Friday 30 September 2011

Miliband still struggling to make an impression

LABOUR leader Ed Miliband declared himself to be "his own man" this week as he celebrated one year in charge of Her Majesty's Official Opposition at the party conference in Liverpool.

But the problem for Mr Miliband is that, so far, the public has not really liked what it has seen.

For, while Labour has had a consistent lead over the Conservatives in the polls throughout 2011, Mr Miliband's personal ratings are pretty dire.

As reported on the UK Polling Report website, only 18% of people think he has provided an effective opposition, and 64% think he has not. Only 19% think he has made it clear what he stands for, 66% do not.

And, perhaps most pertinently of all, only 19% of people think he would be up to the job of Prime Minister, compared to 62% who think he would not.

Indeed, even Labour supporters have failed to warm to Mr Miliband - 51% do not think he has provided an effective opposition, and 52% of them think he has not made it clear what he stands for.

A plurality of Labour supporters believe he would be up to the job as Prime Minister but the 45%-34% lead on this question is hardly a ringing endorsement.

So, if Mr Miliband struggles in convincing his own supporters, just what sort of impression has he given the population at large?

Well, a recent report by Populus for Lord Ashcroft on this matter suggests that most of the general public cannot get past the obstacle that, frankly, Mr Miliband comes across as a bit "weird".

His demeanour, his manner of speaking, his apparently reluctant marriage and his 'fraternicide' in the leadership election were all factors which people found decidedly odd.

Of course, such qualitative discussions can swiftly denigrate into the most base and populist of debates but this was not the first occasion in recent times that the word "weird" has been applied to a major UK politician.

Former Labour PM Tony Blair described his Conservative opponent William Hague as such.

Now, because Mr Miliband is "his own man", he distanced himself away from his predecessors and, indeed, the very mention of Mr Blair's name was booed by some sections of the conference hall.

It would be difficult to imagine the Conservative party conference giving Margaret Thatcher that sort of reception and yet the fact is that they both won three successive elections.

But, while Lady Thatcher's reputation on the Right remains largely unharmed, Mr Blair made such a negative impact in the end for Labour, Mr Miliband has been quick to emphasis their differences.

Last year, the newly-elected leader stated his clear opposition to the Iraq war.

This year, in his keynote speech, Mr Miliband attacked New Labour's cosy relationship with certain businesses in the City and Rupert Murdoch's media empire.

The problem for Mr Miliband on the latter issue is that he was seemingly just as keen to seek the approval of News International until the phone hacking scandal really took off in the summer.

Mr Miliband was also on the defensive about his plan to tax some private equity firms differently - though, in response, he came out with what was perhaps his best line of the week, stating he is "not anti-business but anti business-as-usual".

However, much damage was already done by BBC presenter Andrew Neil who ran rings around several baffled shadow cabinet ministers on his show.

The lack of clarity there was not the only setback which the party has faced over the last few days.

For, although Mr Miliband was successful in diluting the union bloc vote in future leadership elections, no one failed to spot the irony that his brother David would have almost certain won the contest under the new rules.

By far the most ludicrous moment of the week, though, came when Shadow Culture Secretary Ivan Lewis suggested there should be a register of journalists who could be struck off if found guilty of serious wrongdoing.

The move was inevitably greeted with derision from all corners of Fleet Street with one journalist, writing on her blog, taking particular care to point out all the weaknesses of such a scheme.

Indeed, the best argument from Fleet Street Fox was that journalists, just like anyone else, remain subject to the ultimate regulation: the law.

Unsurprisingly, then, the register of journalists policy was quietly dropped that same evening in what has been described as the "fastest U-turn in history".

It seems, then, that Mr Miliband can do little to please anyone at the moment.

He made few friends with the Left at the Trade Unions Congress earlier this month when criticising some members' decision to strike while negotiations over pensions were ongoing.

Meanwhile, his attempt to distance himself from Mr Blair will have made the supporters on that wing of the party bristle at best.

Mr Miliband has already been given the hurry-up by the Fabian Society, a left-wing think tank, in the run-up to the conference.

Now, having left Liverpool without a major impression, the sands of time really are starting to slip away from him.

Wednesday 21 September 2011

Fighting talk from the Lib Dems has come too late


ONE by one, leading Liberal Democrats have taken to the platform at their annual party conference to attack their coalition partners.

In a bid to put some clear water - though it is probably best not to say some clear, blue water - between themselves and the Conservatives, this was Bash A Tory week in Birmingham.

The party's deputy leader Simon Hughes got his joust in early, referring to the Tories as "ruthless" in an interview with the Guardian on the eve of the conference.

But it was party president Tim Farron who ramped up the rhetoric in a speech on Sunday which suggested that a Conservative-majority government would be "an absolute nightmare".

Mr Farron, who - like Mr Hughes - is not a minister, also determined that "divorce is inevitable" after three or four years.

This time-frame caused a bit of consternation as the coalition partners have always stated they would serve a full five-year term in office together until 2015.

But, nothing too much should be read into it as, three years from now, the parties will be just about going their separate ways at their last major conference before the next general election.

Perhaps more pertinently, there was some dissent from the frontbench, too.

Chris Huhne, who was an avid supporter of the Alternative Vote, is clearly still feeling a little sore over the perception that Prime Minister David Cameron campaigned vigorously for a 'No' vote having previously stated he would stay out of the debate.

Energy minister Mr Huhne compared the Tory hard right with the "madcap" Tea Party movement in the United States, and he criticised Conservatives for "slavering over tax cuts for the rich".

And then Business secretary Vince Cable took a swipe at Mr Cameron's policy advisor Steve Hilton and others on the Tory right who have suggested that Britain should abolish maternity leave.

"What I will not do though is provide cover for ideological descendants of those who sent children up chimneys," Mr Cable said.

Party leader Nick Clegg was noticeably more careful with his words in his 42-minute keynote speech - stating only that his party was "in nobody's pocket" - but then, as Mr Cameron's deputy, he probably has to be.

Instead, Mr Clegg has used the past few days to try and emphasise the Lib Dems' achievements in government.

There were several mentions of their strong opposition to the removal of the 50p tax rate, and a repeated highlighting of the doubling of the pupil premium.

The Lib Dems also launched an almost continual PR effort in seeking to demonstrate which concessions they had won in the Health and Social Care Bill.

But, on the NHS bill in particular, the attempt at positive spin has been disputed internally, most notably by Lib Dem peer Baroness Williams.

All this after activists were unable to force a vote on the controversial changes, failing to get the two thirds majority needed for it to be considered.

Meanwhile, there has been a general discomfort about the changing nature of the party and its conference with the necessity of extra security on the venue entrances coming in for questioning.

And former MP Evan Harris cautioned over the 'Toryisation' of the event whereby it becomes just a series of stage-managed speeches by the frontbench rather than a genuine forum for debate.

Of course, some delegates think that it has already happened and indeed that the very presence of the Lib Dems in coalition with the Conservatives is a byword for betrayal.

The broken promises over tuition fees and the VAT bombshell - as well as the comprehensive failure to win the argument over electoral reform - have left scars which cannot be healed by a few concessions here and there.

The really bad news for Mr Clegg and his party is that a large proportion of voters remain of this same opinion.

A poll released this week by Comres in the Sunday Mirror showed that 47% of people who voted Lib Dem in the 2010 general election would not vote for the party again.

This is largely in line with the recent polling averages on the UK Polling Report website which show their support hovering at around 11% as compared to 23% at the election.

Quite simply, it seems that, for many people, this fighting talk has come too little and too late.

Such a hopeless circumstance would usually put Mr Clegg in a vulnerable position as party leader but a lack of a credible challenger still leaves him in situ.

Mr Farron came closest to casting aspersions on Mr Clegg's authority this week - saying "there is no ruling it [a bid for the leadership] out in the future" - but he quickly backtracked once he had realised his mistake.

It all means the Lib Dems will struggle on for now with the electoral albatross that is Mr Clegg.

This has been a week in which the Lib Dems have talked tough but the general public has already seen through their self-aggrandizing bluster.

And now they are just waiting to deliver the knockout blow at the next major visit to the polls - whether that is in 2015 or sooner.

Friday 9 September 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011: Results and fixtures

POOL A
TVDateVenue
ITV1Fri 09 SepNEW ZEALAND 41-10 TONGAEden Park, Auckland
ITV1Sat 10 SepFRANCE 47-21 JAPANNorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV4Wed 14 SepTONGA 20-25 CANADAWhangarei
ITV1Fri 16 SepNEW ZEALAND 83-7 JAPANHamilton
ITV1Sun 18 SepFRANCE 46-19 CANADANapier
ITV4Wed 21 SepTONGA 31-18 JAPANWhangarei
ITV1Sat 24 SepNEW ZEALAND 37-17 FRANCEEden Park, Auckland
ITV4Tue 27 SepCANADA 23-23 JAPANNapier
ITV1Sat 1 OctFRANCE 14-19 TONGAWellington
ITV1Sun 2 Oct NEW ZEALAND 79-15 CANADAWellington

Pool A TableWDLFATriesPts
Q NEW ZEALAND400240493620
Q FRANCE202124961511
TONGA202809879
CANADA1128216896
JAPAN0136918482

POOL B
TVDateVenue
ITV1Sat 10 SepSCOTLAND 34-24 ROMANIAInvercargill
ITV1Sat 10 SepENGLAND 13-9 ARGENTINADunedin
ITV1Wed 14 SepSCOTLAND 15-6 GEORGIAInvercargill
ITV1Sat 17 SepARGENTINA 43-8 ROMANIAInvercargill 
ITV1Sun 18 SepENGLAND 41-10 GEORGIADunedin
ITV1Sat 24 SepENGLAND 67-3 ROMANIADunedin
ITV1Sun 25 SepARGENTINA 13-12 SCOTLANDWellington
ITV4Wed 28 SepGEORGIA 25-9 ROMANIANapier
ITV1Sat 1 OctENGLAND 16-12 SCOTLANDEden Park, Auckland
ITV1Sun 2 OctARGENTINA 25-7 GEORGIAPalmerston North

Pool B TableWLFATriesPts
Q ENGLAND40137341818
Q ARGENTINA3190401014
SCOTLAND227359411
GEORGIA13489034
ROMANIA044416930

POOL C
TVDateVenue
ITV1Sun 11 SepAUSTRALIA 32-6 ITALYNorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV1Sun 11 SepIRELAND 22-10 UNITED STATESNew Plymouth
ITV4Thu 15 SepRUSSIA 6-13 UNITED STATESNew Plymouth
ITV1Sat 17 SepAUSTRALIA 6-15 IRELANDEden Park, Auckland 
ITV4Tue 20 SepITALY 53-17 RUSSIANelson
ITV1Fri 23 SepAUSTRALIA 67-5 UNITED STATESWellington
ITV1Sun 25 SepIRELAND 62-12 RUSSIARotorua
ITV4Tue 27 SepITALY 27-10 UNITED STATESNelson
ITV1Sat 1 OctAUSTRALIA 68-22 RUSSIANelson
ITV1Sun 2 OctIRELAND 36-6 ITALYDunedin

Pool C Table WLFATriesPts
Q IRELAND40135341517
Q AUSTRALIA31173482515
ITALY2292951310
UNITED STATES133812244
RUSSIA045719681

POOL D
TVDateVenue
ITV1Sat 10 SepFIJI 49-25 NAMIBIARotorua
ITV1Sun 11 SepSOUTH AFRICA 17-16 WALESWellington
ITV1Wed 14 SepSAMOA 49-12 NAMIBIARotorua
ITV1Sat 17 SepSOUTH AFRICA 49-3 FIJIWellington
ITV1Sun 18 SepWALES 17-10 SAMOAHamilton
ITV4Thu 22 SepSOUTH AFRICA 87-0 NAMIBIANorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV1Sun 25 SepFIJI 7-27 SAMOAEden Park, Auckland
ITV1Mon 26 SepWALES 81-7 NAMIBIANew Plymouth
ITV4Fri 30 SepSOUTH AFRICA 13-5 SAMOANorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV1Sun 2 OctWALES 66-0 FIJIHamilton

Pool D TableWLFATriesPts
Q SOUTH AFRICA40166242118
Q WALES31180342315
SAMOA229149910
FIJI135916775
NAMIBIA044426650

Thursday 8 September 2011

Rugby World Cup 2011: Can New Zealand hold their nerve?

POOL A
TVDate/Time (BST)Venue
ITV1Fri 09 Sep 09:30NEW ZEALAND v TONGAEden Park, Auckland
ITV1Sat 10 Sep 07:00FRANCE v JAPANNorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV4Wed 14 Sep 06:00TONGA v CANADAWhangarei
ITV1Fri 16 Sep 09:00NEW ZEALAND v JAPANHamilton
ITV1Sun 18 Sep 09:30FRANCE v CANADANapier
ITV4Wed 21 Sep 08:30TONGA v JAPANWhangarei
ITV1Sat 24 Sep 09:30NEW ZEALAND v FRANCEEden Park, Auckland
ITV4Tue 27 Sep 06:00CANADA v JAPANNapier
ITV1Sat 1 Oct 07:00FRANCE v TONGAWellington
ITV1Sun 2 Oct 04:30NEW ZEALAND v CANADAWellington

Predictions: NEW ZEALAND - Champions, FRANCE - Semi finals
HISTORY weighs heavily on the shoulders of the All Blacks who, as if they need reminding, are without a World Cup Final victory since 1987. Twenty-four years is an extraordinary wait for the most prominent rugby country in the world and it is fair to say that it has become a national obsession.
As usual, New Zealand have hit form since the last World Cup in 2007 and regained their place at the top of the IRB World Rankings. But, defeat in this year's Tri Nations decider against Australia has again raised all of the old concerns. Having said that, winning the Tri Nations before a World Cup has hardly done the ABs much good in the past and the focus will now be on their Pool A opponents France.
The French have twice ended the ABs' World Cup dreams in the 1999 semi finals and 2007 quarter finals, the only time New Zealand have failed to reach the last four. Indeed, that victory for the French four years ago was particularly controversial as the vital try was scored after an unspotted forward pass. Graham Henry's ABs are out for revenge and a Pool runners-up spot would make it difficult for France to extend their record of having reached the semi finals in each of the last four World Cups. Difficult, but if the French play to their best, not impossible.

POOL B
TVDate/Time (BST)Venue
ITV1Sat 10 Sep 02:00SCOTLAND v ROMANIAInvercargill
ITV1Sat 10 Sep 09:30ENGLAND v ARGENTINADunedin
ITV1Wed 14 Sep 08:30SCOTLAND v GEORGIAInvercargill
ITV1Sat 17 Sep 04:30ARGENTINA v ROMANIAInvercargill 
ITV1Sun 18 Sep 07:00ENGLAND v GEORGIADunedin
ITV1Sat 24 Sep 07:00ENGLAND v ROMANIADunedin
ITV1Sun 25 Sep 09:30ARGENTINA v SCOTLANDWellington
ITV4Wed 28 Sep 08:30GEORGIA v ROMANIANapier
ITV1Sat 1 Oct 09:30ENGLAND v SCOTLANDEden Park, Auckland
ITV1Sun 2 Oct 02:00ARGENTINA v GEORGIAPalmerston North

Predictions: ENGLAND - Quarter finals, SCOTLAND - Quarter finals
ENGLAND face an intriguing test in Pool B against old rivals Scotland and Argentina as they aim to reach a third consecutive World Cup Final. Eight years after lifting the William Webb Ellis trophy in 2003, England are arguably in their best shape since then to emulate the feat.
Martin Johnson's men certainly look better than in 2007 when Brian Ashton's squad still reached the Final but only after a slow start to the tournament and a 36-0 defeat in the Pool stages to South Africa. A couple of momentous wins later against Australia and hosts France meant England took their defence to the very last game but the feeling was that England were always a bit short of world championship quality.
This time, England arrive at the World Cup having won their first Six Nations title since 2003 and having easily beaten Ireland in their last warm-up. The victory in Dublin provided England with a morsel of revenge for having failed to win the Grand Slam there earlier this year and it remains the case that this current England team will be undermined by the odd defeats.
There was another such instance in the warm-up matches when England lost to Wales at Cardiff - and Scotland will be hoping that England suffer another off-day on 1 October. By then, both the Scots and the English will know if they have brought a premature end to Argentina's threat, which has diminished since their remarkable run to the semi finals four years ago when the Pumas beat Scotland in the quarter finals.
Andy Robinson's men will want revenge for that and to ensure Scotland's record of having always made it through the Pool stages continues. The signs are looking good if Scotland's two wins away in Argentina last summer are anything to go by.
Finally in this Pool, as a sidenote to the three-way battle at the top of the group, Georgia take on Romania in a match which will decide the best European rugby team outside of the Six Nations.

POOL C
TVDate/Time (BST)Venue
ITV1Sun 11 Sep 04:30AUSTRALIA v ITALYNorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV1Sun 11 Sep 07:00IRELAND v UNITED STATESNew Plymouth
ITV4Thu 15 Sep 08:30RUSSIA v UNITED STATESNew Plymouth
ITV1Sat 17 Sep 09:30AUSTRALIA v IRELANDEden Park, Auckland 
ITV4Tue 20 Sep 08:30ITALY v RUSSIANelson
ITV1Fri 23 Sep 09:30AUSTRALIA v UNITED STATESWellington
ITV1Sun 25 Sep 07:00IRELAND v RUSSIARotorua
ITV4Tue 27 Sep 08:30ITALY v UNITED STATESNelson
ITV1Sat 1 Oct 04:30AUSTRALIA v RUSSIANelson
ITV1Sun 2 Oct 09:30IRELAND v ITALYDunedin

Predictions: AUSTRALIA - Runners-up, IRELAND - Quarter finals
AUSTRALIA arrive at the World Cup with the youngest average age in their squad and a satisfied glow having already got one over on the All Blacks by winning the Tri Nations decider.
Preparations for the Wallabies have not always seemed so smooth. Coach Robbie Deans' decision to award James Horwill the captaincy came less than a month ago, and shortly after Rocky Elsom had led Australia to an amazing defeat to Samoa. However, the two-time champions can be confident that there should be no similar upsets at the World Cup given their opponents in Pool C.
For, while the Wallabies have the youngest side, the Irish have selected a squad which is, on average, the oldest in the tournament. Ireland won the Six Nations Grand Slam as recently as 2009 but this tournament seems to have come two years too late for them and the old-timers have had a pretty disastrous set of warm-up matches, losing all four.
Four years ago, Ireland failed to make it out of the group stages after defeats to Argentina and France - and so, while not expecting to challenge for the trophy, just making into the knockout stages would produce sighs of relief in the Emerald Isle. Ireland should at least achieve a last eight place this time considering their main opponent will be Italy.
The Azzurri can be dangerous on their day, as France can testify from this year's Six Nations, but their day is still not nearly regular enough. Meanwhile, Russia will be hoping to make a good impression in their first World Cup appearance and the USA players are sure to be feeling all sorts of emotion when they take on Ireland on the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

POOL D
TVDate/Time (BST)Venue
ITV1Sat 10 Sep 04:30FIJI v NAMIBIARotorua
ITV1Sun 11 Sep 09:30SOUTH AFRICA v WALESWellington
ITV1Wed 14 Sep 03:30SAMOA v NAMIBIARotorua
ITV1Sat 17 Sep 07:00SOUTH AFRICA v FIJIWellington
ITV1Sun 18 Sep 04:30WALES v SAMOAHamilton
ITV4Thu 22 Sep 09:00SOUTH AFRICA v NAMIBIANorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV1Sun 25 Sep 04:30FIJI v SAMOAEden Park, Auckland
ITV1Mon 26 Sep 08:30WALES v NAMIBIANew Plymouth
ITV4Fri 30 Sep 09:30SOUTH AFRICA v SAMOANorth Harbour, Auckland
ITV1Sun 2 Oct 07:00WALES v FIJIHamilton

Predictions: SOUTH AFRICA - Semi finals, WALES - Quarter finals
THEY may not be as strong as they were in 2007 when they won their second World Cup but it would still be a surprise if the South Africa failed to reach the last four. The Springboks may have finished a long way behind Australia and New Zealand in the latest Tri Nations series but they can be reassured that none of their Pool D opponents is as strong.
Having beaten England in Cardiff, Wales have had a better run-in to the tournament than the Springboks and will look to catch them off guard in the teams' opening match. However, the history books suggest that it is Wales who must be wary of an upset having previously failed to make it out of the group stages after defeats to Samoa in 1991 and Fiji four years ago.
Warren Gatland's men face both Pacific Island nations again and, rather than their opener against South Africa being the vital game, it could be that their last match against Fiji is a decider for second place. Samoa, meanwhile, made a massive statement by shocking Australia in a warm-up match.
And so, expect the matches involving all three teams - Wales, Samoa and Fiji - to be highly competitive, leaving the lowest-ranked team, Namibia, just hoping to avoid a repeat of their 142-0 defeat to Australia in World Cup 2003.

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Euro 2012 qualifiers: Narrow win edges England closer

QUALIFIED TEAMS:
Poland (co-hosts), Ukraine (co-hosts), Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain

ENGLAND require just one more point to qualify for Euro 2012 after Ashley Young scored the winner in an unconvincing 1-0 win over Wales at Wembley.

Fabio Capello's men came into this clash in the midst of their worst winless run at home for 30 years, having drawn three and lost one of their last four games.

At least England claimed the three points on this occasion to prevent the sequence from being extended further but this was fairly drab stuff for the most part.

After a quiet start, England began to assert themselves once winger Stewart Downing realised he had the beating of his opposing full-back Neil Taylor.

The Liverpool man's first two crosses went unrewarded but his third, on 35 minutes, was converted by a fine first-time finish from Young who put in another impressive shift.

England held on comfortably until half-time but, after the break, Wales began to involve Gareth Bale more into the play which resulted in them enjoying more possession.

As the match drew to a close, England were just holding on and the Welsh then missed a glorious chance to equalise when Robbie Earnshaw inexplicably missed from three yards out.

That was as good as it got for Gary Speed's men who remain rooted to the bottom of Group G but who can look to build on an improved second half of this campaign.

With just one match left, England are now on 17 points, six points clear of Montenegro who did not play tonight.

The Three Lions need to be wary, though, as Montenegro can still claim top spot with two wins in their final matches against England on 7 October and Switzerland four days later.

Meanwhile, Switzerland will still harbour hopes of taking second spot themselves after Xherdan Shaqiri scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 comeback win over ten-man Bulgaria to close within three points of Montenegro.

Elsewhere, defending champions Spain secured their place in the finals from Group I with the biggest win of the night - a sound 6-0 thrashing of Liechtenstein.

In the same group, Scotland kept alive their slender hopes of making it into the playoffs with a 1-0 win over Lithuania thanks to Gary Naysmith's goal just after half-time.

Craig Levein's men had dominated the first half but had failed to score, missing a glorious chance when captain Darren Fletcher had his penalty saved.

However, Naysmith ensured this would not be another Hampden hard-luck story and some resolute defending late on secured only the Scots' second three-point haul of this campaign.

The victory moved Scotland onto eight points, way behind runaway leaders Spain who have a perfect 18, but now just two behind the Czech Republic.

Scotland need to win their game against Liechtenstein and hope the Czechs are beaten in both of their last two fixtures, at home to Spain and away to Lithuania.

But, while the Scots retain an outside chance, the dream of a first European Championship finals appearance for Northern Ireland died away in a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Estonia in Group C.

Martin Vunk made it 1-0 on the half-hour in Tallinn, minutes before Tarmo Kink's shot went straight through Lee Camp to double the lead.

Estonia offered Northern Ireland a way back into the game before half-time when Raio Piroja put through his own net but a complete howler by Gareth McAuley allowed Sergei Zenjov to restore the hosts' two-goal advantage.

Kaimar Saag rubbed salt into the wounds with a fourth goal in stoppage time from a shot which beat Camp on his near-post.

Italy wrapped up a comfortable qualification from the group with a 1-0 win over Slovenia in Florence thanks to Gianpaolo Pazzini's late strike.

The three points move the Azzurri onto 22 from eight games, eight clear of Serbia who are in the best position to take second-place.

Not only do the Serbians occupy that slot after their second win in a week, 3-1 over the Faroe Isles, but they also have a game in hand over rivals Estonia and Slovenia who are one and three points back in third and fourth.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland are in fifth place, five points behind Serbia with two games left.

The encouraging start to this campaign by the Northern Irish now seems a long time ago and Nigel Worthington's days as head coach may be numbered.

It is looking a lot better for the Republic of Ireland in Group B, though - even if they used up a whole load of fortune in their 0-0 draw away on a plastic pitch in Russia.

To be sure, it was the luck of the Irish which helped Richard Dunne and Damien Duff both cleared off the line while Shay Given produced a sterling performance to keep the Russians at bay.

The night got better still for the Irish when it filtered through that Armenia had inflicted a 4-0 home defeat on Slovakia. Giovanni Trapattoni's team now have a really good chance of winning the group.

For, though the Irish - on 15 points - remain two behind Russia tonight, Armenia and Slovakia are already a point behind - and the Russians face Slovakia next.

However, it remains unclear if there is a sting in the tail and there is also a lack of clarity over what will happen in Groups D, F and H.

In Group D, France had their lead cut to just a single point, having drawn 0-0 with Romania while Bosnia-Herzegovina beat nine-man Belarus 1-0 with a late goal.

In Group F, Croatia leapfrogged Greece into top spot as one goal from Luka Modric and two from Eduardo helped Slaven Bilic's men complete a comeback win over ten-man Israel.

Euro 2004 winners Greece could only manage a 1-1 draw away in Latvia - and only then because of a late goal - giving Croatia a one-point advantage going into their clash in Athens next month.

The tightest of all the groups is Group H. Three teams - Portugal, Denmark and Norway - are now tied on 13 points, the Norwegians having played a game more and lost 2-0 to the Danes tonight thanks to two Niclas Bendtner goals.

After their respective games in hand, though, Denmark and Portugal face each other next month in a winner-takes-all scenario with the loser perhaps slipping behind Norway.

That leaves just two groups which have yet to be mentioned.

In Group E, Netherlands - still boasting a perfect record after a 2-0 win over Finland - have qualified even without yet quite winning the group as - if they slip to second place - they will definitely hold the best runners-up record.

Of course, it is far more likely that the Dutch will win the group anyway and either Sweden or Hungary will take second place.

Both of those sides are currently on 18 points having enjoyed comfortable midweek wins - but the Swedes have a game in hand.

And finally, in Group A - from which the Germans qualified on Friday - Turkey drew 0-0 with Austria to go two points clear of Belgium in the race for the playoff place.

EURO 2012 QUALIFYING
6 September 2011
Latest group standings

GROUP A
Austria 0-0 Turkey
Azerbaijan 3-2 Kazakhstan

GROUP B
FYR Macedonia 1-0 Andorra
Russia 0-0 Republic of Ireland
Slovakia 0-4 Armenia

GROUP C
Estonia 4-1 Northern Ireland
Italy 1-0 Slovenia
Serbia 3-1 Faroe Islands

GROUP D
Bosnia-Herzegovina 1-0 Belarus
Luxembourg 2-1 Albania
Romania 0-0 France

GROUP E
Finland 0-2 Netherlands
Moldova 0-2 Hungary
San Marino 0-5 Sweden

GROUP F
Croatia 3-1 Israel
Latvia 1-1 Greece
Malta 1-1 Georgia

GROUP G
England 1-0 Wales
Switzerland 3-1 Bulgaria

GROUP H
Denmark 2-0 Norway
Iceland 1-0 Cyprus

GROUP I
Scotland 1-0 Lithuania
Spain 6-0 Liechtenstein

Sunday 4 September 2011

Mo Farah flies to join Greene with gold

BRITAIN'S Mo Farah held off a late burst by American Bernard Lagat to claim his first ever World Championship gold medal in the 5,000m in Daegu.

Farah, who also won silver in the 10,000m this week, kept his cool and went to the front with more than a lap to go after a slow, tactical race.

The move paid dividends as he stretched out a big enough lead to hold off his competition, finishing in a time of 13 minutes 23 seconds.

Earlier this year, Farah moved to the USA to be coached by Alberto Salazar who explained this week, "We haven't worked on his springint technique at the end of a race.

"We have worked on a lot and there has been a big improvement, but I haven't yet worked on Farah's speed."

That the 28-year-old still has room to improve on his fast finish can only be frightening news for his rivals and his coach is focused on ensuring Farah is a hero of the London 2012 Olympics.

"When we've done the work, Farah will be a contender for both gold medals," added Salazar.

Indeed, Farah's gold in South Korea meant the whole of Team GB ended an up-and-down week on a high and still on track for success at the London 2012 Olympics this time next year.

Britain had to wait until day six to strike gold but Dai Greene delivered an excellent performance in the 400m hurdles.

Welshman Greene held his nerve after two false-starts to record a time of 48.26 seconds and added world gold to his victories in the European Championships and Commenwealth Games in 2010.

Greene said he was inspired by Hannah England who was celebrating with the Union Jack after she had won a surprise silver in the women's 1500m.

He said: "I saw Hannah England's performance and saw her running around with the flag, and thought I had to get a piece of that action."

But, while England's silver was an unexpected boost to the medal total, Team GB suffered its fair share of disappointments this week.

Christine Ohuruogu was disqualified after falling foul of the harsh false-start rule which claimed its biggest victim when Usain Bolt was dumped out of the 100m.

Heptathlete Jessica Ennis led her multi-event competition for most of the way but a poor javelin left her needing a miracle in the 800m to overhaul Russian Tatyana Chernova.

Sheffield-born Ennis ran a personal best in the final event but still had to settle for silver and it was a similar story on the last day of competition for Phillips Idowu.

Idowu produced a season-best performance of 17.70m and yet had to settle for second place after 21-year-old American Christian Taylor (17.96m) pipped him to the gold.

Nevertheless, adding in the controversial bronze medal won by Andy Turner - awarded after Cuban Dayron Robles was disqualified for putting China's Liu Xiang off balance - Team GB achieved their best overall performance at the World Championships since finishing 4th in Stuttgart in 1993.

Importantly, they matched the pre-competition aim of seven medals, set by head coach Charles van Commenee.

Meanwhile, Bolt recovered to retain his 200m world title in his third-fastest ever time before leading Jamaica to a new world record in the 4x100m relay, acting as anchor in a time of 37.04.

And, with still some room for improvement, British athletics can also surely look forward to their own sprinkling of success at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford 11 months from now.

WORLD ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2011 (Daegu)
Medal Table
PosCountryGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1UNITED STATES128525
2RUSSIA94619
3KENYA76417
4JAMAICA4419
5GERMANY3317
6GREAT BRITAIN & NI2417
7CHINA1214
8AUSTRALIA1113
9ETHIOPIA1045
10UKRAINE1012

Team GB medallists
2 Gold Dai Greene (men's 400m hurdles), Mo Farah (men's 5000m)
4 Silver Mo Farah (men's 10000m), Hannah England (women's 1500m), Jessica Ennis (women's heptathlon), Phillips Idowu (men's triple jump)
1 Bronze Andrew Turner (men's 110m hurdles)

Team GB at the World Championship Athletics
YearHostsGoldSilverBronzeTotal (Rank)
2011Daegu2417 (6th)
2009Berlin2226 (8th)
2007Osaka1135 (11th)
2005Helsinki1023 (16th)
2003Saint-Denis0123 (30th)
2001Edmonton1012 (19th)
1999Seville1427 (12th)
1997Athens1416 (10th)
1995Gothenburg1315 (13th)
1993Stuttgart33410 (4th)
1991Tokyo2237 (5th)
1987Rome1348 (7th)
1983Helsinki2237 (6th)

Friday 2 September 2011

Euro 2012 qualifiers: Deutschland über alles

GERMANY became the first team to make it through the qualifiers after a thumping 6-2 win over neighbours Austria in Group A.

Miroslav Klose moved within six goals of Gerd Muller's record for Germany of 68 international strikes with the opener on nine minutes.

But it was Real Madrid man Mesut Oezil who stole the show with two goals as the Nationalmannschaft sealed their place in the finals in Poland and Ukraine.

Lukas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze also scored for Germany who made it eight wins out of eight in Gelsenkirchen.

Turkey did themselves the power of good in the race to finish second with a 2-1 win over Kazakhstan while their rivals Belgium laboured to a 1-1 draw in Azerbaijan. The Turks are now a point clear of the Belgians with a game in hand.

Russia took control of Group B with a narrow 1-0 home win over FYR Macedonia as Republic of Ireland and Slovakia had to settle for 0-0 in Dublin.

The Irish will be the more disappointed of the two teams after Robbie Keane missed a sitter for his 52nd international goal, putting a header over the bar from six yards.

But Giovanni Trapattoni's men should be confident of securing at least second place with a better run-in than the Slovakians, once they have got their visit to Russia on Tuesday out of the way.

Indeed, it is Russia who are in pole position to win the group as they moved onto 16 points, two clear of Ireland and Slovakia.

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying for a first ever European Championship finals from Group C took a major blow after Serbia won 1-0 at Windsor Park in Belfast.

Marko Pantelic punished Steve Davis' misplaced pass halfway through the second half while Corey Evans had earlier missed the best chance for Nigel Worthington's men with a header.

Northern Ireland have now dropped to fifth place on nine points from seven games, though they are still just two points adrift of the second-placed Serbians and Slovenia, in third.

Estonia are still well in with a shout in fourth place on 10 points after winning 2-1 in Slovenia who must now face the prospect of facing highly-motivated group leaders Italy on Tuesday.

The Azzurri were unconvincing tonight in a 1-0 win over the Faroe Isles but, nevertheless, they are on the verge of joining Germany in the finals, needing a win by any score in midweek.

In Group D, Sejad Salihovic and Haris Medunjanin scored two first-half goals within two minutes as Bosnia-Herzegovina beat Belarus 2-0 in Minsk to become the main challengers to France.

Bosnia are now second on 13 points, a point clear of Belarus having played only seven games as compared to the Belarussian's eight.

France remain top on 16 points, from just seven matches, after early goals from Karim Benzema and Yann M'Vila helped Les Bleus to a 2-1 win in Albania.

However, the narrow score does not reflect the dominance of Laurent Blanc's side who hit the woodwork three times.

Romania are still down in fourth but moved into contention for second place on 11 points after a routine 2-0 win over Luxembourg.

The biggest win of the night came in Group E as 2010 World Cup runners-up Netherlands cruised to their biggest-ever win against hapless San Marino.

Robin Van Persie scored four goals as the Dutch won 11-0 to retain their own 100% record with 21 points from seven games.

Better still for Bert van Marwijk's men, second-placed Sweden were beaten 2-1 in Hungary to fall six points behind with just three matches left to make up the deficit.

Group F is now almost certainly a two-horse race as Greece beat third-placed Israel 1-0 in Tel Aviv thanks to a Sotiris Ninis goal on the hour.

Euro 2004 winners Greece continue to lead the group on 17 points, but they are still just a point clear of Croatia who beat minnows Malta 3-1. Croatia play in Athens in what looks like being the Group decider on 7 October.

England looked set to play an equally vital match on the same date with Montenegro to decide the outcome of Group G but tonight's results may prove to be decisive instead.

While Fabio Capello's men were easing to a 3-0 win in Sofia, thanks to two goals from the in-form Wayne Rooney and one from Gary Cahill, Wales recorded their first points of the campaign in a 2-1 win.

Steve Morison and Aaron Ramsey scored the goals for the Welsh at the Cardiff City Stadium before Stevan Jovetic set up a nervy last 20 minutes.

Gary Speed's men held on, though, for his first competitive win as manager, and the result has dealt a severe blow to Montenegro's qualification chances.

England now lead the group on 14 points, three clear of Montenegro. Switzerland and Bulgaria remain on just five, giving Wales, on three points, the chance to avoid the wooden spoon.

In Nicosia, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal beat ten-man Cyprus 4-0 to move top of Group H.

However, there remains tough competition from Norway, who joined the Portuguese on 13 points from six games after 1-0 win over Iceland, and Denmark who are three points behind but with a game in hand.

Importantly, Denmark meet Norway at home on Tuesday and Portugal at home next month.

And finally, in this round of matches, Scotland lost much hope of qualifying after a controversial last-minute penalty earned Czech Republic a 2-2 draw in Group I.

Michal Kadlec converted after a clear dive by Jan Rezek as the Czechs twice came from behind.

Earlier, Kenny Miller had given Scotland a lead which they barely merited on the stroke of half-time. The Czechs had been the better side with Milan Baros missing a sitter before being brought down in the box by Charlie Adam.

In a lucky escape, no penalty was given against the Scots on that occasion but Czech Republic did equalise with just 12 minutes left through Jaroslav Plasil.

When Miller was instrumental in setting up a second goal for Scotland through Darren Fletcher five minutes later, though, the Tartan Army's hopes were revived that Craig Levein's men might make a playoff.

Kadlec's penalty killed that hope and left Scotland still trailing the Czechs by five points with Lithuania to come on Tuesday.

At least Scotland should retain a mathematical chance of qualification via the playoffs with victory over the Lithuanians who laboured to a 0-0 draw against Liechtenstein yesterday.

But it is looking more and more likely that, once again, England will be only team from the Home Nations joining Poland, Ukraine, Germany and the others in the finals next summer.

EURO 2012 RESULTS
2 September 2011
Group-by-group standings

GROUP A
Azerbaijan 1-1 Belgium
Germany 6-2 Austria
Turkey 2-1 Kazakhstan

GROUP B
Andorra 0-3 Armenia
Republic of Ireland 0-0 Slovakia
Russia 1-0 FYR Macedonia

GROUP C
Faroe Islands 0-1 Italy
Northern Ireland 0-1 Serbia
Slovenia 1-2 Estonia

GROUP D
Albania 1-2 France
Belarus 0-2 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Luxembourg 0-2 Romania

GROUP E
Finland 4-1 Moldova
Hungary 2-1 Sweden
Netherlands 11-0 San Marino

GROUP F
Georgia 0-1 Latvia
Israel 0-1 Greece
Malta 1-3 Croatia

GROUP G
Bulgaria 0-3 England
Wales 2-1 Montenegro

GROUP H
Cyprus 0-4 Portugal
Norway 1-0 Iceland

GROUP I
Lithuania 0-0 Liechtenstein
Scotland 2-2 Czech Republic