Wembley Woes
A SERIES of friendly internationals, November 15-19, saw many of the home nations’ top players absent through injury. England coach Roy Hodgson, gave debuts to Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez, and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster, where Chile provided the opposition for a 64,000 plus crowd at Wembley. Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez ended England’s ten match unbeaten run with a goal at the start of the game and another one at the end, where the 2-0 victory for the south Americans brought anxious faces to a partisan crowd. Hodgson used six substitutes in an attempt to fire up the England side, but the Chileans were not intimidated playing at the very heart of English football and strung together a strategy of intricate passes and challenges, that witnessed them attain the same result that they claimed at Wembley in 1998. Hodgson remained upbeat saying there had been some positive lessons learned, and blooding new players was always a concern. Against Germany at Wembley, England failed to find there shooting boots and a goal from Per Mertesacker six minute before the break, gave the visitors a 1-0 win and Roy Hodgson a lot more headaches.
Scottish Retribution Thwarted
Scotland was looking for revenge from the 5-1 thrashing they received at the hands of the United States in Jacksonville, Florida, in May of 2012, so the clash at Hampden Park with Jurgen Klinsmann’s side had special significance. But while revenge was on the menu, it never reached the table. Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, were missing, but with the return of Michael Bradley, the Americans fought the Scots ball-for-ball, though clear cut chances remained at a minimum. The last ten minutes saw the Scots put together a couple of anxious rear-guard actions as the deadlock looked likely to be breached by the ambitious visitors, but a goalless game seemed an appropriate and fair result … The Norwegians peppered the Scottish goal in Oslo, but all to no avail. Skipper Scott Brown, put the ball in the net in the 61st minute, against the run of play, and it was enough to push Gordon Strachan’s squad to four unbeaten games with a 1-0 win. The Americans were in Austria, where Geoff Cameron’s header in the 17th minute may or may not have gone over the line. The ref ignored the appeals. Austria scored in the 33rd minute, to win by the only goal of the ninety minutes.
Coleman Gets Contract
After months of dithering, 43-year-old Welsh coach Chris Coleman, was finally given a definite contract by the FAW, that lasts through the 2016 European Championships. Coleman has coached at Fulham, Real Sociedad, Coventry City and Greek club Larissa. He must have thought he’d got victory against Finland at Cardiff City Stadium, after Andy King, had put the Welsh ahead in the 58th minute, and were leading by that goal with a minute to go. A last gasp equalizer by Riski, spoiled an anticipated Welsh celebration.
A defensive mistake in the sixth minute gave Melvut Erding, the opportunity to give Turkey a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland at Adana. The goalie and a defender misread striker Erding, leaving him unmarked and he put the ball in the back of the net. The Turks penetrated the Northern Ireland net twice more, but they were disallowed.
World Cup 2014
Ghana prevailed 6-1 at home against Egypt, lost the away game 2-1, but reached Brazil, with Cameroon, Algeria, Ivory Coast and Nigeria. Fourth placed Concacaf qualifier Mexico, recovered from a dismal run of matches and three managers to boot, winning the play-off against Oceania winners New Zealand. They won 5-1 in Mexico City and 4-2 in New Zealand. Uruguay snatched the final place with an intercontinental play-off against Jordan, winning 5-0, at home and 0-0 in Amman. World Cup hosts Brazil, warmed up in Miami, overcoming Honduras 5-0, in a friendly in front of a 71,000 plus crowd, a record for a soccer match in Florida.
England Down-Under
England began their tour of Australia, October 31-February 2, warming up with a three day match opener for the Ashes series against a Western Australia Chairmen’s XI at Perth. The three day contest was drawn. Western Australia 451 (Chris Lynn 104) -5 dec, and 168-5 at close. England 391 (Jonathon Trott 113 not out, Ian Bell 115 retd out). Rain interfered at Hobart, where a four day match against the Australian A side was drawn. England 430 (Alistair Cook 154, Michael Carberry 153)-7 dec. Australia A 119-3 at close.
After losing the first Test by seven wickets, South Africa won their second Test against Pakistan by an innings and 92 runs at Dubai, to tie the short series 1-1. Pakistan 99 and 326 (Asad Shafiq 130).South Africa 517 (Graeme Smith 234, AB de Villiers 164) ….India smashed the West Indies by an innings and 53 runs in the first Test at Kolkata. West Indies 234 and 168. India 453 (Rohit Sharma 177, Ravi Ashwin 124) India repeated the victory at Mumbai in the second Test, winning by an innings and 126 runs. Sachin Tendulkar chalked up 74 runs in his final Test before retirement. West Indies 182 and 187. India 495 (Cheteshwar Pujara 113, Rohit Sharma not out 111).
Golf
Rory McIIroy beat at Tiger Woods by one stroke in an 18 hole exhibition match at Mission Hills, Hainan Island, in a specially sponsored television event in China. McIIroy shot a six under 67, with Tiger finishing with a 68… McIIroy moved on to the HSBC Champions Trophy in Shanghai, but it was Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell, who put in the strongest British challenge. Dustin Johnson edged the pair of them to win with a 24 under 264. Poulter was second, three strokes away, with McDowell another stroke back. McIIroy is in dispute with his management team of Horizon Sports, and is seeking to sever connections; and suggests his legal problems are affecting his golf. He finished nine off the leader… The Brits next moved to the Turkish Airlines Open at Belek, where a shy, relatively unknown Frenchman by the name of Victor Dubuisson won with a 14 under 264, two ahead of Welshman, Jamie Donaldson. Justin Rose and Tiger Woods were another two strokes distant.
Vettel Is Champion, Injuries Forces Dario Out
Sebastian Vettel, thoroughly dominated this year’s Formula One schedule – winning the final race of the season, the Brazilian Grand Prix. It brought his total of victories for 2013 to thirteen, and he won the world championship by more than 150 points. Having already secured his fourth consecutive world championship and winning the Indian Grand Prix late October, the Red Bull driver, also claimed his seventh and eighth consecutive podium appearance winning the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, November 3, and the US Grand Prix at Austin, Texas, November 17.The 26-year-old German’s strategy of getting to the front and staying there, has proved extremely successful.
Four time IndyCar champion and three times winner of the Indianapolis 500, Dario Franchitti, has announced his retirement from the sport of motor racing. The 40-year-old Scot, had been advised by his doctors that the injuries he received at the IndyCar Grand Prix of Houston, October 6, could interfere with the crucial judgments required in the high speed world of Indycar racing. Franchitti had been racing since a teenager, having spent over 20 years behind the wheel.
Horse-Racing, Tennis And Running
National hunt jockey AP “Tony” McCoy put himself in the history books when he rode his 4,000th career winner at Towcester last month. The 39-year-old, from Moneyglass, County Antrim in Northern Ireland, rode his very first winner back in 1992. He has been champion jockey for the last eighteen years. During a long career he has won the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and the Champions Hurdle and has earned over £35m in prize money. His nearest rival is Richard Johnson, who so far has ridden 2,567 winners… Serena Williams recorded one of her best tennis years yet, when she won the WTA Championship 2-6, 6-3,6-0, at Istanbul, Turkey, against China’s Li Na. She won in two hours nine minutes clinching her eleventh tournament of 2013….The Czech Republic won the 2013 Davis Cup Final at Belgrade, November 17, beating Serbia 3-2. Novak Djokovic for the Serbs and Tomas Berdych for the Czechs made it a very evenly fought contest….African runners kept their stranglehold over the New York Marathon, November 3. Geoffrey Mutai of Kenya was close to a minute in front of the second man after breaking clear of the field at the 22nd mile. Fellow Kenyan, Priscah Jeptoo, captured the women’s race.
Boxing
The Amateur World Boxing Championships in Amaty, Kazakhstan, October 11-27, saw the British team led by former pro Robert McCracken, come home with two bronze medals. Welsh flyweight Andrew Selby, lost to the host nations’ Jasurek Latipov, in the semi-finals, while Liverpudlian middleweight, Antony Fowler, had to pull out of his semi-final because of a hand injury, but still medaled… Belfast’s super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton, who retained his European title over Jeremy Parodi of France in October, is relinquishing his European and Commonwealth crowns to concentrate on a world title shot. The unbeaten Frampton at 17-0 is looking at WBO and WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, or IBF champion Kiko Martinez, who he has already beaten.… Super-middleweight James DeGale (17-1) zeroed in on a hopeful world title challenge, after a unanimous decision over Floridian, Dyah Davis (22-4-1) at the Glow Arena in Kent.
The World Rugby League Cup
The 14th World Rugby League Cup, October 26-November 30, witnessed 14 national sides compete in 28 matches hosted in England, Wales, Ireland and France. The Australians have dominated this tournament since its inception in 1954, carrying off the trophy nine times. The silver cup was stolen during the 1970 tournament from Bradford’s Midland Hotel where the Australians had put it on display. It turned up twenty years later in a road side ditch. The New Zealanders are the reigning champions beating the Aussies in the Brisbane final in 2008. The USA reached the quarter-finals before being swallowed 62-0 by Australia. Earlier they’d beat the Cook Islands 32-20, Wales 22-16, but lost to Scotland 22-8. Champions New Zealand, raced through the opposition, beating Samoa 42-24, France 48-0, Papua New Guinea 56-10, and Scotland 40-4 for a place in the semi-finals. England topped France 34-6, and Fiji beat Samoa in the other quarter-finals. Fiji andAustralia, and England and New Zealand met in the semi-final late November. The final is at Wembley, November 30.
City And Spurs Reach The Euro Knockout Round
The fourth series of matches in the Champions League Group stages, November 5-6, witnessed Manchester City clinch a place in the knockout round after a convincing 5-2 win over CSKA Moscow at the Etihad. Sergio Aguero put away a third minute penalty, and followed it by a second goal in the 20th minute, while Alvaro Negredo penetrated the Russian net three times in the 30th , 51st, and 90th minutes. Doumbia hit two for the visitors on half-time and in the 71st minute. Manchester United came away with a point from Spain, after Robin van Persie missed a penalty against Real Sociedad, and a goalless draw prevailed, that saw Maroune Fellaini get a red card in the closing minutes. Arsenal took revenge for their 2-1 home defeat against Borussia Dortmund, when in the return leg, an Aaron Ramsey goal gave the gunners a 1-0 win. Chelsea beat FC Schalke 04, 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, after a brace by Samuel Eto’o, and one, seven minutes from time by Demba Ba. Celtic put in a disappointing performance in the Netherlands, where a Lasse Schone goal six minutes after the break, gave Ajax of Amsterdam a 1-0 result over a Hoops side that did not ignite.
The Europa League Group games, November 7, saw Tottenham Hotspur claim a place in the next round, the knockout phase, after a 2-1 victory over Sherrif Tiraspol at White Hart Lane. Erik Lamela put the Spurs ahead in the 60th minute, and Jermain Defoe put a penalty away seven minutes later. The Moldovans got one back in the 72nd minute. Swansea led in Russia after a ninth minute netting by Wilfried Bony, then Kuban Krasnadar had Luiz Reame sent off in the 75th minute, leaving the Swans looking likely winners. But a goal in the final minute leveled the match for a 1-1 result. Wigan was in Russia too, were a 22nd minute goal by Rubin Kazan gave the Russians a 1-0 advantage.
Cup Soccer
The fourth round of the Capital One English League Cup, October 28-29, produced few surprises, where Leicester City were the only non-Premier side to make the quarter-finals after a 4-3 home win over Fulham. A goal in each half by Azpilicuta and Mata gave Chelsea a 2-0 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates. Manchester United smashed four against Norwich at Old Trafford with the Canaries unable to reply. Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez got the scoring going with a penalty in the 20th minute, before scoring again, nine minutes after the break. Phil Jones and Fabio got one apiece with just two minutes left on the clock. Manchester City went into extra time at Newcastle, where goals by Negredo and Dzeko saw them prevail 2-0. Spurs were 2-2 after extra-time at White Hart Lane against Hull City, but won the penalty shootout 8-7. Stoke City ended up 4-4 against championship strugglers Birmingham City at St Andrews, winning the penalty phase 4-2. After a terrible start to the season, Sunderland gave their fans a glimmer of hope with a 2-1 home win over Southampton.
Confrontations between the Division One and Two clubs and their clashes with non-league sides in the first round of the FA Cup, November 8, 9, 10, generally proved successful for the football league sides though a few surprises did occur. Conference side Macclesfield Town, walloped Division One’s Swindon Town 4-0 in a home tie, while another Conference side Tamworth Town, won a home duel with Division Two’s Cheltenham, with the only goal of the match. Brackley Town, a Conference-North club, won 1-0 at Gillingham in a replay after a drawn home game. Non-leaguers Dover Athletic, Kidderminster, Welling, Wrexham and Stourbridge made the second round after wins over other non-league teams. Goal-feasts of the round witnessed Mansfield Town win 8-1, away from home at St Albans City, and Preston beat Barnet 6-0.
Scottish Soccer
Rangers won their delayed Ramsden Challenge Cup semi-final with a 1-0 at Stenhousemuir, courtesy of Jon Daly in the 75th minute. Rangers will face Raith Rovers in the final at Easter Road, April 6….The quarter-finals of the Scottish League Cup late October, witnessed Hearts win the Edinburgh derby at Hibernian after Ryan Stevenson’s goal in the 34th minute proved the only goal of the game. St Johnstone won 1-0 at Greenock Morton, where a last minute controversial goal by Cary McDonald, that witnessed the referee order a free kick retaken, had Morton crying foul. Joe Shawnessy was sent off at Motherwell, but Aberdeen came through 2-0 with ten men, goals from Andrew Considine and Jonny Hayes. A melee involving everyone except the goalkeepers, just before half-time at Inverness, saw Dundee Utd’s Nadir Ciftici get a red card. The game went to extra time after one goal apiece, before Ross Draper hit the winner for the Caledonian Thistle.
The third round of the Scottish Cup. November 1-2, saw a mix of Junior League clubs interwoven with the rest of the Championship, Division One and Two sides, with the Premier sides not due to take part until the next round. Fraserburgh were the only non-league club to make the fourth round, after Grant Noble scored practically on the final whistle to give the Highland League club a 2-1 win over Division Two’s Montrose. Rangers may still have their boardroom complications, but notched up their 14th consecutive victory with a 3-0 Cup win over the Airdrieonians at the Ibrox Stadium. Jon Daly commenced the scoring with two in the 49th and 53rd minutes, while David Templeton got the third, ten minutes from time.
Late Sport
England crashed to a 381 run defeat in four days, during the first Ashes Test encounter at Brisbane. Australia 295 and 401 (David Warner 124, Michael Clarke 113)-7 dec. England 136 and 179…The semi-finals of the World Rugby League Cup witnessed a last minute try by New Zealand get them to the final with a 20-18, win over England. Australia pulverized Fiji 64-0, in the other semi-final …WBA &IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch (32-2) retained his titles after a controversial decision by referee Howard Foster, who stopped the bout in the ninth round against the unbeaten challenger George Groves (19-0). The MEN Arena in Manchester, November 23, witnessed one of the biggest punch-ups in British boxing history. The two men went toe to toe and Froch was on the canvas in the first round. Groves continued his aggression against the champion, but by the ninth round Froch was aggressive and violent as ever, and Groves appeared unnerved and cautious. There will be a rematch and Britain can’t wait for it to happen.
Member Of Busby Babes, Foulkes, Dies
Bill Foulkes, 81, a Manchester United defender who survived the 1958 Munich air crash that killed eight players and had a key role in the storied team’s recovery, died November 25. His death was announced by United, which did not give a cause.
Foulkes won titles four times in the top tier of English soccer and helped the club capture the European Cup for the first time.
“He was as hard as nails, as tough as teak – I was always glad I didn’t have to play against him,” said Bobby Charlon, a former United teammate who also survived the crash.
Foulkes still worked five days a week in a coal mine initially after joining United in 1950. He made his first-team debut in 1952 and went on to make 688 appearances.
“Bill used to turn up pitch black with coal dust, straight from the pits in St Helens and straight into training,” Charlton said last month, recalling a time when pay for soccer players was capped at £20 a week. “It took a long time to persuade him to become a full-time professional.”
Foulkes was one of the survivors of the February 6, 1958, accident in which 23 people died and stripped the heart of the “Busby Babes.”
Foulkes is survived by his wife, Teresa, and sons Stephen and Geoffrey.
