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The Australians were miffed that some pundits, including a few former U.S. national team players, mockingly gave them zero chance to stay on the field in the second Group D match against the Americans in Seattle on Friday.Disregard the Aussies’ 2-0 win over favored Turkey in their first match. How could they match up against a superior U.S. squad, which opened with a 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay?Oh, the Aussies talked about being fired up and ready to shove all those derisive comments down the collective American throats.They shouldn’t have taken it personally because not too many months ago, several ex-USMNT players questioned if Mauricio Pochettino was the right choice to lead their team and questioned the heart and desire of a group that would eventually wear the red, white and blue into the World Cup.Well, look at Pochettino and his Band of Brothers now. A workmanlike 2-0 victory over a physical but overmatched Australia before another raucous and adoring crowd and millions more on TV who are hopping on the bandwagon. POCHETTINO GAMBLED AND WONPochettino gambled and won when he started Ricardo Pepi for the injured star Christian Pulisic. Pepi plays further up the field than Pulisic and provided a two-striker look with Folarin Balogun. Working with their teammates, especially Weston McKennie, the lumberjack Aussie backline couldn’t handle the early attacking prowess of the U.S.As was the case against Paraguay, the first U.S. goal came via an own goal when Cameron Burgess knocked in a cross from Balogun intended for Pepi in the 11th minute.Score one for Pochettino, but it was more than his lineup choices that has America getting behind this team, which clinched first place in Group D and an easier path to the quarterfinals when Paraguay beat Turkey 1-0 later on Friday.The U.S. players have been selfless in doing whatever it takes to win and, in the process, handling the pressure of being billed as the “Golden Generation” that will elevate the sport in this country.McKennie was sensational in linking the backs to the midfield and defender Chris Richards provided calmness when the Aussies mounted a push. NASTY HEAD-ON COLLISIONAnd let’s not forget the resilience of Alex Freeman, who moments before challenging goalkeeper Patrick Beach to nod the ball across the line in the 43rd minute for the all-important insurance goal, was involved in a nasty head-on-head collision with Australia’s Paul Okon-Engstler.His score was crucial because it became a tense second half as they protected the lead. If there’s anything to criticize about a shutout, especially in the World Cup, it’s that the U.S. had too many defensive lapses and there was a sense of unease from the hour mark to around the 80th minute, when many had to be thinking, “Man, if Australia had any quality in their attack, we’d be in trouble.”They didn’t and the U.S. put on a clinic in stoppage time on how to finish out a match.Yet, it was a good test for the Americans. They haven’t faced any adversity — they’ve yet to trail — and are maturing before our eyes. THE U.S. HAD RIGHT BALANCEWhen it got feisty late, the U.S. players had the right balance of pushback while knowing when to step away and play another day.Months ago, it seemed like Pochettino’s many player changes during roster evaluation made it seem impossible for him to assemble a cohesive team in time for the World Cup.But he was adamant in sticking to the process and repeatedly quoted a phrase from Kurt Russell’s portrayal of 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks in the movie “Miracle”: “I’m not looking for the best players; I’m looking for the right ones.”Watching the likes of Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman and others, Pochettino has the best of both worlds.It’s only two matches, but with advancement to the knockout stage secured, Pulisic will be given as much time as needed to recover from his calf injury and could be rested again if necessary in the final group match vs. Turkey on Thursday.He’ll be needed eventually because sterner tests are ahead, but with the home support and confidence building match by match, the expectations for a special summer are growing.After the match in Seattle, the fans joined in singing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”If the U.S. continues their march, could Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” be next on the playlist? Related Story Source link
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (AFP) Britain’s Observer newspaper said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was expected to resign on Monday and set out a timetable for his departure, though a government source said Starmer remained focused on getting on with the job of governing.The threat to Starmer’s position, which has been building for months, increased sharply on Friday when his rival Andy Burnham won a seat in parliament that would allow him to launch a formal leadership challenge.The Observer report said Starmer was discussing the matter with his wife at his Chequers country residence before making a final decision, but that senior Labour figures expected a clear statement on his future as early as Monday.However, a government source said Starmer remained focused on his job and pointed to previous statements he has made to that effect.The British leader said on Friday he would fight any challenge to his position and urged Labour not to tear itself apart with infighting.More than 100 elected lawmakers in his party – roughly a quarter of all Labour representatives in the House of Commons – have publicly said they want Starmer to quit or set out a timetable for his exit. Related Story Source link
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The Oval fell into a familiar, appreciative hush on Saturday as Joe Root pushed Matt Henry into the off-side for a sharp single. Needing just two runs at the start of England’s monumental 463-run chase against New Zealand, the stand-in captain nudged his way into eternity, becoming only the second batsman in the history of Test cricket to cross the 14,000-run threshold. For over a decade, India’s master blaster, Sachin Tendulkar, had stood completely alone at the summit, his final tally of 15,921 runs seemingly out of Earth’s orbit. By reaching the milestone in his 165th Test match, Root did not just solidify his position as England’s greatest modern run-accumulator, he made a definitive statement that the ultimate peak is within striking distance. “It’s an astronomical achievement,” remarked former England captain Sir Alastair Cook from the commentary box. “When I finished, I knew how heavy the mental toll of scoring international runs could be. For Joe to keep showing up, hungry as ever, and entering the same breath as Sachin Tendulkar is a testament to an unbelievable technique and an elite mindset.” Root’s milestone arrived under immense pressure. Stepping out with England reeling at 13 for 2 following a hostile opening burst from Kyle Jamieson, the 35-year-old Yorkshireman responded with typical, unfazed class. He raised his bat with understated humility to acknowledge the roaring London crowd, before locking back in to anchor the innings, finishing the fourth day unbeaten on 75. Though New Zealand’s massive target left England fighting for survival, the visitors could only marvel at the historic weight of the man standing in their path. “We’ve played against Joe for a long time, and he simply doesn’t give you an inch,” New Zealand skipper Tom Latham reflected after stumps. “Reaching 14,000 runs is incredible longevity. You feel like you’ve bowled the perfect spell to him, look up at the scoreboard, and he’s already cruised to forty or fifty. He’s a true legend of the game.” England fast bowler Josh Tonguesaid on Saturday said Root was “unbelievable”. With 41 Test centuries now under his belt and an average securely tracking above 50, the cricket world is no longer asking if Root will be remembered among the pantheon of greats, but rather how high he will climb before he finally puts down his willow. Related Story Source link
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir are reportedly traveling to Switzerland to directly mediate US-Iran talks. Quoting a Pakistani government official, Al Jazeera Arabic said they will depart Islamabad Sunday. Earlier, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi was in Tehran to continue talks with the Iranian leadership, which has since departed for Switzerland. Related Story Source link
World number one Aryna Sabalenka's Wimbledon preparations suffered a setback after she was beaten by American Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-7(4) 6-0 in the Berlin Open semi-finals. Pegula will face Linda Noskova in the final after the Czech eighth seed ended the run of Filipino Alexandra Eala with a 6-2 6-4 victory.Sabalenka, who exited the French Open in the quarter-finals, struggled to find her rhythm after a slow start, and Pegula took the opening set following an early break.After a rain delay, Sabalenka took the second-set tiebreak before Pegula reasserted control to race through the decider.’I told myself after I ended up losing that second-set tiebreak that before the rain delay, I had a lot of momentum. She just hit a double fault. I felt like I kind of had it there and I was serving well,’ said 2024 Berlin champion Pegula.’I was in a good rhythm, and then having to get off court and losing that pretty quickly — only winning one point in the tiebreak was a little tough.’But she's No. 1 in the world for a reason and I feel like I gave her too many easy shots and she went for it and that's just what happens.’All four of the Belarusian's Grand Slam titles – her most recent at the 2025 U.S. Open – have come on hard courts, and she is still chasing a first Wimbledon crown after three semi-final runs.She lost this year's Australian Open final to Elena Rybakina, a year after finishing runner-up to American Madison Keys.Noskova made a dominant start, securing an early break to swiftly win the first set. Eala ran out of ideas in the second as Noskova secured the win. Source link
Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmed Wishah was killed in an Israeli air strike that targeted a house in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza Saturday.In a statement , the network said it “strongly condemns the heinous crime of targeting and killing” the Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent.”This constitutes a new and flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and reflects a continued systematic policy of targeting journalists and silencing the voice of truth,” the statement added.At least 10 people were killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza Saturday.Wishah’s killing comes barely two months after his brother, Mohammed Wishah, also a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was killed on April 8 when an Israeli drone fired a missile that struck his car on the al-Rashid coastal road as he drove home to Bureij. He was declared dead at the scene.Mohammed Wishah, born in 1986 in Bureij, had joined Al Jazeera’s Arabic-language live channel in 2018 and was among 12 Al Jazeera journalists and media workers killed in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023. At the time of his death, Palestinian authorities put the number of media workers killed across the enclave at 262. Related Story Source link
Kyle Jamieson took three wickets as New Zealand pressed for a series-levelling win in the second Test after leaving England with a record-breaking run-chase at the Oval on Saturday.England were 182-5 at stumps on the fourth day, needing a further 281 runs to reach a mammoth target of 463 runs.The most any side have made to win in the fourth innings in 149 years of Test cricket is the West Indies's 418-7 against Australia at St John's in 2003.But stand-in England captain Joe Root was still there on 75 not out having become just the second batsman after retired India great Sachin Tendulkar to score 14,000 Test runs.Not for the first time in his 165-Test career, however, Root came in with England deep in trouble -at 13-2 after towering fast bowler Jamieson took two wickets in five balls.Root and Harry Brook (58) kept New Zealand at bay before New Zealand first-innings bowling hero Matt Henry ended the Yorkshire duo's entertaining stand of 97. Jamieson returned to have James Rew, one of three England debutants at the Oval, lbw on review shortly before stumps as he ended the day with fine figures of 3-37 in 14 overs.The situation was tailor-made for the kind of counter-attacking innings associated with regular England captain Ben Stokes.But all-rounder Stokes, who made 95 for county side Durham on Saturday, is missing from this match after being dropped for breaking a team curfew following England's 115-run win in the first Test at Lord's a fortnight ago.Stokes will reportedly return for next week's series finale at Trent Bridge but Root will have debutant Jordan Cox for company at the start of Sunday's play in south London as England try to stop New Zealand from levelling this three-match series at 1-1.The fourth over of England's chase saw Emilio Gay (11) clip Jamieson to midwicket and four balls later the paceman had No 3 Jacob Bethell plumb lbw for a duck. ROOT REACHES 14,000Root, the England captain before Stokes took over four years ago, needed just two runs to join Tendulkar in an exclusive club and a quick single off Henry took him to 14,000 Test runs.The 35-year-old, somewhat shyly given he was two not out, raised his bat as the Oval crowd applauded his achievement.Tendulkar's 15,921 runs from 200 Tests could be Root's next target.But Root could only watch as Ben Duckett, on nine, recklessly tried to hook a Will O'Rourke delivery way above his head and spooned a simple catch to short midwicket.New batsman Brook, showed better judgment in what to hit, with England needing to attack to have any chance of chasing down their imposing total. SUPERB LEGSIDE SIXHe lofted Nathan Smith for a superb legside six and went down the pitch to drive Jamieson for four during a 33-ball fifty featuring 46 runs – 10 fours and a six – in boundaries.Brook, however, could only manage seven more runs from his next 21 deliveries as the Black Caps regained control in the field and he eventually edged Henry, who had taken five wickets in England's first innings, to slip.Root, who overturned being given out lbw on 44, went to his fifty by elegantly guiding Jamieson to the third man rope for an eighth four in 81 balls faced.Earlier New Zealand were dismissed for 362 in their second innings after resuming on 252-3.Henry Nicholls, in for retired New Zealand great Kane Williamson, added just two runs to his overnight 119, but Daryl Mitchell kept the runs coming with 68 after being dropped off Saturday's first ball. BRIEF SCORESEngland 291 (Henry 5-80) and 182 for 5 (Root 75*, Brook 54, Jamieson 3-37) need 281 more runs to beat New Zealand 391 (Phillips 101) and 362 (Nicholls 121) Source link