This week Gary Lemke has a look at the Proteas preparing to contest their first-ever finals at the T20 World Cup, while England have been handed a favourable draw in the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
PROTEAS LOOKING TO BLOSSOM IN FINAL
When it comes to World Cups, football has one, rugby has one, but cricket has two. Which begs the question: of the two, which is more coveted? It’s probably the 50-over version over the T20, which also suggests that should the Proteas beat India in the final there won’t be any countrywide open-top bus parades, like there were for the Springboks.
However, in getting to the final unbeaten after eight matches, the Proteas have shown plenty of resolve, character and flashes of brilliance. They’ve got more than a puncher’s chance against India, who are also unbeaten and the bookies’ favourites. One needs to acknowledge that this is not the first time South Africa have been in a World Cup final. The Aiden Markram-led Under-19s won their 50-over tournament in 2014 and the women’s Proteas reached the final of the T20 World Cup in 2023.
BABY BOKS SEEKING BIG SUCCESS
France have won the last three versions of rugby’s Under-20 World Championship and it would be truly astounding if they made that four. Although COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the event from 2022 to 222, the French won the final in 2018 (beating England), 2019 (edging Australia) and 2023 when they hammered Ireland.
For the 2024 version, being played in Cape Town and Stellenbosch over the next few weeks, the French have New Zealand in their group, but also Spain and Wales. The Baby Boks are in a tough pool, having to finish in the top two of a quartet that includes England, Fiji and Argentina.
DANIE LOOKING TO LAND DECISIVE SLAP
While we’re talking about world championships, South Africa could well have a new world champion crowned in the fight capital of Las Vegas. Danie van Heerden is brother to boxer Chris and a close friend of UFC middleweight champion Dricus du Plessis. However, Danie is not a boxer, nor a cage fighter – although he can handle himself in both respects. He is contesting the world power-slapping super-heavyweight title.
His social media handle is pitbull and he explained this week. “In South Africa, we call it a snotklap, or a pk but here they call it power slapping. I can knock you out with a snotklap”. The 37-year-old gets a chance to add to South Africa’s fighting reputation this weekend. The rule is that there are a maximum of three slaps, or klaps, as he says. He reckons it’s important to win the toss and klap first.
CYCLING’S ANNUAL SHOWCASE GETS GOING
The Tour de France starts this weekend in Italy, and it’s a hilly 206km first stage from Florence to Rimini. In three weeks’ time, we will know who will ride down Paris’ Champs De Elysees sipping champagne wearing the famed yellow jersey. With days to go, we still didn’t know if reigning champion Jonas Vingegaard would be taking his place in the line-up.
If he doesn’t, and even if he does, Tajex Pogacar has been in supreme form in the lead-up and is looking for his third Tour in five years. Given Vingegaard’s interrupted preparation, Pogacar must be the favourite to come into his own from week two onwards.
EURO 2024 DRAW OPENS FOR ENGLAND
Bonkers. Absolutely bonkers. Now that the dust has settled on the group stages of Euro 2024, the draw has opened up for England. Perhaps it’s coming home after all. Despite looking unconvincing themselves, they’ve stepped through a minefield and have a potential route to the final against Slovakia, Italy and the Netherlands.
There have been some crazy results, perhaps none more so than Georgia’s 2-0 win over Portugal. It helped make Georgia’s Georges (yes) Mikautadze the top goal-scorer so far with three. England have scored only twice in three games but won their group. The only team to not concede a goal is Spain. They face Georgia next! Despite the form books turned upside down, England remain 7/2 favourites, Spain are 9/2 and Germany and France are 11/2 to win Euro 2024.
MAX FEELING AT ‘HOME’ IN AUSTRIA?
An indication that the F1 season is developing into a two-horsepower race can be seen in the betting ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen at 6/10 and Lando Norris 11/4, with third favourite Charl Leclerc at 18/1. Sarcasm alert: Verstappen has only won seven of the 10 races this season, whereas last season he won 19 of 22, so perhaps the gap is closing. Certainly, Norris has been impressive in 2024, and lies second on the driver standings.
He had both pole and fastest lap in Spain last week, although it might be worth noting that Red Bull (Verstappen’s machine) is a company that was created and owned in Austria. Therefore, they’ll be looking for another “home win”.
ALSO WORTH WATCHING…
Brad Binder is in the Netherlands this week and will line up for the Assen MotoGP obviously looking for a strong showing. He hasn’t been on the podium in seven races this season, but will always be optimistic about a change of fortune … There’s also Copa America football, where favourites Argentina (vs Peru) and Brazil (vs Colombia) are in action …
Not quite this weekend, but if you manage to have a long one, tennis’s Wimbledon fortnight starts on Monday. Has the guard officially changed, and the men’s single winner will come from Carlos Alcaraz or Jannick Sinner, and not Novak Djokovic?
