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Wimbledon 2020: Comprehensive Guide To Grass Court Grand Slam Event

Wimbledon is the third tennis Grand Slam of the year, and the only one that takes place on grass.

This hasn’t always been the case, but it is the focal point of the ‘grass court season’ now with smaller warm-up events preparing players with the Grand Slam final in the United Kingdom.

Like the clay courts of Roland Garros, Wimbledon provides an opportunity to those players that specialise on grass.

Lesser known entrants can shock a few who aren’t accustomed to the pace of grass court tennis and write their own pieces of history along the way, perhaps joining the lists of famous Wimbledon upsets.

Wimbledon in 2020 is the focus of this piece, starting with the dates and running through to some Wimbledon tips...

When Is Wimbledon 2020?

The 2020 version of Wimbledon begins on Monday 29th June. The event runs for just shy of a fortnight, finishing with the men’s singles final on Sunday 12th July.

Like all Grand Slams, the journey to the tournament proper begins long before the excitement of 29th June with qualification taking place in the weeks before.

The British summertime weather can cause some delays, and this can give the schedulers some headaches.

If matches from the outer courts are moved, or there’s a particularly poor spell of weather, the finals can end up being moved but this is very unlikely.

Wimbledon 2020: Where is it?

Wimbledon is held at the All England Club and has been since 1877, when the first tournament was hosted. Wimbledon is an affluent area of south-west London, and obviously attracts a lot of tourists during the tournament fortnight.

The main court at the All England Club is inventively named Centre Court and had a retractable roof added in 2009. The secondary court, with an equally thrilling name, No1 Court, has recently had a roof added too, which was first used at Wimbledon 2019.

Wimbledon is renowned for its strict all-white dress code and the traditional consumption of strawberries and cream.

Wimbledon 2020: Reigning Champions

The media might be focused on the singles events, but there are more than two people celebrating glory come the end of a Grand Slam fortnight. There were 29 Wimbledon champions in 2019 across 18 different events.

Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer in the 2019 men’s singles finals in what is widely considered one of the greatest matches ever played.

Djokovic has won Wimbledon on five occasions and will be looking to make it three titles in a row in 2020. Wimbledon prize money has played a major part in Djokovic’s $140 million tournament earnings.

Simona Halep lifted the women’s trophy to secure her second career Grand Slam following her French Open triumph in 2018.

The only British success was for Andrew Lapthorne and his Australian partner Dylan Alcott in the wheelchair quad doubles.

Wimbledon 2020: Betting

The latest tennis odds offer prices for the men’s and women’s Wimbledon draws.

After his historic win in 2019, Djokovic leads the way in the men’s market, while Serena Williams is favoured over Halep and Ashleigh Barty in the women’s draw.

Women’s Odds

Serena Williams – 6/1

Ashleigh Barty – 7/1

Simona Halep – 7/1

Bianca Andrescu – 9/1

Petra Kvitova – 9/1

Karolina Pliskova – 9/1

Naomi Osaka – 12/1

Angelique Kerber – 16/1

Belinda Bencic – 20/1

Johanna Konta – 20/1

Elina Svitolina – 20/1

Men’s Odds

Novak Djokovic – 6/4

Roger Federer – 9/2

Rafael Nadal – 9/2

Daniil Medvedev – 11/1

Stefanos Tsitsipas – 12/1

Andy Murray – 20/1

Wimbledon 2020 With 888sport

Along with the British Grand Prix, FA Cup final and Lord’s Test match, Wimbledon is a huge occasion in the British sporting summer.

The 2020 edition will be no different, and 888sport is the place to find all the news, odds and tips.

888sport.com has tennis markets galore - all the tennis bets you could ever want

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Tim Ireland / AP Photo*

December 30, 2019

Tennis

By Sam Cox

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Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

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Classic Football Boots - Which Is Your Favourite?

Football boots aren’t just a shoe to play a sport. They are iconic and often as famous as the international athletes that were paid to wear them.

Getting a new pair of boots as a young footballer is an event in itself, and a chance to share the same footwear (not literally) as your heroes.

We all know the big boot manufacturers from Nike and Adidas through to Puma, Umbro and Under Armour. Whether you’re just learning the best football skills or getting ready to play matches on a Sunday afternoon, footballers spend a lot of time deliberating over which boots to buy.

Here are the most famous football boots ever, starting with a boot worn by some of the greatest to play the game…

Adidas Predator

Released in 1994, the Adidas Predator was not only worn by Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham, it changed the design of boots long-term.

The initial idea was to increase the power and spin that could be generated by the player – the ‘fins’ that were added to do this have become commonplace in modern football boots.

There have been several new versions of the Predator since the days of Rui Costa and Zidane. It is the definitive boot of a generation and has been used by multiple superstars from Kaka through to Patrick Vieira.

Adidas F50

The predecessor to a boot that was far more influential, the Adidas F50’s party trick was the hidden laces.

Although manufacturers soon realised this was pointless and a pretty silly gimmick, it was a fun boot when it first arrived on the scene.

Arjen Robben was probably the biggest star to wear the F50, though some of the best players in the world also laced them up including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ashley Cole. Cheaper options, the F30 and F10, were available.

Puma King

A true ground-breaker, the Puma King changed – and in a sense created – the football boot industry. It added fuel to the fire that was the Adidas and Puma rivalry and opened the door to football boot sponsorship deals.

The Puma King was the first boot to really address the issue of weight – it was lighter than any competitor – and opened the world’s eyes to coloured boots with its all-white version.

Pele, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Eusebio and Paul Gascoigne all wore the Kings (that would’ve been a good five-a-side team).

More recently, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and France manager Didier Deschamps sported the revolutionary boot. Find odds for Deschamps and Arteta’s teams in 888sport’s football betting.

Nike Total 90

Considered a ‘power boot’ the Nike Total 90 advertising campaign has its own place in football history.

The off-centre lacing was as a first in the world of football boots too, and they had more than a few world-famous figures to endorse their game-changing boot.

Luis Figo was the headliner, but fellow generational talents Roberto Carlos, Wayne Rooney and Patrick Kluivert were Total 90 athletes. The boot has changed in recent years, and its not quite as popular as it was in the mid-2000s.

Adidas Copa Mundial

The Copa Mundial is the highest selling football boot ever. It was first released back in 1979, and is still being sold as we head into the 2020s.

The boot was well ahead of its time back when Franz Beckenbauer was lacing them up – it was far lighter than any other boot on the market.

Beckenbauer wasn’t the only big name to put on the Copa Mundials. French legend Michel Platini and Franco Baresi, arguably the greatest defender in the history of the sport, were also known to wear the boots.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Gregory Bull / AP Photo*

December 30, 2019

Football

By Sam Cox

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Cheltenham New Year's Day 2020: Race Schedule, Betting Tips & Horse Racing Odds

Is there any better way of bringing in the New Year than enjoying a whole days racing action at Cheltenham Racecourse - the home of The Festival?

Here is the schedule of races on what should be another informative afternoon of Festival clues:

What Happened Last Year?

Aso got 2019 off to a winning start for Charlie Deutsch and Venetia Williams in what is now the Grade 3 Paddy Power Handicap Chase. Aso then went on to run very well in the Ryanair Chase at The Festival.
Beware The Bear scored for Jeremiah McGrath and Nicky Henderson OBE in the newly named Markel Insurance Handicap Chase, beating Shanroe Santos and Perfect Candidate in the process. Two and a half months later Beware The Bear went on to win the Grade 3 Ultima Chase at The Festival.

Significant Trends

The New Year's Day fixture at Cheltenham has proved a springboard for numerous horses after it was created in its current format in 2005.

Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Denman and Bobs Worth both won over hurdles at the fixture during their novice campaigns.

Denman scored in the rearranged Challow Novices' Hurdle, which had been moved from Newbury, in 2006, while Bobs Worth took what is now the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle in 2011.

Big Buck's started his 18-race winning streak over hurdles in the 2009 running of the Paddy Power 68 Sleeps To Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Paul Nicholls OBE and owned by Andy Stewart, Big Buck's Cheltenham Festival record included four successive Stayers' Hurdle triumphs – a feat that won’t easily be repeated.

The hugely talented mare Annie Power registered a comfortable victory over Zarkandar in the Dornan Engineering Hurdle on New Year's Day 2014.

Her 15 career wins from 17 starts were headlined by her memorable success in the 2016 Champion Hurdle, the first mare to do so since Flakey Dove in 1994.

The New One's second victory under Rules came in the 2012 version of the concluding race on the card, the EBF Stallions & Cheltenham Pony Club NH Flat Race.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained runner clocked up 17 wins over hurdles, including a record-equalling three successes in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Lostintranslation and Defi Du Seuil finished first and second in the Grade 2 Dipper Novices' Chase on New Year's Day last year.

Both horses have established themselves as two of Britain's top chasers, with Defi Du Seuil winning the JLT Novices' Chase at The Festival and this season's Tingle Creek Chase.

Lostintranslation also went on to take Grade 1 honours, picking up both Aintree's Betway Mildmay Novices' Chase and the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park.

Let’s take an early look at the horses that have been entered up for January 1st:

12:15pm - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Listed)

Redford Road is a course and distance winner and is likely to go off the favourite after a superb start to his 2019/20 season. A narrow win over Champagne Well here in December should see the six-year-old spot on for another bold bid.

Aintree scorer Imperial Alcazar should also be on the premises, whilst the Skelton brothers team up again with the useful French recruit, Protektorat.

12:50pm - Markel Insurance Handicap Chase

Cogry is somewhat of a standing dish at Prestbury Park but he will have to defy top weight if he is to register his fifth course win.
The veteran performer Carole’s Destrier either wins or gets pulled up as of late and his form figures suggest a big run is on the cards.

Singlefarmpayment is something of an enigma at this track and he will probably arrive late on the scene, full of running, and disgruntled punters will tell you the rest of the story.

1:25pm - Dipper Novices' Chase

Barry Geraghty said he was looking forward the most to riding Champ over the Christmas holiday period and it is easy to understand why.

After switching to the bigger obstacles, the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old has scored back-to-back wins at Newbury, but this will be his biggest test to date.

The Sue Smith-trained Midnight Shadow won the Relkeel Hurdle on this card last year and has taken to the chasing game well. He could pose the biggest threat to the odds-on favourite.

2:00pm - Paddy Power Handicap Chase

Kalashnikov will be hoping to brush off a dose of seconditus with victory in this New Year’s Day feature. Sent off the favourite for both his starts this season, he’s had to play second fiddle to both Forest Bihan and Oldgrangewood so far.

Cepage ran with credit here in the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and should well again whilst Mister Whitaker makes his seasonal debut after collecting the Silver Trophy here back in April.

2:35pm - Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle

Skandiburg looked like a horse to follow this season when scooting up in the Pertemps Hurdle at Aintree in November.

Beware The Bear enjoys it here whilst Nicky Henderson’s other runner Might Bite returns to hurdling for the first time since 2015 after seemingly falling out of love with chasing.

3:10pm - Relkeel Hurdle

After taking the Haldon Gold Cup and running with credit in the Tingle Creek, Janika returns to the hurdling sphere and will be a tough but to crack in this contest.

Emitom was far from disgraced when running to three lengths behind Champ at Aintree last April and rates as the most obvious danger to the favourite.

The fortunate David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle winner, Roksana, is sure to be in the shake up too.

3:45pm - Pony Club NH Flat Race

Naturally there are plenty of unknowns in this finale but there has to be some value lurking in the field somewhere.

Tom Lacey’s Quick Draw was well fancied at Aintree and will certainly know his job whilst Alan King knows how to ready one on debut and he saddles Harrowby.

Alex Hales’ stable has been running into form in recent weeks and Adstantes is worth a cautionary look in the betting.

***
You can find all our Cheltenham New Year’s Day horse racing betting odds on the 888sport website.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark Humphrey / AP Photo*

December 30, 2019

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Why Tom Brady IS The Greatest NFL Player Of All-Time

The quarterback is the most influential position in team sport. No team can win a Super Bowl with a subpar quarterback.

The greatest of all-time in American football inevitably focuses on the signal callers. It might seem unfair to the other positions, but the quarterback is the player with the most influence on a game.

Focusing the discussion on the quarterback spot isn’t a disservice to Randy Moss, Rob Gronkowski or Lawrence Taylor. Comparing position with position in any sport can be tricky, and it’s a particular challenge in American football.

How can Moss’ achievements be pitted against Peyton Manning’s? Or how can Gronkowski’s influence be contrasted with Joe Montana’s?

Working on the premise that quarterback is the most important position in this, and any team, sport, it narrows the greatest ever debate to a handful of names.

Montana and Manning feature, as do Brett Favre, Dan Marino and modern greats Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. One name, though, has stood out like no other: Tom Brady.

Brady was at the centre of an infamous NFL controversy in the form of Deflategate. He divides opinion – like many all-time greats do – and his diet and lifestyle choices have been criticised.

The ascent to superstardom, the Super Bowl rings and NFL records, has seen Brady become one of the most famous people in America, appearing in the Simpsons, Family Guy and Ted 2.

Defying The Odds

His route to Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion wasn’t always clear. Brady wasn’t a college stud like Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield – he was selected 199th overall by the New England Patriots.

Even in his earlier years at Michigan, Brady wasn’t highly regarded. He spent his first two seasons as a backup, as low as seventh on their depth chart.

Once he broke through in 1998, battling Drew Henson for the starting spot, Brady seized his opportunity.

It was an example of his ability to succeed under pressure, as he racked up the touchdowns and passing yards over those two seasons on his way to a 20-5 record.

His time in the NFL saw him on the sidelines again. A Drew Bledsoe injury in his second campaign gave him his chance, and he took it better than even the most loyal Patriots fan could have hoped.

The season ended with his first Super Bowl ring and a Super Bowl MVP. He has defied the NFL odds throughout his career, he’s an athlete who is well practiced in fighting against expectations.

Weight Of Success

That first glorious run was just the start. Brady has gone on to compile a list of records unmatched by any other quarterback in the history of the league. The Patriots are – thanks to Brady and Bill Belichick – the greatest dynasty in NFL history.

He has more playoff winning drives than anyone else, including six in Super Bowls. He has the most wins of any quarterback. He has every quarterback Super Bowl record imaginable.

Playing 19 seasons will see a player rack up numbers, but Brady has done far more than collect stats. The Patriots have never had a losing season since he took over as starter, winning the division 16 times and playing in 13 AFC Championship games.

The Brady and Belichick duo is the greatest quarterback-coach pairing in NFL history, and the role of Belichick is the main critique of Brady’s claim to be considered the greatest player ever.

Evaluating a player’s legacy on team success might not seem fair. Perhaps Rodgers has Brady’s CV if he was with Belichick. Maybe they’re even better.

We can’t judge that (though those sort of hypotheticals are always fun) – what we do know is that Brady has been the ultimate clutch quarterback.

There is a sense of inevitability when Brady gets the ball in the fourth quarter. The most famous came in Super Bowl LI as he dismantled the Atlanta Falcons to recover from a 25-point deficit and win in overtime.

Super Bowl LII wasn’t quite as dramatic, but Brady delivered in the fourth quarter once again to break a 3-3 tie with the Rams, winning his sixth Super Bowl.

There is a long list of Brady game-winning drives, and regardless of Belichick’s mastery as coach, that calmness, and poise to execute in the big moments, is all Brady.

As long as Brady is playing in Patriots blue, New England will be a common feature in NFL betting tips. No player has as strong a case for the GOAT title.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to David J. Phillip / AP Photo*

December 28, 2019

NFL

By Sam Cox

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King George VI Chase: Horse Racing Tips Ahead Of Kempton Park Boxing Day Meeting

The highlight of the racing calendar over the busy Christmas period is undoubtedly the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day.

The race, which is run over a distance of three miles, negotiating eighteen fences, is now the second most prestigious chase in England, surpassed only by the Cheltenham Gold Cup - and it has been subject to the best horse racing gambles.

The last ten renewals of the race have been dominated by horses trained by Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Colin Tizzard. Clan Des Obeaux held off stern competition from Thistlecrack to win a dramatic race last year and both horses line up again.

Here is a look at the trends and statistics on the King George VI Chase based on the last ten years:

Age: 7 of the last ten winners were aged between 6 and 8 years old.

Form:

Six of the last ten winners were officially rated 172 or higher.
Nine of the last ten winners ran in the last forty days.
Ten of the last ten winners had won over three miles plus.
Ten of the last ten winners had won at least one Grade One chase.
Nine of the last ten winners had won at Kempton before over the race distance.

Trainer Form:

Paul Nicholls has won five of the last ten renewals.
Nicky Henderson had notable success with Long Run in this race before Might Bite came along.
Colin Tizzard broke the Nicholls/Henderson stranglehold on this race in 2015 and 2016.
Irish trained runners have a very poor record in this race, boasting just three winners in the last forty years. Those winners were: Florida Pearl (2001) and Kicking King (2004, 2005).

Starting Price:

Five favourites have won in the last ten King George VI Chase renewals.
All the winners since 2005 had been priced 9/2 or shorter until Clan Des Obeaux booked that trend last years when scoring at 12/1.

King George VI Chase: Runners

Aso (Venetia Williams)

Even though the Williams stable are boasting a fantastic strike rate at the moment, it is very hard to make a case for Aso here, especially after his last run in the Peterborough Chase.

The nine-year-old won a couple of competitive handicaps last season, and then went to The Festival in March where he was second to Frodon in the Ryanair Chase.

He kicked off this campaign finishing third in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby, but his next run at Huntingdon was well under-par and he will need to bounce back and run the race of his life here to trouble the judge.

Clan Des Obeaux (Paul Nicholls)

The defending champion Clan Des Obeaux matched Road To Respect for most of the way in the JN Wine Champion Chase at Down Royal before the home contender’s superior fitness told in the end.

It was a very encouraging return to say the least and one could argue that it was a superior return compared to his first appearance of last season – finishing fourth and well beaten in the Betfair Chase.

Sam Twiston-Davies takes the ride after Harry Cobden decided to side with Nicholls’ other runner, Cyrname.

Cyrname (Paul Nicholls)

Cyrname hit the racing headlines last season when he followed up his wide margin handicap win at Ascot with a 17 length demolition job of Waiting Patiently in the Ascot Chase.

Proving that was no fluke, Cyrname inflicted a first defeat over jumps on Altior in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot last time out and has earned his right to dine at the top table.

The seven-year-old is a very live contender for the race in 888sport's latest horse racing betting but there will be plenty of others hoping to deny Nicholls adding to his record haul of 10 King George triumphs this Christmas.

Footpad (Willie Mullins)

The Willie Mullins-trained Footpad let us all know that he is still a force to be reckoned with when he landed the Boomerang.ie Chase at Thurles.

That victory was a real boost for the former Arkle winner after a spell in the doldrums last season which followed a stellar novice campaign.

Mullins is bidding to register his second victory in the race following the success of the popular Florida Pearl back in 2001.

Lostintranslation (Colin Tizzard)

Colin Tizzard’s exciting seven-year-old puts his blossoming reputation right on the line in this contest when he goes out to prove that he can mix it with the reigning champion Clan Des Obeaux and the highest-rated chaser in Britain, Cyrname.

Wins in both the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle and the Betfair Chase at Haydock have catapulted the gelding into being a leading fancy for both the King George and the Gold Cup, but Boxing Day will be the litmus test for whether those dreams can become reality.

Should he add the King George and Gold Cup to his Betfair win, Lostintranslation is looking at a very cool £1m bonus.

Thistlecrack (Colin Tizzard)

This will be Thistlecrack’s fourth crack at the King George and it is hard to believe that he has not won again since he last tasted Kempton glory three years ago.

Having been dismissed as an also-ran before last year’s race, the veteran campaigner almost pulled off an improbable second success when he just went down by 1½ length to Clan Des Obeaux.

A narrow defeat in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury on his seasonal return showed that there is still plenty of fire in Thistlecrack’s belly yet.

La Bague Au Roi (Warren Greatrex)

The eight-year-old mare was in blistering form in her novice season but this year she has failed to hit those heights, having been pulled up in the Charlie Hall Chase and then finishing third in the Peterborough Chase.

She is likely to bounce back at some point soon but it’s highly unlikely to be in this race against her sternest opposition to date.

Who Wins The King George VI Chase?

French-bred Footpad has always been a class act and is trading at a very backable each-way price given all the focus is on the three runners at the head of the market.

He can continue his resurgence here in what would be a joyeux Noël for his supporters.

888sport suggests: Footpad (e/w).

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark J. Terrill / AP Photo*

December 23, 2019

Horse Racing

By Steve Mullington

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Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations.

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Premier League Team Of The Decade: Who Makes Our XI?

Earlier this year, 888Sport named their best ever Premier League XI. As the 2010s draw to a close, we’ve undertaken a similar task. This time the 2010s are the focus, and there are plenty of difficult decisions to make.

The aim here is to have a team that, on paper at least, would function properly. The shape we’ve opted for is a 4-3-1-2 with a couple of Belgians in the midfield quartet.

Manchester City and Chelsea have four players apiece, while Manchester United, Spurs and football betting Premier League favourites Liverpool fill the other spots.

Plenty of big names missed out, but hopefully the explanations make the decision making clearer…

David De Gea

This was pretty much a shootout between David de Gea and former Chelsea and Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech. De Gea won the BBC’s vote between the sticks and he gets the better of Cech here, too.

De Gea has declined slightly over the last couple of seasons, but he was the undisputed ‘keeper in the world for a period. Cech’s best years came before the start of this decade, and that carries weight.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Few players have been as consistent as Cesar Azpilicueta. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker and Pablo Zabaleta all had support for this spot, but Azpilicueta’s longevity and adaptability see him claim the first outfield position.

Alexander-Arnold hasn’t played enough minutes to be given serious consideration, Zabaleta’s peak was too short. Walker was the one who made this decision toughest.

Azpilicueta has been a better defender throughout the decade, and that just about outweighs Walker’s superiority going forward.

Vincent Kompany

Possibly the easiest selection of the lot. If it wasn’t for injuries, Vincent Kompany may well be considered the best Premier League player of the decade.

Instead, the Belgian has to settle for four Premier League titles and a couple of FA Cups. Kompany was among the best centre-backs in the world in his pomp. Even in his post-peak seasons, Manchester City were a better team with him on the pitch.

His impact on Manchester City, and on the Premier League, cannot be overstated.

John Terry

Virgil van Dijk has been the best central defender of the last decade, his peak was higher than anyone else’s.

In selecting a team of the decade, though, longevity and Premier League success matters. Liverpool, and van Dijk, have not won a Premier League despite an historic 2018/19 campaign.

John Terry has three titles to his name in the 2010s (albeit he didn’t play much in the 2016/17 season). It was a close-run thing, but Terry’s longevity just pipped van Dijk for the spot alongside Kompany.

Andrew Robertson

Andy Robertson is only halfway through his fourth Premier League season. He has been a revelation at Liverpool, and quickly become one of the best full-backs on the planet.

His selection here may seem generous, but the position hasn’t exactly been loaded through the 2010s.

Jan Vertonghen could have been shoehorned into this spot, and that was a tempting option. Other than that, Patrice Evra, Marcos Alonso and Gael Clichy didn’t provide much competition for Robertson.

N'Golo Kante

How could anyone leave N’Golo Kante out? Kante was as important as anyone in Leicester’s improbable title charge. He then switched blue jerseys and won PFA Player of the Year as Chelsea lifted the Premier League trophy.

The most likeable player in football has since won the World Cup and continued to dominate Premier League midfields.

BBC’s poll saw Kante get outvoted by Steven Gerrard. There’s no room for Gerrard in this side, and quite frankly, it wasn’t that close between the Liverpool legend and Kante.

Yaya Toure

At his best, Yaya Toure grabbed games by the scruff of the neck, turning them in City’s favour at his will.

His 2013/14 campaign should be regarded as one of the best individual seasons in Premier League history – opponents had no answer to Toure’s runs on and off the ball.

Few midfielders have scored 20 in a Premier League campaign. With Kante covering all the ground defensively, Toure will be able to spread the play in this side and join the front four when required.

Kevin De Bruyne

The last few seasons have seen every superlative used to describe Kevin De Bruyne.

He does the basics to perfection, and he makes the extraordinary look thoroughly simple. De Bruyne is the best passer in Premier League history.

There’s a risk of recency bias with De Bruyne’s selection. Juan Mata at Chelsea, David Silva and Christian Eriksen all have a claim for this spot, but none have quite reached the dizzy heights of De Bruyne.

Eden Hazard

Mohamed Salah, Gareth Bale and Alexis Sanchez were all more prolific. Luis Suarez had a spectacular individual season in 2013/14.

Eden Hazard, though, won two Premier League titles (two more than those four combined) and transformed Chelsea.

Hazard’s close control and low centre of gravity made it near-impossible to dispossess him. When engaged and fully fit, he elevated Chelsea to title contention (he won PFA Player of the Year in 2014/15 and finished second in 2016/17).

Sergio Aguero

Sergio Aguero is one of those players that won’t receive the adulation he deserves until he leaves the Premier League. He has the best goals per game ratio in Premier League history, having scored 173 times in 252 appearances.

Not just an excellent finisher and reliable goal scorer, Aguero also provided the Premier League's most memorable moment when he received the ball from Mario Balotelli and fired past Paddy Kenny in May 2012.

Harry Kane

Just the second player in the XI not to have won a Premier League title, Harry Kane was an easy pick alongside Aguero.

Kane’s 134 Premier League goals in 198 appearances is third in goals per game ratio, marginally behind Aguero and Thierry Henry.

The Spurs striker has battled injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he’s remained prolific. Alan Shearer’s record could be under threat of Kane keeps this pace up.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Jon Super / AP Photo*

December 23, 2019

Premier League

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Greatest Ever Boxing Day Football Results

Not many days in football history can rival Boxing Day 1963. That isn’t the only time the 26^th December has provided footballing drama, however.

The Christmas period is a notoriously tricky spell in English football, such is the frequency of matches. Slip ups are to be expected, and matches have often bordered on the unbelievable.

Football betting can become treacherous around the festivities. Whether that’s to be blamed on players enjoying too many pigs in blankets or just sheer fatigue is up for discussion. Upsets are commonplace.

Let’s take a look back at 10 of the most entertaining Boxing Day matches, from the bonkers to the brilliant…

Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool (1978)

One of football’s greatest rivalries played out one of its most famous episodes in 1978. Liverpool were at their most dominant with Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness at the height of their powers.

Manchester United were played off the park by their bitter northwest rivals, who had made it two European Cups in two years earlier in the spring of 1978. They went on to win the 1978/79 league title, sparking a run of five titles in six years.

West Bromwich Albion 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur (1963)

Spurs were in the midst of a title race when they travelled to the west Midlands on Boxing Day 1963. The north London club were a couple of years removed from the double and had won the Cup Winners’ Cup earlier in the year.

The visitors got a lead, with Jimmy Greaves scoring twice, but West Brom roared back in the second half to earn a point.

Chelsea 4-4 Aston Villa (2007)

Chelsea were chasing the title in 2007/08 when they welcomed a strong Aston Villa side to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues finished the match with nine men and Petr Cech made a rare error to let the lead slip after Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack had given them the lead.

In-play sports betting would have been wild on this match. The twists and turns made it a lock for this list.

Manchester United 4-3 Newcastle United (2012)

This had everything: Mike Dean, Alex Ferguson irate, seven goals. It was Ferguson’s final Boxing Day, the atmosphere was ground-shaking.

After James Perch, a Jonny Evans own goal and a superb Papiss Cisse finish made it 3-2 to the visitors, all hope looked lost for the Red Devils.

Robin van Persie levelled it up, however, and there was a sense of expectancy from an Old Trafford faithful that had seen this all before. Javier Hernandez tapped a cross home in the last minute to give Ferguson a glorious final Boxing Day in charge.

Sheffield Wednesday 3-3 Manchester United (1992)

The very first Boxing Day of the Premier League era featured Sheffield Wednesday sprint off to a 3-0 lead at the hour mark over eventual champions Manchester United.

In true United fashion, though, the match wasn’t over. Having run off the turkey lethargy, United fought back through a Brian McLair brace. Eric Cantona then took advantage of a defensive lapse from the hosts to make it 3-3.

Charlton Athletic 4-2 Chelsea (2003)

Just a few months after buying Chelsea, Charlton provided Roman Abramovich with an unwelcome Christmas present.

Hermann Hreidarsson wasn’t renowned for his goal scoring, but he took advantage of a lethargic Chelsea defence to put the hosts up inside a minute.

John Terry equalised before goals from Matt Holland, Jonatan Johansson and Jason Euell secured an improbable win for Alan Curbishley’s men. Few, if any, Premier League tips would have predicted this.

Coventry City 3-2 Arsenal (1999)

Another goal fest, another upset. Coventry were no mugs back in 1999, but they were underdogs when they hosted reigning champions Arsenal a few days before the millennium celebrations.

Gordan Strachan saw his side rip the Gunners apart. A young striker by the name of Robbie Keane got on the scoresheet, as did Mustapha Hadji and Gary McAllister.

Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal (2008)

A year after their thriller at the Bridge, Aston Villa were in for a wild Boxing Day once again. Martin O’Neill’s side were by far the better team in the first half, but somehow found themselves two before the 50-minute mark.

Abou Diaby and Denilson looked to have done enough for the Gunners to snatch all three points. A Gareth Barry penalty and a last-gasp strike from Zat Knight changed that.

Arsenal 6-1 Leicester City (2000)

It couldn’t be further from the truth right now, but at the turn of the century, Arsenal were the scariest team in the Premier League. This was years before the invincibles season, yet it could be argued as one of their most memorable performances.

Arsene Wenger’s side led 1-0 at half-time. They were rampant in the second half, led by a Thierry Henry hat-trick. It was a demolition job.

Bournemouth 3-3 West Ham United (2017)

It was a Christmas cracker on the south coast as Bournemouth and West Ham shared six goals back in 2017.

James Collins put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute, but a goal before the interval and an assist soon after from Dan Gosling gave Bournemouth the lead.

Marko Arnautovic looked to have flipped the match again with goals in the 81^st and 89^th minutes. Callum Wilson rescued a point, and sent the home crowd crazy, with an added-time equaliser.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Jon Super / AP Photo*

December 23, 2019

Premier League

By Sam Cox

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Euro 2020: Host Cities, Venues And Stadiums

Euro 2020 is going to be a bit different to previous European Championships. For the first time in the competition’s illustrious history, the tournament will take place in 12 host cities across the continent. Fingers crossed the competition is a roaring success…

With the latest football betting odds now available ahead of Euro 2020, hype is starting to build for next summer’s tournament. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 12 host stadiums set to feature at the 2020 European Championship.

Euro 2020: Group A Stadiums

Stadio Olimpico, Rome

The second oldest stadium in use at Euro 2020, the Stadio Olimpico is steeped in history. It has hosted two European Championship finals, four European Cup finals and the FIFA World Cup Final in 1990. Rome will be very popular with travelling fans at Euro 2020…

While facilities are arguably better at other stadiums, the Stadio Olimpico is deserving of an important role at Euro 2020. It will host the opening game of the tournament, as well as two more group games and a quarter-final.

Capacity: 73,000

Olympic Stadium, Baku

Baku is developing into a hotspot for major sporting events. With Formula One landing in the Azerbaijan capital 2016 and elite football matches taking place since, it is a thriving city and the Olympic Stadium is well equipped to host Euro 2020 fixtures.

Having hosted the 2018/19 Europa League final, the Olympic Stadium is capable of holding a major event. There are complications for fans travelling to Azerbaijan but a double header in Baku and a final group game in Rome offers scope for Wales supporters to make the trip.

Capacity: 65,000

Group B Venues - Euro 2020

Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg

Home to Zenit St Petersburg, the Krestovsky Stadium is a breath-taking structure. With a full capacity of 56,000 supporters, the venue is designed to enhance raucous noise throughout the ground – which helps create an intense atmosphere for fans.

Arguably the best stadium in Russia, Zenit’s stadium will host three group stage matches as well as one of the quarter-finals. Keep up with the latest Krestovsky Stadium news and Euro 2020 odds via the 888sport blog ahead of next summer’s competition.

Capacity: 56,000

Parken Stadium, Copenhagen

The smallest stadium in use at Euro 2020, Parken is home to FC Copenhagen. Winners of the Danish Superliga title in three of the last four years, Copenhagen’s home is used to on-field success.

The Denmark national team play most home games at Parken and there will be a fantastic atmosphere generated in all three group fixtures. With one last-16 game also slated to take place at the stadium, fans could be seeing a lot of Parken next summer.

Capacity: 38,000

Euro 2020: Group C Stadiums

Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam

Formerly known as the Amsterdam Arena, Ajax made the decision to pay tribute to the late Johan Cruyff by changing the stadium name in 2017. A real sight to behold, the stadium opened back in 1996 and it has been home to the Netherlands national team ever since.

Amsterdam is a hotspot for tourists anyway but it will be even busier during Euro 2020. The city is ideal for hosting a major football competition and Dutch supporters will be hoping to see their side advance to the latter stages of the tournament after a tough period.

Capacity: 54,000

Arena Nationala, Bucharest

Arguably the most visibly impressive stadium in use at Euro 2020, the Arena Nationala is an incredible venue. With state-of-the-art facilities throughout, the Bucharest arena certainly holds its own on this list of football stadiums.

Depending on the weather forecast, organisers can decide whether to open or close the roof. Like the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, this can help to intensify the atmosphere and we could see the likes of Ukraine and Austria thriving under pressure.

Capacity: 56,000

Euro 2020: Group D Venues

Wembley Stadium, London

One of the biggest factors for hosting games at Wembley is access. Transport links to and from London are pretty reliable and Wembley is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. Without a doubt, it deserves to take centre stage at Euro 2020.

Wembley will host seven matches at Euro 2020, including both semi-finals and the final on July 12^th. As the biggest stadium involved at the tournament, it is easy to see why UEFA have decided to host the biggest matches at Wembley.

Capacity: 90,000

Hampden Park, Glasgow

From the biggest stadium to the oldest, Hampden Park was first used back in 1903. Steeped in history and heritage, Scotland’s most prestigious stadium is often overlooked – with some tending to focus on Celtic Park and Ibrox.

As one of Britain's biggest football rivalries, the Old Firm is a major talking point in the city but focus will be on the international game next summer. Scotland can still qualify for Euro 2020 but at least Glasgow can host matches if the national team do fall short.

Capacity: 52,000

Group E Stadiums At Euro 2020

San Mames, Bilbao

Bilbao will host all three of Spain’s group stage games and that bodes well for Luis Enrique’s side ahead of what could be a memorable tournament. The European Championship won’t be won or lost in those group games but the Bilbao crowd can help boost confidence.

Having opened in 2013, San Mames is relatively modern and fans can benefit from the sleek design and added touches throughout the stadium. Euro 2020 has focused primarily on fan experience above anything else and San Mames ticks plenty of boxes for supporters.

Capacity: 53,000

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Dublin is a fantastic city to host live sport and football fans will receive a warm welcome from the locals. With a capacity of 50,000, the Aviva Stadium is one of the smaller stadiums involved in the tournament but an intense atmosphere is guaranteed.

The Republic of Ireland are involved in the Euro 2020 playoffs but fans on the other side of the Irish Sea will be hoping that their team can qualify for the finals. Imagine the scenes if Mick McCarthy’s side advance to next summer’s tournament.

Capacity: 50,000

Euro 2020: Group F Stadiums

Allianz Arena, Munich

A daunting football stadium at the best of times, the Allianz Arena is not the most forgiving of venues. It feels like the fans are sitting right on top of you and that intense atmosphere has helped Bayern Munich in tight matches over the years.

Those games against France and Portugal were always going to be tough but playing those two teams in Munich could give Germany the edge. Without a doubt, this is the ‘Group of Death’ at Euro 2020 and fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling set of matches.

Capacity: 75,000

Puskas Arena, Budapest

Hungary’s involvement as a host nation will give teams the chance to play in the brand new Puskas Arena. Built earlier this year, the stadium has a maximum capacity of 68,000 fans and it would rank highly if you decided to put the Euro 2020 venues in order.

With three group stage games and one round of 16 fixture in Budapest, the Puskas Arena will host four matches throughout the competition. Supporters will be looking forward to seeing just how impressive this football stadium really is…

Capacity: 68,000

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alastair Grant / AP Photo*

December 23, 2019

Football

By Alex McMahon

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Alex is a sports betting tipster, specialising in Premier League football, the Champions League and horse racing.

He loves placing a weekly accumulator on the football at the weekend and dreams of landing the big winner that will take him back to Las Vegas.

As well as writing sports betting tips for 888sport since 2015, Alex has produced content for several international media companies, such as Goal.com and The SPORTBible.

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Boxing Day 1963: Football's Craziest Day Of Results?

It’s Christmastime, so it’s only in-keeping with British football tradition that we take a look back at one of the craziest days in the history of the sport.

Boxing Day 1963 produced 66 goals across 10 thrilling matches – something similar in 2019 would be a wonderful delayed Christmas present.

The football betting markets will offer you pretty good prices on a repeat of 1963 ever again. It seems the goalkeepers might have relaxed a little too much on the 25^th, allowing the forwards to take full advantage on Boxing Day in front of the festive crowds.

The top flight in 1963 is the focus of this piece, but the chaos wasn’t confined to the First Division – Manchester City thrashed Scunthorpe 8-1 in the second tier.

Without further ado, let’s run through the matches on the wildest of Boxing Days…

West Ham United 2-8 Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn came into the meeting as league leaders and they put down an emphatic marker against West Ham.

The Hammers went on to win the FA Cup in the 1963/64 season – they bounced back effectively from their Boxing Day drubbing and finished just six points behind Blackburn.

Andy McEvoy and Fred Pickering each bagged hat-tricks. Johnny Byrne notched a brace for the hosts, but it was no more than a footnote in West Ham’s biggest ever home league defeat.

Fulham 10-1 Ipswich Town

Ipswich had conceded 58 before they headed to west London to face Fulham.

It might not be one of the greatest Boxing Day games, but it’s certainly a momentous one. Ipswich had won the title 18 months previously, and they were handed a humiliating defeat by Fulham on their way to relegation.

Graham Leggat netted four times for Fulham, and he wasn’t the only hat-trick hero as Bobby Howfield also scored thrice.

Blackpool 1-5 Chelsea

Chelsea were 4-0 up before Blackpool scored their goal, effectively ending it as a contest. Terry Venables, who went on to manage numerous clubs and England, added a fifth for the visitors.

Venables was a product of Chelsea’s academy, which has been delivering for the Blues in 2019/20. Chelsea have only produced two Premier League Young Player of the Year winners, but that could become three this season.

Leicester City 2-0 Everton

By the standards of the afternoon, the 2-0 between Leicester and Everton was a tedious affair. Everton were reigning champions, however, and the defeat seriously dented their title ambitions.

Leicester won the League Cup on their way to a mid-table finish – Ken Keyworth scored a brace to topple the Toffees.

Burnley 6-1 Manchester United

Manchester United were within touching distance of the top of the table before kick-off.

Four from Andy Lochhead and two from Willie Morgan hurt the Red Devils, who ultimately fell short, finishing four points behind Liverpool.

Burnley finished ninth and were one of the best home teams in the league, winning 14 and losing just four times in front of their fans.

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-3 Aston Villa

The first half was drab. With the score 0-0 at half-time, both teams were lethargic like most are on Boxing Day. The match came to life in the second half, however.

Villa struggled away from home in 1963/64, winning just three times. They will have viewed this match as an opportunity missed. It has a strong claim as the most entertaining match of the day.

Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Bolton Wanderers

With other top clubs dropping points, Sheffield Wednesday took full advantage. Colin Dobson’s brace led the way for the Yorkshire club, who cruised past a struggling Bolton side.

Wednesday were five points off the top by the end of the day, but their title challenge never got much better than that. They finished sixth.

West Bromwich Albion 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham were the team to beat in the early 1960s. A double was followed by Cup Winners’ Cup glory in 1963, making them the first English club to win a European trophy.

Spurs were in the title race on Boxing Day, but they crumbled from 4-2 ahead to take a point from their trip to the Midlands.

Jimmy Greaves scored twice (he went on to finish top scorer) for Spurs. Clive Clarke, Micky Fudge, John Kaye and Don Howe saved the Baggies.

Liverpool 6-1 Stoke City

Not many Premier League tips would’ve predicted Stoke to beat Liverpool 6-1 in 2015. The reverse result on Boxing Day 1963 was less of a surprise.

Liverpool went on to win their sixth First Division title, and subsequently qualified for the European Cup. Their European Cup adventure ended in semi-final heartbreak as Inter staged a dramatic second leg comeback.

Nottingham Forest 3-3 Sheffield United

Nottingham Forest leapt out to a three-goal lead. On most days, that’s unassailable, but Boxing Day 1963 was not a normal day.

Mick Jones scored twice and Len Allchurch once as the Blades completed a dramatic comeback. The teams both finished in mid-table, separated by just two points.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alessandro Fucarini / AP Photo*

December 22, 2019

Football

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Who Is The Greatest NBA Player NOT Named Michael Jordan Or LeBron James?

The debate about the greatest ever NBA players tends to centre around LeBron James vs Michael Jordan.

Few would name James or Jordan outside the top two players in NBA history. The reasons for which have been discussed here recently. This article takes a different focus, looking at the best players in NBA history outside of James and Jordan.

The following five players span generations, and some of them made their way into our greatest ever starting five. All have enjoyed immense success in the NBA, some winning more titles than others.

Putting any of them ahead of Jordan or James may be a stretch, but their legacies shouldn’t be defined in such a way. Instead, let’s celebrate their greatness…

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain’s two NBA titles might not match others on this list, but there’s no question he belongs in this group.

Playing from 1959 through to 1973, Chamberlain collected four MVP awards and six scoring titles. He owns the four highest scoring seasons ever, and he is the only player ever to score 100 in a game.

Wilt The Stilt holds 72 NBA records and has had his jersey retired by six teams, including the Harlem Globetrotters and Overbrook High School.

Durability was combined with finger rolls, fadeaways and humiliating dunks. Chamberlain averaged nearly 46 minutes per game for his career, which was a major factor in his obscene numbers.

Bill Russell

After being selected second overall in the 1956 draft, Bill Russell constructed not just a Hall of Fame career, but the most decorated of all-time.

No player has more than Russell’s 11 rings, and only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won MVP on more occasions than Russell’s tally of five. He also led the league in rebounding in five different seasons.

The NBA belonged to the Boston Celtics in the 1960s. Russell was the best player on that team.

He might have had plenty of talent alongside him like Jon Havlicek and Bob Cousy, but there’s no questioning Russell was the leader (as his five MVPs suggest).

Larry Bird

A member of the 1992 Dream Team, Larry Bird was a one-franchise man, playing for the Boston Celtics from 1979/80 through to 1991/92.

He went sixth overall in the 1978 draft, and the five teams before Boston must have quickly been wondering how they missed out. Bird was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year in his first campaign.

Bird won three titles, three MVPs and was named on All-Defense on three occasions. He had two full 40/50/90 seasons, and was one of the most skilful players the game has seen.

Whether a primary ball handler or shooting from the perimeter, Bird was up there with the best in the league. He could do it all.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s tally of six MVP awards is the most in league history. His 20 NBA seasons played was a record at the time, and he remains the all-time top scorer.

Kareem’s 18 All-Star appearances is also a record, and no one has bettered his 15 All-NBA selections (though it’s been matched by Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Tim Duncan).

Six NBA championships isn’t a feat achieved by many. In fact, Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen are the only non-Celtics to do so.

Abdul-Jabbar was also involved in perhaps the most significant trade in NBA history, when he left the Milwaukee Bucks to join the Lakers and eventually team up with Magic Johnson.

Abdul-Jabbar became the first player to win Finals MVP with two different franchises, an achievement that has since been matched by James and Kawhi Leonard.

Kareem’s skyhook is one of the most famous moves in league history. Some would name him the greatest centre ever.

Steph Curry

Curry might be the least popular choice on this list, but the reasoning isn’t just his individual standard.

Along with fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson, Curry changed the game, he altered how basketball is viewed and become an icon for a whole generation of guards.

It could be argued Curry’s spot here is a little premature, too. The two-time MVP has years left at the top of the NBA, and his Warriors could yet win another title or two (their NBA odds in 2020/21 will be fascinating).

Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson could easily have taken this spot. For Curry’s role in the NBA in the 21^st century, though, he deserved a mention at the very least.

Golden State, for all their superstars, are never the same team without him on the floor and, as we saw in the 2019 NBA Finals, he causes defences a unique set of problems.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to AP Photo*

December 20, 2019

Basketball

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