Sport / 297

Djokovic plays down Wimbledon chances despite return to form

June 27, 2018

But he did break, courtesy of a deep forehand that Chardy could only send limply back into the net, in the ninth game and duly held to clinch a victory that moved Djokovic a win away from a first title since July 2017 as he bids to return to his best after well-documented struggles with form and fitness.

Have the Celtics made another offer for Kawhi Leonard?

June 27, 2018

If Los Angeles Lakers fans are monitoring where LeBron James' 13-year-old son is enrolling in school as an indicator of where the elder James may end up this summer, they are probably getting quite excited. The Cleveland Cavaliers , Philadelphia 76ers and L.A. Clippers have reportedly contacted San Antonio about him, according to the ESPN report . If he's serious about his employment with the team, swinging a deal for Leonard would make him a man of his word.

No room for complacency as India faces Ireland

June 27, 2018

India chose to go in with two spinners and made the radical decision to leave out Dinesh Karthik, the hero of India's last T20I game in the Nidahas Trophy. Umesh Yadav who played well in IPL is expected to be in the Playing XI. Rohit, Dhoni and Karthik were part of that squad , albeit Karthik was picked ahead of Dhoni in the playing eleven for that one-off game.

LeBron James to teams: I don't want your pitches

June 27, 2018

At this point, there appears to be just a handful of teams in contention to land him. "While James hasn't decided yet whether to pick up his player option, sources close to the situation tell ESPN that he has no intention of hearing elaborate pitch meetings from teams", she wrote.

Serbia football association form.nising body over refereeing decisions in Swiss defeat

June 27, 2018

Serbian officials have complained since Friday's match in Kaliningrad that their team was not awarded a penalty for a second-half challenge by two Swiss defenders on Aleksandar Mitrovic and that Brych did not consult the Video Assistant Referee about the incident.

Sweden reach last 16 with win over Mexico

June 27, 2018

A draw in that match would have been enough for Mexico to advance but with the score locked at 0-0 until injury time started, there were fears that the Germans could score a late goal and edge Mexico out of the tournament due to a superior goal difference.

Magic Johnson taking long view on Los Angeles Lakers' off-season

June 27, 2018

I've been to nine Finals. "I've been in the college NCAA championship". His response? He's Magic Johnson . Johnson - along with General Manager Rob Pelinka - has been at the head of the Lakers' front office since February 2017. SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Jeanie Buss isn't sure what this pivotal free-agency period holds for her team, but she wants to see the Los Angeles Lakers return to the postseason for the first time since 2012-13.

Steven Gerrard successor Naby Keita handed No.8 shirt

June 27, 2018

Premier League giants Liverpool have officially unveiled an African star, who will wear Steven Gerrard's famous shirt number, as one of their signings ahead of the 2018/17 campaign. "I would like to be able to achieve a similar kind of season with them - but even better". He gave me the number eight jersey. "When you see how they performed last season it makes me want to do the same and to be a part of this team", he added.

Poland fined for ‘political and offensive banner

June 27, 2018

Argentina's football body also breached the Media and Marketing Regulations by failing to attend a flash interview after the Argentina versus Croatia game on 21 June. Already, the Committee has opened disciplinary proceedings against Swiss players Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri for their goal celebration during their match against Serbia.

La Liga giants make approach for Mexico hero Hirving Lozano, father confirms

June 27, 2018

However, if Lozano continues to impress on the grandest stage of the World Cup, the Toffees will have a massive amount of competition with top clubs in Europe for the race for his signature. "There's been an approach from Barça but there's nothing clear at the moment", Lozano Sr. told ESPN Mexico . Liverpool FC are believed to be on the lookout for a number of new signings this summer as Jurgen Klopp looks to transform the Reds into Premier League title challengers next season.

Crystal Collins apologises after Kiwis anthem nightmare

June 27, 2018

But the manner of the defeat will be disappointing, as New Zealand gave up a 12-0 lead after 30 minutes. Nelson Asofa-Solomona is well contained by the England defence. But Mr Peters, who has recently taken on the role of chief executive, said he was proud of the New Zealand players for still singing the anthem strongly.

Lionel Messi finally opened his goalscoring account at the 2018 World Cup

June 27, 2018

Maradona , who was seen being helped to walk from his seat amid the excitement of Tuesday's game in St. Petersburg, said a doctor had suggested he left at halftime after his neck hurt and he felt he might faint. By the 80th minute he sat with his hands covering his face, unable to watch as the seconds ticked towards a footballing calamity for Argentina . Maradona then sensationally gave a double middle finger salute to the crowd after Marcos Rojo scored a dramatic late victor to send ...

Iceland falls short of World Cup shock against Croatia

June 27, 2018

Sverrir Ingason forced Kalinic to another spectacular save, seconds before his header shaved the top of the bar. Iceland can still qualify for the round of 16 but they have to beat Croatia and have Argentina beat Nigeria by only one goal .

Serena Williams seeded 25th for Wimbledon 2018

June 27, 2018

Williams, victor of 23 Grand Slam titles during her career and a seven-time women's singles champ at the All England Club, took maternity leave for the birth of her first child. She returned to tennis in early March at Indian Wells and having missed most of the clay-court season reached the last 16 at the French Open - where she was not seeded - before pulling out due to injury.

Nigeria dismiss Iceland to revive World Cup dream

June 27, 2018

He hit the bar shortly before making it 2-0 in the 75th minute when he used his pace to beat Iceland defender Kari Arnason and rounded goalkeeper Hannes Por Halldorsson before slamming the ball into the net. We didn't think we would go through this World Cup without a loss and losses are always hard to swallow. Musa , Nigeria's all-time leading World Cup scorer with four goals, has played well against Argentina before.

Russia's Kadyrov honours Egypt's Salah at gala dinner

June 27, 2018

The Egyptian national team's base for the 2018 World Cup was established in Grozny. Chechnya's capital, Grozny, has been hosting their training camp and Kadyrov, backed by the Kremlin, has looked to legitimise his regime by appearing on several occasions this past week alongside the Premier League record-breaker.

Why Lukaku missed Belgium training ahead of crunch clash against England

June 27, 2018

Harry Kane expects to start England's final Group G fixture against Belgium as he continues his pursuit of the World Cup's golden boot. If I was going to speak about every player, I think everyone deserves to play in the World Cup. The England captain has scored five goals in two games, including his hat-trick against Panama , and while his manager will be reluctant to leave him on the bench, his centrality to England's hopes is such that he may be wary of him picking up an injury.

Mexico's future in the World Cup? The possibilities are endless

June 27, 2018

Without going through all of the scenarios, the best case would be for Joachim Löw's men to beat South Korea by two or more goals, Germany would be through to the round of 16 no matter what else happened. Carlos Vela, meanwhile, scored last time out and has generally been effective for Mexico if not a tad wasteful in front of goal. Mexico have only lost one of their last five matches against the Swedes (W2 D2), though they've all been friendlies.

LeBron James unlikely to choose Lakers without Paul George

June 27, 2018

However, recent reports state George is also strongly considering staying on at OKC with a possible two-year deal, also known as a one-plus-one deal, that would see him earn $30.3 million next season with a player option and $32.7 million the season afterward.

Dead human body found in freezer at Atlanta Braves' SunTrust Park

June 27, 2018

WXIA reports authorities said the body was found in a freezer inside the ballpark. "This is still an active investigation so I'm unable to speculate whether or not foul play is a factor", Officer Sarag O'Hare told local media. O'Hara said the Braves are cooperating with the investigation. Braves management declined to comment and referred all questions to police. No word on if this will impact any services during Tuesday night's game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Mercedes running "Phase 2.1" engines in French GP

June 27, 2018

Hamilton benefited from an engine upgrade that Mercedes failed to roll out in the last round when the British driver lost his lead to Vettel. The track, situated in wooded hills just inland from the Cote d'Azur, basked in the Mediterranean sun but was subject to gusting winds.

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca may quit after World Cup exit

June 27, 2018

Next up; the two remaining games from the aforementioned Group D (7 pm kick-off BST). Denmark vs. France wasn't a classic. "I loved to work with Australia and the players, but I'm also very happy that I'm free again", he said. Australia's goalkeeper Mathew Ryan and team mates from Autralia's national football team attend a training session at the Park Arena in Sochi on June 25, 2018, on the eve of the Russian Federation 2018 FIFA World Cup Group C football match between Australia and ...

Argentina strike late to advance to World Cup knockout stages

June 27, 2018

Croatia will be the favorite to beat Iceland, and if that happens, all Argentina has to do it win to set up a Round of 16 date with the victor of group C. "They know where they have to go". Ahmed Musa will be looking to continue his form and punish Argentina to help Nigeria qualify for the knockout stages.

Clippers reportedly trading Rivers to Wizards for Gortat

June 27, 2018

Wall missed half of last season due to injury. During Gortat's run, he helped the Wizards advance to the playoffs in four of his five seasons. Last season, Gortat averaged 25.3 minutes per game, his fewest since his third year in the National Basketball Association, as well as 8.4 points and 7.6 rebounds.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reacts to Sprint Car Racer Jason Johnson's Passing

June 27, 2018

A lengthy extrication period followed before he was airlifted to Aurora Summit Hospital in Summit, Wisconsin. Sprint-car racer Jason Johnson , 41, of Eunice, La., has died after a crash Saturday night in the World of Outlaws feature at Beaver Dam (Wis.) Raceway.

Hamilton secures pole for French GP

June 27, 2018

Cape Town - A 1.8km Mistral straight, a chicane to break it up, two hairpins to aid overtaking and a few more straights and kinks - the Paul Ricard circuit has all the ingredients for a good race, which is something Formula One needs after back-to-back boring grands prix.

Hummels to miss Germany-Sweden, confirms Low

June 27, 2018

Defender Mats Hummels was out of action with a neck injury, Jerome Boateng was sent off in the second half and Thomas Mueller did little right on the evening. After not taking part in the 1950 World Cup , the Germans won the trophy in 1954 and have always made it to at least the last eight since then .

Last-gasp Saudi Arabia goal sends Salah's Egypt home pointless

June 27, 2018

That's because Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary became the oldes player to play in a World Cup at the age of 45. El Hadary saved Fahad Al Muwallad's first-half penalty but Salem Al Dawsari scored a victor for Saudi Arabia in stoppage time.

Kangaroo hops at chance to interrupt Australian soccer match

June 27, 2018

A women's soccer match in Canberra , Australia, had a surprise visitor on Sunday afternoon - and that visitor didn't have any intention of leaving the field. The commentators were at least enjoying the spectacle. Video from the incident shows the kangaroo hopping between players and jumping fences around the field.

Croatia Eliminate Iceland to Complete Perfect Group Stage Run, Win Group D

June 27, 2018

Shortly after half-time though, Milan Badelj put Croatia in front with a textbook half-volley from Perisic's cross. Needing only one more goal to progress after Argentina regained the lead against Nigeria, Iceland pressed for a victor but were caught out in injury time when Perisic brought the ball down on the left of the area and fired beyond Hannes Halldorsson to give them a ideal record in Group D.

Martinez not anxious despite ankle knock keeping Lukaku from training

June 27, 2018

The European Championship was also something different", he said . England beat Tunisia 2-1, and thrashed Panama 6-1. "He will tell you, he's not here to be the top goalscorer in the World Cup ", Martinez told the Guardian . Chelsea forward Hazard's goal ensured that all of the first 27 matches in Russian Federation had at least one goal scored in them, beating the 64-year-old record of 26 matches set at the 1954 finals in Sweden , when every match had at least one goal.

Nigeria vs Argentina: No mercy for Messi, insist Eagles

June 27, 2018

Messi's personal struggles in Russian Federation began with a missed penalty in Argentina's opening game, then a miserably uncharacteristic showing against Croatia when he only touched the ball 47 times. What Time Is Argentina Playing Today? I was humbled by the opportunity to share a few minutes again with the team on the eve of another great encounter here at the World Cup.

Socceroos' World Cup dream ends in Sochi

June 27, 2018

Scoring hasn't been easy for Australia at World Cups recently, with its last three goals in the tournament coming from penalty kicks, including two from captain Mile Jedinak in Russian Federation. "We have seen them play and they are very strong". Argentina's first goal came from Messi in the 14th minute. Australia suffer a 2-0 defeat to Peru in their final match at the 2018 World Cup , with both teams exiting the competition.

Final Group A games (World Cup 2018)

June 27, 2018

Cavani, who was the top scorer in the World Cup's South American qualifying competition with 10 goals, netted 40 in all competitions for PSG last season, while Suarez was on target 31 times for Barca. Russian Federation were the lowest ranked team ahead of the tournament and people did not give them a dog's chance but their performances in their last two games, particularly against Egypt has led to people re-writing their notes about Putin's boys.

South Korea v Germany: Reus and Werner wary of pace and Son

June 27, 2018

The Koreans were in sombre mood after the match only to arrive at the airport to learn the 94th-minute victor by Toni Kroos for Germany against Sweden had produced a lifeline. "Against South Korea we will all know what is at stake and what our common goal is". However, they may still need points to secure a place in the round of 16 for a seventh consecutive World Cup .

James Harden Looking To Win First-Ever NBA MVP Award

June 27, 2018

In this picture, Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets reacts to a play during Game Four of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, May 22, 2018. Casey's honour came despite a successful regular season which saw the Raptors finish with a franchise-record 59 wins. Pacers guard Victor Oladipo is the NBA's Most Improved Player after a stellar first season in IN that ended in a playoff showdown with James ...

Argentina And Lionel Messi Need Luck To Qualify

June 26, 2018

In short, if Argentina fail to beat Nigeria they will crash out of the World Cup . Nigeria vs. Argentina , 86': Argentina take the lead! He told the London Mirror , "It means so much because for Argentina the World Cup is special - and for me too."I've always had the dream of watching me raise the World Cup ".

5 players who can outshine Cristiano Ronaldo in Russian Federation

June 27, 2018

Preview: Iran's primary objective will be to stop Cristiano Ronaldo from scoring when they take on Portugal in a Group B tie of the FIFA World Cup at the Mordovia Arena on Monday. And while we are still deep into the first round, a new piece of football history has been made. Right, so just.hang tight here. A few hours earlier Colombian referee Wilmar Roldan also raised eyebrows after reviewing but still awarding Saudi Arabia a second spot kick in the game with Egypt for what appeared ...

Van Marwijk disappointed with 1-1 Draw against Denmark

June 27, 2018

During World Cup qualifying, Eriksen scored 11 goals for the Danes, third-best in Europe behind Poland's Robert Lewandowski with 16 and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo with 15. But the veteran Dutchman kept faith with the side that performed admirably against France; Andrew Nabbout, Tom Rogic, Robbie Kruse and Mathew Leckie comprising a forward line full of bustle and industry but with just 21 worldwide goals between them.

Sampdoria chief confirms Lucas Torreira transfer

June 26, 2018

The Argentine international's performances in the 2017-18 season were impressive, with the midfielder bagging 7 goals and 5 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions for Sevilla. Arsenal have already confirmed the arrival of Bernd Leno from Bayer Leverkusen and Stephan Lichtsteiner from Juventus on a free move, and even Medhi Benatia and Daniele Rugani might follow their Bianconeri teammate to Arsenal.

WC 2018: Nigerians celebrate after 2-0 win against Iceland

June 27, 2018

Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates after scoring his team's first goal against Iceland in Volgograd. Nigeria - will join Croatia in the knockout stages if they beat Argentina . Croatia top Group D with six points following their win over Argentina on Friday evening, while Nigeria sit in second with their win over Iceland .

Kyle Larson Wins Back-to-Back Poles at Sonoma Raceway

June 26, 2018

He was happy to be on the pole again and said qualifying here is one of his "favorite things of the year". Larson, who set the track record in 2015, corralled the hot lap by finessing through the hairpin turn before hitting the front stretch, appearing to not lose as much time as other drivers and edging Martin Truex Jr .

'Furious' Maradona wants to meet Argentina players

June 26, 2018

Lionel Messi 's stunning WAG Antonella Roccuzzo has travelled to Russian Federation and will watch her husband's crunch match against Nigeria tonight from the stands amid rumours of a marriage crisis. This team has lost the past three finals they have played. Lionel Messi and company have to beat Nigeria . The Albiceleste must beat Nigeria and then rely on Iceland failing to beat already-qualified Croatia.

Australia have own concerns with Peru, not thinking about France

June 26, 2018

France topped the group with seven points, with Denmark runners-up on five after the teams played out a tiresome 0-0 draw in Moscow. Despite being two goals down, Australia continued to solider on and dominated possession as they went search of a goal.

WSU quarterback Tyler Hilinski suffered from CTE when he killed himself

June 26, 2018

Tyler's parents also participated in a lengthy feature documentary with Greg Bishop of Sports Illustrated; the story is tough emotionally but absolutely worth your time. She said he'd never shot a gun until the day before he died. Yes, he was quiet. "Medical examiner said he had the brain of a 65-year-old, which is really hard to take".

Flooding complicates search for youth soccer team, coach missing in Thai cave

June 26, 2018

Navy SEAL divers equipped with oxygen tanks and food rations entered the cave early Tuesday in northern Chiang Rai province, where light rains continued to fall. According to a guidebook on the region's caves, Tham Luang Nang Non is only passable between November and June due to flooding during Thailand's rainy season.

Uruguay ease past Russian Federation, tops Group A

June 26, 2018

Russian Federation then had Igor Smolnikov shown a red card for a second bookable offence in the 36th minute, basically putting the result beyond doubt. It was heart-breaking for Cheryshev, who scored twice in the 5-0 trouncing of Saudi Arabia in the opening game. Shortly after receiving his first yellow card Russia's Smolnikov received another one for chopping down Laxalt and subsequently left his team and the field with the red card.

World Cup breaks penalty record with help of VAR

June 26, 2018

With a win from two games, Portugal are placed second in the group with four points while Iran , who pipped Morocco 1-0 before falling against Spain , lie in third place with three points. If it's Mexico , then Brazil might be happy with a draw against Serbia , as that would take them through second if Switzerland win against winless Costa Rica, setting up a likely round of 16 tie against the Central American nation, rather than Germany .

Russian Federation 2018 breaks World Cup penalties record

June 26, 2018

Moroccan players bemoan referee Ravshan Irmatov's decision to award Spain a late goal on the basis of video review at the World Cup on June 25. They need completely different skills. Finally, with his goal against Morocco, he broke Ferenc Puskas' record as the all-time European record scorer, and became only the second Portuguese player to score World Cup goals with his right and left foot as well as his head, matching the record held by Jose Torres, who did so in 1966.

Spain held by Morocco but Iago Aspas goal ensures they face Russian Federation

June 26, 2018

But just when Morocco though the points were theirs, Iago Aspas scored with a fine back-heeled flick in stoppage time as Spain ultimately made first place theirs. Morocco continued to hound and press their opponents, with Diego Costa on the periphery throughout the game. Simultaneous World Cup group finales were influenced heavily by a pair of simultaneous uses of Video Assistant Referee.

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