Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Sports World |
- Can France bounce back at Euro 2012
- Murray has London in mind
- Aiteen remains ante-post favourite for Hennessy
| Can France bounce back at Euro 2012 Posted: 08 Nov 2011 08:55 AM PST Before qualification, and during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, much controversy surrounded the French national team. France managed to qualify for the World Cup in controversial circumstances when legendary striker Thierry Henry hand-balled a goal into the back of the Republic of Ireland's net, which unfortunately saw Ireland fail to qualify for the prestigious World Cup. During the competition, one of France's key men Nicolas Anelka was dismissed from the French national team after a dispute with the previous manager, Raymond Domenech. The group stages saw France eliminated after some disappointing losses and some uninspiring victories. I imagine Republic of Ireland fans containing sense of redemption after France's debacle. But controversy aside, France seemed to have got their act together with current manager Laurent Blanc controlling the team in an efficient manner. People planning a bet on Euro 2012 should remember this. Blanc has led his team to several victories, which has guaranteed France a place in the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. In France's last match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, Blanc fielded a 4-3-3 formation. The man between the sticks was no other than Olympique Lyonnais' goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. In left back was Manchester United's Patrice Evra. Adil Rami and Eric Abidal held the centre back positions; with Olympique Lyonnais' right back Anthony Reveillere adopting the right side full back position for the French. Manchester City's Samir Nasri, Stade Rennes' Yann M'vila, and Newcastle United's Yohan Cabaye held the central midfield roles. Paris Saint-Germain's Jeremy Menez, Chelsea's Florent Malouda, and Marseille's Loic Remy held the striking positions. So, in answer to the question in the title - "Can France win the prestigious Euro 2012 title?" - The answer in this case would have to be yes. Blanc has an eclectic mix of highly talented players and is likely to lead France to the latter stages of the Euro 2012.  |
| Posted: 08 Nov 2011 06:48 AM PST Andy Murray has taken advantage of injuries to Novak Djokovic and others to win three titles this autumn, so now he is eyeing a successful end to 2011 with victory at the Paris Masters and the ATP Tour finals. The Scot has climbed to number three in the world rankings with consecutive titles in Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai in recent weeks thanks to a run of 20 games without defeat. People who bet on Andy Murray should bear this in mind. Murray could actually overtake Rafael Nadal and rise to number two in the world rankings by the end of the year if he wins in Paris and then becomes the first Brit to win the ATP World Tour in front of home fans at the O2 Arena in London. He has made the semi-finals of the ATP Tour finals on two occasions, in 2008 and 2010, and knows this a great chance to prove himself as one of the best after going another year without breaking his Grand Slam duck. Murray pulled out of last week's tournament in Basle with a muscle problem and is hoping to get back to his best in Paris ahead of competing in London. Punters may want to back him with an ATP Finals London bet. "I've actually always played well at the O2, but I've never managed to get to the final or win it, so this year I'd like to try and do that," he said. "It's a big challenge — not many guys have been able to win it. But this week I need to try and get some matches in; I don't really want to go in there with not having played a match for five or six weeks." The Barclays ATP World Tour finals run from November 20th to 27th at the O2 Arena in London with the eight best male ranked stars in global tennis competing in the prestigious end-of-season finale.  |
| Aiteen remains ante-post favourite for Hennessy Posted: 08 Nov 2011 02:03 AM PST The Paul Nicholls-trained Aiteen Thirtythree, a general 9/1 ante-post favourite for the Grade 3 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on November 26 after finishing runner-up to the smart Somersby on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton at the end of last month, is reported in good shape ahead of his bid for glory at the Berkshire track in a few weeks time, writes Elliot Slater. On the face of it finishing a three-length second in a three-runner race wouldn't appear to be good enough form to win a race as competitive as the Hennessy Gold Cup, but the Old Vic gelding was a very progressive sort last term and the feeling appears to be that there is plenty more to come this season as the seven-year-old continues to mature. Making the running at Kempton on his seasonal bow over an inadequate two miles and five-furlongs, Aiteen Thirtythree jumped well but had no more to offer once the high-class Somersby moved by at the third from home, but Nicholls' charge kept on at the one pace over the final two fences leaving the impression that he will come on significantly for the run. People following the Newbury Hennessy odds should bear this in mind. With the winner being touted as a live threat to Long Run in the Grade 1 King George VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day, time might well prove that Aiteen Thirtythree ran with more credit than was given at the time in finishing an honest second to Henrietta Knight's popular and highly talented chaser. Off a mark of 152 Nicholls' big race hope will be towards the top of the weights for the three-and-a-quarter mile Newbury contest, but having impressed with his jumping on his first two chase outings last term before pulling up when strongly fancied for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in March after being hampered three from home, there are many who believe the youngster is a potential Gold Cup horse of the future and could be 'well in' off a favourable mark.  |
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