James McClean says Republic of Ireland criticism is 'out of order'

Republic of Ireland midfielder James McClean says his side have been unfairly criticised following their World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark.Tottenham's Christian Eriksen scored a hat-trick as Denmark came from behind to record a resounding 5-1 win over Martin O'Neill's side in Dublin on Tuesday night, despite Shane Duffy's early opener for the hosts.O'Neill and his players came under heavy criticism from fans and pundits after the defeat, despite...

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Marouane Fellaini's future in doubt amid Manchester United talks

Manchester United are facing an uphill struggle to keep Marouane Fellaini at the club.United have been locked in contract talks with the Belgian since last season with Jose Mourinho determined to keep Fellaini in his squad.Fellaini, who turns 30 next week, was offered a new contract in September but rejected the deal.United remain hopeful that they can still reach an agreement with him.Fellaini's current contract expires at the end of the season...

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Tyrrell Hatton: Small chance of Race to Dubai victory

Tyrrell Hatton hasn’t given up hope of making a late challenge for Race to Dubai victory after moving in to contention at the Nedbank Golf Challenge.Hatton requires at least a top-three finish in South Africa to head to next week's DP World Tour Championship still with a mathematical chance of ending the season as European No 1.The Englishman - fifth in the standings - posted a two-under 70 in breezy conditions at Gary Player CC to stay in touch...

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Victor Dubuisson opens two-shot lead at Nedbank Golf Challenge

Victor Dubuisson fired a two-under 70 to open up a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage of a weather-affected Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa.Dubuisson, 73rd in the Race to Dubai standings, mixed four birdies with two bogeys in tricky conditions at Gary Player CC, where play was halted for two and a half hours due to thunderstorms.Lee Westwood and Darren Fichardt sit in a share of second on four under, with defending champion Alex Noren...

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Marquez' 2017 crash record: down 25 times and not out

 Pushing to the limits - and finding them - is the reigning Champion's MO. That hasn't changed, from premier class rookie to 2017 challengerGoing into the season finale, Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) holds a 21-point advantage over Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) in the standings, with the rider from Cervera chasing his sixth World Championship and fourth in MotoGP™. It’s a stunning rate of success already for the number 93, but it hasn’t...

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The ‘Doctor’ and teammate Maverick Viñales debrief a difficult Malaysian GP

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP duo Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales had a more difficult Sunday at Sepang after the weather changed just ahead of the race, with the M1 a tougher prospect in the wet as they work on some issues that have plagued the squad this season.“We were a bit unlucky with the weather,” said Rossi, “because I think in the dry we could have been competitive. We needed a good race because we arrived from a podium at Phillip Island...

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Jose Mourinho was surprised Man Utd were offered Nemanja Matic

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he was surprised when he received a call from Nemanja Matic's agent offering him the chance to buy the player during the summer transfer window.Matic has been one of United's standout players since joining from Chelsea for £40m in July. The midfielder has played every minute in the Premier League this season.The move raised many eyebrows at the time and it seems none more so than with Jose...

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Dereck Chisora is a complex man who throws tables but also enjoys fine art, says trainer Don Charles

Chisora resumes his eventful ring career this Saturday night as he challenges Agit Kabayel for the European heavyweight title in Monaco, live on Sky Sports. The darker side of 'Del Boy' is documented in a long list of controversial incidents but Charles has tried to supply a calming influence amid the mayhem, and offers his own insight into the fighter he calls his 'first child'.My goodness where do I start? Basically the trick I've learned...

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Deontay Wilder insists he, not Anthony Joshua, is the baddest heavyweight on the planet

Wilder (38-0-37KO) will take on Stiverne (25-2-1-21KO) - live on Sky Sports from Brooklyn's Barclays Centre in the early hours of Sunday morning - for the second time in his career, after claiming a unanimous decision victory over the Haiti-born fighter in January 2015.A win would keep Wilder on course for a blockbuster bout with IBF and WBA Super champion Joshua in 2018 and a chance to prove he is the world's premier heavyweight."It's been...

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Paul Casey targets Ryder Cup return with Europe in France 2018

Arizona-based Englishman Casey had to give up his Europe membership after deciding to focus on competing in the PGA Tour to try to make the world's top 50.His gamble paid off as the 40-year-old rose quickly through the rankings from 75th at the end of 2014 to his current position of 15th.Concentrating on the PGA Tour meant Casey was ineligible for the Ryder Cup. However, he is set to rejoin the European Tour at the start of the 2017-18 season...

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Tiger Woods to return to competitive golf at next month's Hero World Challenge

The 14-time major winner, who hosts the tournament in the Bahamas, is to return following back surgery which has kept him out of competitive action since he withdrew from the Dubai Desert Classic at the start of February.Woods announced his participation in his own tournament with a social media post which read: "I'd like to thank the committee of 1 for picking myself and Daniel Berger to play in this years #HeroWorldChallenge."Woods underwent...

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Roger Federer opens with victory at Swiss Indoors in Basel

The world No 2 continued his superb form in front of the local crowd by making quick work of American Tiafoe 6-1 6-3 on Tuesday.The 36-year-old Swiss, who has competed in a dozen Basel finals, wasted no time in establishing domination of the young gun by quickly rolling 4-0 ahead before his 19-year-old opponent managed to get a game on the board.Federer then produced a love game and closed out the set in 29 minutes on his first set point.Tiafoe's...

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Lewis Hamilton hails Valtteri Bottas' impact on Mercedes harmony

Lewis Hamilton has praised Valtteri Bottas "exceptional" human qualities and backed his team-mate to rediscover his early form at Mercedes.As part of a revealing insight into the reasons Hamilton believes his relationship with Mercedes is "stronger" this year and why he stands on the verge of a fourth world title, the championship leader spoke warmly of his relationship with Bottas."Valtteri is an exceptional human being," said Hamilton."You...

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Eddie Nketiah stars for Arsenal: Who is Norwich’s cup conqueror

Arsenal were heading for Carabao Cup defeat at home to Championship side Norwich City before his intervention. The teenager came off the bench late on and equalised within 15 seconds to take the game into extra time.Not content with that, Nketiah went on to secure a 2-1 win for the Gunners with his 96th-minute header.The 18-year-old forward was not even born when Arsene Wenger took over as Arsenal manager and had played just one minute of senior...

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Max Verstappen signs new Red Bull contract to the end of 2020

The 20-year-old is the youngest-ever winner in F1 having debuted in the sport at the age of 17 in 2015.Both Ferrari and Mercedes, who only gave Kimi Raikkonen and Valtteri Bottas one-year contract extensions for 2018 earlier this summer in the apparent expectation that Verstappen would become available, were thought to be keen on signing a driver considered to be F1's superstar-in-waiting.However, in a move that caught the paddock by near-total...

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Decisions of the Grand Prix Commission at Motegi

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul Duparc (FIM), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Carlos Ezpeleta (Dorna), Mike Trimby (IRTA, Secretary of the meeting) and Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), in a meeting held in Motegi on 14 October 2017, made the...

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Antonio Conte hits back at Jose Mourinho after Chelsea draw with Roma

Mourinho, speaking after United's 1-0 Champions League win over Benfica in Lisbon on Wednesday night, did not name names but it was clear he was thinking of his former club Chelsea and Conte, his successor as boss, when he talked of other managers who "cry and cry and cry" about injuries.And, when the subject was broached after Chelsea's 3-3 draw with Roma at Stamford Bridge, Conte retaliated."A lot of time Mourinho has to see what happens...

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