Justin Gatlin and LaShawn Merritt remained on collision course at the US Olympic track and field trials here Thursday after coasting into the semi-finals of the 200 metres.

Seven years after successfully pleading its case to be re-admitted to the Olympics following an absence of more than a century, golf is on increasingly shaky ground as it prepares to be showcased at the Rio Games next month.

Australia opener David Warner says flat pitches rather than bats with thicker edges are the reason batsmen have the upper hand in Test cricket.

Antoine Griezmann scored twice yesterday as France beat world champions Germany 2-0 to seal a place in the Euro 2016 final against Portugal.

Wales has arranged a huge homecoming party for its Euro 2016 team as politicians, actors and sports stars showered Chris Coleman’s squad with praise yesterday despite their semi-final defeat by Portugal.

As Gareth Bale and his Wales teammates bade farewell to Euro 2016, a commonly expressed hope was that their achievements in France would represent a beginning and not an end.

Wales manager Chris Coleman said he was “immensely proud” of his team after their hopes of reaching the Euro 2016 final were dashed by a brief lapse of focus during a 2-0 defeat by Portugal on Wednesday.

Colombia champions Atletico Nacional took a giant stride towards their first Copa Libertadores final appearance in more than two decades on Wednesday after scoring a stunning 2-0 away leg victory over Brazilian giants Sao Paulo.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi will appeal and vowed to clear his name after a court in Spain on Wednesday sentenced him and his father to 21 months in jail for tax fraud, the player’s lawyers said.

Looking back, perhaps the loudest alarm bell during David Moyes’ first months at Manchester United was Marouane Fellaini’s arrival for £27.5mn – a little more than a month after his £23mn buyout clause had expired.

Former Wimbledon winner Marion Bartoli said yesterday she fears for her life after picking up a mystery virus which has caused dramatic weight loss.

Six-time champion Serena Williams stormed into her ninth Wimbledon final in record time yesterday and will meet Angelique Kerber after the German ended Venus Williams’s hopes of becoming the oldest woman in the title match in 22 years.