Marco van Basten (1988): vs Russia An impossibly angled volley from near the right corner flag. It sealed Russia’s fate in the 1988 European Cup final.
Diego Maradona (1986): vs Belgium Not that goal. Just to show what genius is, he repeated his 50-yard, defender-bamboozling act in the 1986 World Cup semi.
David Beckham (1996): vs Wimbledon Nailed Wimbledon in 1996 with a 57-yard free kick for Man U. Yes. Fifty. Seven. Yards. Even Ronaldinho couldn’t compare.
Zinedine Zidane (2002): vs Bayern Leverkusen A screaming left-foot volley off a Roberto Carlos pass. That goal won Real Madrid the 2002 Champions League title.
Pele (1958): vs Sweden Controlled a pass with his thigh, flipped the ball over a defender before volleying home, in the 1958 World Cup.
book
Petal Pushers
Finally, seekers of the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel know where to look—Common Indian Wild Flowers (BNHS-OUP, Hardback Rs 375), by naturalist Isaac Kehimkar, is a comprehensive guide to the bright and largely unknown world of wild flowers in India. Written in simple, non-technical terms, this well-researched text is more than a list of flowers; it also provides tips on identifying, photographing, gardening and conserving blooms from our incredible bio-sphere. A must for amateur flower-lovers, photographers, conservationists and dedicated trivia hunters. Where else can you learn about the Crab-eyed Creeper, the Sensitive Neptunia and the American Softhead? As for the Scarlet Pimpernel, it’s also known as the Dhabbar in Punjabi and used to extract leeches from cow’s nostrils.
Culture Vulture
The Divine Comedy Dante Alighieri
Plot Bad boy Dante is taken on a three-day trip to hell so he knows what’s in store if he doesn’t mend his ways.
Significance An intense analysis of earthly human life and an allegory of progress of the soul toward god, The Divine Comedy is one of the pillars of the European literary tradition.
Quote to Flaunt "The only way out is the way through."
So you thought you knew all about
James Bond
As the hunt for a new James Bond hots up, brush up your facts on the man with a license to kill.
A. James Bond and Tony Blair went to the same school, Fettes.
B. The Bond family motto is non sufficit orbis (the world is not enough).
C. eon in eon Productions which makes Bond films stands for Everything Or Nothing.
D. Roger Moore was selected to play Bond before Sean Connery, but couldn’t, because of prior commitments.
E. Richard Burton was Ian Fleming’s choice to play Bond.
Answer E. Is wrong. Fleming wanted David Niven (but why?).
what is
Cabochon
A smoothly carved gem with a rounded surface, rather than with facets. Opaque and translucent gemstones like rubies, opals, jade and moonstones are popular cabochons. Not diamonds, their refractive index is ruined by this shape. A garnet cabochon goes by the name ‘carbuncle’.
