injury

Wales lucky to have Ramsey in reserve, says Davies

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Wales lucky to have Ramsey in reserve, says Davies

Wales’ stand-in captain Ben Davies stated that having Aaron Ramsey on the bench for the Euro 2024 playoff semi-final against Finland is a significant advantage as they aim to qualify for the finals. Wales must defeat Finland in Cardiff and then either Poland or Estonia on March 26 to qualify for the tournament. Despite being favorites, Davies described the match against Finland as a challenging test. Aaron Ramsey, usually the Welsh captain, has recently returned from injury and has had limited playtime with Cardiff City, meaning his participation will likely be as a substitute. Davies praised Ramsey’s potential impact on the game. Wales has previously lost twice at home to Finland, in a friendly and a World Cup qualifier in 2009, with their last encounter in 2021 ending in a 0-0 draw in a friendly. Coach Robert Page highlighted the importance of Ramsey’s experience for the younger players in the squad.

‘, Life in the old dog yet’ – Murray beats Berrettini in Miami

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‘, Life in the old dog yet’ – Murray beats Berrettini in Miami

Andy Murray defeated Matteo Berrettini with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round of the Miami Open. This win marks a small milestone in Murray’s career, making him the third active player to achieve 30 wins at the event, following Novak Djokovic (44 wins) and Rafa Nadal (40 wins). Berrettini experienced physical difficulties during the match, requiring medical attention. Murray, a two-time champion in Miami, will next play against Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Ukrainian authorities launch mass evacuation in northern region

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Ukrainian authorities launch mass evacuation in northern region

Ukrainian authorities have initiated mass evacuations in the Sumy region near the Russian border due to prolonged intense shelling, evacuating over 180 residents from areas near the Velikopysarska community in the past three days. The region has experienced increased Russian shelling, with three people killed and 13 wounded in the most tense areas over five days. A total of more than 4,500 residents from 22 villages in the Sumy region have been evacuated. Additionally, armed groups, claiming to be Russians opposed to the Kremlin, reportedly caused considerable damage in Kozinka, Russia, near Velikopysarska. The governor of Belgorod region reported continued shelling with one injury, while the governor of Kursk region mentioned the downing of three Ukrainian drones.

Coventry stun Wolves in FA Cup quarters with injury-time goals

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Coventry stun Wolves in FA Cup quarters with injury-time goals

Coventry City defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in an FA Cup tie at Molineux Stadium, reaching the semi-finals for the second time in the club’s history. Ellis Simms and Haji Wright scored in injury time to secure the win. Simms became the first Coventry player to score five goals in a single FA Cup campaign since Keith Houchen in 1986-87. Wolves were missing key players Pedro Neto, Hwang Hee-chan, Matheus Cunha, and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde due to injuries.

Arteta does not rule Martinelli out of Porto clash

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Arteta does not rule Martinelli out of Porto clash

Gabriel Martinelli missed Arsenal’s training ahead of their Champions League last-16 return leg against Porto due to an injury but his availability for the match was not ruled out by manager Mikel Arteta. Martinelli was injured during a 6-0 victory at Sheffield United, suffering a cut to his foot. Takehiro Tomiyasu participated in part of the training session. Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey, and Oleksandr Zinchenko returned to training after missing the previous match. Arsenal aims to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, having lost the first leg against Porto 1-0. Arteta emphasized the importance of fan support and the unity among the players.

Djokovic stunned by lucky loser Nardi at Indian Wells

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Djokovic stunned by lucky loser Nardi at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic, the world number one, was defeated by Luca Nardi, a 20-year-old Italian ranked 123rd, with scores of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the third round of Indian Wells. Nardi, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after Tomas Etcheverry withdrew due to injury, described his victory as a “miracle.” This defeat ended Djokovic’s attempt to win a record sixth title at the tournament. Nardi will face American Tommy Paul in the next round.

Fernandes, Rashford penalties give Man Utd 2-0 win over Everton

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Fernandes, Rashford penalties give Man Utd 2-0 win over Everton

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford scored penalties to secure a 2-0 victory for Manchester United against Everton. This win was Manchester United’s first in three Premier League games, enhancing their prospects for a top-four finish. After this match, Manchester United remained sixth in the league with 47 points, closer to fourth-placed Aston Villa, who had 55 points. Everton, managed by Sean Dyche, stayed 16th with 25 points, winless in their last 11 league matches. The penalties were awarded for fouls on Alejandro Garnacho. Fernandes’ penalty made him Manchester United’s all-time leading scorer from the spot with 29 goals, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s 28. Despite Everton’s dominance in possession and having more shots, Manchester United capitalized on their opportunities to win.

Liverpool hammer Sparta Prague, Roma beat Brighton 4-0

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Liverpool hammer Sparta Prague, Roma beat Brighton 4-0

An early penalty by Alexis Mac Allister and a Darwin Nunez brace helped Liverpool to defeat Sparta Prague 5-1 in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. Liverpool led 3-0 at halftime. Mac Allister scored from the penalty spot in the sixth minute, Nunez scored twice, once from a distance in the 25th minute and again in first-half stoppage time. Liverpool’s Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai also scored, while Liverpool conceded an own goal by Conor Bradley. In other matches, AS Roma won 4-0 against Brighton & Hove Albion, Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 with Qarabag, and Sporting Lisbon drew 1-1 with Atalanta. The second legs of these matches are scheduled for March 14.

Nadal,  hails ‘amazing’ Alcaraz after exhibition defeat

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Nadal,  hails ‘amazing’ Alcaraz after exhibition defeat

Rafa Nadal, a 37-year-old Spanish tennis player with 22 Grand Slam titles, lost to his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in an exhibition match in Las Vegas. Nadal mentioned that nearing the end of his career means he won’t have to face Alcaraz, who is 20 years old, too many times. Alcaraz has won majors at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon and is ranked number two in the world behind Novak Djokovic. Nadal, who expects to retire in 2024 after a series of injuries, praised Alcaraz as an amazing player and the future of Spanish tennis. Nadal has been sidelined for almost a year with a hip flexor injury and suffered a muscle injury at the start of the season but felt “much better than expected” during the exhibition match. Nadal and Alcaraz are set to participate in the Masters tournament at Indian Wells.