The Guardian

Mike Ditka, the fiery former NFL player and coach who led the Chicago Bears to their lone Super Bowl title and became one of the most recognizable figures in American sports, has died aged 86 Mike Ditka, legendary Chicago Bears head coach, dies at 86 Continue reading...

Australia fall 4-2 to world No 3 side in Karlsruhe Holly McNamara joins Kerr on scoresheet for Matildas For a moment, it felt like the Matildas were back. Ellie Carpenter took off down the right wing, eating up the metres with the ball at her feet, bouncing a pass off Hayley Raso before chipping a cross to the front post for Sam Kerr to angle into the far corner. Just ignore the fact it took 45 m…

Palmer pulled out of England squad due to injury Attacker available for Chelsea’s game with Bournemouth Xabi Alonso has said Cole Palmer is committed to playing for England and revealed Chelsea’s No 10 missed this international break with a problem related to the groin injury that kept him out for much of last season. Thomas Tuchel did not hide his disappointment with Palmer, who is fit to face B…

The QPR goalkeeper Pierce Charles made a stunning double save from a Jarrod Bowen penalty in stoppage time to secure a 1-1 draw at West Ham. The 21-year-old, who kept four clean sheets and saved a penalty for Northern Ireland over the international break, pulled off more heroics to deny the Hammers top spot in the Championship. Bowen had already equalised for West Ham, cancelling out a hugely con…

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 And yes, maybe Vinícius Júnior has been replaced by a handsome, baffled-looking waxwo…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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