Sharks snap up James June 28, 2010 RUGBY UNION: Sale Sharks have strengthened their squad for the new Premiership campaign by completing the signing of utility back Matty James. The 23-year-old New Zealander makes the step up from National One side Cinderford after enjoying a spell with Welsh side Neath in 2009. Newcomers Exeter Chiefs, meanwhile, have signed Samoan international scrum-half Garrick [...]
Cavendish eyes fast start June 28, 2010 CYCLING: Mark Cavendish is looking to hit the ground running with a first stage victory when the Tour de France gets underway on Saturday. The British rider sprinted to six stage wins during last year’s Tour and believes the 225.5km opening stage through Holland to Brussels is right up his street. “It’s no secret I [...]
O’Brien dominates Coral-Eclipse June 28, 2010 RACING: Aidan O’Brien has six of the 13 six-day entries for the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on Saturday. The master of Ballydoyle has entered Beethoven, Bright Horizon, Encompassing, Fencing Master, Steinbeck and Viscount Nelson. Henry Cecil’s Twice Over is one of O’Brien’s main rivals, along with John Gosden’s Dar Re Mi.
Up in the air: England fly home with Fabio in limbo June 28, 2010 UNDER-FIRE England manager Fabio Capello faces a nervous fortnight after being told that the Football Association want time to weigh up whether to sack him. Capello held talks with Club England chairman Sir Dave Richards yesterday morning, just hours after a crushing 4-1 defeat to Germany ended the nation’s World Cup hopes. The Italian insists [...]
Clinical Brazil closing in on a sixth title June 28, 2010 BRAZIL (3) v/s CHILE (0) BRAZIL manager Dunga saw his side justify their favourites tag by strolling past Chile and into a last-eight meeting with Holland – and then told them to up their game further. Two goals in the space of four minutes from Juan and Luis Fabiano gave Brazil a stranglehold on the [...]
Our problems lie deeper than knee-jerk reactions June 28, 2010 THE Football Association has not always been correct in its decision-making in the past, but its response to the criticism of Fabio Capello after a dismal World Cup campaign is common sense prevailing. It would have easy to make a rash decision in the heat of the moment after England’s woeful display against the Germans, [...]
Robben is back on song as Dutch glide into last eight June 28, 2010 HOLLAND (2) v/s SLOVAKIA (1) COACH Bert van Marwijk hailed Arjen Robben after the fit-again winger capped his first start of the tournament with the goal that set Holland on their way to the quarter-finals. Robben’s fine individual strike and a simple second for Wesley Sneijder secured the Dutch a last-eight clash with Brazil, despite [...]
Spurs boss Redknapp admits interest in top job June 28, 2010 TOTTENHAM manager Harry Redknapp has thrown his hat into the ring to succeed Fabio Capello, declaring he would find it impossible to turn down the England job. Redknapp is the bookmakers’ favourite to take the reins if the Football Association decides to dispense with the Italian following a disastrous World Cup. “Until he’s not the [...]
Fifa evade technology debate June 28, 2010 FIFA remains defiant in its decision to oppose goal-line technology, despite even Prime Minister David Cameron adding to calls for it to be introduced. Cameron joined the debate after Frank Lampard was denied a goal in Sunday’s 4-1 defeat by Germany when the ball had clearly crossed the line. Fifa blocked any further experiments with [...]
Real sign £20m Di Maria June 28, 2010 ARGENTINA winger Angel di Maria has sealed a £20m switch from Benfica to Real Madrid. The Spanish club confirmed the transfer last night, making him the first arrival since Jose Mourinho was appointed manager. Di Maria, 22, spent three years in Portugal and won the player of the year award last season as Benfica scooped [...]