Good travellers Montenegro eye famous giant-killing at Wembley October 7, 2013 MONTENEGRO manager Branko Brnovic has warned England that his team are on the brink of springing one of the great qualifying shocks and reaching the country’s first ever World Cup. Brnovic’s team can put a huge dent in English hopes of reaching next summer’s finals in Brazil by securing a draw or a win at [...]
Spurs suffer mental block October 7, 2013 TOTTENHAM midfielder Mousa Dembele has told his team-mates they must be better mentally prepared for games against “small” teams or risk missing out on Champions League qualification. Spurs lost 3-0 to London rivals West Ham, in the relegation zone ahead of kick-off, on Sunday. And Dembele believes taking teams for granted will damage their chances [...]
Golf Comment: Seve Trophy fun and a vital stepping stone for players on way to Ryder Cup October 7, 2013 I’M OFTEN asked whether today’s golfers have as much fun on the tours as we used to. I usually reply that I don’t know, but having spent the last few days with a fantastic bunch of players at the Seve Trophy I can report that the answer is an emphatic yes. Putting the result to [...]
Poyet ready to succeed Di Canio at league strugglers Sunderland October 7, 2013 FORMER Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet is expected to be confirmed today as the new manager of Premier League strugglers Sunderland. Black Cats chairman Ellis Short has been on the hunt for a new boss after he sacked Paolo Di Canio last month following a tumultuous six-month tenure, which culminated in a 3-0 defeat [...]
Unique Nadal will eclipse Federer grand slam tally, says Ivanisevic October 7, 2013 EXCLUSIVE: World No1 can take game to new heights. HE HAS already defied the doubters by returning to world No1 but Rafael Nadal’s resurgence is only just beginning, says former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic. The Croatian believes Nadal will eclipse Roger Federer’s record tally of 17 grand slam titles and could even retire with as [...]
Olympic role for Puma boss October 7, 2013 NEW British Olympic Association chief executive officer Bill Sweeney believes he can succeed in his new role by following the work done by predecessor Andy Hunt in helping Team GB win 65 medals at the London 2012 Olympics. The 55-year-old who has held managerial positions at Adidas, Puma and Reebok will be charged with overseeing [...]
Grant named sports minister October 7, 2013 LONG-SERVING sports minister Hugh Robertson has been replaced by the Conservative party’s first female black member of parliament Helen Grant following a cabinet reshuffle. Robertson, who helped oversee London’s staging of the 2012 Olympic Games during his three-year term, has been promoted to the foreign office as minister of state. Grant, 52, is a former [...]
Exclusive: Mercedes throw financial weight behind Hamilton October 7, 2013 GERMAN car maker Mercedes has given a sharp boost to its investment in Formula One in a bid to propel British superstar Lewis Hamilton back to world championship winning form. Hamilton joined the Northamptonshire-based team from McLaren this year in what some saw as a backwards step, but the team has enjoyed a marked rise [...]
IndyCar driver Franchitti avoids spinal surgery despite fracture October 7, 2013 INDYCAR series have confirmed Scottish driver Dario Franchitti does not require surgery on his fractured spine suffered in a high-speed collision on the final lap of race two at the Houston Grand Prix, where his ankle was also broken. The 40-year-old’s car was sent spinning into the air and crashed into a catch fence, which [...]
Idowu slapped with driving ban October 7, 2013 ATHLETICS: Former world champion triple jumper Phillips Idowu has received a two-year ban and been fined £145 after admitting to drinking and driving at Chelmsford Magistrates Court yesterday. The court heard how the 34-year-old had left his house in Epping during the night to go to a nearby hotel and was stopped by Essex Police [...]