Ronaldo slams coach in post-match outburst

Spain's players celebrate after David Villa scored the only goal  of their Round of 16 match against Iberian neighbours and rivals  Portugal Tuesday at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. Spain advances to  play Paraguay in the quarter-finals.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has sensationally slammed coach Carlos Queiroz in the immediate aftermath of his side's 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup 2010 first knockout round.

David Villa's second half strike was enough to send the European champions into the quarter-finals at the expense of the Portuguese, who saw their defensive strategy fail to pay off after what had been a tight opening to the game.

When pressed, Ronaldo was seemingly keen to point the blame at his coach as he tried to explain the disappointing performance from his side after a tournament which saw them win just one of their four games in South Africa.

Speaking to gathered reporters shortly after the final whistle, the Real Madrid star slammed: "How do I explain Portugal's elimination? Talk to Carlos Queiroz."

The forward, who struggled to influence the game as his nation disappointingly exited the tournament, then stormed out and refused to say any more on the matter.

Ronaldo had appeared to be confused on the pitch as Queiroz consistently changed the side's tactics and his captain's position after their second half substitutions.

Spain's narrow victory means they will now face Paraguay in the last eight after the South Americans progressed on penalties after a 0-0 draw with Japan earlier on Tuesday.

Source http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football-world-cup/news/Ronaldo-slams-coach-in-post-match-outburst/articleshow/6109164.cms

World Cup 2010: Sepp Blatter says sorry to England for disallowed goal

Sepp Blatter
Fifa's president Sepp Blatter has apologised to the FA over Frank Lampard's disallowed goal against Germany
The Fifa president, Sepp Blatter, today said he had apologised to the Football Association over Frank Lampard's disallowed goal and revealed the governing body would look again at goal-line technology.

Lampard's effort during England's 4-1 defeat to Germany was ruled out even though the ball clearly crossed the line.

Blatter told a media briefing in Johannesburg today: "It is obvious that after the experience so far in this World Cup it would be a nonsense to not reopen the file of technology at the business meeting of the International FA Board in July.

"Personally I deplore it when you see evident referee mistakes but it's not the end of a competition or the end of football, this can happen.

"The only thing I can do is yesterday I have spoken to the two federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees's mistakes. I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticising.

"We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have first opportunity in July at the business meeting."

Sunday night's match between Argentina and Mexico had also thrown up a controversial incident, with Carlos Tevez scoring the opening goal from an offside position.

Fifa had blocked any further experiments with technology at a meeting of the International FA Board, the game's rule-making body, in March.

Source http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/29/world-cup-2010-sepp-blatter-technology

Saina confident of becoming No 1

Saina Nehwal of India holds her a national flag  after winning the women's singles final at the Indonesia Open Badminton  Super Series.
Saina Nehwal of India holds her a national flag after winning the women's singles final at the Indonesia Open Badminton Super Series.

Saina Nehwal, who had a dream run winning three international titles, including the Singapore Open and the Indonesian Open Super Series titles, in the last three weeks, said she can become the World No. 1 but the focus right now has to be on winning tournaments and not on rankings.

The 20-year-old star player was accorded a warm reception on arrival at the Rajiv Gandhi Airport here on Tuesday. She drove from there in an open top, flower-decked jeep in the company of her sister, Pullela Gopi Chand and BAI official Punnaiah Choudhary.

The World No. 3 from India, said it is nice to be ranked World No.3 but it also means lot of hard work and the need to keep improving.

“Yes, I am aware that I will be the most studied player now. But, it doesn’t mean that I will be shying away from new strategies,” she said.

“There are areas like my defence which I need to improve in the days to come. The fitness level has to be really good. The challenges are bound to be tougher especially after winning these titles,” Saina explained to a query.

“It is tough to maintain these rankings for they mean a lot to you as a player too. It is a demanding task. The focus now shifts to the World Championship in Paris next month. It is not going to be easy anyway,” the champion shuttler from Hyderabad pointed out.

“And do remember that no player can always keep winning these titles. There are bound to ups and downs. I only pray that I will be injury-free now to focus on the World Championship and the other two big events Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games later,” she pointed out.

Laurels to Gopichand academy

“Looking back I do believe that joining Gopi Sir’s Academy is one of the turning points of my career. Things have changed so much in terms of my game and this is the same with most of the youngsters training here now,” Saina said about her training scheduled in the Gopi Chand Academy here.

“I am really thankful to Gopi Sir for the wonderful support he has been extending over the years and shaping me into a champion player,” she added.

Absence of Chinese

In a very diplomatic manner, Saina suggested that Chinese not taking part in the Indonesian Open should not take the sheen away from her triumph.

“It is an acknowledged fact that there many youngsters who are really good at the international level. Proof of that was evident the way Sayaka Sato played in the Indonesian Open final against me,” she explained. “Well, since Chinese are busy with some club competitions back home, they did not make it to the Indonesian Open. But that is not my concern,” she said.

Saina also said that she is no mood to push herself too far to be the World No. 1 by taking part in too many events. “We will plan it in such a way we do achieve our goals in a systematic manner,” she added.

Questioned whether she is now attained the iconic status in Indian sport after the recent wins, Saina refused to believe so. “I only hope that these good things continue. Yes, definitely, there is lot more recognition now wherever I go. I am happy with this and I don’t want any comparisons,” she said. “I just want to make my country proud with my achievements,” she insisted.

What did she miss during her moments of triumph in Singapore and Indonesia Opens? “My parents. I would have loved them to be there,” flash came the reply. “Otherwise, it has been a fantastic run,” she added.

For his part, chief national coach and Saina’s mentor, Pullela Gopi Chand, felt that it was an incredible achievement to win two back-to-back Super Series titles. “This is a huge task for any player and I am glad that Saina has been improving with each tournament,” he said.

Saina thanked the sponsors, BAI, APBA and the State Government and the fans for their support.

“I am thankful to the honourable Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Chief Ministers of AP and Haryana and to the Union Sports Minister for their nice gestures to greet me on winning these titles,” Saina signed off before being leaving the venue which changed the course of her career.

Source http://www.thehindu.com/sport/other-sports/article491781.ece?homepage=true

Dipika in semis; Anaka bows out

India's Dipika Pallikal along with three other top seeds entered the semi-finals of the 2010 Women's World Junior Squash Championship.

India's No.2 seed Pallikal lines up against Egypt's fourth seed Nour El Tayeb in the semi-final in a repeat of last year's match at the same stage of the competition in which the Egyptian upset the then top seed to reach the final.

Pallikal, 18, from Chennai, Sunday night recovered from a game down to beat Egypt's fifth seed Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 12-10 in 50 minutes, while 17-year-old El Tayeb, from Cairo, defeated USA's No.6 seed Olivia Blatchford 11-1, 11-6, 11-7.

Meanwhile, In an all-Egyptian clash, event favourite Nour El Sherbini dropped her first game of the tournament in overcoming seventh seed Nouran El Torky 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7.

The 14-year-old from Alexandria, the youngest player remaining in this U-19 championship, now has arguably her toughest test against third seed Sobhy.

The 16-year-old New Yorker is the highest-ranked player in the event and beat El Sherbini in last year's World junior team championship in straight games in their only previous meeting.

Sobhy is also riding high after making history by becoming the first 16-year-old to win four WISPA World Tour titles. The left-hander, ranked 36 in the world, despatched eighth-seeded Alanka Alankamony of India 12-10, 11-4, 11-6 in just 22 minutes.

The results (quarter-finals): [1] Nour El Sherbini (EGY) bt [7] Nouran El Torky (EGY) 11-7, 9-11, 11-8, 11-7 (41m); [3] Amanda Sobhy (USA) bt [8] Anaka Alankamony (IND) 12-10, 11-4, 11-6 (22m); [4] Nour El Tayeb (EGY) bt [6] Olivia Blatchford (USA) 11-1, 11-6, 11-7 (29m); [2] Dipika Pallikal (IND) bt [5] Kanzy Emad El-Defrawy (EGY) 9-11, 11-9, 11-2, 12-10 (50m).

Source http://sify.com/news/dipika-in-semis-anaka-bows-out-news-national-kg2r4ciiaji.html

Download Shakira’s “Waka Waka” World Cup Song and Video via YouTube

Download Shakira’s “Waka Waka” World Cup Song and Video via YouTube: The FIFA World Cup is in full swing.

download-shakirae28099s-e2809cwaka-wakae2809d-world-cup-song-and-video-via-youtube

It began on 11th of June 2010. Held every 4 years, this year’s World Cup is being held in South Africa where 32 teams are contesting.

These 32 teams are categorized into multiple groups. The World Cup 2010 had a “2-day opening”.

The official 2010 World Cup song was Shakira’s “Waka Waka”. Shakira

teamed up with Freshlyground, a local South African group.

One can download the song Waka Waka by Shakira via YouTube or FIFA World Cup’s official website.

Apart from Shakira, there are other artists who will perform in this mega event. The list comprises of John Legend, the Black Eyed Peas, Alicia Keys, and Juanes.

It also includes top African musicians such as The Parlotones and Angelique Kidjo, Amadou and Miriam.

Source http://www.bollypatrika.com/?p=8242

Prime Minister congratulates Team India

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday congratulated the Indian cricket team for winning the Asia Cup after a gap of 15 years.

India overwhelmed the hosts Sri Lanka by 81 runs in the final on Thursday to win the four-nation tournament in Dambulla.

"The players displayed team spirit and fighting qualities in bringing laurels to the country," he said.

India had last won the Asia Cup in 1995 under Mohammed Azharuddin in Sharjah.

Source http://cricket.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/25/asia-cup-2010-prime-minister-singh-congratulates-team-india-cricket.htm

IPL is a business: team owners tell BCCI

The divide between the BCCI and the IPL franchises got wider with the team owners demanding availability of all players for the fourth edition of the cash-rich league, saying after all it's a business. And, if the cricket board is worried about players' fitness, they should not have added two more teams for the next season.

The IPL governing council is meeting on Friday to draw a road map for the fourth edition of the twenty20 league.

The meeting is expected to discuss the auction of new players for the IPL-4. But it is not clear whether the members will discuss the suspended IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi's replies to the show cause notices.

The board has slapped three show cause notices charging Modi with misdemeanours in the running of the twenty20 League. Modi has answered two out of them so far. CNN-IBN spoke to Vijay Mallya, owner of the IPL team Bangalore Royal Challengers.

CNN-IBN: Mumbai seems to want to retain Sachin Tendulkar, Chennai seems to retain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, you are saying even these players should be available in the auction.

Vijay Mallya: The majority view eight out of the ten franchises very clearly told the BCCI and IPL representatives that we want all players in a auction, and we believe that's the right way to go.

CNN-IBN: But that agreement was when Lalit Modi was the in-charge. That seems to be the worry after he is no longer there. There seems to be a bit of a vacuum but it's also a question which apparently was asked about the number of matches. Now there are 10 teams which means 94 matches. The board wants it in two groups apparently. Do the franchise owners not like that?

Vijay Mallya: All owners are absolutely unanimous in saying that the match format or the fixture format should remain the same if the number of matches have been increased which they indeed have. The BCCI knew this before they took the decision to introduce two additional franchises. So it is what it is...

We're in it for business interest but also to work along with the IPL.

Source http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ipl-is-business-bcci-told-to-forget-fitness/125246-37-64.html

Saina Nehwal now World No.3

India's Saina Nehwal scaled a new high when she shot up three places to World. No 3 in the latest rankings released by the Badminton World Federation Thursday.

Saina won back-to-back titles -- India Open Grand Prix and the Singapore Open Super Series in the last two weeks -- and marched ahead of three Chinese players in the women's singles charts for her career-best ranking.

The fiercely competitive 20-year-old, who has taken on China's domination in the sport, quite like Prakash Padukone in his heydays, now finds herself amidst a riot of red Chinense flags. Saina is the lone non-Chinese player in the top six list.

China's Yihan Wang tops the list followed by Xin Wang. Saina pushed behind Shixian Wang, Wang Lin and Jiang Yanjiao, who all went down by one place.

Saina's previous best was the fifth position she attained in March after becoming the first Indian woman to reach the semifinals of All England Super Series Championships.

Saina is a strong favourite for a third title in three weeks as she advanced to the quarterfinals of the Indonesian Open Super Series in Jakarta Thursday, going past Bulgaria's Petya Nedelcheva 21-9, 21-15.

The Indian, who is the top seed and the defending champion at the Indonesian Open, has many firsts to her name since making a stellar start to her international career by winning the Philipinnes Open in 2006. She is the first Indian woman to reach the quarterfinals of the Beijing Olympics, besides winning two Super Series events, and also the first Indian to win the World Junior Badminton Championships in 2008.

Aditi Mutatkar is the next Indian in the women's singles rankings, climbing one spot to 32nd place.

In the men's chart, Chetan Anand is the top-ranked Idian at 16. Parupalli Kashyap, who made it to the semifinal of the Singapore Open Super Series, improved his ranking to 27, jumping five places. Arvind Bhat went up two places to 28 while Gurusaidutt moved to 44, jumping eight places.

Source http://sify.com/news/saina-nehwal-now-world-no-3-news-national-kgysEcbejag.html

India's Tendulkar gets Air Force rank

Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar is to be given an honorary rank in the Indian Air Force in recognition of his contribution to the nation and to encourage young people to join up.

Tendulkar, one of India's greatest ever batsmen, said he was pleased to be honoured by the air force.

"It is indeed a great honour. I am proud to be associated with the dynamic force and I shall do my best to be a brand ambassador," Tendulkar, 37, said in a statement from London.

An Air Force statement said President Pratibha Patil had agreed to confer the rank of group captain on Tendulkar.

"The President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of India is pleased to confer Sachin Tendulkar the honorary rank of Group Captain of the Indian Air Force," the statement issued late Wednesday said.

"Tendulkar's association with the IAF will motivate the younger generation to join the Air Force to serve the country."

The country's armed forces grant honorary ranks to well-known personalities for their contribution to the nation.

In 2008, India's 1983 World Cup-winning cricket captain Kapil Dev received the honorary rank of lieutenant colonel of the Territorial Army.

Tendulkar is the most prolific batsmen in contemporary cricket with a world record 47 Test and 46 one-day centuries, besides holding the record for most runs in both forms of the game.

Source http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jE4_YqOQ4vf3h8UVU9DUNbMMwGVQ

World Cup 2010: How England can qualify

England striker Wayne Rooney
After a stuttering start, it is D-Day for England's World Cup hopes.

Many fans were left scratching their heads following Friday's dreary 0-0 draw against Algeria which leaves their team facing the unthinkable - early elimination from the World Cup.

However, there is hope. England's destiny is in their own hands ahead of their final Group C match against Slovenia at Port Elizabeth on Wednesday at 1500 BST.

BBC Sport takes a look at the permutations ahead of England's vital match and the equally-important game between the USA and Algeria in Pretoria.

ENGLAND BEAT SLOVENIA, USA DRAW OR LOSE AGAINST ALGERIA

The dour performance against Algeria is forgotten and a nation rejoices (or something like that) as England keep their World Cup hopes alive. England would qualify as Group C winners with five points and secure a meeting with the runners-up from Group D (possibly Germany). If USA draw, Slovenia advance as runners-up. If USA lose, goal difference would determine whether Slovenia (currently +1) or Algeria (-1) go through in second place.

ENGLAND BEAT SLOVENIA, USA BEAT ALGERIA

Fabio Capello can breathe easily in this instance too as England book their place in the last 16. England and USA would finish level on five points and goal difference would determine who progresses as Group C winners. If goal difference remains level, as is the case at the moment, goals scored (currently England 1, USA 3) would decide who finishes top.

ENGLAND DRAW, USA DRAW

In this scenario, England need a high scoring draw on Wednesday. Slovenia would go through as group winners, with England and USA finishing level on three points. Goals scored would decide who progresses. There is the possibility for drama even greater than that of a penalty shoot-out - if both sides are totally even then lots will be drawn to decide who goes through and who is out.

ENGLAND DRAW, USA WIN OR LOSE

England head for the departures gate and will probably not take much solace from the fact that they will be unbeaten and be home in time to watch the tennis at Wimbledon. Should USA win then they would finish level with Slovenia on five points and progress, should Bob Bradley's men lose then Algeria, with four points, would take the runners-up spot.

ENGLAND LOSE

Doomsday. England are eliminated and finish the group with two points. The post-mortem begins.

Source http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2010/8749652.stm

IMG, Reliance in deal to develop Indian basketball

Sports and entertainment agency IMG and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries scored an agreement that could eventually lead to the formation of an Indian professional basketball league.

As part of the 30-year deal, the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has granted the IMG Reliance joint venture commercial rights to basketball in India, including sponsorship, advertising, broadcasting, merchandising, data and franchising rights. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

IMG Reliance also will advise the BFI on managing school and college leagues.

"This is a gigantic opportunity," IMG chairman and owner Ted Forstmann said in a telephone interview.

"We got together with (Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani) to build a very big sports ownership business in a phenomenal country that's growing like crazy," he added.

Ambani is India's richest man. Reliance, whose businesses include petrochemicals, retail and telecommunications, is India's largest company by market capitalization.

IMG and Reliance formed a joint venture in March to develop, market and manage sports and entertainment in India. Forstmann said the venture was formed to tap into a market of 1.2 billion people that boasts a fast-growing middle class and a young demographic looking to branch out beyond the wildly popular cricket.

IMG officials have openly discussed their desire to own the next Indian sports league after the success of the Indian Premier League, a cricket organization IMG helped establish three years ago that Forstmann said is now valued at $4 billion.

The IPL's rapid success has changed the way potential sports investors view Indian commercial opportunities, said Neel Shah, a sports marketing associate with the Indian office for advertising agency Dentsu who previously worked for Major League Soccer.

"It has raised the bar tenfold on what type of value people are placing on sports properties that do well on the ground and on air," he said of the cricket league.

Under Forstmann, IMG's profit has grown fivefold since he bought the company in 2004. He has expanded it from a business of representing athletes and models to managing more lucrative events like Wimbledon and Fashion Week, and crafting TV deals in China and India.

The initial focus for the IMG Reliance venture will be on developing the sport of basketball and the infrastructure, but a pro league could follow three to five years after that, said Andrew Wildblood, an IMG executive vice president and an executive director with the joint venture.

"This is a giant step towards our stated vision of making basketball a much-watched and popular sport in the country," BFI general secretary Harish Sharma said.

IMG and Reliance are not alone in wanting to develop basketball in India as the National Basketball Association in March announced a partnership to start a recreational league for 14- to 18-year-olds with another Indian conglomerate, Mahindra Group.

"There is a large untapped opportunity for sports in India, particularly for basketball," NBA International president Heidi Ueberroth said in an email. "The investments being made by Reliance and IMG will accelerate the growth of basketball and affirm its potential in India."

NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver told Reuters in March that basketball participation and interest in India is growing, and there may be an opportunity to create a league sooner rather than later.

Forstmann acknowledged India currently lacks many arenas that could accommodate pro basketball teams, but said IMG does not want to miss out in a country where the number of Indian middle-class households is expected to surge fourfold between 2008 and 2030 to 147 million according to a McKinsey Global Institute report.

In addition, IMG Reliance is moving ahead with plans to open at least one sports academy to train Indians in such sports as golf, tennis, basketball and soccer, as well as position the country to win more medals in the Olympic games.

Source http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/News-By-Industry/ET-Cetera/IMG-Reliance-in-deal-to-develop-Indian-basketball/articleshow/6077976.cms?curpg=2

McDowell holds steady as star-studded field falls apart

Graeme McDowell with the US Open trophy
McDowell is the first Northern Irishman to win one of golf's majors since Fred Daly won the 1947 Open Championships

Graeme McDowell held his nerve and game, even as the more experienced superstars and better-placed newcomers fell by the wayside at the US Open Sunday.

McDowell, who qualified for the US Open by sneaking into the top-50 of the world last month, stayed focused and two-putted from 20 feet to win by one over Gregory Havret, who before this week was ranked only 391st in the world.

McDowell made only one birdie in the final round and finished with a three-over 74 to become the first European since Tony Jacklin in 1970 at Hazeltine to win the US Open. And what's more it became a 1-2 for Europe.

Left out in the wake of the unexpected top-two, were the likes of Ernie Els, whose earlier challenge ended in third place and Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson shared the fourth spot.

Dustin Johnson, who started the final round with a three-shot lead and the knowledge that he had won the last AT&T National Pro-Am at this same venue, collapsed. He parred the first and then triple bogeyed the second, double bogeyed the third and bogeyed the fourth to drop six shots in three holes. From six-under he was down to even par and by the time the day ended, he was five-over with an 11-over 82 for the final day.

McDowell even while confessing that he was yet to soak in the feeling of being a Major champion added that the US Open was always the Major he dreamt of.

'To win at Pebble Beach, to join the names -- Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Tom Kite, Tiger Woods, and... me -- wow!' McDowell said. 'I'm not quite sure if I belong in that list, but hey, I'm there now. It's a pretty amazing feeling.'

McDowell also admitted to be an early Ernie Els fan - 'I remember him from the time he won (a Major) at Oakmont' - almost did not make it to Pebble Beach. And on Sunday McDowell beat him, too, after briefly sharing the lead with him in between.

McDowell seized his chances after the collapse by Johnson. With the Big three failing, he was left holding off Havret. Havret, a Frenchman who is No. 391 in the world, played his heart out, but his putter let him down at the end and he 72 and finished one shot behind.

'No offense meant to Gregory, but when you have Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els there, you're not expecting Gregory Havret to be the guy you've got to fend off,' McDowell said.

McDowell's lone birdie was an eight-foot putt on the fifth hole, and his final round was the highest score by a U.S. Open champion since Andy North in 1985.

'I made three mental mistakes. The only thing it cost us was a chance to win the U.S. Open,' Woods said.

Els held a share of the lead briefly on the front nine but lost out on the stretch of holes along the ocean. The bogey-double bogey-bogey ended his hopes of winning a US Open after a gap of 13 years. He closed with a 73 to finish alone in third.

Mickelson failed to better his five second places at US Open and also ended his chances of a second straight Major, following the Masters in April.

McDowell got into the U.S. Open by narrowly getting into the top-50 in the world at the deadline to avoid qualifying.

McDowell has five European Tour victories, most recently the Wales Open last month at the home course for the Ryder Cup in October. He is sure to be part of the European team now, moving up to No. 13 in the world.

For the time being, McDowell is simply savouring his first Major win and when he gets back to Dublin, he is hoping to catch a pint of Guinness at his favourite bar in Portrush with his buddies next week.

Source http://sify.com/news/mcdowell-holds-steady-as-star-studded-field-falls-apart-news-international-kgvpOdchgid.html

Why I am praying for Brazil to lift the Cup

I am at this huge party in the South African embassy, here in Brazil. It is the opening match of the FIFA Cup and with his imagination the South African ambassador -- a close friend and a fellow partner for me in IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa -- has organised a large screen, crates of cold beer, platters of barbeque and has invited the whole town. Many invitees around me are wearing their national team T-shirts, but I am drowned in a sea of mainly yellows -- the famous Brazilian football jersey colour.

South Africa has scored the first goal of the tournament, a real scorcher against which the Mexican goalkeeper is helpless. The screaming and the droning noise of the vuvuzelas around me are deafening. Brazilians are dancing too, as they have nothing at stake in this match.

"Is India in the World Cup? When is your first match?" the question that I face twice a day these days is now being asked by an elderly Brazilian who cannot dance at his age. I tell him with some embarrassment that 'Sorry, no, India is not in the World Cup, never was,' etc.

"Why?" He asks, again a familiar question for me in Brazil.

Why indeed?

Because football is above all a fiercely collective game and we are incapable of it, being individualistic? Because the 'Goal' for the individual in our civilisational ethos is nothing less than Moksha or Nirvana or total liberation, and this spirit does not support a fire in the belly for putting the ball in the rope net and calling it a goal?

Because cricket consumes all our passion and resources and even our politics?

Because in Bengal the cradle of our football, today talk is even more important than action? I don't know but I don't have to answer. Fortunately all around me there are shouts as the Mexicans now near the goal.

But I am mellowed in the yellow crowd.

To be in Brazil even at normal times is an experience. To be in Brazil during the World Cup is something else. For weeks now, I have been seeing strange stories in the newspapers and have to consult my Brazilian colleagues to decipher them.

'Import duty on beer reduced from 18 per cent to 3 per cent,' is the headline one day. Why? Because the government has come to the belated realisation that domestic beer production just cannot meet the peak demand during the World Cup, especially if the Brazilian team does well. For its own popularity in an election year it has taken the decision for an import surge of beer. The same is expected for potato chips.

'Offices to close at 2:30,' says the papers. Our Brazilian employees educate me about the imperative to close the embassy at that time on the day the Brazilian team is playing as the matches are televised at 3 pm. At that hour the country sits still and there is no question of any one working. We happily comply.

'Do not fly the flag on the official car, Sir,' advises my driver, though it is the diplomatic convention for the national flag on the ambassador's car. Why? Millions are flying the Brazilian flag on their cars during the World Cup and a foreign looking flag will upset them, especially if they have lost on any particular day. Sensible advice. Why be provocative?

And so on.

I have known the importance of football in Brazil and even wrote a column in my early months in this country aptly titled 'In Brazil, the ball is the world'. I had explored the historical, sociological and psychological aspects of the Brazil-Football equation and also compared it with the India-Cricket fixation. But all that had not prepared me for the total immersion and absorption that I now see as Brazil aspires for its sixth win in the World Cup, having won a record five over the years.

But it is acknowledged even by the most passionate fans that the game today is different from that of the classical era and that to win is a big challenge. From the fifties to the nineties Brazilian and in general Latino football represented individual flair, innovation, unorthodoxy and 'devil may care' attitude. This was in contrast to the European style: Team-oriented, practiced perfection, physical, fast and serious to the core.

Today in a highly globalised and commercialised football world dominated by leagues rather than nations, famous Brazilian players are always in Europe with lucrative contracts.

Playing under the national flag imposes new demands in team effort, style and discipline. Secondly, the Brazilian coach Dunga has sacked even celebrities including someone of the stature of Ronaldino, putting emphasis on collectivity rather than celebrity. All this has led to uncertainty and worry about the fate of the national team.

No one can grow up in this country without knowing the legendary story of 'the saddest day in Brazilian football.' This was sixty years ago, on July 16, 1950, the first World Cup organised after the war and that too in the most famous playground, the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro , the Mecca of football.

Brazil was the overwhelming favourite and in the last match was pitted against its tiny neighbour, Uruguay. The capacity home crowd of 210,000 people geared for victory celebrations were devastated by the defeat of their home team to Uruguay in a 2-1 finish in the dying moments. This is a tragic legend in Brazil comparable only to the Battle of Plassey or Panipat in our imagination.

Believe it or not, I came across the following two gems from the Brazilian press on that episode: 'Our catastrophe, our Hiroshima was at Marcana, the defeat by Uruguay in 1950,' and another one: 'The goal in 1950 and the gunshot that killed Kennedy both have the same drama, the same movement, the same precision of an inexorable trajectory leading to a tragedy.'

I see this worry deepening as Brazil plays its first match against North Korea. Brazil wins 2-1 no doubt, but whoever expected the mysterious North Koreans at world rankings number 135 give such a running to the world number one team. Predictably there is a lot of expert analysis in the bar where we see the match. The team is too slow, the rhythm is lacking, the stars are missing etc combined with more complacent comments about 'after all this is the first match; we are always like that only.'

"Which is your favourite team?" Brazilians ask me frequently. This one is easy. Not only for me and not only now but Brazil has always been the favourite team for Indians for decades. The latest survey by Outlook-Mudra confirms that 43 per cent of Indians regard Brazil as their favourite, followed by the team from neighbouring Argentina.

There is also the explanation as to how a newly independent India started loving the Brazil team from the early fifties, as it was the only team with blacks, browns, and whites, an original rainbow nation. Also we fell in love with the players with such magical names: Zico, Socrates, and the one and only Pele. I say all this liberally around me and become popular.

But as I write this, these are early days as yet in the World Cup. Everything is possible in every match as the teams are so comparable and competitive. But with all the prospects of a fun party after each win, I pray every day with all the Brazilians that they lift the Cup. What better can I do for goodwill for India in this country?

Source http://sports.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/21/football-world-cup-2010-specials-bs-prakash-on-cup-mania-in-brazil.htm

Finals MVP Bryant keeps the Celtics guessing

Kobe Bryant celebrates his fifth championship with the Los Angeles  Lakers, named finals MVP a second time.
Kobe Bryant celebrates his fifth championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, named finals MVP a second time.

Kobe Bryant's pursuit of his fifth championship ring was a masterful performance where he proved to the Boston Celtics that he can beat you multiple ways.

Heading into the series, the Celtics knew that in order to win the title they would have to figure out a way to prevent Bryant from taking over games in the final two minutes.

But Bryant has a knack for raising his game at the right time and he did just that in the Lakers 83-79 win Thursday to take the championship series 4-3.

If you take away his ability to score, like the Celtics did by making him constantly go to his left in the series, he can beat you in other ways. Thursday he did it with his 15 rebounds, including a game-high 11 on defence.

Of his five championship rings, Bryant says this series one took the most out of him both physically and mentally.

"I was so tired my ears were ringing, they really were," he said of the fourth quarter at the sold out (18,997) Staples Center arena. "It felt like It was 6:00 am in the morning and I was on the track running. I was just drained."

It took Bryant three quarters to get going in game seven, but once he did he bobbed and weaved his way through Boston defence to finish with a game high 23-points.

"It was the most physical one," he said during the post-game celebration. "They believed that they could beat us. But the physicality of their team, how smart they are, extremely well coached, and guys made big shots. It was tough. They weren't going to beat themselves, we had to beat them."

Eight times Bryant has been on the all-NBA team and eight times he has been on the all-defensive team. He has been MVP of the all-star game, the league and Thursday he was named MVP of the finals for the second-straight season.

This was Bryant's second consecutive championship and second without former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. Since O'Neal was traded away in 2004, Bryant has bristled at any suggestions he couldn't win without the giant centre's help on offence.

So asked Thursday what makes this championship so special, Bryant said, "Just got one more than Shaq. You can take that to the bank. You know how I am. I don't forget anything."

Bryant averaged 29.5 points per game against the Celtics heading into game seven. He had just eight points in the first half Thursday as the Lakers looked to be headed to their second loss in three years in a final to Boston before they rallied from a 13-point deficit.

The win marks the Lakers first game seven victory over the Celtics in five tries in franchise history. Bryant wouldn't admit it earlier in the series but it is something he was fully aware of going into game seven.

"I know every series that the Lakers have played in," Bryant said. "I mean, I was just a Laker nut, and I know every Celtics series, I know every statistic. (Winning) meant the world to me."

Bryant said now that the season is over he can think about getting treatment on a couple of injuries that have dogged him throughout the playoffs.

"I'm obviously going to have to look at the knee and figure some things out," Bryant said. "I can't play a whole entire season the way it is now. Same thing with the finger.

"You know, without the tape, I can't grip a basketball. There's some things I'll have to figure out in the off-season, but it was good enough to get through this one."

Source http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hQ4wqUEdGReg2ubG0miaUvO8il_A

Argentina set for Last 16 after hammering South Korea

Argentina's Gonzalo Higuaín taps scores in the World Cup 2010 game  against South Korea

Gonzalo Higuaín taps to score the second goal of his hat-trick in Argentina's 4-1 World Cup win against South Korea

Diego Maradona's Argentina look certainties for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup after their 4-1 Group B victory over South Korea on Thursday as Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick.

Maradona's side will be sure of a place in the knock-out phase later on Thursday if Group B rivals Greece and Nigeria draw in Bloemfontein.

Midfield maestro Lionel Messi was superb throughout as Argentina raced into a 2-0 first-half lead thanks to a header from Higuain and an own-goal by Korea's Park Chu-Young.

Monaco forward Park turned a free-kick by Messi into his own net on 17 minutes before Higuain's header extended the South American giants lead with his first goal on 33 minutes.

South Korea's Lee Chung-Yong gave his side hope with a goal at the end of the first half to make it 2-1, but Messi-inspired Argentina were not to be denied.

Higuain made sure of the win with two goals in four minutes late in the second-half in front of a 82,174-strong crowd at Soccer City.

Argentina meant business from the kick-off and took the lead when Messi's free-kick deflected off Park's legs who could only watch in horror as the ball flew over the line.

Argentina coach Diego Maradona then replaced the limping Walter Samuel with AS Roma's Nicolas Burdisso on 23 minutes.

Argentina extended the lead when Maxi Rodriguez's cross was flicked on by Burdisso for Higuain to beat Korean 'keeper Jung Sung-Ryong on 33 minutes, before Lee's late effort gave the South Koreans hope for the second-half.

Jung pulled off two great saves in quick succession early in the half: first from Higuain at close-quarters after a good break from Angel Di Maria, a constant threat to the Korean defence, then Tevez after a long-range shot.

The only slight blemish on the Argentinians day was Jonas Gutierrrez second booking of the tournament which will see the Newcastle United star miss the next game with Greece.

Higuain settled the contest after Messi beat two defenders in the box and squared for the Real forward to fire into an empty net on 76 minutes while Messi again played a hand in the fourth goal on 80 minutes to seal the win.

Man-of-the-match Higuain jogged off in the 82nd minute to loud applause from the Argentina fans, but the 22-year-old's reply in kind could well have been for midfield maestro Messi who created his goals.

Source http://www.hindustantimes.com/Argentina-set-for-Last-16-after-hammering-South-Korea/Article1-559180.aspx

He missed a shot at changing NBA history

Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant celebrates on the bench after a  made basket against the Boston Celtics during Game 6 of the 2010 NBA  Finals basketball series in Los Angeles, California, June 15, 2010 .
The Lakers' Frank Selvy couldn't beat the Celtics in the final seconds of Game 7 in 1962, and Boston went on to dominate the decade.

The jabs, unlike that heartbreaking jump shot, come from long distance.

Former Lakers guard Frank Selvy lives in South Carolina, and occasionally, as the story goes, he answers his phone only to hear, "Nice shot, Frank!" a click and a dial tone.

An old teammate, Rod "Hot Rod" Hundley, tells people he makes the crank calls from his home in Arizona.

His message: Clanks for the memories.

It was Selvy, you see, who missed an 18-foot baseline jumper in Game 7 of the 1962 NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics that, had it gone in, would have broken a 100-100 tie and lifted Los Angeles to its first championship.

Instead, the Celtics went on to win in overtime, 110-107, and clinch the series — their second of seven titles taken over the Lakers in 11 years, a span that established Boston as the NBA's dominant franchise and the Lakers as a perennial bridesmaid.

It wasn't until 1985 that the Lakers finally beat the Celtics for a championship. The teams are now meeting in the NBA Finals for the 12th time, with Boston winning nine of the first 11. Game 7 of this year's Finals is Thursday night at Staples Center.

Time has done little to soften Selvy's disappointment about the missed opportunity in 1962. To him, Hundley's joke has gotten older than the grainy film footage of his fateful miss that's posted on YouTube.

"For almost 50 years that's been his pet thing, because I was playing in that game and he wasn't playing," Selvy said. "He talks like he played the whole game."

Forgive Selvy if he doesn't crack wise about his dubious place in history. He's a friendly and genial fellow, but he's also very competitive, even 48 years later.

"We were four points behind, and I made two baskets in 20 seconds to tie the game up. I never hear about that," Selvy said. "I'm very proud of those shots, and if I had made the last one that really would have been something."

Selvy, a two-time NBA All-Star, is "a very good person, good guy," said former Lakers teammate Elgin Baylor, who was positioning himself for the rebound when Selvy launched his shot. "But Frank is very sensitive about things, and he's not the type of person that likes to be teased about anything."

It all happened so fast. Five seconds left at the Boston Garden. Selvy inbounded the pass at midcourt to Hundley, who dribbled to the top of the key. He pump-faked a pass to Jerry West, who was covered, then passed back to an open Selvy in the left corner.

Selvy, a good shooter who once scored 100 points in a game for Furman University, fired an 18-footer that was on line but just a bit long, kicking high off the back rim. Boston's Bill Russell grabbed the rebound to force overtime.

Hundley said the thought crossed his mind to take the shot himself, but instead he passed to Selvy.

"I had one thought in my mind when the ball came to me: 'Do I take the shot?' I was wide open," Hundley recalled. "I thought, 'If I make it, I'll be the mayor of L.A. But if I miss, they'll be riding me out of town on a rail.' So I elected to pass it to Frank."

Selvy thought he was fouled on his last shot, but he didn't get a whistle.

"That shot was dead straight," he said. "But if you look real close and look at my follow-through, you can see where Bob Cousy hits my arm as I released the ball. My arm is pointed dead left instead of at the basket.… I went back to the game and told Coach [Fred] Schaus that he fouled me. But I understand that. It's part of the game."

Selvy, who played six of his nine NBA seasons with the Lakers, also knows that no one shot makes or breaks an entire series. He thinks the Lakers should have won the championship in Game 6, when they took an early lead before Boston roared back in the third quarter and blew them out, 119-105. He's still mystified as to why he spent much of that game on the bench, watching Hundley play in his place.

"We were up 3-2 in the series and it was back in L.A.," Selvy recalled of Game 6. "I was five for five from the field and was guarding Sam Jones and he hadn't scored a point. We had a 17-point lead. Then I get put on the bench, and by the time I come back in we're down by 10. Maybe Hot Rod can explain that."

Baylor said he has thought about the "what if" — as in, if the Lakers had won that series, would it have had a wider effect on more than a decade of Boston dominance. The Celtics won 11 titles between 1957 and 1969.

"It could possibly have changed things," Baylor said. "We always thought that we could win. We never thought we were going to lose. We just felt that we were good enough to win."

Selvy felt the same way and has watched this year's Lakers-Celtics series with predictable rooting interest. He concedes that, despite the teasing, he owes Hundley a small debt of gratitude.

World Cup 2010: Gelson Fernandes stunned by Switzerland success over Spain

Gelson Fernandes - World Cup 2010: Gelson Fernandes stunned by  Switzerland success

The St Etienne midfielder's strike seven minutes into the second half of yesterday's Group H encounter proved enough for Ottmar Hitzfeld's side to beat the European champions – and left Fernandes stunned.

''I don't think I realise what is happening right now,'' said the 23-year-old.

'I'm a bit surprised. It's a very special moment for our country and I'm very happy. We were definitely very good against Spain and we played very well as a team.''

The Spaniards dominated possession but the Swiss made the most of their chance.

Fernandes, who was born in Cape Verde, said fortune had been on his side when he fired past Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

''I'm not used to scoring goals so it's a bit of a surprise,'' he said.

''In the goal, I did have a bit of luck as the ball fell to my feet and I anticipated the goalkeeper.

''I think Spain played well and they didn't underestimate us. They are technically a very good side and we were very lucky.''

Switzerland next take on Chile in Port Elizabeth on June 21.

''We are in a great position now,'' Fernandes said.

''But we have to remain concentrated for our next game as Chile will be a difficult rival.''

Casillas, the Spain captain, was crestfallen after the loss.

''We are gutted because it's hard to fall like this,'' said the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

''I don't know what happened as we dominated the game. I think after they scored, we got nervous as we looked for the equaliser. I don't know how this defeat will affect us but we must look forward.''

Vicente Del Bosque's team will now aim to beat Chile and Honduras in their remaining pool games to advance to the last 16, and Casillas knows it is important he and his team-mates keep things simple.

''More than favourites for the title, what we have to do is try to play football,'' he said.

''I know we have a team that can bounce back from disappointments.''

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/switzerland/7834454/World-Cup-2010-Gelson-Fernandes-stunned-by-Switzerland-success-over-Spain.html

Lakers force NBA finals to Game 7 by beating Celtics

Defending champions Los Angeles Lakers stunned Boston Celtics 89-67 here Tuesday in Game 6 of 2010 National Basketball Association (NBA) finals, pushing the championship series to the decider on Thursday in Los Angeles.

Kobe Bryant scored 26 points, the highest scorer in four consecutive games of the series. He was helped by the rest of the revitalized Lakers, with Pau Gasol adding 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Ron Artest 15 points.

"Our defense was good, our rebounding was better," said Lakers' coach Phil Jackson.

The Lakers victory stretched the finals to the limit form for the 17th Game 7 in NBA finals history, first since 2005. Home teams is 13-3 all-time in finals Game 7.

"I just thought the Lakers played harder, better," said Celtics'coach Doc Rivers.

"We never gave ourselves an opportunity offensively because we didn't trust tonight. Everybody was trying to make their own plays," he said.

The Celtics ended the Finals with a 39-point blowout of the Lakers in Game 6 in 2008 finals and this time Lakers forced the Celtics to tie the second-lowest post-clock total ever in a finals game.

Utah set the lowest record in a 96-54 loss to Chicago Bulls in Game 3 in 1998.

The two arch-rivals have played a Game 7 four times in their 12 previous finals' encounters, with the Celtics clinching all four.

Source http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sports/2010-06/16/c_13352942.htm

World Cup 2010: Ivory Coast v Portugal – live!

Elbow

A completely different kind of Elbow from the one currently troubling Didier Drogba

Didier Drogba starts on the bench for Ivory Coast, having not fully recovered from injury. Barney will be here from around 2.30pm. In the meantime, here's an extract from his preview of Ivory Coast v Portugal:

For Portugal, burdened with the world's most expensive and most extravagantly eye-catching footballer, the possibilities of this World Cup seem to run along two tracks. Either Cristiano Ronaldo plays as he can, as he did briefly at Euro 2008, and Carlos Queiroz's team shape up as outsiders as dangerous as their talent proposes – or Ronaldo plays as he did in qualifying, failing to score in seven matches as his country limped towards South Africa via a play-off with Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Portugal play Ivory Coast in their Group G opener and Ronaldo's uneven international performances – compared to his muscular and urgent presence at club level – are, as ever, a preoccupation.

"Everyone talks about Cristiano Ronaldo – it's natural because he is the player he is," the midfielder Deco said . "But we can only get anywhere if we are a team. It's the whole team that matters. It's important he scores goals and those goals will help us to get through to the next phase and maybe win it. Whether Cristiano Ronaldo scores or not, there's no concern as long as we score as a team."

The man himself has been more bullish on his prospects of adding to his 22 goals in 72 caps, predicting with his customary, vibrant sense of self-worth that goals would soon emerge "like ketchup from a bottle". That is, in a decisive splurge.

Source http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/jun/15/world-cup-2010-ivory-coast-portugal

World Cup 2010: 'anti-vuvuzela filter' could cancel out noise of horns

World Cup 2010: 'anti-vuvuzela filter' could cancel out noise of  horns
A chorus of vuvuzelas has variously been compared to a stampede of elephants, a hive of angry bees, and the protests of a goat on its way to slaughter


But now a sound engineer claims to have devised a hi-tech antidote to the deafening plastic trumpets, which have attracted complaints from viewers and players alike.

For just £2.45, armchair fans can download a 45-minute audio clip which purports to cancel out the ear-splitting din of the traditional South African stadium horns during televised matches.

The "anti-vuvuzela filter" is based on a technique called active noise control, which is widely used in the music industry to erase unwanted buzz on records. Noise-cancelling headphones work according to the same principle.

While acoustic experts expressed scepticism that the method could silence a cacophony of vuvuzelas, the download has already proved popular with fans desperate to enjoy World Cup matches in peace.

The South African organising committee yesterday dismissed suggestions that it would ban the instruments from future matches, with Fifa president Sepp Blatter insisting that they reflected Africa's "different rhythm, a different sound"

And any British football fans hoping that they would never hear a vuvuzela again after the tournament final on July 11 may be disappointed.

Supermarkets reported selling tens of thousands of the horns over the weekend, leading to speculation that they could become a common sound at Premier League matches next season.

The anti-vuvuzela filter is the brainchild of Clemence Schlieweis, 29, a recording and mixing engineer from Munich in Germany. He sampled vuvuzelas from an early World Cup match and created an "inverse" sound wave with the same amplitude as the original, but with the peaks and troughs of the wave reversed.

If the MP3 music file is played on a computer placed near television speakers during a game, Mr Schlieweis claims that the two sounds will effectively cancel each other out.

He said: "I used it to watch Germany play Australia on Sunday evening and it was perfect. I only launched the website that morning but I've already had dozens of orders."

Scientists said that the noise cancelling theory behind the filter was sound, but cautioned that it may not prove effective in practice.

Trevor Cox, Professor of Acoustics at the University of Salford, said: "I can't see how it could work. The vuvuzela chorus may come across as a single sound on television, but it is actually hundreds of instruments being blown at different times.

"Active noise control depends on lining up the two sound waves exactly, and that seems physically impossible in this case."

He added: "My advice is to football fans is to be Zen about it; accept vuvuzelas as part of the World Cup soundscape and pour another beer."

The online download also offers no respite for fans attending games in South Africa, who have been warned that they could suffer irreparable damage to their hearing.

Crystal Rolfe from the Royal National Institute for the Deaf said: "We know that these horns can cause damage to peoples' ears.

"They have been measured to reach more than 125 decibels – a pneumatic drill in the street can get to between 90 and 100 decibels, so it's much louder than that."

A chorus of vuvuzelas has variously been compared to a stampede of elephants, a hive of angry bees, and the protests of a goat on its way to slaughter.

They became popular in South African stadiums in the 1990s, but critics have complained that they drown out fans' chanting and prevent players from communicating on the pitch.

Vuvuzelas sparked further controversy in yesterday's group matches, when Holland striker Robin van Persie claimed that he could not hear the referee's whistle because of the drone from the crowd.

Portugal winger Ronaldo has also criticised the horns, saying: "It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate. A lot of players don't like them."

The objectors have been dismissed as killjoys in South Africa, and yesterday Mr Blatter came out in defence of the horns. In a message on Twitter he asked: "Would you want to see a ban on the fan traditions in your country?"

Source http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/7826995/World-Cup-2010-anti-vuvuzela-filter-could-cancel-out-noise-of-horns.html

Police fire stun grenades at World Cup pay protest

An Algeria fan blows a vuvuzela during the World Cup group C soccer  match between Algeria and Slovenia on Sunday. The horns are viewed by  many as a nuisance during the game.
Police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades to break up a protest by hundreds of stadium staff unhappy at their wages on Monday in the first major unrest of the football World Cup.

As organisers promised to investigate why thousands of seats were empty at weekend matches, they also struggled to contain a backlash against the din generated by the vuvuzela horns which have become the symbol of the tournament.

Danny Jordaan, chairman of the local organising committee, said he would consider banning the horns if they drowned out national anthems although a spokesman later said they were here to stay.

Champions Italy meanwhile were beginning their defence of the trophy with an evening match against Paraguay in Cape Town while the highly fancied Dutch were to play Denmark in Johannesburg.

The protests in Durban broke out around midnight after the match between Germany and Australia as around 400 stadium staff protested what they said was a pay cut from 250 rand (33 dollars) to 190 per day outside the main gate.

"They were unhappy about the wages they were getting from their employers, so they started getting unruly," police spokeswoman Phindile Radebe told AFP.

Police broke up the protest at the stadium, but about 200 continued protesting on a nearby street, where rubber bullets and stun grenades were fired to break up the demonstration, she said.

"No one has been arrested so far," she added, adding that the fans had already left the stadium when the protest broke out.

Durban municipality, which owns the stadium, said that the stewarding at the stadium had been subcontracted by FIFA and the local organising committee to another company.

"The LOC and FIFA are responsible for all elements of the operation and management of the stadium and the appointment of all stadium service providers and employees for the period of the World Cup," it said in a statement.

The tournament was also facing a raft of negative headlines over ranks of empty seats which were spotted at some of the less glamorous ties over the weekend.

Around 8,000 seats were empty during Saturday's match between South Korea and Greece while there were also gaping holes at Sunday's game between Slovenia and Algeria in the northern city of Polokwane.

A spokesman for the local organising committee said that most of the tickets had been sold but many people just had not turned up.

"We have no clue what happened -- tickets had been issued," Rich Mkhondo told the Johannesburg-based newspaper The Times.

While around 3,000 tickets went unsold, another 8,000 corporate ticket holders failed to show.

"We are investigating who these companies are, why those tickets were not distributed to their owners or why those owners did not make it to the stadiums," he said.

Mkhondo also tried to slap down down any suggestion that the vuvuzela horns could be banned after yet more complaints about the noise they are generating.

"We just ask that people use them wisely and keep quiet when asked to do so during the singing of national anthems and the delivery of speeches," he said.

Asked if a ban was an option, local organising committee Danny Jordaan told the BBC: "If there are grounds to do so, yes."

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo was the latest World Cup star to voice unease about the trumpet, telling reporters that it affected players' focus.

"It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate," the Real Madrid star told a press conference.

"A lot of players don't like them, but they are going to have to get used to them."

Makers of the plastic horns meanwhile said they had come up with a toned-down version.

"We have modified the mouthpiece, there is now a new vuvuzela which will blow noise that is 20 decibels less than the old one," Neil van Schalkwyk, a partner at Masincedane Sport, told The Star newspaper.

"We hope to sell these at park and ride areas and public viewing areas," added Van Schalkwyk, whose company owns the vuvuzela trademark.

Source http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iekx9IaGOlN8C8NExCJhdjerP-Xg

Were Ghana right to celebrate as if they had won the World Cup?

Ghana

Gabriele Marcotti

The vast majority of Ghana's players celebrated their 1-0 victory over Serbia as if they had won the World Cup. John Pantsil did his lap of honor with a giant Ghanaian flag and Asamoah Gyan danced away amidst scenes of immense jubilation.

At the time, tweeting from the media stand at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, I commented that it was over the top and that maybe "Ghana should act like it had been here before. "After all," I figured, "we're talking about one win against a solid team, but nothing beyond that: Serbia are hardly Brazil. Shouldn't you save your celebrations for when you achieve something truly meaningful?

I received plenty of instant responses from the Twitterverse. Many criticized me for being a spoilsport. Others said they were celebrating because it meant so much to them to be the first African team to win a World Cup game on African soil. A few agreed with me: such celebrations may be appropriate for minnows in a Cup giant-killing, but with a big footballing nation like Ghana they just don't sit right. Not in those circumstances, not for a group game victory against a beatable opponent.

But the counterargument was compelling too. I was told this kind of celebration was "an African thing" and who was I to judge? Fair enough. But the whole "first African team to win a World Cup game on African soil" sounds slightly fishy to me. Partly because, in my experience, players don't generally think about that sort of thing.

And partly because, if they did, they would realize that only an accident of the calendar made Ghana the first team to win a World Cup game on African soil, as opposed to, say, Ivory Coast or Cameroon (or, indeed, Nigeria, if they had been playing Greece instead of Argentina).

Perhaps it is a cultural thing. But, rather than a European/African thing, celebrating at this stage tells you more about how a team sees itself. Most successful players or managers will tell you that you don't celebrate until you win it all, not if you believe you are strong. It's the underdogs and minnows who celebrate every step of the way because, well, every match they play could be their last. And I like to think that had a guy like Michael Essien - a proven winner - been out there, he would have been proud and delighted, but probably would not have cartwheeled around the pitch as if he had won it all. (In fact, Sulley Muntari, another winner, who was on the sidelines, limited himself to some hugs and backslaps, no more than that).

Still, though, I'm not sure. Do we make too much of the stoic, play-it-cool machismo? Or do excessive celebrations against average opponents show a lack of self-belief and, ultimately, ambition?

Source http://timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2010/06/were-ghana-right-to-celebrate-as-if-they-had-won-the-world-cup.html