NBA insider Marc J. Spears recently weighed in on the Kyrie Irving trade speculation with the Dallas Mavericks. According to Spears, he expects the former Blue Devil to stay with the Mavericks for at least the beginning of the year. "I do think he'll be back on the roster," Spears said. "I know their owner is really, really high on seeing him and Cooper Flagg play together. And then Masai Ujiri had said in his introductory press conference that he wanted to see that as well."After Irving was sidelined for the entire 2025-26 campaign due to an ACL tear, Duke fans now seem likely to see two of their former No. 1 overall draft picks share the court together. With only six No. 1 overall picks in the school's history, two of them pairing up will be a first for Blue Devils supporters.This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: NBA insider puts trade rumors involving Duke's Kyrie Irving to rest

Team Ohtani has a brand new member.Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani announced on social media Sunday, June 20, that his wife Mamiko Tanaka has given birth to their second child."We are again overjoyed to experience this wonderful day in our lives together," Ohtani wrote in a post on Instagram. "Thank you for being born safely."We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout this journey."View this post on InstagramA post shared by Shohei Ohtani | 大谷翔平 (@shoheiohtani)Ohtani was not in the Dodgers lineup for Friday's series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Shortly afterward the team announced he was taking paternity leave.However, the team issued a statement saying he's expected to return "sometime this weekend."Ohtani previously went on paternity leave last April when his wife delivered their first child, a daughter. The couple did not reveal any information about their new baby.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, wife announce birth of second baby

Jerry Jones will absolutely love the offense vs. defense rivalry brewing in Cowboys practice originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.A year ago, the Dallas Cowboys' defense was an absolute liability, surrendering a staggering 30.1 points per game and costing defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus his job. While the offense did its part by ranking near the top of the league, the defense failed to play a lick of situational football. Looking to spark a total identity shift, Dallas spent the offseason hiring 34-year-old Christian Parker to install a fiery, Vic Fangio-based defensive scheme. Through OTAs and mandatory minicamp, a noticeable shift has taken over the facility and it is exactly the kind of competitive edge Jerry Jones has been searching for.At the center of this transformation is obviously Parker, who has not only installed a brand-new playbook but is also actively talking trash to the offense while doing it.Head coach Brian Schottenheimer confirmed it, admitting he is facing a hard time cracking the defense that Parker installed. "I would say the shit-talking from Christian Parker is a little different than what we had last year," Schottenheimer said, per Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys' official website. "The guys feed off of it in a good way. It's been fun to watch him stir up CeeDee [Lamb], George [Pickens] and Dak, and I think we are in a really good spot," he added. Under Eberflus, the defense was predictable, and opponents picked it apart. Parker changed that by using disguised coverages and complex pre-snap looks that force the offense to earn every yard. The unit has a completely different attitude now. The best evidence of that came from Lamb himself, who did not mince words when asked about preparing against Parker's unit during OTAs."It's annoying," Lamb told Jon Machota of The Athletic. "It's been annoying to prepare against. It's very tricky, but as an offense, we've just got to play fast and get to our spots."Jones built this franchise on the idea that winning the offseason sets up a deep January run. Through minicamp, his new defensive coordinator is already making life uncomfortable for an offense that used to be untouchable. That is exactly what Jones paid for.More NFL news: Tua Tagovailoa's latest season answered one lingering question about his successPanthers' $45 million linebacker gamble hinges on one important questionChristian Parker's message on Caleb Downs should terrify NFL offensesCowboys breathe easier after Dak Prescott update as backfield battle heats upJerry Jones faces unwelcome advice as 6× Pro Bowler urges George Pickens to take different route

The patrols have helped push cartels and smugglers into more remote areas. But analysts have voiced concerns that the border missions will distract from training, drain resources and undermine readiness.

Ireland captain Caelan Doris will miss July's Nations Championship matches with Australia, Japan and New Zealand with a foot injury. Back row Doris was forced off in the early stages of Leinster's United Rugby Championship final win over the Bulls at Croke Park on Friday.Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien has also been ruled out of the three summer matches with a groin injury. Ulster duo Bryn and Zac Ward have been called up in place of the injured duo, while hooker Dan Sheehan will captain Ireland in the absence of Doris. Andy Farrell's side fly to Sydney on Monday ahead of the Nations Championship opener with Australia on 4 July. Ireland then take on Japan on 11 July and New Zealand at Eden Park the following week in the other summer fixtures.Losing both Doris and O'Brien is a blow for Farrell, who is also without fly-half Jack Crowley and key prop Andrew Porter.The Ward brothers have been rewarded for an impressive campaign with Ulster, who reached the Challenge Cup final but missed out on the top eight in the United Rugby Championship.The inclusion of the Ward brothers brings Ulster representation in Farrell's squad up to 10 players. More to follow.

🎥 Houston, there’s a horse in the hallway! Oranje fans at it againA wise Dutchman once said: "We Dutch always have fun." And he definitely wasn’t entirely wrong. Ahead of the second group match against Sweden, Houston police estimates said that nearly 30,000 Oranje fans took part in the fan march toward the stadium. The atmosphere was outstanding hours before kickoff. Of course, a few Oranje legends were there again as well. Wesley Sneijder and Edwin van der Sar celebrated with the masses in orange. It almost goes without saying that things once again went from left to right. This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

🚨 Koeman tweaks attack, Sweden full strength: XIs for Netherlands-SwedenThe Netherlands and Sweden are weighing their chances of moving on to the next round today at Houston Stadium. Ronald Koeman’s side, after drawing their opening match against Japan, are under all the pressure. Today’s match at Houston, Texas will be played with these confirmed lineups:Netherlands: Verbruggen; Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Dumfries; Gravenberch, Reinjders, De Jong, Gakpo, Brobbey and Malen.Koeman makes just one change from the starting XI in the first match, giving Brobbey the nod over Summerville. Sweden: Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Hien, Gudmunsson, Bernhardsson; Nygren, Kallstrom, Ayari; Isak and Gyokeres.Graham Potter sticks with the same starting XI that won on matchday one.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

World Cup 2026: Netherlands vs Sweden – Malen, Dumfries, Hien & Karlstrom startThe Netherlands vs Sweden is the first World Cup match of the day, as Group F gets underway in the second round of fixtures; the Swedes topping the group so far after their emphatic 5-1 victory over Tunisia in their opener.The Dutch, meanwhile, were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw with Japan that came alive in the second half, but leaves them needing to win today if they have any hope of topping the group.Roma striker Donyell Malen starts up front once again for Ronald Koeman’s team, whilst outgoing Inter right-back Denzel Dumfries features in defence.Meanwhile, Atalanta’s Isak Hien and Udinese’s Jesper Karlstrom both start once again for Sweden.On the bench, Atalanta’s Marten de Roon, Juventus man Teun Koopmeiners and Napoli-owned forward Noa Lang all sit for the Netherlands.HOUSTON, TEXAS – JUNE 20: General view before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group F match between Netherlands vs Sweden at Houston Stadium on June 20, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)World Cup 2026: Netherlands vs Sweden – LineupsNetherlands: Verbruggen, Van de Ven, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Dumfries; Reijnders, De Jong, Gravenberch; Gakpo, Malen, BrobbeySweden: Nordfeldt; Lindelof, Hien, Lagerbielke; Gudmundsson, Ayari, Karlstrom, Bernhardsson; Nygren; Isak, Gyokeres

Four players that Arsenal could sell this summerThere could be an exodus of players from Arsenal this summer, with Fichajes revealing that at least four of their stars are expected to leave the club.The Gunners finally won the league title for the first time in two decades and also reached the Champions League final, where they were beaten by PSG.There is little doubt that Arsenal are now considered one of the top teams in Europe, and they are determined to remain at the highest level, which could require further improvements to their squad during this transfer window.Arsenal Planning Squad ChangesArsenal intend to continue strengthening the team, and the report claims they are prepared to replace some current players as part of their ongoing rebuild under Mikel Arteta.According to the report, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, and Christian Norgaard are all expected to leave the club this summer as Arsenal reshape the squad ahead of next season.The Gunners are understood to be planning significant investment in new signings, and player sales could become an important part of raising the funds needed to complete those deals.Departures Could Fund New SigningsThe departure of academy graduates such as Nwaneri would also represent pure profit for Arsenal, which could provide the club with additional financial flexibility in the transfer market.However, Arsenal are unlikely to wait for outgoing transfers before making moves for their priority targets because delaying negotiations could allow rival clubs to secure those players first.The club are expected to act quickly in the market as they attempt to maintain momentum following a highly successful campaign domestically and in Europe.It will be interesting to see how much Arsenal can generate through player sales once the transfer window becomes more active, especially given the level of interest several members of the squad could attract from clubs across Europe._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsTwo Spots Arsenal wants to strengthen this summer 20 June 2026, 15:00Arsenal target sends stunning World Cup message 20 June 2026, 13:30Arsenal actively preparing an offer for double Champions League winner 20 June 2026, 12:00

For the second time in two days, Lebanon was again at the center of whether the fragile U.S.-Iran deal would hold.

On Thursday, Michigan football added an excellent piece to the 2027 class, with Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop four-star edge rusher Ifeanyi Emedobi pledged to the Wolverines. But what does the 6-foot-2, 214-pound pass rusher bring to the table?Emedobi is coming off his first year playing high school football and yet managed a self-reported 50 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Even after just one year, his upside is apparent, and he's drawing a lot of comparisons to former Wolverines pass rusher Josh Uche, who thrived despite having similar measurables. We checked out his highlight tape, and here were our takeaways.Has exceptional speed, leaving many offensive linemen in the dust as he breezes past themGiven his speed, has excellent get-off at the snapHasn't showcased much in the way of moves beyond utilizing his speed as of yet, but given that he's new to football, he has plenty of time to develop other methods of pass rushingTakes good angles and is instinctive in getting to the footballHis lack of size mixed with his speed allows him to get underneath offensive tacklesRelentless pursuit to the football, even when the play passes him byAccording to 247Sports' Andrew Ivins, Emedobi ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and has a 37.7-inch vertical leap. Here is the full listing of the current commitments in the 2027 class, using the Rivals Industry Ranking:Kalamazoo (Mich.) Loy Norrix four-star OT Jakari Lipsey (No. 95 overall)Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star WR Quentin Burrell (No. 101 overall)Houston (Tx.) South four-star DL Xavier Muhammad (No. 106 overall)Salt Lake City (Utah) West four-star QB Kamden Lopati (No. 132 overall)Chicago (Ill.) Mount Carmel four-star S Tavares Harrington (No. 134 overall)Muskegon (Mich.) four-star EDGE Recarder Kitchen (No. 157 overall)Jackson (Miss.) Brandon four-star RB Tyson Robinson (No. 213 overall)Katy (Tx.) Tompkins four-star CB Blake Jenkins (No. 262 overall)Fort Wayne (Ind.) Northrop four-star EDGE Ifeanyi Emedobi (No. 265 overall)Lawrenceville (N.J.) School four-star TE Colt Lumpris (No. 273 overall)Riverside (Calif.) Notre Dame four-star CB Darius Johnson (No. 316 overall)Indianapolis (Ind.) four-star EDGE Jayce Brewer (No. 378 overall)Gatineau (Quebec) Brook Hill three-star IOL Sidney Rouleau (No. 459 overall)Buford (Ga.) three-star LB Brayden Watson (No. 500 overall)Saline (Mich.) three-star IOL Louis Esposito (No. 720 overall)Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona three-star S Charles Woodson Jr. (No. 745 overall)Grand Rapids (Mich.) Kenowa Hills three-star ATH Lundon Hampton (No. 838 overall)This article originally appeared on Wolverines Wire: Scouting report on Michigan football 4-star EDGE commit Ifeanyi Emedobi

San Francisco Giants hat The New York Yankees have pretty much all that they need to go on a deep run this season. New York has the best starting rotation in baseball, solid offensive weapons all over the place, and at some point Aaron Judge will return. This is a team that can make a run and maybe even take down the Los Angeles Dodgers. But they shouldn't take their foot off the gas. The trade deadline is going to be here in August and the Yankees should be looking to add. With the rotation as good as it is, they don't need to add there. A bullpen piece would be the most logical way for New York to improve. But if the right bat is out there, you should never close any doors. One thing that was interesting is that while breaking down various landing spots for San Francisco Giants trade chips, Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer called the Yankees the "wildest" potential landing spot for three-time All-Star Luis Arraez."Wildest Landing Spot: New York Yankees," Rymer wrote. "Jazz Chisholm Jr. took some heat in April, but he's come on strong with an .800 OPS since May 1. He has second base under control for the Yankees."But Chisholm can also play third base, where Ryan McMahon has the team swimming in replacement-level waters. If a different third baseman isn't forthcoming, trading for Arraez and moving Chisholm to third might be New York's best play."Do you have a take to get off your chest? Do you want to engage in a growing Yankees community? Comment on our content alongside staff and fans alike!If the Yankees could get Arraez's bat into the lineup, it would be worth shaking up the infield defensively. He's batting .321 right now and has also been excellent defensively. Should the Yankees try to make a move? Poll: Would you want to see this trade?More MLB: Dodgers Predicted To Snatch $19 Million All-Star From Tigers

New Giannis Antetokounmpo Trade Idea Sees Celtics, Heat Both Miss Out On Him originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Celtics and Miami Heat have been the two teams most heavily linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in trade rumors, but surely they are not the only teams interested.Every team in the NBA would welcome a two-time MVP to their team, but it comes down to the Milwaukee Bucks' asking price. They want a haul of young players and picks, and it's not unjustified, given the level of player Antetokounmpo is. Can a different team actually pay the price it takes?Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus proposed this trade that would see the Orlando Magic acquire Antetokounmpo after making the playoffs in each of the last three seasons:Bucks receive: Franz Wagner, Tristan da Silva, Jase Richardson, Goga Bitadze, Jonathan Isaac, Noah Penda and 2033 first-round pickMagic receive: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Gary Trent Jr., Jericho Sims and Andre Jackson Jr.The Magic have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. Adding Antetokounmpo could help them get over the hump."It's not complicated. The Magic add one of the NBA's best players to play alongside 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero," wrote Pincus on Saturday. "While the pairing with Wagner has helped the Magic become a playoff regular for the last three seasons, the franchise hasn't advanced past the first round since the Dwight Howard era in 2010. The Bucks might prefer Banchero in the deal, but the Magic seem fully committed to the Duke forward."Meanwhile, the Bucks would get a great player in Wagner, who they could build around. This deal is light on draft picks, so the Bucks would really have to love the players they are getting."In addition to Wagner, almost 25, the team brings in bright prospects in da Silva, Richardson, and Penda," wrote Pincus. "Bitadze is a solid backup center capable of starting in stretches. Milwaukee would waive and stretch Isaac's salary over seven years at $1.3 million per season. That's just under the 15 percent max limit based on a $165 million salary cap, considering the Bucks have $22.5 million going to Damian Lillard for several seasons."More NBA: ESPN Analyst, Former Celtics NBA Champion Kendrick Perkins Lands New Job

NEW DELHI: Prasidh Krishna and Rohit Sharma scripted a rare piece of ODI history as India made a dream start against Afghanistan in the third and final ODI at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.After Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and chose to bat, Prasidh struck with the very first ball of the innings. The right-arm pacer dismissed in-form opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 5, with Rohit Sharma taking a sharp catch at first slip.Gurbaz pushed at a delivery outside off stump and edged it straight to Rohit, giving India an early breakthrough.Prasidh continued to trouble the Afghan batters with his disciplined line and length. In the sixth over, he struck again, this time removing Rahmat Shah for 5. Once again, Rohit was the catcher.Rahmat tried to work a back-of-a-length delivery towards the leg side but only managed a leading edge, which was safely pouched by Rohit.The Prasidh-Rohit combination completed a hat-trick of catches in the eighth over. Ibrahim Zadran became the third victim when he attempted to drive away from his body and edged the ball to first slip, where Rohit completed his third catch of the innings.All three wickets fell in remarkably similar fashion, with Prasidh finding the outside edge and Rohit doing the rest in the slips.The feat also created a unique record in India's ODI history.For the first time in India's 1,078 ODI matches, the same bowler-fielder combination accounted for the first three wickets of an innings.While there have been previous instances of a fielder taking three catches off the same bowler in an ODI for India, none had come for three consecutive wickets, let alone the first three dismissals of the innings.Three catches by a fielder off a bowler in ODIs for IndiaVVS Laxman off Irfan Pathan vs Zimbabwe, Perth, 2004Shikhar Dhawan off Jasprit Bumrah vs Bangladesh, Dubai, 2018Rohit Sharma off Prasidh Krishna vs Afghanistan, Chennai, 2026India are leading the three-match ODI series 2-0. 131876887

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty ImagesTiger Woods is unquestionably one of the two greatest golfers to have ever graced the game.Many argue that he is actually the greatest, despite the fact that he finished three majors short of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 major championship wins.Woods won a record 82 PGA Tour events, including 15 majors.Tiger Woods broke almost every record in the professional game, and had he avoided serious injury throughout his career, he would have almost certainly surpassed Nicklaus’ tally of 18 majors.Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty ImagesHowever, Woods has endured plenty of criticism throughout his career.And Brandel Chamblee has now laid the blame for some of the poor behavior we see from modern day stars at the feet of the 50-year-old.Brandel Chamblee says Tiger Woods is to blame for poor behavior from some golfersWhen speaking on Golf Channel’s Live From The US Open, Chamblee embarked on a lengthy rant about some of the poor behavior he has witnessed from the stars of today on the golf course.And he highlighted how he believes Tiger Woods is the reason why so many of today’s top stars feel as though it’s okay to use profanity and throw clubs on the course.“I never saw Jack Nicklaus throw a club I never heard him yell, an F-bomb. Never heard him yell a profane word on the golf course. He hit a bad shot, you’d hear him go, ‘Ah, Jack’,“ Chamblee said.“Never saw Palmer throw a club, never heard him yell at F-bomb. Same with Tom Watson.“Pick your player. Never saw Greg Norman with all those bad losses he had, never saw him throw a club. Never heard an F-bomb from him.“Say what you want about Phil Mickelson. I never saw Phil Mickelson throw a club, or yell an F-bomb.“You know, the same’s not true of Tiger Woods?“Tiger Woods the greatest player ever. We all love him. Everybody got rich off of him, but he was one of the most profane golfers to ever play the game.“And everybody who’s playing now grew up watching him. These are Tiger’s progeny, if you will.“And it rains F-bombs on the PGA Tour. Clubs get thrown all the time. Tee markers get destroyed.Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images“The players have all the power in the world.“I always thought you would get fined for profanity on the PGA Tour, but I guess not, because when you watch, it’s just F-bomb after F-bomb after F-bomb.“Jon Rahm missed a putt and said, you know, screamed the F-word, loud as he could.“Brandel Chamblee insists golfing stars have a responsibilityChamblee suggested that it is lazy when some of the biggest stars allow their tempers to get the better of them.“I’m no prude. You know, I’ve played golf. I understand how crazy it gets,“ he explained.“But not that I was on TV a lot. These guys are. They are videotaped everywhere they go, and TV is everywhere, so they have, I would say, a bigger burden than you and I would have had, no doubt about it.“But with that burden comes unimaginable wealth. It goes with the scrutiny, and composure is a skill. It’s a skill.“It is lazy to throw clubs, and it is lazy to drop F-bombs, when you know the whole world is watching.“By the way, you could be watching with your kids. You take your kids out to watch a golf tournament and F-bombs raining everywhere?“It’s great that this code of conduct has been passed. It is great that it’s sending a message to the players.“What Sergio did at Augusta National? I think that kind of sent a message. I think everybody kind of drew a line in the sand last year at the U.S. Open.“A combination of Wyndham Clark and Rory tearing up a tee marker, et cetera, et cetera.“These guys have just run amok, and I think it’s great that the code of conduct is put in place.“

A lawsuit filed in California claims the automaker’s philanthropic arm stole technology intended to help poor farmers, but it is not clear to what end.

Down held off a Fermanagh fightback to win a thrilling Tailteann Cup semi-final by 2-19 to 1-21 at Croke Park.Eamon Brown and Pat Haveron scored first-half goals as Conor Laverty's side held a 2-3 to 1-8 advantage at the break.Led by the impressive Ultan Kelm, Fermanagh roared back and levelled the game inside the final 10 minutes. However, Ryan McEvoy struck the decisive point with three minutes left and Down are now one game away from becoming the first side to win the Tailteann Cup for the second time.The 2024 winners will face either Wicklow or Offaly, who are co-managed by Mickey Harte, in the final.The winners of the Tailteann Cup earn a place in the top-tier of the All-Ireland for 2027.Game of two halvesDown made a strong start as goalkeeper Ronan Burns landed a two-pointer inside two minutes, and 60 seconds later Brown fisted into the bottom corner to round off a flowing counter attack. Points from Conor Love and Darragh McGurn got Fermanagh on the board, and Mattie McDermott slotted into the bottom corner to put one point between the sides.In front of a small crowd at Croke Park, the sides exchanged scores before Daniel Guinness, Brown and Caolan Doherty all landed points for Down to push the favourites further clear. McDermott brought the gap back down to three with a free, but Fermanagh were helpless as Odhran Murdock's two pointer and Brown's point all flew over the bar.Things got even better for Down when Havern, who had also landed a two-pointer, spun and found the top corner for a second goal for the Mourne County.With McDermott the focus of their attack, Fermanagh rallied at the end of the half but Down held a seven-point advantage at the break. Kelm landed a two-pointer for Fermanagh after the restart before Love, McGurn and Ciaran Corrigan made it a two-point game, as Down were punished for being wasteful at the other end. Miceal Rooney finally got the Mourne County on the board after the restart but Kelm hit straight back for Fermanagh.Sean McNally pulled off a big save from Brown as the game began to open up, and Callum Rogers fired over the rebound to restore Down's three-point margin.Caolan Mooney landed a point shortly after coming off the bench, but Love's two-pointer reduced the margin back down to two. Havern hit back for Down, but another two-pointer from Kelm and Corrigan's point levelled the game heading into the final 10 minutes. Mooney and Ronan McCaffrey exchanged scores as the sides remained tied, but McEvoy's point with three minutes remaining was enough to get Down over the line. "We knew Fermanagh were going to bring it," goalscorer Brown said on RTE."We've been in these positions before so we dug deep and were able to get over the line."

Arsenal loanee trains alone as transfer talks continueThe midfielder wants to return to Hamburg for pre-season, but their reported budget remains well below the option agreed in his loan deal.Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesFabio Vieira is working with a personal trainer while Arsenal and Hamburg continue talks over his future following his successful loan spell in Germany.The 26-year-old missed out on representing Portugal at the World Cup, despite finishing the season as Hamburg’s leading scorer with seven goals, but he reportedly remains keen to return to the club.Negotiations, however, over a permanent transfer are expected to take time, not least because of the difference between what Arsenal want and what the Germans can afford to pay.Vieira’s loan included an option to buy for around €20m to €22m. Hamburg are reportedly able to pay only close to €10m in instalments, a figure Arsenal are not prepared to accept at present.Their record transfer outlay currently stands at €14m and they have paid €10m or more for a player just four times.Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty ImagesThe midfielder is currently valued at €18m, while Arsenal paid €35m to sign him. With a large difference between Hamburg’s reported budget and the price agreed in the loan deal, his next move remains a mystery.According to Bild, both clubs are working towards a permanent transfer, but no agreement is close. Vieira would prefer to report for Hamburg’s pre-season performance tests on July 6 and 7, rather than wait for Arsenal’s preparations that begin later.In the meantime, he is working with a private trainer at the Boost Campus run by former professional Claudio Borges, to maintain his fitness.Photo by Lars Baron/Getty ImagesVieira’s seven goals made him an important player for Hamburg, but, as expected when the loan was agreed, the financial terms remain the main obstacle to a permanent deal.Arsenal have little reason to accept an offer significantly below both his current valuation and the option agreed when the loan was arranged, particularly not when there are also rumours of Premier League interest.Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

[SNS]Ian McCall has described new Rangers manager Derek McInnes as a "total control freak" and expects him to be "hands on" in how the club is run.Having led Hearts to within minutes of the title last season, McInnes was this week appointed Ibrox boss after Danny Rohl's move to Red Bull Salzburg. It is McInnes' sixth club as a manager.And former Rangers midfielder McCall told BBC Sportsound: "Derek McInnes, I think, as the new manager - I hope he doesn't mind me saying - is a total control freak. He'll want to be in control of all the things that are going on."He wants his hands on everything. I do think that Derek is very, very hands on in all aspects of management."He's exactly what they're looking for. They need a manager and that's what Derek is. The way he manages best is he likes to have a print on all over the club."The biggest thing he's got to get right is who he signs. His signing record is very good. He won't be scared of it. There is no chance he'll be scared of it. He'll embrace it all."Retired midfielder Andy Halliday played for Rangers from 2015-20 and later turned out for Hearts.And he sees need for further significant change at Ibrox this summer."It'll interesting in terms of recruitment," said Halliday. "They have so much work to do. I still think they've got glaring holes within their squad."However, Halliday believes Rangers are "already in a stronger position" after recruiting Lawrence Shankland and appointing McInnes, both from Hearts."It gives them a stronger edge than if it was Danny Rohl," Halliday said."It's almost been 10 years in the making. How many times has McInnes been linked with the Rangers job? It's probably been the best time for McInnes and I think it's been the best time for Rangers."He's been a part of the club before, he obviously lives in Scotland, he knows what it's all about."It's a positive appointment. "They're already in a stronger position going into next season."Lawrence Shankland's the best striker in the country and they've got him as well."

It was gritty rather than glorious but the Northampton Saints won’t care. For the second time in three seasons, let this most talented of teams be crowned champions of England, outlasting Exeter Chiefs and the rest in a marathon season that reached a weary yet wonderful end.Much like against Bath two years ago, it could not be said that Saints saved their best for the final but Phil Dowson’s side still found a way. This was a title not so much merited on the performance on the day but for the body of work across a campaign in which Northampton have set the pace. Two titles feels right for a fine crop of local lads who have risen up together – and while they bade farewell to club captain George Furbank in some style as he hoisted the trophy aloft, the rest remain to search for more as the defining English side of their golden generation.Credit to Exeter for what they brought to the season and this occasion, which possessed a phsyicality and ferocity that the Prem has too often lacked of late, but the worthiness of the winners could not really be in doubt. The sprinkle of stardust proved necessary for Northampton on a day lacking in their trademark flow, from Tommy Freeman’s intelligent injections out of the backfield to the colossus Alex Coles, who went striding through spaces open and tight as both carthorse and thoroughbred. Henry Pollock was understated and unabated, still winning jackal penalties at the last to make the game safe. (Getty)The occasion was given a heavyweight fight feel by the introduction of American ring announcer David Diamante, a bundle of energy and hair to invite the crowd in. The trend on this super-sized weekend of rugby finals had been decisive knockout blows: Leinster beating the Bulls 36-7 to claim the United Rugby Championship crown, the Hurricanes putting 60 points on the Chiefs of Waikato to romp to Super Rugby Pacific glory. The first punch was landed by Northampton – although it could be said that Exeter rather presented their chin. A stab through from Archie McParland did not look particularly problematic for either Olly Woodburn or Immanuel Feyi-Waboso to deal with; the fact that each tried to created an issue. The pair came up grasping each other and neither the ball, and Freeman was all to happy to pick up the pieces.It was a rough start for Exeter. They lost their first two lineouts and then a hooker with Max Norey injured – but Northampton invited them into the game. It was a tale of two offloads: Freeman foolish in tossing blindly from the touchline, Len Ikitau intuitive to find Campbell Ridl thereafter and allow the wing to dash for the line. Campbell Ridl scored for Exeter (Getty)An injury to Archie McParland, helped off after a desperate attempt to deny the try, made it welcome that Alex Mitchell was fit to return to the Northampton bench. The replacement scrum half would have to go 70 minutes, though, after a month out, and contributed to a scruffy start from his side. He and Fin Smith were blasted back by Ethan Roots and Ikitau respectively as they searched for soft shoulders in just the wrong places. The fluency that has so characterised and canonised these Saints seemed to be lacking. Over, then, to the burlier blokes. From an advanced position earned by a break from long-striding lock Coles, a series of thunderous carries around the fringes wore down the Exeter defence. Curtis Langdon went close; Smith closer, the fly-half taking the congratulatory pats after surging to the line from short range. Fin Smith helped Northampton to another Prem title (Getty)It was, though, becoming a sort of bar room brawl at the end of a long, heavy night – victory would have to become by any means necessary. Josh Iosefa-Scott’s answer for Exeter was a try befitting the game, an errant lineout landing in his lap and the bruising bouncer rumbling to the line, and kept the Chiefs right in touch. In such a game, a flash of red was no surprise, nor the flash of yellow that followed Northampton flanker Josh Kemeny’s high tackle on a bleeding Dafydd Jenkins.Patched up and ploughing over, the captain’s try put Exeter in front for the first time. Hero, though, would soon turn villain: Jenkins sent to the sin bin himself after a high shot on Furbank. It came just before Mitchell became the latest in a string of Saints to squander a gilt-edged opportunity, and a stalled maul furthered their frustration. It was with relief, then, rather than any great elation that George Hendy’s try was greeted, the wing squeezing into the corner with 15 to go.George Hendy (left) scored two tries late on (Getty)Two points was a slender margin; the two minutes Northampton would play with an extra man potentially pivotal. The Saints seized the opportunity – Hendy again in the same corner, this time from a Smith grubber. Pollock, inevitably, was involved in a flashpoint, deemed to have been making a legal attempt to grab at the ball as he collided with Ridl. There was no doubting that his ruck work soon after was licit – though Smith could not strike the match-securing blow from long range, the Saints fans were already celebrating.

Former Duke alumni Alex Smalley and Max Greyserman made the field for the U.S. Open this week at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in New York. Greyserman enters the tournament in good form, having advanced through a sectional qualifier, shooting 68 twice to make the field for his second career U.S. Open appearance.As for Smalley, he's had an impressive season in his own right, finishing in a tie for second earlier this season at the PGA Championship. Unfortunately for Smalley, his tournament would end at the conclusion of Friday's round as tough conditions forced a 6-over-par 76 on Thursday. While Smalley mitigated errors Friday, shooting a 3-over-par 73, it wasn't enough to get within the cut line.Moving back to Greyserman, he fared much better than his schoolmate, shooting a one-under-par 69 Thursday, followed by a three-over-par 73 Friday to place comfortably within the +4 cut line. Heading to the weekend with 36 holes left to play, Greyserman sits in a tie for 34th, nine shots behind leader Wyndham Clark (-7).This article originally appeared on Duke Wire: Did Duke alumni make the cut at the U.S. Open?

Here are this week’s most popular positive stories, with some fun social media posts tossed in too. Like seeing uplifting content like this? Sign up for our Good News email. There’s a great assortment of inspiring and heartwarming stories in this week’s Good News Roundup, including a great piece on Black Pride celebrations, a few stories about people standing up for queer inclusion, and even a secret queer character in the classic musical comedy Sister Act! Related A trans man donated his eggs to his sister. The pics of him holding his nephew will melt your heart. But before we begin, have you been reading our monthly edition about why LGBTQ+ people love their flags so much? It’s filled with great articles like this one about how activists turned a vandalized Pride flag into a surprising symbol of resilience. Last month’s edition about queer spirituality included this interesting historical nugget: 63 years ago, the Quakers stood up for gay dignity & they’re still fighting for our LGBTQ+ rights. And its cover story about how faeries & witches are magically helping the most vulnerable is worth a look too! Enjoy! This morning, it’s a good knight for coffee Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today View this post on Instagram A post shared by @by.lizy.bye Gay dad goes viral for honest reflection on raising a straight son “People think it’s gonna be super ‘modern’ and easy. Spoiler: it’s not.” Teacher spreads joy across the internet with “fun & easy” lesson on calling something “gay” “THE BEST TEACHER TO EVER EXIST!!!!” Nancy Pelosi refused to remove trans rights from landmark Hate Crimes Act despite pressure “People told me, ‘You can pass this in a minute if you take out trans.’ I said, ‘I won’t pass it in 100 years because I’m not ever taking out trans.’ An inspiring theory about why queer people are so theatrical… View this post on Instagram A post shared by King Key – Drag King (@kingkeydrag) “Crying in my arms”: People are moved to tears as these dads come to Pride to play catch “A young man was passing by our booth and shouted to his friends, ‘That’s my Dad! That’s the Dad I was telling you about!'” Judge upholds decision to keep anti-trans referendum off Maine’s ballot this year “They took some shortcuts and got caught with their hand in the cookie jar.” How this racecar driver went from flag marshal to building an all-LGBTQ+ racing team “I wanted to provide a safe space and team environment for anyone who was LGBTQ+ to get involved in motorsport,” he said. Something queer is happening in the basement… View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amy Sedaris (@amysedaris) Netherlands to ban conversion therapy for both kids & vulnerable adults The parties who spearheaded the bill declared that “years of commitment to freedom, equality, and human dignity have been rewarded.” The sapphic subtext of ‘Sister Act’: One nun was “attracted” to Whoopi Goldberg’s character “I thought, ‘Well, maybe there’s an attraction,’” Wendy Makkena said in a recently resurfaced clip. The celebration of Black joy during Pride Month reminds us of our beauty & power LGBTQ+ people of African descent use Black Pride events not only to celebrate, but also to define and advance their own priorities. And lastly, an inspiring message from … potato soup bowls View this post on Instagram A post shared by The abyss stares back (@thisisyourbrainondrugs) From our sibling sites: QUEERTY: Revisiting the movie—and the musical moment—that made Marlene Dietrich a timeless queer icon OUTSPORTS: The Outsports Soccer Power 26: LGBTQ people making a difference GAYCITIES: Soccer legend and queer icon Megan Rapinoe shares her Seattle hotspots INTO: How an unlicensed song on Stephen Colbert’s finale forced CBS to fund a progressive charity

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The Minnesota Vikings are trying to provide a fair competition at quarterback. They signed Kyler Murray to a one-year, $1.3 million deal, banking on him to return to his Pro Bowl form from 2020 and 2021. But they are also expecting J.J. McCarthy to fix flaws and improve on a disappointing 2025 season.However, FOX Sports' Bucky Brooks sees Murray as the best fit for the offense in 2026, believing that a full bill of health will only be aided by a strong supporting cast.The former Pro Bowler is the most talented quarterback KOC has coached in Minnesota. As an electric dual-threat playmaker, Murray adds an explosive dimension to the offense as a big-play weapon who can produce highlight-reel-worthy plays inside and outside the pocket. With a supporting cast that features a premier WR1 (Jefferson) and a collection of complementary playmakers (Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Jauan Jennings and Aaron Jones) who will allow him to operate like a pass-first point guard leading a fast break, the Vikings can operate in attack mode with a dynamic athlete at the helm. Moreover, their creative play-action passing game and shotgun "RPO" (run-pass option) package should expand with a twitchy playmaker at the controls. Although media members in attendance for OTAs have noted McCarthy's improvement, the collective belief appears to be that Murray will be the Vikings' starter when the season begins. Not only does Bucky Brooks see Murray winning the job, but he sees him performing well in O'Connell's quarterback-friendly system.This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: Fox Sports thinks Kyler Murray is the 'best fit' for the Vikings

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (AP) — No one ever leading at Shinnecock Hills the last 40 years at the halfway point has won the U.S. Open, a small slice of history that awaited Wyndham Clark. He had a four-shot lead in the fierce wind of Saturday.Dustin Johnson led by that much eight years ago and that didn't end well.But it's really not about Clark as much as it is everyone else, and the reminder to fight to the end.Geoff Ogilvy can speak from the experience of 20 years ago at Winged Foot, where he played the last 12 holes with four bogeys and no birdies and won at 5-over 285. He is the last U.S. Open champion to have never broken par in any of the four rounds.But what he recalls is a conversation the morning of the final round with World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Rankin, a relative by marriage. She told him: “Everyone wakes up Monday morning, looks at the newspaper and is surprised by the score that won the U.S. Open.”“I know that more from watching than playing,” Rankin said Saturday morning from her home in Midland, Texas, where she was quick to point out that “it's blowing here, too.” She devoted the second half of her career to broadcasting.“I just said, ‘Save ever shot.’ I'm telling you, you never know at the U.S. Open what's going to happen,” she said. “It's a different kind of experience.”No need to look back any further than last year, when J.J. Spaun began the final round at Oakmont with five bogeys in six holes. He birdied the last two to win.“I just remember telling him to try to the bitter end if you're in it, because you'll be surprised,” Rankin said.“It's so true,” said Andy North, a two-time U.S. Open champion working television this week at Shinnecock Hills. “You look at the scores the next day and everyone is ticked but the winner.”Here's how the weekend unfolded in the previous U.S. Opens at Shinnecock Hills:2018Johnson had just returned to No. 1 in the world and looked the part. He opened with 69-67, the only player under par going into the weekend and with a four-shot lead.But then the USGA didn't account for how dry and windy the course became, and pin positions late in the day made it a brute. Putts were rolling 50 feet by the hole and over the green. No one from the final 22 groups matched par. Johnson shot 77 and was still tied for the lead.Brooks Koepka, five shots behind going into the weekend, emerged the winner with a 68 on a course the USGA soaked overnight.2004Phil Mickelson and Shigeki Maruyama shared the 36-hole lead at 6-under 134. Retief Goosen had one of only three rounds under par on Saturday to take the lead. In the final round in which the greens baked out — particularly the par-3 seventh green — no one broke par.Goosen was scrambling the whole way around, but he showed his U.S. Open mettle that day when he one-putted the final six greens. This still looked like Mickelson's to win until he three-putted from 5 feet on the 17th hole.Maruyama, meanwhile, went 74-76 on the weekend and tied for fourth.1995For the second straight time at Shinnecock Hills, Greg Norman had the the 36-hole lead by two shots. As usual, someone else ended up holding the trophy.Corey Pavin, six shots behind going into the weekend, cut the deficit in half on Saturday. He fell four shots behind after a bogey on the third hole. That was his last bogey of the round. Norman and Tom Lehman slowly came back to the field. Pavin saved par with a 5-foot putt on the 17th. And then he hit the famous 4-wood into the 18th that secured the win.Norman had nine straight pars in the middle of his round — U.S. Open golf — until two straight bogeys early on the back nine cost him the lead, and a bogey on the 17th put him behind. He needed birdie on the 18th to force a playoff. He made bogey.1986This was the year of Norman's famous “Saturday slam” when he had the 54-hole lead at all four majors (and only won the British Open).He was up by three shots over Lee Trevino and Denis Watson going into the weekend, four shots clear over a group that included Raymond Floyd and Tom Watson. In a final round of good scoring, 10 players had at least a share of the lead. Floyd didn't pull ahead until a birdie on the 13th hole.Floyd was bogey-free for a 66 to win by two shots.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Mets' Freddy Peralta leads eight projected trade chips with 50% problem originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The New York Mets are looking more and more likely to act as trade deadline sellers this season, as they've fallen well behind the pack in the NL East and the Wild Card.If they do sell, it will be interesting to see who's actually on the move. Freddy Peralta is an obvious trade candidate, but who else could move?Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report revealed seven other trade candidates for the Mets, but there is one problem. Of these eight total trade chips, only 50% are likely to be desirable assets this summer.Mets might have a problem with 50% of their trade chipsThe eight players Rymer named as trade chips include their "best" trade chips in Peralta and Bo Bichette, and the rest, which include A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Kodai Senga, Mark Vientos, David Peterson, and MJ Melendez."There are some big names here, so it's ironic that Raley and Minter are the only ones that actually look desirable," Rymer writes.Looking at all eight of these trade chips, the best ones are clearly Peralta and Bichette. But, Peralta will cost a lot to trade for as a cheap rental ace-level starter, and Bichette's massive $126 million, three-year deal won't be an easy thing to trade for.Raley and Minter are reliever trade targets whom the Mets should trade if they're planning to sell this summer. They could bring back a decent return, but more importantly, they're the kind of players contenders will want to add.MORE: Mets projected to still sell at trade deadline by ex-MLB GMUnfortunately, when it comes to Vientos, Senga, Peterson, and Melendez, there's not likely to be much interest in these four options.What this means is that 50% of the potential trade chips presented by Rymer aren't likely to be heavily desired by teams this season by the August 3 trade deadline.There might be some interest, especially in Vientos as a right-handed slugger, but overall, it's a bit of a lackluster cast of trade chips for the Mets this season.While the potential trade return for Peralta could make up for the lackluster returns, if there are any, from their other trade chips. But, as sellers, the Mets might not be able to get the desired returns on 50% of their trade chips this summer.More MLB news:5 reasons to believe in Jordan Walker's breakout for CardinalsTarik Skubal being traded by Tigers would help him in free agencyCubs’ cost to trade for Tarik Skubal from Tigers revealed by ex-MLB GMYankees’ Ryan McMahon problem has a $25 million release solution Phillies extending Cristopher Sanchez to his $107 million deal was genius

Referee Ilgiz Tantashev told John McGinn he turned down his claim for a penalty against Morocco because the ball was going out of play as he was challenged by Neil El Aynaoui, the Scotland midfielder's brother, Stephen, has revealed.Scott McTominay also claimed for penalty under a challenge from midfielder El Aynaoui as Scotland suffered a 1-0 defeat in Boston, but it was his brother's claim that the Falkirk first-team coach thought had more credibility."The McTominay one, my gut reaction was he was playing for it," McGinn told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.Boston bounce sends Scotland to Miami with hope and no fearFlawed but relentless Scotland show themselves as men of substanceMorocco 'got away with one' - McGinn"The John one, I genuinely thought at the time this is the one. Having seen it back, absolutely a penalty. No doubt in my mind."On the pitch, the referee told John, because the ball's going out of play, it wasn't a foul."When has that ever been the case? It doesn't make sense."Former Scotland winger Neil McCann agreed."I think the McGinn one is a penalty and the McTominay one isn't," the Kilmarnock manager said."The McGinn one, we've done it as players - he is understanding that he is coming from the side and he knows he just has to take it across him and take the contact."Granted, it is not a clean-out job, but there's enough contact on his hip to put him out."McCann and McGinn, meanwhile, both thought the Uzbekistan referee should have sent off defender Issa Diop for a last-man challenge on Scotland striker Che Adams."It is absolutely a red card for me," McCann said. "There's no covering defender, it's a clip, so it's not as if it is a ball that's travelling."It is not a natural collision or an accidental pull-down. He's pulled him down. Che Adams got goal side."I can't believe he wasn't brought to the [VAR] monitor."Somebody said behind me 'he's quite far out', but we had guys being sent off in the opposition half in the Premiership and I think we all work under the same laws of the game."But that is not far out and Che Adams is completely getting on the ball, otherwise why is the yellow card brandished?"When Stevie [head coach Clarke] digests that, I think he'll really go big on that."McGinn was of the same mind and added: "The way our league became last season, that's an absolute stonewall red card."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

England A winger George Hendy took his tally to 18 tries in all competitions for Northampton this season [Getty Images]The Prem finalNorthampton (14) 26Tries: Freeman, Smith, Hendy 2 Cons: Smith 3 Exeter (10) 17Tries: Ridl, Iosefa-Scott, Jenkins Cons: SladeGeorge Hendy's two tries in three second-half minutes secured Northampton the Prem title as they beat Exeter 26-17 in the final at Allianz Stadium.Hendy's scores inside the final quarter opened up a nip and tuck game as Saints won the title for a third time. Tommy Freeman capitalised on an Exeter error to put Saints ahead inside two minutes before Campbell Ridl hit back in an all-action opening. Fin Smith's try put Saints back in front only for Josh Iosefa-Scott to go over seconds before the interval as Exeter cut the gap to four points.Northampton's Josh Kemeny was sin-binned after 51 minutes, with Exeter skipper Dafydd Jenkins going over to give his side the lead moments later.Jenkins was yellow-carded himself five minutes later and, with an extra player, Hendy's 64th-minute try put Saints in front again before getting his second moments later.Saints strike early, but Exeter respondTommy Freeman's early try stunned Exeter [Getty Images]The occasion appeared to get to Exeter as they suffered the worst possible start when the fit-again Feyi-Waboso bumped into Olly Woodburn, who was catching Archie McParland's dinked kick towards the Exeter corner, and Freeman snaffled up the loose ball before diving in. Henry Pollock was held up over the Exeter line five minutes later as Northampton – backed by a noisy crowd from the East Midlands – adapted to the big day better than the Chiefs.Exeter's nightmare opening was compounded when in-form hooker Max Norey limped off with an ankle injury moments later.But just when it seemed as though Exeter might crumble, they hit back as Len Ikitau gathered the ball after Freeman tried to keep a kick in play and fed Ridl, who raced in down the left wing for his 17th try in all competitions in his debut season.Chiefs could have gone further ahead in the following minutes, but Saints thwarted dangerous breaks by Henry Slade and Stephen Varney, while George Furbank dropped a pass with the Exeter line beckoning in the 18th minute.But Saints breached Exeter for a second time eight minutes from the break when Smith went in after a number of phases deep in Chiefs territory.However, in the final seconds of the half Exeter got their second try as they kicked a penalty to the corner and Iosefa-Scott gathered the ball at the back of the resulting lineout and forced his way in.Yellow cards make difference as Saints edge itDafydd Jenkins' try briefly put Exeter into the lead before Hendy's heroics [Getty Images]Saints started the second half with the same intent as the first but Exeter's defence held out for 14 phases in and around their line in the opening five minutes in a stand reminiscent of the end of their semi-final win at Bath last week.Rory Hutchinson had a try ruled out for a knock-on two minutes later as the table-toppers looked to assert themselves.But the momentum swung when Kemeny was sin-binned for a 51st-minute head to head clash with Jenkins, and a few phases after Exeter had kicked the resulting penalty for a close-range lineout the Wales lock forced his way in.Saints were dealt a further blow when England scrum-half Alex Mitchell – on as a first-half replacement for the injured McParland – dropped the ball under a challenge from Ridl as he went over the Exeter line.However, in the aftermath replays showed Jenkins had put in a dangerous challenge on Furbank and he was sent to the sin-bin with 23 minutes left.Saints dominated the ball with the extra man and were rewarded when Hendy dived over in the right corner after a fine flowing move across the field.It proved to be the hammer blow for Exeter's hopes as Saints reclaimed the crown they lost to Bath 12 months ago.George Hendy wrote his name into Northampton history [Shutterstock]As Northampton skipper Furbank lifted the trophy on his final appearance before joining Harlequins, he leaves a Saints side who have become the team to beat in recent years.Just three league defeats this season saw Saints top the table as they reached their third final in as many seasons, having won the Prem two years ago and made last season's Champions Cup final.While Furbank may be departing, Saints fans will hope that with stars such as Smith, man-of-the-match Pollock and Freeman forming the backbone of their side they will be coming back to Twickenham in the not too distant future.For Exeter, even though they have lost a final for a fifth time in seven attempts, the game caps a remarkable revival after finishing ninth last season - the club's worst top flight placing since promotion in 2010.The Chiefs suffered a record 79-17 loss at Gloucester last April and won only four league games all season – two against weakened teams – as the Devon side looked to be in turmoil.But new coaches and a number of new players such as Ikitau, Varney and Tom Hooper have reignited a side that dominated the domestic scene for the second half of the last decade.With new American investment on the horizon, could this victory be the start of another dynasty like that one that began a decade ago when they made six successive Premiership finals and won the 2020 European Champions Cup.Northampton: Furbank (c); Freeman, Litchfield, Hutchinson, Hendy; Smith, McParland; Iyogun, Langdon, Millar Mills; Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pearson, Pollock.Replacements: Wright, Fischetti, Green, Van der Mescht, Lockett, Chick, Mitchell, Dingwall.Yellow card: Kemeny (51)Exeter: Woodburn; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Ikitau, Ridl; Skinner, Varney; Sio, Norey, Iosefa-Scott; Jenkins (c), Zambonin, Hooper, Roots, Fisilau.Replacements: Dweba, Burger, Tchumbadze, Tshiunza, Vintcent, James, Cairns, Haydon-Wood.Yellow card: Jenkins (57)Referee: Matthew Carley.

NEW DELHI: India captain Rohit Sharma etched his name into the record books during the third ODI against Afghanistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.Stationed at first slip, Rohit grabbed the first three catches of the Afghanistan innings to become only the fourth Indian fielder to be involved in the first three dismissals of an ODI innings.The rare feat had previously been achieved only by Sourav Ganguly against the West Indies in Baroda in 2002, Manoj Tiwary against the West Indies in North Sound in 2011, and Suresh Raina against Sri Lanka in Cardiff in 2013.Afghanistan's innings got off to a disastrous start when Rohit completed a catch off the very first ball of the match. Rahmanullah Gurbaz edged Prasidh Krishna to first slip and Rohit made no mistake.A few overs later, Rohit was in action again. Rahmat Shah attempted to work a delivery towards the leg side but only managed a leading edge, with the Indian skipper safely taking the catch.Rohit's hat-trick of catches came in the eighth over when Ibrahim Zadran edged another Prasidh Krishna delivery to first slip. The catch completed a remarkable sequence, with Rohit accounting for Afghanistan's first three dismissals.Same fielder effecting the first three dismissals in an ODI innings for IndiaSourav Ganguly vs West Indies, Baroda, 2002Manoj Tiwary vs West Indies, North Sound, 2011Suresh Raina vs Sri Lanka, Cardiff, 2013Rohit Sharma vs Afghanistan, Chennai, 2026India are looking to complete a 3-0 series sweep after already taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. 131876750

Russ Fraser, pictured right with Phil Neville, has worked at the top of the women's system with Reading, West Ham United, Leicester City and Liverpool, Wolves said [Getty Images]A new head of women and girls' football has been appointed at Wolverhampton Wanderers following the team's promotion last season.Wolves Women secured their place in the Barclays Women's Super League 2, (WSL2) for the first time, with a victory over Plymouth Argyle Women in May.The club said that Russ Fraser has worked at the top of the women's system with Reading, West Ham United, Leicester City and Liverpool, and has history of transitioning clubs into the professional game.He will manage all aspects of the women's operation at Wolves, including player and staff recruitment and academy planning, the club added.Wolves Women were promoted to the Barclays Women's Super League 2, (WSL2) in May [BBC]He has joined the club for its first season as a professional outfit, having also spent time with Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia as women's sporting director.Technical director, Matt Jackson said: "Russ has been really successful at this level and above with high profile clubs. He's got a top understanding of the women's game and demonstrated that in his interview process."He has brilliant contacts and knows the level of quality which is required to be successful when recruiting", he added.With the club's recent success under manager Dan McNamara and growth in the past 18 months, women and staff "deserve to have someone of the experience of Russ guiding them through the next stage of the journey", he said.Fraser said he was excited about the opportunity and the first season was the biggest challenge."There are a lot of similarities with Liverpool in that the club's really important to what goes on in the city, and there's good people here, so I think we can develop a really good football programme here over the next three to five seasons," he said."Macca [Dan McNamara] and I seem very aligned in the way we see things, and the players we're looking at, and I was really pleased with Compton Park as a facility, because there's real interaction between the men's and women's groups – it's a pack mentality, and that is massive when you're trying to build an environment."Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Reception to celebrate Wolves Women's promotionLiverpool name first women's managing director Related internet links Wolves Women

Ricardo Pepi helped fill the gap left by Christian Pulisic’s absence on Friday.Photograph: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty ImagesOnce it was clear that Christian Pulisic’s calf could keep him out of Friday’s match against Australia, Mauricio Pochettino had a lot of options to consider. There is no like-for-like alternative to Pulisic, still the United States’ most important player.Australia entered this game with a point to prove, wanting to build off of their opening win over Turkey with a statement result against the tournament co-hosts. As was the case when the teams met for a friendly in October, the Socceroos were set up to operate in a low defensive block, with five along the backline and a swarming, zonal marking scheme in front of them. That system can be quite effective against a team who play with just one striker, as the US have for most of the 21st century.Related: USA surge into World Cup knockout stage after dominant victory over SocceroosWhen the lineups dropped, there was just one change from the US side who bulldozed Paraguay 4-1. There was no Pulisic. In his stead was Ricardo Pepi, who would play alongside his fellow center-forward Folarin Balogun. It seemed like a risk for the US to forego their usual numbers in midfield, but it proved to be a gambit rather than a gamble as the US strolled to a 2-0 half-time lead they maintained until the final whistle.“I feel like it opens up some spaces, of course, but you know it’s always good to be able to have two strikers,” Pepi said after his first World Cup start. “If the defenders are marking me, then the other [striker] is always free. So it’s a good thing that we were able to play like this, and it just shows what the team has.”What the team have is chemistry, after years playing alongside each other at youth and senior levels. Coupled with a few weeks to train together, the US look far better rehearsed with their movement patterns, and it’s putting even the sturdiest of opponents’ low-blocks in two minds.The first time the US truly tested the Socceroos on Friday they scored. It was the second straight match in which they had forced their opponents into an early own-goal.In the 11th minute, after the US had already tested Australia from each side, Antonee Robinson collected a pass from Tim Ream as he has countless times during his career. When Pochettino’s US play with two attacking midfielders, as they do when Pulisic is on the field, Robinson’s instinct has been to look for either his holding or attacking midfielder to get the ball back into the half-space.Against Paraguay, sequences like these kept the South Americans on their toes and allowed the US to put together dizzying patterns of play. Adding a second striker makes the more direct route even more advisable as any downhill sprint can be supplemented with adequate support.Robinson gave Australia a test with a ball up the line, having already drawn wing-back Jacob Italiano too far upfield to nullify the threat. Balogun recognized the space and made a run to create an opportunity.The US found themselves with a similar sequence in their recent friendly against Senegal. In that match, Sergiño Dest popped up to offer Pulisic a crossing option after Pepi had dropped deep to help with build-up. On Friday, with all three Australian center-backs still stationed at the edge of their defensive third, this ball left the US with an advantage of pace as the midfielders and wing-backs scrambled to support.“I mean, credit to [Balogun],” Robinson said after the match. “I could see that he was looking to run the space in behind, so I just kind of played it down the channel for him, and then he’s done a lot of work to get towards the goal and create a chance.”Despite seldom operating as a winger in his career to date, Balogun attacked the space presented to him, confident that he could stay a step ahead of Alessandro Circati.Pepi kept doing center-forward stuff as the sequence progressed and made a run up the heart of the pitch. Although Balogun had scored a brace against Paraguay, Australia would have been reckless to ignore Pepi, who bagged 16 goals in 26 league games for PSV this past season. Balogun bypassed Circati and was running out of room. But he had ideal options available to him in the heart of the box.Cameron Burgess had done just enough to get between Balogun and his teammates and desperately tried to prod the ball out for a corner kick. But under pressure, Burgess instead put the ball past his own keeper to reward Balogun’s industry.The gambit had paid off quickly. Australia’s defense were in two minds from the opening whistle, with their center-backs occupied and unable to lock down on Balogun as intended.“I want to be dangerous,” Balogun said after the win. “I want to create opportunities, and it might not always be myself that scores, but if I can force an error that gives us the lead, then for me it’s like a goal as well.”Pepi’s presence in the box also helped on the second goal. As Robinson prepared to take a free-kick at the end of the first half, Australia had to contend with the threat of three US center-backs and two strikers, including Pepi – prime targets for deliveries like these. Dest loitered around the edge of the area, and Australia’s panicked defenders ran to mark him as he received Robinson’s free-kick. That left the Socceroos’ defensive block unsettled, meaning Alex Freeman was open when Dest’s shot took a deflection and the ball headed towards the Villarreal defender.From there, the second half was far easier for the US to control. Australia had committed to being difficult to break down in the hope of nicking a goal or two, as they had against Turkey. The Socceroos made three substitutions at half-time but the changes did little to boost their attacking threat. Pepi kept doing what he was asked to do as he occupied defenders and found space. That, coupled with his pressing, made him a valuable alternative to Pulisic, despite having a very disparate job description.For Pepi, who was harshly left off the last World Cup roster, it was a memorable start that should earn him more playing time moving forward. No matter who is in the lineup, this group is confident they can adapt on the fly and keep the initiative.“Whether it’s coming to feet, running off the ball, we’re all trying to create options for each other,” Robinson said. “It feels fluid. Everyone feels like they’re linking up really well, and hopefully we keep going with it.”

Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty ImagesThe USGA has been told that it has strayed into dangerous territory by penalising Joaquin Niemann for throwing a club during the first round of the US Open. Niemann deserves enormous credit for making the cut at the third major of the year. His performance was all the more impressive because he made an 11 on one hole during his opening round in Southampton.On the par four sixth hole, Niemann ended up hitting two balls out of bounds. He was subsequently handed a two-shot penalty having thrown his club and lost his temper.It is a new rule that led to Niemann being reprimanded. However, it is difficult to judge whether it was a fair decision or not given that the incident was not caught on camera.And that perhaps poses a problem.The USGA have been criticised after Joaquin Niemann received a penalty at the US OpenMany will remember Sergio Garcia being warned at The Masters after smashing his driver and damaging the second tee during the final round at Augusta National.Garcia avoided a stronger punishment on that occasion.And speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner suggested that the USGA have created an issue for themselves by making an example of his fellow LIV Golf star at Shinnecock.“It also should be noted that we don’t know exactly what happened on the sixth tee. There is no video evidence of anything. We know he threw his golf club. It’s pretty shocking [that there’s no video], it was very late in the day. The sun was going down. They were just finishing play yesterday afternoon. So I guess it’s understandable,” Hoggard said.“Based on the limited information that we do know, that he threw his club, whatever, 50 yards, this seems highhanded. It seems excessive. It seems as if they were trying to make an example out of him. Because you go back, we did have video evidence of what Sergio did at The Masters, and I would suggest anyone who’s listening right now, pull up a second screen and Google it and take a look at it yourself. That was vicious. It was petulant. It was childish. And yet, somehow, that just got a warning from the one organisation you would think would be the most highhanded of all of them. You would think they would be the ones that would start clutching the pearls when it came to player behaviour and be the first to dole out a two-stroke penalty. And yet, Sergio got the warning, Joaquin Niemann, for whatever it is he did, again, we’re not 100 per cent sure, this seems excessive.”Photo by Warren Little/Getty ImagesLavner added: “The Athletic, our friend Gabby Herzig, reported that a volunteer, who was witness to this account, said that Joaquin Niemann was kicking sort of the white flags that the spotters used to identify where the golf ball is, also kicking the sand, had left his club and actually only received it after an officer who was walking alongside the group, retrieved it for him and brought it to him. Even with those additional details, and again, Joaquin Niemann couldn’t dispute it necessarily because there was no other video evidence, it was basically one person’s account of the matter, even with that, two shots seems like way too penal a punishment for Joaquin Niemann.“And my biggest issue is that the rules of golf are supposed to be applied fairly and consistently. And even though this is a well intentioned rule, that you’re wanting to crack down on bad behaviour among players inside the ropes, there’s no way that this can be applied, fairly and consistently. It’s arbitrary by its very nature. Some of these are going to go viral. Some of these are going to be done anonymously. Some of these are gonna be a 25 yard club toss. Some of them are going to be a 50 yard club toss. Some of them are just being very tame club toss, but okay, they’re also going to be accompanied by a string of F-bombs. When you look at the rule and how it’s written, quote, ‘unacceptable language, and golf course, or club abuse’ are all folded in here.“It’s sort of akin to a technical foul in the NBA, where if a ref has a quick hook, and you might, you might get teed up and that’s not going to be necessarily consistent from game to game, week to week, month to month. But this, I think, is a really dangerous precedent for the USGA to set, because there is no way that you can apply this fairly consistently to all 156 players in the field.”A lack of consistency already on show at the US OpenLavner is right to call for consistency. It is absolutely not fair if Niemann receives a two-shot penalty if another player escapes punishment for a club throw.Jon Rahm was seen kicking his driver off one tee. Admittedly, it was petulant rather than aggressive, but it still was not a good look when you consider that the Spaniard is one of the best players in the world and a former champion of the event.Similarly, many will be wondering what Niemann could have really done that was so bad when Garcia avoided the same punishment at Augusta National.Players should be able to show emotion on the golf course. But the governing bodies should also establish a clear line that completely removes interpretation from the rule.

Report: Chelsea star set to leave the club this summerLeeds United Monitor Filip Jorgensen as Chelsea Prepare for Goalkeeper ExitLeeds United’s search for a new goalkeeper has taken an intriguing turn, with SportsBoom reporting that Chelsea are prepared to listen to both loan and permanent offers for Filip Jorgensen this summer.The Danish international arrived at Stamford Bridge from Villarreal in a £20 million deal amid significant expectations. Chelsea viewed him as a long term solution between the posts, handing him a seven year contract after his impressive performances in La Liga.However, football rarely follows the script.Stamford Bridge StrugglesJorgensen has found opportunities limited since arriving in West London.“Jorgensen has spent much of his Chelsea career playing second fiddle and has been unable to force his way into the club’s first-choice plans.”Just six Premier League appearances in his first season and five in the following campaign tell the story. For a goalkeeper entering his prime years, regular football is essential.That reality has fuelled his desire to move on.Photo IMAGOLeeds Opportunity EmergesLeeds United are among the clubs showing serious interest as Daniel Farke reshapes his squad following another season in the Premier League.The departure of Illan Meslier has created an obvious vacancy and Jorgensen’s profile appears attractive. At 24 years old, he combines top flight experience with room for further development.“Sources close to the player suggest his preference would be to remain in the Premier League if possible and establish himself as a regular starter at the highest level.”That preference could work firmly in Leeds’ favour.Chelsea Open to SolutionsChelsea are willing to consider several routes.A loan remains possible if a club agrees to cover most of his wages, but a permanent transfer would be the ideal outcome as the London club continue restructuring under Xabi Alonso.Jorgensen remains highly regarded despite his lack of opportunities. This feels less like a player lacking ability and more like a talented goalkeeper needing the right environment.For Leeds, it could prove a smart market opportunity.Word Count: 432Our View – EPL Index AnalysisAs football supporters, this is a move that makes a lot of sense for Leeds United.There is always a degree of risk when signing a player who has struggled for minutes, but context matters. Filip Jorgensen did not suddenly become a poor goalkeeper after moving to Chelsea. The qualities that convinced the Blues to spend £20 million on him remain intact.Leeds supporters should be encouraged by the profile. At 24, he has already experienced La Liga football, international recognition with Denmark and life at one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs. That combination of experience and potential is difficult to find.There will naturally be scepticism around his limited appearances. Goalkeepers thrive on rhythm and confidence, and Jorgensen has not enjoyed either consistently at Chelsea.Yet this feels like a situation where regular football could unlock his best form again.From Chelsea’s perspective, a permanent sale would fit their ongoing squad rebuild. Under Xabi Alonso, difficult decisions are being made and Jorgensen appears to be one of several players facing uncertain futures.For Leeds, the attraction is clear. They need a dependable number one capable of handling Premier League pressure. Jorgensen has the technical quality, age profile and motivation to become exactly that.If Leeds can secure favourable terms, this could be one of the more sensible goalkeeper moves of the summer window.