Showing posts with label final. Show all posts
13-year-old Erraid Davies wins Bronze at Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games 2014, Glasgow, Scotland
Schoolgirl Erraid Davies won a bronze medal in the women's 100m breaststroke final at Glasgow Games 2014 after the 13-year-old set a new personal best for the 2nd time in the day.
Davies, Scotland's youngest-ever Comonwealth Games competitor, had come 2nd in the heat on Sunday morning & fought her way to the bronze medal in the last quarter of the final.
Supported largely by the crowd, she finished just behind Australian silver medallist Madeleine Scott in 1 minute and 21.38 seconds, with New Zealand's Sophie Pascoe took the gold.
"I'm really happy. It's another PB and I could really hear the crowd in the last 25m. Mum and Dad are here to watch and I'm not sure what we'll do to celebrate later." she said.
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Messi gets Golden Ball
Lionel Messi has won the Fifa Golden Ball as the best player of World Cup 2014.
Messi, who won four man of the match awards throughout the tournament but did not influence the final against Germany in Rio de Janeiro in the way that he would have liked, was chosen from a 10-player list of candidates who were announced on the eve of the final, with seven of the nominees coming from the finalists, Argentina and Germany.
His man of the match performances came early in the competition against Switzerland, Nigeria, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Aside from Messi, Argentina had two nominees – Ángel di María and Javier Mascherano. Germany provided four candidates: Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Philipp Lahm and Thomas Müller.
via: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jul/13/lionel-messi-golden-ball-award-world-cup
German Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer Wins Golden Glove
Germany's Manuel Neuer won the World Cup Golden Glove award for the tournament's best goalkeeper after helping his side to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday's final.
The 28-year-old Bayern Munich player was presented with the award at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium moments after the triumph.
He beat off competition from Argentine opposite number Sergio Romero and Keylor Navas of surprise package Costa Rica.
Neuer was beaten only four times in the tournament and kept clean sheets in the 1-0 quarter-final win over France and the victory over Argentina in the final.
via:http://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2014/news/226873-world-cup-2014-german-goalkeeper-manuel-neuer-wins-golden-glove
Related:
FIFA WORLD CUP 2014: GERMANY CROWNED CHAMPIONS
Messi gets Golden Ball
James Rodriguez wins Golden Boot
Pogba wins Young Player Award
FIFA WORLD CUP 2014: GERMANY CROWNED CHAMPIONS
Messi gets Golden Ball
James Rodriguez wins Golden Boot
Pogba wins Young Player Award
FIFA WORLD CUP 2014: GERMANY CROWNED CHAMPIONS
Germany 1 - 0 Argentina
Germany is the winner of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, lifting the Trophy for the 4th time in history after narrowly defeating Argentina 1-0 courtesy of an extra-time goal by Mario Gotze at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
The substitute, Goetze, settled the contest that was in the balance from the first minute till the last with a finish of amazing composure given the circumstances, pressure & surroundings. His strike proved the difference, with Argentina unable to respond in what little time remaining, which added another star to the Europeans' crest following their triumphs in 1954, 1974 and 1990.
Though Germany very much contained Messi in the 1st half, the superstar caused alarm before the break when he galloped along the right touchline & to the near post before being crowded out by a combination of defence & goalkeeper. However, at the other end, composed play by Miroslav Klose set up Kroos for a shot that was simple for Romero.
There was still time in an ecstatic period for defender Benedikt Howedes to thunder a header from Kroos’ accurate corner against Argentina’s right post, with Muller ruled offside as he attempted a rebound from close range.
The pace from the outset of the extra time was relentless; Schurrle smacked straight at the keeper, Aguero looked for a colleague from the left at the conclusion of a counter-attack & saw none, while substitute Rodrigo Palacio looped the ball over Neuer but lost control after taking down a fine Marcos Rojo inswinger in space.
Then, with only 7 minutes of the 120 remaining, the decisive moment arrived. Schurrle fought past 3 Argentina defenders on the left flank, drawing Sabella’s charges out of shape & clipping over them to Gotze. The 22-year-old’s technique was exquisite, cushioning the ball on his chest and volleying at an awkward height, finding the far corner of the net to write his name into German and World Cup football history books.
via: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/round=255959/match=300186501/match-report.html
Related:
Messi gets Golden Ball
German Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer Wins Golden Glove
James Rodriguez wins Golden Boot
Pogba wins Young Player Award
Related:
Messi gets Golden Ball
German Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer Wins Golden Glove
James Rodriguez wins Golden Boot
Pogba wins Young Player Award
Germany vs Argentina: a Clash of Cohesion & Individual Brilliance
FIFA World Cup 2014, Brazil: Final
Germany vs Argentina
The conditions are favourable for Germany to win their fourth World Cup, to join Italy as second only to Brazil, and complete the transformation to a new style of play and a new future.
They cruised through what can scarcely be called a match against Brazil, able to save energy after the fifth goal at the 29-minute mark; they’ve had one additional day to recover, not usually a considerable advantage, but certainly so this time when wedded to the pair of extra-time impositions faced by Argentina.
Consider also that Angel Di Maria is probably out or, at best, to play at less than maximum readiness, and this is a final that Germany have been given, and have taken, every advantage to win.
Their progress mirrors very closely that of Spain four years ago, whereby the nucleus – at least six players and probably seven by the end of the game – plays together at Bayern Munich, and has been winning together over the past three years, making them a more complete team from 2010.
They are able to control games much better when playing the "Bayern way", and have crossed the threshold of success in club football, which as Spain demonstrated can be transferred to the international game.
All one needs is a core of the team who know each other so intimately, and are so confident in any situation having faced it all before, that the Die Mannschaft becomes less a national team than a club team.
This is the essence of the challenge the new century has thrown Australia, the central tenet being that cohesion, understanding and familiarity are the most vital characteristics for success.
But this final is not all about Germany – far from it. The Argentinians have heeded the same lessons.
Of the semi-final triumph on penalties against the Dutch, six players won the World Youth Cup in 2005, including Lionel Messi, a further three in 2007.
This is an Argentine generation built by the great Jose Pekerman, who took Colombia further than expected despite the absence of Falcao. It too represents more a club team than a national one.
In the white corner, the finalist has been built by an entirely new vision of youth development, an investment in coaching and programs probably unprecedented in the history of the game over the past 14 years, youth international football – six players in the starting 11 have won the 2009 under-21 European championships – and finally the Bayern finishing school, under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
In the blue and white stripes, ladies and gentlemen, we have players who know each other intimately from the under-20 and Olympic level, and who later graduated to the greatest clubs in the world.
There are both international and club relationships on the field. Messi and Javier Mascherano play together at FC Barcelona. Gonzalo Higuain and Di Maria previously played for Real Madrid.
More than half the players in both sides are in a World Cup final seven years or less after winning a major youth title, and the vast majority have experienced considerable European club success.
Quality and cohesion – two virtues in abundance on both sides.
Following a dismal return for Asian teams in Brazil, it is clear that for the region to compete with these critical success factors, we need solutions that lead to far, far higher investment that equates to quality competition, and the only solution is for a pan-Asian super league.
This would deliver the broadcast rights capable of eventually competing and exceeding that of big European competitions, and begin to draw talent enough to provide this part of the world with its own champions league-level competition.
We are the most populous, we have the fastest escalating resources while Europe struggles economically, and our path must be to band together for the good of one another, and the continent’s football future.
But, back to the final.
All this analysis is, of course, perfectly logical, but ignores one thing – the presence of individual greatness. This is what Germany lack.
This final is, therefore, going to be won by the most complete and cohesive team, Bayern Munich essentially, or by a team of lesser quality but with the finest individual in the world.
This is what makes the anticipation so sweet. The world wants to know whether the great Messi can overcome the strongest national team at this moment, whether his genius can deliver his passionate countrymen to the holy land, as Diego Maradona did in 1986.
The stage is thus set for an almighty encounter, and we can ask for no more.
One man being talked about as among the greatest who ever pulled on the boots, working beneath the shadow of probably the best who ever played, Maradona, with one realistic chance remaining in his third World Cup, in South America, with a stadium full of blue and white.
The lessons for Australia, and Asia, will be debated in coming days and months, but for now a historic moment is upon us.
One man will deliver his team and his nation, or the opposing country will take another step closer to challenging Brazil for supremacy.
If Germany win, they will probably win another in four years’ time and the power dynamics will have altered.
If Argentina win, we will witness the coronation of a football god.
We hold our breath.
Brazil vs Netherlands: 3rd Place Match
FIFA World Cup 2014
Brazil vs Netherlands: Battle of bruised egos
It is called the Losers Final, but for the losing semifinalists, Brazil and the Netherlands, Saturday's third place playoff game in Brasilia becomes one where damaged reputations can be repaired and hurt egos soothed.
Still, all this is just humbug for the hurting Dutch...
"This match should never be played, I've been saying that for 10 years," thundered the Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal after his team had been bundled out by Argentinian goalkeeper Sergio Romero in the semifinal in Sao Paulo. In charge of his last match as the Dutch coach before he takes up the job at Manchester United in the coming season, this consolation prize is not what he was looking for as a farewell.
"There is only one award that counts and that is becoming world champions. The worst thing is that there is a chance you are going to lose twice in a row, and in a tournament in which you have played so well, you go home as a loser. This has got nothing to do whatsoever with sport... not in my view," he said, mincing no words
Scolari will be forever be known as the Brazil manager under whom the Selecao plunged to its worst-ever defeat in its football history.
"I know my career will be marked by this defeat," he said after the 7-1 mauling, but still offered a forwardlooking approach when he said, "We have an obligation to move on, thinking about the next goal, which in this case is the match for third place in Brasilia."
Up until then, nobody had given the third-place match any thought, but Scolari saw that as an opening for a belated shot at redemption. "I know it's a much smaller dream than what we all wanted but we have to honour the shirt of the national team," he said, attempting to sound sage-like about the freefall of his team.
"I know my career will be marked by this defeat," he said after the 7-1 mauling, but still offered a forwardlooking approach when he said, "We have an obligation to move on, thinking about the next goal, which in this case is the match for third place in Brasilia."
Up until then, nobody had given the third-place match any thought, but Scolari saw that as an opening for a belated shot at redemption. "I know it's a much smaller dream than what we all wanted but we have to honour the shirt of the national team," he said, attempting to sound sage-like about the freefall of his team.
source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/fifa-world-cup-2014/top-stories/Fifa-World-Cup-2014-Brazil-vs-Netherlands-Battle-of-bruised-egos/articleshow/38241239.cms
FIFA World Cup 2014: Neymar Thankful He's Not in a Wheelchair Now
Neymar Jr Injury
Brazil star striker Neymar cried as he recalled the injury, saying "God blessed" him and prevented a more serious injury. Neymar had to stop talking for several seconds, lowering his head and putting a hand in front of his eyes.
Brasilia, Brazil: Neymar became emotional when talking Thursday about the injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, saying that if the knee to his back had been slightly more to one side he "could be in a wheelchair" right now.
The Brazil striker cried as he recalled the injury, saying "God blessed" him and prevented a more serious injury. Neymar had to stop talking for several seconds, lowering his head and putting a hand in front of his eyes.
"It's difficult to talk about a move that (happened) in such an important moment of my career," he said.
Neymar fractured his third vertebra when defender Juan Camilo Zuniga hit him from behind in a challenge late in the quarterfinal match against Colombia.
"If it had been 2 centimeters to the center...," he said, struggling to stay composed. "I could be in a wheelchair."
The 22-year-old striker complained about Zuniga's challenge, although he said the Colombian called to apologize.
"I don't know if he was trying to hurt me, but if you understand football you know that it was not a normal challenge," Neymar said. "I can't protect myself when I'm not facing the play. The only thing that can protect me from someone coming from behind are the rules. I couldn't protect myself and I ended getting hurt."
Neymar had been recovering at home but returned to the team's training camp on Thursday. He will travel with the squad to Brasilia to support them in the third-place match against the Netherlands on Saturday.
Neymar said the injury led to "the worst week of his life," one that culminated - in his absence - with Brazil's 7-1 thrashing by Germany in the semifinals. He said he didn't know how to explain what happened, and that it would be "unfair for this group" to be remembered by that result alone.
"It would have been all right to lose, but not like this. It was unbelievable, inexplicable," Neymar said. "I don't have the words to explain what happened."
He said the loss was "part of football," and that he thought Brazil had the potential to rebound and win the next World Cup.
"We can't lower our heads," he said. "It will hurt for a long time, but better days will come."
He wished luck to Germany and Argentina in Sunday's final, but said he hopes the South Americans will come out on top. He plays at Barcelona with Argentina stars Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano.
"I'm not cheering for Argentina, I'm cheering for my teammates," he said.
Neymar said that it would be good for football to have Messi winning a world title.
"He deserves to be a world champion," he said. "I'm Messi Football Club."
Louis van Gaal Reveals reason behind Semifinal Loss
Argentina vs Netherlands
"I asked two players ahead of Vlaar to take the first penalty," van Gaal said.
"They refused. Vlaar in my view was our best player. Unfortunately he didn't score," he added.
"Our penalties against Costa Rica were incredible. That should have given us confidence," said van Gaal.
"You have to maximise the first penalty shot,"
Van Gaal said he would have brought in Tim Krul, the replacement goalkeeper , who faced the penalties shootout & starred in victory against Costa Rica, to take over from regular goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen.
"But I had already used my 3 substitutes at that time."
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Romero takes Argentina to Final
FIFA World Cup 2014: Argentina vs Netherlands
Sergio Romero inspired Argentina to a 4-2 victory over the Netherlands on penalties and FIFA World Cup Final for the first time since 1990.
After 120 goalless minutes in Sao Paulo, the 27-year-old Romero repelled Ron Vlaar’s spot-kick before making a stunning save from Wesley Sneijder to send the Argentines into a showdown with Germany at the Maracana for the Trophy.
The first half was a very tense, chance-shy affair. Messi had Argentina’s best opportunity, with a centrally-positioned free-kick from the edge of the box, but he curled it straight into the hands of the Netherlands' goalkeeper Jasper Callisen.
Ezequiel Gonzalez bravely ducked his head between flying boots from a corner, but the he was unable to keep his effort down, while the sliding Ron Vlaar did well to intercept a low Ezequiel Lavezzi cross before Gonzalo Higuain could pounce on the chance.
The Netherlands, however, struggled to get the ball to danger man Arjen Robben and failed to force Sergio Romero into a save before the half-time.
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