Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Jurgen Klopp hailed “incredible” UEFA Super Cup hero Adrian and then admitted he had no idea where the goalkeeper even was a fortnight ago. The Spaniard, only in the side because of an injury to number one goalkeeper Allison Becker, saved Tammy Abraham’s penalty to give …
Read More »‘Why didn’t you play?’ S. Korean fan flies to Sweden to harangue Ronaldo
Seoul, South Korea | AFP | An angry South Korean fan flew to Sweden to confront Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo for sitting out a friendly in Seoul, the latest in a bizarre row that has prompted a police investigation. In an 11-minute clip posted on his Youtube channel, which has racked …
Read More »Dybala stars as Ronaldo, de Ligt sit out Juventus’s alpine opener
Villar Perosa, Italy | AFP | Paulo Dybala brushed aside speculation over his future with a double for Juventus as Cristiano Ronaldo and new signings Aaron Ramsey and Matthijs de Ligt sat out the club’s traditional alpine curtain raiser on Wednesday. Nearly 5,000 fans crammed into the “Gaetano Scirea” stadium in …
Read More »Lampard sees positives as Chelsea miss out on Super Cup
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Coach Frank Lampard took great encouragement from Chelsea’s display in the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul on Wednesday, despite the disappointment of losing on penalties to English rivals Liverpool. “I think we can get better, there are things I still want us to improve on …
Read More »Liverpool edge Chelsea on penalties to win UEFA Super Cup
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-4 on penalties to win the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday after a richly entertaining match in Istanbul finished 2-2 at the end of extra time. Every penalty in the shoot-out had found the net before Tammy Abraham’s effort was saved by …
Read More »Djokovic advances as Serena pulls out in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, United States | AFP | World number one Novak Djokovic got his US Open build up off to a smooth start with a straight-sets win in Cincinnati on Tuesday as back trouble forced Serena Williams to withdraw. Defending champion Djokovic double faulted three times as he dropped serve in the …
Read More »Liverpool, Chelsea clash in Super Cup as Frappart makes history
Istanbul, Turkey | AFP | Liverpool and Chelsea are eyeing some early-season silverware as the Premier League rivals meet in the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul on Wednesday in what will be the first major men’s European encounter to be refereed by a woman, with France’s Stephanie Frappart taking charge. Jurgen …
Read More »Judgement day for Real Madrid as Zidane’s second coming begins
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Zinedine Zidane returned to save Real Madrid and the time has come for results. In a packed-out press conference under the Santiago Bernabeu in March, the club’s president Florentino Perez delivered the grandest of re-introductions. “We need to start working on a glorious new era,” said …
Read More »Perisic joins Bayern on one-year loan from Inter Milan
Berlin, Germany | AFP | Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have signed Inter Milan and Croatia winger Ivan Perisic on a one-year loan deal, the club confirmed Tuesday. “Ivan will help us immediately with his many years of international experience,” said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. “He is technically gifted and flexible in attack.” Perisic, 30, …
Read More »Jones ready for England ‘family fall-out’ at World Cup
Bristol, United Kingdom | AFP | England coach Eddie Jones believes off-field problems will be part and parcel of his side’s Rugby World Cup campaign after his surprise move in leaving out centre Ben Te’o from his squad for Japan. The former rugby league star was the major omission when Jones …
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