News - Sportsform Australia

Spain set to claim Cup title

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

From schoolchildren in South Africa's Soweto township to bookmakers around the globe and even Paul the "psychic" octopus in Germany, all the talk was of Vicente del Bosque's side.

"They play beautiful football. We want to be like them. Of course they will win on Sunday, come on Spain!" said 13-year-old Dumisani Motye, imitating striker David Villa's shots on a dusty soccer pitch next to tin shacks in Soweto.

Before then, there is of course the matter of a third-place playoff between Germany and Uruguay on Saturday. They have to pick themselves up from semi-final disappointment to compete in a game both had hoped they would not be playing.

As if being outwitted by the slick-passing Spaniards in the semi-final was not miserable enough for German coach Joachim Lowe, he came down with flu and had to miss his team's training session on Friday to stay in bed.

Coming into the tournament as favourites, Spain appear to be hitting their best form just at the right time, but they will not be complacent against a Dutch team now boasting a 14-match World Cup winning streak including qualifiers.

"It doesn't interest me who is favourite for the final, I just don't care what the whole world is saying," said Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.

"We will just go out and play our own game."

Like the Spaniards, Netherlands have never won a World Cup and want to erase memories of losing the finals of 1974 and 1978. Both nations have produced great and entertaining sides down the decades but earned reputations as nearly-men as they have failed time-and-again to go all the way.

As well as producing a new name on the winners' list, Sunday's match is already guaranteed to be Europe's first World Cup triumph on foreign soil.

That had looked unlikely at the start when South American teams stormed through, while France, Italy and England all flopped. Even Spain lost their first match against Switzerland, while the Dutch started ponderously by their standards.

As the pundits ponder how Spain's skilful passing game will shape up against the Netherlands' explosive attack, there was no doubt in the mind of one expert: a celebrity octopus.

Paul, who accurately picked the outcome of Germany's six World Cup games by choosing food from two containers with different flags on them, went straight for Spain on Friday.

"The octopus Paul makes us champions," crowed Spain's sports daily Marca on its Web site. Spaniards will be thankful that calls by some Germans for Paul to be grilled and eaten, after he called the semi-final defeat, went unheeded.

Organisers of the World Cup have been congratulating themselves on a highly successful tournament that has defied the predictions of pessimists who said Africa was not up to it.

Their record, however, was blemished by chaos at Durban airport before the Germany v Spain semi-final that caused hundreds of fans to miss the match. One of the causes was VIP planes which refused to move from the airport.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) said on Sunday it had put aside more than $50,000 to compensate irate fans. One of them, a German, was due in court for allegedly assaulting a cabin member when his plane was diverted to Port Elizabeth.

On a merrier note, Cameroon's former international Roger Milla challenged the Spanish and Dutch to try and produce a goal celebration on Sunday as memorable as his famous corner-flag dance at the Italy 1990 World Cup.

"You need natural rhythm, movement of the hips. It is all about spontaneity, and it has to be personal, your own thing. Of course, you also have to score a goal first, don't forget!" said Milla, whose goals took Cameroon to the quarter-finals in 1990.

Milla told Reuters that South Africa's 'Diski dance' was the best celebration of the tournament so far.

German striker Mirsolav Klose's acrobatic somersault and Wesley Sneijder's hilarious tapping of his bald pate after a rare headed goal for the Dutch also drew the master's praise.

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Back to square one for Maradona

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Diego Maradona's Argentina, having promised so much at the World Cup, find themselves back at square one with the same problems which plagued them in the South American qualifiers.

Argentina's four wins at the finals, scoring first in them all, hid frailties subsequently exposed by Germany in their 4-0 rout in Saturday's quarter-final at Green Point Stadium.

The attack was unable to bail them out. In fact, in 13 competitive matches under Maradona, Argentina never came back to win after falling behind.

FIFA player of the year Lionel Messi, touted as the potential player of the finals, retreated deeper into midfield in each of Argentina's five matches.

A puzzled Maradona, who is regarded as having almost singlehandedly won Argentina's second world title in Mexico in 1986, said: "It's different now ... I think players used to play much more for themselves and today players are more practical, more team oriented ...(that is) the new fashion.

"We had players who would carry the team on their shoulders."

On Saturday, Germany coach Joachim Loew had the answer to Maradona's tactics.

"Argentina are a team divided between the defence and the attack. That was the key to be able to control the midfield and from there build our victory," said Loew, a contemporary of Maradona's, not in the same league as a player but clearly more than his match as a coach.

Behind after three minutes, Argentina were under constant pressure from the flanks with fullbacks Nicolas Otamendi and Gabriel Heinze, both central defenders at club level, struggling to cope with Germany's pace.

The goals Argentina's talented forwards scored in the group games and the second round against Mexico also hid the fact that the midfield lacked bite.

Maradona, who was regularly found wanting from the touchline during the qualifiers, provided no answers from the bench except to boost his attack when Argentina were ahead.

Having dispensed with Juan Roman Riquelme or even Esteban Cambiasso or Fernando Gago as a central midfield partner for Javier Mascherano, the team's captain was horribly exposed on his own in the middle.

Why did Maradona not play Juan Sebastian Veron, the one man in the squad who could have given Argentina more ball holding and depth of passing?

Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger controlled midfield doing a job that Veron might have done for Argentina, even taking the free kicks like the one that led to their opening goal.

When former coach Alfio Basile quit suddenly in September 2008, a candidate for the Argentina job was Sergio Batista, Maradona's former 1986 World Cup team mate, who had steered the under-23s to their second successive Olympic gold medal.

The job went instead to Maradona, who opted against what would have, in retrospect, been a wise choice in taking Batista as an assistant.

Maradona returns to Argentina to ponder his future, knowing his family will urge him to carry on, since that the job has done the former drug addict so much good on a personal level.

He has an agreement with the Argentine Football Association (AFA) until next year when Argentina host the Copa America and he said in a television interview shortly before the finals he was also building towards that tournament.

AFA president Julio Grondona is unlikely to stand in Maradona's way.

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Uruguay challenge European powers

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

South America's sole survivor Uruguay stole the limelight on Sunday, plotting to surpass Europe's three World Cup semi-finalists and lift the trophy for the first time since 1950.

The tournament was taking a two-day break in matches.

Yet there was no rest for Uruguay, Netherlands, Germany and Spain who trained, nursed injuries and studied tactics hoping for glory in a week's time at Soccer City stadium.

With South American big guns and media favourites Argentina and Brazil gone, several hundred journalists packed into a Johannesburg hotel to catch a word with Uruguay's players. They looked taken aback by all the fuss after a practice session.

"We know we are representing our continent," striker Edinson Cavani said, as journalists almost came to blows and had to be corralled by police in a chaotic crush to hear the Uruguayans.

"It is a responsibility, but it is also a huge source of pride. We believe we can do it for Uruguay, for South America."

Uruguay's joy at being in a semi-final for the first time in 40 years is tempered by the knowledge they face a dangerous Dutch side on Tuesday minus some important faces.

In-form striker Luis Suarez is serving a ban for his controversial match-saving handball on the line against Ghana, while inspirational captain Diego Lugano said he may not be able to shake off a knee injury in time.

Uruguay's defender Jorge Fucile is also serving a suspension while midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is out with a foot fracture.

Repeating their predecessors' 1930 or 1950 wins will be an extremely tall order for Uruguay, but belief is with them.

"History drives us on," said long-haired and lanky striker Sebastian Abreu, nicknamed "El Loco" (The Crazy One) by fans.

Netherlands, too, feel the weight of history, knowing brilliant past sides have all failed to land the big one.

They know they should win but are not complacent.

"This is a very dangerous game, they are fighters and we have to be very focused," Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said of Uruguay's "La Celeste."

Germany were on a high after their 4-0 quarter-final thrashing of Argentina, which was even more impressive than their earlier 4-1 drubbing of another old rival, England.

Germany's hard-to-impress media were in raptures.

"Thanks, you heroes!" said Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Joachim Loew's young and attack-minded team face Spain in Durban, hoping to avenge their defeat in the 2008 Euros.

Germany will have to make do without suspended striker Thomas Mueller but have depth in their squad and stick to a well-drilled style of play no matter who is in the team.

"We have players who can replace Thomas and we will manage that," Loew said. "I want players who can apply my tactics and vision of football, what I want to see on the pitch, and this is how I select them."

David Villa is the tournament's top scorer after his late winner for Spain against Paraguay. He and team mates know they will have to play better against the rampant Germans.

"We have time now to put the work in to get to the final," Villa said. "The team is still alive."

South Africa's authorities urged locals to keep the World Cup spirit alive in its final week by flying flags and blowing their vuvuzelas. Yet without any African teams left, and 28 of the 32 teams out, the atmosphere was dropping a notch.

"The World Cup is nearly over. I am so sad," said a tournament volunteer, sweeping litter outside Johannesburg's Soccer City where the final will be played on July 11.

"Just one more big party left."

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Weight of history drives Uruguay

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

The World Cup's history men face the competition's nearly men when inaugural hosts and twice winners Uruguay take on double runners-up Netherlands in Cape Town on Tuesday fighting it out for a place in the final.

Not just Uruguayan soccer but the country's whole national identity draws heavily on their victories of 1930 and 1950.

Semi-finals in 1954 and 1970 showed that those early successes were not a flash in the pan but it has been meagre pickings since then before this year's surprise march.

"I don't know what would happen if we were to achieve what that team achieved back in 1950," said coach Oscar Tabarez. "We still hold those champions as idols."

Every Dutch player also operates under long shadows: in their case those cast by the likes of Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens and Johnny Rep and the "Total Football" of the 1970s.

In 1974 and 1978 the Dutch were cast as chief bridesmaid -- they might have been prettier than the bride on both occasions but at the end of the ceremony it was still West Germany and Argentina who signed the register.

The 1988 European championship-winning side of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard could not transfer their success to the world stage while a shoot-out defeat to Brazil in the 1998 semi-finals was another frustrating near miss.

All that will count for nothing in Cape Town however, as both sides will be looking very much to the future, to July 11 and a Johannesburg appointment with Germany or Spain.

Everything points to the Netherlands advancing to set up a second-successive all-European final, leaving egg on the face of those writing off the continent only a week ago.

The Dutch are on a phenomenal run. Having won all their qualifying matches to get to South Africa they won all three group games here and two knockout matches.

The last of them, 2-1 against Brazil after weathering an early onslaught, has left them buzzing and fearing nobody.

With four-goal midfielder Wesley Sneijder pulling the strings, they look a well-balanced side, with goals conveniently coming from a wide variety of sources as rusty striker Van Persie plays his way back to full fitness.

Arjen Robben, whether by scoring, creating, or drawing fouls, is their key weapon and the winger can expect some very close attention from Uruguay's uncompromising defenders.

Unsurprisingly, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk is treating the last surviving South American team with respect.

"This is a very dangerous game, they are fighters and we have to be very focussed," he said.

The Dutch are without right back Gregory van der Wiel and midfielder Nigel de Jong, who are both suspended. Khalid Boulahrouz and Demy de Zeeuw are the likely replacements though Ibrahim Afellay or Rafael van der Vaart could be in the mix.

Joris Mathijsen, a late withdrawal from the quarter-final, is fit to play, as is Van Persie, who had a slight knock.

Uruguay need to be at their absolute best to have any chance but suspensions and injury have hit them hard.

Striker Luis Suarez, who spent the last three years terrorising Dutch defences for Ajax Amsterdam, is banned for his match-saving goalline handball against Ghana, as is defender Jorge Fucile, who earned a second yellow card against Ghana.

Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is out of the tournament after fracturing a bone in his foot while captain Diego Lugano faces a race against time to overcome a knee ligament problem.

On the bright side, defender Diego Godin, who missed the Ghana match with a thigh injury, should be available.

In Suarez's absence, the slim shoulders of Diego Forlan, who hit the equaliser against Ghana for his third goal of the tournament, will carry his nation's weighty expectations.

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Nadal blows to strong for Berdych

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

So eager was Rafael Nadal to reclaim his Wimbledon title on Sunday that he entered Centre Court with his racket already cocked in his left hand and the unwitting Czech Tomas Berdych lined up in his sights.

Luckily Berdych, slayer of six-times champion Roger Federer in a seismic quarter-final shock and Novak Djokovic in the semis, did not turn around as he emerged blinking on to the hallowed green turf for his first grand slam final.

Had the 12th seed done so he might have opted to grab his kit bag and head back in the opposite direction.

As it was, the 24-year-old dutifully stepped into the Spaniard's line of fire and lasted just two hours and 13 minutes before being cut down 6-3 7-5 6-4 meaning he has now lost his last 17 sets against Nadal.

For the second time in three years, Nadal completed the French Open/Wimbledon double that since the days of Bjorn Borg had seemed beyond even the game's greatest players.

"It didn't happen since Borg, so now the last three years it happen twice," Nadal, who could only watch on last year as Federer completed the feat, said. "How crazy is the life."

Now cemented as the world's best player and with eight grand slam titles under his belt, the Mallorcan powerhouse seems poised to dominate the men's game for the foreseeable future.

The knee tendonitis which prevented him defending his title last year and still flares up occasionally is a cause for concern, but against Berdych he looked unstoppable, even if he was not required to play the kind of swashbuckling tennis he produced when beating Federer in an epic 2008 final or the brilliance of his semi-final victory over Andy Murray.

As he whipped a forehand past Berdych on match point, he fell to his back on the baseline and after consoling his dazed opponent at the net performed a playful forward roll.

"I love you Rafa" boomed one male voice early in the match. Nadal's celebrations showed he is still head over heels in love with a tournament that used to fill Spaniards with dread.

"After not an easy year for me to be back at my favourite tournament in the world here and play well another time, and not only play well, but to finish with the trophy is amazing for me," Nadal told a packed news conference.

Nadal, who went 11 months without a title before his brutish powers returned to complete an unprecedented claycourt sweep in Monte Carlo, Rome, Madrid and Roland Garros, is the only Spanish man to win Wimbledon twice.

He is also tied in the grand slam winners list with the likes of Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, the last Czech to reach the men's singles final here in 1987.

Sadly for Berdych, he fared no better than Lendl who was also beaten in straight sets by Boris Becker and Pat Cash in consecutive finals.

But after reaching the semis of the French Open and now this spectacular run at Wimbledon, Berdych will rise to number eight in the world and must be considered a genuine threat in grand slams.

It was not to be on Sunday though as he never really managed to unwind his 1.95m frame. The searing pace he generated from the baseline against Federer, and the distinctive "gunshot" crack of his shots was missing.

Berdych knew his only chance was to play risk-tennis but with a capricious wind whipping up the dust on the worn Centre Court, he seemed to lack trust in his biggest weapons and it was Nadal who was the aggressor.

That said, even the Spaniard was a little slow to load his bullets as the first six games went with serve.

He struck the first blow in the seventh game when he fired a fizzing forehand past Berdych after the Czech took a little too much care with a volley, to earn three break points and converted the second with a powerful backhand return.

A second break earned Nadal the set as Berdych began to buckle but, rather surprisingly, he then offered up three break points at the start of the second set, only for the Czech to fluff his one chance of establishing a foothold.

Nadal's sliding serves into the body of Berdych and also out to the backhand prevented any counter-attacks from across the net and although he hung on grimly, there was a sense of inevitability as the Spaniard bounded back to the baseline to receive in game 12.

A couple of minutes later he had a two-set lead as embattled Berdych dropped serve to love.

After three consecutive classic men's singles finals had gone the full distance, Nadal was in no mood to have this contest extended any longer than necessary.

"Fight Tomas" yelled one fan deep in the third set, but Berdych was a spent force and two stinging Nadal forehands put him out of his misery.

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Netherlands stun Brazil

Sat, 03 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -1000

The Dutchmen sent their strongly favoured opponents packing after unleashing a scintillating second half sucker-punch that saw Brazil crumble having produced a dazzling display of soccer in a match they had looked set to win.

Midfielder Wesley Sneijder was the man of the moment for Netherlands, heading home the winner on 68 minutes and driving a goal-bound cross eight minutes after the break that was steered into his own net by Felipe Melo.

"It's fantastic, we are in the last four in the World Cup -- we beat Brazil," an ecstatic Sneijder said.

"You have to be happy with that. If you eliminate Brazil, one of the biggest, best teams of this championship, the feeling is relief."

Netherlands will meet the winner of either Ghana or Uruguay, who play in Johannesburg later on Friday, in their first semi-finals appearance since the 1998 World Cup.

Brazil at times played smooth, breathtaking soccer, with Robinho and Kaka creating chances from nothing with silky footwork and neat breaks that had the Dutch running around in circles and staring at defeat.

Robinho had an early goal disallowed for offside but got Brazil off the mark on 10 minutes when he latched on to a pinpoint 30-metre through ball from Felipe Melo to beat the onrushing keeper from inside the area.

Netherlands opted for tough and untimely tackles to try to disrupt Brazil's rhythm and nearly conceded a second on the half hour mark when Kaka unleashed a sumptuous strike that was acrobatically turned away by Maarten Stelkelenburg.

But the Brazilian onslaught subsided after the break when the Dutch emerged like a completely different team, with Arjen Robben in the thick of all the action, linking up well with Sneijder, and Dirk Kuyt always troubling the defence.

Netherlands levelled on 53 minutes after a rare mistake from Brazil's usually impenetrable defence. Sneijder drove in a weighted cross which keeper Julio Cesar missed completely before it hit the head of Felipe Melo and ended up in the net.

The goal was a killer blow for Brazil, who were wound up by their opponents' physical approach and fell to pieces before Sneijder popped up to head home after Kuyt flicked on Robben's 68th-minute corner.

Tempers flared throughout the match and Felipe Melo was given his marching orders 17 minutes from time after stamping on Robben, venting his frustrations at the Dutch striker's ease in tumbling to the ground under challenges.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk praised his players' resolve and reiterated his belief that his team were genuine candidates to lift the World Cup.

"Two years ago I said we have a mission to come here to become world champion. You have to believe in something completely," he said.

"I think you could see all that we have. For 45 minutes we went full throttle and we were rewarded for it."

Brazil coach Dunga, whose angry antics in the dugout had been as entertaining as his team's play, admitted he was taken aback by the defeat.

"We are all extremely sad and we didn't expect it," said Dunga, who made it clear the match was his last game in change.

"We were not able to maintain the same rhythm in the second half. I feel very proud to have been at front of these players and of the dignity the Brazilian team has always shown."

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Gayle laments ugly end to series

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Australian umpires Steve Davis and Simon Taufel intervened to calm an ugly confrontation as South Africa wrapped up a 2-0 Test series win with a seven-wicket third Test victory in Barbados.

The duo had a long talk to Windies skipper Chris Gayle after a verbal feud flared into arm-waving and shouting between South African batsman Jacques Kallis and paceman Kemar Roach.

Chasing 47 for victory, the South Africans reached their target about 25 minutes before lunch on the fourth day at Kensington Oval.

The win completed a highly successful tour for South Africa who also won the first Test inside four days by 163 runs at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad and had clean sweeps of the two Twenty20 Internationals and five ODIs.

But earlier Shivnarine Chanderpaul had to step in to pull Roach away from Kallis.

The pair had a long-distance verbal exchange after a bouncer from the paceman struck Kallis.

Next delivery, the final of the over, Kallis received another bouncer that sailed over his head and the two glared at each other.

Kallis then walked past Roach to have a mid-pitch conference with Hashim Amla and the confrontation heightened with gesturing and shouting, prompting umpires Davis and Taufel to step in.

A day earlier South African paceman Dale Steyn allegedly spat in the direction of Windies spinner Suleiman Benn.

The incident was due to be investigated by match referee Jeff Crowe.

"We've had a discussion with the on-field umpires and the match referee and they will take this matter up to the next level if they have to," Gayle said.

Gayle said the late ill-feeling was out of character with a series played in good sprit.

"It was brilliant leading up to this Test match but things got out of hand," Gayle said.

"The series has been a wonderful one, it's just unfortunate that at the end we had a bit of a boil up."

Roach bowled with pace and hostility to snare all three South African scalps that fell before the visitors completed victory.

Roach had Graeme Smith caught at mid-wicket for 10 after he had also struck him on the helmet, bowled Alviro Petersen off the inside edge for six and had Amla caught at gully for the top score of 25 with two runs needed.

Afterwards, Kallis had to pursue Roach to shake his hand in the statutory end-of-the-game appreciation.

Even then the two still seemed to carry on the fuming, with de Villiers this time stepping in to part them and receiving an earful from the fast bowler.

Earlier, Morne Morkel too wrapped up the West Indies innings in the first hour when he ended with 3-33 from 14.1 overs.

Morkel bowled Sulieman Benn for nine, had Roach caught behind for eight, and Brandon Bess caught at second slip for a first-ball duck, leaving Chanderpaul unbeaten on 71.

Johan Botha was named Man-of-the-Match for his match figures of seven for 102 and Steyn was named Man-of-the-Series for his 15 wickets at 18.13 runs apiece.

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Howard blocked from ICC role

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1000

African and Asian nations have blocked former Australian prime minister John Howard's bid to become vice president of the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Howard's nomination for the role was rejected by at least six of the 10 Test playing nations at an ICC executive board meeting in Singapore on Wednesday.

"Following lengthy consideration, it was recognised that the nomination put forward by Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket did not have sufficient support within the ICC board," the ICC said in a statement.

Australia and New Zealand had been invited to nominate another candidate by the end of August, the statement said.

African and Asian nations refused to support Howard, who was ultimately supported by just Australia, New Zealand and England.

Under a rotational five-region electoral process, Howard's candidacy for vice president should have been rubber stamped months ago.

But growing opposition to Howard delayed the decision, which is usually a formality appointment.

The opposition was led by Zimbabwe and South Africa, which questioned Howard's suitability given his hardline stance against Zimbabwe's Mugabe regime when prime minister from March 1996 to December 2007.

Howard was challenged in winning over the powerful Asian bloc after once labelling celebrated Sri Lankan bowler Muttiah Muralitharan a "chucker" - someone with an illegal bowling action.

Six of the 10 Test playing nations were believed to have signed a letter opposing Howard's candidacy while Zimbabwe reportedly did not sign but was steadfast in their rejection of the ex-politician.

The ICC vice presidency now may be filled by New Zealand's former cricket board chairman Sir John Anderson, the man Howard beat to become the Australasian candidate.

Under ICC rules, the vice president automatically becomes president after two years.

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Flower pushing England forward

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1000

Even in his playing days, Andy Flower had a happy knack of making the most of the resources around him.

As a hard-bitten wicketkeeper-batsman, Flower used all of his gifts to be a central figure in a Zimbabwe side that toppled some of the best teams on the planet.

He has since transferred that killer instinct to England in such a fashion that a triumph in this year's Ashes series in Australia is a definite possibility.

Since taking over the head coaching role from Peter Moores at the beginning of 2009, he has been able to bring a calming influence and liberate England's cricketers rather than let them dwell on past failures.

The gregarious Graeme Swann is one cricketer who has blossomed under Flower, becoming one of the world's leading spinners in the past year and a half.

"Satisfying thing for us is that we sat down 18 months ago and said we want to be number one in all formats and asked 'how are we going to do it?'," Swann said.

"We have plotted our way up to this point and everything has gone well.

"We have won the World Twenty20, we have won the Ashes, and won this (one-day) series after just three games, which you might expect against some teams but possibly not Australia, so I think it's testament to the way we are playing."

Captain Andrew Strauss's presence has certainly aided Flower's ambition to lift England back to the top of world cricket.

They are similar men in many ways and it is hard to believe that Flower could have struck up quite as tight a partnership with past skippers Andrew Flintoff or Kevin Pietersen.

Swann said Flower had allowed the players to take a "joyous approach" to the game.

"Andy was the architect of all in sitting us down and saying right we want to be No.1 in the world, we don't want to just win a series here or win a series there," he said.

"We have to beat the best teams in the world if we want to get there.

"I think the great thing Andy (Flower) has done is to instil a confidence in everyone to back their natural ability and perform on the big stage like the players do in the county games.

"That was exemplified in the T20 the way we went out.

"Not with carefree abandon but it was certainly almost a joyous approach compared with how England teams have approached T20 cricket the previous three years.

"He has found a theory that works and hopefully it will continue to work."

Not that Flower has been all soft and cuddly.

He has been prepared to literally trim the fat when needed, ditching the gifted Samit Patel in favour of the more svelte Mike Yardy in the limited-over arena.

He is not the first Zimbabwean to turn the old enemy into a cricketing force, Duncan Fletcher achieved that at the helm during England's drought-breaking 2005 Ashes triumph.

But unlike Fletcher's mob, Flower has managed to keep his players grounded following the high of an Ashes victory.

The post-Ashes celebrations in 2009 were modest compared to the crazy antics of 2005 and Flower's men have gone on to break the nation's title drought at major tournaments.

Last month's World Twenty20 victory in the Caribbean appears to have gone a long way to shredding the side's baggage from the nation coming up short in three World Cup finals.

Fletcher released a book the month after England won the Ashes in 2005 and has clearly revelled in his feud with Australian captain Ricky Ponting.

Not that Flower is averse to a fight, he pretty much finished his international career at the 2003 World Cup with his on-field protest against the "death of democracy" in his homeland.

It is just that unlike Fletcher, he doesn't see the point in causing angst for no good reason.

Fletcher cashed in on his time in charge, revealing Flintoff's errant ways on tour in another book and showed too much loyalty to players as England were swept aside 5-0 in the 2006/07 Ashes series in Australia.

Flower was initially hesistant to step up from assistant coach after Moores' departure.

He wasn't sure if he was the man for the top job.

Worringly for Australia, he is turning about to be just that.

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Teams for round 17 of the NRL

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -1000

FRIDAY

BRISBANE BRONCOS v WESTS TIGERS at Suncorp Stadium, 7.35pm

BRONCOS: Josh Hoffman, Antonio Winterstein, Matt Gillett, Ben Te'o, Jharal Yow Yeh, Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Shane Tronc, Andrew McCullough, Nick Kenny, Ashton Sims, Lagi Setu, Corey Parker (capt). Interchange: Ben Hunt, Mitchell Dodds, Scott Anderson, Josh McGuire.

TIGERS: Wade McKinnon, Lote Tuqiri, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, Geoff Daniela, Benji Marshall, Daniel Fitzhenry, Bryce Gibbs, Robbie Farah (capt), Keith Galloway, Todd Payten, Gareth Ellis, Chris Heighington. Interchange: Andrew Fifita, Liam Fulton, Simon Dwyer, Mitch Brown, Nathan Waters (one to be omitted).

Referees: Ben Cummins and Matt Cecchin.

SATURDAY

CRONULLA SHARKS v CANTERBURY BULLDOGS at Bluetongue Stadium, 7.30pm

SHARKS: Nathan Gardner, Blake Ferguson, Dean Collis, Ben Pomeroy, Isaac Gordon, Scott Porter, Tim Smith, Josh Cordoba, John Morris, Luke Douglas (capt), Grant Millington, Broderick Wright, Anthony Tupou. Interchange: Luke Harlen, Taulima Tautai, Paul Aiton, Siosaia Vave.

BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Steve Turner, Josh Morris, Shane Neumann, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Barba, Brett Kimmorley, Ben Hannant, Joel Romelo, Ryan Tandy, Jamal Idris, Andrew Ryan, David Stagg. Interchange: Mickey Paea, Michael Hodgson, Gary Warburton, Blake Green.

Referees: Jason Robinson and Alan Shortall.

SUNDAY

CANBERRA RAIDERS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at Canberra Stadium, 2pm

RAIDERS: Josh Dugan, Joel Monaghan, Jarrod Croker, Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot, Terry Campese (capt), Adam Mogg, Dane Tilse, Glen Buttriss, Troy Thompson, Joe Picker, Bronson Harrison, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Travis Waddell, Trevor Thurling, Danny Galea, Josh Miller, Josh McCrone, Sam Mataora (two to be omitted).

ROOSTERS: Anthony Minichiello, Phil Graham, Kane Linnett, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (capt), Todd Carney, Jason Ryles, Jake Friend, Mose Masoe, Joseph Leilua, Mitchell Aubusson, Frank Paul Nuuausala. Interchange: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Martin Kennedy, Tom Symonds, Nick Kouparitsas, Daniel Conn, Lopini Paea (two to be omitted).

Referees: Steve Lyons and Tony De Las Heras.

WARRIORS v PARRAMATTA EELS at Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm

WARRIORS: Lance Hohaia, Bill Tupou, Joel Moon, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Isaac John, Jeremy Latimore, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering (capt), Lewis Brown, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Ian Henderson, Ben Matulino, Jesse Royal, Sione Lousi, Ukuma Ta'ai (one to be omitted).

EELS: Tom Humble, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Jonathon Wright, Krisnan Inu, Jeff Robson, Daniel Mortimer, Nathan Cayless (capt), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (capt), Brendan Oake, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Kris Keating, Patrick O'Hanlon, Justin Horo, Pele Peletelese, Mitchell Allgood, Manase Manuokafoa (two to be omitted).

Referees: Gavin Badger and Ashley Klein.

MONDAY

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v PENRITH PANTHERS at WIN Jubilee Stadium, 7pm

DRAGONS: Jason Nightingale, Michael Lett, Kyle Stanley, Matt Prior, Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Jon Green, Luke Priddis, Ricky Thorby, Jeremy Smith, Ben Creagh, Dean Young. Interchange: Michael Greenfield, Trent Merrin, Nick Emmett, Jarrod Saffy, Jake Marketo, Mark Gasnier (two to be omitted).

PANTHERS: Lachlan Coote, David Simmons, Brad Tighe, Adrian Purtell, Sandor Earl, Travis Burns, Wade Graham, Tim Grant, Kevin Kingston, Matthew Bell, Trent Waterhouse (capt), Frank Pritchard, Nathan Smith. Interchange: Masada Iosefa, Gavin Cooper, Joseph Paulo, San McKendry, Frank Puletua (one to be omitted).

Referees: Jared Maxwell and Brett Suttor.

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News - Sportsform Australia

Spain set to claim Cup title

Back to square one for Maradona

Uruguay challenge European powers

South America's sole survivor Uruguay stole the limelight on Sunday, plotting to surpass Europe's three World Cup semi-finalists and lift the trophy for the first time since 1950.

The tournament was taking a two-day break in matches.

Yet there was no rest for Uruguay, Netherlands, Germany and Spain who trained, nursed injuries and studied tactics hoping for glory in a week's time at Soccer City stadium.

With South American big guns and media favourites Argentina and Brazil gone, several hundred journalists packed into a Johannesburg hotel to catch a word with Uruguay's players. They looked taken aback by all the fuss after a practice session.

"We know we are representing our continent," striker Edinson Cavani said, as journalists almost came to blows and had to be corralled by police in a chaotic crush to hear the Uruguayans.

"It is a responsibility, but it is also a huge source of pride. We believe we can do it for Uruguay, for South America."

Uruguay's joy at being in a semi-final for the first time in 40 years is tempered by the knowledge they face a dangerous Dutch side on Tuesday minus some important faces.

In-form striker Luis Suarez is serving a ban for his controversial match-saving handball on the line against Ghana, while inspirational captain Diego Lugano said he may not be able to shake off a knee injury in time.

Uruguay's defender Jorge Fucile is also serving a suspension while midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro is out with a foot fracture.

Repeating their predecessors' 1930 or 1950 wins will be an extremely tall order for Uruguay, but belief is with them.

"History drives us on," said long-haired and lanky striker Sebastian Abreu, nicknamed "El Loco" (The Crazy One) by fans.

Netherlands, too, feel the weight of history, knowing brilliant past sides have all failed to land the big one.

They know they should win but are not complacent.

"This is a very dangerous game, they are fighters and we have to be very focused," Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said of Uruguay's "La Celeste."

Germany were on a high after their 4-0 quarter-final thrashing of Argentina, which was even more impressive than their earlier 4-1 drubbing of another old rival, England.

Germany's hard-to-impress media were in raptures.

"Thanks, you heroes!" said Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

Joachim Loew's young and attack-minded team face Spain in Durban, hoping to avenge their defeat in the 2008 Euros.

Germany will have to make do without suspended striker Thomas Mueller but have depth in their squad and stick to a well-drilled style of play no matter who is in the team.

"We have players who can replace Thomas and we will manage that," Loew said. "I want players who can apply my tactics and vision of football, what I want to see on the pitch, and this is how I select them."

David Villa is the tournament's top scorer after his late winner for Spain against Paraguay. He and team mates know they will have to play better against the rampant Germans.

"We have time now to put the work in to get to the final," Villa said. "The team is still alive."

South Africa's authorities urged locals to keep the World Cup spirit alive in its final week by flying flags and blowing their vuvuzelas. Yet without any African teams left, and 28 of the 32 teams out, the atmosphere was dropping a notch.

"The World Cup is nearly over. I am so sad," said a tournament volunteer, sweeping litter outside Johannesburg's Soccer City where the final will be played on July 11.

"Just one more big party left." Share |

Weight of history drives Uruguay

Nadal blows to strong for Berdych

Netherlands stun Brazil

Gayle laments ugly end to series

Australian umpires Steve Davis and Simon Taufel intervened to calm an ugly confrontation as South Africa wrapped up a 2-0 Test series win with a seven-wicket third Test victory in Barbados.

The duo had a long talk to Windies skipper Chris Gayle after a verbal feud flared into arm-waving and shouting between South African batsman Jacques Kallis and paceman Kemar Roach.

Chasing 47 for victory, the South Africans reached their target about 25 minutes before lunch on the fourth day at Kensington Oval.

The win completed a highly successful tour for South Africa who also won the first Test inside four days by 163 runs at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad and had clean sweeps of the two Twenty20 Internationals and five ODIs.

But earlier Shivnarine Chanderpaul had to step in to pull Roach away from Kallis.

The pair had a long-distance verbal exchange after a bouncer from the paceman struck Kallis.

Next delivery, the final of the over, Kallis received another bouncer that sailed over his head and the two glared at each other.

Kallis then walked past Roach to have a mid-pitch conference with Hashim Amla and the confrontation heightened with gesturing and shouting, prompting umpires Davis and Taufel to step in.

A day earlier South African paceman Dale Steyn allegedly spat in the direction of Windies spinner Suleiman Benn.

The incident was due to be investigated by match referee Jeff Crowe.

"We've had a discussion with the on-field umpires and the match referee and they will take this matter up to the next level if they have to," Gayle said.

Gayle said the late ill-feeling was out of character with a series played in good sprit.

"It was brilliant leading up to this Test match but things got out of hand," Gayle said.

"The series has been a wonderful one, it's just unfortunate that at the end we had a bit of a boil up."

Roach bowled with pace and hostility to snare all three South African scalps that fell before the visitors completed victory.

Roach had Graeme Smith caught at mid-wicket for 10 after he had also struck him on the helmet, bowled Alviro Petersen off the inside edge for six and had Amla caught at gully for the top score of 25 with two runs needed.

Afterwards, Kallis had to pursue Roach to shake his hand in the statutory end-of-the-game appreciation.

Even then the two still seemed to carry on the fuming, with de Villiers this time stepping in to part them and receiving an earful from the fast bowler.

Earlier, Morne Morkel too wrapped up the West Indies innings in the first hour when he ended with 3-33 from 14.1 overs.

Morkel bowled Sulieman Benn for nine, had Roach caught behind for eight, and Brandon Bess caught at second slip for a first-ball duck, leaving Chanderpaul unbeaten on 71.

Johan Botha was named Man-of-the-Match for his match figures of seven for 102 and Steyn was named Man-of-the-Series for his 15 wickets at 18.13 runs apiece. Share |

Howard blocked from ICC role

Flower pushing England forward

Teams for round 17 of the NRL

"Just one more big party left."

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Johan Botha was named Man-of-the-Match for his match figures of seven for 102 and Steyn was named Man-of-the-Series for his 15 wickets at 18.13 runs apiece.

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