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We weren’t clever enough, says Lahm
Finally, Paes says yes
Nadal stunned at Wimbledon
Morgan lifts England to 272
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Super Mario
Warsaw, June 29
A late penalty from Mesut Ozil proved no more than a consolation score for the Germans whose 16-year wait for a major title continues. Italy are now into Sunday's final in Kiev to face defending champions Spain with the Italians bidding to win their first European crown since 1968. Victory at Warsaw's National Stadium means Italy maintain their impressive record of having never lost to Germany at a World Cup or European Championships on their eighth meeting at a major tournament. Having dropped three of his forwards for last Friday's 4-2 quarter-final win over Greece, Loew again tinkered with his starting line-up, but this time it back-fired as the Germans lacked an effective Plan B when things went wrong. Arsenal-bound Lukas Podolski was hauled off at half-time, striker Mario Gomez also made way for 34-year-old veteran Miroslav Klose after the break, while Toni Kroos barely troubled the Italian defence from the right wing. Germany had a couple of golden chances early on, but the Azzurri soon asserted themselves and after Riccardo Montolivo tested Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Italy took the lead on 20 minutes. Antonio Cassano ghosted through two German defenders and crossed for Balotelli to beat his marker Holger Badstuber and slam his header past Neuer. It was the first time since the Euro 2008 final Germany had fallen behind in a European Championship match after their ten wins in qualifying and their four wins so far at Euro 2012. The perplexed looks in the German ranks told their own tale. Rattled, the Germans tried to reassert themselves with Mesut Ozil and Gomez both squandering half chances, but Italy captain Gianluigi Buffon stood up to the challenge in goal before the Azzurri struck again. A sublime pass from Fiorentina's Montolivo split the German defence and gave Balotelli all the space he needed to curl his shot past Neuer on 36 minutes. With the Germans now reeling, Reus was quickly into the action after replacing Podolski and tested Buffon with a well-struck free-kick with an hour gone. But the Italians were not to be denied their first European final since their Euro 2000 defeat to France when Claudio Marchisio fired wide on 67 minutes and again eight minutes later. Balotelli made way for Antonio Di Natale on 70 minutes and with time running out, the Udinese forward missed a golden chance with the German defence all at sea. A handball by Federico Balzaretti in the 92nd minute gave Germany brief hope as referee Stephane Lannoy pointed to the spot and Ozil blasted home the spot-kick, but it was too little, too late. The Azzurri can now dream of denying world and European champions Spain a third consecutive major title on Sunday. — AFP
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Talk is cheap, only titles matter: Loew
Warsaw, June 29 Italy striker Mario Balotelli broke German hearts yesterday with a first-half header and a rasping drive to leave the Germans on the ropes and 2-0 down at the break. Germany bounced back and gave themselves a faint lifeline with a 92nd-minute penalty from Mesut Ozil, but it was too little, too late. For all their promise as one of the pre-tournament favourites, along with Spain, after winning all ten of their Euro 2012 qualifying matches, Loew’s team had their 15-match winning streak in competitive matches abruptly ended by the Italians. The solid defence the Germans are known for was exposed by Balotelli’s power and pace, while the silky skills of midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ozil fell short. Ozil was only one of several Germans who lost out in comparison with the street-wise Italians, but Loew, who is under contract until the 2014 World Cup, said Germany’s time will come. “That’s all part of the development of the team. You can't get a title by just talking about it,” said the 52-year-old. “Spain had to wait a long time (to win the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008). In the second-half, we did everything we could to turn the game around. We played with real heart.” — AFP
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Italian coach Prandelli applauds ‘unique’ Balotelli
Warsaw, June 29 “Ballotelli was excellent, just like the whole team," Prandelli said. “I believe that a team should have an idea and Balotelli really corresponded to this idea. He had a great performance.” But the player infamous for a questionable temperament showed exemplary discipline when he needed to, Prandelli said. "Balotelli was in the game, he did exactly what I asked him to do," the coach said. "When it comes to Balotelli, I think he is unique. He is strong physically, he can work for the team, but he is also on time, when he is required in the penalty area." Italy missed a glut of chances on the counter-attack as Germany pressed forward in search of the equaliser and left holes at the back. Prandelli insisted "we really deserved a third goal", but acknowledged his side had nothing left in the final minutes. "Had they levelled the score, we would have lost 5-2 because we were really exhausted." The Italians have just two days' rest before Sunday's final against Spain in Kiev. ‘Cassano fantastic despite injuries’ Italy striker Antonio Cassano might only have one half of football in his legs, but his "fantastic" performance in the 2-1 win over Germany makes his selection worthwhile, coach Cesare Prandelli said Friday. Cassano fought off two German defenders to cross the ball for Mario Balotelli's opener in the Euro 2012 encounter in Warsaw Thursday, and continued to prove a nuisance to the German defence until being substituted on 58 minutes. "Antonio (Cassano) showed his best performance of the tournament so far, in terms of intensity, what he showed on the pitch, how he ran and fought," Prandelli said. "I knew he might be one of our key players. He might have 50 minutes in his legs but these are 50 fantastic minutes." The 29-year-old AC Milan striker only returned to football in April after undergoing minor heart surgery in November following a stroke. He is unable to play the full 90 minutes but has appeared in every Euro 2012 match so far. — IANS
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Del Bosque on the verge of history
Donetsk, June 29 Del Bosque was not around in 2008, when Luis Aragones steered La Roja to glory against Germany. But he has taken up the baton and ensured the orchestra have played on to the tune of success — even if they only crept through their semifinal against Portugal by a whisker via the lottery of penalties. Del Bosque will put two feathers in an already well-decorated coaching hat if the Spanish can repeat their win of four years ago. He would uniquely be able to claim both club and international success while also joining the late German Helmut Schoen, to date the only man to coach a national team both to the Euros and the World Cup. Schoen managed the feat at the 1972 Euros and the 1974 World Cup - the latter on home territory - whereas Del Bosque would have pulled off his triumphs away from home. — AFP
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We weren’t clever enough, says Lahm
Warsaw, June 29 “The most bitter thing is that this team has so much potential for so much more,” fumed Lahm. “But we weren't clever enough. If you don't show that potential at the right point in time, then you lose a game like that. It is a very, very bitter defeat.”
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London, June 29 After days of maintaining a stoic silence on his Olympic participation, Paes confirmed his participation at the post-match press conference of the ongoing Wimbledon Championships here, a statement which is likely to put a lid on the selection controversy. "I am looking forward to representing my country with the teams that the All India Tennis Association have selected," Paes said after winning his first-round men's doubles match with regular Czech partner Radek Stepanek. "I am here to play sport and not politics," he asserted. The 39-year-old had threatened to withdraw from the Olympics despite being India's number one doubles player after being paired with a lower-ranked Vishnu Vardhan for the big event against his wishes. Paes, however, chose to stay mum on Sania's outburst. "Unfortunately, I see the games being played within games, and as much as that is very disheartening, I am looking forward to playing my sixth Olympics for my country as I have played for 22 years for the people and the flag.” — PTI
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London, June 29
When play resumed, Rosol broke Nadal's serve in the decisive fifth set. Thereafter, it was a matter of just holding his serve and the Czech did it comfortably. An excited Rosol said his victory only proved that Nadal was human. "I don't know what to say. It's like a miracle for me," Rosol told a TV interviewer after the match. "I never could expect anything like this." In another match on Friday, Novak Djokovic survived losing the first set to beat Czech Radek Stepanek 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 and reach the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday. Maria Sharapova also spluttered but still beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-4 to reach the Wimbledon fourth round on Friday. Sania Mirza and Bethanie Mattek-Sands also notched up a straight-set victory to advance to the third round of the women's doubles. The Indo-US duo scored a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Stephanie Foretz Gacon and Kristina Mladenovic. — Agencies
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Morgan lifts England to 272
London, June 29 England, for whom a 5-0 series sweep would see them replace Australia at the top of the one-day international rankings, had largely been kept in check by their oldest rivals until left-hander Morgan, on his Middlesex home ground, came in at 121 for three. — AFP |
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Veteran Leander Paes has finally agreed to take part in the London Olympics, ending days of suspense over his participation after he threatened to pull out due to a selection row that engulfed Indian tennis ahead of the mega-event.
Nadal recovered from a set down to breeze past the Czech in the fourth set and then play was stopped for half an hour to close the roof because of darkness.