 Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus * Hanover 96 midfielder Leon Andreasen will be out for roughly six months after his encouraging comeback from a long layoff was curtailed by torn cruciate ligaments suffered in the midweek 4-1 win over Nuremberg, the club said. The Danish international, who had recently returned from a two-year injury absence, had scored two goals in five league games and another three in the Europa League. "I suspected something was wrong when it happened. It hurt a lot and the diagnosis is no real surprise," Andreasen told the club website (www.hannover96.de) of the injury to his right knee. "This is a bitter blow, but I have to look ahead and I am sure can come back again," the former Fulham player said. Hanover, third in the Bundesliga, travel to Hamburg SV on Saturday. * Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus has been passed fit by team doctors to make his first trip to former club Borussia Moenchengladbach since joining the Bundesliga champions, but coach Juergen Klopp will leave it late to decide whether he plays. Reus, who joined for 17 million euros ($21.86 million) in the off-season, twisted his ankle during Wednesday's 3-3 draw at Eintracht Frankfurt and looked set to miss Saturday's encounter. "I will wait and see how his foot holds up in full training on Friday before deciding," Klopp said. Dortmund are sixth in the standings, seven points behind unbeaten leaders Bayern Munich. * Bayer Leverkusen defensive midfielder Stefan Reinartz could miss their match against promoted Greuther Fuerth due to a minor groin injury. Leverkusen are eager to improve their position after their 3-1 win at Augsburg on Wednesday gave them a first victory in three games and lifted the side up to eighth. Reinartz came off injured shortly before halftime. |
dimanche 30 septembre 2012
Bundesliga roundup-Injury woe for Hanover's Andreasen
Fortuna battle back to draw 2-2 against Schalke
 Fortuna Duesseldorf's Dani Schahin struck twice in the second half to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga on Friday with the visitors only having themselves to blame for not taking all three points. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Joel Matip gave the Champions League side a 2-0 lead by halftime but Schahin's double, including a powerful 77th minute header, took Fortuna's unbeaten run since the start of the season to six matches. Schalke moved up to third place on 11 points with leaders Bayern Munich, who have 15 after five wins from five games, travelling to Werder Bremen on Saturday when champions Borussia Dortmund, on eight, take on Borussia Moenchengladbach. Promoted Fortuna, still unbeaten along with Bayern and second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, are fifth on 10 points. Huntelaar, last season's Bundesliga top scorer, drilled in a stunning left-foot shot after slipping the ball past two defenders in the 13th minute. Joel Matip added a second goal seven minutes later and Schalke looked to be cruising to an easy victory. However, Schahin cut the deficit three minutes after the break, connecting with an Andriy Voronin corner. With Fortuna seeking an equaliser, Schalke had space on the break and will be kicking themselves for not finishing off their opponents with Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay failing to beat keeper Fabian Giefer from point-blank range on three occasions. The hosts' hard work finally paid off in the 77th minute when 23-year-old Schahin beat marker Kyriakos Papadopoulos to drill in a header from an accurate Tobias Levels cross. | |||
Belhanda and Taarabt left out of Morocco soccer squad
 Younes Belhanda of Montpellier Midfielder Belhanda, a leading figure as Montpellier won their first French league title in May, has an ankle injury. Houcine Kharjah of Italian club Fiorentina, who captained Morocco's senior side at the African Nations Cup finals this year, was one of two over-age players included in the under-23 squad by coach Pim Verbeek. The other was forward Nordine Amrabat, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation said. A maximum of three over-age players are allowed in the squad but Verbeek declined to pick another. Defender Abdelhamid El Kaoutari from Montpellier and German-born goalkeeper Mohamed Amsif also competed at January's Nations Cup, where Morocco were disappointingly eliminated in the first round. Morocco's under-23 side will prepare in the Netherlands from next week for the tournament. Squad: Goalkeepers: Mohamed Amsif (FC Augsburg), Yassine Bounou (Atletico Madrid) Defenders: Mohamed Aberhoune (MA Tetouan), Zakarya Bergdich (Racing Lens), Abdelhamid El Kaoutari (Montpellier), Zouhair Feddal (Espanyol), Yacine Jebbour (Stade Rennes), Abdelatif Noussair (FUS Rabat) Midfielders: Abdelaziz Barrada (Getafe), Omar El Kaddouri (Brescia), Driss Fettouhi (Istres), Rayane Frikech (Angers), Houcine Kharja (Fiorentina), Imad Najah (PSV Eindhoven) Forwards: Nordine Amrabat (Kayerispor), Soufiane Bidaoui (Lierse), Soufian El Hassnaoui (De Graafschap), Zakarya Labyad (Sporting Lisbon) | |||
Liverpool agree to sign Assaidi from Heerenveen
Liverpool have agreed to sign Morocco winger Oussama Assaidi from Heerenveen, the Premier League club said on their website (www.liverpoolfc.com) on Thursday.
The 24-year-old winger, who has 22 caps, scored 20 goals in 68 games for the Dutch first division side last season. He will now undergo a medical before the transfer is completed.
Brendan Rodgers, the new Liverpool manager, has already signed Swansea City midfielder Joe Allen and Italy striker Fabio Borini from AS Roma for the new campaign.
Liverpool travel to West Bromwich Albion for their first game on Saturday.
Bayern banish final demons with Valencia win
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Bayern Munich cast aside the bitter memories of their Champions League final defeat in May to begin the new campaign with a 2-1 Group F victory over Valencia on Wednesday.
Schweinsteiger, whose spot-kick miss in the final shootout on home turf allowed Chelsea to score and be crowned European champions, fired Bayern into the lead with a deflected shot in the 38th minute, much to the delight of the 68,000 sold-out crowd in Munich.
Midfielder Toni Kroos added a second when he scored with a 20-metre drive in the 76th minute.
Defensive-minded Valencia, in their first encounter with Bayern since losing to the Germans in the 2001 Champions League final, cut the deficit with a header from Nelson Valdez in stoppage time.
Bayern should then have made it 3-1 but substitute Mario Mandzukic saw his penalty saved by keeper Diego Alves after Adil Rami was sent off.
Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes sprang a surprise with his starting lineup, leaving top scorer Mandzukic on the bench and bringing in the experienced Claudio Pizarro. He also gave 40-million euro-signing Javi Martinez his first competitive start.
The hosts enjoyed the majority of possession but were made to work hard as cautious Valencia defended deeply.
Kroos tried his luck from 20 metres with a powerful drive but Alves was well-placed to save.
Bayern, who are top in the Bundesliga, kept at it and Schweinsteiger broke the deadlock after a well-timed pass by Arjen Robben.
Valencia, with only one win in four league games in Spain so far, posed no real threat, waiting for a chance to break and mainly relying on Algerian Sofiane Feghouli's speed for any offensive spark.
Kroos forced another good Alves save with a 20-metre missile on the hour before finally beating the Brazilian after he was left unmarked outside the box.
Valencia were given a ray of hope when substitute Valdez was caught a sleepy Bayern defence napping and the former Bundesliga player headed past Manuel Neuer.
Nadal recuperation on track, will not rush back
 Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal In an interview with Reuters in Madrid, the 11-times grand slam singles champion said he was still feeling some pain in his left knee and would only return to the court when that was no longer the case. "I am working as much as I can, I am doing everything they tell me to every day and the truth is that right now things are going well, more or less," the 26-year-old Spaniard said. "The only thing is that I need bit more time," he added. "We'll see how things develop in the next few weeks but my priority is to recover well, not quickly but well. "Obviously as soon as possible but the main thing is to have the certainty that you are fine when you do return. "I will return to the court when I feel that the knee no longer gives me any pain, whether that is in two weeks or in three or four." Majorca-native Nadal has been sidelined several times by knee injuries during his 11-year career and his latest was diagnosed as a partial tear of the patella tendon and an inflammation of the Hoffa's fat pad. The former number one has not played since suffering a shock second-round defeat to Czech Lukas Rosol at Wimbledon in June. He missed the Olympic Games after winning the title in 2008 and was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Open. Nadal is having intense physiotherapy and laser treatment and Spanish tennis federation (RFET) doctor Angel Ruiz-Cotorro said on Sept. 5 he could be back on court training within a month. AGGRESSIVE, DEMANDING "I think tennis is a very aggressive and demanding sport and obviously the knees suffer above all when you are playing on hard courts," Nadal said. "On fast courts the movements are much more aggressive, when you are playing at your maximum you have to push your body to the limit. "I have had problems with my knees, others have other problems. "The reality is that at the age of 26 and after a career of more than 10 years, with very good results, it has been my good fortune that my knees have not prevented me competing at the highest level for many years. "I hope that when I return they don't hinder me." Nadal played some of his best tennis in the first half of the year, losing narrowly to Novak Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open and winning a record seventh Roland Garros title on his favoured clay. He said his goal was to get back to a similar level of fitness to allow him to go toe-to-toe with the game's best again. "What I hope for is to be ready to compete again for everything I want to compete for, like I did in the first six months of the year," he said. "That is what I will try to achieve, it's what I will fight for and work every day. "I am 26 years old and I am confident I have plenty of years ahead. What I want is to recover well and to continue enjoying tennis and competition, which is what make me happy right now." EXCLUSIVE CLUB Nadal's Spain are chasing a fourth Davis Cup title in five years and play the Czech Republic in the Nov. 16-18 final. He said he did not know whether he would have recovered in time to feature. He has only lost one of 21 singles rubbers in the competition but 16 of those wins have come on clay and as the home team the Czechs are almost certain to select hard courts. "If things go well and I can make the final and the captain thinks I am the right person to play it then I'll be there," he said. "If not, I'll be supporting the guys from afar." Nadal has dominated the slams in recent years along with world number two Djokovic and number one Roger Federer but he said Andy Murray's U.S. Open win this month meant the Briton had finally joined their exclusive club. Murray's victory against Federer at Wimbledon to win the Olympic gold had given him the extra confidence to see off Djokovic in New York, Nadal added. "What has changed is his mentality," he said. "His game has not changed practically at all but winning the Olympic Games helped him a lot with the victory in New York. "Andy is a player with an impressive talent and I always said he would win a slam, not just one he'll win more than one." Nadal spoke to Reuters at the launch of Rafa Dream Day for sponsors PokerStars (www.pokerstars.com) where fans can win the chance to meet him, play him at tennis and compete against him in a poker game in Majorca. The interview was conducted on Sept. 17. | |||
Chelsea win at Arsenal to extend unbeaten start
Premier League leaders Chelsea beat London rivals Arsenal 2-1 with goals from Spaniards Fernando Torres and Juan Mata on Saturday to maintain their unbeaten start to the season while handing Arsenal their first defeat.Both Chelsea goals came as a result of Mata free kicks and poor Arsenal defending with Torres out-muscling Laurent Koscielny to volley the European champions ahead at the Emirates Stadium after 20 minutes for his third league goal of the season.
Gervinho equalised for Arsenal three minutes before the break when he turned crisply and fired into the roof of the net for his fourth goal of the campaign.
Chelsea, who started with skipper John Terry as he mulls an appeal over a four-game ban for racist abuse, regained the lead after 53 minutes when Mata's free kick eluded everyone before clipping Koscielny and flying in past keeper Vito Mannone.
The victory lifted Chelsea four points clear at the top, at least until the rest of the programme later on Saturday.
Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo told Sky Sports: "I thought we were excellent today and deservedly won the game. From the start to the end we never defended too deep, we tried to take the initiative and go forward and create chances and the game went for us today."
OTHER CHANCES
Disappointed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "We were a bit nervous at the start ... But we should never have lost this game.
"It is sad because we gave the game away at home, we conceded two soft goals on set pieces. They had three shots on target and scored two goals and you cannot concede goals at home like we did today. We gave a lot and the least we deserved was a draw."
Arsenal, who started the day in fifth place after two wins and three draws in their opening league games, came close to saving a point three times but were denied by a great Petr Cech save, the woodwork and a late rash shot from substitute Olivier Giroud.
Cech made an excellent one-handed diving save to deny Lukas Podolski a headed goal after 59 minutes and Giroud, who replaced Podolski after 66 minutes, shot into the side-netting late in the game after going round Cech - to the despair of Wenger on the sidelines.
Koscielny, who had a miserable afternoon, almost made amends but saw a late header come back off the post.
Terry, who on Thursday was found guilty of using racist language towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year, was roundly booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball at first, as was former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.
But as he has done so often in the past, former England skipper Terry appeared unaffected by his off-field troubles and was wildly applauded by the visiting fans and gave two young supporters his boots at the end of the match.
Disappointed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "We were a bit nervous at the start ... But we should never have lost this game.
"It is sad because we gave the game away at home, we conceded two soft goals on set pieces. They had three shots on target and scored two goals and you cannot concede goals at home like we did today. We gave a lot and the least we deserved was a draw."
Arsenal, who started the day in fifth place after two wins and three draws in their opening league games, came close to saving a point three times but were denied by a great Petr Cech save, the woodwork and a late rash shot from substitute Olivier Giroud.
Cech made an excellent one-handed diving save to deny Lukas Podolski a headed goal after 59 minutes and Giroud, who replaced Podolski after 66 minutes, shot into the side-netting late in the game after going round Cech - to the despair of Wenger on the sidelines.
Koscielny, who had a miserable afternoon, almost made amends but saw a late header come back off the post.
Terry, who on Thursday was found guilty of using racist language towards Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand last year, was roundly booed by the home fans every time he touched the ball at first, as was former Arsenal defender Ashley Cole.
But as he has done so often in the past, former England skipper Terry appeared unaffected by his off-field troubles and was wildly applauded by the visiting fans and gave two young supporters his boots at the end of the match.
Late goals earn Bayern Munich 2-0 win at Bremen
Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich left it late to beat Werder Bremen 2-0 on Saturday with goals from Luiz Gustavo and Mario Mandzukic as they extended their perfect start to the season to six wins in six matches.Brazilian Gustavo curled in an 18-metre shot in the 81st minute for the visitors and Mandzukic tapped in his goal of the season two minutes later to lift Bayern to 18 points, five ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt who host Freiburg on Sunday.
On the day of their 125th birthday, Hamburg SV were crowned 1-0 winners in their northern derby at home to Hanover 96 with Rafael van der Vaart setting up Artjoms Rudnevs for his second goal in two games.
After a bad start to the season, Hamburg have now moved up to 10th with their second win in three games.
Bayer Leverkusen continued their good run with a 2-0 home win over promoted Greuther Fuerth to move up to sixth on 10.
Hoffenheim, stunned by a car accident which left midfielder Boris Vukcevic in an artificial coma after he sustained life-threatening injuries on Friday, shared the spoils in their goalless draw at home to Augsburg.
VfB Stuttgart climbed out of the bottom spots with their first win of the season, a 2-0 victory at Nuremberg, with Vedad Ibisevic scoring one and setting up the other goal.
Champions Borussia Dortmund, on eight points, host Borussia Moenchengladbach later on Saturday.
dimanche 23 septembre 2012
samedi 22 septembre 2012
Final at the Camp Nou
Final at the Camp Nou! FC Barcelona vs Granada (2-0). Goals: Xavi (86'), Borja (92', o.g)
Ferguson asks United fans to avoid personal hatred
Manager Alex Ferguson has written to Manchester United fans attending Sunday's match against Liverpool, urging them not to let the rivalry between the clubs turn into "personal hatred".
The Premier League match is the first between the two fierce rivals since the publication last week of an independent report into the Hillsborough stadium disaster which exonerated Liverpool fans of any blame in the 1989 tragedy that claimed 96 lives.
Sunday's occasion is likely to be highly emotional with players and staff having urged fans all week to show each other respect.
In Ferguson's letter, which will be handed to away fans entering Anfield, he says United "stands with our great neighbours Liverpool".
"Our rivalry with Liverpool is based on a determination to come out on top - a wish to see us crowned the best against a team that held that honour for so long," he adds.
"It cannot and should never be based on personal hatred. Just 10 days ago we heard the terrible, damning truth about the deaths of 96 fans who went to watch their team try and reach the FA Cup final and never came back," said Ferguson.
"What happened to them should wake the conscience of everyone connected with the game."
An anti-Liverpool chant of 'it's never your fault, always the victims' was heard from some quarters at Old Trafford last weekend in United's 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic.
Some United fans said those chants did not refer to Hillsborough but to the fallout from the Luis Suarez-Patrice Evra race row last season.
Liverpool forward Suarez was banned for eight matches for racially abusing United defender Evra at Anfield in October.
FLORAL TRIBUTES
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler suggested Evra and Suarez should lay floral tributes before Sunday's game to mark the tragedies both clubs have suffered.
Fowler told BBC radio it would be appropriate for the pair to help defuse the tension by showing unity before kickoff.
"It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding the 1958 Munich air crash and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said.
"The two clubs do have a rivalry but some things are far more important than football and this is one of them."
Eight United players and three club staff were among 23 people killed in Munich.
Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before the start of the last game between the two clubs at Old Trafford in February.
Tributes have been paid to the 96 who died at Premier League matches since the Hillsborough report was issued, with Liverpool's neighbours Everton staging a particularly poignant one before the match with Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday.
United defender Nemanja Vidic, who has been sent off twice at Anfield, believes the Goodison spirit should be taken into Sunday's game.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper he said: "We have to show an example and be on top of the situation and behave well.
"There is a lot of history with these two clubs. We have had some tragedies, they have as well. I think we should respect each other because we are big clubs and clubs that are respected in the world."
Two United fan groups, the Manchester United Supporters Trust and the Stretford End Flags, have urged supporters not to sing disparaging songs about the Hillsborough disaster.
Rival fans have sung distasteful chants about Munich in the past.
Liverpool go into the match fourth from bottom and without a league win this term although they beat Swiss side Young Boys 5-3 in Berne in the Europa League on Thursday.
United have won three of their four league games, are second in the table and beat Galatasaray 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler suggested Evra and Suarez should lay floral tributes before Sunday's game to mark the tragedies both clubs have suffered.
Fowler told BBC radio it would be appropriate for the pair to help defuse the tension by showing unity before kickoff.
"It would be nice for Luis Suarez to put some flowers at the United end regarding the 1958 Munich air crash and for Patrice Evra to do so at the Kop," Fowler said.
"The two clubs do have a rivalry but some things are far more important than football and this is one of them."
Eight United players and three club staff were among 23 people killed in Munich.
Suarez refused to shake Evra's hand before the start of the last game between the two clubs at Old Trafford in February.
Tributes have been paid to the 96 who died at Premier League matches since the Hillsborough report was issued, with Liverpool's neighbours Everton staging a particularly poignant one before the match with Newcastle United at Goodison Park on Monday.
United defender Nemanja Vidic, who has been sent off twice at Anfield, believes the Goodison spirit should be taken into Sunday's game.
In an interview with The Sun newspaper he said: "We have to show an example and be on top of the situation and behave well.
"There is a lot of history with these two clubs. We have had some tragedies, they have as well. I think we should respect each other because we are big clubs and clubs that are respected in the world."
Two United fan groups, the Manchester United Supporters Trust and the Stretford End Flags, have urged supporters not to sing disparaging songs about the Hillsborough disaster.
Rival fans have sung distasteful chants about Munich in the past.
Liverpool go into the match fourth from bottom and without a league win this term although they beat Swiss side Young Boys 5-3 in Berne in the Europa League on Thursday.
United have won three of their four league games, are second in the table and beat Galatasaray 1-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
TOUR Championship Round Two Goes to the Europeans: A Fan's Take
The TOUR Championship is the final event in the PGA TOUR playoffs and culminates, on Sunday, September 23, 2012, with the presentation of the FedEx Cup. Being played less than a week before the Ryder Cup, some of the individual pairings between members of Team USA and Team Europe are intriguing. In Thursday's opening round, Team USA claimed a commanding 4-0 lead.
What follows are the results of three head-to-head contests from Friday's second round action:
Phil Mickelson vs. Rory McIlroy: In stroke play, McIlroy dominated this pairing 68-71. In match play however, they would have been all square through 14 holes. McIlroy moved ahead with an eagle at #15, but Mickelson caught up again with a birdie on #16. Mickelson's bogey at #17 was decisive, as Rory McIlroy claimed a 1 up win. USA 0 - Europe 1.
Dustin Johnson vs. Sergio Garcia: Johnson was totally dominant on this day, winning by six strokes (67-73). WIth his third consecutive birdie, at the 15th hole, he ended the match with a 4 and 3 victory. Dustin Johnson also defeated Lee Westwood on Thursday (note to Captain Davis Love III). USA 1 - Europe 1.
Tiger Woods vs. Justin Rose: This stroke play battle, between the first round co-leaders, was not even close. Rose posted 68 and is one shot behind the leader, Jim Furyk. Woods fell to a 73 and is now six shots off the pace. In match play, like Mickelson and McIlroy, this one would have been even after 14 holes. Following a Rose birdie at #15, and a Woods' bogey at #16, the match was dormie in Rose's favor. Both players made bogey at #17, and the match ended as a 2 and 1 win for Justin Rose. USA 1 - Europe 2.
For the two days combined, Team USA has a 5-2 lead, with three more matches coming on Saturday:
12:00 p.m. - Keegan Bradley vs. Sergio Garcia
12:50 p.m. - Tiger Woods vs. Luke Donald
2:00 p.m. - Jim Furyk vs. Justin Rose
In the TOUR Championship proper, Jim Furyk is the 36-hole leader following a six-under par 64 in the second round. He is seven-under overall, one shot ahead of Justin Rose, with Bubba Watson and Bo Van Pelt each two shots behind.
Rory McIlroy came into the tournament ranked #1 in FedEx Cup points, is seventh in the TOUR Championship (four shots behind Furyk), and is currently in position to claim the Cup on Sunday.
Tiger Woods outdueled Rory McIlroy by three shots when they played head-to-head on Thursday, but McIlroy had the lower score by five when they were not paired together on Friday. This has become the norm in 2012. Woods wins head-to-head, but McIlroy wins when they play apart. I don't know if Woods loses focus without McIlroy, or if McIlroy is intimidated head-to-head, but it is an interesting phenomenon.
Harold Andrews has played golf for nearly 50 years. He considers Jack Nicklaus the greatest of all time.
Russia beat Spain in battle of unbeaten
Russia roared back from a 20-2 deficit to beat Spain 77-74 after a crucial free throw miss by Pao Gasol, seizing the upper hand for a critical seeding advantage at the Olympic men's basketball tournament on Saturday.The victory between the previously unbeaten teams of Group B gave Russia (4-0) the inside track with one preliminary round left to win the group and ensure a path to a possible gold medal game against the defending United States.
The see-saw struggle came down to the last seconds.
Gasol went to the foul line for two shots with Spain trailing 75-73 and 5.3 seconds left on the clock.
After a Russia timeout to give the Los Angeles Lakers NBA All-Star time to ponder his task, Gasol hit the back rim and missed his first attempt. After making the second the world's second-ranked Spaniards trailed 75-74.
Russia's Vitaliy Fridzon was fouled immediately after the inbounds pass and made his two shots from the charity stripe for the final total. He led all scorers with 24 points.
There was still 4.8 seconds left when Spain inbounded, but the ball came to Marc Gasol in the backcourt and he was not able to set up a desperation shot for Spain (3-1).
"It was a shame I wasn't able to score the two free throws which would have put us in contention," said Pau Gasol, who had made his previous four foul shots. Spain missed only two of 19 free throws in the game.
"It was a great game," said Russia's American coach David Blatt, who credited assistant coach Dmitry Shakulin for suggesting he use a timeout to try and disturb Gasol before the key free throws.
ON FIRE
Spain, coming back from a lacklustre victory over Britain, came out on fire, scoring the first 10 points on the way to a massive 20-2 lead.
The Russians patiently clawed their way back, and when Fridzon and his team mates started finding the mark with their jump shots they went on a 12-4 run that helped get them to intermission trailing by just 40-32.
Russia limited Spain to only 12 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third quarter as they surged to a 56-53 lead.
The momentum swung back to Spain at the start of the fourth as the 2008 silver medallists used a 16-4 burst to lead 69-60.
A three-pointer by Victor Khryapa tied it at 73-73 with a minute to go and Timofey Mozgov's slam dunk put Russia ahead by two with 18 seconds left before Pau Gasol was sent to the line.
"Today, they killed us. Those three of them. They were extremely effective," Spain's Italian coach Sergio Scariolo said, singling out Fridzon, Anton Ponkrashov and Khryapa.
Ranked just 11th by the International Basketball Federation, Russia overcame Spain because of their team play, according to 31-year-old forward Andrei Kirilenko.
"I think our team has a face, our own face," said Kirilenko, who played 10 years with the NBA's Utah Jazz.
"We're playing hard. We don't have a lot of shooters, but I think we can do a lot of things together as a team. We stay in as a team and that's why we keep grinding those wins."
Spain, coming back from a lacklustre victory over Britain, came out on fire, scoring the first 10 points on the way to a massive 20-2 lead.
The Russians patiently clawed their way back, and when Fridzon and his team mates started finding the mark with their jump shots they went on a 12-4 run that helped get them to intermission trailing by just 40-32.
Russia limited Spain to only 12 points in the second quarter and 13 in the third quarter as they surged to a 56-53 lead.
The momentum swung back to Spain at the start of the fourth as the 2008 silver medallists used a 16-4 burst to lead 69-60.
A three-pointer by Victor Khryapa tied it at 73-73 with a minute to go and Timofey Mozgov's slam dunk put Russia ahead by two with 18 seconds left before Pau Gasol was sent to the line.
"Today, they killed us. Those three of them. They were extremely effective," Spain's Italian coach Sergio Scariolo said, singling out Fridzon, Anton Ponkrashov and Khryapa.
Ranked just 11th by the International Basketball Federation, Russia overcame Spain because of their team play, according to 31-year-old forward Andrei Kirilenko.
"I think our team has a face, our own face," said Kirilenko, who played 10 years with the NBA's Utah Jazz.
"We're playing hard. We don't have a lot of shooters, but I think we can do a lot of things together as a team. We stay in as a team and that's why we keep grinding those wins."
Dark days makes U.S. gold shine brighter
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant own National Basketball Association, Olympic and world championship titles and their trophy cases are packed with individual honours.
Yet for all their success, two of the world's most famous athletes celebrated the United States' 107-100 gold medal victory over Spain in the London Games basketball final on Sunday as if it was the first thing they had ever won.
It would be easy for the mighty Americans, 130-5 in Olympic competition and winners of four of the five golds on offer since NBA players began taking part in the Games, to be blase about the successful defence of the crown they won in Beijing.
But James and his U.S. team mates were taking nothing for granted with memories of past failure fresh in their minds.
James and head coach Mike Krzyzewski were part of USA Basketball's darkest days when the country's status as the world's undisputed superpower in the sport was questioned after third-place finishes at Athens 2004 and the 2006 worlds.
Thoughts of those failed campaigns made Sunday's 107-100 win over a plucky Spain side even sweeter.
"Between coach K, CP (Chris Paul) and Melo (Carmelo Anthony), we've been through it all," said James, brushing the gold medal hung around his neck.
Yet for all their success, two of the world's most famous athletes celebrated the United States' 107-100 gold medal victory over Spain in the London Games basketball final on Sunday as if it was the first thing they had ever won.
It would be easy for the mighty Americans, 130-5 in Olympic competition and winners of four of the five golds on offer since NBA players began taking part in the Games, to be blase about the successful defence of the crown they won in Beijing.
But James and his U.S. team mates were taking nothing for granted with memories of past failure fresh in their minds.
James and head coach Mike Krzyzewski were part of USA Basketball's darkest days when the country's status as the world's undisputed superpower in the sport was questioned after third-place finishes at Athens 2004 and the 2006 worlds.
Thoughts of those failed campaigns made Sunday's 107-100 win over a plucky Spain side even sweeter.
"Between coach K, CP (Chris Paul) and Melo (Carmelo Anthony), we've been through it all," said James, brushing the gold medal hung around his neck.
LOWEST POINT
"We were part of the rebuild of the USA team trying to get back to where it was before. I was part of it in 04, me and Melo, that was the lowest point for the USA team.
"Then coach K took over and we lost the world championship 06 but we made that three-year commitment from 05. We were able to win the worlds in Las Vegas and then gold in 08.
"It has been a long road for USA basketball and I'm just happy to be in a position to say I had something to do with us being back on top," he added.
For a player associated only with success, it is easy to forget that James has also known failure.
Drafted into the NBA as the number one overall pick by the woeful Cleveland Cavaliers, James laboured for years to lift his team to a title before turning his back on the city and signing for Miami Heat where he has realised all his basketball dreams.
In June, James celebrated his first NBA title by leading the Heat past the Oklahoma Thunder and two months later he was collecting his second Olympic gold medal.
To cap his season, James also won the league's most valuable player award for a third time along with NBA finals MVP honours.
However, for James the thrill of victory, especially at the Olympics, never grows old.
"We were part of the rebuild of the USA team trying to get back to where it was before. I was part of it in 04, me and Melo, that was the lowest point for the USA team.
"Then coach K took over and we lost the world championship 06 but we made that three-year commitment from 05. We were able to win the worlds in Las Vegas and then gold in 08.
"It has been a long road for USA basketball and I'm just happy to be in a position to say I had something to do with us being back on top," he added.
For a player associated only with success, it is easy to forget that James has also known failure.
Drafted into the NBA as the number one overall pick by the woeful Cleveland Cavaliers, James laboured for years to lift his team to a title before turning his back on the city and signing for Miami Heat where he has realised all his basketball dreams.
In June, James celebrated his first NBA title by leading the Heat past the Oklahoma Thunder and two months later he was collecting his second Olympic gold medal.
To cap his season, James also won the league's most valuable player award for a third time along with NBA finals MVP honours.
However, for James the thrill of victory, especially at the Olympics, never grows old.
SHEER JOY
The sheer joy the men displayed following their gold medal win was in sharp contrast to the U.S. women's team's muted celebrations following an 86-50 romp over France on the same hardwood a day earlier that earned them a fifth straight gold.
Unbeaten since a bronze medal win at the 1992 Barcelona Games, not a single member of the current U.S. women's team has known the sting of an Olympic defeat.
James explained that it was the losses that taught the men to savour every win.
"It was definitely a different attitude towards the game and what it meant to really represent your country," reflected James.
"I don't think we all understood that, I think we were all putting on the uniform and thought we could just come together in two, three weeks and win just because we had great individuals.
"It was a long journey but I guess eight years later we have two gold medals and a world championship."
The sheer joy the men displayed following their gold medal win was in sharp contrast to the U.S. women's team's muted celebrations following an 86-50 romp over France on the same hardwood a day earlier that earned them a fifth straight gold.
Unbeaten since a bronze medal win at the 1992 Barcelona Games, not a single member of the current U.S. women's team has known the sting of an Olympic defeat.
James explained that it was the losses that taught the men to savour every win.
"It was definitely a different attitude towards the game and what it meant to really represent your country," reflected James.
"I don't think we all understood that, I think we were all putting on the uniform and thought we could just come together in two, three weeks and win just because we had great individuals.
"It was a long journey but I guess eight years later we have two gold medals and a world championship."
Former world number one Ferrero to retire next month
| Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, a former world number one who won the French Open in 2003 but whose career has been hampered by injuries, will retire after playing at his home event next month, he said on Wednesday. "The Valencia Open 500 will be my final tournament, in the best possible scenario," Ferrero told a news conference presenting the ATP event. "This season injuries have prevented me from playing with regularity and it was a tough year as I realised on the court that I did not have the same ambition after 14 years at the top level," added the 32-year-old. "I am starting a new phase in my life with tremendous excitement, I will continue to be involved with tennis through the Valencia Open, the academy, the foundation that carries my name and other projects." Ferrero, who has slipped to 111 in the latest singles rankings, turned professional in 1998 and went on to win 15 titles, including the Masters events in Monte Carlo and Rome. As well as his grand slam title at Roland Garros, he reached the final there in 2002 and the U.S. Open final in 2003, after which he rose to number one and stayed there for eight weeks. His last title came in Stuttgart in 2011 on his favoured clay. Ferrero played in 17 Davis Cup ties for Spain, compiling an 18-6 record in singles rubbers, and helped the Iberian nation to their first triumph in the competition in 2000 and subsequent victories in 2004 and 2009. "Among the memories I would pick out the Davis Cup win in 2000, because I understood afterwards how much it meant to the country," said Ferrero, who clinched the trophy by beating Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the fourth singles rubber. "But certainly for a player winning a grand slam or getting to number one in the world is the most important," he added. "What I will miss most is the competition, it will difficult to fill the void." | |||
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