The FIFA World Cup has a habit of throwing up some very interesting ties indeed. Chief among them this year is likely to be the politically charged Group B. England taking on Iran is a match that comes with some very intriguing political and cultural connotations.
While there is no real debate about who is the ‘better’ side out of the two, England have come unstuck against similarly motivated opponents in the past. Iran come into this in a bit of a conundrum themselves, but they are coached by well-loved former coach Carlos Queiroz. This has all of the makings of a classic FIFA World Cup tie, with two teams who are arriving in Qatar with very different expectations.
While England have dreams of lifting the famous trophy, Iran simply want to get to the knockout rounds. It would be a huge achievement, and the similar level of all three opponents outside of England does make an exit from the group more likely than one would first assume.
Who will win this tie?
That being said, England have made a habit of starting well at tournaments under Gareth Southgate. They come into this one expecting a tough match no doubt. The main worry definitely comes upfront; Iran striker Mehdi Taremi is a lethal forward and has been prolific for FC Porto both in Europe and in the domestic league.
England are a bit shaky at the back, but if they can overcome their defensive lapses at the back they should be fine here. Iran boast no real discernible quality further back in the team, and England should have enough pace, invention, and midfield technique to control the game and win with comfort.
VERDICT: 3-1
Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins, who died in July 24, 2010, aged 61, did as much as anyone to raise the popularity of snooker with his mercurial talent. Brilliant, if inconsistent, on the table, Higgins was a singularly graceless loser and frequently came into conflict with the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association because of his drunken, argumentitive, abusive, sometimes even violent, behaviour. Nevertheless, reflecting on his career at the time of his death, respected commentator Clive Everton said, ‘The public decides who its heroes are going to be, and Alex was one of them.’
Born in Belfast on March 18, 1949, started playing snooker, as a 12-year-old, in what he later referred to as the ‘dreaded’ Jam Pot, the billiard hall in the Donegall Road area of south Belfast. Just over a decade later, in 1972, he became, at the time, the youngest world champion ever, beating John Spencer 37-32 in the best-of-73 final at the Selly Park British Legion, Birmingham.
Higgins won the world championship again in 1982 and the penultimate frame of his semi-final against Jimmy White was one of the most memorable in the history of televised professional snooker. Trailing 14-15 and 0-59 in the best-of-31 match, with half a dozen reds remaining, Higgins produced a miraculous clearance of 69, despite running out of position time after time, to keep his hopes alive. Higgins swaggered back to his seat, raising a defiant index finger in the direction of the press box as he did so, and went on to win the match 16-15. Reflecting on footage of the penultimate frame, Jimmy White said, ‘I look like I’d been hit by a train.’
In the final, Higgins faced six-time world champion Ray Reardon. Higgins led 15-12, but Reardon drew level at 15-15, before Higgins produced some of his very best snooker, including a total clearance of 135 in the concluding frame, to win 18-15. The scenes of a tearful Higgins celebrating with his wife, Lynn, and his infant daughter, Lauren, helped changed the face of the game.
Paula Radcliffe, who retired after running in the London Marathon on April 26, 2015, had the distinction of winning that race three times, in 2002, 2003 and 2005, the New York Marathon three times, in 2004, 2007 and 2008 and the Chicago Marathon once, in 2002. Indeed, when winning her second London Marathon in 2003, Radcliffe set a world record time of 2:15:25, which stood until 2019, when Kenyan athlete Brigid Kosgei set the current world record, 2:14:04, in the Chicago Marathon.
Born in Davenham, Cheshire on December 17, 1973, Radcliffe excelled at athletics at school, despite being diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma at the age of 14. However, it was not until her second year at Loughborough University, after she finished seventh in the 3,000 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, in 1993, that she seriously considered a career in athletics.
Fast forward to the early years of the twenty-first century and having finished fourth in the 10,000 metres at both the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney and the 2001 World Athletics Championships in Edmonton, Radcliffe switched her attention to the marathon. She won at her first attempt, in the London Marathon in April, 2002 and the following October won the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:17:18, thereby smashing the world record by almost a minute-and-a-half.
Radcliffe lowered the world record again at the London Marathon in 2003, winning in a time of 2:15:25 but, although starting favourite for the marathon at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, dropped out of the race after 22 miles, having suffered an adverse reaction to anti-inflammatory medication. Nevertheless, she won her first New York Marathon a few months later and her third London Marathon the following year. After becoming a mother for the first time in 2007, Radcliffe won the New York Marathon again ten months later. Her training for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing was compromised by a stress fracture of her left femur, but she recovered sufficiently to win her third New York Marathon later the same year.
Sports have long been a popular pastime in the U.S., with basketball and football being among the most well-known. Apart from having dedicated coaches, America also offers students multiple opportunities to participate in sports, unlike a few other countries that are biased in sports participants. Sports are important because they instill values in participants. Such values include fairness, equality, and discipline: respect, perseverance, team building, and justice. In the free land, there is always something for everyone. Besides sports, you also can find the big and entertaining games waiting for you on casino.netbet.co.uk, keeping you occupied all night long. Some of the United States’ top sports discussed in this article are American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, soccer/football, golf, wrestling, and motorsports.
Let’s dig in.
Top Tier Sports You Can Find in the U.S.
- American football
American football is a popular sport in North America. Although American football is worldwide, North American professional leagues attract some of the best players around the globe, making its leagues competitive. So how can you start to compete in the NFL? There isn’t a minimum age for anyone that dreams of becoming a professional American football player. However, the NFL requires that one has been out of high school for at least three years before anyone can compete.
- Basketball
On the list of the world’s most-followed sports, basketball is the 10th. However, in the USA, it is the 3rd most popular with an attendance of more than 13000. The NBA has produced great basketball players like Le Bron James and Michael B. Jordan. The NBA only signs players that are 18 years of age or older. Moreover, players who have played college basketball for at least a year are eligible for an NBA draft.
- Baseball
As aforementioned, baseball is the USA’s national sport. Baseball is the 7th most followed sport globally. Baseball competitions mainly have two levels, the minor league and the major league (MLB). MLB has a minimum age requirement of 18 for players born in the USA and 17 for international players. Plenty of pro baseball teams hold tryout camps to allow overlooked players to try out for a spot to play in the MLB.
- Ice hockey
Ice hockey is primarily familiar in North America. It is called “Ice hockey” because the players play on the ice. However, if it’s only referred to as “hockey,” it means field hockey. Artificial ice rinks have revolutionised ice hockey and made it one of the most popular indoor sports. To compete in the Winter Olympics, one must be 18 years of age or older.
- Soccer
It is also one of the most popular sports in the USA. To compete in professional football, you need to have attained a minimum age of 21 years. However, one is advised to join soccer teams from as early as five years of age as this will significantly aid the ascension into professional soccer. Once every five years, the entire world comes together to compete in a World Cup soccer match.
- Tennis
Tennis is the world’s most popular sport. However, it is the 6th most popular sport in the USA. Great players such as Serena Williams and Andy Roddick act as inspirations for young sportsmen and women who wish to impact the world of sports with their talent.
- Golf
Taking the 8th spot in popularity globally is golf. It is popular amongst Americans because one of their own, Tiger Woods, has made a name for himself as one of the world’s best golfers, making Americans very proud. In golf, a caddy is a person who carries a golfer’s bag and gives them advice and moral support.
- Wrestling
Pro wrestling is another popular sport in the USA. Wrestling matches organised by the WWE are some of the most popular matches with wrestlers such as John Cena and The Rock famous among wrestling fans.
- Motorsports
Motorsports involves race cars and even motorcycle races. NASCAR is a prominent motorsport organization in the USA that organizes car races in the USA. The minimum age to get a National Racing License is 15 years.
To Sum it Up
With a population of over 300 million, The United States is home to a variety of sports. Whether you prefer outdoor activities like hiking and skiing or indoor pastimes such as watching sports and playing video games — this is the place for you.