FACTBOX - Top players to watch out for at the finals

Published Wed, Jun 09 10 08:40 AM

The World Cup provides a showcase for the game's biggest names but also offers a chance for lesser known players to become globally known.

The following lists the 'big five' of the tournament who bring lofty reputations to South Africa plus five, perhaps not well known beyond their own fans, who could grab attention.

THE BIG FIVE

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Already being talked of as potentially one of the all-time greats, Messi had a taste of the World Cup four years ago as an 18-year-old and then was the inspiration behind Argentina's Olympic gold medal in Beijing.

But it has been his stunning displays in big games for Barcelona that has led people to mention in him on the same terms as Johan Cruyff, Ferenc Puskas and his compatriot Diego Maradona.

A brilliant finisher and a genius with the ball at his feet anywhere close to the danger zone, the only question is whether his team mates will provide him with the quality of service he relishes.

Messi's remarkable four-goal performance in Barca's Champions League victory over Arsenal in April will long be remembered and he now has the perfect stage to show anyone who has not noticed yet that he is a very special talent and can deliver for country as well as club.

Wayne Rooney (England)

Capable of scoring from any angle and playing any role in the attack, the Manchester United forward is still only 24 years old and this tournament is by no means his last chance at glory on the international stage.

Rooney, who can operate effectively as a lone striker or alongside a bigger target man, has it all -- an ability to run at defenders, lead the line, play as a second striker and track back into deeper roles. But the main reason defenders fear him so much is his clinical finishing.

He may suffer from not having a threatening strike partner in the England set-up but if anyone is capable of shouldering all the responsibility for scoring and creating goals it is Rooney.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Ronaldo's billboard presence has certainly helped the Real Madrid winger's marketability but it his deft touch, pace and imagination that makes the 25-year-old such a handful.

In many ways a throwback to the days of wingers who hugged the touchline and made fools of fullbacks with clever trickery, Ronaldo will aim to enjoy the World Cup more than four years ago when he was criticised for his role in the controversial dismissal of his then Manchester United team mate Rooney.

The question is whether he plays in a good enough team to truly shine to the best of his ability.

Kaka (Brazil)

Every World Cup needs a brilliant Brazilian and with the premature decline of Ronaldinho and Adriano, it falls on the elegant midfielder Kaka to deliver that special something the team in gold are expected to provide every four years.

Injury disrupted Kaka's season at Real Madrid last term but, after the disappointment of losing in the quarter-finals four years ago, a fit Kaka in a more balanced Brazil lineup will have the perfect chance to show his class. He is light-footed on the ball, a superb passer and has a striker's instinct for goal.

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon)

Three-times African Footballer of the Year and a three time Champions League winner, Eto'o has been stung by criticism from former Cameroon forward Roger Milla that he had not truly delivered for his country.

Two African Cup of Nations titles and important goals in qualification for these finals suggest Eto'o, has some justification in considering the comments unfair. The finals present a great chance for him to cement his reputation as one of the finest forwards produced by the continent.

FIVE TO WATCH OUT FOR

Teko Modise (South Africa)

Largely because he plays in domestic South African football with Orlando Pirates, midfield playmaker Modise has mostly escaped attention outside his home continent but the 27-year-old now has the chance to show his quality on a global stage.

Modise is the ideal central midfielder for the quick-passing style of Brazilian coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. As well as having the right vision and imagination he possesses impressive pace. If he performs at his best a nice contract from abroad should bring him just reward from this tournament.

Ri Myong-guk (North Korea)

There will be few busier goalies at the World Cup than Ri Myong-guk but North Korea's 'Gatekeeper of the Iron Wall' thrives under pressure.

Ri gave up his dreams of becoming a striker to answer his country's goalkeeping call and will face some of the world's deadliest forwards when North Korea face Brazil, Portugal and Ivory Coast in Group G.

Ri is an inspirational figure for his team mates and has been known to sing North Korea's rousing national anthem when the going gets tough.

Marek Hamsik (Slovakia)

The 22-year-old playmaker with spiky dark hair was Napoli's top scorer in his first two seasons after joining the Serie A club in 2007. Effective on the left and in the middle, he played a key part in sending Slovakia to their first World Cup.

His idol is former Czech creative midfielder Pavel Nedved, who also plied his trade in Italy with Lazio and Juventus after making a name for himself at Euro 96.

With his pace and keen eye for goal Hamsik could follow in the footsteps of his hero in catching the eye of some bigger clubs while on international duty in South Africa.

Giovani Dos Santos (Mexico)

An exciting talent who has yet to live up to his promise in European club football -- where he has struggled for opportunities with Barcelona and current club Tottenham Hotspur -- the half-Brazilian forward has shone at international level.

He was voted Player of the Tournament in the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup and delivered a sublime performance in World Cup qualifying against Costa Rica where he scored with a 20 metre strike and then created the other two goals.

Light-footed and imaginative, he has drawn comparisons with Ronaldinho and if Mexico can get their flowing passing game going expect Dos Santos to be at the heart of it.

Samir Handanovic (Slovenia)

Slovenia's surprise qualification had much to do with the superb performances of goalkeeper Handanovic. He kept clean sheets in seven of 12 games and was the hero of the playoff win over Russia after a series of fine saves in the dying minutes.

A superb shot-stopper but also a good organiser, Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek has named him the best goalkeeper in the world and if he lives up to his billing Handanovic could well find himself with one of the world's big clubs after the finals.

Source: Web Search

Stop making Finn comparisons with McGrath says Flower

Published>Tue, Jun 08 10 08:44 AM

England coach Andy Flower has dismissed growing comparisons between the team's new fast bowling sensation Steven Finn and Australia's most successful pace bowler Glenn McGrath.

Finn, 21, made his test debut in Bangladesh this year and recently played in both tests against the same opposition, claiming nine wickets at Lord's and then a match-clinching five for 42 on Sunday as England won the second test inside three days. He was England's man of the series.

"I don't like to make those comparisons," Flower said in a telephone interview when asked if Finn was England's answer to McGrath, who was also tall, wiry and renowned for his accuracy and for the ability to extract awkward bounce.

McGrath retired in 2007 with 563 test wickets.

"Steven Finn is unique in various ways," Flower added.

"He is very much his own man. Comparing him to other fast bowlers, to me, is not useful. But he has a lovely action.

"He has been very impressive. He's played four test matches now, and it's fair to say he's learning all the time.

"He has very, very good control for a 21-year-old fast bowler. I think that comes from his action, and also a very sound and grounded personality.

"It is a great start for him, but he also realises that he has scope for learning and progress."

Finn's early progress would suggest that he would be part of the England attack in the Ashes series against Australia, which begins in Brisbane in November.

Flower said Finn would now follow in the footsteps of fellow England fast bowler Stuart Broad, and undergo a strengthening programme designed to help his body cope with the rigours of international cricket.

It is likely to keep him out of this month's five-match one-day series against Australia, which Flower said was not a tactic to shield the newcomer from Australian batsmen keen to gain a familiarity with his bowling ahead of the Ashes.

"It does not have anything to do with Australia, or the Australian series," Flower said.

"This is definitely not rest; he will be doing a very intensive strengthening programme.

"He is a young man that needs to develop more physically, and there is a window of opportunity to do that. It is the responsible thing to do for him personally and in the best interests, medium and long term, of the English cricket side."

Source: Web Search

Stop making Finn comparisons with McGrath says Flower

Published>Tue, Jun 08 10 08:42 AM

England coach Andy Flower has dismissed growing comparisons between the team's new fast bowling sensation Steven Finn and Australia's most successful pace bowler Glenn McGrath.

Finn, 21, made his test debut in Bangladesh this year and recently played in both tests against the same opposition, claiming nine wickets at Lord's and then a match-clinching five for 42 on Sunday as England won the second test inside three days. He was England's man of the series.

"I don't like to make those comparisons," Flower said in a telephone interview when asked if Finn was England's answer to McGrath, who was also tall, wiry and renowned for his accuracy and for the ability to extract awkward bounce.

McGrath retired in 2007 with 563 test wickets.

"Steven Finn is unique in various ways," Flower added.

"He is very much his own man. Comparing him to other fast bowlers, to me, is not useful. But he has a lovely action.

"He has been very impressive. He's played four test matches now, and it's fair to say he's learning all the time.

"He has very, very good control for a 21-year-old fast bowler. I think that comes from his action, and also a very sound and grounded personality.

"It is a great start for him, but he also realises that he has scope for learning and progress."

Finn's early progress would suggest that he would be part of the England attack in the Ashes series against Australia, which begins in Brisbane in November.

Flower said Finn would now follow in the footsteps of fellow England fast bowler Stuart Broad, and undergo a strengthening programme designed to help his body cope with the rigours of international cricket.

It is likely to keep him out of this month's five-match one-day series against Australia, which Flower said was not a tactic to shield the newcomer from Australian batsmen keen to gain a familiarity with his bowling ahead of the Ashes.

"It does not have anything to do with Australia, or the Australian series," Flower said.

"This is definitely not rest; he will be doing a very intensive strengthening programme.

"He is a young man that needs to develop more physically, and there is a window of opportunity to do that. It is the responsible thing to do for him personally and in the best interests, medium and long term, of the English cricket side."

Source: Web Search

India loses to Sri Lanka by 6 wickets at Harare

Published>Sat, Jun 05 10 09:52 PM

Harare, June 5 (ANI): Team India lost to Sri Lanka by six-wicket in the 5th match of Zimbabwe Triangular Series here on Saturday.

The Indian side set a respectable target of 268 runs for Sri Lanka in 50 overs.

The highest scorers from the Indian side were Kohli at 68 runs and Yusuf with 44 runs.

However, Sri Lanka managed to surpass India's target by scoring 270 runs in 48.2 overs with six wickets to spare.

For his spectacular batting performance, Dinesh Chandimal was adjudged Man of the Match. During the presentation ceremony he said: "I am very happy with my batting performance. Good pitch, and I played my normal game."

While the Sri Lankan skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan said: "I said in the morning, we want to finish it off today. our players did really well. We kept the pressure up through the fielding, keeping the fielders up. I told the players we needed to improve the fielding, and they did a really good job in the field, stopping goo shots, taking difficult catches. Really happy with Cahndimal's batting, playing so well in his second game."

Having been unsuccessfull to win the match, Team India skipper Suresh Raina chose to put the blame on his bowlers, particularly for failing to take advantage of the new ball during the match.

"I am not happy at all. Al the credit goes to Sri Lanka, they batted really well, especially Dinesh. We didn't bowl well, especially with the new ball. Ashwin bowled well, and he batted well too. We haven't been good throughout the tournament," Cricinfo quoted Raina as saying during the presentation ceremony. (ANI)

Source: Web Search

Inspired Schiavone beats Stosur to win French Open

Published>Sat, Jun 05 10 09:48 PM

An inspired Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian woman to win a grand slam singles title on Saturday when she beat Australia's Samantha Stosur in the final of the French Open.

Schiavone, who before this week had never been beyond the last eight of a major, tamed Stosur's greater power to win 6-4 7-6. She completed victory after one hour and 38 minutes when Stosur's mishit backhand flew into the crowd.

Both women were making their grand slam final debuts but it was the 29-year-old Schiavone who seized her chance, hustling and harrying Stosur with some tremendous attacking tennis.

After dropping the first set Stosur moved 4-1 ahead in the second but the tenacious Schiavone stormed back to take the set into a tiebreak and moved 6-2 ahead with a superb drop volley.

Taking deep breaths to control her excitement, Schiavone needed only one match point to become Italy's first grand slam champion since Adriano Panatta won the men's singles here in 1976. She is also the oldest woman to win her first grand slam title since Ann Jones won Wimbledon in 1969.

As the realisation of her achievement hit home she collapsed on to her back before kissing the Court Philippe Chatrier Court surface and then climbing into the stands where she was swallowed in the embraces of her entourage.

"I haven't prepared anything because when I prepare things they never happen," an emotional Schiavone told the crowd as she collected the trophy from former French Open champion Mary Pierce.

"But I felt amazing today, I (felt) like a champion. I am really, really happy. Thank you everybody."

With temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius, Stosur began well, holding her first two service games to love but Schiavone was equally solid behind her own serve, mixing up her groundstrokes to good effect.

The variety of the Italian's game meant Stosur, 26, was unable to get her feet set to unleash the forehand that had helped her to victories over four-times champion Justine Henin, world number one Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic.

Stosur battled to hold serve from 0-30 in the fifth game, while Schiavone had to fight hard to hold off the Australian in the next game, although she did not face break point.

The next two games went with serve but at 4-4, two poor mistakes from Stosur and then a bold approach from the Italian handed her three break points.

Stosur saved the first two, the second with the help of a fortunate net cord, but then sent down her first double fault to hand the Italian the chance to serve out the set.

A brilliant backhand return helped Stosur save the first set point but two points later she dumped a nervy backhand in the net to give Schiavone the advantage.

Stosur saved two break points and hold serve in the third game of the second set and then finally broke the Italian's serve to move into a 4-1 lead as the cries of "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" rung out from some of teh Australians in the crowd.

Schiavone held serve in the next game to get her teeth back into the set and Stosur faltered again, firing an easy forehand wide to put her opponent back on serve at 3-4.

Both players were making more mistakes than usual at that stage but neither threatened the other on serve and a tiebreak was almost inevitable.

The first four points went with serve but Schiavone got the first mini-break with a backhand pass to lead 3-2 and from there she never looked back.

A superb angled backhand volley gave her match point and when Stosur framed a backhand into the stands the celebrations could begin in earnest.

Pre-match favourite Stosur, struggling to hold back the tears, was gracious in defeat as she missed out on becoming the first Australian woman to win a grand slam singles title since Evonne Goolagong at Wimbldon in 1980.

"First of all, Franc, well done," the Australian seventh seed, said. "You played very well today, you had a great tournament and good luck for the rest of the year."

She also thanked her mum, dad and two brothers who had flown halfway around the world to watch the biggest day of her career.

Source: Web Search

We were unconvincing throughout the tournament: Raina

Published Sat, Jun 05 10 09:22 PM

Harare, Jun 5 (PTI) His captaincy debut ending in a debacle, India skipper Suresh Raina today conceded that the team looked unconvincing throughout the cricket tri-series. In charge of a young team, Raina lost his first match as a captain against Zimbabwe and the side crashed out of the tournament after suffering three defeats in four matches. "We haven''t looked good throughout the tournament," Raina said after India''s six-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka here. Talking about today''s match, Raina felt the bowlers let down the team. "I am not happy at all. We scored around 270 but we didn''t bowl well, especially with the new ball. R Ashwin bowled well, and he batted well too," he said. "All credit goes to Sri Lanka, they batted really well, especially (centurion) Dinesh (Chandimal)," he added. Sri Lankan captain Tillakaratne Dilshan was happy to have sealed a place in the final with one match to spare. "I said in the morning, we want to finish it off today. our players did really well. We kept the pressure up through the fielding, keeping the fielders up," Dilshan said. "I told the players we needed to improve the fielding, and they did a really good job in the field, stopping good shots, taking difficult catches. I''m really happy with Chandimal''s batting, playing so well in his second game," he said.

Source: Web Search

Scoreboard: India vs Sri Lanka, ODI tri-series

Published>Sat, Jun 05 10 09:18 PM

Harare, June 5 (IANS) Scoreboard of ODI tri-series match betweeen India and Sri Lanka here Saturday.

India:

Dinesh Karthik c & b Perera 27

Naman Ojha lbw b Kulasekara 1

Virat Kohli c Mendis b Thushara 68

Yusuf Pathan c Perera b Randiv 44

Rohit Sharma b Randiv 32

Suresh Raina c Kapugedera b Dilshan 19

Ravindra Jadeja run out (Dilshan) 19

R Ashwin c & b Thushara 38

Pankaj Singh not out 3

Ashok Dinda c Kapugedera b Thushara 0

Pragyan Ojha not out 5

Extras: (b-3, lb-2, w-6, nb-1) 12

Total: (for nine wickets in 50 overs) 268

Fall of wickets: 1-7 (NV Ojha, 2.6 ov), 2-41 (Karthik, 9.5 ov), 3-125 (Pathan, 23.6 ov), 4-171 (Kohli, 34.2 ov), 5-187 (Sharma, 37.1 ov), 6-204 (Raina, 41.1 ov), 7-255 (Jadeja, 48.2 ov), 8-259 (Ashwin, 48.4 ov), 9-259 (Dinda, 48.5 ov)

Bowling:

Nuwan Kulasekara 9 1 47 1

Thilan Thushara 9 1 57 3

Thissara Perera 4 0 33 1

Ajantha Mendis 10 0 54 0

Jeevan Mendis 6 0 29 0

Suraj Randiv 10 1 38 2

Tillakaratne Dilshan 2 0 5 1

Sri Lanka:

Upul Tharanga c Kohli b Ashwin 27

Tillakaratne Dilshan c Pathan b Dinda 21

Dinesh Chandimal st Naman b Ashwin 111

Chamara Kapugedera c Pankaj Singh b PP Ojha 42

Ajantha Mendis not out 35

Thilan Samaraweera not out 28

Extras: (lb-4, w-1, nb-1) 6

Total: (for four wickets in 48.2 overs) 270

Fall of wickets: 1-29 (Dilshan, 5.2 overs), 2-81 (Tharanga, 14.5), 3-195 (Kapugedera, 36.4), 4-215 (Chandimal, 40.6)

Bowling:

Pankaj Singh 7 0 45 0

Ashok Dinda 7.2 0 42 1

R Ashwin 10 0 50 2

Pragyan Ojha 10 0 43 1

Ravindra Jadeja 10 0 54 0

Yusuf Pathan 4 0 32 0

Toss: Sri Lanka, who chose to field

Umpires: Rudy Koertzen (South Africa) and Russell Tiffin

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)

Source: Web Search