Four things we learned from FIFA World Cup quarters
Samara (Russia), July 8: The 2018 FIFA World Cup now has its four semi-finalists after a typically thrilling set of quarter-finals. Here are four things we learned as eight contenders for the title were reduced to four, reports Xinhua news agency:
1. Courage can only take you so far: Russia bowed out of the World Cup in a heroic and painful style following a penalty shootout against Croatia. Right now the Russians will be feeling the disappointment of their exit, but they should be proud of a squad of players who performed well above themselves and allowed their supporters to dream. The win against Spain was a minor miracle and fruit of their hard-work, courage and a necessary bit of luck. But if you want to get into the last 4 you need a bit more than that and a talented Croatia deserved to progress.
2. Let's talk about goalkeepers: The World Cup tends to be about strikers: Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Lukaku and Harry Kane, but the quarter-finals have been as much about goalkeepers as attackers. Belgium's Thibaut Courtois made a string of brilliant saves to keep Brazil at bay, England's Jordan Pickford made three magnificent stops to keep Sweden out, Hugo Lloris made out a great save against Uruguay for France when the score was still 0-0 and Danijel Subasic was once again an intimidating presence in the penalty shootout as Croatia got past Russia. Keepers win you matches just as much as strikers.
3. Be flexible: Belgium coach Roberto Martinez produced a masterstroke to help his side beat Russia, swapping the 3-4-2-1 he has used for most of the World Cup, for a 4-3-3 against Brazil. The different formation allowed Belgium to stretch Brazil down the flanks, especially the Brazil right and clearly caught Brazil by surprise. Meanwhile Fellaini was a threat in the air that Brazil struggled to deal with. Brazil's excellent coach, Tite, countered Martinez's strategy at halftime, but by then Belgium were 2-0 ahead; too much of a lead for a team that good to surrender.
4. France continue to improve: Didier Deschamps' side didn't look entirely convincing in their first two group games, making hard work of Australia and Peru, but World Cups with a possible 7 games in four weeks are all about evolving and growing as a team in a short span of time. France have done that and a team that looked disjointed in mid-June looks compact, solid and threatening after the first week of July: of course they have a fulcrum called N'golo Kante holding things together for them, allowing Paul Pogba, Griezmann and company to shine.
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'Apology same size as ads?' SC asks after Patanjali says it has issued public apology
New Delhi: In response to accusations of promoting misleading advertisements, Patanjali Ayurved has issued a public apology in a leading daily newspaper. Despite this gesture, the Supreme Court is unwavering, granting a week's time for corrective measures and stressing the importance of sincerity. Ramdev and Balkrishna, key figures in the controversy, are summoned to appear before the court on April 23, highlighting their history of violations. This decision follows Patanjali's repeated infractions and previously rejected apologies, with criticism directed at the Union government for its silence.
In their public apology, Patanjali Ayurved expressed deep regret for their actions and assured the Supreme Court of their commitment to upholding its dignity and the constitution. Ramdev, speaking on behalf of the company, acknowledged the mistake of publishing misleading advertisements and pledged to prevent such occurrences in the future, reaffirming their dedication to the constitution and the court's dignity.
Despite recognizing Ramdev's contributions to yoga, the Supreme Court maintains scrutiny over him and Balkrishna, extending a deadline for rectification and demanding sincerity. Justice Hima Kohli stressed on responsible conduct, cautioning against disparaging other medical systems.
Justice Hima Kohli further went on to question “Whether the apology was published on the main page? Was it published in the same font and size as your earlier advertisements?”
Responding to this, Adv Mukul Rohathi appearing for Patanjali said that they would publish a bigger apology in the newspapers.
The matter originated from a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association, alleging Patanjali of engaging in a smear campaign against modern medicine and Covid-19 vaccines. Previous apologies by Ramdev and Balkrishna were deemed insincere by the court, prompting the demand for a public apology. Patanjali Ayurved, headquartered in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, reiterates its commitment to rectifying the mistake and ensuring future compliance, while upholding the dignity of the Supreme Court and the constitution.
