Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
Rafael Nadal’s slow start to the 2023 season continued as home favourite Alex de Minaur became the latest to mount a stirring comeback against the reigning Australian Open champion in the United Cup, while Alexei Popyrin and Linda Noskova were just a few with surprise victories elsewhere as the main draw of other tournaments continued to unfold today. Continue reading “Popyrin powers past Auger-Aliassime, De Minaur stuns Nadal and more on another busy day of tennis”
Casper Ruud earned a solitary win for Norway while Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz finished with a flourish. Paula Badosa didn’t have it all her own way, spluttering a whopping 12 double-faults before suffering with cramp, yet eventually recovered from the brink to overpower Britain’s Harriet Dart in an exhausting three-hour encounter to keep Spain’s qualification hopes alive. Continue reading “United Cup: Ruud, Otte and Hurkacz win while Badosa outlasts Dart in three-hour tussle”
Grigor Dimitrov and Iga Swiatek were among the day’s winners for their respective nations in contrasting circumstances, before Cameron Norrie ended an eventful 2022 with a long-awaited scalp: recovering from a set down to beat Rafael Nadal for the first time in five attempts, helping Great Britain take an early lead in their United Cup group clash against Spain. Continue reading “United Cup: Dimitrov, Swiatek among winners before Norrie finally overcomes Nadal in three-set battle”
As the domestic campaign gets underway this weekend in France, projected 2023 top draft pick and teenage center Victor Wembanyama spoke with understandable caution about preferring team fit as well as a favourable environment rather than just being the No. 1 selection. Zion Williamson’s strength-and-conditioning coach provided an encouraging endorsement, Robert Williams III (knee) will miss the start of the season and more besides. Read the round-up here. Continue reading “NBA news round-up: Zion progressing, Williams’ knee surgery, Wembanyama’s draft caution and more”
World champions France recovered from another deficit, for the second time in four days, to be crowned the 2021 UEFA Nations League champions with a 2-1 win over Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain. Just like their comeback win over Belgium, goals from Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe saw them storm ahead in a frenetic second-half packed with chances for both sides. Continue reading “Spain 1-2 France: Les Bleus seal Nations League title the hard way after nailbiting finish”
In a week where he addressed the Real Madrid rumours and mother Fayza provided an update on her son’s future, Kylian Mbappe produced his best display since May to help propel France into the UEFA Nations League Final, where they play Euro 2020 semi-finalists Spain on Sunday.
Continue reading “Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe key as Les Bleus earn second-half comeback win”
Former world no. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero – winner at the 2003 French Open – has cautioned critics quick to apply pressure on Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz as Rafael Nadal’s successor long-term – instead saying more gradual progression is important for him to have a fruitful career.
Continue reading “Don’t compare exciting teen Carlos Alcaraz to Rafael Nadal, warns Juan Carlos Ferrero”
Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio has issued an encouraging update on his fitness, as he continues recovering from the ACL injury expected to sideline him for the entire 2019-20 season. The 2019-20 LaLiga campaign resumes next month. Continue reading “Real Madrid’s Marco Asensio provides positive update on knee injury recovery”
In an unforgiving sport, football’s fickleness and fan entitlement has intensified – both with managers and their players when results or performances don’t match expectations. This weekend’s events saw Tottenham scrape a home draw against Sheffield United, with Dele Alli again a victim of an issue refusing to go away.
Continue reading “Dele Alli and football’s fickleness personified”
Tottenham are resigned to losing key playmaker Christian Eriksen for a cut-price transfer fee in the region of £25m this January with La Liga leaders Real Madrid among the interested suitors lurking amid his expiring contract, according to reports. Continue reading “Tottenham resigned to Christian Eriksen departure with Real Madrid lurking”
Kepa Arrizabalaga’s stoppage-time save proved key as ten-man Spain held firm to maintain their 100% start to their Euro 2020 qualification campaign in Group F, beating Romania 2-1 on Thursday evening. Continue reading “Euro 2020 Qualifier – Romania 1-2 Spain: 5 Talking Points”
Arsenal midfielder Dani Ceballos has publicly revealed the prospect of working under Unai Emery proved crucial in his decision to join the Gunners on a season-long loan deal from Real Madrid.
Continue reading “Dani Ceballos hails Unai Emery as Arsenal loan move finalised”
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