Something a little different from me this weekend as even though there is plenty of horse racing happening around the UK on Saturday, there are actually no BIG feature races as such

Why you ask? – Well, the answer is simple – all the big races are at Royal Ascot 2019 throughout the course of next week so this particular weekend always acts as the hors d'oeuvres before the main event.

Seven races have made their way on to terrestrial television on Saturday afternoon and here are all the latest tips and horse racing news.

 

1:50pm York - Queen Mother's Cup Handicap

This is always a fiercely contested race and once again a sizeable field go to post. Last year trainer Michael Dods provided one of his kin, Miss S.E Dods, with the surprise 25/1 winner and this year she is aboard Dods’ Billy No Mates.

Dods also provides ammunition for another of his relatives, namely Miss C.A Dods, and she rides his Archi’s Affair.

The father and daughter combination of Donald and Abbie McCain saddle Promise Of Peace who is rather interesting given the form of the yard at the moment, but the nod goes to the Mick Easterby-trained Where’s Jeff (nap) ridden by Serena Brotherton.

Brotherton is a prolific winner in these types of races and she should be on the premises again.

 

2:05pm Sandown - Scurry Stakes

French raider El Gaunche was the winner of the 5f Arreau Stakes at Maisons-Laffitte last time out and gets the assistance of Jim Crowley this time.

The winning run of Leodis Dream came to an abrupt end at York when the gelding trailed home last of the 19 starters and he will need to bounce back quickly.

The James Tate-trained filly Wise Words (nap) went about her switch to turf well at Redcar and looks to have plenty more to offer. The King Power-owned Well Done Fox will find this a much easier task than running behind Calyx last time out.

 

2:25pm York - JCB Handicap

The biggest field of the afternoon in terms of runners and it will be no easy task finding the winner. The David O’Meara-trained Firmament (nap) saves his best for this track but is continually the bridesmaid and never the bride.

For that very reason he’s an each-way play rather than a win bet. Great Prospector ran with encouragement behind Safe Voyage in soft conditions at Haydock and should come on for the run.

Tim Easterby’s Hyperfocus won a competitive handicap at Ripon last week and is clearly in rude health.

 

2:40pm Chester - Whitley Neil Handcraft Gin Handicap

Waldstern (nap) has been the subject of good money over the last few days on various betting sites and is drawn favourably in stall 3. The Nicola Currie-ridden Durston is vying for favouritism but being drawn 8 of 8 is a big negative in my opinion.

The course and distance winner Gabrial The One cannot be left out of calculations given the number of winners the good Doctor has here at his local track.

Gravistas ended a frustrating run of second places with success at Newmarket last time and has the plum draw in stall 1, should the Dansili colt be able to utilise it.

 

3:00pm York - Race To The Ebor Grand Stakes

A relatively small number of entries given the status of the race and the prize money on offer, but it looks like a gilt-edged opportunity for one of the big trainers to take home the spoils.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Mekong (nap) will be all the rage after his second to Dee Ex Bee in the Henry II Stakes and Ryan Moore takes the mount.

Mark Johnston is strong handed with both Austrian School, who finished third behind his stablemate in the Henry II Stakes on his last start, while Making Miracles was fourth there having previously landed the Chester Cup by a country mile.

Raheen House makes his first start for William Haggas after joining the yard from Brian Meehan.

 

3:15pm Sandown - Randox Health Handicap

There are plenty of horses lining up here that have been knocking on the door with regularity but have just been failing to get their noses in front.

The Silvestre de Sousa-ridden Masham Star appears to run every other week and must have a fair each-way shout in this contest. The David O’Meara-trained Baltic Baron (nap) is an interesting Andre Fabre recruit and ran with plenty of promise when second on his UK debut.

Course and distance winner Greenside looks like being in the mix again and will probably be seen to better effect when not having to negotiate the helter-skelter turns of Epsom Downs, where he finished a very creditable third in the Investec Mile (Masham Star fourth). Richard Fahey’s Zap could easily be competitive and outrun his odds.

 

3:35pm York - Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap

A tricky 3-y-o sprint to end the afternoon with and there will be no shoo-ins here. The John Dance-owned Cosmic Law (nap) ticks plenty of boxes and he should have no problems with the predicted going for Saturday.

Priced around the 16/1 in the horse racing betting odds, he should give each-way backers a good run for their money.

Rathbone looks like the bread and butter pick of the Kevin Ryan runners, but it would come as no surprise to see Danny Tudhope-ridden Secret Venture put in a solid run on the Knavesmire.

The Ontoawinner-owned Shallow Hal (nb) looks far too big a price and will handle conditions underfoot. He also runs off a handy looking weight.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The prelude to a European football season is never without a range of quirky, unforeseeable results – even though they are often of little consequence to what lies ahead.

 

ATV Irdning 0-22 Everton (2018)

Everton fans have been thoroughly spoiled for pre-season drama in the 2010s. Back in August 2010, the club welcomed its Chilean namesake from Vina Del Mar to Goodison Park and won 2-0.

Two years later, Tony Hibbert scored in his testimonial against AEK Athens, sparking an arranged pitch invasion from the Gwladys Street faithful. However, nothing compares to the events of last July.

On a boiling day in deepest Austria, Marco Silva led Everton out for the very first time, and to say his managerial debut for the Toffees was memorable would be an understatement.

The victims were ATV Irdning, of the fifth tier in Austria’s football pyramid, and they found themselves on the receiving end of a 22-0 scoreline.

The score at the break was 10-0, and perhaps the most memorable sight was the Irdning goalkeeper leaning to one side and allowing one more to roll over the line.

Claim though he might to have been waiting for the offside flag, there was no detracting from the element of comedy this game produced.

Everton sat sixth in the Premier League by October, but a dreadful run between early December and mid-February certainly dampened the club’s European aspirations.

 

Bayern Munich 20-2 Rottach Egern (2018)

Just one month after the world watched the footballing equivalent of a lion taking on a rabbit, German champions Bayern enjoyed a little 22-goal 'exhibition' of their own.

In doing so, they also recorded a first double-figures friendly win since a 13-0 thrashing of Qatari club Al Sailiya in 2013.

This time, the favourites with the betting sites did not score all of the goals, and those who scored the most extremely scant of consolations against Die Roten will have a story to tell future generations.

Though nobody knows if they had the brass neck to each take home a match ball, Kingsley Coman and Robert Lewandowski completed their hat-tricks in the first half before Sandro Wagner and Maximilian Franzke added to the scoreline with hat-tricks of their own.

Thomas Muller and James Rodriguez also netted two goals apiece, with a total of 10 different players scoring for the Bavarians. However, Bayern's invincibility was brought into question, with the outclassed minnows scoring twice in the first half.

Even some of those sitting alongside Bayern near the top of the football betting outrights market weren't able to manage that against the German champions last season...

 

Manchester City 9-6 Chelsea (2013)

With this actually being the aggregate scoreline of two US-based friendly games in the prelude to 2013/14, this addition seems like something of a cop-out.

However, it was a meeting of two teams expected to be involved in an intense race for the Premier League title. Playing with a combination of skill and no cause for fear, the sides produced seven goals in St Louis.

Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead, but in a taste of events to come, City surprised the live betting markets and fought back to win 4-3.

The very next day, the two teams faced off in New York, and City were the ones that struck first, with Gareth Barry netting after just three minutes.

City would later go 2-0 up, but wholesale changes at half-time saw Chelsea emerge the stronger and halve the deficit. James Milner (City) and Ramires (Chelsea) then exchanged goals for 3-2.

Samir Nasri scored to restore the two-goal cushion, before Juan Mata halved it, then Edin Dzeko finally delivered the coup de grace on Chelsea, making it 5-3 from 25 yards.

 

Dallas 2-2 Saignon XI (1967)

When it comes to 'unusual pairings', look no further than this friendly, which came just one month before the Tet Offensive flashpoint at the height of the Vietnam war.

During the Dallas Tornado's world tour of 1967/68, the Texan outfit played 45 goodwill friendlies in 26 different countries.

The Tornado also covered every continent and even played the Japan national team. Undoubtedly though, the most intense experience would have been the team's brace of score draws (for a 3-3 aggregate result) against Vietnamese select teams in Saigon.

Intense though the atmosphere undoubtedly was, these matches helped serve as a brief distraction in the midst of a war.

 

International Champions Cup - Famous Games:

The efforts of European clubs to generate hype in continents such as North America and Asia are nothing new.

However, with the International Champions Cup (ICC) becoming less of a 'friendly competition' considering how much exposure is now at stake, many of the matches are now memorable affairs that certainly don't lack motivation.

Real Madrid Conquer The East - Part 1 (2015)

2015 marked the first time that the ICC went truly global, with Europe’s finest now battling it out in Australia and China. While PSG won the North American competition, Real Madrid completed an 'Eastern Double', lifting the ICC in both of the new territories.

The Australian triumph was first, with Real losing in a penalty shootout with Roma that went to Sudden Death, but Real went on to beat Manchester City 4-1 in the final.

First-half goals from Benzema, Ronaldo and Pepe all but killed the game before the break, and City were nothing but onlookers.

Real Madrid Conquer The East - Part 2 (2015)

However, Real Madrid’s penalty drama was far from over. Just six days later, the Galacticos fought to a 0-0 draw with AC Milan and won 10-9 on penalties in a heart-rending shootout neither deserved to lose.

Toni Kroos’ penalty miss would go unpunished, with each scoring four out of five. They then scored five each, leaving it up to the goalkeepers.

Real’s Kiko Casillas was first up and slotted past his opposite number Gianluigi Donnarumma. The two men swapped places, Donnarumma missed, and Real Madrid’s second trophy inside a week was in the bag.

Aussie Rules OK (2016)

A-League has a reputation as a retirement resort for players seeking one last hurrah. However, Melbourne Victory used home advantage in their one and only ICC match on home turf to defeat Italian giants and 2019/20 Serie A sports betting favourites Juventus.

No other 'competition' could put these two teams on the same pitch, and while Juventus were mitigated by travel fatigue, they still outclassed their hosts and took the lead after the hour mark.

They held out until the 83rd minute when Jai Ingham equalised to take the match to penalties.

A visibly shattered Juventus duly lost the shootout, but still went on to win the Australia-based ICC that year.

 

Friendly No More?

From the depths of the Austrian pyramid to the Australian top flight, small local teams are clearly always eager to mix it with the leading lights of Europe’s biggest domestic leagues.

With interest in globalised exhibitions growing by the year, just how much longer will the summer's ICC and other sponsored pre-season tournaments be considered merely an "exhibition"? After all, the winter schedule in Europe is packed enough…

With the motorsport season in full throttle, 888sport takes a look at pit stops – the great, the terrible and the downright bizarre!

 

Williams 'Win' Without Podium (2016)

Whether tearing up the Blanchimont at Spa or screaming past the iconic main stand at the Daytona 500, a driver is nothing without a loyal pit crew. Naturally, if that loyalty is combined with speed and efficiency, the odds of victory only ever shorten.

Speaking of odds, Mercedes look set to carry their dominance of F1 into a new decade according to betting sites.

With most of the chasing pack desperate for any sort of recognition, anything as innocuous as a good pit-stop is seen as a moral victory, and the reinforcement of the flagging belief that any team can compete effectively.

Back in the 2016 F1 season, Baku memorably hosted the European Grand Prix for the first time. Every team had a mutual unfamiliarity with the brand-new circuit, and this proved to be a great equaliser that played into the hands of Team Williams.

Though still a shadow of their former selves under the ‘big two’ of Ferrari and Mercedes, Williams had enjoyed a decent season, scoring 13 of a possible 14 finishes.

Of those 13 finishes, 12 were enough to score points, with one of them being a podium in the race preceding Baku’s debut – the Canadian Grand Prix.

Beneficiary Felipe Massa qualified in fifth, and though he would end the day tenth, his crew made a record-breaking pit stop lasting just 1.92s.

Ahead of the 2019 Canadian Grand Prix, that stands as an F1 record, but with engineering skill and tactical genius evolving in tandem with one another all the time, a wheel nut target of around 1.70 is now the aim of constructors with the need for speed.

With Williams having previously been notoriously slow in changing wheel nuts, pre-season efforts to improve efficiency were made – and clearly paid dividends.

However, pit stops that make history for the right reasons have a limited audience – after all, the best pit stops last for mere seconds. And so, for most neutral fans, it is the bizarre and the dangerous that truly enthral.

 

Hungarian Horror Heralds Hardship (2016)

Back in 2016, Nico Rosberg achieved a lifelong dream, overcoming long-term rival and perpetual sports betting favourite Lewis Hamilton to lift the Driver’s Championship.

However, it was a tough journey to the top, and even being partnered with old master Michael Schumacher for the 2010 season could not save him from making the news for the wrong reasons.

Overall, it wasn’t just Rosberg that suffered, with Mercedes having the sort of off-day considered unthinkable in the later 2010s.

Vitantonio Liuzzi’s early crash prompted a succession of tyre changes. Rosberg was amongst those that made this decision, and his right rear tyre was improperly attached, with a generally chaotic feel to proceedings behind the scenes.

It came loose, span away from the car and hospitalised a mechanic. There was also the surreal sight of Renault driver Robert Kubica being deployed from the pit, straight into Adrian Sutil, for a Force India double retirement.

As for Rosberg, the botched wheel change marked the first of what would be two retirements for him in the 2010 season.

Tellingly, Rosberg had reached the podium three times before his Hungaroring retirement, but he would not do so again until his victory at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix.

 

Crash Course In Canada Collision Creation (2008)

Right now, there is nobody better than Lewis Hamilton, who was already considered the de-facto winner halfway through 2018. However, his own surge to dominance – albeit one aided by superlative machinery – has not been without some kinks in the road.

Back in 2008, Hamilton won his first world title in his sophomore year as a top-flight driver, but he did so by just one point, finishing fifth in the Interlagos finale, with bettors scrambling for a bet calculator to determine their winnings.

Even four more titles hence, Hamilton will still be thanking his lucky stars that the 2008 Canadian Grand Prix was not far more consequential.

The farce began when Kimi Räikkönen and Robert Kubica halted at the end of the pit lane, with the exit closed. Still behaving like a rookie at times in 2008, Hamilton failed to notice the red light in time to avoid a collision in the pits.

The smash was not nearly as dramatic and dangerous as it could have been, but it was hard enough to force a double retirement – and a ten-place grid penalty for Hamilton for the next round.

With a rich injection of young talent within F1 over the last four years, there is every chance that pit stop oddities will become more of a fixture.

Even so, it seems as though nobody is immune from the occasional blunder, and it is not just in F1 that pit stops can potentially change the course of a race.

 

Double Trouble In Transition Time (1991)

Away from F1 racing, 1991 was an important year in the art of pitting during stock car racing events. The 1990 Atlanta Journal 500 saw the death of rear tyre changer Mike Rich after Ricky Rudd’s car became uncontrollable during a pit.

Subsequently, several rules were put in place, including the creation of designated times where tyre changes could be performed under normal (green flag) racing conditions.

However, there was still room for some utter madness in the 1991 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. Michael Andretti's routine pit was completed, as he passed by Emerson Fittipaldi, who was unaware that Andretti was approaching.

The wheels on each car connected, and Andretti's car became airborne in the blink of an eye. Though forced to pit again because of the potential damage done, Andretti avoided injury – but speed limits were put in place after this.

 

'Mad' Max Makes His Mark (1996)

Amongst the veritable sea of annual motorsport events that are popular in betting circles, the 24 Hours of Daytona is the event that separates the slightly unhinged from the downright deranged.

It is well-known that – not unlike Rosberg’s botched wheel job of 2010 – most endurance competition drivers have quite a few screws loose. However, prior to the evolution of rules packages, nobody fitted that description more than ‘Mad’ Max Papis.

The Italian speedster was prepared to win at any cost, or literally die trying in a sport that has an extensive casualty list.

In 1996, the year that saw the tragic death of Scott Brayton at the Indy 500, this was fully in evidence, with Papis in hot pursuit of the leader in that year’s Daytona showpiece.

Making his final pit stop, Papis roared into the pits at an estimated 200 mph. Thankfully, he had full control of his car despite his desperation, or an unthinkable tragedy similar to the 1990 Atlanta Journal 500 incident would have unfolded.

It was all in vain, as Papis finished second, but nobody had ever seen a driver enter the pits with such ferocious speed. In the aftermath, speed limits on pit lane were imposed, to protect crew members against complete carnage fuelled by an insatiable will to win.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

In the absence of domestic football, international tournaments take over the agenda in the summer months of the calendar year. The World Cup dominated the headlines last year, while the UEFA Nations League will attempt to fill a small void this summer.

Given that the Nations League has been short and sweet, football lovers will have to turn to Under-21 and 20's tournaments to satisfy their needs.

The competitions have been fascinating, allowing us to watch the next crop of talent in the game emerge at the international level. There have been success stories and journeys that have not quite lived up to the billing after impressive summer stints.

We'll now take a look at some of the players that have shone in age-group tournaments and where their respective careers have taken them.

 

Neymar (Brazil)

Neymar's talent was clear from a young age when he starred for Santos in the Brasileiro Serie A. His performances naturally earned him a berth for the national team at the South American Under-20 Championship in 2011.

There, he proved his outstanding calibre by leading betting sites favourites Brazil to the crown, dominating the tournament with his displays.

He kicked off his campaign by scoring four goals in the Selecao's opener against Paraguay before adding another in a triumph over Colombia.

In the finals stage, Neymar notched braces against Chile and Uruguay, taking his tally to nine goals in the competition and ensuring Brazil finished top of the standings.

Neymar has maintained the standard of his form at the highest level, although it didn't result in the ultimate success for Brazil at the 2018 World Cup.

However, he's one of a select group of players in the mould of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to live up to the hype of their wonder-kid status as a youngster.

 

Alexandre Lacazette (France)

Lacazette has established himself as one of the leading strikers in Europe due to his performances for Arsenal and France. He has been an astute signing for the Gunners, costing £45m from Lyon.

Lacazette has proven his quality in the Premier League and the Europa League, scoring the goals that fired Unai Emery's men to the Europa League final last term.

Before his move to the Emirates Stadium, in the early days of his career at Lyon, Lacazette appeared for France at the 2011 Under-20 World Cup.

In the tournament in Colombia, he highlighted the skills that would take him to the highest level. He scored five goals in France's run to the semi-finals, notably notching a match-winning brace against Nigeria in the quarter-finals.

Lacazette also scored the opener against Mexico in the third-place playoff match, although Les Bleus slipped to a 3-1 defeat to place fourth.

He ended the tournament with five goals to his name, leaving him top of the charts alongside Brazil's Henrique and Spain's Alvaro Vazquez.

 

Marcus Berg (Sweden)

Berg caught the attention of teams across the globe with a brilliant series of performances in the European Under-21 Championships in 2009.

The Swede came into the tournament off the back of two impressive seasons in Eredivisie for Groningen, scoring 32 goals in two terms. He carried that form into the opener, where he made an immediate impact by netting a hat-trick in his side's win over Belarus.

Berg then notched a brace in a 2-1 win over Serbia to send Sweden through to the last four against England. The Three Lions held a 3-0 lead at the break, but Berg defied the live betting to lead a second-half comeback, scoring twice to help level the scores.

His efforts sent the game to penalties, only for the forward to miss from the spot. Berg finished the tournament as the top scorer and was named the best player. However, he was unable to kick on from his impressive outing, although he has enjoyed a solid career.

Berg failed to make the grade in the Bundesliga at Hamburger SV, struggling in his three seasons in Germany before moving on.

The forward enjoyed a successful four-year spell with Panathinaikos and he now plies his trade with Al-Ain in the UAE Pro-League. Berg has been solid enough at an international level, earning 69 caps for Sweden and scoring 19 goals in the process.

 

Adrian Lopez (Spain)

In 2011, Spain were at the peak of their powers, having won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008. The depth of their talent allowed La Roja to carry a talented crop of players into the 2011 Under-21 Euro Championships in Denmark.

Adrian had previously won the Silver Shoe in the 2007 Under-20 World Cup, but due to the quality ahead of him, he had not managed to force his way into the full national side.

Adrian entered the tournament off the back of two solid seasons for Deportivo La Coruna, although he was not prolific in front of goal.

In Spain’s opener against England, he failed to find the net, but he exploded into life to score twice to guide La Roja to a 2-0 win over Czech Republic.

The forward and Juan Mata combined to defeat Ukraine to send Spain into the last four of the competition. La Roja were on the verge of defeat in the semi-final against Belarus, but Adrian scored an 89th-minute equaliser to send the contest into extra-time.

He then found the net again to secure a place in the final. Adrian led the way in the competition with five goals as Spain won the competition.

A move to Atletico Madrid followed after the tournament, and he was impressive in his first campaign He played in their Europa League triumph in 2012, scoring eight goals in the term.

Adrian played a role in the club’s La Liga triumph as sports betting underdogs in the 2013/14 campaign, but he failed to have the same impact.

Since then, he has been on the books of Porto but has bounced around Villarreal and Deportivo on loan spells.

 

Ebenezer Assifuah (Ghana)

There’s always a random player that manages to emerge from nowhere to star at age-group tournaments. Ghana’s Assifuah was the leading scorer at the 2013 Under-20 World Cup.

Paul Pogba and Harry Kane were among the other players in the competition, with the former earning the player of the tournament award. However, Assifuah claimed the golden boot, scoring six goals.

It was an impressive feat given that he failed to find the net in Ghana’s opening two matches before scoring a brace against the United States.

Another brace followed in a thriller against Chile, scoring the decisive goal in extra-time. He scored against France in a 2-1 defeat in the semi-finals as well as Ghana’s victory over Iraq in the third-place playoff.

Assifuah’s career didn’t take off after the World Cup following a move to Swiss side Sion. He struggled for regular goals before transferring to Le Havre in 2017 where he enjoyed a good first term, but he hasn't been prolific since his stint in Ligue 2.

As you can see, some players have gone on to reach the top level of football, whereas others have faded into obscurity after promising campaigns early on in their career in these youth tournaments.

Nothing is guaranteed in football: some players fail to live up to their potential, while others rise above all expectation.

You are often left feeling a cocktail of emotions when looking back on the 11 Cricket World Cups to have taken place, as they have each provided breath-taking moments that still impress, astound, or even horrify to this day.

 

Cricket World Cup 1983: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Back in 1983, cricket didn’t do upsets or surprises. Fledgling cricketing nations were swept aside with ease whenever they met one of the big boys and that was that. At least it was like that until Zimbabwe met Australia at the 1983 World Cup in Nottingham.

Duncan Fletcher had other ideas, but coming in at 94/5, it looked like the procession was in full swing.

The left-handed Fletcher took the attack to the Australians and ended up scoring 69 off 84 balls, which back in 1983 was considered breakneck speed for batting. In the end, Zim would post 239/6 in their allotted 60 overs.

Fletcher wasn’t finished yet and took the game by the scruff of the neck – this time with the ball. He struck four times to cripple Australia in their run chase as they could only muster 226/7 in 60 overs, which would see them lose by 13 runs.

History had been made thanks to Duncan Fletcher’s remarkable effort with bat and ball and because of that, the tournament's long history of upsets would begin.

By the time the 2020 T20 World Cup comes around, opposing teams would do well not to write Zimbabwe off, even if they are at 500/1 to win the event in the sports betting, as they are more than capable of repeating their 1983 heroics.

Cricket World Cup 1987: India vs Australia

The game between India and Australia in Madras during the 1987 World Cup had it all. However, it must be said that it is considered one of the greatest games ever because of an umpiring decision that undoubtedly would not have stood today.

Australia would set 268 to win in their 50 overs, but there was a moment of controversy after Australian batsman Dean Jones hit Mahinder Singh down the ground over Ravi Shastri’s head for what he thought was a six.

Shastri saw it differently and told umpire Dickie Bird that it was only a four. Incensed, Dean Jones protested and even went to speak to match referee Hanif Mohammad after he got out.  

Mohammad brought the issue to the attention of Dickie Bird during the innings break, which prompted the umpire to walk into India’s change room to ask Shastri once more, if it was indeed a six or four.

This time around, Shastri changed his tune and said it was actually a six. Australia’s score would change to 270, which proved to be decisive as India could only manage 269 in their reply; losing by one run.

It is unclear today whether or not Ravi Shastri still subscribes to the notion of honesty being the best policy. It may not rank as the most controversial cricket moment of all-time, but it could well be the weirdest.

 

Cricket World Cup 1996: Sri Lanka vs Australia

The final of the 1996 World Cup was the cherry on the cake for Sri Lanka and just reward for their innovative efforts during the lead-up to the final.

It did, however, look a bridge too far to beat an Australian team that comprised of the Waugh brothers, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath, to name just a few.

Arjuna Ranatunga asked Australia to bat first and despite a sensational start, the Baggy Green limped home to score 241/7 in their 50 overs. The Sri Lankan spinners weaved their magic and turned the final on its head as they reduced Australia to 150/5 after being 137/1.

Both Sri Lankan openers perished before the score got to 20, but that wouldn’t stop them reaching the Australian total inside 45 overs to lift their maiden World Cup trophy – in large part thanks to Aravinda De Silva’s 107 not out.

Times have changed somewhat these days, with the Sri Lankans a shadow of their former selves – as their odds of 100/1 in the cricket bet markets will show – but they certainly revolutionised ODI cricket.

 

Cricket World Cup 2011: England vs Ireland

For Ireland, the group stage game against England in Bengaluru was their cup final.

Sadly for the Irish, England selected to bat and proceeded to smash the men in light green all over the park, eventually amassing an incredible 327/8. The contest looked over before it began.

Things didn’t improve for Ireland with the bat, either, when an early collapse left them at 111/5 and only one punch away from hitting the canvas. A burly Kevin O'Brien walked to the wicket and the world, quite rightly, thought absolutely nothing of it.

What followed was arguably the most sensational World Cup knock the world has seen. The 27-year-old launched the England attack high into the Bengaluru sky as he hit half a dozen sixes and thirteen fours to score the fastest century in World Cup history.

Ireland had stunned England - and live betting users - by reaching their target of 328 in the 50th and final over.

 

Cricket World Cup 1999: Australia vs South Africa

This was an agonising semi-final contest that toyed with the emotions of both sets of supporters, with neither team able to get away.

At one stage, you would have put the house on Australia winning, but then an hour later it looked like South Africa couldn’t lose; it was was simply the most exhilarating game of World Cup cricket to be played and one dubbed the greatest ODI of them all.

Chasing Australia’s modest target of 213, the Proteas started off well, getting up to 48 without loss until Steve Waugh tossed the ball to Shane Warne. In the blink of an eye, the score changed to 53/3, and the odds at betting sites were turned.

This cat and mouse carried on all the way through the South African chase. Eventually, it came down to the last over, with the Proteas needing nine off six balls.

Lance Klusener took strike and sent the first two balls of the over crashing into the fence for four. The scores were tied and all South Africa needed was one run off the next four balls.

Damien Fleming managed to bowl a dot ball next up, but his fourth ball of the over was hit down the ground and off Klusener set to complete the winning run.

However, his partner at the other end, Allan Donald, was ball watching, and given the noise of the raucous crowd, he couldn't hear Klusener’s shout of "run!".

In one of the worst mix-ups the game has ever seen, both Proteas batsmen ended up at the same end as Gilchrist whipped the bails off to send South Africa out the tournament.

There can be no greater World Cup game than this, purely because of the sheer drama it dished up. Indeed, most of those watching that day are still in a state of disbelief at how it all played on an overcast day in Birmingham.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The NBA Playoffs are where legends are born, with players making shots that can elevate them to heroic status in their respective cities.

And there isn't a better way for a player to earn the status of hero than hitting a shot at the buzzer to secure a huge win for their team in the postseason.

These buzzer-beating shots, in particular, were not only great shots, but shots that meant the world to their team at the time, helping to build these players into some of the most memorable in the history of their franchises.

NBA Playoffs 2004: Derek Fisher

One of the great rivalries in the history of the NBA was between the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs in the 2000s.

With the Spurs being led by Tim Duncan and the Lakers being led by Kobe Bryant, both at the peak of their respective powers, series between the two teams were slugfests that often decided championships.

The 2004 Western Conference semifinals put the two teams against one another, with the Lakers getting the better of the Spurs en route to a conference title. But it was a shot by Derek Fisher that still has fans talking to this day.

Basketball betting odds had the Lakers as a slight favourite against the Spurs in the battle between the second and third seed in the West.

And in a pivotal game 5 that saw the Spurs take a late lead on a miraculous Tim Duncan shot, the Lakers had the ball with 0.4 seconds remaining with a chance to take control of the series.

They got the ball to Derek Fisher instead of one of their more heralded stars, and the former Little Rock Trojans prospect made that decision pay off with a miraculous shot at the buzzer for the win – throwing live betting markets into disarray.

Fisher's shot prompted the league to institute a rule that a ball could only be caught and shot with more than 0.3 seconds left on the clock – thus, it changed both the fate of the series and NBA history.

 

NBA Playoffs 2009: LeBron James

Before LeBron James became one of the greatest players of all-time and a multiple-time NBA champion, he was honing his craft in Cleveland as a member of his hometown Cavaliers.

And, despite rosters that had a hard time stacking up with the rest of the league, James managed to get the Cavs to the playoffs on a consistent basis.

Even though NBA betting sites saw James' team as an underdog due to their lack of depth, James' individual ability managed to keep his side afloat in many instances. His 2009 buzzer beater against the Magic was certainly one of those instances.

Down a game in the series already, the Cavaliers were facing a late deficit against a Magic team led by the dominant Dwight Howard inside.

Without time to run much of an offense, the Cavs shovelled the ball to James to let him create enough space for a final heave from three-point range above the top of the key.

He buried the shot, and the Cleveland crowd erupted in what could be considered one of the superstar's first signature moments, along with carrying the Cavs to the 2007 Finals.

This is one of many classic buzzer beaters from LeBron James in the NBA playoffs. Since 2009, he has hit shots at the end of games to sink the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and others.

In the process, James has made it possible to argue that he is the most clutch player in the history of the NBA, or at least that he is up there with Michael Jordan.

 

NBA Playoffs 2019: Kawhi Leonard

Heading into the 2018-2019 season, the Toronto Raptors weren't given much of a shot to get to the NBA Finals in the sports betting.

Much of the attention heading into the season was instead paid to the Boston Celtics, who were set to get Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward back from injury.

Even our 2018/19 NBA preview showed love to the Celtics without listing the Raptors as a contender to win the Finals.

But Kawhi Leonard time and time again put the Raptors on his back to get them to the Finals, like he did when he drained this memorable buzzer beater against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Leonard's unbelievable shot came in the final seconds of game 7 of the Raptors' Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Sixers.

Both teams had taken turns stealing contests on the other team's home floor in the series, with both squads playing tight games throughout.

Naturally, the final game of the series was no exception, with the Raptors having the ball with just seconds left in a tie game.

Upon receiving the ball, Leonard darted to the corner on the other side of the floor and threw up a fadeaway shot over the much taller Joel Embiid.

And while the shot didn't appear to be going in at first, several bounces on the rim guided it in and sent the crowd in Toronto into a frenzy.

Perhaps more memorable than the shot itself were the images of players standing there, helplessly, waiting to see what the fate of the final shot would be. If nothing else, this was a moment in time that may never be forgotten by basketball fans around the world.

 

NBA Playoffs 2019: Damian Lillard

Animosity between two teams playing in the NBA Playoffs always makes for a more compelling series, as teams are forced to walk the line between using their rivalry to fuel aggression while controlling their emotions to avoid disciplinary action.

But when the hatred between Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers and Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder came to a head in their 2019 first round series, the result was magic.

Lillard pulled up from the Blazers logo at the very end of a game with the chance to knock the Thunder out of the playoffs. Normally, this would be an ill-advised shot.

But Lillard’s unbelievable range made it the perfect way to end the series, with the Thunder left to remember the long-range dagger for the rest of the offseason.

Enhancing the quality of the shot was Lillard’s reaction to it. Upset with the trash talking done by the Thunder earlier in the series, Lillard remained stoic after hitting the shot, while everyone around him in a Trail Blazers uniform buzzed with euphoria.

Instead of celebrating exuberantly, Lillard provided a cheeky farewell when he waved goodbye to the Thunder bench after the epic ending.

While this feud wasn’t on par with some of the great physical battles of the 1990s, the shot by Lillard was one of the most satisfying endings to a basketball game imaginable.

And it is one that will be talked about whenever a discussion of the league’s best-ever buzzer beaters takes place.

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*Credit for the main photo belongs to Tony Gutierrez / AP Photo

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will host Norwich City in the first game of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.

The Reds were runners up behind Manchester City last season but the newly crowned Champions League winners will fancy their chances of claiming a first English title since 1990.

At the time of writing, Liverpool are priced at 1/10 to get the better of Norwich on Friday 9^th August.

An interesting statistic to consider when football betting in 2019/20 – Liverpool won the top-flight title the one and only time they hosted Norwich on the opening weekend of a campaign. Bear that in mind…

Meanwhile, Manchester City will travel down to the London Stadium on August 10^th for an afternoon kick-off against West Ham United.

The defending champions are as short as 4/6 to retain the title in 2019/20 and you won’t find many punters backing against City ahead of the opening weekend.

The Blues have won their last seven meetings with West Ham in all competitions and City fans will be hoping to get off their campaign off to the perfect start.

6/25 in Premier League Odds with 888sport is a little short but Guardiola’s men should prove too strong.

Championship winners Norwich have been rewarded with an opening day trip to Anfield but what about the other promoted clubs?

Well, Sheffield United (7/2) will travel down to AFC Bournemouth while Aston Villa visit Tottenham Hotspur. At the time of writing, punters can back the newly promoted treble at an incredible 1100/1!

Looking at Saturday 10^th August, we’ve got four more fixtures to look at. Burnley will take on Southampton at Turf Moor while Crystal Palace welcome Everton to Selhurst Park.

Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City face Wolverhampton Wanderers while 2018/19 FA Cup finalists Watford host Brighton & Hove Albion.

Moving on, Newcastle United have a tough opener with Arsenal at St James’ Park. With the Magpies’ off-field situation up in the air at the moment, Newcastle are available at a decent price for what could be a famous opening weekend Premier League fixture.

13/5 for the Magpies to open with a victory is worth considering given Arsenal’s woes on the road.

Unai Emery’s men were thrashed by Chelsea in the 2018/19 Europa League final and the Gunners will want to finish in the top four this campaign.

888sport punters can back Arsenal at 6/5 in the latest Premier League top four odds and three points in the north east on the opening weekend could set the tone for 2019/20.

Without a doubt, the standout fixture takes place at Old Trafford. Manchester United face Chelsea in one of two televised matches on Sunday 11^th August and the Red Devils will be looking to get off to a bright start.

United recorded just seven points from 10 fixtures against ‘Big 6’ clubs in 2018/19 - a repeat of that sort of form could see United miss out on the Champions League for the second year in succession.

The Red Devils are 7/5 to emerge victorious while punters can back Chelsea to claim three points at 2/1. In a game of this size, the draw is worth considering and 47/20 is a good price for an opening weekend stalemate.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's at the wheel but Chelsea are notoriously quick out of the blocks – you won’t want to miss this clash.

Fingers crossed for another exciting Premier League season. With less than two months to wait, English football fans will be eagerly anticipating another close title race, fierce battle to avoid relegation and much more.

The latest Premier League fixtures have now been released for the entire 2019/20 season

 You can keep up with the latest betting news, football tips and Premier League odds with 888sport – both ahead of and during the upcoming campaign!

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*

The Copa America takes place for a 46^th time, starting on Saturday 14^th June and finishing on 7^th July. All eyes are on the hosts Brazil, who are suffering a quiet period unlike many others in their history.

The last tournament they hosted ended in semi-final embarrassment to Germany in 2014, and they will be hoping to, at least partially, erase those memories this time around.

Chile won the last two editions of the tournament and are looking to become the first team since Argentina in the late 1940s to win three in a row. No team, however, has done so in the Copa America era.

Victory this summer would also put Chile above Paraguay and Peru as the fourth most successful team in the competition’s history. Argentina, who have won it 14 times, are only one trophy behind Uruguay.

We have delved into 888sport’s Copa America 2019 odds for the best bets…

 

Copa America 2019: Outright Winner

Brazil are the overwhelming favourites to win their first Copa America since 2007.

Sitting at 13/10, even without Neymar, Tite’s side have the benefit of home advantage (as well as the extra pressure that comes with that) and a favourable group. Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru are unlikely to remotely trouble this Brazil side.

Aside from a shock draw with Panama in March, Brazil’s form is good. Their narrow victories over Argentina and Uruguay late last year standout, but the intensity and expectation of a home tournament is a different task.

The Lionel-Messi-led Argentinians are unsurprisingly second favourites. Their 15/4 price is on the short side, though Argentina will feature prominently in 2019 Copa America betting tips.

Argentina weren’t good in the World Cup last summer and their form has been patchy since then. The 3-1 defeat to Venezuela in March was an alarming result.

This squad is littered with attacking talent, but they are still looking for that crucial balance that can get the best out of Messi without leaving the team entirely dependent on him.

Messi alone makes them contenders, and many will be backing them to lift their 15^th Copa America. The odds lengthen significantly after the big two with Uruguay at 7/1, Colombia at 9/1 and Chile at 11/1.

Uruguay lost their last four matches of 2018, but have won three in a row. Victories against Uzbekistan, Panama and Thailand don’t tell us a great deal about their chances here, though.

With Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani, they have the firepower to go all the way, but it’s possible they slip up in the group stage.

Chile might be two-time defending champions, but it’s no surprise to see their price so long. Their recent form is awful and their star man, Alexis Sanchez, is having a difficult time.

 

Copa America 2019: Top Assists

Just for a change, it’s Messi atop the top assister odds. His 2/1 price is going to get plenty of support.

The Barcelona forward was as good creatively as anyone in Europe this season, and he’s got the teammates to take advantage of the chances he will orchestrate.

In a short tournament, the value may well lie with the players who are at longer odds.

Messi’s brilliance makes anything possible, and he could rack up some numbers against Qatar, but there are plenty of other intriguing names in this market.

One such player is Messi’s teammate, Watford’s Roberto Pereyra.

Pereyra is coming off the back of an excellent season with the Hornets and will have the luxury of setting up chances for Messi, Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero.  

Away from the Argentinians, Miguel Almiron at 33/1 is a tempting outsider bet.

Paraguay have the bonus, like Argentina, of facing Qatar in the group stage. Almiron at 33/1 to one is too good to ignore if you fancy the Paraguayans to spring yet another Copa America shock result.

 

Copa America 2019: Top Scorer

Yep, you guessed it, Messi leads this market too. He’s 3/1 this time around, however, with Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus sitting at 6/1.

Jesus has found the net 16 times in just 29 appearances for Brazil. The attack will function differently without Neymar, which should see the Manchester City man get plenty of chances.

Despite playing second fiddle to Aguero all season, Jesus was prolific, scoring a goal every 127 minutes across the Premier League and Champions League.

Aguero and Cavani follow at 8/1 in 888sport's football betting odds. Cavani had an injury-plagued campaign, but still averaged just shy of a goal-per-game in Ligue 1.

Aguero was at his very best as Manchester City retained the Premier League crown. It feels about right having them at the same price, though neither leap out as great value.

Venezuela will fancy their chances of progressing from the group, making Salomon Rondon at 50/1 a bet worth considering. Rondon is a handful for any defence in the world and could cause plenty of problems for Bolivia and Peru.

 

Copa America 2019: Other Markets

888sport offer a range of other outright betting markets for the Copa America. The ‘two teams to contest the final’ market sees Argentina and Brazil as the most likely combination at 7/2.

Brazil feature in the top four pairings. The value for anyone backing Brazil to make it to the 7^th July showpiece is limited. The hosts to face Colombia in the final at 8/1 is probably the best available price.

In the group winners market, Argentina at 4/6 to finish top of Group B is the best value. Plenty of people will be putting that into 888sport’s betting calculator, perhaps along with Chile at 2/5 to finish in the top two in Group C.

With Qatar in Group B, who could face a heavy defeat or two, the 17/20 on over 14.5 goals in the group is a good price.

 

*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*