Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
यूरो 2012
Euro-2012 Preview.The field has been set for the sixteen teams that make it to Euro-2012 to be co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.The teams that made it include Spain,Germany,England,Italy,France,Greece,Croatia,Russia,Poland,Ukraine,Sweden,Denmark,Ireland,Czech Republic,Portugal and Holland.The draw looks like this.
In group A co-host nation Poland is going to be battling Russia,Czech Republic and Greece.In group B which is the group of death in this competition,favorite Germany is going to be battling Holland,Portugal and Denmark.In group C,Spain will begin the defend of its title with Italy,Ireland and Croatia.And the last be not the least group D will see the other co-host nation Ukraine battling it out with France,England and Sweden.
Group A team Greece had their best Euro performance in 2004 when they went in as a big underdog and won the competition taking the world be surprise.This time around they are not going to creep up on anybody.They would provide a tough fight in this group but I do not fancy them going through to the knockout stages.Too much economic problems at home also though that has nothing to do with their performance on the pitch.
Russia's last great run at the Euro came in 1988 when they made it all the way to the finals before losing to the Dutch.They where a great team to watch in Euro 2008 and made it past the Dutch in the quarterfinals before going down in the semi-finals.I like their chances to come out of this group.
The Czech Republic had to go to the playoffs(barrage)before booking its place in this years Euro.I like them to take the second slot for the knockout stages in this group.
Poland are in the competition due to their status as co-host.The last time that the Poles made their mark in international football was way back in 1982 when they made it to the semi finals to the world cup that was held in Spain.
From the group of death aka group B,Germany are always a force to reckon with.The three times European champions are one of the favorites to win it all.They last won the Euro in 1996,so I have a feeling that they are due for one pretty soon.In their very last outing they defeated Holland in Hamburg by three goals to nil and that is no small fit.
Holland has one Euro under their belt and they were runners-up in the past world cup held in South Africa.They went through qualification without dropping a point and I like them coming out of this group of death.
Denmark can be tricky, the only problem is that being in the group of death,nobody is going to be looking past them.The Danes won the Euro in 1992 after joining the competition as a substitute team.
Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo.The problem is that he alone can not do it all.The position that he plays in the field is forward and once the defenses clams down on him,there is a limit as to what he can accomplish by himself.This group of death I feel belongs to the Germans and the Dutch.
From group C,Spain are the defending world cup champions and also the defending Euro champions.They are thus provided with the opportunity to do what no nations has done in the history of soccer competition.That is being the holder of both cups and winning the Euro.Spain breeze through qualification for this competition without dropping a point and they are one of the favorites to lift the trophy.I look for them to qualify to the knockout stages from this group.
Italy last won a major competition in 2006 which was the world cup.So they are not that far away from a majors victory.Europe,s traditional defenders and king of the counter attack, the Italians are pulled in a strong group though I have a feeling that they would find a way to pull themselves through to the next round of the competition.
The Republic of Ireland got into the competition after winning a two leg barrage.They find themselves in a very tough group which I doubt whether they would be able to qualify from.
Croatia made it to the semi-finals of the world cup in 1998 and qualified for the knock out stages in last years Euro.
From group D, England is still looking for that second major trophy since the world cup in 1966.They had a disappointing world cup in South Africa in 2010 and they will be looking to make amends for that also.I look for them though to find a way to qualify out of this group into the knockout stages of the competition.
The French won the world cup in 1998 and followed it up with a Euro triumph in 2000 in Holland.Right now they are looking for somebody to replace Zinedane Zidane and Frank Ribery is not the answer.Despite their recent problems, I think that coach Laurent Blanc is going to look for a way to get them into knock out football.
Sweden is always a tough nut to crack in major competition.I am looking for them to provide major challenges to the France and the English.
Ukraine is the other co-host in the competition and a relatively new country.They have never won a major competition in their brief history and I do not think that they would start doing that just now.Being on home soil though, they would be a big pain for the rest of the members in this competition as they look to get out of the group stages.When it is all set and done I see a Spain versus West Germany finals with the Germans winning it all.
In group A co-host nation Poland is going to be battling Russia,Czech Republic and Greece.In group B which is the group of death in this competition,favorite Germany is going to be battling Holland,Portugal and Denmark.In group C,Spain will begin the defend of its title with Italy,Ireland and Croatia.And the last be not the least group D will see the other co-host nation Ukraine battling it out with France,England and Sweden.
Group A team Greece had their best Euro performance in 2004 when they went in as a big underdog and won the competition taking the world be surprise.This time around they are not going to creep up on anybody.They would provide a tough fight in this group but I do not fancy them going through to the knockout stages.Too much economic problems at home also though that has nothing to do with their performance on the pitch.
Russia's last great run at the Euro came in 1988 when they made it all the way to the finals before losing to the Dutch.They where a great team to watch in Euro 2008 and made it past the Dutch in the quarterfinals before going down in the semi-finals.I like their chances to come out of this group.
The Czech Republic had to go to the playoffs(barrage)before booking its place in this years Euro.I like them to take the second slot for the knockout stages in this group.
Poland are in the competition due to their status as co-host.The last time that the Poles made their mark in international football was way back in 1982 when they made it to the semi finals to the world cup that was held in Spain.
From the group of death aka group B,Germany are always a force to reckon with.The three times European champions are one of the favorites to win it all.They last won the Euro in 1996,so I have a feeling that they are due for one pretty soon.In their very last outing they defeated Holland in Hamburg by three goals to nil and that is no small fit.
Holland has one Euro under their belt and they were runners-up in the past world cup held in South Africa.They went through qualification without dropping a point and I like them coming out of this group of death.
Denmark can be tricky, the only problem is that being in the group of death,nobody is going to be looking past them.The Danes won the Euro in 1992 after joining the competition as a substitute team.
Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo.The problem is that he alone can not do it all.The position that he plays in the field is forward and once the defenses clams down on him,there is a limit as to what he can accomplish by himself.This group of death I feel belongs to the Germans and the Dutch.
From group C,Spain are the defending world cup champions and also the defending Euro champions.They are thus provided with the opportunity to do what no nations has done in the history of soccer competition.That is being the holder of both cups and winning the Euro.Spain breeze through qualification for this competition without dropping a point and they are one of the favorites to lift the trophy.I look for them to qualify to the knockout stages from this group.
Italy last won a major competition in 2006 which was the world cup.So they are not that far away from a majors victory.Europe,s traditional defenders and king of the counter attack, the Italians are pulled in a strong group though I have a feeling that they would find a way to pull themselves through to the next round of the competition.
The Republic of Ireland got into the competition after winning a two leg barrage.They find themselves in a very tough group which I doubt whether they would be able to qualify from.
Croatia made it to the semi-finals of the world cup in 1998 and qualified for the knock out stages in last years Euro.
From group D, England is still looking for that second major trophy since the world cup in 1966.They had a disappointing world cup in South Africa in 2010 and they will be looking to make amends for that also.I look for them though to find a way to qualify out of this group into the knockout stages of the competition.
The French won the world cup in 1998 and followed it up with a Euro triumph in 2000 in Holland.Right now they are looking for somebody to replace Zinedane Zidane and Frank Ribery is not the answer.Despite their recent problems, I think that coach Laurent Blanc is going to look for a way to get them into knock out football.
Sweden is always a tough nut to crack in major competition.I am looking for them to provide major challenges to the France and the English.
Ukraine is the other co-host in the competition and a relatively new country.They have never won a major competition in their brief history and I do not think that they would start doing that just now.Being on home soil though, they would be a big pain for the rest of the members in this competition as they look to get out of the group stages.When it is all set and done I see a Spain versus West Germany finals with the Germans winning it all.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
इ जुस्त हप्पेनेद तो बे इन थे कॉन्टिनेंट अत थे Time
Africa on the Move
There seems to be a lot going on in the continent right now.I was wondering whether it has always been this way or is it just because I am in the continent now, so I get to witness first hand the news events that are taking place in the continent right now.
Sudan.
The southern Sudanese voting an overwhelming 99.9 percent to secede from their northern brothers. It was not even close. Talk about living with the enemy as a brother. The good news is that the Muslim north had come in grips with what is going on and instead of fighting the inevitable, they decide the accept the change. The referendum has taking place and come July of this year there will be a new republic in the continent.
Ivory Coast.
This one is complicated, just as I thought it would be. Incumbent Laurent Gbagho who I was surprised lose the elections in his country but decided not to step down. The momentum to remove him from power has come to a halt. It might be temporary but for the moment the African Unity and Ecowas are still looking for ways to persuade the defeated leader to step down.It is going to take some time though to get it done.
Tunisia.
This one started in the streets and next you know, the President of the country for the past 24 years was gone. He had accepted not to run for reelection as part of the way to appeal to the masses,but is seems as if that was not enough for the populations. Next you know he was boarding a plane that was heading for France and finally Saudi Arabia. That is where he is now based, though his countrymen have gotten an international arrest warrant on his head.
Egypt.
The Egyptians took to the street in the manner of their Tunisian brothers and today the first of February 2011, Hosni Mubarak 30 year hold on this Arab nations is about to come to an end. Despite his many concessions that included putting aside plans for his son to be the future leader of the country, his countrymen will stop nothing short of getting him out of the country. The population got a major backing went the military decided not to side with the President. They say that so long as the demonstration stay peaceful, the would not opened fire on the population demonstrating on the streets.
There seems to be a lot going on in the continent right now.I was wondering whether it has always been this way or is it just because I am in the continent now, so I get to witness first hand the news events that are taking place in the continent right now.
Sudan.
The southern Sudanese voting an overwhelming 99.9 percent to secede from their northern brothers. It was not even close. Talk about living with the enemy as a brother. The good news is that the Muslim north had come in grips with what is going on and instead of fighting the inevitable, they decide the accept the change. The referendum has taking place and come July of this year there will be a new republic in the continent.
Ivory Coast.
This one is complicated, just as I thought it would be. Incumbent Laurent Gbagho who I was surprised lose the elections in his country but decided not to step down. The momentum to remove him from power has come to a halt. It might be temporary but for the moment the African Unity and Ecowas are still looking for ways to persuade the defeated leader to step down.It is going to take some time though to get it done.
Tunisia.
This one started in the streets and next you know, the President of the country for the past 24 years was gone. He had accepted not to run for reelection as part of the way to appeal to the masses,but is seems as if that was not enough for the populations. Next you know he was boarding a plane that was heading for France and finally Saudi Arabia. That is where he is now based, though his countrymen have gotten an international arrest warrant on his head.
Egypt.
The Egyptians took to the street in the manner of their Tunisian brothers and today the first of February 2011, Hosni Mubarak 30 year hold on this Arab nations is about to come to an end. Despite his many concessions that included putting aside plans for his son to be the future leader of the country, his countrymen will stop nothing short of getting him out of the country. The population got a major backing went the military decided not to side with the President. They say that so long as the demonstration stay peaceful, the would not opened fire on the population demonstrating on the streets.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
हाउ गाबोन एंड क़ुअतोरिअल ग़ुइनेअ २०१२ प्लेएड आउट.
The actual Competition.
On match day one in group A co-host Equatorial Guinea defeated Libya by one goal to nil.On the second match of the group,Zambia was the surprise winner over favorite Senegal by two goals to one.
In group B,Ivory Coast escaped with a one nil victor over Sudan,while Angola defeated Burkina Faso by two goals to one.
In group C,co-host Gabon got an impressive two nil victory over Niger.In the second match in this group a hard fought match between Tunisia and Morocco ended with Tunisia on top by two goals to one.
In group D,Ghana opened the competition with a one goal to zero defeat of Botswana.Mali helped themselves to a one goal to zero defeat of Guinea.
Match day two went into high gear on Wednesday with Senegal putting in a disappointing effort against co-host nation Equatorial Guinea.They lost by two goals to one and became the first nation to be eliminated from this years African cup of nations.What a great disappointment for the Teranga Lions who came into this competition with such high hopes.Equatorial Guinea became the first nation to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition with this,their second victory in a row in this African cup of nations.In the other game in this group Libya and Zambia played to a 2-2 draw.
In group b, Ivory Coast beat a tough Burkina Faso side 2-0.This gave them qualification into the knockout stages of the competition.In the second match in this group Sudan and Angola played to an exciting 2-2 draw.
In group C,it was Tunisia beating Niger by two goals to one to move closer to qualification.The qualification came later at night when co-host Gabon beat Morocco in a three goals to two thriller.So from this group, Tunisia and Gabon moved on to the knockout stages to the competition while Morocco and Niger are out of the competition.
In group D,the record for the worse defeat of an opponent set back in 1970 was matched when Guinea beat debutant Botswana by 6-1 in a one sided encounter.Video replayed confirm a refused goal by Feindouno of Guinea that could have made the final score 7-1.In the second encounter of the group Ghana defeated Mali 2-0 to move closer to qualification.There was a beautiful set piece goal from Ghana ace player Asamoah Gyan.
In match day three,group A matches that were played simultaneously saw Senegal go down to Libya by 2 goals to 1.Zambia beat co-host nation Guinea Equatorial by 1 goal to o to move on as head of group A.Equatorial Guinea who had already qualified move on as runners up to Zambia in this group.Senegal, the big disappointment of the competition goes home with 0 points from three matches played.So in the quarterfinals Zambia would be playing against Sudan while Equatorial Guinea would play against Ivory Coast.
In group C,Gabon ended up as head of group by beating Tunisia 1-0.The other match of this group saw Morocco pick up three points by beating Niger by 1-0.
In group D,Ghana had a 1-1 draw with Guinea,while Mali beat Botswana by 1-0.So Ghana and Mali move on to the knockout stages of the competition.Ghana will be playing the runners-up of group C,which is Tunisia,While Mali will go against co-host Gabon during the quarterfinals.
In the first quarterfinals of the competition,Zambia beat Sudan by 3 goals to 0.Captain Katongo, scored the second goal for his team on on penalty rebound that the Sudanese goalkeeper had stopped.They will move on to play against Ghana in the semi-finals.
The the second quarter finals,Ivory Coast beat co-host Equatorial Guinea by 3 goals to 0.Didier Drogba missed a penalty kick in the encounter but made amends by scoring two goals for his side to take his total for the tournament to 3 goals.Yaya Toure got the third goal for his side through a beautiful spot kick.Ivory Coast moves on to play Mali in the semi-finals.
The third quarter finals of the competition matched Mali and co-host Gabon.The matched ended in a 1-1 tie before prolongation and penalty shootout. Mali survived the penalty shootout,winning by 5 made penalties to 4 for the Gabonese.So at this point both of the co-host nations were eliminated in the quarter finals of the competition.
The last of the quarterfinals matched Ghana and Tunisia.A very hard fought match ended at 1-1 during regulation.The Tunisian goalkeeper committed a big blunder in extra time,giving Andre Ayew the chance to fire his team into the semi-finals of the competition.So Ghana moves on and will play against Zambia in the other semi-finals of the competition.
In the first semi-finals match,Zambia pulled out a surprise by beating Ghana,my favorite to win it all by 1 goal to zero.Asomaoh Gyan,missed a penalty in the 7th minute of play and the Ghanians never recovered after the missed penalty.Zambia got its goal in the 79th minute of play through Emmanuel Muyuka who came into the game as a second half substitute.So the Ghana team will have to look for next year in South African to win its fifth African cup of Nations,the first one since 1982.Yes, it has been that far back since the black stars of Ghana last won this trophy.
Ivory Coast took on Mali in the other semi-finals of the competition and Gervinho got his first goal of the Competition.A beautiful run from the center of the field took him all the way to the Mali six meter box,before he slide in the winner for his side.That was all the scoring in a match that the Malians fail to show up.So the finals of the 2012 edition of the African cup of nations has been set with Ivory Coast going against a surprising Zambian side.
The match for who gets the third place in this years competition was won by 2 goals to 0 by Mali over Ghana.The Ghana side was still mourning from their semi-finals lost to Zambia.
The finals of this years competition took place in Iibreville and surprise,surprise,it was the Zambian national team,known as the chipolopolo that were crowned champions of Africa.The match itself was entertaining despite the fact that it ended in a goalless draw through regulation and extra time.It was during the penalty shootouts that Zambia got their first continental trophy in the history of the nation.They outlast Ivory Coast by 8 shots to 7 to emerge as champions.Once again Ivory Coast came up short on the big stage.Didier Drogba missed a penalty kick about 13 minutes to the end of the game that could have given his side the trophy.Congratulations to the Chipolopolo of Zambia for not going 0 and 3 in finals competition.They came up shot in 1974 and 1994 but not this time around,pulling out a huge upset in the finals.
On match day one in group A co-host Equatorial Guinea defeated Libya by one goal to nil.On the second match of the group,Zambia was the surprise winner over favorite Senegal by two goals to one.
In group B,Ivory Coast escaped with a one nil victor over Sudan,while Angola defeated Burkina Faso by two goals to one.
In group C,co-host Gabon got an impressive two nil victory over Niger.In the second match in this group a hard fought match between Tunisia and Morocco ended with Tunisia on top by two goals to one.
In group D,Ghana opened the competition with a one goal to zero defeat of Botswana.Mali helped themselves to a one goal to zero defeat of Guinea.
Match day two went into high gear on Wednesday with Senegal putting in a disappointing effort against co-host nation Equatorial Guinea.They lost by two goals to one and became the first nation to be eliminated from this years African cup of nations.What a great disappointment for the Teranga Lions who came into this competition with such high hopes.Equatorial Guinea became the first nation to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition with this,their second victory in a row in this African cup of nations.In the other game in this group Libya and Zambia played to a 2-2 draw.
In group b, Ivory Coast beat a tough Burkina Faso side 2-0.This gave them qualification into the knockout stages of the competition.In the second match in this group Sudan and Angola played to an exciting 2-2 draw.
In group C,it was Tunisia beating Niger by two goals to one to move closer to qualification.The qualification came later at night when co-host Gabon beat Morocco in a three goals to two thriller.So from this group, Tunisia and Gabon moved on to the knockout stages to the competition while Morocco and Niger are out of the competition.
In group D,the record for the worse defeat of an opponent set back in 1970 was matched when Guinea beat debutant Botswana by 6-1 in a one sided encounter.Video replayed confirm a refused goal by Feindouno of Guinea that could have made the final score 7-1.In the second encounter of the group Ghana defeated Mali 2-0 to move closer to qualification.There was a beautiful set piece goal from Ghana ace player Asamoah Gyan.
In match day three,group A matches that were played simultaneously saw Senegal go down to Libya by 2 goals to 1.Zambia beat co-host nation Guinea Equatorial by 1 goal to o to move on as head of group A.Equatorial Guinea who had already qualified move on as runners up to Zambia in this group.Senegal, the big disappointment of the competition goes home with 0 points from three matches played.So in the quarterfinals Zambia would be playing against Sudan while Equatorial Guinea would play against Ivory Coast.
In group C,Gabon ended up as head of group by beating Tunisia 1-0.The other match of this group saw Morocco pick up three points by beating Niger by 1-0.
In group D,Ghana had a 1-1 draw with Guinea,while Mali beat Botswana by 1-0.So Ghana and Mali move on to the knockout stages of the competition.Ghana will be playing the runners-up of group C,which is Tunisia,While Mali will go against co-host Gabon during the quarterfinals.
In the first quarterfinals of the competition,Zambia beat Sudan by 3 goals to 0.Captain Katongo, scored the second goal for his team on on penalty rebound that the Sudanese goalkeeper had stopped.They will move on to play against Ghana in the semi-finals.
The the second quarter finals,Ivory Coast beat co-host Equatorial Guinea by 3 goals to 0.Didier Drogba missed a penalty kick in the encounter but made amends by scoring two goals for his side to take his total for the tournament to 3 goals.Yaya Toure got the third goal for his side through a beautiful spot kick.Ivory Coast moves on to play Mali in the semi-finals.
The third quarter finals of the competition matched Mali and co-host Gabon.The matched ended in a 1-1 tie before prolongation and penalty shootout. Mali survived the penalty shootout,winning by 5 made penalties to 4 for the Gabonese.So at this point both of the co-host nations were eliminated in the quarter finals of the competition.
The last of the quarterfinals matched Ghana and Tunisia.A very hard fought match ended at 1-1 during regulation.The Tunisian goalkeeper committed a big blunder in extra time,giving Andre Ayew the chance to fire his team into the semi-finals of the competition.So Ghana moves on and will play against Zambia in the other semi-finals of the competition.
In the first semi-finals match,Zambia pulled out a surprise by beating Ghana,my favorite to win it all by 1 goal to zero.Asomaoh Gyan,missed a penalty in the 7th minute of play and the Ghanians never recovered after the missed penalty.Zambia got its goal in the 79th minute of play through Emmanuel Muyuka who came into the game as a second half substitute.So the Ghana team will have to look for next year in South African to win its fifth African cup of Nations,the first one since 1982.Yes, it has been that far back since the black stars of Ghana last won this trophy.
Ivory Coast took on Mali in the other semi-finals of the competition and Gervinho got his first goal of the Competition.A beautiful run from the center of the field took him all the way to the Mali six meter box,before he slide in the winner for his side.That was all the scoring in a match that the Malians fail to show up.So the finals of the 2012 edition of the African cup of nations has been set with Ivory Coast going against a surprising Zambian side.
The match for who gets the third place in this years competition was won by 2 goals to 0 by Mali over Ghana.The Ghana side was still mourning from their semi-finals lost to Zambia.
The finals of this years competition took place in Iibreville and surprise,surprise,it was the Zambian national team,known as the chipolopolo that were crowned champions of Africa.The match itself was entertaining despite the fact that it ended in a goalless draw through regulation and extra time.It was during the penalty shootouts that Zambia got their first continental trophy in the history of the nation.They outlast Ivory Coast by 8 shots to 7 to emerge as champions.Once again Ivory Coast came up short on the big stage.Didier Drogba missed a penalty kick about 13 minutes to the end of the game that could have given his side the trophy.Congratulations to the Chipolopolo of Zambia for not going 0 and 3 in finals competition.They came up shot in 1974 and 1994 but not this time around,pulling out a huge upset in the finals.
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