Free-kick masters cane the Danes and fire Japanese June 24, 2010 DENMARK(1) VS JAPAN(3) TWO stunning first-half free-kicks helped Japan became the second Asian team to reach the last 16 of the World Cup at the expense of a disappointing Denmark in Rustenburg. Keisuke Honda smashed the first effort from all of 30 yards over the wall to give the Japanese a 17th minute lead before [...]
Huntelaar strikes as Dutch make it three from three June 24, 2010 CAMEROON (1) vs HOLLAND(2) KLAAS-JAN HUNTELAAR ensured Holland eased into the last 16 of the World Cup with a 100 per cent record as Cameroon’s campaign ended without a point on the board. The Real Madrid striker fired home the winner seven minutes from time after Arjen Robben, who climbed off the bench for his [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF June 24, 2010 Trio handed Team Sky rides CYCLING: British riders Steve Cummings and Geraint Thomas have been included in Team Sky’s nine-man squad for the Tour de France. Former world track champion Cummings makes his Tour debut after riding in last month’s Gira d’Italia, joining Thomas, who was a member of the victorious Olympic team pursuit quartet. [...]
New Zealand keep unbeaten record June 24, 2010 PARAGUAY will meet Japan in the last 16 after clinching top spot in Group F with a 0-0 draw against New Zealand. Although they were overtaken by Slovakia, who beat Italy, it was a triumph of sorts for New Zealand, who took third place above the world champions. The All Whites also finished the tournament [...]
Capello gives England a beer and a cheer June 23, 2010 SLOVENIA(0) VS ENGLAND(1) FABIO CAPELLO saw his England side rediscover their missing spirit – after allowing his players to drink beer the night before they booked a last 16 tie with arch-rivals Germany. Capello’s strict disciplinary code has been questioned over the last fortnight after rumours of unrest, and let his squad enjoy a pre-match [...]
We’ve nothing to fear from Germans June 23, 2010 I TOOK a long, hard look at the Germans in their final group game against Ghana last night and, to be honest, I really don’t think England have anything to fear. I thought Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lucas Podolski looked off the pace, while the defence, for me, were vulnerable to pace and weren’t as organised [...]
Belief was always there, insists Defoe June 23, 2010 MATCH-WINNER Jermain Defoe hailed the spirit of his England team-mates after firing the Three Lions into the last 16. The Tottenham striker was given the nod for his first World Cup start ahead of Emile Heskey and Peter Crouch and repaid his manager’s faith with a predatory 22nd-minute finish to fire England through to the [...]
City workers succumb to football fever June 23, 2010 WITH the Budget out of the way in good time, the City’s thoughts yesterday turned to the beautiful game, and England’s crucial third group clash against Slovenia. As the crucial hour approached, bars and pubs filled to bursting point and the employees of more generous firms gathered in communal areas to watch Capello’s squad clinch [...]
England set to get Maradona grudge match June 23, 2010 TWENTY-FOUR years ago he dumped England out of the World Cup as a player; now he could be set to inflict the same heartbreak as a manager. For if Fabio Capello’s team can navigate their way past old rivals Germany and into the quarter-finals, they look likely to meet the familiar form of Diego Maradona. [...]
Donovan’s last-gasp strike earns Americans top spot June 23, 2010 USA (1) vs ALGERIA(0) LANDON DONOVAN struck a dramatic injury-time winner to fire the USA into the last 16 of the World Cup as Group C winners. Watched by former president Bill Clinton, the Americans were on the verge of exiting the competition when the LA Galaxy man rifled the ball home after Algerian keeper [...]