Iraq faced already qualified Japan in a make-or-break Asia Group B World Cup qualifier on Tuesday in Doha.

Having advanced to Brazil last week, Japan fielded a weakened side but still controlled the match early on.

They could have opened the scoring through (8) Hiroshi Kiyotake in the 26th minute but his shot was parried by Iraqi goalkeeper Noor Sabri Abbas.

In the 32nd minute, Kiyotake lifted a ball towards Mike Havenaar, but the Vitesse striker couldn’t get his header on target – and the match went to the half goalless.

A desperate Iraq finally began attacking after the restart, however (6) Saif Salman Hashim’s long effort was easy to stop for Eiji Kawashima.

In the 69th minute, (17) Ala’a Abdulzehra turned well near the penalty spot but his shot sailed over to keep the Iraqis frustrated.

Iraq’s chances of winning were dealt a blow in the 81st minute when (17) Abdulzehra kicked Japan’s (2) Masahiko Inoha in the face.

Inoha slumped in pain and Abdulzehra was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving Iraq with ten men for the remainder of the contest.

And so Japan took advantage.

A minute before stoppage time (7) Yasuhito Endo got the ball across to (9) Shinji Okazaki, who slotted home.

The game finished 1-0, and finished Iraq’s hopes of Brazil 2014.

The ICC Champions Trophy has lived a rather controversial life, always trying to find the meaning to its existence since its inception in 1998, then known as the ICC Knockout Championship.

However, on the way, it has given some rather memorable moments and also provided the likes of New Zealand and South Africa a chance to get their hands on an ICC trophy.

The 2013 edition of the tournament is going to be the last time this tournament will take place, with the proposed Test Championship slated to take its place from 2017. With the T20 World Cup and numerous domestic leagues sprouting up around the world, the tournament had already lost its appeal long back.

Here is however, a test for those who’ve seen the tournament struggle to justify its claim as a ‘mini World Cup’ over the years. How much do you know about the ICC Champions Trophy?

Ankeet Chavan celebrating during a match.

Ankeet Chavan has confessed to his role in the spot-fixing in IPL, according to a report by Times Now news channel.

Chavan, who plays for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, is one of the three prime accused, and the 27-year-old has now seemingly confessed to the Delhi Police immediately after being confronted by them.

‘Yes, I did something wrong. Yes, I made a mistake,’ Chavan is reported to have said.

Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila were dramatically arrested by the Delhi police on Thursday night on charges of spot-fixing in IPL matches. All three players were suspended by the BCCI until further notice.

The Delhi police have also claimed that they have the independent witnesses as well.

Goalkeeper of the Month: Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich and Germany

Bayern played nine games in a congested April, but Neuer didn’t play all of them. He didn’t need to because the Bavarians had wrapped up the league title with a 1-0 win away at Eintracht Frankfurt: a game Neuer featured in. He was imperious in goal, showcasing his best in the Champions League as he kept clean sheets against Juventus both on the road and at home.

But the performances he will feel most proud of are the ones against Barcelona. If shutting out the Blaugrana at home wasn’t a testament to his skill, he repeated the feat in Spain, keeping David Villa and Alexis Sanchez at bay as his team found the back of the net three times in Catalonia.

With Tom Starke getting a run-out for the remaining games of the Bundesliga, Neuer will look to be in top form as his side prepare to contest the Champions League trophy later this month.

With over 53% of the votes, Manuel Neuer is our Goalkeeper of the Month.

Defender of the Month: Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal and France

The Gunner rearguard has been revitalised since the return of Laurent Koscielny, and with results in tow, his inclusion has repaid Arsenal in plenty. The Frenchman started his side’s 2-1 win against West Bromwich Albion, holding the visitor’s three-man rearguard after Per Mertesacker had been sent off for conceding a penalty. He then joined forces with Thomas Vermaelen to earn his team another win in a come from behind 3-1 win against Norwich.

He joined the returning Mertesacker in keeping out Everton at the Emirates and then provided the assist for the German’s winner at Fulham in a fortunate win for his team. Koscielny ended the month by helping Arsenal deny Champions Manchester United a win in London as the race for the coveted Champions League spots hots up.

With over 67% of the votes, Laurent Koscielny is undoubtedly our Defender of the Month.

Midfielder of the Month: Gareth Bale, Tottenham and Wales

The Welshman is on a roll this season for Spurs, and he was in imperious form in April, as Spurs chased the Champions League spots. The Welsh wizard has been inspiring Tottenham to victories single-handedly. He played a massive role in the 3-1 victory over Manchester City, assisting for Dempsey’s goal and scoring one of his own, all while appearing to be less than fully fit.

He was sorely missed in the clash against Everton, and after his goal against Swansea early in the month, he became the first Spurs player to score more than 12 away goals in a Premier League season. Breaking records is something that he is well accustomed to by now, and we are more than likely to see him smash more records to smithereens in the coming seasons.

Having won the PFA Player of the Year award also this past month, and with 43% of the total votes, Gareth Bale is our Midfielder of the Month.

Striker of the Month: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid and Portugal

The number of goals scored by the unstoppable Cristiano Ronaldo in April were equivalent to the number of games he played – 7. After a slow start to the season, Ronaldo has really come to the party for Real Madrid, helping them put distance between themselves and local rivals Atletico in the race for the runners-up spot in La Liga. His tally in the Spanish league is second only to that of Lionel Messi, who had a relatively quiet April and will not feature in the list of nominees for the first time in a while. No such problems for Ronaldo though, as excellent shows, particularly against Galatasaray and Athletic Bilbao, made him one of the favourites to win this poll.

No surprise thus, that with over 57% of the votes, Cristiano Ronaldo lands the honours for Striker of the Month. 

Sir Alex Ferguson has announced that he will retire at the end of the season as Manchester United manager.

The 71-year old has decided to join the club’s boardroom as director.

In an announcement on the club’s website, Sir Alex said, “The decision to retire is one that I have thought a great deal about and one that I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.

“It was important to me to leave an organisation in the strongest possible shape and I believe I have done so. The quality of this league winning squad, and the balance of ages within it, bodes well for continued success at the highest level whilst the structure of the youth set-up will ensure that the long-term future of the club remains a bright one.”

Ferguson will retire as one of the greatest managers of all time in club football, having led the club for 26 years, winning 38 trophies, including 13 Premier League titles.

“Our training facilities are amongst the finest in global sport and our home Old Trafford is rightfully regarded as one of the leading venues in the world.

“Going forward, I am delighted to take on the roles of both Director and Ambassador for the club. With these activities, along with my many other interests, I am looking forward to the future.

“I must pay tribute to my family, their love and support has been essential. My wife Cathy has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.

“As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich.”

He also thanked the fans, the United board and the Glazer family for the support provided over the years.

“In my early years, the backing of the board, and Sir Bobby Charlton in particular, gave me the confidence and time to build a football club, rather than just a football team.

“Over the past decade, the Glazer family have provided me with the platform to manage Manchester United to the best of my ability and I have been extremely fortunate to have worked with a talented and trustworthy Chief Executive in David Gill. I am truly grateful to all of them.

“To the fans, thank you. The support you have provided over the years has been truly humbling. It has been an honour and an enormous privilege to have had the opportunity to lead your club and I have treasured my time as manager of Manchester United.”

Sir Alex Ferguson’s titles with Manchester United:

Premier League: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013.

FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2004

League Cup: 1992, 2006, 2009, 2010

Champions League: 1999, 2008

Cup Winners Cup: 1991

FIFA Club World Cup: 2008

UEFA Super Cup: 1992

Inter-Continental Cup: 1999

FA Charity/Community Shield: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011

3 MAY 1993: STEVE BRUCE AND BRYAN ROBSON OF MANCHESTER UNITED SOCCER CLUB AS THEY RAISE THE CUP AFTER WINNING THE FA PREMIER LEAGUE HAVING BEATEN BLACKBURN ROVERS BY 3 GOALS TO 1. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/ALLSPORT

Cricket

1934: Sir Don Bradman scores a superb 206 against Worcestshire in just 210 minutes, studded with 27 fours (3 1/2 hrs).

1979: Birthday of Australian open Phil Jacques.

1983: Birthday of Zimbabwean batsman Stuart Matsikenyeri.

1990: Birthday of Australian fast bowler James Pattinson.

Basketball

1970: New York Knicks beat Los Angeles Lakers 4-3 to win the 24th NBA Championship.

Boxing

1921: Birthday of boxing great, Sugar Ray Robinson.

Football

1983: Birthday of Hungarian goalkeeper Martin Fulop.

1993: Manchester United beat Blackburn Rovers 3-1 in their first game after being crowned Champions for the first time in the Premier League era.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history’ series.

C.J Watson missed this easy dunk in the final few minutes of regulation times against the Chicago Bulls. Result? The Brooklyn Nets lost in triple OT.

This has got to hurt!

Barcelona’s Dani Alves styles his mascot’s hair before the match starts… After the match, he might well have considered it as a potential new career.

Arsenal players give champions Manchester United a guard of honour at the Emirates. And yes, that included Robin van Persie.

Check out the rest of the GIFs of the week series.

Olympics

1908: 4th modern Olympic Games start in London.

Boxing

1956: Boxing legend Rocky Marciano retires, undefeated in his entire career.

Cricket

2001: Shoaib Akhtar breaks the 100 mile barrier in bowling, clocking a stunning 100.4 mph (161 kmph). It wasn’t recognized by the ICC, however, as they didn’t have a standard measuring tool.

Football

1989: Birthday of Lars Bender, midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen.

1989: Birthday of Sven Bender, Borussia Dortmund midfielder.

1990: Birthday of Martin Kelly, Liverpool defender.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history’ series.

Football

1991: Diego Maradona gets arrested for illegal possession and distribution of illegal narcotics in Argnetina.

Cricket

1996: Shaun Pollock takes 4 wickets in his first 4 balls on debut for Warwickshire against Leicestershire.

2003: South African batsman Jacques Rudolph scores a double century on debut.

2003: Stephen Fleming makes a career best 274 in a Test against Sri Lanka.

Golf

1952: Patty Berg plays the best round of golf ever by a woman, carding a 64.

Basketball

1964: Boston Celtics win the 18th NBA Championship, beating SF Warriors 4-1.

1966: Arnold “Red” Auerbach, Boston’s legendary coach, retires.

Tennis

1985: Birthday of American tennis star John Isner.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history’ series.

Football

1868: Birthday of Willie Maley, considered Celtic’s greatest manager. Won 30 trophies with the club during 43 consecutive years as manager.

1947: Birthday of Dutch and Barcelona football legend Johan Cruyff, who won the Ballon D’Or 3 times. Considered one of the greatest players ever in club football.

1963: Birthday of Everton manager David Moyes.

1969: Birthday of Indian football legend I.M Vijayan, who scored 40 goals for the country in 79 appearances.  3 time winner of Indian Player of the Year award and also an Arjuna award winner.

1993: Birthday of Real Madrid and France defender Raphael Varane.

2004: Arsenal draw 2-2 with Tottenham and claim the Barclays Premier League title. They would finish as the ‘Invincibles’, not losing a single game the whole season.

Cricket

1976: India lost a Test against West Indies by 10 wickets – despite losing only 11 wickets in the entire match. This happened as at least 3 Indian batsmen were injured by the bowling of Michael Holding and Wayne Daniel. All 17 members of the Indian squad were used at some point during the match.

1982: Birthday of Indian-origin England spinner Monty Panesar.

Basketball

1950: Chuck Cooper becomes the first ever black player to play in the NBA.

1976: Birthday of San Antonio  Spurs forward Tim Duncan.

F1

1981: Birthday of Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history’ series.

Image Credit: AIFF Media

Bangalore: There is no one better than Tanumoy Basu, goalkeeping coach of All India Football Federation developmental side Pailan Arrows, to comment on the future of goalkeepers in India. Presently in Bangalore to have a look at the ongoing 2nd Division League, Basu, who guarded the citadel for the Big Three in Kolkata in the 80s and the 90s, feels the right mix of height and technique defines a goalkeeper.

In an interview to AIFF, the former India goalkeeper spoke at length on the overall scenario in terms of goalkeeping in the country. Excerpts:

Comment on the current crop of goalkeepers in India.

The gap between the height of a goalkeeper and his technique needs to be bridged. Goalkeepers from Bengal are very sound technically but are not tall enough. Goalkeepers who have the height and hail from other states generally lack technique. In modern football, a goalkeeper needs to be both tall and technically sound. He is not only the shot stopper, but the first line of attack. Distribution is very important.

The current crop of goalkeepers we have are either tall or technically sound. A mixture of both is what is required. You need to deal with crosses, and in modern day football, flank movement has increased a lot. So height is of paramount importance, along with of course technique.

How can this problem be solved?

A goalkeeper needs to be spotted at that tender age. Then you need to research on his family background and check on his potential height in the future. You need to nurture him. All over the world, the same procedure is world.

What is being done to bridge it?

The All India Football Federation Academies are looking into the matter. We have Scott (O’Donell) and Rob (Baan) at the helm and they are doing their best to cater to the issue. It is their philosophy that a player needs to be developed from a very tender age. I would like to add that scouting doesn’t solely stay the responsibility of the AIFF Academies. Coach education is also very important.

How are things at Pailan Arrows?

Arrows are a developmental side. But as we play in the I-League, we also need results. So we need to strike a balance. At present we have one matured goalkeeper who can deliver the goods in the League, and other two three rookies who are being nurtured. See, the motive here is to groom the players and release them to play the I-League for other clubs. At present, all our custodians are ready for the next step.

How important is the role of a goalkeeping coach?

Very important! In modern day football, the goalkeeper is not only a shot stopper. He has to distribute well and inside the 18-yard box, his passing accuracy stays pertinent. For a goalkeeper to attain all that and at the same time keep pace with the rigours of the season, a goalkeeping coach is essential. But unfortunately in India people don’t realise that. Barring few clubs in Kolkata and one in Goa, most I-League clubs don’t have goalkeeping coaches.

What are the main areas he should focus on?

Developing the technical ability and working on fitness stays the main role of a goalkeeping coach. I would like to point out four major areas – shot stopping, tackling crosses, one on one situations and distribution. You need to plan your schedule likewise. Moreover, maintaining fitness is very important. Only one plays and other two or three sit out for a match. So maintaining their fitness is essential.

How do you see the future of Indian goalkeepers shaping up?

On the surface it seems a vacuum may be created when the likes of Subrata (Paul), Karanjit (Singh), Subhashish (Roy Chowdhury), Sandip (Nandy) and Arindam (Bhattacharya) leave. The onus is on goalkeeping coaches working at the youth level to fill the void in the next one and half years. It’s a massive challenge and I am working on it.

Cricket

1905: 1st class debut of England batting great Jack Hobbs.

1970: Birthday of Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming.

1971: Birthday of Kumara Dharamasena, former Sri Lankan spinner and now an ICC umpire.

1973: Birthday of Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, one of the greatest batsmen of all time with a hundred 100s to his name.

Football

1954: Wolverhampton win a league title for the first time ever. They would win it again in 1958 and 1959.

1962: Birthday of Stuart Pearce, England footballer and current coach of the national U-21 squad.

1987: Birthday of Tottenham and Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen.

Basketball

1963: Boston Celtics win the 17th NBA Championship, beating LA Lakers 4 games to 2.

1967: Philadelphia 76ers win the 21st NBA Championship, beating SF Warriors 4 games to 2.

Do check out the rest of the ‘This day in history’ series.