Category Sports News

Jennifer Dodds is aiming for back-to-back Winter Olympic gold medals, with the curling teams the first officially confirmed Team GB athletes for Milan-Cortina 2026.

And, with a silver medal on their debut, Bruce Mouat and his rink are aiming to go one better in Italy next year.

Mouat, along with Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan Jr, were narrowly beaten by Sweden in the 2022 final.

Dodds teamed up with Eve Muirhead, Vicky Wright and Hailey Duff in Beijing as Britain topped the podium for the first time in 20 years.

This time, she will be joined by Rebecca Morrison, Sophie Sinclair and skip Sophie Jackson.

“Winning gold last time was a dream come true, so I’m excited to get back there, obviously with a new team,” Dodds told BBC Scotland.

“We’ve been building a lot over the last couple of seasons and I’m excited to see where the trajectory of our performance can go over the next eight months.

“I’ve known a couple of the girls for quite a while, but that’s the thing, we probably had to build that teamwork, build the friendships and I feel like we’ve done that really well. I think you can see in our performances, our teamwork has improved, and a big part of that is communication and understanding each other.”

Mouat’s Scotland rink won World Championship gold for a second time this year, having been European champions on four occasions.

Now the Edinburgh curler wants to add Olympic gold to their list of achievements.

Mouat and Dodds will team up again to compete in the mixed doubles, having lost out in the 2022 bronze medal match.

“We’re friends first and foremost, but we are team-mates as well,” explained Dodds. “He can be intense on the ice but he’s one of the funniest people I know off the ice. He always puts a smile on my face.

“We had the World Championships in April, and we got silver there, and I felt like that was kind of where we were, back to where we were from a couple of years ago. What we’re wanting to go and strive for, is that gold medal at the Olympics.”

Mouat added: “Jen and I are great friends and we have been since we were about eight or nine. It’s just so much fun to get to go back to one of the pinnacles of our sport and play with someone that you’ve played with for such a long time.

“In Beijing we were very close to winning a medal. We were up in our semi-final and then we ended up just throwing it away unfortunately, but we learned a lot from that experience.”

The Club World Cup may have had a lukewarm reception in some parts during the group stages, but Manchester City did their best to kindle interest with a statement victory over Juventus on Thursday.

City’s sizzling performance in the sweltering heat of Orlando ensured the 5-2 hammering of their Italian opponents made it a flawless record in Group G, allowing them to finish top of the standings.

Pep Guardiola’s men dominated the contest from start to finish, brushing off a downpour during the first half to lay down a marker in this tournament.

The Spaniard has maintained this competition is the start of the new season rather than the continuation of the previous disappointing one and was suitably impressed by what he saw from his players.

“I liked the way we did it,” Guardiola told Dazn. “It has been a long, long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side.

For the first time in eight seasons, City finished last term without a major trophy and ended third in the Premier League after having won an unprecedented four titles in a row.

But on Thursday, with 76% possession, 24 shots to five and 738 passes to 219, City took apart the 36-time Serie A champions with a performance that will make the remaining teams sit up and take notice.

City needed to win to come top and made no mistake, avoiding the half of the draw which contains Paris-St Germain and Bayern Munich.

They may come up against Real Madrid in the last 16 if Xabi Alonso’s side are beaten by Salzburg later on.

“I think City have shook the tournament tonight,” said the club’s former goalkeeper Shay Given. “People will step up and think ‘wow these [players] are the real deal again.

“I think they are going to bounce back and bounce back strong.”

Guardiola added: “We were so aggressive without the ball. Ederson made incredible long balls to Erling [Haaland]. The most important thing today is we can feel it again.

“The players felt we can compete in that way. Last season it couldn’t happen for one reason: we didn’t have players. Since day one we’ve made a step up in the rhythm and training is unbelievable.

Juve will have taken a psychological knock even before kick-off, seeing the name of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri on the team sheet – it was the 29-year-old’s first start since sustaining a serious knee injury against Arsenal nine months ago.

The Spaniard managed 65 minutes and showed why he is so integral to this City team, displaying his assuredness in the middle of the park with a metronomic performance, completing a total of 67 passes.

By the time he left the pitch, only defender Ruben Dias (84) had more touches on the ball than Rodri’s 79, highlighting the importance of controlling the game.

“Everyone knows how important is Rodri,” said Guardiola. “He is one of the best players in the world. I am happy he had a good 60 minutes and he can help us a lot.

“Last season we couldn’t do it for the injuries. This season we can have players fit and try to perform similar to today.”

Guardiola said a lengthy injury list derailed last season but against Juve he had an almost entirely fit squad to select from, barring the injured Claudio Echeverri.

Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Phil Foden were all on the scoresheet as City racked up 13 goals in their three group stage games.

“The forward play and the goals Man City score is fantastic,” said Given. “When they won the title four times in a row we thought these guys were robots.

“Even Pep mentions ‘we have got our mojo back’. We have got the Man City back, which we all thought was automatic.

The match also saw Haaland notch a landmark strike, with the 300th top level goal for club and country.

The 24-year-old spent a spell on the sidelines last season through injury, but has now netted five goals in his past six games.

In total, he has scored 258 times for the clubs he has played for – plus 42 for Norway.

“Congratulations on 300 goals,” said Guardiola, who has won all 11 games as manager in the competition. “At 24 years old, it is a good run.

“His manager was an incredible footballer – he scored 11 goals in 11 years. Imagine that situation so I admire him a lot and happy for him.”

Despite Haaland’s recent impressive goalscoring run, he actually started Thursday’s game on the bench.

It goes to show just how potent City, aided with £100m worth of new signings prior to the tournament, are becoming again.

The Club World Cup may have had a lukewarm reception in some parts during the group stages, but Manchester City did their best to kindle interest with a statement victory over Juventus on Thursday.

City’s sizzling performance in the sweltering heat of Orlando ensured the 5-2 hammering of their Italian opponents made it a flawless record in Group G, allowing them to finish top of the standings.

Pep Guardiola’s men dominated the contest from start to finish, brushing off a downpour during the first half to lay down a marker in this tournament.

The Spaniard has maintained this competition is the start of the new season rather than the continuation of the previous disappointing one and was suitably impressed by what he saw from his players.

“I liked the way we did it,” Guardiola told Dazn. “It has been a long, long time since we had a performance like this on and off the ball. The players were committed and we are happy to beat a top side.

For the first time in eight seasons, City finished last term without a major trophy and ended third in the Premier League after having won an unprecedented four titles in a row.

But on Thursday, with 76% possession, 24 shots to five and 738 passes to 219, City took apart the 36-time Serie A champions with a performance that will make the remaining teams sit up and take notice.

City needed to win to come top and made no mistake, avoiding the half of the draw which contains Paris-St Germain and Bayern Munich.

They may come up against Real Madrid in the last 16 if Xabi Alonso’s side are beaten by Salzburg later on.

“I think City have shook the tournament tonight,” said the club’s former goalkeeper Shay Given. “People will step up and think ‘wow these [players] are the real deal again.

“I think they are going to bounce back and bounce back strong.”

Guardiola added: “We were so aggressive without the ball. Ederson made incredible long balls to Erling [Haaland]. The most important thing today is we can feel it again.

“The players felt we can compete in that way. Last season it couldn’t happen for one reason: we didn’t have players. Since day one we’ve made a step up in the rhythm and training is unbelievable.

Juve will have taken a psychological knock even before kick-off, seeing the name of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri on the team sheet – it was the 29-year-old’s first start since sustaining a serious knee injury against Arsenal nine months ago.

The Spaniard managed 65 minutes and showed why he is so integral to this City team, displaying his assuredness in the middle of the park with a metronomic performance, completing a total of 67 passes.

By the time he left the pitch, only defender Ruben Dias (84) had more touches on the ball than Rodri’s 79, highlighting the importance of controlling the game.

“Everyone knows how important is Rodri,” said Guardiola. “He is one of the best players in the world. I am happy he had a good 60 minutes and he can help us a lot.

“Last season we couldn’t do it for the injuries. This season we can have players fit and try to perform similar to today.”

Guardiola said a lengthy injury list derailed last season but against Juve he had an almost entirely fit squad to select from, barring the injured Claudio Echeverri.

Jeremy Doku, Savinho and Phil Foden were all on the scoresheet as City racked up 13 goals in their three group stage games.

“The forward play and the goals Man City score is fantastic,” said Given. “When they won the title four times in a row we thought these guys were robots.

“Even Pep mentions ‘we have got our mojo back’. We have got the Man City back, which we all thought was automatic.

The match also saw Haaland notch a landmark strike, with the 300th top level goal for club and country.

The 24-year-old spent a spell on the sidelines last season through injury, but has now netted five goals in his past six games.

In total, he has scored 258 times for the clubs he has played for – plus 42 for Norway.

“Congratulations on 300 goals,” said Guardiola, who has won all 11 games as manager in the competition. “At 24 years old, it is a good run.

“His manager was an incredible footballer – he scored 11 goals in 11 years. Imagine that situation so I admire him a lot and happy for him.”

Despite Haaland’s recent impressive goalscoring run, he actually started Thursday’s game on the bench.

It goes to show just how potent City, aided with £100m worth of new signings prior to the tournament, are becoming again.

First Test, Bridgetown (day two of five)

Australia: 180 (Head 59, Khawaja 47; Seales 5-60) and 92-4 (Webster 19*; S Joseph 1-15)

West Indies: 190 (Hope 48, Chase 44; Starc 3-65)

Australia lead by 82 runs

Australia ground out an 82-run lead with six wickets remaining in their second innings after another dramatic day in the first Test against West Indies in Bridgetown.

The tourists, having posted just 180 on Wednesday, trailed by 10 runs when West Indies made 190 in their first innings.

There then looked to be trouble for Australia when they lost early wickets batting second time around and stumbled to 65-4, before the fifth-wicket pair of Travis Head and Beau Webster steered the team to stumps at the end of day two.

Head faced 37 balls for his 13 not out, while Webster scored more briskly, reaching 19 in just 24 deliveries, as they crucially stayed together for eight testing overs.

Australia will begin day three on 92-4, looking for Head and Webster to propel them towards a healthy lead.

After 14 wickets fell on day one, hosts West Indies resumed their first innings on 57-4 at the start of Thursday’s play and soon lost Brandon King, bowled by Josh Hazlewood for 26.

Wicketkeeper Shai Hope joined captain Roston Chase in the middle and the pair put on 67 before the latter was controversially given out lbw to Pat Cummins for 44 despite appearing to possibly edge the ball on to his pads.

Mitchell Starc, who was arguably the pick of the Australia bowlers in taking 3-65 in West Indies’ first innings, predicted the match would continue to follow a familiar pattern.

He said of West Indies’ effort with the bat: “They had a partnership in the middle and played pretty well, but the bowlers have been in the game and no doubt it will be the same tomorrow.

“There were a couple that stayed low and a couple that popped up. It will be interesting to see how it changes on Friday.”

Asked about the controversial dismissal of Chase, Starc added: “We can only ask the questions and then it goes to the officials. One of those went against us and a couple went against the West Indies.

Tottenham and Arsenal are competing to sign Eberechi Eze, Tottenham has a £60 million price tag for Cristian Romero, and Napoli and Juventus want to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United.

Eberechi Eze, 26, a midfielder from England and Crystal Palace, will join Arsenal for £68m against north London rivals Tottenham. (Sun)

Eze is a less expensive option to Real Madrid’s Brazilian forward Rodrygo, 24. (Talksport)

At over £60 million, Tottenham wants to sign Argentina’s Cristian Romero and are unwilling to sell him to Atletico Madrid. (Telegraph requires a subscription)

Jadon Sancho, 25, is a 25-year-old winger who Napoli and Juventus are willing to pay Manchester United £25 million, but they are unable to meet the England winger’s weekly wage of £250, 000. (Metro)

Warren Zaire-Emery, 19, Paris St-Germain and France midfielder, is a target for Manchester United in an ambitious move. (Teamtalk)

Despite Leeds‘ interest, Fulham have no intention of selling Brazilian international Rodrigo Muniz, 24. (Sky Sports)

Crystal Palace and Liverpool have begun discussions over a deal to sign their captain Marc Guehi, with the 24-year-old England defender said to be in favor of a move to Anfield this summer. (Teamtalk)

Newcastle have made moves to sign Nottingham Forest’s 23-year-old Sweden winger Anthony Elanga, Brazil’s 23-year-old Joao Pedro, Burnley’s 22-year-old English goalkeeper James Trafford, and Brighton’s 23-year-old Brazilian Joao Pedro. (Telegraph requires a subscription)

Newcastle and Trafford have reached a mutual agreement, and negotiations are still ongoing. (Romano-Fabrizio)

Victor Gyokeres, 27, is reportedly ready to reunite with his former manager Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford (Mirror), and Manchester United are now in a strong position to sign the striker.

West Ham are interested in signing 23-year-old ivory coast striker Evann Guessand from Nice for £25 million. (Mail)

Axel Tuanzebe’s contract with Ipswich Town has come to an end, and Burnley have signed him on a free transfer.

Tuanzebe played a significant role in the Tractor Boys’ promotion to the Premier League between 2023 and 2024, making 45 appearances total.

The 27-year-old chose to stay with newly promoted Burnley rather than sign a new deal with Ipswich after making 22 top-flight appearances last year.

The defender from DR Congo is reportedly on a one-year deal at Turf Moor, making him the third summer signing from head coach Scott Parker.

He joins Netherlands goalkeeper Max Weiss and left-back Quilindschy Hartman at the club.

After speaking with the manager, Tuanzebe explained that the decision was “very simple,” and that the message was “very clear, precise, and straight to the point.”

“I’m ready to continue my journey at Burnley because it’s a new chapter for me, back in the area of Manchester and home.”

Before renouncing his allegiance to his native DR Congo, Tuanzebe started his senior career with Manchester United as an international for the England age group.

The defender, who has three caps for his nation, is likely to participate in the continent’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in December.