go into the French Open, which starts on May 29, as the favourite, having won in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. —
Reuters
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Congratulations to Balbir Singh Sr for being adjudged the best Sikh hockey player of all time by an elite 10-member jury. However, it is disappointing that the world’s fastest left winger during the 1970s, Col Harcharan Singh, has not found a place in the top 10. He played in three World Cups, two Olympics and two Asian Games. He was a member of the team which won the Olympic bronze in 1972 and the Asian Games silver in 1970 and 1974. He was also a member of the 1975 World Cup winning team.
Harcharan scored the match-winning goal in India’s 2-1 extra-time win over Malaysia in the 1975 World Cup semifinal in Kuala Lumpur. He also played an important role in the final, in which India beat Pakistan. In view of his contribution to Indian hockey, Harcharan’s name should have been in the top 10 list. — Iqbal Singh Saroya, Mohali Jeev’s win Jeev Milkha Singh finally ended a seven-year drought of titles by winning the China Open at Beijing. He qualified for the European Tour in 1997 and is only the second winner after Arjun Atwal on this circuit. It is after a lot of struggle and disappointments that a title has come his way. — Brig H.S. Sandhu, Panchkula |
