 |
|
|
Dutch dash Romania's dream
‘A nightmarish miss’
Romanian forward Adrian Mutu reacts at the end of the Euro 2008 Championships Group C football match against Netherlands on Tuesday. Holland beat Romania, a result which sent the Romanians crashing out of Euro 2008. — AFP
photo |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
I never demanded
AFC Challenge Cup
Buchanan: Pietersen has set a standard
Sub-Jr National Basketball
Cup to decide Champions Trophy fate: ICC
Saina Nehwal sails, Sridhar sinks
|
|
Berne, June 18 Huntelaar sidefooted home in the 54th minute from a right-wing cross by Ibrahim Afellay and Van Persie made sure of victory with a fierce left-foot drive in the 87th after expertly controlling a free kick by Demy de Zeeuw. The Dutch finished with a 100 per cent record at the top of Group C and play Sweden or Russia in a quarter-final tie in Basel on Saturday. Romania needed to win to reach the last eight but, after gritty draws against world champions Italy and France earlier in the tournament, Victor Piturca's side lacked imagination and creativity against a Dutch side showing nine changes. "It's a pity because we had a chance, we just couldn't take advantage of it after the first two games," Piturca told reporters. "The Dutch team were better and fresher than us.” “The fact of the matter is we lost to a better team. The pressure on our team was extreme. After Italy got the first goal (in their 2-0 win over France) in Zurich it raised the pressure on our team even further.” A poor first half ended scoreless with a nervy Romania forced to shoot from long range. Captain Cristian Chivu fired a free kick over from a good central position after nine minutes before Adrian Mutu and Gabriel Tamas went close with 25-metre drives. Arjen Robben should have snatched the lead for the Dutch in the 36th minute when he latched on to a through ball from Huntelaar but slipped it wide from six metres with only keeper Bogdan Lobont to beat. Van Persie also missed a good second-half opportunity when he turned defender Sorin Ghionea inside out before his shot was parried away superbly by Lobont's outstretched hand. Dutch coach Marco van Basten said: "It is great for us because we played well once again. We have had three excellent matches with different players. "The start wasn't perfect (on Tuesday) but we played well and won. I've very pleased with the whole squad. "We deserved to win, it shows our strengths and gives us self-confidence." — Reuters
|
|
Italy heave a sigh of relief
Zurich, June 18 While Italy breathed a sigh of relief at surviving what would have been an inglorious early departure from Group C, the game became a nightmare for France. Eager to keep their chances of survival alive and avenge a penalty shootout defeat by Italy in the 2006 World Cup final, nothing went right for them and they finished bottom of the group.
They not only lost inspirational playmaker Franck Ribery to a knee injury after only nine minutes but also had defender Eric Abidal sent off for hauling down Luca Toni in the area. Andrea Pirlo converted the resulting penalty in the 25th minute and a goal by Daniele De Rossi after 62 minutes gave Italy their first win over France in normal time without the need of extra time or penalties since the 1978 World Cup finals. The victory, coupled with Romania's 2-0 defeat by Netherlands in Berne, secured Italy's place in the last eight. The only setback on the night was that midfielders Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso were both booked and will miss the game against Spain in Vienna on Sunday. Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said: "It was a good performance. Perhaps we were playing better 11 against 11. "After that, a bit of fear and nerves came in but today it was a great response from all the lads." France coach Raymond Domenech said: "I am proud of my players. But the circumstances made it tough. Playing with 10 men for an hour, Franck being injured after 10 minutes, just one substitution possible after half an hour, that's tough." Striker Thierry Henry was on the same wavelength, saying: "Nothing went our way. Franck gets injured, we concede the goal and are shown a red card. Everything went against us. We tried to fight until the end but luck was just not on our side." Italy made the breakthrough when Pirlo lashed home his penalty after Abidal was red carded for bringing down Toni as he prepared to shoot. The gap left by Ribery's absence allowed Italy to largely dominate in midfield and between them Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso and Antonio Cassano created three good chances for Toni to score before halftime. Defender Fabio Grosso also went close when he thumped in a 43rd minute free kick which France keeper Gregory Coupet touched onto his right-hand post. De Rossi made it 2-0 when he smashed in a shot following a rehearsed free-kick routine, with his drive taking a deflection off Henry to leave Coupet wrong-footed. — Reuters
|
|
I never demanded souvenirs: Kapil
New Delhi, June 18 A fortnight after his cut-out was brought down from the Mohali Stadium, a hurt Kapil wrote an e-mail to the PCA yesterday, asking them to return him all the memorabilia he had gifted to the association. The former all rounder, however, made it clear that he had no intention of seeking those back but at the same time he could not see those invaluable souvenirs being thrown to the dustbin either. "I never asked them to return (those memorabilia). I said 'if you wish not to keep my stuff, give it back to me, rather than throwing it into the dustbin', so that I can preserve those," Kapil told NDTV. "I had no intention to have my things back but (wanted it back) if they wish not to keep it. As the media reported, they removed my poster, so I felt little uneasy because I had given a few very important things to them," said the legendary all-rounder who incurred cricket board's wrath after joining the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL). And he would have no problem at all if PCA decides to preserve the souvenirs, Kapil said. "If they want to keep, I'll be very happy and delighted... I'm not trying to say give me my things back. Please keep it, if you want," he said. Kapil, who would be felicitated by the BCCI along with his 1983 World Cup winning teammates in Delhi on June 24, said he did not have any grudge against PCA, even though he has joined the 'rebel' league. "I respect the Punjab Cricket Association because they are doing a great job to look after cricket in this part of the country, in my home town. "I hope we all are working for cricket. There is difference of opinion but that does not mean one can say the other is wrong. I have an opinion which is different from theirs. I respect them and I want them to respect me all in the same way," Kapil said. —
PTI |
|
AFC Challenge Cup
New Delhi, June 18 Eleven players were added to the 20 who went to Maldives and Sri Lanka for the SAFF Championship. Junior players Govin Moirangthem, Rakesh Masih and Denzil Franco, who were in the pre-national camp for the SAFF Championship, are back again for the camp which will be held for around ten days at the Ambedkar Stadium. Four players -- Surkumar Singh, Baldeep Singh (Jr), Ajayan Krishanan Nair and Clifford Miranda -- who missed the bus for SAFF Championship due to injury were also included for the camp. Syed Rahim Nabi and Tarif Ahmed also made it to the camp, just like out of favour goalkeepers Arindam Bhattacharya and Sandip Nandy. The final squad selected after the camp will leave for Portugal for a 10-day training-cum-competition tour in the first week of next month and after returning from there they will play a couple of friendlies before the July 30-August 10 AFC Challenge Cup, whose winners will qualify for the prestigious AFC Asian Cup in 2011 in Doha. In AFC Challenge Cup, India has been clubbed in the Group A alongside Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and surprised qualifiers Afghanistan while Group B comprised of DPR Korea, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Nepal. The Players: Goalkeepers: Arindam Bhattacharya, Subhashish Roy Chowdhary, Subrata Paul, Sandip Nandy. Defenders: Govin Moirangthem, Rakesh Masih, Denzil Franco, Surkumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, Gouramangi Singh, Deepak Mondal, N S Manju, Anwar Ali, Syed Rahim Nabi, Sameer Naik. Midfielders: Kuttimani, Baldeep Singh (Jr), Steven Dias, Climax Lawrence, N P Pradeep, Clifford Miranda, Bungo Singh, Ajayan Krishanan Nair, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Renedy Singh. Forwards: Baichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri, Manjit Singh, Abhishek Yadav, Sushil Singh, Tarif Ahmed. — PTI
|
|
Buchanan: Pietersen has set a standard
Sydney, June 18 “It is a logical extension of the reverse sweep,” Buchanan said. “The lawmakers have to be mindful of innovation versus convention, potentially what is good and entertaining and what is prejudicial to the game.” Pietersen, who bets right-handed, had twice reversed his grip and position during his innings on Sunday, effectively adopting a left-handed stance, and hit New Zealand medium-pacer Scott Styris for sixes on both occasions. According to Buchanan, there are plenty of other batsmen around the world who have the potential to follow Pietersen’s footsteps. “Once it’s been done successfully, there are plenty of other strong and powerful and skilled players who can actually do that. He has just set a standard at the moment that no one else has been prepared to try in a game,” he stated. “Others might have been prepared to practise it but he has actually taken the next step, had the courage to take that risk.” “He (Pietersen) is prepared to be unconventional, and I think that’s an important approach,” he added. — UNI
|
|
Sub-Jr National Basketball
Jalandhar, June 18 Delhi boys were leading at the end of the first quarter 13-02 and at the end of second quarter 21-06. In the girls section pre-quarter final match, Tamil Nadu eves took a lead of 11-04 at the end of first quarter. Gujarat girls did not score a single point in the second quarter. In the third quarter, Gujarat girls played with tight defence and did not allow Tamil Nadu girls to score a single point, scoring nine points themselves. Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Delhi, Jharkhand in the boys section and Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh teams have entered the quarterfinal stage. Results: Boys: Pool B: Jharkhand beat Haryana by 46-35, Pool D: Kerala beat Madhya Pradesh by 52-47, Tamil Nadu beat Chandigarh by 47-28, Pool E: Uttar Pradesh beat Andhra Pradesh by 44-11, Maharashtra beat Orissa by 54-33, Pool F: Delhi beat Manipur by 55-27, West Bengal beat Mizoram by 41-31. Girls: Pool A: Chhattisgarh beat Himachal Pradesh by 57-32.
|
|
Cup to decide Champions Trophy fate: ICC
Lahore, June 18 ''The successful holding of the Asia Cup by the PCB will be the barometer for the ICC Champions Trophy,'' Mali told mediapersons after arriving at the Islamabad airport yesterday. ''People here love cricket and hence the Champions Trophy was awarded to Pakistan. But the final decision will be made at the ICC executive committee meeting that will be held in Dubai on June 29,'' he added. ''I am excited about this Champions Trophy. This country has been starved off good cricket for some time and this Champions Trophy is remedy for this.'' Mali is heading an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation which is visiting Pakistan to access the preparations for the Champions Trophy and TO attend the official launch ceremony here. Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf asserted that all the security arrangements have been completed for the Asia Cup and the Champions Trophy. — UNI
|
|
Saina Nehwal sails, Sridhar sinks
New Delhi, June 18 Saina picked up from where she had left in the Singapore Open and thrashed local favourite Rosaria Yusfin Pungkasari 21-12 21-14 in a one-sided match that lasted 25
minutes. The world number 30 Indian, who had reached the semifinals of the Singapore Open last week, will next face third seed Hongyan Pi of France, who beat Indonesian qualifier Maria Febe Kusumastuti 19-21 21-15 22-20. However, top Indian men's shuttler Anup Sridhar's campaign was cut short after he went down fighting 21-23 21-9 21-14 to world number 16 Joachim Persson of Denmark in the first round. Sridhar put up a spirited fight by pocketing the first game but failed to hold on to his nerves. He was overpowered in the next two games by his Danish counterpart in a 44-minute contest. — PTI |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Berne, June 18
Berne: Adrian Mutu's penalty miss against Italy will haunt Romania for a long time, said defender Cosmin Contra after his team's elimination from Euro 2008.
