Brazil and Scotland are clashing this Wednesday, June 24th, for Matchday 3 of Group C at the 2026 World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. In a crucial game to secure first place and avoid dropping to second in the group, questions regarding the presence of Vinicius Junior have started to arise.

According to Globo Esporte, Vinicius Junior is expected to be included in the starting lineup against Scotland. After finding the back of the net and delivering an assist against Haiti, the Real Madrid winger was subbed off in the 81st minute to preserve his fitness for this final game of the group phase.

The Canarinha head into the clash on a high note after a dominant 3-0 win against Haiti, which officially secured their qualification to the next phase. On the other hand, Scotland suffered a tough 1-0 defeat against Morocco and will now look to pull off an upset against Brazil to keep their own knockout hopes alive.

At the moment, Brazil and Morocco lead Group C with four points each, while Scotland sits in third with three points, and Haiti is at the bottom with zero. With both group matches kicking off simultaneously at 6:00 PM ET, the high-stakes race for the top spot is officially on.

All eyes on Neymar’s return

While Brazil’s primary goal is locking up the top spot in Group C, anticipation is building around Neymar making his first appearance in this tournament to mark his fourth career World Cup. Due to a lingering injury, he was sidelined for the matches against Morocco and Haiti, but he has now rejoined the main group and is fit to feature.

In Tuesday’s press conference, head coach Carlo Ancelotti addressed the superstar’s physical condition: “Neymar is available, he worked well this week and prepared well for the match. We are all very happy, his quality can bring a lot to the team. He can play the 90 minutes, he is doing well, he worked very well and trained well. I am very happy with him.“

Projected lineups for Scotland and Brazil

Scotland’s projected lineup (4-3-3): Angus Gunn; Nathan Patterson, Jack Hendry, Grant Hanley, Andrew Robertson; Ryan Christie, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McTominay; Ben Gannon-Doak, Che Adams, John McGinn.
Head coach: Steve Clarke.

Brazil’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Danilo, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos; Bruno Guimaraes, Casemiro; Rayan, Lucas Paqueta, Vinicius Junior; Matheus Cunha.
Head coach: Carlo Ancelotti.

After failing to win either of their first two matches at the 2026 World Cup, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Qatar face each other to determine their future in the tournament. While Sergej Barbarez seeks to excel on the counterattack and through aerial play, Julen Lopetegui’s team aim to take control through possession of the ball. Because the result will definitively conclude Group B, a win, a draw, or a loss could significantly affect their position in the standings.

Qatar have not managed to show their best version in the tournament, being thoroughly outplayed by both Switzerland and Canada. However, Julen Lopetegui could look for a response by dominating possession. Far from being a simple task, they could face difficulties breaking down the opposition’s strong defensive setup, which has impressed throughout several matches. Therefore, Akram Afif would need to deliver his best in the scoring side.

Bosnia and Herzegovina have shown that they are not a national team that seeks to dominate. Instead, they are very comfortable defending in a low block. In addition, they rely on counterattacks through their midfielders and full-backs. With Edin Džeko and Ermedin Demirović leading the attack, they look to take advantage of precise crosses. With this approach, they are aiming for a victory to keep their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 alive.

What happens if Bosnia and Herzegovina win over Qatar?

In case Bosnia and Herzegovina secure a victory over Qatar, they would reach four points in the Group B. With this, they will rank among the 12 best-third placed national teams, having a strong chance of reaching the Round of 32. Nonetheless, their future will not be secured, as they would compete with other national teams. In that sense, the tiebreakers will have a huge role in their 2026 World Cup future.

What happens if Bosnia and Herzegovina draw with Qatar?

Bosnia and Herzegovina would still secure their third place in the Group B of the 2026 World Cup, if they draw to Qatar. Having a -3 in the goal difference, they would overcome their rivals’ -6 goal difference. Despite this, their spot in the Round of 32 is not guaranteed, as they must compete against other national teams to be among the top 8 qualifiers.

What happens if Bosnia and Herzegovina lose to Qatar?

If Bosnia and Herzegovina are defeated by Qatar, they would be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup. In their place, Julen Lopetegui’s team would hold third place in Group B, competing to reach the Round of 32. With this, Sergej Barbarez’s team would be eliminated in the group stage for a second consecutive tournament, leaving Edin Džeko without a chance to play in the knockout stages.

Bosnia and Herzegovina face Qatar in their third match of the 2026 World Cup. After drawing against Canada and losing to Switzerland, they arrive needing a victory to keep their knockout-stage hopes alive. However, Julen Lopetegui’s team could cause problems through their patient possession play and strong defense. Therefore, fans are closely monitoring Edin Džeko’s status, as he could make the difference in attack.

Edin Džeko will start for Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final group-stage match. Although he has yet to score in the tournament, he remains the national team’s main reference point. With his excellent aerial ability and strong one-on-one play, he could take advantage of the spaces behind Qatar‘s defense. At 40 years old, he is aiming to shine in what could be his final edition of the tournament.

Alongside Džeko, head coach Sergej Barbarez has decided to rely on Ermedin Demirović as his attacking partner. In addition, Kerim Alajbegović and Esmir Bajraktarević are expected to be difference-makers on the counterattack, thanks to their pace and efficiency. Rather than dominating possession, Bosnia and Herzegovina could lean on their aerial game, looking to exploit spaces in a Qatar defense that does not particularly excel in that area.

Despite coming off a heavy 6–0 defeat to Canada, Qatar could look to show their best version by relying on a possession-based style of play as their main approach. To achieve this, head coach Julen Lopetegui has decided to trust Karim Boudiaf, Ahmed Fathi, and Jassem Gaber in midfield. However, all eyes will be on Akram Afif, the national team’s biggest star, as he looks to make an impact in front of goal.

Bosnia and Herzegovina confirmed lineup vs Qatar

Seeking their first victory, Bosnia and Herzegovina have decided to maintain their conservative approach. Head coach Sergej Barbarez has made a few changes, including the inclusion of Stjepan Radeljić at right-back. However, the flanks will be essential, as they will look to launch counterattacks and target the aerial ability of Ermedin Demirović and Edin Džeko.

Bosnia and Herzegovina will lineup as follows: Nikola Vasilj; Stjepan Radeljic, Nikola Katic, Arjan Malic, Sead Kolasinac; Esmir Bajraktarevic, Ivan Šunjić, Ivan Bašić, Kerim Alajbegovic; Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Džeko.

Qatar confirmed lineup vs Bosnia and Herzegovina

Qatar are seeking redemption at the 2026 World Cup as they enter their match against Bosnia and Herzegovina looking to take control through possession. To achieve this, head coach Julen Lopetegui has decided to make major adjustments in midfield and at full-back. However, Edmilson Júnior and Akram Afif remain the focal points of the attack, where they will look to be clinical in front of goal.

Qatar will play as follows: Mahmoud Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Issa Laye, Sultan Al Brake; Ahmed Fathi, Jassem Gaber, Karim Boudiaf; Hasan Al-Haydos, Edmilson Junior, Akram Afif.

The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered another fascinating set of matches that saw international icons re-write the record books. On the newest edition of Rabona TV’s daily recap, Adrian Sousa breaks down a high-stakes schedule defined by dominant bounce-back wins and unexpected struggles.

Listen to the full analysis on Spotify to catch up on all the tactical breakdowns.

The headline story centered around Group K, where Cristiano Ronaldo officially ended his international goal drought by netting a clinical brace. His two goals inspired Portugal to an emphatic 5-0 routing of Uzbekistan, helping the European side recover in style following an opening-day draw.

In the same group, Colombia managed to rise to the very top of the standings after grinding out a narrow 1-0 victory against DR Congo.

Meanwhile, England endured a highly frustrating tactical outing, looking incredibly fortunate to escape their match against Ghana with a scoreless draw.

The daily wrap-up concludes with a look at Croatia, who managed to overcome a highly stubborn and organized Panama squad to collect three vital points. The episode evaluates how these latest shifts drastically alter the math and qualification pathways heading into the final round of games.

You can stream the entire daily overview right now. Check out the Rabona TV World Cup Recap on Spotify to get the complete breakdown of the latest individual milestones, scorelines, and group standings.

Match Overview

The stakes are incredibly high for this final Group C match in Miami. For Scotland, this is a moment of truth. After a vital opening win against Haiti was followed by a narrow loss to Morocco, their path to the knockout stage hangs in the balance. The Tartan Army knows that a positive result here would almost certainly see them through, but facing the tournament favorites is a monumental task.

Brazil enters this clash with a clear objective: win and secure the top spot in the group. After a wakeup call in their 1-1 draw with Morocco, the Seleção responded with a dominant 3-0 victory over Haiti. Now, Carlo Ancelotti‘s side is looking to make a statement and ensure a more favorable draw in the round of 32, creating a high-pressure finale for both nations.

Tactical Analysis & Match Context

Brazil‘s tournament trajectory shows a team finding its rhythm. The initial draw served as a warning, but their subsequent performance demonstrated their offensive firepower. In contrast, Scotland‘s journey has been a rollercoaster. They secured the necessary points against the group’s underdog but were unable to hold off a disciplined Moroccan side, placing immense pressure on this final fixture.

This match projects as a classic clash of styles: Brazil‘s fluid, possession-based attack against Scotland‘s compact, defensive block. Scotland’s deep-sitting defense, indicated by their high passes per defensive action (PPDA) average, aims to frustrate opponents and limit space. Brazil, however, boasts the fifth-most dangerous attack in the competition, averaging a high expected goals (xG) per shot, meaning they create quality chances and will relentlessly test Scotland‘s resolve.

The motivations are crystal clear. For Brazil, topping the group is crucial to avoid a potential heavyweight clash in the next round. For Scotland, survival is the only goal. A draw would likely guarantee their advancement, and even a narrow defeat could see them progress as one of the best third-placed teams. This dynamic will dictate a cautious, disciplined approach from Scotland, while Brazil will be tasked with breaking them down.

Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends

History heavily favors the South American giants in this fixture. Brazil and Scotland have met four times in previous tournaments, with the Seleção remaining undefeated, securing three wins and one draw. Scotland has never managed to defeat Brazil in an official competitive match.

The last four tournament encounters tell a story of Brazilian dominance. Their most recent clash was a 2-1 Brazil victory in the 1998 group stage. Prior to that, Brazil won 1-0 in 1990 and 4-1 in 1982, with the only shared point coming from a 0-0 draw in 1974. A 2011 friendly also ended in a 2-0 win for Brazil.

Statistically, the trends are stark. Brazil has an impressive record against European opposition, with 44 wins, 17 draws, and only 16 losses in 77 matches at the tournament. Conversely, Scotland has struggled against CONMEBOL teams, having never won a single match against South American opponents in the competition’s history (two draws, six losses).

Squad News & Projected Lineups

Both teams are managing key player availability heading into this decisive group stage finale.

For Scotland, the primary concern is the fitness of defender Kieran Tierney, who suffered a muscle injury against Morocco. His potential absence would be a significant blow to their defensive structure, likely forcing manager Steve Clarke to adjust his backline. Gannon-Doak is the probable replacement, having already featured in the tournament.

Brazil has mixed news on the injury front. Superstar Neymar is back in training and could make an appearance from the bench as he works his way back to full fitness. However, winger Raphinha has been ruled out with a thigh injury sustained against Haiti, opening the door for the young talent Rayan to earn his first start of the tournament.

Scotland Projected XI (4-5-1): Gunn; Robertson, Hanley, Hendry, Hickey; McGinn, Ferguson, McTominay, Christie, Gannon-Doak; Adams.
This lineup reflects a pragmatic and defensive approach. The five-man midfield, anchored by Scott McTominay, is designed to absorb pressure and disrupt Brazil’s rhythm, while John McGinn and Andy Robertson will be key outlets on the counter-attack.

Brazil Projected XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Santos, Gabriel, Marquinhos, Danilo; Casemiro, Paquetá, Guimarães; Vinícius, Cunha, Rayan.
Even with injuries, this is a formidable attacking force. Vinícius Júnior remains the primary threat from the wing, while Matheus Cunha will lead the line. The midfield trio of Casemiro, Paquetá, and Guimarães provides a perfect balance of defensive stability and creative passing to unlock the Scottish defense.

More details on how to watch

You can watch the Scotland vs Brazil match on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, and gaming consoles such as PlayStation and Xbox. You can also stream directly on your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

A subscription to Fubo gives you access to more than just the 2026 tournament. You can also watch other top soccer competitions, including the Premier League, LaLiga, and Serie A, through its network partners.

The service is available for a monthly fee of $14.99. This single subscription provides comprehensive coverage of the entire tournament, from the group stage all the way to the final.

SEE MORE: Schedule of World Cup games on US TV and streaming

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Match Overview

Morocco enters the final matchday of Group C with a clear objective: secure a victory to challenge for the top spot. The African nation is riding a wave of momentum, currently unbeaten in their last six group stage games in the competition, a record for an African team. Their impressive performances, including a dominant win over Scotland and a hard-fought draw against Brazil, have positioned them as a formidable side with knockout stage ambitions.

For Haiti, the journey in the 2026 tournament ends here. After losses to Scotland and Brazil, they are officially eliminated and playing solely for pride. Having lost their last five games in the competition across all editions, the Caribbean side is desperate to avoid an unwanted record. The stakes are clear: Morocco needs a convincing win to control their destiny, while Haiti hopes to salvage a positive result and score their first goal before heading home.

Tactical Analysis & Match Context

The trajectories of these two teams could not be more different. Morocco has been a standout, showcasing tactical discipline and attacking flair. Their 1-0 victory over Scotland was a model of control, where they completed a record 601 passes for an African team in a tournament match. Against Brazil, they went toe-to-toe with the giants, demonstrating they can compete at the highest level. In contrast, Haiti has struggled to find its footing, failing to score in either of its first two matches and looking vulnerable defensively.

The tactical clash will likely hinge on Morocco’s aggressive, high-tempo start. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has instructed his team to press relentlessly from the opening whistle, a strategy that produced a goal just 68 seconds into their match against Scotland and generated 12 shots in the first half against Brazil. This intense pressure will test a Haitian defense that has historically conceded multiple goals in tournament play. If Haiti falls behind early, they will be forced to open up, potentially leaving them exposed to Morocco‘s swift counter-attacks.

Motivation is a defining factor in this fixture. For Morocco, a simple win may not be enough; with Brazil holding a goal-difference advantage, the Atlas Lions will be pushing for a multi-goal victory to leapfrog them into first place in Group C. Haiti, with nothing left to lose, will be playing for national pride. Their primary goal will be to score for the first time in the tournament and perhaps secure their first-ever point in this edition of the competition, which could make them a surprisingly resilient opponent.

Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends

This match will mark a historic first, as Morocco and Haiti have never faced each other before, either in a competitive fixture or a friendly. This lack of shared history means both teams will be entering uncharted territory, relying on scouting and recent tournament form to prepare for the clash in Atlanta.

While there is no direct head-to-head record, we can look at their performances against teams from similar confederations. Morocco has faced a CONCACAF nation once before in this competition, defeating Canada 2-1 during the 2022 group stage. Conversely, this will be Haiti‘s first-ever match against an African opponent on the world’s biggest stage, presenting a novel challenge for their squad.

Morocco comes into this game with a formidable unbeaten streak, having not lost within 90 minutes in their last 31 matches across all competitions. Their last defeat to a non-African team was a narrow 2-1 loss to Croatia in the 2022 third-place match. Haiti‘s historical data shows a tendency to concede, having let in three or more goals in four of their five all-time tournament matches. This trend, combined with Morocco‘s early-scoring habit, points toward a challenging evening for the Haitian backline.

Squad News & Projected Lineups

Both managers have nearly full squads to choose from, but with Haiti eliminated and Morocco eyeing the knockout round, tactical rotations are expected from both sides.

Morocco‘s manager, Mohamed Ouahbi, has no reported injury concerns and may use this opportunity to give key players a rest or avoid potential suspensions. Midfielder Sofyan Amrabat could return to the starting lineup to provide stability, while Soufiane Talbi might get a chance in the attack. Issa Diop is the only player at risk of suspension if he receives a yellow card.

Haiti‘s coach, Sébastien Migné, is likely to alter his formation to a 4-4-2 in an effort to generate more offense. Forwards Frantzdy Pierrot and Wilson Isidor are expected to start up front, with Deedson joining the midfield. Four Haitian players are currently carrying yellow cards and would miss their next match if booked, though this is less of a concern given their elimination.

Morocco Projected XI (4-2-3-1):
Bono; Hakimi, Riad, Diop, Mazraoui; Amrabat, El Aynaoui; Diaz, Ounahi, Talbi; Saibari.
This lineup is built for control and creativity. Amrabat anchors the midfield, freeing up Brahim Diaz and Azzedine Ounahi to supply chances for Ismael Saibari, who has impressively scored in both of Morocco’s opening matches.

Haiti Projected XI (4-4-2):
Placide; Arcus, Ade, Delcroix, Experience; Deedson, Bellegarde, Jacques, Providence; Isidor, Pierrot.
By shifting to two strikers, Haiti aims to pose a greater threat in the final third. The partnership of Isidor and Pierrot will be crucial if they hope to break their scoring drought, while the midfield four will face the tough task of containing Morocco’s dynamic attack.

More details on how to watch

You can watch the Morocco vs Haiti match live on Fubo. The service is compatible with a wide range of devices, including your computer, smartphone, tablet, and smart TV, ensuring you can catch the action from anywhere.

In addition to this crucial Group C decider, a subscription to Fubo gives you access to every single game of the 2026 tournament. You can also stream other top soccer competitions, such as Liga MX and LaLiga, throughout the year.

A subscription to [Streaming Platform] costs $14.99 per month, providing an all-access pass to live sports and on-demand content. The platform offers excellent value for soccer fans looking for comprehensive coverage.

SEE MORE: Complete World Cup TV Schedule

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If you’re abroad, you may need to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to watch games using your usual streaming service. A VPN, such as Nord VPN, allows you to establish a secure connection online when streaming.

The final round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage is officially underway, bringing intense drama and massive positioning battles across the brackets. On the latest edition of The 90th Minute, hosts Dan Riccio and Will Lou review a crucial matchday that saw certain heavyweights finally explode while others left lingering questions.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear the complete matchday analysis.

The headline result came from a ruthless Portuguese side, who completely erased the memory of their opening-day struggles by dismantling Uzbekistan in a dominant 5-0 victory. In contrast, England endured a highly frustrating tactical stalemate, playing out a scoreless 0-0 draw against an organized Ghana squad, while Colombia and Croatia picked up vital wins to solidify their knockout aspirations.

The focus of the program then shifts heavily toward Canada’s massive upcoming showdown against Switzerland to determine the winner of Group B. The hosts analyze how Jesse Marsch’s squad can handle the pressure of this winner-take-first scenario, specifically diving into midfield solutions following Ismael Koné’s tournament-ending injury and what a fully fit Alphonso Davies brings to the lineup.

The show wraps up with a comprehensive preview of the remaining tournament slate, including a highly anticipated Group C clash between Brazil and Scotland. The guys outline the exact qualification routes for Morocco and Mexico as the intense pressure of the group-stage finales completely takes over the tournament.

You can stream the entire daily breakdown right now. Check out The 90th Minute on Spotify to get fully prepared for the upcoming final round of group fixtures, tactical lineups, and early knockout-round projections.

On June 24, 2026, Lionel Messi officially celebrates his 39th birthday, marking a historic personal milestone in the middle of a phenomenal run at the 2026 World Cup. While most players of his generation have long since transitioned into coaching or punditry, the legendary Argentine captain is spending his birthday week standing entirely alone at the absolute pinnacle of international football.

Following an unforgettable performance on Monday where his clinical brace against Austria steered Argentina safely into the Round of 32, Messi completely rewrote nearly a century of tournament folklore. He didn’t just break the records; he took total custody of them.

Before diving into the historical milestones he can still conquer over the next month, let’s look at the elite tournament benchmarks Messi already holds outright:

• Outright All-Time Top Scorer: 18 total goals, sitting completely clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) and Brazil’s Marta (17) after his 5-goal explosion in just two games this summer.
• Most Match Victories: 18 career World Cup wins, moving clear of Klose following Monday’s victory in Dallas.
• Most Matches Played: 28 total tournament appearances stretching across an unprecedented six different editions.
• Longevity Benchmark: Joint longest time span between a player’s first and last tournament goals (20 years, 11 days).

Even with the ultimate scoring mountain fully conquered, Messi’s historical bucket list isn’t completely finished. As Argentina moves into the single-elimination phase, here are the final three historic frontiers the birthday boy can still smash.

The final 3 records Lionel Messi can still break

1. The outright all-time assist record

While he safely owns the scoring record, Messi is currently tied at the very top of the creative mountain. According to verified modern-era statistics, Messi has accumulated 8 career assists, leaving him in a dead-heat tie with Diego Maradona.

Because Messi is the only player in history to register an assist in five different World Cups, his creative consistency is unparalleled. One more goal-scoring pass to a teammate like Julián Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez will give him sole, undisputed ownership of the tournament’s all-time assist crown.

2. Most goals in a single tournament by an Argentina captain

By netting five goals in just his opening two Group J fixtures, the 39-year-old maestro has completely redefined late-career attacking output. He is currently chasing the internal national record for the most goals scored by an active captain in a single World Cup campaign, a record currently held by Diego Maradona, who scored five as captain during the legendary 1986 run.

One more strike pushes Messi past his former manager into standalone national history.

3. The most penalties taken (and missed) in history

Proving that he is at least mortal, Messi’s dramatic missed penalty in the sixth minute against Austria actually keeps him on the path toward an unusual statistical milestone.

The superstar now holds the joint record for both the most regular-play penalties taken (7) and the most penalties missed (3) in World Cup history. Another spot-kick in either direction will lock this record down as his alone.

What’s next for Argentina’s captain?

Following consecutive multi-goal victories, coach Lionel Scaloni has the ultimate luxury of managing his captain’s minutes. With the top seed in Group J firmly within their grasp, Argentina will look to wrap up a flawless opening stage this weekend:

• Matchday 3: Argentina vs Jordan
• Calendar Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
• Stadium Venue: Dallas Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
• Kickoff Window: 4:00 PM EDT / 1:00 PM PDT

As the tournament shifts gears into the high-stakes single-elimination rounds, fans around the world will be tracking every step of the Inter Miami star’s pursuit of more silverware. To ensure you don’t miss a single minute of the knockout drama or his upcoming schedule, check out our comprehensive guide on when is Lionel Messi’s next game.

Morocco and Haiti are clashing on Wednesday, June 24th, for Matchday 3 in Group C of the 2026 World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. With first place in the group up for grabs, the presence of captain and star Achraf Hakimi is a major talking point among Morocco fans.

Achraf Hakimi is expected to be part of the starting XI for the game against Haiti. The PSG right-back completed the full 90 minutes in the last two World Cup matches and has been training alongside his teammates, meaning he will be ready to start the final game of the group phase.

Morocco has already put itself on the brink of the next round after a 1-0 win against Scotland in Matchday 2. On the other hand, Haiti’s dreams of reaching the next phase have taken a massive blow, as they are already eliminated from the World Cup following a 3-0 loss to Brazil.

At the moment, the Atlas Lions and Brazil are sitting at the top of the group with four points each. With Brazil currently holding the edge on goal difference, Morocco’s task, should the South American nation win its game against Scotland, is to win and score as many goals as possible to claim first place.

Morocco and Haiti to clash for the first time

With Morocco turning into one of the most dominant sides in Africa, and Haiti competing in its second World Cup after its debut in 1974, the truth is both nations have never played each other. This Matchday 3 game in Group C will mark the first time Morocco and Haiti face off on a soccer pitch.

Projected lineups for Morocco and Haiti

Morocco’s projected lineup (4-2-3-1): Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad, Noussair Mazraoui; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui; Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Ismael Saibari.
Head coach: Mohamed Ouahbi.

Haiti’s projected lineup (4-4-2): Johny Placide; Carlens Arcus, Ricardo Ade, Hannes Delcroix, Martin Experience; Louicius Don Deedson, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Danley Jean Jacques, Ruben Providence; Wilson Isidor, Frantzdy Pierrot.
Head coach: Sebastien Migne.

An exhibition bout between and has been expected for some time, and legendary heavyweight champion has offered his thoughts on the scrap. At the end of 2025, heavyweight icon Mike Tyson announced that he would be partaking in an exhibition against Mayweather, with an April fight date pencilled in for their battle in the Democratic […]

The post Larry Holmes delivers honest verdict on Mike Tyson vs Floyd Mayweather: “Be ready for him” appeared first on Boxing News.

Futbol üzrə Almaniya çempionu olan “Bayern”in fransalı cinah hücumçusu Maykl Olise Münhen klubunun rəhbərliyini əmin etməsi ilə gündəmə gəlib.

Arena.az xəbər verir ki, Olise onun xidmətində maraqlı olan “Real”la heç bir danışıq aparmadığını klub rəhbərliyinə çatdırıb.

Xatırladaq ki, daha əvvəl bəzi mətbuat səhifələri “Real”ın Olise ilə danışıqlar apardığı haqda ehtikarlıq ediblər.

Yeri gəlmişkən, Olise meydanda sevimli mövqeyi ilə bağlı sualı da cavablayıb. Fransalı futbolçunun müvafiq açıqlamasını təqdim edirik:

“Mənə “10 nömrə” mövqeyində rahatdır. Müvafiq mövqe azacıq sərbəstlik təxmin edir. Mən, məhz həmin mövqedə oynamaqla böya-başa çatmışam, odur ki, bu, mənim üçün təbiidir”, deyə Olise vurğulayıb.

Xatırladaq ki, “Bayern” Maykl Oliseni 2024-cü ilin iyul ayında İngiltərənin “Kristal Pelas” klubundan 53 milyon avro müqabilində heyətinə qatıb. 23 yaşlı futbolçunun Münhen klubu ilə 2029-cu ilin 30 iyununadək müqaviləsi var.

Olise “Bayern”in heyətində bütövlükdə 107 oyuna çıxıb, 42 qol və 54 məhsuldar ötürmə müəllifi olub.

Olise daha öncə “Kristal Pelas” və “Ridinq” klublarının uğurları üçün çalışıb.

Fransanın U-18, U-21 və U-23 yığmalarında da oynamış futbolçu 2024-cü ilin sentyabr ayında əsas millidə debüt edib. O, Fransa millisinin heyətində 19 oyun keçirib, 7 qol vurub, 7 məhsuldar ötürmə verib.

“Transfermarkt” internet-portalı 24 yaşlı hücumçunun transfer dəyərini 150 milyon avro məbləğində qiymətləndirir.

AFFA-nın 2024-2028-ci illər üzrə İnkişaf Strategiyasına uyğun olaraq regionlarda UEFA lisenziyalı məşqçilərin sayının artırılması və məşqçi təhsilinin əlçatan olması məqsədilə UEFA C kateqoriyalı məşqçilik kurslarının tədrisi davam etdirilir.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, ötən il Quba, Tovuz, Gəncə və Naxçıvanda təşkil olunan UEFA C kateqoriyalı məşqçilik kursları hazırda Lənkəran və Şəkidə həyata keçirilir. Qarşıdakı aylarda kursların Saatlı və Gəncə şəhərlərində də keçirilməsi nəzərdə tutulur.

Kurs zamanı məşqçilərə kütləvi futbol, uşaq və yeniyetmələrlə iş, yaşa və bacarığa uyğun məşqlərin planlaşdırılması, məşqlərin uşaqlar üçün daha motivasiyaedici və maraqlı təşkili, eləcə də təhlükəsiz məşq mühitinin yaradılması üzrə əsas bilik və bacarıqlar verilir. Kursun əsas məqsədlərindən biri uşaqların futbola marağını artırmaq, onların oyundan zövq almalarını təmin etmək və məşqçilərin uşaqyönümlü yanaşmasını gücləndirməkdir.
Bu baxımdan, UEFA C kursları regionlarda daha çox uşağın keyfiyyətli, təhlükəsiz və motivasiyaedici futbol məşğələlərinə cəlb olunmasına, yerli məşqçi potensialının inkişafına, həmçinin məşqçi təhsilinin ölkə üzrə daha geniş coğrafiyanı əhatə etməsinə xidmət edir.

“Tottenhem” heyətini yeni qapıçı ilə gücləndirib.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, London təmsilçisi slovakiyalı qolkiper Martin Dubravkanı transfer edib. Bu barədə klubun mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

37 yaşlı qolkiperlə müddəti 2027-ci ilin yayına kimi olan müqavilə imzalanıb. Dubravka “Tottenhem”ə azad agent statusu ilə qoşulub.

Qapıçının son klubu “Börnli” olub.

Azərbaycanın deflimpiya üzrə yunan-Roma güləşi millisinin baş məşqçisi açıqlanıb.

Futbolpress.az xəbər verir ki, bu barədə Azərbaycan Deflimpiya Komitəsinin mətbuat xidməti məlumat yayıb.

Yığmanın “sükanı” əməkdar məşqçi İslam Cəfərova tapşırılıb.

Google has begun rolling out the June 2026 spam update globally and across all languages. It's the second spam update of the year.

The post Google Begins Rolling Out The June 2026 Spam Update appeared first on Search Engine Journal.

Source

There are several Serie A players involved in tonight’s World Cup games, as Group B will be decided with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Switzerland vs. Canada.

They both kick off simultaneously at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST), but in two different countries.

This was set to be the group that Italy were going to be placed in, until losing the World Cup play-off on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There are quite a few Serie A representatives in that squad, including Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta, Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, new Venezia signing Ivan Basic and ex-Roma, Inter and Fiorentina striker Edin Dzeko.

Bosnia are still looking for their first 2026 World Cup victory after a 1-1 draw with Canada and 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, where Muharemovic was sent off and is therefore suspended here along with Qatar’s Assim Madibo and Homam Al-Amin.

In the other match, both Canada and Switzerland have four points, so go head-to-head for top spot.

Juventus striker Jonathan David bagged a hat-trick in the 6-0 victory over Qatar, and starts again for the CANMNT.

However, the tournament is over for Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone, who fractured his leg in that match.

Inter defender Manuel Akanji, Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Michel Aebischer are all familiar faces, but Milan’s Ardon Jashari is on the bench.

World Cup Group B

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Radeljic, Katic, Malic, Kolasinac; Bakaktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko

Qatar: Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Laye, Sultan Albrake; Jassem Gaber, Fathy, Boudiaf; Hassan Alhaydos, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior

24-06-2026 20:00

Matchday 3

Lumen Field

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Qatar

vs

Season Analytics

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Positions

Qatar

SEASON TOTAL

BIH HOME

0

0

0

0

1

1

Last matches

18-06-2026		Switzerland	L	4 - 1
12-06-2026		Canada	D	1 - 1

SEASON TOTAL

QAT AWAY

0

0

1

0

1

1

Last matches

	6 - 0	L	Canada		18-06-2026
	1 - 1	D	Switzerland		13-06-2026

6 - 0

L

Canada

18-06-2026

Switzerland vs. Canada

Switzerland: Kobel; Jacquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Manzambi, Sow, Vargas; Embolo

Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ahmed; Jonathan David, Larin

24-06-2026 20:00

Matchday 3

BC Place

Switzerland

Canada

vs

As expected, Alessio Romagnoli will complete his medical tests with Al-Sadd after contracts were signed, but Lazio defender Mario Gila is torn between Napoli and Atalanta.

The Aquile are once again busy largely with exits on the transfer market in the early part of the summer, though some deals had been months in the making.

Lazio exits for Romagnoli and perhaps Gila

Romagnoli had already said goodbye to the fans in January when he assumed that a move to Al-Sadd would be completed, but his club blocked the exit.

He returned to work with the promise that he would be allowed to go to Qatar in the summer, and that is now happening, with multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia and Fabrizio Romano all saying the paperwork has been signed.

All he needs to do now is undergo the medical tests and be presented as their new player at a cost of circa €3m.

Meanwhile, Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà warns that the situation is getting complicated for another Lazio defender, Mario Gila.

His contract is due to expire in June 2027 and there seems to be no sign of a renewal, yet the Aquile are also hesitant to accept a bid from Napoli, believed to be worth €15m plus add-ons.

This is also because as part of his original transfer, they owe Real Madrid 50 per cent of the sale, so are tempted to simply keep him on until his contract runs down.

However, Pedullà claims that Atalanta have now made a new approach for Gila and are prepared to pay over €20m, including various performance-related bonuses.

It would enable the Spaniard to reunite with his old Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri, now in Bergamo.

Como are not just buying players, but fending off sales too, as Chelsea are reportedly interested in Jacobo Ramon, while Lecce and Brest want Andrea Le Borgne.

The Lariani truly have shaken up the Calcio scene within the space of two years, going from Serie B to qualifying for the Champions League under coach Cesc Fabregas.

They are therefore eager to improve the squad, but there are also some of their players who have caught the eye of other sides.

Ramon made his mark at Como

According to The Athletic, Chelsea have set their sights on defender Jacobo Ramon, the 21-year-old Spanish talent who came up through the Real Madrid youth academy.

Como paid just €2.5m to pick him up last summer, and he played 37 games between Serie A and the Coppa Italia, also scoring two goals from central defence.

While his value has sky-rocketed, Como would owe Real Madrid 50 per cent of his future sale fee, while the Merengues also have a buy-back option.

It was at the Real Madrid youth academy in 2018-19 that new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso first worked with Ramon, so he is eager for a reunion.

Meanwhile, transfer pundit Ben Jacobs claims that Lecce and Brest are both showing interest in Como midfielder Andrea Le Borgne, who spent this season on loan in Serie B with Avellino.

His asking price would be in the region of €4-5m.

There is good and bad news on Roma’s pursuit of Mason Greenwood, as while L’Equipe report he agreed personal terms with Fenerbahce, the club won’t pay more than €30m plus add-ons to Olympique Marseille.

Gian Piero Gasperini is convinced that Greenwood represents the ideal wide player to fit into his 3-4-3 formation, despite the costs and the growing unrest from fans who don’t want him due to his past off the field behaviour.

L’Equipe have given an update on the situation this evening, which contains both some good news for Roma, and some bad.

Greenwood still up for grabs

They report that Fenerbahce have now agreed personal terms with Greenwood’s entourage, offering a lucrative salary package that the Giallorossi would struggle to compete with.

At the same time, Fenerbahce are holding back on the transfer fee, seemingly not prepared to bid more than €30m plus add-ons.

That is significantly lower than the €50m that Olympique Marseille are asking for, and their determination is also forced by the fact Manchester United are owed 40 per cent of the sale.

It all gives Roma time and space to push their way back into the lead for Greenwood, but they are forced to make sales of their own before June 30 to balance the books.

Matias Soulé is on the way out and not part of Gasperini’s plans, but finding a buyer for the Argentine is proving to be difficult.

Arsenal are understood to have lowered their asking price for Gabriel Jesus to something more in the region of £20-25m.

Sources I’ve spoken to today, who’ve asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, state that the Gunners are now open to slightly lower offers for Jesus, having initially wanted closer to £30m for the Brazilian forward.

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Jesus himself is not pushing to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer, but Arsenal are likely to make changes to their attack and there’s a willingness to get the injury-prone 29-year-old off the club’s wage bill.

Everton have a long-standing interest in Jesus, but have not yet come forward with an offer, while there’s also been some indication of interest from his former club Palmeiras.

For the time being, however, nothing has advanced with this deal due to concerns over Jesus’ asking price and his wage demands.

Arsenal trying to attract Gabriel Jesus suitors

“Arsenal are hoping to sell Gabriel Jesus this summer and there’s an awareness that that means being more realistic about their asking price,” one source said.

“At the moment the message is that clubs won’t pay big for him – there are understandable concerns about his fitness record.”

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This is likely to be one of a number of sales made by Arsenal this summer, as I’ve previously reported.

More Stories / Latest News

Sources: Arsenal lower their asking price for first-team star as transfer saga continues

Jun 24 2026, 18:56

From Spain: Chelsea & Liverpool transfer target made available for €65m

Jun 24 2026, 18:12

World Cup injury blow for England as Arsenal & Chelsea stars face fitness checks

Jun 24 2026, 17:44

The Premier League champions are also open to offloading the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Christian Norgaard, and loaned-out misfits such as Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.

Despite plenty of talk about Ethan Nwaneri, I’m still getting fairly mixed messages from sources I’ve spoken to. I’ll keep doing some digging and report back when I have something that actually feels concrete.

As reported earlier today, it is my understanding that Viktor Gyokeres is NOT likely to leave Arsenal this summer, while the Julian Alvarez deal also looks tricky for the Gunners as things stand.

The post Sources: Arsenal lower their asking price for first-team star as transfer saga continues appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Barcelona are reportedly open to offers for defender Jules Kounde this summer following recent interest from Chelsea and Liverpool.

We recently reported that Chelsea were keen on Kounde, while Liverpool could also be one to watch in the race for his signature.

Now a report from Sport states that the France international’s Barca future is in some doubt this summer, with the club open to a sale, though the player himself would prefer to stay.

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Additional information from Fichajes states that Kounde’s asking price would be in the region of €65m, which could well be tempting for some top clubs out there.

Where next for Jules Kounde as Barcelona open to offers?

Kounde can play centre-back or right-back to a high standard, and has been pretty consistent with his performances for Barcelona and the French national team down the years.

The 27-year-old surely still has plenty to offer at the highest level, but it’s not clear what the future holds for him at this stage.

Sport suggests Kounde is no longer viewed as untouchable, but if he wants to stay at the Nou Camp then it could be tricky to arrange an exit.

Despite our previous information about Chelsea’s interest in Kounde, there has seemingly not been any significant update, with the Blues instead continuing to target top young talents.

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That looks set to see the west Londoners go for Marco Palestra at right-back instead, so there might not be much of a need for them to also bring in Kounde.

More Stories / Latest News

Sources: Arsenal lower their asking price for first-team star as transfer saga continues

Jun 24 2026, 18:56

From Spain: Chelsea & Liverpool transfer target made available for €65m

Jun 24 2026, 18:12

World Cup injury blow for England as Arsenal & Chelsea stars face fitness checks

Jun 24 2026, 17:44

This would also be a big change of strategy from CFC, who have prioritised bringing in elite young players to build for the future.

While some fans might be keen to see them being more flexible with that policy, it’s perhaps hard to see Kounde being someone they’d make this exception for.

Palestra’s arrival could mean Malo Gusto leaves Stamford Bridge, but they also have Reece James in that position, so there probably wouldn’t be much sense in moving for another right-back.

The post From Spain: Chelsea & Liverpool transfer target made available for €65m appeared first on CaughtOffside.

After last night’s disappointing draw with Ghana, there’s more worrying World Cup news breaking for England today as Declan Rice and Reece James are reportedly fitness concerns for the Panama game.

The pair are key players for Thomas Tuchel’s side, and started both games of the World Cup campaign so far against Croatia and Ghana.

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However, the Telegraph are now reporting that the duo face fitness checks ahead of the Panama game.

Here’s what we know so far based on the report…

Declan Rice injury doesn’t look too serious

Rice couldn’t complete the 90 minutes against Croatia and also had some issues at the end of the 0-0 draw with Ghana.

The Telegraph state that the Arsenal midfielder left the stadium with strapping on his left calf, but it’s not thought to be anything particularly serious or long term.

It could, however, be an issue that requires late checks for Rice ahead of England’s final group game against Panama.

Reece James was uncomfortable against Ghana

The report is a bit vague on James’ fitness, with the Chelsea right-back said to have felt uncomfortable in the Ghana game.

Still, James was able to complete 90 minutes in both of England’s games so far, even if it’s perhaps sensible to be cautious with him due to his poor injury record over the years.

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The 26-year-old is an important player for England, with the Telegraph noting that Tuchel has also had him training in midfield as he could fill in for Rice in that position.

More Stories / Latest News

Sources: Arsenal lower their asking price for first-team star as transfer saga continues

Jun 24 2026, 18:56

From Spain: Chelsea & Liverpool transfer target made available for €65m

Jun 24 2026, 18:12

World Cup injury blow for England as Arsenal & Chelsea stars face fitness checks

Jun 24 2026, 17:44

Now, however, both players could be out for the Panama game, in a major blow for the Three Lions’ preparations in what looks a close group at the moment.

England have four points, putting them level with Ghana, while Croatia have three and Panama have zero.

The post World Cup injury blow for England as Arsenal & Chelsea stars face fitness checks appeared first on CaughtOffside.

We are diving into some IDP fantasy football content this offseason as we look to bring in all sorts of football fans to Bucs Wire. While offensive rookies tend to dominate fantasy football conversations, linebackers remain some of the most valuable assets in IDP leagues when they earn significant playing time.

Next up is New York Giants linebacker Arvell Reese.

Reese arrives in New York after a productive career at Ohio State, where he showcased the athleticism, range and versatility that NFL teams look for in modern linebackers. His final season with the Buckeyes demonstrated growth as a run defender and tackler, helping him earn a starting opportunity almost immediately after entering the league.

Depth Chart Situation

WLB

• Arvell Reese
• Micah McFadden
• Darius Muasau

MLB

• Tremaine Edmunds
• Jack Kelly
• Zaire Barnes

IDP Talent Around Him

• Brian Burns, EDGE
• Abdul Carter, EDGE
• Tremaine Edmunds, LB
• Jevon Holland, S
• Tyler Nubin, S
• Paulson Adebo, CB

2026 Stat Projections

• 82 Total Tackles
• 7 Tackles For Loss
• 2 Sacks
• 1 Forced Fumble
• 4 Pass Deflections
• 155 Fantasy Points

Reason to Believe in Arvell Reese in 2026: A clear path to tackles

The biggest reason to believe in Reese as an IDP asset is opportunity. The Giants currently list him atop the weakside linebacker depth chart, putting him in position to see meaningful snaps from the start of his rookie season. Unlike many first-year defenders who must carve out rotational roles, Reese enters training camp with a realistic chance to remain on the field in a starting capacity.

His skill set fits the role well. Reese is an explosive athlete who covers ground quickly and has the range to impact plays from sideline to sideline. He showed improvement throughout his time at Ohio State, becoming more patient when diagnosing plays and more consistent when going downhill against the run. His ability to stay active with his hands and work through traffic helped him become a more reliable defender as his experience grew.

The production supports the projection. Reese earned an 86.5 run-defense grade and an 85.6 tackling grade during his final college season while missing only four tackles. He recorded 34 defensive stops and demonstrated the ability to contribute in multiple ways, whether attacking downhill, dropping into coverage, or occasionally rushing the passer. That versatility is important because it creates more paths to fantasy production.

The environment around him should help as well. The Giants feature one of the league's more disruptive edge duos in Brian Burns and Abdul Carter, while veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds handles responsibilities in the middle of the defense. That combination could allow Reese to play fast and attack the football rather than constantly having to take on blockers.

2026 Outlook

Among the rookie defenders entering the league this season, Reese has one of the most attractive redraft profiles. Starting linebackers with strong tackling ability often outperform rookie edge rushers in fantasy football because tackles provide a more stable weekly floor.

Fantasy managers should view Reese as a late-round LB4 with upside to finish as an LB3 if he maintains a full-time role throughout the season. His combination of projected snaps, tackling efficiency, and athletic range gives him a legitimate chance to become one of the better rookie values in IDP formats during 2026.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Arvell Reese fantasy outlook for 2026: IDP rookie profile

Every NFL season has good and bad roads it can take. More often than not, there is one key factor that can take a season to new heights, or make it all come crashing down.

CBS Sports' Tyler Sullivan recently laid out the best and worst-case scenarios for every NFL team. When it came to the Vikings, it all centered around the play of Kyler Murray. He comes to Minnesota after being let go by the Arizona Cardinals this offseason, and he hopes for a fresh start.

Most importantly, they hope Murray can return to his old ways, showing he is worthy of being a top-paid player at his position. In terms of the best-case scenario for that, Sullivan writes that they can hope for a Sam Darnold-like run.

"The pressure of the quarterback battle produces a diamond. Either Kyler Murray is Sam Darnold 2.0, giving the Vikings a veteran capable of competing for an NFC North title, or J.J. McCarthy stabilizes and rises to the occasion to fend off Murray. Either way, the quarterback question is definitively answered, and Minnesota suddenly is back where it was in 2024, battling for the division crown and the No. 1 seed."

If they can get Darnold-ish play, then the sky could be the limit for this team. There is a small Super Bowl window for this team, but it will all center around the play out of the quarterback position.

This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: What is the best case scenario for the Vikings season in 2026?

There are several Serie A players involved in tonight’s World Cup games, as Group B will be decided with Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar and Switzerland vs. Canada.

They both kick off simultaneously at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST), but in two different countries.

This was set to be the group that Italy were going to be placed in, until losing the World Cup play-off on penalties to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

ZENICA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – MARCH 31: Haris Tabakovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Bosnia & Herzegovina and Italy at Stadion Bilino Polje on March 31, 2026 in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)

There are quite a few Serie A representatives in that squad, including Sead Kolasinac of Atalanta, Sassuolo’s Tarik Muharemovic, new Venezia signing Ivan Basic and ex-Roma, Inter and Fiorentina striker Edin Dzeko.

Bosnia are still looking for their first 2026 World Cup victory after a 1-1 draw with Canada and 4-1 defeat to Switzerland, where Muharemovic was sent off and is therefore suspended here along with Qatar’s Assim Madibo and Homam Al-Amin.

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 17: Manuel Akanji of FC Internazionale Milano warms up prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Cagliari Calcio at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on April 17, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

In the other match, both Canada and Switzerland have four points, so go head-to-head for top spot.

Juventus striker Jonathan David bagged a hat-trick in the 6-0 victory over Qatar, and starts again for the CANMNT.

However, the tournament is over for Sassuolo midfielder Ismael Kone, who fractured his leg in that match.

Inter defender Manuel Akanji, Bologna midfielder Remo Freuler and Pisa’s Michel Aebischer are all familiar faces, but Milan’s Ardon Jashari is on the bench.

World Cup Group B

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Qatar

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Vasilj; Radeljic, Katic, Malic, Kolasinac; Bakaktarevic, Sunjic, Basic, Alajbegovic; Demirovic, Dzeko

Qatar: Abunada; Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Laye, Sultan Albrake; Jassem Gaber, Fathy, Boudiaf; Hassan Alhaydos, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior

Switzerland vs. Canada

Switzerland: Kobel; Jacquez, Elvedi, Akanji, Rodriguez; Freuler, Xhaka; Manzambi, Sow, Vargas; Embolo

Canada: Crepeau; Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius, Laryea; Buchanan, Choiniere, Saliba, Ahmed; Jonathan David, Larin

Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham has provided his take on the club’s decision to appoint José Mourinho as manager for the seasons to come.

And the Englishman’s comments suggest that he is fully aligned with Florentino Pérez and co. regarding the call.

Legendary tactician Mourinho was of course announced as the latest installation on the Real Madrid bench earlier this month, marking a return to Spain’s capital for the Portuguese.

‘Mou’ is understood to have been identified as the ideal profile to restore order and harmony in a fractured dressing room at Valdebebas, fresh off a 2nd successive trophyless campaign in 2025/26.

One Blancos star expected to play a leading role in Mourinho’s setup is the aforementioned Jude Bellingham, held in high regard by his new manager.

Speaking during an exchange with the media this week, the Englishman was therefore drawn on Mourinho’s Bernabéu comeback.

And Bellingham appears to be fully behind the appointment, having responded:

“José Mourinho at Real Madrid? Amazing, amazing. He’s a top, top manager. I’m very happy.”

Conor Laird – GSFN

Florida State got some good news this week when safety commit Jemari Foreman announced he was shutting down his recruitment and sticking with the Seminoles, despite a strong push from the Louisville Cardinals.

Foreman is coming off an excellent junior season at Plantation High School in Plantation, Florida, finishing the year with 70 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups, 10 interceptions, and two forced fumbles. He believes he can play at multiple safety spots in FSU's 3-3-5 defense, something he is planning to figure out with the coaching staff when he makes it to campus.

"As of right now, we're trying to figure it out because of my film, I can play everything. When I get there, we'll figure it out," Foreman told Chris Nee of Noles247.

"Probably like boundary, free," Foreman said. "Because of my ball skills. I can go and make plays on the ball up top at the boundary."

Foreman is ranked as the No. 629 overall player and No. 61 safety in the 247Sports composite. The 6-foot, 180-pounder is also the No. 51 player from Florida.

Follow us @FSUWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida State news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on FSU Wire: Florida State football working to figure out Jemari Foreman's position

Against Ghana, Harry Kane simply couldn’t find the net late on Tuesday night. Whether that was because a witch doctor had put a curse on him or because Ghana’s defense simply kept him well under control? 

If it’s up to Nana Kwaku Bonsam, the name of the witch doctor from Ghana, then of course it was the curse. And because he’s so kind, he has now lifted the curse from the English striker. 

"I am the most powerful spiritualist in the world. I will now free Harry Kane so that he can score in England’s next match," Bonsam announced in a video on 'X'. So nothing can go wrong now for Saturday’s match against bottom-of-the-group Panama (11 p.m.). 

By the way, you can watch the highlights of England’s draw against Ghana here once again. 

Despite the 0-0 against Ghana, England still has an excellent chance of securing first place in the group on the final matchday, since Ghana and Croatia face each other directly and could potentially take points off one another. 

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

Some of Germany's national team players would like to see Oliver Baumann start against Ecuador tomorrow, Sky Germany reports.

Should it happen Baumann would make his World Cup debut as a 'reward' and players feel it would be a show of appreciation for him. 

Amid an injury crisis, Baumann played all six games of Germany's World Cup qualifying campaign, keeping four clean sheets.

The pay-TV channel even suggests that the topic has been discussed in the German dressing room in recent hours. 

However, it remains to be seen whether coach Julian Nagelsmann and first choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will let it happen.

Neuer is typically known as a team player, but it's worth noting this will be the 40-year-old's last tournament playing international football.

Furthermore, Neuer could add to his record-breaking 21st-ever World Cup appearance which he claimed against Côte d'Ivoire. 

Two simultaneous matches: things are getting serious at the World Cup. The third matchday will kick off at 9 p.m. on two different pitches.

In Vancouver, Switzerland take on Canada in a clash that will determine both qualification for the round of 32 and top spot in the group. At the same time in Seattle, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar will be fighting for survival in the competition, needing points to avoid an early elimination.

The official lineups for these two decisive matches have just been revealed.

CANADA

SWITZERLAND

QATAR

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇫🇷 here.

Today is apparently Goalie Day if you cover Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. Fresh on the heels of the club signing Martin Dubravka, and the news that starting keeper Guglielmo Vicario will be sold this summer. Jack Pitt-Brooke at The Athletic is now writing that Spurs are opening talks with Antonin Kinsky on a new extended contract.

This would seemingly confirm the reports that Kinsky is set to take over the #1 jersey from Vicario, who has interest from Italian clubs including Juventus and Lazio. Kinsky is currently 18 months into a five year contract, but a new deal would probably tack on a year to what’s left and also give him a vastly improved salary, commensurate to his status as Spurs’ starting keeper.

This would leave Spurs with a keeper corps of Kinsky, Dubravka, and homegrown/club-trained academy graduate Brandon Austin.

It’s a remarkable turnaround for Kinsky, who was humiliated last spring after slipping twice on the pitch at the Wanda and conceding three early goals to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, before being humiliatingly subbed off by then-interim manager Igor Tudor. When Vicario was out injured after undergoing minor surgery, Kinsky took his redemption opportunity in both hands and put in a string of excellent performances at the end of last season under Roberto De Zerbi. The club clearly now thinks that Kinsky, 23, is ready to make the step up.

Playing a young keeper is always something of a gamble, but it’s a wonderful opportunity as well. Hugo Lloris was 25 when he joined Spurs in 2006 and he turned out to be one of Tottenham’s best keepers of all time. I’m not saying Antonin Kinsky will reach those heights, but considering his age he has the chance to establish himself now as Spurs’ long time #1. If he can do that, I don’t think anyone will be unhappy.

Georges St-Pierre has advised Conor McGregor on what he needs to do for a successful UFC comeback.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns from a five-year layoff to rematch Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) in the UFC 329 main event on July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+). Not only has 37-year-old McGregor been away from competition for years, he will fight for the first time since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

"I love both fighters. I love to watch them both. I'm a big fan of both," St-Pierre said of McGregor vs. Holloway on "The Break Talk." "I think if Conor can put himself back into the grind and be hungry, into that hell zone, he has to see it in a way that he's in the tunnel, but the light is after the fight. 'I have to go through that journey in order to see the light, but I'm not going to put myself in the light until I'm done with the fight.' If he puts himself in that zone, we're going to have a hell of a fight."

According to FanDuel, ex-UFC featherweight champion Holloway is a moderate -250 favorite over former UFC dual-champion McGregor, who is a +190 underdog. McGregor won their first outing at featherweight in 2013 by unanimous decision.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 329: Legend says McGregor must embrace 'hell zone' vs. Holloway

Greetings, Bengals fans!

With the offseason now in full swing with OTAs concluding, the Bengals can now focus on getting new deals done for cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill, as well as running back Chase Brown. All three are set to be unrestricted free agents in 2027, though Turner is likely the one they’ll prioritize since he’s already playing at a very high level, while there’s a premium put on boundary corners at his level.

However, it’s a little dicier for Hill and Brown, especially since the Bengals have limited cap space at the moment. I believe the team will focus on getting a deal done for Turner first, and assuming that’s a deal that makes him one of the higher-paid corners in football, there’s a chance that the team only has enough money to get a new deal done this year for just one of Hill/Brown.

If that’s the case, who should get a new deal? Hill has shown some real promise as a boundary corner, but he has yet to put a full season together.

Brown, meanwhile, is already one of the AFC’s better running backs, but he plays a position with far less value than a boundary corner. He also already has a lot of wear on his tires after logging 734 offensive touches across five college seasons, to go with 642 more in three NFL seasons.

So, if you had to choose, who are you giving a contract extension to?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Bengals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.Follow our Twitter and Facebook pages for more Cincinnati Bengals news. Who Dey!!

The White Sox have a chance to sweep their division rivals after reclaiming first place from the Guardians after Tuesday’s win. The pitching matchups are fairly even, with Erick Fedde (2-6, 4.48 ERA) facing a struggling Tanner Bibee (2-8, 4.03 ERA). White Sox batters will need to be cognizant of Bibee’s strikeouts, however. While his pitching stats don’t seem anything special on paper, Bibee has punched out 78 batters on the season so far.

Chris Murphy will be used as an opener for Fedde in this afternoon’s contest. Sam Antonacci gets to lead it off today, and Kyle Teel is back behind the plate and batting cleanup. His season debut didn’t go well on Monday night, so hopefully he can bounce back and produce a few hits like we saw in Charlotte.

As mentioned above, Bibee excels at striking out batters. Cleveland always manages to put on pitching clinics, but at this moment in time, that’s all they really have. Bibee also has 40 earned runs on his tab, and has not had a lot of luck in his last seven games.

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. CT. You can watch the game on CHSN or listen on ESPN Chicago 1000.

BrewDog and Tilray Brands are prepared to pick up what they say could become the world’s biggest bar tab.

The beer companies announced Wednesday that they will give away up to £1 million (approximately $1.3 million) worth of free pints if England, Scotland or the United States reaches the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Under the promotion, fans wearing the jersey of one of the qualifying teams would be eligible to receive up to two free pints at participating BrewDog pubs and Tilray-owned brewpubs beginning July 20, the day after the World Cup final.

The offer would only be activated if one of the three national teams advances to the tournament’s championship match.

“Sport has an extraordinary ability to unite people across communities, cultures and nations through moments of pride and shared celebration — and great bars have always been places where fans come together to enjoy the match, share great conversations and raise a beer or two,” Tilray Brands Chairman and CEO Irwin Simon said in a news release.

The promotion spans participating BrewDog locations in Scotland, England, Ireland and Las Vegas, as well as several Tilray-owned brewery brands in the United States, including SweetWater Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing, Blue Point Brewery, Breckenridge Brewery, Montauk Brewing and Terrapin.

Fans will be able to redeem the offer on a first-come, first-served basis while funds and beer supplies last. The companies said eligible customers must wear an England, Scotland or U.S. national team jersey and meet all local legal drinking age requirements.

The giveaway comes as soccer fever continues to sweep host cities across North America during the expanded 2026 World Cup. The tournament has already generated headlines for its impact on local bars and breweries, particularly in Boston, where thousands of Scottish supporters helped drive beer sales to record levels during Scotland’s opening matches.

BrewDog said the promotion is part of its broader effort to position its pubs as destinations for sports fans throughout the summer. Participating locations are also hosting watch parties and events tied to major sporting competitions, including international soccer, auto racing, golf and tennis.

“This promotion reflects the strength of Tilray Brands’ beverage platform and our commitment to creating meaningful experiences that positively impact the communities where we operate,” Simon said.

If none of the three teams reaches the World Cup final, the £1 million tab will never be opened. But if England, Scotland or the United States makes a championship run, fans could find themselves celebrating with free beer on the companies’ dime.

Founded by Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and signature rating system that aggregates reviews from trusted critics across the internet, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In many ways, college athletics is emblematic of American society, and in American society, no individual can escape the mouth-watering desire of promotion.

The salesperson dreams of being the CEO.

The store clerk works to become the manager.

The shift supervisor hopes to one day own the company.

In college athletics, universities exist in a state of perpetual ambition to leave their own neighborhood for the more luxurious, gated community down the street, where a pool of bigger brands increases their property value.

You know it as "conference realignment," but, really, it is the art of increasing one's value by closely associating with more premium properties. For instance, Texas moved into the same neighborhood as Alabama and Georgia; and USC is now sharing a street with Ohio State and Michigan.

Conference realignment is as consistent of a concept within college athletics as football coaching changes — so prevalent over the last decade or more a sort-of motto has emerged.

"Conference realignment never sleeps," those in the industry often say.

However, according to a congressional bill that's on the doorstep of a vote here in the U.S. Senate, conference realignment will get some deep rest.

In fact, the Protect College Sports Act kills realignment at the major conference level if it becomes law.

In Section 205 of the latest revised copy of the 116-page legislation, conferences earning at least $700 million in revenue are prohibited from merging with one another or acquiring new members. This means the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 would no longer be able to add membership.

Not only does the concept freeze in place the current membership of the power leagues — most notably locking in restless ACC schools like Clemson, FSU, Miami and North Carolina — but it prevents schools in the Group of 6 conferences, such as the Sun Belt, Mountain West or American, from joining the big leagues.

"They've locked us in," says one G6 conference athletic director.

While some interpret Section 205 differently, those who helped develop the language on Capitol Hill confirmed with Yahoo Sports that the provision prevents the four conferences from acquiring any new member — even those in the G6.

In crystallizing current league membership, the bill has caught the attention of college administrators who have in turn conveyed their feelings to their own state lawmakers.

After all, conference realignment is a "natural" economic reality playing out broadly in American society, says Andy Schwarz, a California-based economist specializing in sport economics. The small local chains are "dying," he says, only to be replaced with big brands whose goal it is to consolidate their own value.

"In America, there are these two strains: You want to be an economic powerhouse but also want to be fair to the little guy," Schwarz said in a previous interview. "There's a point when the Amazons of the world say, 'I don't need to be fair to the little guy any longer.'"

Is the bill accelerating realignment discussions?

Realignment discussions never stop completely.

Intermediaries and third parties — perhaps even school executives themselves — remain embroiled in dialogue with conferences that they most wish to join.

And now, given the bill's anti-expansion provision, those discussions have accelerated, according to several officials with knowledge of the talks. Are they accelerating to a place of imminent action? No.

But the bill would apply immediately on the date in which President Donald Trump signs, freezing conference membership for an indeterminate amount of time (no sunset provision). It creates a quasi-deadline now on realignment.

"It has put a shot clock on it," said one power league athletic director.

If you don't move before it becomes law, "You're screwed," says another high-ranking administrator in a power conference.

The language, though, is not set in stone.

In fact, the expansion situation directly impacts both of the bill's authors, Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who each have in their representative footprint multiple non-power league programs who aspire to gain power conference membership or, better yet, hope to regain such (ie: Washington State, the poster child for realignment).

Reached for comment about the provision's impact on schools like Washington State, a spokesperson for Cantwell sent to Yahoo Sports a statement suggesting possible changes: "There will be conversations with more members in both chambers as this bill progresses forward and there may be some modifications."

Over the last month, Cantwell herself has bemoaned the Pac-12's fate at the hands of the Big Ten. In a hearing earlier this month, Cantwell suggested that the SEC and Big Ten may soon "eat the best parts" of the ACC and Big 12 in a similar way in which the Big Ten raided the Pac-12.

Last week, she told reporters here that the expansion provision is intended to ensure that no other schools "break away" and she said she wants to "go back to regionalism."

"Look what happened with our Pac-12," Cantwell later added. "[Big Ten] got USC and UCLA to jump and then what was UW's choice? They had to jump."

It's no secret: Plenty of ACC programs are interested in a promotion to the SEC or Big Ten. After all, two ACC members (Clemson and FSU) filed lawsuits against the conference and only settled those cases upon the league agreeing to create an uneven revenue distribution structure as well as establish more formal exit fees.

The latter is a signal of their ultimate desire: They want to leave and they'd like to know how much it will cost.

If an ACC school intends to leave the conference, it must officially notify the league in writing on or before June 1 of the preceding year to be granted an exit on June 30 of the following year.

The exit fee for leaving next year is $129 million.

In an interesting wrinkle, seven ACC universities did not independently send a letter to lawmakers supportive of the legislation (Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Cal, Miami and Virginia), according to documents released by the Senate Commerce Committee.

Perhaps this was an intentional move as not to (1) anger the Big Ten and SEC, which are opposed to the bill; and (2) because they themselves are against a bill that may prevent them from promotion.

However, North Carolina's chancellor, Lee Roberts, was one of five presidents or chancellors from the state's FBS universities to sign a letter to lawmakers. While the letter was supportive of the legislation, some may interpret it as only expressing gratitude for the work.

Either way, the legislation's anti-expansion provision has caught the attention of a great many people. The section also seems to prohibit "an independent institution" (i.e. Notre Dame) from joining any league earning at least $700 million in revenue.

One thing is clear: Realignment conversations are accelerating because of provisions in the bill. As suggested by Miami president Joe Echevarria during a recent interview with the city's WQAM radio:

"We as a university are playing for the next contract, are not playing for the one we're in," he said. "So however the realignments occur, whatever may occur, we are going to be invited where the leading one is. They won't leave us out."

What other concepts are in the bill and will it pass?

The main portion of the legislation grants the NCAA and College Sports Commission a limited liability protection around several key areas:

- Transfers: restores the one-time limitation.

- Eligibility: implements a five-year standard and bans pro players.

- Revenue-share cap: more restrictive cap circumvention.

There are issues with the third prong, which Yahoo Sports detailed in a story last week. The restrictions around compensation — prohibiting pay from associated entities — may cost athletes millions of dollars if conference commissioners and the NCAA don't agree to raise the cap.

But there are plenty more concepts in the legislation that could impact the landscape of the industry or have flustered those within it.

The SEC and Big Ten's opposition to the bill mostly centers around the leagues believing that the antitrust provisions around transfers and eligibility are still subject to state laws and legal challenges from athletes through a private-right-of-action section that they believe is too broad.

But another issue for the Big Ten and SEC is the bill's option for FBS conferences to pool their media rights, which they are against. And they are skeptical of how optional it truly is. "I need to really see that it's voluntary," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said three weeks ago during an interview with Paul Finebaum.

Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti have been critical of the bill "singling out" their leagues with the pooling-of-rights concept and anti-expansion clause, so much so that lawmakers agreed to apply the anti-expansion provision to the other power leagues too in a recent change made to the section.

The Senate Commerce Committee released a statement last week to Yahoo Sports saying that more adjustments to the anti-expansion clause will be made, including prohibiting outside entities or firms from poaching the biggest brands to form a super league — a request made by both the Big Ten and SEC.

Why did the Big Ten and SEC make such a request? A window into that answer came during Sankey's interview with Finebaum, where he suggested that a private equity-backed firm, Smash Sports, is "pulling strings to accomplish their agenda." Members of Smash Sports, many of them former ESPN executives, have socialized with administrators for more than three years now a concept to reshape college football by pooling FBS media rights. Many leading figures within the Group of 6, ACC and Big 12 have supported Smash's endeavor, even gathering earlier this spring for a meeting in Dallas.

Despite changes to the anti-expansion provision, the SEC and Big Ten remain in opposition.

Can legislation to regulate an industry pass Congress without support from the two biggest stakeholders in that industry? Asked if he had confidence in the bill passing despite the SEC and Big Ten opposed, Cruz offered a quick reply during an interview on June 10: "I do."

The two behemoths cover a 26-state footprint. That's 52 senators. That's also a whopping 318 members of the 435-seat U.S. House of Representatives. Will their lobbying effort against the legislation lead to its demise?

The 19-9 vote last week in the 28-member Senate Commerce Committee — which put the bill a step closer to a full Senate vote — came not necessarily along party lines.

Five of the seven Democrats voting against the bill were from SEC or Big Ten states. The only two Republicans to vote against were as well: Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Todd Young (Ind.).

According to Cruz, Sen. Majority Leader John Thune "intends" to bring the bill to the floor in July. However, the Senate is bogged down with plenty of other matters, including the ongoing war in Iran and the SAVE America Act, a divisive federal election bill.

The clock is ticking and the days are disappearing.

Senators have a two-week Fourth of July recess starting this Friday before returning for 16 working days (four weeks). That stretch ends Aug. 7, at which point a month-long, annual summer recess begins. Legislative work traditionally slows to a crawl the closer it gets to November's mid-term elections.

The bill needs 60 votes in a Senate chamber with a three-person Republican advantage and then must pass the House of Representatives, whose leaders — both from the SEC footprint of Louisiana (Mike Johnson and Steve Scalise) — have expressed opposition to some of the legislation's concepts, as have the Congressional Black Caucus.

In the meantime, the shot clock on realignment ticks away.

The Philadelphia Eagles officially wrapped up their spring workout program earlier this month. Now we’ll take a look at the winners, losers, and I don’t knows (t0day’s focus) that stood out from four media-attended practices.

Disclaimer: These were non-contact drills (no pads) and four practices is a pretty small sample size. There’s still plenty of time for players to change their outlook — for better or for worse — over the course of training camp and preseason games.For historical context, here’s a look at the “IDKs” from this time last year.

I DON’T KNOWS

SEAN MANNION

There are reasons to be encouraged about the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator. Everyone he works with seems to think he’s a pretty smart guy; Jordan Mailata went as far to call him an “evil genius.” Mannion had some good things to say during his sole spring press conference.

There are signs that Mannion is going to help truly evolve the Eagles’ offense. We saw a lot of under-center looks, play-action, motion, etc. during spring practices.

Is Mannion definitely going to help the offense be significantly better in 2026? I do think it’s possible. But I don’t know that I feel confident about it at this point in time. I’m more in the camp of keeping an open mind.

Vic Fangio got the better of Mannion in these spring practices. Does that matter much? Maybe not. It’s probably unfair to expect an offense undergoing schematic changes to be firing on all cylinders in OTAs. Especially when it’s going up against a defense entering Year 3 under one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL.

Based on what we saw, though, I do think it’s fair to suggest the offense is a work in progress and could take some time to click. Fortunately, there’s still an entire training camp to help work out the kinks.

JALEN HURTS

Let’s get the disclaimers out of the way:

• Hurts is adjusting to (yet another) new offensive coordinator/play-caller.
• Hurts is going up against a high-quality defense.
• Hurts didn’t have some of his top receivers in spring practices.
  • DeVonta Smith missed the last day of minicamp, Makai Lemon missed three of four spring practices due to a hamstring injury, and Dontayvion Wicks missed the first media-attended OTA practice.

All of this acknowledged, I don’t think Hurts had a sharp spring. I don’t think he looked terrible. He was somewhere between those two extremes, hence the “IDK” placement.

It’s good that Hurts seems to be embracing the changes, based on what he’s said and what’s been reported.

I’d also argue that it’s good that he’s in a spot where questions have been raised about his future in Philly. He tends to thrive when the pressure is on and his back is perceived to be against the wall.

I think Hurts could have a good year. But, as is the case with the offense as a whole, it might not be about instant success as much as there’s a build over the course of the season.

NICK SIRIANNI

I promise I’m not trying to make a mountain of a mole hill … but this Sirianni quote from his final spring press conference just does not sit well with me (bold emphasis mine):

Q. You’ve preached since you got him about the importance of winning the turnover battle and protecting the football. Do you have to loosen that at all given that QB Jalen Hurts’ is going to be learning a new offense and there may be some sloppiness and some growing pains early on. Do you have to kind of tolerate maybe the possibility of some more turnovers to get him to where he needs to be?

Nick Sirianni: You’re speaking of just interceptions, right? Because I think fumbles are a different story. Fumbles [have] a fundamental approach to it. I don’t look at fumbles the exact same way as interceptions. Interceptions are happening with decision-making as he goes through reads and stuff like that. So fumbles, never will I ever budge on that because that’s something that’s the backbone of what we do fundamentally. I say to the guys an awful lot that this program and everything we’re built on is built off fundamentals and the most important fundamental that we have is the ball, and it’ll be treated as so. With the way we drill, with the way we coach it, with the way they emphasize it as players, we’re going to continue to pound that and make sure that we’re diligent there.

As far as interceptions, I don’t look at it that way. Jalen knows how important it is for us to take care of the football and we’re going to continue to preach that. That doesn’t mean interceptions don’t happen. Of course they do. It’s a part of the game. But no, as long as I’m the head coach here, we’re going to be very diligent about winning that turnover battle and winning the explosive play battle. I know it’s like, ‘Okay, that sounds simple,’ but there’s an art to it because you’ve got to be able to create explosives in different ways and sometimes that puts the ball at risk, but at the end of the day, that ball is still the most important thing. We’ll know how to create explosives in that time, but taking care of the ball is the most important thing and we’ll talk about this all the time, can we come out of a game with every drive ending in a kick? Whether that’s an extra point, hopefully, whether that’s a field goal or whether that’s a punt.

That’s the mission of how we want to go about our fundamentals.

You can say I’m reading too much into coach-speak but we just witnessed a season where the Eagles led the NFL in three-and-out percentage. We’ve witnessed the offense merely give up on third-and-long with coward’s draws. We’ve seen Sirianni pass on scoring opportunities in end-of-half scenarios.

No one disagrees that turnovers are bad. But if Sirianni continues to emphasize avoidance to the extent that it neuters offensive upside, that would be really disappointing. Especially if Mannion turns out to be pretty good but he’s hampered by the head coach’s overly conservative approach.

DONTAYVION WICKS

I liked the Wicks trade for the Eagles but I was hoping to see more from him this spring. He missed the first media-attended practice (unclear why) and then it didn’t feel like he was active until the final day of minicamp, when neither Smitty nor Lemon were practicing.

Given the way Sirianni talked about him (the head coach said there’s some Keenan Allen to the receiver’s game) and the way the practice reps worked out, Wicks is clearly a top three wide receiver on this team. So, he’s a winner in terms of his standing on the team. But it would be good to see more on-field results.

JALEN CARTER

Carter wasn’t present for the Eagles’ media-attended OTA practices. He did attend two days of mandatory minicamp … but did not participate in team drills. I don’t know if this is a “hold in” for a new contract and/or an effort to preserve him for the regular season. It’ll be interesting to see if Carter fully participates in training camp without first signing a contract extension.

TANNER MCKEE

McKee belongs in the “loser” category in terms of his standing on the team. Entering the spring, no one expected him to be in a battle for QB2. Everyone thought Andy Dalton was QB3. Heck, even the team (through PR channels) suggested the Dalton acquisition had nothing to do with McKee. But that much clearly isn’t true after watching Dalton take the majority of backup quarterback reps during spring practices. Sirianni is insisting that they’re rotating reps … and we did see McKee as Hurts’ primary backup during the Eagles’ final spring practice. But that he’s not already the undisputed QB2 is weird and sort of a concern? McKee did look better than Dalton and I do expect him to prove he’s the top backup quarterback option on the team.

DREW KENDALL

Kendall was a limited participant during spring practices due to an undisclosed injury. The Eagles need him to stay healthy because 1) it remains to be seen if Landon Dickerson and/or Cam Jurgens can avoid injury issues and 2) he might be the top backup at all three interior offensive line positions, like Brett Toth was for the Eagles last year. Kendall has shown glimpses of promise in a small sample size but the second-year blocker clearly lacks experience. This summer will be a big one for him as it relates to earning the coaching staff’s trust.

JOE TRYON-SHOYINKA

JTS originally signed with the Eagles on March 30, didn’t attend their offseason workout program, and then retired. Not sure what happened here.

A.J. EPENESA

The Eagles signed Epenesa right after the conclusion of minicamp. I don’t know what to expect from him after his one-year, $5 million contract agreement with the Cleveland Browns was voided due to a failed physical. He’s joining the Eagles on a deal worth about $1.2 million with just $500,000 guaranteed. BGN’s Jonny Page notes that his film is good but the health is a real question mark.

ELIJAH MOORE

Moore had some good moments in the spring and the coaching staff seems to like him. The question is, how does he fit on the roster? He’s probably behind at least four players (DeVonta Smith, Makai Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks, Hollywood Brown). And he’s barely played on special teams in his career.

DARIUS COOPER

My guy DC had a very quiet spring, which is weird because there was opportunity for him to step up when the likes of Smitty/Lemon/Wicks missed time. Nick Sirianni lumped Cooper into the Johnny Wilson ‘dirty work role’ bucket and Wilson had the superior spring. Cooper really came alive in training camp and preseason games last year, so, I wouldn’t count him out just yet. But I wish we had seen more signs of a Year 2 leap to this point.

COLE PAYTON

The Eagles’ in-house entertainment published a video that includes Nick Sirianni and Jeffrey Lurie praising Payton. That itself seems like a good sign for him. The rookie quarterback had some struggles during very limited spring reps but he also showed some promise as well. He looked a little more advanced than I expected him to be as a one-year starter from North Dakota State. I don’t know how he fits on the team. Are the Eagles really going to keep four quarterbacks? Do they risk putting Payton on the practice squad? Does Payton flame out like Kyle McCord did last year? We’ll see.

By the way, to this point, there’s no evidence to believe the Eagles are going to use Payton like Taysom Hill, as has been speculated. (And that’s just because they’re hiding it from everybody!!! But probably not.)

MYLES HINTON

The Eagles were training a rookie Hinton as a tackle last year. Now they’re having him work at left guard. Is this development a good sign for his stock? Maybe it’s a sign that the team is trying to find him a spot to stick around. Or maybe it’s a last ditch desperation effort. I lean towards the former but it is worth noting that Jeff Stoutland seemed to be a big Hinton fan … and he’s no longer around.

WILLIE LAMPKIN

Spring marked the first time we got to see Lampkin participate in team drills with the Eagles since they acquired him after training camp last year. He sure is small! Just looking at him lined up next to his fellow offensive linemen, it’s difficult to envision him having success in the NFL. Maybe he’s the exception, though. Will be really interesting to see how he fares in the preseason games.

UAR BERNARD

I don’t know if Bernard will ever play a regular season snap for the Eagles. He clearly has a long way to go before he’s ready to do so. But I can also totally see why the Eagles took a chance on him. He seems like a good kid and his frame/athleticism is super intriguing.

I also don’t know how the Eagles are going to handle his roster situation this year. If they stash him on injured reserve, he can’t get much-needed practice reps. If they keep him on the 53, he can practice, but then it’s effectively a 52-man roster since he can’t be expected to play as a rookie. Would they risk losing him to waivers? If he clears them, they can keep him on the practice squad as an international exemption who doesn’t count towards that 16-player limit.

DAE’QUAN WRIGHT

By making a few nice catches and showing some YAC potential, this undrafted rookie tight end did just enough this spring to justify my irrational excitement for him. Wright’s going to be my camp crush this year, just like Darius Cooper was last season.

PUNT RETURNER

Who’s going to return punts for the Eagles this season?

Cooper DeJean, James Proche II (a minicamp tryout player who wasn’t signed to the roster), and Elijah Moore were the three guys returning punts (in that order) during the Eagles’ final spring practice. Neither Britain Covey nor Lemon were practicing, so, it’s possible they could be in the mix.

But Covey is hardly a lock to make the team. The Eagles could probably keep him on the practice squad and temporarily elevate him to the game day roster, as they’ve done in the past, if they want to go that route.

Lemon is probably too important on offense and he only returned six punts in college, albeit for a quality 11.6 average.

DeJean is too important on defense, especially now that he’s projected to play 100% of the defensive snaps by serving as the nickel cornerback and a safety in base defense. DeJean might be an option if it’s a desperate situation.

Moore is no lock to make the team and has returned just two punts in the NFL, both back in 2023. He did return 27 punts in college … but just for a 4.9 average, which is bad.

So, I don’t know who’s going to handle these duties. It’s obviously not the most pressing question for the Eagles but it is a situation they’ll have to figure out.

• West Indies win toss and bowl first
• Victory puts England into semi-final
• Women's T20 World Cup, Group 2, Lord's
• Ice packs & F1 cooling vests - England ready for heat

Women's T20 World Cup: England bat first against Windies with semi-final spot at stake

The Kansas City Chiefs have had a busy and productive offseason, but still found time to have some fun during the limited time that players have attended workouts, meetings, and practices at team facilities.

This week, the Chiefs' social media department released a video of a hilarious challenge undertaken by some of Kansas City's biggest stars, which involved imitating the sound of a brass squeeze horn — the kind of aerophone which might be found on a bike or used by a clown.

Take a look at the full video of various Chiefs players attempting the seemingly impossible feat, to comedic effect:

89.9% accuracy 😭 pic.twitter.com/934teMGu3H

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) June 24, 2026

While some stars fared better than others in this unique challenge, the gumption shown by all participants demonstrated the kind of stick-to-itiveness, spontaneity, and adaptability that Kansas City's fans should expect from the Chiefs' newly rebuilt roster, which will need to prove itself during the team's 2026 redemption campaign.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs offseason: KC's stars attempt hilarious social media challenge

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has not let Friday’s defeat to Morocco dampen his sides spirits and belief as they gear up to face Brazil in what could be a huge game should they want to qualify out of this group.

Following a stuttered by relatively assured performance against Haiti in their World Cup opener, Scotland then fell at their next hurdle, conceding within just 70 seconds against Morocco and failing to really lay a glove on their African opponents.

Their opponents made up for a poor first game against Morocco by comfortably beating Haiti in their second, and in truth represent a formidable opponent regardless of the form they find themselves in.

The Scots know they will most likely have to get a result against the five-time winners if they are to have a chance at progressing to the round of 32 for the first time in their history.

But manager Clarke is defiant that his side can still get a result against the giants and has not let Friday’s result get to him or his side.

The 62-year-old said: “We had a fantastic debrief on the Morocco game where I could show them what they can improve on and hopefully we take that into this game.

“I was actually pleased how we responded to a really poor start. I think people forget how games change on a goal.”

Clarke’s side did do a good job at containing what is a brilliant Moroccan side and they will need every ounce of their defensive capabilities if they are to contain a Brazil side with the likes of Vinícius Júnior and Matehus Cunha.

But heading into a match eyeing up a 0-0 usually doesn’t work and Scotland will certainly need to improve the offensive side of their game.

Clarke made it clear that is under scrutiny in the Scotland camp after failing to improve their goal difference against Haiti.

“We were good from back to middle and from middle to final third. But we were not so good after that because we didn’t really create any clear chances,” he said.

“That’s been something we’ve been working on. Especially for games against the top ten teams. It’s an area, if I’m honest, where I’ve been looking for solutions for quite a long time.”

Scotland’s cautious approach has garnered its criticisms however, especially Clarke’s decision to bench winger Ben Gannon-Doak against Morocco – Doak impressed against Haiti and was probably Scotland’s most dangerous player.

But Clarke is paying no mind to outside voices as his squad vigorously prepare for their crunch match at their base in Charlottesville, NC.

He said: “Social media? What’s that? I don’t look at that, I really don’t look at it. If I look at that then I could be affected a little bit – and I value my mental health! It’s important I stay reasonably sane.

“What I would say, though, is that since coming to this camp we’ve concentrated more on attacking play then defensive play.

“We’ve tried to work on that and I think you could see the fruits of it when we played Bolivia before the tournament began.”

Clarkes belief and defiance in his tactics and play-style is what has gotten him so much success with the national team and he looks to make further in-roads by qualifying for the knockout rounds for the first time in Scotland’s history and finally getting over their group stage hoodoo.

Scotland’s pivotal meeting with Brazil kicks off at 23:00 (BST) in Miami, with both history and Clarke’s blushes on the line.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.

One of manager Mark Kotsay’s flaws has reared its ugly head more than usual of late, and that is a lack of understanding of who his relievers are, what they do well, and just as importantly what they do not do well. Sometimes you get away with “wrong move, right result” and often you do not.

A Costly Blunder

A devastating loss Sunday came when the A’s, poised to take the 3 of 4 they should against the last place Angels, served up 3 in the 7th and 2 in the 9th in a 9-7 gut-puncher.

The blunder came in the 7th inning when Kotsay had to select a reliever to start the inning with a 7-4 lead. He went with Hogan Harris, why? Kotsay has said Harris is “the reliever I trust the most” and also 2 of the 3 batters due up to start the inning batted LH.

Here’s the problem. While valuable and useful for his durability and competitiveness, Harris shouldn’t be the A’s most trusted reliever because he isn’t actually worthy of that moniker. No matter how you slice it, in 36 IP Harris has not only allowed 34 hits he has also walked 24 and hit 3 more.

It’s also foolish to bring in Harris, as Kotsay has repeatedly done, to try to neutralize LH batters because LH batters have a whopping .403 OBP against Harris. And even if you mistakenly believed Harris was a good choice to retire LH batters, that was rendered moot when Vaughn Grissom came up to pinch hit leading off the inning.

It should have come as no surprise that Harris, who issues a freebie of some kind 3 times every 4 innings, hit Grissom with a pitch to lead off the inning. Nolan Schanuel’s seeing eye single was bad luck, but again no shock that a LH batter got a hit off Harris considering they are batting .292 for the season against him. Then came the crippling 3-run HR by Denzer Guzman.

But it goes beyond choosing Harris because of unwarranted “trust”. Mason Barnett was available and while his long term prognosis is still blurred by small sample, you can’t argue with what he has done so far out of the bullpen: 13.2 IP, 7 hits, 1 ER, 7 BB, 18 K. And the lone run came on a solo HR when Barnett was pitching with a 10 run lead; in high leverage he has been nails.

Another Puzzler That Didn’t Cost

Last night once again Kotsay ignored the skill sets of his relievers in a close game. With the A’s trailing just 2-1 he asked Matt Krook to pitch the 5th, then sent him out to begin the 6th. This made sense with the LH batting Jung Hoo Lee leading off. Lee walked, however, and that brought up the RH batting Willy Adames.

By this time Mason Barnett was well warmed up in the bullpen, but for some reason Kotsay decided to stay with Krook. The problem? Check out Krook’s career body of work against RH batters over the 36 batters he has faced: .400/.472/.667.

Kotsay went to Barnett one batter later, and got lucky that it wasn’t “one batter too late” as Adames made solid contact but grounded out. One can imagine maybe Barnett was having trouble getting loose, wasn’t ready, etc., only that would also be on the manager if he didn’t use the top of the 6th to give his reliever ample warning he was going to be summoned in the bottom half.

The pattern you’re seeing is a manager who seems to think that Harris is a good choice against LH batters and a great choice for high leverage in general, that Krook can handle RH batters too, that Barnett is nothing special and can be burned for 2 IP in a blowout then not used in high leverage — none of which is true based on the actual stats, performances, available data and information.

If you don’t understand your own players, it’s hard to use them correctly. You wind up acting like Lawrence Butler is a capable CFer and that the AL’s RBI leader should bat lead off. The A’s just don’t have a strong enough bullpen to also be used improperly, and yet there you have it. And it’s costing the team actual wins they don’t have to give.

Luckily, Gage Jump is the type of pitcher who tends to make a manager look smart no matter what he does. Jump goes tonight in as close to a must-win as you’ll find in June as the A’s try to avoid losing contact with the .500 mark in a weak AL that still won’t send a sub-.500 team to the post-season. Here’s hoping Kotsay doesn’t yank him in the 3rd inning of a 0-0 game to play the platoon match ups.

Seahawks contract extension talks with Devon Witherspoon are not going 'smoothly' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Seattle Seahawks spent a fortune on Jaxon Smith-Njigba this offseason, and he's not the only 2023 draft pick that the Seahawks are planning to sign to a long-term deal.

Cornerback Devon Witherspoon is someone the Seahawks are trying to sign to an extension, which would likely pay him over $120 million over four years, depending on how much of a record-breaker his new deal is.

But, according to ESPN's Brady Henderson, the Seahawks and Witherspoon's contract talks are not going "smoothly." This is some bad news, even if only temporary, until the two sides agree to the huge new deal that both sides want.

Seahawks contract talks with Devon Witherspoon aren't going 'smoothly'

"Those negotiations haven't gone as smoothly, with no deal yet despite the fact that Seattle made its initial offer three months ago," Henderson writes.

Seattle hasn't been able to come to terms with Witherspoon, as the two sides aren't in smooth contract talks like how things went for JSN earlier this offseason.

While Henderson is reporting that the Seahawks are likely to make Witherspoon the "league's highest paid corner" when this extension is signed, no such deal is close.

The three-time Pro Bowl cornerback is someone the Seahawks should be willing to spend a fortune on. With the Los Angeles Rams spending $124 million over four years on Trent McDuffie, Witherspoon has a target to reach.

MORE: Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2025 breakout called for real: ‘He’s perfect’

If Seattle want's to keep Witherspoon around for a long time, signing an extension worth over $31 million per-year is likely what they'll have to do.

The sooner, the better for the Seahawks. With New England Patriots' Christian Gonzalez also looking for a huge extension, the Seahawks might have to spend even more on Witherspoon if Gonzalez sets a new benchmark.

If both teams wait until next year's offseason to sign new deals, the Philadelphia Eagles, with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, could throw a wrench in their extension plans.

It's clear the Seahawks should try to get a deal done sooner rather than later, but with these contract talks not going as smoothly as those with Smith-Njigba, this extension might not be that easy to agree to for Seattle.

More NFL news:

• Dolphins’ Greg Dulcich is a rising offensive star and a fantasy football sleeper
• 49ers urged to finally end Brandon Aiyuk saga with two possible solutions
• Rams urged to extend an offensive lineman before an extension of Puka Nacua
• Bears urged to sign ex-Bills, Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa
• Bengals urged to sign ex-Giants, Colts LB Bobby Okereke

Aston Villa could be banned from selling tickets for a European away game next season following an incident at the Europa League final.

Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in Istanbul on 20 May with goals from Youri Tielemens, Morgan Rogers and Emi Buendia.

But the Villans were subsequently charged by Uefa over racist and/or discriminatory behaviour of their supporters during the game.

BBC Sport understands a banner was displayed which was of an offensive and derogatory nature.

On Wednesday, Uefa announced that Villa had been fined €10,000 (£8,600) and their fans given a suspended ban from attending a game.

A Uefa statement said the "ban from selling tickets to its away supporters is suspended for a probationary period of two years, starting from the date of the present decision".

If there is a repeat of the behaviour Uefa can trigger the ban.

Villa earned a return to the Champions League next season by finishing fourth in the Premier League, though they also earned the right by lifting the Europa League trophy.

• Latest Aston Villa news, analysis and fan views
• Ask about Aston Villa - what do you want to know?

After three seasons together with the Baltimore Ravens, Todd Monken and Lamar Jackson will be on different sidelines in 2026.

Not only did Monken land a head-coaching gig, he joined Baltimore’s AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns.

Now, Monken will be squaring off against his former quarterback twice a year for the foreseeable future.

Despite now being foes, Jackson reached out to Monken to congratulate him for landing the new job when it happened back in January.

Monken jokingly responded with a hilarious text that included an F-bomb, according to Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.

“Then I said, ‘Go f–k yourself. We are going to blitz you every third down,'” Monken revealed.

MORE: Marvin Mims gets brutally honest over Broncos offseason moves

Monken’s three-year tenure in Baltimore was going to end no matter what.

That’s because Baltimore decided to part ways with long-time head coach John Harbaugh, who also landed on his feet as the head coach of the New York Giants.

Monken was slated to follow Harbaugh to New York before he was hired by Cleveland.

“It tells you how fickle, just in general, life is,” Monken said. “From the year before, if you’d have told me that we’d have been fired after the year we had offensively… I’ll give it this, coaches, for the most part the players, never quit.”

A tough road ahead for Todd Monken

Todd Monken takes over a Browns team that is in the midst of what figures to be a lengthy rebuild.

Monken’s tenure has already been eventful after the Browns traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in a blockbuster deal earler this month.

Cleveland has work to do all over its roster, including at quarterback, where the Browns don’t have a locked-in long-term solution under center for Monken’s offense.

MORE: Brendan Sorsby could have one longshot option left

The Browns have a competition going between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, but only Sanders offers a possible long-term answer for Cleveland.

If he proves not to be, the Browns will have an opportunity to get their guy in 2027, when the NFL Draft is expected to be loaded at the position.

Lamar Jackson’s murky future

The Baltimore Ravens were hoping to get a long-term contract extension done with Jackson this offseason in order to lower his 2026 cap hit.

The two sides did not get it done and instead opted for a restructure that kicks the can down the road to 2027, when Jackson’s cap hit will be nearly $85 million in what is the final year of his current contract.

Jackson will also be in the final year of his contract next year, so that only adds to the suspense.

As expected, Alessio Romagnoli will complete his medical tests with Al-Sadd after contracts were signed, but Lazio defender Mario Gila is torn between Napoli and Atalanta.

The Aquile are once again busy largely with exits on the transfer market in the early part of the summer, though some deals had been months in the making.

Lazio exits for Romagnoli and perhaps Gila

BERGAMO, ITALY – APRIL 22: Alessio Romagnoli of SS Lazio celebrates a opening goal during the Coppa Italia semi-final match between Atalanta BC and SS Lazio at New Balance Arena on April 22, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Romagnoli had already said goodbye to the fans in January when he assumed that a move to Al-Sadd would be completed, but his club blocked the exit.

He returned to work with the promise that he would be allowed to go to Qatar in the summer, and that is now happening, with multiple sources including Sky Sport Italia and Fabrizio Romano all saying the paperwork has been signed.

All he needs to do now is undergo the medical tests and be presented as their new player at a cost of circa €3m.

ROME, ITALY – MARCH 15: Mario Gila celebrates a victory after the Serie A match between SS Lazio and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on March 15, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Sportitalia transfer expert Alfredo Pedullà warns that the situation is getting complicated for another Lazio defender, Mario Gila.

His contract is due to expire in June 2027 and there seems to be no sign of a renewal, yet the Aquile are also hesitant to accept a bid from Napoli, believed to be worth €15m plus add-ons.

This is also because as part of his original transfer, they owe Real Madrid 50 per cent of the sale, so are tempted to simply keep him on until his contract runs down.

However, Pedullà claims that Atalanta have now made a new approach for Gila and are prepared to pay over €20m, including various performance-related bonuses.

It would enable the Spaniard to reunite with his old Lazio coach Maurizio Sarri, now in Bergamo.

Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes has made a huge decision on his future that will send fans into a frenzy. The Portuguese stalwart is coming off an exceptional season with the Red Devils, in which he played a key role in their third-placed finish in the Premier League.

Fernandes created history by registering 21 league assists, the most in a single season in the Premier League era. His efforts saw him win the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season awards, while also picking up a record fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year trophy.

Bruno Fernandes Stats: 2025/26 Season

Source: Transfermarkt.

Fernandes is now only the third player after Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs to register 100 goals and 100 assists for the English giants in their history. The 31 year old has registered 107 goals and 108 assists in 327 appearances for United to date.

However, the player will enter the final year of his contract this summer, although the Red Devils have an option for an additional year. This has added to speculation over his future, especially given how important he has been for the club since his arrival.

Fernandes remains linked with an exit

Fernandes was heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford last summer amid interest from the Middle East, but ended up staying. It was later reported that former head coach Ruben Amorim played a key part in convincing the United skipper to turn down lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia.

While Amorim left in the middle of the season, Fernandes hit a higher gear under his successor Michael Carrick, whose decision to reinstate the player in the No. 10 role turned out to be a brainwave. However, with the Portuguese Magnifico yet to sign a new deal at the Theatre of Dreams, fans will be shifting nervously in their seats.

With United looking to invest heavily in the squad over the summer, there is optimism in the air ahead of the new season. The English giants have reportedly secured the signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson, and more additions are expected to follow.

However, Fernandes’ future remains a talking point at the moment, although a previous report states that United are keen to tie him down to a new deal. An update on the Portuguese’s future has now emerged that will delight fans.

Fernandes wants United stay

According to talkSPORT, Fernandes has already told his teammates that he intends to continue with United. The report states: “Bruno Fernandes is set to stay at Manchester United, talkSPORT understands.”

“Although Fernandes didn’t hold any formal talks with the club over his future before the World Cup, he has already told teammates and those close to his circle that he intends to remain.”

The report goes on to state that clubs in the Middle East were hoping to convince the Portuguese to move after the World Cup, but they are in for disappointment. It continues: “Saudi dealmakers had hoped Fernandes might be open to leaving Manchester United after the World Cup, but talkSPORT understands the Portugal international plans to stay for at least one more year.”

Fernandes has carried his good form into the 2026 FIFA World Cup and picked up an assist in the 5-0 win over Uzbekistan on Tuesday, 23 June.

Final Thoughts

United are hoping to compete with the best in Europe next season, and it is already clear that they need Fernandes running the show for that to happen. With the Portuguese open to a stay, INEOS must wrap up his future at the earliest to avoid any complications.

Featured image Steve Bardens via Getty Images

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The college football season is just around the corner, which means it is almost time for conference media days.

The Oregon Ducks will send a contingent to Chicago next month for the 2026 Big Ten Football Media Days to discuss the upcoming season, different issues around college athletics, and more. The three-day event will be hosted at the Hilton Chicago, beginning on July 28.

Alongside coach Dan Lanning, Oregon will send three star players to the annual media conference. Quarterback Dante Moore, tight end Jamari Johnson and edge rusher Teitum Tuioti will all make the trip to the windy city as well.

Oregon’s attendees will participate in media days on July 29, the second day of the event. They will be joined by groups from Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Purdue and UCLA.

Lanning, Moore and Johnson are currently in Tokyo for the first Tokyo Oregon Football Showcase. The three will fire up the jet again this summer to make their way to Chicago. As coach of the Ducks, Lanning is the only representative from Oregon making the trip to conference media days for the second year in a row.

Last summer, Oregon sent linebacker Bryce Boettcher, edge rusher Matayo Uiagalelei and tight end Kenyon Sadiq to media days. Moore is the biggest addition, now having a season in Eugene as the starter under his belt and becoming a preseason frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy and the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Tuioti earned third-team All-Big Ten honors last season after leading the Ducks with 9.5 sacks as a junior. Johnson will step in as the new starting tight end after a fantastic first season in Eugene, when he made 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns.

When the Ducks arrive on the stage in Chicago, Lanning will likely face tough questions about the state of the sport, ranging from his support of a 24-team playoff model, the change to a “five-for-five” age-based eligibility model, and the impacts of NIL on the program and the rest of the sport.

Big Ten Football Media Days will be televised live on Big Ten Network. Individual start times for each program will be announced at a later date.

Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.

This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Big Ten announces who will represent Oregon Ducks at media days

On Wednesday morning, in temperatures hot enough to make a statue sweat, England were training at Trent Bridge.

A speaker was placed near the square and American rock band Fallout Boy formed part of the soundtrack.

"Sugar, we're goin' down swinging'" might not have been an ideal choice given recent events in a London nightclub.

Perhaps those lyrics reflect the mood in the camp after a fortnight that will live in English cricketing infamy.

After all the talk of curfews, investigations and who is friends with who, England are once again in must-win territory. Level at 1-1 with New Zealand, without a series win in 18 months and owning only two victories in their past nine Tests.

With the added context of everything that has been going on off the field, returning captain Ben Stokes said this is the "highest pressure" of his four years in charge.

How many times can England drink in the Last Chance Saloon?

At 2-0 down in the home Ashes of 2023, this regime may have crumbled had England not won the third Test at Headingley.

Surely someone would have carried the can if the away Ashes had been lost 5-0, a clean sweep avoided when England scraped a win in Melbourne. What if Sam Curran had not defended 10 runs in the final over against Nepal to avoid an all-timer of a shock at the T20 World Cup?

Here we are again.

It is not certain a loss in Nottingham will result with a head on a spike, though the noise that was deafening in the aftermath of the Ashes will be amplified again. How many defeats are too many? How much chaos is too much? When can a reset not be reset?

Stokes was honest and almost emotional when he spoke on Wednesday, describing what he had been through in the past two weeks. If he looked flustered, he had just come from more than an hour batting in the nets.

Some noticed the skipper only referred to his time as captain in the short term, with lots of mentions of "this week". He also said he loves being an England player and loves being captain, so it feels unlikely that a departure is imminent.

Once again, Stokes was adamant there is no issue between him and head coach Brendon McCullum, echoing what McCullum said on Tuesday. Perhaps we must take that at face value. Both have said they are "good mates".

But Stokes was not forthcoming when asked about the support he has or hasn't had from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

"It was a process that needed to be played out. The process has been played out," he said.

At this point, it's important to stress the ECB have denied he was asked to resign the captaincy. When it was put to a senior source that someone wanted him out, the word used to rebuff the suggestion is unprintable.

Neither ECB chief executive Richard Gould nor chairman Richard Thompson have spoken publicly, so have not answered questions on their stance.

Besides, if Stokes leaves nightclubs before the curfew, his interaction with the board will be limited, so long as England start winning Test matches.

And, if there was mitigation for the defeat in the second Test, there is no hiding place this week.

England have their first-choice XI at Trent Bridge, and Stokes needs some of his big names to step up.

At times, Jofra Archer looked electric at The Oval, and at others he looked short of match fitness. He needs to repay the slack that allowed him a full Indian Premier League stint.

The same goes for Jacob Bethell, who has batted only 14 times in red-ball cricket in the past 18 months. Almost a third of Bethell's runs from his eight-Test career came in his breakthrough hundred in Sydney, a knock he cannot dine out on forever.

Stokes went in to bat for Ben Duckett in the aftermath of the Noosa social media video, and now Stokes needs Duckett to bat for him – literally. The opener has not made a half-century in his past 14 Test innings.

In terms of doing all they can to get the right results, England are certainly looking much more focused than they did in Australia.

There has been an acceptance they were understaffed in the coaching department and the beefed-up backroom has improved training.

Jamie Smith barely did a wicketkeeping drill in Australia, yet has been worked hard by Sarah Taylor, who on Tuesday was also teaching a throwing technique to Josh Tongue to help with his troublesome shoulder.

Jeetan Patel has been able to give more attention to Shoaib Bashir and more coaches has meant more attention for batters in the nets.

Trent Bridge has been kind to some of this England team. It is home for Duckett and Tongue, while Joe Root averages nearly 70 here. Almost a quarter of Bashir's 68 Test wickets have come in two matches in Nottingham.

As for Stokes, this is where he sealed his only Ashes series triumph – the one-handed wonder catch off a stunned Stuart Broad in 2015. Trent Bridge is the spiritual home of Bazball, the win over New Zealand four years ago, with Stokes as the non-striker as Jonny Bairstow hit the ball further and further into the stands.

This is also the ground where Stokes played his first Test after being cleared of affray in 2018. On that occasion, there were some boos. That feels unlikely this week.

"The atmosphere is always mint," said Stokes. "I don't think it will be any different this week.

"After everything has gone on in the past two weeks, yes, I appreciate the support, but also the team appreciates it.

"Don't feel like you've only got to cheer bigger for me, make sure you cheer as big as you can for the other 10 players that are going out to play for the country as well because we'll all be busting a gut to get that series win."

Going down swinging? We'll see.

• Stokes reveals 'highest pressure' of England captaincy
• McCullum confused by stories of rift as Stokes returns
• Get cricket news sent straight to your phone

Josh Hart pokes fun at Jalen Brunson's 'King' treatment in New York feature originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Former Villanova teammates Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson landed the New York Knicks their first NBA championship in 53 years. This marks their second team triumph together since winning the national championship with Villanova a decade ago.

Brunson, the Finals MVP, is being celebrated all over in the Big Apple. The Knicks superstar recently appeared on the cover of New York magazine in a feature headlined:

"It's Good to be King."

The cover line identified Brunson as a player who "takes it all in."

Cover of New York Magazine: pic.twitter.com/vMHzM2gRNd

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 24, 2026

The post drew a lot of reactions on X, but the best part came from Hart. The Villanova teammate pulled Brunson's leg with the following response:

"I beg your pardon….HE DOES WHAT??"

I beg your pardon….HE DOES WHAT?? https://t.co/ytINJ3Gdqs

— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 24, 2026

Hart perfectly ridiculed his teammate in a way only he can. However, don't let their sense of humor run your imaginations wild. Just a few weeks back, Brunson roasted Hart by reminding him that he and Mikal Bridges have won one more national championship than him.

MORE: Knicks signing 6-foot-9 NBA champion forward to help Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson reveals emotional text message he received from Josh Hart

Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart have a habit of pulling each other's legs. But in their heart, they really embrace each other and like each other's presence.

After winning the NBA title, Brunson appeared on the “TODAY” show with Jenna Bush Hager, where he revealed the emotional text message he received from the Knicks veteran.

"He was like, ‘I don’t know if I can say this in person because I may be emotional, but I really love you guys, and it really means the most to me to know you guys are here doing this with me.’ So we have a special bond,” Brunson said.

Brunson, Bridges and Hart won the 2016 national championship with Villanova. Hart declared for the NBA draft and was picked in the first round (30th overall) of the 2017 NBA draft. Meanwhile, the other two stayed back for the 2017-18 season and won the 2018 NCAA national championship.

More NBA news:

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• Lakers shower Austin Reaves with biggest payday for undrafted player
• Thunder's latest chess move could be all about Victor Wembanyama
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• NBA Draft grades 2026: Live results and analysis for every pick in Round 1, from AJ Dybantsa to Bennett Stirtz

Following yet another depressing loss in Petco Park for the Atlanta Braves, some changes have been made and there’s some good news as far as the bullpen is concerned. Tyler Kinley is back healthy after dealing with “right elbow inflammation” and has been reinstated from the 15-day IL as a result.

This is very big news and not just because of the fact that Kinley had been turning things around before his IL stint after a rough first on the mound. Ever since May 13, Kinley had produced a 2.45 ERA (59 ERA-) and a 3.56 FIP (87 FIP-) across the 12 appearances he made leading up to his IL stint. Getting Kinley back will be huge since the bullpen was starting to show some signs of wear. Due to Robert Suarez’s forearm issues, Carlos Carrasco ended up pitching two high-leverage innings and to be quite honest, that’s just not an ideal situation for the Braves in this particular moment in time. So yeah, getting Kinley back will be massive for a bullpen that has largely kept it pushing despite dealing with whatever woes may come their way.

Speaking of Carrasco, he’s going back on the DFA cycle following last night’s performance and he’s been subsequently replaced by Ian Hamilton. So far, Hamilton has pitched one inning for the Braves and it was back on April 21 when he gave up three runs on two hits and two walks, so I’d imagine that you can guess that the Braves are doing this simply to have another arm available until Cookie does his latest circuit on the DFA cycle and they can bring him back again.

Meanwhile, the corresponding move for Tyler Kinley was that JR Ritchie was sent back down to Triple-A Gwinnett following his efforts on Tuesday in San Diego. As admirably as Ritchie performed in getting through five innings in each of his past three starts, giving up five runs each to the Giants and Padres is certainly not conducive to success — especially in a situation where the Braves are badly in need of consistent and stable starting pitching. Ritchie did end up with seven strikeouts on the night but he also walked four and gave up five hits on his way to giving up those five runs (four earned) and it also came as a bit of a gut punch since it happened all in the frame immediately after Atlanta had score four runs, themselves.

So while Ritchie has shown some promise during his time with the Braves so far this season, it’s clear that he’s going to need a bit more work in the minors before this the big leagues becomes his permanent home station. For now, the Braves do get one of their more effective relievers back from the injury list so that’s one less thing to worry about for the time being. It’s one thing but it’s a big thing.

Chelsea are demanding £75 million for defender Malo Gusto, with Manchester City among the clubs showing interest in the France international.

While the Blues do not actively want to offload the player, whom they consider a valued member of their squad, they would be prepared to entertain offers should their valuation be met.

Gusto, who arrived at Stamford Bridge from Lyon for approximately £30 million in 2023, is understood to be open to departing west London. Several other clubs, in addition to City, are also believed to be monitoring the situation of the 23-year-old who impressed during his debut season in England under Mauricio Pochettino before his progress stalled under Enzo Maresca.

A potential move to the Etihad Stadium could see Gusto reunited with Maresca, who is widely expected to be confirmed as City's new manager in the coming days, replacing Pep Guardiola. Gusto recently featured in France’s 3-0 World Cup victory over Iraq on Monday.

The west London club faces pressure to sell players this summer to comply with financial regulations, particularly after failing to qualify for European competition for the second time in four seasons. The defence is an area where the squad is currently overstocked, making it a likely source of departures.

Beyond Gusto, Chelsea's defensive options include Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr, Aaron Anselmino, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and Josh Acheampong, all of whom will be available to the club's incoming manager Xabi Alonso.

Meanwhile, a deal is understood to have been agreed for Atalanta right-back Marco Palestra, a 21-year-old with two Italy caps who played 37 times in Serie A last season on loan at Cagliari.

This comes after Chelsea missed out on signing Rennes defender Jeremy Jacquet in January, who opted to join Liverpool instead.

Gusto has made 134 appearances for Chelsea during his three seasons at the club, but has not always been a consistent starter due to the presence of club captain Reece James.

If he were to join City, he would likely be in a battle with Matheus Nunes to nail down the right-back spot at the Etihad.

The Boston Celtics elected to go with a project big man in the 2026 NBA Draft, Houston's Chris Cenac Jr. Fans of the team were mixed on the selection, with some pointing to his high upside while others critiqued the fact that it might take years before he will be ready to truly help Boston compete for titles.

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens spoke on the pick in his post-first round draft press conference, and had plenty of praise for the 6-foot-11 big man. "He's just a good young player, energetic, plays hard, excellent athlete, long, fits a position of need," said Stevens. "Some things that we were a little short on this year from an athletic perspective, I think, with his size and his length."

"And he is, when you play in the program he's played for, (what) he's been through, he's been taught well, and been held to a high standard," added the Celtics president.

"And so I like that," said Stevens of the 19-year-old forward. "And he will undoubtedly come here and be eager to jump into it. He's a good worker."

"He's a good person. And he's got a lot to learn, but we're excited about starting that process with him."

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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Brad Stevens on Celtics first round pick Chris Cenac Jr.

I have been ruminating over the past few days over the United States 2-0 Australia match, pouring over what the internet has had to say about the match, and watching other World Cup matches. And I really can’t stop thinking about how the US played and how impressive it really was. Here are three things lingering in my mind.

1) The USMNT is a Pretty Complete Team

It’s kinda interesting to think about the United States Mens National Team’s 2-0 victory over Australia from the Aussie’s perspective. Australia beat Türkiye by setting up an organized low block, leveraging their physicality, and attacking on the corner. They tried to do much the same against the US (albiet with some rather baffling lineup changes), but it didn’t work. Instead, the US broke through and scrambled their backline into conceding an own goal. Australia was also supposed to be contesting and physically imposing themselves on the opposition, but the second goal came from the US winning a freekick and then reacting faster on the second ball to put it in. Which is to say, when they fell behind, Australia neither had the flexibility to change their gameplan fast enough to get back into the game, nor were able to maintain their physical dominance for the full 90 minutes for a second game. It wasn’t until the last 20 minutes or so, after making a slew of major changes at the half, that Australia began to actually impose themselves and began to dictate the game. However, even then, they barely made anything out of all that time. You can actually see that in this Expected Goals (xG) timeline, with Australia making nearly nothing from the 70th minute on.

Which brings us back to the United States. Because the US used to be quite a lot like this current Australia team. They were all about attacking on the counter and having a physical and organized defense. The US definitely did a bit of that organized deep defending, what has apparently been coined by Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as “suffering”, in their history. I normally love the Adam Cleary Football Channel on Youtube, but there was something that he said in his review of the US v. Australia game that caught my ire. Cleary mentioned that this was the first time that he saw the US “suffer” and suffer so well, by which he meant defensively manage the game even without control of possession by essentialy parking the bus. And what annoys me about that is that the US actually has a very long history of this “suffering”. You go and look back at some of the biggest moments in the team’s history, the 3-2 victory over Portugal in the 2002 World Cup, the 2-0 against Mexico in the same tournament, the 2-0 against Spain (then the best team in the world) at the 2009 Confederations Cup, the 2-1 victory over Ghana… There’s a lot of time spent sitting back and defending a lead. What is true, however, is that the US has not been nearly as good at this in a while. Under Berhalter, the team didn’t want to defend in a low block and strangle opportunities. They wanted to control possession to slow the game down, limit opportunities for the opponent to attack on the break and then, after taking a lead, continuing to hold possession to starve the opponent of time and chances at goal. In that regard, this is a bit different.

This is all to say, this USMNT team is suddenly both able to be strong in attack and, as shown against Australia, be able to sit back and absorb. We aren’t the kind of sit deep, be organized, and counter team anymore. We can break down a deep defense. We can by physically imposing. We can keep possession to starve a team of chances AND we can sit deep and defend. That’s a lot of really positive attributes that are suddenly on display, and there’s not a lot of weak phases of play to point at.

2) The US is a Top Team

I mean this rather literally in the sense that the US is officially finising at the top of Group D through just two games. But I also mean this to say that the quality of the US’s play has consistently been among the best of showings out of this tournament. When the fixtures were being scheduled, the US was assigned a Pot 1 spot, the pot with both the hosts and the top teams, simply because the US were hosting (along with Canada and Mexico), and not out of quality. But the US has 6 points through two matches, more than highly regarded teams like England, Spain, and Belgium. And the US has consistently looked like the better team against both Paraguay and Australia, through the whole of the match, the team clearly in control, unlike France’s first half performance against Senegal or Germany through much of their game against Ivory Coast.

Of course, the retort for this is that this is merely against Paraguay and Australia. But that frankly isn’t very convincing for me. Paraguay and Australia in isolation aren’t peak rated teams, but they are comparable to the sides that other teams are facing. Actually, the US is far exceeding expectations. There were fears (including from me) that the US could be elimited entirely in the first round, and those such fears have been thoroughly exorcised. Indeed, the apparent consensus on the internet going in was that Türkiye was most likely to top the group, a prediction that looks all together ridiculous now that Türkiye has been eliminated after just two games with 0 points after scoring 0 goals. The reality is that the US’s group was largely considered among the tightest with all of the teams having the potential to advance. And it’s really been the US that has elevated themselves to stand above the rest.

This isn’t to say that the US is necessarily going to be able to beat all the other top teams. Rather, it is to say that the US is playing up to that higher level and the praise is well deserved. I don’t really know what the expectations for this USMNT team really should be at the moment because they are essentialy operating at the level of “Pleasantly very surprised”. How far can this team go? Well, signs suggest we should be very optimistic.

3) This Team Can Function Without Pulisic

And another reason to be optimistic is because this US team has largely done this without their star player, Christian Pulisic. Pulisic was of course central to the team’s attacking performance in the first half of the Paraguay game, but he was pulled out at halftime and has not played a minute since apparently out of an abundance of precaution following a calf injury. The team hasn’t exactly been at the same level without him, but that hasn’t stopped them from scoring three goals and winning two matches.

Against Australia, the switch was to tweak the formation and bring in striker Ricardo Pepi. Both Pepi and striker Folarin Balogun were willing and able to peel into that left side, secure with the knowledge that there was another striker there to operate in the middle. And Australia simply could not hang with it. That’s how the first goal happened, with Balogun drifting onto the left and torching his man.

The message for the rest of the world is that the US has dangerous players besides Pulisic, particularly Balogun and Weston McKennie. And that is very interesting given that Pulisic is coming back. He’s been reported to be fit and back in training, so there’s a lot of potential for this US team to be dangerous come the knockout rounds.

That’s it from me. Tell me, what is lingering in your mind? In the meantime, the US will return on Thursday, June 25th, for their final match against Türkiye before the knockout stages start.

Bradford Bulls vice-captain Ryan Sutton has agreed a new two-year deal to stay at Odsal.

The 30-year-old forward arrived at the club in November 2025 after his contract with NRL side Gold Coast Titans expired.

He has made 10 Super League appearances this season for 11th-placed Bradford, scoring one try, which came in his most recent game against Catalans Dragons.

Sutton, who plays primarily as a prop, told the club website: "I knew coming here it was going to be a challenge in the first year but I also knew there were good things to come in the future.

"Bradford Bulls is a big club who've had a rollercoaster of a time before coming back into Super League so I just want to help people, that's all I've done my whole life."

He added: "I want to help get this club to a good place, I want to help get performances and wins and I want the club to take the next step.

"My dream is to win things with this club. I don't just want to compete, I want to win Grand Finals, World Club Challenges, Challenge Cups and I can see us doing that over the next few years."

Bradford head coach Kurt Haggerty said: "Ryan has fully immersed himself into the club and the DNA of how we want to play. He is a leader within our team and is desperate to bring success to the Bulls.

"This re-signing is another statement of intent and shows the ambition we have as a club to keep hold of our best players."

Bradford are next in action on Saturday evening when they will be at home to St Helens.

Wales head coach Sean Lynn says beating the Barbarians on Saturday would mean everything to his side.

Wales head to Allianz Stadium on a nine Test losing streak and will be without some of their Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) stars for the double-header involving the Wales and Baa-baas men's teams.

It means Lynn will look to Wales' next generation of talent as they prepare to come up against some megastars of the women's game.

"You look at 10, 12, 13, they're very exciting for the Barbarians and then you've got Ruby Tui who's going to be explosive," said Lynn.

"But what a challenge for us, what a challenge for some of our girls to be going out there.

"For us to go to Twickenham on Saturday and beat the Barbarians is everything, but within that, we need to be making sure we are sticking to our processes.

"We can't get sucked into the 'jouer', of them throwing the ball around about, it's about us."

• Wales captain Callender excited by Baa-Baas bonus
• Wales' next generation getting a taste of Test life

Praise for past and present captains

Lynn has been boosted by the return of Alex Callender who will captain the side.

"Before she was a leader with her actions, but now with her voice, she's been brilliant," said Lynn of the back-row forward.

"It's amazing to have her back into the squad and being around all the youngsters as well."

Lynn was also full of praise for former captain Carys Phillips, who lines up against Wales for the Barbarians.

"It's absolutely going to be an amazing occasion for her," he said.

"Everything she has done for the women's game in Wales, in England, all around the world, and for her then to be playing for the Barbarians against her national team it's pretty special for her and a huge thank you."

The never-ending season

The uncapped Barbarians game will bring the curtain down on a long season for Lynn and his squad, with Lynn yet to have a break since taking on the head coach role in March 2025.

That year's Six Nations was swiftly followed by the two-Test tour of Australia, the Rugby World Cup, the Celtic Challenge and this year's Six Nations.

"Individuals from PWR who have played a lot of game time are not going to be involved [this weekend], they needed an extra week off," said Lynn.

"It has been a long season, but as a group of staff and players, we are benefiting from this because there is a goal at the end of it and that's the Barbarians on Saturday."

Windhorst: "If you say to me Giannis is now been traded, who would be the next NBA star that you would watch? The answer would be Anthony Edwards. Already, Anthony Edwards has watched Karl-Anthony Towns, a player he totally fit with on the court, be traded to the Knicks and win a championship. Last summer, they let Nickeill Alexander-Walker go, he goes and wins most improved player down in Atlanta."

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Anthony Edwards the next star to watch potentially hit the trade block?

Jake Fischer: If Memphis doesn’t trade tonight’s No. 32 pick, I’ve heard they hold some interest in Aaron Nkrumah. But the Grizzlies are indeed seeking more future second-round draft capital. Memphis already netted five second-round picks by maneuvering down the board last night. The Grizzlies, sources say, also received a 2029 most favorable second of Detroit/New York/Milwaukee, a 2031 Dallas second, and a 2032 Detroit second, for sliding from No. 16 to No. 21.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: If Memphis doesn’t trade tonight’s No. 32 pick, I’ve …

Bobby Marks: "(Miami Heat) are going to lose Norm Powell in free agency because of the trade and because they took a lot of more money back and some of the restrictions that come with it. So you basically have five roster spots to give to players on the veteran minimum exception. You need some shooting, you need a little bit more depth in your front court here. It is a matter of what players are willing to take a little bit of a discount to go down to South Florida."

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: "(Miami Heat) are going to lose Norm Powell in free …

Paul Pierce: "I like the pick for OKC getting Mara from the 7-footer from Spain, the other three. Yeah, because he's a mature, he's a winner, and he gives them big man depth. You know, like I feel like OKC never misses. And I thought this was a pick, it shocked me that they they picked him, but I was just like, oh wow, he fits perfectly as a backup big. He's 7'3, he's going to play 14, 15 minutes a night, and he can give them something, uh, you know, this year coming up.

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