European Under-21s Championship: How England are lagging behind their continental competitors June 13, 2019 English football has enjoyed a bumper last 12 months. The Three Lions’ run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the all-English Champions League and Europa League finals that followed would suggest the domestic system that produced the players is in rude health. That is the picture at senior level. But look beyond [...]
Diego Maradona biopic a strikingly candid antidote to airbrushed world of modern football June 13, 2019 “Peace,” says a young Diego Maradona when asked, five minutes into Asif Kapadia’s candid new film about the troubled Argentinian genius, what he is hoping for from his impending transfer from Barcelona to Napoli. There is precious little of that in his seven tumultuous years in the fervent southern Italian city, which form the basis [...]
Chris Tremlett: England should combat the dangerous Chris Gayle with all-out pace at the Rose Bowl June 12, 2019 England play West Indies at the Rose Bowl on Friday and I’m sure they won’t be complacent about what Jason Holder’s side can do. West Indies’ fast bowling attack have shown how good they can be, demolishing Pakistan for just 105 in their opening game and reducing Australia to 79-5 in their second with aggressive [...]
Warren Gatland claims he has ‘unfinished business’ with the British and Irish Lions following South Africa 2021 appointment June 12, 2019 In the wake of the tour to New Zealand two years ago he insisted he would never coach the British and Irish Lions again, but Warren Gatland is back in the hot-seat for South Africa in 2021 as he looks to continue his unblemished record. Having led the Lions in undefeated series against Australia and [...]
E3 2019: The biggest games, trailers and announcements June 12, 2019 Watch Dogs Legion British politics has now well and truly seeped into the cultural groundwater. According to the game’s French publisher Ubisoft, the latest entry in the Watch Dogs series is set in a dystopian vision of “post-Brexit” London. The Grand Theft Auto-alike allows you to freely drive and roam around a near-future version of [...]
Andy Murray Queen’s comeback: Hip expert warns of ‘very difficult’ road for former British No1 June 12, 2019 After 154 days without competitive tennis – a period which involved a much-discussed operation, extensive rehabilitation, plenty of pain, but also time with his family and friends – Andy Murray will make his long-awaited return at Queen’s Club next week. It may come on the doubles court rather than the singles and may be in [...]
Cricket World Cup: Scotland chief executive Malcom Cannon on qualifying heartbreak, the 10-team format and becoming a full member June 11, 2019 The World Cup may be in full swing across the country right now, but not everyone involved in cricket is revelling in the occasion. With the focus solely on the 10 teams competing, it is easy to get swept up by the occasion and forget the longstanding debate surrounding tournament’s format. Not if your name [...]
Red-hot Rory McIlroy will win US Open if he sustains his untouchable form this week June 11, 2019 Rory McIlroy played the best golf that I have seen anywhere for a long time as he romped to a seven-shot victory with an extraordinary final round of 61 at the Canadian Open on Sunday. He was like Tiger Woods, demoralising the chasing pack right from the word go with five birdies on the front [...]
Stoffel Vandoorne interview: Belgian on his Formula One nightmare, Formula E and making his Le Mans debut this week June 11, 2019 Upon joining McLaren’s junior driver programme in 2013 Stoffel Vandoorne moved a step closer to achieving the dream of every young racing driver: becoming a Formula One world champion. When he was installed as McLaren’s test driver in 2016 and then Fernando Alonso’s team-mate in 2017, it seemed that perhaps the hardest part of the [...]
Rugby set to enter a new era with games played over 11 months of the year June 11, 2019 When Saracens fought back to beat Exeter Chiefs to the Premiership crown 10 days ago it marked not only the end of a hugely successful season for Mark McCall’s side but also the end of an era for rugby. From next season, the game’s new calendar will see players in action for a total of [...]