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Brazil look past Oranje
Ghana look to keep Africa alive in South Africa
Serena, Zvonareva in final
Can’t write Fedex off just yet: McEnroe
Pawar keen to restart India-Pak series
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IOA tenure row continues
Hodgson named new Liverpool manager
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Brazil look past Oranje
"We know the Netherlands are a very difficult team to play against," Brazil coach Dunga said. "Their football is actually very similar to South American football. "They don't try to stay defending and rely on long balls," he said.
Three World Cup meetings between the teams have ended with the winner going on to reach the final. That team this year faces either Uruguay or Ghana in the semifinals. The Dutch have won all their matches so far, but not with the flair that has characterized the teams of previous eras. Five-time champion Brazil was solid in the group stage, beating North Korea and Ivory Coast before a scoreless draw with Portugal, but returned to goalscoring form in a 3-0 win over Chile in the second round. But the Brazilians will be without Elano, who scored in each of their first two matches, for the quarterfinal. Brazil team doctor Jose Luis Runco said Elano will not play because of a right ankle injury. Runco said Elano may be fit by next week but did not rule out the possibility that the playmaker could miss the rest of the World Cup. "I wish I could play to help Brazil, but I know I can't," Elano said. "There are several other players who can play better than I can right now." His absence might be more motivation for Robinho to take on extra load. Robinho has admitted that he could have done more to help his team so far at the World Cup. "I'm happy for the goal," he said. "But I think I could've played better, I know I have to play better." He remembers what it takes to get through the quarters. He was a member of the Brazilian squad that fell to France in the quarterfinals of the 2006 World Cup in Germany and is determined to go further. But if the feistiness that followed the Slovakia match is any indication, the Dutch players seem to be climbing over themselves to stay in the tournament. —
AP Till now STrike force Wesley wise! The biggest |
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Ghana look to keep Africa alive in South Africa
For decades, Uruguay has been in the shadow of South American rivals Brazil and Argentina but has now joined them in the last eight at the World Cup on merit. The 1930 and 1950 World Cup winner, Uruguay has a solid defense and a three-pronged attacking formation with Diego Forlan playing just behind Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. Coach Oscar Tabarez went to that system after the team labored to a 0-0 draw with France, and the result was two strikes by Forlan in a 3-0 victory over host South Africa. Uruguay also beat Mexico 1-0 thanks to a goal by Suarez, who then netted two in a 2-1 victory over South Korea. "He is quite calm as a coach, with a lot of experience, who knows how to handle the group very well," Forlan said of Tabarez. "The experience that he has from (the 1990 World Cup) and other teams has helped us all a lot." Uruguay has been forced into a change in defense with Diego Godin ruled out with a thigh injury. But Forlan has recovered sufficiently from a damaged toe and will face the Ghanaians. Ghana is without suspended players Jonathan Mensah and Andre Ayew but striker Asamoah Gyan is expected to recover from an ankle injury he picked up in the second-round victory over the United States. The biggest problem for the last African team left in the competition is the enormous weight of expectations. But Ghana's Serbian coach, Milovan Rajevac, says the prospect of becoming the first team from the continent to reach the last four will motivate his squad. "We are not thinking about the pressure. We played very well at the African (Cup of) Nations so we have already proved that we are a team that knows how to compete," he said. "We will try to relax. You know it is good for us to be here. We are very happy with the whole situation. "We have no obligation but still we want to use this opportunity to do our best and to make history." Rajevac said his group of players was growing in confidence with each match. "Of course, sometimes you feel a little pressure. This is the highest level there is but we just try to do our best every match," he said. "We give the maximum." — AP
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Germany, Argentina begin war of words
Argentina disrespecftul, insists Schweinsteiger
Erasmia: Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has opened a World Cup war of words ahead of Saturday's quarter-final with Argentina by branding Diego Maradona's side 'disrespectful'. "I find that the behaviour of the Argentinians on the pitch, how they gesticulate and how they try to influence the referee, is disrespectful," said the Bayern Munich midfielder today. Schweinsteiger was in the Germany team which beat Argentina 4-2 on penalties at Berlin's Olympic Stadium in the quarter-finals of the 2006 World Cup when the hosts went on to finish third at the World Cup. But he clearly remembers the ugly scenes immediately after the shoot-out with players and officials from both sides clashing on the pitch. The Argentinians reacted angrily after German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann saved Esteban Cambiasso's spot-kick to confirm victory. "We all still remember sitting watching the penalties," said Germany's vice-captain Schweinsteiger who came off in the second-half of that match. "What I remember most is what happened after the game, this brawl which had been triggered by the Argentinians." After their impressive 4-1 win over England in the Round of 16, Schweinsteiger says Germany can win the quarter-final in Cape Town, but most not be intimidated by the Argentinians. —
AFP PRETORIA: Argentina's coach Diego Maradona has responded to a verbal offensive from their World Cup quarter-final opponents Germany by asking: "What's the matter with you, Schweinsteiger, are you nervous?" Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger began the war of words on Wednesday when he called the Argentines "disrespectful" and said they tried to influence the referee. German captain Philipp Lahm added fuel to the fire ahead of the hugely-anticipated match in Cape Town on Saturday by saying Argentina did not know how to deal with defeat, saying South Americans were "impulsive and temperamental". "We don't have time to think about Schweinsteiger," Maradona told Fox Sports Argentina in an interview. "The players are thinking about going onto the pitch, in getting their revenge," he said referring to Argentina's defeat by Germany in 2006. — Reuters |
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London, July 1 Kvitova, the world number 62, had been expected to be little more than a sacrificial lamb on Williams' route to a fourth crown at the All England Club, but the feisty Czech gave as good as she got in a tight first set. She broke the Williams serve in the fifth game but the American levelled and took the tiebreak 7-5. Kvitova battled defiantly in the second set, but a double fault to hand Williams a double break at 5-2 meant there was no way back. Russian Vera Zvonareva booked a place in the Wimbledon singles final when she beat unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semifinal on Thursday. The 21st seed reached her first grand slam final after a slow start against the world number 82, losing the first set before coming through with increasing confidence on a cloudy, breezy day at the All England Club. "I'm very excited, I'm not realising it at the moment," the 25-year-old said in a courtside interview. "It was very tough out there, she's a tough opponent and I'm happy with the way I hung in the match and was able to turn it around. It's one of my dreams to be out there (in the final)." Zvonareva broke in game six of the second set on Centre Court to start her recovery and a further break in the opening game of the decider helped her on her way to victory, which she sealed when the Bulgarian miscued a running backhand after an hour and 46 minutes. Murray up against Nadal in semis Andy Murray punished Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for one crucial error of judgement on Wednesday to storm into the Wimbledon semifinals for the second consecutive year as hopes of a first British men’s winner since 1936 soared. Murray eventually sealed a 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 win and a last-four clash with world number one Rafael Nadal, but the match was balanced on a knife edge for two absorbing sets. The enigmatic Tsonga launched a withering onslaught in the late afternoon sunshine and looked to have the home favourite on the rack until a rush of blood at 5-5 in the second tiebreak of the match changed everything. The Frenchman thundered down a first serve which Murray chipped back at full strength and as the ball hovered invitingly towards the on-rushing Tsonga he hesitated, withdrew his racket, and turned in horror as the ball landed on the dusty baseline. Tsonga cursed himself and Murray seized his chance to win the next point and level the match. His reaction, a huge bellowing roar, spoke volumes. Tsonga, who stomped back to his chair at the end of the second set and hurled his racket to the grass, said he hoped Murray would go on and win the title.— Reuters |
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Can’t write Fedex off just yet: McEnroe
London, July 1 As he has done for the last eight years, the Swiss maestro rolled up at the players’ entrance on the second Thursday of the championships in his courtesy car. Except this time, there will be no gentle practice session on the eve of the men's semifinal. While many pundits were ready to write the 16-times grand slam champion's tennis obituary and hail the start of the post-Federer era, John McEnroe reminded everyone that the Swiss had the same blood coursing through his veins as everyone else. "The guy's a human being," said the three-times former champion. "Let's not forget a couple years ago when he lost to Nadal in the finals, (people were saying) `It was over, he was done, he's a bum.' "Then he beats Pete's (Sampras) record, he wins the French (in 2009), and then he follows up and wins Australia (in 2010) and he plays some amazing tennis. "So to write anyone off that accomplished is stupid. Of course at the same time at some point, it's inevitable that it's going to happen." In 2010, he came within three points of losing to a clay court journeyman ranked 60th, dropped a set against a 152nd player who goes by the nickname of Bozo before finally being battered into submission by the sledgehammer forehand of Czech 12th seed Tomas Berdych. Berdych described the watershed moment in tennis as, "Not many other moments can be compared to this one, standing on Centre Court here in Wimbledon beating the six-times champion." Losing in the quarters at Wimbledon sent this man who has contested 22 grand slam finals, seven of them at south west London, into denial. "Quarters is a decent result...obviously people think quarters is shocking but people would die to play in quarterfinals of a grand slam," he said. Seconds later reality set in. "It's not something I'm used to doing. God, I can't wait for Paris and Wimbledon to come around next year again, that's for sure." —
Reuters
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Pawar keen to restart India-Pak series
Singapore, July 1 "Recent Foreign and Home Minister’s visit to Pakistan is a welcome sign. If India and Pakistan start playing and it influences the bilateral relations of the two countries and also if both the governments permit, we will be happy to encourage," Pawar said. Former BCCI President Pawar, who is also a serving Union minister in the Indian government, begins a two-year term as ICC President after taking over from David Morgan today. The 69-year-old Pawar hoped the process to improve the relations between the two neighbouring countries will help to foster cricketing ties too. "ICC wants India and Pakistan to continue their bilateral series. But ICC had not taken the initiative to stop that. It was because of some unforeseen circumstances that both the countries had decided to stop it. But now that the process to improve relations between the countries is on, it will give some dividends to cricket too," Pawar told CNN-IBN. The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan were stalled after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008. — PTI ICC mum on Howard’s rejection
Singapore, July 1 The sport's governing body formally proclaimed Sharad Pawar as its new president at the end of the five-day gathering and opened his tenure by sidestepping constant interrogation over the man who would have replaced him if his bid had succeeded. On Wednesday, the ICC asked both Cricket Australia (CA) and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), who nominated Howard, to submit a new candidate by August 31. The vice-president will automatically become the president in 2012. "There are no political connotations to this decision," Pawar, who replaced Briton David Morgan, told reporters. "We will wait for Australia and New Zealand's recommendation." Seated next to Pawar, ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat also spent most of the news conference defending the board's decision. "The ICC board does not have to give reasons. There simply was an insufficient number of delegates in support of the candidate so it did not go to a vote," he said. Howard, 70, had been a contentious choice for the position, with Australian media reporting that his criticism of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's regime while Prime Minister had alienated him with both South Africa and Zimbabwe. His condemnation of world record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan's bowling action also met with anger in the off-spinner's native Sri Lanka. Despite his rejection, Howard was adamant that he would not step aside as the region's nomination and said he had been given no indication as to why his candidacy was blocked by a reported six of the 10 major cricketing nations at the Singapore meeting. — Reuters |
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New Delhi, July 1 The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) claimed that the June 18 meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) officials had gone in their favour and asked the government not to interfere in the functioning of the National Sports Federations (NSF) anymore. "Whatever has happened has happened. Now it is a closed chapter for us. I feel there should not be any more debate on this issue from today. I don't think now there would be any interference from the government's side," Randhir told reporters here. "During last month's meeting, IOC made it very clear that the autonomy of the National Olympic Committees cannot be infringed. “The Executive Board of IOC was very satisfied with the outcome of the meeting but also stressed that IOC will continue to monitor the situation and will ensure that Olympic Charter is respected," he said. But the Sports Ministry strongly contested Randhir's claims, saying that there was no change in its stance. "Nothing has changed. The government order of May 1, 2010, continues to stand. The next date of hearing before the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court is on August 18," a ministry spokesman said. The tug-of-war between IOA and the Sports Ministry over the guidelines - which fixes the term of the sports bosses in the country - has been going on for quite sometime. The matter even reached IOC, which addressed the issue at a meeting with both the parties in Lausanne last month. Asked what if the Sports Ministry refused to stop funding the NSFs, Randhir said, "If the government wants to stick to their stand and stop promoting sportspersons, good luck to them." — PTI
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Hodgson named new Liverpool manager
The 18-times English champions, who parted company with Spaniard Rafael Benitez in June, said Hodgson had agreed to a three-year contract. Vastly experienced, Hodgson takes over after a woeful season for the Anfield club, who finished seventh and missed out on qualifying for the lucrative Champions League. "This is the biggest job in club football and I'm honoured to be taking on the role of manager of Britain's most successful football club," Hodgson told Liverpool's website. Hodgson, whose name has been linked to the England job since their recent World Cup flop, becomes Liverpool's 18th manager and the first Englishman to hold the post since Roy Evans left in 1998. — Reuters |
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Advancing at all costs has been the guiding principle behind the progress of Brazil and Netherlands to the World Cup quarterfinals, regardless of tradition or public perception. Now that they're about to meet in a match befitting a final, the discussion has turned back to style.
Uruguay will be chasing its first World Cup semifinal appearance for 40 years tomorrow while Ghana is bidding to make history for Africa.
Defending champion Serena Williams withstood stiff early resistance from unseeded Czech Petra Kvitova before winning 7-6, 6-2 to reach her sixth Wimbledon singles final on Thursday.
Like the rest of the sporting world, it seems that even Roger Federer cannot fathom that he actually lost at Wimbledon before the final.As he has done for the last eight years, the Swiss maestro rolled up at the players’ entrance on the second Thursday of the championships in his courtesy car.
Port Elizabeth, July 1
"They have technical quality and we will need to be ready for that. It's a solid team."
The two-time finalists have also had to overcome some friction within the squad after the 2-1 win over Slovakia in the round of 16, but coach Bert van Marwijk is confident that's all in the past now.
Despite playing well and scoring his first World Cup goal in the win over Chile on Monday, Robinho said he is still not at his best and wants to improve for the final stages of the tournament in South Africa. 
Johannesburg, July 1
Instead, after being the only member of the world's top four to miss out on the semifinal party, Federer emerged from the car dressed casually in a T-shirt and jeans, and hurriedly disappeared into the building, perhaps looking to clear out his locker four days earlier than he would have wanted or expected.
London, July 1
JOHANNESBURG