The Guardian

Rogers, Watkins and Saka on target in 3-0 victory ‘We didn’t get any energy back from the stands’ Thomas Tuchel said it was sad that England did not receive more support from the Wembley crowd during their emphatic 3-0 friendly win against Wales on Thursday night. The head coach was pleased to see his side maintain their good form, goals from Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Bukayo Saka inside th…

Twenty of the 48 places at the tournament have now been filled, including co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the USA Four of the nine automatic places have been filled, with the four best runners-up competing in November’s pan-African playoffs for one place in the intercontinental playoffs. Egypt Mohamed Salah scored twice as Hossam Hassan’s side beat Djibouti 3-0 on Wednesday in Casablanca and made up …

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England, seeded fifth among 40 teams at the start, were 12th at halfway, while England women, seeded 12th among 36, were 10th England’s open and women’s teams looked unlikely to contend for medals on Thursday, as this week’s European championships at Batumi, Georgia, passed the halfway mark. Leaders after five of the nine rounds: Open: 1 Ukraine 9 match points (12.5 game points), 2 Netherlands 8 …

Joe Montemurro names 24-player squad for Wales and England matches Stalwarts Katrina Gorry, Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord also back The hero of the Matildas’ World Cup quarter-final shootout victory over France, Cortnee Vine, makes her return to the national team alongside Sam Kerr as coach Joe Montemurro names a strong 24-player squad for friendlies against Wales and England. Kerr returns to th…

Philadelphia Eagles 17-34 New York Giants Rookie Cam Skattebo scores three TDs for Giants Cam Skattebo ran for three touchdowns as he and fellow rookie Jaxson Dart shone, and the New York Giants defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 34-17 on Thursday night to hand the defending Super Bowl champions their second consecutive loss. Skattebo bulldozed his way into the end zone from four yards out and twic…

Pitcher throws wide of home plate as Dodgers seal victory Los Angeles seal best-of-five series 2-1 and head to NLCS The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading back to the National League Championship Series after an extraordinary error from Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering ended his team’s season. With the scores tied at 1-1 and the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the 11th innin…

Win against Wales is over before it began, yet unbridled expectations are the enemy of any manager in this job Well, that was something new. On a sleepy, listless night of football-style product, Wales still managed to produce something daring and avant garde in the opening 20 minutes of this 3-0 England friendly win . It is often said football has reached some kind of end point, that there are n…

We must improve our product to survive, insists Baxter Exeter director of rugby wants top players in the Prem Rob Baxter has warned that English club rugby risks being undermined if the proposed R360 rebel league goes ahead. Exeter have just welcomed the top-class Australian centre Len Ikitau to Sandy Park and the Chiefs director of rugby believes the Prem will suffer a significant hit if such ou…

The former Wales and Pontypool scrum-half has written an autobiography on a life blighted by violence and reflects on the punch that ended his international career Imagine, for a moment, the following scenario. Having broken his neck in a freak rugby accident and avoided paralysis by a millimetre, the player concerned is back for a meeting with his spinal consultant. The specialist advice is crys…

Remembering where to be 365 days a year, even if it means the doping control officer pressing the doorbell at 6am, can weigh heavily on players During a particularly mischievous period of his life many years ago, a 21-year-old Gaël Monfils returned home from a long night of partying at 5:45am and after a quick dash to the bathroom, fell asleep. Minutes later, he was awoken by a doping control off…

For all the co-owner’s promises of three-year spells, the head coach will not survive this season without real signs of a revival The word from Manchester United insiders is that Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s headline-hogging declaration that three years is an apt timescale to judge Ruben Amorim is merely Sir Jim being Sir Jim, the self-made billionaire showing his anti-PR, maverick streak. While the debat…

Fifa president says Europe too hot for July competition Expansion of Club World Cup also being explored Gianni Infantino has opened the door to further winter World Cups and Club World Cups, saying football needs to “keep an open mind” about moving major tournaments away from the summer. Discussions are under way about the calendar for the period after 2030, which is a particular point of tension…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! On more than one occasion while speaking to the press on Wednesday, John O’Shea stressed the need for “a more Irish performance” when the international side he helps coach take on Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday. Considering the Republic of Ireland have been utterly hopeless in recent failed campaigns to make major tournaments, and currently sit …

The broadcaster’s opening week of coverage was not without its gaps and glitches but it aimed high with an impressive array of experts There was a new look and feel to the Women’s Champions League this week as live matches on Disney+ arrived. With the streaming platform embarking on a five-year deal, the tournament is in intriguing territory with a paywall, and audiences will be hoping for some D…