The Guardian

It is difficult for the meeting to sell itself as the pinnacle of Flat racing if so many of its races favour runners on one side of the track Big numbers were something of a theme at Royal Ascot this year. Aidan O’Brien became the first trainer to saddle 100 winners at the meeting when Scandinavia took the Gold Cup on Thursday. Attendances were up throughout the week leading up to Saturday’s annu…

For one day every June, South Africa’s searing racial inequality seems to melt away at Comrades race In the early morning dark, thousands of runners waited, jostling with anticipation. South Africa’s national anthem rang out. Then the haunting swell of Shosholoza , first sung by Zimbabwean migrant workers in South Africa’s goldmines. Finally, that unmistakable, spine-tingling piano: Chariots of F…

⚽️ Kick-off: 12pm local time/5pm BST/2am (Mon) AEST ⚽️ Player guide | Bracketology | Golden Boot | Email John Perhaps one of the Saudi -players can write themselves into this high-grade selection? Perhaps it can be their goalkeeper. Continue reading...

Brendon McCullum: England ‘planning’ to recall captain Bowler Gus Atkinson also stood down from county duties The England head coach, Brendon McCullum, has confirmed Ben Stokes is likely to return as captain for the third Test against New Zealand. Speaking to Sky Sports after his side’s heavy defeat in the second Test was confirmed on Sunday, McCullum was asked if Stokes’ withdrawal from county d…

Ghana midfielder has denied all accusations as he prepares to begin his World Cup campaign in Boston on Tuesday The Football Association has remained coy over what will happen when England line up for their next World Cup match against Ghana on Tuesday and come up against a familiar opponent in Thomas Partey. The former Arsenal midfielder played for Villarreal this season, but will be released at…

Fox’s broadcast at the tournament has become a story of two contrasting styles. And there is one clear winner We all know someone like Alexi Lalas. He’s the ranter whose rants never actually say anything, the life of the party at the party no one enjoys attending, the “big personality” who’s always misjudging the size of the room. He’s corporate America’s idea of a fun guy, the type of workplace …

We pick an XI of players who have impressed during the initial rounds of games in Canada, the US and Mexico A star was born, at 40, when a player whose highest-profile employers were Portugal’s Gil Vicente, denied Spain’s all-stars in that historic 0-0 draw . His Christian name being Josimar may well have pointed to him being a nascent World Cup cult hero. So huge was his impact that the US autho…

European champions were frustrated by Cape Verde and know there is little margin for error against Saudi Arabia Cape Verde are not the only ones to have kept Spain out at this World Cup. Turns out it was even harder to get past security on the gate of the team hotel in downtown Chattanooga. Two days after the 0-0 draw in their opener , Luis de la Fuente gave his players the day off, a chance to c…

Two goals from Ueda, plus strikes by Kamada and Ito, sealed the fate of Tunisia and their new coach Hervé Renard Perhaps the manager wasn’t the problem after all. Tunisia sacked Sabri Lamouchi after last week’s 5-1 defeat to Sweden, appointing Hervé Renard as their seventh manager since qualifying began. But it turned out a diffident side lacking defensive conviction are a diffident side lacking …

Durham: Stokes withdrawn ‘at request of ECB’ Email Tanya with your thoughts on the day’s action Morning everyone a nd a happy summer solstice to you all. Breaking news at The Oval and here at CLS that Stokes and Atkinson and have been withdrawn from duty and will presumably be meeting up with England after the denouement to the second Test at The Oval. But away from that, there are eight games of…

Incident occurred after Bezzecchi crashed on Saturday Title leader apologises ‘to entire MotoGP community’ The MotoGP championship leader Marco Bezzecchi was banned from Sunday’s Czech GP after slapping a track steward in the face after a crash in Saturday’s sprint, MotoGP said on Sunday. The 27-year-old Italian Aprilia Racing rider crashed out of the sprint with two laps to go. Footage on TNT Sp…

Northampton wing scores two tries in four minutes England name Nations Championship squad on Monday Northampton’s matchwinner George Hendy has been hailed as a player of international class after helping his side win their second English domestic title in three seasons. The uncapped Hendy struck twice inside four minutes in the second half to stake a late claim for a place in England’s Nations Ch…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! An old footballing adage tells us that no World Cup is quite complete without a gutsy run of results from the host nation(s), who dutifully go deep in the tournament to stir up local fervour. See South Korea in 2002 for a prime example: a plucky and at times controversial slalom to the semi-finals before being crushed by a traditional heavyweigh…

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning , Dan Bardell and Leander Schaerlaeckens as the Netherlands thrash Sweden and Germany get a late winner against Côte d’Ivoire Rate, review, share on Apple Podcasts and join the conversation on email . On the podcast today: the Netherlands hammer Sweden 5-1 to top Group F. Brian Brobbey comes into the Dutch attack and transforms them with some classic cen…

Miguel Almirón sent off against Turkey for covering mouth Socceroos face South Americans in crucial last Group D match Socceroo Jackson Irvine has backed the decision by Fifa to send players off for covering their mouths when they speak, after Paraguay winger Miguel Almirón was given a historic red card against Turkey. The Socceroos and Paraguay face a showdown for second place in the group at th…