Madrid maestro can carry his superb club form over to the international stage June 7, 2012 I’M ASKING a lot of Cristiano Ronaldo here, but I think he has the ability to not only take Portugal to the latter stages, but be the tournament top scorer too. Free-kick, dribble, header – or a tap in – there is no goal, too simple or spectacular, that Ronaldo cannot score. He has it [...]
Polish promise hints at happy start for hosts June 7, 2012 NO host nation has won the European Championship since France in 1984, and while Poland are 50/1 shots to scratch that 28-year itch, they do look set for an extended involvement in their own backyard. They will be more encouraged by the fact that of the 15 countries to have held the previous 13 tournaments [...]
Bill Esdaile’s Top Weekend Racing Tips June 7, 2012 STARVED of competitive football for two-and-a-half years, Poland will be chomping at the bit and they can get the Euro 2012 party started with a win against Greece in Warsaw tonight, at 21/20 with BetVictor. They come into the fixture with three wins in the bag from their warm-up games against Latvia, Slovakia and Andorra [...]
Murray admits meeting match after Ferrer forces early exit June 6, 2012 BRITISH No1 Andy Murray yesterday exited the French Open at the quarter-final stage after a 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Spain’s David Ferrer inspired largely by the Scot’s erratic performance. Murray carelessly hit 59 unforced errors and though his demeanour suggested a genuine desire to advance to the tournament’s final four against Ferrer’s [...]
D-Day for Cook as London 2012 hopes recede June 6, 2012 BRITISH taekwondo star Aaron Cook is today poised to discover whether the place at London 2012 he believes is rightfully his has been snatched away. National governing body GB Taekwondo yesterday rejected Cook for a third time after being told to reconsider their nominations for this summer’s Games by the British Olympic Association, who have [...]
Springboks coach backs debutants to deliver June 6, 2012 SOUTH Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has backed his three debutants to be a success against England during Saturday’s Test in Durban, even though his bold team selection is uncharacteristic for the Springboks. Three of their eight starting forwards, locks Juandre Kruger and Eben Etzebeth and flanker Marcell Coetzee, will receive their first caps, suggesting South [...]
Platini: Refs to rule over racism and players must adhere to call June 6, 2012 UEFA President Michel Platini insists referees will have the authority to abandon games over racial abuse at this summer’s European Championship, though he has warned players not to take the matter into their own hands. Euro 2012 begins tomorrow when co-hosts Poland play 2004 champions Greece in Warsaw and there are genuine concerns that the [...]
TERRY DISMISSES FITNESS FEARS June 6, 2012 ENGLAND yesterday received a much-needed fitness boost over Chelsea defender John Terry before flying out to Poland for the European Championship. Having already had midfielders Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry and defender Gary Cahill ruled out of the tournament, manager Roy Hodgson will have been concerned about Terry but the Blues captain’s tight hamstring has [...]
Right to rest Anderson on eve of busy summer, says Strauss June 6, 2012 ENGLAND captain Andrew Strauss expects both England and James Anderson to benefit from the decision to rest the latter from today’s third Test against West Indies, believing him to be key to England’s chances throughout a strenuous summer schedule. Strauss’s men face West Indies at Edgbaston today in the final Test of a series that [...]
Arsenal chief warns rivals that revolution will raise their game June 6, 2012 ARSENAL chief executive Ivan Gazidis last night sent out a warning shot to big spending rivals Chelsea and Manchester City, insisting that new regulations will crack down on football’s “insane business model” of rising wages and transfer fees. Gazidis faced a grilling by 300 fans at the Emirates Stadium and told the Arsenal faithful that [...]