Strauss admits to Stokes concerns as England prepare for potential series clincher May 22, 2016 All-rounder Ben Stokes could miss this week’s second Test against Sri Lanka at Chester-le-Street as England chiefs weigh up the team’s hunt for a series-clinching win against the player’s long-term fitness. Stokes was due to be assessed by England doctors on Sunday after hurting his left knee while bowling on Friday – day two of the [...]
Tuilagi and Farrell included in England’s squad to tour Australia despite injury May 22, 2016 England head coach Eddie Jones admits Manu Tuilagi’s involvement in next month’s tour of Australia remains on a knife-edge despite naming the powerhouse centre in his travelling party. Tuilagi, who has been restricted to just one Test appearance in almost two years by a combination of injury and suspension, hurt a hamstring in the Tigers’ [...]
FA Cup final 2016 player ratings: Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford score highly in 2-1 win over Crystal Palace May 21, 2016 A stunning Jesse Lingard strike in extra-time gave 10-man Manchester United a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace and earned the Red Devils a record-equalling 12th FA Cup, their first since 2004. For 110 minutes there was little to separate the two sides. Here's how they rated: Crystal Palace Wayne Hennessey – 7 Made a strong save to keep out [...]
FA Cup final 2016: How much prize money will Manchester United or Crystal Palace make for winning the trophy? May 21, 2016 The financial rewards of the FA Cup will be of little concern to both Crystal Palace and Manchester United in today's final. A winners' prize of £3.4m – a relatively paltry sum when compared to the vast riches on offer in the Premier League – will do little to add extra motivation to a Palace side aiming to win the club's [...]
Aston Villa stadium could be renamed to “Lotus Villa Park” suggests prospective owner Chinese Tony Xia May 21, 2016 Incoming Aston Villa owner Tony Jiantong Xia has suggested he will alter the name of the club's stadium to feature his Lotus Health food business once his £60m takeover is completed. The Chinese businessman agreed a deal to buy the club from current owner Randy Lerner earlier this week, but is still waiting for ratification [...]
Barcelona agree “record-breaking” kit sponsorship deal with Nike, trumping Manchester United’s Adidas deal May 21, 2016 Barcelona have agreed a new kit sponsorship deal with Nike worth a record-breaking £120m per season, according to local reports. The La Liga champions' new deal is reported to be the biggest in world football, worth more than even Manchester United's £75m per year deal with Adidas. The two parties announced a "long-term" extension of [...]
Walter Mazzarri: Watford appoint former Napoli boss as head coach on a three-year deal May 21, 2016 Watford have appointed Italian Walter Mazzarri as their new head coach to replace the outgoing Quique Sanchez Flores. The 54-year-old Mazzarri has signed a three-year deal with the Hornets following spells with Inter Milan and Napoli, who he guided into the Champions League for the first time in 21 years. Despite securing a second consecutive [...]
French Open 2016 prize money: Novak Djokovic can become first player to make $100m at this year’s Roland Garros May 20, 2016 World No1 Novak Djokovic is set become the first tennis player to make more than $100m in prize money at this year's French Open. More prize money is on offer than ever before at Roland Garros, with the men and women's singles winners promised €2m (£1.5m). Yet Djokovic only needs to make the final four [...]
This Is Living is a David Nicholls-style weepie starring This Is England’s Michael Socha May 20, 2016 This is Living | Trafalgar Studios | ★★★★☆ This is Living is a weepy in the David Nicholls mould, effectively and sometimes shamelessly pressing the audience’s emotional buttons; at least a third of the people there on opening night were openly sobbing. The two-man play begins with Michael (Michael Socha, This Is England) standing over [...]
Major League Soccer salaries revealed: Chelsea legend Frank Lampard paid $6m, dwarfing former team mate Ashley Cole’s $300,000 salary May 20, 2016 Former England midfield partners Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will be the fourth and fifth best-paid football players respectively in America next season. Gerrard, at LA Galaxy, will earn $6.1m and New York City's Lampard is in line for $6m but it is AC Milan and Real Madrid's former Brazilian forward Kaka who tops the [...]