■ ENGLAND
Adebayor required to train
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger said on Saturday he expected to see striker Emmanuel Adebayor, subject of transfer speculation over the summer break, report for training today. The Togo striker has been the subject of persistent rumors of a move to AC Milan, but the Serie A giants have baulked at a 28 million euro (US$44.3 million) fee when the Italians are not in the lucrative Champions League in the coming season. Adebayor was top scorer for the Gunners last season with 30 goals, but wants an improved wage deal. But Wenger told Sky Sports News: “Adebayor is under contract and we expect him to turn up on Monday and practice with us.”
■ SPAIN
Eto’o allowed to leave Barca
Unsettled Barcelona striker Samuel Eto’o has been given the green light to negotiate his exit from the club, Spanish media reported on Saturday. Cameroon international Eto’o, deemed surplus along with Ronaldinho and Deco last month by new coach Pep Guardiola, underwent medical tests on his first day back at Barcelona after his vacation, the club said in a statement. Spanish media reported that Eto’o, a three-times African Player of the Year, had a meeting with Barcelona officials on Saturday where he was authorized to negotiate with other teams.
■ FRANCE
Quarter-finalists decided
Portugal, Italy and Uruguay won on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the Beach World Cup. In Group B, Portugal routed the Solomon Islands 13-4, with five goals from Madjer, four from Alan, two from Belchior and own-goals from Eddie Ngaitin and Omo. Paolo Palmacci scored twice in the second period to lead Italy to a 4-1 victory over El Salvador. Roberto Pasquali opened the scoring for Italy. Simone Feudi converted a free-kick to put the result beyond doubt in the third period. In Group A, Uruguay edged Senegal 8-7 in extra time, despite four goals from Pape Koukpaki for the African side. Ricar and Martin scored twice for Uruguay. Parrillo, Miguel, Matias and Pampero added the other goals. France beat Iran 2-1 in a penalty shootout as both teams were still tied 6-6 after extra time.
■ GERMANY
Bundesliga faces cash crisis
The chairman of the Bundesliga is worried that a battle with German antitrust authorities could cause financial difficulties for the league. Christian Seifert told the Bild newspaper a six-year, 3 billion euro (US$4.7 billion) deal with pay-TV channel Premiere for the Bundesliga broadcasting rights — which starts next year — could be canceled if antitrust investigators conclude it is stifling competition. “Then we will be forced to find new ways of doing things. Some decision-makers in Germany apparently believe a healthy and functioning Bundesliga is the natural state of things,” Seifert said on Saturday. “I can only warn, we are well on the way to massively damaging professional football in the country.”
■ ITALY
Lippi asks for ‘Rooney’ style
Italy coach Marcello Lippi says he wants his players to copy the selfless style of Manchester United’s England forward Wayne Rooney. “What counts more than the formation is the philosophy, the desire of great players to put themselves at the service of the team when the opposition have the ball. Like Rooney does at Manchester,” Lippi told yesterday’s Gazzetta dello Sport. The 2006 World Cup-winning coach said self-belief will be crucial if his side are to triumph again in South Africa.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to
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