Monday, June 28, 2010

SPORTS 100628

Football and in Round of 16 action in the FIFA World Cup England crashed out of the competition with their heaviest defeat on the World stage.

The English were hammered 4-1 by Germany in Bloemfontein with goals from Miroslav Klose, Lucas Podolski and a second-half brace from Thomas Muller.

However a refreeing error proved fatal as Frank Lampard’s strike in the first half would have given England a 2-all draw as the ball had clearly crossed the line off the cross-bar.

In another tie in Soccer City in Johannesburg – Argentina sailed through into the Quarters with a 3-1 win over Mexico.

Carlos Tevez grabbed a brace and Gonzalo Higuain got his fourth goal of the tournament for Argentina, before Javier Hernandez scored a consolation for the Mexican’s 19-minutes from time.

Argentina will now play Germany in the Quarter-finals on Saturday in Cape Town.
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More Round-of-16 ties tonight – in Durban Holland will take on surprise package Slovakia from 10pm; and at 2:30am 5-time world champions Brazil face their south-American counterparts Chile in Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
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Moving on to Formula One now and in the aftermath of the European Grand Prix – Sebastian Vettel may have won the race but his thoughts were on his team-mate Mark Webber following the Aussie's horror crash.

Webber suffered a massive accident on Lap 10 of the Valencia race when he hit the back of Heikki Kovalainen's Lotus.

The 37-year-old however immediately threw his steering wheel out of his car and climbed out unaided, a testament to Formula One's improved safety.
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Finally in Tennis and at Wimbeldon – Maria Sharapova insists power is not all as she prepares to face Serena Williams on grass for the first time since the 2004 Wimbledon final.

The Russian was 17 when she thrashed Williams 6-1 6-4 to land her first grand slam, and the result was hailed at the time by Martina Navratilova as "the best thing" that could have happened to the women's game.

Sharapova defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-5 6-3 to set up a clash with reigning champion Serena Williams later this evening at 10pm.
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