Olympics-2008

MALMO, Sweden: Germany beat England 4-0 to win the European Under-21 Championship on Monday night in front of a near sellout crowd at Malmo Stadium.

UEFA President Michel Platini (R) presents the trophy to Germany players after they defeated England to win the U21 European Championship final soccer match at Malmo New Stadium in Malmo June 29, 2009. Germany won the match 4-0.

Gonzalo Castro opened the scoring in the 23rd minute and Mesut Ozil made it 2-0 three minutes into the second half with a long-range free-kick that embarrassed stand-in goalkeeper Scott Loach, who appeared wrong-footed and could only palm the ball into his own net.

Sandro Wagner scored two late goals within a span of five minutes late in the final to seal the victory.

Ozil set up his first, nicking the ball in midfield before marauding forward and releasing Wagner, who shot between Loach's legs.

Wagner then added the fourth, in the 84th minute, curling the ball neatly into the far corner following a counterattack.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did not have to make a save throughout the one-sided final.

England coach Stuart Pearce, who revealed he has signed a new two year-deal to lead the team until the next Under-21 championship, said he would take his time to analyze the team's failings.

"It is down to me sit back and let the dust settle on this tournament and work out how to improve at this level," said Pearce.

"Hats off to the Germans, they beat us 4-0. You have to be humble but it still hurts me."

(Agencies)

SHANGHAI: An intensive warmup followed by solid strides between hurdles and characteristically cool facial expressions.

Like he has a thousand times before, reigning men's 110m hurdles world champion and former world record holder Liu Xiang flew over the hurdles swiftly and squarely during an open training class at Xinzhuang Training Base of Shanghai.

Liu Xiang, China's 110m hurdles world champion and Olympic gold medal winner, rides a bike out of a training base in Shanghai to escape a media throng yesterday. Sun Haiping, Liu's coach, said during a press conference the hurdler was recovering well from his foot injury but is not yet 100 percent fit. [Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Except for the fact that he was not wearing spikes, it recalled to mind a healthy Liu who stormed to inspiring victories at the 2004 Athens Olympics and 2007 Osaka World Championships. But with his Achilles tendon injury on his right foot still yet to fully heal, Liu is under doctors' orders to train in sneakers.

After being forced to withdraw from the heats at the Beijing Olympics, the 26-year-old is eager to return to the track, but according to the results from his latest physical check, is still not ready. Putting on a determined face, together with his team he is trying to convince himself and the world that he can rise to the top again.

"Our working team and Liu himself have never given up," coach Sun declared at the media briefing after training. "Liu's training today was satisfactory, although it was only 80 to 90 percent of his previous training quantity."

The Shanghainese did everything to please more than 100 media that swarmed to the training center in eastern Shanghai. Toward the end of the session, he even ripped off his shirt and ran topless to show how much effort he has been putting in.

Last week, Liu advanced the date of his physical check to avoid media focus, prompting speculation he would announce an early retirement yesterday.

But an optimistic Liu pays little heed to rumors.

"Liu is good at self control and self adjustment, which is good for his rehabilitation," said Yang Peigang, director of Shanghai Athletics Administrative Center, who witnessed Liu's recovery at Xinzhuang Base everyday.

"His mood in training is the same as before and he is very relaxed," Yang added.

Liu's enormous popularity was also evident in the huge contingent of fans - including several from overseas - who rushed to the Xinzhuan center to watch their hero.

Juliette Bourque, a French student studying business at East China Normal University in Shanghai, learnt of the open session while visiting his parents and went to watch her Chinese idol in person.

"He is the first Chinese to win the Olympic gold medal (in the event). I thought it's interesting, since normally it is always black guys that win. So I started to follow him. He is very young and there is so much pressure on his shoulders. So, all his stories are very interesting," said Bourque, who learnt of Liu two years ago during an internship in the nearby city of Hangzhou.

To escape the media after training, Liu rode away on a bicycle without saying a word, prefering to give victory symbol.

Although Bourque didn't get an opportunity to get close to him, a 40-minute one-man show was enough. "I'm happy that I saw him, although it is a little sad (that I didn't meet with him)," she said. "I won't come again since I don't want to bother him. I will give him my blessings."

Liu also received good wishes from former Olympic champion Edwin Moses.

"It's possible (for Liu to comeback and reach the same height as before)," the two-time Olympic 400m hurdles champion told China Daily earlier.

"The first thing he has to do is to get healthy again. And then, I think secondly, sometimes, athletes have some psychological problems that go along with the injury. That can hold you back. You have to overcome that as well."

Coach Sun already has a plan to ease his fellow hurdler back into the rigors of racing.

"If Liu's physical condition allows, we will enter Liu in some small events to help him first get back the feeling of competition," Sun said.

(China Daily)

Reports that a severe foot injury will end NBA all-star center Yao Ming's career have been quickly dismissed by his agent.

"I heard some reports say Yao's career might be over due to the worsening injury," said Zhang Mingji, who goes by the name of Eric Zhang in the United States. "I don't think it's the right time to say that.

"I can assure you the (Houston) Rockets have never come to a conclusion concerning Yao's career."

Zhang, however, did admit that the previous treatment on the superstar's broken left foot did not work as hoped.

"Obviously, the treatment on Yao's injury was not effective. The team is considering adopting new treatments. But it's yet to be determined."

Houston Rockets center Yao Ming's broken left foot could be a "career-threatening" injury. Dr Tom Clanton, the Rockets' team physician, told the Houston Chronicle on Monday that Yao's injury "has the potential for him to miss next season and could be career-threatening".

The China Basketball Administrative Center said it's been informed of the news but a chief official assumed it would not rule Yao out of the World Championships next year.

"We have got the news from Team Yao that his injury is not recovering well," said Hu Jiashi, deputy director of the sport's governing body. "But they did not say if Yao will miss the NBA season, not to mention the possibility of missing the World Championships next year."

On Monday, Houston Rockets team physician Tom Clanton told the Houston Chronicle that the Chinese superstar's broken left foot could cause the popular sports figure to miss all of next season and could be a "career-threatening" injury. Clanton pointed out that the injury in Yao's left foot has worsened.

"One of the things we are trying to get is a consensus opinion on that, to make certain there is no option we are overlooking at that would provide an earlier return or would be an option for treatment that (Yao) would prefer rather than doing additional surgery," Clanton said.

Yahoo! Sports first reported that the Rockets as well as Yao's representatives were concerned that the 7-foot-6 giant would never play again. Yahoo! Sports quoted "multiple league executives, officials close to Yao and two doctors with knowledge of the diagnoses".

The hairline fracture was discovered following the Rockets' May 8 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. The original treatment plan called for Yao to cease all physical training and to wear a walking boot to immobilize the foot.

Lingering injury

Less than two weeks ago, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said the team was committed to building around Yao.

"Yao is the cornerstone of our franchise now and in the future," Morey said before the latest test results.

Yao played in 77 regular-season games in 2008-09, his most injury-free year since 2004-05, when he played in 80. Before last season, Yao missed portions of the previous three seasons with leg and foot injuries.

He missed 21 games in 2005-06 after surgery to heal an infection to his left big toe, but then broke a bone in his left foot with four games left in the regular season.

In 2006-07, Yao missed 32 games after breaking his right leg and suffered a stress fracture in his left foot in 2007-08. He then underwent surgery and sat out 26 games.

Yao recovered from that foot injury to represent China in the Beijing Games. He made it through the Rockets' season and the first round of the playoffs before breaking his left foot late in the Rockets' 108-94 loss to the Lakers in Game 3 of the second round at the Toyota Center.

Two days after the playoff loss, Yao said he didn't believe the injury was as serious as any of his previous ones. The Rockets said he would miss only 8-12 weeks.

(China Daily)

MADRID: Kaka was officially presented as a Real Madrid player in a Hollywood-style show to around 50,000 fans at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

Director general Jorge Valdano had promised president Florentino Perez's second spell at the helm would be a "super-production" and they did not disappoint with the presentation of their first signing.

"It is a very special day for me. I hope I can write my name in the club's history books with victories and conquests," a slightly overawed Kaka said from a stage on the pitch.

Real Madrid's new Brazilian star Kaka greets the crowd during his presentation at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, June 30, 2009.

The doors of the stadium had been thrown open to the public who packed the stands around a stage decorated with the club's nine European Cups.

Perez was up first, greeted with chants from the fans as he thanked Kaka for choosing Real Madrid before the Brazilian was given a pop star welcome as he emerged to roars from the crowd.

The Brazilian playmaker was presented with the number eight shirt and had to be protected by bodyguards as he walked around the pitch to greet fans.

Some of them jumped over the barriers and tried to touch the former AC Milan player who cost Real 67 million euros.

Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo, who was signed for a world record fee of 80 million pounds ($132.7 million) last week, will be presented on Monday in another event covered live on television and internet websites across the world.

But Kaka said he was not worried that another big name signing would create tensions within the squad.

"It will be a privilege to play alongside him," Kaka told a news conference.

"There won't be any rivalry with Cristiano. We are compatible on and off the pitch. We are experienced players and there is no room for jealousy."

He went on warn against the euphoria generated by the talk of a second Galactico era at Real Madrid.

"From my experience I have learned that talent alone is not enough. There are many talented players who have won nothing and others with less ability who have been successful," he said.

"It is good to have talented players but they have to sacrifice themselves for the team."

Spain defender Raul Albiol, who joined Real for a reported fee of 15 million euros from Valencia, is expected to be presented later this week.