The Front Pages
As you already know by now, here at JOE.ie we’re mad about sport. Today couldn’t be much better when it comes to back page news on the front pages, if you catch my drift.
The major shock from yesterday’s World Cup action, and the biggest in the tournament so far, was Italy’s defeat to Slovakia and their failure to progress to the last 16.
They lost 3-2 to Slovakia and ended up at the bottom of the group. Below so-called no-hopers New Zealand.
The Irish Times brandish it as, “Italians face ‘plane of shame’ after feeble World Cup exit.â€
“They managed to play for only about six minutes in the whole course of the three games,†commented one supporter who watched the embarrassing events unfold on a big screen in Rome.
The Irish Examiner’s main picture today shows USA tennis player John Isner celebrating after a record-breaking Wimbledon match.
Isner took 11 hours to eventually beat France’s Nicolas Mahut after winning the final set 70-68.
In non-sport related news, researchers met in Paris yesterday for the first International Conference on Yawning. Far from being just a sign of tiredness, a yawn (pictured above) could indicate a whole range of other states and emotions – interest, stress and even sexual desire. Imagine that. The Indo has more on this story.
Tales from the Tabs
Singer Mariah Carey has allegedly failed to settle a £20,000 vet’s bill, the Daily Star claims.
Dr Cindy Bressler, of New York, is suing the singer, saying she is owed the cash for looking after Mariah’s three terriers Cha-Cha, Dolomite and JJ while she was promoting a film.
The vet claims Carey has offered only £5,000. Surely Mariah isn’t stuck for a few quid.
The Sports Pages
No, the front page news is not on the back pages. It’s more sport, of course.
The Indo has a report on Padraig Harrington’s opening round of the Travelers Championship. He recorded seven birdies in a round of 64. A full report is on page 20 of the sport section.
In horse racing, Johnny Murtagh will ride Cape Blanco in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, while Seamus Heffernan will partner Aidan O’Brien’s other main runner, Jan Vermeer.
And finally in World Cup jabber, Cesc Fabregas reckons the USA will reach the semi-final stage. “The best moment for me at the World Cup so far was that nail biting end when the USA scored in the last minute against Algeria. It was an incredible finale and was the most memorable one for me.
“They are in a good side of the draw now – they have Ghana next, then maybe Uruguay in the quarter-finals,†he predicted.
Ok Cesc. And John Isner is going to win Wimbledon.
