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United close in on Kagawa after missing out on Hazard

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Manchester United's commercial director insisted last night that the club do not need to buy players from a continent in order to sell shirts there, as they put the loss of the £32m-rated Eden Hazard behind them and moved towards the €22m (£17m) acquisition of Shinji Kagawa from Borussia Dortmund.

Elmander back to lift Sweden

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The Sweden manager, Erik Hamren, included Johan Elmander in his Euro 2012 squad yesterday after receiving positive news about the striker's fitness. Elmander suffered a foot injury playing for Galatasary at the end of the Turkish club season but tests suggest the former Bolton Wanderers player will be fit in time for the team's first game against Ukraine on 11 June.

McShane called into Irish squad

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The Republic of Ireland's preparation for Euro 2012 might have gone a little more smoothly after they were thrown into injury turmoil this week. Several key members of the initial 23-man squad, including Shay Given and John O'Shea, have sustained niggles in a far from ideal run-up to the tournament.

Warner avoids prosecution over alleged Fifa bribery scandal

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Jack Warner will not face prosecution in his home country of Trinidad and Tobago, over the alleged Fifa bribery scandal.

Hope for excluded Cook as BOA queries Taekwondo selection

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The chances of Aaron Cook competing at the London Olympics increased yesterday when the British Olympic Association refused to accept British Taekwondo's initial selection.

Meat and drink for Murray who squashes Ito

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Andy Murray sometimes makes a meal of his opening matches at the French Open, but the 25-year-old dined at the fast-food counter at Roland Garros yesterday. Murray swept aside Japan's Tatsuma Ito 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in just an hour and 35 minutes to book a place in the second round against Finland's Jarkko Nieminen. Apart from a blip in the early stages of the second set, it was a good start to what has always been the world No 4's most challenging Grand Slam.

Schmeichel earns late Denmark call-up after Sorensen injury

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Kasper Schmeichel, the Leicester City goalkeeper, has been called up to Denmark's Euro 2012 squad after Stoke City's Thomas Sorensen was forced out by a back injury sustained in Saturday's friendly against Brazil.

Olympic Tube strike averted

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Prospects of an Olympic Tube strike have been averted after the Rail, Maritime and Transport union agreed an £850 bonus for Tube workers, in recognition of the pressures staff will face this summer.

Watson courts attention with yet another win on Paris clay

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

At this rate Heather Watson will be giving visitors guided tours of Roland Garros. The 20-year-old from Guernsey is getting to know her way round the venue for the French Open as well as anybody and yesterday took her record in two visits here to seven wins in nine matches in the qualifying competition and main draw. A 6-2, 6-4 victory over Russia's Elena Vesnina was Watson's best in a Grand Slam tournament and took her for the second year in succession into the second round, in which she will face Germany's Julia Goerges.

Olympians: They're fit and don't we just know it

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

On Monday morning, Jessica Ennis graced the covers of no fewer than five national newspapers, including this one. Over the weekend, she won a heptathlon in Austria, breaking the British points record set by Denise Lewis, and positioning herself at the front of the pack for a gold medal at the London Olympics in July. Breaking records may be an uncommon occurrence for Ennis, but appearing on a front page is not. Newspapers will use any excuse to publish her picture. She's also the face of Aviva, Powerade, BP, Adidas, Omega watches and Olay Essentials. She may be a gold medal contender, but it doesn't hurt that she's fit – and not just in the cardiovascular sense. London 2012, more than any previous Olympics, is being sold to us with sex.

Serena struck down by brave Razzano and umpire furore

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The noise in Court Philippe Chatrier sounded like thunder, but it was hard to tell whether it came from the thousands of celebrating French fans or the fall to earth of the greatest woman player of her era. Serena Williams' astonishing 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 defeat by France's Virginie Razzano in the first round of the French Open here last night was arguably the most extraordinary result in the women's game since Martina Hingis, the world No 1, lost to 16-year-old Jelena Dokic in the first round at Wimbledon 13 years ago.

Hodgson urges squad to attempt to 'enjoy' Euros

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Roy Hodgson held his first squad meeting with his full array of senior England players yesterday, telling them that they had "worked bloody hard" for their place at Euro 2012 and, in keeping with his low-key approach to the tournament, saying they should "go and enjoy" the tournament.

Marathon men: Are Spain running out of puff?

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

When history beckons even the tired come running: this summer, Spain can become the first team to win three back-to-back tournaments and, although fatigue and the absence of arguably their two most important players count against them, the benefits of picking a team from the two best club sides in the world and the incentive of being the first to do the "impossible treble" mean they remain the team to beat.

Rangers win court appeal

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Rangers have won their court battle against a Scottish Football Association transfer embargo, after a judge ruled yesterday that SFA disciplinary panel members had acted outside of their powers.

Rodgers veers towards taking Liverpool job

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Brendan Rodgers dramatically emerged as the No 1 contender to become Liverpool manager last night and, as the prospects of Roberto Martinez taking the position receded, there is a possibility that the Swansea City manager could be appointed by the end of the week.

United close in on Kagawa after missing Hazard

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Italian PM calls for Serie A suspension for next two years

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The Italian prime minister yesterday made a dramatic intervention in the match-fixing scandal that is gripping the country, suggesting that football should be suspended for at least two years in an attempt to properly rid the sport of corruption.

Bradford praise new heart project after Purtell scare

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Bradford have welcomed plans to implement a cardiac screening programme across all Super League clubs as centre Adrian Purtell continues his recovery from a heart attack.

Usain Bolt: The Bolt show runs on

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Usain Bolt has seen it all before: the madness of the media circus whenever he hits town, any town. The world's fastest man had three bodyguards in tow as he attempted to make his way into the press conference room in the basement of the Villa Pamphili Hotel in the western suburbs of the Eternal City yesterday. He needed them to clear a path through the paparazzi scrum.

Vladimir Smicer: How Neville can make switch from player to coach

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Vladimir Smicer thinks very little of offices. The former Liverpool midfielder is provided with one, of course, as an executive of a national team's football association should be; his is in central Prague in the labyrinth of corridors beyond the gates that mark the entrance to the Czech Republic FA.

England pair 'a match for Warne and McGrath'

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Perhaps it was only a matter of time but it always seemed a step too far. The accolades that have been justifiably bestowed on England's bowlers as batsman after batsman has been ambushed reached their zenith yesterday when the comparison that dared not speak its name was outed.

Main Sequence not the only focus as Derby expectancy grows for Lanigans

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Their second child is due within days, but David Lanigan yesterday reported his wife and secretary to be still diligently at her desk in the office of their new stables in Lambourn. Should things start happening sooner than anticipated, Amy knows just what to expect – above all on Saturday, when her husband will have no less a distraction than an unbeaten colt in the Investec Derby. "For our first-born, she drove herself to the hospital," Lanigan confessed. "I joined her there after third lot."

Tuilagi cleared for South Africa tour

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

The England coach, Stuart Lancaster, last night received a significant helping hand from the Rugby Football Union's disciplinary class when Manu Tuilagi, a clear first choice at outside centre, was cleared to play in the three-Test series against South Africa, which begins in Durban in 10 days' time.

Meyer backs his Boks to batter England

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Heyneke Meyer is very clear about his primary responsibility as coach of the South Africa rugby team – nothing but winning will suffice.

American wins executive role at City

Tue, 29 May 2012 23:00:01 GMT

Manchester City have named Derby County's American chief executive Tom Glick as the club's new chief commercial and operating officer.