Faltering England face a tough test of their mettle in feisty Six Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield February 6, 2020 England face Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday in a match which carries huge significance, both historically and for the tournament. Eddie Jones has opted to make five changes as England attempt to wrestle back momentum following their disappointing 24-17 defeat against France in the opening game. They were poor in Paris, but I [...]
Kell Brook goes back to basics ahead of make-or-break fight with Mark DeLuca February 6, 2020 His boxing career at a crossroads, ahead of Saturday night’s showdown with Mark DeLuca Britain’s Kell Brook has stripped his preparations back down to the basics. The 33-year-old has been waiting 14 months for his 41st professional bout, a hiatus partially inflicted upon himself as he awaited dream fights against Terence Crawford or Amir Khan [...]
Defeat in the first ODI against South Africa is not worrying – England are working towards bigger goals February 5, 2020 England’s seven-wicket defeat by South Africa in the first One-Day International on Tuesday caused a bit of a stir, but I don’t think there is anything to worry about. With the Twenty20 World Cup approaching later this year and improvement in the Test arena an ongoing priority, ODIs have understandably taken a back seat for [...]
Les Ferdinand interview: QPR director of football on making the club a talent factory again February 5, 2020 Les Ferdinand harbours dreams of leading QPR back into the Premier League but the club legend and current director of football insists a new era of success in west London will not be ushered in overnight. Ferdinand, who marked five years in the role this week, believes the Championship outfit’s return to a philosophy of [...]
South Africa send England back to earth win a bump in seven-wicket ODI defeat in Cape Town February 4, 2020 After 205 days, it was back to earth with a bump for England in Cape Town on Tuesday. The last time Eoin Morgan’s side had played a One-Day International it was that wonderful sun-soaked July evening at Lord’s when the most unbelievable sequence of events saw them beat New Zealand in a super over and [...]
Agents row in extra-time: Why Fifa is at loggerheads with football’s leading intermediaries over new rule proposals February 4, 2020 A battle which has been rumbling on behind the scenes in football appears set to explode into full public view over the coming months, with the sport’s governing body going head to head with some of its most powerful figures. The issue at the heart of the matter has nothing to do with what occurs [...]
Air Asia chief executive Tony Fernandes denies $50m bribery claims February 4, 2020 The chief executive of Malaysian airline Air Asia Tony Fernandes today denied allegations he was paid a $50m (£38m) bribe via his Formula 1 team by aircraft giant Airbus. Prosecutors alleged Airbus paid a bribe of $50m through sponsorship of the now-defunct Caterham F1 team which was owned by Fernandes to win orders from Air [...]
Sheffield United: Europa League qualification is ridiculous yet looks achievable for Chris Wilder’s never-say-die Blades February 4, 2020 Discussing a recent game, Chris Wilder made the point that football is not all about tactics – and I agree. More than anything it’s about players’ commitment to their job; the raw materials that go into being a professional. After that, extreme talents can make the difference for top sides but, as an example of [...]
Super Bowl LIV: How Patrick Mahomes turned the tide in the Kansas City Chiefs’ favour to down the San Francisco 49ers February 3, 2020 It was billed as the Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl, and with 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter on Sunday night it looked like that prediction would come to pass – just not for the reasons expected. Having not thrown an interception in 164 postseason passes, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback threw his second [...]
Saudi win shows there’s plenty more life left in lionheart Graeme McDowell February 3, 2020 First Lee Westwood and now Graeme McDowell; wins for stalwarts of the European team are coming thick and fast at the start of this Ryder Cup year. It’s funny how things pan out. Fittingly, McDowell, held off an American contingent of Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson to win his first European Tour title for almost [...]