Sport

Wiegman optimistic Lauren James will be fit for Lionesses’ squad at Euro 2025
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

Forward sidelined since April with hamstring injuryEngland squad for tournament named on ThursdaySarina Wiegman spoke positively about Lauren James’s chances of being fit enough to play at this summer’s European Championship, as she prepares to name her final squad of 23 players for the tournament on Thursday.The Chelsea forward has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury in April during a victory for England at home to Belgium at Ashton Gate, and her involvement in July’s Euros in Switzerland has been in doubt, but on Tuesday night Wiegman appeared more than optimistic. Continue reading...

Tiafoe baffled after Musetti escapes punishment for kicking ball at line judge
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

Italian feared he would be thrown out of French OpenCarlos Alcaraz crushes Tommy Paul to set up Musetti tieLorenzo Musetti admitted that he was “scared” about potentially being defaulted after accidentally kicking a tennis ball at a line judge during his win over Frances Tiafoe in the quarter-finals of the French Open.On Tuesday, the eighth seed Musetti held his nerve in treacherous windy conditions to close out a stellar 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 win over the 15th seed Tiafoe and reach the semi-finals in Paris for the first time. The match, however, included a moment of jeopardy after he kicked a ball towards the back fence. It rebounded against the shoulder of an unflinching line judge. Musetti received a code violation warning for unsportsmanlike conduct. Continue reading...

Jamie Smith’s rapid response to West Indies fireworks sets up ODI sweep for England
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

England 246/3 bt West Indies 251/9 by seven wickets (DLS)Batter hits quickfire 64 to drive run chaseA day that started for England with walks and bike rides ended with runs, and plenty of them. With a barrage of boundaries from Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett the home side took control of a match that was delayed after the players got stuck in traffic, and then abbreviated by rain, before with an explosive cameo from Jos Buttler they sped to victory by seven wickets, with 62 balls to spare.The series thus ended as it started, with a one-sided victory. The match in between was much more competitive but this was a very different display from England, whose fielding was as sharp as it had been sloppy on Sunday, and in particular from their openers who in Cardiff had scored a combined total of nothing but here each reached rapid half-centuries. Continue reading...

Fran Kirby announces England retirement after missing out on Euro 2025 squad
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

Midfielder brings forward retirement decision Kirby: ‘I didn’t ever want this day to come’Fran Kirby has announced her retirement from international football with immediate effect, after learning that she will not be part of Sarina Wiegman’s squad for the European Championship this summer.In interviews with the BBC and ESPN, released shortly after England’s 2-1 defeat against Spain on Tuesday, the 31-year-old midfielder explained that she had already been planning to retire from England duty after Euro 2025 in July but she has brought that decision forward after being told she will not be going to Switzerland. Wiegman will name her final squad of 23 on Thursday. Continue reading...

Nations League roundup: Wales suffer thrashing by Italy in Euro 2025 send-off
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

Visitors score four first-half goals in SwanseaRelegated Scotland gain point in NetherlandsRhian Wilkinson said Wales would not suffer any trauma in Switzerland after being thrashed 4-1 by Italy at their Euro 2025 send-off. Wilkinson endured the largest defeat of her 15-month reign as Italy scored four times in the first half of a Nations League finale in Swansea – the Wales manager calling it a “little bit of capitulation”.First-half goals from Cristiana Girelli, who struck twice with excellent headers, Elena Linari and Sofia Cantore punished poor Wales defending and secured Italy second place in the group. Jess Fishlock produced some late cheer with a stunning consolation, eight minutes from time, scoring off the underside of the crossbar from 35 yards for her 47th Wales goal. Continue reading...

Bruno Fernandes reveals he rejected Saudi Arabia move to ‘stay at the highest level’
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

Manchester United captain spoke with Al-Hilal president‘Ruben Amorim really tried to talk me out of it’Manchester United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, has confirmed he has turned down a money-spinning move to Saudi Arabia because he wants to “stay at the highest level”. The 30-year-old midfielder has been the subject of speculation linking him with a £100m switch to Al-Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League side reportedly prepared to pay him £700,000 per week.However, Fernandes confirmed he had rejected the chance to move after speaking to Ruben Amorim and his own family. “The president of Al-Hilal called me a month ago to ask about the possibility of me moving there,” Fernandes said, according to the Portuguese news outlet O Jogo. “I had to wait a while to think about the future. As I’ve always said, I would be willing to do it if United thought it was best to move on. Continue reading...

It will take a lot of money, which may well be forthcoming, and much more besides to realise plans for new global league There is one passage in the sales pitch for R360, rugby union’s new breakaway league, on which everyone ought to be able to agree. “Clubs around the world are feeling the strain, and are being propped up by the international game,” the proposal goes, and it is true that there is not a single team in the Premiership making a profit, seven of the 10 owe more than they own. Worldwide, at least 12 professional sides have gone out of business in recent years. It is just a shame about the rest of it, which has more holes than Newcastle’s defence.R360 is brought to us by the team of Mike Tindall, Stuart Hooper, whose management career at Bath was one seven‑year lesson in the Peter Principle that organisations tend to promote people to the point of their incompetence, player agent Mark Spoors and John Loffhagen, who had a 13-month spell as the chief legal adviser for LIV golf. Continue reading...

RCB and Virat Kohli end 18-year wait for IPL glory with six-run defeat of Punjab Kings
Posted on Tuesday June 03, 2025

Royal Challengers Bengaluru 190-9: Punjab Kings 184-7Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone impress in close finalRoyal Challengers Bengaluru and Virat Kohli ended their drought by winning a maiden Indian Premier League title, beating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.Bengaluru posted a modest 190 for nine with Kohli, their leading scorer this season, top scoring for them with a composed 43. It was, however, their bowling which secured their win after they restricted Punjab to 184 for seven despite Shashank Singh’s unbeaten 61 off 30 balls. Continue reading...