Can Andy Murray win Wimbledon back to back? June 23, 2014 After ending Britain's 77-year-long wait for a Wimbledon men singles champion last year, the pressure is back on Andy Murray this afternoon as he begins the defence of his title. At his last press conference before the start of the competition the Scot was asked by a journalist how it felt to have the "hopes [...]
Gerrard urges Redknapp to name England call dodgers June 22, 2014 ENGLAND captain Steven Gerrard last night called on Queens Park Rangers manager Harry Redknapp to name the players he claims were reluctant to accept international call-ups. Dismissing suggestions of a lack of pride among English players in representing their country following the worst World Cup campaign for 56 years, Gerrard put the ball firmly back [...]
Rosberg extends F1 title lead over Hamilton June 22, 2014 BRITAIN’S Lewis Hamilton was left to rue his botched qualifying run after summoning a superb race to finish narrowly behind Mercedes team-mate and eventual winner Nico Rosberg at the Austrian Grand Prix yesterday. Hamilton started ninth on the grid but made up five places on a blistering first lap alone and crossed the line just [...]
World Cup: Last-gasp Varela saves Portugal from elimination June 22, 2014 USA 2 PORTUGAL 2 PORTUGAL snatched a World Cup lifeline in dramatic fashion last night as substitute Silvestre Varela’s 95th-minute equaliser spared them from being eliminated at the group stage with a game to spare. Former Tottenham and Fulham star Clint Dempsey looked to have earned USA all three points just nine minutes from time, [...]
Moeen spin reignites hope of series victory with two late wickets June 22, 2014 TWO late wickets from all-rounder Moeen Ali revived England’s hopes of winning the second Test against Sri Lanka, and with it the series, at Headingley yesterday. The scalps of Kumar Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne left the tourists on 214-4 in their second innings, a lead of 106, after they had threatened to take a firm [...]
Murray ready to conquer nerves and win again June 22, 2014 WIMBLEDON champion Andy Murray believes his ability to overcome intense pressure last year and end a 77-year wait for a British male champion bodes well for a successful defence when the tournament begins today. The 27-year-old takes on world No104 David Goffin and will shoulder the hopes of a nation once again, particularly, as he [...]
Sport Comment: Andy at a crossroads as he prepares for historic defence June 22, 2014 ANDY Murray walks on to centre court today for the first time as Wimbledon champion. Just to be able to write that sentence almost brings a tear to the eye. It is unlikely that there is a single person in your vicinity, whether on train, bus or in traffic jam, who has ever been able [...]
Lancaster calls for action over schedule farce June 22, 2014 ENGLAND rugby coach Stuart Lancaster insists the fixture scheduling fiasco that limited his selection for the recent Test series defeat in New Zealand must never be repeated. Saturday’s 36-13 loss completed a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of the All Blacks and, though he made clear he was not offering excuses, Lancaster pointed out that [...]
World Cup: Belgium edge to knockout stage June 22, 2014 BELGIUM 1 RUSSIA 0 BELGIUM scraped through to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time in 12 years yesterday thanks to a late goal from substitute Divock Origi. Having failed to qualify for the last two tournaments, Marc Wilmots’s so-called golden generation arrived in Brazil hoping to make up for lost time. Yet [...]
World Cup: Algeria find shooting boots and take aim at uncharted territory June 22, 2014 SOUTH KOREA 2 ALGERIA 4 ALGERIA took a giant stride towards a place in the World Cup last 16 for the first time with victory over South Korea in a wildly entertaining clash last night. The north Africans, beaten by Belgium in their Group H opener, raced into a three-goal lead before half-time with goals [...]