Ashley Cole: Brits afraid to move abroad July 16, 2014 Former Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole believes English players shun the chance to play in foreign leagues because they are scared of unfamiliar environments. Cole, 33, signed for Roma this month after eight years with the Blues, and said: “Perhaps British players are a little afraid to move abroad. They are accustomed to British culture and [...]
Diego Costa targets Chelsea titles July 16, 2014 Spain forward Diego Costa intends to add to his medal collection after completing a £32m switch from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea yesterday. The 25-year-old arrives on the back of a fine season, having reached the Champions League final and helped Atletico end an 18- year wait for La Liga. “I am very happy to sign [...]
Woods not content to make up the numbers July 16, 2014 IT MAY be six traumatic years since he last won a Major, but former world No1 Tiger Woods insists he is ready to claim his fourth Open Championship, starting tomorrow. The American was on bullish form yesterday when asked what would constitute a satisfactory result in only his second event since back surgery. “First,” he [...]
Critics mad to write off Woods, warns Watson July 14, 2014 FIVE-TIME Open champion Tom Watson has warned Tiger Woods’s doubters that the injury-hit former world No1 could prove them spectacularly wrong at Hoylake this week. Woods, 38, failed to make the cut last month in his sole appearance since back surgery in March, but is hoping a return to the scene of his 2006 Open [...]
United share price boosted by £750m kit deal windfall July 14, 2014 MANCHESTER United’s share price surged yesterday following confirmation of the Premier League club’s record-breaking £750m shirt deal with German sportswear giant Adidas. The 10-year agreement, which takes effect from the 2015-16 season, is the most lucrative of its kind in any sport and worth more than double any other shirt deal in football. United’s share [...]
Contador battles in vain to ride on with broken leg July 14, 2014 A GRUELLING Tour de France claimed its latest high-profile victim yesterday when two-time winner Alberto Contador was forced to retire after breaking his leg in a crash. Patched-up and bleeding, the Spanish rider ploughed on for 20km with a fractured right shin before admitting defeat and joining 2013 champion Chris Froome and fellow Briton Mark [...]
Even Blatter surprised by Messi World Cup best player decision July 14, 2014 WORLD football chief Sepp Blatter has admitted that even he was surprised by the much-criticised decision to award Argentina’s Lionel Messi the Golden Ball for the World Cup’s best player. Messi finished with four goals – two behind top scorer James Rodriguez, of Colombia – but did not register at all during the knockout stages [...]
Wiggins set for U-turn and new Team Sky deal July 14, 2014 TOUR de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins expects to stay at Team Sky but to change his focus to breaking the world hour record and winning a fifth Olympic gold medal in 2016. Wiggins had been tipped to seek a move from the British outfit in a bid to challenge for more of cycling’s Grand [...]
Farah admits he may miss out on Commonwealth Games run July 14, 2014 DOUBLE Olympic champion Mo Farah has thrown his participation at the Commonwealth Games into doubt after revealing he does not know whether he will be fit to race in Glasgow. Farah, who had intended to go for a repeat of his London 2012 5,000m and 10,000m double later this month, is behind schedule with his [...]
Super subs key to German World Cup victory, says Schweinsteiger July 14, 2014 GERMANY’S World Cup final man of the match Bastian Schweinsteiger believes extraordinary squad depth was the deciding factor in their successful bid for a fourth triumph. Two substitutes in Andre Schurrle and Mario Gotze combined to fashion the extra-time winner against Argentina on Sunday, while stellar talents such as Julian Draxler did not get off [...]