Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Two-time Major finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas has, at long last, announced his father Apostolos will no longer be coaching him after publicly criticising the 56-year-old after his straight-sets defeat by Kei Nishikori at the Canadian Open in Montreal this past week. Struggling for consistency and conscious younger rivals are progressing while he stagnates, what next for the 26-year-old? Continue reading “Tsitsipas cuts coaching ties with father Apostolos after Toronto exit – what now?”
Having begun pre-season training last week after his Euro 2024 exertions with eventual semifinalists Netherlands, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk made his club return during their 4-1 friendly win over La Liga side Sevilla and insisted he has confidence the Reds will make signings before the window closes next month – Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi is a priority target. Continue reading “van Dijk confident signings will come as Liverpool’s Zubimendi pursuit continues”
Bournemouth have sold their top goalscorer Dominic Solanke, a week before the start of the new Premier League campaign, after Tottenham’s club-record transfer offer satisfied expensive terms for Ange Postecoglou’s top summer target. The 26-year-old was unveiled before a pre-season defeat by Bayern, where longtime striker and all-time marksman Harry Kane ventured in 2023. Continue reading “Tottenham unveil Postecoglou’s prime target Solanke in club-record £65m move”
#8 ranked UFC heavyweight Marcin Tybura headlines this weekend’s under-the-radar Fight Night card in a Serghei Spivac rematch and the Pole, who was another of Tom Aspinall’s quick victims last year, revealed his surprise at the Brit’s latest stoppage win over longtime contender Curtis Blaydes. Continue reading “Tybura: UFC interim champ Aspinall proved he’s most dangerous heavyweight”
Terence Crawford’s weekend win in a fourth weight division means clamour around Vergil Ortiz Jr has cranked up a few notches before his main event matchup against WBC interim champion Serhii Bohachuk this Saturday night. The Ukrainian’s promoter, Tom Loeffler, has warned the 25-year-old’s team to stay sharp and not overlook his charge in a duel of world-level operators. Continue reading “Bohachuk’s promoter Tom Loeffler warns team Ortiz: stay focused before Saturday”
Although fans were hopeful of a final US Open appearance when his name featured on the entry list earlier this summer, 22-time Major champion Rafael Nadal today announced his withdrawal from the final Grand Slam tournament of 2024, with many fearing a retirement announcement is forthcoming. Continue reading “US Open 2024: Nadal confirms he’s not 100%, will not feature at year’s final Major”
Perhaps the best part of Callum Simpson’s career-best display was, after 12 competitive-but-clear rounds on home soil, outmanoevuring and outboxing Zak Chelli to win unified titles at 168lbs, came during his post-fight interview with the adrenaline pumping. He declared a desire to win the British title outright, called out unbeaten contender Mark Jeffers and it’s a refreshing sign of intent. Continue reading “Simpson flashed his local starpower in Barnsley as new British champ crowned”
Canada seek their first men’s basketball Olympic medal since clinching silver back in 1936 and know they must sustain their excellent group stage play to do so. The bulk of the focus surrounds Team USA for obvious reasons but as RJ Barrett and Dillon Brooks have played important support roles, Canada’s star guard leads by example – Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Continue reading “Olympics: SGA leading the way for Canada before France quarterfinal – of course he is”
Three weeks after being outplayed in the Wimbledon final, 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic avenged his disappointment with aplomb, producing an inspired display to skilfully outfox Carlos Alcaraz after two thrilling sets of tennis lasting just under three hours as the 37-year-old ended his career-long pursuit of Olympic gold for Serbia while making more individual history. Continue reading “Olympics: Djokovic clinches elusive gold medal after epic straight-sets Alcaraz win”
Terence Crawford went the 12-round distance for the first time in eight years on his debut in another new weight division but emerged stronger for it to become a four-division world champion after a competitive chess match against Israil Madrimov, seizing the WBA light-middleweight world championship and WBO interim title following their slow-burning headliner from LA’s BMO Stadium.
Continue reading “Crawford becomes four-weight world champion after edging beyond Madrimov”
Not two full years removed from seizing the vacant Central Area divisional title, rising unbeaten super-middleweight talent Callum Simpson gets what he’s been calling for on home soil: headlining a BOXXER show at Barnsley’s Oakwell football stadium, a week before the new season gets underway with British honours at stake against champion Zak Chelli in the 26-year-old’s first defence. Continue reading “Simpson keeping a cool head before Barnsley battle vs. British champ Chelli”
Team USA were dangerously close to a shock defeat by South Sudan in an pre-Olympics exhibition game, but this time there was a much different tone to their competitive contest in Paris on Wednesday clinching a quarter-final berth after a 103-86 victory over spirited underdogs with plenty of hidden gems. Continue reading “Olympics: Adebayo awesome as USA adjust, ease past South Sudan in rematch”
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