Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/331448
27 Sport maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 18 JUNE 2014 Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday WEATHER: Partly to rather cloudy with isolated showers in the morning VISIBILITY: Good except in fog patches at first WIND: Northwest force 4 to 5 locally force 5 to 6 to North of area in the afternoon SEA: Slight SWELL: Negligible SEA TEMP: 21 °C A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 White to play and mate in four moves A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Last week's solution Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. PARTLY CLOUDY 29 º C / 21 º C UV INDEX: 8 Today's Weather Chess Sudoku Pursuits g4+ Kh6 Kf6 Ne5 (Nh8) xe5 h3 Qg6++ ... Nh8 g5+ Kh5 Qe2++ OPINION Across 1. Boom (7) 4. Extend the duration of (7) 8. Produce in large quantities (4,7) 12. Metric unit of mass (4) 13. Frozen treats (4) 14. Seizes with teeth (5) 15. Tried out (6) 17. Surface upon which one walks (5) 22. Capital of Norway (4) 23. Long for (5) 24. Ammunition (4) 25. Nail-like fastener (5) 28. Delicate in meaning (6) 30. Adult female person (5) 32. Having wealth (4) 34. Ward off (4) 35. Person who cuts hair (11) 38. Tubular ground meat (7) 39. Mysterious (7) Down 1. Wild dog of Australia (5) 2. Quantity of paper (4) 3. Long-leaved lettuce (3) 5. To free (3) 6. Positions (4) 7. Room for the lodging of guests (5,4) 8. Female horse (4) 9. Discharged a debt (4) 10. Singles (4) 11. Reflected sound (4) 14. Long hard seat (5) 16. Ghost (5) 18. Little (5) 19. Immense (9) 20. Cushion (3) 21. Started (5) 26. Unit of length (4) 27. Nobleman (4) 28. An auction (4) 29. Sly look (4) 31. Strangely (5) 33. Head-wear (4) 34. Goat's milk cheese (4) 36. Manipulate (3) 37. Central body of the solar system (3) LIFE has never been so good. The six o'clock kick off is the perfect time for a game after work and Mes- si made up for those brave enough to hit the midnight kick off. For all the controversy sur- rounding it, this World Cup has given us a blistering start with an average of over three goals scored per game. The first 12 games pro- vided 41 goals and we haven't even passed the group stages yet. Until Monday there were no draws and we even saw the Dutch hit Spain for five after superman himself descended on the pitch to equalise for the Netherlands. Goal line technology has made a controversial debut, while magical white spray is controlling set piec- es and temporarily wrecking foot- ball shoes. By far the most incred- ible part of this World Cup in my eyes was witnessing the Japanese fans bring out dustbin bags to help clean up their part of the stadium after watching their side crash to a 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast. Who said you can't lose graciously? If that wasn't odd enough Eng- land also provided a bit of glitter, and it was not entirely down to the players. As the nation went wild after Daniel Sturridge's equalis- ing goal against Italy, one person had to take it to the next level. Sports physio Gary Lewin jumped in joy only to slip on a water bot- tle, dislocating and fracturing his ankle to leave him red faced need- ing a stretcher out of the stadium. That's his tournament over, and the worst injury we have seen in Brazil so far. That game in itself provided many laughs as the BBC commen- tary team went wild for Sterling's side netted finish and we saw goal- keeper Joe Hart's admiration for Andrea Pirlo's free kicks. Rooney's corner did not even reach the pitch and as Italy made a substitu- tion the fourth official even forgot to illuminate his number board, despite really only having the one job to do on the day. What I would give to take his place in Brazil! Goal line technology was used for the first time in a World Cup as Croatia scored the first goal of the tournament against Brazil. Wing back Marcelo was unlucky enough to hit the back of his own net to claim the first, and if the net bulge was not enough, the technology replays showed the ball crossed the line fully. It showed us it worked much to the sarcastic cheers, however come the Benzema goal against Honduras it tripped on its laces. No goal was given at first, as his strike did hit the bar, and it seemed to have taken over two minutes to prove that the Hondu- ras 'keeper turned it in his own net, much to the frustration of the French team and fans. If the World Cup was running out of tricks, some fans in the desert have even taken score pre- dicting animals to the next level as a Camel seems to be pulling the shots this time, the apt replace- ment for Paul the Octopus during the South Africa tournament. Let's hope Camel meat is not in season in his home country this time as he was sacked after picking Portu- gal to beat Germany on Monday Here is also a nice summary of the Real Madrid players in sum- mer so far: Gareth Bale is at home, Ronaldo is still crying after the Germany hammering, Marcelo opened the scoring for Croatia, Casillas is still crawling, Sergio Ramos is still chasing Robben while Pepe had enough and was sent off. Hala Madrid! As Pepe has enough it seemed Raul Meireles did too as he forgot the game was being aired across the globe as he pointed not one, but two middle fingers behind the referee's back following the red card, nice one Raul, I am sure that went unnoticed! If that was strange, a male fan was later seen holding a banner asking Ronaldo for his shirt, while also asking Ro- naldo to impregnate his girlfriend Irina. Off his shirt went after the game, I wonder where Irina went though! Perhaps the best news we have at this World Cup was the news on Monday that after no fewer than six months, Michael Schumacher has woken up from his coma. The German legendary Formula 1 driver impacted his head during a skiing accident and went under a medically induced coma in Gre- noble. He will now start his long term recovery plan away from the public eye and we all wish him a safe recovery. Mark Strijbosch We are loving this World Cup Lionel Messi