France on the brink of exit November 18, 2013 FRANCE will miss their first international tournament finals since 1994 if they fail to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Ukraine in their World Cup qualifying play-off second leg in Paris tonight. Elsewhere, a first-leg goal from Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo gives Portugal a 1-0 advantage when they travel to Sweden tonight. Iceland are 90 [...]
Golf Comment: That was greatest performance, tee to green, that I’ve ever seen November 18, 2013 HENRIK Stenson’s win on Sunday was not just the culmination of an extraordinary run of form; it was the greatest performance in a tournament, tee to green, that I have ever witnessed. From Thursday to Sunday, the Swede was sublime. He set a new course record of 25 under par, hit 68 out of 72 [...]
Prior training display boosts Ashes hopes November 18, 2013 ENGLAND injury doubt Matt Prior boosted hopes that he will be fit for this week’s first Ashes Test against Australia with a fluent and unimpeded display in training yesterday. The experienced wicketkeeper-batsman is battling to prove he is over a calf tear suffered earlier in the tour and that kept him out of the final [...]
New accusations from Armstrong rubbished November 18, 2013 CYCLING: Claims from disgraced Lance Armstrong that the ex-president of the sport’s world governing body helped cover up a positive drugs test in 1999, have been questioned by the International Olympic Committee. Armstrong says Hein Verbruggen of the International Cycling Union wanted him to avoid a ban to protect cycling’s integrity. But an IOC statement [...]
West Ham told to reconsider Orient groundshare November 18, 2013 FOOTBALL: The House of Lord’s Committee on Games Legacy have urged West Ham to renew talks with Leyton Orient over a possible groundshare of the Olympic Stadium, a report published yesterday revealed. The report, entitled Keeping the Flame Alive, read: “We urge those concerned to think further on how the two most local football clubs [...]
Less than the sum of its parts November 17, 2013 FILM THE COUNSELLOR Cert 18 | By Simon Thomson Two Stars GREEDY and ambitious, a successful lawyer ignores the warnings of his friends in the criminal underworld, and becomes involved with a Mexican drug cartel. When a shipment goes missing, suspicion falls on the counsellor (Michael Fassbender), and the perfect life he has built comes [...]
Where to drink November 17, 2013 LONDON bears many nightlife gifts in the run up to Christmas. Pleasure seekers can revel in Mason House, a 5000 sqft high-end nightclub on Argyll Street that has been designed to resemble a Masonic Temple. Guests enter the club through the crypt before arriving in an atmospheric main room fitted with neon installations, banquet seating, [...]
Robshaw: Time for England to win Six Nations November 17, 2013 ENGLAND captain Chris Robshaw has challenged his side to mark the continuation of their progress under head coach Stuart Lancaster by winning next year’s Six Nations. The Red Rose finished 2013 with a spirited 30-22 defeat to New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday. Despite the result, England’s performance against the all-conquering world No1 side was [...]
Scotland given harsh lesson yet Johnson remains upbeat November 17, 2013 SCOTLAND head coach Scott Johnson says his side can take positives from yesterday’s visit of South Africa, despite suffering a 28-0 defeat. The world’s second highest ranked team stormed to a 21-point lead during a first half at Murrayfield that included three tries, before extending the lead after the break. “As a coach you have [...]
Sport Comment: Our World Cup prospects suddenly seem more positive November 17, 2013 SO THAT’S it for England’s rugby team until the small matter of playing France in Paris on the opening weekend of next year’s Six Nations. The autumn international calendar this year is a bit of a mess with no clear definition to the fixture structure, but even allowing for what might happen in the remaining [...]