Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Merely three weeks after the conclusion of this season’s French Open finals, we’re onto another surface on grass and Major tournament as SW19 gets underway proper this coming Monday. Before then, the draws for both tours was confirmed today so here’s a news round-up – one prominent player’s sad farewell and the return of a former world no. 1 – as well as my draw analysis. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Main draw set – Djokovic, Rybakina + more find their fate”
Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Milan have all been linked with an approach to sign Chelsea’s out-of-favour winger Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer, after the 22-year-old’s unspectacular loan spell at Bayer Leverkusen this past season. Continue reading “Fulham, Forest and Milan all linked with move for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi”
After undisputed super-middleweight world champion Canelo Álvarez recently signed a three-fight deal with PBC, kicking off against unbeaten middleweight titleholder Jermall Charlo in September, WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol has been left in the lurch as far as his next plans are concerned. Continue reading “WBA light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol eyes October return, after Canelo rematch talks collapse”
Ajla Tomljanovic, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in consecutive seasons, has announced she won’t feature at SW19 this year as the year’s third Major comes too soon to return from a persistent knee injury that has stopped her from competing in any events this term. Elsewhere, the women’s defending champion Elena Rybakina remains a doubt after an Eastbourne withdrawal. Continue reading “Wimbledon 2023: Tomljanovic remains out with knee issue, Rybakina’s virus persists”
Having only played 13 minutes – a Champions League cameo on MD1 vs. Napoli – on a season-long loan deal from Juventus that quickly soured at Liverpool, Roberto de Zerbi is reportedly leading the charge for his Brighton side to offer Arthur Melo a second opportunity at Premier League football, bolstering their midfield with more shrewd signings as European adventures await next term. Continue reading “After Dahoud and Milner deals, Brighton may offer injury-stricken Arthur a chance”
Reports in Spain today have revealed world no. 7 Coco Gauff has added Pere Riba to her coaching staff ahead of Wimbledon, having split with Diego Moyano due to the Spaniard’s personal issues just before the clay swing began in April. Continue reading “Coco Gauff adds new coach Pere Riba to her team, ahead of Wimbledon”
A deep cut above his left eye means he won’t be back sparring again until August, but it appears newly-crowned WBO world cruiserweight titlist Chris Billam-Smith will have a voluntary title defense on home soil later this year. Continue reading “Mateusz Masternak frontrunner for Billam-Smith’s first world title defence, October mooted”
The Champions League semifinalists could cause an internal riot by sanctioning a record-breaking departure of a prized asset in their central midfielder this summer, currently captaining the Azzurini in Romania as their U21 European Championship campaign got underway yesterday.
Continue reading “Newcastle’s fast-growing pursuit of Sandro Tonali says plenty for both sides”
Former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker predicted Jared Cannonier would win last weekend’s main event matchup against Marvin Vettori, in a battle of two contenders he’s previously beaten. However, he spoke of his surprise at how things played out – something that has been brewing for a while as far as the Italian is concerned. Continue reading “Whittaker surprised by Cannonier’s dominant win vs. Vettori – he shouldn’t be”
WBO president Paco Válcarcel confirmed last week that Teofimo Lopez is relinquishing the lineal light-welterweight world titles he won over Josh Taylor the previous Saturday, as the 25-year-old is following through with his retirement claim – at least in the interim – as issues outside the ring require his undivided attention.
Continue reading “What Lopez’s retirement means for 140lb division, as Prograis squeezes past Zorrilla”
Having come close in Surbiton the week before, Britain’s new number one Katie Boulter beat a quartet of compatriots – including Jodie Burrage in Sunday’s final – clinching a maiden WTA Tour-level title at her home tournament in Nottingham. As she conceded afterwards, a career-high attainment this week cannot be understated but consistency is key, starting today in Birmingham. Continue reading “After Sunday’s Nottingham triumph, Katie Boulter must maintain her momentum”
It’s been a week and change since Beneil Dariush’s eight-fight win streak was soundly snapped inside a round by the returning Charles Oliveira, emphatically making his claim for another lightweight championship challenge at UFC 289. The perennial contender and a highly-regarded coach gave their views on what a rematch would look like, against reigning champion Islam Makhachev. Continue reading “UFC 289: Dariush, coach Firas Zahabi give their say on Makhachev-Oliveira rematch”
Mo and Sports 