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Portugal sneak past England
Terrific Toni puts Italy in semis
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German weekly’s slur provokes Italy
Hamburg, July 1 Italy already have some inspiration to beat Germany in the World Cup semifinals. An article posted on the website of German weekly Der Spiegel earlier this week defined Italians as “parasites, mamma’s boys and slimy,” causing outrage in Italy’s World Cup camp.
Fans go berserk
Indians sweep the board
Nadal ends Agassi’s Wimbledon career
Karate gurus lock horns
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Portugal sneak past England
Gelsenkirchen, July 1 Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning penalty after Ricardo saved penalties from England midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and substitute Jamie Carragher. Portugal now play the winners of the Brazil-France game in the semi-final. After a
closely-contested first half, the drama sparked after 62 minutes when England striker Wayne Rooney, only back from a broken foot at these finals and seen as key to their World Cup hopes was red-carded. Involved in a tussle for possession, Rooney stamped on the groin of defender Ricardo Carvalho virtually in front of Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo. England were already without captain David Beckham, left sitting in tears with his head in his hands after being
substituted in the 51st minute, seemingly after taking a knock from Nuno Valente. Nothing went right for Sven-Goran Eriksson's men, who had had a penalty appeal ignored just two minutes earlier when a Beckham cross struck the arm of Valente. Eriksson reacted to Rooney's dismissal by bringing on towering striker Peter Crouch for left winger Joe Cole, but England were badly lacking firepower up front. Portugal Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was behind England's downfall at the 2002 World Cup for his native Brazil and did the same for Portugal at Euro 2004, tried to galvanize his men from the touchline. It was a far cry from a balanced opening 45 minutes. In a free-flowing start, England keeper Paul Robinson had to smother in a goalmouth melee, while Portugal's defence nearly was unlocked by a neat three-man move and Frank Lampard almost got on the end of a Steven Gerrard through-ball. Beckham's replacement, Aaron Lennon, caused havoc with his first touches after the break -- teeing up Rooney, only for him to mis-kick, while Cole prodded the loose ball over the bar from point blank range. Minutes later, things turned a lot worse for England as Rooney, who had limped out of that Euro 2004 quarter-final with Portugal with a broken bone in his foot, this time got his marching orders. Portugal soon had England in the ropes, without creating a gilt-edged scoring chance, while John Terry and Crouch were both denied by last-ditch interceptions. Though winger Cristiano Ronaldo was a constant threat, Scolari's men struggled to break down England's tiring side. — Reuters
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Terrific Toni puts Italy in semis
Hamburg, July 1 Gianluca Zambrotta, who earlier this week flew back to Italy to visit his stricken former Juventus team-mate Gianluca Pessotto after an apparent suicide attempt, yesterday gave the three-time champions an early lead with a left-footed shot. Toni’s close-range header near the hour mark put the Azzurris firmly in the driving seat after a spell of heavy Ukraine pressure, and the giant Fiorentina marksman doubled his tally by tapping in Zambrotta’s cross. Italy coach Marcelo Lippi said the Italians had played their hearts out for Pessotto, the Juventus team manager having apparently jumped from his office window on Tuesday. “We did it for Pessotto — we dedicate this to him and his family and we are all thinking of him and his family,” said Lippi, who knew Pessotto well from his days as Juventus coach. “I am very satisfied with this performance — we played really well. “It’s a great victory,” added the 58-year-old, who forecast a tough encounter with Germany. “Everything is possible,” he said of the outcome of the semifinal. For Toni it represented a welcome relief after going goal-less so far in the finals. “Those goals were really important for me and for the squad,” said the 29-year-old, who has blossomed over the past three years with first Palermo and then Fiorentina. “But it will now be a very tough game against the Germans as they are at home and they have knocked out Argentina. “But we played very well against Ukraine and are ready to take them on.” Italy’s second goal came shortly after Gianluigi Buffon pulled off a superb save to deny Oleg Gusev, with Zambrotta blocking Anatoliy Tymoschuk’s follow-up on the goal line. Ukrainian Andriy Gusin’s header hit the bar shortly after Toni had made it 2-0. Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko, who spent seven years playing in Italy for AC Milan before signing for English champions Chelsea last month, was superbly snuffed out by a well-drilled Azzurri defence. The match between Germany and Italy, which will be played in Dortmund on Tuesday, is a repeat of the 1982 final which the Italians won 3-1. Midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, recalled to Italy’s starting line-up to provide extra width on the right, threatened first, firing wide after a robust run through the middle in the fourth minute. Italy went ahead through an unlikely source in the sixth minute. Zambrotta played a one-two with Francesco Totti before firing a low drive past Oleksandr Shovkovskyi. Ukraine came out fighting at the start of the second half and they might have levelled the score had it not been for Buffon’s quick reflexes. Gusin’s downward header looked goalbound, but the Italy goalie managed to claw the ball away and picked up a bump on the head in the process after falling back onto the post. Buffon came to Italy’s rescue again when he palmed away Gusev’s angled shot, and although Tymoschuk was first to the loose ball, Zambrotta was on hand to keep out the rebound. Toni eased Italy’s jangling nerves in the 59th minute, meeting Totti’s left-wing cross with a meaty header. And Toni had the final word 10 minutes later when he nudged Zambrotta’s cut-back over the line from a yard out. The last time Italy reached the semifinals of the World Cup was in 1994 when they went on to the final only to lose to Brazil on penalties. — AFP
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German weekly’s slur provokes Italy
Hamburg, July 1 An article posted on the website of German weekly Der Spiegel earlier this week defined Italians as “parasites, mamma’s boys and slimy,” causing outrage in Italy’s World Cup camp. Der Spiegel pulled the story as soon it got wind of the controversy it created. The magazine also issued an apology, but the damage was done and it’s sure to be discussed again ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup semifinal. “As an Italian and captain of the national team I feel offended,” defender Fabio Cannavaro said. “These stereotypes applied to us come from an old culture that has been overly abused. It shocks me that this can happen in a civilised country like Germany.” Italy set up their World Cup camp in industrial
Duisburg, an area filled with Italian immigrants, with the idea that the team would be inspired by the success stories of its countrymen abroad. Italy can also look back to its 4-1 rout of Germany in March in a friendly match. Alberto
Gilardino, Luca Toni, Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Del Piero each scored before Robert Huth notched Germany’s lone goal in the 82nd minute in Florence.
— AP
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FIFA to probe post-match melee
Berlin, July 1 Argentina’s Leandro Cufre, an unused substitute, was shown a red card after the shootout and Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff, caught in the middle of the melee, said he intervened after a substitute trod on German defender Per Mertesacker yesterday. “Cufre got a red card on the spot — this means there will be an investigation, like with any other direct red cards,” FIFA spokesman Markus Siegler told reporters at the world governing body’s daily briefing today. Siegler said the committee would also look at whether any other players should face disciplinary action. “On the basis of reports and video, the committee will examine whether other things could be the subject of proceedings,” he said. “Of course, there is a certain urgency, particularly in the case of the German team, if anyone there was guilty of misconduct, as the German team is playing in the semifinal in Dortmund on Tuesday (against Italy),” he added. FIFA officials and Slovakian referee Lubos Michel were all caught up in the chaos and punches and kicks appeared to be thrown in scenes which went on for about 90 seconds in front of a 72,000 crowd at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The trouble appeared to start when Germany midfielder Tim Borowski gestured towards the Argentina players to “keep quiet”, having scored his penalty to make it 4-2 in Germany's favour. Several Argentine players walked towards him and when Esteban Cambiasso’s final spot kick was saved by German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, giving the hosts a 4-2 shootout victory, defender Fabricio Coloccini approached Germany’s Oliver Neuville. Borowski said Argentine players had made “certain movements” to try to provoke him before he took his penalty.
— Reuters
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A tale of two goalies
Tribune News Service While praising Lehmann’s heroics, one should also spare a thought for his opposite number, Leonardo Franco. Argentine coach Jose Pekerman threw the poor fellow into the cauldron after first-choice goalie Roberto Abbondanzieri got injured midway through the second half. Argentina were leading 1-0 at that stage. On his World Cup debut, Franco first conceded a goal barely 10 minutes after stepping onto the field — without adequate warm-up — and later failed to stop any kicks during the shootout. Thus, Franco blew away a god-sent chance to emulate great Argentine goalies Sergio Goycochea and Carlos Roa, who had both become shootout heroes in previous World Cups. Lehmann, on the other hand, joined the ranks of Harald Schumacher, who was the match-winning keeper against France (1982) and Mexico (1986), and Bodo Illgner, who stopped a Stuart Pearce kick to seal England’s fate in the semifinal of Italia ’90. If the Germany-Italy semifinal on Tuesday goes into the tie-breaker, Lehmann might meet his match in Gianluigi Buffon, who has been one of the best goalkeepers of this tournament so far. Buffon, however, won’t get much inspiration from history — Italy have lost three shootouts in three successive World Cups, including the final against Brazil in 1994.
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Fans go berserk
Dhaka, July 1 Angry fans clashed with the police who tried to disperse them by using batons, witnesses said. Fifteen persons were also injured in northern Jamalpur and 10 others in northeastern Shayestaganj in violence over power failures. Fans attacked and ransacked power distribution offices in both places, the police said today.
— Reuters
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Windies shot out for 103 Kingston, July 1 With the fourth and final Test of the series likely to be a low scoring match, India had restored parity by lunch on the second day, with West Indies struggling on 80 for five in reply to India's 200 all out on the first day. The cream of the West Indian batting was back in the original but now temporary pavilion (until reconstruction work here at Sabina Park is completed for the World Cup) at the Kingston Cricket Club clubhouse. Only Daren Ganga had resisted before he was leg before to Harbhajan Singh for 40. As on the first day, the very third ball of the morning gave rise to a wicket as Sreesanth produced an outswinger - an inswinger to Chris Gayle - to knock back the off-stump. Indeed, with the last ball of the same over Brian Lara was lucky to survive a confident shout for lbw as umpire Brian Jerling remained unmoved. Having thus escaped, the West Indian captain and master batsman invented a spate of boundaries. He opened his account with a resounding hook off the Keralite and then carved him through the covers. He, then, greeted Anil Kumble by launching into an on drive and off drive off consecutive deliveries. But his aggression - perhaps prompted by his assessment that it was an under prepared wicket - was undone by a ball that virtually exploded off the pitch to take the shoulder of his bat and end up at third slip, where Wasim Jaffer held on high above his head. There was more excitement, as the same bowler in his 8th over on the trot, induced a snick from Marlon Samuels, but Jaffer dropped a difficult chance. This, though, didn't prove costly for India, as Mahendra Dhoni stumped the Jamaican as he barely dragged his back foot out of the crease. Worse was to follow for the West Indians, as Shivnarine flayed recklessly to be caught behind. The value of Rahul Dravid's rocklike essay of 81 on the first day can only be evaluated after West Indies' ultimate reply. Even by his extraordinary standards, it was one of the finest innings of his career. Not only equal to any of his three figure knocks, but a more skilful exhibition than most. It was displayed in the most challenging batting conditions of the series - a drying pitch. Yuvraj Singh, Mohammed Kaif and Mahendra Dhoni revealed their inadequacy when the going gets tough at the highest level of the game. If this trio have failed to develop, despite wearing India's colours for several years, especially the first two, it is principally because they are forced to indulge in a surfeit of batsmen friendly one-day internationals by the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Lara attacked with Jerome Taylor, who was an absolute revelation. A lithe figure, he conjured his fastest spell of the series, swinging the ball both ways as well as producing a mixture of bouncers, slower balls and yorkers. He fully deserved his career best haul. One shudders to think what might have happened had the injured, but faster Fidel Edwards bowled in harness. Scoreboard India (1st innings) 200 West Indies (1st innings) Gayle b Sreesanth 0 Ganga lbw Harbhajan 40 Lara c Jaffer b Sreesanth 26 Samuels st Dhoni Chanderpaul c Dhoni Bravo c Yuvraj Sarwan c Kaif Ramdin c Yuvraj Taylor run out 6 Collins c Sehwag Collymore not out 0 Extras (w-1, nb-1) 2 Total
(all out; 33.3 overs) 103 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-42, 3-53,4-72, 5-80 , 6-81, 7-88, 8-99, 9-103. Bowling: Sreesanth 9-3-34-2, Patel 12-5-24-1, Kumble 8-3-32-1, Harbhajan 4.3-0-13-5.
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Jayasuriya, Tharanga tear up record books
London, July 1 Set a formidable 322 to win the fifth one-day international at Headingley, the pair hit explosive centuries to put on 286 and make a nonsense of the target. Sri Lanka cruised home by eight wickets with more than 12 overs to spare. The Sri Lankan openers’ extraordinary exhibition of clean, effortless hitting was a record opening stand in one-day internationals. Jayasuriya, one day after his 37th birthday, ended with 152 off 99 balls, his 21st one-day international hundred and one of the great limited over innings. The 21-year-old Tharanga, only slightly less brutal than his team mate, claimed his fourth ton with 109 off 102 deliveries. It was also Sri Lanka’s best one-day run chase and sealed England’s first 5-0 series whitewash. Scoreboard
England Trescothick Cook c Jayawardene Bell c Sangakkara Strauss c Sangakkara Solanki not out 44 Dalrymple lbw Malinga 30 Jones lbw Malinga 2 Bresnan b Malinga 4 Plunkett not out 9 Extras
(lb-9 nb-6 w-11) 26 Total (7 wkts, 50 overs) 321 Fall of wickets: 1-82 2-157 3-225 4-233 5-295 6-304 7-308. Bowling: Vaas 8-2-41-0, Malinga 10-0-44-4, Fernando 8-0-60-1, Maharoof 9-0-52-1, Dilshan 3-0-29-0, Bandara 7-0-50-0, Jayasuriya 5-0-35-1 Sri Lanka Tharanga c&b Jayasuriya c Strauss Jayawardene not out 12 Sangakkara not out 23 Extras (lb-10 nb-9 w-9) 28 Total
(2 wkts, 37.3 overs) 324 Fall of wickets: 1-286, 2-289. Bowling:
Ali 6-0-72-0, Bresnan 2-0-29-0, Plunkett 5-0-46-0, Harmison 10-0-97-0, Dalrymple 10-0-48-1, Bell 1-0-5-0, Solanki 3.3-0-17-1.
— Reuters
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Bowling legend Trueman dead
London, July 1 British media quoted his wife Veronica as saying he died in a Yorkshire hospital. He was diagnosed in May with lung cancer. In 1964, the man known as “Fiery Fred” became the first bowler to take 300 test wickets. Trueman finished with 307 wickets in 67 Tests, averaging 21.57. He took five wickets in an innings 17 times and 10 wickets in a match on three occasions. Trueman’s aggressive performances for England and Yorkshire made him a national sporting hero in the 1950s and 60s. His finest hour came at the Oval in 1964 when he had Australia’s Neil Hawke caught at slip by Colin Cowdrey for his 300th test wicket. When asked whether he thought anyone would surpass his achievement, his reply was typically forthright. “If anyone beats it, they’ll be bloody tired,” said Trueman. Trueman was 21 when he made his test debut against India on his home ground at Headingley, Leeds in 1952. He played a pivotal role in a seven-wicket victory for England, taking three wickets in eight balls as India slumped to 0 for four in their second innings. He went on to take 29 wickets in the series, including figures of eight for 31 in the third test at Old Trafford when India were bowled out for 58. Trueman played his last test against New Zealand at Lord's in 1965. He also excelled for his county, taking 1,745 wickets for Yorkshire. He helped them become the dominant team in county cricket, winning the championship seven times between 1959 and 1968, the year he retired from first-class cricket. His bowling average for Yorkshire was 17.12 in 459 matches. After he retired Trueman commentated for BBC radio and became a popular after-dinner speaker.
— Reuters
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Indians sweep the board
Tehran, July 1 In addition, four silver and six bronze medals meant that as many as 18 of the 24 medals on offer went to the Indians. Iran followed with a tally of three medals, while Vietnam got two and the UAE picked up one. S Nitin won the gold medal in the boys’ under-14 championship. None of the three overnight leaders — Aditya Vikas, Shahin Koohestani and S. Nitin — won the last round. While Nitin drew against Amir Azemati, Aditya and Shahin went down to AR Salem and B Adhiban, respectively. With his rivals following by the wayside, the draw was enough to give Nitin the top spot. Adhiban recovered from his earlier reverses to clinch the silver, while Salem (UAE) bagged the bronze. Bhakti Kulkarni picked up the gold medal in the girls’ under-14 category with a last-round win against Aida Radfar. Mitra Hejazipour (Iran) pipped Pon Krutthika for the silver medal. While Mitra scored over Anu Bayar in the last round, Krithika had to be content with the bronze as she drew against F Setareh. In the under-12 boys’ championship, Vidit Gujarathi lost the last round to Ch Mehar Chinna Reddy but still won the gold due to superior tie-break. Chinna Reddy’s final surge in the tournament with three wins in the last three rounds sufficed for him to pick up the silver. Prasanna Rao, who led through most of the event, lost the last round to VAV Rajesh, but his better tie-break enabled him to pick up the bronze medal. Padmini Raut won the gold in the girls’ under-12 category. She kept her cool in the last round and defeated Supriya Joshi to take her tally to 7.5 points, one point more than silver medallist, Nguyen Thi Mai Hung (Vietnam). The bronze went to Mohana Priya. G Saikrishna won the gold medal in the boys’ under-10 category. He drew the last round against Amir Kausarinia, ensuring that he stayed at the top of the pack with eight points. Utkal Ranjan Sahoo, who drew with compatriot R Eswar won the silver, while the bronze medal went to Amir Kousarinia (Iran) who scored 6.5 points. Ch Sahaja Sri continued her winning run to crown a superb performance with a last round victory over Darya Vassova in the girls’ under-10 category. She won the gold medal with a perfect score of nine points. Do Hoang Minh Tho (Vietnam), who defeated Ataewi Aatekeh to reach a score of 7.5 points, won the silver. The bronze medal went to B Prathusha with seven points following her last round win against Hakimifar Rana. Prince Bajaj maintained his full-point lead over his nearest rival to win the gold medal in the boys’ under-8 championship. He scored over Mersad Khodashenas to take his tally to eight points, one more than silver medallist Ahmad Asgarizadeh (Iran), who bagged the silver medal with a last -round victory over Ch Mohineesh. M Satvik took the bronze medal with 6.5 points by defeating Mohd Shaikh. Sweety Patel was another perfect scorer as she won the last round against Keemia Ghaziasharif of Iran to win the girls’ under-8 championship. She finished two points ahead of silver medallist Ivana Furtado and three points ahead of U Ashwini, who got the bronze. Ivana and Ashwini defeated M Khasahabijadeh (Iran) and N Niloofer, respectively.
— PTI
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Nadal ends Agassi’s Wimbledon career
London, July 1 The 36-year-old was no match for the Spanish world number two who made the most of his 16-year advantage to pile on the pain for the American, winning their third round clash 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4. Agassi, playing in his 14th and final Wimbledon, simply wilted under a combination of Nadal’s constant brutal barrage as well as the searing 30-degree Centre Court temperatures. Dogged by constant back pain in recent seasons, Agassi had already announced his intention to quit after the US Open later this year. If he had any doubts over that decision, they would have rapidly disappeared after his face-to-face meeting with the muscle-bound double French Open champion, the future of the sport. Nadal was always on top despite needing a tie-break to settle the first set. Agassi had to save two break points in both the fourth and sixth games as well as three set points in the tenth. The American, whose 1992 win here was the first of his eight Grand Slams, was two points from taking the breaker but Nadal wasn’t to be denied clinching the set with an ace after 63 minutes. The Spaniard, who was only one-year-old when Agassi made his 1987 debut, then raced through the second set 6-2 with breaks in the first and seventh games, wrapping it up with another ace. Agassi never carved out a break point in the entire match and, at times in the third set, he looked his age as he took a breather on a linesman’s chair. Nadal was unstoppable, breaking to lead 4-3 before winning the match, and sparking a standing ovation for Agassi, with another ace after 2hr and 14min of one-sided action. Nadal now faces Georgian qualifier Irakli Labadze for a place in the quarter-finals while Agassi heads home to prepare for his US Open swansong. Myskina in fourth round
Anastasia Myskina led the Russian charge into the fourth round at Wimbledon today with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Spain’s Anabel Medina Garrigues. The 2004 French Open champion was one of seven Russian women to reach the third round here but following the exit of fifth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and Anna Chakvetadze on Friday, she was the first player from her nation to reach the last 16. Joining ninth seed Myskina was seventh seed Elena Dementieva after she won a Russian duel with Elena Likhovtseva 7-5 6-3. Dinara Safina, who reached her first grand slam quarter-final at the French Open last month, was not as fortunate. The younger sister of former men's number one Marat Safin lost out on a possible meeting with top seed Amelie Mauresmo when she let a set and 4-1 advantage slip during a 3-6 7-6 6-1 defeat by Serb Ana Ivanovic. Maria Sharapova, seeking to win her second title here following her triumph two years ago, could add to the Russian tally if she overcomes American Amy Frazier on Centre Court later on Saturday. Likhovtseva was troubled by a right ankle injury and had to take a three-minute time out after being broken in the first set to trail 5-6. After getting her ankle heavily strapped, she was unable to prevent Dementieva from bagging the set. But Likhovtseva refused to surrender without a fight and broke to lead 3-1 in the second set before Dementieva rallied and booked her place in the next round against Shenay Perry. Paes-Damm win
Leander Paes and Martin Damm sailed into the third round of the men’s doubles event with a facile 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 win over the Czech pair of Jan Hernych and David Skoch at the Wimbledon here today. The seventh seeded Indo-Czech pair was never stretched in the match as their unheralded opponents failed to put up a fight. Paes and Damm will now take on the winner of the other second round match between the German-Belgian pair of Philipp Petzschner and Olivier Rochus and the Czech duo of Cyril Suk and Robin Vik. Paes-Damm took control from the very start as Hernych and Skoch found it hard to hold on to their serve and were broken four times in the first two sets.
— Agencies
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Karate gurus lock horns
Ambala, July 1 Mr Hemant Sharma, chief instructor, Itosu Ryu Karate-Do school of Haryana, has suspended Ms Mahinder Kaur. However, she stated that she had been appointed chief instructor for Ambala district by Mr Lal Darda of the Shito Ryu karate school of India so her suspension was infructuous. Mr Sharma said Mr Darda had been removed from the post of chief technical director of the Sports Karate Do Association. “All karate instructors, who were associated with him, have been expelled,” he said. He said as per norms of the All-India Karate Do Federation an individual was associated with the federation through a style, which had been approved by the federation. An individual after enjoying association with the federation was entitled to participate in the activities of the state body and the federation. Mr Sharma said Ms Mahinder Kaur was no longer authorised for carrying out karate activities till she did not take approval of the federation. In a letter addressed to Ms Mahinder Kaur, Mr Sharma has stated “as you are also running Itosu Ryu/Shito Ryu karate classes under the supervision of Sensei Lal Darda so you are suspended from taking karate classes in Ambala district.” However, Ms Mahinder Kaur said she was a first degree black belt and was a product of the Shito Ryu karate school. “I have been appointed chief instructor of Ambala district by Sensei Lal Darda on June 25, 2006. I have become chief instructor due to my previous performance,” she said. She said earlier there used to be the Shito Ryu school in India, but in 2002 all of them merged into the Itosu Ryu school. “However, I have joined back the Shito Ryu school of karate. Sensei Lal Darda was the technical director of north-east zone of India in the Itosu Ryu school, but now he is the chief technical director of the Shito Ryu school of karate,” she said.
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