The Guardian

Littler’s missed doubles cheered in win over Rob Cross Champion denies being bothered in unconvincing style They say you either die a hero, or live long enough to become the villain. At a feverish and hostile Alexandra Palace, the same crowd that cheered Luke Littler on as a 16-year-old boy now jeers him to victory as an 18-year-old man. The character arc has come full circle; the heel turn compl…

Leah Williamson made an OBE; four Lionesses are MBEs Torvill and Dean now a dame and a knight Sarina Wiegman has been awarded an honorary damehood after guiding England to back-to-back European titles , in a new year honours list dominated by the Lionesses and England’s victorious women’s rugby union team. The Red Roses’ World Cup success on home soil has led to the captain, Zoe Aldcroft, the vic…

Villa keep coming from behind, keep winning by the odd goal and keep confounding the numbers. At some point it must stop – but not yet It can’t go on. It makes no sense that it goes on. And yet it goes on. Aston Villa went into Saturday’s Premier Leage game at Chelsea having won 10 games in a row, looking to match a record set in 1897 and 1914. For an hour there seemed no chance they would achiev…

Doing a December double over Derby may have offered Leicester fans some festive cheer but it is unlikely to brook the longstanding resentment against a board whose treatment of staff over Christmas has only exacerbated ill will at the King Power Stadium. First-half goals from Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Jordan James sandwiched Rhian Brewster’s equaliser to earn manager Martí Cifuentes some respite …

Ipswich narrowed the gap on the Championship’s top two with an impressive 2-0 win at Coventry, ending the leaders’ unbeaten home record this season. Jack Clarke opened the scoring after 72 minutes and Wes Burns’ first goal since April 2024 doubled the visitors’ lead 11 minutes later. The Tractor Boys had started the day 13 points behind Frank Lampard’s team and five behind second-placed Middlesbr…

South Africa 3-2 Zimbabwe | Egypt 0-0 Angola Angola face wait to qualify but Zimbabwe out Oswin Appollis scored a penalty in the final 10 minutes to hand South Africa a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Monday and seal second spot in Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations, dumping their southern African rivals out of the tournament. South Africa finish with six points in the group, one behi…

From jaw-dropping tricks to scorpion kicks, flicks, solo efforts and more – enjoy our pick of 2025’s best goals The very definition of top bins: James Edmondson pops one right in the stanchion at Slough Town to help Macclesfield Town into the third round of the FA Cup. Continue reading...

United announce deal for 28-year-old forward Schüller has scored 54 goals for Germany Lea Schüller says it was Manchester United’s ambition that attracted her to the club, after signing for the Women’s Super League side on a three-and-a-half-year contract. The prolific Germany striker, who had six months left on her contract with Bayern Munich, will move to the English club on 1 January for an un…

More moments to savour, following reviews of 2014 , 2015 , 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021, 2022 , 2023 and 2024 Peter Moores grew up in Macclesfield, a northern town that would not feel out of place in Surrey. Maybe that upbringing bred his ability to fit in, find a way to communicate and always be of one’s place, regardless of where that place may be. Continue reading...

Erica Fox’s remains were found after nearly weeklong search, marking a rare shark-related fatality for California California firefighters have found the body of a California triathlete on a beach north-west of Santa Cruz, almost a week after she went missing amid speculation that she was killed by a shark. The remains of Erica Fox were found on Saturday, her father and husband confirmed to local …

Hot favourite makes all in Grade One Challow Hurdle Minella Yoga doubles up on sparkling day for trainer Days like these were once almost a weekly experience for Paul Nicholls, as he strung together one title-winning season after another, so the 14-time champion will have taken particular pleasure from his double here on Monday as No Drama This End, in the Grade One Challow Hurdle, and Minella Yo…

The Argentinian captain has his critics but is the leader and inspiration behind a team finding their feet again Leave it to a 20-year-old, with three Serie A starts under his belt, to provide a most perceptive analysis of the Italian top flight as we head into a new year. “The most difficult thing to do in this game,” said Francesco Pio Esposito on Sunday night, “is to stick the ball in the net.…

Max Rushden is joined by Jacob Steinberg, Sam Dalling and John Brewin as Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa all win at the top of the Premier League Continue reading...

Ownership of Frauen-Bundesliga is being taken over by the clubs, who want to keep pace with game in England “The reason we started this whole process was a fear of losing more and more the connection to the top,” says Katharina Kiel, the head of women’s football at Eintracht Frankfurt. Alongside her role at one of Germany’s more successful women’s football teams, Kiel was this month elected presi…

Tottenham open to doing business for £47.5m forward Semenyo primed to join Manchester City in £65m deal Bournemouth have identified Tottenham’s Brennan Johnson as a potential replacement for Antoine Semenyo, who is primed to join Manchester City in a deal worth £65m. City are accelerating talks with Semenyo’s camp and are at the front of the queue to trigger the Ghana winger’s release clause, ins…