Ollie Phillips: Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar have points to prove in historic Lions clash with Japan June 24, 2021 The British and Irish Lions kick off their summer against Japan this weekend and everything about it excites me. A home Lions match is a rare treat and the fact that 16,500 fans will be back at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon makes it even more special. A first ever match against a Japan side that [...]
Under Milk Wood: Michael Sheen shines at the National Theatre June 24, 2021 There are few opening lines as transportive as that in Dylan Thomas’ 1954 radio play Under Milk Wood. “It is Spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters’-and- rabbits’ wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea.” It’s a surprise, then, when [...]
Uefa chief Ceferin hails ‘correct decision’ as away goals rule is scrapped from European club football June 24, 2021 European football is breaking with more than 50 years of tradition and scrapping the away goals rule. Uefa has used the away goals rule to separate teams who finished level after a two-legged tie since 1965. Instead, from next season Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League ties that finish level will go straight [...]
Dogtanian and The Three Muskehounds: Nostalgia nightmare June 24, 2021 The announcement of a movie adaptation of Dogtanian and The Three Muskehounds was met with nostalgic approval from movie fans of a certain age. Originally a Japanese cartoon series, the canine interpretation of Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers was re-dubbed into English in the mid-80s and is affectionately remembered by those for whom post-school cartoons [...]
Loki episode 3 review – two of a kind at the end of the world June 24, 2021 *** WARNING: This article contains spoilers for all current episodes of Loki and some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe *** Last week’s episode of Loki featured a lot of Mobius (Owen Wilson) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) sharing detective theories and life philosophies. It ended with a supermarket chase and the reveal of The Variant/Lady Loki [...]
Liverpool shareholders RedBird Capital set to buy stake in Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals June 24, 2021 RedBird Capital Partners, a shareholder in Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, is buying a stake in Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket franchise Rajasthan Royals, according to reports. New York-based RedBird is buying 15 per cent of the Royals in a deal that values the team at $250m, says the FT. The transaction continues the trends [...]
Euro 2020 rainbow row: Hungarian prime minister backs out of attending tonight’s match June 23, 2021 Hungarian prime minster Viktor Orbán will no longer attend today’s Euro 2020 match between Hungary and Germany in Munich. This follows a row over lighting Munich’s stadium in rainbow colours to protest anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed in Hungary last week. Yesterday, Uefa rejected a request from Munich city council and LGBTQ+ activists to light the Allianz [...]
AxisStars: Former Man Utd and France footballer Louis Saha on cleaning up the industry and ‘keeping sharks at bay’ with his app business June 23, 2021 Louis Saha enjoyed a glittering football career but he was far from an instant success. A promising teenager, he struggled at first at humble Metz, scored just once in a loan spell at Newcastle United, and dropped down a division to sign for Fulham in the hope of kick-starting his career. Saha proved a success [...]
No showing off: The paradox at the heart of British men’s style June 23, 2021 The English have a strange relationship to men’s style. Every gentleman has conflicting voices, a Jeeves and a Wooster on either shoulder: Bertie with his brass-buttoned mess jacket and Old Etonian spats, his valet with an eyebrow raised in polite disapproval. Nowhere better is this duality exemplified than in the British Army. Regiments do everything [...]
Czech Republic 0, England 1: Phoney war of the group stage is over; England’s tournament starts now June 23, 2021 For a fleeting moment last night against the Czech Republic it felt like England had finally arrived at Euro 2020. Bukayo Saka turned, burst forward, the vast expanses of Wembley opened up and seconds later Raheem Sterling headed the hosts in front. This was it! An early goal delivered by two west London boys was [...]