■ENGLAND
Wenger backs Almunia
Arsene Wenger believes Manuel Almunia could be England’s goalkeeper at next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa. The keeper, born in Spain but who will soon be eligible for England under residency rules, was outstanding in the Gunners’ 1-0 Champions League semi-final defeat to Manchester United midweek and Wenger believes his faith in the often-criticized 31-year-old has been vindicated by a display that has ensured Arsenal still have a chance of some silverware this season. “I believe he is not only good enough, but he is the best,” Wenger said of the possibility of Almunia declaring his availability for England. “It is down to what you expect morally and mentally from a national team. I believe at some stage you have to observe just the rules and decide what you want. On the English side, for the national team, it is not so much a problem because if the guy decides to become English, he has had to observe and respect the rules like anybody else. It is more a moral problem maybe for Manuel Almunia, because does he consider he has a chance to play in the Spanish national team or not?”
■GERMANY
Hannover move up to 11th
Hannover 96 won 2-0 at VfL Bochum for their first Bundesliga win on the road this season and all but made sure of avoiding relegation on Friday. Arnold Bruggink and Hanno Balitsch scored in the first half. The win put Hannover in 11th place with 35 points, 10 points away from the relegation zone with four games remaining. Bochum stayed 14th with 28 points, three points above the relegation places. Jacek Krzynowek won the ball and charged down the flank to set up Bruggink with a perfect header in the 12th minute. Bruggink set up the second goal with a corner. With Bochum goalkeeper Daniel Fernandes mistiming his jump, Hanno Balitsch headed in from close range in the 32nd minute.
■MEXICO
Reynoso sorry for gestures
Chivas Guadalajara defender Hector Reynoso apologized on Friday for coughing and making other gestures in an opponent’s face, pretending he wanted to spread swine flu. The Mexican defender coughed several times in the face of Everton’s Sebastian Penco in a Copa Libertadores match on Wednesday. Chivas drew with the Chile club 1-1 to reach the knockout stages of Latin America’s most important club tournament. “I’ve cooled off now, but at the time I reacted and perhaps it wasn’t an appropriate thing that I was doing,” Reynoso said. “I offer my apology to the club and player.”
■ENGLAND
Grieving Defoe to return
England striker Jermain Defoe spoke on Friday about the pain he felt following the death of his half-brother Jade last week, then said he was ready to start playing for Tottenham Hotspur again. Jade died last Friday aged 26 after suffering serious head injuries when he was attacked in east London on April 20. Defoe, also 26, was left out of the Spurs squad for their Premier League match at Manchester United the next day, but was likely to be in the squad for yesterday’s game against West Bromwich Albion at White Hart Lane. He told Tottenham’s Web site: “My mum turned up at the training ground and, because I’m so close to my mum and my family, I knew instantly something was wrong. She didn’t have to say a word, I knew ... I went straight to the hospital. It wasn’t a nice experience, but it was one I’ll never forget. When things like that happen it puts everything else into perspective.”
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
Alex Michelsen on Thursday rallied for a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti in the men’s singles, converting his seventh match point to reach the fourth round of the Canadian Open. Michelsen reached the last 16 of a Masters 1000 for the first time with his second win over a top-10 player in eight attempts. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy’s Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. “It feels really good,” the 26th-ranked Michelsen said. “I’ve put
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