News and opinion from the world of sport.
The Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland hope to dent the World Cup aspirations of European powerhouses France and England on Wednesday… They head up the latest round of 2006 World Cup qualifiers in Europe which has seen just Ukraine qualify so far. Both the Irish sides have tasted memorable World Cup exploits before with […]
Continue ReadingFrench talisman Zinedine Zidane says it’s vital France is not stifled by Ireland in their crucial 2006 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday… The 33-year-old Real Madrid star admitted that the smaller confines of Lansdowne Road compared to the Stade France could restrict the French, who presently lie third in Group Four behind Switzerland and Ireland […]
Continue ReadingMichael Owen believes Sven-Goran Eriksson cannot overlook him when he names players for the World Cup qualifier in Northern Ireland… Owen missed the win over Wales through suspension and England coach Eriksson has yet to tell the forward if he will return. But Owen, 25, said: "I’m confident of my position in the team and […]
Continue ReadingWorld Cup first-timers Ukraine were cracking open the vodka after becoming the first European team to qualify for the finals with room to spare on Saturday… Ukraine, who join Germany, who as hosts qualify automatically, have led an impressive campaign in Group Two and it appeared they would still need a result from their next […]
Continue ReadingSven-Goran Eriksson backs Michael Owen’s £17 million move to Newcastle as giving England the edge ahead of the World Cup finals… Eriksson is relieved that Owen has resolved his future before the end of the transfer window and is now set to be playing regular football in the Premiership, rather than sitting on the bench […]
Continue ReadingSerena Williams seemed more concerned at dropping her earring than her serve at the US Open, no surprise since they’re worth US$40,000… Williams, the Australian Open champion and eighth seed at the final Grand Slam of the year, recovered the earring and the service break en route to a first-round victory and said playing in […]
Continue ReadingEngland survived a superb Shane Warne spell to win the fourth Test against Australia and go 2-1 up in the Ashes in a dramatic finale at Trent Bridge… Set a modest 129 to win, after Australia made 387 following-on, England collapsed to 57 for four as legendary leg-spinner Warne took three wickets for seven runs […]
Continue ReadingMaria Sharapova’s combination of looks and determination have turned the Russian tennis star into a sports phenomenon who transcends her game… Little more than a year after she shot to stardom with her 2004 triumph at Wimbledon, the 18-year-old has become the fifth-youngest woman to claim the world Number One ranking and the first Russian […]
Continue ReadingEngland’s position as World Cup contenders suffered a shattering reality check when Denmark sent them crashing to their worst defeat for 25 years… Fortunately for coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his bunch of highly-paid but under-performing players, the shambolic 4-1 defeat in Copenhagen was a friendly international two weeks ahead of their next competitive challenge against […]
Continue ReadingEngland failed to win the third Ashes Test by the narrowest of margins, but its team’s performance has made the country fall in love with cricket again… The final result left the five-match series tantalisingly poised at 1-1. Of course, in its birthplace, the game had its faithful suitors but they were often made to […]
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