Monthly Archives for February 2012

OFF THE WALL – Longest world record on paper

WORLD RECORD – One of the first contests that all of us aspiring athletes were ever involved in in our lives was building the ultimate paper airplane. And making it fly. Since this week, the world record stands at 226 feet (click for clip). What is your favourite ‘low profile sport’? Snorkling face-down through a muddy stream? Scampering butt-first down a hill chasing a runaway cheese? Share your favourite ‘most bizarre sport’ with us!

IN THE NEWS – 100 days remain until Euro 2012

FOOTBALL – Has your countdown started towards Euro 2012? Have you already started painting your face in the colours of your country? Do you tend to amaze your friends with your knowledge of your national team? If so, please send us an email at sportsdesk@infostradasports.com. Because we would like to pick your brain and possibly even include you in our team that is preparing for Euro 2012.

REVIEW: Bahrain bow out despite blowout

FOOTBALL – Bahrain needed to beat Indonesia by at least an eight goal margin to have any chance of advancing to the next round of Asian World Cup qualifiers. They beat Indonesia 10-0. But it was not enough as a late Qatar equaliser against Iran seals their fate.

> Bahrain’s awkward vantage point was created in large part by a 6-0 defeat against Iran, a match in which they had a player red carded in the first minute (!).

> Today, the opposing Indonesians were reduced to 10 men in the second minute. Bahrain were awarded four penalties in the match. Two of the four spot kicks were converted.

> Four different Bahrain players scored. Two got a hat-trick and two got a brace.

> Bahrain came agonisingly close to reaching the 2010 World Cup. In their OFC/AFC playoff qualifier against New Zealand they drew the home leg 0-0 and were trailing 1-0 in New Zealand when they squandered a penalty, which could have won them the tie on the away goal rule.

> What made today’s 10-0 whitewash remarkable, in our humble opinion, is that the population of Indonesia is 192 times greater than the population of Bahrain.

IN THE NEWS – Fernandez hit with another big ban

FOOTBALL – Feyenoord striker Guyon Fernandez has been slapped with a five-match ban by the Dutch FA after headbutting an opponent last weekend. Earlier in the season, he was banned for six matches after striking an opponent. That is now 11 matches of suspension. He has scored six goals for the Rotterdam side.

BIRTHDAY – 29 February: Henri Richard (Ice Hockey)

ICE HOCKEY – How would it feel like to win 11 Stanley Cups (an individual record in North American professional sports) and still be referred to as ‘someone’s brother’? Meet Henri Richard, former star of the Montreal Canadiens and the younger brother of Maurice “The Rocket” Richard. Henri took the nickname “Pocket Rocket”, but his exploits on the ice were colossal. Click here for a tribute to him, born 76 years ago on this day.

Shares birthday with: Gioacchino Rossini, Balthus, Ja-Rule

IN THE NEWS – Montoya escapes inferno at Daytona

NASCAR – Juan Pablo Montoya came away unscathed and with a scare after crashing into a jet dryer truck in the Daytona 500. The former Formula 1 driver from Colombia was asked about the crash and replied: “In my life I have hit a lot of things, but never a jet dryer truck.” Click here for footage from the accident.

PREVIEW: Friendly – England v Holland (29 Feb, 21:00 CET)

 FOOTBALL – On Wednesday 29 February, England host Netherlands in an international friendly at London’s Wembley Stadium. We have lined up a few key statistics on this match.

> This match was originally scheduled for 10 August 2011, but rioting in the city of London caused for the match to be rearranged.

> Holland were top of the FIFA World Rankings on that day, for the first time in the history of ‘Oranje’. To retain it, it needed a Spain defeat against Italy and a Holland victory against England. Spain lost, but Netherlands remained idle. Holland have since dropped to third in the rankings, whilst Spain have retained their top perch with Germany having climbed into second place.

> England will play their third international match on a leap day, Holland will play their first.

> This is England’s first match with Stuart Pearce in charge as caretaker manager of England’s national team. Although the man they call ‘Psycho’ has officially declared his candidacy to lead England at Euro 2012, it is expected that the English FA will assign another head coach (Harry Redknapp being the people’s favourite) and that Pearce will be asked to execute his principal task, leading Great Britain in this summer’s London Olympics.

> The last English manager to lead England in a major international tournament was Kevin Keegan (Euro 2000). Since then, Sven-Göran Eriksson has led them in three major tournaments (2002, 2004, 2006) and Fabio Capello led them at the 2010 World Cup. Englishman Steve McClaren failed to lead the Three Lions to Euro 2008.

> Holland won their last international match that they played in London. On 15 August 2001, Holland triumphed 2-0 at Spurs home base White Hart Lane via goals by Mark van Bommel and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

> Van Bommel is the son-in-law of Dutch head coach Bert van Marwijk.

> Van Marwijk is about to coach his 46th match as Dutch team boss and for the second time he has not called upon a single player of Ajax, the defending Eredivisie champions. Van Marwijk also did not select an Ajax player in a friendly against Sweden in 2008.

> Van Marwijk has always selected at least one PSV player and on all but one occasions has selected at least one Liverpool player.

> Holland have triumphed once in six visits to (the old) Wembley. On 9 February, 1977, they vanquished England 2-0 on the hallowed ground.

> Holland’s last match at the old Wembley finished in a 4-1 pasting by England at Euro 1996. That result was nevertheless enough to see the Dutch through to the knockout stages of that tournament.