World Cup: Russia bow out of World Cup as Algeria return to haunt Capello June 26, 2014 RUSSIA 1 ALGERIA 1 ALGERIA reached the last 16 for the first time in their history last night, proving the scourge of a Fabio Capello team for the second World Cup in a row. Russia looked set to join Belgium in the knockout phase having taken a sixth-minute lead through Aleksandr Kokorin. But Islam Slimani’s [...]
World Cup: Vertonghen on target to keep Belgium winning record intact June 26, 2014 BELGIUM 1 SOUTH KOREA 0 TOTTENHAM defender Jan Vertonghen earned 10-man Belgium their third win in Brazil to end South Korea’s slim hopes of qualification. On the stroke of half-time Belgium’s Steven Defour was shown a straight red card for jumping into a tackle with Shin-Wook Kim. Needing a win to have any chance of [...]
Watson slams Brits who fail to fulfil potential June 26, 2014 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson last night blasted her compatriots who do not take their tennis seriously enough and are dragging down the reputation of the national game. Watson became the last British woman to bow out of the singles draw with a brave 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 defeat to world No7 Angelique Kerber on Centre Court. [...]
Murray out to trample Bautista green shoots June 26, 2014 WIMBLEDON champion Andy Murray earned almost an extra day off this week such was the efficient manner of his second-round victory, but the Scot can anticipate a far greater test against old friend Roberto Bautista Agut today. The pair became close when practicing together on the clay courts of Valencia – the favoured surface of [...]
Nadal dodges a bullet on crazy day for upsets June 26, 2014 WORLD No1 Rafael Nadal believes he is in a strong position to win his third Wimbledon crown – and first in four years – after overcoming an early wobble against Lukas Rosol on Centre Court yesterday. On a “crazy day” at Wimbledon, as No13 seed Eugenie Bouchard described it, three of the top men’s seeds [...]
World Cup: Shaqiri’s show sees Swiss into knockout stage June 25, 2014 HONDURAS 0 SWITZERLAND 3 ECUADOR 0 FRANCE 0 BAYERN Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri shot Switzerland into the World Cup last 16 with a sensational hat-trick as group winners France were held by 10-man Ecuador. Needing to match or better Ecuador’s result to go through, Liverpool target Shaqiri stole the show for the Swiss to set [...]
Murray rocks Rola in record time as strong defence of Wimbledon crown continues June 25, 2014 BRITAIN’S Andy Murray was unrepentant over the ruthless manner of his quickest and most convincing win ever at Wimbledon yesterday to reach round three, as top-10 players David Ferrer and Ernests Gulbis bowed out. The reigning champion blew away a meek challenge from Slovenian world No92 Blaz Rola, winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 on Court One [...]
Sri Lanka crank up heat on Cook with landmark series win June 24, 2014 ENGLAND captain Alastair Cook fears the clock is ticking on his time at the helm following yesterday’s series defeat to Sri Lanka with the penultimate ball of the second Test at Headingley. Resuming on 57-5 and chasing a victory target of 350, a dogged maiden Test century from Moeen Ali and an extraordinary display of [...]
No sleep and a locked jaw fail to stop Watson June 24, 2014 BRITISH No1 Heather Watson says she can finally look forward to a good night’s sleep after winning her first-round match at Wimbledon yesterday. The 22-year-old revealed she was so overcome by nerves ahead of her meeting with Croatia’s Ajla Tomljanovic that she awoke at 4am and 7am, and then locked her jaw as she attempted [...]
Murray backed to breeze past underdog Rola June 24, 2014 THE SPOTLIGHT falls on defending champion Andy Murray at Wimbledon again today where even second round opponent Blaz Rola is expecting to lose. Rola, who is ranked 92nd in the world and is playing at the All England Club for the first time this year, described Scot Murray as “England’s greatest sportsman” and said his [...]
