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This is it!
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Is Messi on the cusp of surpassing Maradona? Some agree, some don’t Rio de Janeiro, July 12 Lionel Messi was 11 years old when his parents Jorge and Celia took him to see endocrinologist Diego Schwarzstein for growth hormone deficiency. The story goes that Messi, who suffered a growth hormone deficiency, asked Schwarzstein if he would grow tall enough to be a footballer. Short passes The 9 previous finals
featuring Argentina or Germany FIRST TEST Day
4 India fail to stick to the ‘patient’ plan Senior boxers get first foreign tour in almost two years
SA seal series with a thumping win
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This is it! Messi, meanwhile, is seeking the triumph which will silence forever the remaining critics who argue that the absence of a World Cup title precludes him from a place alongside Diego Maradona in football's pantheon. The momentum is firmly with Germany after their astonishing 7-1 semifinal demolition job of Brazil, through a combination of superb attacking play and defensive incompetence. Ominously for Argentina, Germany say they quickly put the win firmly in the rear-view mirror. All German eyes are now on the historic Maracana and a chance to claim the ultimate prize after losing in either the final or the semifinals in their last four major tournaments. From top to bottom, the German spine has exuded quality. Manuel Neuer has looked unbeatable in goal while Mats Hummels has been a silky and solid presence in defence. Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira have proved a formidable midfield duo, allowing the likes of Toni Kroos and Mesut Ozil to flourish. Thomas Mueller has been a deadly goalscoring threat —five goals so far in the tournament — while the 36-year-old Klose has chipped in with two goals, becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer in the process. Germany's 17 goals in the tournament — more than double Argentina's total — have come from eight different players, a testament to the team ethic which pervades Joachim Loew's squad. "Brazil have Neymar, Portugal have Ronaldo, Argentina have Messi and Germany have a team," ran one widely retweeted summary on Twitter this week. Ranged against Germany's attacking arsenal are an Argentina side led by Messi. The four-time world footballer of the year came into the tournament determined to atone for two disappointing World Cups in 2006 and 2010. Like Maradona 28 years ago, he has dragged his team over the line at key moments in Brazil. While he was largely anonymous in the semifinal win over the Dutch, Germany will know that one slip on Sunday could present Messi with a match-winning moment, just as it did for Maradona in the 1986 final against the Germans.
— Agencies Battles within the battle: All eyes will be on Messi and Mueller Khedira vs Messi
Higuain vs Hummels Higuain has started all of Argentina's matches, bar the opening game against Bosnia, and has played the often unforgiving role as target man. Although his goal haul has been disappointing, limited to the early strike in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Belgium, his movement causes defenders endless problems, pulling them out of position to open space for Messi to thread balls through to Ezequiel Lavezzi or run at the defense himself. Hummels is strong in the air and more versatile than his defensive partner Jerome Boateng. Higuain had the better when he clashed with Hummels in the Champions League this season, scoring the first goal in Napoli's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.
Mueller has been one of the outstanding players of the tournament with five goals and was the architect of both the 4-0 win over Portugal and the 7-1 demolition of Brazil in the semi-finals. Apart from his speed and clinical finishing, Mueller's secret is his exceptional and instinctive understanding of space and he is invariably in the right place at the right time. The Bayern Munich player is usually found of the right side of the attack where left back Marcos Rojo is the first line of defense for the South Americans. Sporting defender Rojo was far from a unanimous choice at the start but has had an excellent tournament, helping to steady a previously rocky ship.
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Is Messi on the cusp of surpassing Maradona? Some agree, some don’t Rio de Janeiro, July 12 "Don't worry," Schwarzstein told him. "One day you are going to be taller than Diego Maradona, maybe not better than him, but taller." Messi would in fact grow to be four centimetres taller than his idol. But 16 years after that visit to Schwarzstein's clinic in Rosario, Messi is arguably on the verge of proving the doctor was only half right. He will Sunday captain an Argentina side aiming for a third World Cup against Germany at Rio's Maracana stadium. It would be a crowning glory for a player that is already rated among the greatest in history. Since making his first-team debut for Barcelona in 2004, Messi has won three UEFA Champions League medals, six La Liga titles and two Spanish Cups. Individually, he has won the Ballon D'Or — the world's best player title — record four times. But for all his success at the Camp Nou, Messi has been criticised for not replicating his club form for Argentina. Click of the day Sunday's fixture will be his first World Cup final in his third attempt. In 2006, he was a bit-part player under Jose Pekerman in Germany, when Argentina lost to the hosts on penalties in the quarterfinals. He failed to score in South Africa four years later when the Albiceleste also fell in the last eight to the same opponents. Such a record has prompted many to say that Messi's name cannot be mentioned in the same breath as Maradona. The former Napoli No. 10 led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 with a string of scintillating individual performances. Four years later he took the team to the final, where they were defeated by Franz Beckenbaur's West Germany. So would victory for Argentina at the Maracana see Messi supplant Maradona as his country's best ever player? Who better than Beckenbaur to pass judgement? “It's a very fitting comparison. But Maradona was an even more exceptional player than Messi is today,” Beckenbaur told the official website of the German Football Federation (DFB) Friday. There is a feeling that it is now or never for Messi, who turned 27 last month. Maradona was 25 in 1986 and — despite continuing to be decisive for club and country — was considered to be in decline in Italy four years later. Former England striker Michael Owen knows all about the ravages of time, having played his best football in his early 20s before his body succumbed to injuries. “Maybe this is his time,” Owen, who scored against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, told Goal.com. “He is at the peak of his career and Argentina have a good chance to win it. If they do then Messi will be regarded together with Maradona.” Maradona's former Argentina teammate Osvaldo Ardiles believes Messi has already resolved the dispute, regardless of Sunday's result. “Lionel Messi will go down in history as the greatest player of all time, the best that has existed,” Ardiles said. His view is not shared by Claudio Paul Caniggia, who also played with Maradona for the Albiceleste. “It's not fair to compare Messi with Diego in '86,” the retired forward said. “Messi is great, he can decide a match with one touch, but right now he is not at the level of Diego Maradona. El Diego in 1986 was something else.” Not all Argentines are so predisposed to drawing comparisons between the pair. Journalist Sebastian Perez-Ferreiro said any parallels should only be made later in Messi's career.
— Agencies
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Romero's wife ready to loan him if Argentina win Model Eliana Guercio, wife of Argentine goalkeeper Sergio Romero, said that she is ready to loan her husband for one week to American pop star Rihanna if Argentina lift the World Cup trophy Sunday. Guercio tweeted that she is ready to leave her husband for Rihanna for a week if Romero manages to win the World Cup, reports Efe. This came after Rihanna tweeted that she admires the keeper who defended his goal against two penalties in the semi-final against the Netherlands which saw Argentina qualify for the final. Two-time winners Argentina will take on three-time champions Germany in the final at the Maracana Stadium here Sunday. World Cup final to be a 'clasico': Beckenbauer
German football legend Franz Beckenbauer said the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Germany could end up being a "clasico" because of terrific players who will play in good atmosphere and conditions at the Maracana Stadium here Sunday. The Bayern Munich honourary president said that Argentine great Diego Maradona was a more exceptional player than current FC Barcelona striker Lionel Messi, reports Efe. The 'Kaisar', who lifted the 1990 World Cup as a coach against Argentina, also highlighted the defensive durability of Argentina, comparing it to the Brazilian defence line which completely collapsed against Germany in the semifinal. The Germans hope to repeat the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina when Beckenbauer led the team as a coach to lift their third and last World Cup. FIFA announces shortlist for Golden Ball award The shortlist for the 2014 Golden Ball, the prize awarded to the best player at the World Cup, has been announced by FIFA. Three players from Argentina, Angel Di Maria, Javier Mascherano and Lionel Messi, have been nominated for the award while their opponents in Sunday's final Germany have four nominees. From Germany Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Phillip Lahm and Thomas Muller have been nominated. Colombia's James Rodriguez, Brazil's Neymar and Arjen Robben of Netherlands complete the 10-man shortlist. Nominees for the Golden Glove, which is awarded to the best goalkeeper in the World Cup, has also been announced. Costa Rica's Keylor Navas, Germany's Manuel Neuer and Argentina's Sergio Romero will compete for the prize. Meanwhile, Netherlands' Memphis Depay and Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane of France have been nominated for the best young player at the tournament. The winners of each competition will be announced after Sunday's final between Germany and Argentina, the report added. ‘Argentina won’t make Brazil-like mistakes’ Argentine right back Pablo Zabaleta has said that Alejandro Sabella's men will learn the lessons of Brazil's World Cup humiliation and maintain the focus that has taken them to the brink of a historic victory in the tournament. Zabaleta vowed to ensure that their coach went out on a high against Germany as Sabella's agent had revealed that the manager planned to step down after the World Cup final. Zabaleta echoed the surprise of the rest of the footballing world at Brazil's strange surrender in Belo Horizonte but said that his robust and resolute Argentina side would not make the same mistake if they lost an early goal, The Guardian reported.
— Agencies
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The 9 previous finals
featuring Argentina or Germany
URUGUAY 4 ARGENTINA 2 Pablo Dorado scored the first goal in a World Cup final when he put hosts Uruguay ahead after 12 minutes, but an upset looked possible as Carlos Peucelle and Guillermo Stabile replied to put Argentina ahead by halftime. Most of the 93,000 crowd watching at the Centenario Stadium were willing Olympic champions Uruguay on and they duly got their wish as Pedro Cea, Victoriano Iriarte and Hector Castro scored three times in the second half as Uruguay were crowned the first world champions. WEST GERMANY 3 HUNGARY 2 One of the greatest upsets in World Cup history ended the dominance of Hungary’s “Magnificent Magyars” team of the early 1950s. Hungary had seemed destined to win the 1954 World Cup with a team including Ferenc Puskas, Nandor Hidegkuti and Jozsef Bozsik going on a 32-match unbeaten run. They had beaten West Germany 8-3 in the group stage and led 2-0 in the final after only eight minutes thanks to goals from Puskas and Czibor. But on a rainy day that became known in Germany as the “Miracle of Berne”, Max Morlock made it 2-1 before Helmut Rahn struck in the 18th and 84th minutes to seal a first World title for Germany. ENGLAND 4 WEST GERMANY 2 WEST GERMANY 2 NETHERLANDS 1 The Dutch had captured the world’s imagination with their brilliant forward Johan Cruyff inspiring their Total Football approach, but it was not enough as the more pragmatic Germans triumphed on home turf. The Netherlands took the lead before a German player had even touched the ball when Johan Neeskens struck a second minute penalty. But the hosts leveled when Paul Breitner equalized with a second penalty after 25 minutes — the first two penalties awarded in a World Cup final. Gerd Mueller scored what proved to be the winner two minutes before halftime, a then record 14th career World Cup goal, as West Germany became the first team to be European and world champions simultaneously. ARGENTINA 3 NETHERLANDS 1 West Germany reached the final despite losing to Algeria in their opening match. A “manufactured” 1-0 win over Austria allowed both European teams to advance instead of Algeria, with the Germans edging France in a penalty shootout in the semi-finals. They met their match against the Italians in the final in the Spanish capital, though. Paolo Rossi, with his sixth goal in three games, Marco Tardelli and Alessandro Altobelli put Italy 3-0 up before Paul Breitner added a late consolation. ARGENTINA 3 WEST GERMANY 2 WEST GERMANY 1 ARGENTINA 0 After the magnificent final in Mexico City, West Germany and Argentina met again four years later and produced arguably the worst. Argentina substitute Pedro Monzon became the first player to be sent off in the final when he tried to take out Juergen Klinsmann in the 65th minute. Gustavo Dezotti was also sent off in the 87th minute, two minutes after a woeful spectacle had been decided by an 85th minute Andreas Brehme penalty. BRAZIL 2 GERMANY 0 The Germans reached their seventh final — and lost for a record fourth time — when two goals from Ronaldo gave Brazil a 2-0 win in the first ever World Cup meeting between the two countries. The final featured strongly in the build-up to this year’s last four clash between the two teams in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday which Germany won in astonishing fashion 7-1. Miroslav Klose, Germany’s only survivor from the 2002 team, scored against Brazil on Tuesday, to take his tally to 16 World Cup goals, beating the record of Ronaldo set in the final in Japan.
— Agencies |
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Root, Anderson frustrate India The two share a record-breaking 198-run last-wicket partnership; India 167 for 3 at stumps Nottingham, July 12
Root remained unbeaten on 154 while left-handed Anderson (81) scored his maiden Test half-century as England’s first innings folded for 496 in the post-lunch session. India reached 167 for three in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day with a 128-run lead in hand as Shikhar Dhawan (29) and Murali Vijay (52) were guilty of throwing away their wickets on reckless shots after solid starts. Left-handed Dhawan hit a full toss back to spinner Moeen Ali, minutes before the tea break while Vijay, who looked rock solid, danced down the wicket and the faint edge from his bat flew to the gloves of Matt Prior behind the wickets. Cheteshwar Pujara (55) was out next ball when he cut a Liam Plunkett delivery straight to the point fielder Ben Stokes, who fumbled but held on to the ball on second attempt. Virat Kohli (8) and Ajinkya Rahane (18) saw off the remaining overs carefully. With one day remaining in the game, the hosts would look to wrap up the Indian innings to push for a 1-0 lead in the five-match series while the visitors would hope that Kohli and Rahane will bat them to safe position. Earlier, Root and Anderson put on an all-time Test record of 198 runs for the 10th wicket in the first two sessions of the day. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar (5/82) ended India’s misery on the field by dismissing number 11 batsman Anderson as the Indian snapped up his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. Root and Anderson bettered the previous world record of 163-run stand made by Australia’s Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar at this very ground during the Ashes series last year. The fourth morning began with India desperately looking for the last wicket but they allowed Anderson and Root to build a solid stand by their wayward bowling. Root and Anderson’s partnership also beat a long-standing 111-year-old English record for the 10th wicket of 130 runs made by Tip Foster and Wilfred Rhodes against Australia at Sydney in 1903. It is also the first match in 137 years of Test cricket that number 11 batsmen of both the teams have scored fifties. For India, Mohammed Shami had scored an unbeaten 51. Anderson’s is the highest Test score by an England number 11 batsman, beating John Snow’s effort of 59 not out against West Indies at The Oval in 1966. — PTI
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India fail to stick to the ‘patient’ plan Nottingham, July 12 All the things India had done right on Day 3, started going wrong in the defining morning session. Yes, Anderson is vulnerable to the short ball and a brief short ball burst was warranted, but certainly not a whole session. To make matters worse, as many as eight fielders were placed in catching positions, clearly suggesting that a ball will never be pitched in his own half. As expected, the yorker was attempted only once. Captain MS Dhoni was not only short of ideas but bowlers as well. With no mystery spinner, or an express bowler in his side, India once again proved that the inability to wrap up the tail is a major reason why they can’t win Test matches abroad. Since 2011, the opposition tailenders have managed four century stands (the highest along with the West Indies) and 11 half-century stands (Sri Lanka is second) against India. The two teams that fare good on this count are Australia and Pakistan. One has a mystery spinner that bamboozles a tail like no one else does and the other has a battery of bowlers with raw pace that can blow away a tail in a jiffy. India have neither so it was a given that if India wanted to succeed they could do nothing much but to follow the ‘patient’ approach. At the end of Day 4, India will not have the satisfaction of stickking the brief. |
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Senior boxers get first foreign tour in almost two years New Delhi, July 12 After being deprived of international exposure since IABF’s suspension in December, 2012, the senior men boxers will finally get to participate in an international event. An eight-member team will leave for China on Sunday to participate in the China Open at Guiyang from July 14 to 20. The boxers haven’t had foreign trips due to the tussle between IABF and AIBA. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) set up an ad-hoc committee to oversee the preparation and selection of the Indian teams for the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games this year. AIBA had earlier allowed Indian boxers to participate in the Chemistry Cup in Halle, Germany, in April. However, the seven-member team was denied visa by the German Embassy which resulted in the cancellation of the tour. The current team of boxers, who are not part of the eight-member CWG squad, comprises Pankaj Saini (49kg), Gaurav Bidhuri (52kg), M. Hasumuddin (56kg), Rohit Tokas (60kg), Sandeep (64kg), Sukhdeep Singh (75kg), Amandeep Singh (91kg) and Narinder (+91kg). A junior contingent comprising 6 boys and 5 girls is already competing in the 32th Vojvodina Golden Glove for Youth Boxers tournament in Serbia which will conclude on July 14. It was also the first time a junior team had travelled to a foreign country following IABF’s termination. As per the information received here, four Indians have made it the semifinals. |
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Kadri gives France first win, Contador stings Nibali
Twice Tour winner Contador attacked several times on the last ascent and the Italian could not respond to the last acceleration after team mate Jakob Fuglsang was dropped in the final
climb. “Alberto Contador took the race in hand. The last climb suited him more than me,” said
Nibali. “It was very difficult and explosive.” Australian Richie Porte, promoted to Team Sky leader after defending champion Chris Froome pulled out injured following a crash, finished fourth in the stage ahead of French hope Thibaut Pinot. “I think it is going to be a duel between Nibali and
Contador. I’m still a bit behind,” said Pinot. Porte is third overall, one minute 58 seconds behind
Nibali, with Dane Fuglsang in second spot 1:44 off the pace. Contador is sixth, 2:34 adrift of
Nibali, just behind fellow Spaniard Alejandro Valverde. — Reuters |
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SA seal series with a thumping win
HAMBANTOTA, July 12 In response, Sri Lanka made a blistering start with openers Kusal Perera (37) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) scoring 57 off 5.3 overs before the innings fell apart and they were all out for 257. Sri Lanka were made to pay dearly for letting de Kock off the hook on 32 and on 71 as the South African wicketkeeper went on to score 128 off 127 balls (12 fours, 3 sixes), his fifth ODI century and the fourth in his last six matches. Man of the match De Villiers hit a sparkling 108 of 71 balls in reaching his 17th ODI hundred as the Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to find the right line, while battling against the strong winds that blew across the pitch. Brief scores: South Africa: 339-5 (de Kock 128, de Villiers 108) vs Sri Lanka: 257 in 44.3 overs (Mathews 58; McLaren 3/37). — Reuters
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The two share a record-breaking 198-run last-wicket partnership; India 167 for 3 at stumps
RIO DE JANEIRO, JULY 12
Stopping Messi will be Germany's priority and they are unlikely to give the job to just one player. The Germans have been studying how the Netherlands managed to keep Messi relatively subdued in the semi-final although they have not given many clues as to how they intend to go about the job themselves. Defender Benedikt Hoewedes, who helped subdue Cristiano Ronaldo in the 4-0 win over Portugal, said it was important to swarm the Argentine number ten and not get caught in a one-on-one. However, as Messi has effectively been a playmaker in the World Cup, German defensive midfielder Khedira is likely to have a key role in keeping him under wraps.
Mueller vs Rojo
Argentina and Germany have appeared collectively in nine previous World Cup finals and two against each other. The South Americans beat West Germany to win the 1986 World Cup before the Europeans gained revenge in the final four years later. Here is a look at their previous final appearances:
Geoff Hurst remains the only player to score a hat-trick in the World Cup final after his treble helped England win the title on their only appearance in the final. Hurst’s second goal, which was allowed to stand after the ball hit the bar and bounced back down onto the Wembley pitch, is the most controversial goal in World Cup history as it has never been proved that it conclusively crossed the line. It put England 3-2 ahead before he completed his hat-trick with the last kick of the game. Helmut Haller and Wolfgang Weber scored for Germany, while Hurst’s West Ham United team mate Martin Peters scored England’s other goal and their club skipper Bobby Moore lifted the cup.
The first meeting between this year’s two finalists was a classic, with Argentina inspired to victory by the irrepressible Diego Maradona. Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano scored for Argentina, who were coasting to victory until the Germans rallied in the final stages with a 74th minute goal from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and an 80th minute equalizer from Rudi Voeller. But just when the Germans thought they had done enough to force extra time, Maradona found the perfect pass for Jorge Burruchaga to run on and score the winner six minutes from time.
A day before, Ishant Sharma, the workhorse had sent down 162 balls of which he made the batsmen play on 136 occasions. But instead of carrying on the good work, he deviated from the plan mysteriously. Only 10% of the balls that were bowled by the pacers would have crashed on to the stumps. The short ball that was used sparingly yesterday became a common commodity and the field placements typified the negative mentality of most modern-day captains. 
GERARDMER (France), July 12
