Spain are still the best, says star Schweini July 6, 2010 GERMANY vs SPAIN Tonight, BBC1, ko 7.30pm BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER has played down his side’s chances of clinching a World Cup final place, insisting Spain are favourites for tonight’s last-four clash in Cape Town. The young German side have arguably been the most impressive team in the competition so far, while the Spanish have endured a [...]
Gerrard: I’m not ready to call time on my England career July 6, 2010 ENGLAND star Steven Gerrard expects manager Fabio Capello to make sweeping changes to the squad after sifting through the wreckage of their World Cup campaign. But the 30-year-old midfielder has told Capello that he is not ready to step aside and call time on his international career. Gerrard’s Liverpool team-mate has announced that is England [...]
Facebook sparks Nigeria U-turn July 6, 2010 NIGERIA’S president has admitted that he felt compelled to scrap his two-year ban on the national team after receiving hundreds of pleas on Facebook. World governing body Fifa threatened to blacklist the Super Eagles if the ban was not dropped, as their rules forbid government interference in teams. But Goodluck Jonathan said it was the [...]
Hamilton and Button calm talk of simmering rivalry July 6, 2010 MCLAREN team-mates and world championship rivals Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have laughed off suggestions their rivalry is about to erupt at this weekend’s British Grand Prix. The English pair go into Sunday’s race at Silverstone locked in a fierce battle for the title, with Hamilton top of the standings and Button second. Former champion [...]
Terse Tiger is feeling the heat as Open looms July 6, 2010 TIGER WOODS showed signs of feeling the pressure as he fronted the media yesterday on his first visit to British shores since last year’s Open Championship. The world No1 met any questions about his private life with short, terse responses as he spoke during the JP McManus Pro-Am event at Adare Manor, Ireland. Woods was [...]
So far, so good for England July 6, 2010 THERE’S no better habit than a winning habit and England’s recent 3-2 series success over Australia will give them plenty of confidence for the rest of the summer – and beyond. True, the Ashes is a different ball game altogether, but with a World Twenty20 victory and one-day series win behind them, England can head [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF July 6, 2010 Semenya free to compete ATHLETICS: South African athlete Caster Semenya has been given the all-clear to return to competition by the International Amateur Athletics Federation. The world 800m champion, 19, has been out of the sport for 11 months after undergoing gender tests. But an IAAF statement yesterday read: “The IAAF accepts the conclusion of [...]
Linesman sad at goal gaffe July 5, 2010 THE URUGUAYAN linesman who denied Frank Lampard a legitimate goal against Germany has told England fans: Life goes on. Mauricio Espinosa infamously failed to notice that Lampard’s strike had bounced well over the line during England’s 4-1 second round defeat. The official admits he was wrong-footed by the pace of the shot, which would have [...]
Holland are still entertainers, insists coach Van Marwijk July 5, 2010 URUGUAY vs HOLLAND Tonight, ITV1, ko 7.30pm HOLLAND coach Bert van Marwijk insists his team have not renounced their entertaining ways just because they have learned how to defend. Marwijk has transformed the Dutch from freewheeling underachievers into a ruthless results machine that now stands just two matches from a historic first World Cup triumph. [...]
WORLD CUP NEWS | IN BRIEF July 5, 2010 Torres unsure of starting place LIVERPOOL striker Fernando Torres admits he is not sure of his place in Spain’s starting line-up for tomorrow’s crunch semi-final with Germany. Torres has so far failed to find the net in a poor World Cup by his own standards, and is tipped by some to be replaced by either [...]