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Dutch complete Brazil’s misery
A cup of shocks,
shame and lots to acclaim
Maracana basks in sunshine before showdown
FIRST TEST Day 5
It was a good Test match for us, says Dhoni
Binny dispels doubts about his ability
Ind A vs Aus A
Game 2: Day 1
Big plans for Surjit Hockey
Martin powers to stage win, Nibali surrenders yellow
We will win at least 3 medals at CWG: Jwala
Australian great Ian Thorpe reveals he is gay
short passes
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Rio de Janeiro, July 13 The German midfielder volleyed past Sergio Romero on the slide and into the far corner. With just seven minutes left for the final whistle, Argentina tried hard but could not turn it around. Till the half-time, there were plenty of sparks but no goal. Germany looked vulnerable in the centre, but in attack they began to put together some of the swift passing moves which had destroyed Brazil. For Germany, Higuain and Howedes came very near scoring. Both sides occasionally pressed high, but then dropped off quickly. The pace slowed down a bit but a goal looked imminent before the break. However, the goal didn't come even after the 90th minute. Argentina had zero shots on target, while Germany had three. Disallowed goal Things could have been a lot different. In the 30 minute, Argentine Lavezzi burst down the right and sent a delightful curling ball around Hummels, but Higuain mistimed his run and was offside when he side-footed past Neuer at first attempt. That was the closest Argentina came to finding the back of the net. Then there were missed chances and wasted chances too. In the 97th minute, Argentina missed a golden chance when Marcos Rojo delivered a wonderful curling ball from the left wing over the head of Hummels and straight on to the chest of Palacio. The substitute took a heavy first touch which forced him to take a quick second in lifting the ball over the onrushing Neuer, and it sailed behind for a goalkick. Earlier, in the 21 minute, Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain had wasted a brilliant chance. The striker was put through one-on-one with Neuer following Toni Kroos'awful header back towards his own goal, but he must have been taken by surprise by the opportunity. The 120 minute game was full of tension and violent play. Yellow cards came out often: The first card of the game was shown to Schweinsteiger for a merciless foul on Lavezzi. Howedes next fouled Lavezzi at the halfway line. Mascherano was shown the third card for a professional foul at the halfway line to stop a German attack. Aguero picked up a the last yellow card of the match. The highlight of the match came in the 57 minute when Manuel Neuer cleared a ball up the right, and completely took out Gonzalo Higuain. The goalkeeper cleared the ball first, with his fist, just inside his area, but his knees smashed into the the Argentine. — Agencies
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Dutch complete Brazil’s misery
BRASILIA, July 13
Coming off the devastating 7-1 hammering to Germany in the semifinals, the humiliation for the hosts was complete on the eve of the grand finale. Captain Robin van Persie (3rd minute), Daley Blind (17th) and Georginio Wijnaldum (90+1) found the target for the Netherlands, the result only adding to the already gloomy mood of thousands of home fans as they left the stadium deeply dejected. Van Persie started the scoring for the Netherlands after he converted from the spot barely few minutes into the game. Arjen Robben was the one credited with getting the Netherlands the penalty after he was pulled by host skipper Thiago Silva, who returned after missing the German massacre due to double bookings.
The Manchester United player calmly slotted in the ball, high above Julio Cesar's dive. This was van Persie's fourth goal in six appearances in the ongoing tournament. There was though a hint of doubt over if Robben was dragged inside the box. Lack of discretion on part of stopper David Luiz, who is headed for Paris Saint-Germain FC on a world record 50 million pound, led to the second goal. In what turned out to be a horrible piece of defending, Luiz's feeble header from a cross landed on the path of Daley Blind, who promptly volleyed it in to make the scoreline 2-0 for the Oranje, in the process scoring his maiden international goal. Wijnaldum added to the home team's woes when he successfully launched his right-footer into the net in the added time. Oscar looked to be the most impressive Brazilian player on the field and embarked on a mazy run before launching into a shot from the edge of the box, but Jasper Cillessen was equal to the task at the post. For the record, Brazil have conceded 14 goals in the tournament, the most by the five-time winners in a single World Cup finals. In between, on the 16th minute, Brazilians Jo and Ramires were inches away from converting a cross from the left, but the ball bounced clear and away to safety.
Earlier, right back Maxwell and striker Jo were among the players who started for Brazil. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made four other changes from the team that started the devastating 7-1 loss to Germany in semifinals. Silva was back in the lineup as expected, but the coach also included three new mid-fielders — Willian, Ramires and Paulinho. Leaving the team were Marcelo, Dante, Fernandinho, Hulk, Bernard and Fred. Success based on Dutch way with novel tweak: Gaal Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal said his team's run to third place at the World Cup was proof that there was more than one “Dutch” way of playing. Van Gaal's side played a more defensive, containing style than that preferred by many Dutch coaches. “We were able to show a kind of football that is rather novel, in the Netherlands at least, with players who cooperate so well,” Van Gaal said. “A coach has to work based on the quality of his squad and it worked out apart from the fact that we are not world champions but really we were very, very close.” Van Gaal will now take over as manager of Manchester United. — Reuters
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Neymar joins teammates on the bench BRASILIA, July 13 Brazil players apologise to fans after loss Brazil players apologized to fans after another hugely disappointing performance in the third-place match. “I don’t think we deserved for it to end like this,” captain Thiago Silva said. “We need to apologize to the fans, they booed us at the end, which is normal, they have feelings too. It's very tough.” Midfielder Oscar looked totally deflated after the defeat. “What can you say. We came here hoping to win third place but we didn't, it wasn't our day,” Oscar said. “We lost, there’s nothing to say. "We lost a goal in two, three minutes and we were chasing the game.” — Agencies
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A cup of shocks, shame and lots to acclaim
For a time there seemed to be revolution in the air in Brazil this heady World Cup month. Not on the streets, where suffocating policing, home-nation progress and a desire to put on a show meant there was no repeat of the mass protests of last summer’s Confederations Cup, but on the pitch.
Amid steaming heat, game after game was thrilling and open. The holders Spain began with a 5-1 drubbing en route to being swiftly dethroned. Two other former kings were bundled out too, as was the reigning World Player of the Year, a lame Cristiano Ronaldo no match for the endless running and can-do enthusiasm of Jürgen Klinsmann and his Americans. With Colombia, Chile and Costa Rica shining, the possibilities seemed endless. However, as with most revolutions, in the final analysis the new order turned out to look much like the ancient regime. The final is the third such meeting between Argentina and Germany/West Germany. The semi-final quartet had collectively won 10 World Cups and made it to 21 finals. And yet, even before Germany played like Brazil in 1982, and Brazil like Zaire in 1974, this was a World Cup that did confound expectations. As hosts, if not performers, Brazil defied forecasts of doom and staged a tournament that worked. There have been occasional tales of ticket problems, some travel delays, and more rain than most visitors expected, but the infrastructure coped. Crime appears to have been light — at least in the areas World Cup officials and tourists go — and though a bridge tragically collapsed in Belo Horizonte, none of the stadia fell down. Not that all has been plain sailing. The glaring absence of black faces at matches has been noted, with ticket prices effecting a form of economic apartheid. Reservations over the financial and social cost of staging the finals have not been abated. Indeed, for many western observers there was an obscene contrast between the grandiose stadia, some of which are already white elephants, and the grim struggle of many people’s daily lives. If any good comes of the tournament in that respect, it is that the global exposure of favela residents’ desperate circumstances may belatedly shame the authorities into redemptive action. In the great old tradition of “bread and circuses” dating back to Roman times, President Dilma Rousseff will have this year hoped for a sixth World Cup triumph to distract the impoverished masses. For a while it seemed her prayers could be answered but the Selecao’s disintegration in the Estadio Mineirao put the focus back on to Brazilian failings. It is not just socio-economics under the microscope. In a refrain familiar to English ears, some pundits, including ex-player Juninho, saw a silver lining in the 7-1: now, they said, Brazilian football must conduct much-needed root-and-branch reform. This tournament has confirmed the sorry reality that the jogo bonito now exists only as a marketing concept. Brazil 2014 will be remembered for fast-paced matches — despite a stifling climate at many games — often with teams pressing high, for superb close control and quick passing. The FIFA, who began the tournament under fire but must have thought they had escaped once the attention turned to the matches, have to think twice. The twist in the tale came when the local police decided to look into ticket re-selling. We wait to see what happens, but the Brazilian authorities may have over-turned a very large stone. Defensive players continue to look very uncomfortable in possession, midfielders lack game intelligence, and while there is potential in the forwards, there are no guarantees it will be realised. Wayne Rooney at last scored in a World Cup, and is up with the nation’s current best, but to watch the likes of Lionel Messi, Rodriguez, Arjen Robben, Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm and others is to realise what “world class” really means. It is no coincidence that many of these players are German, or that Joachim Löw’s team are in the final against Argentina. As a result we have a final that pits the best team against the best player in a clash of continents and styles. The Independent
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Maracana basks in sunshine before showdown
Rio de Janeiro, July 13 With the Germans looking to become the first European nation to win the title on South American soil and the Argentines desperate to lift a third trophy and their first since 1986, large crowds gathered around the stadium from the early morning in a cascade of colors. From traditional Bavarian Lederhosen and East Germany vintage tops of the 1970s to giant blue and white Argentine flags and those of every South American nation, fans were getting ready for the biggest single event in world sports. “This is our time. This is our continent and our victory tonight here in Brazil,” said Juan Alvarez, 24, who drove three days from the Argentine capital Buenos Aires with a group of friend, as he showed his ticket for the game. “Winning it here in Brazil would make it even better,” he said. Police, military and other security personnel numbering tens of thousands mingled with arriving fans. — Reuters
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Binny hits fifty as Test ends in draw
After India were reduced to 184/6, allrounder scores 78 and adds 65 with Bhuvneshwar to rescue team
Nottingham, July 13
India were in deep trouble midway into the morning session as Virat Kohli (8), Ajinkya Rahane (24) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11) were dismissed in quick succession with the visiting side 145 runs ahead and just four wickets in hand. But, Binny made a mark in his maiden Test with a memorable performance as he not only pulled India out of the woods but also took his side to a lead of more than 300 runs to shut the door on England at Trent Bridge. Binny also found an able ally in Ravindra Jadela (31) as they put on a crucial 65-run stand for the seventh wicket to keep England — who had scored 496 all out in their first innings — at bay. India continued to bat and declared their second innings at 391 for nine. The two sides then decided to end the match. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who shared 91 runs with Binny for the eighth wicket, remained not out at 63, his second half century of the match after his first innings 58. Binny’s solid 78 off 114 balls was studded with eight fours and a six and he was out just before tea after taking the match out of England’s reach. Binny, who showed fantastic temperament in his debut match, looked on course for a century before Moeen Ali had him LBW with 10 minutes to go for tea. India were 347 for eight at tea break, an overall lead of 308, and by then it was clear that the match would end in a draw. The two sides now move to Lord’s in London for the second of the five-match Test series, which begins on July 17. In the morning session, India suffered a scare as England took three wickets for 17 runs in first hour. Stuart Broad removed both Kohli and Rahane in successive overs before Liam Plunkett dismissed Dhoni to send shock waves in the visiting team camp. India found themselves at a precarious 184 for six with an overall lead of 145 and four second innings wickets in hand when Binny and Jadeja joined forces. — PTI Scoreboard Vijay c Prior b Ali 52 Dhawan c & b Ali 29 Pujara c Stokes b Plunkett 55 Kohli lbw b Broad 8 Rahane c Prior b Broad 24 Dhoni b Plunkett 11 Jadeja c Prior b Anderson 31 Binny lbw b Ali 78 Kumar not out 63 Sharma c Prior b Cook 13 Shami not out 4 Extras: (b 9, lb 7, nb 7) 23 Broad 21-7-50-2 Plunkett 20-1-85-2 Ali 28-4-105-3 Stokes 18-3-60-0 Root 12-4-22-0 Cook 2-0-6-1 Ballance 1-1-0-0
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It was a good Test match for us, says Dhoni
Nottingham, July 13 “Overall there was a lot of positives for us. We needed a partnership this morning and we got it. It was a good Test match for us, we managed to put pressure on them and then we held up well when we were under pressure,” Dhoni said at the post-match presentation ceremony. “We haven’t had a seaming allrounder but Binny can be someone who can really contribute for us in the future.” He had no regrets about leaving out Ravichandran Ashwin from the playing XI. “I don’t regret not playing Ashwin because there was no help for the spinner. We had good combinations and I was happy with the bowling attack. I don’t think I could have changed much when (Joe) Root and (Jimmy) Anderson were going, we tried a few things but the ball got soft and the bowlers got tired and I don’t think there was much else we could have done,” he added. “A lot of youngsters have played really well. We wanted to see what kind of fight they are putting in and we’re pleased.” — PTI
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Binny dispels doubts about his ability
Nottingham, July 13 Binny crossed paths with his departing captain well inside the boundary line; he looked heavenward and took guard. He was either extremely confident or extremely anxious. Within the first few balls, he had a huge stride out down the wicket to meet the ball with the middle of his bat, scampered through for a single that most people would not have run, and played a gorgeous backfoot punch, standing up on his toes. When he left a couple of balls, it was done with authority. Most importantly, Binny kept the score ticking along. Before Binny’s arrival, India had managed to score only 17 runs in 13 overs. In the next 10 India managed 31 runs, Binny scoring 20 with three fours. He had passed his first test for the day. His second challenge was to overcome the new ball, a task he accomplished with positive footwork and an attacking mindset. As his innings prospered, he displayed a full range of shots as he dispatched any short balls with authority. His innings had assured that India would avoid embarrassment. The most impressive part of his innings was that he pounced on every scoring opportunity and played according to the situation. During his innings of 78, Binny displayed a full range of strokes and definitely justified his selection. For that, he deserves credit. The last time India had experimented with a Binny-like allrounder in England was back in 2002, with Sanjay Bangar. Bangar didn’t have a great impact but played a crucial role in a Test that India went on to win. Binny’s innings might not have lead India to victory but he ensured India avoided a disastrous pattern of poor beginnings to foreign series. However, the true import of this innings can only be judged at the end of this series.
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Mishra spins trouble for Australia A
Brisbane, July 13 Electing to bat in the four-day game, the Aussies were hurt by pacer Umesh Yadav’s (3/42) early burst that fetched him two wickets. Yadav drew first blood after cleaning up opener Alex Doolan for 18 and soon got left-hander Phillip Hughes for 12. Mishra kept up the pressure, sending Chris Lynn (12) back to the pavilion. Recovering from 64 for three, Peter Forrest and skipper James Faulkner then put on a 133-run partnership to resurrect the innings. Yadav broke the dangerous stand after getting Forrest caught behind to put the hosts in trouble at 197 for four. Mishra then spun into action and the veteran leg-spinner got Faulkner caught behind as the number five batsman got his 11th first-class fifty. The unstoppable Mishra then got Mitchell Marsh for 14 and soon cleaned up wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Whiteman for 12. Brief Scores: Australia A: 288/7 in 90 overs (Faulkner 94, Forrest 77; Mishra 4/114). — PTI
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Big plans for Surjit Hockey
Jalandhar, July 13 A coaching camp for the sub-junior girls would be held from July 17 to 30 at Government Girls Senior Secondary School, Nehru Garden. A camp for U-17 boys would be held from July 17 to 30 at the Surjit Stadium. A coaching camp for senior girls would be held from July 20 to 30 at Lyallpur Khalsa College.
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Martin powers to stage win, Nibali surrenders yellow
MULHOUSE (France), July 13 Time-trial world champion Martin attacked after 15 km and dropped his breakaway companion with just under 60 left to win his third Tour stage following time trial victories in 2011 and 2013. Gallopin took the overall leader’s yellow jersey after Nibali’s Astana team did not chase hard to catch a counter-attacking group. That meant the Kazakh team will not be forced to defend the lead in Monday’s 11th stage, one of the most demanding of the Tour. Gallopin, of the Lotto-Belisol team, now leads Italian Nibali by 1:34 going into Monday’s 161.5-km trek to La Planche des Belles Filles but has little hope of retaining the lead. Gallopin is the first Frenchman to wear the yellow jersey since Thomas Voeckler in 2011. Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara took second place and Belgian Greg van Avermaet finished third in the stage. — Reuters
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We will win at least 3 medals at CWG: Jwala
Kolkata, July 13 India had bagged four medals at the 2010 CWG and the doubles defending champion said she would not be playing mixed category in which she had won a silver in the team event. “We will win at least three from badminton. In doubles it would be tough, but in singles there’s not much competition,” she said. Asked whether it would be tougher than the last time, Jwala said, “Why do you think it would be different? It does not matter, we have won outside India as well.” — PTI
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Australian great Ian Thorpe reveals he is gay
MELBOURNE, July 13 “I’ve thought about this for a long time. I’m not straight,” the 31-year-old said, struggling to hold tears back. “And this is only something that very recently, we’re talking the past two weeks, I’ve been comfortable telling the closest people around me, exactly that. I’ve wanted to (come out) for some time but I couldn’t. What happened was I felt the lie had become so big that I didn’t want people to question my integrity.” One of Australia’s favourite sons, Thorpe had long denied he was gay and wrote in his 2012 autobiography ‘This Is Me’ that he was heterosexual. “For the record, I am not gay and all my sexual experiences have been straight,” Thorpe wrote in the book. “I’m attracted to women, I love children and aspire to have a family one day.” Smartly dressed in a navy blue coat and sporting a face of stubble, Thorpe said he had long battled to accept his sexuality, and might have come out earlier if he had not been constantly questioned about it from the age of 16. “The problem was I was asked at such a young age about my sexuality. I went to an all boys school... so if you’re accused of being gay, the first answer is no and you get ready for a fight,” he said. Being called a “faggot” and other homophobic taunts by members of the public had also not helped. However, he admitted a big part of his reticence was that he worried that being gay would not fit into his image as “Australia’s champion”. “Now it’ll be something that I work on with a doctor,” he said. “This trying to live a lie which I was doing. But I was already living somewhat of a lie in my life because I was trying to be what I thought was the right athlete by other people’s standards.” Wave of support “I wanted to make my family proud, I wanted to make my nation proud. Part of me didn’t know if Australia wanted it’s champion to be gay. People will criticise me, some people won’t like the idea other people may applaud me for it, but it’s me.” Thorpe’s revelations sparked a wave of support from fellow athletes, celebrities and gay activists on social media. “I can totally understand how difficult this whole process has been for him,” Australian Olympian Matthew Mitcham, who came out before winning a diving gold at the 2008 Olympics, said. “I really hope this process gives him some peace and that the media and the public give him the same respect and support I received in 2008.” Singer Ricky Martin tweeted: “Congrats @IanThorpe! Brave man! Happy for you! Millions appreciate what you’ve done! Proud of you! #SelfLove.” After shooting to fame when he won the 400 metres freestyle at the 1998 World Championships in Perth, Thorpe won three gold medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics but was soon taking medication and binge drinking in a long battle with depression. Thorpe’s revelations come only months after checking in to rehab after being found disoriented in Sydney, later attributed by his manager to a cocktail of anti-depressants and medication to treat an injured shoulder. Thorpe won two golds at the 2004 Athens Olympics but shocked by quitting the pool in 2006 at the age of 24, saying he was fed up with being a “performing seal”. He later revealed he had pondered ways to kill himself during the depths of his depression. He returned to the pool in 2011 in a bid to qualify for the London Games but failed at national trials the following year. Thorpe told Parkinson he regretted pulling the pin early in his career. “Now I wish that I hadn’t but it’s what I needed to do.” — Reuters
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Persie gives away his bronze medal to fan
Robin van Persie gave away his captain's armband and possibly his bronze medal to a Dutch fan in a gesture that was simultaneously kind hearted and telling about how the award is viewed. It was a result that saw the Netherlands officially finish in third place but the bronze medal position is arguably the least coveted honour in all of international football. So perhaps it wasn't a surprise to see Van Persie immediately head to the crowd to celebrate. The Netherlands' captain went over to the stands where he appeared to pass his medal to a bizarrely dressed Dutch supporter who was wearing an orange military outfit complete with large hat and Netherlands flag bow-tie. As Van Persie handed him the armband, he was neither holding his medal nor wearing it around his neck. Early Dutch goal hands Julio unwanted record
Brazil players apologise to fans after loss
Brazil players apologized to fans after another hugely disappointing performance in the third-place match. "I don’t think we deserved for it to end like this," captain Thiago Silva said. "We need to apologize to the fans, they booed us at the end, which is normal, they have feelings too. It's very tough." Midfielder Oscar looked totally deflated after the defeat. "What can you say. We came here hoping to win third place but we didn't, it wasn't our day,” Oscar said. “We lost, there’s nothing to say. "We lost a goal in two, three minutes and we were chasing the game.” — Agencies |
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MULHOUSE (France), July 13
Ian Thorpe, Australia’s most decorated Olympian, revealed he was gay in an emotional television interview on Sunday, ending years of speculation about the champion swimmer’s sexuality. The five-times Olympic gold medallist made the admission to British journalist Michael Parkinson in a pre-recorded interview on Australia’s Channel 10 in which he shared his relief in freeing himself from living “a lie”.
Brazil did enjoy greater ball possession in the first half and created enough goal scoring chances, but their shots on the target were week. Before the second half started, Fernandinhho was brought in place of Luis Gustavo while Ramires made way for Hulk, but nothing could bring Brazil the elusive goal. In the 50th minute, Brazil survived another Holland attempt from the set-piece. Just before that though, there was a great run from Ramires. The Chelsea player broke through the Holland defence but his final touch outside the box was blocked by a defender for a corner. In the 59th minute, Ramires twisted and turned to fire in a shot, only to see his attempt miss the target by about a foot. Brazil showed urgency towaRds the end but lacked badly when it came to finishing.
The Netherlands' opening goal against Brazil was the 16th conceded by Julio Cesar in World Cup matches, handing him the unwanted record of conceding the most goals at the finals for the five-times champions. It was his 12th World Cup game over two tournaments in 2010 and 2014. The previous record-holder was
Taffarel, who conceded 15 goals in 18 games across three World Cups. Taffarel played in 1990, 1994 and 1998, taking home a winner's medal in 1994.
