List of All Articles with Tag 'al'

The Canadian economy unexpectedly shed jobs last month even as wages grew faster, signaling a softening labor market

LONDON Influential England loose forward Tom Curry has twisted his ankle but is expected to recover in time

It seems as though Oregon and Washington will be staying put and will not be leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten after all.A lot can change overnight, as illustrated by Oregon and Washington's change of heart in the latest wave of conference realignment.In the wake of Colorado leaving fo...

A strong earnings season for technology companies is going largely unrewarded in a stock market that has already

The already jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has been given 19 years in prison after being found guilty on extremism charges in a new case, Russian media report, a fresh blow to a fierce critic of Russia's President Putin that comes amid an intensifying crackdown on dissent.

Pep Guardiola is hoping Manchester City complete the signing of defender Josko Gvardiol within the next few “hours or days”. The 21-year-old Gvardiol was undergoing a medical with City on Friday afternoon ahead of his proposed move from RB Leipzig. The treble-winners are closing in on a deal for the Croatia international and are understood to have agreed a fee of 90million euros (£77.6m) with Leipzig. Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash with Arsenal at Wembley, City boss Guardiola said: “Regarding Gvardiol – what a beautiful surname he has – he’s doing a medical test. “Everybody knows he’s here, and hopefully we can finish the deal in the next hours, the next days.” Put to Guardiola that completion of the deal would give him six central defenders, he said: “The season is so long, there is many, many games. (It is) absolutely not (too many).” When asked if, after Gvardiol, City would be done in the transfer marker, Guardiola said: “I don’t know. I think it is going to move, something. Not yet.” City have already this summer signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, while outgoings have been fellow midfielder Ilkay Gundogan going to Barcelona at the end of his contract and forward Riyad Mahrez joining Saudi Arabian outfit Al-Ahli. Everybody knows he’s here, and hopefully we can finish the deal in the next hours, the next days Pep Guardiola on Josko Gvardiol Kyle Walker has been linked with Bayern Munich and Bernardo Silva with Barcelona and Saudi Arabia, and Guardiola said: “They are so important players for us. We want them, we are going to do everything. “It’s not like Gundo, finishing a contract – they have a contract. We want them to stay because they want to stay, and to replace these two players is so, so difficult. “We lost two incredible players for us, Ilkay and Riyad in the last seasons were massively important, incredible goals and assists and personalities in the biggest stages and big important games. To lose Kyle and Bernardo would be so difficult.” He added, when asked more about Silva: “I want to work with guys who want to stay…but after that we have to get an offer…a proper offer. “If they want him, they will take a plane, come here and talk with our sporting director, the CEO, to arrive at an agreement. “For us to buy a player is £10-15m more expensive than other clubs, all the time it’s like that. And the same guys, when they want our players, really important players, first they have to make an offer – and it didn’t happen. “Some players feel they want a new experience. I will not be the guy to say ‘no’, but you have to take an agreement with an important part of the club, the business, (to) make a deal happen. “In the case of Bernardo and Kyle, we talk many times over the last months and even years how important they are for us, how we want them and we will continue to do it until the end. “What is going to happen I don’t know but it is not going to happen if both clubs don’t arrive. “They are massively important players. When we lose these type of players we have to go to the market to buy replacements, and it doesn’t cost £10m, £20m, £30m, £40m, £50m – it’s more expensive than that.” Last month City ended their interest in signing Declan Rice from West Ham after Arsenal bid £105m for the England midfielder, who subsequently made a British-record switch to the Gunners. Asked if he had been disappointed to miss out on Rice, Guardiola said: “Absolutely not. Declan Rice decided to go to Arsenal, the offer was incredible, and all the best. I think for England he is and will be important, and Arsenal bought an incredible player.” Meanwhile, Juanma Lillo has returned to City’s coaching staff. The 57-year-old Spaniard was previously on Guardiola’s backroom team for two seasons from the summer of 2020 before departing to become head coach at Qatari outfit Al Sadd. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Warren Gatland hails Leigh Halfpenny’s professionalism ahead of 100th Wales cap Gareth Southgate understands criticism of Jordan Henderson following Saudi move Iain Henderson backs Ireland wing Jacob Stockdale to fight for World Cup spot

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 4, 2023--

Bayern Munich have made a €100m offer for Tottenham striker and England captain Harry Kane.

After 16 days and a group stage that was full of twists and turns, the state of play at the Women’s World Cup remains largely as it was before the start of the tournament: there is no standout favourite. Despite the shock exits of Germany, Brazil, and Canada, the tournament remains open to a number of teams and the list of contenders grew as the group stage progressed. No one is ruling out anyone, though as ever when it comes to teams punching above their weight, the question at this point in the World Cup is how long they can sustain their momentum. One of the differences between this year’s last-16 to four years ago and previous tournaments is there are more games than usual at this stage where there is a clear underdog. That, of course, is a result of a group phase like no other in Australia and New Zealand and its string of high-profile shocks. South Africa-Netherlands, Nigeria-England, Morocco-France, and even Jamaica-Colombia, all carry the edge of potential surprises. England will be the side that either succumbs to it or who put their foot down and break the spell of the upsets deeper into the World Cup. Sarina Wiegman’s team can benefit from the draw landing in their favour, even though the lesson from the group stage is that no side in their section can be taken lightly. With Nigeria to play and one of Colombia and Jamaica to potentially follow, it couldn’t have worked out any better when the alternative in the knockouts was facing Australia and then one of France or Germany. But England’s growing optimism is also down to how they have improved their own chances. The Lionesses have been on a strange journey since winning the Euros, where injuries to key players took away a lot of the confidence becoming European champions gave them, only for much of it to return thanks to one performance against China where Wiegman produced a new formation and with it, created a new favourite all over again. England’s greatest strength, apart from Lauren James, is suddenly their unpredictability after Wiegman changed her plans and landed upon a formation that worked to not only exploit China but bring the best out of her remaining players, following the injury to Keira Walsh. What is encouraging for England is their performance against China was reminiscent of one of their displays during the Euros, even with a line-up that is completely different to the team that started throughout last summer. England are a ball-dominant side, only Spain had more possession and completed more passes during the group stage, yet they can also mix up their play through long balls, switches of play, and attack through a variety of angles. The formation change released those aspects of England’s play, while it also helped break an over-reliance on crossing from wide areas. The goals are also back; James has shown she can score from anywhere, but it was important that Alessia Russo, Rachel Daly, Lauren Hemp and Chloe Kelly all found the target before the knockouts as well. The draw appears stronger in the opposite half to the Lionesses, which is the reverse of how many thought it would play out pre-tournament. The emergence of Japan as a contender has contributed to that. The 2011 champions were considered to be a side in transition but have so far played the best football of the tournament. They have a clear tactical plan and Japan’s players are well drilled in the system they have chosen to play. Japan finished the group stage with the most goals and expected goals (xG) of any team at the tournament, but it’s about the only statistical category in which they do dominate. Japan aren’t near the top when it comes to passes, possession, or even shots. Everything is instead built on efficiency and maximising the quality of their goal-scoring opportunities. Japan’s shape, with wing-backs and two No 10s, has allowed this, while the outstanding service from Yui Hasegawa and Jun Endo feeds the players who have taken their chances. All of this could change the second Japan face a side who are able to counter their system. Japan’s 4-0 win over Spain was the statement result of the group stage, but it came as they produced the perfect game plan to exploit Spain’s high line and the space their possession-based style leaves in behind. That said, it was still a closer game than the scoreline suggested, with Japan taking their chances while absorbing all of their European opponents’ possession and pressure. Everything has gone right so far for Japan, but the high-pressure environment of a knockout game is a different test. Could Norway be the opponent to properly challenge them? It’s been a chaotic tournament for Hege Riise’s side and the staggering absence of any cohesion in their opening defeat to New Zealand and subsequent draw against Switzerland suggests they will struggle against an opposition that operates as smoothly as Japan. Japan, meanwhile, highlighted the pieces missing from Spain’s side that they ultimately could do without in the thrashings of Costa Rica and Zambia but were glaring absences in the 4-0 defeat. Defender Mapi Leon and goalkeeper Sandra Panos, two of the 15 players who made themselves unavailable for international selection last September as they criticised a lack of support from the Spanish Football Federation, are key parts of the high defensive line that has looked creaky at the best of times under head coach Jorge Vilda. The way Japan took it apart despite having so little possession could impact Spain’s confidence in their system, although Switzerland, their opponents in the last-16, do not carry the same pace or individual threats on the counter-attack. In the same half of the draw, the USA may be having their own crisis of confidence, given the sense that their reign as two-time champions is drawing to a close and a fan base that is close to meltdown back home. Having narrowly avoided a group stage exit against Portugal, coach Vlatko Andonovski has drawn much of the heat for the USA’s insipid performances. The debate off the pitch over what has gone wrong has been fierce, yet the team’s displays have so far lacked any of that same emotion. Andonovski’s side showed some glaring flaws against the Netherlands and Portugal, with no control in midfield and no sense of how to press or create chances, After finishing runner-up in Group E, the USA will face a Sweden side who are organised, defensively sound, and confident at keeping the ball – essentially everything the USA are not. Along with Japan, Sweden have been one of the most efficient teams in front of goal at the World Cup, but a key difference is much of their threat has come from set-pieces and the deliveries from Jonna Andersson, with Amanda Ilestedt a frequent target at the front post, leading to three goals already. Sweden thrashed the USA 3-0 when they met in the group stages of the Olympics two years ago: a repeat would be a hugely humbling way for the defending champion’s dominant run at the World Cup to end, albeit an inevitable one given their run so far. Meanwhile, South Africa, Jamaica and Morocco are all looking to extend theirs, having already broken new ground at the World Cup. South Africa and Nigeria, who have reached the quarter-finals before but will be underdogs against England in the last 16, are naturally more dependent on scoring goals than keeping them out; South Africa have been inspired by their brilliant forwards Thembi Kgatlana and Hildah Magaia, who have acted decisively to be central to their big moments, while Nigeria’s inspiration is led by Asisat Oshoala. South Africa, in particular, appear to have a good match-up with the Netherlands, who build play slowly from the back and have defenders who could be susceptible to the counter-attack. Jamaica’s historic progress has been built on a resilient defence that is yet to concede a goal at the World Cup. Lorne Donaldson’s side have needed to be secure as they do not create many chances, even if they have a striker in Khadija Shaw who is clinical when they arrive. That Colombia go into their tie as favourites to win is interesting, after shocking Germany and topping Group H. While they have an absolute star in Linda Caicedo, Colombia’s best results have come when they have been able to be the underdog. Both of their wins, against Germany and South Korea, also came from Colombia outperforming their xG, with Caicedo’s brilliance helping to explain that. Although they were already through when they played Morocco, Colombia’s display in the 1-0 defeat was hardly convincing. Morocco, through so unexpectedly at Germany’s expense, despite losing 6-0 to them in their opening fixture, may have exceeded their ceiling. France have struggled a bit for rhythm, but that is a fixture where they should be able to play in a manner that suits them. Australia may await in the quarter-finals, but the big question around the co-hosts remains the fitness of Sam Kerr. Ironically, it comes after the Matildas found a system that worked without Kerr in the 4-0 destruction of Canada, but the return of their captain and star striker could even elevate that and give Australia a fresh boost for the knockout stages. They could be the team with momentum behind them should Kerr return to inspire the hosts all over again. Denmark are dangerous opposition in the last 16: their defensive, counter-attacking system is unlikely to win them the World Cup but it is enough to pull off a shock. It’s what has defined the World Cup already and now the stage is set for plenty more. Read More Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16 clash with Nigeria Mary Earps insists fearless England ready to avoid World Cup banana skin Sarina Wiegman: The Lionesses’s all-conquering coach in profile How the Women’s World Cup delivered its greatest ever group stage — against all the odds Mary Earps insists fearless England ready to avoid World Cup banana skin Women’s World Cup LIVE: Latest news and updates as England prepare for last-16 Zambia Women’s coach accused of rubbing player’s chest at World Cup

By Andrew Gray and Tom Balmforth BRUSSELS/LONDON China said on Friday it would send a senior official to

There's no denying that we're a nation full of moaners. Now, one person has dedicated an entire Reddit forum for people to voice their unpopular opinions on Britain – and it's as chaotic as it sounds. From Wetherspoons to transport, all the way to King Charles, the popular thread has already racked up almost six thousand complaints in a matter of days. Here are our favourite unpopular opinions, thanks to honest Redditors who certainly did not hold back: "The litter in this country is disgusting and people need to take personal responsibility for it instead of whining about a lack of bins. Take it home." "We're actually lucky to have the weather we do here, really, in the grand scheme of things." "'God Save the King' is probably one of the worst national anthems about. Not only is the tune an offensively dull, dirgy number, but the song doesn’t mention Britain at all, it’s all just banging on about some members of the German aristocracy." "Wetherspoons is fine." "British people are far too wedded to their cars and driving. I’m 30 and have never learned to drive. Never wanted to. When I tell people that, they look at me with either pity or contempt, as if it’s somehow embarrassing to use public transport. When really it’s the state of public transport that is the problem in many areas." "British cheese is better than French cheese." "I don't give a s*** about tea or proper breakfasts or any of the other superficial nonsense that people on Reddit seem to think makes you 'truly British'." "The mainstream tea culture is awfully bad. We can keep having fights about PG Tips vs Yorkshire while both are lowest-grade tea dust not much better than Lipton. An average post-Soviet supermarket will have a tea shop with stuff better than at Fortnum and Mason." "London is hideous. Too cramped, too noisy, everything is absurdly overpriced. The one good thing is the range of diversity from people to food, but other than that it is simply the worst place on earth." "The drinking culture is embarrassing." "The North's friendliness is greatly exaggerated and many of their residents have a chip on their shoulder about the South." "The UK is overall a very good place to live." "We have aligned too much with American culture and not enough with European. We are too damned lazy to learn another language." "Ban fast foods on trains. Nothing worse than getting on a Southern train from Victoria to Three Bridges, which is packed, and people are stinking up the carriages eating katsu curry and Burger King. Shameless." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Apple Inc.’s market value fell below the historic $3 trillion level after the iPhone maker’s outlook for the