SPORTS

Olympic Basketball Group B Preview: France Faces Tough Competition at Home

Published

5 months ago

July 23, 2024

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Without being spared, the French team did not suffer the most perilous draw for its home Olympics. Vincent Collet’s team will however have to avoid a delay in ignition in this group B.

With Germany, Brazil and Japan, this group is dense, although a hierarchy seems to be emerging with the two European selections as favourites. The German world champion will have a certain amount of pressure on his shoulders to confirm his surprise victory from last year. The Blues, for their part, arrive with few certainties following their failed World Cup, but with a new standard-bearer expected like no other player before in France: Victor Wembanyama.

FRANCE

This is the event that French basketball has been waiting for years. The French team will play the Olympics on home soil, in front of its fans, and partly in the same venue that saw it play its last home competition, Euro 2015, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve d’Ascq. This time, there will be no Pau Gasol to block the path of the Blues…

The Tricolores are, however, approaching the event as the first of a new cycle, with Victor Wembanyama as the headliner. The Spurs center will be the team leader and will be playing in his first major international competition as a senior. Will he let the pressure get to him for once? It will be particularly high, and a failure would be seen as a brutal end to the cycle after a World Cup he already missed last year.

The workforce

Leaders: Andrew Albicy (Gran Canaria), Frank Ntilikina (Partizan Belgrade), Matthew Strazel (Monaco)

Backs/wingers: Nicolas Batum (Los Angeles Clippers), Isaia Cordinier (Virtus Bologna), Bilal Coulibaly (Washington Wizards), Nando De Colo (ASVEL), Evan Fournier (without contract)

Interiors: Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves), Mathias Lessort (Panathinaikos), Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs), Guerschon Yabusele (Real Madrid)

The coach: Vincent Collet

At the star: Victor Wembanyama

Who else but the new darling of the orange ball (or even of French sport in general)? The Spurs player will be the offensive and defensive leader of the French team. That’s a lot to ask for a debut at only 20 years old. But it says a lot about the expectations placed at “Wemby”. His understanding with Rudy Gobert, which could have been questionable, seems in any case to be one less worry after a rather satisfactory preparation on this point, at least defensively. The fact remains that he will need to receive enough support from outside to hope to go far…

Qualification : host country

History at the Olympics: 11th participation, best result: 2nd in 1948, 2000 and 2020.

GERMANY

Third in the last Euro, then world champion, what now awaits Germany at the Olympics? Frankly attractive last summer during the World Cup, the Mannschaft can establish itself a little more as a stronghold of international basketball. It will perhaps be difficult to reproduce the feat of 2023, with a run without the slightest defeat and victories over the United States or Serbia. But the national coach Gordon Herbert, who has been through the French championship in Paris and Pau-Orthez, can rely on a virtually unchanged group since ten of the twelve World Cup players will be there. And since then, Franz Wagner has taken on responsibility and experience at Magic.

The workforce

Leaders: Maodo Lô (Olimpia Milano), Dennis Schröder (Brooklyn Nets)

Backs – wingers: Isaac Bonga (Bayern Munich), Niels Giffey (Bayern Munich), Andreas Obst (Bayern Munich), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Nick Weiler-Babb (Bayern Munich)

Interiors: Oscar Da Silva (FC Barcelona), Daniel Theis (New Orleans Pelicans), Johannes Thiemann (Alba Berlin), Johannes Voigtmann (Olimpia Milano), Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)

The coach: Gordon Herbert

At the star: Dennis Schröder

Seeing him be MVP of the World Cup was a pretty big odds. But the Nets point guard is one of those players who are more dangerous in FIBA competitions, and transcended by their national jersey. Still as whirling, he arrives at what must be the peak of his career, at 30 years old. The opportunity for a big coup, especially since he had not been able to be present in Tokyo, to his great dismay, due to an insurance problem.

Qualification : best European nation at the last World Cup

History at the Olympics: 7th participation, best result: 7th in 1992.

BRAZIL

Like Argentina, a former international powerhouse who has fallen into obscurity in recent years, Brazil is suffering from the development of basketball internationally, much more than in Central and South America. But the Seleção remains a team to be taken seriously, as evidenced by its qualification for the Riga Olympic Qualifying Tournament in early July, dominating Latvia despite being at home and fifth in the World Cup. With the indestructible Marcelinho Huertas, 41 years old (and who has extended two more years in Tenerife !) at the helm, the Brazilians will remain a team to be wary of, despite their lack of “big names” on paper. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

The workforce

Leaders: Alexey Borges (Crailsheim Merlins), Elio Corazza (Corinthians), Yago dos Santos (Etoile Rouge Belgrade), Marcelinho Huertas (Tenerife), Raul Neto (without contract)

Backs/wingers: Vitor Benite (Palencia), Georginho de Paula (Franca), Didi Louzada (Flamengo), Leo Meindl (Alvark Tokyo), Gui Santos (Golden State Warriors)

Interiors: Bruno Caboclo (Partizan Belgrade), Lucas Dias (Franca), Cristiano Felício (Granada), Handzinha Pereira (without contract)

The coach: Aleksandar Petrovic

At the star: Bruno Caboclo

Yes, yes, the Bruno Caboclo who was “two years away from being ready in two years” when he was drafted by the Raptors in 2014. It even took him a little longer to fully find his place, alternating between the G-League, a fairly anonymous stint at CSP Limoges and a rather successful return to Europe at Ulm in Germany and then at Partizan. Still as athletic, he was impressive during the OQT, where he was named MVP.

Qualification : winner of the Riga TQO

History at the Olympics: 17th participation, best result: 3rd in 1948, 1960 and 1964

JAPAN

Still relatively unknown on the international scene, the Japanese national team is nevertheless progressing, with its squad becoming more and more open to international competition.

Paradoxically, the Japanese selection finished the last World Cup with a positive record (3 wins – 2 losses) thanks to the classification matches, notably beating Lauri Markkanen’s Finland. The Japanese are counting on an atypical style of play with a lot of outside shooting (3rd team that attempted the most 3-point shots in the World Cup) and a hopeful named Rui Hachimura, back in the selection.

The workforce

Leaders: Yuki Kawamura (Yokohama B-Corsairs), Yuki Togashi (Chiba Jets Funabashi), Kai Toews (Alvark Tokyo), Keisei Tominaga (Nebraska Cornhuskers)

Backs – wingers: Yudai Baba (Nagasaki Velca), Makoto Hiejima (Utsunomitya Brex), Akira Jacobs (Hawaii Rainbow Warriors), Yuta Watanabe (Chiba Jets Funabashi), Hirotaka Yoshii (Alvark Tokyo)

Interiors: Rui Hachimura (Los Angeles Lakers), Josh Hawkinson (Sun Rockers Shibuya), Hugh Watanabe (Ryukyu Golden Kings)

The coach: Tom Hovasse

At the star: Rui Hachimura

The only player still in the NBA on the roster – Yuta Watanabe will return to his national championship when it resumes – Rui Hachimura carries almost all of Japan’s hopes. Talented and adapted to the FIBA game, the “forward” will have the majority of the balls in attack and will have all the freedom possible to exploit them. He will also be less isolated than in the past with the naturalized rough Josh Hawkinson (21 points and 10.8 rebounds on average during the World Cup) or even the “Samurai Steph” Keisei Tominaga with his very spectacular game with Nebraska in the NCAA.

Qualification : best team in the Asian zone at the last World Cup

History at the Olympics: 8th participation, best result: 9th in 1936

The calendar

July 27, 1:30 p.m.: Germany – Japan
July 27, 5:15 p.m.: France – Brazil

July 30, 5:15 p.m.: Japan – France
July 30, 9:00 p.m.: Brazil – Germany

August 2, 11:00 a.m.: Japan – Brazil
August 2, 9:00 p.m.: France – Germany

2024-07-23 13:26:38
#Paris #Olympics #Presentation #Group #France #USA #Basketball

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SPORTS

The Truth About the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 Match

Published

22 hours ago

December 21, 2024

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In one way or the other, almost every Nigerian has heard of the mythical match between India Vs. Nigeria that ended with 99 goals to 1 with India being victorious.

Before the advent of the internet, this story successfully thrived among Nigerians, but with the emergence of the internet and easy access to social media, the truth behind the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match was revealed.

Though there are different accounts of the match, but they all have the following in common:

That the match ended with India scoring 99 goals and Nigeria scoring just one goal.
That Nigerians were unable to kick the ball because the football kept turning to a lion which scared them away…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
2. That Indians later agreed that if Nigeria could score one goal, they would concede defeat.
3. That Samuel Okwaraji scored the winning goal and lost his life in the process because the ball turned into stone as he was about to kick it.
4. That FIFA banned India from soccer because they used juju (black magic) in that match.
Why did people believe the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match story?

Even with the absence of the internet back then, this kind of claims should be immediately recognized as lies, the kind of lies they call “big fat lies”. But most people like to acknowledge this story as true with the fact that no one has ever seen India play in an International Football Match. Since no one actually saw India participate in most international soccer games, this gave a little credence to the story.

Another reason this lie thrived for long was that credible information was not easily accessible in Nigeria unlike now that even a 4-year-old child can debunk false claims within minutes with the help of Google. This Nigeria Vs India match story would have been fabricated by one community elder to children during an evening gathering; that’s our take at OldNaija.

What Actually Happened!

On the 12th of August 1989, Nigeria lost one of her best footballers, Sam Okwaraji who died during a football match. We wrote about how he died on the pitch and you can read it here. Sam Okwaraji was the player rumoured to have lost his life in that game when in truth he died during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Angola in the 77th minute. He collapsed and died of cognitive heart failure. May his soul rest in peace. AMEN!

Samuel Okwaraji (circled)

So, that is the only truthful thing about the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match story, the fact that a Nigerian player died during a football match. That is what these lies was fabricated around. The match was not against India, Nigeria did not lose the match and as you must have guessed, and there were no lions or ball turning into a stone.

Meme by Campus Bro

Nevertheless, one cannot deny that this kind of story made one’s childhood as a Nigerian. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Before we go,

Why was India Banned by FIFA?

India was never banned by FIFA. It was India that withdrew from the tournament themselves. Here is how it happened.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) made it clear to India that they would not be allowed to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup without footwear.

Then something happened. You see, when determining the make-up of the 1950 World Cup, FIFA determined that obviously the two defending finalists, Brazil and Italy, would be guaranteed slots. That left fourteen slots that needed to be filled.

FIFA decided that seven of those slots would come from Europe, six would come from the Americas and one would come from Asia.

The problem was that of the four Asian teams that were invited to the World Cup, three of them (the Philippines, Indonesia and Burma) withdrew from the tournament before the qualification round.

Therefore, India earned an automatic slot within the World Cup. It would be India’s first time appearing in the World Cup but India, too, withdrew from the tournament because FIFA would not allow them to compete barefoot.

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SPORTS

SAD|| 10 Players Who Lost Everything After Divorce, Number 5 Will Shôck You

Published

2 months ago

November 5, 2024

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The Hidden Financial Struggles of Footballers: Divorce’s Costly Toll

The glamorous image of professional footballers, with their luxurious lifestyles and multimillion-dollar contracts, often obscures a harsh reality: the financial devastation many endure through divorce. Behind the fame and fortune, several high-profile players have seen their wealth significantly depleted after parting ways with their spouses, a stark reminder that no amount of money can fully shield one of the financial pitfalls of personal relationships gone awry…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

One of the most shocking examples is that of former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who lost not only his properties in England but also custody of his children following a bitter divorce. Despite earning millions during his career, Eboué found himself stripped of almost everything. His situation became a cautionary tale, underscoring that even the wealthiest footballers can fall victim to the financial ruin that divorce can bring.

Eboué is not alone. Football legends such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs have also experienced significant financial losses due to divorce. Henry reportedly paid £10 million to his ex-wife, while Giggs parted with an astonishing £40 million after his marriage ended. Louis Saha and Wes Brown, both former Manchester United players, also suffered substantial financial hits, with Brown declaring bankruptcy despite earning £50,000 per week during his time at the club. His case highlights how even vast earnings can quickly evaporate when faced with legal settlements and financial mismanagement.

David James, the former England goalkeeper, faced a particularly dire situation, losing much of his fortune after divorce and being forced to auction his personal belongings to make ends meet. Similarly, Ray Parlour, another Arsenal great, saw his ex-wife receive half of his £10 million fortune, including a £2.5 million house. Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool star, also faced a hefty settlement, parting with half of his estimated £15 million fortune after his marriage ended.

These are just a few of the many footballers who have faced financial disaster due to divorce. Keith Gillespie, once a key figure in the Premier League, lost over £7 million, leading to his bankruptcy in 2010. Despite earning significant wages during his career, his divorce and poor financial decisions left him in financial ruin. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Perhaps the most shocking case is that of Tendai Ndoro, a Zimbabwean striker who lost everything after registering all his properties in his wife’s name. Following their breakup, she kicked him out of the house, leaving him with nothing. Ndoro’s story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of not protecting one’s assets, even in relationships where trust is implicit.

For footballers, whose careers often peak early, these financial setbacks can be devastating. While their salaries are among the highest in professional sports, the combination of short career spans, legal fees, and divorce settlements can quickly erode their fortunes. Many players also face additional challenges in managing their finances due to a lack of financial education or oversight during their playing years.

These stories underscore the importance of safeguarding personal wealth, especially for high-earning individuals like footballers, who may be more vulnerable to financial upheaval. Proper financial planning, asset protection strategies, and prenups are increasingly necessary tools for protecting one’s earnings and securing a stable future.

In conclusion, while the public sees footballers as insulated by their wealth, the reality is that they are just as susceptible to the financial hardships of divorce as anyone else. The personal struggles behind the scenes reveal that their lives, though glamorous on the surface, are often fraught with the same vulnerabilities and challenges faced by ordinary individuals. These cases serve as sobering reminders that financial security is never guaranteed, even for those at the pinnacle of success.

READ FULL STORY HERE>>...CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

SPORTS

NFL | The best was yet to come, and then no

Published

2 months ago

October 12, 2024

1oo9t

In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.

Posted at 1:13 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.

The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.

Well, no.

As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.

The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.

In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.

Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.

Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.

You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.

PHOTO MIKE STOBE, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh

It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).

We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.

In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.

It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.

Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.

First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »

We all see what you did, Luc.

Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »

You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »

We are Marco.

It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.

Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.

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