SPORTS

Moscow, Russia | AFP | Former Russia coach Leonid Slutsky has some blunt advice for the World Cup hosts: admit that you are not a “footballing nation” and move on. Slutsky’s stark assessment came in the wake of two humbling home defeats to Brazil and France last month. Pundits and …

Gold Coast, Australia | AFP | About 225,000 condoms, 17,000 toilet rolls and free ice cream: welcome to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games village, where athletes and officials will want for little. Ahead of Wednesday’s opening ceremony, thousands of competitors and support staff are pouring in to their temporary home …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Had their first experiences in English football gone as they would have wished, Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne could have been teammates rather than on a collision course for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final clash between Liverpool and Manchester City. How Chelsea fans must …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Former Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty has poked fun at Jose Mourinho’s ego by claiming the Old Trafford boss would eat himself if he was made of chocolate. Docherty knows what it takes to succeed at United after spending five years in charge in …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester City looked every inch champions elect as the leaders moved within touching distance of the title. Tottenham delivered a hammer blow to Chelsea’s top four hopes and ended their Stamford Bridge curse in the process. Here are five things we learned from the …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang said he was happy to give up the chance to claim a hat-trick on Sunday, preferring to see Arsenal strike partner Alexandre Lacazette convert a confidence-boosting penalty Arsenal defeated relegation-haunted Stoke 3-0 with Aubameyang scoring twice — a penalty and another from …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino insisted he always trusted Dele Alli’s talent despite the England international’s struggles to meet his high standards this season. Alli doubled his tally for 2018 by scoring twice in four second-half minutes as Spurs beat Chelsea 3-1 on Sunday …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Arsenal warmed up for their crucial Europa League quarter-final with a flattering 3-0 victory against relegation-threatened Stoke on Sunday. Three goals in the final 15 minutes put a gloss on a largely soporific performance at a well-below capacity Emirates Stadium. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored the …

Cardiff, United Kingdom | AFP | Anthony Joshua called for a heavyweight unification fight with Deontay Wilder, saying it was “not time to sit back and enjoy the ride”, after beating Joseph Parker in Cardiff on Saturday. Joshua added Parker’s World Boxing Organisation heavyweight title to his International Boxing Federation …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester City are one win away from being crowned Premier League champions after a swaggering 3-1 victory over Everton, while Mohamed Salah was Liverpool’s hero yet again as the Egypt star clinched a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday. Pep Guardiola’s side maintained …