Real can end 12 years of European agony and land ‘La Decima’ May 22, 2014 REAL Madrid are the record nine-time European Cup winners. But they landed the first five when the competition was in its infancy and, aside from a dizzying spell in the late 90s and early 00s, when they won three Champions Leagues in five seasons, Europe has been rather disappointing for the biggest club in the [...]
Old boy Kingsgate to roll back the years at his beloved Haydock May 22, 2014 IF THE weather forecasters are to be believed, the north west of England is going to have some pretty heavy showers over the next couple of days which could leave conditions at Haydock Park fairly testing. Tomorrow sees the Scoop 6 pool move onto around £15m and it’s the track near St Helens which is [...]
Sporting Index: Spread betting on football May 22, 2014 FOOTBALL spread betting is simple and the rewards for winning are greater than with fixed-odds bookmakers, but losses can also exceed original stakes. One of the simplest markets is the supremacy bet ─ a prediction on one team’s supremacy over another expressed in goals. Real Madrid/Atletico Madrid is pitched at 0.45-0.65 so those buying at [...]
Hodgson desperate to keep Rooney ready for World Cup May 21, 2014 ENGLAND manager Roy Hodgson revealed he has had to rein in striker Wayne Rooney’s enthusiasm at their pre-World Cup training camp to prevent a recurrence of the injury problems that have blighted previous major tournaments. The entire 23-man squad took some part in training yesterday in Portugal and were instructed to wear three layers of [...]
Cipriani stands by as Lancaster’s options dwindle May 21, 2014 SIX years after winning his last England cap fly-half Danny Cipriani looks to be in the driving seat to start at No10 against New Zealand next month, after it emerged yesterday that George Ford is to undergo a shoulder operation. Head coach Stuart Lancaster had begun making plans for the first of three Tests against [...]
Championship rejects FFP change May 21, 2014 CHAMPIONSHIP clubs have rejected proposals to amend their financial fair play (FFP) rules to give them more wriggle room. Losses next season therefore remain capped at £6m, half of which must be covered by owner investment, otherwise teams face a transfer embargo or fines of up to 100 per cent of the amount they overspend. [...]
Young Lions win European title May 21, 2014 ENGLAND Under-17s retained the European Championship trophy last night, after defeating Holland in the final on penalties. Following a 1-1 draw in normal time, where Chelsea’s Dominic Solanke had given England the lead, John Peacock’s team were forced to contest a dreaded penalty shootout, so often the undoing of their senior counterparts. But successful spot-kicks from [...]
Cricket Comment: Gurney offers Moores a glimpse of encouraging England future May 21, 2014 IF ENGLAND were to win the forthcoming one-day series with Sri Lanka it would be a terrific effort, but I can’t tip that outcome. Realistically, I hope they go down fighting after competing in every match. Sri Lanka are masters of the shorter forms of cricket and current Twenty20 world champions, so it was little [...]
McIlroy to forget Caroline split by playing a round May 21, 2014 GOLF’S former world No1 Rory McIlroy is eager to lose himself in the BMW PGA Championship, which starts at Wentworth today, after breaking off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. McIlroy, 25, revealed yesterday that he had cancelled his impending wedding and split from Wozniacki just days after sending out invitations having realised that [...]
Thomas fears dream of riding to Tour victory will never come true May 21, 2014 Welsh cycling star tells Josh Richards he’s contemplating a bold move away from Team Sky AS EVER-IMPROVING road racer Geraint Thomas ponders his future with Team Sky, the Welshman insists even next year’s Tour de France will come too soon to follow in the footsteps of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome. Thomas played a [...]