Sport Comment: Stripping Russia of World Cup is just not practical July 27, 2014 SPORT always has been and remains a political football. I have spent much of the past weekend at the Rugby 7s at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. I have been trying to explain to people who asked why Fiji were not competing as a team when some of their individual athletes were. Fiji were expelled [...]
Ospina signs Arsenal deal July 27, 2014 ARSENAL have confirmed the signing of Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina from French Ligue One side Nice for an undisclosed fee. The 25-year-old, who helped his country to the World Cup quarter-finals, will compete with Polish stopper Wojciech Szczesny for the Gunners’ No1 jersey. “David is an excellent goalkeeper,” said manager Arsene Wenger. “He will add [...]
Trott throws off effects of kidney infection to take points race gold July 27, 2014 DOUBLE Olympic champion Laura Trott insisted her Commonwealth Games gold in the women’s points race, after recovering from a kidney infection, meant every bit as much as success at London 2012. Despite being tied on 37 points with Wales’ Elinor Barker, English track cyclist Trott was awarded gold after placing higher in the final sprint. [...]
Nibali claims first Tour win July 27, 2014 ITALY’S Vincenzo Nibali safely negotiated the final stage on the Champs-Elysees to win the 101st edition of the Tour de France in Paris yesterday. Despite German Marcel Kittel claiming victory in the sprint finish, Nibali became only the sixth man in history to win the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana. His [...]
Boris Johnson avoids talking tennis by pulling on his sparring gloves July 24, 2014 It looks like the “will he, won’t he” tennis match between Boris Johnson and the Chernukhins (the Russian couple who paid £160,000 at a fundraiser to play BoJo and David Cameron) will go ahead, after Boris said he was going to get in training for it yesterday. Now we think we know how he’s getting [...]
England toast double gold for Brownlee and Stimpson July 24, 2014 OLYMPIC champion Alistair Brownlee added the Commonwealth title to his extensive list of accolades as England won double triathlon gold on the opening day of the Games. World No2 Jodie Stimpson scooped the women’s title and the first gold of Glasgow 2014, and a trio of judo successes followed in the evening. The elder Brownlee [...]
Flower back in coaching role July 24, 2014 FORMER England cricket coach Andy Flower will take charge of the Lions in next month’s limited-overs triangular series against New Zealand A and Sri Lanka A. Flower was appointed England’s technical director of elite coaching after his resignation following the disastrous winter Ashes tour and is expected to play a key role in developing players. [...]
Nibali close to first Tour title July 24, 2014 ITALY’S Vincenzo Nibali won the summit finish at Hautacam to claim victory in stage 18 and all but seal his first Tour de France crown. It was a fourth stage victory for the Astana rider with Nibali now a commanding seven minutes and 10 seconds clear of second-placed Frenchman Thibaut Pinot in the overall Tour [...]
Spread betting on cricket July 24, 2014 IT’S NOT a great time for England captains at the moment. Steven Gerrard retired from international football duty earlier this week and now a large number of cricket fans wish Alastair Cook would do the same. Cook has been in woeful batting form of late, a 45 against Sir Lanka back in early June the [...]
Horse doping row spreads July 24, 2014 SEVEN horses have now tested positive for morphine as the doping controversy to implicate the Queen’s 2013 Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate spreads. Five horses have been identified: the Charlie Hills-trained Strath Burn, Tony Carroll’s Ocean Legend, Gay Kelleway’s Royal Alcor, and Charlie Wells, handled by Eve Johnson-Houghton. Sir Michael Stoute-trained Estimate is the only [...]