The Guardian

As the top flight returns, armed with the knowledge its serial champions have been the authors of a 10-year sham supremacy, the first question is simple: how is it going to feel? The internet: an apology. It turns out you were right. It was actually a simulation all along. Now, talk to me about chemtrails again. And yes, maybe Vinícius Júnior has been replaced by a handsome, baffled-looking waxwo…

World Cup qualifying playoff: Greece 1-3 England Stanway, Le Tissier and Russo on target England secured a 3-1 first-leg victory over Greece in their Women’s World Cup playoff tie but were unable to produce the convincing performance they would have hoped for, against a hugely unfancied Greek side. Georgia Stanway’s neat finish, Maya Le Tissier’s first England goal and Alessia Russo’s low strike …

Marcus Smith’s return from injury offers hope but Quins appear a fragile side beset by entrenched problems Speak to anyone who holds Harlequins close to their heart and a word that often comes up is “fragility”. Fragile in defence against Gloucester last weekend but mentally fragile too. The scars of recent seasons are deep and the problems entrenched. A club that is famed for its swagger has, in…

Goal averages are crumbling as players take fewer touches in the box and forwards underperform against xG Goals are on the up in the Premier League. The average of 2.70 non-penalty goals per game in 2026-27 is higher than last season and two of the four previous campaigns. Yet we should have been even more royally entertained. Matches have averaged 2.88 non-penalty expected goals, the second most…

James scores 10 points in 18-minute Sixers debut Jaylen Brown leads Philadelphia with 18 points Nets pull away in third quarter for 114-108 victory NBA superstar LeBron James delivered a solid first-half performance in his first pre-season game for Philadelphia on Thursday, but the new-look 76ers fell 114-108 to the Brooklyn Nets. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, announced in July that h…

Aces star wins record fifth WNBA MVP award Wilson becomes first player to win three straight Olivia Miles finishes second in MVP voting A’ja Wilson fine-tunes her shooting touch after every practice. That little bit of extra work has defined her greatness since being drafted first overall in 2018. On Thursday, she received a voice message from former US vice-president Kamala Harris congratulating…

The most memorable teams aren’t always the the most famous – and the key ingredients have remained the same for many years It is an entirely subjective question but still worth pondering as the autumn mists descend. What is the most inspiring rugby team you ever saw? Not the absolute best, necessarily, because that is too restrictive a filter. This is about sides who, in addition to stringing a f…

Principal denies bias towards Antonelli over Russell Verstappen takes pole in sprint qualifying in Singapore Toto Wolff has condemned accusations of bias in how he has managed his drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, with the Mercedes team principal describing those positing such theories as better off watching “Teletubbies or Mickey Mouse” rather than Formula One. With Antonelli leading Ru…

Winners at Newmarket and York lift Balding’s spirits Never So Brave wins Challenge Stakes at Newmarket Andrew Balding’s late run at a first success in the Flat trainers’ championship gained extra momentum as an across-the-cards double, including a 1-2 in the Group Two Challenge Stakes, carried him further clear of Aidan O’Brien before a potentially pivotal afternoon on Champions Day at Ascot next…

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Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! Many events have shaped the British people – the birth of punk, Brexit, Tony Hibbert’s first goal of his career ( in his own testimonial ) – where for better or worse, the genie cannot be put back into the bottle. We do not yet know how historians will view the Great International Break of 2026, but one thing is for sure: the world has changed. …

Hall of Famer led the 1985 Bears to the Super Bowl Coach was known for his fiery persona Mike Ditka, the legendary leader of the Chicago Bears who won a Super Bowl as both an NFL player and coach, has died at 86, his family announced Friday. “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka,” his family said in a statemen…

Opener’s painful duck gets tourists’ series off to bad start Renshaw and Cummins keep hosts’ attack at bay If we accept that sporting tenures are results-based, then the Australian selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide should be conferring with the coach Andrew McDonald to submit a mass resignation. The opening moments of the first Test in Durban were enough to return the predictable harvest…

As the Premier League returns, we dive into the signing who could boost United’s midfield – or confuse things further Carlos Baleba cost Manchester United $88.7m (£65m) plus $6.8m (£5m) in add-ons when they signed him from Brighton in August. He may be worth even more now despite the fact that the Cameroonian has yet to debut for his new club. Many United fans are counting on Baleba to be a one-m…