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The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Your Guardian sport weekend: Premier League, Rugby Championship and more
There is no escape. The Football League has held centre stage on the past two Saturdays but now the Premier League is screaming for our attention and we must surrender. Barry Glendenning and Rob Smyth will guide you through all the reaction to Friday night's Liverpool v Bournemouth opener, plus the buildup to Saturday's five top-flight matches and all the latest transfer stories, for those more interested in who's winning the window than who's winning actual games. We won't ignore the lower divisions, including Wrexham's first home game back in the Championship, against West Brom at 12.30pm, after a couple of Hollywood endings in league (agony) and Carabao Cup (ecstasy). Peter Lansley will report from Villa Park on the lead up to the lunchtime game while Ed Aarons, who is covering Tottenham v Burnley, will be answering your questions. Email to take part. The England and Wales Cricket Board may have sacrificed staging international cricket in August in favour of the Hundred, but there's a series decider going on in Cairns. South Africa won the first match thanks to an astonishing unbeaten 125 off 56 balls from Dewald Brevis that ended the hosts' unbeaten run of nine, while three wickets apiece for Josh Hazlewood and Ben Dwarshuis evened things up for Australia in the second match. Geoff Lemon is on over-by-over duty. The fixture computer can be a mean machine: Aston Villa, denied a lead at Manchester United on the last day by a premature referee's whistle in a game they went on to lose, start the season by facing Newcastle, who edged them out of a Champions League place on goal difference. As the late Jim Bowen would have put it on Bullseye: 'Here's what you would have won.' Jacob Ramsey will be in the Champions League after leaving Villa for St James' Park, though probably not in time to figure here. Barry Glendenning will be on minute-by-minute duty – perhaps Alexander Isak will have a look on his phone to see how things are going – while Peter Lansley will be at Villa Park to find out if Unai Emery has calmed down since his Old Trafford meltdown. The staggered start denies us the thrill that used to accompany opening day but the first 3pm Premier League team news of the season will be announced at 2pm, while three lunchtime games in the Championship will be drawing to a close: Derby v Coventry and Portsmouth v Norwich, as well as Wrexham's game, from where Sam Dalling will be reporting. Rob Smyth will guide you through all the news and then action from around the grounds, with Brighton v Fulham, Sunderland v West Ham and Tottenham v Burnley from the top division. In the Championship, can Sheffield United steady the ship at Swansea after the Bristol City debacle and a Carabao Cup exit at Birmingham? We will have reports and reaction from all the Premier League games, plus roundups from the lower divisions. Fresh from taming the Lions in the third Test (to leave some of their fans claiming a moral series victory), Joe Schmidt's Wallabies now have to prove they are genuinely back in business against top-notch regular opposition, rather than a deluxe scratch side. A respectable scoreline in the Rugby Championship opener against the world champions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg would suggest that Australia are heading in the right direction as the countdown to their home World Cup in 2027 continues, while South Africa are trying to retain this title for the first time. Daniel Gallan is on live duty for us, and will then be analysing what went right and wrong for both teams. Molineux will stage its own tributes to Diogo Jota and his brother before the game against Manchester City. On the visiting side, Rúben Dias and Bernardo Silva both played alongside Jota in his last match, Portugal's Nations League triumph against Spain. After the obsequies are concluded, the sides will set about each other in a fixture that was won last season by John Stones' added-time header. Whatever else has happened, both sides will have a chance of finishing the day top of the table and you can bet that Pep Guardiola would welcome such an early statement of intent. Scott Murray will helm our coverage of the buildup and the match itself, while Ben Fisher will report from the ground. Along with the results, Saturday could throw up some talking points arising from the refereeing changes introduced for this season. Will we see a corner awarded for a goalkeeper holding on to the ball for too long? What about defenders being penalised for holding? John Brewin – our man at Brighton v Fulham on Saturday – will chair the discussion on what has gone before and tee up the afternoon's action, with the help of our reporter at Old Trafford, Jamie Jackson. Email to discuss whether Ruben Amorim can fix the Manchester United malaise and whether Mikel Arteta's reinforcements have given him an Arsenal team capable of going one better. We'll also have updates on the Championship battle between two relegated sides, Ipswich and Southampton. Two serial trophy winners meet at Stamford Bridge: Conference League and Club World Cup winners Chelsea take on FA Cup and Community Shield holders Crystal Palace. Oliver Glasner would like to hold on to the key names that helped Palace to those Wembley successes, especially Eberechi Eze. For Enzo Maresca, it all seems to be coming together nicely, but his players have hardly had a holiday thanks to Gianni Infantino's brainwave. Join Daniel Harris for live coverage of this match and updates on Nottingham Forest v Brentford, while Jacob Steinberg will have a match report and reaction. For many, many years, fixture computer rules about keeping the previous season's top four apart on the opening weekend would have ruled out a Manchester United v Arsenal clash, but last season the hosts finished lower in the final table than in the alphabetical list of teams for the first time in a generation. With a new-look attack in place, Ruben Amorim will seek a statement win, but Arsenal have also strengthened as they seek to end their title drought. Rob Smyth will provide minute-by-minute updates, while Jamie Jackson and Jonathan Wilson will cover the news, reaction and analysis from Old Trafford.
The Guardian
10-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Leicester v Sheffield Wednesday: Championship
Update: Date: 2025-08-10T14:34:57.000Z Title: First things first: it's been a terrific start at Wembley. Content: Join Rob Smyth to follow along. Update: Date: 2025-08-10T14:30:25.000Z Title: Preamble Content: When Leicester began their last Championship season, just over two years ago, it felt almost impossible they'd fail to secure promotion, most likely having taken the title. They had a new manager, Enzo Maresca, with decent pedigree, and a raft of players who were simply too good for the competition. Shonuff, they won the league. But at the start of last term, it felt almost impossible that they'd fail to secure relegation, Maresca having left and the squad not good enough for the top tier; such is modern football. Shnouff, they were relegated, 13 points and goal difference shy of safety, so now the process begins again. And, though it is no longer obvious that their squad is the best in the division, Abdul Fatawu, Stephy Mavididi and Bilal El Khannouss will be a handful for any defence they face, while Jeremy Monga, still only 16, showed plenty of potential in the Premier League. They are only fourth favourites for promotion, but Marti Cifuentes looks another smart managerial appointment, and if he can get things going, they have the players to contest promotion once more. Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, are a shameful, shambolic state of affairs: once again, a proud club has, with the authorities watching, been vandalised by an inappropriate owner. Consequently, Danny Röhl, a promising young manager, has left; so too have Josh Windass, Djeidi Gassma and Michael Smith; and as such, struggle looks inevitable and relegation a near-certainty. Thing is, the fans will barely care. Not because they're no longer interested in their beloved club, rather the battle now is not for points, but for survival. Real talk, the amount of money there is in the game means every member of the 92 should be safe in perpetuity – all the more so given the governmental oversight the game ought to have had for decades is imminent. In the meantime, though, Owls' fans are furious and desperate, rightly so, and nothing, not even a win today, will change that. Kick-off: 4.30pm BST
The Guardian
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
England v India: third men's cricket Test, day four
Update: Date: 2025-07-13T09:15:16.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Sunday morning coming down? Hardly. This third Test between England and India is on a knife edge. But more than that. How about a trapeze artist in 7inch heels tottering along a greased up machete above shark infested waters. In a howling gale. Something like that I suppose. England lead by the grand total of two runs on first innings and things got a bit spicy on the third evening last night. Zak Crawley gave a cynical/hilarious/his best Daniel Day Lewis impression to make sure England only had to face one over at the close, it was less My Left Foot and more My Right Glove (there will be definitely wasn't any blood). Shubman Gill and his men took umbrage and it all got a bit shouty and pointy at the close. A bit of good old fashioned needle to keep us all on our toes this morning then. England will likely try and force the game along in the first session but with that comes a certain risk. We wouldn't want it any other way, eh? Play begins at 11am, Jim here at a muggy Lord's (dare I say it could be bowling conditions…) on the tools until this afternoon when Rob Smyth will take you tenderly by the hand at lwead you through the rest of the day. Do give us a shout if you are tuning in. Thought, theories, predictions and pension advice all welcomed. Let's get into it.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Your Guardian sport weekend: Lord's Test, Wimbledon finals, Euro 2025, Tour de France and much more
The latest news and buildup on a big weekend at Women's Euro 2025 and the Club World Cup. While England and Wales will be concentrating on preparation for their meeting on Sunday evening in their final Group D match, those who don't take each game as it comes may have half an eye on Saturday's Sweden v Germany game in Group C, which will sort prospective last-eight opposition. Then when the US wakes up we'll have news from the Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain camps as they prepare for Sunday's final at MetLife Stadium, and we'll have the latest transfer stories, too. Join our football conversation by sending your thoughts to Join Rob Smyth and James Wallace for over-by-over coverage of day three at Lord's, as India continue their reply to England's up-and-down first innings of 387, while Jofra Archer looks to build on his instant impact with the ball on his return to Test cricket. When play is wrapped up, Ali Martin, Barney Ronay, Andy Bull and Simon Burnton will bring all the analysis and reaction you need to the day's action. Time is running out for those hoping to earn a place in Andy Farrell's 23 for the first Test, which will be exactly a week away when the final warm-up match kicks off at Adelaide Oval. Daniel Gallan will have live updates as those on the fringes look to make their case – and they include the head coach's son, Owen, who is on the bench for the first time this tour after his late call-up. Robert Kitson is our man on the spot in South Australia's capital. The peloton has been heading down France's north-west coast in the opening week, from the Pas de Calais via Normandy to Brittany. Now it is time to head east by south-east, starting in the Breton town of Saint-Méen-le-Grand. Amy Sedghi is your live guide as Tadej Pogacar and co head to Laval, while Jeremy Whittle will be reporting from the capital of the Mayenne département. After five lean days for the sprinters, this is their chance and, with Jasper Philipsen out, plenty will fancy their chances. It would never have happened in the years before the roof went on Centre Court, given the risk of the British summer making the All England Club look foolish if rain struck after they had wasted some sunshine hours, but the match-up between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova will start at 4pm today, in pursuit of the teatime TV audience. Katy Murrells will be giving the live updates, while Tumaini Carayol, Jonathan Liew, Yara El-Shaboury and Simon Cambers will have all the reports, analysis and news from the penultimate day in SW19. We already know who is going through from Group C in Switzerland, with Sweden and Germany both winning their first two matches and now facing each other to decide who comes out on top, which may well mean who gets a chance at gaining revenge against England for defeats at Euro 2022. Sweden, who lost 4-0 to Sarina Wiegman's team in their semi-final three years ago, need only a draw, as Germany, controversially beaten 2-1 in the 2022 final, have inferior goal difference. Scott Murray is on the minute-by-minute updates, while Suzanne Wrack will be reporting from Zurich. Sarah Rendell, meanwhile, will provide all the latest on Denmark v Poland, with the latter, especially, at risk of having the worst record at the finals … It's the big day in New York, if you are Fifa or an American football Giants/Jets fan, or New Jersey for the more geographically aware, and we will have the buildup to the first Club World Cup final of the Infantino-Trump era, between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea. Meanwhile, in what is indisputably St Gallen, England and Wales fans will be gathering before their teams meet in a decisive group match at the Women's Euros. While these promise to be festive occasions, we will also be keeping abreast of a poignant afternoon at Deepdale, as Liverpool take to the pitch for a friendly against Preston in their first game since the death of Diogo Jota. Join our football conversation by sending your thoughts to The penultimate day was when India decisively took the game away from England at Edgbaston, with Shubman Gill piling on the runs and Akash Deep taking a couple of key wickets to leave the writing on the wall. With England batting first this time, they will be the ones looking to set a target. Rob Smyth and James Wallace are again covering the live action for us, while Ali Martin, Barney Ronay and Simon Burnton will be summing up the day. Chinon to Chateauroux is another run for the sprinters, with the finish a happy hunting ground for Mark Cavendish: his first stage victory, in 2008, and his 32nd, in 2021, both came here. It will be flat-out at the end of the day, after being just flat up till then, with not a single rated climb. Amy Sedghi is again at the helm of the live coverage, while Jeremy Whittle is our man keeping an eye on everyone from the maillot jaune to the lanterne rouge; last year, in his final tour, it was Cavendish who finished as the latter, the name given to the rider who survives the whole Tour to come in last overall. In 2019, Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12 at about 7.10pm. Even though a super tie-break will, if needed, come in at 6-6 in the final set now, with the first to 10 points claiming the trophy, the odds are we won't find out the winner until much later this year, given the 4pm start. Daniel Harris will cover all the live action, while Tumaini Carayol, Jonathan Liew and Sean Ingle will be reporting from the climax to the 138th championships. Perhaps not the final that anyone exactly wanted – an intercontinental match-up is always preferable in global tournaments – but an intriguing one nonetheless, with Enzo Maresca's topsy-turvy first season at Chelsea ending with a chance to land a huge prize against a Paris Saint-Germain team seeking a clean sweep, adding the Club World Cup to all of France's domestic honours and the Champions League. Michael Butler is covering the Coppa Gianni finale as it happens, while Sid Lowe and Jacob Steinberg are braving the heat of MetLife Stadium. Group D reaches its conclusion with England not certain of progress but knowing that any victory will suffice; if they finish level on six points with a victorious Netherlands and a beaten France, then it is mathematically impossible for both those two to have a better head-to-head goal difference than England's +3. Wales's hopes are slim: they need France to beat the Netherlands and see off England by four clear goals. Emillia Hawkins covers the UK derby live, while Will Unwin is on duty for Netherlands v France. Louise Taylor is in Basel with the Dutch and French, while Suzanne Wrack, Tom Garry and Sophie Downey are in Zurich for the Anglo-Welsh argument.
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Flamengo 2-4 Bayern Munich: Club World Cup, last 16
Update: Date: 2025-06-29T22:19:03.000Z Title: That's all for tonight. Content: Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern won an entertaining game to set up a heavyweight quarter-final against PSG Rob Smyth Mon 30 Jun 2025 00.18 CEST First published on Sun 29 Jun 2025 21.00 CEST 12.18am CEST 00:18 We'll have more Club World Cup action tomorrow, with Scott Murray covering Internazionale v Fluminense. Thanks for your company, goodnight. 12.08am CEST 00:08 Bayern Munich will play Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final after an eventful victory over Flamengo. Harry Kane scored twice, the second a majestic finish that finally put Flamengo out of their misery, and is the Superior Player of the Match (sic). Ultimately, this was a triumph of the gegenpress: all four Bayern goals stemmed from them winning the ball high up the field. 12.06am CEST 00:06 90+7 min An immaculate pass from Kimmich puts Sane through on goal. He hits the ball hard and low but Rossi is perfectly positioned and saves with his legs. 12.03am CEST 00:03 90+5 min A sizzling cross from De La Cruz is headed just over the bar by Wallace Yan. Half a chance. 12.03am CEST 00:03 90+4 min Sane gives away a needless free-kick 25 yards from the Bayern goal. De La Cruz's effort nicks off the head of Muller and loops onto the roof of the net. 12.02am CEST 00:02 90+3 min: Bayern substitution Thomas Muller and Sacha Boey replace Konrad Laimer and Harry Kane, who on this particular night is as sweaty as he is magnificent. 12.01am CEST 00:01 90+2 min Bayern are winning 4-2 yet they've had three shots on target, the same as Flamengo. 12.00am CEST 00:00 90_1 min Seven minutes of added time. Laimer is booked for tripping Henrique. 11.58pm CEST 23:58 89 min 'As a Stuttgart fan, I commend you on naming your fictional cat after Guido Buchwald, the most underrated centreback of the last half century,' writes Kári Tulinius. 'He marked Maradona out of a World Cup final. He's the defensive equivalent of Hurst and Mbappé.' Fabulous player, a giant in an all-time-great West Germany side. Also, he was the attacking equivalent of Hurst and Mbappé against the Netherlands at Italia 90! 11.56pm CEST 23:56 87 min Musiala is booked, I think for fouling De La Cruz. There have been so many yellow cards that my brain has stopped noticing why they're being awarded. 11.55pm CEST 23:55 86 min If it stays like this Bayern will play Paris Saint-Germain in a heavyweight quarter-final on Saturday. 11.54pm CEST 23:54 85 min Olise almost makes it 5-2 after a thrilling three-on-three break. He exchanged passes with Sane and was about to shoot when a couple of Flamengo defenders converged to clear the danger. 11.53pm CEST 23:53 83 min Harry Kane is booked for an absurd foul on Ayrton Lucas. He ran 70 yards, trying to track Ayrton Lucas, and then booted him up in the air. Kane immediately apologised. 11.51pm CEST 23:51 81 min: Triple substitution for Flamengo Wallace Yan, Ayrton Lucas and Nicolas De La Cruz replace Jorginho, Gerson and Alex Sandro. 11.45pm CEST 23:45 77 min Flamengo kick off after the cooling break, their players filled with a newfound respect for Sisyphus. 11.44pm CEST 23:44 75 min That goal is followed by a cooling break. 11.43pm CEST 23:43 Yet again, Flamengo were caught trying to play out from the back. Laimer won possession, Kimmich played a neat disguised pass into Kane on the edge of the area, and he curled emphatically into the corner. Superb finish. 11.42pm CEST 23:42 Harry Kane gets his second with a ruthless finish! 11.41pm CEST 23:41 73 min: Bayern substitution Jamal Musiala replaces Serge Gnabry, who had a pretty quiet game. 11.39pm CEST 23:39 71 min Kane slides a neat pass through to Sane, who does well to ride a challenge but then declines the chance to shoot. Instead he tries to give the ball back to Kane and it's intercepted. 11.38pm CEST 23:38 69 min Now a tough chance at the other end, when Sane misses his kick from Kane's sharp cutback. Another Bayern goal would surely finish Flamengo off. But for now they are right in this game. Updated at 11.39pm CEST 11.36pm CEST 23:36 67 min: Chance for Flamengo Bruno Henrique runs onto a long pass forward, beats Neuer to the bouncing ball on the edge of the area but flicks it well wide under pressure. It was a tough chance. 11.35pm CEST 23:35 66 min Now Kimmich is booked. He tried to hold off a Flamengo player and accidentally shoved his palm into the face. 11.33pm CEST 23:33 64 min The resulting free-kick leads to a penalty appeal when Kane feels a bit of contact from behind. Doesn't matter; he was offside. 11.32pm CEST 23:32 63 min Wesley is booked for fouling Sane just outside the penalty area. Sane was running onto an excellent return ball from Kane, though he was in line with the left edge of the area so it didn't constitute our old friend Dogso. 11.27pm CEST 23:27 59 min: Double substitution for Bayern Leroy Sane and Aleksandar Pavlovic come on for Leon Goretzka and the injured Kingsley Coman. 11.27pm CEST 23:27 58 min: Flamengo substitution That was De Arrascaeta's last action; he's replaced by Bruno Henrique. 11.26pm CEST 23:26 57 min Flamengo break four on four, and the fans go wild… until De Arrascaeta is well challenged by Tah (I think). 11.23pm CEST 23:23 Jorginho sends Neuer the wrong way to score his first goal for Flamengo. Excellent penalty, and Flamengo have fresh hope. 11.22pm CEST 23:22 54 min Jorginho will take the penalty, presumably after a hop and a skip. 11.22pm CEST 23:22 53 min A routine cross from the right hits the arm of Olise, who makes no complaint when Michael Oliver points straight to the spot. Olise's arms were away from his body so this won't be overturned. 11.19pm CEST 23:19 51 min 'Which game are you following?' writes Franz. 'Flamengo had 15 good minutes but the rest was Bayern's. Seems to be still difficult for Brits to praise German teams. Switch channel and enjoy.' Franz, my friend, if you're going to call a complete stranger a bigot, at least do your research first. My historical archive is called Ntzr, FFS. My cat is called Buchwald*. If you were any more wrong about me, you'd have addressed me as Mummy. * Okay I made that bit up but the rest is true and casually accusing people of bigotry/xenophobia/whatever, it's kinda not on. Updated at 11.27pm CEST 11.19pm CEST 23:19 50 min Free-kick to Flamengo 25 yards from goal. De Arrascaeta takes… and it's a poor effort, high over the bar. 11.14pm CEST 23:14 47 min 'Is Gerson the most evocative name in a potentially not that evocative competition?' wonders Tom Hopkins. 'Or is there a Garrincha kicking around somewhere?' There's a Fluminense goalkeeper called Fabio, which is exquisitely evocative of long, lusc- oh you're talking about footballers, aren't you. 11.13pm CEST 23:13 46 min Flamengo kick off from right to left. No additional substitutions on either side. 11.09pm CEST 23:09 'I've been to Florida in the summer (not my best decision),' says Joe Pearson, 'and let me just say, the team in the white kit is going to be significantly cooler than the one in red and black stripes. Honestly, they ought to just make jerseys out of that cooling towel fabric. Oops, just gave away my billion dollar invention idea. Oh well.' 11.00pm CEST 23:00 Half-time reading 11.00pm CEST 23:00 Flamengo were Bayern's equals for 99 per cent of the first half and scored the best of the four goals when Gerson's howitzer beat Manuel Neuer. Alas, the 1 per cent involved the concession of three eminently avoidable goals. As a result, Flamengo need a comeback for the ages. 10.53pm CEST 22:53 45+7 min Flamengo's tempo has dropped since Goretzka's goal; they look a bit flat and in need of the half-time break. 10.52pm CEST 22:52 45+4 min 'He'd deny it, of course, but i wouldn't be surprised if Neuer was secretly relieved that Gerson's shot was above his head giving him little chance to save it,' writes David Wall. 'Had it been half a metre lower the goalkeeper might have stopped it but he'd have known even less about it than he did as it screamed over his head. At least this way he'll know something about the rest of the game instead.' Ha, quite. I can feel a list piece coming on. The Joy of Six: goalkeepers saving with their face. 10.50pm CEST 22:50 45+2 min Allan's first action is a pointless late shove on Kimmich, for which he is booked. 10.48pm CEST 22:48 45+1 min: Flamengo substitution Yep, Allan replaces Erick Pulgar, who had game to forget. He gave Bayern the lead with an own goal, then injured himself with a nasty foul on Harry Kane. Allan was on Liverpool's books between 2015 and 2020, though I'm not sure he played for the first team. In other news, there will be eight minutes of added time. 10.47pm CEST 22:47 45 min Kane is okay but Pulgar may have injured himself with that foul. 10.46pm CEST 22:46 43 min: It's kicking off! Kane stays down, clearly in pain, after a nasty, gratuitous hack from Pulgar. Tah leads the Bayern complaints, then pushes Plata to spark a brief bit of aggro. Pulgar is booked – he could have been sent off – while Tah and Plata are also given yellow cards for their shoving match.
