The most exciting talent in football arrived at the World Cup in Sweden a 17-year-old unknown. In the days before mass media, Pele's renown had not yet spread. This was just a kid from the slums. And his debut in the competition was delayed by injury. Moreover, his coaches, initially suspicious of his youth, had brought him along solely to pick up experience by watching from the sidelines. He was one for the future. But one glimpse of him in training had his colleagues insisting he be
Governing body Fifa on Tuesday opened the final sales phase for World Cup tickets and reported 126 837 of 199 519 available for 54 of the 64 matches were snapped up within four hours.
Brazilian nationals bagged two thirds of the latest sales, Fifa said, accounting for 80 496 tickets with 46 341 tickets going to fans outside the host nation on a first-come, first-served basis via the Fifa website.
Fifa added its ticketing pick-up centres in the 12 host cities would open from Friday, save for Brasilia and Porto Alegre, where they will only be available from next month.
The organisation explained fans who have bought tickets can make an appointment for collection via Fifa.com.
From June 1, through to the final on July 13, Fifa said tickets can also be purchased over the counter at designated Fifa Venue Ticketing Centres in the host cities.
Spain, the Netherlands, Chile and Australia being grouped together at the 20th FIFA World Cup™ caught many headlines with the South Africa 2010 finalists paired, while Uruguay, Italy, England and Costa Rica will comprise another intriguing pool.
Germany,
Ghana, USA and Portugal will make up Group G, while hosts Brazil have
Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon for company in Group A,
Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola insisted he was proud of his team even though they lost the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid. The European champions had 72 per cent of possession over the course of the game but were beaten by Karim Benzema's first-half goal, the result of a lightning-quick counter from Real.
Carlo Ancelotti's side created more goalscoring chances than the visitors, and could have been 3-0 up at half-time had Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria taken their chances. Bayern's
best opportunity fell to substitute Mario Gotze with five minutes
remaining, but his effort was repelled by Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Eight became four in the Champions League earlier this month as the
thrilling quarter-final stage came to a close. Just Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich remain, with their dreams of claiming Europe’s most coveted trophy very much alive.
This week will see Europe’s elite competition take to the Spanish capital, as Atletico and Real welcome Chelsea and Bayern, respectively, looking to set up the first all-Spanish final since the 1999/2000 campaign.
David Moyes was sacked as Manchester United manager on Tuesday after the club’s owners, the Glazer family, decided to end the Scot’s disastrous tenure at Old Trafford.
Ryan Giggs, with Nicky Butt as his assistant, will take charge until the end of the season. Giggs has served as player-coach under Moyes while Butt has worked with the reserves.
The Glazers handed executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward the mandate to dismiss Moyes less than 12 months into his £4million-a-year, six-year contract after United’s defeat at Everton on Sunday confirmed their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Unseeded Indonesian Simon Santoso pulled off a major shock when he
thrashed badminton’s world number one Lee Chong Wei to win the Singapore
Open for the first time on Sunday.
The 28-year-old, considered a rank outsider against Malaysia’s
imperious Lee, upset the form book in style with an emphatic 21-15,
21-10 victory in just 48 minutes in the Singapore final.
Santoso reeled off nine straight points to stifle Lee’s second-game
revival and take the match, dropping his racquet to the court and
raising his arms in celebration in front of a bemused crowd.
The third Superseries tournament win for the 52nd-ranked Santoso cements a stirring comeback by the former world number three,
who dropped out of the top 100 last year following back problems.
“I am really satisfied with my performance especially after beating
one of the best players, Lee Chong Wei, in the final. I am really happy
and proud,” Santoso said.
“I am really happy (because) it’s been a
while since I beat Chong Wei and also because I fought hard from the
qualification rounds here in Singapore.”
It was only Santoso’s second win in 11 matches against the All-England champion, who had lost just once this year.
But Lee, 31, downplayed the loss, saying it was “only the Singapore Open”.
“This is just a Super series, there are still many other important
tournaments. I just take care not to get an injury at the competition,”
the 33-time Superseries tournament winner told reporters.
“I just tried and just enjoy for Singapore and not go so hard,” Lee said.
"He's just going to
test the waters a little bit and see how it goes," said long-time coach
Bob Bowman. "I wouldn't say it's a full-fledged comeback."
Phelps quit after winning his 18th Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games.
The Baltimore
Bullet also has the record for most gold medals at a single Games,
winning eight in Beijing in 2008 to eclipse the mark set by compatriot
Mark Spitz in 1972.
Michael Phelps - Career record
58 gold medals:
18 Olympic, 27 World Championship, 13 Pan Pacific
11 silver medals:
2 Olympic, 6 World Championship, 3 Pan Pacific
3 bronze medals:
2 Olympic, 1 World Championship
Bowman said Phelps is entered in three events - the 100 butterfly
and the 50m and 100m freestyle - during the three-day meet in Mesa that
starts on 24 April, but could also compete in the 50m butterfly "just
for fun".
Britain's Steve
Parry, who finished third to Phelps in the 200m butterfly at the Athens
Games in 2004, is surprised his former rival is making a comeback.
"I cannot believe
he has made the decision to get back in the water," said Parry. "He has
got nothing left to prove in the sport."
What an astonishing Shot it is from the Badminton World Number One.
