England 3-0 Lithuania: Euro 2016 friendlies not perfect 10 is Roy Hodgson’s gauge of success October 12, 2015 Phlegmatic England boss Roy Hodgson insists his side’s high-profile friendlies in the build-up up to next summer’s finals will prove the acid test of their Euro 2016 credentials after an experimental troop cantered to victory in Lithuania last night. Strikes from Ross Barkley and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, either side of an own goal from goalkeeper Giedrius [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England head coach Stuart Lancaster not expecting a squad mutiny October 11, 2015 Under-fire England head coach Stuart Lancaster is not expecting his players to twist the knife when rugby bosses kickstart their review into their dismal World Cup showing today. A 60-3 thrashing of minnows Uruguay on Saturday evening did little to lighten the mood surrounding a harrowing World Cup exit which saw England become the first [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Skipper Paul O’Connell’s tournament in doubt after injuries mar Ireland’s 24-9 victory over France October 11, 2015 Ireland coach Joe Schmidt admitted that skipper Paul O’Connell’s World Cup is in the balance after the influential lock was one of several injuries to mar today’s seismic victory over France which sees his side avoid holders New Zealand in the quarter-final. Leading 9-6 at half-time, second-half tries from full-back Rob Kearney and scrum-half Conor [...]
Euro 2016: Northern Ireland qualify for first major tournament in 30 years although Scottish hopes ended October 9, 2015 Elated Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill hailed his history-making players after a 3-1 victory over Greece last night sealed their passage to the Euro 2016 finals – the nation’s first appearance at a major tournament in 30 years. A goal in each half from skipper Steven Davis and a strike early in the second period [...]
Euro 2016 qualifiers: England boss Roy Hodgson unwilling to risk club versus country row over Wayne Rooney injury October 8, 2015 England boss Roy Hodgson admitted he was unwilling to risk a club versus country row after ruling out skipper Wayne Rooney for his side’s Euro 2016 qualifier against Estonia at Wembley tonight. Manchester United striker Rooney has been unable to train with his international team-mates at St George’s Park this week having suffered an ankle [...]
Fifa scandal deepens as Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini and Jerome Valcke all hit with 90-day suspensions October 8, 2015 Scandal-hit world governing body Fifa has been warned by International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach that only urgent and deep-rooted reform will prevent football's credibility being besmirched irreparably. The IOC’s statement yesterday followed another harrowing day in the Fifa epilogue after outgoing president Sepp Blatter, UEFA boss Michel Platini and Fifa secretary-general Jerome Valcke were [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: England chiefs play down training ground spat between Mike Catt and Danny Cipriani October 7, 2015 England chiefs have denied that a pre-World Cup training ground spat between coach Mike Catt and overlooked fly-half Danny Cipriani left the squad on the verge of mutiny. The Rugby Football Union confirmed that the flashpoint occurred the day before England announced their 31-man squad for the tournament, and hours after Sale’s Cipriani had learned [...]
Rugby World Cup 2015: Warren Gatland hands Wales licence to attack Australia in Pool A decider October 7, 2015 England's World Cup demise at the hands of Australia has given Wales the licence to attack the Wallabies in their Pool A decider at Twickenham on Saturday, according to fitness coach Paul Stridgeon. The winners will face either Scotland or Japan in the quarter-final, while the losers will face two-time world champions South Africa, who [...]
England need to exorcise their familiar demon in foreign climes October 7, 2015 I was in the squad the last time England played Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. We were No1 in the Test rankings but it was an embarrassment. We couldn’t cope with spin and we were comprehensively beaten 3-0. Going overseas and playing in subcontinental conditions is something which England have struggled with for some [...]
Ashes-winning approach will not work for England in United Arab Emirates, says seamer Mark Wood October 6, 2015 Seamer Mark Wood believes England will need to adopt different tactics to enjoy success against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates from the rip-roaring approach which brought Ashes joy in the summer. The tourists drew the first warm-up match of their tour after Pakistan A chalked up 216-5 at Sharjah in response to the England’s 286-5 [...]
