World Cup 2014: Wayne Rooney fires warning shot at Italy ahead of opener June 11, 2014 England striker Wayne Rooney has warned Saturday’s World Cup opponents Italy: “underestimate us at your peril”. Italy dumped England out of the 2012 European Championship via a penalty shootout, though had outplayed Roy Hodgson’s team during a goalless 120 minutes with midfielder Andrea Pirlo their star turn. Two years on, questions are still being asked [...]
The World Cup’s six economic lessons June 11, 2014 THE WORLD Cup is a fascinating lesson in economics, as well as football. The best teams and players have fought gladiatorial battles to reach Brazil, and the competition is about to get even more intense. So before they get lost amid the excitement of the tournament, here are six fundamental economic lessons to take home. [...]
Sport Comment: For Milner and England, see Michalak and French rugby June 8, 2014 CONSUMED by optimism, most of you reading this will be in front of a television next Saturday evening, believing that a combination of Steven Gerrard’s drive, Gary Cahill’s determination and the odd flash of brilliance from Wayne Rooney and/or Daniel Sturridge will upset Italy and kick-start England’s World Cup challenge in style. However, if things [...]
Liverpool agree £10m deal for Can June 5, 2014 FOOTBALL: Premier League runners-up Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen central midfielder Emre Can. The 20-year-old, who joined Leverkusen from Bayern Munich last summer, has a £10m release clause. The move has been agreed in principle and is set to go through when the transfer window re-opens next month.
China to fuel fresh boom in TV income for English clubs June 4, 2014 ENGLISH football is on course for a Chinese invasion that is likely to propel top clubs’ already rocketing income to even giddier heights, industry experts have predicted. Despite the majority of teams now being foreign-owned, including Abu Dhabi-bankrolled Manchester City, China, the world’s second largest economy, is yet to flex its muscles in the Premier [...]
Moores tells top order to shine June 3, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Peter Moores has challenged captain Alastair Cook and his fellow top order batsmen to seal a one-day international series win against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston today. All-rounder Chris Jordan has shone with both bat and ball, while there have been notable contributions late in innings too from Jos Buttler and Gary Ballance, [...]
Lampard ends Chelsea career and is labelled all-time great June 2, 2014 CHELSEA have hailed all-time top goalscorer Frank Lampard as one of the all-time great midfielders after the 35-year-old announced he had played his last game for the club. England’s vice-captain at this summer’s World Cup scored 211 goals in 648 appearances, but his contract is set to expire on 30 June and will not be [...]
Moores tells top order to shine June 2, 2014 ENGLAND head coach Peter Moores has challenged captain Alastair Cook and his fellow top order batsmen to seal a one-day international series win against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston today. All-rounder Chris Jordan has shone with both bat and ball, while there have been notable contributions late in innings too from Jos Buttler and Gary Ballance, [...]
Liverpool close to Lambert deal May 29, 2014 LIVERPOOL were last night closing in on a £4m move for Southampton and England striker Rickie Lambert. The 32-year-old hit 16 goals last season, including the winner against Scotland on his England debut in August. Brendan Rodgers’ men, who finished as Premier League runners-up scoring 101 goals, are hoping to fast-track the deal before Lambert [...]
United chief Glazer dies in Florida home at age of 85 May 28, 2014 MANCHESTER United were last night mourning the loss of owner Malcolm Glazer, who died aged 85. The Glazer family purchased 90 per cent of shares in the 20-time Premier League champions in 2005 and sons Joel and Avi have most recently acted as United’s co-chairmen. Their father’s death is thought unlikely to have a significant [...]