Froome X-rayed after Tour crash July 8, 2014 BRITAIN’S Chris Froome was at the centre of an injury scare yesterday when the Tour de France champion crashed on stage four, hurting his wrist, leg and arm. Team Sky sent their lead rider for a precautionary X-ray last night, with the jarred wrist of greater concern than cuts and bruises to his hip, thigh, [...]
Holland sweat on Van Persie for semi-final July 8, 2014 HOLLAND could be without captain Robin van Persie for today’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, coach Louis van Gaal revealed last night. Van Gaal reported that striker Van Persie was a major doubt with “a stomach problem” and had trained apart from the rest of the squad on the eve of the clash in Sao [...]
United set for £600m Adidas deal after Nike snub July 8, 2014 GERMAN sportswear giant Adidas is in pole position to become Manchester United’s new kit supplier in a world record £600m deal after their main rivals Nike walked away from negotiations. Warrior, the American brand which signalled its intention to be a major player by striking a £150m six-year deal with Liverpool in 2012, has also [...]
Cook vows to graft way out of twin slump July 8, 2014 EMBATTLED England cricket skipper Alastair Cook is banking on hard work to see him emerge stronger from a crisis that he insists contributes to “the beauty of the job”. Cook leads his team into today’s first Test against India at Trent Bridge knowing that another series defeat could spell the end of his captaincy, while [...]
London earns praise for grandest Grand Depart July 7, 2014 Tour de France bosses already planning return to London after capital’s cycling fans line streets GERMAN sprint specialist Marcel Kittel hailed London’s throngs of cycling enthusiasts after he prevailed in a frantic dash down the Mall to claim the third stage of the Tour de France yesterday. Tens of thousands lined the 155km route from [...]
Icon of Real and all-time great Di Stefano dies July 7, 2014 FOOTBALL’S leading figures last night paid their respects after Alfredo di Stefano, regarded by some as the greatest player of all time, died at the age of 88 following a heart attack. Di Stefano was born in Argentina but was better known for his time in Spain, where he led Real Madrid to five consecutive [...]
Cole is first England star in Italy since 1995 July 7, 2014 LEFT-BACK Ashley Cole last night became the first England international footballer to leave the Premier League for Serie A in 19 years when he completed a free transfer to Roma. The defender, released by Chelsea this summer following a hugely successful eight years at the club, has signed a two-year contract with last season’s Italian [...]
Brit ticketing exec arrested July 7, 2014 A BRITISH senior executive of an official World Cup corporate hospitality partner was arrested in Rio de Janeiro last night by police investigating illegal ticket sales. Ray Whelan, of Match Hospitality, was apprehended at the Copacabana Palace Hotel, where officials from world football’s governing body Fifa are staying during the tournament. Police probing the illegal [...]
Scolari’s psychologist eases Brazil anger at Neymar loss July 7, 2014 BRAZIL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has enlisted his trusted psychologist to help his team overcome the blow of losing star player Neymar and reach the World Cup final tonight. Forward Neymar is out of the rest of the tournament with a fractured vertebra suffered in the quarter-final against Colombia, from what Brazil skipper Thiago Silva [...]
Cook just needs change of luck, declares Broad July 7, 2014 ENGLAND seamer Stuart Broad insists it is only a matter of time before under-fire captain Alastair Cook rediscovers the form that made him a Test fixture in the first place. Cook will start tomorrow’s first Test against India at Trent Bridge in desperate need of improvement, having gone more than a year without a century [...]