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Economists are concerned the lockdown could affect growth in the world's second largest economy.

USMNT lose 2-0 at Costa Rica but punch World Cup ticket Juan Pablo Vargas, Anthony Contreras score for Los Ticos Costa Rica 2-0 USA: World Cup 2022 qualifying – live! The United States men’s national team arrived at the Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica on Wednesday having all but qualified for the 2022 Fifa World Cup. Seated in second place with 25 points with a comfortable advantage on goal difference, a win, draw or loss by anything fewer than six goals would have been enough to get them over the line. Had lightning struck, the worst-case scenario was an intercontinental playoff with New Zealand in June. Redemption for 2017’s failed World Cup qualification felt imminent, but focus on the task at hand never waned in camp. “We still have a job to do” was the refrain echoing from head coach Gregg Berhalter to key players Tyler Adams, Tim Weah and Deandre Yedlin throughout the run-up to Tuesday’s Concacaf qualifying finale. And despite the math that weighed heavily in their favor, B...

The potential move could be the largest ever release of oil reserves in US history.

Email Beau with your thoughts or tweet @duresport USMNT will confirm place at Qatar if they avoid heavy defeat 6 min: Some bad news for the USA now -- Tyler Adams , the midfield engine, is moving around in some discomfort. Possible subs are warming up. 4 min: Make it two shots on goal from the USA, though neither has particularly troubled the longtime Real Madrid goalkeeper. This one is a Miles Robinson header off a Pulisic corner. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/mar/30/costa-rica-v-usa-world-cup-2022-qualifying-live

With hospitality businesses facing soaring costs, some are warning they will have to increase prices.

The hack of the Ronin Network crypto platform leaves thousands out of pocket and plenty of questions.

Plus: lots and lots … and lots more of clubs who are close neighbours but in different countries Mail us your questions or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU “I saw a stat that Luka Modric has played in around 42% of all Croatia’s international games. On quick research, I found one player who can beat that (Fatos Beciraj of Montenegro at 67.5% but is there anyone else who has played in an even higher percentage of their nation’s games?” asks Richard Wilson. Let’s start with a bit of housekee … wait, come back! There are so many different statistical resources on the internet, and a dispiritingly small number of them agree on, for example, how many games Gibraltar have played (belated spoiler alert!). So in the name of consistency we’ve taken the relevant data from RSSSF.com , adding this week’s games and cross-checking with the equally comprehensive eu-football.info . Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/30/footballers-playing-in...

Gareth Southgate vented his disgust at the England fans who booed Harry Maguire before the  3-0 friendly win over Ivory Coast , calling their actions 'an absolute joke'. Maguire’s struggles with Manchester United had been a hot topic in the buildup to this international break and there were boos from sections of the crowd when his name was read out before kick-off, with further jeering upon his first few touches of the ball. Jack Grealish called the booing of the England defender ‘ridiculous’. Southgate also expressed concern that the supporters’ reaction could have a wider effect.  ‘Absolute joke’: Southgate hits out at England fans who booed Harry Maguire Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2022/mar/30/its-ludicrous-southgate-hits-out-at-england-fans-who-booed-harry-maguire-video

Germany takes the first step towards gas rationing as a payments row with Russia escalates.

The fan-owned phoenix club are targeting a sustainable future and see their project as more than ‘trying to resurrect Bury’ In October 2019, six weeks after Bury were expelled from the Football League , a group of supporters met in the back room of a local pub. With Gigg Lane padlocked and the club spiralling towards liquidation, discussions began over forming a team to keep football in Bury alive. “The priority was getting players on the pitch playing again,” says Phil Young, one of the fans in attendance. Two and a half years on, Bury AFC have earned promotion in their first full season and Young is the chair of Shakers Community, the trust that underpins the new club’s fan-owned model. It has been an impressive start to a journey beset by twists and turns. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/30/so-proud-bury-afcs-promotion-marks-first-big-step-on-a-different-path

The Taliban's decision to halt the reopening of girls' secondary schools has been widely condemned.

Mo Salah targeted with lasers as Senegal win penalty shootout Ghana, Cameroon, Morocco and Tunisia all qualify for Qatar The Egyptian FA has claimed its team were subjected to racism and intimidation during their World Cup playoff defeat to Senegal , with Mohamed Salah named as being particularly targeted. The Liverpool forward had lasers shone in his face prior to wildly missing a pivotal penalty in the shootout, with club teammate Sadio Mané converting his own spot kick to send Senegal to the World Cup finals in Qatar. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/29/african-world-cup-playoffs-senegal-egypt-nigeria-ghana-algeria-cameroon-morocco-dr-congo-tunisia-mali

Only 17% of payments are in cash but millions would struggle without notes and coins, a report says.

An anti-hunger charity sees unprecedented demand for surplus food during cost of living crisis.

A consumer group calls for the end of extra charges and overwhelming paperwork when a loved one dies.

Russian billionaire and Rustem Umerov had symptoms consistent with poisoning earlier in March, says source Analysis: a familiar story, but truth may never be known about latest ‘Russian poisoning’ The latest round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, set to begin in Istanbul on Tuesday, have been overshadowed by claims that the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and other members of an informal Russian-Ukrainian negotiating group suffered symptoms consistent with poisoning during an informal round of talks earlier this month. The allegations surfaced on the eve of the first face-to-face peace talks in weeks, amid fears that the Kremlin was not ready to compromise, despite the stiff resistance its forces have encountered since the invasion began. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/28/abramovich-and-ukrainian-mp-may-have-been-poisoned-this-month

Imports of cheaper Russian oil by India are rising, despite calls for Russia's economic isolation.

Scrutiny on coach intensifies ahead of Saudi Arabia clash Australia face tough route to qualify for Qatar World Cup Under-fire Socceroos coach Graham Arnold insists he’s “fine” heading into a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia which may be his last match in the position. Speculation is rife Football Australia is considering firing Arnold after Tuesday’s (Wednesday AEDT) game in Jeddah with hopes of automatic qualification for this year’s World Cup in Qatar dashed after a 2-0 home loss to Japan last week . Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/29/speculation-part-of-the-job-for-socceroos-coach-graham-arnold

Workers in three Amazon warehouses are deciding whether to join a union - which would be a first in the US.

A group of investors wants the supermarket to ensure pay covers the rising cost of living.

As football welcomes back Non-League Day after a Covid-19 enforced two year hiatus, we take a look at the work of photographer Colin McPherson who has chronicled non-League football in England as it wrestled with restrictions and battled on in the face of almost impossible odds Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2022/mar/26/non-league-restrictions-fa-trophy-case-in-pictures

The Treasury sells £1.2bn of shares back to NatWest Group after it bailed out the bank in 2008.

The nine-day lockdown of Shanghai is China's largest since the coronavirus outbreak began.

USMNT will qualify if they avoid heavy defeat to Costa Rica USA 5-1 Panama: Beau Dure’s minute-by-minute report With all due respect to the Disney marketing department, the most magical place on the planet was a few miles northeast of Orlando’s theme parks on Sunday night. That’s how Exploria Stadium must have felt to the US and their exuberant fans, at least, as a Christian Pulisic hat-trick helped deliver a 5-1 thrashing that hoisted Gregg Berhalter’s men to the brink of Qatar 2022. A tricky and occasionally torturous qualifying campaign is now all but certain to enjoy a happy ending. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/27/usa-panama-world-cup-2022-qualifier-usmnt-soccer

Rises in standing charges on electricity bills will vary significantly according to where people live.

The panel for ITV’s 1970 World Cup coverage brought colour, banter and controversy, as this book extract outlines Over half a century later, it’s almost impossible to imagine what it was like to see colour TV for the first time. “When I first caught sight of myself,” recalled Jimmy Hill, “I was quite alarmed. The colours in those days were very garish. I looked like I had terribly high blood pressure. But the ‘wow’ factor of colour was amazing. We wanted our coverage in 1970 to have a carnival feel to it.” ITV’s opening credits had the feel of a fiesta, with whistles and bands incorporated into the theme tune. Footage showed coloured balloons being released, bands marching and monstrous crowds in the giant Azteca Stadium. For the privileged few, a kaleidoscope of colours poured into their living room from their screens. Whether it was Brazil’s golden shirts dazzling , the baize-green pitches blazing or England’s white shirts shining , Mexico 70 provided a sensory overload. Continue ...

Victory goalkeeper Dumont awarded player of the match Jeff Hopkins becomes competition’s most successful coach Melbourne Victory have claimed a gutsy 2-1 win over Sydney FC to seal a second straight A-League Women championship. Like last year, Sydney finished top of the table this season and had home advantage but were pipped by Victory in the game which mattered most. In front of 5,027 fans for the grand final at Kogarah Oval, Victory withstood a relentless attacking onslaught from Sydney’s frontline trio of Princess Ibini, Cortnee Vine and Remy Siemsen to win the club’s fourth championship. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/27/melbourne-victory-shock-sydney-fc-to-win-a-league-women-grand-title

Marks & Spencer apologises for sending customers photos and locations of other people's parcels.

Canada says its can provide more oil, gas and uranium to help solve the global energy crisis.

In the autumn Shakhtar Donetsk played Real Madrid in the Champions League, now the club plays a role in humanitarian efforts in Ukraine following the invasion of Russian forces Normality is another world for Shakhtar Donetsk. When Russia invaded Ukraine, football was stopped and the lives of the players, coaches, staff and fans were turned upside down in an instant. There was no time to waste with lives at stake as the autumn’s Champions League games against Real Madrid and Internazionale quickly became a distant memory. Sergei Palkin, the chief executive, has been at the forefront of the club’s humanitarian efforts and ensuring the safety of players from the academy to the first-team captain. Critical decisions were constantly needed as the invasion began, a world away from transfer and contract negotiations, as Shakhtar looked to use their influence to make a positive impact as football takes a backseat during the conflict. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https:...

A company that produces Chernobyl’s ‘Atomik vodka’ releases new products, donating profits to Ukraine's refugees.

French developer EDF will also take a 20% stake in the £20bn power station at Sizewell, in Suffolk.

Milan defender on moving from England, his hopes to force his way into Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, and racist abuse Fikayo Tomori is not normally one for a post-match snack, but on the way back from Milan’s win at Napoli this month he made an exception. “One of the players came up to me and said: ‘You should try this, it’s from Naples,’” he recalls of having a tray with two sfogliatelle – traditional crispy pastries with a sweet filling – thrust under his nose. “After games I can’t normally eat because my body’s all over the place, but I tried it. Then it was like: ‘Ahhhh, that’s kinda nice!’” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/26/fikayo-tomori-italy-milan-england-world-cup

Mothers and partners provide the foundations of the game, but their dedication often goes unrecognised When I started training with West Brom as a youngster, my family did not have enough money for a car. We lived in Coventry and training was in Tipton, near Birmingham. Mobile phones were only just starting to become popular and my mum bought me one. Every day I would get two buses from school to the railway station and then get on the train; my mum would ring to speak to the conductor, making sure I would stick right with him and not be travelling on my own. It would be the same on the way back, at 9.30pm. We had very little but she always found ways to ensure I could make the most of myself. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/mar/26/mothers-are-footballs-forgotten-heroes-they-deserve-more-credit

Chiellini speaks of ‘great void’ after loss to North Macedonia ‘Time to ask ourselves some questions,’ says Marco Verratti Winning Euro 2020 last summer is now a bittersweet memory for the Italian national team after they failed to qualify for a second successive World Cup finals. The Azzurri will not be in Qatar, just as they were not at Russia 2018 after falling at the same playoff stage. “It is clear that we are destroyed and crushed, a great void will remain within us,” said the veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini after Aleksandar Trajkovski’s last-gasp strike earned North Macedonia a famous 1-0 win in Thursday’s playoff semi-final . “There is a great disappointment. Even today we played a good game but we couldn’t score. From September to today we have made mistakes and we have paid for them.” Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/25/italy-stunned-after-missing-out-on-world-cup-again-destroyed-and-crushed-chiellini

The total tax debt in the UK now stands at £39bn, more than double what it was before the pandemic.

Southgate’s squad given briefing on Gulf state ‘It’s horrendous when you look at some issues’ Jordan Henderson has described Qatar’s record of human rights abuses as “shocking, disappointing and horrendous” after he and his fellow England players received a detailed briefing on the situation in the Gulf state. It seems certain that Gareth Southgate’s squad will issue a collective message challenging the stance taken by this year’s World Cup host country towards the rights of women, the LGBTQ+ community and the migrant workers responsible for building the stadiums on show at Qatar 2022 among much other infrastructure. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/25/england-players-shocked-at-qatar-human-rights-abuses-says-henderson

Egypt win 1-0 in home leg; Ghana 0-0 Nigeria Algeria and Tunisia win 1-0 away to Cameroon and Mali Mohamed Salah got the better of his clubmate Sadio Mané as Egypt edged Senegal 1-0 in the first leg of their World Cup playoff to take a slender lead to Dakar for Tuesday’s return. The rematch between the two Liverpool greats, six weeks after Senegal beat Egypt on penalties to win their first Africa Cup of Nations title, saw Salah set up the only goal. He beat the offside trap to get on the end of a ball over the top of the defence from Amr El Sulaya, hitting the bar before the rebound bounced off the Senegal defender Saliou Ciss’s knee and into the net for a dream start after four minutes. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/25/salah-helps-give-egypt-narrow-lead-over-senegal-in-world-cup-playoff

There has been a sharp growth in medical tourism to India but the sector needs better regulation.

While defeat to the Azzurri in the Euro 2020 final remains fresh in the memory, schadenfreude is not Southgate’s style To Gareth Southgate, it was a reminder of one of England’s darkest days. As Italy laboured to break down North Macedonia in Thursday night’s World Cup playoff, rushing their choices as the pressure rose inexorably, Southgate was taken back to Euro 2016 in France and the horror show that was the last-16 exit against Iceland – a defeat that would lead, in the end, to his appointment as the England manager. On this occasion, Italy suffered the knockout blow late on, conceding the decisive goal in stoppage time, but it added up to the same thing – a tournament dream in ruins. The European champions will not be going to Qatar at the end of the year and the sense of shock remains profound. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/25/italys-world-cup-nightmare-reminds-gareth-southgate-of-england-lows

The UK's largest diary says its farmers are struggling to cover costs due to rising production prices.

Email Beau with your thoughts or tweet @duresport Canada can clinch place in World Cup for first time since 1986 Live: Follow Mexico v US with Bryan Graham Starting at the same time tonight (this morning, if you’re elsewhere in the world), Kerri Einarson and the Canadian women face South Korea in a game that could have a dramatic impact on who gets a bye into the world women’s curling semifinals. Just saying. Could be an epic night. But Canada wins curling world titles a lot more often than they qualify for the World Cup. (In soccer.) (In men’s soccer. They’re pretty good in women’s.) Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/mar/24/costa-rica-v-canada-world-cup-2022-qualifying-live

Email Bryan with your thoughts or tweet him @BryanAGraham Old rivals face off at Azteca with place at Qatar 2022 on the line And then there were five! El Salvador have officially been eliminated from World Cup qualifying after a 1-1 draw with Jamaica. That leaves Canada, USA, Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica in play for Concacaf’s three and a half spots. The teams are in! So much for the rumblings that Gregg Berhalter might consider fielding a ‘B team’ to save the legs of key players for Sunday’s match against Panama with five on a yellow card and facing a one-match suspension if they collect another. His team for tonight’s match includes nine of the starters from November’s win over Mexico in Cincinnati (Acosta for McKennie, Pulisic for Aaronson). Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/mar/24/mexico-v-usa-world-cup-2022-qualifying-live-score-soccer

Robert Page picks an attacking lineup for Wales’s win or bust World Cup playoff and his leading man dazzles on centre stage With 23 minutes gone there was a moment of uproar inside the Cardiff City Stadium as Harry Wilson was blocked off outside the Austria penalty area; uproar that gave way almost immediately as Szymon Marciniak blew his whistle for the free-kick. Suddenly the air was alive with a weird kind of buzz, like the moment in a storm just before the lightning bolt hits and things start to lift: the hairs on your arms, seats flipped up, people in the stands starting to raise their hands above their heads. Gareth Bale paced it out and waited, charging the moment a little more. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/mar/24/gareth-bale-brings-main-character-energy-to-waless-victory-over-austria

The number of chargepoints will be five times more than the number of fuel pumps today, DfT says.

World Cup qualifying defeat to Japan in Sydney should prompt a period of introspection centred around youth development There is a special corner of Twitter which spends much of its time lamenting the flaws of football in this country. It is referred to – in equal parts affection and frustration – as #SokkahTwitter. This inebriating sphere of pandemonium is a silent-but-deafening concoction of joy, rage, intellectual acuity and utter nonsense. But it is also, almost unanimously, in agreement on one core belief: player development pathways in Australia are fundamentally flawed. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/25/the-socceroos-are-in-a-state-of-paralysis-australian-football-has-a-lot-to-learn

The Resolution Foundation says 1.3 million people will not be able to afford basic necessities next year.

The clothing and homeware retailer increases its predicted price rises for the second half of 2022.

Household staples such as sugar and onions have surged following the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The financier was accused of sexually abusing girls on one of the two Caribbean islands on sale.

Video game developers, publishers and players come together to raise millions for Ukraine.

Roberta Lucca, co-founder of video games company Bossa Studios, shares her business advice for our CEO Secrets series.

Incident came amid passage of Florida’s ‘Don’t say gay’ bill Club has worked to promote LGBTQ+ community in past The Orlando Pride apologized after a supporters’ group was told it could not display a banner that used the word “gay” at a match this weekend. The Black Swans group’s banner was in reference to Florida’s recent legislation dubbed by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill . The supporters’ group said on Twitter that their sign was deemed to be political and removed. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/23/orlando-pride-fan-banner-don-t-say-gall-bill-banned-soccer

Plus: playing in the most World Cup-winning countries, a European clean sweeps by clubs from one nation and more Mail us your questions or tweet @TheKnowledge_GU “Watching Bayern Munich play Salzburg last night got me wondering: what professional teams are the closest to each other but are in different countries?” wonders David Gough. “And which are the closest never to play each other?” It’s around 130km from Bayern’s Allianz Arena to the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg – a pretty convenient trip for border-hopping away fans but by no means the shortest. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/23/which-football-clubs-are-close-neighbours-but-in-different-countries

The 20-year-old has been in fine form for Nottingham Forest and Paul Bodin believes he can carry that into the World Cup play-off against Austria Such is Brennan Johnson’s glittering form for Nottingham Forest, Austria would be foolish to fixate on the usual suspects when they take on Wales in their World Cup play-off semi-final. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are the obvious stars but in Johnson Wales possess another jewel. Last Sunday a familiar scene unfolded as Liverpool became the latest team to witness what the fuss is about, as the 20-year-old tormented Jürgen Klopp’s side with his searing pace, tenacity and eye for a killer pass during a testing FA Cup quarter-final. Johnson shone earlier in the competition against Leicester and Arsenal, scoring against the former when he nutmegged the Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward from an acute angle. “He is so composed,” says Paul Bodin, who worked with Johnson when in charge of Wales’s Under‑19s and later with the Under‑21s. “He can pass it w...

Inflation hit 6.2% in February, laying bare the challenge the chancellor faces ahead of his Spring Statement.

Aboriginal people want to prevent South Korea from funding a gas development in the Timor Sea.

France midfielder’s house was broken into last week ‘What scared me was that my two children were at home’ Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has revealed his World Cup winner’s medal was among the items stolen during a recent burglary at his home. The France international spoke last week of his family’s “worst nightmare” after his house was broken into while his children were asleep in their bedroom. The incident occurred last Tuesday while Pogba was playing in United’s Champions League match against Atlético Madrid at Old Trafford and his children were in the care of their nanny. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/23/paul-pogba-reveals-world-cup-medal-among-items-stolen-in-home-burglary

Real Madrid 1-3 Barcelona Barcelona captain scores twice after Olga Carmona’s opener Two late goals rescued Barcelona from the shock of failing to beat Real Madrid in their Women’s Champions League quarter-final first leg. Barcelona went into the game at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano having never lost a clásico, and in what was the first to take place in the Champions League they found themselves 1-0 down after only eight minutes when Olga Carmona struck for the hosts, coolly finishing past Sandra Paños following a pass into her path from Esther González. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/22/real-madrid-barcelona-womens-champions-league-quarter-final-first-leg-match-report

Interest payments on government borrowing reached £8.2bn last month due to rising inflation.

India's aviation authority has ordered 'enhanced surveillance' of a 737-800 jet after a crash in China.

The oil giant is looking again at the Cambo oil field in the Atlantic, as crude prices rise.

Charities estimate 2.1 million people with disabilities will be in fuel poverty if bills hit £3,000 a year.

Businesses hoping to recover from Covid are feeling the effects of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Why sales of very basic mobile phones, without apps and internet connection, are increasing.

David Beckham's Instagram Stories showed life in a perinatal hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, after the ex-footballer handed over control of his account to a doctor on Sunday. Iryna, a children's anaesthesiologist, showed Beckham’s 71.5 million followers the cramped basement where pregnant women and new mothers were evacuated on the first day of the invasion. Beckham, an ambassador for Unicef since 2005, urged his followers to donate to the charity Russia-Ukraine war: latest updates David Beckham hands Instagram account to Ukrainian doctor in Kharkiv Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2022/mar/21/david-beckham-hands-his-instagram-stories-account-to-doctor-in-ukraine-video

The amount of time hens have been kept indoors due to bird flu means eggs will now be labelled "barn eggs".

Forest come close to a Cup upset, Steven Gerrard tells Bukayo Saka to toughen up and Leicester’s crisis looks to be over Liverpool may have been under full strength but even in defeat it was a test emphatically passed by Steve Cooper’s burgeoning Nottingham Forest side. The hosts displayed impressive defensive discipline and shape to keep Liverpool out for 78 minutes, and arguably should have had a penalty soon after conceding. They almost certainly would have been awarded a spot-kick had Ryan Yates altered his direction slightly and aimed to draw more significant contact from Alisson, the kind of trick pulled so often by Premier League forwards for the benefit of the video assistant referee. The VAR decision to rule Diogo Jota onside for the winner was also very tight. Forest caused Jürgen Klopp’s men problems and had the chances to win the match outright but a lack of ruthlessness with the opportunities they created left Cooper’s side to ponder a couple of marginal decisions that co...

Arnold takes walk to Narrabeen Beach days after testing positive Comes before Thursday’s Australia’s crucial World Cup qualifier Socceroos coach Graham Arnold has been fined by Football Australia after breaching NSW self-isolation protocols, just days before Australia’s crucial World Cup qualifier against Japan. Arnold, who tested positive to Covid-19 last Thursday for the second time in the past eight weeks, acknowledged he breached his isolation terms when taking a walk at Narrabeen Beach on Sunday. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/21/socceroos-coach-graham-arnold-fined-25k-for-breaching-covid-19-rules

“I have good memories of the Bernabéu,” Xavi Hernández had said and here was another one for the collection. “Historic,” he called it and it may have given him even more satisfaction than all those other nights as a player. His first visit as Barcelona’s coach, the man entrusted with their revival, saw a run of five consecutive clásico defeats come to a close with an astonishing 4-0 victory at their greatest rivals. An ideologue committed to his footballing faith, he always believed but it still wasn’t supposed to be this good this soon. Two goals from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and one each from Ronald Araújo and Ferran Torres completed the scoring but not the story. If Xavi had fondly recalled clásicos where Barcelona “played good football and won, where we felt superior to them”, this was the same, suggesting a seismic shift for his club. With Madrid still 12 points ahead of them, it is too late for this season – and that could have played its part – but maybe not for next year an...

Nearly half of people surveyed expect to use up savings to cover rising living costs, a debt charity finds.

On a soft, spring-like south London afternoon Crystal Palace produced a performance of thrust, energy and refined attacking interplay to surge on into an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley Stadium. It helped that they were pitched against an Everton team that seemed to have no real idea how it wanted to play, and none of the rage and resilience required to respond once they fell behind. Not to mention no further answer as Palace scored twice in each half. By the end the 4-0 scoreline looked a little kind to the visitors. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/20/crystal-palace-everton-fa-cup-match-report

The government is examining the legality of the ferry firm's actions, the chancellor confirms.

Minute-by-minute updates on the action at Selhurst Park Gallagher has it all and faces tough call when loan ends Any thoughts? You can email Daniel | tweet @DanielHarris So what does it all mean? Well, Patrick Vieira makes two changes to the side so impressive against City: in net, Jack Butland might’ve now established himself as first choice, and he takes over from Vicente Guaita, while in midfield, Eberechi Eze, still feeling his way back after a nasty achilles injury, replaces Jeffrey Schlupp. Crystal Palace (a modern 4-3-3-): Butland; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Kouyate, Gallagher, Eze; Olise, Mateta, Zaha. Subs: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Kelly, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Hughes, Edouard, Benteke. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/mar/20/crystal-palace-v-everton-fa-cup-quarter-final-live

Everton would give their season another much-needed shot in the arm if they can overcome Crystal Palace and book a day out at Wembley. Alex Iwobi’s late winner against Newcastle on Thursday lifted some of the gloom at Goodison Park and Frank Lampard will hope to build some momentum by reaching the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 2016. It is six years since Palace reached the semi-finals, too, and Patrick Vieira will be keen to add some gloss to an already impressive first season at Selhurst Park with Cup success. They have already beaten Everton 3-1 at home this season and will start as strong favourites. Stephen Hollis Sunday 12.30pm ITV Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/crystal-palace-everton-fa-cup-quarter-final-preview

Chelsea triumph 2-0 at Riverside to reach FA Cup semi-finals Manager pleased with players’ focus amid off-field crisis Thomas Tuchel said he was impressed by his Chelsea players’ discipline and focus as, refusing to be distracted by the club’s impending sale, they swept Middlesbrough aside to reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup. “My players have not surprised me but they have impressed me,” said Tuchel following the 2-0 win which came 24 hours after the deadline passed for prospective buyers to submit bids to replace the sanctioned Roman Abramovich. “The trust and team spirit was impressive. That is the culture at our club. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/thomas-tuchel-lauds-trust-and-team-spirit-after-chelsea-win-at-boro

Spurs will count on their versatile midfielder against West Ham before he bids to lead Sweden to the World Cup finals Dejan Kulusevski is reflecting on his latest life adventure and there is certainly a richness to the back story. A ballsy and controversial move from his native Sweden to Italy before he was 16. Experience in Serie A with Atalanta, Parma and Juventus. An explosive start to his career at Tottenham, where he went in January. A billing as the great hope of the Sweden team, who he hopes to drive to the World Cup finals over the next week and a half. It is hard to believe that Kulusevski is only 21 as he speaks with an easy confidence in English – one of the four languages in which he is fluent. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/dejan-kulusevski-when-you-are-good-in-your-mind-you-play-good-football

Manager suggests female and LGBTQ+ fans may stay away Backroom team has had talks with NGOs, including Amnesty Gareth Southgate says it is vital that sections of England’s support are given stronger assurances about their safety at the World Cup in Qatar, and that it will be “horrible” if people feel unable to travel because of human rights concerns. Among the many issues clouding this winter’s tournament is the fact that homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, while there are also serious problems surrounding women’s rights. While officials in the country have repeatedly stated that all supporters will be safe, there remains significant disquiet. Southgate explained that he has researched the problems that have caused alarm since Qatar was awarded hosting rights in 2010. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/gareth-southgate-england-human-rights-qatar-world-cup

Liverpool are going for the quadruple, while Manchester City’s horizons have narrowed to a mere treble and Pep Guardiola will be hoping for third time lucky in this FA Cup quarter-final at St Mary’s as his side’s league meetings with Southampton this season have both ended in draws. Saints had been in excellent form but a trouncing at the hands of Aston Villa appears to have dented their confidence as two more losses swiftly followed. City also have stalled, in comparison to their usual imperious best, after failing to score in successive matches. A match away from the pressures of the title race could be all they need to ratchet back into top gear though but Southampton could see it as an all-or-nothing affair, too. A Cup classic in the making, hopefully. Conrad Leach Sunday 3pm BBC One Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/southampton-manchester-city-fa-cup-quarter-final-preview

West Ham remain on a high after Thursday’s victory over Sevilla that took them into the Europa League quarter-finals. It is the first time they have reached the last eight of a European competition since 1981 and David Moyes has to hope the feelgood factor helps soothe aching limbs after the extra-time triumph. Tottenham are determined to bring them back down to earth, to build upon performances that have generally improved of late, in a derby of huge significance for the top-four picture. David Hytner Sunday 4.30pm Sky Sports Premier League Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/tottenham-west-ham-match-preview-premier-league

Liverpool’s quest for the quadruple takes them into the path of another team pursuing something special. Nottingham Forest’s win over QPR in midweek kept them in the hunt for a Championship play-off place and a potential place in the top flight for the first time this millennium. Steve Cooper has transformed Forest and they have already shown their ability to torment top sides in the Cup by thrashing Leicester and beating Arsenal. Liverpool have more squad depth than ever before under Jürgen Klopp but will have to prove that if they are to get past Forest. Paul Doyle Sunday 6pm ITV Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/19/nottingham-forest-liverpool-fa-cup-quarter-final-preview

Manager’s success in reviving Nottingham Forest and reaching an FA Cup quarter-final is no surprise to those who know him When England were pitted against Colombia at the 2018 World Cup, it was time for Steve Cooper to show Gareth Southgate his homework. Cooper, who had led England to the under-17 equivalent of the competition the previous year, was tasked by the Football Association with studying the South American side throughout the tournament and flew to Russia to present his findings to Southgate, the staff and the technical director, Dan Ashworth, in the buildup to the last-16 match in Moscow. “Dan always used to challenge the coaches: ‘If you were the England manager, how would you set up? What would you do?’” says the England goalkeeping coach, Martyn Margetson, who later worked with Cooper at Swansea. “The tactical detail was incredible. He gave us a full insight into what Colombia were, really. You were looking at Steve and thinking: ‘Yeah, you know your stuff.’ It is a da...

Arsenal 4-0 Coventry Utd Win puts home side into FA Cup semi-finals Arsenal moved into the Women’s FA Cup semi-finals in comfortable fashion as they beat Coventry United 4-0 at Meadow Park. The Women’s Super League leaders, playing a Coventry side who were on the brink of liquidation before a buyout in January and are bottom of the Championship after a 10-point deduction, dominated possession from the off but were initially unable to find a breakthrough. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/18/arsenal-coventry-womens-fa-cup-match-report

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Forest front line can frighten Liverpool, Vieira has Wembley in sight and Spurs must prove themselves in derby Chelsea have fielded strong teams throughout their run – few clubs take upholding the sporting integrity of this competition so seriously – with Lewis Hall, who excelled on his first-team debut against Chesterfield in the third round, the one genuinely unfamiliar name to be fielded so far. But the only player who has been present for every minute of their three Cup ties is Malang Sarr – indeed the 23-year-old has played every minute of every one of Chelsea’s domestic cup ties this season except the most important, the Carabao Cup final, which he watched from the bench. In that time he has played at centre-back in a four, as centre-back in a three, and at left-back, but his defending was criticised for both Luton goals in the fifth round and, having been unconvincing when given a rare Premier League outing against Newcastle last weekend, his position as Chelsea’s not-that-i...

This will go down as one of the greatest wins in West Ham’s history. It was an occasion to rival the night they said farewell to Upton Park and it could not have been more fitting that the decisive touch came from Andriy Yarmolenko, who was the calmest person in the stadium when the ball fell to him in front of goal with eight minutes of extra time left. They were all off the bench when Yarmolenko put the rebound away after Sevilla’s goalkeeper, Bono, pushed Pablo Fornals’s shot into his path. The noise, the sheer emotion, took the breath away. This crowd had seen Yarmolenko mark his return from compassionate leave with a goalscoring cameo against Aston Villa last weekend and now they had witnessed the Ukrainian provide another moment of incredible drama, sending West Ham through to the last eight of the Europa League by overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Sevilla. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/17/west-ham-sevilla...

The online grocer says its sales have fallen in recent months as people revert to pre-pandemic habits.

The manager on his road to the League One promotion hopefuls via Suffolk, New York and Belgium – and why he can’t enjoy wins Liam Manning is recalling the days when he would coach five nights a week at Ipswich Town’s academy, take another session on a Saturday morning, turn out for Leiston in the Eastern Counties League in the afternoon and turn up at Ipswich’s training ground at 7am the next morning to drive the minibus to a youth game anywhere across East Anglia or London. “You’d take any players that needed a lift, the equipment – we were the kit men as well – and there will be coaches all around the country that can relate to that,” he says of a time when he worked with under-nines to under-15s. “I remember having a kickabout on the M25 once. It was gridlocked, the road was closed and no one was moving anywhere. I remember doing a few keepie-uppies because we had been sat there for a few hours. They were good times.” By his own admission, Manning, whose MK Dons team are third in ...

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Millwall bolster play-off hopes with win over Terriers Luton thump Preston to move into top six Huddersfield ’s automatic Championship promotion hopes suffered a blow with a 2-0 defeat at Millwall . Benik Afobe scored both goals for the in-form Lions as Gary Rowett’s side closed in on the play-off places. The Lions moved within two points of the top six after extending their unbeaten run to eight games and making it five matches without conceding in the process. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/16/championship-roundup-afobe-double-ends-huddersfields-unbeaten-streak

Liverpool withstood everything Arsenal could throw at them and took advantage of fine margins to score their goals The gap through which Thiago Alcântara threaded his pass to Diogo Jota: a yard, at a generous estimate. The space that Jota found at Aaron Ramsdale’s near post to jam the ball in: maybe a couple of feet. The space in which Roberto Firmino had somehow to divert Andy Robertson’s cross past a goalkeeper literally standing next to him: a matter of inches. These are the margins that are taking Liverpool towards the top of the Premier League, and right now they are managing to find them better than anyone else. The match in summary: Arsenal were the better side for 50 minutes and did nothing with it. Liverpool were the better side for the next 15 minutes and killed the game comprehensively. As for the rest, who cares? Arsenal ran and rampaged and fumed and fought, just as they had done all night. But there is something heroically dispiriting about giving your best even when yo...

The conflict in Ukraine is a long way from the UK but it means fish and chip shops are seeing prices soar.

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Arsenal fourth going into game against Liverpool on Wednesday Arteta pleased with progress but demands further improvement Mikel Arteta believes there is still a significant gap between Arsenal and the Premier League’s title contenders but says the club are finally shaking off years of “feeling sorry for ourselves”. Arsenal host Liverpool on Wednesday night in a match of critical importance to the battles for first and fourth. Should Arteta’s side earn a sixth straight win it would put them four points clear of Manchester United , who are fifth, with two games in hand; they would also move to within five points of Chelsea having played a game fewer, but Arteta cautioned that they remain well short of the standards he wants to set. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/15/mikel-arteta-says-gap-is-still-big-between-arsenal-and-title-contenders

US sanctions, failing banks, and the drying up of foreign aid have left Afghanistan's economy in tatters.

Cristiano Ronaldo had no shots on target and Ralf Rangnick’s changes made no sense against a ruthless Atlético Madrid Deep into the 94th minute at Old Trafford, Manchester United swarmed forward for one last attack. As the famous red shirts massed ominously in the penalty area, the Stretford End rose as one, shouted as one, dreamed in vivid noise and colour of a classic United comeback. Meanwhile, surging forward with the ball at his feet, the messenger at the gates of glory, was Nemanja Matic. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2022/mar/15/erratic-display-shines-light-on-manchester-uniteds-also-ran-status

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Karim Benzema grabbed two goals and an assist but also hurt his ankle, with teammate Rodrygo also injured as Real Madrid bear Mallorca 3-0 on Monday. Carlo Ancelotti’s side moved on to 66 points from 28 games with their fourth consecutive La Liga win, extending their lead at the top to 10 points over Sevilla. The second-placed side were held to a 1-1 stalemate at Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, a sixth draw in their last eight league matches. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/14/real-madrid-mallorca-match-report-karim-benzema-injury

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Celtic meet Rangers while Hearts face Hibernian in last four First time in Cup’s 148-year history the four clubs meet in semis The Scottish Cup semi-final draw has thrown up Glasgow and Edinburgh derbies. Celtic and Rangers were drawn out of the hat first after Celtic beat Dundee United 3-0 in their quarter-final at Tannadice on Monday evening. Hearts and Hibernian will meet in the last four for the second time in three seasons. The ties will be played on the weekend of 16-17 April. It is the first time the last four of the tournament has been made up by the two big clubs from both Glasgow and Edinburgh in the competition’s 148-year history. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/mar/14/scottish-cup-draw-throws-up-glasgow-and-edinburgh-derbies-after-celtic-win