Gary Lemke looks back at a jam-packed sporting weekend as Spain were crowned Euro 2024 champions, while Carlos Alcaraz defended his Wimbledon title over Novak Djokovic.
SPAIN DESERVED EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS
Ultimately it’s the end, and the players, going home again, not football, Fifty-eight years of hurt will become 60 at the next World Cup. England were like bubble gum under the shoe throughout Euro 2024 and were deserved runners-up, if that makes sense.
However, Spain are deserved champions after their 2-1 win in the final over the pre-tournament favourites. Mikel Oyarzabal’s 86th-minute goal sealed matters, but there is no questioning the best side won. Their superiority was also confirmed by the official stats (shots, possession, passes, corners), but it’s the goals that count. Well done Spain. “Arise Sir Gareth” is not happening. Meanwhile, Argentina won the Copa America, beating Colombia 1-0 in the final.
DJOKOVIC NO MATCH FOR COOL ALCAREZ
Carlos Alcaraz looked as though he was in a hurry from the first point. In fact, he might even have skipped a shower before going for the traditional dance with the women’s singles champion. The way the 21-year-old dismantled the legend Novak Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 was impressive, as he prepared for other important business later – watching the Euro 2024 final.
The Spaniard was winning Wimbledon for a second time and after a wobble at 5-4, 40-love, losing his serve and three championship points, he regrouped to see out the set and the match. Djokovic was all class in admitting the better player won. Alcaraz and Jannick Sinner have now shared the three men’s Grand Slams so far in 2024. The guard has changed, surely.
A ‘SERIES’ DESERVES AT LEAST THREE GAMES
Modern sport’s propensity to call two games “a series” has again come back to haunt the decision-makers, not that they will care. Just like so many cricket Tests are called “a series” after two games, the Springboks vs Ireland Tests, the first won by the world champions and Loftus, and the second won by the world No1’s at Hollywoodbets King’s Park, is a “series” that has ended 1-1.
This is one “series” that demands a third, deciding game. It reminds one of Morne du Plessis’ remark after Naas Botha had tied the 1989 Currie Cup final 15-15, meaning the trophy was shared. “It’s like kissing your sister,” the Western Province captain said. Indeed.
COLOSSAL OX GETS M.O.M OVER THE IRISH
An unpopular take, I know. However, I believe that when a team wins a game, generally speaking, the player of the match should come from that side. That wasn’t the case in the Springbok’s dramatic 25-24 defeat to Ireland in Durban.
Ox Nche, the rampaging Springbok prop, was the official Man of the Match. Perhaps the decision was taken before the game was over? He was definitely the best of the Boks, but the player of the match should have come from Ireland. After all, they beat the world champions on home soil. All of Jamie Osbourne, Caelin Doris, Josh van der Flier and Tadhg Beirne would have been equally worthy.
Match report: Drama in Durban as Ireland pull off a last-gasp win to square the series - more here: https://t.co/m4z32JUoTk 😔 #ForeverGreenForeverGold #Springboks #RSAvIRE pic.twitter.com/Xag4PXx8Mb
— Springboks (@Springboks) July 13, 2024
POGACAR CAN ENJOY THE RIDE (SORT OF)
Some suggested Tadej Pogacar still had it all to do in the final week of the Tour de France as the mountain stages loomed large. However, by winning Sunday’s 15th stage, ahead of defending champion Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenpoel, the champagne awaiting him down the Champs de Elysees later this week is on ice.
His gap is now 3min 9sec ahead of Vingegaard and 5min 19sec over third-placed Evenpoel, Pogacar’s UEA Team Emirates know what they have to do to help their man hold on. Barring accidents, the Slovakian, who has worn the yellow jersey since the fourth stage, is all but home and dry.
🔃 RT si tu penses que 🇩🇰 @MagnusCort est le coureur le plus combatif de la semaine passée du #TDF2024. pic.twitter.com/grqw2EEVyk
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 15, 2024
UNPREDICTABILITY OF WOMEN’S WIMBLEDON
No31 seed Barbora Krejcikova picked up her second Grand Slam, and first Wimbledon, when she rallied to beat No7 seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in a see-sawing Wimbledon ladies singles final. The unpredictability of the women’s game is laid bare in the fact that Krejcikova was the eighth different player to lift the ladies’ singles Venus Rosewater dish in the last eight instalments.
In those eight, the winning seeds have been No1 (2), No7 (1), No11 (1), No14 (1), No17 (1), No31 (1) and unseeded (1). Not that Krejcikova will care. She has a place in history as well as the equivalent of R60m (the same as Djokovic) for her fortnight’s work.
Reunited again 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xqtWlhHf9T
— Barbora Krejcikova (@BKrejcikova) July 14, 2024
AROUND THE FIRE ..
Ernie Els won his first Senior Major when capturing the Senior PGA Championship to add to the four Majors he won on the regular Tour … In other rugby internationals the All Blacks beat England 24-7 to win their ‘series’ 2-0, Australia saw off Wales 36-28 (also 2-0) and Argentina beat France 33-25, to share their ‘series’ 1-1 …
The Currie Cup saw wins for the Cheetahs, Golden Lions and Griquas and Blue Bulls, leaving the Cheetahs, Blue BUlls, Pumas and Golden Lions unbeaten after two rounds… The Baby Boks lost 34-24 to their Argentinian counterparts and will play either Wales for the seventh-place position on Friday in the Under-20 Rugby World Cup, The final will be between England and New Zealand … Japan’ s Ayaka Furure won her first women’s Major, the Evian Championship, with Paul Reto T12th.
79 worldwide wins and counting.
— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 14, 2024
Ernie Els is a legend. pic.twitter.com/gGa7hbmyd1
