Italian referee Andrea Piardi – who was at centre of Munster sub storm – to take charge of British & Irish Lions Test
Andrea Piardi, the Italian referee at the centre of the sub storm involving Munster last month, has been selected to referee one of this summer's three British & Irish Lions Test clashes in Australia.
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The 42
4 hours ago
- The 42
Brazilian side Fluminense progress to Club World Cup quarter-finals as Inter crash out
FLUMINENSE SENT INTER Milan packing from the Club World Cup on Monday with a 2-0 win in Charlotte that took the Brazilian side through to the quarter-finals. German Cano's header from close range gave Fluminense an early lead and they then withstood an onslaught from the Italian side in the second half before substitute Hercules sealed their victory late on. The Rio de Janeiro outfit, who qualified for the Club World Cup thanks to their Copa Libertadores triumph in 2023, become the second Brazilian side to make the last eight after Palmeiras had already sealed their quarter-final spot. Captained by 40-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea centre-back Thiago Silva, 'Flu' will now go to Orlando for a tie on Friday against either Manchester City or Al-Hilal. Advertisement It is the latest victory for a Brazilian team against prestigious European opposition at the tournament in the United States, after Botafogo defeated PSG and Flamengo got the better of Chelsea in the group stage. Inter came to the US off the back of their 5-0 defeat by PSG in the UEFA Champions League final at the end of May and with a new coach in Cristian Chivu. They did not fully convince during the group stage despite topping their section and they found themselves trailing inside three minutes before only just over 20,000 fans at the Bank of America Stadium on another hot afternoon. A cross from the Fluminense right by Jhon Arias took a deflection off Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni and the ball then bounced awkwardly before veteran Argentine striker Cano arrived to head in through the legs of goalkeeper Yann Sommer from close range. Ignacio thought he had made it 2-0 before the interval, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside. Sommer then tipped a fine curling strike by Arias around the post just after the hour mark, before Inter began to turn up the pressure in an attempt to avoid exiting the competition. Stefan de Vrij prodded wide from close range after captain Lautaro Martinez had headed down a cross, and the latter then saw a fine shot on the turn from the edge of the box come back off an upright. Martinez had also been denied by Fluminense goalkeeper Fabio moments earlier, and confirmation that it would not be Inter's day arrived in stoppage time. On as a substitute, Hercules pounced on a falling ball and drove into the box before firing low into the corner. Federico Dimarco then hit the woodwork at the other end as Fluminense held out for the victory to keep South American hopes of glory at the tournament firmly alive. – © AFP 2025
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Carlos Alcaraz survives major Wimbledon scare in gruelling five-setter with Fabio Fognini
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz made heavy weather of his opening match at Wimbledon, needing five sets to see off Italian veteran Fabio Fognini on a baking Centre Court. On the hottest opening day in Wimbledon history with the temperature reaching a sweltering 32 degrees Celsius, Alcaraz was almost caught cold by a 38-year-old who is due to retire at the end of the year. The second seed eventually came through a marathon encounter 7-5 6-7 (5) 7-5 2-6 6-1 in an energy-sapping four hours and 37 minutes. Carlos Alcaraz needed five sets to beat Fabio Fognini, right (Ben Whitley/PA) Alcaraz said: 'To be honest I don't know why it's his last Wimbledon, he can still play three or four more years. Unbelievable.'Playing the first match is never easy, I've been playing well on grass but Wimbledon is different. I tried to play the best I could but I would say I could be better. It was a great match.' In the first four sets the Alcaraz serve was misfiring and his forehand was erratic, and the flamboyant Fognini almost took advantage. The former world number nine was going through his array of flicks and tricks as he enjoyed what was his final appearance in SW19. He almost embarked on a lap of honour after coming out on top in one mesmerising rally which left Alcaraz, 16 years his junior, leaning on his towel box gasping for breath. Fabio Fognini almost caused a major upset (Ben Whitley/PA) The roar Alcaraz let out when he came from a break down to take the third set illustrated just how much he was being tested. When Fognini levelled the match for a second time former champion Pat Cash, commentating for the BBC, said he could be witnessing 'the biggest upset in Wimbledon history'. Lleyton Hewitt, in 2003, is the only men's defending champion to lose in the first round in the Open era. But Alcaraz avoided joining that exclusive club when he secured an early break in the decider, then saved two break points before a 15-minute delay while a spectator was treated after falling ill in the extreme heat. Fognini's moment had passed and Alcaraz maintained his bid to join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the only men to win three successive Wimbledon crowns. Should he achieve the 'three-peat' he would also equal the feat of his hero Rafael Nadal, who won the French Open, Queen's and Wimbledon titles in 2008. Alcaraz will face British qualifier Oliver Tarvet in round two and added: 'I saw his name when he qualified for the first time, he's in the second round so he's at a level. I will have to bring my best tennis to the match.' There were plenty of shocks on day one with furious ninth seed Daniil Medvedev smashing up his rackets after losing to French journeyman Benjamin Bonzi. I tried to play the best I could but I would say I could be better The combustible Russian, who reached the semi-finals last year, tumbled out 7-6 (2) 3-6 7-6 (3) 6-2 in just over three hours. Eight seed Holger Rune blew a two-set lead as he fell in five to inspired Chilean Nicolas Jarry. Former world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas is also out after retiring from his match against Valentin Royer. The Greek, seeded 24th, had treatment on his back in the second set and called it a day while trailing 6-3 6-2, handing Frenchman Royer, the world number 113, a first tour-level win. Taylor Fritz was up late on Monday for a match that did not finish before the curfew (John Walton/PA) Matteo Berrettini was another first-day faller, the 2021 runner-up losing in five sets to Poland's Kamil Majchrzak. Fifth seed Taylor Fritz looked on the verge of becoming the most high-profile casualty when he fell two sets down to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, who hit a Wimbledon record serve of 153mph. But American Fritz came back to level the match, and was then left frustrated when the officials opted not to finish the match because, at 10.15pm, it was deemed too close to the 11pm curfew imposed by the local council.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Katie Boutler stuns ninth seed Paula Badosa as tennis' biggest power couple is sent packing on first day of Wimbledon
KATIE BOULTER felt like a giddy child after the sweetest of victories on centre court to book a second round spot. The British No.2 claimed an impressive 6-2 3-6 6-4 victory over No.9 seed 4 Katie Boulter fought in front of a partisan British crowd Credit: EPA 4 Paula Badosa rallied to take the second set Credit: Getty It booked a clash against Solana Sierra of Argentina on Wednesday as 28-year-old At 4-4 in the third set, it could have gone either way, and Boulter laughed: 'I didn't have any nerve and I was bricking it completely. I have played a lot of good stuff recently and let it slip. 'I just tried to fight and compete and hope she missed. I am thrilled. 'This court is the epitome of every British child's dreams of playing on and winning on. It's a dream come true. I saw the schedule and I was so excited. I felt like a little girl again.' READ MORE WIMBLEDON Boulter's victory completed a nightmare day for tennis power couple "Tsitsidosa" - Badosa and boyfriend Earlier in the day, The Greek called it a day trailing 6-3 6-2, having got the trainer out in the second set. Following his disappointing defeat, Tsitsipas revealed: "It's probably the most difficult situation that I've ever been faced with, because it's an ongoing issue that doesn't seem to be disappearing or fading off as much. Most read in Tennis BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas was forced to retire injured earlier today Credit: Getty "Myself, as a person, I have a limit at some point, so I'll definitely have to have my final answer on whether I want to do stuff or not in the next couple of months. "This is going to be hard, but if I see it going in that trajectory, there is no point at competing. Former Grand Slam champion and one half of tennis power couple looks devastated at he retires at Wimbledon "If I'm not healthy, and I've talked about health so many times, if health is not there, then your whole tennis life becomes miserable." Harriet Dart was knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round as she lost 3-6 6-3 7-5 to Dalma Galfi. Her Hungarian opponent was ranked 42 places above her, in 110th, so the favourite to win, but Dart was left disappointed by a defeat in which she had taken the first set 6-3 on Court 17. Dart, a wildcard, made only 47 per cent of her first serves throughout the match, with the 28-year-old unable to repeat her run to last year's Wimbledon third round. 4 Harriet Dart was beaten by Dalma Galfi Credit: Reuters
