Icon of Real and all-time great Di Stefano dies July 7, 2014 FOOTBALL’S leading figures last night paid their respects after Alfredo di Stefano, regarded by some as the greatest player of all time, died at the age of 88 following a heart attack. Di Stefano was born in Argentina but was better known for his time in Spain, where he led Real Madrid to five consecutive [...]
Cole is first England star in Italy since 1995 July 7, 2014 LEFT-BACK Ashley Cole last night became the first England international footballer to leave the Premier League for Serie A in 19 years when he completed a free transfer to Roma. The defender, released by Chelsea this summer following a hugely successful eight years at the club, has signed a two-year contract with last season’s Italian [...]
Brit ticketing exec arrested July 7, 2014 A BRITISH senior executive of an official World Cup corporate hospitality partner was arrested in Rio de Janeiro last night by police investigating illegal ticket sales. Ray Whelan, of Match Hospitality, was apprehended at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, where officials from world football’s governing body Fifa are staying during the tournament. Police probing the illegal [...]
Scolari’s psychologist eases Brazil anger at Neymar loss July 7, 2014 BRAZIL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has enlisted his trusted psychologist to help his team overcome the blow of losing star player Neymar and reach the World Cup final tonight. Forward Neymar is out of the rest of the tournament with a fractured vertebra suffered in the quarter-final against Colombia, from what Brazil skipper Thiago Silva [...]
World Cup Semi-finals July 7, 2014 AFTER losing talisman Neymar to injury and captain Thiago Silva to suspension, Brazil look vulnerable heading into their World Cup semi-final with Germany today. A series of unconvincing performances from the hosts over the last three weeks, combined with those key men missing, means Sporting Index have promoted Argentina to favourites on their Outright 100 [...]
Golf Comment: Timely win puts McDowell back in Ryder hunt July 7, 2014 GRAEME McDowell’s success at the Open de France was not just a long-awaited and deserved personal triumph, it was also brilliant news for the European Ryder Cup team. The Northern Irishman remarked afterwards that he had “really, really needed” that win, and he was right. Having won three times last season, this was his first [...]
Cook just needs change of luck, declares Broad July 7, 2014 ENGLAND seamer Stuart Broad insists it is only a matter of time before under-fire captain Alastair Cook rediscovers the form that made him a Test fixture in the first place. Cook will start tomorrow’s first Test against India at Trent Bridge in desperate need of improvement, having gone more than a year without a century [...]
Injured Kimi misses F1 test July 7, 2014 FERRARI’S Kimi Raikkonen is to sit out this week’s official Formula One test at Silverstone following his 150mph crash at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. Raikkonen escaped with bruised ankles and knees after smashing into a metal rail on the opening lap at 47G – 47 times the force of gravity. The incident caused [...]
Verdict finally in sight after four months of Pistorius murder trial July 7, 2014 LAWYERS for Oscar Pistorius could close their case as soon as today, marking a significant step towards a verdict in the Paralympic star’s high-profile murder trial. South African Pistorius shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp dead on Valentine’s Day last year but says he did so only after mistaking her for an intruder. Defence lawyer Barry Roux [...]
Djokovic beats his demons to return to top July 6, 2014 AT WIMBLEDON NEW world No1 Novak Djokovic believes that securing his seventh grand slam title with a five-set victory over Wimbledon king Roger Federer yesterday represents the finest achievement of his career. The 27-year-old, who was runner-up to Britain’s Andy Murray last year, held his nerve after surrendering a match point in the fourth set [...]