Rugby

Rugby-Jordan grabs try-scoring record as All Blacks hammer Italy 47-17

July 11 (Reuters) - Will ⁠Jordan grabbed a hat-trick of tries including ⁠a record 50th for New Zealand as ‌the All Blacks thrashed Italy 47-17 in the Nations Championship test on Saturday.

Football

Soccer-England's Kane confirms golf outing with Trump, praises president's game

MIAMI, July 10 (Reuters) - England ⁠captain Harry Kane has confirmed he once played ⁠golf with U.S. President Donald Trump, describing the experience ‌as "surreal" and praising the president's game.

Football

Soccer-Australia striker Mitch Duke ends international career

July 11 (Reuters) - Australia striker ⁠Mitch Duke has announced his retirement from international ⁠soccer, bringing the curtain down on a career ‌spanning more than a decade in which he won 50 caps for the Socceroos.

Tennis

Tennis-Auger-Aliassime parts ways with long-time coach Fontang after Wimbledon exit

July 11 (Reuters) - Felix ⁠Auger-Aliassime has parted ways with longtime coach ⁠Frederic Fontang following the Canadian's five-set ‌defeat to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.

Basketball

Basketball-Wembanyama signs multi-year contract extension with Spurs

July 10 (Reuters) - ⁠The San Antonio Spurs have signed ⁠Frenchman Victor Wembanyama to a multi-year ‌contract extension, the team said on Friday.

Football

Soccer-England's Kane dodges Haaland comparisons, plays down Golden Boot race

MIAMI, July 10 (Reuters) - Harry Kane refused ⁠to be drawn into comparisons with fellow striker Erling Haaland on Friday as the England captain prepares for ⁠a World Cup quarter-final showdown with Norway that could go some way to deciding who wins the tournament's ‌Golden Boot.

Football

Soccer-England get fitness boost ahead of World Cup quarter-final v Norway

MIAMI, July 10 (Reuters) - England manager ⁠Thomas Tuchel said on Friday that, with the exception of suspended defender Jarell Quansah, he had a ⁠full squad to pick from for the World Cup quarter-final against Norway.

Football

Soccer-World Cup referees doing excellent job, says Argentina's Martinez

KANSAS CITY, Kansas, ⁠July 10 (Reuters) - Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez dismissed controversy over refereeing in the ⁠World Cup on Friday and said match officials had done an ‌excellent job after Egypt criticised decisions in their dramatic 3-2 round-of-16 defeat by the South American side.

Football

Soccer-Magic Merino strikes again as Spain down Belgium to reach World Cup semis

INGLEWOOD, California, July 10 (Reuters) - Super-sub Mikel Merino snatched another ⁠late winner for Spain on Friday after Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens failed to hold onto the ball as they claimed a 2-1 win over their injury-hit opponents ⁠and set up a World Cup semi-final clash with France.

Sports Box

The game doesn’t need conspiracies, it needs consistency

THE past few days have been frustrating to follow as a football fan, to put it mildly.

Athletics

Don’t sprint into danger

PETALING JAYA: Former national track queen Marina Chin is no stranger to the negative impact of expectations that follow after winning a title.

Other Sports

New performance evaluation and auditing panel as NSC target success at home SEA Games

PETALING JAYA: The National Sports Council (NSC) are intensifying their efforts to secure medals at the home SEA Games next year by introducing a new performance evaluation and auditing panel.

Cycling

Ex-cyclist Shah Nazad thankful to Yakeb for restoring his livelihood

PETALING JAYA: Former national cyclist Shah Nazad Aman Shah can finally get back to work after the National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) repaired the engine of his fishing boat, restoring his main source of income.

Badminton

Letshanaa, Ling Ching to make full use of two tourneys

PETALING JAYA: Women's singles shuttlers K. Letshanaa and Wong Ling Ching will have just two tournaments to sharpen up before the World Championships in New Delhi from Aug 17-23.

Badminton

Tang Jie keeps Clarissa sunny ahead of her Japan Open debut

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Clarissa San will head into the biggest tournament of her career with one simple piece of advice ringing in her ears – to stay calm and enjoy the occasion.

Cycling

Cycling coach Harnizam opts for pragmatic plan to target medals in Glasgow

PETALING JAYA: National track cycling head coach Harnizam Basri is taking a realistic approach at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next month, targeting Mohd Shah Firdaus Sahrom and Azizulhasni Awang to reach the individual final.

Football

Soccer-De la Fuente hails Spain's strength in depth after super-sub Merino strikes again

INGLEWOOD, California, July 10 (Reuters) - Spain manager ⁠Luis de la Fuente's golden touch carried his side into the World Cup semi-finals on ⁠Friday as Fabian Ruiz and Mikel Merino, two players elevated by his bold selection calls, ‌scored the goals in a tense 2-1 quarter-final win over Belgium.

Football

Soccer-Tears for two Belgium goalkeepers

INGLEWOOD, California, July ⁠10 (Reuters) - Tears streamed down Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' face as he sat ⁠on the bench with a leg injury during the second half of ‌Friday's World Cup quarter-final against Spain.

Football

Soccer-Artists restore gigantic Messi mural in his hometown

ROSARIO, Argentina, July 10 (Reuters) - Lionel Messi has ⁠had a fresh lick of paint.

Football

Soccer-Magic Merino strikes again as Spain down Belgium to reach World Cup semis

(corrects to last-16 in paragraph four)