Malta fact file: Everything you need to know about England’s opponents at Wembley on Saturday October 6, 2016 As far as easy starts go, England caretaker boss Gareth Southgate couldn't have hoped for a better opponent than Malta for his first game in charge. The Three Lions' opponents are 50/1 outsiders to cause an upset at Wembley this weekend. Read more: Southgate has chance to stake claim for England manager's job on permanent basis, insists [...]
Wimbledon under match-fixing investigation following alert to tennis authorities October 6, 2016 Tennis authorities are probing reports of potential match-fixing at this year's Wimbledon. The Tennis Integrity Unit (TIU) placed a match at the All England Club under investigation after receiving a warning about suspicious betting activity. A total of 96 matches held between July and September, including one at the US Open, are currently under investigation by the TIU who receive [...]
Pro Evolution Soccer 2017 review: This masterful recreation of the beautiful game marks a return to form for the series October 5, 2016 Trump and Clinton can squabble all they like over the fabled US “swing voter”. In the world of console football games, there are no such shifting loyalties. You are either a Pro Evolution Soccer fan or a FIFA fan, not both. But like it or not, Pro Evolution fans have had to admit for some [...]
NBA 2K17 games review: Enjoy the specific acoustics at your favourite stadium while you conquer the basketball world October 5, 2016 Platforms: XBO, PS4, PC 2K Sports’ NBA series rarely fails to deliver an authentic experience. Even without a rival nipping at its heels (EA’s own floundering NBA games often don’t even reach the shores of our b-ball ambivalent island), it continues to improve year on year. With NBA 2K17 the developer has tightened its grasp [...]
FIFA 17 review: For the first time in years EA’s annual footy title feels fresh October 5, 2016 For years, the FIFA series has been coasting. A new player on the box, a shiny new sponsor on the ball, a gameplay tweak here and there. Just enough to keep fans playing for another year. FIFA 17 is a more significant update, adding more than a handful of tackling animations. While you won’t find [...]
Giving World Cup to Qatar and Russia may be best thing to happen to football, says Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani October 5, 2016 One of football governing body Fifa’s leading officials has suggested that the controversial votes to stage the World Cup in Qatar and Russia “may be the best thing” to have happened to the game. Victor Montagliani – a vice-president of Fifa and head of the Concacaf confederation which governs North America, Central America and the [...]
Adil Rashid’s leg-spin holds no fear for Bangladesh’s batsmen, insists all-rounder Sabbir Rahman October 5, 2016 Bangladesh all-rounder Sabbir Rahman goaded England ahead of Friday’s opening one-day clash by insisting Adil Rashid’s leg-spin bowling holds no fear for his side’s batsmen. Rashid has forced himself into the one-day reckoning over the past 18 months and is England’s leading wicket-taker in 50-over contests since the 2015 World Cup, claiming 38 scalps. The [...]
Durham’s punishment is harsh but fair, although the ECB need to look at Test match scheduling October 5, 2016 It's sad to see what has happened to Durham. They’ve been in the top flight since 2006 and have won the County Championship three times in the last nine years – I feel really sorry for them. There will be a lot of upset and angry players in that dressing room and I understand that, [...]
Former FIA boss Max Mosley says he warned organisation about deal that threatens Liberty Media’s takeover of F1 October 5, 2016 Formula One’s former governor Max Mosley says he warned the sport’s authorities against taking a controversial stake in it which now threatens to put the brakes on the sale of the business. American conglomerate Liberty Media last month agreed to buy F1’s parent company Delta Topco for £3.3bn from its controlling shareholder, private equity firm [...]
Sports and second screens: How stadium designers and broadcasters are dealing with the smartphone revolution October 5, 2016 Pep Guardiola isn't the only figure in elite sports for whom the prevalence of smartphone use has disrupted business as usual The Manchester City manager has cut off 3g and Wi-Fi connection from the club's training complex in order to pull his players' gaze away from screen and back onto the team. Yet for broadcasters, rights holders, club [...]