Tag: Ancelotti

Following a big shake-up by Gareth Southgate for their friendly against Australia, Tim Thornton and Peter Smith discuss whether or not any of England’s newer faces performed well enough to turn Southgate’s head for future international starts.

Steve Clarke says he was pleased with Scotland’s performance but the players are disappointed at the loss after disallowed goal against Spain.

David Marshall thinks there were a lot of positives from Scotland’s 2-0 defeat to Spain in their Euro 2024 qualifier.

Steve Smith was left bemused after being dismissed by an lbw decision in Australia’s clash against South Africa at the Cricket World Cup.

Ellie Roper previews England’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Fiji and James Cole reports from Toulon ahead of Wales v Argentina.

Stephen Warnock feels Mike Dean was being disrespectful when he made comments suggesting that ex-players should not be involved in VAR decisions as they do not know the laws of the game.

South Africa 1st innings

Yet to bat

• Markram
• Klaasen
• Miller
• Jansen
• Coetzee
• Rabada
• Maharaj
• Ngidi

Fall of Wickets

• Temba Bavuma at 10 for 1, from 1.4 overs10-1 (Temba Bavuma, 1.4 ov)

Michael Smith will take on rival Gerwyn Price in a popcorn semi-final clash while Luke Humphries will face Joe Cullen; Watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester up until the final on Sunday – live on Sky Sports

World Champion Michael Smith set up a blockbuster showdown against Gerwyn Price in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix as both players cruised through their respective last eight matches on Friday night.

World No 1 Smith put on a professional display to see off Andrew Gilding and reach the semi-finals of the event for the first time as fourth seed Price brushed aside a struggling Martin Schindler in three consecutive sets, dropping just one leg.

Luke Humphries stayed cool to comeback from two sets down to defeat Peter Wright in a last-leg shootout. The sixth seed will now take on Joe Cullen who beat Chris Dobey in a thrilling deciding leg thanks to a ridiculous 121 checkout on the bullseye.

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Price is hoping to become double World Grand Prix champion after beating German No 2 Schindler

Price – the only former champion left in the field – raced through to the last four with a thumping win over Schindler, who endured a night to forget at the Morningside Arena.

“Martin was way off the pace, so I just had to concentrate on my own game,” said Price, who is yet to drop a set in this year’s tournament.

“I’m nowhere near the heights I can reach, but I’m still here and I think the extended format is a little more favourable for me, so hopefully I can lift this title for a second time.”

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Smith defeated Gliding 3-0 showcasing his brilliant finishing with a 104 and an 88-bull finish

The 2020 champion will now take on Smith, after the top seed swept aside UK Open champion Gilding to reach his first double-start semi-final.

“My scoring was non-existent, but I think my finishing to end legs was superb tonight,” reflected Smith, who has relinquished just six legs in his run to the semi-finals.

“Me and Gezzy always have great games. It will be played in a good spirit, and it will be nice to have a really fast-paced game and put on a great show for this crowd.

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Cullen produced a bit of magic to defeat Dobey in a thrilling last-leg decider

Cullen conjured up a majestic 121 checkout to overcome Dobey in a gruelling five-set affair, recovering from 2-1 down to reach a sixth televised semi-final against Humphries.

“If I’m completely honest, if that 121 finish didn’t go in, I would have probably lost the game,” conceded Cullen, who has now broken into the world’s top 10 for the first time.

“I felt so focused, and I want to give myself the best possible chance. I think this [fightback] will stand me in good stead, and I will take that confidence into tomorrow.

“Luke is a great lad. He dug in tonight and showed his fighting qualities, so I will have to perform tomorrow, but this double-start [format] is a massive leveller.”

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Humphries rallied against Wright with these two ton-plus finishes en route to reaching the last four

Humphries battled back from the brink to stun ‘Snakebite’ who established a commanding two-set lead, but he was left shell-shocked as a tenacious ‘Cool Hand Luke’ clawed himself off the canvas to complete a sensational fightback.

“That could be one of the greatest wins of my career,” declared Humphries, who will now feature in a second successive TV ranking semi-final.

“I can’t really put that into words. That was prime Peter – that was Peter Wright at his best. I put everything into that game, and I’m so proud of myself. That is a massive win for me.

“I never make it easy for myself, but you don’t expect it to be easy. We have so many great players here, and I’m probably going to have to play as well as that in the semi-finals.”

Semi-finals night of the unique double-start event will see the remaining four players compete for a place in Sunday’s final, with Price the only former champion left standing.

The Welsh ace and Smith’s titanic tussle will kick off the action, before Humphries and Cullen collide for a place in Sunday’s showpiece in Leicester.

Watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester every night up until the final on Sunday – live on Sky Sports. Stream the World Grand Prix and more with NOW for £21 a month for six months

Chris Dobey produced an inspired performance to dump out Michael van Gerwen, while Peter Wright, Joe Cullen and Luke Humphries all won; Watch the double-in, double-out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester up until October 8 – live on Sky Sports

Chris Dobey dumped out six-time defending champion Michael van Gerwen after the Dutchman came close to nailing two nine-darters on a magical night of arrows at the World Grand Prix.

Just 24 hours after watching his beloved Newcastle tonk PSG 4-1 in the Champions League, Dobey was inspired by the Magpies to defeat hot-favourite Van Gerwen in a rip-roaring clash at the Morningside Arena in Leicester on Thursday.

Peter Wright, the 2018 runner-up, came out on top against Ryan Searle, while Joe Cullen defeated European Champion Ross Smith.

Elsewhere, sixth seed Luke Humphries swept past debutant Luke Woodhouse.

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MVG came so close to nailing two nine-dart finishes in the same match against Dobey

Day Four of the unique double-start event saw the second round action conclude in Leicester, and Dobey stole the show with a remarkable comeback victory over Van Gerwen.

The Dutchman was imperious in the opening exchanges, missing the bull for a double-start nine-darter twice in the space of three legs, as he aimed to land the first perfect leg at this event since 2014.

Dobey defied Van Gerwen’s blistering barrage to draw first blood, only for ‘Mighty Mike’ to reel off back-to-back sets and move to the cusp of a place in the last eight.

Despite missing three set darts for a 2-1 lead, the Masters champion regained his poise to force a deciding set, surviving a match dart at bull from Van Gerwen in a dramatic conclusion to set four.

Dobey then seized control of the deciding set with consecutive legs of 14 and 15 darts, before conjuring up a spectacular 156 checkout to complete one of the finest wins of his career.

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Dobey dumped out MVG with this magical 156 checkout

“What a game! We [Newcastle] are on a good run of form, and so am I,” smiled Dobey, who crashed in six 180s and pinned 61 per cent of his darts at a starting double.

“I’ve owed Michael a couple from the last few times I’ve played him here, but after I beat him for the first time [last year], I’m not afraid of him anymore.

“I have played Michael so many times now, and it’s something special playing him on the big stage. I loved every minute of that, and I’m so glad to get another win.”

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Dobey said he took inspiration from Newcastle’s win over PSG using it to overcome reigning champion Van Gerwen

Dobey – through to his third World Grand Prix quarter-final in four attempts – now meets Cullen, who stormed to a 3-1 success against Smith in a high-quality encounter.

Earlier in the night, ‘Snakebite’ Wright produced a trio of sensational ton-plus checkouts to topple Searle and avenge his defeat to the Somerset star at the same stage of July’s World Matchplay.

Wright’s reward is a quarter-final showdown against sixth seed Humphries, who recorded a straight-sets victory over Woodhouse in the evening’s opener.

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Wright hit three impressive finishes against Searle, including 167, 158 and 121 checkouts

Friday at the World Grand Prix

World No 1 Michael Smith will be aiming to continue his breakthrough run in Leicester

World No 1 Michael Smith cruised to a 3-0 victory over 2011 runner-up Brendan Dolan to take his place in the quarter-finals where he will hope to continue his breakthrough run in Leicester against surprise-package Andrew Gilding.

UK Open champion Gilding produced a terrific fightback to dump out 2016 finalist Gary Anderson and move through to his maiden World Grand Prix quarter-final.

Martin Schindler became the first German player to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix, but he now faces a tough task against 2020 champion Gerwyn Price.

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Wayne Mardle says all eight players left in the competition will feel they have a massive opportunity to win the title

World No 3 Wright tackles Humphries, who is chasing his first major TV title, while Van Gerwen’s conqueror Dobey meets former Masters champion Cullen.

Watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester every night up until the final on October 8 – live on Sky Sports. Stream the World Grand Prix and more with NOW for £21 a month for six months

England manager Gareth Southgate says he doesn’t like VAR and admits he would rather decisions be left to on-field referees.

‘Goldfinger’ Andrew Gilding shocks Gary Anderson as Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith ease through to the quarter-finals; Watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester up until the final on October 8 – live on Sky Sports

Dark horse Andrew Gilding caused a seismic shock at the World Grand Prix by shocking in-form Gary Anderson as Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith eased through at the Morningside Arena in Leicester on Wednesday.

UK Open champion Gilding showed his battling spirit to dump out two-time world champion Anderson, while reigning world champion Smith and 2020 champion Price continue their title challenges with comfortable wins against 2011 runner-up Brendan Dolan and Krzysztof Ratajski respectively.

German No 2 Martin Schindler stunned a resurgent Stephen Bunting to make it through to the quarter-finals.

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Gilding upset Anderson to seal his spot in the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix

More to follow…

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Thursday at the World Grand Prix

Michael van Gerwen will be aiming to follow up his convincing victory over Josh Rock when he takes on ‘Hollywood’ Chris Dobey on Thursday

Luke Humphries opens the night when he takes on Luke Woodhouse before 2018 runner-up Peter Wright tackles Ryan Searle.

Michal van Gerwen, who lifted the World Grand Prix title for a sixth time in 2022, faces Chris Dobey.

The pair met in the quarter-final stage of 2022 event, with Van Gerwen recording a 3-1 success and he is feeling confident that he cannot be stopped as he hunts a record seventh World Grand Prix title

“It’s not going to happen,” joked Van Gerwen. “The format gets longer and longer after tonight and that won’t do [my opponent] any favours.

“You are going to have a tough opponent in the next game, but I just need to believe in my ability which is what I am doing at the moment and that is maybe why I am playing so well.”

European Champion Ross Smith goes up against Joe Cullen in the final match of the night.

Watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester every night up until the final on October 8 – live on Sky Sports. Stream the World Grand Prix and more with NOW for £21 a month for six months

Mike Wedderburn takes a closer look at the video released by the PGMOL following the VAR mistake in disallowing Liverpool’s goal against Tottenham.

Nathan Aspinall was knocked out by Stephen Bunting as James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld also failed to progress; watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts from the Morningside Arena in Leicester up until the final on October 8 – live on Sky Sports

Nathan Aspinall, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld suffered first-round exits on the opening night of the 2023 World Grand Prix.  

Stephen Bunting overcame some poor finishing to knock out 2022 runner-up and world No 5 Aspinall in a 2-1 victory.

Bunting showed his strength on the doubles to cruise to a 3-1 win in the first set, a ghastly leg for Aspinall saw him take 12 darts to find the double.

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Nathan Aspinall had a horror start to the third leg in the first set, needing 12 darts before hitting a double to get off the mark!

Aspinall then found a clutch 140 to take the match to a deciding set but Bunting held strong under pressure, a huge maximum in the deciding leg helping him to the D16 finish for the victory.

Van Barneveld was defeated 2-1 by Martin Schindler, a disastrous opening leg foreshadowing his early exit.

‘Barney’ came back to take the second set, but Schindler’s scoring proved too much as he broke the throw on the deciding leg to seal the match and a second-round spot.

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Martin Schindler brilliantly took out 160 to keep his hopes alive in the first set of his encounter with Raymond van Barneveld

Krzysztof Ratajski pulled off an unlikely comeback to win 2-1 and knock out two-time winner Wade.

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Two-time World Grand Prix champion James Wade lost the last three legs as he suffered a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Krzysztof Ratajski in the opening round

Wade found himself 2-0 up in the final deciding set but Ratajski fought back and was near perfect on the trebles to take three legs in a row and clinch an astonishing victory.

Smith shows skill as Anderson and Price also progress

World champion Michael Smith showed his brilliance and dropped just one leg as he raced to a 2-0 victory over Callan Rydz.

Smith got off to a flying start against Rydz, a 124 checkout helping him to a first-set win that included two breaks of throw.

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Michael Smith sent out a statement of intent, taking out 124 in the opening leg of his contest versus Callan Rydz

Despite Rydz rallying with a brilliant 126 checkout to take a leg, Smith then won three more in a row to wrap up the match and lay down a marker in the competition.

Gerwyn Price demolished Danny Noppert in a 2-0 routing, ‘The Iceman’ showing his class to take the first set, 112 and 101 finishes to break the throw plus a dominant deciding leg giving him the upper hand.

From there, Noppert could not respond, and the Welshman cruised through three back-to-back legs to wrap up the win, his scoring on the doubles too good for the Dutchman.

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Gerwyn Price won the first set against Danny Noppert thanks to finishes of 112 and 101

Dirk van Duijvenbode was the first to be knocked out as he fell 2-1 to Brendan Dolan.

Van Duijvenbode got going quickly as he raced to take all three legs in the first set against the throw for a 1-0 lead but Dolan fought back to clinch the second set and take the match to a decider.

It was then his turn to take all three sets as he found the doubles much quicker than his opponent, sealing the win and the spot in the second round with a tops finish.

The next clash saw an in-form Gary Anderson take on the ‘Special One’ Jose de Sousa, the Portuguese No 1 averaging 102.5 to clinch the first set on a break of throw in the deciding leg.

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Gary Anderson overcame Jose de Sousa in a deciding leg as he progressed to the second round at the World Grand Prix

However, the ‘Flying Scotsman’ fought back and showed why he is one to watch in this year’s tournament, taking four legs in a row, with some huge maximums along the way, plus a nervy deciding leg for the 2-1 win.

The final clash of the night saw Rob Cross and Andrew Gilding in a tight, albeit low-quality, affair as Gilding sealed the 2-1 win in a last-leg decider.

Cross missed three match darts for the victory and Gilding held his nerve to hit tops and seal only his second-ever World Grand Prix win.

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Rob Cross squandered three match darts in the deciding leg as Andrew Gilding fought back from losing the opening set to reach the second round at the World Grand Prix

Tuesday at the World Grand Prix

Michael van Gerwen will begin his defence of the title against Josh Rock in a mouth-watering first-round tussle.

Van Gerwen, who lifted his sixth World Grand Prix title in 2022, will open his challenge against world youth champion Rock.

Third seed Peter Wright will play German No 1 Gabriel Clemens in his opener, with Hungarian Darts Trophy winner Dave Chisnall up against Luke Woodhouse.

Watch the double in, double out World Grand Prix Darts at the Morningside Arena in Leicester every night up until the final on October 8 – live on Sky Sports. Stream the World Grand Prix and more with NOW for £21 a month for six months

Raymond van Barneveld eventually secured the opening leg against Martin Schindler after both players spurned multiple opportunities to hit a double finish.

Take a look at all the action from Sunday in the Rugby World Cup, with Australia taking on Portugal and South Africa facing Tonga.

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez insisted he is back to his best after he dominated Jermell Charlo on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in a battle of undisputed champions.