Trading player goal minutes June 19, 2014 The frustrating thing about having a fixed-odds first goalscorer bet is that the excitement can be over before you’ve even sat down to watch the game. If you weren’t on Clint Dempsey to net first for the USA against Ghana the other night, your interest in the game was over within 30 seconds. Sporting Index [...]
England v Uruguay: Caps and goals galore for Oscar Tabarez’s side June 19, 2014 While the debate ahead of this game has centred around two key players, Wayne Rooney for England and Luis Suarez for Uruguay, what of the other 20 players who will take to the pitch tonight? Uruguay's dreadful start to the tournament may have dampened expectations but there is no denying they are an experienced [...]
Gerrard warns England team-mates: Do not fail June 18, 2014 Too soon for Ox to play against rivals Uruguay ENGLAND captain Steven Gerrard has warned his inexperienced team-mates they will be in for a long and painful summer should they lose to Uruguay today and face an early elimination from the World Cup. Following a narrow defeat to Italy in their opening Group D match, [...]
World Cup: Spain sent home from Brazil by brilliant Chile June 18, 2014 SPAIN 0 CHILE 2 HOLDERS Spain crashed out of the World Cup last night becoming the fifth defending champions to fail to progress from the group stage. Following their humiliating 5-1 defeat to Holland, boss Vincent del Bosque’s repeat attempt to move away from the trademark tiki-taka brand of football that had helped Spain win [...]
World Cup: Van Gaal hails Holland as Aussies are brushed aside to reach last 16 June 18, 2014 AUSTRALIA 2 HOLLAND 3 HOLLAND manager Louis Van Gaal hailed the “incredible” strength of character his players displayed to come from behind and seal their progress to the knockout stages. Australia, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, led 2-1 shortly after half-time, but goals from Robin van Persie and Memphis Depay clawed back [...]
World Cup: Croatia crush sorry Cameroon to boost qualifying chances June 18, 2014 CAMEROON 0 CROATIA 4 TWO goals from lethal striker Mario Mandzukic helped Croatia dump 10-man Cameroon out of the World Cup and move to within a point of hosts Brazil at the top of Group A. Former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song was sent off after Ivica Olic had given Croatia the lead and they made [...]
Football Comment: Three Lions only require a subtle change in approach to tactics that ruffled Italy June 18, 2014 IT SHOULD be a case of more of the same, with a subtle adjustment when Roy Hodgson issues instructions to his England team for tonight’s match against Uruguay. They need the same attitude and the same style of play that proved effective against a strong Italy side on Saturday, and that means an emphasis on [...]
World Cup in brief June 18, 2014 Portugal sweating on Ronaldo PORTUGAL forward Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to complete yesterday’s full training session as he continues to struggle with a knee injury. The Real Madrid star is doubtful for Sunday’s match against USA in Manaus and Portugal’s final Group G contest against Ghana. Vanishing spray given red card VANISHING spray being used [...]
Lloyd-Webber hits right note at Ascot with Fugue June 18, 2014 TRAINER John Gosden likened The Fugue to a ballerina after the Lord Lloyd Webber-owned 11-2 shot outmanoeuvred fellow filly and hot favourite Treve to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot yesterday. Jockey William Buick led home The Fugue by almost two lengths from Magician, with Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Treve, [...]
City handed tough start to Premier League title defence June 18, 2014 CHAMPIONS Manchester City have been handed a tricky start to the 2014-15 Premier League season with head-to-heads against the rest of last season’s top four in their first five games. After travelling to Newcastle when the campaign kicks off on 16 August, City then host last season’s runners-up Liverpool in their opening game at the [...]