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FIFA
WORLD CUP
2010
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Late penalty helps Ghana beat Serbia
Azzurri face Paraguay test
Confident Netherlands to play Denmark
Robinho dances to Brazil’s tune
India end tour with win
Asia Cup in Sri Lanka
Saina wins Indian
Open Grand Prix
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Green, England let it slip away
He reacted in horror as the ball squirmed out of his grasp and bounced away from him as he tried to prevent it crossing the line, crouching in abject mortification as it rolled into the back of the net to cancel out Steven Gerrard's fourth minute opener for England. “It's one of those freak things that happens -— plenty of people have been talking about the ball this week. It shocked us a bit, but we'll get behind Robert,” said Gerrard. “I think the most important thing in your first game is not to lose. Unfortunately, we let a poor goal in and we couldn't go on and get the win.” It was the second time Green had endured a World Cup nightmare after becoming the first England goalkeeper ever to be sent off when he was red carded in a qualifying match against Ukraine last October. He
slightly redeemed himself in the second half when he forced a Jozy
Altidore shot on to a post, but is unlikely to live down a woeful piece
of keeping that could not be blamed on the unpredictable flight of the
much criticised World Cup ball. “Sometimes one player in front of the keeper misses a goal. Sometimes keepers make mistakes, that's football,” said England coach Fabio Capello. However bizarre, the goal was one the U.S. deserved after battling their way back into the match after Gerrard gave his side a dream start in the first World Cup meeting between the sides since the U.S. stunned England 1-0 in the 1950 World Cup. — Reuters
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Another day, another goalkeeping error as Slovenia register their first World Cup win beating Algeria Polokwane, June 13 Six minutes earlier Algeria substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off for handball having already been booked. The attacking midfielder was only on the pitch for 15 minutes. Slovenia's only previous appearance at a World Cup finals, in 2002, ended in three defeats but Sunday's win has put them top of the group with three points, two ahead of England and the United States, who drew 1-1 in Rustenburg on Saturday. "It's going to be more difficult for us now," said Algeria coach Rabah Saadane. "Our great opportunity was today against Slovenia and we missed that opportunity." The Algerians had been marginally the better the side in a lacklustre encounter until then, with the bleach-blonde Hassan Yebda bossing their midfield. But they created few chances with their best opening having come as early as the third minute through a Nadir Belhadj free kick which Samir Handanovic tipped over the bar. — Reuters
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Late penalty helps Ghana beat Serbia
Pretoria, June 13 The Serbs best chances to win the game came after the dismissal when Milos Krasic had a fine effort palmed over and then Nemenja Vidic headed over from the corner. Branislav Ivanovic then went close with a long-range effort after bursting through from the right but Serbia may wish they had shown such adventure and aggression a little earlier. A handball by substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic led to the spot kick which Gyan, who had missed several chances, converted with confidence. Despite the absence of their injured inspiration Michael Essien in midfield, Ghana enjoyed a lively start and Gyan went close twice with a free-kick which flashed over the bar and a headed opportunity where he failed to make good contact.
— Reuters |
Cape Town, June 13 Coach Marcello Lippi has kept faith with the bulk of the team that triumphed in Berlin four years ago but local media and Italian fans have not stopped complaining despite an unbeaten qualifying campaign. A draw with Switzerland and defeat by Mexico in warm-up games added fuel to the fire and with Lippi seemingly still unsure about his first-choice lineup there is a real fear his team could be caught out.
With subsequent games against New Zealand and Slovakia it remains unthinkable the four-times champions could fail to advance but the Azzurri seem to be putting their faith in past pedigree rather than current talent. "We have our traditions, our characteristics. If we put our army on the field we can compete with everyone," said captain Fabio Cannavaro, outstanding in the 2006 campaign but at 36 now looking past his sell-by date. "The coach is trying lots of things and he will decide the best team for us but it's right for a coach to try things. Right now we don't know what he'll do." All that experimentation means few observers in Italy have a clue about Lippi's likely side for Monday. Midfielder Andrea Pirlo is out with a calf injury for the first two games while Daniele del Rossi missed Friday's 6-0 thrashing of the Gauteng All Stars with a similar problem. — Reuters
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Confident Netherlands to play Denmark
Johannesburg, June 13 Van Marwijk told reporters at the Dutch training base at Wits University in Johannesburg: "Yes, we did excellently in our warm-up matches, but we are taking nothing for granted against any opponents in the World Cup. "We believe we can do well, and now we must go and do it." Expectations remains high at home that his team can go one better than the sides of 1974 and 1978 who lost in successive World Cup finals, and there is a sense within the Dutch squad that they do not just want to win but do it in style. Striker Robin van Persie, who has netted four goals in three warm-up games, said he wanted to do more than just score goals in South Africa. "Every striker is judged on the goals he scores, but I want to give more to the game. I'd be happy with more assists than goals," he said. "That may sound odd, but that is my ambition because it will make the team better." The Dutch, who have not lost to Denmark for 43 years, will be without injured winger Arjen Robben (hamstring). The match will be significant for captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst who will become the fourth Dutchman to win 100 caps after Edwin van der Sar, Frank de Boer and Philip Cocu. Netherlands' strength lies in their attack, with the 'Big Four' — as the Dutch media call them — of Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Robben, when he returns from injury, the key to their success. However, Denmark winger Dennis Rommedahl believes the towering Dutch expectations could give his side an advantage. "The players are being realistic but people in Holland and the media think that they only have to turn up and pick up the trophy," he told reporters. "Everyone expects them to beat us quite easily and so we have nothing to lose on Monday, which can result in a surprise." — Reuters
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Robinho dances to Brazil’s tune
One of the few players who performs better for his country than club, the King of the Stepovers has been almost ever-present for Brazil in the four years Dunga has been coach. His only moan since Brazil arrived in South Africa is that his team mates cannot follow his goal celebrations. "There are a lot of stiff waists in the team -- Kaka, Luis Fabuloso," he said. "I want to see if they can dance a little better."
— Reuters |
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India end tour with win
Harare, June 13 Tatenda Taibu earlier top-scored with 45 and shared a 43-run stand for the fourth wicket with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) to steer Zimbabwe to 140 for five. Raina stepped on to the field after the fall of Naman Ojha (10) in fifth over and stayed till the job was done. Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket, which set up the second comfortable Indian win in as many days. Raina's 44-ball knock had six fours and two sixes in it. After an ordinary show in the three-week tour, Vijay finally got some runs under his belt and the Chennai batsman would be relived after playing a good hand in the Indian win. Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina batted with ease and were hardly troubled by the host bowlers. Vijay missed out on his half-century when he attempted a big shot but off Chamu Chibhabha and his checked shot landed in the hands of Graeme Cremer in the 15th over. Raina continued the good work and carried the team home just after losing another partner in Yusuf Pathan (4). India's consecutive win, after a lacklustre show in the ODI tri-series, would do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters just ahead of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka. Earlier, confident of chasing down whatever the hosts would put on board, Raina yet again invited the hosts to bat.
— PTI Scoreboard Zimbabwe: Masakadza c Rohit b Dinda 2 (8) Taylor c Yusuf b Mishra 27 (33)
Chibhabha b P Ojha 7 (17) Taibu not out 45 (40) Coventry b Dinda 28 (13) C’mbura c Raina b Ashwin 18 (6) Lamb not out 7 (4) Extras
(lb 2, w 3, nb 1) 6 Total (5 wickets; 20 overs) 140 Bowling:
Dinda 4-0-15-2, Vinay 4-0-28-0, P Ojha 4-0-26-1, Mishra 4-0-21-1, Ashwin 4-0-48-1. India: Naman c Chatara b Price 10 (18) Vijay c Cremer b C’bha 46 (39) Raina not out 72 (44) Yusuf c M’kadza
b Chatara 4 (7) Rohit not out 0 (0) Extras (lb 2, w 10) 12 Total
(3 wickets; 18 overs) 144 Bowling: Mpofu 3-0-29-0, Chatara 4-0-27-1, Price 3-0-25-1, Lamb 3-0-21-0, Cremer 1-0-9-0, Chigumbura 1-0-12-0, Chibhabha 3-0-19-1. |
India can regain lost ground
Dubai, June 13 As a player loses half a per cent of his ratings points for every ODI he misses, Dhoni conceded 16 ratings points and slipped to third position, the ICC said in a statement. However, he still has the number-one ranked Hussey and second-placed de Villiers firmly within his sights as he trails the Australian by eight ratings points and the South African by just two ratings points. With India scheduled to play a minimum of three ODIs in Sri Lanka, a couple of good performances with the bat will help Dhoni regain his number-one position. Also aiming to maintain his upward movement will be Virat Kohli who achieved career-best ranking to date after good performances in Zimbabwe last week. Kohli scored 168 runs to jump to 13th position after a leap of seven places. — PTI ‘People will watch cricket, despite FIFA WC’
Karachi: Given the public frenzy for the FIFA World Cup, Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Afridi still believes fans would give the upcoming Asia Cup in Sri Lanka due attention. Talking to media persons before leaving for Sri Lanka for the quadrangular one-day tournament starting June 15, Afridi said he believes that fans would tune in to the cricket matches amidst the madness for football. "Football is huge, but I hope after the 90 minutes of excitement (of a World Cup game) fans will give cricket its due attention and follow the Asia Cup," The News quoted Afridi, as saying.
— ANI |
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Saina wins Indian
Open Grand Prix
Chennai, June 13 "Initially, I was a bit nervous and was not playing my own game. But then I calmed down and told myself to be confident. There was too much of drift sideways and I was finding it difficult to counter. I thought I came back well in the next two games, playing long rallies and my stamina was also good," Saina said. Saina, who lost in the semi-finals of the Asian Badminton championship in New Delhi in April, said after this title win she will be more confident to play at home.
— IANS |
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Rustenburg, June 13
Rustenburg, June 13
Robinho's club career has often been a messy affair punctuated by tantrums, walkouts and long-running transfer sagas. His international career, however, could hardly be more different. When in the yellow shirt of Brazil, Robinho has been reliability personified, never complaining and always feeling at home.
