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England have won all nine out of their test  since Australian became their coach Following the hosts' miserable first-round exit from last year's World Cup. South Africa, by contrast have lost four of their last five including a record 57-15 defeat by world champions New Zealand in Durban last month. Yet it is 10 years since England beat the Springboks, a run spanning 12 Tests. "South Africa are coming off the back of what for them has been a disappointing season but we know they will come to Twickenham all geared up and ready to go," said Jones at England's Bagshot training base, southwest of London, on Thursday after announcing his side. "We want to change the history of results between England and South Africa. "We want to be the number one team in the world, so this game against South Africa on Saturday is another step forward." - 'Back to the future' - Jones, who worked alongside current South Africa head coach Allister Coetzee when ...

Lionel Messi missed Argentina's last three qualifying matches and the results showed with draws against Peru and Venezuela, and 1-0 loss against Paraguay. Messi scored in a 1-0 victory over Uruguay in the only match he’s played under Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza. Lionel Messi is back from injury, just the tonic Argentina should need in Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Brazil. Messi missed Argentina’s last three qualifying matches with an injured left knee, and the results showed with draws against Peru and Venezuela, and a 1-0 loss agains He (Messi) is extremely intelligent and has a great finishing skill, so we have to do double marking on him whenever we can,” Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto said. “We have to close the gaps for all Argentina players, and we have to remove Messi’s passing angle whenever he has the ball.” Thursday’s match takes place in the same stadium where Brazil was humiliated two years ago in a 7-1 loss to Germany in the World Cup semifinals. But this ...

The wondeful dance that young chineese perfom.    Remember the famous dialogue from Sholay where Gabbar Singh says “Bahut nainsafi hain…goli ek aur aadmi teen”?  Yes, not in terms of bullets, but certainly it is not fair to pitch five against one.  But certainly this difficult situation was nothing to Cen Xiaolin, a 15-year-old high-school student from Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province. Xiaolin completed an “impossible challenge”, jumping faster than a team of national rope-jumping champions. He alone against a five-person relay team left the audience mesmerised with a jaw-dropping performance as he attempted 1,000 jumps at lightning speed. just 2 minute 47 seconds, Xiaolin reached his target – having stopped only once when the rope was caught between his shoes at 966.  With elfin 34 jumps short of his victory feat, the audience and judges cheered him and encouraged him to reach his goal ahead of the entire team.  His energy and zeal was so captiv...

Fenerbahce v Manchester United: Europa League – as it happened United well beaten after dreadful start. Mourinho blaming the weekness of his prayers that they shown on this match, The last time Manchester United played Fenerbahce, everything appeared rosy for Jose Mourinho. Paul Pogba put in his most impressive showing in a red shirt, Eric Bailly looked imperious at the heart of the defence and Wayne Rooney looked sharp up front in place on Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Robin van Persie even got in on the act with a consolation goal at the death for the Turkish giants. But, just three days later, United were hammered 4-0 in an inglorious return to Stamford Bridge for Mourinho and it's not been a great two weeks since. Mourinho's been charged by the FA, Ibrahimovic is suffering an ironic crisis of confidence and confusion remains about the Henrikh Mkhitaryan situation. Let's not even mention Bastian Schweinsteiger. A result against Fenerbahce would be the perfect tonic in a chaoti...

Just a few months at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho has been dismissed from the touchline and fined for his conduct as his side endured a poor start to the season – yet the Portuguese is still enjoying being Manchester United manager. With 15 points from 10 Premier League games, the former Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid coach has made a worse start to the league campaign than David Moyes did in his only season in charge. Mourinho endured a torrid homecoming at Chelsea last month as United were beaten 4-0 while Saturday’s 0-0 draw at home to Burnley marked a fourth league game without a win. Mourinho’s dismissal from the dugout against Burnley and his refusal to fulfill his post-match media duties added to speculation that the Portuguese was not enjoying his time at United. “Of course I’m still excited, I’m not happy with the results but I’m happy with performances,” Mourinho said on Wednesday ahead of their Europa League group game at Fenerbahce. “The worst feeling is no...

Sunderland boss David Moyes will serve an immediate one-match touchline ban after accepting an FA charge for misconduct. Moyes admitted using abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official and accepted the standard penalty, which includes an £8,000 fine. The incident happened around the 90th minute of Sunderland's EFL Cup fixture at Southampton on October 26. Champions League,Today, 22:45pm Tottenham v Bayer Leverkuse  Moyes was ordered from the dugout in the final moments of the 1-0 defeat for protesting referee Chris Kavanagh's decision not to award his side a penalty. Sunderland were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal in front of more than 44,000 supporters at the Stadium of Light on Saturday and they have failed to win a game so far this season. The Black Cats are bottom of the table, with just two points from their 10 fixtures to date, and have recorded the worst-ever start to a Premier League campaign. Moyes is the second Premier League manager to be charged with misconduct...

After making his full debut alongsideMarcus Rashford, Joe Riley will be hoping his career can follow the same trajectory as the teenage striker by breaking into the Manchester Unitedfirst-team. Riley has been with United since he was six and has risen through the ranks, converting from a winger to a full-back along the way. And the 19-year-old became a key contributor in the Manchester United under-21s march to their second successive league title in 2015/16. The Blackpool-born defender also made his first-team debut as a substitute. coming on for fellow under-21 champion Cameron Borthwick-Jackson against Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup last season.Regardless, the full-back has settled back in to the under-23s and remains an important player in Warren Joyce's side.  manager Jose Mourinho is still very much keeping tabs on trained the teenager. with the first-team earlier this season, suggesting that new  Manchester United youngster Joe Riley is turning heads at...

There was a moment during this hard-earned Everton victory which illustrated what Ronald Koeman has brought to Goodison Park since replacing Roberto Martinez in the summer. It came in the 83rd minute when, with Everton leading through goals by Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, Koeman took off an attacking player, Yannick Bolasie, and replaced him with centre-back Phil Jagielka.  It brought to mind at once this same fixture last season when the home side collapsed to a 3-2 defeat by conceding three goals in the final 12 minutes after Martinez had sent on an additional striker, Oumar Niasse, to help defend a lead despite his team being down to ten men.The least surprising aspect of their victory was that Lukaku should have struck their first goal, the Belgian scoring for the ninth game running against West Ham in Everton colours.  It came five minutes after half-time and was a goal curious in its conception, Yannick Bolasie actually teeing it up with a sliding tackle on Winston Re...

We look at the issues facing Manchester United after their goalless draw with Burnley at Old Trafford. United were totally dominant against Sean Dyche's side but missed a host of chances, and their misery was compounded when Jose Mourinho was sent to the stands and Ander Herrera was red carded. The Red Devils are now eight points off the top of the table having only won one of their last six Premier League games. Here, we look at some of the areas for concern… After scoring four goals in his first four appearances for Manchester United, Zlatan Ibrahimovic now has one in his last nine.  The statistics do not make pretty reading for the big Swede, who failed to find the net against Burnley despite attempting 12 shots on goal - the most by any player in a single Premier League game since 2011. Burnley goalkeeper Tom Heaton played his part with some fine saves, but Ibrahimovic's profligacy is a growing concern. The 35-year-old has missed more clear-cut chances (eight) than any...

when Dr. Christopher Hunt first began working at the University of Sydney Gambling Treatment Clinic in Australia, he recalls seeing "one or two" troubled sports bettors every six months. Today, after what he calls the "gamblization" of sports in Australia, Hunt says sports bettors make up one-third of the clinic's patients. If sports betting is legalized, will the United States be headed for a future with increased addiction potentially spurned by a rampant barrage of gambling advertising? Proponents point to the expected economic benefits and increased game-integrity protection of legalization. Opponents say those perceived pluses won't outweigh the pitfalls. "For the two-thirds-plus of Americans who rarely or never engage in commercial gambling, the change will be negative," said Michael K. Fagan, a former federal prosecutor and current adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law. "Anyone fairly and comprehensively evaluating...

LEON — A much-weakened Real Madrid went goal crazy in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, smashing third-division minnows Cultural Leonesa 7-1 away from home in the first leg of their last-32 encounter. Marco Asensio and Alvaro Morata each struck twice in a one-sided match, but Spanish international Morata should have had at least a hat-trick as Real ran riot, ensuring the return leg at the Santiago Bernabeu is effectively a dead rubber. Real Madrid’s forgotten man Fabio Coentrao made his return following seven months out injured on a routine evening for the Champions League winners. "I’m very pleased with the match. We started strongly and took the game seriously. That’s the most important thing for me, taking it seriously and respecting the opponent," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. "But we haven’t won anything, we’re going to keep going because this is a long-term thing, in the Copa del Rey, the Champions League or any other competition." Real, who have won the Co...

The Spanish soccer federation on Wednesday fined Valencia 1,500 euros ($1,600) after water bottles were thrown at Barcelona players celebrating a goal in a Spanish league game last weekend. The federation also warned Valencia that it may close its Mestalla Stadium if similar incidents happen again. In its ruling, the federation’s competition committee condemned the attitude of the Barcelona players who turned to the stands to celebrate after Lionel Messi’s late winner on Saturday, but said “nothing justifies a violent reaction by fans.”  It also criticized the “exaggerated reaction” of some Barcelona players after a bottle hit Neymar and Luis Suarez, and said that their actions exposed them to ridicule.  The federation also praised Valencia for quickly identifying the fan who threw the bottle. Barcelona reacted quickly to the criticism to its players, saying that the accusations made by the committee were “condemnable and abusive.” “The committee turns the victims into the ...

Manchester United looked at Liverpool this season and decided to play them at their own game.  he Gegenpress came from the visitors. At one point in the first half, Liverpool enjoyed just 3% possession in the final third of the pitch.United pressed from the moment Liverpool crossed the halfway line and in tandem with 6 or 7 defenders strung across their penalty area, thwarted the Reds hopes for creating space to exploit. With Young and the less effective Rashford, ahead of the full backs, United were able to deny Liverpool space on the flanks and neutralise Mane. With Sturridge struggling to find space, he and the Senegalese international frequently found themselves making runs into the same areas. Their dominance didn’t manifest in the possession statistics. United ‘enjoyed’ just 35% of the ball but Liverpool managed just two shots on targets all night, such was the consistency of the United players applying Jose Mourinho’s gameplan Liverpool Are Predictable Without Lallana W...

 Rugby fans and players are planning to pay tribute to a tragic young fan who sadly passed away after being selected to lead the team out against Connacht at the RDS Arena on Saturday. Liam Hagan, a lifelong Leinster fan, was born with EB (epidermolysis bullosa) a genetic disease that causes skin, both inside and out, to blister at the slightest touch. Liam, eight, from Threemilehouse in Monaghan, had a severe form of EB which left 80% of his body covered open wounds. The young Leinster fanatic was overjoyed at being selected as a mascot but lost his eight year fight before he could fulfil his ambition. His cousin and best friend Adam McCormic, also from Monaghan, will lead the team out in his memory and Leinster Rugby have asked all supporters to acknowledge Liam and his courageous fight at the game. Charity Debra Ireland will be in attendance at the game and will be handing out butterfly tattoos and are asking supporters to wear the butterfly in a show of support for Liam and ...

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly has suffered a serious knee injury and could face a lengthy period on the sidelines, according to manager Jose Mourinho. The Ivorian picked up the problem after a tussle with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard early in the second half of Sunday’s encounter. I am afraid it is a bad injury,” BBC Sport report the United boss as saying. “It is in his knee, the ligament area. He feels it is really bad.” Recovery from knee ligament damage tends to be measured in months rather than weeks and Mourinho will be hoping that the 22-year-old’s prognosis is not as bad as first feared. Bailly’s injury capped an unhappy return to Stamford Bridge for the Portuguese boss, whose United side were crushed 4-0 by the rampant Blues. Strikes from Pedro, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and N’Golo Kante ensured a comfortable Chelsea win after a catalogue of defensive errors from the Red Devils. Chris Smalling was named captain in the absen...

Mourinho endured a torrid return to Chelsea, watching his Manchester United side concede a goal after 30 seconds as they slumped to a 4-0 defeat. The former Chelsea manager received a respectful reception from the home crowd as he emerged into the arena prior to kick-off -- but then saw his players fall apart in the opening moments. Marcos Alonso lofted a pass forward, United defender Chris Smalling left it and Pedro pounced, taking the ball around goalkeeper David De Gea to sidefoot home and score the fastest goal of the season so far. Shellshocked United briefly threatened to rally when Antonio Valencia crossed towards Zlatan Ibrahimovic, only for the Swede to direct his header over the crossbar. But the Blues were dominant, with one corner scrambled away from the waiting Diego Costa and Eden Hazard left free to drill another wide from the edge of the area before a quarter of an hour had been played. And Chelsea got the second goal their pressure had merited with 21 minutes on ...

Manchester United travel to Chelsea for the first time since Jose Mourinho took over at Old Trafford. The United boss departed Stamford Bridge in December before replacing Louis van Gaal in Manchester following the conclusion of the 2015/16 season. United have had a tough week - visiting Liverpool at Anfield on Monday night before hosting Fenerbahce in the Europa League on Thursday. Meanwhile, Chelsea have not played since beating Leicester eight days' ago. Wayne Rooney was not pictured with the United squad who boarded the train at Stockport on Saturday afternoon, but Chris Smalling has travelled with the team despite coming off with an injury in midweek. Mourinho will be desperate for a result against his former employers and United fans will want to move up the Premier League table after the confidence boosting win against Fenerbahce. revealed there was a “sense of pain and disappointment” after the Reds were hammered 4-0 at Chelsea. Jose Mourinho’s side, who frustrated Li...

AC Milan's kids seem to have a bright future, two of them just combined talent and forces to give the Rossoneri a crucial win against Juventus at San Siro. The Old Lady lost the chance to clear off at the top and Milan managed to get just two points behind them, but it was a complicated victory which came thanks to a screamer from 18-year old Locatelli in the second half.  The first half saw how a goal was disallowed for Juventus, a free kick taken by Miralem Pjanic didn't count because of an off side position by Dani Alves. The second half saw Milan take the lead with a beautiful long-range goal to the top corner, but the real hero of the day was 17-year old Gianluigi Donnarumma. He made a tremendous save after a long distance shot came  to his left top corner and he managed to deflect it. His teammates celebrated with him as if it was a goal, it was the last play of the match.  This performance and several others in the past, have triggered some rumors of the young...

Sergio Busquets , after the game against Valencia, a 3-2 win, spoke to the media: "As predicted it was a complicated game, like they always are at Mestalla. It was demading physically.  "We came into the game after a huge effort on Wednesday and the important thing today was the win. This will give a lot to the team. It wasn’t our best game, but it’s about winning no matter what and we’ve achieved that." On the refereeing decisions, the midfielder said: "There were a lot of controversial moments. When you lose, you complain to the referee. I think the referee was under a lot of pressure today and has given what he felt was opportune at each moment. I'll have to see all the moments to give my opinion, but what was clear is that it was a penalty at the end." And, logically, he's expressed his disappointment at the injury to Barça captain Andres Iniesta: "Andres’ injury is a shame. It’s a dangerous place to get a knock and it can leave you out for ...

  His side had a number of chances in the 0-0 draw with Arsenal, but he admitted he was pleased with the performance. Former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes was kept busy but Karanka believes it was a full team performance. "I think we could have won the game but Petr Cech was the best player for Arsenal and we did a really good game today,” he explained. "All of our players played a key part today. Our plan worked which I am really pleased about and for 95 minutes we were 150 per cent concentrating on the pitch. "It is good to show everybody that we have a plan and now we need to look ahead to Bournemouth. "Victor in the last two or three years with his (cruciate ligament) injury, it has been the worst moments of his life in football. "When I signed him I told him he had to find his smile again and that was really important. He has been really good for us." Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, rued his side’s unusual lack of creativity. The Arsenal boss w...