World Cup gold for Olympic stars June 22, 2014 ROWING: Olympic champions Helen Glover and Heather Stanning won women’s pair gold at the second World Cup meeting in France yesterday. There were golds too in the men’s four, men’s quadruple scull and women’s lightweight double.
Can England still qualify? It’s not going to be easy June 20, 2014 No team has ever qualified from their World Cup group after losing their first two games, but England still have a sliver of hope that they can progress to the last 16. After last night's disappointment at the hands of Luis Suarez and Uruguay, England now depend on results going their way, but even [...]
World Cup: England on brink but Roy in no mood to quit June 19, 2014 URUGUAY 2 ENGLAND 1 Suarez goals prove inevitable scourge as Three Lions face up to World Cup exit DEJECTED England manager Roy Hodgson admitted his team had failed to deliver after two goals from Liverpool striker Luis Suarez all but killed off their World Cup hopes last night in Sao Paulo. But he insisted that [...]
England player ratings June 19, 2014 Joe Hart Nearly caught out at near post twice from corners. Barely a save to make though 5 Glen Johnson Failed to block Cavani’s cross for first goal, but redeemed himself with excellent ball to Rooney 5 Gary Cahill Cool head and generally positioned himself well, but caught flat-footed for Suarez’s second 5 Phil Jagielka [...]
World Cup: Colombia coast past Ivorians into last 16 June 19, 2014 COLOMBIA 2 IVORY COAST 1 COLOMBIA strode into the World Cup’s last 16 yesterday after second-half goals from James Rodriguez and Juan Quintero earned a narrow victory over Ivory Coast in Brasilia. All the goals came in a breathtaking nine-minute spell with former Arsenal winger Gervinho netting a consolation after Rodriguez and Quintero had done [...]
Football Comment: Hodgson got the result that selection deserved June 19, 2014 IF ENGLAND don’t make it past the World Cup group stage now they can’t have any complaints. You get what you deserve in football and last night they deserved to lose. Everything they did right against Italy they did wrong against Uruguay. Their passing was poor; they moved the ball too slowly; they took too [...]
Suarez revels in chance to silence his haters June 19, 2014 URUGUAY striker Luis Suarez said his brace to virtually end England’s stay in Brazil was payback for his mistreatment while playing for Liverpool. The 27-year-old was named Players’ Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Player of the Year after a stellar season in the Premier League. But Suarez has endured a chequered past, serving [...]
World Cup: Japan fail to capitalise on Greece red card as stalemate leaves both teams in dire straits June 19, 2014 JAPAN 0 GREECE 0 TEN-MAN Greece held Japan to a frustrating goalless draw that leaves both team’s chances of reaching the last 16 in the balance. Japan dominated possession in the opening period, but struggled to create clear-cut chances against a resilient Greece defence. On 38 minutes Greece captain Kostas Katsouranis was shown a second [...]
World Cup in brief June 19, 2014 Inquiry into Mexico fans’ behaviour WORLD governing body Fifa have opened an inquiry into “improper conduct” by Mexico fans following claims of homophobic chants during last Friday’s match against Cameroon. Meanwhile, Cameroon coach Volker Finke has vowed to discover why defender Benoit Assou-Ekotto aimed a headbutt at team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo during Wednesday’s defeat to Cameroon. [...]
Leading Light outshines Queen’s Estimate in Ascot Gold Cup thriller June 19, 2014 ODDS-ON favourite Leading Light denied the Queen a second Ascot Gold Cup winner in as many years yesterday, but was made to scrap all the way by the monarch’s Estimate. It was a record sixth Gold Cup win for trainer Aidan O’Brien and a first for his jockey son Joseph, 21, and came by only [...]