List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Neymar is set to complete a move to the Saudi Pro League

Midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was the most notable absentee from the travelling party for Manchester City’s UEFA Super Cup clash with Seville after being struck down by a hamstring injury. De Bruyne limped out of Friday night’s 3-0 Premier League win at promoted Burnley with a recurrence of the problem which prompted his early withdrawal from last season’s Champions League final, and City boss Pep Guardiola later revealed the 32-year-old Belgium international would be sidelined for “a few weeks”. The club is yet to provide an update on the severity of the damage, but the midfielder’s name was conspicuous by its absence from the 22-man squad list for Wednesday night’s game in Athens when it was published on City’s official website on Monday afternoon. De Bruyne has been one of City’s key performers since his £55million arrival from Wolfsburg in August 2015, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished midfielders in world football. There was no place either for midfielder Bernardo Silva, the only other member of the matchday squad at Burnley who was not included, or central defender Ruben Dias, who was not involved in the opening league fixture under concussion protocols. Kalvin Phillips and Jack Grealish, who were unused substitutes at Turf Moor, did make it, as did the versatile John Stones, who sat out on Friday evening through injury. Squad (in number order): Kyle Walker, Kalvin Phillips, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Mateo Kovacic, Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Aymeric Laporte, Rodrigo, Stefan Ortega Moreno, Julian Alvarez, Sergio Gomez, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Ederson, Maximo Perrone, Scott Carson, Phil Foden, Oscar Bobb, Cole Palmer, Rico Lewis, James McAtee. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Harry Maguire has received a warning shot from his Manchester United manager hours before they play their first game of the season. Dutchman Erik ten Hag said of Maguire, who has also been a first choice centre back for England in recent years: “He has the ability to be a top-class centre-back.: The manager added: “He is the best for England so why shouldn't he be the best for us? Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter “But he has to prove it. When he is not confident enough to fight then he has to go, then he has to make a decision. But I'm happy with him.” Manchester United begin their Premier League season at home to Wolves tonight, with summer signings Mason Mount and Andre Onana likely to feature. The pair joined from Chelsea and Ajax respectively during a busy transfer window for Manchester United. The Red Devils have also signed Rasmus Hojlund, a 20-year-old Danish striker, from Italian club Atalanta. The chances of Maguire getting a game at Old Trafford appear slim, however. The defender is heavily linked with a move away from the club ahead of the transfer deadline. West Ham United are reportedly hoping to buy the England international, and Ten Hag believes the 30-year-old would be better off leaving Man United if he’s not confident enough to fight for a place in the first team. Maguire was back-up to Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez last season and made just 16 appearances. “One year ago we did a benchmark and there were only five players above £60m,” ten Hag added. “Now you see all over many clubs investing high rates in their squads. The competition is very tough in the Premier League but we are happy with the squad we constructed.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

James Harden appears determined to sever ties with the Philadelphia 76ers after the star guard called team President Daryl Morey a liar at a promotional event at China

Longtime Boston Bruins center David Krejci has announced his retirement at age 37 after 15 full seasons in the NHL

Spain take on Sweden and England face co-hosts Australia in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals. Here, the PA news agency looks at what the tournament statistics can tell us about the games ahead. Spain v Sweden The two top-scoring semi-finalists meet in Auckland on Tuesday, with Spain having scored 15 goals – matching eliminated Japan for the tournament high – and Sweden 11. The Scandinavians have actually had the fewest attempts on goal of any of the last four, just 62, but have the best conversion rate, having scored with 18 per cent of their shots. Four-goal defender Amanda Ilestedt is also the unlikely leading challenger to current Golden Boot leader Hinata Miyazawa, whose Japan side Sweden knocked out in the quarter-finals. Ilestedt aside, the statistics heavily favour Sweden. Among the semi-finalists, they rank first and Spain fourth for total shots and shots on target, ball progressions both attempted and completed, line breaks attempted and take-ons completed. Some hope for Sweden comes from Spain’s defensive record – their six goals conceded is at least twice as many as any of the other remaining teams. Japan scored four of those, and Miyazawa two, in a surprisingly one-sided final game in Group C – but having beaten the Nadeshiko, Sweden will be confident. They will also know they can respond if, as the statistics point to, they fall behind – Spain have scored nine goals in the first half of games but seven of Sweden’s 11 have come after the break. The two teams have each used 22 of their 23 available players, with only their respective third-choice goalkeepers Enith Salon and Tove Enblom yet to play a single minute in the tournament. Australia v England England and Australia, by contrast, have used only 17 players apiece and fatigue could be a factor in the second semi-final in Sydney. England’s 553 minutes played is the most in the tournament, closely followed by their opponents with almost 548 minutes. Five Australians and three England players have played every one of those minutes, with Australia naming nine of the same 11 starters in every game – goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and the back four of Ellie Carpenter, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy and Steph Catley, plus Hayley Raso, Katrina Gorry, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord – and England six. Working in England’s favour in that regard could be the distance the respective teams have covered. Their 562.3km is 2.5km lower than any other semi-finalist, with Australia once more ranking second in that regard, and England also have the lowest proportion of that spent sprinting or “high-speed running” at 27 per cent, according to FIFA’s official statistics, and the highest proportion of walking at 39 per cent. England have scored 10 goals to Australia’s nine and are the most accurate shooters of the remaining teams, with 44 per cent of their efforts on target, while Australia are least accurate at 30 per cent. The co-hosts have had more total shots, 76 to England’s 68, but have allowed 64 at the other end compared to just 52 on Mary Earps’ goal. Expect England to have the bulk of the possession – they have attempted and completed over 1,000 more passes than Australia, 2,691 of 3,100 compared to 1,584 of 2,061. Australia are only the second country to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup as host nation, following the United States who won the 1999 final at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl and were also semi-finalists in 2003.

Two of the most divisive fighters in the UFC will clash this weekend, as Aljamain Sterling faces Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 292. Grappling specialist Sterling will defend his bantamweight title in the highly-anticipated bout, as the Jamaican-American looks to build upon wins over Petr Yan, TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo – all former champions. Meanwhile, O’Malley has become a fan favourite due to his impressive striking and his confidence in it, and his profile has arguably fast-tracked him to a title shot. The American did, however, overcome an ex-champion in Yan last year, albeit via a controversial decision. In the co-main event, two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends her title against Amanda Lemos. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The prelims are set to begin at 1am on Sunday 20 August (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday), with the main card following at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Full card (subject to change) Aljamain Sterling (C) vs Sean O’Malley (bantamweight title) Zhang Weili (C) vs Amanda Lemos (women’s strawweight title) Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz (bantamweight) Neil Magny vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight) Cody Garbrandt vs Mario Bautista (bantamweight) Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz (bantamweight) Chris Weidman vs Brad Tavares (middleweight) Gregory Rodrigues vs Denis Tiuliulin (middleweight) Austin Hubbard vs Kurt Holobaugh (lightweight) Andre Petroski vs Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight) Andrea Lee vs Natalia Silva (women’s flyweight) Karine Silva vs Maryna Moroz (women’s flyweight) Read More Conor McGregor confirms UFC return and three-fight plan Anthony Joshua takes swig of Conor McGregor’s Irish stout after Helenius knockout Conor McGregor calls out KSI for bare-knuckle fight after Anthony Joshua wins by KO How to watch UFC 292 online and on TV this weekend When is the next UFC event? UFC schedule 2023: Every fight happening this year

Aljamain Sterling will defend his UFC bantamweight title against Sean O’Malley in the main event of UFC 292 this weekend. O’Malley’s rise has been a curious one, with the striking specialist attracting a strong following over the last six years but finding himself in this title fight without having faced the stiffest competition. The American did win a controversial decision against former champion Petr Yan in October, but his more testing match-ups before that did not inspire as he would have hoped; “Sugar Sean” suffered a TKO against Marlon Vera, before fighting Pedro Munhoz to a No Contest. Meanwhile, Sterling has proven a divisive champion since taking the belt from Yan via DQ. He has won narrow decisions against the Russian and Henry Cejudo, and he stopped another former champion last year in an injured TJ Dillashaw. In any case, the Jamaican-American is the favourite in Boston this weekend, with his grappling skills expected to trump O’Malley’s striking. In the co-main event, two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends her title against Amanda Lemos. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? UFC 292 takes place on Saturday 19 August, at the TD Garden in Boston. The prelims are set to begin at 1am on Sunday 20 August (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday), with the main card following at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Odds Sterling – 2/5; O’Malley – 2/1 Zhang – 2/7; Lemos – 13/5 Via Betway. • Get all the latest UFC betting sites offers Full card (subject to change) Aljamain Sterling (C) vs Sean O’Malley (bantamweight title) Zhang Weili (C) vs Amanda Lemos (women’s strawweight title) Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz (bantamweight) Neil Magny vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight) Cody Garbrandt vs Mario Bautista (bantamweight) Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz (bantamweight) Chris Weidman vs Brad Tavares (middleweight) Gregory Rodrigues vs Denis Tiuliulin (middleweight) Austin Hubbard vs Kurt Holobaugh (lightweight) Andre Petroski vs Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight) Andrea Lee vs Natalia Silva (women’s flyweight) Karine Silva vs Maryna Moroz (women’s flyweight) Read More Conor McGregor confirms UFC return and three-fight plan Anthony Joshua takes swig of Conor McGregor’s Irish stout after Helenius knockout Conor McGregor calls out KSI for bare-knuckle fight after Anthony Joshua wins by KO

Rising star Sean O’Malley will challenge Aljamain Sterling for the UFC bantamweight title this weekend, as the pair headline UFC 292. O’Malley’s crisp and flashy striking has seen him win over a lot of fans, though his personality has proven divisive. In any case, the American has managed to set up a title shot without going through the wringer that many fighters do, in large part due to his profile. “Sugar Sean” did, however, take on ex-champion Petr Yan last year, edging past the Russian with a controversial decision win. Sterling also divides fans but is crafting an impressive resume, which features successful title defences against Yan, TJ Dillashaw and Henry Cejudo – all former champions. The Jamaican-American’s grappling skills are expected to be the difference this weekend, though he must beware O’Malley’s ability to produce a one-punch knockout. In the co-main event, two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili defends her title against Amanda Lemos. Here’s all you need to know. When is it? The prelims are set to begin at 1am on Sunday 20 August (5pm PT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET on Saturday), with the main card following at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. Full card (subject to change) Aljamain Sterling (C) vs Sean O’Malley (bantamweight title) Zhang Weili (C) vs Amanda Lemos (women’s strawweight title) Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz (bantamweight) Neil Magny vs Ian Machado Garry (welterweight) Cody Garbrandt vs Mario Bautista (bantamweight) Marlon Vera vs Pedro Munhoz (bantamweight) Chris Weidman vs Brad Tavares (middleweight) Gregory Rodrigues vs Denis Tiuliulin (middleweight) Austin Hubbard vs Kurt Holobaugh (lightweight) Andre Petroski vs Gerald Meerschaert (middleweight) Andrea Lee vs Natalia Silva (women’s flyweight) Karine Silva vs Maryna Moroz (women’s flyweight) Read More Conor McGregor confirms UFC return and three-fight plan Anthony Joshua takes swig of Conor McGregor’s Irish stout after Helenius knockout Conor McGregor calls out KSI for bare-knuckle fight after Anthony Joshua wins by KO What time does UFC 292 start in UK and US this weekend? How to watch UFC 292 online and on TV this weekend When is the next UFC event?

Newcastle new boy Sandro Tonali announced himself in the Premier League with a stunning debut in Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Aston Villa. However, the £52million former AC Milan midfielder is not the first Italian to make an early impact, for better or for worse, in England’s top flight. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at how he and some of his predecessors fared in their first appearances. Sandro Tonali Newcastle invested heavily in 23-year-old Italy international Tonali this summer and he wasted little time in starting to pay off his fee. He scored six minutes into his competitive debut at St James’ Park and went on to produce a fine individual display to inspire the Magpies to a victory which suggested they picked up where they left off at the end of the previous campaign. Fabrizio Ravanelli Former Juventus frontman Ravanelli made perhaps the most eye-catching debut of all the Premier League’s Italian stars after swapping Turin for Middlesbrough in a £7million move. The man known as “The White Feather” plundered a hat-trick in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool at the Riverside Stadium on the opening day of the 1996-97 season, in the process unveiling his trademark shirt-over-head celebration to a new audience. Attilio Lombardo Promoted Crystal Palace raised eyebrows with the £1.6million swoop for Lombardo, who had played a key role in Juventus’ Serie A title win the previous season, during the summer of 1997. Dubbed “The Bald Eagle” by Palace supporters, he made his Premier League bow on August 9 in a 2-1 victory at Everton in which he scored the opening goal and swiftly endeared himself to the Eagles faithful with an inspirational display. Massimo Taibi Goalkeeper Taibi’s arrival at Manchester United came amid an injury crisis following the departure of treble-winning Peter Schmeichel with Mark Bosnich and Raimond Van Der Gouw both unavailable. The £4.5m signing from Venezia endured mixed fortunes on his debut at Liverpool in September 1999, his error allowing Sami Hyypia to drag the home side back into the game before he made late saves to deny Vladimir Smicer and Robbie Fowler and secure a 3-2 victory in which Jamie Carragher scored two own goals. Bernardo Corradi Former Inter Milan, Lazio and Valencia striker Corradi arrived at Manchester City during the summer of 2006, but his career in England got off to a bad start and went downhill from there. He made his debut in a 3-0 defeat at Chelsea in which he was sent off for two bookable offences – and took 13 games to score the first of just three goals for the club before eventually being released with a year of his contract remaining.

BERLIN A decision on which new sports will be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics is likely

England midfielder Keira Walsh insists the Lionesses are not thinking about the Australian hearts they would break if they eliminate the World Cup co-hosts in Wednesday’s Sydney semi-final. Australia reached the final four for the first time after beating France in a thrilling penalty shootout, while this will be England’s third crack at advancing to the final of the global showpiece – a feat they have yet to accomplish. The fervour with which Australians have embraced their side has grown at a frenetic pace, culminating with thousands gathering in fan parks across the country to watch the quarter-final and millions more breaking viewing records on TV. Walsh said: “Whatever game I play, I want to win. It doesn’t matter who you are playing against. For us, I wouldn’t say we are thinking about spoiling the party. “I think it is just another game and a massive game at that. We are just fully focused on trying to reach a World Cup final, regardless of who we are playing. I think obviously with the support from Australia it is going to be a little bit different for them in that sense. “I think we have seen that the (England) girls are ready to fight. “Obviously, when the whistle ends it is a different story, but I think in the game the girls are very aware of what the game is going to be like, what the stadium is going to be like. I think, for us, we are more than ready for it.” Sydney’s Stadium Australia, where England beat Colombia in the last eight, seats over 75,000 fans, the majority of whom are expected to support the hosts. We are just fully focused on trying to reach a World Cup final, regardless of who we are playing Keira Walsh In that sense, the Lionesses’ 2-1 comeback victory over Colombia to reach this stage served as an excellent dress rehearsal, their fans another sea of raucous yellow who equally viewed England as public enemy number one. Walsh, who in just over a year has secured both the Euro 2022 trophy with England and the Champions League title with Barcelona, said dampening the mood with a goal or two could help the Lionesses take control of the narrative. She said: “(The crowd) was massive for us at the Euros, especially in the final. There are those moments where the opposition could score and it shifts momentum sometimes when you’re playing, it gives you an extra push when you know the crowd is behind you. “But also when you can quieten the crowd it is a very nice feeling. I think for us trying to take the momentum out of the game is going to be important. There are positives and negatives for both. We have experienced both.” Walsh missed England’s third group-stage encounter against China after sustaining a knee injury in the first half of their 1-0 victory over Denmark. At the time it was feared the issue could be tournament-ending, like the anterior cruciate ligament injuries that prevented Euro 2022 captain Leah Williamson and Golden Boot winner Beth Mead from joining Sarina Wiegman’s World Cup squad. It turned out not to be as serious as initially suspected, and the 26-year-old returned to play 120 minutes of England’s last-16 victory over Nigeria, which the Lionesses ultimately won 4-2 on penalties. Williamson has now made the trip to Australia and was in the stands for the Lionesses’ Colombia victory. “It’s a massive boost for the team,” Walsh added. “To see her supporting us on the opposite side of the world, it’s not an easy flight. “I think it kind of shows what she feels about this team. The first time I saw her she was actually standing outside my hotel room waving. “She didn’t want to distract us on game day, so she kind of just stood outside and waved from there. “To get the win and celebrate with her afterwards, I mean I imagine it’s not easy for her to watch those games because she would want to be playing in them, so I think for us we really appreciate her support. “I think it shows what a good character and what type of person she is that she’s able to do that for us.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Andy Murray returns to Great Britain’s Davis Cup team for Finals Group Stage Chelsea loan goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to Real Madrid Steven Finn retires from cricket after ‘admitting defeat’ in injury battle