Webber leads Red Bull to victory at Spanish GP

Mark Webber secured a comfortable wire-to-wire victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel filled out the podium after Lewis Hamilton crashed with one lap remaining.

Webber made it 10 straight winners from pole position at the Circuit de Catalunya after the Australian drove a flawless race for a 24-second victory over Alonso and his third career victory.

Hamilton was second for most of the race before his tire blew out to send the McLaren driver into the wall shortly before the finish. Vettel took advantage to finish third for Red Bull despite a late driving error.

Michael Schumacher of Mercedes was fourth after holding off McLaren's Jenson Button for the seven-time champion's best finish since his comeback to the sport this season.

Defending champion Button has 70 points to lead Alonso by three points in the standings, while Vettel improved to 60 points and Webber 53.

Although Webber eased to victory, a combination of driver error and mechanical faults made for a dramatic race for the two spots behind him.

Hamilton's front left tire blew out at turn 10 as he appeared to be cruising toward a second-place finish after overtaking Vettel during the first round of pit stops. Hamilton, who was set to move to within one point of Button, instead stayed stuck on 49 points.

Vettel nearly missed out on the podium after losing his brakes to go into the gravel with 10 laps to race and being overtaken by Alonso after having to come in to change his tires.

Webber jumped into the championship mix after Red Bull finally managed to convert a pole position to a victory. The team started first for the fifth straight race, but struggled with reliability problems in Bahrain and Australia, while Vettel overtook pole sitter Webber to win in Malaysia.

Webber made a perfect start this time while his three chasers weaved behind him looking for space to pass. The Australian driver held firm as Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso and the rest of the chasing pack got around the first corner without incident.

There were problems at the back of the gird, however, as Heikki Kovalainen of Lotus had to retire before the start with a gear box problem, and HRT driver Bruno Senna slid ito a tire wall for an early exit.

Schumacher's teammate Nico Rosberg was relegated to 17th after a botched pit stop that would ruin his day and see him finish 13th. The German driver has 50 points.

Webber and Hamilton pitted simultaneously, and the McLaren driver was then able to get in front of Vette - who had a slow tire change earlier - as he returned to the track, holding his ground at the first corner to split up the Red Bull cars.

Schumacher started behind Button but made a nice pass as the two engaged in a battle for fifth, with Felipe Massa eventually sliding into the mix. The Ferrari driver wold settle for sixth.

Schumacher showed little interest in battling for a podium spot, however, driving defensively the rest of the way to keep Button behind him. It was the first time Schumacher finished ahead of Rosberg this season.

Adrian Sutil was seventh for Force India ahead of Robert Kubica of Rnault, and Rubens Barrichello of Williams and Toro Rosso driver Jaime Alguersuari rounded out the top 10.

A moment of silence was observed for Juan Antonio Samaranch before the start of the 66-lap race. The former International Olympic Committee president died at age 89 last month.

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Octopus oracle picks Spain to win World Cup

Eyes around the world were on Germany's octopus oracle Paul on Friday as he made his biggest prediction yet in the World Cup: Spain will beat the Netherlands in the final.

Paul's prescient picks in the World Cup - he has yet to predict a match wrong - have propelled him to international fame from obscurity a month ago in an aquarium in the western city of Oberhausen.

TV stations in Germany, Great Britain, Taiwan and elsewhere broadcast live pictures, complete with breathless commentary, of his final decision for the tournament. Millions watched as the world-famous octopus descended upon on a tank marked with a Spanish flag, sitting for only a few minutes before grabbing a mussel and devouring it, while completely ignoring the Dutch tank - indicating a Spanish victory in Sunday's final match in Sunday's final.

It was the first time he'd been tasked to pick a game in which Germany wasn't involved, as the Oberhausen Sea Life aquarium bowed to overwhelming demand to see who he would choose in the final.

Paul correctly predicted Germany's wins over Argentina, England, Australia and Ghana and the country's loss to Spain and Serbia.

He also predicted earlier on Friday that Germany will win over Uruguay in Saturday's match for third and fourth place.

His handlers say he is coping with fame well.

"Paul is such a professional oracle - he doesn't even care that hundreds of journalists are watching and commenting on every move he makes," said Stefan Porwoll, the Sea Life aquarium manager. "We're so proud of him."

Paul first developed his abilities during the 2008 European Championship in which he predicted five out of six games involving Germany correctly. But while he had only a community of local fans two years ago, his World Cup prognostications have brought him international stardom.

Spain's defeat of Germany in the semifinals as predicted by Paul prompted many Germans to wonder about how he would taste grilled for dinner. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero fretted about the safety of "El Pulpo Paul," as he's known in Spain, and offered Paul protection.

"I am concerned about the octopus," Zapatero said. "I'm thinking about sending in a team to protect the octopus because obviously it was very spectacular that he should get Spain's victory right from there."

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Netherlands look to improve finishing for final

Netherlands coach Bert Van Marwijk thinks the only category where his team suffers in comparison to World Cup final opponent Spain is beauty of play. When it comes to the rest, the two can go head-to-head.

When Van Marwijk looks at Spain, he sees the world's best team of the past few years and the playing style of a Barcelona side that has been the bane of clubs all over Europe for the past few years.

"We play well. Spain plays well, but they are mre attractive and this is where we want to get too," Van Marwijk told reporters.

When Van Marwijk heard that Dirk Kuyt was quoted as saying that Spain are a collection of individuals while the Dutch are a "team", he quickly countered by noting how impressive it was to see the Spanish players immediatelstart pressuring opponents once they had lost possession.

"When they lose the ball, they immediately join in, their big stars too. It is something we also do well," Van Marwijk said.

Van Marwijk said his team must be less haphazard in front of goal to counter Spain during Sunday' final. And with no jury worries, he has the fearsome trio of Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie at his disposal.

Sneijder, the World Cup's joint top scorer with five goals, said the team has to show more "guts" when in possession, seeking depth and speed instead of the steady buildup work for which the Dutch have been known over the past weeks.

"We have to shed our inhibitions," Sneijder said.

While the Dutch have netted seven goals in the three knockout-round games compared to Spain's three, Van Marwijk is still a bit worried about his team's scoring touch.

Often the Netherlands has won by one goal only, in games where more efficiency in front of goal could have turned it into a rout. Against Uruguay, it won the semifinal 3-2 but could have put the game beyond doubt much earlier had the forwards shown more poise.

"We have been messy," Van Marwijk said. "We've had spells with brilliant attacks, yet we forgot to score. That though, can change within a match."

He's hoping Van Persie will be the one to make it change.

The winger turned striker was out for much of the season with Arsenal because of a right ankle injury which needed surgery, and he is still seeking his best form.

"He improved the last game," Van Marwijk said. "He will play his best game in the final."

Sneijder said if the Netherlands could improve efficiency, Spain too had its weak moments, especially when it struggled past Paraguay in the quarterfinals.

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Jorge Lorenzo takes first Assen victory

Jorge Lorenzo won today in Assen for the first time in MotoGP class, now having victories on Dutch circuit in all three categories. Victory in Assen was a bit more difficult to achieve for Lorenzo, as this time he was closely followed by Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner. However, Lorenzo opted for hard rear tyre unlike Pedrosa and Stoner, which proved to be smart decision in closing stages of the race. Dani Pedrosa managed to improve setup in warm-up and get in the really high pace in first part of the race, eventually finishing in second place. Casey Stoner also opted for medium rear tyre, which allowed him to stay with Lorenzo and Pedrosa in first part of the race and then to settle in 3rd place.

Ben Spies once again proved his potential by taking 4th place in Assen, battling with Dovizioso for this position and wining that battle. Dovizioso finished in 5th place, managing to defend it from charging Randy de Puniet. French rider finished in 6th place, around 10 seconds ahead of Nicky Hayden. Colin Edwards finished in 8th place, in front of two rookies - Marko Simoncelli and Aleix Espargaro.

Jorge Lorenzo increased his championship lead to 47 points, but this time over Dani Pedrosa, who came in front of his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso.

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Van Bronckhorst Bows Out in Style

Giovanni van Bronckhorst can think of no better way to say goodbye for good than to score in his last competitive game, and finally give the Netherlands the World Cup.

“I hope it will be the most beautiful game of my life,” said van Bronckhorst, who will retire from football after the South Africa tournament but has already made sure he goes out in style by scoring the first goal in a 3-2 win over Uruguay in the semifinals on Tuesday.

His name has already been scrapped from the teamsheet of his last club, Feyenoord Rotterdam, but the Dutch team will keep him on until Sunday, and for good reason.

The captain gave the Dutch the lead with a blistering 35-meter left-foot drive that sailed past Fernando Muslera and went in off the post to break open the game against Uruguay.

Van Bronckhorst then claimed the biggest defensive play of the semifinal, when he rushed back to head a dangerous high ball out of the goal mouth in the 49th minute, with the score at 1-1.

At 35, van Bronckhorst was more than two years older than anyone else on the pitch, yet celebrated like a teenager with the rest of the team almost an hour after the match.

“There were no tears, just joy,” he said. “The last game in my career and it’s a World Cup final, what can you say? It could not be more beautiful.”

Van Bronckhorst has won league titles in three countries — Scotland, England and Spain — and the Champions League with Barcelona.

As a defender, he is known for his dashes upfield on the left, clean marking and tight organizational instincts to read and neutralize opposing plays as they develop. And his goals can be spectacular.

“It was super, and great for him,” forward Arjen Robben said. “He was playing the last two matches of his career, and now the very last one is the final of the World Cup. It’s fantastic.”

Van Bronckhorst was given the captain’s armband only two years ago. He was seen as a transitional figure at best, not a standout leader thriving on bluster and brawn.

Yet now, he has taken the team as far as Johan Cruyff did in 1974.

The Dutch will either play Spain or Germany, who were to meet in Durban on Wednesday.

“For everyone, it will be the game of their life,” van Bronckhorst said. For himself, the last game of his life. 

Associated Press

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Dutch Flair Too Much for Uruguay

Cape Town - The Netherlands finally turned on the style at the World Cup in South Africa to reach its third final — and first in 32 years — with a stunning 3-2 victory over a plucky Uruguay on Tuesday.

Wesley Sneijder scored his fifth goal in South Africa and Giovanni van Bronckhorst added one of the goals of the tournament. Arjen Robben also scored as the Dutch never looked troubled despite a late onslaught from the two-time champion from South America.

“This is unforgettable,” Sneijder said. “It was a tough fight and toward the end we complicated matters. Sunday we play in the World Cup final. I have to get used to that.”

Van Bronckhorst opened the scoring with a 35-meter shot in the 18th minute, but Diego Forlan equalized in the 41st with his fourth goal of the tournament, despite playing through the pain of a thigh injury.

“It was bothering me a lot,” Uruguay’s top scorer said. “At times I felt a great frustration because I wasn’t 100 percent.”

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk replaced Demy de Zeeuw with Rafael van der Vaart at halftime and the attacking move paid off as Sneijder and Robben scored after the break.

Maximiliano Pereira scored for Uruguay in injury time but the Dutch weathered the late Uruguayan pressure, and the orange-clad fans at Green Point Stadium erupted at the final whistle.

“This is very special,” said van Marwijk, who took over as coach two years ago.

“After 32 years we play the final again. Such a small country. We can be very proud of this.”

Most of the jubilant Dutch squad returned to the field 45 minutes after the match to dance and cheer with a group of about 1,000 orange-clad fans cheering and beating drums.

As the players danced, the jubilant fans chanted, “Holland! Holland! Holland!”

The Netherlands’ only international title came at the 1988 European Championship, but it is now on a 25-match unbeaten run and has won 10 straight as it heads to a World Cup final against either Spain or Germany.

Seen as beautiful footballers but perennial underachievers on the world stage, the Netherlands has played a tougher brand of football in South Africa, aiming to dominate possession and wait for openings rather than attempt to carve open defenses with creative flair.

“I love attacking and beautiful football, but you have to work together when the opponent has the ball and then you can go a long way,” van Marwijk said.

The strategy has served the team well — the Netherlands is the only team with a perfect record at the World Cup.

“We are so close,” said Sneijder, who already won the Italian league and Cup double and the Champions League this season with Inter Milan.

“There is nothing bigger than the World Cup,” he added.

After a flowing passing move, van Bronckhorst collected the ball 30 meters out on the left and struck a searing drive that beat the despairing dive of Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera and flew into the net off the post.

Forlan’s equalizer was another powerful long-range shot, but Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg probably should have saved it.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was forced to substitute Forlan in the 85th minute when he could no longer continue.

“From the first minute he had a problem. I’m not dumb enough to take him out at 3-1 when the match wasn’t lost,” Tabarez said. “He was injured and really could not continue.”

Associated Press

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All Blacks, Springboks Open Tri-Nations Test

Auckland, New Zealand. World rugby’s two top-ranked teams, New Zealand and South Africa, meet on Saturday in the opening match of the Tri-Nations tournament on the same grounds where the World Cup final will be decided in 15 months.

Both teams have hinted at the lingering importance of winning the Tri-Nations title, held by South Africa, and disputing the No. 1 world ranking, which is currently New Zealand’s.

And while both teams have rejected the notion that the match would offer a preview of World Cup form, the intensity of each team’s preparation and the edge of the pre-match rhetoric suggests that some World Cup feelings — at least the desire to strike a psychological blow — have infected both camps.

New Zealand has said it wants to avenge its three losses to South Africa in last year’s Tri-Nations series and prove it deserves to be ranked No. 1 in the world ahead of the world champion Springboks.

“I personally think it [the World Cup] is irrelevant,” New Zealand co-coach Wayne Smith said. “Both teams are going to have a good crack at the World Cup, but not today or tomorrow, that’s down the track.

Center Conrad Smith, who along with midfield partner Ma’a Nonu returns to the New Zealand lineup after being sidelined with injury, offered insight into the tension in the All Blacks camp.

“There is a danger with a game like this that you get too excited and go overboard with all the adrenaline,” Smith said. “It’s something we’ve talked about, but it does feel like a different game and there is definitely an edge to training.”

Both teams named experienced lineups for the match, the All Blacks favoring fullback Mils Muliaina, Nonu, winger Joe Rokocoko and prop Tony Woodcock over younger rivals.

South Africa named lock Bakkies Botha in its starting lineup and placed Danie Rossouw on the bench after delaying the naming of its lineup from Tuesday to Thursday to monitor the fitness of the second rowers.

Captain John Smit said Saturday’s test possessed greater significance than his team’s June tests against France and Italy.

“This is a different kettle of fish,” he said. This is going to be a high-pressure environment.”

Associated Press

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