Football will not be coming home, after England were dumped out of the World Cup by Croatia in last night's semi-final. Emmet Malone was in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, where Mario Mandzukic got the extra-time goal that ultimately decided it, after England failed to capitalise on an early free-kick goal and a lively start. Ken Early believes Croatian courage pushed England off the rails; "England were behind for the first time in the tournament and they had nothing left. They pumped long balls like England of old but their uncanny ability to score from aerial attacks had at last deserted them."
"Intercounty GAA referees are required to have the aerobic endurance fitness levels of an adult club player", and they are being tracked using GPS units in all senior championship games and must pass Bangsbo tests. In this week's GAA Statistics column, the endurance levels of club and county players are compared to that of referees using their testing and GPS data. The GAA have now confirmed the outstanding fixture arrangements for all three phases of the All-Ireland football Super 8 quarter-finals, plus the All-Ireland semi-finals in hurling. Check them out here.
From two sets up and match point in the third, Roger Federer fell as far as he ever has in his Wimbledon quarter-final match against South Africa's Kevin Anderson yesterday. Anderson used his serve wisely, stealing the third set and winning the fifth 7-5 with momentum swinging with him and the luxury of having a one set shoot out against Federer for a first ever semi-final. There he'll play John Isner, while Novak Djokovic will face Rafael Nadal in the other after the Spaniard emerged victorious from another enthralling five-setter against Juan-Martin del Potro. Today, Serena Williams takes on Germany's Julia Goerges in the Women's semi-final, and Johnny Watterson explains how we are finally starting to 'get' the 36 year-old.
Sonia O'Sullivan's column this morning looks back on the European Youth Championships in Gyor, Hungary last weekend - where her daughter Sophie won the silver medal in the 800m. "For some people it felt like Sophie was following in my footsteps, when most of time it felt more like I was following in hers," explains the former Olympic silver medallist. The Irish Times/Sport Ireland sportswoman award for June is Sarah Healy, after she won gold in both the 1,500m and 3,000m at those European under-18 championships.
Meanwhile Connacht have signed backrow Colby Fainga'a from Australian Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels. The 27-year-old has made 100 Super Rugby appearances and at international level, Fainga'a captained the Australian under-20 side in 2011 and made seven appearances that season.
