Gareth Bale admits Wales are dreaming of the unthinkable – winning Euro 2016 July 4, 2016 Fairytale-chasing Wales forward Gareth Bale admits his side are dreaming of winning Euro 2016 as they prepare for their first ever major tournament semi-final against Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday. The clash represents Wales’s biggest match since a World Cup quarter-final showdown with Brazil in 1958 – a remarkable achievement considering the principality were ranked [...]
Spot-fixer Mohammad Amir stars on return to first-class cricket in England and boosts chances of Test recall July 4, 2016 Pakistan seamer Mohammad Amir claimed three wickets on his return to first-class cricket in England, six years after the spot-fixing scandal which led to a prison sentence. Amir served a jail term as well as a five-year ban from the sport after being found guilty of deliberately bowling no-balls during a Test match at Lord’s in [...]
Mark Cavendish takes second stage win of Tour de France – and yet another milestone July 4, 2016 Britain's Mark Cavendish struck a humble note after going joint-second on the all-time list of stage winners at the Tour de France. Dimension Data rider Cavendish pipped German Andre Greipel of Lotto-Soudal by 0.006 seconds in a photo finish in Angers on stage three of the world’s most prestigious race. The Manx sprinter’s second stage win [...]
Uefa urged to consider alternative format to liven up low-scoring European Championship July 4, 2016 Governing body Uefa is being urged to consider a radical shake-up of the European Championship following complaints that the existing system leads to more conservative play and a lack of goals. A Dutch mathematician has devised an alternative format for a 24-team Euros that promises to be both fairer and more entertaining, and Holland’s football [...]
Crystal Palace ready to shell out £45m on Christian Benteke and James Tomkins July 4, 2016 Crystal Palace are closing in on the double signing of Liverpool striker Christian Benteke – a player manager Alan Pardew last season accused of diving – and West Ham defender James Tomkins for combined fees of almost £45m. Palace are nearing agreement with the Reds over a fee for Benteke, after having an initial bid of £25m turned [...]
Leicester set to break transfer record – again – on Nigeria striker July 4, 2016 Champions Leicester are poised to break their transfer record for the second time in days by signing Nigeria striker Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow for £16.6m. The 23-year-old, who has scored 54 times in 168 appearances for the Russian side, is expected to travel to the Midlands this week to complete a long-anticipated move. “Everything [...]
Dustin Johnson is playing the golf of his life and will be the man to beat at the Open July 4, 2016 US Open winner Dustin Johnson looks like he’ll be the man to beat at the Open Championship at Royal Troon next week after the new world No2 racked up back-to-back victories on Sunday. Johnson’s one-shot win at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational followed his maiden Major triumph at Oakmont last month and the American is currently [...]
Real Madrid and Barcelona ordered to repay millions in state aid July 4, 2016 Real Madrid and Barcelona, the world’s two richest clubs, have been ordered to pay back millions of euros after a European Commission investigation found them guilty of receiving illegal state aid. Real must pay back €18.4m (£15.4m) relating to a land deal with local authorities, who were found to have overpaid, as well up to €5m [...]
France 5, Iceland 2: Didier Deschamps wary of semi-final rivals Germany as Les Bleus reach last four after pummelling Iceland July 3, 2016 France manager Didier Deschamps admitted facing world champions Germany was a daunting prospect after the tournament hosts brutally pummelled Iceland to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Les Bleus surged into a four-goal half-time lead courtesy of strikes from Olivier Giroud, who also netted after the break, Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann. Kolbeinn [...]
Australian Nick Kyrgios tooled up in quest to de-rail Andy Murray’s Wimbledon bid July 3, 2016 Australia bad boy Nick Kyrgios insists he has detected an unmistakable change in the demeanour of leading title contenders, including Britain’s Andy Murray, following the Wimbledon demise of top seed Novak Djokovic. World No1 and defending Wimbledon champion Djokovic, the current holder of all four grand slam crowns, crashed out of the tournament following a [...]