MUMBAI: India may be the outstanding team at the World Cup but coach Rahul Dravid has warned Wednesday’s semifinal against New Zealand in Mumbai represents the “pointy end in a tournament.”
Sunday’s 160-run defeat of the Netherlands left hosts India with a perfect played nine, won nine record — the first time any side had achieved such a feat at a World Cup featuring a round-robin format.
India are well-stocked in all departments, with star man Virat Kohli the tournament’s leading batsman with 594 runs and captain Rohit Sharma not far behind on 503.
The experienced duo have scored three hundreds between them, while the likes of Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul both appear to be coming into form at the right time following their centuries against the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, India boast a formidable fast-bowling line-up in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami.
If successful teams are fortunate as well as good, then India certainly had a lucky break when an injury to all-rounder Hardik Pandya paved the way for Shami’s return, with the experienced seamer having since taken 16 wickets in five matches at a stunningly low average of under 10.
In addition spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav are also capable of taking wickets without being flogged for runs.
And yet the fact remains India have been waiting since a 2011 triumph over Sri Lanka in Mumbai to win a third World Cup title, while their last major piece of silverware was the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Four years ago, New Zealand defeated India by just 18 runs in a rain-affected World Cup semifinal in Manchester that spanned two days, with the Black Caps also beating India in the inaugural 2021 World Test Championship final.
Five of the India side who featured in the 2019 semifinal — Rohit, Kohli, Rahul, Bumrah and Jadeja — are set to be involved again on Wednesday.
“You’re at a pointy end in a tournament now,” said Dravid.
“There is going to be certain amount of pressure but I think the way we have responded to the pressure so far gives us a lot of belief.”
Dravid’s argument is supported by the manner of India’s four-wicket win against New Zealand in the group stage at Dharamsala last month.
Despite Daryl Mitchell’s 130, India held New Zealand to 273, with Shami taking 5-54 before Kohli made 95 and Jadeja, demonstrating his big-match temperament, a valuable 39 not out.
Wednesday’s match takes place at Rohit’s Wankhede Stadium home ground, where India bowled out Sri Lanka for just 55 to win by 302 runs in the group stage, with the aggressive 36-year-old opener leading from the front at what could be his last World Cup.
“Rohit has certainly been a leader, without a doubt,” said India batting great Dravid. “He’s cracked open games for us.
“We’ve talked about playing in a particular way. You cannot do that unless your leader really buys in and actually shows by example.”
New Zealand, in contrast to India, are in the semifinals despite losing four of their nine group games.
But they now have a clean slate, with captain and key batsman Kane Williamson, following an injury-plagued tournament, returning to form with 95 on his comeback against Pakistan.
A proven pace trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson are capable of succeeding against even the strongest batting line-up, with miserly left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner (16 wickets at under 25) an often under-rated threat.
Runners-up at the last two World Cups, New Zealand also boast a break-out rising star in Rachin Ravindra, with the 23-year-old left-hander having already scored 565 runs.
The son of Indian-born parents, Ravindra is also the first New Zealander to compile three hundreds at a single World Cup, with his century on tournament debut against England followed by further three-figure scores against Australia and Pakistan.
“You dream of playing against India and a full crowd at the Wankhede, a ground with so much history,” said Ravindra.
“We’ll stay level, we’ll try our best. We know we can’t win every game of cricket...but we’ll see how it plays out.”
India set for New Zealand clash at ‘pointy end’ of World Cup
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India set for New Zealand clash at ‘pointy end’ of World Cup
- India are well-stocked in all departments, with Kohli the tournament’s leading batsman with 594 runs
- New Zealand, in contrast to India, are in the semifinals despite losing four of their nine group games
Fenerbahce’s Mourinho has four-match ban halved after appeal
- Mourinho was handed a fine and the ban over his comments about Turkish referees after a game at rivals Galatasaray
- The penalties were due to “derogatory and offensive statements toward the Turkish referee“
ANKARA: Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho’s four-match suspension has been halved by the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) following a review of the club’s appeal.
Mourinho was handed a fine and the ban over his comments about Turkish referees after a game at rivals Galatasaray, where he criticized the match officials in a press conference following the 0-0 Super Lig draw on Monday.
The TFF fined the 62-year-old Portuguese 1.6 million Turkish lira ($43,963.89) but that was reduced to 558,500.
The penalties were due to “derogatory and offensive statements toward the Turkish referee” and accusations of chaos and disorder in Turkish football, according to the TFF.
The TFF said Mourinho’s remarks violated sports ethics, promoted violence and disorder and could incite fan incidents.
Monday’s game was refereed by Slovenian Slavko Vincic after both clubs requested a foreign official take charge.
Fenerbahce issued a statement on Tuesday defending Mourinho, saying his comments were taken out of context and deliberately distorted.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Mourinho has previously been fined and suspended for his comments about Turkish match officials.
On Friday, Fenerbahce said Mourinho filed a lawsuit against Galatasaray after they accused him of making racist statements.
The Portuguese manager will return for Fenerbahce’s Super Lig match against Samsunspor on March 16.
Fenerbahce are second in Turkiye’s Super Lig, six points behind fellow Istanbul side Galatasaray.
Real Madrid lose at Betis as Isco spearheads a 2-1 comeback win over former team
- Madrid’s loss left them level on points with Barcelona, which host Real Sociedad on Sunday
- Atletico Madrid are one point behind before they play fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday
BARCELONA: Real Madrid stumbled in the three-way race for the Spanish league title as Isco Alarcón guided Real Betis to a 2-1 comeback win over the defending champion on Saturday.
The former Madrid player delivered a corner kick that was headed in by fellow midfielder Johnny Cardoso in the 34th minute, canceling out Brahim Díaz’s opener for Madrid.
Isco then put Betis ahead from the penalty spot in the 54th after he passed to Jesús Rodríguez and Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger knocked the Betis forward down in the area.
Madrid’s loss left them level on points with Barcelona, which host Real Sociedad on Sunday. Atletico Madrid are one point behind before they play fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao later on Saturday.
Kylian Mbappé was back starting for Madrid after missing one game because of a dental problem. Coach Carlo Ancelotti substituted him with 15 minutes left, possibly looking ahead at Tuesday’s Champions League round-of-16 game against Atletico.
Isco torments old team
Isco left Madrid three years ago, having helped them win five Champions League titles before he lost his starting job and then struggled to get off the bench.
But Madrid might wish they had him back after the 32-year-old midfielder was the most decisive player on the field at the Benito Villamarin.
Isco, however, shared the credit for the win with his teammates.
“Madrid has the best players and a million different ways they can hurt you, so if they weren’t for the hard work of the entire team we wouldn’t have been able to do this,” Isco said, before adding that he was still “grateful” for his time at Madrid.
The playmaker also showed he has not been slowed down by a leg injury that likely cost him a spot on Spain’s European Championship side last summer. He returned to the field in December and is playing like he’d never been away.
“It is a dream of any player to play for his national team,” Isco said after the win. “I haven’t played for Spain in six, seven years, so of course I would like to.”
Leverkusen stay in sight of Bayern before Champions League showdown
- Nathan Tella latched onto a defense-splitting Granit Xhaka pass and slotted home after 26 minutes
- Nordi Mukiele scored Leverkusen’s second three minutes later, prodding a loose ball into the goal through a crowded penalty area
BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen cut Bayern Munich’s lead in the Bundesliga back to eight points ahead of the sides’ Champions League last 16 clash, with a 4-1 win at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday.
Bayern’s comeback win over Stuttgart on Friday had sent them 11 points clear of champions Leverkusen.
Wanting to keep their slim hopes of defending the Bundesliga title alive, Leverkusen did not blink against third-placed Frankfurt, scoring three goals in a seven-minute blitz to grab hold of the game.
Nathan Tella latched onto a defense-splitting Granit Xhaka pass and slotted home after 26 minutes.
Nordi Mukiele scored Leverkusen’s second three minutes later, prodding a loose ball into the goal through a crowded penalty area.
Patrik Schick scored four minutes later, sliding in an Alex Grimaldo pass, his 16th goal in his past 14 games.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike took advantage of a poor pass from Mukiele to score in the 37th minute.
Despite the hosts starting the second half brightly, a cracking long-range effort from Aleix Garcia with 63 minutes gone sealed a crucial win for Xabi Alonso’s side, who go to Bayern in Europe on Wednesday.
“It’s easy to talk, but to show it on the pitch is harder. We want to show once more that we can take the fight to Bayern,” Alonso told DAZN.
Xhaka felt it was the perfect preparation for the all-German showdown.
“We’re strong enough to aggravate Bayern next week. There’s still plenty in it for us in the Champions League,” said Xhaka.
The loss continued Frankfurt’s slide, having lost 4-0 at Bayern last week and only won once in six league matches since Omar Marmoush departed for Manchester City.
Serhou Guirassy scored as Borussia Dortmund boosted their faint top-four hopes with a 2-0 win at St. Pauli.
Fresh from scoring four goals in a 6-0 demolition of Union Berlin last time out, Guirassy put Dortmund in front five minutes into the second half, tapping in a Karim Adeyemi pass.
Adeyemi put Dortmund in control with an excellent solo goal eight minutes later.
The 23-year-old Adeyemi, one of the smallest players on the pitch, latched onto a long ball and used his strength to grapple past two defenders before slotting home.
It is the first time Dortmund have won two in a row in the league this season.
Dortmund, who host Lille in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday, sit 10th, six points off fourth with 10 games remaining.
Guirassy has 24 goals in all competitions for Dortmund since arriving from Stuttgart in July, more than St. Pauli have managed in the league all season.
Leipzig let a one-goal lead slip to lose 2-1 at home against Mainz, who moved into fourth spot.
Xavi Simons gave Leipzig the best possible start, tucking in a rebound from close range after one minute.
Mainz turned the game on its head in six second-half minutes.
One-time Germany midfielder Nadiem Amiri cut in from close range after 52 minutes and current national team striker Jonathan Burkhardt added a second soon after.
Leipzig have won just one of their past eight games in the league and are in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification for the first time since 2017-18.
Elsewhere, Wolfsburg kept their hopes of European qualification on track with a 2-1 win at Werder Bremen, thanks to a double from Patrick Wimmer.
Wolfsburg are seventh, one point and one place behind Leipzig, who occupy the UEFA Conference League qualification spot.
A Robin Hack double and a Nathan Ngoumou goal took Borussia Moenchengladbach to a 3-0 win at Heidenheim, drawing them level with Wolfsburg on 37 points.
Heidenheim picked up a crucial win in their bid to avoid the drop, beating lowly Bochum 1-0 with Bayern-bound Tom Bischof scoring the only goal.
Man City survive Plymouth scare, Palace’s Mateta hospitalized in Millwall win
- Plymouth had shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool in the previous round
- “Big compliments to Plymouth for making our job so difficult. They were incredibly organized, but we played a good game,” said Guardiola
MANCHESTER: Manchester City survived a scare to beat giant killers Plymouth 3-1 and progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, after Crystal Palace striker Jean Philippe-Mateta was hospitalized in the Eagles’ 3-1 win over Millwall.
Plymouth had shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool in the previous round and were on course for another stunning upset at the Etihad when Maksym Talovierov headed them in front on 38 minutes.
Argyle boss Miron Muslic said it would be the “biggest honor” of his life to go head-to-head with Pep Guardiola.
With FA Cup glory City’s only realistic hope of silverware this season, Guardiola surprisingly rotated his side with Erling Haaland among those left on the bench.
However, it was one of City’s youngsters who took his chance to shine as Nico O’Reilly turned the tie around.
Muslic will be furious at the manner of both the 19-year-old’s goals as he twice headed in from set-pieces under little pressure.
O’Reilly’s equalizer just before half-time calmed City’s nerves before he powered in Phil Foden’s corner 14 minutes from time.
By that point Guardiola had summoned Haaland off the bench and he teed up the third for Kevin De Bruyne in stoppage time.
“Big compliments to Plymouth for making our job so difficult. They were incredibly organized, but we played a good game,” said Guardiola.
Palace’s progress into the last eight came at a cost as Mateta was stretchered off the field straight into an ambulance and taken to hospital in the early stages of their south London derby.
Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts was sent off just eight minutes in after catching Mateta’s head with his boot as he raced out of the penalty area to clear the ball.
Referee Michael Oliver only issued a red card after a VAR review of the challenge, with Roberts winning the ball before accidently crashing his boot into Mateta’s head.
“Thank you for all your kind messages. I’m doing well. I hope to be back very soon. And stronger than ever. Well done guys for a great job today,” Mateta posted on Instagram.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner confirmed Mateta had suffered a serious injury to his ear but said the impact could have ended the Frenchman’s career.
“Just imagine if he hits his face straight, with his power, with the studs, it is the end of JP’s career,” said Glasner.
Palace chairman Steve Parish described as the “most reckless challenge” he had ever seen.
The home side made use of the man advantage to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Japhet Tanganga’s own goal put Palace ahead in the 33rd minute before Daniel Munoz prodded in the second seven minutes later.
Wes Harding pulled a goal back for the Lions 13 minutes into first-half stoppage time added on for Mateta’s treatment.
Palace were made to wait until 82 minutes to ensure progress when Eddie Nketiah’s looping header found the far corner.
Bournemouth advanced to the last eight for only the third time in their history with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Wolves after their 1-1 draw at the Vitality Stadium.
Evanilson’s 30th-minute opener for Bournemouth was followed by VAR controversy as Milos Kerkez had a second ruled out for offside after an eight-minute check when the new semi-automated version of the system broke down.
Matheus Cunha levelled for Wolves with a second-half rocket to force extra-time, but the Brazilian was sent off for violent conduct after repeatedly clashing with Kerkez just before the penalties.
After Matt Doherty missed when he had the chance to send Wolves through, Boubacar Traore hit the crossbar and Luis Sinisterra sealed the win for Andoni Iraola’s men.
Milutin Osmajic taunted Burnley fans after helping Preston into the quarter-finals for the first time since 1966 with a 3-0 win at Deepdale.
When the Championship sides played in the league two weeks ago, Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri accused Osmajic of racist abuse, allegations which the Preston striker denies.
Burnley players declined to shake hands with Montenegro international Osmajic before their latest meeting.
Osmajic got Preston’s second goal late in the first half and celebrated by taunting Burnley fans with his hands cupped around his ears.
Robbie Brady and Will Keane were also on target as Preston ended Burnley’s 23-game unbeaten run.
Corner kick awarded if goalkeeper holds the ball more than 8 seconds
- The new rule will first be used at the Club World Cup in June
- Then in domestic and international competitions from next season
BELFAST: Soccer’s rule makers are taking another crack at reducing timewasting by goalkeepers who hold the ball for too long.
The International Football Association Board approved a rule change Saturday whereby the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than eight seconds. The new rule will first be used at the Club World Cup in June and then in domestic and international competitions from next season.
It replaces the current and mostly unenforced rule that states a referee should give an indirect free kick to the other side if a goalkeeper holds the ball for more than six seconds.
Referees will be instructed to use a five-second hand countdown to warn goalkeepers time is running out to put the ball back in play.
The IFAB said that the eight-second rule saw positive results when it was used in trials in England’s Premier League 2 for youth teams and other minor competitions in Italy and Malta.
“You can see it has a significant impact on goalkeeper behavior,” Patrick Nelson, IFAB director and head of the Irish Football Association, said at a news conference. “The results of (the trials) have been very, very positive.”
Nelson said failure to enforce the six-second rule had “been a bane of many people’s lives for quite some time.”
