June 13, 2021 thesundaytimes.co.

uk/sport

FRIEDEMANN VOGEL; JONATHAN NACKSTRAND

Saved!
Eriksen collapses on
pitch but recovering
after swift response from
referee, team-mates and
medical teams
Pages 2&3

Dane awake in hospital

and is ‘doing well’
Molly Hudson from medics, and was surrounded by
visibly distressed team-mates who
Denmark’s Group B match against created a shield around him to
Finland at the European obstruct the scene from television
Championships was suspended last cameras. Eriksen’s wife, Sabrina Kvist
night after their midfielder, Christian Jensen, was seen in tears and came
Eriksen, collapsed on the pitch late in down from the stands on to the pitch,
the first half in Copenhagen. The where she was comforted by the
match restarted later on the request Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper
of both sets of players after Eriksen Schmeichel and Simon Kjaer, the
was stabilised and taken to hospital. Denmark captain.
A throw-in was taken by Thomas The match at the Parken Stadium
Delaney towards Eriksen, the Inter was suspended soon after and Taylor
Milan and former Tottenham signalled for players to return to the
Hotspur midfielder, who fell in the dressing rooms. The Denmark
43rd minute as the ball came towards manager Kasper Hjulmand entered
him. Anthony Taylor, the English the pitch to check on Eriksen’s
referee officiating his first match at a condition and the mental state of his
major international tournament, and team-mates.
players quickly signalled to the bench Finland’s players left the pitch,
for medical assistance for the 29- some of them in tears, while many of
year-old, and moved him into the the Denmark players remained
recovery position. around Eriksen until temporary
Eriksen received CPR on the pitch Continued on page 2 →
2 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Football Euro 2020

ERIKSEN ‘STABLE’ AFTER

Christian is awake,
his condition
remains stable. He
LEWIN IMPRESSED
BY SWIFT RESPONSE
remains Gary Lewin, the former Arsenal
hospitalised at and England physiotherapist, was
among those who were
Rigshospitalet for impressed by the quick and
examinations. highly professional response of
the players and the medical team
after Christian Eriksen collapsed
“The medical team will have
→ Continued from page 1 gone into what we call the
shields were erected around him. ‘emergency action plan’. Every
BBC commentary and footage team and stadium has an action
continued for some time while plan,” Lewin said. “The medical
Eriksen was stricken, showing the team will have tried to stabilise
distressing scenes in detail, including him on the pitch.
those of Eriksen’s wife. The pundit “I have to commend the
Ian Wright tweeted “cut to the players, the way they protected
studio ffs”. him and stood around him, I
Eriksen was pictured conscious as thought was incredible. It showed
he was taken away on a stretcher and amazing team spirit. Once the
reports suggested he raised his hand team have stabilised him, they
as he was carried off. would have got him into the
“Following the medical emergency cardiac position. I think that’s
involving Denmark’s player Christian obviously where he is now. I
Eriksen, a crisis meeting has taken believe the early reports are he is
place with both teams and match conscious, so let’s cross our
officials… the player has been fingers.
transferred to the hospital and has “The picture of him leaving the
been stabilised,” a Uefa spokesman ground with oxygen, that’s
said. The Danish FA also confirmed another sign that whatever
that Eriksen had been taken to a happened, the action taken by the
nearby hospital for examination. medical team was very, very quick
Supporters went from shocked and very, very efficient. All I can
silence, to showing their support for say is what an amazing job they all
Eriksen, and were asked to remain in did.”
the stadium. Travelling Finnish fans, On Twitter a doctor, Sadi Raza
of which there were about 3,000, MD, suggested that Eriksen went
chanted “Christian” with Danish fans into ventricular tachycardia
answering “Eriksen”. They greeted fibrillation, a “fast, irregular and
the news from the stadium highly unorganized electrical
announcer that Eriksen was stable rhythm of the heart that precedes
and awake with a roar. a cardiac arrest”.
Eriksen has more than 100 caps
and is one of Denmark’s star players.
He began his career at Ajax and

Finland’s
played for seven years at Tottenham. by the second half.” Last night’s other
He moved to InterMilan in January Group B game, between Belgium and MUAMBA TWEETS DENMARK
0
2020 and helped them to win Serie A Russia, went ahead with Eriksen’s
HIS SUPPORT
1
this year. Inter team-mate Romelu Lukaku and FINLAND
“I can’t believe what we are
witnessing. Football goes out of the
window,” said Alex Scott, the BBC
his former Spurs team-mates Toby
Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen
involved. Among
historic Pohjanpalo 59

victory is
Molly Hudson
pundit. “You are thinking about his An FA statement read: “Our the first
family and the players. I picked up thoughts are with Christian and people to
the phone and texted my mother to family.” England’s press conference, respond to Tournament debutants Finland

merely a
say I love her. It’s a reminder of how where former Spurs team-mate of Eriksen’s sealed a surprise victory over
quickly things can change.” Eriksen, Harry Kane, was due to collapse was Fabrice Muamba, Denmark in a match overshadowed
The game was goalless when play speak, was cancelled. someone who realised, perhaps by the collapse of the Denmark
was stopped. The Denmark FA Messages in support included one more than anyone, the midfielder Christian Eriksen.
released a statement at 7pm,
announcing that it would restart after
players had been reassured of
Eriksen’s condition.
from Fabrice Muamba, who suffered
a cardiac arrest on the pitch in a
match while playing for Bolton
Wanderers against Tottenham in
seriousness of the situation.
Muamba, who tweeted “Please
God” within minutes of Eriksen
falling to the ground, suffered a
footnote The match, having been
suspended at the end of the first
half, resumed after a delay of
almost two hours, at the
“Christian is awake, his condition 2012, and recovered after his heart cardiac arrest and collapsed request of both sets of
remains stable. He remains stopped for 78 minutes. while playing for Bolton players. Denmark
hospitalised at Rigshospitalet for The Uefa president Aleksander Wanderers against Tottenham struggled to recover
examinations. The match against Čeferin said: “Moments like this put Hotspur in March, 2012, aged and dropped what
Finland will be played. This happens everything in life into perspective. I 23. could be crucial
after the players have been wish Christian a full and speedy After receiving lengthy points in group B.
confirmed that Christian is okay.” recovery and pray his family has attention on the pitch Muamba On a night when
“Following the request made by strength and faith. The unity of the was taken to a specialist unit at a the football family
players, Uefa has agreed to restart football family is so strong and he and London hospital. His heart came together to
the match between Denmark and his family carry with them the good stopped beating for 78 minutes support Denmark and
Finland,” the governing body said. wishes and prayers of everyone. I but he recovered. In August that Eriksen, the result felt
“The last five minutes of the first half heard of fans of both teams chanting year he retired from professional Scorer Pohjanpalo largely irrelevant. But,
will be played, there will then be a his name. Football is beautiful and football. urges Finnish fans to with Eriksen stable in
five-minute half-time break followed Christian plays it beautifully.” curb the celebrations hospital, both teams
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 3

COLLAPSING ON PITCH FRIEDEMANN VOGEL; MARTIN MEISSNER

Henry Winter
Uefa has duty to examine
xamine
broader issues of stars
pushing themselvesves to
cenes
limit after awful scenes
So many thoughts and fears rushed Eriksen’s partner. Leave her alone.
through the mind when watching Show some respect. Media
with horror the pictures of moralising about other media is
Christian Eriksen’s collapse during never a good or particularly
Denmark’s Euro 2020 game against sustainable look but the judgment
Finland in Copenhagen. Football was wrong by the directors here.
is wonderful, it’s entertainment The enormity of the story was
and an escape, especially in the already established without
time of a pandemic, but it’s only gratuitous images of a distressed
a sport. To see a human being loved one. Back in the BBC studio,
on a football field in such grave Gary Lineker handled the story with
danger, requiring CPR, rightly the requisite dignity, empathy and
commanding countless prayers, authority. As an aside, this was a
places a pastime, albeit a reminder of the importance of
passionately followed one, having an experienced broadcaster
in its proper perspective. at the helm, not the latest bright
Immediately the love, support young thing. The look in Lineker’s
and prayers for Eriksen poured eyes alone captured what every
forth. A cerebral and technical viewer was feeling. Please God, let
force for Inter Milan after shining him be OK.
with Tottenham Hotspur, Ajax and All life is precious but for those
Odense, the midfielder is admired who love football, who love those
widely as a special footballing who bring joy through football,
talent, and also a low-key and Eriksen’s collapse triggered a flood
highly likeable man. Soon the relief of concern and compassion and
flowed when the DBU, the Danish love. Euro 2020 was supposed to be
FA, reported that Eriksen was the antidote to the year of Covid,
awake and stabilised, Facetiming
his team-mates, the prayers
answered. The rapid response of Because so many
the referee, Anthony Taylor, and
the swift attention of medical staff
players are so well
at the Parken Stadion cannot be paid it can be
praised enough.
But questions still need
forgotten they are
put their emotions aside to return in Finland goalkeeper leaping to tip his possession and had a golden chance answering. Elite players such flesh and blood
front of a vocal, supportive crowd. header over the bar. to equalise after Yussuf Poulsen went as Eriksen are so extensively
Denmark did begin with genuine Finland were eager to close down down under minimal contact in the examined, so what brought about the moment when the party started
hopes of going far into the their opponents but were often area, Hojbjerg stepping up to take the this collapse? This will clearly, and again. Eriksen represents the joy of
competition. The side’s spine clumsy in their defending and the penalty. Penalties are usually a nerve- rightly, be a private discussion football, let alone the humility of a
includes the Leicester City first half was punctuated by jangling event but this one felt as between Eriksen and the medical man who thought nothing of taking
goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, stoppages and fouls, including a though it held even more significance staff of Denmark and Inter. the Tube while at Spurs.
the Chelsea defender Andreas yellow card for Robin Lod, the after the earlier events, and Hojbjerg Any conjecture on cause To love football is to love Eriksen.
Christensen, the Tottenham Hotspur Finland midfielder, in the opening never looked confident as he strode is presumptuous, let alone He’s all about technique, so clever,
midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and three minutes, before Eriksen’s up to the ball and fired a tame effort premature. But, generally, football both with still ball and moving.
Eriksen, of Inter Milan, providing collapse halted the game. low to the left of Hradecky. The needs to heed, examine and learn Eriksen has always been about
not only familiar names but a mix of The early exchanges of the final Tottenham midfielder briefly from this distressing situation. the appliance of his very special
experience and quality. five minutes of the first half and dropped to his knees, face into the Players constantly exert themselves science with a work ethic not
Finland’s hopes largely centred opening of the second after the turf as he saw his effort saved. to the point of exhaustion, pushing always properly appreciated.
around the Norwich City striker match resumed were understandably As Taylor blew his whistle to their bodies to the limit, and the During Spurs’ run to the final of the
Teemu Pukki, who scored ten of low-key, as the players eased eventually signal full-time there were game’s custodians have a duty to Champions League in 2019, sports
their 16 goals in qualifying. It was in themselves back in after the celebrations on the pitch for safeguard their health. scientists tracked his movement,
Denmark that Pukki developed his prolonged stoppage, before Finland Finland’s victory, but at the forefront Because so many players are and nobody came close in distance
craft, scoring 72 goals in 164 games burst into life. Threatening of everyone’s mind was a celebration so well paid, and so frequently covered: 12.28km in a game, with
for Brondby. throughout the match from aerial of Eriksen’s health. perceived as super-human, it can Dele Alli next on 12.02.
The long throw of Daniel positions, Finland’s goal came from a be forgotten they are flesh and When there was talk of Eriksen
O’Shaughnessy — who was also header from Joel Pohjanpalo. Star man: Joel Pohjanpalo (Finland) blood, vulnerable to the same leaving Spurs, a fan lamented
Denmark (4-3-3): K Schmeichel 6 – D Wass 6 (J
eligible to play for Ireland, through A cross from the left-wing back Stryger Larsen 75 7), S Kjaer 7 (J Vestergaard 63 physical and emotional vicissitudes the looming loss to Inter of their
his father — was an early feature, Jere Uronen found the forward, who 6), A Christensen 7, J Maehle 6 – C Eriksen 7 (M as the rest of us. They’re human. “most creative player since Glenn
looking to find Pukki. But soon headed down. The ball bounced just Jensen 43 7), P-E Hojbjerg 6, T Delaney 7 (A That is why, when Uefa investigates Hoddle”.
Cornelius 76 6) – Y Poulsen 7, J Wind 6 (A Skov
Finland’s back three had turned into in front of Schmeichel, who allowed Olsen 63 7), M Braithwaite 6
what occurred, it needs to look into Eriksen’s collapse brought a
a back five, as they began to bank up the ball to slip through his gloves — Finland (3-5-2): L Hradecky 8 – J Toivio 7, P broader issues such as the stress on wave of love — for a player who
to protect their goal. on another day he may have Arajuuri 7, D O’Shaughnessy 7 – J Raitala 7 (S a player’s body, especially in a year represents the sport so well and,
Denmark’s first shot of note came expected to do better. Pohjanpalo’s Vaisanen 90, 7), R Lod 6, T Sparv 7 (R Schuller 76 without a proper pre-season. most importantly, for a human
7), G Kamara 7, J Uronen 8 – J Pohjanpalo 8 (M
from the 22-year-old striker Jonas goal was historic for his country, but Forss 84 7), T Pukki 8 (J Kauko 76 7) There is so much to reflect on. being, a family man. Everyone,
Wind, who tested Lukas Hradecky celebrations were muted. Booked Lod, Sparv There is some anger at television everyone, wishes him the speediest
from range, before Hojbjerg had the Denmark continued to control Referee: Anthony Taylor intrusion into the fear on the face of and fullest of recoveries.
4 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Football

WALES RESCUE
UNLIKELY POINT
GARY
JACOB
6 6
8
Ward
7
4-1-4-1

6
might have been taken off. He curled a
dangerous free kick across the face of
goal and was justified in throwing his
hands down in frustration when no
1 1
WALES SWITZERLAND
C Roberts Mepham Rodon B Davies one gambled to try to meet it. But that
Moore 74 Embolo 49
6
was it.

B
Baku Morrell Aaron Ramsey struggled to get joy
going forward. Dan James showed his
6 6
y now Wales should know 6 7 pace could frighten defenders as he
Allen Ramsey
the futility of excluding Bale James pushed the ball beyond Nico Elvedi
8
Kieffer Moore. The 6ft 5in and crossed for Moore to force Yann
Moore
striker has been on the Sommer into an excellent tip over.
periphery since Robert 7 8 James also breezed past Fabian Schär,
Seferovic Embolo
Page took temporary who sensibly took a booking for Moore heads in
charge and, not for the first 6 blocking the winger as Wales broke. Wales’s equaliser
Shaqiri
time, he showed his ability But at the back there are questions in Baku to earn a
6 7 7 6
to make an impact, ensuring that over Chris Mepham and Joe Rodon, point against
Rodriguez Freuler Xhaka Mbabu
Wales did not make a losing start to who were exposed by the pace and Switzerland
their group A campaign. 7 7 6 power of Embolo. Page went berserk
The Cardiff City target man was Akanji Schär Elvedi when Haris Seferovic ghosted past
thrown into the qualifying campaign 3-4-1-2
7
Ramsey and skied over the bar, and
and his goals helped Wales to reach Sommer the same player was guilty of a similar
this tournament. A surprise starter miss from closer range after a layoff
here in Baku, he repaid Page’s faith, Star man Danny Ward (Wales). from Embolo.
heading home an equaliser 16 min- Substitutions: Wales D Brooks (for James 75), Switzerland arrived having won six
E Ampadu (for Ramsey 90+3). Booked Moore.
utes from time that was a sucker- Switzerland D Zakaria 6 (for Shaqiri 66), games on the spin and they domi-
punch for Switzerland, who domi- M Gavranović (for Seferovic 84). Booked Schär, nated midfield and possession. Xher-
nated possession and rued missed Mbabu. dan Shaqiri had either scored or
Referee C Turpin (Fr). Attendance 8,782.
chances. The impressive Breel assisted nearly half of Switzerland’s
Embolo headed them into the lead goals at tournaments since 2014 and
after the interval and they were he was keen to offer a reminder of his
denied by Danny Ward’s fingertip showed what he could do as he pulled talents to potential suitors, having

Brave and
saves and VAR chalking off Mario Gav- off at a short corner to meet Joe become a bit-part player at Liverpool.
ranovic’s flick with five minutes left. Morrell’s cross and score a fourth He dropped deep to find space and to IAN
Relief washed through the ranks of header among his six goals for his evade the attention of Joe Allen, who HAWKEY

bandaged
those in red and on they go, pulling country. “He has been terrific, he shadowed his former Stoke City team-
unlikely results out of the bag. Wales poses a threat, not just because of his mate and twice lost him early.
players and staff were locked arm-in- presence,” Page said. “He has a great Shaqiri’s near-post corners caused
arm in the centre circle at the end touch, his link-up play is very good havoc and there were warnings before
before they went across to salute
about 80 fans behind one goal,
perhaps a quarter of the supporters
and he is a willing runner.
“He deserved his goal. Coming into
the friendlies he did not need
they scored from a set piece. Schär got
in front of Moore and his back flick
was kept out by Ward.
Moore puts Gareth Bale got the run of the shaded
side of the pitch for the hottest bit of
Baku’s early evening, one small
who have made the 3,000-mile trip.
Wales were the lowest-scoring final-
ists in qualifying, tied with North Mac-
minutes, he has played week in, week
out in the Championship so we had
to protect him, and he has given us
Shaqiri struck a deeper ball after
the restart and Embolo rose above
Connor Roberts to steer a header into
star Bale in blessing in the fierce heat. What he
did not have enough of, however,
was the ball. He is the captain of a

the shade
edonia, and since taking temporary the rewards.” the corner. It was reward for the Swiss Wales team who know their
charge in November Page has used a Wales played poorly for large parts pressure and Embolo nearly fash- strengths, who claimed a priceless
false nine in key games, at the expense here and they invited pressure by ioned a second goal as he dribbled his point yesterday because they stuck to
of Moore. In Page’s eight previous being so deep. Gareth Bale was quiet, way past defenders and teed up Kevin their belief in those strengths, but
matches in charge, Moore only started and had he been any other player he Mbabu, who scuffed across goal. they will hope that their supply lines
in friendlies against the USA and Switzerland were on top but their
Wales talisman took a to the front are not as constricted in

2017
Mexico. And in last week’s warm-up decision to withdraw Shaqiri back- their next contest, against Turkey.
against Albania, Page gave Moore — Wales ‘keeper fired when Moore scored. Embolo back seat as Cardiff Their heroes against Switzerland
who came off the bench — a telling-off Danny Ward headed wide before Gavranovic emerged from the shaded area of a
for not working the channels. has not played turned home and thought he had won City striker produced a squad where the limelight shines
Moore, wearing a red bandage to
cover a head injury suffered early on,
a league game it, but Wales survived after an agonis-
ing wait for VAR to save them.
towering performance principally on the captain. Danny
Ward, whose saves preserved the
since 2017

EURO GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D

2020 P W D L Pts
Belgium
P
1
W
1
D
0
L
0
Pts
3 Austria
P
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
Pts
0 Croatia
P
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
Pts
0
RESULTS Italy
Wales
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
3
1 Finland 1 1 0 0 3 Holland 0 0 0 0 0 Czech Republic 0 0 0 0 0
Switzerland 1 0 1 0 1 Denmark 1 0 0 1 0 North Macedonia 0 0 0 0 0 England 0 0 0 0 0
Turkey 1 0 0 1 0 Russia 1 0 0 1 0 Ukraine 0 0 0 0 0 Scotland 0 0 0 0 0
FIXTURES FIXTURES
FIXTURES FIXTURES Today Austria v N Macedonia; Today England v Croatia. Tomorrow
Wednesday Turkey v Wales; Italy v Wednesday Finland v Russia. Holland v Ukraine. Thursday Scotland v C Republic. Friday
Switzerland. Thursday Denmark v Belgium. Ukraine v N Macedonia; Holland v Croatia v C Republic; England v
June 20 Italy v Wales; Switzerland June 21 Finland v Belgium; Russia v Austria. June 21 Ukraine v Austria; Scotland. June 22 C Republic v
v Turkey. Denmark. N Macedonia v Holland. England; Croatia v Scotland.
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 5

TOLGA BOZOGLU

PLAYER RATINGS by Gary Jacob

WALES GARETH
BALE
6/10
(4-1-4-1) Did not have the impact he made in the
opening game of the Euros five years ago.
DANNY 8/10 Strangely subdued, apart from a brilliant free-
WARD kick that evaded his team-mates.
Got nod over Wayne Hennessey in March and
continues to impress. Pulled off a smart early
JOE 6/10
stop to deny Fabian Schär and fingertip saves MORRELL
from Breel Embolo and Mario Gavranović. Nice cross to claim an assist for the equaliser
but mostly struggled against superior
CONNOR 6/10 opponents, which is no surprise when he
ROBERTS hardly plays for Luton Town in the second tier.
Made an important intervention to deny
Ricardo Rodríguez but allowed Embolo to
AARON 6/10
climb above him to score and was rarely able RAMSEY
to use his strength of getting forward. Spent most of his time backtracking to help
the midfield. Delivered one excellent cross
CHRIS 6/10 but perhaps the biggest plus was him playing
MEPHAM a full match after recent fitness struggles.
Found it tough going in the step up in class
against Haris Seferović and Embolo. Was
DAN 7/10
lucky not to concede a penalty when he JAMES
grabbed the shirt of the latter. Pace and direct running unsettled Switzerland
and forced Schär into a block. Gave his
JOE 7/10 manager a surprised look when substituted,
RODON but Robert Page said thatt he looked tired.
t
Embolo breezed past the Tottenham Hotspur
centre-back too easily after the break,
KIEFFER 8/10
winning the corner that led to the goal, but MOORE
otherwise Rodon acquitted himself well. Wales look a better balanced side with him
and Page saw sense in giving the big man
BEN 7/10 from Cardiff City the nod. He justified the
DAVIES selection with a superb headed goal.
The experienced Spurs left-back showed his
steadying influence and made a number of
TOTAL

73/110
clearances, but was also dispossessed by
Kevin Mbabu in a dangerous position.

JOE 6/10
ALLEN
Was told to shadow Xherdan Shaqiri and lost
his former Liverpool team-mate twice early Substitutes
on. He did not have the legs to stop the Wales David Brooks had little time to make an impact;
midfield being overrun. Ethan Ampadu came on in stoppage time.

draw, has scarcely experienced first- James, cynically. Bale’s free kick was most of his colleagues in the Wales palming the effort over the crossbar.
team football lately at Leicester City; It was fanciful arched threateningly in the Swiss squad. Into his twenties, Moore was When the circumstances invited
Kieffer Moore was a long way from
international contention when Wales
to imagine Bale penalty area. There was no Welsh
head on it.
still combining his football with part-
time work as a lifeguard and personal
another Moore leap, from Bale and
then Aaron Ramsey’s expertly
charged through the previous entering these By that time, the most sought trainer. He made his debut for Wales delivered free kicks, the target
European Championship five years
ago. The rise of Moore, the target
Euros at full, Welsh head was wrapped in
its bandage, Moore having
at 27, and his club career has taken
off on the back of his Welsh success.
man would be well marshalled by
Swiss sentries.
man born in Torquay, is its own majestic returned from medical He scored 20 Sky Bet For the equaliser, he slipped their
fairytale, and this was the story’s best checks to the action Championship goals this season for handcuffs, his movement crafty,
chapter so far. He even looked like a gallop after a painful collision Cardiff City, whom he joined in 2020, his header, served by Joe Morrell,
warrior icon, with a wide bandage with Kevin Mbabu. a higher return than anywhere else brilliantly steered past Sommer.
across his head, like some modern- Blood had been in his picaresque journey, from Truro Wales are entitled to regard him as
day Mervyn Davies. his forehead, for his first drawn, and City to Wigan Athletic. their rescuer. He was thrilled with his
As for Bale, he kept some of his opportunity poised over a Moore would He scored his sixth, and most goal. “This a big occasion, and I’ve
powder dry, and after a year of club dead ball, they had begun to be forgiven if valuable, international goal in his loved every minute of it,” Moore said,
cameos, rather than a season spent wheeze for being so starved of painful memories had been 17th cap. That he had started in of his major-tournament debut.
collecting the serial trophies and possession. That free kick, on stirred too. He has suffered a Robert Page’s XI, ahead of more “He’s been terrific at international
plaudits that used to be his standard, the half-hour, had been awarded fracture to his skull in the obviously mobile alternatives, had and club level,” Page said, keen to
it would be fanciful to imagine thanks to their most dashing recent past — 2½ years ago, been an issue for mild debate. Moore point out there is more to Moore
him entering these Euros at full, counterattack, a Daniel James playing for Barnsley. would endure some frustrations than just that powerful, bandaged
majestic gallop. sprint that ended with Fabian Schär But this is a brave footballer, through the first hour. When Wales forehead. “He poses a threat, and not
The flames of Wales’s fire licked reconciled to losing the duel. The who cherishes second had played effectively to 6ft 5in just because of his presence.
highest in the first ten minutes. By Newcastle United defender tripped chances. His journey up the Moore’s obvious fortes, via James’s “He’s got a great touch and his
the time Bale crossed to the sunny professional game began fine first-half cross, they created their link-up play is good. He thoroughly
side of the pitch, beads of sweat on Bale failed to spark Wales in Baku at a lower rung than best chance of a lead, Yann Sommer deserved his goal.”

GROUP E GROUP F KNOCKOUT STAGE

P W D L Pts P W D L Pts ROUND OF 16 June 28 QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS
Poland 0 0 0 0 0 France 0 0 0 0 0 June 26 5. 2nd in Group D July 2 July 6
Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 Germany 0 0 0 0 0 1. 2nd in Group A v 2nd in Group E 1. Winner R16 match 6 1. Winner QF2
Spain 0 0 0 0 0 Hungary 0 0 0 0 0 v 2nd in Group B 6. 1st in Group F v Winner R16 match 5 v Winner QF1
2. 1st in Group A v 3rd in Groups A/B/C 2. Winner R16 match 4
Sweden 0 0 0 0 0 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0
v 2nd in Group C v Winner R16 match 2 July 7
FIXTURES FIXTURES June 29 2. Winner QF4
Tomorrow Poland v Slovakia; Spain Tuesday Hungary v Portugal; June 27 7. 1st in Group D July 3 v Winner QF3
v Sweden. Friday Sweden v France v Germany. Saturday 3. 1st in Group C v 2nd in Group F 3. Winner R16 match 3
Slovakia. Saturday Spain v Poland. Hungary v France; Portugal v v 3rd in Groups D/E/F 8. 1st in Group E v Winner R16 match 1 FINAL
June 23 Sweden v Poland; Slovakia Germany. June 23 Germany v 4. 1st in Group B v 3rd in Groups A/B/C/D 4. Winner R16 match 8 July 6
v Spain Hungary; Portugal v France. v 3rd in Groups A/D/E/F v Winner R16 match 7 Winner SF1 v Winner SF2
6 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Football Euro 2020

KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

LUKAKU’S TRIBUTE TO ERIKSEN

Lukaku scores his

and Belgium’s
opening goal last
night, before, far
right, paying
tribute to his
stricken club
colleague,
Christian Eriksen

After scoring his side’s opening goal against

Russia, the Belgian striker heads straight to the
corner and one of the television cameras.

He then leans into the lens and can be heard

saying: “Chris, Chris, I love you!”. He and the Dane
are team-mates at Italian champions Inter Milan.

Lukaku helps
out of the starting line-up, there was a Timothy Castagne, who had left the
somewhat unfamiliar look to the most 6 field after a clash of heads. The substi-
experienced team at the Euros, with 3-4-3 tute kept his head well to stroke the
Courtois
rare tournament starts for Leander 7 7 6 ball into the net from close range,
Dendoncker in midfield and Thorgan Alderweireld Boyata Vertonghen leaving Belgium two goals up just after
Hazard, brother of the Belgium cap- the half-hour mark.

Belgium live
tain, Eden. The Real Madrid man was 6 7 8 7
There was more bad news for Rus-
on the bench and the captain’s arm- Castagne Dendoncker Tielemans T Hazard sia as the former Chelsea man Zhirkov
band was worn by Christian Eriksen’s hobbled off to be replaced by Vyache-
former Tottenham Hotspur team- slav Karavaev minutes from half-time.
6 9 7
mate Jan Vertonghen. Mertens Lukaku Carrasco
The Russians had made it far too
There were suggestions from the easy for Belgium, who nonetheless

up to their
5
Belgium camp that they were preoc- looked shaky when the ball was
Dzyuba
cupied by what had happened on the crossed into the box. Perhaps frus-
pitch in Copenhagen hours earlier, 5 4 5 trated by his lack of opportunities,
Golovin Kuzyaev Zobnin
but it was the Russians who were Russia’s giant centre forward and
quickly punished for a lack of concen- 5 5 leading goalscorer, Artem Dzyuba,
Ozdoev Barinov

top billing
tration. The home side had made a instead tried to knock Belgium out of
bright start and there appeared little 4 6 4 5 their stride by barging into Verton-
Zhirkov Dzhikiya Semenov Fernandes
danger when Dries Mertens’s lofted ghen early in the second half and
ball into the Russian penalty area went 4-2-3-1
5
sending the Benfica player flying.
right into the path of Andrei Semenov, Shunin A successful Russian press at the
but the centre half made a mess of his start of the second half did expose
attempt to control the ball. Star man Romelu Lukaku (Belgium). some brittleness in Belgium’s defence
As a result, it landed nicely into the Substitutions: Belgium T Meunier 7 (for Castagne but the Russians ran out of steam
27), E Hazard (for Mertens 72), T Vermaelen (for

3
cruise for Belgium. Russia had long path of Lukaku, who swivelled and quickly. Belgium felt able to afford
BELGIUM Vertonghen 77), D Praet (for Carrasco 77).
Lukaku 10, 88, Meunier 34 given up hope of getting anything out struck a first-time shot that bobbled Russia D Cheryshev 5 (for Kuzyaev 30), V themselves the luxury of bringing
of the match when Lukaku scored a into the corner of the net from 12 Karavaev 5 (for Zhirkov 43), I Diveev 6 (for Barinov Eden Hazard off the bench to replace
h-t), M Mukhin 5 (for Zobnin 63), Al Miranchuk 5
RUSSIA
0 second goal five minutes from the
end, set up by Meunier. The defender
powered through his static opponents
yards, wrongfooting the goalkeeper,
Shunin. Lukaku made for the nearest
television camera, kissed the lens and
(for Cheryshev 63).
Referee A M Mateu Lahoz (Sp).
Mertens, even though the former
Chelsea player has seen little action at
Real this season. Vertonghen also left

T
Paul Rowan from midfield and slotted the ball said “Chris, Chris I love you”, in the pitch looking shaken after that
through to Lukaku, who displayed his tribute to Eriksen, his stricken Inter and a couple of headed opportunities clash with Dzyuba.
he highest-ranking team in customary deadliness in front of goal Milan team-mate. were spurned. The sense of lethargy With Tielemans in control in mid-
the world demonstrated that to slide past Anton Shunin and spark Eight minutes later Lukaku went in was heightened by the ease with field, Belgium appeared happy to
they may also be in the mood Belgian celebrations. search of his 62nd international goal which Youri Tielemans was able to maintain their dominance of posses-
to shed the tag of greatest The Russia manager, Stanislav when he burst into the box, but was beat their press to set up Belgium sion but showed little ambition,
underachievers with a clini- Cherchesov, went for experience, brilliantly tackled by Georgi Dzhikiya. attacks. Roberto Martínez’s side were hardly surprising when the threat
cal and decisive victory in handing a start to the 37-year-old When the big striker then retrieved in complete control and looked like from Russia was so negligible.
their opening group B game defender Yuri Zhirkov, even though the ball and set up Dendoncker, the scoring a second when Hazard had a But then Belgium got their third
against Russia in Saint the veteran’s appearances for Zenit Wolverhampton Wanderers player chance from close range, but Shunin and the dreaded Mexican wave reap-
Petersburg. Romelu Lukaku, in par- Saint Petersburg this year have been blasted the ball over the bar. spread himself to block. peared, even with the stadium half-
ticular, seemed to have his game face severely restricted by injury. Such wastefulness was nothing Shunin did not do so well with full. The crowd had hardly distin-
on, opening the scoring early in the With injuries to three of Belgium’s compared with what Russia were Hazard’s next effort, a low cross guished themselves by whistling the
first half, and once Thomas Meunier most high-profile and experienced doing at the other end, where they whipped into the box, which the Rus- Belgian players at the start for taking a
scored a second around the half-hour players — Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Haz- over-elaborated, particularly when sian goalkeeper could only beat into knee, on what was, all in all, a night for
mark, the game was a something of a ard and Axel Witsel — keeping them the ball was lofted into the Belgian box the path of Meunier, on in place of Russian football to forget.
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 7

Jonathan Northcroft
England manager has had extra year to prepare for Euros
yet on eve of first game, there are plenty of uncertainties

T
he first action on the
Wembley pitch at Euro 96 TODAY’S OTHER
was an opening ceremony
whose theme was “Merrie EURO 2020 TIES
England.” There were
dancers in medieval capes,
knights on horseback, a Group C
model dragon and skydivers Austria v North Macedonia
descending with national flags. There North Macedonia make their bow
was Sir Stanley Matthews, Mick in the tournament, while Austria
Hucknall, the Duke of Kent. look for their first win in Euro finals
There were so many people on the 6 ITV/talkSPORT, kick-off 5pm
field, doing such vigorously “merrie”
things that amid the confusion, a Holland v Ukraine
lancer fell off his steed and The Dutch are back after missing
paramedics arrived to discreetly out on the previous World Cup, to
scrape the poor guy into a van. take on Andriy Shevchenko’s side
The whole thing, to a (then) young 6 ITV/talkSPORT, kick-off 8pm
Scot in the press box, seemed the
nonsense of a country so weird about
identity that it wasn’t even sure what was the system used in England’s
decade it was in. Part of Euro 96’s joy three worst recent performances —
was just being in England as a the defeat by Belgium and the draw
country seemed to come together and defeat against Denmark in the
and renew itself, sparked by the Nations League last autumn.
happiness of some decent football Maguire could make the bench
being played. today, but more as a morale-boosting
By the end of the tournament it felt presence than realistic substitute
a different, younger and more unified option. Those with knowledge of his
place. The identity — articulated by injury, which involved damage not
Baddiel and Skinner’s Three Lions — just to ligaments but to muscle tissue,
was something more modern and say it is remarkable testament to his
fun. Hip hop (The Fugees) topped the determination that he is even back in
charts and the Spice Girls were training at this point.
bursting on to the scene. People were So, England may well line up as
suntanned and happy. The jesters Pickford — Walker, Stones, Mings,
and lancers had gone. Chilwell — Phillips, Rice, Mount —
It seems too much to hope, in so Foden, Kane, Sterling. Southgate has
divided and weary a Britain, with been wowed over the past fortnight
Covid still casting shadows, for Euro by Jude Bellingham and the
2020 to have similar tonic powers. wonderkid could come on to become
The carnival may largely be restricted England’s youngest tournament
to the bit happening on the grass player.
between the referee’s whistles, but There are some understandable
there is still a pressing need for a new reasons for England’s instability,
England to come together. though it was odd to see, in the
A need in football terms. Gareth Rashford are the players who have injuries, loss of form and the warm-up games, Southgate field
Southgate has taken his country on The only thing we both scored and assisted more goals emergence of new options — and no players who won’t even be at the
positive adventures since being sky- can predict is that by far — except for Kane. department is more in flux than the finals. But it may also have to be
dived in when Sam Allardyce was Grealish, for all the thrills, has only defensive one. When Harry Maguire accepted that flux is part of his style.
swiftly shown the door in 2016, yet he this will be an XI two assists in seven internationals, twisted an ankle against Aston Villa He has created a sense of opportunity
arrives at this, another English
“home” tournament, at an odd point
who have never and it is worth remembering that
before he was capped, Southgate told
on May 9, it was the most cataclysmic
injury Southgate could have faced,
and buzz around England, where the
door is always open to a new talent, a
in the journey. It is one where there started together the Aston Villa captain that he outside of Kane being crocked. It player in form, or one coming from
are so many uncertainties and so few wanted to see an improvement in his almost robbed him of two centre left field, and the system and side he
fixed points in terms of what England goal-involvement numbers. Pressing backs in one, for John Stones plays went with at the 2018 World Cup
will do in games. Assessing the options, it is best to from the front is a Southgate with nowhere near the same clarity were also late to emerge. The sin
What’s the best formation? Who is start with the obvious. Harry Kane, of principle, and Grealish was also and security without a “big brother” against Croatia in the semi-final of
the starting right back? Left back? course, will lead from the front, but among the forward players he centre half partnering him. For that tournament was playing to their
Centre backs? Jordan Henderson or who fits around him? Mason Mount, lectured for not doing enough Manchester City it’s Rúben Dias, for strengths and not England’s by, after
Kalvin Phillips? Jack Grealish or Phil one of Southgate’s favourite players, harrying against Romania. England Maguire is his guide. an initial flurry, sitting off and
Foden? Jack Grealish and Phil Foden? given not only his creativity but A personal view is that Grealish is The truth is that not one of allowing a slow-paced game to be
Does Raheem Sterling play? It is hard energy and flexibility, is a near-cert too much of an X-factor player to Southgate’s alternative pairings looks played out in midfield, where Croatia
to remember another major nation — for a role supporting Kane from keep bottled up, and should play convincing or complementary. He had the talent and greater numbers.
let alone England — going into a finals midfield. To the sides there is Foden, along with Foden and Mount, but the reached for Ben White, drafting in Today should be about speed,
among the favourites yet wrestling the jewel of England’s development expectation is that Sterling, Mount the young defender as a replacement pressing, attacking and keeping the
with so many questions. system and the young English player and Foden will get the nod. “This is after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ball moving on the deck. Some
The only thing that can be with the capacity to go furthest in not fantasy football. You have to find injury, having seen Tyrone Mings and horror stats from the defeat by
predicted, with confidence, in terms their career. Or there is Grealish who the right balance,” Southgate’s Conor Coady in training. Mings is Croatia in Russia: Pickford kicking
of England’s starting XI against simply looks like the one opposition assistant, Steve Holland, has said. For likely to partner Stones today but a long 40 times, almost 50 per cent of
Croatia this afternoon is that it will be are least comfortable facing. that reason, it is likely England will hunch is that the composed White Henderson’s forward passes being
an XI who have never previously But there is also Sterling, to whom start with two measured midfielders, may end up a starter by the end of unsuccessful, Kane losing the ball 21
started a game together. Go through Southgate is loyal, and similarly and that Phillips will be preferred to end of the tournament. times.
the permutations and you will see Marcus Rashford. Neither ended the Henderson for fitness reasons. Southgate also considers Kyle In Rome on Friday, Italy showed
this is true. A brand new XI for a club season in form but the England Midfield-to-front is the easy part. Walker, Luke Shaw and Reece James how to do it — in terms of how to take
finals for which there has been a manager’s philosophy is to go by Southgate said months ago that he to be capable of playing in the middle inspiration from a home crowd, how
record amount of time to rehearse. what players do for him. Over the knew ten of the XI who would start and the team practised with a back to play fast, mobile, buccaneering
Let that sink in. course of his reign, Sterling and against Croatia but that was before three in training last week, yet 3-4-1-2 football. Now, over to England.
8 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Football Euro 2020

‘Grealish is closest
Wayne Rooney
their best when taking the game to
the opposition.
Croatia will be tough. We saw in
the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup
that when you drop off and allow
I’d start Villa man them time on the ball, the Croatians
have the quality to hurt you. They’re

with Foden and less comfortable when you go at

them. Think of Luka Modric, a
brilliant footballer but the same age
Mount — England are as me, nearing 36. You saw in the
Champions League, when Chelsea

best on front foot faced Real Madrid, that when you

put pressure on Modric, he is not the
same player. He doesn’t like players

W
running off him, in his face and
getting round him. Whereas if you’re
hen I came through, going to sit there and let him have the
people compared me What England don’t ball, he will hurt you all day long.
to Paul Gascoigne, but
I was a completely
want is a negative I’d love to manage Grealish. If I
did, I’d encourage him to express
different player. Now performance today himself, to not be afraid of mistakes
everyone is saying Phil
Foden is the new
in an attempt to nick or giving the ball away, especially
in the final third. And I’d say to
Gazza because of his a 1-0 victory the players behind him that if the
haircut — but they are looking at the opposition counterattack then
wrong England player. defenders more, dragging them out delay it, and let Grealish get back,
Jack Grealish is the closest thing of position, which will create space because some players just need to
I’ve seen to Gazza on a football pitch. for other players. play with freedom. Grealish has the
He has a lot to do to reach Gazza’s If I were Southgate, I would play I’d loved to have played with qualities to open up
levels but his style of play, how he Grealish and Foden. There’s no need Grealish too. I was a player who defences in a way
takes the ball and runs with it in a to choose between them. I’d get studied defenders, and when he that will leave Kane
way that is so awkward to play Mason Mount on the pitch too and let takes the ball and draws them out of licking his lips
against, his sheer confidence on the those talents play with freedom. The position, I would have been looking
field — it all reminds me of the legend last thing England should do with the to exploit the spaces they left.
I watched at Everton, and then attacking players they have — and Kane must be licking his lips. In
trained with when I joined their with Harry Maguire out — is sit back. Grealish, Foden and Mount — not
first-team squad. I think what we’re all hoping for at forgetting Raheem Sterling, if he’s
For England, I think Harry Kane is this tournament is for England to go involved — he has players who can
their most important player, but on the front foot; what you don’t open up the opposition and get the
Grealish is the one who is going to want against Croatia is a negative ball to him in the box.
light up the tournament. He has to performance and an attempt to nick a In the warm-up games, Kane was
play. Just like Gazza, his style is suited 1-0 win. Because of the personnel at still playing as he does for Tottenham
to the international game, where Southgate’s disposal, his side are at Hotspur, dropping deep. Now is
moments of inspiration often make when he needs to become more
the difference. If you’re looking for selfish and just stay in the area. He
someone to open a team up with a bit WEMBLEY WEATHER should be saying to himself: “I’m just

27°C
of magic then Grealish is the one who going to wait in the area, stay within
can do it for Gareth Southgate’s side. TODAY the width of the goal and let these
He attracts defenders, draws fouls players find me.” He has got to trust
and wins free kicks in dangerous those lads and be there in the right
areas. He creates chances and scores position to finish it off.
goals too. Foden is a top player, a Kane has to play higher than he
footballer who — as you see at did against Austria recently. It would
Manchester City — will link play up, 5% chance of rain be a waste and a shame if Grealish
pass and move and can dribble too. Sunshine all day with a light and co were using their skill and
But it’s Grealish who commits northwesterly wind ability to get the ball into the right

Graeme
We all remember how the World someone to sit in central midfield England do not have someone who
Cup semi-final slipped away from with that sixth sense for the ebb Scots will be can control a game and its tempo.
England three years ago despite and flow of a match. Somebody tougher for Jordan Henderson, Kalvin Phillips

Souness
them taking an early lead against who can loan the ball out and take and Declan Rice are all solid central
Croatia from Kieran Trippier’s free it back. England midfielders, but they are not
kick. They could not control the
game or protect that lead as Ivan
A playmaker dictates the play
and England do not have one. It’s
than Croatia maestros, they are honest Joes, who
will never let you down in terms of
Perisic equalised midway through something you can improve on as effort. But at this level it’s about

Modric is a the second half, before Mario

Mandzukic’s goal won it in extra
you get older, but it must be in you
to start with. That understanding of
having that sixth sense of where the
game is going, where the

talent apart time.

The bad news is England still lack
where the game is going, that you
don’t always have to be on the front
opposition are vulnerable, trying to
keep the ball, switching play. You’re

but at 35 he is a playmaker capable of dictating

the tempo of a match. The good
foot, getting it forward as quickly as
you can. You’re looking to shift
trying to sicken the opposition by
starving them of possession.

past his best. news is that the current Croatia

are not the same side who beat
people around and create space
and openings, instead of hitting the
Luka Modric can do all of the
above and has had a fantastic

England’s them in Russia after England

enjoyed an obliging run to the
front men as quickly as possible.
I love Mason Mount, I love Phil
career, but at 35 his best days are
definitely behind him.

midfield can final four.

What Gareth Southgate
Foden and Jack Grealish will get
you on the edge of your seat, but
Modric has that sixth sense to set
the tempo of a game, as he did three

bully him would give right now for a

player like Paul Scholes, Modric is not the force he once was
years ago, and he does not give
away possession cheaply, but
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 9

we have to Gazza ...

He must start’
areas and yet he wasn’t in a position FA MAKE FINAL PLEA TO FANS
Southgate’s side in the second round
already. If they lose, all of a sudden TODAY’S LIKELY LINE-UPS
TO RESPECT TAKING THE KNEE
to convert, as happened that second game, against Scotland,
a couple of times in that Austria becomes a horrible match to play in.
4-2-3-1
friendly. If I was managing him, I’d The players who have never been Pickford
say, “I don’t want you deep, I don’t in tournaments before will discover
want you coming for the ball, I want After Gareth inequality. This is that there is nothing like them. The Walker Stones Mings Chilwell
you being around that box. These Southgate’s powerful personally important biggest difference is probably the
players will find you — and if they address to the nation to the players and build-up to games. Everyone on Sky Rice Phillips
don’t, I’ll deal with them and make on Tuesday, urging the values the Sports, ITV, the BBC and talkSPORT
sure they do.” unity, the FA has team collectively speaking about them, journalists and Sterling Mount Foden
If Kane can focus on being a No 9 made a final plea represents. ex-players like me offering their
and not drifting into No 10 positions, for fans to respect “This gesture of opinions. I’d be delighted if none of Kane
he can win the Golden Boot, just like England’s players unity and fighting the squad is reading this column.
he did at the 2018 World Cup. He is taking a knee when against inequality can I hope they have been able to switch Petkovic
probably the most proven goalscorer they begin their Euro be traced back as far off from it all and chill out. Rebic Perisic
England have had since Gary Lineker, 2020 campaign, as the 18th century. Before my first tournament game
and in training you would just admire against Croatia at It is not new, and — against France at Euro 2004 —
Brozovic Modric Kovacic
the quality of his finishing: left foot, Wembley today. English football has I made the mistake of engaging
right foot, headers. It’s why you want Here is the made it very clear that with all the coverage and read an
him in the box. Another reason for statement: “Major it does not view this interview with the France player Barisic Vrsaljko
Caleta-Car Vida
him to play high is that it will keep the tournaments don’t as being aligned to a Lilian Thuram, where he talked
opposition backline deep, creating come around often political organisation about me being this 18-year-old kid 4-3-3
pockets of space. and when they do, or ideology. There can who wasn’t ready. Livakovic
I think what you see in the present it’s an opportunity to be no doubt as to why That was in my head when I
England team are a group of young unite friends, families the players are taking steamed into a challenge with him
lads, full of confidence, and that is and the country. This the knee and what it and caught him with an elbow. I got
THREE KEY MATCH-UPS
maybe a difference from when collective support is represents in a away with it but nowadays I would Ben Chilwell v Ivan Perisic
I was playing. I always went into what spurs our team footballing context. have been done by VAR and got a Chilwell will have his work cut out against the
tournaments fancying myself and the on during challenging “We encourage straight red card. veteran Perisic, who caused England all sorts
team to do well but I could always see moments and it gives those that oppose I am going to be at Wembley today of problems in Croatia’s 2-1 World Cup
the doubt in certain others. them the best chance this action to reflect to enjoy something I have always semi-final win in 2018. Perisic has been
It only takes two or three players of succeeding. on the message you wanted to experience: watching involved in 11 goals at major tournaments for
Croatia. Perisic will also swap wings with Rebic
to be uncertain and it will spread “As the team has are sending to the England as a fan. It will my first time to renew his duel with Kyle Walker.
throughout a team. I wouldn’t start reiterated many players you are at a game as just an ordinary England
with Marcus Rashford because it’s times, they will supporting. supporter. I’m taking my kids. They’ll Mason Mount v Luka Modric
clear that, in this moment, he isn’t collectively take the “Please respect be in England shirts and I wanted to The 35-year-old Modric will be in the middle
playing with the most confidence — knee ahead of their their wishes and get a new England tracksuit to wear, of a strong Croatian midfield three, but will be
whereas other lads are full of belief. fixtures during the remember that we but my wife has vetoed it. Though the main creator. The two met in the
I’d keep Rashford in reserve, ready to tournament. should all be united you never know, I may still try and Champions League semi-finals when Chelsea
make an impact after coming on. “They are doing in the fight to tackle get away with one. beat Real Madrid, after which Modric asked
Because four third-placed teams this as a mechanism discrimination. We are looking forward to it so for Mount’s shirt in a changing-of-the-guard
moment.
qualify, it feels like there is less of peacefully Together. They will do much and I hope Southgate’s players
pressure on England than going into protesting against their best for you. are too, and go in full of positivity.
Harry Kane v Duje Caleta-Car
previous opening games, but a win discrimination, Please do your best They have talent and they’re playing
England’s captain was on the periphery of the
would set the whole country off, injustice and for them.” for England, in a tournament, at game when these countries met in the World
get the fans going and almost put Wembley. What could be better? Cup semi-final in Moscow. This time,
he is likely to come up against Caleta-Car.
The Marseilles defender, 24, is strong,
good on the ball and in the air.
England’s midfield can still bully goal is hard-earned for them. supporting cast to Modric is not as Harry Kane and that the centre of
him and make him less effective Croatia and the Czech Republic strong as it was three years ago. his defence does its job, whatever BIG MATCH FACTfiLE
today. Not by resorting to fouls, but must feel a bit sorry for themselves There will be tougher tests ahead system he goes with and whether or
with their energy. because they are playing two teams for England. not Harry Maguire is fit to play. Head-to-head – Played 10
Without a top-class playmaker, away from home in Scotland and You are only as strong as the You’re going into the unknown with England Croatia
they can be a bit like Liverpool’s England. Yes, it’s diluted somewhat weakest part of your team. Tyrone Mings and Ben White at this wins wins
midfield at its best: efficient and because of the number of Southgate will want a Euros where level. Maguire and John Stones are
not enjoyable to play against. supporters who will be in Wembley Jordan Pickford, his goalkeeper, used to it — they play at big clubs. 5 3
Lesser teams will just keep giving
the ball back to you, but the best
and Hampden Park — a quarter of
capacity — but they will still feel
does not make the headlines until
July 11. History suggests he is
Stones has everything to be an
absolute star as a centre back
2
Draws
teams can usually deal with that hard done by to be facing two host capable of making mistakes in big except, perhaps, that concentration
intensity. I may be biased, but I nations in the same group. games, such as the rash challenge at a vital time. It may seem like a
Previous Euros meeting
genuinely think Scotland will give England should not have any that injured Virgil van Dijk or the small thing to get right, but if you
Croatia 2-4 England – Lisbon, 2004 Win
England a tougher game on Friday fears going into today’s game. They goal he previously conceded at make a mistake as a centre back it
than Croatia will today and surprise will have too much in most areas for Anfield when he failed to turn a generally leads to a shot at goal.
a lot of people, perhaps including Croatia and I expect them to win by routine ball over the crossbar and Nevertheless, I expect England to England in Euros openers – Played 9
themselves. Steve Clarke sets out a couple of goals. Dejan Lovren is left Divock Origi with a tap-in. If win today and make it out of the Won Lost
his team so they’re hard to beat,
which is a good place to start.
no longer at Liverpool for a reason.
Mateo Kovacic is a squad player at
Pickford makes a mistake in the
group games, will Southgate stick
group without too much trouble.
Yet their lack of a playmaker like 0 4
Where Scotland are vulnerable is Chelsea and was not playing with him for the knockouts? Scholes could still come back to bite
they do not have somebody who towards the end of the season when England’s manager must also be them when they meet the big boys 5
can score goals from nothing. Every they were going for trophies, so the praying that nothing happens to later in the tournament. Drawn
10 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Euro 2020

José Mourinho
Southgate should ditch Pickford,
ford,
play Mings in a back four andd opt
for a combative midfield if England
ngland
are to shake off history and make a
winning start against Croatiaa

E
ngland have never won their stay there for the Premier League — Germany, who have gone with a back
opening game in the Euros and his development has been three after a bad time in qualifying,
but I am expecting them to amazing. He’s a very good or against France and Kylian Mbappé,
beat Croatia today. Of course goalkeeper. You can say he didn’t who can kill you from a certain
it is not an easy match, but if play 50 per cent of United’s matches position, so you need more cover.
they can counter Croatia’s this season but Pickford had injuries Southgate and his assistant, Steve
strength in midfield then I and problems at Everton too. Holland, who impressed me during
believe England can break my second spell at Chelsea, have
that negative history. DEFENCE created the option to do either a back
Gareth Southgate has so much I am going with a back four of Kyle three or four, but four is all you need
choice going forward but it’s with Walker, John Stones, Tyrone Mings for this game. At right back, I love
midfield combativity in mind that and Ben Chilwell. I don’t think you Reece James, but I choose Walker for
I would pick this 4-2-3-1 team to need to go three at the back against his experience. It can be useful that
start for England. My regret is not Croatia. Maybe if you are playing he has a touch of the centre back
including Jude Bellingham, but I about him too.
think he can still go on to be a big If Harry Maguire is out, I choose
player in this tournament. HOW MOURINHO WOULD HAVE Mings, because the team need a
ENGLAND LINE UP TODAY voice, and leadership. He is like a
GOALKEEPER captain at Aston Villa, very vocal,
My choice in goal is Dean Henderson. aggressive in his communication.
It’s not that I’m not a fan of Jordan I think Stones needs that without
Pickford — but I am a fan of 4-2-3-1 Maguire alongside him. Stones needs
Dean
Henderson, because I know his Henderson Rúben Dias at Manchester City, so he
quality. I met him as a kid at needs Maguire, he needs Mings.
Manchester United. He trained with At left back Luke Shaw has had a
me, and was in the squad that won good season for United but for this
Kyle John Tyrone Ben
the League Cup. Walker Stones Mings Chilwell
game I prefer Chilwell. He is stable,
It’s true that when he asked if he makes few mistakes, and is good
could go on loan to Shrewsbury going forward. He comes from a back
Town he told me, “The next time you five at Chelsea but he’s intelligent
see me I’ll come back as [the United] Declan Kalvin and can adapt. He’s good in the air,
Rice Phillips
No 1.” As coaches we were looking at which is important at defensive set
each other thinking, “This kid is pieces.
crazy, he hasn’t played a game for us
and thinks he can go to Shrewsbury Phil
Foden
Mason
Mount
Jack
Grealish
MIDFIELD
and come back as the main man.” I am sure some people will be
But it shows his positive attitude. saying you can play Mason
United made a great pathway for Mount as one of the
him through loans — Shrewsbury, Harry midfielders, plus
then to Sheffield United in the Sky Kane Bellingham, Jack Grealish,
Bet Championship, and letting him Phil Foden. I would say:
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 11

Before we
compare Foden David Walsh
to David Silva,
remember that
How can we not empathise with black
Silva is due a players who are being racially abused
statue at City — by a small number of their own fans?
give Foden time

ATTACK On the Tuesday of Masters week at “Tom is in Hampstead. Tom what

I would pick Mount behind Kane, and Augusta National in April, Cameron would you like to say?”
then Foden right and Grealish left. Champ stood outside the clubhouse “Good morning. I was at the
That means a right winger who is left- and began shooting the breeze Riverside yesterday and I booed
footed and vice versa, which I like. about changes to Georgia’s voting the knee.”
Rashford is a better player on the left. laws that would make it more “Why do you think the players
On the right, he doesn’t find space difficult for black people to vote. are doing it?”
the way he can on the left, which is He was dead against, and though “I know the reasons they said
his more natural position, where he it shouldn’t have, it did feel they’re doing it.”
can cut in. He is very linear, 10 per extraordinary to hear such candour “So you booed that, then?”
cent of the player he can be on the from a pro golfer on a topic related “My undertone is that when I
left — but the left is the best position to politics and equality. hear the words Black Lives Matter,
for Grealish, and I feel he has to play. Champ is black. Since Lee Elder I think of burning buildings in
Foden? Before we compare him became the first black player to tee America, attacking the police and
to David Silva, we have to remember it up at the 1975 Masters, Champ is violent protest.”
that Silva is due a statue at City. We the fourth to follow in his footsteps. “Have you tried not thinking of
need to give Foden time, but he is If this is progress, the pace is that? Have you tried thinking of
developing very similar qualities. glacial. The tournament committee Taking a knee has proved divisive what the words actually mean?”
this year added Elder to the select “One of my aunties was killed
TACTICS group of “official starters” but the on one knee is an appropriate during a Black Lives Matter protest
This is a team that can play but can game needs more than gestures, protest against the racism to which last year.”
also stop Croatia playing because if however well intentioned. they’re being subjected, how can “And that’s appalling, but have
you allow Marcelo Brozovic, Mateo Gareth Southgate, though, would we not empathise? you tried thinking of what the
Kovacic and Modric to have the ball, enjoy an evening in Champ’s I admire Southgate for having words actually mean?”
they can hide it from you. I am not company, because here is a 25-year- the bravery to support his players “I understand what they mean
saying they will kill you, because old unprepared “to stick to the in their decision to take a knee and I agree.”
Croatia don’t have top attackers, but football”. Having listened to any before every game in this “What do they mean?”
they can certainly disturb you if you number of pro golfers say precisely tournament. It was good too that “They’re saying black lives also
let them dominate. You need a strong what you’d expect them to say, Steve Clarke and Scotland came to matter.”
midfield to compete. Champ was a breath of challenging the decision that they did, for while “So why do you boo?”
England shouldn’t be afraid to but fresh air. He recalled a moment one respects their preference for “Because of what I’ve just said
push up high. Croatia aren’t a from the BMW Championship at “standing” against racism, they when I think of those words.”
counterattacking threat. Ante Rebic Olympia Fields outside Chicago last have reversed that for the game “If I walk into a room and you’re
has pace and maybe later they could year where he’d worn one white against England. kneeling, I don’t get to tell you why
bring on Andrej Kramaric, but Stones golf shoe, the other black. There was much to admire in you’re kneeling or what you’re
is very fast, Walker too. Mings is not On the white, he’d written the how the captain, Andrew showing support for, I get only to
very fast but reads the game well. names Breonna Taylor and Jacob Robertson, explained his team’s ask you, and we’ve asked the
England shouldn’t be afraid to push Blake. Four months before Taylor decision: “Taking the knee in this footballers why they’re doing it
up the lines and take control. had been shot dead by police in tournament matters as a symbol of and they’ve told us, Tom.”
Croatia are not what they were at Kentucky. In the same week as the solidarity. The Scotland team “Which I respect.”
the 2018 World Cup. They lost Ivan BMW Championship, Blake was hit stands against racism but we will “Well you don’t. The polar
Rakitic, they lost Mario Mandzukic. by four of seven shots aimed at kneel against ignorance and in opposite of respecting it, mate, is
They aren’t very strong in defence. his back in Wisconsin. Blake solidarity on June 18th.” booing it. . . . You completely and
Dejan Lovren, 31, and Domagoj Vida, survived, though he’s now Last week I listened to the LBC categorically disrespect it.”
32 — these aren’t young guys any confined to a wheelchair. presenter James O’Brien speak with “I think if you made a bold
more. Sime Vrsaljko didn’t play much At the practice range, Champ’s Tom, an England fan. Let me give statement, rather than just taking
for Atletico Madrid this season. shoes were noticed. “I got asked by you a sense of how the debate went. the knee every week, I would
They have spirit, but England have three different people, who are respect it more.”
“Calm down.” Southgate is the one more options. Rashford and Sterling they? To me, that proves the point “What impact do you think it has
who has to choose the team with the can come on to attack space, and to of why I’m doing it.” He tried to tell WHY LAURENCE WANTS on the players when they get booed
responsibility on his shoulders and I
think a little stability is needed,
kill opponents who are tired or on
yellow cards. Or you can introduce
us that as much as he loves playing
golf for a living, he will not allow ENGLAND TO LOSE by their own fans?”
“Honestly I think that part is bad
which is why I would pick Kalvin Sancho, to break defensive walls if himself to be defined by his and I’m one of the people that do it.
Phillips alongside Declan Rice. you need, or Bellingham, who is profession. “You know, it’s my job, The biggest story now is the divide
Phillips brings balance, and that’s much more offensive than Phillips it’s what I love to do, but there’s a between the [England] fans and the
needed for this game. and has that old profile of the box-to- lot more to all of us on tour.” players.”
It means leaving out one of my box midfielder. Of course there will be those who “What do you think the word
favourite players in Bellingham, even would prefer Champ to stick to golf, support means?”
though I love everything about him. MAGUIRE AND HENDERSON to refrain from stitching the word “Getting behind, encouraging.”
It’s very dangerous when you I am behind Southgate in the “equality” onto the side of his cap. “So you’re there to make them
compare a young player with the top discussion about taking Maguire and It depends upon your perspective. play worse?”
of the tops but he has something of Jordan Henderson, even with injury. I Michael Jordan and LeBron James “No, I’ve spent the best part of
Frank Lampard about him. would do exactly the same thing. have been the two greatest Fresh from his dismal showing in £50,000 or £60,000 over the last
If Lampard shoots ten times, he Some players are different — basketball players in my lifetime the London mayoral elections, ten years following England.”
scores nine goals. He always hit the you have to gamble on them, and though Jordan was the one Laurence Fox, the Lewis actor, “By booing the players, do you
target. But this kid is also capable of especially if you have a squad of I most enjoyed watching, James decided to embarrass himself think it’s likely to make them play
scoring goals, he defends with the 26. You have the chance to bring a understood how to use his status to some more by reacting to to better or worse?”
aggression of a midfield player and couple of players to see what bring about better understanding England’s commitment to taking a “I think it’s a very touchy
also has the potential and creativity happens and I understand it totally and change. He’s never been knee with the following tweet: subject. . . . It’s not about the
to be offensive. I like him. The way he with Maguire and Henderson. prepared to stick to basketball. “I’m embarrassed to be British. I football that I’m booing them.”
plays, I can’t believe he is only 17. It depends on the player. Italy put How can we look the other way hope any team but ours wins in “Do you think it will make them
I would play him every match Marco Verratti in the squad even when we know that England’s black any future sporting endeavour. play better or worse?”
except for this one, because Rice and though he is recovering from injury, footballers are being racially Tell me a single thing to moderate “I guess worse.”
Phillips give more stability and from because he’s Verratti. He’s another abused by a small number of their my thinking? Millionaire woke “Are you going to boo them at the
a strong base you can play the way player worth the gamble. Henderson own team’s fans after a game has babies protesting inequality on Croatia game?”
you want, with Harry Kane plus three and Maguire are leaders and good been lost? This, remember, is a two hundred grand a week. We “Absolutely.”
of Sancho, Foden, Mount, Grealish, influences even if they don’t play — problem that shows no sign of going deserve everything that is For reasons not entirely related
Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling. and when they are ready, they can go away, and if the England players coming. Weak men. Weak.” Nice. to football, I hope England have a
It’s a great choice to have. directly into the team. decide as a group that going down terrific tournament.
12 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Euro 2020

CZECH MATES
and are determined to make every
second count.
When I signed Tomas, shortly after
returning to West Ham in the middle
of the 2019-20 season, I was looking to
add a midfield player and wanted one
with running power and the ability to
score. Doesn’t everyone? Recruiting
those types, especially on a budget, is
hard but I could see from his data in
the Champions League that Tomas
covered big distances and could make
an impact playing at a high level — he
had scored for Slavia versus Borussia
JOE TOTH Dortmund and Inter Milan.
I spoke to him on the phone and
They gave me a liked how he came across, his hunger,
lesson: that it’s not his keenness. And, right from the
start, it was obvious that we had
always the team brought in not just a good footballer
with the most stars but a really good person. We kept ask-
ing him who else was worth taking
that does well, but from the Czech league and he told us
Slavia had this really good right back —
the one which Vladimir. We were about to lose Pablo
comes together Zabaleta, and Ryan Fredericks had
suffered a few injuries, so we were
best as a unit running short in the position and
contacts in the Czech Republic gave us
some great feedback on Vladimir.
Wembley only after a golden goal. Sometimes in football you need to
That was a lesson in tournament foot- be lucky. With recruitment, you can
ball. It is not always the team with the do all your research and due diligence
most stars that does well, but the one but there is still an element where
which comes together best. fortune is required and, just like
Czech football is having a Tomas, Vladimir turned out to be the
resurgence, and Scotland and right player at the right time. He is an
England will find themselves tested by old-fashioned full back, a steady
the energy and commitment of Eddie, who is committed, good at
opponents epitomised by two of my defending, gets forward to cross and
players at West Ham United: Vladimir gives you consistency and availability.
Coufal and Tomas Soucek. He got seven assists for us in the
Vladimir, 28, and Tomas, 26, came Premier League this season. Tomas
to us from Slavia Prague, who beat got ten goals. A midfielder who scores
Rangers and Leicester City on their that volume for you is so important.
way to the Europa League quarter-fi- Something else they brought is
Coufal, left, nals, and who have five players in Jar- ambition. These are two boys who are
and Soucek oslav Silhavy’s squad. The one down- used to Champions League football
have made a side of all this success, for the Czechs, and wanted to get back to that level. At
big impact at is that they no longer have the sur- no point in the season did they not
West Ham and prise factor. Scotland and England expect West Ham to be challenging for
are sure to be will be well aware of their capabilities. a Champions League spot and, every
key players for Tomas and Vladimir are as hard- game, they expected to win.
the Czech working and honest as you will ever Tomas was a neighbour of mine
Republic at meet. Their attitude is incredible. when he first arrived in London, stay-
the Euros Tomas played almost every minute of ing in the same apartments, with his
every Premier League game and, after girlfriend and daughter. Then Vlad-
his arrival, Vladimir sat out only one imir was in the apartments, with his
league match. Both are super athletes wife and children. Both are family-ori-
and tough, resilient boys who just want entated lads, settled quickly and have
to play. As a manager they are a pleas- been popular at the training ground.
ure because they are so low mainte- The staff and I have a laugh with
nance with such high standards. them. When their old club was on
In fact, their appetite for work is so such a good run in Europe, I kept
great that we found it really hard to suggesting to them that maybe I had
Scotland and England will be tested keep them away from the training
ground. At times I nearly had to lock
signed the wrong Slavia players,
though when Slavia beat Rangers they
by the energy of a side containing the gates to keep them out. They were
never pleased when I gave the squad a
gave me plenty back.
Originally, the Czechs were going to
Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek day off and the morning after one
particularly hard evening game, I
be based in Edinburgh for the Euros
and I had planned to visit them but

A
remember Tomas coming in, desper- they switched their camp to Prague so
ate to get out on the pitches and run. I will only see Tomas and Vladimir on
t Euro 96, the Czech Repub- We talk about taking care of injured the pitch. They are such brilliant lads
DAVID lic were based in Preston. I MOYES SIGNS NEW players, but they are the other side of that I would love them to have big
MOYES was player-coach at Preston
North End and took the THREE-YEAR DEAL the coin — two guys who will play a
match and get up the next day want-
tournaments. Though I have warned
them that if they even think about
opportunity to observe ing to get to training and push their beating Scotland, they are in trouble.
them in training. The bodies to the limit all over again. • David Moyes has requested his fee for
pitches they used were at a The West Ham United manager Both, I believe, are part of the this column be donated to Muscular
local rugby club called David Moyes, 58, has been reason there has been a change in Dystrophy UK, a charity supporting the
Grasshoppers, and they stayed at the rewarded with a new three-year mentality around the club. Their 70,000 people living with muscle-wast-
Marriott hotel on the edge of town. contract after securing Europa enthusiasm is infectious. ing conditions in the UK.
I remember standing behind a goal League qualification this season Other players have seen the
watching guys such as Patrik Berger courtesy of a sixth-place finish rewards that working so hard can
and Karel Poborsky practise, thinking in the Premier League. “This is bring, and thought: “Why not us?”
that while clearly there was talent in where I want to be and I’m happy,” Their hunger is something that, quite
their squad, they would not stand Moyes told the club’s website. often nowadays, you do not see from
much chance in the tournament. Yet He initially managed West Ham British players who have been over-
they got out of their group, beating
Italy at Anfield — I was there in the
between November 2017 and May
2018, but returned for a second
paid in their younger years. In Tomas
and Vladimir, I see boys who have ON TV
stands — and then went all the way to spell in December 2019. fought hard and endured struggles to Scotland v Czech Reublic
the final, losing to Germany at get themselves to the Premier League Tomorrow 2pm, BBC 1
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 13

Rod Liddle
PEDRO FIUZA
means laughing at any misfortune
that might befall the Germans, but
not for me.
My thrill will come in watching the
likes of Portugal and France
flouncing off after three games, their
Joy of Euros countries in uproar, Ronaldo looking
thoroughly piqued and hard done by,
is in sides who really everyone suddenly deciding that
Kylian Mbappé isn’t the greatest
fancy themselves young player on earth but just a kind
of gilded Steve Guppy.
coming a cropper It probably won’t happen, of
course, but one can always hope —

T
and a bookies’ and pundits’ favourite
usually crashes out at the group
he title “Euro 2021” would expert pundits. Why did Turkey stage.
have had a weird kind of lose on Friday? The pundits opined My big fear is that this time, it will
ring to it, as if football were that it was because they “didn’t be the turn of England. Everybody
a sport nobody much cared turn up” — and yet I saw them, with seems to think we will breeze
about, like rugby, and thus my own eyes. through via our last game against the
had to hold its tournaments Asked for one piece of advice to Czech Republic, forgetting what
in an odd-numbered year. the Welsh team before their game happened when we last played them.
This feeling was yesterday against Switzerland in the They are no mugs.
confirmed by the necessarily sparse famous European sporting capital of Strangely, I would like Scotland to
attendance for Friday’s opening Baku, Dean Saunders said: “They’ve do well. On paper they have an awful
game in Rome — as if we were got to turn up.” Well, it would be a squad, surely one of the two or three
watching, say, Doncaster Belles v start. weakest in the tournament. But they
Everton Ladies, rather than Italy v Was Dean alluding to the will be buoyed by playing two games
Turkey. ramshackle public transport in at Hampden and one at Wembley,
In fairness, the away supporters Azerbaijan, or the clogged roads? where they will assuredly “turn up”.
kicked up a hell of a racket until they England, we were told, would also They have a certain momentum with
realised that their team were need to “turn up” for today’s fixture them, if you can call beating
hopeless, when they shut up for a bit. against Croatia (although if it’s OK Luxembourg 1-0 momentum. Like
Italy were fine, although perhaps not with you, I’d prefer it if Tyrone Mings Wales, it is a miracle they got
deserving of all the accolades poured didn’t, given that he’ll probably last through, a triumph of mind over
upon them, and probably not about 15 minutes before being sent matter — I hope it stays with them.
deserving of my tip for the off for throttling a Croat having been I also hope that the refereeing will
championship. I always tip Italy and, caught out of position at a corner). Ronaldo and defending champions Portugal are never short of confidence be of the standard laid down by the
sure enough, they are always evicted Regarding England, I have long Dutchman, Danny Makkelie, in the
earlyish before returning home to be been resigned to the players being on references to how odd foreigners are. first match.
pelted with gelato, stale gnocchi and their knees both before the match They do not even point out when The pundits opined I am so bored with penalties being
dismembered parts of Vespa
motorcycles by the histrionically
and indeed after 90 minutes have
elapsed. I would be deliriously happy
foreign players have names that, in
English, are either a direct
that Turkey ‘didn’t given when a defender’s hand
accidentally touches the ball.
disappointed locals. if Southgate could prove me wrong — contradiction of their playing turn up’ — and Makkelie, to his credit, was having
Still, the weirdness
notwithstanding, I have been
and he could start by fielding an XI
that includes both Jack Grealish and
abilities, such as Immobile (Italy), or
a slight exaggeration of them, such as
yet I saw them, none of it, no matter how loud the
Italians moaned, and he even looked
looking forward to this tournament Phil Foden. And not Jordan Okay (Turkey). with my own eyes affronted when one penalty appeal
for a year and nothing will stop me Henderson. Schadenfreude is one of the most was referred to VAR.
from enjoying it, not even Gareth At least let us exit with verve and compelling reasons for watching the So bring it all on. If England can’t
Southgate’s knee-bending vanity talent on display. other teams compete, the pleasure of win, I would like to see the title go to
project. There is much to look I notice, too, that the seeing a national side who really rate Hungary, to cheer up that nice Mr
forward to, not least the asinine commentators are terribly respectful themselves, come a cropper. For Orbán. But we can’t always get what
ejaculations from the array of these days and don’t make slighting most British people this usually we want.

Alyson Rudd
slightly crazy but uplifting contrary, Denmark to win the
sunshine flag of North Macedonia. Euros,” I said, “and I had such a
I used to make my children lovely time partying with the Danes
watch obscure Finland matches so when they won against the odds in

England wilt, Wales are they could see the artistry and
brilliance of Jari Litmanen, who
1992.”
There was a brief impasse,

temporary and Japan won 137 caps across four decades.

At last, I could fly the blue and
resolved when it was determined
that if I was so sure Denmark would

aren’t in Europe – my white Finland flag. Then came a

sense of duty. We should reflect the
do well, then their flag could, in a
few weeks, replace that of Hungary.

family’s flag tradition presence of Wales and Scotland,

surely, as part of the British Isles?
Belgium, it was determined, could
also wait its turn given how sure
There was not a great deal of younger son was that neither
enthusiasm, but as one objection The Rudd household decked out Gareth Bale nor Andy Robertson
was that they were unlikely to with flags and ready for Euro 2020 would progress from the group
We stood on the pavement on the mother as Christmas. progress far, I argued that we stage. Which left Ukraine, with its
opposite side of the street and “So, you put up bunting?” one of should put up their flags and take the Hungary flag would confuse dash of politics as well as its sky
sighed in aesthetic appreciation of them had asked, puzzled. them down as they are knocked passers-by, bound to see the red, blue and yellow stripes to offset the
what we had achieved — but only This is not what we do. The flags out. That meant six of the eight white and green stripes and assume overall predominance of green and
for a few seconds because my elder are big and bold and each tells a starting places were by now they were looking at Italy. Hungary, red, to win through.
son dashed back indoors like a story. There are rules — which determined, which left me standing then, made the cut. Not everyone in my corner of
firefighter upon hearing the determined without debate the fate forlornly in the middle of the living That left elder son holding southwest London is as excited
mewing of a kitten. of four of the eight flags. The room holding a brand new, fresh- Ukraine, younger son holding about the tournament. The very
The England flag was wilting and remainder required the art of out-of-the-wrapping Hungary flag. Belgium and me holding Denmark first passing neighbour assumed
required a tightening. This always persuasion and compromise. “Why did I buy this?” I asked. with one space remaining. the flag of North Macedonia was
happens. It is always England’s flag The holders always have a spot, This is Hungary’s fourth “Ukraine is under threat from that of Japan.
that droops or becomes ruffled. so Portugal’s place was secured. appearance at the Euros. They are Russia and needs our support,” “But you know Japan isn’t in
Read into that what you will. Usually, the host nation is not debutants, and we are all too elder son said. “Plus we need the Europe,” I said.
Thursday was Flag Day. The day guaranteed representation and that young to care about mighty Magyar balance of their yellow-and-blue “Oh, I thought the World Cup
we choose which 5ft x 3ft flags fly to was potentially tricky this year with Ferenc Puskas. We scratched our colour scheme.” was on,” she said nonchalantly.
signify the start of a major football 11 host cities but easily resolved as heads. “My bedroom is at the front of As I type these words a man,
tournament. The day we discover we always fly the cross of St George “Maybe you bought it because the house, and I want to hear laden with shopping, has stopped
problems. and the final will be held at they are one of the hosts,” elder son people confusing Belgium with to take a photograph of my house.
Elder son explained to his flat- Wembley. Debutants are always said, “so it definitely deserves a Germany,” younger son said. “It This is my interlude as tourist
mates that he had to make the trip honoured and so it was with a high place. And it’s brand new.” will be funny.” attraction, educationalist and,
home as it was as important to his degree of glee that I put up the There was the added bonus that “I’ve tipped, in order to be quite possibly, attention seeker.
 LIONS’
FIRST ROAR.
COVERED.
ENGLAND v CROATIA KO 14:00
PLUS, AUSTRIA v NORTH MACEDONIA KO 17:00
NETHERLANDS v UKRAINE KO 20:00

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16 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Cricket Second Test: England v New Zealand

ENGLAND DRIVING RO
Captain’s form suffers as side shorn of the most
redoubtable players succumb meekly to Kiwis
105 Tests behind him, and after he had
SIMON finally lifted his shoulders and
WILDE dragged himself off the pitch, Root
must have thought back to the morn-
ing drinks break when he implored
his players to up their game. The

J
bowlers had responded but his youth-
ful batting line-up had not. They had
oe Root has experienced some proved juvenile in every sense. He
tough days in his four years as must have reflected, too, on the wis-
England captain but few as dom of a policy that had determined
depressing as this. Normally to give England’s IPL players this
the most fluent of players, he series off. Those who are fit are now
was reduced to near strokeless- playing for their counties. What a bril-
ness as he attempted to shore liant idea.
up a miserable batting col- Without Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and
lapse, edging his way to 11 from 60 Chris Woakes, Root has been stripped
balls before aiming a cut at an inviting of his best counsel and his most self-
short ball from left-arm spinner Ajaz less cricketers, and paid the price. In
Patel and feathering a catch to the their absence, and under intense
wicketkeeper. pressure from a superbly organised
He would normally put such a ball New Zealand side, discipline simply
away for four every time but by this collapsed. New Zealand are heading
point his mind must have been scram- for only their third Test series win in
bled by the turbulence of the previous England — their first since 1999.
6½ hours. Root’s departure left The three-day humiliation was
England further in the mire at 76 for averted thanks to the brave resistance
seven, still nine runs behind, and with of Mark Wood and Olly Stone, two of
every prospect of defeat inside three Root’s stoutest characters, who added
days. 44 — Wood hoisting his side into the
His slowest score of ten or more in lead by hitting Patel over midwicket
for six — before Wood fell to the tire-
less Neil Wagner for 29, the top score
SCOREBOARD of the innings. With Stuart Broad
quickly following, England reached
the close ahead by 37 with one wicket
left, Stone unbeaten from 53 balls.
England: First Innings 303 (D W Lawrence 81 England had started batting again
not out, R J Burns 81; T Boult 4-85). at 3.15pm and immediately they were
England Second Innings 122-9 in trouble as Rory Burns, their most
R J Burns c Latham b Henry 0 dependable batsman of the series, fell
D P Sibley c Mitchell b Henry 8
for a second-ball duck, edging a ball
Z P Crawley lbw b Henry 17
he might have left from Matt Henry
J E Root c Blundell b Patel 11
low to second slip where Tom
O J D Pope lbw b Wagner 23
D W D Lawrence c Blundell b Wagner 0
Latham, New Zealand’s stand-in cap-
J R D Bracey b Patel 8 tain, took a fine catch to his right.
O P D Stone not out 15 Dom Sibley then fended a ball tim-
M A D Wood c Blundell b Wagner 29 idly to Daryl Mitchell at third slip,
S C J Broad b Boult 1 again off the bowling of Henry. Zak
J M J Anderson not out 0 Crawley and Root took England
Extras (b5 lb4 nb1) 10 through to the tea interval on 18 for behaviour. Calm down, slow down, crowd who recognised an underdog Wood having Henry Nicholls caught
Total (9 wkts, 41 overs) 122 two but the carnage soon continued and he might make the sort of score he in need of support. He pushed his down the leg side with the next deliv-
Fall 1-0, 2-17, 3-30, 4-58, 5-58, 6-71, 7-76, after the restart as New Zealand’s abil- is looking for. third ball wide of mid-on for a single, ery after hitting him on the head.
8-120, 9-121 ity to bypass what was still a pretty flat Wagner followed up with a fine then struck a boundary, before going After lunch, England came out with
Bowling Henry 12-2-36-3; Boult 10-2-34-1; pitch and make the ball move through delivery to take Dan Lawrence’s out- too far across to sweep Patel and drag- renewed purpose. Stone had Mitchell
Wagner 10-1-25-2; Patel 9-4-25-2 the air — to an extent not matched by side edge. Lawrence had shown ging onto his leg stump. smartly caught at mid-wicket by Craw-
New Zealand: First Innings 388 (overnight England — made life a constant head- promise in the first innings but the Led by Broad with four for 48, ley pulling and James Anderson
229-3) ache. pressure was now altogether differ- England had fought back well to keep accounted for Wagner. Wood took
L R P Taylor c Bracey b Stone 80 Crawley, who had walked to the ent. James Bracey walked out to the the deficit below 100. The only suc- over from Stone and trapped Henry
H M P Nicholls c Bracey b Wood 21 wicket with a series of anaemic-look- middle, trailed by two ducks and cesses of the morning were Stone stone-dead leg-before and Broad then
T A P Blundell c Root b Broad 34 ing scores behind him, got away some heartfelt cheers from a Saturday removing Ross Taylor for 80 and mopped up the last two wickets.
D J P Mitchell c Crawley b Stone 6 sweet shots for precious runs only to Further evidence of England’s rud-
N J P Wagner b Anderson 0 be beaten on the inside edge by a nip- derlessness came with further mis-
M J P Henry lbw b Wood
A Y P Patel lbw b Broad
12
20
backer to give Henry a third wicket in
5.1 overs.
SILVERWOOD: KIWIS TAUGHT US A LESSON haps in the field. Taylor was dropped
on 68 by substitute fielder Sam Bil-
T A P Boult not out 12 That Root agreed to review a deci- lings and Tom Blundell should have
Extras (b13 lb21 nb1) 35 sion that was incontrovertible showed Chris Silverwood, England’s head in the second Test. “We need to been dismissed for a third-ball duck
Total (119.1 overs) 388 the state of England’s fractured think- coach and now head selector, work on our batting, there’s no but Bracey dived too far to his right.
Fall 1-15, 2-137, 3-229, 4-292, 5-312, 6-335, ing and five overs later he was party to admitted last night his side were point running away from it. We Bracey will give way to Buttler
7-336, 8-353, 9-361 equally desperate thinking when Ollie given “a lesson” by New Zealand. need to get in the nets and figure it when England next take the field in a
Bowling J Anderson 29-9-68-1; S Broad Pope was adjudged leg-before to Wag- “It was not good enough. We out. It’s a little bit of technique and Test but several of the top-order bats-
23.1-8-48-4; M Wood 25-3-85-2; O Stone ner. Like Crawley, Pope played some need to improve.” Silverwood said mental. They’ve got to work with men are earmarked to face India and
24-5-92-2; J Root 15-3-45-0; D Lawrence nice looking shots but like Crawley he after his side were reduced to 122 the coaches to find something that Australia. At the moment, those chal-
3-0-16-1 is searching for a substantial score for nine and on the brink of defeat works with their technique.” lenges look utterly beyond them – and
Umpires R Illingworth and R Kettleborough and this has manifested itself in manic Root must surely know that.
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 17

OT TO DISTRACTION
KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH

NEW INNINGS, SAME OLD STORY

Rory Burns falls
to Matt Henry’s
Simon Hughes
Poor pitches are hampering England’s
second ball,
edging a rash batting. New Zealand have moved on
attempted drive
to second slip. from veggie gardens and dribblies
Henry strikes
again in the
fourth over,
removing Dom 0-1
Sibley, caught at Auckland was recently voted the improve its playing surfaces. And encourage the preparation of firm,
third slip world’s most liveable city in a survey improve them they did. dry surfaces. Mower-blade levels are
by The Economist’s Intelligent Unit Within a decade, New Zealand set to high and pitches are verdant.
(Zurich was the highest-ranked were producing classy batsmen Durham’s new captain, Scott
European city at No 7). With its capable of playing orthodox cricket Borthwick, recalls barely being able
58-4 excellent weather, spacious, leafy and making double hundreds — as to distinguish the pitch from the
suburbs, interesting terrain (it is built well as genuine pacemen and potent outfield at Trent Bridge for Durham’s
on seven extinct volcanoes), and swing bowlers. And that is essentially first four-day match of the season in
range of beautiful sandy coves, the the make-up of their side now. All April.
City of Sails is certainly a magnificent their top five batsmen play in Nagging, 72mph seamers hold
place to spend an English winter, as I conventional style and average well sway. Kent’s Darren Stevens is the
discovered on several extended stays over 40 in first-class cricket. They prime example. Since 2011, he has
there. have a battery of lively fast bowlers. taken almost 500 first-class wickets at
It was not a place to be a batsman, There is not a dribbly in sight. Firm, an average of under 20. Stevens, Tim
however. Many New Zealand club largely dry, beige-coloured pitches Murtagh, Ryan Higgins and Josh
grounds had several playing areas, have transformed their game. Davey are England’s Sneddon and
After Henry traps Crawley leg-before, Ollie Pope is with their boundaries overlapping. When you try to understand why Larsen. They are the new dribblies.
outsmarted by Neil Wagner, who gets the ball to Often the boundary line in a the batting of the England Test team Their skills are further enhanced by
swing back in, beating the bat and hitting Pope on neighbouring game ran through the is so fragile and uncertain, look no first-class matches regularly
the knee roll. Pope is given out, and on review it edge of the square in yours. So when further than the standard of our continuing under lights (ie in cloudy
comes down to umpire’s call you were batting, not only were you pitches. English county cricket has conditions) which makes batting
confronted by nine fielders and a become like the New Zealand even more of a lottery.
wicketkeeper in your match, but the domestic game of the 1990s. The result is a generation of
58-5 close proximity of several others
(usually with their back to you)
The marginalisation of the four-
day game to spring and autumn, the
county batsmen who average in the
thirties. You can reel them off at
moving into their deep positions in need to get results to seek promotion random — Keaton Jennings, Sam
the game next door. It was extremely (or avoid relegation) and the desire to Robson, Mark Stoneman, Adam Lyth,
off-putting. play to your strengths does not Ben Duckett, James Vince, Joe Denly,
What made it worse, however, was Dawid Malan, Tom Westley and more
the standard of the pitches. They recently Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley
were almost universally terrible, the and Dan Lawrence.
original “veggie gardens” (of which
THE YEAR OF THE DUCK Not one of these players — all of
the Kiwis are famously proud). Rory Burns's and Dan Lawrence's ducks whom have played Tests in the past
They were soft and mottled and yesterday were the 26th and 27th for few years — averages 40 in first-class
horrible to try to bat properly (or bowl England in eight Tests this calendar year cricket. The only batsmen that do in
Dan Lawrence plays at a length ball outside off quickly) on. The most successful the present side, apart from Joe Root,
from Neil Wagner, which he edges to Tom bowlers trundled in and sent down Jonny Bairstow (7 innings) who everyone knows is a class act,
Blundell. In the 17th over, England are five wickets 67mph dobbers that nipped off the 3 are Rory Burns and Ollie Pope. And
down. James Bracey followed in the 22nd and Joe seam and popped up or scuttled, Rory Burns (8) where do they play most of their
Root in the 26th, leaving England 76-7. hitting everything but the middle of 3 cricket? The Oval, renowned as the
the bat. The ’keeper stood up to the best batting pitch in the country.
Dan Lawrence (11)
A leaden Root stumps, there was a ring field and it 3 It is not a prerequisite to have a

WOAKES BACK IN T20 SQUAD

cuts into the was almost impossible to score except stonking first-class batting average to
hands of Blundell by occasionally having a big hack Dom Sibley (14) be a success at Test level, as Marcus
3
to leave England
facing certain
FOR FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS across the line, often with fatal
results. James Bracey (3)
Trescothick and Michael Vaughan, in
particular, proved. But they were the
defeat in both These bowlers were known locally 2 exception that proved the rule.
match and series as dribblies and every club and James Anderson (4) In this era when you are
after an abject Chris Woakes returns to England’s T20 squad for district team had one. They were 2 confronted by a barrage of highly
batting the first time since 2015 after being named in the descended in a line from Dayle Jofra Archer (4) skilled, adequately rested and well
performance that 16-man group to face Sri Lanka in a three-match Hadlee (Richard’s brother), Warren 2 drilled opposition bowlers armed
exposed the series at the end of this month. David Willey, the Stott and the former captain Bev Stuart Broad (4) with more data than Professor Chris
technical Yorkshire all-rounder, and Liam Dawson, the Congdon through his successor 2 Whitty, you need to know your game
deficiencies and Hampshire left-arm spinner, have also been Jeremy Coney, Martin Sneddon, Zak Crawley (11) and be very comfortable with it. And
the inexperience recalled. Eoin Morgan captains the squad, with Gavin Larsen and Chris Harris. 2 what you see with this England side is
of a young Jos Buttler and Sam Curran also included after Honest and legitimate though these batsmen tinkering with already
Sam Curran (2)
batting line-up at being rested for the New Zealand Test matches. bowlers were, they held New Zealand 1 strange, idiosyncratic methods,
Edgbaston cricket back. The country produced triggering and bobbing and shuffling
England T20 squad to face Sri Lanka only two really world-class cricketers Olly Stone (3) in and out of line like errant soldiers
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, capt), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), 1
Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, David Willey (all in that time — Martin Crowe and trying to get in rhythm, with
Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler, Liam Livingstone (both Richard Hadlee. It was all down to Mark Wood (4) consequently erratic results. If
Lancashire), Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Jason Rory (all Surrey),
these cabbage patch pitches. 1 county playing surfaces don’t
Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Chris Woakes
(Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham) When their former off spinner, Dom Bess (2) improve, England’s Test-match
Vitality IT20 series v Sri Lanka John Bracewell, was appointed New 1 mediocrity will continue.
June 23 Cardiff (6.30pm) Zealand head coach in the early 6 Simon Hughes is editor of The
June 24 Cardiff (6.30pm) Jack Leach (8)
June 26 Ageas Bowl (2.30pm) 2000s, he implored the nation to 1 Cricketer magazine
18 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Cricket

Alastair
Cook
Crawley’s dismissal
looked like he was caught
in two minds — between
defence and attack. He
must rediscover the
fearlessness he showed
last summer, before he
runs out of chances

I
do not know Zak Crawley the between defence and attack. It
man, but I do rate Zak Crawley betrayed doubt. It is a question of
the player. Anyone who can whether that doubt stems from loss
score 267 against, we should of form, or about the nature of his
remember, a decent Pakistan role within the batting unit. Or both.
attack, as he did last summer, If you go back to the third Test at
must have the talent to succeed Ahmedabad in February, he raced to
at Test level. I certainly cannot a half-century before his dismissal led
discern any obvious flaws in his to England slumping from 80-3 to 112
technique. all out. I am not blaming him for that
In 12 innings since that knock, collapse but he has only got out of
however, he averages 10. I will not single figures once since then —
dwell on his experiences in India and yesterday’s innings of 17.
Sri Lanka over the winter, because it He and Pope are meant to be the
was his first proper tour to Asia and a future of England but the Surrey
couple of the pitches in the former batsman too has dug himself into a
were akin to a batsman’s graveyard. rut. At least Pope is getting starts,
Those mitigating circumstances having made it into double figures in
cannot be applied to the surfaces at 11 of his past 12 innings. The problem
Lord’s or here at Edgbaston, and is that he is not going on to post
when he got in in the second innings scores — his highest in that period
yesterday, he looked very fluent, being 34. Unlike Crawley, he cannot
before missing a straight one. That plead that he has to face the new ball. What is less obvious is that you
fluency may be part of the problem.
We know that Chris Silverwood has
Yesterday he got himself into an
awful position, across the crease.
PLAYERS WILL BE PUNISHED FOR TWEETS seldom get tested as relentlessly in
Test matches as you do against this
been keen to stress the importance of Pope, in particular, would do well New Zealand attack. For all the
the top order building a platform for to look at the example of his captain. England players and ECB staff will Eoin Morgan, an unnamed England frailties of England’s batting, you
a potentially destructive middle We had been saying for what felt like continue to be punished for player who posted when he was cannot underestimate the quality of
order of Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Ollie the best part of two years that Joe offensive historical social under 16 and five Lancashire the opposition’s bowling (it is hard
Pope and Jos Buttler. Keeping the Root was guilty of not converting media posts despite calls cricketers were also not to believe that they would have
scoreboard ticking over remains key, fifties into hundreds. And then he for an amnesty, the found to have made won the first Test without the third
but so too is batting time. went big in Sri Lanka and India to governing body has offensive comments day washout). And to think they
In contrast to Dominic Sibley confirm his class and appetite. decided. online previously. made six changes from Lord’s.
and, to a lesser extent, Rory Burns, Both Pope’s and Crawley’s travails The board met last The governing Trent Boult, Neil Wagner and Matt
Crawley’s intent to score is clear from illustrate how critical the mental side week and have body insists that Henry have given England nothing —
the outset and he looks every bit a of the game is. I hope both will be announced a review the review will not witness Root struggling to 11 off 61
world-class batsman when he plays honest enough to admit they have a of their guidelines on affect ongoing balls before being trapped by Ajaz
his shots, which is what makes his problem and will respond by seeking social media. That investigations or Patel. Boult, we know, can swing the
first-innings dismissal so curious. out the help of ex-players and other comes after Ollie “prevent further ball, but Wagner and Henry achieved
I do not want to say that his mind specialists. They are both in the Robinson, the 27-year-old disciplinary action being sharp movement too. Other than
was frazzled because I am not around infancy of their careers and there is fast bowler, was suspended from taken in the future”. No decisions James Anderson, England’s bowlers
to observe him in the dressing room, no shame in acknowledging that it international cricket for racist and have been taken by the ECB on are not as reliant on swing, but it
but the shot which ended with him takes time and concentration to sexist tweets posted in 2012 and further sanctions for Robinson, must have been chastening for them
being caught in the slips looked like adjust to the heightened challenge of 2013. James Anderson, Jos Buttler, pictured, or the other players. to see how the New Zealand trio were
that of a man in two minds — caught international cricket. rewarded for pitching the ball up.

YOUR GUIDE TO What is the World Test

Championship?
How does it work?
The top nine ranked Test
factor. India (72.2 per cent)
and New Zealand (70.0) led
it was decided it would be
safer for the teams to stay on
scope for the game to be
extended into a sixth day. The
FRIDAY’S It is a two-year league for Test teams were originally the table ahead of Australia site at the venue, and match referee, rather
SHOWDOWN cricket, created to give
context to the longstanding
scheduled to play three home
and three away series
(69.2) and England (61.2).
England needed to win their
the Ageas Bowl has
its own hotel.
than the English
umpires Richard
BETWEEN INDIA exchange of bilateral series. It between July 2019 and April recent series in India 3-1 to Illingworth and
AND NEW ZEALAND was originally planned to start
in 2013 but was twice
2021, with the top two then
contesting a final. Because of
qualify for the final but they
were beaten 3-1.
What happens if
it rains?
Michael Gough,
will update the
TO DECIDE WORLD’S postponed before getting the pandemic, however, The match is teams and media
BEST TEST NATION under way with the England-
Australia series in 2019.
teams were unable to play all
their scheduled series —
When and where is the final?
India and New Zealand meet
scheduled for
five days but if
on the situation
as the match
Previously the team at the top Australia and South Africa on Friday at the Ageas Bowl, time is lost due to progresses. If the
of the Test rankings in April played only four — and a Southampton. The match was bad weather and the match still ends in a
each year received the ICC percentage of points won originally planned for Lord’s shortfall cannot be made draw or a tie the teams will
Test championship mace became the determining but because of the pandemic up on earlier days there is be declared joint winners.
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 19

Rough start for Taylor,

RUI VIEIRA

FAMILIAR FAILINGS I HAVE SYMPATHY FOR

Ollie Pope has scored in SUSPENDED ROBINSON
the 20s in six of his 12
Test innings this year

First innings
My international career was still
quite young when Twitter took off
but Diamonds triumph
in the late 2000s. I was not really ALLAN MCKENZIE/REX
Second innings one for reading traditional media,
First Test, v India like newspapers, so I gave social
media a wide berth too. Why
34 28
bother with the distraction?
Second Test, v India At that point, I may have been
22 12 in the majority in the England
Third Test, v India dressing room; by the time I
1 12 played my last Test, in 2018, I
Fourth Test, v India would have been in the minority.
29 15 A social media presence is the
First Test, v New Zealand norm now for most young
professionals. Even if they were
22 20*
not brought up with it, they are
Second Test, v NZ soon told that an enhanced social
19 23 media profile is no disadvantage
*Not out to landing sponsorship deals.
Crawley’s latest I have never felt more
failure with the bat comfortable with my absence Taylor, who failed with the bat, attempts a stumping against the Stars
yesterday raised from Twitter, Instagram or any of
questions over his the other channels than in the Elizabeth Ammon The Thunder spinner, Hannah
ability to rediscover past week. Ollie Robinson was 18 Jones, took three wickets in an
last year’s fine form when he sent the offending Sarah Taylor could muster only two excellent ten-over spell. Jones was
tweets that surfaced during the runs from five balls on her return to ably supported by the captain Alex
first Test and have landed him a professional cricket, but she ended Hartley, who went for only 26 runs
suspension. They are deeply the day on the winning side as from her ten overs.
embarrassing for him and no one Northern Diamonds moved to the The Loughborough-based
can condone them. top of table in the Rachael Heyhoe Lightning team had a comfortable
I cannot help but have some Flint trophy with a three-wicket win over Sunrisers, who remain
sympathy, however. His youth at win over South East Stars. bottom of the table after slumping
the time of sending those The fourth round of matches in to a fourth consecutive defeat.
messages must be a mitigating this newly formed eight-team Lightning’s victory was inspired by
factor. Then there is the way he regional competition was being a fifty from Michaela Kirk and four
found himself cast into the centre played without most of England’s wickets for Teresa Grave. Kirk hit
of a media furore without any centrally contracted players, who nine boundaries, sharing
warning on day one of his first Test. are in Bristol for their Test match partnerships of 57 with Sarah Bryce
The way he reacted — seven against India, which starts on and 47 with Kathryn Bryce. A 51-run
wickets and an innings of 42 — Wednesday. partnership for the fifth wicket
showed huge character. I am not Sterre Kalis, the Holland between Abbey Freeborn and Sonia
sure if, playing my debut Test, I international, made 75 from 106 Odedra effectively sealed the win.
would have been able to turn in balls in leading the Diamonds to Meanwhile in St Lucia, West
such an impressive display. That chase down a target of 251 with four Indies capitulated to an innings
he now feels the need to take a balls to spare after they had been defeat in the first Test against South
break from cricket reveals how struggling on 70 for five. The Africa. A career-best 141 not out by
England really only did this on a much the week took out of him. England bowlers Jenny Gunn and Quinton de Kock, in his first innings
consistent basis yesterday afternoon England are James Anderson, Jos Buttler Beth Langston also made fifties— since being relieved of the
(and after they had got the ball
changed). Then we saw how difficult
not as reliant and Eoin Morgan, below,
subsequently came under the
the latter unbeaten from only 53
balls — to secure the Diamonds’
captaincy, gave South Africa a huge
219-run first innings lead, after they
it could be to bat in what otherwise on swing but spotlight for historical postings. second win of the tournament. had bowled out West Indies for 97.
looks like a decent pitch.
Ross Taylor, for example, was all
it must be The best response to all of this is
for our top players to get
It was Kirstie White’s 73 off 90
balls that underpinned the Stars’
Five-wicket hauls by Lunghi
Ngidi in the first innings and Kasigo
over the place, but found a way. He chastening involved in the education score of 250 for six from their 50 Rabada in the second innings,
has a habit of falling across the crease programmes that the overs, supported by a series of combined with support from the
but also showed great concentration to see New Professional Cricketers’ useful contributions that included third seamer, Anrich Nortje, proved
and some fine judgment and shot
selection too, to work through the
Zealand Association and wider
society are undertaking.
an unbeaten 42 by Aylish
Cranstone. Her late cameo featured
too much for the West Indies.
Only Roston Chase showed any
difficult spell. When a team as a rewarded Wearing a Unity T-shirt is six boundaries. resistance to the pace and skill of
group can apply themselves like that,
it allows them to build a first-innings
for pitching all very well but let’s try
to find a way of getting
Central Sparks were knocked off
the top of the table after suffering
the three South African seamers,
making 62. The opener Kieran
lead and put the pressure back on the ball up them out in front of schools or their first defeat of the tournament Powell was the next highest scorer
their opponents. England then wilted cricket academies preaching despite an unbeaten century from with 14.
under that pressure. the message of diversity. As their captain Eve Jones, as North Keshav Maharaj removed Chase,
It is also the kind of concentration has been said before, the 2019 West Thunder edged home by two who tried to cut a flighted delivery,
and judgment that a team collectively World Cup-winning team was wickets at New Road. Sparks were and West Indies lasted only another
need to be the best in the world — the model of a modern, multi- bowled out for 203 after recovering nine overs before being skittled for
and right now that is how New ethnic England. from 17 for three thanks to Jones, 162 and losing by an innings and 63
Zealand look. who battled through the 50 overs. runs.

Will there be fans? injury, and made six Bowl but will not play a have an advantage through arguably “the biggest [Test championship would be
About 4,000 spectators can changes to the team formal match before the playing two matches against match] ever” and India’s staged across a two-year
be admitted each day, or 25 who drew at Lord’s, so 17 final. England in the build-up captain, Virat Kohli, left, cycle through to 2031, when
per cent of the Ageas Bowl’s players in their squad will while they have been agreed. Brendon McCullum, the next broadcast rights deal
capacity, in line with Covid have had meaningful Who are favourites? confined to training. Ravi the former New Zealand ends.
regulations. game time. The Playing the match Shastri, India’s head coach, captain, said that India’s The next championship
India squad in England may claimed that India had already bowling attack was the best will run from July this year
How have the teams arrived in England favour New proved they are the best that the country had ever until June 2023. Where the
prepared? on June 3 and Zealand, whose team in the world by topping put out to deal with all finals of these championships
New Zealand will have played immediately had home the ICC rankings for 43 conditions will be staged has yet to be
two Tests against England. three days of conditions are months between October confirmed. Shastri has
They rested Kane Williamson, quarantine. They not dissimilar 2016 and April 2020. But Will there be future Test suggested a best-of-three
left, in the second Test, at have since been to those here. Shastri also said that as the championships? final would be a fairer way
Edgbaston, to give him time involved in intensive The Indian camp first World Test Yes. The ICC recently of determining the best
to recover from an elbow training at the Ageas feel New Zealand Championship final, this was confirmed that the world Test side.
20 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Rugby union Gallagher Premiership

Bath secure
DAVID ROGERS

Champions
Cup spot

N
Stuart Barnes Bayliss ran
The Rec half the pitch
to secure
othing much at stake for Bath’s bonus
Northampton Saints. point with the
They were too many clock red
points behind Harle-
quins to make the play-
off games. Bar pride, this
match against Bath was,

30 24
on paper, pointless.
That was anything but
the case for Bath. The
news that London Irish could not fulfil
Saturday’s fixture at Bristol because of
Covid gave this game a lovely little
end-of-season twist. BATH NORTHAMPTON
Bath started the week eighth in the SAINTS
Premiership — the Champions Cup
cut-off position. The cancellation at
Ashton Gate means Irish will presum-
ably be awarded two points, as has
been the case for all Covid-suffering
sides throughout this campaign.
From having the slenderest of one- Saints showed how to turn territory field. The ever-elegant Rory Hutchin- GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP sin-bin. Zach Mercer replaced Under-
point advantages over the Brentford- into points as James Grayson, Tom son took the support pass and stood hill on the occasion of his 100th and
based team, they ran on to the Recrea- Wood and Courtney Lawes worked Joe Cokanasiga up as he squeezed in at P W D L F A B Pts farewell game before leaving for Mont-
tion Ground knowing they were a the hulking Taqele Naiyaravoro over the corner. It was a 14-point swing and Bristol (Q) 22 17 1 4 561 379 15 85 pellier. Bath maintained control of
point adrift of Irish, who did not take for his first try. with Naiyaravoro ambling in for the Exeter (Q) 22 17 0 5 624 356 14 82 field position; the penalties racked up.
the field. For Bath, this game had a From the 22nd-minute restart Bath Saints’ third and a 19-15 half-time lead, Sale (Q) 22 16 0 6 537 401 10 74 The catch-and-drive lineout appeared
point — one to be specific — the one responded. Sam Underhill charged that eighth European berth was back Harlequins (Q) 22 13 1 8 703 564 15 71 the likeliest route to the fourth try and
bonus point required to qualify for the down Alex Mitchell for an immediate in the balance. Northampton 22 11 0 11 469 457 11 57 bonus point. Tom Doughty, the
Champions Cup. riposte. A couple of minutes later The second half kicked off with Leicester 22 11 0 11 478 492 8 54 replacement hooker, celebrated a set-
The Saints may have had little to another international back-row for- Watson again guilty of losing the ball Bath 22 10 0 12 494 604 12 52 piece score but for a fourth time the
play for but a team stripped of pres- ward crossed as Taulupe Faletau ran in possession with Spencer running a Wasps 22 9 0 13 539 624 14 50 officials correctly brought celebra-
sure can be a dangerous opponent, an inside support line to connect with would-be scoring line. But in the 45th L Irish 22 6 2 14 439 531 14 48 tions to a premature end.
and the East Midlands team have been a sizzling Anthony Watson. minute the Bath forwards made no Newcastle 22 9 0 13 385 512 5 45 An increasingly battered North-
playing some slick stuff of late. In con- The Lions winger looked razor mistake as Jacques du Toit crashed Gloucester 22 7 0 15 450 518 13 45 ampton saw Ehran Painter head to the
trast, Bath were on the verge of a fifth sharp but queered his pitch by failing over from close range. Worcester 22 4 0 18 326 567 11 27 bin; given the lack of incentives this
straight Premiership defeat. to touch down after Ben Spencer A sweeping counterattack from the was an afternoon of real character on
The home side started in deter- (whose boot and brain leave one won- increasingly impressive Tom de Glan- possession and territory. James their part.
mined mood. An early penalty from dering why England have so readily ville put Bath in position to score the Grayson was the scorer this time as Not until the last seconds of the
Rhys Priestland, in his farewell game, dismissed him) had neatly opened the fourth try and claim the bonus point the lead swung back and forth. match did Bath break out from deep.
reflected his team’s supremacy. But blind side. to put them into the Champions Cup. Priestland nudged Bath back ahead Josh Bayliss, the replacement flanker,
Bath have a habit of not capitalising Three minutes later a motivated Again they fluffed their lines, again from in front of the posts in the 62nd scorched half the length of the pitch
on periods of dominance. Naiyaravoro punctured the Bath mid- the Saints struck back, having had less minute while Naiyaravoro was in the for the try. It was a thrilling end to a

Stuart
Any anarchists out there will be but this is a side without either a has been happening across the road
rooting for Harlequins come the director or head of rugby; call the at Twickenham are plain as day. You would
Gallagher Premiership play-offs. role what you will. Harlequins’ highly rated fly half be hard
Barnes
Their journey to the top four has Last week I was on a panel was being linked with Bath
been one like no other. Eight games discussing the Premiership director (ironically, as under Stuart Hooper, pushed to
into the season and the director of
rugby, Paul Gustard, left the club “by
of the season. When the subject of
Harlequins cropped up, no one was
the club has hardly been a hotbed of
instinctive rugby). But it was Gustard
recognise
Can ripping up the mutual consent”. Under the entirely sure who exactly should be who walked; Smith remained and has their style of
former England defence nominated. Nick Evans, Adam Jones, become the talking point of this
rugby as the
rulebook take this coach, the Londoners
had won only two
Jerry Flannery? Maybe Danny Care or
Marcus Smith. This team have
season’s Premiership. His freedom to
play it as he sees it has been same sport
free-spirited matches.
Seventh in the
handed over much of the minute-to-
minute decision-making to the
instrumental in the stunning change
of fortunes. at times
Harlequins side all Gallagher Premiership,
there was more written
players. The improvement is clear.
Gustard placed much faith in the
England, on one side of the dual
carriageway, have been playing what

the way to the about their good fortune

because of relegation being
established twin virtues of
organisation and discipline. Rumour
they were told. Harlequins, what they
see. You would be hard pushed to

title? Maybe postponed than fanciful

talk of titles. Yet here
was doing the Premiership rounds:
there was too much of it,
recognise their rugby as the same
sport at times. Quite how Smith will
they are. Billy metaphorical straitjackets were fit into the Eddie Jones template
Millard is the club’s holding free spirits such as Care and against the United States and Canada
general manager Smith back. The echoes with what is surely the England rugby question
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 21

BRISTOL END
REGULAR SEASON Leicester back among Europe’s elite
IN FIRST PLACE
31
could not negate Leicester’s scrum George Martin influential figures
WASPS power and the visitors also managed throughout. Genge opted for a five-
Pat Lam’s transformation of Bristol the loss of Zack Henry to a second-half metre tap-and-go that led to Tomás
Bears into Gallagher Premiership
contenders took another step
LEICESTER TIGERS 38 yellow card — they did not concede a
point while down to 14 men.
Lavanini diving over for McPhillips to
make it 13 points from the boot, with
forward yesterday when it was Chris Jones Borthwick said: “I challenged the Wasps snatching a losing bonus point
confirmed that they finished the Ricoh Arena players and they have challenged me through Umaga’s late penalty.
regular season in first place. back and have worked incredibly Lee Blackett, the Wasps director of
That it came thanks to a Covid- Leicester Tigers completed the first hard. This is a young team with a rugby, admitted that 12 weeks ago his
19 outbreak at London Irish is stage of their rehabilitation under hunger to learn.” players were drained by the quick
unlikely to trouble Lam and his Steve Borthwick by qualifying for next Wasps started with real intent and turnaround after the final. “You
team. Irish returned several season’s Heineken Champions Cup — the No 8 Sione Vailanu, who is moving forget how much emotion there was
positives and a “significant an achievement matched by Wasps, to Worcester, finished off a sustained getting to the final,” he said. “There
number” of the squad were ruled who are also in a rebuilding phase. attack from close range by getting the was a cumulative effect and I am
out as close contacts. As per the Leicester have ended in sixth place ball down under a mound of bodies Leicester secured a Heineken proud of how we kept on fighting.”
Premiership’s regulations for following two seasons finishing 11th for Jacob Umaga to convert. Leicester Champions Cup place next season
matches cancelled because of after making significant strides under used their ball carriers and scrum Star man George Martin (Leicester)
Wasps: Tries: Vailanu 8, 36, Umaga 26, Rowlands
Covid, Bristol were awarded four Borthwick, their director of rugby, power to register their first score, Wasps competed so well for the 56, Cons Umaga (4) Pen Umaga
points for the match and Irish two. and now possess a pack of forwards with the lock Cameron Henderson restart that the ball was worked into Leicester: Tries: Henderson 19, Scott 23, Cole 34,
Three years after they were that their fans will instantly recognise scooping up the ball and reaching for Vailanu’s hands and, after brushing Montoya 46, Lavanini 71. Cons McPhillips 5, Pen
McPhillips
promoted to the Premiership, as being true to their traditions. This the line for Johnny McPhillips to past Jasper Wiese, the No 8 showed Wasps R Miller (M Le Bourgeois 74), M Watson,
Lam’s team will face Harlequins — was a match to mark the many convert from out wide, and the good pace to reach the tryline. M Fekitoa (J de Jongh 73), M Le Bourgeois
54-26 victors over Newcastle changes both teams have made or are outside half was also on target with Umaga’s conversion cut Wasps’ (J Gopperth 57), J Bassett; J Umaga, D Robson
Falcons at Twickenham Stoop making, with five of the Wasps pack the extra points after Matt Scott’s try. deficit to three points at the break. (B Vellacott 76); S McIntyre (B Harris 73), T Taylor
(T Cruse 58), K Brookes (J Toomaga-Allen 51),
yesterday — at Ashton Gate next in this game now leaving the club. Wasps turned to their outside Julián Montoya scored his fifth try in W Rowlands, J Gaskell (T Taylor 78), T Willis
week in the first of the semi-finals. Wasps, who finished eighth, backs to level up the scores, with six games for the Tigers, but again (T Cardall 55), B Shields (capt), S Vailanu (G Oghre
Exeter Chiefs beat Sale Sharks competed in last season’s play-off the wing Marcus Watson kicking Wasps struck back, with the lock Will 48)
Leicester Z Henry (sin-bin 60-70), F Steward, M
20-19 at Sandy Park yesterday and final against Exeter Chiefs, but have through. Umaga picked up, evaded Rowlands cutting a clever line and Scott, D Kelly (M Moroni 65), N Nadolo; (K
they will play again in the second experienced a difficult campaign two tacklers and took one over with then galloping over in his final game Murimurivalu 51), J McPhillips, J Van Poortvliet; (B
semi-final at the same venue. disrupted by injuries to key players. him for an excellent solo try that he for the club before moving to Wales. Youngs 51), E Genge (capt) (J Whitcombe 71), J
Montoya (C Clare 53), D Cole (J Heyes 56), H Wells,
London Irish’s two points might Yet they stuck to their desire to move converted. Shortly after McPhillips Leicester dealt expertly with the C Henderson (T Lavanini 59), G Martin,
have been enough to take them the ball and joined Leicester in getting scored a penalty, he converted a rare loss of Henry to that yellow card, with H Liebenberg, J Wiese (O Chessum 58)
into the Champions Cup, but a try bonus point. However, they try from the prop Dan Cole. the captain, Ellis Genge, and flanker Referee L Pearce
Bath’s victory over Northampton
prevented that. The West Country

Exeter fightback sets up home semi-final against Sale

side took seventh place, Wasps
eighth, Northampton fifth and
Leicester Tigers sixth to complete
the Champions Cup places.

20
early casualties for Sale, too, and Cowan-Dickie and Sam Simmonds. adrift but Sale had Ben Curry yellow-
EXETER CHIEFS could struggle to make the weekend. MacGinty, due to captain the US carded, Joe Simmonds kept his calm
disappointing season for Bath but the MacGinty scored one try and made against England next month, was and the sequel is on.
sun was shining. Bath had their Euro-
pean place and the Saints their pride;
SALE SHARKS 19 two others as he tortured Exeter for
45 minutes and Sale led 19-3. Yet just
central to creating Sale’s 16-point
lead. His pass found Byron McGuigan Star man Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Scorers: Exeter Chiefs: Tries Cowan-Dickie
3,019 fans celebrated victory and a Adam Hathaway when Exeter, who had Dave Ewers lurking on the right wing after a (59min), Townsend (65). Cons J
return to the Recreation Ground as Sandy Park binned in the first half, looked like minute and he scored under Simmonds 2 (61, 66). Pens J
Johnny Cash sang Ring of Fire. Dave bending when lock Sam Skinner was the posts after drifting Simmonds 2 (6, 70)
Sale Sharks: Tries McGuigan (1),
Egerton would have loved it. Joe Simmonds decided a match billed sent off for a high shot on Faf de inside Henry Slade ten MacGinty (21), Reed (42). Cons
as the battle between Exeter Chiefs’ Klerk, they came back to within two minutes later. MacGinty 2 (2, 21).
Star man Ben Spencer (Bath). British & Irish Lions and Sale Sharks’ points. Simmonds did the rest. Exeter had not Exeter Chiefs S Hogg (S
Bath: Tries Underhill (22min), Faletau (25), Du Toit Lonsdale 60); A Cuthbert, H
(46), Bayliss (80). Cons Priestland 2. Pens Priestland Springboks as the champions Bristol’s cancellation meant Exeter landed a punch, then
Slade, O Devoto, T O’Flaherty; J
2. Northampton: Tries Naiyaravoro 2 (19,40), secured a home semi-final next week. could not claim top spot but could came Skinner’s Simmonds (capt), J Maunder (S
Hutchinson (36), Grayson (59). Cons Grayson 2. Simmonds, the Exeter fly half, stay second with a losing bonus point. unfortunate red and they Townsend 46); A Hepburn (B
Bath T de Glanville, A Watson, J Joseph, M Ojomoh, Moon 46), L Cowan-Dickie (J
J Cokanasiga, R Priestland, B Spencer; B Obano (J
stepped up to close out the game Sale were 14-3 up at half time after were looking at a trip up to
Yeandle 61), H Williams (M Street 61),
Schoeman 52), J du Toit (T Doughty 60), C Judge (H with a 45-metre penalty but Exeter blasting out of the blocks. They Salford next weekend. But S Skinner (sent off 53), J Hill, D Ewers
Thomas 47), J McNally, C Ewels (W Spencer 72), M will know they were in a game and picked just about their best available inspired by Cowan-Dickie, inset, (sin-bin 33-43), J Kirsten (R Capstick 27), S
Reid, S Underhill (Z Mercer 52), T Faletau (J Bayliss Sale will be back again at Sandy Park side with four players in the and Hill, their pack forced the hooker Simmonds.
60). Sale Sharks S Hammersley; B McGuigan, S James,
Northampton T Freeman, T Collins, F Dingwall, R on Saturday. They may be without Springbok squad to face the Lions, over in the 59th minute. M Tuilagi (R Du Preez 56), A Reed; AJ MacGinty (S
Hutchinson (C Tupai 56), T Naiyaravoro, J Grayson, their outstanding fly half AJ including De Klerk and prop Coenie MacGinty kicked the restart Hill 79), F De Klerk (W Cliff 73); R Harrison (B Rodd
A Mitchell (T Litchfield 56); N Auterac, M Haywood MacGinty, however. He went off on a Oosthuizen, and they had Manu straight out — his first error — and 46), A Van der Merwe (C Langdon 11), C
(F van Wyck 55), P Hill (J Fish 55), A Coles, A Moon Oosthuizen (W-G John 46), C Wiese (J Phillips 57),
(A Ratuniyarawa 53), C Lawes, L Ludlam (O stretcher with a knee strain late on. Tuilagi starting for the first time since another series of Chiefs drives ended
J-L Du Preez, C Neild (B Curry 6, sin-bin 64-74), T
Newman 72), T Wood. The hooker Akker van der Merwe September. Exeter fielded four Lions with scrum half Stu Townsend going Curry (capt), D Du Preez.
Referee: I Tempest. Attendance: 3,019. and flanker Cameron Neild were — Stuart Hogg, Jonny Hill, Luke over. Chiefs were still two points Referee K Dickson (RFU). Attendance 3,200.

of the summer. The benefit of the Nothing has changed. While they riveting ride but now comes the underdogs. It is the old Kevin Keegan
heads-up rugby once played and now entered round 22 as leading scorers, serious stuff. adage when he managed Newcastle
espoused by Evans is there for all to they are, in stark contrast, struggling What was it Shaun Edwards had United. If they score three, we’ll
see. The men from the Stoop went to shore up the rearguard. Only nailed up on the Wasps dressing score four. It worked wonderfully
into the final Saturday of the regular Wasps, Bath and Worcester had room as they ran on to the field in well for most of the season but still
season as the leading points-scorers conceded more points before their title-winning days? “Defences Newcastle could not cross the
in the Premiership. Whether it is a yesterday. Bristol and Harlequins win titles.” If that is the case, Premier League finishing line in first
break from their own 22, or Smith would be many a fan’s idea of the Harlequins haven’t a hope. Without a position. Does anyone think a team
taking three points rather than a kick most entertaining teams in this head coach they have produced playing all-out attack will win Euro
to the corner, they have the capacity season’s Premiership. Yet while shards of glittering brilliance in the 2020?
to keep the scoreboard moving like Harlequins were averaging 26 points last 14 rounds of regular rugby. They The Quins are trying to buck
no others. a game against them after 21 rounds romped into fourth place but were trends. Be it without an overall head
The fly half and Alex Dombrandt of rugby, Pat Lam’s Bristol have some distance from the big three. coach or with an emphasis on attack
(another player reborn under the tightened their game considerably, Do Harlequins have it in them to over defence, they have thrown
new regime) have been the best conceding nearer 18 per game. score sufficient points against two caution to the wind. The players are
double act of the campaign on the Perhaps surprisingly, Harlequins from Bristol, Exeter and Sale to win making decisions and enjoying
front foot. The news is positive — like leaked an average of 25 points a game the title? The odds are stacked themselves. Whatever next?
the way they play — but defence last season with Gustard at the helm. against them. History backs up
remains a problem. Even under
Gustard, who did such a fine job with
He failed to plug the defensive leaks
just as Flannery and friends have
Edwards, be it a World Cup or
Premiership final. ON TV
his “wolf pack” at Saracens, they failed to as well. The response has Smith epitomises the attacking And that is one of the reasons Gallagher Premiership semi-finals
were leaking points. been to score more. It has been a spirit of this Harlequins team many a neutral will root for the Next Saturday, BT Sport
22 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Rugby union

The greatest
experience of
my career was
the 1997 tour
How a disparate group of players
put their egos and ambitions to one
side to beat the toughest opponents

LAWRENCE
DALLAGLIO

British & Irish Lion

1997, 2001 and 2005

Oatlands Park, May 16, 1997.

The British & Irish Lions have been

THE LIONS
gathered for nearly a week at our
luxury hotel in Weybridge. It’s the day
before we take a night flight down to
South Africa. The days together have
been spent mostly in team-bonding
exercises, discussing and drawing up
our tour code of conduct rules and, at
most, three training sessions. For our

IN SOUTH AFRICA
last night in the UK, the tour manager,
Fran Cotton, announces that we are
all going down to the local pub.
Fran, you played a blinder. The
week had been going well up until
then but that evening of drinking and
mixing with the pub regulars was the
moment the squad really gelled. I may

PART THREE
even go so far as to say it was the
moment that won us the Test series.
What you have to remember is that
back then, in the early days of profes-
sionalism, the home union players
didn’t have the same familiarity with
one another as they do now. The
Heineken Cup was only in its second stand the heat of the battle had been Eric Miller, who was in the form of his dards and, with world champion sta-
year, with the English clubs having formed. young life, were my rivals for the Test tus conferred on them in 1995, the
boycotted the first season. Summer In sport, as in business and politics, squad (remember replacements were Springboks weren’t going to take a
tours were few and far between. if you want to win people over, if you limited to only two then). Tim Rodber backward step. Nor were any of the
The Five Nations was the only real want to get the best out of them, then and Scott Quinnell, who had made provincial teams going to play by
opportunity to size up or have a beer you need to connect their head with such a big impression since his return rugby’s equivalent of the Marquess of
with an England team-mate or a Scot- their heart. That’s what McGeechan, from rugby league, were battling for Queensberry rules.
tish, Irish or Welsh opponent. The his assistant Jim Telfer and Cotton did. the No 8 jersey. Again, the experience of McGee-
idea that the captain of England might Fran’s role sometimes gets over- At open-side, Richard Hill and Neil chan, Telfer and Cotton was invalua-
be on familiar terms with the captain looked because he wasn’t involved in Back were turning in phenomenal ble here. Intellectually, tactically and
of Scotland — as he would be now — the day-to-day coaching, but he was performances whenever they turned emotionally, that trio pushed all the
because they shared the same agent an equal member of that management out in the warm-up games. Behind the right buttons. Geech had spent a fort-
or sponsor, or attended the same triumvirate. He had toured South scrum, Matt Dawson was one of the night shadowing the New Zealand
corporate functions, was absurd. Africa in 1974 and 1980 and wasn’t stars of the series but he only started coach, John Hart, a year earlier when
Nor was the Lions culture and his- going to be messed around by the host the Tests after Rob Howley had to he had guided the All Blacks to their
tory ingrained in us. Only six of those nation. He spoke the players’ lan- return home with a shoulder injury. first series win in South Africa. He had
picked for South Africa had been on guage. In short, he had your back. I had been to South Africa three seen the tactical preparation and
the previous tour to New Zealand four Those early weeks were interesting years earlier with England, which physical endurance required to pull
years earlier, and Ian McGeechan because there was huge competition gave me a good idea of the physical off that historic feat.
hadn’t coached at international level for places. I was marked down to play challenge that would be coming our McGeechan’s familiarity with the
since then. By the end of that boozy No 6, which meant the Scotland cap- way. That tour had been particularly Springbok mentality also prompted
night, however, the bonds that with- tain, Rob Wainwright, and Ireland’s brutal even by South African stan- some selection masterstrokes. Gregor
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 23

TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER BRADLEY ORMESHER PAUL CURRIE/REX

Did we celebrate that night? Of

If route one course we did. We went out after
didn’t work, every Saturday on that tour and even
managed a few drinks midweek as
then they tried... well. What sticks out from that partic-
route one. And if ular night, however, was the pact the
Test side made among ourselves that
that didn’t we would be up the next day, however
sore our bodies and heads might be,
work... well, you to help the midweek team prepare for
get the idea their Tuesday night fixture with the
Free State Cheetahs. They repaid us
with a brilliant display to win 52-30.
Against the Townsend at No 10 and Neil Jenkins at The Test squad watched it from our
battering ram full back for the Tests were bold calls hotel rooms in Durban and it gave us a
tactics of the but you could see those coming early huge lift.
Springboks, in the tour. When we flew out from From the Zulus dancing on the
Dallaglio’s Lions Heathrow, however, I don’t think any- pitch beforehand to the thousands of
deployed the rapier one would have suggested that three Lions supporters making their pres-
of the front five would consist of ence felt in the stadium, the atmos-
Jeremy Davidson, Paul Wallace and phere for the second Test at King’s
Tom Smith. Geech understood that Park was unlike anything I had previ- Mourgue runs through the Leigh defence to score a sixth Catalans try
while we would have to absorb the ously experienced. I don’t think I’ve

Catalans go top
physicality of the Boks, we would also ever tackled as much or seen as little
have to ask questions that would take of the ball as I did that day. In Gary
them out of their comfort zone. It was Teichmann, Ruben Kruger and André
the classic judo trick of using your Venter they had some heavy-duty

after edging thriller

opponent’s strength against him. ball-carriers and they kept coming
Nor was Cotton going to be pushed and coming. If route one didn’t work,
around when the Lions were under then they tried . . . route one. And if
attack. When a spat between John that didn’t work . . . well, you get the
Bentley and James Small — a South idea.
African World Cup hero struggling to We stayed in the contest thanks to James Maloney’s pass reached the
reclaim his place — threatened to grow some resolute defence, their inability RUGBY LEAGUE outstretched hands of Ben Reynolds.
into something big, he put Small to convert their kicks and the relent- The stand-off had 95 metres to cover
firmly in his place. When news broke less ability of Neil Jenkins to land his. and held off the backpedalling Mike
of a training-ground fight between
rival hookers Barry Williams and
It was the best display of pressure
goal-kicking I have seen — and I played
LEIGH CENTURIONS
30 McMeeken for a try at the corner.
Dean Whare’s offload and
Mark Regan he told the media it was in the same team as Jonny Wilkinson. Tomkins’s vision put Josh Drinkwater
just two competitive players letting off
steam. End of story. The stamping by
Nor was it lost on any of us that the
man who kicked the winning drop-
CATALANS DRAGONS
36 into space to put the visiting team
briefly level, before Drinkwater
Eastern Province’s Marius Bosman on goal, Jeremy Guscott, would have offered a second interception try, this
the knee of Doddie Weir, which ended been treated as a second-class citizen Christopher Irvine time to a grateful Brendan Elliot.
the Scotsman’s tour, was appalling in the host nation if he had gone there When Matty Gee dummied the
and he said so, even if the punishment five years earlier. Catalans Dragons leapfrogged the Catalans cover, Leigh deservedly led
meted out to Bosman was a joke. The greatest achievement of my champions St Helens at the top of the by 12 points. They conceded a second
rugby career? That’s easy — winning Super League after a scare at the try before the break to James
Then there was Telfer. I had been the World Cup with England in 2003. hands of bottom-placed, and still Maloney latching on to Drinkwater’s
through some painful scrum sessions The greatest experience? Even easier, winless, Leigh Centurions. grubber in a choreographed move.
while at school at Ampleforth but the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa. In their gun-metal away strip, Having pushed passes and looked
those were armchair rides compared Winning the series — just the second Catalans at times resembled a sleek to score off every play, Catalans
1997 LIONS TOUR TO SA with the gruelling training session he time the Lions had done that there — destroyer glistening in the sun as the found rhythm and composure for
oversaw before the Eastern Province obviously helped but there was more speed of passing and a multi- four tries in 11 minutes, by Samisoni
Overall tour record fixture. If I found it gruelling, God to it. I was 24 at the time, not far off my dimensional attack overwhelmed Langi, Tom Davies, Ben Jullien and
Played 13 knows how the tight-head prop, Paul peak but still with plenty to learn on Leigh in a devastating third quarter. Arthur Mourgue.
Wallace, in front of me, felt taking and off the pitch. It was the start of the At times, they were holed below A Maloney penalty looked the
Won Lost most of the strain. professional era but the tour still had the water by Leigh’s persistence, the icing on the cake, but it became more
11 2 Again, this was all part of the plan. something of the spirit of the amateur Dragons glad of the siren as they were crucial as Hellewell grounded a kick
Jim knew how much emphasis the days. You were encouraged by the besieged in the final minutes. and Brierley was sent clear by Junior
hosts would place on the scrum con- management to go out for a few beers Leigh flew at their opponents, Sa’u and slotted his fifth conversion.
test and was ensuring that we were — Big Fran was often picking up the plundered three first-half tries and Just not enough for Leigh to break
battle-hardened. The Everest speech tab — and there was no one around led 18-6. They had conceded 30 their duck.
he delivered to the pack before the first with a camera on their mobile trying consecutive points when they revived
Test was a re-iteration in verbal form of to shame you on social media. themselves late on with tries by Ben Star man Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons).
Scorers: Leigh Centurions: Tries Reynolds 3min,
the physical challenge he had thrown A few weeks ago, there was a tour Hellewell and Ryan Brierley. As usual, Elliot 14, Gee 23, Hellewell 74, Brierley 76. Goals
Test results v South Africa down to us that day on the scrum reunion on Zoom. We shared our it was the mopping up at the back and Brierley (5). Catalans Dragons: Tries Drinkwater
First Test machine. He made that connection memories and they were interspersed priming of the attack by Sam Tomkins 10, Maloney 29, Langi 47, Davies 51, Jullien 53,
Mourgue 58. Goals Maloney (6).
Newlands Stadium with the head and the heart. with clips from the famous Living with that got Catalans out of more than Leigh Centurions R Brierley; B Elliot, I Thornley, J
Cape Town, June 21 Looking back, that first Test in Cape Lions documentary. Watching the one hole and steered them to a eighth Sa’u, L Tierney; B Reynolds, J Mellor; T McCarthy, L
16-25 Victory Town seems to have gone according to footage felt like an out-of-body experi- win, two points clear of St Helens and Hood, M Ioane, B Hellewell, M Gee, J Bell.
script. South Africa put the squeeze ence, especially when I saw how Wigan Warriors, but with Saturday’s Interchange M Wildie, N Peteru, N Mason, N Peats.
Second Test Catalans Dragons S Tomkins; T Davies, S Langi, D
on in the set piece and elsewhere in much hair I had back then. In any home game in doubt because of Covid Whare, F Yaha; J Maloney, J Drinkwater; M
Kings Park Stadium
the tight in the first half and, though elite sports group, you will have egos cases at Leeds Rhinos. Goudemand, M McIlorum, J Bousquet, B Jullien, M
Durban, June 28 McMeeken, B Garcia. Interchange A Mourgue, P
we struggled initially, we eventually and arrogance. You might even say The teams’ previous clash was in
15-18 Victory Seguier, L Belmas, J Baitieri.
achieved parity and used the ball well you need both to make it to the top. 2017, the “million pound game”, Referee T Grant.
Third Test when we had possession. They huffed What that evening brought home was Catalans avoiding relegation and
Ellis Park Stadium and puffed for 70 minutes but only that everyone sublimated their own denying Leigh a return to the top
Johannesburg, July 5
35-16 Defeat
had a 16-15 lead to show for it. pride and ambition to the greater flight. Leigh’s yo-yo between the HOW THEY STAND
McGeechan had told us that while good. leagues has been a persistent theme.
they would attack with the battering In 1999, the day after Wales’s Scott Their return this year was a process
Original squad by P W D L F A Pts
ram we would have to deploy the Gibbs scored his last-gasp try to deny after Toronto Wolfpack’s
Catalans Dragons 9 8 0 1 268 142 16
nationality (35 players) rapier and that’s what Matt Dawson’s the England team I was captaining a disappearance last year, but with
St Helens 8 7 0 1 206 70 14
England solo try was — a quick, piercing and Six Nations grand slam, I got a text monetary curbs and late recruitment
Wigan 8 7 0 1 158 136 14
18 potentially fatal stab to their heart. I
should add that I bought his dummy
from Gibbsy apologising for his score.
Of course, he wasn’t really sorry but I
inhibiting them.
After seven straight defeats, John Warrington 9 6 1 2 302 157 13
Hull 9 5 1 3 179 143 11
Wales too, as well as the South African appreciated the message. It was a ges- Duffy departed as head coach and
8 defence.
Five minutes later, the energy and
ture equivalent to the “look” that
McGeechan had told us before the sec-
Kurt Haggerty was appointed
caretaker for a more encouraging
Hull KR
Castleford
9
9
5
4
0
0
4
5
223
185
204
232
10
8
Scotland Leeds 8 3 0 5 150 136 6
confidence draining from the Boks, ond Test would one day be enough to performance, albeit in a loss to
5 we stretched their defence to break- symbolise the bonds we had forged. Wakefield Trinity, and this game. Huddersfield
Wakefield
8
10
3
3
0
0
5
7
150
193
162
251
6
6
ing point and Alan Tait, the Scottish That text from Scott, my friends, is It could not have begun more
Ireland Salford 9 1 0 8 106 289 2
centre, touched down in the corner to what the Lions is all about. That is encouragingly as Catalans pressed
4 seal the win. what the Lions of 1997 were all about. but with Leigh up in their faces, Leigh 10 0 0 10 154 352 0
24 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Tennis

FRENCH KISS
Barbora Krejcikova claims first grand-slam singles title and
delivers emotional tribute to her late mentor Jana Novotna
out it’s not going to end up really well, has impressed most this fortnight.
STUART I just felt like she was giving me so While she has much experience in
FRASER much of her experience, so much of doubles, this was only her fifth
her power, of her attitude. She taught appearance in singles at a grand-
me so many things that I just felt at the slam tournament. She maintained
end of her life I have to be there and a high level of play under intense
really support her. pressure on various occasions and

H
Tennis Correspondent “I felt that if I’m going to go through is the first French Open women’s
this process and I’m going to just help champion to have saved a match point
ow fitting that this unpre- her and support her, it’s going to give during her run — against Greece’s
dictable French Open me a lot of strength and I’m going to Maria Sakkari in the semi-finals —
women’s singles draw con- appreciate a lot of things more. I also since the Belgian great Justine Henin
cluded with an unseeded think that she was also happy that I in 2005.
champion. Barbora Krejcik- was there. Krejcikova can be forgiven, though,
ova, ranked No 33 in the “That’s why she’s looking after me for feeling a little nervy at the start of
world, completed a remark- right now. That’s actually why I have yesterday’s match. She hit two double
able run by becoming the this many grand-slams, because she’s faults and dropped her serve in the
first Czech female singles winner at somewhere above looking after me. opening game, only to respond in
Roland Garros since Hana Mandlikova She wants me to win. She knows what style by winning six straight games for
in 1981. it means to me, and I know what it the first set.
This is a triumph that even the would mean to her.” Pavlyuchenkova, aged 29 and
25-year-old herself had previously felt It is Krejcikova’s composure that seeded No 31, looked somewhat
was probably beyond her. This time stunned during the break but soon
last year she was ranked a lowly No 115 found her range with her powerful Krejcikova kisses
and resigned to the likelihood that any KREJCIKOVA'S RANKINGS SURGE groundstrokes to take a 5-2 lead in the the trophy after
success would be limited to the dou- second set. To some surprise, she then completing her
bles circuit, where she had already The 25-year-old will rise to world No 15 took a medical timeout for treatment fairytale fortnight
claimed three grand-slam titles. with victory at Roland Garros on her left thigh and was pictured eat- at Roland Garros
In tears yesterday after defeating ing Haribo sweets — sometimes used by overcoming
Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova WTA ranking by athletes for an increase in energy Pavlyuchenkova
6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in the final, Krejcikova intake — during the pause in play. to claim the
1 15
pointed to the sky in tribute to her Despite going on to level the match French Open title
former coach Jana Novotna, who died 50 at one set all, Pavlyuchenkova was
of cancer at the age of 49 in 2017. The clearly not at full fitness from this
100 65
1998 Wimbledon champion had point onwards. Krejcikova exposed
always insisted to her pupil that she 126 her opponent’s lack of movement by
had the talent to lift a major trophy 150 135 using drop shots and angled ground-
one day, and her prophecy came true 200 strokes and claimed what proved to
yesterday. be the pivotal break of serve for 3-2.
“Jana was really special to me,” 250 204 While two championship points were
Krejcikova said. “We just had a really 251 missed on the Pavlyuchenkova serve
special bond. When I found out that 300 at 5-3, she made no mistake on a
she was ill, and later on when I found 2016 17 18 19 20 21 fourth opportunity on her own serve

Rivalries are
I know this is not a populist Koepka offered a case the golfing nerd (Bryson). I
GOLF opinion, nor even a popular one, but of beer to anyone commented on a tweet from a
I take issue with the view that the escorted off the journalist at the time who posted the
recent very public spat between course for heckling video with the words: “Somebody

built in heat Row between Koepka Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks DeChambeau with access to this video footage
Koepka is great for golf or even could woke up this morning and chose
and DeChambeau is be categorised as a rivalry. It is chaos.” How right he was . . .
nothing of the sort. It is a clash of two Brooks then appeared again on
deeply undignified and
of the battle demeans the sport
people who clearly don’t get on, see
the game differently and choose to
play out their differences in public.
They may have gone head-to-head on
social media earlier this month
apparently encouraging the heckling
of Bryson at that week’s Memorial
Tournament with the promise of the

– not through One of the thrills of sport is rivalries.

When I think of the great eras in
sport, they are often distinguished by
social media but have never done so
on the golf course.
Tensions between the two have
reward of a case of beer should
anyone be escorted off the course for
yelling his nickname, Brooksy, at

cheap stunts
great rivalries: Björn Borg-John been bubbling away for a year or so Bryson. Brooks wasn’t even playing
McEnroe in tennis, Ayrton Senna- and resurfaced last month when a that event, hosted incidentally by
Alain Prost in Formula One and Jack recorded interview of Brooks Jack Nicklaus, one of the game’s
Nicklaus-Tom Watson in golf are the denigrating — with surprising finest ambassadors. He had crossed
first that come to mind. candour, it should be said — the line.
I like to see rivalries emerge during Bryson and his views on the It was an intervention as
competition as character is game was leaked in the unnecessary as it was undignified
illuminated in the heat of battle and aftermath of the US PGA and signified that we had entered
PAUL we gauge mindsets by observing Championship. deep and uncharted waters. A player
McGINLEY body language. I want to see rivalries I could see where it was encouraging the public to get
emerge in battles played out in headed and the narrative it was involved
i in heckling another
sporting arenas — to see them unfold likely to follow: the straight-talking player? New to me. To anyone who
p
through skill and mental fortitude. macho guy (Brooks) making fun of didn’t have skin in the game, it
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 25

ADAM PRETTY

KONTA FINDS FORM AT

LAST TO REACH FINAL Tsitsipas can shift weight of history
After a miserable run of form,
Johanna Konta has reached the
Greek star challenges need some power and energy for that
one.”
final of the Viking Nottingham old order today having This is the key question. While
Open. Konta, below, beat Nina
Stojanovic 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 7-5
already had successes Djokovic played one set fewer than
Tsitsipas on Friday, his semi-final
yesterday and can claim a maiden against No 1 Djokovic lasted 36 minutes longer, finished six
grass-court title against hours later, at 11.20pm, and consisted
Zhang Shuai, the No 4 Stuart Fraser of far more punishing rallies.
seed from China, The physical recovery will be
today. Stefanos Tsitsipas has surely had few challenging but he has much
Andy Murray will play better Friday nights. Already experience to draw upon. Three
France’s Benoit Paire revelling in the aftermath of years ago at Wimbledon, for
on Tuesday, in the becoming Greece’s first grand-slam example, he completed a two-day,
first round of singles finalist, the 22-year-old sat five-set semi-final against Nadal on a
the Cinch back with his feet up in a Paris hotel Saturday afternoon by winning the
Championships at room and watched on television as decider 10-8 and then came back out
Queen’s Club. his prospective opponents tried to Djokovic had a gruelling semi-final on to Centre Court on the Sunday to
batter each other into submission beat Kevin Anderson in straight sets.
over the course of more than four best on the clay, winning two titles, in “It’s not the first time that I have
in the next game to seal the silverware hours. He slept safe in the knowledge Monte Carlo and Lyons, during this played an epic semi-final in a grand-
and a new career-high ranking of that the 13-times French Open European swing. slam and then I have to come back in
No 15 tomorrow. champion, Rafael Nadal, will not be Now, aged 22, he is bidding to less than 48 hours and play a final,”
“I’m extremely happy,” Krejcikova across the net from him today. become the youngest man to win a Djokovic said. “My recovery abilities
added. “It’s a dream come true, for Novak Djokovic will still make for major trophy since a 20-year-old Juan are pretty good, I must say,
sure. It’s really hard to put the words formidable opposition, of course, the Martín del Potro at the 2009 US throughout my career. Obviously my
together right now because there are 33-year-old Serb bidding to join the Open. physiotherapist will try to do
so many emotions and so many things Australians Rod Laver and Roy “For Tsitsipas it’s a great everything possible so I can be fresh.
going through my mind. Emerson as the only men to complete achievement [to reach a grand-slam Because I played enough tennis, I
“I’m just really happy that I was the career grand-slam twice. final], but I’m sure he doesn’t want to don’t need to train too much. It’s
able to handle it as I did. Mentally I The world No 1 produced stop there,” Djokovic said. “He’s in really now just about taking things
think that was the biggest key. I spoke undoubtedly his best clay-court great form. He leads the race slowly until the final. I know what I
with my psychologist again and we performance to overcome Nadal in a rankings and had his best results need to do.”
spoke about it a lot. I just knew that as match that will be remembered as overall [39 match wins in total]. I The weight of history will hang
soon as I’m going to enter the court, one of the greatest instalments of think he has matured as a player heavily today, as it is often does in
I’m just not going to be panicking any their 58-episode rivalry. a lot. Clay is arguably his best this remarkable era dominated by
more. That was actually happening The task for Tsitsipas on Court surface. Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer.
and I was really happy about that. Philippe-Chatrier this afternoon will “We played an epic five-setter last As Mats Wilander, the former world
“It’s something I have always not quite feel so daunting, though. He year in the semis here and I know it’s No 1 and Eurosport analyst, put it:
dreamt about. I was just telling myself has beaten Djokovic twice in their going to be another tough one. I’m “Novak could be on 19 [grand-slam
it would be really nice if I can get a seven meetings, and eight months hoping I can recharge my batteries as titles] after this and there could be
grand-slam title in my career in all ago, at the rescheduled 2020 French much as I can because I’m going to three guys on 20 after Wimbledon.”
three categories [singles, women’s Open, took him to a fifth set after Whether Nadal appears at the All
doubles and mixed doubles]. Now it’s losing the first two of their semi-final. England Club, starting on June 28,
happening, I cannot believe it. Now Djokovic still prevailed but ‘Novak could be on remains to be seen. He headed home
it’s happening, wow.”
Krejcikova now has the chance
Tsitsipas had shown in the process
that he has the belief to go toe-to-toe
19 grand-slams after to Mallorca yesterday for a period of
rest and told reporters that he would
today to complete the rare achieve- with one of the sport’s greats on the this and there could make a decision on his Wimbledon
ment of winning both the singles and
doubles in the same year. Victory with
big stage, unlike so many before him.
This is a contest between the two
be three guys on 20 participation in the coming week as
he has no intention of playing a
her compatriot Katerina Siniakova best players in the world this year. after Wimbledon’ warm-up event on grass.
against Poland’s Iga Swiatek and While Tsitsipas is presently No 5 in The transition from clay has
America’s Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the ATP rankings, he narrowly leads often been difficult given his history
the women’s doubles final would ena-
ble her to become the first since Mary
Djokovic in the Race to Turin, which
is solely based on performances in ON TV TODAY of knee problems and this year is
particularly challenging because
Pierce in 2000 to leave Roland Garros 2021. Men’s singles French Open final of the one-week delay to the
with two trophies. His flashy all-round game works Starts 2pm. ITV3, Eurosport French Open.

looked like an orchestrated campaign disappointing. They obviously don’t other because of a personality I’ve been in a lot of locker rooms
to troll Bryson by Brooks. I worry that see how in time this could play out disconnect is no way to grow the over the years and banter is an
The irony is that this new elevation
of hostilities may be traced to a new
Bryson will against them during competition,
never mind the long-term effects on
game. Just as there may be colleagues
in your workplace whose company
important part of it. Some of the put-
downs from caddies and players over
initiative by the PGA Tour. It’s called endure the game. Golf is a sport demanding you would prefer not to share, so the years would grace any of the best
PIP (player impact program) and its
aim was to use the pros’ vast media
further high concentration levels with the
chances of distraction high. It is not a
there are animosities in sport and
golf. We accept it, that’s life. It’s well
comedy shows. However it stayed in
the locker room and never involved
profile to benefit the tour and in turn heckling, reactive sport where the loud known that Phil Mickelson and Tiger engaging the public or crossing the
the profile of the game. PIP was atmosphere can drown out heckling Woods were never bosom pals. They line into competitive play.
launched recently, with $40 million probably or lessen its impact. Witness a furious didn’t trade insults in public, instead My experience is that players are
(about £28 million) to be shared every
year between a small number of the
starting Rory McIlroy having to step into the
crowd at the 2016 Ryder Cup in
they used their rivalry to spur one
another on to greater feats —
well able to take care of themselves
one-on-one or in small groups but the
top players who have had the most with his Hazeltine when an American fan winning seven of the 12 majors from game changes when you galvanise
impact on social media. made a passing comment about his
It has been suggested that the
defence of private life.
2004 to 2006 and dominating the
PGA Tour.
the public to get involved.
I know and have spent time with
leaked video was used by Brooks to the US Open If the public continue to be I know from my own experience Brooks and Bryson. They are
increase his profile and earn PIP encouraged to join in then we will on Ryder Cup teams — and this is no different but I like them both. They
recognition. When he saw how this week have new levels of boisterous fan secret — that Sergio García and are two of the hottest young players
quickly it escalated, the theory goes, engagement at tournaments. I worry Pádraig Harrington have had their around and could be duelling for the
he came back for more. If people are that Bryson will endure further differences. But point me to an highest honours for at least a decade.
to be rewarded and heroes
supposedly to emerge from dissing
heckling, probably starting with his
defence of the US Open this week. If ON TV interview or any public statement
either has given in which they have
They need to recognise that they are
playing with huge consequences for
their fellow competitors on social PIP is driving this new behaviour, US Open resorted to mud-slinging. You can’t, themselves, their fellow competitors
media, then we should all despair. then we are heading for a crash, Thursday because they kept it in-house. What and the game. I don’t believe they
The support that Brooks has particularly when you combine it to Sunday you can point to is two thrilling were brought up to think facilitating
received, particularly from some with the increasing levels of gambling Sky finishes to majors — the 2007 Open an atmosphere in which the public
high-profile fellow professionals, for we are starting to see in golf. Sports and 2008 US PGA. That is why we heckle players to win bets or cases of
this trolling is as surprising as it is Players turning publicly on each Golf think of them as rivals. beer is acceptable.
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 27

Sport Boxing
Stand aside ‘Don’t tell me
someone can’t be
Joshua beaten. King Kong
could be in the
and Fury, other corner and I’d
believe I’d win’
Josh Taylor

BRITAIN’S
cheekbone. I had to have a recon-

is
struction of my face. Pretty horrific at
the time. I’ve never played golf since.”
The scar has survived.
At 11, he got his black belt in
Taekwondo, then won a Scottish Cup
medal with Musselburgh Windsor FC,
and had a trial with Heart of
Midlothian. He might have remained

BEST BOXER
an all-rounder had Diane not told him
about the boxing classes at the Mead-
owbank centre. Like a duck to water,
he took to it.
He had a natural gift for the game.
“I’d get in from school and then jump
on a 26 bus to Edinburgh,” Taylor
says. “It would take me the best part of
an hour. Training started at seven and
I would be home around ten, Mon-
days and Wednesdays. A couple of my
friends came with me but soon
stopped. I kept it up because I loved it.
“I was 14 when I started, 15 when I
had my first competitive fight. To give
you an idea of how small I was, my
first fight was at 46kg. That’s 7st 3lb at
the age of 15. I was tiny, absolutely
tiny. I looked like a 10 or 12-year-old. I
won the Scottish championship in my
seventh fight.”
A good amateur career was a prel-
ude to an extraordinary professional
one. His aggressive and technically
accomplished style is suited to the pro

J
game. Fiercely competitive, eager to
David Walsh POUND-FOR-POUND LEADERS learn, he cut a path through the
osh Taylor is talking about that W L D jungle. “When I lost an amateur fight,
fight in Miami last weekend. I’d rail against the decision and my

1
Canelo Álvarez
Logan Paul, a successful You- RING, WBA, WBC, WBO
56 1 2 dad would say, ‘Son, you’ve only been
tuber who says he’s the “inter- (38 KO) in the sport for two years,’ but I
Super middleweight
net’s biggest idiot”, went eight couldn’t see that,” he says.

2
Naoya Inoue
rounds with Floyd Mayweather RING, IBF, WBA
20 0 0 “I remember trying to learn to
(17 KO)
Jr. They were scheduled to fight Bantamweight throw the right hook to the body
but their encounter hardly when I was starting out. It is now one

3
Terence Crawford
amounted to that. WBO
37 0 0 of my signature punches. At the start
(28 KO)
With Mayweather and Paul, the Welterweight it felt really awkward and I couldn’t

4
foreplay was better than the inter- Oleksandr Usyk get it right. ‘I’m not doing this,
course. Paul is 18 years younger than RING, WBA, WBC, WBO
18 0 0 because I can’t do it,’ I’d scream. But I
(13 KO)
Mayweather and 3st heavier, and if Heavyweight didn’t stop until I’d mastered it. I had

5
he’d been able to box half as well he Josh Taylor to get better.”
18 0 0
talked he would have won. Still, their RING, IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO
(13 KO) Taylor is now ranked the fifth-best
meeting generated an estimated Super lightweight pound-for-pound fighter in the sport.
$50 million (£35 million) in pay-per- He says that he wants to fight Terence
view earnings. Mayweather claims he Taylor proudly shows off the full From which fight, I ask? “It’s an old The way Taylor remembers it, Crawford, considered by many to be
got another $30 million for the logos set of belts that he acquired thanks golf injury,” he says. everyone was a fighter. Bigger kids close to the best fighter on the planet.
on his shorts. to a fine win over Ramírez, above He grew up in Prestonpans, a fish- picked on smaller ones, older ones on Half-jokingly, I suggest he shouldn’t
Taylor is a Scottish fighter who two ing village about ten miles east of younger ones. Small for his age, Tay- have anything to do with Crawford,
weeks before had fought the Ameri- Then there’s Logan Paul, who has Edinburgh. James, his dad, was a lor was a target. “Son,” his dad would who looks unbeatable.
can José Ramírez in Las Vegas. At never boxed in his life. He is thinking gardener for the council, mum Diane say, “if you don’t stand up for your- “Unbeatable?” The mention of the
stake were all four world titles in the he’s a fighter, but he is not. Why worked on reception at the Meadow- self, it’s going to keep happening.” word offends him. “Anyone saying
light welterweight division. Taylor would Floyd Mayweather do this? bank Sports Centre. Motorbikes were Fearful and desperate, little Josh hit that to me is going to have it rammed
turned up with two and at the end of a Well, $50 million is a lot of money. James’s passion and as soon as Josh back. From then, they left him alone. where the sun don’t shine,” Taylor
compelling fight, he had all four. He is “It’s bad for boxing because it was old enough, he was a motorbike He loved Prestonpans. “Tough little says. “Don’t tell me someone can’t be
the first Briton and only the fifth makes a mockery of the sport. I get racer. town but not a ghetto,” he says. beaten. King Kong could be in the
fighter in boxing history to simultane- that Logan Paul and Jake Paul [his “When I was five years old my dad “Nothing to do, but always something opposite corner and I would still
ously hold four world titles. brother, who has also entered the built me my own bike,” he says. “He going on.” On summer days they believe I’d win.”
It was also his 18th fight and 18th ring] have huge followings on social got something second hand, found an would go swimming in the harbour. In rising to the top, Taylor followed
victory. Before sharing a ring with media and they’re bringing a new engine for it, added bits on, and for They would sneak on to Royal Mussel- a trail blazed by the great Scottish
Taylor, Ramírez had never lost. audience to the sport. I fear that this is Christmas, that’s what I got. I had a burgh golf course, hide in the bushes lightweight Ken Buchanan. The old
So how can it be that Logan Paul, a going to become normal though. I couple of Christmases when the and wait until balls landed close to champ is now 75 and they have
personality on social media but with- hope it doesn’t.” present was a motorbike. My earliest their cover. After pocketing a few, become friends. “Ken’s in a home in
out any boxing talent, should earn He says this matter-of-factly, with- memories are of going to races. they would return in the evening Leith, he suffers from a bit of demen-
more for his non-fight than a highly out whining. The game has been good “I was a six-year-old when I finished when the course was empty and hit tia but he’s still with it,” Taylor says. “I
accomplished world champion? How to Taylor. He’s the WBC, WBA, WBO sixth in the Scottish championships, balls into greens or play a few holes. haven’t been able to see him since I’ve
was it that Sky Sports would show the and IBF light welterweight champion. mini-motorbike racing. Kids would be He might have been a decent golfer come back from Vegas but in the next
celebrity nonsense but not the Taylor He has made a lot of money. He is 30 up to 12, I was in a junior class and but his cousin, Sarah Archibald, week or so we’re going to organise
fight? but looks younger. His answers are finished sixth in my first year. It would ended that. “Sarah was very good at that he comes down to the house for a
“That fight was a farce,” Taylor animated, his enthusiasm for life have been my dream job but it’s very sports,” Taylor says. “I was standing coffee and a chat. Ken’s from Leith,
says. “You have the best of a genera- undimmed by his experience of the expensive. My mum and dad never behind her and she swung the club, I’m from Prestonpans, neighbours
tion, past his best, damaging his dark trade. The only scar is one inch had that kind of money.” caught me on her follow-through. you could say, and the similarities
legacy by taking these circus fights. long and sits on his left cheekbone. Prestonpans is a blue-collar town. Complete accident. Smashed my between us are striking.”
28 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Cycling
TOUR DE FRANCE
DAVID COUNTDOWN
WALSH
CAN WE BELIEVE
WHAT WE SEE?
PT. I

A
Chief Sports Writer
t the small mountain town
of Andermatt, the eight-day

BEST
Tour of Switzerland ends
this afternoon. The Swiss
tour is the last major hurdle
before the best riders in the
world gather in Brittany for
the start of the Tour de
France on June 26. Today it will be a
surprise if Richard Carapaz does not
clinch victory in a race he has
controlled since winning the fifth
stage at Leukerbad in midweek.
Carapaz is Ecuadorian and a mem-
ber of Ineos Grenadiers, the team
sponsored by the British billionaire
Jim Ratcliffe and run by Sir Dave

OF
Brailsford. Brought into the cycling
world as Team Sky in 2010, they have
been dominant since winning their
first Tour de France in 2012. After that
first success, the team went on to win
the Tour in six of the next eight years.
Success hasn’t come cheaply. By
the time it made for the exit door, Sky
was investing between £30 million
and £40 million each year. The cost
for Ratcliffe has risen and is now
somewhere north of £50 million. In
return, Brailsford delivers. Already
this season Ineos riders have won the

BRITISH
Giro d’Italia, the Critérium du
Dauphiné, the Volta Catalunya and
the Tour of Romandie.
Each race has been won by a differ-
ent rider and Egan Bernal’s victory in
the Giro has been the high point of the
cycling season so far. Once criticised
for their too-conservative style of
racing, the team now find different
ways to win. Bernal broke away from
his rivals in Italy to win two stages,
Carapaz counterattacked strongly to
join and out-sprint Jakob Fuglsang in
Switzerland last week and, at the
Dauphiné, Geraint Thomas daringly
attacked from the bunch at the end of
a flat stage to steal a stage win.
Two or three years ago that

... or tainted legacy?

wouldn’t have happened. In encour-
aging a less regimented style, Brails-
ford acknowledges that even though
this may be the strongest squad he’s
ever assembled, it does not have one
rider with the power and potential of
Tadej Pogacar, the Slovenian who
won last year’s Tour de France at 21.
Everything that we’ve seen since
then suggests that Pogacar has
If Ineos reprise Tour de France glory
improved this year and that his chief
rival at this Tour will be his compatriot
this year against tough opposition,
Primoz Roglic, runner-up last year.
Ineos’s best chance of upsetting the
could we really celebrate unreservedly?

RESULTS Group B

DENMARK P FINLAND P
Hanfmann (Ger) bt A Muller (Fr) 2-6, 6-0, 7-5; D Galan
Riveros (Col) bt N Kuhn (Sp) 7-6(7-2), 4-6, 7-6(7-4); D
RUGBY LEAGUE RUGBY UNION Exeter (Q)
P W D L
22 17 0 5
F A B Pts
624 356 14 82
Novak (Aut) bt Y Maden (Ger) 6-4, ret.; J Sousa (Por) bt
BELGIUM L RUSSIA L G Barrere (Fr) 3-6, 7-(7-5), 6-4; C O’Connell (Aus) bt R Betfred Super League Gallagher Premiership Bristol (Q) 21 16 1 4 561 379 15 81
Albot (Moldova) 4-6, 6-3, 7-5; M Giron (US) bt D Sale (Q) 22 16 0 6 537 401 10 74
Stricker (Switz) 6-4, 7-5; R Berankis (Lith) bt C M Stebe Leigh 30 Catalans Dragons 36 Bath 30 Northampton 24

FOOTBALL (Ger) 6-4, 2-1 ret.; L Lacko (Slovakia) bt E Gerasimov Bath: Tries Underhill, Faletau, Du Toit, Bayliss. Cons
Harlequins (Q) 22 13 1 8 703 564 15 71
(Bel) 6-4, 7-5; A Rinderknech (Fr) bt S Stakhovsky PW D L F A Pts Priestland 2. Pens Priestland 2. Northmpton: Tries Northmpton 22 11 0 11 469 457 11 57

TENNIS
Naiyaravoro 2, Hutchinson, Grayson. Cons Grayson 2.
(Ukr). Catalans Dragons 9 8 0 1 268 142 16 HT 15-19. Leicester 22 11 0 11 478 492 8 54
Vanarama play-off semi-final
St Helens 8 7 0 1 206 70 14 Bristol P L Irish P Bath 2210 0 12 494 604 12 52
TORQUAY 4 NOTTS COUNTY 2
Paris French Open, Women’s final Wigan 8 7 0 1 158 136 14 Exeter 20 Sale 19 Wasps 22 9 0 13 539 624 14 50

GOLF
Wright 1, 48 Rodrigues 39 Exeter: Tries Cowan-Dickie, Townsend. Cons J
B Krejcokova (Cz) bt A Pavlyuchenkova (Russ) 6-1, 2-6,
Hall 102 Chicksen 51 Warrington 9 6 1 2 302 157 13 Simmonds 2. Pens J Simmonds 2. Sale: Tries L Irish 21 6 2 13 439 531 14 46
6-4.
Hull 9 5 1 3 179 143 11 McGuigan, MacGinty, Reed. Cons MacGinty 2. HT
Moxey 105 (pen) Newcastle 22 9 0 13 385 512 5 45
3-14.
HT: 1-1 Att: 1,709 Nottingham Viking Open Nottingham South Carolina Palmetto Championship Hull K R 9 5 0 4 223 204 10 Harlequins 54 Newcastle 26 Gloucester 22 7 0 15 450 518 13 45
*After extra time. 2-2 after 90 minutes Men’s F Tiafoe (US) bt M Copil (Rom) 6-3, 6-2. Early third-round scores
Women’s semi-finals J Konta (GB) bt N Stojanovic 210 B Nimmer (US) (68, 75, 67). Castleford 9 4 0 5 185 232 8 Harlequins: Tries Kenningham, Care 2, Green,
Worcester 22 4 0 18 326 567 11 27
211 A Baddeley (Aus) (70, 73, 68); J Bramlett (US) (71, Lynagh, Marchant, Landajo, Gray. Cons Smith 5,
European Championship (Serbia) 6-2, 6-7(7-2), 7-5; Shuai Zhang (China) bt 72, 68); R Shelton (US) (72, 71, 68). Leeds 8 3 0 5 150 136 6 Marchant, Tapuai. Newcastle: Tries McGuigan 2,
L Davis (US) 6-4, 6-3. 213 R Campos (Puerto Rico) (73, 70, 70); T Fleetwood Radwan, Blamire. Cons B Connon 2, Hodgson. HT 28-12.
Group A Huddersfield 8 3 0 5 150 162 6
(Eng) (68, 75, 70); W Gordon (US) (68, 75, 70); R Knox Wasps 31 Leicester 38 PRO14 Rainbow Cup
Halle, Germany Noventi Open, first round qualifying (Scot) (71, 71, 71). Wakefield 10 3 0 7 193 251 6 Wasps: Tries Vailanu 2, Umaga, Rowlands. Cons: Sharks L Bulls L.
WALES 1 SWITZERLAND 1 214 Sungjae Im (S Kor) (75, 68, 71); A Schenk (US) Umaga 4. Pen Umaga. Leicester: Tries Henderson,
Moore 74 Embolo 49
N Basilashvili (Geo) bt R Molleker (Ger) 7-6(9-7), (73, 70, 71); P Uihlein (US) (73, 70, 71). Salford 9 1 0 8 106 289 2 Scott, Cole, Montoya, Lavanini. Cons McPhillips 5. Super Rugby
7-6(7-5); J Duckworth (Aus) bt E Gulbis (Lat) 5-7, 7-5, 215 R Garrigus (US) (69, 74, 72); J B Holmes (US) (69, Pen McPhillips, Rebels 26 Crusaders 52; Blues 31 Force 21; Waratahs
HT: 0-0 74, 72); J Teater (US) (68, 75, 72). Leigh 10 0 0 10 154 352 0 HT 21-24. 7 Chiefs 40.
6-2; I Ivashka (Bel) bt T Ipo (Japan) 6-1, 6-3; Y
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 29

the Medical Council case began, Free-

For Brailsford, man found himself without friends.
His legal team emailed his former
it will be colleagues, asking if it was possible for
them to write a testimonial for their
another year client. Some replied that it would not
be appropriate, others ignored the
on from request. Freeman then began to see
that he was the fall guy for a culture
the times that wasn’t what it purported to be.
O’Rourke believed Brailsford
when things should have been a witness at the
tribunal. “Dave Brailsford is the
weren’t right spectre missing at these proceed-
ings,” she said, summing up. “He
would have been able to answer an
awful lot of questions about what was
going on at British Cycling and Team
Sky. He was never called.”
After the doctor was struck off, the
Mail On Sunday ran a story about a
British cyclist testing positive for
nandrolone in 2010, but, as the
amount was small, Ukad allowed Brit-
ish Cycling to conduct follow-up tests
at a private laboratory in an attempt to
ascertain the source of the substance.
This is against Wada protocols and
prompted an investigation, which
is ongoing.
Freeman has said that he will
co-operate with Wada and has in his
possession emails that demonstrate
that the private tests were agreed by
people within British Cycling, Team
Sky and Ukad.
Nothing with Freeman is ever cer-
tain, and there is a suggestion that, as
Wada is refusing to offer him immu-
nity, he is fearful of implicating him-
self in a new doping infraction and
therefore may not co-operate, at least
not until his appeal is heard.
Can Ineos and their peers in Team Sky. Freeman is appealing the Ukad’s separate investigation into
today’s peloton be trusted? Last TEAM SKY AND INEOS’S Medical Council judgment. His case Freeman and the culture at British
week two anonymous sources
from within cycling accused the BUMPS IN THE ROAD will be considered on November 23.
That fit-to-practise case began in
Cycling and Team Sky has also been
paused, pending the outcome of his
Bahrain Victorious team of doping. February 2019 and was expected to appeal. Time passes and Wada’s ten-
The accusers did not offer evidence run for four weeks. It dragged on year statute of limitations on doping
of wrongdoing. Oct 2012 Team Sky announce for more than two years and by cases may mean the unofficial 2010
Perhaps the most striking devel- that Dr Geert Leinders will stop the end it was clear that the culture tests now fall outside of that statute.
opment of very recent times has working with the team after an which underpinned extraordinary Since his appearance before the
been the success of young riders. Ber- internal investigation into success in Olympic track cycling and digital, culture, media and sport com-
nal was 22 when he won the Tour de allegations he was involved in at the Tour de France was, in some mittee in December 2016, Brailsford
France in 2019, Pogacar was 21 doping earlier in his career. respects, dysfunctional. has not spoken publicly about the
when he won last year’s race. Sept 2016 Chris Froome and Freeman now works two days a Freeman case. Back then he admitted
They are the two youngest win- Bradley Wiggins are the subject of week as a physician’s assistant. Legal to mistakes in his handling of issues,
ners of the Tour since 1904 and a hack by the Russian group fees in his fit-to-practise case ran into but no more than that.
1909, and in the all-time list of Fancy Bear after Wada’s Anti- seven figures and were borne by the From that point he has not spoken
youngest winners, Pogacar is Doping Administration and Medical Defence Union. The tribunal about the testosterone delivery, nor
second while Bernal is fourth. Management System is targeted. considered Freeman’s explanation about the controversial therapeutic
If the sport had an endemic dop- The data released alleges they for why he’d ordered 30 sachets of tes- use exemptions arranged by Freeman
ing culture in which experienced used banned substances for tosterone implausible and concluded for Wiggins, and not about the mys-
riders could refine their doping pro- which they obtained a that he ordered it “knowing or believ- tery that for so long surrounded the
gramme year-on-year, could two rela- therapeutic use exemption (TUE). ing” it was for an unnamed athlete. jiffy bag couriered from London to
tive rookies win in their first and sec- Oct 2016 UK Anti-doping (Ukad) Believing he has been wronged, France with a product that Freeman
ond Tour de France? It’s not likely. In expands its inquiry into British Freeman is committed to an appeal administered to Wiggins.
the darkest years, especially the seven cycling after reports that an that he cannot afford. His barrister, His silence has not helped
two favourites lies in having three, dominated by Lance Armstrong, no unidentified medical package Mary O’Rourke, and his solicitor are Freeman, nor our understanding of
possibly four potential Tour winners rookie or young rider contended. It is was delivered from the UK to Sky’s both working on a “no win, no fee” what was going on, but, from Brails-
in their team. also true that the anti-doping proto- bus in France in 2011. basis, as the former doctor now earns ford’s point of view, it hasn’t made the
Carapaz may be their strongest cols are stronger now than in the past, Sir Dave Brailsford tells a a fraction of the £125,000 salary he problem any worse.
climber but Richie Porte, Thomas and but that has not been difficult. parliamentary select committee enjoyed at Team Sky. Peters has been similarly reluctant
Tao Geoghegan Hart are all capable of When Ratcliffe decided to invest in that the package delivered to It is clear that Freeman made to engage publicly in the conversations
challenging for the Yellow Jersey. All the team, he first employed a law firm Team Sky’s bus during the 2011 mistakes, and equally certain that he that have taken place since Freeman
are in good form and for a team to to discreetly investigate the team and Tour de France was Fluimucil, a was not acting alone. Whoever the has had his livelihood taken away. And
trouble Pogacar, they’ll need to use their methods. The investigators told drug on the permitted Wada intended recipient of the testosterone the same is true of all the athletes who
their strength as a team rather than him they believed it was safe for him list to treat coughs and sore sachets, and indeed significant were winning at the Olympics and on
rely on one rider. Carapaz may ascend to get involved. There is nothing to throats. amounts of the corticosteroid triam- the road.
as well as any but the two individual suggest that the more recent suc- Nov 2017 Ukad closes its cinolone acetonide, he did not order No one condemns Freeman, but nor
time-trials will hurt his chances. cesses have been achieved dishon- investigation into the contents of this stuff for his own use. Those who does anyone support him. “Richard
What is certain is that after the estly. Yet the team are haunted by the mystery Jiffy bag transported care for Freeman say his weakness Freeman was part of a profession that
disappointment of Bernal’s injury- their past and what happened from from the UK to France, stating it was wanting to please important had a regulator,” O’Rourke says.
related abandonment of last year’s 2011 to 2013 remains the subject had been “hampered” by the lack people in the team, most notably Sir “Others weren’t in that position. That’s
Tour, Ineos are better prepared for of separate investigations by the of accurate medical records Bradley Wiggins, Brailsford and Dr the difference.”
this year’s race. At the very least, their World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) available at British Cycling. Steve Peters. Another Tour de France begins 13
less predictable tactics will make the and UK Anti-Doping (Ukad). Mar 2018 The select committee’s Riders of that time remember how days from now. Ineos Grenadiers may
Tour more exciting. Richard Freeman, at one time lead report finds that Wiggins and Freeman wanted to work with riders not have a rider strong enough to beat
doctor to British Cycling and Team Team Sky “crossed an ethical line” such as Wiggins and Mark Cavendish. Pogacar, but the team will perform
Along with the success comes the Sky, has been struck off the medical by using medical drugs to Another rider recalls Wiggins leasing well and enjoy some victories.
question of whether we can unreserv- register for failings related to the enhance their performance. a private aircraft to pick him up at the For Brailsford, it will be another
edly celebrate the achievements of delivery of a doping product to the Wiggins rejects the accusations. end of a race and Freeman being given year on from the times when things
the Ineos team and of British cycling. headquarters of British Cycling and a ride back to Manchester. But once weren’t right.
30 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport Racing

LETTERS TO As someone who saw both John

Charles and Gareth Edwards play, I
witnessed by him being hacked out
of the 1958 World Cup. He could
The town’s population is smaller
than all these places, yet Burnley FC
England into second place in the
group. I appreciate Scotland have

THE EDITOR would be hard pressed to agree with

Jonny Owen’s view (Extra Time, June
6) that Gareth Bale is Wales’s
play outstandingly well in either
attack or defence, and is still
regarded in Turin as Juventus’s
has spent the past 20 years in the
top two divisions, and will shortly
commence their sixth successive
not been at a major tournament for
some time but perhaps a bit more
research, Charlie?
Send your letters to: greatest sportsman/footballer. I greatest ever player. As for Edwards, campaign in the Premier League. Phil Edge, Langport, Somerset
The Sports Editor, regard his career as a waste of a the comparison would hardly flatter C.J. Rawson, Burnley
The Sunday Times, great talent, for which he has been Bale. Naomi Osaka’s withdrawal from the
1 London Bridge St lucky to be paid a disproportionate Dave Lees, Swansea I enjoyed your Euros supplement but French Open for reasons of mental
London, SE1 9GF salary. Granted he has always turned if Charlie Adam is to be a BBC pundit health should be viewed in the same
email: sportletters up and performed for Wales, but his The argument (Rod Liddle, June 6) I hope he doesn’t repeat his claim light as Roger Federer’s withdrawal
@sunday-times.co.uk commitment to Madrid has that towns of the size of that “Wales escaped from their for reasons of physical health. Her
appeared frivolous and Chesterfield, Hartlepool, Rochdale group last time out with three current position as world No 2 is
unprofessional. By contrast, Charles and Stockport cannot now support points“. At Euro 2016 Wales actually testimony to her mental strength,
played in an era when he got little a Football League Club is surely won group B after victories over not her weakness.
protection from referees, as dashed by the example of Burnley. Slovakia and Russia, pushing Stan Labovitch, Windsor

TODAY’S 4.45 ROB WRIGHT’S 3.38

4 (2) 0- Aethon 354 N Tinkler 4-9-9 R Scott WATCH FREE RACE REPLAYS ON ATTHERACES.COM BRITISH STALLION STUDS EBF CATHEDRAL STAKES
HANDICAP (LISTED)
5 (9) 00 Robyn Pud 9 Ruth Jefferson 7-9-9...............C Murtagh (3)
£2,862: 1M 6F 115YDS (5) £26,654: 6F (6)

RACECARDS
TIP OF
6 (4) 0 I’m Grateful 21 I Furtado 3-8-13..............................J Hart
1 (5) -62142 Clifftop Heaven 8 M Walford 4-10-0 ..................J Garritty 1 (6) 0-6122 Mums Tipple 50 (D) R Hannon 4-9-8.................S M Levey
7 (6) 3 Line Of Descent 78 S & E Crisford 3-8-13.............A Atzeni
2 (4)4-2353 Seagulls Nest 12 M Channon 4-10-0.................G Bass (5) 2 (5)/44-03 Khaadem 36 (BF,D) C Hills 5-9-5.......................J Crowley
8 (10) Neptune Seas C Appleby 3-8-13..........................W Buick
3 (3) 5/53-4 Debbonair J20 (C) F Brennan 5-9-5...............M Crehan (3) 3 (2)22-244 Shine So Bright 50 A Balding 5-9-5 ................ S De Sousa
9 (3) 6 Praiano 17 R Varian 3-8-13................................J Mitchell

THE DAY
4 (1) 061-23 Fandabidozi 11 M Johnston 3-8-11......................J Fanning 4 (4) 11065- Cairn Gorm 252 (D) M Channon 3-8-11...............O Murphy
10 (1) 53 Golden Bugle 29 J & T Gosden 3-8-8 ................... R Havlin
Doncaster 5 (2)6055-4 Summer’s Knight 20 (BF) Sir M Prescott 3-8-4.....L Morris 5 (1) 21110- Line Of Departure 267 (D) R Varian 3-8-11.......David Egan
11 (7) 0 Maiden’s Tower 19 E Dunlop 3-8-8..............S Osborne (5)
Going good to firm-good in places Draw no advantage Betting: 9-4 Summer’s Knight, 5-2 Clifftop Heaven, 3-1 Seagulls Nest, 6 (3)-24254 Chocoya 8 (T,D) H Palmer 3-8-6........................D Probert
Betting: 7-4 Line Of Descent, 15-8 Golden Bugle, 9-4 Neptune Seas, 7-2 Fandabidozi, 20-1 Debbonair
Rob Wright’s tips: 1.45 Aweemaweh 2.15 Private Signal 8-1 Praiano, 25-1 Welsh Wayne, 50-1 Maiden’s Tower, 66-1 others Betting: 7-4 Khaadem, 3-1 Mums Tipple, 6-1 Chocoya, 13-2 Cairn Gorm,
2.45 Line Of Descent 3.15 Jawwaal 3.45 Zagato 7-1 Line Of Departure, 8-1 Shine So Bright
4.15 Akkeringa (nap) 4.45 Summer’s Knight Salisbury
1.45 GET HUGH TAYLOR’S TIPS ON ATTHERACES.COM
HANDICAP 3.15 DOWNLOAD THE FREE AT THE RACES APP HANDICAP
£6,480: 5F (6)
Going: good to firm-good in places
Draw 5f-1m, low numbers best 4.08 DAVID & SANDRA WEDDING ANNIVERSARY FILLIES’
HANDICAP
£2,862: 7F (11) 1 (6) 2415-5 Mountain Peak 43 (D) E Walker 6-10-5 ........ S Osborne (5) Akkeringa 4.15 Doncaster £2,970: 7F (10)
Rob Wright’s tips: 2.08 Amal 2.38 Kool Moe Dee
1 (3) 30-610 End Zone 10 (BF) R Fell 4-9-8.................................J Hart 2 (2)-53554 Caspian Prince 55 (T,D) M Appleby 12-10-4..........B Curtis 3.08 Frankella 3.38 Khaadem 4.08 Kindred Spirit (nb) 1 (2) 31-440 Byzantia 11 (H) C Fellowes 4-10-4...................T Marquand
4.38 Deep Snow 5.10 Rhebus Road
2 (10) 15-050 Harbour Vision 13 (P,CD) D Brown 6-9-8.......M Crehan (3) 3 (5)00-005 Jawwaal 13 (CD) M Dods 6-10-0 .................... C Rodriguez This lightly raced gelding has 2 (5) 121052 Trixie Waterbury 31 (D) H Dunlop 4-9-13......S Mooney (7)
3 (7)600040 Spartan Fighter 33 (V) A Brittain 4-9-7 ............... C Hardie
4 (11)402244 Glenn Coco 25 (P,T,D) S C Williams 7-9-7 .............A Atzeni
4 (1) 215-50 Indian Sounds 31 (D) P Midgley 5-9-8 ............. B Robinson 2.08 BYERLEY STUD RACING EXCELLENCE APPRENTICE
HANDICAP
£2,781: 7F (13)
improved since being fitted with a 3 (3) 1-5 Global Acclaim 148 (BF) C Cox 3-9-9 ............. K Shoemark
4 (6) 10-63 Kindred Spirit 34 R Varian 3-9-8 .................... David Egan
5 (3) 10-061 Ginger Jam 9 (D) N Tinkler 6-9-6...........F McManoman (3) tongue-tie and is fancied to open
5 (8)524160 Athollblair Boy 9 (CD) N Tinkler 8-9-6....F McManoman (3) 6 (4)004410 Royal Birth 46 (T,D) S C Williams 10-9-2 .............. A Atzeni 1 (2)600-50 Amal 22 J R Jenkins 9-7................................L Browne (5) 5 (7) 4-210 Gurkha Girl 20 (D) R Teal 3-9-7.........................D Probert
6 (4)255304 Thrave 13 (P,D) M Appleby 6-9-4....................F Larson (7)
his account under ideal conditions 6 (1)3-5504 Coul Queen 15 (T,D) P Evans 3-9-7...........Gina Mangan (7)
Betting: 5-2 Ginger Jam, 3-1 Mountain Peak, 4-1 Jawwaal, Caspian 2 (12) 000-0 Yanifer 26 J Osborne 9-6....................Charlie O’dwyer (5)
7 (2)035-24 Capla Berry 12 (T,CD) R Guest 5-9-3....................W Buick Prince, 8-1 Royal Birth, 10-1 Indian Sounds
3 (6)00-601 Mountain Ash 22 B Millman 9-6..................O McSweeney
here. 7 (4)446-26 Sunset Bay 22 E Walker 3-9-6 ..........................O Murphy
8 (1) 3100-0 Blue Skyline 22 (H,T,D) D Elsworth 4-9-3..........D Costello He travelled powerfully for a long 8 (10)434-30 Cirrus 27 R Hannon 3-9-6 ................................ S M Levey
3.45 SKY SPORTS RACING HD VIRGIN 535 HANDICAP 4 (13)54-304 Rainbow Sign 24 M Pattinson 9-5...................B Harris (5)
9 (5) -61305 Aweemaweh 12 (P,D) M Channon 4-9-0............G Bass (5) £4,347: 1M (6) 5 (8) -64014 Little Gem 26 (D) C Fellowes 9-5..................S Mooney (3) way over this six-furlong trip at 9 (8) 3-62 Fire In The Rain 27 M Botti 3-9-4.........................H Doyle
10 (9)64-640 Turquoise Kingdom 26 S & E Crisford 4-8-13 ....... L Morris
1 (3) 230-61 Siam Fox 11 (D) R Hannon 9-9..............................W Buick 6 (9)660-03 Dama Bianca 26 (B) M Botti 9-4..................C Howarth (5) Yarmouth on his penultimate start, 10 (9) 6-00 Neveyah 30 W Knight 3-8-8...........................S De Sousa
11 (6)544-32 Florenza 15 (CD) C Fairhurst 8-8-8 ....................... A Elliott Betting: 4-1 Fire In The Rain, 9-2 Kindred Spirit, 11-2 Trixie Waterbury,
2 (2) 21-120 Headingley 22 (D) M Johnston 9-8.......................B Curtis 7 (10)5560-0 Mia Mia 48 J Portman 9-4 ...............................J Peate (5) going down by a neck as the first 6-1 Global Acclaim, 13-2 Sunset Bay, 15-2 Cirrus, 12-1 others
Betting: 10-3 Capla Berry, 4-1 End Zone, 13-2 Florenza, Glenn Coco, 8 (3)066-00 Harworth 117 D Brown 9-4 .......................... J Shinnick (3)
3 (6) 52-6 Zagato 30 (P) J & T Gosden 9-4...........................R Havlin two pulled well clear of the rest of
4.38
8-1 Athollblair Boy, 10-1 Aweemaweh, 12-1 Harbour Vision, 14-1 others WATERAID MILDREN CONSTRUCTION FILLIES’ NOVICE
9 (11)531026 Puffin Island 54 (D) H Spiller 9-3....................O Lewis (5)
4 (1) 01-30 Ford Madox Brown 23 (D) D O’Meara 8-13.......D Tudhope the field. STAKES

2.15 SKY SPORTS RACING SKY 415 EBF MAIDEN STAKES (GBB 10 (4) 00652 Queen Sarabi 26 A Carroll 9-3 .................... Mollie Phillips £2,862: 1M 2F (7)
5 (4) 52-3 Jebel Dukhan 38 (P) Sir M Prescott 8-13...............L Morris
RACE) 11 (7)440-00 Bannergirl 21 M Gillard 9-0......................Morgan Cole (5) A step up in trip was against
6 (5)4-4424 Invincibly 11 (B,T) K Burke 8-12......................P Mulrennan 1 (7) 2/1- Deep Snow 340 (T) S bin Suroor 4-10-3.............O Murphy
£3,132: 7F (9)
12 (5)00-000 Vivian Grey 21 (T) Joe Ponting 8-12 ........... Erika Parkinson him back at the same track last time
Betting: 5-2 Siam Fox, 3-1 Jebel Dukhan, 4-1 Zagato, Headingley, 2 (5) 0 Stormy Chaos 24 (B) Mitchell Hunt 4-9-10 .. S B Kirrane (5)
1 (9) 4 Aswan 16 S & E Crisford 9-5 ......................... James Doyle 7-1 Invincibly, 12-1 Ford Madox Brown 13 (1)0000-0 Pulsation 26 (P) M Harris 8-12...........................A Jary (5) but he still ran well enough in 3 (3) 5 Artemis Sky 22 M Tregoning 3-8-11 .................... M Dwyer
2 (8) Austrian Theory M Johnston 9-5.......................J Fanning Betting: 11-4 Mountain Ash, 9-2 Queen Sarabi, 11-2 Little Gem, 6-1 Dama finishing third. Back at his optimum
4.15 FOLLOW AT THE RACES ON TWITTER HANDICAP Bianca, 10-1 Rainbow Sign, Puffin Island, 12-1 Bannergirl, 14-1 others 4 (4) 0 Citana 23 Seamus Mullins 3-8-11......................G Downing
3 (1) Dynamic Talent Darryll Holland 9-5.....................A Atzeni
£2,862: 6F (11) distance, Akkeringa looks sure to 5 (1) 00 Fetna 27 Sir M Stoute 3-8-11 .......................... R Kingscote

2.38
4 (2) Flaming Lord Harry Eustace 9-5..........................G Wood
YEW TREE INN HANDICAP go well. 6 (6) For Love Of Louise (H) D Menuisier 3-8-11 .......... J Watson
5 (4) Itsgoodtobeus N Tinkler 9-5................................R Scott 1 (7) 00-331 Thornaby Pearl 17 (D) Adrian Nicholls 9-8.....M Crehan (3) £4,455: 5F (6)
2 (10) 0-340 Zen Dancer 16 Martin Smith 9-7...........................D Brock 7 (2) 6 Loving Dash 51 (H,T) J Fanshawe 3-8-11 ............ D Muscutt
6 (3) Oh Great R Varian 9-5......................................J Mitchell 1 (6)3-5550 Lomu 110 (D) D Loughnane 7-10-2 ........................ H Doyle
3 (8)0-3523 Akkeringa 16 (T,BF) S C Williams 9-7....................A Atzeni Betting: 10-11 Deep Snow, 3-1 Fetna, 4-1 For Love Of Louise, 10-1 Loving
7 (6) Private Signal C Appleby 9-5..............................W Buick 2 (2)352-24 Beyond Equal 30 (C) W Kittow 6-10-1.................R Hornby Dash, 14-1 Artemis Sky, 66-1 Citana, 100-1 Stormy Chaos
8 (7) 6 Sir Lelo 33 T Dascombe 9-5............................Jane Elliott 4 (4)000-00 Northbound 22 J Camacho 9-6...............................J Hart

5.10
3 (4) 52-001 Rose Hip 13 (D) A Carroll 6-10-1......................T Marquand
5 (1)030-20 Annie Rose 18 (D) T D Barron 9-3......................C Beasley 2 (9) Auditor M Meade 9-5....................................T Marquand GRAHAM FITCH & JANE WEBLING THANK NHS HANDICAP
9 (5) 0 Travers 25 S P C Woods 9-5 ............................... L Morris 4 (1)5-26D6 Newyorkstateofmind 13 (B,D) Muir & Grassick 4-9-5 David Egan £2,700: 1M 4F (7)
Betting: 7-4 Private Signal, 5-2 Aswan, 4-1 Oh Great, 8-1 Austrian Theory, 6 (9) 405112 Tamaska 10 (P,BF,D) D O’Meara 9-3.....................D Nolan 3 (7) Awesome Lawson C Cox 9-5..............................L Keniry
5 (3)40-654 Kool Moe Dee 22 (D) R Hannon 3-9-1................S M Levey 1 (5) 04344 Marsden Cross 27 Sir M Todd 9-9.....................D Probert
14-1 Sir Lelo, 20-1 others 7 (6)326640 Kevin The Minion 28 I Furtado 9-2........Elle-may Croot (7) 4 (4) Cardinal Rouge R Beckett 9-5...........................R Hornby
6 (5) 150-44 Coronation Cottage 12 (D) M Saunders 7-8-9 .... C Bennett 2 (4)06-433 Spirit Mixer 15 (BF) A Balding 9-8 ..................... O Murphy

2.45
8 (5) 0-430 Symbol of Hope 27 T Easterby 9-2..................D Tudhope 5 (2) Carewell Cover R Hughes 9-5........................David Egan
VISIT ATTHERACES.COM/MARKETMOVERS MAIDEN Betting: 5-2 Beyond Equal, 11-4 Rose Hip, 3-1 Kool Moe Dee, 11-2 3 (6) 0-4514 Tajdid 32 (CD) R Hannon 9-7............................S M Levey
STAKES 9 (11) 05300 Mollys Brother 10 N Tinkler 8-12..........................R Scott Coronation Cottage, 10-1 Newyorkstateofmind, 12-1 Lomu 6 (1) 60 Marsh Benham 15 C Hills 9-5 ........................ K Shoemark
£3,024: 1M 4F (11) 4 (2)004-03 Rhebus Road 17 R Beckett 9-7.......................R P Downey
10 (3)66-004 Liberty Blaze 19 J O’Keeffe 8-3 .......................... A Mullen 7 (6) Pangloss A King 9-5 ......................................... M Harley
1 (11)
2 (8)
0 Platinumcard 9 K Dalgleish 6-10-0...............B Garritty (3)
000 Rothson 12 B Rothwell 4-10-0 ............... F McManoman (3)
11 (2) -10250 Upside Down 46 (B) A Brittain 8-2......................C Hardie
Betting: 5-2 Tamaska, 11-4 Thornaby Pearl, 3-1 Akkeringa, 10-1 Annie
3.08 BYERLEY STUD PETER & VIRGINIA WALWYN MEMORIAL
NOVICE STAKES (GBB RACE)
£3,726: 6F (9)
8 (3)
9 (8)
Frankella A Balding 9-0 ................................... O Murphy
System R Hannon 9-0.....................................S M Levey
5 (3) 000-4 Alerta Roja 33 Sir M Prescott 9-6 .......................... R Tate
6 (7)33-530 Where You At 27 S Kirk 9-4...........................T Marquand
Rose, Symbol of Hope, 14-1 Liberty Blaze, 20-1 others 7 (1) 006- George Bancroft 178 R Varian 9-2..................C Shepherd
3 (5) Welsh Wayne J57 T Dascombe 4-10-0 ............. Jane Elliott 1 (5) Alflaila Owen Burrows 9-5................................J Crowley Betting: 5-2 Frankella, 9-2 Alflaila, 6-1 System, 13-2 others
Betting: 3-1 Spirit Mixer, 4-1 Tajdid, 9-2 Rhebus Road, 11-2 others

Downpatrick
YESTERDAY’S
Easterby. Tote: £7.20; £3.20, £1.50. Exacta: £26.90. CSF: Chapman, 5-2); 2, Glynn (11-2); 3, Stranger Danger (13-2). 6 Balding. Tote: £11.70; £2.40, £1.20, £1.40. Exacta: £24.50.
£24.63. Trifecta: £66.50 ran. NR: Look My Way. ½l, 13l. M A Barnes. Tote: £3.10; CSF: £23.16. Tricast: £55.29. Trifecta: £155.50
£1.80, £2.50. Exacta: £20.20. CSF: £15.73. Trifecta: £67.80 Going: good (watered)

RESULTS
2.10 (6f 17yd) 1, Look Out Louis (J P Sullivan, 11-2); 2, Sir 4.00 (1m 1f 209yd) 1, Betty Crean L A (R L Moore, 11-2); 2,
Maximilian (10-1); 3, Lincoln Park (4-1 fav). 14 ran. Nk, 2¼. 3.30 (2m 7f 63yd, hdle) 1, Ever So Much (R P McLernon, Khaiz (6-4 fav); 3, Poet Of Life (4-1). 8 ran. 1¼, ns. D 1.30 (2m 2f 165yd, hdle) 1, Butterflyvespiere (J P
Miss J A Camacho. Tote: £5.30; £1.70, £3.40, £2.40. 7-1); 2, All Hail Caesar (5-1); 3, Dancing Doug (3-1 fav). 8 Menuisier. Tote: £5.40; £1.60, £1.10, £1.60. Exacta: £16.40. O’Sullivan, 11-10 fav); 2, Optional Mix (4-1); 3, Hanoi Jane (3-
Exacta: £62.30. CSF: £56.93. Tricast: £208.36. Trifecta: ran. 2½l, 5½l. B Haslam. Tote: £8.00; £2.10, £1.90, £1.30. CSF: £13.88. 1). 9 ran. NR: Bennystiara. 12l, ¾l. Peter Fahey. Tote: €2.20;
£321.00 Exacta: £51.40. CSF: £40.46. Tricast: £126.25. Trifecta: €1.10, €1.60, €1.10. Exacta: €7.20. CSF: €6.28. Trifecta: €17.80
4.35 (1m 6f) 1, General Zoff (S De Sousa, 6-1); 2, Dance To
£168.90 Paris (12-1); 3, Tigerten (13-2). 10 ran. ¾l, ½l. Muir Grassick. 2.05 (2m 1f 65yd, hdle) 1, Itsalonglongroad (C D
2.45 (1m 4f 63yd) 1, Elhafei (F Norton, 4-1); 2, G For
Gabrial (9-2); 3, Red Derek (10-3). 6 ran. NR: Abel Tasman. 4.05 (3m 41yd, ch) 1, For Jim (Sean Quinlan, 11-8 fav); 2, Tote: £6.50; £2.10, £2.60, £2.20. Exacta: £62.30. CSF: Timmons, 10-1); 2, Sweet Sixteen (8-1); 3, Top Line Tommy
Bath 1¾l, 1½l. J Mackie. Tote: £4.30; £2.40, £2.20. Exacta: Muroor (16-1); 3, Dutch Canyon (10-3). 8 ran. NR: Crank Em £74.75. Tricast: £483.56. Trifecta: £367.40 (14-1). 11 ran. NR: Monatomic. 2¼, sh hd. J C McConnell.
Going: firm £19.60. CSF: £21.48. Trifecta: £61.80 Up, Gameface. 12l, 13l. J Candlish. Tote: £1.90; £1.10, Tote: €6.80; €1.60, €2.80, €4.70. Exacta: €27.50. CSF:
£3.00, £1.40. Exacta: £19.00. CSF: £22.96. Tricast: £65.15. York €90.40. Tricast: €1,138.71. Trifecta: €419.10
1.20 (1m 3f 137yd) 1, Lady Elysia (Georgia Dobie, 5-2); 2, 3.20 (1m 4f 63yd) 1, Side Shot (R Havlin, 6-1); 2, Classic
Super Superjack (5-1); 3, Opine (6-1). 9 ran. NR: Good Lord (9-2); 3, Oman (7-2 jt-fav). 7 ran. Nk, hd. J T Gosden. 4.40 (3m 41yd, ch) 1, Racing Pulse (C O’Farrell, 9-1); 2, Going: good to firm 2.40 (2m 5f 60yd, hdle) 1, Arizona Flyer (Mr M C
Impression, It’s How We Roll. Sh hd, 3¼. Eve Johnson Tote: £7.30; £3.00, £3.60. Exacta: £38.20. CSF: £32.16. Breaking The Ice (15-2); 3, Easy Bucks (7-4 fav). 8 ran. NR: O’Donovan, 9-2 fav); 2, Game Catch (17-2); 3, Newtown
2.00 (1m 3f 188yd) 1, Nicholas T (Miss A Waugh, 10-3); 2,
Houghton. Tote: £3.40; £1.40, £1.80, £1.30. Exacta: £17.60. Trifecta: £155.80 The Dawn Man. Nk, 6½l. N W Alexander. Tote: £5.30; £2.20, Arctic Fox (5-1); 3, Byron Flyer (7-2). 6 ran. NR: Civil Law, Pery (15-2). 14 ran. NR: Ask The Leader, Eightytwo Team,
CSF: £15.55. Tricast: £66.72. Trifecta: £77.10 £1.80, £1.30. Exacta: £71.70. CSF: £71.35. Tricast: £172.24. Viaduct. 1l, 1¼. J S Goldie. Tote: £3.90; £2.10, £2.50. Lady L’lerom. 2¼, 3¾l. M Winters. Tote: €4.40; €1.40,
3.55 (6f 17yd) 1, Roman Dragon (R Kingscote, 10-3); 2, €3.20, €3.00. Exacta: €41.60. CSF: €40.99. Tricast:
Trifecta: £287.60 Exacta: £19.50. CSF: £19.59. Tricast: £58.73. Trifecta:
1.55 (5f 10yd) 1, Delmona (Jane Elliott, 11-1); 2, Symphony Robjon (6-4 fav); 3, Sisters In The Sky (11-1). 6 ran. NR: €285.35. Trifecta: €375.00
£57.10
Perfect (11-10 fav); 3, Lucky Shake (11-2). 7 ran. 1l, 2l. Tom Riteasrain. 1¾l, 1¾l. Tom Dascombe. Tote: £4.40; £2.30, 5.10 (2m 48yd, hdle) 1, Follow Your Fire (Sean Quinlan,
Dascombe. Tote: £7.30; £3.50, £1.40. Exacta: £24.00. CSF: £1.30. Exacta: £8.90. CSF: £8.09. No 7 Riteasrain (22-1) 11-4 fav); 2, For Three (4-1); 3, Elusive Red (25-1). 10 ran. NR: 2.35 (7f) 1, Baashir (Jim Crowley, 9-2 fav); 2, National 3.15 (2m 5f 60yd) 1, Icee M B A (Mr T Hamilton, 7-1); 2,
£23.20. Trifecta: £104.30 was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does not apply. Coolnacritta. 2¾l, 2l. J Candlish. Tote: £3.60; £1.50, £1.90, League (11-2); 3, Dazzling Dan (11-2). 11 ran. Hd, 4¼. C Hills. Natural Breeze (18-5 fav); 3, Nuttorridge (9-2). 14 ran. NR:
Trifecta: £49.50 £5.80. Exacta: £14.60. CSF: £14.05. Tricast: £223.52. Tote: £5.50; £2.20, £2.20, £2.30. Exacta: £32.20. CSF: Baliyad, Little Mar, Roscomroe. 1¼, 4l. M Hourigan. Tote:
2.30 (5f 10yd) 1, Clarendon House (L Morris, 2-7 fav); 2, Trifecta: £290.30 £27.87. Tricast: £142.04. Trifecta: £122.50 €8.70; €3.30, €1.60, €3.50. Exacta: €17.30. CSF: €33.88.
Kingston Star (6-1); 3, Rose All Day (11-2). 5 ran. NR: Beet 4.30 (1m 2f 70yd) 1, Tombolo (P Mathers, 18-1); 2, Gabrial Tricast: €131.60. Trifecta: €136.60
3.05 (1m 5f 188yd) 1, Roberto Escobarr (Tom Marquand,
The Rain. 9l, 4¼. R M H Cowell. Tote: £1.10; £1.10, £2.20.
Exacta: £3.00. CSF: £2.72. Trifecta: £3.80
The One (7-1); 3, Heart Of Soul (16-1). 11 ran. NR: Mr Coco
Bean. 1¼, nk. R A Fahey. Tote: £28.40; £6.00, £2.10, £3.70.
Sandown 11-8 fav); 2, Red Verdon (9-2); 3, Makawee (3-1). 4 ran. 1½l, *Does not include late results from Downpatrick
Exacta: £169.20. CSF: £138.71. Tricast: £2,075.22. Going: good (good to firm in places) 1¼. W J Haggas. Tote: £2.20; , . Exacta: £8.00. CSF: £7.64.
3.10 (1m) 1, Keeper’s Choice (Tyler Heard, 13-8 fav); 2,
1.05 (7f) 1, Silent Film (James Doyle, 7-2); 2, Run To
Trifecta: £21.30 Limerick
Prize Fighting (3-1); 3, Blessed (9-1). 6 ran. NR: Air Of York,
Never Said Nothing. 3½l, 2¾l. A Wintle. Tote: £2.60; £1.50,
Hexham Freedom (4-1); 3, Talbot (9-1). 7 ran. ¾l, 1½l. C Appleby. 3.40 (6f) 1, First Folio (Daniel Muscutt, 13-2); 2, Blackrod Going: good (good to firm in places)
£1.80. Exacta: £7.60. CSF: £6.85. Tricast: £30.76. Trifecta: Going: good (good to soft in places) Tote: £4.50; £2.30, £2.30. Exacta: £18.70. CSF: £17.02. (18-1); 3, Ey Up It’s Maggie (33-1). ; 4, Jadwal (7-1). 17 ran. 1.50 (7f) 1, Dolly May (G M Ryan, 33-1); 2, Bellabel (20-1); 3,
£30.10 Trifecta: £121.20 1¼, ½l. J Ferguson. Tote: £9.10; £2.20, £4.50, £5.50, £1.80. Arges (5-1). 13 ran. NR: Karakoul, Octola . Nk, nk. J M
1.15 (1m 7f 133yd, ch) 1, Kapsize (S Bowen, 3-1 fav); 2, Roll Exacta: £177.00. CSF: £114.03. Tricast: £2,161.88. Trifecta:
Of Thunder (8-1); 3, Silken Moonlight (13-2). 13 ran. 5½l, 1¼. 1.35 (5f 10yd) 1, Saaheq (Marco Ghiani, 9-2); 2, Seneca Barrett. Tote: €55.20; €11.60, €4.00, €1.70. Exacta:
3.45 (5f 160yd) 1, Temple Bruer (Saffie Osborne, 13-8 £4,982.00
P Bowen. Tote: £3.70; £1.70, £2.90, £2.50. Exacta: £31.30. Chief (40-1); 3, Vandad (16-1). 12 ran. ½l, ns. Mrs A J Perrett. €1,020.60. CSF: €553.92
fav); 2, Harmony Lil (13-2); 3, Street Parade (10-1). 7 ran.
CSF: £27.48. Tricast: £150.13. Trifecta: £227.40 Tote: £5.40; £1.80, £9.90, £3.30. Exacta: £202.50. CSF: 4.15 (6f) 1, Bosh (Tom Marquand, 5-2); 2, Gis A Sub (13-2);
NR: Michaels Choice, Sarah’s Verse. ¾l, 1¾l. E Walker. Tote: 3, Bond Power (9-2). 9 ran. ns, 4l. R Hannon. Tote: £3.30; 2.25 (6f 150yd) 1, Punk Poet (S M Crosse, 4-1); 2, Mudawy
£2.40; £1.40, £3.10. Exacta: £14.00. CSF: £12.65. Tricast: £185.11. Tricast: £2,697.84. Trifecta: £3,821.00 (10-3 fav); 3, Irish Acclaim (22-1). 11 ran. NR: Ice Cold In
1.45 (2m 48yd, hdle) 1, The Wrekin (Ben Godfrey, Evens £1.20, £2.20, £1.70. Exacta: £19.80. CSF: £19.29. Trifecta:
£78.58. Trifecta: £69.60 fav); 2, Homme D’Un Soir (5-4); 3, Socks Off (10-1). 10 ran. 2.15 (5f 10yd) 1, Atalis Bay (Andrea Atzeni, 6-4 fav); 2, £88.70 Alex, Ramon Di Loria. Nk, 1½l. E Lynam. Tote: €5.40; €2.20,
NR: Get The Facts. ½l, 3l. H D Daly. Tote: £1.80; £1.10, £1.10, Warrior Brave (11-2); 3, Steel Bull (17-2). 9 ran. ¾l, 2½l. M €1.10, €4.90. Exacta: €22.90. CSF: €18.04. Trifecta: €332.20
4.20 (1m 2f 37yd) 1, Hashtagmetoo (Saffie Osborne, 5-1); 4.50 (1m 177yd) 1, La Trinidad (Jason Hart, 4-1); 2, Delgrey
2, Quemonda (5-4 fav); 3, Broadhaven (11-2). 4 ran. NR: £2.70. Exacta: £3.00. CSF: £2.72. No 3 Get The Facts (28-1) Botti. Tote: £1.80; £1.10, £1.90, £2.60. Exacta: £8.20. CSF: 3.00 (6f 150yd) 1, Trueba (Wesley Joyce, 3-1 fav); 2,
Boy (3-1 fav); 3, Irv (13-2). 15 ran. Nk, 1¾l. R Fell. Tote:
Precision Storm, Red Gunner, Tropical Cyclone. Sh hd, 7l. J was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 does not apply. £9.65. Trifecta: £54.10 Musalsal (4-1); 3, Theriverrunsdeep (40-1). 12 ran. NR: Baby
£4.20; £1.60, £2.00, £2.70. Exacta: £19.60. CSF: £15.13.
A Osborne. Tote: £4.30; , . Exacta: £10.90. CSF: £11.92. Trifecta: £10.40 Tricast: £80.31 Power, Vazzy, Viv Vance. 1l, 4l. J P Murtagh. Tote: €4.00;
2.50 (1m) 1, Trais Fluors (S De Sousa, 12-1); 2, Latest
2.20 (2m 4f 15yd, ch) 1, Ashington (Sean Quinlan, 3-1); 2, Generation (15-8 fav); 3, Dogged (7-1). 10 ran. 1¾l, nk. M R €1.30, €1.80, €9.60. Exacta: €17.30. CSF: €14.51. Tricast:
Chester Seven De Baune (11-2); 3, Chapmanshype (1-2 fav). 4 ran. Channon. Tote: £17.20; £3.60, £1.30, £2.20. Exacta:
5.25 (6f) 1, Mr Wagyu (Jason Hart, 13-2); 2, Pockley (16-1); €412.74. Trifecta: €330.80
3, Abate (14-1). ; 4, Cottam Lane (12-1). 19 ran. NR: Dark
Going: good to firm NR: Santana Plessis. 1¾l, 6½l. B Ellison. Tote: £4.20; , . £51.50. CSF: £34.46. Tricast: £181.61. Trifecta: £293.10 Shot. 2¼, sh hd. J J Quinn. Tote: £7.30; £2.20, £2.60, £3.10, *Does not include late results from Limerick
Exacta: £16.40. CSF: £16.07. Trifecta: £16.80 £3.50. Exacta: £152.70. CSF: £104.16. Tricast: £1,445.55.
1.40 (5f 15yd) 1, Lost My Sock (J Fanning, 7-1); 2, Rebel At 3.25 (1m 1f) 1, Dejame Paso (Jason Watson, 11-1); 2, King Does not include late results from Leicester and
Dawn (5-2); 3, Havagomecca (7-2). 5 ran. Sh hd, ½l. T D 2.55 (2m 4f 28yd, hdle) 1, Itsnotyouitsme (Ross Of Clubs (11-10 fav); 3, Ensured (7-2). 9 ran. ¾l, ½l. A M Trifecta: £3,443.70
Worcester
 The Sunday Times June 13, 2021 31

ANATOMY OF LESSONS FROM

A LIFE IN SPORT
...PHIL MICKELSON OLLIE PHILLIPS
After a surprise win, aged LEFTY Former England sevens
50, at the USPGA last Despite doing everything else in captain on champagne,
his life right-handed, Mickelson
month, the American earned the moniker of “lefty” for Dad’s Army and coming
goes into this week's being one of the only left-handed
players on tour. It began when his unstuck through glue
US Open with father, Phil Mickelson Sr., was
practicing his chipping in the
renewed hope of garden one day and his son
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN MY TOUGHEST OPPONENT
I wasn’t from a rugby family. It James Simpson-Daniel. He
becoming the sixth picked up a club and started
copying him. Mickelson mirrored
all stemmed from being a was magical. I could never
golfer to complete a his father’s right-handed swing,
boisterous kid with loads of
energy and a younger brother
read what he was going to do.

career grand slam... meaning he took the club back to

the left, and the swing stuck.
I was bashing up too many MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT
by Angus Oliver
times. Mum and Dad were FROM MY CAREER
desperate to get me out of Playing for Newcastle at
the house. Kingsholm, ten games into my
SHORT GAME career. It was the only time I
FACTFILE While Mickelson’s golf has often MY BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT sprayed glue on my hands. I
Age 50 Majors won been plagued by erratic driving, At Durham University, I’d drive caught the ball in the 22 and
many contend that there has to Aldershot every weekend was ready to knock it 50 yards
Height 6ft 3in Masters never been a better wedge player to play for Harlequins but it stuck. I thought that was
2004, 2006, 2010 than him. He carries three seconds until I joined the end of it, but in Sky Rugby
Weight 14st Callaway wedges in his bag Newcastle Falcons, 20 miles Club, Will Greenwood
USPGA Championship currently and is renowned for his up the road. There, watching said:”I’m sorry but we couldn’t
World ranking 31 2005, 2021 flop shots. icons such as Jason Leonard let this go” and played it in
and Dan Luger made me slow-motion with the caption
Highest ranking 2 The Open realise I was in the shop “Phillips howler”. My so-called
2013 CALVES window. I started to think I best man showed it again on
Professional wins 55 could turn professional. my wedding day.
Such are the size and definition
of Mickelson’s calves — “Calves
Career prize money*
like Adonis,” as he brands them
THE COACH I LOOKED UP TO I LEARNT MOST FROM …
Durham’s Ted Wood, a Newcastle coach Steve Black.
$94,611,761 *PGA Tour
— that he ironically posted a
five-part video workout series on
Yorkshireman who loved
getting stuck into soft
He was a squat Geordie bloke,
but he gave me a support
social media for fans to bulk their
southerners. He made a structure: “Maximise your
calves like him. No wonder he has
fantastic impression on me, strengths, manage your
taken to frequently wearing
personally and professionally.
GETTING FIT shorts since the USGA allowed
players to do so on the PGA Tour.
Having identified the need to stay in shape in MY CHILDHOOD HERO
order to keep up with the big hitters of the Anyone on Living With Lions,
modern game, Mickelson underwent a radical the 1997 tour documentary. I
change in physique in 2019. He fasted for six must have watched it 50
days, drinking only coffee, and has since cut times. I can quote it chapter
down on meat and sugar. He took up martial and verse. I’m obsessed.
arts to improve his core strength and flexibility,
he set up a wellness company selling a coffee RUGBY NEVER GOT ANY BETTER
blend containing collagen and Himalayan pink THAN …
salt and he started meditating to stay “present” Captaining the Sevens World
during rounds. What resulted was Mickelson Series leg in Wellington in
shedding over a stone and generating the 2009. Everyone hated us and
fastest average clubhead speed of his career. they played the Dad’s Army
theme before we went out.
We were 17-0 down, but won Magical . . . Simpson-Daniel
BOMBS 19-17. At that moment there
Having lost all that weight Mickelson was complete silence … weaknesses”. And Matt Burke,
finished 2019 ranked 19th for driving the Australian full back, who
distance on the PGA Tour. Two of his MORNING I HAD THE HANGOVER had an amazing, clairvoyant
primary drives are his “bombs” and his TO END ALL HANGOVERS ability to predict the game.
“hellacious seeds”. “A bomb is high and 2000, doing pre-match
nasty,” he said before a tournament in May hospitality for France v DAY I KNEW THE GAME WAS UP
last year. “A hellacious seed is a streaming England at the Stade de Unfortunately, the decision
low hot runner. Tiger [Woods] likes to hit France. It was hot, we were was made for me. At the 2013
stingers and those are cute...hellacious sat at the bar swilling Sevens World Cup final, I
seeds are going by a stinger so fast.” champagne and I’d no idea collapsed in a heap with
how pissed I was until the nobody close. I’d severed the
third bottle. My family had nerve in my calf.
come over specially, but next
MY ONE REGRET
YOUR NEXT MARK WALTERS: IN THE
FOOTSTEPS OF ANDREW
in the Scottish Cup
Final of 1881, he was the
in Glasgow a century
previously. As Walters
morning I couldn’t show them
Paris. I slept for 48 hours. That my last roll of the dice

DOWNLOAD WATSON
BBC IPLAYER
first black footballer to
win a major
competition. That
notes, after Watson
and a handful of peers,
Scottish football
MY FAVOURITE GROUND
Clermont in France: they live
couldn’t have been captaining
Team GB at the Rio Olympics,
and winning a medal.
When Mark Walters same year, he became monoracial and breathe rugby down
arrived at Rangers in captained Scotland until Gilbert Heron there. It’s really hostile. BEST ADVICE FOR A YOUNG
1987, he was the only when they inflicted played one league SPORTSPERSON
black player in Scottish England’s 6-1 record game for Celtic in 1951. MY LEAST FAVOURITE GROUND Have an attitude of gratitude.
top-flight football. home defeat. The Today, things are Welford Road. The pitch John Aizlewood
However, he wasn’t the engaging Walters darts when he made better, but as a grim always felt smaller than Ollie Phillips is the founder of
first. Nor, in fact, was entwines his his debut at Parkhead interview with racially others, it always rained and Optimist Performance, which
the half-Scottish, half- experiences in — with those of the abused defender Leicester just wanted to beat specialises in performance
Guyanese Andrew Scotland — which Greek and Latin- Jordan Tapping shows, people up. Playing on the coaching, leadership and
Watson, but as a began with Celtic fans speaking Watson’s far from perfect… wing, I wasn’t up for that. I behavioural change.
Queen’s Park full back throwing bananas and more sedate progress John Aizlewood wanted to dance around. optimistperformance.com
32 June 13, 2021 The Sunday Times

Sport

Medal hopes soar for girl who didn’t like swimming

could ever fill her shoes but it would totally fine, in my own little world, contracted Covid-19. “That was awful
OLYMPIC GAMES be amazing if I could follow in her paddling along.” She knows it’s a ‘I’m really into — we were back to doing circuits in the
footsteps.” cliché, she says, but getting into the shopping, make-up kitchen and living room,” she says.

W
The postponement of the Games pool is “like slipping into a different “But, being held back, I think it makes
Rebecca Myers from last year has given Anderson an world. You just forget all the hum of and all that stuff. you stronger mentally.”
hen asked if she
believes in herself,
extra year to grow as an athlete, extra
opportunities to win medals and extra
the day and get on with swimming”.
These days, it’s time out of the pool
It’s therapeutic and The advice of senior swimmers,
such as Adam Peaty and James Guy,
Freya Anderson says attention from the press and fans. Has that helps her to forget the hum of nice to get a balance’ has helped too. “I’ve struggled a lot in
she is “getting there”. she noticed the increasing hype swimming. She moved to the national the last year with injuries and all sorts,
The 20-year-old swim- directed her way? training centre in Bath in May, joining but it’s good to talk to older swimmers
mer may have been She scrunches her face a little and what she describes as a “more profes- and to know that the best of the best
expected to target Paris smiles, bashfully. “Kind of and I kind sional” environment. Once she has go through it too, that they doubt
2024 as her big ascent of try to ignore it most of the time,” finished her Saturday morning shift in themselves sometimes or don’t enjoy
to the world stage, yet six weeks from she says. “But, again, it is nice to have the pool, she likes to spend the week- it,” Anderson says. “Speaking to them
the start of this year’s Olympics in people believing in you and support- ends shopping and enjoying the helps me calm down, it relaxes me. I
Tokyo, and having won six medals at ing you. Even if, sometimes, I doubt restaurants of Bath with friends. know I’m not alone.”
last month’s European Champion- myself, it’s nice to know that other “I’m really into shopping and She is back in blistering form, as
ships — including five golds — she has people see something in me that I make-up and all of that stuff. It’s thera- shown by those five gold medals in
found herself being touted as a poten- don’t think I can see.” peutic, in a way, because you spend Budapest last month.
tial podium-finisher three years early. Sometimes, she wonders how she every day looking like this,” she says, “It was a really nice confidence
As a specialist in the freestyle got here. Her earliest swimming mem- gesturing at her plain sports polo top. boost,” she says, smiling. No doubt it
stroke, comparisons have been drawn ories are of intense shyness, hiding “At the weekend, you get to make will also fuel even more excitement
between Anderson and Rebecca behind her mum’s legs or getting told yourself feel nice and do normal- about her prospects in Tokyo, but she
Adlington, who won her first gold off for touching her feet on the floor person things. It’s nice to get that doesn’t seem to mind. “Adding a bit of
medal in Beijing in 2008 when she of the pool. “I don’t know how I balance. When I’m just walking pressure helps enhance my perform-
was 19. Anderson, who idolised progressed so far because I really around town, I don’t think of myself as ance.”
Adlington as a girl, is more than happy didn’t like it at the start,” she says. a swimmer, I’m just a normal girl.” 6 Freya Anderson is a participant of
to take the “massive, massive” com- Despite the early nerves, Anderson The past year has also had its share the Sky Sports Scholars programme — a
pliment. “They’re very big shoes to always felt at home in the water. “I was of setbacks, from injuries including a scheme that has provided funding and
fill,” she says. “But it’s nice to have a natural, even from a very young torn disc in her back to sitting out a range of support to up-and-coming
people believing in me. I don’t think I age,” she says. “Once I got in, I was training after one of her team-mates Anderson idolised Adlington athletes on their journey to Tokyo.

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