Melbourne: England's Ian Gould and Pakistan's Aleem Dar will be the on-field umpires for the India-Bangladesh cricket World Cup quarterfinal to be held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) here on Thursday.
Australians Steve Davis and Paul Reiffel will officiate as the third and fourth umpires while Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka will be the match referee, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced on Monday.
The ICC also announced officials for the other three quarterfinals.
The first one between Sri Lanka and South Africa at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Wednesday will be officiated by Rod Tucker and Nigel Llong (on-field), Richard Kettleborough (third umpire), Bruce Oxenford (fourth umpire) and David Boon (match referee).
Friday's Australia vs Pakistan last eight match at the Adelaide Oval will be umpired by Marais Erasmus and Kumar Dharmasena (on-field), Richard Illingworth (third umpire), Billy Bowden (fourth umpire) and Ranjan Madugalle (match referee).
The only quarterfinal in New Zealand at the Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday between the Black Caps and West Indies will be officiated by Richard Kettleborough and Bruce Oxenford (on-field), Rod Tucker (third umpire), Nigel Llong (fourth umpire) and Chris Broad (match referee).
Source: http://zeenews.india.com/sports/cricket/icc-world-cup-2015-ian-gould-aleem-dar-to-officiate-india-bangladesh-quarterfinal_1562433.html
Monday, March 16, 2015
Cricket World Cup 2015: Sri Lanka's Herath likely to be fit to face Proteas
Sri Lanka's front-line spinner Rangana Herath is recovering well and looks likely to face South Africa in Wednesday's World Cup quarter-final at the SCG , chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya said on Monday.
Herath, 36, split the webbing between two fingers on his bowling hand trying to take a return chance off Jos Buttler in a thumping defeat of England on March 1.
The left-armer missed the last two pool matches against Australia and Scotland but the stitches have been removed from the wound and he will be given until training on Tuesday to prove his fitness.
"Rangana is recovering fast and I hope he will be alright," Jayasuriya told reporters beside the nets at the SCG.
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"The stitches have been taken off and he'll be ready for the match. That's what I'm thinking, it will depend on today and tomorrow, probably tomorrow."
The Sri Lankans have been bedevilled by injury problems at this World Cup but all-rounder Angelo Matthews has recovered from an Achilles issue and will lead the side on Wednesday.
Leg-spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna was brought into the squad, effectively as a stand-in for Rangana, and took 1-77 in the loss to Australia last week at the SCG, a ground which has a tradition of providing some turn for spinners.
Rangana has taken three wickets at a cost of 49 runs in his previous two ODI matches at the SCG but Jayasuriya said spin bowling would not necessarily be crucial to Sri Lanka's chances of reaching the semi-finals for the fourth straight World Cup.
"We have fast bowlers, we have spinners, we don't have any concrete plans, we'll just stick to the basics," he said.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2015-sri-lankas-herath-likely-to-be-fit-to-face-proteas-20150316-1m05x8.html
Herath, 36, split the webbing between two fingers on his bowling hand trying to take a return chance off Jos Buttler in a thumping defeat of England on March 1.
The left-armer missed the last two pool matches against Australia and Scotland but the stitches have been removed from the wound and he will be given until training on Tuesday to prove his fitness.
"Rangana is recovering fast and I hope he will be alright," Jayasuriya told reporters beside the nets at the SCG.
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"The stitches have been taken off and he'll be ready for the match. That's what I'm thinking, it will depend on today and tomorrow, probably tomorrow."
The Sri Lankans have been bedevilled by injury problems at this World Cup but all-rounder Angelo Matthews has recovered from an Achilles issue and will lead the side on Wednesday.
Leg-spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna was brought into the squad, effectively as a stand-in for Rangana, and took 1-77 in the loss to Australia last week at the SCG, a ground which has a tradition of providing some turn for spinners.
Rangana has taken three wickets at a cost of 49 runs in his previous two ODI matches at the SCG but Jayasuriya said spin bowling would not necessarily be crucial to Sri Lanka's chances of reaching the semi-finals for the fourth straight World Cup.
"We have fast bowlers, we have spinners, we don't have any concrete plans, we'll just stick to the basics," he said.
Source: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/cricket-world-cup-2015-sri-lankas-herath-likely-to-be-fit-to-face-proteas-20150316-1m05x8.html
Uefa Champions League: Goal-shy Atletico Madrid seek home comfort
Madrid: Atletico Madrid will once again have to rely on their formidable home form as they look to overcome a 1-0 first leg deficit against Bayer Leverkusen to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Last season’s beaten finalists have failed to win a game since falling to Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning strike at the Bay Arena three weeks ago.
However, they have won 20 of their last 22 European games at the Vicente Calderon, including wins in all three of their group games earlier this season without conceding a goal.
Another clean sheet is likely to be in order if Diego Simeone’s men are to progress to the last eight, with goals of their own in short supply in recent weeks.
Since thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 last month, Los Rojiblancos have found the net just once in their last four games.
“In football, there are moments in a season where sometimes you are more deadly in front of goal than others. Sometimes the goal comes easily and other times you have loads of good chances and it doesn’t go in,” Simeone said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw away at Espanyol.
“We need to keep going, roll up our sleeves and work hard because that is the only way we know how to improve.”
Simeone will also be without two of his most experienced campaigners in Diego Godin and Tiago through suspension.
However, top scorer Mario Mandzukic is expected to return to the starting line-up for the first time since defeat in Leverkusen in place of Fernando Torres.
In contrast to Atletico’s slump in form, Leverkusen come into the game full of confidence having won their last five games without conceding a goal.
The Germans could even have put the tie to bed at home with a series of promising counter-attacks that lacked the final finish.
Captain Simon Rolfes, though, is backing his side to get the away goal that would go a long way to sealing their place in the last eight for the first time since they reached the final in 2002.
“We need to tick off the last few games and concentrate on Atletico. If we stand up for each other, then we also have a good chance in Madrid.
“We are always good for a goal away from home, but it’s just as important that we don’t concede one.”
The first meeting between the two was a feisty affair with 10 yellow cards, a red for Tiago and a bust up between the two coaching staffs.
And Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt believes his side will need to keep a cool head in the cauldron like atmosphere in the Spanish capital.
“We need a super game, but we’ll head down there with a lot of self confidence for the second leg,” he said.
“We’re still the underdogs, but we’ve shown that we have a good chance.
“There will be a lot of emotions in the stadium, so we know we’ll have to keep cool heads in order to make the right decisions.”
Source: http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/uefa-champions-league-goal-shy-atletico-madrid-seek-home-comfort-1.1472485
Last season’s beaten finalists have failed to win a game since falling to Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning strike at the Bay Arena three weeks ago.
However, they have won 20 of their last 22 European games at the Vicente Calderon, including wins in all three of their group games earlier this season without conceding a goal.
Another clean sheet is likely to be in order if Diego Simeone’s men are to progress to the last eight, with goals of their own in short supply in recent weeks.
Since thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 last month, Los Rojiblancos have found the net just once in their last four games.
“In football, there are moments in a season where sometimes you are more deadly in front of goal than others. Sometimes the goal comes easily and other times you have loads of good chances and it doesn’t go in,” Simeone said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw away at Espanyol.
“We need to keep going, roll up our sleeves and work hard because that is the only way we know how to improve.”
Simeone will also be without two of his most experienced campaigners in Diego Godin and Tiago through suspension.
However, top scorer Mario Mandzukic is expected to return to the starting line-up for the first time since defeat in Leverkusen in place of Fernando Torres.
In contrast to Atletico’s slump in form, Leverkusen come into the game full of confidence having won their last five games without conceding a goal.
The Germans could even have put the tie to bed at home with a series of promising counter-attacks that lacked the final finish.
Captain Simon Rolfes, though, is backing his side to get the away goal that would go a long way to sealing their place in the last eight for the first time since they reached the final in 2002.
“We need to tick off the last few games and concentrate on Atletico. If we stand up for each other, then we also have a good chance in Madrid.
“We are always good for a goal away from home, but it’s just as important that we don’t concede one.”
The first meeting between the two was a feisty affair with 10 yellow cards, a red for Tiago and a bust up between the two coaching staffs.
And Leverkusen boss Roger Schmidt believes his side will need to keep a cool head in the cauldron like atmosphere in the Spanish capital.
“We need a super game, but we’ll head down there with a lot of self confidence for the second leg,” he said.
“We’re still the underdogs, but we’ve shown that we have a good chance.
“There will be a lot of emotions in the stadium, so we know we’ll have to keep cool heads in order to make the right decisions.”
Source: http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/uefa-champions-league-goal-shy-atletico-madrid-seek-home-comfort-1.1472485
Uefa Champions League: Arsenal confident of beating Monaco — Olivier Giroud
London: Olivier Giroud described football as “an everlasting new beginning” over the weekend but, if there was ever one ending that he must yearn to script, it is surely Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Monaco on Tuesday night.
“We can go there and create something special,” claimed Arsene Wenger after a 3-0 win against West Ham United on Saturday that mirrors the scoreline his team now need on the Cote d’Azur following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates.
History suggests that Arsenal will need something of a fairytale as no club has overcome an equivalent first leg deficit in Champions League history, but there are reasons for hope.
Arsenal have now won 19 of their past 24 matches and, after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, have ended the week within a point of Manchester City in the Premier League.
For Giroud, it is now 11 goals in 16 games. But Wenger says he was never concerned for the resilience of a player who was playing in the lower divisions of the French league just five years ago.
“There are always tough moments,” said Giroud. “You have to question yourself every week and bounce back. Football is a sport where you need to have a strong mentality. I know when I play well or not. I think we learned from our mistakes and we will go to Monaco with a lot of confidence.”
Wenger has since sat down and analysed those mistakes with the players. He believes that kamikaze attacking was Arsenal’s problem rather than complacency.
“We knew that we were impatient and threw ourselves forward too much,” said Wenger. “I think we wanted it too much. We forgot our basics. What you want in life is the chance to put it right. Sometimes you make a big mistake and there’s no comeback. We have the opportunity.”
It might sound like straw clutching but, from their recent experience in the Champions League of almost overturning big first leg deficits, Arsenal know that Monaco will be unsure how to approach Tuesday’s game.
Wenger sought to underline that psychological dilemma when asked if the pressure would be on his old club. “They’ve already won it, they can still lose it,” he said.
Team selection will clearly be vital and, after Aaron Ramsey scored for the first time in 2015, Wenger must decide whether to recall Santi Cazorla. Theo Walcott must also be struggling to retain his place after missing a series of first-half chances against West Ham.
Source: http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/uefa-champions-league-arsenal-confident-of-beating-monaco-olivier-giroud-1.1472549
“We can go there and create something special,” claimed Arsene Wenger after a 3-0 win against West Ham United on Saturday that mirrors the scoreline his team now need on the Cote d’Azur following their 3-1 defeat in the first leg at the Emirates.
History suggests that Arsenal will need something of a fairytale as no club has overcome an equivalent first leg deficit in Champions League history, but there are reasons for hope.
Arsenal have now won 19 of their past 24 matches and, after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals, have ended the week within a point of Manchester City in the Premier League.
For Giroud, it is now 11 goals in 16 games. But Wenger says he was never concerned for the resilience of a player who was playing in the lower divisions of the French league just five years ago.
“There are always tough moments,” said Giroud. “You have to question yourself every week and bounce back. Football is a sport where you need to have a strong mentality. I know when I play well or not. I think we learned from our mistakes and we will go to Monaco with a lot of confidence.”
Wenger has since sat down and analysed those mistakes with the players. He believes that kamikaze attacking was Arsenal’s problem rather than complacency.
“We knew that we were impatient and threw ourselves forward too much,” said Wenger. “I think we wanted it too much. We forgot our basics. What you want in life is the chance to put it right. Sometimes you make a big mistake and there’s no comeback. We have the opportunity.”
It might sound like straw clutching but, from their recent experience in the Champions League of almost overturning big first leg deficits, Arsenal know that Monaco will be unsure how to approach Tuesday’s game.
Wenger sought to underline that psychological dilemma when asked if the pressure would be on his old club. “They’ve already won it, they can still lose it,” he said.
Team selection will clearly be vital and, after Aaron Ramsey scored for the first time in 2015, Wenger must decide whether to recall Santi Cazorla. Theo Walcott must also be struggling to retain his place after missing a series of first-half chances against West Ham.
Source: http://gulfnews.com/sport/football/uefa-champions-league-arsenal-confident-of-beating-monaco-olivier-giroud-1.1472549
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Chelsea v Paris Saint-Germain preview
José Mourinho, Chelsea manager
We will try to win. When you are losing 3-1 from the first leg you are on the limit of risk. If you concede one goal you are in big trouble. You know you have to score a minimum of three. Tomorrow is different. The result has a complete balance, but we are trying to win.
[Our experience] helps us to sleep well tonight. You feel comfortable to play if it's something you do a lot of times. It's one more game, in spite of being a knockout game and the second leg, so you're calm. But during the game the players play. You are speaking about teams with very good players, some of them very comfortable playing at this level. I think it's more about them.
Champions League, in the knockouts, you need a bit of luck in the details in specific moments. To score a goal in the last minute, even if you do a lot to try to be lucky, it's a lucky detail. Last season we had that. If somebody tomorrow has to be a little bit magic, it's the crowd. We played a semi-final here against Liverpool a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. The crowd was extra. So, the same way in Paris we had a fantastic stadium supporting the home team – hopefully tomorrow we can have that in our favour.
©Getty Images
Laurent Blanc, Paris coach
[Victory] would change our perception in France, but also across Europe and maybe with you guys, the press. But we still need to do that. It's easy to talk about, but harder to go out and do it. We're halfway through a two-legged tie. Chelsea have a slight advantage with the away goal, so our aim is to do what Chelsea did in Paris and get through. We'll prepare well. We know what we will be going to do. Chelsea have to work out a balance between attacking and defending. That's their problem. But we know we have to score at least one goal to qualify.
We just prepare normally. Maybe you go into greater detail than for other games, but these are opponents we know better than last year. Nothing will change in terms of the way we train. But there is plenty that is said behind closed doors. To progress, you need experence. Paris have more experience [ than last year] but we're still off what Chelsea have. They took a while to get where they are – and invested heavily. It takes time to become one of the top five or six sides in Europe. That is the process Paris have embarked upon.
We don't have a choice. The first-leg result is what it is. As things stand, once this match starts, we're going out because Chelsea have the away goal. We have to come out and look to qualify. There were some encouraging signs in the first leg. We know we played better than them in that first leg. I have been frank about that. But we know Chelsea can play better tomorrow.
We have to attack and score, regardless of whether Chelsea score, and to be clever and try to play our game. One of Chelsea's main weapons is that they are good on the counterattack, so we can't go gung-ho. We have to be solid and take our chances. I hope we do better than Chelsea did in the first leg, where Chelsea created only one chance and scored from that.
Chelsea start with a slight advantage and we have to take some risks but not too many. We've only had the first act of this tie. Now we need to stand up and be counted, but also stay in the game. We need to stay solid as well as attack and create chances.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000549/match=2014413/prematch/preview/
We will try to win. When you are losing 3-1 from the first leg you are on the limit of risk. If you concede one goal you are in big trouble. You know you have to score a minimum of three. Tomorrow is different. The result has a complete balance, but we are trying to win.
[Our experience] helps us to sleep well tonight. You feel comfortable to play if it's something you do a lot of times. It's one more game, in spite of being a knockout game and the second leg, so you're calm. But during the game the players play. You are speaking about teams with very good players, some of them very comfortable playing at this level. I think it's more about them.
Champions League, in the knockouts, you need a bit of luck in the details in specific moments. To score a goal in the last minute, even if you do a lot to try to be lucky, it's a lucky detail. Last season we had that. If somebody tomorrow has to be a little bit magic, it's the crowd. We played a semi-final here against Liverpool a few weeks ago and it was fantastic. The crowd was extra. So, the same way in Paris we had a fantastic stadium supporting the home team – hopefully tomorrow we can have that in our favour.
©Getty Images
Laurent Blanc, Paris coach
[Victory] would change our perception in France, but also across Europe and maybe with you guys, the press. But we still need to do that. It's easy to talk about, but harder to go out and do it. We're halfway through a two-legged tie. Chelsea have a slight advantage with the away goal, so our aim is to do what Chelsea did in Paris and get through. We'll prepare well. We know what we will be going to do. Chelsea have to work out a balance between attacking and defending. That's their problem. But we know we have to score at least one goal to qualify.
We just prepare normally. Maybe you go into greater detail than for other games, but these are opponents we know better than last year. Nothing will change in terms of the way we train. But there is plenty that is said behind closed doors. To progress, you need experence. Paris have more experience [ than last year] but we're still off what Chelsea have. They took a while to get where they are – and invested heavily. It takes time to become one of the top five or six sides in Europe. That is the process Paris have embarked upon.
We don't have a choice. The first-leg result is what it is. As things stand, once this match starts, we're going out because Chelsea have the away goal. We have to come out and look to qualify. There were some encouraging signs in the first leg. We know we played better than them in that first leg. I have been frank about that. But we know Chelsea can play better tomorrow.
We have to attack and score, regardless of whether Chelsea score, and to be clever and try to play our game. One of Chelsea's main weapons is that they are good on the counterattack, so we can't go gung-ho. We have to be solid and take our chances. I hope we do better than Chelsea did in the first leg, where Chelsea created only one chance and scored from that.
Chelsea start with a slight advantage and we have to take some risks but not too many. We've only had the first act of this tie. Now we need to stand up and be counted, but also stay in the game. We need to stay solid as well as attack and create chances.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000549/match=2014413/prematch/preview/
Thursday, March 5, 2015
UEFA to sell 46,000 Champions League final tickets to public
Around one third of the 70,500 tickets for this year's Champions League final in Berlin will be reserved for football officials, sponsors and corporate hospitality, UEFA said on Tuesday.
European football's governing body said 20,000 tickets would be allocated to supporters of each of the two finalists, with another 6,000 going on sale to neutral fans via UEFA's website.
The UEFA Champions League trophy
The UEFA Champions League trophy
"As usual, fans and the general public are being allocated the majority of the tickets for the final," UEFA said in a statement.
"The remaining tickets are allocated to the local organising committee, UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters, and to serve the corporate hospitality programme."
UEFA said prices for the match at the Olympiastadion on June 6 would range from 70 euros (50 pounds) for category four tickets to 390 euros for category one.
Source: http://www.firstpost.com/sports/uefa-sell-46000-champions-league-final-tickets-public-2137711.html
European football's governing body said 20,000 tickets would be allocated to supporters of each of the two finalists, with another 6,000 going on sale to neutral fans via UEFA's website.
The UEFA Champions League trophy
The UEFA Champions League trophy
"As usual, fans and the general public are being allocated the majority of the tickets for the final," UEFA said in a statement.
"The remaining tickets are allocated to the local organising committee, UEFA and national associations, commercial partners and broadcasters, and to serve the corporate hospitality programme."
UEFA said prices for the match at the Olympiastadion on June 6 would range from 70 euros (50 pounds) for category four tickets to 390 euros for category one.
Source: http://www.firstpost.com/sports/uefa-sell-46000-champions-league-final-tickets-public-2137711.html
Kroos on Real Madrid, Ancelotti and new role
After eight years with FC Bayern München, German international Toni Kroos switched to Real Madrid CF in the summer and is enjoying his new environs.
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Of course, the highlight of my career at this level was winning the tournament with Bayern, and I will try to repeat that success with Madrid
Toni Kroos
”
Arriving as a FIFA World Cup winner at the reigning European champions, Kroos was moved into a more defensive midfield role by coach Carlo Ancelotti. The 25-year-old has responded with a series of flawless displays, including in the 2-0 victory at FC Schalke 04 that leaves Madrid in an enviable position for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg.
Kroos sat down with UEFA.com to discuss life at Madrid, working alongside Ancelotti and his aim for another European club title in Berlin in June.
UEFA.com: How would you sum up your start at Real Madrid?
Toni Kroos: It has been a good start for me. I have been here a while now, so [my start] is in the past. It's gone well from the off. For the time being, we are first in our league and still in the race for the Champions League, and I hope we will be successful. As far as I am concerned, I hope to contribute to that success.
UEFA.com: One quality that is impossible to overlook with you is confidence. It comes across in your play and in the way you handle the media. What do you put that down to?
Kroos: We all have a different temperament. I just draw my confidence from my own qualities. I know what I'm capable of – that's where most of my confidence comes from.
UEFA.com: Carlo Ancelotti has put a lot of faith in you – he made it a priority to sign you. And since you've joined he's described you as 'a professor'. Tell us about your relationship with him.
Kroos enjoys working with Carlo Ancelotti
Kroos: He trusted me from the beginning in a position where I hadn't played that much, which was nonetheless in midfield. I enjoy playing in this position. Our relationship is good. We communicate a lot before each game. We discuss how I have to approach each game according to the opponent we're facing. I still don't know every team that well, which is normal. But he tries to fill in the gaps.
He's also one of the reasons I came here – I think it's normal to talk with the coach before taking that step. He gave me a positive impression and told me Madrid would be even stronger with me in their ranks. It was obviously a good conversation.
UEFA.com: How would you define your role as a midfielder? You show great instinct, decisiveness, finesse and vision. How are those different attributes balanced in your game?
Kroos: Playing in midfield is difficult nowadays – you have to be versatile, be good on and off the ball. You have to defend well, build up the attack and be good at winning individual battles. These positions are hard to master, and I'm trying to integrate all that into my game, I'm trying to get rid of my weaknesses. I know I can make further progress. I think I am on the right track.
Kroos (left) celebrates Madrid's second goal at Schalke
UEFA.com: Tell us about the part the UEFA Champions League has played in your career? Since making your debut as an 18 year-old for Bayern against Fiorentina, you've really grown as a player in the competition.
Kroos: Yes, this competition is always brilliant, especially when you reach the knockout stages. At this point, the games are tight and you meet the best teams in Europe. The greatest challenge is to show what you can do season in, season out in the competition."Of course, the highlight of my career at this level was winning the tournament with Bayern, and I will try to repeat that success with Madrid".
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000549/match=2014415/prematch/focus/
Related Items
Real Madrid v Schalke facts
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Madrid win at Schalke
Madrid in for Kroos
Download our podcast
Of course, the highlight of my career at this level was winning the tournament with Bayern, and I will try to repeat that success with Madrid
Toni Kroos
”
Arriving as a FIFA World Cup winner at the reigning European champions, Kroos was moved into a more defensive midfield role by coach Carlo Ancelotti. The 25-year-old has responded with a series of flawless displays, including in the 2-0 victory at FC Schalke 04 that leaves Madrid in an enviable position for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg.
Kroos sat down with UEFA.com to discuss life at Madrid, working alongside Ancelotti and his aim for another European club title in Berlin in June.
UEFA.com: How would you sum up your start at Real Madrid?
Toni Kroos: It has been a good start for me. I have been here a while now, so [my start] is in the past. It's gone well from the off. For the time being, we are first in our league and still in the race for the Champions League, and I hope we will be successful. As far as I am concerned, I hope to contribute to that success.
UEFA.com: One quality that is impossible to overlook with you is confidence. It comes across in your play and in the way you handle the media. What do you put that down to?
Kroos: We all have a different temperament. I just draw my confidence from my own qualities. I know what I'm capable of – that's where most of my confidence comes from.
UEFA.com: Carlo Ancelotti has put a lot of faith in you – he made it a priority to sign you. And since you've joined he's described you as 'a professor'. Tell us about your relationship with him.
Kroos enjoys working with Carlo Ancelotti
Kroos: He trusted me from the beginning in a position where I hadn't played that much, which was nonetheless in midfield. I enjoy playing in this position. Our relationship is good. We communicate a lot before each game. We discuss how I have to approach each game according to the opponent we're facing. I still don't know every team that well, which is normal. But he tries to fill in the gaps.
He's also one of the reasons I came here – I think it's normal to talk with the coach before taking that step. He gave me a positive impression and told me Madrid would be even stronger with me in their ranks. It was obviously a good conversation.
UEFA.com: How would you define your role as a midfielder? You show great instinct, decisiveness, finesse and vision. How are those different attributes balanced in your game?
Kroos: Playing in midfield is difficult nowadays – you have to be versatile, be good on and off the ball. You have to defend well, build up the attack and be good at winning individual battles. These positions are hard to master, and I'm trying to integrate all that into my game, I'm trying to get rid of my weaknesses. I know I can make further progress. I think I am on the right track.
Kroos (left) celebrates Madrid's second goal at Schalke
UEFA.com: Tell us about the part the UEFA Champions League has played in your career? Since making your debut as an 18 year-old for Bayern against Fiorentina, you've really grown as a player in the competition.
Kroos: Yes, this competition is always brilliant, especially when you reach the knockout stages. At this point, the games are tight and you meet the best teams in Europe. The greatest challenge is to show what you can do season in, season out in the competition."Of course, the highlight of my career at this level was winning the tournament with Bayern, and I will try to repeat that success with Madrid".
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000549/match=2014415/prematch/focus/
South Africa Vs. Pakistan Cricket Streaming Live Online: Watch The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Match
As the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup rolls on, Pakistan and South Africa prepare to do battle on the pitch in Match 29. South Africa is in good positioning right now in Pool B with three victories in four matches. Pakistan isn’t doing too bad either as they are 2-2. Now, they will face off and you can watch it streaming live online.
Pakistan lost their opener against India by 76 runs and their second match to West Indies by 150 runs. They rebounded to defeat Zimbabwe by 20 runs in Match 23 and then three days later, beat UAE by 129 runs.
On the other hand, South Africa won their opening match over Sri Lanka by 62 runs before losing to India (by 130 runs) in their second match. They bounced back nicely with a 257-run demolition of West Indies and a 201-run thrashing of Ireland.
Right now, both teams and fans are hoping the match will take place at all. Sport 24 reported that weather could be bad and some heavy rain showers may happen in the afternoon. As well as South Africa has been playing, Pakistan may not mind taking the point in a washout.
On the other hand, NDTV Sports is reporting that Pakistan really needs the victory over South Africa. Coach Waqar Younis knows that a win would prove a lot to many teams in the Cricket World Cup.
“Look it (win) definitely changed the body language of the players because a win always make you feel comfortable and confident, but I still feel that we need to win against a bigger team like South Africa to tell the world that we are around.”
The match between South Africa vs. Pakistan is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Friday, March 6, at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
ESPN will begin online streaming at 7:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 4, but that is just one option to watch South Africa vs. Pakistan live. ESPN does charge a fee to watch all of the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, so be aware of that.
Some of the other options include CricHD, PTV Sports, Sky Sports 2, or Star Sports, and these will be good to check out South Africa vs. Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. You will be able to enjoy any of these streaming options to watch the match live and not miss a moment of the action.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1898886/south-africa-vs-pakistan-cricket-streaming-live-online-watch-the-2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-match/
Pakistan lost their opener against India by 76 runs and their second match to West Indies by 150 runs. They rebounded to defeat Zimbabwe by 20 runs in Match 23 and then three days later, beat UAE by 129 runs.
On the other hand, South Africa won their opening match over Sri Lanka by 62 runs before losing to India (by 130 runs) in their second match. They bounced back nicely with a 257-run demolition of West Indies and a 201-run thrashing of Ireland.
Right now, both teams and fans are hoping the match will take place at all. Sport 24 reported that weather could be bad and some heavy rain showers may happen in the afternoon. As well as South Africa has been playing, Pakistan may not mind taking the point in a washout.
On the other hand, NDTV Sports is reporting that Pakistan really needs the victory over South Africa. Coach Waqar Younis knows that a win would prove a lot to many teams in the Cricket World Cup.
“Look it (win) definitely changed the body language of the players because a win always make you feel comfortable and confident, but I still feel that we need to win against a bigger team like South Africa to tell the world that we are around.”
The match between South Africa vs. Pakistan is scheduled to begin at 14:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Friday, March 6, at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
ESPN will begin online streaming at 7:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday, March 4, but that is just one option to watch South Africa vs. Pakistan live. ESPN does charge a fee to watch all of the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, so be aware of that.
Some of the other options include CricHD, PTV Sports, Sky Sports 2, or Star Sports, and these will be good to check out South Africa vs. Pakistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. You will be able to enjoy any of these streaming options to watch the match live and not miss a moment of the action.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1898886/south-africa-vs-pakistan-cricket-streaming-live-online-watch-the-2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-match/
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Action In Week 2
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has been a complete package of entertainment so far. Nail biting finishes, double centuries and 400 plus totals have been interspersed with excellent bowling performances and top class fielding displays, ever since the tournament began the previous month. In this article, we take a look at how things shaped up in the 2nd week of this mega event of cricket.
ICC-Cricket-World-Cup-2015
New Zealand’s 1 wicket victory over Australia, at Auckland, was the highlight of the 2nd week of action in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Pool A
Proceedings for the 2nd week, in Pool A, began with Afghanistan giving a real scare to Sri Lanka when they almost managed to defend a target of 232 against the might of Sangakkara and Co, at Dunedin. A nail biting finish, however, failed to produce positive results for the Afghans as Thisara Perera managed to secure a tense victory for the Lankans.
England registered their first victory in the tournament, beating Scotland by 119 runs at Christchurch. Moeen Ali appeared to have brought his team back on track, with a skillfully constructed century.
Excitement levels in the World Cup reached a crescendo at Dunedin, once again, when minnows Afghanistan and Scotland locked horns in what appeared to be an inconsequential game. The match ultimately went down to the wire and Afghanistan somehow managed to chase down a total of 210, with 3 balls and a solitary wicket to spare!
Sri Lanka reinforced their claims on a Quarter Finals spot, with a confident 92 run victory against Bangladesh at Melbourne.
The most talked about match of this World Cup came on the last day of February, when arch rivals Australia and New Zealand took on each other at Auckland. The match looked well and truly over for the Aussies when they were bowled out for just 151, courtesy some unplayable deliveries from the Kiwi bowlers led by Trent Boult. Brendon McCullum’s 23 ball half century took New Zealand halfway past the target in just 7 overs, before the Aussies hit back with full force. A flurry of wickets ruffled the Kiwi feathers badly, and Mitchell Starc terrorized them with a 6 wicket haul that brought Australia within striking distance of a magical win. However, even with just 1 wicket, Kane Williamson’s nerves of steel prevailed. Requiring six runs to win, the gritty Kiwi batsman’s lofted shot managed to clear the long on fence and secure New Zealand a slender win.
Pool B
It was the high profile India vs South Africa encounter at Melbourne that set things in motion in Pool B, in the 2nd week. In an astonishing display of superiority in all three departments of the game, India humbled the mighty title favorites South Africa by 130 runs. The Indian pacers brilliantly complemented the good work done by Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli with the bat.
Chris Gayle decided to turn on the heat against Zimbabwe, at Canberra, with the fastest double hundred in ODI history. Gayle’s 147 ball 215 was enough to stifle the Zimbabwean challenge, as West Indies kept their momentum going with a 73 run victory.
Ireland and UAE produced an entertaining finish to their match at Brisbane. Kevin O’Brien’s heroics with the bat took Ireland to a tense win in the last over, in a chase of 279.
The game between West Indies and South Africa had ‘AB de Villiers’ written all over it! The innovative South African skipper registered the fastest 150 in ODI history, en route to a 66 ball 162, which was decorated with 17 fours and 8 sixes. An all round performance from the Proteas first took them to 408/5 and then dismissed the West Indians for 151 in 33.1 overs!
India ran through UAE in their third game of the tournament, at Perth. Ravichandran Ashwin produced figures of 10-1-25-4, and the other Indian bowlers chipped in with disciplined performances to send UAE packing for a paltry 102. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 75 run stand ensured that India were home in just 18.5 overs.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – The road ahead
There appears to be no denying the fact that this World Cup may be rated the best ever in history, in terms of popular participation and on-the-field performances by teams and individuals. The Quarter Finals are knocking at the door, and ardent cricket fans better fasten their seat belts now – it’s going to be one memorable ride for all!
Source: http://sportsrediscovered.com/12206/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-action-week-2
ICC-Cricket-World-Cup-2015
New Zealand’s 1 wicket victory over Australia, at Auckland, was the highlight of the 2nd week of action in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
Pool A
Proceedings for the 2nd week, in Pool A, began with Afghanistan giving a real scare to Sri Lanka when they almost managed to defend a target of 232 against the might of Sangakkara and Co, at Dunedin. A nail biting finish, however, failed to produce positive results for the Afghans as Thisara Perera managed to secure a tense victory for the Lankans.
England registered their first victory in the tournament, beating Scotland by 119 runs at Christchurch. Moeen Ali appeared to have brought his team back on track, with a skillfully constructed century.
Excitement levels in the World Cup reached a crescendo at Dunedin, once again, when minnows Afghanistan and Scotland locked horns in what appeared to be an inconsequential game. The match ultimately went down to the wire and Afghanistan somehow managed to chase down a total of 210, with 3 balls and a solitary wicket to spare!
Sri Lanka reinforced their claims on a Quarter Finals spot, with a confident 92 run victory against Bangladesh at Melbourne.
The most talked about match of this World Cup came on the last day of February, when arch rivals Australia and New Zealand took on each other at Auckland. The match looked well and truly over for the Aussies when they were bowled out for just 151, courtesy some unplayable deliveries from the Kiwi bowlers led by Trent Boult. Brendon McCullum’s 23 ball half century took New Zealand halfway past the target in just 7 overs, before the Aussies hit back with full force. A flurry of wickets ruffled the Kiwi feathers badly, and Mitchell Starc terrorized them with a 6 wicket haul that brought Australia within striking distance of a magical win. However, even with just 1 wicket, Kane Williamson’s nerves of steel prevailed. Requiring six runs to win, the gritty Kiwi batsman’s lofted shot managed to clear the long on fence and secure New Zealand a slender win.
Pool B
It was the high profile India vs South Africa encounter at Melbourne that set things in motion in Pool B, in the 2nd week. In an astonishing display of superiority in all three departments of the game, India humbled the mighty title favorites South Africa by 130 runs. The Indian pacers brilliantly complemented the good work done by Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli with the bat.
Chris Gayle decided to turn on the heat against Zimbabwe, at Canberra, with the fastest double hundred in ODI history. Gayle’s 147 ball 215 was enough to stifle the Zimbabwean challenge, as West Indies kept their momentum going with a 73 run victory.
Ireland and UAE produced an entertaining finish to their match at Brisbane. Kevin O’Brien’s heroics with the bat took Ireland to a tense win in the last over, in a chase of 279.
The game between West Indies and South Africa had ‘AB de Villiers’ written all over it! The innovative South African skipper registered the fastest 150 in ODI history, en route to a 66 ball 162, which was decorated with 17 fours and 8 sixes. An all round performance from the Proteas first took them to 408/5 and then dismissed the West Indians for 151 in 33.1 overs!
India ran through UAE in their third game of the tournament, at Perth. Ravichandran Ashwin produced figures of 10-1-25-4, and the other Indian bowlers chipped in with disciplined performances to send UAE packing for a paltry 102. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s 75 run stand ensured that India were home in just 18.5 overs.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – The road ahead
There appears to be no denying the fact that this World Cup may be rated the best ever in history, in terms of popular participation and on-the-field performances by teams and individuals. The Quarter Finals are knocking at the door, and ardent cricket fans better fasten their seat belts now – it’s going to be one memorable ride for all!
Source: http://sportsrediscovered.com/12206/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-action-week-2
Bangladesh vs Scotland, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Match 27 Preview: BAN face SCO, aim for win to boost quarterfinal chances
Bangladesh would eye victory against a struggling Scotland to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 when the two teams clash in a Pool A match at Saxton Oval, Nelson. If Bangladesh defeat Scotland, who have lost all three matches so far, then the Asian minnows would be a win away from the quarterfinals. Check Out- Updated Points Table of 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Bangladesh need to win two of their last three matches and their next opponents are England, who are languishing at number six having lost three matches out of four. While Bangladesh have everything to play for, Scotland are looking to get their first win of the tournament. Their pace battery, led by Iain Wardlaw, is their biggest asset. They lost a thriller against Afghanistan and against Bangladesh is probably their best chance to register a win as they next play former champions Sri Lanka and Australia.
Scotland know what Bangladesh are dreaming of but they have vowed to make life tough for the Asian side. ”They are expected to win this game. They want to get two points out of this game. But at the same time it’s brilliant opportunity for Scotland as an associate team to play against a full member and have the opportunity to beat a full member. We are right up for this game,” Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said. Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Complete Fixtures & Time Table of all Cricket World Cup 2015 Matches.
Mommsen’s is expecting that Bangladesh will rely on their spin attack but said they have take inspiration from Ireland’s upset win over the West Indies at this very ground. ”Ireland attacked the West Indies bowlers on this ground and we will try and represent the Associates tomorrow as best as we can,” he said.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said tomorrow’s match is a chance for them to regain some confidence, which was bashed by the 92-run defeat against Sri Lanka. ”We expect to win. When we lost (to Sri Lanka), we also lost some confidence. So this is an opportunity to win this match and go with some confidence into the game against England,” Mortaza said. Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule in IST: Time Table, Fixture & Venue Details of all WC 2015 Matches.
Squads
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
Scotland: Preston Mommsen (C), Kyle Coetzer, Richie Berrington, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross, Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw.
Source: http://www.india.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/bangladesh-vs-scotland-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-match-27-preview-ban-face-sco-aim-for-win-to-boost-quarterfinal-chances-304676/
Bangladesh need to win two of their last three matches and their next opponents are England, who are languishing at number six having lost three matches out of four. While Bangladesh have everything to play for, Scotland are looking to get their first win of the tournament. Their pace battery, led by Iain Wardlaw, is their biggest asset. They lost a thriller against Afghanistan and against Bangladesh is probably their best chance to register a win as they next play former champions Sri Lanka and Australia.
Scotland know what Bangladesh are dreaming of but they have vowed to make life tough for the Asian side. ”They are expected to win this game. They want to get two points out of this game. But at the same time it’s brilliant opportunity for Scotland as an associate team to play against a full member and have the opportunity to beat a full member. We are right up for this game,” Scotland captain Preston Mommsen said. Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Complete Fixtures & Time Table of all Cricket World Cup 2015 Matches.
Mommsen’s is expecting that Bangladesh will rely on their spin attack but said they have take inspiration from Ireland’s upset win over the West Indies at this very ground. ”Ireland attacked the West Indies bowlers on this ground and we will try and represent the Associates tomorrow as best as we can,” he said.
Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza said tomorrow’s match is a chance for them to regain some confidence, which was bashed by the 92-run defeat against Sri Lanka. ”We expect to win. When we lost (to Sri Lanka), we also lost some confidence. So this is an opportunity to win this match and go with some confidence into the game against England,” Mortaza said. Also Read: ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule in IST: Time Table, Fixture & Venue Details of all WC 2015 Matches.
Squads
Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (C), Al-Amin Hossain, Anamul Haque, Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Nasir Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Sabbir Rahman, Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar, Taijul Islam, Tamim Iqbal, Taskin Ahmed.
Scotland: Preston Mommsen (C), Kyle Coetzer, Richie Berrington, Freddie Coleman, Matthew Cross, Josh Davey, Alasdair Evans, Hamish Gardiner, Majid Haq, Michael Leask, Matt Machan, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif, Rob Taylor, Iain Wardlaw.
Source: http://www.india.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/bangladesh-vs-scotland-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-match-27-preview-ban-face-sco-aim-for-win-to-boost-quarterfinal-chances-304676/
Monday, March 2, 2015
Fantasy: Andrew's defensive dilemmas
• Kurt Zouma was described as "our new Marcel Desailly" by José Mourinho after his role in Chelsea FC's defeat of Tottenham Hotspur FC in the English League Cup final. The 20-year-old defender has played in three UEFA Champions League matches this season and missed the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain but, at just €3.5m, he could be worth a gamble for the return.
• Mesut Özil provided two assists as Arsenal FC saw off Everton FC in north London. The English side have it all to do to turn round their tie against AS Monaco FC but, if they are to have any chance, they will need the German international to be on song – and priced at €8.5m, you could benefit as well.
• Arjen Robben is capturing most of the headlines at FC Bayern München but Franck Ribéry (€10.5m) and Robert Lewandowski (€12.0m) have both scored in their last three Bundesliga games. With a home second leg against FC Shakhtar Donetsk to come, both could carry that form into Europe.
• Another weekend and another clean sheet for AS Monaco FC, this time against Paris Saint-Germain. The French side's defenders are all solid options but should you still not be aware, Layvin Kurzawa, Fabinho, Aymen Abdennour (all €4.0m) and Wallace (€3.0m) are all bargain choices.
• FC Porto have kept a clean sheet in their last two Portuguese Liga fixtures – scoring five times themselves – and will be aiming for another when FC Basel 1893 visit in the second leg. Danilo and Maicon are both reasonably-priced selections at €5.0m, while Iván Marcano has established himself in the side in recent weeks and is a cheaper choice at just €4.0m.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/blogs/blog=ucl_blog_talkingpoint/postid=2217114.html
• Mesut Özil provided two assists as Arsenal FC saw off Everton FC in north London. The English side have it all to do to turn round their tie against AS Monaco FC but, if they are to have any chance, they will need the German international to be on song – and priced at €8.5m, you could benefit as well.
• Arjen Robben is capturing most of the headlines at FC Bayern München but Franck Ribéry (€10.5m) and Robert Lewandowski (€12.0m) have both scored in their last three Bundesliga games. With a home second leg against FC Shakhtar Donetsk to come, both could carry that form into Europe.
• Another weekend and another clean sheet for AS Monaco FC, this time against Paris Saint-Germain. The French side's defenders are all solid options but should you still not be aware, Layvin Kurzawa, Fabinho, Aymen Abdennour (all €4.0m) and Wallace (€3.0m) are all bargain choices.
• FC Porto have kept a clean sheet in their last two Portuguese Liga fixtures – scoring five times themselves – and will be aiming for another when FC Basel 1893 visit in the second leg. Danilo and Maicon are both reasonably-priced selections at €5.0m, while Iván Marcano has established himself in the side in recent weeks and is a cheaper choice at just €4.0m.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/blogs/blog=ucl_blog_talkingpoint/postid=2217114.html
South Africa vs Ireland, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: AB de Villiers, Ed Joyce in 3 Key Battles
This match in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 might be lopsided on paper and South Africa are masters of brushing aside Associate Nations with utter disdain. After galloping another win against West Indies in their tournament opener and getting their second win after defeating United Arab Emirates (U.A.E), the Irish are now staring at the possibility of heading to the quarter-finals. There are some important battles that will be won and lost and but there are some who are expected to make inroads with the sheer force of their ability and talent. Here are some of them. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule: Complete Fixtures & Time Table of all Cricket World Cup 2015 Matches.
1. Morne Morkel vs Ed Joyce Expected to fire on cylinders in the World Cup, Morne Morkel has not looked in his element in the tournament so far, but this where the lanky pacer can be at his lethal best — when people write him off. Veteran batsman Ed Joyce has the know-how of international cricket and will has a task on his hands. But Joyce can wear bowlers down and pick the gaps too and it is not a contest that will be won easily by Morkel. There will be bounce too, which Morkel is a great exponent of but more importantly the ICC World Cup 2015 needs the real Morne Morkel to stand up!
2. Dale Steyn vs Paul Stirling This battle between the South African pace spearhead, Dale Steyn and Ireland‘s swashbuckling buccaneer, Paul Stirling is expected to be the pick of the battles of the match. The peerless Steyn though will be watchful as he has quite battle on his hands as Stirling cares very little for reputation and is cut from the same cloth as a Virender Sehwag or a David Warner. In the past, there have been instances of Steyn cutting a frustrated figure if the batsman gets on top of him. After setting up the win against West Indies, Stirling is the man in form and can end up winning the battle as Steyn continues to be a little rusty. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – Full Points Table.
ABD
3. AB de Villiers vs George Dockrell After breaking all kinds of records in Sydney, Indians have woken up a hungry lion and AB de Villiers may have kicked off a run spree with his spellbinding 66 ball 162 against the West Indians. Young George Dockrell offers almost no pace on the ball and is one of Ireland’s leading stars with the ball. Dockrell has a terrific future ahead of him but he faces the sternest test of his career with that bat of AB even reading to come from underground and smash a bowler for six. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule in IST: Time Table, Fixture & Venue Details of all WC 2015 Matches.
Source: http://www.india.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/south-africa-vs-ireland-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-ab-de-villiers-ed-joyce-in-3-key-battles-302355/
1. Morne Morkel vs Ed Joyce Expected to fire on cylinders in the World Cup, Morne Morkel has not looked in his element in the tournament so far, but this where the lanky pacer can be at his lethal best — when people write him off. Veteran batsman Ed Joyce has the know-how of international cricket and will has a task on his hands. But Joyce can wear bowlers down and pick the gaps too and it is not a contest that will be won easily by Morkel. There will be bounce too, which Morkel is a great exponent of but more importantly the ICC World Cup 2015 needs the real Morne Morkel to stand up!
2. Dale Steyn vs Paul Stirling This battle between the South African pace spearhead, Dale Steyn and Ireland‘s swashbuckling buccaneer, Paul Stirling is expected to be the pick of the battles of the match. The peerless Steyn though will be watchful as he has quite battle on his hands as Stirling cares very little for reputation and is cut from the same cloth as a Virender Sehwag or a David Warner. In the past, there have been instances of Steyn cutting a frustrated figure if the batsman gets on top of him. After setting up the win against West Indies, Stirling is the man in form and can end up winning the battle as Steyn continues to be a little rusty. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 – Full Points Table.
ABD
3. AB de Villiers vs George Dockrell After breaking all kinds of records in Sydney, Indians have woken up a hungry lion and AB de Villiers may have kicked off a run spree with his spellbinding 66 ball 162 against the West Indians. Young George Dockrell offers almost no pace on the ball and is one of Ireland’s leading stars with the ball. Dockrell has a terrific future ahead of him but he faces the sternest test of his career with that bat of AB even reading to come from underground and smash a bowler for six. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Schedule in IST: Time Table, Fixture & Venue Details of all WC 2015 Matches.
Source: http://www.india.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/south-africa-vs-ireland-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-ab-de-villiers-ed-joyce-in-3-key-battles-302355/
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Chelsea’s record without Nemanja Matic should worry them ahead of Capital One Cup final v Tottenham
Nemanja Matic has become this season’s most acclaimed ‘unsung hero’, dominating midfields and destroying attacks at the heart of Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
The Serbian’s importance to the Blues is underlined by the fact that he has missed just three games in all competitions this campaign – with only one of those coming in either the Premier League or the Champions League.
But after receiving a two-match ban for shoving Burnley’s Ashley Barnes to the ground, Matic is set to miss games four and five for Chelsea – including the Capital One Cup final against Tottenham.
Chelsea did beat Watford 3-0 without Matic in the FA Cup 3rd round – but also crashed out of the same competition to Bradford in his absence, and the 26-year-old didn’t feature when the Blues lost their unbeaten Premier League record to Newcastle back in December.
Statistically, then, Chelsea concede 1.2 more goals a game when Matic doesn’t feature, and have won just 33.3% of the matches they’ve played without him – compared to their 70.3% win ratio with him.
While there will have been other factors in those shock losses to Newcastle and Bradford, these stats will no doubt have Chelsea fans worried that the likes of Harry Kane and Christian Eriksen will make their record without Matic even worse on Sunday afternoon.
Source: http://metro.co.uk/2015/03/01/chelseas-record-without-nemanja-matic-should-worry-them-ahead-of-capital-one-cup-final-v-tottenham-5084003/
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Beşiktaş 'settle score' with Liverpool
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A crowd of 63,324 – the second-highest in UEFA Europa League history – watched Beşiktaş JK spoil Liverpool FC's return to the scene of their 2004/05 UEFA Champions League triumph, with goalkeeper Cenk Gönen sure that accounts have been settled after the Black Eagles' shoot-out victory.
The Reds beat AC Milan on penalties at Atatürk Olimpiyat Stadium in 2005, but the big result in the eyes of the Beşiktaş players was clearly their predecessors' 8-0 defeat at Anfield in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage – Beşiktaş's heaviest European defeat, and indeed the heaviest loss suffered by any club in the UEFA Champions League (group stage to final).
Cenk Gönen celebrates at full time
With the tie going to penalties after the teams traded 1-0 wins, the first nine spot kicks were scored before Dejan Lovren blazed Liverpool's fifth over. "We had a history with Liverpool and I think we have settled the score now," said Cenk. "It was important for the team, for the club, for the fans. [For Lovren's penalty] I waited until the very last moment before he shot. I did not move and I think it played a part in making him miss."
Austrian midfielder Veli Kavlak was overwhelmed by the emotion of the occasion and proud that his side had showed their courage under pressure. "We are so happy, I am speechless," he said. "It is a very beautiful night for the club. This happiness we feel is indescribable. Before the shoot-out, coach [Slaven Bilić] came to us and said he was proud of us – that we had dominated 120 minutes of play and that we had nothing to lose. Then he asked: 'Who wants to take one?' and everybody raised their hand."
Serdar Kurtuluş, the only member of the current Beşiktaş side who was involved in the 2007/08 meetings with Liverpool, knew the magnitude of the occasion more than most. "It was a really important game for us," he said. "We got the first goal by playing really well and we could have finished the job in 90 minutes. We had a missed chance in the last minute but that was how it was meant to be. We did it the hard way but what mattered is that we won. Thank God – we are incredibly happy."
Liverpool's Kolo Touré, meanwhile, did his best to put a brave face on things. "A win would have been really, really good, but that's football," he shrugged. "We could have won, but we didn't. We just need to forget about tonight, learn from the defeat, and be ready for the Manchester City game on Sunday. Was the atmosphere tough for the younger players? Definitely. The atmosphere here was unbelievable – I think it was the best I ever played in. Honestly."
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000588/match=2014604/postmatch/quotes/
Friday, February 27, 2015
India vs United Arab Emirates, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Match 21: Watch Free Live Streaming and Telecast on Star Sports
Watch the free live cricket streaming as India (IND) is set to take on United Arab Emirates (UAE) at WACA Ground in Perth on Saturday. The Group B Match 21 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 is being telecast on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD. The match is set to start at 12 noon Indian Standard Time (IST). Viewers can also watch the match on Star Sports 3 for Hindi commentary. You can also watch the free live streaming of the IND v UAE match online on the official website of Star Sports ie starsports.com here.
India after thumping wins against Pakistan and South Africa will look to stay unbeaten as they face United Arab Emirates. India will be seeking one more big win, so that they finishing as table topers in Group B. With Mohammad Shami ruled out of match there is a possibility either Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Stuart Binny might get to play their first World Cup match. India may also bring in Axar Patel in place of Ravindra Jadeja for this game. Also Read- IND vs UAE Match Preview
On the other hand, UAE will be hopeful of a decent show against defending champions India. Despite losing against Zimbabwe and Ireland, UAE produced some fine moments of cricket. Playing in World Cup is surely an experience to cherish for UAE boys and facing World Champions India will further add to it. Also Read- India vs United Arab Emirates: 3 key battles to watch out for
Squads:
India: MS Dhoni (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Mohammad Shami, Stuart Binny, Umesh Yadav.
UAE: Mohammed Tauqir (C), Khurram Khan, Swapnil Patil, Saqlain Haider, Amjad Javed, Shaiman Anwar, Amjad Ali, Nasir Aziz, Rohan Mustafa, Manjula Guruge, Andri Berenger,Fahad Al Hashmi, Muhammad Naveed, Kamran Shahzad, Karate Krishnachandran
Source: http://www.india.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/india-vs-united-arab-emirates-icc-cricket-world-cup-2015-match-21-watch-free-live-streaming-and-telecast-on-star-sports-299090/
How the Europa League winners will enter the Champions League
The UEFA Europa League is down to the last 16 and today the clubs will find out their next step in a journey they hope ends in glory in Warsaw on 27 May.
But lifting the famous old trophy is not the only incentive clubs have this season. One new and well-documented element to this year's competition is that the winners will qualify for the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League.
This has some ramifications for clubs' entry into the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, and at which stage of the competition.
UEFA.com runs through the fundamental points and possible scenarios which could affect clubs' European football participation next term.
©Getty Images
Sevilla celebrate their 2014 UEFA Europa League win
• The UEFA Champions League winners will be entered in the UEFA Champions League group stage as normal.
• The UEFA Europa League winners will be entered in the UEFA Champions League (at a minimum level of the play-offs).
• The UEFA Europa League winners will be elevated into the group stage if the UEFA Champions League winners qualify directly for the UEFA Champions League group stage via their domestic league programme – something which has happened every year since the turn of the century bar
Maximum of five
• No more than five clubs can enter the UEFA Champions League from one national association (this is an increase on the previous maximum of four).
How it impacts associations' allocations
• It is now theoretically possible for a country with three UEFA Champions League places (i.e. Italy, Portugal or France) to up this number to five, a country with two places (e.g. Netherlands, Turkey or Czech Republic) to increase to four, or a country with one place (e.g. Denmark, Scotland or Romania) to up it to three. This can only happen if the association in question has two clubs who win both major European club competitions but that also do not qualify via their own league.*
©Getty Images
The National Stadium in Warsaw will stage this season's final
– The club that won the UEFA Champions League will go straight into the group stage
– The UEFA Europa League winners will go into the UEFA Champions League play-offs
– The club that had qualified for a UEFA Champions League play-off spot via their domestic league competition (i.e. finished fourth) will transfer into the UEFA Europa League
What else?
Other changes in the qualification for the UEFA Europa League, including an increased number of teams being automatically placed in the group stage, can be seen
*Please note that all countries mentioned are based on the 2015/16 access list – the associations' allocation of places may change in subsequent seasons depending on their
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2215121.html
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Round of 16 first leg facts and figures
• Real Madrid CF's win at FC Schalke 04 was their tenth in a row in the UEFA Champions League, matching the all-time competition record set between April and November 2013 by FC Bayern München.
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• It was also the Spanish team's fifth successive away win – two short of the competition high, held jointly by Bayern and AFC Ajax.
• Madrid are appearing in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League for a record 19th time. They have never failed to progress from the group stage and are currently on a record run of 18 consecutive knockout phase appearances. The next best-placed clubs in that category are Arsenal FC (12) and FC Barcelona (11), both of whose runs are also ongoing.
• Barcelona's 2-1 victory at Manchester City FC came in their 200th UEFA Champions League match. They are just the third side to have reached that milestone – after Manchester United FC (200) and Real Madrid (207).
• The goal scored by City's Sergio Agüero in Manchester was also the 200th Barcelona have conceded in the competition. Only Madrid (224) have let in more.
• City's reverse against Barcelona means they have now lost more UEFA Champions League games than they have won (10 wins; 11 defeats). Three of the other round of 16 participants also have a negative balance sheet – Bayer 04 Leverkusen (31; 34), FC Shakhtar Donetsk (25; 29) and FC Basel 1893 (14; 20) – while Schalke (22; 22) will join them should they lose their second leg in Madrid.
• In taking the field against Shakhtar Donetsk in Lviv, Bayern's Xabi Alonso became the 25th player to register 100 UEFA Champions League outings.
©Getty Images
Barcelona marked their 200th UEFA Champions League match in style
• The Spanish midfielder marred the occasion, however, by receiving a red card, the 15th shown to a Bayern player in the competition. Just two teams – Juventus (20) and FC Internazionale Milano (17) – have picked up more.
• There were landmark goals on matchday seven for two Argentinian strikers as Agüero took his all-time UEFA Champions League haul to 20 (the 38th player to achieve that total) and Carlos Tévez, with his strike for Juventus against Borussia Dortmund, lifted his tally to ten (the 125th to get to double figures).
• History suggests that elimination for Schalke, Manchester City and Arsenal is imminent as only two sides have ever won a UEFA Champions League knockout phase tie after losing the first leg at home. Indeed, new ground will have to be broken if any of them is to join that select band as no club has ever advanced after conceding more than one goal in a first-leg home defeat. In both of those previous comebacks – Ajax against Panathinaikos FC in the 1995/96 semi-final and Internazionale against Bayern in the 2010/11 round of 16 – the first-leg result was 0-1.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2215185.html
Heineken House Lagos, ushers 'Season of Surprises' in UEFA Champions League
In its ninth year of sponsoring the Champions League, Heineken is redefining the match viewing experience with live interactive Twitter sessions anchored by legends
As the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League entered its second week, Heineken unveiled exciting new packages of promotions to delight Nigerian football fans.
An innovative new SMS-based giveaway, 90 fabulous prizes are to be won in 90 minutes on every UEFA Champions League match night: one prize for every minute of regulation football match time starting on March 17th.
Consumers will simply enjoy their Heineken, look under the crown cork of their opened bottle of Heineken, and send the unique code to a number which will be specified when the promo starts
At a packed press conference on Tuesday, the Corporate Adviser, Nigerian Breweries, Mr. Kufre Ekanem announced this amongst several other offerings under Heineken's new campaign, "Champion The Match".
In its ninth consecutive year of sponsoring the UEFA Champions League, Heineken is also now redefining the premium match viewing experience with live interactive Twitter sessions, anchored by surprise global UEFA Champions League football legends and celebrity guests.
Every UEFA Champions League match week, Heineken's #ChampionTheMatch is hosted from a beautiful setting in a different global city. In recognition of Heineken's stature and popularity with Nigerians, Lagos has been selected as one of only nine cities to host the series this season.
At the luxurious Heineken House Lagos in Ikoyi, which is open on every UEFA Champions League match night to invited Heineken fans, guests enjoy thrilling football action.
In the company of special guests such as popular musician, Tuface Idibia, and football legend Victor Ikpeba, fans watched as Barcelona asserted their superiority over reigning English champions, Manchester City. Even though Lionel Messi missed a penalty kick, Luis Suarez's brace was enough to ensure that the Catalans returned to Spain with a 2-1 victory.
Incidentally, courtesy of Heineken, Spain is also the exotic location where several Nigerian consumers will experience this season's Champions League finale. Every year, Heineken has rewarded Nigerian fans with once-in-a-lifetime trips to watch the finals, live in Europe.
This season, Nigerians will join fans from 35 other countries for Heineken’s world-famous Ibiza Final, where Heineken creates the ultimate match night in a way only Heineken can.
On a night that was full of surprising twists on-and-off the football pitch, it was revealed that Nigerian journalists would not be left out as lucky Heineken fans board the flights to Heineken's dream UEFA Champions League finale experience.
Source: http://www.goal.com/en-ng/news/4074/champions-league/2015/02/27/9318462/heineken-house-lagos-ushers-season-of-surprises-in-uefa
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Afghanistan Vs. Scotland Cricket Streaming Live Online: Watch The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Match
Both Afghanistan and Scotland are without a victory in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, and they’re hoping one will come soon. Well, the chances are that one of them will leave this week’s match against the other with a victory, but no-one is quite sure who will pull it out. You will be able to watch it streaming live online from the University Oval, so don’t miss a moment of the action.
Scotland’s first match in the tournament was against New Zealand, and they ended up losing by three wickets. Their second match didn’t bring much success, either, as they were defeated by England by 119 runs.
Afghanistan has not been doing much better. In their opening match, they were defeated by Bangladesh by 105 runs. After that, they faced off with Sri Lanka, who ended up winning the match by four wickets.
Even with Afghanistan in an 0-2 hole, ICC-Cricket has let it be known that they are in the World Cup to fight. They’re not going to just lay down and let teams walk all over them, but Scotland is preparing to give it their all.
Scotland captain Preston Mommsen was gracious in defeat after their last match, but knows they can win.
“We’ve qualified. We actually have to work harder. We have to go through the whole process of playing in a pressurized tournament to win eight games in a row to qualify for a World Cup.”
Even with just one week down in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, there are many that believe one of these squads will pull off a big upset at some point or another. Fans think that these two teams and Ireland are going to really make some noise.
The match between Afghanistan vs. Scotland is scheduled to begin at 11:00 local time (22:00 GMT) on Thursday, February 26, at the the University Oval in Dunedin.
ESPN will begin online streaming at 4:30 p.m. E.S.T. on Wednesday, February 25, but that is just one option to watch Afghanistan vs. Scotland live. ESPN does charge a fee to watch all of the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, so be aware of that.
Some of the other options include CricHD, PTV Sports, Sky Sports 2, or Star Sports, and these will be good to check out Afghanistan vs. Scotland in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. You will be able to enjoy any of these streaming options to watch the match live and not miss a moment of the action.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1871223/afghanistan-vs-scotland-cricket-streaming-live-online-watch-the-2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-match/
Sri Lanka Vs. Bangladesh Cricket Streaming Live Online: Watch The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup Match
The 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup is in full swing, and teams are already beginning to separate themselves from one another in both pools. Sri Lanka has a split record of 1-1 so far, while Bangladesh won their opening contest, but then didn’t even get a chance to play in their second. Now, they will face each other and you can watch it streaming live online.
Sri Lanka played in the opening match of the Cricket World Cup, and ended up losing by 98 runs to New Zealand. They rebounded in their second match and defeated Afghanistan by four wickets.
As for Bangladesh, they won their opening match against Afghanistan in an impressive fashion by 105 runs. They were set to take on Australia in their second match, but it was abandoned without a ball bowled due to the weather.
India.com has reported that it won’t be easy for either squad — they both suffered injuries before their match.
Sri Lanka’s Jeevan Mendis, a left-handed batsman and right-arm leg-spinner, was taken to the hospital with a serious hamstring injury. It’s possible that he could end up being out for the rest of the Cricket World Cup.
For Bangladesh, former captain and wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim was also taken to the hospital after being hit on the right thumb by a ball from a teammate. The hospital visit was a precaution, and some x-rays were taken.
“Rahim felt pain in the thumb so we wanted to get it checked-up,” team manager Khaled Mahmud said.
Things seem more serious for Sri Lanka, but if either player is out, then it could spell trouble for their team.
New Zealand is already leading Pool A with three victories in their first three matches. They also have a tough Australian team in their pool, and it won’t make it any easier to get extra victories.
The match between Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh is scheduled to begin at 14:30 local time (03:30 GMT) on Thursday, February 26, at the the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
ESPN will begin online streaming at 10 p.m. E.S.T. on Wednesday, February 25, but that is just one option to watch Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh live. ESPN does charge a fee to watch all of the matches in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, so be aware of that.
Some of the other options include CricHD, PTV Sports, Sky Sports 2, or Star Sports, and these will be good to check out Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. You will be able to enjoy any of these streaming options to watch the match live and not miss a moment of the action.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1871528/sri-lanka-vs-bangladesh-cricket-streaming-live-online-watch-the-2015-icc-cricket-world-cup-match/
Arsenal v Monaco preview
Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager
I've been manager of Arsenal for 18 years and I'm only focused on qualifying for the quarter-finals. Monaco are a team who got 11 points in the group stage – they scored four goals and conceded one – which means they defend very well. That's certainly what they will try to do as they are also very good on the break, quick in transition.
[Monaco] was the start of my career and I didn't know how long I'd be in the job or where I would end up. It was my first chance at a big club, I was very young and you're always grateful for that. This is the first time they have put a lot of investment into the team again because they were in the second division.
We have been in the Champions League for 17 consecutive years – easy is a word that you have to ban in the Champions League. Every time we have been in there, it was through hard-earned wins. It is always a one-goal difference – you go out for one goal, you stay in for one goal and that means you have to work very hard.
Leonardo Jardim, Monaco coach
A Monaco coach is never looking for problems, he is always trying to find solutions. We have a few players missing from the side that got us here, but it is the boys on the pitch that matter. The most important thing is that we stay faithful to our football philosophy and our defensive quality – we can also attack well and get an important goal here.
Arsenal have developed a lot over the last couple of years and they're a better side than they were two or three years ago. They have had some very strong attacking players come into the squad. We beat them in pre-season but that was just a training game so we can't draw too many conclusions; but we'd take the same result [a 1-0 win]. Arsenal are a lot stronger now, though.
Carvalho: My Champions League journey
Monaco have never been favourites and we still qualified top of our group. It's the same here: nobody expects us to win but that shouldn't stop us reaching the quarter-finals. Our strategy is to be solid and not allow Arsenal's key attacking players to unbalance us.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000549/match=2014405/prematch/preview/
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Watch Juventus Vs. Dortmund Live Stream Free, UEFA Champions League
If you watch Juventus vs. Dortmund live stream in the UEFA Champions League round of 16, you will witness a reprise of the tournament’s 1977 final.
At the end of that match, Dortmund won their first and only UCL title. Juventus is looking to avenge the result of 18 years ago and they will try to take advantage of their strong home record in the European tournament.
As opposed to 1977, where Dortmund won the title by 3-1 on their home turf, Tuesday’s match will be played in Italy. The Juve finished second to Atletico Madrid and has its eyes set on only their second UEFA Champions League quarter-final since 2006.
When you watch Juventus vs. Dortmund live stream free, you will be able to see if Massimiliano Allegri’s men can continue their winning streak at home. According to UEFA stats, they remain unbeaten in 10 home matches in the European tournament, including their Group A victories over Malmö FF (2-0) and Olympiacos (3-2) before Christmas 2014.
Juventus’ home record against Bundesliga clubs is 14 victories, two draws, and five losses. Allegri is confident and unafraid as his team is the clear favorite to win the clash.
“This is a key period in the season, but we’re coming through it nicely. It’s satisfying to win these kind of games because it keeps your feet on the ground.”
“For Tuesday’s game we’re in great form. I’m not worried about the Champions League, in fact we’re full of confidence.”
Fans who watch Juventus vs. Dortmund live stream on Tuesday will also see if the German club can continue to do well away. Dortmund have won five of their last seven UEFA Champions League away games. During this season competition, they beat RSC Anderlecht (3-0) and Galatasaray (4-0) convincingly.
While playing in Italy, Dortmund’s record is four wins, one draw, and nine losses. Jürgen Klopp’s club is clearly struggling and finished in the last 16 for the third year in a row, after finishing ahead of Arsenal FC at the top of Group D. However Klpopp’s presses on.
“Whatever you invest more in is not always rewarded immediately, but it is many times, if you also have quality; and that is what we have, so we will try to continue our path.”
Watch Juventus vs. Dortmund live stream free in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 here. Kick off is at 2:45 p.m. ET from Juventus Stadium in Italy.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1867879/watch-juventus-vs-dortmund-live-stream-free-uefa-champions-league/
Manchester City v Barcelona preview
Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager
Last year was different. Last year we arrived here after 19 games in two months and I don't think it was our best period. This year I hope we do it. My team are in good form, but we recognise that we are playing a very strong side.
Last year we tried to change our style, maybe we couldn't do what we wanted to do, so we tried to contain Barcelona and couldn't play our attacking game. This time we will play our game. The main thing for my team is to fight for possession. We need to have the ball as long as we can, have good distribution, force Barcelona near to their box and concentrate on them and their good players.
Lionel Messi is the best player in the world. We can't think about just stopping Messi. If we just stop him then they have a lot of other good players. It's very important for us to fight for possession, not to lose easy balls. When they have the ball we must be very focused on Messi and their other players.
©Getty Images
Sergio Agüero was on target on Saturday
[Sergio] Agüero is one of the top five players in the world and when he is 100% fit he is very difficult to stop. He's coming back from an injury, but he's adding minutes and seeing him in his last two games against Stoke and Newcastle, he's back to his best.
Before the game at the weekend Barcelona had won 11 in a row, so you can't criticise them. Maybe if we played them in December they were in a difficult period, but tomorrow we will see the real Barcelona. Maybe against Málaga they were thinking of tomorrow, but before that they were playing very well.
Luis Enrique, Barcelona coach
We didn't relax against Málaga, we were well prepared. We wouldn't have gone into a league game thinking about a Champions League match. We just couldn't get through their defence. These things happen in football. But now we are in a different competition.
After a defeat you want to get the chance to compete again, especially against a team that are among the favourites for the competition. We shouldn't be down after the run we've been on. We need to carry on doing what we have been doing.
See ten of the best Messi goals
We've got to make use of the space. If we can get hold of the ball then we can put our plan into action. The battle for the midfield will be pivotal. Last year Barcelona were in control of the game in terms of possession and 2-0 was a big advantage coming home. It will be difficult this time.
I don't know if there is a bigger gap than last year. City have won their domestic title and have improved their squad since then, as have we. We hope to win the trophy and if you want that, then you have to go through games like this.
Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2015/matches/round=2000549/match=2014404/prematch/preview/
Monday, February 23, 2015
Wenger on Arsenal, Henry and a Monaco reunion
Arsène Wenger: To be honest it was a surprise, because I always expect the most prestigious team to come out against us – that has happened the last five or six years. It's also one of those strange coincidences in life, because between them these two clubs account for 25 years of my life. That's very unusual, to meet in the Champions League. It was a little bit of an emotional shock.
UEFA.com: You finished second in your group again. After the previous four seasons and the setbacks you have had at this stage, was that a concern?
Wenger: It was, yes! We were always in difficult groups, and this year we were level on points with Dortmund but finished second in the group. It was a big concern, because we [previously] got Bayern, Barcelona, AC Milan, with the second game obviously away. But this time I think it's 50-50 and that means we have a chance. It will be down to the quality of our performance.
UEFA.com: We all know about Arsenal's attacking qualities, while Monaco conceded only once in the group stage; how do you see the first leg in north London?
Wenger: When the first game is at home, you play with the desire to score but know that every goal you concede can be deadly. You must find a balance between free-spirited attacking and being cautious enough to defend well – that will be down to experience. We have experience in this competition; this is a good opportunity to show it.
©Bob Thomas/Getty Images
After reaching the Cup Winners' Cup final
UEFA.com: At Monaco you promoted young players and had them playing attractive football, and at Arsenal you have done the same. Are you proud to have made that mark on both clubs?
Wenger: Yes, I am very proud of having achieved that because I have the good fortune to be in a job where I can influence people's lives in a positive way. What's strange for me is that the guys I helped at the start of their careers, like [Lilian] Thuram, [Emmanuel] Petit, have already finished their careers. You are always happy when they have fantastic careers; helping players achieve something in life provides a very positive feeling.
UEFA.com: Looking back to some of your adventures with Monaco, what do you feel when you recall the 1992 European Cup Winners' Cup final against Werder Bremen?
Wenger: Sadness. The night before, in France, we had a huge disaster in Bastia [18 died when a stand collapsed ahead of a French Cup semi-final], and we couldn't go to bed after that, and we couldn't prepare properly for the game. It was a bit similar to the [2006] Champions League final, because we didn't lose a game all season, just the final.
But when I arrived in Monaco, the club had never gone further than the first round, so the fact that we played a Cup Winners' Cup final, the fact we played in a Champions League semi-final, that we went far in UEFA Cups, was an achievement. They reached the Champions League final, too, after I left.
UEFA.com: Regarding that run to the 1994 UEFA Champions League semi-finals with such a talented team and some big names, how much did you enjoy that time and what lessons did you learn?
Wenger: It was very important for me. We were in a group with Barcelona; we played AC Milan, the big team at the time. It was a very interesting experience. Since then, of course, I have had over 180 games in the Champions League, but you never get used to playing in the Champions League because it's always a privilege to play against the best teams in Europe.
©AFP/Getty Images
With Thierry Henry after the 2006 final
UEFA.com: One man associated with both Arsenal and Monaco is Thierry Henry. What made him stand out when he was a teenager in France?
Wenger: He had exceptional technical qualities, a good understanding of the game and was a super athlete too. And his pace, his power, was frightening: he had it all. He was 17 when I gave him his first start and I could see something special. He was a world champion at 19 and enjoyed such a huge career, even if he had a difficult period when he went to Italy. He came here [to Arsenal] at the age of 21 and he quickly became the superstar he deserved to be.
\Source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2211456.html
Borussia Dortmund face Juventus in the last 16
Jurgen Klopp has never shirked from the fact that Borussia Dortmund have flirted with disaster this season, but three Bundesliga wins in a row suggests they are beginning to find the form that has served them so well in Europe.
Dortmund impressively finished top of UEFA Champions League Group D with just one defeat, scoring 14 goals, which set up a last-16 meeting with Juventus.
And yet Klopp's men went into the mid-season break in the Bundesliga's bottom two, seemingly embroiled in a relegation battle.
For a club more used to fighting it out at the summit with Bayern Munich, many anticipated a revival in 2015, but it took a couple of games to begin - a 1-0 home loss to Augsburg at the start of February apparently the nadir.
Wins over Freiburg, Mainz and Stuttgart have seen Dortmund climb to the relative comfort of mid-table, putting them in good shape ahead of Tuesday's trip to Turin.
Meetings between Dortmund and Juve have been surprisingly scarce, but the last one proved memorable for the German side.
Munich played host to the 1996-97 Champions League final, where Karl-Heinz Riedle scored twice and Lars Ricken was on target in a 3-1 triumph against Juve.
Dortmund's name has not been engraved on the trophy since then, with their Wembley defeat to Bayern two years ago the closest they have come.
Juve's wait has been longer. The Italians were the holders when Dortmund won it, having beaten Ajax the year before - another Champions League success secured by a side on home soil, as the final was played in Rome.
It makes for a positive omen as far as Dortmund are concerned, given that the showpiece is in Munich this season.
But advancing past Juve represents a sizeable challenge, with Massimiliano Allegri's charges unbeaten in normal time since October's Serie A reverse to Genoa.
Boasting a nine-point advantage at the top of the table, Juve look set for a fourth consecutive Italian title, but they have not made it past the last eight of the Champions League since the 2002-03 campaign, when they were eventually beaten by Milan in the final.
The hosts had Arturo Vidal back in full training on Sunday following a minor injury, while Klopp will hope the flu bug that has affected his team will clear up and increase the options at his disposal, with the likes of Erik Durm, Jakub Blaszczykowski, Mats Hummels and Jeremy Dudziak having been impacted.
Source: http://pulse.ng/sports/football/uefa-champions-league-borussia-dortmund-face-juventus-in-the-last-16-id3509053.html
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Watch Manchester City Vs. Barcelona Live Online, Key UEFA Champions League Match In Streaming Video
Manchester City vs. Barcelona goes live online Tuesday, in a mouth-watering UEFA Champions League matchup that sees the current second-place teams in two of Europe’s most powerful leagues go head-to-head, trying to gain an advantage in the first leg of the Round of 16 two-legged tie.
A link to the streaming video webcast of Manchester City vs. Barcelona can be found below.
The Tuesday showdown is also a rematch of last season’s Round of 16 Champions League fixture. Manchester City, however, will be hopeful of a better showing than in 2014, when they bowed to Barcelona without too much of a fight, dropping the two legged elimination contest by an aggregate score of 4-1.
Barcelona traveled to Manchester City in February 2014, where they kept the home side off the scoresheet entirely, using a converted penalty by Lionel Messi and 90th-minute score by Dani Alves to win 2-0 and gain total control of the tie, making Barcelona’s 2-1 win at the Nou Camp mostly a formality.
But certainly if the two sides’ most recent league results are any indication, the situation could be very different this time around, making it all the more critical for fans to watch the game live online, or by any means necessary.
In a Saturday Barclays Premier League match, Manchester City plastered Newcastle at the Etihad 5-0, City’s largest margin of victory in a league game since March of last year.
But on the same day in Spain’s La Liga, Barcelona took on seventh-place Malaga at home — and fell to a humiliating 1-0 defeat.
“Defeats are harmful when you suffer them and they’re hard to get over,” said Barcelona manager Jose Enrique after the stunning loss. “We have a big challenge in three days and we will try to overcome it.”
That big challenge, of course, is Manchester City and their own Spanish superstar David Silva, whose brace on Saturday was one of many highlights for City.
Last year marked the first time that Manchester City had ever played a Champions League game beyond the group stage. Whatever jitters they may have suffered as a result should now be gone.
But will it matter against Barcelona, who have now qualified for the knockout rounds 11 years in a row? At the Round of 16 stage, Barcelona are 8-2 in those previous 10 appearances — and they have won the whole Champions League three times in that span, most recently in 2011.
Streaming video of the Manchester City vs. Barcelona match goes live online at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, February 24, and will be carried in the United States by Fox Sports Go, accessible at this link, or on mobile devices by downloading the Fox Sports Go app.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1863963/manchester-city-vs-barcelona-live-online/
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Watch India Vs. South Africa Cricket Live Online, 2015 ICC World Cup Streaming Video
Fans can watch the India vs. South Africa cricket match live online and see if the Indian squad can continue to gain its footing in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
After a long and ultimately disastrous visit to Australia that included a string of losses, India came into the World Cup with a considerable lack of momentum. But the defending World Cup champions started the tournament out strong, defeating Pakistan.
Now, the Indian team will move on to a matchup against South Africa. The match starts at 2:30 p.m. local time (3:30 a.m. GMT) from Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Fans who watch the India vs. South Africa cricket match live online will likely see a much tougher test than their first match. The South African team is a stronger fielding team than Pakistan, and Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendlukar believes it will take a total team effort to defeat them.
“They are a terrific fielding side, and it won’t be easy to consistently pick the singles, hitting the ball three-four yards around the fielder,” Tendulkar told Headlines Today.
“The South African unit is far, far superior to Pakistan, especially when it comes to fielding. They are much faster and their throwing arm is far more powerful.”
Tendulkar noted that South Africa has strong batting as well, led by AB de Villiers.
“I think he [de Villiers] is unbelievably talented, and very innovative,” Tendulkar said.
“T20 has also taken his batting to a different level. He’s definitely one of the top batters in the world. I don’t think there is any weakness in him.”
Fans who watch the India vs. South Africa cricket match live online could see a South Africa team playing at a disadvantage. Dale Steyn has been out with a flu, one that bothered him during the team’s opening match against Zimbabwe, and even if he is able to play against India the sickness could affect his play.
Fans who want to watch the India vs. South Africa cricket match live online will have plenty of options. They can tune in to Star Sports. ESPN is also offering live streaming video of all 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup matches, though a fee is required. A full list of places with legal live streaming video of the the India vs. South Africa match online can be found here.
Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/1854761/watch-india-vs-south-africa-cricket-live-online-2015-icc-world-cup-streaming-video/
Hillman announces partnership to form Hillman Smith Motorsports
Mike Hillman, founder of Hillman Racing and the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series No. 40 team, has added West Coast businessman Gordon Smith as co-owner of the newly rebranded Hillman Smith Motorsports, which will continue to field the No. 40 Chevrolet SS for driver Landon Cassill. The addition of Smith as co-owner of HS Motorsports has allowed the organization to expand in the off-season securing additional RCR (Richard Childress Racing) race cars, ECR engines for the entire 2015 Sprint Cup season, as well as adding an in-house, on-site engineering group. Smith, through his aviation and maritime companies, began his involvement with team owner Mike Hillman and the No. 40 team at the start of the 2014 season.
"Adding Gordon Smith as a partner to the racing organization will only strengthen the foundation we have built over the past three years," Hillman said. "From finishing 12th in last year's Daytona 500 to our best finish of fourth last fall at Talladega with Landon behind the wheel, we have seen great results with limited resources. Gordon has shown a passion for the sport and demonstrated a loyalty to our employees that convinced me elevating him to an equity stakeholder will allow us to take the next step in the Sprint Cup arena. Gordon has built two great companies from the ground up, and by adding a race team to his portfolio, he will truly be covering land, sea and air."
Hillman acquired the championship-winning NASCAR Camping World Truck Series assets following the conclusion of the 2011 season and assumed the dual role of owner and general manager of Hillman Racing at the start of 2012. Midway through the 2013 season, Hillman added the No. 40 Sprint Cup Series team to the organization with driver Landon Cassill. Throughout his career, Hillman has worked as a crew chief and general manager in each of NASCAR's top three series, including drivers as Tommy Ellis, Dick Trickle, Kyle Petty, Joe Nemechek, Mike Wallace, Robby Gordon, and brothers Brett and Todd Bodine. In 1988, Hillman earned a NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship with driver Tommy Ellis, and secured two Truck Series Championships with driver Todd Bodine in 2006 and 2010.
"This partnership is the culmination of a relationship that started with Landon a few years back," stated Smith. "Landon was driving for Mike Hillman in the Cup Series, so we were introduced and I was immediately welcomed into the fold. I believe the intimate feeling of the organization not only attracts sponsors to the team, but I've watched over the past year as the involvement of each sponsor has grown. Mike Hillman has established a great team that not only puts a good product on the race track, but makes every event an experience that brings people back to the track. I'm looking forward to being involved in the operation and adding to it."
The new partnership kicks off this weekend with qualifying for the 57th annual Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 15. The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500 will be broadcast live on FOX from Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, February 22, with pre-race coverage beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST.
Hillman Smith Motorsports Racing is housed in a 22,000-square-foot facility in Mooresville, N.C., and will field the No. 40 Chevrolet SS in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition in 2015 with driver Landon Cassill.
Source: http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/hillman-announces-partnership-to-form-hillman-smith-motorsports-021215
ABC Will Live Stream Oscars Backstage Via Facebook On February 22
ABC will let Internet users worldwide watch backstage coverage of the upcoming Oscars for free. The network has partnered with Facebook to live stream select behind-the-scenes portions of the 87th Annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015.
ABC will stream a “director’s cut” of its “Oscars Backstage” coverage on the network’s official Facebook page. The live stream will start at 4 PM PST/7 PM EST, and will feature video feeds from three channels and roughly 20 cameras placed throughout the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.
The “Oscars Backstage” live stream is part of Facebook’s recently-created real-time trending experience surrounding the 87th Academy Awards. ABC’s live stream harnesses the power of this social media initiative, as well as the growing trend of viewers to use multiple devices while watching TV. With Facebook’s trending Oscars experience, the “Oscars Backstage” stream will include as-it-happens data about how Facebook users are talking about the nominees. Additionally, the social site’s users will be able to submit questions to Oscar nominees through the Good Morning America page, with the chance of their questions being asked live.
“We’re excited to bring viewers backstage and provide exclusive access to all those memorable, talked-about Oscar moments – the ones that happen on stage as well as the stories that play out behind-the-scenes,” said Christina Kounelias, chief marketing officer of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, to Variety.
In addition to the free Facebook live stream, pay-TV users with accounts through major cable providers (including Comcast, DirecTV, Dish, Cox, and more) can watch the “Oscars Backstage” live via the Watch ABC service on desktop or mobile devices. The same Watch ABC users will also be able to live stream the entire Oscars through their pay-TV accounts.
After the ABC live airing and stream, select clips of the Oscars’ best moments will be available on Facebook after they’re posted to oscar.com/video. The full telecast will be available for three days for authenticated pay-TV users on Oscar.com, ABC.com, or via Watch ABC Android and iOS apps.
Source: http://www.tubefilter.com/2015/02/20/abc-live-stream-oscars-backstage-facebook-trending-experience/
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