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Ozil strike takes Germany through
Defending champs Italy ousted
Slovakia's striker Robert Vittek celebrates after scoring his second goal against Italy during their match in Johannesburg on Thursday. — AFP |
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Loew relishing England clash
Algerian player slaps scribe
Oz campaign ends on a high note
India shatter jinx, lift Asia Cup
Sania, Paes, Bhupathi win doubles matches
Saina enters Indonesia Open quarters
Zooms to No. 3
Amritsar all set to receive Queen’s baton
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Ozil strike takes Germany through Johannesburg: Despite Mesut Ozil’s spectacular strike leading Ghana to their first defeat in the World Cup 2010, the Black Stars also made it through to an encounter with the USA, after finishing Group D with a superior goal difference to Australia. Now Germany will face England in the Round of 16. It’s the tie which will be most awaited as the bitter foes prepare to face each other for the first time since Fabio Capello guided the Three Lions to a 2-1 friendly win in November 2008. It will also be their first meeting in a major competition since Euro 2000, when Alan Shearer headed Kevin Keegan’s England to a famous 1-0 victory.
Werder Bremen midfielder Ozil’s first name is translated as ‘happy’ in Turkey, his original place of birth, and that Loew will have felt that emotion is an understatement. Joachim Loew was faced with the prospect of becoming the first Germany coach to miss out on qualification for the first time since 1938. But Ozil, who has been hailed as the German equivalent of Lionel Messi by legend Franz Beckenbauer, saved his country from a surprise exit and enhanced his own burgeoning reputation with a wonderful match winner. Loew must have felt like tightening his scarf around his neck in frustration in the first half, however, as Germany wasted a string of chances. Ghana defender Jonathan Mensah nearly turned Lukas Podolski’s cross into his own net but Richard Kingson was alert. And Kingson was required to pull off an excellent save in the 25th minute when he denied Ozil. Ghana nearly stunned the Germans shortly after when Philipp Lahm cleared Asamoah Gyan’s header off the line - with replays showing it was the Germany captain’s arm that prevented a goal. But Ozil eased the growing tension with an unstoppable missle on the hour that flashed past Kingson into the top corner. Ghana piled on the pressure to find an equaliser but slipped to their first defeat. However, they will be delighted to have the opportunity to take on USA on Saturday.
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Johannesburg, June 24 Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella scored for Italy.
Slovakia, who made four changes to boost their attacking options given they had to win to have any hope of qualification, started brightly and showed a speed of movement which Italy have severely lacked all tournament. The Azzurri drew 1-1 with Paraguay and New Zealand in earlier lacklustre displays and more sloppiness led to Slovakia's opener. Daniele De Rossi gave the ball away and Slovakia attacked straight at the heart of Italy's wide open defence. Juraj Kucka played the ball through for a falling Vittek to score from the edge of the box beyond the reach of keeper Federico Marchetti. Vittek netted his second at the near post from close range and, after Di Natale pulled one back for Italy after 81 minutes, substitute Kopunek grabbed a third for Slovakia. Quagliarella made it 3-2 with a dleighful long-range chip over Jan Mucha but it was too late for the Italians. With France also going out at the group stage, it is the first time the two finalists from the previous tournament have failed to make the knockout round. The amazing defeat brought an abrupt end to Marcello Lippi's time as Italy coach and the international careers of Fabio Cannavaro and Gennaro Gattuso after the trio said this would be their last tournament with the national side. Italy's best chance in the first half came when Slovakia's Martin Skrtel headed narrowly over his own bar, a mark of how poor Italy have been in South Africa, while Skrtel cleared Quagliarella's shot off the line in the second period. — Reuters
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Loew relishing England clash
Loew said: “We are looking forward to taking on England, it’s always special for us. There is a great history in the World Cup between England and Germany. I’ve watched England’s matches so far, they were struggling in the first two matches but that is quite normal, sometimes you only pick up speed as you go through the tournament. They haven’t shown the best of form so far but make no mistake this is a wonderful team. England have have enormous experience so this team is going to be incredibly dangerous. “Rooney may not have been a big gun so far but he is always ready to explode, he is difficult to mark and control so our defence will need to watch that he doesn’t score.” Loew was left with a few injury worries ahead of the clash with England, with Ozil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jerome Boateng all picking up knocks, but he was generally pleased with his side’s performance. He said: “It was a very intensive game and on both sides every effort was made to create chances. Ghana is a strong team, they are very skilful and created many dangerous opportunities. We have many young players but at the end of the day we took the pressure, came to terms with it and scored at a very decisive moment.” Asked how he thought his young side would now handle the increased pressure of the knockout stages, he said: “I don't think we’ve got to deal with it in any particular way, we don’t have to be afraid of the knockout stages. It is important to remain calm even if we don't find the rhythm that we want straight away. “All teams have to come to terms with great pressure, even teams with players experienced in the Champions League. If we’d taken the lead with Ozil’s first chance the match might have taken a different direction.” Ghana coach Milovan Rajevic was pleased with his side’s performance as they pressed Germany hard for 90 minutes but were made to pay for one lapse of concentration when Ozil was given too much space on the edge of the area to fire home the only goal. With the Ivory Coast only having a mathematical chance of reaching the knockout phase, Rajevac was happy to be keeping the flag flying for Africa. “I think the majority of South Africans will now support Ghana, we’re the only African team left so I hope we will benefit from massive support.”
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Paraguay top group after draw with Kiwis
Polokwane, June 24 Paraguay finished with five points in Group F, two more than New Zealand - which was eliminated after Slovakia beat Italy 3-2 in the other group game to advance.
Paraguay substitute Edgar Benitez sent a low shot that was saved by goalkeeper Mark Paston in the 76th minute in the best chance of the match. Teammate Cristian Riveros headed straight at Paston from a short corner in the 64th in the only other chance of note. Playing in only its second World Cup - having lost all three matches in 1982 - New Zealand came into the match after 1-1 draws with Slovakia and then defending champion Italy, a team ranked 73 places above the Kiwis. New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert, who played in that 1982 tournament, made no changes from Sunday's match against Italy in Nelspruit. Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made three changes to the team that beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein. Forward Oscar Cardozo came in for Lucas Barrios, and defenders Denis Caniza and Julio Cesar Caceres replaced Carlos Bonet and Anatolin Alcaraz. In the two teams’ only previous meeting, Paraguay beat New Zealand 3-2 in a 1995 friendly played in Chile. Both teams started cautiously and had trouble finding their targets with long-range passes on the fast and bouncy surface, which is a hybrid of natural and synthetic grass. New Zealand's 3-4-3 formation gave the Kiwis a player advantage in midfield with Paraguay lining up in a fluid 4-3-3. But the willingness of Nelson Valdez, Enrique Vera, Claudio Morel and Caniza to alternate in staying close to the sidelines opened up enough room in the middle for the South Americans' slick interchange passing. Caniza, making his first appearance at the tournament to become the first Paraguayan to play in four World Cups, went close in the 19th minute. He struck an angled 25-meter shot first time only for the ball to fly high and wide. Ten minutes later, Caniza sent another long-range strike over the crossbar as Paraguay's superior technique gradually took control over New Zealand's more direct style, although without threatening to create any clear chances inside the box. — AP
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Group G
Group H
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Algerian player slaps scribe
Saifi, 35, is said to have lashed out before a post-match interview when he spotted Asma Halimi, who works for Algeria’s biggest newspaper. The journalist, who works for Algerian newspaper “Competition”, said she had a disagreement with Saifi a year ago. “I was waiting for the Algerian players. When Saifi came I just moved away. I felt a hit,” Asma Halimi told BBC. But Saifi was also left with a cut face after the journalist allegedly hit him back. Halimi is demanding cops and FIFA take action, The Sun reports. She said: “He slapped me round the face. I was so shocked.” She blamed Saifi’s reaction after Algeria were knocked out on a story her paper ran about his French wife.
— ANI |
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Oz campaign ends on a high note
Nelspruit, June 24 Serbia, who beat Germany 1-0 in their last match, lost their chances of advancing and finished bottom of Group D. Cahill, who missed his side’s last match after being sent off against Germany, headed home a Luke Wilkshire cross from the right flank in the 69th minute to give Australia the lead against the run of play.
Brett Holman then added a second with a fine long-range strike in the 73th minute. Serbia poured forward in the last few minutes and pulled a goal back in the 84th minute. A long range shot from Zoran Tosic was spilled by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, leaving Marko Pantelic with the simple task of tapping in the rebound. Two minutes later it looked as if Pantelic had equalised but his effort was ruled out for offside. Serbia also had a strong claim for a penalty as the game wound down with Cahill appearing to handle the ball. Another Serbian goal would have put them through to the second round. “The referee, including the fourth official, did not want to see a foul that was quite obvious.. We are angry when it came to this decision,” Serbian coach Radomir Antic said. — Reuters
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India shatter jinx, lift Asia Cup
Dambulla, June 24 Electing to bat first, India posted a competitive 268 for six and then defended the total without much hiccup with the seamers producing a scintillating performance, skittling out the hosts for 187 in 44.4 overs at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. This was India’s first Asia Cup triumph since Mohammad Azharuddin had led them to the title in Sharjah in 1995. Indian seamers rose to the challenge when it mattered the most, accounting for the scalps of Tillakaratne Dilshan (0), Upul Tharanga (16), Mahela Jayawardene (11), Angelo Mathews (0) and captain Kumar Sangakkara (17) in just 16 overs.Lanka never recovered from those telling blows. But for Kapugedera’s unbeaten 55 of 88 balls, the match would have ended sooner. Nehra was the most successful Indian bowler with four for 40 while Zaheer Khan and Ravindra Jadeja taking two wickets apiece by conceding 36 and 29 runs, respectively. Praveen Kumar chipped in with one wicket. Praveen Kumar struck first blood when he had Dilshan caught at mid-on by Harbhajan Singh inside the 30-yard circle. Even as Lanka had recovered from Dilshan’s fall in the first over, Zaheer Khan, bowling with great verve and zing, castled Tharanga. The ball broke back to hit off stump as the left hander shouldered arms. Taking over from Zaheer (5-0-17-1) from the pavilion end, Ashish Nehra struck thrice in seven balls to break the Sri Lankan spine. Shackled and deprived runs by the Indian quicks, Jayawardene jabbed at a short of a length Nehra delivery for skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to complete a regulation catch. Angelo Mathews walked into the cauldron, hoping to steer his side out of troubled waters. But the batting all-rounder lasted all but two deliveries, wafting his bat a distant Nehra delivery for Dhoni to do the rest. — PTI Scoreboard India Gambhir run out 15 (16) Karthik c Jayawardene b Kandamby 66 (84) Kohli c Sangakkara b Malinga 28 (34) Dhoni c Kulasekara b Kandamby 38 (50) Rohit c Maharoof b Kulasekara 41 (52) Raina lbw Malinga 29 (31) Jadeja not out 25 (21) Harbhajan not out 7(7) Extras (b 2, lb 7, w 9, nb 1) 19 Total (6 wkts; 50 overs) 268 Fall of wkts: 1-38, 2-100, 3-146, 4-167, 5-217, 6-249 Bowling: Kulasekara 9-0-44-1, Malinga 10-0-57-2, Maharoof 6-0-41-0, Mathews 3-1-16-0, Muralitharan 10-0-34-0, Kandamby 7-0-37-2, Dilshan 5-0-30-0. Sri Lanka Tharanga b Zaheer 16 (30) Dilshan c Harbhajan b Praveen 0 (2) Sangakkara c Zaheer b Nehra 17 (38) Jayawardene c Dhoni b Nehra 11 (19) Mathews c Dhoni b Nehra 0 (2) Kandamby run out 31 (45) Kapugedera not out 55 (88) Maharoof c Dhoni b Zaheer 10 (14) Kulasekara st Dhoni b Jadeja 20 (16) Malinga c Jadeja b Nehra 7 (11) Muralitharan c Dhoni b Jadeja 2 (5) Extras: (b-4, lb-3, w-9, nb-2) 18 Total: (all out; 44.4 overs) 187 Fall of wkts: 1-5, 2-31, 3-50, 4-50, 5-51, 6-104, 7-132, 8-168, 9-177 Bowling: Praveen 9-1-29-1; Zaheer 8-2-36-2; Nehra 9-0-40-4; Harbhajan 9-0-30-0; Virat 3-0-16-0; R Jadeja 6.4-0-29-2. Man of the match: Karthik Man of the series: Afridi
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Sania, Paes, Bhupathi win doubles matches
London, June 24 In the men’s doubles event, Leander Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy and Mahesh Bhupathi and his partner Max Mirnyi won their opening round matches. While third seeds Paes and Dlouhy shrugged off a one-set deficit to beat South African Rik De Voest and German Mischa Zverev 6-7 (4), 6-4 6-3, Bhupathi and Mirnyi registered a straight-set victory over Argentine duo of Maximo Gonzalez and Sebastian Prieto 7-5, 6-1, 7-5. In singles matches, former champion Maria Sharapova had a clinical 6-1, 6-4 victory over Romania’s Ioana Raluca Olaru in the second round. The Queen’s presence seemed to have a positive impact on Andy Murray, who turned in a majestic performance against Finlan’s Jarkko Nieminen defeating him 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to surge into the third round without the loss of a set. Sixth seed Robin Soderling booked his place in the third round with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Spain's Marcel Granollers on Thursday. Queen pays a visit
Queen Elizabeth II lit up Wimbledon today as she walked through the grounds to huge cheers and mingled with tennis legends past and present. The sovereign brought the All England Club to a standstill as she made her first visit to The Championships since 1977, which also brought the last British singles title thanks to Virginia Wade. Three-day epic ends
The world’s longest tennis match finally ended at Wimbledon on Thursday when John Isner claimed the incredulous fifth set of a three-day epic against Nicolas Mahut 70-68 after 11 hours and five minutes on court. The American 23rd seed ended the contest with a backhand passing shot after another hour of play on Court 18 after the match had re-started at 59-59 in the deciding set after it was stopped by bad light on Wednesday. The previous longest match was the six hours, 33 minutes epic between Fabrice Santoro and Arnaud Clement at the 2004 French Open.
— Agencies |
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Saina enters Indonesia Open quarters
Jakarta, June 24 The 20-year-old top-seed, who won the Singapore Open last week, defeated Bulgaria’s Petya Nedelcheva 21-12 21-17 in just 29 minutes to continue her unbeaten run of the past two weeks. The Indian stuck to her strategy of engaging her opponents in long rallies and out of the 33 that were played in the opening game, Saina outwitted Nedelcheva on 21 occassions to go one up. The second game was a closer affair as Nedelcheva clawed her way back but Saina quelled the late challenge to wrap it up under half an hour. She will now be up against the winner of the other pre-quarterfinal between Russian Ella Diehl and local favourite Maria Febe Kusumastuti. Before winning the Singapore Open last week, Saina had clinched the India Open Grand Prix title. If she goes the whole hog this week as well, Saina would add a third Super Series title to her kitty. Her world ranking has already soared to a career-high third after last week’s triumph in Singapore and is expected to get even better if she continues her victory march this week. — PTI
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Zooms to No. 3
New Delhi, June 24 Saina’s rise follows back-to-back title triumphs at the India Open Grand Prix and the Singapore Open Super Series, respectively. By virtue of the consecutive titles earlier this month, Saina, with 64791.2637 points, made a significant upward movement in the chart and is just behind Chinese duo of Yihan Wang and Xin Wang.
— PTI |
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Amritsar all set to receive Queen’s baton
Amritsar June 24 After receiving the baton from his Pakistani counterpart and the chief of Pakistan Olympic Association Lt-Gen Syed Aarif Hassan at 9.30 am, Indian Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Suresh Kalmadi would pass it on to the guests and prominent sportspersons. At the same time, a commemorative stamp would be released. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal would receive the baton at Custom’s gate in presence of a large number of enthused spectators. |
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Holders Italy made a humiliating exit in the World Cup group stage when they lost 3-2 to Slovakia on Thursday having been largely outplayed.
Slovakia's win put them through to the second round.
Johannesburg: Germany coach Joachim Low is looking forward to a meeting with England in the last 16 of the World Cup after his side topped Group D with a 1-0 win over Ghana but warned that Wayne Rooney is the man who could “explode” into life after a slow start to the tournament. Mesut Ozil’s goal sealed the win which sets up a clash with England in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.
London: Algerian football star Rafik Saifi has allegedly slapped a female journalist in the face after his side were knocked out of the World Cup by the United States.
