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Star Track
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Robben injured as Dutch rout Hungary
Schiavone makes history
India lose to Lanka, crash out
Dream ends in tatters
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Holland
Best performance: Runners-up in 1974 and 1978. Most appearances at finals: Johnny Rep (1974, 1978), Ruud Krol (1974, 1978), Wim Jansen (1974, 1978) - 14. Most goals: Johnny Rep (1974, 1978) - 7. World Cup high: Bringing 'total football' to the World Cup in 1974 when, in beating both Brazil and Argentina in the second group stage. World Cup low: Frank Rijkaard spitting in Voller's hair. Qualification: Netherlands found their route to the finals in faultless fashion, becoming the first European side to qualify for South Africa in June 2009. Most appearances: Klaas-J Huntelaar, A Ooijer, Dirk Kuyt, Joris Mathijsen, Giovanni V Bronckhorst (8). Top goalscorers: Dirk Kuyt, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (3). Denmark
Best performance: The quarter-finals in 1998. Most appearances at finals: Michael Laudrup (1986, 1998) - 8. Most goals at finals: Preben Elkjaer-Larsen (1986), Jon Dahl Tomasson (2002) - 4. World Cup high: Beating defending world and European champions France 2-0 in 2002. World Cup low: The finals in 1986, where they lost 5-1 to Spain. Qualification: Progress was easy in a tough group. Most appearances: C Poulsen, D Rommedahl (10). Top goalscorer: Cameroon
Best performance: Quarter-finals in 1990. Most apearances at finals: Roger Milla (1982), (1990), (1994) - 10. Most goals at finals: Roger Milla (1990, 1994) - 5. World Cup high: Reaching the quarter-finals in 1990. World Cup low: Getting thrashed 6-1 at the hands of Russia at the 1994 finals. Qualification: Cameroon looked as though they would ease their way to South Africa after cruising through their opening African qualification group. Samuel Eto'o scored six goals in six games as boss Otto Pfister recorded five wins and just one draw - away to Tanzania - on their way to the third qualifying round. But they failed to maintain their form and it appeared their World Cup dream was over after a 1-0 away defeat to Togo and a home draw with Morocco before Paul Le Guen was appointed. Cameroon experienced a revival in fortunes and recorded four successive victories, including the 2-0 away win away to Morocco that secured their qualification. Most appearances: Rigobert Song, Jean Makoun, Idriss Kameni (12). Top goalscorer: Samuel Eto'o (9). Japan
Best performance: Second round in 2002. Most appearances: Hidetoshi Nakata (1998, 2002, 2006) - 10. Most goals: J Inamoto (’02) - 2. World Cup high: Junichi Inamoto's goal to fire Japan to a 1-0 victory over Russia in 2002. World Cup low: Crashing out at the hands of Turkey in 2002. Qualification: After coach Ivica Osim suffered a stroke in late 2007, the Japanese FA handed the reins to Takeshi Okada, the man who guided the team through France 1998. A more mature Okada led Japan to a fairly straightforward qualification Most appearances: Marcus Tulio Tanaka (8). Top goalscorer: Keiji Tamada, Marcus Tulio Tanaka, Shunsuke Nakamura (2). |
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Henry burst into the international consciousness when scoring three goals during France's triumph on home turf in 1998, even though he failed to feature in the final. An abortive move to Juventus followed, before Wenger parted with £10.5 million to link up once again with the man he would transform into Europe's most feared forward. In 2002 Henry was sent off against Uruguay as France surrendered their World Cup crown. In 2006 Henry lost in both the final of the Champions League and the World Cup, and moved to Catalunya in the summer of 2007. In Barcelona, Henry finally captured the Champions League. Strengths: One of the most complete forwards of recent times, Henry boasts electric pace, superb control, intricate technique and unrivalled composure in front of goal. Weaknesses: Finding fault in Henry is a difficult enterprise, but a headed goal is a rarity. Style: Flamboyant, prolific, complete, a once-in-a-generation striker. Quotes: "Football and sport in general is full of heroes who have cheated ten times more than Thierry. Thierry Henry has 12, 14 years of fair behaviour in sport and he is singled out today for me in the wrong way." Arsene Wenger, November 2009. Trivia: Henry is the only player to have been named England's Footballer of the Year on three separate occasions, although individual accolades on an international level have always eluded him.
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Robben injured as Dutch rout Hungary
Obi Mikel out
PRETORIA: Nigeria's top player John Obi Mikel was ruled out of the World Cup on Saturday after a training ground injury sustained in his first practice back after a long layoff. The 23-year-old, expected to lead Nigeria's midfield at the tournament in South Africa, suffered a badly bruised ankle, a Nigerian Football Federation spokesman told Reuters. Obi Mikel had only just returned to full contact training after undergoing minor knee surgery in April. Essien reveals KO agony
JOHANNESBURG: Ghana's Michael Essien has spoken movingly of the "very emotional" and agonising moments after he learned his World Cup was over, scuppered by a long-standing injury. Writing on the Chelsea website (www.chelseafc.com), Essien described his attempt at working his way back from the injury and the realisation he would not be fit in time to compete for Ghana at a second successive World Cup. Konno set to miss opener
TOKYO: Japan defender Yasuyuki Konno will miss his country's opening World Cup game against Cameroon on June 14 because of a knee injury. The 27-year-old suffered the injury to his right knee in Friday's 2-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in a final tune-up for the tournament in South Africa. "It's ligament damage so he's a doubt for the first game," Japan coach Takeshi Okada said.
— Agencies |
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Schiavone makes history
Paris, June 5 Both women were making their grand slam final debuts but it was the 29-year-old Schiavone who seized her chance, hustling and harrying Stosur with some tremendous attacking tennis. After dropping the first set Stosur moved 4-1 ahead in the second but the tenacious Schiavone stormed back to take the set into a tiebreak and moved 6-2 ahead with a superb drop volley. Taking deep breaths to control her excitement, Schiavone needed only one match point to become Italy's first grand slam champion since Adriano Panatta won the men's singles here in 1976. She is also the oldest woman to win her first grand slam title since Ann Jones won Wimbledon in 1969. As the realisation of her achievement hit home she collapsed on to her back before kissing the Court Philippe Chatrier Court surface and then climbing into the stands where she was swallowed in the embraces of her entourage. “I haven’t prepared anything because when I prepare things they never happen,” an emotional Schiavone told the crowd as she collected the trophy from former French Open champion Mary Pierce. “But I felt amazing today, I (felt) like a champion. I am really, really happy. Thank you everybody.” With temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius, Stosur began well, holding her first two service games to love but Schiavone was equally solid behind her own serve, mixing up her groundstrokes to good effect. The variety of the Italian's game meant Stosur, 26, was unable to get her feet set to unleash the forehand that had helped her to victories over four-times champion Justine Henin, world number one Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic. — Reuters
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India lose to Lanka, crash out
Harare, June 5 Chandimal's (111) 118-ball knock, which included six fours and five sixes, knocked the stuffing out of India's feeble bowling attack as Sri Lanka cruised to 270 for four in 48.2 overs. Monday's Sri Lanka-Zimbabawe match is now rendered inconsequential and they would meet again in Wednesday's final at the same venue. Earlier put into bat, India had posted 268 for nine with Virat Kohli (68), Yusuf Pathan (44) and R Ashwin (38) scoring bulk of the runs. Desperate for a win, India effected three changes in the squad - bringing in the uncapped trio of Naman Ojha, Pankaj Singh and R Ashwin while leaving out Murali Vijay, Umesh Yadav and Amit Mishra - but the win remained elusive. Sri Lanka's chase got off to a brisk start with Tillakaratne Dilshan (21) looking in his element before he fell to Ashok Dinda in the sixth over. Chandimal joined Upul Tharanga (27) in the middle and looked quite at ease against the Indian attack. Even after Tharanga fell to R Ashwin, Chandimal continued the good work in company of Chamara Kapugedera (42). — PTI Scoreboard India: Karthik c & b Perera 27 (42) Naman lbw b Kulasekara 1 (13) Kohli c Mendis b Thushara 68 (123) Yusuf c Perera b Randiv 44 (63) Rohit b Randiv 32 (43) Raina c K’gedera b Dilshan 19 (28) Jadeja run out 19 (77) Ashwin c & b Thushara 38 (70) Pankaj not out 3 (9) Dinda c K’dera b T’hara 0 (1) Ojha not out 5 (7) Extras (b 3, lb 2, w 6, nb 1) 12 Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 268 Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-41, 3-125, 4-171, 5-187, 6-204, 7-255, 8-259, 9-259. Bowling: Kulasekara 9-1-47-1, Thushara 9-1-57-3, Perera 4-0-33-1, Mendis 10-0-54-0, B Mendis 6-0-29-0, Randiv 10-1-38-2, Dilshan 2-0-5-1. Sri Lanka: T’anga c Kohli b Ashwin 27 (59 Dilshan c Yusuf b Dinda 21 (24) Chandi st Naman b Ashwin 111 (130) K’dera c Pankaj b Pragyan 42 (77) Mendis not out 35 (86) Samaraweera not out 28 (38) Extras (lb 4, w 1, nb 1) 6 Total (4 wickets; 48.2 overs) 270 Bowling: Pankaj 7-0-45-0, Dinda 7.2-0-42-1, Ashwin 10-0-50-2, Ojha 10-0-43-1, Jadeja 10-0-54-0, Yusuf 4-0-32-0.
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Dream ends in tatters
Patiala, June 5 The very news of his death shocked not only his village but the entire boxing fraternity who remember him as a very tough and obedient boxer, full of life. The entire village has fallen into silence and now that the news of his body being brought to the village has reached the village, the entire village is waiting to catch a glimpse of their favourite son, who had brought laurels to his village by winning numerous medals in various boxing championships. Bipranbir, who was a trainee of the Multipurpose School , has attended two India camps in year 2006 in Aurangabad and Shilaru. His coach informs that he was a very brave and hard-working guy and had created a name for himself because of his behaviour. He was 6-7 times state champion in sub-junior and junior category and had won silver and a bronze medal in the Junior National Championships held at Goa and Jamshedpur , Tata Nagar.
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Mentioning 'Thierry Henry' and 'World Cup 2010' in the same sentence will forever conjure up images of his cynical handball in Paris that helped France qualify for the finals, but controversy aside, Henry is one of the most outrageously talented players of the past decade.
From the callow youth who top-scored during France's triumph at the 1998 World
Cup to his country's captain and all-time record goalscorer, surpassing the
great Michel Platini, Henry is a French icon and the leading figure in Raymond
Domenech's side.
Becomes oldest first-time grand slam winner since 1969
Overall record at finals: Played 36, Won 16, Drawn 10, Lost 10. 
Overall record at finals: Played 13, Won 7, Drawn 2, Lost 4. 
Overall record at finals: Played 17, Won 4, Drawn 7, Lost 6. 
Overall record: Played 10, Won 2, Drawn 2, Lost 6. 
Mentioning 'Thierry Henry' and 'World Cup 2010' in the same sentence will forever conjure up images of his cynical handball in Paris that helped France qualify for the finals, but controversy aside, Henry is one of the most outrageously talented players of the past decade. From the callow youth who top-scored during France's triumph at the 1998 World Cup to his country's captain and all-time record goalscorer, surpassing the great Michel Platini, Henry is a French icon and the leading figure in Raymond Domenech's side.
Amsterdam, June 5
An inspired Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a grand slam singles title on Saturday when she beat Australia's Samantha Stosur in the final of the French Open. Schiavone, who before this week had never been beyond the last eight of a major, tamed Stosur's greater power to win 6-4, 7-6. She completed victory after one hour and 38 minutes when Stosur's mishit backhand flew into the crowd.
KARACHI: 
Dubai:
Rossi crashes, out for 2 months