Sport magazine - Issue 256

Issue 256 | May 18 2012

Picking apart the mighty Bayern Munich – why Chelsea have nothing to fear

Unstoppable?

issue 256, May 18 2012

Radar

05 Check in to the Priory The Priory Collection, that is – a better collection of sporting memorabilia, you won’t see

07 Familiar foes A nostalgic look back at previous European Cup finals to have pitched England against Germany

10 Show them the money We run through the planet’s 10 most marketable sports stars. Rod Tidwell doesn’t feature to do this coming weekFeatures

18 Champions League final German football writer Uli Hesse on exactly how Chelsea can beat Bayern Munich tomorrow night

29 Ronaldo An Olympic-themed chat with the World Cup’s greatest goalscorer

33 Heineken Cup final An all-Irish affair, and we speak to Leinster’s Rob Kearney

37 Daley Thompson Another week, yet another Great British Olympic legend

44 Championship Playoff final How much are they saying it’s worth this season, we wonder?

extra Time

52 Gadgets We select the accessories you want to go with your new iPad

54 Pollyanna Woodward In between bungee jumps and presenting The Gadget Show, she dates golfer Paul Casey

56 Entertainment The return of Max Payne, and a Tube map-inspired exhibition

58 Grooming The brands that prove the old ones really are the best

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| May 18 2012 | 0 3

Radarp07 – Olympic torch burns through Blighty

| May 18 2012 | 05

p08 – European Champs: writing’s on the wallchart

p10 – The world’s most marketable sports stars

rom WG Grace’s last cricket bat, to

a Bobby Moore World Cup shirt, to

a piece of artwork on an Ali-Frazier

fight actually painted by Muhammad Ali in

the 1970s – Nigel Wray’s so-called ‘Priory

Collection’ is one of the most stunning

accumulations of sports memorabilia in the

world. And now, he’s sharing it with you.

Not literally, of course – it’s worth a damn

fortune – but in the format of a large-size

hardback that tells the story of 150 years

of sporting history through 650 incredible

objects. The items from sport’s great titans

aside, it’s the variety that we loved.

For example, there is a children’s Trench

Football game (pictured above) created

during the First World War, with the objective

of steering a marble into The Kaiser’s gob.

No, we’re not sure what that

has to do with football either.

To the right of that you’ll see an

England rugby cap from the 1890s, a 1936

football that Joe Payne of Luton Town used

to score 10 goals in one match, plus an All

Blacks shirt from their 1905 tour of Britain

(when it appears they came dressed as

much for slaying orcs as playing rugby).

Alongside the photography, sportswriter

David Norrie provides a guide through each

era of sport, stopping at memorable

moments such as the two previous London

Olympics or the tragedy of the Busby Babes.

It’s the kind of book you open to glance

through for five minutes, then spend an hour

lost in. A wonderful window into Britain’s –

and the world’s – sporting heritage.

F

A Sporting History:

The Priory Collection

is only available via

shop.saracens.com

or by callling 0844

573 7030. £50 plus

p&p. All proceeds in

aid of the Saracens

Sports Foundation

Enter the priory

Torch touchdown

Radar

Anglo-German relations

I

Bayern Munich 2 Leeds United 0, 1975

Franz Beckenbauer was a busy old ‘Kaiser’ in this

game, captaining Bayern and refereeing the match

as well. Two penalty appeals against Beckenbauer

went ignored, while he also appeared to convince

officials that a Leeds goal should be ruled offside.

Leeds were dominant, but no angels: two Bayern

players were substituted injured in the first half.

The German side eventually won via second-half

goals from Franz Roth and Gerd Muller. Leeds ended

the season with a European ban due to their furious

supporters tearing out the Parc des Princes seats.

Liverpool 3 Borussia Monchengladbach 1, 1977

In an era when familiarity between football teams

breeds contempt, it’s heartening to know that when

Liverpool FC and Borussia MG met in a series of

games in the 1970s, the end result was a friendship

between the two clubs that endures to this day.

This first European Cup final for both was the

biggest match of the lot, and it was an end-to-end

cracker to boot. Terry McDermott scored the

opener, Borussia equalised after half time, but

Tommy Smith and a Phil Neal penalty (thanks to

a storming run from Kevin Keegan) sealed it.

Nottingham Forest 1 Hamburg 0, 1980

“John Robertson was a very unattractive young

man. If one day, I felt a bit off colour, I would sit

next to him,” Brian Clough said of his Scottish

winger. But he knew the player’s class: “Give him

a ball and a yard of grass, and he was an artist.”

Hamburg gave him that yard and paid the cost.

Robertson squeezed a shot inside the post after 20

minutes and, from there, Forest kept Hamburg’s

superstars at bay, Peter Shilton producing a series

of saves. At full time in the Bernabeu, Old Big ‘Ead

had won Old Big Ears for a second successive time.

Aston Villa 1 Bayern Munich 0, 1982

After 10 minutes in Rotterdam, Aston Villa keeper

Jimmy Rimmer was substituted with a neck injury,

replaced by 23-year-old Nigel Spink, who’d played

just one game for Villa (two years previously).

However, wave after wave of German attack

floundered as the rookie produced a superb display,

before Peter Withe tapped in the winner on 67

minutes. In Munich, they probably called this result a

travesty, but we just called it an English team winning

the European Cup for the sixth year in succession.

Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1, 1999

It was a “balmy night in Barcelona” (© Clive Tyldesley)

when United, without skipper Roy Keane and on the

back foot for much of the match, had subs Teddy

Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (below) to

thank for two late goals to seal that historic treble.

“Football, bloody hell,” gasped Fergie afterwards.

Lothar Matthaus, substituted with Bayern 1-0 up and

cruising, collected his runners-up medal with a face

that suggested he had harsher expletives in mind.

Our Champions League final preview begins on p18

| May 18 2012 | 07

t was lit by the sun’s rays in ancient

Olympia eight days ago, but today the

Olympic flame lands in Blighty via a

blingtastic gold-liveried plane. From its start

in Cornwall, the flame now begins a 70-day

journey, travelling to within an hour of 95 per

cent of the UK, carried by what are described

as ‘8,000 inspirational people’.

The first of those is three-time Olympic

sailing gold-medallist Ben Ainslie, while

commentator Barry Davies takes the flame

tomorrow. He’s carrying it through Plymouth,

so feel free to turn up to cheer Barry on

and/or beg him to return to football

commentary for Euro 2012, like every decent

person desperately wants him to.

However, our favourite torchbearer is a

self-indulgent pick. Sport’s own senior writer

Sarah Shephard is carrying the flame in July,

having interviewed Olympians from Jess Ennis

(check that out in next week’s issue) to Mo

Farah, as well shining a light on lesser-known

Olympic and Paralympic athletes. We’re just

hoping Sarah’s bionic knee holds up and she

doesn’t go arse-over-torch in Maidstone.

With support like that, she can’t possibly fail.

See where the flame is visiting at

london2012.com/torch-relay

As Chelsea become the sixth English club to face German opponents in the final of Europe’s top club competition, we look at how their predecessors got on

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ven in an age of smartphones, tablets and apps that

instantly update scores, nothing beats the childlike joy

of pinning up your own international wallchart and filling

it in as the tournament progresses. With Euro 2012 three weeks

away, now’s the perfect time to invest in one – and this is the

pick of the bunch that we’ve seen so far.

Inspired by Mr Men stalwart Mr Tickle (what a goalkeeper he’d

make), illustrator Elliott Quince has created a colourful chart

featuring a star player from each of the 16 countries. Wayne

Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Mario Balotelli and a particularly dozy

looking Mesut Ozil are all keeping one tentative finger on the

trophy they so dearly wish to lift. All yours for only £5, as well:

a nice low price that even Mr Mean wouldn’t baulk at.

Order via quinkyart.com

lster and Leinster face off in the Heineken Cup

tomorrow at Twickenham. While Brian O’Driscoll

and co are the holders and European veterans,

the Ulstermen's appearance in the final is the climax of a

year-on-year rise in recent seasons. Here, we take a look

at Ulster’s growing influence on the European stage.

For a full Heineken Cup final preview, including an interview

with Leinster's Rob Kearney, turn to page 33

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12

WINNERS

FINAL

SEMI FINAL

QUARTER FINAL

POOL STAGE

4th

3rd

2nd

Mr Wallchart

Radar

Final destination

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08 | May 18 2012 |

WIN %

77

ULSTER

Leinster

WIN %

89

WIN %

75

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Radar

Market leaders

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Dunked over a car to win the

2011 Slam Dunk Contest, and the

LA Clippers sensation treated his

on-court rivals in much the same

fashion in a great rookie season.

Santos star with the bog-brush

hair and showboating skills has

Europe’s top clubs sallivating and

a Brazilian World Cup to cash in

on for 2014. Ker-ching!

Has won four of the past five

Grand Slams in a fearsomely

competitive era of men’s tennis.

The ‘Djoker’ is a national hero

turned worldwide superstar.

Gutsy comeback from Masters

meltdown to win US Open in 2011

made him the darling of golfing

world. Irish brogue and foxy

tennis girlfriend helps, too.

Formula 1’s youngest double

world champion is an articulate,

engaging, likeable driver. Sigh.

It was so much easier to root

against Michael Schumacher.

A 70+ goal season for the

endearingly humble Barcelona

magician. Looked jaded against

Chelsea, but still the best player

in earth’s most popular sport.

Not the best player in the NFL,

but the buff quarterback and

devout Christian definitely has

the biggest fanbase. Also began

the cult of Tebowing (pictured).

The 100m final DQ in Daegu

hasn’t hit the world’s fastest

man too hard. In fact, it gives

a tasty angle to London 2012.

Usain Bolt: out for redemption.

The five-time Major winner is

perfectly placed to cash in on

golf’s popularity in Asia. Listed by

Time as one of the world’s 100

most influential people for 2012.

Talented, handsome athletic: CR7

is a marketing man’s dream, even

with his penchant for tantrums

and ice-white denim shorts. Euro

2012’s biggest star, to boot.

10 | May 18 2012 |

The world’s 50 most marketable athletes have been assessed in depth by SportsPro Media. We check out their top 10 below, while you can visit sportspromedia.com for full rankings and reasonings

10 Yani Tseng(23, China)

5 Cristiano Ronaldo (27, Portugal)

9 Tim Tebow

(24, USA)

4 Usain Bolt

(25, Jamaica)

8 Sebastian Vettel (24, Germany)

3 Lionel Messi (24, Argentina)

7 Novak Djokovic (24, Serbia)

2 Rory McIlroy (22, Northern Ireland)

6 Blake Griffin (23, USA)

1 Neymar (20 years old, Brazil)

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Facebook.com/BurtonMenswear

Burton.co.uk/AmirKhan

12 | May 18 2012 |

Radar Editor’s letter

Deputy Editor

Tony Hodson

@tonyhodson1

Sport magazinePart of UTV Media plc 18 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJTelephone: 020 7959 7800 Fax: 020 7959 7942 Email: [email protected]

EDITORIALEditor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951)Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897)Art editor: John Mahood (7860)Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861)Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431)Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915)Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914)Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961)Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963)Contributors: Uli Hesse, Lee Roden, Luke Nicoli

COMMERCIALAgency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991)Business Director (Magazine and iPad): Paul Brett (7918)Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930)New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904)Brand Creative Director: Adam Harris (7426)Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852)Distribution Assistant: Makrum DudgeonHead of Online: Matt Davis (7825)Digital Marketing Manager: Sophie Tosone (7916)Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam BullockPA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826)

Colour reproduction: Rival Colour LtdPrinted by: Wyndeham (Peterborough) Ltd

© UTV Media plc 2012UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine

£1 where sold Hearty thanks this week to: Tom Ville, Andy Gray, Alice Furse, Ranieri Communications, Vodafone

Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean and tidy for everyone by taking your copy of Sport away with you when you leave the bus or train.

LAUNCH OFTHE YEAR

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Even by the hyperbolic standards of the Premier League, Sunday’s

denouement to an enthralling,

seesawing title race was

something else. For those of us

getting bored with average Man Utd teams

winning the championship, the sight of

a red-faced Fergie hearing of Man City’s

late, late show at the Etihad carried with it

no small sense of schadenfreude. For the

rest, a simple ringing in the ears as Martin

Tyler’s screams fell just short of supersonic

at Sergio Aguero’s dramatic late strike.

But when the screaming subsided, the

dust settled and Joey Barton switched

off his smokin’ smartphone, I was left to

ruminate on why City’s title win reminded

me so much of United and Sir Alex’s first,

all those Premier League years ago.

All title-winning teams have a strong

spine, sure, but the similarities between

the United vintage of ‘93 and Roberto

Mancini’s current crop go beyond that. For

Peter Schmeichel, read Joe Hart: namely,

the best keeper in the league. Bryan Robson

may have been United’s official captain, but

it was the rock-solid Steve Bruce who most

wore the armband; so to Vincent Kompany

– surely the classiest, most eloquent man

ever to lift the Premier League trophy.

The rampaging Yaya Toure calls to mind

a young Paul Ince – and, while it’s true that

City currently lack a magician in the mould

of Eric Cantona, it’s also true that they

don’t need one. The good sheikh’s millions

have ensured that Mancini can call upon so

many forward alternatives that, should two

or three struggle, another – yes, even Edin

Dzeko – can rock up and have an impact.

The true test will be whether the Italian

can manage his squad cleverly enough to

win another title, and then another. In that

respect, only time will tell whether they

are the true heirs to United.

Over in the States last weekend, Jonny

Brownlee returned from a seven-month

absence to register a bloodless victory

in the San Diego World Triathlon Series.

Twenty-four hours before that, current

world champion Helen Jenkins did

just the same in the women’s race.

Triathlon may not be the highest-profile

sport at this summer’s Olympics, but

there will be few events in which Team

GB are better placed to dominate. If

Jonny’s big brother Alistair returns from

an Achilles problem in time for London,

we could be in for one hell of a show.

Lastly, an update on our PPA Award-nominated iPad app. It’s absolutely free (no, really) and the latest version is out now in the App Store. All you need do is download the updated app, subscribe to Sport and the latest issue will automatically appear in full on your iPad every Friday morning via Newsstand. Lovely.

Doing it the United wayManchester City’s maiden Premier League title bears echoes of their neighbours’ first

Agree or disagree? Tweet us @sportmaguk

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Good Kompany: but can the City captain and his team dominate

like their neighbours have done?

Reader comments of the week

LOVING the Blippar work

in this week’s mag. Makes

our Olympic champs

look even better

#OurGreatestTeamRises

@lesleyturnb

Twitter

Haye Chisora – 2 numpties,

1 can box a bit but is chinny,

the other can’t box much +

swings wildly - crap but

entertaining.

@monkey6170

Twitter

Haye vs Chisora will never

be a Rocky vs Apollo

Creed, but I hope its

a double KO and both

counted out.

@JamesHepburn77

Twitter

Re: ‘Who Reigns in Spain?’

– “McLaren are yet to win

a race”. Mmmm... I think

McLaren driver Jenson

Button may be surprised

to find he didn’t win the

first race in Australia!

Dave Beecham, via email

Your interview with Steve

Redgrave almost brought

tears to my eyes. Rowing

really is a brute of a sport

– but what a f*cking

legend!

Iain, via email

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14 | May 18 2012 |

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Stollen momentsIf you’ve ever wondered how professional cyclists

refuel during races, on those occasions when

you’ve really nothing better to be wondering about,

the results are just in. An old crone cooks up some

cake and they hand it out on silver platters – as we

see here during the Giro d’Italia. Stage winner Mark

Cavendish (not pictured) preferred to wait for the

cream horns round the very next bend.

Radar Frozen in time

| 15

18 | May 18 2012 |

Champions League Final

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In both Germany and in England, perceived wisdom has it that Bayern Munich will

start tomorrow night’s Champions

League final as overwhelming

favourites. For three good reasons.

They are playing on home soil. They

have the stronger team. And they

will miss their suspended players less than

Chelsea will miss theirs.

The first argument is undeniably true –

Bayern at home have an advantage, as

seven Champions League victories on home

soil this season testifies. The second claim

is questionable – on paper, Bayern have a

team to match almost any on the continent.

But, as they’ve found out in the Bundesliga

against Dortmund this season – and again

at the weekend in the German cup final –

since when did that count for anything? The

third argument and those suspended players

is probably the key, however. And it is wrong.

David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz

Gustavo – the three suspended Bayern

players – are hardly household names

outside of Germany, but Bayern will miss

them more than Chelsea will miss John

Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Raul Meireles and

Ramires. Their absence tomorrow night

disrupts Bayern to such an extent that

coach Jupp Heynckes would probably happily

sacrifice a star player such as Arjen Robben

to have any one of those three back. Of the

three, the hardest man to replace will be,

| 19

by some distance, David Alaba. Little known

outside of Germany and his home country,

the 19-year-old Austrian left-back has

turned Bayern’s season around and taken

them to where they are now – the final for

the biggest trophy in club football.

To understand his importance to Munich,

you have to look at the other side of the

pitch, where Bayern will field Germany

captain Philipp Lahm. A world-class

defender who is naturally right-footed,

Lahm can play on either side, but prefers the

left-back position, where he’s at his most

impressive. Which is precisely why Bayern

paid €5.5m for Brazilian right-back Rafinha

last summer, thinking it would allow them to

move Lahm over to the left for good.

Only it didn’t work out like that. Rafinha

never really adapted and lacked defensive

discipline – which, for a team built around

the performance of its two full-backs,

spelled disaster. This Bayern Munich team is

built to play a 4-2-3-1 system, with Arjen

Robben on the right wing and Franck Ribéry

on the left. Both are as gifted going forward

as they are disinterested in tracking back

– and when they don’t track back, they leave

gaps in behind them. Since Bayern’s two

holding midfielders usually play in a more

central position, this means that the

right-back has to cover for Robben and the

left-back for Ribéry. If one of the two fails to

do his job, as Rafinha too often did, Bayern

are left extremely vulnerable at the back.

The absent answerIt took Heynckes until mid-March to come up

with a surprising, but inspired, solution to

this. He moved Lahm over to the right wing

and played the midfielder Alaba at left-back.

From that day on, Bayern looked like a

different team and may even have mounted

a late challenge for the league title if

Borussia Dortmund hadn’t been so unerring

in their consistency.

“It was the most important change we

made this season,” Heynckes recently said,

as Alaba struck up a great partnership

with Ribéry and Lahm was rock-solid on

the right flank. >

When Chelsea take on Bayern in Munich tomorrow,

few expect the Blues to stop Die Roten adding a fifth

star* above their club crest. But, says German football

writer Uli Hesse, the Londoners have little to fear...

Operation Allianz

Final position: Bayern

thrived with Philipp

Lahm at right midfield,

but will have to adapt

against Chelsea

*Pedants: you are of course correct, the stars on Bayern's shirt relate to Bundesliga titles won, not Champions

Leagues. We are calling this 'artistic licence' – never let the truth get in the way of a great cover.

20 | May 18 2012 |

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But what now, with Alaba absent? Will

Heynckes go back to the formation with

which he started the season – Lahm at

left-back and Rafinha on the right? No. It

didn’t work the first time and Heynckes

won’t try it again in such a big game. So now

his and Bayern’s problems begin to stack up:

too many inferior alternatives and too many

square pegs in round holes.

He could play centre back Jérôme Boateng

at right-back; he has occasionally filled this

role for Manchester City and Germany in the

past. But he can’t do that because the other

centre back, Holger Badstuber, is suspended

and therefore Boateng is needed at the heart

of the defence. And he can’t turn to Luiz

Gustavo, who has also played left-back,

because he’s ruled out for the same reason.

So Heynckes will be forced to use a player

he doesn’t completely trust at left-back – most

likely 22-year-old Diego Contento – and pray

that Ribéry tracks back... and that Chelsea

don’t capitalise on the problems on this wing.

But the problems keep coming, because

Heynckes also has to worry about the area in

front of the back four. This season Bayern

have employed the system

with two holding midfielders

– one of them a ball-winner,

the other some kind of

deep-lying playmaker

– to great effect and

with varying personnel.

The most impressive ball-

winner was the suspended

Gustavo, but the Ukrainian Anatoliy

Tymoshchuk has also done well in this role.

The first choice for holding-midfielder-as-

playmaker used to be Bastian Schweinsteiger,

but during his long absence on account of

injury, Toni Kroos impressed in that position.

If only Gustavo and Alaba had been

suspended, Heynckes would gladly field

Tymoshchuk and Schweinsteiger and move

Kroos into the central position behind the

strikers. But he can’t, because there is yet

another knock-on effect. Since centre half

Badstuber, one of Bayern’s most reliable

if unsung players of this season, is

unavailable, Heynckes probably has to use

Tymoshchuk in his stead, which means that

he will have no real ball-winner playing in

front of an already vulnerable back four –

an area Chelsea can and will need to exploit.

There is a solution available, but it’s

unlikely Heynckes will opt for it in a game

of such magnitude. The coach has another

centre back in Daniel van Buyten, but the

towering Belgian was out for more than

three months with a broken foot and

only resumed training again last week.

Playing someone so short of match fitness

(van Buyten hasn’t played since Bayern’s 3-1

loss to Monchengladbach in January) in the

Champions League final is a gamble Heynckes

will not dare take, especially because his

defence has given him enough headaches

already. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is

outstanding and, as mentioned, Lahm and

Badstuber have been consistently strong

– but Boateng is always good for an error

of judgement or a lapse in concentration.

Forward thinkingDefensively, Munich are a mistake waiting

to happen. The reason that too few teams

have been able to exploit that weakness this

season has been down to the fact that so

many of them dare not fight fire with fire

or trade punches. Bayern’s attacking

options so often paper over their defensive

inadequacies. Consider the Champions

League semi final second leg as a prime

example, when Real Madrid had the Germans

at their mercy: 2-0 up on the night, 3-2

overall and cutting through almost at will.

When Madrid decided to hold what they had

rather than keep pouring forward, they

played into Munich’s hands. Ultimately, they

paid the price.

If Chelsea require inspiration, they should

look no further than Borussia Dortmund, a

team that has repeatedly shown the guts to

take the game to Bayern and beaten them in

each of their past five encounters – most

recently, and spectacularly, 5-2 in last

weekend’s German Cup final. Clearly,

Dortmund have a far less celebrated squad,

but they usually compensate for that with a

total team effort. Yes, it takes lungs and legs

to always put two men against both Robben

and Ribéry. But you can do it, because

neither man will find the space to cross very

often, so Chelsea won’t need great numbers

back to marshall striker Mario Gomez.

It also takes discipline and courage to

break forward with more than just two or

three players as soon as you have the ball,

but it’s worth taking a chance because the

question is not if Bayern’s defence will make

mistakes, but when. Chelsea should not fear

Bayern Munich, even facing them on home

soil. They should believe it can be done,

because it can. Provided they believe it. >

Champions League Final

Home advantage?

Bayern’s Fußball

Arena München has

served them well this

season, with just two

defeats in 24 games

– both caused by an

old familiar face...

Champions League

P7 W7 F21 A4

Bundesliga

P17 W14 D1 L2 F49 A6

August 7 2011

Bayern 0-1

Monchengladbach

Jerome Boateng fails

to deal with an

innocuous long ball,

Igor de Camargo

pounces to win it.

November 19 2011

Bayern 0-1 Dortmund

Boateng (again) spurns

several chances to

clear the ball, allowing

Mario Götze to score

the only goal from

10 yards.

“Now Bayern's problems begin to stack up: too many inferior alternatives and square pegs in round holes”

A wing and a prayer:

Chelsea will pray

Bayern's dangermen

do not track back

22 | May 18 2012 |

Champions League Final

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Know your enemy

Manuel NeuerThe second most

expensive keeper of

all time, signing last

summer for €22m from

Schalke, he paid back

a huge chunk with his

penalty saves against

Ronaldo and Kaka at

the Bernabeu. Hard to

believe he was booed by

sections of Bayern fans

upon his arrival.

Bastian SchweinsteigerShowed nerves of steel

to score the winning

penalty in the Bernabeu.

The holding midfielder is

nicknamed ‘The Brain’ in

his homeland, given his

ability to orchestrate the

team. We'd question his

knowledge of the English

game after his ‘revelation’

that he doesn’t know

who Roy Hodgson is.

Philipp LahmCaptain for club and

country, comfortable on

either side of Bayern’s

back four and a man not

given to shows of great

emotion. Don’t expect

any over-the-top

celebrations if Bayern

win – he didn’t even

invite any teammates

to his own wedding.

Arjen RobbenA fascinating match-up

with Ashley Cole awaits

for the ex-Blues wide

man – who, despite his

spat with Ribery, has

signed a new two-year

contract with Bayern.

Alongside Mario Gomes,

the bald pensioner is the

club’s main goal threat.

Jerome BoatengThe former Manchester

City man is Munich’s

weak link – prone to

procrastinating when

Row Z is required.

With Holger Badstuber

suspended, Boateng will

need to settle in quickly

alongside fellow

defensive stop-gap

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.

Didier Drogba won’t be

losing any sleep.

Thomas MullerIt says much for

Bayern’s forward

options that the 2010

World Cup Golden Boot

winner had to settle for

a place on the bench in

the semi-final win in the

Bernabeu. An enforced

reshuffle should ensure

he returns against

Chelsea.

Anatoliy TymoshchukUkrainian who’d have

preferred his favoured

midfield position, but for

Bayern’s suspension-

enforced rejig. His lucky

number is four, Bayern

have won the European

Cup four times, he's

scored four for Ukraine

and guess how many he’s

bagged in Europe this

year? That’s right: none.

Franck RiberyPlayed primarily on the

left wing, this will be the

Frenchman’s first final

after he was suspended

against Inter two years

ago. Will be looking to

take the fight to Chelsea

rather than to his

own teammates –

he reportedly slapped

Robben in the face after

the first leg against

Madrid.

Diego ContentoItalian in heritage but

born in Germany, the

left-back is named after

Argentine legend

Maradona. Confused?

Not as much as Diego

was when he went from

a regular for Bayern

last season to a bench-

warmer under Heynckes.

Expected to be drafted

in more through

necessity than choice.

Mario GomezThe jewel in the Bayern

crown. Strong in the air

and deadly in front of

goal, he has netted two

hat-tricks in the

competition this season,

taking his Champions

League tally to 25 goals

in 38 games. He’s

already turned down a

move to Chelsea, signing

a new deal with Bayern.

Will he rile them again?

Toni KroosBe it in the holding

midfield role or further

up the pitch, Kroos has

been one of the star

performers for Bayern

this season. At just 22,

comparisons with

Schweinsteiger are

plentiful, but the general

consensus is that he

has, ahem, ‘kroosed’

ahead of his more

illustrious teammate.

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| May 18 2012 | 25

Champions League Final

ManuelNeuer

11 games (1,020 minutes)

10 conceded

Philipp Lahm

11 games (1,020 mins)

1 assist

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

10 games (619 mins)

JeromeBoateng

12 games (1,110 mins)

1 assist

Diego Contento

1 game (90 mins)

Bastian Schweinsteiger8 games (544 mins)

2 assists

Toni Kroos

11 games (953 mins)

2 goals, 2 assists

ArjenRobben

7 games (549 mins)

4 goals, 2 assists

ThomasMuller

11 games (630 mins)

1 goal, 1 assist

FranckRibery

11 games (934 mins)

3 goals, 5 assists

MarioGomez

11 games (883 mins)

12 goals, 0 assists

PetrCech

12 games (1,110 mins)

11 conceded

AshleyCole

11 games (964 mins)

2 assists

DavidLuiz

10 games (895 mins)

1 goal

GaryCahill

4 games (222 mins)

JoseBosingwa

10 games (562 mins)

John ObiMikel

8 games (575 mins)

FrankLampard

11 games (723 mins)

3 goals, 3 assists

SalomonKalou

6 games (249 mins)

2 goals

JuanMata

11 games (828 mins)

2 goals, 2 assists

FlorentMalouda

8 games (486 mins)

2 assists

DidierDrogba

7 games (550 mins)

5 goals, 2 assists

(4-2-3-1)

(4-2-3-1)

Forward thinking“You can’t go to the Allianz Arena

against Bayern Munich and not be

underdogs, but I don’t think Chelsea

are bothered. They went to the Nou

Camp as underdogs and won with 10

men, and there’s no reason to think

they can’t do the same again. It’ll be

tough, but it’s the Champions League

final – it’s going to be tough. Home

advantage will only count if Bayern are

playing well. If they’re not, it can be a

hindrance because fans get nervy and

that can transmit down on to the pitch.

Munich’s four attacking players are

each capable on their own of winning a

football match, so Chelsea will have to

defend very well, break quickly and

put people like Tymoshchuk, who’s not

a natural centre back, under pressure.

They’re without half their first-

choice back four, Robben and Ribery

don’t help defensively, and I don’t think

Lahm or Contento are great defensive

full-backs – their strength is going the

other way. If Chelsea can get two v

one against them, that will help.

Chelsea are a little weak at the back

without John Terry, and I don’t think

they’ll risk both Luiz and Cahill – they

might move Bosingwa infield and start

Ferreira at right-back. I worry about

the right-back against Ribery or Robben

– that could be a matchwinning or

losing area of the pitch. The best way

to stop Robben and Ribery is to run

them the other way, and I hope Ashley

Cole and Bosingwa or Ferreira aren’t

too scared to join in the attack. Munich

might just have too much attacking

quality. They might just shade it. I can

see both teams scoring, but I think

Munich will win by the odd goal.” >

Andy Gray is one half of the award-winning

Keys and Gray talkshow on talkSPORT.

Go to talksport.co.uk

Expert view

Andy Gray

26 | May 18 2012 |

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Round of 16Napoli 3 Chelsea 1 February 21

A ragged defensive display in Naples left Chelsea’s hopes hanging by

a thread. Mata opened the scoring, only for Lavezzi (two) and Cavani

to fire the Italians into a healthy lead.

Chelsea 4 Napoli 1 (Aggregate 5-4) March 14

One of the performances of the season. Inler’s clever finish cancelled

out Drogba’s opener, but goals from Terry and Lampard took the game

to extra-time where Ivanovic rammed home a nerveless winner.

Quarter finals Benfica 0 Chelsea 1 March 27

Less impressive than against Napoli, the Blues still had more than

enough to edge out their poor Portuguese hosts – the only goal coming

from Kalou 15 minutes from time, sliding home a Torres cross.

Chelsea 2 Benfica 1 (Aggregate 3-1) April 4

Lampard’s penalty after 21 minutes doubled their lead, but Chelsea

were outplayed and pegged back by Garcia’s goal on 85 minutes. Cue

a nervous last five, until Meireles made the tie safe in injury time.

Semi finalsChelsea 1 Barcelona 0 April 18

Had Cesc Fabregas not been particularly wasteful, the Champions

League champions would have been home and hosed. Instead, Drogba

struck with Chelsea’s only effort on goal, dispatching Ramires’ low cross.

Barcelona 2 Chelsea 2 (Aggregate 3-2) April 24

In one of the greatest European performances by an English team,

Chelsea looked all but out thanks to first-half goals from Busquets and

Iniesta, and having had Terry dismissed for brainlessly kicking out.

But the rampaging Ramires handed them a lifeline with a sublime

finish, and an immense second-half rearguard action was rewarded

in injury time when Torres raced clear and made the game safe.

FinalAllianz Arena, Munich, Saturday 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1/ITV 1

Round of 16Basel 1 Munich 0 February 22

Bayern dominated for long periods, but fell to substitute Stocker's late

goal. Having accounted for Manchester United in their previous game,

the Swiss prayed it would be enough to take to Bavaria.

Munich 7 Basel 0 (Aggregate 7-1) March 13

It wasn't. Mario Gomez helped himself to four goals in 23 minutes, the

fastest four-goal haul in Champions League history, in the biggest ever

knockout-stages win. Bayern were home and dry by half time.

Quarter finalsMarseille 0 Munich 2 March 28

An efficient and effective performance inspired by a rampant Robben,

who teed up Gomez for the game's opener a minute before the break

before curling home a superb strike 21 minutes from time.

Munich 2 Marseille 0 (Aggregate 4-0) April 3

For once, Gomez took a backseat, Olić scoring twice in the first half to

finish the tie as a contest: first connecting with a Ribery cross early

on, then converting from close range eight minutes before the break.

Semi finalsMunich 2 Real Madrid 1 April 17

Mesut Ozil cancelled out Ribery's 13th-minute opener and it looked like

ending honours even. Then, cometh the hour and a half, cometh the man:

Gomez making up for a profligate night's work to establish a narrow lead.

Real Madrid 2 Munich 1 (Agg 3-3. Bayern win 3-1 on pens) April 25

In the face of a white tsunami, Bayern found themselves two down

within 14 minutes, Ronaldo scoring twice. But then, for reasons known

only to Jose Mourinho, Real sat back and invited trouble. Robben pulled

the tie level on aggregate from the spot and the game ebbed towards

penalties. The Germans won, because they always do, with Schweinsteiger

despatching with ruthless efficiency after Ramos had ballooned over.

Via a two-legged playoff victory over Zurich, Bayern

found themselves in Group A’s ‘group of death’

against Villarreal, Napoli and Manchester City.

They progressed with games to spare, undefeated

until the final game at the Etihad – where a 2-0

defeat couldn’t stop them topping the group.

A stuttering group campaign saw Andre Villas-Boas’

Chelsea scramble through in the final game, a

routine 3-0 home win over Valencia. They still topped

Group E, a point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen, so

should, theoretically, have been dealt a more

manageable last 16 encounter.

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“My beautiful Olympic year”Widely regarded as one of the greatest World Cup players of all time, Ronaldo – the original Ronaldo – first cut his tournament teeth for Brazil in the 1996 Atlanta Games. And he has fond memories of representing his country at the greatest sporting event of them all

What does it mean for a footballer to play at

the Olympics? Particularly for a player like

you, who has won almost everything...

“It’s always a great opportunity to play at the

Olympics. For athletes, it’s a dream – a dream

to be an Olympian. For me it was really great,

because I came with memories of the 1994

World Cup, where I didn’t play even one minute.

My next opportunity with the national team was

1996, in Atlanta. Unfortunately, we couldn’t

win the gold, but it was a brilliant experience.”

It was an important summer for your career,

too – you signed for Barcelona soon after.

What are your memories of that year?

“I was playing for PSV, I went to the Olympics

and immediately after I was presented at Barca.

It was a spectacular

year at Barcelona –

I scored a lot of

goals and won World

Player of the Year. It

was a beautiful year.”

As a player, is it difficult to play in a

tournament like the Olympics after

a hard season with your club?

“Yes, I think so. After playing a whole year

in tough competitions, the players who go

to the Olympics are going to suffer a bit

from tiredness. But it’s a really brilliant

tournament. Everyone goes there intending

to overcome it and recover their best for

the competition.”

A lot of people here are interested in

Neymar. Do you think he has the quality to be

the star of Olympic football this summer?

“I think so. He has a lot of quality, and he’s

already a big idol in Brazil [14,000 fans signed

a petition demanding Neymar go to the 2010

World Cup]. Certainly, he will be a really

important player in these Olympics.”

There are a lot of similarities between you

and Neymar in terms of playing style – you

both like to take on a man (or four men, in

your case). Do you see the resemblance?

“I think we do have very similar qualities.

When he has control of the ball he slaloms

through defenders – he’s a very dangerous

player. Moreover, he scores goals [Neymar

has eight in 16 games for Brazil]. He’s a

second striker, but he scores goals and he

has a lot of quality. He’s really quick, very

technically capable. He’s captivating.”

A lot of clubs here, such as Manchester

City and Chelsea, have been linked with him.

Do you think he’s capable of adapting to the

physical demands of the Premier League?

“Yes, I’m absolutely certain. He might possibly

have some difficulty initially, but in time he will

become an important player in any club that

he goes to.” >

| May 18 2012 | 29

Ronaldo

Neymar’s already a big name, but are there

any Brazilian players we aren’t aware of

who could be important this summer?

“Ganso is certainly a talent in midfield that

everyone is going to become familiar with. We

also have a brilliant forward, who’s definitely

going to come, called Leandro Damiao. There

are a lot of great, young, promising players

who are going to turn some heads here in the

Olympics for sure.”

In your opinion, apart from Brazil, who are

the most dangerous teams this summer?

“Apart from Brazil, who I think will be

favourites, then Great Britain, who have a

great team. Spain, they’re going to be really

strong, and in the Olympic Games the African

teams are always very strong, so those are

my favourites.”

Do you think one of the African teams could

win the Olympic title?

“It’ll be between Brazil and Great Britain, but

the African teams always turn out strongly.”

Leandro Damiao, 22, InternacionalA slightly leftfield choice from Big Ron. Damiao is expected to lead the line at the 2014 World Cup, but he’s perhaps not quite ready yet. A sturdy 6ft 2ins, he’s got an array of tricks that are always functional – his style’s been described as ‘samba with a vengeance’, which sounds like a great low-budget action film. Unusually, he had to work his way up from the lower tiers of Brazilian football, an experience that should serve him well as he tries to make his mark on the national team. With the Olympics helpfully clearing some of the older players out of the way, it’s a perfect opportunity.

Ganso, 22, SantosAlso at Santos, Ganso (whose nickname means ‘goose’ and derives from his long neck), drew comparisons to Kaka when he first emerged on the national scene. There were actually calls for him to replace the Madrid player at the last World Cup, since when he’s been linked with Inter, Milan and Tottenham (who hasn’t been?). Tasked with providing the creative spark for the national side of late, Ganso is a classic number 10 in the Juan Roman Riquelme mode – at his best playing just behind the strikers, linking play and feeding them through balls. That said, he’s pretty handy with a long range strike, too.

Neymar, 20, SantosThe spiky-haired YouTube sensation has the Ronaldo seal of approval, and has scored some spectacular goals for Santos, including a preposterous effort against Flamengo that won FIFA’s Puskas Award for the best of 2011. Quick, skilful and still only 20, a move to Europe surely beckons, although his club president Luis Alvaro de Oliveira rather wishfully thinks he can keep hold of him until 2014. The wonderkid fluffed his lines in the Club World Cup final – unable to prevent a 4-0 defeat by Barcelona – but the Olympics offers him another chance to showcase his wares (and his hair) on the global stage.

Ronnie’s rockets Ronaldo’s Olympic bronze is one of his most treasured medals, and he’s picked out a few compatriots who could go one – or two – better this summer. Keep an eye out. They’ll probably be playing for Man City next season...

| May 18 2012 | 31

Ronaldo

Are there times when you wish you could

play again?

“Yes, of course – but between my friends and

colleagues I still play some games, which I

really enjoy.”

Let’s talk a bit about your ex-teammate,

David Beckham. He’s already said that he

wants to play for Great Britain this summer.

Do you think that he still has the quality and

ability to play in the Olympics?

“I’m absolutely certain that David Beckham

still trains a lot – he’s a player who has

always been very dedicated, and he’d love

to play in the Olympics. It’s a decision for

his coach to make, but I don’t see any

problem with his ability to play in the

tournament.”

There are people who say there’s greater

interest in Olympic football in countries like

Brazil compared with here. Should we pay

more attention to Olympic football?

“I think there's a global interest in the Olympic

Games, really – everyone wants to win. I don't

think there’s zero interest here. When it comes

to football, everyone wants to be champions.”

Finally, in a few words, what does it feel like

after winning something at the Olympics?

“It’s amazing, you’re proud to be an Olympic

athlete, and to get a medal is an honour.”

Lee Roden @LeeRoden89

Tickets for the London 2012 Olympic football

tournaments go back on sale on May 23. Visit

tickets.london2012.com for more information

Brazil’s best: Ronaldo tips Ganso (far left), Neymar (left) and Leandro Damiao (below) to shine this summer

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How was the mood in the camp after

your 19-15 semi-final win over Clermont

Auvergne?

“I suppose everyone was obviously ecstatic

and delighted with the victory, but I think

most people realise that we were probably

very lucky that we came out on top – so we

didn’t really celebrate. We played quite

poorly on the day. A lot of our setpieces

were poor, our lineout didn’t function at all

and I think we probably let them up the field

much too easily towards the end for Wesley

Fofana’s chance.”

Did you think he’d scored?

“Yeah, I was almost certain he had. On the

video replay, it shows quite clearly that

he didn’t [because the France centre lost

control of the ball over the line in the dying

seconds of the game]. But in real time, it

really looked like it.”

You played a big part in the win with your

break for the try. How surprised were you

to see prop Cian Healy on your shoulder?

“It’s a move we’ve practised a lot, so I knew

I was going to get through; and I kept saying

to the lads not to worry about the ruck, just

get on your bike and try to support me

because I’m going to need someone there.

A prop is probably the last person you

expect, yeah. But we all know that Cian

has an exceptional turn of pace.”

And then you scored a 40-metre drop-goal a

few minutes later. You also hit the post with

one from a similar length against England

back in March. Is this a new trick?

“It’s something I’ve definitely been practising

a lot. If I get kicked ball in space for a

turnover, a drop at goal’s a free shot to

nothing because if you miss, you’re gonna

get the ball back off the 22m restart

anyway. I’ll keep working on it and

hopefully I’ll get a couple more

chances to give it a go.”

It was a brilliant atmosphere

down in Clermont. How much do

the fans help?

“It always does. There are moments when

the opposition are camped on your line and

hammering at the door, and hearing the

fans at times like that really spurs you on.

In these moments, you need to dig deep for

that extra couple of per cent to hold teams

out. And that’s what the fans can give you.

Our fans are among the best in Europe, and

Ulster are sure to bring a fair few, so I can’t

wait for the atmosphere at Twickenham.”

You had nine minutes off the bench in the

2009 final, and missed last year’s through

injury. How much are you looking forward to

finally getting to make your mark in a final?

“Yeah, it’s obviously something I’m really

excited about. I’ve had quite a bit of >

HigH Hopes

It’s an all-Irish Heineken Cup final at Twickenham tomorrow, as holders Leinster face 1999 champions Ulster. Having come off the bench in one triumph and missed out on last year’s success, Leinster’s Rob Kearney is determined to play his part this time round...

| May 18 2012 | 33

Heineken Cup FinalD

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Heineken heartache, and it’s certainly the one

thing in my career that I’ve felt I have really

missed out on – so hopefully I’ll be in a

position to make my mark.”

Do you think it helps you that you’re playing

a team you know so well in Ulster?

“I think it probably hinders us a little bit, to be

honest. Obviously anything can happen in a

final and there’s no such thing as a favourite

– but with it being a derby match as well, it

adds a whole new level of unpredictability.

They’ll know our game inside out, they know

us quite well as players on and off the field,

and they probably know our weaknesses as

a team a little bit more.”

Having said that, how big is it for Irish rugby

that there are two Irish teams in the final?

“It’s fantastic, and very few people probably

would have expected it. It just shows Irish

rugby is in a really good place. Okay, most

people will identify our

Six Nations with that

second-half drubbing

against England – but,

if a bit of luck went our

way in that tournament,

it could have been a

different story.”

What will you do the night before the game

and the day of the game?

“It’s very easy. We’ll treat this just like any

other game – that’ll be really important for

us. We’ll travel in and go to the ground the

day before, have a look around and maybe

have a quick run around, then we’ll go back to

the hotel and literally just chill out there until

it’s time to head to the stadium. Head to the

ground, bit of a warm-up, come in, get ready,

and then, just a minute before we go out, we

come in together as a team, the captain will

say a few words and then off we go.”

It’s been said that this Leinster side are

the best side in European rugby history.

What do you say to that?

“As a group of players, we’re pretty on

the ball; but we know that if we lose in the

final, we suddenly won’t be the best team

in Europe. Ulster will be. We’re fully aware

that those headlines mean nothing and

you’re only the best team once you have won

the tournament. We’re not getting carried

away but, yeah, we know it’s been a good

few years. Sometimes clubs just go through

a real purple patch and we seem to be in one

at the moment. The whole culture of Leinster

rugby changed there back four or five years

ago. We have a really good academy system,

which means lots of good young players

coming through, and we can match that

by ensuring that our big-name players

stay here.”

Some might say your biggest strength is your

ability under the high ball. Does it frustrate

you that you sometimes get pigeonholed as

a ‘safe’ 15?

“Not frustrate me, I suppose – I think that’s

what you expect from your full back. I always

think a solid game for a full back is a really

good game because it means they haven’t

made any mistakes – ultimately, that’s what

you want from a 15. Being safe at the back and

just being really consistent is basically my job,

so I don’t expect to make headlines.”

Mark Coughlan @coffers83

Optimum Nutrition (ON) is the Official Sports Nutrition

Partner of the Leinster Rugby Team. For more

information about ON and their premium sports

nutrition products, go to optimumnutrition.com/uk

“If we lose in the final, we won’t be the best team in Europe. Ulster will be. Headlines mean nothing. You’re only the best once you’ve won the tournament”

Since losing to Clermont in the group

stage back in December 2010,

Leinster have gone unbeaten in 14

consecutive Heineken Cup matches

34 | May 18 2012 |

Heineken Cup Final

Saturday

Leinster v Ulster

Twickenham

Sky Sports 3 5pmDa

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World Cup winner Will Greenwood picks out the areas where the game will be won and lost

Four Key Battles

the BacK-row BattleThe confrontation here is a massive

one. You’ve got Stephen Ferris (above),

Pedrie Wannenburg and Chris Henry

for Ulster to provide proper beef and

power. Wannenburg is the go-to guy at

eight – he always picks up yardage and

has a low error count. Ferris is your

talisman at six and Henry is your dog on

the floor at seven. Leinster, meanwhile,

picked Shane Jennings at seven in the

semi final because he’s a real scrapper

on the floor, and I expect him to start

again. Jamie Heaslip will be at eight,

where he was wonderful in the semi

final. Then Sean O’Brien, at six, is much

more comfortable as a second-wave

runner who can use his power.

sexton v PienaarEven though they don’t play the

same position, these are two master

controllers. Their roles are essential.

In the final last year, when they came

back against Northampton, it was a

speech from Jonny Sexton (above)

and his management of the game that

underpinned the win. It was also his

calling of the move that led to the

Cian Healy try when they were losing

in Clermont in the semi final. With

Ruan Pienaar, he’s just the absolute

barometer of the tempo of Ulster’s

game... he can place a box-kick on a

sixpence from miles away. The kicks

at goal will be crucial, but both players

are ice cool under pressure.

healy v aFoaThis will be a fascinating one, even

though John Afoa and Cian Healy

(above) don’t scrummage directly

against each other, because they’re

two modern looseheads in that they

can both scrummage brilliantly, but

they both understand the game and

can get around the park. Afoa was

brilliant in the win against Munster in

the quarter finals [when Munster came

back from 19 points down after 31

minutes to dominate the rest of the

match]. Healy scored the decisive try

against Clermont and is a massive

ball-carrier for them, while Afoa’s

tackle count and reading of the

defensive systems is key.

the line-BreaKersLeinster’s precision under Joe Schmidt

and the quality of their handling has

been quite special, and they can open

you up and leave you grabbing at thin

air from anywhere on the park. With

Ulster, it’s more about an Andrew

Trimble (above) doing something

special, or a Stefan Terblanche finding

himself with a chance to draw a

two-on-one and release Craig Gilroy.

Leinster have the better unit but Ulster

have some game-breakers, as we saw

with their key try against Munster.

Will Greenwood was talking to Sport in

association with Dove Men+Care™. Go to

dovemencare.co.uk for more information

© Copyright 2012 FedEx

business.fedex.com/rugby

SUCCESSPrepare thoroughly.

Commit totally.

Deliver.

LIVE TO DELIVER

Daley Thompson

| May 18 2012 | 37

Few British athletes are more synonymous with the Olympics than Daley Thompson. He went to his first

Games as a 17-year-old in 1976,

finishing a respectable 18th in the

decathlon in Montreal, before running,

throwing and jumping his way to

consecutive gold medals in Moscow and Los

Angeles. Indeed, his performance atop the

podium in LA, where he whistled his way

nonchalantly through the national anthem,

earned him a place in the top 10 of our 100

most memorable Olympic moments feature

only last month.

These days, the 53-year-old Thompson’s

Olympic involvement has a virtual edge;

he meets Sport on the ground floor of

London’s BT Tower, where his work as

an ambassador for BT Infinity sees him

launching the new official Olympic video

game. But his enthusiasm for the Games

remains as real as ever – even if he can’t

recall everything from his glorious past...

In our Olympic Legends issue last week,

Sir Steve Redgrave exhibited an almost

forensic recollection of his entire Olympic

career. Are you the same?

“It’s funny you ask that, because when

there were 300 days to go to this Olympic

Games, I went back to Moscow with Allan

Wells. We went to the Luzhniki Stadium,

where they held the 1980 Games, and there

wasn’t a single thing Allan didn’t remember.

He remembered the colours of the seats,

where all the soldiers were sitting,

everything... but for all I knew it could have

been a different stadium. I didn’t remember

a thing, but Allan was exactly the same

as you say Steve Redgrave was. He even

remembered some seats that had changed

from wooden then to plastic now.

Unbelievable.”

So what do you remember of your first

Games, in Montreal in 1976?

“You know what – and this probably sounds

silly – but I actually had my best memories

from that one. I went there as a 17-year-old;

three weeks earlier I’d been doing my

O levels, and then I’d come to a place where

one day in the dining hall I’m sitting on the

same table as the world’s fastest man, the

world’s strongest man and the world’s best

gymnast. When you’re 17 years old, there

really is no better place to be.”

By the 1980 Games in Moscow you were

world record holder and favourite for gold

– how did you cope with the expectation

from back home?

“Well, my own expectations were pretty

high anyway. Most athletes have high

expectations for themselves because they

know how well they can perform, and for

me it just came with being the favourite.

But you know what? In sport, the favourites

generally win.”

Through the early ‘80s you enjoyed a great

rivalry with the German decathlete Jurgen

Hingsen. Did it help to have someone pushing

you so hard at the top, even though you

generally got the better of him in

competition?

“Generally? Don’t you mean always? Twenty

times out of 20 – pull yourself together man.

[Laughs] But yeah, of course it helped.

I was lucky in a couple of ways. One, that > To

ny

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/All

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ort

One of our greatest ever

Olympians, decathlon legend and

local lad Daley Thompson tells

Sport he expects London 2012 to

be the greatest Games of all time

Great expectations

Daley Thompson’s lifetime best

for the decathlon, set at the 1984

Olympics in Los Angeles. It was a

new world record that stood for

eight years, and a British record

that stands to this day

8,847

Jonathan Brownlee (above) and brother

Alistair are “my kind of guys”, says Thompson

38 | May 18 2012 |

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I had Jurgen, because it wouldn’t have been

as much fun without him; he was the guy

who made you go out and train twice on

Christmas Day and all that kind of stuff.

But also – and for which I was probably even

more fortunate – I was competing in an era

when, for want of a better phrase, I was able

to stand on the shoulders of giants. We had

Seb Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram. These

guys took our sport from the back pages

to the front pages, and everyone was

interested. It was like football is now.”

You’re playing down your own part in that,

surely? You are a double Olympic gold-

medallist, after all.

“Sure, and you’re right, there’s not many of

them – but I think I was able to stand a lot

taller because of the interest people already

had in my sport. Listen, I think I would have

done really well anyway, but I did even better

because those guys were around. It was

a truly great era for track and field.”

Do you expect the home favourites in

London – athletes like Jess Ennis and Chris

Hoy – to be under added pressure because

they’re at home, or should they use it to

their advantage?

“All those guys will have pressure on them,

but I think the majority of them are seasoned

campaigners; they’re not in their first year

of competing and they should be able to cope

with it fairly well. And if you’ve played it fairly

smart in the last three, four, or five months

– and done the minimum

of this kind of thing [media

work] and the maximum of

the other kind of stuff

[training and preparation]

– then you’ll be alright.”

It is a tough balancing act

though, isn’t it? Media

and sponsorship demands are so much

greater now than perhaps they were when

you were competing...

“I think you’re right. When I was competing

I wouldn’t have been doing this kind of thing

because I was just so much more interested

in being really good. I always figured that if

you were really good, then you got all the

other stuff anyway. But I guess some people

have to hedge their bets a little, and make

a little hay while the sun shines before the

Olympics – because, for whatever reasons,

it might not end up happening for them at

the Games. We’re in this society now where

anyone can be famous for five or 15 minutes

– all you need to do is say something stupid

and you’re the flavour of the month – so

it’s difficult for sportspeople to get the

balance right.”

You said a few things in your time, though

– although some would argue that made

for a more interesting sport. Do you think

athletics suffers from a lack of personality

these days?

“There are fewer personalities these days,

completely, and that’s a shame because I

think sport is personality-driven. Athletics

in particular only has a couple of real

personalities right now, but sport in

general has very few. There are loads of

people who are really good at what they

do, probably better than the guys in my

time, but there’s not many people with

bigger or brasher personalities.

That may just stem from how much money

is in it now... or maybe it’s just progress,

I don’t know. But you’re right; people do still

gravitate towards the personalities – and

particularly now, because there’s even less

of it than there was before.”

As a Londoner yourself, how much does it

mean to you to have the Olympics in London?

“It’s really difficult to put into words. As a

nation we love sport, and we love big events

– you just have to look at all those royal

weddings and all that stuff. We put them on

really well too, and I don’t see any reason

why this shouldn’t be our greatest Olympics,

and the greatest Olympics ever. Sport in the

past six or seven years has been really well

funded, there’s lots of really great stuff in

place, and I think the time is right for all the

good things to come to fruition. Of course,

it’s not going to be 100 per cent perfect

because shit happens, but it’s still going to

be brilliant. Everybody’s going to think that,

whatever the cost has been, it will have been

worth it.”

Charles Van Commenee has said he thinks

you should be the man to light the Olympic

flame at the opening ceremony...

[Smiles] “That is very nice of Charles, and

I hope he has a lot of influence. Do you

know what, it would be fantastic. It’s not

something you ever think about because, you

know, it’s the first time the Olympics has

been here since any of us have been alive,

and it would be brilliant. But I suspect there’s

a few other people who think they’re in line

for it, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

What events are you particularly looking

forward to seeing in the summer?

“Triathlon, for sure, and the Brownlee

brothers. Those guys are my kind of guys,

throwbacks... they work hard, they stay at

home and they don’t get involved in all the

noise, you know? They just go out and get on

with it. They’re my kind of guys and they are

really, really nice.”

Finally, you’ve been outspoken about the

need for the Olympic Stadium to remain an

athletics stadium. How sad you will be if it

becomes just another football ground?

“Yeah, I hold with that. Athletics deserves

a home, and I think if a football club is going

to get a great stadium like that on the cheap

– which is exactly what it would be – then

they should be prepared to put up with a

couple of disadvantages... if they feel that

having a track around the pitch even is a

disadvantage, that is. If you’re getting

a great stadium like that for a quarter

of the price, then I think there has to be

some downside.”

Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1

BT ambassador Daley Thompson hosts the BT

Infinity gaming tournament as competitors test

their skills with London 2012 – The Official Video

Game of the Olympic Games. To find out how to

game eight times faster, go to bt.com/infinity

Daley Thompson

“I stood on the shoulders of giants. We had Seb Coe, Steve Ovett and Steve Cram. They took our sport from the back to the front pages”

40 | May 18 2012 |

Rory McIlroy

World ranking: 1

Why he can win itIt’s been said often enough, but McIlroy is one of

the most naturally gifted players the world has ever

had the pleasure of watching. His ball-striking is

immense, and he possesses a very tidy short game

to go with it. While he may miss the odd putt, there

are no glaring weaknesses in his game. He is the

only major winner among the Big Three and,

although he keeps flip-flopping the world number

one spot with Luke Donald, most observers

would agree that he will be the one who keeps

the position in the long term.

Why he might notMcIlroy is one of those players who seems to love

certain courses, while feeling less comfortable

on others. Unfortunately, Wentworth would appear

to be one of the latter. While his best performance

here is a creditable fifth in 2009, he has mostly

made up the numbers at the BMW PGA. History

is starting to tell us that if a course doesn’t

suit Rory’s eye, he will almost certainly find it

hard to perform there.

The world’s three best golfers head to Wentworth’s West Course next week, to do battle on home soil for the first time this year. But which of them will conquer one of the toughest courses in the world?

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Wild west shootoutBMW PGA Championship

Thursday

BMW PGA Championship

West Course, Wentworth

Sky Sports 1 10.30am

Luke Donald

World ranking: 2

Why he can win itWhy not? Donald has shown that he likes the

new-look West Course, winning here in thrilling

fashion last year in a playoff with Westwood. The

fact that whoever won that particular duel would

be world number one added just more spice – and

pressure – but it did not affect the ice-cool Donald,

who rates this tournament second in the calendar

only to the majors. He was second here in 2010

and third in 2008 – and while he is famed for his

accuracy, it is his world-beating short game that

has served him so well at Wentworth.

Why he might notIt’s hard to find holes in Donald’s game at

Wentworth, because this is clearly a course and

tournament he loves. But there have been signs

that his game is not as rock-solid as it was in 2011,

even though he has already won on the PGA Tour.

If anything will beat Donald, it will be the weather

– the West Course is long at the best of times, and

especially so after the recent rain. Donald is a

relatively short hitter and may find it a slog.

Lee Westwood

World ranking: 3

Why he can win itFrom tee to green, Westwood is untouchable. His

driving is impeccable, and his iron play finds the

greens with a metronomic regularity. Around

Wentworth, that’s vital – a missed green can be

a disaster here (unless you have the scrambling

abilities of, say, Luke Donald). Westwood could have

won here last year had his approach to the 18th

green in the playoff not spun back viciously into the

water, and his record around the West Course has

been much better since Ernie Els redesigned the

course two years ago.

Why he might notIn short, Westwood’s putting does not match up to

the rest of his game. Anyone who saw him at the

Masters last month can testify that, while the rest

of his game was world-beating, his putting was

direct from the monthly medal at the local muni.

If he wins, he’ll do so from the front – despite the

dodgy putter, he still has the ability to fire in a

couple of low rounds. That said, with the course

playing so long, scoring will be high.

JUSTIN ROSE

EUROPEAN AND PGA

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Focus 2012 70 Days to go

42 | May 18 2012 |

The venue

A double dose of British disappointment

awaits Wimbledon this summer, with the All

England Club set to host the Olympic tennis

tournament only three weeks after its own

2012 champions have been crowned.

The grass courts of SW19 have some

Olympic experience, having hosted the tennis

when London first hosted the Games in 1908.

If history is to repeat itself, then we’ll see a

British clean sweep of gold medals, as there

was back then. You can stop laughing now.

The challenges faced by Wimbledon’s

ground staff to keep the grass in good nick

are not to be underestimated, with Andy

Murray admitting the players are concerned

about how the courts will bear up. Too many

five-setters in the early rounds at Wimbledon

and you might see players forced to wear

slippers to save the grass from a battering.

One major change is that players will be

allowed to wear their country’s colours for

the Olympic tournament, as opposed to the

all-white kit insisted on for Wimbledon.

The evenT

There are five medal events at the 2012

Games: men’s and women’s singles, men’s

and women’s doubles and – for the first time

since 1924 – mixed doubles. All matches will

be played over the best of three sets except

for the men’s singles final, which will be best

of five, and mixed-doubles matches, which

will be decided by a first-to-10 tie break if

the scores reach one set all.

A maximum of four players from each

country can compete in the singles, and

two teams from each nation in the doubles

– which is where, aside from the usual

hullabaloo over Murray in the singles, Team

GB could have a chance. The Murray brothers

will compete together if Jamie’s ranking

allows, while Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins

reached the Wimbledon and US Open quarter

finals last season – which isn’t bad.

Team GB’s proGress

“There’s so many good things going on in

British tennis,” says British Tennis chief

Roger Draper, who has come under fire in the

wake of disappointing adult-participation

figures. “We’re six years into a 10-year

change programme; there are lots of positive

things going on, but you’ve got to continue to

roll your sleeves up. It’s part of the journey in

the sport... everyone goes through their

bumpy patches. I suppose the positive thing

[about criticism] is that it takes heat away

from everyone else, and they can get on with

working hard across British tennis.”

Tennis aT London 2012

dates July 28-August 5

Capacity 15,000 (Centre Court)

How to get there National Rail, London

Underground

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Tennis

elena Baltacha

KEY EVENTS BEFORE

LONDON 2012

French Open

May 22-June 10,

Roland Garros, Paris

The Championships,

Wimbledon

June 25-July 8,

London

GB hopeful

Age in 2012 28

MedAl record Commonwealth Youth Games

silver (women’s team) 2000

Britain’s top-ranked female has struggled

with illness, but recent seasons have seen

her able to play more consistently...

In 2010 she recorded wins over top-10

opponents Li Na and Francesca Schiavone,

and followed that up with a win in the AEGON

Nottingham Challenge in 2011.

Currently ranked 63 in the world, Baltacha

will likely have to rely on receiving one of six

wildcard places awarded to players outside

the top 56, who qualify automatically for the

Games. She has admitted that it could be

her competitive swansong, however, saying:

“If I’m struggling with injuries, then I’m not

going to carry on.”

Some of the biggest names at London 2012 may end up going nowhere near the Olympic Stadium...

7 DaysMAY 18–MAY 24

HIGHLIGHTS

» Football: Scottish Cup final » p46

» Rugby Union: Amlin Challenge Cup final » p46

» BT Paralympic World Cup » p48

» MotoGP: French Grand Prix » p50

» Best of the Rest » p50OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

44 | May 18 2012 |

Saturday FOOTBAll: CHAMPIONSHIP PlAyOFF FINAl: WEST HAM v BlACKPOOl | WEMBlEy | SKy SPORTS 1 3PM

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Managers like to talk about momentum being a

prerequisite to promotion. West Ham had it – they

were second in early March, only one point behind

the leaders, but drew five in succession – and lost it.

Blackpool, on the other hand, are not the “dead duck”

even Ian Holloway thought they were at the beginning

of the season, and timed their run to secure a top-six

place with a game to spare by thumping Burnley 4-0.

The Tangerines will look to two of the players who

scored in that victory to continue their momentum on

Saturday: Gary Taylor-Fletcher and

Stephen Dobbie. The former is a

survivor from Blackpool’s one season

in the Premier League, and was also

on the scoresheet in their previous

playoff victory, in 2010. Dobbie, on

the other hand, is looking for his third

straight Championship playoff success

in as many seasons, having been part of that Blackpool

side as a second-half substitute two years ago, and

started in Swansea’s win over Reading last May.

Dobbie was also on the scoresheet in the Seasiders’

draw with Birmingham at St Andrew’s that helped them

to a 3-2 aggregate win – Thomas Ince’s goal in the

first leg proving decisive. The young winger (above)

will relish facing a team whose fans still give his dad

Paul untold grief every time he returns to Upton Park

since an untidy move to Man Utd over 20 years ago.

The Hammers, though, are undoubted favourites,

having brushed Cardiff aside 5-0 over two legs and

emphatically stuck four past Blackpool home and away

this season – and with only 10 men at Bloomfield Road,

after keeper Rob Green was sent off.

Sam Allardyce will look to his leaders in Kevin Nolan

and Mark Noble to calm any nerves on the field, and

establish the same control they enjoyed over Cardiff.

He will also give Jack Collison until the last minute to

prove his fitness after the Welsh midfielder dislocated

his shoulder in that second leg at the Boleyn Ground.

Collison, crucially, provides a bit of imagination that

West Ham have lacked this season, when they have

too often been guilty of looking for Carlton Cole’s

head without having a plan B. That said, the Irons’

top scorer has five in his past seven games. Dobbie,

by comparison, has six in his past eight.

Some momentum, that.

West Ham finished three points off the top spot and one from automatic promotion, but take on Blackpool – who finished fifth with 11 points fewer – in tomorrow’s playoff final, in a game estimated to be worth £90m to the winners

| 45

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“Small things can make a huge difference. Preparation is key”

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It’s been 116 years since Hearts and Hibs

last met in a Scottish Cup final, so it’s doubtful

anyone in Britain (except possibly David

Weir) will have any memory of the original

Edinburgh derby final. That lends this year’s

Hampden showpiece a refreshing air, even if

one team do start as fairly clear favourites.

Hearts’ season has been dogged by

consistency problems and a few financial

worries, but it all came together splendidly

in their rousing semi-final victory over

Celtic. The sight of Craig Beattie celebrating

his late, matchwinning penalty by hauling his

shirt from his slightly love-handled frame

and joyously gambolling in front of the

Hearts fans is one of the indelible images

of the season – and the good news for

Hearts fans is that the forward looks set

to overcome a recent hamstring strain

to be fit for the final.

Throw in the prolific Rudi Skacel in midfield,

and Hearts will feel confident of scoring

against a Hibs defence that has conceded

76 goals in all competitions this season.

Hibs have also struggled to score goals

of late, until a cathartic 4-0 win over

Dunfermline a fortnight ago finally ended

any lingering relegation worries. They have

scored eight in four Scottish Cup matches

(knocking out two SPL teams), however, and

while injury disrupted his fine start to the

season, Garry O’Connor has the class to

score on the biggest stage.

Hibs may not have beaten Hearts in any

of their past 10 attempts, but Scotland’s

domestic cups have seen a fair few upsets

already this season. You can’t bet against

there being one more in the rare, raucous

atmosphere of an all-capital final.

46 | May 18 2012 |

7 Days

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Saturday Football | ScottiSh cup Final: heartS v hibernian | bbc one Scotland/Sky SportS 4 3pm

Friday rugby union | amlin challenge cup Final: biarritz v toulon | twickenham Stoop | Sky SportS 1 8pm

Edinburgh festival

Remember a certain England number 10 hitting that drop-goal back in

2003? Well, Lord Jonny of Wilkinson

is at it again over in Toulon – it was

his last-minute strike three weeks

ago that secured the French side’s

place in tonight’s Challenge Cup final

against Biarritz.

A total haul of 27 points in the

32-29 semi-final win over Stade

Francais shows that England’s

erstwhile golden boy is rediscovering

some of his best form. And he’s

desperate for victory at the Stoop,

which – incredibly – would signal his

first European trophy. Two years

ago, Toulon were 13-6 up in this very

final against Cardiff Blues when

Wilkinson went off injured, and they

went on to lose 28-21. This time

round, however, they are the form

side, having followed up their

semi-final win with victories over

Toulouse and Lyon in the Top 14. Now,

with the likes of Steffon Armitage,

Matt Giteau and Carl Hayman in their

star-studded side, Toulon have their

eyes on European success.

Biarritz may have other plans,

however – and, more to the point,

they have a kicking star of their own

in Dimitri Yachvili. The masterful

number nine notched up 14 points in

a comfortable 19-0 win over Brive in

the semis, and will be looking to take

that form into the final. A bonus-point

defeat to Montpellier the following

week all but secured Biarritz’s Top

14 safety, and silverware would

salvage something from what has

been a largely forgettable season.

For both sides, Heineken Cup

disappointments will be quickly

forgotten with a win tonight. The

question is, which kicker’s cool

will crumble first?

Jonny’s in town

hibs have lost their

last eight Scottish cup

finals. they last lifted

the trophy in 1902

Believe in Britain

Ben Swift

Backing British Cycling

For the last four years, our ground

breaking partnership with British Cycling

has supported cycling at every level.

From getting a million more people on

their bikes to supporting new talent and

creating a British road cycling team.

believeinbritain.com

With the Paralympic Games in London just

over three months away, budding medallists

can outline their credentials a couple of

hundred miles further north in Manchester

next week, at the BT Paralympic World Cup.

Now in its eighth year, the 2012 event will

showcase athletics, seven-a-side football,

wheelchair basketball and the bowls-like

boccia. It wouldn’t be a World Cup without

a trophy up for grabs, and the athletes are

therefore divided into four teams: Great

Britain, the Americas, Europe and a Rest

of the World team. As well as medals for

individual performances, teams score points

according to their displays in each sport.

The chief attraction will naturally be Oscar

Pistorius (above), who will enter the 100m and

200m ahead of his bid to compete in both the

Olympics and Paralympics

this summer. Seeking to

make the most of home

advantage will be the

British seven-a-side

football team, made up of

the same 12-man squad

who will head to London 2012 under the Team

GB banner (no national FA disputes here).

Players include veterans of the side that

finished seventh at the Beijing Olympics – Matt

Dimbylow, Jonathan Paterson and Michael

Barker – as well as a couple of players from

the 2010 World Cup, including Martin Sinclair,

brother of Swansea City’s Scott.

The Brits will face Brazil in the football, but

it is not the sport the South Americans are

expected to dominate. For they are ranked

number one in the world in boccia, a sport for

wheelchair-confined athletes in which teams

score points for throwing their ball closest to

an object ball (hence the similarity to bowls).

Five days of competition begin with the

athletics on Tuesday, for which tickets are still

available at btparalympicworldcup.com.

48 | May 18 2012 |

7 Days

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Tuesday > BT ParalymPic World cuP | manchesTer regional arena | channel 4 12Pm (nexT saTurday)

saTurday aThleTics | samsung diamond league: shanghai | shanghai sTadium | BBc red BuTTon 12.30Pm

Gearing up

American sprinters Justin Gatlin and Allyson Felix ensured the

2012 diamond

league got off

to a sparkling

start in doha last

weekend, but any

ovation they received will soon pale into

insignificance if home favourite liu xiang

races to victory in the series’ second

meeting in shanghai tomorrow.

The sight of the 110m hurdler (and

defending olympic champion) limping from

the first-round start line was one of the

defining images of the 2008 olympics in

Beijing, leaving a nation to mourn the end

of their biggest hero’s hopes. But liu has

returned to fitness and form recently,

defeating us record holder david oliver at

this very meet 12 months ago and seeing off

world record holder dayron robles over the

shorter 60m hurdles in Birmingham in

February – as such, he will be expected to

best a field including oliver and current

world champion Jason richardson tomorrow.

elsewhere, london medal hope Phillips

idowu (pictured) represents British interest

in the men’s triple jump. The 33-year-old

triumphed in four diamond league meetings

last year, but had to settle for silver behind

american christian Taylor at the World

championships in daegu; he’ll hope to

kickstart his olympic year with a win over

Taylor and world bronze-medallist Will claye.

oh, and keep an eye out for long-distance

great Kenenisa Bekele in the 5,000m. The

multiple world and olympic champ suffered

an injury-plagued 2011, but looked back near

his best in running a staggering 27:49 in

a 10km road race in dublin last month.

Chinese turn

No momeNt is more goldeN thaN wiNNiNg

golf’s greatest prize

as the world’s best athletes arrive on British shores for a

summer festival of sport, golf ’s finest will gather in England’s

North west at the original major - the open Championship.

experience the Championship for yourself at royal lytham

& st annes, 15-22 July 2012.

Buy tickets before end of may for early season prices.

fine dining packages from £250. Book now on 01334 460010

or at theopen.com.

the opeN. tiCkets availaBle!

iN 2012, wiNNiNg silver

isN’t always seCoNd Best

50 | May 18 2012 |

7 Days

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Sunday MotoGP | Round 4: FRench GRand PRix | Le Mans, FRance BBc two 12.30PM

Half-term report

FRIDAY

cRicKet

england v

west indies:

First test day 2, Lord’s,

sky sports 1 11am

RuGBY LeaGue

super League: huddersfield v

wigan, Galpharm stadium,

sky sports 2 8pm

BoxinG British heavyweight title:

david Price v sam sexton,

echo arena, Liverpool,

sky sports 1 11pm

SATURDAY

cYcLinG Giro d’italia stage 14:

cherasco-cervinia,

British eurosport 12.45pm

BaseBaLL MLB: toronto Blue

Jays v texas Rangers, Rangers

Ballpark, esPn america 8pm

FootBaLL Major League soccer:

chivas usa v La Galaxy, home

depot center, esPn 3.30am

SUNDAY

canoeinG canoe sprint world cup,

Poland, British eurosport 9am

athLetics Great Manchester

Run, Manchester,

BBc one 10am

MotoRsPoRt

dtM Round 4, Brands hatch

circuit, esPn 12.45pm

MotoRsPoRt

world touring cars,

salzburgring, austria,

British eurosport 1pm

saiLinG america’s cup

world series, Venice,

sky sports 4 1.30pm

tennis atP Rome Masters Final,

Foro italico, Rome,

sky sports 3 3pm

FootBaLL dutch eredivisie

Playoff Final 2nd Leg: Vitesse v

RKc waalwijk, esPn 3.30pm

FootBaLL coppa italia Final:

napoli v Juventus,

stadio olimpico, esPn 7.45pm

MONDAY

swiMMinG european

championships, debrecen,

British eurosport 1 4pm

TUESDAY cRicKet indian Premier League

Playoffs: Qualifier 1,

MBa stadium, Pune, itV 4 4pm

WEDNESDAY

RuGBY championship Final 1st

Leg: cornish Pirates v London

welsh, Mennaye Field,

sky sports 2 7.30pm

THURSDAY

cRicKet clydesdale Bank 40:

sussex v Yorkshire,

Probiz county Ground,

sky sports 2 4.30pm

BEST OF THE REST

A perfect 10?

SaTuRday hoRse RacinG | JLt LocKinGe staKes | newBuRY channeL 4/RacinG uK 3.40PM

The world’s elite motorcycle racers have the chance to brush up on their GCSE French as MotoGP heads to Le Mans this weekend. With three of the season’s 18 races gone, we mark some of the riders on their early-season form

A+Casey Stoner, 66 points

The Australian (leading Jorge

Lorenzo, above) finished third

in Qatar but comfortably held

off Lorenzo to win in both

Spain and Portugal. The defending champion

is showing no signs of relinquishing his

crown, and his Honda is flying. His win at Le

Mans this time last year was the first of three

consecutive victories; the same this time around

will extend his lead at the top of the class.

BJorge Lorenzo, 65 points

His title challenge faded last

year and he missed the last

three races through injury,

but Lorenzo got off to a flyer

this season, winning the opening race in Qatar.

The Spaniard is probably sick of the sight of

Stoner’s exhaust pipe, however, finishing just

seconds behind him in the subsequent two

races. Has the potential to win another world

title, but he’ll need Stoner to start slipping up.

C+ Cal Crutchlow, 37 points

The Brit’s been tipped for big

things in his sophomore year

– and he has raced well thus

far, scoring a fourth-placed

finish in Qatar. In truth, though, he has been

some way off the leaders’ pace, coming in

almost 15 seconds behind Stoner in that race.

He might have to settle for being the best of the

rest this season, but he’s racing with renewed

confidence and could yet upset the front three.

DValentino Rossi, 22 points

The seven-time champion

must be ruing his decision

to switch teams. His Ducati

spluttered into seventh in

the championship last season – and, currently

sitting ninth after three races, he’s doing

no better this time around. Whisper it, but

there’s been speculation that the 33-year-old

Italian will retire from motorcycle racing at

the end of the season.

Last Saturday, the unbeaten Australian wonder mare Black Caviar continued her extended

journey into horse racing

history with victory number

21 of an astounding career.

A week on, and her northern-

hemisphere equivalent is set to

make his own seasonal bow in

tomorrow’s Lockinge Stakes at

Newbury. That’s right people,

Frankel is back.

Only a month ago, Sir Henry

Cecil’s four-year-old superstar

(below) – winner of all nine of his

career starts, not to mention

a cool £1.37m in prize money –

was rumoured to be on the

verge of retirement after

suffering a minor injury to his

off-fore leg. The rumours

proved false, however, and

a successful recent gallop at

Newmarket convinced his

trainer that he was ready to roll

in the Lockinge – and Cecil is in

no doubt as to the importance

of his charge to the sport.

“Every sport needs its

champions, right?” he said last

month. “Not just for the racing

public, but for other people who

aren’t interested in racing and

get to learn about it from word

of mouth and the television.

“Frankel is in the public eye...

when he comes to the races,

people are lining up to see him.”

As they will be at Newbury

on Saturday – when, if he’s

anywhere near his brilliant

best, he will hose up for a 10th

straight victory. Here’s looking

at you, Mademoiselle Caviar.

| 51

Sport Promotion

Take part in a very special British 10kThe annual British 10k takes place on July 8, and Olympic gold-medallist Darren Campbell has some helpful advice for those who want to get involved

With 70 days to go until the 30th Olympiad

gets under way in the country’s

capital, there’s no better time to play

your part and pound the city’s streets

in the British 10k. With places still

available, official charity Special Olympics Great

Britain are looking for men and women of all shapes

and sizes to don their running shoes – and athletics

legend Darren Campbell has a few handy tips for

those planning to do just that.

The build -up“Your preparation really needs to be done before the

day of the race. Being a sprinter, my diet was more

about protein but, for the guys taking part in the 10k,

carbs are important – and the key is to make sure

you get it in ahead of the day. A couple of days before

the run, make sure you’re carb-loading and keeping

yourself well hydrated. Chances are if you leave it to

the last minute, it’s never going to be enough.”

Race day“If you haven’t prepared right, the best bit of advice

on the day is to make sure you hydrate yourself

properly and don’t turn up on the day in a brand

new pair of trainers you’ve never worn before – the

chances are you’ll get blisters. Do the same things

you would do before a training session. As an athlete

and a sprinter, I wouldn’t prepare any differently for

an Olympic final than I would for any other races.

I should already be comfortable with the preparation

I put in beforehand, so for people who are maybe

running a 10k for the first time, practise your

preparation in your training before you get there

on the day. Once you’re happy with the way that you

prepare, don’t change anything. On the morning of the

race, don’t have a huge breakfast thinking you need to

stock up. It’s harder to run on a full stomach – that’s

just common sense.”

Ready, set...“Warm-up is always an individual thing, but I’d always

advise everyone to have a little stretch. No matter

how fast you think you’re going to be running – and

remember it’s not a race for a lot of the people taking

part, so go at your own pace – it’s always important

to have a good stretch before you start. And, so

you don’t feel too bad the following morning, have a

stretch afterwards as well. The other important thing

to remember after the race is to get the carbs and

protein back in your body straight away, and to try to

hydrate yourself quickly. It’s okay to have a pint later

on in the evening, but don’t have a celebratory drink

straight afterwards. Give it a couple of hours and

then it won’t kill you!”

Darren Campbell is an ambassador for Special Olympics

Great Britain, the official charity for the British 10k.

Only a few select places remain in the race, so you’ll have

to act very fast if you want to take part. To enter, visit

thebritish10klondon.co.uk. Opt in during the entry process

to be part of the Special Olympics GB fundraising team

Get involved

The British 10k has sold out for the past six years and, with 2012 being an Olympic year, this year’s event is sure to be an extra special occasion. Demand for places has been higher than ever.

To be one of Special Olympics GB’s 2,012 runners, visit thebritish10klondon.co.uk and tick the Special Olympics GB opt-in box when entering. Don’t miss out on a unique experience. Sign up today and start getting ready for the run of your lifetime.

For more information, please visit specialolympicsgb.org.uk

Extra time Gadgets

52 | May 18 2012 |

Tablet topping

So, you’ve loaded your new iPad up

with the best apps, but you still don’t

feel complete. Our favourite iPad

accessories might help fill the gap...

Making the most of your time and money

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Scosche boomCAN Speaker £20 | squaregroup.co.uk

Speck HandyShell £35 | speckproducts.com

Scosche reVOLT Car Charger £20 | squaregroup.co.uk

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25

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P56

Max Payne bloody loves

blowing away bad-ass

Brazilians. Fact.

Realise your potential by

helping childrenrealise theirs. Teach in

today’s primary schools. As a primary school teacher you are responsible for shaping young minds and laying the foundations for their future. The rewards for primary teaching start immediately and you could receive a £9k* bursary to train. What’s more, primary school teachers are on the same pay scales as secondary teachers with their salaries rising by an average of around 30% after the first four years. To find out more search‘teaching primary’ or call0800 389 2500.

Rewarding Challenging Teaching

*Conditions apply. See education.gov.uk/teacconditions for full details.

54 | May 18 2012 |

Extra time Pollyanna Woodward

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Anna Fowler| 55

The Bridge

Fans of Wallander and The Killing will know all about

brilliantly bleak Scandinavian crime drama, and The

Bridge is the latest to roll off the production line.

Why has a woman been killed, cut

in two and dumped on the bridge

linking Copenhagen to Malmo?

That’s up to affable Danish cop

Martin Rohde and his beautiful but

crazy Swedish counterpart Saga

Noren to find out. Out on Monday.

Max Payne 3 (PC/PS3/Xbox 360)Eleven years after thugs brutally

slayed his family, Max Payne returns

as a washed-up former cop, bald

but bearded and chugging back

the painkillers. He’s working in São

Paulo, Brazil, protecting the family

of a wealthy real estate mogul and

spending his days playing with the

family dog, creosoting fences and

finally putting his troubled past

behind hi... what? Yeah, right. See

that little 18 certificate on the cover

there? It’s more justified than ever,

for Payne’s business is blasting

bad-ass Brazilians – and business

is booming. Consider this: it’s by

Rockstar Games – how could this

be anything other than epic?

Mind the Map

The word iconic is hugely overused (possibly within

these very pages), but it genuinely applies to Harry

Beck’s London Underground map. First created in

1931, the Tube map of today still uses the basis of his

concept. It’s this kind of innovative creativity that’s

on show at the London Transport Museum’s new Mind

the Map exhibition, which explores how the capital’s

public transport maps have not only aided navigation,

but also inspired art and design. Open from today

until October, visit ltmuseum.co.uk for tickets.

Words and Music by Saint Etienne Saint Etienne

Sarah Cracknell and co

are all comfortably past

an age when they should

still be making joyous

indie synth-pop. So why

does this new album still

sound so fresh? Maybe

because songs like

Tonight and DJ are up

there with the band’s

catchiest tunes. Proof

that you don’t need to

change tack if you’re

perfect as you are.

No Regrets: Writings on Scott Walker Edited by Rob Young

Collection of articles on

the velvet-voiced singer

who went from teen idol

as part of The Walker

Brothers to critically

lauded musician. Any

fresh perspectives on

this enigmatic genius

are extremely welcome.

The Raid

Indonesian action with a Welsh twist? It sounds like

the worst fusion restaurant ever, but it makes for

sizzling cinema as Gareth Evans, a Welsh director

who makes Indonesian martial-arts films, serves up

his masterpiece. The Raid

(out today) sets a new

standard in jaw-dropping,

breathless, balletic ultra-

violence. Just don’t go in

expecting much of a plot.

56 | May 18 2012 |

FILM

Bring the Payne

Yet more murders in Scandanavia,

while Maximilian Payne is back: badder,

balder and beardier than ever before

GAME

EXHIBITION

DVD MUSIC BOOk

Extra time Entertainment

Available at

SELECTED STORES AND AVAILABILITY. ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.

sainsburys.co.uk/entertainment

DVD

£8.99

BLU-RAY

£9.99

/RevolverEntertainment @RevolverUk www.revolvergroup.com

1 Nivea for Men Skin Energy

Moisturiser Instant Effect Q10Last year marked a

century since the

launch of the iconic

Nivea Creme – but

they’re still thriving

today, as witnessed

by a moisturiser

that revitalises tired

skin while reducing

signs of stress – a

21st-century winner.

£8.99 | boots.com

2 Gillette Series Deodorant

Olympic Gold EditionThe original Gillette

Company was founded

by the superbly named

King Camp Gillette (a

real person, we shit

you not) to produce

razors back in 1895.

Today, they are one

of the behemoths of

the industry – this

deodorant is merely

the top of their

grooming iceberg.

£1.37 | boots.com

3Agua de Colonia Eau de Cologne

Scented CandleThe grand old man of

Spanish fragrances,

Agua de Colonia

recently celebrated a

centenary of making

hairy lads smell

better than they look.

This candle, infused

with that very scent,

can do the same for

your bathroom.

£18.50 |

carterandbond.com

4 Aramis Classic Aftershave

Queen of cosmetics

Estee Lauder

launched the original

Aramis aftershave

for men way back in

the 1960s. Little

did she know at the

time that it would

eventually outlive

her – it’s recently

done just that,

however, being that

she died in 2004.

£45 for 240ml |

0870 034 2566

5 Brylcreem Original

HairdressingIf you were around in

Birmingham in 1928,

then you might have

seen the very first

Brylcreem product

– a pomade, no less

– hit the shelves. If

you weren’t, you can

recreate the period

by picking up a tub of

the good stuff from

Boots today.

£3.75 | boots.com

6 Lotil Original Cream

A rich, hydrating and

gentle formula that

has been battling

dry, chapped and

sore skin for more

than 100 years.

It can be used

anywhere on the

body, too, which is

a definite bonus.

£3.59 | boots.com

7 4711 Original Eau de Cologne

A truly ancient

scent formulated

from the essential

oils of citrus fruits

blended with

rosemary, lavender

and neroli, 4711

Original was created

in Cologne (naturally)

in 1792. That makes

it so old we can’t

even do the math.

£21.95 for 100ml |

carterandbond.com

This week, we doff our cap to the brands

that existed long before the concept

of male grooming was ever dreamt up

Extra time Grooming

58 | May 18 2012 |

History boys

Fu

ll S

top

Ph

oto

gra

ph

y

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Soak up the summer ‘sun’The weather might be terrible, but when

(or if) that one nice evening does come

along, these lot will see you through

Extra time Kit

60 | May 18 2012 |

1 2

3 4

5 6

1 Criminal Panel Polo £39 | houseoffraser.co.uk

Also available with ‘sorbet’ colouring in place of the

river lines (or, if you will, light red in place of the

blue), this number is a great alternative to plain

white polos.

2 Franklin & Marshall Sun Orange Polo£54 | franklinandmarshall.com

Blackpool fans, rejoice. A marvellous casual

alternative to wearing your side’s luminous

tangerine shirts – with the colour scheme dialled

down just a notch. It will also handily double as a

Dutch shirt come the summer. We reckon it’s good

for two finals.

3 Eden Park Regular Retro Polo£68 | uk.eden-park.com

Celebrate 25 years of the iconic rugby brand

Eden Park by getting one of these simple designs

– also available in pink, red, royal blue or sky blue.

4 Nike France Polo£45 | nikestore.com

All you ABE (Anyone But England) fans out there can

turn your backs in style by getting your hands on

this French beauty before the June 11 showdown

between Les Bleus and Roy’s boys.

5 Fred Perry Twin Tipped Polo£49 | usc.co.uk

This slim-fit top, with the signature Fred Perry

branding, is the epitome of the classic look. Ideal

for holidays and anyone looking to perfect that

early-years Andy Murray look this summer.

6 Puma Golf TransDry Pique Polo£40 | puma.com/golf

One for the Rory McIlroys among you. Puma’s polo

features special technology to keep you dry and

sweat-free, allowing a nice easy swing throughout

your round – no matter how long it takes.