Tottenham draw in Bahamas
Jan Vertonghen: Almost snatched a late goal for Tottenham Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Tottenham were held to a 0-0 draw with Jamaica at the Thomas A.
Robinson National Stadium on Thursday night.
Spurs had an early opportunity the open the scoring when Michael Dawson long ball put Jermain Defoe through, but the striker put his shot over the bar.
Jamaica rallied though as Jermaine Hue forced Brad Friedel into a low diving save, and Keammar Daley later hit the outside of the post with another drive.
After the break substitute keeper Andre Blake denied Emmanuel Adebayor after the Spurs striker had been set-up by Tom Huddlestone.
Moments later Blake parried a Gylfi Sigurdsson shot from outside the area before reacting quickly to tip the ball away from Mousa Dembele as he followed in for the rebound.
Hugo Lloris had to be alert to save at his near post from a Darren Mattocks shot before the rebound was scuffed wide.
At the other end Jan Vertonghen was denied by the legs of Blake after connecting well with a delivery from Benoit Assou-Ekotto.
Di Luca positive for EPO
Danilo Di Luca has been banned for doping twice before in his career Former Giro d’Italia winner Danilo Di Luca been provisionally suspended from cycling after testing positive EPO.
The 37-year-old Italian, who received previous doping bans in 2007 and 2009, failed an out-of-competition test on April 29, three days after signing for new team Vini Fantini and five days before the start of this year’s Giro.
He had been sitting 26th in the general classification at the race, 33min 33sec behind compatriot and leader Vincenzo Nibali, with his best result being third on stage seven.
A statement from the International Cycling Union (UCI) said: “The decision to provisionally suspend this rider was made in response to a report from the WADA-accredited laboratory in K ln indicating an adverse analytical finding of EPO in a urine sample collected from him in an out-of-competition test on 29 April 2013.
“The provisional suspension of Mr Danilo Di Luca remains in force until a hearing panel convened by the Italian Cycling Federation determines whether he has committed an anti-doping rule violation under Article 21 of the UCI Anti-Doping Rules.” Di Luca won the Giro in 2007 but was later suspended for three months after being implicated in the Oil for Drugs investogation in 2007.
He later tested positive for CERA at the 2009 Giro and was given a two-year ban.
Vini Fantini sports director Luca Scinto told Gazzetta dello Sport : “Di Luca is an idiot and I never wanted him in the team.”
Cardiff to hold Whittingham
Peter Whittingham: Part of Cardiff’s plans for the Premier League Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Cardiff manager Malky Mackay insists the club will not be selling midfielder Peter Whittingham this summer.
The 28-year-old found himself out of the first-team towards the end of last season as Cardiff secured the Championship title and promotion to the top flight.
But Mackay believes Whittingham’s craft will be vital as Cardiff attempt to make a positive impression in the Premier League, and the Bluebirds boss is determined to keep the player.
Mackay said: “We will not be listening to anyone about Peter Whittingham.
He is totally part of my squad.
He is very much part of my plans for the Premier League now.
“He is a fantastic player and a tremendous young man to have at the club.
He’s someone who is involved in everything we do and a player who has a very big part to play for us.
“He’s signed three contracts for me and he’s under contract right now and that is the way things are going to stay.
“He’s going to be playing in the Premier League with Cardiff.
He is going to get his chance and he thoroughly deserves it after everything he has done for Cardiff City.”
Great Dane
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel is backing fellow countryman, and friend, Mikkel Kessler to defeat Carl Froch this weekend – warning the Brit may want it too much.
The former United and Denmark goalkeeper is a close friend of Kessler’s and covered the previous fight for Danish television.
That day Kessler defeated Froch on points after a ferocious fight in front of the Dane’s home crowd in Copenhagen.
Schmeichel also knows Froch well and gave the British boxer some banter in his interview with Ringside .
But that did not stop the United legend from predicting a victory for Kessler, although he believes the fans are in for another epic clash on Saturday night.
“I am very, very good friends with Mikkel,” Schmeichel told Ringside .
“I know how much this means to him.
He is going to go out there and give it his all.
He has already won against Carl Froch and I think that that is an advantage.
“I think Carl wants this may be too much.
When you want it a little bit too much then it can work against you.
But it is going to be good.
I am absolutely sure it will be a fantastic fight.” Kessler has built up a formidable reputation in Denmark over the past 10 years but Schmeichel admits it was not until his victory over Froch in Copenhagen in April 2010.
“He is very, very big in Denmark because he has delivered,” said Schmeichel.
“What he did in the fight against Froch convinced everybody in Denmark that this is a top, top class athlete.
What we saw in that fight was something very special.
“I think they really respect each other.
They appreciate the skills each of them has and I think when you look back at the previous fight, it was an unbelievable fight.
“That final round was probably the best round of boxing I’ve ever seen and I think they know that they delivered something very special that night.
“Ever since that night Froch has been begging praying and asking for a second chance and he is getting it now.” Don’t forget to watch Froch v Kessler on Sky Box Office from 8pm on Saturday.
Monaco target Vincent Kompany from Manchester City in 26m deal
Manchester City are ready to resist a 26million offer from Monaco for defender Vincent Kompany.
The Belgian is also wanted by Barcelona but City, under whoever replaces Roberto Mancini this summer, see him as a mainstay of their side.
Monaco are currently on a huge recruitment drive having been promoted back to Ligue 1 under former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.
Target: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany is being lined up by French side Monaco Key figure: Kompany led Manchester City to the Premier League title in 2012 They are expected to announce the 47m double capture of Porto pair James Rodriguez and Joao Moutinho in the coming days, while Radamel Falcao could follow.
Speaking earlier this week, Ranieri’s assistant Jean Petit says the Colombian forward, who has scored 29 La Liga goals this season, will join.
We are expecting Falcao and four or five other players of his quality, he told Radio RCN .
We have spoken and we continue to speak with Falcao and his representatives, negotiations are ongoing.
We hope to seal a deal as soon as possible.
Boost: Former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri is at the centre of a huge recruitment drive with Monaco Major scalp: Lethal striker Radamel Falcao has been heavily linked with a move to Monaco Monaco need a player like Falcao because he can help us a lot and because he can attract other top players, and that’s the best way of confirming out project is big and interesting.
Signing Falcao is a big coup on sporting and media levels for French football.
As a footballer Falcao has everything.
He has technique, good control of the ball and scores a lot of goals.
We saw it here in Monaco in the (European) SuperCup final and we were impressed and surprised by his performance and clinical finishing.
Monaco are bankrolled by Russian businessman and investor, Dmitry Rybolovlev, who was recently ranked 199th in the Forbes billionaires list.
Lukaku fancies Dortmund move
Romelu Lukaku: Says a loan move to Borussia Dortmund would appeal Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku says a move to Borussia Dortmund would appeal to him if he is sent out on loan again next season.
The 20-year old has had a rewarding season at West Brom, scoring 17 times, and he is set to return to his parent club in time for pre-season.
The Belgian is still wanted back at The Hawthorns for another spell on loan, while West Ham are also reportedly keen on the former Anderlecht frontman.
Lukaku only managed eight league appearances for the Blues in his debut season and the Belgium international admits he would be keen on a move to the Champions League finalists.
“I’ll start the season with Chelsea then I will speak with the management to discuss the best choice.
I am a realist,” he is quoted as saying in The Sun.
“I still need to grow and for that I need to have time to play during the next season.
Dortmund would be a good choice.”
Blues v Brumbies: Teams
Sir John Kirwan has made two changes to his Blues side ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies in Auckland.
Flanker Steven Luatua has been ruled out having sustained a neck injury during last week’s 23-3 defeat at the hands of the Crusaders.
The 22-year-old will be replaced by Brendan O’Connor, who is promoted from the bench to start at blindside flanker, while prop Angus Ta’avao faces a late fitness test on a knee injury with Sam Prattley named as cover.
In the backs, Francis Saili has been preferred to Jackson Willison at inside centre as the Blues look to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Meanwhile the third-placed Brumbies have named one change to their squad which lost to the Waratahs last time out.
George Smith is unavailable having suffered a medial ligament injury during fixture which saw the Brumbies lose 28-22.
The absence of Smith allows Colby Faingaa to start at openside flanker while Jordan Smiler is added to Jake White’s replacements.
Centres Pat McCabe and Clyde Rathbone have both recovered from their respective injuries to make the Brumbies bench for the round 15 tie.
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Brendon O’Connor, 5 Ali Williams (capt), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao/Sam Prattley, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tim Perry.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Sam Prattley/Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Kane Barrett, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Jackson Willison.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (capt), 7 Colby Faingaa, 6 Peter Kimlin, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Scott Fardy, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Siliva Siliva, 17 Ruan Smith, 18 Fotu Auelua, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Ian Prior, 21 Robbie Coleman, 22 Clyde Rathbone.
What they said…
Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan “I think Francis Saili brought a real excitement to the game last week when he came on.
“We need him to step up with his vision and his verbals, looking up and making the right calls but if he can bring his excitement and footwork then we’ll be really happy.” Brumbies head coach Jake White “The players are aware of how important a win in Auckland is for the club heading into the tail end of the season and we will be working hard to regain some of the momentum we had in the early parts of the season.”
Hampden calm concerns Stokes
Anthony Stokes: Celtic striker has worries about the Hampden atmosphere Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Celtic striker Anthony Stokes believes the lack of atmosphere at Hampden could thwart the team’s chances of winning the double.
The Hoops go into Sunday’s Scottish Cup final with Hibernian as strong favourites to lift the trophy for a record 36th time.
Stokes insists the players will have to adapt to the reduced noise level quickly if the team hope to avoid an upset.
Celtic have lost on three of their last four visits to the national stadium against Kilmarnock, Hearts and St Mirren.
“It’s a different atmosphere at Hampden.
Sometimes it can go dead with the fans, so we will just have to go out, play our own game and focus on that,” said Stokes.
“Can it have an impact on the players? I think it can.
When you are used to playing at home at Celtic Park, the fans are noisy for 90 minutes in every game.
“Going to other SPL grounds, you always get a good atmosphere.
But at Hampden sometimes it does go quiet and we can’t let that (affect us).”
Nzonzi targets Stoke exit
Steven Nzonzi: Asked for move away from Stoke Sky Bet Football Betting Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds Football Betting 10 Free Bet Steven Nzonzi has handed in a transfer request at Stoke, while keeper Asmir Begovic is being linked with Liverpool.
The news comes just two days after manager Tony Pulis left the Premier League club.
Nzonzi, 24, only joined from Blackburn last summer, but has already set his sights on a move away from the Britannia.
Stoke chairman Peter Coates told the Daily Telegraph : “I can confirm that we have received a written transfer request from Steven Nzonzi.
“We are not unduly worried about the situation as he is our player and has three years remaining on his contract.” Pulis departed the club on Tuesday after seven years in charge.
Stoke have not yet appointed a replacement but whoever it is will surely want Nzonzi, who was named the club’s young player of the year, on board.
Meanwhile, Begovic has hinted he will be joining Liverpool this summer, according to reports.
He is quoted in The Sun saying: “I want to start preparing on July 10, with all the players of Liverpool.” The highly-rated goalkeeper said earlier this season he expected to be sold after Stoke signed England goalkeeper Jack Butland in the January transfer window.
NHL: Blackhawks on the brink
Detroit Red Wings celebrate beating the Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks were left on the brink of elimination from the Western Conference semi-final after they suffered 2-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings.
Jakub Kindl and Daniel Cleary netted as the Red Wings took a 3-1 lead over the Presidents’ Trophy winners in the best-of-seven series.
The Blackhawks will try to stay alive in game five at United Center on Saturday.
Chris Kreider scored an overtime winner as the New York Rangers avoided elimination with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins.
At 3-0 down in the series, the Rangers appeared to be heading out as the Bruins led 2-0 and then 3-2.
But Brian Boyle scored a power-play goal halfway through the third, then Kreider made the decisive contribution in OT.
The Los Angeles Kings edged ahead of the San Jose Sharks with a 3-0 win, which put them 3-2 up in the series.
Anze Kopitar, Slava Voynov and Jeff Carter scored for the Kings, who will look to finish off the series on Sunday in San Jose.
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