Sport magazine - Issue 256

Issue 256 | May 18 2012

Unstoppable?

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

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

Cover image by James Lincoln, jameslincoln.co.uk. This page: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images

33

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

37

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 week Features

18 Champions League final

18

56

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 | May 18 2012 | 03

Radar

p07 – Olympic torch burns through Blighty

p08 – European Champs: writing’s on the wallchart

p10 – The world’s most marketable sports stars

Enter the priory F

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.

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

| May 18 2012 | 05

Radar

Anglo-German relations 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

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.

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

Torch touchdown I

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

| May 18 2012 | 07

Ben Radford /Allsport, Milos Bicanski/Getty Images

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.

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.

Radar

Final destination

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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

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Mr Wallchart

08 | May 18 2012 |

Warren Little/Getty Images

E

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

Radar

McIlroy Lionel Messi 1Neymar (20 years old, Brazil) 2 Rory (22, Northern Ireland) 3 (24, Argentina) 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!

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.

Griffin 6 Blake (23, USA)

Djokovic Vettel Tebow 7 Novak (24, Serbia) 8 Sebastian (24, Germany) 9 Tim (24, USA)

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.

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.

BE A SEASON TICKET HOLDER

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.

Bolt 4 Usain (25, Jamaica)

Formula 1’s youngest double world champion is an articulate, engaging, likeable driver. Sigh.

It was so much easier to root against Michael Schumacher.

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.

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).

Ronaldo 5 Cristiano (27, Portugal)

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.

Tseng 10 Yani (23, China)

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.

Get your 2012/2013 Fulham SeaSon ticket – available From 22 may 2012.

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10 | May 18 2012 |

All pictures Getty Images

Market leaders

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

Facebook.com/BurtonMenswear

Burton.co.uk/AmirKhan

Radar Editor’s letter Good Kompany: but can the City captain and his team dominate like their neighbours have done? www.sport-magazine.co.uk @sportmaguk facebook.com/sportmagazine

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COMMERCIAL

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

Deputy Editor Tony Hodson @tonyhodson1

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.

Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham (Peterborough) Ltd © UTV Media plc 2012 UTV 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 Total Average Distribution: 304,700 Jul-Dec 2011

Reader comments of the week Haye vs Chisora will never be a Rocky vs Apollo Creed, but I hope its a double KO and both counted out.

@JamesHepburn77 Twitter

12 | May 18 2012 |

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

LOVING the Blippar work in this week’s mag. Makes our Olympic champs look even better #OurGreatestTeamRises

@lesleyturnb 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!

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!

Dave Beecham, via email

Iain, via email

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E

ven 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

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Radar Frozen in time

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Stollen moments If 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.

14 | May 18 2012 |

| 15

Champions League Final

18 | May 18 2012 |

Operation Allianz n 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,

I

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.

*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.

Final position: Bayern thrived with Philipp Lahm at right midfield, but will have to adapt against Chelsea

The absent answer It 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. >

| 19

James Lincoln/jameslincoln.co.uk, Christof Stache/AFP/GettyImages

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...

Champions League Final

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 ballwinner was the suspended Gustavo, but the Ukrainian Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has also done well in this role.

The first choice for holding-midfielder-asplaymaker 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.

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

20 | May 18 2012 |

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.

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 thinking Defensively, 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. >

Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images

A wing and a prayer: Chelsea will pray Bayern's dangermen do not track back

Champions League Final

Toni Kroos Be 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.

22 | May 18 2012 |

Philipp Lahm

Jerome Boateng

The 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.

Captain 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.

The 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.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Arjen Robben A 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.

Showed 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.

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

Diego Contento

Ukrainian who’d have preferred his favoured midfield position, but for Bayern’s suspensionenforced 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.

Italian 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 benchwarmer under Heynckes.

Expected to be drafted in more through necessity than choice.

Thomas Muller

Franck Ribery

Mario Gomez

It 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.

Played 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.

The 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?

All pictures Getty Images

Know your enemy

Manuel Neuer

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Champions League Final

Expert view Andy Gray

Manuel Neuer 11 games (1,020 minutes) 10 conceded

Philipp Lahm

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

Jerome Boateng

Diego Contento

11 games (1,020 mins) 1 assist

10 games (619 mins)

12 games (1,110 mins) 1 assist

1 game (90 mins)

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Toni Kroos

8 games (544 mins) 2 assists

11 games (953 mins) 2 goals, 2 assists

Arjen Robben

Thomas Muller

Franck Ribery

7 games (549 mins) 4 goals, 2 assists

11 games (630 mins) 1 goal, 1 assist

11 games (934 mins) 3 goals, 5 assists

Mario Gomez 11 games (883 mins) 12 goals, 0 assists

(4-2-3-1)

Didier Drogba 7 games (550 mins) 5 goals, 2 assists

(4-2-3-1)

Salomon Kalou

Juan Mata

Florent Malouda

6 games (249 mins) 2 goals

11 games (828 mins) 2 goals, 2 assists

8 games (486 mins) 2 assists

John Obi Mikel

Frank Lampard

8 games (575 mins)

11 games (723 mins) 3 goals, 3 assists

Ashley Cole

David Luiz

Gary Cahill

Jose Bosingwa

11 games (964 mins) 2 assists

10 games (895 mins) 1 goal

4 games (222 mins)

10 games (562 mins)

Petr Cech 12 games (1,110 mins) 11 conceded

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 firstchoice 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

| May 18 2012 | 25

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.

Round of 16

Napoli 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 finals

Chelsea 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.

The road to Munich

Champions League Final 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.

Round of 16

Basel 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 finals

Marseille 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 finals

Munich 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.

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

26 | May 18 2012 |

Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

Final

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Ronaldo

“My beautiful Olympic year” 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

Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/GettyImages

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

Ronaldo

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

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.”

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

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...

Neymar, 20, Santos The 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.

Ganso, 22, Santos Also 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.

Leandro Damiao, 22, Internacional A 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.

| May 18 2012 | 31

Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images, Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images, Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

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.”

HigH Hopes

Heineken Cup Final

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...

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.”

David Rogers/Getty Images

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 >

| May 18 2012 | 33

Heineken Cup Final

“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”

David Rogers/Getty Images

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

34 | May 18 2012 |

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

Since losing to Clermont in the group stage back in December 2010, Leinster have gone unbeaten in 14 consecutive Heineken Cup matches

Saturday Leinster v Ulster Twickenham Sky Sports 3 5pm

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

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

The 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 Pienaar

Even 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 aFoa

This 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-BreaKers

Leinster’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

| 35

Peter Muhly/AFP/GettyImages, David Rogers/Getty Images

the BacK-row Battle

SUCCESS Prepare thoroughly.

Commit totally.

Deliver.

LIVE TO DELIVER

business.fedex.com/rugby Š Copyright 2012 FedEx

Daley Thompson

F

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;

G expect reat ations

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.”

Olympi One of our gr ans eat local la , decathlon le est ever Sport h d Daley Tho gend and be the e expects Lo mpson tells greate n st Gam don 2012 to es of a ll time

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 >

Tony Duffy/Allsport

ew 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...

7 4 8 8,

t e bes lifetim the 1984 ’s n o s t p a as a Thom , set Daley decathlon geles. It w for n e d A h Los that stoo rd for t ics in co d Olymp rld recor British re o a w d new ears, an y is day eight ands to th t that s

| May 18 2012 | 37

Daley Thompson 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.”

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 goldmedallist, 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

38 | May 18 2012 |

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.

Jonathan Brownlee (above) and brother Alistair are “my kind of guys”, says Thompson

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

Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images

“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”

– 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.”

BMW PGA Championship

Wild west shootout 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?

Rory McIlroy

Luke Donald

Lee Westwood

World ranking: 1

World ranking: 2

World ranking: 3

Why he can win it

Why he can win it

Why he can win it

It’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 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.

From 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 not

Why he might not

Why he might not

McIlroy 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.

It’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.

In 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.

40 | May 18 2012 |

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Thursday BMW PGA Championship West Course, Wentworth Sky Sports 1 10.30am

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70 Days to go

Focus 2012

Tennis

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

42 | May 18 2012 |

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

GB hopeful

elena Baltacha

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.”

KEY EVENTS BEFORE LONDON 2012 French Open May 22-June 10, Roland Garros, Paris The Championships, Wimbledon June 25-July 8, London

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images, Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

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

7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

MAY 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 » p50

Ben Hoskins/Getty Images

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

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 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

44 | May 18 2012 |

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.

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Ross Hopcraft, from west London, knows how important coaching is to shaping the next generation of sportsmen and women. Ross has an FA Level 1 qualification in coaching football and, in his spare time, coaches the junior teams at Old Actonians FC, in Acton.

“Very small things from an adult can make a massive difference to a child, especially when it comes to the start you can give them in football, or any sport,” says Hopcraft. “Preparation and organisation are key to being a successful coach.”

Hopcraft believes everyone with an interest in sport has the motivation to make a contribution, and there comes a time when it’s better to hang up your boots as a player and pick up the whistle as a coach. “Everyone has an ambition to contribute – coaching a football team allows me to do that,” he says. “For me, there’s the enjoyment of seeing kids develop, learn and improve over what can be a very short time. It sounds cliched, but you’re in a position where you’re not necessarily motivated by results – it’s what you give out that counts. It is incredibly beneficial, for everyone, and I’d encourage others to get involved in coaching too.”

John Driscoll is executive director of Sports Coach UK, which supports the recruitment and development of sports coaches.

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Liam Tancock, Team GB

“Small things can make a huge difference. Preparation is key” Gillette Fusion ProGlide Power Olympic Games Edition

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illette ambassador and Team GB swimmer Liam Tancock hopes to play his part in what could be a record haul of medals for Great Britain this summer. Liam knows that the key to success is proper preparation and, often, an athlete’s action in the first milliseconds of a contest. That preparation can begin, he believes, as early as childhood.

“Supporting children through coaching is really important for developing talent and can help with life skills too,” says Liam. “I have been fortunate to have met some amazing coaches over the years, and I feel privileged to be a part of a programme that is giving something back.”

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

Edinburgh festival hibs have lost their last eight Scottish cup finals. they last lifted the trophy in 1902

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.

Jonny’s in town 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 46 | May 18 2012 |

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?

Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images, David Rogers/Getty Images

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

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7 Days 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

Chinese turn

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.

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 48 | May 18 2012 |

Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images, Ian Walton/Getty Images

Gearing up

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.

iN 2012, wiNNiNg silver isN’t always seCoNd Best 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!

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

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

A perfect 10?

Half-term report 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 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.

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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.

BEST OF THE REST

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

50 | May 18 2012 |

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Jorge 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.

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.

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Valentino 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.

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

athLetics Great Manchester Run, Manchester, BBc one 10am

tennis atP Rome Masters Final, Foro italico, Rome, sky sports 3 3pm

MotoRsPoRt dtM Round 4, Brands hatch circuit, esPn 12.45pm

FootBaLL dutch eredivisie Playoff Final 2nd Leg: Vitesse v RKc waalwijk, esPn 3.30pm

MotoRsPoRt world touring cars, salzburgring, austria, British eurosport 1pm

FootBaLL coppa italia Final: napoli v Juventus, stadio olimpico, esPn 7.45pm

SUNDAY

saiLinG america’s cup world series, Venice, sky sports 4 1.30pm

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 MONDAY

canoeinG canoe sprint world cup, Poland, British eurosport 9am

TUESDAY

swiMMinG european championships, debrecen, British eurosport 1 4pm

cRicKet clydesdale Bank 40: sussex v Yorkshire, Probiz county Ground, sky sports 2 4.30pm

Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP/GettyImages, Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

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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 northernhemisphere 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

Sport Promotion

Take part in a very special British 10k The 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

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ith 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

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Speck HandyShell

Speck WanderFolio

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...

£35 | stormfront.co.uk

Incipio Premium Kickstand

Tablet topping

£90 | logitech.com

Scosche reVOLT Car Charger

£55 | proporta.com

£80 | amazon.co.uk

Maroo Seth Aaron Case

iCrayon Stylus

Proporta USB TurboCharger

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£8 | prezzybox.com

£25 | proporta.com

Proporta Quillit 3 in 1

£25 | wacom.eu

Wacom Bamboo Stylus

£20 | squaregroup.co.uk

£45 | speckproducts.com

Making the most of your time and money

Realise your potential by helping children realise 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 call 0800 389 2500.

Rewarding Challenging Teaching

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

Extra time Pollyanna Woodward

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irst, the disclaimer. Pollyanna Woodward is not a sportswoman. She is most renowned for getting her gadgets out on the box, in fact – but Pollyanna Woodward is on our radar, and we’re about to tell you why.

A regular presenter on Channel 5’s The Gadget Show, she has also bungee-jumped 200 feet off a bridge in South Africa, endured a gruelling 53km extreme ski-mountaineering race in the Swiss Alps, and risked life and limb being propelled out of a dragster at 50mph. All rather sporty,

you will agree... as is the fact that she is currently dating golfer Paul Casey.

The pair have been an item for nine months.

That’s no mean feat, given the former world number three is based in Arizona, but the relationship is clearly working – Casey helped Woodward learn to play golf in just 12 weeks.

So there you go. And we got through the entire piece without a single gag relating to a hole in one, birdies, shanks, or stroke play... we’re above all that.

Pollyanna presents on The Gadget Show World Tour on Mondays at 8pm on Channel 5

Polly gosh Anna Fowler

Extra time Entertainment

Bring the Payne

GAME

Yet more murders in Scandanavia, while Maximilian Payne is back: badder, balder and beardier than ever before EXHIBITION

Mind the Map

Max Payne 3 (PC/PS3/Xbox 360)

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.

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

DVD

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.

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MUSIC

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?

FILM

BOOk

Words and Music

by Saint Etienne Saint Etienne

No Regrets: Writings on Scott Walker Edited by Rob Young

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.

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 ultraviolence. Just don’t go in expecting much of a plot.

BLU-RAY

£9.99 DVD

£8.99

Available at

/RevolverEntertainment

@RevolverUk

SELECTED STORES AND AVAILABILITY. ALSO AVAILABLE ONLINE.

www.revolvergroup.com

sainsburys.co.uk/entertainment

Extra time Grooming

History boys This week, we doff our cap to the brands that existed long before the concept of male grooming was ever dreamt up

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Gillette Series Agua de Colonia Nivea for Men Aramis Classic Brylcreem Deodorant Eau de Cologne Skin Energy Aftershave Original 1Moisturiser 2 3 4 5 Instant Olympic Gold Edition Scented Candle Hairdressing Effect Q10 Last 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

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The 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

The 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

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

If 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

Original Cream 6 Lotil

Original Eau de Cologne 7 4711

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

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

Full Stop Photography

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Extra time Kit

Soak up the summer ‘sun’

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The weather might be terrible, but when (or if) that one nice evening does come along, these lot will see you through

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.

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