CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA (AFP) - Mayar Sherif on Saturday (Aug 7) became the first Egyptian woman to reach a WTA final when she beat home hope Romania's Mihaela Buzarnescu 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 at the Cluj clay court tournament. The 25-year-old Sherif is 119th in the world and will meet Germany's Andrea Petkovic in the final after the second seed's 6-4, 6-2 win over Serbia's Aleksandra Krunic in the second semi-final. The Cairo-born, California-educated Sherif was also the first Egyptian woman to play at Roland Garros and advance past the first-round at the Australian Open after turning professional in 2019 after graduating from Pepperdine University in the US. It was a memorable day Egyptian sport. Earlier at the Olympics in Tokyo, Feryal Abdelaziz had become the first Egyptian woman to win a gold medal in karate. Ahmed Elgendy, meanwhile, captured silver in the men's modern pentathlon. "This Olympics we're doing much better than other years," Sherif told wtatennis.com. "We're getting more medals and playing with our hearts. I'm so proud of all of them. Being in a WTA final feels great, but it would also feel great to be in a final playing for gold." Former world number nine Petkovic pulled double duty on Saturday having earlier finished off her quarter-final against Australia's Seone Mendez 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1.
UMAG, CROATIA (AFP) - Spain's Carlos Alcaraz became the youngest player in 13 years to reach an ATP final when he defeated compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the semi-finals of the Umag claycourt tournament on Saturday (July 24). The 18-year-old Alcaraz defeated the top seed 6-2, 7-6 (7/3) and will face French veteran Richard Gasquet, 17 years his senior, for the title on Sunday. World number 73 Alcaraz is the youngest man to reach a tour final since 2008 when Kei Nishikori made the Delray Beach championship match when he was also 18. Gasquet, 35, reached his first final in three years when he defeated German qualifier Daniel Altmaier 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-3 after three hours and 11 minutes on court. Fourth seed Gasquet, whose last final appearance was at Bastad in 2018, will be seeking a 16th career title on Sunday. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: France's Gasquet ends three-year wait for final spot
UMAG, CROATIA (AFP) - French veteran Richard Gasquet reached his first ATP final in three years on Saturday (July 24) when he defeated German qualifier Daniel Altmaier in the Umag semi-finals. The 35-year-old Gasquet, seeded fourth, won 7-6 (7/2), 3-6, 6-3 after three hours and 11 minutes on court. He will face either top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas or Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final. Gasquet, whose last final appearance was at Bastad in 2018, will be seeking a 16th career title. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Spain's Carlos Alcaraz becomes youngest ATP finalist in 13 years
GENEVA (REUTERS) - The next four Champions League finals from 2022-2025 will be hosted by St Petersburg, Istanbul, London and Munich respectively, European soccer's governing body Uefa said on Friday (July 16). The Krestovsky Stadium in St Petersburg was scheduled to stage the 2021 final. However, due to the postponement and reallocation of the 2020 final to Lisbon because of the Covid-19 pandemic in Europe, the final hosts were pushed back by a year, with St Petersburg now hosting the 2022 final. Istanbul, which lost the 2021 final hosting rights to Porto to allow a limited number of fans to attend the match, will instead stage the showpiece game in 2023. Munich, originally scheduled to be the venue for the 2023 final, will now host the match in 2025 while London's Wembley Stadium will retain the rights for the 2024 final. Bilbao and Dublin, who were unable to stage matches at this year's European Championship, agreed a settlement with the Uefa executive committee and will host the Europa League final in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Bilbao will also host the women's Champions League final in 2024. "We were all disappointed when the Covid-19 pandemic saw the four Uefa Euro 2020 games moved away from Dublin so this really is something to look forward to just three years from now," Football Association of Ireland chief executive Jonathan Hill said in a statement. "The 2024 Uefa Europa League final will be a landmark event with huge economic benefits for Dublin and for Ireland along with the boost it will give our game in the build-up to the final." Next year's Europa league final will be played in Seville, with Budapest set to host the 2023 title decider for the second-tier European club tournament. More on this topic Related Story Football: BeIN pays about $600m for Uefa football rights Related Story Football: Chelsea shatter dream of Guardiola’s Man City to win Champions League final
LONDON (AFP) - England manager Gareth Southgate said it was his decision to put teenager Bukayo Saka as his team's final penalty taker in their shoot-out loss to Italy in Sunday's (July 11) Euro 2020 final. The home side, playing in their first major final since 1966, lost 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley. Southgate also brought on Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford deep into extra time specifically to take spot-kicks, and they also both missed as England blew an early advantage in the shoot-out. "I chose the takers," Southgate told ITV. "I'm unbelievably disappointed not to go one step further. "We decided to make the changes at the end of the game, but we win or lose together as a team." Arsenal winger Saka, who had only made five international appearances before the tournament, saw England's final penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, after Jorginho had wasted the chance to secure the title for Italy when his effort was kept out by Jordan Pickford. "That was my decision to give him (Saka) that penalty," said Southgate, who missed the crucial penalty when England lost in the Euro '96 semi-final to Germany on home soil. "We worked with them in training. It was a gamble."
LONDON (AFP) - Italy inflicted more penalty heartache on England to win Sunday’s (July 11) Euro 2020 final 3-2 in a shoot-out, Bukayo Saka missing the decisive kick to deny the hosts after the game at Wembley had ended in a draining 1-1 draw through extra time. Saka’s kick was repelled by Gianluigi Donnarumma to give Italy the Henri Delaunay trophy for the second time at the end of a shoot-out in which England scored their first two penalties but then saw Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho also fail. Jorginho could have won it for Italy only for his penalty to be saved by Jordan Pickford, giving renewed hope to the England support who had earlier created a febrile atmosphere with their team looking set to run away with this final. The nerve-shredding climax seemed unlikely given the way the match began, with Luke Shaw scoring for Gareth Southgate’s England after just one minute and 57 seconds, the fastest goal ever in a European Championship final stunning a team who arrived here on a record 33-match unbeaten run. Italy were shell-shocked and struggled to recover in a stadium where the official attendance was 67,173 but more England fans clearly managed to enter after disgraceful scenes when supporters without tickets stormed the gates. Serious questions will be asked about security – the game was also briefly held up by a pitch invader late on – but English fans were obviously desperate to see their team finally win a major tournament for the first time since the 1966 World Cup. Italy, though, had most of the possession after falling behind and ultimately deserved their equaliser when it came midway through the second half through Leonardo Bonucci. With no further scoring, this was the first European Championship final to be decided on penalties since 1976. It is more penalty agony for England, whose list of previous shoot-out exits included losing to Italy at Euro 2012 as well as in the Euro 96 semi-finals against Germany when Southgate missed the crucial kick. While their 55-year wait to win another major international title goes on, Italy’s own particular half-century of hurt is over. The Azzurri have won four World Cups but their sole European Championship triumph before this dated back to 1968. They had lost two European Championship finals in little over two decades, with the agony of losing to France via a golden goal in Rotterdam in 2000 and then being torn apart by Spain in 2012, going down 4-0 in Kiev. More on this topic Related Story Football: 'Same again', Southgate tells England before Euro final against Italy Related Story Football: Mystic meerkats predict England will win Euro 2020 final Baying crowd Roberto Mancini’s team had an extra day’s rest in between the semi-finals and this final but they appeared completely unprepared for the experience that awaited them in London. England’s baying supporters created a hostile atmosphere, and that combined with Southgate’s tactical choices seemed to catch the Italians off guard. England brought back Kieran Trippier in place of Saka in the only change from their semi-final, reverting to a five-man defence. Within two minutes the choice of system paid dividends as England broke forward, Harry Kane opening the play up to Trippier, who crossed from the right to the far post where the arriving Shaw scored on the half-volley. Italy, who had not been behind all tournament, were stunned and the only surprise was that England did not try to press home their obvious superiority. Instead they allowed Mancini’s side to have the ball, confident they could withstand whatever was thrown at them. Italian fightback England were rarely seriously troubled in the first half even if Federico Chiesa remained a danger. It was a rather different story in the second half once Mancini had turned to his bench, notably replacing hapless striker Ciro Immobile and sending on Domenico Berardi. As the game opened up, Chiesa probed again and forced a save from Pickford, before a John Stones header from Trippier’s corner was tipped over by Donnarumma. More on this topic Related Story Football: 'Bring it home', Prince William wishes England the best at Euro final Related Story Football: 'The biggest day'; fan frenzy in London ahead of Euro 2020 final The equaliser arrived in the 67th minute. Marco Verratti stooped to meet a corner with a header that Pickford tipped onto the post, but Bonucci was on hand to score the rebound and celebrated with the Italy fans massed at that end of Wembley. Italy then lost the outstanding Chiesa to injury. Lorenzo Insigne did not last into extra time either, and Verratti came off too. England, meanwhile, sent on Jack Grealish in the hope of a bit of magic, but it would come down to penalties, and more gut-wrenching disappointment for them.
LONDON (REUTERS) - England manager Gareth Southgate has told his team to focus on reproducing their form from throughout Euro 2020 in Sunday's final (July 11) against Italy and not get caught up in the emotion of the occasion. England have not won a major tournament since their solitary success at the 1966 World Cup and the country is gripped with anticipation of ending that wait on Sunday. Roberto Mancini's side are unbeaten in their last 33 matches and are the toughest opponents England have faced in the tournament, but Southgate said there was no need to think about changing their approach for the clash at Wembley. "It's not necessarily about doing better. The key is to hit your normal level. Lots of teams in finals end up under-performing," he told a news conference. "It's about transferring what you do on the training pitch into the match. This game now is a different tactical challenge and we have got to prepare properly for that," he said. Southgate said his team need to respect the opposition but focus on their own strengths. "There are fantastic players all the way through the Italian team, they have a good tactical plan, an experienced coach and are on an amazing run," he said. "We have our own strengths. We've tried to play to ours and we need to do the same tomorrow." Southgate conceded he has thought about the prospect of winning the tournament but said it is vital his players put celebration plans out of their minds. England train ahead of Euro 2020 final "At the back of your mind you always have to have a bit of a vision on how you would like to see the end and play that out. But the reality is you have to focus on the processes and focus on the performance and that's what we have always done with this team," he said. "It's important the players have an understanding of that. Whatever path the game takes, they are prepared and they are ready. If you start to think about the end then you're probably heading in the wrong direction and we've just got to control the bits we can control." More on this topic Related Story Queen Elizabeth wishes England good luck ahead of Euro 2020 final Related Story On The Ball: Southgate making the most of Sterling qualities England captain Harry Kane agreed it was vital that England kept their cool despite the fever-pitch levels of excitement in the country. "Of course, there's an extra level of excitement and anticipation, but that's all part and parcel of playing in major football," said Kane. "A lot of us have played at the highest level in our club careers. A few of us had the opportunity in the World Cup a few years ago so it's just about staying calm and as relaxed as you can and just look forward to being out there and enjoying the moment as much as you can," added Kane. More on this topic Related Story Football: Booze, burgers and bangers - UK supermarkets brace for Euro 2020 final frenzy Related Story Football: Mystic meerkats predict England will win Euro 2020 final
NORTH BERWICK, SCOTLAND (REUTERS) - England's Matt Fitzpatrick and Belgian Thomas Detry shared the lead after the third round of the Scottish Open on Saturday (July 10), with world number one Jon Rahm breathing down their necks heading into the final day at the Renaissance Club. Fitzpatrick rolled in six birdies and dropped two strokes in his round of four-under-par 67 to climb up to 14-under. The six-times European Tour winner was joined by overnight co-leader Detry, who is hoping to break his title duck on the tour after a composed 68. Rahm, fine-tuning his preparations in North Berwick for next week's British Open, was part of the leading group until the 16th hole where he three-putted from 16 feet to give up a stroke. The Spaniard signed for a 69 to trail the leaders by one shot as he looks to win once again in his first appearance since his US Open triumph at Torrey Pines last month. "Just a couple errors, whether it's me mentally or technically, whatever it is," Rahm said. "It is unfortunate that it's been happening quite a bit the last few days. I'm usually very, very solid inside five feet. It's definitely unusual. "But I'm making it up with a couple other longer putts and hitting really, really good shots out there. Hopefully, I can keep that going tomorrow and clean up the little mistakes and come out on top." Australian Lucas Herbert, winner of last week's Irish Open, climbed 19 places on the leaderboard into fourth on 12-under, with countrymen Min Woo Lee and Wade Ormsby sat one shot further back alongside American Scottie Scheffler. Swede Alexander Bjork produced the lowest round of the week with a 63 to move up to 10-under and sit alongside world number five Xander Schauffele, reigning Race to Dubai winner Lee Westwood and Europe's Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington.
LONDON (AFP) - Karolina Pliskova said she was "not proud" of her Centre Court tears after losing a rollercoaster Wimbledon final to Ashleigh Barty on Saturday (July 10). World number one Barty triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 to clinch her second Grand Slam title after the 2019 French Open. Pliskova has now lost both major finals in which she has appeared having been beaten in three sets by Angelique Kerber at the 2016 US Open. "It was not the plan to cry because I don't want to cry on the court. I feel like cry in the locker room, but not on the court," said the 29-year-old Czech after the tears fell at the on-court trophy ceremony. "Just like too many emotions. Of course, it's been three weeks since I was here in London, in the bubble. "So of course you're a bit tired. All the emotions, they just go. Yeah, not proud about that." Pliskova, a former world number one who had never previously got past the fourth round at Wimbledon before this year, endured a final of contrasting fortunes. She was 4-0 down in the first set, losing the first 14 points before she got on the board. She then broke Barty in the 12th game of the second set as the Australian served for the title before sweeping the tiebreaker. But all her good work was undone in the second game of the decider when she was broken again and Barty did not need a second invitation to go on to take the title. Pliskova had gone into the final having served 54 aces but it took the nerve-wracked Czech until the first game of the second set to move on to 55. She had also only been broken four times in her previous six matches. By the end of the final, she had given up serve a six further times. Karolina Pliskova Ladies' Final Post-Match Interview | Wimbledon 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Barty ends Australia's long wait for Wimbledon title "It was a horrible start. That's why I'm proud about how I found a way back in that match," she added. Pliskova also admitted she had flashbacks to the final of the Italian Open in Rome on the eve of Roland Garros when she was blitzed 6-0, 6-0 by Iga Swiatek in 45 minutes. "I was thinking about the final in Rome where I didn't make a game. I thought, No, this is not possible, this cannot happen again." Despite her disappointment, Pliskova believes that her previous indifference to Wimbledon can help her crack her Grand Slam drought. Her next chance is the US Open in New York which starts next month. Ashleigh Barty vs Karolina Pliskova | Ladies' Final Highlights | Wimbledon 2021 Ashleigh Barty Wins Ladies' Singles Title | Wimbledon 2021 More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Barty excited for 'spine tingling' Olympics debut in Tokyo Related Story Tennis: Djokovic tames Shapovalov to reach Wimbledon final "It's not that I didn't like Wimbledon, but it was never my favourite place," she said. "I never played well here. I never felt so good here. But this time the feeling about this tournament changed, the feeling about the people. "I'm just going to try to be back stronger. Of course there's going to be a next chance. I think plenty of them. I'm not going to give up on that. So let's see what it's going to be."
LONDON (REUTERS) - Defending champion Novak Djokovic absorbed a barrage of powerful hitting from Canadian Denis Shapovalov to reach his seventh Wimbledon final on Friday (July 9) with a 7-6(3) 7-5 7-5 victory that kept the indefatigable Serb on course to write history. The 34-year-old was eclipsed at times by a 22-year-old opponent who lit up an overcast Centre Court. But as he almost always does, he responded to adversity with his usual mix of dogged defence and clinical precision to set up a Sunday showdown with Italian Matteo Berrettini. Tenth seed Shapovalov was bidding to become only the second Canadian man to reach the Wimbledon final and despite producing some scintillating tennis, was left pondering what might have been after failing to crack the toughest nut in the business. He struck 40 winners but whenever Djokovic found himself in peril, he manned the barricades, saving 10 of the 11 break points he faced and making only 15 unforced errors as he simply refused to be knocked off course in his steely pursuit of equalling Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal’s men’s record haul of 20 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic won the opening set despite Shapovalov serving for it at 5-4, then saved several break points in the second as his opponent threw the kitchen sink at the five-time champion. Even in the third set Shapovalov continued shooting from the hip but eventually his fire blew out as Djokovic claimed one of the toughest straight sets wins of his Wimbledon career. Shapovalov left the court with tears in his eyes but he showed enough in a marvellous run to suggest that he is ready to challenge for the biggest prizes in tennis. Djokovic has now won 18 successive sets since losing the opener in his first round match against British wildcard Jack Draper and extended his winning run at Wimbledon to 20, having last tasted defeat in the 2017 quarter-finals. But he knew he had been in a real scrap. Golden slam “I don’t think the scoreline says enough about the performance or the match,” Djokovic said on court. “He was serving for the first set and was probably the better player in the second set as well, had many chances. We are going to see a lot of him in the future, he is a great player.” Djokovic is now one win away for a third successive Wimbledon title, but there is an even bigger incentive that his fuelling the Serb’s insatiable appetite for victory. Beat seventh seed Berrettini on Sunday and he will go to next month’s US Open with a number of records looming – a 21st Grand Slam title and possibly a Golden Slam if, in the interim period, he wins the Olympic singles. “Every time I hear there is something on the line that is historic it inspires me but at the same time I have to balance it and win only the next match,” Djokovic said. For the vast majority the match there was little telling which player was making his first appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final and which one was contesting his 41st. Left-hander Shapovalov had vowed to unleash his naturally attacking game on Djokovic in a bid to claim a first win against the Serb in seven meetings. He was as good as his word. Ripping backhands and forehands on to the lines, he dominated the first set after breaking in the third game and served for the opening set at 5-4. It felt like a big moment if he was to stand a chance, but sadly the killer instinct that serial Grand Slam winners have is not quite there. Some loose groundstrokes allowed Djokovic to level and the top seed took control of the tiebreak after a winning a ferocious baseline rally at 4-2. Shapovalov ended the set with a double-fault. Undaunted, Shapovalov continued to stretch Djokovic in the second set and had him in trouble on serve at 1-2 but failed to break despite leading 0-40. Two games later Shapovalov had 15-40 on the Djokovic serve but again the Serb showed Houdini-like skills to extricate himself from yet another hole. When Shapovalov double-faulted to drop his serve at 5-5, Djokovic duly held with relish to open a two-set lead. From then on a 30th Grand Slam final appearance for Djokovic was inevitable. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Berrettini seals Wimbledon final berth with Hurkacz win
LONDON (REUTERS) - Former world number one Karolina Pliskova reached her maiden Wimbledon final after coming back from a set down to beat second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 5-7 6-4 6-4 on Thursday (July 8). The Czech goes into Saturday’s decider looking to capture her first Grand Slam title, having only ever reached one other final when she finished runner-up to Angelique Kerber at the 2016 US Open. Pliskova will face another Wimbledon final debutant in world number one Ash Barty, who beat Kerber earlier on Thursday. The 29-year-old Pliskova found it hard going against Sabalenka, the first seeded player she had faced in this year’s tournament, and it showed as she dropped her first set on the only break point she faced with a double fault. She made inroads on Sabalenka’s booming serve, which reached speeds of 193 kilometres per hour, to clinch a break to love midway through the second set. It was her ninth break point of the match but the first she converted, giving her the confidence to serve out the set and level the score. The 23-year-old Sabalenka, playing in her first major semi-final, struggled for consistency, sending down 18 aces in the match but making 20 unforced errors including one to give up an early break in the first game of the deciding set. Although the Belarusian rallied, Pliskova never looked in any danger, rarely breaking a sweat on her own serve as she booked her place in Saturday’s showpiece with an ace. “I am in the final so I think it is incredible,” Pliskova said on court. “It was an amazing match from both of us, I got a bit frustrated but she was serving unbelievably – she was in a semi-final so had to play some great tennis. I am super happy I managed to find a way to win.” That will to win meant the Czech became the first player in 10 years in the women’s semi-finals to recover from going a set down to win the match. “It is difficult when you are not doing well to stay positive, but my team is super positive, thanks to them I managed to stay calm and trust in my game,” she added. “I have had success in the past so it is not like I forgot how to play tennis.” More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Australia's Ashleigh Barty into first Wimbledon final Related Story Tennis: Naomi Osaka urges girls to embrace being 'different'
LONDON (AFP) - England fans can at last look forward to a first major tournament final in 55 years after a momentous win against Denmark set up a Euro 2020 showdown with Italy. Three years on from their defeat to Croatia in the World Cup semi-final, Gareth Southgate's men overcame the Danes 2-1 in extra time at a rocking Wembley on Wednesday to reach their first European Championship final. They now stand just one game away from ending their long and painful trophy drought, which dates all the way back to the 1966 World Cup. Standing in their way are an Italy side who are on a 33-match unbeaten run, reviving their reputation on the global stage after an embarrassing failure to even reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia. A Wembley crowd of almost 65,000 whipped themselves into a frenzy before kick-off on Wednesday with rousing renditions of "Sweet Caroline" and "Football's Coming Home". Simon Kjaer's own goal cancelled out a superb Mikkel Damsgaard free-kick and Kasper Schmeichel kept England at bay with some stunning saves to take the tie to extra time. The decisive moment came late in the first period of extra time when Dutch referee Danny Makkelie awarded a spot-kick for Joakim Maehle's challenge on Raheem Sterling which survived a VAR check, and England held out to seal the win. The final whistle sparked scenes of pandemonium inside Wembley - hosting the biggest crowd in Britain since the start of the coronavirus pandemic - as the players partied on the pitch. Flag-waving fans in London's Trafalgar Square abandoned their seating to merge into a huge, swaying crowd after the final whistle. One group of supporters climbed on top of a double-decker bus. For Denmark, defeat spelt the end of a fairytale run to the last four after the trauma of witnessing star Christian Eriksen collapse in their opening group game against Finland following a cardiac arrest. Vibrant England England have suffered semi-final heartbreak at major tournaments four times since 1966 and those agonising defeats have been etched in the psyche of English football. But Southgate has overseen the emergence of a vibrant young team unconcerned by the failings of their predecessors. "They've responded to what was always going to be a really challenging night," Southgate said of his players, who had not conceded a goal until the Denmark game. "We were so smooth through the quarter-final and relatively unscathed through the second round. We knew that at some point we were going to concede and we would have to respond." He added: "For our country, I've not heard this new Wembley like that ever and to be able to share that with everybody and share it with everybody at home is very special." The semi-final was attended by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince William, who is president of the English Football Association. Johnson has refused to rule out the prospect of an emergency bank holiday should England triumph on Sunday. England semi-final was a 'nail biter': British PM The prime minister's official spokesman said: "I don't want to pre-empt the outcome of Sunday's match. Clearly we want England to go all the way and win the final, and then we will set out our plans in due course." Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick when England beat West Germany 4-2 to win the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley, tweeted: "Wow! We're in the final. Brilliant game. Well done England. Fantastic." Wow! We’re in the final. Brilliant game. Well done England. Fantastic. #footballscominghome #Euros2021 #ComeOnEngland— Sir Geoff Hurst (@TheGeoffHurst) July 7, 2021 But Kane was determined to stress that nothing was won yet. "It's the first time in our history as a nation, getting through to the European final at Wembley, and it's one of the proudest moments in my life, for sure," said the forward. "But we haven't won it yet, we've got one more to go." More on this topic Related Story Football: England survive Denmark scare to reach first major final in 55 years Related Story Football: Three things we learnt from England v Denmark at Euro 2020 Related Story Football: Denmark players arrive home to heroes' welcome after Euro exit Italy reached the final with a win on penalties against Spain at Wembley the previous night. Midfielder Marco Verratti said the Azzurri were "climbing back to where they belong" ahead of Sunday's final, also at England's home ground after the pan-European tournament. "It's the dream you have as a kid as a footballer," he said. "I think it will be an epic final, history-making either way." Away from the mounting fervour, Uefa has charged England over their fans' behaviour after a laser pointer was aimed at Denmark's Schmeichel. Photographs in the British press showed the green light of a laser being pointed at Schmeichel's face just before Kane's extra-time penalty. Unbelievable.Someone in the crowd was pointing a laser into Schmeichel's eyes as he was trying to save the penalty Sterling dived for.Horrible look for England this.Disgraceful.#EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/LEusViVtMC— JAKE BUCKLEY 🇦🇺 (@TheMasterBucks) July 7, 2021
EASTBOURNE, ENGLAND (REUTERS) - Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko overpowered Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina 6-4 6-1 to set up an all-Baltic title decider against Estonia's Anett Kontaveit at the Eastbourne grasscourt tournament on Friday (June 25). Latvia's Ostapenko, who took a wildcard for the warm up tournament ahead of next week's Wimbledon, raced out of the blocks to smack nine winners and break her opponent's serve twice for 3-0 lead. Rybakina roared back to draw level after six games in the opening set but soon required medical treatment on her back, and was never quite able to impose herself during the rest of the match. Ostapenko closed out the first set following a late break and was dominant in the second, with Rybakina failing to keep a leash on her unforced errors. The 24-year-old went on to seal victory and book a place in her ninth WTA final when Rybakina dished out a sixth double fault of the match. Earlier, Kontaveit took a short cut into the final as her opponent Camila Giorgi quit due to a left thigh injury in the first set. There was no hint of anything wrong with Italian qualifier Giorgi as she broke back to trail 4-5 but she then told the umpire that she had an injury and could not continue. It was a sad end to a great week for world number 75 Giorgi who had taken out fifth seed Karolina Pliskova and top seed Aryna Sabalenka en route to the last four.
BUCHAREST (REUTERS) - Austria advanced to the European Championship knockout stages for the first time after they beat Ukraine 1-0 in their final Group C match on Monday (June 21) to finish second and set up a last 16 clash with Italy. The Netherlands, who were confirmed as group winners after beating both Ukraine and Austria, defeated bottom side North Macedonia 3-0 in the other fixture to finish with nine points while Austria have six from two wins. Christoph Baumgartner, who looked shaken after a clash of heads with Illia Zabarnyi minutes earlier, scored in the 21st minute from a corner when he beat the Ukrainian defender to prod home from a teasing David Alaba delivery. The groggy Austrian midfielder was withdrawn 10 minutes later and his replacement Alessandro Schopf nearly set up a second when he found Marko Arnautovic on a counter-attack but the forward's side-footed attempt was well off target. Ukraine, who were sloppy in possession and rarely threatened in the final third, have three points and must wait to see if they advance as one of the four best third-placed teams. More on this topic Related Story Football: Austria see off debutants North Macedonia to secure first-ever Euro win Related Story Football: Dutch delight as Euro victory over Austria seals top spot in Group C
PORTO, PORTUGAL (REUTERS) - Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said their season remained an exceptional one despite the campaign ending in disappointment with a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in Saturday's (May 29) Champions League final. City clinched a fifth Premier League title in the last 10 years with ease this season, Guardiola's third domestic crown since arriving at the club, but the Champions League continues to remain elusive after Kai Havertz's winning goal for Chelsea. It was City's first appearance in the final of Europe's elite club competition but they ultimately came up short, but Guardiola was still happy with his side's work this term. "I would like to say it was an exceptional season for us," said the Spaniard. "It was a dream for us to be here, unfortunately we could not win. "For most of us in this club it is the first time here, but we work to come back one day. "It was a tough season in the pandemic, but we learn from this for the future. I have incredible respect for the players, they gave everything, but we will come back stronger. I want to congratulate them for their exceptional season." Guardiola has won two Champions League titles as a manager, both with Barcelona, but none since 2011, and was again unable to bring City their first European Cup. City, who won the League Cup as well as the Premier League title, have been relentless at times this season, but on their big night they could only muster one shot on target all match. More on this topic Related Story Football: Chelsea shatter dream of Guardiola’s Man City to win Champions League final Related Story Football: Pupil beats master as Chelsea's Tuchel gets the better of Guardiola "It was a tight game and we had some chances, but against the defensive structure of Chelsea it is not easy," Guardiola said. "We struggled with long balls and second balls. In that moment you need the inspiration and quality, there were three or four moments that were close but didn't arrive. "We played in the Champions League final, we won the Premier League again and competed well all season. Now, I want to go home with my family I have not seen for a long time, take a break, and start working on how to approach next season." More on this topic Related Story Football: Goal scorer Havertz in dreamland after tough season Related Story Football: Tuchel says he sensed Chelsea would win Champions League
PORTO, PORTUGAL (AFP) - Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel said he had sensed before the Champions League final that his side would win on Saturday (May 29). Tuchel guided Paris Saint-Germain to last season's Champions League final which they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich. PSG sacked the German in December but he was almost immediately hired by Chelsea and led the Russian-owned club to the second Champions League victory in their history thanks to a single goal from Kai Havertz in Porto. "You know I was so grateful to arrive a second time (in the final after doing so with PSG last year) but this felt different. I told people before somehow it was," Tuchel told BT Sport. He paid tribute to his "unbelievable" players. "It was an incredibly tough fight, what a fight. Today, they were determined to win this. We wanted to be the stone in their (City's) shoe. "I told everyone to step up and to be more brave with the ball. "Kai was strong and delivered again. He has great heart." More on this topic Related Story Football: Chelsea shatter dream of Guardiola’s Man City to win Champions League final Related Story Football: Pupil beats master as Chelsea's Tuchel gets the better of Guardiola
PORTO, PORTUGAL (REUTERS) - A season that at times must have felt like a nightmare for Chelsea’s German youngster Kai Havertz ended in dreamland when his goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the Champions League final on Saturday (May 29). The 21-year-old struck in the 42nd minute to give underdogs Chelsea a deserved win, instantly repaying a large chunk of the club-record 72 million pounds (S$130 million) he cost when he joined from Bayer Leverkusen last year. With impeccable timing Havertz scored his first-ever Champions League goal, racing on to Mason Mount’s superb through ball and evading out-rushing City keeper Ederson before calmly rolling the ball into an unguarded net. It capped a remarkable turnaround for Havertz who looked like a fish out of water earlier in the season as he struggled to get to grips with the demands of the Premier League. He suffered a further setback when he caught Covid-19 in November, admitting that it took him two or three weeks to recover from the virus. But all that was forgotten on Saturday as Havertz became the youngest German player to score in a Champions League final since Borussia Dortmund’s Lars Ricken in 1997. “I don’t know what to say. I really don’t know what to say. I waited a long time,” Havertz said on the pitch. “I’ve waited 15 years for this moment and now it’s here.” Tuchel effect Havertz’s lack of form was a contributory factor in Frank Lampard being sacked as Chelsea manager in January, by which time the player had managed only one Premier League goal. Even when fellow German Thomas Tuchel took over, the forward continued to struggle for form and did not manage another goal in the Premier League until April. But under Tuchel, Havertz has slowly begun to show the flair that made him such a target for Europe’s biggest clubs. It was perhaps a slight surprise that he was give the nod to start in Porto on Saturday ahead of Christian Pulisic. More on this topic Related Story Football: Chelsea shatter dream of Guardiola’s Man City to win Champions League final Related Story Football: Pupil beats master as Chelsea's Tuchel gets the better of Guardiola But he fully justified Tuchel’s faith, working tirelessly and dropping deep to help link Chelsea’s potent attacks. “He deserves that, it’s been a tough season,” said Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta, hugging his team mate as the celebrations got going on the pitch. “This guy is going to be a superstar. He is already. He gave us the Champions League and not only that he ran like crazy.” More on this topic Related Story Football: Tuchel says he sensed Chelsea would win Champions League Related Story Football: City's season still exceptional despite Champions League loss, says Guardiola
PORTO, PORTUGAL (AFP) - Chelsea are set to be at full strength for Saturday's Champions League final against Manchester City with N'Golo Kante and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy having now fully shaken off injury problems in the run-up to the game. "Best news ever: no injuries and let's hope it stays like this until after training today," coach Thomas Tuchel told reporters at a press conference on Friday (May 28) just before his squad's final work-out ahead of the match at the Estadio do Dragao. France midfielder Kante missed Chelsea's final game of the Premier League season at Aston Villa last weekend as a precaution after limping out of the 2-1 win against Leicester City five days earlier with a hamstring problem. Mendy, who has been outstanding since signing from Rennes at the beginning of the season, was replaced by Kepa Arrizabalaga at half-time against Villa after suffering a rib injury when he collided with a post. Meanwhile there was some concern for Pep Guardiola's City as midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was pictured limping out of their final training session on the pitch in Porto. The German international is City's top scorer this season with 17 goals in all competitions. More on this topic Related Story On The Ball: Champions League finale shaping up to be a final of the false nine Related Story Football: Guardiola says leaving players out of Champions League final is 'terrible'
GDANSK, POLAND (REUTERS) - Villarreal coach Unai Emery believes the Europa League final against Manchester United is an opportunity for his side to assert themselves among the top teams on the continent, urging them to take the final step of winning a major trophy. "We've broken down the barrier of semi-finals in Europe and we feel proud of that but we feel a responsibility to take another step, because we want to keep breaking down barriers," Emery told a news conference ahead of Wednesday's (May 26) game. "We want to enjoy this final, but we want to win it." Hailing from a town of 50,000 people, Villarreal were an unknown entity in Spain until getting promoted to La Liga for the first time in 1998 and have since consolidated their position among the top teams in the country. They are still yet to lift a major trophy though and had never reached a major final at home or abroad before overcoming Arsenal last month after losing their the previous four European semi-finals. "Let's take a moment of recognition for the stable project (president) Fernando Roig has built at Villarreal, reaching four semi-finals and always getting up again after other setbacks," said Emery. "The club has lived through great moments and is designed to achieve great things. This is a very tough competition with great teams in it and Villarreal have earned their place among them." Emery is a Europa League specialist, winning the competition an unprecedented three consecutive times with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016 and finishing runners-up with Arsenal in 2019. He admitted Villarreal were unfancied in the final against the historical might of United, who are contesting their eighth European final, but said his side had plenty of reasons to believe they could topple the Premier League team. "We can't escape the reality as months ago we said United were among the favourites. They have great players and a lot of history but we can make an argument that we have a real chance of winning the trophy," he added. "Being favourite only matters before the game. What matters more is your state of mind during the game and the chances you create. "We just need to take the game to where we want it, with our character. We need to be better than them in certain phases of the game and reduce their individual and collective qualities so they don't shine through."
LIVERPOOL (AFP) - Liverpool secured a place in next season's Champions League by sweeping aside Crystal Palace 2-0 as 10,000 fans returned to Anfield on Sunday (May 23). Sadio Mane struck either side of half-time as the Reds registered an eighth win in their final 10 games of the season to finish third in the Premier League. Jurgen Klopp's men had to celebrate the club's first league triumph for 30 years in an empty stadium last season and their Premier League title defence was blown off course by a series of long-term injuries to key players. But they avoided the financial hit of missing out on Europe's premier club competition on top of the economic consequences of the pandemic by finding their form in the final months of the season. When Liverpool beat Palace 7-0 in December, Klopp's men moved five points clear at the top of the table. Just three wins from their next 14 league games, including six consecutive home defeats for the first time in the club's history, left them languishing down in eighth. However, Liverpool took 26 points from a possible 30 in their last 10 games to make sure they will be in the Champions League for a fifth consecutive season. Klopp had urged his players to use the emotion of the return of supporters to Anfield for the first time in 2021. Before kick-off there was a emotional rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone", but the home side started nervously. Centre-back injuries have been the bedrock of Liverpool's troubles this season. Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip have all been sidelined for most of the campaign, forcing Klopp to rely on the inexperienced pairing of Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams. Andros Townsend pounced on hesitation by both Liverpool's centre-backs to intercept Trent Alexander-Arnold's pass, but he fired wide with just Alisson Becker to beat. Palace had been party poopers at Anfield in the recent past, winning Steven Gerrard's final home game 3-1 in 2015. However, they could not give departing manager Roy Hodgson a winning send off as Liverpool took control after the first 20 minutes. Williams somehow headed over when completely unmarked from a corner before Mohamed Salah failed to beat Vicente Guaita. More on this topic Related Story Football: Silver lining to Liverpool's traumatic season Related Story On The Ball: A happy ending for Liverpool was not in the script Salah's goals have kept his side afloat as Mane has by his own admission had the most difficult season of his career. But the Senegalese got back on the scoresheet when it mattered as he bundled home a corner at the back post on 36 minutes to score for the eighth consecutive game against the Eagles. The home side were completely dominant after the break and got the breathing space they desired 16 minutes from time when Mane's shot deflected past Vicente Guaita. Klopp could then afford the luxury of withdrawing Georginio Wijnaldum to a standing ovation of what is expected to be the Dutchman's final Liverpool appearance. Wijnaldum is out of contract and has been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona. Guaita denied Salah a share of the Golden Boot with Harry Kane as he turned the Egyptian's effort behind late on. But Liverpool got the prize they most desired to be competing among Europe's best again next season.