World Cup: Hodgson proud despite England finishing bottom June 24, 2014 COSTA RICA 0 ENGLAND 0 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson believes yesterday’s performance against Costa Rica will send the travelling fans home happy from Brazil, despite the team finishing bottom of Group D. Striker Daniel Sturridge, one of only two players retained from successive defeats, wasted golden opportunities to win the game, but Hodgson was content [...]
Sri Lanka crank up heat on Cook with landmark series win June 24, 2014 ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook fears the clock is ticking on his time at the helm following yesterday’s series defeat to Sri Lanka with the penultimate ball of the second Test at Headingley. Resuming on 57-5 and chasing a victory target of 350, a dogged maiden Test century from Moeen Ali and an extraordinary display of [...]
Cricket Comment: Defeat a very big reverse for coach Moores June 24, 2014 IT WAS a shame England got so close to a draw in the end, but when you are 57-5 against that Sri Lankan bowling attack then defeat can come as no great surprise. Sri Lanka aren’t a bad side, but in home conditions England’s recent track record is top class – they’ve taken apart Australia [...]
No sleep and a locked jaw fail to stop Watson June 24, 2014 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson says she can finally look forward to a good night’s sleep after winning her first-round match at Wimbledon yesterday. The 22-year-old revealed she was so overcome by nerves ahead of her meeting with Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic that she awoke at 4am and 7am, and then locked her jaw as she attempted [...]
Murray backed to breeze past underdog Rola June 24, 2014 THE SPOTLIGHT falls on defending champion Andy Murray at Wimbledon again today where even second round opponent Blaz Rola is expecting to lose. Rola, who is ranked 92nd in the world and is playing at the All England Club for the first time this year, described Scot Murray as “England’s greatest sportsman” and said his [...]
World Cup: Samaras sends Greece through June 24, 2014 GREECE 2 IVORY COAST 1 FORMER Celtic striker Georgios Samaras passed the ultimate test of nerve last night as he slotted in a 93rd-minute penalty to send Greece through to the last 16 of the World Cup in Brazil. After Swansea striker Wilfried Bony had cancelled out Andreas Samaris’s first-half opener, it appeared Ivory Coast [...]
World Cup: Colombia cruise to group win June 24, 2014 JAPAN 1 COLOMBIA 4 TWO goals from striker Jackson Martinez ensured Colombia progressed to the knockout stages with a 100 per cent record. The South American side, eighth in the world rankings, also profited from a first-half Juan Cuadrado penalty and James Rodriguez’s stunning late strike to set up a last-16 clash against Group D [...]
One year on, United to sign £29m Herrera June 24, 2014 MANCHESTER United are today expected to confirm £29m Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera as the first signing of the Louis van Gaal era. United are believed to have agreed to meet his buyout fee of €36m before it was due to increase to €40m (£32m) at the end of the month. Herrera’s signing comes almost [...]
World Cup in brief June 24, 2014 Spain plane struck by lightning SPAIN suffered another shock following their first-round elimination when the plane carrying the squad home was hit by lightning yesterday. The Iberia flight to Madrid was struck shortly before landing and nobody was hurt. Spain, who arrived in Brazil as one of the favourites having won their last three major [...]
Saracens sign Western Force prop June 24, 2014 RUGBY UNION: Saracens have signed Australian prop Kieran Longbottom from Super Rugby side Western Force. The 28-year-old is also eligible to play for England.