Summer Olympics - Beijing 2008

Hottest news so far...

1. Michael Phelps after all did win 8th gold medal at a single Olympics from the pool with slightest of a margin -- his 100m butterfly event was only 1/100 of a second ahead of Milorad Cavic of Serbia.

2. Usain Bolt of Jamaica is indeed running like a lightning bolt in the 100m men sprint event with a world record time of 9.69 second. The final showdown between Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay did not materialize after Gay failed to qualify for the final. Powell finished the event in the 5th place.

3. Roger Federer of Switzerland did win the gold medal from Beijing -- not from the men single but from the double event in which he teamed up with Stanislas Wawrinka to beat Sweden pair of Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson in the men tennis double final.

4. Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates his world no.1 status with an emphatic win over Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the final of men tennis to win the gold medal.

5. Can China win the overall title from United States of America? China is still leading in the gold medal haul but USA is closing the gap fast with Olympics is only less than a week to go.

Russia into last eight of Euro 2008

Russians celebrate on the street


A sexy Russian supporter


A pretty Russian supporter inside the stadium


Supporters waving Russian flags


Russian supporters before the game with the Swedes

Incredible! After so many group matches had finished, I really can't see any stand out teams in Euro 2008. Not anymore, I found it in Russia when they defeated Sweden two days ago. It was totally a deserved victory and dominant display by the Russians. They had really missed Andrei Arshavin for the first two group matches. This guy pulled the string from the midfield and scored one marvelous team goal himself early in the second half.

In the last eight, the Russian football team will take on the mighty Holland. Not an easy task as Holland had shown why they are the hot favorite in this tournament by defeating World Cup champions Italy and runners-up France convincingly in group stage. My friend had asked me which team in my opinion will go into the final before Russia versus Sweden game, I said Russia will go into the final if they can clear the group stage by beating the Swedes. Now, they had done it. So, I still stand firm with my opinion.

Holland coach Marco van Basten was a great player himself during his heyday in the 90's but not yet show his caliber as a great coach. Perhaps, this will be the very tournament he will announce his arrival in the international coaching arena in big time for he will be coaching Ajax after Euro 2008. But comparing coach to coach, Guus Hiddink still has the upper hand with his vast experience with other national teams that he had coached. Interesting point is, Guus Hiddink of Holland nationality will be pitting his wits against his home country. Kinda intriguing prospect.

Let's see how the game against Holland turn out.

Arshavin already cashing in on his success

By Martin Rogers, Yahoo! Sports

It is rumored in Russian football circles that Andrei Arshavin refused to entertain a possible move to Barcelona because it meant the Zenit St. Petersburg and national team star would have to take a pay cut.

In all probability, some creative license has been used in the telling and re-telling of that apocryphal tale, but it still shows the incredible strides made in the Russian game in recent years and the reason for its rapid progress.

Money talks loudest in football and the noises emanating from the east are of some concern to clubs in England, Spain and Italy. Gone are the days when those leagues could snap up a player from that part of Eastern Europe, give him a respectable salary and a car and earn his undying gratitude.

Arshavin’s stock is soaring now after his latest display of talent in Wednesday’s decisive 2-0 victory over Sweden, a win that booked Russia’s place in the last eight of Euro 2008. A series of outstanding performances for club and country has made him one of the most sought-after players in Europe this summer, but it would be no surprise at all if he went nowhere and remained with Zenit, a club which barely registered a blip on the European landscape until last season.

If he does go, it will not be for the money. Arshavin is rewarded handsomely at Zenit, with a gigantic salary of around $100,000 per week plus a mind-blowing bonus structure. Given that Arshavin ran the show in the UEFA Cup final, as Zenit tore apart Glasgow Rangers at the City of Manchester Stadium, it is fair to suggest that another avalanche of roubles came tumbling into his bank balance.

Those roubles, like most of the wealth in Russian football, is drenched in oil. President Vladimir Putin encourages, gently or otherwise, the oligarchs who have made incredible fortunes from selling the natural resource to invest in sports, particularly football. As a result, the national team benefits from having a coach with the pedigree of Guus Hiddink, whose salary is paid by none other than billionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.

Hiddink can also pick his squad almost exclusively from home-based players, now that the Russian league, ranked 15th in Europe by UEFA just a few years ago, is pressing Holland for the fifth spot and rising fast.

The upshot is that players like Arshavin – who, at 27, was born in an era when St. Petersburg was still called Leningrad and the Communists still controlled the Soviet Union – need not head overseas in search of financial reward.

“Arshavin is a player who can decide very, very fast where he can create danger … he can turn left, right, he knows where an opponent is so he is a very smart player,” Hiddink said. “You can see he can make the difference, not for himself by the goal but for the other guys on the field.”

Suspended for Russia’s first two games at Euro 2008, he showed how much he had been missed against Sweden. He scored Russia’s second goal and was his team’s driving force in a performance that surely grabbed the attention of quarterfinal opponents and tournament favorites Holland.

If Arshavin can mastermind a shock victory over the rampant Dutch, his value will soar even further. But even if salary offers of $150,000, $200,000 or even more per week come flooding in, the oil company that pays his salary would not even need to scratch the surface of its coffers to match it.

Manchester United - Champions of Europe 2007/08

Another thriller down to the wire. Manchester United performed yet another lucky escape in the Champions League final. This time in Moscow. It seemed to me at one time just before Chelsea skipper John Terry missed the last of the routine penalty kicks (PK) that Manchester United were all but winning the championship. But God had another idea -- John Terry put the crucial PK wide. And that was it, Manchester United went on to score the sixth and seventh sudden death PK with Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar saved the last PK of the night from Chelsea Nicolas Anelka.

The triumph did not come easy for Manchester United though. Having scored earlier in the night through a well-placed header from Cristiano Ronaldo, but Chelsea did not throw the towel as yet and scored just seconds before half-time from Frank Lampard's opportunistic strike.

Chelsea controlled most of the play and tempo in the second half. They came close to score with Didier Drogba hit the woodwork and Frank Lampard hit the crossbar. But basically that was it. The score was 1-1 on normal playing time and both teams had to play extra-time to decide the winner.

Didier Drogba was red-carded and ejected from the pitch towards the end of the extra-time period when he slapped Nemanja Vidic on the face. In retrospect, maybe this was the defining moment of Chelsea fate on the night. If Drogba had not been sent-off, he could be the one who will take the PK instead of John Terry. As we know, Drogba's chance of successfully converting the PK is much more higher than Terry's.

The rest was history. Manchester United is crowned Champions of Europe again for the third time. The victory is reminiscent of their famous Treble season in 1999 where Manchester United were on the brink of death before miracle happened in the final seconds of the match.

Way to go! Manchester United! Way to go!

Manchester United Goes to Moscow

Yes! After some nine years of waiting, Manchester United successfully made it to the UEFA Champions League final, to be held in Moscow, Russia on May 21 this year. Manchester United defeated FC Barcelona 1-0 at Old Trafford, Manchester in the second leg of the semi-final match between the two clubs after the goalless draw from their first encounter at Nou Camp, Barcelona.

Paul Scholes scored the only goal of the match from a fantastic long-range effort that the Barcelona goalkeeper could only watch in vain early in the game. Lionel Messi played really well for Barcelona but could not break Manchester United solid defense. Both teams were equally matched on the night but Manchester United held on to the solitary goal till the end of the match.

Their final opponent will be decided between Liverpool and Chelsea tomorrow night.

Rugby World Cup Final - England vs South Africa

Well, who would think of England versus South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final this year? Certainly not me judging from the group match result of England versus South Africa earlier where England had been convincingly demolished by the Springboks.

New Zealand had again showed the world why they were labeled chokers in big tournament. Everything looked pretty in control after the first half against the host nation France in the quarter-final match and suddenly in the second half, they were rattled by the more disciplined and organized France.

Defending champion England have been improving ever since. Their plays are built around the solid defence. Ask France, and they will concur with me. At the ending stage during the semis, it seemed to me France were going to get a try but somehow England managed to weather the storm and get away unscratched. This proved how strong the mentality and group spirit within the England camp. Maybe the initial poor showings were the smokescreen from the England camp to deceit their opponents?

No comments on the Springboks but i hope they can bring the Rugby World Cup back to South Africa this time without any controversy like those surrounding their win in 1995. Hope this time they can win it fair and square. Period. And of course, restore the pride of Southern Hemisphere rugby nations.

Rugby World Cup - England versus South Africa

After almost one week of competition, we can finally look forward to some evenly contested fixtures, at least on paper it certainly appears to be so -- England versus South Africa (Springboks). Wow! Surely can't give this match a miss, no?

One is the defending champion in England, the other one is the traditional rugby powerhouse in Springboks. I watched England played USA days before. Their performance were not impressed at all. Although i missed the Springboks opening game, i still reckon both teams had reserved their energy and strength for this match.

So far, New Zealand All Blacks and Australia Wallabies had undoubtedly come out of the blocks pretty strongly with their all-conquering and all-round displays in their respective opening games. Personally, i would like to see New Zealand All Blacks winning this year Rugby World Cup.

2007 Rugby World Cup

An old saying goes like this -- Football is a gentlemen's game played by hooligans; rugby is a hooligan's game played by gentlemen.

Looking back, i have little doubts about it. Though rugby may appear violent to some people, rugby actually is the most disciplined team sport in the world as far as i know. Team consists of 15 players, far more than football. Every players must play his role in the team. You attack and defend in unison. Unlike football, in which normally you attack with the forwards and defend with the defenders. Thus, making football a little less than a team game. Furthermore, i never heard of rugby is played by women as yet. This reaffirms the statement of gentlemen's game in a sense since football is also played by women now. But not rugby, not yet.


Still remember 2003 Rugby World Cup when England won the William Webb Ellis Cup (the Rugby World Cup). Jonny Wilkinson, the England flyhalf, was certainly the MVP of that year tournament. His ever accurate drop goals had scored so many points and certainly won the Rugby World Cup for England -- thank to his drop goal in the last minute of extra time against Australia in the final.

Of course, this year tournament will be held in France comes this September. Northern Hemisphere nations can certainly look forward to it. Though i still think Southern Hemisphere nations will win -- either New Zealand (All Blacks), Australia (Wallabies) or South Africa (Springboks).

Ole! Ole! Ole!

Of Schumacher, Alonso, and Hamilton

The rivalry between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton had somehow turned into public row last weekend during Hungarian GP. Alonso was accused of delaying Hamilton at the "pit-gate" that denied Hamilton a final chance to make a flying lap at the dying seconds of qualifying round. The rest is the history. Alonso had been punished by FIA, started from few places back instead of pole position. McLaren team was rattled by this intense rivalry or shall i said, the in-fighting between their drivers.

I still remember when JK asked my opinion before the new F1 season starts. I said Hamilton is the driver to watch. Not because of what. Just because he reminds me of Tiger Woods. I see some resemblance between the two. They both started young at their games, achieving fame at early age too. So far, Hamilton had not let me down a single bit. Ain't a surprise if Hamilton wins this year F1 championship.

But the odds are against Hamilton. Because Alonso is the first driver in McLaren team. The team order clearly favored him very much. Driver to driver, i still see Alonso comes at the top between the two. At least, Alonso still has the fire and tricks that make him double world champion. The tricks i mean are all those little and dirty maneuvers that once made Michael Schumacher so famous of. Alonso will do whatever within his capabilities to win this year championship. Alonso is a wounded tiger at this moment. Ron Dennis, the McLaren boss also admitted both of them did not see eyes to eyes at this moment.

So far, Ferrari team had not displayed any competitiveness as yet. Hopefully, they will come into the picture later this season. If not, it will be a two-horse race between Alonso and Hamilton.

Football - The Stake is High

Kinda miss some real football actions since European Cup final. Spanish La Liga is entering the final round of game. We could still see Real Madrid crowning champion if they beat Real Mallorca at home. Just like the case of Manchester United in English Premier League, I still feel some of the matches were fixed in order to allow Real Madrid to win the La Liga this year. Barcelona have been impressive with Lionel Messi coming out from injury. If Barcelona fail to win this season, we may see more of Messi's real talent and capability next season.

Anyway, football fans could still be treated with Copa America come end of June. Years in and years out, Argentina is still my favourite South American team. Not Brazil dudes. And I still think Argentina played the most spectacular and beautiful football during last year World Cup in Germany until they lost to host Germany in quarter final due to some questionable substitutions from the coach. Could that be another conspiracy behind the curtain? The stake is high in football these days. Don't rule out any possibilities. Not caught doesn't mean not there.