Left field
The Reuters global sports blog
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
Symbolic moment as rugby comes to black township of Soweto
South Africa’s long standing racist past means it still a country of great contrasts but with the change in power and social dynamics come great ironies too.
The latest will be played out on Saturday when the citadel of black South African football, the Orlando Stadium in Soweto, plays host to a Super 14 rugby match involving the Blue Bulls, the team so beloved by the white Afrikaners.
Although it is almost two decades since South Africa’s political changes began, it is the first time a match of this nature is hosted in a black township and represents the potential of dramatic images as thousands of white fans from the country’s most conservative areas head into the biggest black township to watch their team in the semifinals of the Super 14.
For most of the whites it will be their first trip anywhere near Soweto, scene of much of the internal unrest against apartheid in the 1970s and 80s and today rife with crime.
England v Australia, Twenty20 final — live
We’re blogging from the final of the World Twenty-20 cricket in the West Indies, with the clash between England and Australia building towards a climax.
England are doing surprisingly well, but who would write off Australia after their semi-final comeback against Pakistan? Stay tuned … and remember, comments are extremely welcome…
Vaughan reopens ball-tampering controversy
Michael Vaughan in retirement does not shrink from the limelight. Or from controversy.
The former England captain commentates on BBC radio, writes a newspaper column and appears in a hair transplant advertisment. He also indulges in “artballing”, hitting paint-daubed balls at a blank canvas attached to a wall.
from The Great Debate UK:
The business of sport – predictions for 2010
VIRAL OUTBREAKS, DRIVING PROBLEMS AND 1980s FASHION SET TO DOMINATE SPORT IN 2010
Even cricket’s referral system is not perfect
Soccer has come under a barrage of criticism for not introducing technology to help referees while U.S. sports, rugby, tennis and cricket lead the way with innovative means of making sure the big decisions are right.
Cricket’s new referral system, where both the batting and fielding sides can have two unsuccessful challenges to an umpire’s decision per innings, has largely been welcomed by most in the game.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
World Cup playoff draw – your views
Draw for the European World Cup playoffs:
Republic of Ireland v France
Portugal v Bosnia-Herzegovina
Greece v Ukraine
Russia v Slovenia
Two-legged ties to be played on Nov 14 and 18.
Is that the sound of a World Cup playoff shock I hear? France, 2006 runners-up, will have to beat Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland over two legs to reach South Africa next year and that is no easy feat.
from Reuters Soccer Blog:
The all-star XI in World Cup trouble
Some of football's biggest names, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are in danger of missing out on next year's World Cup, as countries such as Argentina, Portugal and France struggle in qualification.
Most, if not quite all of them, may make it in the end, of course, but for a bit of pre-weekend qualifier fun, here's my stab at a world XI wtill fretting over their places at South Africa 2010.
The enigma of the Champions Trophy
Before I was based here in Italy, I reported on quite a lot of cricket including the 2004 Champions Trophy and the 2007 World Cup.
Being out here, where Italian friends often confuse cricket with hockey or golf, means I completely missed the start of this year’s Champions Trophy.
Soccer trumps rugby in Florence
It had long been decided that Italy’s rugby team would host world champions South Africa in Florence on Saturday Nov. 21.
Then soccer got in the way. Fiorentina, who use Florence’s only big stadium the Stadio Franchi, were due to play Parma at home on the 22nd but when they were drawn to play at home on Tuesday Nov. 24 against Olympique Lyon in the Champions League, the Parma game was moved to the 21st.
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