Cristiano Ronaldo: I Have a Baby Boy (See His Statement)

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo just learned he has a baby boy. Ronaldo plans to raise the child on his own, and the mother’s identity will remain a secret.

Just days after his native Portugal was eliminated from the 2010 World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo has learned that he is the father of a baby boy.

In a statement he posted July 3, 2010 on Twitter, Ronaldo says:

It is with great joy and emotion that I inform I have recently become father to a baby boy.

As agreed with the baby’s mother, who prefers to have her identity kept confidential, my son will be under my exclusive guardianship. No further information will be provided on this subject and I request everyone to fully respect my right to privacy (and that of the child) at least on issues as personal as these are.

Cristiano, 25, who has never been married, has never been in a relationship that has lasted longer than a few months.

Ronaldo, who has a well-earned reputation as a womanizing ladies man, has previously been linked to American socialites Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian, British actress Gemma Atkinson, aspiring Spanish model Neireida Gallardo, Italian tv presenter Letizia Filippi and Italian model Raffaella Fico, to name a few.

Ronaldo, who was devastated by Portugal’s World Cup loss, said he was disconsolate after the defeat. “I feel like a broken man, completely devastated, frustrated and with an unimaginable sadness,” he said.

Perhaps having a son will help put his sadness in perspective. Maybe his son will be as cute as Cris was as a child?

VILLA HELPS SPAIN TO GET INTO SEMIS

JOHANNESBURG(AP) Spain found just enough of the beautiful game - and a touch of good luck - to advance to the World Cup semifinals, beating Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday night.

David Villa took the tournament scoring lead with his fifth goal, which banked in off both posts in the 83th minute. The goal finished off a brilliant, three-way passing combination that typifies the way the European champions like to play. It sent Spain into the World Cup's final four for the first time in 60 years.
Spain faces Germany on Wednesday in Durban - a reprise of its 1-0 victory in the Euro 2008 final.

Paraguay's players couldn't have been more relaxed before the game, smiling and waving to TV cameras as they came off their bus, then talking on cell phones and joking around on the pitch 90 minutes before kickoff.
The Spaniards were more matter-of-fact, in direct contrast to their playing style. They gathered in a circle and chatted, only occasionally giving a wave to their fans as the stadium began to fill.

Once the match began, Paraguay had Spain off-balance, getting a dangerous scoring chance by Jonathan Santana in the opening minute. Rarely did the Spaniards cross midfield with possession.
But that soon changed as Spain began stringing together passes and dominating possession, looking for a breakthrough. It nearly came on a superb individual effort by Xavi, who took a pass and in one motion, pivoted to send a shot that soared just over the crossbar.
But most of the connections led nowhere, particularly on a dozen set pieces the Spaniards wasted. They left the field after a scoreless first half gesturing at each other in frustration and lucky to be tied at 0-0.
The difference in the frenzied second half were Villa and Casillas.

GERMANY THRASH ARGENTINA 4-0

CAPE TOWN, South Africa(AP) Don't mess with Germany, on or off the field.

Miroslav Klose scored twice to move into a tie for second on the all-time World Cup scoring list, and Germany backed up its pre-game trash talk with an emphatic 4-0 rout of Argentina in the quarterfinals Saturday. The dominant display - along with Germany's two other four-goal games - should demand the attention of everyone still playing in South Africa.
``It was absolute class,'' Germany coach Joachim Loew said.
Hard to argue with that.

© AP

Argentina had been one of the tournament's darlings, with coach Diego Maradona's every move causing a stir and superstar Lionel Messi showing you don't need to score to be sublime. The Argentines rolled into the quarterfinals as one of only two teams to win all its games - the Netherlands was the other - and had been so powerful they never trailed.
No wonder a star-studded crowd was on hand at Green Point Stadium, with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Mick Jagger, Leonardo DiCaprio and South Africa's own Charlize Theron were all spotted in the VIP seats.
But Germany overwhelmed the Argentines, and shut down Messi in the process.
``To lose like that is very painful,'' forward Carlos Tevez said. ``We played badly and sometimes when you make mistakes you go home.''
Klose, making his 100th appearance for Germany, was simply masterful in the second half. With Germany clinging to a 1-0 lead and unable to get that all-important insurance goal despite several chances in the first half, Klose showed the skill that's made him one of the most prolific players in German history.
In the 68th minute, Lukas Podolski crossed the ball from just beyond the box, slicing it between Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero and defender Nicolas Burdisso. Klose got control of the ball in front of the goal and effortlessly tapped it in for a 2-0 lead.
And Klose wasn't done. In the last minute of regulation, he volleyed in a cross from Mesut Oezil from no more 10 yards, then broke out his trademark somersault. It hasn't been seen in months after a tough season at Bayern Munich, and German fans were no doubt thrilled to have Klose's swagger back.
``I am just pleased that we are in the semifinals,'' Klose said, ``that was our target.''
The two goals give the 32-year-old Klose four in South Africa, tying him for the tournament lead. He now has 14 in three World Cups, tying him with German great Gerd Mueller for second place on the all-time list. Brazil's Ronaldo holds the World Cup record with 15 goals.

Klose also is second to Mueller on Germany's all-time list with 52 goals. Mueller scored 68.

MS DHONI'S SECRET ENGAGEMENT WITH PICTURES

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, 29, the cricket team captain from India, is engaged to Sakshi Singh Rawat, 21. Dhoni and Rawat got engaged in a private ceremony on Saturday, July 3. Their marriage and wedding will likely take place after October 2010.

Dhoni and Rawat are school friends
who kept their engagement low key at Hotel Bhagirath in Dehradun. Only their family members
were present, along with a few close friends like Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra.

Dhoni and Rawat had once attended the same school at DAV, Shamily, in Ranchi. Their fathers had worked together in the same company MECON. After Mr Rawat retired, the family moved to Dehradun.

Other sources said Rawat met Dhoni at the movie Race’s post-party, at Bipasha Basu’s house. Despite having been linked to several actresses, Dhoni settled on his choice, and they will be getting married
soon.

DHONI ENGAGED WITH SCHOOL FRIEND

Ranchi, Jun 4: Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni got enganged with his long time friend, Sakshi Singh Rawat, at a quiet ceremony in Dehradun on Saturday, Jun 3.

Buzz uA close family friend of Dhoni told the reporters that the engagement was at hotel Bhagirath in Dehradun. He added that a few close friends of him were present for the ceremony besides his family members. Media was kept away and engagement was done in a very secretive manner.

29-year-old Dhoni and Sakshi, 23, had been school friends since their early school days in Ranchi. Their fathers were colleagues in MECON before Rawats moved to Dehradun after retirement.

Sources also said that both of them had been seeing each other after two years. They holidayed together in Mussoorie and Dehradun, before the engagement.

When asked about the date of their marriage, the friend said that it is not yet confirmed. Day will be decided very soon. He added that Dhoni will tie the knot may be after the Australian series at home, during October 2010.

Brazil Newspaper | Brazil blame poor 2nd half for loss to the Dutch | Brazil Latest News | Brazil FIFA Lost News!

One bad half was all it took to end Brazil’s hopes for a sixth World Cup title.
Brazil dominated the Netherlands in the first half Friday at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, but collapsed in the second and was outplayed by the Dutch to eventually lose 2-1, failing to get past the quarterfinals for the second time in a row.
Brazil coach Dunga says “our mistake was that we just couldn’t keep the same focus in the second half.”
Robinho scored early to give Brazil a 1-0 lead at halftime, but an own goal by midfielder Felipe Melo and a header by Wesley Sneijder gave the Dutch the win.
Brazil lost to France 1-0 four years ago in Germany.

WATCH FIFA QUATER FINALS SEMI FINALS AND FINALS HERE

watch the FIFA World Cup 2010 matches online at your office or home or on the go, if you do not know how, check out how to watch FIFA 2010 World Cup Online or use this alternative to Watch FIFA World Cup 2010 online.
If you use Google Chrome, you can use an extension to watch FIFA 2010 World Cup matches online. You can also try your luck on UStream.tv or Justin.tv or livesport1.us where users sometimes stream the matches live online.
You can also use an Excel template to track the FIFA 2010 group stages matches and knockout stages, you will find more about it in this post. You can also download the FIFA 2010 World Cup Schedule and Calendar. Have fun and enjoy watching the FIFA World Cup 2010 Matches highlights online.

FRANCE VS MEXICO FIFA 2010 HIGHLIGHTS

To watch the highlights of all the FIFA World Cup 2010, you can visit the official FIFA website by clicking on this link. You can also watch the FIFA World Cup highlights through a high quality video stream from ESPN. You can watch the video highlights of the match by clicking this link. ESPN3 videos may only be available in certain places.
And finally, if none of the above options work for you. You can watch the World Cup highlights at Footy Tube by visiting this link. We will update this post when other resources for watching the full Video highlights of FIFA World Cup 2010 matches become available.
By the way, you can also watch the FIFA World Cup 2010 matches online at your office or home or on the go, if you do not know how, check out how to watch FIFA 2010 World Cup Online or use this alternative to Watch FIFA World Cup 2010 online.
If you use Google Chrome, you can use an extension to watch FIFA 2010 World Cup matches online. You can also try your luck on UStream.tv or Justin.tv or livesport1.us where users sometimes stream the matches live online.
You can also use an Excel template to track the FIFA 2010 group stages matches and knockout stages, you will find more about it in this post. You can also download the FIFA 2010 World Cup Schedule and Calendar. Have fun and enjoy watching the FIFA World Cup 2010 Matches highlights online.

MEXICO BEATS FRANCE 2-0 AT WORLD CUP

POLOKWANE, South Africa(AP) Substitutes Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a goal each Thursday in Mexico's 2-0 win over France at the World Cup, leaving the French on the verge of elimination from Group A.

Mexico went ahead in the 64th minute when Hernandez ran onto Rafael Marquez's pass and rounded goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before guiding the ball home. Hernandez's grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, scored for Mexico against France in the 1954 World Cup, although that was a consolation goal.
Blanco converted a penalty in the 79th after Eric Abidal fouled Pablo Barrera, who came on for the injured Carlos Vela in the first half.
``We have to enjoy this win,'' Marquez said. ``We have to go step-by-step and be calm.''
Mexico is now level on points with Uruguay, both with four. They play each other in the final group game knowing a draw will be enough for both to advance. France and South Africa both have one point, leaving both needing a win in their match Tuesday while hoping for a result in the other game.
``We're not going to go out of this tournament without winning a match,'' France winger Florent Malouda said. ``It's shameful to lose like that. It's a question of saving our honor.''
France winger Mathieu Valbuena said the players were inconsolable after the defeat.
``There were no words spoken, there's nothing you can say after a defeat like that,'' Valbuena said. ``Of course it hurts a lot. But we have to forget this defeat and think about the South Africa match.''
France coach Raymond Domenech said it was a similar feeling to the 2008 European Championship all over again, with a scoreless draw followed by a defeat, and his controversial six years as coach could end in more embarrassment.

Cricket Asia Cup 2010 schedule (Fixtures) and timings

CRICKET Asia Cup 2010 schedule (time table) and timings. Asia Cup 2010 Cricket matches schedule and timetable have announced India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will take part in this tournament which starts from June 15, 2010.
Jun 15 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
SL v Pak – 02:30 pm IST
Jun 16 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Ban v Ind – 02:30 pm IST
Jun 18 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
SL v Ban – 02:30 pm IST
Jun 19 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Ind v Pak – 02:30 pm IST
Jun 21 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Ban v Pak – 02:30 pm IST
Jun 22 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
SL v Ind – 02:30 pm IST
Jun 24 Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium
Final – 02:30 pm IST

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World Cup 2018, 2022 hosting race heats up at FIFA

ZURICH(AP) Nine candidates hoping to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 began delivering their bid books to FIFA on Friday.

Australia made the first presentation to FIFA president Sepp Blatter, handing over a 750-page book detailing how it would stage the world's biggest sporting event.
``It is now the kick off,'' Blatter told the Australian delegation.
Four bidders from Europe, four from the Asian confederation plus the United States will file through in alphabetical order to present their technical documents.
Europe is favored to be given the 2018 finals, with England and Russia competing against joint bids from Netherlands-Belgium and Spain-Portugal. All four are also in the 2022 race but would be barred if one gets the 2018 tournament.
Australia and the U.S. also are in both contests. Japan, Qatar and South Korea have focused solely on 2022, believing Europe is a lock for 2018 because the 2010 tournament is in South Africa and Brazil hosts in 2014.
FIFA's 24 executive members will choose the two hosts on Dec. 2 in Zurich.
Five of the current bidders have previously staged a World Cup: England (1966), Spain (1982), U.S. (1994), and Japan and South Korea (co-hosted 2002).

Beckham wants to help coach England

ZURICH(AP) David Beckham hopes to accept England coach Fabio Capello's request to work with the World Cup squad in South Africa.

Beckham said Friday he needs to make progress with therapy on his injured Achilles' tendon, but the coaching offer is ``a huge boost.''

``I'm honored that a manager of his status and his experience feels that I'd be important,'' Beckham said.

Beckham said he spoke with Capello and assistant coach Franco Baldini but did not discuss a specific job.

``They feel that I have a role to play with the players and with the team,'' the former England captain said.

Beckham played 115 times for England - a record for an outfield player - but was ruled out of appearing at his fourth straight World Cup when he tore his left Achilles' tendon playing for AC Milan in March. He joined the Italian club on loan to maintain his fitness for the tournament, which kicks off on June 11.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder spoke after leading England's campaign to host the 2018 World Cup as it presented its bid book to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

Beckham said his injury let him devote more time to his role as a vice president of his home country's bid.

``To represent them off the field is something new, and something special and something I'm enjoying,'' he said.

Though England is competing to host either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, Blatter hinted that ``the motherland of football'' should focus on the 2018 event, which is expected to be awarded to Europe.

Beckham did not rule out that he could eventually lend his support to the United States' bid for 2022 before the FIFA vote on Dec. 2.

``I'm here obviously today to support (England's) bid for 2018,'' Beckham said. ``Going forward, we'll see what happens.''

Mourinho says Real Madrid in his future

Jose Mourinho plans to coach Real Madrid one day - he just won't say when.

In an interview to be published in the Italian magazine Panorama on Friday - excerpts of which were released Thursday, Mourinho says he ''will coach Real Madrid'' sooner or later.

Mourinho says that ''what they write is that I've got one foot in Spain and one foot here in Milan and that's false. ... I will coach Real Madrid. I've coached a big team in England. I'm coaching a big team in Italy and I will coach a big team in Spain.''

Mourinho can clinch the Serie A title with Inter Milan this weekend, and his team faces Bayern Munich a week later for the Champions League title.