Thrills, spills and Brazil: We’re in for vintage 2014 January 5, 2014 Sports editor Frank Dalleres looks forward to a World Cup, Commonwealth Games, Winter Olympics and much more FOOTBALLWorld Cup, 12 June – 13 JulyGold and green, questionable samba references, sweltering temperatures: this year is all about the World Cup in the Beautiful Game’s spiritual home, Brazil. The hosts, Argentina, Germany and Spain are the favourites, [...]
Worst ever Ashes series leaves England reeling January 5, 2014 ENGLAND face a period of intense soul-searching following the humiliation of a 5-0 series defeat in Australia, regarded as even worse than the last Ashes whitewash suffered just seven years ago Down Under. There have only been three whitewashes in Ashes history, the first coming in 1920-21, and all inflicted on England. The second, in [...]
FA Cup: Allardyce confesses to job threat January 5, 2014 NOTTINGHAM FOREST 5 vs WEST HAM 0 UNDER-FIRE manager Sam Allardyce admitted he will lose his job at West Ham unless results improve dramatically, after the Hammers crashed out of the FA Cup to second-tier Nottingham Forest. A Jamie Paterson hat-trick helped the Championship team trounce West Ham at the City Ground, yet Allardyce – [...]
Sport Comment: Could this be defining year for Gerrard? January 5, 2014 IN AN idle moment over the past fortnight of sloth and general indulgence (with apologies to those of you who’ve been at the coalface without a break) I came upon Liverpool’s official website, and the profile of their captain Steven Gerrard. “Once in a generation,” it reads, “a player comes along to whom nothing seems [...]
Smith hopeful O’Connor will stay with Irish January 5, 2014 LONDON Irish director of rugby Brian Smith intends to pull out all the stops to keep hold of full-back James O’Connor after the Australian’s latest masterclass. O’Connor scored his first Exiles try and kicked 17 points in Saturday’s 22-9 triumph over Worcester Warriors. The 23-year-old joined the club in October and while he is already [...]
Great Eusebio dies, aged 71 January 5, 2014 PORTUGAL great Eusebio, widely considered to be among the best footballers of all time, died yesterday aged 71 following a heart attack. The Mozambique-born forward was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup in England and netted 41 goals in 64 games during a prolific career for his country. Eusebio – full name Eusebio da [...]
FA Cup: Moyes fears transfer trouble as Swansea add to United’s woes January 5, 2014 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 vs SWANSEA CITY 2 MANCHESTER United manager David Moyes fears he may fail to make “urgent” reinforcements to his squad after the champions’ faltering form continued with yesterday’s FA Cup third round humbling. A 90th-minute header from striker Wilfried Bony earned Swansea their first ever victory at Old Trafford and inflicted a [...]
Flower vows to breathe new life into England January 5, 2014 ENGLAND team director Andy Flower is determined to rejuvenate the Test side after reaffirming his commitment to the role. The immediate futures of Flower and captain Alastair Cook were in doubt following the conclusion of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney yesterday where England lost by 281 runs, completing a whitewash 5-0 series defeat. But [...]
Mourinho: We aren’t divers January 5, 2014 CHELSEA boss Jose Mourinho insists his team are not divers despite midfielder Ramires becoming the second Blues star to be cautioned in as many games in yesterday’s 2-0 FA Cup win at Derby. John Obi Mikel and Oscar – booked for diving at Southampton last week – both scored in the second half as Chelsea [...]
Hewitt beats Federer in Brisbane January 5, 2014 TENNIS: Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt beat top seed Roger Federer 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 to win the Brisbane International yesterday, his first title since 2010.