Fans on cloud nine as Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in World Cup opener

June 13, 2014

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Sao Paolo, Jun 13: Brazil came from behind to beat a stubborn Croatia 3—1 with the help of Neymar’s double in a nervous-but-successful start to their home World Cup title mission.

The young icon was on target with a low shot in the 29th minute and on a disputable penalty in the 71st before Oscar wrapped up matters late after an own goal from Marcelo had given Croatia a shock lead early on.

Neymar’s goals, which set off fireworks across Sao Paulo and elsewhere, were the perfect start for himself and for Brazil in their bid for a sixth title.

Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men will need to improve after they had a hard time breaking down a disciplined Croatian defence. But they can draw optimism from Neymar seemingly not cracking under the immense pressure, and the recently-criticised Oscar also showing a strong performance on the left wing and scoring as well.

Brazil's poster boy Neymar scored twice and the outstanding Oscar added a late third as the hosts came from behind to beat Croatia.

The Group A game, tipped the hosts' way after a controversial 71st-minute penalty awarded by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura in front of a 62,103 crowd at the Corinthians arena.

But he immediately pointed to the spot and then seemed to run away as if he was going to be brought down by a pack of angry Croatian players after he ruled that Croatia skipper Dejan Lovren had hauled down Fred when it clearly looked as though the Brazil striker threw himself to the ground.

Nishimura ran off the pitch and booked Lovren as the chasing Croatia players screamed at him for what they perceived to be a misjudgement.

After the mayhem Neymar kept his composure and put Brazil ahead for the first time with a right-foot penalty which Croatia keeper Stipe Pletikosa got a hand to but could not save.

"We talk about respect, that wasn't respect, Croatia didn't get any," furious Croatia coach Niko Kovac told reporters.

"If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore. Let's play basketball instead, it's a shame.

"That was ridiculous and if we continue in this way we will have a circus."

GREAT CHANCES

Apart from that serious misjudgement Nishimura controlled the superbly-balanced game well as both teams went looking for goals and created chances at both ends.

Neymar, under enormous pressure to produce the kind of football that could lead Brazil to their sixth World Cup, did not disappoint with some stunning passes and moves as he held off rigorous challenges by the stylish Croatians.

"I’m very happy, really happy indeed, more than I ever dreamed or imagined," Neymar said. "We started off on the right foot, with a victory.

"The merit belongs to the team as a whole, which remained cool and calm to come from behind and win."

Neymar hauled Brazil back into the match after 29 minutes with the equaliser after defender Marcelo put through his own net after 11 minutes to give Croatia a shock lead.

“The only thing we want is that Neymar is happy playing ball," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said.

"He’s a special player…. He can rest assured that we’re going to help him. He doesn’t need all of you (the media) to demand that he become the best player in the world. His responsibility is to play for Brazil and that’s what he did today.”

Brazilians clearly wanted one of their team to score the first goal of the finals, but not in the way it came about and Marcelo's misfortune meant he became the first Brazilian ever to score an own goal at the World Cup.

The cross that bamboozled him came from Ivica Olic whose low ball from the left went through the legs of Brazil skipper Thiago Silva, clipped Nikica Jelavic's foot and bounced in off Marcelo with keeper Julio Cesar helpless.

Croatia could have gone ahead even earlier when Olic headed narrowly wide from a pinpoint Ivan Perisic centre.

Neymar created Brazil's first opening when he jinked along the byline, resulting in a half-cleared ball to Oscar who slammed in a curling 25-metre drive that Pletikosa acrobatically pushed away.

But Croatia's reprieve only lasted seven minutes and the equaliser was greeted by scenes of unbridled joy by Brazilian fans and players with fireworks visible on the city skyline through the huge openings on the corners of the stadium.

Oscar, at the core of most of Brazil's attacks, started the move by beating two men in midfield before finding Neymar who advanced a few metres before cracking in a low left-foot shot that went in off the base of Pletikosa's left-hand post for his 32nd goal in his 50th international.

Neymar scored his 33rd with the penalty and although Croatia never stopped battling, Oscar wrapped up the win in the first minute of stoppage time with a low drive which he toe-poked home to seal Brazil's 10th successive victory.

“We still have to improve quite a bit, we’re going to have to evolve and we’re going to have to assimilate some setbacks," Scolari said.

“Our players were excellent, they showed determination to be able to come from behind. They were fantastic."

"But who really deserves praise are the fans. It was wonderful, the support we received here in Sao Paulo. If there’s still any notion out that Sao Paulo doesn’t root for the national team effusively enough, that was put to rest today."

Neymar

 

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Agencies
January 5,2020

Mumbai, Jan 5: All-rounder Irfan Pathan on Saturday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, ending an injury-ridden career that prevented him from realising his true potential.

The 35-year-old's retirement was on expected lines, considering he last played a competitive game in February 2019 during the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy for Jammu and Kashmir.

He did not even put himself in the IPL auction pool, last month.

The left-arm seamer's bowling was like a breath of fresh air when he made his India debut against Australia at the Adelaide Oval in 2003.

He never had express pace but his natural ability to swing the ball into the right-handers got him instant success, also drawing comparisons with the great Kapil Dev.

It seemed India had found the all-rounder they were looking for since Kapil left the scene. Pathan, who last played for India in October 2012, featured in 29 Tests (1105 runs and 100 wickets), 120 ODIs (1544 runs and 173 wickets) and 24 T20 Internationals (172 runs and 28 wickets).

He was part of the victorious Indian team at the 2007 World Twenty20 and was the man-of-the-match in the final against Pakistan.

One of his best performances came on the tour of Pakistan in 2006 when he became the second Indian after Harbhajan Singh to take a Test hat-trick, removing Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Mohammad Yusuf during the Karachi game.

He also played a big role in India winning a Test match against Australia on a tough Perth wicket, which offered steep bounce.

Injuries and lack of form troubled him thereafter and his ability to swing the ball deteriorated.

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News Network
January 13,2020

Mumbai, Jan 13: India captain Virat Kohli indicated at dropping himself down the batting order to accommodate both Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul in the playing XI against Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series starting Tuesday.

With vice-captain Rohit Sharma an automatic pick, the team management is left with tough choice of selecting either Dhawan or Rahul in the XI. But the skipper sees no reason why both can't play together.

"Look, a guy in form is always good for the team. ...You obviously want to have the best players available and then chose from what the combination should be for the team. There might be a possibility that all three (Rohit, Shikhar and Rahul) might play. It will be interesting to see what balance we want to take in on the field," Kohli said on the eve of the match.

Asked if he would he be happy to bat lower down the order, Virat said,"Yeah, big possibility. I would be very happy to do so. Look I am not possessive about where I play. I am not insecure about where I bat," said the skipper.

For Kohli, it is more important as to what kind of leadership legacy he leaves behind rather than chase personal glory.

"Being the captain of the team, it is my job to make sure that the next lot is also ready. A lot of the other people might not look at it that way, but your job as a captain is not only to look after the team right now, but also to prepare a team that you leave behind when you eventually pass it onto someone else," he added.

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News Network
June 20,2020

Dhaka, Jun 20: Former Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza on Saturday tested positive for coronavirus.

The skipper had gone for a coronavirus Test last week, and now his reports have come back as positive, ESPNCricinfo reported.

As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, it is not known how Mortaza contracted the virus.

Mashrafe, also a member of the parliament from Narail 2 constituency, had stepped down as the ODI captain of the country in March this year.

Covid-19 cases have crossed 1,00,000 mark in Bangladesh and the government is now planning area-wise lockdown.

Bangladesh was slated to face Sri Lanka in July in a three-Test series and the side would have later hosted New Zealand in August, but both series look unlikely now.

The Asia Cup, scheduled for September, is also uncertain due to the coronavirus.

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