Two days of semi-final madness

Well any sportsfan's mouths must be watering as we step into what could be construed as two of the biggest days of sport this year. (Until the rugby World Cup that is)

But whether you like cricket or soccer you are sure lygoing to battle to decide which channel to watch, unless the cricket is over by the time the European Cup soccer games kick-off. Unlikely though.

So tonight we get to see Sri Lanka take on the Kiwis, a sub-contintent victory in my book but the game is sure going to be a close one. It is probably going to be a battle of the bowlers as Lasith 'the slinger' Malinga fronts Shane Bond, while Muttiah Muralitharan goes up against Daniel Vettori. On the soccer front we get to see a much ravaged Manchester United side, hit by loads of injuries, take on the ever present AC Milan. This is sure to be a classic but seeing as it is the first of two legs I would fathom the result a draw. Especially seeing as Manchester have big players like Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic missing. But one can never count them out with the little devil Christiano Ronaldo who could pry open a tin of beans with that stepping and Wayne Rooney.

On to tomorrow, which from a South African point of view is the bigger of the two days. The Proteas take on the undefeated Aussies, whom I think will be beaten for the first time. On form the Aussies should walk this World Cup but SA seems to have the uncanny knack of hitting them where it hurts most. And we still owe them one for when Lance Klusener and Allan Donald decided to draw the semi-final back in 1999 in the UK. Bat slinging - I always thought the game should have been played in good spirit.

The last of the treat is a repeat of the 2005 European Cup semi-final played between Liverpool and Chelsea. Well being a Blue's fan I obviously think that Chelsea will win but on paper it is probably the hardest game to call out of the four mentioned. The first leg is played at Stamford Bridge so one would have to say if anything the advantage does lie in Liverpool's court. And they did beat the Blues back in 2005 to go on to win the most memorable Cup final I have ever seen. But as the old adage goes, only time will tell. Happy viewing and may the right teams win ...