AFP Sports Schedule for Saturday May 31
AFP Sports Schedule for Saturday May 31:
WORLD CUP FOOTBALL
Twenty-first part of AFP’s preview package filed ahead of the June 12 start of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
See separate advisory.
Pre-World Cup friendlies: Uruguay v Northern Ireland, Chile v Egypt, Bosnia v Ivory Coast, Portugal v Greece, Italy v Republic of Ireland, Netherlands v Ghana, Norway v Russia, Croatia v Mali
Master slug: Fbl-WC-2014
AFP Sports diary for May 31 to June 27Virgil van Dijk neemt de bal op de volley tijdens Celtic – St. Mirren. (22-3-2014)
AFP Sports diary for May 31 to June 27:
Saturday, May 31
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, 4th ODI
CYCLING: Tour of Italy (until June 1)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
GOLF: EPGA at Nordea Masters, Malmo, Sweden; USPGA at Memorial Tournament, Dublin, Ohio (end June 1); LPGA at ShopRite LPGA Classic, Galloway (ends June 1)
RUGBY UNION: Super-15 Round 16, France Top-14 final at Paris, English Premiership final at Twickenham
ATHLETICS: Diamond League, Eugene
MOTOR RACING: Indy Cars, Detroit
Sunday, June 1
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
MOTORCYCLING: Italian MotoGP, Mugello
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Tour of Italy (ends)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
GOLF: EPGA at Nordea Masters, Malmo, Sweden; USPGA at Memorial Tournament, Dublin, Ohio; LPGA at ShopRite LPGA Classic, Galloway (end)
MOTOR RACING: Indy Cars, Detroit
RACING: Prix du Jockey Club, Chantilly
RUGBYU: England v Barbarians, Twickenham
Monday, June 2
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
Tuesday, June 3
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka at Birmingham, 5th ODI
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
Wednesday, June 4
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
Thursday, June 5
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
GOLF: USPGA at St Jude Classic, Memphis; LPGA at Ontario, Canada; Asian Tour at Koh Samui, Thailand; EPGA at Atzenbrugg, Austria (until June 8)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
ATHLETICS: Diamond League, Rome
BASKETBALL: NBA finals start
RALLYING: Rally of Italy (until June 8)
Friday, June 6
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
GOLF: USPGA at St Jude Classic, Memphis; LPGA at Ontario, Canada; Asian Tour at Koh Samui, Thailand; EPGA at Atzenbrugg, Austria (until June 8)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
RALLYING: Rally of Italy (until June 8)
HORSE RACING: Epsom Oaks, Epsom
Saturday, June 7
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends June 8)
FOOTBALL: World Cup friendlies
RUGBYU: Australia v France in Brisbane; New Zealand v England in Auckland; Argentina v Ireland in Resistencia; USA v Scotland in Houston
GOLF: USPGA at St Jude Classic, Memphis; LPGA at Ontario, Canada; Asian Tour at Koh Samui, Thailand; EPGA at Atzenbrugg, Austria (until June 8)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
RALLYING: Rally of Italy (until June 8)
HORSE RACING: Epsom Derby; Belmont Stakes, Belmont Park
AUTO: IndyCar at Fort Worth, Texas
Sunday, June 8
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at French Open (ends)
GOLF: USPGA at St Jude Classic, Memphis; LPGA at Ontario, Canada; Asian Tour at Koh Samui, Thailand; EPGA at Atzenbrugg, Austria (end)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
RALLYING: Rally of Italy (ends)
FORMULA ONE: Canada GP, Montreal
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Kingston, 1st Test – Day 1 (ends June 12)
Monday, June 9
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (end June 15)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Kingston, 1st Test – Day 2 (ends June 12)
Tuesday, June 10
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (end June 15)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Kingston, 1st Test – Day 3 (ends June 12)
Wednesday, June 11
ATHLETICS: Diamond League, Oslo
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (end June 15)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Kingston, 1st Test – Day 4 (ends June 12)
Thursday, June 12
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (end June 15)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Kingston, 1st Test – Day 5 (ends); England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, 1st Test – Day 1 (ends June 16)
GOLF: US Open, Pinehurst (ends June 15)
Friday, June 13
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (end June 15)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, 1st Test – Day 2 (ends June 16)
GOLF: US Open, Pinehurst (ends June 15)
Saturday, June 14
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (end June 15)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (to June 15)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends June 15); Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, 1st Test – Day 3 (ends June 16)
GOLF: US Open, Pinehurst (ends June 15)
RUGBY UNION: New Zealand v England, South Africa v Wales, Canada v Scotland, Argentina v Ireland
Sunday, June 15
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP at Halle, Queens; WTA at Birmingham, Nuremberg (ends)
FIELD HOCKEY: World Cup (men and women), The Hague (ends)
CYCLING: Criterium du Dauphine (ends); Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, 1st Test – Day 4 (ends June 16); Bangladesh v India at Dhaka, 1st ODI
ATHLETICS: Diamond League meet New York
GOLF: US Open, Pinehurst (ends)
MOTORCYCLING: Catalonia GP, Barcelona
Monday, June 16
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka at Lord’s, 1st Test – Day 5 (ends); West Indies v New Zealand at Port of Spain, 2nd Test (ends June 20)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at Eastbourne (ends June 21)
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
Tuesday, June 17
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at Eastbourne (ends June 21)
HORSE RACING: Royal Ascot (ends June 21)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Port of Spain, 2nd Test (ends June 20); Bangladesh v India at Dhaka, 2nd ODI
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
Wednesday, June 18
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at Eastbourne (ends June 21)
HORSE RACING: Royal Ascot (ends June 21)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Port of Spain, 2nd Test (ends June 20)
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
Thursday, June 19
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at Eastbourne (ends June 21)
HORSE RACING: Royal Ascot (ends June 21)
CRICKET: West Indies v New Zealand at Port of Spain, 2nd Test (ends June 20); Bangladesh v India at Dhaka, 3rd ODI
GOLF: The EPGA Irish Open at Co. Cork (ends June 22)
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
Friday, June 20
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at Eastbourne (ends June 21)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Headingley (ends June 24); West Indies v New Zealand at Port of Spain, 2nd Test (ends)
HORSE RACING: Royal Ascot (ends June 21)
GOLF: The EPGA Irish Open at Co. Cork (ends June 22)
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
Saturday, June 21
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: ATP and WTA at Eastbourne (ends)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Headingley (ends June 24)
HORSE RACING: Royal Ascot (ends)
RUGBY UNION: New Zealand v England, Argentina v Scotland
ATHLETICS: European Team Championships, Germany (ends June 22)
GOLF: The EPGA Irish Open at Co. Cork (ends June 22)
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends June 22)
Sunday, June 22
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Headingley (ends June 24)
ATHLETICS: European Team Championships, Germany (ends)
FORMULA ONE: Austrian Grand Prix at Spielberg
GOLF: The EPGA Irish Open at Co. Cork (ends)
CYCLING: Tour of Switzerland (ends)
Monday, June 23
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Headingley (ends June 24)
TENNIS: Wimbledon (ends July 6)
Tuesday, June 24
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
CRICKET: England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Headingley (ends)
TENNIS: Wimbledon (ends July 6)
Wednesday, June 25
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: Wimbledon (ends July 6)
Thursday, June 26
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: Wimbledon (ends July 6)
GOLF: EPGA at Cologne, Germany (ends June 29)
Friday, June 27
FOOTBALL: 2014 World Cup finals, Brazil (ends July 13)
TENNIS: Wimbledon (ends July 6)
GOLF: EPGA at Cologne, Germany (ends June 29)
Football: Iraq holds poll amid FIFA suspension threatSt. Gallens Mario Mutsch (l.) musste nach 66 Minuten mit Gelbrot wegen wiederholten Foulspiels vom Platz.
Iraq’s football association is due to finally hold long-postponed elections for its board Saturday, following threats from the sport’s global governing body that postponing them any further risks indefinite suspension.
IFA board elections have long been plagued by chaos and allegations of political meddling, with polls originally held in July 2011 marred by claims of malpractice, while efforts in recent months to finally hold a new vote have been blighted by multiple delays and apparent threats of violence.
The never-ending crises, which mirror the standoffs and deadlocks in Iraq’s national politics, have overshadowed a rare issue with cross-sectarian appeal in a country grappling with fragile communal ties amid deteriorating security.
A 75-member committee made up of the heads of local clubs, provincial sports officials and others is due to select a president, two deputies and an eight-member board in a vote at 1:00 pm (1000 GMT) at a central Baghdad hotel.
The main poll pits current president Najeh Hmoud against his deputy Abdulkhaliq Massud, after contested elections won by Hmoud in 2011 were annulled by the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport based on claims of multiple problems with vote.
The IFA was originally due to hold these elections in January, following the CAS ruling, but balloting was postponed until April, and then finally to Saturday.
The multiple delays spurred world football’s governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation to warn that if the polls were not held by the end of May, the IFA faced “immediate and indefinite suspension”.
FIFA and the AFC also alleged in a letter that in the lead-up to the planned April vote, “the AFC representative received threatening phone calls during his mission.”
Although FIFA insists that football must be free of politics, in Iraq politics permeates nearly everything, including sport.
In July 2013, FIFA barred Iraq from hosting international friendlies due to a surge in violence, reversing a decision three months earlier to allow the country to host such matches.
But despite the near-constant chaos, football continues to dominate Iraq’s sporting landscape, with cafes routinely packed with supporters cheering on the national side.
The team failed to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, however, and has struggled to replicate its stunning success in the 2007 Asia Cup when Iraq emerged triumphant, giving the country a rare national symbol as it was mired in a brutal Sunni-Shiite sectarian war.
Football: Spain name Costa, Torres and Villa in World Cup squadSergio Ramos viert het winnen van de Champions League. Voetbal.com Foto van de Week. (24-5-2014)
Experienced strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa were both included in Vicente del Bosque’s final 23-man World Cup squad on Saturday as he sought to cover Diego Costa’s injured hamstring.
Brazil-born Atletico Madrid striker Costa has battled an ongoing hamstring problem that limited him to just nine minutes in the Champions League final defeat to city rivals Real, a week after he was forced off 15 minutes into his side’s La Liga title decider with Barcelona.
Del Bosque also left strikers Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, midfielder Ander Iturraspe, and defenders Alberto Moreno and Dani Carvajal out of his squad, the six having been named in his initial 30-man list.
Defending champions Spain face Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in World Cup Group B. Their first match pits them on June 13 against the Netherlands — their opponents in their 2010 World Cup final triumph.
Football: Spain name Costa, Torres and Villa in World Cup squadSergio Ramos viert het winnen van de Champions League. Voetbal.com Foto van de Week. (24-5-2014)
Experienced strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa were both included in Spain coach Vicente del Bosque’s final 23-man World Cup squad on Saturday as he sought to cover Diego Costa’s injured hamstring.
Brazil-born Atletico Madrid striker Costa has battled an ongoing hamstring problem that limited him to just nine minutes in the Champions League final defeat to city rivals Real, a week after he was forced off 15 minutes into his side’s La Liga title decider with Barcelona.
And he did not feature in the reigning World Cup champions’ 2-0 win over Bolivia in Seville on Friday.
Del Bosque also left strikers Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, midfielder Ander Iturraspe, and defenders Alberto Moreno and Dani Carvajal out of his squad, the six having been named in his initial 30-man list.
Manchester City winger Navas has been sidelined with an ankle injury since mid-April and failed to find the favour Del Bosque granted Costa.
Spain face Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in World Cup Group B. Their first match pits them on June 13 against the Netherlands — their opponents in their 2010 World Cup final triumph.
Football: Spain name Costa, Torres and Villa in World Cup squadVitinhos Herz schlägt künftig für CSKA Moskau
Experienced strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa were both included in Spain coach Vicente del Bosque’s final 23-man World Cup squad on Saturday as he sought to provide cover for Diego Costa’s injured hamstring.
Brazil-born Atletico Madrid striker Costa has battled an ongoing hamstring problem that limited him to just nine minutes in the Champions League final defeat to city rivals Real, a week after he was forced off 15 minutes into his side’s La Liga title decider with Barcelona.
And he did not feature in the reigning World Cup champions’ 2-0 win over Bolivia in Seville on Friday.
But his goal-scoring prowess – Costa was the third highest goal scorer in La Liga last season with 27 – convinced Del Bosque to take a calculated risk, backed up the presence of Chelsea hitman Torres, 30, and Costa’s Atletico teammate Villa, 32.
Del Bosque also left strikers Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, midfielder Ander Iturraspe, and defenders Alberto Moreno and Dani Carvajal out of his squad, the six having been named in his initial 30-man list, along with Thiago Alcantara, earlier ruled out with a knee injury.
Manchester City winger Navas has been sidelined with an ankle injury since mid-April and failed to find the favour Del Bosque granted Costa.
But it was heartbreak for Llorente, world champion in 2010 and European champion in 2012, after scoring 16 goals in his debut season for Juventus in Serie A, and Manchester City’s Negredo, who has seemingly paid for his lack of game time with the English champions.
Spain face Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in World Cup Group B. Their first match pits them on June 13 against the Netherlands — their opponents in their 2010 World Cup final triumph.
Football: Dutch World Cup squad
Dutch squad for World Cup finals announced on Saturday:
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcaste United/ENG), Michel Vorm (Swansea City/ENG).
Defenders: Daley Blind (Ajax), Daryl Janmaat (Feyenoord), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (Feyenoord), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Paul Verhaegh (FC Augsburg/GER), Ron Vlaar (Aston Villa/GER), Stefan de Vrij (Feyenoord)
Midfielders: Jordy Clasie (Feyenoord), Leroy Fer (Norwich City/ENG), Jonathan De Guzman (Swansea City/ENG), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan/ITA), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray/TUR), Georginio Wijnaldum (PSV Eindhoven)
Forwards: Memphis Depay (PSV Eindhoven), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04/GER), Dirk Kuyt (Fenerbahce/TUR), Jeremain Lens (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Robin van Persie (Manchester United/ENG), Arjen Robben (Bayern Münich/GER)
Football: Roma slap prohibitive transfer fee on BenatiaSerge Aurier is een sterke verdediger die op de positie van rechtsback als beste uit de voeten kan.
Moroccan international central defender Mehdi Benatia will not be sold for less than 61 million euros, said AS Roma’s sporting director Walter Sabatini on Saturday.
The 27-year-old, who is under contract till 2018 but has demanded a pay rise, has been linked with English Premier League champions Manchester City, their rivals Chelsea and Spanish league runners-up Barcelona.
“The agent (Moussa) Sissoko said he was worth 30 million euros? That is just the value of his weaker foot, the left one, therefore for the whole of Benatia he will cost double plus one million more, that is to say 61million euros, otherwise he will stay here,” said Sabatini.
Sabatini made it clear that he had not been happy with Benatia, who was born in France but opted to play for Morocco the land of his father’s birth, going public with his demands for a pay rise.
“It is true that he wanted more money last year,” said Sabatini referring to the transfer that brought him to Roma from Udinese.
“But by renouncing the wages he had demanded logically he accepted that he wanted to be part of our project.
“I promised him a bonus and a rise, he came up with a figure and me with another.
“It is me who is in the right, and it was maladroit of him to say to the press that the sum I suggested was ridiculous.”
Football: World Cup warm-up results – 1st update
Results of World Cup warm-ups on Saturday:
At Oslo
Norway 1 (Konradsen 77) Russia 1 (Shatov 3)
At Osijek, Croatia
Croatia 2 (Perisic 15, 64) Mali 1 (Traore 79)
1845GMT kick-off
At London
Italy v Republic of Ireland
Football: Spain name Costa, Torres and Villa in World Cup squadVitinhos Herz schlägt künftig für CSKA Moskau
Experienced strikers Fernando Torres and David Villa were both included in Spain coach Vicente del Bosque’s final 23-man World Cup squad on Saturday as he sought to provide cover for Diego Costa’s injured hamstring.
Brazil-born Atletico Madrid striker Costa has battled an ongoing hamstring problem that limited him to just nine minutes in the Champions League final defeat to city rivals Real, a week after he was forced off 15 minutes into his side’s La Liga title decider with Barcelona.
And he did not feature in the reigning World Cup champions’ 2-0 win over Bolivia in Seville on Friday.
But his goal-scoring prowess – Costa was the third highest goal scorer in La Liga last season with 27 – convinced Del Bosque to take a calculated risk, backed up the presence of Chelsea hitman Torres, 30, and Costa’s Atletico teammate Villa, 32.
Del Bosque also left strikers Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo and Fernando Llorente, midfielder Ander Iturraspe, and defenders Alberto Moreno and Dani Carvajal out of his squad, the six having been named in his initial 30-man list, along with Thiago Alcantara, earlier ruled out with a knee injury.
Manchester City winger Navas has been sidelined with an ankle injury since mid-April and failed to find the favour Del Bosque granted Costa.
But it was heartbreak for Llorente, world champion in 2010 and European champion in 2012, after scoring 16 goals in his debut season for Juventus in Serie A, and Manchester City’s Negredo, who has seemingly paid for his lack of game time with the English champions.
Carvajal, who last Saturday was celebrating winning the Champions League with Real Madrid, took his omission phlegmatically.
“It is a shame not to be in the final squad but in spite of that I am very proud to have been so close,” said the 22-year-old.
Spain face Chile, the Netherlands and Australia in World Cup Group B. Their first match pits them on June 13 against the Netherlands — their opponents in their 2010 World Cup final triumph.
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