Even in his moment of greatest sadness there was no recrimination, only departing tears, which Barcelona then repackaged as contentFittingly, it began and ended with a napkin. Lionel Messi’s first Barcelona contract was signed hastily on a restaurant s…
Women in sport: pride, prejudice and promise
UK Sport’s Sally Munday counters claims of misogyny in the organisation’s support for female competitors, while Ann Deary Francis and Aaron Nelson say cricket’s new Hundred format has boosted the women’s gameUK Sport has a strong, proven and ongoing co…
Rhik Samadder tries … backflipping: ‘My shorts are too tight – being upside down doesn’t help’
Inspired by a YouTube video and high on a dose of Olympic spirit, this week the activity is gymnastic. But will the results be fantastic?I once saw an inspirational video of a man teaching himself to backflip in a park, with a mattress behind to break …
Premier League 2021-22 preview No 11: Liverpool
Winning mentality was plain in late run and with defenders coming back the key may be how much Wijnaldum is missedGuardian writers’ predicted position: 4th (NB: this is not necessarily Andy Hunter’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)Last …
Warren Gatland favourite among Lions hierarchy to lead 2025 Australia tour
Jason Leonard supports coach despite loss to South AfricaLions concept is ‘alive and kicking’ says Ben CalveleyWarren Gatland has been told by the British & Irish Lions hierarchy that the job of head coach for the 2025 tour of Australia is his if h…
Arsenal’s Joe Willock set for £22m transfer to Newcastle United
• Scored in seven consecutive games on loan at Newcastle• Midfielder did not play in Arsenal’s friendly against SpursNewcastle have agreed a fee in the region of £22m with Arsenal to sign Joe Willock.The midfielder, 21, spent the second half of last se…
Tokyo 2020 played out in empty arenas but bound eight billion people together | Andy Bull
Japan spent $12bn on an Olympic party no one could attend yet a shared message of overcoming hardship resonated worldwideSo how was it for you? Whether you loved or hated them, you have to admit these Olympic Games were a crazy proposition. With 206 co…
Injury blow for Liverpool as Andy Robertson limps out of Athletic friendly
‘We don’t know in the moment how serious it is,’ says KloppVirgil van Dijk plays 71 minutes of 1-1 draw with Athletic BilbaoLiverpool were dealt an injury blow less than a week before the start of the Premier League season after Andy Robertson hobbled …
Joe Root accentuates England’s positives as rain forces India draw
First Test: England, 183 & 303, drew with India, 278 & 52-1Root: ‘Things could have quickly fallen in our favour’In the end it was rain that had the final say. The fifth day in Nottingham had promised so much – India needing 157 more runs for v…
Will Pryce makes his mark as Huddersfield recover to beat Wakefield
Huddersfield 22-18 WakefieldGiants’ head coach Ian Watson: ‘Pryce is a special talent’There is a suggestion that given the state of the Super League table, with Leigh Centurions almost certain to be relegated to the Championship, that clubs such as Hud…