The Sport Matrix: Friday 11 July 2014

England frustrated by India tail-enders

A last-wicket century stand kept England on the backfoot after the second day of the first Test with India at Trent Bridge yesterday. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami both hit 50s to push India to 457 all out. England finished the day on 43 for 1, traling by 414 runs. MORE

Zandio adds to Sky’s casualty list

Team Sky lost another rider from the Tour de France yesterday, veteran all-rounder Xabi Zandio pulling out with back and rib injuries to follow Chris Froome’s withdrawal earlier in the week. German rider André Greipel took the sixth stage between Arras and Reims. MORE

Chile’s Sanchez signs on at Arsenal

Arsenal last night completed a move for Barcelona and Chile forward Alexis Sanchez, the 25-year-old moving for a fee in the region of £30m. The striker enjoyed a fine World Cup campaign last month, scoring twice in four matches as his side reached the second round.

McIlroy in record-breaking form

Rory McIlroy returned to form ahead of next week’s Open with a course-record 64 in the first round of the Scottish Open in Aberdeen yesterday. “I thought anything in the 60s would be a good score so that was pleasing,” the Ulsterman said. MORE

O’Connor targets Glasgow medals

Bath 18-year-old Siobhan-Marie O’Connor knows nothing less than medals will be considered a success at this month’s Commonwealth Games. “I have to look at coming away with a few,” she said. “That is what I would be happy with.” MORE

Uehara leads after opening round

Japan’s Ayako Uehara weathered the conditions to lead the Women’s British Open after the first round at Royal Birkdale yesterday. She recovered from an opening bogey to card 68, one ahead of Mo Martin. MORE

Alex Scott

I had sympathy for Ron Vlaar and the Netherlands after they lost. I’ve been there. In 2011 England were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup by France on penalties. We had practised religiously. MORE

Mascherano: I feared worst as Robben shaped up

Javier Mascherano has admitted he feared the worst as he desperately attempted to get across to block Arjen Robben in the closing minutes of normal time of Wednesday’s semi-final against the Netherlands.

Robben’s shot was blocked by the Barcelona midfielder’s lunge, before Argentina went on to progress to Sunday’s Maracana final with Germany by winning 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out.

“It was terrible,” the 30-year-old recalled of events in Sao Paulo. “I thought I’d slip, I thought I wouldn’t make it, I thought he’d get ahead of me. I thought so many things. But I did get there, and it wasn’t a goal.” MORE

Messi muzzling gives pointers

The Germany camp learnt lessons from the way the Dutch neutralised Lionel Messi during Wednesday’s semi-final, taking pointers ahead of their meeting with Argentina on Sunday. “We saw the way [they] were able to keep Messi in check,” assistant coach Hansi Flick said. “We’ve also got a plan.” MORE

Suarez dilemma as appeal rejected

Luis Suarez yesterday lost his appeal to Fifa over his four-month ban for biting and must know decide whether to drop his actions or risk jeopardising a move away from Liverpool. Any involvement of the Court of Arbitration for Sport would risk pushing the ban back further into the new season. MORE

Scolari blasted by agent of Neymar

Brazil manager Phil Scolari has been labelled an “old jerk, arrogant, repulsive, conceited and ridiculous” by the agent of star forward Neymar in the wake of the country’s 7-1 semi-final thrashing by Germany. Scolari’s future remains uncertain ahead of tomorrow’s third-place play-off against Holland. MORE