62 h. ago Not pretty, not fun but Socceroos slog ends with miraculous win amid late drama | Joey Lynch

All it took was a split second – and a swing of Aziz Behich’s right boot – for the sins of the previous 90 minutes in Perth to be washed awayAt half-time of Australia’s 1-0 win over Japan, a smash-and-grab to end all smash-and-grabs that all but punches their tickets to the 2026 World Cup, the Socceroos staff had a clear message for their players. They’d been handily outplayed to that point, lucky to get out of their own half let alone fashion something resembling a threat on their opponent’s goal, as a second-string Samurai Blue outfit dominated almost every meaningful statistic except the only one that mattered.There was a feeling of disappointment over a perceived lack of toughness from the home side, a view that they were second best in every challenge, losing their duels and missing out on every second ball. But there was no sense of panic. “The coaches were just like, ‘stay calm’, keep moving it, keep moving it,” said Connor Metcalfe. “And if we have to score in the 90th minut...

Events

3 d. ago NATO set to approve new military purchases as part of a major defense spending hike

NATO defense ministers are set to approve plans to buy more weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and North Atlantic

Events

4 d. ago UK set to back Nato push for 3.5% of GDP defence spending by 2035

Commitment to new target expected at summit despite fresh questions for PM Keir Starmer over funding

Politics

4 d. ago UK set to back Nato push for members to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence

Commitment to new target expected at summit despite fresh questions for Keir Starmer over funding

Politics

5 d. ago John Healey refuses to rule out tax rises to fund £14bn rearmament drive... as Nato prepares to set even HIGHER target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence

Defence Secretary John Healey insisted he was '100 per cent confident' that the government will be able to ramp up spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

Economics

1 week ago NATO set to commit to five percent defense spending goal amid threats from Trump

‘I assume that in The Hague we will agree on a higher defense spending target of in total five percent,’ said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

Events

1 week ago Liverpool vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Visitors threaten to spoil party with early Sarr goal before champions lift trophy at Anfield

It should be a day of celebration at Anfield as both sides celebrate their successes

Society

2 w. ago Jack Grealish looks out of time at Manchester City now Guardiola has moved the goalposts | Jonathan Liew

In the Premier League’s shifting landscape, this struggling team can no longer carry a winger lacking straight-line pace and a goal threatJack Grealish is prowling. The wind tousling his hair, the ball at his feet, the way it was always meant to be. In front of him a wall of Bournemouth defenders jumpily stands guard, eyes wide like stags ready to bolt. Grealish shuffles inside, body feinting, hips dancing. You want to know what happens next. What happens next is that the referee blows for full time.It’s the 97th minute; Grealish came on in the 91st. In that time Bournemouth somehow managed to score a goal. It wasn’t Grealish’s fault, but it did eat up most of the time in which he was hoping to make an impression. No matter. As the game ends, the cameras hunt down a treble-winning City legend making what might well be his final appearance at the Etihad Stadium. Kevin De Bruyne takes his handshakes and his tributes. Grealish slips quietly down the tunnel. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Arteta wants Partey to stay at Arsenal and makes more goals a transfer priority

Manager wants ‘exceptional’ Partey to sign new contract‘We need a goal threat and we need the firepower,’ he saysMikel Arteta has said he would like Thomas Partey to stay at Arsenal but admitted his squad needs more “firepower” to win trophies.Talks are understood to have begun with Partey’s representatives over extending his contract beyond this season. The Ghana midfielder has been one of Arsenal’s best players as they finished as Premier League runners-up for a third season in succession. Arteta has won only the 2020 FA Cup during his five seasons in charge. Continue reading...

Sport

3 w. ago NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal

NATO foreign ministers are debating a U.S. demand to massively ramp up defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product over the next 7 years

Events

4 w. ago Dutch leader says NATO's chief insists allies should spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense budgets

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof says NATO’s chief wants the allies to agree to start spending at least 3.5% of GDP on their defense budgets at their summit next month

Politics