Spain, Germany, Holland favourites in Euro: Ronaldo

Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo has declared that Spain, Germany and Netherlands are the favourites to win the European Championships this summer. The tournament gets underway on June 8 and the 27-year-old touted the trio of nations as the main contenders to lift the trophy.

"Spain have a good chance. Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Portugal, why not? But the first three have the great chance to win: Spain, Germany and Netherlands," Ronaldo said at a Castrol event which was attended by Goal.com. "We don’t have a lot pressure. The pressure is for Spain, Germany, Netherlands. But not Portugal. We have to enjoy it, to do the best we can, and let’s see what is going to happen. It will be very difficult."

The prolific Real Madrid forward continued by discussing his thoughts on the tough draw his country have been handed, alongside Germany, Netherlands and Denmark in Group B. "For me it’s the most difficult group in the Euros. It will be very tough for Portugal, but for the other teams too.

"They [Germany] are one of the best teams in the world, as are Netherlands. But I think it [progression] is possible, everything is possible in football. "We are not scared of them, but we respect them because Germany always have strong and compact teams, and it will be tough."

"[Netherlands are] a tough team, but in another way. It will be interesting because Portugal want to play against good teams because the concentration is different when you play against other teams. They're a great team. They are special.

"We know that if we progress we could catch good teams [in the quarter-finals], but this is the most difficult group.

"Can you imagine Holland or Germany out in the group? It will be a surprise! But it can happen!" Portugal kick off their campaign in Poland and Ukraine against Germany at Arena Lviv on June 9 and Ronaldo declared himself pleased with his nation's squad. We are a young group, a fantastic group, with a good and funny coach. It’s really good to be part of this national team, I really enjoy it and I love being there with them."

'Nazmi buka lembaran baru'

NAZMI bersama bapanya, Mansor ketika di Portugal.

KEJAYAAN pemain muda negara, Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor mengikat kontrak tiga tahun bersama kelab Divisyen Satu Portugal, S.C Beira Mar akan membuka lembaran baru kepada pembangunan pemain muda di negara ini.

Bagi pengendali Harimau Muda, Ong Kim Swee, berita terbaru mengenai Nazmi ini begitu menggembirakan dan cukup bagus untuk pendedahan pemain muda itu di peringkat tertinggi.

“Ini satu perkembangan yang cukup baik kerana sebelum ini hanya pemain senior saja yang mendapat peluang di peringkat lebih tinggi.

“Perkhabaran positif Nazmi ini akan membuka lembaran baru kepada aspek pembangunan pemain muda di negara ini untuk terus melahirkan lebih ramai pemain muda berkualiti,” katanya ketika dihubungi di Slovakia, semalam.

Menurut laman web rasmi kelab berkenaan, tonggak Harimau Muda yang beraksi di saingan Liga Singapura itu, memikat perhatian panel pemilihan dan terus ditawarkan kontrak tiga tahun untuk menyarung jersi kelab itu.

Namun, di sebalik kejayaan Nazmi memikat kelab Portugal itu, Kim Swee menegaskan semua pihak tidak boleh terus ‘dibuai mimpi indah’, sebaliknya usaha pencarian dan pembangunan pemain muda harus dilipat gandakan.

“Daripada penubuhan Harimau Muda kira-kira empat tahun lalu, kini kita sudah boleh lihat hasilnya. Tapi pembangunan pemain muda tidak boleh berhenti begitu saja.

“Saya akan berjumpa dengan ejen Nazmi (Marco Guimaere) malam ini (semalam). Selepas pertemuan itu, baru kita akan dapat tahu lebih lanjut mengenai kontrak yang ditawarkan kepada Nazmi,” katanya.

Puluhan ribu kunjungi Tokyo Sky Tree

TOKYO - Menara penyiaran paling tinggi di dunia, Tokyo Sky Tree yang setinggi 634 meter di sini mula dibuka kepada orang ramai semalam.

Berpuluh-puluh ribu orang beratur untuk memasuki menara itu semasa hujan.

Kompleks beli-belah dan taman hiburan yang terletak bersebelahan dengan menara itu turut sama dibuka.

Namun, mereka yang berada di dek pemerhati pada ketinggian 350 meter di menara tersebut kecewa kerana tidak dapat melihat pemandangan yang menakjubkan ekoran cuaca mendung.

"Saya sudah lama berhasrat untuk berkunjung ke menara itu," kata seorang wanita, Ayumi Nakazawa yang memenangi tiket ke majlis pembukaan bangunan tersebut.

Tokyo Sky Tree merupakan struktur kedua tertinggi di dunia selepas bangunan Burj Khalifa di Dubai yang memiliki ketinggian 828 meter. - AFP

Apple's Cook 'top-paid US CEO in 2011

Apple chief executive Tim Cook topped the list of the best-paid CEOs in the
US in 2011 thanks to stock options that put him more than $US300 million
($A305.95 million) above his next rival, a Wall Street Journal survey
shows.
Cook, who took the helm of the iPhone and iPad maker in August last year, two
months before the death of founder Steve Jobs, clocked in total compensation of
$US378 million ($A385.50 million).

Cook earned a paltry 90 US cents for his annual salary and 90 US cents for
his annual incentives.

But he scooped up a cool $US376 million ($A383.46 million) in restricted
stock grants, based on Apple's stock price at the time.

Another Silicon Valley big gun, the head of Oracle, Larry Ellison, came in
second place with less than a fifth of Cook's pay, at $US76 million ($A77.51
million).

The study, conducted by Hay Group for the Journal covered the 300 largest US
public companies by revenue.

Television broadcaster CBS head Leslie Moonves was in number-three position
at $US69 million ($A70.37 million), followed by the chief executive of
struggling retailer JCPenney, Ronald Johnson, who pulled in $US53 million
($A54.05 million).

Motorola Mobility chief Sanjay Jha was ranked fifth, at $US47 million
($A47.93 million).

The remainder of the top 10, in descending order, were the CEOs of Citigroup,
Viacom, Motorola Solutions, Walt Disney, and Ford Motor, whose Alan Mulally
earned $US29 million ($A29.58 million).

Apple's Cook could see his compensation climb further into the stratosphere
this year. Apple shares have leapt 29 per cent in the year to date, and on
Monday were up 5.5 per cent in late New York trade.

Drogba tells Chelsea: I’m off

SO LONG ... Didier Drogba bows out on a high after Chelsea's Champions League triumph

DIDIER DROGBA broke down in tears as he told stunned team-mates: ‘I’m off.’

The big hitman insists it broke his heart to finally admit his eight-year stay at Chelsea was over.

Drogba started to cry when he informed John Terry, Frank Lampard and the rest: ‘We will no longer be together next season.’

He made the shock announcment at the Blues victory parade, 24 hours after helping them to Champions League glory.

The 34-year-old is expected to link up with former team-mate Nicolas Anelka at Shanghai in China in a £200,000-a-week deal.

But the move was thrown in to doubt last night when it emerged coach Anelka is involved in a row with Shanghai’s owners.

Drogba said: “Even though it’s been three years since I said that I wanted to leave, I find it hard to admit that it’s over with this club — especially since I did not want this end.”

Drogba told France Football magazine: “I could not see myself sitting on the bench watching others play when the club plans to set up a new team.

"I’m not relieved, I am especially sad to leave such good guys. I prepare for my leap into the void, into the unknown.”

The Ivorian claims he could never play for another Premier League side.

He added: “If I must leave it will be for an adventure that’s totally different from the big leagues.

"First, because there is no question I would play for anyone else in England other than Chelsea and also, because I don’t know what I could get in Spain, Italy or Germany that I don’t already know.

“I don’t want to start an ordinary adventure elsewhere. I’m more attracted to a new life.”

Anelka has helped negotiations between Shanghai and Drogba reach an advanced stage.

But the Frenchman is unhappy with the interference he has encountered since taking over as player-coach from Jean Tigana last month and could decide to walk away.

'Perlawanan gila'

SHARAPOVA memegang trofi selepas menjuarai Rome Masters awal pagi semalam.

---

ROM - Ratu Rusia, Maria Sharapova muncul juara kejohanan tenis Rome Masters buat kali kedua berturut-turut.

Pada aksi final awal pagi semalam, Sharapova berjaya mempertahankan kejuaraan yang dimenanginya tahun lalu apabila menumbangkan pemain handalan China, Li Na.

Bagaimanapun, Sharapova diberi tentangan sengit oleh Li Na sebelum meraih kemenangan 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) dalam masa dua jam.

Aksi tersebut juga terpaksa dihentikan seketika kerana hujan lebat.

Selepas tewas pada set pertama, Sharapova yang juga pemain No. 2 dunia, tidak menunjukkan tanda- tanda dia akan mudah menyerah kalah.

Sebaliknya dia kembali bangkit dalam set kedua, seterusnya mengheret perlawanan ke set penentuan.

Perlawanan set penentuan itu juga berlangsung sengit apabila kedua-dua saling memungut mata sebelum Sharapova menang menerusi tie-break.

"Ia satu perlawanan yang gila. Salah seorang daripada kami (Sharapova dan Li Na) harus memenangi perlawanan itu, jika tidak ia akan berterusan lebih lama.

"Agak sukar untuk memberikan aksi terbaik kerana angin kencang. Perlawanan ini cukup sukar kerana berlangsung dua jam.

"Memang menyedihkan kerana pada akhirnya seorang yang akan tewas tetapi saya gembira dengan kejayaan ini.

"Memang cukup hebat apabila dapat mengalahkan seorang pemain yang memiliki skil permainan yang tinggi," jelas Sharapova.

Sementara itu, Li Na menganggap aksi final tersebut seperti bermain bola sepak dalam cuaca hujan.

"Ia suatu perlawanan yang lucu. Walaupun kami direhatkan buat seketika tetapi kami tetap perlu memberi tumpuan setiap masa, situasi itu cukup memenatkan kami.

"Pada masa yang sama, situasi itu memberi tekanan kepada kami. Namun, saya mahu mengambilnya dari sudut positif," jelas Li Na yang juga juara Terbuka Perancis tahun lalu.

Kejayaan di Rom menyaksikan Sharapova menambah koleksi kejuaraan tahun ini selepas menjuarai Grand Prix Porsche di Stuttgart bulan lalu. - Reuters

Jersi dilelong RM13.85j

JERSI Babe Ruth yang dilelong kelmarin.

NEW YORK - Sehelai jersi besbol yang dipakai oleh pemain pasukan New York Yankess, Babe Ruth dilelong AS$4,415,658 (RM13,850,170) kelmarin.

Firma lelongan SCP Auctions menyatakan, ia merupakan jersi terawal yang pernah dipakai oleh pasukan New York Yankees.

Jersi itu keluaran tahun 1920.

Baju berkenaan yang bertahun-tahun dipamerkan di Muzium Kelahiran Babe Ruth di Baltimore dibeli oleh laman web Lelands.com.

Menurut SCP Auctions, harga itu mengatasi rekod lelongan memorabilia sukan sebelum ini yang dicatat pada 2010 untuk set undang-undang permainan bola keranjang oleh James Naismith. - Agensi

Chelsea akhirnya takluk Eropah

MUNICH - Pengurus Chelsea, Roberto Di Matteo berjaya membuktikan kredibiliti beliau selaku pengendali yang hebat sebaik membantu pasukan itu menjulang trofi Liga Juara-Juara.

Awal pagi semalam, The Blues berjaya menamatkan kemarau trofi Liga Juara-Juara apabila menewaskan Bayern Munich 4-3 menerusi penentuan sepakan penalti di Allianz Arena.

Sebelum ini, nasib malang The Blues yang dilihat agak hambar pada permulaan musim ini di bawah kendalian Andre Villas- Boas, ternyata berubah sebaik menerima sentuhan Di Matteo, 41, pertengahan Mac lepas.

Namun, tidak mustahil aksi final semalam merupakan perlawanan terakhir Di Matteo sebagai pengendali sementara The Blues memandangkan pemilik kelab, Roman Abramovich dilaporkan begitu ghairah mahu mendapatkan pengurus baharu yang lebih terkenal musim depan.

"Kadang-kadang bola sepak boleh membuatkan anda menjadi gila. Tidak ada sesiapa yang menyangka kami mampu muncul juara musim ini.

"Bagi saya, ia penamat yang cukup sempurna," kata Di Matteo.

Menurut beliau: "Kami hanya melakukan yang terbaik untuk menang.

"Kami berjaya melakukannya meskipun tanpa empat pemain utama, sebabnya memang kami layak muncul juara."

Pada masa sama, Di Matteo juga enggan mengulas mengenai masa depannya di Stamford Bridge meskipun mendapat sokongan majoriti pemain terutama kapten, John Terry yang mahu- kan beliau kekal sebagai pengurus.

"Ia tidak penting sama ada saya kekal ataupun tidak.

"Sejujurnya, saya gembira dengan peranan yang diberikan dan menerima apa jua keputusan mengenai nasib saya selepas ini," katanya.

Rakan sejawatannya di Bayern, Jupp Heynckes juga memuji kredibiliti yang dimiliki Di Matteo.

"Jika saya Abramovich, saya akan menawarkan kontrak selama tiga tahun lagi buat Di Matteo," katanya. - Reuters

Mooves like lightning Cow racers are hightailing it

Sound yer horn ... racer hurtles along

COW fast can you go? Farmers race pairs of cattle through muddy rice fields — by hanging on to their TAILS.

The riders even BITE the animals to make them go quicker in the traditional harvest celebration event in Indonesia.

Hoof it ... farmer splashes through field

Steak your bets ... pair look on fine form

I've got a beef ... jockey takes a tumble

Barca line up Drogba

DROG BARCS ... Catalans want Didier

Exclusive

BARCELONA are eyeing up a move to nab Didier Drogba on a free transfer from Chelsea.

The Spanish giants want to offer Drogba, 34, a two-year deal worth up to £5million a season to quit Chelsea and snub a move to China, Milan or the USA.

Chelsea have also offered the striker a new two-year deal with owner Roman Abramovich pulling out all the stops to keep him.

But Drogba is out of contract and could quit the Blues after the Champions League final on Saturday.

Though a move to Shanghai FC could be far more lucrative, the lure of playing alongside Lionel Messi and Co could prove irresistible for the Ivory Coast star.

A Barcelona source confirmed: “What the team needs is an attacking player who has the presence and strength to trouble defenders.

“Drogba has that profile and is one of the players the club are looking at.”

Drogba has spent eight seasons at Stamford Bridge but new boss Tito Vilanova, who will succeed Pep Guardiola after the Copa Del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao next week, wants a world-class striker as cover for David Villa.

The Spain superstar missed most of this season with a broken foot but will be fit for next season.

Italian giants AC Milan, who have wanted Drogba for years, were also in touch to declare their interest just after Chelsea beat Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final.