List of All Articles with Tag 'sp'

Stephen Kenny has insisted he has not sought assurances over his future as Republic of Ireland manager despite facing mounting criticism. Kenny’s position has been questioned and potential successors touted in the wake of a hugely disappointing 2-1 Euro 2024 qualifying defeat in Greece on Friday evening which left Ireland’s hopes of making it to the finals in severe jeopardy after just two games. However, asked if he had been given any assurances by the Football Association of Ireland that he would see out the campaign, the 51-year-old replied: “I haven’t sought any assurance. That’s not something I do.” Kenny, who complained about “a lack of respect” at his pre-match press conference, was asked how he felt he was doing as Ireland manager. He said: “I’m not going to sit here and do a full press conference on an assessment of my period in charge or anything like that, I’m here really to prepare for tomorrow, the game against Gibraltar. “It’s a big game for us. Obviously, I’m disappointed that we lost against Greece, but we’ve got to bounce back against Gibraltar and I’m fairly sure we can do that, and we’ll take that into September.” For all Kenny’s bullishness, Ireland have won only four of the 23 competitive games they have played under his charge and lost five of the last eight. Asked if that was a source of disappointment, he said: “It’s a fair question. I’m disappointed about the Greek game, I’m disappointed we didn’t get the result that we needed. Listen, we have lost a game that we wanted to win and we have to bounce back against Gibraltar.” Former Ireland boss Brian Kerr was critical of Kenny’s tenure in his role as a TV pundit, while counterpart Liam Brady, one of the nation’s most gifted former internationals, described the current squad as “the worst group of players that any manager has had in my lifetime”. James McClean, who will captain the side against Gibraltar on Monday as he collects his 100th cap, said: “It would be very stupid and naive for me to sit here and take on Liam Brady and criticise Liam Brady with the calibre of player that he was and what he was. I’m not going to do that. “But look, we have a tendency, especially in this country, to get carried away. We are two games in now. This country in the past has shown that we have big results in us when no-one has expected it. “There is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the campaign. We’re not naive, we know it’s going to be tough, very tough, but we have to start somewhere and we aim to do that on Monday night against Gibraltar and take it a game at a time.”

Luke Shaw has been selling Manchester United to his England team-mates and says he would take Harry Kane and Declan Rice at Old Trafford “in a heartbeat”. Having continued their winning start to Euro 2024 qualification by beating Malta 4-0 on Friday, Gareth Southgate’s side have been preparing at Carrington for the season finale against North Macedonia. Shaw posted an Instagram story on Saturday showing pictures of him at the United training base next to Kane and Rice with the caption “Carrington tour” and an eyes emoji. The lighthearted post comes with the futures of Tottenham striker Kane and West Ham captain Rice among the highest profile of many transfer talking points surrounding this group of England players. “It is not normally discussed but, because of the time of the season and what is going on, there is a lot of talk, a lot of banter,” Shaw said. “I would love a few of them to join United – I am not going to lie. I am speaking to them, telling them how good Manchester is because I know their qualities. “I know they are world-class players and they would be a massive help to us but I can only say so much. It is up to the club and whatever they decide, so we have to go from there.” Shaw joked “hopefully they like it and can get used to it” at United, who have a long-standing interest in Kane and Rice but are understood to view deals for the duo as highly unlikely. Mason Mount – absent from the England camp through injury – is the more immediate midfield prospect as United look to build on a promising first season under Erik ten Hag. If it was down to me, I would take them in a heartbeat and they would improve our team massively and help us go to what we want to achieve. Luke Shaw on Harry Kane and Declan Rice “Yes, half joking,” the left-back said of the Instagram post. “It is a bit of both. I know they are both world-class players and I don’t know what is going on at their clubs. “But if it was down to me, I would take them in a heartbeat and they would improve our team massively and help us go to what we want to achieve.” Shaw said “you could pick anyone in this squad and love them to come” to a United side that are on the up. “I’ve been here for a long time now,” said the 27-year-old, who joined the Old Trafford outfit from Southampton in 2014. “I’ve been through very different periods, a lot of ups and downs, but I can feel that the club is going in the right direction now. “I care about this club a lot and I’ll do anything I can to bring the right players here that I know the manager will like and want and who will definitely improve our team. “It’s only a matter of time until we’re challenging for the big trophies.” Shaw openly said at the end of the season that United need “big signings” as Ten Hag continues to shape the squad in his image. Whether captain Harry Maguire has a part to play in that remains unclear after a season he spent sat on the sidelines far more than he wanted. Left-back Shaw has even been selected at centre-back ahead of the world’s most expensive defender. “It’s tough,” he said. “I think a few times Harry has been struggling with a niggle, so he wasn’t always 100 per cent fit. “But I also do think the manager does like a left-footed centre-back – that’s in his philosophy and the way he wants to play. “I played there in one game and he really liked me in that position, and he kept me there. “But of course I’m really close with Harry, we speak a lot and for me personally, whenever I’m on that pitch, I have to do my best and that’s wherever the manager wants me to play.” Maguire may well start against North Macedonia on Monday, when Shaw will win a 31st cap of an international career that looked like it could fall flat. He won eight caps between 2014 and 2021, when the Euros final goalscorer kicked on and established himself as Southgate’s first-choice left-back. “I love it so much,” Shaw said ahead of Monday’s Old Trafford qualifier. “The feeling playing for your country is one of the best ever. “You touched on appreciating it more, and I definitely do. There were times I made mistakes and didn’t really understand how lucky I was to be in this position. “For me, I’ve matured, I grew up and I realised how important it is for me to appreciate playing for England. “I definitely do now. Every time I step out on that pitch I feel lucky and blessed to be in this position. “Hopefully I can keep giving my best for the country because I love playing for them so much.”

Rookie Elly De La Cruz and Jake Fraley both drove in runs in a three-run 10th that lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-7 win over the Houston Astros on Sunday

Leona Maguire played her final six holes in 6 under and shot an 8-under 64 to win the Meijer LPGA Classic by two strokes, her second tour victory

Luke Shaw has said he would take Harry Kane and Declan Rice at Manchester United “in a heartbeat” after half-jokingly trying to sign them up at Old Trafford. The left-back has revealed he has been trying to sell United to his England teammates, several of whom could be on the move this summer. Shaw posted an Instagram video giving Kane and Rice a tour of United’s training complex at Carrington, where England are preparing for Monday’s game against North Macedonia. While Erik ten Hag is looking for a striker and a midfielder this summer, neither Kane nor Rice is likely to join United, despite Shaw’s best efforts. “There is a lot of talk, a lot of banter,” he said. “I would love a few of them to join United, I am not going to lie. I am speaking to them, telling them how good Manchester is because I know their qualities. “I know they are world-class players and they would be a massive help to us but I can only say so much. It is up to the club and whatever they decide. They have been here the last couple of days and hopefully they like it and can get used to it!” Kane, who has attracted interest from Real Madrid, has a year left on his contract at Tottenham while Rice is expected to join Arsenal, though Manchester City are also tracking him, but United are favourites to sign Mason Mount. Shaw described his social-media video as “half joking”. He explained: “It is a bit of both. I know they are both world-class players and I don’t know what is going on at their clubs but if it was down to me, I would take them in a heartbeat and they would improve our team massively and help us go to what we want to achieve. “You could pick anyone in this squad and love them to come to this team. We have strength and depth. [They have] world-class abilities and any players that leave to go to another club this summer will only make the other team better.” Shaw, whose own future is secure after signing a new contract with United, said there have been plenty of discussions in the England squad about summer moves. He added: “Because of the situation of when this camp is and the situation of contracts running down, there is much more talk this time around than there has been in other years. “We read what is going on. We all talk. We are all really close. We have private conversations of what is going on although they won’t be spoken about here.” Read More England stars must ignore transfer talk, says Gareth Southgate Gareth Southgate sees a tougher test for his team at Old Trafford Gareth Southgate wants England to retain winning mentality on road to Euro 2024 Marcus Rashford couldn’t stomach Man City celebrations but England remain united

Max Verstappen tied the late Ayrton Senna for career victories and Red Bull won its 100th Formula One race as the Dutchman extended his season-long dominance at the Canadian Grand Prix

The Milwaukee Brewers scored four runs in the eighth inning to rally past Pittsburgh 5-2 on Sunday, handing the Pirates their sixth consecutive loss

Eddie Rosario homered twice and drove in six runs, and the Atlanta Braves beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 14-6 for their sixth consecutive victory

Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout hit back-to-back home runs to help the Los Angeles Angels defeat the Kansas City Royals 5-2 in the finale of a three-game series

Leave it to Rickie Fowler to find that brilliant combination of hydration, product placement and doing what the kids like

The San Francisco Giants have put pitcher Alex Cobb on the injured list with an oblique strain

Connor Wong and Alex Verdugo hit consecutive RBI doubles off the Green Monster with two outs in a three-run sixth inning and the Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees 6-2 on Sunday in the opener of a split doubleheader