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Celebrities

'Dull as Prince William' John Cleese aims jibe at royals as he bemoans Euro 2020 matches

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'Dull as Prince William' John Cleese aims jibe at royals as he bemoans Euro 2020 matches

They told the actor: “First games are often cagey and International teams have less time together so work primarily on tactical shape and preventing the opposition scoring. 

“Attacking tactics are more complex and take more time. But I think it’s been pretty entertaining so far. Hang in there.”

John replied: “Thank you.

“I did enjoy the first 20 minutes of the England match

“But is there no limit to the amount of predictable square and back passing that we can tolerate ?”

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Celebrity News Feed

Sports

Manchester City champions: 5 matches that won the Premier League crown

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Manchester City champions: 5 matches that won the Premier League crown
Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Tuesday after nearest rivals Manchester United fell to a 2-1 defeat to Leicester City. It was their third league title in the past four seasons with Pep Guardiola’s men being deserved champions.
It has been an utterly dominant season from City as they reclaim their crown from Liverpool.

Express Sport takes a look back on the five matches that has seen them be named as champions.

Manchester City 2-5 Leicester City

It seems somewhat bizarre to at first pick out a defeat and a heavy one at that but this thumping at the hands of Brendan Rodgers’ men gave City the lessons that they needed.

Defensively, the Citizens looked vulnerable throughout as Jamie Vardy bagged a hat-trick, with James Maddison and Youri Tielemans also getting on the scoresheet.

That reverse convinced the club to turn to the transfer market and bring in Ruben Dias from Benfica – a move that has been inspired.

JUST IN: Rio Ferdinand has hailed Edinson Cavani’s influence on Mason Greenwood

Liverpool 1-4 Manchester City

Speaking of title rivals, Liverpool were then the next to be put to the sword in early February.

It was a statement victory from the visitors at Anfield as they displayed their resilience and quality to reduce the considerable gap to the Reds that was on display throughout 2019/20.

Gundogan scored twice on the day, with Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden also netting for City’s first Premier League victory at Anfield since 2003.

Crystal Palace 0-2 Manchester City

As it happened, the last win before they were crowned as champions.

Sergio Aguero and Torres netted two quickfire goals at Selhurst Park to secure three points.

It was also City’s 20th victory in their previous 22 league games – a run of form that has seen them canter to a fifth Premier League crown.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Sport Feed

Technology

BT matches Virgin Media with new cheaper broadband, but which should you pick?

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BT matches Virgin Media with new cheaper broadband, but which should you pick?
From next month millions more BT customers will be able to get broadband pumped into their properties at a far cheaper price. The UK Internet Service Provider (ISP) has announced a new plan which offers those on Universal Credit the chance to get internet access for a price of just £15 per month. That’s around half the cost of a standard connection from the firm. This new option will be available in June and is now in direct competition with a similar service from Virgin Media.
So, if you are eligible for this budget broadband you might be wondering which is best? Express.co.uk has checked out these options and here’s all you need to know.

VIRGIN MEDIA

PLAN: Virgin Essential broadband
PRICE: £15 per month
DOWNLOAD SPEEDS: 15Mbps
CONTRACT: Flexible 30-day

Virgin Media first launch its Essential broadband plan last year with the promise of cheaper prices, no long-term contract and no annual price rises. It’s available to Virgin customers on Universal Credit and offers speeds of 15Mbps with no limit on how much you can download. As a guide, a 15Mbps connection will allow you to download a full HD blockbuster movie in around 20 minutes.

This plan is based on a rolling 30-day contract which means you can leave at any time or upgrade back to faster speeds as soon as it becomes affordable again. One thing to note is that Virgin’s Essential plan does not include a landline, calls or any TV. This is simply broadband at a cheaper price.

READ MORE: BT broadband will be much cheaper for millions of customers from next month

BT BROADBAND

PLAN: BT Home Essentials
PRICE: £15 / £20 per month
DOWNLOAD SPEEDS: 36Mbps (£15) 67Mbps (£20)
CONTRACT: Flexible

BT has long offered budget broadband to some customers but it’s now expanding this service to anyone on Universal Credit. BT says this could allow around 4 million people to gain access to the web at a much cheaper price.

Like Virgin, BT’s Home Essentials starts from £15 per month although it does come with faster speeds of 36Mbps and you also get a phone line with 700 minutes of free calls each month. BT is also offering a more premium option which costs £20 per month and brings 67Mbps downloads into your property. At that rate, it would take just 10 minutes to download your night’s movie binge.

This more expensive option also features unlimited calls so you chat all day and night without being concerned about any extra costs. Both of these plans are based on 30-day contracts and you can leave at any time.

One final thing to note is that BT’s Home Essentials is available to anyone on Universal Credit and you don’t currently need to be a BT customer to apply.

AND DON’T FORGET…

BT and Virgin aren’t the only ISPs with a discount for those on Universal Credit. Hyperoptic is also offering a similar price plan for its fast fibre speeds.

If this service is available in your area you’ll find you can get 50Mbps downloads for just £15 per month and you can add a phone line for just £3 extra.

There’s also a 150Mbps option for £25 per month which will blast the web to devices at almost three times the current UK average. Like BT and Virgin, Hyperoptic doesn’t force you to sign up for a long-term contract and you can leave with just 30-day notice.

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This post originally appeared on Daily Express :: Tech Feed

Sports

Russia legend Arshavin to RT: St. Petersburg ‘ready to host more matches at Euros’ as UEFA set to reallocate games (VIDEO)

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Author RT
This post originally appeared on RT Sport News

Russia legend Arshavin to RT: St. Petersburg ‘ready to host more matches at Euros’ as UEFA set to reallocate games (VIDEO)

Former Arsenal and Russia star Andrey Arshavin says his hometown St. Petersburg will be more than ready to step in and host more matches at Euro 2020, with UEFA potentially set to relocate games to the city from Dublin.

UEFA is reportedly planning to relocate matches at this summer’s championships after the Irish capital was unable to give assurances over fan numbers.

Several Russian sports outlets have reported that St. Petersburg will be one of the beneficiaries, citing sources familiar with the situation.

READ MORE: UEFA ‘exploring punishments’ for Super League rebels as desire for retribution remains – reports

Dublin was set to host three group-stage matches involving Poland, Slovakia and Sweden, as well as one quarter-final, but the hosting rights were at risk of being axed if they could not guarantee a limited number of spectators.

Earlier this month, the Irish FA notified UEFA that it couldn’t provide assurances on a minimum 25% of spectator capacity, but was given an extended deadline to asses the situation. That time now appears to be up, however. 

“On Friday UEFA will announce its decision that St. Petersburg will be granted the right to host three more [group] matches – those which should have taken place in Dublin,” said Match TV commentator Nobel Arustamyan said.

“My sources have confirmed this information. Russia’s Euro 2020 Organizing Committee is ready for UEFA’s decision.”
Also on rt.com Dublin Euro 2020 games thrown into doubt after Irish FA refuses to commit on crowd numbers
Russia’s Euro 2020 Organizing Committee said the stadium in St. Petersburg will be filled to 50% capacity – the joint highest number of any of the 12 host cities, and a figure which could even be increased closer to the tournament, should the conditions allow.

St. Petersburg was already due to hold three group matches and one quarter-final at the 68,000-seater Krestovsky Stadium home of Russian Premier League champions Zenit.

The venue, which also hosted matches at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, will likely now benefit from even more games. 

Local football hero Andrey Arshavin, who won 75 caps for his country and famously starred in Russia’s run to the semi-finals at Euro 2008, said the city is more than ready to take on the extra load. 

“As I see it and understand, our city has been ready for the Euros for a long time. It was ready a year ago, and even more so is ready now,” Arshavin told RT Sport on the sidelines of an event on Thursday at the Krestovsky Stadium to mark 50 days to go until the tournament begins.  

“I don’t think extra matches will bring any extra difficulties to organize.

“Plus one of our advantages is that there’s almost a 100% guarantee that we can have 50% capacity. That can change in 50 days, but only for the better.

“I think matches with fans in a beautiful city like this means St. Petersburg can use this advantage to host more games.”

During the pandemic, Russian champions Zenit have won praise far and wide for their scheme to offer football fans the Covid vaccine before home matches – a measure which Arshavin praised. 

He also pointed out that unlike some other parts of Europe, Russia was not in a state of lockdown.

“Speaking to my friends and people I know in Europe, or who have just come back from Europe, if we look at the rhythm of life in Moscow and St. Petersburg, on the whole you won’t find any major differences with life before the pandemic,” said the 39-year-old former Arsenal ace. 

“In Russia, life is practically returning [to normal], part of that is connected to the vaccine. Well done to Zenit for organizing that.

“The more people are vaccinated, the lower the chance of spreading the virus. So I think that’s another advantage for our country and city for hosting more matches.”

Organizers in St. Petersburg have even suggested that fans visiting matches at Euro 2020 in the city could also be able to get a Covid jab. 
Also on rt.com Russia could offer Covid vaccine to foreign fans at Euro 2020 games in St. Petersburg – city official
Euro 2020 was postponed from last year and will be held between June 11 and July 11 this summer. The hopes were that the competition could retain its pan-continental format for a unique edition of the event. 

However, Bilbao already looks to have been dropped after the Spanish city failed to guarantee capacities of at least 25% at San Mames Stadium. A decision is also still pending on Munich. 

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Sports

Man Utd receive Anthony Martial injury blow with striker set to miss key matches

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Manchester United are set to be without Anthony Martial for their next two matches following an injury picked up on international duty.

The French striker suffered a knock to the knee during the world champions’ 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan.

Despite trying to play on, the United striker was substituted in the second half and missed Les Bleus’ 1-0 win over Bosnia.

Although the injury is not expected to keep him out for long, Martial is not expected to be fit for United’s Premier League[1] clash with Brighton[2].

According to L’Equipe, the player is also unlikely to face Granada in the Europa League four days later.

“Hit in the left knee in the victory in Kazakhstan and he should not be able to play either this Sunday against Brighton and may be a bit tight for the quarter-final first leg of the Europa League in Granada,” they report.

Martial has struggled for goalscoring form this season at United, scoring just 7 times in 36 appearances in all competitions for the club

This latest injury comes as a further blow to the player who has also recently been out of action with hip trouble.

However, there is hope the injury isn’t too serious and the 25-year-old will be back in action for the trip to Tottenham[3] next week.

“The French international striker, who underwent radiological examinations on Tuesday in Sarajevo, suffered from a small lesion in the head of the fibula,” L’Equipe added.

“Depending on the evolution of his injury, he should be able to resume the following weekend in the league against Tottenham.”

References

  1. ^ Premier League (www.mirror.co.uk)
  2. ^ Brighton (www.mirror.co.uk)
  3. ^ Tottenham (www.mirror.co.uk)

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Sports

Plenty of needle: Russian Premier League leaders Zenit invite fans to get jabbed with Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V at home matches

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Plenty of needle: Russian Premier League leaders Zenit invite fans to get jabbed with Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V at home matches

Russian Premier League team Zenit St.Petersburg may have become the first football club to offer fans vaccinations at home matches, announcing that adults can receive the Sputnik V Covid-19 jab at games for the rest of the season.

The top-flight table-toppers have invited supporters attending the Gazprom Arena on Saturday, when they will face midtable Akhmat Grozny, to visit a “vaccination station” on the third floor of a stand at the 68,000-capacity stadium.

Under the scheme, any supporter over the age of 18 who provides their passport and health card will be assessed by a medic with a view to being vaccinated immediately.

Zenit are thought to be the first club to turn their stadium into a jabbing point on matchdays, although numerous stadiums around the world have served as testing and vaccination centers since the pandemic began.

English Premier League club Chelsea, whose community work is partly overseen by Russian owner Roman Abramovich, became one of the most high-profile teams to turn over parts of their stadium to public health efforts last year.

Among those activities, the Blues’ Stamford Bridge home in west London was used to provide accommodation and meals for UK National Health Service staff, taking advantage of the hotel adjoining the site.

Liverpool’s Anfield home and London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have also been among the venues in England to become testing centers, while the NFL commissioner offered team arenas for vaccine distribution in the US.
Also on rt.com Abramovich & Chelsea to provide 78,000 free meals to NHS workers as UK battles Covid-19
The Bank of America Stadium, which usually welcomes up to 75,000 fans for Carolina Panthers games, is one of the sites already in use as American health officials scramble to vaccinate millions of people.

The Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccine has become increasingly in demand worldwide after research found that it was 91.6 percent effective against the novel coronavirus, making it one of the world’s leading treatments for the potentially deadly virus.

Reports this week have suggested that some Russians are reluctant to accept the vaccine, but its distribution at Zenit’s home, which has averaged an attendance of more than 17,000 for games this season, is certain to drive up the current reported total of four million people who have been vaccinated in Russia.
Also on rt.com ‘Unforgettable day’: Football legend Pele gets Covid-19 jab before Brazil icon urges people to ‘keep discipline to preserve lives’
The free vaccination offer could be seen as positive news by fans who are anxious to see full houses at matches again or even return to the stands at all in countries such as England, where lockdown measures mean that most grounds have been shut to fans for more than a year.

“Would this also be something for [us] so that we can quickly get back to the stands?” asked a supporter of Dutch top-flight side Heerenveen, responding to Zenit’s announcement on social media.

Zenit are aiming to end a run of two matches without a win and recover from Monday’s defeat at Rubin Kazan on Saturday. They have won their last four home matches to put themselves two points clear of second-placed CSKA Moscow after 21 games of the Russian Premier League season.
Also on rt.com ‘I don’t want the vaccine’: Jamaican running champ Yohan Blake insists he ‘would rather miss the Olympics’ than take Covid-19 jab

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