
Scotland handed lesson on ‘enormous gap’ to England, admits Graeme Souness
Former Scotland midfielder Graeme Souness was unhapp his nation failed to show the level of determination and effort the magnitude of the encounter against England demanded. Speaking on Channel 4 after the Three Lions triumphed 3-1, Souness noted that while the Scots have undoubtedly improved under Steve Clarke, they’ve been shown just how great the distance between themselves and the top nations remains by the ease in which England won. Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored for the visitors, with the hosts unable to create much in the way of attacking chances, with Harry Maguire’s own goal their only consolation. And Clarke’s players needed to produce more to make the atmosphere a hostile one, Souness said, which might have tipped the balance somewhat. “It was a friendly. If nothing else go and empty someone, get the crowd involved. This is a passionate football crowd, and we gave them nothing to shout about tonight,” he said. “I accept that England were fabulous and are a fabulous team but from Scotland’s point of view, they couldn’t get the crowd involved because they didn’t show the required aggression for me. I know it’s a friendly but it’s an England-Scotland game. “They dominated, there was always another gear for them, and I think it was a sobering night for Scotland. They’ve been on a magnificent run but when push comes to shove there’s an enormous gap between where England are and where Scotland are.” Alongside fellow pundits Joe Cole and Jill Scot, both former England internationals, Souness stated his opinion that this squad of players under Gareth Southgate must make good on their potential to win an international tournament. Having made the Euro 2020 final, they’ll hope to go one step further next summer - and all three believe the team has the ability to do so. “England look like a real proper team. I think they can improve on that. They’ve got more attacking options to come on, but England have to be looking to win a trophy now. This is a special group that Gareth Southgate’s got,” Souness added. “This is the golden generation. Forget Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Paul Scholes. England have strength in depth, Jude Bellingham was outstanding tonight. I can remember England winning the World Cup, this is the strongest group I’ve ever seen, and they can only get better. England are destined to get [...] a trophy with this group of players.” Scott agreed they “should have their hands on the trophy”, while Cole pointed to the core group having “40 or 50 caps” by the time they play at the Euros. “In the past there was always something missing, this team ticks every box,” he said. “I think it’s the best England team I’ve seen or played in in my lifetime.” Read More Player ratings as Bellingham stars in England win over Scotland Terrible football or bad luck? Social media debates Harry Maguire’s ongoing struggles Maguire’s humiliation is complete — Southgate must save him from himself Player ratings as Bellingham stars in England win over Scotland Terrible football or bad luck? Social media debates Harry Maguire’s ongoing struggles Maguire’s humiliation is complete — Southgate must save him from himself
1970-01-01 08:00

Scotland vs England LIVE: Score and latest updates from 150th anniversary as Phil Foden misses early chance
Scotland football host England football team in a special friendly to mark the 150th anniversary of the first international fixture played between the two nations. The clash between neighbouring countries in 1872 is recognised by Fifa as football’s first-ever official international match, with 4,000 fans filing into the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow to witness the event. Now, 150 years later fans from both countries will flock to Hampden Park for the latest renewal of this old rivalry. Scotland are in fine form following a 3-0 victory over Cyprus on Friday to extend their advantage at the top of Euro 2024 qualifying Group A. They have won all five of their qualifiers so far and need just two points from their final three matches to secure a place at next summer’s championship. Meanwhile, England’s winning streak in qualifying ended with a 1-1 draw against Ukraine on Saturday. Gareth Southgate’s side manage to come from a goal down to secure a point despite a disjointed performance with Kyle Walker netting his first international goal but they will be aiming for a more positive result in Glasgow tonight. Follow all the action from Hampden Park and get the latest odds and tips for Scotland vs England right here: Read More Gareth Southgate hails Evan Ferguson and confirms England interest in Newcastle starlet Scott McTominay stars again as Scotland close on Euro 2024 spot with Cyprus win Gareth Southgate looking forward to tough examination against Scotland
1970-01-01 08:00

UFC: Grasso vs Shevchenko 2 card in full as title fight headlines this weekend
Alexa Grasso will defend the UFC women’s flyweight title against Valentina Shevchenko this weekend, nine months after dethroning the longtime champion. Grasso submitted Shevchenko in the fourth round in March, ending the Kyrgyzstani fighter’s five-year reign atop the division – as well as her nine-fight win streak. In doing so, 30-year-old Grasso became just the second Mexican champion in UFC history, and she is now her nation’s only reigning title holder. Can Shevchenko, 35, reverse the result on Saturday? Fans will find out as she and Grasso headline a Fight Night event in Las Vegas – marking a rare move for the UFC, which typically saves title bouts for pay-per-views. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the event? This week’s UFC Fight Night will take place on Saturday 16 September, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The prelims are set to begin at 12am BST on Sunday 17 September (4pm PT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET on Saturday), with the main card following at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help: Get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Odds Grasso – 13/10 Shevchenko – 8/13 Full odds via Betway. • Get all the latest UFC betting sites’ offers Full card (subject to change) Main card Alexa Grasso (C) vs Valentina Shevchenko 2 (women’s flyweight title) Kevin Holland vs Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight) Raul Rosas Jr vs Terrence Mitchell (bantamweight) Daniel Zellhuber vs Christos Giagos (lightweight) Fernando Padilla vs Kyle Nelson (featherweight) Prelims Loopy Godinez vs Elise Reed (women’s strawweight) Roman Kopylov vs Josh Fremd (middleweight) Edgar Chairez vs Daniel Lacerda (flyweight) Tracy Cortez vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight) Natan Levy vs Alex Reyes (lightweight) Josefine Knutsson vs Marnic Mann (women’s strawweight) Read More Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293 Israel Adesanya’s coach reveals strange request after shock loss to Sean Strickland Two fighters apologise for using homophobic slurs at UFC 293 What is TKO? The UFC and WWE merger explained How to watch Grasso vs Shevchenko 2 and what time is fight this weekend? The Independent’s pound-for-pound UFC rankings
1970-01-01 08:00

UFC: How to watch Grasso vs Shevchenko 2 and what time is fight this weekend?
Valentina Shevchenko will try to regain the UFC women’s flyweight title from Alexa Grasso this weekend, nine months after the Mexican took the belt from her. Shevchenko, 35, was on a nine-fight win streak and seen as one of the most dominant champions in the UFC, until Grasso shocked the Kyrgyzstani fighter in March. Grasso, 30, submitted Shevchenko in the fourth round to become Mexico’s second undisputed UFC champion, and she is now her nation’s only reigning title holder. She will bid to retain the gold against Shevchenko on Saturday, as the pair headline a Fight Night event in Las Vegas – marking a rare move for the UFC, which typically saves title bouts for pay-per-views. Here’s all you need to know. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. When is the event? This week’s UFC Fight Night will take place on Saturday 16 September, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The prelims are set to begin at 12am BST on Sunday 17 September (4pm PT, 6pm CT, 7pm ET on Saturday), with the main card following at 3am BST (7pm PT, 9pm CT, 10pm ET on Saturday). How can I watch it? The card will air live on TNT Sports in the UK, with the broadcaster’s app and website also streaming the fights. In the US, ESPN+ will stream the action live, as will the UFC’s Fight Pass. If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch the event, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help: Get great deals on the best VPNs in the market. Odds Grasso – 13/10 Shevchenko – 8/13 Full odds via Betway. • Get all the latest UFC betting sites’ offers Full card (subject to change) Main card Alexa Grasso (C) vs Valentina Shevchenko 2 (women’s flyweight title) Kevin Holland vs Jack Della Maddalena (welterweight) Raul Rosas Jr vs Terrence Mitchell (bantamweight) Daniel Zellhuber vs Christos Giagos (lightweight) Fernando Padilla vs Kyle Nelson (featherweight) Prelims Loopy Godinez vs Elise Reed (women’s strawweight) Roman Kopylov vs Josh Fremd (middleweight) Edgar Chairez vs Daniel Lacerda (flyweight) Tracy Cortez vs Jasmine Jasudavicius (women’s flyweight) Natan Levy vs Alex Reyes (lightweight) Josefine Knutsson vs Marnic Mann (women’s strawweight) Read More Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293 Israel Adesanya’s coach reveals strange request after shock loss to Sean Strickland Two fighters apologise for using homophobic slurs at UFC 293 What is TKO? The UFC and WWE merger explained Grasso vs Shevchenko 2 card in full as title fight headlines this weekend The Independent’s pound-for-pound UFC rankings
1970-01-01 08:00

Is Scotland vs England on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch 150th anniversary clash
Scotland take on England in a special friendly meeting to mark the 150th anniversary of the first international fixture between the two nations. The 1872 encounter is recognised by Fifa as football’s first-ever official international match, with 4,000 fans filing into the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow. FOLLOW LIVE: Teams and all the action as Scotland host England in international friendly There should be a great many more at Hampden Park for the latest renewal of the old rivalry, with Scotland continuing a fine recent run with a 3-0 victory against Cyprus on Friday to extend their advantage at the top of Euro 2024 qualifying Group A England’s qualifying winning streak, meanwhile,was ended by a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in Wroclaw. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match, plus all the latest football odds and offers and tips ahead of Scotland vs England. When is Scotland vs England? Scotland vs England is due to kick off at 7.45pm BST on Tuesday 12 September at Hampden Park in Glasgow. How can I watch it? Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the game live on Channel 4, with coverage from 7pm BST. A free live stream will also be available on the Channel 4 website and app. Team news Scotland impressed against Cyprus, but Steve Clarke could use this opportunity to shuffle his pack, with Stuart Armstrong a possible midfield starter and Lyndon Dykes in the mix further forward. Having earned a first call up ahead of the Cyprus game, English-born Newcastle midfielder Elliot Anderson was forced to pull out with an injury. Gareth Southgate has ruled out sweeping changes to his England side, suggesting it would be “ridiculous” to “over experiment” against a strong Scottish side. That said, Southgate could still use this as a chance to give Chelsea defender Levi Colwill a senior debut. Predicted line-ups Scotland XI: Gunn; Porteous, Hendry, Tierney; Patterson, S Armstrong, McGregor, Robertson; McTominay, McGinn; Dykes. England XI: Pickford; Trippier, Maguire, Colwill, Chilwell; Gallagher, Rice, Bellingham; Foden, Kane, Rashford. Odds Scotland win 7/2 Draw 13/5 England win 3/4 Latest odds here. Prediction Scotland celebrate the occasion with a narrow victory. Scotland 2-1 England. Read More Gareth Southgate hails Evan Ferguson and confirms England interest in Newcastle starlet Gareth Southgate twice talked Kyle Walker out of international retirement Steve Clarke says Ryan Porteous block was highlight of Scotland’s win in Cyprus Scotland vs England LIVE: Latest updates from 150th anniversary clash England want Newcastle duo amid call-up tug-of-war with Scotland How to watch Cyprus vs Scotland online and on TV today
1970-01-01 08:00

Fortinet Championship picks 2023: Expert picks, best bets for PGA Tour golf this week
All the latest odds, expert picks, and best bets for the Fortinet Championship in PGA Tour golf this week.
1970-01-01 08:00

Heavyweight boxing is decaying before our eyes – no other sport would survive this idiocy
There might be a crisis in the heavyweight division unless the television companies, the promoters, the chancers, the tyrants at the sanctioning bodies, the fixers and the fighters start to realise that they are part of a rich history. The heavyweight division is not a random board game, a place where a good spin can turn the world upside down and a place where all sense of perspective is lost. It is not a game, but it is being run like a crazy game of chance. Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are circling each other with very little real indication that they will fight each other. In many ways, the crisis point was a long, long time ago. There was a bold claim about six months ago that Saudi Arabian riches would transform the heavyweight division, a claim that over $400m was on the table for the leading four men to meet on one night in two fights. A lot of so-called media were delivered to Riyadh and told the hefty Four Kings would fight, it would be in December, and the heavyweight fairy tale would be complete. The chosen insiders were quick to assure everyone that the money was real, the conviction was real and that it would happen. It fell apart; Fury walked away, Usyk kept busy, Wilder and Joshua are still, in theory, part of a crazy plan. However, even their fight in Saudi in January or February is starting to look more and more like a mirage in that fighting desert. Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Joshua, has not yet ruled the fight out. Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has not yet ruled out a Fury fight. Wilder’s people flew to Saudi to do a direct deal with the promotional company there, so presumably they are still part of the circus. Fury, meanwhile, will fight in Riyadh next month, but his fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is being promoted by another branch of the Saudi government. It is difficult to keep up with this soap opera with blood. Ngannou, incidentally, has never had a single boxing match as an amateur or a professional; his 10 rounds with Fury have recently been given a belt by the WBC. It will not be for Fury’s actual WBC heavyweight title, which I guess is a small mercy. The new Saudi belt, complete with diamonds and gold, is still a belt and that means Ngannou, who is being trained by Mike Tyson, will fight for a WBC belt in his first ever appearance in a boxing ring. Shame on the WBC and their desperate attempt to be relevant. I have no problem with the fight, no problem with crossover events, but the WBC’s decision to award the winner a belt is pathetic. The WBC representative in Riyadh will need sharp elbows to get his face on television, because the Saudi families tend to flood the post-fight ring. Ngannou, incidentally, has been measured to possess the hardest punch in history. It is hard to invent this glorious nonsense. Fury has gone down this route because the money is there, and he is sick and tired of the relentless negotiations for a fight with either Usyk or Joshua. He is, it must be said, not entirely innocent. Although it is hard to blame Fury for going down the Ngannou route, talk of a rematch under mixed martial arts rules is slightly alarming. It is probably harmless chat, but the WBC needs to decide how long they will let their champion loose in the lawless playground of celebrity and crossover fights. There is simply no order, no strict rules, and nobody in a position to call a halt to the anarchy. In the last 12 months, Joshua has fought twice, staying busy and learning with his new coach; Fury has not fought since beating Derek Chisora for the third time last December in defence of his WBC title; Wilder has not been near a ring this year; Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois last month to retain his WBO, WBA and IBF titles. Dubois, incidentally, officially launched an appeal against the decision in that fight, claiming that the fight should have been stopped in Round 5 when he landed what he considers a legitimate body shot. Usyk was instead given nearly four minutes to recover. Krassyuk has ruled out a rematch, insisting that the punch was low and illegal. It means that in 2023, with two champions owning four recognised belts, with a lot of television backing and with a lot of quality contenders, there will be only one world heavyweight title fight. It is crazy and self-harming, and no other sport would survive such idiocy. Boxing has always been in a race against time, a race to get as much money as possible, as quickly and safely as possible, but this decaying state is so bad for business that it will hurt the business going forward. Read More Fans tear apart Tyson Fury over claim that Francis Ngannou poses tougher test than Oleksandr Usyk Watch moment topless Tyson Fury goads Francis Ngannou into taking his shirt off during press conference Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293 Eddie Hearn outlines ‘deluded’ plan for Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury urged to highlight Saudi Arabia’s ‘disturbing’ human rights record What is an exhibition fight and how is it different to a professional bout?
1970-01-01 08:00

Which Attributes to Upgrade First in NBA 2K24 MyCareer
The best attributes to upgrade first in NBA 2K24 MyCAREER are Three-Point Shot, Driving Dunk, Ball Handle, Speed with Ball, and more.
1970-01-01 08:00

Chinese Billionaire Said to Invest in Frette Buyout
A Chinese consortium, co-led by billionaire Ding Shizhong, chairman of Anta Sports Products Ltd., has bought 163-year-old Italian
1970-01-01 08:00

Luis Rubiales resigns as Spanish FA president after kissing player at Women’s World Cup final
Luis Rubiales is to resign as president of the Spanish FA (RFEF) after kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips following Spain’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final. Rubiales was asked by the Spanish football federation to step down, with Hermoso insisting the kiss was not consensual and subsequently filing a complaint to the national prosecutor’s office. Fifa has provisionally suspended Rubiales for 90 days and opened up disciplinary proceedings against him, but he has now confirmed his intent to resign. “I love so much my daughters, and they love me so much, I’m very happy and proud of them,” Rubiales told Piers Morgan Uncensored. “My resignation? Yes, I'm going to, I cannot continue my work. “My father, my daughters, I spoke with them, they know it’s not a question about me. They say to me, ‘Luis, now you have to focus on your dignity and continue your life, because you will do damage to people you love.’ “When somebody is not thinking only about themself, because I had to in these few weeks, it’s not only a question of me. It can affect third parties, it’s very important, this situation now, it’s the thing I have to do.” Spain’s women’s team claimed they would not play again for their country until Mr Rubiales was removed from his post. Rubiales maintained throughout that the kiss was “mutual” and “consensual”, but did add that he had made “some obvious mistakes”. More to follow... Read More Rubiales could face prison over kiss as prosecutor accuses FA chief of sexual assault Rubiales could face criminal charges after sexual assault filing Sacked Jorge Vilda defends clapping Luis Rubiales’ ‘I will not resign’ speech
1970-01-01 08:00

Israel Adesanya’s coach reveals strange request after shock loss to Sean Strickland
Israel Adesanya’s coach Eugene Bareman has revealed that he asked the UFC’s head matchmaker for a rematch in one week’s time, after Sean Strickland stunned Adesanya to win the middleweight title on Saturday. Strickland, a huge underdog in Sydney, beat Adesanya on all three scorecards in the main event of UFC 293, making the Nigerian-New Zealander’s second title reign a short one. Adesanya, 34, only spoke to the media briefly after the fight, saying: “I had a different plan for this, but life throws curveballs at you. Win or lose, I wasn’t going to say much anyway, but right now, I lost to the better man on the night, and I just want to be with people who care about me, my team, so I’m going to go do that. “But I’ll leave you in the capable hands of a man who is much smarter than me... I’ll leave it with Eugene Bareman, who will handle this for the first time.” Bareman then explained that he and his coaching team had struggled to connect with Adesanya during the fight with American Strickland. Bareman also revealed that he had approached Mick Maynard, the UFC’s chief matchmaker, later in the night, asking if they could set up a rematch in a week’s time. “I think Sean’s a great fighter, and I never once thought that Sean wasn’t capable of beating Israel,” said Bareman, “[but] it was an alternate kind of universe where Israel performed poorly, where Sean could win, and I’m sitting in that universe right now.” Adesanya first won the UFC middleweight title in 2019, before losing it to old kickboxing rival Alex Pereira via TKO last November. Adesanya regained the belt with a knockout of Pereira in April, before dropping it again on Saturday. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Strickland suffered his own stoppage loss to Pereira last July, before winning back-to-back fights this January and July. He then trained with Pereira ahead of Saturday’s main event. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293 Two fighters apologise for using homophobic slurs at UFC 293 UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year
1970-01-01 08:00

Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293
Sean Strickland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history on Saturday, outstriking and outpointing Israel Adesanya to win the middleweight title in Sydney. Few fans or pundits believed that Strickland had a chance to dethrone Adesanya, one of mixed martial arts’ finest strikers, but the challenger combined constant forward movement with solid defence and clinical output at UFC 293. In doing so, the controversial American – who claimed in 2021 that he would like to “kill” an opponent in the ring one day – beat Adesanya 49-46 on all three scorecards. Strickland, 32, dropped the Nigerian-New Zealander late in Round 1 with a picture-perfect right cross, sending Adesanya spinning to the canvas before seeking a finish. Strickland could not quite find the knockout blow, however, as Adesanya, 34, survived to the buzzer. The champion appeared to level the score in Round 2, remaining calm, switching stances and using feints to good effect – as he so often does. The “Last Stylebender” also worked the body of Strickland well, but the challenger would soon get back out in front. The third round saw limited output from both middleweights, until Strickland landed a one-two, left hook and stinging jab late in the frame. Still, the main event was in the balance, with Strickland’s coach Eric Nicksick telling him before the championship rounds: “I don’t want to lose a boring-ass decision.” There was no sign whatsoever of Strickland looking to wrestle, despite many believing that such an approach would be his only chance of success. In fact, the American had a body-lock opportunity in Round 4, when Adesanya overshot a strike, but Strickland let go of his opponent. While Adesanya increased his output in the final round, he was still a step behind Strickland, who continued to press forward and even began to talk to his rival late in the round. When the final buzzer sounded, Nicksick hoisted a tearful Strickland aloft, before the American’s championship victory was confirmed. Adesanya then appeared to pay respect to Strickland, burying the hatchet after a heated build to their fight. Much of Strickland’s post-fight, in-ring interview was censored by TNT Sports. With the result, Adesanya lost the middleweight title for the second time. In November, he suffered a TKO loss to his old kickboxing rival Alex Pereira, but Adesanya regained the belt by knocking out the Brazilian in a rematch in April. Pereira, who also knocked out Strickland last July, helped the American train for Saturday’s main event, which saw Strickland seal a third straight win since his loss to Pereira. UFC 293 results Sean Strickland def. Israel Adesanya (C) via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) Alexander Volkov def. Tai Tuivasa via second-round submission (Ezekiel choke, 4:37) Manel Kape def. Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) Justin Tafa def. Austen Lane via first-round TKO (punches, 1:22) Tyson Pedro def Anton Turkalj via first-round KO (punches, 2:12) Carlos Ulberg def. Da Un Jung via third-round submission (rear naked choke, 4:49) Chepe Mariscal def. Jack Jenkins via second-round TKO (elbow injury, 3:19) Jamie Mullarkey def. John Makdessi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) Nasrat Haqparast def. Landon Quinones via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) Charlie Radtke def. Blood Diamond via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) Gabriel Miranda def. Shane Young via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 0:59) Kevin Jousset def. Kiefer Crosbie via first-round submission (rear naked choke, 4:49) Read More UFC schedule 2023: Every major fight happening this year Fans tear apart Tyson Fury over claim that Francis Ngannou poses tougher test than Oleksandr Usyk UFC rankings: The Independent’s pound-for-pound fighters list Israel Adesanya’s coach reveals strange request after shock loss to Sean Strickland UFC 293 LIVE: Adesanya vs Strickland updates and results tonight Back-up fighter revealed for Adesanya vs Strickland at UFC 293
1970-01-01 08:00