3 h. ago I’ve seen horrible things at football matches – but what landed on the pitch last week was the worst | Adrian Chiles

When a mysterious object fell from the sky mid-game, I knew it was a portent of doom. The surprise was finding out who chucked it thereA funny thing happened at the football last Saturday, and not in a good way. My team, West Brom, were outplaying Derby County but, importantly, without managing to score a goal. Ordinarily, as the second half went on, I would have given in to pessimism, assuming that for all our dominance we’d not score, though Derby somehow would, and I’d go home miserable. But on this occasion, I really thought the match would be ours. Until this thing happened.Play suddenly stopped, for reasons that were at first unclear. A few of the players were looking at something lying on the pitch. Gingerly, squeamishly, they edged closer to whatever it was. Bizarre. As opera glasses aren’t available on the backs of seats at football grounds, we couldn’t identify the object. Eventually a member of the ground staff appeared, wearing rubber gloves. He strode out to the middle ...

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1 week ago Steve Clarke orders Scotland to get 'horrible' for World Cup charge as dressing room hears his message loud and clear

Clarke wants his players to get back to what they're good at - being horrible and making life hell for the opposition

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1 week ago BREAKING: McLaren team orders controversy as Lando Norris benefits and Max Verstappen wins Italian GP

Max Verstappen started on pole ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with McLaren struggling to match the straight line speed of the Dutchman in his Red Bull at Monza

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1 week ago McLaren team orders controversy as Lando Norris benefits and Max Verstappen wins Italian GP

Max Verstappen started on pole ahead of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with McLaren struggling to match the straight line speed of the Dutchman in his Red Bull at Monza

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1 week ago West Ham row over London Stadium escalates amid claims landlords demanded Hammers cover DOUBLE the costs of men's matches to host WSL fixtures

West Ham row over London Stadium escalates amid claims landlords demanded Hammers cover DOUBLE the costs of men's matches to host WSL fixtures  Daily Mail

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2 w. ago Land mines and tuberculosis are no match for Tanzanian ‘hero rats’ sniffing out danger and disease

The nonprofit APOPO has worked in Morogoro, Tanzania, for more than two decades to train African giant pouched rats for lifesaving missions

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2 w. ago Joy for Samoa as Harmony Vatau kicks their first World Cup points for 11 years | Andy Bull

The cash-strapped nation have overcome many hurdles just to be in England and fly half’s successful penalty made the sacrifices worthwhileYou can keep the 92 points England scored. Let’s talk about Samoa’s three. It’s been 11 years since Samoa recorded a point in a World Cup match. They didn’t qualify for the tournaments in 2017 or 2021, and they were whitewashed 73-0 by Australia in the first round of this one on the opening weekend. So Franklin’s Gardens fell awfully quiet when the team won a scrum penalty just inside England’s half in the 42nd minute, 32m out, and straight in front of the posts. Everyone knew what was at stake in that next moment, and it was a hell of a lot more than cutting three points off England’s lead.Their coach, Ramsey Tomokino, was expecting them to tap-and-go, they had prepared for it in the week, but on the pitch their captain, Sui Pauarasia, turned to her young fly half, Harmony Vatau, and said: “You got this?” instead. “She’s a pretty shy player,” Pau...

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last month Inside Hugo Ekitike's flashy lifestyle that Liverpool's new star shares with stunning WAG

Hugo Ekitike has hit the ground running at Liverpool after scoring on his Wembley and home debut in the space of a week, and the striker is also winning off the pitch

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