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Sweden held to draw Togo coach quits
Germany win
ICC defends Brian Lara’s behaviour
South Africa confirms
hosting India
Anand in final
India hope for podium finish
KP bowled over by Taylor
Mithali to lead
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Gelsenkirchen, June 10 After Tenorio scored in the 24th minute Ecuador, ranked fourth among the South American qualifiers and competing in the finals for the second time, had to show terrific defensive fortitude to hold off the Poles in the second half. Delgado then settled it with 10 minutes remaining to put Ecuador alongside Germany at the top of the group on three points after the hosts beat Costa Rica 4-2 in the tournament’s exciting opening match. “We can celebrate a victory but we must concentrate also on the next Group A match (with Costa Rica on Thursday),” Delgado, who was named man of the match, told German television. “We worked hard and got our reward.” It was only Ecuador’s second competitive win away from the rarefied atmosphere of Quito since the last World Cup but if they repeat it against Costa Rica next week they could reach the second round even if they lose to Germany in their final game. For Poland it was a painful repeat of four years ago when they opened with a 2-0 defeat by hosts South Korea and failed to progress to the last 16. To the huge disappointment of their superb fans, who were full of colour and very noisy at the start, they seem set for another early flight home having failed to score in their opening match for the fifth time in a row. While the Poles must try to pick themselves up before facing the hosts in Dortmund next Wednesday, Ecuador can look forward to a Hamburg Latin party against Costa Rica the same day. — Reuters
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Netherlands to rely on offence
Leipzig, June 10 Both teams claim to have gained something that has been sorely lacking in the past — a sense of unity among players. Netherlands coach Marco van Basten wants to use that cohesion to make up for a lack of experience in midfield and defence. Serbia-Montenegro, which split up into two countries last month, needs it to cement its defence against a Dutch team that never hides its intentions. It's a prolific Dutch offence led by English Premier League players Ruud van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie against the best defence from Europe's qualifying campaign. "It is a good opponent," said Netherlands coach Marco van Basten, who has produced a team as humble as some of the past were brash and divisive. "It is difficult to beat them because they are well organised in defence and have good strikers." Although he stresses the team is not among the favourites, the whole country is hoping his team will help rid it of a once-complimentary moniker that is starting the rub the wrong way - the best team never to win the World Cup. Serbia-Montenegro, and Yugoslavia that preceded it, has a long history of producing sterling individuals, but they rarely jelled into a tight team. Now, with the country in tatters, the players stick together. "We are optimists because we know how strong we are," Inter Milan's Dejan Stankovic said. They will have to be stronger than the last two encounters against the Dutch. Oranje beat Yugoslavia 2-1 in the second round at the 1998 World Cup in France, and added a 6-1 trouncing at the 2000 European Championship in the Netherlands. The Dutch will be looking for inspirational newcomers to add to the thousands of orange-clad fans in the stands of the sold-out 43,000 Zentral Stadium in former East Germany. Early this week, Van Basten still had five men down with injuries and was only able to send his reserves home yesterday, one day ahead of the cutoff date. There are still major worries about creative midfielder Rafael van der Vaart, the Hamburger SV player who played his last competitive match two months ago. Philip Cocu, a rare veteran of the 1998 semifinal run, only resumed full individual training on Thursday. — AP
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Sweden held to draw Dortmund, June 10 The Caribbean islanders, made up largely of players from the lower divisions of the English league, worked tirelessly to hold off their vastly more experienced opponents in the second game in the group after England had earlier beaten Paraguay 1-0. Trinidad matched the Europeans stride for stride, even after defender Avery John was sent off 35 seconds into the second half. Trinidad came closest to breaking the deadlock when substitute striker Cornell Glenn hit the bar near the hour mark. It was a remarkable performance by a team who qualified for the finals for the first time after beating Bahrain in a playoff while Sweden are notable tournament performers. The gulf in class was seemingly at its most apparent at the centre of Trinidad's defence where beanpole Dennis Lawrence and partner Brent Sancho of lowly English league clubs Wrexham and Gillingham were attempting to shackle Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic — elite employees of Barcelona and Juventus. However, the difference on paper disappeared on the pitch as the unlikely looking defensive duo survived a testing first 45 minutes with Lawrence proving unbeatable in the air. Sweden did create several reasonable first-half chances as Ibrahimovic fired over a cross just beyond Larsson, Freddie Ljungberg and Larsson put efforts over the bar while Trinidad keeper Shaka Hislop was able to tip over a Christian Wilhelmsson drive. Trinidad rarely threatened, though Carlos Edwards did warm Rami Shaaban's hands with a crisp shot after 33 minutes. The islanders' hopes of holding out for another 45 minutes seemed to disappear 35 seconds after the restart when left back John was sent off for a second booking following a two-footed lunge on Wilhelmsson. The 10 men came close to taking a shock lead after 59 minutes when substitute striker Glen cracked a brilliant shot against the bar from wide right of the box with Shaaban beaten. Moments later Hislop was on hand to smartly block a close-range Ibrahimovic effort.
— Reuters
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Togo coach quits
Wangen, June 10 Togo federation spokesman Messan Attolou said that Pfister had left the hotel in the middle of the night with his assistant trainer, Piet Hamberg. But he said the federation held out hope that Pfister might return. However, Pfister was emphatic that his resignation was final.
— AP |
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Mexico out to justify star billing
Nuremberg, June 10 The surprise Group D seeds, who have a point to prove after some unflattering reaction to their exalted status, will have been buoyed by Iran's injury-plagued preparations and indifferent recent form. But Mexico’s preparations were rocked when highly rate goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez had to return home following the death of his father. Sanchez caught a flight back to Germany yesterday straight after the funeral, but Mexico coach Ricardo Lavolpe will only decide shortly before the game whether he can play. The opening match is seen as critical to the hopes of both teams in a group which also contains Portugal and Angola. “This is the most important game. We know the game against Portugal will be really hard also so we really need to gain points in this game,” said Iran skipper Ai Daei. Mexico’s own promising build-up saw them lose 2-1 to a second-string Netherlands team. However, a fourth-place finish in last year’s Confederations Cup — including a 1-0 win over Brazil — and a 20-match unbeaten streak have instilled a strong sense of self-belief in Lavolpe’s squad. “Of course Mexico are a very good team and the proof is their fourth-place FIFA ranking, but it does not mean anything on the pitch,” said Lavolpe’s opposite number Branko Ivankovic. — AFP
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Marienfeld, June 10 So when people say tournament rookie Angola will be easy prey when Portugal plays its first Group D game tomorrow, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is having none of it. "It's going to be a momentous game," Scolari said yesterday. "We'll show them the respect they deserve." Portugal lost its first game at the 2002 World Cup 3-2 to the United States before exiting in the first phase. Two years later, it started the European Championship at home with a shock 2-1 defeat to Greece. The Angolans are eager to show their presence at the World Cup is not a fluke. Angola edged Nigeria in African qualifying to reach Germany, and many of its best players are at European clubs. "I know the Angolan players. We've done our homework. We have to match Angola's enthusiasm, step-for-step, tackle-for-tackle," Scolari said. Portugal and its former African colony have met twice before, both times in exhibition matches. In 1989, Portugal thrashed Angola 6-0 and, two years later, won 5-1. "The first game in any competition is the most important game," Scolari said. "If we lose against Angola, the situation will be desperate." World Cup spectators are unlikely to witness a repeat of that last encounter which deteriorated into a bad-tempered game with four Angolans getting sent off. Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves accepted that Portugal is favourite for the game in Cologne. "It's evident that Portugal is the favourite in our group, but that does not mean Angola is going onto the pitch to lose," Goncalves said. — AP
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Germany win
Munich, June 10 The goal total broke the record for the most in the opening match of a finals tournament, surpassing the five scored in France’s 4-1 triumph over Mexico in the inaugural competition in 1930. Full back Philipp Lahm curled in a right-footer from the edge of the box to give Germany a sixth-minute lead in the Group A match played before a 66,000 sellout crowd at the Allianz Arena. — Reuters
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Sehwag gives India blazing start
St. Lucia, June 10 Sehwag was unbeaten on a glorious 99 filled with 15 fours and two sixes to help India reach 140 for no loss in their first innings after the first session of play on the opening day at the Beausejour stadium. The right-handed opener was actually lucky to survive a run out chance as he scampered for a singles off the last ball before the break in an attempt to reach the three-figure mark. Wasim Jaffer, double centurion in the drawn first Test, was not out on 34 at the other end. Sehwag reached his half-century with a stunning six off Dwayne Brave from only 33 balls, but failed to break the Indian record for fastest hundred, by Mohammad Azharuddin off 74 balls. That Bravo cost 21 runs as Sehwag collected another six and two fours. So far, the Delhi batsman had faced 75 balls in 120 minutes. There was both exhilaration and disappointment for the Delhi dasher as he had an opportunity to break a host of records. Sehwag took the drinks break at 65 runs from 38 balls and looked in course to push Viv Richards' fastest century record of 56 ball off the record books. He missed it but looked almost certain to overtake Kapil Dev and Mohammed Azharuddin as the two Indian who took the least 74 number of balls to reach a Test century. Kapil Dev did his act against Sri Lanka in 1986-87 while Azhar's blitzkrieg erupted against South Africa in Kolkata in 1996-97. That being missed also, Sehwag looked as good as having joined an elite list of Victor Trumper, Charles McCartney, Donald Bradman and Majid Khan as the fifth batsmen who has hit a century in the opening session of a Test match. He needed seven from the final over before the break from Corey Collymore. He upper-cut a four, took a single and finally needed just two runs to reach the landmark off the final delivery. Sehwag drove it to mid-off, took a quick single and kept going past the non-striker's end when a quick look back would have given him another run as the ball had gone past the stumps for an overthrow. Scoreboard India (Ist Innings) Jaffer batting 34 Sehwag batting 99 Extras (lb-3, w-1, nb-3) 7 Total (no loss, 25 overs) 140 Bowling: Collins 5-0-26-0, Taylor 6-0-25-0, Bravo 4-0-34-0, Collymore 6-0-31-0, Bradshaw 4-0-21-0.
— PTI
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ICC defends Brian Lara’s behaviour
New Delhi, June 10 “Lara showed a little frustration but it was borne out of circumstances,” ICC’s General Manager-Cricket Dave Richardson said. “Lara is a renowned player, a famed cricketer. He got frustrated (after) the umpire forced the players to make a decision. He did get a little frustrated, snatching the ball from the umpire, but he certainly did not show dissent,” he told NDTV. Richardson also sought to justify the fine imposed on Virender Sehwag for prematurely celebrating a dismissal. “The Sehwag incident was unfortunate. The ICC wants to cut down on excessive appealing. We want to prevent players, tell them not to put too much pressure on umpires. In Sehwag’s incident, it was a case of not appealing. He slipped up (on that account).” On the controversial Dhoni dismissal, he said he had never come across such an incident, be it in his playing days or as an administrator. “It (the incident) was quite unique. No decision was made. The TV umpire said he could not make a decision, the on field umpires said we couldn’t make a decision either. Lara tried to facilitate an agreement (which) was not the right way.”
— PTI
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South Africa confirms
hosting India
Durban, June 10 CSA CEO Geral Majola, announcing the schedule, said South Africa’s 2006-07 season would begin next month. “Cricket fans are in for a bumper season that includes the tour of Sri Lanka in July, the ICC Champions Trophy in India in October, tours by India and Pakistan in November and January respectively, and ending with the World Cup in the West Indies in March,” Majola said in a statement yesterday. India will play five one-day internationals and three Test matches in South Africa after they visit the sub-continent for the ICC Champions Trophy in October. CSA’s General Manager for Cricket Affairs, Brian Basson, who announced the itineraries, said: “We are delighted that after months of negotiations, confirmation of the outgoing tour of Sri Lanka and the incoming tours of India and Pakistan have been finalised. “The reasons for the protracted delay can be attributed to full member countries having displayed reluctance in entering into any fixed tour arrangements prior to final confirmation of the ICC’s Future Tours Programme,” Basson said. “Additionally, the incoming tours are scheduled to take place between the ICC Champions Trophy and the ICC Cricket World Cup which reduced the period for the allocation of the tour’s itinerary.”
— PTI
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French Open
Paris, June 10 The Belgian fifth seed, who also won the tournament in 2003 and 2005, joined Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles as the only women to have won back-to-back titles at the claycourt Grand Slam in the professional era. She also became the first player since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1994 to win the crown without dropping a set. “I’ve suffered a lot. I did not sleep well in the past days,” a relieved Henin-Hardenne said courtside. “What made the difference today were the important points and the seventh game in the second set. Three titles, it’s huge. I join great champions.” Henin-Hardenne began swiftly by breaking Kuznetsova in the first game with a forehand winner. She tightened her grip on the match further when she opened up a 4-1 lead courtesy of a double-fault from the 2004 U.S. Open champion. Kuznetsova closed the gap when she too benefited from a Henin-Hardenne double-fault in the sixth game. But the Russian was unable to get back on level terms and Henin-Hardenne pumped her fists after securing the set when Kuznetsova netted a forehand. Kuznetsova rose to the challenge in the second, breaking in the second game only for Henin-Hardenne to break back immediately. The Belgian gained the decisive break in the seventh with a smash and ended Kuznetsova’s challenge with a service winner on her second match point after 96 minutes. “I am disappointed because I have not been able to take my chances but Justine had a great match,” said Kuznetsova. — Reuters
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Leon (Spain), June 10 Anand, who is going through a lean patch, yesterday came through some anxious moments before winning the blitz tiebreak game, eighth of the match, for a 4.4-3.5 victory. In the final tomorrow, Anand will meet the winner of the match between world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Francisco Vallejo Pons of Spain. It turned out to be a taxing outing for Anand against Lazaro in the clash of former junior world champions. Earlier in the Chess Olympiad too, these two had crossed swords and the result there was a stalemate that continued here for the first four rapid games. It was a surprising result as Anand is highly regarded as the best rapid chess player on the planet. The matches here are played with 20 minutes to each player with a 10 second increment after every move is played. After the first four rapid games were drawn, the match moved to tiebreak blitz games where Lazaro drew the first blood winning the first game. Anand was under pressure in the next game as he needed a win to stay in the match. However, after Lazaro made some mistakes, the Indian ace was quickly back in the match as he won the eighth game to deliver the knock-out blow to Lazaro. — PTI
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India hope for podium finish
Chennai, June 10 Talking to reporters, captain Dilip Tirkey said, “We have a balanced side and the training, despite hot conditions here, was enjoyable and the members of my team are in good nick.I am worried about poor finishes inside the circle but our retackling abilities have improved tremendously. “During the last few tournaments, we were mainly concentrating on total attacking and lacked defence. But the new method of coaching has helped us eradicate this weakness,” he said. On his own fitness, Tirkey said, “After playing in Holland, I had some rest and then I concentrated totally on my fitness here.I am totally fit and raring to go.”
— PTI
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KP bowled over by Taylor
London, June 10 The South African-born willower was “over the moon” following the engagement to the 26-year-old singer, according to a report in Daily Telegraph. The couple is yet to set a date for marriage. — PTI
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Mithali to lead
Chennai, June 10 The Indian eves will play two one-day internationals in Ireland before moving on to England to take on the hosts in two Tests, three one-dayers and a Twenty20 match during the July 25 to September 2 tour.
— PTI
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