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Daniel Wighton is a Berlin-based freelance journalist and editor. Daniel has worked with The Roar as an editor since 2012.
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After the longest winter break of any of the five biggest European leagues, the Bundesliga Rückrunde kicks off with Hoffenheim hosting champions Bayern Munich tonight.
Aaron Mooy has scored twice to lift his Huddersfield side off the bottom of the table, defeating a disappointing Wolverhampton away from home.
May 26, 2018. Kiev. Champions League final. An underdog side gunning for their sixth title, up against the perennial favourites looking for their 13th, and their fourth in five years.
In last season’s Champions League, Tottenham should have made it to the quarter-finals.
Picture yourself in 1992, watching as the ribbon is cut on the dawning of England’s new football tournament, the Premier League.
In sport, winning cures almost everything. If you’re top of the table, everything in the dressing room is harmonious. There are no egos and everyone wants to have a barbecue with the coach.
A meagre four weeks after Paul Pogba took France to World Cup glory, the same Paul Pogba scored Manchester United’s opening goal in their 2-1 defeat of Leicester City. It was an offseason that wasn’t an offseason – and that’s even if you don’t count the high drama of the transfer window.
Other than LeDecision out of Cleveland, it’s been the biggest story of the NBA off-season: just where will want-away San Antonio Spur Kawhi Leonard end up?
While it might force you to check your calendar just to be sure it isn’t April 1, News Corporation are reporting that 100-metre sprint champion Usain Bolt is headed to the A-League.
It might be a mystery to fans of other sports, but Origin just doesn’t do dead rubbers. Queensland have won 18-12 at Suncorp Stadium to prevent the whitewash and remind the Blues just how close the series actually was.
In a tournament punctuated by giant killing, all-time World Cup trophy leaders Brazil have put aside some of the doubts from their previous performances after defeating Serbia 2-0.
Switzerland have failed to win their final game in the group stage, however their 2-2 victory will be enough to see the Swiss through to the knock-out rounds.
An exultant second half effort has put Sweden through to the top of the group with a 3-0 victory, all three goals scored after the interval.
Saudi Arabia have clinched their first win of the tournament, coming from behind to beat a disappointing Egypt at the death in their final match of the group round at this World Cup.
It was game Egypt could not afford to lose and they started off the game looking like a team under pressure.
It had been discussed as the tournament where England’s Harry Kane was to announce himself as a member of football’s top class of players, and so far it appears everything is going accordingly for the England captain.
Game 1 of the 2018 State of Origin season is done and dusted, with the heavily favoured New South Wales Blues running out winners 22-12 over Queensland.
The other day I was watching rugby union. No, not Aussie Super Rugby because I’d rather get a live feed of an abattoir beamed directly into my bedroom, but good rugby.
Right on time, Queensland have run out winners of the 2017 State of Origin series, defeating New South Wales 22-6 at Suncorp Stadium.
Queensland – with a little help from Jarryd Hayne, Mitchell Pearce and a whole lotta butterflies in the Blues’ bellies – have done what they always seem to do, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat with a last-gasp 18-16 win over NSW in Game 2 of the 2017 series at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium.
OLD MAN ANDERSEN HITS BOTH FREES.
Q4 1′
Spain 85
Australia 86
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Dave Andersen is fouled, and will go to the line.
Q4 9′
Spain 85
Australia 84
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
There is 41 seconds to go, Australia are down by one and have possession.
Q4 1′
Spain 85
Australia 84
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Is that it for Australia?
Mills misses and the ball is back in Spain’s hands with not long to play. We are up the other end but Spain go for a three and the ball is out. Australia will have possession. They call a timeout.
Q4 1′
Spain 85
Australia 44
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
What Australia would do for a Kyrie Irving fadeaway three right now?
Rodriguez hits a two and there is some interference up the other end, and we’ve gone off to the referees for clarification.
Q4 8′
Spain 85
Australia 84
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Mills hits one of two free throws before the teams trade twos.
Gasol pulls out a huge dunk, but Mills gets back up the other end.
WIth 90 seconds left ,Australia are in the lead.
Q4 8′
Spain 83
Australia 84
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Delly hits a 2, celebrates like Cleveland is on fire, and then Spain miss a 3 by Navarro.
Mirotic gains a foul and Australia call a time out.
Q4 6′
Spain 78
Australia 79
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
2 for Broekhoff and then a 3 for Fernandez, giving Spain the lead.
Mills comes up the court and hits a clutch two, before Rodriguez comes down and makes a layup.
Q4 6′
Spain 78
Australia 77
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Rodriguez goes for three but it doesn’t drop for the big man and Ingles gets the rebound. Spain get a free throw and then hit a 2 point jumper.
Broekhoff hits a three and we are locked up again at 73-73.
Q4 5′
Spain 73
Australia 73
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
DUNK FOR MOTUM.
Here come the Aussies. We are locked up in the men’s bronze match. Can Australia claim their first ever medal?
Q4 1′
Spain 70
Australia 70
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Australia storm back as Mills hits two free throws, collects a rebound and then gets it to Motum who makes a layup.
Q4 3′
Spain 70
Australia 68
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
First points go to Spain as Rodriguez hits a jumping 3, taking their lead out to six points.
Q4 1′
Spain 70
Australia 64
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
That’s three quarter time, with Spain ahead by three after a Mirotic layup.
If Gasol – and his 36 year old legs – can handle the final quarter, Spain will probably claim the gold. Australia’s first five are likely to be similarly exhausted, but need to dig deep and win the quarter by at least four.
Anyone have Ben Simmons number?
Three quarter time
Spain 67
Australia 64
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
BOOM!
Spain edge their lead out to four – the biggest of the quarter – with a Gasol layup.
But Australia’s Broekhoff hits a centre three, and the score is back to 65-64.
Q3 9′
Spain 65
Australia 64
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Spain’s other team members have decided to get in on the act now, and with a Mirotic three and a Llull layup, the advantage out to 62-59.
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Mills – who has been Australia’s best – trades free throws with Gasol and the score is 52-52 before Gasol tips it in.
Q3 7′
Spain 54
Australia 52
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
What would Spain do without Gasol?
This is some LeBron style stuff from the Catalan, who hit a layup and then an alleyoop to keep Spain’s advantage.
Mills and Ingles hit a 2 each to make sure Australia keeps pace.
Q3 7′
Spain 49
Australia 49
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Alright, so neck and neck would be the best way to describe it here.
Spain goes back in the lead after Rubio is fouled while hitting a layup. Their lead is 45-43, but Patty Mills advances down the court to hit a layup.
Q3 4′
Spain 45
Australia 45
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Mills hits a jumping 3 and Delly gets a two after a Bogut block, and Australia are in the lead for the first time since just after tip-off.
Game on here in Rio!
Q3 2′
Spain 42
Australia 43
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
We are back after the break, and the Aussies have started with their best possible five: Mills, Bogut, Ingles, Delly and Baynes. They will want to bring the fight to Gasol and the other blokes in the early stages of this quarter.
As we say that, Gasol hits a layup.
Q3 2′
Spain 42
Australia 38
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
We go in for oranges and presumably some form of light tapas to take a break from the action, with Spain leading 40-38.
Australia went on a ten-point run to end the first half, showing everyone just what we can do when we decide to do it.
In that sense, half-time came at the worst moment for the Aussies, although Spain will have plenty to think about at the break.
Half-time
Spain 40
Australia 38
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Dave Andersen is fouled by Gasol outside the perimeter, and will step up to the line for three frees.
Hits the first.
Misses the second
Hits the third.
Dios Mio! Spain call a timeout, with three seconds to play in the first half.
Q2 9′
Spain 40
Australia 38
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
That’s more like it!
Australia go on a run thanks to two frees from Ingles, a Mills 3 and then a jumping 3 from Andersen. All the while Spain are fiddling with their line-up as Llull misses a jumping two.
Q2 9′
Spain 40
Australia 36
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Not sure what was said in that timeout, although it doesnt appear to have worked too well. Spain go on a run around a Pau Gasol 3, and the advantage is now 40-28 for the Spanish.
Australia will want to find their pool stage form soon, or hope that Gasol finds something better to do for the next half hour or so. Maybe a half-time retirement for the big man from Catalan?
Q2 7′
Spain 40
Australia 28
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog
Spain has called a timeout. 35 seconds to go.
Has Gasol got one big play left in him?
Q4 9′
Spain 85
Australia 86
Australia Boomers vs Spain highlights: Rio Olympics men’s basketball bronze medal live blog