Jin Wei shakes off injury to reach Asian Juniors quarters

PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Goh Jin Wei has sent out a clear statement of intent that she’s ready to fight for the Asian Junior Championships girls’ individual title.

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Elavarasan urges PKNS to chase promotion with determination

GEORGE TOWN: It has taken a second-tier club – PKNS – to do what no other local team could do so far this season: make giants JDT eat humble pie in their own den.

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Wales overtake England in FIFA world rankings

(Reuters) - Propelled by an impressive European Championship campaign, Wales climbed 15 places to move into 11th, two places ahead of England, in the FIFA world rankings released on Thursday.

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AS Roma set to sign Juan Jesus from Inter Milan

Defender Juan Jesus is set to join AS Roma from rivals Inter Milan, after the Roman club said the Brazillian had arrived at their training camp on Wednesday.

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Five talking points from Selangor v KL Malaysia Cup tie

SELANGOR began their Malaysia Cup campaign on a jittery note, edging neighbours Kuala Lumpur 1-0 in the Group B match at the Shah Alam Stadium on Tuesday.

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Mourinho hopes United players will forge close bond in China

(Reuters) - Manchester United's pre-season tour of China this month, when they face Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund, will give the players an opportunity to forge a close bond, manager Jose Mourinho has said.

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FA approached Allardyce over England job, confirm Sunderland

(Reuters) - Sunderland have given permission to the Football Association (FA) to speak to manager Sam Allardyce about the vacant England post, the Premier League club said on Wednesday.

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Barcelona sign France defender Digne from Paris St Germain

(Reuters) - Barcelona have signed France international Lucas Digne from Paris St Germain on a five-year contract for an initial fee of 16.5 million euros (£13.8 million), the Spanish champions said on Wednesday.

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A perfect birthday present for shuttler Jun Hao in Asian Juniors

PETALING JAYA: Leong Jun Hao has given himself a sweet birthday present after breezing into the third round of the Asian Junior Badminton Championships,

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Klopp confirms Balotelli has no future at Liverpool

(Reuters) - Manager Juergen Klopp has told Mario Balotelli that with so much competition for places up front at Liverpool he should look for another club.

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Adapting to Rio the key for India shuttler Nehwal

BENGALURU, India (Reuters) - Adapting quickly to playing conditions at the Rio Olympics will pose the biggest challenge for players, says India's Saina Nehwal, who is aiming to better the badminton bronze she won in London four years ago.

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Penang pin hope on new signings to turn their fortunes around

GEORGE TOWN: Penang are hoping that the signings of South Korean Jeong Seok-min and Nigerian Ranti Martins will help lift them off the foot of the Super League standings.

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Kedah await transfer papers for new imports

PETALING JAYA: Kedah are keeping their fingers crossed that their two new foreign strikers – Shane Smeltz of New Zealand and Thiago Fernandes of Brazil – will get their international transfer certificates (ITC) before the Malaysia Cup Group A match against Sarawak at the Darulaman Stadium in Alor Setar on Wednesday.

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Barcelona sign centre back Umtiti on five-year deal

(Reuters) - Barcelona have signed centre back Samuel Umtiti from Olympique Lyon for 25 million euros (£21 million), the La Liga winners said on Tuesday.

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Zii Jia vows to bury team's failure with individual success

PETALING JAYA: Boys’ singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia is eager to put his recent disappointment behind him when the individual event of the Asian Junior Championships starts in Bangkok on Wednesday.

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Ancelotti plans to build on Guardiola's foundations

(Reuters) - New Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti has no plans to rip up the foundations laid by predecessor Pep Guardiola and says he will look to continue the club's tradition of attacking football when the season kicks off in August.

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KL confident of beating Selangor in Klang Valley derby

PETALING JAYA: The Klang Valley football derby is back after a five-year hiatus.

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The great wall of China just too strong for Malaysia at Asian Juniors

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s mixed team campaign ended in a whimper at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Bangkok.

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Wenger does not rule out England job after Arsenal deal ends

(Reuters) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is open to managing England but will not break his current contract with the Premier League club.

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Malaysia to meet China in Asian Juniors q-finals clash

PETALING JAYA: It will certainly not be a third-time lucky outcome for Malaysia when they take on top seeds and defending champions China in the quarter-finals of the Asian Junior Badminton Championships in Bangkok.

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Pahang looking to new recruits to kickstart season

PETALING JAYA: Pahang coach Razip Ismail expects his four new foreign signings to hit the ground running when the M-League resumes on Tuesday.

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Felda's foreign legion facing uncertain future

PETALING JAYA: Felda United’s foreign legion of strikers Thiago Fernandes and Francis Doe, midfielders Zah Rahan Krangar and Lutfulla Turaev and defender Gilberto Alemao will know their fate on Monday

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Sarawak looking to emulate Euro finalists France at Sukma

PETALING JAYA: The Sarawak football team have been told to emulate 2016 Euro hosts France.

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Malaysia thump Taiwan 4-1 in opening Asian Juniors match

PETALING JAYA: It was a perfect start for Malaysia as they whipped Taiwan 4-1 in their opening mixed team match at the Asian Junior Bad­minton Championships in Thailand.

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CSKA Moscow striker Musa joins champions Leicester

(Reuters) - Nigeria striker Ahmed Musa has joined Leicester City from CSKA Moscow on a four-year deal.

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JDT to launch ‘Educating people through football’ project

PETALING JAYA: Education will be a top priority for Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) in the future.

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Hope is high on Jin Wei at Asian junior meet but she is cool

PETALING JAYA: The expectations are high but Goh Jin Wei is taking everything in her stride at the Asian Junior Championships. The annual meet start in Bangkok on Saturday with the 16-year-old shuttler the best bet to break Malaysia’s three-year title drought.

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Shuttlers take on parents in tournament by Golden Route Academy

KUALA LUMPUR: Budding junior shuttlers have been presented with a rare but golden opportunity to challenge their parents on badminton court.

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Pogba 'perfect' for United's title challenge, says Ince

(Reuters) - Paul Pogba could spearhead Manchester United's Premier League title challenge if the playmaker can be lured back to Old Trafford, the club's former midfielder Paul Ince has said.

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Shuttlers take on parents in tournament by Golden Route academy

KUALA LUMPUR: Budding junior shuttlers have been presented with a rare but golden opportunity to challenge their parents on badminton court.

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Cast is complete for Sarawak ahead of M-League

PETALING JAYA: Sarawak are done with their transfer dealings – a week ahead of the closing date for the second transfer window on July 15.

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Wales made to pay for concentration lapse, says Coleman

LYON, France (Reuters) - Wales manager Chris Coleman said he was "immensely proud" of his team after their hopes of reaching the Euro 2016 final were dashed by a brief lapse of focus during a 2-0 defeat by Portugal on Wednesday.

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United players begin life under Mourinho with much to prove

LONDON (Reuters) - As the black-tinted sports cars carrying Manchester United's millionaire footballers rolled into the club's Carrington complex for the start of pre-season training on Wednesday, no one wound down any windows to discuss the start of life under Jose Mourinho.

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Mourinho will be massive improvement at United - Ferguson

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be a "massive improvement" on predecessor Louis van Gaal, according to former Old Trafford boss Alex Ferguson.

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Just a month but Goran makes lasting impression in Negri

PETALING JAYA: Negri Sembilan striker Goran Jerkovic means business. The Frenchman has got down to serious work with five goals in six friendlies since joining the Premier League side a month ago.

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Soon Kit boys – Wooi Yik-Zi Heng hope to win at Asian junior meet

PETALING JAYA: It has been eight years since Malaysia last bagged the boys’ doubles title at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships. Tough it may be but Ooi Zi Heng-Soh Wooi Yik hope to end the long wait.

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Night owl fans are a hoot for Portugal

MARCOUSSIS, France (Reuters) - Euro 2016 semi-finalists Portugal have been inspired by night owl supporters who wait outside their training camp for a glimpse of the players, even in the small hours of the morning.

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Without fear or shackles, Wales can upset Portugal, Coleman says

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Wales have no reason to fear Portugal in their Euro 2016 semi-final on Wednesday and despite key players missing, coach Chris Coleman said he had complete faith in their replacements to do the job.

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Same sad ending for Kian Meng-Pei Jing in Taiwan

PETALING JAYA: Three finals. Three runner-up finishes. That’s the story of mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Pai Pei Jing at the Taiwan Open badminton championships.

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Argentines take to streets, demand Messi return to national team

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Hundreds of Argentines protested in the pouring rain on Saturday, demanding that soccer star Lionel Messi return to Argentina's national team after he unexpectedly quit following a loss in the regional Copa America final.

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Mournful Conte bids farewell to Italy after Germany loss

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Antonio Conte bowed out as Italy coach on Saturday after a Euro 2016 shootout defeat by Germany sounding almost broken-hearted that he was leaving behind a "fantastic" group of players.

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The day France laughed before playing Iceland

PARIS (Reuters) - In September 1998, the France players nearly created a diplomatic incident before a game against Iceland when several of them burst out laughing during the national anthems.

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France ready for Iceland long throws, says Deschamps

PARIS (Reuters) - France realise how dangerous Iceland can be from long throw-ins and have been working on ways to counter that weapon when they face the surprise packages of the European Championship in the quarter-finals, coach Didier Deschamps said on Saturday.

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Kian Meng-Pei Jing continue dream run in Taiwan by reaching final

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing have kept their fairy-tale run going by storming into the final of the Taiwan Open.

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Analysis - Belgium floored by Denayer's defensive disaster

(Reuters) - Wales's Euro 2016 victory over Belgium, officially the second-best team in football, showed again that you can have all the attacking talent in the world but if you are weak at the back you will be found out at the highest level.

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English clubs start to spend new-found riches

LONDON (Reuters) - English soccer fans used to spend the summer ticking off the hours until the first day of the season in August but now the action kicks off on July 1 when the transfer window officially opens.

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FAM appeal to Fifa to recognise win at Tour of Oceania

PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), in a desperate bid to improve the national team’s world ranking, have appealed to FIFA to recognise the “A” classification friendly against New Caledonia, which they won 2-1 at the Stade Numa Daly, Noumea, on June 22.

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Iskandar, Kian Meng-Pei Jing make it a glorious day in Taiwan

PETALING JAYA: It was a good day at the office for Malaysia’s men’s singles shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin and mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing as they made it to the semi-finals of the Taiwan Open.

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Giggs to leave Man United after 29 years - report

(Reuters) - Ryan Giggs has ended his 29-year association with Manchester United by reaching a settlement with the Premier League club, the BBC reported on Friday.

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Germany desperate to snap out of Italy nightmare

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Title contenders Germany will come face to face with their ultimate tournament nightmare when they take on Italy in their Euro 2016 quarter-final in Bordeaux on Saturday.

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Felda put defence to test with locals in Super League

PETALING JAYA: Felda United’s defence will be put to the sword when the Super League resumes on July 16.

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Kian Meng-Pei Jing stay steady to reach quarters in Taiwan

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles pair Tan Kian Meng-Lai Pei Jing are through to the quarter-finals of the Taiwan Open.

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Wake up France! Iceland next, says Evra

PARIS (Reuters) - France, who have earned a reputation for leaving it late at this European Championship, would be well-advised to wake up early when they face Iceland for a place in the semi-finals, veteran defender Patrice Evra warned on Thursday.

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Rival golden generations of Wales, Belgium bid for glory

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Wales are happy to cast themselves as underdogs in their Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium on Friday but such modesty belies their proven ability to bite hard.

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England could struggle to find a top manager - Dyke

(Reuters) - The Football Association (FA) might struggle to convince top managers to take the England job, chairman Greg Dyke has said.

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Iskandar faces Daren in Taiwan Open third round

PETALING JAYA: National No. 2 Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (pic) can certainly count himself lucky after world No. 2 Chen Long of China pulled out of the Taiwan Open at the 11th hour.

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Tough draw for Malaysian junior team in Bangkok

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia could not have asked for a tougher draw at the Asian Junior Badminton Championships, which will be held in Bangkok from July 9-17.

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Ronaldo poses biggest threat yet to Polish rearguard

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Poland have an impressive defensive record at Euro 2016 but standing in their way to a semi-final spot is arguably one of sport's greatest-ever athletes, Cristiano Ronaldo.

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United make 'improved offer' for Dortmund's Mkhitaryan

(Reuters) - Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan after making an "improved offer" for the midfielder, the Bundesliga club's CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has said.

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New-look Nehwal primed for Rio success - Padukone

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Saina Nehwal is better equipped to win a medal in Rio in August than the Indian shuttler was when she claimed a bronze at the London Olympics four years ago, former All England champion Prakash Padukone told Reuters.

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Premier League exhausts players - Alderweireld

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld offered some sympathy for England's humiliating exit from Euro 2016, saying on Tuesday that the relentless domestic schedule drained players of energy.

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Hard-working Kian Meng decides to focus only on mixed doubles

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Tan Kian Meng is ready to drop men’s doubles duty to focus on the mixed doubles.

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Maradona urges Messi to shelve plans to quit Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - World Cup winner Diego Maradona has called on compatriot Lionel Messi not to abandon international football after the Argentina captain announced he was quitting the national side following Sunday's Copa America final defeat.

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Messi fails to match Maradona success in Argentina shirt

(Reuters) - They were two small Argentina players with the same enormous challenge -- to meet the expectations of a soccer-mad country.

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Italy defeat shows Spain's golden era gone for good

PARIS (Reuters) - Like an ailing heavyweight, Spain and their hopes of a third straight European title ended in a tame surrender as their 2-0 defeat by Italy represented the definitive end to a golden era in their foot balling history.

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Fit Jing Yi gets to keep her hard-earned Olympic ticket

PETALING JAYA: Tee Jing Yi has been given the green light to compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

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Chile prove hard nut to crack for South America's best

(Reuters) - Chile have never beaten Argentina in open play in 27 Copa America meetings in 100 years yet have twice in 12 months dashed the hopes of Lionel Messi's team of lifting a major trophy.

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Soccer-Size means nothing with Iceland, says Rooney

NICE, France (Reuters) - England captain Wayne Rooney says size will not mean anything when his team take on tiny Iceland in the round of 16 at Euro 2016 on Monday.

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Xhaka says penalty miss will make him stronger

ST ETIENNE, France (Reuters) - Granit Xhaka said his miss in Switzerland's penalty shootout loss to Poland at Euro 2016 would make him stronger and promised he would not back down from taking penalties in the future.

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'Free and liberated' Hungary happy to play underdog role

TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Hungary, one of the surprises teams of Euro 2016, are happy to play the role of underdogs ahead of their round of 16 clash with touted Belgium in Toulouse on Sunday.

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Anxious moments as Jing Yi waits for BAM verdict

PETALING JAYA: Tee Jing Yi will know on Monday if she will get to compete in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

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Shaqiri makes his mark but unable to enjoy his moment

ST ETIENNE, France (Reuters) - Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri finally made his mark at Euro 2016 with an astonishing goal but was unable to savour the moment as they were knocked out by Poland on penalties on Saturday.

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Skipper Aidil is ready to face Fiji and hot weather

PETALING JAYA: The national football team will change their game plan with the hope of ending their Tour of Oceania with a win over Fiji at the Prince Charles Park Stadium in Nadi on Sunday.

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Final match will be toughest for Kim Swee boys

PETALING JAYA: National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee reckons that the team’s final match in their Tour of Oceania against Fiji at the Prince Charles Park Stadium in Nadi on Sunday will be the toughest.

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Hiddink happy to help if Russia come calling

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Guus Hiddink, who led Russia to the 2008 European Championship semi-finals, said he would be happy to return to his former side as they look to put the misery of an early Euro 2016 exit behind them and prepare for the World Cup in two years' time.

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Wanyama completes move to Tottenham

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Southampton's defensive mid fielder Victor Wanyama on a five-year deal, the Premier League side said on Thursday.

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Vardy signs new contract with Leicester

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy has signed a four-year contract extension with the Premier League champions, seemingly ending speculation about a move.

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Chile beat Colombia 2-0 to set up final against Argentina

(Reuters) - Chile beat Colombia 2-0 in the Copa America semi-final on Wednesday and will face Argentina in Sunday's final after surviving a tumultuous match in Chicago that was halted for more than two hours due to a torrential rain storm.

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England not too big for tiny Iceland, says joint coach

PARIS (Reuters) - Iceland do not fear facing England at Euro 2016 joint coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said on Wednesday after his indefatigable players beat Austria 2-1 to book a place in the last 16.

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Champions Spain determined to think positively after defeat

LA ROCHELLE, France (Reuters) - - Spain are determined to forget Tuesday's costly 2-1 defeat to Croatia at Euro 2016 quickly and focus on next week's showdown in the round of 16 with Italy, a repeat of the 2012 final.

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Tight-lipped Ronaldo throws reporter's microphone in lake

LYON, France (Reuters) - - Video footage has emerged of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo bringing an impromptu interview to a sudden halt -- by throwing the reporter's microphone into a nearby lake on Wednesday.

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Teams will dread facing England at Euro 2016 - Dier

(Reuters) - Other countries will dread the prospect of facing England in the Euro 2016 knockout rounds, midfielder Eric Dier has said, despite his side's failure to secure top spot in Group B.

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Pressure's off ... for a while for Vivian-Khe Wei

PETALING JAYA: Women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei are glad that they have finally earned their spot in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August.

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We are one of favourites now, say buoyant Croatians

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic believes his country are now one of the favourites at Euro 2016 after beating Spain to win Group D.

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Cacic says his players showed true face of Croatia

BORDEAUX, FRANCE (Reuters) - Croatia's players showed the world they are not like the supporters who brought shame on the country with their behaviour at Euro 2016, coach Ante Cacic said on Tuesday.

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Honest toiler Nehwal senses golden Rio opportunity

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Saina Nehwal eschews the "natural talent" tag thrust upon her by Indian media and says only hard graft and good coaching have given her the chance to turn the Olympic badminton bronze she won four years ago in London into gold at the Rio Games.

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Work-in-progress Malaysia take on New Caledonia in friendly

PETALING JAYA: The under-fire national football team will be looking to salvage some pride when they take on New Caledonia in the second match of their Tour of Oceania at the Numa-Daly Magenta Stadium in Noumea on Wednesday.

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JDT plan to acquire land in Spain for training base

JOHOR BARU: Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) will soon have a training base in Europe.

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No Chong Wei for Taiwan Open

PETALING JAYA: As expected, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have withdrawn world No. 1 Lee Chong Wei from the Taiwan Open, which will be held from June 28-July 3.

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U.S. face Argentina in bid to extend unlikely Copa run

(Reuters) - Prior to the start of the Copa America, United States coach Juergen Klinsmann had set the semi-finals as a target but will now need a new goal as the hosts prepare to take on top-ranked Argentina for spot in the final.

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Portugal promise that the goals will start to flow

LYON, France (Reuters) - No team managed as many shots as Portugal in their opening two games at Euro 2016, yet all they have to show for it are one goal, two points and a possible early exit from the competition.

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Iceland to stick with counter-attacking style versus Austria

PARIS (Reuters) - Should tournament debutants Iceland reach the knockout stages of Euro 2016 by securing the result they need against Austria on Wednesday, much credit will go to a dentist and a film director.

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World champ Jin Wei to lead team at Asian Juniors

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) will be banking on women’s singles shuttler Goh Jin Wei to lead the team at the Asian Junior Championships in Bangkok from July 9-17.

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Germany to pack bigger punch against Northern Ireland

EVIAN, France (Reuters) - Germany have promised that their attack will pack a bigger punch when they face Northern Ireland on Tuesday after struggling up front in their first two Euro 2016 matches.

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Fever-stricken Buffon doubtful for Italy's game against Ireland

MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon skipped Sunday's training with a fever and is doubtful for his team's final Euro 2016 group game against Ireland, the Italian federation (FIGC) said on Monday.

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Salibasic is back but with Sabah in Premier League

GEORGE TOWN: Bosnian striker Muamer Salibasic is set to make a return to Malaysian football with Premier League outfit Sabah.

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Vardy will stay at Leicester, says Arsenal's Wenger

(Reuters) - Striker Jamie Vardy is likely to turn down a move to Arsenal and stay at Premier League Champions Leicester City, the north London club's manager Arsene Wenger has said.

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Italy coach Conte still hammering away at his players

MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Italy's famously demanding coach Antonio Conte is not letting up at his players even after they made sure of a place in the round of 16, and top spot in their group at Euro 2016, with one match to spare.

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Analysis - Penalty miss exposes Ronaldo's set-piece obsession

PARIS (Reuters) - One question stands out after Portugal's 0-0 draw with Austria on Saturday -- does Cristiano Ronaldo have to take every single free kick and penalty?

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Portugal's Santos berates Quaresma, won't discuss Ronaldo

PARIS (Reuters) - Portugal coach Fernando Santos hauled off Ricardo Quaresma after the winger failed to follow his tactical instructions as they struggled to make their domination count in a 0-0 draw with Austria at Euro 2016 on Saturday.

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Ronaldo miss helps Austria 'water the plant', says coach

PARIS (Reuters) - Austria have given themselves a shot in the arm after keeping Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal side at bay and will go into their final group match against Iceland full of confidence, coach Marcel Koller said on Saturday.

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Germany have no scoring problem, will top group - Loew

EVIAN (Reuters) - Title contenders Germany do not have fundamental scoring problems despite a goalless draw against Poland and will top their Euro 2016 Group C with a win over Northern Ireland next week, coach Joachim Loew said on Saturday.

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Colombia reach Copa semis after shootout win over Peru

(Reuters) - Colombia beat Peru 4-2 in a penalty shootout on Friday to progress to the semi-finals of the Copa America after the two sides played to a dull scoreless draw in New Jersey.

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Ledley confident of Wales progress after England heartbreak

(Reuters) - Wales are in a fantastic position to reach the knockout stages of Euro 2016, despite Thursday's 2-1 stoppage-time loss to rivals England, midfielder Joe Ledley said.

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Analysis - Bold Hodgson reaps reward as Wales sit back

LENS, FRANCE (Reuters) - If England coach Roy Hodgson's two halftime substitutions proved decisive in turning the tide in their 2-1 victory over Wales on Thursday, he still risked a charge of not having made them before the game rather than midway through.

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Malaysia plunge to another low with loss to PNG

PETALING JAYA: The national football team suffered another humiliation. This time, going down 2-0 to Papua New Guinea (PNG).

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Thanks for the memories, France

PARIS: Travelling in style to Paris, getting up close and personal with one of the seven wonders of the world – the Eiffel Tower – interviewing Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel and having the best seat in the house for the Euro 2016 opening match between France and Romania at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

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Experience Euro magic through the eyes of Schmeichel

PARIS: Don't bet on any surprises. Instead, put your money on hosts France; if not, then Germany. And should there be a fairy tale, it’ll probably be Wales. Just ask Carlsberg Euro 2016 ambassador Peter Schmeichel.

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Russian supporters' association head to be deported from France

MARSEILLE (Reuters) - The head of a Russian football supporters' association, Alexander Shprygin, is among 20 Russian fans who are to expelled from France over the coming days, a police source said on Thursday.

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Deschamps displays tactical savoir-faire on way to last 16

PARIS (Reuters) - France coach Didier Deschamps has proved himself as a flexible tactician as the hosts have became the first team to reach the last 16 of Euro 2016.

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Cheryshev back at Villarreal after permanent move from Real

MADRID (Reuters) - Villarreal have acquired Real Madrid winger Denis Cheryshev on a permanent transfer with the Russian international signing a five-year deal with the La Liga club.

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Analysis - Pogba and Griezmann give best possible response

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Midfielder Paul Pogba and forward Antoine Griezmann gave the best possible response after they were left out of the starting lineup for France's 2-0 win over Albania on Wednesday.

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Italy switch thoughts from gloom to glory

MONTPELLIER, France (Reuters) - Italian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio is convinced his national team can capture the Euro 2016 title following their opening defeat of touted Belgium.

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More to make Olympic cut, says a confident Al-Amin

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s Olympic chef de mission Tan Sri Mohd Al-Amin Abdul Majid expects a 30-strong contingent to board the plane for Rio de Janeiro in August.

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Motivated Lee to show old is gold in last Olympics

PETALING JAYA: Having reclaimed the world No. 1 spot, and with his confidence boosted, Lee Chong Wei is ready to win Malaysia’s first Olympic medal.

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Italy can overcome Ibrahimovic threat to beat Sweden: De Rossi

(Reuters) - Italy are wary of the threat Sweden captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic poses but they can win Friday's Euro 2016 match in the same way they defeated Belgium, midfielder Daniele De Rossi has said.

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Dunga fired as Brazil coach

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil fired Dunga as coach on Tuesday, the national football confederation (CBF) said, two days after his side failed to get past the group stages of the Centenary Copa America.

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Ronaldo hits out at 'small time' Iceland in Euro draw

ST ETIENNE (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo led the complaints as Portugal reacted sulkily to their 1-1 draw with Iceland, blaming their opponents for not coming out to play.

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Russia handed suspended Euro 2016 disqualification

PARIS/NICE (Reuters) - Police on Tuesday detained 43 Russia fans suspected of taking part in clashes with England supporters in Marseille at the start of the Euro 2016 football tournament, and two cities in northern France imposed alcohol bans in a bid to avert more hooliganism.

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Loew's 'scratch and sniff' video no issue says Germany's Podolski

EVIAN, France (Reuters) - Embarrassing footage of Germany coach Joachim Loew scratching around inside the front and back of his trousers during their Euro 2016 win over Ukraine has caused a buzz back home but for winger Lukas Podolski it is not an issue.

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Prickly Wilmots deflects Belgium criticism after Italy defeat

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Belgium coach Marc Wilmots reacted in prickly fashion to a flood of criticism after a 2-0 loss to Italy on Monday called into question his team's credentials at Euro 2016.

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Romania coach praises Switzerland ahead of Group A clash

PARIS (Reuters) - Romania coach Anghel Iordanescu portrayed his team as underdogs ahead of their Group A encounter with Switzerland at Euro 2016 on Wednesday, citing the Swiss squad’s greater experience of playing in Europe’s top leagues and his own players’ tiredness.

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De Bruyne was perhaps tired in Belgium defeat: Wilmots

LYON, France (Reuters) - Belgium coach Marc Wilmots blamed a "breakdown in communication" for one goal and said playmaker Kevin De Bruyne was "perhaps tired" in their 2-0 defeat by Italy in Euro 2016 Group E on Monday.

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Analysis - Zlatan again fails to shine in City of Light

PARIS (Reuters) - In the city where they are accustomed to savouring his magic, Zlatan Ibrahimovic once again failed to live up to his own exalted billing for Sweden as he went missing in their fortuitous 1-1 draw with Ireland.

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Ananlysis-Soccer-Champions Spain dominate but lack a cutting edge

TOULOUSE, France (Reuters) - Spain huffed and puffed, making hard work of their Euro 2016 opener before a late Gerard Pique goal blew away the Czech Republic resistance -- yet it could not conceal further evidence that Vicente del Bosque's champions may lack a killer instinct.

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Analysis - Streetwise Italy too cunning for Belgium

LYON, France (Reuters) - Italy coach Antonio Conte said before Euro 2016 that his side would have to make up for their lack of talent with tactical cunning and they did exactly that to sink Belgium 2-0 on Monday.

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Lugubrious Del Bosque displays optimistic side after win

TOULOUSE, FRANCE (Reuters) - Relief ran through Spanish ranks after Gerard Pique's late header secured a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic in their opening Group D match at Euro 2016 on Monday.

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England do not lack passion or desire at Euro, says Hodgson

(Reuters) - England manager Roy Hodgson has hit out at critics who have questioned his team's patriotism and desire ahead of their European Championship clash against Wales in Lens on Thursday.

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Danish pair Kim-Anders eye world’s top 10 spot

KUALA LUMPUR: Denmark’s Kim Astrup-Anders Skaarup Rasmussen have set their sights on breaking into the world’s top 10 in men’s doubles.

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No charity from Vittinghus as he claims Australian Open title

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Hans-Kristian Vittinghus lifted his first Superseries title after beating South Korean Jeon Hyeok-jin at the Australian Open in Sydney.

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Analysis - Dominant England punished by Russia for wasteful finishing

PARIS (Reuters) - A youthful England side produced a performance full of verve and skill but were punished for failing to convert their dominance into goals as Russia grabbed a late equaliser in their Euro 2016 opener in Marseille on Saturday.

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Swedes close ranks ahead of crunch match with Ireland

PARIS (Reuters) - Sweden elected to train behind closed doors on Saturday as they prepared for their Euro 2016 opener against Ireland following several flare-ups between players and coaches in training on Friday.

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Terim says Turkey captain Turan ready to face Croatia

PARIS - Coach Fatih Terim says a lack of playing time this season will not hamper captain Arda Turan when Turkey play Croatia in Euro 2016 Group D on Sunday, his team's first match at a major tournament in eight years.

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Schaer gives Switzerland 1-0 win over 10-man Albania

LENS, France (Reuters) - An early goal by defender Fabian Schaer earned Switzerland a 1-0 victory over debutants Albania whose captain was sent off before halftime in the Euro 2016 Group A match on Saturday.

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Analysis - Welsh work ethic disproves Bale one-man team theory

PARIS (Reuters) - Wales were billed as a team dependent on Gareth Bale but a 2-1 win over Slovakia in their Euro 2016 opener on Saturday was built on a pacey, fearless performance that should help prove they are more than a one-man show.

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Fellaini gets good Euro wishes from new boss Mourinho

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho, the new Manchester United manager, has sent a good luck text to the club's Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who will make his bow at the European Championship on Monday.

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Wilmots tells Belgian players not to be naive

BORDEAUX, France - Belgium must not be naive in their approach to their opening European Championship match against Italy, coach Marc Wilmots warned on Saturday.

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France ready to roar after easing off pressure

PARIS (Reuters) - A draw against Romania in their Euro 2016 opening game on Friday would not have been a disaster for France but the hosts' last-gasp 2-1 win against their Group A rivals will allow them to play more freely in their upcoming matches.

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Mixed doubles pair falter at Australian Open semis

PETALING JAYA: It was the end of the road for mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying at the Australian Open in Sydney.

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England must play without fear say Hodgson and Rooney

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - England's exciting youngsters need to shake off the shackles of history and play without fear if they are to end 50 years without a major trophy at Euro 2016, coach Roy Hodgson and the squad's elder statesman Wayne Rooney said on Friday.

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Big pressure on England kids, says Slovakia coach

BORDEAUX, France(Reuters) - Slovakia coach Jan Kozak believes there is "big pressure" on Group B rivals England to perform at the European Championship in France.

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Euro-Club mates Bellerin, Rosicky set for Toulouse clash

PARIS, June 10 (Reuters) - - Spain full back Hector Bellerin is relishing the thought of facing Arsenal team mate Tomas Rosicky when the 2008 and 2012 European Championship winners take on Group D rivals Czech Republic on Monday.

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Temptation of draw might stymie England and Russia

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - England and Russia are the big beasts of Group B and, though each would love a winning start when they meet on Saturday, the fear of losing could well become all-pervading and lead to a cagey encounter.

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Deschamps urges Pogba to be more neutral midfielder

(Reuters) - Midfielder Paul Pogba still has room for improvement in his all-round game despite being one of the most exciting prospects in world football, France coach Didier Deschamps said ahead of Euro 2016 which starts on Friday.

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Chan-Goh hope to turn things around in Australian Open semis

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian mixed doubles ace Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying are back on their feet again.

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Conte banking on Juve backline to propel Italy in France

(Reuters) - Italy can rely on the solid foundation provided by the Juventus defence at the European Championship as manager Antonio Conte looks to free up his more attacking players by stifling the opposition.

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British soccer fans and locals clash in Marseille as Euro 2016 opens

PARIS/MARSEILLE (Reuters) - French police stepped in to halt skirmishes between British soccer fans and locals in the port city of Marseille overnight, just hours before the Euro 2016 championship opens in France.

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O'Neill backs Keane to succeed him as Ireland manager

(Reuters) - Roy Keane has the all the necessary qualities to become the next Ireland boss, manager Martin O'Neill has said after the pair extended their deals through to the 2018 World Cup on Tuesday.

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Neuer ready to play mentor's role at Euro 2016

(Reuters) - Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is ready to play the mentor's role irrespective of who leads the team in their Euro 2016 opener against Ukraine on Sunday.

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Ranking boost gives Lee hope of elusive badminton gold

(Reuters) - Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei believes his return to the top of world rankings after serving a doping ban will strengthen his bid for an elusive Olympic gold in his final Games at Rio in August.

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England's Hart keen to banish demons of the past at Euro 2016

(Reuters) - Goalkeeper Joe Hart is keen to forget England's failures at previous major tournaments and put his trust in the new young squad at the European Championship in France this month.

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Old-timers Koo-Tan are on song in Sydney, Goh-Tan fizzle out

PETALING JAYA: Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong sure love taking on Indonesia’s world No. 2 pair Hendra Setiawan-Mohd Ahsan.

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Ronaldo urges Portugal to stay grounded after Estonia romp

MADRID (Reuters) - Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has urged his team mates not to get carried away by the 7-0 romp over Estonia ahead of their campaign at the Euro 2016.

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Lee to lose No. 1 spot if Chen Long wins Australian Open

PETALING JAYA: Finally, Lee Chong Wei is officially back as the world No. 1 men’s singles shuttler. He overtook China’s Chen Long following his Indonesian Open triumph last Sunday.

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Young English team 'most serious' in years, Sagna says

CLAIREFONTAINE, France (Reuters) - England's young squad is the best the country has produced in a long time and is a serious contender to win Euro 2016, French fullback Bacary Sagna said on Wednesday.

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Defender Bailly signs for Man United on a four-year deal

(Reuters) - Jose Mourinho's rebuilding job at Manchester United began when Ivory Coast central defender Eric Bailly became his first signing on Wednesday, joining from Spanish side Villarreal.

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Jin Wei smashes her way through first Superseries match in Australia

PETALING JAYA: National shuttler Goh Jin Wei gave another glimpse of her immense potential when she ousted world No. 21 Michelle Li of Canada in the Australian Open.

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Zika threat bugging Chinese shuttler Wang

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The threat of Zika at the Rio Olympics is on the mind of many athletes but few more so than China's former badminton world champion Wang Yihan, who was attacked mercilessly by insects while competing in Indonesia last week.

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China cool on another badminton sweep at Rio

SYDNEY (Reuters) - China shrugged off badminton's biggest Olympic scandal to sweep all five titles at London four years ago but the Asian super-power is trying to keep a lid on expectations of another bumper gold medal haul at the Rio de Janeiro Games.

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U.S. hammer Costa Rica to keep Copa America hopes alive

(Reuters) - Colombia became the first side to book a spot in the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals on Tuesday after beating Paraguay in Pasadena, while the United States kept their hopes of advancing alive by thrashing Costa Rica 4-0.

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Chelsea and Mourinho settle with former doctor

LONDON (Reuters) - Chelsea and former manager Jose Mourinho have reached an undisclosed settlement with former team doctor Eva Carneiro at an employment tribunal in London, the BBC reported on Tuesday.

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Britain warns fans France Euro 2016 venues are potential targets

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Office has warned fans travelling to France for the Euro 2016 football tournament that its venues are "potential targets for terrorist attacks".

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Hungry Jin Wei wants more on Superseries debut in Australia

PETALING JAYA: Competing at the Uber Cup Finals has whetted Goh Jin Wei’s appetite for more.

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Vardy's exit will be catastrophic for Leicester, says Taggart

(Reuters) - Losing striker Jamie Vardy to Arsenal could spark an exodus of players from Leicester City, former defender Gerry Taggart has said, adding that the move could be catastrophic for the Premier League champions.

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Casillas hails healthy competition with de Gea

MADRID (Reuters) - Spain captain Iker Casillas believes David de Gea is "no longer a future prospect but a strong contender" to play in goal for the national team at Euro 2016.

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Ibrahimovic says can boost dismal popularity of France's Hollande

PARIS (Reuters) - With an ego the size of his imposing physique, Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he could use his image to boost the dismal ratings of French President Francois Hollande - but then he might not choose to do so.

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Gold would be sweet for factory girl Ratchanok

SYDNEY (Reuters) - As the humble daughter of factory workers at a Bangkok sweet-maker, badminton was a ticket out of poverty for Ratchanok Intanon, who hopes winning gold at the Rio Olympics might inspire more Thai girls to chase their dreams.

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Chong Wei withdraws from Australian Open with muscle injury

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei have joined the cast of top guns in pulling out from the Australian Open in Sydney.

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Frank to work on power, strength and fitness of SEA Games football squad

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian football team still have plenty of work to do ahead of the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur next year.

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Milner wants England to avoid pointless Russian venture

(Reuters) - England need to secure at least a draw in their Euro 2016 opener against Russia on Saturday to avoid putting themselves on the back foot in the fight for places in the knockout rounds, midfielder James Milner has said.

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Messi more determined than ever to win with Argentina

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Argentina's Lionel Messi has unfinished business going into the Centenary Copa America that is being staged in the United States with the Barcelona star keen to help his nation capture a first major title in 23 years.

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Two late goals give Mexico 3-1 win over Uruguay

(Reuters) - Mexico scored twice in the final five minutes to beat Uruguay 3-1 in a pulsating Copa America Group C match in which each side had a man sent off on Sunday.

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'Cynical' play not the England way, says Hodgson

(Reuters) - England manager Roy Hodgson has no intention of urging his players to develop a "cynical" side to their game as a means to improve their chances of success at this month's European Championship in France.

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Coach Hendrawan believes Chong Wei is shaping up nicely for Rio

PETALING JAYA: National singles coach Hendrawan believes that Lee Chong Wei’s preparation for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August is on the right track after the shuttler’s Indonesia Open triumph.

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Vardy wants to join Arsenal, says Giroud

LONDON (Reuters) - France and Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has fuelled speculation that Jamie Vardy is on his way to the Gunners by saying he has heard the Leicester City striker is keen to move.

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Young pair Ong-Teo nail Vietnam badminton title

PETALING JAYA: Youngsters Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi have nailed their third career title after winning the Vietnam International Challenge in Hanoi.

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Kim Swee: Be wary of wounded Timor Leste in Asian Cup playoff

JOHOR BARU: Timor Leste are ready to give Malaysia a run for their money in their bid to overturn the three-goal deficit in the second leg of the 2019 Asian Cup Finals playoff at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru on Monday.

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Giroud silences boo-boys with double in France victory

METZ, France (Reuters) - Much-maligned Olivier Giroud struck twice to help attack-minded France sink Scotland 3-0 in a final warm-up game before they launch Euro 2016 on home soil next week.

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Germany finally keep clean sheet in win over Hungary

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (Reuters) - Germany kept their first clean sheet for nearly a year as they coasted to a 2-0 win over fellow Euro 2016 finalists Hungary on Saturday in the final warm-up friendly for both teams.

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Northern Ireland extend record unbeaten run with Slovakia draw

BRATISLAVA (Reuters) - Northern Ireland will go into Euro 2016, their first finals appearance for 30 years, with the longest unbeaten run of all 24 teams after drawing 0-0 with Slovakia in a warm-up match in Trnava on Saturday.

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Chong Wei wins sixth Indonesia Open title

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei fended off a strong challenge from Denmark’s Jan O’ Jorgensen to win the Indonesia Open title on Sunday.

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Courageous Khairul sprints to historic Asian junior gold

PETALING JAYA: Khairul Hafiz Jantan created history by winning the gold medal in the boys’ 100m at the 17th Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Vietnam.

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Lee finds his Wei back to world No. 1 spot

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Chong Wei is all set to regain the world No. 1 spot after smashing his way into the men’s singles final at the Indonesia Open.

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Rachel goes down fighting at Penang Open final

PETALING JAYA: Rachel Arnold failed in her bid to win a second career title at the Penang Open squash championship after losing 11-7, 7-11, 10-12, 12-10, 3-11 to Tong Tsz Wing of Hong Kong in the final at the Nicol David International Squash Centre on Saturday.

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Japanese pair stand in the way of Yew Sin-Ee Yi in final

PETALING JAYA: Shuttlers Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi stayed on course for their third title of the year after storming into the final of the Vietnam International Challenge in Hanoi.

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Arsenal trigger Vardy's Leicester buy-out clause - reports

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal have triggered a buy-out clause in striker Jamie Vardy's contract with English champions Leicester City after making a bid of about 20 million pounds, several British media reports said on Friday.

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Amelia hits the right note with new partner Mei Xing

PETALING JAYA: Amelia Alicia Anscelly-Teoh Mei Xing continue to show progress by beating Singapore’s Elaine Chua-Citra Dewi Sari 21-18, 18-21, 21-16 to reach the semi-finals of the Vietnam International Challenge in Hanoi.

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Leicester City sign goalkeeper Zieler from Hannover 96

(Reuters) - English Premier League champions Leicester City have signed German goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler from Hannover 96 for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract, the club announced on their website on Friday.

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Show stealers Vivian-Khe Wei enter semis in Jakarta, Chong Wei too

PETALING JAYA: Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei continued to steal the show by marching into the women’s doubles semi-finals of the Indonesia Open in Jakarta.

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England sink Portugal thanks to late Smalling goal

LONDON (Reuters) - England defender Chris Smalling headed the only goal with five minutes left as they beat 10-man Portugal 1-0 in a turgid Euro 2016 warm-up match at Wembley on Thursday.

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A jinx that Ying Ying is determined to break

PETALING JAYA: National women’s singles shuttler Lee Ying Ying believes she has been making good progress but is hampered by her lack of confidence.

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Vivian-Khe Wei turn jeers into cheers with stunning win

PETALING JAYA: National women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo and Woon Khe Wei turned boos into cheers with a sterling display to beat home favourites and world No. 2 Nitya Krishinda Maheswari-Greysia Polli in the quarter-finals of the Indonesian Open in Jakarta.

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Experienced Rooney keen to lead England's youngsters at Euros

(Reuters) - Skipper Wayne Rooney is counting on his years of experience playing for England to help him lead coach Roy Hodgson's relatively young side at the European Championship.

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Chong Wei is country’s flag bearer at Rio Games

PETALING JAya: Malaysia's top shuttler Lee Chong Wei has been named as Malaysia’s flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics on Aug 5.

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Nolito and Morata fire Spain to easy win over South Korea

(Reuters) - European Champions Spain produced a dominant display to thrash South Korea 6-1 in Salzburg, Austria on Wednesday in their penultimate friendly before Euro 2016.

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Zulfadli nicks a game from Lin Dan in Indonesia Open

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli has always wanted to see how he stacks up against the world’s best.

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Former international shuttler Giap Chin on the rise again

PETALING JAYA: Things are certainly looking up at the moment for shuttler Goh Giap Chin.

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Skipper Safiq to miss Asian Cup matches against Timor Leste

PETALING JAYA: It’s game over for skipper Safiq Rahim.

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Chong Wei begins quest to be No. 1 again in Indonesia

PETALING JAYA: Lee Chong Wei has set his sights on becoming the world No. 1 again.

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Mixed doubles out, V Shem-Wee Kiong enjoy easy passage in Indonesia Open

PETALING JAYA: There was no birthday joy for Goh Liu Ying as she and Chan Peng Soon were sent packing in the first round of the Indonesia Open badminton championships.

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Hart focussed on saving England from Euro exit on penalties

(Reuters) - Goalkeeper Joe Hart has backed himself to gain the upper hand in any psychological battle against opponents if England are taken to penalties at the Euro 2016 tournament in France.

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Blind out of Dutch squad for Poland, Austria friendlies

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Netherlands defender Danny Blind has failed to recover from a calf problem and has withdrawn from the squad for this week's friendlies with Euro 2016 finalists Poland and Austria.

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Ireland captain Keane a doubt for Euro 2016

(Reuters) - Ireland captain Robbie Keane is in danger of missing next month's European Championship after suffering a calf injury in training on Saturday.

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Jing Yi's Olympic hopes in doubt after latest injury

KUALA LUMPUR: Tee Jing Yi’s chances of playing in the Olympics look bleak after suffering an injury to her right ankle in the first leg of the National Circuit.

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Soon Huat marches into Indonesian Open main draw

PETALING JAYA: World No. 2 shuttler Lee Chong Wei will have three compatriots joining him in the tournament proper of the US$900,000 (RM3.7mil) Indonesian Open.

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Kien Keat-Boon Heong eager to keep going

PETALING JAYA: Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong will continue their men’s doubles partnership for another year.

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Weigang returns as Perak coach

IPOH: Karl Heinz Weigang is back in Malaysian football after the Perak Football Association (PAFA) named him as head coach for the remaining of their Super League season.

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Champions Leicester set to sign Hanover keeper Zieler

(Reuters) - English Premier League champions Leicester City are set to make Hanover 96 goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler their first signing of this transfer window.

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Chong Wei tipped to be Malaysian flag bearer at Rio Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR; The path is clear for shuttler Lee Chong Wei to be Malaysia’s flag-bearer in the opening ceremony of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

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Terry backs Mourinho to succeed at Manchester United

(Reuters) - Chelsea captain John Terry expects Jose Mourinho to be a success at Manchester United, saying the Portuguese is the right manager to lead the 13-time Premier League champions back into contention for major honours.

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Bale wants more European glory after Champions League win

(Reuters) - Wales winger Gareth Bale has set his sights on next month's Euro 2016 in France after playing an integral role in helping Spanish side Real Madrid claim their 11th European Cup on Saturday.

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Promoted Hull City subject to takeover talk

LONDON (Reuters) - Potential purchasers of Hull City will have to dig considerably deeper into their pockets after the club secured their Premier League return by winning what was billed as the most lucrative game in world soccer.

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Hazy days ahead for Wei Feng on his own

PETALING JAYA: Chong Wei Feng is a worried man despite getting his professional career off to a best possible start.

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Iskandar looking to stay positive at Indonesian Open

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin (pic) should be able to qualify for the main draw of a Superseries Premier event again at this week’s Indonesian Open.

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Hull promoted to Premier League with playoff win

LONDON (Reuters) - Hull City's Mohamed Diame struck an unstoppable long-range shot to beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley on Saturday and secure a money-spinning return to the Premier League after just one season.

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Kogi doubtful to make Nations Cup squad

PETALING JAYA: Teenager M. Kogileswaran’s dream of playing in the Nations Cup has been dealt a severe blow.

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Jin Wei claims unsatisfactory win over Jing Yi

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Jin Wei has finally broken her jinx against Tee Jing Yi – albeit by default - after the latter retired whilst trailing 2-11 in the final of the Celcom Axiata National Circuit first leg Saturday.

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Hazard relishing chance to go up against Mourinho

LAUSANNE (Reuters) - Eden Hazard said he was 99 percent sure to stay at Chelsea next season, and he relishing a chance to go up against new Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

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Rashford nets place in record books as England win

(Reuters) - Marcus Rashford's rapid progress continued as the 18-year-old took 138 seconds to become the youngest player to score on his England debut in a 2-1 friendly win over Australia on Friday.

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Spurs to play Champions League matches at Wembley

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur have reached agreement with the FA to host Champions League games at Wembley next season with an option to use the national stadium for all matches in the 2017-18 campaign while they are building a new ground.

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Jin Wei gunning for Jing Yi's scalp

KUALA LUMPUR: Goh Jin Wei is hoping that third time’s the charm when she faces Tee Jing Yi for the women’s singles crown in the first leg of the Celcom Axiata National Circuit badminton tournament.

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Ferdinand welcomes 'wounded animal' Mourinho to United

(Reuters) - Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has welcomed Friday's appointment of "true winner" Jose Mourinho as manager at Old Trafford, saying the Portuguese's latest challenge will be his most exciting.

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Lost Kok Siang finds new life with Thien How

KUALA LUMPUR: Former world junior champion Teo Kok Siang has found a new leash of life since leaving the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and has forged a partnership with Hoon Thien How.

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Farhan ruled out of Nations Cup with groin injury

PETALING JAYA: The national Under-21 football team suffered a setback after speedy winger Mohd Farhan Roslan’s groin injury forced him out of next month’s Nations Cup invitational tournament.

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Ibrahimovic backs Mourinho but tightlipped on future

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic said on Wednesday that Jose Mourinho would be the manager to bring the Premier League title back to Manchester United, but he declined to comment whether he had received an offer to play at the club next season.

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JDT's Tunku Ismail invited for World Football Summit

PETALING JAYA: AFC Cup champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) are not the only ones going places.

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Chong Wei signs on as ambassador for Purple League

PETALING JAYA: World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei will take up an ambassadorial role to help the Purple League step up its bid in developing badminton in the country.

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Lucero the toast for JDT in Kaya AFC Cup demolition

JOHOR BARU: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) have booked their place in the AFC Cup in style – demolishing Kaya FC of the Philippines 7-2 in a round of 16 match at the Larkin Stadium.

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Manchester set for derby delight if Mourinho comes-Schweinsteiger

ASCONA, Italy (Reuters) - Manchester should brace itself for some fascinating local derbies if Jose Mourinho joins United, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger said on Wednesday.

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Painful final defeats will spur Liverpool next season - Origi

(Reuters) - Liverpool's Belgium striker Divock Origi has backed Juergen Klopp's side to challenge on all fronts next season and learn from the bitter disappointment of losing two finals this season.

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No Atletico player would make Real's XI, Bale says

(Reuters) - Gareth Bale would not pick any Atletico Madrid player over one of his teammates, the Real Madrid forward said, as the two Spanish sides prepare to square off in Saturday’s Champions League final.

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Germany's Hummels injured, Schweinsteiger on track

ASCONA, Italy (Reuters) - World Cup winners Germany were without stalwarts Mats Hummels and Bastian Schweinsteiger as they began preparing on Wednesday for Euro 2016 but coach Joachim Loew was confident both would be fit for the finals.

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Daren believes time will get him to his form of old

KUALA LUMPUR: Former international Liew Daren feels that it’s only a matter of time before he returns to his old self.

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Mata unlikely to be a Special Juan for Mourinho

LONDON (Reuters) - Juan Mata has as much to fear as any Manchester United player after, according to Sky TV reports, Jose Mourinho agreed personal terms to succeed Louis van Gaal in the Old Trafford hot seat on Tuesday.

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Ibrahimovic leads Sweden by example

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Coach Erik Hamren may scoff at the suggestion but if any side at Euro 2016 are a one-man team it is Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden who at times seemed to be dragged through qualifying by the sheer force of the giant striker's will.

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Czechs bank on a fit Rosicky to pull the strings

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech fans' primary concern heading into the Euro 2016 finals in France is likely to be the fitness of Tomas Rosicky even though they qualified without help from the gifted playmaker for half of their campaign.

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Fit-again De Bruyne back on track

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The playmaking abilities of a fit-again Kevin De Bruyne, who has made a strong recovery from a knee injury, will be key to Belgium’s hopes of success at the European Championship.

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Underdogs Turkey out to rekindle Euro 2008 glory

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish fans worried that their side have been drawn in one of Euro 2016's toughest groups can take comfort from the events of 2008 when Turkey reached the semi-finals of the tournament.

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England's Wilshere confident of fitness for Euro 2016

(Reuters) - Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is optimistic he will be fully fit for England's Euro 2016 campaign next month, despite a lack of playing time for his north London side in the past season.

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Ronaldo declares himself fit for Champions League final

MADRID, May 24 (Reuters) - Cristiano Ronaldo has reassured Real Madrid fans he will be fit to play in Saturday's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in Milan after limping out of Tuesday's training session.

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Fringe doubles pair hope to break into top 50 this year

KUALA LUMPUR: National men’s doubles pair Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi hope to build on their inclusion in the recent Thomas Cup Finals squad as they aim to break into the top 50 in world ranking by the end of the year.

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England bank on Kane's golden boot at Euro 2016

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur fans love to serenade local lad Harry Kane with the chant "He's One of Our Own" but the whole of England will be singing his name if his rich scoring streak takes his country deep into Euro 2016.

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Pogba 'the Pickaxe' ready to carve out more French glory

PARIS (Reuters) - France built their greatest triumphs on midfield and in Paul Pogba they may have what it takes to win a third European Championship title on home soil.

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Kroos is no longer Germany's shadow man

BERLIN (Reuters) - Toni Kroos is used to living in the shadow of other players, be it at his clubs or with the national team, but Euro 2016 looks to be the tournament where the hugely gifted midfielder will finally take centre stage.

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Injury-hit Germany must rediscover tournament form

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German side setting their sights on Euro 2016, 20 years after their last continental trophy, may be completely different from the one that won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Chong Wei drop other duties, focus only Olympics now

SEPANG: National singles coach Tey Seu Bock believes world No.2 Lee Chong Wei’s focus is solely on the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in August and not the 2018 Thomas Cup Finals.

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Are Mourinho and United the perfect match?

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho and Manchester United should be a match made in heaven as one of football's most charismatic and trophied coaches bids to return England's most prolific title winners back to former glory, but the relationship might be a bumpy one.

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Cup not enough for Van Gaal as United seek spark

LONDON (Reuters) - For a club that in 2000 was happy to ditch their defence of the FA Cup so they could play in the World Club Championship, winning football's oldest trophy was never likely to be enough to convince Manchester United to keep faith with Louis van Gaal.

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Snubbed Zulfadli eyes worthy show at KL Open

PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli will seek to put the Thomas Cup snub behind with a worthy show at the Kuala Lumpur Open.

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Lukaku hopes to stay in England as Everton exit looms

(Reuters) - Striker Romelu Lukaku has fuelled speculation about his future at Everton, saying he has decided where he will be playing next season and insisting he would prefer to ply his trade in England.

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Manchester United axe Van Gaal?

LONDON: Louis van Gaal has been sacked as manager of Manchester United, several British media outlets reported Monday, amid speculation he will be replaced by Jose Mourinho.

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Dane Axelsen aims to be Victor-ious at Olympics next

KUNSHAN (China): Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen believes he will go far at the Rio Olympics and is confident his fellow countrymen will also prove themselves after their historic Thomas Cup victory.

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Chong Wei bent on Olympic gold after Thomas Cup collapse

KUNSHAN (China): Lee Chong Wei has resolved to go all out for the Olympic gold after missing out on his final chance to lift the Thomas Cup trophy.

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Kane and Vardy inspire England friendly win over Turkey

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - England's Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy struck in a 2-1 friendly win over fellow Euro 2016 finalists Turkey on Sunday as the home side warmed up with a performance that highlighted their potency in attack and defensive limitations.

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Proven winner Mourinho is right man for United - Neville

LONDON (Reuters) - Jose Mourinho is a proven winner who is the perfect choice as Manchester United manager, the club's former defender Phil Neville said on Sunday.

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New blood needed for badminton, says Khairy

BALIK PULAU: Malaysia need new blood to fill in the shoes of retiring badminton players within the next two years, says Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

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Great team effort in Thomas Cup win, says Dane Vittinghus

KUNSHAN: IT’s party time for Denmark as their three singles players powered the team to break their Thomas Cup jinx in China.

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Denmark down Indonesia to seal landmark Thomas Cup win

(Reuters) - Denmark became the first European country to lift the Thomas Cup on Sunday, winning the final 3-2 against Indonesia, the most successful nation in the history of the biennial men's badminton team championship.

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Jin Wei poised to lead team as top shuttler

KUNSHAN: All signs point to youngster Goh Jin Wei leading Malaysia to the next Uber Cup in 2018. Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) technical director Morten Frost is optimistic Jin Wei will be Malaysia’s No. 1 in two years’ time.

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Denmark and Indonesia seeking Thomas Cup glory

KUNSHAN: Denmark and Indonesia go toe-to-toe at the Thomas Cup Finals, each seeking to lift the prestigious team title.

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JDT thrash Pahang to take Super League lead

PETALING JAYA: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) reclaimed their lead in the Super League in style after thrashing bitter rivals Pahang 6-0 at the Darul Makmur Stadium.

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Barca are Cup favourites but Sevilla have more desire - Emery

MADRID (Reuters) - Champions Barcelona are favourites to win the King's Cup final but Sevilla have more motivation for success, their coach Unai Emery said on Saturday.

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Tevez misses cut in Argentina's Copa America squad

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina have left Boca Juniors striker Carlos Tevez out of their squad for the Copa America Centenario to be held in the United States next month.

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Hard-working Griezmann among top three in world - Simeone

(Reuters) - Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone rates Antoine Griezmann as one of the top three players in the world and says the forward owes it to his ability to work hard and the willingness to listen.

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Rexy hopes to put another feather in his cap with Indonesia

KUNSHAN (China): Indonesia’s Rexy Mainaky is eyeing another milestone in his illustrious career.

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What Frost has to say after Thomas Cup exit

DENMARK staged a superb fightback from two matches down to beat Malaysia 3-2 and reach their first Thomas Cup final in 10 years.

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China reign supreme to win Uber Cup title again

KUNSHAN: China claimed their third straight Uber Cup title after a sensational 3-1 win over South Korea in the final at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.

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Bleak future after Thomas Cup exit

KUNSHAN: The Thomas Cup trophy was on display not far from the court but it was a case of so near and yet so far for Lee Chong Wei and company. Malaysia lost 3-2 to Denmark in the semi-finals on Friday.

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China look set to lift Uber Cup after victory over India

KUNSHAN: China will be looking to claim their third straight Uber Cup title after sweeping aside India 3-0 in the semi-finals at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.

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Century goal-mark awaits Real Madrid attacking trio

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) - Real Madrid's attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema need to score twice in the Champions League final on May 28 against Atletico Madrid to hit the century mark for goals this season for the first time.

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Chong Wei blames no one for Thomas Cup semis exit

KUNSHAN: Hopes of a repeat of the 2014 runners-up achievement in New Delhi evaporated as Denmark came from behind to wreck Malaysia’s dream with a 3-2 win in a gripping semi-final tie at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium on Friday.

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Fired-up Indonesia Thomas Cup squad enter first final in six years

KUNSHAN: Indonesia recovered from an opening loss to beat South Korea 3-1 and reach their first Thomas Cup final since 2010.

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Malaysia or Denmark? Who will win Thomas Cup semi-finals clash?

KUNSHAN: Malaysia have better record against Denmark in the Thomas Cup Finals. Can they extend the good record against the Danes when they clash in the semi-finals at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium?

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Ratchanok's heart and soul on Olympic Games in Rio

KUNSHAN: Thailand shuttler Ratchanok Intanon is set to wrest the world No. 1 ranking in women’s singles from Spaniard Carolina Marin, but it’s the Rio de Janeiro Olympics that’s on her mind.

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Kaka highest paid MLS player, Lampard also in top 10

(Reuters) - Brazilian veteran Kaka is the highest paid player in Major League Soccer, with a 2016 guaranteed salary of $7.167 million (£5 million), according to figures released by the Players' Union on Thursday.

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Denmark drop Jorgensen in Thomas Cup line-up against Malaysia

KUNSHAN: Denmark have dropped Jan O Jorgensen in their line-up against Malaysia in the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup Finals.

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Favourites China and Japan are out of Thomas Cup Finals

KUNSHAN: Hot favourites China and defending champions Japan were dumped out of the Thomas Cup Finals on a day of seismic shocks in the quarter-finals at Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.

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Ruthless Shivani takes India into Uber Cup semis

KUNSHAN: Ruthvika Shivani, only 19 years old and ranked a lowly 119th in the world, clinched the winning point as India overpowered Thailand 3-1 to reach the Uber Cup semi-finals.

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Spain's dominance in Europe shows highly-competitive league, says Neymar

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Barcelona players should not be too disheartened about missing out on the Champions League final as Spain's domination of European club football shows the highly-competitive level of the Spanish game, Barcelona striker Neymar said.

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Moment to savour for Iskandar the great at Thomas Cup

NATIONAL champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is enjoying his moment in the sun at the Thomas Cup Finals.

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Malaysia beat Taiwan 3-1 to enter Thomas Cup semi-finals

KUNSHAN: Malaysia defeated Taiwan 3-1 to reach the semi-finals of the Thomas Cup Finals in China.

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Sevilla fight back to win Europa League for third year in a row

BASEL, Switzerland (Reuters) - Sevilla conjured up a dazzling comeback to clinch a record third successive Europa League title on Wednesday, flooring Liverpool with a 3-1 victory that showed why the Spanish side have become masters of Europe's second-tier competition.

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Thomas Cup hope brightens as Malaysia face Taiwan in quarters

KUNSHAN (China): Malaysia got the draw they wished for in the knockout stage of the Thomas Cup Finals in Kunshan.

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Penang out of Malaysia Cup after home loss to Felda

PETALING JAYA: Penang are out of this year’s Malaysia Cup after falling to the bottom of the Super League standings at the halfway mark of the season.

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Kelantan to face the music over unpaid wages

PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) are ready to throw the book at the recalcitrant Kelantan FA (Kafa).

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Kane says Golden Boot win proves critics wrong

(Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane says he has silenced his doubters by winning the Premier League's Golden Boot this season.

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Inler set to miss Euro 2016 after Swiss name provisional squad

BASEL (Reuters) - Gokhan Inler, a stalwart of the Swiss midfield for the past decade, is set to miss Euro 2016 after being left out of the provisional squad named by coach Vladimir Petkovic on Wednesday.

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Thomas Cup: Time for doubles to do a good turn for the team

KUNSHAN (China): The doubles players better get their act right if Malaysia are to go all the way as the Thomas Cup knockout stage gets under way on Thursday.

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Jin Wei shows great fortitude in Malaysia's win over Spain

KUNSHAN (China): Teenager Goh Jin Wei won the hearts of many, but not the match, as Malaysia wrapped up their Uber Cup campaign with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Spain at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.

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Hull to face Wednesday in Championship playoff final

LONDON (Reuters) - Hull City will face Sheffield Wednesday in an all-Yorkshire Championship playoff final after surviving a huge scare in a 2-0 home loss to Derby County in their semi-final second leg on Tuesday which left them with a 3-2 aggregate win.

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Silva out, Sanches in as Portugal name Euro squad

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal coach Fernando Santos left Bernardo Silva, one of the country's brightest young players, out of his final 23-man Euro 2016 squad on Tuesday but included 18-year-old Renato Sanches.

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Class act from Iskandar to win crucial point against S. Korea

KUNSHAN (China): Reigning national champion Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin finally got his act right at the third time of asking.

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Loew opts for youth in German preliminary Euro 2016 squad

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany coach Joachim Loew has named four talented youngsters, including three uncapped players, in his preliminary 27-man squad for Euro 2016.

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Thomas Cup team manager Norza stays on despite father's illness

KUNSHAN (China): Thomas Cup team manager Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria is staying put with the shuttlers in Kunshan although his 76-year-old father, Zakaria Yusof, is in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a hospital in Kuala Lumpur for kidney failure.

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England capable of matching anyone at Euro 2016, says Rooney

(Reuters) - England have what it takes to get the better of any opponent but need to be consistent if they are to win their first European Championship in France, captain Wayne Rooney has said.

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Dier will cover England's centre back shortage, says Hodgson

(Reuters) - England manager Roy Hodgson has defended his decision to pick just three centre backs in his squad for the Euro 2016 and said defensive midfielder Eric Dier provides adequate cover having started his career as a defender.

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Defoe disappointed to miss out on England's Euro squad

(Reuters) - Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe has expressed disappointment at being overlooked for England's provisional squad for Euro 2016, despite ending the domestic season as the third-highest English goalscorer in the Premier League.

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Thomas Cup: Malaysia top group after beating South Korea

KUNSHAN (China): Malaysia achieved their objective of topping Group C after beating South Korea 3-2 in the Thomas Cup Finals at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium on Tuesday.

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Leicester celebrate title triumph with victory parade

LEICESTER, England (Reuters) - Leicester City's players celebrated their Premier League title success with a victory parade on an open-top bus through the streets of the Midlands county town in front of about 250,000 ecstatic fans on Monday.

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Sheffield Wednesday into Championship playoff final

(Reuters) - Sheffield Wednesday reached the Championship playoff decider after a 1-1 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in the semi-final, second leg on Monday secured a 3-1 aggregate win to bring a lucrative Premier league spot closer.

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Ranieri wins League Managers' award

LONDON (Reuters) - Claudio Ranieri was named the League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year on Monday after leading 5,000-1 outsiders Leicester City to an improbable Premier League title.

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Italy judge acquits future Chelsea coach Conte in match-fixing case

CREMONA, Italy (Reuters) - Antonio Conte, future coach of English Premier League club Chelsea, was cleared on Monday of any role in a 2011 match-fixing scandal while he was in charge of Italian second division football team Siena.

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Malaysia crash out of Uber Cup with Denmark defeat

KUNSHAN (China): Malaysia were eliminated from the Uber Cup Finals after their second straight defeat in Group A at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium on Tuesday.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong stay cool ahead crucial Korean test

KUNSHAN: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong may face world No. 1 combination of Lee Yong-dae-Yoo Yeon-seong in the crucial Group C Thomas Cup tie on Tuesday if South Korea decides to field them.

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Arteta set to hang up boots after Arsenal farewell

(Reuters) - Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta said his substitute appearance in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa was likely to be his last game as a professional footballer.

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Malaysia may replace Vivian-Woon with new combo in crucial tie

KUNSHAN: Malaysia are likely to juggle their doubles pairings against Denmark in the crucial Uber Cup Group A clash at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium on Tuesday.

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Iskandar seals winning point to lead team into Thomas Cup quarters

KUNSHAN: Malaysia are assured of a place in the knockout quarter-finals stage after chalking a 5-0 win over Germany in their second Group C Thomas Cup tie at the Kunshan Sports Center Gymnasium.

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Liverpool held at West Brom to finish outside Europa places

May 15 (Reuters) - Liverpool finished outside the European qualification places after their Premier League campaign ended with a tame 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

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Giroud hat-trick lifts Arsenal to second

May 15 (Reuters) - Olivier Giroud scored a hat-trick as Arsenal overwhelmed relegated Aston Villa 4-0 on Sunday to pip their arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur to second place in the Premier League table.

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Everton end poor season in style

May 15 (Reuters) - Everton ended a disappointing season with a convincing 3-0 Premier League victory over relegated Norwich City at Goodison Park on Sunday.

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Drinkwater provides champagne fizz as Leicester earn draw

May 15 (Reuters) - Leicester City's Premier League winners were given a guard of honour by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and then ended their glory season with a late equaliser from Danny Drinkwater in a 1-1 draw with the outgoing champions on Sunday.

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No flourish from Man City in sealing Champions League place

May 15 (Reuters) - Manchester City sealed fourth place and a spot in next season's Champions League in unconvincing fashion, unable to end their uneven season with a flourish at Swansea City.

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Thomas Cup team to buck up after shaky win over England

MALAYSIA will go on the offensive against Germany in their second Group C Thomas Cup tie at the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium.

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Weakened Japan not impressive in Thomas Cup group win

KUNSHAN: Japan looked far from impressive as they started their Thomas Cup title defence by beating France 5-0 in the opening Group A tie at the Kunshan Sports Center Gymnasium.

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Over-eagerness spoil Malaysia's chance to win a point off China

KUNSHAN (China): Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo only had themselves to blame for not stealing a point off defending champions China in Malaysia’s opening Group A clash of the Uber Cup Finals.

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Barcelona win La Liga title with Suarez hat-trick

BARCELONA (Reuters) - A ravenous Luis Suarez bagged a third hat-trick in five games as defending champions Barcelona won 3-0 at Granada to clinch their 24th La Liga title on Saturday.

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Underwhelming feeling at Barca despite title win

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Despite winning a 24th Spanish title and with a King's Cup final against Sevilla to look forward to next week, a feeling of deflation still lingers around Barcelona after falling short of their lofty pre-season ambitions.

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Stuttgart relegated after 41 years, late winner saves Werder

BERLIN (Reuters) - Former champions VfB Stuttgart were relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in 41 years after losing 3-1 at VfL Wolfsburg in the top flight season finale on Saturday.

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Can anyone stop China from from doing the Thomas & Uber Cup double?

KUNSHAN (China): Based on history, it will be hard to prevent China from winning both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup titles in Kunshan.

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Thomas Cup: Ouseph throwing in the towel ahead of Malaysia tie

KUNSHAN (China): England’s top singles player Rajiv Ouseph is not expecting any “miracles” when his team face Malaysia on the opening day of the Thomas Cup Finals in Kunshan on Sunday.

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Uber Cup team focus on Denmark as China a 'forgone conclusion'

KUNSHAN (China): Denmark are very much on Malaysia’s mind even though our women open their Uber Cup campaign in Group A against hosts China on Sunday.

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Chong Wei: Important to win opening tie against England

KUNSHAN (China): There are no easy opponents in the Thomas Cup Finals in Kunshan and Malaysian captain Lee Chong Wei has reminded his team-mates not to take England for granted in their opening Group C tie on Sunday.

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Real can pip Barca to title in season finale - Zidane

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid can pip Barcelona to the La Liga title on Saturday even though their destiny is out of their hands, coach Zinedine Zidane said on the eve of the season finale.

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Tommy says team with better mental strength wins

KUNSHAN: Mental strength could very well determine the outcome if Malaysia were to meet traditional rivals Indonesia in the knockout stages of the Thomas Cup Finals in Kunshan next week.

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Ideal atmosphere for shuttlers to shine in Kunshan

KUNSHAN: For a venue hosting badminton’s premier world team championships, the Kunshan Sports Centre Gymnasium looks a bit too small for comfort but technical director Morten Frost believes that this is the kind of atmosphere that will fire up Malaysian shuttlers to go the extra mile in the Thomas-Uber Cup Finals starting on Sunday.

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Injuries and lack of energy cost Arsenal title - Cech

(Reuters) - Overall fatigue and long-term injuries to key players combined to end Arsenal's pursuit for the Premier League title this season, goalkeeper Petr Cech has said.

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Chong Wei’s smash recognised as fastest in the world

KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 2 Lee Chong Wei’s 408kph missile at last year’s Hong Kong Open has been recognised as the most powerful smash in badminton since September, close to the top speed clocked by the fastest production car in the world.

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Leicester dominate Premier League player nominations

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City footballers look set to sweep this year's individual awards after five were named in the 10 nominations for the Premier League Player of the Season.

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Everton sack Martinez, says Sky quoting unnamed sources

LONDON (Reuters) - Roberto Martinez's three-year spell in charge of Everton is over, media reports said on Thursday.

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Soon Huat is Goh-ing to silence critics in Kunshan

PETALING JAYA: Singles shuttler Goh Soon Huat is determined to silence the doubters when the Thomas Cup Finals get under way this weekend in Kunshan, China.

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Allardyce proves to be the master survivor yet again

LONDON (Reuters) - Ripping back his jacket to flex his muscles to a feverish crowd, Sam Allardyce led the Sunderland fans in celebration at a delirious Stadium of Light on Wednesday having once more proved the perfect man for a relegation scrap.

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JDT keep 100% record in AFC Cup with Bengaluru win

JOHOR BARU: Supersub Safiq Rahim came to Johor Darul Ta’zim’s (JDT) rescue again.

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Jin Wei aims to keep a 100% record in Kunshan

PETALING JAYA: Youngster Goh Jin Wei has a proud record to upkeep.

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From violence to the Olympics, all in their hometown

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - The future looked anything but bright for Brazilian sisters Lohaynny, 4, and Luana Vicente, 6, when their father, a drug dealer, was killed in a shootout with police.

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Goal-machine Suarez on course for another landmark

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Luis Suarez could become Barcelona's highest scoring Uruguayan in Saturday's La Liga match at Granada, having equalled in only two seasons what compatriot Ramon Alberto Villaverde Vazquez aggregated in his decade-long stint with the club.

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Leicester set to offer Ranieri long-term contract

(Reuters) - Leicester City will discuss a possible contract extension with manager Claudio Ranieri at the end of the season as a reward for his role in the club's maiden Premier League title victory, vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has said.

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Ranieri, Aguero pick up monthly Premier League awards

(Reuters) - Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has been named the Premier League manager of the month for April, while Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has won the award for the players.

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Chong Wei: Thomas Cup team A-okay after training camp

PETALING JAYA: Captain Lee Chong Wei gave the thumbs-up to his Thomas Cup Finals team-mates after their one-week training camp.

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JDT's second stringers hope to get full points against Bengaluru

JOHOR BARU: Defending champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) will not let-up in their final AFC Cup Group H match against India’s Bengaluru at the Larkin Stadium in Johor Baru on Wednesday.

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Van Gaal may rest Martial for trip to West Ham

(Reuters) - Manchester United forward Anthony Martial may be rested for Tuesday's Premier League trip to West Ham United to avoid aggravating a hamstring injury, manager Louis van Gaal has said.

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Man City deserve Champions League spot - Sagna

(Reuters) - Manchester City's players must take the blame for a poor second half of the season that has left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, Bacary Sagna said, but the full back still believes they deserve a spot in Europe's elite club competition.

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Foxes hunt for hard workers ahead of European excursion

(Reuters) - Leicester City head of recruitment Steve Walsh has said the newly crowned Premier League champions will focus on signing players with a strong work ethic in the close season to bolster a squad preparing to fight on two fronts.

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Wilshere warns Arsenal not to take Villa lightly

(Reuters) - Midfielder Jack Wilshere has warned Arsenal to be prepared for a tough fight against a side playing for pride when they host already relegated Aston Villa in the Premier League season finale on Sunday.

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V Shem-Wee Kiong shoulder heavier responsibility in Thomas Cup

PETALING JAYA: Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong were first paired up at the 2014 Thomas Cup Finals in New Delhi. And they combined with devastating effect.

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Klopp tells ticketless Liverpool fans to avoid Basel trip

(Reuters) - Manager Juergen Klopp has backtracked on his call for Liverpool fans without tickets to head to Basel for the Europa League final against Sevilla on May 18, and said he regretted making the statement.

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Ranieri warns Europe's elite not to underestimate Foxes

(Reuters) - Fresh from winning the Premier League title, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has warned the Europe's top clubs not to underestimate his team's chances in the Champions League.

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Arsenal still eye St Totteringham moment

LONDON (Reuters) - Arsenal can still dream about finishing second in the Premer League ahead of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur after the penultimate round of Premier League matches on Sunday.

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Teenager Afif set to become first Qatari in La Liga

DOHA (Reuters) - A 19-year-old striker from Qatar who was signed by Spanish club Villareal on Sunday is set to become the first player from his country to play in the Primera Liga and potentially the European Champions League.

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Equestrian-Olympic champion Jung wins Badminton for Grand Slam

BADMINTON, England (Reuters) - Double Olympic gold medallist Michael Jung became the first German to win the Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday and only the second rider to complete the 240,000 pound Rolex Grand Slam of Eventing.

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Davis double for Saints piles misery on Spurs

(Reuters) - Two goals from Steven Davis gave Southampton a 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur who missed the chance to confirm a second-place finish in the Premier League on Sunday.

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Allen and Firmino keep Liverpool bubbling

(Reuters) - A much-changed Liverpool side still had too much class for Watford as goals from Joe Allen and Roberto Firmino gave Juergen Klopp's side a comfortable 2-0 win at Anfield on Sunday.

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Totti plays 600th league game as Roma go second

ROME, (Reuters) - Francesco Totti came off the bench to make his 600th league appearance for AS Roma as they beat in-form Chievo 3-0 at home on Sunday to climb to second place in Serie A.

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Celtic secure fifth Scottish title in a row

LONDON (Reuters) - Celtic beat their closest challengers Aberdeen 3-2 on Sunday to secure the Scottish Premier League title for the fifth year in a row.

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PSV retain Dutch league title

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - PSV Eindhoven retained the Dutch League title following a 3-1 victory at PEC Zwolle in a dramatic final round of matches on Sunday.

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Liu Ying excited for Uber Cup debut as skipper

PETALING JAYA: The last time Goh Liu Ying played in the Uber Cup Finals was during her debut in Kuala Lumpur six years ago.

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Red card may mean Terry has played final Chelsea game

LONDON (Reuters) - Captain John Terry may have played his final game for Chelsea after receiving his second red card of the season in Saturday's 3-2 Premier League defeat at Sunderland.

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Vardy ensures winning coronation for champions Leicester

May 7 (Reuters) - Leicester City 3 Everton 1

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Newcastle on brink after failing to beat Villa

(Reuters) - Newcastle United are on the verge of relegation from the Premier League after failing to do what most teams in the Premier League have found easy this season -- win at Villa Park.

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Romanian FA postpones all matches following Ekeng death

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has postponed all football this weekend following the death of Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng on Friday.

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Boro in top flight after Brighton draw, Burnley lift Championship

LONDON (Reuters) - Middlesbrough are back in the Premier League after a 1-1 draw with 10-man Brighton & Hove Albion in their lucrative, winner-takes-all promotion clash on Saturday while Burnley sealed the Championship title with a 3-0 victory at Charlton Athletic.

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Penang rue heartbreaking loss to JDT

GEORGE TOWN: Penang coach Manzoor Azwira said his players were heartbroken after losing through a last-gasp goal to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT).

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Cameroon's Ekeng dies after collapsing on pitch

(Reuters) - Dinamo Bucharest and Cameroon midfielder Patrick Ekeng died on Friday after collapsing on the pitch during a match for his club.

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Tottenham's Dembele handed six-match ban

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Mousa Dembele has been handed a six-match ban for violent conduct that went unseen by the referee but was caught on video, the Football Association said on Friday.

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Analysis - Why Spanish clubs are ruling Europe yet again

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid's passage to the Champions League final and Sevilla qualifying for the Europa League equivalent for a third straight year has underlined Spain's dominance of European football.

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Man City quartet to miss Arsenal clash

(Reuters) - Defensive trio Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov and midfielder David Silva will miss Manchester City's home game with Arsenal on Sunday because of injury.

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Knee problem rules Bale out of Valencia clash

(Reuters) - Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has been ruled out of Sunday’s crucial La Liga game with Valencia with a knee problem, extending a string of injury problems for the player.

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Selangor not dismissing Sultan of Selangor's Cup, but focus still on AFC Cup

PETALING JAYA: Let’s do it for pride! That’s the clarion call from Selangor skipper Mohd Shahrom Kalam ahead of the Sultan of Selangor’s Cup match against Singapore’s S-League selection at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.

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Iskandar is Malaysia's lynchpin in Thomas Cup Finals

PETALING JAYA: National No. 2 Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin is relishing making his debut as Malaysia’s second singles shuttler when the Thomas Cup Finals get under way in Kunshan, China, from May 15-22.

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I am The Thinkerman now, says Leicester mastermind Ranieri

LONDON (Reuters) - Claudio Ranieri re-named himself The Thinkerman on Thursday as he reflected on masterminding Leicester City's improbable rise from relegation candidates to Premier League champions.

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Barcelona intent on avoiding history repeating itself

BARCELONA (Reuters) - When Barcelona host local rivals Espanyol on Saturday hoping to edge closer to the La Liga title, many may be haunted by Raul Tamudo’s 89th minute equaliser which wrecked their title bid in 2006/07.

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Dominic ready for national call-up to play in Nations Cup

PETALING JAYA: JDT II centreback Dominic Tan Jun Jin is looking for his big break to represent Malaysia at the Nations Cup in Malacca next month.

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The axe will fall on Kelantan's foreign legion

PETALING JAYA: Under-performing Kelantan may change their foreign legion.

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Agent casts doubt over Mahrez's future at Leicester City

(Reuters) - Riyad Mahrez's agent Kamel Bengougam has thrown the Leicester City winger's future in doubt by saying there is a "50/50 chance" the Algerian could leave the King Power Stadium amid reported interest from Spanish champions Barcelona.

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Malaysia to have a complete cast in badminton at Rio Olympics

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will be represented in all five events in badminton for the first time at the Olympic Games.

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Zidane's remarkable Real revival complete with final appearance

MADRID (Reuters) - Exactly four months after succeeding Rafael Benitez and inheriting a Real Madrid side on the brink of institutional crisis, Zinedine Zidane completed the team’s revival by guiding them past Manchester City to the Champions League final.

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Lady luck deserts Man City in Madrid elimination, says Pellegrini

MADRID (Reuters) - Manchester City coach Manuel Pellegrini said his side did not deserve to be eliminated from the Champions League despite having only one effort on target in their 1-0 semi-final, second leg defeat to Real Madrid.

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Mignolet hopes Anfield roar can inspire another comeback

(Reuters) - Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is optimistic that the Anfield crowd can inspire another Europa League fightback when they host Spanish side Villarreal in the second leg of their semi-final on Thursday.

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Perlis hoping for a Premier League turnaround after Malacca win

PETALING JAYA: It’s only their first win in five matches, but Perlis coach Dollah Salleh believes that it could be the turning point for his team this season.

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Rashid: We are not strong enough to reach Thomas Cup final

KUALA LUMPUR: Former national singles coach Rashid Sidek feels that Malaysia are not good enough to make the final of the Thomas Cup in Kunshan, China.

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Liverpool's Can back in training ahead of Europa clash

(Reuters) - Liverpool midfielder Emre Can has returned to training ahead of the second leg of the side's Europa League semi-final against Villarreal on Thursday, as he nears a full recovery from an ankle injury.

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Berlusconi to start talks on sale of AC Milan - Il Messaggero

ROME (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is to open talks with a consortium of Asian companies to sell about 70 percent of AC Milan football club, Italy's Il Messaggero newspaper reported on Wednesday.

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Courtois pledges to stay at Chelsea next season

(Reuters) - Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has dismissed speculation that he could move to Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain at the end of the season and insisted he is happy at Stamford Bridge.

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KL go top, Malacca fall to first defeat in Premier League

PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur killed two birds with one stone at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium.

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Ronaldo fit but Benzema and Casemiro out against City - Zidane

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said Cristiano Ronaldo "is 100 percent" and will face Manchester City in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg but striker Karim Benzema and midfielder Casemiro will miss the game.

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Forsooth! Joy for Richard III as Leicester shock world

LONDON (Reuters) - There was no shortage of superlatives on Tuesday after little Leicester City were crowned champions of the world's richest football league. New fans sprung up worldwide overnight, but few could explain the season's extraordinary events.

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I knew at Christmas that Leicester would win title, says Ranieri

ROME (Reuters) - Leicester City coach Claudio Ranieri said on Tuesday that he believed at Christmas his team would win the Premier League, even as he continued to tell the media his only goal was avoiding relegation.

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Frost: Full focus on Thomas & Uber Cup now

PETALING JAYA: With the distraction of the Rio de Janeiro Olympic qualifying now out of the way, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) are putting all their focus into the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals.

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BAM sign Taiwanese coach Wen-hsing to strengthen junior set-up

PETALING JAYA: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have beefed up their coaching stable by hiring Taiwan’s Cheng Wen-hsing.

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Real banking on Ronaldo goal power against City

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid are hoping the fit-again Cristiano Ronaldo can lead them into the Champions League final although strike partner Karim Benzema remains a doubt for Wednesday's return match with Manchester City.

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Clear-minded Leicester will thrive in European football, Buddhist monk says

BANGKOK (Reuters) - English champions Leicester City will have few problems against the giants of European football when they contest the Champions League next season, says the Thai monk who has been regularly blessing the newest sensations of world sport.

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Tottenham lose their heads and title chances

LONDON (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur lost their cool and their Premier League title hopes as they let slip a two-goal lead at Chelsea to draw a stormy London derby 2-2 on Monday.

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Van Gaal bemoans pressure of expectations at Manchester United

(Reuters) - Expectations at Manchester United are too high and not easy to meet, according to manager Louis van Gaal, who is looking to salvage a frustrating season by winning the FA Cup later this month.

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Lee says Wei to Olympic gold is better fitness in next three months

SEPANG: Lee Chong Wei stays modest about his chances ahead of the Rio Olympic Games despite defeating two top players – Lin Dan and Chen Long of China at the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in Wuhan.

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Derby fracas may threaten Ukraine's Euro 2016 chances

KIEV (Reuters) - Ukraine team mates Andriy Yarmolenko and Taras Stepanenko have been involved in a club fracas that could undermine their country's chances at the European Championship next month.

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Koo-Tan to decide on future after Thomas Cup Finals

PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttlers Tan Boon Heong-Koo Kien Keat will decide on their future after the Thomas Cup Finals. They have failed to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games.

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Koeman urges Mane to focus on consistency after hat-trick

(Reuters) - Southampton manager Ronald Koeman has urged Sadio Mane to show greater consistency after the striker scored a hat-trick to guide his team to a 4-2 victory against Manchester City on Sunday.

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Ayew double teaches Liverpool's Klopp a lesson

(Reuters) - Jurgen Klopp was made to pay for fielding Liverpool's youngest ever Premier League starting line-up as Swansea swept them aside to secure their own survival in England's top flight.

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Razip urges players to bring Pahang into Malaysia Cup

PETALING JAYA: Pahang coach Razip Ismail wants his players to step it up in the race for the Malaysia Cup.

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Aidil praises strong bond among JDT players for success

JOHOR BARU: The tight bond among Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players proved to be the main factor that helped them book their place in the FA Cup final for the second time in three years.

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PKNS foreign triumvirate make the difference in FA Cup charge

IPOH: Premier League outfit PKNS have to thank their foreign trio – Matias Jadue, Juan Cobelli and Gabriel Guerra – for their huge contribution in the FA Cup.

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Chong Wei overcomes Chen Long for Asian title

PETALING JAYA: World No.2 Lee Chong Wei is the Asian champion again after 10 years.

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Newcastle boost survival hopes, Sunderland snatch draw

LONDON (Reuters) - Two crucial penalties, one saved and one converted, added a fresh twist to a desperate relegation dogfight between bitter north-east rivals Newcastle United and Sunderland on Saturday.

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Respite for Martinez as Everton beat Bournemouth

LONDON (Reuters) - - Everton manager Roberto Martinez enjoyed some respite as his struggling side beat Bournemouth 2-1 for a first Premier League win in eight matches on Saturday but it did little to placate the disgruntled fans.

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Bale header keeps Real's title hopes burning

MADRID (Reuters) - Gareth Bale again came to Real Madrid's rescue by heading home the winner in a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday that keeps their title hopes alive.

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Townsend cracker lifts Newcastle out of relegation zone

REUTERS - Newcastle United moved out of the relegation zone after a superb Andros Townsend free kick and a penalty save by Karl Darlow gave them a vital 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

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West Ham still pressing for Europe after win at West Brom

LONDON, (Reuters) - West Ham set a new club points record in the Premier League with Mark Noble scoring twice in an easy victory at West Bromwich Albion that boosts their hopes of European football next season.

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Suspensions woe for Selangor ahead of crucial AFC Cup tie

PETALING JAYA: Selangor’s AFC Cup campaign has been dealt with a cruel blow following the suspensions of key midfielders Hafiz Kamal and Saiful Riduwan Selamat.

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Chong Wei beat Lin Dan in Wuhan

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Ibrahimovic leads PSG to 4-0 rout of Rennes with double

(Reuters) - Paris St Germain's Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored two goals and set up another as the runaway Ligue 1 champions thrashed Stade Rennes 4-0 on a wet evening in Paris on Friday.

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Glorious summer in sight for Leicester City after many winters of discontent

LEICESTER, England (Reuters) - When King Richard III was reinterred in Leicester in March last year 500 years after his death, fans of the English city's unheralded football club might have thought it too was dead and buried.

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Middlesbrough promotion hopes dented by Birmingham draw

(Reuters) - Middlesbrough's hopes of automatic promotion to the Premier League suffered a setback when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Birmingham City in a thrilling Championship clash on Friday.

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Man City's Silva to miss Champions League semi against Real

(Reuters) - Manchester City will be without play maker David Silva for two to three weeks, ensuring he will definitely miss Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg tie at Real Madrid, manager Manuel Pellegrini said on Friday.

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Mouth-watering clash between Chong Wei and Lin Dan is on at ABC semis.

PETALING JAYA: The first titanic showdown of the year between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan is on after both reached the semi-finals of the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in Wuhan.

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Liverpool must pay Burnley up to 8 million pounds for Ings - tribunal

(Reuters) - Liverpool have been told by a tribunal to pay Championship (second-tier) leaders Burnley up to eight million pounds for striker Danny Ings.

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Fancied JDT have it all to beat Kedah, says Kunalan

PETALING JAYA: Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) possess all the ingredients needed to overturn the 2-1 deficit against Kedah in the return leg of the FA Cup semi-finals.

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Vivian-Khe Wei virtually seal Olympic ticket despite ABC exit

PETALING JAYA: National women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei are virtually assured of their Olympic debut in August.

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Liverpool's Sakho provisionally suspended for anti-doping violation - UEFA

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho has been provisionally suspended for 30 days after failing an anti-doping test, European football's governing body UEFA said on Thursday.

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Leicester's Schmeichel aims to triumph on father's stage

LONDON (Reuters) - If Leicester City win the Premier League by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel will have stepped out from his father's huge shadow on a richly symbolic stage.

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Five talking points from Selangor vs Ceres AFC Cup match

SELANGOR kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stage of the AFC Cup after holding Ceres to a goalless draw in their penultimate Group E match at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium on Tuesday.

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Women's pair a step closer to Rio after first round walkover in Wuhan

PETALING JAYA: National women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei can thank their lucky stars.

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Under par Wei Feng vows to do good in Thomas Cup

PETALING JAYA: Chong Wei Feng is honest enough to admit that “I have not been playing well of late”.

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Kane refusing to give up as Foxes close on title

(Reuters) - Striker Harry Kane says Tottenham Hotspur's chances of winning the Premier League are out of their hands but the team will not give up on efforts to overhaul leaders Leicester City in the final three games of the season.

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Ibrahimovic could thrive in Premier League, says Sweden coach

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic could still thrive in the Premier League despite being nearly 35 years old, his national team manager Erik Hamren said on Tuesday.

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Let's get ready to rumble at Bernabeu, says City's Hart

MANCHESTER (Reuters) - Manchester City are set up to land Real Madrid a knockout blow at the Bernabeu next week and earn a place in the Champions League final, Joe Hart said after his saves helped earn a 0-0 draw in Tuesday's first leg.

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Zulfadli snubbed in favour of experienced Wei Feng for Thomas Cup

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) sprang a surprise when they omitted the country’s third-ranked singles shuttler Zulfadli Zulkiffli for next month’s Thomas Cup Finals.

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Yen Mei relishing first round clash with world No. 1 Ratchanok

PETALING JAYA: Ratchanok Intanon will make her debut as the world No. 1 at the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC).

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Vivian-Khe Wei have their work cut out to get Olympic ticket at ABC

PETALING JAYA: An Olympic ticket is at stake for top women’s doubles pair Vivian Hoo-Woon Khe Wei when they compete in the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in China. But they won't have it easy.

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Atletico get chance for revenge against Bayern 42 years on

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Bayern Munich destroyed Atletico Madrid’s dreams of winning the European Cup in 1974 and are out to wreck their hopes of reaching a second Champions League final in three years when they visit the Spanish capital for the semi-final first leg.

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Leicester's Vardy gets additional one-game ban

LONDON (Reuters) - Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy will miss the Premier League leaders' visit to Manchester United on Sunday after being banned for an additional game for improper conduct, the BBC reported.

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Juventus win fifth successive Serie A title after Napoli lose

ROME (Reuters) - Juventus won Serie A for the fifth season in a row without kicking a ball on Monday after Napoli, the only team that could have caught them, were sunk 1-0 by a late Radja Nainggolan goal at AS Roma.

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Jin Wei takes the gauntlet to play against the best in Asian meet

PETALING JAYA: Pint-sized Goh Jin Wei is thrilled as she faces her biggest test yet at the Asian Badminton Championships (ABC) in China.

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Rooney hopes to emulate Scholes in United midfield role

(Reuters) - Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney hopes to emulate the successful transition of former club team mate Paul Scholes from an attack-oriented player to a creative midfielder.

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Barca stay ahead, Leicester closer

LONDON (Reuters) - Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid all won to leave the race for the La Liga title on a knife edge with three matches left in the season.

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Terengganu FC II continue charge in Super League as leaders Felda stumble

GEORGE TOWN: Terengganu FC II continued their fine form by edging Penang 3-2 at the City Stadium to register their fourth successive Super League victory.

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Sunderland escape bottom three after draw with Arsenal

SUNDERLAND, England (Reuters) - Sunderland crawled out of the Premier League relegation zone and Arsenal dropped points in their quest for a top-four finish in a lively 0-0 draw at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

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Four-goal Suarez salutes Barca team mates

BARCELONA, April 24 (Reuters) - By Richard Martin

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Gerrard misses early penalty, scores late as Galaxy beat RSL

(Reuters) - Steven Gerrard missed an early penalty but capped Los Angeles Galaxy's 5-2 win over Real Salt Lake with a stoppage-time goal in Major League Soccer on Saturday.

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Lin Dan downs Chen Long to win China Masters

PETALING JAYA: China’s Lin Dan defeated world No. 1 and compatriot Chen Long in straight sets to lift his sixth China Masters crown.

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Man City go third, Newcastle rally boosts survival hopes

LONDON (Reuters) - Manchester City moved up to third in the Premier League on Saturday while Newcastle United boosted their hopes of survival by coming back from two goals down at Liverpool to draw 2-2 and secure a precious point.

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Bale inspires Real Madrid comeback victory at Rayo Vallecano

MADRID (Reuters) - Gareth Bale made up for the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo by scoring twice to inspire Real Madrid to come from two goals down and win 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.

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Bayern put champagne on ice despite win at Hertha

BERLIN (Reuters) - Bayern Munich beat Hertha Berlin 2-0 on Saturday but had to put the champagne on ice for a looming record fourth straight Bundesliga title after Borussia Dortmund beat VfB Stuttgart 3-0 to stay seven points behind with three games left.

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Iheanacho at the double as City go third

REUTERS - Manchester City thrashed Stoke City 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday to leapfrog Arsenal into third place in the Premier League.

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No final for Peng Soon-Liu Ying in China Masters

KUALA LUMPUR: Mixed pair Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying’s hope of making a third straight final went up in smoke after they crashed out in the semi-finals of the China Masters.

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Win Olympic Games tickets to watch Chong Wei in Rio

KUALA LUMPUR: Who wants to support Lee Chong Wei at the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil – all paid for and with a ticket to boot? Just take part in the 100Plus Badminton Team Championships over the weekends from May 7-2

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Named after former footballer but Kevin shows badminton is his game

GUATEMALA CITY: In a football-mad nation of Spanish-speakers like Guatemala, it is hard for people to even pronounce badminton, much less take an interest in a sport more associated with Asia than the Americas. But Kevin Cordon has broken the barriers.

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Fit-again Hazard ready for Chelsea return

LONDON (Reuters) - Belgium forward Eden Hazard is fit and available for Chelsea's trip to Bournemouth on Saturday after more than a month out with a hip injury, manager Guus Hiddink said.

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