Archive | June 2015

Serena Williams wins 20th Grand Slam title….

Serena Williams

Serena Williams won a dramatic French Open final against Czech 13th seed Lucie Safarova to claim her 20th Grand Slam title. The American, ranked number one, needed two hours and one minute to win 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-2 at Roland Garros. Safarova, playing her first Grand Slam final, led by a break in the decider but Williams won the last six games. The 33-year-old becomes the third player – male or female – to win 20 major singles titles. Only Germany’s Steffi Graf on 22 has won more since the open era began in 1968, with Australia’s Margaret Court collecting 24 between 1960 and 1973. Victory at Wimbledon in July would see Williams hold all four major titles at once, having managed the feat already in 2003.

Djokovic goes into French Open final….

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic saw off a thrilling fightback from Andy Murray to win their French Open semi-final in five sets. The world number one resumed leading by two sets to one and with the match 3-3 in the fourth after a storm had halted play on Friday evening. Murray took the fourth set on Saturday’s resumption but Djokovic came through 6-3 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-1. The 28-year-old Serb will face Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in the final on Sunday. Djokovic has now won 28 matches in a row, and another victory would make him only the eighth man to complete the set of all four Grand Slam titles. His hopes were threatened for the first time on Friday evening as Murray launched a stirring comeback, and the top seed looked in real danger when the Briton grabbed the fourth set on Saturday. “I’m very glad that I managed to finish this match as a winner,” said Djokovic. “I was hoping I can do it before, but I don’t think I have done too much wrong, even today in the fourth. He just came up with some great shots, great points.” Murray said: “Last night before we came off the crowd were really into it and it was a good atmosphere. I was obviously motivated to come out today and try to turn the match around. “I played a loose game on my serve the first game of the [final] set with the new balls. I missed I think three balls long in that game. “Then I think Novak relaxed a little bit after that and he hit the ball extremely accurate.”

Tom Cleverley joins Everton….

Everton will sign Tom Cleverley on a five-year deal when his contract expires at Manchester United on 1 July. The 25-year-old England midfielder will become Roberto Martinez’s first signing of the summer. Cleverley made 38 Premier League appearances last season, 37 of those during a season-long loan for Aston Villa. “We are extremely delighted to be welcoming Tom Cleverley to Everton and I can think of many reasons as to why our fans will enjoy Tom representing our football club,” says Everton boss Roberto Martinez. “The most important one is that he is a perfect fit for what we are trying to build here as he has so much experience of playing in the Premier League and he still has his best years just ahead of him. “At the age of 25 and a player who is representing his country, Tom has experienced winning trophies and having big roles in demanding teams. Having worked with him previously, I know the type of character he is and I know that, with the Everton fans’ support, we will get a very special footballer joining our already exciting team.”

Soldado on cruise….

 

Roberto Soldado

Tottenham forward Roberto Soldado posts a snap from his holidays on Twitter. No dull moments for football stars this off season.

 

Wawrinka reaches French Open final….

Stan Wawrinka

Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-7 7-6 6-4 to reach the French Open final for the first time. The 30-year-old will face the winners of the other semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray which begins in the next few minutes.

Flores is Watford’s new head coach….

Watford confirm the appointment of Quique Sanchez Flores as the newly promoted Premier League side’s head coach on a two-year deal. The ex-Atletico Madrid boss becomes Watford’s fifth manager in a year. The former Real Madrid, Valencia and Spain right-back took charge of Getafe in January, but quit after only 11 games, citing personal reasons. Flores’s managerial achievements include winning the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2010 with Atletico, and the Portuguese League Cup with Benfica in 2009.

Leaked letter shows path of South Africa FIFA cash….

 

 

CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Organising Committee Danny Jordaan talks to the media during a press conference at Chelsea football club's Grounds, in Stamford Bridge, in London, on 4 March 2010

A new leaked letter appears to show South African authorities seeking an indirect route for the transfer of $10m (£6.5m) to FIFA, BBC reports. The letter carried by South African media was purportedly written by then SA FA president Danny Jordaan three weeks before the first amount was paid. US prosecutors say the money was a bribe to FIFA officials to help secure South Africa’s 2010 World Cup bid. South Africa says it was a legitimate payment to fund Caribbean football. The $10m payment is a key plank in the wide-ranging US criminal inquiry that has engulfed world football’s governing body. Seven top FIFA officials, including two vice-presidents were arrested last week in Switzerland as they awaited FIFA’s congress. They were among 14 new indictments in the US investigation, which alleges they accepted bribes and kickbacks estimated at more than $150m over a 24-year period. Four other people were charged earlier. One of them, ex-FIFA official Chuck Blazer, has pleaded guilty in the US to taking bribes related to South Africa’s bid.

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Real Madrid re-signs Casemiro….

 

Casemiro

Real Madrid have re-signed midfielder Casemiro from Porto. The 23-year-old Brazil international had been on a season-long loan at the Portuguese side from Real, with Porto having the option to buy the player. However, Rafael Benitez’s side have exercised their option to pay a buy-out clause to keep him at the Bernabeu.

 

Barca on the move too….

Lionel Messi

Barcelona too are on their way to Berlin for the Champions League final against Juventus tomorrow. Lionel Messi is pictured travelling with his team mates. Barcelona are looking to complete a treble – winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Same also for Juventus who have won the Italian league and Cup.

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Blatter not attending IOC meeting….

Jacque Rogge

Outgoing FIFA president and Olympic member Sepp Blatter will not attend an International Olympic Committee meeting in Lausanne next week. The 79-year-old Swiss became football’s representative on the IOC in 1999, shortly after first becoming FIFA boss. “In April, the FIFA president informed the IOC that he would not be taking part at the meeting in Lausanne. He has not changed those plans,” a FIFA spokesman says.

Juve on the way….

Juventus

Juventus are on their way to Berlin. The Serie A champions, led by manager Massimiliano Allegri, are pictured before their flight to Germany for Saturday’s Champions League final with Barcelona.

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U-20 World Cup: Ghana book their place in last 16….

Ghana Under-20s in action against Panama

Ghana beat Panama 1-0 to make it through to the last-16 of the Under-20 World Cup as Group B winners. The result also knocked out the Central American side, who missed a late penalty. Emmanuel Boateng scored the only goal of the game in the 74th minute, the substitute driving home a 20-yard effort after beating his marker. Panama almost levelled when Jesus Araya hit the bar and in the 89th minute Escobar missed a spot-kick. Ghana will play one of the best third-placed teams fro Group A,C or D in the next round on 10 June.

Super Falcons World Cup Schedule….

The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup which is the seventh FIFA Women’s World Cup will begin in Canada tomorrow (6th June) and will end on 5th July 2015. This tournament saw the World Cup expanded to 24 teams from 16 in 2011. The tournament will use the Hawk-Eye system as goal-line technology for the first time and will also be the first Women’s World Cup to be played on artificial turf. Players expressed concerns over potential injuries from the artificial turf, and a legal case asking for matches to be moved was dropped in January 2015. The cities of Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal and Moncton have been selected to host tournament matches.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria, who have attended all editions of the world cup so far, will be competing in Group D with Sweden, Australia and USA in that order. The Nigerians will play their first two games in Winnipeg and then play their last group game in Vancouver.

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AC Milan to sack Inzaghi….

Filippo Inzaghi

AC Milan manager Filippo Inzaghi will be sacked this week after just a year in charge. The Serie A side told BBC Sport that Inzaghi, 41, will “not be in charge of the team next season”. The Rossoneri finished 10th in the league this season as they failed to qualify for the Champions League. Carlo Ancelotti has turned down the chance to return to his former club while ex-Sampdoria boss Sinisa Mihajlovic is favourite for the job. Milan said they were still “looking to find a new coach” and an official announcement is expected on Friday. Mihajlovic, 46, said on Monday that he was leaving Sampdoria after guiding the Genoa club to seventh, with former goalkeeper Walter Zenga reported to be in talks to take over. Ancelotti, 55, who was sacked by Real Madrid, had held talks with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani but said he needed a “rest” after two seasons in charge at the Bernabeu. Under former Italy striker Inzaghi, Milan had their worst league finish in 17 years.

De Marchi treks for Juventus….

Nicolo De Marchi

Did he copy form our Naija trekkers? Well, Nicolo De Marchi made a promise to Juve on Twitter that he would walk from Turin to Berlin should the Old Lay beat Real Madrid in the semi-final. They did – and he’s doing it. The Oyibo trekker will cover about 683 miles. #oyibotrekstoo.

Juventus will face Barcelona in the Champions League final in Berlin on Saturday.

FIFA allegedly bribed Ireland over Henry handball….

Thierry Henry handball

FIFA paid the Football Association of Ireland 5m euros (£3.6m) to stop legal action after France controversially beat Ireland in a World Cup play-off, BBC reports. FAI chief executive John Delaney said he believed they had a case against FIFA after French striker Thierry Henry’s handball in the 2009 match. Delaney said a “legitimate agreement” was made to drop the claim after Ireland missed the 2010 World Cup. FIFA president Sepp Blatter is quitting with the organisation in crisis. Delaney’s claim comes after a turbulent nine days for football’s world governing body amid claims of “systemic and deep-rooted” corruption. FIFA is facing two criminal investigations by both the US for widespread bribery allegations and Swiss authorities over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding processes. The Republic of Ireland were 16 minutes away from a penalty shootout for a place in the 2010 finals in South Africa before Henry handled in the build-up to William Gallas’s extra-time equaliser in the second leg of the play-off in Paris. The 2-1 aggregate win sent France to the 2010 tournament, where they were knocked out of the group stages amid a player strike.

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Safarova reaches first French Open final….

Lucie Safarova

Lucie Safarova describes reaching her first Rolland Garros final as a “dream come true” after defeating Ana Ivanovic 7-5 7-5. The Czech 28-year-old adds: “I still can’t believe it. “I started a little slowly but I tried to keep up the level and started to play really aggressive because that was only the way to win. It’s unbelievable.” Safarova will face Serena Williams in the final on Saturday. Williams defeated Timea Bacsinszky 4-6 6-3 6-0 to reach French Open final.