Injury forces Rooney out of England date with Belarus October 11, 2009 ENGLAND striker Wayne Rooney last night pulled out of Wednesday’s final World Cup qualifier against Belarus after suffering a calf injury. Rooney picked up the knock during Saturday’s shock 1-0 defeat in Ukraine – their first loss in a competitive match under Fabio Capello. Head coach Capello is unlikely to call up a replacement for [...]
I may skip the tour to Bangladesh, says Strauss October 11, 2009 CAPTAIN Andrew Strauss has admitted he could take a long-awaited rest when England tour Bangladesh early next year. Strauss has had a frantic schedule since taking over as skipper in January, spearheading a home and away series against the West Indies, the successful Ashes campaign, a one-day drubbing against Australia and the Champions Trophy. He [...]
Terry: Defeat could be good for us October 11, 2009 ENGLAND captain John Terry believes Saturday’s shock defeat to Ukraine will prove a welcome reality check to their World Cup aspirations. Fabio Capello’s men went into the match with their place at next summer’s finals already assured and buoyed by a 100 per cent record in qualifying. But talk of mounting a genuine challenge for [...]
Tigers roar back to deny Ospreys win October 11, 2009 LEICESTER head coach Richard Cockerill saluted his injury-hit team’s never-say-die attitude after watching them claw back to draw 32-32 with Ospreys in the Heineken Cup at Welford Road. The Tigers fought back from 26-8 down with a late Jeremy Staunton try to share the spoils and earn themselves a try-scoring bonus point in their opening [...]
Sorry Sale ripped apart by a slick French masterclass October 11, 2009 WINGER Ben Cohen insisted a young Sale side must learn quickly from their mistakes after being beaten 36-17 and completely outplayed by Toulouse in yesterday’s Heineken Cup Pool Five encounter. The three-time champions ran in five tries as an under-strength Sale team were put to the sword at Stade Ernest-Wallon. And though the scoreline was [...]
Keane fears the worst from Ireland’s play-off opponents October 11, 2009 REPUBLIC of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is convinced they will draw one of the toughest possible opponents in the World Cup play-offs. Giovanni Trapattoni’s men ensured their status as one of the eight best runners-up by drawing 1-1 with Italy on Saturday, meaning they face a two-legged tie to qualify for next summer’s finals in [...]
Eriksson not set to follow Sol out door, insist County October 11, 2009 NOTTS COUNTY executive chairman Peter Trembling has quashed mounting speculation that Sven-Goran Eriksson is on the verge of quitting the ambitious League Two club. Weekend reports suggested that Eriksson, the club’s director of football, is on the brink of leaving after becoming disillusioned just weeks into the job. But Trembling insists the Swede going nowhere [...]
Sussex lose on Champions League bow October 11, 2009 SUSSEX were comfortably beaten yesterday in their opening Champions League match, losing by 35 runs to New South Wales. An inspired innings from Moises Henriques, who bludgeoned 51 off 33 deliveries, including two sixes, helped the Australian outfit post 130-2 off their 20 overs in Delhi. Sussex got their reply off to the worst possible [...]
McGowan reigns in Spain October 11, 2009 GOLF: England’s Ross McGowan landed his first European Tour title yesterday at the Madrid Masters. The 27-year-old recovered from a terrible start to his final round to card a 71, finishing on 25 under par, three shots ahead of Finland’s Mikko Ilonen. “It’s lovely to come away with the trophy,” he said. “It means a [...]
Djokovic to overtake Murray October 11, 2009 TENNIS: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic will become the new world No3 after winning the China Open.Djokovic, 22, will overtake Britain’s Andy Murray when the new rankings are announced on Monday after beating Croatian talent Marin Cilic 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) in Beijing yesterday. Following a 90-minute rain delay, Djokovic broke twice to take the first set and [...]