■ 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.
Shohei Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw on Friday joined their Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in sticking their fists out to show off their glittering World Series rings at a ceremony. “There’s just a lot of excitement, probably more than I can ever recall with the Dodger fan base and our players,” manager Dave Roberts said before Los Angeles rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers 8-5 in 10 innings. “What a way to cap off the first two days of celebrations,” Roberts said afterward. “By far the best opening week I’ve ever experienced. I just couldn’t have scripted it any better.” A choir in the
The famously raucous Hong Kong Sevens are to start today in a big test for a shiny new stadium at the heart of a major US$3.85 billion sports park in the territory. Officials are keeping their fingers crossed that the premier event in Hong Kong’s sporting and social calendar goes off without a hitch at the 50,000-seat Kai Tak Stadium. They hope to entice major European soccer teams to visit in the next few months, with reports in December last year saying that Liverpool were in talks about a pre-season tour. Coldplay are to perform there next month, all part of Hong Kong’s
Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Tommy Edman on Thursday smashed home runs to give the reigning World Series champions the Los Angeles Dodgers a 5-4 victory over Detroit on the MLB’s opening day in the US. The Dodgers, who won two season-opening games in Tokyo last week, raised their championship banner on a day when 28 clubs launched the season in the US. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shuffled his batting lineup with all four leadoff hitters finally healthy as Ohtani was followed by Mookie Betts, then Hernandez and Freddie Freeman in the cleanup spot, switching places with Hernandez. “There’s a Teoscar tax to
Matvei Michkov did not score on Monday, but the Philadelphia rookie had a hand in both goals as hosts the Flyers earned a 2-1 victory over the Nashville Predators. Ryan Poehling and Jamie Drysdale got the goals for the Flyers (31-36-9, 71 points), who won their third straight. Michkov and Travis Konecny assisted on both. Ivan Fedotov stopped 28 shots to earn his first win since March 1, ending a personal six-game losing streak. Zachary L’Heureux got the lone goal for Nashville. Michael McCarron and Brady Skjei got the assists for the Predators (27-39-8, 62 points), who have just four goals in their
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