Man Utd and Chelsea face off for 60m star Ribery June 16, 2009 MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea are locked in a four-way battle with Europe’s biggest clubs to sign £60m-rated Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, the German club said yesterday. United have bid for the France star as a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Cristiano Ronaldo, while Bayern said they had also received a bid from Chelsea, who are [...]
LIONS WOUNDED IN VICTORY June 16, 2009 THE BRITISH and Irish Lions will take a 100 per cent record into Saturday’s first Test against South Africa after beating the Southern Kings 20-8 yesterday. But their elation was tempered by concern after a bruising encounter resulted in injuries to prop Euan Murray and fly-half James Hook (above). Wing Ugo Monye scored the opening [...]
Ace Gerrard rocks Reds with shock quit threat June 16, 2009 STEVEN GERRARD has rocked England by insisting next summer’s World Cup could be his last after admitting he could retire in 2013. The Liverpool captain will be 33 at the end of his current contract, when he says he wants to call time on his illustrious career as a one-club man. Midfielder Gerrard also admitted [...]
Arabian Gleam too big at 33/1 in wide open Queen Anne Stakes June 15, 2009 There may only be a small field for Royal Ascot’s opening contest this afternoon, but there are a number of question marks hanging over the majority of the nine runners in a wide open contest. Godolphin’s Gladiatorus is rated the best horse in the world and will take plenty of catching if he can bring [...]
Fleeting to show true Spirit in King’s Stand June 15, 2009 FLEETING SPIRIT was sent off 15/8 favourite for this contest 12 months ago, but could only finish third beaten three-quarters length by Equiano. However, what many people forget is that Jeremy Noseda’s yard was under a cloud at the time and he was forced to shut down his operation within days of the meeting ending. [...]
The INSIDER June 15, 2009 CANFORD CLIFFS will be the shortest priced juvenile at the Royal meeting but I can’t see anything to beat him in the Coventry Stakes (4.20pm). Red Jazz and Walkingonthemoon may well fill the frame. MAIN AIM can achieve the impossible and beat Gladiatorus in the Queen Anne Stakes (2.30pm), while this could be the start [...]
Inter target Carvalho may stay at Blues June 15, 2009 CHELSEA defender Ricardo Carvalho insists he still has a future at Stamford Bridge despite being pursued by former boss Jose Mourinho. The Inter Milan boss has made Carvalho and Blues team-mate Deco his two main transfer targets this summer and has instructed club president Massimo Moratti to do what it takes to lure the Portuguese [...]
I won’t follow Ronaldo and Kaka to Madrid, says Clichy June 15, 2009 ARSENAL defender Gael Clichy insists he has no desire to leave the silverware-starved Gunners and join Real Madrid’s new legion of superstars. Extravagant Real shelled out £140m on AC Milan playmaker Kaka and Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo last week, and are said to want Clichy next. But the French full-back says he is committed [...]
Hero Richards on target as Pearce dodges upset June 15, 2009 ENGLAND U21 (2) vs. FINLAND U21 (1) A BULLET header from Manchester City defender Micah Richards got 10-man England off to a winning start at the European Under-21 Championship in Sweden. Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole’s deflected shot put Stuart Pearce’s men in front against the run of play in the tournament opener in Halmstad. But England’s fortunes deteriorated [...]
Murray vows to keep focus June 15, 2009 TENNIS: British No1 Andy Murray insists he will not get carried away by the euphoria surrounding his victory at Queen’s and has vowed to keep his focus for the start of Wimbledon on Monday. “I think I can win it, but I am going to focus on the very first match,” the Scot said yesterday. [...]