🎧 Goodbye to the GOAT
The latest episode of When You're Smiling podcast has landed. The team discuss Sunday's victory against Ipswich and Jamie Vardy's 500th and final appearance for the club.Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
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Reuters
6 minutes ago
- Reuters
Lack of test preparation no bother for South Africa head of WTC final
LONDON, June 8 (Reuters) - A lack of preparation for the World Test Championship final will be no problem for South Africa as they get set to take on Australia at Lord's, opener Aiden Markram said on Sunday. South Africa last played a test in January when they beat Pakistan to book a place in the WTC final and their hopes of an extensive warm-up last week were stymied as their four-day match with Zimbabwe was largely rained out. "A lot of our series have been two test series, so in order to win them, you can't start slow, so I suppose there's a little bit of that that's helped us along the way," Markram told a press conference at Lord's, where the WTC final begins on Wednesday. "We know the importance of starting well, trying to get ahead of the game early and how important each session is going to be, because there's no second dip at it. "We have to make sure we hit the ground running and are nice and sharp come day one," he added. South Africa qualified for the final with a seven-match winning streak but also having played seven tests fewer than Australia, who are defending champions. "We've had a lot fewer games, so I suppose every time you get in, everyone's obviously getting super pumped up to play test cricket because we don't play as much of it," Markram said. South African cricket has a long history of coming close but failing in limited overs tournaments, but Markram felt that would have no impact on their first WTC final. "This team's obviously very different (in) personnel to what the white-ball squad was, so we haven't addressed it too much," he said. "The few of us that have been a part of previous ICC events that didn't go our way, have dealt with it. We've obviously chatted to each other and made sure we've buried it nicely and taken some good lessons from it. "But besides from that now it's more about the excitement of having another opportunity to actually do the job. So it's pretty much where the mind is at the moment. If we play good cricket, you give ourselves at least a fairly good chance of winning."
The Guardian
7 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Luciano Spalletti claims he has been sacked by Italy after Norway humiliation
Luciano Spalletti has been sacked from his role as Italy's coach, the manager said on Sunday, following their heavy loss to Norway, but will take charge of Monday's game against Moldova. Spalletti made the announcement at a press conference after Norway stunned Italy with a 3-0 win on Friday, handing the visitors a humiliating start to their World Cup qualifying campaign. 'Last night we were together with [Italian football federation] president [Gabriele] Gravina. He told me that I will be relieved of my position as coach of the national team,' Spalletti said. 'I had no intention of giving up. I would have preferred to stay in my place and continue doing my job. I'll be there tomorrow evening against Moldova, then we'll resolve the contract.' Spalletti's apparent dismissal comes after less than two years in the role, having replaced Roberto Mancini and taken charge in September 2023. While Spalletti took Italy to Euro 2024, their disappointing performance there had already put the manager under pressure. Italy went into the Euros last year in Germany as defending champions but after winning their opening game against Albania, they lost to Spain and snatched a late draw with Croatia to make the last 16, where they were beaten 2-0 by Switzerland. Spalletti's side seemed to have recovered as they put in an impressive Nations League campaign, beating France 3-1 away and losing just once. They lost at home to Les Bleus in the final group game to finish behind France on goal difference. Italy began this year with a 2-1 loss at the San Siro in their Nations League quarter-final first leg with Germany and found themselves 3-0 down at half-time in the return game in Dortmund. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion The Azzurri came back to salvage a draw but missed out on a semi-final place and when they fell 3-0 behind at the break against Norway, this time Italy had no reply. The loss left Spalletti's side already facing an uphill battle to secure automatic qualification for next year's World Cup, and after Italy missed out on the last two finals, the Italian football federation (FIGC) decided to act.
The Independent
13 minutes ago
- The Independent
Family of Race Across The World's Sam Gardiner ‘overwhelmed' by support
The family of Race Across The World contestant Sam Gardiner have issued a message of thanks for the love and support following their son's death and also thanked people for donations to a fundraising campaign set up in his memory. The 24-year-old, who competed in the BBC One series alongside his mother Jo, died following a car crash last month. A JustGiving page launched in his memory by his family, in aid of National FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder), has so far raised more than £10,000. His mother said: 'We have been overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of messages of love and support on social media and in comments to press reporting. 'We would like to thank the BBC, Studio Lambert and everyone at Race Across The World production, fellow contestants and fans of the show for all their support at this terrible time. It has been very comforting to know that Sam touched so many people. 'I have been particularly moved by all the messages that Sam was an inspiration to many who have been impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. 'We adopted Sam and he was diagnosed with FASD. As viewers of season two will recall, this was a big challenge both for Sam and for us as his parents. 'National FASD helped us on that journey. If some good comes of this tragedy, it will be that FASD is better understood.' Mr Gardiner was driving a white Volkswagen Golf R estate when it came off the road and rolled before landing on its side. The accident happened on the A34 in Gatley, near Cheadle, on Monday May 26 and he died on May 29 from his injuries, his family said last week. Broadcast in March 2020, Sam and Jo ventured across Mexico and Argentina as part of the second series of the BBC show. Mr Gardiner's father Andrew said: 'When the news broke last week, friends asked how they could help. 'After some thought, I decided to set up a JustGiving page to raise money for National FASD in memory of Sam. The page is called Sam Gardiner; Super Human. 'I set the target at £500 thinking a few friends might be generous enough to make a donation. So far it's raised 20 times that. It's very humbling to see the RATW family rally to this worthy cause.' The National Organisation for FASD says on its official website that it 'provides support to people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, their families and communities, campaigns to raise public awareness, and promotes relevant policies and practices'. The website also describes FASD as resulting 'when prenatal alcohol exposure affects the developing brain and body.. It says: 'FASD is a spectrum. Each person with FASD is affected differently. 'While more than 400 conditions can co-occur, FASD is at its core a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition. All people with FASD have many strengths. Early diagnosis and appropriate support are essential, especially for executive functioning.' A message on the official National FASD Instagram account said: 'Sam lived his life full of love, exuberance and adventure as seen on BBC's Race Across the World. 'National FASD is both humbled and honoured to help carry on his legacy via donations coming from hundreds.' A private funeral will be held later this month.
