Ukraine dam: Thousands evacuated from ‘critical zone’ near Kakhovka plant
At least 16,000 people are at risk from flooding, says Ukraine, after an attack released a torrent of water .
2023-06-06 18:16
Harry Kane’s future and uniting Spurs dressing room – tasks for Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham have ended their long search for a permanent head coach by appointing Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou. Postecoglou, who won five major trophies in two seasons at Celtic, including this season’s domestic treble, faces a tough task to quickly turn Tottenham’s fortunes around. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the 57-year-old’s in-tray. Resolve Harry Kane’s future The most pressing issue awaiting Postecoglou in his first job as a Premier League head coach is the future of Kane. The England captain has one year left on his contract and has been linked with a possible summer move to a host of Europe’s leading clubs, including Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Postecoglou will want Kane to stay, but will also want assurances. The 29-year-old is either all in and stays, or opts for a new challenge and generates funds to help Tottenham rebuild their squad. Whatever Kane decides, Postecoglou will need a speedy decision. Unite the dressing room None of Tottenham’s near 30-man first-team squad are out of contract this summer, but plenty of departures can be expected. Postecoglou’s predecessor Antonio Conte publicly criticised his players’ team ethic and anyone lacking in that regard will have no place in the former Australia head coach’s squad. He must quickly work out who he can trust to fully commit to his principles and methods and try and move on those he does not. Unity and spirit were the bedrock for Celtic’s success under Postecoglou and he will want to lay the same foundations at Tottenham. Win over doubters Postecoglou was not top choice for the majority of Tottenham’s supporters and there will be plenty of scepticism among those who had called for the return of Mauricio Pochettino, while the likes of Arne Slot, Roberto De Zerbi and Luis Enrique were also reported to be on the club’s list of targets. Postecoglou must win over the doubters and reconnect the players with a disgruntled fanbase. He did just that at Celtic where he first took charge in a toxic environment, but can his blueprint for success in the Scottish Premiership transfer to the English top flight? Director of football key Tottenham have been without a director of football since the resignation of Fabio Paratici in April and the club will now prioritise that key appointment in readiness for a busy summer ahead. Feyenoord’s general manager Dennis te Kloese has turned down the role and, while filling the vacancy falls under chairman Daniel Levy’s remit, Postecoglou could well be involved in the process and will definitely want to strike an instant rapport with whoever takes on the job. The Australian has a clear philosophy for possession-based, high-energy football and the project will only work if the two parties are aligned. Top-four challenge European football has eluded Spurs for the first time since 2009-10 and they can ill-afford to miss out for a second successive season in their bid to retain their status as a ‘Big Six’ club. Postecoglou must overhaul the playing squad, galvanise a dispirited dressing room and bed in his backroom staff – what role, if any, for fans’ favourite Ryan Mason? – all in time to launch a Champions League challenge with the same brand of football that has thrilled Celtic fans for the past two years. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Tottenham appoint Ange Postecoglou as head coach on four-year contract Ashes major talking points as Australia gear up for first taste of ‘Bazball’ Steph Catley signs new Arsenal deal
2023-06-06 17:56
Outlasting two prime ministers: How did West Ham reach the Europa Conference League final?
West Ham United face Italian side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in Prague on Wednesday night. The Hammers are bidding to win a first major trophy since the FA Cup in 1980. Here, we look back at their route to the final. Qualifying round West Ham’s journey to Prague began on August 18, three Prime Ministers ago, with a home meeting against Danish minnows Viborg. New Italian striker Gianluca Scamacca, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio scored in a 3-1 first-leg win. Scamacca was on target again, along with Said Benrahma and Tomas Soucek, in the away leg to secure a comprehensive 6-1 aggregate victory. Group stage The Hammers were drawn with Romanian side FCSB, Belgium’s Anderlecht and Silkeborg of Denmark in Group B. They fell behind to FCSB at home in their first match but goals from Bowen, Emerson Palmieri and Antonio earned a 3-1 win and David Moyes’ side went on to breeze into the knockout stages with six wins out of six. Last 16 The travelling fans were rewarded with a trip to sunny Cyprus and a tie against AEK Larnaca. West Ham were struggling domestically, having just been knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester United and thumped 4-0 at Brighton in the Premier League, but Antonio’s double settled the away leg and a brace from Bowen helped them to a 4-0 win at home, and 6-0 on aggregate, to keep the European adventure going. Quarter-final Next up were another Belgian outfit, Gent, and for the first time in the competition West Ham failed to register a victory, with Danny Ings on target in a 1-1 away draw. But despite conceding an early goal, the home leg was comfortable thanks to another Antonio double, Lucas Paqueta’s penalty and a stunning solo goal from captain Declan Rice to wrap up a 4-1 win. Semi-final Dutch dark horses AZ Alkmaar would be no pushovers in the last four having already accounted for Lazio and Anderlecht. West Ham fell behind at the London Stadium to Tijani Reijnders’ first-half goal but Said Benrahma’s penalty and Antonio’s scrambled effort secured a 2-1 win. In an edgy second leg, Pablo Fornals raced through to score the only goal in stoppage time to inflict AZ’s first European defeat in 26 matches and send the Hammers through. Read More Football says goodbye to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Monday’s sporting social Golf and water parks can help West Ham to European glory, says Thilo Kehrer West Ham walk off pitch after alleged racial abuse in seven-a-side tournament Leicester’s unexpected twist provides reminder of football’s new reality Izzy Christiansen calls it a day – Thursday’s sporting social Tottenham appoint ‘attacking’ Ange Postecoglou as new manager
2023-06-06 17:55
Tottenham’s lengthy to-do list after appointing Ange Postecoglou as boss
Tottenham Hotspur have finally appointed a new manager, 10 weeks and two interim bosses after Antonio Conte was sacked. Ange Postecoglou is in from Celtic, appointed on a four-year deal, and there’s plenty for the Australian head coach to do in his first few weeks on the job – and much for Spurs as a club still to do to support him, too. Here’s the lengthy to-do list the north London side have to get straight to work on, both with Postecoglou’s input and to help him thrive in his new role. Who is the director of football? Nobody, at present, and that needs fixing. Spurs have already been linked with a host of names and talks haven’t gone routinely with them either. Fabio Paratici’s tenure can be labelled middling at best in terms of recruitment and decision-making, and even that is perhaps being kind considering where Spurs finished up in 2022/23. But now a new face must be brought in quickly, to act as the go-between before Daniel Levy’s interventions become commonplace once more, or to act as deal-broker in the transfer market. Whichever is the preference for the club’s latest new structure, in an ideal world this position would have been filled before Postecoglou’s and then the sporting director given input in who to work with. That hasn’t happened so any appointment to this crucial role will have to be on board with the style and system the new manager wants to work with, then act accordingly in the market. The future of Harry Kane Real Madrid are in the market for a new No 9 and that’s a problem for Spurs as much as anybody else, with England captain Harry Kane on their summer shortlist. On the one hand, selling Kane would raise the club’s ability to reinvest and rebuild the team by a considerable amount; on the other hand, they’d lose their best player, creative outlet, most regular goal threat and fan favourite all in one go. Given his age and length at the club, plus how far away Spurs are from challenging for major honours right now, it should be no surprise if he wants to depart and there shouldn’t really be any ill-will from fans if that transpires. But Levy has never been one to simply give players what they want if there’s no benefit to the club, and there are political forces at play in any potential deal here just as much as sporting and financial ones. Captain, World Cup-winner... unsettled No 1 Hugo Lloris is almost certainly off, too. The long-time Spurs goalkeeper missed the end of the season with an injury, having been subbed at half-time in his final appearance amid reports of dressing-room unrest following five first-half goals conceded at Newcastle. While the French goalkeeper has been in place for such a long time that he’ll naturally be a key departure, his form hasn’t been stellar for some time and his end-of-season words – “it’s the end of an era. I have desires for other things” – rather aptly sum up the fact he should be allowed to move on, regardless of having a season left on his contract. If Spurs are serious about a total rebuild, it must start from the back to give Postecoglou a chance to put a real stamp on the team. Full-back conundrum Just ahead of the goalkeeper is another big decision to be made, which will affect far more than just one player. Effectively, Postecoglou’s decision here is whether he wants to regularly play a back three – as predecessors Nuno Espirito Santo and Conte have done – or reverse to a quartet, as interim bosses Ryan Mason and Cristian Stellini found they were unable to successfully do. So many of Spurs’ collection of flank-players are very much wing-backs and moulding them to full-backs is improbable for some, risky with others. It could either be a sea-change in personnel in this area, or else much more of the same – meaning other tactical changes are clearly needed for improvements. The actual transfer talk Strategy and individuals are one thing, but rest of the summer ins and outs will naturally shape just how well Postecoglou’s debut season could go. There are loans to sort out, such as whether Dejan Kulusevski’s will be made permanent or if Destiny Udogie is coming back off his and into the squad, while Lucas Moura is among those definitely departing, his contract set to expire. And on the incoming side, not having a manager or a sporting director in place naturally means that the early days and weeks of the summer window have been lost, in terms of getting targets identified, constructing deals and convincing players that their future should lie at Spurs. That has to quickly now be the priority as fans demand more of a pathway toward improvement, following an eighth-place finish which means no European football next season. Pre-season and a trip home for Ange The full plan for pre-season is also not yet in place for the men’s first team, though there will be a rapid trip ‘home’ for Postecoglou as Spurs play in Australia against West Ham in mid-July. He’s Greek-born and more associated with Melbourne than Perth, mind, but it’s still an intriguing twist on how he’ll be received by fans early on. Elsewhere, there are two games in Asia to play, in Thailand and Singapore, but the manager may want strong input on where and when matches take place as the start of competitive action approaches. With the 2023/24 Premier League fixture list out on 15 June and the first game on 12 August, there’s not a whole lot of time to fine-tune the planning – and so much Spurs need to get through before then, on and off the pitch. Read More Tottenham appoint ‘attacking’ Ange Postecoglou as new manager Tottenham appoint Ange Postecoglou as head coach on four-year contract Tottenham appoint ‘attacking’ Ange Postecoglou as new manager Football rumours: Two Premier League clubs battling for James Maddison
2023-06-06 17:53
Indianapolis Colts player Isaiah Rodgers Sr. says he takes 'full responsibility' amid reports of NFL probe into gambling violations
Indianapolis Colts player Isaiah Rodgers Sr. said he takes "full responsibility" while adding that he made an "error in judgment" after reports that he is being investigated by the NFL for possibly breaching the league's gambling policy.
2023-06-06 17:51
Sprinter Jim Hines, once the world's fastest man, dies at 76
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Jim Hines, who was the first man to run 100m in under 10 seconds, passed away on Saturday at the age of 76, according to World Athletics.
2023-06-06 17:27
Ferrari to Stick With F1 as CEO Says Racing Drives Innovation
Ferrari NV isn’t giving up on auto racing. Even after another disappointing season on the Formula 1 circuit,
2023-06-06 16:16
Ex-Wallabies flanker Waugh appointed Rugby Australia CEO
Former Wallabies flanker Phil Waugh has been appointed chief executive of Rugby Australia
2023-06-06 15:16
Football rumours: Tottenham ready to battle Newcastle for James Maddison
What the papers say Tottenham will give Ange Postecoglou funds to rebuild the squad when he is confirmed as their new manager, according to the Daily Mirror. They are willing to battle Newcastle for England midfielder James Maddison, 26, from Leicester with Brentford goalkeeper David Raya, 27, and Wolves defender Max Kilman, 26, on the wanted list. Moises Caicedo, 21, has emerged as the new midfield target for Chelsea, reports the Standard. The Blues have switched their attention to the rising Brighton star with Paris St Germain expected to win the race for 22-year-olld Sporting Lisbon midfielder Manuel Ugarte. Newcastle have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Kalvin Phillips. The Daily Telegraph says the England midfielder, 27, intends to stay at Manchester City. Atletico Madrid have joined the race for Wilfried Zaha, 30, according to the Daily Mail. The Ivory Coast forward will be available for free if he turns down a new contract offer from Crystal Palace. Social media round-up Players to watch Romeo Lavia: Former Chelsea star Eden Hazard is said to have helped with a potential move for the 19-year-old Belgium midfielder from Southampton to Stamford Bridge. Franck Kessie: Liverpool are reportedly keen on signing the Ivory Coast midfielder, 26, from Barcelona. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-06-06 14:29
Son Jun-ho selected for South Korean soccer team despite being detained in China
Son Jun-ho's selection for South Korea's national team despite his detention in China has taken the focus off Premier League star Son Heung-min for a change
2023-06-06 14:27
Situation at nuclear plant under control after dam blast - Ukraine atomic agency
KYIV The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine poses a threat to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power
2023-06-06 14:26
Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema to Receive Reported $300 Million for Saudi Move
Saudi Arabia’s $700 billion wealth fund and state oil firm Aramco are set to take control of several
2023-06-06 14:18