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Italy won the World Cup in a penalty shoot-out, beating France 5-3 on Sunday after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes. David Trezeguet hit the crossbar with France’s second spot kick to give Italy its fourth World Cup title, and Fabio Grosso made the deciding kick. ”It’s incredibly emotional, words cannot hardly describe it,” Grosso said after the final whistle.
I don’t want to see folks satisfied when they talk about Nelson Mandela. He constitutes such a challenge to us — an intellectual challenge..
Bands of masked gunmen went on a rampage on Sunday in a predominantly Sunni Baghdad neighbourhood, killing at least 42 Sunni Arabs in a gruesome sectarian attack despite a massive security crackdown, witnesses said. The apparent response to the attacks was swift, with at least 15 people killed and 35 wounded in two powerful car bombs next to a Shi’ite mosque.
Nobody can stop Roger Federer on grass. Number one got even against number two as Federer ended a five-match losing streak to Rafael Nadal on Sunday, winning 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 6-3 to earn his fourth straight Wimbledon title and eighth Grand Slam championship. Nadal had beaten Federer in four finals this year, including at the French Open last month, but couldn’t match him on the Swiss star’s favourite surface.
Pakistan ended the third day of their four-day match against England A as they started it — in the field — after a first innings collapse on Saturday. In the tourists’ final first-class match before the first Test against England at Lord’s begins on Thursday, they were bowled out for 242 in reply to England A’s 595 for nine declared.
A Russian passenger plane burst into flames after it crashed on landing in the Siberian city of Irkutsk early on Sunday, killing at least 102 people. Russian news agencies said the death toll could be as high as 150. Transport Minister Igor Levitin blamed the crash on wet runway conditions after rain, Russian news agencies reported.
As competition between Boeing and European aviation rival Airbus heats up, the two groups may see a new dogfight over the issue of government subsidies, analysts say. The prospect of a new political row is looming as Boeing is gaining on Airbus due to the success of its 787 ”Dreamliner” programme.
Western Province played an impressive and near clinical game of rugby to record a morale boosting 15-10 victory over a lifeless Blue Bulls team at Loftus Versveld on Saturday. Last week the Bulls looked like possible Currie Cup champions when they convincingly beat the Lions at Ellis Park, but this Saturday they were a completely different outfit.
Amelie Mauresmo became the first Frenchwoman in 81 years to win the Wimbledon singles title when she conquered a severe bout of stagefright to beat Belgium’s Justine Henin-Hardenne 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday. The 27-year-old’s victory was also her second career Grand Slam victory and was the first step towards what could be a memorable weekend for French sport with France facing Italy in the World Cup final in Berlin on Sunday.
Three Palestinian family members, including a six-year-old girl, were killed on Saturday in an air strike on Gaza City as Israel rejected a call by Hamas premier Ismail Haniya for a mutual ceasefire. The girl, her elder brother and her mother were killed in the air raid which according to an army spokesperson targeted a group of militants east of Gaza City.