Blanc pleased as France impress - Football
Published: 16 Jun 2012 - 06:47:25
France coach Laurent Blanc was delighted after his side ended their record-breaking winless run at major tournaments as their 2-0 victory over Ukraine took them top of Group D.
After missing a number of chances Jeremy Menez and Yohan Cabaye, with his first international goal, scored to leave the French requiring a point from their final match against already-eliminated Sweden to reach the quarter-finals. It also halted a run of eight matches at finals without a win, an unwanted record set in their opening draw against England.
"We'll enjoy this one. As the French know very well, it's been a long time since we won a game at a major tournament," said Blanc.
"We're very happy to have won. Six years in major competitions and to not win a game is a long time. I hope our next win isn't in six years. If it is, then I want be here to talk about it because I'll have been fired long before."
A severe thunderstorm five minutes into the match forced the players off the pitch for almost an hour before the game could be restarted. It did not appear to affect France, however, as they came back out and dominated throughout.
"When the game was suspended our fear was that we wouldn't get to play it. We really wanted to play; we'd prepared for it," Blanc added. "After our slow first 30 minutes against England this time the weather stopped us making a proper start to a game.
"The stadium staff responded well and everything went how it should. We were worried the condition of the pitch would make it difficult to play our game - and we had some plans in place in case it did - but we quickly saw that the pitch was in good condition."
Ukraine coach Oleg Blokhin felt a number of his players became complacent after their opening win had put them top of the group after the first round of matches. Now they have to beat England to progress to the knockout stage.
"As I said, the win against Sweden didn't mean anything, so if we thought we were through, we were wrong," he said.
"I think some players thought that and we'll have a serious conversation with them."
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Gary gets a gong as awards showcase best British artistic talent (From Worcester News) - Worcester News
Gary gets a gong as awards showcase best British artistic talent
12:00pm Saturday 16th June 2012 in Worcester
Take That star Gary Barlow, actors Kate Winslet and Kenneth Branagh and the designer behind the Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress are recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list today.
The list showcases the best of British artistic talent, with awards also going to actresses Jenny Agutter, Amanda Redman, and chart-topping choirmaster Gareth Malone.
And as Britain prepares for the Olympics, sporting stars are not forgotten, with golf world number one Luke Donald on the list as well as former Wales rugby international Shane Williams and former England goalkeeper David James.
Barlow, who was widely tipped for an honour after his involvement in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, is to receive an OBE for services to the entertainment industry and to charity.
The 41-year-old masterminded and performed in the star-studded Jubilee concert in front of Buckingham Palace and also co-wrote the official song, Sing, which leapt to the top of the charts.
Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, 36, who achieved worldwide fame for her role in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, is made CBE for services to drama, 100 years after the sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ ship.
Sarah Burton – who designed the Duchess of Cambridge's striking gown for the royal wedding last year – is another homegrown talent to receive a gong. Creative director for fashion house Alexander McQueen, Burton is recognised with an OBE for services to the fashion industry.
She is joined by choirmaster Gareth Malone, who also took part in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert with his Military Wives Choir.
Malone, who gets an OBE for services to music, coached the choir to chart success and the coveted Christmas number one.
Actor and director Kenneth Branagh is knighted for services to drama and the community in Northern Ireland, alongside Royal Shakespeare Company artistic director Michael Boyd for services to drama, and Scottish opera director David McVicar for services to opera.
Knighthoods also go to former Countdown stalwart Richard Stilgoe and Carphone Warehouse founder and chairman Charles Dunstone. Both are recognised for generous donations to good causes.
Jenny Agutter, who found fame in the 1970 film The Railway Children and recently starred in the BBC1 drama Call the Midwife, receives an OBE for charitable services, while Amanda Redman, who starred in police drama New Tricks and founded the Artists Theatre School, is made an MBE.
Lord Archer's wife Dr Mary Archer, a champion of patient care and safety, is to become a Dame, along with Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, who designed the aquatics centre at the Olympics Park, as well as former Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, for service in support of the Olympics.
Sport plays an important role in the honours in the year Britain hosts the games.
World number one Luke Donald, currently competing in the US Open, gets an MBE for services to golf, alongside former Wales rugby player Shane Williams for services to rugby, and ex-England goalkeeper David James for services to football and charity.
Showjumper Nick Skelton, who retired after breaking his neck in 2000 but went on to recover and compete again, gets an OBE for services to equestrian sport.
Saracens and England rugby player Margaret Alphonsi and Alison Williamson, who will represent Britain in archery at her sixth Olympic Games this summer, are also made MBE.
Former professional footballer Paul Elliott is made CBE. The former Chelsea player, who was subjected to racist abuse from opposition fans, is a champion of football's anti-racism movement.
Those behind the organisation of the 2012 games are recognised for their efforts, with honours going to several members of the Olympic Delivery Authority.
Guard injured in Edmonton shooting a member of military - CBC
Police in Edmonton have identified the injured guard in the university mall shooting as Matthew Schuman, a full-time corporal and Air Force firefighter stationed at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton.
They say Schuman had a second job at G4S Security. Three of his colleagues were killed in what police are calling a botched robbery attempt by one of their own at the University of Alberta's Hub Mall. Officials at the mall say it is "fully operational" this weekend but retailers have the option to open up or not.
Police are still hunting a man they believe is a "dangerous" killer. Travis Baumgartner was still at large after the shooting, which happened in the wee hours of Friday morning as he and his security crew were re-stocking a bank machine on the ground floor of one of the school's residences, which also has shops on the main floor.
While police are calling what happened an armed robbery, there has been no confirmation that any money was taken. An abandoned armoured car was later found halfway across town near a G4S office with its lights on and its motor running.
The 21-year-old Baumgartner is being sought on warrants for three counts of first-degree murder and one of attempted murder.
Late Friday night, Schuman was still fighting for his life in an Edmonton hospital with critical injuries.
Baumgartner's mother made a plea to her son late Friday to turn himself in. She alluded to a fight the two had before the shooting and apologized to her son.
Michelle Shegelski was named as one of the employees of G4S who was slain early Friday at the University of Alberta. (Facebook)"I'm sorry that we had an argument last night and that we had bad words between us, but I want you to come home and do the right thing. Let's work this out together," she said in a statement read by police.
Friends say Baumgartner had designs on being a police officer, but settled into a job with G4S instead after deciding he didn't have what it takes for law enforcement.
He likes video games and calls himself a recreational drug user. In an online dating profile, he says he is a "great guy" who is laid back and has a "10" physique.
But his Facebook page is much darker, quoting the anarchist Joker from the movie Dark Knight and musing about "popping people off."
Police have also released some details about the people Baumgartner allegedly killed.
Michelle Shegelski was 26 and had just gotten married to her husband, Victor, a former military man who, coincidentally, had just returned to school at the University of Alberta. Eddie Rejano, 39, and Brian Ilesic, 35, were the other two guards killed.
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