Digest: Slovakia compounds Russia’s problems with 2-1 win
Soccer: Even though the behavior of Russian fans improved, their team might still be forced out of the European Championship early.
Elimination, rather than disqualification, is the immediate threat after Russia’s short-comings were badly exposed in a 2-1 loss to Slovakia on Wednesday in Lille, France.
Marek Hamsik’s long pass split the Russian defense, setting up Vladimir Weiss for Slovakia’s first goal in the 32nd minute. Weiss turned provider just before halftime as Hamsik powered in the second at the Stade Pierre Mauroy.
“He was superb with the ball but also helped a lot in defense and scored a beautiful goal,” Slovakia coach Jan Kozak said of Hamsik.
The Russians pulled one back in the 80th minute through Denis Glushakov’s header, but there was no late equalizer like in Saturday’s violence-marred match against England. The loss left Russia with only one point from two matches in Group B.
And Russia, which will host the 2018 World Cup, still has problems both on and off the field.
And Russia, which will host the 2018 World Cup, still has problems both on and off the field.
The red flare set off by Russian fans after Glushakov’s goal could prove problematic for the federation, which has been threatened with disqualification from Euro 2016 by UEFA if there is further misbehavior by its fans in stadiums.
On Saturday in Marseille, Russian fans attacked their English rivals after their team scored late to earn a 1-1 draw. There was no repeat of the violence in Lille, however.
Police use tear gas to disperse fans: French police used tear gas to disperse rampaging English soccer fans at the European Championship, the fourth time England fans have been involved in violent incidents since the start of the tournament.
Police made a total of 36 arrests in Lille, France, on a turbulent day interspersed with bursts of crowd trouble and a few fights. Authorities said 16 people were hospitalized, but gave no details about injuries.
Despite scattered incidents, the violence in the northern city of Lille did not reach the levels of last weekend in the southern city of Marseille, France, where English fans were involved in three days of occasionally vicious fighting.
However riot police were still firing tear gas to disperse English supporters, many of them apparently drunk, late into the evening.
Switzerland closes in on next round: Switzerland closed in on a spot in the knockout stages of the European Championship for the first time with a 1-1 draw against Romania in Paris. Admir Mehmedi scored a 57th-minute equalizer with a powerful left-foot shot to ensure the Swiss have four points ahead of their final Group A match against leader France, which qualified for the round of 16 after a 2-0 victory over Albania.
In its three previous appearances at the European Championship, Switzerland has never got beyond the group stage. Against Romania, it missed an opportunity to hit coach Vladimir Petkovic’s target of two straight wins to clinch advancement with a game to spare.
France advances: Late goals from Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet helped France become the first team to advance to the knockout stages of the European Championship on Wednesday with a 2-0 win over Albania.
For the second consecutive match, late pressure rescued a patchy France side that is struggling to live up to its pre-tournament billing as one of the favorites.
Corinthians’ Tite to coach Brazil: Corinthians manager Adenor Leonardo Bacchi, known as Tite, has been named the new coach of Brazil’s national team, according to his club. The announcement was made by Corinthians president Roberto de Andrade in a televised news conference a day after the Brazilian Football Confederation said it had fired Dunga as national coach.
Dunga was dismissed in the wake of Brazil’s elimination from the Copa America in the United States.
Howe’s life celebrated at Detroit funeral
Hockey: Hundreds of people, including Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky and Gary Bettman, bid farewell to Gordie Howe at a packed, two-hour funeral service in Detroit.
Fans stood in line a couple hours before the funeral, which was streamed online by the Red Wings, Howe’s longtime team, from the cathedral that has a capacity of about 900. Ted Lindsay – part of Detroit’s famed “Production Line” with Howe and Sid Abel – was on hand, and so was Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman. The rugged Hall of Famer died Friday at the age of 88.
The service came a day after thousands of people came to Joe Louis Arena for a public visitation scheduled from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., a nod to Howe’s famous No. 9, though it stretched beyond that.
Federer beats Struff, Nishikori withdraws
Tennis: Top-seeded Roger Federer began his bid for a ninth title at the Gerry Weber Open with a routine 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over wild card Jan-Lennard Struff in Halle, Germany. Federer never faced a break point and fired 11 aces to reach the second round.
Second-seeded Kei Nishikori pulled out with a rib injury. Nishikori reached the second round and was due to face Florian Mayer but told organizers that he was unable to play. Mayer advanced to the quarterfinals with a walkover.
Third-seeded Dominic Thiem, coming off his first title on grass in Stuttgart two days ago, beat Joao Sousa 7-5, 6-4.
Radwanska, Bencic stunned in first round: Agnieszka Radwanska, the top seed, and Belinda Bencic, the youngest player in the top world’s top ten, both fell at the first hurdle on a day of shocks and rainstorms at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham, England.
Radwanska, a former Wimbledon runner-up, had intended to use the grass court event as a springboard for another assault on the oldest Grand Slam title, but was halted 7-5,4-6, 6-3 by CoCo Vandewegh, a hard-hitting American ranked outside the top 30.
Vandewegh had never come close to winning a set against Radwanska’s consistently skilful ground strokes in four previous meetings, but used her strength and power to good effect.
Even after the Pole intelligently played her way back to parity, Vandewegh maintained a fierce flat attack and managed to break serve three times in the final set.
Isner advances: American John Isner fought off the challenge of former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro to win 7-6 (2), 6-4 and reach the second round at Queen’s Club in London. His 25 aces brought his total for the year to 513, more than any other player on the ATP Tour, and he appeared to master the slippery surface better than his Argentine opponent.
Three more women sue Baylor University
College football: Three more women filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Baylor University in Waco, Texas, saying the school did nothing to help them after they reported being sexually assaulted on or near campus. The Baptist school in Waco, Texas, has come under intense criticism for mishandling allegations of sexual assault over several years, including cases involving football players. In recent weeks, university president and chancellor Ken Starr was demoted and head football coach Art Briles was fired.
Already, Baylor is trying to settle a similar lawsuit filed by former student Jasmin Hernandez, who was attacked by former football player Tevin Elliott in 2012. Elliott is one of two former Baylor football players convicted of sexual assault since 2014. The Associated Press generally doesn’t identify sexual assault victims, but Hernandez has spoken publicly to draw attention to the case.