OS Beijing 2008 Paralympics Olympics Pekin

Finally, a clean confession! After a series of denials from Australia’s coach about looking ahead to the finals, team member Jackson who scored 16 points in the game, spelt it out later after winning “It was a crucial win because we want to meet Team USA in the final”.

Opals, who were trailing by 16 points during the game’s half, were clicked on in the 3^rd part, out-scoring the Russians 30 to 10, and regaining the lead in a match which identification card was: experience and coolness.

Aussies, who pushed away the Russian train off the scoring banister via crucial defending, knew that despite the game’s significance, a win against Russia was an emotional click, and an internal need. The world champions once again prove domination, and are clearly betting to meet the US women in a final game here in Beijing!

A wholesome African derby game, joining as one an unbelievable wonderful crowd betting on a happy ending, and hoping to be the very last team to join Brazil’s Selacao, Italy’s Squadra Azura and Argentina’s tango boys into the semi-finals, and benefit from winning at least a medal, and why not? A golden one!

As the 1^st half was going to an end, not much was happening on the game’s field, until seconds from reaching the break, when Peter Odemwingie stroke a VOLET shot into the elephants’ net, giving Nigeria the lead by 1 to null.

After the break, it was a bit different. Cote d’Ivoire managing a chance or two every few minutes, yet incapable of setting the game their way. Unwilling to get the fixture sweep away, the whole team was participating in building offensive strategies, leaving a vulnerable defense behind; scoring a goal was the last and only hope, it’s either that, or going home.

In the 82^nd minute, Cameroonian Chinedu earned a penalty after being brought down by the Orange defender; captain Obinna converted the shot into a 2^nd goal, killing any coasters’ hope of moving on in the Olympics.

Nigeria will face Belgium in the last game before the final! Both nations are eager to step into Beijing’s ultimate game and set a winning history. Sports news affirmed the similarity between Nigeria’s Olympic winners in 94 and Nigeria’s 2008 team. Will Africans win again, and beat any expected odds? Will the dream team of Africa be a nightmare for all Belgium efforts?

Nothing was decided within the 90 minutes. Just like Brazil’s game, it required an over time, to decide who will meet up the Selacao in semi finals.

Packed with suspense and concentration, Argentina and Netherlands were both unwilling to submit any possession of the ball whilst fighting fiercely to regain any lost control.

Argentina led the game, with a goal from super skilled Lionel Messi(14^th minute) whose style and technique, plus quick thinking were impressing everyone, even the sports news starting to wonder: is Maradona back?

Holland, who’s not used to stand still, started to harass the Tango defense with a high degree of fortitude, getting fluky in the 36^th minute. Now that the score was tied and equal, both teams were playing it out of harm’s way, with no risks in the defensive areas.

Betting on letting the 90 minutes pass away safely, Argentina and Holland were both trying to break each other defenses, in order to finish the game and secure it before over-time, leaving their opponent in a state of shock, hopeless and depression.

Messi was the main nucleus of the game’s joyful moments, with his light moves, fake tricks and ball directing… a combination that paid off in minute 105 from added time, as he delivered a breathtaking ball to Di Maria who magically found himself free to carry the striped white and blue jerseys into a much awaited and anticipated game against Brazil; a match that’s described as the real final of Beijing’s soccer tournament!

South Americans both form a winning bet, mutually and identically capable of wearing the golden medal in China!

Is coach Dunga trying a new strategy, or was trying to set a new sketch? With no Thiago and Pato on the game field, Brazil was looking too shallow! Cameroon wasn’t playing her best games either, especially after being out-numbered by the Selacao in the 2^nd half of the match.

Despite a South American control over the midfield, nothing was worth viewing, except Ronaldinho’s numerous passes and dribbling.

After a 1^st half with no serious substance, no one was betting on a better 2^nd part. Unexpectedly the 46^th minute held the exclusion of Cameroon’s Albert Baning, while mad crowds were starting to react… some were furious because of the referee’s decision, while others were cheering for Pato and Thiago, getting inside the game.

The stadium was finally coming alive again, as the difference of performance was starting to be illustrated, despite a steady score of 0-0 all along the 90 minutes.

Skomina Damir launched the extra time, with Cameroon players struggling to match with the selacao’s domination…. Luckily, their defense was holding on, denying any samba dance within the private rectangle.

The only key to lead was found by Diego who put the ball into the net from a long range shot, unlocking the ZERO score and beating the defensive walls of Africans whose main strategy was counter attacking; a strategy that came up useless with an “indefatigable”  Anderson cutting through every Cameroonian ball.

In a “need to score” situation, Africans used all their remaining energy to attack, trying to get back to the score, leaving a baggy defensive contour, easily exploded by Ronaldinho and Thiago, allowing Marcelo to take the privilege of insuring the football ticket among the ultimate 4.

Brazil’s Selacao will face Argentina, in an eye catching game, and a high voltage risk for betting fans. Both teams capable of creating a blow, sports betting are on the peak. Meanwhile sports news and TVs aren’t waisting any time, in the midst of starting to create and add a rivalry atmosphere to the game.

Stubborn, aggressive, yet fast and technical, both teams put their expertise in action. Belgium was capable of coming back to the game’s score against the Italians who started the carnival with a penalty, converted by Rossi into a 1-0 lead.

Only 5 minutes later, Italian defense looked incapable of stopping Haroun’s equalizer, bringing the game to 1-1.

As everyone were preparing for a 15 minutes break, Mirallas scored again. It was the 1^st minute into stoppage time, sending the Sqaudra Azura to the lockers unhappy about their defensive reputation.

The game was getting more and more physical, as 2 players were sent out. Both team were down to 10, and both of them had to use an alternate goalkeeper. Italy’s was red carded, and Romanian was injured in a ball challenge, getting in contact with Italy’s attacker.

Just like the 1^st Italian opening, Rossi changed an earned penalty into a 2-2 balance (73^rd minute), but his joy didn’t last long; 5 minutes later, Romanian Dembele scored a winner for his country, earning a unique ticket into the semi-finals and beating a huge part of expectations and odds. Betting is definitely unpredictable in Beijing, which is one of the most stunning championships, when it comes to surprising results.

Brazil’s dynamic triple-act Cristianne, Daniela and Marta were up to the level in the game against Norway that’s coming out of a huge defeat against Japan by 5 goals to 1. Between the personal skills of samba girls, and the tactical capabilities of Norway’s ladies, this game was definitely a great mixture of 2 different football schools, and a pleasure for the crowds in Tianjin Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

Marta is considered as the world best football woman ever, with just 22 years of age, and is leading her team along with Daniela who gave the lead to the yellows in the 1st minute after the restart (45^th minute).

The world’s phenomenon, Marta, added the 2^nd goal(57^th minute), to put brazil in a comfortable lead, after missing a bright chance to extend the lead, sending Cristianne’s passed ball over the bar.

Norway’s team wasn’t willing to give up, and formed a series of attacks towards the Brazilian goal despite being obliged to return for defense, betting mostly on counter attacks. Conservative tactic paid off in the last 10 minutes of the game, as their bet paid of: an earned penalty kick was transformed into a Norwegian goal in the 82^nd minute by Siri Nordby coming off the bench and hitting the Scandinavians only goal.

Marta and friends are moving up on the scale, and impatiently waiting for their opponent in the final 4.

Auriverde’s strong determination is crystal clear on the field, unwilling to bet except on gold. Odds of witnessing a HOT final 4 are really high, with the best teams of Beijing’s Olympics starting to face each others.

Champion Australia is on the road to the finals, as declared Australian coach after the game against Korea. As for ausie girls’ captain, she was enthusiastic about moving to the quarter finals, giving credit to her team mates who gave everything in the game. She couldn’t avoid coming around evaluating her performance of only 16 points, saying that she’s not up to her usual level yet.

Penny Taylor and Suzy Batkovic contributed in increasing the score difference against Korea, with 18 points each.

Jut like Anne Donovan (USA coach), Australian trainer made a statement confirming that expectations of playing the USA in the finals, is too soon to think about.

Australians and Americans are both aware that they are the favorites in Beijing, and each coach is betting on the performance and experience of her team.

What are the odds that a 3^rd team joins the rivalry?

Tens of million spectators, thousands of waving flags, and all eyes fixed on the tv sets, were not enough for Yao ming and friends, to compete against the American dream team, whose players announced earlier that a win in china’s Olympic is crucial and decisive.

The game started real close on scores, with a very excited Chinese team, showing a huge enthusiasm all over the basketball court and definitely counting on the leadership of their NBA’s giant Yao (Houston rockets), scoring 13 points under the well-built defensive strategies of the USA team, as other team mates weren’t so lucky in finding the net from the 3 points line, knowing that the downtown shots are a lethal weapon of the Chinese dragon.

In the 2^nd period, the game started to get loose from the Asian hosts, as Uncle Sam cruised on with the score difference, leaving a hopeless China way behind, with a gap that almost reached the 40 points, during the game, which later on, turned out to look like a training for the Yankees, and a Showtime blast for the 16000 Chinese fans cheering for their locals, and for their NBA idols such as the MVP ( most valuable player) Kobe Bryant, Lebron James and Dwaine wade, whose show kept the crowd on their feet, despite the massive defeat: 101-70

During a pre-match interview, coach mikes Krzyzewski declared that he’s counting on the talent, strength and nerves of steel, as a way to beat China. Kobe Bryant made it clear that the US has to bring gold back home. Other wise he’d rather change his family name and disguise into an Italian and stay abroad and away from the states.

Was it a joke?

The Americans were never as determined to bring back the gold and the glory to their home nation, (accompanied by their current and former presidents: Bush, and Bush senior), after earning only a bronze medal in Athens 2004 and a dramatic semi final loss in 2006’s world championship against the Greeks.

Betting reports, reported and gossiped that a large portion of the bets is in favor of the Spanish team, but came clean that the dream team is leading by a considerable integer. As bet sites and panes deal with results, I bet that there will be no vacant seats in the stadium, and definitely no left over when it comes to the basketball tickets sold in Beijing, for this particular game, that’s expected to fulfill all the corners and passageways of the stadium.

The next group B preliminary game will put the American persistence, in face of the world champions, the Spaniards, led by their NBA star, Pau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers). This is definitely not a basketball game to be missed, especially that’s considered to be an early final! We expect to benefit from the basketball hoops, as it embraces the 2 poles of the game on the 16^th of august.