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Sport shorts: F1 ace Lewis Hamilton still ‘right here fighting’, El Clasico postponed, England’s samurais are ready for the Wallabies
Ten things from the world of sport on Friday 18 October
Earlier this week the British driver posted on social media that he felt like “giving up on everything” and was just “shutting down completely”.
However, today he said on an Instagram story: “Good morning World. I just wanted to send a message of positivity to you, I hope your weeks [sic] been amazing and wishing you a great weekend.
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2. El Clasico called off
The Barcelona vs. Real Madrid El Clasico clash on 26 October has been postponed following protests and civil unrest in Catalonia.
There had been suggestions that the La Liga fixture could be switched to Real’s Bernabeu stadium, but both clubs disagreed. A new date of Wednesday 18 December has reportedly been proposed for the match to be played.
This week nine Catalan separatist leaders were jailed for between nine and 13 years for their role in an illegal referendum and a failed bid for independence, the Daily Mail reported.
The sentencings prompted violent protests in Barcelona.
3. Boxing Day EPL special on Amazon
For a football fan the festive period is the most wonderful time of the year - and even more so for Amazon Prime Video subscribers in 2019.
The streaming service will broadcast Premier League fixtures for the first time this season and on Boxing Day it will show nine matches live. Amazon will also show live coverage of one EPL match on Friday 27 December.
4. Tiger: Olympics is a big goal
He may be a 15-time major winner but Tiger Woods is eyeing even more golfing glory - the gold medal at next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The American said: “I don’t see myself having too many opportunities other than next year. Four years from now, at the next Olympic Games, I’ll be 48 years old. To be one of the top Americans at that age is going to be tough.”
5. 16 arrested in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian Interior Ministry has announced that 16 arrests have now been made following the racial abuse directed at England players in the Euro 2020 qualifying match on Monday.
6. Konta out for the season
British No.1 women’s tennis player Johanna Konta will not play again this season because of a knee issue. The BBC reports that the 28-year-old has decided to focus on rehabilitation for the rest of the year.
7. Mahomes suffers kneecap dislocation
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will undergo an MRI after dislocating his right kneecap in last night’s 30-6 victory over the Denver Broncos. On Twitter, the 24-year-old wrote: “Awesome team win! Love my brothers! Thank you for all the prayers! Everything looking good so far.”
8. Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked by Pakistan
Sarfaraz Ahmed has lost the Pakistan captaincy because of a “loss in form and confidence”. Azhar Ali has been appointed Pakistan’s Test captain while Babar Azam will skipper the Twenty20 team.
Ehsan Mani, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, said: “I want to congratulate Azhar Ali and Babar Azam on their elevations to the most coveted and prestigious jobs in cricket.
“It is a reward for their continued hard work in strive for excellence and I am sure they, like their predecessors, will make the country proud with their performance, leadership and sportsmanship.
“It has been a difficult decision to drop Sarfaraz Ahmed, who has performed well as a player and a leader. But, his loss in form and confidence is visible and, in the best interest of the team, it has been decided to leave him out and provide him the opportunity to reflect and regroup himself and try to reclaim his form away from international cricket.”
9. Do-or-die time for England’s samurais
England head coach Eddie Jones has warned Australia that he has a team of samurai warriors who will fight for their lives in tomorrow’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Speaking ahead of the last-eight clash against the Wallabies, Jones said: “It’s do-or-die time. Every time the samurais fought, one lived and one died. It will be the same on Saturday: someone is going to live and someone is going to die.
“That’s what the game is about and that’s the excitement of the game. You get the best eight teams, all playing for their lives.
“The great thing about the World Cup is that every game is a knockout. No one has won a World Cup after losing a game and there’s a reason for that. That’s what I enjoy so much about a World Cup.”
The Daily Mirror has a world picture exclusive today that shows Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba in conversation with Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane in Dubai.
The 26-year-old has been regularly linked with a move to the Spanish giants, so the picture of him chatting with fellow Frenchman Zidane will no doubt fuel fresh speculation over his future at Old Trafford and “set tongues wagging again”.
When asked about the photo United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “Here we go with the picture! I’ve not heard Paul Pogba say he doesn’t want to be here. Paul wants to stay here and play well.
“Then there is a picture and being at Manchester United you do get pictures and speculation - but I don’t have any problem with that at all.”
