Sponsors and sports must do more to protect the mental health of athletes like Naomi Osaka June 2, 2021 Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the French Open on mental health grounds should come as a surprise to no one, given the conversation around the wellbeing of elite athletes. The four-times grand slam winner may be one of the more reserved tennis players on the women’s circuit, so to speak openly about her depression and anxiety [...]
Dream Horse review: A sentimental underdog story about a horse June 2, 2021 For nearly thirty years, British film has specialised in a certain type of underdog comedy. Stories about people from small, usually downtrodden towns reaching for their dreams and achieving the impossible (it also helps if it’s vaguely inspired by a true story). In the 90s films including The Full Monty and Brassed Off set a [...]
Ladies European Tour CEO Alexandra Armas on new $4m Aramco Team Series, raising the profile of women’s golf and working with Saudi Arabia June 2, 2021 The Ladies European Tour (LET) has announced a stellar line-up for the London leg of the inaugural, big-money Aramco Team Series. Major winners Georgia Hall, Lexi Thompson, Anna Nordqvist and order of merit champion Emily Kristine Pedersen have all signed up to play at Centurion Club in St Albans from 8 July. Each of the [...]
Trevor Steven: Gareth Southgate may regret naming four right-backs in England squad for Euro 2020 instead of Jesse Lingard or Danny Ings June 2, 2021 On the face of it, it’s difficult to work out why Gareth Southgate has named four right-backs in his England squad for Euro 2020. While Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James and Trent Alexander-Arnold are all talented players, each is also taking up a space that could have gone to someone else. If only two [...]
A Quiet Place Part II review: Horror sequel well worth the wait June 2, 2021 Along with Peter Rabbit 2 and No Time To Die, A Quiet Place II was one of the movies that signalled cinemas would be uniquely impacted by the events of the last year. We’re still waiting on Bond, but Peter Rabbit 2 arrived recently to a rapturous reception from audiences (slightly less so from critics). [...]
Alexander-Arnold, Grealish, Saka and Coady named in England Euro 2020 squad but Lingard, Ward-Prowse and Watkins miss out June 1, 2021 Gareth Southgate has named Trent Alexander-Arnold in his England Euro 2020 squad. Jack Grealish, Bukayo Saka and Conor Coady have also made the 26-man party. But there is no place for Jesse Lingard, James Ward-Prowse or Ollie Watkins. Harry Maguire and Jordan Henderson are in Southgate’s England Euro 2020 squad despite not being fully fit. [...]
Black tie, white noise: let’s make summer the new party season June 1, 2021 With the last restrictions of the pandemic due to be lifted in mere weeks, we all deserve to celebrate. We think of the run-up to Christmas as the typical ‘party season’, but Yuletide seems a long way off. Let’s claim this summer for celebrations, and burst out of lockdown with a grateful song in our [...]
French Open chiefs ‘sorry and sad’ at ‘unfortunate’ withdrawal of Naomi Osaka following row over media duties June 1, 2021 French Open organisers say they are “sorry and sad” after women’s world No2 Naomi Osaka pulled out of the tennis grand slam. Osaka withdrew on Monday following a row over her refusal to take part in post-match press conferences. She revealed in her statement that she had suffered long bouts of depression, and said it [...]
Chelsea masterclass takes them to European glory May 30, 2021 A Kai Havertz goal minutes before half-time was enough for Chelsea to overcome Manchester City in an all-English Champions League final. The London club were underdogs coming in to the game but were the better team almost from the first whistle. Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel reputation for organisation will only be strengthened after his charges [...]
Where to watch Euro 2020 in London: Top beer gardens May 29, 2021 After a mad, harrowing year, it seems difficult to believe that Euro 2021 is mere weeks away – and that the biggest games will be taking place in London. For fans without tickets to the tournament, which runs from 11 June to 11 July, watching at the pub looks set to be a game of [...]