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Saturday, 27 April 2013
Wednesday, 24 April 2013
Special Real Face Clever Klopp
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Real Madrid will be hoping this year will be third time lucky when they travel to Borussia Dortmund in the opening leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final.
Jose Mourinho has led his charges to the last four stage of Europe's top club competition for the past two seasons only to see them crash out at the hands of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Real will be aiming to go one step further in their tie against Bundesliga side Dortmund on Wednesday as they target a much-coveted spot in the final at Wembley in May.
They will also be looking to beat Dortmund at the third time of asking this season after suffering a 2-1 defeat at Signal Iduna Park and drawing 2-2 at the Bernabeu in the group stages.
Jurgen Klopp will be hoping his side can pull off a repeat of their home triumph over Los Blancos back in October last year, when Robert Lewandowski and Marcell Schmelzer scored either side of Cristiano Ronaldo's strike for the win.
Should they pull off a first-leg win they would become the second German side to do so this week after Bayern Munich thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in the opening leg of their semi-final on Tuesday night.
All eyes are likely to be on Dortmund youngster Mario Gotze after the club confirmed on Tuesday he will be joining Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in a £32million deal in the summer, with reports suggesting he could receive a hostile reception from the home fans.
But Klopp has urged supporters to "leave all negative emotions at home" as Dortmund eye a spot in a European Cup final for the second time - while Madrid are aiming for their 13th decider.
The nine-time European champions have overcome Dortmund at the semi-final stage before back in 1997-98, playing out a goalless draw in Germany before seeing off their opponents 2-0 on home turf.
Monday, 8 April 2013
Super Saturday at Irish Open
The world of horse racing and professional golf came together at the Curragh races at the weekend for the exciting Irish ‘Double Ticket’ initiative was officially launched by famous faces from the two sports which will form part of a ‘Super Saturday’ of world class action in County Kildare on June 29.
European Tour champions Peter Lawrie and Damien McGrane, who will next be seen competitively in Ireland during the Irish Open at Carton House Golf Club, together with last year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby winning combination of trainer Aidan O’Brien and his jockey son Joseph, were on hand to launch the innovative ticket package and present the prizes to the winning connections.
One ticket costing just €50 will permit fans of racing and golf to enjoy one of the best sporting and social occasions of the year in the third round of the Irish Open at Carton House during the day followed by the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh in the evening.
With the golf commencing early in the day, and the Derby meeting starting in late afternoon, sports enthusiasts will have the perfect opportunity to experience what promises to be two of the great summer events, both taking place in Co. Kildare and close to the capital of Dublin.
To add another touch of fun and excitement to an already packed programme, The European Tour will be opening the facilities within the Tented Village at Carton House from 7.30am on the day in order for early arrivals to the Irish Open to enjoy a hearty ‘Lions Breakfast’ and watch the second rugby union Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions (kick-off 10.00am) live on the big screens located in the village.
To get the initiative off the first tee and out of the starting stalls today, The European Tour sponsored the inaugural Irish Open Alleged Stakes (Listed), one of the main features on the competitive seven-race card, with many well known personalities from golf and racing attending a reception which took place before the first race.
Meanwhile, Irish Derby sponsors, Dubai Duty Free, have kindly extended an invitation to the Irish Open competitors, their wives and partners to enjoy the spectacle of Ireland’s Classic race once they have completed their ‘day job’ at Carton House.
Evan Arkwright, Commercial Manager of the Curragh Racecourse, commented: “The Irish Double initiative is an extension of the very good partnership that we enjoyed with The European Tour during The 2006 Ryder Cup and it is a fantastic opportunity to strongly link both events in order to maximise the potential to attract visitors from all over the world to come to County Kildare for two fantastic events as part of the Gathering.”
He added, “In addition to the joint ticket we plan to unveil other exciting promotions between us over the coming months.”
Antonia Beggs, Irish Open Championship Director, commented: “We are thrilled to be participating in one of the great days of sport on June 29. ‘Super Saturday’ is an appropriate name for a day which starts with the Lions at breakfast, continues with the all-important third round of the Irish Open at Carton House and concludes with the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh.
“We believe that €50 to gain access to two world class sporting events represents tremendous value for money and we are delighted to be working once again in partnership with the Curragh following the success of The Ryder Cup initiative in 2006. Fans of golf and racing alike are sure to have a day to remember.”
Tuesday, 19 March 2013
Nothing Compares to Zlatan
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Sweden coach Erik Hamren compared Zlatan Ibrahimovic's stunning overhead kick for his fourth goal against England to "watching a video game".
The striker's amazing improvisation saw him acrobatically volley Joe Hart's headed clearance in from 30 yards, as Sweden won 4-2.
England captain Steven Gerrard, winning his 100th cap, said it was "probably the best goal" he had seen live.
"I don't know if you will see another like it in your life," said Hamren.
"Sometimes, when he's doing these things, in training or in matches, you don't think it's possible. Because it's not possible to do that - the fourth goal, for example."
Ibrahimovic's spellbinding final effort combined unfathomable imagination and expert technique to stun the Friends Arena crowd in stoppage time.
The 6ft 5ins forward has split opinion throughout his career, with many on mainland Europe hailing a genius who has been the driving force behind title successes for clubs Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and AC Milan, while British sources sometimes cite an enigmatic figure who rarely performs on the biggest stage.
Speaking after his four-goal exploits in Solna, Ibrahimovic commented on his reputation by saying: "That's the way it is with the English. If you score against them you're a good player, if you don't score against them you're not a good player.
"I remember Lionel Messi before the 2009 Champions League final for Barcelona.Then he scored against Manchester United and suddenly he was the best player in the world. Maybe now they'll say something like that about me.
"Hart was a long way out and I was just trying to get it into the goal. I was on the ground when it was on the way in.
"I saw a defender sliding in to try to get rid of it and I wanted to scream 'No' but the ball went in."
An example of Ibrahimovic's trademark confidence came in the build-up to the friendly. When asked to grade his international career while on the cusp of receiving his 100th cap, Gerrard responded: "Six or seven."
In contrast, when posed with the same question on Wednesday night, Ibrahimovic replied without hesitation: "Ten."
England manager Roy Hodgson was quick to praise Ibrahimovic's invention on BBC Radio 5 live: "The fourth goal was the crowning glory.
"It's a wonderful goal to see on a football field, though I would rather have seen it against someone else."
Gerrard believes the goal eclipses that of Wayne Rooney's for Manchester United against Manchester City last season.
The England striker's stunning overhead kick, which gave United a 2-1 win, was voted the best goal in the history of the Premier League.
"I think the best goal I have seen before that is Wayne Rooney's (against Manchester City)," said Gerrard.
"Everyone knows how special that was but this one tonight - an overhead kick from 25 yards [sic] when the ball is six feet in the air - only certain players can do that."
Former England manager and BBC Radio 5 live pundit Graham Taylor insisted the Swede's superb volley was one that will live long in the memory.
He said: "That is one of the best goals I have ever seen. What a fantastic goal, it has made this game one we will never forget.
"Ibrahimovic scores exceptional goals. It was an exceptionally gifted, talented goal."
England debutant Leon Osman said: "Ibrahimovic just seemed to have five minutes of dominance and then the wonder goal at the end.
"It is certainly the best goal I have seen live, in its presence. To do what he did, the imagination of it alone and to get as high as he did for a big guy was unbelievable, and it found the back of the net. It was a terrific goal and the best I have seen."
Taylor's colleague Pat Nevin said: "His fourth goal was beyond perfection, it was magical. His technique was off the scale."
Pick Lions in Best Form - John Bentley
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Former British & Irish Lions international John Bentley believes reputation should count for nothing when coach Warren Gatland picks his squad for next summer's tour to Australia.
Bentley, a key member of the last Lions squad to claim a series victory over South Africa in 1997, is confident that the elite tourists can repeat that feat against the Wallabies if Gatland gets his selection right.
"Warren Gatland has been proven in the last four years as being a great coach with Wales and he has got the best out of his players, so he is the best man for the job," said Bentley, who started the second and third Tests in 1997.
"The important thing about selecting the Lions squad initially is selecting players who are in form at the time, reputation will count for nothing. He has to pick those who are playing well.
"The Lions comes along only once every four years and they only go to three countries and it will be a great challenge going to Australia. But of the three countries - Australia, South Africa and New Zealand - it's probably the best one to go to to seek that elusive win.
"The important thing is to try and get them to be a team as quickly as possible. In 1997 we became a side, a team, and importantly it doesn't want to be a midweek team and a Saturday team. Ultimately everyone wants to play on a Saturday because that is when the Tests are played."
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