Farewell, mister, and thank you. | Getty Images To nobody’s surprise, Fiorentina announced a few hours ago that the club has parted ways with Paolo Vanoli and his coaching staff, declining to pick up its option to keep him around for another year. The mister doesn’t have another job lined up as far as I know so he’ll have to sit and wait for an offer even after he performed a miracle in Florence after Stefano Pioli pulled the controls down and parachuted out before the part where there’s a wreckage in a smoking crater.THANK YOU, MISTER VANOLI The Ownership, Management, and everyone at Fiorentina would like to thank Mister Paolo Vanoli and all his staff for the professionalism, passion, and courage with which they led the First Team. Official statement: https://t.co/Jp8Q2th741pic.twitter.com/bOArkPQ1fI— ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) June 5, 2026I’ve written about this more than once but I’ll restate the obvious: it’s a tremendous injustice that Vanoli won’t get a real chance to lead this team. Fiorentina was sinking to the ocean floor, tied to barrels of toxic waste, and he came in and cut the ropes so that the club could eventually bob back to the surface. It’s easy to forget in the post-season numbness but relegation wasn’t just a possibility when he arrived. It was a matter of historical fact.Vanoli didn’t offer a well-constructed narrative about turning things around. He didn’t pander to journalists or fans. He treated his media sessions as an irritating distraction from the mission he’d signed up for. He spent most of the season screaming at everyone on the pitch (3 yellow cards, 2 red cards) and demanding that his guys play like what they were: a bad team that needed to buckle down and grind out results.That’s what I’ll remember about his tenure. He didn’t want his team doing any of the stuff that good teams do. Romantic attacking. Tactical innovation. Even Diego Simeone-style grit. No, Vanoli offered hard work and suffering and not much else. After scrapping the 3-man defense, he didn’t do all that much besides stubbornly demand more work and more suffering. He demanded penitence for sins past. The reward? More penitence.And it worked. It was as fun as watching oxen haul a plow across a desert but it worked. There wasn’t an esprit de corps like there was under Vincenzo Italiano, a sense that the whole roster was united and pulling in the same direction. The sullenness and petulance were still visible. The difference was that chins didn’t collapse onto chests at every little mistake. Instead, the squad played with a doggedness based not on self-belief but on the understanding that doggedness has a meaning unto itself.It wasn’t enough for Fabio Paratici. We knew it wouldn’t be. He was hired to tear down the smouldering remnants left behind the breakup of the Commisso-Barone-Pradè brain trust. Even though Vanoli lurched up out of the coals and smothered them, he’s still a result of the wreckage that predates Paratici and thus must be shuffled on. It makes perfect sense despite the deep injustice of it all. After all, sports are supposed to be the ultimate meritocracy: succeed and rise, fail and descend.Vanoli succeeded and now descends, which is in keeping with his alogical tenure. He turned Fiorentina into an industrious but hideous creature that eventually clawed its way out of myriad dangers and blindly lurched to safety. Posterity will ignore these 210 days as a Lynchian interlude, an interstition between the tail end of the Italiano years (ably extended for an extra season by Raffaele Palladino) and whatever Paratici’s cooking up. This is a footnote that nobody reads. An explanation in a foreign language. A warning unheeded.I’m not optimistic about Fiorentina over the next couple years. The organizational chaos doesn’t look like resolving itself into the order necessary for running a club. Vanoli’s stint in charge probably didn’t change much in that regard. He reminds me of nothing so much as that Douglas Adams line: he taught the Viola how to throw themselves at the ground and miss.So long, Mister Vanoli, and thanks for everything. We’re only here because you made it happen, even if none of us liked it. Best of luck wherever you wind up next.

Lionel Messi is recovering well from arecent muscle injury and could feature in Argentina's final World Cup warm-up matches.The 38-year-old Messi suffered a muscle strain while playing for ⁠Inter Miami in a 6-4 Major League Soccer win over Philadelphia Union 10 days ago, raising concerns over his fitness ahead of the World Cup.Reigning world champions Argentina will face Honduras in Texas on Saturday, before playing Iceland in Alabama onTuesday in their final friendlies ahead of the World Cup, and coach Lionel Scaloni is hopeful Messi might play a small role."Leo is doing well, he's already trained with the group ⁠for part of the session, and that's significant. He's no longer ​training ⁠separately," Scaloni said at ‌a press conference in the United States."He is improving a lot and could even take part in one of the (warm-up) matches for a few minutes. We'll see whether it's this one or the next, but he's much better and that gives us peace of mind." With Messi set to play in his sixth World Cup, ⁠Scaloni also recounted the exchange in which he told the Argentina captain he had been selected for the squad."I sent him a message and he told me he would wait for the squad list to see if he had been called up," Scaloni said with a smile. "I told him, 'You're called up.' That's how it happened." Messi led Argentina to the World Cup ‌title in Qatar in 2022. They open their title defence ‌against Algeria on 16 June before facing Austria and ‌Jordan in Group J. Reuters

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Roki Sasaki is finally becoming the pitcher in real life that the Los Angeles Dodgers first saw on video in Japan.The 24-year-old right-hander didn't allow a hit through 4 1/3 innings and had a career-high 10 strikeouts over six innings in a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night.Sasaki notched his first career scoreless start after 18 previous starts. He threw 98 pitches, 72 for strikes, generating his second-best strike percentage of 73.5% in a start. He reached 100.4 mph.“He went through some tough times and some doubts,” manager Dave Roberts said, “but he’s gotten to the other side.”Roberts sent Sasaki back out for the seventh inning to see how the youngster would respond in a scoreless game. Sasaki retired the side, striking out two.“He was on the attack, he didn't run,” Roberts said. “That shows a lot of growth.”Sasaki was expected to be the next big thing coming out of Nippon Professional Baseball. But he failed to crack the Dodgers' starting rotation as a rookie. His sad face and teary eyes in his U.S. debut was shown on Japanese television, triggering some unflattering reaction on social media and around baseball.“We all felt sorry for him,” Roberts recalled.Sasaki's poor body language on the mound tipped opposing hitters to a lack of confidence, too.He then missed 4 1/2 months with shoulder issues before returning as the team's closer during its postseason run to a second straight World Series.But he arrived to spring training and walked 15 batters, again raising concerns about his ability to perform as a starter and shaking his confidence.Over the last month, however, Sasaki has built consistency thanks to a harder splitter that touches 90 mph and complements his fastball and slider as well as improving his command.“There is an adjustment with the ball that he had to make with his grip,” Roberts said. “You can see his demeanor on the mound. There’s just no more doubt and uncertainty."Sasaki lowered his ERA to 4.03 and he has a 1.48 ERA over his last four starts. “I'm just doing small things all the time, and I just keep building on it,” he said through a translator. The Dodgers beat the Angels on Freeman's sixth career walkoff home run after both teams had three hits apiece.“Roki has really turned the corner here and it’s fun to watch,” Freeman said, “especially after last year grinding, coming back as a bullpen guy. He just looks great out there.”Freeman and catcher Will Smith are among a clubhouse full of teammates rooting for Sasaki to succeed on a team in which his fellow Japanese — two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — set high standards.“You can see the care factor, the drive he’s got,” Smith said. “It’s good to see the benefits right now.”___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Massive windfall: Cody Gakpo's true price as Tottenham start process to sign Liverpool starTottenham Hotspur want to sign Cody Gakpo. But how much is the Dutchman worth to Liverpool?SoccerNews reports that Tottenham want to sign Cody Gakpo this summer, hoping to take advantage of the change in management at Liverpool. Gakpo was a favourite under Arne Slot, but that won't necessarily be the case under Andoni Iraola.Though, it's a strange one. Gakpo's reputation took a battering this season as he, somewhat unfairly, became the face of Liverpool's on-pitch struggles.He is a fantastic footballer, however, and one who scored 18 times in Liverpool's 2024/25 campaign. Gakpo's numbers have always been good, in fact, and this is also a player in his peak years who signed a new contract last season.The Dutchman still managed nine goals and six assists in a difficult campaign. This isn't a case of him delivering nothing.In fact, Gakpo's seven goals would be second-best for Tottenham in the league. His five assists would have been the joint-most.So what should he actually cost? Anthony Elanga went for £55m last summer. Tottenham themselves signed Mohammed Kudus for £55m. Noni Madueke moved to Arsenal for £52m. None of those players had scored more than the seven Gakpo managed this season.Let alone the 18 in all competitions that he managed in 2024/25.Liverpool, then, should be seeking a fee in at least that range for a player with his record, from the Premier League, in his prime, and with a long contract. Anything less would be robbery, quite honestly.Cody Gakpo: Situation SummaryLiverpool Campaign and StatsAs of 5 June 2026, Cody Gakpo has concluded a highly testing domestic campaign with Liverpool. The 27-year-old Dutch forward made 36 Premier League appearances under Arne Slot, recording seven goals and five assists. Despite maintaining a consistent presence in the starting lineup, Gakpo struggled to find sustained rhythm, often facing significant criticism from sections of the fanbase and media regarding his attacking output. His season ended with a collective disappointment as the club failed to retain their title, finishing the league campaign in fifth place.Transfer Request and Atletico InterestFollowing the recent dismissal of Arne Slot, Gakpo’s future at Anfield has reached a definitive breaking point. Reports confirm the forward has officially submitted a transfer request, stating he does not envisage a future at the club without the departed Dutch manager. With Liverpool's new hierarchy open to a sale to facilitate a summer squad overhaul, Atletico Madrid have emerged as the primary suitors. The Spanish giants are weighing a move for the Netherlands international as they seek a long-term replacement for Antoine Griezmann.

‘Fans can rest assured…’ – Barcelona midfielder breaks silence on exit rumours and welcomes new signingsBarcelona midfielder Dani Olmo has provided a fascinating insight into his journey back to the club, while also addressing transfer speculation, the team’s Champions League ambitions and the growing excitement surrounding the squad being built for the future.In an extensive interview with Mundo Deportivo, the Spain international reflected on the moment he became convinced that a return to Barcelona would finally happen. Having been linked with the club on multiple occasions over the years, Olmo admitted that he only truly believed the move was real after receiving clear signals from within the club following the European Championship.“After the Euros. When they told me: ‘Dani, we didn’t want to say anything whilst you were focused on the tournament, but you should know that Barça are coming on strong and this time they’re really serious.’“That’s when I believed it. And I’d say that Deco’s visit to Leipzig was when I really saw the genuine interest and realised they wanted me.”Transfer speculationWith the transfer window now open, Olmo’s name has once again appeared in reports linking him with clubs outside Spain, including Arsenal. However, the midfielder left no room for doubt when asked about his future.“No, Barça fans can rest assured. As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing more to say.”Dani Olmo will not leave Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)The 27-year-old also spoke about the demands that come with representing Barcelona, explaining that expectations at the club are unlike anywhere else.“The pressure of having to win everything. It’s the hardest thing, but it’s also something you get used to.”A strong season and UCL disappointmentDespite winning several domestic trophies since arriving, Olmo admitted that the squad continues to feel the disappointment of falling short in Europe. The midfielder believes Barcelona are close to competing for the biggest prize but insists small moments have made the difference.“We’re very close. I think we’ve got what it takes, but in the end it comes down to the finer details, the nuances, the goals, the centimetres. “We all have that nagging feeling because we know we can do it and that we can win it. “That’s why we were so gutted last year against Inter Milan and this year against Atlético Madrid, because in my opinion they weren’t better teams than us and we could have been in the final, down to the finer details.”On transfer activitiesFurthermore, the midfielder welcomed the possibility of top-level arrivals and made it clear that raising the quality of the squad remains essential.Olmo has welcomed new signings at Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)Speaking about players linked with the club, including Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva and Joško Gvardiol, and the arrival of Anthony Gordon, Olmo said: “At the end of the day, the best players have to play for Barça. Gordon is a signing who’s going to raise the team’s standard.“We’d obviously like to welcome him from here and wish him a good World Cup, though not against Spain. They’re world-class names. “Anyone who comes in to add to the squad and raise the team’s standard will always be welcome.”Dressing room harmonyBeyond transfers, Olmo also highlighted the strong bond within the dressing room and revealed that the close friendships he shares with many current players played a role in convincing him to return.“Yes. Many of us came through the youth academy and we’ve got a really close-knit group. And that was one of the things that motivated me to join as well. “Apart from being able to play with Lamine, Pedri, Gavi or Ferran in the national team, being able to do so every weekend, train with them and spend time together. “After all, they were my friends and I only saw them once every two months during the international break.”

Melvine Malard: Man United Women star steals spotlight for FranceManchester United Women had numerous players in international action throughout the course of Friday. Three United stars were called up for England’s giant matchup versus Spain in World Cup qualification.Ella TooneIn a repeat of the Euro 2025 final and the World Cup final, Jess Park and Maya Le Tissier were left on the bench.Ella Toone started on the right of midfield but made little impact as England were crushed 4-0 by Spain.She was substituted after 59 minutes and replaced by Beth Mead in the England attack.Safia Middleton-PatelUnited’s second-choice keeper was called up for Welsh duty and was in the starting line-up for her nation’s 1-1 draw with Montenegro.Mared Griffiths started on the bench, but the youngster came on in the 62nd minute and could not help her side find a winner.Melvine MalardUnited’s star Frenchwoman was critical in France’s 2-0 win over Poland.She opened the scoring for her side early in the second half when she was played in on goal and her shot deflected into the back of the net.Malard then played a lovely one-two with Sandy Baltimore, who smashed the ball into the roof of the net.Julia ZigiottiSweden fell to a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Denmark in their World Cup qualification campaign.Julia Zigiotti started in midfield and Anna Sandberg at left-back for the Swedes.Both played 90 minutes, but Hanna Lundkvist was an unused substitute in the match.Dominique JanssenJanssen suffered heartbreak as the Netherlands lost 3-2 in a tight match to Ireland.The United star scored a penalty in the 70th minute to equalise, but the Irish fought back to secure a priceless win.Former United player Aoife Mannion was on the winning side for Ireland in an impressive victory.Lea SchullerUnited’s two strikers started against each other as Lea Schuller led the line for Germany and Elisabeth Terland did the same for Norway.Both were substituted in the second half and neither could find the back of the net in Germany’s 2-0 win.Lisa Naalsund also started in midfield for the Norwegians.United Women stars will once again be in action on Tuesday for the final round of fixtures before the summer break.Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

A health worker walks past Ebola warning and instruction posters at a temporary health clinic at the Mpondwe border crossing linking Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)2026-06-06T04:47:11Z MPONDWE BORDER, Uganda (AP) — Leah Masika was on the verge of tears as she thought of her valuable consignment of plantain stuck in a long convoy of trucks on both sides of the Uganda-Congo border. Her cargo, destined for Uganda, was starting to leak water, and would go bad within hours if there was no movement.The Ugandan trader was awaiting clearance from authorities for trucks to pass through the Mpondwe border post on Thursday after they were prevented from entering or leaving Uganda as part of escalating measures to prevent cross-border Ebola contagion.“Our things are here rotting,” she said.On May 28, about two weeks after Congo declared an outbreak of Ebola in the eastern Ituri province, Uganda closed its western border in a decision that reflected growing fears of cross-border contagion. Exceptions were made only in emergency cases, including for the outbreak response, humanitarian, cargo or security reasons. But in recent days, as the spread of Ebola in eastern Congo appeared to outpace the response, authorities in the Ugandan frontier district of Kasese have tightened the measures. Traders say they are frustrated by the slow movement of cargo trucks. Some at the Mpondwe border post told The Associated Press that while they knew the tough measures are provoked by fear of Ebola contagion, they felt that holding up the trucks was excessive.Sylvia Asiimwe, a clearing agent, pointed to the queue of trucks stretching over a mile on the Ugandan side. At least seven were carrying fish imported from China and destined for the Congolese cities of Beni and Butembo.Asiimwe was adamant those Congolese towns are in the province of North Kivu, not the Ebola epicenter of Ituri. “The fish is going to spoil,” she said. “So much money.” Read More ‘Ebola has wasted our work’The Uganda-Congo border is several hundred miles long and crossed by numerous footpaths beyond formal border posts. Trade is often booming along the route up to Mpondwe, and there is kinship between the Bakonzo people on the Ugandan side and the Banande on the other side. Mpondwe is Uganda’s top border post for informal exports that were valued at an estimated $131 million in 2023, according to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics. After the recent border closure, some shops were shuttered and young men, deprived of casual work, sat on stools dolefully.“The situation is bad,” said Ismail Mumbere, who often works as a vendor of roadside snacks on the Ugandan side. “A lot of people earn from here, in many businesses. But now the government has told us there is Ebola. Ebola has wasted our work.” The current outbreak in Congo is suspected to have infected over 1,000 people. The number of confirmed cases is much lower because many suspected victims succumb to their symptoms outside hospitals and without firm proof they had Ebola. 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. The World Health Organization, while declaring the current outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, discouraged border closures. But the U.N. agency also acknowledged that neighboring countries are at high risk of contagion. “With movement of cargo, and maybe trucks, is mobility of people, and we want to reduce that,” said Arafat Bwambale, a surveillance officer for Kasese, defending the measures.Officials were trying to stop Congolese nationals from crossing to Uganda by way of more than two dozen footpaths along the Mpondwe border, he said. All available vaccines and treatments for Ebola don’t work for patients with the rare Bundibugyo type spreading in Congo, making the outbreak worrisome. Ugandan authorities are cautious after 15 confirmed casesUganda has confirmed 15 Ebola cases, all linked to the outbreak in the neighboring country after some Congolese nationals sought treatment in the Ugandan capital of Kampala before it was known there was an outbreak.The disease was believed to have been spreading for days or weeks before the outbreak was declared May 15.Uganda has had multiple Ebola outbreaks of its own since 2000, when the disease killed more than 200 people.Ebola, named for a tributary of the Congo River, was first discovered in 1976 in simultaneous outbreaks in Congo and present-day South Sudan. Outbreaks are believed to start with the virus spilling over into humans from an infected animal such as a fruit bat. These cross-species infections often happen when people handle and eat wild meat, according to experts. Once Ebola has infected one person, the virus then spreads through close contact with sick or deceased patients’ bodily fluids, such as sweat, blood, feces or vomit. Tracing and isolating contacts is seen as key to stopping the spread of Ebola, in addition to getting medical workers proper protective equipment.Bwambale, the surveillance officer, said the nearest referral hospital in Kasese has an isolation center and is equipped with a lab that can return results on a sample within six hours. In recent days, samples taken from 41 people in the Kasese area tested negative for Ebola, which manifests as hemorrhagic fever. Still, authorities appeared to be planning more restrictions.A meeting of the local Ebola task force was likely to come up with “a more restricted way on how both the cargo or the trucks get into the country in a systematic way,” Bwambale said.That alarms traders for whom the Mpondwe border post is the primary route of business.Masika, the plantain dealer, said she would not order more goods from Congo until the current outbreak was over. But she would be in trouble if the cargo already in transit didn’t reach various locations in and around Kampala, where the fruits, deep fried or boiled, are a staple of breakfast menus in restaurants.Masika said she couldn’t countenance a loss of 50 bags, each worth roughly $44.“We are begging them to help us and open (the border),” she said. “We will not go back to Congo.”___For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulseThe Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)2026-06-05T23:51:54Z SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democrat Xavier Becerra advanced to the general election for California governor Friday after pitching himself as an experienced choice to lead the nation’s most populous state and succeed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Becerra leaned on his more than 35 years in public office, including as state attorney general and U.S. health secretary, to argue that he was the most qualified candidate in a crowded field. “The people of the great state of California, in the greatest nation on earth, have spoken — loudly and proudly,” Becerra said in a statement. “We are never backing down. November, here we come.”It was not yet clear who Becerra would face in the general election. His top rivals came down to Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator backed by President Donald Trump, and Democrat Tom Steyer, a billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into his campaign. Born and raised in Sacramento by Mexican immigrant parents, Becerra has a wife and three daughters. He has said his family’s immigrant background mirrored his “underdog” gubernatorial campaign, in which he initially failed to garner substantial support before surging in the final months. After one of the top Democratic contenders, Rep. Eric Swalwell, was accused of sexual assault and dropped out of the race, Becerra benefited from an opening to coalesce Democratic support. He quickly racked up key endorsements from labor groups and Latino legislative leaders. Read More Becerra has vowed to maintain the state’s mantle as a chief antagonist to President Donald Trump. As attorney general, he filed more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on everything from immigration to climate policy. The president has also been in a spat with the state over its drawn-out vote count. Trump made baseless claims about mass fraud Thursday, and on Friday, federal prosecutors said they opened investigations into allegations of election fraud. Hilton called for California to limit mail ballots to those who request them, rather than sending them to all registered voters. During the campaign, Becerra’s rivals scrutinized his leadership as health secretary during the COVID-19 pandemic and the unaccompanied migrant children crisis in 2021, when Becerra’s Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for shelters where they were housed. Some of them were criticized as having inadequate living conditions, and there were also concerns about authorities failing to thoroughly vet sponsors with whom some children were placed. If elected, Becerra said, he would declare states of emergency to address high energy costs and housing shortages and to freeze home insurance rates. Though California is one of the nation’s most diverse states, Becerra would be the first Latino to hold the office since the late 1800s. Newsom was barred by term limits from seeking a third stint in office. SOPHIE AUSTIN Austin covers California state government and politics for the Associated Press. She reports on environmental, education and reparations policies. twitter mailto

From left; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Related Companies CEO Brent Behrman, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Oracle CEO Clay Magouyrk during the groundbreaking for the Barn data center in Saline Township , Mich., on Monday, June 1, 2026. (Jacob Hamilton/Ann Arbor News via AP)2026-06-06T04:02:37Z WASHINGTON (AP) — It was perhaps a surprising private overture from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to Sen. Bernie Sanders.The meeting between the two had come just after the Vermont senator announced a plan for the public to take a 50% ownership stake in artificial intelligence companies such as OpenAI, using their stock to create a public wealth fund that would spread the fortune generated by AI behemoths. Altman told Sanders that he, too, wants the public to have equity in AI companies. Though the CEO said he couldn’t support Sanders’ threshold of 50%, he nonetheless wanted to work with him to advocate for the general idea, according to people with knowledge of the conversation.The nearly hourlong meeting in Sanders’ Senate office this week, held at Altman’s request, highlighted the inherent tension between AI powerhouses and policymakers as Americans are increasingly asked to accept the costs of the AI boom even as they remain unconvinced of its direct benefits. Yet it’s also creating odd political bedfellows fueled by populism as politicians from Sanders to President Donald Trump embrace giving the public a stake in AI’s growth. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Trump described a potential partnership “where the American people can benefit from the success of AI” and said executives from leading AI companies will visit the White House, “probably next week,” to discuss the idea. “There’s something very interesting about it, where it almost becomes a partnership with the American public,” Trump, a Republican, said Friday. Read More When reporters noted to Trump that Sanders, a self-proclaimed democratic socialist, had proposed public ownership in AI companies, he pointed to similarities in their coalitions. The economic views of Trump voters and voters who supported Sanders for president, Trump said, “aren’t that far apart.” Trump has embraced government investment in private companies in his second term, scrambling his party’s politics. His administration last year secured a 10% stake in the struggling Silicon Valley company Intel, and it considered a government takeover of Spirit Airlines earlier this year, although the airline couldn’t reach a deal and ultimately closed.Public backlash is becoming harder to ignoreThe positioning of leading figures such as Trump and Sanders comes as concerns about AI are emerging far beyond Washington. In Michigan, Democrats recently clashed over Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s appearance with Altman at the site of a major data center. Candidates such as New York Democratic House hopeful Alex Bores have also made AI regulation a campaign issue by tapping into voters’ angst about the technology.“This is a real change to society,” Altman told reporters this week. “I think it’s possible both that people can use AI a lot and like using it and also have anxiety about what it’s going to do for the future.”Data center projects across the country have drawn opposition from residents concerned about electricity demand, water consumption and environmental impacts. Some states once eager to attract the facilities, including Ohio and Virginia, have moved to reconsider tax incentives. “We need to pass legislation right now that says there’s not going to be any further data center development until they agree to pay for their own electricity, build their own grids and pay for their own water supply,” Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, a leading Republican skeptic of Big Tech, told The Associated Press.Before arriving in Washington, Altman stopped in Michigan on Monday to appear alongside Whitmer, a Democrat, at the building site of a 1.65 million-square-foot data center. Whitmer’s team claimed the project will create more than 2,500 union construction jobs.But it also drew criticism from local activists and some Democrats, including Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who called the project “disgusting.” She said she was “so disappointed” in Whitmer.“It’s a very controversial topic right now and it’s coming from the ground up,” Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, said about the grassroots pushback. “People feel very strongly about it.” Whitmer, however, told reporters after the event that “one thing’s very clear, everyone has a cellphone in our pocket.”“We are all, more and more, consuming technology and data and these data centers are going to get built. So, my thought is if we can hold them to a high standard and do it in Michigan, that’s the best way to do it,” she said.The tensions extend beyond data centers. On college campuses, commencement speakers have been interrupted by boos when discussing artificial intelligence. About 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School.Altman acknowledged those concerns. He said that while “the impact on jobs has been less than many people in our field expected,” he understands “that college students have a lot of anxiety about the future.” Washington searches for an AI bargainThe idea that AI’s expansion is inevitable is increasingly shared by leaders across the political spectrum, even as they disagree sharply about how to manage it.That reality was at the center of Altman’s conversations in Washington. In addition to Sanders, Altman met with Trump administration officials such as Michael Kratsios, the White House’s chief science and technology adviser, and congressional leaders from both parties. Sanders’ team emphasized that the two did not reach an agreement on the main points that the senator made to Altman, including the 50% figure so the public has decision-making power. Sanders also expressed opposition to the growing election spending by the AI industry. “Unfortunately, Sam Altman did not commit to any of those,” said Sanders’ spokesperson Jeremy Slevin.Altman, in emerging from the conversation, described it as “great,” adding that the two “obviously don’t agree on everything.”Policy makers are also looking at how AI should be governedCongress this week released a bipartisan framework that would establish the first broad federal approach to AI regulation while temporarily preempting many state laws.Anthropic, one of OpenAI’s top competitors, has proposed mechanisms for coordinating pauses on advanced AI development if systems become too powerful.The Trump administration has also begun constructing its own oversight structure, signing an executive order to establish a process for reviewing national security risks posed by advanced AI systems before their public release.Sanders said he found the administration’s move notable after years of warnings that regulation could slow American innovation.“Even these guys are beginning to catch on that there are legitimate concerns that have to be dealt with,” Sanders said. JOEY CAPPELLETTI Cappelletti covers Congress for The Associated Press. He previously reported on Michigan politics for AP. twitter mailto SEUNG MIN KIM Kim covers the White House for The Associated Press. She joined the AP in 2022 and is based in Washington. Kim is also a political analyst for CNN. twitter mailto

NEW CHANDIGARH: Seldom does Gautam Gambhir shed his game face. Friday morning, the eve of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, was no different. At the outset, this Test, which is not even a part of the World Test Championship cycle, is largely a relationship-building exercise by 'big brothers' BCCI to help Afghanistan cricket gain exposure of playing a Test against a top team. For head coach Gambhir, though, it is a practice round to firm up the roadmap as they head into a decisive nine months of the WTC cycle. Finding his team languishing sixth in the WTC points table is a rude reality check for Gambhir after the high of defending the T20 World Cup in his last assignment three months ago. Gambhir takes offence when his team is referred to as a side in transition. In Manchester last year, he corrected the media and called the team an inexperienced one instead of one in transition. On Friday, he interrupted a query on transition and sternly responded: “The actual transition happened in England. It’s been nine Test matches. So, it’s not a long phase. We lost two Test matches against South Africa and that hurts. The consistency will be missing because these are young boys.” India floundered at the back end of the last WTC cycle after Gambhir took charge in 2024. The defeat against South Africa at home last year has dented the chances in this cycle as well. Hence, every move from here on will be to resurrect the team’s chances of qualifying in the nine remaining WTC Test matches. Thus, there is very little reprieve for the regular Test players coming off a gruelling IPL season. Gambhir chose to remind that Test cricket was taken very seriously even before WTC started in 2019 and there’s no reason why this Test should be treated differently. After all, this is the first Test after the abject surrender against South Africa. Identifying fourth spinner for SL tour This match is an opportunity to plug a few holes in the resource pool. With the ageing Ravindra Jadeja being rested here, the team management is hunting for an extra spinner for the two-Test series on presumably turning pitches in Sri Lanka in August. The two new left-arm spinners in Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar are essentially on trial. “This probably is the only Test match where we can look at someone who could be a fourth spinner. We go to Sri Lanka after this and we might have to carry four spinners as well there. So, this is an ideal opportunity to try someone who could be a long-term fourth spinner as well,” Gambhir said, hinting that whoever plays on Saturday could be the fourth spinner in the ranks after Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. Prioritising Tests The team management, led by captain Shubman Gill, have been vocal about the small turnaround time before marquee Test assignments. Gill has even gone on to demand a 15-day window to prepare for a Test series. The team has got that window ahead of the Sri Lanka tour. But the two Tests in New Zealand are scheduled on the heels of five-T20I and five-ODI series. “We’re very fortunate that we’ve got enough time before the Sri Lanka series after the England tour. That’s enough time to prepare for those two Test matches. In New Zealand, there are only three days between the last ODI and the first Test match. We will have to pull out ODI players who are part of the Test squad,” Gambhir said. “We’ve realized that we need to start preparing better in red-ball cricket and that was something which was lacking against West Indies and also against South Africa. And that is something which we’re going to do going forward,” he added. Long rope for Sudharsan Gambhir asserted that the team wants to give a longer run to get a definitive batting option at No. 3. While there have been question marks over Sudharsan’s performances, Gambhir indicated that the team may stick with him over Devdutt Padikkal. “I’ve always believed we give the players a fair run. Sai is not in bad form. He’s got 700 runs in IPL. If we judge players by only four or five Tests, then I feel that we will never be able to build something. Whenever Devdutt’s time comes, we'll give him a fair run as well,” Gambhir said.

From left: Geoff Cohen, Sidney Perez and Peter Lawrence shared their World Cup memories at a special event at Signature Hendon Hall [Hendon Hall Care Home]Football fans who were at Wembley Stadium on 30 July 1966 have marked the nearly 60 years since the England men's team's greatest sporting triumph, recalling a day of "magic, nerves, and yet unrepeated history".Three men who witnessed England's 4-2 victory over West Germany in the World Cup final came together at Hendon Hall in north London, where England's squad were based during the tournament under manager Alf Ramsey.A hotel until 2018, Hendon Hall has since been converted into a care home.As part of Care Home Open Week, residents and guests gathered in the building's Bobby Moore Bar, surrounded by World Cup memorabilia, for a special rerun of the full match.Among those watching was Jeff Goldston, who secured a spot directly behind the goal at Wembley on that fateful afternoon."My ticket for the final was 10 shillings and sixpence, which is 55p," Goldston told the room. Adjusted for inflation, he researched that the ticket would cost £8 in today's economy."It is astonishing how things have changed," he said.Recalling the heart-stopping moment Geoff Hurst completed his hat-trick to seal England's 4-2 win, Goldston said: "I was literally behind the net. "Hurst was running towards me, and then he just hit it, and the net bulged towards me and everybody just went mad. It was just incredible."Residents and guests cheered on England again while watching a recording of the 1966 World Cup final [Hendon Hall Care Home]The screening brought back the intense anxiety felt by the 93,000-strong crowd as West Germany scored a last-minute equaliser to force extra time.Edward Cohen, an 87-year-old Hendon Hall resident and former judge, remembered the collective shock in the stadium."And then to our horror... Head in hands time. Head in hands time, and, 'Oh, no,'" Cohen said.The match is partly remembered for Geoff Hurst's controversial second goal which struck the underside of the crossbar.Goldston admitted: "We saw it hit the underside of the bar, but we didn't know anything after that. We didn't know it had gone in."Cohen, who watched the drama unfold from just 12 rows from the front, added: "I couldn't see whether the ball was over the line or not. "But who am I to say? The linesman makes the decision, and the referee agreed it, so there it was."Resident Sidney Perez lofts a replica Jules Rimet trophy while standing in front of a blue plaque for Bobby Moore - which incorrectly says England's captain received a knighthood [Hendon Hall Care Home]Also in the audience was fellow resident Sidney Perez, who recounted the early tension of the afternoon."We were 1-0 down fairly early on. It was exciting but worrying," he said.The screening concluded with Kenneth Wolstenholme's iconic commentary line: "Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over... it is now!"For Cohen, the screening brought back a long-running family joke about where the match ranks among the best moments of his life.Addressing the room, he said: "Marion went around telling our friends that Edward says that he's had three magnificent days in his lifetime: the day we got married, the day our first child was born, and the day England won the World Cup. But not necessarily in that order."Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Since OTAs started, the biggest topic around the Washington Commanders is whether they did enough to get Jayden Daniels more weapons in 2026, specifically at wide receiver. After Terry McLaurin, the Commanders have a room full of young guys who want to compete for a starting role, but do any of them have what it takes to carry that load? Right now, we don't really know the answer to that question.Not having that answer is one of many reasons for speculation that the Commanders will nab Brandon Aiyuk if the San Francisco 49ers release him. It's why Stefon Diggs is talked about. But these are free agency signings, and that's only one way to add players to your team.In light of the recent blockbuster trades for Myles Garrett and A.J. Brown, Bleacher Report suggested a few other trades that could have a similar impact. One of those trade scenarios has the Commanders landing Brian Thomas Jr. on their roster.Jacksonville Jaguars receive: 2027 first-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pickWashington Commanders receive: WR Brian Thomas Jr.The Jacksonville Jaguars appeared to have one of the biggest steals of the 2024 NFL draft on their hands after Brian Thomas Jr., the No. 23 overall selection that year, exploded for nearly 1,300 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 87 receptions as a rookie.A confounding follow-up campaign, one in which the wideout recorded a modest 48/707/2 stat line, could lead to a surprisingly early exit from Duval.Thomas dealt with physical and mental health challenges during his disappointing sophomore season. While he managed to appear in 14 games in 2025, he was often reticent to go across the middle and recently said that it 'hurt to run' at times.That's only a portion of what was written, but it's enough. It's not a secret that Thomas Jr. struggled in Liam Cohen's scheme in his second season, and it might be better for him as a player to land on a new team. It's also not abnormal for a player in his second year to struggle and have a down season.Brian Thomas Jr. still has an extremely high upside who could absolutely take the Commanders' offense to the next level opposite Terry McLaurin. He's still young, and he has WR1 potential, and McLaurin isn't going to be around forever. It would be really exciting to watch Jayden Daniels and these two receivers put on a show. While all of the talk centers on Daniels reuniting with Aiyuk, he played two seasons at LSU with Thomas, including their record-breaking final 2023 season. However, the Commanders already have just six picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, and giving up two of them on a single player is a tough pill to swallow. Especially with the draft being held in Washington, D.C. next year. Now, that doesn't mean that Adam Peters won't see this suggestion and try to find a different option, but as it stands, it's unlikely the Commanders will do something like this.Never say never, though. In the NFL, anything is possible. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Blockbuster trade idea lands Brian Thomas Jr.

How to Watch USA vs. Germany: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for USMNT Friendly originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Team USA will look to continue building momentum ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup when it competes in a friendly against Germany on Saturday.The Americans kicked things off with a 3-2 win against Senegal last weekend. Christian Pulisic had a goal and an assist in the friendly, and Folarin Balogun broke a 2-2 tie with the game-winning goal in the second half.Germany, meanwhile, secured a dominant 4-0 victory against Finland in its previous friendly. Deniz Undav scored two goals in the win, but he left the match with an apparent injury. However, Undav dismissed any concerns, saying that he "should be fine" after receiving treatment.Here is everything you need to know about Team USA vs. Germany, including TV and streaming options for the friendly.How to watch USA vs. Germany: TV channel, live streamTV channel: TBSLive stream: DIRECTVTeam USA's friendly against Germany will air nationally on TBS. Fans looking to stream the game can find it on DIRECTV.Catch every game — try DIRECTV FREE today! Stream live soccer, MLB and more with must-have sports channels like TNT, TBS, truTV, ESPN, FS1 and NFL Network — all included with DIRECTV.Start your FREE trial now and never miss a moment of the action. No contracts, no hassle, just wall-to-wall sports and entertainment.USA vs. Germany start timeDate: Saturday, June 6Time: 2:30 p.m. ETUSA vs. Germany is scheduled to kick off at 2:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 6. The game will be played at Soldier Field in Chicago.Team USA schedule 2026Match TypeOpponentDateTime (ET)VenueTV/Live streamFriendlyGermanyJune 62:30 p.m.Soldier Field (Chicago)TBS, DIRECTVWorld Cup (Group D)ParaguayJune 129 p.m.SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)Fox, DIRECTVWorld Cup (Group D)AustraliaJune 193 p.m.Lumen Field (Seattle)Fox, DIRECTVWorld Cup (Group D)TurkeyJune 2510 p.m.SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles)Fox, DIRECTV

Barcelona keeping close watch as La Liga veteran weighs up summer departure; Napoli interested tooBarcelona’s plans for the goalkeeping department could receive a timely boost this summer, with one of the club’s preferred targets now facing an uncertain future at Real Sociedad.According to Mundo Deportivo, Alex Remiro is considering a new challenge away from San Sebastian, creating a situation that Barcelona are following closely as they continue to shape their squad for the coming seasons.The Catalan giants have several important decisions to make between the posts. While Joan Garcia is expected to play a significant role in the club’s future plans and Wojciech Szczesny continues to provide experience, Barcelona are still evaluating options that could strengthen the position further. In that context, Remiro remains a goalkeeper who is highly appreciated within the club.Remiro weighs up his next career moveRemiro is ready to leave Real Sociedad. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)Although Remiro still has a contract with Real Sociedad until 2027, the report suggests the goalkeeper is seriously reflecting on whether the time has come to take the next step in his career.An exit is not considered inevitable, but it is a possibility that is gaining traction. Real Sociedad, on their part, are aware of the player’s thinking and appear willing to assess offers should a suitable proposal arrive.So far, Barcelona have not advanced beyond initial monitoring and informal contacts at this stage, but they continue to track developments carefully. Napoli are interested in Remiro too. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)The situation remains open, especially as other clubs have also entered the picture.Napoli in race tooIn that regard, Napoli are among the teams showing interest in the Spanish goalkeeper and have already been linked with a potential move. However, no formal negotiations between the Italian side and Real Sociedad have taken place so far, meaning the race remains wide open.Interestingly, Real Sociedad’s preparations for the future may already be underway, with Pellegrino Matarazzo requesting the arrival of a new goalkeeper, a move that could indicate the club is preparing for the possibility of Remiro’s departure.

🥐 Breakfast FC: CR7 already on fire 🔥, Mbappé's best rapper pick 👀Cristiano Ronaldo already on fire from free kicks 🔥With just a few days to go before the World Cup, Cristiano Ronaldo put in some specific free-kick work and fired some absolute rockets into the back of the net... Often criticized for his success rate in this area, will the Portuguese legend deliver at the perfect moment?Kyks' favorite artist 🎶In a long interview, Kylian Mbappé opened up about many topics, including some outside football. And his favorite music artist is... Ninho! Do you approve?When the Real saga inspires the wildest promises 😭The elections at Real have turned into a contest of promises between the two presidential candidates, the latest being Florentino Perez's pledge to make a €150 million offer to sign Olise. And it has clearly inspired others, since a candidate in Fenerbahçe's elections has promised... Mbappé!Yesterday's must-see stories 🍿- Perez's €150M target is... Olise- Transfer roundup for June 5- World Cup: Group A previewTV schedule 📺3:00 PM: Belgium - Tunisia (L'Equipe live)7:45 PM: Portugal - Chile (L'Equipe live)8:30 PM: United States - Germany (L'Equipe live)9:00 PM: Australia - Switzerland (L'Equipe live)10:00 PM: England - New Zealand (La chaîne l'Equipe)12:00 AM: Venezuela - Turkey (L'Equipe live)12:00 AM: Brazil - Egypt (L'Equipe live)This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

The race runs from Grimsby Town Hall to People's Park on Sunday morning [Tape 2 Tape]Thousands of runners and spectators are expected on the streets of North East Lincolnshire as the annual Great Grimsby 10K and Family Fun Run takes place on Sunday.The event, which is in its 11th year, will start at 09:00 BST and will see participants run from the town hall to the finish in People's Park.The park will also host a 1k fun run which organisers said is "suitable for all including pushchairs and wheelchairs".Race director Neil Pattison said the race "brings the community of Great Grimsby together"."We're supporting loads of local community groups and charities through the race," he said. "What we absolutely love is the crowds coming out on the roadside to cheer the runners on, to cheer their family and friends and to cheer the people who are visiting Great Grimsby from all over the country."Pattison said more than 4,000 runners were expected to take part.The route runs along Scartho Road, Louth Road and Peaks Parkway, before turning onto Welholme Road and finishing in People's Park.North East Lincolnshire Council said a number of roads would be closed for part of Sunday during the event.These include:• Town Hall Square• Doughty Road• Abbey Road• Bargate (Brighowgate to Nuns Corner) – A1243• A1243 Scartho Road (including roads accessed from it)• A1243 Louth Road (including roads accessed from it)• A16 Peaks Parkway (Louth Road roundabout to Welholme Road)• Welholme Road (A16 Peaks Parkway to Bargate A1243)There will also be no access or exit at Scartho Top from Matthew Telford Way.A staffed contraflow on Pelham Avenue will allow access to Waltham Road and a contraflow will be in place, including temporary removal of the one-way system at Winteringham Road East. The council added that access to the hospital would be maintained at all times.More details are available on the council's website.Listen to highlights fromLincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch thelatest episode of Look Northor tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.Download the BBC News app from the App Storefor iPhone and iPad orGoogle Play for Android devices More on this story Great Grimsby 10K to mark 10th anniversaryNew charity half marathon announcedOlympic champ to run marathon for paralysed rider Related internet links Great Grimsby 10K & Family Fun Run

SAN ANTONIO — The physicality began about an hour and a half before Friday’s opening tip.That’s when Mike Brown started flicking himself in the head.“One of the things that we preach is being present,” the head coach of the New York Knicks explained to reporters during his press conference before Game 2 of the 2026 NBA Finals. “In order to be present, you can't think about the past, you can't think about the future. For all of us as humans, that's hard as heck to do.”Sometimes, it requires a reminder.“I constantly — boom — flick myself in the head,” Brown said, demonstrating. “Tell myself: be present, be present, be present. I obviously mention it to the group, too. With those guys being who they are, they've really embraced it, and they're really trying to live it every single moment during this run.”Brown’s Knicks couldn’t think about the past. About the 12 straight games they’d won coming into Friday, one of the most remarkable runs in NBA playoff history. About the 12-point hole they’d dug early on in Game 2 against a San Antonio Spurs squad fighting for its season. About the incredible work they’d done in the second and third quarters to climb out of it, taking a 14-point lead of their own on a two-hand OG Anunoby dunk directly in front of Victor Wembanyama midway through the fourth quarter.Boom. Flick. Be present.They couldn’t think about the future. About the sound of the final buzzer, just six minutes away, that would signal that they were halfway home. About extending this miraculous stretch into a seventh week, into a city in the grip of a collective paroxysm of unbridled joy. About the career-defining achievement on the other end of that joy — the proverbial brass ring, the literal golden trophy, just beyond their reach.Boom. Flick. Be present.They had more pressing matters to attend to — namely, the final minute of Game 2, which had gone from coronation to coronary for New York in the blink of an eye.Facing the nearly existential crisis of a 2-0 deficit, the Spurs rose from the mat and charged the Knicks with everything they had, ripping off a 21-5 run capped by a Wembanyama and-1 to give the Spurs a 104-102 lead with 57.3 seconds to go. Suddenly, those visions of a parade down the Canyon of Heroes began to dissipate; suddenly, the Knicks were the team that couldn’t buy a bucket or string together consecutive steady possessions. Couldn’t go back to where they were; couldn’t just teleport to where they wanted to be.The good news? They’d been preparing for this.Boom. Flick. Be present.The message Brown delivered during that 21-5 run? “Stay composed.”“We could have folded a few times,” he said. “But our guys just kept fighting. They kept fighting, and the one thing I told them that, you know — you work on connectivity throughout the course of the year for moments like these. And no matter what run they went on, no matter what time of the game, our guys just kept uplifting one another.”Brunson, mired in a 6-for-23 shooting night, attacked Spurs forward Julian Champagnie, got two feet in the paint, bumped the larger defender off, stepped back and drained a tough-as-hell one-legged fadeaway jumper to knot the game at 104 with 39.3 seconds remaining. Two possessions later, he’d drain a clutch free throw to put the Knicks back in front.“For J.B., you call it rough shooting nights — I see him hitting the free throw to give us the game [...] the last game, he hit some of the craziest shots I've seen to give us the game,” Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns said. “So I don't know if … you say a rough shooting night, I see Captain Clutch doing what he's always been doing since I got here. When it comes down to the actual game? To winning the game? Number 11 can't be messed with.”But with the Spurs dogging him all night long, blitzing and trapping and bumping and harassing him the full 94-by-50, No. 11 needed help. He’d gotten plenty earlier in the game from Towns (21 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists), who continues to look like the best player in the series and has roundly outplayed Wembanyama through two games. He’d gotten more from Mikal Bridges (20 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists), who made some huge shots and huge plays in the pick-and-roll to help the Knicks withstand a stretch with both Brunson and a foul-trouble-plagued Towns on the bench in the third quarter.In that final minute, though, Brunson got it from Mitchell Robinson, whose status for this series was in question as recently as three days ago after undergoing surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand, but who was on the floor for two critical possessions in the final minute of a tied Finals game. Because somebody needed to guard that giant French dude, and Mitch damn sure wasn’t going to miss that opportunity.“I know we needed stops, and I had picked up a few fouls on him — like, I think, what, three early on?” Robinson said after the game. “So, in my mind, I was just like, defend without fouling. So that was kind of like how it went. Just, great contest.”Two of them, actually:“Just a heck of a job by Mitch guarding the most iconic player in the world on two possessions to possibly win the game,” Brown said. “Phenomenal.”Brunson’s late-game buckets and Robinson’s late-game stops, combined with a catastrophic San Antonio turnover with 10.5 seconds to go, got the Knicks over the finish line in a 105-104 thriller to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven set, as the scene now shifts to New York for Monday’s Game 3. Madison Square Garden promises to be an absolute madhouse, for multiple reasons; then again, damn near everywhere these Knicks go turns into a madhouse nowadays.You could hear it in the stands at Frost Bank Center, where another batch of loud and proud Knicks fans packed another road arena, dueling their hosts with “Let’s go, Knicks” chants early and celebrating throughout the concourse late. You could see it in the bowels of the arena after the game, where Ben Stiller and Fat Joe traded observations with reporters about the Knicks’ ability to keep taking punches and delivering counters, and where an enraptured Timothée Chalamet hugged friends, a Cheshire Cat grin spread across his face.Karl Towns Sr., having just watched his son once again roundly outplay the anointed future face of the sport, jovially chatted with Stephen A. Smith before heading for the exit, saying, “Two more, two more,” as he walked off. And Hall of Fame legend Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the franchise point guard of the Knicks’ 1970 and 1973 championship teams, held court in front of a gigantic replica of the Larry O’Brien Trophy, offering a sharp appraisal of Wembanyama’s costly final half-minute.“I saw [the last jumper was off,” Frazier told Yahoo Sports. “I could look at his face. He wasn’t shooting with confidence. He's fatigued. He doesn't know how to pace himself. That turnover? He was exhausted. Come on, that was egregious. [And then the] foul? Come on, man, you just lost the ball. Why are you fouling? You see, when you get tired mentally, you’re losing … a little calamity. And it cost them the game.”And maybe more than that. The Knicks have now won 13 consecutive games and haven’t lost in 45 days; the Spurs now need to beat them four times in five games in the next two weeks. The odds are firmly against them: This is the 47th time in NBA history that a team has gone up 2-0 on the road in a seven-game playoff series, according to WhoWins.com, and 41 of the first 46 teams to do so went on to win the series.“It was going to take everything to win the series anyway,” said Spurs guard Stephon Castle. “Putting ourselves in this type of predicament is going to be tough, but I don’t think it’s anything we can’t handle.”“We just got to try to make history not repeat itself,” said backcourt mate De’Aaron Fox.It’s not just the weight of all of NBA history on the Spurs, though; it’s the specific challenge of the recent history of their opponent.The Hawks made the Knicks taste their own blood in Round 1; the Knicks responded by rattling off three straight wins by a combined 96 points. The 76ers bounced back from a brutal Game 1 beatdown to put a scare into the Knicks in a six-point Game 2 loss; the Knicks responded by winning two games in Philadelphia by a combined 44 points. The Cavaliers put the Knicks in a 22-point hole in Game 1; the Knicks responded by outscoring them by 99 points over the remainder of the series.These Knicks don’t squander their opportunities. They exploit them, ruthlessly, often to the tune of overwhelming blowouts. Maybe that won’t happen against a Spurs team that is capable of throwing haymakers of its own — again, San Antonio has taken double-digit leads on New York in both of the first two games in this series — and that has shown what Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson calls “competitive response” to come back in each of its previous three playoff series.“We don't feel like we played well or up to our standard at least in the last two games. New York has played very well, and they're a part of that,” Johnson said after the game. “But we're going to go into Game 3, and if we play our brand of basketball up to our standard, we'll be just fine.”That’s the thing, though: If the Spurs do play up to that standard, and drag the Knicks back down into the mud, the Knicks have now proven comfortable with playing that kind of game, and eminently capable of winning it.“At this stage of the season, things aren't going to be pretty,” Brunson said. “It's going to be ugly. It's going to be grind-it-out. It's simple as that.”If it stays that simple — if the Knicks come out for Game 3 against the Spurs with the same mentality, poise, attention to detail and competitive fire that they displayed against Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland — then this series might not be coming back to San Antonio.“I don't think so,” Frazier told Yahoo Sports. “I think it's our destiny now, the way things have unfolded for the Knicks. Every game — the grit, the resiliency, the resourcefulness. I don't see it ending, because we've got 10 guys that are thriving. So, like tonight, Jalen was mediocre, and somebody steps up. And it’s been that way.”That kind of collective effort, will and spirit is vanishingly rare. Brown, a veteran of more than three decades on NBA benches, knows that all too well; he’s seen it in the championship teams on which he’s served as an assistant. Now that he sits two wins away from reaching the mountaintop as a head coach, he doesn’t need a head-flick reminder to appreciate it, to not take it for granted.“It's an amazing feeling as a coach to know how mentally tough your team is, no matter what the situation is in front of them — to see them continue to fight and fight and fight and fight, no matter what the score is, no matter how much time is on the clock, it's just a fantastic feeling,” Brown said. “The NBA is tough. You don't experience what I'm experiencing with this group a ton. And it is a freaking joy to be around.”

SAN ANTONIO -- A few notes from the Knicks’ Game 2 win over the Spurs:The Knicks still owe the Nets four first-round picks as part of the Mikal Bridges trade. They’ll send them over with a smile if Bridges continues to perform like he did on Friday night. The wing had 20 points on 13 shots while adding six rebounds and six assists to help the Knicks take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals.Bridges’ points came at some opportune moment as Knicks captain Jalen Brunson struggled with his shot. In the second and third quarters, Bridges hit all eight of his attempts for 20 points. Brunson was 2-for-8 with two turnovers in the same stretch.All in all, Bridges is averaging more than 16 points per game on roughly 60 percent shooting during the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak. For the second straight season, Bridges has had big moments in the playoffs following a so-so regular season.What is it that makes Bridges a playoff riser?“Just that desperation,” Bridges said. “You know, that desperation of trying to be the last team standing and trying to do whatever it takes to help my team win. There's nothing after June. You don't play again until October. So just try to give it all that I got and do whatever it takes for this team.”Thanks in part to Bridges, the Knicks are two wins away from their first NBA championship in 53 years.ROBINSON ROLLSMitchell Robinson defended Victor Wembanyama late in Game 2 -- and it worked out well. Mike Brown used Robinson on Wembanyama in the closing moments and Robinson delivered, helping to force Wembanyama into two missed shots.“Wemby is, I said it before, iconic,” Brown said. “There is nobody like from. He can score from all three levels. He wants the ball. Two big possessions at the end of the game we put Mitch on him. What I'm proud about more than anything else, Mitch defended him the right way.“Wemby is iconic. If he makes a shot, he makes a shot. You're not blocking a shot. You make him work, you lead with your chest. You show your hands and you embrace those details while trying to guard him and then box out. It started with Mitch and it ended with the other four guys boxing out.“So just a heck of a job by Mitch guarding the most iconic player in the world on two possessions to possibly win the game. Phenomenal.”With two more wins, Brown will draw accurate comparisons to Joe Torre in 1996. A low-key manager takes over for an intense coach and gets results in Year 1.

Amir Ibragimov continues rise with important international milestone Manchester United youngster Amir Ibragimov has hit a significant international milestone in his career.International riseIbragimov has been highly spoken about over the years due to his incredible talent and rise through the ranks at United.He is considered one of the best talents currently emerging out of Carrington, and has been tipped to go on and achieve great things in future.His progress has been somewhat hindered by injuries but no one can doubt his potential and impact when fully fit and available.Last month, Ibragimov was called up by Russia for their post-season international meetings against Egypt, Burkina Faso and Trinidad and Tobago. The call-up came just after he returned from a five-month spell on the sidelines with a broken foot.Although Ibragimov was also eligible to represent England, he appears to have opted for Russia, having accepted their call-up request.The 18-year-old took another step forward as he made his debut for Russia during their 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso on Friday.Top international achievementIbragimov was named on the bench by manager Valeriy Karpin. He was brought on in the 60th minute in place of Aleksey Miranchuk.The United talent slotted on the right side of the attack.During the time he was on the pitch, Ibragimov successfully found a teammate with 25 of the 26 passes he attempted (96% individual pass accuracy).The teenager touched the ball 28 times and attempted one dribble. He also contributed one tackle and as many recoveries.(Stats obtained from Sofascore)Ibragimov will be hoping for more minutes on Tuesday, when Russia face Trinidad and Tobago. He will then focus on keeping fit and recharging his batteries ahead of pre-season with United.Feature image Ben Roberts Photo via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Bulinews Player of the Season Awards: Bayer Leverkusen’s Player of the SeasonIn what would most likely be his last season at Bayer Leverkusen, Alejandro Grimaldo is picked as the club’s best player by Bulinews writers. The Spaniard was the outright winner, with seven votes out of the ten available.Bayer Leverkusen’s start to the campaign was chaotic as Erik ten Hag was fired after two games. A respectable run in the Champions League and a sixth-placed Bundesliga finish weren’t enough to keep Kasper Hjulmand for next season as well. Grimaldo and his compatriot Aleix Garcia were the only Leverkusen players to surpass 4,000 minutes of action in all competitions this season. He was the assist leader, while his 14 goals (eight in Bundesliga) were only bettered by Patrick Schick.STANDOUT PERFORMANCE:The attacking wingback scored a brace on three different occasions, including his first-half goals in the 6-3 win over Wolfsburg on matchday 28. The home draw with champions Bayern was the only game he missed in the second half of the season.His first brace of the season was a special one as he scored two direct free-kicks in Hjulmand’s first game in charge. In total, the 30-year-old found the net five times from similar situations, which is one better than the last two seasons combined.HONOURABLE MENTIONS:Schick was only beaten for the throne by Florian Wirtz in last season’s voting, but he hasn’t won a single vote this time around despite a strong end to the campaign. Meanwhile, the remaining votes went to Ibrahim Maza (2) and Jarell Quansah (1), who will be among the players representing Leverkusen in the World Cup, after impressive displays in their first Bundesliga experience.

OPINION | What defensive players should Borussia Dortmund consider adding to their ranks this summer?With the Bundesliga season now over, the ink is dry on the 2025/26 campaign and Borussia Dortmund look to be facing a large-scale overhaul this coming summer. Players like Julian Brandt and Salih Ozcan are set to leave on free transfers, while former Germany international Niklas Süle has announced his retirement from professional football. These departures will leave gaps in their own ways, but centre-back in particular is a position that faces the most uncertain future at the club. While Ole book has already helped pen the signing of talented young centre back Joane Gadou from RB Salzburg, club captain Emre Can is still out injured for the foreseeable future. This, coupled with Süle’s retirement and the looming possibility that Nico Schlotterbeck leaves due to a reported release clause means that there could still be a need for significant restructuring. There is also no guarantee that Ramy Bensebaini doesn’t seek pastures new as the player is turning 30 and Waldemar Anton has also been linked with a possible departure, with Premier League clubs and Atletico Madrid all seemingly interested. Ole Book confirmed that departures were very much possible, especially if players performed exceptionally well at the upcoming World Cup and while Dortmund don’t need to sell, Dortmund’s new sporting director did indicate that the club needs to “manage resources wisely”. With this summer set to be a big one for the club, Dortmund are likely prepared for some of these eventualities and could still be very active in the market when it comes to the defensive contingent of the squad. Let’s take a look at some options and how they may be able to fill the gaps caused by some of these possible departures and extensive layoffs. The sustainability of recruiting from withinFirst and foremost, it’s important to take a look at what options Dortmund have in house. Aside from the aforementioned Schlotterbeck, Anton, injured Can, Bensebaini and new signing Gadou, Borussia Dortmund’s options at centre-back include academy standouts Luca Reggiani, Filippo Mane and Mussa Kaba. Reggiani on his part has featured across 513 minutes of senior football this season, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 win over Augsburg in the Bundesliga. Mane, who started brightly after the departure of Aaron Anselmino to Chelsea after his loan was terminated, suffered a thigh injury vs Hoffenheim and was sidelined until April. Kaba, while also talented, is yet to make his first professional start. If Dortmund do not make any more sales, having the likes of Reggiani, Mane and Kaba waiting in the wings could be enough, but should further shake ups occur and considering Dortmund’s luck with injuries, they may be forced to take on a larger load of minutes than they are ready for. In terms of these players, Reggiani may instead benefit from a loan, as would Mane. Kaba, due to his versatility, also plays as a defensive midfielder and is likely where we would see the young Germany u-17 international feature more prominently Book’s aforementioned comments also suggest Dortmund are not excluding the idea of additional departures, making it even more imperative for the club to identify players that can replace senior starters quickly and efficiently or carry the burden of minutes when called upon. Kacper PotulskiThe first name that comes to mind in terms of possible reinforcements is Mainz’s Kacper Potulski. Potulski starts off this list as a young, but stalwart possible addition to this Dortmund defence. Potulski had a sensational season with Mainz, having shown some very strong defensive performances throughout his time in the Bundesliga, with the young Pole even scoring against Bayern Munich as an extra additive. Potulski is a right footed centre back often lauded for the physical nature of his play. He is aerially dominant, winning 3.23 aerial duels per 90 this season. He also contributes with 1.53 interceptions, 1.27 blocks, and 6.20 clearances per 90; numbers that highlight his defensive abilities despite his young age. The physical nature of his play makes him a handful for any striker he comes up against, something that Dortmund’s own Serhou Guirassy came to realise in the club’s latest clash against Mainz. Despite his side losing 4-0, Potulski came on and put in a commendable performance, chipping in with 3 tackles, 4 clearances and 5 recoveries. He also won all of his 3 ground duels, making his presence very much known. Potulski is also an asset in attack. His aforementioned goal vs Bayern showed his ability to get into great scoring positions. His run during Mainz’s set piece found him in position to deftly head the ball past Manuel Neuer, giving Mainz the spark they needed to get an eventual draw at the end of the matchday. In the game against Dortmund, despite coming on as a sub, Potulski had five touches in the opposition box and created two chances. In a side like Dortmund, there is a strong chance that these numbers would become more consistent. Of course, Potulski is far from perfect and still has quite a bit to learn. One area in particular is his ability to play accurate long balls. While some of Potulski’s performances have shown he has the ability to play the ball out from deep and switch the side of play the way Schlotterbeck does for Dortmund, this is not a cornerstone of his play-style. Considering how much Dortmund has relied on this from all its centre-backs in recent seasons, this may be something we would want to see Potulski lean more into, or the impetus will fall on the other defensive options to do more of this. Both Anton and especially Bensebaini have also shown the ability to progress the ball forward successfully, so even if Dortmund were to bring in Potulski as a replacement for either of these players, it shouldn’t be too much of an ask for the Dortmund defense to cover for cumulatively and it would give him time to develop these skills, especially considering he is only 18. In an ideal world however, Potulski would come in as an option next to Schlotterbeck, considering his right footed nature and style of play could complement the German international, allowing him to push further forward while Potulski hangs back. Bundesliga experience is also a plus for Potulski, as the Pole has shown his ability to adapt quite quickly to the German top flight. Mainz have the young Polish cenre-back tied down to a contract until 2028, and with his current market value sitting at €12m, per Transfermarkt, they will be unlikely to want to part with him easily. The effort may be well worth it for Dortmund as securing Potulski would add sound, but youthful depth to their defence. Youri BaasAjax’s Youri Baas is another option Dortmund may want to consider stepping up interest in, especially in the scenario that one of the club’s senior centre-backs ends up looking to leave this summer. Baas has had an exceptional season for Ajax, having played 2760 minutes of football and chipping in with four goals and one assist from his defensive position on the pitch.One of the first things that caught my eye with Baas was his ability to put in clean, sliding tackles. His ability to do so reminds me very much of some of the plays we’ve seen from both Schlotterbeck and Bensebaini, who have both shown they are capable of such precision stops. In terms of the numbers, he averages 1.86 tackles and 1.01 blocked shots per 90. He also boasts an impressive 4.57 recoveries per 90. These abilities would serve him well in Dortmund’s current set up, and could see him playing to the left of Schlotterbeck, with Anton or Gadou on the opposite end of the back three. Baas also stands out for his ability to play with the ball at his feet. The player has found himself pushing forward into midfield for Ajax on a number of occasions, and his ability to turn with the ball has allowed him to put it into dangerous positions for his teammates to get a chance off. This chance creation also lends itself to his ability to provide his teammates with accurate long balls. His pass success percentage for the season sits at 92.4%, and this propensity for accurate long balls is highlighted very well by his assist to Mika Godts in Ajax’s 3-3 draw vs Sparta Rotterdam. The long ball was perfectly weighted to his Belgian teammate, allowing him to run onto it and bury his shot deftly in Rotterdam’s goal. Baas also averaged 0.33 successful dribbles per 90, which is commendable for a center back to say the least. The player is also versatile and like Bensebaini, can also play left-back if necessary. This would also be important for Dortmund to consider especially if a player like Bensebaini leaves, and incoming left-back Kaua Prates needs an extended period of time to settle in, which is not unlikely. Otherwise, it would mean that Daniel Svensson would have to once again play an extortionate amount of minutes without proper rest. While it is clearly not the goal to slot him in this position for any extended period of time, Baas does have the tools to perhaps take some minutes off of Svensson in a pinch or amidst an injury crisis. In Baas, Dortmund would secure a long term, talented option at the centre of the park that could help directly offset the loss of most of Dortmund’s current starting centre-backs (barring Schlotterbeck, at least in terms of level of play, not profile). At 23, he is at the right age where a move to a club like Dortmund makes sense. His contract is also up in 2028 like the aforementioned Potulski and Ajax would likely not want to let him go for any less than his reported €20m, per Transfermarkt. In all likelihood, the transfer fee in question would very much exceed this figure. That being said, there is clearly more than one option for Dortmund to consider for the summer transfer window should additional departures in the defensive end of the park occur. Considering the age profiles of some players, such as Bensebiani or Anton, bringing in another youthful defender to either deputize or replace them would be very sensical, especially where the latter is concerned. There is no time like the present for Dortmund to reinforce, as Book in particular has brought a new sense of energy and impetus to Dortmund with fresh ideas for squad planning, and a vision to make Dortmund competitive once again.GGFN | Brian Szlenk

Jalen Brunson scored the winning basket - and only five of 37 teams who have taken a 2-0 Finals lead have then failed to win the championship [Getty Images]The New York Knicks survived a late rally by the San Antonio Spurs to win 105-104 and take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals as they seek a first championship in 53 years.With nine and a half seconds remaining on the clock, Jalen Brunson stole possession after Spurs' Victor Wembanyama passed the ball into team-mate Stephon Castle's back.Wembanyama then fouled Benson, who converted the free-throw to give the Knicks the decisive point.There was still time for Wembanyama to attempt to tie the game for the Spurs, but he missed from 20 feet on the buzzer to hand the Knicks their 13th successive play-off victory.Wembanyama has been at the centre of much of the drama in the NBA Finals so far - in game one, he was approached by a spectator who ran on to the court, filming himself on his phone.NBA chief warns fans after 'stupid' court invasionKnicks lead NBA Finals after late run beats SpursAppearing in the Finals for the first time since 1999, the Knicks are the third team to win the first two games of a Finals away from home.The Chicago Bulls did it in 1993, and the Houston Rockets in 1995. Each side went on to win the championship.After a quiet first-half performance, Wembanyama led a Spurs' comeback, scoring 22 second-half points as they caught up with 14-in-a-row in the final quarter.In the final seconds, the scores were level as the Frenchman passed the ball into Castle's back, which gave Brunson a chance to grab the winning basket. In a post-match news conference, Wembanyama conceded that he was not at his best, having starred on the Spurs' route to the Finals."We need to never get too high and never get too low," said the 22-year-old, appearing in the Finals for the first time. "Personally, I think I could have been better in recovering from the high of the conference finals."I threw that [misplaced pass] away. I messed up. "Am I going to regret it? Yes, of course. Am I going to use that to fuel me and to fuel us next game? Absolutely."Meanwhile, match-winner Brunson credited the team environment for his sparkling form after his final-quarter scoring also won game one for the Knicks."I think most importantly, knowing we're on the road, and knowing my team-mates have my back, I think that's the biggest thing in an environment like this," Brunson said."The trust they have in me and the trust I have in them, it's got us to this point."The best-of-seven series continues on Monday, when the Knicks host the Spurs at Madison Square Gardens in New York City. US president Donald Trump, who was born in New York City, plans to attend as the Knicks hunt their first championship since 1973.

Liam Kelly continues to have a positive influence on the Scotland squad despite having just three caps [Getty Images]Liam Kelly looks perplexed after being told he has been singled out by some team-mates as Scotland's "hype man".Then, a lightbulb moment."Aye, that happens naturally when you don't play a lot of games," he jokes. "You need to bring something to the party."The 30-year-old, with three caps to his name, is World Cup-bound as Scotland's third-choice goalkeeper after playing three games for Rangers in the past season.An injury crisis would need to occur for his handful of international appearances to increase in the United States, but his underrated influence in the squad does not go unnoticed."I don't do anything special," he tells BBC Scotland. "When the boys go into the game, I just want them to give it their full whack, know what I mean?"Don't disappoint the opposition by bringing half measures - just go for it."The 'most positive guy' & Hanley's back shaverDiscourse around squad selections can often get bogged down by people demanding that players who are playing and in form must be picked.But is there enough said about having a lad who will be relentless in bringing vibes to the group?"Liam's in there because he's a very good third goalkeeper," said head coach Steve Clarke.What does that actually mean, though?The Scotland boss adds: "He's good around the squad" - tick - "his character's good" - tick - "the players respect him" - tick - and "he works ever so hard in camp" - tick.Oh, and he apparently "shaves Grant Hanley's back", according to Kenny McLean. For the sake of Kelly - and our imaginations - we can all hope that is a joke.McLean also told BBC Scotland that Rangers' back-up goalkeeper is the "most positive guy you will meet".Perhaps the red-tinted sunglasses he wears at night to help replenish his melatonin have something to do with that.Scotland's Claudia Winkleman?When Norwich midfielder McLean scored that goal against Denmark in November, Kelly was one of the first to empty the Scotland bench and lead the chasing pack.He shares a strong bond with the 34-year-old and other senior figures within the group, such as Andy Robertson. He sits beside the captain on international commutes.Nobody has a bad word to say about the former Motherwell player and optimism just always seems to be oozing out of him despite two seasons of limited minutes.Game time was not a problem at Fir Park, where Kelly was first choice for four years before moving back to Rangers, where he started his career as a young prospect.Long-time pal and former team-mate Andy Halliday played with him at both clubs.He remembers Kelly's impact in the Motherwell dressing room, controlling fines, organising days out and running a Traitors-like card game, which some of the Scotland squad got involved in during Sunday's long-haul flight to the US."That's just his way of making sure everyone bonds together," Halliday tells BBC Scotland.At Rangers, his first impressions of the then teenage Kelly were his character standing out despite his age. "Typical Glasgow boy, gallus," he adds.The fact Kelly's three closest mates at Ibrox at that time - Halliday, Lee Wallace and Kenny Miller - were all of an older age told the former midfielder a lot about his personality.And Halliday is in no doubt that the goalkeeper's nature will be having a positive impact among the Scotland squad, even if time on the park will inevitably be restricted."He's opinionated in a good way, whether he's playing or not," Halliday tells BBC Scotland. "Experienced players will go to Liam and have chats around the game."Liam will accept himself his role won't involve many minutes on the pitch. A lot of it will involve what he can bring off the pitch."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

🗞️Today’s front pages: Klopp, Olise and the women’s teamWeekend ahead of the start of the World Cup and the Real Madrid presidential elections, with many key figures in the spotlight.Many big names on a Saturday featuring Klopp as a candidate for the Madrid bench if Riquelme wins, Olise as Florentino’s galáctico, a Spain side that crushed England, and a national team setting course for the dream of a second star.MARCAASMundo DeportivoSPORTSuperdeporteEstadio DeportivoSphera SportsL'EsportiuThis article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

NEW CHANDIGARH: India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir on Friday supported the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) initiative to use the pink ball during day Tests to minimise truncated matches due to bad light or inclement weather.The ICC recently approved a trial of using pink balls in regular Tests, with prior agreement from both teams in bad light situations.“I love that (pink-ball idea). I always believe that if there’s an opportunity to get a result, you should have that opportunity,” Gambhir said, adding, “Imagine if you are playing the last Test before the WTC final and you have the chance to win and qualify, but it’s prevented by bad light. If there’s an opportunity to get a result both teams should agree to it. It could be a little uncertain or difficult for the players playing in that Test.”India’s next Test assignments are in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, where weather disruptions are very common.

The WWE SmackDown preview for June 12, 2026, marks the return of the promotion to the states after an eventful WWE European Tour. Last week’s Friday Night Fight Night has a lot of things that need settling this Friday night on the Blue brand. The King and Queen of the Ring tournaments’ first round will conclude after four amazing Fatal 4-Ways, and we turn our attention to the semis as the format goes back to one-on-one. Plus, the “Ring General” names his terms for his Undisputed WWE Title Match.We are back stateside in Providence, Rhode Island, as WWE spears forward to its next big WWE PLE, Night of Champions. With all that out of the way, here’s a WWE SmackDown preview for June 12, 2026. Let’s run it down.The Conclusion to the King and Queen of the Ring 2026 1st RoundThe King and Queen of the Ring 2026 tournaments began hot and heavy, with a couple of Fatal 4-Way Matches, which saw The Judgment Day reign supreme on their qualifiers last week on WWE SmackDown. This week, we’ll see another former Judgment Day member take the stage, as Finn Balor makes his SmackDown debut, taking on Jey Uso, LA Knight, and Royce Keys.All four men have a chip on their shoulder, as winning this tournament means they can get a boost in their respective careers with a guaranteed main event slot and championship match at SummerSlam 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.The same goes for the ladies in the Queen of the Ring tournament, as #AndNEW Women’s Intercontinental Champion Sol Ruca looks to add another notch in her belt as she takes on Lyra Valkria, Charlotte Flair, and Jade Cargill.These competitors blend a mix of the present and future, and will be a massive showcase of what the WWE women’s division is all about. Ruca recently had her crowning achievement, thus far, in her burgeoning career. Valkyria, on the other hand, is looking for a direction as she looks to kickstart her dominance once again if she wins Queen of the Ring.For Cargill and Flair, they’re hungry for another run with the WWE Women’s Title, and this tournament is a guaranteed ticket to possibly achieving that. The field is stacked as we close out the 1st round of these two massive tournaments and go full speed ahead to the semis!The Ring General Enforces the RulesA WWE SmackDown graphic featuring Cody Rhodes and Gunther. (Photo Credit: WWE)On this past week’s SmackDown in Italy, Gunther went absolutely haywire with rage after his controversial loss to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, demanding the champion grant him a “much-deserved” shot. Rhodes agreed, saying that if he wants it, he has it, and they can do it then and there in Italy. Unfortunately for Rhodes, Gunther is now more careful than ever, with his legal team even reaching out to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis.A WWE SmackDown graphic featuring Gunther. (Photo Credit: WWE)The “Ring General” wants to name the stipulation for their title match in Kansas City, ensuring there would be no shady ending to their impending rematch. QB1 was more than forthcoming to the request, saying Gunther can name any stipulation he wants, and Cody Rhodes wants him to bring it. Bring it, he shall. Gunther will be back on WWE SmackDown this Friday night to lay down the law.What will Gunther have in store for Cody Rhodes and their Undisputed WWE Championship Match?WWE SmackDown Preview – Match Card (6/12/26):A WWE SmackDown graphic featuring the Queen of the Ring Tournament. (Photo Credit: WWE)King of the Ring 2026 Tournament – Fatal 4-Way First Round: Jey Uso vs. LA Knight vs. Royce Keys vs. Finn BalorQueen of the Ring 2026 Tournament – Fatal 4-Way First Round: Sol Ruca vs. Lyra Valkyria vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Jade CargillGunther Names His Stipulation for His Undisputed WWE Title Match

T20 Mumbai 2026 schedule: Fixtures, score, format, squads and live streaming for season 4 matches originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:T20 Mumbai League 2026 (season 4) takes place from June 1 to June 13, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.The event includes eight men’s teams and the first-ever women’s edition, comprising a total of 30 games.The structure involves group stages and playoffs involving semi-finals and finals.The event will be live-streamed on Jio Hotstar and telecast by Star Sports Network.T20 Mumbai League 2026:Teams & format | Schedule & scores | Points table & playoff chances | Squads | Where to watchT20 Mumbai 2026: Season 4 returns with women’s editionThe T20 Mumbai League will return for the fourth time in 2026, featuring some of the best talent in the country, including the India national side, in a brief but exciting cricketing spectacle. The tournament, arranged by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), will take place for just over two weeks amid an already congested cricket schedule at the Wankhede Stadium.Apart from the men’s version of the league, there will also be the first-ever staging of a three-team women’s version.When does T20 Mumbai 2026 start and end?The T20 Mumbai 2026 (Season 4) will run from June 1 to June 13, 2026, with all matches scheduled at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.T20 Mumbai 2026 teams listMenThe following eight teams competing in the men's category of the T20 Mumbai 2026:Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western SuburbsARCS AndheriBandra BlastersMumbai South Central Maratha RoyalsNorth Mumbai PanthersSoBo Mumbai FalconsEagle Thane StrikersTriumph Knights Mumbai North EastWomenThe following are the three teams in the women's leg of the T20 Mumbai 2026:Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western SuburbsSoBo Mumbai FalconsThane Sky RisersMORE:RCB trophies: IPL glories, WPL success & full title list revealed 🏆What is the format of T20 Mumbai 2026?MenThe men's tournament is conducted using the round-robin system with eight teams competing in the league stages, playing five games each.The best four teams who play in the league stage move into the playoffs with the semi-finals being played between 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd followed by the finals between the winners.Top four teams qualify for the playoffsSemi-finals: 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rdWinners meet in the finalWomenFor the women's event, which is new to the series beginning from 2026 onwards, the format is relatively shorter. This consists of a brief league stage followed immediately by the finals.This new ladies' event will be conducted simultaneously with the men's event at the same venue, Wankhede Stadium.Top two teams advance to the finalSingle final decides the championMORE:GT team bus suffers short-circuit scare after IPL final lossWhere to watch T20 Mumbai 2026 live: TV channel and live streamingFans in India can follow the T20 Mumbai 2026 action live on Star Sports Network TV channels, with live streaming available on Jio Hotstar app and website.With no reported broadcast details for matches outside India, it is unlikely that there will be any for regions outside India.CountryTV channelLive streamingIndiaStar Sports NetworkJio HotstarT20 Mumbai League 2026 – Ticket rates and purchase detailsTickets can be booked online through district by Zomato in the following price ranges: Level 1: Rs. 99; Level 2: Rs. 199; Garware Pavilion Level 2: Rs. 299.T20 Mumbai 2026: Full match schedule, live score and resultsAll T20 Mumbai 2026 matches, men and women, will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Here are the complete schedules:MenEach matchday has two matches, one in the afternoon and the other with an evening start, with the final set for June 13 evening.DateFixtureLocal time (IST)ResultJune 1Bandra Blasters (189/9) vs Eagle Thane Strikers (194/1)2:00 p.m.Strikers won by 9 wicketsJune 1Aakash Tigers MWS (165/8) vs MSC Maratha Royals (165)7:00 p.m.Royals won by Super OverJune 2North Mumbai Panthers (209/5) vs Triumph Knights MNE (188/8)2:00 p.m.Panthers won by 21 RunsJune 2SoBo Mumbai Falcons (126) vs ARCS Andheri (127/5)7:00 p.m.ARCS won by 5 wicketsJune 3Bandra Blasters (228/5) vs North Mumbai Panthers (228/8)2:00 p.m.Panthers won by Super OverJune 3Aakash Tigers MWS (172/9) vs Eagle Thane Strikers (171)7:00 p.m.Tigers won by 1 runJune 4MSC Maratha Royals (152/9) vs SoBo Mumbai Falcons (156/7)2:00 p.m.Falcons won by 3 wicketsJune 4Triumph Knights MNE (178/8) vs Bandra Blasters (179/6)7:00 p.m.Blasters won by 4 wicketsJune 5Eagle Thane Strikers (129) vs ARCS Andheri (130/1)2:00 p.m.ARC won by 9 wicketsJune 5North Mumbai Panthers (194/6) vs Aakash Tigers MWS (172/9)7:00 p.m.Panthers won by 22 runsJune 6Bandra Blasters vs MSC Maratha Royals2:00 p.m.June 6Triumph Knights MNE vs SoBo Mumbai Falcons7:00 p.m.June 7ARCS Andheri vs Aakash Tigers MWS2:00 p.m.June 7Eagle Thane Strikers vs North Mumbai Panthers7:00 p.m.June 8MSC Maratha Royals vs Triumph Knights MNE2:00 p.m.June 8ARCS Andheri vs Bandra Blasters7:00 p.m.June 9SoBo Mumbai Falcons vs Aakash Tigers MWS2:00 p.m.June 9Triumph Knights MNE vs Eagle Thane Strikers7:00 p.m.June 10SoBo Mumbai Falcons vs North Mumbai Panthers2:00 p.m.June 10ARCS Andheri vs MSC Maratha Royals7:00 p.m.June 11Semi-final 12:00 p.m.June 11Semi-final 27:00 p.m.June 13Final7:00 p.m.WomenWith the women's games running concurrently with the men's tournament at the same venue, start times will be in the mornings, with only the final on June 13 set for an afternoon start time.DateFixtureLocal time (IST)ResultJune 2SoBo Mumbai Falcons (173/6) vs Thane Sky Risers (157/8)9:30 a.m.Falcons won by 16 runsJune 3Aakash Tigers MWS (113/9) vs SoBo Mumbai Falcons (117/3)9:30 a.m.Falcons won by 7 wicketsJune 6Thane Sky Risers (156/6) vs Aakash Tigers MWS (157/3)9:30 a.m.Tigers won by 7 wicketsJune 7Aakash Tigers MWS vs SoBo Mumbai Falcons9:30 a.m.June 9SoBo Mumbai Falcons vs Thane Sky Risers9:30 a.m.June 10Thane Sky Risers vs Aakash Tigers MWS9:30 a.m.June 13Final2:00 p.m.MORE:IPL 2026 Team of the Tournament: Best XI, captain, impact player ft. SooryavanshiT20 Mumbai 2026 points tableMenRankTeamMatchesWinsLossesPointsNRR1North Mumbai Panthers3306+0.7172ARCS Andheri2204+3.6383Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals2112-0.2714Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs3122-0.3505Eagle Thane Strikers3122-0.5766Bandra Blasters3122-0.8277SoBo Mumbai Falcons2112-1.0068Triumph Knights Mumbai North East2020-0.673WomenRankTeamMatchesWinsLossesPointsNRR1SoBo Mumbai Falcons2204+1.3432Thane Sky Risers1010-0.8003Aakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs1010-1.739MORE:RCB IPL finals record: Appearances, results, highest score & win percentageT20 Mumbai 2026 squad players listMenAakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Varun Lavande, Jay Gokul Bista, Ajit R. K. Yadav, Prince Devang Badiani, Kruthik Shankarappa Hanagavadi, Naman Pushpak, Ankur Singh, Md Jamshed Alam, Akshat Kishor Jain, Shams Mulani, Saksham Swayam Parashar, Jay Prasad Dhatrak, Sourabh Santosh Singh, Shashank Vinayak Attarde, Vinayak Narayan Bhoir, Sagar Vinod Patil, Sarfaraz A. N. A. Khan, Arnav Ashish Dhole, Akash Anand, Harsh Rohit Rane.ARCS Andheri: Siddid Tiwari, Pragnesh Durgesh Kanpillewar, Divyaansh Sksena, Deepak Bhaskar Shetty, Himanshu Vinod Singh, Ajay Bainkteshwar Mishra, Hrishikesh Bhushan Gore, Ashutosh Ghagre, Arjun Sachin Tendulkar, Gaurav Ashok Jathar, Karthik Shaji Kumar, Ayush Jethwa, Prasoon Angad Singh, Musheer A. N. A. Khan, Rishi Sandip Shah, Shivam Dube, Kiaan Dipen Parekh, Prasad Yashwant Pawar, Moin A. N. Ahmed.Bandra Blasters: Suved Vijay Parkar, Jay Sanjay Jain, Hersh Uday Tank, Yashasvi B. K. Jaiswal, Royston Harold Dias, Virendra Harishchandra Yadav, Karsh Manish Kothari, Sohum Chandrashekhar Sabnis, Sairaj Sanjeev Nair, Dhanit Vijay Raut, Atif Habib Attarwala, Aashray Dharmendra Sajnani, Aadit Sairaj Bahutule, Dhrumil Ulhas Matkar, Om Shyamsundar Keshkamat, Parag Prakash Khanapurkar, Tatsat Singh, Sagarr Chhabriaa, Prateekkumar Ravishankar Yadav, Aditya Anand.Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals: Ayaz A. A. A. Khan, Chinmay Rajesh Sutar, Swaraj Parulkar, Pratik Praveen Shukla, Sachin Madhukar Yadav, Shreyanssh Rai, Om Ramdas Bangar, Siddhesh Dinesh Lad, Shreyas Gurav, Irfan Umair, Jitendra Rajendra Paliwal, Tushar Deshpande, Aryan Rajesh Patni, Yash Ajay Gadia, Aditya Sanjay Dhumal, Arjun Amit Dani, Maxwell David Swaminathan, Atharva Sanjay Bhosale, Rohan Ravindra Raje, Sahil Bhagwanta Jadhav.North Mumbai Panthers: Kevin Gregory Dalmeida, Ajinkya Rahane, Harsh Vikas Tanna, Mohit Anil Avasthi, Pratik Suresh Mishra, Rahul Deepak Sawant, Vaibhav Suresh Mali, Pravesh Dayaram Pal, Aaryaraj Sanjay Nikam, Rohit Prakash Pol, Yashovardhan Mohan Singh, Siddharth Nitin Akre, Aayush Nishigandh Zimare, Ayush Sachin Vartak, Aaditya Singh, Tanush Karunakar Kotian, Anish Mukund Chaudhery, Abhigyan Abhishek Kundu, Hardik Jitendra Tamore.SoBo Mumbai Falcons: Awais Naushad Khan, Bharat Waghela Gautam, Yash Manohar Ramchandani, Harsh Ramnath Aghav, Arhan Manish Maker, Shreyas Iyer, Prathamesh Ganesh Dake, Nikhil Angad Giri, Siddharth Jayesh Raut, Kavya Suresh Gori, Akash Pravin Parkar, Yash Prakash Dicholkar, Muhammad Taha, Mayuresh Kailas Tandel, Ishan Simran Mulchandani, Vedant Ganesh Gore, Aditya Tare, Angkrish Avaneesh Raghuvanshi.Eagle Thane Strikers: Shashwat Yogesh Jagtap, Shaun Motiram Rodrigues, Manan Rakesh Bhatt, Ayaan Mohit Jain, Rohan Rajendra Ghag, Shivansh Lallan Singh, Kartik Mithilesh Mishra, Onkar Tukaram Tarmale, Shardul Thakur, Sumeir Samrat Zaveri, Dhanay Parekh, Vinay Suresh Kunwar, Amartya Raje, Aditya Vinod Giri, Anuj Vinod Giri, Siddhant Manoj Singh, Atharva Vinod Ankolekar, Sairaaj Bipin Patil, Shashikant Eknath Kadam, Eknath Dinesh Kerkar.Triumph Knights Mumbai North East: Nutan Kumar Goel, Jigar Surendra Rana, Suryakumar Yadav, Hitesh Gajanan Kadam, Minadd Pradeep Manjrekar, Vedant Vijay Gurav, Asif Shaikh, Sylvester Dsouza, Aishwary Ramnarayan Surve, Parikshit Valsangkar, Prasann Shukla, Akhil Arvind Herwadkar, Sagar Mishra, Makarand Girish Patil, Bharat Sudam Patil, Utkarsh Hemant Raut, Suryansh Prashant Sedge, Ayush Yogesh Mhatre, Vedant Mohan Murkar, Shikhar Hitendra Thakur.WomenAakash Tigers Mumbai Western Suburbs: Humaira Kazi, Gargee Warang, Ira Jadhav, Jeeya Madrwawadkar, Kimaya Rane, Mulla Farid, Ritika Yadav, Siddhi Kamthe, Siddhi Pawar, Batul Pereira, Fatima Jaffer, Jagravi Pawar, Manali Dakshini, Mitali Mhatre, Samruddhi Rawool, Sanika Chalke.SoBo Mumbai Falcons: Sayali Satghare, Aarohi Bambode, Akshaya Shinde, Hurley Gala, Megan Rodrigues, Sanmaya Upadhyay, Saumyaa Tamang, Swara Jadhav, Vanshika Kothakar, Vedika Nikam, Yashika Rawat, Janhvi Kate, Reshma Nayak, Riya Chaudhari, Sarika Koli, S Pagdhare, Simran Shaikh.Thane Skyrisers: Saima Thakor, Diya Chalwad, Heeya Pandit, Kinjal Kumari, Rianna Nikhil, Shaurya Kadam, Trisha Parmar, Ashwini Nishad, Kashish Nirmal, Khushi Bhatia, Mahek Pokar, Mansi Patil, Nivya Ambre, Prakashika Naik, Soumya Singh, Vrushali Bhagat, Zeal Dmello.To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson says he's "devastated" and "gutted" for close friend and international team-mate Billy Gilmour after a knee injury ruled the Napoli midfielder out of the World Cup finals.Gilmour sustained the injury during Scotland's friendly win against Curacao last Saturday, with a scan later ruling him out of the tournament.The Bologna captain missed Euro 2024 in Germany through a knee injury, so knows the emotions Gilmour is experiencing."I've known him for such a long time and we've watched each other grow and progress," Ferguson said, speaking before the national team's final warm-up match against Bolivia. "It was nice that we were preparing for a World Cup together."Once he got his results back, we just sort of left him alone because I think you need a bit of time to process it. It's a difficult one to take. "I gave him a text the next morning and said that I'd been through similar. But yeah, just gutted for him because this was such a big opportunity."World Cup fixtures and group standingsHow to watch the World Cup on the BBCEverything you need to know about the World Cup

🥐Spain sweeps the board, election promises and more... today’s 5️⃣ storiesFrom a Spain side that thrashed England to a Real Madrid presidential election reaching boiling point, the day is packed.Klopp, Riquelme’s chosen oneCandidate Enrique Riquelme caused a stir by announcing that Jürgen Klopp would be his chosen coach if he becomes president, and that Raúl would meet with him to present the sporting project. Meanwhile, the German’s camp denies any possibility of him going to Madrid.Olise, Florentino’s galácticoThe €150 million offer Florentino plans to make next Tuesday, which would be the biggest in Real Madrid’s history, will be for Olise. The Bayern Frenchman is Florentino’s target, but the Bavarians have no intention of selling.Spain crush EnglandThe women’s national team thrashed England on their road to the Euros and once again sent a clear message that they remain one of the big favorites. A true final that ultimately went Spain’s way, with Alexia taking center stage.Iraola, new man in charge at AnfieldThe Basque coach takes charge of Liverpool following Arne Slot’s departure and speaks of the great responsibility and passion involved in managing a club like Liverpool.And in five days... the World CupThe number of days left before the World Cup gets underway and the entire football world comes to a halt can be counted on one hand. The national teams are putting the finishing touches on their preparations before the big event.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

World Cup 2026 rosters, ranked: The strongest squads among title favourites at 2026 finals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.With 48 teams convening in North America to contest this summer's World Cup, the field of nations is bursting with world-class talent and football icons.While one player can elevate a nation from contender to title-winner, as Lionel Messi did for Argentina in 2022, it's been proven time and time again that one or two superstars can not drag a team to victory on their own.Instead, it takes an entire squad, from the captain down to the third-string goalkeeper, to make a World Cup winner truly hum.The Sporting News takes a look at the strongest overall squads in the 2026 World Cup field, analysing the talent within the team from top to bottom.MORE: Complete 2026 World Cup schedule | Injured players in danger of missing the World CupBest teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup10. United StatesThere is no debating that the USMNT roster is full of talent. What remains to be seen is whether they can reproduce their strong recent club performances on the international stage.Christian Pulisic was arguably the best player in Serie A through the first half of 2025/26, and even as he dipped in form through the second half, he has proven since joining up with the national team that he remains a quality threat in attack. He is joined by the likes of Weston McKennie, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, Joe Scally, Tim Weah, and Brenden Aaronson, who are all established starters in 'big five' European league sides. Meanwhile, Ricardo Pepi and Sergino Dest have been strong performers for Dutch giants PSV, Haji Wright led Coventry City back to the Premier League, and Alejandro Zendejas is arguably the most in-form player at Liga MX giants Club America.Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has supplemented these individuals with strong domestic-based players, spending the last two years cultivating a depth chart that did not exist prior to his arrival.Unfortunately, Pochettino – in his first international job but well regarded as one of the top club coaches in the game — made a controversial roster decision to leave presumed starting midfielder Tanner Tessmann off the roster, a dangerous risk that lowers the talent level of the squad and leaves them dangerously thin in the middle of the field.Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino (Argentina)MORE:A complete breakdown of USA's 2026 World Cup squadPosNo.NameClubAgeCapsGK25Chris BradyChicago Fire (MLS, United States)220GK1Matt FreeseNYCFC (MLS, United States)2714GK24Matt TurnerNew England Revolution (MLS, United States)3153DEF18Max ArfstenColumbus Crew (MLS, United States)2518DEF2Sergino DestPSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)2537DEF16Alex FreemanOrlando City (MLS, United States)2115DEF22Mark McKenzieToulouse (Ligue 1, France)2727DEF13Tim ReamCharlotte FC (MLS, United States)3880DEF3Chris RichardsCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)2636DEF5Antonee RobinsonFulham (Premier League, England)2852DEF12Miles RobinsonFC Cincinnati (MLS, United States)2938DEF23Joe ScallyBorussia Monchengladbach (Bundesliga, Germany)2324DEF6Auston TrustyCeltic (Premiership, Scotland)275MID11Brenden AaronsonLeeds United (Premier League, England)2557MID4Tyler AdamsBournemouth (Premier League, England)2752MID14Sebastian BerhalterVancouver Whitecaps (MLS, Canada)2511MID7Gio ReynaBorussia Monchengladbach (Bundesliga, Germany)2336MID8Weston McKennieJuventus (Serie A, Italy)2764MID15Cristian RoldanSeattle Sounders (MLS, United States)3045MID17Malik TillmanBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)2328MID26Alejandro ZendejasClub America (Liga MX, Mexico)2813FWD20Folarin BalogunAS Monaco (Ligue 1, France)2425FWD9Ricardo PepiPSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)2335FWD10Christian PulisicAC Milan (Serie A, Italy)2784FWD21Timothy WeahMarseille (Ligue 1, France)2649FWD19Haji WrightCoventry City (Championship, England)28209. NorwayAny side with Erling Haaland — the world's best pure No. 9 — in the mix is sure to have a head start, but this Norway side is not here to mess around. Indeed, they have a deep mix of talent that has the potential to spark a surprisingly deep run in this summer's World Cup.It all starts with Haaland, of course, who boasts an unbelievable 55 goals in 49 international appearances. Across the past two years of international play, dating back to a 3-0 friendly win in June of 2024, Haaland has scored a truly jaw-dropping 28 goals in 18 appearances, including two hat-tricks and one legendary five-goal haul in a World Cup qualifier against Moldova.Yet it takes more than just Haaland to make this Norway team formidable. Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard wears the captain's armband, regarded as one of the best passers in the world even coming off a down season at Arsenal where he was forced to do more dirty work than usual. The success of Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League this season provided the national team with good talent depth, while young Benfica winger Andreas Schjelderup is an up-and-coming star in good form.Look out for the Landslaget this summer.Head coach: Stale Solbakken (Norway)MORE:A complete breakdown of Norway's 2026 World Cup squadPositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK1Orjan NylandSevilla (La Liga, Spain)3569GK13Egil SelvikWatford (Championship, England)286GK12Sander TangvikHamburg (Bundesliga, Germany)230DEF3Kristoffer AjerBrentford (Premier League, England)2850DEF15Fredrik Andre BjorkanBodo/Glimt (Eliteserien, Norway)2719DEF25Henrik FalchenerVikingur (Eliteserien, Norway)231DEF17Torbjorn HeggemBologna (Serie A, Italy)2513DEF24Sondre LangasDerby County (Championship, England)252DEF4Leo Skiri OstigardGenoa (Serie A, Italy)2636DEF16Marcus PedersenTorino (Serie A, Italy)2531DEF26Julian RyersonBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)2841DEF5David Moller WolfeWolves (Championship, England)2420MID19Thelo AasgaardRangers (Premiership, Scotland)246MID14Fredrik AursnesBenfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal)3020MID6Patrick BergBodo/Glimt (Eliteserien, Norway)2841MID8Sander BergeFulham (Premier League, England)2864MID23Jens Petter HaugeBodo/Glimt (Eliteserien, Norway)2614MID20Antonio NusaRB Leipzig (Bundesliga, Germany)2122MID10Martin OdegaardArsenal (Premier League, England)2767MID21Andreas SchjelderupBenfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal)2110MID2Morten ThorsbyCremonese (Serie A, Italy)3030MID18Kristian ThorstveldtSassuolo (Serie A, Italy)2735FWD22Oscar BobbFulham (Premier League, England)2218FWD9Erling HaalandMan City (Premier League, England)2549FWD11Jorgen Strand LarsenCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)2626FWD7Alexander SorlothAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)30708. BrazilFor casual fans used to reading a Brazil squad list bursting with glittering superstars and global icons, this 26-man roster will be nothing short of a splash of cold water to the face.Sure, the likes of Vinicius Jr. and Raphinha give this squad its world-class flair, and the back line is anchored by world-class defenders Gabriel and Marquinhos. But even they have struggled to replicate their title-winning club form for the national team, and beyond that is a list of players who do not measure up to the depth this team once enjoyed.Given the right circumstances, an ageing Casemiro can pair well with Bruno Guimaraes in midfield, supporting Matheus Cunha. But they have failed to come together for any reasonable stretch of time for Brazil in the past few years, and they still must prove they can stand up to the titans of Europe.The most glaringly thin position is at full-back, where the team is completely devoid of any notable talent and a host of domestic-based role players will have to do. It's going to be a difficult job for Carlo Ancelotti this summer in his first national team gig, missing a litany of key players to injury and failing to help himself by omitting Chelsea striker Joao Pedro.Head coach: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy)MORE:A complete breakdown of Brazil's 2026 World Cup squadPosNo.NameClubAgeCapsGK1Alisson BeckerLiverpool (Premier League, England)3376GK23EdersonFenerbahce (Super Lig, Turkey)3231GK12WevertonGremio (Serie A, Brazil)381DEF14BremerJuventus (Serie A, Italy)296DEF13DaniloFlamengo (Serie A, Brazil)3468DEF3GabrielArsenal (Premier League, England)2817DEF24Roger IbanezAl Ahli (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)275DEF4MarquinhosPSG (Ligue 1, France)32104DEF15Leo PereiraFlamengo (Serie A, Brazil)302DEF6Alex SandroFlamengo (Serie A, Brazil)3543DEF16Douglas SantosZenit St. Petersburg (Premier League, Russia)325DEF2WesleyAS Roma (Serie A, Italy)226MID5CasemiroMan United (Premier League, England)3484MID17FabinhoAl Ittihad (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)3231MID8Bruno GuimaraesNewcastle (Premier League, England)2841MID20Lucas PaquetaFlamengo (Serie A, Brazil)2861MID18Danilo SantosBotafogo (Serie A, Brazil)252FWD9Matheus CunhaMan United (Premier League, England)2621FWD19EndrickLyon (Ligue 1, France)1915FWD21Luiz HenriqueZenit St. Petersburg (Premier League, Russia)2513FWD22Gabriel MartinelliArsenal (Premier League, England)2422FWD10NeymarSantos (Serie A, Brazil)34128FWD11RaphinhaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2937FWD26RayanBournemouth (Premier League, England)191FWD25Igor ThiagoBrentford (Premier League, England)242FWD7Vinicius Jr.Real Madrid (La Liga, Spain)25477. GermanyWhile a few stars from the last era of German football remain dotting their roster, this squad is chock full of relatively lesser-known names plucked from mid-table Bundesliga sides. The likes of Nadiem Amiri, Felix Nmecha, Max Beier, Jamie Leweling, and Waldemar Anton are new faces for casual fans who are used to being familiar with Germany's entire roster.Even a number of the established stars in this squad have question marks looming over their heads.Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is 40 years old and has been poor at the club level for some time now, but still decided to come out of retirement for one more World Cup run. Kai Havertz is one of the most effective and versatile forwards in the world, but the Arsenal man is coming off an injury-riddled season. There's no debating the talent of playmaker Florian Wirtz, but he struggled to adapt in his first season at Liverpool. And Jamal Musiala is one of the best young No. 10's in the game, but still doesn't quite seem himself after returning from a nasty broken leg last summer.The best player in this squad right now, arguably, is largely underrated centre-back Jonathan Tah, who was one of the few exports from Xabi Alonso's title-winning side at Bayer Leverkusen who established himself well at his new club, becoming one of the top defenders in the world. There are a ton of questions about this German squad, even if they possess raw talent across the board.Head coach: Julian Nagelsmann (Germany)MORE:A complete breakdown of Germany's 2026 World Cup squadPositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK12Oliver BaumannHoffenheim (Bundesliga, Germany)3511GK1Manuel NeuerBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)40124GK21Alexander NubelBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)293DEF3Waldemar AntonBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)2912DEF18Nathaniel BrownEintracht Frankfurt (Bundesliga, Germany)223DEF13Pascal GrossBrighton and Hove Albion (Premier League, England)3418DEF6Joshua KimmichBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)31108DEF22David RaumRB Leipzig (Bundesliga, Germany)2836DEF2Antonio RudigerReal Madrid (La Liga, Spain)3382DEF15Nico SchlotterbeckBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)2625DEF4Jonathan TahBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)3045DEF24Malick ThiawNewcastle United (Premier League, England)245MID20Nadiem AmiriMainz (Bundesliga, Germany)299MID8Leon GoretzkaBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)3169MID25Lennart KarlBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)182MID10Jamal MusialaBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)2340MID23Felix NmechaBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)256MID5Aleksandar PavlovicBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)229MID19Leroy SaneGalatasaray (Super Lig, Turkey)3074MID16Angelo StillerStuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany)257MID17Florian WirtzLiverpool (Premier League, England)2339FWD14Maximilian BeierBorussia Dortmund (Bundesliga, Germany)237FWD7Kai HavertzArsenal (Premier League, England)2657FWD9Jamie LewelingStuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany)254FWD26Deniz UndavStuttgart (Bundesliga, Germany)297FWD11Nick WoltemadeNewcastle United (Premier League, England)24106. NetherlandsNobody is talking about the Netherlands coming into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but they should be, because the Oranje enter this summer's tournament with a glittering list of players in the prime of their careers and in good club form.Virgil van Dijk may have lost a step as he crosses 34 years old, but he remains a leader at the back and a strong performer in defence. He is supported by world-class full-back duo Denzel Dumfries and Jurrien Timber on either side, and experienced Manchester City defender Nathan Ake in the middle. Frenkie De Jong's tumultuous off-field story at Barcelona distracts from what a top midfield distributor he is, and Tijjani Reijnders provides good creativity in the middle.Cody Gakpo isn't exactly a true No. 9, but he is a proven goal scorer at international level, and is surrounded by exceptional talent up front, as in-form Donyell Malen is waiting to break out alongside veteran Memphis Depay who continues to churn out international goals no matter what his club situation may be.The Dutch likely aren't title contenders, but they have the talent available to make a surprising semifinal run if they can spring an upset or two.Head coach: Ronald Koeman (Netherlands)MORE:A complete breakdown of the Netherlands' 2026 World Cup squadPositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK23Mark FlekkenBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)3211GK13Robin RoefsSunderland (Premier League, England)230GK1Bart VerbruggenBrighton (Premier League, England)2327DEF5Nathan AkeMan City (Premier League, England)3158DEF4Virgil van DijkLiverpool (Premier League, England)3490DEF22Denzel DumfriesInter Milan (Serie A, Italy)3071DEF25Jorrel HatoChelsea (Premier League, England)207DEF6Jan Paul van HeckeBrighton (Premier League, England)2510DEF2Jurrien TimberArsenal (Premier League, England)2423DEF15Micky van de VenTottenham (Premier League, England)2519MID8Ryan GravenberchLiverpool (Premier League, England)2425MID20Teun KoopmeinersJuventus (Serie A, Italy)2827MID21Frenkie de JongBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2964MID14Tijjani ReijndersMan City (Premier League, England)2730MID3Marten de RoonAtalanta (Serie A, Italy)3542MID16Guus TilPSV Eindhoven (Eredivisie, Netherlands)286MID26Quinten TimberMarseille (Ligue 1, France)286MID12Mats WiefferBrighton (Premier League, England)2614FWD19Brian BrobbeySunderland (Premier League, England)2410FWD10Memphis DepayCorinthians (Serie A, Brazil)32108FWD11Cody GakpoLiverpool (Premier League, England)2748FWD7Justin KluivertBournemouth (Premier League, England)2711FWD17Noa LangGalatasaray (Super Lig, Turkey)2615FWD18Donyell MalenAS Roma (Serie A, Italy)2751FWD24Crysencio SummervilleWest Ham (Championship, England)240FWD9Wout WeghorstAjax (Eredivisie, Netherlands)33515. ArgentinaDefending champions Argentina do not boast quite the same level of recognisable world-class talent as their European counterparts, but that is what makes Lionel Scaloni the world-class coach he is. Even with legend Lionel Messi in the side, Argentina are less about piecing together Ballon d'Or candidates and more about becoming greater than the sum of its parts.The likes of Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Exequiel Palacios, and Lisandro Martinez play for big European clubs, of course, but they have never been considered amongst the top echelon of superstars in the current generation, yet they are all major contributors of the Argentine national team's title-winning squad.Outside of Messi, who is still able to log consistent 90-minute performances at 38 years old when not dealing with hamstring injuries, the real gem of this squad is Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez, who has been flirting with a move to Real Madrid of late. He makes this side go, but has plenty of help in that regard.Head coach: Lionel Scaloni (Argentina)MORE:A complete breakdown of Argentina's 2026 World Cup squadPosNo.NameClubAgeCapsGK23Emiliano MartinezAston Villa (Premier League, England)3359GK1Juan MussoAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)323GK12Geronimo RulliMarseille (Ligue 1, France)347DEF2Leonardo BalerdiMarseille (Ligue 1, France)2711DEF6Lisandro MartinezManchester United (Premier League, England)2826DEF25Facundo MedinaLens (Ligue 1, France)277DEF26Nahuel MolinaAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2858DEF4Gonzalo MontielRiver Plate (Primera Liga, Argentina)2938DEF19Nicolas OtamendiBenfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal)38130DEF13Cristian RomeroTottenham Hotspur (Premier League, England)2849DEF3Nicolas TagliaficoLyon (Ligue 1, France)3375MID8Valentin BarcoStrasbourg (Ligue 1, France)212MID7Rodrigo De PaulInter Miami (MLS, United States)3285MID24Enzo FernandezChelsea (Premier League, England)2540MID11Giovani Lo CelsoReal Betis (La Liga, Spain)3065MID20Alexis Mac AllisterLiverpool (Premier League, England)2744MID14Exequiel PalaciosBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)2738MID5Leandro ParedesBoca Juniors (Primera Liga, Argentina)3177MID18Nico PazComo (Serie A, Italy)218FWD16Thiago AlmadaAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2514FWD9Julian AlvarezAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2651FWD15Nicolas GonzalezJuventus (Serie A, Italy)2850FWD21Jose LopezPalmeiras (Brasileirao, Brazil)253FWD22Lautaro MartinezInter Milan (Serie A, Italy)2875FWD10Lionel MessiInter Miami (MLS, United States)38198FWD17Giuliano SimeoneAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)23114. PortugalWith Portugal not considered amongst the top contenders for the World Cup trophy, their talented squad is flying under the radar. What makes this team so impressive on paper is the midfield, which is probably the best in the World Cup field.PSG star Vitinha is one of the best three midfielders in the world, and he is joined by club teammate Joao Neves who is one of the best defensive midfielders in the game. Tack on Bruno Fernandes, who just set the Premier League single-season assists record and is a world-class midfielder in all phases of the game, and that trio is unquestionably at a higher level than any other side in the competition.They also boast a strong back line, but their lack of attacking talent is worrying. Rafael Leao endured a brutal season with AC Milan and could be dumped by the Italian club, and Joao Felix darted for the Saudi Pro League in his prime years. Goncalo Ramos just won the Champions League with PSG, but played a clear second fiddle to Ousmane Dembele and represents a clear drop-off from the talent of the reigning Ballon d'Or winner.Head coach: Roberto Martinez (Spain)MORE:A complete breakdown of Portugal's 2026 World Cup squadPosNameClubAgeCapsGKDiogo CostaPorto (Primeira Liga, Portugal)2642GKJose SaWolves (Championship, England)334GKRui SilvaSporting CP (Primeira Division, Portugal)322GKRicardo VelhoGenclerbirligi (Super Lig, Turkey)271DEFTomas AraujoBenfica (Primeira Liga, Portugal)243DEFJoao CanceloBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)3166DEFDiogo DalotManchester United (Premier League, England)2733DEFRuben DiasManchester City (Premier League, England)2974DEFGoncalo InacioSporting CP (Primeira Liga, Portugal)2424DEFNuno MendesParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France)2343DEFMatheus NunesManchester City (Premier League, England)2719DEFNelson SemedoFenerbahce (Super Lig, Turkey)3248DEFRenato VeigaVillarreal (La Liga, Spain)2211MIDSamu CostaMallorca (Segunda Division, Spain)254MIDBruno FernandesManchester United (Premier League, England)3187MIDJoao NevesParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France)2121MIDRuben NevesAl Hilal (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)2965MIDBernardo SilvaManchester City (Premier League, England)31107MIDVitinhaParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France)2637FWDFrancisco ConceicaoJuventus (Serie A, Italy)2315FWDJoao FelixAl Nassr (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)2652FWDGoncalo GuedesReal Sociedad (La Liga, Spain)2933FWDRafael LeaoAC Milan (Serie A, Italy)2643FWDPedro NetoChelsea (Premier League, England)2623FWDGoncalo RamosParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France)2424FWDCristiano RonaldoAl Nassr (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)41226FWDFrancisco TrincaoSporting CP (Primeira Liga, Portugal)26173. EnglandAs the home of the richest and most talented club league in the world, it's no surprise that England boasts one of the most loaded rosters of any World Cup participant.Striker Harry Kane leads the way, as one of the most in-form goal scorers on the planet, and he is propped up by midfield superstar Jude Bellingham who remains one of the world's best at his position despite a down season at Real Madrid. A host of title-winning Arsenal stars are in the mix, as Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice are likely to start, and Marc Guehi has become one of the best centre-backs in the world having made a move to Man City.However, head coach Thomas Tuchel made some highly questionable roster decisions that could leave this squad vulnerable late in the tournament. Tuchel decided to leave Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, and Trent Alexander-Arnold at home, along with a number of other talented snubs. None of those players had particularly strong club seasons, but they all remain proven players at the international and club levels.Instead of bringing veteran Harry Maguire along after a strong season with Man United, Tuchel selected a potentially vulnerable group of defenders, including Ezri Konsa, Jarrell Quansah, and Djed Spence, while aging veteran Jordan Henderson was bafflingly included despite being cut from a terrible Ajax team a year ago.There's plenty for this team to prove despite their status as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.Head coach: Thomas Tuchel (Germany)MORE:A complete breakdown of England's 2026 World Cup squadPositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK13Dean HendersonCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)294GK1Jordan PickfordEverton (Premier League, England)3282GK23James TraffordManchester City (Premier League, England)231DEF15Dan BurnNewcastle (Premier League, England)346DEF6Marc GuehiManchester City (Premier League, England)2527DEF24Reece JamesChelsea (Premier League, England)2622DEF2Ezri KonsaAston Villa (Premier League, England)2818DEF12Tino LivramentoNewcastle United (Premier League, England)235DEF3Nico O'ReillyManchester City (Premier League, England)213DEF26Jarell QuansahBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)231DEF25Djed SpenceTottenham Hotspur (Premier League, England)244DEF5John StonesManchester City (Premier League, England)3187MID8Elliot AndersonNottingham Forest (Premier League, England)237MID10Jude BellinghamReal Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2246MID21Eberechi EzeArsenal (Premier League, England)2716MID14Jordan HendersonBrentford (Premier League, England)3589MID16Kobbie MainooManchester United (Premier League, England)2112MID4Declan RiceArsenal (Premier League, England)2772MID17Morgan RogersAston Villa (Premier League, England)2313FWD18Anthony GordonNewcastle United (Premier League, England)2517FWD9Harry KaneBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)32112FWD20Noni MaduekeArsenal (Premier League, England)2410FWD11Marcus RashfordManchester United (Barcelona, Spain)2870FWD7Bukayo SakaArsenal (Premier League, England)2448FWD22Ivan ToneyAl Ahli (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)307FWD19Ollie WatkinsAston Villa (Premier League, England)30202. SpainSpain have a World Cup-winning roster, that much is clear. But there are a few small deficiencies, largely due to injuries they have been forced to endure heading in to the competition.First and foremost, the health of superstar winger Lamine Yamal is in question after he suffered a hamstring injury late in the La Liga season. He could miss time, which robs Spain of their progressive workhorse on the right flank, along with world-class levels of creativity and goal scoring. Starting left winger Nico Williams is also less than fully fit, leaving Spain to dig deeper into their winger depth as they hope to support striker Mikel Oyarzabal off a strong La Liga season with Real Sociedad.Still, they are loaded at the back and in midfield, where Pau Cubarsi is one of the best young defenders in the world and his Barcelona teammate Pedri has blossomed to become arguably the best midfielder in the game.They also have easily the best goalkeeping trio in the field. Joan Garcia was strong in his first season at Barcelona, while David Raya was arguably Arsenal's most important player in a Premier League title-winning campaign...and there's a good chance neither will start as Unai Simon has established himself as a regular for Spain in net.Head coach: Luis de la Fuente (Spain)MORE:A complete breakdown of Spain's 2026 World Cup squadPositionNo.PlayerClubAgeCapsGK23Unai SimonAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)2857GK1David RayaArsenal (Premier League, England)3012GK13Joan GarciaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)251DEF24Marc CucurellaChelsea (Premier League, England)2723DEF3Alejandro GrimaldoBayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga, Germany)3012DEF22Pau CubarsiBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)1911DEF14Aymeric LaporteAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)3144DEF4Eric GarciaBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2519DEF2Marc PubillAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)220DEF5Marcos LlorenteAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)3123DEF12Pedro PorroTottenham (La Liga, Spain)2616MID20PedriBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2340MID8Fabian RuizParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, Spain)3041MID18Martin ZubimendiArsenal (Premier League, England)2725MID9GaviBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2128MID16RodriManchester City (Premier League, England)2961MID15Alex BaenaAtletico Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2415FWD21Mikel OyazarbalReal Sociedad (La Liga, Spain)2952FWD10Dani OlmoBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2848FWD17Nico WilliamsAthletic Club (La Liga, Spain)2330FWD11Yeremy PinoCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)2321FWD7Ferran TorresBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2655FWD26Borja IglesiasCelta Vigo (La Liga, Spain)336FWD25Victor MunozOsasuna (La Liga, Spain)222FWD19Lamine YamalBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)18251. FranceFrance have the best squad of any 2026 World Cup team, and it's not particularly close.Everyone knows about the wealth of world-class attacking talent Les Bleus boast, with reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele, Ballon d'Or contender Michael Olise, PSG wonderkid Desire Doue, and Man City playmaker Rayan Cherki all supporting superstar forward Kylian Mbappe.But what most people don't give France enough credit for is their outlandish depth in defence as well. William Saliba will start if healthy, but there is incredible talent behind him at centre-back in Bayern starter Dayot Upamecano and likely Real Madrid signing Ibrahima Konate, and the full-back position is loaded too, including Barcelona's Jules Kounde and Malo Gusto of Chelsea.Midfield is their weakest position, but it still looks solid as Aurelien Tchouameni will be locked in to the roster and Warren Zaire-Emery is a strong performer too.Head coach: Didier Deschamps (France)MORE:A complete breakdown of France's 2026 World Cup squadPosNo.NameClubAgeCapsGK16Mike MaignanAC Milan (Serie A, Italy)3038GK23Robin RisserLens (Ligue 1, France)210GK1Brice SambaRennes (Ligue 1, France)324DEF3Lucas DigneAston Villa (Premier League, England)3256DEF2Malo GustoChelsea (Premier League, England)239DEF21Lucas HernandezParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France) 3041DEF19Theo HernandezAl-Hilal (Pro League, Saudi Arabia)2842DEF15Ibrahima KonateLiverpool (Premier League, England)2727DEF5Jules KoundeBarcelona (La Liga, Spain)2746DEF26Maxence LacroixCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)262DEF4Dayot UpamecanoBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)2736DEF17William SalibaArsenal (Premier League, England)2531MID13N'Golo KanteFenerbahce (Super Lig, Turkey)3567MID6Manu KoneAS Roma (Serie A, Italy)2512MID14Adrien RabiotAC Milan (Serie A, Italy)3157MID8Aurelien TchouameniReal Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2644MID18Warren Zaire-EmeryParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France) 2010FWD25Maghnes AklioucheMonaco (Ligue 1, France)247FWD12Bradley BarcolaParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France)2318FWD24Rayan CherkiManchester City (Premier League, England)225FWD7Ousmane DembeleParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France) 2958FWD20Desire DoueParis Saint-Germain (Ligue 1, France) 216FWD22Jean-Philippe MatetaCrystal Palace (Premier League, England)283FWD10Kylian MbappeReal Madrid (La Liga, Spain)2796FWD11Michael OliseBayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)2415FWD9Marcus ThuramInter Milan (Serie A, Italy)2833Honorable mentionsBelgiumThis squad has multiple strong points, starting with the best goalkeeper in the world in Thibaut Courtois, but their "Golden Generation" is aging out of its prime quickly, leaving the next generation thin and unproven.Kevin De Bruyne is now 34 years old and played just 1,300 minutes for Napoli this season as he battled injuries. Romelu Lukaku is 33 and himself was unfit nearly all year. Jeremy Doku is a wizard on the wing, and Youri Tielemans is a monster in the middle, but the attacking talent in this squad is otherwise largely on unproven individuals like Charles De Ketelaere and Alexis Saelemaekers who have not been reliable options.MoroccoAchraf Hakimi is arguably the best full-back in the world, and he leads a strong squad that is fresh off reaching the Africa Cup of Nations final. Their goalkeeper is also exceptional, with Yassine Bounou one of the breakout stars four years ago in Qatar.Yet outside of those two players, this team is pieced together with European role players and others dotted across the globe. If 32-year-old striker Ayoub El Kaabi had a great season in Greece with Olympiacos, but he faded towards the end of the long season, and if he struggles with little service up front, it could be tough for this African giant to score goals.ColombiaWhile Los Cafeteros boast one of the most experienced sides in the World Cup field, there are few truly top-tier playmakers outside of Bayern Munich superstar Luis Diaz.James Rodriguez is 34 years old and continues to have a mercurial but largely unsuccessful club career, while other veterans like Davinson Sanchez and Jefferson Lerma play various roles at mid-level European sides.They can be one of the best South American sides in the field, but they are not quite top-10 quality.

Jonathan Tah looks back on decision to turn down Ivory Coast call-upOver the years, Jonathan Tah has made 41 appearances for Germany’s youth teams and 46 for the senior national side.However, born to an Ivorian father and a German mother, the Bayern Munich centre-back could have opted to represent Ivory Coast instead.“The Ivorian federation asked me when I was 17 whether I wanted to play for them. But I grew up in Germany and went through the youth national teams here. It was never an option for me to play for Ivory Coast. But the connection is there – and it is something special for me,” Tah said in an interview published on the German Football Association’s website.“That connection is important to me. Ivory Coast is very present in my life and my everyday life. These roots are part of me and they give me something. When I look at where my father comes from and what he went through coming to Germany – he told me everything – it really helped me put things into perspective. When I experience a difficult phase in football, it feels like nothing compared to his. It is important not to lose that perspective beyond football.”At the World Cup, Tah will have the chance to face his father’s home country, with Germany drawn in Group E alongside Ivory Coast, Ecuador and Curaçao.“Somehow it feels like a circle is closing for me – as if it is meant to be. I try not to overthink it and rather enjoy that it is happening. We were actually supposed to play a friendly against Ivory Coast before the World Cup. I was already looking forward to that and thinking: wow, crazy. And now we’re playing them at the World Cup. That is even more incredible,” Tah said.

India squad for Asian Games 2026: Full players list for defending gold medalists ft. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.KEY TAKEAWAYS:India will try to retain their title for the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (September 19 – October 4).BCCI has announced a 15-member squad that includes rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Shreyas Iyer has been appointed the new T20I captain with Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill getting the snub from the team.India begin Asian Games 2026 title defence preparationsThe upcoming 2026 Asian Games will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 till October 4, with India being the gold medalist country participating in the men's cricket event.BCCI representatives have announced a 15-member squad list to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). MORE: Ashwin opens up on how Sooryavanshi's transition to Tests should happenIndia Asian Games 2026 squad confirmedThe 15-member squad includes teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The 15-year-old has had quite an ascent so far and is recognised by many as being one of the most promising T20 prospects from India. Shreyas Iyer has taken over the T20I captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav. SKY has been snubbed from the side altogether, while the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh have retained their spots.It should be highlighted that ODI/Tests captain Shubman Gill has not been considered for this format.MORE: Gambhir backs ICC's decision to switch between Red and pink balls in TestsIndia’s 15-man squad list for Asian Games 2026Shreyas Iyer (c)Abhishek SharmaSanju Samson (wk)Ishan Kishan (wk)Shivam DubeTilak VarmaNitish ReddyAxar PatelWashington SundarVarun ChakravarthyRavi BishnoiHarshit RanaArshdeep SinghVaibhav SooryavanshiJasprit BumrahTo keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.

A tour of the 2026 World Cup stadiums 🏟From Mexico City to Vancouver, via Miami and New York, here’s an overview of the 16 stadiums that will host the 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup.🇲🇽 Mexico City Stadium (Estadio Azteca)City: Mexico CityOpening date: 1966Capacity: 83,000 seatsMain fixtures: Opening match (with Mexico), group-stage matches, Round of 32 and Round of 16. This legendary temple will become the first stadium in history to host three editions of the World Cup.🇲🇽 Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron)City: Zapopan / GuadalajaraOpening date: 2010Capacity: 48,000 seatsMain fixtures: Group-stage matches (including one Mexico match).🇲🇽 Monterrey Stadium (Estadio BBVA)City: Guadalupe / MonterreyOpening date: 2015Capacity: 53,500 seatsMain fixtures: Group-stage matches and one Round of 32 match. Nicknamed "The Steel Giant," it offers a breathtaking view of the Sierra Madre mountains.🇨🇦 Toronto Stadium (BMO Field)City: TorontoOpening date: 2007 (expanded for 2026)Capacity: 45,000 seatsMain fixtures: Canada’s first-ever home match at a World Cup, group-stage matches, and one Round of 32 match.🇨🇦 Vancouver Stadium (BC Place)City: VancouverOpening date: 1983 (regularly renovated)Capacity: 54,000 seatsMain fixtures: Group-stage matches (including two Canada games), Round of 32 and Round of 16.🇺🇸 New York / New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium)City: East Rutherford (suburb of New York)Opening date: 2010Capacity: 82,500 seatsMain fixtures: Brazil vs. Morocco, France vs. Senegal, the grand Final (July 19).🇺🇸 Dallas Stadium (AT&T Stadium)City: Arlington / DallasOpening date: 2009Capacity: 94,000 seatsMain fixtures: England vs. Croatia, a semi-final. It is the largest stadium in the tournament, famous for its retractable roof and enormous suspended giant screen.🇺🇸 Atlanta Stadium (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)City: AtlantaOpening date: 2017Capacity: 75,000 seatsMain fixtures: Spain vs. Cape Verde, a semi-final. An architectural masterpiece with a retractable roof shaped like a camera aperture.🇺🇸 Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium)City: Inglewood / Los AngelesOpening date: 2020Capacity: 70,240 seatsMain fixtures: The United States' opening match (USA vs. Paraguay), a quarter-final. It was the most expensive stadium in the world when built (nearly $5 billion).🇺🇸 Miami Stadium (Hard Rock Stadium)City: Miami Gardens / MiamiOpening date: 1987Capacity: 65,000 seatsMain fixtures: Portugal vs. Colombia, a quarter-final, and the third-place match.🇺🇸 Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium)City: Foxborough / BostonOpening date: 2002Capacity: 65,000 seatsMain fixtures: Norway vs. France, a quarter-final.🇺🇸 Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium)City: Kansas CityOpening date: 1972 (modernized)Capacity: 73,000 seatsMain fixtures: Argentina vs. Algeria, a quarter-final. Listed in the record books as the loudest stadium in the world.🇺🇸 Houston Stadium (NRG Stadium)City: HoustonOpening date: 2002Capacity: 72,000 seatsMain fixtures: Group-stage matches (including Portugal vs. DR Congo), Round of 32 and Round of 16.🇺🇸 San Francisco Bay Stadium (Levi's Stadium)City: Santa Clara / San FranciscoOpening date: 2014Capacity: 71,000 seatsMain fixtures: 6 matches in total, including group-stage games and one Round of 32 match.🇺🇸 Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field)City: SeattleOpening date: 2002Capacity: 69,000 seatsMain fixtures: USA vs. Australia, group-stage matches, Round of 32 and Round of 16. Known for its electric atmosphere thanks to MLS supporters.🇺🇸 Philadelphia Stadium (Lincoln Financial Field)City: PhiladelphiaOpening date: 2003Capacity: 69,000 seatsMain fixtures: Brazil vs. Haiti, group-stage matches and a Round of 16 match.What about you, which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments!This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Los Angeles Angels (24-40, fifth in the AL West) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (41-23, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Saturday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Angels: Jack Kochanowicz (2-4, 5.23 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 46 strikeouts); Dodgers: Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5-4, 2.86 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 69 strikeouts)LINE: Dodgers -352, Angels +278; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels.Los Angeles is 41-23 overall and 21-11 at home. Dodgers hitters are batting a collective .262, the highest team batting average in MLB play.Los Angeles has gone 11-22 on the road and 24-40 overall. The Angels have gone 17-9 in games when they scored five or more runs.Saturday's game is the fifth meeting between these teams this season. The Dodgers are up 4-0 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Shohei Ohtani has 14 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 33 RBIs while hitting .296 for the Dodgers. Freddie Freeman is 14 for 40 with four home runs over the past 10 games.Mike Trout is second on the Angels with 24 extra base hits (10 doubles and 14 home runs). Vaughn Grissom is 12 for 40 with four doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs over the last 10 games.LAST 10 GAMES: Dodgers: 7-3, .282 batting average, 2.66 ERA, outscored opponents by 26 runsAngels: 4-6, .266 batting average, 4.71 ERA, outscored opponents by 10 runsINJURIES: Dodgers: Max Muncy: day-to-day (upper body), Brusdar Graterol: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brock Stewart: 15-Day IL (foot), Bobby Miller: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tommy Edman: 60-Day IL (ankle), Blake Snell: 60-Day IL (elbow), Teoscar Hernandez: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Kike Hernandez: 10-Day IL (oblique), Gavin Stone: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Landon Knack: 60-Day IL (chest), Tyler Glasnow: 15-Day IL (back), Ben Casparius: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Edwin Diaz: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Cousins: 60-Day IL (elbow), Evan Phillips: 60-Day IL (elbow)Angels: Vaughn Grissom: day-to-day (side), Jorge Soler: day-to-day (hip), Nolan Schanuel: 10-Day IL (calf), Travis d'Arnaud: 60-Day IL (foot), Robert Stephenson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yoan Moncada: 10-Day IL (knee), Ben Joyce: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Yusei Kikuchi: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Anthony Rendon: 60-Day IL (hip)___The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Atalanta give D’Amico green light to join RomaTony D’Amico’s arrival at Roma was expected yesterday, but was delayed a few hours due to bureaucratic issues. The signatures are expected between today and tomorrow, by the weekend, according to Il Corriere dello Sport. The director is awaiting final approval from Bergamo to begin his new adventure. Those around Trigoria believe the former Atalanta player could be immediately instrumental in the future and will be a key piece of the puzzle. Gian Piero Gasperini knows the future of the Giallorossi’s sporting director well, and has pushed hard to find him in the capital.Gasperini and D’Amico have learned to work together in Bergamo, and barring any surprises, there shouldn’t be any misunderstandings like those experienced in recent transfer windows. The Friedkins considered the understanding between these two key figures crucial, and now Roma is preparing to enter the transfer market. The new sporting director will have some issues to resolve. First, there are the expiring contracts: the coach has asked to keep last season’s squad, so an agreement will need to be reached. Then, the director will have to address the transfer market and finally, he can dive headlong into signings.

He's the one, Liverpool finally enter race for incredible English starLiverpool are finally entering the race for an incredible English star. Liverpool's midfield could be set for significant changes this summer as Andoni Iraola prepares to put his stamp on the squad. While much of the focus has been on potential arrivals elsewhere, the centre of the pitch is quickly becoming an area that may require major attention.The futures of both Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones remain uncertain. Jones is entering the final year of his contract, and with no breakthrough in negotiations yet, Liverpool may be forced to consider their options if a suitable offer arrives.Mac Allister's situation is arguably even more intriguing. The Argentine remains one of Liverpool's most technically gifted players, but there are growing doubts about whether he is the ideal fit for the relentless, high-intensity football that Iraola demands from his midfielders.With his contract entering its final two years, Liverpool are approaching a crucial crossroads. The club have traditionally been reluctant to allow players to run down their deals, particularly when they still hold significant market value.Given the reported interest from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, this summer could represent the final opportunity for Liverpool to secure a premium fee for Mac Allister before his value begins to decline.More importantly, Iraola's system requires a very specific midfield profile. His teams rely on constant pressing, aggressive counter-pressing and the ability to cover huge distances without the ball. Energy, athleticism and intensity are non-negotiable traits.That is why it feels increasingly inevitable that sporting director Richard Hughes will enter the market for midfield reinforcements. Whether Mac Allister stays or goes, Liverpool need greater depth and players who can consistently execute Iraola's demanding style across a long campaign.As the club enters a new era, midfield recruitment could become one of the defining themes of the summer. If Liverpool want to fully embrace Iraola's philosophy, fresh additions in the middle of the park will be essential.And there are so many potential options Liverpool could target. From Adam Wharton to Mamadou Sangare and Lamine Camara. Mateus Fernandes is also high sought after and will be on the shortlist for the Reds.But there is one more exciting option who Liverpool have just entered the race for.If Liverpool are serious about building a midfield capable of thriving under Iraola, then Alex Scott should be near the top of Hughes' shortlist.And according to Ekrem Konur, the Reds are now considering a move for the 22-year-old.The Bournemouth midfielder already knows exactly what Iraola expects from his players. Having developed under the Spaniard on the south coast, Scott has become one of the best examples of the intensity, energy and tactical discipline required to make Iraola's system work.At just 22, he combines technical quality with relentless work rate. Scott is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure, progressing play through midfield and carrying possession into dangerous areas. Just as importantly, he is willing to do the hard yards without the ball, pressing aggressively and covering huge distances throughout matches.That profile makes him a natural fit for the style Liverpool are expected to adopt. Iraola's teams rely on midfielders who can play at a high tempo, win duels and transition quickly between defence and attack. Scott has already proven he can do all of those things in the Premier League.His versatility is another major advantage. He can operate as a No. 8, a deeper midfielder or even in wider areas when needed. That flexibility would give Liverpool valuable tactical options across a demanding season.With uncertainty surrounding the futures of Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones, adding a young midfielder who understands Iraola's methods could prove invaluable. Scott would not require a lengthy adaptation period and could hit the ground running from day one.For Liverpool, it would be a signing that makes sense on every level - strategically, tactically and financially. Few players appear better suited to the demands of the Iraola era than Scott.

Tyler Fletcher: United starlet lifts lid on incredible World Cup call-upManchester United starlet Tyler Fletcher earned a late call-up to the Scotland squad for the 2026 World Cup last month following an unfortunate injury to Billy Gilmour. The Red Devils academy graduate, who is the son of club legend and current Under-18 manager Darren Fletcher, broke into the senior side this year. His twin brother, Jack, represents England’s Under-19 side, but Tyler opted to pledge his allegiance to Scotland, following in the footsteps of his father. Fletcher senior registered 80 caps for his country and also captained the national side, although he never played at the World Cup. Tyler, who operates as a midfielder, has been a revelation for the youth side, and won the Denzil Haroun Reserve Player of the Season award this year. The 19 year old was handed his first-team debut by Michael Carrick in February, when he came off the bench in a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. Fletcher also featured for United in the 3-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the last game of the season, and has now secured a seat on the plane across the Atlantic. The youngster recently sat down to discuss the unbelievable turn of events and how he has coped with it.Tyler Fletcher Stats: 2025/26 SeasonSource: Transfermarkt. Fletcher opens up on crazy weekSpeaking to the Scottish FA, Fletcher revealed the circumstances leading to his call-up to Scotland’s World Cup squad. He said: “It’s been a crazy week. I didn’t expect it but I’ll take it in my stride and I’m loving every minute of it. In the changing room afterwards, I found out Billy got injured and I’m obviously gutted for him.”“The manager came up to me and said: ‘It might not be the last time I see you on this trip,’ so I was like wow. The next morning I got at call at about 8 o’clock and it was: ‘Do you want to go to the World Cup?’ “I was speechless. Then obviously I said yes!”“I went to my auntie’s wedding that night straight after the game, stayed in Glasgow then rushed to the hotel to get on the bus to the airport. I’ve got nothing with me. I’ve got nothing in my suitcase.”“I’ve got no boots. I’m getting those sent over today. It’s a good level, it’s a tough challenge and the heat’s hard to train in, but I’m comfortable and I feel like I’m ready to go and play.”Ex-United ace Scott McTominay helping him settle downFletcher was among five young players who trained with the senior side last week and the United academy graduate was handed his international debut in the 4-1 win over Curacao last weekend. The youngster’s efforts were enough to convince manager Steve Clarke to turn to him when a space in the squad opened up.The teenager went on to acknowledge that he never imagined he would make it into the World Cup squad. He said: “It was in the back of my head that if I go and make an impression then maybe get into the first team and be around it. But to get to the World Cup a week after training is something I never thought of and it’s just a dream come true.”“I knew Scott (McTominay) from United and he’s helped me a lot. Kenny McLean’s been unbelievable with me. A top guy and honestly one of the best players I’ve ever trained with. He’s so good. All of them are brilliant. It’s a great squad and a great team to be around.”Tyler went on to reveal that his father, Darren Fletcher, was ecstatic about his inclusion in the squad, adding: “He was like ‘my whole career I didn’t go to a Euros or a World Cup and you’ve done it after 45 minutes of football!’ He’s buzzing for me. He’s so happy and he’s coming out for every game I think.”Final ThoughtsFletcher’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup, regardless of whether he secures game time, will be an invaluable experience and aid his development. It will also be good news for United, who will be hoping that he can build on his recent good form next season. Featured image Ben Roberts photo via Getty Imagesonline pollsThe Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social

Today’s Papers – Sorloth to Juventus and Inter’s three-way defensive planHere is a look at the key football stories making the front pages of Italy’s three major sports newspapers on Saturday, June 6.Today’s PapersLa Gazzetta dello Sport leads with an exclusive interview with Inter president Beppe Marotta, who declares “the Champions League is where I stop,” suggesting he wants to finally win Europe’s biggest prize before stepping away. He addresses comparisons with Mourinho’s treble-winning side, pushes back on any suggestion of disrespect towards his project and confirms Palestra is a target.The paper also reports on Milan’s coaching situation, with Rangnick in the frame for a director role.Federico Chiesa meanwhile declares he wants to return to Italy.On the Serie A fixture release, Gazzetta notes the early standout clash: a blockbuster Week 3 featuring Inter vs Napoli and Juventus vs Milan, with the Derby d’Italia scheduled at the end of the first half of the season and again near the finale.Juventus’s pursuit of Sorloth is also covered, with the funding expected to come from player sales.Tuttosport splashes on Alexander Sorloth, reporting that Juventus coach Spalletti personally called the Norwegian to express his interest and the pair got on well immediately.Atletico Madrid are willing to let him go, contacts with his agents are ongoing, and Simeone would also consider selling Gimenez, though in defence the dream remains Kim.Juventus need to raise €55 million by the end of June, with Cambiaso in the shop window and Kalulu protected. Elsewhere, Torino’s managerial situation is chaotic, Aquilani is heading to Sassuolo while Petrachi is blocking Abate. Italy under-21 talent Cacciamani has been called up for the Greece friendly.Corriere dello Sport leads on Inter’s defensive summer, reporting the club are simultaneously pursuing Palestra, Solet and Stankovic, with a Marotta-Percassi meeting in Parma today over the €53 million Palestra situation.The paper also notes Week 3 of the new Serie A season as an early showpiece, Inter vs Napoli and Juventus vs Milan both falling on the same matchday.Milan fans are in open revolt against Gerry Cardinale and Ibrahimovic, while Gasperini insists Mancini is not leaving Roma.Sorloth and Juventus are also prominent, with the key being Nico Gonzalez’s situation at Atletico.

Only one Barcelona loanee still has realistic path back into Hansi Flick’s plansBarcelona’s summer planning is not only focused on signings and departures, as the club must also decide what to do with a group of players returning from loan spells.In that context, the early signs suggest that most of them will be searching for new solutions away from Camp Nou.According to Mundo Deportivo, although the majority of the players who spent the 2025/26 campaign away on loan are not expected to form part of Hansi Flick’s plans next season, there is one notable exception.Among the six players who left temporarily last summer, Hector Fort is the only one with a realistic chance of fighting his way back into the first-team picture.While several returning loanees, including Ansu Fati, are expected to move on permanently or seek fresh loan opportunities, Fort will be given an opportunity to prove that he deserves a place in Flick’s squad.Fort returns with a point to proveFort will do the pre-season with Barcelona. (Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images)The young full-back spent the season at Elche, where his campaign was far from straightforward.After initially struggling to secure a regular role, he gradually worked his way up and eventually became an important part of the team. Just as he was beginning to establish himself consistently, an injury interrupted his momentum and prevented him from fully building on that progress.Even so, Barcelona remain encouraged by what they saw during his time away.Still only 19 years old, the Blaugrana club continues to value his potential and believes he has the qualities needed to compete at a higher level.Fort was on loan at Elche. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)However, that does not guarantee him a place in the squad, but unlike several other returning loanees, he will have a genuine opportunity to convince Flick during the summer.Set for pre-season opportunityFort’s chances of remaining at Barcelona may depend less on his loan spell and more on what happens around him in the coming weeks, as the right-back position remains one of the areas where several moving parts could influence squad planning. As such, Jules Kounde’s future has yet to be fully clarified, while Flick must also decide how he intends to manage the depth options available on the right side of defence.Eric Garcia is already expected to have an important role in that position, but Barcelona are still evaluating the overall structure of the defensive unit ahead of the new campaign.That uncertainty could create an opening for Fort, who must use the pre-season to show that he can contribute immediately rather than simply being viewed as a player for the future.

A plume of black smoke is seen over the port of St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, after a Ukrainian drone attack. (AP Photo)2026-06-06T07:34:45Z Residents of St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, were told not to leave their homes after a “large-scale” Ukrainian drone attack targeted the city Saturday morning, local officials said, underscoring Kyiv’s growing ability to hit deep inside Russia.St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov advised St. Petersburg residents not to go outside and warned of possible disruptions to mobile internet service.Regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko said 141 drones were shot down over the surrounding Leningrad region. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses shot down 376 Ukrainian drones.Although no casualties were immediately reported, the renewed attack on St. Petersburg strikes a further embarrassing blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to cast the conflict as a distant event that doesn’t affect Russian daily life. Saturday’s attack follows a Ukrainian drone strike that set ablaze an oil terminal in the city and hit a nearby naval base Wednesday, hours before the opening of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Putin’s annual showcase for investment. Speaking at the forum, Putin said Thursday that Russia will strengthen its air defenses to counter recent Ukrainian drone attacks, which have reached deep inside his country and cast a cloud over the event in his hometown of St. Petersburg. With the front line barely moving as swarms of drones hinder advances, both sides have sought an edge by launching long-range strikes. Read More In Ukraine, one person was killed and three wounded overnight in the Dnipropetrovsk region, as Russian forces struck three districts nearly 30 times with drones and artillery, regional head Oleksandr Hanzha said Saturday.In Zaporizhzhia, five people sought medical care after a Russian drone strike started a fire at a parking lot, according to regional head Ivan Fedorov.Russia targeted Ukraine overnight with 272 strike drones, and air defenses shot down 249 of them, the Ukrainian air force said Saturday. The latest attacks came a day after Putin on Friday rejected a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a face-to-face meeting on the four-year-old conflict, saying he sees “no point” in it.Thursday’s letter, the first public message Zelenskyy has written directly to Putin since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, was a sweeping critique of the Russian leader’s 26 years in power, as well as some taunts about his age.

Supporters of Russian-Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetyan, wave a Armenian national flag during a rally against incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at Republic Square in Yerevan, Armenia, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as Karapetyan, who heads the Strong Armenia party, has faced criminal charges that he rejected as politically driven and campaigned from under house arrest. (AP Photo/Anthony Pizzoferrato)2026-06-06T04:03:38Z Armenia’s parliamentary elections Sunday will be a vote on its geopolitical future as incumbent Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan seeks closer relations with the European Union and the United States despite longstanding ties with Russia that have been championed by his critics. Many analysts favor Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party to retain control of the parliament, but with many opposition parties running on pro-Russia platforms, the Caucasus nation’s place on the international stage has been thrown into the spotlight.In the months ahead of the election, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have warned Armenia that joining the EU could come at the expense of massive economic damage by disrupting Armenian trade ties with Moscow and its allies.“These are the first elections in Armenia’s history where geopolitical orientation has become a decisive issue,” Mikayel Zolyan, an analyst and former member of the Armenian Parliament, told The Associated Press from Yerevan. “Until now, Armenia has remained within Russia’s sphere of influence, and this was taken for granted, but now, for the first time, this is being called into question.” Armenians disappointed with Moscow over KarabakhRelations between Moscow and Armenia soured in 2023 after Azerbaijan took control of the entire Karabakh region. The mountainous region had been controlled for decades by ethnic Armenian forces backed by Armenia, part of a long conflict between the neighboring countries.Armenian authorities accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to the region of failing to stop Azerbaijan’s onslaught. Moscow, busy with the conflict in Ukraine, has rejected the accusations, arguing its troops didn’t have a mandate to intervene.“It turned out that Russia’s image as a guarantor of Armenian security was not based in reality, and it all collapsed after the Karabakh war,” said Alexander Iskandaryan, director of the Caucasus Institute in Yerevan. Pashinyan has begun cautiously weakening ties with Moscow, joining the International Criminal Court in 2023 and suspending its participation in the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty Organization in 2024. Read More Armenia also officially declared its aspirations to join the EU and hosted the European Political Community summit in Yerevan in early May.A convincing win in the parliamentary vote would give Pashinyan a mandate to continue the trend and finalize a deal with Azerbaijan. Western ties could bring benefitsWestern nations have sought to show some of the advantages that closer ties could bring.In August, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Pashinyan and Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to sign an agreement declaring an end to their decades-long hostilities and including provisions for the creation of a new transit corridor between Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan. An agreement in February could pave the way for a U.S. company to build a new nuclear reactor in Armenia. 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. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also has said that Europe is ready to invest in Armenia’s energy industry and its “booming digital scene.”Trump has endorsed Pashinyan and called him a “great friend” and a leader who is making his country “strong, wealthy, and very secure!” Opposition parties back Moscow tiesMuch of Armenia’s opposition is still dominated by pro-Russia groups and many are also against normalizing relations with Azerbaijan. Key opposition figures have called for Pashinyan to stand down over the loss of Karabakh.Nineteen political forces, including two blocs and 17 parties, are taking part in the elections.Pashinyan’s main rival is the Strong Armenia Party, which wants closer business ties with Russia and accuses Pashinyan of attempting to spark a war with Moscow. The party is led by Armenian-Russian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan, who is on trial for calling for the overthrow of Armenia’s government. He denies the charges.Other potential contenders include former President Robert Kocharyan, who leads the Hayastan bloc and has accused Pashinyan of “seriously undermining” relations with Russia. Russia applies economic pressureRussia, which has a military base in Armenia, has warned that Yerevan’s Western turn could have dire political and economic consequences.Putin has compared Armenia’s course to that of Ukraine in thinly veiled threats and has suggested Russia’s conflict with Ukraine started with its attempts to join the EU.In recent weeks, Russian has introduced new restrictions on Armenian produce after citing sanitation violations, banning Armenian flowers, certain types of cognac and wine, eggplants, potatoes, dried fruits, fish and more.Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led customs union, was placed under formal review during a members’ meeting in Kazakhstan in May, with threats to suspend it completely it by December.During the Kazakhstan summit, the governments of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also demanded Armenia hold a referendum on whether it would remain in their group or seek EU membership. Pashinyan has rejected the need for such a vote. Armenian government statistics show 38% of Armenia’s exports went to countries within the Eurasian Economic Union in 2025, the vast majority heading to Russia. In comparison, just 8% of trade went to the EU.The Russian measures prompted von der Leyen to announce Thursday that the 27-nation bloc would send 50 million euros ($58 million) to support Armenia. In a statement, she said Russia is “weaponizing” economic relations and its ban on imports was “nothing short of economic coercion.”Facing an uncertain futureRussia could exert further pressure on Armenia because it controls a significant portion of the country’s energy and infrastructure and supplies cheap gas. “It’s completely unrealistic to say that Armenia can somehow overcome Russian influence in a short period of time,” analyst Zolyan said.Armenia’s civil society also isconcerned by what they have described as Russian-backed disinformation campaigns ahead of the vote. Moscow denies any interference.Daniel Ionnisyan, head of the Union of Informed Citizens, an independent election watchdog, told the AP that his organization has documented instances of Russian interference through social media campaigns, cyberattacks, vote buying and bribery of journalists.That echoes findings of a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which visited Yerevan in May and said foreign interference included illicit political financing, cyberattacks, economic coercion and direct attempts to manipulate the electoral process.“These hybrid tactics aim not only to sway public opinion but to secure long-term geopolitical leverage over Armenia,” the delegation said.___Sam McNeil in Brussels contributed to this report. YURAS KARMANAU Karmanau is an Associated Press journalist covering Belarus and the CIS countries. He has worked in Belarus and Ukraine, as well as other countries in the region, for more than 20 years. He is part of the team that covers the Russia-Ukraine war. mailto KATIE MARIE DAVIES Davies is an Associated Press reporter covering Russia, Belarus, Central Asia and the Caucasus. She has reported on the region for more than a decade and is part of the team covering the Russia-Ukraine war. twitter mailto

California gubernatorial candidate Xavier Becerra speaks during an election night event Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)2026-06-06T04:05:08Z WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden is not on the ballot this fall.But at least three prominent members of his administration will be, representing the Democratic Party in a trio of governor’s races that may test the resilience of the Biden brand two years after he left the White House under a cloud of disapproval.Two Biden Cabinet members — former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland of New Mexico and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra of California — advanced to the general election ballot for governor in their states this week. They joined Keisha Lance Bottoms, a former senior adviser, who secured the Democratic nomination in Georgia’s governor’s race last month. Their rise comes as a bitter feud erupts among Biden’s allies, including some who worked in the White House, about the Biden family’s reemergence in the public spotlight just five months before the high-stakes midterm elections. Hunter Biden is mixing it up with admirers and critics on social media, while Jill Biden is rehashing the tortured saga of the last presidential race in a new memoir. Biden himself has his own book coming out later this year. As candidates shift toward the general election phase of the midterms, it’s unclear whether the Biden connections will help or hurt the Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls come November. “I will put my experience to work for the people of our state,” Haaland told cheering supporters this week as she accepted her party’s nomination. She did not, however, mention Biden’s name as she ticked through her experience as a single mother, her time in Congress and her leadership of the Interior Department. Read More Biden who?One former Biden White House aide, Rodericka Applewhaite, suggested that some Democrats on the ballot this fall were intentionally avoiding asking the former president to help with their campaigns. Applewhaite is among the Democratic operatives publicly criticizing the Biden’s public reemergence in recent days — especially Jill Biden’s book tour.“The Bidens are burning a lot of good will that they built up over a very long time in what seems to be days,” she said, offering the former president and his family a pointed suggestion. “Step aside and let us have the battles that we need to have today.” On the ground in California, Georgia and New Mexico, Biden alumni are navigating their Biden connection in different ways.Haaland and Becerra are eager to focus on President Donald Trump in their campaign materials, but neither referenced Biden in their primary night speeches to supporters. Nor does either cite Biden’s name in the biographies listed on their official campaign websites.Biden did not issue a public endorsement in the New Mexico or California contests ahead of Tuesday’s contests either. Democrats have focused on hammering Republicans over Trump’s time in office.“It’s laughable that Republicans have become so desperate to avoid talking about Donald Trump that they are now trying to go after our candidates for advocating for their states and getting results when they served in the executive branch,” said Kevin Donohue, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association. Democrats, he said, “are focused on affordability” while “Republicans are all in on Trump’s cost-raising agenda.” That hasn’t stopped Republicans from highlighting both candidates’ old boss. In fact, Republicans are actively planning to highlight Democrats’ ties to the Biden administration as a weakness in the weeks ahead, according to Kollin Crompton of the Republican Governors Association.“Deb Haaland turned her back on New Mexico to push Biden’s failed policies and the Green New Scam. New Mexico deserves a leader, not a career politician who forgot where she came from,” Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, who chairs the campaign organization, said in a statement.Georgia is another story.Lance Bottoms points to her work with Biden on her campaign website. She asked for, and received, Biden’s formal endorsement just ahead of Georgia’s primary, which she shared widely on her campaign’s social media platforms. She also said she’d invite the former president to campaign with her this fall. “As I am moving around this state, people are missing Joe Biden more and more each day,” she told CNN. Bottoms was the first of two candidates Biden endorsed since leaving office, and he called her with congratulations after her primary victory on May 19.But even Bottoms has not highlighted her time in the administration on the campaign trail. Her stump speech regularly mentions her time serving as Atlanta’s mayor and career as a prosecutor but quickly pivots to issues like affordability and the Trump administration’s agenda.“I spoke with him this morning, so he called to congratulate me,” Bottoms said of Biden after her primary win. But then she immediately pivoted. “At the end of the day, we all want the same things. We want to live in great neighborhoods, we want great schools, we want access to health care.” Biden’s bad numbersAmericans had a dimmer view of Biden’s presidency when he left office than they did at the end of Trump’s first term or Barack Obama’s second, according to The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.Around one-quarter of U.S. adults at the time said Biden was a “good” or “great” president, with less than 1 in 10 saying he was “great.”It was a stark illustration of how tarnished Biden’s legacy has become, with many members of his own party seeing his Democratic presidency as merely mediocre.Americans were similarly likely to describe both Biden and Trump as “poor” or “terrible” — about half said this characterized each president’s time in office — but about 3 in 10 said Biden was “average,” while less than 2 in 10 said this about Trump.The Biden family has faced fresh scrutiny in recent weeks, sometimes even from former aides. The former president’s son, Hunter Biden, drew criticism for recently appearing on the podcast of far-right conspiracy theorist Candace Owens. He has garnered attention by posting online about his experience with addiction and criticisms of the media.Former first lady Jill Biden has shocked some Democrats for comments she made as part of a book tour for her memoir, “View from the East Wing,” which was released Tuesday. The former first lady said in an interview with CBS News that she was “frightened” by her husband’s performance during the infamous debate against Trump. The fallout eventually prompted Biden to drop out. In the memoir, she writes that Biden’s senior aides “insisted he needed to run” for reelection. Her memoir includes a retelling of her husband’s decision to end his candidacy and the family’s reaction to the former president’s cancer diagnosis last year.Throughout her book tour, she has faced tough questions about the former president’s health and cognitive abilities while in office, as well as her role in pushing him to seek reelection despite widespread public concerns.The former first lady described it as “heartbreaking” that the Democratic Party abandoned her husband during an interview on ABC’s “The View.” “That’s why Joe had to decide to get out, because he had lost the support of the Democratic Party,” she said.Such comments have sparked a fight among allies, especially after former Biden spokesperson Andrew Bates questioned to the New York Post “why that painful conversation for the party needed to be publicly re-opened now.” Jill Biden shot back, “I want to say to Andrew, call me up and say it to my face.” MATT BROWN Brown covers national politics, federal policy and democracy issues for The Associated Press. twitter instagram mailto

LEXINGTON, Ky. – There is still a game to go, but Dikembe Shaw already sounded nostalgic about Indiana All-Star week on Friday night.“Being around so many individuals who are so skilled and doing the thing I love, and I’m sure they love, and how they approach the game and their lives, I’ve just learned so much,” said Shaw, the Crown Point star. “For me personally, I just love it.”Shaw is playing like he is loving it, too. The IndyStar Mr. Basketball runner-up poured in a game-high 24 points in the Indiana All-Stars 106-83 victory over the Kentucky All-Stars in the first game of the annual series, which will conclude on Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.Shaw accomplished that despite playing just a shade under 20 minutes due to foul trouble. He shot 6-for-7 from the field, connecting on all four of his 3-point attempts and going 8-for-11 from the free-throw line.But even when Shaw had to sit with foul trouble, there was no letdown. Baron Walker and Brennan Miller made certain of it. Noblesville’s Walker, a Butler commit, was at his best early in the second half to help the Indiana All-Stars turn a three-point halftime lead into a double-digit margin with back-to-back three-point plays.Lawrence North’s Miller finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Walker added 17.“They gave us a lot of energy and the effort was contagious,” Indiana All-Star coach Todd Woelfle said. “They had some big plays, not only on the offensive end but the defensive end, just being scrappy. Coming on the road here at Kentucky we felt like we had to be 10 points better in order to win. We talked about it on the way here that there is a lot of pride on the line and it’s a long bus trip here. They took a lot of pride in representing their class, community, school and state of Indiana.”There have been plenty of Indiana All-Star teams through the years that have struggled on visits to Kentucky, including losses in four of its previous eight trips. At halftime, it looked like the Indiana All-Stars might be in for a similar battle to the finish. With Shaw, Walker and Miller leading the way, Indiana pushed the lead to 15 before the Kentucky All-Stars cut it back down to eight points with 4:26 left.It got no closer. Mr. Basketball Luke Ertel, Shaw and Miller scored on three consecutive possessions, then Shaw drilled a 3-pointer to provide the dagger.“I think it’s just the connection that we’ve built,” Walker said. “For how fast in the short amount of time we’ve been together, our connection and being able to read one another and just off the court, our bond is impeccable.”Kentucky Mr. Basketball Jake Feldhaus was a tough cover all night. The 6-8 standout from Madison Central, a Belmont commit, finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Southern Illinois commit Jeremiah Jackson (Louisville St. Xavier) led Kentucky with 24 points.The Indiana All-Stars shot 27-for-37 from the free-throw line. Plainfield’s Noah Smith (DePaul) finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds and Charlestown’s Anthony Fresh added 11 points off the bench. Purdue commit Ertel had eight points, 10 assists, five rebounds and three steals.“The bond we all have is just phenomenal,” Shaw said. “The boys and the girls. It’s bigger than yourself, it’s the whole group representing Indiana.”There is one more game to go. The Indiana boys will attempt to sweep Kentucky for the second consecutive year and 13th time in 17 years overall.“It’s going to be a great time,” Walker said. “Fun, enjoyable and hopefully we get a win.”Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana All-Stars pull away behind Dikembe Shaw for win over Kentucky

Guruzeta, credit for an up-and-down seasonAlthough things did not go well for Athletic as a team, Guruzeta delivered with 17 goals and a personal best.📸 Juan Manuel Serrano Arce - 2026 Getty ImagesIt has not been a good year for Athletic collectively, but individually, Gorka Guruzeta has been outstanding in front of goal. He scored a total of 17 to set a new personal best.With Terzic’s arrival, Guru is expected to maintain his status as a goalscorer in an Athletic side that will need him at his very best if they are to aim high again.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

Dani Olmo attacking midfield of Barcelona and Spain prior the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Spotify Camp Nou on May 10, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images Dani Olmo has rubbished talk of a potential summer move to Arsenal and insists he only wants to play for Barcelona.There have been a few whispers recently that the Gunners are keen on Olmo and the Spain star was asked directly about such talk in an interview with Mundo Deportivo.“No, Barça fans can rest easy. As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to say,” he said.Olmo also spoke about life at Barcelona and what is the hardest thing about playing for the club.“The pressure to win everything. It’s the hardest thing, but it’s also something you get used to. You know you always have to be on top of things, that you have to perform,” he added.“The least people expect, what all Barça fans expect, is to win. That pressure is one of the most difficult things, but it also depends on each player’s personality and the challenges they set for themselves during the season. And the pressure that the fans and the club place on us is also something we put on ourselves as players.”Olmo is now with the Spain squad for World Cup 2026 and will be back in action on Sunday in a final warm-up game against Peru.

INDIANAPOLIS — Before they were announced as the back-to-back state champions, the Carmel girls track and field team formed a huddle on the infield at North Central on Friday.The Greyhounds were basking the moment and letting their state title victory sink in. When they were proclaimed state champions, each member of the team broke the circle and jumped into the middle out of joy.Carmel had secured its second consecutive outdoor state track and field title. It’s the second season in a row where they clinched state titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.“Honestly, we were just already celebrating before they even announced it, just taking it all in,” said Carmel senior Sadie Foley. “For the seniors, it’s the last one and really just enjoying the moment (and) living in it. This doesn’t happen very often, it’s really special.”With the state trophy centered in frame, the Greyhounds sat on the state podium and posed for a group photo. A year removed from clinching their first state title since 1999, the Greyhounds basked in championship glory again on Friday.They did not need to wait another two decades to collect more championship gold. The Greyhounds posted 49.5 team points with a gap between second-place Bloomington South (35) and third-place Whiteland (33).The base of Carmel’s state title win was the discus throw. Carmel junior Ellie Cooley placed eighth (138-7) in the event. The dominoes started to fall into place for Carmel after Cooley turned in early points. Kate Hammond took home seventh place (11-3) in the pole vault.“Honestly, I think the way our field events started kind of set the tone because they were already in motion and doing well,” said Carmel coach Aaron McRill. “Kate Hammond PR’d today and she cleared her first three heights (in the pole vault), no problem.”The Greyhounds also counted on their distance runners for points. Holding a comfortable lead in the 4x800-meter relay, Carmel anchor runner Larkin Taylor threw her hands up in victory as she crossed the finish line.The Greyhounds set a new state meet record in the first running event of the day: the 4x800-meter relay. The quartet of Taylor, Foley, Annabel Pollert and Kaitlyn Oshimura clocked in a time of 8:49.46, which was the third-best in the country. That time dethroned Bloomington South’s old record of 8:51.35, which was set last season.Taylor, who ran anchor leg, crossed the finish line with about a 10-second lead over the Panthers (9:01.93), who entered Friday as the defending state champions.It was Carmel’s first 4x800 win since the 2021 season.“We didn’t know if this was a possibility this year — we lost a lot of good sprinters last year,” Taylor said. “We’ve been second the past two years in the 4x800, so getting the win was definitely exciting and the state record (too)”Foley and Taylor were a two-punch combo in the individual races. Foley earned second place (4:49.51) in the 1600 meters, while Taylor placed third (4:51.47) behind her.“That was the most exciting moment ever,” Foley said. “Larkin is one of my best friends and we train together all year. We knew we could do it but I didn’t think we actually expected it to happen, so to the fact that it did, it was so cool.”Individually, Oshimura also placed third (2:10.69) in the 800 meters. Senior Gabriela Grande Rosas rounded out the top-five in the 400-meter run.Carmel is the first girls' track team to win back-to-back state titles since Warren Central did it in 2016 and 2017. The Greyhounds etched their name deeper into the state record book with a complete team effort.“We knew we had to rely on our distance kids a little more this yearn than last year, but again we do the same thing that we always do: a full team effort,” McRill said. “So really we’re just winning as a team, not just one individual or anything like that.“We’re not counting on one person to score 30 points. We’re trying to get them from everybody, and they all buy into that.”Mallory Weller repeats as state champion in 1600 and 3200 metersOn Friday, the crowd at North Central witnessed the excellence of Mallory Weller. The Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior swept the 1,600 and 3,200 meter run for the second consecutive season.The North Carolina State commit clocked in a time of 4:46.34 in the 1,600 meters. She also ran a 10:18.66 in the 3,200 meters.Weller sustained greatness. The challenge of winning over and over didn’t break her. She added one more gold to her collection.“Going in was to get my titles back from last year and to get place first in both again. I think I executed that well,” Weller said. “At the bigger meets like this, it’s more of getting the place over the time, so I was really just focused on racing, matching moves when girls made their move, and that was really fun to do because … I run alone a lot so to have people is really fun.”Weller flashed her confidence on the oval. Her regional time of 4:33.77 fueled her self-belief entering the state meet. Come Friday, the sectional and regional champion completed her postseason trifecta with two state titles.On a day when Weller competed in her final high school meet, she said she wanted to be remembered for her kind soul rather than her fast times.“I just want people to look at me as a really positive and fun runner,” Weller said. “That I’m not overly stressed but I’m just having fun with my competitors and my teammates. Hopefully, just see me as a nice girl that can also happen to run fast. I know my times are going to get beat eventually down the line. I mean, it’s inevitable, but I really just hope I leave my legacy of just being a really fun and positive girl.”HSE brings home individual and relay titlesThe Royals placed fifth in the team race, but they still got winning production from junior Anissa Lammie, who clinched her first solo state title in the 400-meter dash. Lammie, the sectional and regional champion, ran a time of 54.32. She edged out Hamilton heights junior Norah Reiger (55.25) and Mt. Vernon sophomore Kat Simmons (55.33).“I just feel like you’ve got to finish all the way to the finish,” Lammie said. “The race is never over, and even if you’re far behind, you can still come back."Lammie ran second leg for the HSE 4x400-meter relay team that repeated as state champions. The quartet of Lammie, Cianna Cunningham, Kaleah McCarter and Chloe Senefeld ran a 3:47.29 to clinch gold.“It just feels amazing,” Lammie said. “We’ve worked so hard, we’ve had some setbacks today and our team hasn’t performed exactly how we wanted to, so we all just figured this is our last race. One of the girls on our team is a senior, so it was just really special … and we really deserve it, so we just wanted to go out there and give it our best shot.”Ellie Barada repeats as 800 championBarada, a two-time national champion, successfully defended her 800-meter state title. The North Carolina recruit clocked in a time of 2:05.33 on Friday, which was better than the 2:07.30 that she posted last season.The Bloomington South senior came close to the state meet record of 2:04.95."I've been looking forward to coming back out here, trying to defend my state title," Barada said. "I got to run in my 4x800 before this (800) earlier tonight and that's really awesome. My last run with that team, so I really love those girls ... They're my hype women, so they gave me the confidence to come out here today and win another state title."In her final high school relay event, Barada ran anchor leg for the second-place 4x800-meter relay. The Panthers ran a time of 9:01.93 with Barada, Lexi Kollbaum, Mary Asplund and Jasmine Martoglio in the lineup. That runner-up finish was a great prelude to what Barada cooked up in the 800 meters. It was a state title victory that she hopes will power a strong run at the Nike Outdoor Nationals and USATF U20 Outdoor Championships later this month."I was really going for it and I'm happy with what I was able to do by myself," Barada said. "I think it sets me up nicely for some of my races later on this summer."IHSAA girls track and field state meet resultsTeam scores (1-8)1. Carmel, 49.5 points2. Bloomington South, 35 points3. Whiteland, 33 points4. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 29 points5. Hamilton Southeastern, 28 points6. North Central, 22 points7. Bishop Chatard, 21 points8. Merrillville, 20 pointst-8. Lawrence Central, 20 pointst-8. Lake Central, 20 pointsEvent winners*state meet record• 100: Chesterton’s Kenedi Bradley, 11.94• 200: De’Janay Layne, Evansville North, 24.30• 400: Hamilton Southeastern’s Anissa Lammie 54.32• 800: Bloomington South’s Ellie Barada, 2:05.33• 1600: Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior Mallory Weller, 4:46.34• 3200: Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior Mallory Weller, 10:18.66• 110 hurdles: Merrillville's Jordyn Fort, 13.86• 300 hurdles: Eastern Hancock’s Isabella Sotelo, 41.49• 4x100 relay: Lawrence Central’s Jariah Rayford, Aniyah McKenzie, Aniya Pinner, Jakiya Alvies, 46.37• 4x400 relay: Hamilton Southeastern’s Cianna Cunningham, Anissa Lammie, Kaleah McCarter, Chloe Senefeld• 4x800 relay: *Carmel’s Annabel Pollert, Sadie Foley, Kaitlyn Oshimura, Larkin Taylor, *8:49.46• Pole vault: Guerin Catholic’s Amelia Smith, 13-00• Long jump: Whiteland Community’s Elnora Stevenson, 19-07.25• Discus: Franklin Community’s Maddison Judge, 152-08• High jump: Warren Central’s Kira Smith, 5-10.00• Shot put: Western’s Ellyse Walden, 47-08.50Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Results, state champions from Indiana high school girls state track and field

INDIANAPOLIS — Before they were announced as the back-to-back state champions, the Carmel girls track and field team formed a huddle on the infield at North Central on Friday.The Greyhounds were basking the moment and letting their state title victory sink in. When they were proclaimed state champions, each member of the team broke the circle and jumped into the middle out of joy.Carmel had secured its second consecutive outdoor state track and field title. It’s the second season in a row where they clinched state titles in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.“Honestly, we were just already celebrating before they even announced it, just taking it all in,” said Carmel senior Sadie Foley. “For the seniors, it’s the last one and really just enjoying the moment (and) living in it. This doesn’t happen very often, it’s really special.”With the state trophy centered in frame, the Greyhounds sat on the state podium and posed for a group photo. A year removed from clinching their first state title since 1999, the Greyhounds basked in championship glory again on Friday.They did not need to wait another two decades to collect more championship gold. The Greyhounds posted 49.5 team points with a gap between second-place Bloomington South (35) and third-place Whiteland (33).The base of Carmel’s state title win was the discus throw. Carmel junior Ellie Cooley placed eighth (138-7) in the event. The dominoes started to fall into place for Carmel after Cooley turned in early points. Kate Hammond took home seventh place (11-3) in the pole vault.“Honestly, I think the way our field events started kind of set the tone because they were already in motion and doing well,” said Carmel coach Aaron McRill. “Kate Hammond PR’d today and she cleared her first three heights (in the pole vault), no problem.”The Greyhounds also counted on their distance runners for points. Holding a comfortable lead in the 4x800-meter relay, Carmel anchor runner Larkin Taylor threw her hands up in victory as she crossed the finish line.The Greyhounds set a new state meet record in the first running event of the day: the 4x800-meter relay. The quartet of Taylor, Foley, Annabel Pollert and Kaitlyn Oshimura clocked in a time of 8:49.46, which was the third-best in the country. That time dethroned Bloomington South’s old record of 8:51.35, which was set last season.Taylor, who ran anchor leg, crossed the finish line with about a 10-second lead over the Panthers (9:01.93), who entered Friday as the defending state champions.It was Carmel’s first 4x800 win since the 2021 season.“We didn’t know if this was a possibility this year — we lost a lot of good sprinters last year,” Taylor said. “We’ve been second the past two years in the 4x800, so getting the win was definitely exciting and the state record (too)”Foley and Taylor were a two-punch combo in the individual races. Foley earned second place (4:49.51) in the 1600 meters, while Taylor placed third (4:51.47) behind her.“That was the most exciting moment ever,” Foley said. “Larkin is one of my best friends and we train together all year. We knew we could do it but I didn’t think we actually expected it to happen, so to the fact that it did, it was so cool.”Individually, Oshimura also placed third (2:10.69) in the 800 meters. Senior Gabriela Grande Rosas rounded out the top-five in the 400-meter run.Carmel is the first girls' track team to win back-to-back state titles since Warren Central did it in 2016 and 2017. The Greyhounds etched their name deeper into the state record book with a complete team effort.“We knew we had to rely on our distance kids a little more this yearn than last year, but again we do the same thing that we always do: a full team effort,” McRill said. “So really we’re just winning as a team, not just one individual or anything like that.“We’re not counting on one person to score 30 points. We’re trying to get them from everybody, and they all buy into that.”Mallory Weller repeats as state champion in 1600 and 3200 metersOn Friday, the crowd at North Central witnessed the excellence of Mallory Weller. The Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior swept the 1,600 and 3,200 meter run for the second consecutive season.The North Carolina State commit clocked in a time of 4:46.34 in the 1,600 meters. She also ran a 10:18.66 in the 3,200 meters.Weller sustained greatness. The challenge of winning over and over didn’t break her. She added one more gold to her collection.“Going in was to get my titles back from last year and to get place first in both again. I think I executed that well,” Weller said. “At the bigger meets like this, it’s more of getting the place over the time, so I was really just focused on racing, matching moves when girls made their move, and that was really fun to do because … I run alone a lot so to have people is really fun.”Weller flashed her confidence on the oval. Her regional time of 4:33.77 fueled her self-belief entering the state meet. Come Friday, the sectional and regional champion completed her postseason trifecta with two state titles.On a day when Weller competed in her final high school meet, she said she wanted to be remembered for her kind soul rather than her fast times.“I just want people to look at me as a really positive and fun runner,” Weller said. “That I’m not overly stressed but I’m just having fun with my competitors and my teammates. Hopefully, just see me as a nice girl that can also happen to run fast. I know my times are going to get beat eventually down the line. I mean, it’s inevitable, but I really just hope I leave my legacy of just being a really fun and positive girl.”HSE brings home individual and relay titlesThe Royals placed fifth in the team race, but they still got winning production from junior Anissa Lammie, who clinched her first solo state title in the 400-meter dash. Lammie, the sectional and regional champion, ran a time of 54.32. She edged out Hamilton heights junior Norah Reiger (55.25) and Mt. Vernon sophomore Kat Simmons (55.33).“I just feel like you’ve got to finish all the way to the finish,” Lammie said. “The race is never over, and even if you’re far behind, you can still come back."Lammie ran second leg for the HSE 4x400-meter relay team that repeated as state champions. The quartet of Lammie, Cianna Cunningham, Kaleah McCarter and Chloe Senefeld ran a 3:47.29 to clinch gold.“It just feels amazing,” Lammie said. “We’ve worked so hard, we’ve had some setbacks today and our team hasn’t performed exactly how we wanted to, so we all just figured this is our last race. One of the girls on our team is a senior, so it was just really special … and we really deserve it, so we just wanted to go out there and give it our best shot.”Ellie Barada repeats as 800 championBarada, a two-time national champion, successfully defended her 800-meter state title. The North Carolina recruit clocked in a time of 2:05.33 on Friday, which was better than the 2:07.30 that she posted last season.The Bloomington South senior came close to the state meet record of 2:04.95."I've been looking forward to coming back out here, trying to defend my state title," Barada said. "I got to run in my 4x800 before this (800) earlier tonight and that's really awesome. My last run with that team, so I really love those girls ... They're my hype women, so they gave me the confidence to come out here today and win another state title."In her final high school relay event, Barada ran anchor leg for the second-place 4x800-meter relay. The Panthers ran a time of 9:01.93 with Barada, Lexi Kollbaum, Mary Asplund and Jasmine Martoglio in the lineup. That runner-up finish was a great prelude to what Barada cooked up in the 800 meters. It was a state title victory that she hopes will power a strong run at the Nike Outdoor Nationals and USATF U20 Outdoor Championships later this month."I was really going for it and I'm happy with what I was able to do by myself," Barada said. "I think it sets me up nicely for some of my races later on this summer."IHSAA girls track and field state meet resultsTeam scores (1-8)1. Carmel, 49.5 points2. Bloomington South, 35 points3. Whiteland, 33 points4. Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, 29 points5. Hamilton Southeastern, 28 points6. North Central, 22 points7. Bishop Chatard, 21 points8. Merrillville, 20 pointst-8. Lawrence Central, 20 pointst-8. Lake Central, 20 pointsEvent winners*state meet record• 100: Chesterton’s Kenedi Bradley, 11.94• 200: De’Janay Layne, Evansville North, 24.30• 400: Hamilton Southeastern’s Anissa Lammie 54.32• 800: Bloomington South’s Ellie Barada, 2:05.33• 1600: Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior Mallory Weller, 4:46.34• 3200: Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran senior Mallory Weller, 10:18.66• 110 hurdles: Merrillville's Jordyn Fort, 13.86• 300 hurdles: Eastern Hancock’s Isabella Sotelo, 41.49• 4x100 relay: Lawrence Central’s Jariah Rayford, Aniyah McKenzie, Aniya Pinner, Jakiya Alvies, 46.37• 4x400 relay: Hamilton Southeastern’s Cianna Cunningham, Anissa Lammie, Kaleah McCarter, Chloe Senefeld• 4x800 relay: *Carmel’s Annabel Pollert, Sadie Foley, Kaitlyn Oshimura, Larkin Taylor, *8:49.46• Pole vault: Guerin Catholic’s Amelia Smith, 13-00• Long jump: Whiteland Community’s Elnora Stevenson, 19-07.25• Discus: Franklin Community’s Maddison Judge, 152-08• High jump: Warren Central’s Kira Smith, 5-10.00• Shot put: Western’s Ellyse Walden, 47-08.50Marc Ray is a high school sports reporter at the IndyStar. He can be reached at marc.ray@indystar.com , and on X, formerly Twitter, at @themarcszn.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Results, state champions from Indiana high school girls state track and field

Ordabasy Shymkent and FC Tobol are expected to make offers for Hearts winger Islam Chesnokov, 26. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required)Forward Lawrence Shankland, 30, wanted a quick move from Hearts to Rangers so he would not be distracted while at the World Cup with Scotland. (Herald - subscription required)Rangers have intensified their interest in Hammarby's Swedish right-back Hampus Skoglund, 22. (TeamTalk)Basel have had two offers turned down for Zalaegerszegi TE's Akpe Victory, the 19-year-old defender who has also been linked with Rangers among others. (Ben Jacobs on X)Celtic have an interest in Rodez forward Tairyk Arconte, 22. (Foot Meracto - in French)Meanwhile, last season's top scorer, Sweden midfielder Benjamin Nygren, 24, is not ruling out a Celtic exit (Glasgow Times)Real Madrid plan Olise bid - Saturday's gossipOld Firm miss out on Andersen as Patterson linked with Blades - gossipDefender Dara Jikiemi, 16, has turned down a new contract at Celtic, amid interest from Liverpool. (Record - subscription required)Former Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy is linked with Lorient. (L'Equipe - in French)Dundee United forward Kai Hutchinson, 16, is a target for Everton. (Record - subscription required)St Mirren and English clubs are interested in Kieran Ngwenya, the 23-year-old defender who is out of contract after a spell at Dunfermline Athletic. (Courier - subscription required)Bolivia boss Oscar Villegas expects to win Saturday's friendly with Scotland. (National - subscription required)

🎥Tuchel offers positive update on KaneThe England manager has admitted that his captain is fully fit and available to play.Much of England’s attention is on the condition of their captain and biggest star. Harry Kane, who had been dealing with physical issues, now appears to be fully recovered.Tuchel has given an update on his striker’s condition and says he is fully fit and available to play.It remains to be seen, then, whether he will get some minutes against New Zealand today or whether we will have to wait until the start of the World Cup.This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.