To sleep at night, overcome stress during day

Berlin, May 29 (DPA) Dealing with mental stress during the daytime is one way to get a good night’s sleep as the body cannot switch itself into a relaxed mode at the push of a button, according to Professor Thomas Pollmaecher of the German Society of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurological Healing.

Workers should make sure they get enough breaks during the day and prevent their workload from getting too high.

A stressful job can mean taking that pressure home with you and sleeping badly at night. Pollmaecher recommends changing into fresh clothing after work. It can also help if you imagine a situation that marks a change such as closing a file or letting shutters down.

People who get sufficient exercise in the fresh air are also more likely to sleep well but it is not a good idea to be very physically active late at night as that overactivates the cardiovascular system.

Fatty or rich foods can also keep the body busy by being difficult to digest. If you experience difficulty sleeping over an extended period of time you should consult your doctor.

Uruguay hoping for a repeat of history

Montevideo, May 26 (DPA) After edging Costa Rica in an inter-continental play-off, Uruguay became the 32nd and final team to qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

One of just seven teams to lift the World Cup trophy, Uruguay have done it twice – albeit those successes are firmly rooted in history: at the inaugural tournament on home soil in 1930 and then again 20 years later when they shocked the hosts in Brazil.

Although they have only qualified for one of the previous four World Cups, Uruguay have an upbeat attitude despite being placed into a difficult group.

They’ve been drawn alongside such renowned powers in world football as 1998 champions France and perennial qualifiers Mexico, not to mention the tricky business of facing off against the South African hosts.

But the players and coach Oscar Tabarez both feel the time is right for Uruguay to reclaim their past majesty.

‘We have a duty to our country’s great footballing history. Some people call it prehistory but they are only saying that because they dont have any history of their own to talk about. We need to have some kind of link with those great champions, at least in terms of our footballing culture and what it means to us,’ Tabarez insisted recently.

In reality, little is expected of Uruguay in the first finals held on African ground as their charge through the South American qualifying competition was stop-start at best.

They won only six matches out of 18 in the marathon South American zone qualifiers, with six draws and six losses and winning only one match out of eight against the other South American teams that went on to qualify for South Africa 2010. This discrepancy speaks to a significant gap between Uruguay of today and her more illustrious neighbours.

In his second stint in charge of the national team, Tabarez has assembled a squad heavy on discipline but short on individual stars.

Diego Forlan remains the teams out-and-out goal threat, with Sebastian Abreu also a likely candidate to chip in with a tally or two in South Africa, despite his being used mostly as an off-the-bench substitute of late.

Hulking centre-back Diego Lugano of Fenerbahce, Luis Suarez, Alvaro Pereira and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera are also likely difference-makers for the bustling South Americans hopefuls.

Opening in Cape Town against the star-studded French, a team known as slow starters in international competition, Uruguay may well just be in a position to spring an early surprise to get their World Cup journey off on the all-important right path from the outset.

In a cautious assessment of their chances, star man Forlan says, ‘we know Uruguay are never going to start as favourites but were there and were not ruling anything out.’

The coach: Tabarez is a coach whose reputation precedes him, and the esteem in which he is held in South American football circles has earned him the nickname El Maestro. Having coached at club level in Colombia, Argentina, Italy, Spain and his native Uruguay, the manager holds the reins of the national team for a second time since his initial stint from 1988 to 1990.

He led Uruguay to their last win in the World Cup – a late 1-0 victory over South Korea at Italia 90 that sent them into the second round. Since taking over three years ago, he has orchestrated a sustainable youth system and marked a path forward for a revival in Uruguayan football.

The star: Diego Forlan, 30, is Uruguays one true star. The former Manchester United, Villarreal and current Atletico Madrid ace has a proven eye for goal at both club and country level. He has already scored on the worlds biggest stage with goals against Japan and Senegal in Uruguays disappointing group stage exit at the finals in Korea/Japan 2002, the last World Cup in which the country participated.

He has won Europe’s Golden Shoe as continental top scorer twice, including at the end of the 2008 season when he scored 32 times for Atletico. With speed, panache and a killer final touch, the blond marksman is a serious threat to his Group A opponents.

What economic crisis? Thousands of Greeks head to World Cup

Athens, May 26 (DPA) Greeks may be feeling of the pinch of the economic crisis but one area where austerity has been cast aside is on the playing field as thousands of fans will be heading to the World Cup.

More than 4,000 Greek fans have already booked their tickets to travel to South Africa and have purchased all available tickets for the final match between Argentina June 22.

Travel agencies in Athens said phones have been ringing off the hook by fans looking to secure four-day packages priced at 2,090 euros (about $2,500) and 11-day packages at 3,500 euros.

‘It may be expensive but it is worth it to see our team play,’ said Giannis Dervezoglou, who will travel to South Africa with his wife and son.

Greece will take on South Korea June 12, Nigeria June 17 and Argentina in Group B.

Picasso painting stolen from Paris museum

Paris, May 20 (DPA) Thieves have stolen five expensive paintings, including a work by Picasso, from the National Museum of Modern Art in Paris, France Info radio reported Thursday.

Other works missing include paintings by Henri Matisse, Georges Braque, Fernand Leger and Amedeo Modigliani. The thieves apparently broke into the museum through a window.

Initial reports said that the value of the paintings could be in the hundreds of millions of euros. If confirmed, it would make it one of the biggest art heists in history.

The museum would not confirm the report. The Organised Crime Brigade (BRB) is handling the investigation.

UN renews call for restraint in Thailand’s deadly demonstrations

New York, May 18 (DPA) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Monday repeated his call for both sides in Thailand’s deadly street demonstrations to show restraint as the toll rose to at least 36.

UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said UN mediation is possible only if the Thai government and the demonstrators both agree to seek it, which has not occurred, he said.

Thai demonstrators last week apparently called for UN mediation, which the government in Bangkok rejected.

The UN said that Ban has been in touch with Thai authorities regarding the situation, and he expressed concern about the ongoing crisis and urged restraint, stressing the need for a peaceful resolution through dialogue.

‘Regarding UN mediation, the UN always stands ready to help, however, both sides must be in agreement to the UN’s involvement,’ a UN official said.

Ban said last week that he was concerned by the mounting violence as anti-government Red Shirt demonstrators battled armed troops.

On Monday, demonstrators ignored a deadline to disperse from a central Bangkok protest site following the confirmed death of renegade army Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, 58, who was shot by a sniper last week.

The death toll in the four days of street battles stood at 36, including journalists.

Williams outclasses Peer pressure to march on in Madrid

Madrid, May 15 (DPA) In-form Venus Williams played ruthless tennis Saturday to move into her first clay final of the European spring season with a 6-3, 6-0 win over outclassed Israeli Shahar Peer at the Madrid Masters tennis.

American fourth seed Williams – set to become second in the world Monday behind her sister Serena – now stands 5-0 without the loss of a set against the world number 22, who never stood a chance in the hammering.

‘She’s a really tenacious player, very talented, with a never-say-die spirit,’ said Williams. ‘I was ready for that. I just seemed to be able to find the corners.

‘I can’t complain about being able to play that well against a player like her. To have come out on top so far feels good. I’ve been happy with my form and I’m going to try to keep it going tomorrow.’

Williams quickly recovered from an early break of her serve, taking the 66-minute contest by the neck to win the last nine games in a canter.

The 29-year-old who celebrates a birthday next month, will be playing her fourth final of the season – the second on clay after winning Acapulco – against either Czech Lucie Safarova or Arvane Rezai of France Sunday.

Williams now stands a formidable 12-1 on the red dirt in 2010, firing 17 winners and breaking her flustered opponent six times.

‘The ultimate is to win the French, and I’ve come close (2002) final against her sister). ‘I think I’ve won every other tournament except the French on clay, so I’d like to take it one more step.’

Williams is seeking a tenth career trophy on clay. Peer had been hoping to claim the sixth Top-10 win of her career after putting out Russian number seven Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first round in the capital.

Peer still heads the WTA match-win table on 27 this season.

Egypt opens Rafah crossing for stranded Palestinians

Gaza, May 15 (DPA) Egypt opened its crossing point with the Gaza Strip at Rafah Saturday to allow around 8,000 stranded Palestinians to cross into Egypt, the Palestinian Border Crossing Corporation (PBCC) said.

‘Around 8,000 Palestinians, including patients, students, businessmen and Palestinians holding other foreign nationalities will be crossing into Egypt starting from Saturday until Monday,’ the PBCC said in a statement.

The statement said that a total of 17 buses, six for people needing medical treatment, and 11 for holders of foreign passports, were scheduled to pass through the terminal Saturday.

The PBCC, which comes under the authority of the Hamas administration ruling the coastal strip, expressed the hope that reopening the crossing would ‘would ease the suffering of the population due to more than three years of a tight blockade had been imposed in the Gaza Strip.’

Since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007 Egypt has kept the Rafah crossing mostly shut, opening it only sporadically for humanitarian reasons. The crossing is the enclave’s only entry to, and exit from, the Strip which does not pass through Israel, which has imposed its own blockade on the Strip.

Cairo will not open the terminal permanently until Hamas and its rival, the Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas, sign an agreement ending their political rift.

Fire leaves thousands homeless in Philippine capital

Manila, May 15 (DPA) Thousands of people were left homeless Saturday in a pre-dawn blaze that struck a slum area in the Philippine capital. No one was injured, a fire official said.

The fire razed some 800 houses in Muntinlupa City, leaving at least 4,000 people homeless, according to metropolitan Manila fire chief Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta.

Cordeta said there were no reported injuries in the conflagration that lasted for several hours.

Investigators were still determining the cause.

Thai premier scraps early election proposal

Bangkok, May 13 (DPA) Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has scrapped an offer to hold an early election this year after anti-government demonstrators refused to end their two-month-old protest, officials confirmed Thursday.

Abhisit last week proposed to hold an election Nov 14, in a bid to appease the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), whose supporters are commonly known as red shirts, which has been staging protests in Bangkok since March 12 to try to force a dissolution of parliament.

A precondition for the early polls was that the UDD must end its protest at Ratchaprasong Road in the heart of Bangkok’s commercial district, which the red shirts have occupied since April 3.

‘It is fitting that the premier has rescinded the offer to hold an early poll as the red shirts have refused to disperse,’ Korbsak Sabhavasu, the prime minister’s secretary-general, told reporters Wednesday evening.

The UDD leadership initially welcomed Abhisit’s proposal, but they have refused to disperse at Ratchaprasong Road until Suthep Thaugsuban, deputy prime minster in charge of security, faces criminal charges for ordering a crackdown on their followers April 10 that left 25 dead, including 19 protestors, five soldiers and one foreign journalist.

The condition was partly met when Suthep Tuesday acknowledged charges against him at the Department of Special Investigation, which is looking into the crackdown, but the UDD has insisted Suthep must be interrogated, charged and granted bail.

If Suthep is granted bail, the UDD leadership argues it would set a precedent for them to be granted bail as well once they end their protests and turn themselves in to the authorities.

The 24 top UDD leaders are afraid to quit their protest site because they face arrest once they step outside the barricades on various charges, including breaking the emergency law, terrorism and criticising the monarchy.

The UDD leadership is also split, with some of them willing to quit but others opposed to ending the protest until they have met their original goal of forcing an immediate dissolution of parliament, sources said.

Abhisit and other members of his Democrat Party have blamed former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, one of the de-facto leaders of the UDD although he is living in self-exile, for being behind the demonstrators’ reluctance to end their protest.

‘Everyone knows that Thaksin does not want to stop but wants to ruin all aspects of legitimacy,’ deputy leader of the Democrat party, Kraisak Choonhavan, told the Bangkok Post newspaper.

The government has postponed a plan to cut electricity and water to the Ratchaprasong neighbourhood out of deference to people, other than protestors, living in the upscale area.

‘Authorities are now working on technical ways to reduce the grid to the area with a minimal impact on non-protestors,’ government spokesman Panitan Wattanyakorn said.

Obama for more liability on oil company for spills

Washington, May 13 (DPA) US President Barack Obama Wednesday formally threw his weight behind moves in Congress to increase the liability of oil companies for expenses and damages after oil spills.

The proposal would retroactively affect energy company BP for the crude oil well rupture it is now fighting in the Gulf of Mexico, White House officials told reporters.

The ruptured deepwater well is spewing 5,000 barrels of crude a day into the water and threatens a ‘massive and potentially unprecedented environmental disaster,’ said Carol Browner, Obama’s assistant for energy and climate change.

Officials declined to say whether the White House would support lifting liability for damages to $10 billion, as has been proposed in Congress. Current law requires BP to pay the cleanup costs, but limits its liability for other costs like environmental damage to $75 million.

‘We think it’s important to work with Congress in determining what the right number is,’ Browner said.

The bill would also raise the limit on claims against a special oil spill liability fund from $1 billion to $1.5 billion per incident. The $500 million limit on natural resource damage claims would be raised to $750 million.

Testifying before Congress Tuesday, BP America’s chairman Lamar McKay pledged to pay out on all legitimate claims, and said his company had already started reimbursing some people along the Gulf of Mexico for temporary loss of livelihood.

Browner drove home the point, reminding reporters of McKay’s pledge Tuesday of ‘liability, blame, fault, put it over here.’

Two policemen killed in Bangkok

Bangkok, May 8 (DPA) Unknown assailants attacked policemen guarding an area occupied by an anti-government demonstration, killing two officers and wounding nine people, police said Saturday.

In the first attack, occurring about 10.45 p.m. Friday, men on a motorcycle fired on police and pro-government counter demonstrators on Silom Road, killing Police Sergeant Pannupat Lertkanpen with a bullet to the stomach, said Metropolitan Police

Commissioner Lieutenant General Santan Chayanol.

The attack also wounded three other policemen and two civilians.

A second attack occurred at 1.30 a.m. Saturday, in which three grenades were fired at policemen stationed outside the U-Chuliang Building across the road from Lumpini park, an area occupied by the protesters.

Police Sergeant Wittaya Phomsalee died from a chest wound he sustained in the attack. Four other policemen were wounded.

‘It’s too early to say who was behind these attacks,’ Santan said. ‘I believe it was a group of people who want to create chaos.’

The fresh violence comes at a bad time for Bangkok, where a nearly two-month-old anti-government protest has already sparked clashes that have claimed 27 lives, including six soldiers, and wounded more than 900.

Negotiations are underway to end the costly demonstration, which has seized the heart of Bangkok’s main commercial district, and cost the country millions of dollars in lost tourism revenues.

The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD), better known as the red shirts, started its protest March 12 in a bid to force Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva to dissolve parliament and hold new elections.

In what was hailed as a major breakthrough, Abhisit Monday announced plans to hold an election Nov 14, which would require dissolving parliament between Sep 15 and Sep 30.

He also laid out a five-point road map to be followed in the coming months to deal with some of the political issues that have deeply divided the country over the past four years.

The UDD has accepted the road map in principle, but has yet to leave its protest site in the middle of the city, which it has occupied with thousands of followers since April 3.

Although the red shirt protest began peacefully, it adopted more aggressive tactics in April after failing to force Abhisit to meet their demand for an immediate dissolution of parliament.

Abhisit placed the capital under emergency decree April 7. An attempt to clear protesters from their previous demonstration site at Phan Fa Bridge, in the old part of Bangkok, led to a bloody street battle that left 25 dead, including five soldiers, and wounded more than 800.

The UDD protest has been accompanied by an unprecedented number of attacks on government and army installations by unknown assailants armed with military weapons.

To date the government has not said who the militants working in tandem with the UDD are. An impartial investigation into the April 10 event is one of the five steps on Abhisit’s proposed road map.

Britain heads for hung Parliament

London, May 7 (DPA) Britain is set for a change of government as the opposition Conservatives emerged as the biggest party from Thursday’s general election, and the ruling Labour Party suffered major losses, according to exit polls.

Figures announced as polling stations closed late Thursday predicted a hung Parliament, in which neither of Britain’s two main parties would gain an overall majority.

Exit polls gave the Conservatives under David Cameron 307 seats, just nine short of an outright majority.

The Labour Party of Prime Minister Gordon Brown was projected at 255 seats, compared with 356 in the last general election in 2005.

The result, if confirmed, could leave Cameron seeking to lead a minority government or asking the Liberal Democrats for support.

As results are being counted through the night, if Labour does better than the exit polls suggest, a link-up between Labour and the Liberal Democrats could be possible.

The Liberal Democrats, despite a highly successful campaign, would gain 59 seats, according to the exit polls, remaining behind expectations before the vote.

The full results will be known early Friday.

Brown wants to secure stable government in Britain

London, May 7 (DPA) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Friday it was his duty to play his part in securing strong and stable government in Britain after the general election.

‘The outcome of this country’s vote is not yet known,’ he said, ‘but my duty to the country, coming out of this election, is to play my part in Britain having a strong, stable and principled government, able to lead Britain into sustained economic recovery’.

Brown, whose ruling Labour Party lost around 100 parliamentary seats, according to exit polls, was speaking after his re-election in his Scottish constituency of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

Brown’s remarks were seen as underlining his intention to attempt to cling to power even though the opposition Conservatives have emerged from the election as the biggest party, according to exit polls.

Downing Street sources said earlier that Brown would try to form a coalition government if there was to be a hung Parliament with no clear majorities as a result of the election.

He would argue that the sitting government has the first right to form an administration, even if it is not the biggest party.

Hundreds unable to vote in British election

London, May 7 (DPA) Hundreds of people were unable to vote in Britain’s general election because of long queues at polling stations and, in one instance, a shortage of ballot papers, it emerged Friday.

The Electoral Commission watchdog said it had ordered a ‘thorough review’ into incidents around the country in which people were unable to cast their votes by the time polls closed at 10 p.m. (2100 GMT Thursday).

The commission said the incidents were cause for ‘serious concern.’

In the northern English city of Sheffield, police were called to move people on when voters staged sit-in protests after waiting hours to vote.

It was reported that some polling stations ran out of ballot papers because of Thursday’s unexpectedly high turnout.

Commentators said the incidents could lead to legal challenges by candidates.

Fulham bounce back to reach Europa League final

London, April 30 (DPA) Fulham came from behind Thursday to beat Hamburg 2-1 and set up a Europa League final date with Atletico Madrid.

After a goalless draw in the first leg, Mladen Petric’s first-half free-kick seemed to have put Hamburg in control.

But Simon Davies levelled midway through the second half, before the Hungarian forward Zoltan Gera forced in the winner with quarter of an hour to go.

‘It’s the most important goal I have ever scored so I’m very, very happy. It’s amazing,’ Gera told ITV4. ‘We did so well, every single player.’

For a modest club on the Thames, reaching a first European final, a first final of any sort since 1975, represents an extraordinary achievement, and the six minutes between the goals was probably the greatest six minutes in their 131-year history.

Most of all, though, this was a triumph for Roy Hodgson, Fulham’s experienced and affable manager.

‘This team has got an unbelievable amount of spirit and character to come back from a goal down,’ said goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

‘They really did rock us and it took us a while to get going again.

‘(Hodgson) has been fantastic since day one when I arrived at the club, and every player can vouch for that.’

Centre-forward Bobby Zamora, who had been a doubt with an Achilles injury, was fit enough to start and, although he seemed to be moving a little gingerly, he caused Hamburg problems from the off.

Two minutes in, he collected a pass from Gera, stepped inside a defender, and was denied only by the outstretched left hand of Frank Rost.

Hamburg, though, were far from overawed, and welcomed back Petric after injury.

As in the first leg, their greatest threat came from the Burkina Faso winger Jonathan Pitroipa, whose pace troubled John Pantsil.

It was Petric, though, who opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Danny Murphy tripped Ze Roberto, and the Croatia international smashed a dipping, swerving free-kick into the top corner.

Schwarzer was perhaps a little slow to get across to it, perhaps deceived by the ferocity of the strike.

Fulham immediately began to dominate possession, but it was Pitroipa on the break, drilling a drive just wide from 20 metres, who had the next real chance.

The home side looked neat enough in possession, but after the early Zamora chance, they created little but corners in the first half.

With Zamora battling gamely but clearly still struggling, Fulham lacked fluidity, and he was withdrawn 12 minutes into the second half for Clint Dempsey.

Gradually, as Hamburg dropped deeper, Fulham began to take control.

Damien Duff flashed a shot-cum-cross across the face of goal, before the equalizer arrived with 21 minutes to go.

Murphy chipped a ball over the top for Davies, who controlled it with the back of his heel, turned back past Guy Demel, and prodded a finish past Rost.

Seven minutes later came the second. Davies won a corner on the right, and as Murphy’s delivery bobbled around the box, Gera turned smartly to slam in the winner.

Hamburg seemed shattered by that, and their threat was fairly comfortably contained in the final minutes.

A minute into injury-time, though, a loose ball fell in the box to Ruud van Nistelrooy, who scored ten goals in nine games against Fulham as a Manchester United player, but he scuffed badly wide.

‘It just keeps getting better,’ said captain Murphy.

‘When we went a goal behind it would have been easy to think this was the end of the journey, but I thought the spirit we showed in the second half was tremendous.’

Fulham face Atletico Madrid in the final in Hamburg May 12 after an extra-time strike from Diego Forlan helped the Spanish side progress on the away goals rule after the tie finished 2-1 on the night to Liverpool but 2-2 on aggregate.

Spain’s Torres says he expects to be fit for World Cup finals

London, April 22 (DPA) Spain striker Fernando Torres says he expects to be fit to play for his country in this summer’s World Cup finals despite undergoing knee surgery Sunday.

The 26-year-old could be out of action for up to six weeks, after deciding to have an operation on a torn cartilage in his right knee.

His decision means he will miss the last of the season games for his club, Liverpool, including their Europa Cup semi-final against his former club, Atletico Madrid.

But the Spaniard said he believes he will recover in time for his country’s opening match at the World Cup, against Switzerland, June 16.

‘I have been waiting four years for this and, if all goes well, I do not anticipate missing it,’ Torres said. ‘I have already begun recovery work today.’

Torres also denied suggestions that he was putting Spain’s interests above those of Liverpool.

‘We explored all our possibilities before deciding upon an operation,’ he said. ‘The meniscus was affected and the doctors thought surgery was best.

‘The injury occurred in the second minute of the Benfica match at Anfield. I played 85 minutes with an injured knee and if I had been thinking about the World Cup, I would have asked to be substituted right there and then,’ he added.

Parreira hoping Bafana can find their identity in Germany

Herzogenaurach (Germany), April 22 (DPA) Like a field marshal mustering his troops, Carlos Alberto Parreira stands on the pitch in the Adi-Dassler-Stadium in Herzogenaurach, Germany.

With arms folded across his chest, the Brazilian is watching the training session of Bafana-Bafana, as the national team of the 2010 World Cup host South Africa is called.

For two and a half weeks, Parreira and his team will be staying in Herzogenaurach, hoping that the team can find an identity.

‘That is something that we are still lacking,’ Parreira says. ‘If you think of Brazil or Germany, then you know exactly how they play. Other countries like Spain or the Netherlands have their own style, but we do not.’

One of the reasons for that, says the 67-year-old, is the fact that each team in the South African top flight has a different style, partly because their coaches come from all corners of the world.

The national team is no different. Since rejoining the international fold in the early 1990s, the nationality of South Africa’s national team coaches reads like the United Nations: England, Peru, France, Portugal, South Africa and Brazil.

‘Under those circumstances, it was impossible that the team could develop its own style,’ says Parreira, who in October started his second stint in charge of the team.

Parreira, who will be coaching of his fifth team at the World Cup finals later this year, believes he has found a system for his side.

‘I think it is best that we keep the ball on the ground. If you look at our players, you will notice that they are not physical and tall. But they have their strengths – they are technically very good, and they are fast.’

Watching the training, it is apparent that Parreira has a point. Apart from the 1.98-metre-tall Matthew Booth, who incidentally is the only white player in the provisional squad, the other players are generally small.

They are, however, incredibly motivated, and one can see that they enjoy the training sessions. There is obviously no problem with team spirit, and the bronze statue of adidas founder Adi Dassler standing at the entrance of the stadium is wrapped in a Bafana jersey at the start of each training session.

‘We are not yet ready for the World Cup, but the team is coming along nicely,’ Parreira said.

The Brazilian generally seems much more relaxed a few days into the training camp after originally fuming at the inability of the South African Football Association to organize strong opponents for friendly matches. Instead, they had arranged games against amateur teams from the region.

After being slammed by Parreira and the technical staff, officials managed to secure games against World Cup finalist North Korea Thursday in Wiesbaden and against China April 28 in Offenbach.

‘It is very important that we play against strong teams,’ Parreira said. ‘After all, expectations are very high.’

Whenever Parreira, who won the world title with Brazil in 1994, meets fans, he is told: ‘Make us proud.’

Even though he will be the most experienced coach at the finals, he feels the pressure. ‘As coach of the hosts it will be a special World Cup.

‘We have to take it one step at the time. The most important thing for us is to advance from the group stage.’

Having been grouped with Mexico, Uruguay and France, Parreira knows that it will be anything but easy. To avoid becoming the first host in the history of the competition to be eliminated in the first round, Parreira needs to build a strong team – and a strong identity.

Jackson film tops 100 million dollars

Jackson film tops 100 million dollarsNew York – Michael Jackson’s posthumous film This Is It grossed 101 million dollars in its first five days in cinemas around the world, according to preliminary studio estimates issued Sunday.

Sony, the studio that paid 60 million dollars for rights to the film, announced over the weekend that the originally planned two-week run would be extended in the United States through the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, a lucrative holiday for Hollywood. (dpa)

Federer makes history with 15th Grand Slam title

London, July 5 (DPA) Roger Federer made tennis history Sunday, winning his sixth Wimbledon title in seven years to claim an all-time best 15th Grand Slam trophy 5-7, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 16-14 over American Andy Roddick.

The Swiss, only man to appear in seven consecutive Wimbledon finals, re-wrote the records in front of tennis royalty – Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras, the seven-time All England club champion with whom he shared 14 Grand Slam honours.

Federer’s victory was his 60th career trophy and third Wimbledon finals victory over Roddick, whom he also beat in 2004 and 2005. The Swiss has defeated the American in 19 of 21 meetings.

Federer will take back the number one ranking he lost last summer to Rafael Nadal, regaining the position he held for a record 237 weeks.

The Swiss was appearing in his sixth consecutive Grand Slam final dating to Roland Garros last year.

Over 1.2 mn people request Jackson memorial tickets

Over 1.2 mn people request Jackson memorial tickets

Los Angeles, July 5 (DPA) More than 1.2 million Michael Jackson fans had requested tickets by Saturday afternoon for admission to his memorial tribute Tuesday in Los Angeles, a number that could climb to over two million.

Only 8,750 of those people will win two tickets each for themselves and a partner to attend the event at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, Tmz.com reported online. Some of the tickets will be for viewing large screen coverage of the event at the Nokia Theatre across the street.

Winners are to be announced Sunday.

The tribute ceremony is to take place at 1700 GMT. Broadcast media reports Saturday indicated that Jackson’s physical remains would not be present at the memorial service. CNN reported that singer Jennifer Hudson will be among the performers who will appear at the service.

The final burial place for Jackson, who died at age 50 ten days ago, was not yet announced.