Not exactly a revelation I know but Tiger Woods has shown exactly why he is the best golfer of all time.
After the disappointment of losing out at the US Masters in April the world number one underwent knee surgery. In the two months since he had not completed 18 holes until the opening day of the second major of the season, the US Open at Torrey Pines.
Clearly still struggling with his injury, shown by the grimaces and winces after a number of shots, Tiger battled through a tough first day and an unusually inconsistent front nine on Friday. However, all hell broke loose after that!
Woods pushed a tee-shot at the 1st, his 10th, and had to play his second shot from a cart path. After impant Woods' damaged left leg slid and clearly the injured knee was tweaked. He limped his way up the fairway before promptly putting all concerns about the injury to one side and draining a twisting 25-footer for a birdie three.
The blue touch paper had been lit...
At the next Woods secured his second successive birdie with another superb putt, before being unfortunate not to be left with a tap-in at the tricky par three third, his 12th, before leaving a 20-footer in the jaws of the hole.
Not to worry though for Tiger, the next yielded yet another glorious birdie as all thoughts of his left knee trouble diminished and he continued his run of successive three's by adding a fifth immediately with another monster putt down the slope at the fifth.
Even the driver seemed to working properly by this point and the quality of golf on show all around the San Diego course was becoming completely and utterly enthralling. The enigmatic home-town favourite Phil Mickleson was finding a few birdies of his own as he tried to keep up with a charging Woods.
Inexplicably Woods failed to make a birdie at any of his next three holes as putts began to slide by the edge of hole rather than into the centre of the cup but the par-five 9th was to come.
Tiger casually drove hs ball ovedr 337-yards straight down the fairway before flying his fairway metal all of 280-yards to leave himself with a makeable chip for eagle, and an inward nine of just 29. Surely not?
Believe it or not...he was in fact out of miracles and out of luck for the day as the ball came to rest a few feet left of the cup and he had to settle for a birdie and a round of 68.
However, the damage has been done. Woods is well and truly in contention, his name is on the leaderboard, everybody knows it and most of all, so does he.
Friday 13 June 2008
THE DRAMA OF PENALTIES...IN TENNIS?
If Rafael Nadal performed incredibly last weekend then today he, somehow, managed to step up to an even higher level.
Up against the 'giant' that is Ivo Karlovic it was never going to be easy for the reigning four-time French Open champion. The Croatian is at his best on the grass, where his powerful serve is accentuated by the speed of the surface. Regularly hitting first serves at around 140mph, Karlovic smashed an unbelievable 35 aces past Nadal - that normally doesn't happen over an entire season.
Watching the coverage of the Artois Championships from the Queen's Club it became apparent to me that Karlovic's service games beared more than a passing resemblance to a penalty shootout. Karlovic the striker and Nadal the goalkeeper.
As soon as the 6'10" Croat looped the ball into the air, before spiking it - volleyball style - over the net, Nadal was on the move in an attempt to get even remotely close to the ball. Consequently the Spaniard was made to look a 'fool' for a spell but the longer the match went on the more he began to fire returns back across the net.
The first set went the way of Karlovic, after a Nadal double fault in the tie-break, but as the second set wore on the Spaniard started to predict the Karlovic serve. Nadal was battling to make every point into something resembling a tennis match - it was easier said than done.
You would think a game of tennis in which serve is never broken would be tedious and boring to watch...not this time! Nadal was under immense pressure to hold his own serve before trying everything in his armoury to give himself a chance on the Karlovic serve. On any other day, against any other player, both Karlovic and Nadal would have beaten their opponents - in straight sets to boot.
Unfortunately for the Croatian his movement is not the best and he gave Nadal opportunities to hit trademark forehand winners in the final set tie-break - when he hits these at almost 100mph, while falling backwards, it shows how special the shot is.
Ironically Nadal will now face another big server, Andy Roddick, in tomorrow's semi-final who was given a walkover after Andy Murray's withdrawal through injury.
Roll on more of the same! I for one will be glued to the screen and, in this form, my money is on Nadal, possibly even for Wimbledon too...
Up against the 'giant' that is Ivo Karlovic it was never going to be easy for the reigning four-time French Open champion. The Croatian is at his best on the grass, where his powerful serve is accentuated by the speed of the surface. Regularly hitting first serves at around 140mph, Karlovic smashed an unbelievable 35 aces past Nadal - that normally doesn't happen over an entire season.
Watching the coverage of the Artois Championships from the Queen's Club it became apparent to me that Karlovic's service games beared more than a passing resemblance to a penalty shootout. Karlovic the striker and Nadal the goalkeeper.
As soon as the 6'10" Croat looped the ball into the air, before spiking it - volleyball style - over the net, Nadal was on the move in an attempt to get even remotely close to the ball. Consequently the Spaniard was made to look a 'fool' for a spell but the longer the match went on the more he began to fire returns back across the net.
The first set went the way of Karlovic, after a Nadal double fault in the tie-break, but as the second set wore on the Spaniard started to predict the Karlovic serve. Nadal was battling to make every point into something resembling a tennis match - it was easier said than done.
You would think a game of tennis in which serve is never broken would be tedious and boring to watch...not this time! Nadal was under immense pressure to hold his own serve before trying everything in his armoury to give himself a chance on the Karlovic serve. On any other day, against any other player, both Karlovic and Nadal would have beaten their opponents - in straight sets to boot.
Unfortunately for the Croatian his movement is not the best and he gave Nadal opportunities to hit trademark forehand winners in the final set tie-break - when he hits these at almost 100mph, while falling backwards, it shows how special the shot is.
Ironically Nadal will now face another big server, Andy Roddick, in tomorrow's semi-final who was given a walkover after Andy Murray's withdrawal through injury.
Roll on more of the same! I for one will be glued to the screen and, in this form, my money is on Nadal, possibly even for Wimbledon too...
Thursday 12 June 2008
BOWLING WITH THE TIMES...
by guest blogger Callum Sparrowhawk of footymad.net
Cricket faces a revolution. Playing international test cricket will always be the pinnacle of any player’s career, but the domestic game needs to become more appealing.
In 2003 the ECB introduced twenty20 cricket and it quickly became the most watched form of county cricket. Since then, the format has gone worldwide and every major cricketing nation acknowledges the revolution in the sport. Now, 50 over one-day games are facing extinction within the county game.
It’s not just the 50 over format that appears to be being scaled back; the English counties play more games - in all formats - than any other country. Unfortunately, attendances are decreasing at a frightening rate and, it seems, the time is right for the twenty20 format to become the foremost competition in the domestic calendar.
Current players appreciate the need for change and see the twenty20 revolution as being nothing but great for the game. However, there are those who see twenty20 as battling against cricketing tradition - but I imagine they are the same people who would ban the internet, because libraries are traditional.
Get with the times!
Everything evolves and now cricket has the opportunity to capitalise. Bring on the revolution and bring in the crowds!
Cricket faces a revolution. Playing international test cricket will always be the pinnacle of any player’s career, but the domestic game needs to become more appealing.
In 2003 the ECB introduced twenty20 cricket and it quickly became the most watched form of county cricket. Since then, the format has gone worldwide and every major cricketing nation acknowledges the revolution in the sport. Now, 50 over one-day games are facing extinction within the county game.
It’s not just the 50 over format that appears to be being scaled back; the English counties play more games - in all formats - than any other country. Unfortunately, attendances are decreasing at a frightening rate and, it seems, the time is right for the twenty20 format to become the foremost competition in the domestic calendar.
Current players appreciate the need for change and see the twenty20 revolution as being nothing but great for the game. However, there are those who see twenty20 as battling against cricketing tradition - but I imagine they are the same people who would ban the internet, because libraries are traditional.
Get with the times!
Everything evolves and now cricket has the opportunity to capitalise. Bring on the revolution and bring in the crowds!
Wednesday 11 June 2008
WHAT DOES SIMAO DO?
I'm not sure about you but I am struggling to see what Simao Sabrosa brings to the Portugal lineup.
The Benfica wideman has done little to justify the alleged interest in him from some of Europe's top clubs in the European Championships so far and I, for one, am wondering why Luiz Felipe Scolari picks him.
So far I have Simao take two free-kicks away from the 'best player in the world' Cristiano Ronaldo only to promptly lift each of them tediously over the cross bar. Simao is by no means a novice, in fact he scored a wonderful effort at Old Trafford a few seasons ago, but when Ronaldo is alongside you it only makes sense to let him have a go.
And as for the former Barcelona wingers corners, well I am sure Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho would rather someone such as Deco or Joao Moutinho was curling the ball onto their head, rather than Simao finding the defender at the near post time after time after time after time.
So far this seems to be a bit of a rant - okay its a lot of a rant - predominantly about the quality of Simao's set-pieces but this is not the only part of his game that has irked me.
Unlike some England's poor excuse for wingers - Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips take note - Simao has a good first touch but having controlled the ball nicely he seems to, as Lennon and SWP also do, spend the majority of his time running down blind alleys.
By the way, his finishing and composure in front of goal are not exactly brilliant either - the rushed attempt agains the Czechs being symptomatic of this problem.
Oddly the Portuguese are in the enviable position of possessing a proverbial monopoly over the world's most exciting wide men. Obviously they have Ronaldo, who is a guaranteed starter, who is backed up by Simao, Porto's Ricardo Quaresma and Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mate Nani.
Both Nani and Quaresma have superb quality with their delivery, in fact Nani has become known as one of the Premier League's finest corner takers.
Each is considerably younger than Simao and possess very similar characteristics to the Benfica man. However, they seem to be better exponents of these abilities than their national team-mate.
Personally I would prefer the Portuguese to line-up with an attacking trio of Nani, Quaresma and Ronaldo interchanging positions providing a deadly attacking triumvate. However new Chelsea boss Scolari is intent on avoiding using Ronaldo as a central striker so that leaves Nani, Quaresma and Simao competing for a spot alongside Ronaldo and Nuno Gomes.
With the Portuguese already qualified for the quarter finals as winners of Group A I expect Scolari to experiment against Switzerland. Nani and Quaresma should both start this match and I would bet that if either was to display the level of ability we already know they possess then Simao could be edged onto the bench by the time the business end of the tournament approaches.
What do you think, is Simao Portugal's weak link?
The Benfica wideman has done little to justify the alleged interest in him from some of Europe's top clubs in the European Championships so far and I, for one, am wondering why Luiz Felipe Scolari picks him.
So far I have Simao take two free-kicks away from the 'best player in the world' Cristiano Ronaldo only to promptly lift each of them tediously over the cross bar. Simao is by no means a novice, in fact he scored a wonderful effort at Old Trafford a few seasons ago, but when Ronaldo is alongside you it only makes sense to let him have a go.
And as for the former Barcelona wingers corners, well I am sure Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho would rather someone such as Deco or Joao Moutinho was curling the ball onto their head, rather than Simao finding the defender at the near post time after time after time after time.
So far this seems to be a bit of a rant - okay its a lot of a rant - predominantly about the quality of Simao's set-pieces but this is not the only part of his game that has irked me.
Unlike some England's poor excuse for wingers - Aaron Lennon and Shaun Wright-Phillips take note - Simao has a good first touch but having controlled the ball nicely he seems to, as Lennon and SWP also do, spend the majority of his time running down blind alleys.
By the way, his finishing and composure in front of goal are not exactly brilliant either - the rushed attempt agains the Czechs being symptomatic of this problem.
Oddly the Portuguese are in the enviable position of possessing a proverbial monopoly over the world's most exciting wide men. Obviously they have Ronaldo, who is a guaranteed starter, who is backed up by Simao, Porto's Ricardo Quaresma and Ronaldo's Manchester United team-mate Nani.
Both Nani and Quaresma have superb quality with their delivery, in fact Nani has become known as one of the Premier League's finest corner takers.
Each is considerably younger than Simao and possess very similar characteristics to the Benfica man. However, they seem to be better exponents of these abilities than their national team-mate.
Personally I would prefer the Portuguese to line-up with an attacking trio of Nani, Quaresma and Ronaldo interchanging positions providing a deadly attacking triumvate. However new Chelsea boss Scolari is intent on avoiding using Ronaldo as a central striker so that leaves Nani, Quaresma and Simao competing for a spot alongside Ronaldo and Nuno Gomes.
With the Portuguese already qualified for the quarter finals as winners of Group A I expect Scolari to experiment against Switzerland. Nani and Quaresma should both start this match and I would bet that if either was to display the level of ability we already know they possess then Simao could be edged onto the bench by the time the business end of the tournament approaches.
What do you think, is Simao Portugal's weak link?
Tuesday 10 June 2008
INTER THE SPECIAL ONE?
by guest blogger Callum Sparrowhawk of footymad.net
After Avram Grant’s unceremonious departure from Stamford Bridge, some expected Jose Mourinho to return to his former club. That was always a fantasiful suggestion and the Special One soon took over at Inter Milan. The question on everyone's lips is – is the special one still special?
Mourinho enjoyed plenty of success at Chelsea, despite failing to win the Champions League, a fete he managed during his first managerial job at Porto in 2004. After three years at Stamford Bridge, the Portuguese had shown the world his ability and built strong bonds with world class players such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho. All of whom have been tipped to join him at Inter Milan.
Drogba has already made it clear his future 'lies with Mourinho’. Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o is also set to move in the Summer and Inter looks a likely destination for the Cameroonian. WHat a striking lineup Mourinho could have available to him nex term. Add the names of Drogba and Eto'o to a supporting cast of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo and Adriano and you start to see why the Serie A champions will be one of the favourites to win the Champions League.
The Portuguese manager is a known fan of a strong, creative midfield lining up to support a physically imposing forward line. Well - you guessed it - he appears to have that one covered too. England's Lampard and the frustatingly brilliant Deco are rumoured to be on their way to join their former boss in Milan.
It seems Mourinho is planning a massive overhaul of the squad he has inherited from Roberto Mancini in order to give Inter the edge in Europe. At Chelsea, Jose was famous for one–nil wins and a solid defence was key to his success so I wouldn’t bet against the likes of Ricardo Carvalho heading for Italy’s second city.
The Special One… the stage is set for Mourinho to work his magic and lead Inter to European glory - but is he as good as he says he is?
After Avram Grant’s unceremonious departure from Stamford Bridge, some expected Jose Mourinho to return to his former club. That was always a fantasiful suggestion and the Special One soon took over at Inter Milan. The question on everyone's lips is – is the special one still special?
Mourinho enjoyed plenty of success at Chelsea, despite failing to win the Champions League, a fete he managed during his first managerial job at Porto in 2004. After three years at Stamford Bridge, the Portuguese had shown the world his ability and built strong bonds with world class players such as Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba and Ricardo Carvalho. All of whom have been tipped to join him at Inter Milan.
Drogba has already made it clear his future 'lies with Mourinho’. Barcelona star Samuel Eto’o is also set to move in the Summer and Inter looks a likely destination for the Cameroonian. WHat a striking lineup Mourinho could have available to him nex term. Add the names of Drogba and Eto'o to a supporting cast of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Suazo and Adriano and you start to see why the Serie A champions will be one of the favourites to win the Champions League.
The Portuguese manager is a known fan of a strong, creative midfield lining up to support a physically imposing forward line. Well - you guessed it - he appears to have that one covered too. England's Lampard and the frustatingly brilliant Deco are rumoured to be on their way to join their former boss in Milan.
It seems Mourinho is planning a massive overhaul of the squad he has inherited from Roberto Mancini in order to give Inter the edge in Europe. At Chelsea, Jose was famous for one–nil wins and a solid defence was key to his success so I wouldn’t bet against the likes of Ricardo Carvalho heading for Italy’s second city.
The Special One… the stage is set for Mourinho to work his magic and lead Inter to European glory - but is he as good as he says he is?
Monday 9 June 2008
EURO 2008 COMES ALIVE...AT LAST
We have waited - i would like to say patiently bit I can't - for the 2008 European Championships to put on a show. After the drip and drab affair of Romania v France it was the turn of the other two big guns in Group C.
Holland v Italy. It sounds appetising doesn't it. It was everything you could hope for...and more!
The early signs were good as the workmanlike Dutch midfield pairing of Orlando Engelaar and Nigel De Jong secured possession for the men in orange, but despite their pressure the Italians were dangerous on the break with Antonio Di Natale flashing a couple of half volleys just over Edwin van der Sar's cross bar.
However, concerns were mounting that the game needed a goal while both teams were going for it.
A quick browse through the two sides and the most obvious man to break the deaadlock was the arch-poacher himself - Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Real Madrid striker is famous for scoring inside the six yard box and he was on hand to do just that tonight.
The World Cup winners failed to clear a corner from the right hand side and Wesley Sneijder struck a low left foot shot goalwards and van Nistelrooy was in the right place at the right time to tuck it home. The Italians were angry as he was miles offside but the assistant kept his flag down - somehow.
Just minutes later Italy looked to be level but Giovanni van Bronckhorst hooked a Luca Toni header off the line. What the Italians did not see coming was the blistering counter from the men in orange.
The impressive Rafael van der Vaart fed a buccaneering van Bronckhorst down the left and, with the Italians more than a little lost, the former Arsenal man searched out Dirk Kuyt on the right side. The Liverpool man cooly nodded down to the oncoming Sneijder and the Real Madrid midfielder finished delicately round Gianluigi Buffon.
With Italy shellshocked van Nistelrooy had a glorious chance to put the game beyond doubt after a superb through ball from van der Vaart but fired straight at the legs of Buffon.
Roberto Donadoni threw Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano on in an attempt to create something and the latter forged a wonderful opening for Toni but the Bayern Munich man panicked and lobbed over.
The Dutch then rounded off proceedings with another deadly counter attack.
Andrea Pirlo looked to have got one back for the Italians but his free-kick was brilliantly palmed out by van der Sar. Within a matter of seconds that man van Bronckhorst was heading Kuyt's cross into Buffon's net.
Substitute Ibrahim Afellay was given a chance to show what he can do and he almost scored a contender for goal of the tournament after bemusing Fabio Grosso before unleashing a rasping effort that beat Buffon but not the bar.
Everybody had been waiting for this tournament to come alive and tonight - at long, long last - it did. No doubt everyone will be writing off the Italians and hailing the Dutch as runaway champions but as long as the remaining games follow on in this pattern I, for one, will be happy.
Holland v Italy. It sounds appetising doesn't it. It was everything you could hope for...and more!
The early signs were good as the workmanlike Dutch midfield pairing of Orlando Engelaar and Nigel De Jong secured possession for the men in orange, but despite their pressure the Italians were dangerous on the break with Antonio Di Natale flashing a couple of half volleys just over Edwin van der Sar's cross bar.
However, concerns were mounting that the game needed a goal while both teams were going for it.
A quick browse through the two sides and the most obvious man to break the deaadlock was the arch-poacher himself - Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Real Madrid striker is famous for scoring inside the six yard box and he was on hand to do just that tonight.
The World Cup winners failed to clear a corner from the right hand side and Wesley Sneijder struck a low left foot shot goalwards and van Nistelrooy was in the right place at the right time to tuck it home. The Italians were angry as he was miles offside but the assistant kept his flag down - somehow.
Just minutes later Italy looked to be level but Giovanni van Bronckhorst hooked a Luca Toni header off the line. What the Italians did not see coming was the blistering counter from the men in orange.
The impressive Rafael van der Vaart fed a buccaneering van Bronckhorst down the left and, with the Italians more than a little lost, the former Arsenal man searched out Dirk Kuyt on the right side. The Liverpool man cooly nodded down to the oncoming Sneijder and the Real Madrid midfielder finished delicately round Gianluigi Buffon.
With Italy shellshocked van Nistelrooy had a glorious chance to put the game beyond doubt after a superb through ball from van der Vaart but fired straight at the legs of Buffon.
Roberto Donadoni threw Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano on in an attempt to create something and the latter forged a wonderful opening for Toni but the Bayern Munich man panicked and lobbed over.
The Dutch then rounded off proceedings with another deadly counter attack.
Andrea Pirlo looked to have got one back for the Italians but his free-kick was brilliantly palmed out by van der Sar. Within a matter of seconds that man van Bronckhorst was heading Kuyt's cross into Buffon's net.
Substitute Ibrahim Afellay was given a chance to show what he can do and he almost scored a contender for goal of the tournament after bemusing Fabio Grosso before unleashing a rasping effort that beat Buffon but not the bar.
Everybody had been waiting for this tournament to come alive and tonight - at long, long last - it did. No doubt everyone will be writing off the Italians and hailing the Dutch as runaway champions but as long as the remaining games follow on in this pattern I, for one, will be happy.
WANTED: DYNAMISM, PACE AND INVENTION!
Come on it's okay to admit it, you put a few quid on France winning the European Championships...well perhaps you should just throw that slip away now!
Romania are not as bad as they have been made out to be but the fact of the matter is that Raymond Domenech's side never really looked like breaching their defence. The men from Eastern Europe set out to be defensive and try to use the pace of Adrian Mutu on the break. The second part of that plan did not work as hoped, but the first part was executed to perfection.
The selection of the clumsy Eric Abidal at left back ahead of the marauding and purposeful Patrice Evra is as close to insane as you get...only higher on that list is the decision to select the Barcelona man in the squad at all given the form of Arsenal's Gael Clichy!
How can Raymond Domenech justify selecting the abject Florent Malouda next time out? Did he do anything of note? Apart from bottling a 50-50 with the keeper of course. Jeremy Toulalan and Claude Makelele may work well together when you are trying to defend a lead and close out a quarter final, but they are not a goal threat.
Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema were the subject of much furore is the build up but both failed to impose themselves at any stage and as for Nicolas Anelka...don't even get me started!
Seemingly Arsenal-bound Samir Nasri arrived and looked busy but did not see enough of the ball in dangerous positions to create a meaningful opening.
Surely Domenech will change things ahead of the game with the Dutch!
His first decision should be to give Evra the left-back berth. Patrick Vieira will take over from Toulalan should he regain full fitness in time, but I would be tempted to include Lassana Diarra either in his place or in place of Makelele to add some much needed running and urgency to the midfield.
On the wings Domenech must find room for the inventive Nasri - with Malouda dropping out - with Ribery on the other side. In attack, Benzema must be given another chance but perhaps Anelka has played his way out of the side and it would not be a surprise if Thierry Henry returned in the front line against the Dutch.
All this may seem a little drastic but sometimes it is required and the performance of the French today needs addressing. However, Domenech has shown his fear of upsetting players in the past and don't be surprised if Abidal, Makelele, Anelka and Malouda all continue with Vieira and Henry returning to keep Toulalan, Evra, Nasri, Benzema and Diarra out.
A French revolution is needed...but don't hold or your breath, or your betting slip.
Romania are not as bad as they have been made out to be but the fact of the matter is that Raymond Domenech's side never really looked like breaching their defence. The men from Eastern Europe set out to be defensive and try to use the pace of Adrian Mutu on the break. The second part of that plan did not work as hoped, but the first part was executed to perfection.
The selection of the clumsy Eric Abidal at left back ahead of the marauding and purposeful Patrice Evra is as close to insane as you get...only higher on that list is the decision to select the Barcelona man in the squad at all given the form of Arsenal's Gael Clichy!
How can Raymond Domenech justify selecting the abject Florent Malouda next time out? Did he do anything of note? Apart from bottling a 50-50 with the keeper of course. Jeremy Toulalan and Claude Makelele may work well together when you are trying to defend a lead and close out a quarter final, but they are not a goal threat.
Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema were the subject of much furore is the build up but both failed to impose themselves at any stage and as for Nicolas Anelka...don't even get me started!
Seemingly Arsenal-bound Samir Nasri arrived and looked busy but did not see enough of the ball in dangerous positions to create a meaningful opening.
Surely Domenech will change things ahead of the game with the Dutch!
His first decision should be to give Evra the left-back berth. Patrick Vieira will take over from Toulalan should he regain full fitness in time, but I would be tempted to include Lassana Diarra either in his place or in place of Makelele to add some much needed running and urgency to the midfield.
On the wings Domenech must find room for the inventive Nasri - with Malouda dropping out - with Ribery on the other side. In attack, Benzema must be given another chance but perhaps Anelka has played his way out of the side and it would not be a surprise if Thierry Henry returned in the front line against the Dutch.
All this may seem a little drastic but sometimes it is required and the performance of the French today needs addressing. However, Domenech has shown his fear of upsetting players in the past and don't be surprised if Abidal, Makelele, Anelka and Malouda all continue with Vieira and Henry returning to keep Toulalan, Evra, Nasri, Benzema and Diarra out.
A French revolution is needed...but don't hold or your breath, or your betting slip.
Sunday 8 June 2008
HOW ON GOD'S EARTH DO YOU BEAT RAFAEL NADAL?!
That is the question Roger Federer must be asking tonight after being handed a thrashing by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final at Roland Garros.
The world number one had been nowhere near his vintage best throughout the fortnight but many still felt that with the input of his new coach anything was possible as Federer possessed more variety in his shot-making on clay than ever before. How wrong those predictions were. If anything Nadal was further ahead of the Swiss than ever as he cruised to a fourth successive French Open title.
It never looked good for Federer from the very moment they entered the court. Nadal raced onto what is, to all intents and purposes, his home away from home with a spring his step and determination all over his face. While Federer strolled slowly into the arena - it may have looked almost majestic from afar but his face showed signs of nerves never associated with the man.
Nadal's trademark burst from his chair before the opening game seemed to set the tone for a performance that may come to define the man from Mallorca's career. Nadal broke his arch-rival in game one and then held his own serve to take the early advantage. Federer reached deep into his box of tricks and expertise and despite his best efforts it was just not good enough. Nadal had all the answers as well as all the aces!
The first set lasted just 32 minutes - when u consider hte first two service games accounted for half of that it shows just how dominating the Spaniard was as he took it 6-1.
The break between sets couldn't disrupt Nadal's rhythm as he turned on the style as the start of the second set - until Federer mustered a break from nowhere. Commentators wondered if this was the turning point, they need not have wondered...
Nadal broke back almost immediately and went on to take the set 6-3 to clinch a two set lead. There appeared to be no way back for the world number one and so it proved.
By the time the third set began Nadal was riding the crest of a wave and hitting winner after winner after winner from the baseline while Federer looked deflated. Predictably, and rather unbelievably so, Nadal steamrolled his way to the third set and a fourth successive win at Roland Garros 6-0.
Nadal didn't even drop a set throughout the entire tournament - not even Federer has managed that at Wimbledon - and it just the seventh man to achieve such a feat. So the question must be asked now, how do you beat Rafael Nadal on clay?
What do you think? Will anyone ever beat Nadal at Roland Garros? No one has managed it yet...
The world number one had been nowhere near his vintage best throughout the fortnight but many still felt that with the input of his new coach anything was possible as Federer possessed more variety in his shot-making on clay than ever before. How wrong those predictions were. If anything Nadal was further ahead of the Swiss than ever as he cruised to a fourth successive French Open title.
It never looked good for Federer from the very moment they entered the court. Nadal raced onto what is, to all intents and purposes, his home away from home with a spring his step and determination all over his face. While Federer strolled slowly into the arena - it may have looked almost majestic from afar but his face showed signs of nerves never associated with the man.
Nadal's trademark burst from his chair before the opening game seemed to set the tone for a performance that may come to define the man from Mallorca's career. Nadal broke his arch-rival in game one and then held his own serve to take the early advantage. Federer reached deep into his box of tricks and expertise and despite his best efforts it was just not good enough. Nadal had all the answers as well as all the aces!
The first set lasted just 32 minutes - when u consider hte first two service games accounted for half of that it shows just how dominating the Spaniard was as he took it 6-1.
The break between sets couldn't disrupt Nadal's rhythm as he turned on the style as the start of the second set - until Federer mustered a break from nowhere. Commentators wondered if this was the turning point, they need not have wondered...
Nadal broke back almost immediately and went on to take the set 6-3 to clinch a two set lead. There appeared to be no way back for the world number one and so it proved.
By the time the third set began Nadal was riding the crest of a wave and hitting winner after winner after winner from the baseline while Federer looked deflated. Predictably, and rather unbelievably so, Nadal steamrolled his way to the third set and a fourth successive win at Roland Garros 6-0.
Nadal didn't even drop a set throughout the entire tournament - not even Federer has managed that at Wimbledon - and it just the seventh man to achieve such a feat. So the question must be asked now, how do you beat Rafael Nadal on clay?
What do you think? Will anyone ever beat Nadal at Roland Garros? No one has managed it yet...
THE GROUP OF DEATH!
by guest blogger Callum Sparrowhawk of footymad.net
The European Championships of 2008 kicked off yesterday with Group A but no doubt that the keen eye will be on Group C, the group of death. This tough draw sees three European giants; Italy, France and Holland face each other in the opening round with minnows Romania making up the numbers.
The world champions must surely be favourites to make the quarter-finals and with good reason after topping France in the qualifying stages. With a new look 4-3-3 formation - as opposed to a 4-4-2 system traditionally favoured by Italian Coaches down the years - the World Cup Winners have found a more attacking mentality. The Italians will be able to draw on the experience of Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattusso and Gianluigi Buffon with Luca Toni leading the line.
The talismanic Francesco Totti will be a creative force for the Italians after another fine season at AS Roma, however the loss of Fabio Cannavaro to injury is a major blow – but not a fatal one. The players know how to win but does manager Roberto Donadoni? Marcello Lippi’s successor lacks experience in high pressure situations and could be exposed when the going gets tough.
Italy meet France on the final day of a potentially tight group stage, with Raymond Domenech’s side eyeing up a third European Championship. The French squad is showing plenty of promise but, in my opinion, their hopes depend on Domenech’s selections in attack. Lyon striker Karim Benzema enjoyed a fabulous season in Ligue 1 and it would seem foolish to leave him out – especially given the form of the rest of the strikers in the squad.
However, is Domenech brave enough to see superstars Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka grumbling and sulking on the bench? If he is, France could go all the way with the likes of Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri wreaking havoc on the flanks, but if he isn’t then a resilient defence could stifle the French attack.
The third giant of the group is Holland, a side famous for their brand of ‘total football’ displaying the finest technique and tempo in the world. At the helm is Marco Van Basten - one of the finest forwards to grace football’s illustrious history – however, he has set his team in a system of function over style. Up top, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is a famed goal threat around the box but his lack of movement nowadays causes problems for the wide players who find themselves sprinting beyond the Real Madrid man with ease.
The Dutch managed only 15 goals in 12 qualifiers so perhaps Ajax’s much touted hitman Klass-Jan Huntelaar should be considered instead. Holland’s hopes depend on whether the midfield can conjure up enough goals to see them through… I just don’t see it happening.
A slip up from either of the giants against minnows Romania will have a massive impact on who progresses, and the Romanians will be looking to Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu to snatch them a result. However, the former Chelsea star is faced with a €12 million compensation claim from his former employers as a result of a positive drugs test during his spell at Stamford Bridge.
It would be great to see the underdogs earn a few points in this tough group, however unlikely it is, but as we all know, anything can happen in football. The French will have to beware on the opening day as they face the Romanians…remember Senegal at the World Cup anyone?!
I can certainly see the World champions Italy winning the group and I would fancy the French to follow them in second. However, the Dutch are unlikely to concede many goals and if the Romanians can stun somebody, I would put money on it being France and if they do then surely Holland would sneak in to the quarter finals.
The European Championships of 2008 kicked off yesterday with Group A but no doubt that the keen eye will be on Group C, the group of death. This tough draw sees three European giants; Italy, France and Holland face each other in the opening round with minnows Romania making up the numbers.
The world champions must surely be favourites to make the quarter-finals and with good reason after topping France in the qualifying stages. With a new look 4-3-3 formation - as opposed to a 4-4-2 system traditionally favoured by Italian Coaches down the years - the World Cup Winners have found a more attacking mentality. The Italians will be able to draw on the experience of Andrea Pirlo, Gennaro Gattusso and Gianluigi Buffon with Luca Toni leading the line.
The talismanic Francesco Totti will be a creative force for the Italians after another fine season at AS Roma, however the loss of Fabio Cannavaro to injury is a major blow – but not a fatal one. The players know how to win but does manager Roberto Donadoni? Marcello Lippi’s successor lacks experience in high pressure situations and could be exposed when the going gets tough.
Italy meet France on the final day of a potentially tight group stage, with Raymond Domenech’s side eyeing up a third European Championship. The French squad is showing plenty of promise but, in my opinion, their hopes depend on Domenech’s selections in attack. Lyon striker Karim Benzema enjoyed a fabulous season in Ligue 1 and it would seem foolish to leave him out – especially given the form of the rest of the strikers in the squad.
However, is Domenech brave enough to see superstars Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka grumbling and sulking on the bench? If he is, France could go all the way with the likes of Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri wreaking havoc on the flanks, but if he isn’t then a resilient defence could stifle the French attack.
The third giant of the group is Holland, a side famous for their brand of ‘total football’ displaying the finest technique and tempo in the world. At the helm is Marco Van Basten - one of the finest forwards to grace football’s illustrious history – however, he has set his team in a system of function over style. Up top, Ruud Van Nistelrooy is a famed goal threat around the box but his lack of movement nowadays causes problems for the wide players who find themselves sprinting beyond the Real Madrid man with ease.
The Dutch managed only 15 goals in 12 qualifiers so perhaps Ajax’s much touted hitman Klass-Jan Huntelaar should be considered instead. Holland’s hopes depend on whether the midfield can conjure up enough goals to see them through… I just don’t see it happening.
A slip up from either of the giants against minnows Romania will have a massive impact on who progresses, and the Romanians will be looking to Fiorentina’s Adrian Mutu to snatch them a result. However, the former Chelsea star is faced with a €12 million compensation claim from his former employers as a result of a positive drugs test during his spell at Stamford Bridge.
It would be great to see the underdogs earn a few points in this tough group, however unlikely it is, but as we all know, anything can happen in football. The French will have to beware on the opening day as they face the Romanians…remember Senegal at the World Cup anyone?!
I can certainly see the World champions Italy winning the group and I would fancy the French to follow them in second. However, the Dutch are unlikely to concede many goals and if the Romanians can stun somebody, I would put money on it being France and if they do then surely Holland would sneak in to the quarter finals.
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