ENGLAND
Cup hopes low: report
Pessimism about England’s World Cup prospects seems to have reached the highest levels after a government document suggested that the national team faced their customary early exit from the tournament. “While England are certain to be playing in the matches in the first period, there is a high probability that they will not be playing in the later matches,” said a report looking at the arguments for allowing pubs to open later during next month’s World Cup. England are to face Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica in a tough opening group from which two teams advance. “England have a 54 percent probability of progressing past the group stage and an 11 percent probability of progressing past the quarter-finals,” it added. The forecast was not based on the predictions of a soccer-loving civil servant, but drawn from the odds offered by online betting exchange Betfair. “The government is of course 100 percent behind the England soccer team and we wish the players every success in the World Cup,” said a spokeswoman for the Home Office, the government department responsible for the report.
PORTUGAL
Ronaldo named in squad
Cristiano Ronaldo is to lead Portugal’s World Cup campaign after being named on Tuesday in their provisional 30-man squad for the finals, despite currently being out with a hamstring injury. The Portugal captain picked up the injury playing for Real Madrid against Real Valladolid last week, and missed their defeat to Celta Vigo on Sunday. However, the 29-year-old is expected to recover in plenty of time for Portugal’s opening World Cup match on June 16. Portugal coach Paulo Bento also included Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma in his provisional squad. The 30-year-old former Barcelona player rejoined Porto in January after six months out of the game following his departure from Dubai’s Al-Ahli last year.
JAPAN
World Cup travelers warned
Japanese visitors to the World Cup in Brazil have been told by their government to guard against crimes there such as robbery, kidnapping and credit card skimming. In a safety advisory to overseas travelers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: “Crimes occur in Brazil at a very high frequency by world standards, including many organized crimes involving narcotics.” Japan are to play Ivory Coast on June 14 in Recife; Greece on June 19 in Natal and Colombia on June 24 in Cuiaba. The notice said that the number of murders occurring in Recife’s state is 43 times higher than in Japan, while there are about 200 times as many robberies. The frequency of crimes is also high in the other areas. It advised Japanese visitors to move in groups, refrain from going out at night, avoid deserted places, dress modestly and keep cameras and smartphones out of sight. The ministry is to set up temporary offices in the three cities to help Japanese travelers in trouble.
ENGLAND
Sherwood axed by Spurs
Tim Sherwood has been sacked as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, the English Premier League club announced on Tuesday. The 45-year-old replaced the axed Andre Villas-Boas on an 18-month deal in December, but the short-term nature of his contract meant his position was subject to constant speculation. Sherwood, whose final game in charge was a 3-0 league win at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, guided Spurs to a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, ensuring the north London club’s qualification for next season’s Europa League.
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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