Alastair Cook asks beleaguered England for one final push as Liam Dawson is primed for Test debut December 15, 2016 England skipper Alastair Cook has vowed to restore some pride as his side bid to escape from the fifth and series-concluding Test with India, which starts in Chennai on Friday, unscathed. The tourists trail the world’s No1-ranked Test side 3-0 following a long and arduous tour, while Cook continues to be dogged by constant speculation over [...]
Star Wars: Rogue One review: A brilliantly gutsy, spectacular spinoff that could have been braver December 15, 2016 While it may not feature Jedis doing backflips or the Millennium Falcon tooling about space, Rogue One: A Star Wars story definitely feels like a Star Wars film. It has a heartbreaking family-based plot, a familiar struggle between the Empire (baddies) and the Rebellion (goodies, kind of) and all manner of weirdo aliens. There's even [...]
Government blocks sale of rare Wedgwood vase December 15, 2016 The culture minister has blocked a rare Josiah Wedgwood vase from leaving the country. The “Basaltes” vase was sold in July to an unnamed bidder for almost half a million pounds. However, it is hoped that an alternative buyer from the UK can raise an equivalent amount of £482,500 (plus £16,500 VAT) in order to [...]
Fifa’s video replay plans thrown into doubt by critical Real Madrid stars Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo December 15, 2016 Fifa's plans to bring video replays into football have been plunged into doubt after Real Madrid stars criticised its use during their 2-0 Club World Cup semi-final win over Mexico's Club America. Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric blasted the technology currently being trialled by Fifa after the former's injury time goal took nearly a minute to be [...]
Dreamgirls review: Glee star Amber Riley yells the house down in the first Dreamgirls production to come to London December 15, 2016 This is the first time Dreamgirls has been performed in the West End, and it’s a production that’s sure to echo down the years, purely for the diabolical racket it kicks up. The mics might have been turned up to 11 – not necessary in the tiny Savoy Theatre – but the primary source is [...]
Europe’s big guns fire back at Gianni Infantino’s World Cup expansion plans December 15, 2016 Fifa's plans to expand the World Cup to 48 teams have been met with fierce opposition from Europe's biggest clubs who say their stars are already playing too many games. Proposals to expand the World Cup in 2026 from 32 to 48 teams are being backed by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who favours a format that would [...]
Sunderland 0, Chelsea 1: Conte urges Blues to build unassailable lead after 10th successive Premier League victory December 15, 2016 Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has urged his side to build an unassailable lead at the Premier League summit after surging six points clear with victory over a stubborn Sunderland. Former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas, making only his second start since September, notched a first-half winner as the Blues chalked up their 10th successive league victory. [...]
Adam Lallana at the double as Liverpool leapfrog Arsenal, while West Ham move clear of relegation zone December 14, 2016 England midfielder Adam Lallana netted twice as Liverpool recorded an emphatic 3-0 victory against struggling Middlesbrough to leapfrog Arsenal and move second in the Premier League. Lallana was joined on the scoresheet by in-form striker Divock Origi as the Reds returned to winning ways after disappointing results against Bournemouth and West Ham. The Reds are [...]
Mauricio Pochettino thanks Christian Eriksen for taking scoring burden off Hary Kane in 3-0 destruction of Hull December 14, 2016 Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino praised Christian Eriksen for reducing the scoring burden on Harry Kane with a brace in a 3-0 win over Hull City at White Hart Lane. Eriksen scored twice and assisted another for Victor Wanyama as Tottenham recovered from defeat at Manchester United on Sunday with a comfortable victory. "I’m very pleased for his performance today, [...]
Football’s new arms race: leading clubs looking to sell shirt sleeve sponsorship for £10m a year ahead of Premier League rule change December 14, 2016 They routinely adorn the biceps of Lionel Messi and Neymar and flutter on the jerseys of Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, yet until now they have been forbidden in the Premier League. Sponsors’ logos on football clubs’ shirt sleeves are on their way to England’s top division from next season, however, as teams look to [...]