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German campaign Czeched
Van Nistelrooy sends Dutch through |
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England, Portugal ready to face pain
Rooney, Ronaldo lead teenage revolution |
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Azzurri themselves to blame for debacle
No fee pay cut for players
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German campaign Czeched Lisbon, June 23 The three times champions had to win to guarantee their progress having earlier drawn with the Netherlands and Latvia but the Dutch took the runners-up spot in group D after a 3-0 win over Latvia and will play Sweden in the quarterfinals. Despite a fierce second-half onslaught Germany could not subdue a Czech side showing nine changes from the team who secured their place in the last eight as group winners with a 3-2 victory over the Netherlands last weekend. Germany did briefly lead through a stunning Michael Ballack goal in the 21st minute but the advantage lasted for only nine minutes as Marek Heinz equalised with an equally-superb strike. With the Germans pushing for the winner, Czech substitute Milan Baros scored on the break 12 minutes from time to make it three wins out of three — the only unblemished record. It was a disappointing display by the 2002 World Cup runners-up, who failed to show the necessary urgency against a Czech team who were able to relax and enjoy the occasion. Germany follow Italy and Spain as big name casualties of a tournament that has already lived up to its billing as one of the most open for years. The Czechs, who had already won the group, can turn their attentions to a quarterfinal meeting with Denmark in Porto. Germany coach Rudi Voeller had reacted to the lame goal-less draw with Latvia by giving a first start to midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and, after a cagey opening, the 19-year-old played a major part in the first goal. Bernd Schneider whipped in a cross from the left, Schweinsteiger knocked it down into the path of Ballack and the midfielder struck a fierce 20-metre shot past the helpless Jaromir Blazek. The Czechs, each man playing for a place in the quarterfinal team, deservedly equalised on the half-hour mark when Heinz left Oliver Kahn flailing with a perfectly-placed 25-metre free kick into the top corner. Voeller sent on Lukas Podolski to bolster his attack at half time and Germany soon took control with an inspired Ballack driving them on. Around the hour mark he fizzed a low shot just wide then sent another against the post, Blazek saving Schneider's follow-up. Germany continued to exert pressure, Schneider heading wide, Christian Woerns having an effort cleared off the line and Blazek again defying Kevin Kuranyi. But just as the equaliser looked inevitable, the Czechs broke and Baros tucked the ball past Kahn at the second attempt in the 78th minute. The victory was revenge of sorts for the Czech Republic, beaten by Germany with a golden goal in the final of Euro '96. It is also a repeat of four years ago when Germany needed to beat already-qualified Portugal to reach the last eight but lost 3-0.
— Reuters |
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Van Nistelrooy sends Dutch through
Braga, June 23 Van Nistelrooy enabled the Dutch to take complete control of the match with two first-half goals, and substitute Roy Makaay added a third six minutes from time to leave the Netherlands as group D runners-up behind the Czech Republic. The Dutch, who took only one point from their opening two games against Germany and the Czechs, play Sweden in the last eight on Saturday. Van Nistelrooy broke the deadlock after 27 minutes when he sent goalkeeper Aleksandrs Kolinko the wrong way from the penalty spot after referee Kim Milton Nielsen decided Latvian skipper Vitalijs Astafjevs had tripped Edgar Davids in the box. Van Nistelrooy made it 2-0 after 35 minutes when a Clarence Seedorf free kick eluded the keeper and was headed back from beyond the far post by Philip Cocu for the forward to nod down over the line from close range. He joined England's Wayne Rooney at the top of the tournament's scoring chart with four goals. Van Nistelrooy should have completed his hat-trick after 41 minutes when he blasted a fierce volley straight at Kolinko when it seemed a goal was certain. The Dutch, needing a win to retain any hope of progressing to the last eight, were forced to make two changes. Michael Reiziger came in for the suspended Johnny Heitinga, sent off against the Czechs, in defence, while Frank de Boer took the place of the injured Wilfred Bouma to extend his record appearance tally for his country to 111. But the Latvians rarely troubled the Dutch back line apart from sporadic, but largely ineffective raids during the early part of the second half. Instead the Dutch spent most of the time in the Latvian half of the field and only inspired goalkeeping from Kolinko and desperate tackling from Latvia's over-worked defenders kept the score down. Winger Arjen Robben was again an inspiration on the right for the Netherlands, while Davids and Clarence Seedorf in midfield quickly established control which they never relinquished. Latvia, who narrowly lost 1-2 to the Czechs in their opening game and held Germany to a 0-0 draw in their second, also came into the match looking for an unlikely place in the last eight, but were never remotely close to achieving it.
— Reuters  |
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England, Portugal ready to face pain Lisbon, June 23 For the side that loses the first quarter-final of this increasingly exhilarating tournament, the come-down from the highs of the first round promises to be brutal. Expectations in both countries are running high, the anticipation of two of the most passionate sets of supporters in the world heightened by a common history of frustrating under-performance on the international stage. The pressure on what remains of the ‘golden generation’ of Portuguese players to finally win a grown-up trophy is mirrored by England’s desire to make up for the missed opportunity of the last World Cup. England fans will not need reminding that campaign ended at the quarter-final stage, Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side unable to produce the imagination or the energy required to overcome a ten-man Brazil in the heat of Shizuoka, Japan. Two years on, England have a fitter, more experienced squad that has been bolstered, to spectacular effect, by the introduction of Wayne Rooney as well as by the return of Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard, both of whom missed the World Cup through injury. For Eriksson tomorrow’s match offers the prospect of turning the tables on Luiz Felipe Scolari, the man who led Brazil past England and on to glory in Japan before taking over as Portugal’s coach. Eriksson, as is his way, dismissed any suggestion he could be motivated by a personal quest for revenge. But he admits to regrets about how he handled his players after Michael Owen gave them the lead. “If I could replay that game, I think that when we were 1-0 up, then in the last five minutes of the first-half, we should have played less optimistically. We should have tried very hard to go into half-time at 1-0 up. I told them that but a little bit too late. “If you are a manager, you have to take responsibility. You can’t blame anyone else. I’m responsible for picking the team and making the tactics.” England look to have run into form at the right time but the pre-match omens are not all good for Eriksson’s men. England have not beaten the hosts of a major tournament since the 1954 World Cup and the fluid passing of the Portuguese makes them exactly the kind of opponents their players traditionally struggle against as was illustrated in Euro 2000 when the English — admittedly then coached by Kevin Keegan — ended up losing 3-2 having led 2-0 in their first round clash. — AFP |
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Rooney, Ronaldo lead teenage revolution Porto, June 23 Within four days of Rooney becoming the youngest scorer at a European Championship with his first goal against Switzerland last week, Swiss striker Johann Vonlanthen took that mantle. Vonlanthen, three months younger than Rooney at 18 years and four months, equalised during Switzerland’s 3-1 defeat by France on Monday. Hosts Portugal also have a prodigy in winger Cristiano Ronaldo, whose unbridled enthusiasm got the better of him when he conceded a penalty in the opening defeat by Greece but who redeemed himself with a late consolation goal. Ronaldo went on to help Portugal beat Russia and Spain to set up a quarter-final against the English. England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, speaking after Rooney scored twice in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia on Monday, said: ‘’Rooney doesn’t just score goals, he’s a complete footballer.’’ His German counterpart, former world-class striker Rudi Voeller, said: ‘’What impresses me is not only his great skills but also the fact that he keeps running and is a great team player. He’s only 18 but you can see that he has acquired plenty of experience in the premier league.’’ The ultimate teenage performance at a major tournament was that of Brazilian Pele as a 17-year-old at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden when he scored six goals. Rooney’s striker partner Michael Owen, who has yet to find the net in Portugal, was just 18 when he burst on the scene at the 1998 World Cup in France. Whereas previous teenage achievements have been isolated cases, Euro 2004 appears to be setting a trend that could have its roots in the lessons of the last World Cup in South Korea and Japan. Teenagers are synonymous with freshness and fitness, factors lacking in the tournament favourites two years ago, with champions France and Argentina, in particular, disappointing hugely at the end of gruelling seasons. Rooney and Ronaldo were used sparingly by their English premier league clubs during the season, so they come to Euro 2004 relatively fresh. Vonlanthen scored brilliantly against the French, skipping between two defenders to take a through ball from Ricardo Cabanas and slip it wide of Fabien Barthez. The youngest scorer until this tournament was already 19, Yugoslavia’s Dragan Stojkovic in 1984. It is the lack of fear to have a go that characterises teenage scoring attempts like Rooney’s second goal against Switzerland on Thursday, a fine low shot that hit the near post and went in off the goalkeeper’s back. ‘’I don’t need to tell him (how to score), I couldn’t,’’ Eriksson said. ‘’I think it’s better I don’t and let him do what he wants to do.’’ Coaches usually include teenagers in their squads for the experience and the youngsters rarely see any action in their first tournament like Brazil striker Ronaldo at the 1994 World Cup. Germany have two highly promising teenagers in midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who made an impact as a substitute in his team’s first two games and could start in the Group D decider against the Czech Republic on Wednesday, and striker Lucas Podolski. With Germany’s more established strikers failing to score in two draws, there has been a media clamour for Voeller to play Podolski, who has just turned 19. One of the Netherlands’ best players is winger Arjen Robben, and the 20-year-old’s controversial substitution in the 3-2 defeat by the Czechs could be remembered as the moment Dutch Euro 2004 hopes foundered.
— Reuters |
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Home fans will give quarters a final feel Lisbon, June 23 The match is almost certain to sell out the 65,000 capacity Stadium of Light, where the final will be played on July 4. And the packed stands tomorrow will give the game the feeling of a final ahead of time. Over 50,000 England fans are estimated to be in Portugal for the tournament, many draped in the red and white colours of St. George’s flag and filling the air with their singing and chanting. Portugal is backed by a fervent population of 10 million, which has erupted in an uncharacteristic surge of patriotic feeling for the national team, draping homes, cars and bodies in the red green and yellow of their flag. So far, the fans have given the Portuguese a distinct home advantage in the stadiums. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari calls them his 12th player. However, at Monday’s match with Croatia, 40,000 English fans turned the Stadium of Light into a Wembley away from home, cheering their team on to a 4-2 win.
— AP |
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Azzurri themselves to blame for debacle Guimaraes, June 23 Italy’s last-gasp 2-1 victory over the already eliminated Bulgarians here yesterday proved futile as Sweden and Denmark went through to the quarterfinals at the Italians’ expense with a 2-2 draw — a result that suited both teams. All three teams finished on five points, but Sweden and Denmark advanced to the last eight thanks to the number of goals scored in games between the three group C rivals. Several Italian players raised their suspicions about the outcome of the all-Scandinavian match, but Corradi said the Azzurri paid the price for their 0-0 draw against the Danes in their opening game. “The Denmark game cost us the most,” said the Lazio forward, who started against the Bulgarians because Christian Vieri was not fully fit. “We drew 1-1 with Sweden but they gave us a harder game, and on reflection that wasn’t a bad result.” “Where it went wrong was against the Danes. We had so many chances to take three points and we didn’t convert them.” “Victory in that game would have lifted some of the pressure and put us in a strong position.” Striker Marco Di Vaio, a second-half substitute for the Italians, agreed with Corradi’s assessment. “The first game was so important and we only managed a point. In the end it came back to haunt us,” said the juventus marksman. “We should never have been in this position in the final game in which our fate was in the hands of the other teams in the group.” Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni, whose contract is now up and is not expected to be offered an extension, also lamented his team’s failure to break down the dogged Danes. “When this tournament began I always said the first result was the most important,” he said. “Several teams have struggled in their opening matches here and we suffered psychologically after our draw with Denmark.” “It’s a disppointing end to the competition, but we leave with our heads held high.” “My players gave everything and we played our part by getting the win. Unfortunately the result in the other match didn’t go our way.”
— AFP |
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Chess Oscar Award for Anand New Delhi, June 23 Anand was presented the award by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, who is also the President of the Russian Chess Federation. The legends of Russian chess, including former world champions Vassily Smyslov, Borris Spasski and World No I Garry Kasparov, were among the guests present at the award ceremony. “I am happy to get the award again in Moscow. It is very special to be applauded and appreciated by so many legends”, observed Grandmaster Anand. This is the second time that Anand received the Chess Oscar Award in Moscow. Anand, who has twice earlier won the Chess Oscar, in 1997 and 1998, is the second non-Russian after Bobby Fischer of the United States (1970, 1971 and 1972) to win the Oscar, and three times each at that. In 2004, Anand has already won the Corus Championship in Wijk Aan Zee, finished third in Melody Amber, where he won the rapid title. He is due to play in Dortmund, Mainz and the Chess Olympiad, besides a couple of other events. |
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No fee pay cut for players Mumbai, June 23 “It’s wrong to say that there is a pay cut as any perceived reduction in match fees that is being proposed, but not been finalised yet, would be more than compensated by the retainer fees they would be getting annually,” BCCI Joint Secretary Ratnakar Shetty clarified here. As per the formula worked out by the two parties, the players would be divided into three grades for annual contracts worth Rs 60, Rs 30 and Rs 15 lakh each. Only those who have played a minimum of three Tests or 10/One-Day Internationals would be eligible to sign the contract with the BCCI. Till now the BCCI was paying match fees plus logo money (for wearing the team sponsors’ logo) for every Test or ODI worth Rs 2.68 lakh and Rs 2.25 lakh respectively.
— UNI |
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Rain prevents start of play at Wimbledon London, June 23 With southwest London experiencing showers and high winds and no breaks visible in the dark cloud cover over the All England Club, the chances of play looked minimal. The British Met Office forecast was more optimistic, calling for fewer showers and some bright intervals later in the day. Organisers will be keen to get matches underway as play was abandoned early because of the rain on Tuesday, while three hours of first-round action was lost to the weather on the opening day of the tournament.
— Reuters |
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HC puts curbs on Kartar, others New Delhi, June 23 The court also issued summons to the defendants returnable on July 26, 2004. The plaintiff is Wrestling Federation of India through its President M.S. Malik. The court also directed that the compliance under order be made within three days. |
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Examination for fencing coaches Patiala, June 23 According to Mr Brahm
Mohindera, president of the Punjab Fencing Association (PFA), a former national level player Mrs Charanjit Kaur will conduct the course. Fencing experts, who have been invited from all over the country, will be conducting a seminar prior to the referee’s course. Only those candidates will be allowed to officiate in state and national level competitions who will be clearing the course. |
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