Weekend Sport Preview

SBS World News Radio: It is going to be a huge weekend of sport, with the final of football's Confederations Cup, cycling's Tour de France, a major boxing showdown and the start of Wimbledon tennis..

Weekend Sport PreviewWeekend Sport Preview

Weekend Sport Preview

Chile knows it will be in the final of the Confederations Cup in Russia in the early hours of Monday morning, Australian time, after knocking out Portugal on penalties in their semifinal.

The Copa America champions are into the final in their first appearance in the tournament.

They will meet either world champion Germany or Mexico in the final in Saint Petersburg.*

Chile's run to the final makes Australia's tough draw against the South American nation in the group phase look even better.

And SBS summariser and former Liverpool and Central Coast Mariners forward Luis Garcia says Chile can win it all.

"I think that Chile has done an amazing job. Not today -- it wasn't, probably, the best game so far of the tournament. But I think they totally deserve to go to this final. And we talked about them since the beginning of the Confederations Cup, that they were one of the favourites to get this trophy."

SBS will have live coverage of the final from 3.30am Eastern time on Monday morning.

Elsewhere, the world's biggest cycle race gets underway in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Saturday night.

The French-based Tour de France has made a habit of starting the race in neighbouring European countries in recent years.

British rider Chris Froome is aiming for a third consecutive title, but it will not be easy.

He finished fourth in the recent eight-day Dauphine, usually a good form guide.

He is well aware of Australia's big hope, Richie Porte, who finished second.

"The Dauphine is just what I needed to get that extra bit of race rhythm. I'd like to think that that means I'm coming into the tour fresher than I've ever been before. If the Dauphine is anything to go by, then Richie Porte, certainly in terms of form and condition, Richie's going to be the man to beat and stands out as the strongest of my rivals to go up against."

SBS has full coverage of every stage of the race again this year.

Television coverage begins at 10.30pm on Saturday, Eastern time.

There is also full live coverage online and regular daily updates on television.

The Wimbledon tennis championships get underway in London on Monday afternoon.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios is seeded 20th, as is countrywoman Daria Gavrilova.

Britain's Andy Murray is the men's top seed.

Serbian star Novak Djokovic is looking to win his first major since he won the Australian Open in 2016.

He goes into Wimbledon with a new coach, United States legend Andre Agassi.

The eight-time Grand Slam winner oversaw him at the French Open but had to leave before the tournament finished.

Djokovic says Agassi will only be leaving London early if he, Djokovic, does.

"He will be in London for Wimbledon, and he will stay as long as I stay in the tournament. Having him around is not only great for myself, but also for tennis, and that's all. I'm just looking forward to spend as much quality time with Andre as I can."

Germany's Angelique Kerber takes the number one ranking into the women's draw.

She says there are no easy matches in the women's game anymore, especially at a Grand Slam event.

"You have to play your best tennis from the first round. I mean, it doesn't matter against who you play right now, you have to be focusing and, actually, you have to play your best. And it doesn't matter against who you play."

Brisbane hosts a huge day of boxing on Sunday afternoon when 11-time world champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines takes on local hope Jeff Horn.

Few experts give Horn much hope, and his opponent is not offering any.

"Well, I did my job. I did hard work in training in the gym, and my team knows that, so we'll see on Sunday."

Horn, however, says he believes he can spring a shock.

The 29-year-old is nine years younger than Pacquiao, and he says, if he keeps his mind on the job, he has a chance.

"I'm just staying calm, staying relaxed, because I don't want to burn that energy that I need. I've got to go to training after this as well, so I've got to stay as with it as I can to get through that. There's not much left I have to do, but I'm just looking forward to the fight, and I'm leaving the nerves as much as possible, keeping them down, till the day, where I need just a little bit of nerves to get myself ready."

There are all the usual AFL and NRL matches this weekend.

And then the British and Irish Lions will try to square their series against the All Blacks when they play in Wellington on Saturday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 


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By John Baldock



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