Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that Spain, Germany and Netherlands are the favourites to win the European Championships this summer. The tournament gets underway on June 8 and the 27-year-old touted the trio of nations as the main contenders to lift the trophy. "Spain have a good chance. Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, why not? But the first three have the great chance to win: Spain, Germany and Netherlands," Ronaldo said...
09:38 AM, May 23, 2012
Munich: Bayern Munich's dramatic downfall in the Champions League final is unlikely to have a long-term influence on Germany's biggest club, although it could have a negative impact on Germany's hopes of winning the upcoming European Championship. Bayern's young squad was good enough to eliminate Real Madrid in the semi-finals and largely dominate Chelsea on Saturday before losing on penalties. Time will eventually heal those wounds. But more immediately, eight...
04:22 AM, May 21, 2012
Kiev: A psychic pig is set to take over where Paul the Octopus left off at the 2010 World Cup by predicting the results of matches at the European championships in Ukraine and Poland. Kiev's city government said on Friday it would wheel out the porky tipster to give daily forecasts once the tournament kicks off next month. "A unique oracle hog, a real Ukrainian pig and a psychic which...
12:01 AM, May 19, 2012
Portugal winger Nani has stated he is not afraid to play against Germany in the Euro 2012 group stage. Die Mannschaft sent Portugal packing in the Euro 2008 quarter-final and are heavily suggested as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in Poland and Ukraine, but Nani thinks that Joachim Low's men respect his side. "If we are feeling anxiety, they will feel it too, because they will be...
03:08 PM, May 18, 2012
Netherlands: Mark van Bommel has revealed that he will retire from international football if Netherlands win Euro 2012. The midfielder has made a total of 74 appearances for Oranje since making his debut in a World Cup qualifier against Cyprus in 2000, but will bid farewell to the national team this summer if Netherlands win their first major tournament since Euro 1988. However, the 35-year-old added that he could go...
10:37 AM, May 17, 2012
Amsterdam: Coach Bert van Marwijk included uncapped 18-year-old Adam Maher on Tuesday in his provisional 27-man Netherlands squad for the European Championship. The talented AZ Alkmaar midfielder made the cut as Van Marwijk trimmed down a 36-player roster ahead of a pre-tournament training camp in Switzerland. The squad has to be reduced again to 23 players by May 29. Van Marwijk sent home Urby Emmanuelson of AC Milan and Vitesse...
10:05 PM, May 16, 2012
Portugal: Nani and Raul Meireles are the Premier League's representatives in Paulo Bento's 23-man Portugal squad for Euro 2012. Former Everton midfielder Manuel Fernandes' omission is the biggest shock to come from the announcement, after he enjoyed an impressive season with Besiktas. Somewhat surprise inclusions come in the form of Sporting de Braga duo Miguel Lopes and Custodio, while Benfica striker Nelson Oliveira also features on the list after making...
05:19 PM, May 15, 2012
Munich: Joachim Low says that he will closely assess his Germany side before making any cuts in time for Euro 2012, and that none of the players called up to the squad are certain to go to the tournament. The 52-year-old announced his preliminary squad for the competition earlier this week, and surprisingly included the likes of Julian Draxler, Marc-Andreter Stegen and Ilkay Gundogan. While denying that the less experienced...
01:28 PM, May 13, 2012
Netherlands: Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has suggested that he will not pair up Robin van Persie and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar at Euro 2012. Both the Arsenal forward and the Schalke hitman have been scintillating in front of goal this season, but they each have a tendency to play the lone striker role for their respective clubs makes playing them together something of a risk. Though the former Feyenoord and Borussia...
05:08 PM, May 12, 2012
![Gaurav Kalra]( "Gaurav Kalra")
Masquerading so called noble causes is a popular occupation these days. One such noble cause is the dictum of spreading the game far and wide, ...
08:16 AM, Mar 22, 2011
![Vivek Atray]( "Vivek Atray")
India's defeat against the formidable South Africans in a Group match of the ICC World Cup 2011 should not be cause for alarm bells to ...
04:46 PM, Mar 13, 2011
![Trevor Chesterfield]( "Trevor Chesterfield")
Just how important is a World Cup century depends on the game and its result - whether the victory box can be ticked or a ...
04:27 PM, Mar 11, 2011
![Abhishek Nandwani]( "Abhishek Nandwani")
The use of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) has come under sharp scrutiny in the World Cup. The ICC's 2.5 metre-barrier for LBW decisions ...
06:01 PM, Mar 07, 2011
![Abhishek Nandwani]( "Abhishek Nandwani")
For the last two decades, Indian cricket has gained immeasurably from Sachin's presence- on and off the field. Sachin Tendulkar, gifted with talent and temperament, ...
01:06 PM, Feb 28, 2011
![Trevor Chesterfield]( "Trevor Chesterfield")
Is it a case of deja vu for Australia? Even South Africa and India, for that matter as the analysing of the series of practice ...
11:12 PM, Feb 16, 2011
The World Cup is scheduled to be held in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from February 19 to April 2.
07:25 PM, Feb 05, 2011
![Trevor Chesterfield]( "Trevor Chesterfield")
Opening batsman and former Test captain Marvan Atapattu once referred to bureaucratic bunglers as "Jokers led by a Muppet". At the time, he was talking ...
05:12 PM, Feb 02, 2011
![Vivek Atray]( "Vivek Atray")
The disdain with which Yusuf Pathan treats boundaries on the cricket field means that the laws of the game may need to be altered soon. ...
09:57 PM, Jan 26, 2011
![Abhishek Nandwani]( "Abhishek Nandwani")
India is the strongest contender of the 2011 World Cup if it is put the right way. The team balance is simply perfect and the ...
03:32 PM, Jan 22, 2011
![Trevor Chesterfield]( "Trevor Chesterfield")
Unlike Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, England's ICC World T20 winning captain, Paul Collingwood, knows how to retire gracefully. Likewise former West Indies captain, Brian Lara, ...
10:39 PM, Jan 19, 2011
