Kiev, June 16
England remained on course for a place in the knockout rounds of Euro 2012 after coming from behind to send Sweden crashing out of the tournament with a 3-2 victory here. Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck scored a well-taken winner for England in the 78th minute after the introduction of substitute Theo Walcott swung a see-saw Group D battle back in his side's favour yesterday.

England had got off to a dream start when recalled striker Andy Carroll headed them into a 23rd-minute lead. But an own goal from Glen Johnson on 49 minutes followed by a header from Olof Mellberg in the 59th minute threatened to set up a disastrous night for Roy Hodgson's side.

However, the substitution of James Milner for Walcott changed the game. The Arsenal winger lashed in a 64th-minute equaliser to make it 2-2 and then provided the run and pass which set up Welbeck's winner.

England's first ever competitive victory over the Swedes means they will qualify for the quarter-finals with only a point in their final group game against co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk next Tuesday.

However, England manager Hodgson will want to see a marked improvement from his side if they are to secure the draw they need after a performance littered with errors and shaky defending.

England had started positively, Scott Parker forcing a fine save out of Andreas Isaksson after only seven minutes with a fine swerving effort from 20 yards that the Swedish keeper parried to safety.

Sweden meanwhile had to wait until 20 minutes before threatening the England goal, captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic letting fly with a long range shot that was blocked comfortably by Joe Hart. — AFP 

Donetsk, June 16
Sparkling attacking football and goals from Jeremy Menez and Yohan Cabaye earned France a 2-0 win over Ukraine in their Euro 2012 Group D match on Friday after the game was halted for 55 minutes due to a thunderstorm. Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers took the players off the field in the fifth minute after thunder, lightning and torrential rain descended on the stadium and it was almost an hour before play resumed, with the surface having dried out remarkably quickly.

The win takes France to four points, one ahead of the co-hosts who failed to find the form that brought a 2-1 win over Sweden.

The match at the Donbass Arena started at a high-tempo as both teams attacked from the outset, with Ukraine urged on by a raucous, albeit drenched, home crowd. Menez, brought into the France team for Florent Malouda, had an effort ruled out for a clear offside and then the pacy winger brought a brilliant save from Andriy Pyatov with a close-range strike from a low Franck Ribery cross. — Reuters 

Gdansk, June 16
After two wins already at Euro 2012, a confident Germany are aiming to beat Denmark tomorrow in Lviv to finish top of Group B and set up a quarter-final near their base here in Gdansk.

Having twice flown to the Ukraine for their respective wins against Portugal and Holland, Germany return to Lviv aiming to beat the Danes and book their place in the Gdansk quarter-final against the Group A runner-up.

The Germans still need a point to qualify with the Group B runner-up facing a last eight clash in Warsaw on Thursday against the winner of Group A.

With three goals at Euro 2012, including two against Holland and the winning header against Portugal, Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez has finally converted his impressive club form to German colours.

"The good thing with Mario is that he needs almost zero chances and still scores," said Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who described Gomez's goals as a "precious commodity" for the Germans.

Following their shock win over Holland and 3-2 defeat to Portugal, victory against Germany should put Denmark in the quarter-finals, but a draw would be enough if the Netherlands beat Portugal in the other group match in Kharkiv.

But Schweinsteiger and Germany have other ideas. "We can approach the final game against Denmark with a lot of self-confidence - every victory gives you an extra push," said the 27-year-old.

"We definitely want to win that game against Denmark." Germany coach Joachim Loew said his side have their destiny in their own hands after two wins in the "Group of Death".

"I think we've opened the door to the quarter-finals.It's now in our hands to make everything clear on Sunday," he said. — AFP 

Kharkiv, June 16
The statistics do not make pleasant reading for the Netherlands, who must beat Portugal by two goals here tomorrow and hope Germany overcome Denmark if they are to reach the Euro 2012 quarter-finals. No team has ever reached the knockout phase at a Euro after losing their first two matches, and statistical website Infostrada Sports estimates that Bert van Marwijk's side stand only a 9.5 percent chance of going through.

The omens are similarly ominous. The last time the Oranje were eliminated at the group phase of the European Championship was in 1980, two years after they finished runners-up at the 1978 World Cup -- just as they did in 2010.

As if the weight of history was not enough of a burden, van Marwijk also appears to face problems with several of his most important players. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Rafael van der Vaart have both expressed anger at being left out of his starting line-up, while Arjen Robben reacted to his substitution in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Germany by jumping over an advertising hoarding and stalking angrily back to the dug-out.

The top scorers in qualifying with 37 goals, it took Holland 45 shots to find the net at the Euro but Robin van Persie's 73rd-minute effort against Germany was ultimately in vain. The Dutch press have deplored van Marwijk's continued faith in van Persie at the expense of Huntelaar, who could start in place of Ibrahim Afellay in Kharkiv on Sunday with Holland obliged to attack Portugal from the off.

"I drew a lot of conclusions from our defeat against Germany," said van Marwijk, as quoted by Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. "We defended carelessly and the service of both Ibrahim Afellay and Arjen Robben from the flanks was not good enough." — AFP

New Delhi, June 16
The Indian Olympic Association today sought a report from the All India Tennis Association (AITA) regarding the controversy surrounding the selection of the doubles team for the London Olympic Games. (The AITA yesterday selected Mahesh Bhupathi to pair with Leander Paes in the men’s doubles, though the former was keen to pair with his regular doubles partner Rohan Bhoppanna, as they would have gained an automatic entry into the Olympics due to their world ranking of 24, while the No 7 ranked Leander did not have an Indian doubles partner).

While asking for the report, the IOA made it clear that it fully acknowledged the “prerogative” of the National Sports Federations (NSF), including the AITA, to select their teams for the Olympics as they deemed fit. Otherwise, the would have violated its on stated stand of not interfering with the autonomous status of the NSFs, particularly in view of the fact that the IOA has been steadfastly opposing the Sports Ministry’s attempts to rein-in the National Sports Federations, to make them accountable for the grants they receive from the Government.

IOA acting president VIjay Kumar Malhotra, in a letter to AITA secretary-general Anil Khanna, said: “Our whole focus at the moment should be to send those players/teams who can be medal prospects and I strongly believe that we have a very good chance of winning a medal in tennis this time”.

He said since the contingent for the London Olympics will be going under the IOA banner, he would like to know the full details regarding this issue. “Please treat this as a priority issue, and let me know the details and your views on this issue”, Malhotra noted in his letter to Khanna.

Though Leander and Mahesh would be the perfect blend for the men’s doubles, the feeling in the IOA is that if a pair does not have on-court chemistry, it would not be prudent to force a player to pair with someone with whom he/she doesn’t jell on the court. But Leander is a legend on his own right, and his exploits for the country in the Davis Cup, Asian Games and on the Grand Slam circuit, are unmatched by any other Indian player. Moreover, he is the second Indian to win an individual Olympic medal, after K.D.Jhadav’s feat in wrestling, and he should have a big say in the team composition.

Moreover, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Boppanna just would not be able to stake a strident stand, independent of the wishes of the AITA, as they have been huge beneficiaries of financial assistance from the Government, on the recommendation of the AITA, for their Olympic preparations, from the National Sports Development Fund (NSFD) of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. Financial support from the fund is given to the elite athletes who are medal prospects in international competitions.

Thus, Mahesh Bhupathi received Rs 15,65,324 for the year 2011-2012, up to December 31, 2011, Somdev Verman got Rs 18,49,446 while Leander Paes received Rs 22,08,675 (for the year 2010-2011). Other Olympic tennis hopefuls, who received cash incentives from the NSDF, were Sania Mirza (Rs 6,09,836), Rohan Boppanna (Rs 6,11,838) and Yuki Bhambri (Rs 4,25,293).

Mandi, June 16
After gifting away their first match to Punjab Police, the Gorkha Brigade faced YFC Rurka Kalan, Jalandhar, at Paddal ground, here today. The match was a mere formality, with Punjab Police and DFA Hoshiarpur already booking a final berth.

But both the teams played a match befitting of a final and in the end the Gorkhas registered a 1-0 win over a young YFC squad. Unlike their previous match, the Gorkha team played sensibly and kept possession from the very first pass.

The team used both wings and were soon awarded a free kick after right-full back Pushpinder pushed his rival. Mahesh Rai successfully put the team ahead after taking a brilliant free- kick in the 9th minute of the game.

During first half, the ball remained in YFC’s half with Gorkha’s forward line striking at their best. The speedy forwards were getting full support from the half-line and full-backs. But they missed as many as three open chances and closed the first half at 1-0.

After the lemon break, the YFC team started playing with three forwards in order to pressurize the defence but Gorkha’s half line stood firm to cut-down the supply. The Gorkha’s once again launched a plethora of attacks with brilliant through and short passes.

But every time, they failed to finish it on a happy note. After the regular span, the match ended in favour of Gorkha brigade by 1-0. Later, an exhibition match was played between Mandi Veteran XI and Young Mandi XI, the match witnessed many former players fighting hard.

New Delhi, June 16
Olympic-bound Indian shuttler P Kashyap failed to cross the semifinal hurdle of Indonesia Super Series Premier after suffering a straight-game defeat against world number nine Simon Santoso in the men's singles competition in Jakarta today. The World number 26 Indian was erratic and also struggled at the nets to go down 15-21 12-21 to Simon in a 46-minute match at Istora Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Kashyap matched Simon initially but the Indonesian broke the Indian's game plan and moved into the break at 11-10. — PTI

BRIEFLY

Bell back with ton against Windies
Southampton: Ian Bell marked his recall to England's one-day side with an impressive hundred against the West Indies here today. Bell, given the task of filling the opener's spot vacated by Kevin Pietersen following the South Africa-born batsman's limited overs international retirement, responded with 126. But with England looking on course for a score in excess of 300, West Indies -- who won the toss -- managed to hold them to 288 for six, with off-spinner Marlon Samuels taking two wickets for 43 runs in nine overs.

Yogeshwar knows London is his last chance
New Delhi: With two unsuccessful attempts behind his back, London-bound Indian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt pretty well knows it is his last chance to win an Olympic medal when he competes in his third and probably last Games in two months' time. For Yogeshwar, who almost had an abrupt end to his career because of a knee injury in 2009, the London Games will be his third consecutive appearance at the quadrennial event and he seemed determined to make optimum use of the opportunity. — PTI