The Malaysian Insider :: Sports
The Malaysian Insider :: Sports |
| Casillas recalls day Spain’s luck changed against Italy Posted: 09 Aug 2011 08:14 AM PDT
Spain are in Bari for a friendly against the 2006 World Cup winners tomorrow, a game in which the Real Madrid goalkeeper (picture) played a starring role the last time the sides met three years ago. With the score 0-0 after extra-time, Casillas saved two penalties to help his side through to the last four at Euro 2008, laying to rest the memory of three previous quarter-final shootout exits. "We took the pressure off ourselves, that game was a great relief," Casillas told reporters in Bari. "From there, against Russia in the semi-finals, Spain's football changed radically and their luck as well, something which had never been with us before. It all changed from that moment." Tomorrow's match comes four days before the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season, the Spanish Super Cup where European and La Liga champions Barcelona take on King's Cup holders Real Madrid. The first leg is at the Bernabeu on Sunday with the return at the Nou Camp next Wednesday. Although Real defender Sergio Ramos and Barca midfielder Xavi have pulled out of the Spain squad through injury, 11 of the 21 remaining players are from the top two clubs. "At present our minds are focused on Italy," said Casillas. "When Spain fell to Portugal (4-0) and Argentina (4-1) in friendlies last year we were criticised for not knowing how to defend our world title. "We need to demonstrate Spain are world champions for a reason and work at 200 per cent because our rivals will give their all." – Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
| New Zealand is ready for Rugby World Cup Posted: 09 Aug 2011 07:48 AM PDT  A fan of the New Zealand All Blacks supports his team against Fiji during a rugby Test match at Carisbrook Stadium in Dunedin on July 22, 2011. With a month to go until the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, the country is ready to host the big event. – AFP pic The country is ready to host the largest event it has ever staged, says tournament organiser Martin Snedden, despite fierce challenges thrown up by February's deadly Christchurch earthquake and the faltering global economy. "We're feeling very well prepared," declared Snedden, chief executive of Rugby World Cup 2011, adding that he had detected an increase in the buzz surrounding the tournament as the opening match on September 9 draws closer. One of the few countries where rugby union is the dominant sport, New Zealand has a lot riding on the showcase event, not least the chance for the All Blacks to atone for a history of under-performance at the World Cup. It also gives the nation, which has a population of just over four million, the chance to prove that a small country can successfully host large sporting events and accommodate tens of thousands of international visitors. "Rugby World Cup is the biggest event New Zealand's ever held and it's important to New Zealand because it's our number-one game and everyone within New Zealand knows rugby," former All Blacks captain Buck Shelford said. Snedden said that despite New Zealand's geographic isolation and the turmoil hitting the world economy, organisers remained optimistic about projections that 85,000 international visitors would flood in. "One of our biggest challenges is that New Zealand is stuck away at the end of the world with really only Australia as our closest neighbour and a long way away from some of the international rugby markets that we've been targeting," he said. "But we've been absolutely delighted with the number of people who have committed to coming to New Zealand." The earthquake that hit the country's second largest city in February, killing 181 people, had thrown up the biggest obstacle, he said. All seven matches scheduled for Christchurch, including two quarter-finals, had to be moved after the devastating quake rendered its stadium impossible to play in and shattered the city's infrastructure. "We're just hoping that the people of Christchurch still manage to find a way of connecting in with this tournament strongly," Snedden said. Revenue from ticket sales – which topped one million last month – is expected to reach NZ$268 million (RM672.57 million), although the tournament will make a loss, to be shared by the government and New Zealand Rugby Union. The country's struggling economy however is expected to get a much-needed boost. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand estimates that the influx of tourists will inject NZ$700 million into the economy, lifting growth by 0.33 percentage points. On the field, the tournament – which sees 20 teams competing – offers a chance of redemption for New Zealand's All Blacks, widely regarded as the best rugby team on the planet. The side has failed to live up to the billing since winning the inaugural World Cup in 1987, unable to lift the trophy in five subsequent tournaments and earning an unwanted reputation for choking on the big occasion. All Black legend Jonah Lomu, part of the New Zealand side that lost to South Africa in the 1995 final, said he believed 2011 might be the All Blacks' year because they are playing on home soil in front of fans desperate for success. "If the All Blacks do do it, mate, I'll be the happiest man on the moon," he said. Snedden warned that New Zealanders must maintain their enthusiasm for the event even if the unthinkable happens and the All Blacks fail again. "If we don't happen to win the World Cup, we'll get another chance in four years' time, and four years after that. But we're not going to get another chance to host the event," he said. – AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search. |
BARI (Italy), Aug 9 – Spain's shootout victory over Italy in the Euro 2008 quarter-finals was the change in fortune they needed to go on and win that tournament and the 2010 World Cup, captain Iker Casillas said today.| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malaysian Insider :: Sports To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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