Sport news

• Ireland coach Joe Schmidt is suffering the downside of fine margins

  18-02-2016 23:58 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHRIS FOY - WORLD OF RUGBY: Ireland will come to Twickenham with backs to the wall. Recently, he was being heralded as a Kiwi messiah, but head coach Joe Schmidt is now seemingly under siege.
  
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• Ronnie O'Sullivan eases into quarter-finals of Welsh Open but defending champion John Higgins crashes out 

  18-02-2016 23:53 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  John Higgins saw the defence of his Welsh Open title end at the fourth-round stage as he was beaten by Michael White in Cardiff. The four-time world champion went down 4-1 to the Welshman.
  
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• Lynsey Hipgrave right to confront abusers after BT Sport presenter received shocking sexist abuse on Twitter

  18-02-2016 23:47 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  NEIL ASHTON: Perhaps the most worrying aspect of Lynsey Hipgrave’s brush with Twitter this week is that she should have regrets about highlighting the sexist abuse on her timeline.
  
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• Nacer Bouhanni claims Ruta del Sol lead after powering to stage two win

  18-02-2016 23:42
  
  • Cofidis sprinter beats Fabio Felline and Ben Swift to the line
  • Bouhanni benefits from Christophe Laporte’s great lead outNacer Bouhanni outsprinted Fabio Felline and Ben Swift to take stage two at the Ruta del Sol and claim overall lead of the race.Bouhanni took advantage of a great lead out by his Cofidis team-mate Christophe Laporte, who finished fourth, to overpower Felline (Trek-Segafredo) and Swift (Team Sky) to the line in Córdoba. Continue reading...
  
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• FA masterplan to win World Cup in 2022 includes hiring specialist coaches to help with possession and ball control 

  18-02-2016 23:41 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHARLES SALE: The FA’s plan to win World Cup in 2022 includes hiring an array of specialist coaches for when England have the ball, when they do not have the ball - and when they are kicking it.
  
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• Louis van Gaal blames Murphy's law for Manchester United's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Midtjylland 

  18-02-2016 23:37 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Louis van Gaal has blamed Murphy's law for Manchester United's 2-1 first leg Europa League round of 32 defeat at Midtjylland.
  
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• I want to run the FA: As son Duncan shines for Sunderland, Ian Watmore has his sights on English football's most powerful role

  18-02-2016 23:36 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MATT LAWTON: Ian Watmore wants back into the world of football administration, with Greg Dyke’s decision to stand down as the chairman of the FA this summer due to leave a void he would like to fill.
  
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• Winter break is back on the agenda as FA and Premier League prepare for fresh talks 

  18-02-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  EXCLUSIVE - IAN LADYMAN: New talks about the possibility of a winter break in January will take place between the FA and the Premier League.
  
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• Manchester City midfielder Brandon Barker is a versatile winger who enjoys running with the ball... but sometimes he needs to do more to get involved

  18-02-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Our secret scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. He'll bring you his verdict in Sportsmail. This week it's Manchester City midfielder Brandon Barker.
  
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• Ex-Chelsea sporting director Frank Arnesen chasing role at Manchester United

  18-02-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Frank Arnesen has not worked in English football since leaving Chelsea in 2010, but his name has come up again as the Glazers consider a reshuffle at Manchester United.
  
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• Everton boss Roberto Martinez insists that making it to Europe is more important than being popular among fans this season 

  18-02-2016 23:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Roberto Martinez says qualifying for Europe is more important than winning a popularity contest. Martinez’s stock is fading among the fans after just four home wins in the Premier League.
  
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• Ladbrokes shut up shop at Cheltenham amid World Hurdle sponsorship row

  18-02-2016 23:28 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  EXCLUSIVE: Ladbrokes have put the padlocks on their two betting shops at Cheltenham racecourse in a dramatic response to being replaced as sponsors of the World Hurdle.
  
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• Midtjylland 2-1 Manchester United: Pione Sisto and Paul Onuachu on target as Red Devils slump to 11th defeat of the season in Europa League round of 32

  18-02-2016 23:23 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  MARTIN SAMUEL AT THE MCH ARENA: Midtjylland will take a 2-1 lead over Manchester United into the second-leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie after stunning the Red Devils in Denmark.
  
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• McIlroy’s watertight short game puts him on tail of leaders

  18-02-2016 23:18
  
  The Holywood golfer carded a four-under-par opening round but it wasn’t such a good day for Padraig Harrington in California.
  
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• Obama's Cuba visit: Rumours turn into reality

  18-02-2016 23:15
  
  Cuban officials confirm US president will be welcomed in March, but say there are still sticking points in relationship.
  
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• Robin Goodfellow's Racing Tips: All the best bets for Friday, February 19

  18-02-2016 23:09 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Sportsmail racing expert Robin Goodfellow gives his hottest selections ahead of Friday's racing at Sandown, Lingfield, Fakenham and Wolverhampton.
  
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• Dismal Manchester United leave Louis van Gaal cursing with the fans

  18-02-2016 23:04
  
  • Dutchman defiant over his future after defeat by Midtjylland minnows
  • United players admit Europa League performance ‘not acceptable’Louis van Gaal admitted Manchester United fans were right to sing “We’re fucking shit” after the dismal 2-1 defeat to Midtjylland in the Europa League last-32 first leg in Herning.The supporters, who were upset at the £71 ticket price issued by the Danish champions, had their mood darkened further by the defeat to a
  
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• Midtjylland 2-1 Manchester United - five things we learned: Pione Sisto's a class act, Sergio Romero to the rescue and Louis van Gaal can curse his luck

  18-02-2016 23:03 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  It’s been another awful week for Louis van Gaal. As Manchester United left the Jutland peninsula with their tails between their legs, Sportsmail's Chris Wheeler looks at five things we learned …
  
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• Daniel Sturridge fluffs his lines but Liverpool earn draw at Augsburg

  18-02-2016 23:03
  
  “Klopp Is Coming Home” read the front page headline on the Augsburger Allgemeine but the celebrated return of the celebrated German coach was, well, nothing to celebrate. Liverpool’s tame goalless draw against an Augsburg side struggling in the Bundesliga will not linger in the memory as long as the potential knock-on effects for Jürgen Klopp. Related: Augsburg v Liverpool: Europa League – as it happenedContinue reading...
  
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• Keuchel receives steepest increase among 156 in arbitration

  18-02-2016 23:02
  
  NEW YORK (AP) — AL Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel received the steepest increase among the 156 players in salary arbitration this year, according to a study by The Associated Press.
  
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• Leigh Halfpenny gives Wales priceless lowdown on France for Six Nations

  18-02-2016 23:00
  
  • Injured full-back joins Wales camp as part of rehab from Toulon
  • ‘The knowledge he can share about French mindset is invaluable’Leigh Halfpenny will not be able to play for Wales in the Six Nations as he recovers from the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup but the full-back has been in camp this week providing inside knowledge before next week’s match with France at the Millennium Stadium.Halfpenny is in his second season with Toulon and expects to ret
  
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• Augsburg v Liverpool: Europa League – as it happened

  18-02-2016 22:59
  
  Liverpool come away from Germany unscathed after a low-key draw with Augsburg, for whom substitute Ji hits the post in the dying minutes of the game 9.59pm GMTYes, can’t see anyone getting too wound up about that. The second half was rather more sprightly than the first, although it was still hardly a classic. Sturridge should have diverted a Milner cross home for Liverpool and Ji clipped the post for Augsburg late on. Both sides will be able to convince themselves that they can do somethi
  
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• Watson in early lead at Riviera, McIlroy one back

  18-02-2016 22:57
  By Mark Lamport-Stokes PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Former champion Bubba Watson charged into an early share of the lead at one of his favourite venues while Rory McIlroy also flourished on his tournament debut at the Northern Trust Open on Thursday. Left-hander Watson took advantage of a Riviera Country Club layout softened by overnight rain as he fired a five-under-par 66 in dazzling sunshine to join fellow Americans Chez Reavie and Luke List atop the first-round leaderboard. Nort
  
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• Louis van Gaal admits 'we're f*****g s**t' chant was justified after Manchester United slip to humiliating defeat by Midtjylland

  18-02-2016 22:54 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  CHRIS WHEELER: Louis van Gaal admitted that fans were right to hurl abuse at his team in Denmark after Manchester United suffered one of their most humiliating nights in Europe.
  
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• Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Porto: Lukasz Piszczek and Marco Reus on target as Germans ease to victory

  18-02-2016 22:50 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Borussia Dortmund eased to victory over Porto at the Signal Iduna Park in the Europa League Round of 32 first leg. Lukasz Piszczek and Marco Reus were on target
  
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• Man United's De Gea needs scan on knee injury

  18-02-2016 22:42
  Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea will have a scan on a knee problem he suffered warming up for their 2-1 Europa League defeat by Danish side Midtjylland on Thursday. Manager Louis van Gaal said the injury would need further investigation after the Spaniard was forced to sit out the last-32 first-leg tie where United's troubled season took another turn for the worse. Sergio Romero replaced De Gea in the team for the Old Trafford club who were already without 12 players through injury or
  
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• Blatter says won't back any candidate in FIFA presidential election

  18-02-2016 22:33
  Sepp Blatter said he will not support any of the five candidates standing to succeed him as FIFA president, through all but one of them had spoken to him about their bids. Blatter is not standing, having been banned for eight years for ethics violations. "Four of the five candidates have spoken to me.
  
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• Baseball is back, pitchers and catchers hold first workouts

  18-02-2016 22:33
  
  SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — David Price made his first big-money throws of spring training as Boston's prized offseason acquisition, while new Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke began Day 1 with his new club by drilling on the basics of covering first base.
  
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• Ankara bombing: Turkey strikes Kurds in Iraq and Syria

  18-02-2016 22:31
  
  Syria's YPG group denies it was behind deadly attack as Kurdish fighters' bases in Syria and Iraq face Turkish shelling.
  
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• It's just not good enough! Michael Carrick slams Manchester United performance as Red Devils are humbled by Midtjylland

  18-02-2016 22:30 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Michael Carrick has bemoaned Manchester United's lacklustre performance in their 2-1 defeat by Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night.
  
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• David de Gea suffers knee injury in warm-up before Manchester United's 2-1 defeat away at Midtjylland

  18-02-2016 22:26 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Louis van Gaal has confirmed that David De Gea has a 'knee problem' after the goalkeeper pulled up before the 2-1 Europa League round of 32 first leg defeat at Midtjylland on Thursday night.
  
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• Manchester United fans protest against £71 ticket with 'Welcome to Scamdinavia' banner... then suffer from restricted views in Europa League defeat by Midtjylland

  18-02-2016 22:19 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Manchester United supporters in Herning protested against rip-off ticket prices for the Europa League fixture ahead of their team's 2-1 defeat against Danish side Midtjylland.
  
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• Cesc Fabregas involved in bust up with Zlatan Ibrahimovic following PSG's victory over Chelsea in Champions League

  18-02-2016 22:12 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Cesc Fabregas and Zlatan Ibrahimovic were involved in a heated exchange following Chelsea's defeat by Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
  
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• Adam Johnson alleged victim told father she 'wanted to kill herself'

  18-02-2016 22:09 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The ex-Sunderland player's trial was read a transcript of an interview the alleged victim’s father gave to police in which he described how his daughter told him what had happened.
  
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• Yankees' Chapman plans appeal if suspended by Manfred

  18-02-2016 22:02
  
  TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman says he would appeal if he is suspended by Major League Baseball under the sport's new domestic violence policy.
  
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• United loses 2-1 at FC Midtjylland in Europa League

  18-02-2016 21:58
  
  MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United's disappointing season hit a new low with a 2-1 loss at Danish champion FC Midtjylland in the Europa League last 32 on Thursday, with a pre-match knee injury to goalkeeper David de Gea adding to the fallen English giant's woes in the first leg.
  
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• Valencia 6-0 Rapid Vienna - live updates

  18-02-2016 21:41 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Live coverage of Thursday's Europa League game between Valencia and Rapid Vienna.
  
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• FC Midtjylland 2-1 Manchester United

  18-02-2016 21:23 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Manchester United are beaten by Danish champions FC Midtjylland in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie.
  
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• Midtjylland strike back to humiliate Manchester United and Louis van Gaal

  18-02-2016 21:20
  
  Paul Onuachu’s 77th-minute winner gave Midtjylland a famous win and signified the nadir of Louis van Gaal’s reign as Manchester United manager. At the final whistle a stony-faced Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, left his seat in the cold surely wondering when – if ever – this side built with a £250m-plus spend by Van Gaal is going to show a consistent improvement in performance and results.For United to lose this Europa League last-32 opening leg to the Dan
  
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• Fiorentina 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

  18-02-2016 21:19 via bbc.co.uk
  
  Tottenham will take an away goal into the second leg of their Europa League last-32 tie with Fiorentina after a draw in Italy.
  
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• Nacer Chadli penalty gives Tottenham advantage in Fiorentina draw

  18-02-2016 21:16
  
  Tottenham Hotspur remain in the hunt for three trophies this season after leaving Italy with a hard-fought draw that was not entirely free of controversy.Nacer Chadli had put Spurs ahead with a dubious penalty before Federico Bernardeschi’s deflected second-half effort, to leave both sides fancying their chances in the return leg next Thursday. Continue reading...
  
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• John Higgins’ Welsh Open title defence ends but Ronnie O’Sullivan wins

  18-02-2016 21:08
  
  • Higgins beaten 4-1 by Welshman Michael White in Cardiff
  • O’Sullivan defeats China’s Yu Delu by same score to reach quarter-finalsJohn Higgins’ defence of his Welsh Open title ended at the fourth-round stage when he was beaten by Michael White in Cardiff. The four-times world champion went down 4-1 to the Welshman, who advances to a quarter-final against the world No9, Mark Allen. Related: Ronnie O’Sullivan should give snooker a break and show some respect | E
  
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• Midtjylland v Manchester United: Europa League – as it happened

  18-02-2016 20:56
  
  Another damaging night for Louis van Gaal’s Manchester United, who have it all to do in the second leg at Old Trafford after succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against the sprightly Danish champions 7.56pm GMTA stony faced Louis van Gaal has a faraway look in his eyes, as though he’s not able to quite comprehend just how badly life at Manchester United is turning out for him. Credit to Midtjylland, who have just secured the biggest victory in their history. The Danish champions played well,
  
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• Andy Carroll out of West Ham’s FA Cup trip to Blackburn through injury

  18-02-2016 20:36
  
  • Carroll suffered adductor injury in Premier League draw at Norwich
  • Injury-plagued striker had only just returned from treatment tableAndy Carroll is back on the treatment table and will miss Sunday’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at Blackburn Rovers.The 27-year-old had just returned from a month out with a hamstring problem when he suffered an adductor injury after coming on as a substitute during last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Norwich. Continue reading...
  
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• Manchester City prepare to face Chelsea in the FA Cup as they continue bid for silverware across four competitions 

  18-02-2016 20:13 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Manchester City's Premier League title bid might be faltering but they are still competing for trophies on four fronts, with plenty to play for. 
  
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• Sean O'Loughlin will stay on as England captain, confirms new coach Wayne Bennett

  18-02-2016 20:12 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The 66-year-old Australia said that, since his appointment on a two-year deal, he will keep changes to a minimum as he seeks to deliver long-awaited success to England's rugby league side.
  
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• Jared Payne signs new Ireland and Ulster contract extension until 2018

  18-02-2016 20:06 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  Ireland back Jared Payne has signed a new contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union that will keep him at Ulster until 2018.
  
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• Bennett wants to leave England legacy

  18-02-2016 20:02 via bbc.co.uk
  
  New head coach Wayne Bennett says he wants to leave behind a legacy after his time in charge of the England team.
  
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• T20 team very exciting - Morgan

  18-02-2016 19:58 via bbc.co.uk
  
  England's Twenty20 team is "in really good shape" ahead of two games against South Africa and the World T20, says captain Eoin Morgan.
  
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• Bolton chiefs remain hopeful of completing takeover with threat of liquidation looming large over Championship strugglers

  18-02-2016 19:58 via dailymail.co.uk
  
  The future of Bolton Wanderers still hangs in the balance with club chiefs hopeful of completing a takeover on Friday. Financial advisor Trevor Birch was in London on Thursday.
  
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