WORLD OF SPORT
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Ancelotti ‘honoured’ but not interested in Italy job Italy’s search for a new national team manager was dealt a blow yesterday when Carlo Ancelotti revealed he turned down an approach to take up the vacancy. Ancelotti, 58, was the favourite after Giampiero Ventura was sacked following Italy’s failure to reach the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. “Yes the federation contacted me, I spoke to them. I am honoured by so many people wanting me to be the coach of the national side,” Ancelotti told “La Domenica Sportiva” television show. “However, that would be like a whole other job. Being a national coach is different to being a club coach. I still enjoy training and working every day. Italian football also has some problems that need to be resolved. I don’t think I’m capable of resolving them all alone. The coach is blamed but that’s not how it works. There is a structural problem.”
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Woods surges up world rankings after Bahamas Tiger Woods was able to savour more good news surrounding his comeback yesterday as the golf great saw his world ranking surge after his performance at the Hero World Challenge. Woods had not played competitively since withdrawing from the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February as a series of back injuries cast serious doubt about his future. However, he not only got through the Hero World Challenge unscathed, but produced some encouraging golf on his way to a tied-ninth finish in the 18-man event in the Bahamas. As a result, former world No 1 and 14-time major champion Woods has seen his world ranking move up 531 spots, from No 1,119 to No 668. Fellow American Rickie Fowler won the event after shooting a final round 61 - a course record.
▷▷▷ Messi statue in Buenos Aires vandalised – again A statue in Buenos Aires of football superstar Lionel Messi was vandalised for a second time between Sunday night and Monday morning. Messi’s boots were still dribbling a football on the plinth but the rest of the statue had been cut off at the legs, and was found lying sideways next to the original structure. Erected in June 2016, the statue was first attacked in January when it was sliced in half across the torso. The statue is on the Promenade de Glorias, alongside monuments to other Argentine sporting greats including NBA veteran Manu Ginobili, tennis star Guillermo Vilas and Formula One great Juan Manuel Fangio. Messi’s neighbours have not been immune to attack. In 2016, Gabriela Sabatini’s tennis racket was stolen.