Sport

Bellingham and Kane strike as England seal top spot with World Cup win over Panama
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

England are not going to win the World Cup playing like this. They will not get very far in the knockout rounds unless they can sharpen up. But at least they have made it into them, the dream still alive, after they secured top spot in Group L on a slow-burn occasion when the result meant everything.

Thomas Tuchel needed to restore momentum after the bore draw against Ghana in game two, to rekindle the excitement from the opening game against Croatia, which England won 4-2. The manager wanted to prove a point. It did not really happen and for the opening 45 minutes it was even possible to fear the worst. Were England going to fail to prise apart another obdurate opponent?

Croatia snatch second by beating Ghana but both through to World Cup knockout stage
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

It had been another rainy day in Philadelphia but that didn’t spoil the party. Sixty-eight thousand people in ponchos were still able to enjoy an intriguing contest defined by cracking goals, and one where both teams left the field happy. For Croatia, there was second place in Group L and a reminder that they remain a serious team. For Ghana, there was progress to the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010 and even some full-throttle attacking, for a few minutes at least.

There were questions over what incentive either team would have to give their all. A goalless draw appeared to give each a good chance of progression through Fifa’s intricate qualification matrix. Croatia would have finished third, but with a potentially preferable route, Ghana would have finished in second place behind England. It would have been a nice and cosy settlement; but Croatia weren’t up for it.

Ravindra puts New Zealand in dominant position after England fail to take advantage
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

Third Test D3: New Zealand 438 & 120-3; England 354
England lose eight wickets for 130 runs

Things can change quickly in cricket. Just as England thought a reset had occurred with the win at Lord’s, only for a late night in Chelsea and defeat at the Oval to put paid to that notion, so the nature of the pitch lurched significantly on a gripping third day here.

Gone was the road on which the ball repeatedly raced across the parched outfield during the first two days and in its place – influenced by a slight drop in temperature and cloud cover – was a more capricious strip of earth. It offered lateral movement and inconsistent bounce, and led to 11 wickets falling.

Steve Clarke resigns as Scotland head coach after elimination from World Cup 2026
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

Tenure comes to close after exit in the group stage
‘Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor’

Steve Clarke has resigned as Scotland’s head coach, with the decision announced within minutes of confirmation the country had been eliminated from the World Cup. Clarke, who had been in post since 2019, signed a four-year contract extension shortly before the tournament.

Ian Maxwell, the Scottish Football Association chief executive, said: “We thank Steve for his record-breaking contribution and know that when the disappointment of World Cup elimination subsides, the Scotland supporters will be thankful for the memories of marching with pride at major tournaments once again.”

More details soon

England’s Wyatt-Hodge blasts New Zealand out of Women’s T20 World Cup
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

Group B: England, 164-1, bt New Zealand, 163-6, by nine wkts
Opener scores unbeaten 89 to oust defending champions

New Zealand’s World Cup title defence came to a soggy end at the Oval on Saturday night, as England danced home by nine wickets in a one-sided hammering thanks to a 128-run partnership between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley. The crowd of 21,018 was a record for a Women’s T20 World Cup group-stage match.

England have topped Group B and will more than likely face either India or South Africa in next week’s semi-final, pending the result of Sunday’s Group A clash between Australia and India. The result also means that West Indies have qualified for the semi-finals at New Zealand’s expense.

Russell snatches controversial F1 Austrian GP pole after Verstappen’s late crash
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

Mighty lap seals pole amid yellow flags in closing seconds
Russell confident he can beat championship leader Antonelli

The moment of triumph hung briefly in the balance for George Russell in claiming pole position for the Austrian Grand Prix, but with the British driver bullish and ebullient after what was a mighty lap under dramatic circumstances, for him at least, there was never any doubt.

At the very sharp end of the final moments of qualifying, Russell was hurtling round the track after Max Verstappen when the Dutchman was too hot into turn nine, lost the rear and scythed across the gravel into the wall. In front of them, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had finished their laps as the single yellow flags were immediately waved.

Emma Raducanu cuts short training session to deepen fears of Wimbledon withdrawal
Posted on Saturday June 27, 2026

British No 1 struggling with ankle injury
Left practice early and cancelled scheduled media duties

Emma Raducanu’s presence at Wimbledon remains shrouded in doubt after the British No 1 was forced to cut short her training session at the All England Club two days before her opening match.

Raducanu, who had been managing a right foot injury since her run to the final at Queen’s Club, had not trained for the past two days after being spotted leaving the venue wearing a medical boot on her right foot.