Lahm urges women to grab World Cup glory

BERLIN: Germany captain Philipp Lahm has urged the women’s team to grab World Cup glory as the hosts continue their defence of the trophy against France on Tuesday in a key Group A battle.
Germany’s women have won the last two World Cup titles and are bidding to complete the hat-trick as hosts with the final to take place on July 17 in Frankfurt.
After seeing off Canada 2-1 in Berlin in their opening game, Germany laboured to a nervous 1-0 win over Nigeria last Thursday and are already in the last eight, but must beat France in Moenchengladbach on Tuesday to win Group A.
Bayern Munich star Lahm was part of the men’s team which finished third at the 2006 World Cup, also hosted in Germany.
The defender is urging coach Silvia Neid’s team to grab the glory they missed out on as they finished third after losing their semi-final to eventual winners Italy in 2006.
“We’ve seen in 2006 what it means to play a World Cup at home,” Lahm, who led Germany to third at the 2010 World Cup in South Afria, told Bild on Sunday.
“The euphoria, the support, but also the expectations are incredible and the tremendous excitement grabs you.
“Tight games like against Nigeria are normal in such a tournament.
“This is no cause for concern, in 2006 we had our problems before beating Poland 1-0.
“In the end, but no one asks about the how, the decisive factor is the result.
“Unlike us, however, the women should win a World Cup semi-final.”

Disengaging Pak post 26/11 an error'

 NEW DELHI: The Indian government has admitted that its policy of not engaging with Pakistan - post 26/11 - may have been wrong. Outgoing Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said this in a TV programme.

Nirupama Rao said: "I think you have to look at policy making in a dynamic way. I don't think you are making a policy in a laboratory. You take into account the surrounding environment, you take into account a success approach or not. Did that approach yield too many dividence? Well you have to make assessment of that. I think the decision to re-engage with Pakistan and to talk about the issues that divide us, that created a gulf between us, that reduce the trust deficit as the two Prime Ministers said. I think it is a very realistic approach in dealing problems with Pakistan".