John Stones blow dampens Manchester City joy at Champions League progress
Manchester City defender John Stones is facing a lay-off after suffering an injury in the holders’ Champions League stroll against Young Boys on Tuesday. The England international was withdrawn at half-time at the Etihad Stadium. Manager Pep Guardiola described the loss of Stones as the “deep bad news” from a night when City secured their place in the last 16 for an 11th successive year with an otherwise straightforward 3-0 win. Guardiola said: “It’s muscular, he is injured, so he’ll be a while out. It is a pity for him because he’s an incredible professional. “He tried to do it but it’s bad news for us. It’s the deep bad news for tonight.” The news is a further blow for Stones, who has already missed two months of the season with a hamstring problem. Fellow defender Manuel Akanji also missed the game after a blow to the back in training but, despite looking “75 years old” in Guardiola’s words, the manager added “hopefully it will not be a big issue and he could be ready for Sunday”. One player apparently untroubled was Erling Haaland, who made light of the ankle problem that curtailed him on Saturday to score two of City’s goals in a one-sided encounter with the Swiss champions. Phil Foden also got on the scoresheet as City won their fourth Group G game in succession to secure progress with two games to spare. Guardiola said of Haaland, who was substituted on the hour: “Yesterday we saw how he moved and how happy he was and he felt good. I said, OK and for us he’s so important. “After the job was almost done, he took a rest for (the game against Chelsea on) Sunday.” Guardiola was pleased with his side’s achievement but, with RB Leipzig three points behind, maintained he would not ease up until top spot in the group was secured. He said: “We’ve already qualified but still the job is not done because we have to finish first. It’s better to have the second leg in the last 16 at home than away because at home we feel confident. “Still you have a job to do but the first step is done and I’m really impressed.” It was a miserable night for Young Boys, who ended the game with 10 men after Sandro Lauper was sent off for a second bookable offence. Coach Raphael Wicky said: “We’re obviously not happy. We’re not happy with the performance we’ve made but we know it’s very difficult to get something here. “We knew if we want to get a point or a win, we needed to have the perfect game. “I saw some good stuff in the first half but it’s very difficult to defend against Man City. They always have chances.” Read More Eddie Howe knows Newcastle need two wins to keep Champions League hopes alive Jacob Neestrup: Parken atmosphere is 100 times more intense than Old Trafford FA asks Mikel Arteta and Arsenal for observations after referee comments Tragedy chanting causes ‘unbearable pain’ and must stop – Margaret Aspinall ‘Just ridiculous’ – A closer look at Glenn Maxwell’s remarkable double century Wales’ Sam Costelow out until new year with shoulder and hamstring injuries
2023-11-08 08:22
F1 LIVE: FP3 latest updates ahead of qualifying as Max Verstappen sets pace and Lewis Hamilton airs concerns
The Formula 1 roadshow reaches Barcelona after Red Bull’s Max Verstappen survived a mid-race downpour to win the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso last weekend. The Dutchman now leads Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ championship by 39 points after the Mexican had a disastrous, point-less weekend. Fernando Alonso came second in Monaco and will be eyeing a 33rd F1 victory - and his first for 10 years - at his home race as the paddock takes to the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya for the Spanish Grand Prix. Verstappen set the early pace on Friday, topping both practice sessions in Barcelona, while the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell will be eyeing an improved weekend too in their revamped cars. Follow all the action from Barcelona as the teams go through their final practice run and qualifying: Read More Max Verstappen sets the pace again at Spanish Grand Prix but little to cheer for Lewis Hamilton Lewis Hamilton says he will ‘struggle to get into top 10’ at Spanish Grand Prix Fernando Alonso eyes statement home victory, a decade on from his last triumph
2023-06-03 18:18
Open Championship picks 2023: Expert picks, best bets for Royal Liverpool
The Open Championship picks and best bets for the 2023 tournament at Royal Liverpool as we have outrights, Top 10s and more PGA Tour expert picks.Set the coffee pot, it's Open Championship week as we head to Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, where Rory McIlroy captured what has shocking...
2023-07-17 22:59
Cardinals-Yankees restart time: Cardinals rain delay update in St. Louis on July 1
The Cardinals and Yankees were forced into a rain delay in the seventh inning of their July 1 double-header. Check here for updates on the restart.The Cardinals were absolutely throttling the Yankees on Saturday when mother nature called "Uncle!"With the first game of a doubleheade...
2023-07-02 05:22
Wales hopeful of arranging friendly against world champions Argentina
Wales are in talks to play world champions Argentina. Lionel Messi and company have been lined up as potential opponents for the Dragons with Wales keen to play Argentina in Cardiff or Patagonia, where thousands of Welsh emigrants settled in the 19th century. “There is an ongoing discussion between us and them,” Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney said about a possible friendly between the two nations. “We spoke to them in the last few days about playing in Cardiff. “I met the Argentinian ambassador when he was in Cardiff talking to the Welsh Government. “I used the opportunity to talk to him about the opportunity for Wales to go down to play in Argentina. He was excited by the idea, although he obviously he doesn’t decide who plays who.” Wales have played only once at Cardiff’s 74,500-capacity Principality Stadium since 2011 – a friendly against former European and world champions Spain in October 2018 – and many Dragons’ fans dislike the idea of playing at the home of Welsh rugby. But Wales will return to Principality Stadium should UK and Ireland win their bid to host Euro 2028 in Switzerland next month – and the Dragons qualify for the tournament. The Principality Stadium is among 10 venues to be used across five nations should the UK and Ireland bid be successful. Mooney said: “You’d have to assume we’d need to play some matches there before the competition to get spectators and players used to it. “We haven’t thought that much about it, but what I can say is that we know who we’d like to play if we had to – World Cup winners Argentina. “We may not be at the very top of their queue, but if you look at Patagonia and the relationship between the two countries it would be great. We’d love to do it. “There is a connection and history between us and Argentina because of the Patagonian links and the Welsh people who settled there. “I could feel from the Argentine ambassador that warmth they have behind Wales and I’d love to see Lionel Messi playing in Cardiff.” Patagonia is at the southern end of Argentina – around 1,000 miles from the capital Buenos Aires – and in 2006 the Wales rugby team played at Puerto Madryn, a city founded by Welsh settlers in 1865. Wales and Argentina have only met twice before, with their last fixture being a 2002 friendly at the Principality Stadium when Craig Bellamy scored in a 1-1 draw against the South Americans. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Consistency the key for Vincent Kompany as he bids to lift Burnley Courtney Lawes says ‘selfless’ England will play to strengths at World Cup Steven Davis ‘very honoured’ to become Rangers interim boss
2023-10-03 05:54
Moreno singles in winning run, Diamondbacks beat Cubs 7-6 in 13 innings
Gabriel Moreno singled to right to score Evan Longoria in the 13th inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied to beat the Chicago Cubs 7-6 on Saturday night
2023-09-17 13:29
Sexton's boot and Springbok forward power a potent World Cup cocktail
Ireland and South Africa will meet for the first time in a Rugby World Cup on Saturday in a blockbuster that pitches the world number...
2023-09-22 10:29
Connected Club Cup 2023 introduces first ever women's FIFA tournament
The Connected Club Cup 2023 is introducing a women's tournament for the first time.
2023-05-18 20:27
White Sox manager Grifol ejected in 6th inning vs Dodgers
Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol was ejected in the sixth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers
2023-06-15 12:56
Improve your stroke with this golf simulator, on sale for $190
TL;DR: As of July 13, you can get the TruGolf Mini Golf Simulator for just
2023-07-13 17:54
England can benefit from Harry Kane’s move to Bayern Munich – Gareth Southgate
Gareth Southgate believes England can benefit from Harry Kane’s move to Germany – especially if his captain goes on to lift the first silverware of his career at Bayern Munich. Kane, 30, swapped boyhood club Tottenham for the Allianz Arena in a deal that could be worth £100million. He had been linked with a move away from Spurs for the past few summers, including while heading into tournaments as England skipper. Now Kane’s future has been sorted, during a year where England were not relying on his goals, Southgate is pleased to see him hit the ground running at Bayern. “I definitely think from a selfish England perspective it’s good that his future’s settled now for the next few years,” the England manager said. “I think potentially that can be a distraction for players. But also it’s good for him that he’s got to go and perform at a new club now. He’s been at one club for so long. “To have a change means you’ve got to impress new team-mates, new staff, new fans and also there’s the life experience of having the breadth of adjusting to a new country. I think there’s a lot of positives there.” I’m not sure that he’s going to become a better player but there might be other aspects of the mentality that this move will help him with Gareth Southgate As England and Tottenham’s all-time leading goalscorer, Kane has already hit three goals in his first two Bundesliga appearances and will be aiming to win trophies this season to break his duck. He lost two League Cup finals and the 2019 Champions League final at Tottenham but, with Bayern having won the last 11 Bundesliga titles, Kane could finally get his hands on a winners’ medal. “I’m sure for his own belief that would be brilliant,” Southgate added. “I’m not sure that he’s going to become a better player but there might be other aspects of the mentality that this move will help him with. “They’re probably the bits that as you get older are the only bits you can improve upon. “I think the Bundesliga is a bit different to some of the other leagues we’ve talked about, a bit more transitional. “There is an intensity to that. We’ll have all the data on that from training sessions and matches, so we’re able to track that really closely. “I think the big difference for Harry this year will be that there’s going to be a lot of games where they’re very dominant and in the opposition third of the pitch, so I think there will be a lot more play for him in penalty box I suspect than he had in the last couple of seasons.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Erik ten Hag tips Rasmus Hojlund to have ‘very good impact’ at Manchester United Rob Page will not be ‘influenced by negativity’ ahead of critical Wales period Mikel Arteta hails Eddie Nketiah’s fight to play for England after first call-up
2023-09-03 06:20
No. 8 Florida State and its returning stars have a chance to gain early foothold in CFP chase
Florida State probably won’t have to wait until December to learn its fate regarding the College Football Playoff
2023-08-17 00:51
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