We weren’t so bad, says Brazil coach July 9, 2014 BRAZIL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari last night rejected calls to resign following the most humiliating night in the team’s history, insisting that the hosts’ World Cup “wasn’t so bad”. Tuesday’s 7-1 semi-final annihilation by Germany broke several records and brought an abrupt, painful end to Brazilian ambitions of lifting the trophy on home soil. But [...]
Chelsea sign Croatia’s answer to Frank Lampard July 9, 2014 TEENAGE Croatian midfielder Mario Pasalic hopes to emulate the achievements of idol Frank Lampard after following in his footsteps and signing for Chelsea. Pasalic, 19, joins for an undisclosed fee from Hajduk Split, where he scored 11 goals in 36 appearances as they finished third in their domestic league last season. “I am a central [...]
Vijay homework pays off as India take upper hand July 9, 2014 INDIA batsman Murali Vijay revealed how he practised for facing James Anderson by studying videos of the England seamer after plundering an unbeaten century on day one of the first Test at Trent Bridge. Anderson managed two wickets but was unable to snare opener Vijay, who batted through the day on a flat, unresponsive wicket [...]
World Cup: Germany turn Brazil’s World Cup dream to a nightmare July 8, 2014 BRAZIL 1 GERMANY 7 GOALS rained and records tumbled in Belo Horizonte last night as Germany conjured one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history and ensured that Brazil’s attempt to lift the trophy as hosts ended not in glory but in abject humiliation. In reaching Sunday’s final Germany inflicted the joint-heaviest defeat in [...]
Arsenal on brink of sealing £30m Sanchez signing July 8, 2014 ARSENAL were last night edging closer to completing the signing of versatile Chile forward Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona for a fee believed to be around £30m. Sanchez, who starred for his country at the current World Cup, has been trailed by the Gunners, Liverpool and Juventus since Barca made it clear he was surplus to [...]
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 [...]