Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh's death to be felt by AFL after successful coaching stints at Port Adelaide, West Coast Eagles

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Phil Walsh's death will be felt far and wide across the AFL.</span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Predominantly a wingman throughout his VFL career, Walsh played 122 games across three separate stints at Collingwood, Richmond and the Brisbane Bears.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">His post-playing career would see him spread his influence from Victoria and Queensland to two more states in South Australia and Western Australia, enjoying coaching tenures at Geelong, Port Adelaide, the West Coast Eagles, before being named head coach at the Adelaide Crows.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Walsh's lasting legacy will be the midfield units he helped forge as a coach for a number of teams around the country.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">After starting out as a strength and conditioning coach at Geelong, Walsh was largely credited for being the architect of Port Adelaide's 2004 premiership triumph, when the Power beat the formidable Brisbane Lions at the MCG.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">One of Port Adelaide's players in that squad, Warren Tredrea, said Walsh was an expert in identifying "red flags" from the coach's box, while ruckman Dean Brogan - now an assistant coach at the Giants - lauded Walsh for his adaptability.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He's very old school, with the hard-work emphasis. But he's the kind of guy who adapts," Brogan told the Herald Sun in 2014.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"You don't stay in footy for as long as he had unless you can adapt to different generations and different people.''</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Walsh was awarded the AFL Coaches Association award for assistant coach of the year following Port Adelaide's 2004 triumph.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">In 2009, Walsh moved to the West Coast Eagles as an assistant coach under John Worsfold.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Former head coach John Worsfold was glowing in his praise for Walsh, saying his passion and enthusiasm left a lasting impression at the Eagles.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He is a very strong character and obviously hugely knowledgeable about the game. I'm rapt that he's grabbed the opportunity because he's a very intelligent footy person," Worsfold told the Sunday Mail upon Walsh's appointment as Crows coach.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He's drawing on a lot of experience. It's not a bad pathway for someone like him into coaching. He felt like the time was right and wanted to challenge himself.'</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I enjoyed my time working with Phil. He challenged all of us at different levels and he was very passionate and enthusiastic.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"The players really enjoyed working with him and we had a lot of trust in him.''</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">In late 2012 Walsh said he thought he was going to die after being hit by a bus while trying to cross a road in Peru. He suffered a broken pelvis and collarbone and had to be flown back to Australia for treatment.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">At the time he accepted the Crows' top job he said the accident had changed his outlook on life, giving him a "second chance".</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"It has been a big moment for me ... I don't drink alcohol anymore, try not to drive a car, try and spend as much time with the people who are important, I try not to judge people as much as I did," he told afl.com.au.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I tell my kids to chase their dreams, so I probably don't want to look back at 70 years old and think what might have been."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Walsh returned to Port Adelaide in 2014 as an assistant coach, specialising in midfield strategy, before taking up the Adelaide Crows head coach job after Brenton Sanderson's sacking.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">ABC Grandstand AFL commentator Gerard Whateley described Walsh as a coach of "fearsome reputation" and "one of the most innovative minds in the game" who formed a close connection with his players.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"When he got the [Adelaide Crows] job he privately took himself overseas and did a course about man management," Whateley told ABC News Breakfast.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He knew football, he knew tactics, he was a demanding man, but what he didn't have across the journey had been how to manage generation-wide. That's the you one thing they did privately to set himself up for it.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He has formed a very close connection to his players in a very short period."</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dAeOp5L3Ync/VZYOEikzacI/AAAAAAAAENc/_dBvARHRnHY/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dAeOp5L3Ync/VZYOEikzacI/AAAAAAAAENc/_dBvARHRnHY/s320/11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh's death to be felt by AFL after successful coaching stints at Port Adelaide, West Coast Eagles

Phil Walsh's death will be felt far and wide across the AFL. Predominantly a wingman throughout his VFL career, Walsh played 122 games...

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Super Rugby final: Hurricanes v Highlanders, team news and preview for the decider

<div class="story-intro"> <strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THE weather, the rosters and the pre-match banter all point to the same thing. </span></strong><br /> </div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 20th Super Rugby final between the Hurricanes and Highlanders will be a spectacle worthy of a season in which attacking rugby has held sway.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two franchises long regarded as under-performers will square off for a maiden title, with the winners to be crowned the competition’s eighth champion and the fourth from New Zealand.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No final has featured teams who have scored as many points as the Highlanders (509) and Hurricanes (487).</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both haven’t just beaten opponents in the last month, they’ve run them ragged, playing the high-octane style seemingly required in 2015.</span><br /> <div class="module image-module module-image-650w366h id1227425159409"> <div class="module-content"> <div class="image-block image-650w366h"> <div class="image-frame"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> <div class="caption"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="caption-text">Dane Coles of the Hurricanes celebrates after Ardie Savea found the line during their semi-final win against the Brumbies.</span> <span class="image-source"><em>Source:</em> Getty Images</span> </span></div> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Conservative rugby has struggled for traction so neither team sees a reason to change in Wellington on Saturday.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What’s more, icy temperature and rain in the capital on Friday is scheduled to clear.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd says they won’t make the mistakes of other teams who have assumed they can rein in the Highlanders’ unique style.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“They’ve got a fair old box of tricks on attack, so I’d be surprised if you don’t see something a little bit zany from them at some stage,” he said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While Boyd’s Hurricanes packed too much power and speed for a wary Brumbies in last weekend’s 29-9 semi-final triumph, Highlanders counterpart Jamie Joseph masterminded a 35-17 heist against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney.</span><br /> <div class="module image-module module-image-650w366h id1227425160004"> <div class="module-content"> <div class="image-block image-650w366h"> <div class="image-frame"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> <div class="caption"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="caption-text">The Hurricanes breathed a sigh of relief when Nehe Milner-Skudder was declared fit for the final.</span> <span class="image-source"><em>Source:</em> Getty Images</span> </span></div> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having devised a kick-heavy approach to upset the rhythm of the defending champions, Joseph and assistant Tony Brown are promising more party tricks against the top-qualifiers.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“There will be a few surprises, we will try to do that. Brownie is really good at that,” a smiling Joseph said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two backlines bristling with match-winners will provide the fireworks.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Departing midfield backs Ma’a Nonu and Conrad Smith are the brains trust outside gifted playmaker Beauden Barrett while wingers Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder have beaten defenders for fun all season.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Halfback Aaron Smith is the heartbeat of the Highlanders attack but there are serious strike weapons further out in Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and Malakai Fekitoa.</span><br /> <div class="module image-module module-image-650w366h id1227425160032"> <div class="module-content"> <div class="image-block image-650w366h"> <div class="image-frame"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div> <div class="caption"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="caption-text">Ma’a Nonu is one of a number of players playing their final game of Super Rugby.</span> <span class="image-source"><em>Source:</em> Getty Images</span> </span></div> </div> </div> </div> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">History favours the Hurricanes.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The home side has won the last seven finals and 16 out of 19 in total.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their 15 wins from 17 games this season is a Super Rugby record and they are laden with All Blacks.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That contrasts with a Highlanders side who thrive on battling the underdog status.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Their most capped international is reserve halfback Fumiaki Tanaka with 44 Tests for Japan.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, Boyd says the visitors don’t have a mortgage on togetherness, pointing to the appearance of Hurricanes players who thanked and fed hundreds of fans braving freezing weather to queue for match tickets this week.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“None of them were forced to do that,” Boyd said.</span><br /> <br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“They paid for the pizzas themselves so that tells you something. They’re keen to give back to the community that’s got in behind and supported them.”</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_G8G4rjjDZE/VZYNi3r4LGI/AAAAAAAAENU/_y60qk-SjPk/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_G8G4rjjDZE/VZYNi3r4LGI/AAAAAAAAENU/_y60qk-SjPk/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />

Super Rugby final: Hurricanes v Highlanders, team news and preview for the decider

THE weather, the rosters and the pre-match banter all point to the same thing. The 20th Super Rugby final between the Hurric...

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Inter sign defender Miranda

<div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px;"> <div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atletico says that the 30-year-old centre-back will play for the Nerazzurri after the two clubs reached a deal.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miranda spent four seasons at Atletico, helping them win the Spanish league, Europa League and Copa del Rey.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The player had been tipped with a move to England with Chelsea and Manchester United understood to be interested in him, but Miranda has opted for a move to Italy instead.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atletico said on their official website that Miranda "will always be remembered by Atletico's fans for his goal that gave us the 2013 Copa del Rey" in the final against fierce rival Real Madrid.</span></div> <div style="line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Atletico has already sold striker Mario Mandzukic to Italian champion Juventus, replacing him with Jackson Martinez from FC Porto.</span></div> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFjBydXUr1o/VZYMxzWi-TI/AAAAAAAAENM/5vnu88AdO88/s1600/miranda1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YFjBydXUr1o/VZYMxzWi-TI/AAAAAAAAENM/5vnu88AdO88/s400/miranda1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="mc_tag" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 10px 0px;"> <dl class="mc_tag_list" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></dl> </div>

Inter sign defender Miranda

Atletico says that the 30-year-old centre-back will play for the Nerazzurri after the two clubs reached a deal. Miranda spent four seaso...

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West Ham United 3 - 0 Lusitanos la Posa: Sakho at the double for Hammers

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diafra Sakho struck a brace in front of a watching Slaven Bilic as West Ham eased to a routine victory over Europa League first qualifying round opponents FC Lusitans.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plenty has changed at Upton Park in the last 12 months but the constant that remains going forward is the goal-threat of striker Sakho - who shone in this 3-0 win played just 39 days since the end of both the previous Premier League season and Sam Allardyce's reign in east London.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 25-year-old joined the club last year and, despite ending the season on the treatment table, he finished the campaign with 10 league goals - by far the best offering from anyone in claret and blue.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was that late thigh injury that meant Sakho lined up for the Hammers in this contest, as a number of fresher players selected by academy manager Terry Westley, who was in charge as new boss Bilic opted to watch from the stands after receiving a heroes' welcome before kick-off.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And the Croatian saw Sakho score twice in the five minutes before half-time, with skipper for the evening James Tomkins heading a third against the Primera Divisio minnows.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sakho was not the only first-team regular involved as Tomkins captained a side which also contained Joey O'Brien, Morgan Amalfitano, Matt Jarvis and Mauro Zarate - back in the fold after ending last season on loan at QPR - but did not boast big-name summer signings Pedro Obiang or Dimitri Payet.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New recruit Darren Randolph started in goal however, Reece Oxford was arguably the main attraction for the sold-out Upton Park crowd, the 16-year-old becoming the youngest first-team player in the club's history.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Q-x38ytOxY/VZYMgD-o14I/AAAAAAAAENE/gK1exjYaoDI/s1600/sakho1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0Q-x38ytOxY/VZYMgD-o14I/AAAAAAAAENE/gK1exjYaoDI/s400/sakho1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div>

West Ham United 3 - 0 Lusitanos la Posa: Sakho at the double for Hammers

Diafra Sakho struck a brace in front of a watching Slaven Bilic as West Ham eased to a routine victory over Europa League first qualifying ...

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Real Madrid buy back Vazquez

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 24-year-old Vazquez came up through Madrid's youth system before playing last season at Espanyol on loan.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Espanyol exercised a clause to purchase Vazquez, but Madrid then reached a deal with the Barcelona-based club to buy him back.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both clubs had reached a preliminary agreement over the player on Tuesday.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vazquez is Madrid's third move of the summer as they look to reinforce their squad under new coach Rafa Benitez.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They have also brought midfielder Casemiro back from loan to FC Porto as well as completing the transfer of defender Danilo from the Portuguese club. </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vazquez scored four goals in 39 matches for Espanyol last season, helping them reach the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey.     </span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, he will now have to compete with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema for playing time.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pud0p4OKkE/VZYMLXEbqKI/AAAAAAAAEM8/tMghNrnYnCo/s1600/vazquez1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1pud0p4OKkE/VZYMLXEbqKI/AAAAAAAAEM8/tMghNrnYnCo/s400/vazquez1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div>

Real Madrid buy back Vazquez

The 24-year-old Vazquez came up through Madrid's youth system before playing last season at Espanyol on loan. Espanyol exercised a cl...

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Inter Milan accept €17m offer from Stoke for Xherdan Shaqiri

<div align="left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">On Wednesday afternoon, respected and reliable Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio Tweeted that Inter Milan had accepted a 17 million euro offer from Stoke for Xherdan Shaqiri.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">According to Di Marzio, it is now up to Shaqiri to decide whether he wants to make the move from the San Siro to The Britannia Stadium.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Despite a poor spell at the Nerazzurri and having failed to make the grade at Bayern Munich, Shaqiri is 23 and still has plenty of potential.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">After all, just a year ago, Shaqiri was scoring a hat-trick at the World Cup!</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It seems far from certain that Shaqiri will move to Stoke but its not quite as fanciful as many would suggest.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Shaqiri would simply be swapping one mid-table club in Serie A for a mid-table side in England. Neither Inter Milan or Stoke will be playing European football next season.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">There is so much money in the Premier League now that Shaqiri to Stoke or Yohan Cabaye to Crystal Palace type moves are a real possibility.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Stoke would fancy their chances with a hungry Shaqiri alongside a fit-again Bojan Krkic in attacking midfield positions…</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">See how Twitter reacted to Stoke agreeing a fee with Inter Milan for Xherdan Shaqiri below…</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JmCbDUWhsc/VZTo737Y5EI/AAAAAAAAEMc/7gitkA1MjME/s1600/shaqiri1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0JmCbDUWhsc/VZTo737Y5EI/AAAAAAAAEMc/7gitkA1MjME/s400/shaqiri1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>

Inter Milan accept €17m offer from Stoke for Xherdan Shaqiri

On Wednesday afternoon, respected and reliable Sky Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio Tweeted that Inter Milan had accepted a 17 million ...

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Salvo quits as Valencia president

<div align="left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Layhoon Chan will take over the role after the 48-year-old stepped down, citing personal reasons, along with a number of executives.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Valencia president Amadeo Salvo has stepped down from his post with the Liga club, citing "personal and family reasons".</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Salvo departs the club along with sports director Francisco Rufete, secretary Fabian Ayala and five others, with the former's exit reportedly due to his father's battle with cancer.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The 48-year-old said he felt he had improved the Mestalla club's fortunes in recent times, with Valencia back in the Champions League for the first time since 2013.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Two years ago the club was definitely worse off than now," Salvo said in a statement.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"It was a club in decline and today it is thriving and there is a new-found excitement.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Now, Valencia CF are in good hands and the club has a great future ahead with Layhoon [Chan] and [owner] Peter Lim.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"I ask the fans to continue to always support the team, as I will now do from my seat at Mestalla as a fan - as I did before becoming president."</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chan has taken over the presidential reins.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Personally, this is a difficult period for me, but I'm sure that Valencia CF is above all of us and that we will emerge stronger in no time," she said.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"My goal is to gain the trust and support of the fans and shareholders."</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JTSOjOyHqHE/VZToyDVBssI/AAAAAAAAEMU/u3_-2JVnVzY/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JTSOjOyHqHE/VZToyDVBssI/AAAAAAAAEMU/u3_-2JVnVzY/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>

Salvo quits as Valencia president

Layhoon Chan will take over the role after the 48-year-old stepped down, citing personal reasons, along with a number of executives. Vale...

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Liverpool announce Sebastian Coates’ Sunderland move

<div align="left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Liverpool have confirmed that Sebastian Coates has left the club to join Sunderland permanently, as per the club’s official website.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Uruguayan spent the previous campaign on loan at the Black Cats and made ten Premier League appearances for the club, including the last six games when north-east side avoided relegation under Dick Advocaat.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He signed for the Reds in a £7 million deal back in 2011 from Nacional in his homeland (fee via Independent) but struggled to make much of an impact at Anfield; he played just 12 times in the top flight, though he did score a spectacular goal against QPR during the 2011-12 season.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">he 24-year-old was signed largely off the back of his impressive displays for Uruguay during their victorious 2011 Copa America campaign, but due to injuries and a lack of playing time, Coates has lost his starting place for the national team and he will hope his move can lead to a recall.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Coates is Sunderland’s second summer signing following Ricardo Alvarez’s arrival last month; however, the club reportedly only signed the Argentine due to a mandatory clause in his loan agreement.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Advocaat will be hoping to make more additions over the summer in order to avoid becoming embroiled in a relegation battle again next season and has been linked with a move for West Ham’s Stewart Downing, as per the Shields Gazet.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPSoIOWFmdA/VZTomhdivHI/AAAAAAAAEMM/i5njqAMjK2g/s1600/coates1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gPSoIOWFmdA/VZTomhdivHI/AAAAAAAAEMM/i5njqAMjK2g/s400/coates1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>

Liverpool announce Sebastian Coates’ Sunderland move

Liverpool have confirmed that Sebastian Coates has left the club to join Sunderland permanently, as per the club’s official website. The ...

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Origin: Darius Boyd says Greg Inglis's move to fullback will not effect Queensland Maroons' fluency

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Queensland winger Darius Boyd is confident he can strike up an understanding with Will Chambers to match his prolific partnership with Greg Inglis.</span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Playing outside Inglis for almost all of his 22-game State of Origin career, Boyd has run in 15 tries.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">In that time Inglis has scored 11 of his Queensland record 16 Origin tries.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The duo will be separated for next week's series decider in Brisbane, with Inglis to replace the injured Billy Slater at fullback with Chambers coming across from the right wing to left centre.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Boyd says the switch does concern him and he is confident it will bring out the best in Chambers, who plays centre for Melbourne in the NRL - albeit on the right-hand side.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I've known Will for a long time now, known him since he came through the Queensland Cup (with Norths Devils) so we've been pretty good mates for a little while now," Boyd said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I don't think it will take too long to get a bit of a connection going.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He's obviously shown in his first two Origin games how much he has developed and how good a player he is and he deserves his spot here."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Inglis and Chambers aren't the only players affected by Slater's injury, with Dane Gagai poised to make his Origin debut on the right wing.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Despite the high stakes of the match, Boyd says Gagai's time already spent around the Origin squad will prepare him well for the challenge that lies ahead.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Gags has been here the whole series so far," Boyd said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Everyone knows their job and it's just a matter of fine-tuning things before the game.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He'll be nervous before kick-off and on game day but once you get out there and get your first touch you get into the flow of the game."</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7LqGrbT3bk/VZTobcIjHII/AAAAAAAAEME/HMA0yAOpbMk/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H7LqGrbT3bk/VZTobcIjHII/AAAAAAAAEME/HMA0yAOpbMk/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Origin: Darius Boyd says Greg Inglis's move to fullback will not effect Queensland Maroons' fluency

Queensland winger Darius Boyd is confident he can strike up an understanding with Will Chambers to match his prolific partnership with Greg...

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Sepp Blatter maintains innocence amid FIFA scandal

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sepp Blatter, president of the world soccer governing body FIFA that is embroiled in corruption investigations, has told a German magazine he has a clean conscience and believes he will "go to heaven one day".</span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">US prosecutors have not accused Blatter, 79, of any wrongdoing, but his stewardship of FIFA is under scrutiny, sources familiar with investigations in the United States and Switzerland have said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Blatter announced on June 2 he would step down as FIFA president after an election that is likely to take place late this year or early next year.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I have a clean conscience," the Swiss told German magazine Bunte in an interview published on Wednesday.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Whoever calls me corrupt will have to prove it, but nobody can prove that because I am not corrupt."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Blatter said he was open to criticism. "But if anybody calls me corrupt because FIFA is corrupt, I can only shake my head. Everybody who says something like that should go to jail."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">He said he was a religious person and that his faith had given him strength during the last weeks.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I own a golden cross that has been blessed by Pope Francis. I believe I will go to heaven one day," Blatter said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">A US-based lawyer said on Tuesday Blatter would not travel to Canada for Sunday's final of the women's World Cup for personal reasons.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Some lawyers with experience in international criminal cases have said Blatter would be ill-advised to travel after an indictment announced on May 27 by US prosecutors against nine current and former FIFA officials and five sports marketing businessmen. </span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n45AQo8rRU0/VZToQYzmetI/AAAAAAAAEL8/QDZcpBzC4Bk/s1600/footballnews1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n45AQo8rRU0/VZToQYzmetI/AAAAAAAAEL8/QDZcpBzC4Bk/s400/footballnews1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Sepp Blatter maintains innocence amid FIFA scandal

Sepp Blatter, president of the world soccer governing body FIFA that is embroiled in corruption investigations, has told a German magazine ...

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Sydney is looking to move into the top 4 with a win over Port Adelaide at the SCG Thursday night

<div class="story-intro" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: LiberationSerifBold, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JOSH Francou says a ruthless mission to shatter Port Adelaide’s season without star imports Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett is the true ‘test’ of Sydney’s vaunted Bloods culture.</span></div> </div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> However it’s Francou’s former club Port entering Thursday night’s SCG clash under enormous pressure in 12th spot and the Swans assistant coach contests the notion any side needs a “dip” before rebounding as a premiership force.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> Francou says Sydney must secure a top-four passage at the expense of Port who would need to win eight of nine games to make the finals with defeat at the SCG.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “We lose our two key forwards and Tippo has been spending a little time in the ruck so we lose that a well and it is a big test for the playing group,” said Francou with Tippett and Franklin serving one-game suspensions for incidents in last Friday’s loss to Richmond at the SCG.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> Sydney has only been without high rollers Franklin and Tippett once since last season when it conquered Brisbane at the Gabba.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> Canadian ruckman Mike Pyke will be a crucial addition with Tippett out as Sydney attempts to keep a four point-buffer between fourth and fifth placed rivals Hawthorn and Collingwood. Sam Reid is set to resume his 2012 premiership pairing with Adam Goodes in attack.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “You talk about Bloods culture and the different roles that individuals play within a team and we bring back guys that have played good senior footy for us,” said Francou, promoted from a development role to assistant midfield coach with former Power teammate Stuart Dew.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “Mike Pyke comes back into the side and others will fill the role with Buddy and Tippo not playing.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “There’s always upsets and we have to perform. I wouldn’t have thought there are too many times we lose two in a row at the SCG.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> Richmond stunned Sydney in an 18-point win with spearhead Jack Riewoldt’s six goals proving the difference.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> Sydney coach John Longmire has demanded his men return to the trademark contested possession and gut running that traditionally chokes visiting sides.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “Horse is no different to other coaches, he sets high expectations of the playing group and staff,” 2002 All-Australian and Brownlow Medal runner-up Francou told<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: LiberationSerifItalic, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Advertiser.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “If there’s issues there, he wants them fixed so there is a high degree of accountability.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “I have learnt a lot off him about the game and being exposed to the Bloods culture has been a really good experience.”</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> It ‘hurt’ Francou to watch the club he served with distinction almost go to the wall in the pre-Ken Hinkley era. However Francou must ‘divorce’ himself from past allegiances Thursday night as Sydney attempts to inflict more pain with a 12th win in 13 games against Port.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> While hailing Hinkley’s contribution at Alberton since 2013, there’s no credence to the theory any side need falter to find the resilience to win a flag.</div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “I think that is a furphy and if you asked the supporters they would say that too,” said Francou, who missed Port’s 2004 premiership while sidelined by a knee reconstruction.</div> <br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> “They have had a bit of a dip but you can sense the players play for Ken and (he) has some really good stuff going for him.”</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Z89_a1eHa8/VZTn-25050I/AAAAAAAAEL0/1wbSQEXwnpo/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Z89_a1eHa8/VZTn-25050I/AAAAAAAAEL0/1wbSQEXwnpo/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #292929; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 19px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 14px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"> <br /></div>

Sydney is looking to move into the top 4 with a win over Port Adelaide at the SCG Thursday night

JOSH Francou says a ruthless mission to shatter Port Adelaide’s season without star imports Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett is the true ‘t...

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Jack Riewoldt signs contract extension with Richmond to stay at Tigers until 2019 AFL season

<div class="first"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less than a fortnight after Alex Rance's crucial AFL re-signing, Jack Riewoldt has given Richmond more good contract news.</span></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riewoldt has agreed to a three-year contract extension, tying him to the Tigers until the end of the 2019 season.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It means he will most likely be a one-club player.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The two-time Coleman Medallist would have qualified for free agency at the end of next season.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I'm absolutely rapt that the club came to me and showed interest in me signing an extension," Riewoldt said in a club statement.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"The most important thing for me is to get this stuff over and done with.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I jumped at it pretty quickly."</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The emerging Tigers have had a great run of player contract negotiations.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apart from Riewoldt and Rance, captain Trent Cotchin and fellow star midfielder Dustin Martin have also signed new deals.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"He had no interest in playing anywhere but Richmond and had no hesitation in extending his contract," Tigers football manager Dan Richardson said.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"To extend his contract demonstrates a great faith by Jack in the direction the club is heading, and his willingness to be a part of it.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Jack has been an incredibly consistent performer on field during his career so far, and has grown to become one of our most respected leaders."</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riewoldt won the 2010 club best and fairest award and made the All-Australian team in the same year - also the first of his two Coleman Medal seasons as the league's top goalkicker.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He has topped Richmond's goalkicking every year since 2010.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Riewoldt has kicked 415 goals for the Tigers in 169 games since his 2007 debut, including 34 in 12 matches so far this season.</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrYfNZsiF-w/VZOjvL7OTgI/AAAAAAAAELg/UF0irrv4iUo/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zrYfNZsiF-w/VZOjvL7OTgI/AAAAAAAAELg/UF0irrv4iUo/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br />

Jack Riewoldt signs contract extension with Richmond to stay at Tigers until 2019 AFL season

Less than a fortnight after Alex Rance's crucial AFL re-signing, Jack Riewoldt has given Richmond more good contract news. Riewoldt ha...

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State of Origin: Robbie Farah stopped from taking flight to join New South Wales Blues

<h1> <div class="first"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Robbie Farah has been banned from flying to the Blues' Coffs Harbour base on Wednesday due to regulations that ban passengers from travelling within 24 hours of hand surgery.</span></div> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Farah was due to fly mid-Wednesday afternoon but was prevented from boarding a Virgin Australia flight after going under the knife on Tuesday.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The determined New South Wales hooker was not permitted to fly because he did not have clearance from his surgeon.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Blues officials were left scrambling trying to gain a medical clearance for Farah to fly as soon as possible, and the New South Wales camp is confident he will be able to fly on Wednesday night.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Farah is likely to be able to take a 7:00pm flight to Coffs Harbour regardless as his surgery took place at 5:00pm on Tuesday.</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Farah is rated a 50/50 chance to play in State of Origin III at Lang Park next week.  </span><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tr1ZhL_4_24/VZOjL2Lj1RI/AAAAAAAAELY/7ep7yhGiuF0/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tr1ZhL_4_24/VZOjL2Lj1RI/AAAAAAAAELY/7ep7yhGiuF0/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div> </h1>

State of Origin: Robbie Farah stopped from taking flight to join New South Wales Blues

Robbie Farah has been banned from flying to the Blues' Coffs Harbour base on Wednesday due to regulations that ban passengers from t...

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Champions League: Chelsea viewed as Premier League's main threat

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Twenty-four days on from the Champions League final, the 2015/16 edition begins in Yerevan.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">FC Pyunik (Armenia) v SS Folgore-Falciano (San Marino)</span> won't sound like the most natural successor to Juventus v Barcelona in the competition schedule, but both are domestic champions, albeit ones who must navigate four rounds of qualifiers to stand a chance of drawing either 2014/15 finalist.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> There are four first-round double headers in total. <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Gibraltar's Lincoln Red Imps face Andorra's FC Santa Coloma</span> and <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Northern Ireland's Crusaders oppose Estonia's Levadia Tallinn</span> also on Tuesday, followed up by <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Faroese champions B36 Torshavn meeting Wales' The New Saints</span> on Wednesday.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Since the current qualifying structure came into place in 2009/10, just one of the 11 first qualifying round victors survived the second (Luxembourg's Dudelange stunning Red Bull Salzburg in 2012/13) and they went out a round later. So no round-one starters have ever reached the final qualifier, let alone the group stage.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> That explains why none of these dreamers presently feature in the Champions League winner market which, despite the trophy last being retained by AC Milan in 1989/90, is headed by holders Barcelona, who are <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="16/5" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">4.20</span><span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span>to do it all again.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> A transfer ban means that they will begin their defence with the same squad - besides Xavi, who left for Al-Sadd - but newcomers will be allowed from January and Sevilla right-sider Aleix Vidal has already been signed as one of those.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Second favourites status is shared by 2014/15 semi-final losers Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, who are <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">available to back at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="5/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">6.20</span>.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Neither have completed any pulse-raising business yet. Real purchased Porto right back Danilo and reclaimed midfielder Casemiro off them, while Bayern replaced Pepe Reina (who joined Napoli) with Stuttgart's Sven Ulreich and landed RB Leipzig midfielder Joshua Kimmich in a deal struck in January.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Last season's runners-up Juventus are rather harshly assessed as <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="22/1" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #1e1e1e; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px; transition: color 0.2s;" title="">23.00</span><span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span>joint-eighth favourites, the perception appearing to be that their journey to Berlin was a fluke.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> However, they have done arguably the most eye-catching early summer spending of any Champions League club in recruiting Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala, though the departure of Carlos Tevez and almost certainly Andrea Pirlo too are a blow. Then again, it was Alvaro Morata, not Tevez, who scored in both legs of the semi-final and the final.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Despite the absence of any high-profile signings to date and their round-of-16 flop in 2014/15, Chelsea are <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">by far the most fancied of the Premier League contenders at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="17/2" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">9.40</span>, a price that makes them the fourth favourites overall.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> The similarly transfer-quiet Manchester City, who have never ventured beyond the round-of-16,<span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">follow them at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="17/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">18.00</span>, with Manchester United and Arsenal's respective Memphis Depay and Petr Cech moves not enough to lift them from the <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">bottom of the Anglo pile at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="21/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">22.00</span>.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> 2014/15 quarter-finalists <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain trail both of them at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="7" oldtitle="22/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">23.00</span>, with the rest of the field 70.0 or longer.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cx8aXWkaz6Q/VZOf89NaTPI/AAAAAAAAELM/toH1kDq_U3E/s1600/mourinho%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cx8aXWkaz6Q/VZOf89NaTPI/AAAAAAAAELM/toH1kDq_U3E/s400/mourinho%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <br /></div>

Champions League: Chelsea viewed as Premier League's main threat

Twenty-four days on from the Champions League final, the 2015/16 edition begins in Yerevan. FC Pyunik (Armenia) v SS Folgore-Falciano (Sa...

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Porto confirm Jackson Martinez will join Atletico Madrid

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Portuguese club have confirmed the striker will depart after Atletico agreed to pay his €35 million release clause<br /><br />Porto have confirmed Atletico Madrid have agreed to pay Jackson Martinez's €35 million release clause.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The player's agent revealed last week that the 28-year-old would move to the Vicente Calderon after rejecting the chance to join AC Milan.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A statement on Porto's website said: "Atletico Madrid agreed on Tuesday to pay Jackson Martinez's release clause to the sum of €35 million."</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Colombia striker has spent three seasons with Porto and played 136 official matches, scoring 92 goals.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He was the top scorer in the Portuguese league in those three campaigns, with 26 goals in 2012-13, 20 in 2013-14 and 21 in 2014-15.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chK3xgmLWs0/VZOfqYgSU6I/AAAAAAAAELE/5vQiAXUOiVI/s1600/alectico%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-chK3xgmLWs0/VZOfqYgSU6I/AAAAAAAAELE/5vQiAXUOiVI/s400/alectico%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div>

Porto confirm Jackson Martinez will join Atletico Madrid

The Portuguese club have confirmed the striker will depart after Atletico agreed to pay his €35 million release clause Porto have confirmed...

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Liverpool flop set for West Brom escape route this summer

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rickie Lambert days at Liverpool look numbered after reports in Star Sport say he’s emerged as a summer transfer target for fellow Barclays Premier League outfit West Brom.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 33-year-old joined the Reds last summer from Southampton alongside teammates Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren, but struggled to nail down a regular place in the starting XI under manager Brendan Rodgers.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lambert made just seven starts in the league last season and scored twice, although he doesn’t appear to have a future at Anfield ahead of the new campaign following the arrival of Danny Ings, while Rodgers is reportedly looking to bring in another forward during the transfer window.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aston Villa were keen on the England international during the January transfer window, but Lambert decided to stay and fight for his place on Merseyside.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now with a move to the Hawthorns a possibility, the lure of regular first-team football should be enough for Lambert to call it quits on his unsuccessful time with his boyhood club.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--g9aE_41aos/VZOfbEGqPjI/AAAAAAAAEK8/An45CIFO9Ww/s1600/lambert1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--g9aE_41aos/VZOfbEGqPjI/AAAAAAAAEK8/An45CIFO9Ww/s400/lambert1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div>

Liverpool flop set for West Brom escape route this summer

Rickie Lambert days at Liverpool look numbered after reports in Star Sport say he’s emerged as a summer transfer target for fellow Barclays...

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Arturo Vidal’s agent claims there was no talks with Aresnal

<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Arturo Vidal’s agent, Fernando Felicevich, has stated the midfielder has never had talks with Arsenal, per his Twitter account.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Daily Mail reported on Sunday that Vidal was set to complete a move to the Emirates after a €29 million (£21m) fee was agreed between the two clubs.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But Vidal’s agent has broken his silence confirming that such reports are well off the mark.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fernando Felicevich, Arturo Vidal agent: "I've never had talks with Arsenal" #AFC<br />— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 30, 2015</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"> <br /></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDeEmW-vkzs/VZOfMzTRaUI/AAAAAAAAEK0/GlaY1X81T4A/s1600/vidal3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDeEmW-vkzs/VZOfMzTRaUI/AAAAAAAAEK0/GlaY1X81T4A/s400/vidal3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>

Arturo Vidal’s agent claims there was no talks with Aresnal

Arturo Vidal’s agent, Fernando Felicevich, has stated the midfielder has never had talks with Arsenal, per his Twitter account. The Daily...

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Japan v England: Holders to end trophy hopes of resilient Lionesses

<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Japan v England</span><br />Thursday, 00:00<br />Live on BBC One and British Eurosport</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <br />Japan</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> They have been backed at odds of 20.0 and higher to win the competition and are <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">still available to back at</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="1" oldtitle="4/1" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">4.80</span>, yet it remains a mystery why they have been so overlooked.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Japan are holders, they have won all five of their games in regulation time - a feat nobody else in the tournament can rival - and they have conceded only two goals, which were both 90th-minute consolations in fixtures that they led 2-0.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> It is therefore no surprise that, despite being priced like outsiders, over £20,000 has been staked on them retaining their trophy, as Germany did in 2007 before having their era of dominance ended by Japan in the quarter-finals four years ago.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <br />England</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> We are now two wins away from Sir Mark Sampson and Dame Lucy Bronze becoming a reality, with England's fourth successive 2-1 victory at the World Cup, this time at the expense of hosts Canada, securing their place in the semi-finals.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> This is their best ever World Cup performance and, as you may just have heard, the finest of any senior England national side in 25 years.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> There is a significant distinction between Japan and the quartet that the Lionesses have defeated thus far though. Mexico, Colombia, Norway and Canada were all below them in the world rankings, whereas Japan are above. The sole other statistically superior team that they have faced, France, beat them fairly decisively.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> It is also true that Japan haven't met anyone as good as England, but their 100% record in this year's competition and 2011 success mean that they don't have to prove their quality as much.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <br />Match Odds: <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Japan</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="2" oldtitle="21/20" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.06</span>, England <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="3" oldtitle="7/2" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">4.50</span>, The Draw <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="4" oldtitle="9/4" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">3.30</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> England have already eliminated two nations that the odds indicated that they weren't supposed to in Norway and Canada, yet Japan are an enormous step up even from those.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> They have won every match this summer and, for all that Sampson's squad are the most talented that they have faced, the 2011 winners will be fully aware that this is the dream draw.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Though the Lionesses have overachieved, they aren't at the standard of other semi-finalists Germany and USA and are indeed the lone of the final four to have never claimed the World Cup before.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> While USA, Germany and Japan have prevailed in five of the previous six editions, this is England's first semi-final, and the final is an even more exclusive club. Across six instalments, there have been a four former champions and seven different finalists.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Take away the maiden two, USA and Norway, and four of the five others (Germany, China, Sweden and Brazil) had to lose a semi-final before they triumphed in one. Japan were the only side to profit from beginner's luck at this phase in that entire timeframe.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <br /><span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Both Teams to Score</span></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> England's run of 2-1 wins may not continue against Japan, but there is no reason why they can't at least net against the defending champs, having done in each of their three other head-to-head clashes in the past decade.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> Both teams to score has delivered in each of England's past four World Cup ties and two of Japan's latest four. The other advantage of this wager is its longevity. As both countries have given up two 90th-minute goals apiece, a slow start for either attack needn't dictate a blank.</div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <br />Best Bet: <span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; transition: color 0.2s;">Back Japan to win @</span> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="5" oldtitle="21/20" style="background: rgb(255, 184, 12); padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.06</span><br />Other Recommended Bet: <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none;">Back both teams to score @</span><span style="-webkit-transition: color 0.2s; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; transition: color 0.2s;"> </span><span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="7/5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title="">2.40</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I75Jz61wa5s/VZOetyR0NkI/AAAAAAAAEKs/_LE_dg6IIzo/s1600/9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I75Jz61wa5s/VZOetyR0NkI/AAAAAAAAEKs/_LE_dg6IIzo/s400/9.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; background-color: white; color: #1e1e1e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; padding-bottom: 0.5em;"> <span class="inline-odds has-qtip" data-hasqtip="6" oldtitle="7/5" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #ffb80c; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; outline: none; padding: 3px 2px 1px;" title=""><br /></span></div>

Japan v England: Holders to end trophy hopes of resilient Lionesses

Japan v England Thursday, 00:00 Live on BBC One and British Eurosport Japan They have been backed at odds of 20.0 and higher to win the...

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