England v South Africa: What previous meetings can tell us about this weekend’s Rugby World Cup final October 30, 2019 When pondering England’s Rugby World Cup final against South Africa on Saturday there is one obvious point of reference to consider. The two teams met in the 2007 tournament showpiece in Paris, where the Springboks kicked five penalties to England’s two in a 15-6 win remembered for Mark Cueto’s disallowed try. But whether Cueto’s foot [...]
Chelsea v Manchester United: Lampard showing Solskjaer how to succeed with a blend of youth and experience October 29, 2019 When a strike from Daniel James deflected into the back of Chelsea’s net to put Manchester United 4-0 up at Old Trafford in August, the road to rejuvenating his new side looked like being a long one for Frank Lampard. But just two and a half months on from that defeat on the opening weekend [...]
United States Grand Prix key part of Liberty Media’s grand plan for Formula One expansion October 29, 2019 Formula One returns to Austin, Texas this weekend for the United States Grand Prix, a race with a growing symbolic significance for owner Liberty Media’s ambitions for the sport. An exciting track designed specifically for F1 by German engineer Hermann Tilke, it is one of only five anti-clockwise circuits on the calendar and has seen [...]
Granit Xhaka must apologise or lose the Arsenal captaincy October 29, 2019 Captains tend to be brilliant leaders, have great communication skills, or a bit of both. I’m not sure that’s Granit Xhaka but Arsenal aren’t blessed with a host of players who fit that description and someone’s got to wear the armband. In fact I’m not sure what Xhaka is great at. Yes, he comes up [...]
Ben Spencer’s late call-up for World Cup final raises the stakes after Eddie Jones’ gamble October 28, 2019 Eddie Jones admitted it was a “gamble” back in August and, on the eve of his biggest match as England head coach, the stakes have duly increased. Jones raised some eyebrows when he named only two scrum-halves in his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup and, with Saturday’s final against South Africa on the [...]
Day in the life: FA head of hospitality Paul Scannell on the challenges of Wembley match days October 28, 2019 When I was a student I worked part-time as a waiter at the old Wembley Stadium, so to now be head of hospitality at the Football Association really is a dream job. I’ve been in the role for more than three years and my main focus is on continually improving the catering and hospitality at [...]
Door’s open for Tiger Woods to break more records – and he won’t shrink from it October 28, 2019 For years he achieved things that we couldn’t have imagined. Then, when it looked as though injuries would keep him on the sidelines for good, he came back and won another Major. Tiger Woods never ceases to surprise us. Now, following his wire-to-wire victory at the Zozo Championship in Japan on Monday, Woods has equalled [...]
England should not fear South Africa’s physical but one-dimensional style in World Cup final October 27, 2019 Back in the pool stage, the consensus was that England would be taking the hardest path to the Rugby World Cup final. Finishing top of Pool C meant being in the same side of the draw as New Zealand, the No1 side in the world and winners of the last two tournaments. Now, having overcome [...]
Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham: Aurier and Eriksen poor as Alexander-Arnold and Salah shine for league leaders October 27, 2019 It wasn’t straightforward, but the Liverpool juggernaut rumbles on at the top of the Premier League. Tottenham came to Anfield with a clear game-plan designed to suppress the hosts and Harry Kane’s header after just 47 seconds gave them the opportunity to implement it. But, as they keep doing, Liverpool found a way to win. [...]
VAR wars deflect from Unai Emery and Arsenal’s woes; Frank Lampard the genius; Leicester outfoxing all over October 27, 2019 An exercised Unai Emery pointed, with some justification, to two video assistant referee interventions to explain why Arsenal lost a two-goal lead and drew 2-2 at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday. “For me, VAR is positive, but we need to manage it in the right way,” said the Gunners manager. “At the moment to [...]