French soccer league struggling with violence, discriminatory chanting and low-scoring matches
There’s been discriminatory chanting in the stands, a team bus pelted with stones, a game called off because of crowd trouble, and precious few goals on the field
2023-11-30 20:56
Dortmund gaining confidence in Bundesliga after Champions League success. But Leverkusen is up next
Borussia Dortmund’s success in the Champions League is giving it confidence it can recover its faltering Bundesliga campaign
2023-11-30 20:53
What are Scotland’s best and worst case scenarios in the Euro 2024 draw?
Scotland are safely through to Euro 2024 after finishing second in qualifying Group A. Steve Clarke’s side were beaten only once across their campaign and secured a famous victory over Spain to help book their place at next summer’s tournament. Their 17-point tally sees them go into Pot 3 for the draw for the Euros. They will not face any of the other five nations in that pot in the group stages of the competition. With three play-off qualifiers still to be confirmed, the pots look like this: Pot 1: Germany (hosts), Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium, England Pot 2: Hungary, Turkey, Romania, Denmark, Albania, Austria Pot 3: Netherlands, Scotland, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic Pot 4: Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Play-off winner A, Play-off winner B, Play-off winner C So what is the toughest possible draw for Scotland? While the pots are based on qualifying form, and thus a useful gauge of team quality, we will go by Fifa’s world rankings to determine the best and worst case scenarios for Clarke and his team. The toughest possible draw for Scotland (current world ranking 36th) would be: France (2nd), Denmark (19th), Italy (9th). On paper, the easiest draw would be: Germany (16th), Albania (62nd), Kazakhstan* (100th). *Kazakhstan are part of qualifying play-off Path C When is Euro 2024? The 17th edition of the men’s Euros will be held in Germany between 14 June and 14 July. Which cities are hosting fixtures? Berlin Munich Hamburg Dusseldorf Frankfurt Cologne Stuttgart Gelsenkirchen Leipzig Dortmund Read More When is the Euro 2024 draw and what are the pots? Who has qualified for Euro 2024 - and which nations still could? Scotland sign off on successful Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with six-goal thriller Is Scotland vs Norway on TV? Channel, time and how to watch Erling Haaland ruled out of Norway match – only a week before Man City v Liverpool Steve Clarke praises Scotland for keeping their heads after late draw in Georgia
2023-11-30 20:49
Shanto's century helps Bangladesh take 205-run lead after Day 3 of 1st test against New Zealand
Najmul Hossain Shanto became the first Bangladeshi cricket to hit a century on his debut as captain as the hosts tightened its grip on the first test against New Zealand
2023-11-30 19:53
Devin Haney to vacate undisputed lightweight titles ahead of Regis Prograis fight
Devin Haney has announced he is relinquishing his undisputed lightweight titles, as he prepares for a super-lightweight fight with WBC champion Regis Prograis. Haney, 25, won the WBC lightweight title by outpointing Jorge Linares in 2021, before taking the remaining major belts from George Kambosos Jr in 2022. Haney beat the Australian via decision in Melbourne last June, before repeating the result four months later to retain the gold – also in Melbourne. The unbeaten American then retained the titles with a narrow decision over former champion Vasiliy Lomachenko in May, before setting his sights on a new division. Haney will box compatriot Prograis, 34, in San Francisco on 9 December, as he bids to become a two-weight world champion. But Haney will not enter San Francisco as a reigning champion, having told ESPN on Wednesday (29 November) that he is vacating his lightweight belts. “I did everything at 135[lbs] that I could,” he said. “The biggest fight for me was making that Gervonta Davis fight, and his side showed no interest in making the fight. “I’ve outgrown the division, so now I make my quest to 140 to become a two-division champion. And after this fight, I look to become a three-division champion and move up to 147, God willing that I’m successful in this fight. “I made history in becoming undisputed, and that was a milestone for me, but now I’m at the point in my career where I want to make the biggest and the best fights happening in the world. I’m a pay-per-view fighter.” Haney has a professional record of 30-0 (15 knockouts), while Prograis’s pro record stands at 29-1 (24 KOs). Prograis suffered the sole defeat of his pro career in 2019, when he lost a majority decision to Josh Taylor. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Conor Benn seemingly confirms Chris Eubank Jr fight date Benn vs Eubank Jr will not take place in Britain as board intervenes Mikaela Mayer pushes for three-minute rounds in Natasha Jonas clash
2023-11-30 17:51
Teenage amateur golfer Rachel Lee tied for the lead in the Australian Open women's field
Teenage amateur Rachel Lee has finished the first round of the Australian Open in a tie for the lead with American Jenny Shin
2023-11-30 16:19
Capitals hold off Kings 2-1 to snap LA's winning streak at 5
Linemates Anthony Mantha and Connor McMichael each had a goal and an assist and the Washington Capitals beat Los Angeles 2-1 on Wednesday night to end the Kings’ winning streak at five games
2023-11-30 15:56
European stumble shows there are two sides to Manchester United – and neither is working
From hell to purgatory. Manchester United are left in limbo about their European future this season, after a game at Galatasaray where both sides left everything on the pitch. Andre Onana, however, let two free-kicks in. There was still more to an utterly thrilling 3-3 draw than that, as United lost a lead for the fifth time in five Champions League group games. This was also the second by two goals. That should torment Erik ten Hag, even as it would have delighted anyone else watching on. This was so much more entertaining than the divinely perfect football we’ve come to expect from the competition’s best level and there is, of course, a lesson in that. This might have been the way to put on a show. It isn’t the way to go about an away game in the Champions League. There should be an even greater aggravation to that for Ten Hag, though. So much of United’s attacking play looked like what you would consider his ideal. It was a long-awaited reminder of last season’s best form, particularly Scott McTominay’s counter-attacking finish that should have won it. It was all there. There was connection combined with emphatic force, as was seen with Alejandro Garnacho’s glorious strike for the first after that exquisite little through ball. There was pure individual inspiration, as seen with Bruno Fernandes’ blockbuster. There was then incision at pace, as they cut through Galatasaray for McTominay to slide in. This is the way United should be playing. The great question for Ten Hag, that is directly connected to the quandary of how they keep losing leads, is whether they can only play that way by going so open? It is some way removed from Pep Guardiola’s suffocation through possession. It is even further away from so many of United’s drab league games. There, there’s been a more dour resilience, where performance has actually obscured relatively acceptable form. This still shouldn’t be acceptable, though. United just shouldn’t be in this position. That could have been said before this game, but this made it much worse. It’s like there’s no in-between. It’s either “control” to the point of boredom or abandon to the point of this chaos. Galatasaray of course contributed. They were often as good in attack, and just as porous at the back. The number of chances they were willing to just offer up late on. It’s incredible they still came out with a draw. For that, they can look to United’s goalkeeper. One Hakim Ziyech free-kick like that would have been bad enough. Two might well be a season destroyer. It will be all the worse given he had recovered. There hadn’t really been a major error since the supposed turning point of the penalty save against Copenhagen. It was just another twist in this group stage. The one excuse that might be made for Onana is that the conditions made it especially difficult, particularly in situations like those free-kicks. It was also like a player as clever as Ziyech knew that. He went for it. Again, there was more to it than that. Like Galatasaray at the other end, United gave up so many chances that any two or three of a number of efforts could have ended up as goals. Kerem Akturkoglu's brilliant sweeping strike was one. That could have happened many times over. The chaos reduced the match to an element of blind luck – especially late on. That last proper move United had, where the ball ricocheted around Fernando Muslera’s goal, summed it up. It could have gone anywhere. As it is, United are going out. It should never have come to that. There are questions for Ten Hag there, beyond his choice of goalkeeper. How are they this erratic after a year and a half? How is it they have found a relatively forgiving group so punishing? How can translate some of this attacking to the league, without bringing that mayhem at the back? This is what United need to look to, other than a miracle. Hell, as Galatasaray still attempted to style their new Rams Park, wasn’t the place for that. Read More Arsenal through to last 16 as Manchester United squander lead again Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man United suffer heavy Champions League blow in Galatasaray thriller Champions League: What do Man United, Arsenal and Newcastle need to reach last 16? Man United’s teen sensation who could offer salvation - and it’s not Garnacho Why Bruno Fernandes is the only choice as Man Utd captain
2023-11-30 15:49
Is Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw on TV? Kick off time, channel and how to watch Europa Conference League fixture
Aston Villa take on Legia Warsaw in the Europa Conference League Group E on Thursday. Villa sit second in the group, behind Legia only on goal difference, with both teams having nine points from their opening four matches. That is in addition to an impressive domestic campaign that has seen them rise up to fourth in the table and only two points behind top-placed Arsenal. But Legia got the better of Villa in the first match of the campaign, winning 3-2 in Poland. Here’s everything you need to know about the fixture and get the latest odds and tips here. When is Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw? The Europa League Conference match takes place on Thursday 30 November at Villa Park, Birmingham with a kick off time of 8 pm GMT. How can I watch it? Aston Villa vs Legia Warsaw will be shown live on TNT Sports 2 which can be streamed via the Discovery + app, with coverage starting at 7.45pm GMT. Team news Unai Emery said in the build up to the match that they were training with everyone, but might have to be careful ahead of the congested fixture schedule. Emiliano Buendia, and Tyrone Mings remain on the long-term injured list. Predicted line-up Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, P Torres, Digne, Bailey, Kamara, Douglas Luiz, J Ramsey, Tielemans, Watkins Odds Aston Villa 1/4 Draw 7/2 Legia Warsaw 8/1 Prediction Villa to win at home. Aston Villa 2-1 Legia Warsaw Read More Son Heung-min hurt by defeats but ‘very pleased’ with way Tottenham are playing Julen Lopetegui reveals what he’s waiting for before return to management Arsenal show how Champions League should be done – Man Utd and Newcastle take note... Julen Lopetegui reveals what he’s waiting for before return to management Arsenal show how Champions League should be done – Man Utd and Newcastle take note... A genuine dream – Mikel Arteta loved Arsenal’s rout of Lens in Champions League
2023-11-30 15:45
Leonard and Harden combine for 60 points as Clippers top Kings, 131-117
Kawhi Leonard had 34 points and seven assists, James Harden scored 26 and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a big game by De’Aaron Fox to beat the Sacramento Kings 131-117
2023-11-30 14:26
Battle, Brazile and defense lead Arkansas to victory over No. 7 Duke, 80-75
Trevon Brazile had 19 points and 11 rebounds, Khalif Battle scored 21 off the bench and Arkansas held on to beat No. 7 Duke 80-75
2023-11-30 13:57
Jokic's triple-double lifts Nuggets past Rockets 134-124 in Murray's return
Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 15 assists and 10 rebounds, Michael Porter Jr. scored a season-high 30 points and the Denver Nuggets rolled past the Houston Rockets 134-124 on Wednesday night in Jamal Murray’s return from a hamstring injury
2023-11-30 12:57