England are out of the World Cup again!

England’s football team went home from the World Cup in the second stage again. But this time it was in the women’s tournament! In an amazing game, Ellen White had the chance to score inside 2 minutes, rounding the no. 2 French keeper but seeing her shot blocked. France were the better side, it has to be said, and England were defending for long parts of the game deep inside their own half. But it was the Lionesses who broke the deadlock, with Jill Scott guiding an effort past a troubled Deville in the French goal. Deville, of Montpellier, was only playing because France’s no. 1 had been sent off against Germany. But it seemed like England had won when, on 87 minutes, they were still 1-0 up, despite their goal being under constant threat. But then, it fell out to the French captain, Elise Bussaglia on the edge of the England box. She made no mistake, her shot banging the post and flying in. But France, unlike England, did not want to go to Extra Time. England survived that, though, and despite having half the team limping around groggily, they even had a good chance through Ellen White, the Arsenal forward just hitting the shot into the side-netting. France should have won, but a series of blocks by the English defence and some brilliant catches from Karen Bardsley in the England goal put the tie into penalties. France won the toss and decided to take first. Up stepped one of their most influential players, Camille Abily, shot against Bardsley. Bardsley jumped to save a badly taken penalty. Then a strange thing happened. Kelly Smith, despite having her normally fantastic left foot literally useless due to injury, and only on the pitch because England had run out of substitutes, SCORED!!!!! But Bussaglia soon had France back on level terms, smashing a shot into the top right. Karen Carney slotted home a pen coolly to get back up France’s neck. France equalised though, Thiney easily beating Bardsley. Stoney stepped up to take the next one, though, and Deville went the right way, but the Lincoln player had taken a great penalty. France then scored through Bompastor. But then, disaster struck! Claire Rafferty, playing in only her fifth game, missed, sending the ball wide. Le Sommer sent Bardsley the wrong way. Pressure on England! Faye White came up to take the deciding kick. Miss, and England would be out of the competition. Score, and they had a chance. She stood up, ran, and kicked. BAM! The sound of the ball hitting the woodwork brought despair to all England fans’ faces. The French ran around the pitch celebrating. England’s players sank to their knees. They are out of a Football World Cup again early on in the tournament.

Wimbledon final weekend: Surprises in store!

In an eventful final weekend at Wimbledon two new winners won both the singles.
On the woman’s event on Saturday, Maria Sharapova (2004 winner) v Petra Kvitova, in a game which many thought would go to Sharapova, went the other way. Kvitova won 6-3, 6-4. The top ten women in the world now are:1. Caroline Wozniacki (Den)
2. Kim Clijsters (Bel)
3. Vera Zvonareva (Rus)
4. Victoria Azarenka (Blr)
5. Maria Sharapova (Rus)
6. Na Li (Chn)
7. Petra Kvitova (Cza)
8. Francesca Schiavone (Ita)
9. Marion Bartoli (Fra)
10. Samantha Stosur (Aus)

In the men’s there was also another shock, with former champion Rafael Nadal losing out to Novak Djokovic. Djokovic was the better of the two while Nadal was unusually sloppy, the score being 6-4, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3. The Serb ended a non-stop Federer/Nadal winning streak, and his win inspired Murray feel that he could win a grand slam too, and Djokovic approved of it. Here are the men’s rankings:


1. Novak Djokovic (Ser)
2. Rafael Nadal (Spa)
3. Roger Federer (Swi)
4. Andy Murray (GB)
5. Robin Soderling (Swe)
6. David Ferrer (Spa)
7. Gael Monfils (Fra)
8. Mardy Fish (US)
9. Tomas Berdych (Cze)
10. Andy Roddick (US)