Observer & Busness 24 Jun 2012 - Oman Observer

By Sanjay Chakhaiyar
MUSCAT — Oman started their Under-
22 Asian Cup qualifying campaign on
a disappointing note going down to the
UAE at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
yesterday.
In a rather lacklustre Group ‘A’ match,
Oman were handed a 2-0 defeat by their
arch-rivals.
After a goalless first session, the UAE
took control of the match to earn full
points with Younus Ahmad and Jamal
Ibrahim Hussain finding the target in 60th
and 73rd minutes.
‘‘I’m not fully satisfied with this result
and I feel my boys’ performance was not
as good as I had expected probably because
of the high humidity,’’ said Badir
Salem, the UAE coach at the post-match
press conference.
However, the UAE coach had a word
of praise for the hosts. ‘‘I thought the
Omanis are a strong team but I presume it
was not their day,’’ commented Salem.
Initially, both the teams struggled in
hot and humid conditions. However, the
UAE wrested the initiative 15 minutes
into the second half when Younus Ahmad
came up with powerful left-footer which
was bang on target giving no chance to
a hapless Omani custodian Abdullah al
Maamari who dived full length to his left
but of no avail.
The visitors upped the pressure from
there on and soon striker Jamal Ibrahim
Hussain, who had come in as a substitute
a few minute earlier, increased the margin
with a fine strike.
Oman’s French coach Philippe Burle
while admiring the visiting team blamed
the poor defensive tactics of his boys for
the defeat.
Earlier, the Group ‘A’ qualifying event
was kicked off by India and Lebanon at
18 SPORT
OMAN DAILY Observer
SUNDAY, JUNE 24, 2012
India rout Lebanon, Iraq blank Turkmenistan in U-22 Asian Cup qualifiers
Oman make disappointing start
OMAN’S Mubarak Humaid al Maqbali (right) vies
with an UAE player at the SQSC yesterday.
Portugal players
in training
ground bust-up
OPALENICA, Poland —
Portugal Winger Ricardo
Quaresma and defender
Miguel Lopes had a training
ground bust-up, the
Portuguese press reported
yesterday, days ahead of
their semifinal appearance at
Euro 2012.
During one drill, Quaresma
was pushed to the ground
by Lopes whereupon the
winger kicked out at the defender's
legs. Team-mates
quickly stepped in to prevent
the situation getting worse.
Defender Ricardo Costa
stood in front of Quaresma
to calm him down while
coach Paulo Bento also got
involved.
"It's just normal things
that happen in training,"
Costa said at a news conference
later. "Things got a bit
heated between two players.
We're pumped up, we always
want to win and sometimes
small things happen.
"Everything's sorted now.
We all want to play (in the
semifinal) and sometimes
stuff happens."
Portugal beat the Czech
Republic 1-0 in the first
Euro 2012 quarterfinal on
Thursday. — AFP
GDANSK — Germany
crushed Greece 4-2 in a onesided
Euro 2012 quarterfinal
on Friday and set up a last-four
clash against England or Italy
with their 15th successive win
in competitive matches.
The Germans, who will
have to wait until today to find
out their semifinal opponents,
have won all five European
Championship quarterfinals
they have played and they
have reached the final on the
four previous occasions.
In a one-sided contest, Germany
took the lead through
captain Philipp Lahm late
in the first half and survived
a scare 10 minutes after the
restart when rank outsiders
Greece levelled with a breakaway
goal from Giorgos Samaras.
But the three-time European
champions, who had never
previously scored four goals
in a match at the tournament,
were in no mood for an upset
and three goals in 13 minutes
kept them on track for their
first title in 16 years.
Greece cut the deficit with
a late Dimitris Salpingidis
penalty.
"We made it unnecessarily
difficult for us," said Lahm,
who has scored for his country
once every two years since
Germany’s Gundogan
limps out of training
GDANSK, Poland — Euro
2012 semifinalists Germany
suffered an injury scare yesterday
as midfielder Ilkay
Gundogan limped out of
training after damaging his
left ankle.
The 21-year-old Borussia
Dortmund midfielder, who has
yet to make an appearance at
Euro 2012, left yesterday afternoon's
training session with
his ankle heavily strapped.
"There is nothing torn or broken,"
said team spokesman
Harald Stenger, who said the
joint was sprained.
Forward Lukas Podolski
was the only other player to
miss training as he stayed in
the hotel to rest having been
left on the bench for Germany's
4-2 victory over Greece
in Friday's quarterfinal.
ROLLS REUS READY TO
GO FULL THROTTLE
Meanwhile, attacking midfielder
Marco Reus, who is
dubbed ‘Rolls Reus’, has said
he is ready to go full throttle
in the side’s bid to win the European
title.
2004 to take his tally to five.
"We had huge chances to go
into the lead in the first quarter
hour. We got into the lead but
gifted it away.
"We were too slow at times
and made too many easy mistakes
but the important thing is
that we are in the semifinals.
For the Greeks, shock 2004
European champions, it was
an expected end to their campaign
after advancing to the
last eight with a surprise 1-0
win over Russia.
KRAKOW, Poland — England and Italy,
two teams packed with experience
but spiced by youth and some volatility,
meet in Kiev today in probably the most
intriguing of the Euro 2012 quarterfinal
ties.
Clashing for the first time in more
than a decade, England have met Italy
only twice at major tournaments with the
Italians winning a 1980 European Championship
group game 1-0 in Turin and a
1990 World Cup third-place playoff 2-1
in Bari.
Both teams, enjoying unbeaten runs
in competitive fixtures lasting 11 and 13
games respectively, are built on sound defence
and counter-attack.
Both use flexible versions of 4-4-2 and
have thoughtful and pragmatic managers
in Roy Hodgson and Cesare Prandelli.
For England, where the Premier
League has ushered in a financial boom,
cosmopolitan coaching and many world
class players, it is a chance to prove their
game has progressed since they lost 2-1 to
Italy at Leeds, in March, 2002.
Italian coaches have heavily influenced
the English domestic boom.
Men like Gianluca Vialli, Carlo Ancelotti
and Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea
and Manchester City's Roberto Mancini
have stamped their style on their teams
and have been successful, with Di Matteo
winning the Champions League and
the same venue with the former emerging
5-2.
India opened the score in the 16th
minute when Manandeep Singh met a
cross from Lalrindika to send the ball past
Lebanese custodian Nazih Hassan.
Six minutes from the break, Alwyn
George doubled India’s lead when fired
past an onrushing Nazih Hassan.
However, the Lebanese managed to
reduced to the margin through a fine effort
by substitute Omar Kurdi.
But there was no stopping the Indians,
as two minutes later Alwyn scored his
second to make it 3-1.
In the 69th minute, Abdul Fattah
scored Lebanon’s second goal. But once
again it took just two minutes for India
to find the target, and this time it was Jeje
Lalpekhlua who scored the first of his two
"We could have held the ball
more and maybe taken a few
more chances," said Greece
coach Fernando Santos. "But
we did not manage to breathe.
We did not have the space to
breathe. They pressed us all
the time."
The match billed as the euro
zone battle, pitting debt-ridden
Greece against its northern
paymaster, was always expected
to be dominated by the Germans
with the Greeks missing
creative midfielder and captain
Giorgos Karagounis through
suspension and it lived up to
its billing from the start.
The Germans, cheered on
by their Chancellor Angela
Merkel in the stands, started
at a high tempo with Andre
Schuerrle and Marco Reus,
replacing Lukas Podolski and
Thomas Mueller, charging
down the wings.
But after battering the
Greek goal for more than half
an hour they had failed to get
the early goal they wanted.
Mancini the Premier League title in
2012.
Yet, as English football has embraced
the Italian way, Italy has moved in the
other direction, seeking to instill more
dynamic and open attacking play into a
tradition of slow, defensive asphyxiation.
This sense of flux will be embodied
today by teams with sound defences and
outstanding goalkeepers — a relative
newcomer for England in Joe Hart, 25,
and a seasoned veteran for Italy in Gianluigi
Buffon, 34, set to make his 118th
international appearance.
Both teams also have Manchesterbased
potential firecrackers in Wayne
Rooney, of United, who came back from
suspension to score England's winner
against Ukraine. and Mario Balotelli, of
City, who scored as a substitute against
Ireland.
Rooney's return has added threat to
England's attack without disturbing a
smothering system that has earned Hodgson
— whose peripatetic career has included
two spells at Inter Milan — the
soubriquet 'the English Italian', after he
was praised as 'intelligent, clever, experienced
and cunning' by Mancini in La
Gazzetta dello Sport.
Prandelli, like Hodgson, has kept his
cards close to his chest on whether he will
retain the 4-3-1-2 system used to defeat
Ireland or revert to a three-man defence
goals. Lalpekhlua netted his second in the
90th minute to complete a 5-2 victory for
India.
In another match played at the ROP
Stadium, Iraq defeated Turkmenistan
4-0.
The top two from each of the seven
group as well as the best third-placed
squad will make it to the finals. The yet
to announced hosts, who will be awarded
an automatic berth, will complete the 16team
list for the championships.
The finals of the inaugural championship
is scheduled for January 2014 with
Oman and Thailand in the race to host the
event.
June 25 fixtures: UAE vs Turkmenistan
at SQSC (5.00 pm), Iraq vs India at
ROP Stadium (7.45 pm), Oman vs Lebanon
at SQSC (8.00 pm).
Germany crush Greece en route to semis
Reus marked his first Euro
2012 start for Germany with
a second-half goal in Friday’s
4-2 quarterfinal win over
Greece and his eye-catching
display has seen him nicknamed
‘Rolls Reus’ by both
the British and German media.
“Nicknames aren’t something
you can influence, I just
want to put my foot on the gas
for the team now,” quipped
the 23-year-old.
With his spiky, blond haircut
and ear-ring, Reus is part
of the new crop of rising German
stars who have already
achieved pin-up status back
in Germany.
But despite his cool composure,
Reus was briefly
stumped when a female Chinese
reporter bluntly told him
he had a better haircut than
team-mate Mario Gomez.
“I always try to look my
best. Mario also has a beautiful
hair-do, but as I just said
nothing surpasses mine,” he
replied.
Or, in short, Reus’ rules.
INDIA’S Alwyn George (left) controls the ball in front of Lebanon’s
Mohammed Jaafar. — Pictures by Mohammed Mahjoub
GERMANY’S Miroslav Klose (centre) celebrates after scoring a goal against Greece.
Germany coach Joachim
Loew, who fielded a more
offensive team with Miroslav
Klose replacing Mario
Gomez, had urged patience
and it paid off when Lahm released
a trademark swerving
shot from 25 metres to beat
keeper Michalis Sifakis.
Merkel jumped to her feet
to celebrate as her lucky charm
tag for Germany worked yet
again.
Despite the scoreline the
Germans made it hard for
themselves with sloppy passing
and wayward finishing.
Greece, with their youngest
ever squad for a European
championship at an average of
26 years, refused to surrender
and hit back at the start of the
second half as Salpingidis burst
down the right and crossed for
Giorgos Samaras to level.
But Germany's Sami
Khedira volleyed in on the
hour to settle any nerves.
Klose headed in another
four minutes later with his 64th
international goal, leaving him
four short of Gerd Mueller's
German all-time record of 68.
With the Greeks pummelled
into submission, Reus
struck in the 74th before Salpingidis
converted a spot-kick
a minute from time to claim a
minor consolation. — Reuters
England face rare and intriguing Italy test
adopted in the previous group games.
He must also decide whether to continue
with Antonio Di Natale as the main
striker or recall Balotelli to face his clubmates
Joleon Lescott and Hart. Midfielder
Thiago Motta is a slight doubt with a
hamstring strain.
Fullbacks Ignazio Abate and Federico
Balzaretti are expected to keep their places
while central defender Leonardo Bonucci
is set to start in place of the injured
Giorgio Chiellini.
England are expected to be unchanged.
"From our point of view, there is an
understanding that we are a good team,"
said Bonucci. "But we know that to go all
the way, we also need luck. We've got to
be careful against this England, who are
increasingly playing like Italy, focusing
on details in defence."
In the only previous meeting of the
two teams at a European Championship
finals, Italy won 1-0 on home soil in Turin
in 1980. Like many of their confrontations,
it was cagey, dramatic and physical.
This should be no different.
Scott Parker, who has emerged as the
heart of England's midfield, said: "We
have done a lot of research, seen them
play and know what to expect. Italy are
a very good team and we know we will
have to be right up for it to get a result."
— Reuters
Sangakkara misses
double century,
Pakistan 48 for 5
GALLE — Kumar Sangakkara
missed out on a double
hundred by one run but his
team ended the second day of
the first Test on a high with
Pakistan reeling at 48 for five
at the close yesterday.
Sri Lanka were dismissed
for 472 shortly after tea with
Sangakkara stranded on 199
not out made off 387 balls
and including 18 fours and
two sixes.
Pakistan were rocked
by Nuwan Kulasekara who
snapped up the wickets of
Taufiq Umar lbw for nine and
Azhar Ali for a golden duck
caught behind by Prasanna
Jayawardene.
Stand-in skipper Mohammed
Hafeez and Younis Khan
took the score to 43 when
off-spinner Suraj Randiv
made a double strike by trapping
Hafeez lbw for 20 and
sending back nightwatchman
Saeed Ajmal caught first ball
off bat and pad by Tharanga
Paranavitana.
Left-arm spinner Rangana
Herath joined the party when
he forced Asad Shafiq to edge
a catch behind the wicket to
Jayawardene for a duck.
At stumps Younis Khan
was unbeaten on 15 and Mohammed
Ayub on one.
Sri Lanka's innings was
built around Sangakkara's
29th Test hundred which
nearly brought him joint second
on the all-time list with
West Indian Brian Lara on
nine Test double hundreds.
A blunder by the scoreboard
had Sangakkara celebrating
his double century
with when he slog-swept
Ajmal for six but actually his
score was 199.
When told by his teammates
that he still required
one run he tried desperately to
steal a single off the final ball
of the over but failed.
That left last man Nuwan
Pradeep exposed to Hafeez
and after defending the first
ball Pradeep was bowled to
end the Sri Lanka innings.
Pakistan fought back in
the afternoon session through
their spinners to restrict Sri
Lanka to 439 for eight at tea.
Sri Lanka scored 73 runs
and lost three wickets, squandering
some of their advantage
having resumed the day
on a commanding 300 for
two.
Off-spinner Hafeez broke
a threatening sixth-wicket
stand of 80 between San-
EASTBOURNE — Andy
Roddick won his first title
in over a year when he defeated
defending champion
Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-2 yesterday
to win the Eastbourne
grasscourt title, a perfectlytimed
boost ahead of Wimbledon.
The American, a threetime
finalist at the All England
Club, was joined as a
new champion on the south
coast by Austrian Tamira
Paszek, who saved five
match points to beat world
No 8 Angelique Kerber 5-7,
6-3, 7-5 in the women's final.
Former world No 1 Roddick,
aged 29 and ranked
33rd, has been troubled by
injury and illness for the past
several seasons but may have
turned a corner with his 72minute
confidence-building
win over the Italian.
He came to the event as
a wildcard after losing his
sixth match in a row last
week in an early Queen's
club exit.
Roddick's victory means
that he has won at last one
title for the past 12 seasons.
The American now owns
31 trophies from 51 finals
having won his last grasscourt
title at Queen's five
years ago.
Roddick will be seeded
30 at Wimbledon, which
starts tomorrow, where he
starts against Briton Jamie
Baker.
The American had a
modest five aces yesterday,
but broke Seppi five times as
he played his first final since
gakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene
(48), who drove at a
ball that spun and offered an
outside edge to wicketkeeper
Adnan Akmal.
Left-arm spinner Rehman
caught Suraj Randiv (8) off
his own bowling and Hafeez
picked up his second wicket
when he removed the scoreless
Kulasekara on the stroke
of tea.
The morning session was
dominated by Ajmal who
claimed his sixth five-wicket
haul in tests with figures of
five for 146.
The 34-year-old spinner
captured three wickets for 10
runs off 22 balls.
Pakistan's new ball bowlers
Umar Gul and Junaid
Khan once again toiled without
luck, prompting Hafeez to
introduce Ajmal after seven
overs of seam and the spinner
did not let down his skipper.
The top-ranked Test spinner
struck a crucial blow
when he bowled Mahela
Jayawardene for 62 when the
Sri Lanka captain fluffed a
slog-sweep.
The spinner then lured
Thilan Samaraweera (6) out
of his crease with a doosra to
get him stumped and Ajmal
caught Angelo Mathews for a
duck from the next delivery.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka 1st innings
(overnight 300 for 2)
K Sangakkara (not out) ............ 199
M Jayawardene b Ajmal ............ 62
T Samaraweera st Akmal b Ajmal 6
A Mathews c & b Ajmal .............. 0
P Jayawardene c Akmal
b Hafeez ............ 48
S Randiv c & b Rehman .............. 8
N Kulasekara c Ayub b Hafeez .... 0
R Herath run out .......................... 0
N Pradeep b Hafeez ..................... 0
Extras: (b-10, lb-7, nb-2, w-5) .. 24
Total: (all out, 153.2 overs) ..... 472
Fall of wickets: 1-63, 2-187, 3-315,
4-335, 5-335, 6-415, 7-438, 8-439,
9-455.
Bowling: Gul 27-8-76-0 (nb-2,
w-5), Junaid 18-5-52-0, Hafeez
19.2-3-55-3, Ajmal 46-9-146-5,
Rehman 43-7-126-1.
Pakistan 1st innings
M Hafeez lbw Randiv ................ 20
T Umer lbw Kulasekara ............... 9
A Ali c P Jayawardene
b Kulasekara ...................... 0
Younis Khan (not out) ................ 15
S Ajmal c Paranavitana b Randiv 0
A Shafiq c P Jayawardene
b Herath ......................... 0
M Ayub (not out) .......................... 1
Extras: (lb-2, w-1) ...................... 3
Total: (5 wkts, 24 overs) ........... 48
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-17, 3-43,
4-43, 5-44.
Bowling: Kulasekara 7-3-15-2
(w-1), Pradeep 4-1-17-0, Herath
8-3-9-1, Mathews 2-2-0-0, Randiv
3-0-5-2.
Roddick, Paszek win
Eastbourne titles
ANDY RODDICK
winning in Memphis in February,
2011.
Paszek, ranked 59th, who
had come onto the grass with
just two wins from 15 matches
this season, did what she
has done best in recovering
from disaster against Kerber.
Paszek's momentum could
not be stopped by a lower
calf injury which she had
taped late in the match after
a slip on the grass.
She carried on to claim
her third career title after last
winning one in September,
2010, in Quebec.
"I was feeling a bit weird
on court. But you have to get
on with things which aren't
perfect. So I just tried to
keep hanging in there," she
said.
"I've always known I'm a
fighter, I always believed in
myself," said the winner. In
practise everything has been
working, and now it was just
a matter of getting that aggression
and pleasure to play
on court. It just all fitted together
this week."