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football Sports News

Bale left out of squad for Madrid last game

Gareth Bale has been omitted from Real Madrid’s 22-man squad for their final La Liga game of the season against Leganes on Sunday.

Bale was an unused substitute in the game which secured Real’s 34th Spanish league triumph, a 2-1 win over Villarreal on Thursday night.

The Welshman has made two appearances in Madrid’s 10 matches since the season restarted after lockdown in June.

Eden Hazard also misses out on Zinedine Zidane’s squad.

Bale has made headlines in recent weeks for his actions while sitting alongside fellow substitutes during matches, and he appeared to be on the fringes once more as Zidane’s team celebrated the title.

The forward, who turned 31 on the day his side won the league, was pictured standing at a distance with arms folded as manager Zidane was thrown in the air by some of the Real players.

Bale has made only 16 La Liga appearances all season, starting 12 matches.

Hosts Leganes are 18th in the table, a point behind Celta Vigo, and must beat the newly crowned champions to avoid relegation from the Spanish top flight.

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football Sports News

Ole defends his players

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says his Manchester United players are not divers and “none of them try to con the referee at all”.

Before Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final Chelsea boss Frank Lampard suggested that United have “got a few decisions in their favour” in recent weeks.

Solskjaer said: “I’ll defend my players 100%.

“Some ankles could have been broken this season. I just want them to be protected.”

United are unbeaten in 19 games in all competitions and opponents have been angered by some recent decisions.

In midweek Crystal Palace were furious that they were denied a penalty when Wilfried Zaha tangled with Victor Lindelof, and then had a potential equaliser from Jordan Ayew ruled out by VAR for a very marginal offside.

And Bruno Fernandes won a penalty at Villa Park earlier this month which Villa boss Dean Smith called a “disgraceful decision”.

Referring to that decision, Lampard said this week: “Fernandes is very clever in his movement. We saw that at Aston Villa to make something feel like a penalty where maybe it even isn’t.

“As a player we can talk about VAR decisions and whether they’re right or wrong. But if a player is going to dangle a leg and not move their feet then you obviously do leave yourself open to penalties, VAR or no VAR.’

Solskjaer, speaking before his side meet Chelsea at Wembley, said: “If you’ve got quick feet like Dan James, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood you’ll get tackled outside and inside the box,” said Solskjaer.

“We’ve earned our right to any decision this season. We’ve had decisions overturned from being against us to being for us which means the initial decision was against us.

“It’s up to the referee but there’s too many people talking and trying to influence people, I don’t want to. VAR is there to help get more correct decisions.

“I’ve always said a factual decision is a fact so 1cm or 1m offside you’re offside that’s just how it is in football now.”

United are aiming to win the FA Cup for a record-equalling 13th time this season and Solskjaer – who won the trophy twice as a player for the club – knows the importance of adding more silverware to the Old Trafford cabinets.

“When you are at United, yes, you need to win trophies,” he said.

“That’s what we’ve done in our history, and we want to win trophies playing the right way.

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football Sports News

QUIQUE SETIEN WON’T RESIGN DESPITE MESSI OUTBURST.

Beleaguered Barcelona coach Quique Setien has said he did not feel criticised by Lionel Messi’s outburst after Thursday’s shock 2-1 defeat to Osasuna and insists he has not thought about resigning.


Messi branded Barca “inconsistent” and “weak” in an angry postmatch interview after Real Madrid were crowned La Liga champions for the first time since 2017.


The forward also said performances since January had been especially bad. That comment was interpreted by many as a dig at Setien, who replaced former coach Ernesto Valverde in the Camp Nou dugout at the turn of the year with the team top of the table at the time.


“No, not at all,” Setien said in a news conference on Saturday when asked if he felt singled out by Messi. “I think in certain moments we all say things that are interpreted badly. It’s the fruit of a moment of frustration.”


Messi went on to say that if drastic changes are not made then Barca would lose to Napoli in the Champions League next month as the club face the prospect of a first trophy-less season since 2007-08.


“Some things we agree on and other things we don’t,” Setien added. “[Messi] is right to say that if we play as badly as we have done in some games, we won’t win anything.


“But we have also played well in other games and, playing like that, we could win things. We have to be more consistent. If we manage to play as we did against Villarreal, we could win the Champions League.”


Sources close to the club say after Barca’s draw with Celta Vigo in June that Setien’s relationship with his players was strained. He admits it has been challenging to control a dressing room that has enjoyed so much success.
“The players here have been winning everything for the last 15 years and the management of these players is totally different to other teams,” he said. “There have been some situations that have been difficult to resolve, but I don’t think anything out of the ordinary in a dressing room like this one.”

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football Sports News

Andre schurrle retires from Football

World Cup winner Andre Schurrle says he doesn’t “need the applause any more” after announcing his retirement at 29.

The Germany forward had a year left on his deal with Borussia Dortmund but the two parties agreed to cancel it.

Schurrle, who helped his country win the 2014 World Cup, had a spell at Chelsea and was on loan at Fulham.

“The decision matured in me for a long time,” he told German newspaper Der Speigel. “The depths became deeper and the highlights less and less.”

Schurrle played for Chelsea from 2013-15 and won a Premier League winners medal in 2015 despite leaving the club for Wolfsburg part-way through the season.

“I want to let you know that I’m stepping away from playing professional football,” added on social media.

“On behalf of myself and my family I want to thank everybody who was a part of these phenomenal years.

“The support and love you shared with me was unbelievable and more I could have ever asked for. Now I’m ready and open for all the beautiful possibilities that are coming towards me.”

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F1

Hamilton Fastest in practice

HUNGARORING, HUNGARY - AUGUST 04: Race winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W10 crosses the finish line with the checkered flag being waved by Simon Pagenaud during the Hungarian GP at Hungaroring on August 04, 2019 in Hungaroring, Hungary. (Photo by Zak Mauger / LAT Images)

Lewis Hamilton headed team-mate Valtteri Bottas to a Mercedes one-two in first practice at the Hungarian GP.

Hamilton was 0.086 seconds quicker than the Finn despite running harder tyres as Mercedes looked dominant.

Racing Point’s Sergio Perez was third, 0.527secs adrift, and 0.437secs ahead of team-mate Lance Stroll.

Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo took fifth, from Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Red Bull, who came to Hungary expected to pose a bigger challenge to Mercedes on this track than at the previous two races in Austria, appeared to be struggling.

Verstappen, who became involved in an on-track confrontation with Williams driver Nicholas Latifi after the Canadian blocked him, was 1.4secs off Hamilton’s pace, despite the Dutchman using the softest possible tyre and Hamilton the hardest.

Red Bull’s pace was so far off its usual level that the assumption must be that they were running in a different specification than the others.

Bottas’ fastest time was set on the medium tyre, as Mercedes split the tyres on their cars for the second runs.

Underlining Mercedes’ pace, Hamilton was quicker than any other driver subsequently managed when using the softest tyre in the first part of the session when the track was dirty and slower. That time was just 0.123secs slower than the world champion’s ultimate quickest time.

Hamilton has a chance this weekend to equal the record for most wins at a single circuit, held at the moment by Michael Schumacher, who won the French Grand Prix eight times. Hamilton has won seven times in Hungary and Canada.

Racing Point enter the weekend still without a resolution to the protest Renault lodged against their car after the last race in Austria.

Renault are arguing that Racing Point – whose car has been dubbed the ‘Pink Mercedes’ for its likeness to the 2019 world championship-winning car – have copied the designs of the brake ducts of last year’s Mercedes, which would be forbidden under the regulations.

The session was affected by intermittent light rain but it was not enough to stop the drivers being able to use dry-weather ‘slick’ tyres.

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football Sports News

Fans will soon be allowed in Stadiums

Fans could be able to return to stadiums in England from October, says Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Pilots will take place from 1 August but any stadium reopenings would be subject to coronavirus guidelines.

Some sports, including football and cricket, have resumed behind closed doors after the Covid-19 lockdown.

“We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn,” said Johnson on Friday.

“From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadiums.

“Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”

The pilot projects will be held at:

  • Two men’s county cricket friendly matches – including Surrey v Middlesex at The Oval on 26-27 July;
  • The World Snooker Championship at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre from 31 July;
  • The Goodwood horse racing festival – known as Glorious Goodwood – on 1 August.

The Racecourse Association said the Goodwood event has been designed for up to 5,000 people, plus participants.

“For months, millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event,” said Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston.

“So I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.

“I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going. By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadiums.

“Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity, this is a major step in the right direction for the resumption of live spectator sport across the country.”

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport also said further pilot events are likely to be held in other sports.

In order for fans to return to stadiums, the government has outlined operating guidelines that state:

Categories
Sports News Tennis

Some players set to miss US Open

September 10, 2017 - Rafael Nadal in action against Kevin Anderson in the Men's Singles Final at the 2017 US Open.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova says some players will not go to the US Open if current coronavirus restrictions continue.

The US Open is due to be played without fans in New York from 31 August.

The country is still reporting tens of thousands of new coronavirus cases daily and possible quarantine rules for players are unclear.

“I know a few players will definitely not go if the restrictions are like they are now,” Kvitova told BBC 5 Live.

The 30-year-old Czech added: “I’m still thinking of what everything will look like, what the restrictions will be, how many people we can take and if they quarantine us.”

World number one Novak Djokovic has previously said he is “not sure” whether he will play, while defending men’s champion Rafael Nadal has also expressed reservations.

The US has reported more than 3.4 million cases of coronavirus, and more than 136,000 deaths nationwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Kvitova – who is ranked 12th in the world – is one of several top players competing in front of fans at the Bett1 Aces exhibition tournament in Berlin.

It is the first sporting event in Germany to take place with spectators, who have to socially distance in the stands.

Kvitova has played behind closed doors in the past and describes the experience as “weird”, adding that she cannot envisage playing a major tournament in those conditions.

“Playing without the fans in Grand Slams, I can’t really see it,” she said.

“If that happens and everything is OK I will go for sure to compete but there’s still a chance I will not go. I will decide when I know everything.”

Meanwhile, 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams will return to the court for the first time since before the start of the pandemic at the inaugural edition of the Top Seed Open in Lexington, Kentucky, which starts on 10 August.

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Golf

Tiger woods starts well in Tournament

World number one Rory McIlroy is four shots behind American leader Tony Finau after a solid two-under opening round at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

Finau holed nine birdies and three bogeys in a stunning 66 on a blustery day with gusts of wind reaching 30mph.

Ryan Palmer hit a bogey-free 65 to sit one back, while Spain’s Jon Rahm is in a group on three under par.

Tiger Woods, playing his first event since the coronavirus break, birdied the first and 18th in a one-under 71.

The Muirfield Village course also hosted last week’s PGA Tour event, won after a play-off by Collin Morikawa on 19 under.

This week’s Jack Nicklaus-hosted tournament is not expected to be won by such a low score with the fairways and greens all running much faster than they were last week.

Only 24 players carded under par scores on a tough opening day, which was again played behind closed doors.

“It’s not even remotely close to the same,” said Justin Thomas, who was beaten by Morikawa in the play-off. He had four bogeys in a two-over 74 to match his entire total in last week’s event.

“It was a totally, totally different golf course,” Thomas added.

It had been hoped this event would be the first to allow spectators in to watch but the PGA Tour has decided to play the rest of the season without fans present as cases of coronavirus continue to soar in the United States.

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football Sports News

Manchester United still in fight for Champions league space

Manchester United's English striker Marcus Rashford (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in south London on July 16, 2020. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United have “earned the right” to challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League after a “fantastic” spell of post-lockdown form, says boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United maintained their relentless pursuit of a place in the Champions League with a hard-fought win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Solskjaer’s side were under pressure after Leicester City’s earlier victory over Sheffield United and responded with a victory that keeps them in fifth place, level on points with the Foxes but with an inferior goal difference.

It extended United’s unbeaten run to 19 games in all competitions, and Solskjaer believes United, who are still in the FA Cup and Europa League, have set themselves up for a thrilling end to the season.

“No-one thought in January that we would be in with a shout for top four,” he said.

“We have done fantastic since the restart. These are the games that matter. That is the thing at Manchester United, you have to step up and show your personality.”

United were made to work for their victory, Marcus Rashford breaking the deadlock with a stylish finish in first-half stoppage time before playing his part in a sweet move involving Bruno Fernandes that was rounded off by Anthony Martial in the 78th minute.

Palace felt a real sense of injustice, furious that they were denied a penalty just before United took the lead when Wilfried Zaha tangled with Victor Lindelof, and then seeing a potential 55th-minute equaliser from Jordan Ayew ruled out by VAR for a very marginal offside.

It meant Roy Hodgson’s side slumped to their sixth consecutive league loss and their night was made worse when defender Patrick van Aanholt suffered a dislocated shoulder after trying to prevent Martial scoring United’s second.

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football Sports News

Barcelona lose La liga

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi says “things have to change” at the club as they lost their La Liga title on the night their 30-game unbeaten home run in the league came to an end.

Even a win would not have been enough for Barca, as Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-1 to win the title.

Jose Arnaiz put Osasuna ahead before Messi levelled with a free-kick.

The visitors had Enric Gallego sent off for elbowing Clement Lenglet before Roberto Torres’ close-range winner.

Messi, who is La Liga’s top scorer on 23 goals with one game to go, said: “We didn’t expect to finish in this way, but it sums up the year for us.

“We are a weak team who can be beaten with enough intensity and enthusiasm.

“We have lost a lot of points which we shouldn’t have done. We have been very inconsistent.

“We need to be self-critical, starting with the players, but also across the entire club. We are Barcelona, and we are obliged to win every game.”