At long last I got the opportunity through Leo Wijesighe to meet the much talked about Michael Tissera whom I met at his residence at Nawala. Although aged 78 he still looked the neat smart cricketer I used to epitomize as a budding cricketer.

As we started the ball rolling he mentioned to me that he has nothing to do with the administration of the present set up at the moment, and for very good reasons too, well more of that later. Michael mentioned to me that cricket came naturally to him and he was fond of reading cricket books, playing book cricket and collecting pictures of famous cricketers of the day. He was boarded at S. Thomas’ College and as was the case he got involved in many sports that were available at the school by the sea. He took a particular liking to tennis and was good at tweaking the tennis ball and bowled leg spin and googlies, which was spotted readily by one of the masters in charge of the first eleven team. As a result he was invited to bowl for the first eleven guys for two days and in next to no time he was summoned to play against St Benedict’s in the first eleven team at the raw age of 14. Michael stated that although his school cricket career with the first eleven team spanned five years it was not a great one having only scored a hundred against Wesley College in 1958. He noted that he captained S Thomas’ in 1957 and ’58 and his rival captains were Michael Welle and Lorenz Pereira respectively. He had another year left in him but he opted to leave school.

Michael had more success in club cricket by playing for the NCC. He recalled playing for the Daily Mirror Eleven in 1961, with some of the West Indian cricketers after their famous series in Australia where they tied a Test match in Brisbane, they were returning to England to play league cricket and it was a sort of a whistle stop engagement, he reminisced that he got a hundred in that match and according to reports published at the time it had been a magnificent knock.

As is the case I too had to ask some of the “run of the mill” questions! And here goes,

Michael was of the view that Sir Garry Sobers was simply fantastic and his first choice as the best he had seen, followed by Tom Graveney (long Tom), Norman O’Neill, Ted Dexter, Doug Walters and Ian Chappell whom he mentioned as a magnificent captain.

Out of the present lot Tissera had high praise for Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva and as regards Mathews, Michael was emphatic that a half fit player who ever he may be cannot contribute 100% to the team and would jeopardize the team plans. He also added that due to Mathews’ fitness issues it’s worse since the vital batting all rounder was missing.

He was 100% against politicians being office bearers in any sport.

Michael was of the view that the present team had a long way to go and stressed the point that it was not the talent which he said was there in abundance but harnessing that vital ingredient.

Michael was questioning the validity of having 14 to 15 clubs and according to him some of them are not having basic facilities and are like “white elephants.”

Michael pointed out the fact that in 2000-2001 a provincial tournament was started and all five teams had sponsors and Kumar Sangakkara and Muthiah Muralitharan commended the set up very well.

Michael was critical of the women’s cricket team losing to lowly placed Thailand and he was at a loss why a player in the caliber of Chamari Attapattu was left out. (The author feels that Hemantha Devapriya resigning after that debacle was a good omen and the others should follow suit). Michael further added that during Nihal Kodithuwakku’s tenure as the head coach of cricket the team fared much better and some girls of the present team still rings him up for advice.

Michael said that during the period between 2001 and 2018 there were 7 interim committees and Tissera questions why oh, why should they have interim committees when the elected bodies have done so well.

SHOWN THE DOOR

He also stated that when he was at the helm and put the house in order by sorting out discipline, planning and cricket matters in general after 6 or 7 months the higher ups then had shown him the door and have said thank you very much.

Although the enthusiasm and the fan fare that were inculcated to our fans after the World Cup triumph in 1996 has somewhat eroded all is not lost stated Michael. There is a lot of money in the game and he quoted IPL in India where they have done extremely well, the same could not be said of our equivalent.

Michael noted that we both have similar cultures but why we cannot succeed is due to mismanagement.

According to Michael the discipline, manners and the etiquette went down the drain in the last ten years and people of good quality are hard to find. In his days there was no match fixing, and bowlers did not bowl wides or no balls to get paid since there was no money involved.

The bookies in India started the rot.

Michael harped on the fact that the players to play well needed a stable mind. He further said, “The last couple of years we have sacked two or three coaches, sacked Ford for no reason, brought Asanka from nowhere he was away for 20 years and the high performance manager left and Hathurusingha came, had seven captains in the last year.

Michael further added that if the captains are not sure whether they are coming or going obviously the players are not sure because they are walking on thin ice not sure of their place.

This malady has also gone to umpires and there is no continuity and when one set of businessmen takes charge and then another set takes up and the whole thing has gone topsy-turvy, Michael concluded with a furrowed brow. 

An unbeaten 106 runs by Madushan Fernando helped Moratu Vidyalaya to beat Galahitiyawa Central in their inter school under 16 d vision one tournament cricket match played at Kirindiwela.

Madhushan hit eleven fours and two sixes and occupied the crease for 130 mintes and faced 122 balls. Also he put on 93 runs for the fourth wicket with Hashen Adithya who made 50 runs. Batting first Vidyalainas scored 243 for 6 and in reply Galahiyawa Central were all out for 121 runs giving victory by 122 runs on the first innings.

Moratu Vidyalaya 243/6 in 50 overs (Madushan Fernando 106 n/o, Niraj Kavishka 24, Gimhana Chandrasena 2/33).

Galahitiywa Central– 121 in 32.5 (Nilanka Dilshan 38 n/o, Hashen Adithya 3/24, Niraj Kavishka 2/13, Chamalka Fernando 2/15, Kalindu Peiris 2/10. 

A hurricane unbeaten 103 runs by all rounder Vishva Fernando was the highlight of the drawn under 15 division one tournament cricket match against S. de S. Jayasinghe Vidyalaya, Colombo worked off at Dehiwala.

Vishva who bats right hand and bowls right arm spin had twelve hits to the ropes and five over and occupied the crease for 154 minutes facing 94 balls.

He has scored 265 runs in five matches with a healthy average of 66.2. Batting first Vidyalians scored 140 runs with Tharindu Hansaka and Nidul Dulantha claiming 4 for 15 and 4 for 50 runs respectively. When play came to a halt homesters were 55 for 6.

Moratu Vidyalaya– 140 in 31.4 overs (Vishva Fernando 103 n/o, Nidul Dulantha 4/50, Tharindu Hansaka 4/15.

S de S. Jayasinghe Vidyalya 55/6 in 40 overs (Sukitha Devthilina 2/4, Duneth Fernando 2/12, Vishva Fernando 2/6. 

Samara, Monday: Luis Suarez helped fire Uruguay into the last 16 of the World Cup as Group A winners on Monday after opening the scoring in their 3-0 win over host nation Russia, who had a man sent off.

A pinpoint free-kick from the Barcelona star and an own goal from Denis Cheryshev put Uruguay 2-0 up inside 23 minutes in Samara before Edinson Cavani added their late third in Samara.

Russia were reduced to 10 men after 36 minutes when right-back Igor Smolnikov was sent off for two yellow cards in a match that will be a reality check for a team that easily won its first two matches.

This is the first time Uruguay have won all three group games at a World Cup finals.

The South Americans will play their last-16 tie in Sochi this Saturday against the Group B runners-up, either Spain, Portugal or Iran.

Russia, who had sealed their spot for the last 16 before the match, will have the consolation of a day’s extra rest and huge support at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium when they face the Group B winners on Sunday.

Uruguay stamped their authority early in the group decider.

When Russian midfielder Iury Gazinsky fouled Rodrigo Bentancur on the edge of the area, Suarez expertly placed the direct free-kick in the gap between the out-stretched glove of Russia’s goalkeeper and the post on 10 minutes.

Uruguay doubled their lead when Diego Laxalt’s shot took a wicked deflection off the leg of defender Cheryshev and flew past the despairing Akinfeev on 23 minutes.

It was heart-breaking for Cheryshev, who scored twice in the 5-0 trouncing of Saudi Arabia in the opening game.

To compound Russia’s problems, Smolnikov was sent off after scything down Laxalt just eight minutes after his first booking.

Smolnikov, one of three changes from the team which enjoyed a 3-1 win over Egypt, was on the verge of tears as he trudged off with the home crowd stunned into near silence.

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov responded by taking Cheryshev off and slotting Brazilian-born Mario Fernandes into the vacant right-back berth.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Russia had opportunities to get back in the game as they kept battling.

With 20 minutes remaining, the video assistant referee turned down Russian appeals for a penalty after Artem Dzyuba appeared to be elbowed in the face by Diego Godin.

Moments later, a badly-hit clearance kick by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was snapped up by the Russians and Dzyuba fired just over the bar from 14 metres out. AFP

The Schools Relay Championship which got underway in Badulla on Sunday saw most of the heats worked on scheduled. The opening ceremony was held with attendance of Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake and State Minister of Education Radhakrishnan.

The second day saw many records tumble with six by girls and seven by boy. Meanwhile Dharmapala Girls School squad in the under 12 4X100m equaled the record set by Musaeous girls yesterday clocking same time of 58.6 secs. The second record was lowered by the girls of

Gamini Central College, Bentota in the U-18 , 4X 100m (50.7 sec.). the third record was set up by A. Ratnayaka Central College under 18 girls in the 4X400 clocking 4:09.6. It was followed by A Ratnayake Central College’s u-18 4x800 squad when they timed 9:57.2 secs. again it was same school girls who shattered the existing record for the under 20, 4X100m clocking 50.6 secs. The last record by the girls was shattered by under 20 girls of A Ratnayake College clocking 9:42.3 seconds in the 4X800m event.

The first record erase in the boys’ segment was the 4X400m relay when A Ratnayake CC’s under 16 boys set a new meet record in the 4X400m clocking 3:40.6 secs., the 4X800m event too saw creating a new record by St. Peter’s boys in the under 18 clocking 8:31.3 secs. Once again Peterites came up with a good show shattering the existing record for the 4X100m timing 42.6secs. St. Joseph Vas College Wennappuwa boys were responsible to lower the under 18 boys 4X400m record with a timing of 3:28.7secs. The under 20 boys from A Ratnayake CC set up another record in the 4X800m setting a new record 7:59.5secs. Maris Stella’s under 20 foursome lowered the 4X100m record with a timing of 40.6 secs.

With records tumbling at a higher rate on day two it is expected more and more records to be lowered on the final day today. The Schools Relay Championship is organized by the Ministry of Education is sponsored by Nestle Lanka Ltd.

Today the closing ceremony will be attended by Minister of Telecommunications and Digital infrastructure Harin Fernando while the guests of honor will be Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake and State Minister for Education V. Radhakrishnan. 

A brilliant innings of 118 not out runs by Mohamed Hamzan helped Zahira College, Colombo to beat St. Anthony's College, Panadura by an innings and 118 runs in their inter school under 15 division two tournament cricket match played at Panadura.

This season Zahirians is coached by former Cambrian Dumila Perera. Batting first visitors declared at 252 for 6 and in reply homesters were all out for 59 runs with Mohamed Raahidh claiming 5 for 19 and floowing on Anthonians were all out for 75 runs with Ahamed Razik capturing 4 for 21.

Chief Scores:

St. Anthony's - 252/6 in 37.4 overs - Mohamed Hamzan 118n/o, Venket Rajendran 47, Ahmed Razik 23, Adil Hameen 20, Suman Niruka 3/40

St. Anthonies - 59 in 21.1 overs - Nipun Sanjuka 21, Mohamed Raahidh 5/19, Mohomed Adith 2/2 and 75, Roshen Rukmal 20, Ahmed Razik 4/21, Mohamed Raahidh 2/33, Mohamed Suhail 2/15

Last year’s finalists, BMS and Saegis successfully made it through to the semifinals once more, with an increasingly high chance of reaching the finals.

The quarter finals of Red Bull Campus Cricket National Finals 2018 worked off at Colts Cricket ground yesterday.

* At Colts Ground: BMS won by 3 wickets

ICBT 155 all out in 19.4 overs (Priyamal Perera 36, Salinda Ushan 25, Jehan Daniel 21, Pramod Madushan 3/28, Chamika Karunarathne 3/28)

BMS 156/7 in 19.2 overs (Supeshala Jaythilaka 44 n.o., Kamindu Mendis 37, Koshan Danushka 33, Chameera Dissanayake 2/13)

* At Colts ground: Saegis won by 43 runs

Saegis 181/6 in 20 overs (Sahan Arachchige 44, Sandun Weerakkody 31, Shehan Fernando 29, Thikshila de Silva 26)

ESOFT 143/9 in 20 overs (Sachin Jayawardana 56, Akeel Inham 26, Chenutha Wickramasinghe 23, Thikshila de Silva 4/21, Sandun Weerakkody 3/15)

Volgograd, Monday: Essam El Hadary, the oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup, marked his record achievement with one outstanding penalty save for Egypt but was powerless to stop a second in a 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia on Monday.

The 45-year-old goalkeeper flew to his right to make a spectacular stop in the 39th minute from Fahad Al-Muwallad’s spot-kick, awarded for handball, at the Volgograd Arena.

But Saudi Arabia scored deep into stoppage time in both halves, with Salem Al-Dawsari’s last-gasp winner securing their first World Cup victory since a run to the last 16 in 1994.

Mohamed Salah’s Egypt still have not recorded a World Cup finals win in three appearances, despite the Liverpool talisman’s superb opening goal.

El Hadary was 45 years and 161 days old when he took to the field as the two already-eliminated teams in Group A played only for pride.

He smashed the age record set by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was aged 43 years and three days when he played against Japan in Brazil in 2014.

Salah was named in the starting line-up as expected and thrilled an Egyptian-dominated crowd of 36,823 by opening the scoring in trademark fashion after 22 minutes.

The 26-year-old controlled a long ball over the top with one touch of his left boot at pace and did not break stride before lobbing a deft finish with the same foot over the onrushing goalkeeper Yasser Al-Mosailem.

Salah at least had the consolation of scoring Egypt’s first goal from open play at the World Cup since May 27, 1934, when Abdulrahman Fawzi netted in a 4-2 defeat by Hungary. The Egyptians were still clinging onto their lead when the Saudis were awarded a controversial second penalty deep into first-half stoppage time as Fahad appeared to pull the shirt of the covering Ali Gabr before going down in a heap.

But after a VAR-induced review that took almost five minutes to complete, Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan decided to stick with his original decision.

It was second time lucky from the spot as Salman Al-Faraj took responsibilty from 12 yards and El Hadary could not repeat his heroics as the first-half clock ticked past 51 minutes.

El Hadary made his debut for Egypt in 1996, a year before his Egyptian teammate Ramadan Sobhi was born.

He is older than three coaches at Russia 2018 -- Roberto Martinez of Belgium, Serbia’s Mladen Krstajic and Aliou Cisse of Senegal.

The Pharoahs captain lived up to his nickname of “High Dam” with two stunning saves from headers in the second half.

But in the fifth minute of second-half injury-time, Al-Dawsari popped up in the box to beat El Hadary with the last kick of the match and secure a famous Saudi win. AFP

Manchester, Sunday: Australia captain Tim Paine insisted the reigning champions would be "right in the thick of" next year's World Cup despite a 5-0 one-day international series loss to 2019 hosts England.

Paine's men were on course for a morale-boosting win when they reduced England to 114 for eight in the fifth ODI at Old Trafford on Sunday.

But they were ultimately made to pay for posting a total of just 205 themselves as Jos Buttler's unbeaten 110 saw England to a thrilling one-wicket win with nine balls to spare.

Australia, who still have a lone Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Wednesday before their tour ends, arrived in England without six senior players.

Former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner, two of the world's leading batsmen, were both given year-long bans for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal that marred a Test match against South Africa at Cape Town in March -- a fiasco that led to Paine being parachuted in as the new skipper.

They were also without injured Ashes-winning fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, while all-rounder Mitchell Marsh was sidelined too.

Yet even when they have been at full-strength, Australia have struggled in ODI cricket lately, with Sunday's loss a 16th defeat in their last 18 completed matches in this format.

But for all England are now number one in the ODI world rankings, they have never won the World Cup, with the last of their three losing appearances in the final back in 1992.

Australia, by contrast, have won the World Cup five times and Paine believes they can draw on a reservoir of knockout knowledge come next year's edition.

"We have a number of players who are out, whether they are back or still injured, we're not sure," he said. "What I do know is...we have a number of players in this squad who have played in and won World Cups, so they know what it takes.

"I've heard a few times that this team doesn't have a plan, or it doesn't know where it's going, but we have a clear direction. "We know we are a long way off the mark at the moment but a World Cup is not for 12 months and we know when we get our best team on the park, playing our best cricket, we are going to be right in the thick of it."

But whether 33-year-old wicket-keeper Paine is involved remains open to question.

It appeared the combined cares of captaincy and keeping were weighing heavily when he dropped a simple catch during the fourth ODI in Durham, while he scored just 36 runs in five innings this series.

Alex Carey, Paine's heir apparent with the gloves, topped that in just one knock when the 26-year-old, playing as a specialist batsman, made 44 on Sunday.

"I've said a few times before when you are my age it's a bit foolish to look ahead," Paine also told reporters. "Certainly, I am really looking forward to captaining the Test team and continuing how I have been playing in that format. AFP

JOHANNESBURG, Sunday: Namibia scored 18 tries to humiliate Tunisia 118-0 in a 2019 Rugby World Cup Africa qualifier this weekend while Kenya upset Morocco 28-24 in another second-round match.

Seeking a sixth consecutive appearance at the four-yearly rugby union global showcase, Namibia top the table with a maximum 10 points from two matches.

Kenya come next with five points from a bonus-point victory in Casablanca, followed by Morocco (three) and Zimbabwe (two) while Uganda and Tunisia are pointless.

The table toppers after the round-robin competition go to the World Cup in Japan while the runners-up get a second chance in an inter-continent repechage tournament. Lesley Klim, who plays for English second-tier club Doncaster, and Johan Corne Greyling scored four tries each for merciless Namibia, who led 52-0 at half-time. Chrysander Botha got three, Wian Conradie, Johan Deysel, Pieter-Jan van Lill, Damian Stevens, Johann Tromp and Max Katjijeko one each and they were awarded a penalty try.

Cliven Loubser kicked eight conversions, PW Steenkamp four and Botha one at a Windhoek stadium named after current Namibian state president Hage Geingob.

Namibia coach and former Wales lock Phil Davies said: "I am in the process of building a competitive team and our flowing passing game in the second half was impressive." AFP

NEW DELHI, Monday: A 12-year-old Indian boy described as “unstoppable” by his proud father has become the world’s second youngest chess grandmaster ever.

Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, the son of a bank employee from the southern city of Chennai, achieved the feat with some aggressive play at an event in northern Italy that ended Sunday.

Praggnanandhaa -- whose 17-year-old big sister Vaishali Rameshbabu is also no slouch at the game, being a two-time youth chess champion -- was aged 12 years, 10 months and 13 days when he won the title.

But this was too old to beat the current record-holder, Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine, who was 12 years and exactly seven months when he made the grade in 2002.

Praggnanandhaa’s father said that his son, who practises six hours a day and watches past matches online, was not even four when he first started taking an interest in chess.

However he said that the family could not afford to pay for extra travel and training for both the boy and his sister.

“But the passion in him to play chess was unstoppable, I had to give in and put him in coaching classes. And he has been unstoppable since,” the 53-year-old, who has the same name as his son, told Indian media.

“He was just six years old when he came second in the under-eight national championship. That is when I knew that I can’t hold him back because of our financial situation,” he told online paper The News Minute. A predecessor to chess is thought by some to have originated in India in the sixth century AD, from where it spread to Persia and developed into the “Game of Kings” it is today.

However in modern times it only achieved major popularity in India when Vishwanathan Anand became the country’s first grandmaster aged 18 in 1988 and dominated the game in the 2000s.

On Sunday the five-time world champion congratulated Praggnanandhaa.

“Welcome to the club & congrats Praggnanandhaa!! See u soon in chennai,” he wrote on Twitter.

“He plays other outdoor sports too when he wants to relax his mind,” the prodigy’s father said.

“When his focus is not on the board, he is quite a handful. But he saves most of his aggression for the chessboard,” he said. AFP

Sri Lankan Cricketer Kusal Janith Perera was injured and rushed to the hospital at the 3rd and final Test held against West Indies earlier today.

He was injured after he collided with an advertising hoarding while attempting to save the ball from crossing the boundary.

Explaining the Kusal Janith’s condition Sri Lankan team Manager Asanka Gurusinghe said: ‘He was cleared of any serious injury, but we will have to see how he comes up tomorrow morning before making a decision. He is very sore’.

The incident occurred in the 29th over, with West Indies reeling on 82 for 9. 

Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa one of the oldest cricket playing schools in the island was founded by Charles Henry de Soysa in 1876. All rounder and fourth year coloursman Savindu Peiris who captained the Cambrians in 2017/18 cricket season bid audi to his Alma Mater in grand style who set a record by claiming 108 wickets and erasing the previous record held by Suranga Wijenayake who claimed 96 wickets. Savindu who bats left hand and bowls right arm off spin is with a very good arm. Also at the same time he joined his father and elder brother Nishantha Peiris vice captain of 1985 and elder brother Nuwantha Peiris captaining in 2012 in the 68-year-old big match series with their arch rivals St. Sebastian's College Moratuwa.

Savindu added another feather to his cap when he was adjudged as the Best All Rounder, All Island Best School Boy Cricketer Runner-up and Best Bowler Runner-up at the Dialog 4G - The Sunday Times School Boy Cricketer of the year 2018 contest.

As an thirteen and a half year old cricketer Waddy A. de Silva commenced playing for Cambrians in 1904 later as an under 16 player in 1906 he claimed 106 wickets. It was recorded as 315.2 overs, 36 maidens and 737 runs at an healthy average of 6.95 (But there is no clear evidence to prove that he claimed these wickets in an inter school matches because during this period it took as a calendar year and they were involved with clubs, old boys and Government Departments).

Savindu commenced his cricket career at Prince of Wales College Cricket Academy at the age of nine under Suranga Perera in the year 2009. He attended practices for the under 13 age group and came under Kanishka Perera and Sumith Fernando. He played for the under 13 division three in his first year in 2009 and in 2010 playing in the division two he was a member of the champion team under Thilan Nimesh and finally he was the vice captain in division one under Vishwa Peiris in the following year. He captained the under 15 division two team in 2011 and reached to the quarter finals and in the following year he was the Vice Captain and came up to the second round. In his first year in the under fifteen he played in the Prima Cup for Colombo South team and in the following year he represented the District and the Provincial teams in the same tournament. In his first year in the under 17 division one he captured 30 wickets and in his second year he claimed 38 scalps and Cambrians reached up to the quarter finals.

He first played for the first eleven team in 2014/15 under Jayanga Peiris and captured 30 wickets and passed the 200 mark. In his second year under Thilan Nimesh he got 60 wickets and passed the 350 mark. Under Vishwa Fernando in 2016 and 2017 he bagged 45 wickets and passed the 400 mark. Last season leading his Alma Mater he claimed 107 wickets and scored 588 runs including three 50s. Same year he played for the Western Province and claimed 11 wickets in 3 matches. Altogether he played in four big matches. He had six five wicket hauls and two ten wicket hauls and the best was against 13 for 75 versus D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya. he led the Cambrians to the semi finals of the under 19 Singer Tournament and one dayers to the quarters. Last year he represented Moratuwa Sports Club in the under 23 division two tournament and played in 3 matches. He sat for the GCE Advanced Level Examination in Commerce Stream and he succeeded.

He told the Daily News Sports that he is grateful to his parents, brother and sister for the support extended to hin during his school cricket carrier and had a praise of a word to his Principals especially the present Principal Kusala J. Fernando the cricket authorities at school, teachers, his team mates in time to time and all others who helped him to come up the ladder.

MOSCOW, Monday: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and 2010 winners Spain progressed to the World Cup knockout rounds on a Monday night of high drama dominated by VAR decisions, as Uruguay pipped Russia to top spot in their group.

Spain ended up topping Group B by virtue of goals scored after an injury-time strike by Iago Aspas -- confirmed by the video assistant referee -- rescued a 2-2 draw against Morocco in Kaliningrad and will take on the host nation in Moscow on Sunday.

Portugal, who finished level with Spain on five points, conceded a late penalty as Iran drew level at 1-1 and faced a heart-stopping moment as Mehdi Taremi put a shot inches wide -- a goal that would have sent the European champions crashing out.

Ronaldo was at the heart of a series of VAR incidents in Saransk. First he had a penalty saved by Ali Beiranvand and was later saved by a review as Iran’s players called for him to be sent off following an incident with Morteza Pouraliganji.

Furious Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Portugal captain Ronaldo, who was booked, should have been sent off for using an elbow and lashed out against VAR, saying it was “not going well”.

“I don’t want to talk too much, it’s about my country and a player. I know it’ll be a war against me,” said Queiroz, who coached his native Portugal at the 2010 finals in South Africa.”

“But the reality is you stopped the game for VAR, there is an elbow,” he added. “An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn’t say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo.”

Portugal will face Uruguay in the last 16 in Sochi on Saturday.

Relieved Spain boss Fernando Hierro, who took over as coach on the eve of the World Cup, said he knew the group was going to be tough, acknowledging his side had to tighten up.

“The first conclusion I draw is that despite all these challenges we ended on top. I’m looking at the silver lining,” he said.

“Obviously we can improve. Five goals in three matches is not the way forward. The players are professional, they understand what the situation.”

There have now been 19 penalties taken at the 2018 World Cup -- more than in any other edition of the competition.

Earlier, 10-man Russia were handed a World Cup reality check, losing 3-0 to Uruguay as the South Americans topped Group A with a perfect record.

The host nation rode a wave of national euphoria in their first two matches, sweeping aside Saudi Arabia and Egypt despite being initially written off as no-hopers but could not keep the magic alive against the South Americans.

An early free-kick from Barcelona’s Luis Suarez, an own goal from Denis Cheryshev and a late strike from Edinson Cavani sealed top spot for Uruguay, with Russia through to the knockout stages as runners-up.

“Obviously, the first few matches you’re tense and don’t want to make any mistakes or lose,” said man-of the-match Suarez. “One mistake can be very expensive. Today we came to the pitch with a different attitude and perspective and that’s made the pressure better. That’s what we saw on the pitch.”

Disappointed Russian coach Stanislav Cherchesov said it was better to lose heavily now than in future games, adding his players had shown nerves for the first time but were psychologically prepared for the knockout stages.

“The outcome is very simple. We did what we had to do,” he said. “But you cannot start a game of this level with such a mistake -- we gave up a goal.

“Uruguay then started playing their type of football. And then we got a red card.”

In the other match in Group A, Saudi Arabia beat Mohamed Salah’s Egypt 2-1 in a matchup of two eliminated sides in Volgograd but the main talking point was Egypt goalkeeper Essam el-Hadary becoming the oldest player ever to appear in a World Cup.

El Hadary, 45 years and 161 days old, smashed the record set by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was aged 43 years and three days when he played against Japan in Brazil in 2014.

The veteran goalkeeper produced a stunning save from a Fahad al-Muwallad penalty after Salah had given Egypt the lead with his second World Cup goal, but could not keep out another spot kick by Salman al-Faraj in first-half injury time. – AFP

EKATERINBOURG, Russia, Tuesday: Sweden coach Janne Andersson must find a way to pick up his deflated players following their devastating defeat to Germany in a World Cup Group F that stands tantalisingly poised.

Sweden were on course for the last 16 until Toni Kroos stepped up with a wonderful winner in the fifth minute of injury time to rescue the reigning champions 2-1 in a Saturday-night thriller. It left Group F on a knife-edge going into the final round of games on Wednesday, when Sweden face Mexico in Yekaterinburg while at the same time Germany play South Korea in Kazan.

Mexico have six points and one foot in the knockout rounds, with Germany and the Swedes both on three points and with the same goal difference and having scored the same number. Sweden will progress if they better Germany’s result.

Several Sweden players were left prone on the turf such was the late, excruciating nature of the defeat to Germany. Andersson said: “The whole group is still alive so we will have to lick our wounds and come back for the last game.”

The 55-year-old, who accused Germany’s backroom staff of “rubbing it in our faces”, also needs to deal with the delicate fall-out surrounding his winger Jimmy Durmaz.

Durmaz, born in Sweden to Assyrian parents who emigrated from Turkey, was subjected to racial hatred and death threats on social media for giving away the foul that led to Kroos’s late winner. The 29-year-old was moved to read out a statement to reporters at the team’s Black Sea coast base in Gelendzhik on Sunday, saying of the abuse: “Who the hell does such things?

“It is completely unacceptable.”

The biggest problem for Mexico, who will have the majority of the Yekaterinburg Arena behind them on Wednesday, will be complacency.

A deserved 1-0 victory over Germany was followed by a 2-1 win against the Koreans to put them in control of the group, but they still need a point to make absolutely sure of reaching the knockout rounds. Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said Mexico are determined to secure the result they need to make sure of top spot, revealing that the squad is fired by criticism they received from home fans before arriving in Russia.

The Mexicans were booed during a friendly win over Scotland at the Azteca Stadium. Several members of the squad, including Ochoa, were also lambasted for their presence at a farewell party attended by around 30 prostitutes.

“We always knew we would have to fight all the way to the last game,” Ochoa said.

“We remember everything this squad has been through. We haven’t forgotten hearing the boos at the Azteca, and that has strengthened us mentally,” Ochoa said.

West Ham United striker Javier Hernandez became the first Mexican player to score 50 goals for his country -- in 104 appearances -- with his strike against South Korea.

As West Ham fans know well, the 30-year-old can be hit and miss, yet “Chicharito” seems to reserve his best performances for the green of Mexico.

“He’s a great goalscorer, but offers a lot more than that,” said Mexico team-mate Miguel Layun.

“He’s an incredibly dynamic player. He makes four or five runs when others might just make one.

“And he’s always in the right place at the right time,” the Porto defender told FIFA.com. - AFP

KAZAN, Monday: Marco Reus has no intention of allowing South Korea to get in the way of Germany progressing to the last 16 on Wednesday now that the World Cup holders have already saved their skins once.

Reus was a substitute in the 1-0 defeat to Mexico, but given a starting role against Sweden he bundled in a 48th-minute leveller to drag Germany back into the game. With seconds on the clock in Sochi, Germany secured a vital 2-1 win thanks to Toni Kroos’s superb curling shot, with Reus setting it up in a set-piece move.

It meant Germany avoided the ignominy of becoming the sixth team to crash out as World Cup holders, but they are not safe yet. Four years after Spain became just the fifth champions sent packing after a disastrous group-stage campaign, Joachim Loew’s pre-tournament favourites could still be stopped at the first round for the first time since 1938.

While the exuberant, post-match celebrations by Germany’s coaching staff upset Sweden, they belied the champions’ desire to show the rest of the world that their business in Russia is far from over.

However, the Germany team that won all 10 of their qualifiers with a whopping 39-plus goal difference has yet to convince many they deserve a place in the last 16, let alone the World Cup final.

Germany’s path to the second round is littered with obstacles.

Although South Korea sit bottom of the group without a point following defeats to Mexico (2-1) and Sweden (1-0), all four teams can still qualify.

Germany will go through if they win by two or more clear goals against South Korea, who can qualify if they beat Germany and Sweden lose, and finish with a better goal difference than both teams. If Germany and Sweden draw their games, the team in the higher-scoring game will finish second. If the matches finish with the same score, Germany will finish second because they beat Sweden.

After missing out on Brazil four years ago when Mario Goetze’s extra-time winner against Argentina handed Germany their fourth World Cup title, Reus arguably has more reason than most to make sure Die Mannschaft avoid an early departure.

The Borussia Dortmund forward missed Brazil 2014 with torn ankle ligaments, Euro 2016 with a groin problem and Germany’s 2017 Confederations Cup triumph with torn knee ligaments.

“Of course, we played badly against Mexico and we had to face criticism, but we’ve been talking a bit too long about it in my opinion,” Reus told reporters on Monday.

“We have to do our duty and win the game, preferably not by just 1-0 but higher.”

On top of that, Korea have no intention of making Germany’s task any easier.

“Germany played aggressively in both of their opening matches but I think we can get a good result,” said midfielder Ju Se-jong.

“I expect them to come out strong and try to score as many goals as possible, which could allow us some space at their back.

“We’d have to take full advantage of that with our quick counter-attacks through Seungwoo or Seonmin.” - AFP

SOCHI, Monday: Brazil’s inability to keep their emotions in check contributed to their spectacular implosion at the 2014 World Cup, so the worry is that once again the pressure might prove too much for the ‘Selecao’ in Russia.

The enduring image of the 2-0 win over Costa Rica that kick-started their campaign in Saint Petersburg last Friday was Neymar’s tears at full-time, after he scored the goal that clinched the victory.

The world’s most expensive player is carrying the weight of the nation on his shoulders, and only recently returned from three months out after a foot operation.

However, seeing Neymar cry also brought back memories of Brazil’s unravelling as hosts four years ago.

Then, Thiago Silva and Neymar were among the players who memorably broke down in tears at the end of their penalty shoot-out win over Chile.

At the time, some sections of the media labelled the team crybabies, and 1970 World Cup-winning captain Carlos Alberto accused them of not being mentally tough enough. Meanwhile, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari brought in a sports psychologist to help the squad deal with the pressure.

That campaign, of course, ended with their 7-1 capitulation against Germany in the semi-finals, and in Russia it is vital current coach Tite keeps a lid on emotions as Brazil seek to atone for the disaster of 2014.

Their performance in qualifying ensured that they came to Russia among the favourites, but they have not yet completely convinced and are still not certain of reaching the knockout phase going into Wednesday’s game against Serbia.

“Everything we did in qualifying and in our friendlies created a lot of expectation. That weighed on us, and there was an obligation to win our opening game,” admitted the full-back Fagner.

But while the squad can be excused for feeling some pressure, not everyone back home has been sympathetic towards Neymar for his tears and his perceived play-acting in the Costa Rica game.

The Paris Saint-Germain player has been attacked on social media, leading his father to call for a truce. And Neymar even found himself on the end of criticism from Silva after swearing at him for giving the ball back to the opposition when the game was still goalless.

“He is my little brother, and I try to look after him, give him advice (but) I was very upset with him,” Silva later said.

“When I gave the ball back, he swore at me. But I think I was right. My conscience is clear and I am very upset with the way he insulted me.”

It all hints at an emotional fragility within Neymar that could be damaging to Brazil’s chances -- against Costa Rica he picked up a late yellow card and another booking on Wednesday would rule him out of the last 16, should they qualify.

Among those rounding on Neymar is Eric Cantona, with the former Manchester United and France forward pointedly posting a photograph of another great Brazilian, Socrates, alongside a message calling for “no more cheating” and “no more crocodile tears”.

Nevertheless, perhaps it is unfair to single out Neymar for his tears when this World Cup has also seen Mexico’s Javier Hernandez cry at the end of their win over Germany.

On Sunday, Panama captain Roman Torres was unable to contain his emotion during the national anthem before his team’s game against England.

In any case, there is nothing unusual in seeing a Brazilian weep.

A teenage Pele cried tears of joy after the 1958 final win over Sweden, while Toninho Cerezo is said to have broken down in the dressing room after a mistake gifted Paolo Rossi a goal in Italy’s unforgettable 3-2 win at the 1982 tournament.

But one thing that is clear is that finding a way of taking some of the pressure off Neymar can only be beneficial to Brazil’s prospects in Russia. - AFP

MOSCOW, Monday: Switzerland players Granit Xhaka, Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner escaped bans Monday for celebrating goals with a pro-Kosovo double eagle gesture in their World Cup win over Serbia.

FIFA said Xhaka and Shaqiri would each be fined 10,000 Swiss francs (8,700 euros, $10,000) and Lichtsteiner 5,000 Swiss francs.

Arsenal midfielder Xhaka and Stoke City’s Shaqiri trace their roots to Kosovo, a former province of Serbia where thousands were killed and tens of thousands more chased from their homes during a 1998-1999 conflict between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian guerillas. The double eagle symbol represents the Albanian flag and is viewed as a symbol of defiance in Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 in a move that Serbia still refuses to recognise.

The players’ celebrations in the 2-1 win over Serbia in Kaliningrad on Friday caused outrage in Serbia. FIFA rules prohibit political symbols in stadiums and the three players could have been banned. But football’s world governing body said it was imposing the fines “for unsporting behaviour contrary to the principles of fair play”.

Serbian Football Association president Slavisa Kokeza and Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic were each fined 5,000 Swiss francs for comments they made after the match.

Krstajic told Serbian journalists that German referee Felix Brych should be tried for war crimes in The Hague for failing to award his team a penalty.

The Serbian FA was also fined 54,000 Swiss francs for the behaviour of fans during the game -- they displayed discriminatory banners and messages and threw objects.

Switzerland and Serbia can both still qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup. The Swiss face Costa Rica on Wednesday, when Serbia play Brazil. - AFP

Amidst all that excitement in the inter-schools rugby tournaments there was another significant factor that could not be dispelled or forgotten. At center stage of the schools rugby arena there was a young man from Kingswood College Kandy, a former rugby player of the school, clubs and Sri Lanka national, later the coach who guided three schools to many an accolade and now a true professional guiding the Blue and White jersey St. Joseph’s College rugby team to their new destiny.

He is young champion rugby head coach Nilfer Ibrahim the undisputed name in the rugby arena that has stood tall for almost over two and half decades as a player and a head coach. Today Nilfer has made a name for himself in the rugby coaching field since he got involved with his Kandy town school Dharmaraja College Kandy as a coach in 2007.

Now Nilfer has scaled another mountain by proving his coaching acumen for eight years in succession by grooming and guiding Trinity College Kandy, Isipathana College Colombo and St. Joseph’s College Maradana to a new high in rugby by winning the ‘Milo’ inter-schools knockout rugby titles. He has won the schools knock-out title four times, runner-up three times and now is in a position to either win or end runner-up at the 2018 knockout final where he is the coach of St Joseph’s College who will meet traditional rivals St Peter’s College in the final at Racecourse grounds on June 30. It is a truly a worthy record which stand tall among the rest.

“As a young head coach what I can say is I am humbly proud about my above achievements and I can definitely tell you that it was not an easy path to success. I had to sweat a lot for it. I have sacrificed myself to the utmost extent to achieve the feat,” Ibrahim told the Daily News. “It was possible due to the utmost co-operation rendered by my beloved two sons Saihaan and Shehraan along with my mom, brothers, uncle and aunties.”

Ibrahim’s record in the Milo Inter-Schools rugby tournament is as follows:

Trinity College Kandy - 3 years

2011 – Champions beat Isipathana in the final

2012 – Runner-Up lost to Isipathana in the final

2013 – Runner-Up lost to Wesley in the final

Isipathana College Colombo - 3 years

2014 – Champions beat Royal College in the final

2015 – Runner-Up lost to Science College Mount Lavinia in the final

2016 – Champions beat Royal College in the final

St.Joseph’s College Maradana – 2 years

2017 – Champions beat Isipathana College in the final

2018 – Meet St Peter’s College in the final

World Cup-winning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga accused Sri Lanka Cricket of mishandling a ball tampering scandal that saw national captain Dinesh Chandimal fined and banned for a match.

Ranatunga, who has aspirations of heading the board, said the island’s cricket officials were to blame for the misconduct that saw Sri Lanka’s skipper, coach and manager penalised during the second Test against the West Indies.

Chandimal was caught on camera applying a substance to the ball and was later found guilty of changing the condition of the ball.

There were concerns that the Test match in St Lucia was in jeopardy when Chandimal refused to lead his team onto the field after he was informed of the charge, causing a two-hour delay.

Sri Lanka’s coach Chandika Hathurusingha, manager Asanka Gurusingha and skipper were later charged with violating the spirit of the game over the protest.

“There is no one at the cricket board to advise the team,” Ranatunga said.

“If they knew that Chandimal had done something wrong, they should have worked out an amicable solution without escalating the problem.”

Chandimal lost his appeal Friday against ball tampering and is out of the third and final Test currently underway in Barbados.

He was slapped with two suspension points and fined 100 per cent of his match fee for applying an artificial substance to the ball in violation of the ICC Code of Conduct during the 2nd Test.

The sport’s global governing body is due to rule on possible further sanctions against Chandimal and the two officials on July 10.

Ranatunga, who in January 1999 held up play for 12 minutes during a Test match against England during an altercation with an umpire, said the two scenarios were not comparable. He led Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996. More recently, he has set his sights on winning a seat on Sri Lanka’s cricket board but he failed to secure a berth two years ago.

The board lurched from one controversy to the next in recent years, with allegations of match fixing and corruption compounding the team’s worst streak on record. – AFP