Sports
The secret to France’s World Cup success is simple: Don’t make mistakes

It is not a game they will remember, or that will be remembered by many at all. France-Morocco at Al-Bayt stadium on Wednesday night didn’t reach the heights and drama many had hoped, despite the wonderful atmosphere created by the fans in red and green.
It was entertaining, for sure, but that was about it. The French players won’t care though; it was a game that had to be won, regardless of how. It was a semifinal of a big tournament, and that they know how to deal with. They have won the last six they have played (1998, 2000, 2006, 2016, 2018, 2022) at the World Cup or the Euros. Basically, when France are in the last four, they always qualify for the final.
For the fourth time in the last seven World Cups, they will compete for the ultimate prize. That’s some achievement in itself. They have an incredible opportunity to go back-to-back as well.As keeper Hugo Lloris pointed out, his team “suffered” to get there. This is part of their DNA. This is what they do. They control games, which means at times they are put under pressure, but they always find a way to win. They are not blowing teams away, they are not spectacular, they are not sexy or fancy. But Les Bleus win. They are the most efficient and resilient side in the world and have been for four years.
Their adventure might end in tears as they watch Lionel Messi lift his first and last World Cup on Sunday night but you would not put it past them to cause another heartbreak, like with the heroic Moroccans on Wednesday. Denying Messi of a world crown would be cruel but that’s part of the game. France would have to play better than on Wednesday but then again, they still dismantled Morocco, the surprised package of this incredible tournament — something that Croatia, Belgium, Spain and Portugal could not do.
It was a game which France coach Didier Deschamps and his men didn’t do anything great but didn’t do anything wrong either. This is their mantra. They don’t make mistakes but they capitalise on others making some.For the second game in a row, after England in the quarterfinal, they didn’t play well but they managed to see it through. They were not under as much pressure as against England, but these two games show again what this team is about. Ruthlessness, killer instinct, mental strength, calm in the storm — call it what you want, the French have it.
Deschamps, who in 10 years at the helm has now reached a quarterfinal (2014), final (2016), won (2018), last 16 (2021), and now a finalist at least (2022) tells his players all the time: “It is all about winning.”
And he is right. You don’t have to play well. You will suffer and you will have to ride the tough times … but they all know exactly how to do it.
“It was not perfect. We struggled at times and we are tired but this is what it takes to reach another final,” Lloris told the media after France’s win on Wednesday.
Deschamps has created a monster. Even without Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Karim Benzema, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Hernandez and Christopher Nkunku, Les Bleus don’t stray from their objective and their methods. They are cold-blooded assassins.
“Four years ago, after beating Belgium in the semifinal, I was crying in the dressing room,” explained Antoine Griezmann after the game. “This time, I was already focused on Sunday, recovering and preparing well for the final.”
This current squad contains only nine players from the winning one of 2018 (Lloris, Steve Mandanda, Alphonse Areola, Raphael Varane, Benjamin Pavard, Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele) but they have transmitted their values and experience to the new generation. This 2022 squad of course resembles the 2018 one: they play and fight the same way. They defend and attack the same way.
“We are a team who knows how to suffer. They passed on the recipe,” defender Jules Kounde said after the game.
To win this World Cup and to write history as only the third team in history to win back-to-back editions (with Italy 1934-1938 and Brazil 1958-1962) they will have to play better against Argentina than they did against England and Morocco but then again, they have shown that when they need to step it up and accelerate, they can. Mbappe is the perfect example. He doesn’t shine during the whole 90 minutes and his absence of defensive work often disrupts the balance of the French team. But every time he touches the ball, something happens and he becomes dangerous again. Mbappe is the X-factor, but in the same mindset as the rest of the squad.
To twist Gary Lineker’s famous words about Germany always winning, we could, right now, claim that football is simple a game where 22 players chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the French are in the final.
(ESPN)
Sports
With Sridhar on board, Sri Lanka eye fielding gold

When Sanath Jayasuriya walked into his first media briefing as Head Coach, he didn’t waste time playing it safe. He went straight to the point — fielding was going to be a game-changer. And true to his word, what the team has pulled off over the last 12 months is nothing short of a stunning comeback.
Here was a side that had just been bundled out of the ICC Cricket World Cup with a wooden spoon finish — ninth place — and failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy. But under Jayasuriya’s stewardship, Sri Lanka has punched above its weight, defeating the top two ranked teams in the world — Australia and India. And in this remarkable turnaround, fielding has been the unsung hero, the silent game-winner.
Doubling down on the importance of fielding, the team management roped in India’s former fielding guru R. Sridhar for a ten-day high-intensity camp. A coach who comes with a glowing reputation, Sridhar isn’t just focusing on the big boys — he’s spreading the gospel of fielding to the development squads and the under-19s too. It’s a move that signals intent — Sri Lanka wants to be sharp, not just with the bat and ball, but in the field as well.
These efforts to lift fielding standards deserve a standing ovation. One can only wonder how different things might’ve been if this sort of proactive thinking had been in place two years ago. The writing was on the wall even then — dropped catches, fumbled run-outs, and lazy throws were costing games. But instead of addressing the problem head-on, the management handed the reins to an overhyped foreign coach and, in cricketing terms, ended up hitting their own wickets.
Since Jayasuriya took over, he’s turned the tide. He brought in Upul Chandana — Sri Lanka’s very own livewire in the field — from within the SLC coaching system. Chandana, with his unconventional drills and energetic approach, has injected fresh blood and urgency into the unit. The players now seem to have caught the fielding bug.
That’s how it should be. While someone like Chandana remains as a permanent fixture, brief stints from specialists like Sridhar allow new ideas to bounce around the dressing room.
Earlier, even Jonty Rhodes, arguably the Michael Jordan of fielding, spent a few days in Colombo. He quickly identified the blind spots and sharpened Sri Lanka’s fielding toolkit.
That said, no matter how many big-ticket coaches you bring in, no fielding revolution can succeed unless the players themselves buy in. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it dive full-length in the covers.
And for too long, that buy-in was missing. Thankfully, the tide seems to be turning — especially with the next-gen stars who appear hungrier, more agile, and aware that in modern cricket, fielding can win you matches.
Look no further than T.M. Dilshan. Initially groomed as a wicketkeeper, his path was blocked by a certain Kumar Sangakkara — who, let’s face it, wasn’t giving up the gloves anytime soon. So Dilshan pivoted. He transformed himself into a brilliant outfielder, arguably the best in the side. His work ethic was legendary.
After every net session, he’d drag Fielding Coach Trevor Penney to the boundary and aim for ten direct hits a day. In the early days, it took him hours to meet that mark. But with persistence and practice, he was hitting the target in just 15 minutes. That’s the stuff champions are made of — grit, grind, and getting your whites dirty.
What Sri Lanka needs now are more players with that Dilshan mindset — willing to do the hard yards, chase leather like it’s gold, and throw themselves around like they’re defending their mother’s dowry.
With Jayasuriya calling the shots, Chandana in the dugout, and experts like Sridhar chipping in, Sri Lanka’s fielding fortunes are finally turning a corner. It’s early days, but if this momentum continues, the Lions might just roar again — not just with the bat and ball, but in every blade of grass they defend.
by Rex Clementine
Sports
11th edition of Pera 6s Hockey Championship concludes today

The 11th edition of the Pera 6s annual 6-a-side Inter-University and Inter-Club Hockey Championship, organised by the University of Peradeniya Hockey Team, which commenced at the Univeresity of Peradeniya play ground on Saturday, will conclude today [11 May]
First played in 2006, the tournament has been featured ten times, and provides a unique opportunity for university hockey players to display their skills and prowess on a competitive platform. It is also an eye-catching attraction on the university’s sports calendar.
In the last edition the Inter University championship was won by University of Peradeniya (Men’s) and University of Moratuwa/Sabaragamuwa University (Women’s) while Creators Sports Club and Old Aloysian Sports Club were joint champions in the men’s club championship, and Wennapuwa Hockey Club clinched the women’s championship.
Sports
ASBC Asian U22 and Youth Boxing Championships from Monday

ASBC Asian Under-22 and Youth Boxing Championships, one of the most prestigious international sporting events ever to grace Sri Lankan soil will be held from May 12 to 23 at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo.
This landmark tournament marks the historic return of top-tier Asian boxing to Sri Lanka after 57 years. Over 400 athletes and officials from more than 24 countries are set to participate. Boxing powerhouses such as India, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Australia, and Thailand will be among the competing nations, making this one of the most significant multi-nation sporting events the island has hosted in recent times.
The event is being organised by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka (BASL), in collaboration with the Asian Boxing Confederation (ASBC) and the International Boxing Association (IBA). It also receives crucial support from Sri Lanka’s Tri-Forces, Police, Customs, and Immigration departments.
Speaking about the significance of the tournament, Tharanga Perera, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, stated that this is about showcasing Sri Lanka’s potential as a sports destination, developing local talent, and placing the country firmly on the global sporting map. He further added that thanks to the Ministry of Sports, the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, and Cinnamon Hotels, the official hospitality partner, Sri Lanka is fully prepared to deliver a world-class experience for athletes, officials, and spectators. According to Perera, this tournament is more than just a boxing event, it is a moment of national pride.
Perera also announced that SLT-Mobitel, PeoTV, and Peo Sports will serve as the official TV broadcasters of the championship. All matches will be aired live in true HD quality on Peo Sports 1. Viewers will also be able to watch the tournament live and free of charge on the Peo Mobile App making it accessible to audiences nationwide. Additionally, boxing enthusiasts around the world can watch every match live on Peo Sports’ Facebook page and YouTube channel, ensuring broad accessibility to this milestone event.
Powered by Slt Mobitel’s high speed Fibre Broadband connectivity and exceptional coverage by Peo Sports, the event will captivate audiences, showcase the power of sports to inspire and unite, and pave the way for a brighter future for Sri Lanka’s boxing community.
With anticipation building across the region, Sri Lanka is ready to welcome Asia’s brightest young boxing talents. This championship promises to be a spectacular display of skill, speed, and sporting spirit, and it will stand as a landmark moment in the country’s sporting history.
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