Klitschko brothers Christmas message – but will they grant David Haye fight

Posted on December 21, 2012 by adminsports

Klitschkos: We hope all your wishes come true (does that mean you'll grant Haye his)

UPDATED:

12:02 GMT, 21 December 2012

Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko have delivered their Christmas message but gave no hints as to their plans for 2013.

The heavyweight brothers have enjoyed another dominant year, winning five world title fights between them.

But negotiations between Vitali and former champion David Haye appear no closer to being finalised.

The elder brother's future in the ring remains uncertain after he was elected into the Ukrainian parliament.

Haye meanwhile has reiterated his desire to fight Vitali but will retire for a second time if the contract remains unsigned.

'It’s no great secret that I want to knock out Vitali Klitschko in 2013,' he told the Evening Standard.

'The contract for the fight has been agreed and is there ready to sign. Were it simply up to me, I’d be training to fight right now. Instead, I’m away from the gym and left to play the waiting game.

Desire: David Haye (right) wants to fight Vitali Klitschko next year

'Nobody seems to know if Vitali wants to set foot again in the ring, let alone face somebody as dangerous as me. What I do know is that by this time next year I will either be a retired former world heavyweight champ or the new world heavyweight champ.

'The prospect of retirement doesn’t scare me. I’ve always planned on retiring at a young age, with my faculties intact. Also, unlike some of my peers, I have plenty to get on with away from boxing.'

Wladimir, who beat Haye in Hamburg last year, has been ordered to face regular WBA champion Alexander Povetkin.

Main men: The Klitschko brothers have cleaned up the heavyweight divisions

'We are very excited that Povetkin will be Klitschko's next opponent,' said Povetkin's promoter Kalle Sauerland.

'We consider Wladimir Klitschko to be a great champion but we also consider Alexander Povetkin to be a very serious challenger,

'[This] will turn out to be a real treat for boxing fans all over the world.'

How Ben and Tom Youngs went from mini-rugby to the England squad

Posted on November 8, 2012 by adminsports

'Tom would smash right through Ben…' How the Youngs brothers went from mini-rugby to the England squad

UPDATED:

22:45 GMT, 7 November 2012

The galvanised steel rugby posts fashioned for the Youngs brothers by a doting grandfather have long rusted and disappeared but the memories of the young boys at play in north Norfolk linger.

Especially for a proud father like Nick Youngs, who himself played for England.

He is preparing for the possibility of watching both his sons, Ben, 23, and 25-year-old Tom, turn out for the same international team at Twickenham.

Boy wonders: Ben (right) and Tom Youngs (left) started out playing mini-rugby and could be the third brothers since the war to play for England together

Haven't they grown Tom Youngs trains with England ahead of their clash with Fiji on Saturday

Off he goes: Ben Youngs (centre) is considered to be the more naturally gifted of the two brothers

'Ben was David Campese in those days,' Dad recalls. 'Then he was Christian Cullen, complete with All Blacks shirt which he would change into as soon as he came home.

'It was quite amusing watching Ben side-stepping across the lawn, running about and pretending to score tries. Tom would boot the ball into the air and catch it.

'Ben was tiny. Tom was always quite chunky, and, of course, two years older. So when they played against each other Ben got the s*** smashed out of him.

'Ben would try to glide and step past Tom; Tom would just run through and straight over Ben.'

Think of Jonah Lomu galloping over Tony Underwood in the 1995 World Cup semi-final and you get the picture.

The Youngs look like becoming the third brothers since the war to play in the same England international side after the Underwoods, Rory and Tony, and Delon and Steffon Armitage.

The fact Nick Youngs has also been capped for England adds an extra dimension.

Nick, like Ben a scrum-half, won six caps in season 1983-84, largely, as he freely admits, due to an injury to Nigel Melville.

It was not England's finest year. But they did beat the All Blacks, as had the Midlands 10 days earlier. Youngs played in both games.

'The highlights of my career. I remember the Midlands game in particular. A Tuesday night at Welford Road. The atmosphere was amazing. We had such luck.

Talent: The Youngs' father, Nick, who was himself an England international, says that Tom was chunkier and used to smash through Ben

In action: Nick was a solid scrum-half, but retired at 26, meaning neither of his sons ever saw him play

'We could have played them 100 times and been walloped on each occasion. But we tackled ourselves to a standstill and found an inner belief from somewhere.'

Youngs Snr retired at 26, weary at his three-times-a-week 230-mile round trip between the family farm and Leicester.

So his children did not see him play and they still haven't.

'I haven't shown them any recordings and I wouldn't. The game is so slow and dreary. I am embarrassed by it.

'When old farts talk about the game being so great in their day, I tell people they should watch the matches I played in. That shows the truth.'

Like so many of their generation, the Youngs boys started in mini-rugby, in their case at Holt RFC in Norfolk.

Both moved to North Walsham RFC which carried on their rugby education.

So did the renowned independent school Gresham's, chosen not just for sporting reasons. 'Both boys suffered from dyslexia,' their father explains.

'I struggled terribly with dyslexia at a time when it was not identified as that. They just called me thick. I remember sitting an exam not even being able to read the question.

'Tom struggled to read and write. Ben was better. But the dyslexia unit at the school was terrific. The academic side was tough but the sport was a great release, just as it had been for me.'

Brotherly love: Tom (left) and Ben (right) are both delighted to see each other succeed at the top level

Promising: Ben was already showing his ability here, aged 14

Brotherly love: Tom and Ben (left) are both delighted to see each other succeed at the top level of their sport, as Ben shows his promise aged just 14 (right)

Say cheese: Ben (left) and Tom (right) pose for the camera in this childhood photograph

Ben started as a centre and full back while always wanting to play fly-half.

It was during a trial for a London youth side that a selector saw him as a scrum-half.

Dusty Hare at Leicester took the same view. So, Ben embarked on a crash course in the art of the No 9, with Dad providing valuable tuition on passing from the floor and box-kicking during extra training at North Walsham.

Tom's conversion from centre to hooker, initiated by Heyneke Meyer, the former Leicester and current South African coach, came much later and proved more dramatic.

Nick remembers a phone call from Meyer when Tom was contemplating the switch.

'He told me that Tom already ticked most of the boxes for being a hooker. All he needed to learn was scrummaging and throwing in at the lineout!

'I remember his first game. He was targeted. There was a punch-up at the scrum and his first throw at the line-out looked like a beachball in the wind.

Competition: David Paice (left) is keeping a close eye on fellow hooker Tom Youngs (right)

Close control: Ben Youngs (centre) will be hoping to dismantle the Fijians in Saturday's Test

'I laugh about it now. He is still a work in progress but he has come so far. If anyone wants to criticise him, they should imagine what he has gone through. He just rolled up his sleeves and never complained.'

No-one would dispute that Ben possesses the more natural talent, as his father concedes.

'He has the kind of natural flair that you are born with and that can't be coached. He gets it from his mother, Trot (Patricia).

'But if you want to get Tom really wound up and upset, ask him how he copes with his brother's success.

'Tom is so happy for him, not at all envious. And Ben is equally thrilled about Tom's arrival in the England squad.

'I just think that it shows how anyone, anywhere, can pull on that England shirt. I think of Ben and his matchstick legs running around at a little place like Holt.'

Gerry, 86, the grandfather who made the rugby posts, will be at Twickenham on Saturday with his wife Helen, hoping to see two grandchildren in action 28 years after watching his son in the same stadium.

The family are looking forward to a great day.

Alan Pardew set to start Shola and Sammy Ameobi for Newcastle

Posted on October 25, 2012 by adminsports

Newcastle boss Pardew calls in SAS to deal with Belgian dangermen

UPDATED:

21:39 GMT, 24 October 2012

Alan Pardew will create history by calling on the SAS to power Newcastle United a step closer to the knock-out stages of the Europa League.

Shola Ameobi and his brother Sammy are being lined up to start together for the first time in the Magpies' Group D fixture with Belgium league leaders Club Brugge at St James' Park.

If Newcastle can make it nine points from nine at the half way stage then they will already be within touch of securing a place in the next round.

Brothers in arms: Shola Ameobi and his brother Sammy are set to start together for Newcastle

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Newcastle (4-4-2): Harper; Simpson, Williamson, Perch, Ferguson; Obertan, Tiote, Cabaye, Sa Ameobi; Sh Ameobi, Cisse.

Club Brugges (4-4-2): Jorgacevic; Hoefkens, Figueras, Engels, Buysse; Blondel, Vazquez, Odjidja-Ofoe, Lestienne; Vleminckx, Bacca.

The Ameobis – who have played together a number of times – have never been in the starting line-up since Sammy, 20, emerged on to the first team stage at Chelsea in May last year when he came off the bench.

Shola, 30, said: 'My parents have mentioned it in the past, and I'm sure seeing both of us on the pitch at the same time will bring them tremendous pleasure. It's no different for me.

'There's nearly 11 years between us, so when we were growing up, I think he was maybe a little bit intimidated by me, which is normal. He's trying to go through what I've been through.

Chance: Sammy Ameobi looks set to start for Newcastle

'But we've got a great relationship now.
I'm sure he's well aware of how hard it's going to be, and what he has
to put in to make it to the very top. But I want to see him surpass
anything I've ever done in this game.'

It will be the first time two brothers have started for Newcastle in major European competition – although George and Ted Robledo did play together in the league in 1952 while Richie and Matty Appleby played in an Anglo-Italian Cup tie 40 years later.

Key midfielder Cheick Tiote is set to face Brugge just days after he was sent off in the Wear-Tyne derby draw at Sunderland, but skipper Fabricio Coloccini will not be risked with calf trouble.

It was the second red card of Tiote's Newcastle career and he has also racked up 27 cautions from his 54 matches since joining from Twente.

And Newcastle boss Pardew said: 'I spoke to Cheick about his disciplinary record and his responsibility to Newcastle. I think he responded well to that.

'Yes he will play and the next Europa League game too because we need to keep him up to speed. This is a lifeline for him because he can't play in the league.'

Ferdinand brothers demand action on racism

Posted on October 24, 2012 by adminsports

Ferdinand brothers disappointed with 'actions' of FA and PFA, but pledge to work with Kick It Out

UPDATED:

18:46 GMT, 24 October 2012

Rio and Anton Ferdinand have expressed their disappointment with the Football Association and PFA over their 'actions' during the past year.

In a wide-ranging statement released by the Ferdinand's management team, the pair have expressed their desire to 'work with football's existing organisations towards the betterment of the game and to achieve immediate action'.

In addition, they have claimed the Kick it Out organisation, whilst doing good work in the past, needs to change and have offered to work with it to make it 'more relevant in its fight to stamp out racism in football'.

Brothers in arms: Anton (left) and Rio Ferdinand have called for a truce

'It has been a year since the incident at Loftus Road,' read the statement, issued by NEW ERA GLOBAL SPORTS.

'During that time, some of the deep divisions that exist in football have been exposed.

'In the coming months there will be ongoing discussions, we are sure, on finding a way forward. We intend to participate in these discussions, along with numerous other current and ex professionals of all races, from the grass roots upwards, across the football community as a whole.'

The statement continued: 'On the issue
of Kick it Out, we would like to go on record to say what fantastic
work they have done in the past regarding education and awareness.

'However, times change and
organisations need to change with them. We are more than happy to join
the discussion, privately, to make Kick it Out more relevant in its
fight to stamp out racism in football.

Breakaway: Rio had considered creating a black players' union

'Although we have been left
disappointed by the PFA and the FA's actions over the last year, as a
family, we are committed to working with football's existing
organisations towards the betterment of the game and to achieve
immediate action.

'We would like to thank all the fans and the staff at Queen's Park Rangers and Manchester United for their support in what has been a difficult year. In particular we want to thank Sir Alex Ferguson and Mark Hughes.

'We will not be discussing publicly any issues connected with the case. We are now going to concentrate on playing football.'

The statement comes at the end of a
period when Rio Ferdinand was linked with a breakaway union for black
players following both his and Anton's refusal to wear Kick it Out
T-shirts at the weekend.

Over the past year, the Ferdinands have been embroiled in the John Terry racism saga.

Snub: Anton was among several players who did not wear anti-racism t-shirts

The pair were aghast to discover Terry only received a four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand at Loftus Road last October.

The furore created by it was viewed by the Ferdinands as a reason for his omission from Roy Hodgson's Euro 2012 squad.

Although Terry was found not guilty at Westminster Magistrates Court, outspoken critics of the FA have claimed the organisation should have acted much faster, and come down far harder on the Chelsea captain.

However, Ferguson criticised Ferdinand for his protest and whilst the pair have since patched up their differences, he has repeated his strong belief that collective action is far more productive than individuals 'going off like sheep'.

Shola and Sammy Ameobi hoping to make history at Newcastle v Club Brugge

Posted on October 24, 2012 by adminsports

Ameobis hope to be Toon brothers in arms as Shola tips Sammy to reach the very top

UPDATED:

16:25 GMT, 24 October 2012

Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi is backing younger brother Sammy to surpass him as the pair prepare to launch a double assault on Europe.

The Ameobis would become the third pair of siblings to start a senior competitive game for the Magpies if manager Alan Pardew gives them the nod against Club Brugge at St James' Park on Thursday evening after George and Ted Robledo in the 1950s and Matty and Richard Appleby four decades later.

Striker Shola, now 31, broke into the first-team squad under Sir Bobby Robson as a teenager and now midfielder Sammy, almost 11 years his junior, is attempting to do the same. However, the older brother is convinced the younger has a massive future in the game.

Plenty to smile about: Sammy Ameobi has been tipped for great things by his brother, Shola

Shola said: 'There's nearly 11 years between us, so when we were growing up, I think he was maybe a little bit intimidated by me, which is normal.

'He's trying to go through what I've been through. But we have got a great relationship now.

Proud brother: Shola Ameobi in training

Proud brother: Shola Ameobi shoots in training

'I feel that as a big brother, I have to make sure he's on the right track all the time. I know my parents expect that of me, and it's something I'm conscious about doing.

'I'm sure he's well aware of how hard it's going to be and what he has to put in to make it to the very top.

'But I want to see him surpass anything I've ever done in this game and I know he has the ability to do that. He can do that, without a shadow of a doubt.'

Ameobi senior, who unlike his brother, was born in Nigeria, but raised on Tyneside, has had to deal with injuries and the pressure of being the local boy during his rise from promising starlet to senior frontman.

The wisdom gained during that, at times, difficult journey has served him well over the years, and he is hoping he can pass that on to Sammy as he attempts to negotiate a similar path.

Shola said: 'I don't coach him because I don't profess to be a coach, but I try to explain to him what I've been through.

'I try to tell him about the mistakes I've made along the way – which are a few – and try to help him not to repeat them.

Just warming up: Hatem Ben Arfa (centre) in action during training at Little Benton

Just warming up: Hatem Ben Arfa (centre) in action during training at a chilly Little Benton

'I just try to give him encouragement
because that's important in this game. You need people to tell you when
you're doing things right, as well as when you're not. I try to be a big brother to him and help him in that way.'

Pardew has confirmed that the younger Ameobi will start, along with Northern Ireland international Shane Ferguson and midfielder Cheick Tiote, who will spend much of the next month kicking his heels after being sent off in Sunday's 1-1 derby draw at Sunderland.

Pardew said: 'They are two players, I think, who can effect the first-team at this football club and take us forward as a club.

'It is a big game for them and they are training very, very well. We hope to see some fine performances from those two in particular tomorrow.'

Skipper Fabricio Coloccini, who made a stunning return from injury at the Stadium of Light before succumbing to cramp in both calves 10 minutes from time, will not figure as Pardew keeps one eye on Sunday's Barclays Premier League fixture against West Brom.

Newcastle are yet to concede a goal in four games in Europe and currently sit a point clear at the top of Group D, although the manager is expecting a tough test from a Brugge side which had not lost in the Pro-League until Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Leuven.

He said: 'We have to respect that Brugge are top of the league. We did that with Bordeaux and put a team out that was very strong, and the same will go for Brugge.'

David Price v Matt Skelton at Aintree on November 30

Posted on October 22, 2012 by adminsports

Price to jump back into action with Aintree title defence against 45-year-old Skelton

UPDATED:

09:42 GMT, 22 October 2012

David Price will make a quick return to action when he defends his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles against veteran Matt Skelton at Aintree racecourse on November 30.

The giant Liverpudlian made short work of Audley Harrison earlier this month, stopping the Olympic gold medalist in his tracks with a devastating knockout after just 82 seconds.

On the line: David Price will defend his British and Commonwealth heavyweight championships against Matt Skelton at Aintree

Former British, Commonwealth and European champion Skelton boxed on the same bill in Liverpool, stopping Croatian Jakov Gospic in two rounds.

Price, 29, will expect to extend his unbeaten record against Skelton as he eyes fights with the Klitschko brothers and bitter rival Tyson Fury in the future.

‘Matt was on stand-by in case Audley pulled out,’ he said.

‘He went through with his part of the deal so we’ll go through with ours.

Veteran: 45-year-old Skelton will provide Price with his latest test in November

‘I am aware he is 45, but he has won major championships and challenged for the world title.

‘I have only boxed 14 times as a professional and still learning and Matt will bring something new for me.’

Evander Holyfield to auction prized boxing possessions

Posted on October 12, 2012 by adminsports

Holyfield to auction prized boxing possessions in bid to cut 10m debt

UPDATED:

08:53 GMT, 12 October 2012

Five-time heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield is selling some of his most prized possessions in a desperate bid to slash his 10million debt.

The American, who celebrates his 50th birthday next week, has frittered away his 350m fortune earned during a career that has so far spanned 28 years.

But while Holyfield still retains hope of fighting one of the Klitschko brothers in one final bumper pay day, more pressingly he must come to terms with the problems in his personal life.

Sale: Evander Holyfield (right) will auction off his boxing memorabilia

Much of his money is spent on maintenance for the 11 children he has to five different mothers.

His lavish 109-room, 17-bathroom mansion on the outskirts of Atlanta has had to
be sold for 5m to ensure its not repossessed.

And in what has been touted as one of the greatest sales of sporting memorabilia in history, Holyfield will part with 20 pairs of gloves, the robes, trunks and boots he wore in his major fights.

Still going: Holyfield hopes to fight one of the Klitschko brothers

Also up for grabs will be gold and diamond watches, WBC, WBA and IBF championship belts plus several luxury vehicles including his vintage 1962 red Chevrolet Corvette.

'These days right now are the most difficult, dealing with all the mothers of my kids,' he said.

Sir Alex Ferguson puts focus on South American scouting

Posted on September 10, 2012 by adminsports

Unearth gems! Fergie ups United's game in South America with increased scouting network

UPDATED:

08:14 GMT, 10 September 2012

Sir Alex Ferguson has instructed his scouting team to up their efforts in South America and Mexico as the Manchester United boss looks to beat his European rivals to the planet's brightest young talent.

The Scot has been in the United States during the international break, and while he has enjoyed some well-earned time off, he has revealed he's keeping tabs on the seven staff he has stationed in around the region.

More of the same: Sir Alex Ferguson wants Manchester United to bring in a steady flow of talented young South Americans like Angelo Henriquez who was signed this summer

On the look out: Sir Alex Ferguson is in the United States

United have delved into the South
American market almost every year since the arrival of the Da Silva
brothers – Rafael and Fabio – in 2008, largely experiencing success.

Angelo Henriquez was signed for 4million this summer from Universidad Chile, following in the footsteps of Javier Hernandez who was signed for a similarly lowly fee in 2011.

And now Fergson says he hopes to unearth a few more gems in the coming years to avoid having to pay considerably more for players once they've developed at other European clubs.

'Our scouting there has increased,' he told Inside United. 'We've got an operative in Mexico, two in Brazil and four South American scouts now.

'Quite frankly, they do produce. The South Americans love playing football, it’s just in their blood. The three Brazilians – Anderson, Rafael and Fabio – love it and are first to training every morning. It’s a breath of fresh air.

'Antonio Valencia is as tough as nails with great discipline about him. Chicharito has a fantastic attitude to playing and everything else. It’s really good. We’ve done very well in Central and South America in the last two or three years.'

United first moved to tie up good
links with the region in 2011 when they secured a partnership with Sao
Paulo academy Desportivo Brasil.

The
likes of Gladstony, Aguilar, Lucas Evangelista, Agnaldo, and Rafael
Leao have all been invited at some point to visit the club, and in some
cases train.

This
increase of a presence also comes off the back of a frustrating summer
for Ferguson who missed out on the highly-rated teenager Lucas Moura who
was eventually signed by Paris St Germain for 35million.

Samba magic: Fabio and Rafael da Silva were plucked from their homeland

Gareth Bale better than Eden Hazard, says Aaron Ramsey

Posted on September 7, 2012 by adminsports

Bale is better than Hazard, insists Wales skipper Ramsey ahead of Belgium clash

UPDATED:

11:04 GMT, 7 September 2012

Wales head into Friday night's opening World Cup qualifier against Belgium as underdogs, but captain Aaron Ramsey would not swap Gareth Bale for any of the visitors' Premier League stars.

Belgium are widely regarded as favourites to advance from Group A, which also includes Croatia, Serbia, Scotland and Macedonia.

Marc Wilmots' side include a plethora of talents plying their trade in the English top flight, including captain Vincent Kompany, Eden Hazard, Thomas Vermaelen, Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini, Kevin Mirallas and Mousa Dembele.

Brothers in arms: Ramsey (right) gets to grips with Bale in training

Brothers in arms: Ramsey (right) gets to grips with Bale in training this week

Star man: Hazard (front left)

If Wales were to cause an upset and open their campaign with victory at Cardiff City Stadium, Tottenham winger Bale will be a key figure.

The 23-year-old has made a steady rather than spectacular start to the new campaign, but Arsenal midfielder Ramsey would not exchange Bale for any of Belgium's top stars.

'I personally wouldn't (swap him), no,' said Ramsey.

'He has been doing what he does for a couple of years, creating and scoring goals and always being a threat to the opposition.

'He gets in behind teams and takes on players and has the quality to whip in a cross, or come inside and shoot from distance and cause a problem for the keeper.

'He can create things and he has shown that against top quality defenders. He has got a few hat-tricks, including one against Inter Milan where he tore Maicon apart.

'He has done it a number of times, he has scored a lot of goals and created a lot of chances and he is a player who could be key to unlocking a defence.

'You can't say he has had a slow start to the season, he has created chances in the games I have seen. Tottenham have had a tough start to the season but he has shown on the training pitch what quality he has.'

Favourites: Belgium head into the clash expected to win

Chris Coleman's side have been happy to take on the tag of underdogs against a Belgium team set to field a starting XI worth almost 150million, but Kompany insists there are no favourites in a group where the teams appear evenly matched on paper.

The Manchester City skipper said: 'Price tags and potential mean nothing, we are in a group where for the first time we have a chance of competing for first place.

'But there could be a marginal difference between fourth and first place as the quality of the teams is similar and I would not want to speculate as the task ahead is huge.'

London 2012 Olympics: Synchro final for Team GB

Posted on August 7, 2012 by adminsports

GB girls secure first synchronised swimming final spot since 1992

UPDATED:

18:09 GMT, 6 August 2012

Olympics 2012

There will be British representation in an Olympic synchro final for the first time in 20 years after Jenna Randall and Olivia Federici qualified in ninth for the duet, as Russia close in on their fourth consecutive gold.

In Beijing, the pair had been the first Britons to compete at a Games since 1992 where they finished 14th.

In the intervening four years, they have made huge strides on the world stage, including a Commonwealth silver medal together, and now they will be the first British synchronettes in an Olympic final since 1992 when Kerry Shacklock and Laila Vakil finished sixth.

In sync: Great Britain's Jenna Randall and Olivia Federici have reached the duets final

The free routine is marked on artistic impression and technical merit, with a maximum mark of 50 points for each.

These are then combined and added to the result of Sunday's technical routine, with the top 12 of the 24 pairs going through.

Randall and Federici – who both train at the high performance centre in Aldershot – had improved by one their 10th-placed finish at last year's World Championships in the technical routine.

On Monday their London-themed free routine portraying the ravens at the Tower of London set to a Chemical Brothers soundtrack was scored 88.790 points, placing them ninth, one down on eighth in Shanghai last summer.

When combined with their technical result on Sunday the pair went through with 176.890pts, and insisted they had plenty to work on before Tuesday afternoon's final.

Randall said: 'We've got a few things to improve on for tomorrow, it wasn't one of our best so we are hoping to get the things fixed we need to get fixed and make an improvement.

Head above water: The pair have become the first Brits to reach a synchro final since 1992

'With the technical aspect of our routine, there were a few things that were slightly off, we weren't exactly the same so just to try and make that perfect tomorrow.'

Federici echoed her team-mate's sentiments, saying: 'We want to go back home, look at the video, see what we can do so when we get back in the pool and train tomorrow, and really make it a perfect swim so we give our best performance.

'This is our London 2012 Games so we want to give it everything we've got and do our best performance of the year.'

When the pair competed at the European Championships in Eindhoven earlier this year, it was felt the scoring was questionable.

Randall said: 'The important thing we've got to think about is that synchro is a very judged sport – all we can put in tomorrow is our best performance so we know we have done the best we can do so hopefully the judges will reward us with good marks.

'Our reputation as a country is improving and the judges are seeing that we are improving at every competition we go to.'

Sports Bound Guide

Sports Bound Guide. Fresh Sports News

Tag Archives: brothers

Klitschko brothers Christmas message – but will they grant David Haye fight

How Ben and Tom Youngs went from mini-rugby to the England squad

Alan Pardew set to start Shola and Sammy Ameobi for Newcastle

Ferdinand brothers demand action on racism

Shola and Sammy Ameobi hoping to make history at Newcastle v Club Brugge

David Price v Matt Skelton at Aintree on November 30

Evander Holyfield to auction prized boxing possessions

Sir Alex Ferguson puts focus on South American scouting

Gareth Bale better than Eden Hazard, says Aaron Ramsey

London 2012 Olympics: Synchro final for Team GB