■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.”
SSC Napoli’s Italian Serie A title hopes suffered a late setback on Sunday when they were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Genoa, setting up a thrilling season finale with closest rivals Inter just one point behind. The hosts remain top with 78 points, holding a slim lead over Inter, who won 2-0 at Torino earlier on Sunday, with two rounds remaining. To make matters worse for Napoli, midfielder Stanislav Lobotka, struggling with an ankle injury, was forced off just minutes after the match began. Scott McTominay delivered a perfect pass into the box where Romelu Lukaku got
Harry Kane opened the scoring ahead of lifting his first career silverware as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-0, with veteran Thomas Mueller playing his last home game for the club. Bayern officially won the title on May 4 when defending champions Bayer Leverkusen were held to a 2-2 draw at Freiburg, but were presented with the Bundesliga shield in front of their home fans at full-time. Dripping wet after being showered with beer by teammates, Kane said the title win was “an incredible feeling,” and hoped it would be “the first of many.” “It’s been lot of hard work, a lot of
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
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