No sleep and a locked jaw fail to stop Watson June 24, 2014 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson says she can finally look forward to a good night’s sleep after winning her first-round match at Wimbledon yesterday. The 22-year-old revealed she was so overcome by nerves ahead of her meeting with Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic that she awoke at 4am and 7am, and then locked her jaw as she attempted [...]
Murray backed to breeze past underdog Rola June 24, 2014 THE SPOTLIGHT falls on defending champion Andy Murray at Wimbledon again today where even second round opponent Blaz Rola is expecting to lose. Rola, who is ranked 92nd in the world and is playing at the All England Club for the first time this year, described Scot Murray as “England’s greatest sportsman” and said his [...]
World Cup: Samaras sends Greece through June 24, 2014 GREECE 2 IVORY COAST 1 FORMER Celtic striker Georgios Samaras passed the ultimate test of nerve last night as he slotted in a 93rd-minute penalty to send Greece through to the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil. After Swansea striker Wilfried Bony had cancelled out Andreas Samaris’s first-half opener, it appeared Ivory Coast [...]
World Cup: Colombia cruise to group win June 24, 2014 JAPAN 1 COLOMBIA 4 TWO goals from striker Jackson Martinez ensured Colombia progressed to the knockout stages with a 100 per cent record. The South American side, eighth in the world rankings, also profited from a first-half Juan Cuadrado penalty and James Rodriguez’s stunning late strike to set up a last-16 clash against Group D [...]
One year on, United to sign £29m Herrera June 24, 2014 MANCHESTER United are today expected to confirm £29m Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera as the first signing of the Louis van Gaal era. United are believed to have agreed to meet his buyout fee of €36m before it was due to increase to €40m (£32m) at the end of the month. Herrera’s signing comes almost [...]
World Cup in brief June 24, 2014 Spain plane struck by lightning SPAIN suffered another shock following their first-round elimination when the plane carrying the squad home was hit by lightning yesterday. The Iberia flight to Madrid was struck shortly before landing and nobody was hurt. Spain, who arrived in Brazil as one of the favourites having won their last three major [...]
Saracens sign Western Force prop June 24, 2014 RUGBY UNION: Saracens have signed Australian prop Kieran Longbottom from Super Rugby side Western Force. The 28-year-old is also eligible to play for England.
Godolphin’s Crisford goes it alone June 24, 2014 HORSE RACING: Former Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford is to set up his own training business. Crisford, 52, will rent stables from Newmarket-based trainer Clive Brittain.
Hodgson wields axe on old guard June 23, 2014 ENGLAND vice-captain Frank Lampard has told his young team-mates they must come of age against Costa Rica tonight and ensure they do not end their World Cup with a whimper. Manager Roy Hodgson has made nine changes to the side that started last week’s tournament-ending defeat to Uruguay, with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill and Liverpool [...]
World Cup: Fred finally fires as hosts Brazil reach last 16 with Mexico June 23, 2014 CAMEROON 1 BRAZIL 4 CROATIA 1 MEXICO 3 UNDER-FIRE forward Fred ended his World Cup goal drought to send hosts Brazil through to the last 16 as Group A winners alongside Mexico last night. Fred’s place had come under scrutiny for his failure to impress in the first two matches, but his header early in [...]