Ryder Cup dream left in tatters for Donald July 29, 2008 Luke Donald’s hopes of gate crashing Europe’s Ryder Cup team seem to have diminished after he withdrew from next month’s US PGA Championship with injury. The 30-year-old is currently out of the automatic qualifying places and was in need of a decent showing at Oakland Hills to stand any chance of earning a wild card [...]
Olympic row brewing with Beijing shrouded in a haze July 29, 2008 The Beijing Olympics may be only 10 days away but event organisers are still facing a headache over rising pollution levels as the world’s top athletes descend on the city this week. As the sun rose above the city skyline, Beijing’s chronic pollution problem was all too evident yesterday as a mixture of vehicle exhausts, [...]
Fulham set to land Johnson July 29, 2008 Fulham are set to smash their transfer record with the £12m signing of Everton striker Andrew Johnson. The 27-year-old hitman was at Craven Cottage undergoing a medical yesterday and is expected to be unveiled as a Fulham player by boss Roy Hodgson in the next 24 hours. Hodgson is keen to pair Johnson with his [...]
Win trophies or I’m off, says Fabregas July 28, 2008 Cesc Fabregas has warned Arsenal he will leave to join Real Madrid if the club go another season without winning a trophy. Reports say Real president Ramon Calderon is preparing a big-money offer for the Spanish international after giving up hope of luring Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United. But while the 21-year-old insists he wants [...]
In-form Wright-Phillips has won the heart of Scolari July 28, 2008 Luiz Felipe Scolari says he wants to keep Shaun Wright-Phillips at Chelsea after admitting being impressed with his pre-season form. The England international has struggled to hold down a place in the Blues first-team since his £21m switch from Manchester City in 2005 and has been linked with an £11m summer move to Portsmouth. But [...]
Broad looks set to make way July 28, 2008 Stuart Broad has emerged as the man most likely to make way for recalled Steve Harmison as England seek revenge on South Africa in the third Test at Edgbaston, starting Wednesday. National selector Geoff Miller has hinted that Broad may be rested after a long, hard summer while in-form Durham pace man Harmison is unleashed [...]
Federer defeat sees Nadal close in on world No1 spot July 25, 2008 Roger Federer’s reign as the world’s number one player is looking as perilous as ever following his shock first round defeat in the Toronto Masters. The Swiss star crashed in three sets to unseeded Frenchman Gilles Simon and is now in danger of being overtaken at the top of the ATP rankings by his Wimbledon [...]
Calzaghe will recover for a November date with Jones July 24, 2008 Joe Calzaghe has quashed fears regarding the seriousness of his hand injury, insisting he will be back to fight Roy Jones Jnr in November. The undefeated Welshman was forced to postpone the scheduled 20 September showdown at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, after damaging his right hand in training. But after seeing a [...]
Moores: Door not yet shut on Harmison July 24, 2008 Under-fire coach Peter Moores insists England outcasts Matthew Hoggard and Steve Harmison still have Test futures despite his part in the selection row which has split English cricket. Moores came under scrutiny afterAustralian-raised seamer Darren Pattinson was drafted into the side for the second Test against South Africa, ahead of the centrally-contracted duo. Captain Michael [...]
Essien urges Drogba to sign July 23, 2008 Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has called on team-mate Didier Drogba to follow his lead and sign a new contract at Stamford Bridge. The Ghanaian international agreed a new five-year deal yesterday as the Blues prepare for their opening preseason match in China this morning. He follows goalkeeper Petr Cech and left-back Wayne Bridge in penning [...]