“There are no longer pointless matches” – Gibraltar’s first competitive wins demonstrate the objective of Uefa’s Nations League October 18, 2018 Bored of the international break? Not drawn in by the Nations League? Counting down the hours until the Premier League resumes on Saturday? England’s exciting 3-2 win over Spain may have brought around some people, but there are plenty who view Uefa’s idea to brighten up international football as an unwanted distraction from more important [...]
How Texas businessman Kent Teague helped bring Leyton Orient back from the brink October 18, 2018 Eighteen months ago Leyton Orient reached rock bottom. April 2017 marked the end of the east London club’s 112-year stay in the Football League – the culmination of a nightmare season in which five managers came and went. Three years after missing out on promotion to the Championship by the narrowest of margins – losing [...]
US Grand Prix preview: Relaxed Lewis Hamilton stands on the brink of fifth Formula One world title October 17, 2018 Lewis Hamilton’s first Formula One world title, in 2008, was sealed in the most dramatic of circumstances. Needing to finish fifth or higher to become the youngest ever champion, the 23-year-old looked to have fallen foul of the Brazilian weather. Showers at Interlagos meant a tactical battle and a lottery between wet and dry tyres. [...]
UAE T20x: Icon player Kumar Sangakkara and chief executive Salman Butt on Twenty20’s latest league October 16, 2018 You might think that Twenty20 cricket has reached its saturation point. Since its advent in 2003, the game’s shortest format has gone from strength to strength, culminating in a point now where it dominates agendas both domestically and internationally. Its success has seen tournaments spring up all over the globe in an attempt to catch [...]
Champions Cup: Have reports of English clubs’ struggles in Europe been greatly exaggerated? October 15, 2018 Last season was not England’s best in European rugby. After Saracens’ dominant successive Champions Cup wins, the Premiership endured something of a coming back to earth moment in 2017-18. While Saracens reached the quarter-finals for the sixth consecutive campaign, they were not joined by any of their domestic rivals. Exeter Chiefs – 2016-17 Premiership champions [...]
Croatia v England: Gareth Southgate’s side must prepare for the eerie atmosphere of Rijeka’s empty stadium October 11, 2018 Strange. That’s the atmosphere, or rather lack of it, England must prepare themselves tomorrow. Gareth Southgate’s side are in the port city of Rijeka on the Adriatic Sea to face Croatia in the Nations League for the first time since suffering defeat in the semi-final of the World Cup in the summer. So far, so [...]
Sri Lanka v England preview: Tourists hold all the aces ahead of Dambulla opener October 9, 2018 How times have changed for England. Last time they were in Sri Lanka to play a one-day series things were far less rosy than they are currently. In 2014, a side led by Alastair Cook succumbed to a 5-2 series defeat, as Kumar Sangakkara plundered a whopping 454 runs with five scores of over 50 [...]
Sail GP: Larry Ellison and Sir Russell Coutts attempt to sell sailing to the masses October 8, 2018 Sailing is a difficult sport for the spectator. By its very nature the action happens out on the water, away from the eyes and ears of those attempting to enjoy it. Last week a new $1m competition was launched which attempts to address that problem and in the process “redefine sailing”. Spearheaded by American tech [...]
Fulham 1-5 Arsenal: Gunners’ rampant attack helps optimism return under Unai Emery October 7, 2018 “We’ve got our Arsenal back.” That was the chant coming from the away end at Craven Cottage after Aaron Ramsey flicked in his side’s third goal in a 5-1 rout of Fulham. Ramsey’s improvised finish at the end of a flowing team move was the apex of a heady second half in which the Gunners [...]
England squad: Gareth Southgate’s selection of Jadon Sancho, James Maddison and Mason Mount shows refreshing change of attitude October 4, 2018 When Jadon Sancho turned down a £30,000 per week contract at Manchester City last season he was taking a big gamble. But armed with supreme confidence in his own ability, the then 17-year-old winger upped sticks amid plenty of acrimony to join Borussia Dortmund for £10m and challenge himself. Fast-forward 14 months and Sancho could [...]
