Latest news with #Luxembourg
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
TNS target European group stage return
Head coach Craig Harrison says a return to the group phase is the target as The New Saints prepare to face Differdange 03 in the Uefa Conference League second qualifying suffered a painful Champions League exit last week as they conceded deep in extra time against Welsh champions now drop into the Conference League, where they must come through three two-legged knockout ties if they are to repeat the heroics of last season by reaching the group first of those is against Luxembourg champions Differdange, with the first leg at Park Hall on Wednesday (19:00 BST)."We have reached the league phase once and we want to go and do it again," Harrison said. "Saying it and actually doing it are very different things. We have got no god-given right to go and do it again, but that is our aim."TNS became the first club from Wales' domestic leagues to progress from the qualifying rounds to the group stages of a European competition last being beaten in the second stage of Champions League qualifying by Ferencvaros, Harrison's side lost in Europa League qualifying to Petrocub before victory over FK Panevezys sealed their place in the Conference League group phase. TNS then faced Fiorentina, Djurgardens, Astana, Shamrock Rovers, Panathinaikos and Celje, with their solitary group victory coming against Kazakhstan's Astana."When I first spoke to [TNS owner] Mike Harris about coming back, we talked about getting to the group stages in Europe within three to five years," Harrison said."We managed it in two, so we were ahead of schedule. It's now about trying to emulate that. We have to keep standards and expectations very high." Saints were beaten 2-1 in North Macedonia last week after a goalless draw in the first felt the stalemate was a "missed opportunity" and says his players must make home advantage count against Differdange, who have also dropped into the Conference League after losing to Kosovo's FC Drita in the Champions winners of the tie will meet either Estonia's FCI Levadia Tallinn or FC Iberia 1999, of Georgia, in the third qualifying two other Welsh clubs who reached Europe this season, Penybont and Haverfordwest County, are already out of the Conference successes last season had an impact for their fellow Cymru Premier clubs, with the boost it brought in Uefa coefficient points ensuring there will be four Welsh clubs rather than three in Europe in is conscious that TNS are flying the flag for Wales once more, adding: "We know that is our responsibility every year and how much it means to the country."
Reuters
11 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
David Broadbent appointed CEO of Europe's SES Space & Defense
July 22 (Reuters) - European satellite company SES ( opens new tab announced on Tuesday the appointment of David Broadbent as president and CEO of its Space & Defense Organization. He previously held a similar position at Intelsat, which SES acquired on July 17.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
No room for 404 error by Dundee United
Dundee United will be kicking themselves if they do not at least reach the Conference League third qualifying round. It is nearly 40 years since the Tannadice club followed up their place in the European Cup last-four by reaching the Uefa Cup final. They have failed to win a European tie in six attempts since their last win - against Principat of Andorra in 1997 - and they languish at 238th in the current rankings. However, that is still 166 places above opponents Strassen, who have only ever played one other tie in European competition - when they lost 5-0 to Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) after a goalless draw at home in last season's first qualifying round. Arno Bonvini's side have since finished runners-up in their domestic league - their best-ever performance - but they are a squad without notable names, with six summer exits being replaced with six additions, all from within Luxembourg. Jim Goodwin's United ought to progress, but Rapid Vienna, who reached the Conference League quarter-finals last season, or Decic, who won the Montenegrin title two seasons ago, lie in wait. Celtic will at least drop to the Europa League and Aberdeen to the Conference League if they lose their play-off ties, but the other clubs three face a rocky road to follow them into the league stages on what Scotland's Coefficient fears is a European "cliff edge". Read the full European round up
BBC News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
No room for 404 error by Dundee United
Dundee United will be kicking themselves if they do not at least reach the Conference League third qualifying is nearly 40 years since the Tannadice club followed up their place in the European Cup last-four by reaching the Uefa Cup have failed to win a European tie in six attempts since their last win - against Principat of Andorra in 1997 - and they languish at 238th in the current that is still 166 places above opponents Strassen, who have only ever played one other tie in European competition - when they lost 5-0 to Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) after a goalless draw at home in last season's first qualifying Bonvini's side have since finished runners-up in their domestic league - their best-ever performance - but they are a squad without notable names, with six summer exits being replaced with six additions, all from within Goodwin's United ought to progress, but Rapid Vienna, who reached the Conference League quarter-finals last season, or Decic, who won the Montenegrin title two seasons ago, lie in will at least drop to the Europa League and Aberdeen to the Conference League if they lose their play-off ties, but the other clubs three face a rocky road to follow them into the league stages on what Scotland's Coefficient fears is a European "cliff edge".Read the full European round up
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Telegraph
The best countries to drive in, according to our long-serving motoring writer
Will you be driving for a holiday, or driving to a holiday? Having driven through much of Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Antipodes over a long career testing cars, I need to make this important distinction as well as ask some questions. Such as what sort of car you will be driving. Believe me, if you try to tackle the old Italian road-race routes, the Futa or Raticosa passes con entusiasmo in a roly-poly family car, your passengers will be green about the gills soon after the first corner… Similarly, you'll need to rise early if you want to get up the vaunted Transfăgărășan Pass in Romania to avoid the Baden-Baden Sunshine Tours coaches, packs of Lycra-clad cyclists and leisure motorcyclists. But remember that, since this 56-mile vanity project of infamous former ruler Nicolae Ceaușescu, which took a decade to build and cost the lives of hundreds of military builders, goes from nowhere to nowhere, you'll encounter that whole circus on the way down. Irrespective of what time you set out. If it's thrills you are after, believe me, they occur in the strangest of places. Luxembourg, for example, the mini-Ardennes; the twisting, open-curved roads of the Éislek area have hosted the launches of performance cars from the Ford Escort Cosworth to Ferraris. These are truly great roads, beautifully surfaced, with terrific rolling countryside and if the hospitality isn't the world's cheapest it certainly hits the spot. Or try the Nürburgring. No, not the 13 miles and 154 corners of Germany's famous old Nordschleife racing circuit nicknamed 'Green Hell' by Jackie Stewart and open to anyone with the required €30-€35 (£26-£30), but the roads around it. These wind pleasingly through the Mosel region as you and your passenger stare up at the near-vertical sides of the valley wondering how on earth the winemakers harvest their grapes, before stopping to sample their work – or go to Restaurant Pistenklause and vicariously live through tall tales of a fast lap of the aforementioned fabled racing circuit over a stone-cooked steak. You can travel through similar vertical wine-growing in the Portuguese Douro valley, although the roads are narrow and heavily congested, as various car makers have found when hosting launches in this picturesque region. Japan and South Korea? Congested, although a tour of the DMZ border between North and South Korea is invigorating; just don't stop for too long. Tokyo's traffic jams are legendary, but at night the secretive Wangan racers come out and have a ball, although you need to be in the know to catch these displays of Japan's underground car culture. China is frankly bizarre, with mobs of cyclists and electric scooterists to keep you on your mettle. The new concrete motorways have excellent surfaces, but the air pollution can obscure the lane ahead, which often contains a slow-moving truck or even a pony and trap. For winter driving fun, head to the Scandinavian countries. The fjords of Norway are simply amazing, with winding roads around them and great views, all created (according to Douglas Adams in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) by the planet designer Slartibartfast. Be warned, however; Norway, Sweden and Finland have heavily policed roads with simply eye-popping fines. The same goes for Iceland, largely deserted and with great views, but you need to enjoy a 56mph maximum velocity. If you want to go fast, try some ice lake driving where, as Finnish rally driving legend Rauno Aaltonen once told me: 'My father would send me to the shop in our family estate car and could never understand why when I returned the car's radiator was boiling while it was minus 20C outside…' Heavy-handed speed enforcement is also true of France these days, where the Gendarmerie seems to regard the issuing of fines as part of our punishment for Le Brexit. All the same, the coastal roads of Brittany and the Atlantic coast are spellbinding as long as you travel before the start of French national holidays. Coast roads are the perfect motoring experience wherever they are, from the 124-mile South African Garden Route along the Western Cape between Mossel Bay and Storms River, the Namibian Skeleton Coast (often obscured by fog and don't, just don't, run out of fuel – the clue is in the name), the Causeway Coastal Route in Northern Ireland (which includes the Giant's Causeway), the Pacific Coast Highway in California, the pea-shingled Argentinian highway to Tierra del Fuego, or the French Corniche travelling west out of Nice on the Côte d'Azur. My money is on the Route Napoléon in the Alpes Maritimes, where the roads are quieter and you can find yourself diving down the old Monte Carlo Rally stages such as the Col de Vence, the Col de Turini, La Turbie or perhaps the other-worldly Mont Ventoux. All are heaven on earth if you really enjoy driving. For those looking for one of the best coastal roads with food to match, however, I'd plump for Spain and the road northwards out of Barcelona to Tarragona and its Costa Daurada. The roads are well surfaced and curvaceous while there are some great restaurants tucked into the rocky bays. The Alps can provide the most stunning scenery, but you need the timing of a great comic. Find yourself behind the Elvis Tribute Monkey Bike display team or similar hazard on the upper reaches of the Stelvio Pass in high summer and you'll rue the day you ever decided to tackle it. The Pyrenees between France and Spain are equally as challenging, just not as imposing or as busy. The Basque Country has its own charm, from where you can pop down to Spain and try the famous Rioja wines. For those in search of adventure and more testing driving routes, dip a toe into the Sahara, though not too far. Start with Marrakech and work your way south. There's a ferry from the bottom of Spain to its own 'Gibraltar' in Morocco, then cross the border and drive for miles along the coast road to end up in the bazaars and the Majorelle blues of Marrakech, before taking in adventure driving aplenty in the Atlas Mountains. Land Rover has used the Atlas range for several launches in the past. For me, northern France and Belgium still have some of the finest seafood, quietest roads and most hospitable eateries. You can detour to see the Champagne caves at Epernay and sample the goods, but the less pretentious Route du Cidre in Normandy has the distinction of being the scene of Ford's most expensive-ever launch, for the first-generation Focus in 1999. It's often best to shun the oft-travelled routes such as the Italian regions of Tuscany or Umbria and instead travel to the hills above Cuneo and Alba in the north-west, where on the sunny sides they grow the grapes for the famous Barolo wine and on the shady side the equally delicious Barbaresco. My favourite countries to drive in 5. Canada Can be congested in the season and snowy in the winter, but if you're into your endless plains, the massive tidal surges in the Bay of Fundy, the Yukon Highway 5 (Dempster Highway), it's all here. Great hospitality, good road surfaces and gorgeous colours in the autumn. 4. France Whether it's La Route des Crêtes through the Vosges mountains, the Col de la Bonette through the Alps or the coastal roads in Normandy or Brittany, France seldom fails to deliver on the views, the well-manicured road surfaces and the fine repasts. 3. Scotland From the North Coast 500 in its northern extremities, or just pootling around the lower parts, Scotland has it all; deserted moorland, winding roads, a James Bond connection, great food and a warm welcome. Just a shame you're often seeing it from behind a Dutch motorhome… 2. Italy A perennial favourite with Telegraph readers, with good reason. The north has the Alps, the passes and the congested but lovely lakeside roads. The centre has Emilia-Romagna, one of the greatest launch pads for some of the most scenic roads and the gateway to Florence, Siena and Rome, then on to the south for parched roads and great seafood. 1. United States of America A country founded on wheels, the USA remains one of the great driving countries. Whether it's the Cherohala Skyway, 43 miles of driving heaven from Tennessee meadows to a mile-high peak in South Carolina, or the 2,448-mile Route 66 which, as Chuck Berry sang, 'winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2,000 miles all the way; get your kicks on Route 66.' And even if you aren't into the whole petrolhead mythology, few could fail to be unmoved by the genius of Highway One, the Pacific Coast Highway (my tip, do it from north to south because, in left-hand drive America, you'll get the best views this way). Get used to burgers, enjoy the accents and try to go for the less travelled paths such as the 'Big Sky' states of Montana or Dakota.
