The Guardian

Super League Man of Steel central to World Cup plans McDermott: ‘We can win it; absolutely we can win it’ Brian McDermott, the new England head coach, has insisted that Super League’s reigning Man of Steel, Jake Connor, is central to his plans for this year’s World Cup, before appearing to attack the treatment of the Leeds Rhinos half-back by his predecessor Shaun Wane. McDermott was unveiled on …

Clint Dempsey’s docuseries and Landon Donovan’s memoir show that there is no single path to US soccer stardom Sign up for the World Behind The Cup newsletter Back in 1993, Bora Milutinović offered a succinct diagnosis of the American men’s soccer player: “This is the problem with these people: they don’t have a problem.” What the then-US men’s national team head coach meant, presumably, is that m…

Roundup of the promotion, playoff and relegation battles to be decided going into the final games of the season Emmanuel Dieseruvwe’s 99th-minute winner for Rochdale against Braintree Town last week was a showbiz ending to a game that set up a showbiz ending to the season: the victory means Dale go into the final day with a chance of winning the National League and sealing the one automatic promo…

Our writers take a look at the best prospects coming out of college, and which teams needs to nail their picks over the coming days Arvell Reese, LB/Edge, Ohio State . He is one of the best pure linebacker prospects in a generation, and he has the athletic traits to become a full-time edge defender. Some teams view him as a linebacker; those at the top of the board prefer him as an edge rusher. I…

The journey from the Von Neumann to the Niemann affair has much to teach us about the changed landscape of the sport There really is, it turns out, a true story involving cheating in chess and a vibrating crotch. Only this one is a whodunnit that dates back more than 30 years and was only solved last week. Imagine the scene at the World Open in Philadelphia in 1993 when a mysterious unrated playe…

The way a weakened side flattened Scotland brings to mind the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s and Pep Guardiola’s peak Manchester City Is this England side the most dominant sporting team to have existed? That is the question many are now asking after watching the Red Roses demolish Scotland 84-7 in the Women’s Six Nations, despite having a thoroughly depleted squad, to extend their winning run to 35 …

F1’s latest world champion speaks with deep candour about overcoming his insecurities but questions about Max Verstappen and regulations? Off limits There are always complications and difficulties in Formula One, as there are in life and even in this interview. On a beautiful evening at a lavish golf club in Surrey, Lando Norris and I are tucked away in an anonymous yet brightly lit room crammed …

Players have hit out at ‘confused and careless’ management off the pitch, despite their success on it Dijon are punching above their weight yet again and are fifth in the French top flight going into the final straight. This might be it though. Despite another fine campaign, they could lose their professional status in a few months. The financial crisis at the club has hit the women’s side hardes…

Tom Abell, Keith Barker, Keaton Jennings and Sam Robson all enjoyed a good week in the County Championship By the 99.94 Cricket Blog This article is from The 99.94 Cricket Blog Continue reading...

After making a spectacular punt on racing and bloodstock, the football super-agent will be hoping for a swift return There was an unexpected, jarring moment in the winner’s enclosure at Newmarket last week as Kevin Philippart de Foy, the principal trainer for the football super-agent Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing operation, prepared to discuss his win with Sovereign Spell in the opening race on Cr…

Decision to hire an inexperienced manager has backfired badly and club’s owners will have to reassess their approach There was symbolism to the Chelsea project reaching a reckoning at the Amex Stadium. Behdad Eghbali, one of the club’s co-owners, looked ashen-faced in the directors’ box. Enzo Fernández stared into the distance. Liam Rosenior apologised to the few supporters left in the away end a…

Talented France forward roamed with intent on a nervy night at Burnley when City reclaimed top spot In a season where the football on offer would struggle to entertain paint testers, Rayan Cherki has offered a point of difference. A playground footballer who gives off the impression of actually enjoying the game, while the majority of professionals are enduring the methodical nature of desperatel…

Spanish manager has led Edinburgh side to top of Scottish Premier League and a showdown with Rangers looms Hearts have an opportunity to move one step closer to making history when they face Rangers on Friday. Hearts have never won the Scottish Women’s Premier League but they sit top of the table, one point above their opponents and two ahead of the country’s most successful women’s team, Glasgow…

Vrabel to miss day three of NFL draft after photos Coach says counseling will help him be ‘best version’ NFL not investigating after resort images emerge New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is seeking counseling and will not be with the team for day three of the NFL draft on Saturday, following the publication of photos of the coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort…

Australian loses 6-3 3-6 7-6 (15) to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur 28-year-old drops from No 12 last April to world No 83 in next rankings Daria Kasatkina’s career in Australian colours has plummeted to a new low at the Madrid Open after she suffered an agonising first-round defeat which will send her tumbling to her lowest world ranking for 11 years. On a day when all four Australian women cr…