Lili Jones has made over 100 appearances for Wrexham women [FAW]Midfielder Lili Jones says appearing in Europe for the first time will be "massive" for Wrexham women's team.The Welsh champions will face FC Pyunik of Armenia in the Uefa Women's Champions League on 22 July.Wrexham's men featured in eight Cup Winners Cup campaigns but since their last appearance in 1995 have been ineligible to represent Wales in Europe."For the lads, it was 31 years since they played in Europe," Jones told BBC Sport Wales."So for us to be able to do that as a women's side is massive and we're really looking forward to it."What an opportunity - to play for Wrexham and to represent Wales on that stage is massive and we all know what that means."We're looking forward to pulling on our shirts and to get a good result."Should Wrexham overcome the Armenian champions in the semi-finals of the first qualifying round mini-tournament, they will neet Northern Ireland's Glentoran or Riga FC of Latvia in the final.The semi-finals will take place on 22 July and the final on 25 July with the hosts for the mini tournament yet to be confirmed.Wrexham won the Genero Adran Premier for the first time in their history last season to secure their place in Europe."We've worked hard over the off-season and we're back in full swing for pre-season now," Jones added."The girls, we're looking fit. Everyone's fit."Wales international Maria Francis-Jones joined Wrexham from Adran Premier rivals The New Saints in February.Francis-Jones previously played for Manchester City, Burnley and Sheffield United but will be playing in Europe for the first time."We're not there to just fill up the numbers - we are there to compete," said the defender."We want to win and will go in with the mindset of 'we are going to win' as well."

TMZ Sports brings word that CSI Entertainment is suing Floyd Mayweather Jr, seeking to claim damages for “Money’s” ill-fated bouts with Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao and to stop him from facing Mike Zambidis next week.The news comes just days after ESPN revealed that Mayweather (50-0, 27 KO) got slapped with felony charges over a bad check.Mayweather announced a May exhibition against Tyson last September, then followed up by revealing a September rematch with “Pac-Man” in February. Less than two weeks later, he added a June meeting with K-1 kickboxing vet Zambidis to the lineup.Things swiftly went off the rails. Pacquiao and Mayweather gave conflicting reports as to whether their meeting would be an exhibition or professional match, while few details emerged about the Tyson fight before “Iron” wound up breaking his hand 10 days before fight night.Per the report, things were similarly chaotic behind the scenes. CSI alleges that they paid $4.5 million for the rights to both the Tyson and Pacquiao bouts, only for Mayweather to go behind their backs, set up the Zambidis bout with a separate promoter, and “secretly [sign] a separate deal with another company to stream the fight with Pacquiao on Netflix from the Sphere in Las Vegas.”The laws of comedy demand that Mayweather face a third, equally humiliating legal dispute in the immediate future, so we’ll keep you in the loop.

Andrew Benintendi’s pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning lifted the surprising Chicago White Sox to a 5-1 win over the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night. White Sox manager Will Venable began the eighth with another pinch-hitter, substituting Sam Antonacci for Luisangel Acuña to get a left-handed bat against Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz. Cruz left a fastball in the high middle of the strike zone and Antonacci lashed it for a double. Venable then brought another left-handed bat off the bench with Jacob Gonzalez hitting for Junior Perez. Yankees manager Aaron Boone countered with left-handed reliever Tim Hill. That backfired when Hill tried to pitch Gonzalez inside to prevent him from laying down a bunt, but hit him instead. The same thing happened when Tristan Peters attempted to bunt the runners over, but Hill hit him with a pitch. Hill looked as if he might avoid maximum damage when he got Chase Meidroth to strike out on a high fastball. Camilo Doval took over to pitch for the Yankees, but Venable used one more left-handed bat from his bench, pinch-hitting Benintendi for Randal Grichuk. Doval threw what appeared to be a good pitch, aiming for a sinker inside. But Benintendi was ready for it, turning perfectly and cranking it into the right-field seats for a grand slam. Doval got the remaining two outs to finish the inning, allowing a single to Colson Montgomery (who batted 2-for-3 with a second-inning home run), but the damage was done. White Sox pitcher Sean Burke then retired six of the final seven Yankees hitters he faced, allowing only a Paul Goldschmidt single, and striking out Jasson Domínguez to end the game. Burke pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing 1 run and 5 hits with 8 strikeouts. He took over for opener Bryan Hudson, who pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings. With the win, the White Sox stay tied for first place in the AL Central with the Cleveland Guardians, who defeated the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2, on Thursday.Ryan McMahon accounted for the Yankees’ lone run with a solo homer off Burke in the third inning, his eighth of the season. The Yankees also lost Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fourth inning after hitting a foul ball that ricocheted off home plate into a delicate area. All his teammates could do in the dugout was laugh, perhaps knowing that the second baseman might not have been wearing the proper equipment to guard against such a foul ball. There was no word after the game as to Chisholm’s status. The Yankees’ bullpen squandered a strong start from Ryan Weathers, who allowed only 1 run and 3 hits over 6 1/3 innings with 8 strikeouts. It was a needed bounce-back for the right-hander, who had given up a combined 16 runs and 18 hits in his past three starts. Thursday’s defeat cost the Yankees a half-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for first place in the AL East. They still lead Tampa Bay by three games.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Qatar’s World Cup defeat to Canada on Thursday went so awry that goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada appeared to break down in tears after the final whistle, receiving comfort from a teammate and Canada’s Jacob Schaffelburg.“It was a tough match, because everything that could go wrong, did go wrong,” coach Julen Lopetegui said. “That’s how football is sometimes.”Qatar played two men down for most of the second half after a pair of red cards and went on to lose 6-0, the worst defeat in the Persian Gulf country's short World Cup history. Qatar debuted in the tournament as the host in 2022 and lost 2-0 to Ecuador, 3-1 to Senegal and 2-0 to the Netherlands.The second red card was issued to midfielder Assim Madibo, who tackled Canada's Ismaël Koné from behind, breaking Koné's lower left leg. Koné was stretchered off the field and taken to a hospital for surgery.Koné’s replacement, Nathan Saliba, buried a 20-yard free kick in the 64th minute for Canada’s fourth goal.Controlling rebounds was a struggle for the Qatari defenders, who could not clear the ball after two of Abunada’s saves. Canada had 10 shots on goal while Qatar had none.Standout left back Homam Ahmed was the first player sent off. His yellow card was upgraded to a red in the 33rd minute.“It was a very tough match for many reasons,” Lopetegui said. “The players did their best. It was very difficult to face this match with two players less with this environment.”After Canada's postgame huddle, Lopetegui and Canada coach Jesse Marsch had a heated exchange.Marsch said Madibo apologized to Koné after the game, but he took issue with the way Qatar players reacted after the injury.“I don’t understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player’s leg,” Marsch said. “So, strange behavior.”Qatar is last in Group B but still has a chance to reach the knockout round. It faces Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday in Seattle.___Ben Kule is a student in the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute.___AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart plays in a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)The Pirates have swung a trade with the Braves, acquiring relief pitcher Hunter Stratton in exchange for catcher Joey Bart. Stratton, who was originally drafted by the Pirates in the 16th round of the 2017 draft, has been assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Stratton, 29, made 47 appearances with the Pirates from 2023-25 and went 2-1 with a 4.30 ERA and one save before he was traded to Atlanta for prospect Titus Dumitru and cash considerations in July 2025. The right-hander went 1-1 with a 2.20 ERA in 12 appearances for the Braves last year. He spent most of the 2026 season with Triple-A Gwinnett, where he went 2-4 with a 4.38 ERA in 21 appearances. He totaled 24.2 innings, allowed 24 hits, walked 16 and struck out 24 batters.Stratton threw a scoreless inning against the Rockies on May 2 in his lone appearance for the Braves this season. He was designated for assignment on Wednesday.Bart has been on the 15-day injured list since May 12 (retro to May 10) with a left foot infection. Prior to landing on the IL, Bart appeared in 21 games for the Pirates and hit .259/.290/.379 with a double, two home runs and six RBI.Bart spent the last three seasons with the Pirates and owned a .257/.342/.396 batting line with 24 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs and 81 RBI in 194 games. The post PIRATES TRADE: Joey Bart to Braves for Hunter Stratton appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

Football fans attending World Cup matches are growing increasingly vocal in their displeasure over the controversial hydration breaks.In the second week of the tournament, boos and whistles could be repeatedly heard when the referee stopped play for three minutes around the 22-minute mark of each half.On Thursday, there were very audible boos during co-host Canada's 6-0 win over Qatar in Vancouver. Earlier in the day, during the 1–1 draw between the Czech Republic and South Africa in Atlanta, the discontent was also huge.Fans also made their disapproval clear during Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina, England v Croatia and Ghana v Panama.The World Cup novelty effectively turns the two halves into a four-quarter format, one that United States citizens are very familiar with from other sports such as basketball and American football.This model was created out of concern for the players' physical strain.However, many observers believe the break is being misused. For TV networks, the water breaks create additional advertising opportunities that are being exploited to the fullest. Critics accuse them of simply trying to make money.The flow of the match is often noticeably disrupted by the additional breaks. However, some coaches view this as a positive because it allows them to exert more influence on the game.

Labour party's Andy Burnham speaks after winning the Makerfield by-election, paving the way for a leadership challenge against Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. in Wigan, England, Friday, June 19, 2026.(AP Photo/Jon Super)2026-06-19T02:15:28Z LONDON (AP) — Labour’s Andy Burnham, the current mayor of Greater Manchester, has won a special election for a seat in Parliament that puts him in a position to challenge embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer for leadership of the country.Burnham decisively won the seat of Makerfield in northwest England over Rob Kenyon of the anti-immigration party Reform UK.The victory announced early Friday cements the status of Burnham, a 56-year-old politician nicknamed the King of the North, as the top contender to replace Starmer as leader of the Labour Party and the country. Burnham won almost 55% of the 45,510 votes counted, over 9,000 more than Kenyon.Burnham’s victory speech left no doubt that he wants to lead the country, and not just be one of the more than 400 Labour lawmakers in the 650-seat House of Commons.“Everyone knows that politics isn’t working,” he said. “Everyone can feel that the country isn’t where it should be. Tonight could, just could, be the turning point.” Burnham has led Manchester since 2017, overseeing rapid regeneration for the city where the Industrial Revolution was forged. He is pledging to repeat his signature brand of “Manchesterism” on a national scale. Burnham said he would work to ensure that “the name Makerfield is forever synonymous with bringing about the change this country needs.”He said Labour had “a final chance to change” and win back voters’ trust.“But it is a chance now, from this result tonight, to build a new politics based on unity and hope, turning away from the path that takes us to a divided, dark politics of the kind we see in the United States,” he said. Read More Labour is in power but unpopularStarmer’s popularity has cratered since he led the center-left Labour Party to a landslide election victory in July 2024.He has struggled to deliver promised economic growth, repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living, and been hamstrung by repeated missteps, including his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson, a scandal-tarnished friend of Jeffrey Epstein, as the U.K. ambassador to the United States.Labour is losing liberal voters to the growing Green Party, and facing a rising Reform UK, which consistently leads in nationwide opinion polls. The Nigel Farage -led party has rapidly gained ground in post-industrial northern England areas like Makerfield, some 200 miles (320 kilometers) northwest of London. A dismal performance by Labour in May’s local elections spurred scores of lawmakers to demand Starmer’s resignation. He has refused to budge, but senior colleagues are trying to force a change. Sign up for Morning Wire: Our flagship newsletter breaks down the biggest headlines of the day. Email address Sign up By checking this box, you agree to AP's Terms of Use and acknowledge that AP may collect and use your data pursuant to our Privacy Policy. Wes Streeting resigned as health secretary in May, saying that “where we need vision, we have a vacuum.” Streeting has said he will run in a leadership contest if there is one.Then Josh Simons, the Labour lawmaker for Makerfield, stepped down to trigger a special election and give Burnham the chance to return to Parliament.Britain’s parliamentary system allows governing parties to change leaders midterm, with the winner becoming prime minister without the need for a national election. Under Labour rules, a lawmaker can challenge the leader if they have backing from a fifth of the party’s House of Commons lawmakers — a number that stands at 81. The victorious Burnham will head to London to be sworn in as a lawmaker as soon as Monday. He’s likely to seek a meeting with Starmer to argue that the prime minister should exit gracefully and set a timetable for his departure.Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Burnham and Starmer would in the next few days have to “have a conversation about what comes next.”Labour lawmaker Louise Haigh, a Burnham ally, said Starmer should “do what’s best for both the country and the Labour Party” and “consider an orderly and managed transition.”“Andy won’t be doing anything rash or hasty,” she told Sky News. “I’m really hopeful the prime minister and Andy can come to an agreement.” Burnham’s victory piles pressure on Starmer to quitStarmer has so far insisted he has no intention of leaving his post.“I will fight if there’s a challenge,” he said at the G7 summit in France this week. “We won a significant general election result in 2024, with a mandate to bring about change. I’m not going to walk away from that.”Starmer suggested that he could offer Burnham a Cabinet post, telling Sky News on Wednesday that “I want him to have a big role in government.” Allies of Burnham indicated that he wasn’t interested.Despite his stubborn determination, Starmer could be forced out if several members of the Cabinet tell him the game is up and quit, or threaten to quit, in protest.There could then be a leadership contest, or a coronation, depending on whether other potential candidates think Burnham has an unassailable lead.Rob Ford, professor of political science at the University of Manchester, said “the pressure on Starmer will be very hard to resist” now that Burnham is back in Parliament. Ford said defeating Reform UK in Makerfield strengthens Burnham’s claim to be Labour’s biggest asset.“The narrative he can bring is, ‘No one else could have won that seat. I won that. I bring something unique. I bring an ability to renew our appeal,’” Ford said. JILL LAWLESS Lawless is based in London, covering British politics, diplomacy and culture and top stories from the UK and beyond. She has reported for the AP from two dozen countries on four continents. twitter mailto

The high school philosophy exam is a rite of passage for French students. This year included questions about Friedrich Nietzsche’s 1878 book, “Human, All Too Human.”

Bradley Bornhorn's first varsity start came against Beechwood on April 22. The Holy Cross senior gave up six hits and eight runs in 3.1 innings, but it was his willpower that his teammates, coaches and opposition admired."I was determined to get out of those jams that I was in and really just do the best I could for the team," Bornhorn said.Born with spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord fails to close completely during pregnancy and infancy, Bornhorn epitomized perseverance in his two seasons on the Indians' baseball team. He is one of six recipients of the Cincinnati Enquirer's 2026 Courage Award, presented at the High School Sports Awards show on June 16.Bradley Bornhorn has never settledBornhorn had surgery to seal his spinal cord one day after being born, then had another procedure in 2020 to repair his spinal cord tether. "When we first found out ‒ and he's the youngest of four ‒ you never want to hear anything is different with your kids or wrong or whatever, and there were just a lot of unknowns before he was even born. As he was growing up, there was a lot of, 'How's he going to do this or that?' You could just see him sitting there watching his siblings and friends, and he was just gonna figure out how to do it. He always just sat there and watched and the next thing you know, he was right there in the mix with them. He's always been a determined kid and he's always wanted to be a part of the group," Bradley's mother, Stephanie, said.Growing up, he played soccer for a short period of time but didn't like it, partially because it involved a lot of running. Spina bifida affects the sensory and motor neurons in the lower body, so Bornhorn never quite had the musculature that soccer requires. He also can't feel pain below his knees.Born into a baseball-loving family in a baseball town, he frequented Great American Ball Park and gained an admiration for Reds pitchers like Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani and Hunter Greene. That love for the sport continued as he took the diamond at an early age."My parents have really given me everything I need to be able to excel. My coaches have been really good about watching me and knowing what my limits are," Bradley said.His father, Josh, added: "He's exceeded every expectation that I've ever wanted for him. I try not to set lofty goals for my kids because everybody's their own person and I want them to do whatever they want to do."Bradley Bornhorn has been a workhorse for Holy Cross baseballHoly Cross baseball coach Rob Weremeling first met Bradley when he was in sixth grade and Wermeling was coaching Ben Bornhorn, who was a sophomore at the time."He's always been determined, always been a good teammate and gives absolutely 100 percent every day, every time," Wermeling said.Bornhorn brought a different perspective to the Indians' pitching staff. He wears braces on his lower legs and has limited ankle flexibility, leading to an adapted delivery and decreased velocity. He made up for it with his core strength and creativity on the mound."He knows how to locate pitches. He knew that he wasn't going to blow the ball by anybody so he would pitch to contact," Wermeling said. "There were times early in his career where he might have gotten hit a little bit but that never deterred him from trying to do something that he wasn't capable of doing, which speaks to his character."For as much as the baseball program has welcomed Bradley, the Bornhorn family has just as much love for Holy Cross, Wermeling and pitching coach Andy Roenker. Bradley believes that he couldn't have had the career that he did or be embraced by his teammates at any other school."He was the name they would yell if a pitcher was struggling on the mound. It was, 'Brad, go get ready.' and it wasn't even a second thought. To hear that while being on the bench keeping the book was the biggest compliment they could ever give me," Josh said.Wermeling added: "One of our mottos that we go by is 'Holy Cross is a place for all.' We're very open to everybody who walks in the doors at Holy Cross and I think that Bradley shows that is truly is a place for all."This fall, Bradley will attend Northern Kentucky University with the hopes of becoming a Major League Baseball broadcaster, continuing his dream while not letting his condition slow him down.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Holy Cross' Bradley Bornhorn a 2026 Courage Award recipient

Bradley Bornhorn's first varsity start came against Beechwood on April 22. The Holy Cross senior gave up six hits and eight runs in 3.1 innings, but it was his willpower that his teammates, coaches and opposition admired."I was determined to get out of those jams that I was in and really just do the best I could for the team," Bornhorn said.Born with spina bifida, a condition where the spinal cord fails to close completely during pregnancy and infancy, Bornhorn epitomized perseverance in his two seasons on the Indians' baseball team. He is one of six recipients of the Cincinnati Enquirer's 2026 Courage Award, presented at the High School Sports Awards show on June 16.Bradley Bornhorn has never settledBornhorn had surgery to seal his spinal cord one day after being born, then had another procedure in 2020 to repair his spinal cord tether. "When we first found out ‒ and he's the youngest of four ‒ you never want to hear anything is different with your kids or wrong or whatever, and there were just a lot of unknowns before he was even born. As he was growing up, there was a lot of, 'How's he going to do this or that?' You could just see him sitting there watching his siblings and friends, and he was just gonna figure out how to do it. He always just sat there and watched and the next thing you know, he was right there in the mix with them. He's always been a determined kid and he's always wanted to be a part of the group," Bradley's mother, Stephanie, said.Growing up, he played soccer for a short period of time but didn't like it, partially because it involved a lot of running. Spina bifida affects the sensory and motor neurons in the lower body, so Bornhorn never quite had the musculature that soccer requires. He also can't feel pain below his knees.Born into a baseball-loving family in a baseball town, he frequented Great American Ball Park and gained an admiration for Reds pitchers like Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani and Hunter Greene. That love for the sport continued as he took the diamond at an early age."My parents have really given me everything I need to be able to excel. My coaches have been really good about watching me and knowing what my limits are," Bradley said.His father, Josh, added: "He's exceeded every expectation that I've ever wanted for him. I try not to set lofty goals for my kids because everybody's their own person and I want them to do whatever they want to do."Bradley Bornhorn has been a workhorse for Holy Cross baseballHoly Cross baseball coach Rob Weremeling first met Bradley when he was in sixth grade and Wermeling was coaching Ben Bornhorn, who was a sophomore at the time."He's always been determined, always been a good teammate and gives absolutely 100 percent every day, every time," Wermeling said.Bornhorn brought a different perspective to the Indians' pitching staff. He wears braces on his lower legs and has limited ankle flexibility, leading to an adapted delivery and decreased velocity. He made up for it with his core strength and creativity on the mound."He knows how to locate pitches. He knew that he wasn't going to blow the ball by anybody so he would pitch to contact," Wermeling said. "There were times early in his career where he might have gotten hit a little bit but that never deterred him from trying to do something that he wasn't capable of doing, which speaks to his character."For as much as the baseball program has welcomed Bradley, the Bornhorn family has just as much love for Holy Cross, Wermeling and pitching coach Andy Roenker. Bradley believes that he couldn't have had the career that he did or be embraced by his teammates at any other school."He was the name they would yell if a pitcher was struggling on the mound. It was, 'Brad, go get ready.' and it wasn't even a second thought. To hear that while being on the bench keeping the book was the biggest compliment they could ever give me," Josh said.Wermeling added: "One of our mottos that we go by is 'Holy Cross is a place for all.' We're very open to everybody who walks in the doors at Holy Cross and I think that Bradley shows that is truly is a place for all."This fall, Bradley will attend Northern Kentucky University with the hopes of becoming a Major League Baseball broadcaster, continuing his dream while not letting his condition slow him down.This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Holy Cross' Bradley Bornhorn a 2026 Courage Award recipient

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit the first of Kansas City’s three home runs before leaving with a sore right knee, and the Royals smacked a club-record five doubles in a six-run second inning Thursday night on the way to a 14-6 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.Jac Caglianone and Salvador Perez also went deep for the Royals, who set season highs for runs and hits (17). Each of the first eight batters in the starting lineup had at least one RBI.Witt homered in the first inning and delivered an RBI single in the second. But he was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth after making a sliding stop at shortstop in the top of the inning. The two-time All-Star was shaken up on the play and got checked out on the field by an athletic trainer.Kansas City took a 7-2 lead in the second on the strength of five doubles — a team record for one inning. Carter Jensen, Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas and Starling Marte each had an RBI double. Perez led off with a two-bagger.Caglianone hit a two-run shot to left-center in the fourth for his ninth homer this season. Nick Loftin doubled in two more runs.Perez added his 10th home run in the sixth. It was his 137th at Kauffman Stadium, most in the ballpark’s history.Royals starter Noah Cameron (4-4) threw 108 pitches in five innings. He gave up four runs, three earned, and eight hits.Matthew Liberatore (3-4) was charged with seven runs — five earned — and seven hits in 1 2/3 innings.Up nextRHP Seth Lugo (2-4, 3.86 ERA) returns to the Royals’ rotation Friday after spending the required seven days on the concussion injured list. He was hit in the head by a line drive last week. RHP Michael McGreevy (3-5, 2.99) pitches for the Cardinals in the second game of the series.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 05: Joey Bart #14 of the Pittsburgh Pirates gets ready in the batters box against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 05, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images Despite having tonight’s scheduled series finale against the San Francisco Giants rained out well ahead of first pitch, the Atlanta Braves are still up burning the midnight oil while trying to figure things out with their roster. The latest bit of shuffling sees the Braves going back to addressing their catcher situation, as they’ve brought in another backstop to help fortify that spot. Joey Bart is now a member of the Braves after being acquired in a straight swap with the Pirates for Hunter Stratton. What makes this an interesting move for the Braves is that Bart is currently on the IL. With that being said, he appears ready to leave the IL imminently since he’d been on rehab assignment for a week now. It took him a month to recover from a foot infection (yikes) but apparently he’s healthy and ready to go now and as it turns out, he’ll be doing so in a Braves uniform instead of a Pirates uniform. Bart hasn’t swung the bat particularly well this season, as he’s hitting .259/.290/.370 with a .294 wOBA and 82 wRC+ along with two homers but he did serve as a very reliable backup catcher for the Pirates over the past couple of seasons. Across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, Bart hit .257/.346/.398 with a .331 wOBA and 110 wRC+ with 17 homers to boot. That is perfectly fine plate production from a backup catcher and the Braves are obviously hoping that he’ll be able to tap into that vein of form while he’s here in Atlanta. Bart is also a Georgia Tech product who went to high school at Buford so maybe some home cooking will do him right, as well. Hunter Stratton is actually heading back to Pittsburgh after the Braves picked him up in July 2025 in exchange for Titus Dumitru and cash considerations. Stratton made 12 appearances for the Braves, the bulk of which came in September when the season was quite clearly lost and they were just trying to end things on a high note as professionals. Stratton produced a 2.220 ERA and a 4.18 FIP during his 2025 stint with the Braves and only got one inning of work in for Atlanta during 2026 — a scoreless inning on May 2 against the Rockies. Meanwhile, Sandy León is the latest Braves veteran to hop aboard the DFA cycle and considering how this stint went for León at the plate and where he was to start the season, it’s really anybody’s guess as to whether or not he’ll stick around with the Braves going forward. I’m certainly not going to speculate this late at night but here’s hoping that León does find a smooth landing spot no matter what happens.

Patriots Can Pay Both Drake Maye, Christian Gonzalez, But Do They Want To? originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The conversation surrounding the New England Patriots' offseason has (finally) shifted into discussions over the team's two biggest looming contracts. The Patriots are lucky enough to have two top-three players at their position playing on rookie contracts: Christian Gonzalez and Drake Maye.Gonzalez is due for a massive raise any day now, as a member of the 2023 NFL Draft class. Maye still has a year before he will be given what could very well be a half-a-billion-dollar deal. The question looming in the back of all Patriots fans' minds is whether or not the team can succeed with these two massive contracts on the books. The answer is, in short, it will be no problem. The NFL cap is very navigable. Just look at the Kansas City Chiefs. They were able to win back-to-back Super Bowls while paying Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes and Chris Jones. Phil Perry addressed the concern on NBC Boston's Thursday mailbag. "Teams like the Rams and the Eagles have figured out ways to have multiple players paid at or near the top of the market for years," Perry wrote.However, Perry did offer a warning. The insider questioned the Patriots' willingness to subject such a large portion of their payroll to a small percentage of the roster."Before hiring Mike Vrabel, Robert Kraft explained that the Patriots are essentially a cash-to-cap operation. They try to keep their spending in line with the cap over a three-year period," Perry wrote. "Their spending has been sizable over the last two offseasons, and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told Yahoo! recently that that approach probably isn't 'sustainable.'"More NFL: Delusional Dolphins Fans 'Laughing At Patriots' Despite Dead-Last 2026 Projection

Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty ImagesBruno Fernandes’ latest Instagram post has become a pressure point for Cristiano Ronaldo fans after Portugal’s frustrating start to the World Cup.Portugal opened with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, and Ronaldo’s quiet night quickly shifted attention toward the service around him.Fernandes, one of Portugal’s main creators, then found his comments filled with supporters urging him to do more for the 41-year-old forward. One long message, in particular, started spreading quickly.Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesCristiano Ronaldo fan sends emotional message to Bruno FernandesThe viral reaction was highlighted by The Touchline on X, which noted that Bruno’s post had received more than 20,000 comments from Portugal fans.The comment asked Fernandes and Portugal’s players to remember Ronaldo’s history with the national team, beginning with his tears as a 19-year-old after the Euro 2004 final defeat and later after Portugal’s 2006 World Cup semifinal loss to France.The fan wrote, “Before you step onto that pitch remember who opened the door for all of you,” before calling Ronaldo the player who “made an entire generation dream.”The message then turned into a direct plea to the current Portugal squad, telling them to “fight for him,” “create chances for him” and “pass him the ball.” It ended by arguing that Ronaldo had carried Portugal for more than 20 years, and that this time his teammates must carry the fight for him.Bruno Fernandes’ pressure rises after Portugal drawThe timing of the comment explains why it travelled so quickly, because Portugal’s opening draw left fans frustrated with how little Ronaldo received in the areas where he can still decide matches.Portugal led early through Joao Neves against DR Congo, but Roberto Martinez’s side could not turn possession into control. Yoane Wissa equalized, and Ronaldo finished the match without a goal on a night that brought fresh scrutiny of Portugal’s attack.Fernandes is central to that discussion because he is expected to link Portugal’s midfield with Ronaldo. When the service looks slow, forced or disconnected, the criticism naturally falls on the player most associated with final passes and chance creation.The emotional tone of the viral comment also reflects Ronaldo’s larger World Cup situation. At 41, he is likely playing on the tournament’s biggest stage for the final time, and the one major trophy missing from his international career remains the World Cup.That does not mean Portugal’s attack should become one-dimensional. But the reaction under Fernandes’ post shows how many Ronaldo fans believe the team owes him one final push, and they are making that demand directly to the player they see as best placed to provide it.Read more:Thierry Henry accuses Cristiano Ronaldo of being selfish in Portugal’s draw vs DR CongoWhy Bruno Fernandes rejected Al Hilal’s huge Saudi offer and stayed at UnitedManchester United announce Sir Matt Busby award winner for 2025/26 – plus more end-of-season honours

There is no bigger shop window in football than the World Cup - and goalscorers are certainly taking their chance to shine.The goals are flying in at the tournament - 89 in 28 games in Mexico, Canada and the United States to date, while there have been two wonderful hat-tricks.Could some of those goalscorers move to the Premier League soon?After Lionel Messi, 38, turned back the clock to produce a masterclass for the ages in Argentina's 3-0 win over Algeria, Jonathan David also hit a treble in Canada's 6-0 rout of Qatar in Group B.It earned the co-hosts a first win at the eighth attempt on the World Cup stage as more than 50,000 fans in Vancouver witnessed an historic night.David's exploits came after Switzerland substitute Johan Manzambi wrote his name into the World Cup history books.Aged 20 years and 247 days, he became the youngest player in the tournament's history to score two or more goals in a game as a substitute as Switzerland dismantled Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1, also in Group B.Over the years, players have earned moves based on performances at the World Cup.Both David and Manzambi have been linked with moves to the Premier League.Are their scoring exploits likely to lead to a move to England in 2026-27?Canada thrash nine-man Qatar but Marsch in tears over Kone injurySubstitute Manzambi inspires Switzerland to World Cup win over BosniaFirst Juventus player to score World Cup hat-trick for 44 yearsItaly's absence from this World Cup - and the two before it - has been well documented but at least David gave Juventus fans something to cheer about.David, 26, became the first Juve player to record a hat-trick at the World Cup since Italy's Paolo Rossi in 1982 against Brazil.The Brooklyn-born forward has made a name for himself in Europe playing for Gent in Belgium before turning into a Ligue 1 goalscoring machine at Lille - and attracting interest from Premier League clubs.After 87 goals in 178 league appearances, he moved to Juventus in 2025 and is being monitored by English clubs once more.There are reports that Newcastle are interested in Canada's all-time leading scorer - who has 39 goals in 78 international appearances - and that Juventus would be willing to let him go to free up their summer budget.Leeds United have reportedly also been made aware of his availability, while several other Premier League clubs have also been linked.Former England forward Dion Dublin, who witnessed Canada's win for BBC Radio 5 Live, was impressed with what he saw from David."He has been great, got himself a nice hat-trick," Dublin said. "Really good centre-forward play."Goalkeeper turned goalscorerManzambi was once a goalkeeper for his youth team - and his first footballing idol was Germany's Manuel Neuer.Now he is a creative midfielder who enjoys getting forward.And his goalscoring exploits against Bosnia-Herzegovina suggests he could be far more than just a "super-sub" at this World Cup.He broke into the Freiburg first XI last season and helped the German club reach the Europa League final.Manzambi started against Aston Villa in the final and although he could not help his side win - they were beaten 3-0 - he has been linked with moves to Napoli, Chelsea and Manchester United.His performance on Thursday at the Los Angeles Stadium suggests there could be more competition for his services this summer. It could have been even better had he been allowed to take his side's 97th-minute penalty, with captain Granit Xhaka stepping up to convert instead,If Manzambi had taken it and scored, he would have become the third-youngest player to hit a World Cup treble, after a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against France in the semi-finals in 1958 and 19-year-old German Edmund Conen against Belgium in 1934.Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea were all linked with Manzambi in March and, if he continues making an impact like this, the interest will only increase.Speaking about Manzambi's first goal to give Switzerland a 1-0 lead, former Crystal Palace forward Clinton Morrison told BBC Radio 5 Live: "It's a brilliant finish."Switzerland needed to make changes because they weren't doing anything, they were dominating possession but weren't a threat."It's a fantastic volley and great technique to give Switzerland the lead."

Smokies catcher Owen Ayers (6) celebrates hitting a solo home run during a minor league baseball game between the Knoxville Smokies and Birmingham Barons at Covenant Health Park in Knoxville, Tennessee., on May 7, 2026. | Angelina Alcantar/ News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images I’m sure there will be an article on it after it is officially announced, but the Cubs transactions page notes that catcher Moisés Ballesteros has been demoted to Triple-A Iowa.South Bend right-hander Mason McGwire was activated off the development list.Iowa CubsThe Iowa Cubs lost to Indianapolis (Pirates), 11-8.Will Sanders gave the I-Cubs a good start, giving up just one run on three hits over five innings. He struck out six and walked no one. Sanders fastball was sitting 92-93 miles per hour.Yosver Zueleta did not make a great impression in his Cubs and Iowa debut. He relieved Sanders in the sixth and gave up five runs on three hits over two-thirds of an inning. Zueleta walked two, had two wild pitches and struck out just one. He was throwing 95-to-97 though. Left fielder Jonathon Long hit a solo home run in the second inning, his fifth on the year. Long went 3 for 5 with a double and the home run. He scored two runs.Right fielder Chas McCormick crushed a 467-foot home run in the sixth inning with a man on. It was McCormick’s eighth home run this season. He went 1 for 4 with a walk.Later in the sixth inning, catcher Christian Bethancourt hit a two-run home run. It was his eighth on the season. Bethancourt was 2 for 4 and scored twice.First baseman Casey Opitz then went back-to-back with Bethancourt for his first home run of 2026. Opitz went 1 for 4.DH BJ Murray went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.Everyone in the I-Cubs lineup had at least one hit.Long’s home run went 433 feet.Jonathon Long drives one out of Principal Park! pic.twitter.com/LlsuoG2843— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 19, 2026McCormick’s blast.Chas McCormick hits a 467-foot homer! Longest home run by an I-Cub since 2023🚀 pic.twitter.com/4Bg3Z3S2Zr— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 19, 2026Bethancourt’s home run was “only” 432 feet.Christian Bethancourt hits a two-run homer! pic.twitter.com/Wvhy1oGrGw— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 19, 2026The Casey Opitz home run.Casey Opitz makes it back-to-back home runs for his first Triple-A homer and makes it a one run game! pic.twitter.com/CeqoJbbU7c— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) June 19, 2026Knoxville SmokiesThe Knoxville Smokies moved back into a first-place tie with a 4-1 win over the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds). Dawson Netz started and got the win after giving up just one run on six hits over five innings. Netz struck out seven, walked three and hit one batter.Erian Rodriguez then pitched three scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits. He struck out one and walked no one.Marino Santy pitched the ninth inning and got the save. Santy gave up a walk and a single after one out, but then ended the game when he caught a hard comeback line drive to the mound and then threw to first base for the double play. Santy did not have a strikeout.The Smokies took the lead with three solo home runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the first two of which were back-to-back. Third baseman Jefferson Rojas tied the game with his 11th home run of the year. Rojas also walked with the based loaded in the seventh inning, giving him two RBI on the game. Rojas went 1 for 3.Next, catcher Owen Ayers went back-to-back with his 12th home run. Ayers was 1 for 4.The next batter, Alex Ramírez, struck out, but then center fielder Andy Garriola hit his team-leading 13th home run. Garriola went 1 for 4.Those three hits were the only hits the Smokies had in this game. They did draw six walks and were hit by a pitch.The win moves the Smokies back into a first-place tie with the Lookouts for the first-half title with three games to play. Here are all three Smokies hits and all three home runs.THE SMOKIES TAKE THE LEAD WITH THREE HOMERS IN THE 4th!💣 Jefferson Rojas💣 Owen Ayers💣 Andy Garriola pic.twitter.com/fG2SZnkuLc— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) June 19, 2026South Bend CubsThe South Bend Cubs dropped a doubleheader to the Ft. Wayne TinCaps (Padres), 4-3 in eight innings and 5-2.Mason McGwire started and gave the Cubs three good innings, allowing just one run on two hits. McGwire struck out three and walked three.Cole Reynolds then pitched the next four innings, allowing just one run on one hit, a solo home run. Reynolds walked two, hit one batter and struck out three.After the Cubs scored a run in the top of the eighth, Adam Stone came in to get the save in the bottom of the inning. Unfortunately, Stone gave up two runs on three hits while retiring just one batter. One of the two runs was unearned, naturally. Stone also walked one and struck out no one.South Bend had just three hits in game one, all singles. Catcher Justin Stransky was 1 for 2 with a two-run single and two walks. One of the two walks was intentional. Stransky’s two-run single.Stransky finds a soft spot for the lead!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/cxmOW0zFId— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) June 18, 2026Jostin Florentino started game two and gave up just one hit and one run over four innings. The one hit, unfortunately, was a solo home run. Florentino struck out six and walked two.Brayden Spears gave up four runs in the bottom of the sixth and took the loss. Spears’ final line was four runs on three hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out two.South Bend only had three hits in game two as well, but one of them was a solo home run by third baseman Matt Halbach in the fourth. It was Halbach’s sixth home run on the season. Halbach was 1 for 3.Center fielder Kane Kepley went 1 for 3 with a walk and two steals in game two. He scored on a throwing error.Josiah Hartshorn went 0 for 7 with zero times on base in this game. He’s human, I guess.Halbach’s home run.Halbach has another @hoosierlottery home run!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/fmAOAuduWg— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) June 19, 2026Myrtle Beach PelicansThe Mytle Beach Pelicans hunted down the Delmarva Shorebirds (Orioles), 21-10 thanks to a 12-run top of the eighth. Starter Hayden Frank got knocked around for five runs on three hits and five walks over three innings. He struck out three. Yoendris Gonzalez got the win with 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Gonzalez gave up just one hit and he walked one while striking out two.The Pelicans sent 16 batters to the plate in the 12-run eighth and five of them hit home runs. The first one was shortstop Derniche Valdez, who hit his fifth home run with a man on. Valdez went 2 for 6 with a walk. He had the two RBI and scored three times.The next home run came three batters later as catcher Henniel Alcala hit a three-run home run. It was his first home run with the Pelicans and second on the season. Alcala was 3 for 5 with a walk. He scored twice.Next, center fielder Alexey Lumpuy connected for a solo home run, his fourth on the season. Lumpuy was 2 for 6 with a walk. Lumpuy also stole two bases. He scored twice and had two runs batted in. The fourth home run of the eighth was hit with two men on by first baseman Michael Carico. It was Carico’s sixth on the season. He finished the night going 1 for 3 with three walks. He drove in four total runs and scored three times.Finally, right fielder Geri Lubo cranked his fifth home run of the year with two men on. Lubo went 1 for 4 with two walks. Lubo scored three times and had the three RBI.Second baseman Alexis Hernandez doubled twice in a 2 for 6 night. He also walked once and stole a base. Hernandez scored twice and had two RBI.Left fielder Darlyn De Leon was 3 for 5 with two doubles. De Leon drive in three runs and scored three times.None of the home runs were hit off of position players. An RBI double for Hernandez.Hernandez doubles to bring us closer. pic.twitter.com/YDv9e0Ksyi— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) June 19, 2026De Leon with an RBI double.👔🆙 pic.twitter.com/0wfEEa5Waw— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) June 19, 2026Alcala’s home run.ALCALA WITH HIS FIRST THREE-RUN💣!!!“while admin was typing this…we hit another home run.” pic.twitter.com/bDifJGuNyC— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) June 19, 2026Lumpuy goes deep.LUMPUY LUMBER CO. pic.twitter.com/GUGaE7nGvV— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) June 19, 2026Carico’s home run.RICO ROCKET 🚀 pic.twitter.com/LvYEK7DsqO— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) June 19, 2026Lubo’s home run.LUBO LAUNCHES THE FIFTH HR OF THE INNING 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jknjo065mM— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) June 19, 2026ACL CubsBeat the Reds, 7-5.

Markieff Morris thinks the OKC Thunder will remain the favorites in the 2026-27 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.After the Oklahoma City Thunder lost the 2026 Western Conference Finals, some people have counted them out for future seasons. A lot of people think that the San Antonio Spurs have taken over as the best team in the West, but they still have some stiff competition.People have to remember that the OKC Thunder did lose in the WCF, but they did not have a healthy roster. If they had a roster with fit and firing players, they would have won against the Spurs.Markieff Morris still sees the OKC Thunder as the favoritesWhile it is easy to predict that Victor Wembanyama will be a dominant force for years to come, he will have some opponents. The Thunder are primed to be that team, as they are young and hungry.They just won the 2025 championship, so missing out on a back-to-back could fuel them further. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlining this team with a top-tier coach like Mark Daigneault, they are hard for any team to play against.MORE: Chet Holmgren is motivated to bounce back after a horrible 2026 Western Conference FinalsFormer NBA player Markieff Morris has given his take on the favorites ahead of the 2026-27 season. He believes that a healthy Thunder could dominate the league once again, especially since they have a chip on their shoulder again after the loss in the WCF."I have to go with OKC, they were the best team in the league last year. I said this before, sometimes the best team doesn't win, and that was the case this year. They were down their second-best player and third-best scorer, and they still took the Spurs to seven," Morris said on ESPN's First Take.Morris does acknowledge that there are many teams that can be champions like the Spurs and the defending champions, the New York Knicks. However, he does not see any team winning against a fully-healthy Thunder squad.More NBA news:Max Kellerman believes Jalen Brunson could have led the Thunder to the 2026 NBA FinalsShai Gilgeous-Alexander has made the switch from Converse to NikeSam Presti reaffirms that Chet Holmgren is not available in a tradeThe OKC Thunder could trade a starter in a potential cost-cutting moveChet Holmgren points to the missing piece in the Thunder's 2025-26 season

Cheryl Gollogly from Corby is hopeful Scotland can go far in this World Cup [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]More than 200 miles south of the Scottish border, hundreds of Scots living in an English town are proudly cheering on the Tartan Army in the FIFA World Cup.Corby in Northamptonshire is often referred to as "Little Scotland" due to the large number of Scottish steelworkers who settled there in the 1930s.Fans were ecstatic in the early hours of Sunday morning when Scotland celebrated their first World Cup victory in 36 years, beating Haiti 1-0, and they take on Morocco later from 23:00 BST.But how are the Scots in Corby, who are surrounded by the English, feeling for the rest of the tournament - and just how far do they think the team can go?Pubs across Corby including the Cardigan Arms are decked out in Scottish flags [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]Cheryl Gollogly, 52, has lived in Corby all her life, but had Scottish grandparents.She explained that she would be watching all of the Scotland games at The Evs pub on Cottingham Road."It's been brilliant because it took years for them to get back," she said of the Tartan Army."About time - and I think they can go further than England. They deserve to."Gollogly stated she was supportive of England, but felt the Scots had more to prove.Steve Miller, originally from Scotland, said he expected the team to get past the knockout stages [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]Steve Miller, 67, moved to Corby from Wick in the north of Scotland, not far from John O'Groats, when he was seven.He proudly stated he was Scottish "through and through", but was "apprehensive, excited, all at the same time" for the rest of the World Cup."It'd be nice if we go further than we've ever gone before and because we got a good result in the first game, I think we will qualify for the knockout stages," he added."After that, it's a lottery, isn't it?"Lorraine McQuade expects Scotland to do "fantastic" in the tournament [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]Lorraine McQuade, 51, is a hairdresser at the salon Reveal and was born in Glasgow before she moved to Corby when she was about two."I think they're doing amazing so far," she said of the Scottish team."I'm really happy they're going to be there. "Fingers crossed for [Friday] night that they're going to do well. We're very hopeful."No Scotland, no party, so they say."She admitted she was not expecting a win, but said it would be "the best thing ever" if that did happen.Joe Kennedy said he had fond memories of Scotland in their last World Cup back in 1998 [Kate Bradbrook/BBC]Joe Kennedy, 71, was born in Corby, but has Scottish and Irish heritage.He said the last time Scotland was in the World Cup back in 1998 had been "brilliant"."Hopefully we can go as far as we can go," he explained."If we qualify out of the qualifiers now at the moment, that's further than we've ever gone before in the World Cup, and I just hope we can just get better and better."Whether we'll win it, my heart says yes, my brain says perhaps not."Scottish fans were elated when the team took their first victory of the tournament against Haiti [PA Media]Do you have a story suggestion for Northamptonshire? Contact us below.Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Tartan Army has 'brought new life' to America's smallest stateHow fans in 'Little Scotland' celebrated winJubilation as Scotland fans celebrate first World Cup win in 36 yearsLittle Scotland celebrates clinching World Cup spot More World Cup stories Bus route named after footballer for World CupWorld Cup scarves a 'pinch-me moment' for designerFOMO led to family's World Cup 'holiday of a lifetime'

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gage Jump gave up one hit over seven sparkling innings, and Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom hit back-to-back homers in a five-run first that sent the Athletics to a 5-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night.The first six A’s batters got hits off Ryan Johnson, recalled from Double-A Rocket City before the game — when the Angels also placed star outfielder Mike Trout on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain.Zack Gelof singled leading off to extend his hitting streak to 22 games, the longest current run in the majors, and Nick Kurtz doubled. Langeliers drove a three-run shot 430 feet to center field for his 19th homer this season, and Soderstrom followed with his 13th.Jacob Wilson and Jonah Heim singled before Johnson (0-2) got his first out of the game on Carlos Cortes' fly to center that advanced Wilson to third base. A sacrifice fly by Henry Bolte made it 5-0.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

With two undeniable wins to kick off the tournament, Mexico has clinched the top spot in Group A with six points and punched its ticket to the World Cup’s knockout rounds. Kicking off the tournament in Mexico City, El Tri took home a rather less than difficult 2-0 win against South Africa, giving its fans a major boost of confidence to begin the World Cup. Coming into Thursday’s game, Mexico knew it would have its work cut out for it, as its last international friendly in 2025 against South Korea ended in a 2-2 draw. However, after a Luis Romo goal in the 50th minute of the game’s second half, it was all on Mexico to lock down the game defensively and take home the win. MORE: Raul Rangel’s legendary saves against South Korea validate Mexico’s goalkeeper changeFortunately for the host nation, that is exactly what Coach Javier Aguirre would draw up to finish the game, but it would not come without dramatic fashion. During the 88th minute of the game, South Korea sparked some offense, delivering the ball into the box and giving Mexico fans in attendance and watching on television a huge scare. However, thanks to some late-game heroics by Mexico’s goalie, Raul Rangel, El Tri came out of the matchup with a clean sheet for a second consecutive game and a spot in the knockout rounds secured. This qualification will mark Mexico’s 10th appearance in the World Cup’s knockout stages since 1970, with the nation hopeful its team can get past the round of 16 for the first time since 1986. With a wave of momentum to ride and just one more Group A game to play against the Czech Republic, Mexico will need to take this next game as a serious tune-up if it wants to be a formidable team in the next round of the tournament.

Photo by NDZ/Star Max/GC ImagesThe New York Knicks’ championship parade was supposed to be a clean celebration of a 53-year wait, but Dave Portnoy believes one mistake left a stain on the day.The Knicks finally celebrated their first NBA title since 1973 with a massive parade through Lower Manhattan, ending one of the longest waits in New York sports.Yet the City Hall display created anger when a banner appeared to connect Dillon Jones with Patrick Ewing’s retired No. 33. Portnoy did not try to soften his reaction.Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLCDave Portnoy blasts New York Knicks parade over Patrick Ewing errorPortnoy reacted to the parade mistake in an Instagram reel, making clear how badly he believed the moment reflected on the celebration.“I’m disgusted for all Knicks fans that the lasting memory of the Knicks title run will be the utter disrespect shown to Patrick Ewing,” Portnoy said.He added, “Whoever organized this parade has rocks for brains or no brains. And it’s a disgrace, and just one of the worst parades in the history of sports.”The issue centered on a jersey-style banner for Jones outside City Hall. It showed the name Jones with No. 33, the number forever tied to Ewing and retired by the Knicks in 2003.That made the mistake harder for fans to ignore. Jones actually wore No. 1 for the Knicks, played only a small role during the season, and logged no playoff minutes, while Ewing remains one of the defining figures in franchise history.Patrick Ewing’s No. 33 mistake overshadowed the NY Knicks celebrationPortnoy returned to the Ewing point because the mistake was not just a wrong number on a banner. It involved one of the most protected symbols in Knicks history.“The disrespect for maybe the second-greatest Knick … to hang a retired number for Jones to take a white glove and slap Patrick Ewing across the face,” Portnoy concluded.Ewing’s No. 33 hangs in the Madison Square Garden rafters for a reason. He was the face of the Knicks for the 1980s and 1990s, an 11-time All-Star with New York and the player most associated with the franchise’s last sustained era of contention before this title team.The parade was meant to honor the current champions while reconnecting generations of Knicks fans. Instead, the No. 33 mix-up created an unnecessary flashpoint on a day when Ewing’s legacy should have been treated with care.Portnoy is not a Knicks fan, but his frustration matched the reaction from many who understood why the number mattered. For a franchise that waited more than half a century to celebrate again, getting the details right was supposed to be the easy part.Read more:Rick Brunson tells Jalen how he can surpass Patrick Ewing as the ‘greatest Knick ever’Patrick Ewing shares emotional reaction to Knicks title as he recalls Tim DuncanRick Brunson gives his pick for the ‘greatest Knick’, and it’s not his son Jalen

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he has a "very good relationship" with Oliver Baumann after his comeback to the national team forced the later to be demoted.Neuer retired after Euro 2024 and Hoffenheim's Baumann eventually took the position between the posts and played as the starter during the World Cup qualifiers.However, Baumann travelled to the tournament as a back-up after Neuer was called back by coach Julian Nagelsmann."We work together every day and have a very good relationship. Especially on the field, you have to support each other," Neuer said in a news conference on Thursday.He said he had a long conversation with Baumann at the start of the World Cup preparations at the headquarters in Bavaria's Herzogenaurach."We talked about the whole situation there. We exchanged views and spoke frankly," Neuer said without going into details.The 40-year-old, who's the only remaining player in the squad from the 2014 team that won the title, also praised Jonas Urbig, who's set to be his successor at Bayern Munich one day.Urbig is not part of the official Germany squad but still travelled with the team to gain experience."Jonas has everything in his own hands, he's on a very good path," Neuer said.The veteran has a close bond with Urbig and the two spend a lot of time together also during their free time."Jonas and I know each other very well from club practice. Jonas is a great asset to us as a team. He trains at the highest level," Neuer said."He's also giving it his all when it comes to his future. It's important for him to get a taste of tournament action, learn the ropes, and support our team. I don't see him as just a back-up goalkeeper anymore, but as a full-time member of our team."Germany started the tournament with a 7-1 thrashing of Curaçao and next up face Ivory Coast on Saturday.

Mourinho Will Help Real Madrid Overhaul Barcelona AgainReal Madrid recently appointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager in a stunning reunion, 13 years after his first spell at the Bernabeu Stadium.Online bookmakers think Mourinho will fail to topple Barcelona in La Liga, installing Madrid as the second favourites to regain the title next season.Although sportsbook operators are renowned for accurately assessing market probabilities, they may have underestimated Mourinho on this occasion.Many followers of the sports betting coverage featured on BettingTop10.com will be tempted to back Madrid at 13/10 to win the league.He was successful in his last stint with the club and is the perfect manager to knock Barcelona off their perch.Turning Back the Clock to the Record-Breaking BlueprintThe challenge Mourinho faces is similar to the one he accepted in 2010. Barcelona were the benchmark under then-manager Pep Guardiola.Madrid were in the shadows of their greatest rivals until club president Florentino Perez turned to Mourinho. The Portuguese had defied the odds to win the Champions League with Inter Milan, beating Guardiola’s Barcelona in the final.Results didn’t come immediately. Mourinho’s first season was best remembered for a painful 5-0 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona. He used that experience to build a stronger team and restored Madrid to the pinnacle of La Liga in his second year.Madrid became the first Spanish club to reach 100 points in a league season, winning 32 out of 38 games and scoring 121 goals. Beating one of the finest teams ever assembled added weight to his achievement.Mourinho will now bid to repeat the feat. Barcelona do not have the same history-defining team Guardiola built, but current manager Hansi Flick has found a winning formula.Barcelona have won three league titles in the last four seasons. Madrid have been chasing shadows, going back-to-back years without winning silverware.Mourinho Still has a Point to ProveMourinho has returned to a club in a predicament similar to the one he left, with Madrid in dire need of direction, authority and success.Football has changed since his first spell in Madrid, but there are plenty of reasons to believe Mourinho could once again be the man who overhauls Barcelona.He has inherited a talented squad led by Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. They are part of an attacking unit with enough quality to frighten any defence in Europe.A lack of tactical cohesion has been a major issue, while a fractured dressing room has not helped matters. Mourinho demanded complete footballing control and the backing of the board before taking the job to ensure he could fix things in his own way.The people who welcome his return believe that discipline is exactly what Madrid have been missing. The team has looked disjointed at times, but Mourinho will restore order.He is no stranger to managing big egos, and the image people have painted about him usually ignores how effective he is at creating a winning team spirit. Accusations that Mourinho has not evolved with modern football are also wide off the mark.Mourinho has enjoyed plenty of success in the 13 years since he first left Madrid, and he has achieved that by maximising the strengths of his players at his disposal.Mbappe is arguably at his most dangerous when attacking open spaces, while Vinicius thrives when he can run directly at defenders. Mourinho’s preference for quick transitions could suit both players.Rather than forcing the squad into a complicated tactical structure, Mourinho is likely to focus on creating a system that allows his biggest stars to do what they do best.Nobody can guarantee that he will replicate the achievements of 2011/12. Football rarely follows the same script twice.But few managers are better equipped to return Madrid to their former glories than Mourinho. He has a point to prove and that makes him a dangerous proposition.

ATLANTA (AP) — Bina Ramroop broke down in tears when she realized she wasn't going to get the World Cup tickets she had bought for her grandson's 13th birthday.As thousands poured into Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday to see Spain face Cape Verde in what turned out to be a remarkable scoreless draw, Ramroop stood outside, increasingly stressed as she went back and forth for hours between StubHub representatives on the phone and FIFA representatives in the ticket booth. Each blamed the other.No one could figure out why the tickets Ramroop bought months ago on StubHub for $485 apiece couldn't be transferred from the original seller to the FIFA ticketing app. StubHub offered her a refund and, as Ramroop heard the crowd roar for the start of the match, she knew she had no choice but to give up and take the offer.“I didn’t want a refund, I didn’t want my money back,” Ramroop said. “I wanted to go to the game.”The World Cup has delivered thrills on the pitch, but fans have flooded social media with complaints about tickets that never arrived, orders that were canceled at the last minute and hours they spent trying to sort out problems between FIFA’s ticketing system and outside resale platforms. The vast majority seem to be about industry titan StubHub, but people who bought through competitors such as SeatGeek and Vivid Seats have also reported issues. Interviews with fans and industry experts show that some cases stem from technical glitches in the transfer process, while others could involve sellers who never had tickets to deliver in the first place, though StubHub denies such sales happen on its platform.A grandmother's disappointmentFIFA has urged fans to buy resale tickets through its own marketplace, where it slaps a 30% surcharge on every resold ticket — 15% each from the buyer and seller. But many fans bought through other resale sites, either out of habit or because those sites have lower prices or are easier to navigate.Ramroop didn't realize she was taking a risk when she bought through StubHub, which she had used in the past without issues.As she and her grandson Elijah Gomes took the long, lonely train ride back to the Atlanta suburbs, Elijah followed the score on his phone. The match had ended scoreless, and he tried to cheer up his devastated grandmother by telling her they hadn't missed much after all (Cape Verdeans would beg to differ ).“He’s telling me, ‘Grandma, it’s OK, Grandma.’ And he’s trying to console me,” Ramroop said the next day.She was hardly alone. An Associated Press journalist witnessed more than a dozen frustrated fans at the match who said they were stuck in similar situations.StubHub blamed FIFA for the transfer problems that buyers like Ramroop have experienced. In a statement, it said FIFA has “poor technology infrastructure,” enacted last-minute transfer restrictions and didn't launch its new ticketing app until a few weeks before the tournament. The company also called out organizers that “take anti-competitive actions” that limit where fans can buy and sell tickets.Asked about the technical issues, FIFA on Wednesday reiterated that sales through its official site are guaranteed to go through.An industry's longstanding problemIndustry observers say the problems appear to stem from more than one cause. For some, it may indeed be technical glitches — an issue that StubHub says is “very, very rare” and one that it is hard at work to solve. For others, they say it's likely a more longstanding scourge: speculative sellers.Scott Friedman, an industry veteran and co-founder of a consultancy called the Ticket Talk Network, said some sellers list tickets before they actually have them, betting that prices will fall closer to the event so they can buy the tickets at a better price later. But because World Cup ticket prices have surged since the tournament began, those sellers have been forced to either buy expensive tickets to fulfill their orders or cancel and accept penalties from resale platforms. StubHub's penalties are typically 200% of the ticket price, Friedman said.“This is not new at all,” said Friedman, pointing to other high-profile events where frustrated fans were left empty-handed, including Taylor Swift's Eras tour. “This has been going on, but it’s making global news because it’s the World Cup.”StubHub says it requires sellers to prove they have tickets before they list them.But regardless of the reason for the canceled sales, Friedman said “StubHub should fill every single order to make sure fans get in the biggest global sporting event that happens every four years.”That’s what many fans say they expected when they purchased through StubHub.StubHub’s FanProtect Guarantee promises replacement tickets or a refund if tickets fail to arrive. But the policy repeatedly says those remedies are provided at StubHub’s “sole discretion,” meaning the company can choose a refund instead of securing replacement seats.“That is pretty explicit language,” said Michael McCann, a sports law expert at the University of New Hampshire. McCann noted that a buyer could try to challenge the language under state consumer protection laws, but it would be an uphill battle.A father's regretsPape Ndaw is crestfallen that the high school graduation gift he got for his son — tickets for them to see the Netherlands and Japan near their home city of Dallas — never arrived.He bought the tickets for about $550 apiece in December. Then, two days before the June 14 match, he received an email from StubHub telling him, “The seller can’t deliver your original tickets.”Ndaw accepted store credit rather than a refund, thinking he would use the funds to quickly get replacements, only to then realize that the cheapest last-minute tickets were going for more than $1,500 each. Not only were they not going to get to go to the game, but Ndaw said StubHub rejected his belated request for a refund instead of store credit.Breaking the news to his soccer-obsessed son was brutal, Ndaw said.“It was a disastrous thing,” he said. “He had told all his friends that he was going to that game. He literally cried. I mean, he is a 17-year-old kid, but he cried.”A family's attempt to make the best of itOthers fared somewhat better.Patrick O’Neil of Pittsboro, North Carolina, traveled to Atlanta with his wife, son and relatives after purchasing five tickets through StubHub for the Spain-Cape Verde match. Two tickets transferred successfully, but three never arrived.O’Neil’s 15-year-old son and his uncle ended up using the two tickets, while O’Neil, his wife and another relative watched from a nearby bar.After local media caught wind of their ordeal, O’Neil said StubHub contacted the family and offered tickets to another game. Since the family had already bought tickets to one, though, he and his wife asked the company to instead give the seats to local nonprofit Soccer in the Streets so they could go to people who otherwise might not be able to attend a match. “StubHub is not evil, but they’re part of the whole system that makes it really hard for just normal kids and people who might want to see a match get to go,” O'Neil said.On Thursday, a StubHub representative confirmed to the AP that the company would honor the O’Neils’ request and send tickets to the nonprofit.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

The Los Angeles Lakers should have a pathway to upgrading their roster this summer through free agency. They will have up to approximately $50 million in salary cap space, which should present them with a real opportunity to shape a championship-caliber cast around Luka Doncic, or at least start to do so.Unfortunately, most of the most attractive free agents this summer are restricted free agents, which means their current teams have the right to match any offers they receive. In particular, Los Angeles has been linked to centers Walker Kessler and Jalen Duren and forwards Peyton Watson and Tari Eason, all of whom will be restricted free agents.Per Dave McMenamin of ESPN, the Lakers have "done their due diligence" on all four of those players."There are several restricted free agents the Lakers have already done their due diligence on, sources familiar with the team’s thinking told ESPN," McMenamin wrote."Two of them, Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons and Walker Kessler of the Utah Jazz, would satisfy Doncic’s directive to secure an A-list center."Two others, Peyton Watson of the Denver Nuggets and Tari Eason of the Rockets, are the type of 3-and-D archetypes who any team needs in order to succeed in the modern NBA."Kessler has been linked to the Lakers for some time, and he has been a dream target for their fans. He's an outstanding rebounder and shot-blocker, and he's just 24 years of age. However, the Utah Jazz have the No. 2 pick in next week's NBA draft, and with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Lauri Markkanen alongside Kessler on their frontline, they may be able to be competitive as soon as next season.Duren averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game for the Detroit Pistons during the regular season, although his scoring output fell to 10.2 points a game in the playoffs. Detroit finished with the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and one has to think that the team will do whatever it takes to retain Duren.Watson is a 6-foot-8 wing who made strides this season and averaged 14.6 points a game while shooting 49.1% from the field and 41.1% from 3-point range. He grew up in the Los Angeles area and played collegiately at the University of California, Los Angeles. Eason is also 6-foot-8 and a little more suited to playing power forward than Watson. He put up 10.5 points and 6.3 rebounds per game during the regular season, although he shot just 41.6% from the field.This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: Report: Lakers have done 'due diligence' on big free agent targets

Photo by NDZ/Star Max/GC ImagesDave Portnoy was not among those impressed by Zohran Mamdani’s viral moment at the New York Knicks championship parade.Mamdani drew praise online after speaking during the Knicks’ City Hall celebration, where New York marked its first NBA title since 1973.Fans clipped and shared parts of the speech, but Portnoy saw the reaction less as proof of passion and more as another example of politics attaching itself to sports. He made that point directly after the parade.Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty ImagesDave Portnoy rips Zohran Mamdani after Knicks parade speechPortnoy reacted on X after fans praised Mamdani’s speech from the Knicks’ celebration, and he immediately questioned why people were treating it as impressive.“I don’t get why people are impressed by a guy who is good at reading other people’s speeches. He’s a professional actor. People slobbering all over Mamdani,” Portnoy wrote on X.He added, “I get that politicians always try to make sports about them and use it to their advantage, so I guess you can’t blame Mamdani for hogging the spotlight.”Mamdani had been visible throughout the championship celebration, including at the parade and City Hall ceremony. He wore Knicks gear, addressed the crowd, and helped turn the title into a civic moment as the city celebrated the end of a 53-year drought.Portnoy’s criticism was not about the Knicks winning the title. It was aimed at the sudden praise around Mamdani’s public performance and whether the mayor’s role in the celebration felt genuine.Dave Portnoy questions Zohran Mamdani’s New York Knicks super fan imagePortnoy then turned from the speech itself to Mamdani’s basketball credentials, arguing that the parade reaction had gone too far.“But dude couldn’t name 1 player besides Brunson when asked during a debate last year. Now he’s a super fan?“I think it speaks to how inauthentic he is and how dumb people are who slurp it up. That’s just me though,” Portnoy further stated.The line was Portnoy’s way of framing the parade moment as political theater rather than organic fandom. Jalen Brunson was the face of the title team and the Finals MVP, so naming him alone would not prove much to critics looking for deeper Knicks knowledge.Reports around the parade also showed a different view of Mamdani, with fans praising his speech and his presence during the celebration. He presented the Knicks’ title run as a citywide moment, and plenty of New Yorkers responded to that message.Portnoy, though, saw the opposite. His post turned the parade praise into another argument about authenticity, and about how quickly politicians can be embraced when a championship gives them a stage.Read more:James Dolan aims ‘real fans’ dig at Zohran Mamdani during City Hall speech at Knicks paradeNew York mayor Zohran Mamdani’s speech at Knicks NBA Championship parade labelled ‘special’ by fansWho is Zohran Mamdani’s wife? Meet Rama Duwaji, the activist who joined mayor at Knicks celebrations

Jun 16, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; San Diego Padres right fielder Samad Taylor (0) slides in safely at home and scores against the St. Louis Cardinals during the fifth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images | Jeff Curry-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres left on their current road trip three games over .500 and in contention for a Wild Card spot come playoff time. After the first six games of the nine-game road trip, playing against the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals, the Friars are three games over .500 and in contention for a Wild Card spot. In that sense, nothing has changed.There was good and bad to be seen over the past week. There have been incremental improvements with the offense, especially with specific players. Some players who were hitting well have stopped. The current roster has a large contingent of El Paso Chihuahua players trying to support the organization through an especially trying time with injuries and roster upheaval.Highlighting some of the goodLet’s take Fernando Tatis Jr. as an example. We all watched as his futility at the plate had piled up over the start of the season. Finally getting two home runs over the past two weeks has taken a bit of the pressure off, but the real accomplishment is in his overall performance. Tatis was definitely stuck in a rut. Swinging at bad pitches, chasing out of the strike zone, and especially vulnerable to the up and in, then down and away pattern that pitchers routinely used against him.Manager Craig Stammen had already mentioned to him during spring camp that Tatis might be needed in the infield. He had been taking grounders there since February. On May 5, second baseman Jake Cronenworth went on the injured list with concussion symptoms. On May 12, Tatis made his debut as the Padres second baseman. Since that day, Tatis has hit .366/.420/.485 with two home runs and 11 RBI. He has acknowledged in the past that he loves playing in the infield (originally as a shortstop). Tatis has improved his defense at second base, and his offensive numbers have skyrocketed.Over the past week, he has hit .320 with five RBI and a .757 OPS.Third baseman Manny Machado had a horrible May, the worst month of his career. He hit .127 with a .526 OPS, which was only that good because he still hit home runs (6 HR, 14 RBI). June has been better, and the past week has shown some hope for Padres fans that the normal Machado will show up going forward. His .227/.333/.429 batting line isn’t great, but he has three doubles and a home run to go with three walks and two RBI.Samad Taylor, called up to replace Nick Castellanos, has been a revelation as the everyday left fielder. Since joining the team on June 3, he has hit .343/.410/.457 with a double, a home run, eight RBI, four stolen bases and eight runs scored. He has also played excellent defense. Over the past week, Taylor has hit .350/.381/.500 with a home run, three RBI, and two stolen bases. The Padres’ bullpen has moved back up the rankings in MLB. After having a rough patch, the relievers’ ERA is 3.01, second in MLB and close to the Atlanta Braves’ 2.91 ERA. The Padres used both Wandy Peralta and Bradgley Rodriguez as openers this week; both pitched a scoreless first inning in their respective games (Peralta for Giolito and Rodriguez for Canning against the Orioles).Some of the badPadres starting pitchers are not getting the job done. Inconsistency has been the issue for all of the starters. Overall, command of their pitches leaves a lot of room for improvement. In his start against the Orioles, Griffin Canning allowed seven runs on six hits and five walks over five innings. Even with a good offense, that would be a hard game to win. He was better against the Cardinals but only went 4.1 innings with four hits and one run allowed after Bradgley Rodriguez pitched as the opener.Lucas Giolito started the first game versus St. Louis, going five innings, allowing seven hits and three runs with three walks.None of the starters turned in a quality start because none could make it into the sixth inning.The offense was stifled for two against St. Louis with Cardinals pitcher Dustin May pitching a complete game, one-hit shutout and the next day the Padres didn’t get a hit until the fifth inning. They went 5-for-57 over those two games.Overall, the Padres have had 35 quality starts thrown against them, including eight shutouts.First baseman Ty France, who has given a great defensive performance so far, has gone cold at the plate. Over the past week, France hit .071 with a .204 OPS. He has one hit, one RBI and seven strikeouts. For June, his average is .132 and he has dropped his overall line to .245/.294/.434. Outfielder Jase Bowen, who was leading the Triple-A Chihuahuas in many offensive categories, has had a difficult time adjusting to major league pitching. In 25 at-bats, he is hitting .120/.154/.274 with 11 strikeouts.Roster moves and injury updatesOutfielder Bryce Johnson was designated for assignment when Xander Bogaerts returned from paternity leave and Will Wagner remained with the team. Johnson cleared waivers and was outrighted to El Paso.DH Miguel Andujar went on the injured list with a left hamstring strain and utility player Nick Solak was promoted from Triple-A.Catcher Blake Hunt was promoted from Triple-A and catcher Freddy Fermin was place on the injured list with a concussion.RHP Ty Adcock was designated for assignment. Adcock cleared waivers and was outrighted to El Paso.RHP Mason Miller was placed on family/bereavement leave and LHP Kyle Hart was called up from Triple-A.RHP Ron Marinaccio began serving a two-game suspension (June 17-June 19) for intentionally hitting the Orioles’ Gunner Henderson.Manager Craig Stammen also served a one-game suspension for the same offense.Pitchers Joe Musgrove and Nick Pivetta have both advanced to long-toss in their throwing programs on rehab from arm injuries. Per a report from The Athletic’s Dennis Lin on 97.3 The Fan, Musgrove also has a bone spur in his right elbow. There is reportedly no issue with the bone spur at this time.RHP Germán Márquez is progressing in his rehab with Triple-A El Paso. In four starts and 15.1 innings pitched, Márquez has a 1.76 ERA and just allowed his first runs in his fourth start. Per a report from MadFriars.com, he reached 95 mph on his four-seam fastball and reached 73 pitches on June 17.Catcher Luis Campusano was seen with the team last week but is back in Arizona and ramping up his baseball activities. There is no rehab assignment yet (per manager Craig Stammen).Second baseman Jake Cronenworth is also slowly ramping up baseball activities but is still experiencing some symptoms resulting from a concussion and there is no timeline for his return (per Stammen).RHP Jhony Brito has completed his rehab and was optioned to El Paso. He has made two starts with a 2.00 ERA in nine innings pitched. He has reached the mid-90’s on his fastball and threw 71 pitches in his last start, per MadFriars.com reporting.LHP Marco Gonzales, signed to a minor league contract before Spring Training began, was released by the Padres this past week. He had a 7.99 ERA in 47.1 innings pitched at Triple-A.RHP Matt Waldron began his rehab from his right brachialis muscle injury with El Paso.

Heartbreak for India: Shreyanka Patil ruled out of T20 World Cup; uncapped RCB star named replacement originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Shreyanka Patil ruled out of the rest of the World Cup with an ankle injury.Uncapped spinner Prema Rawat approved by ICC as her official replacement.India face a crucial group-stage clash against South Africa on June 21.India's spin attack hit by untimely injury of Shreyanka PatilIndia have been dealt a significant blow in the Women's T20 World Cup, with off-spinner Shreyanka Patil ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after picking up an injury during the group match against the Netherlands.The ICC has since confirmed her withdrawal and approved Royal Challengers Bengaluru's uncapped spinner Prema Rawat as her replacement.Shreyanka hurt her ankle while fielding during the opening over of the Netherlands innings on Wednesday. She received treatment on the field but was unable to continue, and subsequent medical assessment confirmed she would play no further part in the competition.Her absence is a setback for India, given the role she has played within the spin-bowling unit, and it leaves the team management with a fresh selection puzzle heading into the knockouts.MORE: Can India qualify for semifinals in Women's T20 WC 2026? Chances and scenariosICC confirms Rawat's call-upRawat, who had already been in England as part of the India A contingent, will now join the senior squad for the rest of the World Cup.In its official statement, the ICC's Event Technical Committee confirmed that Rawat had been approved as Shreyanka's replacement following the ankle injury sustained in the Netherlands match."The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Prema Rawat as a replacement for Shreyanka Patil in the India squad," the ICC Media release read."Rawat was named as a replacement after Patil was ruled out following an injury to her right ankle that she sustained while fielding in the match against the Netherlands on Wednesday. The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad."MORE: 'Won't make a difference': Wahab Riaz reacts to no-handshake policy in IND vs PAK matchesWho is Prema Rawat?The 24-year-old has yet to make her senior international debut but arrives with a strong domestic resume behind her.She has impressed through consistent performances in the Women's Premier League and stood out at the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, where she picked up eight wickets for India A at an outstanding average of 9.62.Those numbers have kept her name firmly in selectors' minds over recent months. At the franchise level, Rawat has played six WPL matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru across the last two seasons, claiming three wickets.The timing makes the injury especially difficult for Shreyanka, who had only recently worked her way back into the international fold following an earlier injury layoff. She had featured in India's win over Pakistan earlier in the tournament, bowling three economical overs and conceding just 17 runs in a tidy display.What's next for India in the Women's T20 World Cup?Attention now turns to India's next group-stage match against South Africa on June 21 at Old Trafford. With Rawat now added to the squad, India will need to quickly settle on their best spin combination as they look to maintain momentum without one of their key bowling options.For all the latest cricket news, opinion and commentary and to share your voice head to our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Many gallerists are questioning the fundamentals of their business. It’s as if the art world they know has fallen off its axis.

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Awer Mabil’s face quickly turned to pure joy. He beamed and fought his emotions, a reaction Australia's veteran forward hardly could have seen coming.It had nothing to do with a soccer result, either. But rather a reflection that took him back to his tumultuous youth as a refugee and how some good fortune landed him in Australia for a new start in life.Mabil looked into the audience during his media conference after training Tuesday and discovered a familiar face in David Basheer, the longtime commentator on Australia's SBS network who had just offered a question days ahead of the Socceroos’ World Cup matchup against the United States on Friday in Seattle.“I grew up watching you,” Mabil said, so taken aback that he asked Basheer to repeat himself.A touching moment, in this pressure-packed, every-four-years spectacle, and yet one more example of Mabil’s refreshing sincerity as one of the Aussies’ key faces at this World Cup, no matter how many minutes he plays.He's an ambassador from Down Under, to be sure.Difficult start to his lifeThe 30-year-old Mabil also represents the persistence it took to prevail and get this far, given his daunting path. He was born in Kakuma, Kenya, to South Sudanese parents who had escaped civil war, and he moved to Australia 20 years ago at age 10 through the country’s humanitarian resettlement program. He began playing organized soccer in Adelaide, South Australia state.It's fitting that Mabil is sharing his story during Refugee Week, with World Refugee Day on Saturday.“It’s a Refugee Week and it’s a week that I would like to say to anybody that is misplaced all over the world that we are with you,” he said. "And we are in a world stage right now, in a big tournament — and just to tell you everything is possible, so keep going.”Mabil is making contributions in many ways. He took part in a video message about diversity ahead of the World Cup that went viral.The message: “No matter where you come from, football is for everyone.”“It’s coincidence again that it’s Refugee Week in the World Cup and also at the same time you have many refugees in the team. And at the same time, when I reflect back, I’m like we all belong to this world together,” Mabil said. “And now we’re representing Australia."He considers himself a “big brother” to teammates Mo Touré and Nestory Irankunda, fellow refugees from Africa.A World Cup milestoneThe 20-year-old Irankunda became the youngest player to score a World Cup goal for the Socceroos in a 2-0 win over Turkey on Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia.The Australians want to show how far the country has come at the World Cup level.“I hope we're starting to gain a little bit more respect,” defender Alessandro Circati said. “I don't want to be the underdogs for the rest of my life.” Mabil will do his part to help the Socceroos build something special. He played briefly as a substitute in two group-stage matches four years ago for the Aussies, then didn't get on the field for the opener this year.“I’m proud of the boys,” he said. “A lot of the young boys now making the difference for the national team all come through Adelaide, and it’s a credit to the football community.”He and his mates are loving the omelet bar and lining up for it at their team headquarters, the Claremont Resort and Club in nearby Berkeley. They are training at the former headquarters of the NFL's Oakland Raiders.“Coming in as a senior player I think is more mental that you have to be present for the younger ones. Sometimes you want to slap them," Mabil joked. "I’ll play my role to the best of my abilities to be available for the young ones and also the older ones because the older ones also they go through difficulties so they don’t have all the answers — nobody has all the answers. We just have to continue to be there for each other. In these kind of tournaments, it’s very important to remain united.”___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

The London Marathon was first held in 1981, when 7,747 runners were accepted into the race [Getty Images]The London Marathon will be held across two days in a special one-off edition of the event in 2027.Organisers confirmed earlier this year that they were exploring ways to enable more people to take part, after a record 1.33 million people entered the ballot for next year's event.The two events - on Saturday, 24 and Sunday, 25 April - will allow 100,000 people to take part in the London Marathon in 2027, effectively doubling the chances of success for those who entered the ballot.The move is also expected to raise more than £150m for charities and provide a £400m boost to the UK economy, according to Hugh Brasher, chief executive of London Marathon Events (LME).Everyone who applied to take part next year will be entered into a ballot for both the Saturday and Sunday, with the ballot results announced in early July."The 2027 London Marathon Double is our most ambitious evolution to date - a once-in-a-generation one-time-only reimagining of what a marathon and city-wide celebration of activity can be," said Brasher."By expanding to 100,000 runners across two days, we're opening the door for more people, more charities and more communities to take part in the world's greatest marathon. We believe that more than £150m can be raised for good causes and the UK economy will have a £400m social and economic benefit."We are grateful for the vision and support of the Mayor of London, the councils on the route, the emergency services, and all the stakeholders involved who have given their support to enable this world first event to be held for London and the UK."Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: "London is the sporting capital of the world and I am delighted that, for one year only in 2027, the world famous London Marathon will expand into a two-day event."The London Marathon showcases the very best of our capital and we will continue working closely with London Marathon Events and our partners to ensure appropriate measures are in place for the entire weekend as we build a better, more prosperous London for everyone."A total of 1,338,544 people applied for the 2027 London Marathon, breaking the record of 1,133,813 applicants for the 2026 event.The London Marathon had a record 59,830 finishers in 2026 and was the biggest annual one-day fundraising event in the world, with more than £90m raised to date for charity by 2026 participants.History was also made on the course at this year's event, as Kenya's Sabastian Sawe became the first athlete to run a sub-two-hour marathon in a competitive race.Brasher has remained adamant that the expanded two-day event will be for one year only, following what he described as an "astonishing total of applicants" hoping to take part in 2027.He told BBC Sport the two-day event has been nine years in the making, but after the initial idea was formed in 2017, with the intention to hold it in 2020, they failed to gain permission.The plan is for the elite women, elite female para-athletes, championship and 'good for age' women to lead the mass event one day, with the elite men, elite male para-athletes, championship and 'good for age' men leading the mass event on the other. However, London Marathon organisers said all format details will be confirmed in the coming months.All 100,000 participants across the two days will run on the normal London Marathon route from Greenwich to Westminster.Brasher clarified to the BBC that a ballot draw will first be held for the Sunday - the day on which the marathon is normally held - before a second draw takes place for the Saturday.The Mini London Marathon will be held on the Friday, with more than 20,000 young participants.Organisers say all additional income generated by the two-day format will be distributed by the London Marathon Foundation to projects that inspire activity for children and young people across London and the UK.

It has been a long time coming.Seriously.The Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts are state champions in baseball for the first time since 1953 after beating Madison Memorial 11-5 for the WIAA Division 1 state championship at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium on Thursday, June 18.“A lot of smiles, a lot of happiness and a lot of joy with a really great group of guys,” Kaukauna coach Mike Jenkins said. “It’s a group of 25 I’ve known for a long time.”It’s a group of 25 where everyone had the chance to contribute to Kaukauna’s 24-7 season.In the championship game, it started with starting pitcher Bennett Geitner.Geitner was making his ninth appearance of the season on the mound but just his second start of the season.“He really did a good job for us, especially after losing Paxton [Schuh],” Jenkins said. “He settled into the closer role and into that No. 3 guy for us. Realistically, it queued him up being our starter tonight.”Geitner went four innings and allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one to get the win.“We wanted four innings out of him and that’s what he gave us,” Jenkins said.“Coach told me to give us all you’ve got for the amount of innings it takes and just do your job,” Geitner said.Geitner’s only hiccup came with two outs in the third inning when he walked two batters and hit one before giving up a single to Caleb Liggon and a triple to Ezra Liggon as the Spartans took a 4-1 lead.Kaukauna rallied back with five runs in its half of the third and Geitner pitched a quick fourth inning.That set up an unexpected contributor for Kaukauna in Schuh, who suffered a torn meniscus four weeks ago and hadn’t pitched since.Prior to the injury, Schuh was 7-1 in nine games including eight starts. He had crafted a 2.29 ERA over 39 innings with 15 walks and 60 strikeouts.“I had surgery three weeks ago on my knee,” Schuh said. “One week ago, I had a conversation with my [physical therapist] and she said there was no way. I had another checkup this week on Monday and they said that I had a 2% chance and I ran with it.“I grinded this whole week. Anything I could do to get back out there. Everything went well. Beyond blessed.”Buoyed by a huge Kaukauna contingent wearing orange and black, Schuh allowed one run on a single, two walks, a hit batter and a triple.“I knew before yesterday’s game [vs. Nicolet] that he was available today, but it was one of those things we had to work through that everyone was in the right space and make sure that he was able to do the job,” Jenkins said. “He sure did.”Schuh, who struck out Madison Memorial’s Blake Adams for the title-clinching out, said there were no nerves.“It was all business when I was out there,” Schuh said. “I was dialed.”The combined effort by Geitner and Schuh capped a great five-game stretch of pitching for Kaukauna.It started in the sectional semifinal win over Kimberly when Carson Gates pitched a complete game and in the sectional final win over Bay Port when Bron Schaefer pitched six innings and Geitner closed out the game.In the state quarterfinal win over River Falls, Gates spun another complete game with Schaefer pitching a complete game against Nicolet in the semifinal win.“It really came down to the people who could start for us and finish this game” Geitner said. “It really came down to them, and they got us where we needed to be. Everyone was hands on deck for the last game.”Offensively, the Ghosts got contributions from up and down the lineup.In Kaukauna’s five-run third inning, the Ghosts had one run in with two outs when Blake Vandeloo, who was hitting in the No. 9 spot and had three hits, drew an inning-extending walk. Schaefer, who had two hits, scored twice and drove home three runs, singled in two runs. Kaden Kress beat out an infield single to deep short and Brayden Jenkins hit a flare to center field to score two more runs to put Kaukauna up 6-4.“Our offense has been clicking on all cylinders this whole playoff run,” coach Jenkins said. “Truly one through nine contributing every game through this run.”Kress came up big in Kaukauna’s three-run fifth inning as well, ripping a double to left that scored Vandeloo, who had led off the inning with a triple, and Schaefer, who was hit by a pitch and stole second.“I was in the dugout and saw we got a couple of guys on,” Kress said. “I said to myself that I’m getting two RBI. There’s no other choice. No other choice.”And he did just that.“I just kept telling myself that I can do better,” said Kress, who finished with three hits and three RBIs. “Keep fighting. I knew this was my last game and I was going to give it my all for this city.”This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Kaukauna Ghosts win first WIAA state baseball title since 1953

Where to watch Diamond League Doha: Full schedule, times, channels, live streams for 2026 track and field meet originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Wanda Diamond League will continue its jam-packed 2026 circuit with the seventh meet of the year in Doha, Qatar Friday.Nearly halfway through the season, Diamond League has left a stint in Europe for a brief trip down to the Middle East for this rescheduled stop on the tour. Doha was supposed to be the opening meet of the 2026 season on May 8 but was postponed due to unrest in the region. With the move later in the calendar, the meet has been moved to the Khalifa International Stadium, which features a special climate-control system to keep temperatures reasonable. Many of the world's most elite track and field athletes will be competing in Qatar, but one notable absence will be pole vault champion Mondo Duplantis, who had to withdraw for his wedding weekend. Several events will have intriguing storylines to follow, like the women's 400m which will feature No. 1-ranked Marileidy Paulino in her Diamond League debut. Fans should also look out for Cordell Tinch in the 110m hurdles, and two-time triple jump champion Leyanis Pérez.Be sure to tune in for all the action in Qatar.Here's everything you need to know about Diamond League Doha, including TV channel and streaming options for the professional track and field meet.Where to watch Diamond League DohaTV channel: N/ALive stream:FloTrackThe Diamond League's meet in Doha will stream live exclusively in the U.S. on FloTrack, with a traditional broadcast and uninterrupted coverage of every event. Diamond League Doha start timeDate: Friday, June 19Time: 10:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. ETThe Diamond League's meet in Doha will take place on Friday, June 19, with a variety of different disciplines. Competition is expected to continue from 10:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET.Diamond League Doha scheduleBelow is the event schedule for Friday's meet.Time (ET)Event10:40 a.m.Men's Triple Jump12:02 p.m.Men's Pole Vault12:25 p.m.Women's Triple Jump1:10 p.m.Men's High Jump1:13 p.m.Men's 110m Hurdles1:24 p.m.Women's 100m1:36 p.m.Women's 800m1:44 p.m.Men's Javelin Throw1:47 p.m.Women's 5000m2:10 p.m.Men's 200m2:20 p.m.Women's 1500m2:35 p.m.Women's 400m2:45 p.m.Men's 3000m SteepleDiamond League schedule 2026Below is a brief overview of The Diamond League's schedule for this year.May 16: Shanghai/KeqiaoMay 23: Xiamen, ChinaMay 31: Rabat, MoroccoJune 4: Rome, ItalyJune 7: Stockholm, SwedenJune 10: Oslo, NorwayJune 19: Doha, QatarJune 28: Paris, FranceJuly 4: Eugene, Oregon July 10: MonacoJuly 18: London, EnglandAug. 21: Lausanne, SwitzerlandAug. 23: Silesia, PolandAug. 27: Zurich, SwitzerlandSept. 4-5: Brussels, Belgium

What time is Brazil vs. Haiti? Live stream, TV channel, kickoff schedule for World Cup 2026 match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.World Cup Group C matchups continue on Friday as Brazil and Haiti go head-to-head at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.As five-time winners of the global tournament, Brazil is always a nation to watch when it comes to the World Cup. Seleção have not reached the mountaintop in 24 years though, with early exits at the quarterfinal stage in four of the last five tournaments. With this summer expected to be veteran star Neymar's last dance representing his country, anything could happen.Amidst political instability in Haiti, the national team did the improbable and qualified for the World Cup while playing each game away from home. This marks only the second time the country has ever competed in soccer's pinnacle tournament, with the last being nearly 60 years ago in 1974.Be sure to tune in for this group stage matchup.The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of Brazil vs. Haiti, including how to watch the match and kickoff times.What time does Brazil vs. Haiti kick off?This World Cup clash kicks off Friday, June 19, at 8:30 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA.Here's how that time translates across the United States timezones:DateKickoff timeEastern TimeFri., June 198:30 p.m.Central TimeFri., June 197:30 p.m.Mountain TimeFri., June 196:30 p.m.Pacific TimeFri., June 195:30 p.m. Brazil vs. Haiti live stream, TV channelTV channel: FoxLive stream: fubo,Fox One, Fox Sports app/websiteThis match will be broadcast nationally on Fox in the United States with streaming options available on its dedicated platforms.The best place to catch the match is on streaming service fubo, with new customers able to sign up a for a FREE trial.Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)World Cup schedule today and tomorrowAll times Eastern.Friday, June 19USA vs. Australia (3 p.m.)Scotland vs. Morocco (6 p.m.)Brazil vs. Haiti (8:30 p.m.)Turkey vs. Paraguay (11 p.m.)Saturday, June 20Netherlands vs. Sweden (1 p.m.)Germany vs. Ivory Coast (4 p.m.)Ecuador vs. Curacao (8 p.m.)MORE:Complete World Cup schedule and fixtures{C}%3C!%2D%2D%7BC%7D%253C!%252D%252D%257BC%257D%25253C!%25252D%25252D%2525253Cmeta%25252520charset%2525253D%25252522UTF-8%25252522%25252520%2525252F%2525253E%25252D%25252D%25253E%252D%252D%253E%2D%2D%3E2026 FIFA World Cup FAQsWhen is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to run from June 11 through July 19, 2026. It will be the first World Cup hosted across three countries: the United States, Canada and Mexico.Where is the 2026 FIFA World Cup being played?The 2026 World Cup will be played across 16 host cities in North America, with matches taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will be the first men’s World Cup hosted by three countries.The 16 host cities are Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle in the United States; Toronto and Vancouver in Canada; and Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey in Mexico.How many teams are in the 2026 World Cup?The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, expanding from the 32-team format used in previous tournaments. The larger field also means more matches, more knockout-round games and more countries involved than ever before.The 48 teams are Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cape Verde, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Curaçao, Czechia, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, England, France, Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Türkiye, United States, Uruguay and Uzbekistan.How many games are in the 2026 World Cup?There will be 104 matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That includes the group stage, knockout rounds and the final.Can I stream the 2026 World Cup?Yes. Streaming options will depend on the match, language and broadcast partner. In the U.S., Fox Sports lists FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for English-language coverage, while Telemundo will stream every match live on Peacock and the Telemundo App for Spanish-language coverage.What channel is the 2026 World Cup on?In the U.S., English-language matches are expected across FOX and FS1, which are available on fubo for those without cable, while Spanish-language coverage will air on Telemundo and Universo, which you can stream on DIRECTV and Peacock. Check the schedule for the specific match you want to watch.When is the 2026 World Cup final?The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026. The match will be played at New York-New Jersey Stadium, FIFA’s tournament name for MetLife Stadium.What time do World Cup games start?Kickoff times vary by date, host city and round. Because the tournament is being played across multiple time zones in the United States, Canada and Mexico, fans should check the official match schedule for start times in their local time zone.Is the United States playing in the 2026 World Cup?Yes. The United States automatically qualified for the 2026 World Cup as one of the three host nations, along with Canada and Mexico.

Scotland fans will be hoping for more reasons to celebrate against Morocco [Getty Images]Scotland fans are daring to dream of qualifying for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time, ahead of the team's clash with Morocco in Boston.After defeating Haiti 1-0 last Saturday, another victory later would seal qualification into the last 32 of the competition, and even a draw would almost certainly secure a place.Fanzones across the country will open for the game, which kicks off at 23:00. Among them will be the TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow, which will switch from rock bands and pop singers to showing John McGinn and company on big screens.Pubs are also eagerly anticipating bumper crowds, after a hugely successful Saturday for the Haiti game. One of the biggest crowds will be at Glasgow Green, where TRNSMT organisers DF Concerts secured a late licence to broadcast the vital match into the early hours of Saturday, despite concerns from local residents.That has meant an early finish to the music, with headline act Richard Ashcroft due to finish by 22:15, instead of the typical curfew of about 23:00.Once the former Verve singer wraps up, pre-match entertainment will then take over. Singer and piper Cammy Barnes - who opens the festival just after midday, will be back on stage to play Flower of Scotland just before the kick off.Broadcaster Sean McDonald will host proceedings with guest Rose Reilly - famously the only Scottish person to have been part of a World Cup winning side after she joined up with the Italian women's team in 1984.Organisers say a special football themed playlist by radio DJ George Bowie will keep spirits high and comedian Rosco McClelland will bring his popular Scottish take on the theme tune from Boston based classic sitcom Cheers to the stage.Geoff Ellis, the chief executive of DF Concerts, called for a "sea of Saltires" at the festival and said hearing Flower of Scotland would be a "hairs on the back of the neck' moment". He added: "We're building up to another huge weekend on Glasgow Green but it doesn't get much bigger than showing a World Cup game on the nation's biggest screen."We all saw the incredible scenes and celebrations across Scotland on Sunday morning and we're thrilled we can host our own unique fanzone this Friday."Fans were jubilant after the national team defeated Haiti 1-0 last weekend [Getty Images]There will be other fanzones across the length and breadth of the countryIn Glasgow large music venues like the OVO Hydro, Saint Luke's and the O2 Academy are all screening the match, though they require tickets for entry, as are Dundee's LiveHouse and the Ice Arena in Kirkcaldy In Aberdeen, fans can flock to the places like the city's Beach Ballroom while the Gyle Shopping Centre in Edinburgh will show the fixture on a large screen.Scores of smaller venues - like rugby and tennis clubs - are also hosting watch parties.Pubs to benefit from Scotland gamesPubs and bars can expect one of the busiest nights of the year, given the game kicks off three hours earlier than the Haiti game last Saturday - which saw bumper profits for the trade.Earlier this week Louise MacLean of the Signature Pub Group told BBC Scotland it had been an incredible night.She said: "My lord, did those tills ring. We had record breaking sales. That is a gift to a trade that has been so damaged over the past few years."We've had people flying in from Europe for this. I can't imagine that anyone who stayed open won't have had an incredible night." The Scottish Beer and Pub Association estimated earlier this week that Scotland's group games could generate an additional £7m for pubs and bars, with an estimated 520,000 extra pints expected to be poured out during the game. Almost all of Scotland's councils, who approve extensions to licensing rules, have allowed pubs and clubs to stay open to show the games despite them often continuing beyond normal closing times.Can Scotland qualify for the next round against Morocco?A win for Scotland against Morocco - who drew 1-1 with Brazil last Saturday in their opening game - will guarantee progression into the next round with a game to spare.It will also mean Scotland have a great chance of going through as one of the top two sides in the group.With the eight best third placed sides, out of 12 groups, also going through, a draw is likely to be enough too. That would leave Scotland sitting on four points.A loss would leave Scotland possibly needing a result against five times world champions Brazil in their final group game next Wednesday in Miami to progress, or else face an anxious wait on results from other groups. Tartan Army has 'brought new life' to America's smallest stateWhy are Scotland fans putting traffic cones on statues in Boston?'It's all they're talking about': Scotland gripped by World Cup fever

In 2023, Jeremy Maclean moved to the United States to take up a sports scholarship at a University [Shot by Pierson]When Jeremy Maclean was 14, he was suspended from school, an event which he admitted left his parents feeling "frightened" for his future.As a teenager, he had a lot of energy but lacked any outlet for it.The turning point came, Maclean said, when he went on a cycling trip with his dad and found a passion for triathlons, which changed his life. "From that point, I couldn't tell you why, but I have been completely hyper-focused," the now 21-year-old said."The work that goes into it, is undeniable, it's been six-and-a-half years of complete tunnel vision." Success came with time - in 2024, he won his first half Ironman race and then, this year, was victorious in his first professional triathlon, Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga. Normal triathlons see competitors swim, cycle, and run, all in one race but the Ironman events, given their name, take the challenges further - a 2.4 mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112 mile (180 km) bike ride and a full 26.2 mile (42 km) marathon run, all within a 17-hour time limit.Maclean, from Moseley, has since qualified for his first half Ironman World Championships, where he will be one of the youngest competing. "There will be the best middle-distance athletes in the world on that start line. I'm not actually feeling a lot of pressure, there are only things to be gained and lessons to be learned," he said.The athlete has just won his first professional triathlon, the Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga [BBC]Maclean credits local grassroots sports clubs including Solihull Cycling Club and Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club for setting him up on the path to success. "Athletics clubs are a great place to start in the UK, there's so many running clubs which incorporate triathlon types," he said."It's also super low stakes and people in those organisations are only there to help you."In 2023, he moved to the United States to take up a sports scholarship at Queens University of Charlotte. While studying, he also works at a bike repair shop and trains 25 hours a week. "The demand is pretty high. I take one week off every year, and the odd rest day, but I generally spend every single day training," he said.Maclean, who has dual citizenship as his mum is from the USA, came fourth in the US College Triathlon Championships in 2024, a shorter Olympic-distance event, which he said gained him a professional licence.Since then he has faced some challenges with injuries, but said his latest win had put him back on track. His parents, Adam and Amy Maclean, said they are "very proud" of everything their son has achieved. "We're obviously very proud. But we're proud of the commitment that he makes, the continuous effort," his dad said."The results will come, or they won't come. He can't control the results. He can only control the effort, and what we admire is the effort."Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Ironman winner aims for world number oneGB's Matthews second at Ironman World ChampionshipMan, 19, becomes 'island's youngest Ironman'

Tottenham keen on West Ham midfielder Mateus FernandesTottenham Hotspur are among many suitors keen on signing West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes this summer, according to The Athletic.Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi wants to reshape his squad ahead of the new campaign and is pushing to land the Portuguese star.The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the leading midfield targets for Tottenham, but West Ham value Fernandes at around £80 million despite their relegation.West Ham are under pressure to generate around £150m through player sales this summer, making Fernandes one of their most valuable assets.The Spurs target only arrived last year in a £38m deal, while his former club are also set to benefit from a 15 percent sell-on clause if a transfer with Spurs or any club is agreed.Tottenham are interested in Fernandes as they explore several midfield options. Sandro Tonali also remains on their shortlist, but several other clubs are eyeing him.Still, Spurs have already held discussions with his representatives.Fernandes is also attracting widespread attention across Europe.Manchester United have held talks as Michael Carrick searches for a long-term partner for Kobbie Mainoo. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also monitoring his situation.Despite West Ham’s difficult season, Fernandes bolstered his reputation with five goals and five assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.He also earned his first senior Portugal cap in April after producing a string of influential displays in midfield.Fernandes is a technically gifted playmaker capable of operating in central or attacking midfield. He is the sort of controller Tottenham need in the engine room.Alongside his passing quality, his work rate without the ball and defensive contribution have made him one of the most complete young midfielders in Europe.With Yves Bissouma set to leave Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when his contract expires on June 30, strengthening the midfield has become a priority for the North London club.

Iran players celebrate after scoring during their first World Cup match, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in Los Angeles (Patrick T. Fallon)Iran's World Cup team will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the tournament in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesman said on Thursday."Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran's national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organizers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff's plans," the spokesman said.Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next match, against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday.But the Iranian federation said its request was turned down."Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match," the spokesman said."The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations."Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied."The Iranians were also angry that they had to leave Los Angeles the night of their first game of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims.Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game."The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match," Giuliani told CBS News."They'll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they'll be able to do that again in Los Angeles."He added that the procedure would be the same for Iran's final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.gj/mjw

Lindsey Vonn’s resolve to recover from injury likely never should have been in doubt. Whether or not she ever returns to the slopes again after her stunning crash and devastating injury at the Milano Cortina Olympics, it’s a testament to her drive and determination for that to even be a possibility. Vonn, 41, posted video of herself this week working out and she wasn’t just exercising her broken left leg with the help of rails or crutches. The three-time Olympic medalist was doing steps on thick gymnastics mats, squats on slanted platforms and Bulgarian split squads — all without assistance.And there was no screaming in pain or struggling to finish the exercises. Vonn completed each of the activities and afterward smiled with satisfaction and perhaps relief.“The face I make when I can actually workout in the gym!😄🙌🏻💪🏻,” Vonn posted on Instagram with photos and videos of her regimen. Watching Vonn move powerfully and decisively, and with joy, seems almost unimaginable after the scene at the Olympia Delle Tofane course where she clipped one of the gates and was sent into an uncontrollable spin. Her screams of agony were audible on television as medical staff rushed to treat her and she was eventually carried off the mountain via helicopter. Vonn initially provided hope for one of the most inspiring stories of the 2026 Winter Olympics. She was pursuing another gold medal after being retired from downhill skiing for five years and a partial knee replacement. She would complete just days after tearing the ACL in her left knee. Instead, the story turned into the outcome nearly everyone rooting for the Alpine skier had to fear most. Chasing glory one more time put her in serious danger. Vonn has hardly gone into seclusion since injuries to her left leg that were so traumatic that they led to compartment syndrome, a condition that can restrict blood flow and cause damage to the nerves and muscles. Vonn’s leg — which sustained a fractured tibia and broken ankle — was at risk of being amputated had doctors not acted quickly to alleviate the issue. In the five months during which she’s been recovering, Vonn turned heads at the Met Gala, notably navigating the event without using crutches. She gave an inspirational commencement speech at USC Annenberg School, telling students “I'm here to tell you to keep going when you fall.” Vonn was seen in the stands at Game 4 of the NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles, watching Serena Williams’ comeback match at the HSBC Championships in London and attending the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Yet as much as she surely enjoyed those events and being in the public spotlight, Vonn seemed most in her element and at her happiest once again overcoming obstacles her body presented and pushing herself to her top capabilities. It’s incredible to see what looked improbable five months ago.

At BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday, Canada rolled to a 6-0 win over Qatar, securing its first-ever victory at a World Cup. But 22 minutes into the game, the rowdy, pro-Canada crowd suddenly erupted into boos. Those in the know knew exactly why the Canadian fans were booing, and it had nothing to do with their team, or the game itself. Instead, the dissatisfaction was about the hydration break, the new three-minute breaks in between halves for water that have sparked significant discussion at the 2026 World Cup.FIFA introduced the concept back in December, stating that the three-minute breaks would be standardized "no matter where the games are played, no matter if there's a roof, (or) temperature-wise."However, when put in practice, the decision to ignore context has led to confusion and criticism from fans, players and coaches alike. World Cup schedule | Group schedule, results | StandingsFrench manager Didier Deschamps said it was "splitting the halves" in a way that could disrupt momentum."It's almost four quarters, and before we had two halves," Deschamps said. "So the players and obviously the coaches are adapting, but it's a two-pronged approach."Ghana’s Jerome Opoku takes a drink during a hydration break in Wednesday’s match against Panama at Toronto Stadium, despite rainy 66-degree conditions.Darrian Traynor via Getty ImagesThere are situations where hydration breaks make sense. Players have welcomed them in hot, open-air venues such as Boston and Kansas City, and temperatures reached 90 degrees during Belgium’s draw with Egypt in Seattle.But many World Cup matches are being played in climate-controlled stadiums, and the breaks are mandatory regardless of conditions. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente acknowledged as much before his team’s draw with Cape Verde in Atlanta, saying the pauses were useful in extreme heat but less necessary inside a cooled stadium.That inconsistency is what Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk pointed to after his team’s draw with Japan and he raised another factor as well: commercials. The added break gives FIFA’s broadcast partners extra advertising inventory."Hydration breaks are a bit interesting, because I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today, and every time going to commercial is a bit … Not really that I like it," van Dijk said. "I think for the neutral watchers on TV it's also not great. If it's really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game, separately, in my opinion."But I think I've said enough already for that," he added.Fox, which carries the English-broadcast rights in the U.S. and is making massive money off ads during hydration breaks, came back late from a commercial break during the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa. Telemundo, which carries the Spanish-broadcast rights, has said it will not play commercials during the mid-half pauses; as a result, fans online have spoken about choosing the service for that reason.Trying to make the best of it, teams are using the breaks to discuss tactics. U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino introduced the practice during the team’s pre-tournament tuneups, going viral for the image of the players gathered around his laptop during the brief pause.Before Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq, coach Ståle Solbakken said cooling breaks made sense at the team’s base camp in Greensboro, North Carolina, but not necessarily during matches."I'm not a fan of it. I can understand it when it's like it's been in Greensboro when it's been 35 degrees and a really hot climate," he said, "but I don't like it otherwise. I think it's unnecessary. But now we are playing with it and then we have to use them well."Solbakken added that it affected how they approach substitutions: Many coaches tend to make a second-half substitutions between the 60- and 70-minute mark, and the second-half hydration break starts at the 67th minute.And in the context of the other FIFA rule changes, he said it didn't make sense."All that is good and that is to speed up the game, but the other things slow down the game, so it speaks against itself," Solbakken said said.South Korea discusses tactics during a hydration break in their loss to Mexico.Carl Recine via Getty ImagesSoccer is already a sport where momentum can turn on a dime, but the hydration breaks seem to kill momentum in its tracks, even if it offers a helpful chance to regroup. Unfortunately, teams have accepted that their only choice is to make it work.After Panama's loss to Ghana — in Toronto, where the weather was in the low 70s — head coach Thomas Christiansen said that the team could use the breaks for "corrections," but couldn't fight the larger system."The weather conditions, it was not hot, but we have to accept that … everything advertised on the television is what (is) paying (for) all these things, and we have to agree on that," he said.

🎥 David hat-trick, Koné injured 😢 Canada 🌪️ Mexico already through!The night of the 2026 World Cup delivers two major verdicts. Canada claim the first World Cup win in their history by crushing Qatar, while Mexico become the first team to qualify for the round of 32 thanks to their victory over South Korea. Jonathan David and Luis Romo were the standout stars, but the images destined to stick in the memory are also those of Ismaël Koné’s terrible injury and South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu’s shocking blunder.Want to stay up to date on everything happening in the USA, Mexico, and Canada? Don’t forget to bookmark the World Cup! To follow the competition, search for “World Cup” on OneFootball and click the star next to it so you won’t miss a single story!Canada-Qatar 6-0A perfect evening, but only in part, for Jesse Marsch’s Canada. After their 1-1 draw in the opener against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Canadians thrashed Qatar 6-0 in front of the Vancouver crowd and earned the first World Cup win in their history. A result that sends them to the top of Group B and leaves them needing only a draw against Switzerland in the final matchday to qualify.Leading the hosts was a rampant Jonathan David. The Juventus striker grabbed a hat-trick, reached 42 goals in 79 appearances for the national team, and moved level at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts. First he took part in the move for Cyle Larin’s 1-0, then he made it 2-0 with a right-footed volley, and in the second half he completed his show with two more goals. It was a historic night for him: he is only the second Juventus player to score a World Cup hat-trick after Paolo Rossi.The match, already shaped by Homam Ahmed’s red card in the first half, changed completely in the 50th minute. Madibo lunged in brutally on Ismaël Koné and caused one of the most dramatic images of this World Cup. The Sassuolo midfielder stayed on the ground as teammates burst into tears and everyone looked on in shock, while the Qatari was sent off after a VAR review, leaving his team down to nine men.The updates that later came out of Canada confirmed the worst fears: Koné suffered fractures to both the tibia and fibula, has already been taken to hospital, and will need surgery. His World Cup is over, and he could be sidelined for between four and five months. Madibo, deeply shaken by what happened, went to the Canadian dressing room to personally apologize to the player.After the dramatic incident came Saliba’s goal, dedicated to Koné as he held up his shirt, Al Manai’s own goal, and then David’s late finish for the final 6-0.Mexico-Canada 1-0If Canada are celebrating their first win, Mexico are already celebrating qualification. In Guadalajara, a 1-0 win over South Korea was enough to make them the first team to book a place in the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup and secure top spot in Group A.The match was decided by an incident as huge as it was unbelievable. In the 50th minute, from what looked like a harmless ball into the box, South Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-Gyu completely misjudged his run, lost control of the ball after colliding with a teammate, and left the goal wide open for Luis Romo, who tapped home from close range to make it 1-0. A massive blunder that decided the match and, in effect, handed Mexico qualification.South Korea tried to respond late on, but found goalkeeper Raúl Rangel in their way, with several crucial saves preserving the lead. At the final whistle, the Mexican celebrations could begin: six points from two matches, mathematically guaranteed first place in the group, and qualification already secured with one game to spare.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

BCCI confirms Harshit Rana's return: Will India hand KKR star a spot in Chennai's dead rubber vs. Afghanistan? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:BCCI confirms Harshit Rana's return to the India squad for the third ODI.Rana has completed rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence after knee surgery.India lead the series 2-0 and may experiment with combinations in Chennai.Harshit Rana joins India squad for Chennai dead rubber against AfghanistanFast bowler Harshit Rana has been added to India's squad ahead of the third and final ODI against Afghanistan, set to be played in Chennai on Saturday. The team management wants to use the dead rubber as an opportunity to ease the seam-bowling all-rounder back into international cricket following his rehabilitation.India have already wrapped up the three-match series 2-0, having followed their opener with a commanding 170-run victory in Lucknow.With nothing riding on the result in Chennai, Rana's inclusion gives the team management another pace-bowling option to assess as they continue exploring combinations. MORE: Rise of Gill: How the 'Prince' of Indian cricket is turning into Men in Blue's new poster boyBCCI confirms Harshit Rana's completion of rehabilitationIn an official statement, the BCCI confirmed that Rana has finished his rehabilitation programme at the board's Centre of Excellence and has now linked up with the squad in Chennai.“The Men's Selection Committee has added Mr Harshit Rana to the India squad for the third and final ODI against Afghanistan. Mr Rana, who has completed his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE), has linked up with the ODI squad in Chennai,” the board said.Rana has also been included in India's plans for the upcoming T20I assignments in Ireland and England.Rana's comeback follows a frustrating period on the sidelines after he underwent knee surgery that ruled him out of the recent T20 World Cup. According to earlier reports, the team management has been planning to use the Chennai fixture specifically as a low-pressure opportunity to reintroduce him to match conditions at the international level, rather than throwing him straight into a high-stakes contest. Rana now joins Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav in the bowling pool, giving the team several configurations to test in Chennai.After clinching two convincing wins, India will hope to close out the series in style while also getting valuable minutes into Rana ahead of what promises to be a hectic international calendar in the months ahead.MORE: Which Indian captains have scored 150 or more runs in an ODI innings? Shubman Gill joins exclusive clubIndia's squad for the 3rd ODI against AfghanistanShubman Gill (Captain)Rohit SharmaShreyas Iyer (vice-captain)KL Rahul (wicket-keeper)Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper)Nitish Kumar ReddyWashington SundarKuldeep YadavArshdeep SinghPrasidh KrishnaPrince YadavGurnoor BrarHarsh DubeyYashasvi JaiswalHarshit RanaFor all the latest cricket news, opinion and commentary and to share your voice head to our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Photo by Craig T Fruchtman/Getty ImagesThe New York Knicks waited 53 years for another NBA championship, and New York answered with a parade crowd big enough to match the drought.Lower Manhattan was packed for the Knicks’ title celebration, with fans filling the Canyon of Heroes after the franchise’s first championship since 1973.The scale of the turnout had been clear from the images, but the NYPD later put a number on it. It was not just a big crowd by basketball standards.Photo by Caleb Bowlin/Getty ImagesNYPD says more than two million attended the New York Knicks paradeThe NYPD update revealed the size of the celebration while congratulating the Knicks and praising officers for managing the day.“The Knicks are NBA champions! More than two million people lined the Canyon of Heroes to celebrate, and the Finest were out in full force ensuring a safe parade day,” NYPD News tweeted on X.The figure put the parade among the biggest sports celebrations New York has seen. Broadway was packed in orange and blue as fans arrived early, filled viewing areas, and followed the team toward City Hall.The police presence was a major part of the day as well. With crowds stretching through Lower Manhattan, officers were deployed across the route to manage access points, blocked streets and the crush of fans trying to see the champions.New York Knicks parade showed the scale of a 53-year title waitThe size of the turnout made sense because this was not a routine championship celebration for New York. The Knicks had not won the NBA title since 1973, and generations of fans had never seen the franchise parade through the city as champions.The Knicks earned the moment by beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. They clinched the series with a 94-90 Game 5 win, led by Jalen Brunson’s 45-point performance and a title run that finally ended one of the league’s most famous droughts.The parade route carried the team through the Canyon of Heroes before a City Hall ceremony, the kind of civic stage usually reserved for New York’s biggest sports moments. Players, fans, and city officials turned the title into a full-city celebration.There were logistical issues across the day, including heavy crowd control and packed viewing areas, but the final attendance figure captured the larger point. The Knicks’ championship was not just a Madison Square Garden story.Read more:Dave Portnoy exposes Zohran Mamdani’s Knicks ‘super fan’ act with a professional actor dig‘Disgusted’ Dave Portnoy blasts New York Knicks for Patrick Ewing disrespect at Knicks paradeWho New York Knicks stars brought to title parade, including Ali Marks and Mikal Bridges’ dog

Explained: Where Enzo Maresca compensation talks stand between Man City and ChelseaEnzo Maresca is still set to replace Pep Guardiola as Man City manager ahead of the new seasonFinal details over Chelsea compensation are still being resolved, matter in the hands of lawyersMaresca is already collaborating with City sporting director Hugo Viana on transfer targetsEnzo Maresca remains on course to be confirmed as Manchester City’s next manager, with compensation discussions with Chelsea continuing to represent the only outstanding obstacle standing in the way of a formal announcement.Maresca departed Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Day with three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract, having not claimed severance upon his resignation, meaning Chelsea have retained the right to pursue compensation from City for his services.The Italian was identified as Pep Guardiola‘s successor shortly as the Catalan confirmed his departure from the Etihad Stadium in May, handing Maresca a three-year contract after Guardiola personally backed the appointment.Man City face potential Premier League investigation over Chelsea’s Enzo Maresca compensationThe dispute between the two clubs has been ongoing since May, with lawyers at both clubs initially handling negotiations before senior executives at Chelsea and Manchester City stepped in to advance discussions directly – a development that suggested both parties were pushing for a resolution around the summer transfer window opening on June 15.Despite the prolonged nature of the talks, City’s confidence that Maresca will be their next manager has not wavered at any stage, with club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak recently urging supporters to be patient and insisting the club had gone through a “thoughtful and structured process” to identify Guardiola’s replacement.Report: Maresca already working with Viana, in contact with other departmentsAccording to Sam Lee of The Athletic, Maresca is still firmly set to replace Guardiola as City manager, with the final details of the Chelsea compensation package continuing to be worked through.It has been added that the Italian has already been in dialogue with sporting director Hugo Viana on transfer targets for the summer, and is in regular contact with other departments at the club as he begins to put the groundwork in place ahead of an official announcement.The update is significant in so far as it underlines that Maresca is already functioning in a managerial capacity at City even before the paperwork has been formally signed off – a reflection of the club’s desire to avoid losing further ground in the transfer market while the compensation dispute is resolved.Maresca is understood to have held preliminary conversations with Viana over City’s plans for the window for some time, with those discussions now understood to have extended into more detailed planning around specific targets.Manchester City 2026/27 squad audit: Transfer latest on every playerWhat does Maresca’s background activity mean for City’s summer?The news that Maresca is already embedded in City’s transfer planning will provide a degree of reassurance to supporters who have grown increasingly frustrated by the length of time the compensation saga has taken to resolve, with pre-season edging ever closer.The summer is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in City’s recent history, with significant business required in midfield following Bernardo Silva’s departure and in defence amid Ruben Dias‘ ongoing links to Real Madrid and the need for a long-term successor to John Stones.The pursuit of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest has already advanced to a third bid as City look to make early progress in midfield, having also identified Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali as a key target.Whether Chelsea and City can bring the compensation standoff to a close before the FIFA World Cup concludes remains the one remaining variable – but with Maresca already operating as City’s de facto manager in all but name, the announcement itself now feels like a formality rather than an open question.

A big summer of international rugby gets underway with an uncapped clash between England and France in Vannes.This is the second year in a row that the two teams have met in this sort of curtain-raiser, which this time precedes the launch of the inaugural Nations Championship in July.While no caps will be awarded, there is plenty of quality on show with both Steve Borthwick and Fabien Galthie using the opportunity to blend youth and experience.It should serve as usual preparation for each ahead of the more important stuff to come.Here’s everything you need to know.When is France XV vs England XV?The uncapped international is set to kick off at 5.15pm BST on Friday 19 June at the Stade de la Rabine in Vannes. How can I watch it?A live stream of the game will be provided on Rugby Pass TV.Team newsFrance’s most experienced figures are each from Bordeaux-Begles, with the European champions’ surprise failure to qualify for the Top 14 play-offs enabling Fabien Galthie to select Jefferson Poirot and Yoram Moefana, among others. Mickael Guillard, a star of the last two Six Nations campaigns, captains from the second row alongside Tom Staniforth, once of Australia U20s but now well settled at Castres.There is familiarity in the halves with La Rochelle’s Nolann Le Garrec and Antoine Hastoy paired, and likely to cause England plenty of problems.England hand first opportunities to Noah Caluori – fresh from topping the try-scoring charts at Saracens – and Benhard Janse van Rensburg, not eligible for the nation until 8 July but able to feature in this uncapped fixture. Captain George Ford steers the side from fly half in playmaking partnership with Marcus Smith, while George Kloska earns a chance on the tighthead.The selection of Tom Curry is a surprise given the flanker’s injury history, and the warning from Sale Sharks coach Alex Sanderson that his player should be rested entirely this summer to prolong his career.Line-upsFrance XV: 1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 3 Sipili Falatea; 4 Mickael Guillard (capt.), 5 Tom Staniforth; 6 Temo Matiu, 7 Esteban Capilla, 8 Marko Gazzotti; 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 10 Antoine Hastoy; 11 Gregoire Arfeuil, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Nicolas Depoortete, 14 Christian Ambadiang; 15 Theo Attissogbe.Replacements: 16 Barnabe Massa, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Regis Montagne, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Killian Tixeront; 21 Baptiste Jauneau, 22 Axel Desperes, 23 Fabien Brau-Boirie.England XV: 1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2 Theo Dan, 3 George Kloska; 4 Charlie Ewels, 5 George Martin; 6 Ted Hill, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Alex Dombrandt; 9 Harry Randall, 10 George Ford (capt.); 11 Cadan Murley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Max Ojomoh, 14 Noah Caluori; 15 Marcus Smith.Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Jack Kenningham; 21 Raffi Quirke, 22 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 23 Adam Radwan.

📝 2026 World Cup, overnight round-upEvery morning, OneFootball will bring you a full recap of the night at the World Cup.The must-see story of the nightIf Canada thought it was in for a night of joy after claiming its first-ever World Cup win against Qatar (6-0) thanks to Jonathan David’s hat-trick, a horrifying image came and spoiled the celebrations.Following an incomprehensible and dangerous tackle by Assim Madibo, former OM midfielder Ismaël Koné collapsed to the ground with his leg bent at an unnatural angle. He was stretchered off, and the news is not good.According to Fabrizio Romano, the Canadian has suffered a tibia and fibula fracture and has already been ruled out for the rest of the tournament and could miss 4 to 5 months of action."It happened right in front of us and we all heard the bone break," his coach Jesse Marsch also explained to The Athletic.It should be noted that Qatar’s Assi Madibo went to the Canadian dressing room after the match to apologize for his awful tackle, which shocked many observers.📸 Emilee Chinn - 2026 Getty ImagesThe night’s resultsCanada 6-0 Qatar. Click here to read the match recap!Mexico 1-0 South Korea. Click here to read the match recap!The standingsGroup A: 1) Mexico - 6 pts (+3)2) South Korea - 3 pts (+0)3) Czechia - 1 pt (-1)4) South Africa - 1 pt (-2)Group B:1) Canada - 4 pts (+6)2) Switzerland - 4 pts (+3)3) Bosnia and Herzegovina - 1 pt (-3)4) Qatar - 1 pt (-6)The 3 players who stood out (or not)How could we talk about anyone other than Jonathan David? It’s simple: by scoring a hat-trick, the Juventus striker gave Canada its first-ever World Cup win and all but sealed its place in the round of 16.At the same time, he becomes Canada’s all-time top scorer at the World Cup and only the second player in CONCACAF history to score a World Cup hat-trick.His teammate Nathan-Dylan Saliba was also hugely valuable, with plenty of touches and, above all, an ability to change the tempo of the match, rewarded with a goal and an assist.Finally, South Korean goalkeeper Seung-gyu Kim gave us the first big goalkeeping blunder of this World Cup. The Korean keeper mistimed his rush and spilled the ball in his own box, handing Mexico the opener and the win.📸 ULISES RUIZ - AFP or licensorsToday’s schedule and the upcoming night21:00: United States vs Australia (Group D)00:00: Scotland vs Marco (Group C)02:30: Brazil vs Haiti (Group C)05:00: Turkey vs Paraguay (Group D)The player to watchAfter scoring in Brazil’s very difficult opening match against Morocco, Vinicius Junior now has to show that he is the attacking leader this team needs. Without a world-class focal-point striker, all eyes are on the Real Madrid star, who could take even more confidence from the match against modest Haiti at the start of this World Cup.📸 Dan Mullan - 2026 Getty ImagesThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Manchester City may be in the box seat to sign an Italian midfielderOne clear goal for Manchester City this summer in the transfer market is to strengthen their midfield. City’s engine room does need more quality added to it given that certain signings haven’t panned out as hoped and Bernardo Silva has left the club. One player who has been heavily linked as a City transfer target is Newcastle United’s combative and silky midfielder Sandro Tonali. The Italian international is a proven Premier League performer and has the quality and pedigree to slot into Manchester City’s midfield. A new report indicates that Tonali’s preferred option is a move to the Etihad if he cannot return to Italy. So City could be in the box seat to sign Sandro Tonali.Sandro Tonali reportedly prefers a summer move to Manchester City if he cannot return to Italy.Graeme Bailey has provided another update on the situation surrounding Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali for TeamTalk. Bailey reports that Tonali prefers a move back to Italy with former club AC Milan his ideal destination. But that move is considered unlikely due to Newcastle’s asking price to sell the Italian international. Furthermore, Bailey reports that Tonali’s camp explained the situation to clubs interested in signing Tonali. Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham were made aware of Tonali’s wish. Despite this, City have retained their interest in signing Tonali while other clubs, excluding Tottenham, have seemingly cooled their interest in moving for him.Graeme Bailey reports that Sandro Tonali is giving serious thought to a move to Manchester City. Furthermore, Bailey reports that Tonali is impressed by the project that City have put forward to the Italian midfielder. Also, it is reported that Manchester City’s long-term plan for Tonali and the support structure available to Tonali’s family has seen him give serious thought to a move to the FA Cup and Carabao Cup winners. Lastly, Bailey reports that Manchester City aren’t put off by Newcastle United’s £100 million asking price for Sandro Tonali.City has seemingly pitched their case to Sandro Tonali.It would seem highly unlikely that Sandro Tonali will get his wish and move back to Italy. AC Milan or any other interested Serie A club is unlikely to have the financial power to meet Newcastle’s demands. It would seem that Tonali’s wish to return to Italy hasn’t put off Manchester City from moving for him. Instead, City have pulled out all of the stops to show Tonali what life could be like if he moved to the club.On the pitch, there is a clear role for Sandro Tonali at Manchester City. City are desperate for elite midfielders. Tonali is exactly that. Also, doubts remain over Rodri’s long-term future at City. Tonali could come in to learn from Rodri for a year before taking his place. Also, Tonali could play with Rodri and Elliot Anderson, if Anderson signs for City, and form a lethal midfield trio.Outside of that, Manchester City have created an environment where players thrive. City have an elite support network around their players. They have nothing to want for and this would be of great benefit to Sandro Tonali. Rhe support network that City can offer the family of the Italian international is also a strong selling point for City in their bid to sign Tonali. In terms of offering an elite environment to play in, Manchester City are almost at the top of the class in this regard. Based on Graeme Bailey’s report, City have made this clear to Sandro Tonali.If Sandro Tonali does move on from Newcastle this summer, and remain in the Premier League, Manchester City looks to be his preferred destination. City can offer Tonali what many other clubs cannot and perhaps now the race to sign Tonali is heavily tilted in Manchester City’s favour.

Haiti coach Sébastien Migné is looking forward to the match against five-time world champions Brazil on Friday."Run, run, run" is his message to the players, the Frenchman said in a news conference on Thursday.He wanted to make it clear to them that they had nothing to lose but "everything to gain."Migné emphasized once again that it had been 52 years since Haiti last participated in a World Cup. To now be playing against Brazil was "unbelievable.""We're very lucky, many would like to be in our place. Many teams didn't qualify for the World Cup and tomorrow we play one of the best teams," he said.In their opening match, Haiti lost by a narrow 1-0 to Scotland."We deserve to be here," Migné said. Against Brazil, who drew 1–1 with Morocco in their opener, Haiti could now step up their game a bit more, the coach said."We don't have a lot of international experience. Some will love the fact that they are facing Brazil. It's up to me and my staff to find the right approach."We want to guarantee from the start that we're totally committed to reaching our goals."Football is always providing "wonderful moments," he added. The goal is to ensure that the country is proud of the team amid huge issues such as gang violence, corruption and hunger.

Photo by Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty ImagesThomas Muller only wanted to get to soccer training in New York, but the New York Knicks’ championship parade made him an accidental part of the celebration.The German soccer star was in the city as Knicks fans flooded Lower Manhattan for the franchise’s first NBA title parade in more than five decades.What should have been a simple bike ride quickly turned into a reminder of how completely the parade had taken over the city. Thomas Muller found the funny side of it.Photo by Omar Vega/Getty ImagesThomas Muller gets caught in New York Knicks parade crowdMuller’s video showed him trying to move through New York while the Knicks celebration filled the streets around him.“I wanted to go to my training session today, to the soccer field, took the bike, but I don’t know why, but I struggled a little bit,” Muller said.The camera then showed the size of the crowd, making clear why Muller’s route had become impossible. ESPN FC shared the clip with the caption: “Tough day to try and get through New York City.”It was a light moment from a World Cup winner suddenly running into a completely different kind of sporting celebration.Muller did not look annoyed by the delay, more amused that his ride to a soccer field had been swallowed by orange and blue.Thomas Muller stunned by massive New York Knicks celebrationThe German soccer superstar summed up the scale of the moment in one line as he looked out at the parade crowd.“The Knicks are too strong this year, even the parade, it’s massive,” he added.The comment fit the day. The NYPD said more than two million people lined the Canyon of Heroes for the parade, with fans packing Lower Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks’ first championship since 1973.The team earned that turnout by beating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the NBA Finals. Jalen Brunson’s 45-point performance in Game 5 sealed the title, ending a 53-year wait that made the parade feel bigger than a normal championship celebration.For Muller, the timing turned an ordinary training trip into a viral New York moment. He became part of the parade without planning to, caught between soccer work and a city celebrating one of its biggest basketball days in generations.Read more:NYPD reveals how many people attended the New York Knicks’ huge paradeDave Portnoy exposes Zohran Mamdani’s Knicks ‘super fan’ act with a professional actor dig‘Disgusted’ Dave Portnoy blasts New York Knicks for Patrick Ewing disrespect at Knicks parade

Turkiye vs Paraguay – Match preview and team newsTurkiye and Paraguay meet at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in Santa Clara in the early hours of Saturday morning with their World Cup campaigns on the line.Both sides suffered heavy opening defeats and arrive into this fixture knowing that another loss would effectively end their knockout ambitions. Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye were shock victims of Australia’s counter-attacking masterclass on matchday one, despite dominating the contest.Paraguay, meanwhile, were swept aside by the United States, conceding three times before half-time in Los Angeles. For both nations, this is as close to a must-win as the group stage gets.Turkiye vs Paraguay – Match preview and team newsDate: Saturday, 20 June 2026Kick-off: 04:00 BSTVenue: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Levi’s Stadium), Santa ClaraReferee: Ivan Arcides Barton Cisneros (El Salvador)Turkiye team newsMontella has no major injury concerns ahead of the fixture, though Kenan Yildiz continues to be monitored for a calf problem. The Juventus forward is pushing to start, and his availability would hand Turkiye a significant creative boost alongside Arda Guler.Hakan Calhanoglu captains the side once more, pulling the strings from deep and taking responsibility for set pieces. Merih Demiral and Abdulkerim Bardakci are expected to anchor the centre of defence, with Ferdi Kadioglu, who created five chances against Australia, continuing at left-back.Paraguay team newsParaguay have no confirmed fresh injury concerns heading into the Santa Clara fixture. Ramon Sosa, who has been managing an ankle issue, requires assessment before a final decision is made on his involvement. Alexandro Maidana could come in at left-back in place of Junior Alonso to shore up a defence that was badly exposed against the United States.Tonny Sanabria is expected to continue as the lone striker, with Julio Enciso, Diego Gomez and Miguel Almiron in support. Substitute Mauricio, who scored against the USA, pushes for a starting role but is likely to begin on the bench again.FormTurkiyeTurkiye’s opening defeat to Australia was a rude awakening for a side that had won seven of their previous eight matches heading into the tournament. They dominated possession and created chance after chance in Vancouver, but were punished by a disciplined Socceroos side who struck twice on the counter. Montella now demands far greater ruthlessness in the final third if his side are to stay alive in Group D.ParaguayParaguay endured a chastening return to the global stage against the United States. Three goals down at half-time in Los Angeles, Gustavo Alfaro’s side never recovered, ultimately falling to a 4-1 defeat. A goal from substitute Mauricio offered a brief consolation, but the manner of the defeat — particularly the defensive disorganisation in the first half — will concern Alfaro deeply. Rediscovering their defensive solidity is essential if they are to frustrate a technically superior Turkish side tonight.Predicted lineupsTurkiye possible starting XI: Cakir; Celik, Demiral, Bardakci, Kadioglu; Calhanoglu, Yuksek; Guler, Kokcu, Yilmaz; AkturkogluParaguay possible starting XI: Gill; Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Maidana; Bobadilla, Cubas; D. Gomez, Enciso, Almiron; SanabriaHow to watch Turkiye vs Paraguay in the UK?UK viewers can watch the match live on ITV1, with a live stream available via ITVX.Read more – 📈 World Cup Power Rankings: German goal-fest and Messi magicSee Also- Man Utd won’t negotiate new Rashford loan with BarcelonaFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok