‘We were taught a cold and humiliating lesson’: French media slam France after emphatic loss to England

• French rugby paper Midi Olympique criticises national side after England defeat 
• France suffered a heavy 44-8 loss at Twickenham in the Six Nations fixture 
• The paper called for fundamental change to avoid similar humiliations in future 

By

James Ayles For Mailonline

Published:
20:10 EST, 10 February 2019

|
Updated:
20:10 EST, 10 February 2019

French rugby paper Midi Olympique laid into its national team after their Six Nations capitulation against England at Twickenham, labelling the loss ‘Waterloo’ on its front page.

France lost 44-8, with Jonny May scoring a 30-minute hat-trick and Henry Slade, Owen Farrell and a penalty try ensuring a landslide result as the visitors suffered a second defeat of the tournament.

The paper used its front page to call for fundamental change to Jacques Brunel’s team amid a poor run of form for the national team.

Midi Olympique tore into the France team after their heavy Six Nations defeat to England

Jonny May scored a 30-minute first-half hat-trick in the rout at Twickenham

Alongside the headline, was the text: ‘It is to cry, the XV of Jacques Brunel’s France never existed against England. 

‘The Blues took a real lesson in rugby, cold and humiliating. 

‘It is urgent to change everything.’ 

Captain Guilhem Guirado (left) and Dany Priso show their disappointment at the result

The loss to England comes after a 24-19 defeat to Wales in the opening round, having held a 16-0 half-time lead.

Alarm bells had sounded for France after a mixed Autumn campaign which saw a 28-13 win over Argentina sandwiched between a 29-26 loss to South Africa and a 21-14 reverse against Fiji.

Many are calling for members of the 2018 Under-20 world championship-winning side to be given their chance in place of failing senior players. 

Scotland are next up at Stadio Olimpico on February 23 as the team look to revert to winning ways. 

France have lost both of their Six Nations matches and will next host Scotland on February 23

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Benfica: Vlachodimos; Andre Almeida, Ruben Dias, Francisco Ferreira, Grimaldo; Pizzi, Samaris (Florentino Luis 62), Gabriel, Rafa Silva; Seferovic (Jonas 73), Joao Felix (Krovinovic 68)

Subs not used: Gedson Fernandes, Svilar, Cervi, Salvio

Booked: Samaris 

Goals: Grimaldo 1, Seferovic 21, 27, Felix 50, Pizzi 54 (pen), Francisco Ferreira 56, Ruben Dias 64, Jonas 85, Rafa Silva 88, Jonas 90 

Nacional: Daniel; Kalindi, Julio, Rosic, Filipe Ferreira (Witi, 17); Alhassan (Arabidze 46), Vitor Goncalves, Marakis (Riascos 84), Joao Camacho; Rashidov, Palocevic

Subs not used: Diego Barcelos, Diogo Coelho, Framelin, Rochez

Everywhere you turned at Craven Cottage, the smiles belonged to Manchester United. Funny that, for Phil Jones says they were a ‘laughing stock’ under Jose Mourinho.

It is a withering statement from the defender, who often found himself the butt of those jokes from folk all too happy to revel in the misery of Mourinho and his suffering side.

The antidote, it seems, was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Phil Jones applauds the Manchester United fans after his team’s victory over Fulham

Caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (right) picked up his 25th point from a possible 27

‘It was tough for everyone involved, we might have been a bit of a laughing stock at the start of the season, but certainly not now,’ said Jones in the wake of the 3-0 win at Fulham, a 25th point from 27 under the caretaker boss.

‘Everyone is going to take us seriously now, we’ve proven that (with Solskjaer), and we’re still getting better.

‘There is just a positivity about the place, to grind results out when we’re not playing well, to play forward, to play with intent and purpose – and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

‘You can see it in every game, we’re creating a number of chances and putting them away.’ They were queuing up to deliver the same message, as two-goal Paul Pogba – another wearing a smile – had his say on the upturn in mood, not to mention his own form.

Jones admits United had become a bit of a laughing stock under former boss Jose Mourinho

‘It is his (Solskjaer’s) joy,’ said the midfielder, a scorer of nine since the manager’s arrival in December.

‘He is just being himself. He is not playing, acting. He is giving joy to everyone. He is giving confidence to everyone – and you can see that on the pitch.’ After signing a new five-and-a-half-year contract recently, Anthony Martial thought it newsworthy to reveal that he shares a joke with Solskjaer in training. In light of what had gone before, perhaps such levity is a big deal.

His goal here – a daring dribble and unerring finish – drew immediate comparison with a Cristiano Ronaldo effort at the same end in 2007.

Solskjaer accepts the likeness. ‘He does have similarities, of course,’ said the boss.

‘If he wants to be at Cristiano’s level, Anthony knows what he has to do. It is up to him. He has the talent.’ Solskjaer says he is ‘glad’ that Martial is in his side and not lining up against United in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday, for Paris Saint-Germain had been mooted as potential suitors with Mourinho keen to offload the France forward in the summer. How ludicrous a judgement that now looks.

Paul Pogba scores United’s third goal of the game from the penalty spot on Sunday

‘He is a Manchester United player,’ said Solskjaer, tellingly. ‘He excites the crowd. He excites the manager. He excites his team-mates.

‘He is electric and his balance, his pace, everything about him… when you are a full-back, you don’t want him running at you.

‘And he is also a great character around the place.’ PSG will be without the injured Neymar tomorrow, their own exhilarating left-sided forward. But it says a lot about Solskjaer and United’s confidence right now that his absence is mourned rather than celebrated.

‘Unfortunately, he cannot play,’ said Solskjaer. ‘When you play against the best teams, you want to play against the best players.

‘The crowd want to see the best players, so it’s too bad for Old Trafford. I have played there against Real Madrid and Ronaldo and Figo, that gives it an extra edge.’ 

Jones shakes hands with Solskjaer following the full time whistle at Craven Cottage

Solskjaer refuses to set a target for the remainder of the season, yet on this evidence anything less than a top-four finish and even the last four of the Champions League would feel like a disappointment. And don’t forget the FA Cup.

For Fulham, the sound of supporters booing Claudio Ranieri’s substitutions and then turning on the manager on full-time felt like a club resigned to their fate. It has fast turned sour for the Cottagers and it is they in danger of becoming a laughing stock. There were very few smiles from anyone connected to their club on Saturday.

The same could not be said of the visitors. A beaming Nemanja Matic emerged to claim there are ‘no limits’ to what they can achieve under Solskjaer.

The punchline to United’s season could yet be silverware.

Former London 2012 Olympian turned NFL player Lawrence Okoye arrested in prostitution sting in Alabama

• Lawrence Okoye was one of 13 people arrested in a prostitution sting in Alabama
• The 2012 Olympian was snared by Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force
• The 6ft 6in Okoye, 27, was arrested on Wednesday and was released on Thursday

By

Peter Carline for MailOnline

Published:
19:16 EST, 10 February 2019

|
Updated:
19:45 EST, 10 February 2019

Lawrence Okoye, London 2012 Olympian and former NFL hopeful, was one of 13 people arrested in a prostitution sting in Alabama.

Okoye was snared by the Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force four days before he was due to make his debut for the Birmingham Iron in the inaugural Alliance of American Football league.

The 6ft 6in Okoye, 27, was arrested on Wednesday and was released from the Shelby County Jail Thursday after posting a $1,000 bond.

Lawrence Okoye was one of 13 people arrested in a prostitution sting in Alabama this week

Okoye missed the Iron’s opening game against the Memphis Express with a groin injury.

‘We’ve been made aware of it. We are in the process of gathering all the information,’ Iron head coach Tim Lewis said on Friday.

Croydon-born Okoye attended Whitgift School and won the Daily Mail Schools’ Under 18 Cup in 2010. 

Okoye opted to focus on the discus and he competed in London 2012, finishing 12th

The 27-year-old holds the British discus record with a throw of of 68.24metres

An academy player at both Wasps and London Irish, Okoye opted to focus on the discus and he competed in London 2012, finishing 12th. He holds the British record with a throw of of 68.24metres.

Okoye, who was offered a place to study law at Oxford University, switched sport again heading Stateside. 

After declaring for the NFL Draft, he was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in 2013.

The Croydon-born athlete was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad in 2013

He joined the Arizona Cardinals two years later, but was cut after parking his car in the space of head coach Bruce Arians. 

Okoye also had short spells with the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins before playing in Canada in 2017.

In October, 6ft 6in Okoye joined the Iron, but has made headlines for the wrong reasons ahead of the first weekend of the Alliance of American Football, a professional league featuring eight teams and several former NFL players. 

Okoye missed the Iron’s opening game, a 26-0 victory against the Memphis Express – who are coached by Super Bowl winner Mike Singletary – with a groin injury. 

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‘He’s one of the best in the world’: Luis Suarez hails Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s performance in Athletic Bilbao draw

• Marc-Andre ter Stegen produced saves from Markel Susaeta and Inaki Williams
• Athletic Bilbao held LaLiga leaders Barca to a 0-0 draw at the Estadio San Mames
• Ernesto Valverde was equally impressed by his Germany international keeper

By

Press Association Reporter

Published:
18:58 EST, 10 February 2019

|
Updated:
18:58 EST, 10 February 2019

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez saluted Marc-Andre Ter Stegen ‘one of the best in the world’ after watching his goalkeeper deny Athletic Bilbao victory.

The Germany international produced saves from Markel Susaeta and Inaki Williams either side of half-time as Bilbao held LaLiga leaders Barca to a 0-0 draw at the Estadio San Mames on Sunday evening.

Suarez told LaLiga TV: ‘He’s one of the best in the world, no question. He showed it again – that’s why he’s the Barcelona keeper.’

 The Germany international produced saves from Markel Susaeta and Inaki Williams

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez saluted Marc-Andre Ter Stegen ‘one of the best in the world’

Barca boss Ernesto Valverde was equally impressed by his goalkeeper, and particularly his stop from Williams eight minutes from time.

He said: ‘He’s made some amazing saves, especially the last one, it was incredible.’

It proved to be a frustrating night for the leaders as they started and finished slowly and when they were on top, struggled to find their usual cutting edge.

Messi, who has been nursing a thigh injury, was laboured in his attempts to make the impact he normally does as he found himself tightly and robustly marked, often to his clear frustration, while Philippe Coutinho was also off-key.

Valverde said: ‘We couldn’t really get going in the last third of the field. We thought the game would have more rhythm and it just didn’t turn out like that.

Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde was equally impressed by his goalkeeper Ter Stegen

‘We’re just responsible for what we do and I think in general, we should have created more than we did. They pressed us high, but we did get through that and we did get through to their box.

‘But then that left us exposed to counter-attacks and they created problems.’

The visitors now sit six points clear of second-placed Real Madrid, while their hosts eased themselves four clear of the drop zone with a more than creditable result.

Indeed, Athletic boss Gaizka Garitano was left wondering what might have been after seeing his players create more than enough chances to win the game, only to be thwarted repeatedly by Ter Stegen.

Garitano said: ‘When you get a point against Barcelona, you should be happy. They dominated things more in the second half and Ter Stegen had a terrific game.

Ter Stegen played in the 1-1 draw between Barcelona and Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey

‘In the first half an hour (of the second half), we suffered more, but they didn’t create a lot of chances.

‘We’re happy with a point, but looking at the chances we had, we could have won it.’

Bilbao have lost one of the nine league games they have played since Garitano replaced Eduardo Berizzo in December, although he is refusing to be carried away by that run.

The manager said: ‘All the games in LaLiga are difficult. Even if you defend well, if you don’t score, you are going to suffer. But we’ll just keep working hard.’

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