Author: WTX Sports Team

The Sports Team is responsible for delivering your Sports Brief. Weekly roundup to cover all things Football, Cricket, Tennis Formula 1, Boxing and Olympics and more.

Moeen Ali admits ‘spark has been missing’ in England’s World Cup defence The Guardian says Moeen Ali has admitted that “the spark has been missing” during the dismal start to England’s World Cup defence, and said the challenge in what looks likely to be their final five games of the tournament is simple: if they cannot be a great team, at least be a fun one. “There’s no point playing the way we’re playing and…

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Cricket Australia records near $17m loss despite boost from hosting T20 World Cup The Guardian says Hosting the Twenty20 World Cup last year has gone some way to balancing the books at Cricket Australia, after the organisation announced it recorded a $16.9m loss in 2022-23. The governing body said the loss was driven by an “expected low point in the revenue cycle” given it was a non-Ashes year, although the game set a new attendance…

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World Rugby confirm ruling over Tom Curry racial slur allegation against Bongi Mbonambi The Independent says Bongi Mbonambi is free to play in the Rugby World Cup final after World Rugby confirmed there is “insufficient evidence at this time to proceed with charges” after being investigated for an alleged racial slur during the semi-final win over England. England flanker Tom Curry alleged that Mbonambi called him a “white c***” during the defeat in Paris on…

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LIVE – Woeful England slip to 122-6 against Sri Lanka in crucial World Cup match BBC Sport says England slip to 122-6 after 24.4 over Mathews on return to side gets Moeen & Malan Kumara removes Livingstone (1) & Buttler (8) in successive overs Bairstow tamely chips to mid-on and Root run out after confusion with Bairstow England win toss and bat in Bengaluru https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/cricket/66858549

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Champions League: Newcastle United vs Borussia Dortmund – Prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream Group Stage October 25 | 20:00 BST | St James’ Park Borussia Dortmund will meet Newcastle Unite at St James’ Park on Wednesday, in the latest Champions League match. Eddie Howe’s side are top of Group F after a 4-1 home win against PSG and a goalless draw at AC Milan. Only two years ago, Newcastle were bottom of the Premier…

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David Raya’s punch nearly cost Arsenal in their Champions League win over Sevilla (PA)

Thierry Henry admits he got ‘a little bit scared’ by David Raya’s goalkeeping in the closing stages of Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday evening.

Raya’s shaky performances have come under scrutiny ever since Mikel Arteta installed the on-loan Brentford goalkeeper as his first choice ahead of Aaron Ramsdale last month.

Despite receiving criticism after his mistakes in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea, Raya kept his place for Arsenal’s trip to Sevilla but showed signs of nerves in injury time when he attempted to punch clear Juanlu Sanchez’s cross but got it wrong and the ball span narrowly over his own goal.

Henry was critical of Arsenal allowing too many crosses into their box in the closing moments and concedes Arteta’s side ‘got lucky’ after another show of questionable goalkeeping from Raya.

When reviewing footage of Raya’s punch in the closing stages, Henry said on CBS Sports: ‘Is it a save? I mean, I stopped breathing for a little while.

‘That’s how it was in the last five, six minutes which I can understand away from home, we talked about it off air that it’s a tough place to go and win or play Sevilla,

‘I just thought at times we were inviting too many crosses and when I saw Raya coming to save that I got a bit scared but we got our luck this time, we got lucky.’

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Meanwhile, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has called the situation between Raya and Ramsdale a ‘pantomime’, while Michael Owen was critical of the Spaniard’s display against Sevilla.

‘Listen, all eyes are on Raya at the moment. If you’re keeping clean sheets all the time no-one says anything,’ Owen told TNT Sports.

‘But because of what’s happened in the past, every single thing he does we end up scrutinising and saying, “Ooh would Ramsdale have done that?” and, “Ooh should they be playing out in that situation?”

More: TrendingCasemiro ‘regrets’ his move to Man Utd as club line up £61m replacementSergio Ramos makes Arsenal Champions League claim after Sevilla defeatArsenal explain why Thomas Partey misses Champions League clash with Sevilla

‘He came for a cross, he went to punch it, he miscued it a little bit and it nearly spun into his own goal.

‘He had a couple of little mistakes in the first half as well trying to play out.

‘But at the end of the day we’re nit-picking and that is a cracking result for Arsenal. I think they’d have been happy coming away not getting beat tonight, but to get the three points puts them in a really strong position now.’

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Onana and Maguire rescue Manchester United with win against Copenhagen The Guardian says Manchester United had no other choice. They simply had to win – and not only to honour the memory of arguably their greatest player. This Champions League occasion was when the Old Trafford congregation came together to remember Sir Bobby Charlton, who passed away on Saturday. The club pitched the pre-match ceremony with sensitivity and class. After defeats in their opening two…

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Gabriel Jesus’s sublime goal and assist gives Arsenal vital victory over Sevilla The Guardian says In the end they were made to resist, but Arsenal are back on top. On a night when Mikel Arteta said his side were forced to play many games in one, controlling when it was called for, holding on when they had to and slipping in the knife when the opportunity arose, the very last kick and the chance to…

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Champions League roundup: Jude Bellingham strikes as Real beat Braga The Guardian says Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored in each half to secure a 2-1 win at Braga to keep their side three points clear at the top of Group C. The Spanish side dominated from the start and opened the scoring in the 16th minute, Vinícius Júnior putting the ball on a plate for Rodrygo to strike from close range. Real missed…

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Pep Guardiola criticises artificial surface Manchester City will play on in Berne The Guardian says Pep Guardiola has criticised the Wankdorf Stadion’s artificial surface, on which Manchester City will play against Young Boys in the Champions League on Wednesday, by stating it is “common sense” that grass is better for football. City usually train at home the day before European away matches, but because of the synthetic pitch in Berne they arrived here on Tuesday…

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