Cuevas outshines ‘R’ trio; Brazil face home truth

Brazil, clearly suffering from overconfidence, lost 1-0 at home to Paraguay on Wednesday in their first match since winning the World Cup an...

Brazil, clearly suffering from overconfidence, lost 1-0 at home to Paraguay on Wednesday in their first match since winning the World Cup and their last under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari. Paraguay striker Nelson Cuevas outshone Brazil’s renowned three “R” trio — Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho — as he scored the only goal in the 28th minute. Cuevas, who found the net twice at the World Cup finals, slipped past midfielder Gilberto Silva and fired a low shot in off the post from 25 metres.

Ronaldo, caught up in a protracted soap opera over his future with Inter Milan, looked slow and lethargic in his first game since scoring both goals in the World Cup final victory against Germany 52 days ago. He was taken off after only 33 minutes looking exhausted. Paraguay held out in the second half to give Scolari, who lifted Brazil from the doldrums and led them to the world title in 14 months, an unhappy send-off in his last game in charge.

Bulgaria hold Germany

SOFIA: World Cup finalists Germany, lacking a string of injured first choice players, fought back for a 2-2 draw away to Bulgaria in their friendly international thanks to debutant Arne Friedrich.

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Hertha Berlin defender Friedrich, a second half substitute, spared coach Rudi Voeller’s blushes in the 57th minute by unleashing a 25-metre shot through a crowd of players and past Bulgaria goalkeeper Zdravko Zdravkov to salvage a draw.

Striker Dimitar Berbatov gave the home side the lead in the 21st minute after a cross from captain Krassimir Balakov. Germany midfielder Michael Ballack was precise from the penalty spot to level at 1-1 just two minutes later after Zdravkov brought down forward Miroslav Klose.

A second penalty five minutes after half time saw Bulgaria go 2-1 up as Balakov converted from the spot after Berbatov had his shirt tugged by Germany defender Carsten Ramelow, who is also his Bayer Leverkusen team mate.

Slovenia stun Italy

TRIESTE: Italian football’s troubles continued as Giovanni Trapattoni’s side lost 1-0 at home to Slovenia in a friendly international. An excellent solo goal from Sebastjan Cimirotic in the 32nd minute gave Slovenia coach Bojan Prasnikar a surprise victory in his first game since taking over from Srecko Katanec after the World Cup finals.

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The game was stopped three times due to crowd disorder — twice in the first half the match was halted due to Slovenian fans throwing smoke bombs on the field while in the 67th minute a visiting supporter ran across the field.

‘Bangladeshis’ and ‘ghuspaithiyas’: BJP MP Brij Lal stops five sanitation workers on road in to quiz them on video

‘Bangladeshis’, ‘ghuspaithiyas’: On camera, BJP MP quizzes 5 sanitation workers

Cities2 hr ago

BJP MP and former UP DGP Brij Lal has sparked controversy with a video accusing five sanitation workers in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar Extension of being Bangladeshi infiltrators. Lal, a former IPS officer, claims to know how terrorism works and alleges that these workers are a threat to the nation. He appeals to CM Yogi Adityanath to deport them and claims they have fake identities.

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