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AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Netherlands defender Danny Blind has failed to recover from a calf problem and has withdrawn from the squad for this week's friendlies with Euro 2016 finalists Poland and Austria.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