FIFA Confederations Cup USA v Brazil Giant-killers plot revenge

The United States have pulled off one massive upset and are plotting another on Sunday when they look for payback against defending champions Brazil in the Confederations Cup final.

Bob Bradley's men stunned European champions Spain in their semi-final for a famous 2-0 victory by effectively closing down dangerman Xavi and will be keen to keep Kaka under wraps in the same way.

In contrast, Brazil struggled to get past a determined South Africa, needing a Daniel Alves free-kick two minutes from time to break the deadlock and stay alive to defend their title.

Four years ago in Germany, Brazil won the tournament by beating Argentina 4-1 but if the USA play as they did against Spain it could be a much closer affair this year.

A key factor working in the Americans' favour is that they are learning to believe in themselves.

"What we're learning is how to move forward as a team, making sure as a team we're organised. But that is not enough, we have to be able to move ball, create chances, get goals," Bradley said.

"It's not one thing, it's a package. In the last year more and more of our players have realised that if you can put that together then you can compete with the best teams. It's a constant evolution."

Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was instrumental in helping his team upset Spain, knows they go into Sunday's game as rank underdogs but said it did not bother them.

"We're always going to be underdogs," he said.

"But we have shown that when we come together and do our best, we can do great things. We may not be the biggest or best-known players in the world, but when we come together it's not about that."

Brazil beat the United States 3-0 during the group stages and that is motivation enough for American captain Carlos Bocenegra.

"We almost gave them too much respect and sat back too much," he said.

"It's important to start the game with a lot of energy - we can't sit back and let Brazil control the match."

It will be a bitter-sweet day for Bradley, whose son Michael will miss the game after a straight red card for a lunging tackle in the Spain match.

Otherwise, he has a full complement of players to choose from.

Brazil coach Dunga, whose team have had a day less to recover, is respectful of the United States after their giant-killing semi-final exploits.

"The US has a peculiar way of playing and we will need to stay calm against them," he said.

"I did not see the US play against Spain, but we will be watching the game to prepare for Sunday."

Alves admitted that the USA win had taught his side a lesson.

"In a tournament like this, every team will have their chances," he said.

"Spain's game served as a lesson for us before we took on South Africa, and it will also serve as a lesson for us ahead of Sunday's final."

Despite having seen his side struggle to unlock South Africa, Dunga is expected to send out much the same team with Luis Fabiano up front and Kaka and Robinho tucked in behind him.

With Lucio, Maicon, Luisao and Andre Santos holding the back line and Felipe Melo, Ramires and Gilberto Silva operating in midfield the United States will have their work cut out.

Bradley will once again be heavily reliant on experienced LA Galaxy attacker Landon Donovan controlling the game in the middle, while Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore will need to make the most of any chances that come their way up front.

India clinch classic

Yuvraj Singh set India up for a 20-run victory over West Indies in the first One-day International on Friday with a boundary-laced 131.

Yuvraj appeared to be stuck in Twenty20 mode, when he struck 10 fours and seven sixes from 102 balls in his 12th ODI hundred to propel India to 339 for six from their 50 overs, after the visitors chose to bat at Sabina Park in the opening fixture of their four-match series in the Caribbean.

Opener Dinesh Karthik scored a career-best 67 off 77 balls, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 41, and Yusuf Pathan got 40 not out to boost the visitors' total.

India then bowled with discipline to strangle the West Indies batting and dismissed the home team for 319 to complete victory with 11 balls to spare.

Shivanrine Chanderpaul hit three fours and three sixes in the top score of 63 from 59 balls, and several other West Indies batsman got starts, but failed to carry on.

Ramnaresh Sarwan supported with 45, Runako Morton with 42, and West Indies captain Chris Gayle added 37.

Ashish Nehra - on his return to the Indian side - captured three wickets for 49 runs from 7.1 overs, and Yusuf Pathan took three for 56 from eight overs with his uncomplicated off-spin.

The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the four-match series which continues on Sunday at the same venue before the final two matches are contested next Friday and Sunday at the Beausejour Stadium in St. Lucia.

India were put on their heels, when West Indies started their chase confidently with a stand of 65 for the first wicket between Gayle and Morton.

But Nehra removed Gayle fell in the 10th over, and Pathan snared Morton in the 16th to leave West Indies on 100 for two.

India saw West Indies get back on track, as Sarwan and Chanderpaul put on 51 for the third wicket.

But RP Singh's throw from deep square leg from the last ball of the 25thover ran Sarwan out as the West Indies batsman tried for a second run, leaving the home team needing 189 from the second half of their innings.

India maintained their discipline, although Chanderpaul reached his 50 from 51 balls with a flick to deep fine leg for four off Ishant Sharma in the 34 the over, and the remaining West Indies batsmen all came and treated the crowd to all too brief innings.

Earlier, when Yuvraj entered, India had stumbled to 32 for two in the eighth over, following the dismissals of Gautam Gambhir for 13 in the fifth over and Rohit Sharma for four in the eighth.

But Yuvraj joined Karthik, and the left-hander treated the modest crowd to a breath-taking array of strokes to reach his hundred from 88 balls, when he steered Taylor to third man for a single.

He added 135 for the third wicket with Karthik, who was caught behind off Dave Bernard Jr. in the 29th over.

Yuvraj reached 50 from 55 balls, when he turned a delivery from West Indies captain Chris Gayle into square leg for two, and then dominated an 86-run, fourth-wicket stand with Dhoni.

Yuvraj indulged himself during the Batting Power Play that spanned the 34th and 38th overs, when he smashed two fours and six sixes, as India added 62 runs.

The 37th over was particularly memorable for Yuvraj, when he struck Taylor for two sixes - over mid-wicket and long-off - in an over that cost 21.

But Yuvraj was slightly hobbled by a Taylor yorker, and eventually tamely surrendered, when he was caught behind off Dwayne Bravo in the 39th over glancing a leg-side delivery.

After his dismissal, India made steady, if not spectacular progress in the closing overs through Dhoni, Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh.

Their final total was the highest in an ODI at the ground eclipsing Pakistan's 349 all out against Zimbabwe in the 2007 World Cup.

The highest target successfully chased at the venue is South Africa's 255 for two against West Indies four years ago.

Bravo captured two for 66 from his 10 overs to be the best of the West Indies' bowlers.

The Championships Wimbledon Venus' sweet revenge

Defending champion Venus Williams avenged one of the most embarrassing defeats of her career on Saturday by sweeping into the last 16 at Wimbledon with a 6-0, 6-4 victory over Carla Suarez Navarro.

Williams will now tackle former world number one Ana Ivanovic who was left to carry Serbian hopes after sixth seed Jelena Jankovic suffered a shock exit against American qualifier Melanie Oudin.

Williams, 29, was unceremoniously bundled out of the Australian Open by unseeded Spaniard Suarez Navarro in the second round in January despite holding a 5-2 lead in the final set.

But Venus, the third seed, made amends in clinical fashion on Saturday to keep alive her bid to become the first woman to win a hat-trick of Wimbledon singles' titles since Steffi Graf claimed three in a row from 1991 to 1993.

Venus once again played with her left knee swathed in bandages but was hardly restricted as she eased past Suarez Navarro in one hour and 21 minutes.

The five-time Wimbledon champion has yet to drop a set in three rounds this year and her winning streak at the All England Club has now reached 17 matches.

Suarez Navarro, the world number 34, has already reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals at the tender age of 20, but she never threatened to repeat her Australian Open heroics.

A break for Venus in the opening game set the tone. With memories of that Melbourne defeat driving her on, Williams was quickly 4-0 up and took the set without surrendering a game.

Suarez Navarro had managed to test Williams a little more in the second set, but it couldn't last. The former world number one upped her game, broke for a 5-4 lead and served out the match.

Williams said: "I was really enjoying myself out there. She's a fast and competitive player so I was happy to close it out.

"When you're winning at Wimbledon there's not much better than that."

Meanwhile, Jankovic, the world number one only last August, was knocked out by 17-year-old Oudin, the world number 124, who claimed a famous 6-7 (8/10), 7-5, 6-2 victory.

Jankovic, who has been struggling with blisters and a broken toenail, was hampered by injury and heat exhaustion during a gruelling match on Court Three.

She called for treatment three times before finally cracking in the final set to continue a disappointing year for the Serb.

Oudin, playing in her first Wimbledon, will face China's Li Na or 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska in her first Grand Slam fourth round appearance.

While Jankovic struggled, her compatriot Ivanovic showed signs of recapturing her former glories during an impressive 7-5, 6-2 victory over Australian 18th seed Samantha Stosur.

A year ago Ivanovic arrived in south-west London on top of the world rankings following her French Open victory. But a miserable run of results since that Paris triumph have left her outside the top 10 for the first time in two years.

The 13th seed, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2007, clearly has the game for grass however and was too strong for Stosur.

Former Wimbledon junior champion Caroline Wozniacki, the ninth seed, reached the fourth round for the first time as the Danish teenager defeated Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 6-2.

Jesse Jackson: Family wants 2nd autopsy

Michael Jackson's family wants a private autopsy of the pop icon because of unanswered questions about how he died and the doctor who was with him, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday."It's abnormal," he told The Associated Press from Chicago a day after visiting the Jackson family. "We don't know what happened. Was he injected and with what? All reasonable doubt should be addressed."
People close to Jackson have said since his death that they were concerned about the superstar's use of painkillers. Los Angeles County medical examiners completed an autopsy Friday and said Jackson had taken prescription medication.
Medical officials also said there was no indication of trauma or foul play. An official cause of death could take weeks.
The coroner's office released the body to Jackson's family Friday night. There was no immediate word on whether the second autopsy was being performed right away. Jesse Jackson described the family as grief-stricken.
"They're hurt because they lost a son. But the wound is now being kept open by the mystery and unanswered questions of the cause of death," he said.
Two days after Jackson died at a Los Angeles hospital, sisters Janet and La Toya arrived at the mansion Jackson had been renting. They left without addressing reporters.
Moving vans also showed up at the Jackson home, leaving about an hour later. There was no indication what they might have taken away.
The Jackson family issued a statement Saturday expressing its grief over the death and thanking his supporters.
"In one of the darkest moments of our lives we find it hard to find the words appropriate to this sudden tragedy we all had to encounter," said the statement made through People magazine. "We miss Michael endlessly."
The Jackson family did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.
There was also no word from the family on funeral plans. Many of Jackson's relatives have gathered at the family's Encino compound, caring there for Jackson's three children.
A person close to the family told the AP they feel upset and angry about a lack of information about those who were around the pop superstar in his final days. The person requested anonymity because of the delicate nature of the situation.
Jackson had been rehearsing for 50 London concerts aimed at restoring his crown as the King of Pop. He died Thursday at age 50 after what his family said appeared to be cardiac arrest.
A 911 call from Jackson's rented home reported that his personal doctor was trying to revive him without success. Police have talked to Dr. Conrad Murray and have said they intend to speak with him again but have stressed he is not a criminal suspect.
Murray has yet to speak publicly since Jackson's death. Police towed his car from Jackson's home hours after Jackson died and said later it could contain medication or other evidence. Coroner's officials also said Jackson was taking prescription medication but declined to elaborate.
A lawyer at a Houston firm, William M. Stradley, confirmed Murray had hired his firm and said one of its partners was meeting with Los Angeles police on Saturday. Stradley said Murray accompanied Michael Jackson to the hospital.
"He was there from the beginning and he's been cooperating with police from the very beginning," Stradley said. "Dr. Murray has never left L.A. since Mr. Jackson's death, and he remains there."
Murray lives in Las Vegas but apparently left his practice and moved in with Jackson about two weeks ago. No one answered the door Saturday at his Las Vegas home, which property records show Murray bought five years ago for $1.1 million.
The promoter of the series of London concerts that Jackson was to begin next month has said Jackson personally insisted Murray be on the payroll.
Also Saturday, spiritual teacher Dr. Deepak Chopra said he had been concerned since 2005 that Jackson was abusing prescription painkillers and most recently spoke to the pop star about suspected drug use six months ago.
Chopra said Jackson, a longtime friend, asked him for painkillers in 2005 when the singer was staying with him following his trial on sex abuse allegations. Chopra said he refused. He also said the nanny of Jackson's children repeatedly contacted him with concerns about Jackson's drug use over the next four years.
He said she told him a number of doctors would visit Jackson's homes in Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. Whenever the subject came up, Jackson would avoid his calls, Chopra said.
___
Associated Press writers Sophia Tareen in Chicago, Juan A. Lozano in Houston, and Gillian Flaccus, Brooke Donald, Beth Harris and Mike Blood and AP Global Media Services Production Manager Nico Maounis in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Anil Kapoor blasts Akshaye Khanna over phone

Akshaye Khanna and Arshad Warsi enmity is affecting Anil Kapoor’s home production Shortkut-The Con Is On as Akshaye is not promoting the film along with other team members to avoid Arshad. Miffed Anil called Akshaye and blast him over phone, reminding him of the clause.

“Akshaye is hardly around to promote Shortkut -- The Con Is On, which is Anil's home production. Apparently, Akshaye had a difference of opinion with Arshad (Warsi) and he was not attending any promotional event which Arshad was attending. His standard excuse was that he was feeling unwell. After two occasions, we had to bring this to Anil's notice and he was obviously miffed," says a member of the production team.

Anil who is in LA is constantly keeping in touch with his actors guiding them how to promote the film in a better way. "I am in touch with all my artistes on a regular basis and I keep guiding and advising the entire team as this is for the time that I am not around during the release of the production," says Kapoor.

Akshay, Kareena lip-lock ten times!

It is unbelievable that Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor have lip-locked not one or three times but ten times. The film is already in the news for Akki and Bebo’s intimate scenes and over that the 10 kisses is like adding icing on the cake. It is heard that the chemistry between the two are awesome and they both look sexy onscreen.

A source said, “While everyone is aware that there is a kissing scene between Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor, no one knows that they have lip locked as many as ten times. The news has been very hush hush as both the lead actors were of the opinion that it should not be leaked out”.

Sajid Nadiadwala, the producer of the film laughed and said, “Why do you want me to tell the whole world if there are so many kisses in the film? Let the audience watch the film and they will know about it.”

Denise Richards has praised Akshay's style of kissing and said that he is a good kisser and let’s wait and see what Bebo has to say about Akshay’s style of kissing

The Championships Wimbledon Sharapova stunned

Centre Court queen Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, was sensationally dumped out of Wimbledon on Wednesday losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to Argentina's Gisela Dulko in the second round.

Dulko, who needed five knife-edge match points to seal victory after 2hr 13min, goes on to face Russian 10th seed Nadia Petrova for a place in the last 16.

But for Sharapova, defeat will cast further doubts over the ability of the sport's most bankable star to ever return to her former powers following a 10-month absence from the tour nursing a shoulder injury.

"It's the biggest win of my career because she's a great champion and on centre court in the most important tournament in the world," said the 24-year-old Dulko.

"It's a dream day. I played a poor second set but I kept fighting in the third. I was really nervous at the end. I didn't want it to go to 5-5 because she competes right to the very end."

Dulko was quickly a break ahead to lead 2-0 as the Argentine showed few nerves playing in front of 15,000 people.

The world number 45, had the Russian scampering from side to side and took the opening set in the eighth game courtesy of a sweeping, crosscourt forehand winner.

Sharapova was soon in trouble again as the slender Argentine nipped ahead to a 3-0 lead in the second set, courtesy of a break in the second game.

Dulko had lost both her previous meetings with Sharapova, but the Russian is nothing if not competitive and she was back in contention with a break to trail 2-3.

Two successive double faults from a suddenly frail-looking Dulko then allowed Sharapova to lead 4-3 which became 5-3 on a service hold.

The former champion then unleashed a succession of thunderous service returns to further dismantle the Argentine's crumbling confidence and she broke again to level the tie in the ninth game.

Sharapova, now with renewed potency, was ahead to lead 1-0 in the decider before Dulko ended the Russian's seven-game streak to level at 1-1.

Breaks were exchanged in the next two games with Sharapova fighting off two breaks points, as well as picking up a time violation, in the fifth game.

Dulko, who has reached the third round here on three occasions, refused to be overpowered and she broke to love to lead 4-3 as the Centre Court crowd warmed further to the underdog.

Sharapova saved four match points in a tense 10th game, but Dulko claimed an emotional victory when the Russian unleashed a wild forehand.

Messi tops C'Ron

Cristiano Ronaldo may be the world's most expensive footballer, but Barcelona star Lionel Messi outshines him in terms of media value, at least according to a team of Spanish researchers.

The team from the University of Navarra said the Argentine had ousted the Portuguese striker as the player with the highest profile last season.

However, Ronaldo remains the most expensive player, with the researchers valuing him at 82 million euros, less than the world record 93 million Real Madrid paid Manchester United for him this month.

Messi was next at 80 million, followed by Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres at 67 million.

The study cited Barcelona's European Champions League victory, and Messi's goal in the final, for his leap to number one in the media rankings over last year's winner Ronaldo.

It forecast "an exciting media fight between these two brilliant players" next season.

In team rankings, it recorded a "technical tie" between Barcelona (86.2 points) and Manchester United (86.0 points).

But the manager with the most media pulling power was United's Alex Ferguson, ahead of Barca's Pep Guardiola.

FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa v Brazil Pupil meets Master

Former coach Carlos Alberto Parreira promised to introduce South Africa to 'samba football', a mission pursued by his successor, Joel Santana.

Well at Ellis Park on Thursday the willing pupil will have the chance to test precisely how much they've learned when they take on the country who invented the concept.

The smart and not so smart money is on Brazil overpowering South Africa in this Confederations Cup semi-final to set up a dream final Sunday with Spain, favourites to beat the United States on Wednesday.

But this 2009 Confed Cup has been nothing if not unpredictable - witness the USA's advance to the last four at the expense of world champions and African champions Italy and Egypt.

South Africa owe their presence here to having narrowly shaded Iraq on goal difference to emerge as Group A runners-up after goalless draws against the Asian champions, a 2-0 win over New Zealand and a 2-0 loss to Spain.

Brazil strode imperiously through Group B, following up the last minute 4-3 victory over Egypt with 3-0 drubbings of the USA and then astonishingly Italy.

That has left Kaka and company in prime shape to defend the title they collected in Germany four years ago, but South Africa are counting on their vibrant and colourful support and some class acts like Everton's Steven Pienaar, Bernard Parker and Teko Modise to help them dethrone the five time world champions.

The last time the hosts and holders met was back in 1996 in Joburg when South Africa, with Lucas Radebe and Doctor Khumalo on board, were leading a Brazil side captained by Dunga two nil at half time only to go down 3-2.

Santana, constantly criticised in the local media for his defensive tactics, is talking a big game ahead of what promises to be an electric encounter at a sold-out Ellis Park.

"We deserve to be in the semi-finals, we got four points," said the Brazilian.

"We outplayed New Zealand. We beat them 2-0, but could have scored six while Iraq were totally negative.

"I am happy to be in the semi-finals, I could have been heading home. But now I am looking forward to a major semi-final of a big FIFA event."

Dunga rates his compatriot highly as a manager and is wary of the threat presented by his team.

"South Africa are an emerging team, but we know they will give us a difficult test.

"They're strong, quick and they will have the crowd behind them. But we'll be well prepared. Brazil have a very strong squad, which helps in a tournament like this. Every player in the squad is a first-teamer."

ICC World Twenty20 'We must build on T20 win'

Popular all-rounder Shahid Afridi said Pakistan need to build on their historic victory in the ICC World Twenty20 championship as he arrived home Wednesday.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets to win the World Twenty20 title in England -- their second biggest win in the sport in 17 years after their 50-over World Cup win in Australia in 1992.

Afridi, who won man-of-the-match awards in the semifinal and final, said the team lived up to the expectations of the nation. He scored half centuries on both occasions.

"We are proud champions and, more so, we lived up to the expectations of millions of cricket fans in the country who were seeking some moments of smile," Afridi told reporters at his residence where a large crowd had gathered to greet him.

But Pakistan need to carry on the winning momentum, he said ahead of next month's Test tour of Sri Lanka.

"We have met success in one event, but now we have to carry forward this momentum and win more and more series in future," said Afridi, who arrived in Karachi with team-mates Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik two days after the squad returned home.

Allrounder Abdul Razzaq flew into Lahore. The four players had stayed in England due to some personal commitments.

Eleven other members including captain Younus Khan and team coach Intikhab Alam arrived on Tuesday.

Afridi expressed surprise that fans were deprived of welcoming the triumphant team when they arrived at Lahore due to security concerns.

"I heard that fans had to wait for hours outside Lahore airport but the team was taken away without giving them a glimpse, it's disappointing for fans," he said.

Afridi was also surprised over captain Younus's decision to quit T20 cricket after their victory.

"I am surprised, he can still play this form of cricket and is good at it," he said.

Razzaq, who was summoned to England as replacement for injured allrounder Yasir Arafat, praised Younus and coach Intikhab Alam.

"Both Younus and Alam were outstanding and supported me a lot. I needed that because I had come in the team after a long gap," said Razzaq who joined the team in England after two-year absence from international cricket.

Razzaq, 29, signed with the unrecognised Indian Cricket League in protest after he was left out of the squad for the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007.

He snapped his ties with the league earlier this month to get clearance to play for Pakistan.

"I have my confidence back and now I am ready to play for Pakistan in Tests against Sri Lanka," said Razzaq who was named in the 15-man squad for the Sri Lanka tour.

Pakistan play three Tests, five one-day and one T20 international. The first Test starts in Galle from July 4.