Dunga to take charge of Brazil Olympic soccer team
Rio de Janerio: Brazil coach Dunga will take charge of the country’s Olympic team at the Rio 2016 Games, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) said in a statement. Dunga replaces Alexandre Gallo, who was sacked after more than two years as manager of Brazil’s under-20 and under-23 teams, Xinhua reported. Mario Rogerio Reis Micalle has been named coach of the under-20 side, which will compete in the World Cup in New Zealand from May 30 to June 20. “The Olympic squad will be led by Dunga until the 2016 Olympics,” the CBF said. The Olympics are the only major international football tournament that Brazil has never won. Mano Menezes led the team to the final of the 2012 tournament in London, which the South Americans lost 2-1 to Mexico at Wembley stadium. (IANS)
Madrid’s Kroos fit to play against Juventus on Wednesday
Madrid: Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos on Sunday confirmed that he will be fit for their second leg of the European Champions League semi-final against Juventus to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium here on Wednesday. There were fears that the German would miss the important game after he was taken off in the 25th minute in the La Liga match against Valencia on Saturday. The 25-year-old clutched the back of his left hamstring while receiving treatment and requested a substitution. Kroos wrote on Facebook: “Thank you for your kind messages! I’ve just been through the examination. Dont worry. Let’s focus on Wednesday!” #ToniLive#HalaMadrid? Real lost the first leg 1-2 against the Italian champions and odds are heavily stacked against them ahead of the second leg. With Luka Modric out and manager Carlo Ancelotti seemingly not too enamoured by Asier Illarramendi or Lucas Silva, Real would have been struggling had Kroos not made it. (IANS)
Pak fined for slow over-rate during Test victory against Bangladesh
Dhaka: Pakistan’s players were Sunday fined for a slow over-rate during their victorious second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka. The visitors crushed Bangladesh by 328 runs on Saturday, with a day in hand, to take the two-Test series 1-0. Match referee Jeff Crowe imposed the fine after Misbah-ul-Haq’s side was ruled to be two overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration. Misbah was fined 40 per cent of his match fee while the other players lost 20 per cent. Under the rules, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount. “Misbah pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing,” the International Cricket Council said in a statement. Imran Khan has been reprimanded for breaching the game’s code of conduct during the match, the ICC also said. After dismissing batsman Tamim on the fourth day, he appeared to “give the batsman an aggressive and continued send-off”, it said.(AFP)
