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| Thursday, June 15, 2000, Chandigarh, India   
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Norway upset Spain;Yugoslavia held |
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Windies enjoy run feast
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Norway upset Spain; Yugoslavia held ROTTERDAM, June 14 (AP) — Goals, a stunning comeback by Yugoslavia and first major upset by Norway over Spain put the game of soccer firmly at the heart of Euro 2000, one day after the first serious hooligan test passed with hardly any injury or arrest. Confounding dire predictions, the police in Eindhoven said during the night following Portugal’s 3-2 win over England, not a single arrest was linked to hooliganism. It almost was a dream start for tiny Slovenia too late yesterday, which led Yugoslavia 3-0 and had a man to spare with only 23 minutes left. Slovenia’s collapse was just as stunning as their rise that preceded it. After Slovenia’s only star, Zlatkho Zahovic, had led Slovenia to a seemingly unassailable lead with two goals, Savo Milosevic did likewise to bring Yugoslavia back again after Lazio stalwart Sinisa Mihaljovic had been sent off. In the other group C game, a blunder by goalie Francisco Molina gave Norway a 1-0 win over Spain and the first major upset of Euro 2000. Molina totally misjudged a high free kick by opposite number Thomas Myhre and raced out of his goal, allowing Steffen Iversen to head the ball into an empty net, leaving favourites Spain stunned. “I am destroyed. It was just one of those things,” said Molina, preferred in the starting lineup to Jose Santiago Canizares of Valencia and 19-year-old Iker Casillas of Real Madrid. “All I can do now is concentrate on making sure we win the next two games.” CHARLEROI (Belgium) (DPA): Ten-man Yugoslavia fought back from 0-3 down to salvage a 3-3 draw against Balkan neighbours Slovenia in a day of upsets at the European football championships. Two goals by Zlato Zahovic and one by Miran Pavlin seemed to assure underdogs Slovenia of an easy victory in group C until the Yugoslavs hit back with three goals in a six-minute burst in the second half. The result left the two teams joint second behind Norway, surprise 1-0 winners over Spain in the opening group C game in Eindhoven earlier in the day. It was the highest scoring game of the eight played so far in the European Championships, and one of the most exciting. The Slovenians, ranked by bookmakers as 150-1 outsiders before the start of the tournament, looked as though they were going to devour the fancied Yugoslavs. A crowd of 20,000 at the municipal stadium in Charleroi saw Yugoslavia wilt in the first half as Slovenia made effective use of long balls to puncture their opponents’ shaky defence. It was the first encounter between the two countries, since Slovenia split from Yugoslavia in 1991. Slovenia’s Zeljko Milinovic set the tone in the fourth minute when he smashed a free kick narrowly wide of the post, with goalkeeper Ivica Kralj well beaten. The Slovenian pressure paid off in the 23rd minute when Amri Karic sent a long cross to Zahovic, which the striker headed into the corner of the net from near the penalty spot. Zahovic grabbed his second on 57 minutes when he latched onto a misplaced pass from Mihajlovic in the Yugoslav penalty area and slammed the ball home. Five minutes earlier, Pavlin had put Slovenia 2-0 in front when he outjumped the Yugoslav defence to head home a free kick from Zahovic. Just when it seemed that Slovenia was about to coast to victory, Yugoslavia miraculously recovered and exploded into life with three goals to earn the draw. Milosevic grabbed his first on 67 minutes when Miroslav Djukic lobbed the ball over the head of goalkeeper Mladen Dabanovic for the stiker to slot the ball into the empty goal. Three minutes later Drulovic reduced the gap with a 10-metre drive, before Milosevic scored again on 73 minutes to grab the unexpected equaliser for Yugoslavia. In the dying minutes,
both sides had the chance to win the game, but good
goalkeeping on both sides prevented any further scoring. |
Spain disappoint, face early exit ROTTERDAM (Netherlands), June 14 (Reuters) — Spain’s dismal 0-1 defeat by Norway in their Euro 2000 opener yesterday demonstrated one thing once again. No matter how successful they are at club level, no matter how much swagger and poise they show in qualifying, they can be relied upon to foul up once the serious business starts. It is now 12 years since Spain won their opening match in a full international tournament and 16 since they made the final of the European Championships in France, their last decent result at this level. Steffen Iversen’s second half goal now leaves them facing an early exit yet again - incredible given the pedigree of their players but all too predictable in the light of history. Spain went in to this tournament buoyed by an unprecedented season of success for their clubs, as Barcelona made the semifinals of the Champions League, Valencia were the beaten finalists and Real Madrid extended their already unmatched record to make it eight European Cup wins. Jose Antonio Camacho’s side had also proved more than a match for anyone in qualifying for the tournament, as a strike rate of more than five goals a game attests. Players such as Raul, Pep Guardiola, Michel Salgado and Fernando Hierro are among the most feted in the world game and yet when push came to shove on Tuesday - and there was a lot of both in an untidy game against Norway - they were, as usual, found wanting. “Maybe we need to be more effective and less brilliant in the way we play,’’ was as close as Salgado could come to an explanation for a national trait that has seen Spain win just one major tournament in their history, the 1964 European Championship in Madrid. Part of the problem, perhaps, was that Camacho chose to field only four players from the three teams that dominated the Champions league this term, leaving seven of the stars of Barcelona Real Madrid and Valencia on the bench. When asked about his decision to leave the likes of Gaizka Mendieta kicking his heels until late in the second half, and to pick goalkeeper Francisco Molina from relegated Atletico Madrid rather than Santiago Canizares or Iker Casillas, Camacho was his usual defensive self. “I can only field 11 players at a time,” was all the coach would say. “It’s just not possible to play everyone.” Camacho blamed the defeat on bad luck and the referee and defended the way his side had played. “We attacked, or tried to attack, for the full 90 minutes, not even slacking off towards the end.” “It wasn’t a question of fatigue or of not having the right players.” “I’ve told the players that I’m not worried about anything. If we continue to play like that we’ll win our last two games and qualify for the quarterfinals. “The problem today is that the ball just wouldn’t go in.’’ It is a problem Spain have had many times before, most recently in a 2-3 defeat to unfancied Nigeria in their first game at France 98. Spain, at that time coached by Javier Clemente, found there was no way back from that blow and returned home after the first round. It remains to be seen if
Camacho’s men can show more character to go with
their undoubted quality and pull themselves back into
contention in their final group games against Slovenia
and Yugoslavia. |
Steve injury worries England EINDHOVEN (Netherlands), June 14 (AFP) — Steve McManaman is England’s main injury worry following their opening Euro-2000 defeat against Portugal, the Press Association reported. McManaman, who started on the left side of midfield in a bold attacking gamble by Keegan which ultimately failed, managed to score England’s second goal but admitted that it was “pointless” now in the wake of their ensuing 3-2 defeat. He was due to receive treatment yesterday on the knee injury which forced him off shortly into the second-half, to be replaced by Dennis Wise, but remains hopeful that he will recover in time to be available to face Germany on Saturday. The Real Madrid midfielder revealed after last night’s game: “I just got tangled up with Rui Costa and I twisted my knee. I’ve done this before. “It’s very sore at the moment. A good night’s sleep and some good treatment and hopefully it will settle down as soon as possible and I’ll be all right. “I’ve had treatment on it in the dressing-room and as much ice on it as possible and we’ll know more today.” Keegan admitted that McManaman’s fitness was a “concern”, while he insisted that Tony Adams had gone off because of cramp. Michael Owen will meanwhile also have to test out a calf injury, yet that was not the reason for his replacement by Emile Heskey at half-time — and that could well put his starting place against Germany in some doubt. “I had to bring
Michael off,” explained Keegan. “He is
disappointed, but he will have his day again. We just
weren’t holding the ball up well enough.” |
Cronje to open pandora’s box? CAPE TOWN, Jun 14 (PTI) — After being plastered with bribery allegations by his colleagues, disgraced South African captain Hansie Cronje is reportedly all set to open the pandora’s box containing names of several international cricketers allegedly involved in cricket match-fixing. The fallen hero’s new statement, which he handed over to his lawyers today, expected to be read out before the King Commission of Inquiry tomorrow. Cronje’s new statement apparently nullifies the one he made on April 11 and which has been contradicted several times in evidence to the commission, The Cape Argus newspaper reported. “Cronje’s new confession was likely to contain details of the involvement of international cricketers in match-fixing,” the newspaper said. Following South African cricket boss Ali Bacher’s testimony in which he said two World Cup matches involving Pakistan were fixed and cast aspirations on the integrity of Pakistani umpire Javed Akhtar, he himself has come under scrutiny of the commission. Bacher, who claimed that Akhtar was on payroll of a bookmaker when the umpire gave nine lbw decisions in the Headingley Test between South Africa and England, came under the ambit of the investigations by King Commission following a disclosure that he was allegedly involved in match-fixing as early as the 1980s. SYDNEY (Reuters): The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today said it would look into what it called unsubstantiated claims from South Africa’s top cricket official that Australian Test players were involved in match-fixing. Dr Ali Bacher, head of the United Cricket Board of South Africa, told a judicial commission in Capetown that Australians had been linked to match-fixing by a Pakistani man in a conversation with a South African businessman in April. The businessman identified the man he spoke to on a Johannesburg-Durban flight as Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has said the injured Akhtar was with the Pakistani team on the tour in the West Indies at the time of the alleged conversation. The ACB Chief Executive, Mr Malcolm Speed yesterday said Dr Bacher had confirmed no one named Akhtar was on the flight in question. “If he (Akhtar) was on the plane, we’d very much like to talk to him to find out if there’s any substance to it,” Mr Speed said. “They are serious
allegations and they will taken seriously and, if they
have any substance, they will be fully
investigated,” he told reporters. |
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LONDON, June 14 (AFP) — Absolutely typical: just when England thought the West Indies’ top order was showing signs of frailty ahead of tomorrow’s opening Test at Edgbaston, the tourists enjoyed a run feast against virtually the same Zimbabwe attack that had made the host nation’s batting look decidedly second-rate a few days earlier. Now a sunny Arundel, where the West Indies drew with Zimbabwe on Monday is a long way from overcast Trent Bridge during a Test match and just as everyone should not have got too wound up about Brian Lara’s repeated failures facing modest county attacks, perhaps they ought not to read too much into his 176 against his fellow tourists. One innings does not a summer make. But these were runs made against a Test-strength attack. Hearteningly for the West Indies, Lara was not the only batsman in form. Opener Sherwin Campbell (146) and Shivnarine Chanderpaul with an unbeaten second innings 103 spent plenty of time in the middle too. About the only safe conclusion that can be drawn from Lara’s century is that class is permanent and form is temporary which is sobering enough for England. Still, some have been saying this five-match series represents a great chance for England to beat the West Indies. But the cold fact remains that the last time England won a Test series against these opponents, Manchester City could give their local rivals a decent game of football and the country still counted its money in pounds, shillings and pence. Truly many things have changed since 1969. Yet England do have a chance to redress the balance this summer. Since losing the superbly reliable Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes, the West Indies have struggled for quality opening batsmen. Their fellow Bajan Sherwin Campbell has yet to convince some observers that he’s the genuine article but together with left-hander Wavell Hinds he may have solved this problem. Hinds batted beautifully for a hundred on a turning pitch against Glamorgan where Robert Croft bowled himself into the England squad by taking eight for 70. With seven out of the West Indies first eight batsmen likely to be left-handers Croft’s off-spin, unusually for modern Test matches, could be crucial. His stock deliveries will be turning away from the bat which are tougher for top-class batsmen to deal with than the ball spinning towards them. But Edgbaston is not normally a spinners’ pitch — in 1993 the West Indies won a Test there in barely three days on a seamers’ paradise. Pace bowlers win more
Tests than off-spinners and in Curtly Ambrose and
Courtney Walsh the tourists have two greats. |
South Africans flock to hear proceedings CAPE TOWN, June 14 (AFP) — Scores of South Africans of all races and ages each day pack the hearings here into the Hansie Cronje scandal, drawn together by shock at revelations that have shown their cricketing heroes too have feet of clay. Squeezed into the Centre for the Book, a learning centre for students in the centre of the city, behind the rows of lawyers and journalists, the disillusioned cricket fans have come to hear for themselves how the sacked captain apparently lied about his involvement in match-fixing. “How could he have done this to us?” demanded businessman Vince Ferdiruedo during a tea break. Some 70 journalists, from all around the world, have been accredited to cover the inquiry, but Mr Ferdiruedo and the students, pensioners, housewives and others who pack the hall want “first hand information.” He has attended the hearings since they started last Wednesday and, like the rest of South Africa, been stunned by testimonies from top players, including Herschelle Gibbs, Lance Klusener and Mark Boucher, that Cronje had offered them bribes to under-perform in internationals. “I am still a cricket fan but I will always have this in the back of my mind,” Mr Ferdiruedo said. He and many South Africans, including Cronje’s colleagues, find it difficult to be too hard on the fallen captain. “I wouldn’t say (he deserves) a life ban. Maybe a five-year ban. Let him make a comeback. He’s learnt a very, very hard lesson.” Retired schoolteacher Mona Randell, who knits during the proceedings, is not as sympathetic. “They should chuck him on an island. I am very, very angry. The love and respect the players had for him - he used it and abused it. “Why did he go to the weak ones instead of the senior players?” Ms Randell said, referring to Gibbs and Henry Williams, newcomers to the team, who admitted last week that they had accepted offers from Cronje to under-perform in a one-day fixture against India. Mr Randell described as “disgusting” the special immunity from prosecution offered to Cronje by authorities for a full confession. She has struck up a cricket-based friendship with 17-year-old student Nicolaas van Wyk, sitting next to her. “Initially I thought India made all this stuff up,” Van Wyk said. “I thought Hansie was not guilty, but now it is all coming out.” Not everyone was so naive. “I think everyone does it - I was just shocked Hansie was so stupid to admit it,” said a 25-year-old lawyer, who would only give her name as Eleanor, on a break from work. “Some of my friends
just make jokes about it; some of them are so fanatical
about cricket, they say they will never watch it
again,” she added. |
CBI summons Kapil, Azhar, others NEW DELHI, June 14 (UNI) — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued summons to several cricketers, including present Indian coach Kapil Dev, former skipper Mohammed Azharuddin, ex-manager Ajit Wadekar and commentators Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar in the match-fixing case. Apart from them, summons for appearance were also issued to hard-hitting batsman Ajay Jadeja, one-time medium pacer Prashant Vaidya and a host of present and past cricketers and BCCI officials, commentators, certain government officials, journalists, a politician, a cine star, bookies and businessmen. Wicket keeper Nayan Mongia and ex-opener Navjot Singh Sidhu have already responded to the CBI summons and got their statements recorded. While Sidhu deposed on Monday, Mongia was questioned yesterday.
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Saddam wants “best coach” BAGHDAD, June 14 (AFP) — Iraq’s President Saddam Hussein has given instructions to hire the “best foreign coach” for the national football team, without specifying what nationality would be acceptable, newspapers reported yesterday. Saddam’s eldest son Uday, president of the Iraqi Olympic Committee, said the decision was taken to “serve the sport and Iraqi sportsmen”. Iraq’s team, which finished third after Iran and Syria in the King Hussein tournament in Amman in May, is currently coached by the Iraqi Adnan Hamad. The proposed recruitment
of a foreign coach has been at the centre of debate in
Iraqi newspapers over recent months. |
‘They survived a major shipwreck’ BELGRADE, June 14 (Reuters) — Yugoslav media hailed the national team’s heroic comeback against Slovenia at Euro 2000 but blasted them for a “disgraceful” performance in the first 60 minutes of a thrilling 3-3 draw in Charleroi. “They survived a major shipwreck,” said Belgrade daily Glas Javnosti today. “Trailing 3-0 and down to 10 men, they looked like the Titanic when it hit the fatal iceberg.” “Fortunately, Savo Milosevic came to the sinking ship’s rescue and kept it afloat.” The substitute striker scored two goals and left wing Ljubinko drulovic added a third for Yugoslavia in a frantic six-minute second half spell shortly after Sinisa Mihajlovic, the team’s star, had been sent off for dissent. “There are too many lies among us, we have to talk to each other face to face and say what has to be said,” Milosevic was quoted as saying after the match. “Mihajlovic’s dismissal turned out to be fortunate as it spurred us to play our hearts out for the remaining 30 minutes.” “But the first 60
minutes were disastrous and we ought to be ashamed of
ourselves for underestimating a dangerous team like
Slovenia.” |
Differences surface in POA meeting CHANDIGARH, June 13 — Serious differences reportedly cropped up today at an emergency meeting of the executive committee of the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) held at Punjab Bhavan here. These differences might well cast their shadow on the conduct of the 2000 National Games, scheduled to be held in Punjab from November 18 to 29 next. And to further compound the trouble is the fact that Mr T.K. Balu, Director, Technical, of the National Games, today tendered his resignation from the post. He submitted his resignation both to Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, president of the Punjab Olympic Association, who chaired today’s meeting, as well as Mr Arvind Khanna, secretary-general of the Punjab Olympic Association. It, however, remains to be seen whether his resignation is accepted. Such differences can put the games in jeopardy. Today’s meeting was called to take stock of the progress made relating to the organisation of the games as also to accord approval of the constitution of the various committees and their composition. Besides members of the executive committee a number of special invitees also attended the meeting. But with serious differences coming to the fore over the composition of the various committees tomorrow’s meeting of all chairmen and convenors of the functional sub-committees, scheduled to be held at Punjab Bhavan here, has been postponed. The postponement was announced by Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra, secretary-general of the National Games Organising Committee. Today’s meeting began with Mr Bindra apprising the members of the progress made relating to the various venues of the games. He said that contrary to his expectations the infrastructure might not be ready in time, particularly the laying of the synthetic surfaces both at Ludhiana (for athletics) and Jalandhar (for hockey). He said the base at both places would take some time to be completed and with the monsoon scheduled to break over the region towards the end of this month the work could only be completed around end September. And after a fortnight of curing the foreign suppliers of the surface would need a minimum of six weeks to lay the surface. Therefore it was obvious that the venues would not be ready in time for the Games, at present scheduled to commence from November 18 after the original dates of November 5 to 16 were shifted by the Indian Olympic Association. Mr Bindra informed the meeting that the organising committee might find it difficult to arrange for accommodation for all the participants as the university authorities at Ludhiana had informed the organising committee that the university would be conducting its semester examination about the time the games were scheduled to be held. But what really upset the mood of the meeting was the discussion on the composition of the various committees. Certain members felt that the composition of the committees was “not fair”. In fact, it is learnt, that certain members questioned the decisions taken at the first meeting of the National Games organising committee held on April 18 last. It may be recalled the meeting was presided over by Mr Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister of Punjab. Today’s agenda papers circulated prior to the meeting had also listed “to consider holding of the annual general meeting of the POA” as one of the items for discussion. Certain members made a vociferous demand that the elections to the POA should be held at the earliest as the present team, which was elected on March 15, 1997, had completed its three-year term in March, 2000. But these very members seemed to have forgotten the meeting of presidents of various associations held here on April 21 when it was decided that the present office-bearers would continue till the completion of the National Games. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Chandigarh Administration is not willing to spend any money for the upgradation of the various venues where events of the National Games are scheduled to be held. Competitions in golf, rowing, shooting and tennis are scheduled to be held in Chandigarh. It is the shooting venue which needs massive renovation costing about Rs 40 lakh to Rs 50 lakh to bring it up to the required standard. The Administration wants the Punjab Olympic Association to undertake the renovation work. But sources in the Punjab Olympic Association say that it cannot be done as the ranges are not under its control. In case the Chandigarh Administration does not take steps to renovate the Patiali Rao shooting ranges there is every possibility that the shooting events might be shifted. Already, the Punjab Olympic Association has identified a place in Mohali where a shooting range can be built. But if such a step is taken then it might further delay the holding of the games. With the Planning
Commission having sanctioned Rs 18.50 crore for the
holding of the games the organising committee has
generated enough money for the games, which has a budget
of Rs 40 crore. Besides the grant from the Planning
Commission, the Punjab Government has given Rs 15 crore
(Rs 5 crore was released in the last financial year while
the remaining money will be released this year) while the
Department of Sports, Government of India, has released
Rs 11 crore (Rs 3 crore was given last year and the
balance amount will be released this year). |
Atapattu slams half century COLOMBO, June 14 (AFP) — Marvan Atapattu celebrated his elevation as Sri Lanka’s vice-captain with an unbeaten half-century to lead his side to 115 for three at stumps on a rain-shortened opening day of the first cricket Test against Pakistan here today. Atapattu batted with resolve at the SSC grounds, as three wickets crashed at the other end, to be 50 not out, including seven fours, after the three hours available for play. Skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and Atapattu gave Sri Lanka a steady start by putting on 52 for the first wicket after winning the toss. Jayasuriya made a quick 26 off 35 balls before presenting a simple catch to gully fielder Younis Khan off a Waqar Younis delivery. Waqar struck again in the same spell when he had Russel Arnold playing on to a delivery at four. Aravinda de Silva, former deputy skipper, helped Atapattu in a further stand of 53 before he top-edged a sweep off spinner Arshad Khan and Wasim Akram at mid-on made a lot of ground to hold on to the catch. Mahela Jayawardene, stripped of the vice-captaincy due to poor form survived 19 minutes in the middle before bad light brought an end to the day’s play with six overs remaining to be bowled. The opening day of the Test nearly became a non-starter when 230 minutes playing time was lost in the morning and afternoon sessions due to wet ground conditions. Sri Lanka, playing their 100th Test, gave 20-year-old fast bowler Dilhara Fernando his debut making him the 82nd player to be capped for his country. Scoreboard Sri Lanka (first innings): Atapattu batting 50 Jayasuriya c Younis Khan 26 b W Younis Arnold b W Younis 4 A de Silva c Akram b Arshad 30 Jayawardene batting 2 Extras (b-1, lb-1, nb-1) 3 Total (for 3 wkts in 42 overs) 115 Fall of wickets: 1-52, 2-56, 3-109. Bowling: Akram 9-3-15-0, W Younis 9-0-36-2, Razzaq 9-0-33-0, Mushtaq Ahmed 7-1-18-0, Arshad Khan 8-4-11-1.
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Navin Bhatia is IAF champ CHANDIGARH, June 14 — Fg-Offr Navin Bhatia created a record in the recently concluded Air Force Badminton Championships held in Shillong, by winning the singles title for the third time. In the final, he defeated Pratap 15-3, 15-10 in a closely fought encounter. Bhatia never allowed his opponent to settle down. His powerful smashes and placements near the net left the opponent non-plussed. Matching stroke for stroke , Navin gave a fine display — specially the drop shots which just skimmed over the net. Navin also won the doubles title. He and Tyagi beat Prasad and Bali 15-12, 11-15, 5-13. Fg-Offr Bhatia is the captain of the Air Force badminton team which will participate in the Open Nationals provided IAF gets affiliation with the Badminton Association of India. Son of former national
badminton champion, Wg Cdr Satish Bhatia, Chandigarh-born
Navin, at present posted as an ATC officer at Halwara,
has already played two All-India National Badminton
Championships. |
India-Pak kabaddi tie on June 23 CHANDIGARH, June 14 — The India versus Pakistan circle kabaddi match for men will be held on June 23. Giving this information, the secretary of the Haryana Olympic Association, Mr M.S. Malik, who is also the Director-General of Vigilance, said a training camp for the Indian kabbadi team had been organised from June 6 to 22. Mr Maliks said as many
as 30 kabaddi players from Haryana Police, Punjab Police,
CRPF, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana would take
part in this camp. The final trials will be organised on
June 17 at Panchkula. The final Indian team will also be
selected on the same day. |
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