Football Comment: Why Hodgson has to select Sterling and ensure England start campaign on front foot June 12, 2014 WHILE it’s hugely important that England do not lose their opening World Cup fixture against Italy, I don’t want them to go into it feeling fearful or for Roy Hodgson to pick a negative line-up. England should be aiming for a win in Manaus. All teams go into the World Cup with fragile confidence, so [...]
Manaus cauldron holds no fear, insists Milner June 12, 2014 ENGLAND’S preparations for dealing with the heat and humidity of Manaus have been so meticulous that the players are more concerned about coming home to inevitable wind and rain, according to midfielder James Milner. Roy Hodgson’s team take on Italy tomorrow in the Amazonian city, where temperatures of 33 degrees celsius are forecast and humidity [...]
World cup in brief June 12, 2014 Five injured in Sao Paolo protests POLICE and anti-World Cup protesters clashed in Sao Paolo yesterday. At least five people were injured when rubber bullets were fired and tear gas released to disperse hundreds of people unhappy with the cost of the tournament while public services are in need of investment. Mexico must beat mental [...]
McDowell in contention with patient display at Pinehurst June 12, 2014 NORTHERN Ireland’s Graeme McDowell felt his patient approach to taking on the testing Pinehurst course was key to his two-under par round of 68 on day one of the US Open. The 2010 champion recovered from a bogey at the fourth hole to roll in an eagle at the fifth, then picked up a further [...]
Shock Queen’s loss for Murray June 12, 2014 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray suffered defeat yesterday in only his second match since hiring former grand slam winner Amelie Mauresmo as his coach. Murray lost 7-6 (12-10), 6-2 to Czech veteran Radek Stepanek in the third round of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club in west London. It brought to an end the Scot’s reign as [...]
England target World Cup final June 12, 2014 HOCKEY: England captain Barry Middleton insists Olympic revenge is not on the agenda in today’s World Cup semi-final against hosts Holland. Team GB were denied a bronze medal with a 9-2 defeat by the Dutch team in 2012, but Middleton said: “We are not going out for revenge, we just want to get to the [...]
Nadal loses first match on grass June 12, 2014 TENNIS: World No1 Rafael Nadal’s grass court season began with a surprise straight sets defeat yesterday to world No85 Dustin Brown. The French Open champion lost 6-4, 6-1 in less than an hour at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle.
Goals set to be off the menu in Manaus June 12, 2014 BEN CLEMINSON PREVIEWS ENGLAND’S OPENER WITH ITALY AND SPAIN VERSUS NETHERLANDS ENGLAND…………… ITALY……………….. Tomorrow 11.00pm THE ENGLAND football team has suffered under the weight of expectation from this small but very patriotic nation for the past few decades, so it’s actually quite refreshing that the normal World Cup fervour hasn’t reached fever pitch yet. Perhaps [...]
Yellow Fever: England to rattle Mario Balotelli’s cage June 12, 2014 ITALY stalwarts Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo will provide class and experience, while Daniele De Rossi, Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti offer balance and fight, as the country look to secure their fifth World Cup and erase the memories of the 4-0 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2012 final. If there are concerns over [...]
Homegrown factor (at Arsenal) makes Cesc Fabregas more useful to Chelsea June 12, 2014 It's not just incisive midfield play and experience on the big stage that make Cesc Fabregas attractive to Chelsea, who have today signed the former Arsenal captain from Barcelona for £30m on a five-year deal. Fabregas’s value to the Blues has increased markedly since the club decided to part company with two of its [...]