All Entries Tagged With: "european"
Rout of Santos reaffirms Barcelona’s reputation (Yahoo! Sports)
Barcelona was officially crowned the best club team on the planet Sunday, but we already knew that. Securing the Club World Cup title with a 4-0 thrashing of Santos in Yokohama was mere confirmation of a widely accepted fact, and leaves Barca running out of trophies to claim. Likewise, as further proof that this is not just a great team of this era but perhaps one of the best ever, the soccer world is running out of platitudes to anoint Barca with.
Rugby’s top job on line in IRB vote
Bernard Lapasset and Bill Beaumont will resume their contest to be world rugby’s top administrator in the unlikely setting of Los Angeles Airport on Monday. The vote in an election between current International Rugby Board (IRB) chairman Lapasset and vice-chairman Beaumont, a former England captain, was due to have taken place in Auckland ahead of the World Cup final in October
Rugby: Smith in England job may be no bad thing
If they could, the New Zealand Rugby Union wouldn’t mind reverting to the bad old days and reintroducing the so-called ‘Graham Henry’ clause.
Wayne Rooney appeals at UEFA against Euro 2012 ban (AP)
NYON, Switzerland (AP)—Wayne Rooney is asking UEFA to repeal the three-match ban that excludes him from England’s 2012 European Championship group-stage matches. Rooney did not speak with reporters on arriving with England coach Fabio Capello to help present his case before a three-member appeal panel. Wearing a Manchester United blazer and tie, Rooney’s hearing began just 10 hours after his club was eliminated from the group stage of the Champions League by FC Basel
England rugby player Ashton gets four-week ban
England ‘s Chris Ashton was banned for four weeks from all rugby on Tuesday for pulling the hair of Leicester ‘s Alesana Tuilagi during Northampton ‘s Premiership defeat by the Tigers on Saturday. Ashton, who was punished by a disciplinary panel for “acts contrary to good sportsmanship,” will be free to play again on January 4 — a month before England begin the defence of their Six Nations title. The incident took place in the first half of a fiery East Midlands derby won 30-25 by Leicester at their Welford Road home and sparked a touchline brawl.
Rugby: Ellis looks forward to calling shots at new ground
Andy Ellis’ plans to help demolish Rugby League Park’s old grandstands were stymied by health and safety regulations today but the Crusader is looking forward to be the one calling the shots at the franchise’s new home ground next season. Media were invited to the ramshackle old ground in Addington, Christchurch, to watch Ellis and Canterbury coach Rob Penney behind the controls of a wrecking machine but instead had to be content with watching them pose in fluorescent gear for safety reasons. Work on getting the ground ready for the Crusaders’ first home game of the 2012 season – against the Chiefs on March 9 – has been ongoing for several days and Ellis is exciting about the prospect of having a base after a season on the road in 2011 following the Canterbury earthquakes
RUGBY: RSC end title drought
RSC’s Tho De Vies (left) is challenged by Hong Kong Lions’ Christopher Maize at the RSC Sports Annexe yesterday.
FIFA’s Blatter downplays racism in soccer (AP)
GENEVA – FIFA President Sepp Blatter faced a wave of criticism Wednesday after downplaying racism on the soccer field, saying players involved in such clashes should settle things with a handshake.
Van Gaal named new Ajax director (AP)
AMSTERDAM (AP)—Ajax hired former coach Louis van Gaal as director Wednesday in a surprise decision made by the board without the approval of club icon Johan Cruyff—himself a board member. Van Gaal and Cruyff do not see eye to eye and Van Gaal’s appointment is likely to dramatically escalate tensions between Cruyff and the other four board members at the four-time European champion. “They’ve gone mad,” Cruyff told national broadcaster NOS in a reaction to the announcement.
Republic of Ireland 1-1 Estonia (Agg. 5-1): Giovanni Trapattoni’s side held at home but completes comfortable progression to Euro 2012 (Goal.com)
Republic of Ireland booked its place at Euro 2012 despite drawing 1-1 with Estonia in the second leg of the qualifying playoff in Dublin on Tuesday.