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free hit
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Argentina stun powerhouse Germany
Shining one year, gone in the next
Sharapova roars into semis
Parul returns with a medal
Punjab cagers win jr nationals
France, the 1998 champions, have twice been knocked out in the first stage since. can they go further this time...
Van Gaal happy with Holland as Spain loom
Winning is a habit for Deschamps
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India a little unlucky this time
By Rajpal Singh
Another last minute goal and another point surrendered against a top team. But it has to be said that India played much better against England than they played against Belgium. A few decisions could have gone their way. They had a penalty stroke decision reversed by the video umpire and the last penalty corner, which resulted in the winning goal, was a close decision. The video umpire usually goes with the on-field umpire. The two defeats have initiated the debate about India's tendency to concede late goals. While the goal in the first match came after a silly mistake, I don't think the England winner came as a result of lapse in concentration. Towards the end, the game had opened up and it was understood that both teams would get at least one opportunity. While India missed, England scored, and I have to say it was an unstoppable goal. That penalty-corner variation, the deflection from in front of the keeper, is very rarely stopped, but PR Sreejesh, who was again brilliant, saved it but the strike off the rebound was perfect. While a few years ago the team's fitness was questioned after such losses, I didn't see that issue playing any role in the defeat. Overall, India improved a lot from the first game. The senior players, Sardar Singh and Gurbaj Singh, were far more visible and played with greater confidence. Dharamvir Singh was the best player for me. Every time one of these players had the ball they looked dangerous. Better defence
The biggest improvement was India's defence and the man who stood out was Birendra Lakra. Though, admittedly, England were not up to their own standard. They made a lot of unforced errors — more than 10 back passes were either wayward or not trapped. Their star player Ashley Jackson looked overconfident and was more or less invisible. India should have won the match. If they had started the tournament with this kind of form they could have beaten England. The weakest link was again the forward line. They created many half chances but should have finished better. Akashdeep Singh and Mandeep Singh played better but they are still not finding the openings or making those menacing runs into the circle that forwards are supposed to. Sunil not pulling his weight
SV Sunil was yet again disappointing. He is the most experienced forward and should be the centre of an attack. After playing for this long, a player has to change and take up more responsibility. He should be the playmaker up-forward. But he was invisible in both the matches. The next two matches, against Spain and Malaysia, will be comparatively easier and should be won. What they need to work on is keeping possession. Against England, they gave away the ball far too easily. Though England played with a half-press strategy, India failed to build attacks. They mostly played on the counter. There were very few build-ups — the forwards and the midfielders couldn't link up, the ball was not rotated. Spain and Malaysia will also play like England, so India will get more freedom in the midfield. The team should take six points from the two matches before it faces Australia in the final pool match. Strategically Speaking
Not their day: A few decisions could have gone their way. They had a penalty stroke decision reversed by the video umpire and the last penalty corner, which resulted in the winning goal, was a close decision. The video umpire usually goes with the on-field umpire. Fitness no issue:
While a few years ago the team's fitness was questioned after such losses, I didn't see that issue playing any role in the defeat. Overall, India improved a lot from the first game. The senior players, Sardar Singh and Gurbaj Singh, were far more visible and played with greater confidence. Forwards disappoint:
The weakest link was again the forward line. SV Sunil was yet again disappointing. He is the most experienced forward and should be the centre of an attack. After playing for this long, a player has to change and take up more responsibility. He should be the playmaker up-forward. But he was invisible in both the matches. The writer is a former India captain |
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Argentina stun powerhouse Germany
The Hague, June 3 In the first half, the German team played the ball round the pitch using every inch, patiently building up play but failing to make inroads into the Argentine circle. Argentina, by contrast, harried, hassled and, when they broke the German control, attacked at pace, with Juan Ignacio Gilardi, Agustin Mazzilli and Matias Rey, in particular, working hard to get the ball out of midfield and into the German circle. The first goal nearly went to Germany in the 19th minute when the excellent Christopher Ruhr unleashed a cross into the Argentine circle and Mats Grambusch was inches from converting, but 10 minutes later, and against the run of play, Brunet scored when he was found by Mazzilli on the back line. His subsequent shot somehow managed to squeeze between the keeper Nicolas Jacobi and the post. Kiwis beat South Africa
New Zealand's Black Sticks maintained their perfect start to the Rabobank Hockey World Cup by surging to a convincing 5-0 Pool B win over South Africa in the GreenFields Stadium. Drag-flicking defender Andy Hayward netted a hat-trick of penalty corners as the world number 6 and Hockey World League Silver medallists claimed a second successive victory.
— FIH |
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Shining one year, gone in the next
Bangalore, June 3 The IPL’s one-time wonders are many, and their tales are both heartening and cautionary. The T20 format, in which luck plays a massive part, gives less gifted players a chance to outshine the big stars. Thus we had Paul Valthaty, who had an exceptional season with Kings XI Punjab in 2011. Until 2011, Valthaty’s career was in a rut but he struck gold in his second game for KXIP, scoring 120 from 63 balls against Chennai Super Kings. Valthaty followed this up with a 47-ball 75 in the next match. He was the sensation of the season. Then, signed up by Himachal Pradesh, Valthaty scored 120 runs in six Ranji Trophy matches, and scored 30 runs in six games in IPL-5 in 2012. He was dropped by KXIP, and went unsold this year. Swapnil Asnodkar was a superstar for Rajasthan Royals when they won the title in 2008. Asnodkar scored 311 runs from nine innings, and captain Shane Warne built him up as the next Viv Richards. Then, after two below-par seasons, Asnodkar lost his IPL contract. S Aravind was the highest wicket taker for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL-4, picking up 21 wickets from 13 matches. He earned a Team India call-up for the home ODI series against England in 2011, though he did not get to play a single match. Now he’s gone off the radar. Saurabh Tiwary, member of India’s Under-19 World Cup winning squad in 2008, scored 419 runs for Mumbai Indians in IPL-3. He was selected for the Asia Cup in 2010 but managed only 49 runs from two games. He shifted his loyalties to RCB in 2011, but had a poor run of form with only 187 runs from 16 matches. Manpreet Gony earned a national call after starring for CSK in IPL-1, with 17 scalps from 16 games. He was dropped from the national team after two matches in the 2008 Asia Cup, where he took just two wickets. The next two IPL seasons were a nightmare for him, and his contract with CSK wasn’t renewed. This season, Karun Nair (RR), Akshar Patel (KXIP), Yuzvendra Chahal (RCB) and Kedar Jadhav (DD) have shown much promise, and one hopes that they’d not turn out to be one-season wonders. |
Paris, June 3 The 2012 champion and last year's runner-up, who will meet Eugenie Bouchard after the Canadian beat Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro in three sets, lost the first four games as she conceded the first set before regaining her composure against a player who knocked holder Serena Williams out in the second round. An early break in the second set was all the seventh-seeded Russian needed to gain momentum. The match turned Sharapova's way when she held for 3-1 in the third set after saving five break points in a game that lasted over 10 minutes. "That was one of the most important games in the third set afte that game I gained more confidence. That was the turning point," she said. Once a self-described 'cow on ice' on clay, Sharapova will be playing her fourth consecutive Roland Garros semi-final — a feat she also achieved at the Australian Open from 2005-08. Dynamic Djokovic marches into last four
World No 2 Novak Djokovic proved too hot to handle for Canadian hope Milos Raonic as the Serb qualified for the French Open semi-finals for the sixth time with a clinical 7-5 7-6 (5) 6-4 victory on Tuesday. Djokovic, chasing the only grand slam title to elude him, next meets 18th-seeded Latvian Ernests Gulbis. A couple of double faults in the 11th game put Raonic under pressure and Djokovic took full advantage, grabbing the opening set after unsettling his opponent with a dipping backhand. The Serb then took the second-set tiebreak when Raonic missed a backhand. The Canadian trailed 4-0 in the third set before retrieving one of the two breaks of serve. Djokovic, however, ended the contest on his first match point when Raonic sent the ball . New-found focus sees Gulbis glide into semis
Even Tomas Berdych's loud shirt was not enough to silence the swashbuckling Ernests Gulbis at the French Open on Tuesday, with the Latvian skittling out the sixth seed 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Reformed playboy Gulbis, 18th seed on the Paris clay, extended his winning run after downing Swiss master Roger Federer in five sets in the previous round to reach a grand slam semi-final for the first time. Sania-Cara out
Indian tennis player Sania Mirza along with partner Cara Black bowed out of the French Open after losing their doubles quarter-final here Tuesday. The Indo-Zimbabwean fifth seeds went down 2-6, 6-3, 3-6 in two hours to top seeds Su-Wei Hsieh (Chinese Taipei) and Shuai Peng (China) on Court No.1 to end the Indian challenge in the only clay court major.
— Reuters |
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Parul returns with a medal
Earlier in the semifinals, Parul and Shaik defeated Janosikoba and Topoba of Slovakia 7-6 6-4. However, Parul failed in the singles category. She will now represent the nation in the Dresse and Maere World Deaf Tennis Championship to be held in Chattanooga, USA, from July 14 to 19. Parul is representing the nation with no financial help from the state government. "I am happy with my performance and will try to claim an individual medal in the upcoming championship in USA. Now that I have a medal in my kitty, my parents could easily claim government aid, which would help in me participating in more competitions," said Parul. |
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France, the 1998 champions, have twice been knocked out in the first stage since. can they go further this time...
What are France's strengths? Physical impact; they have a physical advantage over the other teams. They are good in duels, and physically superior to the players of the other teams. Some of the players are able to make a difference alone. This potent combination of athleticism and technical ability should help the French dominate games. The defence also looks good. France's current crop of centrebacks are blessed with strength and pace in equal measure. Mathieu Debuchy and Patrice Evra, who bring vital experience to the defence, will likely start as fullbacks. Coach Didier Deschamps has switched to an at tacking 4 -3 -3 formation from a 4-2-3-1 to get the best out of his young and exciting team. Deschamps knows how to get the best out of players. With him the bottom line is: Everyone who performs will get a chance. “The most important thing when you go to a World Cup is not to pick the best 23 players but to pick the best squad. It’s not just about talent, it’s also about attitude,” Deschamps said after announcing his squad. What are the limitations? To create the appropriate spirit designed for the World Cup. It’s not easy to have a good team spirit, because this competition is a bit like a marathon for the national teams. And remember, the past baggage. — Agencies |
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Van Gaal happy with Holland as Spain loom
Amsterdam: Louis van Gaal insists his Holland side's preparations for their opening World Cup clash with Spain are firmly on course. The Dutch boss saw his men beat Ghana 1-0 in their latest warm-up game last weekend. And van Gaal expressed his satisfaction that Holland were one of the few European countries who claimed a victory in the latest round of friendly fixtures as they face their last pre-finals showdown against Wales in Amsterdam on Wednesday night. Scolari tells Brazil
to sharpen up
Sao Paulo: Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari urged his troops to sharpen up a day before their World Cup warm-up with Panama. Scolari blasted his side after a Sunday training session which he said he "didn’t like at all" owing to poor marking and perceived sloppiness. With only ten days to go to their opening match against Croatia, he insisted it was time to crack the whip.
— Agencies |
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Winning is a habit for Deschamps
Manager Didier Deschamps (in pic) knows what it takes to win and is not afraid of making the decisions he feels are right to get where he wants.
He did it as a player when he confronted Marseille president Bernard Tapie himself and refused another loan away from Marseille after a year at Bordeaux. He stayed, was made captain and two years later lifted the Champions League.
He did it as captain of France too, prior to the 1998 World Cup when clearly David Ginola was not to his taste and the Tottenham forward was omitted from the tournament squad by Aimé Jacquet. He did it as a manager of France recently when he dropped Samir Nasri from his squad for the 2014 World Cup. To reach his objectives, he sees beyond talent. One of the most important quality of Deschamps is that he is keen to build a team spirit. To do that in a France team is a big challenge.
— Agencies |
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Another last minute goal and another point surrendered against a top team. But it has to be said that India played much better against England than they played against Belgium.
A few decisions could have gone their way. They had a penalty stroke decision reversed by the video umpire and the last penalty corner, which resulted in the winning goal, was a close decision. The video umpire usually goes with the on-field umpire.
Let it be known at the outset, France are not the favourites to win the World Cup. They are rather the dark horses this time. But one thing is sure — France will dominate the headlines in the coming days as life is never boring around the France national team. They scintillate, they
self-destruct.
Chandigarh, June 3
Let it be known at the outset, France are not the favourites to win the World Cup. They are rather the dark horses this time. But one thing is sure — France will dominate the headlines in the coming days as life is never boring around the France national team. They scintillate, they
self-destruct.
If they make it to the quarterfinals it will be a good performance from them. Ideally, France have a 99% chance of qualifying for the second stage. If they are suicidal they won’t make it, but otherwise they would really have to be lacking in mental strength if they are to fail to qualify. And it will be very hard to explain that with the players such as: Benzema, Ribery, who are currently all shining in the biggest clubs. The midfielders are very strong, as are defenders.
