Maiden title for Molinari as Clarke clinches Open spot July 11, 2010 ITALIAN Edoardo Molinari held off the challenge of his brother Francesco and Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke to claim his first European Tour title in the Scottish Open. The 29-year-old limped to a two-shot victory despite a shooting a final-round 74 at a blustery Loch Lomond. Clarke did even worse, carding a disappointing 76, but his [...]
WORLD CUP XI July 11, 2010 Iker Casillas (Spain) Showed his experience and class when called upon and proved why he is rated as the best keeper in the world. Philipp Lahm (Germany) At 26, became Germany’s youngest-ever captain and led the young side expertly in a memorable campaign. Gerard Pique (Spain) Has grown in stature and blossomed alongside Puyol for [...]
Brits wrap up 5-0 Davis Cup whitewash July 11, 2010 BRITISH tennis finally had something to cheer yesterday after the Davis Cup team completed a 5-0 whitewash over Turkey in their Europe/Africa Group II play-off at Eastbourne. Leon Smith’s team, without British No1 Andy Murray, had already built up an unassailable 3-0 lead, before Jamie Baker and James Ward sealed victory with easy singles victories [...]
SPORT | IN BRIEF July 11, 2010 Armstrong Tour hopes dashed CYCLING: Lance Armstrong’s hopes of winning an eighth Tour de France are all but over after just lost more than 11 minutes in a disastrous eighth stage in the mountains. The American fell twice after losing contact with the leading group, and now finds himself 13.26 minutes behind overall leader Cadel [...]
Spain’s diet of success July 8, 2010 HOLLAND vs SPAIN WHEN Holland take on Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final in Johannesburg they will come up against not just a highly accomplished team, but a whole culture of success. The Dutch are not short of players who have plied their trade across Europe, while the national team boast a 25-match unbeaten run. [...]
KEY AREAS July 8, 2010 HOLLAND versus Spain going head-to-head in the biggest showpiece of them all throws up the prospect of a feast of free-flowing football and a number of fascinating individual battles. For the purists, it’s the ultimate final as, arguably, the two most successful nations never to have won a World Cup lock horns. But where will [...]
Dutch ace Sneijder snubs £30m Man United transfer July 8, 2010 HOLLAND star Wesley Sneijder has scuppered Manchester United’s bid to sign him by pledging his future to Inter Milan. Sir Alex Ferguson targeted the £30m-rated playmaker after being impressed by his starring role at the World Cup and Inter’s Champions League triumph. But the Dutch No10 has turned his back on a move to Old [...]
Hodgson expects Gerrard stay after intitial talks July 8, 2010 LIVERPOOL manager Roy Hodgson has declared himself confident Steven Gerrard will stay at Anfield after holding talks with the unsettled captain for the first time. Gerrard, 30, is wanted by Real Madrid and is thought to be weighing up his future after more than a decade at Liverpool. But Hodgson, who succeeded Rafael Benitez as [...]
MCLAREN: IS IT TRUE?BROMANCE? July 8, 2010 FORMULA 1 2010 IT’S been played down as friendly rivalry thus far, but if it comes down to a sprint finish to take the chequered flag in the British Grand Prix on Sunday, rest assured they’ll be no pleasantries in the McLaren cockpits of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button. One-two in the drivers’ championship, all [...]
Steely Bell chimes again as England cruise to easy win July 8, 2010 IAN BELL marked his return to the one-day side with a match-winning knock as England cruised to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the first of their three-match series. The Warwickshire batsman, making his first ODI appearance since November 2008, followed up his 158 for the Lions against India A on Tuesday with a splendid [...]