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Liverpool won one of the most dramatic FA Cup finals in the competition’s 134-year history on Saturday with a 3-1 penalty shootout win over West Ham United after a heart-stopping match ended 3-3 after extra time.
   Steven Gerrard, with two blistering goals, emerged as one Liverpool hero, while goalkeeper Jose ‘Pepe’ Reina, who was at fault for two of West Ham’s goals, was the other after saving three penalties in the shootout.
   Liverpool recovered from going 2-0 down inside 28 minutes – the worst start to a final by any team for 47 years – and invoked the never-say die spirit they showed a year ago when they came back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with AC Milan and win the European Cup on penalties.
   This time they hauled themselves up off the Millennium Stadium floor to break the hearts of the West Ham fans who had been dreaming of their first FA Cup win since 1980.
   West Ham had gone ahead when Jamie Carragher turned a low cross into his own goal after 20 minutes and went 2-0 up eight minutes later when Dean Ashton pounced after Reina spilled a Matthew Etherington shot.
   Djibril Cisse pulled one back with a neat volley after 32 minutes and Gerrard, whose pinpoint pass led to that goal, levelled with a thunderous shot in the 54th as both teams poured everything into attack.
   Just when it appeared that West Ham had lost their impetus as well as their lead, they suddenly regained it from an unexpected source in the 64th minute.
   Full-back Paul Konchesky attempted a long lofted cross from the left but the ball caught out Reina and curved into the top corner.
   Liverpool looked down an out until Gerrard, limping through cramp, seized on a headed clearance a minute from time to drive a screaming 30-metre shot beyond Shaka Hislop.
   There were few chances in extra time as injured and exhausted players dropped all over the pitch but Reina needed to produce an acrobatic save to tip a Nigel Reo-Coker flicked header against the post in the 119th minute.
   It then became the second successive FA Cup final to be decided on penalties and with a record of eight wins from nine previous shootouts, Liverpool were favourites.
   Dietmar Hamann gave Liverpool the early advantage with the first penalty before Bobby Zamora saw his kick brilliantly saved at full length by Reina.
   Sami Hyypia then saw Shaka Hislop save his weak effort before Teddy Sheringham made it 1-1 from the spot. The 40-year-old became the third oldest man to play in the final when he came on as an 85th minute substitute. He is also now technically the oldest player to have scored in a Cup final, though shootout goals are not included in the record books.
   Likewise Gerrard scored his third ‘goal’ of the afternoon to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead in the shootout before Reina saved from Konchesky.
   John Arne Riise blasted Liverpool 3-1 up leaving Anton Ferdinand needing to score to keep it alive. He did not manage it and the drama was finally over with Liverpool’s fans and players going wild with delight at the end of a momentous occasion.

Jurgen Klinsmann has been in charge of the German team for just 20 months but it must feel like a lot longer after the criticism he has encountered in the build-up to this summer’s World Cup finals.
   Klinsmann was a hero as a player after winning the 1990 World Cup with West Germany but the pressure of guiding the host nation to World Cup glory is starting to show.
   The former Bayern Munich forward was never one to conform to the norm – in the mid-1990s he drove a Volkswagen Beetle while others were in a Porsche or Ferrari – and his managerial ideas have not gone down well in some quarters.
   Immediately Klinsmann caused a stir with his decision to rotate goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn and his extravagant training methods were ridiculed in the media.
   The knives also came out for Klinsmann over his decision to jet back and forth to his California home rather than stay in Germany.
   ‘I do not ask other people about their schedules. I am open to advice but it should be given straight to my face not via the media,’ countered Klinsmann.
   ‘I am thinking about the development of the national team 24-7 whether I am in Germany, the United States or somewhere else.’
   After a relatively successful Confederations Cup – Germany lost to Brazil in the semi-final – results went downhill and a 4-1 drubbing by Italy in March prompted German newspapers to label the national coach naive.
   ‘Franz Beckenbauer (head of the 2006 World Cup organising committee) advised me not to read any newspapers before the World Cup and I think I will do that,’ explained Klinsmann.
   In managerial terms Klinsmann is a novice and was working for his own sports marketing firm in the United States before his country came knocking.
   Rudi Voeller stepped down after the disastrous Euro 2004 finals and Germany chiefs approached former Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and Greece manager Otto Rehhagel but both snubbed the job.
   Despite having no previous experience Klinsmann accepted the task and was welcomed with open arms.
   Klinsmann immediately set the target of lifting the World Cup in Berlin on July 9 and has stood by that aim after the draw pitted them against Costa Rica, Ecuador and Poland.
   ‘We are at home and have a good group. If everything goes our way we can triumph,’ Klinsmann said.
   ‘I am convinced that it will be a tremendous World Cup. We have already booked our hotel rooms in Berlin (for the final).’
   If Klinsmann, 41, can find that underdog spirit and guide Germany to World Cup glory it would be the perfect answer to his critics and he would become only the third man to achieve the player-manager double.
   Franz Beckenbauer achieved that feat with West Germany in 1974 and 1990 while Brazil’s Mario Zagallo won the trophy twice as a player, in 1958 and 1962, then as a manager in 1970.
   German chiefs have tried to persuade Klinsmann to commit his future beyond the finals but he refused, claiming it all hinged on how the hosts performed at the World Cup.
   But the general opinion is that Klinsmann will quit when his contract expires after the finals and return to the United States.

Fabien Barthez will be France’s first choice goalkeeper at next month’s World Cup finals.
   The Marseille player had been in fierce contention with Lyon’s Gregory Coupet for the position, but after long reflection coach Raymond Domenech opted for the 77-times capped Barthez, a veteran of the 1998 World Cup winning side.
   In announcing his 23-strong squad on Sunday, Domenech mainly went for experience with the only mild surprises being the inclusion of two uncapped players - Wigan defender Pascal Chimbonda and Marseille midfielder Franck Ribery.
   Chimbonda was struggling in the French league at Bastia before signing for promoted Wigan in England a move that helped revive his career as he was named the Premiership’s right-back of the year.
   Ribery has been outstanding at Marseille being named the French league’s Young Player of the Year and has been added to an ageing midfield to provide the option of some youth and drive.
   ‘For any professional player the chance to play in a team like France with players like Zinedine Zidane would be a dream come true. I will do all I can to get the team into the final,’ he said.
   As expected there was no place for Barcelona winger Ludovic Giuly, Arsenal’s Robert Pires or troublesome striker Nicolas Anelka all of whom failed to convince Domenech that they could be valuable assets in Germany.
   But the ever-cautious coach, who took over after France’s poor performance at Euro 2004 in Portugal, did retain the core of the side he used to qualify for the finals anchored around World Cup winners Barthez, Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Thierry Henry.
   ‘It wasn’t easy,’ said Domenech. ‘There were nights of doubt, of sleeplessness for everbody, but I am convinced this squad can go as far as possible in Germany.’
   Thirteen of the 23 are based outside of France with eight playing in England, three in Italy and one each in Spain and Germany.
   Squad:
   Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez, Gregory Coupet, Mickael Landreau.
   Defenders: Eric Abidal, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Pascal Chimbonda, William Gallas, Gael Givet, Willy Sagnol, Mikael Silvestre , Lilian Thuram.
   Midfielders: Vikash Dhorasoo, Alou Diarra, Claude Makelele, Florent Malouda, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane.
   Strikers: Djibril Cisse, Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, Louis
   Saha, David Trezeguet, Sylvain Wiltord.

Ruud van Nistelrooy collapsed in a crumpled heap on the ground of PSV Eindhoven’s training pitch on April 28 2000, screaming in frustration.
   Trying to return to full fitness to land a dream move to Manchester United, the striker had tried to head a ball in training only to land awkwardly.
   A week earlier he had announced he was on the brink of signing for United. But he failed the medical, and the innocuous training-ground incident left van Nistelrooy with cruciate ligament damage to his knee.
   Not only was his move to United definitely off, van Nistelrooy had to face up to the news that his career was in jeopardy - at the age of just 23.
   For fans of the Holland national team, it must have felt like deja-vu as pictures of the despondent van Nistelrooy were broadcast across Europe.
   Several years earlier Marco van Basten had sustained a dreadful, career-ending ankle injury at the age of 28 - thereafter depriving Holland of their greatest player for a generation.
   Luckily for the Oranje, van Nistelrooy dragged himself back to full fitness over the coming year - and admirably returned looking as sharp as ever.
   His first run-out came in a reserve-team game against Sparta Rotterdam on March 1 2001, and his form in the latter stages of that season ensured van Nistelrooy finally got his transfer.
   On April 23 that year, Manchester United - who had just won the league for the third successive year - paid £19million for his services.
   Some questioned whether van Nistelrooy still really had it - especially with the weight of such a massive transfer fee on his shoulders.
   On his full debut for United, van Nistelrooy scored twice to sink Fulham 3-2 at Old Trafford. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and the entire Dutch football supporting nation, breathed a huge sigh of relief.
   ‘Van the man’ has not looked back since. The gangling look of the player belies an extraordinary ability to manoeuvre his body into goalscoring positions. This can be put down to his training as a gymnast before his footballing days.
   He also has a lightning-quick brain and is exceptional on the ball for someone who stands at 6ft 2in.
   He certainly took Premiership defences by surprise, scoring 36 goals in all competitions in his first season at Old Trafford.
   In spite of his efforts, van Nistelrooy ended his first season in England without a trophy - as Arsenal pipped United to the title after winning 1-0 in Manchester.
   The following year van Nistelrooy was untouchable, hitting 44 goals, and he was not just proving to be prolific from close range - as he showed with exceptional individual strikes against Fulham at Old Trafford and Arsenal at Highbury.
   United won the title in 2003, and a year later the FA Cup followed - with van Nistelrooy scoring twice in the final against Millwall.
   In 2004 the league evaded United, as Arsenal went through the league season unbeaten.
   Van Nistelrooy had the chance to end Arsenal’s run earlier in the season but hit the bar with a last-minute penalty in a goalless draw. Arsenal players gloated in the Dutchman’s misery, and van Nistelrooy vowed revenge.
   A year later, with Arsenal’s unbeaten run having survived for 49 games, van Nistelrooy converted from the penalty spot as United won 2-0.
   An awful tackle on Ashley Cole in the same fixture resulted in the forward being banned for three games.
   While van Nistelrooy was making friends in Manchester - and enemies in north London - he was busy making the Holland first-choice striker spot his own.
   Patrick Kluivert, who had been a favourite in the national team for several years, suddenly found himself head to head with van Nistelrooy for a sole starting place in Holland coach Dick Advocaat’s formation.
   Kluivert clearly did not relish the challenge - and after falling out with Advocaat, he was dumped from the national side for good.
   Van Nistelrooy, who had always scored when given the chance at international level, finally saw his opportunity in the Euro 2004 play-off second leg against Scotland. He poached a hat-trick to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit as Holland won 6-1 on aggregate.
   Euro 2004 marked van Nistelrooy’s first international tournament, after having been injured for Euro 2000 and been part of the Holland squad which missed out on qualifying for the 2002 World Cup.
   But this year he has the chance to parade his ability in front of the whole football world.
   He has scored goals throughout his career - at Den Bosch, Heerenveen, PSV and Manchester United. He is also prolific in the Champions League and in November 2004 he overtook Denis Law as United’s all-time leading goalscorer in European competitions.
   Ferguson is on record as saying van Nistelrooy is “the best in Europe ... he is a big-game player”.

Miroslav Klose may not possess the elegance of Andriy Shevchenko or Thierry Henry but his reliability in front of goal singles him out as one of the key players for Germany at the World Cup.
   Werder Bremen attacker Klose is in the form of his life heading into the finals after netting 20 goals (AT 26/04/06) to top the Bundesliga scoring charts and will hope his magic touch continues at the World Cup.
   Since making his Germany debut against Albania in March 2001 Klose has scored a creditable 21 goals in 52 internationals (AT 26/04/06) and has already proven his quality on the biggest stage.
   At the 2002 World Cup Klose announced himself to international football by scoring five goals, including three headers in the opening group win against Saudi Arabia, as Germany surprised many by reaching the final.
   If they are to repeat that feat and reach the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin on July 9 the hosts will need Klose at his brilliant best again.
   ‘I scored five at the 2002 World Cup so I have set a target of six at these finals,’ said Klose. ‘You have to try and better yourself.’
   Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann is just glad to have Klose in his ranks and owes a deal of gratitude to predecessor Rudi Voller for persuading the player to choose Germany over his homeland Poland.
   The 27-year-old Klose was born in the Polish city of Opole with his father playing international football for Poland and his mother winning 82 caps for the Polish handball team.
   As fate would have it, Klose will now face his homeland at the World Cup when Germany take on Poland in Dortmund on June 14 in the Group A match.
   ‘I wanted to play against them and now I will do,’ said Klose. ‘I was born in Poland and can speak the language so it will be a bit special for me.
   ‘But there is no doubt that my loyalty lies with Germany.’
   Poland’s loss is certainly Germany’s gain with Klose’s fantastic aerial ability and predatory instincts more than compensating for his slightly ungainly running style and indifferent first touch.
   ‘He is a great forward, he’s very good in the air, very agile and a dangerous player in the penalty area,’ said former German international striker Oliver Bierhoff, now Germany’s team manager.

Juventus and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon pleaded his innocence Saturday after Italian media reports linked him with suspected illegal betting on Serie A matches last season.
   In an attempt to clear his name and ensure that his World Cup hopes are not dashed, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper voluntarily visited a Turin magistrate to give his version of events.
   Buffon admitted to betting on matches in the past, before stopping last year when the Italian football federation (FIGC) prohibited all kinds of gambling.
   ‘I’m clean and I want to go to the World Cup,’ he said after leaving the magistrates’ office.
   ‘I’ve always respected the rules. I’ve bet on international football because here in Italy it’s not possible to do so. But when players weren’t allowed to bet, I stopped immediately. That was in the autumn of 2005.’
   It has long been forbidden for any player in Italy to bet on matches in their own championship, but last year the FIGC extended that ban to include any form of gambling.
   If found guilty of breaking FIGC’s rules on betting, Buffon could face a ban from between three months and three years.

Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves’ 23-man World Cup squad shows just four changes to the one that he named for the African Cup of Nations.
   Injuries have ruled out midfielder Gilberto and striker Maurito, while goalkeeper Goliath and defender Jacinto are the other players to miss out.
   The replacements include Portugal-based duo of Mateus and Marco Airosa as well as Hull City’s Rui Marques. Mario, who plays for InterClube in Angola, comes in as the third keeper.
   Squad:
   Goalkeepers: Joao Ricardo, Lama, Mario.
   Defenders: Delgado, Jamba, Kali, Lebo Lebo, Loco, Marco Abreu, Marco Airosa, Rui Marques.
   Midfielders: André, Edson, Figueiredo, Mendonca, Miloy, Zé Kalanga.
   Strikers: Akwá, Andre Titi Buengo, Flávio, Love, Mantorras, Mateus.

Beanpole striker Peter Crouch, so often the target of terrace jibes over his ungainly style, will have the last laugh after Sven-Goran Eriksson earmarked him to take over from the injured Wayne Rooney.
   The England coach admitted he is tempted to opt for Crouch to partner Michael Owen in the team’s World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 10.
   Eriksson does not want to disrupt his midfield quartet of David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole and he will try to resist the temptation to shunt Gerrard or Cole forward in the ‘hole’ but this hinges on Owen’s fitness to pair up with 25-year-old Crouch.
   ‘If I had to do it today I think I would start with Peter Crouch and Michael Owen if he is match-fit,’ said the Swede.
   ‘That would be the natural choice and playing the four best midfielders.
   ‘We are talking about Paraguay and things we don’t know with Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen but, if it was today, Peter Crouch would be ready. Absolutely.’
   Rooney’s broken foot is reported to be healing well but he will certainly miss the Paraguay game on June 10.
   Eriksson insists Owen, also battling back from four months out with a broken foot, will be ready.
   But England face a major reshuffle if he does not make it.
   Cole or Gerrard could be asked to play in the second striker’s role - but once again Crouch will be the key man.
   Eriksson said: ‘If Rooney and Owen both have problems then we have lots of choices.
   ‘We can continue with 4-4-2, with Crouch up top and one behind. Or we could play 4-3-3 with Crouch alone and two wingers
   ‘Or we could play 4-5-1 with Crouch up top and five midfielders. So we have options.’
   The Swede is unlikely to give Theo Walcott a starting role against Paraguay unless the teenager does something sensational in the next three weeks.
   Eriksson said: ‘He is in the squad now and let’s wait until we practice with him and see how he is with the other senior players.
   ‘How much he plays in the warm-up game depends how many players I have who need to play.’
   England’s squad players have three games to impress the manager - a B international against Belarus and friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica.
   Rooney will not join the England squad until he is ready to train with a football.
   Four years ago, David Beckham and Kieron Dyer joined the World Cup squad despite being unable to kick a ball for the first week of England’s training camp.
   Skipper Beckham hurried back and played through pain to lead his country in Japan but he failed to recapture the form he showed in the qualifying campaign.
   Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is now worried Rooney may also be tempted rush his recovery, and as a result hurt his foot again.
   Eriksson tried to reassure Ferguson by saying: ‘You don’t play footballers if there is a risk they will break down and be out of football for a month afterwards. That’s the most important thing.
   ‘Wayne Rooney is paid by Manchester United and they must look after their interests for Rooney and for the future.
   ‘On the other hand, if he’s fit he’s fit, and if he’s fit nobody can tell him not to play in the World Cup. He is desperate to play.’

It would seem at first glance a match made in heaven. Ninety minutes of nail-biting drama, 22 hunky guys torn between joy and despair, and a little round ball. Perfect ingredients for a great movie.
   But, apart from a few worthy and entertaining attempts, even the most die-hard football fans agree with cinema critics, that footie movies are definitely worth giving a miss.
   ‘Most football films are clunkingly unoriginal,’ agreed Professor Jeffrey Richards, a lecturer on the history of film at Lancaster University in northwestern England.
   ‘I think it’s partly because they tend to recycle a set of cliches, of stars who make a comeback and come through in the end to score the winning goal.
   ‘Plus you have all the heroes and villains and drama you need in one match and trying to turn it into a screen drama inevitably cheapens the game,’ said the life-long Aston Villa fan.
   Part of the difficulty lies in ensuring the football sequences remain authentic for millions
   of exacting fans, without
   skimping on the film’s plot and pace.
   Among Richards’ favourites is ‘The Arsenal Stadium Mystery’ starring Leslie Banks and Ian McLean, a 1939 murder thriller set against the background of the Highbury stadium, using real action footage between Arsenal and Brentford Town.
   Thus the most successful football movies tend to be those in which the game is not the central focus.
   British director Gurinder Chada’s 2002 hit romantic comedy ‘Bend it Like Beckham’ hit the big-time with its tale of a football-obsessed British-Asian girl bending the rules to follow her dream, even managing to capture American hearts.
   But Chada herself saw the film as more about a girl caught between tradition and family, and although there is a big match at the end it is almost secondary to the story of shifting, complex family dynamics.
   ‘Bend It’ is reminiscent of another quirky British film, the 1981 ‘Gregory’s Girl’, also featuring the star player of a girls’ football team who is this time the object of an awkward adolescent’s ardent admiration.
   John Huston’s 1981 ‘Escape to Victory’ about an attempted escape by Allied prisoners of war during a football match in Nazi-occupied Paris, which loosely based on a true story, took a different tack.
   The ball skills of Brazilian striker Pele, Argentina’s Osvaldo Ardiles and England’s Booby Moore were drafted in alongside a host of professional footballers, many from Ipswich Town, backed by actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine, to lend the film authenticity.
   Some footballers such as French ex-Manchester United player Eric Cantona and the former hardman of British football Vinny Jones have gone on to successful film careers.
   But in the main, most agree footballers can’t act and actors can’t play football.
   And although ‘Escape to Victory’ mainly fails to score because it lacks plausibility, as Richards says: ‘Escape to Victory is so outrageous as to be hugely entertaining.’
   One fan, Steven Nickells, has even set up a website (www.escapetovictory.spodrum.co.uk) dedicated to the ‘greatest football film ever made’ to persuade Warner Brothers to release the film on DVD, which they did last year.
   ‘I’m not fanatical about the film, but it seems to unite people as much as football does, and I’ve received some really nice emails from people around the world saying how the film changed their lives in some way for the better,’ he told AFP in an email.
   A Newcastle supporter, Nickells admitted it ‘may be not the best film ever released, but is certainly not the worst ... Try asking a football fan to watch the overhead Pele goal without smiling, they can’t do it.’
   Many other football films however seem destined to wilt on the sidelines.
   How many remember Colin Firth, so dashing as Mr Darcy in the BBC series of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ as the hapless Arsenal fan in the 1997 screen adapation of Nick Hornby’s hugely successful novel ‘Fever Pitch’?
   Or the 2000 film ‘Best’ starring a bewigged John Lynch as George Best with real-life footage blended with recreated scenes?
   Other football films consigned to history are the 1979 ‘Yesterday’s Hero’ in which an alcoholic ex-footballer vows to make a comeback and the
   1996 ‘When Saturday Comes’ starring Sean Bean as a hard-drinking brewery worker who dreams of trying out for Sheffield United.
   Part of the problem could be that Hollywood has never given football—or soccer as the Americans call it—the big screen treatment.
   Until now that is. Last year saw the release of ‘Goal!’ , the first part of a trilogy directed by Arsenal fan and ‘Judge Dredd’ director Danny Cannon, which won backing from world football’s ruling body FIFA.
   ‘Goal!’ tells the story of Santiago Munez, played by Kuno Becker, a Mexican immigrant in Los Angeles who dreams of playing for Newcastle United.
   FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, who agreed to FIFA providing logistical and technical support, said: ‘Football’s message is one of fair play. One that transcends all cultural differences and social classes.
   ‘It is the most inclusive game in the world and it deserves to be portrayed as what it is: a sport that allows the underprivileged to enjoy success.’
   But several months after its September 2005 release, it would seem the movie, like so many other football films, has proved little more than just another own goal.

Mexico axed defender Joel Huiqui and midfielders Israel Lopez and Jaime Lozano when they confirmed their final 23-man World Cup squad on Saturday.
   The decision means that 37-year-old defender Claudio Suarez keeps his place and has a chance to play at his third World Cup following his appearances in 1994 and 1998.
   ‘I’m sure everyone wanted the 26 to remain but unfortunately we have to give a list to FIFA and this is the way it has to be,’ Mexican Football Federation (FMF) director Guillermo Cantu told a media conference.
   Cantu did not say why the three had been chosen.
   The trio were in the provisional 26-man squad announced on April 2 and which had been training together since.
   Mexico’s clubs agreed to release their players early and only the four foreign-based players have been absent from their training camp.
   Huiqui, who plays for Cruz Azul, has won eight caps, mainly in friendlies played in the last year.
   Lopez, a defensive midfielder who plays for Mexican champions Toluca, made his debut in 2000 and has been in and out of the side since. He also missed out on the 2002 World Cup.
   Lozano scored 11 goals in the World Cup qualifiers but has suffered a loss of form this year.

Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho has a date with destiny in Wednesday’s Champions League final in Paris.
   ‘I always imagined myself playing in the top competitions and playing in the big finals and now I have the chance to be crowned European champion,’ Ronaldinho told PA Sport. ‘It’s my turn now and with the rest of my team-mates, I’m ready to make my dream come true. Few players get this chance to play in a final and I’m delighted to be able to experience this.’
   For Ronaldinho, Wednesday’s final will provide him with an opportunity to be reacquainted with the French capital, after previously enjoying a spell there earlier in his career with Paris St Germain.
   ‘It’s special to return to a city that I love,’ he added. ‘I am very happy and very proud.
   ‘It was in Paris where I began my European football career and to be able to play a Champions League final there, and perhaps win, motivates me even more.’
   Much is expected from the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year who this summer hopes to win his second World Cup winners medal with Brazil.
   However, pressure is something the 26-year-old has become accustomed to.

Way back in September 1891, when Wolverhampton Wanderers’ John Heath, in a match against Accrington Stanley, stepped up to take the world’s first penalty, the spotkick was a simple case of hoofing the ball into the back of the net.
   The penalty had been introduced a few months earlier to thwart the use of fouls to prevent goals. But the sponsors of this change hardly suspected that penalty-taking would one day become so important it would be elevated almost to the status of science.
   So many big matches these days are decided on the 12-yard (10.97-metre) place) place kick that sports physicists, psychologists and biomechanicians are often recruited to try to give an edge to striker and keeper.
   Statistically, penalty-taking is loaded heavily in favour of the kicker. In World Cup finals dating back to 1982, the penalty success rate ranges from 73 percent in 1990 to 80 percent in 1998, the year after FIFA changed the law to let keepers to move along their line.
   But these figures only tell part of the story.
   Penalties are no-lose situations for the keeper, because almost all of the pressure is on the striker—as Roberto Baggio, who catastrophically blew it for Italy in the 1994 final against Brazil, could tell you.
   Psychologists can enhance this advantage in a number of ways.
   One of them is in training keepers in body language. Keepers who are alert to the kicker’s eyes, body posture and angle of his feet in the runup can gain as much as half a second in which to move in the right direction.
   Scientists at John Moores University in Liverpool showed goalkeepers life-sized video footage of penalties being taken, filmed from the viewpoint of a keeper standing in the centre of the goal.
   The film was stopped four times during the sequence — 120 milliseconds before the kick; 40 milliseconds before; at the point of impact; and 40 milliseconds after—and the goalkeepers were asked at each stage to predict where the ball was being placed.
   The researchers found that biggest clue was the position of the striker’s hips just before the strike.
   ‘If the taker’s hips are square-on to the goalkeeper in a right-footed kicker, the penalty goes to the right-hand side of the keeper,’ says the university’s Mark Williams.
   ‘If his hips are more ‘open’, or angled away from the goalkeeper, the kick tends to go to the left of the keeper.’
   University of Greenwich researcher Al-Amin Kassam says keepers can also further improve their chances by playing mind games.
   ‘This can be done by a goalkeeper employing time-wasting tactics, making himself look as large as possible and moving around sideways on his line in order to confuse the striker as to where he is going to dive.’
   But science can also help the penalty-taker, too. A study in biomechanics carried out at the University of Bath in 2004 determined the maximum reach of a goalie’s dive, regardless of his size.
   It showed that, if the goalie stays on his line in accordance with the rules, 28 percent of the goal is an ‘unsaveable zone’ that guarantees a score provided the ball is kicked accurately and with reasonable force.
   Even if you can’t kick accurately, blasting is still a good option.
   ‘Hit your penalties as hard as possible,’ advises Kassam. ‘Research indicates that a penalty struck at more than 20 metres per second (73 kilometers, 46 miles per hour) stands a greater chance of hitting the back of the net than a slower one, as a goalkeeper has less time to analyse visual clues and react.’
   Simple psychological tactics can also improve the success rate of a team in the all-important penalty shootouts.
   A 2000 study found that if the weakest players take their penalties earliest in the sequence, with the strongest last, there is a big improvement in the team’s chances. It also recommended that coaches bring on key substitutes with penalty-taking skills when matches are deadlocked close to the end of extra time.
   That said, there is no substitute for practice.
   In the days before computers and penalty specialists, the Hungarian great Ferenc Puskas used the simplest of techniques to ensure that he would slot home a penalty. He would hang a disc 80 centimetres (one yard) below the crossbar and aim at it, again, again and again, until he got it right.

Spain captain and Real Madrid star Raul claimed Saturday he is arriving in form just in time for the World Cup finals, due to begin on June 9.
   ‘I am arriving in the best form I have ever done for a major tournament, whether it be the World Cup or the European Championships,’ said the 28-year-old 92-times capped star after training at his club.
   Raul has had an inauspicious season scoring just five times in the league and not since October last year, although he was out injured for three months until his comeback in February.
   ‘It is clear that since I came back from my injury I have not had much luck but (the goals) will come,’ insisted Raul, who has scored 42 goals for his country. — AFP
   
   Italy to name squad today
   Italy will name their World Cup squad for Germany today afternoon.
   The list of 23 players will be unveiled by coach Marcello Lippi at the Parco dei Principi hotel in the Italian capital at 1530 GMT.
   Italian football is under the spotlight with four Serie A clubs - Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio - suspected of match-fixing last season.
   Juventus are also being investigated for alleged collusion with referees.
   The entire Juventus board resigned on Friday and the club could face relegation from Serie A if found guilty of sporting fraud. — AFP
   
   Owen: I’m in the clear
   Michael Owen is confident of being fully fit in time for England’s first World Cup group match against Paraguay on June 10.
   Owen’s exclusion from Newcastle’s final match of the season had prompted fresh fears that the striker would not be recovered from injury, but Owen has reaffirmed his confidence of being fit for the finals.
   Having been out of action for five months with a broken metatarsal, Owen made a belated return as a substitute in The Magpies’ penultimate game of the season at Birmingham and had also been expected to feature against Chelsea.
   But Owen insists his recovery is on course and that news will come as a major boost to Sven Goran Eriksson whose striking pool would appear worryingly thin if both Owen and Wayne Rooney were ruled out of this summer’s tournament.
   ‘My foot is fine,’ Owen told his MSN World Cup diary.
   ‘The fracture is fine and the screw is still in place.
   ‘I am clear of any major worries.’
   Owen believes he will be able to recapture his form prior to injury.
   ‘Part of the irritation is just getting used to having the screw in my foot,’ he added.
   ‘There is plenty of time and I’ll be fine for the World Cup.’
   Owen is expected to feature in the ‘B’ international against Belarus and also friendlies against Hungary and Jamaica as he hones his fitness in preparation for the big kick-off. — New Age Desk
   Klose warms up with Golden Boot
   German international forward Miroslav Klose goes into next month’s World Cup finals on a high after finishing top-scorer in the Bundesliga with 25 goals.
   The Werder Bremen striker netted 25 goals in 26 league outings to finish four ahead of Bayer Leverkusen marksman Dimitar Berbatov.
   Klose crowned a great season by scoring the winner in Bremen’s 2-1 win over SV Hamburg on Saturday that allowed Bremen to clinch second and direct entry to the Champions League.
   The 27-year-old becomes the first German player to win the Golden Boot since former German international Martin Max picked up the accolade in 2002 and is peaking just in time for the World Cup start on June 9.
   ‘Miro has the ability to be one of the top stars at the World Cup,’ said Bremen manager Thomas Schaaf. ‘The German fans can expect a lot of joy from him at the finals.
   ‘He is the most complete striker in Germany. He is not just good in the air but also quick. He has great technique and a real eye for goal.’
   Klose, scorer of 21 goals in 52 internationals, scored five goals to help Germany reach the 2002 World Cup final and has his sights set on improving that tally.
   ‘In 2002 I scored five goals. That was great but you should always try to improve so my target for this World Cup is six goals,’ Klose said.
   — AFP

Dutch coach Marco van Basten plumped for a youthful look when he announced his final squaud for the June 9-July 9 World Cup in Germany on Sunday.
   As expected, veterans Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Roy Makaay, who had already been left out of a provisional squad of 28 a week ago, failed to make it into the final 23-man party.
   But there was also disappointment for Middlesbrough midfielder George Boateng, Feyenoord striker Romeo Castelan, Hamburg midfielder Nigel de Jong, Ajax forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and AZ Alkmaar defender Barry Opdam who were all cut from the 28.
   Despite the exodus of top Dutch stars to the big European leagues of England, Spain and Italy, van Basten selected 14 Dutch-based players with Ajax and Alkmaar supplying five each, although only three coming from champions PSV Eindhoven, and one from Feyenoord.
   Five more ply their trade in the English Premiership, including out-of-favour Manchester United hit-man Ruud van Nistelrooy, with two playing at Barcelona in Spain and two in Germany, both at Hamburg.
   Squad
   Goalkeepers: Edwin van der Sar, Maarten Stekelenburg and Henk.
   Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Tim de Cler, Kew Jaliens, Jan Kromkamp, Joris Mathijsen, Andre Ooijer, Johnny Heitinga.
   Midfielders: Mark van Bommel, Phillip Cocu, Denny Landzaat, Hedwiges Maduro, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart.
   Forwards: Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuijt, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

David Beckham on Sunday told millions of expectant England fans: You can rely on me to lead our lads to World Cup glory.
   Captain Becks promised supporters that, along with stars like Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, he will make the nation proud even if Wayne Rooney misses out.
   In a no-holds-barred interview with News of the World, Beckham:
   n Declares he’s ready to carry the hopes of his countrymen and lead England’s World Cup bid in Germany.
   n Insists England’s squad is full of world-class stars who will give everything to bring the trophy home — even without Rooney.
   n Warns Rooney against risking his career by rushing back from the metatarsal injury he suffered in Manchester United’s clash with Chelsea.
   n Admits this could be his last World Cup but declares he will carry on as England skipper for as long as possible.
   Beckham’s old Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said last week that the England captain has to stand up and be counted in the absence of Rooney.
   Becks, 31, responded: ‘I’m absolutely ready to take that responsibility. I’m always prepared to take any responsibility.
   ‘If people are saying things about players or the team or me, I have to take the responsibility. It’s my job as captain and one of the more experienced players. I’m there for that. That’s the way I play.
   ‘What Sir Alex said was for Frank Lampard and Stevie Gerrard too. But I’m always ready to step up for big games.’
   Beckham’s recent performances for Real Madrid have been stunning — and he promised he would take that form to Germany.
   He said: ‘I feel great. The most important thing for me is to be right physically, then I can perform.
   ‘I have no injuries, touch wood, so I’ll be going into the competition fully fit.
   ‘It’s the first time since the 1998 World Cup this has happened.
   ‘I’ve shown what I can do in big competitions. In 1998 I scored with a free-kick against Colombia — and before I got sent off against Argentina I was having a pretty decent game.’
   Speaking at his plush offices in downtown Madrid, the England megastar was relaxed as he pondered a World Cup campaign without Rooney.
   Beckham said: ‘Because of the player Wayne is, people are saying we can’t win it without him. He’s the best young player in the world, so they’re going to say things like that.
   ‘I don’t want to say we will win without him because that would be the headline and it would be unfair on him.
   ‘But we have got the potential in our team to give 100 per cent to make it happen.
   ‘We will give that with or without Wayne.
   ‘We’d rather have Wayne in the team on and off the pitch. He’s great off the pitch and everyone knows what he can do on it.
   ‘But we’ve got other world-class players. A lot of them are club captains and have won huge games.
   ‘John Terry and Lampard have won Premiership titles. Gerrard and Jamie Carragher have won the European Cup.
   ‘Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell are going to the Champions League final on Wednesday and have won leagues and so has Rio Ferdinand.
   ‘Gary Neville is Manchester United captain. Michael Owen has played for Real Madrid and captained Liverpool.’
   Beckham suffered a metatarsal injury in United’s European clash with Deportivo La Coruna two months before the last World Cup, plunging the nation into despair — although he still played in the Far East.
   But Rooney crocked himself just six weeks before the tournament. And Becks urged him not to risk long-term damage in his eagerness to help England.
   He added: ‘I was always so positive I was going to make the World
   Cup anyway. It never entered my
   head not to be fit for it, whereas Wayne has had his injury a month later than I did.
   ‘If he’s not right, then he has to look after himself.
   ‘He can’t take risks. He’s got a huge future ahead of him, so he has to be careful.
   ‘He shouldn’t rush it. Everyone in our country wants him fit but he’s got to think of himself as well.’
   Beckham has skippered England for five years and he is desperate to carry on under new boss Steve McClaren after the World Cup.
   Becks said: ‘Being England captain is the biggest honour I’ve ever had so I want to stay no matter what ex-players come out and say.
   ‘You’re up there to be knocked down. And if you stay up there long enough you start getting a bit more respect.’
   But Beckham admits it could be his last chance to play in a World Cup. He will be 35 when the next one kicks off in South Africa.
   He added: ‘We’ll see how my legs are feeling and if I’m still in the manager’s eyes in another four years’ time.
   ‘I realise this could be my last World Cup but it doesn’t change the way I feel going into the games.
   ‘It doesn’t make me think more about winning it because that’s impossible.
   ‘There’s no better place to be in the world than England when there’s a big competition on with the hype, the flags, the way the fans are.
   ‘Nothing spurs me on more than going into a big competition like this. And I’m ready for it.’

Since making his international comeback, Zinedine Zidane has insisted he does not want to be considered Les Bleus’ saviour.
   But the superlatives will run out if the playmaker, already regarded as one of the game’s greats, leads France to World Cup success this summer as he did eight years ago.
   The 33-year-old Real Madrid midfielder shook France when he announced his decision to hang up his international boots, shortly after Les Bleus’ quarter-final elimination from Euro 2004 by eventual winners Greece.
   Zidane’s decision to end his career with Les Bleus had put an end to a glorious chapter of French football history which included back-to-back victories at the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000.
   However, with the team struggling to qualify for Germany 2006, ‘Zizou’ announced he was coming back to lend a hand.
   After six matches, France had collected just two wins, but Zidane’s return was soon followed by that of defender Lilian Thuram and midfielder Claude Makelele.
   Les Bleus went on to win three of their last four games, drawing one, and finished two points ahead of second-placed Switzerland. Zidane’s return owed a lot to the perseverance of coach Raymond Domenech.
   ‘He came to see me two or three times in Madrid,’ said Zidane.
   ‘We talked and he told me what he expected from me. For the first time in my whole life I decided to go back on a very important decision. When I made my decision (to retire) it was serious. I had thought a lot about it.
   But I don’t want to be back as Zorro, as a saviour.
   ‘I am just here to help the French team gave me so much that I wanted to help.’
   Zidane provided the spark which saw the French secure qualification with wins over the Faroe Islands and the Republic of Ireland in September, followed by a 1-1 draw with Switzerland and a 4-0 thrashing of Cyprus in October, with the last win catapulting France to the top of the group.
   ‘It would be extremely silly to think we obtained qualification only thanks to Zidane,’ added Domenech.
   ‘But his return did help a lot in terms of confidence. He is a charismatic leader.’
   Born in June 1972 in Marseille to Algerian parents, Zidane began training with the Cannes youth set-up at the age of 14 and made his professional debut for the club just before his 17th birthday.
   He joined Bordeaux in 1992, with whom he reached the UEFA Cup final in 1996, and made his debut for France in August 1994, at the age of 22, against the Czech Republic.
   He began attracting comparisons to another French great, Michel Platini, who has no doubts about Zidane’s standing in the game.
   ‘At every match Zidane invents new things, incredible actions,’ he said.
   ‘He is a real playmaker. He is a universal football player, a truly fantastic player. For me he is the best in the world.’
   Zidane joined Platini’s alma mater, Juventus, but after a four-year spell in Turin, he joined Real Madrid in 2001 as the latest galactico. His trophy record is impressive - Italian champions in 1997 and 1998 with Juventus, winner of the Champions League in 2002 and the Primera Liga in 2003 with Real Madrid, the Frenchman was voted European footballer of the year in 1998 and FIFA
   world footballer of the year in 2000 and 2003.
   With France he lifted the World Cup at the Stade de France on July 12, 1998 after scoring two of France’s goals in the 3-0 win over Brazil in the final.
   Two years later he helped Les Bleus grab the European Championships title.
   Zidane is expected to retire from football, both domestic and international, after the World Cup, but until the curtain falls once for all, he will certainly keep delighting the crowds with his dazzling game.

Lukas Podolski has been touted as the new golden boy of German football and at this summer’s World Cup the FC Cologne striker has the chance to show the world that he is the real deal.
   Since making his Bundesliga debut with FC Cologne as an 18-year-old in November 2003 Podolski, dubbed ‘Prince Poldi’ by the media, has been hailed as Germany’s answer to England sensation Wayne Rooney.
   Rooney’s stellar performances for England at Euro 2004 catapulted him to stardom and the World Cup finals in Germany provide the 20-year-old Podolski with the perfect stage to showcase his football talents.
   At the Euro 2004 finals in Portugal, Podolski was largely used as a late substitute by manager Rudi Voller but under Jurgen Klinsmann he is first choice in attack and confident of shooting Germany to a fourth World Cup success.
   ‘We can win the World Cup,’ said Podolski. ‘Who would have thought Greece would be crowned European champions? We have what a lot of teams do not have - a lot of young, hungry players.’
   Podolski may be Germany’s big hope for the finals but he was actually born in the Polish city of Gliwice and as fate would have it he will face his homeland in the Group A match on June 14 in Dortmund.
   ‘It will be a strange match for me,’ admitted. ‘But I want to emphasise that I will give everything for Germany. It is good enough for Poland to finish second in the group and qualify as well.’
   Podolski’s loyalty to Germany can not be questioned with his record of 10 goals in 22 internationals impressive for a player still developing. Composure in front of goal is Podolski’s main strength and his three goals at last year’s Confederations Cup, including one in the semi-final defeat against Brazil, underlined his promise.
   ‘You only get a player like Podolski every 30 years and we are delighted he plays for FC Cologne,’ said Cologne president Wolfgang Overath.
   Overath himself was a top striker with West Germany and won the 1974 World Cup alongside other greats such as Franz Beckenbauer and Berti Vogts.
   Podolski has not had his finest season for Cologne on their return to the Bundesliga but that has not stopped German champions Bayern Munich from stepping up their interest in the forward.
   Cologne have put a 15 million euro price-tag on their star striker, contracted until June 2007, but Podolski has a reported one million euro buy-out clause inserted.
   ‘It is a fact that Podolski has a get-out clause in his contract that allows him to leave for one million euros,’ explained Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
   Podolski is expected to leave Cologne after the finals and if he has a good tournament there could be a number of clubs phoning his agent.
   The 20-year-old goes into the finals with a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders and his German international team-mate Sebastian Deisler said the press should not put the striker under so much pressure.
   ‘It is irresponsible to hype up young players such as Lukas Podolski,’ declared Deisler. ‘They get built up and then knocked down later on.’
   Deisler knows what he is talking about having been billed as the golden boy of football since emerging as a 17-year-old talent at Borussia Monchengladbach.
   Injuries and the pressure led to Deisler, now 26, being treated for depression and the Bayern Munich man will miss the finals due to a knee injury.

Chelsea are set to complete the free transfer of Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Michael Ballack this weekend and will hold a news conference with the player today.
   The Premier League champions announced the Stamford Bridge news conference on Sunday but gave no details of any contract.
   Ballack, a superb all-round midfielder, played his final match with German champions Bayern on Saturday and was jeered by the team’s fans.
   In his four years at the club he won three Bundesliga titles and three German cups. Ballack joined Bayern having helped Bayer Leverkusen to the 2002 final of the Champions League.
   He was first linked with a move to Chelsea in February but denied British newspaper reports that he had signed a four-year deal with the club worth 25 million pounds ($43 million).
   However, as the season progressed it became increasingly obvious that he would join up with coach Jose Mourinho at the club funded by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
   Frustrated by jeering and whistling from the Bayern fans, the 29-year-old said last Friday: ‘I think my decision should be accepted and I shouldn’t be kicked around any more about it.
   After another poor reception at the start of Saturday’s 3-3 home draw with Borussia Dortmund, he said: ‘The fans are sensitive to what is said. But I always tried hard to do my job and that should be honoured.
   ‘I want a new challenge now. I’ve got to accept some jeering. It shows I was an important player but it does hurt.
   ‘I was not able to make a decision sooner and couldn’t force a decision just because Bayern managers demanded one. There are a lot of others at Bayern who don’t know whether they have a future at Bayern Munich or not.
   ‘I’ve had a great time here and felt good with a great team that won a lot of titles,’ he said.
   Chelsea’s other main transfer target is reported to be AC Milan and Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko.
   The team will hold an open-topped bus Premier League victory parade in west London later on Sunday.

Zinedine Zidane says Florentino Perez’s division of the Real Madrid squad into separate classes depending on the importance of the players had devastating consequences for morale at club.
   The former Real Madrid president famously claimed that his recruitment policy at the club was based on ‘Zidanes or Pavons’, supplementing big-name players like the Frenchman with products from the youth team such as centre-back Francisco Pavon.
   But Zidane said that such talk and the labelling of some players such as himself, Ronaldo and David Beckham as ‘Galacticos’ had created severe divisions in the dressing room.
   ‘I think it was a shame that people talked about Zidanes and Pavons because it’s clear that it divided the team,’ the midfielder told Spanish television station Antena 3.
   ‘That was very bad for the team and the people who talked about ‘Galacticos’ and all that created big problems for us.’
   Zidane also said that the collection of big egos created further problems for the team. ‘The problem is that there were a lot of very strong personalities in the dressing room and that damaged communication. We didn’t talk straight to each other as people thought they might upset each other.’
   Zidane added he was deeply disappointed by the team’s failure to win a major trophy in the last three seasons, the club’s worst run of form in over 50 years.
   ‘We got things wrong and what hurts me most is that we haven’t won a trophy,’ he said. ‘It’s difficult to win all five trophies that are at stake but not winning a single one is what really hurts. Maybe it’s unfair for me to retire without winning anything but it was better to leave.’
   Zidane will play his last match for Real when they travel to Sevilla on Tuesday, a game they need to win if they are to make sure of securing the runners-up spot behind Barcelona. He will then hook up with the French national team for the World Cup.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has denied reports that have suggested Andrei Shevchenko has submitted a formal transfer request.
   The Ukrainian hit-man admitted on Friday that he was keen to quit the Serie A giants, with Chelsea known to be suitors and favourites to secure his signature.
   Galliani insists the Milan will not be forced to sell and in any case, is keen to reiterate that Shevchenko, contrary to reports, has not issued a formal request.

Four years ago Germany’s Michael Ballack was close to tears as suspension ruled him out of the World Cup final so this summer’s finals in his homeland offer him the chance of redemption.
   Ballack captains hosts Germany at the finals and the painful memory of watching the 2002 final on television gives him added incentive to drive his nation to the Berlin final on July 9.
   Ballack missed the final against Brazil, which Germany lost 2-0 in Yokohama, after receiving a yellow card for a cynical foul to deny co-hosts South Korea a clear goalscoring chance in the semi-final duel.
   Rather than sulk at being suspended for the biggest game of his career Ballack picked himself up to score the winning goal in the final quarter hour as his team won 1-0.
   ‘I’m no hero,’ Ballack said at the time. ‘Many players would have done what I did. I am disappointed but there is nothing I can do.’
   Ballack, who left Bayer Leverkusen for Bayern Munich after the finals, says he has put the incident behind him but the only way to cure the heartache would be to lift the trophy this summer with Germany.
   For Germany to achieve this they will need Ballack to be at his inspirational best.
   ‘Ballack was brilliant at the Confederations Cup but now comes the step up,’ said Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann.
   ‘He has the potential to take the tourney by the scruff of the neck like Matthaus in 1990 or Zidane in 1998.’
   Matthaus, capped a record 150 times by Germany, drove West Germany to World Cup glory in 1990 while Zidane scored two headers as hosts France defeated Brazil 3-0 in the 1998 final.
   Ballack may not have the individual trickery of Zidane or the great physical strength of Matthaus but his goalscoring record is one a striker would be proud of.
   Since making his debut against Scotland in April 1999, Ballack has scored 30 goals in 63 internationals (AT 23.04.06) and Klinsmann recognised his importance to the team by making him team captain in August 2004. Shooting with both feet and great aerial ability mark Ballack out as the danger man and Germany need a fit and freescoring Ballack this summer. English champions Chelsea look set to sign the gifted midfielder on a free transfer from Bayern and Ballack will hope to go to London with a World Cup winner’s medal in his suitcase.
   The burning desire to win the World Cup and bury the disappointment of 2002 will spur Ballack and so will the critics. In April of last year Brazil’s three-time World Cup winner Pele labelled Ballack ‘mediocre’ and said he had not progressed since the wonder season in 2002.
   ‘I am sorry but Ballack is not a top player,’ Pele said. ‘He has been playing at the same level for a number of years now and that level is not good enough. He has highs and lows but in truth he has hardly improved over the past few years.’
   Ballack did not respond to Pele’s comments but Klinsmann says he is ready to do his talking on the pitch at the finals.
   ‘The criticism drives Michael on and I have no doubt that he will silence the doubters. This World Cup offers him the perfect stage to join other greats. We just hope he stays injury-free as he is irreplaceable for us.’
   As well as staying injury-free there is something else Ballack will want to steer clear of—yellow cards.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard hailed penalty-saving hero Jose Reina after the Spanish stopper pulled off three superb shoot-out saves to win the FA Cup for the Reds.
   Reina was the hero, holding his nerve in a thrilling spot-kick showdown as Liverpool won the trophy for the seventh time, beating West Ham United 3-1 on penalties Saturday after a roller-coaster 3-3 draw at the Millennium Stadium.
   The 24-year-old goalkeeper has a reputation in his homeland for getting the better of penalty-takers, and the rest of the world might well take heed after his heroics in English football’s showpiece match.
   Gerrard revealed that the Liverpool squad have been peppering penalties at Reina at their training complex—with precious little success.
   ‘Once it went to penalties, with his record, I was confident,’ the England midfielder said.
   ‘We have a go at him in training and it is very difficult to score a penalty past him.’
   Reds boss Rafa Benitez revealed he felt Liverpool had the advantage in the shoot-out, despite it taking place at West Ham’s end of the ground.
   ‘He is famous in Spain for saving penalties and we had confidence in him,’ Benitez said after winning his first English trophy in his second season with the Reds.
   ‘He knew something because our goalkeeper coach was talking with him. He is intuitive and Pepe has done his job.’
   Reina had been badly caught out for two of the Hammers’ goals but redeemed himself by doing what, according to Benitez, he does best.
   The stopper admitted he was a relieved man himself after blocking Hammers defender Anton Ferdinand’s spot kick to win the prestigious trophy.
   ‘It was a crazy game,’ the balding goalkeeper said.
   ‘It was a bad performance by me at the start but goalkeepers live in a small land between mistakes and saves.
   ‘Penalties are a lottery—and I won.’
   Gerrard said last year’s Champions League final, when Liverpool pulled back a 3-0 deficit to beat Italian giants AC Milan on penalties, had given the Reds the confidence to overturn West Ham’s 2-0 lead.
   ‘I think we learned a lot from the Milan game. We learned that when we are down, no matter how badly we’re trailing, how we’re playing, the game’s not over till the final whistle,’ the Liverpudlian said.
   Gerrard has had a gruelling year as the engine driving the Liverpool team.
   The 25-year-old’s season started on July 13 in a Champions League qualifier and if things go his way, will finish on July 9 with England winning the World Cup.
   The Reds skipper suffered from cramp during extra time in the Cup final and could be forgiven for having a fortnight off before heading out to the World Cup in Germany.
   ‘I’m going to have a couple of weeks’ rest,’ the man-of-the-match said after the 59th game of his campaign.
   ‘The England boys are
   going to Portugal for training but I’m going to stay back with my family. I’m going to get some rest and get ready for Germany,’ he said.
   West Ham boss Alan Pardew was refusing to be downbeat about the result, insisting this was the start of a new era for the east London club.
   ‘We had a very young team out there and they are going to grow over the next few years in the Premiership,’ Pardew said after the final, singling out striker Dean Ashton for particular praise.
   ‘His performance signalled to me that he is going to be a top player in the English game. On that performance he is very unfortunate not to be going to the World Cup.’

England (551/6 dec) lead Sri Lanka (192 & 339/5) by 20 runs at tea, day 4
   Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene led from the front with a defiant unbeaten century as bad light gave the tourists some respite on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord’s here Sunday.
   Jayawardene was 103 not out, his 14th Test hundred and second at Lord’s when the increasing gloom saw the players leave for an early tea.
   Sri Lanka, following-on, were 339 for five - still 20 runs short of making England bat again after the hosts had piled up 551 for six declared.
   Tillakaratne Dilshan was unbeaten on 18 with England, despite his skipper’s heroics, still in the driving seat.
   Test debutant fast bowler Sajid Mahmood made the first breakthroughs Sunday, his two wickets in quick succession after lunch restoring England’s morale after Sri Lanka had got through the morning without losing a wicket.
   Sri Lanka, following on, were 258 for three at lunch, with Jayawardene 70 not out and nightwatchman Farveez Maharoof unbeaten on 38 after both men had earlier been dropped in the slips.
   Maharoof, growing in confidence, pulled luckless pace bowler Liam Plunkett for an impressive six to go to his second Test fifty.
   The 21-year-old then struck Mahmood for two resounding fours. But two balls after his last boundary he checked a drive against the Lancashire fast bowler and was caught by Kevin Pietersen in the covers.
   In all he faced 145 balls in nearly three hours at the crease, putting on 113 in 41 overs with Jayawardene.
   Maharoof’s exit soon led to another with Thilan Samaraweera, one of four Sri Lankan batsmen out for nought in the first innings, caught behind for six off the lively Mahmood, who’d taken two wickets for five runs in 13 balls
   It was the 24-year-old’s second impressive burst of the match after a spell of three wickets for no runs in nine balls during Sri Lanka’s first innings.
   Jayawardene, on 98 then pushed England captain Andrew Flintoff for a tight single. Mahmood’s shy from mid-on missed the stumps at the bowler’s end and went for four overthrows to give Jayawardene a five and his fourth Test century against England.
   He’d faced 191 balls with 11 fours, batting for five fours after top-scoring with 61 in Sri Lanka’s meagre first innings 192.
   Earlier, England did not help themselves by dropping two slip catches.
   Maharoof, on 30, edged a drive off Flintoff with third slip Paul Collingwood just failing to hold what would have been a spectacular catch.

oas authorities governing cricket pay little heed to the burn out issue, the players have found an unlikely sympathiser in Sir Elton John, who sounded music to their ears by saying that cricketers were playing too many games.
   ‘I liked one-day internationals when they started them but there are too many of them now,’ he insists. ‘They wear out the players and cricketers are playing too many games.’
   ‘Tests are far more interesting, they are more of a chess game. Test match cricket is far more worthwhile and relaxing. I do think you see the best cricket is Test and I like the fact that you can play for five days and no-one wins,’ Sir Elton was quoted as saying by BBC Sports.
   ‘The Rocket Man’ — real name Reginald Dwight — became hooked on the sport through listening about the feats of heroes such as Dennis Compton, Colin Cowdrey and John Edrich on BBC radio.
   Instead of ‘too girlish’ tennis and hockey and a ‘too tough’ rugby, Sir Elton opted to focus on getting willow to hit leather.
   And it is not just relaxing in the stands and watching the players sweat it out in the middle, Sir Elton even played and scored at Lord’s in a charity match.
   ‘I got to the crease and I thought ‘please let me score one run’. I scored 24 but I got carried away. The next week I played in Barnes and (former England seamer) Robin Jackman got me out first ball.
   His passion for the game can even shame the most passionate in the Barmy Army and the popstar has followed England all over the world and has found little difficulty in leading members of the team astray.
   ‘I used to love hanging around with cricketers. We had a lot of fun and got up to a lot of mischief together and when we won at Melbourne on that Boxing Day in 1986 it was one of the greatest - and most drunken - nights I can remember.’
   Last summer’s Ashes series captured the imagination of the cricketing world, and Sir Elton was no exception.

Iran have reached the world standards in football but they are still more than amateur in hockey. After conceding a 3-5 defeat to Bangladesh in the Asian Games Hockey Qualifiers, Iranian manager F Zamani disclosed Sunday that they were more than happy with the result as they do not have any astro-turf in Iran and the country does not have any full-fledged hockey league.
   Zamani, who was the coach of Iran in 1985 when his country participated in the Asia Cup in Dhaka, however, is looking forward to improving in the upcoming days. ‘We don’t have any outdoor turf in the country all we play is indoor hockey and sometimes foreign teams play against us. We arrived here with ten days’ preparation and our boys lack experience of playing at the top-level competitions,’ said Zamani.
   But he sees there is room for improvement. ‘Our players performed well and we feel the heat to move ahead. I hope to fix a few things in the coming days and I am confident that Iran would do better in the near future,’ said Zamani.

Twelve of the sixteen final round teams in the banglalink tiger trophy National School Football Championship have already been finalised and the last four will be decided today with the matches at four different venues of Narail, Kurigram, Natore and Tangail.
   So far, Islamia High School of Mymensingh, Ramu Khijari Ideal High School of Cox’s Bazar, Kakardia Teradal High School of Sylhet, Mominpur High School of Meherpur, Madarganj MB High School of Thakurgaon, Jhalakathi Govt High School, Hajiganj Pilot High School of Chandpur, Chhagalnaiya Pilot High School of Feni, Yunus Ali High School of Pabna, Gaberpara Senior Madrassah of Sirajganj, Faridpur High School and Kanialkhata High School of Nilphamari have qualified for the final round.

The sixth one-day international between the West Indies and Zimbabwe was abandoned with no result after steady rain in on Saturday.
   Runako Morton’s second one-day century had guided West Indies to 263 for six off 50 overs and Zimbabwe, chasing a revised target of 191 in 30 overs, were 72 for two in 12.1 overs when the second stoppage forced umpires to end play.
   It was the second time in the seven-match series that there has been a no result, following the washout of the third game in Guyana.

Narayanganj made a great escape when they registered a seven-run win over Manikganj despite posting just 86 runs in their innings in the Dhaka Bank Under-19 National Youth Cricket at the Faridpur Stadium on Sunday.
   Satil guided the Narayanganj team to the improbable win as he bagged five wickets for 20 runs to bowl out Manikganj for 75 runs.
   In another low-scoring match of the day, Gaibandha beat Sirajganj by five wickets at the Natore stadium. Batting first after wining the toss, Sirajganj were skittled out for 66 runs before Gaibandha scraped through.
   In the other matches, Barguna beat Jhalakathi by eight wickets while Cox’s Bazar won over Bandarban by 80 runs and Tahakurgaon outclassed Dinajpur by 135 runs.

The U-23 football camp for the upcoming South Asian Games begins today at the BKSP in Savar under the supervision of national coach Andres Cruciani. The SA Games, known as SAFF Games, will be held in Colombo on August 18-27.
   The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) picked 27 booters for the preliminary camp Thursday last after getting the assurance of financial assistance from state minister for youth and sport. BFF general secretary Anwarul Haq Helal said they are yet to receive the initial Tk 10 lakh as per commitment of the sports minister, but they are going to start the camp.

One of the survivors of the 1958 Munich air disaster which decimated Manchester United’s ‘Busby Babes’, Bobby Charlton bounced back to become his country’s most successful footballer.
   No other English player can match Charlton’s unique collection of winners medals - World Cup, European Cup, League title and FA Cup, and only a few can match his spotless reputation for sportsmanship.
   Born in 1937 into a famous football family - his uncle was the legendary Newcastle striker Jackie Milburn - he was soon spotted by Matt Busby and signed on at Old Trafford at 17.
   As a youngster Charlton started out as a left winger, his searing pace, exemplary balance and ability to unleash ferocious shots with either foot making him perfectly suited to the role.
   Later he evolved into a midfield playmaker, operating for club and country as a goal-creator and goalscorer par excellence. He remains England’s record international goalscorer, with 49.
   The highpoint of Charlton’s international career came at the 1966 World Cup, where he was one of the key figures in England’s sole success in the tournament.
   Charlton and England had a jittery 0-0 draw with Uruguay in their opening match but recovered to beat Mexico and France.
   Against the Mexicans Charlton opened his account for the tournament with a trademark goal, his right-foot rocket from outside the area flying into the central Americans’ net.
   In the semi-final against Portugal his thunderous shooting ability again set up England, Charlton scoring two fine long-range efforts in a match some regard as his finest ever.
   It was a measure of the fear Charlton induced in opponents that West Germany singled him out for special attention in the final, detailing a young Franz Beckenbauer as a man-marker.
   The tactic was not enough to stop England from lifting the title, however, and later that year he received recognition for his input to the England cause by deservedly being named European Footballer of the Year.
   Two years later Charlton made a successful return to Wembley, this time with Manchester United for their 4-1 victory over Benfica in the European Cup final.
   He remained a key member of England’s squad and with Gordon Banks and Bobby Moore, carried his team’s hopes into the 1970 World Cup.
   England started well and qualified through the group phase, before being paired with West Germany in the quarter-finals. Moore was his usual inspirational self as England surged into a 2-0 lead.
   England manager Alf Ramsey controversially substituted Charlton after the Germans had pulled a goal back, and Beckenbauer suddenly enjoyed more space in midfield.
   ‘When Charlton was taken off we couldn’t believe our luck,’ Beckenbauer said later. Germany finished 3-2 winners and there was to be no World Cup repeat for Charlton.
   Charlton retired with 109 caps for England, quitting his playing career in 1973 to become manager of Preston North End. He was a director of Wigan Athletic, before becoming a director at Manchester United in 1984.
   — Agence France-Presse
   
   Name : Robert Bobby Charlton
   Date of Birth : October 11, 1937
   Birthplace : Ashington, England

21 Cruyff runs onto a chip into the box, shapes to shoot with his right before jinking left and scoring with his left against Argentina.
   22 Rivelino aims his 30 yard free-kick against East Germany at his colleague Jairzinho in the wall. Jairzinho ducks and the ball flies into the corner of the net.
   23 Brazil are awarded a free kick against Zaire but before it can be taken, one of the Zaire players runs at the ball and boots it upfield.
   24 Gerd Müller’s goal from a tight angle to beat Holland in the final.
   
   1978
   25 Archie Gemmill’s mazy run for Scotland against Holland leaves four defenders for dead before he scores the third goal in a famous victory.
   26 Referee Clive Thomas blows the whistle for full-time as Brazil’s would-be winner against Sweden flies into the net.
   27 Brazilian Nelinho’s 30 yarder bends past the Italian goalie.
   28 Arie Haan’s unstoppable 40 yard goal for Holland against Italy.
   29 Mexico mess up their free kick and W Germany’s Rummenigge runs the length of the pitch to score at the other end.
   30 Peru’s goalie Ramon Quiroga was known as El Loco for his mad dashes upfield and against Poland he gets booked for a foul in his opponents’ half. (to be continued)
   — New Age Desk

Two years after staging the Olympics, Mexico’s high altitude and stifling heat was selected to host the 1970 World Cup finals.
   Fears that the conditions would hinder attractive play were totally unfounded as the tournament produced a feast of attacking football.
   Brazil, with Pele back at his best, were magnificent. They beat holders England 1-0 in the group stages, despite Gordon Banks’ now legendary save from Pele, and with Jairzinho on fire up front roared into the knockout stages.
   West Germany, with Franz Beckenbauer imperious and impish striker Gerd Muller in top form, gained revenge for their defeat in the 1966 final by recovering from 2-0 down to England to win 3-2 after extra time in the last eight.
   Their semi-final match with Italy was just as dramatic, the Italians eventually coming through 4-3 in extra-time after another seesaw encounter.
   Brazil marched past Peru in the quarter-finals and then saw off Uruguay 3-1 in the semis.
   Italy never stood a chance in the final as the South Americans gave what is probably their most celebrated exhibition of ‘the beautiful game’. Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and, gloriously, Carlos Alberto, scored in a 4-1 rout of the Italians, and Brazil were allowed to keep the Jules Rimet trophy having won it three times.
   
   STARS
   Pele
   Brazil: b. 1940
   Probably the greatest footballer in the world. Agile, yet strong enough to resist the strongest challenge, a superb ball artist and a powerful leaper to a high cross. Possessed an insight that allowed him to lay off pinpoint passes to seemingly unseen team-mates, and a goal-getting genius that converted the slightest chance into goals.
   More than 1,200 goals in his professional career, 95 for Brazil in 110 matches.
   He almost missed the 1958 World Cup because of a bad knee injury. He came into the team for the third match against the Soviet Union and almost immediately hit the post. One goal against Wales, three against France, two against Sweden in the final brought the first of two World Cup winner’s medals. An injury in 1962 cost him a third.
   Portugal kicked him out of the 1966 World Cup in England but he was back at his best in Mexico in 1970. Made his international debut as a 16-year-old against Argentina.
   Pele went on to become Sports Minister for Brazil.
   Gerd Muller
   Germany: b. 1945
   Nicknamed ‘Der Bomber’, this pocket-sized dynamo was one of the most lethal finishers in football history.
   A real six-yard box goal-poacher, his low centre of gravity enabled him to turn defenders inside out and pounce on the slightest error. Scored with either foot, and despite his lack of inches, often with his head.
   Top scored in the 1970 finals with 10 goals, including hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru. He also volleyed in the Germans’ clincher in a sensational 3-2 win over holders England in the quarter-finals.
   Muller scored four more times to help West Germany to their 1974 World Cup triumph, taking his total World Cup tally to 14 — a record.
   Amazingly, Muller once kept goal for Bayern Munich when Sepp Maier was injured, but it was up front that he caused devastation, helping them to three successive European Cup triumphs.
   Scored 69 goals for West Germany in just 62 games, and in 1970 was the first German to be voted European Footballer of the Year.
   
   Gordon Banks
   England: b. 1937
   Rated the world’s finest goalkeeper in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Banks is best remembered for making arguably the greatest save ever when he defied the great Pele in the 1970 finals in Mexico.
   Jairzinho crossed the ball in from the left and Pele, from point-blank range, powered a bouncing header down and, seemingly into the corner of the net. Yet even though the ball had already passed him, Banks flung himself low to his right to somehow claw it up over the crossbar.
   Pele held his head in disbelief, and the Banks legend was born.
   Four years earlier Banks had conceded only one goal—a Eusebio penalty for Portugal—as England marched into the World Cup final.
   As ‘safe as the Banks of England’, the saying went, Banks had height, courage, agility and above all, outstanding positional sense.
   He won 73 international caps and helped Stoke win the first major trophy in their history—the 1972 League Cup. The same year his career was sadly curtailed when he was blinded in one eye following a car crash.
   
   LEADING SCORERS
   Gerd Muller (FRG) 10
   Jairzinho (BRA) 7
   Teofilo Cubillas (PER) 5
   Pele (BRA) 4
   Anatoly Bishovets (USSR) 4
   
   TRIVIA
   n The ninth World Cup finals in the thin air of Mexico were the first held in the CONCACAF continent.
   n For the first time substitutes were allowed in all games. The use of red and yellow cards by referees was also introduced, yet, amazingly, no players were sent off in this tournament.
   n For the first time matches were broadcast live to all points of the globe.
   n Hosts Mexico drew their first game 0-0 with the USSR in the magnificent Azteca Stadium. The first substitution was made when the Soviets replaced Victor Serebriannikov with Anatoli Puzach.
   n England beat Romania 1-0 in their first game with Geoff Hurst scoring the goal. England’s first substitute was Tommy Wright who replaced Keith Newton.
   n Israel, making their debut in the finals, lost their opening game 2-0 to Uruguay in Group Two. West Germany beat Morocco, who were also making their finals debut, 2-1 in Leon. Belgium beat another first time finalist, El Salvador, 3-0.
   n Uwe Seeler of West Germany became the first European player to appear in four consecutive finals in their match against Morocco and he scored one of the goals.
   n Gerd Muller, later to finish top scorer with 10 goals, scored the first hat-trick of the finals in West Germany’s 5-2 win over Bulgaria.
   n Mario Zagallo became the first man to win the World Cup as player and manager.
   n In honour of their third World Cup victory, Brazil were presented with the Jules Rimet trophy for all time. A new trophy was then ordered by FIFA.
   
   WINNING SQUAD
   Brazil
   Goalkeepers: Ado, Felix, Emerson Leao
   Defenders: Baldochi, Brito, Carlos Alberto (capt), Clodoaldo, Edu, Everaldo, Fontana, Joel, Marco, Piazza
   Midfielders: Gerson, Paulo Cesar
   Forwards: Jairzinho, Dario, Pele, Rivelino, Roberto, Tostao, Ze Maria
   Coach: Mario Zagallo
   — Agence France-Presse