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 [...]
World Cup in brief June 22, 2014 Van Gaal backing Brazil HOLLAND boss Louis van Gaal admits he will be cheering on Brazil against Cameroon tonight, in the hope of avoiding a potential meeting in the last 16. He said: “At a World Cup the host country always has an advantage.” Cahill eyes Spain win SUSPENDED midfielder Tim Cahill hopes his team-mates [...]
McDowell laments putting failure June 22, 2014 GOLF: Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell admitted poor putting cost him the Irish Open title yesterday. McDowell finished three shots behind winner Mikko Ilonen and said: “That was one of the worst putting weekends of my career. I just couldn’t get the ball in the hole.” Finland’s Ilonen carded a two-under-par final round of [...]
Britain place fifth in Germany June 22, 2014 ATHLETICS: Team GB finished fifth at the European Team Championships in Germany yesterday, after failing to field a winner on the final day of competition. William Sharman registered the best result, finishing second in the sprint hurdles.
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 [...]