Schwarzer rues Qatar World Cup October 9, 2014 EXASPERATED Chelsea goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has launched a scathing attack on governing body Fifa over its decision to give Qatar the 2022 World Cup and its refusal to publish a report into the bid process. Schwarzer, who has 109 international caps, said he had played international matches for Australia in Qatar’s stifling summer heat and [...]
Keane cannot forgive Fergie October 9, 2014 OUTSPOKEN former Manchester United star Roy Keane is unsure whether he could ever forgive old boss Sir Alex Ferguson and admits their fractious relationship is probably beyond repair. Keane spent 12 years at Old Trafford under Ferguson’s tutelage and during his eight years as captain the Irishman led the club to nine major honours, making [...]
Easier Euro draw for champions October 9, 2014 PREMIER League title winners will be guaranteed an easier draw in the Champions League from next season under a shake-up set to be rubber-stamped by European governing body Uefa. The champions of Europe’s top seven leagues – England, Spain, Germany, Italy, France, Russia and Portugal – plus the competition’s holders will make up the top [...]
Pietersen blames Flower for bullying culture October 9, 2014 OUTCAST Kevin Pietersen insists the blame for the alleged bullying within the England camp lies firmly with former coach Andy Flower as the fallout from the batsman’s explosive new book KP: The Autobiography rumbles on. Flower’s five-year reign in charge of the national team is regarded to be one of the finest tenures in the [...]
Perez: Bianchi horror smash is not acceptable October 9, 2014 DISGRUNTLED Force India driver Sergio Perez has described the horrific crash which left Jules Bianchi with severe head injuries and fighting for his life as “totally unacceptable”. Frenchman Bianchi remains in intensive care after suffering a diffuse axonal injury when his Marussia car smashed into the recovery vehicle attending to Adrian Sutil during the Japanese [...]
Murray faces battle to reach O2 after Shanghai defeat to Ferrer October 9, 2014 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray faces an uphill battle to qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals In London next month after suffering a third-round loss to Spain’s David Ferrer at the Shanghai Masters yesterday. The eight players with the most ranking points for the year will contest the finals at the O2 Arena but Murray’s [...]
10 October on this day… October 9, 2014 1996: Former England skipper Bill Beaumont, with the help of 10-year-old Mary Sweeney, unveiled the “Spirit of Rugby” train at Twickenham station. Beaumont led England to their first Grand Slam for 23 years in 1980 and took the British Lions to South Africa that summer before becoming a popular captain on “A Question of Sport”. Now [...]
Big Easy can give Hobbs a second Cesarewitch October 9, 2014 BILL ESDAILE PREVIEWS THE BEST OF THE WEEKEND’S RACING The £250,000 Betfred Cesarewitch (3.50pm), the second leg of the autumn double, is the biggest showdown of the year between the National Hunt and flat racing fraternities. Staying the marathon 2m 2f trip is an absolute must, so punters have tended to favour horses from jumps [...]
Wales value to beat Bosnia Herzegovina October 9, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS WALES V BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA AND ESTONIA V ENGLAND LED BY Gareth Bale, predictably named Welsh Player of the Year for a record fourth time earlier this week, Wales have risen to 29th in the world rankings, and hold every chance of beating Bosnia Herzegovina in Cardiff tonight. Wales got off to a [...]
Plucky Estonians set to make Three Lions work hard in Tallinn qualifier October 9, 2014 YOU COULD argue that by beating Switzerland 2-0 in their opener, that England have already won Group E and last night’s win over San Marino at Wembley was as expected as it was meaningless – at least in terms of assessing how much progress the Three Lions have made since the World Cup debacle. Many [...]