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      in Soccer

      Wayne Rooney faces huge battle saving Derby from relegation and risks putting pride before a fall

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      WAYNE ROONEY risks putting pride before a fall as he leads Derby’s coaching staff from Monday.
      It would be all too easy for Roo to get romantic about the situation with County’s new owners expected to move in this week.

      Wayne Rooney should be cautious about accepting such a tough job as DerbyCredit: PA

      Ex-PSV Eindhoven chief Phillip Cocu has exited Pride Park with the Rams bottom of the ChampionshipCredit: PA:Press Association

      The Rams have a history as one of England’s most illustrious clubs, linked with legendary figures like Brian Clough, Dave Mackay, Francis Lee, Peter Shilton and Roy McFarland.
      And Rooney’s arrival as Phillip Cocu’s player-coach in January was always supposed to lead him into his first job as a manager.
      That’s why he walked away from a lucrative  contract that still had two years to run at MLS club DC United and his progression was supposed to be set in stone.

      FROM 2004 LIONS TO THE DUGOUT

      TEN of England’s starting XI against Portugal at Euro 2004 have now gone into coaching or management. Here is what they have done.

      DAVID BECKHAM: England (2010, coach).DAVID JAMES: Kerala Blasters (2018, manager).PAUL SCHOLES: Oldham (2019, manager), Salford (2014-, owner; 2020, manager).WAYNE ROONEY: Derby (2020-, caretaker manager).GARY NEVILLE: England (2012-16, assistant) Valencia (2015-16, manager).STEVEN GERRARD: Liverpool (2017-18, youth coach), Rangers (2018-, manager).FRANK LAMPARD: Derby (2018-19, manager), Chelsea (2019-, manager).ASHLEY COLE: Derby (2018-19, coach), Chelsea (2019-, coach).SOL CAMPBELL: Macclesfield (2018-19, manager), Southend (2019-20, manager).JOHN TERRY: Aston Villa (2018-, assistant).MICHAEL OWEN: None

      The scenario was that Cocu would make way once he had led the Rams back to the Premier League.

      Cocu, 50, appeared to have all the right credentials as Rooney’s mentor.
      He took PSV Eindhoven to three Eredivisie titles in four years, made 101 appearances for Holland and spent six years playing at Barcelona.
      And 35-year-old Rooney should have been able to take notes on how to get  a Championship club  promoted.
      Yet England’s 53-goal record scorer wasn’t even able to take notes on crisis management because Cocu appeared clueless about that side of the job.

      On July 1, Rooney scored the only goal in the win at Preston that took Derby to seventh in the table, one point off the play-offs.
      They then fell like a stone, taking one point from their next five games before a final-day 3-1  triumph at Birmingham.
      This season, Derby have won once in 11 league games — meaning they have just TWO victories in their last 17 league matches — and are rock bottom.So saving them would be a huge feather in Roo’s cap.

      Player-coach Wayne Rooney has stepped up to replace Dutch manager Phillip Cocu after just one Championship win for Derby so far this seasonCredit: Reuters
      But those 17 Championship games show he should be under no illusions if prospective new owner Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan offers him the job.
      Derby’s form suggests not only a complete lack of leadership by Cocu but also that too many of the players have had a true grit bypass.
      They are playing like losers and, even as captain, Rooney has been unable to shake them out of their lethargy.
      By the time he takes charge against Bristol City on Saturday, County could be five points adrift of 21st place if Coventry beat Brum the night before.
      The job facing Cocu’s replacement is surely not one for a virgin soldier like Rooney, despite spending nine years working under Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, while becoming their record scorer with 253 goals.
      Fireman Sam Allardyce would be a better bet to keep Derby up, or fellow street-fighter Tony Pulis.
      But 24 hours before current owner Mel Morris finally got rid of Cocu, Pulis was appointed as Garry Monk’s successor at Sheffield Wednesday.
      And even the Owls are above Derby, despite having suffered a six-point deduction.

      The hope for the Rams would be boat-loads of cash for a transfer-window splurge.. But it might already be too late.

      Sheikh Khaled and his takeover company Derventio Holdings, can be expected to throw money at the problem.
      He is a distant cousin of another member of Abu Dhabi royalty, Manchester City’s Sheikh Mansour.
      The hope for the Rams would be he will pour boat-loads of cash into a January transfer-window splurge and all will be well.
      But it might already be too late by then.

      Everything suggests Rooney would be mad to start his first job as a manager in a grim battle for survival with players who have lost their way.
      Derby have been in the third tier of English football twice before.
      Making it three, under his management, would not look good on his CV and he could be left ruing the day he let his heart rule his head.

      Wayne Rooney gets emergency Covid test after infected pal delivers luxury watch to his house More

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      in Soccer

      Northern football clubs urge No10 to sort bailout or risk losing historic teams ‘for good’

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      A DOZEN Northern footie clubs warn No10 to sort a bailout or risk losing historic teams “for good”.
      Teams including Sunderland and Blackburn have united with Blue Wall Tories to urge ministers to rescue the “beautiful game”.

      ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

      Northern clubs, including Sunderland, call on the Government for a bailoutCredit: PA:Press Association
      Clubs across the nation are teetering on the “financial precipice” and already laying off staff, they warn.
      Closure would rip the heart out of communities and see the North South divide “widened further”, they say.
      They blast Downing Street for just simply telling football to “sort itself out” and say it is time for ministers to finally take charge.

      In a blistering letter to Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden, they fume: “EFL clubs, almost all of them the social cornerstone of the towns and cities they bear the names of, stand on the brink of a financial precipice.
      “Many are now failing to meet payroll and are making swathes of redundancies to keep their heads above water.
      “These redundancies are destroying structures that have taken decades to establish and will take decades to replace.” They tear into the government for stumping up £1.5bn for posh arts like ballet while popular football clubs face ruin.
      They are demanding a three-pronged plan to rescue Northern clubs from disaster.

      They want the Government to “step in” and “end the deadlock” by forcing the Premier League to finally stump up the cash to rescue smaller clubs.
      They also want a clear roadmap out of lockdown and tier restrictions, and a Northern Economic Recovery Plan.
      Together, the 12 clubs who have signed the letter have existed for a whopping 1,486 years.
      Tory MP and ex minister Jake Berry – who sparked controversy among some by saying footie matters more than ballet to the North – demanded action.
      He said: “My comments may have ruffled more feathers than a performance of Swan Lake at the Northern Ballet.
      “But football is our national game and it’s time to support our lower league clubs.
      “EFL Clubs are cultural assets at the heart of their community.
      “But whilst the arts have received £1.5bn of taxpayers cash, clubs like Blackburn Rovers have received nothing.
      “It’s time for the Government to level-up the playing field and get behind the beautiful game and to force the Premier League to pay up as well as setting out a plan to bring back the fans after lockdown.”

      A Government spokesperson said: “Having spent £1.2 billion in the recent transfer window, professional football has the means to support clubs through the pandemic.
      “The Premier League has been clear that it will ensure that no club will go bust due to the pandemic with an offer on the table.
      “Clubs can also benefit from the government’s Covid business support schemes. We urge the EFL and Premier League to finalise a deal as soon as possible.”

      Ally McCoist can’t believe that Premier League clubs won’t financially help EFL clubs
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      in Motorsport

      Six great Lewis Hamilton wins after his rain masterclass in Turkey to win seventh world title

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      THIS was a typical Hamilton triumph — rain and drama as the Brit conjured up a victory from nothing for his tenth win in 14 grands prix.
      Here SunSport looks at six other great wins from his career . . . 

      Lewis Hamilton won his tenth grand prix in 14 races in TurkeyCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Hamilton celebrates his seventh world titleCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      BRITISH GRAND PRIX, 2008

      Hamilton won on home soil in 2008Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

      He drove magnificently in the wet for McLarenCredit: PA:Press Association

      Hamilton had an incredible debut season with McLaren but he won his first title in 2008.
      In the pouring rain at Silverstone, he produced one of the greatest drives in the wet.
      His decision to go for intermediate tyres was ballsy and brilliant and when the others needed to stop later on, he was well clear, finishing more than a minute ahead of Nick Heidfeld in second.
      CHINESE GP, 2011

      Hamilton won in China despite Red Bull’s dominance in 2011Credit: Action Images – Reuters

      A three-stop strategy helped him blast through the field in ShanghaiCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      He only wins in the best car? Well Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel had the better car on this day.

      Hamilton stuck to a three-stop strategy and when he emerged late on with fresh tyres, he blasted through the field. At the time, he rated it as one of his best-ever drives.
      HUNGARIAN GP, 2013

      Hamilton pops the champers after winning his first race with MercedesCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      It was a phenomenal start to life with his new team in BudapestCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Oh, how we questioned what he was doing but at the Hungaroring he finally proved us all wrong, winning his first grand prix for Mercedes.
      He took an unlikely pole and worked his car while preserving tyre life, to give his team flexibility to make their pitstops.
      GERMAN GP, 2018

      Hamilton celebrates with his team after winning in GermanyCredit: AFP or licensors

      Hamilton incredibly came from 14th spot to winCredit: AFP or licensors
      An unthinkable victory. The day before, in qualifying, his car suffered hydraulic failure.

      He started 14th, well behind Vettel’s Ferrari on pole. But as the rain fell, the German crashed out.
      Greater drama followed when the Brit made a last-minute decision to cancel a pitstop, while Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen stopped for tyres.

      The ten greatest F1 drivers of all-time – according to SunSport’s motorsport correspondent Ben Hunt

      MONACO GP, 2019

      Hamilton sprays the bubbly in Monaco last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Hamilton paid tribute to the late F1 legend Niki Lauda Credit: Getty Images – Getty
      Hamilton choked back tears as he honoured the memory of F1 legend Niki Lauda, who had died six days earlier.
      He took pole but a gamble to use medium tyres left him a sitting duck for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman raced him hard but Hamilton defended like his life depended on it.
      PORTUGUESE GP, 2020

      Hamilton eclipsed Michael Schumacher’s 91-win record in PortugalCredit: Splash News

      Hamilton made his way to the front and held off team-mate Valtteri Bottas Credit: Splash News
      The victory that moved him clear of Michael Schumacher’s 91-win record was a typical Hamilton performance.
      He kept his cool after a slow start to work his way back to the front. Team-mate Bottas could not catch him, as Hamilton crossed the line an incredible 25.5sec ahead of the Finn.

      Lewis Hamilton wins 7th world title in Turkey to match Michael Schumacher record More

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      in Motorsport

      Lewis Hamilton has found his voice this year and stood up for what he believes… he’s the best UK sportsman ever

      by

      THERE was a moment this season that proved Lewis Hamilton is now bigger than Formula One itself.
      It was not his record-breaking 92nd win or this, his seventh world crown.

      This season Lewis Hamilton hasn’t been afraid to voice his opinionCredit: Getty – Pool

      In fact, it was back in March in Melbourne at a press conference.Drivers before him said the FIA were right to press ahead with the race, despite the coronavirus pandemic looming large.
      Not Hamilton. When asked why the race was on, he replied cryptically, “Cash is king”.
      And he added: “I am really very, very surprised that we are here.
      “It is shocking that we are all sitting in this room.”

      He was right and, as we now know, the race was cancelled following a positive test in the McLaren team.
      Hamilton called it. He stood up and gave his opinion when others had been too afraid to talk negatively against F1.
      He’d previously spoken about Donald Trump, environmental causes and racism. And he continues to do so.
      Whether you agree with his stances on racism, the environment, veganism or politics, it doesn’t matter.

      Hamilton celebrates becoming world champion for a record-equalling seventh timeCredit: Splash News
      What matters is he is not afraid to give his opinion.
      Over the past few years, he has found his voice and is using his platform as a seven-time F1 champion to speak out and educate those who follow him.
      When was the last time a sports star at the very top of their game — and with so much to lose — was confident enough to speak out on a subject without worrying about upsetting a sponsor?
      Over the years I have covered his races, I’ve seen the sulks and reported on them. I’ve also got to witness some sensational performances on track.
      But this season, it is his off-track work that has made me appreciate Hamilton as the UK’s best sportsman of all-time.
      People disagree. I know this because they tell me all the time and Hamilton now knows he will never enjoy the universal support of us Brits.

      Lewis Hamilton can lay claim to being the UK’s greatest ever sportsmanCredit: AFP

      The reasons? Maybe the accent, maybe the tax debate — for the record he does pay UK tax and is in the country’s top 5,000 payers — or maybe because people feel they cannot identify with an F1 driver.
      But like him or not, you have to appreciate the fact that he is willing to say exactly what he thinks.
      Yes, he’s damn good at what he does, but he also stands up for what he believes in. And that goes beyond sport. More

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      in Soccer

      England boss Gareth Southgate, 50, secretly battled coronavirus last month with players none the wiser

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      ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate has been secretly battling Covid.
      The 50-year-old tested positive for the virus late last month after developing symptoms.

      ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

      Gareth Southgate secretly battled Covid last monthCredit: AP:Associated Press

      He didn’t tell his players about his diagnosis as he wanted to ‘just get on with it’Credit: AFP or licensors

      After self-isolating for ten days, the superfit England manager was straight back to workCredit: Rex Features
      He was forced to self-isolate for ten days before further checks came back negative.
      Concern was heightened due to his age but his fitness helped him fight off the deadly virus — with his England stars none the wiser.
      One source said: “He’s a professional, he just got on with it. Fortunately he’s very fit for his age.”

      Southgate tested positive around October 25, derailing his preparations for the current international matches.
      He self-isolated at home in North Yorkshire, abandoning plans to attend Premier League games in person.
      Like Prince William, who was diagnosed back in April with coronavirus, he kept the news quiet with only a handful of people knowing.
      A subsequent test came back negative by November 5, enabling him to host a press conference on Zoom announcing his latest squad.

      Concern was heightened due to Southgate’s age but his fitness helped him fight off the virusCredit: AP:Associated Press

      He was in good spirits during the press conference ahead of the Nations League clash in BelgiumCredit: PA:Press Association
      England staff and players are regularly tested and Southgate, capped 57 times before becoming boss in 2016, has had several negative checks since.
      He works out and jogs daily — once dislocating his shoulder on a run ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

      He’s a professional, he just got on with it.

      The same year he showed his stamina and fitness on Bear Grylls’ ITV wilderness survival show.
      Grylls said: “The wild always rewards commitment and courage, and Gareth has both of these qualities in spades.”
      Southgate showed no after-effects of the virus during Thursday’s win over Ireland at Wembley.
      He was also in good spirits in yesterday’s press conference ahead of tonight’s Nations League clash in Belgium.
      Southgate has been a staunch admirer of the NHS throughout the Covid pandemic.

      Southgate has opened up about his rise to the top in his new book

      My fight to get to the top

      By Jane Atkinson

      ENGLAND manager Gareth Southgate has opened up about the setbacks that nearly made him turn down the top job and once left him feeling such “humiliation” he felt embarrassed picking his children up from school.
      Gareth shares his life lessons in an inspirational book written in conjunction with The Prince’s Trust that aims to advise youngsters who lack the confidence to achieve their full potential.
      He reveals: “After three years in my role as manager at Middlesbrough, I was sacked. It wasn’t a pleasant experience. It just felt like a humiliation.
      “On the school pick-up run, I felt like everyone was looking at me, and then I had to tell my kids. It was hard not to take it personally, and my self-esteem took a hit. It felt like I had failed in the job.
      “Then again, I reminded myself, I had been in a similar situation as a player. I knew that I could come through this.
      “As a schoolboy, I started training one evening a week with Southampton.
      “A lot of the apprentice players were brimming with confidence. Being the quiet one, it meant I really stood out. I didn’t help myself on my first day of training. I wore my school shirt and trousers, only to find that everyone else was in a tracksuit or jeans. It felt like a disaster before I’d even started.
      “The coach, Alan Smith, called me in and said, ‘You’re a lovely bloke but as a footballer you’ve got no chance’.
      “If I can go from a skinny, introverted teenager who was told he wouldn’t make it as a player to someone who played and managed his country then I’m a clear example that ‘anything is possible’.”
      Anything is Possible by Gareth Southgate is published by Century on Nov 26 at £16.99. Gareth will donate all proceeds from the book to the Prince’s Trust Future Leaders initiative.

      In March he urged fans to stay at home to help our hospitals.
      He said: “Life is very different for us all at the moment and sport rightfully stands aside to support a more important cause during these unprecedented times.’’
      In May he agreed to a 30 per cent cut in his £5million salary to help the NHS.
      Southgate also delighted two frontline workers by calling them personally to thank them.
      Southgate said: “It’s important the nation gets behind those playing their part in helping to return society to a sense of normality.”
      Last month, his preparations for the Wales game were thrown into chaos after Three Lions stars Tammy Abraham, Ben Chilwell and Jadon Sancho breached Covid rules.

      His key tips

      BE brave. It takes courage to admit aspects of our personality need to shape up. Addressing our weaknesses can be a challenging but rewarding process.
      BE kind. Our conduct is key. We can fight our way to the top or play fairly to our strengths.
      FOLLOW your dreams. Breaking down a challenge makes it manageable. Take one step at a time making every step count.

      They attended a party with dozens of other guests, forcing furious Southgate to drop them.
      He said rules were being broken across the nation, adding: “There is a lot of disharmony now. We are all in this situation together.’’
      England will play Iceland at Wembley on Wednesday after the visitors got permission to fly from Denmark – where they play today.

      Gareth Southgate announces England squad for Ireland, Belgium and Iceland clashes
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      in Soccer

      Tottenham captain Harry Kane sees £100k Range Rover stolen by thieves in brazen daylight raid

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      ENGLAND star Harry Kane’s £100,000 Range Rover was stolen by thieves in a brazen daylight raid.
      A gang is believed to have targeted the vehicle after being filmed driving past it several times.

      Harry Kane is believed to be targeted by a gang after his £100,000 Range Rover was stolen by thievesCredit: Reuters

      The thieves sped off with it from outside an upmarket address in Chingford, East LondonCredit: WENN

      They sped off with it from outside an upmarket address in Chingford, East London.
      Kane, 27, is the third Spurs player to be robbed in recent months after his team-mates Dele Alli and Jan Vertonghen were attacked by armed raiders.
      CCTV shows a car driving past Kane’s luxury motor several times last month.
      Thieves then used an electronic device to open it before stealing the car from outside an address in Chingford, East London.

      A source close to the £200,000-a-week striker said: “Harry feels he has been targeted by a gang who focus on footballers. The way the robbery played out didn’t feel like a coincidence.”
      A Metropolitan Police spokesman said in a statement: “On Sunday, 25 October police received a report of a theft of a vehicle from outside a residential property in the Chingford area.
      “Officers contacted the victim and carried out enquiries. No suspects were identified.
      “The investigation has been closed. If any further investigative or evidential opportunities are established this will be reviewed.”

      Harry is expecting his third child with childhood sweetheart wife KateCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Dad-to-be Harry got hold of CCTV film of the theft.
      The insider added: “The footage shows a car driving past his motor a number of times. They were clearly doing a recce.
      “The road is in an upmarket residential area so it’s not hard to see why Harry and those around him think his car has been targeted.
      “Luckily he’d left no personal effects in the car or it could have been more distressing.”
      Sources close to Harry, who is expecting his third child with childhood sweetheart wife Kate Goodland, 27, say he was warned by police that the stolen car is unlikely to be recovered.
      The insider added: “The police told Harry that basically there was little chance of them recovering his motor because of how sophisticated these kinds of thieves are.
      “Obviously Harry is just happy no one was harmed and that they didn’t get away with anything irreplaceable or personal to him and his family.”

      CCTV shows a car driving past Kane’s car several times last monthCredit: PA:Press Association

      Kane was warned by police that the luxury motor is unlikely to be recoveredCredit: Reuters

      He is the third Spurs player to be robbed in recent monthsCredit: AFP or licensors
      Kane is the third Spurs ace to be targeted by criminals in recent months.
      In May his Tottenham pal Dele, 24, was held at ­knifepoint during a raid in lockdown at his home in North London.
      The robbers punched him in the mouth and threatened his girlfriend Ruby Mae, his adopted brother Harry Hickford and his partner.

      They made off with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery and watches from the £2million property in North London.
      In March Belgium defender Jan’s North London pad was broken into by armed robbers while he was away playing in a Champions League fixture in Germany.
      They terrorised his wife and young family before fleeing with valuables.

      Top goal for villains

      RANGE Rovers are a dream choice for organised crime gangs to target and they dominate the list of most ­stolen vehicles in the UK.
      Villains waste little time in shipping them abroad to Eastern Europe and North Africa.
      That gives them the opportunity to move them to places such as Dubai, where they are a particular favourite.
      Experts say Range Rovers and other premium vehicles are stolen to order by the gangs, who track their movements before choosing the right time to strike.
      The Sport model topped the list for thefts in 2019, according to latest analysis.
      It has replaced the BMW X5, which is now number two.
      The data, from stolen vehicle recovery service Tracker, reveals the Range Rover Vogue as the fourth most stolen car, the Range Rover Evoque as the seventh and Harry Kane’s model the Autobiography as the ninth.
      The data also revealed an increase in the number of cars stolen without the keys.
      Between January and July last year, 96 per cent of cars recovered by Tracker had been taken in keyless thefts, compared to 92 per cent during the same period last year.
      In the past few months, police forces all over the UK have issued warnings about the rise in thefts of Range Rovers and Land Rovers.
      Thieves have often succeeded by hacking the electronics to get in them.
      It has fuelled a huge spike in rural crime.

      Harry Kane smashes goals in during England training
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      in Boxing

      Katie Taylor dominates Miriam Gutierrez to defend WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO crowns in superb performance

      by

      KATIE TAYLOR proved she is worth every penny as much as boxing’s biggest earning men with a pound-for-pound stellar performance.
      The 34-year-old headlined a groundbreaking Wembley show against Miriam Gutierrez, with two other female fights at the top of the bill.

      Katie Taylor remains the undisputed world champCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

      Katie Taylor dominated Miriam Gutierrez from start to finishCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd

      And, during fight week, the London 2012 Olympic hero insisted she will always fight for the sports brave women to earn parity with the big-money men.
      The undisputed lightweight queen – and WBO super-light champ – utterly dominated rock-hard Spaniard Gutierrez to put an exclamation mark on her bold bank statement.
      And, after Gutierrez climbed off the floor at the end of the fourth to hear the final bell, the judges scored it: 100-89, 100-90 and 99-91.
      After her resounding victory, Taylor said: “I am very satisfied, I thought that was a great performance.

      The Irish fighter was far too good for her previously undefeated opponentCredit: ©Mark Robinson Ltd
      “She was very durable and kept firing back so I just couldn’t get her out of there but I felt that it was a great performance.
      “She was heavy handed and could punch so I am just very happy today.
      “I felt I hurt her in the first 30 seconds and thought I would get her out early, how wrong I was!”
      Taylor almost had the Wembley show wrapped up in the first ten seconds.

      The Irish icon raced across the ring and unloaded a vicious volley into the visitor who was still trying to offer her gloved fist as a friendly greeting when the blows started raining down on here.
      But the 37-year-old survived the early assault and heard the second bell.
      Taylor needed twenty rounds and two controversial decisions to see off the two challengers from Delfine Persoon.
      And it looked like she was desperate to keep this mandatory defence out of the judges’ hands in her second behind-closed-doors fight.
      A ripper of a right hand thumped into Gutierrez’s skull and was followed up with a left hook.
      The 13-0 challenger was well out of her depth and Taylor looked eager to drown her in the third. A thunderous left hook rocked Gutierrez to her boots and buckled her legs.
      Taylor piled in and a right hand cracked into the wounded underdog again. But Gutierrez showed freakish resilience by absorbing the blows and staying upright.
      Every jab Gutierrez dared to throw was either slipped or maliciously countered and Taylor dropped her right on the bell at the end of the fourth with a mean right hand.
      Gutierrez was little more than a punchbag by the fifth, flailing wild shots that Taylor dodged for fun.
      In the sixth Taylor had her prey pinned on the ropes and pummelled her but heroic Gutierrez refused to wilt and her corner should really have thrown in the towel.

      In the seventh and eighth, Gutierrez was whacked and tagged repeatedly but she kept willing the 2012 Olympic hero on.
      The last four rounds were hard to watch as Gutierrez clung to life like a fish out of water.
      Taylor was free to showcase all of her skills, without showboating, and always with an evil intent. More

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      in Soccer

      Declan Rice wants to be England captain and admits he’s learning loads from skipper Harry Kane

      by

      DECLAN RICE aims to succeed Harry Kane as England captain — but for now he is happy learning from him.
      Rice, already the West Ham skipper at the age of 21, is impressed by the way Kane leads Gareth Southgate’s team on and off the pitch.

      Harry Kane inspires his England colleagues even when he is not playing, says Declan Rice, who hopes to keep learning from his international skipperCredit: Rex Features

      Declan Rice admits he always dreamed of being a captain and, having led West Ham, he eventually wants the same role for EnglandCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The Hammers star said: “You feel his presence all the time.
      “He wasn’t involved against Ireland but beforehand he was in the changing room, getting everyone ready for the game.
      “He was talking to  the lads, going around individually.
      “For a youngster like me aspiring to be hopefully a future captain, to look at him and what he does, the way he goes around and speaks to players…

      “Like Gareth says, he might not be the loudest on the pitch but the way he takes the ball under pressure, the way he gets defences scared, he is a real leader.”
      And if Rice wants to learn about other kinds of leadership, he  has only to look to the player likely to partner him in England’s midfield today in Belgium.
      Jordan Henderson has skippered Liverpool to English, European and world titles in the last two seasons with his own vocal style of  captaincy.
      Rice said: “If you look at Jordan and what he’s done in the game for his whole career, but especially the last couple of years.

      Jordan Henderson is a perfect example of how to progress your career, says fellow England midfielder Declan RiceCredit: Reuters
      “I think it is so important for someone like me playing next to him to learn and get better.
      “We already know his qualities on the ball but what you don’t realise until you play next to him are his leadership qualities and what he brings to the team.
      “He is non-stop, always on you in a good way, in a positive way, and that gives you the confidence on the pitch to go out  and fight for the badge.”
      Rice always comes across as wise beyond his years, combining ambition and confidence with humility and respect.
      Southgate praised his character in the build-up to the friendly against the Republic of Ireland, not least because of the way he dealt with the death threats and other fallout that followed his decision to switch to England.
      A bookmaker successfully exploited that sensitive subject with a billboard that showed a heat map pattern for Rice and Jack Grealish — who also changed allegiance — in the shape of a snake.
      Rice said: “It was something I found really funny, actually.”
      But Rice takes captaincy very seriously and his third big role model is Mark Noble.
      ‘TAKING IT IN MY STRIDE’
      Although he remains West Ham’s club captain, Noble is finding his game time restricted this  season and boss David Moyes has turned to Rice to be his on-pitch leader.
      Rice said: “I’ve been privileged enough, if I look back at my time at West Ham in the academy, in the 16s, the 18s, the 21s, I was the captain in those age groups.
      “It’s just something that, as a kid, has always been one of my dreams, to captain a side.
      “Coming up with Nobes as the captain and me being the rising player in the team, the manager has given me the armband this season when Nobes isn’t playing, and I’m taking it in my stride.

      “I’m really lucky that I’ve got someone like Noble there to help me along the way.
      “I’m only 21 and I’m captaining the big games like Liverpool, Man City, so long may that continue.”
      All the way to captaining England one day,  perhaps?

      Ireland star Daryl Horgan understands Declan Rice’s decision to switch to England and ‘wouldn’t hold it against him’ More