The feeling among fans is anticlimatic as ‘businessmen have appropriated the ball that used to belong to the people’ Jonathan Zamora was seven years old the last time Mexico hosted the World Cup in 1986. “I witnessed perhaps one of the most sublime moments in the history of football,” he...
‘I made such a bond’: Jesse Lingard on life in South Korea and his next challenge
Former Manchester United player discusses culinary and cultural surprises, feeling more mature and how he learned Korean Jesse Lingard says his Korean is decent, good enough to make himself understood when out for dinner and the shocks do not stop there. The former Manchester United and England midfielder was always...
Viktor Gyökeres holds nerve to sink Everton and keep Arsenal top of pile
Mikel Arteta can toast his sixth anniversary as Arsenal manager from the Premier League summit and with the Christmas No 1 spot secured once again. Behind the headline positivity, however, must be a realisation that more convincing performances are required to hold on until the final reckoning. Viktor Gyökeres’ emphatic...
Starc breaks England hearts again as Australia retain the Ashes in tense third Test
Australia, 371 & 349, bt England, 286 & 352 by 82 runs England show grit but fall short as hosts take 3-0 lead “England are talking themselves up more, they’re confident coming to Australia with the group of players they’ve got and fair enough, this is the best team they’ve...
Tom Jordan brings a smorgasbord of skills to Bristol’s Big Game at Harlequins
Late developer overlooked in New Zealand but has progressed from semi-pro in Ayr to Scotland international New Zealand rugby must still be unearthing loads of outstanding players. So many, in fact, that their talent spotters have grown increasingly blase. Because how on earth did someone, somewhere not spot the uncut...
Proud Welshman Sam Thomas eyes National glory after Steel Ally’s Ascot romp
The trainer has his string in excellent form and saddles two fancied runners at Chepstow next weekend Sam Thomas has his string in excellent form going into the busy Christmas programme and he saddled his fourth winner from only seven runners in December as Steel Ally registered an impressive success...
‘A great night for golf’: McIlroy hails Spoty success after individual and team awards
McIlroy: ‘Hopefully golf can build upon this’ ‘To get public’s recognition is really cool,’ says Fleetwood Moments before Rory McIlroy was named BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, and the cream of British sport rose to applaud him, a nervy thought raced through his mind. “I was, like, not an...
Thomas Frank talks sense but Tottenham’s lack of style has supporters worried
Dane wants time but before Saturday’s match against Liverpool, faithful are frustrated by stodgy performances There are plenty of well-known checkpoints in the life cycle of a Tottenham manager and we have reached one with Thomas Frank. It is the pleading for time bit. “If nobody gets this, nobody will...
Anthony Joshua overwhelms Jake Paul in six to restore boxing sanity in Miami
Joshua stops Paul in sixth after four knockdowns Trump weighs in on fight from Air Force One Victor eyes Fury after hospitalizing Paul with broken jaw Women’s boxing shines on Miami undercard Jake Paul v Anthony Joshua – as it happened Anthony Joshua did what he was meant to do...
Maresca plays dangerous game as confusion reigns after his Chelsea grenade
Club remain bemused by head coach creating speculation he has issues with the hierarchy who want to avoid drama at all costs One of the theories doing the rounds this week is that Enzo Maresca is behaving like someone who wants to be sacked. He has stumbled into a fight...