Sport Dispatch

Spain cruise to top spot in qualfiers despite keeper howler

Spain secured a convincing 3-1 home win over Kosovo in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday, although goalkeeper Unai Simon made a huge blunder to cost his side a goal. Dani Olmo gave Spain a…

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Croatia resorts to the big guns to beat resilient Malta

Croatia laboured to a 3-0 win at home to Malta with second-half substitutes Ivan Perisic, Luka Modric and Josip Brekalo scoring to put the 2018 World Cup runners-up top of…

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Italy’s Mancini wary of physical Lithuania and Vilnius pitch

Italy coach Roberto Mancini has said Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against a physical Lithuania side will not be easy and highlighted his concerns over the playing surface in Vilnius. Italy…

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Chelsea v Porto quarter-final fixtures to be played in Seville

Both legs of Chelsea's Champions League quarter-final meeting with Porto will be played in Seville, Spain over restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, European soccer's governing body UEFA said on…

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Salah says no team suffers more without fans than Liverpool

Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah says his side will miss the lack of supporters more than Real Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final tie, adding he no longer bears a grudge…

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Manchester City great Sergio Aguero to leave club at end of season

Manchester City’s all-time top scorer Sergio Aguero will leave when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club announced on Monday. The 32-year-old joined the Etihad club…

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France, England, Germany and Italy make it two wins out of two

England, Germany and Italy all head their groups after victories in World Cup qualifying on Sunday. Kane inspires England win Harry Kane scored his first England goal since 2019 to lead his…

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Spain coach relieved by late winner, braced for more nervy games

Spain coach Luis Enrique praised his side for snatching a 2-1 win away to Georgia on Sunday but predicted more nerve-shredding finishes in their remaining World Cup qualifiers unless they learn how to…

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VIDEO: British football manager mocks Maltese players as ‘supermarket counter workers’

Maltese citizens have been accustomed to being used by figures abroad for unpalatable comparisons which generally irk the population leading to a veritable social media storm. Sometimes, these facts however…

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Berardi and Immobile secure Italy’s 2-0 win on Northern Ireland

Italy made a confident start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in Group C on Thursday. First-half goals from Domenico Berardi and Ciro Immobile settled Italy's nerves…

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European Qualifiers Round-Up – Germany, Italy, England off to winning start, Spain held

Former champions Germany, England and Italy got off to winning starts in their World Cup qualifying campaigns on Thursday but Spain were held to a 1-1 home draw by Greece.…

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England trash San Marino in World Cup qualifiers

England kicked off their World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign with a 5-0 thrashing of San Marino as Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored twice and Ollie Watkins marked his debut with a goal. On a night when…

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Mbong strike not enough for Malta as national team succumbs to Russia

Russia beat Malta 3-1 on Wednesday, ending a six-match winless streak, to kick off their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign. Captain Artyom Dzyuba opened the scoring in the 23rd minute of the Group…

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Belgium come from behind to outclass Wales

Belgium shrugged off an early scare to see off Wales 3-1 and make a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign on Wednesday. Harry Wilson gave Wales a surprise…

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European Qualifiers: France disappoint with home draw, Turkey stun Netherlands

Holders France got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a disappointing start with a 1-1 draw at home to Ukraine on Wednesday while Turkey pulled off an impressive 4-2 win at home to…

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Mitrovic double gives Serbia 3-2 win over Ireland

Serbia got their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign off to a positive start as substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a second-half brace to give them a comeback 3-2 home win over Ireland in their…

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Arsenal’s Aubameyang and Partey to miss Cup of Nations games due to COVID-19 restrictions

Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and midfielder Thomas Partey will both miss one game of their respective Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaigns due to COVID-19 restrictions, their Premier League club…

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Football in Europe is being transformed by US private equity firms – here’s how

Football is changing, again. Many fans who have spent years watching their teams, either live in a stadium or on the television, have long had to face the fact that…

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Ibrahimovic hails “return of the God” after being named in Sweden squad

Sweden's record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic announced his return to his country's international squad following a five-year hiatus by declaring "The return of the God" in a social media post on Tuesday. The…

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World Athletics launches the world’s first 3D virtual sports museum

World Athletics has today announced the launch of a 3D virtual museum of athletics, bringing a new level of innovation and creative technologies to the world of sport. Known as…

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Dinamo coach Mamic resigns, faces prison ahead of Spurs clash

Croatia's Supreme Court on Monday confirmed a prison sentence for Dinamo Zagreb coach Zoran Mamic for fraud, ahead of the club's Europa League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, the Balkan nation's state…

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Patricio suffers head injury as Liverpool beat Wolves

Liverpool stayed in the hunt for a top-four Premier League finish with a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday but the match was marred by a serious-looking head injury to…

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Inter edge gritty Atalanta 1-0 to keep chasers at bay

A second-half goal from defender Milan Skriniar was enough to earn Inter Milan a 1-0 win over Atalanta on Monday, with the victory sending Antonio Conte's side six points clear at the…

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Chelsea march on under Tuchel with 2-0 win over Everton

Chelsea extended their turnaround under new coach Thomas Tuchel with a 2-0 home win over Everton on Monday as Kai Havertz played a key role in both goals on his return to the…

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Athletics: Claire Azzopardi delivers superb performance at European Indoor Championships

Claire Azzopardi produced a superb personal best performance in the European Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland with a jump of 5.51m. The final of the long jump event is scheduled…

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England to bid for 2030 World Cup

England is expected to prepare a bid for the 2030 World Cup and the Football Association has expressed its support, together with the other home nations and the Republic of…

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Former Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu arrested after club offices raided

Former Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu was arrested on Monday after Catalan police officers searched the La Liga club's offices. A regional police spokeswoman confirmed several arrests had been made following an…

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Malta to host World Athletics Continental Tour meeting

World Athletics has confirmed Athletics Malta’s bid to host an international meeting of the World Athletics Tour in July this year. The event, which will take the name of The…

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Athletics: Carla Scicluna secures qualifying time for European Championships in Poland

The Maltese athletics’ winter season reached its climax this weekend with the Winter Championships held at the Matthew Micallef St John Stadium in Marsa. Despite a warmer than usual February…

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EC distances itself from European Super League debate

The European Commission has sought to distance itself from the politically-charged debate on the creation of a European Super League for continental football. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager argued that disputes…

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FIGC President takes tough stance against a breakaway European Super League

Gabriele Gravina, president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), has spoken out against a breakaway European Super League and said he hopes to see a "good percentage" of fans at…

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Athletics Malta secures major international agreements to provide local athletes with better opportunities abroad

Athletics Malta has concluded two important international agreements that will secure a brighter future for the sport in Malta and will provide better opportunities for Maltese athletes abroad. The agreements…

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Chelsea, West Ham leapfrog Liverpool to reach top five

Chelsea and West Ham United both leapfrogged Liverpool with comfortable home victories over Sheffield United and Newcastle United respectively. The Londoners continued their resurgence since sacking Frank Lampard and appointing…

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MFA launches four-year strategy for Maltese football

The Malta Football Association has today launched its first ever strategy which will serve as the basis for the Association’s commitment to raise the game across all levels. https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfh1XM3-5CQ The…

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Athletics: Excellent string of results in run-up to National Winter Championships

The athletic season continued to gain pace with a number of commendable performances in the third pre-season meeting at the Matthew Micallef St John Stadium in Marsa. This was the…

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Tokyo governor says Olympics facing ‘major issue’ after Mori’s sexist remarks

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Friday the Olympic Games were facing a "major issue" after the head of the organising committee made sexist remarks, with criticism of his comments…

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Chelsea’s resurgence continues with win at Spurs

Chelsea's resurgence under new coach Thomas Tuchel continued on Thursday night with a 1-0 away victory against Tottenham Hotspur. The all-important goal was scored by Jorginho from the penalty spot…

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Liverpool won’t be allowed into Germany for Champions League tie

B Leipzig will not be able to host Liverpool in the Champions League this month after authorities refused to issue a travel permit for the English club, German media reported on Thursday.…

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Cristiano Ronaldo investigated on alleged Covid-breach

Juventus and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is being investigated by Italian authorities for allegedly breaking Covid-19 rules by travelling between the regions of Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta. This incident happened…

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IOC to discuss Olympics but cancellation not on agenda

The Tokyo Olympics will top the agenda when the International Olympic Committee's executive board meets on Wednesday (January 27) - but with the board firmly backing the event, any talk…

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UPDATED – Cabinet approves decree guaranteeing CONI’s independence as Italy risked Olympic Games exclusion

Updated 1145 - Cabinet approves decree safeguarding CONI's independence In his last Cabinet meeting before submitting his resignation, Italian PM Giuseppe Conte has managed to push through legal amendments giving…

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Janet Richard, Luke Farrugia win the Athlete of the Year Award for 2020

Janet Richard and Luke Farrugia scooped the top prizes awarded by Athletics Malta for the best athletes in 2020, while Jordan Gusman and Benjamin Micallef received special accolades for outstanding…

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Monaco says F1 grand prix will go ahead this year

Formula One's Monaco Grand Prix will happen this season after being cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organisers said on Monday in response to speculation the showcase race could be scrapped again. The harbourside…

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Winter athletics season underway as top athletes vie for place at European Championships

Malta’s elite athletes and upcoming youngsters were back on track at the Matthew Micallef St John in Marsa for the first of three pre-season Winter track events organized by Athletics…

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AC Milan regain sole leadership as Ibra double sinks Cagliari

AC Milan took all three points from a tricky Monday night encounter in Sardinia against Cagliari with evergreen striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring a brace. The Swedish striker put the Rossoneri…

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French biker Pierre Cherpin dies in Dakar rally crash

French motorcycle rider Pierre Cherpin has died five days after crashing during the seventh stage of the Dakar Rally, organisers said on Friday. The 52-year-old amateur, who was taking part unassisted in…

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England all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney retires from football

Former Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney has called time on his playing career after being named as manager of Derby County, the Championship club said on Friday. The 35-year-old had…

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Football fixtures to go ahead despite national lockdown in UK

Elite sport will be allowed to continue in England despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson announcing a new national COVID-19 lockdown on Monday (January 4) due to surging infections in the…

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Liverpool register second loss of PL season at Southampton

A superb second-minute lob by Danny Ings gave Southampton a surprise 1-0 home win over Premier League leaders Liverpool, with the Reds' attack looking rudderless as they were held scoreless for…

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Messi not interested in coaching, prefers sporting director role

Lionel Messi has no plans to become a coach when he retires from playing, saying he is more interested in being a director of football than working in the unforgiving world of…

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Federer withdraws from Australian Open

Six-times champion Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Australian Open as he continues to work his way back to fitness from two knee operations earlier this year, his agent said. The 39-year-old Swiss last…

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Leicester City move up to second with Palace draw

Leicester City moved up to second in the Premier League after a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace when Harvey Barnes cancelled a Wilfried Zaha goal at Selhurst Park on Monday. Leicester remained second overnight with Everton, level on points with them, not playing later on…

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