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India’s captain Shubman Gill (second right) and his teammate KL Rahul (centre) shake hands with Afghanistan’s players at the end of the first one-day international at…
Australia’s Nicola Carey (left) plays a shot during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England, on…
Mercedes’ British driver George Russell celebrates pole position with second-placed Ferrari’s British driver Lewis Hamilton (left) and third-placed Mercedes’ Italian driver Kimi Antonelli (right) after the…
England pacer Ollie Robinson is in doubt for the second Test against New Zealand. Ollie Robinson, whose player-of-the-match performance guided England to victory in the first Test against New Zealand, is a doubt for the second match due to a knee injury, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Saturday.The national body called up uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe as the 32-year-old’s cover, in case he is unable to play the second Test, which begins at The Oval on Wednesday.”Robinson experienced knee soreness after a training session on Friday and is set to undergo a precautionary scan on Saturday,” the ECB said in a statement.Robinson, playing his first Test in over two years, took seven wickets including five in the first innings as England won by 115 runs on a difficult wicket at Lord’s. England will also be without regular captain Ben Stokes and bowler Gus Atkinson, who have been left out of the second of the three-test series following an investigation into an incident in a London nightclub.Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox have replaced the two in the squad.England squad Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Henry Crocombe, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue. Related Story Source link
Norway’s Erling Haaland during training at UNC Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. (Reuters) Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has been keeping himself busy ahead of his side’s opening World Cup game against Iraq by playing golf and video games, and even helping to prepare teammate Leo Ostigard for fatherhood as the defender’s first child is due any day now.Haaland became a dad for the first time in late 2025 but Ostigard will miss the birth of his firstborn due to his involvement with Norway who are appearing at a World Cup finals for the first time since 1998.Asked on the Norwegian team’s World Cup YouTube channel “Spillerhotellet” (The Players’ Hotel) if he had any tips he could offer his team-mate, Haaland laughed.”Well, first of all, I would have said to be present during the birth, that’s the first tip I would give him!” the striker said. “It will be a new daily routine for him, a tough time but it’s a lovely time as well.”The Norwegians have been preparing for their Group I clashes with Iraq, Senegal and France at their base in Greensboro, North Carolina, and Haaland has been helping Ostigard get into golf during their downtime.”There’s been a lot of golf, I’m a beginner there and Erling is pretty good, so it’s been nice to play a bit of golf and do some other things as well,” Ostigard said.”Everyone does their own thing. Some play cards, we don’t, we play golf, we joke, we play a bit of (Super) Mario, a bit of Pokemon and so on. We know how to enjoy ourselves,” Haaland added.It’s a good thing for the Norwegians that they have plenty of hobbies as, with 48 teams taking part in the World Cup, they will not join the fray until Wednesday when they take on Iraq in Boston, almost a week after the opening games.”It feels good, I’m really looking forward to starting, I’m starting to get a bit restless,” Haaland said. “I’m looking forward to it, it’s just a matter of pushing on to the first match, and then we have to hope for the best.” HAALAND ENJOYS STANLEY CUP FINALDays before his World Cup debut, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and several of his Norway teammates took a chance to relax at game five of the NHL Stanley Cup Final on Thursday.A smiling Haaland waved to Carolina Hurricanes fans when he and his teammates were shown on the giant scoreboard screens at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.As they cheered, the 25-year-old Manchester City striker enthusiastically twirled a small Hurricanes rally towel handed out to fans by the home team, who came into the contest tied with the Las Vegas Golden Knights at 2-2 in the best-of-seven championship series.Haaland is playing his first World Cup, leading a Norway team that’s back in the tournament for the first time since 1998.They open their campaign against Iraq on Tuesday in Boston and will also face Senegal and France in Group I.But their World Cup base camp is in Greensboro, North Carolina, about 80 miles from Raleigh and Thursday’s game was a chance to take in some elite ice hockey.The sport has gained prominence in the Nordic nation with Norway’s upset victory over Canada in the World Championships bronze medal match in Switzerland in May. Related Story Source link
Jude Bellingham of England runs with the ball during the International friendly against Costa Rica at Inter&Co Stadium on June 10, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. (AFP)…
France’s forward Ousmane Dembele arrives at Logan Aeropuerto Internacional in Boston, Massachusetts on June 10 2026, ahead of the FIFA 2026 World Cup. (AFP) France forward Ousmane Dembele has defended captain Kylian Mbappe, saying criticism of the Real Madrid striker has become excessive as the national team prepare for the World Cup.Dembele, who has emerged as a key figure for France at the tournament and is a contender for this year’s Ballon d’Or after helping Paris St Germain win the Champions League, told Spanish newspaper Marca that some commentators had gone too far in their assessment of his long-time teammate.Mbappe remains one of the most scrutinised figures in French football since leaving PSG and joining Real Madrid in 2024.Despite still being a prolific scorer, the France captain came under criticism during a season in which Real failed to win either La Liga or the Champions League, while some pundits and supporters have questioned his leadership with the national team since he inherited the captaincy following Hugo Lloris’s retirement from international football.Mbappe’s performances, public appearances and even minor aspects of his behaviour regularly attract intense debate in France.”The criticism towards him is very, very unfair,” Dembele said before France start their World Cup campaign against Senegal on Tuesday. “Some people go a bit too far with the criticism of Kylian.”He’s an incredible player and a very good person off the pitch. Some people overdo the criticism because he’s Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn’t keep going after him. Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not… it’s too much. He’s still a human being.”With the France team, he’s very good with us, he’s a leader.”The pair have developed a close relationship during their years together with Les Bleus. They are expected to play central roles in France’s bid for a third World Cup title in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Dembele also paid tribute to coach Didier Deschamps, who has announced that he will step down after the World Cup following more than a decade in charge of the national side.”He’s simply an exceptional coach,” Dembele said. “He will forever remain a legend among French national team coaches.”Deschamps guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 and another final four years later.Asked about the prospect of former France great Zinedine Zidane succeeding Deschamps, Dembele welcomed the idea.”We hope to welcome him one day to the France bench,” he said. “I’m convinced he would do a fantastic job.”Zidane, who won the World Cup as a player in 1998 and later enjoyed major success coaching Real Madrid, has long been linked with the France job but has repeatedly declined to discuss the position while Deschamps remains in charge. Related…
Canada’s Cyle Larin celebrates after scoring against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B match at Toronto Stadium. (AFP) Co-hosts Canada grabbed a second-half equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in the first World Cup finals game ever played on Canadian soil.Cyle Larin got Canada’s goal after Jovo Lukic put Bosnia ahead with a header in the 21st minute in Toronto. The result gave Canada its first point in World Cup history.Canadian sides had a perfect record of futility at two previous tournament appearances in 1986 and 2022, with six losses. Lukic’s goal from a corner sent the small but enthusiastic Bosnian contingent at the Toronto Stadium into a frenzy.Canada had the majority of play in the first half but failed to generate any real chances. The stadium erupted in the 17th minute when forward Jonathan David had a clear shot on goal, but it was easily handled by Bosnian keeper Nikola Vasilj.Canada’s Ismael Kone had a golden opportunity in the 30th minute, but sailed his strike well over the net, prompting groans from tens of thousands of Canadians who blanketed the stadium in a sea of red.The second half began in similar fashion, with Canada largely on the attack, but unable to find the net. Bosnia’s veteran defender Sead Kolasinac saved a certain goal when he diverted a strike from David onto the crossbar, extending Canada’s agony.But Larin’s strike in the 78th minute marked a high point in Canada’s limited World Cup history, causing a mostly Canadian crowd of 43,000 to erupt.Canada threatened to go ahead in the final minutes, narrowly missing a goal near the final whistle. Canadian entertainment royalty attended the match at the home of the MLS’s Toronto FC, including film star Ryan Reynolds, from Vancouver, and Saturday Night Live and Austin Powers star Mike Myers, a Toronto native. Related Story…
Qatar players were in high spirits during a training session in San Jose, California. (Reuters) Qatar will be aiming to add a winning chapter to their FIFA World Cup history when they kick off their campaign against Switzerland in Group B on Saturday at 10pm. The two-time Asian champions endured a difficult debut in 2022, becoming the first host nation to lose their opening match and exiting the tournament without a point. Four years on, Qatar return determined to make a stronger impression with head coach Julen Lopetegui having reshuffled their defensive structure. A 0-1 defeat to Ireland was followed with a goalless draw against El Salvador, wrapping up their FIFA World Cup preparations with the Spanish coach stressing there was still work to be done. Qatar players participate in a drill during a training session.…
Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the international friendly against Nigeria at Magalhaes Pessoa Stadium in Leiria, on June 10, 2026. (AFP) Despite not scoring in either of Portugal’s World Cup tune-ups this month, 41-year-old captain Cristiano Ronaldo insists his fitness level is not a concern.”Physically? I’m fine,” the forward told reporters on Friday, per ESPN. “Have you not seen my matches?”Ronaldo scored 28 times for his club this season to help Al Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title in his fourth campaign with the club. But the level of average opponent in the SPL is a considerable step down from Europe, even if the top few teams are concentrated with former European league talent.Ronaldo will be appearing in his sixth World Cup and attempting to add to eight career World Cup goals. Portugal’s Group K opener is on Wednesday against DR Congo in Houston.And despite his age, manager Roberto Martinez has continued to make the five- time Ballon d’Or winner the attacking focus of his side. Ronaldo led Portugal with five goals in qualifying and started five of their six matches, averaging 1.23 goals per 90 minutes in the process.But with Portugal facing eight matches in 33 days if they want to lift the World Cup trophy for the first time, Ronaldo’s durability was always going to come into scrutiny.That includes reactions to his relatively unremarkable performances in pre- tournament friendlies, even if those are generally as useful for predicting tournament performance as preseason NFL games are for forecasting pro football’s regular season.”It has been good but tiring because we’ve worked hard,” Ronaldo said of Portugal’s preparations. “We’ve had the upper hand in our matches, but what matters most is when the ball starts rolling on the 17th, in the first game, and then when the pressure really starts to mount — that’s when we’ll see the true champions.”Ronaldo is far from the only aging star who will be asked to play major minutes for a projected tournament contender.All signs point to the 40-year-old Luka Modric playing as much as possible for a Croatian side that finished second in the 2018 World Cup and third in 2022. Lionel Messi, who turns 39 on June 24, is still integral to Argentina’s World Cup title defense, having led all South American teams with eight goals in World Cup qualifying. Related Story Source…