Champions Spain back home, Blatter praises SAfrica

PARIS: As Spain returned to Madrid on Monday to a welcome befitting their status as freshly-crowned world champions FIFA president Sepp Blatter delivered a glowing appraisal to World Cup hosts South Africa.

Spain added the global crown to their European title thanks to Andres Iniesta”s extra-time winner in the 1-0 win over Holland in Sunday”s final at Soccer City which brought the curtain down on the first ever World Cup staged on the African continent.

The flight from Johannesburg carrying Iniesta and his teammates touched down in Madrid at 1300 GMT with the first to emerge from the plane team captain Iker Cassillas clutching the World Cup trophy in his arms.

A welcoming committee of over one million Spaniards is expected to turn out to greet Vicente Del Bosque”s side as they parade in an open-top bus later through the streets of the Spanish capital.

Spain”s triumph triggered an all-night party in Madrid with the centre of the city transformed into a sea of red and gold.

One group of fans chanted “Iniesta Presidente! Iniesta Presidente!” as they marched along the centre of the Gran Via.

As for the runners-up, Holland were due to land at Amsterdam-Schiphol”s airport at 15:30GMT Monday.

They will be escorted into Dutch airspace by a F-16 fighter jet painted orange for the occasion.

Bert van Marwijk”s side will be received on Tuesday in The Hague by Queen Beatrix before parading in a boat along Amsterdam”s canals.

As well as returning with the ultimate prize in football Casillas was voted FIFA”s goalkeeper of the tournament, with Spain taking home the fair play award.

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the World Cup, the Atletico Madrid striker Forlan grabbing five goals as his country finished in fourth place.

Germany”s Thomas Mueller was named Young Player of the World Cup and picked up the Golden Boot for the top scorer.

Spain grab World Cup with extra-time goal

JOHANNESBURG: Spain stunned the Netherlands to win their first World Cup on Sunday in sensational fashion with a goal in the last minutes of extra time.

With the scoreless match inching toward a penalty shootout, and the Netherlands down to 10 men, Andres Iniesta collected a pass from Cesc Fabregas to fire home from close range and break Dutch hearts four minutes from the final whistle.

It was the first time the European champions had reached a World Cup final and a bitter disappointment for the Netherlands who finished runners-up for the third time after previously losing the 1974 and 1978 finals.

It was also the first triumph by a European side outside their continent.

The result caused agony in the Netherlands and ecstasy in Madrid where fans shed tears of joy and fireworks went off all over the city. More than 10O,000 people had gathered to watch on giant screens and many went hoarse with screams of joy.

In contrast, Dutch cities became deadly silent as their dream of finally winning the trophy evaporated. Some 180,000 fans trudged away quietly from Amsterdam”s museum square.

The game was far from the classic final to Africa”s first World Cup that many had hoped for from the two most impressive teams in the tournament.

Spain looked dominant for long passages but a ferociously physical Netherlands broke up their rhythm and their renowned precision passing in midfield, often reducing the game to a sterile stalemate.

BRUISING ENCOUNTER

In a bruising encounter in the huge Soccer City stadium, referee Howard Webb showed 13 yellow cards — a record for the final — and sent off Dutch defender John Heitinga in extra time.

Despite the disappointing quality of the match, it was a triumphant end to a highly successful tournament for South Africa who confounded years of pessimistic predictions that it would be ruined by violent crime and chaos.

To cap their pride, Nelson Mandela, much loved father of post-apartheid South Africa, briefly toured the pitch waving to the 85,000-strong crowd just before the match began.

Mandela, 91, who is in frail health, was driven around in a golf cart surrounded by bodyguards and greeted by an adoring crowd chanting his clan name Madiba.

The former president, who led South Africa out of apartheid in 1994, was unable to attend the opening ceremony because of the death of his great grand-daughter in a car accident the night before.

Spanish coach Vicente del Bosque told television: “It was a very difficult match. We have fantastic players. We could have scored another goal or two. But I think the result was deserved. It”s a very happy day for me.”

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk said the better team had won in the end: “It is very sad. These three or four final minutes and then you lose. I really had thought even with 10 we would be able to do the penalty shoot out.

“It is bitter but that is sport. It is harsh.”

Both sides missed good goalscoring opportunities, most notably Dutch winger Arjen Robben who was twice denied by brilliant saves from Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

TELEVISION AUDIENCE

FIFA said a worldwide television audience of more than 700 million had been expected to watch the final.

The victory will raise spirits in Spain which is torn by bitter political infighting over how to address Europe”s highest unemployment and crippling debt.

Despite being the first host nation knocked out at the group stage, South Africans have remained enthusiastic spectators, helping this tournament to be the third best attended, with three million seats sold, behind the United States in 1994 and Germany in 2006. President Jacob Zuma dubbed them true champions.

Chief local organizer Danny Jordaan said the tournament had brought the races together and enabled South Africans to walk tall after being told for years they were inferior.

But African joy at a tournament credited with rebranding both South Africa and the continent was blighted by two bomb blasts in the Ugandan capital Kampala that killed at least 23 people watching the final in bars, police said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

World Cup final goalless at half-time

JOHANNESBURG: Spain and Holland were tied at 0-0 at half-time in the World Cup final after a cagey opening 45 minutes featuring five yellow cards.

The Spanish dominated initially but neither side was able to build up much momentum as a string of late challenges kept English referee Howard Webb busy.

Nelson Mandela”s beaming pre-match appearance ensured the only glum face at Soccer City belonged to Fernando Torres, the Liverpool striker who was consigned once more to the bench as Spain opted to keep David Villa in a central striking role.

It was right-back Sergio Ramos who was first to threaten the Dutch goal when he headed Xavi”s freekick from the right goalwards, forcing Maarten Stekelenburg into a fine stop.

The Dutch had an early half-chance after a mistake by Sergio Busquets allowed Dirk Kuyt a free shot at goal but the Liverpool forward”s effort from 25 yards was easily dealt with by Iker Casillas.

Ramos threatened again when he went past Kuyt inside the box and drilled a shot across the goalmouth that John Heitinga was somewhat fortunate to deflect over his own bar from inside the six-yard box.

Villa then struck a back-post volley into the side netting as the European champions attempted to press home their advantage.

Their rhythm, though, was disrupted as the match took a niggly turn after quarter of an hour, shattering any hopes Webb may have had of a quiet evening policing an encounter between two polished, passing sides.

The English official was obliged to book Robin van Persie, Carles Puyol, Mark van Bommel and Ramos in the space of ten minutes, and the fifth yellow card might easily have been a straight red after Nigel de Jong”s reckless high challenge resulted in him planting his studs into Xabi Alonso”s chest.

Arjen Robben forced Casillas into his first significant save in stoppage time at the end of the half, forcing the Real Madrid ”keeper to get down smartly at his near post.

Dutch and Spain go into extra time at 0-0

JOHANNESBURG: The all-European World Cup final between Netherlands and Spain went into extra time on Sunday with the score level at 0-0 in a bruising encounter.

European champions Spain looked the more assured early on in the clash at Soccer City as a nervous-looking Dutch side ceded territory to their slick opponents.

Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg was forced into a diving save after five minutes when Sergio Ramos headed a Xavi cross goalwards while Spain forward David Villa crashed a volley into the side netting with the goal looming.

However, a series of free kicks and bookings, including two strong challenges by Dutch midfield enforcers Nigel de Jong and Mark van Bommel, shook Spain out of their rhythm.

The Netherlands battling approach meant the Spanish were unable to reproduce the swift-passing possession football that got them to the final.

The Dutch offered little in attack and the nearest they came to a first-half goal was a bizarre incident after 38 minutes when Gregory van der Wiel attempted to give the ball back in an act of sportsmanship.

The fullback”s 60-metre punt bounced up and over Spain captain Iker Casillas, forcing the startled keeper to leap and tip it to safety.

The game continued in the same deadlocked vein after the break, with frequent stoppages and few chances, until Wesley Sneijder split the Spanish defence with a perfectly-weighted ball into the path of Arjen Robben after 62 minutes.

The winger bore down on Casillas and must have thought he had scored when he sent him the wrong way with a low shot but the keeper stuck out a leg and diverted the ball to safety.

Spain then began to take control, moving the ball forward more quickly and created two good chances.

First, a cross by lively substitute Jesus Navas reached Villa at the far post but his shot was blocked on the line, and then Ramos headed wildly over the bar from five metres out after being left unmarked at a corner.

Neither team has won the World Cup before though the Dutch are playing in their third final.

Spain, Dutch set for World Cup final battle

JOHANNESBURG: Spain and Holland championed unity as the key to Sunday”s World Cup final battle while Germany”s impressive collection of young talent set out their stall for the 2014 title by clinching third place.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque believes victory at Johannesburg”s Soccer City can strike a blow for national cohesion, a day after a million people marched in northeastern Spain in support of Catalan autonomy.

“There are players from all over Spain here in the squad, we are united and I hope the same feeling of unity occurs back in Spain,” said Del Bosque.

“I think sport does many good things and I hope football could lead to better relations in our country.”

Barcelona supplied seven of the starting line-up when Spain beat Germany in the semi-finals with that figure likely to be replicated when del Bosque”s stylish side look to add a first world title to their European crown.

Dutch skipper Giovanni van Bronckhorst also stressed the significance of team spirit as he confirmed there had been none of the tensions between players that have hampered Holland”s chances of success at previous tournaments.

“I think the spirit in the camp has been extremely important,” said Feyenoord star van Bronckhorst, who will retire after Sunday”s final.

“As players you have to spend six or seven weeks together to achieve your goal and I believe, if the atmosphere is good off the pitch, it will be good on it – you will go that extra mile for a team mate.”

It has not always been like that for the Dutch, whose chances of success on the international stage have been frequently sabotaged by squabbling.

Netanyahu says he’ll confound critics

NEW YORK: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he intends to confound critics and skeptics and make peace with the Palestinians but he said he needs a partner.

Excerpt from:
Netanyahu says he’ll confound critics

Spain, Netherlands World Cup final on Sunday

JOHANNESBURG: Spain will meet the Netherlands on Sunday in Johannesburg’s Soccer City when a new champion will be crowned from two sides seen for decades as the nearly-men of international soccer.

Original post:
Spain, Netherlands World Cup final on Sunday

Germany rout Argentina to march into semi-finals

CAPE TOWN: Striker Miroslav Klose celebrated his 100th cap with two second-half goals to help Germany reach the World Cup semi-finals with a 4-0 demolition of Diego Maradona”s outclassed Argentina on Saturday.

Germany now face either Spain or Paraguay, who meet later on Saturday, in Durban next Wednesday with a place in the final at Johannesburg”s Soccer City on July 11 at stake.

A third-minute goal by Thomas Mueller gave Germany a 1-0 lead, before the three-time champions turned the screw after the interval.

Klose netted in the 68th minute, centre-back Arne Friedrich scored his first for his country six minutes later before Klose completed the rout with an 89th-minute volley which gave him a 14th World Cup goal, just one behind Ronaldo”s record of 15.

German coach Joachim Loew got the better tactically of a bewildered Maradona as the men in black defended doggedly and attacked in numbers.

World footballer of the year Lionel Messi was tightly marked by Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger as Argentina”s star-studded side failed to shine.

The only blot on Germany”s copybook was Mueller”s first-half yellow card which sees him suspended for the semi-final.

Klose was lucky not to receive a yellow card in the opening minute, when he fouled Argentina captain Javier Mascherano, but the Germans were soon in front.

They took the lead after just three minutes when Mueller headed home a Schweinsteiger free-kick for his fourth goal of the tournament, the ball deflecting in off goalkeeper Sergio Romero”s leg.

Argentina right-back Nicolas Otamendi earned the first yellow card of the game on 11 minutes for a foul on Friedrich.

The South Americans” first sight of goal came when Messi slid a pass through the German defence to Carlos Tevez, but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer raced from his line to deal with the threat.

Mueller”s bright start then suffered a setback when he picked up his yellow card for handling the ball on 35 minutes.

Argentina had an encouraging start to the second-half as Real Madrid new boy Angel Di Maria fired a long-range shot which had Neuer at full-stretch on 48 minutes and Per Mertesacker blocked a shot from Tevez on 54 minutes.

But Germany extended their lead when Podolski found space on the left flank and passed back inside for Klose to score on 68 minutes.

Schweinsteiger helped make sure of Germany”s place in the last four when he darted through the Argentinian defence to give Friedrich a simple tap in on 74 minutes to claim his first international goal on his 77th appearance.

Argentina”s defence crumbled as Klose completed the demolition with his 52nd goal for Germany as he volleyed home a cross from Mesut Ozil just before the final whistle.

Razzaq stars as Pakistan overpower Essex

CHELMSFORD: Abdul Razzaq took three wickets as Pakistan continued their preparations for next week”s two Twenty20 internationals against Australia with a 66-run win over Essex here on Friday.

Pakistan made 204 for four, featuring 49 from Shahzaib Hasan and then held Essex to 138 for nine in the county side”s 20 overs.

Pace bowling all-rounder Razzaq all but sealed victory with a burst of three wickets in nine balls that saw him dismiss openers Mark Pettini and Matt Walker, followed by Grant Flower, with only 11 runs on the board.

Razzaq finished with three for 19.

But it was a different story for Essex and Pakistan bowler Danish Kaneria. The leg-spinner, a member of Essex”s attack, saw the team-mates he will join for the Test section of Pakistan”s tour take 46 runs off his three overs although he dismiss Salman Butt for 41.

Pakistan play Northamptonshire on Saturday before playing Australia in back-to-back Twenty20 internationals at Edgbaston on Monday and Tuesday.

Paris Hilton arrested after Brazil World Cup match

PORT ELIZABETH: Socialite Paris Hilton was arrested outside the World Cup stadium in Port Elizabeth after Brazil”s loss to the Netherlands, South African media reported Friday.

Police spokesman Sally de Beer told media that no arrests could be confirmed until after a suspect appears in court.

A radio reported that Hilton would appear in a special World Cup court later Friday, following her arrest after the match.

A local news website reported that she was apparently arrested for smoking marijuana at the stadium.

Next Page »