The Guardian

Ancient Egypt finally carries owner’s hopes at Epsom three years after huge spending spree at the Sales Many great gambles have been landed in the Derby down the years, from John Bowes’ bet on his horse, West Australian, in 1853 that won the equivalent of more than £5m today, to Raymond Guest’s £500 each-way on Sir Ivor at 100-1, a few months before his victory in June 1968 as the 4-5 favourite. …

First semi-final at 1.30pm BST, Arnaldi v Cobolli to come Mail Katy | Andreeva routs Kostyuk to reach final Sinner. Alcaraz. Alcaraz. Sinner. Sinner. Alcaraz. Sinner. Alcaraz. Alcaraz … Zverev? With Jannik Sinner evaporating in the second-round heat and Carlos Alcaraz exiting before the tournament had even started, Alexander Zverev has known for nine long days that he may never get a better chanc…

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Head coach looks forward to leading Sweden at World Cup after reflecting on failures with Chelsea and West Ham If management has taught Graham Potter anything it is that there is no point in trying to run away from failure. “You’ve got to face the bad stuff,” the 51-year-old says as he thinks about how he recovered from bruising spells at Chelsea and West Ham. “The more you face it, the more chan…

The FA’s data-driven approach towards the World Cup is into its final stages as Tuchel’s side take on New Zealand “It was hot in ’94,” thundered Alexi Lalas, the former USA defender turned Fox Sports analyst, who starred for his country when they were the sole World Cup hosts that year. “And guess what? It’s going to be hot again this time.” Lalas’s booming address came last December at the draw …

The decision to extend Clarke’s contract before his side have proved they can finally progress to the knockouts could be a needless risk The summit of Scottish football provides a wonderful environment for those who value long-term career stops. Neil Doncaster, chief executive of the Scottish Professional Football League, arrived at the then Scottish Premier League in 2009. Ian Maxwell, bizarrely…

Updates from the second day of the series at Lord’s Sign up for The Spin | Follow us on TikTok | Mail Tanya Good morning and welcome to day two of the first Test of the summer, the morning after the evening before, when everyone staggered over the line at twenty past seven, punch drunk and 16 wickets poorer. It was a fast-food order of a first day, punchy innings from Harry Brook and Glenn Philli…

The league has been a launchpad for players such as Noah Caluori while showcasing the best English rugby has to offer The final round of the regular Prem season is nigh, with the playoffs yet to come. Here is the Guardian’s 2025-26 team of the season with players needing to have appeared in at least nine league fixtures to get the nod. Continue reading...

A new book looks at how rituals, charms and curses are central to the identity of America’s pastime It’s a Chicago legend, nurtured like a hot dog with everything except ketchup. During the 1945 World Series, local bar owner William Sianis brought his pet goat, Murphy, to a game between the hometown Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. Murphy was denied entry, because he smelled. Thus began the Curse of …

⚽️ Latest football news before a big weekend of action ⚽️ Get in touch: email Dave | And follow us on TikTok There’s only one place to start. The World Cup 2026: guide to all 1,248 players is a remarkable piece of work. Doffed cap to my colleagues who worked so hard to get this ready. It’ll take you a while to wade through so let’s get going straight away. How best to digest? Up to you. For some …

Women coaches routinely overlooked, undermined and denied opportunities despite qualifications, say experts Women are being shut out of careers in sport by entrenched sexism, discrimination and workplace bullying, MPs have been told. Female coaches are routinely overlooked, undermined and denied opportunities despite their qualifications, experts told a parliamentary select committee on Thursday.…

Inside New York’s notorious jail complex, nearly 2,000 incarcerated people watched Game 1 of the NBA finals, arguing calls, roasting celebrity fans and sharing in a rare citywide moment It’s nearly half past eight on Wednesday evening and approximately 30 men in tan uniforms drift into the common area of a housing unit deep inside the George R Vierno Center, an 850-bed jail and one of eight activ…

New manager achieved much at Bournemouth with style reminiscent of Jürgen Klopp’s counterpress There comes a point in most discussions when all the detail and complications fall away and the issue can be crystalised into a single straightforward question. For Liverpool that became: do they have more chance of challenging for the league title next season under Arne Slot or Andoni Iraola? Put like …

The Russian world title challenger and the controversial American have personal issues but similar ratings, and drew 4-4 with a win apiece and six draws Ian Nepomniachtchi, who won two Candidates tournaments but then lost world title matches to Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren, and Hans Niemann, whose controversial 2022 game with Carlsen is the subject of the Netflix documentary Untold: Chess Mates,…

Print out and fill in our brilliant wallchart and follow the 48 teams at the tournament in USA, Mexico and Canada • All of our World Cup coverage in one handy place Continue reading...