List of All Articles with Tag 'ball'

Notre Dame Jack Swarbrick revealed the reason why he is trying to convince the ACC to add Cal and Stanford.The Pac-12 currently features just four teams that aren't moving to a new conference in 2024 -- Stanford, Cal, Washington State, and Oregon State. With the Pac-12 seemingly on its last...

Pep Guardiola claims it is inevitable standards will drop at Manchester City following last season’s treble success. The City boss accepts it is unlikely his team will be able to match the intensity that saw them pick up the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League trophies last term as a new campaign begins. The Spaniard wants to make sure City pace their challenge for further silverware and is not even thinking about an end goal yet. “We are going to drop that’s for sure,” said Guardiola, whose side begin their quest for a sixth domestic title in seven years at Burnley on Friday. “It’s inevitable a little bit. We’ll try to avoid it as much as possible. Now it’s (about) not dropping too much – staying there, staying there, (being) close to our rivals. “Then try to, in the last four, five, or six months, try to do what we have done every season. I don’t want to do it now. That is my feeling. “Now, (it would be a) big mistake thinking about trophies and titles – big mistake.” Guardiola also does not want to set any targets for Erling Haaland in his second season at the club. The prolific Norwegian enjoyed an outstanding first year, firing 52 goals in just 53 appearances. Guardiola said: “I will advise him, don’t put much pressure on the goals. I said to Erling, come back at your best, physically and mentally. If you score, fine. If you don’t score, fine. “Try to improve in your details, in your quality and skills, and the team will help you as much as possible to score goals. I don’t want (to ask of) Erling to score 50 or 60. “Try to be happy like he was last season and relax. Afterwards, the goals will come naturally, don’t force it.” Concerns have been expressed this week about the potential impact on players of the edict for referees to be stricter when adding on added time. Guardiola himself felt the amount added in the Community Shield against Arsenal last weekend was excessive. He said: “Why eight minutes, not 12 or four? I don’t know exactly what happened. There was one goal and four or five substitutions but no injuries. “If you want to control it, do it like basketball – stop the clock. “If they are going to play the 10 minutes (extra) we are going to do it but, at the end we are going to play 41 games not 38 this season.” The continuing expansion of the football calendar, along with pre-season tours, is also further limiting players’ breaks. Guardiola said: “Many players asked me, ‘Give me more days off Pep’. I said I can’t. “It’s a problem. It’s getting worse – more games, more games and more than that. Players need to go to the theatre, cinema, park, the gardens, to do other things that aren’t to do with football.” Guardiola insists, however, that when it comes to his side’s additional showpiece fixtures this season – next week’s European Super Cup and the Club World Cup in December – he is honoured to be involved. “I love it,” he said. “I love to play the Super Cup. This club never won the Super Cup and of course to play the Club World Cup you have to win the Champions League. This opportunity is a pleasure.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Tom Pidcock criticised for bronze medal-winning move in mountain bike finale Harry Kane has fantasy managers on tenterhooks – Thursday’s sporting social England coach Steve Borthwick tells Henry Arundell to ‘trust his instincts’

Detroit Tigers streaker spotted hanging outside jail.

Manchester United face a decision whether to keep Dean Henderson after their third-choice goalkeeper Tom Heaton was ruled out for several weeks. United have been in talks with Nottingham Forest for weeks and were willing to allow the England international to leave after signing Andre Onana. But the veteran Heaton was injured in training and, while United are waiting to discover the full extent, he is certain to miss their first few fixtures. United said in a statement: “Tom Heaton is out of Manchester United’s Premier League season opener against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford on Monday. “The experienced goalkeeper sustained an injury in training that is still being assessed but he is expected to be unavailable for the first few weeks of the season.” If Henderson joins Forest, Heaton’s absence would leave United short of cover for Onana, with Matej Kovar expected to join Bayer Leverkusen. Forest manager Steve Cooper said that signing of Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner would not stop him in his attempts to bring Henderson, who was on loan last season, back to the City Ground. United have been discussing a loan with an option for a permanent deal. Read More West Ham agree deals for England pair Harry Maguire and James Ward-Prowse Wozniacki returns to tennis and new Man Utd threads – Tuesday’s sporting social Erik ten Hag wants two more signings as Manchester United reject £60m double offer

Alabama football has a potential quarterback issue looming for the 2023 season, but one lineman laid out how the Tide will avoid that problem.From 2016-18, the Alabama Crimson Tide had a top 10 rushing offense with Damien Harris and dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts in the fold.While Notre...

As both prepare for the FIBA World Cup, fansensured that Dillon Brooks heard it loud and clear during Team Canada's exhibition against Germany.During Wednesday's FIBA exhibition friendly, Team Canadafaced off against Team Germany at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin. This was a tune-up...

Golf Digest has published an excerpt from Billy Watters' upcoming book Gambler: Secrets from a Life at Risk. Walters was convicted of insider trading in 2017. H

Lauren James has been handed a two-game ban by Fifa after being sent off during England’s last-16 win over Nigeria, meaning she will miss both Saturday’s quarter-final with Colombia and the subsequent World Cup semi-final should her teammates progress. James was shown a red card after standing on Nigeria defender Michelle Alozie during the knockout game, which England won via a penalty shootout. The Chelsea forward was given an automatic one-match suspension and feared being ruled out of the tournament altogether, with Fifa typically increasing cases of “violent conduct” to a three-game ban. However, the governing body’s disciplinary committee showed some leniency and James could now return for the World Cup final, should England make it to the showpiece on Sunday 20 August in Sydney. James had apologised for the incident, posting in response to a tweet from Alozie: “All my love and respect to you. I am sorry for what happened. Also, for our England fans and my team-mates, playing with and for you is my greatest honour and I promise to learn from my experience.” James became the fourth England player to be sent off in a World Cup knockout match after David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and current Lionesses captain Millie Bright. England manager Sarina Wiegman admitted James had “lost her emotions” during a moment of indiscretion which could see the 21-year-old miss the remainder of the World Cup through suspension. Alozie had earlier tweeted in defence of James. “Abeg, rest,” she wrote. “We are playing on the world’s stage. This game is one of passion, insurmountable emotions, and moments. All respect for Lauren James.” And speaking on Thursday ahead of England’s quarter-final, teammate Beth England said the players had rallied around James. “Obviously she’s disappointed with what happened on the day,” England said. “It was a split second, emotional moment that happened. We’ve got around her. It is good that she’s acknowledged that and put her apology out ... we just move on from it now.” Read More Bethany England reveals ‘biggest danger’ facing Lionesses against Colombia Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today

Lauren James has been handed a two-match ban following her red card in England’s World Cup win over Nigeria. The Chelsea star was dismissed late in the second half for stamping on Nigeria forward Michelle Alozie following an altercation. FIFA said in a statement: “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed a two-match suspension on England’s player Lauren James following a violation of article 14 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code at the FIFA Women’s World Cup match England v Nigeria. “The suspension will be served for the Women’s World Cup quarter-final and the next international fixture following that.” It means James will be available for the tournament final should England progress that far. James already knew she would miss Saturday’s quarter-final against Colombia following her red card in the game, which England won on penalties. But fears she could be automatically ruled out for the rest of the tournament could prove unfounded if Sarina Wiegman’s side make it all the way to the final. Conceivably James, who apologised in the wake of the incident and has been publicly backed by Wiegman, would be available to return in the prospective August 20 showpiece in Sydney. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

The quarter-finals of the Women’s World Cup are set as England continue their preparations for Saturday’s clash with Colombia in Sydney. After a group stage of shocks and surprises, the tournament has reached its business end with several big names still standing. The Lionesses survived a scare to defeat Nigeria on penalties as Sarina Wiegman’s side reached the last eight, but they have now received news that star forward Lauren James is banned for two games after her red card in the last round, when she stamped on Michelle Alozie. The quarter-final action resumes tomorrow with a blockbuster pair of matches. First Spain will play Netherlands in an all-European clash, before Sweden face Japan, who have been the standout team at the World Cup so far. It’s England’s turn on Saturday as they face Colombia, after co-hosts Australia play France on what is set to be an electric night in Brisbane. Follow all the latest news from the Women’s World Cup in our live blog, below: Read More Women’s World Cup TV schedule: How to watch every match today Lauren James banned for two World Cup games by Fifa in blow to England Who and when do England play next? Lionesses route to the World Cup final

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a serious knee injury. The Belgium international is believed to have suffered the anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee in training and will undergo surgery in the coming days. A statement on Real’s official club website read: “Following tests carried out on Thibaut Courtois, the player has been diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The player will undergo surgery in the coming days.” The 31-year-old has made over 200 appearances for the club since joining from Chelsea in August 2018 and has been a near ever-present in the Spanish capital. Courtois produced a man-of-the-match performance in the 2022 Champions League final when Los Blancos beat Liverpool 1-0 in Paris. Spain international David De Gea, who was previously linked with a big-money move to the Santiago Bernabeu, could be an option for Carlo Ancelotti’s side after his contract at Manchester United expired earlier this summer. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Pep Guardiola feels it is “almost impossible” for Manchester City to repeat last season’s treble-winning heroics. City will begin the 2023-24 campaign as favourites in all competitions but Guardiola is not expecting a repeat of last term, when his side claimed Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup success. “It feels like it finished yesterday but we start again,” said the City manager, whose side travel to Burnley for their Premier League opener on Friday. “I don’t think it will be possible to do what we did last season, it’s once in a lifetime. I said to the players forget about it. “We climbed the highest mountain last season but we have come down that mountain now. We start from the same as everyone else, with the same intention and there will be a lot of difficulties to climb the mountain again. “What we have done remains in our hearts and minds but it’s over. “The history speaks for itself but it is almost impossible to repeat.” Guardiola, speaking at a press conference, was unwilling to comment on speculation linking the club with a move for West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta. He said: “I will not answer about Paqueta. He is a West Ham player.” The City boss also offered no updates on the situation concerning full-back Kyle Walker, who has been linked with Bayern Munich throughout the summer. “We are wishing he stays but there is no news,” Guardiola said. Another player who has been the subject of speculation is youngster Cole Palmer, who scored City’s goal in their Community Shield loss to Arsenal last weekend. The 21-year-old is reportedly the subject of a loan bid from West Ham. Guardiola said: “Cole is with us. Today he is with us. What is going to happen, I don’t know. “I understand completely that he wants to be more active than the previous season, but Riyad (Mahrez) has gone, so we have one more place there. “We will see. I cannot say anything because the last decisions belong to the club. The club have to decide what is best.” Friday’s trip to Turf Moor will see Guardiola come up against his former captain Vincent Kompany, who has guided the Clarets back to the top flight at the first attempt. Guardiola said: “Normally the first games are difficult, especially against newly-promoted teams because they have nothing to lose and the energy, the dream to do a good season. “Apart from that, Vinny knows us well and he is doing an incredible job. “He has changed the way Burnley play completely and they destroyed the Championship. It will be a tough, tough game.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live The key battles that could separate Leigh and Hull KR in the Challenge Cup final I’ll give absolutely everything – Edson Alvarez signs for West Ham from Ajax Zak Hardaker admits repaying Leigh coach for his faith would be ‘pretty special’