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Germany Klose out Argentina
Suarez lends a hand in Uruguay’s win
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Fourth Wimbledon singles crown for Serena
Hamburg Masters: Dutch outplay India
Churchill rope in Vincent
Kapil for rescheduling Australia series
Mithali, Jhulan top ICC rankings
ICC V-P: Taylor likely to replace Howard
PCB demands action against Speed
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Cape Town, July 3 A double from Miroslav Klose on his 100th international appearance, along with goals from Thomas Mueller and defender Arne Friedrich ensured the convincing win over a lacklustre Argentina. "It's insane to beat Argentina 4-0. It's hard to find the words for a result like that," Mueller told German television after the match. "I think Germany is quaking right now and that's the right way to celebrate this." Man-of-the-match Bastian Schweinsteiger added: "That gives you goose bumps seeing the way people are celebrating at home. "We may have to play Spain next -- they're the best team in the world, in my view. But we're good enough, we believe in ourselves." German coach Joachim Loew said the team had played "like champions". "The team did everything nearly perfectly today," he said. "The result is nearly unbelievable because Argentina have a strong defensive team. It was first class that we were able to get so many goals." Germany got off to a dream start when Mueller snatched his fourth goal of the tournament, heading in a curled Schweinsteiger free kick after just three minutes. Klose doubled Germany's lead in the 68th minute when Lukas Podolski out in a perfect pass from the left and the striker tapped in from close range. Friedrich got a third with his first international goal in the 74th minute, finishing from a metre out after Schweinsteiger's cross, before Klose completed the rout with his second in the 89th minute. Dictating the pace early in the first half, Germany refused to fall back after their quick lead, pressing high in Argentina's half and coming close to a second through Sami Khedira and Klose. Germany, who beat Argentina on penalties at the same stage of the tournament in 2006, gradually allowed their opponents to come forward, responding with lightning-quick counter-attacks. The Argentines, with playmaker Lionel Messi often stifled by two or three defenders, tried desperately to level with long-range shots before Klose doubled the German lead. Friedrich then added the third six minutes later, before Klose volleyed home a cross from Mesut Ozil for the fourth and his 14th World Cup goal, just one short of Ronaldo's all time record. "We just had a bad game. If you make mistakes like that, you go home," Argentine forward Carlos Tevez said. "We knew they could be dangerous on set-pieces and on the counter-attack. — Reuters |
Suarez lends a hand in Uruguay’s win
Johannesburg, July 2
Uruguay's 4-2 shootout win after a 1-1 draw took them into the last four for the first time in 40 years where they will face Netherlands, who earlier shocked Brazil 2-1, and stopped Ghana becoming the first African side to reach the semis. Gyan blasted his spot kick against the bar with the last kick in added time on a night of pulsating drama at Soccer City that not even a Hollywood scriptwriter would have penned. Uruguay made the most of being let off the hook to progress with Fernando Muslera saving two of Ghana's penalties before a cheeky chipped spot kick from Sebastian Abreu that was full of Latin bravado and panache delivered the spoils. Uruguay celebrated their good fortune with unbridled joy on the pitch while Gyan broke down and wept. Ghana's Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac struggled to hold back the tears at the post-match news conference. "At the end, we had a historic opportunity. It would have been a fairytale. We didn't deserve to lose in this way," Rajevac said, his eyes swollen as he bit repeatedly at his bottom lip. The difference between the sweet taste of victory and bitter defeat turned on a handball by Uruguay forward Luis Suarez on the line that denied Ghana a goal in the final seconds. While he was sent off for the offence, and will miss the semifinal, Uruguay got an effective lifeline that they snatched to book a meeting with the Dutch in Cape Town on Tuesday. "We did what we had to do to win without playing brilliantly," was Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez's response to a question about the credibility of his side's success. Gyan had netted two penalties in the first round of the tournament but struck Friday's effort high, grazing the top of the crossbar and then clutching his head in his hands as the opportunity of a lifetime slipped by. Ghana had taken the lead on the stroke of halftime when Sulley Muntari, restored to the starting lineup after an earlier bust-up with the coach, fired a speculative shot from long range that deceived Uruguay keeper Muslera. It came after the Africans had weathered a jittery opening spell as Uruguay's much vaunted attack of Suarez and Diego Forlan set up three good early chances. Uruguay equalised 10 minutes into the second half when Forlan struck a wicked swerving free kick over the top of the defence and keeper Richard Kingson. But it was the Black Stars who had the better of the late chances in a flowing game that taxed the physical conditioning of both sides. Missed chances in extra time suggested the game would limp to the lottery of a shootout but it suddenly came alive when Kevin-Prince Boateng narrowly missed with a header in the 118th minute before the scarcely believable finish unfolded. — Reuters
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Fourth Wimbledon singles crown for Serena
London, July 3 The victory, her fourth at the All England Club which took just 67 minutes, meant Williams overtook Billie Jean King with 13 grand slam singles titles to go sixth in the all-time list. She celebrated the winning smash by flinging her racket into the air and gesturing to her entourage. Zvonareva was blinking back the tears by her chair after the defeat. “This one is very special. Billie Jean, I got you,” Serena told her compatriot who was watching on from the Royal Box. “I’d like to congratulate Vera, she has been through so much and she defines what a champion and never giving up means.” The defending champion opened confidently with a rock-solid service game to love, and the Russian's nerves will have settled after levelling at 1-1 in front of a packed Centre Court crowd on a warm. Zvonareva took the American top seed to deuce in game three before Serena clinched it with a third ace. The first signs of pressure on the 21st seed came in the sixth game when three forehand errors gave Williams the first break point of the match. But Zvonareva hit a pinpoint forehand into the corner to fend that off, and then a netted return from Williams made it 3-3. The decisive breakthrough came in game eight when a double fault from Zvonareva took it to deuce before a long backhand from the Russian gave Williams another break point. Zvonareva earned her first break point of the match in game nine but Williams clung on and a long forehand gave the world number one the first set after 36 minutes. The Russian looked unsettled and her tension was clear for all to see, including a host of former champions watching from the Royal Box, when a rushed netted forehand gave Williams a break in the opening game of the second set. Zvonareva impressively saved two further break points trailing 1-3, but another double fault from the Russian meant a two-break deficit and an impossible mountain to climb. Another confident service game took Williams to 5-1, and Zvonareva saved some pride with a hold of her own before Williams motored through the final game, smashing an overhead into the back wall for the moment of victory. — Reuters |
Hamburg Masters: Dutch outplay India
New Delhi, July 3 Bob de Voogd (9th minute), Robbert Kemperman (17th minute), Jeroen Hertzburger (22nd), Klaas Vermeulen (34th), Mink ven der Weerden (46th) and Constantijn Jonker (60th) were the goal-scorers for the Dutch side, while the Indian marksmen were Dhananjay Mahadik (18th), Sandeep Singh (43rd) and Ravi Pal (52nd). India will next play world number two and Olympic Champions Germany, which beat beat Japan 5-3 in another match yesterday. Against Holland, India started the encounter in a lethargic fashion, which resulted in numerous unforced errors in the deep defence. Except for Sardar Singh, who played his heart out, Indian defenders wore a sorry look as the Dutch caught them on the wrong footing with frequent position interchange and quick passes. The continuous pressure by the Dutch forwardline yielded result in the 9th minute when de Voogd scored from a Verga cross. Eight minutes later, Kemperman made full use of a pass from a turnover in the Indian midfield to make it 2-0. India, however, reduced the margin in the next minute from their first short corner when captain Mahadik slotted the home to the Dutch goalkeeper’s left with a carpet flick. But Holland fired back in the 22nd and 34th minutes with goals from Hertzburger and Vermeulen to go into the breather with an impressive 4-1 lead. Eight minutes into the second half, India pulled another back when drag-flciker Sandeep Singh scored from their second penalty corner. But India's comeback hopes were dashed when Mink ven der Weerden made it 5-2 in the 46th minute from Holland’s third penalty corner. Shortly after the goal, Tushar Khandker missed the target with a reverse flick off a Ravi Pal pass. Ravi Pal then scored in the 52nd minute to make it 5-3 and give India glimmer of a hope. But it was not to be India’s day as Holland completed their tally when Jonker scored after he was set up by Vermeulen in the 60th minute to pocket full three points from the high-scoring encounter. — PTI |
Churchill rope in Vincent
Panaji, July 3 The former Home United Football Club coach who has rich experience in coaching, holds the UEFA 'A' conversion coaching certificate and AFC/UEFA professional diploma which made them to appoint him as their coach, replacing Carlos Perreira who failed to retain the I-League title, despite winning two national titles earlier, Alemao said. Vincent was at the helm of affairs at Singapore Armed Forces (1996-98) and Geylang International (1994-95). Between 1978-1984, he was the head coach of the National Singapore youth team on assignments. The 55-year Bangalore-born Subramaniam is expected to formally take charge of Churchill Brothers early next week. Former Churchill Bros defender Ghanaian Osamanu Husseini, who has been appointed assistant coach, is training the team at the moment.
— PTI |
Kapil for rescheduling Australia series
Chandigarh, July 3 “The administrators of both the events should sit together and do what is in the favour of the sports and the country as well,” said Kapil Dev, while talking at Sector 16 Cricket Stadium amidst the Queen Baton Relay function here today. Notably, Kalmadi has sought Union Sports Minister MS Gill help to convince the BCCI to reschedule the matches, scheduled to be held during the games. The dates of the matches of India-Australia series, commencing from October 2 to 24 here in the country, are clashing with the CWG, starting from October 3 at New Delhi. “Both the events are important and my prime concern is the nation’s prestige. When the organisers of both the events will hold meeting on the issue, surely, something positive would comes out,” said the ICC Cricketer of the Millennium. When asked that it would be the BCCI, which has to reschedule its programme as the dates of CWG can not be changed, Kapil answered: “That I don’t know. Only they have to see what to do for the sake of the country.” |
Mithali, Jhulan top ICC rankings
Dubai, July 3 But Claire Taylor has a chance to topple Mithali from the number one spot when England goes head to head first with Ireland in a one off ODI and then with New Zealand in a five-match series this month. Taylor currently sits third in the batting rankings. In the rankings for ODI bowlers, England’s Katherine Brunt, currently ranked fourth, only has 65 points between her and Jhulan and the 25-year-old will only need a few wickets to displace Australia's Lisa Sthalekar in third place. Brunt’s teammates Holly Colvin, Nicky Shaw and Laura Marsh are currently occupying sixth, seventh and eighth and will all be pushing to rise up the rankings. The rankings for ODI all-rounders is currently topped by Australian Shelley Nitschke. — PTI |
ICC V-P: Taylor likely to replace Howard
Melbourne, July 3
According to a report in the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, although Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket continue to back Howard, they might propose Taylor by the August 31 deadline set by the ICC. “Mark Taylor could be floated as an alternative candidate to John Howard for the ICC vice-presidency at a Cricket Australia board meeting next week,” the report stated quoting sources. Howard was rejected by the Afro-Asian members of the ICC Executive Board and though no specific reasons were given for the snub, there is speculation that the former Australian Prime Minister was seen as somebody with too little experience and too much of a political baggage. Although CA is seething in anger over Howard’s rejection, it does not want the matter to drag too much, the newspaper reported. Taylor, a successful Australian captain who was succeeded by Steve Waugh, is a member of the ICC’s cricket committee and CA’s board. NZC chief Justin Vaughan said the former Aussie captain is a perfect candidate but the issue would have to be discussed thoroughly before proposing his name. “Mark Taylor is an outstanding individual. But I think it’s too premature to be talking potential candidates at this stage. I think what we all need is to take some time to let the dust settle and reconvene at our respective board meetings,” he said. — PTI |
PCB demands action against Speed
Karachi, July 3 Speed lashed out at the Pakistan and Bangladesh cricket boards earlier in the week after the two countries joined hands with India, Sri Lanka and South Africa to reject former Australian Prime Minister Howard's nomination for the post of ICC vice-President. Speed described PCB chairman Ejaz Butt as a “buffoon” and said Pakistan and Bangladesh were politicised cricket bodies. PCB sources said Speed’s remark did not go well with Butt, who ordered chief operating officer Wasim Bari to shot off a letter to Pawar, asking him to initiate action against the former ICC CEO. “His outburst against the chairman of an ICC full-member country speaks volumes of his hatred against ICC member countries not towing his line. It also shows his bias against the Asian and coloured countries. The PCB would request for action against the former ICC chief executive for using derogatory remarks against Ejaz Butt,” the letter read. In the letter, sent to Pawar yesterday, the PCB said the game of cricket would earn bad repute if a free-hand was given to former ICC officials to issue such derogatory remarks. “It is a test case for Sharad Pawar as he has just taken over and the fact remains that Speed is no longer an ICC official and free to air his views on any issue,” another PCB source said. — PTI |
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