Tunisia first up for Great Britain September 22, 2010 TENNIS: Great Britain will begin their 2011 Davis Cup campaign with a home tie against Tunisia in March. Leon Smith’s team will fancy their chances of coming through the Europe/Africa Group II tie with no fewer than seven British players lying ahead of Tunisian No1 Marek Jaziri, ranked 420th, in the world rankings. Victory over [...]
FedEx hopefuls compete for $10m September 22, 2010 GOLF: The FedEx Cup play-off series climaxes in Atlanta with the Tour Championship this weekend as the PGA Tour’s top 30 players compete for the $10m series jackpot. The one notable absentee is defending champion Tiger Woods, who failed to qualify following a wretched year, giving Phil Mickelson the chance to replace him as world [...]
Spot-on Nasri fires Gunners past Spurs September 21, 2010 TOTTENHAM (1) vs ARSENAL (4) AET, 1-1 after 90 mins ARSENAL schemer Samir Nasri conquered his spot-kick superstition to smash two extra-time penalties and earn the Gunners cup revenge over bitter rivals Tottenham. Nasri’s double within five minutes proved the killer blow long before Andrey Arshavin’s fourth, after Robbie Keane had dragged Spurs back into [...]
Row won’t damage political relations, says top diplomat September 21, 2010 PAKISTAN’S high commissioner last night defended Ijaz Butt’s allegations against England’s cricketers – but insisted they would not affect political relations between the countries. Wajid Shamsul Hasan said Paksitan Cricket Board chairman Butt made “a very innocent argument” when accusing England players of taking a bribe to lose the third one-day international at The Oval [...]
Games crisis after British stars pull out September 21, 2010 BRITISH track stars Phillips Idowu and Christine Ohuruogu pulled out of the Commonwealth Games last night amid growing fears the event in Delhi will have to be cancelled. In a disastrous 24 hours for organisers, already fraught preparations were plunged into crisis when a bridge outside the stadium collapsed, injuring 23, and a row erupted [...]
Cup shock as Toffees come unstuck at Brentford September 21, 2010 BRENTFORD(1) vs EVERTON (1) 4-3 on pens; 1-1 after 90 mins LEAGUE ONE Brentford caused a huge shock last night when they dumped Premier League heavyweights Everton out on penalties at a delirious Griffin Park. Striker Jermaine Beckford and defender Phil Jagielka, right, missed from the spot as the Toffees lost the shootout 4-3, having [...]
ICC should step in now and ban Pakistan for five years September 21, 2010 SO, members of the ICC, it’s all up to you, but, surely now enough is enough. Absurd accusations that England players were involved in match fixing weren’t just the comments of an excitable journalist, they were made by Ijaz Butt, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, for goodness sake. I believe I am balanced [...]
Liverpool chiefs know nothing about football, blasts Benitez September 21, 2010 FORMER Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has launched a scathing attack on his previous employers, claiming they “understood nothing about football”. The Spaniard, right, had a strained relationship with American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett before leaving the club in the summer after six years to join Inter Milan. Now Benitez has lifted the lid [...]
Drogba eyes Chelsea quadruple September 21, 2010 CHELSEA striker Didier Drogba believes the double winners could go even better this season and achieve an unprecedented quadruple. Ahead of tonight’s third round visit of Newcastle, the Ivory Coast international said: “Why not? If we do it, it will be an amazing season. I think to keep the title will be difficult, even if [...]
Given will cost you, says Mancini September 21, 2010 MANCHESTER CITY boss Roberto Mancini has warned Shay Given’s suitors that the out-of-favour goalkeeper will not be allowed to leave cheaply in January. “Shay is an important player and he will cost someone a lot of money,” said Mancini, whose team travel to West Brom this evening. The Italian also dismissed claims of a bust-up [...]