Wary Portugal gear up for Germany in Basel

TENERO (Switzerland), June 18: Portugal have had a wary eye on Germany since Euro 2008 began but their meeting in Thursday’s quarter-final in Basel could not have come at a better time for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.

Portugal have effectively had a week’s rest since qualifying with two wins against Turkey and the Czech Republic.

While Scolari had the luxury of changing his entire midfield and attack against Switzerland, in an irrelevant match they lost 2-0, Germany were scrapping for their lives to beat co-hosts Austria 1-0 and go through as Group B runners-up behind Croatia.

Germany are now counting the cost of those Monday night exertions, with top scorer Lukas Podolski, who has a calf injury, and Torsten Frings, who has broken a rib, fighting to be fit in time for the match on a re-laid pitch at St Jakob Park.

German coach Joachim Loew will trust the step-up in class can inspire his team to reproduce the form of a 2-0 win over Poland rather than the inept display in a 2-1 defeat by Croatia. “Tactically, I’ve seen no one better than Germany,” Scolari had said earlier.

If Germany are to make progress, they will need their forwards to show greater sharpness in front of goal, while the defence keeps the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo under close watch.

Germany’s last meeting with Portugal in the European Championship was a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the group phase in 2000 but they did get a measure of revenge with a 3-1 victory in the third-placed match at the last World Cup.
Bastian Schweinsteiger scored twice in that game and Loew hinted that the midfielder would be in the starting line-up on Thursday, after sitting out the Austria game through suspension.

The hope in the German camp is that Portugal will play a more adventurous game than any of their opponents, thus giving them the chance to attack.

That seems a safe bet, with Portugal’s forwards looking a constant danger in their two wins, 2-0 against Turkey and 3-1 over the Czechs.

“We have had two very good second halves,” said Scolari. “Principally we have played football. We’ve worked with the ball.” With Portugal determined to play the ball around and Germany eager to launch swift breaks, it has the makings of an excellent match, with the Portuguese looking slight favourites. “For me being favourites doesn’t count,” Ronaldo said ahead of the match.

Clarke strikes as Marshall chases

Stuart Clark made a much-needed breakthrough for Australia as Xavier Marshall led West Indies’ mammoth chase of 475 but a string of dropped catches threatened to dampen the visitors’ spirits as they searched for a 2-0 series win. At tea on the fourth day West Indies were 99 for 1 with Xavier Marshall on 42 and Ramnaresh Sarwan on 18, and they needed another 376 to complete a highly unlikely victory.

Marshall was his usual lively self, cover-driving against the fast men and taking quick singles to keep the fielders on their toes. He took yet another blow to the helmet – his third for the match – when he tried to hook Stuart Clark but Australia were frustrated by his confidence after he was dropped twice earlier in his innings.

Australia’s fielding was unusually substandard and nothing went right for them until Brett Lee snared a chance at mid-on off Clark to remove Chris Gayle for 26. The Lee-Clark combination was a fitting one as both men had suffered from missed opportunities in their opening spells.

Gayle had a life on 8 when he drove a Lee half-volley on the up to mid off, where Beau Casson, who had taken a goalkeeper-style catch in the same spot in the first innings, put down a much simpler opportunity. Gayle could also have been run out on 20 when Lee ran in from mid-on and his throw at the bowler’s end missed, while Gayle was loitering halfway down the pitch after a mix-up with Marshall.

Marshall was also a recipient of some good fortune, dropped on 1 and 22. The early miss came when Simon Katich’s horror run in the cordon continued – he put down two at first slip in the first innings – and he grassed a straightforward chance at third slip off Lee. Brad Haddin then gave Clark a headache by dropping a gettable one-hander diving to his right after Marshall edged a cracking Clark legcutter.

It was hardly what Australia needed having given themselves five sessions to dismiss West Indies on a pitch that, while still offering some bounce, was becoming easier to bat on. Michael Clarke and Haddin guided Australia through a subdued morning as they gradually built up the total with West Indies, by the end of the session, making no attempt at dismissing them and simply waiting for Ponting’s declaration.

His decision came at lunch with the score on 439 for 5, denying both men the chance to score half-centuries with Clarke unbeaten on 48 and Haddin on 45. The first session went largely as expected, although a pair of wickets for Sulieman Benn was just reward after he bowled a marathon spell that had started midway through the third afternoon.

Benn went for some boundaries off both batsmen – Haddin clobbered him down the ground for six after taking three fours off his previous over – but he always looked dangerous. Coming around the wicket to the right-handers he curved the ball beautifully and pitched several in line with off stump, jagging them away sharply to beat the bat.

Benn finished with 3 for 154 from 47 after Katich was caught driving on the up to cover for 157 and Andrew Symonds went in similar fashion for 2. But by that stage the lead was already approaching 400 and the only bowling that was really going to matter in terms of the match result was that of Australia.

Pietersen helps England to huge win

Kevin Pietersen’s magnificent 110 led England to a convincing 114-run-win over New Zealand in the first ODI at Chester-le-Street. With a disciplined allround display in the field, they never let New Zealand have a sniff of reaching 308 – a target made all the more challenging for the visitors after the early wicket of Brendon McCullum for 36. If this wasn’t a complete one-day performance by England, it was something close to it. For New Zealand, it was sadly much of the same.

Led by Stuart Broad, England’s bowlers were tight, disciplined and indebted to Pietersen’s remarkable hundred from 112 balls. For too long Pietersen has been in hibernation; this was his first one-day hundred since the 2007 World Cup, and once he passed fifty, he appeared to regress back into that creative, dominant batsman who had all of England purring two years ago. England had lost Luke Wright for a stodgy 11, while Bell struggled to replicate his silky timing of two days ago, falling for 46. When Ravi Bopara departed, rather timidly handing Scott Styris a caught-and-bowled, England limped to 95 for 3 with the halfway point fast approaching.

That they reached the lofty heights of 307 was largely Pietersen’s doing, but Collingwood returned to form brilliantly with a run-a-ball 64, as the pair put on 136 for the fourth wicket. Pietersen initially struggled, pottering – as much he ever potters – to 30 but unfurled thrillingly, like a caterpillar escaping its chrysalis. Styris, who was later to be dumbfounded by Pietersen’s touch of genius, was clattered through the covers; Daniel Vettori, who mostly outbowled all his colleagues, was flat-driven over the top for six and after reaching a run-a-ball fifty, he took on Michael Mason with fours over midwicket. How desperately New Zealand miss Jacob Oram and the balance he offers the side.
For all Collingwood’s impressive personal recovery, bulldozing his way into form through sheer bloody mindedness, all eyes were firmly fixed on Pietersen who, by now, was shifting through the gears in style. Each of his trademark shots were ticked off: the blazing cover drive, fierce pull in front of square, but the reverse-switch six hasn’t been on view since he took on Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006. Here, he succeeded twice in four overs off an understandably perplexed Styris. Changing his grip and stance to that of a left-hander, Pietersen crashed him over cover (or midwicket, depending on your view) for one of the day’s longest sixes. Four overs later he bettered it with another, straighter and crisper blow which sailed into the stand at long-on. This wasn’t just audacious batting, but creative entertainment by a peerless showman. Surprising, then, that this was his first one-day hundred on home soil.

Collingwood was bowled by a frustrated Vettori, but England continued to pile on the pressure, with Owais Shah taking over the mantle of entertainer from Pietersen. In 25 balls, he carved, cracked and crashed 49. He went inside out to Mason over extra cover; Mills was hoisted over deep midwicket for another six, while Southee’s debut went from bad to worse when Shah cracked him straight back over his head. It was breathless hitting.

Whereas England were consistently good, New Zealand were quite the opposite – though they were given hope of reaching their target through McCullum. Ryan Sidebottom, recalled after being rested for Friday’s Twenty20 at Old Trafford, was fast but inaccurate, while James Anderson was back to his mercurial mediocre. McCullum capitalised, picking up Sidebottom for a huge six over midwicket, followed by a firm cut off Anderson two balls later.

With Anderson and Sidebottom leaking runs, it was to the youngster that Collingwood turned. Broad may look 14, but for someone still so inexperienced he showed remarkable control – helped, no doubt, by removing the biggest wicket of them all with his first ball. It wasn’t the greatest of deliveries, truth be told: a short long-hop outside off which McCullum wellied straight to cover.

James Marshall’s forgettable tour continued when he set off for a single to Collingwood in the gully, whose dead-eye throw knocked out the stumps to leave New Zealand stumbling on 61 for 2 after 14 overs. After McCullum, only Ross Taylor had the audacity to take on such a daunting total, and once he fell for 20 New Zealand had little hope. With the wickets came a resurgent England fielding display, Anderson excelling in the deep with two excellent saves, and only the most gnarly of nitpickers could fault them in the field.

Collingwood capped off a fine allround day with four wickets, drowning New Zealand’s resolve. There may be no dollars or gold pots to chase in this form of the game at the moment, but England’s eyes were firmly fixed on winning from the outset.

Federer reclaims Halle title

World number one Roger Federer cruised to his fifth Halle Open title in Germany on Sunday, beating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4.

Federer, who was heavily defeated by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final last weekend, was rarely troubled by his German opponent, extending his winning streak on grass to 59 matches ahead of Wimbledon which starts on June 23.

“I played great tennis all week. I didn’t lose my serve once, which I don’t think I’ve ever managed before in a tournament, so it’s very special for me, and I’m really pleased about it,” Federer told German television.

Federer has traditionally used the Halle tournament as a warm-up for Wimbledon, but skipped the event a year ago after losing to Nadal at Roland Garros.

The Swiss, who also failed to drop a set all week, said he is fit and ready for the third Grand Slam tournament of the year where he aims to break the record he shares with Bjorn Borg of five consecutive wins.

“It’s obviously a good omen to win here in Wimbledon, sorry, Halle — the Wimbledon of Germany,” he said, laughing.

Ana Ivanovic sets up final with Dinara Safina

Ana Ivanovic won the battle of the Serbs in a thrilling French Open semi-final on Thursday and will play Russia’s Dinara Safina for the title on Saturday.

The 20-year-old second seed defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to reach the final at Roland Garros for the second straight year, having lost to Justine Henin in last year’s final.

For third-seeded Jankovic it was the fourth time she had played in a Grand Slam semi-final and the fourth time she had failed to make it through. The 13th seeded Safina had earlier defeated an out-of-sorts Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2 in the first of the semi-finals.

“It was a tough match and I managed to stay strong at the end to win it,” Ivanovic said. “She started to play really good tennis and I was too passive and if you give her a chance of course she is going to use it.”

Jankovic, again wearing an arm brace to ward off the pain she has been feeling from tendonitis, opened the stronger and broke serve to 15 in the second game to take a 3-0 lead.

She threatened to make it 4-0, but Ivanovic held on visibly growing in confidence after winning the game at the end of a long, punishing rally.

She broke back in the following game only to drop her own serve in the next as Jankovic got to 4-2. But the younger woman’s heavier groundstrokes started to make the difference as she won the next four games to take the set 6-4 in 41 minutes.

Jankovic dropped her serve for the fourth straight time to open the second set allowing Ivanovic to jump out into a 2-0 lead. In stark contrast to the first few games, Ivanovic was looking comfortable on her serve while it was a struggle each time for her opponent on hers.

But all that changed in the sixth game of the set when Ivanovic inexplicably let slip a 40-0 lead to allow Jankovic to draw level at 3-3. She was broken again two games later and Jankovic served out to level the scores although she needed four set points to do so.

Ivanovic had nervily lost her way and against one of the grittiest players on the women’s circuit that was a fatal mistake. Jankovic won the first two games of the deciding set to make it seven games in a row, but Ivanovic stopped the rot and got back on level terms at 3-3 by breaking to love in the sixth game.

Another exchange of service breaks took it to 4-4 and two games later Ivanovic played her best game of the semi-final opening up with her groundstrokes to clinch the win.

There was the added bonus for Ivanovic in that her win coupled with the defeat of Kuznetsova means that she will take over from Maria Sharapova as world No.1 at the end of this tournament win or lose in the final.

She has played Safina three times and won twice, but the Russian won the only time they have played on clay in Berlin three years ago.

In both her previous rounds, the 22-year-old sister of Marat Safin saw off top seed Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva by mounting comebacks from a set and 2-5 down, as well as saving a match point in each.

“This is for me, Marat and all of my family,” she said. “At 5-2 in the second set and 0-30 down I got a little tight. But I told myself to be more aggressive or she would take control. I never expected to get to the final, but sometimes when you least expect it, the results come.”

Safina survived a lengthy test of her opening service game and then broke to lead 2-0, in a first set which featured five breaks in nine games.

A Kuznetsova forehand error gave her a 5-3 lead and she set up set point with a sweet backhand drop shot while Kuznetsova was pinned at the back of the court, claiming the opener when the fourth seed steered another simple forehand wide.

It was the first set the 22-year-old Kuznetsova had dropped at Roland Garros this year. The pair exchanged breaks again in the first two games of the second set before Safina nipped ahead to lead 3-2.

Kuznetsova picked up a violation for launching a ball, baseball-style, into the upper tiers of the Court Philippe Chatrier as her frustrating afternoon continued.

And Safina wrapped up the semi-final when Kuznetsova unleashed another forgettable forehand.

Novak Djokovic to meet Rafael Nadal in semi-finals

Novak Djokovic, the third seed, reached his fifth consecutive Grand Slam semi-final when he ended the fairytale run of Ernests Gulbis, his childhood friend, in the French Open.

Djokovic beat Gulbis in three tight sets, 7-5, 7-6, 7-5 and will face Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, who dropped just three games in seeing off Nicolas Almagro of Spain, the 19th seed.

Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, and Gulbis first trained together as youngsters at the Munich academy owned by Niki Pilic, the former Germany and Croatia Davis Cup coach and have been firm friends ever since.

With a little more composure, Gulbis could have pulled off a famous win on Court Suzanne Lenglen, but his 60 unforced errors and seven double faults told a sorry story.

“We know each other well from being at the same academy and have been friends for a long time,” said Djokovic. “He’s had a great tournament and I’m happy to see him doing so well.”

Unseeded Gulbis, bidding to become the first Latvian to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, saw his serve come under siege in the first set where he had to save three break points in the fourth game and five more in the sixth.

The 19-year-old bravely fought off three set points in the 12th game but his resolve finally cracked under the Djokovic assault when he buried a weary, running forehand into the net to conclude the 63-minute opener.

Djokovic hadn’t faced a single break point in the entire first set, but Gulbis carved out three in the first game of the second and opened up a 1-0 lead with an accurate forehand down the line.

The Serb, ranked No 3 in the world, then levelled at 4-4 before running away with the tie-break which was played in pouring rain.

Gulbis’s error-strewn afternoon continued when another simple forehand found the net, allowing Djokovic to nip ahead 3-2 in the third set. Gulbis held on grimly, changing his racquet twice as he desperately sought a way back.

Djokovic served for the match at 5-4 but his opponent broke back to level at 5-5 only to return the advantage in the next game. The Serb then wrapped up the quarter-final when Gulbis only laid half a racquet on a deep service.

Nadal, celebrating his 22nd birthday, wasted no time in brushing aside the challenge of Nicolas Almagro, winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-1.

The remaining quarter-finals take place on Wednesday with Roger Federer, the top seed, facing Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez and Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer tackling France’s Gael Monfils.