5 h. ago How early has a defending champion exited an international tournament?

Plus: more non top-flight teams playing in Europe, alumni of semi-finalists and England captains in one teamMail us with your questions and answers“The Lionesses will be out of Euro 2025 after two games if they lose to the Netherlands on Wednesday and France avoid defeat against Wales,” laments Sarah Cassidy. “Would that be the earliest a defending champion has been eliminated at a major international tournament?”In a less deathly group, England’s 2-1 defeat by France on Saturday would have been a wake-up call rather than a final warning. But that’s what it was, and if England lose to the Netherlands their title defence will probably be over after two games. Even a draw would leave them needing favours from other teams. Continue reading...

Society

5 h. ago The Knowledge | How early has a defending champion exited an international tournament?

Plus: more non top-flight teams playing in Europe, alumni of semi-finalists and England captains in one teamMail us with your questions and answers“The Lionesses will be out of Euro 2025 after two games if they lose to the Netherlands on Wednesday and France avoid defeat against Wales,” laments Sarah Cassidy. “Would that be the earliest a defending champion has been eliminated at a major international tournament?”In a less deathly group, England’s 2-1 defeat by France on Saturday would have been a wake-up call rather than a final warning. But that’s what it was, and if England lose to the Netherlands their title defence will probably be over after two games. Even a draw would leave them needing favours from other teams. Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago Navarro ends Krejcikova’s Wimbledon defence while Andreeva marches on

Krejcikova has blood pressure checked as Navarro wins 2-6, 6-3, 6-4Andreeva beats Baptiste 6-1, 6-3; Rybakina crashes out to TausonThe defending champion, Barbora Krejcikova, exited No 1 Court to rousing applause after struggling through injuries in her 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 loss against the No 10 seed, Emma Navarro. It is only the third time the women’s singles defending champion has lost in the third round in the Open era, after Venus Williams in 2006 and Petra Kvitova in 2015.“It was tough conditions,” said Navarro. “She was dealing with some injury timeouts. It definitely was tough to find my rhythm. But I stuck in there, toughed it out.” Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Leah Williamson details key reason Lionesses will attack Euro 2025 with 'no fear'

England's squad at the European Championships contains a number of players at their first major international tournament and Leah Williamson is one of the experienced stars showing them the ropes

Politics

2 w. ago ‘How did I get here?’: GB basketball captain Temi Fágbénlé’s journey from shy London teen to WNBA

Britain’s driving force on EuroBasket prospects, playing alongside Caitlin Clark and the importance of a team mentality at the highest level“It’s great to be back with Great Britain,” Temi Fágbénlé says, her voice carrying the quiet confidence of a seasoned international basketball player. “I come from the WNBA but I’m glad I was able to make both work.” For the captain of GB’s women’s basketball team, balancing the demands of the world’s premier league with national team duties is a familiar tightrope walk. “I’m thankful teams see European competition as a priority for some of us. They’ve accommodated where they could.”EuroBasket, a biennial competition, is one of the biggest international tournaments in the game. It is also a qualifying metric for the Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. With the 2025 edition under way, Fágbénlé’s presence is crucial as one of the leading WNBA players choosing to play in an international tournament during the season. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago US Open: Rory McIlroy makes cut as defending champion DeChambeau bows out at Oakmont

Northern Irishman’s birdie on 18th secures placeBig names tumble out as DeChambeau finishes on +10Clubs were thrown but the towel was not. Rory McIlroy battled Oakmont’s treacherous setup and his own frustrations to survive for the weekend at the 125th US Open. As McIlroy clung on, high-profile exits from Pennsylvania included the defending champion Bryson DeChambeau, Tommy Fleetwood, Dustin Johnson, Joaquin Niemann, Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry. In epitomising how Oakmont can mess with the mind, Lowry earned a one-stroke penalty after lifting his ball on the 14th green while forgetting to mark it. The Irishman could only laugh and, to be fair, did.McIlroy’s day began with two double bogeys inside three holes. By the 12th, the Masters champion flung his iron 30 yards down the fairway in anger at a loose shot. Five holes later, McIlroy broke a tee marker after cracking it with his three-wood. Yet amongst this was admirable fighting spirit; McIlroy fired an approach shot to within 4f...

Politics

3 w. ago Manchester United youngster Chido Obi stars for Denmark at international tournament

Man United striker Chido Obi has scored two goals in three games for Denmark's Under-20s at the Maurice Revello Tournament.

Society