The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Only Jesus can help Brazil hold best World Cup, says Romario Posted: 20 Jun 2011 09:05 AM PDT  The World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 has been a big critic of his country's preparations for football's showpiece tournament. — Reuters file pic Romario, now a member of Congress, has been a big critic of his country's preparations for football's showpiece tournament despite being part of the Brazilian committee at Fifa headquarters in Zurich when Brazil was named as host. The former Barcelona striker, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994, has called on Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ricardo Teixeira to clarify corruption allegations made against him. "Back then, when the Cup was handed to Brazil, there was much celebration. I said two things: Brazil not only had the conditions to hold the World Cup but also the best of all time. I hold by the first idea (but) I withdraw the second," he said. "Because, from what I'm seeing, things aren't going to happen. We'll have the Cup but sadly we'll have problems and it won't be the best," Romario told the daily Folha de Sao Paulo in his office in the capital, Brasilia. "I'm going to tell you a truth: the gospels say Jesus will return. Only He can ensure Brazil stage the best Cup. If he comes down in the next three years, then it will be possible." Of the 12 stadiums being refurbished or built from scratch, two have yet to get beyond the paperwork, including in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city. This delay has led to FIFA discarding Sao Paulo for the Confederations Cup in 2013. Romario said the original budget for the venues kept increasing. "We've been to five venues of the 2014 Cup and we're going to others. There used to be a budget at the beginning of the preparations that has at least doubled. Going by what we heard at the venue cities, they made plans they can't meet," he said. "Fifa makes a recommendation to the LOC (local organising committee) and the LOC makes it an obligation. The way things are going, the stadiums will reach (a cost of) 15 billion (Brazilian) reais (RM28.6 billion) and that's absurd." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
| Sangakkara makes century as draw looms Posted: 20 Jun 2011 08:38 AM PDT  Sangakkara celebrates after completing his century today. — Reuters pic Stand-in captain Sangakkara led his team's fight-back after England began the fifth day with hopes of sealing a 2-0 series win. He was out for a 119 just before the interval, leaving Thilan Samaraweera 87 not out and Prasanna Jaywardene on six as Sri Lanka led by 141 runs. Sangakkara notched up his 25th test century after previously managing a top score of just 26 in the series. He departed when driving James Anderson to substitute fielder Adam Rouse at backward point, ending an innings of more than six hours. He required 35 minutes to score his first run after lunch and only moved from his interval score of 89 with an edge to the boundary that flew over first slip Andrew Strauss off Anderson. Sangakkara reached three figures with a quick single to mid-on and he raised his arms in jubilation, having gone 10 years with a top score of 70 from all internationals in England. England's only other success of the day was that of nightwatchman Rangana Herath before lunch for 36. Samaraweera added 141 for the fifth wicket with his skipper and neared his 13th test hundred. Both Samaraweera, who has faced 128 balls, and Sangakkara punished the bad ball clinically. Sangakkara illustrated his intentions by smashing two fours off Anderson through cover and then straight down the ground that reduced the deficit to 45. Before lunch, Herath survived three chances. First when he was on five, the left-hander pushed forward at an Anderson delivery and first slip Strauss, perhaps distracted by second slip Graeme Swann, parried the ball towards third man. Herath survived again when he could have been run out on seven. Sangakkara scampered through for a quick single but Anderson's throw from cover missed the stumps when Herath was well short of his ground. England's bowlers were often too short or wide in their line and length and the Sri Lankan batsmen were able to leave the ball more than they should have been allowed to. England missed a third opportunity to remove Herath, on 19, when he was struck on the pad by offspinner Swann. Umpire Rod Tucker gave not out and England chose not to review the decision. Replays suggested Herath would have been out if they had. England's morning worsened with the introduction of part-time bowler Jonathan Trott when Stuart Broad was off the field with a bruised heel. He conceded 15 runs from his first over, including four overthrows from Chris Tremlett. Swann finally dismissed Herath lbw when he missed a sweep shot. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by USA Best Price. |
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