Pochettino eyes defining Spurs moment in Champions League

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycTufcOJyhl9oOVxj9su8CJ2hBKk8n1er6HOqteHleNMyQEwgBfskd_N4m0nVyPJIdCXsRCuV_98rtTAsBy2Yry98prdnsidGV7TslnQ7Q1i-mSwP1MFt4zsuqueBup8AVqH1Y2_pK14/s1600/pochettino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycTufcOJyhl9oOVxj9su8CJ2hBKk8n1er6HOqteHleNMyQEwgBfskd_N4m0nVyPJIdCXsRCuV_98rtTAsBy2Yry98prdnsidGV7TslnQ7Q1i-mSwP1MFt4zsuqueBup8AVqH1Y2_pK14/s640/pochettino.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Mauricio Pochettino faces a defining moment as the Tottenham boss aims to joins the managerial elite by masterminding a famous Champions League triumph against Juventus on Wednesday night (at 2:45am Cambodian time.<br /> <br /> Long regarded as one of the sport's brightest young managers, Pochettino can use this season's Champions League to reach the rarified air inhabited by the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and Diego Simeone.<br /> <br /> Like his former Argentina team-mate Simeone, Pochettino is coveted by some of Europe's biggest clubs.<br /> <br /> But while Simeone has defied the odds to lead Atletico Madrid to La Liga and Europa League titles, as well as reaching two Champions League finals, Pochettino is still waiting for his breakthrough moment.<br /> <br /> Despite earning plaudits throughout his nine-year managerial career with Espanyol, Southampton and now Tottenham, the 46-year-old has failed to lead any of his clubs to a major trophy.<br /> <br /> Clearly, silverware isn't the only measure of a manager and no one would doubt Pochettino overachieved at Espanyol and Southampton given the lack of financial backing available.<br /> <br /> Although Tottenham have greater resources than either of Pochettino's other teams, they largely steer clear of the huge fees paid by their top four rivals in the Premier League.<br /> <br /> Since arriving in north London 2014, Pochettino has deftly navigated those constraints to turn Tottenham into a genuine top four force after years of underachievement.<br /> <br /> But the crucial black mark on Pochettino's CV remains his failure to push Tottenham across the finish line when they have been on the brink of landing a trophy.<br /> <br /> Having reached the League Cup final in 2015, Pochettino's side slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat against Chelsea, while in 2016 a late-season swoon allowed Leicester to coast to the Premier League title.<br /> <br /> A vital loss at West Ham cost Tottenham dearly last season when they were unable to keep pace with eventual champions Chelsea, who also knocked out their rivals in the FA Cup semi-finals.<br /> <br /> Tottenham's struggles in away games against their main rivals have been a constant problem throughout Pochettino's reign, dooming them to also-ran status in this season's title chase.<br /> <br /> But Tottenham's Champions League exploits over the last few months suggest any inferiority complex is being eroded at last.<br /> <br /> 'Football is a joy'<br /> <br /> That certainly seemed the case when they crushed European champions Real Madrid 3-1 at Wembley with a vibrant display that showcased the best of Pochettino's high-tempo philosophy.<br /> <br /> That impressive result came after a draw in Madrid and recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 in the last 16 first leg against Juventus was another step in the right direction.<br /> <br /> With Tottenham hoping to reach the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, eliminating the Italian champions would be another step towards the top table for Pochettino.<br /> <br /> His appetite for success is driving him on and, after admitting he once thought of quitting management by the time he was 50, the Argentine now plans a long career on the bench.<br /> <br /> "When I started as a manager I was 36, I said, 'OK, I will be a manager and my limit is 50'," Pochettino said.<br /> <br /> "Now, I don't know if I will be longer like Roy [Hodgson] or [Sir Alex] Ferguson or Wenger, or maybe I will stop before.<br /> <br /> "When I watch football and the manager always criticises everyone and sees the phantom and tries to defend himself and fight with you and fight with the fans and fight with this. That is no life.<br /> <br /> "I want to improve and try to enjoy doing my job but if I am going to suffer or create drama in my life, I would prefer to go away.<br /> <br /> "Football is a joy. The most quiet I am is when we are going to compete. It's not a drama. For other people it's different but for me football is not a drama – it is a joy."

Pochettino eyes defining Spurs moment in Champions League

Mauricio Pochettino faces a defining moment as the Tottenham boss aims to joins the managerial elite by masterminding a famous Champions ...

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Serena has high expectations heading into Indian Wells

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kmz0occwfqf-ABM0Z9X9T-5oNK9BWMWRMcwkEr6DHJrSdUrRHyZN5bXbAPhBfBplLN4IAYuxhRK98wXYNyKhJdAltiZOc3lB2nOwDkj3UfkBmx8ZVklmPgwMz2GuXiPxq-nMcBhi7Dw/s1600/serena_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4kmz0occwfqf-ABM0Z9X9T-5oNK9BWMWRMcwkEr6DHJrSdUrRHyZN5bXbAPhBfBplLN4IAYuxhRK98wXYNyKhJdAltiZOc3lB2nOwDkj3UfkBmx8ZVklmPgwMz2GuXiPxq-nMcBhi7Dw/s640/serena_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Serena Williams said on Monday that she "can't wait for the future" as she warmed up for her return to the WTA Tour at the Tie Break Tens exhibition at Madison Square Garden.<br /> <br /> The 23-time Grand Slam champion is competing at the elite Indian Wells hardcourt tournament this week, her first tour action since her 2017 Australian Open triumph.<br /> <br /> Williams was pregnant when she lifted the trophy in Melbourne last year, and missed the rest of 2017 awaiting the birth of her daughter in September.<br /> <br /> Monday's event, which featured eight players facing off in 10-point "super tie-breaks" as they vied for a $250,000 winner's prize, was a chance to sharpen her skills.<br /> <br /> Williams bowed out in the second round, gaining a 9-7 lead over China's Zhang Shuai but eventually falling 13-11.<br /> <br /> "It was good," she said of the experience. "I wish I would have made a few more shots."<br /> <br /> Williams opened the laid-back event with a 10-5 victory over Marion Bartoli, the 2013 Wimbledon champion who announced in December she was planning to return to the court more than four years after retiring in the wake of her only Grand Slam triumph.<br /> <br /> After correcting the protocol for the "rock-paper-scissors" game used to determine who served first, Williams fell behind 4-2, but a double-fault from Bartoli followed by two aces from Serena saw the American great ahead 5-4.<br /> <br /> A couple of forehand winners and a service winner saw Williams take an 8-4 lead, and she finally finished it off with another winning serve.<br /> <br /> "It feels different, it feels good," said Williams, who returned to competition with a Fed Cup doubles loss alongside her sister Venus last month.<br /> <br /> The birth of Williams's daughter, Alexis Olympia, was followed by complications that scuppered the player's plans to defend her title in Melbourne.<br /> <br /> But Williams says she's aiming to be back at her best – apparently more than comfortable with coach Patrick Mouratoglou's comments to wtatennis.com that her goal for this season "will be to win Grand Slams."<br /> <br /> "I think everyone should have high expectations," said Williams, who will be unseeded at Indian Wells and open her campaign against 53rd-ranked Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan. "That's the message that I'm sending."<br /> <br /> Bartoli, who was forced to pull out of an exhibition event at Wimbledon last year because of a mystery virus and dramatic weight loss, has said she was targeting a return to the WTA Tour at the Miami Open later this month.<br /> <br /> However, the 33-year-old said her timetable would depend on how her body holds up to training.<br /> <br /> "I do not know if my shoulder and my knees are going to hold, there are so many question marks," she said.<br /> <br /> "What is certain is that I will not return to the court until I consider myself 100 percent. I stopped the competition for five years – and I'll be back when I'm 100 percent."

Serena has high expectations heading into Indian Wells

Serena Williams said on Monday that she "can't wait for the future" as she warmed up for her return to the WTA Tour at the ...

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Oh captain, my captain. Forever, my captain

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZctyyhyIhqfQFAnjAOfi7XxMug3UXMcEw_SO1rEOJUbISoLnTCs18Dm9PJDJZyiMIPGYFACaxs_JmIOVMs7d2PouHFWNVYxvyqc8klYto-YCNTRqQ6xOP-KmP8FDbe6EaNVMn02BJbw/s1600/astori_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZctyyhyIhqfQFAnjAOfi7XxMug3UXMcEw_SO1rEOJUbISoLnTCs18Dm9PJDJZyiMIPGYFACaxs_JmIOVMs7d2PouHFWNVYxvyqc8klYto-YCNTRqQ6xOP-KmP8FDbe6EaNVMn02BJbw/s640/astori_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Saponara has given a heartrending tribute to his teammate and captain Davide Astori, who was found dead in his hotel room on Sunday morning ahead of their Serie A match with Udinese.<br /> <br /> Saponara posted on Instagram:<br /> <br /> "O captain, my captain. Why did you not come down to have breakfast with us all? Why did you not pick up your shoes from outside of Marco [Sportiello]'s room and then drink your orange juice, as usual?<br /> <br /> "Now they'll tell us that life goes on, that we must look forward and pick ourselves up, but what will your absence taste like? Who will arrive every morning in the cafeteria, warming up everyone with his smile?<br /> <br /> "Who will ask us about what we did the previous night and have a laugh about it? Who will nurture the youngsters and give a sense of responsibility to the veterans? Who will form the circle to work on our ‘two-touch play' and who will demolish Marco on the PlayStation?<br /> <br /> "With whom will we debate about Masterchef, Florence's restaurants, TV series or games played? Who will I lean on at lunch after a tiring training session? Come on, come back. You still need to finish watching LaLaLand to analyse like you did with all new movies.<br /> <br /> "Come back to Florence, they're waiting for you to renew your contract and acknowledge all the good and the positivity that you bring to us on a daily basis. Get out of that damn room, we'll be waiting for you tomorrow at training<br /> <br /> "In life there are people you've known forever but have never bonded with, and then there are the ‘Davides', who warm to you immediately with a simple ‘welcome to Florence, Ricky'.<br /> <br /> "Wherever you are now, keep on defending our goal and enlighten the right path for us from the backline.<br /> <br /> "Oh captain, my captain. Forever, my captain."<br /> <br /> An autopsy into the death of Astori is to be carried out today, while his funeral will be held in Florence on Thursday, Fiorentina have said.

Oh captain, my captain. Forever, my captain

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Saponara has given a heartrending tribute to his teammate and captain Davide Astori, who was found dead in...

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Mourinho says blast triggered United fightback

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpGJEk8HZHqjpmMLEmJErwhdomWyV7rPQBI27M68OR3cgcC_m18iW2O_S_EuFKyNSsJ0843ycEeEdOFmkEyacWeh0S1n9N70VEcDieYwIhBwoJY9rD-uSvKzjveeriy2Qk-i2QRShGs0/s1600/matic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpGJEk8HZHqjpmMLEmJErwhdomWyV7rPQBI27M68OR3cgcC_m18iW2O_S_EuFKyNSsJ0843ycEeEdOFmkEyacWeh0S1n9N70VEcDieYwIhBwoJY9rD-uSvKzjveeriy2Qk-i2QRShGs0/s640/matic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Jose Mourinho revealed his expletive-filled half-time rant inspired Manchester United's dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on Monday night.<br /> <br /> Mourinho's side fought back from two goals down at Selhurst Park to snatch the points thanks to Nemanja Matic's blistering long-range strike in stoppage time.<br /> <br /> United trailed to goals from Andros Townsend and Patrick van Aanholt before Chris Smalling gave the visitors a lifeline.<br /> <br /> Romelu Lukaku equalised with 14 minutes remaining, setting the stage for Serbia midfielder Matic to notch his first goal for United since his move from Chelsea last year.<br /> <br /> Mourinho admitted he was furious with his players' lethargic first half performance and he tore into them, while demanding they show more tactical discipline.<br /> <br /> "I cannot tell you half of the things I told my team at half-time because there would be lots of bleeping on television," Mourinho said.<br /> <br /> "There were a few strong words relating to their attitude and the intensity of the game.<br /> <br /> "What I can say was all about the tactical positioning. That second goal was a goal to show kids in academies around the country, to show that top players can concede silly goals.<br /> <br /> "David De Gea had to do better. He is the best, no doubt, but he had to do better.<br /> <br /> "But the intensity and character was fantastic. We got a bit of luck in the last minute but it was deserved.<br /> <br /> "The urgency in that last half-hour was huge."<br /> <br /> It was the first time United had come from 2-0 down to win a Premier League game since December 2013 at Hull.<br /> <br /> After hitting back from a goal down to beat Chelsea last weekend, Mourinho insisted this was another demonstration that United have the spirit and desire to overcome perilous predicaments.<br /> <br /> Keep the faith<br /> <br /> "We were losing to Chelsea last week, then we were losing away from home against a Palace team that needs points," he said.<br /> <br /> "It's very hard but we kept faith and belief.<br /> <br /> "I always believe we can win. I will be like that until my last day.<br /> <br /> "Some days more than others but after Smalling's goal, I always thought it was possible.<br /> <br /> "Matic scored amazing goals like this when he was with me at Chelsea, at Goodison Park, against Benfica."<br /> <br /> United's stirring revival moved them back above Liverpool into second place in the Premier League.<br /> <br /> They trail runaway leaders Manchester City by 16 points, but Mourinho is more concerned with securing the top four finish that guarantees qualification for next season's Champions League.<br /> <br /> "We want to finish second, but it is huge pressure for us to finish in the top four. Now we have a little pillow," he said.<br /> <br /> Palace remain in the relegation zone, one point from safety, but Eagles boss Roy Hodgson urged his players not to let the heartbreaking defeat influence their fight for survival.<br /> <br /> "We took the game to Manchester United. If we had drawn the game – I don't think anyone, Jose included – would have said it was a scandal," he said.<br /> <br /> "We once again go away with no points and, like the game against Tottenham, I thought we deserved something.<br /> <br /> "But you always know the quality they possess and the strength and depth they have. They can cause problems.<br /> <br /> "Where we are in the table doesn't enter my mind. It would have been nice to have two more points, but we still would have been very much in a relegation battle.<br /> <br /> "It could well go down to the wire."

Mourinho says blast triggered United fightback

Jose Mourinho revealed his expletive-filled half-time rant inspired Manchester United's dramatic 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on Monda...

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Boeung Ket down Home United 3-2 in AFC Cup clash

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxC9YCR4Uu_T-zYoOpRl1CxXJr7L3srpAFDPbvIiJ1xTP5JfCEhyphenhyphenyS7AvjPD8mQYldEWQ_2nhdZ8U7BnWBWM-1aU6BqmriBTFfdLaAtYRW_JWkKtZJYu1tkaOjV2w209JUu_Vu4W8YLQ/s1600/boeung_ket_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitxC9YCR4Uu_T-zYoOpRl1CxXJr7L3srpAFDPbvIiJ1xTP5JfCEhyphenhyphenyS7AvjPD8mQYldEWQ_2nhdZ8U7BnWBWM-1aU6BqmriBTFfdLaAtYRW_JWkKtZJYu1tkaOjV2w209JUu_Vu4W8YLQ/s640/boeung_ket_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cambodian Metfone C-League champions Boeung Ket pulled off a convincing 3-2 win over visiting Singapore S.League side Home United at Olympic Stadium this evening.<br /> <br /> The Blue Dragon finally opened their winning account in the AFC Cup Group F campaign after a morale-crushing 9-1 loss to Ceres Negros of the Philippines and a narrow defeat by Myanmar's Shan United.<br /> <br /> Boeung Ket's victory was built around Brazilian striker Maycon Calijuri's brace and Samuel Ajayi's goal, and the effective partnership they forged with Julius Oiboh upfront to confound the visitors.<br /> <br /> Just as the sides were settling down to the rhythm of their choice after the kick-off came a sudden spurt down the centre from Soung Ui-young after Amy Recha slipped in a clever pass.<br /> <br /> Home United's South Korean signing, who is spending his seventh season with the club, outsprinted defender Sun Sovanarithy and had Sou Yaty at his mercy, leaving the Boeung Ket keeper in disbelief.<br /> <br /> Undeterred, Boeung Ket found the right response minutes later when a defence splitting pass by Ajayi set up Mayconn who beat Home keeper Rudy Khairullah.<br /> <br /> Not long later, Oiboh on the run found Ajayi, who darted in through the backline to give Boeung Ket a 2-1 lead.<br /> <br /> <b>First three points</b><br /> <br /> Boeung Ket were awarded a penalty when Sath Rosib was brought down inside the box by defender Jum'mat Jantan and referee Masoud Tufayelieh of Syria pointed to the spot.<br /> <br /> Stepping up to take the penalty, Maycon sent Khairullah the wrong way to send Boeung Ket into the break 3-1 up.<br /> <br /> The hard working Ajayi in the company of Maycon and Oiboh continued to keep the visitors on their toes, while the Boeung Ket back line kept a close watch on breakaways.<br /> <br /> But in the 68th minute came a shocker for Boeung Ket when Sou Yaty was pulled up picking up the ball from a back pass.<br /> <br /> The referee awarded a free-kick inside the box to Home United and the side craftily exploited the opportunity to reduce the margin to 3-2 and give themselves a chance of a fightback.<br /> <br /> But Boeung Ket were in no mood to relent. They kept their poise and by the time seasoned Khun Laboravy was called in from the bench, coach Keo Kosal was already counting his first win and the team their first set of three points in this AFC Cup campaign.

Boeung Ket down Home United 3-2 in AFC Cup clash

Cambodian Metfone C-League champions Boeung Ket pulled off a convincing 3-2 win over visiting Singapore S.League side Home United at Olym...

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Without Neymar, PSG eye memorable comeback against Real Madrid

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fNf8CuMbrPK8rDO_8D6qAk8zXlfQ_Q9eYdoHnDtrSV8mMSiaHMZPh-mHIPlDmN8BdM96iMYg6qBqNYnPlJlhBCheQu7yJNt9L1XOrUhgFGBFI2CSAc_eYtKvGvrGhXM-VM7pwwk_gKM/s1600/psg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fNf8CuMbrPK8rDO_8D6qAk8zXlfQ_Q9eYdoHnDtrSV8mMSiaHMZPh-mHIPlDmN8BdM96iMYg6qBqNYnPlJlhBCheQu7yJNt9L1XOrUhgFGBFI2CSAc_eYtKvGvrGhXM-VM7pwwk_gKM/s640/psg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to overturn a 3-1 deficit when they host Real Madrid in their heavyweight Champions League last-16 second leg tonight (at 2:45am Cambodian time), but do so without the injured Neymar.<br /> <br /> The world's most expensive player is recovering from a foot operation in Brazil, yet the French club remain hopeful they can overcome the defending European champions and advance to April's quarterfinals.<br /> <br /> "I speak with him practically every day, so yes we have agreed between us that we would see each other again later on in this competition," said PSG defender Dani Alves when asked if he had been in touch with his fellow Brazil international.<br /> <br /> "For sure, we will feel his absence. But between sitting down and crying and getting up and getting on with it, I always opt for the second option."<br /> <br /> Angel Di Maria, a Champions League winner with Real in 2014, is set to replace Neymar in the home line-up before a sell-out crowd of around 47,000 at the Parc des Princes.<br /> <br /> "He is a spectacular player, who made history with Real Madrid. He can play in any position across the middle, he moves well, has a good shot, and is quick," said Real coach Zinedine Zidane of Di Maria.<br /> <br /> PSG took the lead in the first leg in Spain last month through Adrien Rabiot only for Real to hit back with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice to break through the 100-goal barrier for the club in the Champions League.<br /> <br /> Marcelo also scored for Real, who are aiming to become the first club since Bayern Munich in 1976 to win a third consecutive European Cup.<br /> <br /> Real have not been eliminated from the Champions League this early since Lyon beat them in 2010. However, PSG are relying on their formidable record at home, where they are unbeaten in over 50 games going back two years.<br /> <br /> They have also overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Real before, winning 4-1 in their UEFA Cup quarter-final return in 1993.<br /> <br /> George Weah scored for PSG that night. Now the president of Liberia, his son Timothy made his professional debut for the Ligue 1 leaders at the weekend.<br /> <br /> <b>No margin for error</b><br /> <br /> A repeat of that famous comeback would be the biggest result for PSG since the Qatari takeover of the club in 2011, after four straight quarterfinal eliminations and then a humiliating loss in Barcelona in the last 16 a year ago.<br /> <br /> "I think that we need games like this and to beat these teams to take a step forward and so that our opponents really take notice of PSG, and don't just think we have loads of money," said Alves, who played in two Champions League final victories for Barcelona.<br /> <br /> "PSG have had their limits in this competition in the past and now we need to go beyond them to keep on progressing as a club."<br /> <br /> An elimination would surely spell the end for coach Unai Emery, who is out of contract in June.<br /> <br /> Similarly, an exit would be disastrous for Zidane, with Real currently 15 points behind leaders Barcelona in La Liga and already out of the Copa del Rey.<br /> <br /> "After the game, it's going to be difficult for one of the two teams, but that is football," said Zidane.<br /> <br /> Given their domestic difficulties, Real are throwing everything into their quest to win a record 13th European Cup.<br /> <br /> "That can mean added pressure or added motivation," said captain Sergio Ramos. "The margin for error is minimal."<br /> <br /> Toni Kroos (knee) and Luka Modric (thigh) could return for Real after spells on the sidelines. Javier Pastore was named in PSG's squad despite a calf concern, meaning Neymar is their only notable absentee.<br /> <br /> There will be a minute's silence before kick-off of at this and all the midweek European games in honour of Fiorentina and Italy defender Davide Astori, who died suddenly at the weekend aged 31.

Without Neymar, PSG eye memorable comeback against Real Madrid

Paris Saint-Germain will attempt to overturn a 3-1 deficit when they host Real Madrid in their heavyweight Champions League last-16 secon...

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Stop whingeing, Warne says as Warner row heats up

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DMOrkZMCBQ3reJmgEgSxUS9JQwP3Gbjps95LsPNhGG4515zudXLXL95M6Z5nbMQaAe6jKgyqXEo53Hzq9iwyS2jnr92sRu6mPXkh3V8F8jOK2IPyK2fROKNGwE9pgcwHBGyEQqA95uc/s1600/warne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DMOrkZMCBQ3reJmgEgSxUS9JQwP3Gbjps95LsPNhGG4515zudXLXL95M6Z5nbMQaAe6jKgyqXEo53Hzq9iwyS2jnr92sRu6mPXkh3V8F8jOK2IPyK2fROKNGwE9pgcwHBGyEQqA95uc/s640/warne.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Australian legend Shane Warne said players should stop "whingeing" about sledging after an ugly row between David Warner and South Africa’s Quinton de Kock clouded the first Test in Durban.<br /> <br /> CCTV footage showed Warner apparently turning on De Kock as the players walked up a narrow staircase leading to the dressing rooms during the tea break on Sunday.<br /> <br /> Vice-captain Warner had to be restrained by his teammates as he appeared to lose his temper, reportedly over a jibe about his wife Candice, although the South Africans blamed him for sparking the argument.<br /> <br /> The incident is in the hands of match referee Jeff Crowe.<br /> <br /> "The incident was discussed between the two team managers and the match referee last night and it is now in the hands of the on-field umpires and the match referee," Cricket Australia said today.<br /> <br /> "Both teams were reminded by the match referee of the spirit in which the game should be played."<br /> <br /> The controversy has divided opinion, with Warne calling on the players to avoid "personal" comments – while also urging them to "have a beer together" and patch things up.<br /> <br /> "Chat, banter, sledging has always been a part of any series between SA & Oz. Both sides always give it out," he tweeted.<br /> <br /> "Respect is the key & and I hope nothing personal was said to any player towards anyone from either side. Have a beer together afterwards & get on with it – stop the whingeing!"<br /> <br /> Former England captain Michael Vaughan suggested Warner had a reputation as a sledger and it was only a matter of time before insults were hurled back.<br /> <br /> "Correct Warney . . . but it’s clear plenty of personal nonsense has been spoken & the man in question I hear from many has been doing it for a while so I guess someone eventually was going to touch a nerve with a response," he said on Twitter.<br /> <br /> South African manager Mohammed Moosajee also blamed Warner.<br /> <br /> "There were words said out on the field. If you are saying something you’ve got to take it and that’s the opinion of Quinton," he said.<br /> <br /> Australian great Adam Gilchrist also took to Twitter to voice an opinion, calling the spat "ugly".<br /> <br /> "Can only assume something very personal has been thrown at @davidwarner31 for this type of reaction. Not a good look all round," he said.<br /> <br /> Former South African skipper Graeme Smith agreed it was not good for cricket, but suggested Warner only had himself to blame in an online reply to Gilchrist.<br /> <br /> "Gilly – Warner crossed many personal boundaries with the South Africans, so we can’t be surprised when there is eventually a reaction," he said.<br /> <br /> "If players are happy to give it, they have to be prepared to take it, too. On both sides! But agreed not a good look."

Stop whingeing, Warne says as Warner row heats up

Australian legend Shane Warne said players should stop "whingeing" about sledging after an ugly row between David Warner and So...

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James and Nance power Cavs past Pistons, Celtics tame Bulls

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGqSiZ-_E7VVo0YstHiXEhNqcCRnfPktlx7NlOhC-AQn8JX3OMnIbNSE-R58vS_S-iJsewBuWR6D3Q9krv8FYDfBF_gVnHVu0_4gN9rgUCaSXxDE02tuCd7VmbK5S6lWuyKmK43L6A0I/s1600/lebron_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbGqSiZ-_E7VVo0YstHiXEhNqcCRnfPktlx7NlOhC-AQn8JX3OMnIbNSE-R58vS_S-iJsewBuWR6D3Q9krv8FYDfBF_gVnHVu0_4gN9rgUCaSXxDE02tuCd7VmbK5S6lWuyKmK43L6A0I/s640/lebron_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cleveland superstar LeBron James poured in 31 points and Larry Nance Jr. added 22 in his first start for the Cavaliers on Monday in a 112-90 triumph over the Detroit Pistons.<br /> <br /> Nance, who arrived in Cleveland in a February 8 trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, started at centre in place of Tristan Thompson, who sprained an ankle against Denver on Saturday.<br /> <br /> He and James combined to score Cleveland's first 20 points, and their combined 34 points in the first half helped stake the Cavs to a 54-49 half-time lead.<br /> <br /> Cleveland kept the pressure on in the third quarter, out-scoring Detroit 36-21. That included 13 points from James in less than five minutes to open the second half.<br /> <br /> He departed after three quarters having handed out seven assists and seven rebounds.<br /> <br /> Nance pulled down 15 rebounds and helped limit Pistons center Andre Drummond to 15 points.<br /> <br /> "It just kind of felt easy," Nance said. "The guys were giving me all the opportunity in the world to make my shots, and I just happened to be making them."<br /> <br /> Blake Griffin led Detroit with 25 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but the Pistons dropped their third straight and have now lost nine of their last 11.<br /> <br /> They are ninth in the Eastern Conference, five games out of playoff position with the Miami Heat and Milwaukee Bucks in seventh and eighth.<br /> <br /> The Heat closed out a 4-1 homestand on Monday with a 125-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns.<br /> <br /> Centre Hassan Whiteside scored 24 points with 14 rebounds in three quarters and point guard Goran Dragic added 17 points for a Heat team that saw seven players score in double figures.<br /> <br /> The Bucks dropped to eighth in the East with a 92-89 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.<br /> <br /> Bojan Bogdanovic equalled a career high with 29 points and came up with a crucial jump ball in the waning seconds as the Pacers thwarted the Bucks' comeback bid.<br /> <br /> The Pacers trailed the Bucks by two at halftime, but Bogdanovic scored 11 points in a third quarter as Indiana took a 92-89 lead.<br /> <br /> "I'm just trying to be aggressive," he said.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>No Irving, no problem</b><br /> <br /> The Boston Celtics didn't feel the absence of star point guard Kyrie Irving in a 105-89 victory over the Bulls in Chicago.<br /> <br /> With Irving nursing a sore knee, Boston started strong and never looked back – scoring the first seven points en route to a 35-16 lead after one quarter.<br /> <br /> Jaylen Brown scored 21 points fr Boston, who led by as many as 37 on the way to a fifth win in six games.<br /> <br /> The Celtics are 1 1/2 games behind the Toronto Raptors for the Eastern Conference lead.<br /> <br /> The Bulls, meanwhile, lost for the 14th time in 17 games.<br /> <br /> In San Antonio, veteran point guard Tony Parker scored 23 points and handed out four assists as the Spurs edged the Memphis Grizzlies 100-98.<br /> <br /> "Tony was his old self," guard Danny Green said of the French star, a 17-year veteran who came off the bench as he continues to battle back from a quadriceps tendon injury suffered last May.<br /> <br /> Green had 14 points and Davis Bertans added 17 for the Spurs, who had lost four at home and eight of their last 10 to fall from third to sixth in the Western Conference.<br /> <br /> The win was especially important as the Spurs now embark on a tough road swing against the Golden state Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets.

James and Nance power Cavs past Pistons, Celtics tame Bulls

Cleveland superstar LeBron James poured in 31 points and Larry Nance Jr. added 22 in his first start for the Cavaliers on Monday in a 112...

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Boeung Ket to square off against Home United

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOThnzX92Fq6FkTPPaVUn595hiWBNjrrvX-4iLuadgvtu-M6XYu-u-z6N_YECgsg2rozCFI3D38CxGseu8baVS4z2QMHzbegs48NHdYgSQf0i9yx_ZZVHvox1ATAlCUv1EBulXmBZfUY/s1600/19_story_3_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOThnzX92Fq6FkTPPaVUn595hiWBNjrrvX-4iLuadgvtu-M6XYu-u-z6N_YECgsg2rozCFI3D38CxGseu8baVS4z2QMHzbegs48NHdYgSQf0i9yx_ZZVHvox1ATAlCUv1EBulXmBZfUY/s640/19_story_3_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cambodian champions Boeung Ket play host to Home United in their AFC Cup Group F first leg tie at Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening at 6:30pm.<br /> <br /> After a crushing 9-0 defeat at the hands of Ceres Negros of the Philippines at the start of the campaign, Boeung Ket went down 2-1 at home to Mynamar's Shan United last week.<br /> <br /> They will be desperately looking for an upturn in fortunes when they face the strong Singaporean outfit.<br /> <br /> Leading against Ceres Negros by an early goal from the penalty spot at the Jelan Basar Stadium on February 27, Home United lost the services of defender Sirina Camara after the Frenchman picked up a second yellow card early in the second half.<br /> <br /> The team were down to 10 men for nearly 40 minutes and Ceres succeeded in pulling level late in the game for an honourable 1-1 draw.<br /> <br /> Aidil Sharin, head coach of Home United, who have spent 23 consecutive years in the top flight of Singaporean football, may have every reason to feel deprived of two points from that game, after having won their opener against Shan United 1-0 in Yangon.<br /> <br /> While Boeung Ket spirits were low after returning from their Bacolod city bashing by Ceres, the Blue Dragon showed their fighting side against the Myanmar champions and even led them for a while before Shan United bounced back to take all three points.<br /> <br /> As Boeung Ket coach Keo Kosal indicated at a press conference with Sharin today, the home team will have to show great resolve to turn things around.<br /> <br /> For his part, Home United coach Sharin said his team would be out to get the best possible result from the away first leg tie.

Boeung Ket to square off against Home United

Cambodian champions Boeung Ket play host to Home United in their AFC Cup Group F first leg tie at Olympic Stadium on Tuesday evening at 6...

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Visakha's MCL debut win marred by red cards

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-6-nmqU9eiwuCPlcvH4QKh0O0NifWExN2l4T1kWflxfHcT8ksPPC8AxPdJMtlx5PJ5yF27VRuPvGzU0FtaH-b4Y7evLvHgG9aK0_LY62XFHi7J39LSV1DcOkb__kfw0yKSe_AQaOCYA/s1600/20_story_2_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-6-nmqU9eiwuCPlcvH4QKh0O0NifWExN2l4T1kWflxfHcT8ksPPC8AxPdJMtlx5PJ5yF27VRuPvGzU0FtaH-b4Y7evLvHgG9aK0_LY62XFHi7J39LSV1DcOkb__kfw0yKSe_AQaOCYA/s640/20_story_2_4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Life in the top tier of Cambodian league football began on a triumphant note for Visakha FC at Western Stadium on Sunday.<br /> <br /> However, the 4-0 win over Electricite du Cambodge came at a huge cost for the newly promoted side after losing two players to red cards in the final moments of the game.<br /> <br /> Captain Tieng Tiny, who fired the first salvo in the 12th minute, picked up his second yellow card in the 87th minute to be ordered off the pitch, while fellow defender Men Seyha saw red during injury time for a dangerous tackle on EdC forward Soch Ratha.<br /> <br /> But for these blemishes towards the end, the Metfone C-League debut for Visakha was the brightest they could have hoped for.<br /> <br /> The club's management caused a stir when they signed all four North Korean players who figured in the Ministry of National Defense line-up last season.<br /> <br /> That move looks to have been a shrewd one, with the prolific Choe Myong-ho bagging a brace, his first coming in the 29th minute, followed by a penalty conversion midway through the second half.<br /> <br /> Pov Phearith completed the tally for Visakha in the 83rd minute as EdC, who took third place in the Hun Sen Cup last year, struggled to make an impression.<br /> <br /> <b>Naga-Svay Rieng stalemate</b><br /> <br /> In what was a repeat of last December's Hun Sen Cup final, Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng squared off against NagaWorld at the RSN Stadium to open their 2018 MCL campaigns on Sunday with the fight for domestic honours already very much on their minds.<br /> <br /> While Naga were looking for retribution for their 3-0 Cup loss, the visitors from Svay Rieng were equally making a statement of intent in the defence of their crown.<br /> <br /> In a hard fought battle, neither side could find the net as they took away a point each from the goalless draw.<br /> <br /> <b>Conquering Army</b><br /> <br /> Launching their campaign for a maiden MCL success after their heartbreaking loss on penalties to Boeung Ket in last season's grand final, National Defense Ministry hit the road to Siem Reap for a tilt at Angkor Tiger and came away with a 1-0 victory.<br /> <br /> The goal that separated the two sides was scored by Naga Japanese import Udai Ogawa in the 73rd minute.<br /> <br /> On their official Facebook page, Angkor Tiger claimed the match was witnessed by a club record 2,496 spectators.

Visakha's MCL debut win marred by red cards

Life in the top tier of Cambodian league football began on a triumphant note for Visakha FC at Western Stadium on Sunday. However, the ...

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Master Tapsi and Smart Dragons keep up winning ways

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToFho7pN2OoQYztLrmuaVxnEXvPxEc-A-gw8hEumV4Nr4I_GvT4RP8_iC8TPWYb6GSnqrwlVYp72NxUdn3ilWHxMohQgYbQiK_V7XmSUJ-nyDHxWP_rvepgNtVz_NLJJksAP-fKxGFIM/s1600/b-ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToFho7pN2OoQYztLrmuaVxnEXvPxEc-A-gw8hEumV4Nr4I_GvT4RP8_iC8TPWYb6GSnqrwlVYp72NxUdn3ilWHxMohQgYbQiK_V7XmSUJ-nyDHxWP_rvepgNtVz_NLJJksAP-fKxGFIM/s640/b-ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Master Tapsi and Smart Dragons racked up their third wins on the trot on Sunday to reaffirm their status as main contenders for the ongoing Chitato Potato Chips Mini Basketball League crown.<br /> <br /> Extra Joss Fighters made up lost ground in the league with victory over a tottering Respeck at the Cambodian Country Club court on Sunday evening.<br /> <br /> After their midweek loss to Master Tapsi, the Fighters were eager to put their playoff chances back on track, and they did just that with David Sanders (20 points) coming good with layups in the second quarter to give them a 36-25 half-time advantage.<br /> <br /> The second half was a washout for Respeck, who are yet to taste victory in the series so far.<br /> <br /> The occasional Respeck burst was hardly enough to contain the Fighters, who stretched out well in the final stages to win 74-54.<br /> <br /> Smart Dragons worked up little or no sweat in beating Warriors 93-57 to make it three wins in a row for them and as many defeats for their rivals.<br /> <br /> Hodkins hit 21 points for the Dragons to offset Kidon's 16 points for the Warriors.<br /> <br /> As is now customary for the Warriors, they kept it tight in the first half, going down by just six points, 30-36.<br /> <br /> But by the end of the third quarter, the Dragons had pulled away into a 20-point lead, leaving no room for a Warriors fightback.<br /> <br /> The middle pin in Sunday's three-game card was a tight affair between MSGM and Master Tapsi.<br /> <br /> The predominantly Chinese MSGM worried Tapsi by taking the first quarter 23-21.<br /> <br /> But the Filipino side's mainstays Aimar Sabayo (28) and Juano Cunnanan (33) took over in the second quarter to wrest the initiative back and give Tapsi a 43-39 half-time lead.<br /> <br /> The leading pair continued their onslaught with fast breaks in the third quarter.<br /> <br /> MSGM closed in through Hong Kwang (18) and Harold (20) in the final spell, but Tapsi kept their cool to win comfortably 97-85 and match the Dragons' all-win record.

Master Tapsi and Smart Dragons keep up winning ways

Master Tapsi and Smart Dragons racked up their third wins on the trot on Sunday to reaffirm their status as main contenders for the ongoi...

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'Personal insults' behind Warner-De Kock row in Aussie Test win

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvzuw3YrO6Qd3rKKXItslPLNW82BCnOtbX0E7vRDPa-ueGLtB4VEtCeem9YvUj7nSh7P-qCJ7tArQzA7VnFY6uMOLF7E8DEzrmVgxScX9KxYmqimsJyIUPgLZaiFWnLGlZ3NOVZpVooc/s1600/20_story_1_6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvzuw3YrO6Qd3rKKXItslPLNW82BCnOtbX0E7vRDPa-ueGLtB4VEtCeem9YvUj7nSh7P-qCJ7tArQzA7VnFY6uMOLF7E8DEzrmVgxScX9KxYmqimsJyIUPgLZaiFWnLGlZ3NOVZpVooc/s640/20_story_1_6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Personal insults were at the root of a row between Australia's David Warner and South Africa's Quinton de Kock during the tea break of the fourth day of the first Test today, their captains said.<br /> <br /> The incident is in the hands of match referee Jeff Crowe, with no immediate clarity about when a decision could be expected.<br /> <br /> CCTV footage showed Warner apparently turning on De Kock as the players walked up a narrow staircase leading to the dressing rooms at the start of the interval in Durban in a match won by Australia.<br /> <br /> "What was said and done during that interval was regrettable on both sides," said Australian captain Steve Smith.<br /> <br /> "Quinton got personal and evoked an emotional response from Davey. Those things are not on from both sides. Getting personal on the field is crossing the line in my opinion."<br /> <br /> Smith's version was disputed by South African manager Mohammed Moosajee, who blamed Warner.<br /> <br /> "There were words said out on the field. If you are saying something you've got to take it and that's the opinion of Quinton. Let the investigations begin and let the match officials decide," said Moosajee.<br /> <br /> South African captain Faf du Plessis said the umpires needed to ensure proper behaviour on the field.<br /> <br /> "From what I've heard there was a lot of personal stuff being said, to and from. Who started it, I don't know. If it was happening on the field it should have been nipped in the bud.<br /> <br /> "The fact that it spilled over after the field shouldn't have happened."<br /> <br /> ‘Very chirpy'<br /> <br /> The CCTV footage shows Warner being restrained by teammates Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon before being persuaded to go into the dressing room by Smith.<br /> <br /> Du Plessis said he had been aware of the incident. "I heard the commotion and went outside and just asked David to go into his dressing room. It needs to stay on the field when you are chirping each other. There need to be boundaries on that."<br /> <br /> Smith acknowledged that his players were "certainly very chirpy on the field".<br /> <br /> But he said that as far as he aware his players had not got personal with De Kock.<br /> <br /> Smith said he hoped the remaining three Tests would be played in the right spirit but added: "We play our best cricket when we're aggressive, when we're in the fight together and hunting as a pack as one. We're working for each other and backing our mates up in the field. That's part of being an Australian."<br /> <br /> He said there had been "regrettable incidents from both parties" but hoped for better behaviour in the next three Tests.<br /> <br /> "I'm not going to say nothing will ever happen again but as far as I'm concerned we've just got to try and play within the spirit of the game."<br /> <br /> Du Plessis said he expected aggression from the opposition when he played against Australia. "I'm certainly not sitting here complaining about it. I was disappointed to see the way it unfolded yesterday but I expect a tough series and I look forward to the battle."<br /> <br /> According to Du Plessis, De Kock was unaffected by the incident.<br /> <br /> "Quinny's fine. I don't think you get a reaction from him most of the time. When you look at him now it's like nothing happened."<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Australian off-spinner Lyon was charged with conduct contrary to the spirit of the game after he dropped the ball next to AB de Villiers after completing a runout of South Africa's star batsman, an incident captured on television.<br /> <br /> Lyon was expected to be fined or penalised with a demerit point for what is classified as a level one offence. He was said to have apologised to De Villiers and the pair were seen shaking hands while the teams warmed up today.

'Personal insults' behind Warner-De Kock row in Aussie Test win

Personal insults were at the root of a row between Australia's David Warner and South Africa's Quinton de Kock during the tea bre...

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Investigation opened in Italy into Astori death

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31QYDnmbxYDZDIoEz-ocEk3XU8a1vNjlbgVT5GGePxwniTLTbviY8O0X7HNruGI_wWxEVF2w-sPXPFtMmrTiMfjb6CU_fEfIJgY48myo-Ov6P_te35HpneKfKBL2bEPrckk4Jz37eAN4/s1600/astori.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg31QYDnmbxYDZDIoEz-ocEk3XU8a1vNjlbgVT5GGePxwniTLTbviY8O0X7HNruGI_wWxEVF2w-sPXPFtMmrTiMfjb6CU_fEfIJgY48myo-Ov6P_te35HpneKfKBL2bEPrckk4Jz37eAN4/s640/astori.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> An autopsy into the death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori will be carried out on Tuesday, while his funeral will be held in Florence two days later, the Italian football club announced.<br /> <br /> Italy was in shock following the sudden death on Sunday of the 31-year-old defender who played for his country 14 times.<br /> <br /> "Fiorentina and Davide's family inform you that the autopsy will be performed tomorrow . . . The funeral will take place on Thursday in the Santa Croce basilica," the Serie A club said Monday on its Twitter account.<br /> <br /> A judicial inquiry had been launched following the death of the player, who was found dead in his hotel room in Udine, where his team was due to play Udinese on Sunday.<br /> <br /> "We have opened a manslaughter investigation, against ‘X' for the moment," Antonio de Nicolo, a magistrate in the northeastern city of Udine, told Rai radio on Monday, adding that such a procedure was "mandatory".<br /> <br /> De Nicolo was quoted Sunday as saying Astori died of "natural causes" after a "cardiac circulatory collapse" – a type of heart attack.<br /> <br /> All seven matches in Italy's top flight on Sunday were postponed following the news of Astori's death.<br /> <br /> Dario Nardella, the mayor of Florence, said the city would observe a day of mourning for the player's funeral.<br /> <br /> Former national team coach Antonio Conte and World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon paid emotional tributes to Astori, describing their Italian compatriot as "fantastic" and "a great guy".<br /> <br /> Chelsea manager Conte, who coached the defender when he was in charge of Italy, said the player's death was a "tragedy".<br /> <br /> "This is a tragedy and it really hurts me. It's very difficult at this moment to find the right words for the family," Conte told Sky Sports on Sunday ahead of his side's 1-0 loss to Manchester City.<br /> <br /> Veteran Buffon, the Juventus captain, called Astori "a great man".<br /> <br /> Buffon, who wrote in a post on Instagram accompanied by a photo of the two players exchanging pennants before a game between their clubs, said he did not usually make a habit of expressing his feelings about others.<br /> <br /> "I want to make an exception to my rule because you have a young wife and others close to you who are suffering, but mostly because your little girl deserves to know that her dad was a good man . . . a great man," Buffon said of Astori, who leaves behind a wife and a two-year-old daughter.<br /> <br /> Astori began his career at AC Milan, also playing for Cagliari and Roma before joining Fiorentina in 2015.<br /> <br /> He made his international debut under coach Cesare Prandelli in March 2011 as a first-half substitute in a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Kiev before getting sent off with 17 minutes remaining.<br /> <br /> Astori scored his only international goal in the 2013 Confederations Cup third-place playoff against Uruguay, giving Italy a first-half lead in a match which finished 2-2. Italy went on to win on penalties.

Investigation opened in Italy into Astori death

An autopsy into the death of Fiorentina captain Davide Astori will be carried out on Tuesday, while his funeral will be held in Florence ...

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Atletico would beat Barcelona if we had Messi, says Simeone

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBghuVLWuiXAgR-K0gYgJ-rYu8yis0iMj_jIjhyl08wfeGBL1zjNnkMmIkqVY3yJD75cggl8jQ0yjUKPCtyS4OicORLjEssCx41P-MYg4phuH9URih_16uTFMZ0gU13Q-E-m7jZLS8AuM/s1600/messi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBghuVLWuiXAgR-K0gYgJ-rYu8yis0iMj_jIjhyl08wfeGBL1zjNnkMmIkqVY3yJD75cggl8jQ0yjUKPCtyS4OicORLjEssCx41P-MYg4phuH9URih_16uTFMZ0gU13Q-E-m7jZLS8AuM/s640/messi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Diego Simeone has claimed if Lionel Messi played for Atletico Madrid, his side would have beaten Barcelona on Sunday.<br /> <br /> But instead, it is Barca with one hand on the La Liga title after Messi's sensational free-kick earned them a deserved 1-0 victory at the Camp Nou.<br /> <br /> Atletico arrived on the back of eight consecutive wins but Barcelona halted the surge and instead restored their own lead at the top to eight points, with 11 games left to play.<br /> <br /> Messi proved the difference again, his bending first-half strike worthy of winning any contest and taking his career tally to an astonishing 600 goals, 539 for Barca and 61 for Argentina.<br /> <br /> "If we remove the shirt of Messi and we put the one of the Atletico Madrid on him, Atletico win 1-0," Simeone said afterwards.<br /> <br /> When his remark was put to Ernesto Valverde, Barcelona's coach said: "Messi is a player like no other in the world. I do not know what would have happened and I do not want to imagine it."<br /> <br /> It was Messi's third consecutive match in which he has scored with a free-kick, after he slid one under the wall against Girona and then planted another into the top corner against Las Palmas.<br /> <br /> The only blot on a dominant Barcelona performance was an injury to Andres Iniesta, who had to be substituted after 34 minutes with what the club later confirmed was a strain in the back of his thigh.<br /> <br /> Iniesta now has 10 days to recover before the Champions League second leg against Chelsea.<br /> <br /> "Andres is an unrivalled player, like Messi, he is very difficult to replace," Valverde said.<br /> <br /> "Let's see the damage. We hope it is not too much."<br /> <br /> The build-up to this contest, labelled "the Grand Final" by sections of the Spanish press, was driven by talk of a Barcelona dip following three draws in five league games, with the in-form Atletico primed to move within two points of their rivals.<br /> <br /> But Simeone's strategy of absorb and counter failed to pay off and, in the end, the visitors might easily have been beaten by a more emphatic scoreline.<br /> <br /> Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann, meanwhile, who came in with seven goals in two games, was largely anonymous.<br /> <br /> Valverde made a statement of attacking intent by plumping for the more creative Philippe Countinho over Paulinho but his team took a while to find their rhythm.<br /> <br /> Even Messi hit the wall with one poor free-kick and then sent a cross-field switch straight into the advertising boards.<br /> <br /> The Argentinian shook his head but soon recovered, moments later escaping a cage of four Atletico defenders before driving a shot straight at Jan Oblak.<br /> <br /> For all Atletico's discipline and defensive rigour, one mistake in the 26th minute was all it needed. Thomas Partey clipped the back of Messi's foot 25 yards out and the forward whipped the free-kick beyond the scrambling Oblak and into the top corner.<br /> <br /> The rest of the half was a picture of Barca dominance, interrupted only by the injured Iniesta being replaced by Andre Gomes and a handful of minor skirmishes, the most noteworthy of which saw Messi hack down Filipe Luis and earn a yellow card.<br /> <br /> Luis Suarez thought he had scored a second after half-volleying through Oblak's legs but was flagged offside, before Jose Gimenez applied a crucial block to deflect a Messi shot over.<br /> <br /> There was one nervy moment for the hosts five minutes from time as Diego Costa headed down for Kevin Gameiro to slam home. Costa, however, had strayed offside and Barca held on for what will surely prove a crucial three points.

Atletico would beat Barcelona if we had Messi, says Simeone

Diego Simeone has claimed if Lionel Messi played for Atletico Madrid, his side would have beaten Barcelona on Sunday. But instead, it i...

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Firmino's flexibility makes Liverpool feared again in Europe

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7gOoPPoKjhgKJrbj54pOGjfpdEKf_OgwbS4RfqN59aKMYzcqMzK_ARGxpZS00Ultm5RO1sVwghyphenhyphenYzR3U2iAZUZG1hByWeSDQLAKNVu7hq6MwNqOuq4UDwRl32p_tXXO40wwWzfURapw/s1600/firmino_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7gOoPPoKjhgKJrbj54pOGjfpdEKf_OgwbS4RfqN59aKMYzcqMzK_ARGxpZS00Ultm5RO1sVwghyphenhyphenYzR3U2iAZUZG1hByWeSDQLAKNVu7hq6MwNqOuq4UDwRl32p_tXXO40wwWzfURapw/s640/firmino_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Mohamed Salah has scored more goals, Sadio Mane may have more explosive pace, but Roberto Firmino is the glue that knits together a devastating Liverpool front three that is fast making the five-time European champions feared on the continent once more.<br /> <br /> Liverpool go into tonight's Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Porto with the job already done having inflicted the Portuguese giants' worst ever home European defeat in a 5-0 rout three weeks ago.<br /> <br /> All of Liverpool's free-scoring forward trio were on target that night, as they have been for most of the season.<br /> <br /> Their combined tally now stands at 68, with Firmino's 22 already by a distance his best return for a single campaign since joining from Hoffenheim in 2015.<br /> <br /> However, the Brazilian is much more than a striker who just scores. His pass for Mane to seal a 2-0 win over Newcastle on Saturday was also his 13th assist of the season.<br /> <br /> "Mo Salah, world class, but not every day. Sadio Mane, world class, but not every day. Roberto Firmino, world class, pretty much every day," Klopp told the Mail on Sunday tabloid recently.<br /> <br /> It isn't surprising to hear the highest of praise from his German coach as Firmino is the embodiment of what Klopp wants from his side.<br /> <br /> His seemingly tireless energy reserves press and pull defenders out of their comfort zone to make the spaces for Mane and Salah to shine, and yet he still maintains a calm head when needed in front of goal himself.<br /> <br /> "Yes, you've got Salah and Mane, but Firmino's hold-up play and work off the ball makes him one of the best attacking players in the Premier League," former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports. "He's a top player."<br /> <br /> 'Perfect blend'<br /> <br /> From a slow start at Anfield, Klopp has cultivated Firmino into the player he is now. His technical ability as a former attacking midfielder allied to his athleticism has produced a fluidity in Liverpool's front three that is proving almost impossible to stop.<br /> <br /> "With Mane you have the pace and directness, with Firmino you have the touch and hold-up play and securing the ball, and then you have Salah that gives you a bit of both and delivers goals," Liverpool great Steven Gerrard said to BT Sport.<br /> <br /> "The blend is superb. There's no greed in the team, there's nobody who is selfish. They all pass the ball to each other."<br /> <br /> Even better could come for Firmino at the end of the season with Brazil coach Tite a fan of his flexibility.<br /> <br /> The 26-year-old has largely had to play a supporting role to Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and former Liverpool teammate Philippe Coutinho during Tite's short but successful reign in charge.<br /> <br /> Firmino was practically unknown by fans in Brazil when he was first called into the national team in 2014 having left his native land for Hoffenheim when he was just 18, and still lacks some of the star power of his colleagues.<br /> <br /> However, Neymar and Jesus have to overcome fitness concerns to be ready for Russia, and Tite hasn't ruled out changing his system to accomodate Firmino.<br /> <br /> "He is a 10 who learned how to play a nine," said Tite of Firmino's evolution under Klopp.<br /> <br /> "Brazil has lacked alternatives in previous World Cups and it cost us big.<br /> <br /> "That's why I want to use Coutinho in midfield, Willian as winger, playing with Firmino and Jesus together.<br /> <br /> "We must enter the competition with preparation for any situation."

Firmino's flexibility makes Liverpool feared again in Europe

Mohamed Salah has scored more goals, Sadio Mane may have more explosive pace, but Roberto Firmino is the glue that knits together a devas...

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It's a knockout!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoHBY2yJUsxwDKNT2C6wrvGJzYPo5djWrqke7W-VnSOK3MxBmxvBKzkjAYUbMcLZ4dafUyp3fMjlV58kltWdp2PryOxDFDwXrY8nrhVnpmTXDP6-ZxpexbRaF7CeCoTmOWSZ8W_gaFh4/s1600/kickboxing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoHBY2yJUsxwDKNT2C6wrvGJzYPo5djWrqke7W-VnSOK3MxBmxvBKzkjAYUbMcLZ4dafUyp3fMjlV58kltWdp2PryOxDFDwXrY8nrhVnpmTXDP6-ZxpexbRaF7CeCoTmOWSZ8W_gaFh4/s640/kickboxing.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Cambodian kun Khmer kickboxer Lao Chantrea lands the knockout blow with his elbow on muay Thai opponent Chhan Chhai of Thailand in their ISI PALM Championship bout at CNC television studios on Sunday.<br /> <br /> The referee stepped in to end the fight after the powerful hit to the face. Chantrea won in the third of five scheduled rounds.

It's a knockout!

Cambodian kun Khmer kickboxer Lao Chantrea lands the knockout blow with his elbow on muay Thai opponent Chhan Chhai of Thailand in their ...

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Olympic hopes for unified Korean hockey team over after 8-0 drubbing

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggerjNg0rHeLf_-7RtBdTk-gKavwi3a3GX-KsCN_RcDyjwU0bsq_K8asCewWVDL0L2AQKMI6S_3u1MJynwekG-EQHjlmTP6TdJIncMNfpag3k-PPisvPucsJLKVsF5QAdE-44fSJ3Cuwk/s1600/korea_hockey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggerjNg0rHeLf_-7RtBdTk-gKavwi3a3GX-KsCN_RcDyjwU0bsq_K8asCewWVDL0L2AQKMI6S_3u1MJynwekG-EQHjlmTP6TdJIncMNfpag3k-PPisvPucsJLKVsF5QAdE-44fSJ3Cuwk/s640/korea_hockey.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> North Korea's band of all-female supporters was unable to inspire the historic joint Korean women's ice hockey team as they were dumped out of the Pyeongchang Olympics with an 8-0 defeat to Sweden today.<br /> <br /> The unified team for the Winter Games in South Korea was the product of a landmark deal between the South and North Korea – the neighbours still technically at war – after a year of high tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile tests.<br /> <br /> The home crowd – seated among them the North Korean cheerleaders – roared their players as they skated onto the ice in their blue-and-red jerseys, "KOREA" emblazoned over a pale blue silhouette of the divided peninsula.<br /> <br /> The joint team is deeply symbolic, but as a hockey side they were at the Games with little hope of making a serious impression in terms of the competition.<br /> <br /> And so it proved as they were hammered 8-0 for the second time in a row, this time to the Swedes, ranked five in the world.<br /> <br /> Sweden were 3-0 up in just 10 minutes and the heavy defeat means Korea play Japan on Wednesday in their final match in a dead rubber.<br /> <br /> But even as the home team were being pounded, the 200-strong North Korean cheerleaders in red, blue and white tracksuits chanted, "Cheer up", clapping and waving mini-unification flags in unison and setting off a Mexican wave.<br /> <br /> The unity was interrupted when a four-member South Korean cheering group, in tight white T-shirts and pink shorts, skipped and hopped to Avril Lavigne's Girlfriend.<br /> <br /> The North Koreans responded with songs of their own – mostly old folk numbers, including a ballad longing for one's home town – showing a deep cultural divide between the two halves of the peninsula.<br /> <br /> The Games have triggered a rare moment of reconciliation between the two Koreas.<br /> <br /> Only a few months ago, Pyongyang's missile and nuclear tests and exchanges of threats with Washington were driving tensions sky-high.<br /> <br /> But in a whirlwind of Olympic diplomacy, hundreds of North Koreans came South last week to attend the Pyeongchang Games, and in extraordinary scenes the North Korean leader's sister Kim Yo Jong cheered the unified team together with the South's President Moon Jae-in.<br /> <br /> 'Play with one mind'<br /> <br /> The unified hockey team was hastily assembled only two weeks before the Olympics began – and it showed in the one-sided losses to Switzerland and now Sweden.<br /> <br /> Local fans at the stadium were more bothered about the significance of the joint team.<br /> <br /> "I know we lack skill compared to other teams but I hope they will play with one mind," said Kim Sang-wook, 62, from Seoul.<br /> <br /> Koo Bon-jae, a 20-year-old student from the South Korean capital, added: "I was initially against it but I was touched after seeing them on the ice together."<br /> <br /> But not everyone was in favour and the addition of North Korean players to the team had provoked controversy in the South, with accusations that Seoul was depriving some of its own players the chance to compete at a home Olympics for political purposes.<br /> <br /> Since the division of the peninsula the two Koreas have only competed as unified teams in 1991, when their women won the team gold at the world table tennis championship in Japan, and their under-19 footballers reached the world championship quarter-finals in Portugal.

Olympic hopes for unified Korean hockey team over after 8-0 drubbing

North Korea's band of all-female supporters was unable to inspire the historic joint Korean women's ice hockey team as they were ...

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No concerns over North Korea 'hijack', says Olympics chief

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbZ9drLzFkv-8wljtmMzIyEfkUWW0lUYsdILTB144uFpStGYvymJUT-jY8Gk3TAEQluPDLitJ9Latmr-f18z_JMrW5rf_0UnwULUmU35FA_ls8A8lG0F9kndCanrY3frzeT6Gn3suYLQ/s1600/20_story_1_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbZ9drLzFkv-8wljtmMzIyEfkUWW0lUYsdILTB144uFpStGYvymJUT-jY8Gk3TAEQluPDLitJ9Latmr-f18z_JMrW5rf_0UnwULUmU35FA_ls8A8lG0F9kndCanrY3frzeT6Gn3suYLQ/s640/20_story_1_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Olympics chief Thomas Bach today dismissed concerns that North Korea has tried to "hijack" the Winter Games for political purposes, as officials revealed he will visit the isolated country after the tournament in South Korea.<br /> <br /> Bach said he regarded North Korea's participation purely in sporting terms despite the rapid round of diplomacy between the two Koreas during the opening days of the Games.<br /> <br /> "This is about sport and this the IOC made very clear," Bach said in an interview. "This is about the role of sport to build bridges, to open doors and nothing more.<br /> <br /> "It's just a symbol for sport and it's a symbol for the fact that when you go over these bridges you can come to a positive result."<br /> <br /> Brokering North Korea's involvement has been a proud achievement for Bach's International Olympic Committee, as the two Koreas marched together at the opening ceremony and formed a unified team in the women's ice hockey.<br /> <br /> It has also set the stage for a period of intense reconciliation efforts, including the visit of Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo-jong who delivered an invitation for South Korean President Moon Jae-in to visit North Korea.<br /> <br /> However, some South Koreans are sceptical about the sudden rapprochement, while US Vice-President Mike Pence said North Korea was trying to "hijack the message and imagery" of the Olympics.<br /> <br /> North Korea's U-turn after months of warlike rhetoric and weapons tests prompted fears among some countries about sending athletes to Pyeongchang, and questions about whether the Games should be moved somewhere safer.<br /> <br /> Bach's spokesman Mark Adams said the IOC president would visit North Korea after the Games, although no date has been set. The visit was agreed as part of the deal for North Korea to take part in the Olympics, he said.<br /> <br /> 'Message of peace'<br /> <br /> In what has been called a propaganda coup, North Korea has launched a major charm offensive at the Games, where it has a delegation of more than 500 – including their large, all-female cheering squad – supporting 22 athletes.<br /> <br /> Bach had South Korea's Moon on his left and the high-level North Korean delegation on his right when the two Koreas played their first ever Olympic fixture together, in the women's ice hockey tournament on Saturday.<br /> <br /> He said the IOC was happy to play the role of peace-maker – but that it was up to politicians whether to take advantage.<br /> <br /> "Sport cannot create peace but sport can build bridges. We can open doors, we can show that dialogue can lead to a positive result as we have shown there with our discussions and negotiations over the years," Bach said.<br /> <br /> "This is what we can do and there we'll always be very restricted to sports matters. All the rest, politicians have to do. It's up to them whether they then use this momentum for their talks."<br /> <br /> Bach also revealed that he wasn't sure that the two Koreas would go ahead with their joint march until they finally walked into Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium for Friday's opening ceremony.<br /> <br /> "We always said we're going to believe it the moment we see them really coming in," he said.<br /> <br /> "Seeing this moment happening was great emotion and great joy to be able to send this message of understanding, of peace, this Olympic message from Korea to the world.<br /> <br /> "It's of particular importance that it's coming from the Korean peninsula, where we have these high political tensions."

No concerns over North Korea 'hijack', says Olympics chief

Olympics chief Thomas Bach today dismissed concerns that North Korea has tried to "hijack" the Winter Games for political purpo...

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'Gimme ice cream!' says US teen Kim after halfpipe masterclass

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTuCupRh5t69fRf2Y_WipuOP98SAyQjqR6aM4F3fCglhPz7FNqYZcq2rSY_IQlOkoPHoZywmam2YpHfXWOLpAIOzVCCmtFrCPB9oeyixbS5GlNyRYPfTt5ey7yzMLDdBLiKaYAzJsMDk/s1600/kim_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTuCupRh5t69fRf2Y_WipuOP98SAyQjqR6aM4F3fCglhPz7FNqYZcq2rSY_IQlOkoPHoZywmam2YpHfXWOLpAIOzVCCmtFrCPB9oeyixbS5GlNyRYPfTt5ey7yzMLDdBLiKaYAzJsMDk/s640/kim_0.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> American snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim had one thing on her mind after she nailed top score in Olympic halfpipe qualifying with a jaw-dropping display today – a well-deserved ice cream.<br /> <br /> The high-flying 17-year-old was treated like a rock star by enthusiastic local fans because of her Korean heritage and confirmed her status as the gold medal favourite in Pyeongchang with a high total of 95.50 points.<br /> <br /> China's Liu Jiayu qualified second with 87.75 ahead of Japan's Haruna Matsumoto (84.25).<br /> <br /> "I want my ice cream!" screamed Kim after an acrobatic second run greeted with oohs and aahs by a packed crowd.<br /> <br /> It might have been brutally cold and blustery, with a wind chill of minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4F), but Kim said: "I really like vanilla Swiss almond – but I'll be okay with the mango sorbet."<br /> <br /> Looking forward to Tuesday's final, Kim added: "I was really nervous but I'm always more nervous during qualis [qualifying] so tomorrow I can really focus on what I want to do."<br /> <br /> Long, bleached-blonde hair poking out from behind her visor, Kim was in a class of her own, executing a string of eye-popping spins and loop-the-loop tricks.<br /> <br /> "I don't even know what I did," joked Kim, whose parents come from South Korea and who has been adopted by locals as one of their own.<br /> <br /> "That second run felt perfect. I've been really trying to clean up all the little details and I think I did that so I'm really excited."<br /> <br /> Korean fans screaming her name jostled to take photos of Kim as she trudged to waiting journalists after her second run.<br /> <br /> "This is the best scenario ever," she said. "I'm so grateful to be out here and represent the US in the country my family came from."<br /> <br /> 'Grandma, stay warm'<br /> <br /> Dangerous gusts that caused havoc in the women's slopestyle final and forced the postponement of the women's giant slalom periodically sent puffs of snow swirling across the top of the halfpipe run.<br /> <br /> But it had little effect on the effervescent Kim.<br /> <br /> "The pipe's been so good so I'm thankful the conditions have been so amazing," smiled the four-time X Games champion, who might have challenged for gold in Sochi four years ago – if she hadn't been too young to compete.<br /> <br /> "My goal here was to land every run I do in the contest and I've landed two so far, so three to go!"<br /> <br /> Despite tearing it up in qualifying Kim admitted she wasn't sure whether her biggest fan – her Korea-based grandmother – had been in the crowd.<br /> <br /> But she revealed the family matriarch would be rocking some trendy sports gear if and when she turns up.<br /> <br /> "My grandma's in Seoul – she might be here," Kim said.<br /> <br /> "But I gave her some stuff I got from the opening ceremony. I gave her some Nike gear and she was really excited – so grandma, stay warm for me!"

'Gimme ice cream!' says US teen Kim after halfpipe masterclass

American snowboarding sensation Chloe Kim had one thing on her mind after she nailed top score in Olympic halfpipe qualifying with a jaw-...

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Russian whistleblower lives in fear in America

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd87b9DOk1RG0wvQbo7PdTy-_fT349Pcsda0DhiLuKNypquopxQrcLRu2s3BiEAHAJ06k9uCkF-6DLqB1jWr9lGHkPfV-QChKlDgRBHWF394ta1ZNtlMlPpM9gBUDR_T6b33eeDTxEgI8/s1600/18_story_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="780" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd87b9DOk1RG0wvQbo7PdTy-_fT349Pcsda0DhiLuKNypquopxQrcLRu2s3BiEAHAJ06k9uCkF-6DLqB1jWr9lGHkPfV-QChKlDgRBHWF394ta1ZNtlMlPpM9gBUDR_T6b33eeDTxEgI8/s640/18_story_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Doping guru Grigory Rodchenkov has emerged from hiding, donning a disguise and reiterating that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to silence him for good.<br /> <br /> The controversial whistleblower and former head of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory says he is risking his life by exposing Russian doping secrets.<br /> <br /> In his first televised interview since fleeing his native Russia, Rodchenkov told the American news programme 60 Minutes on Sunday night that he continues to live in fear in the United States.<br /> <br /> "The Kremlin wants me to stop talking," he told interviewer Scott Pelley.<br /> <br /> Since fleeing to America in November 2015, he has gone into hiding because he says Putin wants him dead – a claim he has made several times previously.<br /> <br /> The news magazine programme allowed Rodchenkov to wear a disguise and showed him putting on and walking around in a bulletproof vest.<br /> <br /> "[The disguise] was done for security reasons," says Rodchenkov, who dyed his hair a different colour and shaved his moustache. "There is information that my life is in jeopardy and we took all necessary steps."<br /> <br /> Rodchenkov's escape to America followed the sudden death of two senior officials from Russia's anti-doping agency. There is a warrant out for his arrest back home.<br /> <br /> "I am not a liar. I was not telling truth in Russia, but coming to United States I am telling the truth."<br /> <br /> Rodchenkov said he now wants to dedicate his time to exposing drug cheats and being an advocate for change.<br /> <br /> He doubts whether the Olympics will ever have a level playing field for the athletes.<br /> <br /> "You could believe, but in fact it is human nature," he said. "It is our sins. It has nothing to do with sports. There are 10, 15 percent who are incorrigible. You can do nothing – they are cheaters by nature."<br /> <br /> Because Rodchenkov was one of those self-admitted cheaters, he is apologising for his role in the scandals and the deception that he says still goes on, using formulas and techniques that he helped develop.<br /> <br /> "I am sorry to create such a problem because of my experience and knowledge," he said. "Now it is effective and working, and it is not my contribution to fight against doping."<br /> <br /> As a result of his whistleblowing the Russians were stripped of Olympic medals and Russia was banned from this week's Pyeongchang Games.<br /> <br /> But the International Olympic Committee allowed a large group of Russians deemed clean to take part as "Olympic Athletes from Russia".<br /> <br /> The team of Russian athletes stands at 168, the fourth biggest contingent at the Games. Russian competitors marched behind a neutral Olympic flag at Friday's opening ceremony.

Russian whistleblower lives in fear in America

Doping guru Grigory Rodchenkov has emerged from hiding, donning a disguise and reiterating that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to...

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