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Football

“He would be ripped to shreds” : Roy Keane believes Trent Alexander Arnold could be exposed in midfield

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“He would be ripped to shreds” : Roy Keane believes Trent Alexander Arnold could be exposed in midfield England start their 2024 UEFA Euro campaign against Serbia on Sunday evening. The runners-up of the previous edition are placed in Group C alongside the likes of Serbia, Slovenia and Denmark. Former Manchester United footballer Roy Keane believes that Trent Alexander Arnold could be really exploited in midfield as the tournament progresses. England manager Gareth Southgate is all set to utilize Trent Alexander Arnold in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice. Roy Keane believes that the Three Lions have some quality players in their side who can win you matches on any day. However, he believes that defending could be a problem against some quality teams. Nevertheless, he expects England to have a smooth passage into the knockouts. “England have got some brilliant individuals; four or five players who would walk into any team in this tournament,” Keane said, as quoted by the Sky Sports. “But it’s about getting the balance right. You have players who can go and win you matches but the problem is defending against better teams. I think they will be fine in the group. Trent will be fine [in midfield],” he added. Roy Keane has concerns about Liverpool right back playing in midfield Roy Keane opined that Trent Alexander Arnold could have a really tough time against one of the bigger teams as the tournament progresses. “But against really top teams, I think he will be found out. I think he would be ripped to shreds if he played against one of the better teams in central midfield. I don’t think he would be up to it,” said Keane. Gary Neville believes that Serbia would play deep in their opener against England. Hence, the Liverpool right back could bring the creativity to cut them wide open. The former Manchester United defender sees a rationale for Trent starting in midfield on Sunday, but he believes that the dynamics would change as the tournament progresses. “Serbia are going to play deep and England are going to need to find a way to cut them open. I can see why Trent works in this particular match. As the tournament moves on, I don’t think it will remain that way, I think other players will come into the fold,” said Neville. England lost to Italy on penalties in the last edition of the Euros. The Three Lions will be determined to finally win a Major trophy after making some huge progress under Gareth Southgate.

Carlos Sainz
Formula 1

“We didn’t want to have Carlos (Sainz) wait as he needs to take a decision” : Toto Wolff reveals why Mercedes did not offer a seat to the Ferrari driver

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“We didn’t want to have Carlos (Sainz) wait as he needs to take a decision” : Toto Wolff reveals why Mercedes did not offer a seat to the Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz has found himself in search of a seat for the next season, as Lewis Hamilton is all set to replace the Spaniard at Ferrari in 2025. Carlos Sainz has been linked with several teams over the past couple of months, which includes Red Bull and Mercedes. Red Bull offered a two-year contract extension to Sergio Perez which rules out that option. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has also made his decision on Carlos Sainz’s potential move to the team. The Austrian boss has decided against the move, as he wants to focus on the long term future of the team. F2 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli has been a leading contender for the vacant Mercedes seat. Toto Wolff has made it clear that the team’s goal is to reinvent themselves, and there is no better way to do it then to focus on the younger generation of drivers. “We just want to concentrate on Kimi, that is our future, young drivers,” Wolff told Sky Germany. “We want to commit to that, to young drivers and that is what we’ve told Carlos,” he added. Toto Wolff believes Carlos Sainz deserves a top seat Toto Wolff believes that Carlos Sainz deserves a top seat on the grid. The Spaniard claimed a stellar victory in Australia, just a couple of weeks after his appendicitis surgery. Carlos Sainz has been delivering consistent results, finishing on the podium four times this season. “I think first of all, Carlos deserves a top seat. But for us, we’ve embarked on a route now to say you know what we want to reinvent ourselves a bit going forward and Kimi Antonelli definitely plays a part in that.We haven’t taken a decision yet for next year, but we didn’t want to have Carlos wait as he needs to take a decision for himself. That’s just fair. He’s doing a super job,” said Wolff. Ferrari and Mercedes had contrasting weeks in Canada, as the latter managed to claim its first podium finish of the season. George Russell finished P3, whereas, his teammate Lewis Hamilton finished P4. This was a surely a step in the right direction for the Silver Arrows, who brought in a bunch of upgrades in Canada. On the other hand, both Ferrari drivers finished outside the points. This came as a real surprise, as Charles Leclerc claimed the race win in Monaco just a week earlier, with Carlos Sainz finishing P3. Also Read: “Thankfully, Ferrari had a shocker” : Christian Horner believes Red Bull escape serious damage as Sergio Perez’s woes continue

Charles Leclerc Imola GP
Formula 1

“Thankfully, Ferrari had a shocker” : Christian Horner believes Red Bull escape serious damage as Sergio Perez’s woes continue

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“Thankfully, Ferrari had a shocker” : Christian Horner believes Red Bull escape serious damage as Sergio Perez’s woes continue Sergio Perez endured another tough weekend in Canada, as the Red Bull driver failed to make it past the first qualifying session. The Mexican driver eventually had to retire his car for the second straight weekend, after a collision towards the Turn 6. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believes that the team mitigated their loss of points over the weekend, as both Ferrari drivers also finished outside the points. Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had a shocking weekend, after they grabbed two podium places including the race win in Monaco. Max Verstappen’s victory in Canada meant that Red Bull extended their lead in the Constructors championship to 49 points. However, Christian Horner believes that Sergio Perez will need to put up a good show in Barcelona next week, as the European leg of the season begins. “It was a horrible weekend for Checo and obviously, we picked up some damage. He’ll need to come back strong in Barcelona. Thankfully, Ferrari had a shocker and didn’t get any points so that let us off the hook somewhat, but we need both cars scoring,” Horner said to Sky Sports. “We got away with it today but we need Checo back up there where he was at the beginning of the year from Barcelona onwards,” he added. “He’s a tough racer and he’s a tough character” : Christian Horner on Sergio Perez Christian Horner has backed Sergio Perez to make a comeback amidst his struggles over the past three races. The Mexican driver suffered a horrible crash in Monaco, which was followed by another DNF in Canada. However, the British boss believes that Sergio Perez has a tough character, and has no doubt that he will bounce back in style next week. “What we see with Checo time and time again is that when you think he’s on the ropes, he bounces back,” Horner added. “He’s a tough racer and he’s a tough character and it hurts him more than anybody else.He’ll be determined to come back and show everybody the form we know he’s capable of and that he showed in the first four races of this year,” he added. Sergio Perez will need to start supporting his teammate in terms of points as Ferrari and McLaren have certainly closed the gap on Red Bull this season. Mercedes have also gotten back into their mix, with George Russell finishing P3 in Canada. Currently, Max Verstappen sits on top of the Drivers’ championship, as Sergio Perez sits on the fifth spot, after securing just 4 points in the last three races. Also Read: ‘We don’t understand why we were so slow’ : Charles Leclerc left shocked after poor Canadian GP qualifying

Is Novak Djokovic playing Laver Cup?
Tennis

“Let’s get healthy for next year,” Andy Roddick believes Novak Djokovic should end his season early amidst injury struggles

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“Let’s get healthy for next year,” Andy Roddick should end his season amidst injury struggles Novak Djokovic had to pull out of the 2024 French Open owing to his right knee injury. The Serbian seemed to have worsened his right knee issues during his five-set victory over Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round of the 2024 French Open. The Serbian has undergone a successful surgery, as he is yet to take a decision on rest of the summer. Former American tennis player Andy Roddick believes that the 37-year-old should end his season early, and come back in 2025. Andy Roddick stated that Novak Djokovic might not be able to be at his best if he decides to continue playing in the summer. He believes that the Serbian’s defensive game could be severely impacted, as he will not be able to move as swiftly on the court as he usually does. “Let’s get healthy for next year. It’s not just a case of saying my knee is okay in a month, because you have to train, and especially Novak. Your special sauce is being able to grind people down, stay in rallies, move people from side to side, and ask the question over and over again. “Novak needs his wheels. He needs his defensive skills. He is probably the best defensive player in the history of tennis, and with defense, you rely on your legs,” said Roddick, as quoted by the Forbes. Andy Roddick advises Novak Djokovic to withdraw before Wimbledon draw Novak Djokovic would have eyes set on the Paris Olympics, which takes place in the end of July. The Serbian is chasing an elusive gold medal, as he returns to Paris in what could be his final chance. However, it remains uncertain as to what his schedule for the remainder of the current season looks like, with Wimbledon commencing in a couple of weeks. Andy Roddick believes that Novak Djokovic would be risking a relapse of the injury if he continues playing this season. “Bet against the greats at your own peril but when someone is 37 and you start having surgery on your knees, it’s a problem. A torn meniscus in your knee is not a massive thing when you are 24, 25, 26, but the timing of this sucks. It’s the shortest time of the year for a turnaround. I’d say grass is his best surface right now and the worst surface for the guys he’s going against,” said Roddick. Novak Djokovic has been among his worst years on the tour, as he has failed to win a single title so far. The Serbian is also set to lose his world number one ranking to Jannik Sinner in next Monday’s latest ATP Rankings. The veteran won three Grand Slam titles last season, and made it to the finals of each Major. Hence, this year has been pretty ordinary for someone like Novak’s caliber. Also Read: “Does LeBron James play the NBA finals at three in the morning?” : John McEnroe slams French Open for Novak Djokovic’s schedule

Charles Leclerc Imola GP
Formula 1

‘We don’t understand why we were so slow’ : Charles Leclerc left shocked after poor Canadian GP qualifying

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‘We don’t understand why we were so slow’ : Charles Leclerc left shocked after poor Canadian GP qualifying In a shocking turn of events, both Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were eliminated from the Q2 session of the Canadian GP. As a result, Charles Leclerc will start from P11, whereas, Carlos Sainz will start P12 on the grid. This comes a real surprise given that Ferrari were so dominant in Monaco a couple of weeks earlier. Charles Leclerc claimed his first win of the season, and his first in his home race in Monaco. Moreover, Carlos Sainz secured a P3 finish as Ferrari were just 24 points behind Red Bull in the Constructors Championship heading into the weekend. However, Saturday’s qualifying session turned out to be horror show for both the drivers. Charles Leclerc fails to understand the reason for the underperformance, as Ferrari were way off the pace in dry conditions on Saturday. “Yes, I was (used tyres Q2). We used new tyres for the first run of Q2 and the new set for Q3. The big issue was we were so slow. Whenever there was dry conditions, we were slow. We don’t understand it yet since FP3 we were nowhere,” said Leclerc. “We will push and be back again” : Fred Vasseur after Canadian GP setback Ferrari chief Fred Vasseur stated that there were going to be several ups and downs during the season. However, they are going to keep pushing, and recover from the poor qualifying show at the Canadian GP. “We will push and be back again. Today was tough, you will have ups and downs. And we hope to have more ups and downs,” said Vasseur. On the contrary to what Charles Leclerc said, Fred Vasseur believes that Ferrari’s pace looked good on Saturday. He believes that the forecast for rain during the race could make things interesting, as he does not rule out Ferrari’s chances of securing points in Canada. “Tomorrow the weather forecast isn’t good. So, it could be a chaotic race and our race pace looked good,” he added. George Russell claimed the pole position, as the Mercedes driver and Max Verstappen both recorded the same lap time in Q3. The two McLaren drivers continued their fine form, as they start in the second row. Also Read: “We want to win the world championship” : Charles Leclerc ahead of the Canadian GP

George Russell, Max Verstappen
Formula 1

“I see no reason why we can’t win” : George Russell believes Mercedes have the quickest car after Canadian GP pole

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“I see no reason why we can’t win” : George Russell believes Mercedes have the quickest car after Canadian GP pole George Russell claimed his first pole position of the season, as he starts in the front row at the Canadian GP. The qualifying had no shortage of drama, as Max Verstappen and George Russell recorded the same lap times in Q3. However, since the Mercedes driver had set the time in his first stint, he grabbed the pole position. George Russell is optimistic about Mercedes’ chances this weekend, as he believes that the Silver Arrows have the best car on the grid. He believes that he can win the race, starting from pole position ahead of Max Verstappen. Mercedes have been impressive all weekend in Canada, as George Russell managed to grab Mercedes’ first pole position of the season. “I see no reason why we can’t win. We have the quickest car. We don’t understand the tyres because as we saw after FP3 when the tyres go, they go. So, we have to manage the pace,” said Russell. Lewis Hamilton did not have a great Q3 session, as he ended up on P7. Both Ferrari drivers were knocked out in Q2, whereas, Red Bull driver Sergio Perez went out as early as Q1. Lewis Hamilton congratulates teammate after securing pole position Before the start of the week, Lewis Hamilton stated that Mercedes have been moving in the right direction. The set of upgrades planned for Montreal have worked according to plan for Mercedes. Lewis Hamilton congratulated his teammate George Russell on securing a pole position. The Briton also heaped praise on his side for working on the upgrades which has reaped huge dividends in Canada. “The car has been feeling good all weekend. Congratulations to George, he has done a good job, and a good job from the team bringing the upgrades,” said Lewis. We have seen Mercedes falling behind the likes of Ferrari and McLaren this season, as they lie on the fourth spot in the Constructors championship. This week could be a great opportunity for the Silver Arrows to regain some ground, with their pace advantage. George Russell also credited his team’s effort to solve the issues they have been facing over the last couple of races. Mercedes have been failed to secure a podium finish this season, let alone a victory. This week could be the turning point in their season, as they look to catch up to the three front-runners. Also Read: “We want to win the world championship” : Charles Leclerc ahead of the Canadian GP

Virat Kohli
Cricket, T20 Cricket

T20 World Cup 2024, Group A Qualification scenario: What happens if Pakistan defeat India?

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T20 World Cup 2024, Group A Qualification scenario: What happens if Pakistan defeat India? USA scripted one of the biggest wins in the history of the T20I World Cup, as they defeated Pakistan in their second Group A encounter. Making their first appearance at the T20 World Cup, the hosts defeated the Asian giants in the Super Over to make it two wins from two matches. USA defeated Canada in their opening match, and followed it up with an incredible outing against the 2009 T20 World Champions. This result has left Group A wide open, as Pakistan could be looking at an early exit from the tournament if they lose to India on 9th June. India started off their campaign in style, defeating Ireland by eight wickets. The Blues would look to inflict further misery on their arch-rivals on Sunday, as a defeat could really hamper Pakistan’s chances of going into the Super Eight. What happens if Pakistan defeats India? Pakistan is among the most unpredictable sides in T20 Cricket. On their day, they can defeat any opponent, such is the quality in their squad. Hence, Pakistan could very much defeat India on Sunday, as the match will be played on a tricky New York pitch once again. Pakistan claimed their first ever World Cup win over India at the 2021 T20 World Cup, hammering their rivals by 10 wickets. If Babar Azam and Co. manage to claim a victory over India, the battle for the top two spots will go down to the last matchday. USA have claimed two victories already, and they are expected to win another match against Ireland. The hosts are expected to lose to India, hence they will end the group stage with three wins and one defeat. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s win over India on Sunday could bring them right back into the mix, as they should claim victories over Ireland and Canada in their final two matches. Meanwhile for Team India, they will certainly fancy their chances against USA and Canada. Hence, Pakistan, India and USA could all end up with six points, and the top two spots will be decided by net run rate. Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Three potential upsets in the first round

Novak Djokovic
Tennis

“Does LeBron James play the NBA finals at three in the morning?” : John McEnroe slams French Open for Novak Djokovic’s schedule

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“Does LeBron James play the NBA finals at three in the morning?” : John McEnroe slams French Open for Novak Djokovic’s schedule Former Grand Slam champion John McEnroe has slammed the French Open organizers for poor scheduling of Novak Djokovic’s matches. The Serbian was forced to withdraw from the tournament owing to issues with his right knee. However, John McEnroe believes that the Serbian’s issues could have worsened because of his lack of recovery time. Novak Djokovic prevailed in a five-set thriller against Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. The match only started at 10.30 pm, and continued late until almost 4 am. In just under 48 hours, he was back on court to face Francisco Cerundolo in the last 16. He was once again pushed to five sets by the Argentine, as he managed to prevail under pressure yet again. John McEnroe believes that Novak Djokovic’s existing injury issues were worsened by the poor scheduling from the French Open organizers. He believes that this is a huge shame for the tournament if he had to withdraw owing to lack of recovery time. “That’s not what is good for our sport; that’s a bad look. Does LeBron James play the NBA finals at three in the morning? There’s [been] a lot of rain, and they were trying to catch up, but they didn’t need to put Grigor Dimitrov on that court. That just put everything off,” said McEnroe on Eurosport. “I don’t know what they were thinking, other than they just wanted to get through. What did they think, that the other guy [Bergs] would just roll over and not try, or something? So the whole thing was, it’s a black eye for our sport, truthfully.” “It was a joke that they put him out at 10:30pm” : John McEnroe on Novak Djokovic’s scheduling at French Open John McEnroe believes that it was for a shame for the tournament to put someone as reputed as Novak Djokovic out on court at 10:30 pm. Rain impacted play at the French Open throughout the course of the first week, as the organizers were trying to catchup on the schedule. This led to a delay in Novak Djokovic’s third round match, as a couple of matches were moved to different courts. “You got the top seed, arguably the best player that ever lived getting hurt, and that contributed to it. Having to play till three in the morning, you can’t tell me that didn’t have an effect on his body, his system, or his recovery. What time did he go to bed? Seven. How much sleep did he get? You could go on and on, and this is not the first time,” said McEnroe. “He’s an all-time great, maybe the greatest, and it’s a shame. Obviously, we are all hoping that he plays [at Wimbledon]. It would be a shame if it exacerbated an already bad situation by having him withdraw,” he added. Novak Djokovic withdrew from the French Open a day before his quarterfinal battle against Casper Ruud. The Serbian has undergone a surgery already, and is bracing up for an action-packed summer ahead. It remains to be seen if the 24-time Grand Slam champion returns to action for the grass court season. He will certainly target a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, which takes place in the end of July. Also Read: “Olympics is way more important for Novak Djokovic” : Mats Wilander

Charles Leclerc
Formula 1

“We want to win the world championship” : Charles Leclerc ahead of the Canadian GP

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“We want to win the world championship” : Charles Leclerc ahead of the Canadian GP Charles Leclerc remains optimistic about Ferrari’s chances at the Canadian GP, a track which Red Bull have dominated over the past two seasons. The Ferrari driver claimed his first win of the season, and his first ever race win at home in Monaco a couple of weeks ago. This has brought Ferrari within touching distance of Red Bull in the Constructors Championship. Carlos Sainz secured a P3 finish in Monaco, whereas, Max Verstappen could finish only P6, and his teammate Sergio Perez had a DNF to his name. Although, team principal Fred Vasseur has shied away any talks about the championship battle so early in the season, Charles Leclerc has made it clear that the Italian giants are here to win. “As much as it felt really good in Monaco, now we need to turn the page and look at what’s ahead. We want to win the world championship, that’s the target, and for that we still have to do steps forward,” said Leclerc. Lando Norris expects a close battle at the Canadian GP Lando Norris claimed his first ever race win in Miami last month. This means that Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari have all won a race each in the last three rounds. Red Bull have not quite been able to maintain their dominance this season, as their rivals seem to have become much more competitive. “It’s very close between Ferrari, Red Bull and ourselves, we are all performing well,” said Norris. “One tenth of a difference could easily be two, three, four positions. So no idea if it will suit us, Ferrari or Red Bull.” Meanwhile, even Mercedes could pack a punch this weekend with the new upgrades kicking in. Lewis Hamilton stated in the presser that the team is on the right track, and the fans can expect a better result this weekend. The track should favor Red Bull given their speed on the straights, however, it will be interesting to see as to how the race pans out. Also Read: “I don’t think they’ll dominate” : Carlos Sainz claims Red Bull starting to feel pressure

Novak Djokovic
Tennis

“Olympics is way more important for Novak Djokovic” : Mats Wilander

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“Olympics is way more important for Novak Djokovic” : Mats Wilander Novak Djokovic was forced to withdraw from the 2024 French Open owing to his right knee injury. The Serbian managed to defeat Francisco Cerundolo in the last 16 of the French Open, however, he had to withdraw from the tournament before his last eight clash against Casper Ruud. This has put his participation in the grass court season in doubt. A huge summer lies ahead for the Serbian, who will also be eyeing an elusive gold medal at the Olympics. Eurosport expert Mats Wilander believes that Novak Djokovic should prioritize the Paris Olympics ahead of the grass court season. Mats Wilander also believes this is certainly the beginning of the end of the Big Three Era. Rafael Nadal is likely to retire by end of the season, whereas, Novak Djokovic has also started to struggle with his fair share of injuries. “It’s starting to become the end of an era. You watch Rafa [Nadal] play here and what he said afterwards, and he’s still keen to play more. We know Novak is keen to play for a couple more years. Hopefully, he can get back. Wimbledon is important, but the Olympics is way more important for Novak Djokovic. That’s what he has to get ready for,” said Wilander. “There’s no time to blame anyone” : Alex Corretja on Novak Djokovic’s injury crisis in Paris Novak Djokovic slide during the second set against Francisco Cerundolo in the last 16 seemed to have worsened his knee issues. However, Eurosport expert Alex Corretja believes that there is no time for anyone to play the blame game here, as the focus should be on Novak’s recovery. “Going into the grass-court season, the summer is going to be very important. I hope he’s only going to take some days to come back. We agree that having those back-to-back matches affected everything; his body, his knee. That slide that he did provoked it a little bit more. Now, there’s no time to blame anyone. It happens, it’s tennis. He needs to recover, and that’s the most important thing. I wish him the best of luck, always,” said Corretja. Novak Djokovic will undergo a surgery soon which will eventually decide his schedule for the rest of the season. The Serbian played two tight five-set matches at the 2024 French Open, which also took a toll on his physical health. He is all set to lose his world number one ranking to Jannik Sinner in revised ATP Rankings which will be published next Monday. Also Read: “Predictions are a little bit disrespectful” : Daniil Medvedev picks Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner over Novak Djokovic to win the 2024 French Open

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