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The Premier League's grueling schedule is taking its toll on teams, with many players appearing exhausted by the final whistle. The league's emphasis on hard work and endurance has led to criticism of teams like Chelsea, who have been accused of not running enough. However, distance run alone is largely meaningless as a metric, as tactics and team structure play a much bigger role in determining success.Coaches like Francisco Maturana and Enzo Maresca have implemented strategies that prioritize control and organization over sheer running ability. This approach can lead to teams running less, but still achieving success. For example, Liverpool's efficiency under Arne Slot last season was praised, as they won eight league games 2-0 and controlled the game with a sufficient cushion.The Premier League's unique strength in depth and competitiveness means that every game is a battle, leaving little opportunity for teams to ease off. Newcastle's jaded performance is a prime example, with the team looking worn out by their Champions League fixtures and cup runs. In contrast, Manchester United's absence of European football and early exits from cups have allowed them to benefit from a less demanding schedule.Ultimately, conserving energy and resting with the ball can be a positive strategy, as José Mourinho once termed it. The key to success is not just about how far a team runs, but how they play. Teams that prioritize control, organization, and tactics are more likely to succeed in the long run, even if they don't rack up the miles.

For British runner Josh Kerr, the moment that makes the hairs on his neck tingle every time he watches it is Roger Bannister's historic achievement in 1954 – becoming the first person to break the four-minute mile barrier. Now, Kerr intends to stand on the shoulders of track and field's giants by attempting to break the world mile record himself at the London Diamond League in July."This record needs to be brought home," Kerr declares. "This is a British record. This is a British distance. And so it would be doing a disservice to the UK to not be doing it at home. It's why I can't do it anywhere else."The 28-year-old faces a significant challenge. The world record of 3:43.13 was set by Hicham El-Guerrouj in July 1999, while Kerr's best is a shade over two seconds slower. However, with focused training, a new shoe from sponsor Brooks, the support of his 16-strong entourage and 60,000 fans at the London Stadium, Kerr believes he can break the long-standing record."People [say:] 'The sport needs more rivalries,'" Kerr explains. "I don't agree. I think the sport needs more moments. We need a reason to watch. And so that's where this comes from. This is the time to go after these big moments. I have a big target of what time I want to hit. I think it's going to be pretty special."Kerr's credentials are impeccable. He is a world 1500m champion and an Olympic silver and bronze medalist over the same distance. Last weekend, he further demonstrated his form by winning the world indoor title over 3,000m for a second time."I've been in shape to run the record multiple times over the last couple of years," Kerr states. "And so there's specific key sessions, we will have KPIs [key performance indicators] going into it."To achieve his goal, Kerr plans to focus on running between 55 and 56 seconds pace for each of the four laps. "There's a lot of muscle memory with stuff, and so we'll do a lot of training at pace," he explains. "We're three or four months in deep into the mental training of it. There's a lot going on behind the scenes already. The whole season is towards this."While Kerr has his pacemakers "signed, sealed and delivered," he insists this will be a proper Diamond League race rather than a time trial. "There will be some restrictions," he says coyly when asked about potential rivals. "I'm not scared to race people. I think certain athletes will have obligations elsewhere. But it's not going to be a closed-off race."A crucial factor in Kerr's favor is the quality of his support team. "Danny's the mastermind behind everything," Kerr says of his coach Danny Mackey. "He's my head coach and team leader. Then you've got Julian, who's an assistant coach, and my wife, who helps with everything."The team also includes Kerr's mother as head physio, a "super-manager and assistant" called Nicole, a chiropractor, massage therapist, two strength and conditioning coaches, a performance and mental coach, a nutritionist, a full-time chef, and a videographer and social media assistant. Race agent Ray Flynn and management company Forte complete the 16-strong squad."I have a lot of respect for this record," Kerr concludes. "But I believe that I have the ability and the people around me that will help me get there. This record is one of the most important we have in track and field. The time is now. It's time for that record to be renewed."

In the hallway at the Portuguese federation's base in Oeiras near Lisbon, Roberto Martínez stands with arms outstretched, embodying the warmth of welcome that has defined his coaching career. Seventy-five days before the World Cup begins, the man whose favorite goal was against Scunthorpe at Springfield Park now leads one of football's most formidable nations, with matches against Mexico and the United States serving as final preparation for the tournament.Martínez's journey to this moment defied conventional expectations. Arriving in England in 1995 as a 21-year-old unknown who didn't speak English, he recalls the cultural shock: 'You've spent your whole life learning you have to look after the ball, then you get there and the first thing they say is: 'Second ball'.' The Spanish midfielder, who would later be dubbed one of the 'Three Amigos' at Wigan, embraced the challenge with an attitude that has defined his career: 'Why not?'From his humble beginnings at Wigan, where he helped win the Third Division and Football League Trophy, Martínez has carved an extraordinary path through football. His coaching career took him through Swansea, Belgium—where he led the team to the world's No. 1 ranking—and now Portugal, where he has inherited a squad filled with exceptional talent. 'Portugal is a football school,' he explains, 'Ten million people and yet they fill the world's best dressing rooms.'Central to Portugal's World Cup aspirations is Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary forward who has given 21 years to the national team. Martínez dismisses the notion that Ronaldo's pursuit of 1,000 career goals defines his motivation, instead emphasizing the 40-year-old's unwavering commitment: 'Cristiano's attitude is always: 'I'm here for the national team, whatever you need.' The coach reveals that despite a current hamstring injury, Ronaldo's absence is merely a two-week pause before his return to action.Portugal enters the World Cup as one of the favorites, with a squad boasting captains from Manchester United, Porto, Manchester City, and four key players from European champions Paris Saint-Germain. 'Winning the Nations League was very good for us,' Martínez notes, referring to their victory against Spain, the world's No. 1 team and European champions. 'I wouldn't say there's an anxiety in Portugal to win the World Cup; I would say it's excitement, hope.'The coach's meticulous preparation extends to every detail, including playing at altitude in closed stadiums to simulate World Cup conditions. His selection process reflects both compassion and pragmatism: 'I'll choose a list of 26 and four others who know they are on standby.' This approach, he believes, creates a more positive environment when injuries occur.Martínez acknowledges the unique challenges of a 48-team World Cup spanning 50 days, noting: 'No scientific study would deny a human is changed by that.' Yet he remains optimistic, drawing inspiration from Portugal's football history and the numerological significance of 2026—sixty years since Eusébio's World Cup performance. 'It's all sixes. Let's dream. Why not?' he concludes, embodying the philosophy that has taken him from Spanish unknown to Portugal's World Cup dreamer.

Manchester City delivered a resounding statement of intent in their latest Women's Super League fixture, dismantling Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford in a derby that showcased the vast gulf between the two teams. The victory propelled City closer to securing their first league title in a decade, while simultaneously damaging United's hopes of European qualification next season.Vivianne Miedema was the star of the show, scoring twice with headers in the first half, while Kerstin Casparij added a third goal early in the second period. Lauren Hemp also hit the crossbar as City dominated throughout, with the home side fortunate not to concede more goals in a match that highlighted the disparity between the teams.Manchester United head coach Marc Skinner attributed his team's performance to fatigue following their Champions League encounter with Bayern Munich three days prior. In contrast, City has benefited from not competing in European competitions this season, allowing for crucial rest between matches. Skinner acknowledged the advantage enjoyed by City manager Andrée Jeglertz, who described his team's first-half display as "one of the best we've done this season."The result has effectively ended United's title ambitions, with Skinner's side now trailing by 11 points with only three games remaining. Chelsea's hopes of retaining their crown have also been extinguished, as they sit 12 points behind with an inferior goal difference. Arsenal remains the only mathematical challenger, though they would need City to falter significantly in their remaining fixtures.City's dominance was evident from the opening minutes, with Miedema opening the scoring from a corner just 21 seconds into the match. She doubled her tally before the break, finding herself unmarked in the penalty area as United's defense failed to deal with a cross from Casparij. Hemp struck the woodwork before a Rebecca Knaak goal was controversially disallowed, and Casparij sealed the victory with a clinical finish after the interval.With City now requiring just five points from their remaining three matches—all against bottom-four teams—the WSL title appears destined to return to the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile, United faces an uphill battle to secure European qualification, with challenging fixtures against Tottenham and Chelsea still to come this season.

Senegal's national football team took to the pitch at the Stade de France with the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) trophy, defiantly displaying their claim to the title despite being stripped of it earlier this month. The team, led by coach Pape Thiaw, paraded the trophy before their World Cup warm-up game against Peru, which they won 2-0.Nicolas Jackson scored four minutes before half-time and Ismaïla Sarr added a second in the 54th minute as Senegal secured their first win since January's Cup of Nations final. The team's captain, Kalidou Koulibaly, and his teammates came out on to the pitch with the Afcon trophy for a lap of honour after a pre-match concert by the Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour.Senegal have launched a legal battle against the decision to strip them of the trophy and award it to Morocco. The Caf appeal board awarded Morocco a 3-0 victory on 17 March because Senegal staged a 14-minute walk-off during January's final in Rabat in protest against the award of a penalty to the hosts in added time immediately after Senegal had had a goal ruled out.Coach Pape Thiaw emphasized that his team considers themselves African champions, stating, 'We know we're African champions. We're going to keep working to win more trophies. It's clear in our minds that competitions and trophies are won on the pitch.'Thiaw also highlighted the importance of not getting distracted by the controversy, saying, 'The most important thing is not to get distracted.' Senegal lodged an appeal this week with the Swiss-based court of arbitration for sport.In a related development, Morocco drew 1-1 against Ecuador on Friday in a friendly in Madrid, their first match since the final and the controversial decision to punish Senegal. Morocco's coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, expressed satisfaction with the draw against the 'African champions,' highlighting the strength of his team.

Manchester United has named their starting lineup for the crucial Women's Super League derby against city rivals Manchester City, with Tullis-Joyce in goal and an attacking lineup featuring Hinata and Schüller. The substitutes include Middleton-Patel, Rendell, George, Anderson, Rolfo, and Drury. Manchester City, currently sitting at the top of the league table, has also announced their team, with Yamashita between the sticks and a formidable attacking lineup featuring Hemp, Miedema, and Shaw. Their bench includes Keating, Combs, Fowler, Kerolin, Ouahabi, and several other options. The match, scheduled for 1:30pm GMT, represents a significant opportunity for both teams in the title race. Manchester City head coach Andree Jeglertz emphasized the unique intensity of derby matches: These games live their own lives. Because a derby in this city is always going to get 100% energised players from both teams at the beginning. It almost doesn't matter what tempo you start as your opponent will be ready. These games aren't determined by 15, 20 minutes. Definitely the longer the game goes, it can be a challenge but it's how the game turns out and what happens. City secured a convincing 3-0 victory in the previous derby in November, with goals from Rebecca Knaak, Khadija Shaw, and Lauren Hemp. Meanwhile, Manchester United is looking to bounce back from a 3-2 first-leg defeat against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. United's head coach, Marc Skinner, acknowledged the challenge posed by the league leaders: City are top of the league for a reason but we will take that challenge on. Once you accept that challenge, you can rise to a new level. This derby comes during a busy period for WSL teams, with multiple high-profile clashes across the league that could significantly impact the title race.

Italy's national team secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Northern Ireland, significantly enhancing their chances of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The win sets up a playoff final against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, with a victory guaranteeing Italy a spot in the tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.Italy's coach, Gennaro Gattuso, acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating, 'We made life a bit difficult for ourselves, but in the second half we found our rhythm.' He emphasized the importance of the upcoming final, noting that both teams will feel the tension.In other playoff matches, Kosovo will host Turkiye after Kosovo's thrilling 4-3 win over Slovakia and Turkiye's 1-0 victory over Romania. Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Denmark also won their semifinals, setting up additional playoff matches.The 2026 World Cup, featuring an expanded 48 teams, offers more nations a chance to qualify. Twelve European countries have already secured spots through group stage wins, while the playoffs involve second-placed teams and those who performed well in the Nations League.

A recent investigation has revealed a sophisticated scam operation where individuals are paid to write fake Google reviews in exchange for cryptocurrency. The scam, which was discovered on Telegram, involved recruiters posing as representatives of legitimate companies, offering individuals up to $800 per day to write fake reviews for various businesses, including hotels and restaurants. The scammers used a division of labor approach, with different individuals handling recruitment, coaching, and payment processing. The investigation found that the scammers were using Telegram channels to advertise their services and recruit new victims. These channels had thousands of subscribers and posted a steady stream of job offers, with payments starting at $5 per review. The scammers' main target was not just to create fake reviews but also to launder money and extract cash from their victims. They used cryptocurrencies to make payments, which were then laundered through a process called 'tumbling' to obscure their origin. The investigation also found that the scammers were using AI-generated images and stolen profiles to create fake identities. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has estimated that fake reviews cause annual harm of between £50m to £312m to UK consumers. Google has taken steps to combat fake reviews, removing over 240m fake reviews since 2024 and restricting 900,000 accounts for violating policies.

Thomas Tuchel, the England head coach, voiced his disappointment with the Wembley crowd's reaction to Ben White's return to international football during the 1-1 draw with Uruguay. White was booed upon his substitution in the 69th minute, a reaction Tuchel found disheartening.The game was marked by controversy, including a painful tackle by Ronald Araújo on Phil Foden that escaped a red card and an injury to Noni Madueke. Tuchel was also critical of the refereeing, particularly the decision to award Uruguay a penalty for a soft foul by White.“I heard that he was booed,” Tuchel said of White. “It cannot be the majority. There were some boos and some mixed reception for him which I’m disappointed about because of course we protect our players. He was excellent in camp and he deserved to come on. He got us almost a winner.”Tuchel praised his side's effort but focused his anger on the German referee Sven Jablonski, expressing confusion over the VAR's inconsistent application. The draw was a mixed result for England, who were without several regular players and are preparing for the World Cup this summer.