Lancaster: New boy Ford ready to boss Samoa November 19, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster is relishing the prospect of finally unleashing George Ford against Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday as his side bid to revive their flagging autumn programme. Ford is set to make his first Test start following four appearances as a replacement and his inclusion represents one of five changes to the [...]
Wigan rapped for handing text-row boss Mackay second chance November 19, 2014 WIGAN last night came under fire from equality campaigners after handing former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay a return to football despite an ongoing probe into claims he sent racist, homophobic and sexist text messages. Kick It Out called on the Football Association to clarify whether it backed the Championship club’s chairman Dave Whelan’s assertion that [...]
Hope for Bianchi as F1 driver out of coma at last November 19, 2014 FORMULA One driver Jules Bianchi is no longer in a coma and has been transferred to a hospital in his native France, seven weeks after his life-threatening crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Bianchi, who suffered severe head injuries when his Marussia car ploughed into a trackside recovery vehicle, remains unconscious and in a critical [...]
Blatter hits back at Dyke: We will publish – if you don’t sue November 19, 2014 SNIPING between Sepp Blatter and the Football Association escalated yesterday when the president of world governing body Fifa hit back in the row over alleged World Cup bid corruption. Responding to FA chairman Greg Dyke’s call for full publication of a Fifa ethics committee’s investigation into corruption claims, Blatter said he was forbidden by Swiss [...]
Football Comment: Who has emerged as Roy Hodgson’s preferred England XI? This is my view November 19, 2014 ENGLAND’S win over Scotland on Tuesday marks the end of their 2014 campaign and marks a good time to reflect on the state of Roy Hodgson’s team today. Who would be in his first XI, if everyone were fit, and how would they play? This is my view. GOALKEEPER: JOE HART Fraser Forster, who played [...]
Liverpool blow as Sturridge out until new year November 19, 2014 LIVERPOOL striker Daniel Sturridge is unlikely to play again until the new year after scans yesterday revealed the extent of a fresh thigh injury. The England forward has been sidelined since September and only returned to full training last week but has now been ruled out for a further six weeks after limping out of [...]
Give ball to Wilshere and magic will happen, says Oxlade-Chamberlain November 19, 2014 ENGLAND forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes it is imperative the Three Lions exploit the ability of Jack Wilshere to conjure moments of inspiration after his Arsenal team-mate starred in Tuesday’s 3-1 victory over Scotland at Celtic Park. Wilshere once again anchored a midfield diamond in Glasgow and provided the ammunition for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s opener with a pinpoint [...]
Star-studded friendlies make for taxing Euro 2016 build-up November 19, 2014 ENGLAND football bosses have taken steps to ensure the Three Lions face top quality opposition ahead of the 2016 European Championships by announcing high-profile friendlies against world champions Germany and France. The Football Association (FA) is also in talks with Holland and European title-holders Spain in a bid to design a programme which tests England [...]
Fans get partial refunds for O2 Federer no show November 19, 2014 LONDON tennis fans left disappointed by the cancellation of the final of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 on Sunday are set to receive a 60 per cent refund on their tickets. World No2 Roger Federer stunned spectators just minutes before his showdown with defending champion Novak Djokovic by announcing he was forfeiting [...]
Poulter uses Norman tips to avenge Stenson November 19, 2014 THERE may not be a personal wager riding on it this time, but England’s Ian Poulter is still desperate to beat Henrik Stenson to the DP World Championship – the finale of golf’s European Tour – starting today. Poulter finished second to Sweden’s Stenson 12 months ago and, as a result of their bet, had [...]