Cesc: Barca boss is my idol June 14, 2009 ARSENAL captain Cesc Fabregas has given Barcelona food for thought by admitting boss Pep Guardiola is his idol. The Gunners midfielder has been constantly linked with a return to Camp Nou, where he began his career as a youth. Guardiola, at that time, was a Barcelona playing legend and has since taken the manager’s role [...]
Coach Pearce insists England will not pay the penalty again June 14, 2009 ENGLAND Under 21 coach Stuart Pearce insists his side have practiced penalties for two years in order to banish the heartache of their last European Championship campaign. The side lost an epic shootout 13-12 in their semi-final against Holland in 2007, while former England star Pearce, himself, has suffered the pain of penalties defeat in [...]
Liverpool warn clubs off Alonso and Mascherano June 14, 2009 LIVERPOOL have issued a stern hands-off warning to big-spending Spanish clubs chasing their midfield duo Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano. Alonso is rumoured to be the next name on Real Madrid’s list of galacticos, while Argentinian Mascherano is a reported target of Barcelona. But Liverpool responded yesterday by issuing a statement in backing boss Rafael [...]
Sri Lankans end gallant Irish charge June 14, 2009 MUCH-FANCIED Sri Lanka took another leap towards the World Twenty20 semi-finals but were given the fright of their lives by plucky Ireland at Lord’s. The Irish were thrashed by 83 runs by New Zealand on Friday and many believed the in-form Sri Lankans would inflict similar damage. But seamer Alex Cusack returned excellent figures of [...]
SUMMER SALES June 14, 2009 Green rejects Hammers offerWEST HAM goalkeeper Robert Green has thrown his future at Upton Park into doubt after refusing the club’s latest contract offer. The England stopper still has three years of his current deal to run but the Hammers are keen to commit the 29-year-old to a longer-term deal. Talks are expected to continue [...]
Noble Storm perfectly drawn to cause upset in Sandown’s feature June 11, 2009 IT WAS an ‘Irish Day’ at Epsom last Saturday when Sea The Stars ran away with the Derby and it’s Irish Day again at Sandown tomorrow when the Esher track celebrates everything the Emerald Isle has to offer. It promises to be a fantastic day out with plenty of other attractions as well as the [...]
the INSIDER June 11, 2009 YIPPEE, Royal Ascot is nearly here and that means Champagne and Fillies. The Queen Mary, Albany Stakes and the Coronation Stakes are all fantastic races for the fairer sex. However, my banker for the meeting is a colt that runs in the first two-year-old race of the meeting, the Coventry Stakes. CANFORD CLIFFS has only [...]
Sri Lanka look the safe bet against Pakistan June 11, 2009 PAKISTAN vs. SRI LANKALORD’S – TODAY 1.30PM, SKY SPORTS 1 THE Twenty20 World Cup has begun with a bang and the Super Eights are now well underway. There has already been some fantastic action and one of the tournament’s most exciting teams, Sri Lanka, take on rivals Pakistan this afternoon at the home of cricket. [...]
Colly laments batting as sad England crash June 11, 2009 CAPTAIN Paul Collingwood berated England’s poor batting performance as South Africa waltzed to a comfortable victory in their Super Eights opener at Trent Bridge. England slumped to their lowest Twenty20 international total of 111, leaving the Proteas with the simple task of picking off a seven-wicket win. Collingwood hit 19 off as many balls to [...]
Lions coach: We’ll be better prepared than Springboks June 11, 2009 BRITISH and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland has taunted South Africa by saying he expects his team to be in better shape than the Springboks come the first Test. The Lions extended their uneaten tour run to four matches with a 39-3 victory over Natal Sharks on Wednesday and will have played six games before [...]