[ENG] Andy Murray standing on the verge of Wimbledon history

 

Andy Murray has a first Wimbledon final in his sights as he prepares to meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-finals. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Andy Murray has a friend in Tim Henman, linked as they are by a common burden not entirely of their own making, and their conversation in a quiet corner of the All England Club before the Scot plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Wimbledon semi-finals on Friday could help him rewrite a chapter of tennis history. Murray, for the fourth year in a row, is two wins away from the prize that has eluded everyone from these islands for 76 years.

Henman is anxious not to intrude. He maintains he was never interested in coaching Murray and has enormous respect for the man who took up the job six months ago, Ivan Lendl. Old Stone Face, inscrutable behind his dark glasses in Murray's box as all around him go crazy, has given the world No4 an edgier, more switched-on mien, noticeably at these championships, where Murray's eyes have blazed in adversity and when going for the kill.

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[ENG] Arsenal's self-financing model comes under scrutiny from within

Robin van Persie said he did not sign a new contract with Arsenal as he disagreed with the club's direction and strategy. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

The morning after Arsenal's captain and outstanding player, Robin van Persie, announced he will not renew his contract and criticised the club's strategy and ambition, the club's brooding, frustrated 30% owner Alisher Usmanov piled in. In an "open letter to the board of directors" the Uzbek steel and telecommunications billionaire savaged Arsenal's direction and "self-financing model" under the 62% owner, the American Stan Kroenke, and argued the manager, Arsène Wenger, is being denied the wherewithal for success.

The "self-financing model" has been so sung by Arsenal in praise of their approach that it was presented as a beacon of good practice to the parliamentary select committee examining football's unholy relationship with money last year. In essence Arsenal have for years prescribed that the club must live from its income, and no director or owner must put a penny into the club.

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[ENG] Goal-line technology systems set for green light

Goal-line technology is set to get the go-ahead when the International Football Association Board (IFAB) vote on Thursday over whether to use it.

The results of testing will be heard before IFAB are expected to approve the Hawk-Eye and the GoalRef systems.

How does Hawk-Eye work?

Hawk-Eye's system works by utilising six cameras per goal to track the ball on the pitch.

The system's software then uses "triangulation" to pinpoint the exact location of the football.

If the ball crosses the goal-line then an encrypted radio signal is sent to the referee's wristwatch to indicate a goal has been scored.

In line with Fifa's requirements, the whole process takes less than a second to complete.

The Premier League and Football Association can then introduce the technology into their competitions.

FA chairman David Bernstein and general secretary Alex Horne have travelled to Zurich to take part in the vote.

The English FA and their Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland counterparts each has a single vote, while Fifa - world football's governing body - has four.

Any law change needs at least six of the eight votes.

How does GoalRef work?

GoalRef uses a microchip implanted in the ball and the use of low magnetic waves around the goal.

The system then detects any change in the magnetic field on or behind the goal-line to determine if a goal has been scored.

The process takes under one second with a message relayed to the referee.

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[FR] JO 2012 : Sturridge pas encore forfait

Daniel Sturridge, l’attaquant de Chelsea, retenu pour disputer les JO 2012 sous la bannière de la Grande-Bretagne, ne veut pas déclarer forfait malgré sa méningite.

« Heureusement, je commence à me sentir beaucoup mieux, a déclaré l’attaquant de Chelsea après un passage par l’un des hôpitaux de Londres. C’est pour ça que je reste positif » a-t-il ajouté rapporte BBC Sports.

« J’espère vraiment être rétabli pour les Jeux » a-t-il ajouté.

La liste des 18 joueurs retenus pour les J0 2012

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