World Sports News in Brief

UEFA receives record 19.3 million ticket requests for Euro 2020

UEFA has received 19.3 million ticket requests during the first sales window for the 2020 European Championship, topping the 11 million record set during the same phase ahead of the 2016 edition, European soccer's governing body said on Monday (Jul 15).

Soccer Football - Champions League Semi-Final Draw - Nyon, Switzerland - April 13, 2018 General view of the UEFA logo before the draw. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - Champions League Semi-Final Draw - Nyon, Switzerland - April 13, 2018 General view of the UEFA logo before the draw. (Reuters)

* UK Prime Minister Theresa May hosted the World Cup-winning England cricket team in the garden of her Downing Street residence on Monday, describing their win as “one of the great sporting spectacles of our time”.

* Champions England were the most represented with four players in the World Cup team of the tournament announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday, with New Zealand’s Kane Williamson captaining the side.

* Defender Matthijs de Ligt has agreed to join Juventus, Dutch and Italian media reported on Monday (Jul 15), but it was not clear whether the Turin club had yet agreed a fee with Ajax.

* Everton said on Monday (Jul 15) that they have signed England midfielder Fabian Delph from Manchester City on a three-year deal. Delph played 89 games for City, winning two Premier League medals. He also has 20 England caps.

* Barcelona announced on Monday (Jul 15) they had completed the signing of young Japan winger Hiroki Abe from the Kashima Antlers of the J-League. The Catalan club said they had paid €1.1 million (US$1.25 million) for the 20-year-old and assigned him to their reserve team, which plays in the third-tier Spanish Segunda B.

* Romania's presidency and the Orthodox Church awarded Wimbledon tennis champion Simona Halep their highest distinctions on Monday while hundreds of fans cheered her home after she blitzed US opponent Serena Williams at the weekend.

* Midfielder Mason Mount has signed a new five-year-deal with Chelsea that will see him stay until at least 2024, the Premier League club said in a statement on Monday. The 20-year-old was on loan last season at Derby County under Frank Lampard, now the Chelsea coach, making 44 appearances in all competitions and scoring 11 goals.

* Spanish midfielder Oliver Torres has become the ninth player to join Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla side after signing from Porto, as the former Spain and Real Madrid coach continues his bid to rebuild his damaged career ahead of the new campaign.

Reuters, CNA