Sports
Little known World Cup snippets
by Rex Clementine
The Cricket World Cup is just around the corner and the national cricket team has enjoyed both unprecedented success and unexpected lows over the previous 12 editions of the competition. One-time champions, Sri Lanka were also runners-up on two occasions and semi-finalists on one other time.
Their campaigns in 1999, where as defending champions they were knocked out in the first round and the 1987 tournament where they failed to win a single game remain disappointments.
Some records like the Upul Tharanga – T.M. Dilshan partnership for the first wicket worth 282 runs still stands and so do the ten-wicket drubbing that Sri Lanka handed England in the 2011 quarter-final, Chaminda Vaas’ hat-trick in the first three balls in Pietermaritzburg and Kumar Sangakkara’s feat for most dismissals.
These are well documented stories but today we will take a look at some narratives that have hardly received the attention of the public.
The 2015 World Cup schedule was so tough that on one day Sri Lanka were playing in New Zealand and the next day they were in Australia before flying back to New Zealand and then back to Australia again.
Having won their game against Bangladesh at MCG, the team was rushing back to the team hotel to pack their bags to catch an early morning flight to Wellington across the Tasman sea.
Man of the Match T.M. Dilshan attended the press briefing and he was asked how tough it was for his team to constantly travel between the countries while some other teams didn’t have such demanding schedules. The task was made tougher given the strict quarantine laws in both countries.
As Dilshan was about to answer, team manager Michael de Zoysa (bless him), interrupted and said, “I know it’s tough, but we don’t care because we play England next. England is a bye.’
When England batted first and made 309, it looked as if Michael had to eat his words, but his boys made a mockery of the run chase reaching the target with nine wickets and plenty of balls to spare.
During the 1996 World Cup, Sanath Jayasuriya had ended the career of a few bowlers – Manoj Prabhakar of India and England’s Richard Illingworth and Dermot Reeve never played again.
India were so obsessed with Jayasuriya that their entire team meeting ahead of the semi-final was how to stop Jayasuriya. In the end, Jayasuriya was dismissed in the third ball, but Aravinda de Silva counterattacked to take the game away from India.
In the finals of that tournament, as Asanka Gurusinghe and Aravinda de Silva were building a nice partnership, a drinks break was coming along and coach Dav Whatmore called up 12th man Ravindra Pushpakumara and wanted some vital information passed onto the two batters. As if Whatmore’s advice weren’t enough, all the senior players too chipped in urging the 12th man to say various things to the two batters.
Pushpa listened attentively but as he walked onto the field he thought for himself the run chase is going so smooth and why would he interrupt it. So, the only thing he said to the batters was, ‘well played aiya’ and returned to the dressing room without passing on any message.
Sir Garry Sobers was Sri Lanka’s coach during the 1983 campaign. The team was training at Headingley and Ashantha de Mel was swinging the ball to deadly effect and not many were able to put bat to ball.
Amused by the batters’ struggle, Sir Garry, who was nearly 50 at that point, asked for a single pad, a pair of gloves and started smashing de Mel all over. He wasn’t even using a bat. He had taken out a stump! The players were marvelling his skills even at that age.
Another West Indies genius Brian Lara was caught behind in the 2003 World Cup encounter in Cape Town, but umpire David Shepherd turned the appeal down. The umpires then told the Sri Lankan fielders that it is Lara and they should know better that he walks if he nicks it.
During the drinks break when the Sri Lankans told Lara what Shepherd had said, he explained how it works. ‘I do walk yes, but I don’t walk when I am the captain maan.’
Sidath Wettimuny in his international career hit only one six. It came in a World Cup fixture against England in 1983 at Taunton. His girlfriend was coming to see the game. Sidath had told her that the moment he spotted her, he will be hitting a six towards her. Ian Botham was bowling and Sidath took a chance and for once the man who put a lot of emphasis on batting with a straight bat didn’t mind taking a chance with a cross batted heave towards mid-wicket. Things people do for love!
The inaugural World Cup in 1975 was a baptism by fire for the new kids on the block. They had been hammered by West Indies by nine wickets and Pakistan by 192 runs but against Australia they put up a far better show.
Chasing 329 to win in 60 overs, Sri Lanka were well placed with Duleep Mendis and Sunil Wettimuny being involved in a decent partnership. Ian Chappell, the Australian captain then called up his main weapon Jeff Thomson and both batters had to retire hurt after being hit by the quickest bowler at that time.
As Mendis was recovering from the nasty blow to his head in a London hospital, a policeman visited him in the ward and asked, ‘Excuse me sir. Do you want to press charges against this Thomson.’
Sir Garry Sobers the legendary West Indies allrounder and one of the sport’s most towering icons, has died at his home in Barbados. He was 89 years old.
Widely regarded by many as the greatest allrounder and most gifted cricketer to have played the game, Sobers excelled as Test batter, could bowl left-arm pace as well as orthodox and wrist-spin, and he was an exceptional fielder and close-in catcher – attributes that once led his fellow all-timer, Sir Donald Bradman, to describe him as a “five-in-one cricketer”.
Sobers played 93 Test matches for West Indies between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8032 runs at an average of 57.78 and took 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. He also captained West Indies in 39 Tests between 1965 and 1972, winning nine and losing 10. The ICC’s premier annual award in men’s cricket – the Sir Garfield Sobers Award – is named in his honour and recognises the most outstanding overall performer in men’s international cricket across all formats.
Sobers made his first-class cricket debut at the age of 16, against the touring India team in January 1953, and excelled with four first-innings wickets to help his side enforce the follow-on. His Test debut followed a year later, against England in Jamaica, where he scored 14 and 26 from No.9 and took 4 for 75 in England’s first innings.
He played his initial Tests as a bowler, but at the age of 23 he scored his maiden Test hundred and also broke Len Hutton’s world record for the highest individual Test score by making 365 against Pakistan at Sabina Park in 1958. It was a record that stood until 1994, when it was broken by Brian Lara, an achievement Sobers was on hand to witness and celebrate.
A decade after that record-breaking innings, Sobers became the first cricketer to hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket – off Glamorgan’s Malcolm Nash – while playing for Nottinghamshire in Swansea. His first-class career comprised 383 matches for West Indies, Barbados, Nottinghamshire and South Australia and he amassed 28,314 runs at an average of 54.87 and took 1043 wickets at an average of 27.74.
While Sobers played 95 List A games, his international career had wound down by the advent of ODIs and he played only one international in that format – against England at Headingley in 1973. He was knighted for his services to cricket in 1975, and in 2000, he was named as one of Five Cricketers of the Century by Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack, alongside Bradman, Sir Jack Hobbs, Sir Viv Richards and Shane Warne.
Born in Barbados in 1936, Sobers was the fifth of six children, and was raised primarily by his mother after his merchant-seaman father died during the Second World War in 1942. He was born with six fingers on each hand – the extra digits were removed in his childhood – and he excelled in all sports, including basketball, football and golf.
In a statement on behalf of Cricket West Indies, the board president, Dr. The Hon. Kishore Shallow, described Sobers as the “greatest cricketer the world has ever seen”, and offered his “heartfelt condolences to his family, the Government and people of Barbados and all those across the world who mourn his passing.
“There are moments in the story of a people when the life of one individual becomes woven into the hopes, dreams, and identity of generations,” Swallow added. “Today, the Caribbean mourns the passing of such an individual … His mastery of batting, bowling and fielding was unparalleled, but his true significance reached far beyond the boundary ropes.
“He emerged from the Caribbean at a time when our region was finding its voice and asserting its place on the world stage. Through his excellence, he gave millions across our islands and in the diaspora, a renewed belief in what was possible. He showed that greatness was not confined by the size of our nations, the geography of our islands or the circumstances of our beginnings.
“Sir Garfield Sobers became more than a sporting icon. He became a symbol of Caribbean excellence, resilience, and possibility. His achievements brought pride to Barbados, inspiration to the West Indies and admiration from every corner of the cricketing world.”
(Cricinfo)
Four years after their triumph in Lusail Stadium at Qatar 2022, Argentina have the chance to become only the third side to defend a World Cup crown.
They may be led by the legendary Lionel Messi, they may be champions of South America – indeed, the holders may well be the comeback kings of the tournament – but they are not the favourites.
Standing in their way of claiming a first for more than half a century, since Brazil defended their title in 1962, are the European champions – and pre-tournament favourites – Spain.
Al Jazeera Sport looks at why the defending champions are seen as the outsiders for Sunday’s final and what chance they have to upset the odds.
Why are Spain favourites to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 final?
Spain came into the 2026 edition as the number one ranked team in the world and the favourites to lift the trophy, but they lost that mantle mid-campaign to the attacking endeavour of France.
The star turns of Kylian Mbappe and Ballon d’Or holder Ousmane Dembele were ably supported by Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola, with the latter’s Paris Saint-Germain teammate andp starlet of French football, Desire Doue, demoted to his supporting act.
Going into the semifinal clash between the European giants, the French were firmly the favourites to lift the title – as long as they could see off the Spanish.
They could not.
Spain did not give the French a sniff in their 2-0 win and Mbappe, Dembele and co ploughed lone and desperate furrows in their limited attempts to lay the foundations for their team to find their footing.
Having been held by debutants Cape Verde in their opening game of the tournament, the spotlight was on the Spanish thereafter.
They limped past Uruguay, Portugal and Belgium and failed to fire overall – until they met the French.
Now Spain’s confidence is restored – if it was ever even in doubt
What are Spain’s strengths that should concern Argentina?
The question is perhaps easier answered in terms of where are their weaknesses? There don’t appear to be many and that is why their underwhelming performances up to the semifinal were such a surprise.
Coming into the tournament, coach Luis de la Fuente attempted to rally his troops – and the country – by talking of a “united” Spain.
No Real Madrid player was named in the Spanish squad for the tournament, which threw open the question about the credentials of the European champions’ current set-up.
Eight of the 26-man squad play for Barcelona, who last season defended the domestic title with ease.
“For me, the greatest team there is – the very greatest – is the Spanish national team,” de la Fuente said.
“I don’t look at where players come from or their background. What matters are Spanish players who are proud to represent their country’s national team and to be part of a united nation.”
It is not only a Catalonia conundrum for de la Fuente to solve.
Of the starting semifinalists in midfield and attack for the Spanish, Fabian Ruiz is the pivot in midfield for Champions League holders PSG, Alex Baena is Atletico Madrid’s darling on the flank, Rodri is Manchester City’s 2024 Ballon d’Or-winning maestro, and the lone frontman, Mikel Oyarzabal, is putting Real Sociedad on the map for the global audience.
The 29-year-old’s five goals at the tournament so far may well give him an iconic status in Spanish football history, if the trophy can be secured.
Then there is Spain’s Barcelona-based spine. Lamine Yamal is the new poster boy of world football – despite a quiet campaign off the back of a pre-tournament hamstring injury – and, alongside Real-rival Mbappe, is seen as successor to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the global superstars of the sport.
The 19-year-old provided many a star turn to help the Spanish win Euro 2024, but his adoring fans await his moment of magic at the World Cup.
Dani Olmo is the orchestrator of attacks, slotting between the defensive duo in midfield and looking to feed the wingers and the striker.
Pau Cubarsi, at only 19 years of age, has made himself a fixture for club and country in the heart of defence.
The might of the Spanish is perhaps best exemplified by the fact that one of the most sought-after talents in the game, Athletic Bilbao’s 24-year-old winger, has hardly had a look-in, despite his key role in their Euro 2024 campaign.
What kind of World Cup final will Spain and Argentina produce?
It is hard to see the final playing out as Argentina’s 2-1 semifinal win against England did – their latest turnaround, having also come from behind to beat Egypt in the last 16.
The English, with stars from Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal and – with Anthony Gordon’s recent move – Barcelona, dominated Argentina until Gordon’s 55th minute goal.
Thereafter the shift – helped by England’s retreat – saw Argentina end with 64 percent of the possession across the game.
England are not renowned for keep ball, but Spain are, and they will look to hold the midfield, as the English did until their goal, and limit the attacking threat of Messi by wearing Argentina down.
Should Spain take the lead, at whatever time, do not expect de la Fuente to order all his troops to defend their own box as Thomas Tuchel ill-advisedly instructed England to do to their cost in Atlanta on Wednesday.
Rodri and Ruiz will be ordered to control the game from start to finish. Yamal, Olmo and Baena will be tasked with supporting Oyarzabal at every opportunity and, should it come to it, counter at pace if Argentina have to throw everything at chasing the game as they did against England.
Is Messi Argentina’s best chance against Spain?
Having been the pin-up of Barcelona and Spanish football for nearly two decades, Lionel Messi will be seen as Argentina’s best chance of defending their title.
With eight goals at the tournament already – and set to be named the Golden Boot winner barring an Oyarzabal hat-trick or better – Messi put to bed any doubt about his ability to continue to lead the way for Argentina at the age of 39.
Although he was an isolated figure for most of the last-four victory against the English, it was Messi who laid on two assists as Argentina produced their late comeback. Lautaro Martinez was the beneficiary on one of those occasions as he headed home the injury-time winner for his third goal of the tournament. Beyond those three, no other player for either side has reached three goals.
Martinez, who leads the line for Italian club Inter Milan, is once again likely to start from the bench in the final, with the Atletico Madrid duo of Julian Alvarez and Giuliano Simeone required to make the running on the flanks.
Behind those three will be the wall that the English could not conquer.
It starts with the three powerful midfielders who will run all game, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes and Enzo Fernandez, who scored his side’s equaliser in the semifinal.
Can Argentina’s defence keep Spain and Yamal at bay?
At the heart of the Argentina defence are a pair that divide opinions. Former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville has described Lisandro Martinez and Cristian Romero as the “best, worst centre-half pairing in the world”.
They seem to give a goal away between them every single game,” Neville said on the Overlap Podcast.
“But you watch them, they are scoring goals, heading the ball, they’re literally everywhere – it’s incredible.
“They absolutely at times can be unbelievable, but the next, it’s the sublime to the ridiculous.”
Romero, who plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League, described the comments as “ridiculous”.
The pair, who are both 28, will leave nothing behind by the time the final kick is struck in the tournament and Martinez will not flinch at criticism.
Neville’s former United teammate Paul Scholes has previously said the club will not win the title with Martinez at centre-half – his 1.75 metres height, being one of the main reasons for the comment.
However, the Old Trafford crowd have taken Martinez to heart due to his commitment to the cause, and their struggles at the back in the last two seasons have been put down to the defender’s prolonged absences through injury.
Oyarzabal stands six centimetres taller than Martinez, but it is unlikely that balls thrown endlessly into the box by Spain will settle the final.
Moreover, the headlines are likely to be written by Barcelona’s past, present and, likely, future – but will it be the magic of Messi or Yamal that leaves their mark on this World Cup?
The game’s sales folk and financiers will be just as hopeful as the fans that it is a moment of beauty from one of the superstars that illuminates, not only the final, but leaves their unmistakably and irreplaceably marketable imprint on the 2026 finale.
(Aljazeera)
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