1. Owen and Shearer have Twitter spat
Ex-England and Newcastle United team-mates Michael Owen and Alan Shearer have been going head-to-head on Twitter today.
In his new book Owen has hit out at former club Newcastle by revealing that he hated the move and saw it as a “backward step”.
In response to a story saying Owen did not need to justify himself to Toon fans, Shearer tweeted: “Yes Michael, we thought that also, whilst on £120k a week..... @nufc.”
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Owen then replied: “Not sure you are as loyal to Newcastle as you make out mate. I distinctly remember you being inches away from signing for Liverpool after Sir Bobby Robson put you on the bench. You tried everything to get out.”
Popcorn at the ready, everyone...
2. Sancho: racism must stop or players will quit
Borussia Dortmund and England winger Jadon Sancho says players will quit football unless racism stops. This week Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku was the latest star to be subjected to racist abuse. Sancho, 19, said: “I personally think it just has to stop. No player wants to play football and having abuse like that. It puts the confidence down in the players and I feel the love of the sport will just go very soon if it doesn’t stop. Everyone should be happy and just do what they’re doing [with] no racist abuse.”
3. Coleman free to race
American sprinter Christian Coleman is free to compete at this month’s World Athletics Championships after missed tests charges against him were dropped by the US Anti-Doping Agency. Coleman, 23, is the fastest man in the world this year with a 100m time of 9.81 seconds.
4. Scots to name World Cup squad
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will announce his 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup today. BBC Sport reports that Stuart McInally will be named as Scotland’s captain for the tournament starting this month in Japan. Centres Huw Jones and Rory Hutchinson are among the squad’s major omissions.
5. Osaka out of US Open
Defending champion Naomi Osaka has been knocked out of the US Open after losing 7-5, 6-4 to Belinda Bencic in the last 16. In today’s quarter-final Britain’s Johanna Konta goes up against Elina Svitolina. Tomorrow’s last-eight matches are: Bencic vs. Donna Vekic, Serena Williams vs. Qiang Wang and Bianca Andreescu vs. Elise Mertens.
6. Rafa and Roger on US collision course
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have never played each other at the US Open grand slam but should they win their next two matches the rivals would set up a final showdown in New York. After beating 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 in the last 16, three-time US Open champion Nadal will play Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals tomorrow. Federer, a five-time champion in New York, faces Grigor Dimitrov. In the other men’s quarter-finals Stan Wawrinka plays Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini faces Gaël Monfils.
Djokovic vs. Nadal vs. Federer: how the GOATs compare
7. Ashes: Smith and Starc in, Khawaja out
Australia have named a 12-man squad for the fourth Ashes Test against England, which starts tomorrow at Old Trafford in Manchester. Star batsman Steve Smith returns in place of Usman Khawaja while pace bowler Mitchell Starc is also recalled. Marnus Labuschagne, who stood in for Smith at Headingley, keeps his place in the squad after hitting three successive half-centuries.
Ashes 4th Test preview: expect more theatre from Archer and Smith
8. Ham’s vegan burger chain launches
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has a new business venture - a meat-free burger chain called Neat Burger which opened its first outlet in London yesterday. Mercedes driver Hamilton, who is vegan, has collaborated with plant-based meat alternative company Beyond Meat. The new venture is described as the “first plant-based sustainable burger chain of its kind”.
F1: Hamilton talks race safety, vegan burgers and Leclerc’s greatness
9. £5.23bn spent on 1,897 summer deals
The 2019 summer transfer window is now closed for most of Europe and The Guardian reports that clubs in the top five European football leagues have completed 1,897 deals worth £5.23bn. One deal yesterday saw Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan leave for Italian side AS Roma on a season-long loan.
Premier League: Mkhitaryan, Duncan and Llorente secure moves to Italy
10. Neville wanted by world champions
The Daily Mail has an exclusive story today with news that England women’s boss Phil Neville is the shock No.1 target to be the next head coach of the United States national women’s team.
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