Rahul Dravid's glorious international career may have come to an end on Friday, with the veteran batsman likely to announce his retirement shortly.
The 39-year-old Dravid, one of the game's greatest batsmen, is believed to have told some of his team-mates after another failure against Australia in the final Test that he had decided to hang his boots, reports Times of India.
He could not be reached for his comments. Dravid, like most other Indian batsmen, has had a poor run in the current four-Test series which will conclude on Saturday with India likely to suffer another defeat to give Australia a clean sweep.
He made 194 runs at an average of 24.25 in this series. Dravid has already announced his retirement from one-day cricket and Twenty20.
The elegant right hander, nicknamed 'The Wall' for his dour defence, is the second highest run getter in Test history with 13,288 runs, behind only Sachin Tendulkar who has 15,470 runs. He has 36 Test centuries with a highest score of 270 and an average of 52.31.
Dravid has also taken more catches (210) than anyone else in Test history during his 164 Test matches since he made his debut against England at Lord's in 1996.
He captained India from December 2005 to August 2007. There is a question mark over another Indian veteran VVS Laxman who too had a miserable run against Australia in the current series. There was no word yet about his future plans.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Lyon gets off the roller to mow down Tendulkar
A little over a year ago, Nathan Lyon was an Adelaide Oval groundsman watching from the sidelines as Australia crashed to an innings defeat on their way to a humiliating Ashes series defeat.
On Friday at the same ground, he took three wickets for 57, including what could be final dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar in a Test on Australian soil, to put his country on the brink of a 4-0 series sweep over India.
The 24-year-old, the latest in a long line of spinners tried out by Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne five years ago, agreed that it had been quite a surreal turnaround.
"It's been a different side of the fence enjoying the Test match rather than sitting on the roller watching it," he told reporters.
"It's been a fantastic experience playing in front of the home crowd and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
Lyon only made his first-class debut in February last year after impressing the previous month in Australia's domestic Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.
The off-spinner did not have to wait long for his Test debut on the tour of Sri Lanka last August and his return to the Adelaide Oval was his 10th appearance for his country in the longer form of the game.
Tendulkar was not the only famous name to fall to Lyon on Friday although he admitted that the ball that induced stand-in India captain Virender Sehwag to hole out at cover was not a special delivery.
"Sehwag? it was a full toss," he said.
"Probably wasn't my best ball but I'm not going to call him back, that's for sure.
"Ricky Ponting came up to me just before that ball and said 'do him in the air' so I was pretty happy with it."
There was another surreal moment after Lyon had dismissed VVS Laxman when Australia put nine fielders close in around nightwatchman Ishant Sharma.
"To have that many fielders around the bat was something I'd never had before except in backyard cricket," Lyon said.
"It didn't work but we'll give it another crack another time."
Lyon's three wickets on Friday doubled his tally in his three matches in the series despite Adelaide being the only one going to five days, when a spinner would be expected to play a big role.
"I felt I bowled pretty well the whole summer," he said. "It's just good to be able to contribute to what will hopefully be a team victory.
"I can't see it being too bad of a wicket (tomorrow), it's still a good wicket to bat on when the ball's in the middle. There's plenty of rough for the spinners so hopefully I can play a role."
On Friday at the same ground, he took three wickets for 57, including what could be final dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar in a Test on Australian soil, to put his country on the brink of a 4-0 series sweep over India.
The 24-year-old, the latest in a long line of spinners tried out by Australia since the retirement of Shane Warne five years ago, agreed that it had been quite a surreal turnaround.
"It's been a different side of the fence enjoying the Test match rather than sitting on the roller watching it," he told reporters.
"It's been a fantastic experience playing in front of the home crowd and I've enjoyed every moment of it."
Lyon only made his first-class debut in February last year after impressing the previous month in Australia's domestic Big Bash Twenty20 tournament.
The off-spinner did not have to wait long for his Test debut on the tour of Sri Lanka last August and his return to the Adelaide Oval was his 10th appearance for his country in the longer form of the game.
Tendulkar was not the only famous name to fall to Lyon on Friday although he admitted that the ball that induced stand-in India captain Virender Sehwag to hole out at cover was not a special delivery.
"Sehwag? it was a full toss," he said.
"Probably wasn't my best ball but I'm not going to call him back, that's for sure.
"Ricky Ponting came up to me just before that ball and said 'do him in the air' so I was pretty happy with it."
There was another surreal moment after Lyon had dismissed VVS Laxman when Australia put nine fielders close in around nightwatchman Ishant Sharma.
"To have that many fielders around the bat was something I'd never had before except in backyard cricket," Lyon said.
"It didn't work but we'll give it another crack another time."
Lyon's three wickets on Friday doubled his tally in his three matches in the series despite Adelaide being the only one going to five days, when a spinner would be expected to play a big role.
"I felt I bowled pretty well the whole summer," he said. "It's just good to be able to contribute to what will hopefully be a team victory.
"I can't see it being too bad of a wicket (tomorrow), it's still a good wicket to bat on when the ball's in the middle. There's plenty of rough for the spinners so hopefully I can play a role."
Indian squad`s WC memorabilia to be auctioned
Despite India staring at their second consecutive overseas series whitewash, the World Cup-winning players` autographed bat is all set to go under the auctioneer`s hammer next month.
A bat and a ball signed by the members of the triumphant 2011 World Cup-winning squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among various sports memorabilia listed for the auction to be held in Mumbai on Feb 11 to raise money for actor Rahul Bose`s charitable trust The Foundation, reports Zeenews.
Among other notable items that would be auctioned off, includes Dhoni`s bat that he used in the World Cup, the autographed bat by all captains who took part in the mega event, the shoes worn by pacer Zaheer Khan.
Retired Indian footballer and former captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who is associated with The Foundation since last year, was present at the memorabilia unveiling function on Friday.
Two T-shirts worn by the 'Sikkimese Sniper' during his farewell encounter against Bayern Munich at New Delhi earlier this month would also go under the hammer.
And Bhutia said that the proceeds would go to 'Sikkim Relief Fund'.
Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal's autographed tennis shoes and a football autographed by Argentina's mercurial player Lionel Messi will also be up for grabs.
Among the 29 sports items to be auctioned off are West Indian great Brian Lara`s bat, the running shoes worn by 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh when he finished fourth in the 200m at the 1960 Rome Olympics and the memorabilia of erstwhile all-rounders Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee.
Other sports items to go under the hammer belongs to cricketers VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh, five-time women's world boxing champion MC Mary Kom, tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, 2010 world wrestling champion and Olympic bronze medal winner Sushil Kumar, Beijing bronze medal-winning boxer Vijender Singh and hockey ace Dhanraj Pillay.
Also in the list to be auctioned off are the Test blazers and pullovers of the erstwhile Indian spin quartet as well as an autographed ball by the foursome - Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishen Singh Bedi.
The proceeds of the auction, other than those mentioned by Bhutia, would go towards Bose's charitable foundation.
A bat and a ball signed by the members of the triumphant 2011 World Cup-winning squad led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni are among various sports memorabilia listed for the auction to be held in Mumbai on Feb 11 to raise money for actor Rahul Bose`s charitable trust The Foundation, reports Zeenews.
Among other notable items that would be auctioned off, includes Dhoni`s bat that he used in the World Cup, the autographed bat by all captains who took part in the mega event, the shoes worn by pacer Zaheer Khan.
Retired Indian footballer and former captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who is associated with The Foundation since last year, was present at the memorabilia unveiling function on Friday.
Two T-shirts worn by the 'Sikkimese Sniper' during his farewell encounter against Bayern Munich at New Delhi earlier this month would also go under the hammer.
And Bhutia said that the proceeds would go to 'Sikkim Relief Fund'.
Spanish tennis great Rafael Nadal's autographed tennis shoes and a football autographed by Argentina's mercurial player Lionel Messi will also be up for grabs.
Among the 29 sports items to be auctioned off are West Indian great Brian Lara`s bat, the running shoes worn by 'Flying Sikh' Milkha Singh when he finished fourth in the 200m at the 1960 Rome Olympics and the memorabilia of erstwhile all-rounders Kapil Dev, Imran Khan, Ian Botham and Richard Hadlee.
Other sports items to go under the hammer belongs to cricketers VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh, five-time women's world boxing champion MC Mary Kom, tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, 2010 world wrestling champion and Olympic bronze medal winner Sushil Kumar, Beijing bronze medal-winning boxer Vijender Singh and hockey ace Dhanraj Pillay.
Also in the list to be auctioned off are the Test blazers and pullovers of the erstwhile Indian spin quartet as well as an autographed ball by the foursome - Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Bishen Singh Bedi.
The proceeds of the auction, other than those mentioned by Bhutia, would go towards Bose's charitable foundation.
Success brings confidence, not pressure: Nadal
Novak Djokovic comes into the Australian Open final shouldering the expectations of defending champion and with a huge target on his back after winning back-to-back Grand Slam titles.
But Rafa Nadal would swap places with him in a heartbeat.
The Spaniard, who will face Djokovic in Sunday's Melbourne final, believes the world number one's stellar run in 2011 would bring him confidence, not added pressure.
"It's a fantastic situation to be in," Nadal told reporters on Saturday.
"It's really not a tough one.
"When you are coming with that confidence everything is a little bit easier."
Djokovic kicked off a career-defining year by winning the Australian Open and went on to win Wimbledon and the US Open while compiling a remarkable 70-6 record over the season.
Nadal knows perhaps better than anyone what kind of impact such a streak of success can have on a player's psyche.
The Spaniard came into last year's Melbourne Park tournament seeking the 'Rafa Slam' after winning the final three majors of 2010.
While he went out in the quarter-finals to David Ferrer, pressure had nothing to do with it, he says.
"I was a little bit unlucky here last year when I played for the grand slam," he added.
"I didn't feel extra pressure. That's true. I had an injury in the quarter-finals so I was out.
"I think for (Djokovic) it's an advantage, not a pressure, to be in that situation."
'BIG, BIG TEST'
Nadal, who arrived at his news conference an hour late after getting the time wrong, came into the year's first Grand Slam under an injury cloud with shoulder and knee problems but has looked stronger as the tournament has gone on.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has complained of allergy issues and his breathing looked laboured in recent games, particularly in the early stages of his five-set semi-final win over Britain's Andy Murray on Friday.
Nadal was sceptical there was anything wrong with the Serb.
"It's funny, I saw the match yesterday on TV ... and they show images from two hours, 50 (minutes) before and it seems like he was destroyed," he said.
"Two hours, 50 later he was in perfect condition. So it's difficult to imagine he has these problems."
Nadal holds the upper hand against Djokovic at 16 wins to the Serb's 13, but recent finals have gone the way of the world number one.
The Mallorcan acknowledged there would be no quarter asked or given on Sunday.
"He is the favourite after being number one in the world and after playing fantastic and beating me the last six times," added Nadal, who beat Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych in the previous two rounds.
"Now it's another big, big test. I don't know if I am ready enough to win the match tomorrow but I believe that I can do it and I am going to fight for it."
But Rafa Nadal would swap places with him in a heartbeat.
The Spaniard, who will face Djokovic in Sunday's Melbourne final, believes the world number one's stellar run in 2011 would bring him confidence, not added pressure.
"It's a fantastic situation to be in," Nadal told reporters on Saturday.
"It's really not a tough one.
"When you are coming with that confidence everything is a little bit easier."
Djokovic kicked off a career-defining year by winning the Australian Open and went on to win Wimbledon and the US Open while compiling a remarkable 70-6 record over the season.
Nadal knows perhaps better than anyone what kind of impact such a streak of success can have on a player's psyche.
The Spaniard came into last year's Melbourne Park tournament seeking the 'Rafa Slam' after winning the final three majors of 2010.
While he went out in the quarter-finals to David Ferrer, pressure had nothing to do with it, he says.
"I was a little bit unlucky here last year when I played for the grand slam," he added.
"I didn't feel extra pressure. That's true. I had an injury in the quarter-finals so I was out.
"I think for (Djokovic) it's an advantage, not a pressure, to be in that situation."
'BIG, BIG TEST'
Nadal, who arrived at his news conference an hour late after getting the time wrong, came into the year's first Grand Slam under an injury cloud with shoulder and knee problems but has looked stronger as the tournament has gone on.
Djokovic, meanwhile, has complained of allergy issues and his breathing looked laboured in recent games, particularly in the early stages of his five-set semi-final win over Britain's Andy Murray on Friday.
Nadal was sceptical there was anything wrong with the Serb.
"It's funny, I saw the match yesterday on TV ... and they show images from two hours, 50 (minutes) before and it seems like he was destroyed," he said.
"Two hours, 50 later he was in perfect condition. So it's difficult to imagine he has these problems."
Nadal holds the upper hand against Djokovic at 16 wins to the Serb's 13, but recent finals have gone the way of the world number one.
The Mallorcan acknowledged there would be no quarter asked or given on Sunday.
"He is the favourite after being number one in the world and after playing fantastic and beating me the last six times," added Nadal, who beat Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych in the previous two rounds.
"Now it's another big, big test. I don't know if I am ready enough to win the match tomorrow but I believe that I can do it and I am going to fight for it."
Philander under injury cloud
Vernon Philander, South Africa's latest fast bowling sensation, had his participation in the second Test against Sri Lanka thrown into doubt after he pulled up with a knee injury in Durban on Saturday.
Philander has enjoyed a remarkable start to his Test career, taking 24 wickets in three Tests, but the 26-year-old injured his knee during a net session.
Despite the injury Proteas team management are confident that Philander will be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka due to start in Durban on Monday.
"He suffered a mild strain to the medial side of his left knee while bowling today. The physio classified it as a mild strain," South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee told reporters shortly after the injury occurred.
"He will be treated overnight and he will bowl tomorrow. If anything untoward happens we will decide from there. But at the moment we are still confident he will be fit for the Test," added Moosajee.
If Philander fails to recover from the injury it could signal a debut for 21-year-old fast bowler Marchant de Lange, who has played in just 14 first-class matches.
Philander has enjoyed a remarkable start to his Test career, taking 24 wickets in three Tests, but the 26-year-old injured his knee during a net session.
Despite the injury Proteas team management are confident that Philander will be fit for the second Test against Sri Lanka due to start in Durban on Monday.
"He suffered a mild strain to the medial side of his left knee while bowling today. The physio classified it as a mild strain," South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee told reporters shortly after the injury occurred.
"He will be treated overnight and he will bowl tomorrow. If anything untoward happens we will decide from there. But at the moment we are still confident he will be fit for the Test," added Moosajee.
If Philander fails to recover from the injury it could signal a debut for 21-year-old fast bowler Marchant de Lange, who has played in just 14 first-class matches.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Strauss admits England failings
England captain Andrew Strauss admitted his team were not good enough after they were bowled out for 72 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday to give Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
England's second innings total was their fifth-lowest of the past 50 years, and the world's top-ranked Test side were condemned to their first series defeat since 2009 having lost last week's first Test in Dubai by 10 wickets.
"Individually, we haven't been clear enough about our game plan against the spin, where are our scoring areas are and we've allowed pressure to build," Strauss told reporters.
"Each time a wicket falls it makes it harder for the next guy coming in. As a batting unit we have to hold our hands up and say we haven't done well enough. No excuses, we need to be better than that."
Strauss has scored 68 runs in four innings and Kevin Pietersen 17 as England's top batsmen have struggled against Pakistan's spinners. On Saturday Abdur Rehman celebrated a six-wicket haul, while Saeed Ajmal has 17 wickets for the series.
England got closer to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi but barely improved on their mauling in Dubai.
"The fact we got rolled over twice in Dubai meant there was baggage going into (Saturday's) final innings," Strauss said.
"This is the final frontier - the subcontinent. England sides haven't done very well out here in the past, but we came here and approached things pretty positively and we thought we had a great chance to win this series.
"Test cricket exposes any vulnerabilities and excuses you have."
England will try to make amends in the third Test, which starts in Dubai on Friday.
"The batsmen need and want to show that we're better than what we've shown so far in this tour -- that's a pretty good motivation," Strauss said.
"As a side we want to demonstrate we can play in these conditions, which I am absolutely certain we can do because we played a lot of good cricket in this game."
MOVING ON
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said the hosts' convincing series win would help shift the focus away from the spot-fixing scandal that led to the imprisonment of three former players.
"It should do," said Misbah.
"Both teams are playing good cricket in a good atmosphere, concentrating on what's important - on the field."
Misbah paid tribute to his spin-bowling trio of Rehman, Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez.
"Any team playing on this type of surface last and the kind of bowlers (Pakistan have) playing well, I think it's difficult," Misbah said.
"When you are not able to see which side the ball is going it's really difficult and that happened in this game."
England's second innings total was their fifth-lowest of the past 50 years, and the world's top-ranked Test side were condemned to their first series defeat since 2009 having lost last week's first Test in Dubai by 10 wickets.
"Individually, we haven't been clear enough about our game plan against the spin, where are our scoring areas are and we've allowed pressure to build," Strauss told reporters.
"Each time a wicket falls it makes it harder for the next guy coming in. As a batting unit we have to hold our hands up and say we haven't done well enough. No excuses, we need to be better than that."
Strauss has scored 68 runs in four innings and Kevin Pietersen 17 as England's top batsmen have struggled against Pakistan's spinners. On Saturday Abdur Rehman celebrated a six-wicket haul, while Saeed Ajmal has 17 wickets for the series.
England got closer to Pakistan in Abu Dhabi but barely improved on their mauling in Dubai.
"The fact we got rolled over twice in Dubai meant there was baggage going into (Saturday's) final innings," Strauss said.
"This is the final frontier - the subcontinent. England sides haven't done very well out here in the past, but we came here and approached things pretty positively and we thought we had a great chance to win this series.
"Test cricket exposes any vulnerabilities and excuses you have."
England will try to make amends in the third Test, which starts in Dubai on Friday.
"The batsmen need and want to show that we're better than what we've shown so far in this tour -- that's a pretty good motivation," Strauss said.
"As a side we want to demonstrate we can play in these conditions, which I am absolutely certain we can do because we played a lot of good cricket in this game."
MOVING ON
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq said the hosts' convincing series win would help shift the focus away from the spot-fixing scandal that led to the imprisonment of three former players.
"It should do," said Misbah.
"Both teams are playing good cricket in a good atmosphere, concentrating on what's important - on the field."
Misbah paid tribute to his spin-bowling trio of Rehman, Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez.
"Any team playing on this type of surface last and the kind of bowlers (Pakistan have) playing well, I think it's difficult," Misbah said.
"When you are not able to see which side the ball is going it's really difficult and that happened in this game."
New Zealand demolish Zimbabwe
New Zealand earned an innings and 301-run win by bowling out Zimbabwe twice in one day, although it was delayed by Regis Chakabva's 63 on Day 3 of the one-off Test in Napier.
Chris Martin finished with match figures of eight for 31 off 14.3 overs but Chakabva's innings was admirable - especially given he came to the crease with the score on 12 for five, reports ESPNstar.
It was New Zealand's biggest Test victory and conversely Zimbabwe's heaviest Test defeat as they continue their reintegration into the Test arena.
After being skittled for 51 in their first innings - their lowest Test total - as they responded to the hosts' declaration of 495 for seven, the visitors were then reduced to 12 for five as they followed on.
Tino Mawoyo was snaffled at slip off Martin, as was Hamilton Masakzada, with Brendan Taylor nicking the seamer behind.
Tatenda Taibu was also picked up at slip off Doug Bracewell, before Malcolm Waller played across the line to the same man.
However, Chakabva came to the crease and set about at least making himself hard to remove.
When Forster Mutizwa departed Zimbabwe were 37 for six, but Chakabva shared a stand of 63 with Graeme Cremer (26) and 34 with Shingi Masakadza (21) to move the score on to 143 when he was out.
Martin produced the delivery to which Chakabva got a bit of a top edge, with Dean Brownlie leaping high to take a one-handed catch.
The Zimbabwean's 63 had come from 119 balls and included six boundaries.
It was all over shortly after when Brian Vitori was caught by BJ Watling off Martin with no further score.
The Black Caps had declared after Watling completed his maiden Test century to finish on 102 not out.
Zimbabwe then suffered the ignominy of recording the lowest Test total by any country against New Zealand when they were dismissed for 51.
Only one of Zimbabwe's batsmen managed to get into double figures with Malcolm Waller the pick of the bunch with 23, Brendan Taylor the next best with nine.
Martin, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee all claimed two wickets.
Brendon McCullum was also named as New Zealand captain for the three one-day internationals and the two Twenty20 games between the teams after Ross Taylor was ruled out through injury.
Taylor suffered a tear to his right calf on Friday and was forced to retire when unbeaten on 122.
It is hoped he will be ready to return to face South Africa at the end of February.
Chris Martin finished with match figures of eight for 31 off 14.3 overs but Chakabva's innings was admirable - especially given he came to the crease with the score on 12 for five, reports ESPNstar.
It was New Zealand's biggest Test victory and conversely Zimbabwe's heaviest Test defeat as they continue their reintegration into the Test arena.
After being skittled for 51 in their first innings - their lowest Test total - as they responded to the hosts' declaration of 495 for seven, the visitors were then reduced to 12 for five as they followed on.
Tino Mawoyo was snaffled at slip off Martin, as was Hamilton Masakzada, with Brendan Taylor nicking the seamer behind.
Tatenda Taibu was also picked up at slip off Doug Bracewell, before Malcolm Waller played across the line to the same man.
However, Chakabva came to the crease and set about at least making himself hard to remove.
When Forster Mutizwa departed Zimbabwe were 37 for six, but Chakabva shared a stand of 63 with Graeme Cremer (26) and 34 with Shingi Masakadza (21) to move the score on to 143 when he was out.
Martin produced the delivery to which Chakabva got a bit of a top edge, with Dean Brownlie leaping high to take a one-handed catch.
The Zimbabwean's 63 had come from 119 balls and included six boundaries.
It was all over shortly after when Brian Vitori was caught by BJ Watling off Martin with no further score.
The Black Caps had declared after Watling completed his maiden Test century to finish on 102 not out.
Zimbabwe then suffered the ignominy of recording the lowest Test total by any country against New Zealand when they were dismissed for 51.
Only one of Zimbabwe's batsmen managed to get into double figures with Malcolm Waller the pick of the bunch with 23, Brendan Taylor the next best with nine.
Martin, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell and Tim Southee all claimed two wickets.
Brendon McCullum was also named as New Zealand captain for the three one-day internationals and the two Twenty20 games between the teams after Ross Taylor was ruled out through injury.
Taylor suffered a tear to his right calf on Friday and was forced to retire when unbeaten on 122.
It is hoped he will be ready to return to face South Africa at the end of February.
Rehman humbles England
Spinner Abdur Rehman took six wickets as Pakistan beat England by 72 runs in the second Test on Saturday to clinch the three-match series, bowling out the tourists for 72 in their second innings after another abject batting display.
England, the number one Test side in the world, had earlier dismissed Pakistan for 214 to give themselves a target of 145 to win in Abu Dhabi.
But Andrew Strauss's men again failed to deal with the host's triple spin threat of Rehman, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez.
Rehman ended on 6-25, while Ajmal's figures were 3-22.
"The way the ball was turning it was really difficult to play left-arm spinners on that wicket," Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told reporters.
"So we were thinking we can put pressure on England and make a match of it.
"It's a big win for us - even in these kinds of conditions to beat the number one side is a big effort from our team."
For England, only Strauss (32) and Matt Prior (18) managed double figures in the second innings, the tourists losing all 10 wickets in the space of 22 overs.
"Those (low) totals are the hardest to chase because you know you are almost there and it's easy to be caught between two stools, whether to be patient and wait for scoring opportunities to appear or to take the bull by the horns," Strauss told reporters.
"It's bitterly disappointing ... having done all that hard work you need to go on and complete the job and we just didn't play well enough, individually and collectively."
Alastair Cook (7) was the first to go, caught and bowled by Hafeez, who stooped to get his fingers to the ball inches from the turf.
Ian Bell (3) came in at number three in place of Jonathan Trott who had been off the field with a stomach complaint and the Warwickshire batsman lasted just three balls before deflecting an Ajmal delivery on to his stumps with an inside edge.
Kevin Pietersen (1) and Eoin Morgan (0) then continued their miserable form, falling to Rehman in the space of three balls.
Pietersen was trapped lbw after lunging forward to defend, while Morgan saw his leg stump felled.
Strauss had earlier escaped, deflecting a Rehman delivery off his bat and pad to Azhar Ali at short leg. Ali sunk to his knees to scoop the ball up before it hit the ground, but the third umpire thought otherwise, earning the England captain what was to prove to be a fleeting reprieve.
Strauss went lbw to Rehman, as did the returning Trott (1), while the slow left-armer clean bowled Broad through the gate as England offered little resistance.
Earlier, Monty Panesar bagged six wickets in his first Test since 2009 as England thrived in the field, but their subsequent collapse was reminiscent of their woes in the first Test in Dubai, when they slumped to 43-5 in their first innings and went on to lose by 10 wickets.
England, the number one Test side in the world, had earlier dismissed Pakistan for 214 to give themselves a target of 145 to win in Abu Dhabi.
But Andrew Strauss's men again failed to deal with the host's triple spin threat of Rehman, Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez.
Rehman ended on 6-25, while Ajmal's figures were 3-22.
"The way the ball was turning it was really difficult to play left-arm spinners on that wicket," Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq told reporters.
"So we were thinking we can put pressure on England and make a match of it.
"It's a big win for us - even in these kinds of conditions to beat the number one side is a big effort from our team."
For England, only Strauss (32) and Matt Prior (18) managed double figures in the second innings, the tourists losing all 10 wickets in the space of 22 overs.
"Those (low) totals are the hardest to chase because you know you are almost there and it's easy to be caught between two stools, whether to be patient and wait for scoring opportunities to appear or to take the bull by the horns," Strauss told reporters.
"It's bitterly disappointing ... having done all that hard work you need to go on and complete the job and we just didn't play well enough, individually and collectively."
Alastair Cook (7) was the first to go, caught and bowled by Hafeez, who stooped to get his fingers to the ball inches from the turf.
Ian Bell (3) came in at number three in place of Jonathan Trott who had been off the field with a stomach complaint and the Warwickshire batsman lasted just three balls before deflecting an Ajmal delivery on to his stumps with an inside edge.
Kevin Pietersen (1) and Eoin Morgan (0) then continued their miserable form, falling to Rehman in the space of three balls.
Pietersen was trapped lbw after lunging forward to defend, while Morgan saw his leg stump felled.
Strauss had earlier escaped, deflecting a Rehman delivery off his bat and pad to Azhar Ali at short leg. Ali sunk to his knees to scoop the ball up before it hit the ground, but the third umpire thought otherwise, earning the England captain what was to prove to be a fleeting reprieve.
Strauss went lbw to Rehman, as did the returning Trott (1), while the slow left-armer clean bowled Broad through the gate as England offered little resistance.
Earlier, Monty Panesar bagged six wickets in his first Test since 2009 as England thrived in the field, but their subsequent collapse was reminiscent of their woes in the first Test in Dubai, when they slumped to 43-5 in their first innings and went on to lose by 10 wickets.
Australia on the way back to top: Clarke
Australia captain Michael Clarke, while delighting in the 4-0 whitewash of India, re-emphasised on Saturday that the triumph was just a staging post to the goal of being the best Test team in the world.
Clarke, who took over as captain in March, was named Man of the Series for his unbeaten 329 in the second Test in Sydney and double century in the 398-run victory at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
It completed a remarkable turnaround for Clarke and his team from the start of last year when, as stand-in skipper, he presided over the last rites of Australia's first Ashes series defeat on home soil in 26 years.
The Ashes debacle saw Australia drop to fifth in the world Test rankings and Clarke's stated mission is to return to the top.
"We're currently ranked fourth in the world," he told a news conference.
"We've got a hell of a lot of work to do to get back to where I see this team going and would love to see this team going.
"But we've played some fantastic cricket. We've shown a lot of people around the world that we're on the way up, which is a really positive sign.
"I think there's still a lot of improvement needed in all of our games, individually and as a team, but we're getting there. We're getting better every day and that's the most pleasing thing."
Clarke consistently deflected questions about how an Indian side containing so many fine batsmen had performed so badly, preferring to praise his bowling unit, which took 20 wickets in all four Tests.
"I don't want to take any credit away from our bowlers. I think they should be very proud of what they've achieved," he said.
"To be able to get so many great players out on a couple of wickets that were quite hard for batting and then a couple of wickets that were very good for batting, they deserve a lot of credit for that."
On a personal level, Clarke has had a superb year with the bat, scoring four centuries in nine Tests and averaging 125.20 in the India series.
"It was a big series for me, mainly because I didn't perform last summer," he said.
"I've said since taking over the captaincy that I wanted to lead from the front on the field by scoring runs and it's very pleasing to have been able to achieve that.
"I think I've learned a lot along the way in these four Test matches, and I'll continue to learn.
"It helps that I've got some very good players around me, it's made my job a lot easier, and I've just tried to manage them the best I possibly could and fortunately we've got some rewards for that."
Clarke said there was an element of relief to be fielding questions as the winning captain.
"We went through the same feeling India's going through 12 months ago," he said.
"We lost the Ashes and it's really nice be on the other side today."
Clarke, who took over as captain in March, was named Man of the Series for his unbeaten 329 in the second Test in Sydney and double century in the 398-run victory at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
It completed a remarkable turnaround for Clarke and his team from the start of last year when, as stand-in skipper, he presided over the last rites of Australia's first Ashes series defeat on home soil in 26 years.
The Ashes debacle saw Australia drop to fifth in the world Test rankings and Clarke's stated mission is to return to the top.
"We're currently ranked fourth in the world," he told a news conference.
"We've got a hell of a lot of work to do to get back to where I see this team going and would love to see this team going.
"But we've played some fantastic cricket. We've shown a lot of people around the world that we're on the way up, which is a really positive sign.
"I think there's still a lot of improvement needed in all of our games, individually and as a team, but we're getting there. We're getting better every day and that's the most pleasing thing."
Clarke consistently deflected questions about how an Indian side containing so many fine batsmen had performed so badly, preferring to praise his bowling unit, which took 20 wickets in all four Tests.
"I don't want to take any credit away from our bowlers. I think they should be very proud of what they've achieved," he said.
"To be able to get so many great players out on a couple of wickets that were quite hard for batting and then a couple of wickets that were very good for batting, they deserve a lot of credit for that."
On a personal level, Clarke has had a superb year with the bat, scoring four centuries in nine Tests and averaging 125.20 in the India series.
"It was a big series for me, mainly because I didn't perform last summer," he said.
"I've said since taking over the captaincy that I wanted to lead from the front on the field by scoring runs and it's very pleasing to have been able to achieve that.
"I think I've learned a lot along the way in these four Test matches, and I'll continue to learn.
"It helps that I've got some very good players around me, it's made my job a lot easier, and I've just tried to manage them the best I possibly could and fortunately we've got some rewards for that."
Clarke said there was an element of relief to be fielding questions as the winning captain.
"We went through the same feeling India's going through 12 months ago," he said.
"We lost the Ashes and it's really nice be on the other side today."
No retirements as India look to put drubbing behind them
Charges of complacency aimed at India are only likely to intensify after they fell to a crushing 4-0 series defeat in Australia and an eighth successive loss in overseas Tests on Saturday.
The news conference after a fourth emphatic defeat in the series, this time by 298 runs, opened with the team's media manager denying reports back home that a 'senior player' - namely Rahul Dravid - would be retiring.
It continued with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag suggesting that all teams suffer poor runs of form and India should just put the humiliating reverse by behind them.
"If you look at the Australian team, they were struggling as well in the Ashes last year and they got out for 47 in South Africa, so it happens with every team so we have to rebuild the team," he said.
"There are experienced players in our team, they are well aware of that and they are working on that, one bad series doesn't make any difference for them, so they are working hard on their batting skills and they'll find a way.
"The best way out is to forget what happened and concentrate on what we will do in coming matches and coming series and practised hard and plan well and execute your plans in the game," he added.
By saying the team needed to be rebuilt, Sehwag made it clear that would not mean the retirement of some of the golden generation of batsmen who arrived in Australia hopeful of winning a first Test series Down Under.
"I don't think (changes) are due because the same team played in the last couple of years when we became the number one team in the world with the same batting and bowling line-up," he said.
Sachin Tendulkar had a reasonable series despite failing to capture his 100th international century but Dravid, VVS Laxman, captain Mahendra Singh Doni and opener Sehwag himself were all huge disappointments.
The inexperienced Virat Kohli was the only Indian batsman to score a century in any of the four Tests.
Sehwag understood the frustration of fans but said it was at moments like these, not just successes like the 50-over World Cup triumph last year, that the support of the fans was necessary.
"When we won the World Cup everyone was happy and cheering for Team India, and now the time we need the support of the fans and everybody, they should back their own team," he said.
The 33-year-old, who averaged 24.75 runs over the series, said accusations the India team simply did not care enough about losing a test series were well wide of the mark.
"It's very unfair," he said.
"I think everybody cares about their performances, about India losing the game.
"We are very passionate about our game and passionate about our team and it's a shame that people are talking about that.
"If you lose the game you should work it out what went wrong and come back and perform well in our next games. We are trying that, but it's not happening and it doesn't mean that we are happy to lose here."
The news conference after a fourth emphatic defeat in the series, this time by 298 runs, opened with the team's media manager denying reports back home that a 'senior player' - namely Rahul Dravid - would be retiring.
It continued with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag suggesting that all teams suffer poor runs of form and India should just put the humiliating reverse by behind them.
"If you look at the Australian team, they were struggling as well in the Ashes last year and they got out for 47 in South Africa, so it happens with every team so we have to rebuild the team," he said.
"There are experienced players in our team, they are well aware of that and they are working on that, one bad series doesn't make any difference for them, so they are working hard on their batting skills and they'll find a way.
"The best way out is to forget what happened and concentrate on what we will do in coming matches and coming series and practised hard and plan well and execute your plans in the game," he added.
By saying the team needed to be rebuilt, Sehwag made it clear that would not mean the retirement of some of the golden generation of batsmen who arrived in Australia hopeful of winning a first Test series Down Under.
"I don't think (changes) are due because the same team played in the last couple of years when we became the number one team in the world with the same batting and bowling line-up," he said.
Sachin Tendulkar had a reasonable series despite failing to capture his 100th international century but Dravid, VVS Laxman, captain Mahendra Singh Doni and opener Sehwag himself were all huge disappointments.
The inexperienced Virat Kohli was the only Indian batsman to score a century in any of the four Tests.
Sehwag understood the frustration of fans but said it was at moments like these, not just successes like the 50-over World Cup triumph last year, that the support of the fans was necessary.
"When we won the World Cup everyone was happy and cheering for Team India, and now the time we need the support of the fans and everybody, they should back their own team," he said.
The 33-year-old, who averaged 24.75 runs over the series, said accusations the India team simply did not care enough about losing a test series were well wide of the mark.
"It's very unfair," he said.
"I think everybody cares about their performances, about India losing the game.
"We are very passionate about our game and passionate about our team and it's a shame that people are talking about that.
"If you lose the game you should work it out what went wrong and come back and perform well in our next games. We are trying that, but it's not happening and it doesn't mean that we are happy to lose here."
Australia wrap up whitewash
Australia took India's last four wickets on Saturday morning to crush the tourists by 298 runs in the fourth Test and record a 4-0 series sweep.
India had resumed on 166 for six in their second innings chasing an improbable 500 runs for victory but their tail-end batsman lasted just 58 minutes on a hot and sunny fifth morning of the match.
Australian paceman Peter Siddle, who took 5-49 in India's first innings, was named Man-of-the-Match, while the Man-of-the-Series was his captain Michael Clarke, who hit triple and double centuries in the series.
"I think the job we've done over the last month has been outstanding. It hasn't been easy despite the 4-0, we've had to work our backsides off," Clarke said.
"We certainly should be proud of what we've done."
The end came when spinner Nathan Lyon (4-63) dismissed Umesh Yadav caught behind for one, condemning India to a humiliating eighth successive overseas test defeat after last year's 4-0 whitewash in England.
The series defeat in England saw India relinquish the top spot in the Test world rankings but they had still arrived Down Under confident they could claim a first series triumph in Australia.
It was not even close as Australia won the first test in Melbourne by 122 runs and followed that with an innings and 68-run win in Sydney and an innings and 37-run triumph in Perth.
With world-class batsmen like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman all having failed to fire yet again on Friday, there was little hope of India rescuing a draw by batting through the final day at the Adelaide Oval.
Nighwatchman Ishant Sharma (2) was the first to go in the third over of the morning when he got a nick to a delivery from quick Ryan Harris and was caught behind without any addition to the overnight score.
Wriddhiman Saha, standing in as wicketkeeper for banned India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was dismissed in the next over in similar style for three.
Zaheer Khan hit a typically bullish 15 off 18 balls before swinging at a short Ben Hilfenhaus delivery and getting a thick edge to David Warner at short cover, leaving Yadav and Ravi Ashwin (15 not out) as the final partnership.
"I think Australia played brilliantly throughout the series and stepped up when it was needed," said Dhoni, who missed the match because of India's slow over rate in Perth.
India had resumed on 166 for six in their second innings chasing an improbable 500 runs for victory but their tail-end batsman lasted just 58 minutes on a hot and sunny fifth morning of the match.
Australian paceman Peter Siddle, who took 5-49 in India's first innings, was named Man-of-the-Match, while the Man-of-the-Series was his captain Michael Clarke, who hit triple and double centuries in the series.
"I think the job we've done over the last month has been outstanding. It hasn't been easy despite the 4-0, we've had to work our backsides off," Clarke said.
"We certainly should be proud of what we've done."
The end came when spinner Nathan Lyon (4-63) dismissed Umesh Yadav caught behind for one, condemning India to a humiliating eighth successive overseas test defeat after last year's 4-0 whitewash in England.
The series defeat in England saw India relinquish the top spot in the Test world rankings but they had still arrived Down Under confident they could claim a first series triumph in Australia.
It was not even close as Australia won the first test in Melbourne by 122 runs and followed that with an innings and 68-run win in Sydney and an innings and 37-run triumph in Perth.
With world-class batsmen like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman all having failed to fire yet again on Friday, there was little hope of India rescuing a draw by batting through the final day at the Adelaide Oval.
Nighwatchman Ishant Sharma (2) was the first to go in the third over of the morning when he got a nick to a delivery from quick Ryan Harris and was caught behind without any addition to the overnight score.
Wriddhiman Saha, standing in as wicketkeeper for banned India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, was dismissed in the next over in similar style for three.
Zaheer Khan hit a typically bullish 15 off 18 balls before swinging at a short Ben Hilfenhaus delivery and getting a thick edge to David Warner at short cover, leaving Yadav and Ravi Ashwin (15 not out) as the final partnership.
"I think Australia played brilliantly throughout the series and stepped up when it was needed," said Dhoni, who missed the match because of India's slow over rate in Perth.
Police investigate fan gesture at Liverpool Cup tie
Liverpool are working closely with Merseyside police in an attempt to identify a man who appeared to have made racist gestures during their FA Cup fourth round victory over Manchester United at Anfield on Saturday.
Police have released a picture of a man, which was circulated on social networking sites during Liverpool's 2-1 victory, who seemed to be making 'monkey' gestures.
The match was the first between the teams since Liverpool's Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches by the FA for racially abusing United's France fullback Patrice Evra in a Premier League match at Anfield in October.
Liverpool issued a statement which read: "Following today's game we were made aware of an image being circulated on social media relating to an incident at this afternoon's FA Cup tie.
"We are now working closely with Merseyside Police to establish the facts of what occurred and identify the individual involved. We would urge any of our supporters with any information to contact either the club or the police."
The police have assigned specialist detectives to the case.
"We can confirm that specialist officers are reviewing match footage, as a result of a picture posted on Twitter," Match Commander, Chief Superintendent Jon Ward, said in a statement.
"This matter is now under investigation by specialist hate crime detectives and we are working with Liverpool Football Club to identify the man in question."
Police said 17 people were ejected from the ground during the game and two were arrested for 'low level incidents' but they praised the majority of supporters for their behaviour.
Police have released a picture of a man, which was circulated on social networking sites during Liverpool's 2-1 victory, who seemed to be making 'monkey' gestures.
The match was the first between the teams since Liverpool's Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was banned for eight matches by the FA for racially abusing United's France fullback Patrice Evra in a Premier League match at Anfield in October.
Liverpool issued a statement which read: "Following today's game we were made aware of an image being circulated on social media relating to an incident at this afternoon's FA Cup tie.
"We are now working closely with Merseyside Police to establish the facts of what occurred and identify the individual involved. We would urge any of our supporters with any information to contact either the club or the police."
The police have assigned specialist detectives to the case.
"We can confirm that specialist officers are reviewing match footage, as a result of a picture posted on Twitter," Match Commander, Chief Superintendent Jon Ward, said in a statement.
"This matter is now under investigation by specialist hate crime detectives and we are working with Liverpool Football Club to identify the man in question."
Police said 17 people were ejected from the ground during the game and two were arrested for 'low level incidents' but they praised the majority of supporters for their behaviour.
Bayern and Dortmund win to keep title race tight
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich held on to top spot thanks to a nervous 2-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg on Saturday, with champions Borussia Dortmund second on goal difference after a 3-1 win over Hoffenheim.
Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez fired in from five metres for Bayern to break the deadlock on the hour with his 17th league goal of the season. Arjen Robben added another in stoppage time to lift Bayern to 40 points from 19 games.
Dortmund stayed hot on their heels with Japanese offensive midfielder Shinji Kagawa scoring twice and Kevin Grosskreutz adding another as they eased past Hoffenheim.
Kagawa grabbed a 16th-minute lead and Grosskreutz doubled it in the 31st minute as Dortmund quickly took complete control of the match.
The Japanese added another goal 10 minutes after the restart, firing in from close range after a fine one-two with Grosskreutz. Fabian Johnson cut the deficit for the visitors.
Schalke, third on 37, can join the two teams on 40 points later on Saturday with a win at Cologne (1730 GMT).
Champions League competitors Bayer Leverkusen came from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Werder Bremen and remain in sixth place on 30 points, one behind their opponents.
Hamburg SV recovered from last week's 5-1 mauling by Dortmund to beat Hertha Berlin 2-1 and move up to 11th on 22.
Fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, on 36 points, can move back to within a point off the top with victory at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.
Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez fired in from five metres for Bayern to break the deadlock on the hour with his 17th league goal of the season. Arjen Robben added another in stoppage time to lift Bayern to 40 points from 19 games.
Dortmund stayed hot on their heels with Japanese offensive midfielder Shinji Kagawa scoring twice and Kevin Grosskreutz adding another as they eased past Hoffenheim.
Kagawa grabbed a 16th-minute lead and Grosskreutz doubled it in the 31st minute as Dortmund quickly took complete control of the match.
The Japanese added another goal 10 minutes after the restart, firing in from close range after a fine one-two with Grosskreutz. Fabian Johnson cut the deficit for the visitors.
Schalke, third on 37, can join the two teams on 40 points later on Saturday with a win at Cologne (1730 GMT).
Champions League competitors Bayer Leverkusen came from a goal down to draw 1-1 at Werder Bremen and remain in sixth place on 30 points, one behind their opponents.
Hamburg SV recovered from last week's 5-1 mauling by Dortmund to beat Hertha Berlin 2-1 and move up to 11th on 22.
Fourth-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach, on 36 points, can move back to within a point off the top with victory at VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.
No handshakes as Chelsea beat QPR
Chelsea progressed to the FA Cup fifth round after winning 1-0 at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday in a dull game which failed to match the pre-match build-up regarding John Terry's re-acquaintance with Anton Ferdinand.
Chelsea and England captain Terry, who denies wrongdoing, has been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand in a league game in October and Terry is due in court next week.
The Football Association agreed after talks with both clubs that no handshakes would take place before the game 'in an attempt to further diffuse tensions' but it was still a hostile atmosphere for Terry, who was roundly booed by home fans.
After the initial hullabaloo, the actual match failed to spring to life with QPR struggling to create chances. Chelsea finally broke the deadlock on 62 minutes through Juan Mata's penalty after Clint Hill was harshly adjudged to have pushed Daniel Sturridge.
Chelsea, who lost in-form midfielder Ramires to a potentially serious-looking injury, deserved to win in the scrappy encounter and were fairly comfortable at the end against their fellow London top-flight side.
Defender Ferdinand, who media reports said had a bullet sent to him in the post this week, was consistently cheered amid extra security at Loftus Road but he seldom wandered forward so rarely came face to face with opposing centre back Terry.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas had said on Friday that the duo should shake hands but the FA will hope the decision to avoid a handshake at the start helped take some of the sting out of the situation.
There was an incident with a fan in the crowd when the referee stopped the game momentarily to talk to a steward amid continued chanting against Terry but no major problems were reported.
Chelsea and England captain Terry, who denies wrongdoing, has been charged with racially abusing QPR defender Ferdinand in a league game in October and Terry is due in court next week.
The Football Association agreed after talks with both clubs that no handshakes would take place before the game 'in an attempt to further diffuse tensions' but it was still a hostile atmosphere for Terry, who was roundly booed by home fans.
After the initial hullabaloo, the actual match failed to spring to life with QPR struggling to create chances. Chelsea finally broke the deadlock on 62 minutes through Juan Mata's penalty after Clint Hill was harshly adjudged to have pushed Daniel Sturridge.
Chelsea, who lost in-form midfielder Ramires to a potentially serious-looking injury, deserved to win in the scrappy encounter and were fairly comfortable at the end against their fellow London top-flight side.
Defender Ferdinand, who media reports said had a bullet sent to him in the post this week, was consistently cheered amid extra security at Loftus Road but he seldom wandered forward so rarely came face to face with opposing centre back Terry.
Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas had said on Friday that the duo should shake hands but the FA will hope the decision to avoid a handshake at the start helped take some of the sting out of the situation.
There was an incident with a fan in the crowd when the referee stopped the game momentarily to talk to a steward amid continued chanting against Terry but no major problems were reported.
Fifa asked to get tough on naturalised players
Fifa need to toughen the rules on naturalised players, Zambia coach Herve Renard said on Saturday as they prepared to face Equatorial Guinea whose entire team were born abroad.
"I think Fifa has to control everything," Renard told reporters at the African Nations Cup, where Burkina Faso have also been involved in naturalisation controversy.
"I would be very disappointed if, in 10 years' time, I saw a national team fielding five players who didn't have any connection with that country."
"I think it is a shame if it happens in the future and I ask Fifa to be very tough about this."
Equatorial Guinea's line-up against Libya and Senegal consisted of 11 players born outside the country, a mix of Spanish-based players, who qualify through their parents, and naturalised players from Brazil, Liberia, Cameroon and Cape Verde.
There has been controversy over whether the naturalised players have lived in the country for five years as required by Fifa rules. Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea have already qualified for the quarter-finals after winning their first two games.
Renard, whose team need a draw in Sunday's Group B match to qualify for the quarter-finals, added: "I don't know the case of the Equatorial Guinea players."
"I don't know if some are born here, if their parents were born here, and I don't want to know, it's not my problem," added the Frenchman.
"We will play against the Equatorial Guinea national team and we have to beat them, that's all."
He said Equatorial Guinea's world ranking of 151 did not reflect the current side.
"The ranking is not with the same players as they had before; now they brought in some new players, plus the support of the country, so now they are improving a lot."
Burkina Faso's place at the tournament was thrown into jeopardy two weeks before the start by a protest from qualifying opponents Namibia.
The Namibians said that Burkina had fielded Cameroon-born defender Herve Zengue against them when he was ineligible and took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The protest was rejected but Burkina left Russian-based Zengue out of their squad.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said before the tournament that teams were obeying the rules and that extra checks were unnecessary and impractical.
"I think Fifa has to control everything," Renard told reporters at the African Nations Cup, where Burkina Faso have also been involved in naturalisation controversy.
"I would be very disappointed if, in 10 years' time, I saw a national team fielding five players who didn't have any connection with that country."
"I think it is a shame if it happens in the future and I ask Fifa to be very tough about this."
Equatorial Guinea's line-up against Libya and Senegal consisted of 11 players born outside the country, a mix of Spanish-based players, who qualify through their parents, and naturalised players from Brazil, Liberia, Cameroon and Cape Verde.
There has been controversy over whether the naturalised players have lived in the country for five years as required by Fifa rules. Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea have already qualified for the quarter-finals after winning their first two games.
Renard, whose team need a draw in Sunday's Group B match to qualify for the quarter-finals, added: "I don't know the case of the Equatorial Guinea players."
"I don't know if some are born here, if their parents were born here, and I don't want to know, it's not my problem," added the Frenchman.
"We will play against the Equatorial Guinea national team and we have to beat them, that's all."
He said Equatorial Guinea's world ranking of 151 did not reflect the current side.
"The ranking is not with the same players as they had before; now they brought in some new players, plus the support of the country, so now they are improving a lot."
Burkina Faso's place at the tournament was thrown into jeopardy two weeks before the start by a protest from qualifying opponents Namibia.
The Namibians said that Burkina had fielded Cameroon-born defender Herve Zengue against them when he was ineligible and took their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The protest was rejected but Burkina left Russian-based Zengue out of their squad.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said before the tournament that teams were obeying the rules and that extra checks were unnecessary and impractical.
Kuyt strikes dumps United
Substitute Dirk Kuyt struck two minutes from time to give hosts Liverpool a 2-1 FA Cup fourth-round win over Manchester United on Saturday with visiting captain Patrice Evra being booed throughout and making a mistake for the goal.
United left back Evra was given a hostile Anfield reception after the Frenchman's involvement in a spat with Liverpool's Luis Suarez in October, which led to the Uruguayan's current eight-match ban for racial abuse.
Liverpool, still missing the verve offered by forward Suarez, took the lead on 21 minutes when Daniel Agger headed in a corner which struggling United goalkeeper David De Gea failed to collect after being deliberately crowded out by the hosts.
United, without the injured Wayne Rooney, hit back through a crisp strike inside the near post from Park Ji-sung on 39 minutes and the visitors had other good chances.
However, Liverpool had the last laugh. Andy Carroll flicked on the ball to leave Evra out of position and Dutchman Kuyt slammed in when De Gea could again have done better.
Liverpool were joined in the fifth round by Chelsea who won 1-0 at Queens Park Rangers earlier in another game where racist abuse allegations clouded the affair.
United left back Evra was given a hostile Anfield reception after the Frenchman's involvement in a spat with Liverpool's Luis Suarez in October, which led to the Uruguayan's current eight-match ban for racial abuse.
Liverpool, still missing the verve offered by forward Suarez, took the lead on 21 minutes when Daniel Agger headed in a corner which struggling United goalkeeper David De Gea failed to collect after being deliberately crowded out by the hosts.
United, without the injured Wayne Rooney, hit back through a crisp strike inside the near post from Park Ji-sung on 39 minutes and the visitors had other good chances.
However, Liverpool had the last laugh. Andy Carroll flicked on the ball to leave Evra out of position and Dutchman Kuyt slammed in when De Gea could again have done better.
Liverpool were joined in the fifth round by Chelsea who won 1-0 at Queens Park Rangers earlier in another game where racist abuse allegations clouded the affair.
Factbox: Victoria Azarenka
Factbox on Victoria Azarenka after she beat Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in the final of the 2012 Australian Open on Saturday. Azarenka will become world number one when the latest rankings are released on Monday.
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EARLY LIFE
* Born July 31, 1989 in Minsk, Belarus
* Turns professional in 2003
* At 14 moves to Scottsdale, Arizona to train, where she was helped by NHL goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin's family to assimilate to the U.S.
* Win's Australian Open and U.S. Open junior singles titles in 2005.
PROFESSIONAL BREAKTHROUGH
* Records her first top-20 victory at Memphis in 2006, over 13th-ranked Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic.
* Wins first career title in 2009 in Brisbane, beating France's Marion Bartoli in the final.
* Takes the first set off Serena Williams in Australian Open fourth round but then forced to retire while trailing 2-4 in the second as Melbourne is struck by a once in a century heatwave with temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius.
* Defeats Caroline Wozniacki in final of Memphis tournament and beats world number one Williams in Miami final to cap tremendous beginning to year having won 24 of her 26 matches and claimed three titles.
* Advances to quarter-finals at French Open and Wimbledon, her best performances in a grand slam and finishes the year ranked seventh.
* Faces a rematch with Serena in 2010 Australian Open quarter-finals, again taking a set off the world number one, before losing 4-6 7-6 6-2.
* Crashes out of French Open first round and loses third round at Wimbledon to Petra Kvitova.
* Returns to U.S. hardcourts and wins Stanford title, beating Sharapova, before making the semi-finals in Montreal.
* Forced to retire from 2010 U.S. Open second round match against Gisela Dulko when she collapsed on court. Later said she had suffered a concussion when she fell and hit her head during her warmup for the match and had suffered dizziness and blurred vision.
TOP 5 RANKING
* Reaches top-five in April, and then becomes highest ranked Belarusian woman when she achieves number four ranking on May 9.
* Makes French Open quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Li Na of China.
* Continues her good form when she advances to first grand slam semi-final at Wimbledon when she loses to eventual winner Petra Kvitova.
* Loses the WTA Championships final to Kvitova in Istanbul and finished the year ranked third behind the Czech and top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki.
* Wins the Sydney tournament before the Australian Open began, beating China's Li in the final.
* Barely been tested on her run to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park where she had to fight off champion Kim Clijsters, who had momentum in the third set.
*Becomes first player from Belarus to reach grand slam final since Natasha Zvereva lost 6-0 6-0 to Steffi Graf in 1988 French Open
* Beats Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in the final of the 2012 Australian Open to win first grand slam title and ensure she will take over as world number one from Caroline Wozniacki.
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EARLY LIFE
* Born July 31, 1989 in Minsk, Belarus
* Turns professional in 2003
* At 14 moves to Scottsdale, Arizona to train, where she was helped by NHL goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin's family to assimilate to the U.S.
* Win's Australian Open and U.S. Open junior singles titles in 2005.
PROFESSIONAL BREAKTHROUGH
* Records her first top-20 victory at Memphis in 2006, over 13th-ranked Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic.
* Wins first career title in 2009 in Brisbane, beating France's Marion Bartoli in the final.
* Takes the first set off Serena Williams in Australian Open fourth round but then forced to retire while trailing 2-4 in the second as Melbourne is struck by a once in a century heatwave with temperatures well above 40 degrees Celsius.
* Defeats Caroline Wozniacki in final of Memphis tournament and beats world number one Williams in Miami final to cap tremendous beginning to year having won 24 of her 26 matches and claimed three titles.
* Advances to quarter-finals at French Open and Wimbledon, her best performances in a grand slam and finishes the year ranked seventh.
* Faces a rematch with Serena in 2010 Australian Open quarter-finals, again taking a set off the world number one, before losing 4-6 7-6 6-2.
* Crashes out of French Open first round and loses third round at Wimbledon to Petra Kvitova.
* Returns to U.S. hardcourts and wins Stanford title, beating Sharapova, before making the semi-finals in Montreal.
* Forced to retire from 2010 U.S. Open second round match against Gisela Dulko when she collapsed on court. Later said she had suffered a concussion when she fell and hit her head during her warmup for the match and had suffered dizziness and blurred vision.
TOP 5 RANKING
* Reaches top-five in April, and then becomes highest ranked Belarusian woman when she achieves number four ranking on May 9.
* Makes French Open quarter-finals, losing to eventual champion Li Na of China.
* Continues her good form when she advances to first grand slam semi-final at Wimbledon when she loses to eventual winner Petra Kvitova.
* Loses the WTA Championships final to Kvitova in Istanbul and finished the year ranked third behind the Czech and top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki.
* Wins the Sydney tournament before the Australian Open began, beating China's Li in the final.
* Barely been tested on her run to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park where she had to fight off champion Kim Clijsters, who had momentum in the third set.
*Becomes first player from Belarus to reach grand slam final since Natasha Zvereva lost 6-0 6-0 to Steffi Graf in 1988 French Open
* Beats Maria Sharapova 6-3 6-0 in the final of the 2012 Australian Open to win first grand slam title and ensure she will take over as world number one from Caroline Wozniacki.
Barca draw to leave Real seven clear
Real Madrid moved seven points clear at the top of La Liga with a comfortable 3-1 win over bottom side Real Zaragoza as Barcelona could only draw 0-0 at lowly Villarreal on Saturday.
The league leaders recovered quickly from their midweek King's Cup quarter-final exit to arch-rivals Barca and it was Pep Guardiola's victors who seemed to suffer a hangover.
Barca's pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title is now an even tougher task as they seek to catch Jose Mourinho's men after yet another poor showing on the road where five draws and one defeat has taken it's toll.
Real's 17th win from 20 league games left them top on 52 points, with Barca second on 45. Valencia, in third with 35, visit Racing Santander on Sunday.
The European and Spanish champions were down to the bare bones at the Madrigal with Pedro a late addition to their growing injury list that includes the striker David Villa and midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Lionel Messi lobbed just wide during a stale first half as Barca lacked their usual zip against a side who started the day in 17th place having won their first game in 11 attempts last weekend.
Barca threw men forward near the end, fielding Alexis Sanchez as a substitute despite him playing with a shoulder injury, but they could not beat home keeper Diego Lopez.
The Spanish international denied Messi in a one-on-one in the closing minutes and with the goal gaping, Fabregas booted the rebound high over the bar to complete a bad night for the visitors.
"The league isn't over yet, there is still a long way to go," World Player-of-the-Year Messi told reporters.
"We just lacked a bit of luck tonight. We didn't play as well as we can do, but we created chances and all we lacked was a goal."
SURPRISE LEAD
Angel Lafita gave Zaragoza a surprise early lead at the Bernabeu after a quickly taken freekick in the 11th minute but thoughts of a first win since mid-October quickly disappeared.
Brazilian Kaka squeezed a low shot under Roberto to level in the 32nd minute and Cristiano Ronaldo tapped in his 24th league goal of the campaign at the start of the second half.
The lively Mesut Ozil netted with a fierce drive after a slick passing move in the 56th and the whistles from home fans against Mourinho from last weekend, appeared long forgotten.
Manolo Jimenez's side remain six points adrift at the foot of the standings with 12 points, and are without a win in 13 outings.
Espanyol are fifth with 31 points and Athletic Bilbao sixth on 29 after both won earlier on Saturday.
Espanyol recovered from a shock midweek King's Cup quarter-final exit against tiny third-tier side Mirandes to beat 10-man Real Mallorca 1-0 at home.
Vladimir Weiss capitalised on an error from Mallorca's Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate to put the Catalans in front after 18 minutes, but they failed to make the extra man count when Aouate was harshly sent off just after the break.
Spain striker Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick as Cup semi-finalists Bilbao came from behind to win 3-2 in a pulsating encounter at Rayo Vallecano.
The powerful frontman nodded in the equaliser, controlled a long ball and turned his marker to put them 2-1 up, and headed the winner for his 11th league goal this season.
The league leaders recovered quickly from their midweek King's Cup quarter-final exit to arch-rivals Barca and it was Pep Guardiola's victors who seemed to suffer a hangover.
Barca's pursuit of a fourth consecutive league title is now an even tougher task as they seek to catch Jose Mourinho's men after yet another poor showing on the road where five draws and one defeat has taken it's toll.
Real's 17th win from 20 league games left them top on 52 points, with Barca second on 45. Valencia, in third with 35, visit Racing Santander on Sunday.
The European and Spanish champions were down to the bare bones at the Madrigal with Pedro a late addition to their growing injury list that includes the striker David Villa and midfielder Andres Iniesta.
Lionel Messi lobbed just wide during a stale first half as Barca lacked their usual zip against a side who started the day in 17th place having won their first game in 11 attempts last weekend.
Barca threw men forward near the end, fielding Alexis Sanchez as a substitute despite him playing with a shoulder injury, but they could not beat home keeper Diego Lopez.
The Spanish international denied Messi in a one-on-one in the closing minutes and with the goal gaping, Fabregas booted the rebound high over the bar to complete a bad night for the visitors.
"The league isn't over yet, there is still a long way to go," World Player-of-the-Year Messi told reporters.
"We just lacked a bit of luck tonight. We didn't play as well as we can do, but we created chances and all we lacked was a goal."
SURPRISE LEAD
Angel Lafita gave Zaragoza a surprise early lead at the Bernabeu after a quickly taken freekick in the 11th minute but thoughts of a first win since mid-October quickly disappeared.
Brazilian Kaka squeezed a low shot under Roberto to level in the 32nd minute and Cristiano Ronaldo tapped in his 24th league goal of the campaign at the start of the second half.
The lively Mesut Ozil netted with a fierce drive after a slick passing move in the 56th and the whistles from home fans against Mourinho from last weekend, appeared long forgotten.
Manolo Jimenez's side remain six points adrift at the foot of the standings with 12 points, and are without a win in 13 outings.
Espanyol are fifth with 31 points and Athletic Bilbao sixth on 29 after both won earlier on Saturday.
Espanyol recovered from a shock midweek King's Cup quarter-final exit against tiny third-tier side Mirandes to beat 10-man Real Mallorca 1-0 at home.
Vladimir Weiss capitalised on an error from Mallorca's Israeli goalkeeper Dudu Aouate to put the Catalans in front after 18 minutes, but they failed to make the extra man count when Aouate was harshly sent off just after the break.
Spain striker Fernando Llorente scored a hat-trick as Cup semi-finalists Bilbao came from behind to win 3-2 in a pulsating encounter at Rayo Vallecano.
The powerful frontman nodded in the equaliser, controlled a long ball and turned his marker to put them 2-1 up, and headed the winner for his 11th league goal this season.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Van Persie denies any fallout with Wenger
Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has played down any fallout with manager Arsene Wenger despite his apparent show of dissent during his side's 2-1 home defeat by Manchester United on Sunday.
Dutch striker Van Persie, who scored Arsenal's equaliser, appeared to voice his disapproval when Wenger substituted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Andrei Arshavin - a decision that also prompted a chorus of boos from the crowd.
"The manager and I are fine and my relationship with the club is good," van Persie, whose 19 league goals have been the silver lining in a poor season for Arsenal so far, told The Sun.
"There is no problem. There is no conflict, and no controversy. I was not having a go at the boss on Sunday - I was just sad to see Alex leave the pitch as he just gave the assist for our only goal.
"I was not questioning Wenger's judgement - I know it's not my place to challenge what Arsene Wenger does. He is the boss, he makes the decisions and that's it...end of story."
Van Persie said he did not realise teenager Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose pass set up the goal, had been carrying a calf injury prior to Wenger switching him.
"We did not know but the boss did and brought Andrei Arshavin on."
Despite losing their eighth game of the season and trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by five points, Van Persie said it was not all doom and gloom at Arsenal and that they can still secure a top-four finish.
"Losing to Manchester United was a setback, but it was not a knockout blow," he said.
"Anybody writing us off is making a mistake. This could still be a good season for us. We have the FA Cup to look forward to and the Champions League."
Arsenal face AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Dutch striker Van Persie, who scored Arsenal's equaliser, appeared to voice his disapproval when Wenger substituted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Andrei Arshavin - a decision that also prompted a chorus of boos from the crowd.
"The manager and I are fine and my relationship with the club is good," van Persie, whose 19 league goals have been the silver lining in a poor season for Arsenal so far, told The Sun.
"There is no problem. There is no conflict, and no controversy. I was not having a go at the boss on Sunday - I was just sad to see Alex leave the pitch as he just gave the assist for our only goal.
"I was not questioning Wenger's judgement - I know it's not my place to challenge what Arsene Wenger does. He is the boss, he makes the decisions and that's it...end of story."
Van Persie said he did not realise teenager Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose pass set up the goal, had been carrying a calf injury prior to Wenger switching him.
"We did not know but the boss did and brought Andrei Arshavin on."
Despite losing their eighth game of the season and trailing fourth-placed Chelsea by five points, Van Persie said it was not all doom and gloom at Arsenal and that they can still secure a top-four finish.
"Losing to Manchester United was a setback, but it was not a knockout blow," he said.
"Anybody writing us off is making a mistake. This could still be a good season for us. We have the FA Cup to look forward to and the Champions League."
Arsenal face AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Balotelli feels persecuted and could quit
Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli feels persecuted and could quit English soccer if what he sees as unfair treatment continues, his agent said on Tuesday.
The 21-year-old Italian, facing a four-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the FA after an incident in Sunday's Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur, has hit the headlines for a series of controversies since joining City in 2010.
"I think he feels persecuted; he cannot go on like that," agent Mino Raiola told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We had a very clear image of his career at the beginning and I have told the press openly Mario will have to stay at Manchester City for at least three or four years, helping the club on this important project and grow as a man and a player.
"Obviously if he's being banned every three or four games for one reason or another we cannot go on like that and there needs to be an end to that.
"So if that's the case and English referees and the English FA would like Mario to go out of England then we would take that seriously in consideration, even if that's not and was not our intention."
Balotelli scored a stoppage-time winner from the penalty spot in the 3-2 victory over Spurs but later found himself in hot water after video replays showed he had appeared to stamp on the head of Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.
Referee Howard Webb took no action at the time.
Balotelli, who has been sent off three times in barely 18 months with the club, has until 1800 GMT on Wednesday to appeal but assistant coach David Platt suggested on Tuesday that such appeals were sometimes futile.
The club lost their appeal against centre back Vincent Kompany's red card earlier this month and he serves the final of a four-game ban in Wednesday's League Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool, where City will seek to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
The 21-year-old Italian, facing a four-match ban after being charged with violent conduct by the FA after an incident in Sunday's Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur, has hit the headlines for a series of controversies since joining City in 2010.
"I think he feels persecuted; he cannot go on like that," agent Mino Raiola told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"We had a very clear image of his career at the beginning and I have told the press openly Mario will have to stay at Manchester City for at least three or four years, helping the club on this important project and grow as a man and a player.
"Obviously if he's being banned every three or four games for one reason or another we cannot go on like that and there needs to be an end to that.
"So if that's the case and English referees and the English FA would like Mario to go out of England then we would take that seriously in consideration, even if that's not and was not our intention."
Balotelli scored a stoppage-time winner from the penalty spot in the 3-2 victory over Spurs but later found himself in hot water after video replays showed he had appeared to stamp on the head of Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker.
Referee Howard Webb took no action at the time.
Balotelli, who has been sent off three times in barely 18 months with the club, has until 1800 GMT on Wednesday to appeal but assistant coach David Platt suggested on Tuesday that such appeals were sometimes futile.
The club lost their appeal against centre back Vincent Kompany's red card earlier this month and he serves the final of a four-game ban in Wednesday's League Cup semi-final second leg at Liverpool, where City will seek to overturn a 1-0 deficit.
Eusebio toasts 70th birthday with glass of wine
Former Portugal and Benfica striker Eusebio, considered one of the best players of all time, turned 70 on Wednesday and said he could celebrate with a glass of wine after recovering from a recent health scare.
"I never thought I would make it to 70, but thank God here I am and I hope to spend many more years in shape," Eusebio, who has recovered from a bout of pneumonia that required a stay in hospital at the end of last year, told Portuguese daily Diario de Noticias.
Nicknamed the 'black panther' for his speed and the fear he instilled in his opponents, Mozambique-born Eusebio helped Benfica reach four European Cup finals, the last in 1968 when they lost in extra-time to Manchester United. Benfica won the showpiece in 1961 and 1962.
His international fame peaked during the 1966 England World Cup, when Portugal finished third and Eusebio was top scorer.
He said he had recovered well from pneumonia.
"My health is impeccable now. I am happy because I did some exams two weeks ago and my doctor told me that I could even have a glass of wine now and then, as long as I don't abuse it," he said in an interview with TVI television.
Eusebio retired in 1975, wrapping up a career that included 64 caps and 41 international goals and an emotional Wembley appearance against England in the semi-finals of the 1966 World Cup when Portugal lost despite Eusebio's lone goal. "That tournament was my best moment ever," he said on Wednesday.
The athletic Eusebio crafted explosive runs down the flanks and was clever in finding space to shoot from outside the box, fusing power with tremendous pace.
"I wish that Benfica were crowned champion this year, I am proud to reach this age and that would be the best gift I could have," Eusebio said of Portuguese Premier League leaders Benfica.
"I never thought I would make it to 70, but thank God here I am and I hope to spend many more years in shape," Eusebio, who has recovered from a bout of pneumonia that required a stay in hospital at the end of last year, told Portuguese daily Diario de Noticias.
Nicknamed the 'black panther' for his speed and the fear he instilled in his opponents, Mozambique-born Eusebio helped Benfica reach four European Cup finals, the last in 1968 when they lost in extra-time to Manchester United. Benfica won the showpiece in 1961 and 1962.
His international fame peaked during the 1966 England World Cup, when Portugal finished third and Eusebio was top scorer.
He said he had recovered well from pneumonia.
"My health is impeccable now. I am happy because I did some exams two weeks ago and my doctor told me that I could even have a glass of wine now and then, as long as I don't abuse it," he said in an interview with TVI television.
Eusebio retired in 1975, wrapping up a career that included 64 caps and 41 international goals and an emotional Wembley appearance against England in the semi-finals of the 1966 World Cup when Portugal lost despite Eusebio's lone goal. "That tournament was my best moment ever," he said on Wednesday.
The athletic Eusebio crafted explosive runs down the flanks and was clever in finding space to shoot from outside the box, fusing power with tremendous pace.
"I wish that Benfica were crowned champion this year, I am proud to reach this age and that would be the best gift I could have," Eusebio said of Portuguese Premier League leaders Benfica.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Pepe will face Barca if fit: Mourinho
Real Madrid defender Pepe will play in Wednesday's King's Cup quarter-final second leg at Barcelona if he is fit despite the controversy over his alleged stamp on Lionel Messi's hand in last week's first game, coach Jose Mourinho said on Tuesday.
Pepe denied intentionally treading on Messi in the 2-1 defeat and the incident, caught on television cameras, was apparently missed by the referee, who had earlier booked the Portuguese for a late tackle on Sergio Busquets.
The 28-year-old Pepe, who was left out of Sunday's La Liga win at home to Athletic Bilbao, is available for the game at the Nou Camp after the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) decided on Monday to take no action against him.
At a news conference where his often difficult relationship with the media hit a new low, a tetchy Mourinho said Pepe and midfielders Lassana Diarra and Esteban Granero had minor injuries and a decision on their availability would be taken on Wednesday.
"There are three players with problems, including Lass and Granero," Mourinho, who gave curt responses to most of the questions he was asked, told reporters.
"If he is physically fit he'll play," he said of his compatriot Pepe.
Barca decided not to report Pepe over the incident and said it was up to the soccer authorities to take the initiative.
President Sandro Rosell, responding to the federation's decision to stand pat, said Spain could learn from countries like England.
The English FA on Monday charged Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli with violent conduct following an incident in Sunday's Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur when he appeared to stamp on the head of Spurs midfielder Scott Parker.
The referee took no action but Italian Balotelli was subject to a so-called retrospective action and could be banned for four matches.
"It would be good if with Pepe one took the example of what happens in countries like England," Rosell said.
"When someone jumps a red light the police should punish them even if the pedestrian who gets run over does not report it."
INACCURATE MOLES
The Pepe incident has added extra spice to the Cup second leg but Mourinho batted away several questions about what tactics he plans to employ to try to reverse Real's woeful run of results against their arch rivals.
Last week's defeat at the Bernabeu was Mourinho's fifth against Barca in nine games since he joined Real and he has only managed one win in a 'clasico', a 1-0 success after extra time in last year's Cup final.
"I won't answer," he said when probed about his plans.
"I am the coach and the decision is mine and I don't have to announce it publically."
Asked about an unsourced report in the Spanish media that he plans to leave Real in June, the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager added: "Did I say that? Ask your colleague."
Another reporter asked him if he was happy at Real and Mourinho answered with a vague murmur that appeared to indicate he was.
Responding to an enquiry about why he thought some Real fans had whistled him in Sunday's win over Bilbao, he said curtly: "I don't know. You'll have to ask them."
Spanish media have also reported an alleged training ground row between Mourinho and Real's Spain defender Sergio Ramos and suggested there was a rift in the squad between the Spanish internationals and the Portuguese.
Ramos used his Twitter account to reject the reports on Tuesday, saying he wanted the issue closed and that he and Mourinho were fighting for the same goals.
"I think that enough is enough and the mole, or moles, should be accurate with their information," he wrote.
"I have never in my career shown disrespect for any coach," he added.
"With that, I deny some things they said about me and that I never said."
Pepe denied intentionally treading on Messi in the 2-1 defeat and the incident, caught on television cameras, was apparently missed by the referee, who had earlier booked the Portuguese for a late tackle on Sergio Busquets.
The 28-year-old Pepe, who was left out of Sunday's La Liga win at home to Athletic Bilbao, is available for the game at the Nou Camp after the Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) decided on Monday to take no action against him.
At a news conference where his often difficult relationship with the media hit a new low, a tetchy Mourinho said Pepe and midfielders Lassana Diarra and Esteban Granero had minor injuries and a decision on their availability would be taken on Wednesday.
"There are three players with problems, including Lass and Granero," Mourinho, who gave curt responses to most of the questions he was asked, told reporters.
"If he is physically fit he'll play," he said of his compatriot Pepe.
Barca decided not to report Pepe over the incident and said it was up to the soccer authorities to take the initiative.
President Sandro Rosell, responding to the federation's decision to stand pat, said Spain could learn from countries like England.
The English FA on Monday charged Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli with violent conduct following an incident in Sunday's Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur when he appeared to stamp on the head of Spurs midfielder Scott Parker.
The referee took no action but Italian Balotelli was subject to a so-called retrospective action and could be banned for four matches.
"It would be good if with Pepe one took the example of what happens in countries like England," Rosell said.
"When someone jumps a red light the police should punish them even if the pedestrian who gets run over does not report it."
INACCURATE MOLES
The Pepe incident has added extra spice to the Cup second leg but Mourinho batted away several questions about what tactics he plans to employ to try to reverse Real's woeful run of results against their arch rivals.
Last week's defeat at the Bernabeu was Mourinho's fifth against Barca in nine games since he joined Real and he has only managed one win in a 'clasico', a 1-0 success after extra time in last year's Cup final.
"I won't answer," he said when probed about his plans.
"I am the coach and the decision is mine and I don't have to announce it publically."
Asked about an unsourced report in the Spanish media that he plans to leave Real in June, the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager added: "Did I say that? Ask your colleague."
Another reporter asked him if he was happy at Real and Mourinho answered with a vague murmur that appeared to indicate he was.
Responding to an enquiry about why he thought some Real fans had whistled him in Sunday's win over Bilbao, he said curtly: "I don't know. You'll have to ask them."
Spanish media have also reported an alleged training ground row between Mourinho and Real's Spain defender Sergio Ramos and suggested there was a rift in the squad between the Spanish internationals and the Portuguese.
Ramos used his Twitter account to reject the reports on Tuesday, saying he wanted the issue closed and that he and Mourinho were fighting for the same goals.
"I think that enough is enough and the mole, or moles, should be accurate with their information," he wrote.
"I have never in my career shown disrespect for any coach," he added.
"With that, I deny some things they said about me and that I never said."
Bangladeshi sets world record
Guinness World Records on Tuesday recognised a feat by a Bangladeshi, Abdul Halim, for walking 15.2 kilometres with a ball on his head.
Magura man Halim is the second Bangladeshi to set a world record after Table Tennis star Zobera Rahman Linu, who had entered the records by becoming national champion 16 times.
Halim performed his record breaking exploit on Oct 28 last at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The Guinness authorities inspected the video of Halim's walk, read newspaper reports in English and Bangla published the next day, obtained the venue's international standing and recorded five witnesses' accounts.
The old Guinness record for longest walk with a ball on their head was by E Ming Lu of Malaysia, who had walked 11.12 kilometres at the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya stadium on Aug 21, 2009.
Halim is exhilarated with his extraordinary achievement. "I always believed one day I would get recognition for my achievements. I am delighted to see my name on the Guinness book. I do not have wrds to express my happiness.
"I am very grateful to the Guinness authorities," he said on telephone.
Magura man Halim is the second Bangladeshi to set a world record after Table Tennis star Zobera Rahman Linu, who had entered the records by becoming national champion 16 times.
Halim performed his record breaking exploit on Oct 28 last at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.
The Guinness authorities inspected the video of Halim's walk, read newspaper reports in English and Bangla published the next day, obtained the venue's international standing and recorded five witnesses' accounts.
The old Guinness record for longest walk with a ball on their head was by E Ming Lu of Malaysia, who had walked 11.12 kilometres at the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya stadium on Aug 21, 2009.
Halim is exhilarated with his extraordinary achievement. "I always believed one day I would get recognition for my achievements. I am delighted to see my name on the Guinness book. I do not have wrds to express my happiness.
"I am very grateful to the Guinness authorities," he said on telephone.
Magic Messi fires Barca
Lionel Messi netted two typically brilliant goals and a rare header as Barcelona closed to within two points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, at least for a few hours, with a 4-1 win at Malaga on Sunday.
The Argentine World Player of the Year leaped to nod Adriano's floated cross into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute at the Rosaleda before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
Any lingering Malaga hopes were snuffed out three minutes later when Messi slotted his second, a trademark run and finish that left the home defence in disarray.
The 24-year-old, who won a third successive World Player award this month, curled a free kick on to the underside of the crossbar 15 minutes from time before he again left his hapless markers trailing to complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.
His 22nd goal of the campaign put him one ahead of Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scorers chart.
Substitute Salomon Rondon, who replaced former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with half an hour remaining, scored a consolation for the home side five minutes from time.
"It was important to win today and I managed to get a few goals too so I am pleased all round," Messi, clutching his 'hat-trick' match ball, told Spanish television.
"All the games are tough when you are away from home but now we need to recuperate for what will definitely be a difficult match on Wednesday," he added, in reference to Barca's King's Cup quarter-final second leg at home to Real.
REPORTED RIFT
Victory lifted Barca to 44 points from 19 of 38 matches, with Real on 46 ahead of their home game against Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday (2030 GMT).
Third-placed Valencia dropped points for the fourth time in five matches and are nine behind Barca after conceding a goal in added time in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna earlier on Sunday.
Roberto Soldado looked to have secured victory for Unai Emery's side when he nodded his 12th goal of the season six minutes from time at the Reyno de Navarra stadium in Pamplona.
However, Valencia captain David Albelda was shown a straight red card moments later for a badly-timed lunge on David Timor and defender Lolo scrambled the ball home from the resulting free kick to rescue a point for the home side.
Levante can close to within two points of city rivals Valencia with a win at home to bottom club Real Zaragoza later on Sunday (1845).
Real Madrid need to recover from Wednesday's 2-1 Cup defeat at home to Barca amid reports in local media of a rift in the dressing room.
Sports daily Marca carried quotes from what it said was a row between coach Jose Mourinho and defender Sergio Ramos and the paper said some Real players had lost confidence in the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager.
The Argentine World Player of the Year leaped to nod Adriano's floated cross into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute at the Rosaleda before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
Any lingering Malaga hopes were snuffed out three minutes later when Messi slotted his second, a trademark run and finish that left the home defence in disarray.
The 24-year-old, who won a third successive World Player award this month, curled a free kick on to the underside of the crossbar 15 minutes from time before he again left his hapless markers trailing to complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.
His 22nd goal of the campaign put him one ahead of Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scorers chart.
Substitute Salomon Rondon, who replaced former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with half an hour remaining, scored a consolation for the home side five minutes from time.
"It was important to win today and I managed to get a few goals too so I am pleased all round," Messi, clutching his 'hat-trick' match ball, told Spanish television.
"All the games are tough when you are away from home but now we need to recuperate for what will definitely be a difficult match on Wednesday," he added, in reference to Barca's King's Cup quarter-final second leg at home to Real.
REPORTED RIFT
Victory lifted Barca to 44 points from 19 of 38 matches, with Real on 46 ahead of their home game against Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday (2030 GMT).
Third-placed Valencia dropped points for the fourth time in five matches and are nine behind Barca after conceding a goal in added time in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna earlier on Sunday.
Roberto Soldado looked to have secured victory for Unai Emery's side when he nodded his 12th goal of the season six minutes from time at the Reyno de Navarra stadium in Pamplona.
However, Valencia captain David Albelda was shown a straight red card moments later for a badly-timed lunge on David Timor and defender Lolo scrambled the ball home from the resulting free kick to rescue a point for the home side.
Levante can close to within two points of city rivals Valencia with a win at home to bottom club Real Zaragoza later on Sunday (1845).
Real Madrid need to recover from Wednesday's 2-1 Cup defeat at home to Barca amid reports in local media of a rift in the dressing room.
Sports daily Marca carried quotes from what it said was a row between coach Jose Mourinho and defender Sergio Ramos and the paper said some Real players had lost confidence in the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager.
Airtel ties up with Man United
Bharti Airtel, a leading global telecommunications company with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, announced on Tuesday that it has tied up with Manchester United to bring a variety of benefits for Airtel's soccer loving customers in Bangladesh.
These exciting benefits will provide Airtel mobile customers in the country with access to exciting benefits like exclusive mobile content, Manchester United Soccer Schools programme, 'money-can't-buy' match experiences & more.
The announcement was made by Chris Tobit, CEO and Managing Director, Airtel Bangladesh Ltd, in the presence of Manchester United legends Bryan Robson and Dwight Yorke at a press conference held in Dhaka.
"Manchester United is a powerful global brand that enjoys a cult following across the world - and we are today excited to announce our association with the club for our football loving customers in Bangladesh.
"Football is seeing an increasing interest amongst youth population across Asia and the same fervour and excitement towards this contemporary sport can be seen in Bangladesh as well. Through our tie up with Manchester United in this market, we look forward to bringing millions of soccer fans in Bangladesh closer to the action packed world of football", said Tobit, CEO and Managing Director, Airtel Bangladesh Ltd.
Commenting on the occasion, Ricky Thussu, Associate Relationship Director, Manchester United, said, "We at Manchester United are delighted to be here and kick off this exciting association with Airtel. This partnership between Manchester United and Airtel is symbolic of collaboration two global brands � both known to be among the best in their respective fields � coming together for their common passion for soccer. We are delighted to announce the foray of this association with Airtel in Bangladesh and look forward to connecting with fans across the country"
As part of this association, Airtel customers across Bangladesh will get exclusive access to exciting and rich Manchester United football content on their Airtel mobile phones. In addition, Airtel customers will also get an opportunity to participate in the Manchester United Soccer Schools programme (currently operated by Manchester United Merchandising Limited). Airtel customers will also get an opportunity to watch matches at Old Trafford and travel to Europe to watch Manchester United play in the Uefa Champions League.
Kick starting this partnership's initiatives, Airtel showcased the English Premier League (EPL) trophy for football fans from 23 January 2012 to 24 January 2012 at different popular socialising places. A special Value Added Services (VAS) pack comprising of exciting Manchester United mobile content will also be launched for customers in Bangladesh in days to come.
These exciting benefits will provide Airtel mobile customers in the country with access to exciting benefits like exclusive mobile content, Manchester United Soccer Schools programme, 'money-can't-buy' match experiences & more.
The announcement was made by Chris Tobit, CEO and Managing Director, Airtel Bangladesh Ltd, in the presence of Manchester United legends Bryan Robson and Dwight Yorke at a press conference held in Dhaka.
"Manchester United is a powerful global brand that enjoys a cult following across the world - and we are today excited to announce our association with the club for our football loving customers in Bangladesh.
"Football is seeing an increasing interest amongst youth population across Asia and the same fervour and excitement towards this contemporary sport can be seen in Bangladesh as well. Through our tie up with Manchester United in this market, we look forward to bringing millions of soccer fans in Bangladesh closer to the action packed world of football", said Tobit, CEO and Managing Director, Airtel Bangladesh Ltd.
Commenting on the occasion, Ricky Thussu, Associate Relationship Director, Manchester United, said, "We at Manchester United are delighted to be here and kick off this exciting association with Airtel. This partnership between Manchester United and Airtel is symbolic of collaboration two global brands � both known to be among the best in their respective fields � coming together for their common passion for soccer. We are delighted to announce the foray of this association with Airtel in Bangladesh and look forward to connecting with fans across the country"
As part of this association, Airtel customers across Bangladesh will get exclusive access to exciting and rich Manchester United football content on their Airtel mobile phones. In addition, Airtel customers will also get an opportunity to participate in the Manchester United Soccer Schools programme (currently operated by Manchester United Merchandising Limited). Airtel customers will also get an opportunity to watch matches at Old Trafford and travel to Europe to watch Manchester United play in the Uefa Champions League.
Kick starting this partnership's initiatives, Airtel showcased the English Premier League (EPL) trophy for football fans from 23 January 2012 to 24 January 2012 at different popular socialising places. A special Value Added Services (VAS) pack comprising of exciting Manchester United mobile content will also be launched for customers in Bangladesh in days to come.
Berdych booed after winning 4th round match
After winning a grueling, tightly contested match that lasted nearly four hours, Tomas Berdych didn’t expect to be met by a stadium full of booing and hisses.
Berdych, the seventh seed from Czech Republic, was jeered by the crowd for refusing to shake hands with his opponent, No. 10 seed Nicolas Almagro, because he believed the Spaniard had deliberately struck him with a ball during a point at the end of the fourth set.
Berdych was initially cheered by the spectators at Hisense Arena following his 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) win in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Sunday, but the crowd turned on him in an instant when he refused to shake Almagro’s hand at the net.
The booing drowned out his post-match, on-court interview and continued until he walked off.
“I think when you have a point and someone wants to hit you straight to your face, I don’t see this as a nice moment,” Berdych said during the interview, struggling to be heard over the noise from the crowd.
Berdych was angered by what happened in the 11th game of the fourth set, with the score level at 5-all. The Czech player approached the net and hit a volley and Almagro chased it down and hit a forehand that struck Berdych in the arm.
As Berdych flopped to the ground, the ball bounced back over the net and Almagro put it away to win the point. He then approached the net to apologize to Berdych, but Berdych didn’t look at him.
Berdych said during his post-match news conference he didn’t believe Almagro acted in a sporting manner.
“Probably whoever played the tennis knows that the court is pretty big, and you always have some space to put the ball in,” he said. “This is not the way how tennis is. Even if you have this point, you always have enough space to where to put the ball and not actually try to hit the other guy.”
Almagro said he did what he needed to do to win the point.
“When I win the point, I say sorry to him three or four times,” he said. He added through a translator, “I could leave the court with my head held high and I would like to thank the crowd for their support.”
When Berdych was asked whether he thought Almagro’s on-court apology was enough, he replied: “You think is this enough to apologize? He should play the ball differently. That’s it.”
The Australians in the crowd weren’t the only ones on Almagro’s side. Former player Brad Gilbert, who is working as a TV analyst at the tournament, tweeted: “Really poor of the Birdman not to shake hands with Nico … I am stunned with Tomas.”
Berdych tried his best to play down the incident in his news conference, saying it was already in the past.
“We don’t have any problems at all together,” he said of his relationship with Almagro. “That’s how it is, you know. It was pretty tight match, and I think it’s more about the game than just this story.”
Clijsters beats Wozniacki in Australian Open QF
Defending champion Kim Clijsters has defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 7-6 (4) in the Australian Open quarterfinals, ensuring Wozniacki will lose the No. 1 ranking.
In a replay of the 2009 U.S. Open final won by Clijsters in straight sets, the Belgian player had an early service break in the second set before breaking Wozniacki’s serve again to lead 4-2.
Clijsters, who sprained her left ankle in a fourth-round win over Li Na, did not appear to be affected Tuesday by the injury.
Wozniacki, criticized for holding the No. 1 spot without winning a major, needed to advance to at least the semifinals to have any hope of keeping the top ranking.
Sangakkara ton drives SL
Kumar Sangakkara compiled a well-paced century to help Sri Lanka to a two-wicket win over South Africa off the penultimate ball in the fifth one-day international at the Wanderers on Sunday.
Sangakkara scored 102 from 97 balls as Sri Lanka, chasing South Africa's 312 for four, reached 307 for five with only six runs needed off seven balls.
But they contrived to lose three wickets in the space of four deliveries before Sachithra Senanayake struck left-arm spinner Robin Peterson high over mid-wicket for six.
South Africa, who won the series 3-2, owed their total to captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers who each scored 125.
Sangakkara anchored Sri Lanka's run chase, reaching his fifty off 54 balls before posting his 12th one-day international.
After striking 10 fours, he fell to the first ball following the completion of his hundred when he hoisted a delivery from off-spinner JP Duminy to Pietersen at long-off.
Play was delayed for an hour before Sangakkara and fellow left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne added 100 runs for the fourth wicket on a good batting pitch.
Sangakkara departed with the score on 275 for four with the tourists needing just 38 runs off 34 balls and 22-year-old Thirimanne brought up his maiden ODI fifty on his way to 69 at better than a run a ball to set up the tense finish.
The result would have been particularly hard on Smith and De Villiers who had batted superbly during their team's innings.
The pair combined for a South African record third-wicket partnership against Sri Lanka of 186 from 28 overs.
Smith, who had not scored an ODI century since September 2009, reached his ninth one-day century off 129 deliveries to the raucous applause of the home crowd.
He struck nine fours and four sixes during his 143-ball innings before he was caught at mid-wicket off a delivery from paceman Lasith Malinga.
De Villiers has been in sublime touch during the series, scoring 329 runs in five matches, and he continued his good form with an innings full of innovative strokeplay which took only 98 deliveries.
The South Africa skipper brought up his 12th ODI century off 88 balls. He struck 10 fours and four sixes.
Sangakkara scored 102 from 97 balls as Sri Lanka, chasing South Africa's 312 for four, reached 307 for five with only six runs needed off seven balls.
But they contrived to lose three wickets in the space of four deliveries before Sachithra Senanayake struck left-arm spinner Robin Peterson high over mid-wicket for six.
South Africa, who won the series 3-2, owed their total to captain Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers who each scored 125.
Sangakkara anchored Sri Lanka's run chase, reaching his fifty off 54 balls before posting his 12th one-day international.
After striking 10 fours, he fell to the first ball following the completion of his hundred when he hoisted a delivery from off-spinner JP Duminy to Pietersen at long-off.
Play was delayed for an hour before Sangakkara and fellow left-hander Lahiru Thirimanne added 100 runs for the fourth wicket on a good batting pitch.
Sangakkara departed with the score on 275 for four with the tourists needing just 38 runs off 34 balls and 22-year-old Thirimanne brought up his maiden ODI fifty on his way to 69 at better than a run a ball to set up the tense finish.
The result would have been particularly hard on Smith and De Villiers who had batted superbly during their team's innings.
The pair combined for a South African record third-wicket partnership against Sri Lanka of 186 from 28 overs.
Smith, who had not scored an ODI century since September 2009, reached his ninth one-day century off 129 deliveries to the raucous applause of the home crowd.
He struck nine fours and four sixes during his 143-ball innings before he was caught at mid-wicket off a delivery from paceman Lasith Malinga.
De Villiers has been in sublime touch during the series, scoring 329 runs in five matches, and he continued his good form with an innings full of innovative strokeplay which took only 98 deliveries.
The South Africa skipper brought up his 12th ODI century off 88 balls. He struck 10 fours and four sixes.
Courageous Clijsters through, Fed thumps Tomic
'Built Belgian tough' might become a badge of honor for future tennis generations after courageous Kim Clijsters' win over Li Na Sunday, while Roger Federer dashed the dreams of home fans by crushing young gun Bernard Tomic.
On a day when the clouds cleared, the mercury bubbled and temperatures soared, Rafa Nadal won a battle of Spanish lefties against Davis Cup team-mate Feliciano Lopez, and Tomas Berdych was booed mercilessly for a petulant show of bad sportsmanship.
Defending champion Clijsters crumpled to the court at 3-3 in the first set after her left ankle rolled sickeningly over.
The Belgian, bidding farewell to the Australian Open in the final year of her career, had her ankle heavily strapped and Li took advantage to win the first set.
The 28-year-old Belgian clawed her way back into the match to win the second set in a tiebreak as the crowd began to believe she could pull off the win. Clijsters closed out the match 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 to keep her hopes alive of a fifth Grand Slam title.
However, she conceded the injury had made her think about quitting against Li, whom she beat in the 2011 final.
"It definitely crossed my mind at some point, but I knew if I could just try to let the medication sink in ... the pain would go away a little bit and maybe with the adrenaline I could just fly through it," she said.
TOMIC THUMPED
Clijsters was joined in the quarter-finals by number three seed Victoria Azarenka, who endured her traditional late-game hiccup before beating Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-2.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki endured a nervy second set against Jelena Jankovic before clinching a 6-0, 7-5 win.
Still giddy from Lleyton Hewitt's heroics against Milos Raonic, Australian fans could barely believe they had two players in the men's fourth round, but hopes that 19-year-old Tomic could depose four-times champion Federer proved wide of the mark.
Teen Tomic had already come through two five-setters to reach the fourth round while 30-year-old Federer looked as fresh as a daisy in securing a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win.
The Swiss, bidding to match Roy Emerson's record of five Australian Open titles, will face former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals.
Federer agreed Tomic had the potential to win silverware.
"I think he has had a wonderful tournament and there's much more that's going to come the Australian way," he said.
"It's going to be tough against Del Potro. I don't look beyond that because he's coming up strong. He has had a good year, played all the top guys again and pushed us all."
BERDYCH BOOED
World number two Nadal, with heavy strapping on knee, ankle and foot, huffed and puffed his way past Lopez with little Spanish sparkle but was happy to go no more than three sets.
Memories of his last eight withdrawal against Andy Murray two years ago, and defeat at the hands of David Ferrer last year, still haunt him.
"Hopefully it won't happen this time," said Nadal after his 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win.
"Every year is different. I had a bad experience for the last two years here. It's tough to have to go out of a tournament like Australia in quarter-finals."
In the day's only real note of controversy, Czech Berdych was booed off Hisense Arena after a bad tempered 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 win over Nicolas Almagro.
Berdych refused to shake hands with the Spaniard after he sealed the win because he felt the 10th-seeded Almagro had deliberately blasted a return at his head during the fourth set.
"The court is pretty big and you always have some space to put the ball in," number seven Berdych complained.
"And not even if you are standing three or four metres from the guy (does he need) to hit it straight to your face.
"This is not the way how tennis is."
Berdych's courtside interview was drowned out by the crowd booing and hissing, while tennis coach and commentator Brad Gilbert said he was appalled at the Czech's decision.
On a day when the clouds cleared, the mercury bubbled and temperatures soared, Rafa Nadal won a battle of Spanish lefties against Davis Cup team-mate Feliciano Lopez, and Tomas Berdych was booed mercilessly for a petulant show of bad sportsmanship.
Defending champion Clijsters crumpled to the court at 3-3 in the first set after her left ankle rolled sickeningly over.
The Belgian, bidding farewell to the Australian Open in the final year of her career, had her ankle heavily strapped and Li took advantage to win the first set.
The 28-year-old Belgian clawed her way back into the match to win the second set in a tiebreak as the crowd began to believe she could pull off the win. Clijsters closed out the match 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 to keep her hopes alive of a fifth Grand Slam title.
However, she conceded the injury had made her think about quitting against Li, whom she beat in the 2011 final.
"It definitely crossed my mind at some point, but I knew if I could just try to let the medication sink in ... the pain would go away a little bit and maybe with the adrenaline I could just fly through it," she said.
TOMIC THUMPED
Clijsters was joined in the quarter-finals by number three seed Victoria Azarenka, who endured her traditional late-game hiccup before beating Iveta Benesova 6-2, 6-2.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki endured a nervy second set against Jelena Jankovic before clinching a 6-0, 7-5 win.
Still giddy from Lleyton Hewitt's heroics against Milos Raonic, Australian fans could barely believe they had two players in the men's fourth round, but hopes that 19-year-old Tomic could depose four-times champion Federer proved wide of the mark.
Teen Tomic had already come through two five-setters to reach the fourth round while 30-year-old Federer looked as fresh as a daisy in securing a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 win.
The Swiss, bidding to match Roy Emerson's record of five Australian Open titles, will face former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter-finals.
Federer agreed Tomic had the potential to win silverware.
"I think he has had a wonderful tournament and there's much more that's going to come the Australian way," he said.
"It's going to be tough against Del Potro. I don't look beyond that because he's coming up strong. He has had a good year, played all the top guys again and pushed us all."
BERDYCH BOOED
World number two Nadal, with heavy strapping on knee, ankle and foot, huffed and puffed his way past Lopez with little Spanish sparkle but was happy to go no more than three sets.
Memories of his last eight withdrawal against Andy Murray two years ago, and defeat at the hands of David Ferrer last year, still haunt him.
"Hopefully it won't happen this time," said Nadal after his 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win.
"Every year is different. I had a bad experience for the last two years here. It's tough to have to go out of a tournament like Australia in quarter-finals."
In the day's only real note of controversy, Czech Berdych was booed off Hisense Arena after a bad tempered 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 7-6 win over Nicolas Almagro.
Berdych refused to shake hands with the Spaniard after he sealed the win because he felt the 10th-seeded Almagro had deliberately blasted a return at his head during the fourth set.
"The court is pretty big and you always have some space to put the ball in," number seven Berdych complained.
"And not even if you are standing three or four metres from the guy (does he need) to hit it straight to your face.
"This is not the way how tennis is."
Berdych's courtside interview was drowned out by the crowd booing and hissing, while tennis coach and commentator Brad Gilbert said he was appalled at the Czech's decision.
Monday, January 23, 2012
PCB wants to host Bangladesh Test series
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has informed the ICC that it intends to host Bangladesh for a Test series in April in a bid to revive international cricket at home.
A PCB official said that the board was confident of the Bangladesh tour going ahead since the government had also given its assurance of top level security arrangements for the touring side.
"The reason we have kept the ICC in the loop is that even their security experts are aware of the arrangements being made for the Bangladesh team. But primarily this is a bilateral series that has to be finalized between two boards," a PCB official said on Sunday, reports NDTV sports.
"Our main aim is to break the ice of Test teams not coming to Pakistan. If Bangladesh come we will have better chances of convincing other Boards that they also now need to support us," he said.
The PCB sent its chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad recently to Dhaka to personally offer condolences on the sad demise of the chief executive of the Bangladesh Cricket Board Manzur Ahmed.
The official said Subhan had not officially discussed the invitation to Bangladesh Board to send its team to Pakistan but the BCB officials had indicated that they were in the process of getting clearance from their government to send a high level delegation to Pakistan to inspect the security arrangements for their team.
The official, who declined to be named, admitted that the chances of Bangladesh touring Pakistan would depend entirely on the briefing given to their security delegation.
"If their security delegation is satisfied than the tour is on and it will be a big breakthrough for Pakistan cricket," the official said.
No foreign Test team has toured Pakistan since the March 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
The official also said that the PCB was not concerned with reports emanating from Bangladesh that some of their players and team officials were not keen on playing in Pakistan because of security concerns.
"That is an internal matter between the Bangladesh board and their team. Our primary concern is that the BCB first clears the tour," he added.
He said that the PCB was also ready to welcome visits by any security experts of the ICC or the Maryleborne Cricket Club (MCC) cricket committee.
"We would welcome such visits because the ICC special task force team on Pakistan did not send a team to Pakistan but if the ICC and MCC decide to send their security delegations even before the Bangladesh tour we would be very happy," he said.
A PCB official said that the board was confident of the Bangladesh tour going ahead since the government had also given its assurance of top level security arrangements for the touring side.
"The reason we have kept the ICC in the loop is that even their security experts are aware of the arrangements being made for the Bangladesh team. But primarily this is a bilateral series that has to be finalized between two boards," a PCB official said on Sunday, reports NDTV sports.
"Our main aim is to break the ice of Test teams not coming to Pakistan. If Bangladesh come we will have better chances of convincing other Boards that they also now need to support us," he said.
The PCB sent its chief operating officer Subhan Ahmad recently to Dhaka to personally offer condolences on the sad demise of the chief executive of the Bangladesh Cricket Board Manzur Ahmed.
The official said Subhan had not officially discussed the invitation to Bangladesh Board to send its team to Pakistan but the BCB officials had indicated that they were in the process of getting clearance from their government to send a high level delegation to Pakistan to inspect the security arrangements for their team.
The official, who declined to be named, admitted that the chances of Bangladesh touring Pakistan would depend entirely on the briefing given to their security delegation.
"If their security delegation is satisfied than the tour is on and it will be a big breakthrough for Pakistan cricket," the official said.
No foreign Test team has toured Pakistan since the March 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.
The official also said that the PCB was not concerned with reports emanating from Bangladesh that some of their players and team officials were not keen on playing in Pakistan because of security concerns.
"That is an internal matter between the Bangladesh board and their team. Our primary concern is that the BCB first clears the tour," he added.
He said that the PCB was also ready to welcome visits by any security experts of the ICC or the Maryleborne Cricket Club (MCC) cricket committee.
"We would welcome such visits because the ICC special task force team on Pakistan did not send a team to Pakistan but if the ICC and MCC decide to send their security delegations even before the Bangladesh tour we would be very happy," he said.
Juve go four points clear, Totti breaks record
Second-half goals from Stephan Lichtsteiner and Emanuele Giaccherini sent Juventus four points clear in Serie A after they defeated Atalanta 2-0 in Bergamo on Saturday to finish the first half of the season unbeaten.
In the day's other match, Francesco Totti struck twice to set a league scoring record as resurgent AS Roma climbed to sixth by crushing Cesena 5-1.
"I will play until I'm physically unable to do what I want," the 35-year-old Totti told the Mediaset Premium TV channel.
"If we continue to play like this we'll go far. We're enjoying our football and pleasing fans too," he added after claiming his 211th goal for Roma, a league record for a single club.
In Bergamo, Swiss defender Lichtsteiner nodded in Andrea Pirlo's brilliant pass after 55 minutes to give Juve a deserved lead before substitute Giaccherini's volley made the game safe eight minutes from time.
Atalanta remained sixth from bottom while the win gave Juve 41 points from 19 games, four ahead of AC Milan who visit bottom club Novara on Sunday.
Juve had early chances to open the scoring with Alessandro Matri blasting Simone Pepe's inviting centre over the bar and Pepe screwing a right-foot effort wide five minutes later.
Defender Andrea Barzagli then struck the post in the 11th minute and Mirko Vucinic's half-volley forced Andrea Consigli into a near-post save.
The home side threatened on the break but Juve continued to carve out chances with left back Paolo De Ceglie twice going close and Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal crashing a 25-metre shot against the crossbar three minutes before the break.
NEAR POST
The visitors finally broke through when right back Lichtsteiner sneaked a header inside the near post after being picked out by Pirlo.
Substitute Luca Marrone fired straight at Consigli after a fine one-two with Matri before setting up Giaccherini to wrap up the points.
Juve coach Antonio Conte said the tag of 'winter champions', handed out by the media after the first half of the season, had no value.
"That title means nothing to me ... but my boys are overcoming all obstacles. It's been an incredible first half," he told Sky Sports.
"We're top and unbeaten after playing against some teams that started our matches as favourites."
At the Stadio Olimpico, captain Totti struck after 34 seconds before volleying his second from an Erik Lamela pass.
Striker Fabio Borini grabbed the third in the ninth minute as Roma went on the rampage.
Third from bottom Cesena pulled a goal back through Brazilian Eder after 59 minutes but defender Juan (62) and Miralem Pjanic (70) clinched Roma's fourth straight league win as they chalked up 30 points from 18 games.
Roma, who had their previous match against Catania abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch, went 1-0 up when Totti ran on to a cheeky back-flick from Lamela and his fierce shot took a deflection to beat keeper Francesco Antonioli at the near post.
The home team poured forward and quickly doubled the lead with Argentine striker Lamela again finding his skipper and Totti overtaking Swedish striker Gunnar Nordahl who hit 210 goals for AC Milan between 1949-56.
Borini, preferred to Bojan Krkic in attack, then swept home Leandro Greco's left-wing centre as Cesena's defence was once more cut to ribbons.
Pjanic had a shot blocked on the goalline after 11 minutes but the score stayed the same until Eder raced through before lifting the ball over keeper Maarten Stekelenburg and slotting in for the visitors.
Totti went agonisingly close to a hat-trick with a rasping drive on the hour but Juan made it 4-1 by sidefooting home the rebound after Borini's header struck the woodwork.
Bosnia midfielder Pjanic netted the fifth, slamming the ball past Antonioli with his left foot after the keeper had failed to hold his initial effort.
In the day's other match, Francesco Totti struck twice to set a league scoring record as resurgent AS Roma climbed to sixth by crushing Cesena 5-1.
"I will play until I'm physically unable to do what I want," the 35-year-old Totti told the Mediaset Premium TV channel.
"If we continue to play like this we'll go far. We're enjoying our football and pleasing fans too," he added after claiming his 211th goal for Roma, a league record for a single club.
In Bergamo, Swiss defender Lichtsteiner nodded in Andrea Pirlo's brilliant pass after 55 minutes to give Juve a deserved lead before substitute Giaccherini's volley made the game safe eight minutes from time.
Atalanta remained sixth from bottom while the win gave Juve 41 points from 19 games, four ahead of AC Milan who visit bottom club Novara on Sunday.
Juve had early chances to open the scoring with Alessandro Matri blasting Simone Pepe's inviting centre over the bar and Pepe screwing a right-foot effort wide five minutes later.
Defender Andrea Barzagli then struck the post in the 11th minute and Mirko Vucinic's half-volley forced Andrea Consigli into a near-post save.
The home side threatened on the break but Juve continued to carve out chances with left back Paolo De Ceglie twice going close and Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal crashing a 25-metre shot against the crossbar three minutes before the break.
NEAR POST
The visitors finally broke through when right back Lichtsteiner sneaked a header inside the near post after being picked out by Pirlo.
Substitute Luca Marrone fired straight at Consigli after a fine one-two with Matri before setting up Giaccherini to wrap up the points.
Juve coach Antonio Conte said the tag of 'winter champions', handed out by the media after the first half of the season, had no value.
"That title means nothing to me ... but my boys are overcoming all obstacles. It's been an incredible first half," he told Sky Sports.
"We're top and unbeaten after playing against some teams that started our matches as favourites."
At the Stadio Olimpico, captain Totti struck after 34 seconds before volleying his second from an Erik Lamela pass.
Striker Fabio Borini grabbed the third in the ninth minute as Roma went on the rampage.
Third from bottom Cesena pulled a goal back through Brazilian Eder after 59 minutes but defender Juan (62) and Miralem Pjanic (70) clinched Roma's fourth straight league win as they chalked up 30 points from 18 games.
Roma, who had their previous match against Catania abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch, went 1-0 up when Totti ran on to a cheeky back-flick from Lamela and his fierce shot took a deflection to beat keeper Francesco Antonioli at the near post.
The home team poured forward and quickly doubled the lead with Argentine striker Lamela again finding his skipper and Totti overtaking Swedish striker Gunnar Nordahl who hit 210 goals for AC Milan between 1949-56.
Borini, preferred to Bojan Krkic in attack, then swept home Leandro Greco's left-wing centre as Cesena's defence was once more cut to ribbons.
Pjanic had a shot blocked on the goalline after 11 minutes but the score stayed the same until Eder raced through before lifting the ball over keeper Maarten Stekelenburg and slotting in for the visitors.
Totti went agonisingly close to a hat-trick with a rasping drive on the hour but Juan made it 4-1 by sidefooting home the rebound after Borini's header struck the woodwork.
Bosnia midfielder Pjanic netted the fifth, slamming the ball past Antonioli with his left foot after the keeper had failed to hold his initial effort.
Away days problematic for Test best contenders
With Pakistan shedding their notorious unpredictability and Australia coming to terms with a tricky transition, Test cricket hierarchy in the next couple of months might look more like a banana republic... ripe for a coup.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) dangles an annual $175,000 carrot for whichever team tops Test rankings on the April 1 cut-off date and table-toppers England were justified in believing they could be cashing the cheque in a few months.
They still lead the race by a healthy margin but being thumped by an ambitious Pakistan team inside three days of their first Test this year, skipper Andrew Strauss and his team-mates can no longer take it for granted.
If England may be lined up for an April Fool's Day surprise, the situation is even worse for the team they inherited the number one ranking from.
India, beaten 4-0 by England last year, are staring at their second successive overseas whitewash against an Australian team determined to claw their way back to the top.
The inconsistencies at the top is good news for South Africa, who now sniff a slim chance to gatecrash England's party.
At present, England top the official rankings with 125 points, followed by India (118), South Africa (117), Australia (103), Pakistan (99) and Sri Lanka (98).
England's rise to the top was a reward for a blemish-free 2011 when Strauss's men did not lose a single Test.
But the side were given a rude awakening in Dubai earlier this week where Pakistan, one of the most improved teams last year with just one loss and six wins, spanked them in three days to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
"This England team have not won in the subcontinent. They even played badly in the World Cup last year, which was held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka," former England opener Geoffrey Boycott wrote in a column in the Telegraph newspaper.
"Until they start playing well in the subcontinent they can't call themselves the best team in the world and definitely can't be judged against some of the other great England sides," Boycott added.
Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad was also quick to pour scorn over the ICC system.
"I don't believe much in rankings because it doesn't give a clear picture of the team's overall performance in the world," Miandad was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
"England are now the number one team because they had the home advantage and never lost in their backyard."
There was similar disputing of India's rise to the top despite their woeful record outside the subcontinent.
However, England can still guarantee themselves the hefty ICC cheque by winning at least one of the remaining two Tests against Pakistan or drawing both.
But if Pakistan beat England by a 2-0 margin or more, South Africa could pocket the cheque, provided they can blank New Zealand in the away test series in March.
England now have two Tests to redeem themselves or it would be more instability at the top, which maybe good for the game but certainly not for Strauss and his men.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) dangles an annual $175,000 carrot for whichever team tops Test rankings on the April 1 cut-off date and table-toppers England were justified in believing they could be cashing the cheque in a few months.
They still lead the race by a healthy margin but being thumped by an ambitious Pakistan team inside three days of their first Test this year, skipper Andrew Strauss and his team-mates can no longer take it for granted.
If England may be lined up for an April Fool's Day surprise, the situation is even worse for the team they inherited the number one ranking from.
India, beaten 4-0 by England last year, are staring at their second successive overseas whitewash against an Australian team determined to claw their way back to the top.
The inconsistencies at the top is good news for South Africa, who now sniff a slim chance to gatecrash England's party.
At present, England top the official rankings with 125 points, followed by India (118), South Africa (117), Australia (103), Pakistan (99) and Sri Lanka (98).
England's rise to the top was a reward for a blemish-free 2011 when Strauss's men did not lose a single Test.
But the side were given a rude awakening in Dubai earlier this week where Pakistan, one of the most improved teams last year with just one loss and six wins, spanked them in three days to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
"This England team have not won in the subcontinent. They even played badly in the World Cup last year, which was held in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka," former England opener Geoffrey Boycott wrote in a column in the Telegraph newspaper.
"Until they start playing well in the subcontinent they can't call themselves the best team in the world and definitely can't be judged against some of the other great England sides," Boycott added.
Former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad was also quick to pour scorn over the ICC system.
"I don't believe much in rankings because it doesn't give a clear picture of the team's overall performance in the world," Miandad was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
"England are now the number one team because they had the home advantage and never lost in their backyard."
There was similar disputing of India's rise to the top despite their woeful record outside the subcontinent.
However, England can still guarantee themselves the hefty ICC cheque by winning at least one of the remaining two Tests against Pakistan or drawing both.
But if Pakistan beat England by a 2-0 margin or more, South Africa could pocket the cheque, provided they can blank New Zealand in the away test series in March.
England now have two Tests to redeem themselves or it would be more instability at the top, which maybe good for the game but certainly not for Strauss and his men.
Chelsea thwarted, Newcastle and Liverpool slump
Chelsea were held and Newcastle United and Liverpool humbled on a day of surprises in the Premier League on Saturday when the lesser lights enjoyed some unexpected success against the more established teams.
Chelsea drew 0-0 at Norwich City, Newcastle crashed 5-2 at Fulham and Liverpool, who had beaten Bolton Wanderers in their last 10 league meetings over the past five years, lost 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium as the home side climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since mid-September.
There was also a notable win for Queens Park Rangers, who moved out of the relegation zone after beating bottom side Wigan Athletic 3-1 to record their first league win in 10 games and their first three points under new coach Mark Hughes.
With four of the top five not playing until Sunday - when leaders Manchester City host third-placed Tottenham Hotspur and second-placed Manchester United visit fifth-placed Arsenal - Chelsea had a chance to close the gap but missed out at Norwich.
The West London side remain fourth, five points behind Harry Redknapp's high-flying Tottenham team.
DISAPPOINTING DAY
Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas said his side did not do well enough at Norwich despite dominating much of the game as they were thwarted by a fine goalkeeping display by John Ruddy.
Chelsea's Spain striker Fernando Torres, their 50 million pounds signing from Liverpool a year ago, failed to find the net for the 17th successive match for club and country.
Chelsea also lost England midfielder Frank Lampard with a suspected torn calf muscle in the first half.
Villas-Boas, who delayed giving a debut to England defender Gary Cahill, the club's new signing from Bolton, said Chelsea should have done better and a point was not enough.
"It was a frustrating day because we were dominant, particularly in the second half, but we just couldn't find the net," he told Sky Sports.
"I thought John Ruddy was magnificent for them and for the coordination of his defence, but for our progress in the league a point is not enough."
Regarding another goalless Torres appearance, he added: "He had good chances and to have good chances you have to position yourself well, and with a bit more luck he will find the back of the net.
FULHAM FAVOUR
In some respects Chelsea's West London neighbours Fulham did them a favour by crushing Newcastle who stayed in sixth place on 36 points, five behind Chelsea.
Danny Guthrie put Newcastle ahead just before half-time with a superb strike, before Fulham netted four quick goals with Clint Dempsey scoring twice before adding a third later on for his second hat-trick in three games.
Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora also converted penalties for Fulham who climbed to 12th.
Dempsey told the BBC: "We never found our rhythm in the first half but we began to get into their penalty area in the second half.
"Danny Murphy scored the first goal and then we kept going and going. Luckily the ball kept going in. We never took our foot off the gas and we took our chances."
LIVERPOOL DEFEAT
Liverpool also had a day to forget at Bolton, who scored three goals against them in a league match for the first time since 1950 and won at home in the league for only the second time in 11 games this season.
Bolton, in the bottom three for four months, ended the day in 17th place after goals from Mark Davies, Nigel Reo Coker and a rare second half strike from Gretar Steinsson.
Craig Bellamy had pulled one back for Liverpool when they were 2-0 down following a nod-on from his much criticised goal-shy partner Andy Carroll.
The loss left Liverpool adrift in seventh place, six points behind a Champions League spot.
"We are out of the bottom three and we have to move on from that. I thought we deserved it today," Bolton manager Owen Coyle told ESPN.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said of his players: "If they think they can just turn up and get a result, not be as competitive and not match the opposition for effort and commitment then they've got a lesson today."
It was a good day for Ireland skipper Robbie Keane, on loan at Aston Villa from Los Angeles Galaxy, who scored twice on his full debut to help earn a 3-2 win at 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers where he started his career 15 years ago.
Tim Cahill scored for Everton for the first time in 34 matches after a blatant handball by team-mate Marouane Fellaini was missed by the referee as Everton drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers, who equalised through David Goodwillie.
That briefly lifted Blackburn out of the bottom three but they ended the day back in it with just Wolves and Wigan beneath them.
Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion won 2-1 at Stoke City with a stoppage time winner from a free kick by Graham Dorrans after Jon Walters missed a penalty for the home side, and Sunderland continued their revival under new boss Martin O'Neill with a 2-0 win over Swansea City.
Chelsea drew 0-0 at Norwich City, Newcastle crashed 5-2 at Fulham and Liverpool, who had beaten Bolton Wanderers in their last 10 league meetings over the past five years, lost 3-1 at the Reebok Stadium as the home side climbed out of the bottom three for the first time since mid-September.
There was also a notable win for Queens Park Rangers, who moved out of the relegation zone after beating bottom side Wigan Athletic 3-1 to record their first league win in 10 games and their first three points under new coach Mark Hughes.
With four of the top five not playing until Sunday - when leaders Manchester City host third-placed Tottenham Hotspur and second-placed Manchester United visit fifth-placed Arsenal - Chelsea had a chance to close the gap but missed out at Norwich.
The West London side remain fourth, five points behind Harry Redknapp's high-flying Tottenham team.
DISAPPOINTING DAY
Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas said his side did not do well enough at Norwich despite dominating much of the game as they were thwarted by a fine goalkeeping display by John Ruddy.
Chelsea's Spain striker Fernando Torres, their 50 million pounds signing from Liverpool a year ago, failed to find the net for the 17th successive match for club and country.
Chelsea also lost England midfielder Frank Lampard with a suspected torn calf muscle in the first half.
Villas-Boas, who delayed giving a debut to England defender Gary Cahill, the club's new signing from Bolton, said Chelsea should have done better and a point was not enough.
"It was a frustrating day because we were dominant, particularly in the second half, but we just couldn't find the net," he told Sky Sports.
"I thought John Ruddy was magnificent for them and for the coordination of his defence, but for our progress in the league a point is not enough."
Regarding another goalless Torres appearance, he added: "He had good chances and to have good chances you have to position yourself well, and with a bit more luck he will find the back of the net.
FULHAM FAVOUR
In some respects Chelsea's West London neighbours Fulham did them a favour by crushing Newcastle who stayed in sixth place on 36 points, five behind Chelsea.
Danny Guthrie put Newcastle ahead just before half-time with a superb strike, before Fulham netted four quick goals with Clint Dempsey scoring twice before adding a third later on for his second hat-trick in three games.
Danny Murphy and Bobby Zamora also converted penalties for Fulham who climbed to 12th.
Dempsey told the BBC: "We never found our rhythm in the first half but we began to get into their penalty area in the second half.
"Danny Murphy scored the first goal and then we kept going and going. Luckily the ball kept going in. We never took our foot off the gas and we took our chances."
LIVERPOOL DEFEAT
Liverpool also had a day to forget at Bolton, who scored three goals against them in a league match for the first time since 1950 and won at home in the league for only the second time in 11 games this season.
Bolton, in the bottom three for four months, ended the day in 17th place after goals from Mark Davies, Nigel Reo Coker and a rare second half strike from Gretar Steinsson.
Craig Bellamy had pulled one back for Liverpool when they were 2-0 down following a nod-on from his much criticised goal-shy partner Andy Carroll.
The loss left Liverpool adrift in seventh place, six points behind a Champions League spot.
"We are out of the bottom three and we have to move on from that. I thought we deserved it today," Bolton manager Owen Coyle told ESPN.
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said of his players: "If they think they can just turn up and get a result, not be as competitive and not match the opposition for effort and commitment then they've got a lesson today."
It was a good day for Ireland skipper Robbie Keane, on loan at Aston Villa from Los Angeles Galaxy, who scored twice on his full debut to help earn a 3-2 win at 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers where he started his career 15 years ago.
Tim Cahill scored for Everton for the first time in 34 matches after a blatant handball by team-mate Marouane Fellaini was missed by the referee as Everton drew 1-1 with Blackburn Rovers, who equalised through David Goodwillie.
That briefly lifted Blackburn out of the bottom three but they ended the day back in it with just Wolves and Wigan beneath them.
Elsewhere, West Bromwich Albion won 2-1 at Stoke City with a stoppage time winner from a free kick by Graham Dorrans after Jon Walters missed a penalty for the home side, and Sunderland continued their revival under new boss Martin O'Neill with a 2-0 win over Swansea City.
Indian pride, Sachin quest add spice
India have five days at the Adelaide Oval to show some fighting spirit, restore a modicum of pride and avoid a whitewash in the fourth and final Test against Australia this week.
The tourists arrived Down Under ranked second in the world Test rankings with confidence high that their record of having never won a series on Australian soil might finally be banished.
Three humbling routs later and, starting on Tuesday, a squad containing some of the finest batsmen the game has seen will be reduced to scrapping for a face-saving victory against the fourth-ranked Australians.
They will have to do it without captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was banned for the Test because of his team's slow over rate in the third test in Perth, which the hosts won by an innings and 37 runs in two and a half days.
"Whatever backlash is happening in India, we have to accept it," opener Gautam Gambhir said this week.
"There was a lot of expectations from us that we should have done well with the kind of batting we have. We have let the entire nation down."
Sachin Tendulkar's continuing quest for his century of international centuries at least offers Indian fans the prospect of something to celebrate in the series.
The Adelaide Oval, one of Test cricket's most picturesque venues, would be a suitable setting for the milestone and is also likely to offer a suitably batting-friendly track.
"I'll be looking at a traditional Adelaide Oval pitch," head groundsman Damian Hough said this week.
"A little bit in it on day one for the quicks, then settling down on days two and three, and then offering a bit for the spinners on days four and five."
GREAT CHALLENGE
Australia are almost certain to drop one of the quartet of quicks who bowled them to victory in Perth to allow the recall of spinner Nathan Lyon.
Mitchell Starc, by his own admission, is most likely to carry the drinks leaving Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris to once again get stuck in to the Indian batsmen.
Lyon is looking forward to bowling against Tendulkar at a venue where a year ago he was cutting the grass as a member of the ground staff as Australia crashed to innings defeat in the Ashes series against England.
"India's a great side to play against. Even though we're up three-nil, we're expecting India to come out and hit us hard," he told reporters in Adelaide this week.
"They have just been a great challenge for myself, being a young spinner and bowling against the best batters against spin.
"Their hands are unbelievable and they're really confident against spin."
Lyon is possibly alone in his appreciation of the Indian batting in this series as the much vaunted line-up has failed to hit a single century between them.
Gambhir's opening partner Virender Sehwag will captain the side in Dhoni's absence, while Wriddhiman Saha is almost certain to play his second Test match as replacement wicketkeeper.
"Pressure is there but it's a positive," Saha said.
"There is no negative in it. There is only good positive pressure."
The tourists arrived Down Under ranked second in the world Test rankings with confidence high that their record of having never won a series on Australian soil might finally be banished.
Three humbling routs later and, starting on Tuesday, a squad containing some of the finest batsmen the game has seen will be reduced to scrapping for a face-saving victory against the fourth-ranked Australians.
They will have to do it without captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who was banned for the Test because of his team's slow over rate in the third test in Perth, which the hosts won by an innings and 37 runs in two and a half days.
"Whatever backlash is happening in India, we have to accept it," opener Gautam Gambhir said this week.
"There was a lot of expectations from us that we should have done well with the kind of batting we have. We have let the entire nation down."
Sachin Tendulkar's continuing quest for his century of international centuries at least offers Indian fans the prospect of something to celebrate in the series.
The Adelaide Oval, one of Test cricket's most picturesque venues, would be a suitable setting for the milestone and is also likely to offer a suitably batting-friendly track.
"I'll be looking at a traditional Adelaide Oval pitch," head groundsman Damian Hough said this week.
"A little bit in it on day one for the quicks, then settling down on days two and three, and then offering a bit for the spinners on days four and five."
GREAT CHALLENGE
Australia are almost certain to drop one of the quartet of quicks who bowled them to victory in Perth to allow the recall of spinner Nathan Lyon.
Mitchell Starc, by his own admission, is most likely to carry the drinks leaving Ben Hilfenhaus, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris to once again get stuck in to the Indian batsmen.
Lyon is looking forward to bowling against Tendulkar at a venue where a year ago he was cutting the grass as a member of the ground staff as Australia crashed to innings defeat in the Ashes series against England.
"India's a great side to play against. Even though we're up three-nil, we're expecting India to come out and hit us hard," he told reporters in Adelaide this week.
"They have just been a great challenge for myself, being a young spinner and bowling against the best batters against spin.
"Their hands are unbelievable and they're really confident against spin."
Lyon is possibly alone in his appreciation of the Indian batting in this series as the much vaunted line-up has failed to hit a single century between them.
Gambhir's opening partner Virender Sehwag will captain the side in Dhoni's absence, while Wriddhiman Saha is almost certain to play his second Test match as replacement wicketkeeper.
"Pressure is there but it's a positive," Saha said.
"There is no negative in it. There is only good positive pressure."
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Fergie and I will not retire: Wenger
Arsene Wenger believes Sir Alex Ferguson could be stuck with him for a long time to come as he reveals his retirement plan - or a lack of.
The two managers will face off against each other for the umpteenth time on Sunday as Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Their rivalry throughout their mangerial careers in England has been one of the attractions of the Premier League.
And Wenger does not expect that to end anytime soon.
"I can't imagine [me retiring] but it will happen. I will never retire completely. I will maybe do a different job, not every day out there with the football team. But I will work, that's for sure," the Frenchman told the club's official website, reports ESPNstar.
"I don't stay sane!" he added. "It is a life where you need to take a certain distance from the immediate emotional aspect of the game and you learn that with experience. You have to be involved emotionally because it is part of your job.
"He [Ferguson] will manage until he dies and I think he will be 100," "I only said that [I have the same hunger] because I'm very polite!
Wenger, who celebrates his 15th-year anniversary with the Gunners this season, admits it would be hard to surpass Ferguson, who is in his 25th year at Old Trafford.
But his eyes are only fixed on Sunday's showdown.
"My motivation is to beat him. To last the longest is not a record. Of course I will never beat his record. But to win the game on Sunday is my motivation.
"We have to consider that we are in a job where we need our physical strength and health. That weakens, I've heard, the older you get."
The two managers will face off against each other for the umpteenth time on Sunday as Arsenal host Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.
Their rivalry throughout their mangerial careers in England has been one of the attractions of the Premier League.
And Wenger does not expect that to end anytime soon.
"I can't imagine [me retiring] but it will happen. I will never retire completely. I will maybe do a different job, not every day out there with the football team. But I will work, that's for sure," the Frenchman told the club's official website, reports ESPNstar.
"I don't stay sane!" he added. "It is a life where you need to take a certain distance from the immediate emotional aspect of the game and you learn that with experience. You have to be involved emotionally because it is part of your job.
"He [Ferguson] will manage until he dies and I think he will be 100," "I only said that [I have the same hunger] because I'm very polite!
Wenger, who celebrates his 15th-year anniversary with the Gunners this season, admits it would be hard to surpass Ferguson, who is in his 25th year at Old Trafford.
But his eyes are only fixed on Sunday's showdown.
"My motivation is to beat him. To last the longest is not a record. Of course I will never beat his record. But to win the game on Sunday is my motivation.
"We have to consider that we are in a job where we need our physical strength and health. That weakens, I've heard, the older you get."
Schalke in dreamland
Schalke 04 joined Bayern Munich at the top of the table after easing past VfB Stuttgart 3-1 on Saturday to collect their fourth straight Bundesliga win.
Hosts Schalke took a third-minute lead through Joel Matip's close-range effort and Kyriakos Papadopoulos rose above two defenders at the near post to drill home a header in the 57th.
Teenager Julian Draxler finished off a quick passing move involving Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Raul to grab the third goal 10 minutes from time before lacklustre Stuttgart notched a late consolation through Shinji Okazaki.
Bayern are top on goal difference despite slumping to a 3-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday, the first game since the league's winter break.
Gladbach are third on 36 points, one off the pace and two ahead of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund who visit Hamburg SV on Sunday.
"I was surprised by how strongly we started," Schalke coach Huub Stevens told reporters.
"Tactically we played a very strong game. We now have as many points as Bayern and it is nice to dream."
HEAD INJURY
The only sour note for Schalke was the head injury sustained by captain Benedikt Hoewedes.
He could be out for some time after colliding with team mate Marko Hoeger just before the break and being taken to hospital.
VfL Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath fielded four of his eight new signings in the 1-0 victory over Cologne but it was youth academy product Sebastian Polter who headed in the only goal from a Christian Traesch cross.
Werder Bremen missed the chance to close in on the top spots, drawing 0-0 at lowly Kaiserslautern to remain in fifth place on 30 points after 18 games.
Nuremberg kicked off their year in style, beating fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin 2-0 to move above their opponents into 12th spot with 21 points.
In another relegation battle Freiburg struck two minutes from time through Matthias Ginter to snatch a 1-0 win over bottom club Augsburg while Hoffenheim and Hanover 96 shared a 0-0 draw.
Hosts Schalke took a third-minute lead through Joel Matip's close-range effort and Kyriakos Papadopoulos rose above two defenders at the near post to drill home a header in the 57th.
Teenager Julian Draxler finished off a quick passing move involving Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Raul to grab the third goal 10 minutes from time before lacklustre Stuttgart notched a late consolation through Shinji Okazaki.
Bayern are top on goal difference despite slumping to a 3-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Friday, the first game since the league's winter break.
Gladbach are third on 36 points, one off the pace and two ahead of fourth-placed Borussia Dortmund who visit Hamburg SV on Sunday.
"I was surprised by how strongly we started," Schalke coach Huub Stevens told reporters.
"Tactically we played a very strong game. We now have as many points as Bayern and it is nice to dream."
HEAD INJURY
The only sour note for Schalke was the head injury sustained by captain Benedikt Hoewedes.
He could be out for some time after colliding with team mate Marko Hoeger just before the break and being taken to hospital.
VfL Wolfsburg coach Felix Magath fielded four of his eight new signings in the 1-0 victory over Cologne but it was youth academy product Sebastian Polter who headed in the only goal from a Christian Traesch cross.
Werder Bremen missed the chance to close in on the top spots, drawing 0-0 at lowly Kaiserslautern to remain in fifth place on 30 points after 18 games.
Nuremberg kicked off their year in style, beating fellow strugglers Hertha Berlin 2-0 to move above their opponents into 12th spot with 21 points.
In another relegation battle Freiburg struck two minutes from time through Matthias Ginter to snatch a 1-0 win over bottom club Augsburg while Hoffenheim and Hanover 96 shared a 0-0 draw.
Late Balotelli penalty sinks Spurs
Mario Balotelli scored the winner with a stoppage-time penalty as Manchester City beat title rivals Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 on Sunday to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League.
The game had been heading for a draw, with City having squandered a two-goal lead after four goals in a mad nine-minute spell midway through the second half.
The hosts had gone ahead in the 56th minute through Samir Nasri and doubled their lead three minutes later courtesy of Joleon Lescott's bundled effort.
Spurs got themselves right back in it with a Jermain Defoe goal on 60 minutes after a blunder by City defender Stefan Savic followed five minutes later by an exquisite Gareth Bale strike.
The visitors could have grabbed all the points in stoppage time when Defoe went agonisingly wide with a golden opportunity but City made the most of their chance at the other end when Ledley King brought down Balotelli.
The Italian converted calmly to send the packed stadium into raptures as City moved to 54 points from 22 games, with second-placed Manchester United on 48 before their game at Arsenal later in the day. Spurs stay third with 46.
The game had been heading for a draw, with City having squandered a two-goal lead after four goals in a mad nine-minute spell midway through the second half.
The hosts had gone ahead in the 56th minute through Samir Nasri and doubled their lead three minutes later courtesy of Joleon Lescott's bundled effort.
Spurs got themselves right back in it with a Jermain Defoe goal on 60 minutes after a blunder by City defender Stefan Savic followed five minutes later by an exquisite Gareth Bale strike.
The visitors could have grabbed all the points in stoppage time when Defoe went agonisingly wide with a golden opportunity but City made the most of their chance at the other end when Ledley King brought down Balotelli.
The Italian converted calmly to send the packed stadium into raptures as City moved to 54 points from 22 games, with second-placed Manchester United on 48 before their game at Arsenal later in the day. Spurs stay third with 46.
Magic Messi fires Barca
Lionel Messi netted two typically brilliant goals and a rare header as Barcelona closed to within two points of La Liga leaders Real Madrid, at least for a few hours, with a 4-1 win at Malaga on Sunday.
The Argentine World Player of the Year leaped to nod Adriano's floated cross into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute at the Rosaleda before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
Any lingering Malaga hopes were snuffed out three minutes later when Messi slotted his second, a trademark run and finish that left the home defence in disarray.
The 24-year-old, who won a third successive World Player award this month, curled a free kick on to the underside of the crossbar 15 minutes from time before he again left his hapless markers trailing to complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.
His 22nd goal of the campaign put him one ahead of Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scorers chart.
Substitute Salomon Rondon, who replaced former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with half an hour remaining, scored a consolation for the home side five minutes from time.
"It was important to win today and I managed to get a few goals too so I am pleased all round," Messi, clutching his 'hat-trick' match ball, told Spanish television.
"All the games are tough when you are away from home but now we need to recuperate for what will definitely be a difficult match on Wednesday," he added, in reference to Barca's King's Cup quarter-final second leg at home to Real.
REPORTED RIFT
Victory lifted Barca to 44 points from 19 of 38 matches, with Real on 46 ahead of their home game against Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday (2030 GMT).
Third-placed Valencia dropped points for the fourth time in five matches and are nine behind Barca after conceding a goal in added time in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna earlier on Sunday.
Roberto Soldado looked to have secured victory for Unai Emery's side when he nodded his 12th goal of the season six minutes from time at the Reyno de Navarra stadium in Pamplona.
However, Valencia captain David Albelda was shown a straight red card moments later for a badly-timed lunge on David Timor and defender Lolo scrambled the ball home from the resulting free kick to rescue a point for the home side.
Levante can close to within two points of city rivals Valencia with a win at home to bottom club Real Zaragoza later on Sunday (1845).
Real Madrid need to recover from Wednesday's 2-1 Cup defeat at home to Barca amid reports in local media of a rift in the dressing room.
Sports daily Marca carried quotes from what it said was a row between coach Jose Mourinho and defender Sergio Ramos and the paper said some Real players had lost confidence in the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager.
The Argentine World Player of the Year leaped to nod Adriano's floated cross into the bottom corner in the 33rd minute at the Rosaleda before Alexis Sanchez made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half.
Any lingering Malaga hopes were snuffed out three minutes later when Messi slotted his second, a trademark run and finish that left the home defence in disarray.
The 24-year-old, who won a third successive World Player award this month, curled a free kick on to the underside of the crossbar 15 minutes from time before he again left his hapless markers trailing to complete his hat-trick in the 82nd minute.
His 22nd goal of the campaign put him one ahead of Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the scorers chart.
Substitute Salomon Rondon, who replaced former Manchester United and Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy with half an hour remaining, scored a consolation for the home side five minutes from time.
"It was important to win today and I managed to get a few goals too so I am pleased all round," Messi, clutching his 'hat-trick' match ball, told Spanish television.
"All the games are tough when you are away from home but now we need to recuperate for what will definitely be a difficult match on Wednesday," he added, in reference to Barca's King's Cup quarter-final second leg at home to Real.
REPORTED RIFT
Victory lifted Barca to 44 points from 19 of 38 matches, with Real on 46 ahead of their home game against Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday (2030 GMT).
Third-placed Valencia dropped points for the fourth time in five matches and are nine behind Barca after conceding a goal in added time in a 1-1 draw at Osasuna earlier on Sunday.
Roberto Soldado looked to have secured victory for Unai Emery's side when he nodded his 12th goal of the season six minutes from time at the Reyno de Navarra stadium in Pamplona.
However, Valencia captain David Albelda was shown a straight red card moments later for a badly-timed lunge on David Timor and defender Lolo scrambled the ball home from the resulting free kick to rescue a point for the home side.
Levante can close to within two points of city rivals Valencia with a win at home to bottom club Real Zaragoza later on Sunday (1845).
Real Madrid need to recover from Wednesday's 2-1 Cup defeat at home to Barca amid reports in local media of a rift in the dressing room.
Sports daily Marca carried quotes from what it said was a row between coach Jose Mourinho and defender Sergio Ramos and the paper said some Real players had lost confidence in the former Inter Milan and Chelsea manager.
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