Mihir Bose's Blog, page 101

Had freak accident which required major knee surgery

Last Thursday, I met Ali Bacher, former head of South African cricket, in Jo'burg and, on arrival at our meeting, my leg gave way. It turned out that I had ruptured the tendon which attaches the quadriceps to the patella – something that normally only happens during very physical exercise such as a rugby tackle. I had surgery the next morning thanks to Dr Mack Rogan. A four night stay in hospital. Now "home" recuperating with leg in ankle-to-thigh brace and doing a lot of physio. I must be th...

Once upon a time in America: Coast-to-coast on a 3,300-mile rail odyssey from New York to San Francisco

Mail on Sunday

It could only happen in America. After a rail odyssey of 3,397 miles from New York to San Francisco, our journey was ending at a bus stop.

As we stepped off the coach on California Street in the heart of San Francisco's financial district and lugged our cases a couple of blocks to our hotel, my wife and I probably looked like overstocked shoppers coming back from the supermarket.

England have lost their identity and the Premier League is to blame

Insideworldfootball.biz

Defeats are not easy to take, but they can be a springboard for success provided we are prepared to learn from them. The depressing thought is that England's annihilation by Germany - and despite the disallowed goal, that is what it was - will not lead to the sort of revolution the national team needs.

So the debate in England has been whether Fabio Capello should stay or go. That is the wrong question.

John Barnes: England won't win until they embrace team ethic

Evening standard

Brazil and Argentina are moving effortlessly towards a meeting in the World Cup Final in Johannesburg's Soccer City on 11 July.

England have just touched down at Heathrow with their tails between their legs after being demolished by Germany.

The difference? Well, according to former England winger John Barnes, South American success and Fabio Capello's failure in South Africa can be explained by one thing. Socialism.

Tévez a happy but puzzled man

Argentina 3 Mexico 1

Carlos Tévez left Johannesburg's Soccer City last night a happy but puzzled man.

Clutching his Man of the Match award for the two goals that powered Argentina to a quarter-final clash with Germany in Cape Town on Saturday, Tévez said, "I wanted to make a mark on this World Cup and I am happy I did that. The first couple of minutes were really difficult for us. After that it got better. Today Diego told me, 'you can play further up,' but he also told me I can go down the...

Italy's World Cup exit

Marcello Lippi, the Italian coach, had come to South Africa with limited ambitions. He did not expect to retain the World Cup but neither did he expect to be going home even before the knockout phase had begun, only the fourth holder to suffer such an ignominious fate.

But, after Italy's defeat by Slovakia saw them finish bottom of Group F with two points, the 62 year old refused to blame the referee for denying Italy an equalising goal or his players.

Africa has wasted golden opportunity presented by World Cup

Insideworldfootball.biz

On Wednesday night, as England qualified to meet Germany in the round of 16, with the USA topping England's group and Australia doing Ghana a favour, the great and good of south African football returned to Sandton, the exclusive Johannesburg suburb which they have made their home during this World Cup, and their joy was unconfined.

The reason for the joy was not just on footballing grounds, although these are not insignificant.

Exclusive: South African police fear hooliganism at England v Germany match

Insideworldfootball

South African police and organisers are concerned that England's match with Germany in the round of 16 match at Bloemfontein on Sunday (June 27) could see German hooligans clash with English ones.

Last night, within minutes of Germany finishing top of Group D and setting up this all too familiar confrontation in world football, e-mails were being sent from Soccer City to officials at Bloemfontein advising on the steps they should take to ensure that this World Cup, which...

Martina Navratilova

Evening Standard

Half of Britain's contingent are already out of Wimbledon and more early exits for the home players will spark the annual summer debate about the state of tennis in this country.

The sport's true fans follow it throughout the year but — the fortunes of Andy Murray aside — the only time tennis really becomes a national talking point is during the grass court Grand Slam.

Hand of beauty not hand of God

Luis Fabiano, the Sevilla striker, had much to celebrate after Brazil beat Ivory Coast, making sure they qualified for the round of 16, even if some of his joy was due to the referee not spotting his use of his arms for one of his goals.