Greg Holland was the star of the show as he successfully closed out the Nats 8 – 3 win over the Braves. It was the first of a doubleheader on Tuesday and a much-needed boost to the veteran’s confidence.

His career 2.93 ERA took a battering at the Cardinals this season where he posted a 7.92 ERA. Inevitably, St Louis released him last month but the Nationals manager Dave Martinez invited Holland to throw for them this week.

“I told him, ‘I don’t care what you did in St. Louis,'” Martinez told reporters. “I said, ‘You get a fresh start here. Just be you. Come out here, have fun and get outs.'”

Sean Doolittle is working his way back from a stress fracture in his left foot while Koda Glover is at Triple-A Syracuse following right shoulder injuries. Furthermore trading Brandon Kintzler and Shawn Kelley to the Cubs and A’s respectively exacerbated the situation. Martinez needed a solution; in Tuesday’s seventh-inning, he found it.

“He’s just really excited to be here,” Martinez said. “If we get him and he’s healthy, which we think he really is, he’s going to help us.”

Following his release from the Cards, Holland focussed on his consistency and mental processes on the mound. It paid off; the Nats optioned Jimmy Cordero to Syracuse so they could add the 32-year-old to their roster.

“I’ll be ready whenever the phone rings,” the right-hander declared. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have pitched in a lot of big games. The main thing right now is to be able to throw when your name is called.”

If he continues as he started, no-one at the Nats will doubt his word.

The post Veteran Greg Holland Steals The Show in Nats’ Win Over The Braves appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Chelsea descended into disarray as Thibaut Courtois failed to report for pre-season training today.

Spanish giants Real Madrid recently offered $44m for his services. Chelsea rejected the offer and waited for the player to return before starting talks with him.

Now, he has made his intentions clear: he wants out of Stamford Bridge. New head coach Maurizio Sarri hoped to convince him to stay for a year but that seems unlikely.

Courtois previously spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid. He has two children in the city from a former relationship. He wants the move to be closer to them, as well as for soccer reasons. Real are reigning European club champions, a crown Chelsea remain a long way from wearing.

The goalkeeper is in the final year of his contract and could leave unhindered next summer. However, he is keen to force the move through now. His agent issued a series of rebukes to Chelsea for not entering into talks with Real during recent interviews.

Courtois remains in his native Belgium and no date has been set for his return to London. Time is against Chelsea. The English transfer window for purchasing players closes on Thursday and they must sign a replacement by then.

If they don’t, Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City made it painfully obvious that their current goalkeepers are not up to scratch.

The desperation in their situation means Chelsea will pay over the market rate for a new goalkeeper. That economics won’t please the board or club owner Roman Abramovich at all.

The post Chelsea in Disarray as Courtois Fails to Report for Training appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Leonard Fournette wasted no time in announcing himself in his rookie season in the Jaguars attack. And this year he only intends to get better.

The New Orleans born running back rushed 1,040 yards for the Jags, producing the belligerence needed to push Jacksonville to the AFC title game. Now he’s aiming for another post-season but this time, going one better.

Lower body injuries took their toll on Fournette last season. Since the 24–20 defeat to New England, he’s dropped 12 pounds to 223 in a bid to negate their impact.

It’s done him the world of good. “I feel healthier,” he said earlier this week. “I want to be great. That’s my weight — what I felt best at in college my sophomore year when I was up for the Heisman. I just want to take it back there.”

His weight loss hasn’t gone unnoticed. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue observed that Fournette seems “faster, just from seeing him catching the ball and exploding.”

His previous 235-pound bulk contributed to his injury problems, hampering his maneuverability. Consequently, that kept him down at an average 3.9 yards.

Ngakoue thinks his hard work will pay off. “I’ve seen him a couple of times, he caught a couple of routes and just was hitting it down the sideline,” he continued. “I can tell he’s been working hard. I’m definitely proud of him as well.”

It’s this attention to detail which will mark out Fournette as a key attacking force for the Jaguars. And with the intensity of their play, these seemingly small changes certainly make all the difference between success and failure.

The post Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette Feels Healthier and Ready to Rumble appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The joint training sessions between the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins are rambunctious affairs at the best of times. They should be. Preparations for the upcoming NFL season are never taken lightly.

Redskins linebacker Zach Brown raised the temperature earlier this summer. His former team-mate and now Jet, Terrelle Pryor, can expect special treatment.

“The boys are gonna have it out for him,” he claimed earlier this summer. “We can put hands on him now.”

Pryor responded coolly to the threat; “If they take dirty shots, I’m sure we’ll handle that accordingly,” he told the assembled New York media this week.

The Jets join the Redskins for two days of joint practices on August 12^th. Two days after final practice, the two meet in a match at FedEx Field.

Brown’s comments stem from Pryor’s habit of catching one-handed catches during training camp.

“The boys were already hot for what he was doing last year,” Brown continued. “Try to one-hand something while you’re with the Jets, you’re gonna catch a forearm.”

Acrimony is in the Washington air. Having made great plays to sign him as a free agent on a one-year deal, they hoped to keep him. However, the Jets topped the $1m contract he was on and Pryor was gone.

He missed a lot of games last season due to injury, making just two starts. Pryor confirmed to reporters that despite surgery, he still has problems with his ankle. However, he expects to be fully fit in time for the joint practice sessions.

The post Redskins Promise Terrelle Pryor Pain; Jets WR is Ready For it appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Attempts to clear up the players understanding of the new NFL helmet rules left Philadelphia Eagles players frustrated and confused.

NFL referees used videos of tackles to highlight the impact of the new rules. and left the Super Bowl LII champions more in the dark than before.

The meeting descended into farce during a Q&A session which highlighted Malcolm Jenkins’ hit on wide receiver Brandin Cooks in Philadelphia’s 41-33 victory over the Patriots earlier this year. A panel of referees was split on whether the tackle contravened the new rules which can result in a 15-yard penalty and ejection.

Jenkins was adamant afterwards that he would still make the play. “I’m going to make that play 10 times out of 10. If it’s a flag, it’s a flag,” – he said. “You can’t slow yourself down thinking about rules in a split second. The game happens really, really fast, faster than the rules, I think, take account for,” he continued. “But I won’t let it affect the way I play.”

The Eagles aren’t alone in their bewilderment at the rule change. Richard Sherman, San Francisco 49ers cornerback, called them “ridiculous”, before adding they were “gonna lead to more lower-extremity injuries.”

Redskins cornerback Josh Norman agreed. “I don’t know how you’re going to play the game,” – he argued. “If your helmet comes in contact? How are you going to avoid that if you’re in the trenches and hit a running back, face mask to face mask and accidentally graze the helmet? It’s obviously going to happen. So, I don’t know even what that definition looks like.“

The post Eagles Hit Out At New NFL Helmet Rules appeared first on SportzBonanza.

German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund told interested clubs they are willing to listen to offers for Christian Pulisic.

The 19-year-old winger has 21 US Men’s National Team caps with nine goals. The Hershey-born teenager heads the wanted list of a host of Europe’s top clubs. Among them, Real Madrid – desperate to fill the hole Cristiano Ronaldo left – as well as English Premier League duo, Liverpool, and Chelsea.

An unlikely scenario is selling to Bayern Munich. Dortmund fans are unlikely to accept such a decision; the scars of Lewandowski, Gotze, and Hummels are too close to the surface for another star to fly the nest to Bavaria.

All clubs are currently in the USA, participating in the International Champions Cup as part of their pre-season preparations.

Dortmund finished with a draw against Benfica of Portugal. Before that came two wins; 1 – 0 over Manchester City and 3 – 1 over Liverpool at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC. Pulisic scored twice in that match, one from the penalty spot.

Speculation was rife last summer that the youngster would move. However, after another fine season in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are ready to cash in on his talent.

The English media believe Liverpool – managed by legendary Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp – are the likeliest to make a move for Pulisic. Injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain means that the Merseyside club has a gap in the wide midfield role which needs to be filled.

They and Chelsea have until August 9th to complete a deal.  The English transfer window closes on August 9th, three weeks before the rest of continental Europe.

The post Dortmund to Sell USMNT Star Pulisic For $90m appeared first on SportzBonanza.

FC Barcelona, Spain’s premier soccer club, completed the signing of 21-year-old Brazilian winger Malcom from French club Girondins de Bordeaux.

The signing cost the Blaugrana $48m with the player signing a four-year contract. His ambition, aside from winning trophies, is “to follow in the footsteps of the great Brazilians who have played at this club”, referring to Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr. among others.

Presented at Nike HQ in Portland, Oregon, Malcom is linking up with the rest of the FC Barcelona squad as they prepared for a pre-season friendly against English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Based in the capital city of Catalonia, Barcelona moved swiftly when talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Willian broke down at the last minute. Malcom was already en route to fly to Italy ahead of signing for AS Roma.

However, Barcelona’s interest scuppered that deal and Malcom flew to Spain instead.

It’s left the Italian giants fuming and threatening all manner of legal action against both player and Bordeaux. The Giallorossi are “considering all their options” according to sporting director Monchi.

“It is true that nothing was signed,” – he went on. “But there are many messages with the agents and [Bordeaux] president that are at least worth being assessed.”

The post Barcelona Land Malcom, Roma Threaten Legal Action appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Why? Paraag Marathe, accustomed to the question, knows the answer. The San Francisco 49ers president of enterprises finds himself in the media spotlight after the NFL franchise invested $13.5m (£10m) in English soccer club Leeds United.

“The potential is huge,” Maranthe observed. “It’s an opportunity for a great resurrection. This was once one of the best teams in Europe. Even a casual fan will have heard of them — half of our players have heard of them. They have global brand recognition.”

Leeds United’s heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s when the late Don Revie took charge of a team which regularly challenged for the title, as well as domestic and European trophies.

Although champions at the birth of the Premier League in 1992, it wasn’t until the end of that decade Leeds began a journey which saw they soar to football’s elite. Their subsequent crash and burn into the underworld of the Football League remains one of the sport’s sorriest tales.

Close to bankruptcy, a madness engulfed the club’s citadel Elland Road and all who took control. The hope is that the 49ers add sanity to a combustible club.

It’s not an investment undertaken lightly. “The goal is building something which will last. Going big on rebuilding the culture of the football side of the organization — that’s what the appointment of Bielsa is. It’s all about rebooting that football culture.”

Certainly, a return to the Premier League is part of the reboot. However, the Champions League, and looking ahead a European Super League, is the real ambition. Can the 49ers and Leeds United live the dream?

The post 49ers Get In On English Soccer Scene With $13.5m Investment In Leeds United appeared first on SportzBonanza.

A dramatic final day saw Francesco Molinari become the first Italian to win the British Open.

Carnoustie, the Scottish coastal links golf course known as ‘The Beast’, hosted its’ first Open since 2007. With almost perfect conditions, Molinari tamed the Tiger and the course to lift the Claret Jug after a final round of 69, two under par.

On a day when others rose to heights before plummeting into the pack, Molinari’s greatest weapon was consistency. His defensive round – aiming for par, determined not to drop shots – proved the right strategy. Throw in a couple of birdies and he was always going to be in the shake-up.

His score of -8 overall, left him two shots clear of four players tied for second. Britons Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy finished on -6, along with Americans Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele.

Both the latter pair shot 74 on the final day and were left ruing their carelessness. The title awaited had either finished Sunday’s action with a par round.

Woods hauled himself back into contention for the final day when he shot 66 on Saturday. However, as the pressure grew he could only end with a par round of 71. Simple errors crept into his games on the return; in his prime, the sort of self-doubt he never displayed, but now an all too familiar feature of Tiger’s game.

It left Molinari as champion and looking forward to this week’s world rankings which could see him as high as sixth, his best-ever performance.

The post Francesco Molinari Takes British Open as Tiger Fades appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The France squad shared the weight of expectation equally on their shoulders at this summer’s World Cup finals. However, the same was not true for Argentina. One man carried that burden alone: Lionel Messi.

Such was the mediocrity of their performances that not even the best soccer player in the world prevented an early exit from the tournament. And one man bore the brunt of the criticism.

Some were deserved: Messi’s penalty in the opening match against Iceland was poor and easily saved. His overall performances failed to meet his own high standards. Instead of inspiring his teammates, Messi found himself dragged down to their levels.

Inevitably, the player’s uneasy relationship with the Argentine public surfaced. Because Messi left his homeland as a youngster and never played professionally for an Argentinean club, he doesn’t have ‘club loyalty’ in the public psyche.

Instead, they see his Barcelona feats from a distance and expect him to achieve the same with the country. It has yet to happen. Carlos Tevez, a former Argentina player, urged Messi not to quit international soccer.

Speaking to ESPN, Tevez told Messi to think of himself, first and foremost. To succeed, he reasoned, the player must be happy. But he quickly added that it wasn’t all down to Messi. The rest of the squad and wider public has a role to play.

“We are wasting a lot of time not having him happy and not being able to give him a hand to achieve that target. I think we are wrong in not being able to help him feel comfortable.

“As a player and as an Argentine I tell him that we need him, that he tries to rest, that he keeps a cool head and that we need him. We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and, as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way because he is Argentina’s biggest idol and he has to take that responsibility.

“Now [I tell him] to rest, keep a cool head and try to be well, then we need him to take charge and on the pitch.”

Only time will tell if those words are heeded.

The post “The Soul Of Argentina”: Lionel Messi Urged To Shelve Retirement Plans appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Greg Holland was the star of the show as he successfully closed out the Nats 8 – 3 win over the Braves. It was the first of a doubleheader on Tuesday and a much-needed boost to the veteran’s confidence.

His career 2.93 ERA took a battering at the Cardinals this season where he posted a 7.92 ERA. Inevitably, St Louis released him last month but the Nationals manager Dave Martinez invited Holland to throw for them this week.

“I told him, ‘I don’t care what you did in St. Louis,'” Martinez told reporters. “I said, ‘You get a fresh start here. Just be you. Come out here, have fun and get outs.'”

Sean Doolittle is working his way back from a stress fracture in his left foot while Koda Glover is at Triple-A Syracuse following right shoulder injuries. Furthermore trading Brandon Kintzler and Shawn Kelley to the Cubs and A’s respectively exacerbated the situation. Martinez needed a solution; in Tuesday’s seventh-inning, he found it.

“He’s just really excited to be here,” Martinez said. “If we get him and he’s healthy, which we think he really is, he’s going to help us.”

Following his release from the Cards, Holland focussed on his consistency and mental processes on the mound. It paid off; the Nats optioned Jimmy Cordero to Syracuse so they could add the 32-year-old to their roster.

“I’ll be ready whenever the phone rings,” the right-hander declared. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have pitched in a lot of big games. The main thing right now is to be able to throw when your name is called.”

If he continues as he started, no-one at the Nats will doubt his word.

The post Veteran Greg Holland Steals The Show in Nats’ Win Over The Braves appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Chelsea descended into disarray as Thibaut Courtois failed to report for pre-season training today.

Spanish giants Real Madrid recently offered $44m for his services. Chelsea rejected the offer and waited for the player to return before starting talks with him.

Now, he has made his intentions clear: he wants out of Stamford Bridge. New head coach Maurizio Sarri hoped to convince him to stay for a year but that seems unlikely.

Courtois previously spent three seasons on loan at Atletico Madrid. He has two children in the city from a former relationship. He wants the move to be closer to them, as well as for soccer reasons. Real are reigning European club champions, a crown Chelsea remain a long way from wearing.

The goalkeeper is in the final year of his contract and could leave unhindered next summer. However, he is keen to force the move through now. His agent issued a series of rebukes to Chelsea for not entering into talks with Real during recent interviews.

Courtois remains in his native Belgium and no date has been set for his return to London. Time is against Chelsea. The English transfer window for purchasing players closes on Thursday and they must sign a replacement by then.

If they don’t, Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester City made it painfully obvious that their current goalkeepers are not up to scratch.

The desperation in their situation means Chelsea will pay over the market rate for a new goalkeeper. That economics won’t please the board or club owner Roman Abramovich at all.

The post Chelsea in Disarray as Courtois Fails to Report for Training appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Leonard Fournette wasted no time in announcing himself in his rookie season in the Jaguars attack. And this year he only intends to get better.

The New Orleans born running back rushed 1,040 yards for the Jags, producing the belligerence needed to push Jacksonville to the AFC title game. Now he’s aiming for another post-season but this time, going one better.

Lower body injuries took their toll on Fournette last season. Since the 24–20 defeat to New England, he’s dropped 12 pounds to 223 in a bid to negate their impact.

It’s done him the world of good. “I feel healthier,” he said earlier this week. “I want to be great. That’s my weight — what I felt best at in college my sophomore year when I was up for the Heisman. I just want to take it back there.”

His weight loss hasn’t gone unnoticed. Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue observed that Fournette seems “faster, just from seeing him catching the ball and exploding.”

His previous 235-pound bulk contributed to his injury problems, hampering his maneuverability. Consequently, that kept him down at an average 3.9 yards.

Ngakoue thinks his hard work will pay off. “I’ve seen him a couple of times, he caught a couple of routes and just was hitting it down the sideline,” he continued. “I can tell he’s been working hard. I’m definitely proud of him as well.”

It’s this attention to detail which will mark out Fournette as a key attacking force for the Jaguars. And with the intensity of their play, these seemingly small changes certainly make all the difference between success and failure.

The post Jaguars’ Leonard Fournette Feels Healthier and Ready to Rumble appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The joint training sessions between the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins are rambunctious affairs at the best of times. They should be. Preparations for the upcoming NFL season are never taken lightly.

Redskins linebacker Zach Brown raised the temperature earlier this summer. His former team-mate and now Jet, Terrelle Pryor, can expect special treatment.

“The boys are gonna have it out for him,” he claimed earlier this summer. “We can put hands on him now.”

Pryor responded coolly to the threat; “If they take dirty shots, I’m sure we’ll handle that accordingly,” he told the assembled New York media this week.

The Jets join the Redskins for two days of joint practices on August 12^th. Two days after final practice, the two meet in a match at FedEx Field.

Brown’s comments stem from Pryor’s habit of catching one-handed catches during training camp.

“The boys were already hot for what he was doing last year,” Brown continued. “Try to one-hand something while you’re with the Jets, you’re gonna catch a forearm.”

Acrimony is in the Washington air. Having made great plays to sign him as a free agent on a one-year deal, they hoped to keep him. However, the Jets topped the $1m contract he was on and Pryor was gone.

He missed a lot of games last season due to injury, making just two starts. Pryor confirmed to reporters that despite surgery, he still has problems with his ankle. However, he expects to be fully fit in time for the joint practice sessions.

The post Redskins Promise Terrelle Pryor Pain; Jets WR is Ready For it appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Attempts to clear up the players understanding of the new NFL helmet rules left Philadelphia Eagles players frustrated and confused.

NFL referees used videos of tackles to highlight the impact of the new rules. and left the Super Bowl LII champions more in the dark than before.

The meeting descended into farce during a Q&A session which highlighted Malcolm Jenkins’ hit on wide receiver Brandin Cooks in Philadelphia’s 41-33 victory over the Patriots earlier this year. A panel of referees was split on whether the tackle contravened the new rules which can result in a 15-yard penalty and ejection.

Jenkins was adamant afterwards that he would still make the play. “I’m going to make that play 10 times out of 10. If it’s a flag, it’s a flag,” – he said. “You can’t slow yourself down thinking about rules in a split second. The game happens really, really fast, faster than the rules, I think, take account for,” he continued. “But I won’t let it affect the way I play.”

The Eagles aren’t alone in their bewilderment at the rule change. Richard Sherman, San Francisco 49ers cornerback, called them “ridiculous”, before adding they were “gonna lead to more lower-extremity injuries.”

Redskins cornerback Josh Norman agreed. “I don’t know how you’re going to play the game,” – he argued. “If your helmet comes in contact? How are you going to avoid that if you’re in the trenches and hit a running back, face mask to face mask and accidentally graze the helmet? It’s obviously going to happen. So, I don’t know even what that definition looks like.“

The post Eagles Hit Out At New NFL Helmet Rules appeared first on SportzBonanza.

German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund told interested clubs they are willing to listen to offers for Christian Pulisic.

The 19-year-old winger has 21 US Men’s National Team caps with nine goals. The Hershey-born teenager heads the wanted list of a host of Europe’s top clubs. Among them, Real Madrid – desperate to fill the hole Cristiano Ronaldo left – as well as English Premier League duo, Liverpool, and Chelsea.

An unlikely scenario is selling to Bayern Munich. Dortmund fans are unlikely to accept such a decision; the scars of Lewandowski, Gotze, and Hummels are too close to the surface for another star to fly the nest to Bavaria.

All clubs are currently in the USA, participating in the International Champions Cup as part of their pre-season preparations.

Dortmund finished with a draw against Benfica of Portugal. Before that came two wins; 1 – 0 over Manchester City and 3 – 1 over Liverpool at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC. Pulisic scored twice in that match, one from the penalty spot.

Speculation was rife last summer that the youngster would move. However, after another fine season in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are ready to cash in on his talent.

The English media believe Liverpool – managed by legendary Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp – are the likeliest to make a move for Pulisic. Injury to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain means that the Merseyside club has a gap in the wide midfield role which needs to be filled.

They and Chelsea have until August 9th to complete a deal.  The English transfer window closes on August 9th, three weeks before the rest of continental Europe.

The post Dortmund to Sell USMNT Star Pulisic For $90m appeared first on SportzBonanza.

FC Barcelona, Spain’s premier soccer club, completed the signing of 21-year-old Brazilian winger Malcom from French club Girondins de Bordeaux.

The signing cost the Blaugrana $48m with the player signing a four-year contract. His ambition, aside from winning trophies, is “to follow in the footsteps of the great Brazilians who have played at this club”, referring to Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar Jr. among others.

Presented at Nike HQ in Portland, Oregon, Malcom is linking up with the rest of the FC Barcelona squad as they prepared for a pre-season friendly against English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Based in the capital city of Catalonia, Barcelona moved swiftly when talks to sign Chelsea midfielder Willian broke down at the last minute. Malcom was already en route to fly to Italy ahead of signing for AS Roma.

However, Barcelona’s interest scuppered that deal and Malcom flew to Spain instead.

It’s left the Italian giants fuming and threatening all manner of legal action against both player and Bordeaux. The Giallorossi are “considering all their options” according to sporting director Monchi.

“It is true that nothing was signed,” – he went on. “But there are many messages with the agents and [Bordeaux] president that are at least worth being assessed.”

The post Barcelona Land Malcom, Roma Threaten Legal Action appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Why? Paraag Marathe, accustomed to the question, knows the answer. The San Francisco 49ers president of enterprises finds himself in the media spotlight after the NFL franchise invested $13.5m (£10m) in English soccer club Leeds United.

“The potential is huge,” Maranthe observed. “It’s an opportunity for a great resurrection. This was once one of the best teams in Europe. Even a casual fan will have heard of them — half of our players have heard of them. They have global brand recognition.”

Leeds United’s heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s when the late Don Revie took charge of a team which regularly challenged for the title, as well as domestic and European trophies.

Although champions at the birth of the Premier League in 1992, it wasn’t until the end of that decade Leeds began a journey which saw they soar to football’s elite. Their subsequent crash and burn into the underworld of the Football League remains one of the sport’s sorriest tales.

Close to bankruptcy, a madness engulfed the club’s citadel Elland Road and all who took control. The hope is that the 49ers add sanity to a combustible club.

It’s not an investment undertaken lightly. “The goal is building something which will last. Going big on rebuilding the culture of the football side of the organization — that’s what the appointment of Bielsa is. It’s all about rebooting that football culture.”

Certainly, a return to the Premier League is part of the reboot. However, the Champions League, and looking ahead a European Super League, is the real ambition. Can the 49ers and Leeds United live the dream?

The post 49ers Get In On English Soccer Scene With $13.5m Investment In Leeds United appeared first on SportzBonanza.

A dramatic final day saw Francesco Molinari become the first Italian to win the British Open.

Carnoustie, the Scottish coastal links golf course known as ‘The Beast’, hosted its’ first Open since 2007. With almost perfect conditions, Molinari tamed the Tiger and the course to lift the Claret Jug after a final round of 69, two under par.

On a day when others rose to heights before plummeting into the pack, Molinari’s greatest weapon was consistency. His defensive round – aiming for par, determined not to drop shots – proved the right strategy. Throw in a couple of birdies and he was always going to be in the shake-up.

His score of -8 overall, left him two shots clear of four players tied for second. Britons Justin Rose and Rory McIlroy finished on -6, along with Americans Kevin Kisner and Xander Schauffele.

Both the latter pair shot 74 on the final day and were left ruing their carelessness. The title awaited had either finished Sunday’s action with a par round.

Woods hauled himself back into contention for the final day when he shot 66 on Saturday. However, as the pressure grew he could only end with a par round of 71. Simple errors crept into his games on the return; in his prime, the sort of self-doubt he never displayed, but now an all too familiar feature of Tiger’s game.

It left Molinari as champion and looking forward to this week’s world rankings which could see him as high as sixth, his best-ever performance.

The post Francesco Molinari Takes British Open as Tiger Fades appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The France squad shared the weight of expectation equally on their shoulders at this summer’s World Cup finals. However, the same was not true for Argentina. One man carried that burden alone: Lionel Messi.

Such was the mediocrity of their performances that not even the best soccer player in the world prevented an early exit from the tournament. And one man bore the brunt of the criticism.

Some were deserved: Messi’s penalty in the opening match against Iceland was poor and easily saved. His overall performances failed to meet his own high standards. Instead of inspiring his teammates, Messi found himself dragged down to their levels.

Inevitably, the player’s uneasy relationship with the Argentine public surfaced. Because Messi left his homeland as a youngster and never played professionally for an Argentinean club, he doesn’t have ‘club loyalty’ in the public psyche.

Instead, they see his Barcelona feats from a distance and expect him to achieve the same with the country. It has yet to happen. Carlos Tevez, a former Argentina player, urged Messi not to quit international soccer.

Speaking to ESPN, Tevez told Messi to think of himself, first and foremost. To succeed, he reasoned, the player must be happy. But he quickly added that it wasn’t all down to Messi. The rest of the squad and wider public has a role to play.

“We are wasting a lot of time not having him happy and not being able to give him a hand to achieve that target. I think we are wrong in not being able to help him feel comfortable.

“As a player and as an Argentine I tell him that we need him, that he tries to rest, that he keeps a cool head and that we need him. We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and, as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way because he is Argentina’s biggest idol and he has to take that responsibility.

“Now [I tell him] to rest, keep a cool head and try to be well, then we need him to take charge and on the pitch.”

Only time will tell if those words are heeded.

The post “The Soul Of Argentina”: Lionel Messi Urged To Shelve Retirement Plans appeared first on SportzBonanza.