Corinthians embarca para o Rio com festa da torcida: veja fotos e vídeos

MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians contou com o apoio da Fiel no embarque para o Rio de Janeiro na noite desta terça-feira. Centenas de torcedores compareceram ao Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos e fizeram a festa durante a passagem do ônibus.

Com bateria, bandeiras e sinalizadores, os torcedores se reuniram antes do portão do aeroporto e realizaram um corredor para o ônibus passar. A festa já havia sido programada com o clube e também com o Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos e a Polícia Militar.

O Corinthians enfrenta o Flamengo na quarta-feira, às 21h45, no Maracanã, pela ida da semifinal da Copa do Brasil. O duelo de volta será realizado no dia 26 de setembro, na Arena em Itaquera.

VEJA ABAIXO FOTOS E VÍDEOS:

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansCorinthians terá Fagner e três volantes na semi contra o FlamengoCorinthians11/09/2018CorinthiansJair tenta blindar Corinthians e exalta duelo com Fla: ‘Dois gigantes’Corinthians11/09/2018CorinthiansDíaz é relacionado pela primeira vez no Corinthians contra o Fla; veja listaCorinthians11/09/2018

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John Wright to stand down as New Zealand coach

John Wright has declined a contract extension and will step down as coach of New Zealand after this year’s tour of the West Indies

Brydon Coverdale01-May-2012

The tour of the West Indies will be John Wright’s last as coach of New Zealand•AFP

John Wright has cited differences with New Zealand’s director of cricket, John Buchanan, as a key factor in his decision not to extend his contract as the head coach. Wright has been in the position for only 16 months but has turned down a proposal to stay on beyond August, when his contract expires, meaning the upcoming tour of the West Indies will be his last engagement as coach of New Zealand.During Wright’s time in charge, New Zealand have played nine Tests for three wins, three losses and three draws, and they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup last year. The highlight was the team’s first victory in a Test in Australia for a quarter of a century, and that was followed by a respectable performance against South Africa, who won 1-0 in New Zealand.But despite such encouraging results, Wright said he was ready to move on and that it was best to make way for a coach who could steer the side through to the 2015 World Cup, which he could not envisage himself doing. He also said differences between himself and Buchanan, who was appointed director of cricket several months after Wright took over as coach, had played a part.”During the review process with the current cricket director, we both agreed the planning systems that he wants to implement don’t complement the style and the way I coach, so that was another factor,” Wright told reporters in New Zealand on Tuesday. “It’s part of sport. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to coach the New Zealand cricket team.”I’ve looked at it from my point of view, the way I coach and the values and beliefs that I bring to the job. It’s very important that I’m true to myself … We see things a little differently. It would be fair to say we’re probably more comfortable coaching against each other, which we did for four and a half years. But it’s part of sport.”Wright became coach in December 2010, replacing Mark Greatbatch on a contract of less than two years. In April 2011, Buchanan was brought in to the newly-created role of director of cricket and was handed a four-year contract and a wide-ranging brief to oversee the high-performance programme and introduce consistent coaching strategies.Asked to outline the differences in approach between himself and Buchanan, Wright said: “I think he’s probably in a better position to do that. We’re probably not that different, we just see things a little differently. As I explained earlier, the planning systems that John wants to implement are probably suited to another head coach. I think it’s just a difference of style. We see things very differently. I wish him and everyone else success.”Wright, 57, has the chance to finish on a high with the July-August two-Test tour of the Caribbean, which will give New Zealand an opportunity to finish his tenure by jumping ahead of West Indies on the ICC Test rankings. David White, the NZC chief executive, said it was disappointing Wright had decided to end his time as head coach and the challenge would now be to find a mentor who could guide the side to the 2015 World Cup.”John has been an outstanding servant for cricket in New Zealand over a long time and it is disappointing to lose someone of his calibre,” White said. “We were keen to see him continue his head coach role, however we understand and respect his decision to look for another challenge.”The fighting performance of the Black Caps at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 and again in the Test victory over Australia spoke volumes about John as a coach and he can be proud of the way he has advanced the current team. I would like to congratulate John on the contribution he has made and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

تشكيل اتحاد جدة أمام الفيحاء.. موقف أحمد حجازي وطارق حامد

أعلن نونو سانتو المدير الفني لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي اتحاد جدة السعودي، عن تشكيل لاعبيه لمباراة الفيحاء، بالمواجهة التي تجمع بينهما ضمن منافسات كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين.

ويستضيف استاد مدينة المجمعة الرياضية، مباراة الاتحاد أمام الفيحاء في إطار لقاءات دور الـ8 من المسابقة السعودية.

اقرأ أيضا..ترتيب الدوري السعودي بعد فوز الهلال على التعاون

ويشهد التشكيل تواجد ثنائي منتخب مصر، المدافع أحمد حجازي ولاعب خط الوسط طارق حامد، في ظل اعتماد البرتغالي سانتو عليهما بشكل أساسي. تشكيل الاتحاد اليوم أمام الفيحاء

حراسة المرمى: جروهي.

خط الدفاع: عمر موساوي – أحمد حجازي – زكريا هوساي – مدالله العليان.

خط الوسط: كورنادو – هنريكي- طارق حامد – هارون كمارا.

خط الهجوم: عبد الرزاق حمدالله – رومارينهو.

مساعد كيروش يوضح لـ"بطولات" حقيقة الحصول على المستحقات المتأخرة من الاتحاد المصري

أوضح المدرب المساعد لمنتخب مصر السابق، روجر دي سا، حقيقة حصوله على جزء من المستحقات المتأخرة لدى الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم خلال الساعات القليلة الماضية.

ودرب دي سا منتخب مصر مع، كارلوس كيروش، في الفترة من سبتمبر 2021 حتى مارس 2022 ولكن كانت هناك بعض المستحقات المتأخرة الخاصة بمكافآت الفوز بالمباريات خلال تلك الفترة.

وبحسب مصادر “btolat.com” أن الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم قد أرسل جزءً من مستحقات كيروش وجهازه الفني والتي تخص تخطي دور الثمانية من كأس أمم إفريقيا 2021 في الكاميرون.

اقرأ أيضًا.. محمد صلاح ينضم لمعسكر منتخب مصر استعدادًا لـ مالاوي

وتواصلنا مع دي سا مدرب مساعد منتخب قطر الحالي مع كيروش لمعرفة الحقيقة، وقال: “لقد أرسل لنا بالفعل الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم هذه المستحقات”.

وتابع: “لكن هناك بعض المستحقات المتبقية الأخرى مثل الصعود إلى نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا وأيضًا الفوز على السنغال في مباراة الذهاب في التصفيات النهائية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2022”.

وأضاف: “لا توجد أي مستحقات أخرى متأخرة، لأن رواتبنا دُفعت بالكامل قبل رحيلنا، وما يتبقى هي تلك المكافآت فقط”.

وكان كيروش وجهازه الفني قد رحلوا عن تدريب منتخب مصر في مارس 2022 بعد الإخفاق في التأهل إلى كأس العالم قطر 2022 والذي أقيم في نوفمبر وديسمبر الماضيين.

Wainwright turn again crucial after pivotal move

David Wainwright took his third five-wicket haul of the season as Essex were dismissed for 182 after choosing to bat

Alex Winter at Chelmsford23-May-2012
ScorecardDerbyshire spinner David Wainwright has had remarkable success since making the move from Yorkshire•Getty Images

What a difference a spinner makes. Last season Derbyshire had no specialist spinner to call on and won five matches; this season, after six games, they have won three. The contribution of slow left-armer David Wainwright in all three results has been significant. Here, his third five-wicket haul of the season has already set up the chance of a fourth victory.His impact was, by Wainwright’s own admission, unexpected. The pitch looked a well-mannered first-day surface but when Wainwright was handed the ball for the 26th over, his first delivery bounced and turned sharply on Owais Shah, who got a thin edge to Tom Poynton. A cracker.Umpire Martin Bodenham said Shah did very well to nick it, which seemed like a flawed compliment. This was Shah’s first innings of the season for Essex after playing for Rajasthan in the IPL, where he would have encountered high quality spin but perhaps played it in an entirely different manner. He probably didn’t practise simply trying to keep out such a vicious delivery.There were glimpses of IPL mode from Shah. He went at the ball very hard – a tactic that wouldn’t have worked for long a few weeks ago but, in the sunshine against minimal sideways movement, proved adequate. But no matter where anyone had been playing, Wainwright’s ball was too good.That delivery was the start of spell which dismissed Essex for a below-par score. There was movement to deal with, nervy moments, unplayable balls and the wicket of Paul Borrington for Derbyshire as they faced 15 overs before the close but they will expect plenty of runs from this pitch on this small ground. They would have also batted first given the option but it was Essex that wanted to make first use of the wicket and Essex who succumbed to a bowler reborn.Wainwright spent eight seasons at Yorkshire and got wound into fear: of being behind Adil Rashid; of rarely being picked; of going for runs when he did play. His move down the M1 in the winter lifted him away from those clouds which were preventing his talent being displayed: talent which has already helped Derbyshire to the top of Division Two. On debut, his second-innings 6 for 33 was his career-best return and bowled Derbyshire to victory against Northamptonshire. Last week against Glamorgan, 5 for 51 was the match-winning haul. Between his bowling successes came 51 not out in the reverse fixture against Glamorgan – an innings which set a target Derbyshire defended.”I’ve bowled more overs than I’ve ever bowled in a season already,” Wainwright said. “I got myself in a bubble at Yorkshire. Year after year I’d turn up to games and if it was cloudy, they’d only play one spinner and I’d miss out again. The move has given me a new outlook on the game. There’s less pressure. It’s a relief to turn up to a game and think I’ll be playing today.”I looked at the pitch and it looked good, I was gearing myself up for third, fourth day. But the first ball bounced and spun and I didn’t look back. I try to be on it from ball one, I give it a bit of a rip and see what happens.”What happened was Shah’s dismissal, part of a remarkable set of four new spells, three of which brought wickets with the first ball. His second spell saw Ben Foakes edge another spinning, bouncing ball behind. Three balls later, James Foster was edging a forward push to slip. Before tea, in the same spell, Greg Smith was superbly held low at short leg and after tea, another change of ends brought Mark Pettini’s wicket – driving back to Wainwright after an valuable 132-ball half-century.The changing of ends was out of necessity – the seamers held sway. “I was just the middle man,” Wainwright said. “I said I’ll bowl wherever – that’s generally what happens, the spinner doesn’t get a say until the second innings.” His preference may have been ignored but he benefitted from the changes, finding more spin from the Hayes Close End, where he first bowled, and more bounce from the River End, where three of his wickets came.

O auge, a fratura e a reserva: Luis Ricardo e os 100 jogos no Botafogo

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Ao entrar no gramado da Arena Fonte Nova, nesta quinta-feira, Luis Ricardo deu mais um dos que devem ser os últimos passos do lateral-direito pelo Botafogo. Aos 34 anos, ele completou 100 jogos pelo clube (na contagem oficial), mas dificilmente aumentará significativamente este número. A oportunidade pela Copa Sul-Americana foi rara para quem, hoje, é apenas reserva. Porém, já teve grande importância na equipe alvinegra.

É extremamente improvável que o Glorioso estenda o vínculo de Luis, que se encerra ao fim deste ano, uma vez que já houve contestação à renovação do ano passado para o corrente. Além disso, nesta temporada ele tem apenas 12 jogos. Chegou a ser terceira opção para a posição quando ainda havia Arnaldo no grupo. Marcinho vai se consolidando cada vez mais como titular.

O hoje veterano Luis Ricardo (terceiro mais velho do grupo) chegou ao Alvinegro já experiente. Em 2015, sem perspectiva de grande aproveitamento no São Paulo, foi contratado por empréstimo e esteve presente quase sempre. Sob as ordens dos técnicos René Simões e Ricardo Gomes, foi prioritariamente lateral pela direita, mas também chegou a atuar no meio-campo e até na lateral esquerda naquele ano.

Em 2016, a participação dele no primeiro semestre alternou entre a lateral direita e o meio-campo, com regularidade. Então Jair Ventura se tornou o treinador e era com ele que o jogador vivia uma das melhores fases da carreira. Foi o maior garçom do time no ano, com 12 assistências, e envergava a braçadeira de capitão em mais uma boa partida quando fraturou o tornozelo esquerdo. Aquele jogo contra o Grêmio, em setembro, marcaria.

Marcaria porque uma cirurgia foi realizada imediatamente. Cinco meses depois, uma raspagem no local ocorreu e o retorno aos campos foi retardado. Ele só entraria em campo novamente em julho de 2017, dez meses depois da fratura. Até teve uma pequena sequência como titular, pouco depois, mas logo sentou no banco de reservas de maneira praticamente definitiva. O que não diminuiu a importância do lateral junto ao grupo.

A influência, todavia, não se transformou em superação técnica em relação aos concorrentes. O primeiro jogo como titular, neste 2018, foi somente em junho. Em meio às derrotas colecionadas pelo Alvinegro, o desempenho de Luis Ricardo não fugiu à media do time. As semanas de treino restantes deste fim de setembro até dezembro deverão, desta forma, ser as últimas do lateral junto aos companheiros de Botafogo.

RelacionadasBotafogoQuem teve chance aproveitou: o saldo positivo do Bota, apesar da derrotaBotafogo21/09/2018BotafogoZé valoriza gol marcado pelo Bota na Fonte Nova: ‘A gente pode reverter’Botafogo21/09/2018BotafogoPimpão lamenta chances perdidas: ‘Acertamos duas vezes a trave deles’Botafogo21/09/2018

Surrey lead call for summer-long T20

Richard Gould, the Surrey chief executive, has called for England’s Twenty20 domestic tournament to be scheduled throughout the summer and has predicted it could bring “a dramatic increase” in spectators.

David Hopps06-Jul-2012

Spectators at The Oval were treated to a dramatic finish – Richard Gould wants them to be able to attend T20 games throughout the summer•PA Photos

Richard Gould, the Surrey chief executive, and widely tipped as a future chief executive of the ECB, has called for England’s Twenty20 domestic tournament to be scheduled throughout the summer and has predicted it could bring “a dramatic increase” in the number of people who watch county cricket.Gould’s call is contrary to the preferences of England’s professional players, who were in favour in a survey commisioned by the Professional Cricketers’ Association, of a high-profile IPL-style tournament with concerted efforts made to attract the world’s top stars.Surrey have endured a crazed fixture schedule which would find favour with nobody, in which they have hosted four T20 matches in five days, shortly after staging England’s NatWest Series tie against Australia.He called instead for the ECB to cater better to the public demand to watch cricket by creating sufficient space between matches for supporters to come to more than just “the occasional game”.As the ECB extends its survey on the future of the domestic game, the battle lines have clearly been drawn between those who want to seek a high-profile tournament and those, like Gould, who believe in a traditional county-cricket solution, using primarily Engliush players and playing the tournament over the season. In that way, he contends, it would be using England’s professional circuit to offer something distinct from the short and sweet tournaments elsewhere.The Gould method would necessitate players switching from one format to another incessantly but would make all forms of the game available to spectators throughout the summer. It would also arguably exacerbate problems finding overseas players, a situation that is becoming increasingly critical.Despite an unsuccessful campaign, Surrey pulled in almost 15,000 spectators for their match against Kent on Thursday – one of the biggest crowds in this year’s weather-beaten tournament – and saw a similar turnout on Friday for their defeat to Middlesex.”Having analysed the supporter data it is clear that the vast majority of the 15,000 supporters that saw us on the Thursday were not the same ones that came today because people do not have enough leisure time to come twice within such a short period,” Gould said.”Going forward we must provide a schedule that suits our customers, allowing sufficient space between matches so that supporters can come to most of the games rather just one or two, following the football and rugby models. Bigger crowds also make for a more compelling televised spectacle.”For Surrey supporters this also means making sure most FLt20 games take place on Thursdays or Fridays, although the preferred day of the week varies from county to county. If we can achieve all this, allowing people to come and watch more than the occasional game; then we have a great opportunity to dramatically increase the number of cricket supporters in this country.”Gould first unveiled his preference for a more spread-out T20 schedule to ESPNcricinfo. He also suggested that a rejigged FLt20, which next year will have to be fitted in around the Champions Trophy, could create a better balance in the fixture list.”It could also help those that regularly attend Championship cricket but currently have to endure a large part of the summer without it, having to make way for an exclusive diet of Twenty20. As a spectator sport we are working closely with the ECB to ensure that the needs of members and supporters are always the highest priority.”

ويلز تفرض تعادلًا قاتلًا على كرواتيا في تصفيات يورو 2024

سقط منتخب كرواتيا في فخ التعادل الإيجابي مع خصمه ويلز، مساء اليوم، في إطار التصفيات المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس أمم أوروبا.

وتلاقى المنتخبان في إطار منافسات الجولة الأولى من التصفيات المؤهلة إلى يورو 2024، حيث تعادلا بهدف لمثله.

كان اللاعب أندري كراماريتش قد سجل هدف كرواتيا في الدقيقة 28 من عمر الشوط الأول.

وكادت المباراة أن تنتهي بفوز كرواتيا بتلك النتيجة قبل أن يتمكن ناثان برودهيد من تسجيل هدف التعادل للمنتخب الويلزي في الدقيقة 93.

ويلتقي منتخب كرواتيا مع خصمه تركيا في الجولة الثانية من التصفيات يوم الثلاثاء المقبل، في حين يلتقي منتخب ويلز مع لاتفيا في اليوم نفسه.

Após descredenciamento da Redegol, Santos muda venda de ingressos

MatériaMais Notícias

Conforme antecipado peloLANCE!, o Santos praticamente já não conta mais com a Redegol para a venda de ingressos e ações operacionais. A empresa foi descredenciada pela Federação Paulista de Futebol e, por isso, a Futebol Card assumirá toda a responsabilidade pela venda de ingressos para os torcedores que não são sócios do clube e também pela realização da partida contra o Corinthians, no próximo dia 13 de setembro, no Pacaembu.

A parceria com a Futebol Card é uma ação de emergência do Peixe para atender às exigências da FPF, já que o veto à Redegol impossibilita a empresa de realizar operacional de jogos no estado de São Paulo. O departamento jurídico do Alvinegro estuda a possibilidade de romper o contrato com a empresa contratada pelo ex-presidente Modesto Roma Júnior em janeiro de 2017. Por enquanto, os sócios seguirão usando o portal Sócio Rei, gerenciado pela Redegol.

Os sócios poderão comprar ingressos de acordo com as prioridades do programa a partir desta quinta-feira. A venda para o público geral começa pela internet, no sábado, pelo portal da Futebol Card. As vendas seguem até quando restarem ingressos ou até o intervalo do duelo a ser disputado às 19h30 do dia 13.

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Confira as informações divulgadas pelo Santos:

Para o clássico contra o Corinthians teremos alterações importantes no processo de venda:

Para sócios e reservas de proprietários de cadeiras cativas, cadeiras especiais e camarotes, continuarão sendo feitas pelo portal Sócio Rei e app, mas com a data limite de 11/10 às 23h59.

Para não sócios a venda será realizada pela FutebolCard.

A venda de ingressos para o jogo entre Santos FC e Corinthians, que será realizado dia 13/10 (sábado), às 19h30, no Pacaembu, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, começará amanhã (4/10), às 18h, pelo portal Sócio Rei, conforme prioridades e escalonamentos abaixo:

04/10 (quinta-feira) às 18h – venda somente para os sócios das categorias Black e Gold;
05/10 (sexta-feira) às 18h – abertura de vendas para os sócios da categorias Silver;
06/10 (sábado) às 18h – abertura de vendas para torcedores TOP e não sócios pela internet;
08/10 (segunda-feira) às 10h – abertura de pdvs;

Sócios:
A venda para sócios acontecerá até às 23h59 do dia 11/10 (quinta-feira).

Acompanhantes: limite de 2 (dois) acompanhantes por sócio Black, Gold e Silver no mesmo setor que o titular que pagarão o valor correspondente ao Torcedor TOP (1/2 sobre o valor de inteira).

Sócios Proprietários de Cadeiras Cativas, Cadeiras Especiais e Camarotes
Os proprietários de cadeiras cativas e especiais (portões 13/14, 15/16 e 25), além dos donos de camarotes na Vila Belmiro (portão 23), também necessitam adquirir os ingressos pelo portal Sócio Rei (www.sociorei.com.br), para garantia de seu lugar até às 23h59 do dia 11/10 (quinta-feira).

Não Sócios:
Compram ingressos a partir das 18h de 06/10 (sábado) pela WEB, através do site: https://www.futebolcard.com/

Importante: o torcedor que comprar seu ingresso pela internet precisará imprimi-lo e ir ao estádio com o voucher. Não é mais permitido acesso com QR Code no celular por medida de segurança, mediante processo de melhorias no acesso acordadas com Federação Paulista de Futebol e Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo.

Preços dos Ingressos:

Tobogã:
– inteira: R$ 30,00
– meia-entrada e Torcedor TOP: R$ 15,00
– sócio rei Black/Gold/Silver: R$ 7,50

Arquibancadas Amarela, Verde , Lilás e Vermelha:
– inteira: R$ 48,00
– meia-entrada e Torcedor TOP: R$ 24,00
– sócio rei Black/Gold/Silver: R$ 12,00

Setor Laranja:
– inteira: R$ 60,00
– meia-entrada e Torcedor TOP: R$ 30,00
– sócio rei Black/Gold/Silver: R$ 15,00

Setor Manga:
– inteira: R$ 72,00
– meia-entrada e Torcedor TOP: R$ 36,00
– sócio rei Black/Gold/Silver: R$ 18,00

Setor Azul:
– inteira: R$ 80,00
– meia-entrada e Torcedor TOP: R$ 40,00
– sócio rei Black/Gold/Silver: R$ 20,00

SA preparations come full circle

Explorer Mike Horn has been very important in South Africa’s preparations for their tour of England and he returned to their camp ahead of the final Test

Firdose Moonda14-Aug-2012

Dale Steyn said South Africa’s pre-tour training camp enabled him to find energy reserves he did not think he had•AFP

With South Africa’s preparation for the final Test in the series against England almost complete, they have called on a special assistant to add the finishing touch. Explorer Mike Horn, famous for his solo full circle of the globe without motorised transport, has joined up with the camp in London to complete a journey that began at his home in Château d’Oex, Switzerland, before the tour began.The squad spent four days with Horn before arriving in England on an excursion that was focused on gaining mental strength through physical exertion. Their challenges included cycling up Alpine slopes, hiking for miles and skiing. Although they will not be doing anything similar with Horn this time, his presence will serve as motivation as they approach the match that will determine whether they are crowned world No.1.”He is an inspiration for us, he played a big role in our preparations before the tour and he will no doubt add value to our current team environment,” Gary Kirsten, South Africa head coach, said.Horn and Kirsten are friends who have worked together before, most notably during India’s 2011 World Cup campaign, which ended in victory. The Indian squad did not shy away from crediting Horn with helping them believe they could achieve and Kirsten is hopeful he will have the same effect on the South African side.”I can’t come here and teach the players how to bat or to bowl,” Horn admitted. “I am here to bring something away from the game. They have proven that they are a better team than before. There is a good ambience in the camp and the players are looking forward to performing better as a team. I’m not going to say much, I think my presence will say a lot.”Horn’s impact on the changes made to the South African mindset are obvious. Jacques Kallis referred to it as simply a “very positive frame of mind,” but it is more complex than that. There is a sense of confidence that did not run as deeply as before. Even Mark Boucher, the toughest, hardest member of the squad whose retirement was forced in the first match at Taunton after a horrific eye injury, admitted he had never been so severely challenged as he was in Switzerland.Along with Boucher, other members of the squad called the camp the toughest few days of their lives. Dale Steyn remembered the a day when they scaled a 3,300-metre peak, which included a rope climb and an ice-field which exhausted most of the squad but left Horn looking like he had “just pitched up home after a stroll in the park”.The day did not end there as Horn then led them to the top of a 750-metre peak, on an uphill cycle for 7 kilometres. “Players used every swearword in the book, until they were too exhausted to swear… and there was still more to climb,” Steyn wrote on his blog. “I had never been so physically exhausted in my life. But I was in Mike Horn territory, so I refused to get off my bike, refused to rest, refused to walk. I found reserves that I never knew I had.”AB de Villiers said that he had never been that exhausted before and that he pushed harder than he had ever had in his life. He now knew he could do more than he believed.”A lot of the rhetoric the team squad has sprouted since that trip has been of a similar nature. It sounds contrived and candyfloss but the expedition to the Alps appears to have made a major difference to the South African mindset. Often criticised for collapsing at the crucial moment, South Africa have shown displays of fortitude in the series so far.After a lacklustre start on the first day at The Oval, they returned to knock England back on the second morning and then batted them out of the match. When it looked like Kevin Pietersen was going to seize the series back for England at Headingley, South Africa returned to remove him swiftly the next morning. Having arrived in England with the mantra that winning crucial moments will win the series, South Africa have done that so far.Their most crucial moments await at Lord’s. Having Horn on the balcony to remind them of the things they have already conquered is what South Africa hope will spur them on to triumph in their biggest Test to date.

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