France in danger, Ronaldo edges Portugal towards finals

 

France's hopes of reaching the World Cup finals are hanging by a thread after a 2-0 first-leg defeat away to Ukraine in their playoff on Friday while Cristiano Ronaldo's late winner gave Portugal the edge against Sweden.

Ten-man Iceland battled to 0-0 home draw with Croatia in Reykjavic to keep alive their dream of qualifying for a first major tournament while Greece will be confident of finishing off Romania next week after a 3-1 victory in Athens.

Of the eight European nations in the last-chance saloon after missing out on automatic passage to next year's tournament in Brazil, France are the worst placed going into next week's second legs after a miserable night in Kiev.

Second-half goals by Ukraine's Roman Zozulia and Andriy Yarmolenko and a red card for France defender Laurent Koscielny made it a night to forget for Didier Deschamps' side who need a vast improvement in Paris on Tuesday to repair the damage.

Aamir Khan, Lara extend best wishes to Tendulkar

West Indian cricket icon Brian Lara and Bollywood star Aamir Khan extended their best wishes to `Master Blaster` Sachin Tendulkar, as he wears the `National Blue` for the last time for his 200th Test match on home turf.

Lara said: "I want Sachin to get a lot of runs in this match. But I would also like to see West Indies victory. I would also like to congratulate and (wish) good luck to Shivnarain Chanderpaul ( West Indies cricketer) for his 150th Test match. It is a wonderful occasion, a momentous occasion, and I am happy to be here."

Aamir Khan said: "It is the most exciting day for all of us. India will not be batting today, so everyone is a bit disappointed. But, we will be able to see Sachin play tomorrow. I will definitely be coming tomorrow to see Sachin play. I will not miss it for anything."

Among thousands of Tendulkar fans, Mumbai`s famed `Dabbawalla`s said that the country is proud to have a cricket star like Tendulkar, and as a token of love, our association wants to present him with a Gandhi cap and special lunch box.

Former Indian cricketer, Kirti Azad said: "We have seen him (Sachin Tendulkar) for the past 25 years, and after he retires, it will be very painful for all of us, as he has made us proud many a times. I hope he makes us proud again and scores a double century in his 200th Test match."

Tendulkar is finishing a glittering 24-year career at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Emotions are running high among cricket fans across India, and many are celebrating his farewell to cricket in their own unique way.

Tendulkar made his debut for India against Pakistan in Karachi in 1989 as a curly-haired 16-year-old. He has scored the most runs in Tests and one-day cricket and his 51 Test centuries and 49 ODI hundreds are also records.

Saina, Kashyap shown the door in China

Indians suffered a disappointing day at the China Open Super Series Premier with star shuttler Saina Nehwal and Arundhati Pantawane going down in the women’s singles second round while Parupalli Kashyap lost in the men’s singles competition here on Thursday.

While Saina lost 21-16, 15-21, 17-21 to unseeded Sun Yu of China, Arundhati was defeated 13-21, 10-21 by third seed Wang Yihan, also of China. 

Kashyap was defeated 11-21, 12-21 by Kento Momota of Japan.

Saina, who was hoping to win her first trophy of the season, started off well enough coming back from an early 4-1 deficit to dominate the opening game.

But it was a completely different story in the second game as Sun opened up a 3-0 lead and maintained the advantage right till the end to even up the score.

The third and final game was an exciting affair with both players going for broke. Sania put up good a fight, winning three consecutive points to draw level at 8-8 before the Chinese came up with an incredible seven-point streak to lead 15-8.

The Hyderabad girl was in no mood to go down without a fight and produced a seven-point streak of her own to draw level yet again at 15-15. However, Sun had the last laugh, taking four points on the trot to wrap up the match. Sun will now face compatriot and top seed Li Xuerui in the quarter-finals.

Results:
Women’s singles: 6-Saina Nehwal lost to Sun Yu (Chn) 21-16, 15-21, 17-21; Arundhati Pantawane lost to Wang Yihan (Chn) 13-21, 10-21.

Men’s singles: Parupalli Kashyap lost to Kento Momota (Jpn) 11-21, 12-21.

Portugal and France face World Cup moment of truth

The battle for the final four European places for the 2014 World Cup finals get underway on Friday with France and Portugal battling to join the likes of fellow continental heavyweights holders Spain and Germany in Brazil.

Portugal, led by superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, have the toughest play-off as they face Sweden, who have their own icon in Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading their line.

Former champions France travel to Kiev to play Ukraine and will be hoping if they qualify it will not be in the controversial manner they did for the 2010 finals where the decisive goal against Ireland in their play-off was set up by Thierry Henry's infamous handball.

The other two play-offs pit goal-shy Greece against Romania while the fairytale could be provided by Iceland, bidding to become the smallest country to ever qualify for the finals, as they host 1998 semi-finalists Croatia.

Portugal coach Paulo Bento, who guided the side to last year's Euro semi-finals, knows expectations are high.

Many neutrals are disappointed that one of Ronaldo or Ibrahimovic will miss out on Brazil, but the PSG striker says his team deserve their place in the hat when the World Cup finals draw takes place on December 6 at Mata de Sao Joao.

Portugal are probably favourites given their team and their individuals, but we came second in a group featuring Germany and we deserve to go to Brazil more.” added the Sweden skipper. Ukraine will host a France side in danger of missing out on its first World Cup finals since 1994 and keen also to erase memories of their catastrophic appearance at the 2010 edition both on and off the pitch where the players ended up refusing to train.

France coach Didier Deschamps -- who in 1998 became the first French captain to lift the World Cup trophy as they beat Brazil in Paris -- said his players were in the right frame of mind to overcome Ukraine.

Romania are bidding to qualify for the first time since 1998 as they travel to Greece, who scored just 12 goals in 10 group games, in what could well be a finely balanced duel.

Iceland's surprising run to the play-offs has been due in large part to the calming and knowledgeable influence of experienced Swedish coach Lars Lagerback, who coached the Swedes at two World Cup finals.

Tendulkar - One last time

A deafening roar greeted Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday as he walked out to a guard of honour in his farewell Test at his home ground. Tendulkar's 200th Test match, against West Indies, at the Wankhede Stadium will also be his last, as the 'Little Master' brings the curtain down on a glittering 24-year career at the age of 40. The Indian government released two commemorative stamps, while local organisers used a specially minted coin to mark the occasion as Tendulkar led the team on to the ground. Tendulkar's last international game has been built up as an opportunity for fans to show their love for one of the greatest cricket players of all time. And that's exactly how it has started out. Thousands of adoring fans filed into the stadium on Thursday, many with their faces painted in the colors of the Indian flag and with either “Sachin” or “200” written on their foreheads to commemorate his 200th and last test match.

South Africa beat Pakistan in first Twenty20

South Africa beat Pakistan with a commanding nine wicket in the first Twenty20 international in Dubai on Wednesday to go 1-0 up in the two-match series.

Dale Steyn took 3-15 in his four hostile overs as Pakistan were restricted to 98-9 -- their lowest Twenty20 total against South Africa -- after they won the toss and opted to bat.

South Africa easily reached the target in 14.3 overs with opener Quinton de Kock hitting a 38-ball 48 not out while skipper Faf du Plessis made an unbeaten 37 knocking off the runs without being troubled by Pakistan's spin-packed attack.

The second and final Twenty20 will also be played in Dubai on Friday.

De Kock hit three boundaries and two sixes off 38 balls while Du Plessis hit four boundaries and a six off 40 deliveries as South Africa made short work of their opponents.

Du Plessis was impressed with how his bowlers had set up the victory.

“The wicket was quite dry and our bowlers have been putting their batsmen under pressure.

Pakistan's batsmen once again failed to fire just as they did in the 4-1 one day international series defeat.

Umar Akmal with a 41-ball 49 was the only batsman to put up any resistance in an otherwise chaotic batting display in which four batsmen failed to score after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat.

Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe chipped in with two wickets for the cost of just nine runs in his four tight overs, while Dale Steyn chipped in with two early wickets as Pakistan were reeling at 4-3.

Umar added 29 for the sixth wicket with Abdul Razzaq who made 10, before finally getting run out. He hit four boundaries and a six.

Shoaib Malik made 12 while Shahid Afridi scored ten.

Paceman Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Imran Tahir took two wickets apiece.

Pakistan's previous lowest T20 total against South Africa was 119 which they made at Abu Dhabi in 2010.

Whatmore to leave as Pakistan coach in February

Pakistani coach Dav Whatmore will leave his job at the end of February, the country's cricket board said Tuesday, saying a mutual agreement had been reached not to extend his contract.

The 59-year-old former Australian batsman, who took over in March 2012, has faced mounting criticism over Pakistan's dismal run of results in recent months, with ex-players regularly calling for him to go.

Pakistan went down by 117 runs to South Africa in Sharjah on Monday, completing a 4-1 defeat in their one-day series.

The Proteas have given Pakistan a torrid time in 2013, beating them 3-0 in Tests and 3-2 in one-day internationals in South Africa in February-March.

Under Whatmore, who led Sri Lanka to their World Cup victory in 1996, Pakistan have not won a single Test series and the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) interim chairman admitted on Friday he was under pressure to sack him.

But the board said Whatmore had decided not to seek an extension to his contract, which expires at the end of February.

“Whatmore had informed the PCB that he would not be seeking a renewal of his contract due to his personal and family reasons,” said a PCB release.

“Under the circumstances, the PCB and Whatmore have mutually agreed to conclude the contract on February 28, 2014.”

Whatmore's last assignment will be a series against Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates in December-January.

Former paceman and coach Waqar Younis and former captain Moin Khan are in the running to replace him.