* Lionel Messi was short of fitness and Barcelona lacked spark as a goalless draw away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday (Feb 10) offered fresh hope to their rivals in the title race. * Mauricio Pochettino saluted Tottenham's fighting spirit as they kept alive their bid to gate-crash the Premier League title race with a 3-1 win over Leicester on Sunday (Feb 10). The north Londoners are five points off the top of the table as they try to catch pace-setters Liverpool and Manchester City. * US ski star Lindsey Vonn brought her illustrious career to a close with a hard-fought bronze at Sunday's world downhill which was won by defending champion Ilka Stuhec of Slovenia. Vonn is the most successful women skier of all time with a record 20 World Cup titles to her name and 82 victories on the circuit. * Nantes paid a final tribute to former striker Emiliano Sala in a 4-2 home defeat against Nimes in Ligue 1 on Sunday, three days after the Argentine was confirmed dead in a plane crash. * Jo-Wilfried … [Read more...] about Bale reaches 100-goal milestone as Real beat Atletico 3-1
2003 world cup final
Asian Cup 2019: FIFA hails Vietnamese men’s football team
The Vietnamese football team (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA)’ website has run an article lauding the achievements of the Vietnamese men’s national football team, and head coach Park Hang-seo in particular for his recent contributions to the country. In an article entitled “Foreign flavour delivers tasty success for Vietnam”, FIFA said Vietnam has enjoyed increasing success in recent years. The nation won the recent regional title and qualified for the 2019 Asian Cup. “Vietnam certainly didn’t suffer from stage fright and played with confidence in last week’s opener against Iraq, twice taking the lead only to be edged 3-2 in the last minute by the winners of that 2007 edition. Despite subsequently losing 2-0 to continental big guns Iran, they rallied to defeat Yemen by the same scoreline to win through to the knockout stage as one of the third-best teams,” FIFA said. … [Read more...] about Asian Cup 2019: FIFA hails Vietnamese men’s football team
Pained Murray says Australian Open could be his swansong
* Big-hitting American youngster Sofia Kenin reached her first WTA final when she stunned sixth seed Alize Cornet 6-2 6-4 at the Hobart International on Friday. Kenin will meet Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in Saturday's final after the Slovakian outlasted Swiss Belinda Bencic 7-6(2) 4-6 6-2 in a 2-1/2 hour encounter. * Fifth seed Petra Kvitova raced past Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-1 6-2 in a rain-delayed encounter at the Sydney International on Friday to set up a title showdown with home favourite Ashleigh Barty. * British number two Cameron Norrie reached his first ATP Tour final after beating German Jan-Lennard Struff 7-5 4-6 6-3 at the ASB Classic in Auckland on Friday. Norrie will play the title match against the US opponent, Tennys Sandgren. * UK motorcyclist Sam Sunderland was on Friday (Jan 11) promoted to fifth stage winner on the Dakar Rally after sportingly stopping mid-race to help a fellow rider who had fallen and suffered a head injury. * Olympique Lyonnais lost … [Read more...] about Pained Murray says Australian Open could be his swansong
Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole retires
Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole retires Chelsea's Joe Cole celebrates winning the Premier League title at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, UK April 30, 2005 – PHOTO: REUTERS LONDON (REUTERS) - Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has announced his retirement from football on Tuesday, bringing the curtain down on a 20-year professional career. Cole, who turned 37 last week, made 716 appearances and scored 104 goals for seven clubs and completed his career with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second-tier United Soccer League. “After 20 years as a professional, the time has come for me to hang up my boots,” Cole, who came through West Ham United’s youth system, said in a statement. “It has been a dream come true. All of it. “Whatever is next, I hope the next two decades are as special as my last 20 years as a professional have been.” Cole made his debut at West Ham aged 17 and became club captain four years later, being … [Read more...] about Former England and Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole retires
Wenger, still in ‘shock’, sets deadline for future plans
Arsene Wenger admits he is still in shock after the curtain finally came down on his 22-year-reign as Arsenal manager and told The Guardian he will decide by the start of the World Cup as to do next. Arsene Wenger says he wants to stay in football but has not decided whether he wants to keep coaching and "to continue to suffer as much." AFP/GLYN KIRK The 68-year-old Frenchman - whose trophy-laden reign at the Gunners came to an end without any silverware in his final season and failed to secure Champions League football for next term - said he hadn't discounted taking on a different role. Wenger - who is to attend the World Cup in Russia as a pundit for Qatari-owned TV channel Bein Sports - stood down a year before his contract was due to end amid increasing discontent both among the fans and the board. "It's just too soon to know what I will do next," he told The Guardian in an interview conducted in Paris this week shortly after he had taken charge of his 1,235th and final … [Read more...] about Wenger, still in ‘shock’, sets deadline for future plans