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Elliot Anderson is fast becoming the saga of the summer window after Bayern Munich became the latest heavyweight to register interest in the Nottingham Forest midfielder. Manchester City retain pole position for the England international, but neighbours Manchester United remain in the hunt and the German champions’ entry raises the stakes ahead of a potential £80 million deal. Forest have set that hefty valuation and, with three of Europe’s most cash-rich clubs now circling, the 21-year-old’s future could be decided by a bidding war that shows no sign of cooling. Chelsea, meanwhile, are attempting to insulate themselves from midfield uncertainty by preparing an improved contract for Enzo Fernández. Head coach Liam Rosenior insists the Argentine World Cup winner is settled at Stamford Bridge, yet cryptic comments from the player last week have fuelled speculation of a parting of ways. Real Madrid have added Fernández to their midfield shortlist, prompting Chelsea to accelerate talks over a lucrative extension designed to fend off the Spanish giants. Brighton are steeling themselves for a goalkeeper scramble after Carl Rushworth’s influential loan at Coventry City alerted Premier League suitors. The 22-year-old has been instrumental in Coventry’s push for top-flight promotion, and talkSPORT reports that up to six Premier League clubs are weighing a £20 million move for the highly-rated stopper. Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães continues to attract column inches, but manager Eddie Howe has dismissed claims the Brazilian held discussions with Manchester United as “a nonsense story.” Fabrizio Romano adds that the 28-year-old’s contract contains no active release clause; a previously reported £100 million escape route expired, leaving any prospective buyer needing to negotiate directly with the Magpies. Everton are adopting an equally firm stance over Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Manchester United have joined Manchester City and Tottenham in monitoring the midfielder, who has impressed since swapping Chelsea for Goodison Park last summer. The Toffees, however, have no intention of cashing in on a player they view as central to their long-term plans.

Stevenage arrive at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend with a playoff pulse that belies their mid-table finish last term. After ending 2023-24 in 14th place on the back of 15 wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats, Alex Revell’s side have bolted into eighth—one point behind Reading and holding a game in hand—to keep their League One promotion dream alive. The turnaround has been orchestrated by Revell, 42, who was handed the reins on a permanent basis in May 2024 after a second stint as caretaker. A former striker with 20 years’ experience at Brighton, Rotherham, Cardiff and Northampton, Revell hung up his boots at Broadhall Way and immediately moved into the academy. His first crack at senior management came in 2020, but the pandemic curtailed that campaign; the following year he steered the club to 14th in League Two before a November 2021 sacking. Two months later he was back in the building, working his way up to Steve Evans’ first-team staff and ultimately taking the hot-seat again last spring. Revell favours an enterprising, front-foot style and has wasted no time reinforcing the squad. January brought four fresh faces through the door. Defender Jack Taylor was prised from Sutton United for a five-figure fee, Brighton midfielder Joe Knight arrived for an undisclosed sum, and experienced winger Matt Phillips joined on a free, while Bristol City forward Harry Cornick bolstered the attack on loan until May. Results have oscillated of late—three wins and three losses in the last six league outings—but the bigger picture is upward mobility. A 1-0 midweek reverse at Plymouth Argyle checked momentum, yet Stevenage’s destiny remains in their own hands. Reading edged them 1-0 in November thanks to Charlie Savage’s early strike; revenge on home soil would nudge Revell’s men even closer to the top six. Between the posts, summer signing Filip Marschall has underlined why Aston Villa invested years in his development. The 22-year-old, calm in possession and commanding in his area, has registered 13 clean sheets in 37 appearances after keeping 16 in League Two for Crewe last season. Club captain Carl Piergianni sets the tone in defence. The 33-year-old centre-back, strong in aerial duels at both ends of the pitch, has racked up 189 games and 19 goals since arriving on a free from Oldham in May 2022. A former non-league journeyman who tasted promotion with Salford, Piergianni was named both Stevenage Player of the Season and League Two Team of the Season in his first campaign and now wears the armband with typical commitment. With a blend of seasoned warriors and hungry newcomers, Revell’s evolving squad travel to Berkshire intent on proving the playoff race is far from a two-horse dash. A victory over Reading would not only avenge November’s narrow loss but also propel Stevenage into the coveted top six with time running short.

Barcelona close out the La Liga calendar before the international break on Sunday night when Rayo Vallecano visit Camp Nou, and Hansi Flick is expected to field a near full-strength side to protect the club’s commanding lead at the summit of the table. With a three-day recovery window since a comfortable second half against Newcastle, fitness concerns are minimal. Goalkeeper Joan Garcia shook off a midweek scare and should retain his place ahead of Wojciech Szczesny, while Eric Garcia—also unscathed—will likely be held out as a precaution. Teenager Xavi Espart’s eye-catching performances since his senior debut keep him in Flick’s plans, slotting in at right-back behind a back four that features João Cancelo on the left, and the central pairing of Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín. The midfield axis that dictated play versus Newcastle—Marc Bernal, Pedri and Fermín López—appears set to reprise its role, though Dani Olmo’s return to contention gives the German coach the option of rotating one of the incumbents. Further forward, the trident that tormented Newcastle is poised for another start. Robert Lewandowski, fresh from a midweek double, will spearhead the attack, flanked by the irrepressible duo of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha. Their pace and invention on the wings will be central to breaking down a disciplined Rayo back line. Projected Barcelona XI (4-2-3-1): Joan; Espart, Cubarsí, Martín, Cancelo; Bernal, Pedri; Yamal, Fermín, Raphinha; Lewandowski. Barcelona know three points will keep their momentum intact and send their international contingent away on a high, setting the stage for a pivotal stretch once club football resumes.

Mexico City – Javier Aguirre has unveiled a 26-man roster for El Tri’s final March friendlies before the pre-World Cup training camp, yet the list is as notable for who is missing as for who is included. A spate of injuries has ruled out midfield anchor Edson Álvarez, versatile Luis Romo, right-back Julián Araujo, winger César Huerta, striker Santiago Giménez and goalkeeper Luis Malagón, while Marcel Ruiz and Rodrigo Huescas appear certain to miss this summer’s tournament altogether. Luis Chávez and Santiago Giménez are nearing fitness but were withheld after club-and-country medical staff agreed they remain short of international readiness. Standing in for the absentees are a handful of fresh or returning faces. Spanish-born playmaker Álvaro Fidalgo will pull on the green shirt for the first time after completing FIFA’s five-year residency requirement and filing a one-time switch from Spain last month; the 25-year-old Betis midfielder is expected to compete for minutes created by Ruiz’s long-term absence. Veteran goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, currently starting for AEL Limassol, is back in the fold as Malagón’s replacement and continues his quest for a record sixth World Cup appearance. Home-grown youngsters such as Atletico Madrid’s Obed Vargas and Chivas winger Armando González have also been summoned to broaden Aguirre’s options. The squad will convene ahead of two stern examinations. On 28 March, Mexico welcome Portugal to Estadio Banorte—formerly Estadio Azteca—in what will be El Tri’s sternest test since Aguirre returned to the bench. Three days later they travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to meet Belgium, rounding out a double-header that pits Mexico against two sides widely tipped to make deep runs at the World Cup. With Liga MX players not due to report to national-team camp until 6 May, these fixtures represent the last opportunity for Aguirre to evaluate Europe-based and domestic fringe candidates before narrowing his selection for the global showpiece. Mexico squad Goalkeepers: Raúl Rangel (Chivas), Guillermo Ochoa (AEL Limassol), Carlos Acevedo (Santos Laguna) Defenders: Johan Vásquez (Genoa), César Montes (Lokomotiv Moscow), Jorge Sánchez (PAOK), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca), Israel Reyes (América), Richard Ledezma (Chivas), Everardo López (Toluca), Jesús Alberto Angulo (Tigres) Midfielders: Álvaro Fidalgo (Betis), Orbelín Pineda (AEK Athens), Obed Vargas (Atlético Madrid), Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Brian Gutiérrez (Chivas), Denzell García (FC Juárez), Roberto Alvarado (Chivas), Érick Sánchez (América), Carlos Rodríguez (Cruz Azul) Forwards: Raúl Jiménez (Fulham), Julián Quiñones (Al-Qadsiah), Armando González (Chivas), Germán Berterame (Inter Miami), Guillermo Martínez (Pumas), Alexis Vega (Toluca)

Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Football Association (QFA) on Friday released the 32-man senior national team roster that will convene for a pivotal March training camp as the Maroon step up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui has retained four goalkeepers for the gathering: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Shehab Al Laithi and Salah Zakaria. The outfield contingent is headlined by veteran playmaker Akram Afif, record-scorer Almoez Ali, and long-serving captain Hassan Al Haydos, while also featuring a blend of domestic standouts and internationally based talents such as Edmilson Junior, Neil Mason and Lucas Mendes. The full squad list: Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Shehab Al Laithi, Salah Zakaria. Outfield players: Ahmed Al Ganehi, Ahmed Al Rawi, Anas Abdessalam, Ahmed Fatehi, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior, Ayoub Al Alawi, Ahmed Al Hassan, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Bassam Al Rawi, Hassan Al Haydos, Almoez Ali, Neil Mason, Assim Madibo, Khaled Ali, Issa Laye, Karim Boudiaf, Mohammed Khaled, Mohammed Al Mannai, Lucas Mendes, Mubarak Shanan, Marwan Sherif, Mostafa Tarek, Homam Al Amin, Yusuf Abdurisag, Mohammed Waad. Qatar, drawn in Group B for the expanded 48-team tournament, will face Canada, Switzerland and the winner of the first European playoff path when the competition kicks off in June 2026. The March camp represents Lopetegui’s first extended domestic assembly since taking the reins and is expected to feature a series of closed-door friendlies and tactical sessions designed to refine the squad’s shape and cohesion before the final pre-tournament programme begins later this year. QFA officials confirmed the camp will run in Doha, allowing players to acclimatise to familiar conditions while the technical staff assess form, fitness and emerging talent ahead of the looming global showcase.

March 21, 2026, marks another trip around the sun for three of the most recognizable names in global sport. Brazilian soccer icon Ronaldinho, former NFL Most Valuable Player Adrian Peterson, and a cherished Cleveland sports figure headline the list of athlete birthdays being celebrated today. Ronaldinho, whose dazzling footwork and irrepressible smile redefined attacking soccer in the 2000s, turns another year older with fans around the world revisiting his signature no-look passes and free-kick sorcery. Alongside him, Adrian Peterson—the bruising running back whose 2012 MVP campaign included a 2,000-yard rushing season—receives birthday tributes from football aficionados who still marvel at his combination of speed and power. Completing the trifecta is one of Cleveland’s most beloved athletes, whose identity is being highlighted in photo galleries and social media shout-outs throughout the day. Readers clicking through the birthday roundup will find snapshots of each star plus a fun fact attached to every profile, offering a quick dose of nostalgia and trivia for sports fans.

Celin Bizet Donnum is living proof that the two ambitions she once scribbled in a childhood diary can coexist. The Manchester United winger, capped 25 times by Norway, is weeks away from her first child and insists she has never considered swapping boots for baby blankets on a permanent basis. “If you have two dreams, you can live both of them at the same time,” she told BBC Women’s Football Weekly, speaking publicly for the first time since announcing her pregnancy in December. The baby is due in 2026, meaning Bizet Donnum will sit out the remainder of this WSL season, yet the 24-year-old frames the pause as a calculated investment rather than a sacrifice. “It was a hard thing to actually get pregnant and not be in the team. Missing out the whole season—it’s very scary,” she admitted. “But for me, it was even more scary to not have the baby in my career.” Her candour is striking in a league where, until recently, motherhood has been viewed as a post-retirement project. Ellen White, the former England striker who conducted the interview, waited until hanging up her boots before starting a family. “A lot of players older than me waited until they retired,” White reflected. “You feel like you’re having to sacrifice something.” That climate is shifting, albeit slowly. Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns, also 24, revealed her own pregnancy earlier this month, while Everton loanee Hannah Blundell returned to top-flight action in November, seven months after giving birth. Birmingham City striker Simone Magill is expecting in May. Still, Bizet Donnum notes, “It’s still very rare to have a baby when you are a footballer.” FIFA’s 2024 maternity reforms have underpinned the changing landscape: a mandatory 14 weeks of full pay, flexible registration windows for returning players, and the right for clubs to sign short-term replacements. The WSL, fully professional since 2018, has enshrined these standards, yet Manchester United believe culture is just as important as compliance. United say they have built “a culture change” in which tailored nutrition, psychological support, physiotherapy and sleep programmes “break down barriers” for expectant mothers. Bizet Donnum, whose husband Aron—herself a professional footballer with Toulouse—has been granted additional travel leeway to balance medical appointments in France, praises the club’s holistic approach. Even the introduction of pelvic-floor physiotherapy, initially an alien concept, has become “game-changing”. Arsenal, West Ham, Tottenham and Brighton each told BBC Sport they have expanded on FIFA’s baseline, offering bespoke care packages. Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt and Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry were cited as examples of players who have benefited. For Bizet Donnum, the countdown to kick-off has already begun. “I am so excited to come back,” she said, admitting that watching United matches from the stands has become a weekly exercise in restraint. “It’s hard when I’m watching the games and wishing I played. But then it’s one season I am missing. After my career, will I look back and think: ‘Damn, I didn’t play that season’ or will I just be happy that I’ve had a kid?” The answer, she believes, is already written. “Of course I will come back to football—that’s my motivation.” The full conversation between Ellen White and Celin Bizet Donnum is available on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast, with an extended video version on BBC iPlayer from 26 March.

LONDON — The whistle has blown on another week of football, but for puzzle-minded fans the real action is only just beginning. FourFourTwo magazine today released its 45th Weekend Crossword, a timed challenge that invites supporters to test recall of iconic moments spanning starting goalkeepers, midfield scorers and ruthless finishers. As ever, the grid is free to play and carries no deadline, yet an on-screen clock lets competitors race friends for bragging rights. Clues dip into three memorable snapshots: the men between the posts for their countries at the 2006 World Cup, Barcelona’s middle man on the scoresheet in the 2011 Champions League final, and a striker who has hit the net three times in World Cup finals. The crossword is powered by Kwizly, the quiz-tech specialists who also host FourFourTwo’s expanding suite of brain-teasers. Among the parallel challenges now live are the magazine’s definitive list of the 50 greatest players of all time, a roll-call of every overseas footballer to have won the Premier League, and the full Barcelona XI that engineered the famous Remontada against Paris Saint-Germain. Those seeking an endurance test can attempt to name every club in the top seven tiers of English football, while lighter relief comes via Brazilian footballers and Premier League word-searches. Access to extra hints, badges and global leaderboards is available through The Club, FourFourTwo’s free membership community. Weekly newsletters deliver fresh trivia direct to subscribers’ inboxes, ensuring that even after the weekend fixtures fade from memory, the quiz league table remains open for business.

MADISON, Wis. — The opening day of spring practice for Wisconsin’s track and field programs was overshadowed Monday by an unusual security incident near Camp Randall Stadium, raising questions about safety protocols on what is traditionally an upbeat occasion for athletes and coaches. According to a spokesperson for Ridglan Farms, which operates property adjacent to the university’s outdoor facilities, “There were probably 30 different police vehicles out here at one point, arresting individuals.” The spokesperson did not specify the nature of the arrests or whether any members of the athletic department were involved, and university officials have yet to release an official statement. The disruption occurred as both the men’s and women’s teams convened for their first organized workouts of the season. Chippewa County, long viewed as a pipeline for elite high-school talent, is again expected to factor heavily into the Badgers’ fortunes this spring. Among the athletes already on campus, former McDonell Central Catholic standout Izzy Balsiger—now competing for UW-Eau Claire—has drawn attention for his second-chance resurgence with the Blugolds, underscoring the region’s depth of talent. While Monday’s practice sessions proceeded inside the stadium complex, the visible law-enforcement presence served as a jarring backdrop for coaches attempting to set an optimistic tone. Head coach Luke Fickell, who led the football team out of the same tunnel last August before a season-opening win over Miami (OH), has stressed the importance of a secure environment for all Wisconsin athletes. How the department addresses Monday’s incident could influence fan and recruit perceptions moving forward. With the outdoor season officially underway, the Badgers hope to pivot quickly from distraction to competition, beginning with this weekend’s intrasquad meet at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.

Miami Gardens, FL — British interest at the Miami Open intensifies on Saturday as Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones and Cameron Norrie are all scheduled to take to the courts. The trio will be looking to advance through the weekend draw at the Hard Rock Stadium complex, keeping alive hopes of a strong British presence in the latter stages of the tournament. With the event offering live coverage across multiple platforms, fans can follow every serve and rally from the Miami Open as it unfolds.

Liverpool great Graeme Souness has laid the club’s stuttering season at the feet of Mohamed Salah, branding the Egyptian’s downturn “the single biggest reason” for the Reds’ under-performance. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Souness did not mince words, claiming the 31-year-old has “fallen off a cliff” rather than eased into decline. The numbers appear to support his blunt assessment: Salah’s 10 goals and nine assists in all competitions this term lag miles behind the 44 goal contributions he had amassed at the same juncture last season, and even the 34 he recorded the previous year. His lowest returns during Liverpool’s title-chasing campaigns of 2018-19 and 2019-20 still reached 27 involvements—comfortably eclipsing his current output. Souness, who captained Liverpool during a 359-appearance career at Anfield, argues the slump has destabilised the entire squad. With Salah failing to deliver decisive moments, other senior figures have not filled the void, creating a domino effect that has undermined both Jurgen Klopp’s farewell stretch and Arne Slot’s opening months. The Scot went as far as suggesting the club should contemplate life after Salah, despite a contract that runs until 2027, insisting the forward’s peak is firmly in the rear-view mirror. Yet while Salah’s regression is undeniable, critics counter that Souness’ verdict veers toward scapegoating. Liverpool’s midfield balance has skewed, the back line looks vulnerable, and the team’s structure no longer disguises its flaws—flaws a prime Salah once papered over with explosive goals and assists. When the day arrives to replace even a fading icon, the scale of the task will highlight how simplistic it is to pin collective shortcomings on one man, however talismanic he once was. Keywords:

Erling Haaland’s Manchester City résumé is, by any measure, extraordinary: 154 goals in 188 appearances, a scoring rate that has underpinned three Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a Champions League and a Club World Cup. Yet the Norwegian’s personal ledger carries one conspicuous blank line: in eight cup finals for City—Community Shields included—he has yet to score. On Sunday at Wembley, that anomaly will be placed under the brightest of floodlights when City meet Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Real Madrid offered both encouragement and frustration. Haaland found the net, but he also spurned a handful of presentable chances that might have altered the tie. Still, the movement was sharper, the timing of runs more instinctive, the general fitness visibly improved. Pep Guardiola, speaking after two post-Madrid rest days, said he had not needed a one-on-one conversation to gauge his striker’s mindset. “I’m pretty sure he’s focused, like all of us,” the manager said. “I’m pretty sure he’s ready.” Readiness will be tested against the stingiest defence in England. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have built their resurgence on a back line that concedes chances sparingly and defends set pieces with military organisation. If City are to add a fifth League Cup to their collection, they will need their attacking unit—and Haaland in particular—to distort that structure, to turn half-chances into decisive moments. History offers encouragement: Haaland has typically prospered against Arsenal, his blend of speed, power and ice-cold finishing causing recurring problems for the Gunners. History also issues a challenge: the 23-year-old has never altered a final in City’s favour. Sunday represents the ideal stage to remove the asterisk from an otherwise glittering City career. The narrative is set: the competition’s best defence against its most prolific striker, a trophy on the line, and a personal drought that has lingered long enough to matter. For Manchester City to prevail, the time is now for Erling Haaland to make an impact in a final.

Central Catholic has turned to a well-known figure within its community to guide its football program, announcing the hiring of Dubzinski as head football coach. The move underscores the school’s preference for continuity and familiarity as it looks to build on past traditions. Central Catholic has chosen a very familiar name to lead its football program.

James Milner never imagined he would still be playing top-level football at 40, let alone holding the Premier League’s all-time appearance record. Speaking in this week’s edition of The Football Interview, the Brighton midfielder tells BBC host Kelly Somers that the milestone – 656 games and counting – crept up on him while he was “just concentrating on doing my job.” From £70-a-week trainee at Leeds to Champions League winner at Liverpool, Milner retraced a career that began in November 2002 when, aged 16, he became the competition’s youngest goalscorer. “Three or four months earlier I’d been doing my GCSEs,” he laughs. “My mates were still in sixth-form and coming to Elland Road to watch.” Two goals in three days over the Christmas period announced him to English football, but it was Wayne Rooney’s simultaneous emergence at Everton that diverted the spotlight. “The majority of the limelight was on him – that probably helped me,” Milner admits. The interview, broadcast on BBC One at 23:40 BST on Saturday 21 March, ranges across two decades of dressing-rooms. Asked to name the best manager he played under, Milner pauses only briefly. “All-round, I’d have to say Jurgen,” he says of Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp. “What I learned from him, the relationship we had… we could say exactly what we thought and know we were both 100 per cent in everything we did.” Milner reveals the pair “didn’t have any big clashes,” though Klopp would occasionally tell him to “shut up” and loved to keep players guessing by flipping the half-time tone. “You’d expect a rocket and he’d be really soft; other times you’re on fire and he’d go mad over one little thing.” Klopp’s Liverpool era provides the game Milner would most like to relive: the 4-0 semi-final triumph over Barcelona in 2019. “Losing heavily in the first leg, players missing… to turn that around was incredible.” Close behind is his first Elland Road strike for boyhood club Leeds, the club he supported as a five-year-old when his father lifted him aloft to celebrate the 1991-92 title. Relegation with Leeds and two Champions League final defeats represent the lowest points. “To lose European Cup finals is very low,” he says, still rueing Gareth Bale’s overhead kick and Thibaut Courtois’ “robot” performance in goal. On a personal level, a nine-month knee lay-off at 39 left him unable to lift his foot for six months and unsure of a future. “That was probably a driver – it was so unlikely. You want to prove again you can beat the odds.” Milner, famed for his durability, is less enthusiastic about modern trends. He winces at the tiny shinpads sported by Brighton's youngsters – “you can’t really tackle now” – and admits he is “not overly in favour” of VAR. Pitches, at least, are better: “You used to have November-January where it was a bit ropey and you’d keep it wide.” Off the pitch, a star-studded 40th birthday in January underlined football’s transient friendships. “One day a transfer happens and that’s it, they’re gone. Men aren’t great at keeping in contact.” Yet the night also reminded him of the camaraderie built across 656 games, three Premier League titles, a Champions League, two FA Cups and a League Cup. “When you’ve played as long as I have, you meet a few people,” he smiles. For Milner, the record is merely a by-product of a relentless quest to contribute. “Individual stuff is something maybe you look at when you’ve finished. For me, it’s always about the team.” With Brighton’s season ongoing and his body still willing, the veteran shows no sign of resting on those laurels just yet.

Sydney will stage a blockbuster climax to the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on Saturday when host nation Australia meet reigning powerhouses Japan in a rematch of the 2014 and 2018 finals. Kick-off at a sold-out Stadium Australia caps a tournament that has already smashed attendance records, with more than 200,000 fans streaming through turnstiles across the host cities. The Matildas are chasing a first continental crown since 2010 and will rely on a star-studded squad headlined by Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, who netted the semi-final winner against holders China, and Manchester City playmaker Mary Fowler. West Ham captain Katrina Gorry will marshal midfield, while the Arsenal trio of Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord provide width and creativity. Defender Alanna Kennedy, the competition’s leading scorer, adds set-piece menace. Standing in their way are a Japan side that has swept through the draw, scoring 28 goals and conceding just once. Manchester City’s Yui Hasegawa and Aoba Fujino, Manchester United’s Hinata Miyazawa and Brighton’s Kiko Seike have orchestrated the attacking fireworks, while Maika Hamano and Riko Ueki both found the net in the 4-1 semi-final dismissal of South Korea. Global viewing options Fans in Australia can stream the final free on 10Play, while supporters in the United Kingdom and United States can watch via the official AFC Asian Cup YouTube channel. Travelling abroad? A reputable VPN service will allow you to access your usual broadcast as though you were back home, provided you comply with the platform’s terms and conditions. Team news, predicted XIs and minute-by-minute updates will be available across FourFourTwo’s live match hub as the Matildas attempt to use home advantage to dethrone the favourites and lift the trophy in front of an expectant harbour-city crowd.

Seventeen springs ago, West Ham United stared into the abyss. Bottom of the Premier League with nine matches remaining and 10 points adrift of safety, Alan Curbishley’s side authored one of English football’s most storied recoveries—seven wins from those nine fixtures, including a 1-0 final-day triumph at champions Manchester United that preserved top-flight status and became known simply as the “Great Escape.” Today, with eight games left and goal difference the only barrier between themselves and 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, Nuno Espírito Santo’s squad are attempting a modern-day reprise. The parallels have prompted three survivors from the class of 2006-07—Matthew Etherington, Hayden Mullins and Teddy Sheringham—to assess whether the current group can summon the same spirit. Etherington, who supplied the width in that side, recalls the tipping point: a February home defeat to Watford that provoked fans to chant “You’re not fit to wear the shirt.” The winger admits the criticism was justified, but believes a 2-1 March win at Blackburn ignited belief. “The biggest thing I remember was how we stuck together,” he told The Athletic. “I can see it in this current team.” Sheringham, whose experience was recruited to steady a dressing-room that had lost Alan Pardew in December 2006, points to the arrival of Carlos Tevez and the galvanising effect of the Argentine’s partnership with Bobby Zamora. “We looked doomed,” the former England striker said, “but when you’re winning you can’t see yourself losing. That’s how it felt. The players under Nuno need to stick together.” Mullins remembers the low points: a 6-0 New-Year hammering at Reading and a 4-3 home loss to Tottenham that left the squad “in a really bad place.” Yet those setbacks forged unity. “We had a chat among ourselves on the training ground,” the midfielder recalled. “It united the team.” Leadership was pivotal. Lucas Neill’s January move from Blackburn brought organisational qualities and social events that bonded the squad. “His arrival was a stroke of genius,” Etherington said. “He’s still one of the best captains I played under.” Mullins echoed the sentiment, noting that Neill, Nigel Quashie, Matthew Upson and Luis Boa Morte all “played big roles once they settled.” The 2024 vintage, anchored by January recruits Taty Castellanos, Pablo Felipe and Axel Disasi, is showing similar traits. Mateus Fernandes, 21, has been labelled “a candidate for player of the season,” while Crysencio Summerville “has the wow factor,” according to Sheringham. Mullins believes Castellanos has finally provided a focal point up front, and Etherington sees a “complete transformation” in Konstantinos Mavropanos thanks to Disasi’s calming influence. Off the pitch, the togetherness that underpinned the 2007 revival appears to be returning. “Before Christmas it looked a team of individuals,” Etherington said. “Now I don’t see any egos.” Sheringham praised the “zest and fighting spirit,” arguing that Nuno—after a slow burn—has the squad “on the same page.” Mullins, who manages in the academy system, believes the Portuguese coach’s counter-attacking blueprint and defensive solidity mirror the resilience of Curbishley’s side. “There’s a brotherhood,” he said. “That unity can pull them through.” The run-in is daunting: Aston Villa away, Wolves at home, Crystal Palace away and Everton at home before the calendar turns to May. Yet the class of 2007 offer encouragement. “West Ham are good enough to avoid relegation,” Mullins insisted, predicting the battle will “go down to the last game of the season.” If Nuno’s players require a final omen, they need only recall Tevez’s winner at Old Trafford. The current squad may not need to topple champions Manchester City on the final day, but the message from Etherington, Mullins and Sheringham is uniform: belief, unity and a refusal to accept fate can turn despair into delirium. West Ham’s modern escapologists have eight matches to prove the ghosts of 2007 right.

London – When the Wembley arch lights up on Sunday evening, Mikel Arteta will stride into the technical area knowing the next 90 minutes could redraw the trajectory of his Arsenal reign. The Carabao Cup final against Manchester City is no longer a secondary subplot in a season of wider ambition; it is, as Arteta labelled it this week, “showtime” – the moment a team constructed to win must finally prove it can. Arteta has seen this trophy’s transformative power before. In February 2018 he stood on the same touchline as Pep Guardiola’s assistant, watching City dismantle Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal 3-0. Guardiola hailed that triumph as the catalyst for the Premier League title that followed three months later, insisting “winning the first one” breeds belief across every competition. Arteta’s message ahead of the reunion with his former mentor is near-identical: “Winning a trophy helps more, for sure. It gives you the feeling that when it comes to that moment, you can do it.” The stakes resonate through a squad that contains only one survivor – Bukayo Saka – from the 2020 FA Cup-winning side. Since that Wembley victory over Chelsea, Arsenal have added three Community Shields to the cabinet but no major honours, a barren stretch the manager concedes has been “a while”. For a club that last appeared in any final outside those August curtain-raisers on the first day of the pandemic-hit 2020 FA Cup, the wait has become a burden that feeds the “perennial runners-up” tag attached to recent second-place Premier League finishes. Arteta’s project, however, is no longer the brittle work-in-progress of 2020. Backed by strategic investment, Arsenal have built a squad designed to compete on multiple fronts, adopting a style that prizes points over plaudits. They enter the final top of the league, nine points clear of City, who have a game in hand and a rearranged Etihad date with Arsenal looming on 19 April. The widening gap has diluted suggestions that Sunday’s result will decide May’s championship, yet within the Emirates the view is unchanged: a first piece of silverware since 2020 would release a pressure valve that has tightened with every near-miss. Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, cup-tied in Europe this midweek, spoke for the dressing room in the matchday programme against Bayer Leverkusen: “For us, hopefully this could be a way to open our trophy cabinet – and to keep it open.” The sentiment mirrors the historical template George Graham’s side followed in 1987, when a League Cup triumph over Liverpool ended a seven-year final drought and prefaced a dramatic league title two seasons later. Arteta, wary of looking beyond Sunday, nevertheless acknowledged supporters dream of a similar leap – perhaps even an unprecedented quadruple with the Premier League, Champions League and another cup still in play. Sunday will also mark Arsenal’s first Wembley appearance in front of fans since the 2018 loss to City; the 2020 FA Cup run unfolded in hollow stadiums. The manager has urged supporters to “find the fun” on the season’s run-in, and a carnival against the team that has denied them so often would provide an emphatic soundtrack. Yet the subtext is unmistakable: Arsenal must graduate from contenders to winners. Lose and the familiar taunts resume. Win and, as Arteta put it, “it may launch them into a new era”. For a club that has reached two League Cup finals in its history and lost six, the opportunity to flip that narrative has never been more timely – or more necessary. Kick-off on Sunday is more than a shot at the season’s first silverware; it is the juncture where promise must become proof. For Arsenal and their manager, the Carabao Cup has never mattered more.

Wembley, Friday evening. Thomas Tuchel faced the cameras and, with customary politeness, delivered the news Trent Alexander-Arnold dreaded: the Real Madrid right-back has not even made the 35-man provisional squad for England’s March friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. In the language of international football, that omission is tantamount to a red flashing light ahead of the World Cup finals in the United States this summer. Tuchel insisted the door is “not closed”, praising Alexander-Arnold as “a huge talent” whose qualities had caused the coach “suffering” when his previous clubs met Liverpool. Yet the subtext was unmistakable: the 27-year-old, capped 22 times, is on the outside looking in, and time is running out to change the narrative. The numbers are stark. Since Tuchel took the England reins in January 2025, Alexander-Arnold has played only 27 minutes for his country — a late cameo in a 1-0 win over Andorra last June. A combination of injury and what the German terms “competitive decisions” have kept him out of every subsequent gathering. March 2025 is no different; Tuchel has opted to continue with Jarell Quansah, Tino Livramento and Djed Spence, the trio who impressed in last autumn’s camps, while Reece James — the acknowledged first-choice when fit — misses out again with a hamstring problem. Asked to explain, Tuchel replied: “It is more to do with the evidence that we have, that we were good in September, October and November, than it has anything to do with what Trent can offer us.” Translation: the coaching staff know the player’s gifts, but they also know his defensive diligence remains a live debate. During the June camp Tuchel publicly urged Alexander-Arnold to “take the defensive part very, very seriously”. Four months later the player was left out of the September squad. The cycle has repeated itself. The timing could scarcely be crueller. These two Wembley fixtures represent England’s final competitive auditions before Tuchel names his World Cup squad at the end of May. The coach has even restructured the camp to maximise evaluation: an initial “Possibles” group of 23 will face Uruguay on 27 March; 11 “Probables” will then arrive for the Japan match four days later. Alexander-Arnold is not in either tranche. Parallel stories apply to Luke Shaw and Ollie Watkins, both of whom have also been excluded, yet the Alexander-Arnold narrative carries extra weight. With Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier retired from international duty and Ben White unavailable since Qatar 2022, the path to become Kyle Walker’s de facto successor has rarely been clearer. Instead, Quansah, Livramento and Spence — none older than 23 — have leapfrogged a player who is now a La Liga regular at the Bernabéu. Privately, Alexander-Arnold is said to be “desperate and keen” to return, but Tuchel revealed he has not yet spoken to him about the latest omission. By contrast, the coach did call Shaw, who, according to Tuchel, feels the decision is “slightly unfair”. The left-back’s frustration is echoed in many quarters, yet Tuchel shows no sign of deviating from his core principle: he selects for balance, not for stardust. “We don’t collect the most talented players,” Tuchel reiterated on Friday, a line he first used when leaving out Jude Bellingham last October before recalling him in November once tactical tweaks were secured. Whether a similar reprieve awaits Alexander-Arnold before the plane departs for Florida in June remains doubtful. For a footballer who adores representing his country, the next two months at Real Madrid have become an audition broadcast only to the watching Tuchel. Fail to impress, and one of England’s most recognisable names will be watching the World Cup from his living-room sofa. SEO keywords:

BIRMINGHAM — Public high school athletes may soon receive structured guidance on maintaining NCAA eligibility and planning for post-graduation life under legislation that cleared its first major hurdle Wednesday. The House Education Policy Committee unanimously approved a bill that would require schools to begin monitoring students’ academic progress toward NCAA standards as early as freshman year. If enacted, the measure would create a formal tracking system designed to ensure that athletes remain on course to meet collegiate athletic eligibility requirements throughout their high school careers. In addition to academic oversight, the bill mandates that schools provide transition-planning resources to prepare student-athletes for opportunities after graduation, whether in higher education, vocational training, or the workforce.

When Wojciech Szczesny stepped onto the Camp Nou grass in the 82nd minute of Barcelona’s Champions League round-of-16 return leg against Newcastle United, the roar that greeted him felt more like a coronation than a substitution. The 35-year-old Pole, summoned from retirement only five months earlier, replaced Joan Garcia—who had tightened a calf—and absorbed a standing ovation that rippled around the stadium. Barça led 7-2 on the night and 8-3 on aggregate; the tie was long decided, but the supporters had one last highlight to savour: the brief cameo of their unlikely cult hero. Szczesny’s path to that ovation began in September 2024, when he announced he was quitting football after mutually terminating the final year of his Juventus contract. A phone call from international team-mate and close friend Robert Lewandowski changed everything. Marc-André ter Stegen had just ruptured an ACL; Barcelona needed an emergency goalkeeper, and Szczesny answered. He signed a short-term deal in October, effectively playing for free—his Barça wages were channelled back to Juventus to satisfy the terms of his early release. What followed was a fairytale. By January 2025, manager Hansi Flick had installed him as first choice ahead of Iñaki Peña. In 30 appearances, Szczesny recorded 14 clean sheets, helped Barça reclaim the Liga title, lifted the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España, and marched to the Champions League semi-finals, where Inter ended the run. His shot-stopping mattered, yet supporters latched onto something else: an unfiltered personality rarely seen in the modern, polished football landscape. The goalkeeper’s smoking habit quickly became folklore. Chants of “Szczesny fumador” echoed through stadiums, and the keeper addressed the topic head-on in November 2024, telling Mundo Deportivo: “There’s some things I don’t change from my personal life and it’s nobody’s business if I smoke.” He stressed he hides the habit from children and doubles his training efforts to compensate. Rather than criticism, the honesty endeared him further. During the club’s open-top bus parade in May, Szczesny brandished a fat cigar and donned a homemade hat scrawled with “fumador.” The imagery sealed his status, and weeks later he signed a new two-year contract, this time on improved terms after a season spent virtually unpaid. The current campaign has seen Szczesny return to a supporting role. The €25 million arrival of Joan Garcia relegated him to the bench, yet another injury to the young Spaniard—from September to November—offered Szczesny nine more outings. Even while not playing, his showmanship persists: in December at Real Betis, television cameras caught him launching paper balls at Pedri and Raphinha on the bench, then jokingly offering team-mate Fermín López a pouch of snus as the midfielder warmed up. In January, he inadvertently gate-crashed Lamine Yamal’s Instagram livestream from the dressing room, cigarette in mouth, moments after Barça had beaten Real Madrid to win the Supercopa. Barcelona sources say Szczesny is content with squad status. Impressed by Garcia in training, he sees no need to battle for an undisputed starting role, preferring to mentor and compete when required. Garcia’s calf issue against Newcastle proved minor; he will be fit for Sunday’s league meeting with Rayo Vallecano and has received a Spain call-up for the March internationals. Szczesny, most likely clad in tracksuit and perhaps a knowing grin, will watch from the touchline, secure in the knowledge that his place in club lore is already assured.

Barcelona will stride into Camp Nou on Sunday buoyed by a statement 7-0 Champions League dismantling of Newcastle, yet visiting Rayo Vallecano insist the rout has not dented their belief. Speaking to Cadena SER, Rayo winger Isi Palazón made it clear the result will serve as motivation rather than intimidation. “I’m not scared that Barça scored seven, in the end it motivates us even more,” Palazón said. “We know they’re a top team in the world, but we already competed with them here in Vallecas, we do it every season and we’ll do it again on Sunday.” The numbers back up his confidence. Across their last nine La Liga meetings, Barcelona have managed only three victories over Rayo, and since the 2021-22 campaign no opponent has taken more points off the Catalans than the Madrid-based club. With Hansi Flick’s side riding high after their European exploits, Rayo will look to continue that trend and exploit any lingering fatigue at Camp Nou.

No nation has assembled a deeper reservoir of talent over the past decade than France, yet even Les Bleus must leave accomplished footballers behind when the final 26-man list for the 2026 World Cup is inked. From record-setting veterans to emerging talents caught between generations, the following XI illustrates how fierce the competition has become inside Didier Deschamps’ squad room. In goal, Alphonse Areola’s slide down the West Ham pecking order has cost him more than club minutes. At 33, the former Paris Saint-Germain keeper still produces highlight-reel stops in the Premier League, yet Mads Hermansen’s emergence has relegated him to cup cameos. Without a secure starting role, Areola’s international window appears to be closing. The back line features three players whose paths have diverged but who share the same probable fate. Nordi Mukiele’s explosive season with Sunderland has been undercut by intermittent injuries and the fact he owns a single senior cap; at 28, time is no longer an ally. Leny Yoro, on the other hand, is simply too green: the 19-year-old Manchester United centre-back has shown flashes but not the week-to-week dominance required to vault ahead of France’s established veterans. Clement Lenglet, a UEFA Nations League winner, has pedigree in spades, yet only 12 La Liga starts for Atletico Madrid this campaign signal that match sharpness—not skill—will keep him home. Adrien Truffert’s story is one of cruel arithmetic. Bournemouth’s ever-present left-back has logged every Premier League minute, but with Theo Hernandez and Ferland Mendy in their primes, the 24-year-old remains third in line. His consistency suggests a 2030 push rather than a 2026 cameo. Midfield misfortune has struck twice. Wilson Odobert’s electric pace had Tottenham fans dreaming of a France breakthrough until an ACL tear ended his season; zero league goals did not help his case either. Boubacar Kamara’s knee injury arrived just as Aston Villa’s form nosedived, underlining his understated value. Both players will rehab while Deschamps turns to a stacked stable of holding midfielders. Among those, Lucien Agoume’s tireless work for a struggling Sevilla side earns plaudits yet not quite the spotlight required to leapfrog the queue. Up front, two high-profile loan spells have fizzled. Mathys Tel’s anticipated breakout at Tottenham produced just three goals across all competitions, while Randal Kolo Muani’s paltry one-goal, one-assist Premier League return—despite four Champions League strikes—illustrates a campaign of unfulfilled promise. Neither forward arrives with prior senior caps, leaving Deschamps free to lean on more prolific options. Finally, Olivier Giroud, France’s all-time leading scorer, retired from international duty in 2024. The 2022 World Cup proved his global swansong, and the 2026 edition will be the first in 16 years to unfold without his aerial mastery and clutch finishing. France remain contenders in 2026, but the depth that once felt inexhaustible now forces painful omissions. For this XI, the tournament will be watched from living rooms rather than dressing rooms, a reminder that even the most golden of generations must eventually cede the stage.

The inquest into Ricky Hatton’s death last September confirmed on Friday that the 46-year-old former two-weight world champion had been suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. While the coroner stopped short of ruling the death a suicide, the finding has intensified scrutiny on boxing’s duty of care to fighters once the final bell has sounded. Hatton’s case is emblematic of a wider crisis. Despite retiring with money, fame and roles as coach, manager and promoter, the microscopic scars left by thousands of punches ultimately shaped his final years. CTE, first observed in boxers a century ago under the label “dementia pugilistica,” can incubate silently for decades before manifesting as memory loss, mood swings, aggression and depression. Dr Judith Gates, whose husband Bill died from CTE in 2023, warns the disease is irreversible: “Nothing can be done to stop it. There are no treatments that lead to a cure.” The sport’s stakeholders are now confronting uncomfortable questions. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) has partnered with Sporting Chance—founded by former footballer Tony Adams—to provide 24-hour talking-therapy for licence-holders, extending support for a full year after retirement. General secretary Robert Smith says the programme, funded entirely by the Board, will be monitored monthly and refined according to uptake. Yet anonymity remains paramount; fighters fear that admitting psychological distress could jeopardise their licences. Dave Harris, a former fighter and driving force behind the Ringside Charitable Trust, believes therapy lines are only a start. His organisation has already spent £500,000 raised for a planned 36-bed residential facility to meet urgent cases of dementia, attempted suicide and poverty among ex-boxers. Harris claims the sport is witnessing “a true epidemic” and wants one per cent of every fighter’s purse diverted to long-term care. Anthony Joshua wore the charity’s logo on his ring-walk jacket before December’s victory over Jake Paul, but Harris is still seeking commitments from promoters, broadcasters and government. Structural obstacles persist. Boxing has no players’ union akin to football’s PFA; the Global Fighters Association, fronted by Paul Smith and Amir Khan, is the latest attempt to fill the void. Barry McGuigan, who tried and failed to unionise fighters in the early 2000s, argues the sport “rails against collectivism” and suggests broadcasters and promoters could instead skim a fixed slice of TV revenue for an independent welfare fund. Meanwhile, Project Boxing—co-founded by former world champion Anthony Crolla—guides active fighters into education and vocational pathways, encouraging them to prepare for life beyond the ropes. Medical experts echo the urgency. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, fields daily calls through his helpline from retired athletes navigating complex psychiatric symptoms. “Very few clinicians understand how to disentangle what is CTE and what is mental illness,” he says. Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries, whose career ended early through hand injuries, now considers that forced exit “a blessing” after counting roughly 50,000 blows to his head during training and competition. He undergoes regular brain scans at the Cleveland Clinic and campaigns for greater awareness. The BBBofC’s charitable trust, financed by disciplinary fines and an annual awards lunch, offers ad-hoc grants to former licence-holders in hardship. Smith concedes, however, that persuading prospects to pursue parallel careers is an uphill battle: “They look at me like, ‘What is this old man saying? I’m going to be world champion.’” With only a tiny fraction of professionals earning life-changing money, the majority face retirement without financial or psychological scaffolding. Ricky Hatton’s family is determined something positive emerges from their loss. The Ricky Hatton Foundation, being finalised at the time of his death, will promote mental-health education and assistance programmes in his name. Whether the sport’s power brokers amplify such initiatives—and commit sustainable resources—will determine if boxing finally confronts the human cost of its entertainment. Ricky Hatton’s tragedy is a reminder: every punch thrown in the ring carries a price, and the bill often arrives long after the crowd has gone home.

Madrid – On Sunday night, when Real Madrid and Barcelona step onto the hardwood of the Movistar Arena for the final time in this Liga ACB regular season, they will write the 348th chapter of a feud that began in 1942. The ledger reads 173-172 for Barcelona, a one-game margin that illustrates how microscopic the difference has been between Spain’s superpowers for more than eight decades. Yet the result will carry an extra layer of intrigue: by late 2027 the NBA plans to launch NBA Europe, and both clubs have been identified as cornerstone franchises. Where, how and how often they meet after that remains an open question. The basketball Clásico has always lived in the shadow of its footballing older brother, but inside Spain the tension is no less real. “It’s not the same for us to play against any other Spanish team,” Andrés Jiménez, whose No. 4 jersey hangs from the Palau Blaugrana rafters after 13 seasons and seven titles with Barcelona, told The Athletic. “Soccer supporters wanted their team to win. That’s why it is very important. It is more than the basketball environment.” Sunday’s contest will be the fourth meeting of the current campaign, but the schedule can stretch the rivalry to as many as 16 games if both sides reach the finals of Liga ACB, EuroLeague, Copa del Rey and Supercopa. Madrid have dominated the recent head-to-head, winning nine of the last ten Clásicos and sitting third in the EuroLeague standings behind a defence anchored by 7-foot-3 shot-blocking record-setter Edy Tavares. Barcelona, twice European champions, occupy the last playoff slot in tenth. Domestically, Pablo Laso’s defending champions enter the weekend five wins clear of third-placed Barcelona and four ahead of Valencia at the top of the ACB. Mario Hezonja paces the capital club at 16 points per night, while Barcelona counter with a roster that includes three former Madrid players—transfers that rarely incite the kind of virulent backlash familiar to football fans. “You can see that before and after the match, at least in Madrid city, where fans of both teams share the same spaces and bars with no incidents,” said Felipe Sanchez of Los Ojos del Tigre, Madrid’s largest supporters’ group. The prospect of sharing an NBA-branded competition could alter that dynamic. League officials convened with club delegations in London in January to outline a competition that would tip off in 2027-28. Barcelona, which recently extended its EuroLeague membership for ten seasons, can exit for a reported $11.6 million buy-out. “If the NBA is so fantastic, possibly they will work to solve this issue because they want Barca in their competition,” president Joan Laporta told RAC1. Madrid, whose Movistar Arena lease is controlled by the regional government, would need to secure a dedicated NBA-standard venue. Both institutions offer the league an immediate global footprint. Madrid claim 11 EuroLeague trophies and 38 domestic titles; Barcelona own two EuroLeagues and 20 Spanish crowns. Each academy has produced NBA talent—Fernando Martín in 1984, Pau and Marc Gasol, and most recently Hugo González, selected 28th by Boston in June from Madrid’s youth ranks. The NBA hopes that embedding such historic brands in a new continental structure will export Spanish basketball’s team-first ethos to a wider audience. For now, the focus is on Sunday. Another Madrid win would edge them ahead in the all-time series and tighten their grip on the top seed entering the ACB playoffs. A Barcelona victory would rekindle memories of Jiménez’s 1997 title clincher in Madrid’s own building, when Barcelona’s 82-69 triumph spoiled a celebration planned for Cibeles Square. “We took the title back to Barcelona,” Jiménez recalled. Whether that drama is replicated in Liga ACB, EuroLeague or an eventual NBA Europe fixture, the essence of the rivalry remains unchanged. “When you play one of these games, adrenaline is at the top,” Jiménez said. Tip-off is scheduled for 18:30 local time, but in a sense the clock is already ticking toward 2027, when basketball’s El Clásico may find itself reborn on an even larger stage.

Munich—Bayern Munich have placed RB Leipzig centre-back Castello Lukeba on their internal list of defensive targets for the coming transfer window, though any move remains conditional on the future of South Korean international Kim Min-jae, sources have confirmed. Max Eberl, who worked with Lukeba during his own time at Leipzig, has tracked the 23-year-old Frenchman since taking up his current post at the Bavarian giants and is known to be an admirer of the player. At present, however, the club’s hierarchy stresses that no purchase is imminent. Should Bayern receive an acceptable offer for Kim, the resulting funds could be redirected toward a new central defender, instantly elevating Lukeba’s candidacy. The Paris-born defender is valued well within the upper tier of the market, a price bracket that has historically steered Leipzig exports toward England’s Premier League. Dominik Szoboszlai’s impact at Liverpool is cited within the club as evidence of the division’s readiness to embrace Leipzig-developed talent, while Bayern’s own capture of Dayot Upamecano in 2021 is viewed as proof that similar deals can prosper in Munich. Yet officials caution that a repeat swoop cannot be taken for granted, particularly with English suitors capable of meeting Leipzig’s valuation. Lukeba is not the only name under consideration. Luka Vušković, the highly rated Croatian teenager, is also being monitored, though Bayern insiders insist the club currently regards another centre-back as surplus to requirements. The situation is described as “fluid”, with the final decision hinging on outgoings rather than fresh scouting reports.

Liverpool – When Chelsea step onto the Goodison Park replacement pitch on Saturday evening, they will be walking into uncharted territory in more ways than one. The Blues’ inaugural visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium arrives at a moment when both clubs are clinging to fading continental ambitions and both managers are feeling the temperature rise. Chelsea enter the weekend having lost three straight matches in all competitions, a sequence that has derailed a once-promising push for the Premier League’s top five and ended their Champions League dream at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. The 3-0 defeat in the French capital on Tuesday sealed an 8-2 aggregate humiliation and left head coach Liam Rosenior facing uncomfortable questions about the direction of BlueCo’s much-debated sporting project. Rosenior, whose honeymoon period has evaporated rapidly, could find himself under intensifying scrutiny if his side are beaten on Merseyside. The reverse fixture in December saw Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea cruise to a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge; a repeat scoreline would be gratefully received by the current regime. Everton, meanwhile, have discovered that relocation has not translated into instant momentum. Sean Dyche’s team have relied on away form to keep Europa League and Conference League hopes alive, but last weekend’s 2-0 loss at Arsenal allowed the cluster of clubs around them to pull clear. A home win this weekend would lift the Toffees above Brentford and trim Chelsea’s cushion in sixth to just two points. Injuries are complicating selection for both camps. Everton hope James Tarkowski will shake off a knock to anchor the back four, though Jarrad Branthwaite is expected to remain sidelined. Jack Grealish and Charly Alcaraz are still unavailable, and on-loan Tyrique George is barred from facing his parent club. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who spent five years at Chelsea’s Cobham training centre, is set to start in an advanced midfield role. Chelsea’s medical bulletin is equally grim. Club captain Reece James will miss several weeks with a hamstring injury, while centre-back Trevoh Chalobah suffered an ankle sprain against PSG and faces six weeks out. Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee, and full-backs Malo Gusto and Benoît Badiashile are doubtful after illness. Should Badiashile not recover, teenage defender Jorrel Hato could partner Wesley Fofana in the middle. Jamie Gittens is unlikely to return until after the international break, but Brazilian teenager Estêvão has already rejoined the squad. With both sides desperate to halt slumps and stake a claim for European qualification, the first-ever meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium carries stakes far beyond local bragging rights. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:30 BST, with broadcast coverage across USA Network, Sky Sports Main Event, DAZN Canada and affiliated streaming platforms. Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernández, Neto; Pedro. Everton predicted XI: Pickford; O'Brien, Keane, Tarkowski, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye; McNeil, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndiaye; Barry.

Amex Stadium is braced for a high-stakes Premier League shoot-out on Saturday lunchtime when Brighton & Hove Albion welcome a Liverpool side desperate to halt a two-match league slide and re-ignite their push up the table. Kick-off is at 12:30 GMT on 21 March, and the contest carries added spice: Brighton are hunting a statement victory that would propel them into the top half, while the Reds arrive on the south coast buoyed by a mid-week 4-0 Champions League demolition of Galatasaray yet still searching for domestic momentum after consecutive league draws. Recent history tilts Liverpool’s way—four wins from the last five meetings, including an FA Cup triumph earlier this season—but the Seagulls believe home advantage and a vibrant attacking game plan can flip the script. Factor one: wide-area fireworks. Brighton’s 21-year-old Gambian winger Yankuba Minteh, fresh from scoring the winner at Sunderland, has six direct goal involvements (two goals, four assists) in the 2025-26 Premier League. Expect him to target Liverpool’s left flank with rapid diagonal runs and cut-backs designed to exploit any hesitation in the visiting back line. Factor two: Florian Wirtz’s creative burden. With Mohamed Salah among a lengthy injury list that also includes Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Stefan Bajcetic, Wataru Endo and Alexander Isak, the onus falls on the German playmaker to unlock Brighton’s compact back four. Wirtz has four goals and three assists in the league this term but has gone three matches without a goal contribution; a return to form could prove decisive. Factor three: transitional discipline. Both clubs favour front-foot football, so the midfield battle—Brighton’s Pascal Gross and Jack Hinshelwood against Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones—will shape how often each side can spring into open space. Whichever unit wins second balls and counters efficiently is likely to dictate tempo. Team news is mixed. Brighton expect to be without defenders Adam Webster and Stefanos Tzimas, while Kaoru Mitoma remains a doubt. Liverpool’s medical room is crowded, leaving the back four of Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk and Milos Kerkez shielded by Alisson Becker. Predicted Brighton XI (4-2-3-1): Bart Verbruggen; Mats Wieffer, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Ferdi Kadioglu; Pascal Gross, Jack Hinshelwood; Diego Gomez, Matt O’Riley, Yankuba Minteh; Danny Welbeck. Predicted Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson; Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai; Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike. With European places and pride on the line, Saturday’s encounter promises end-to-end drama under the Sussex sunshine.

Atlanta—Cal freshman Claire Weinstein stormed from the sixth seed to the top of the podium in the 500-yard freestyle at the women’s NCAA Championships on Friday, snapping a seven-year drought for Golden Bear individual champions and setting a school record in the process. Weinstein, 19, touched the wall in 4:30.09 at the McAuley Aquatic Center, slicing more than six seconds off her morning preliminary time of 4:36.66. The swim was the fastest in the NCAA this season and left Texas’s Jillian Cox 1.47 seconds behind in second place (4:31.56). Television commentators quickly labeled the outcome “a shocker.” The victory is Cal’s first individual national title since Abbey Weitzeil won the 50-yard freestyle in 2019 and the program’s first in the 500-free since 2017. “The last 75 yards of that race I was just replaying all of the special moments from this season,” Weinstein said in a statement released by the school. “I never wanted something so bad, so I dug deep, and thought about all the people that came before me, all the women that made Cal swimming what it is. Now this team is moving in that direction.” Cal’s 400-yard individual medley relay quartet of Mary-Ambre Moluh, Annie Jia, Elle Scott, and Teagan O’Dell added another school record, placing sixth in 3:25.09. The championship meet concludes Saturday with the 200 IM, 100 free, 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, and 400 free relay. Cal sits sixth in the team standings and is positioned for its highest finish since the Bears were national runners-up in 2019. Virginia, chasing its sixth consecutive women’s team title, holds a commanding lead heading into the final day.

The chase for bracket perfection grew dramatically tighter on the tournament’s second day, with the number of flawless March Madness entries shrinking to only a handful. After 48 hours of games, the once-massive pool of unblemished brackets has been pared down to a precious few, underscoring both the unpredictability of the event and the slim margin between a celebrated pick and a busted sheet. As upsets and close finishes accumulate, the surviving perfect brackets now stand as rare relics of prognostication luck and skill, setting up a high-stakes weekend for those still clinging to the dream of a clean card through the tournament.

Albuquerque, N.M. — Coming off the program’s most successful and best-attended campaign in recent memory, New Mexico’s football staff will operate with a modestly larger salary pool in 2024 while rewarding a handful of assistants for their role in the resurgence. Head coach Jason Eck, whose new five-year contract included a $400,000 raise in December, watched three of his on-field assistants receive pay increases when the athletic department posted updated contracts this week. The moves nudged UNM’s total staff salary pool to $2.07 million, up from $2.04 million last season. Every assistant remains on a one-year deal with identical performance-based incentives. Defensive line coach Hebron Fangupo secured the largest bump, jumping from $150,000 to $165,000 after a debut season that produced the Mountain West’s top run defense (112.8 yards per game) and a conference-best 36 sacks. Offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner, whose unit averaged 27.1 points per game, saw his salary rise $10,000 to $385,000, making him the highest-paid assistant on staff. Safeties coach Clay Bignell also netted a $10,000 increase, bringing his pay to $130,000 after guiding a position group that weathered multiple injuries. Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky ($375,000), offensive line coach Cody Booth ($165,000), cornerbacks coach Stanley Franks Jr. ($150,000) and linebackers coach Nate Palmer ($85,000) all return at their 2023 compensation levels. Two newcomers will earn more than the coaches they replaced. Associate head coach and tight ends coach Zach Lujan and wide receivers coach Carson Walch will each make $160,000, a combined $95,000 increase over predecessors Jared Elliott ($115,000) and Colin Lockett ($110,000). Conversely, new special teams coordinator Erik Link will earn $175,000, down from Daniel Da Prato’s $250,000, and running backs coach Darrius G. Smith will make $120,000, a drop from John Johnson’s $145,000. All four previous assistants departed for Power Four programs. Eck said the salary structure is intentional. “We have a pretty high spread between our highest-paid guys on the staff and our lowest-paid guys on the staff,” he told the Journal earlier this month. “And I want that systematically, because if you can keep your coordinators in place, you know, it keeps the overall system.” UNM will hold its annual pro day on Monday, with 17 Lobos and two New Mexico Highlands standouts — safety Trevor Romaldo and offensive lineman Joe Taase — scheduled to work out for NFL scouts.

Old Trafford, 67th minute. Amad Diallo arcs into the Bournemouth box, feels the hand of Adrien Truffert on his shoulder, and hits the turf. Referee Stuart Attwell waves play on; within seconds the Cherries break, the net ripples, and the stadium erupts in fury. In the VAR hub at Stockley Park, Craig Pawson’s screen splits: left panel, the penalty shout; right panel, the goal that followed. Protocol demands an “official” rather than “background” review once the ball is in United’s net, so Pawson rewinds the phase frame by frame. Truffert’s arm, he concludes, is merely resting across Diallo in a “neutral” run; no pull, no twist, no foul. The on-field call stands, the goal stands, and United’s players surround Attwell in vain. Eleven minutes later the temperature spikes again. Evanilson latches onto a loose ball, bears down on goal, and feels Harry Maguire’s arms clamp around his waist. Attwell’s whistle is instant: penalty, and a red for denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Pawson’s second review is equally swift. Replays show Maguire never attempts to play the ball; instead he drags Evanilson to the turf inside the D. Clear holding, clear DOGSO. No clear error, therefore no intervention. United down to ten, Bournemouth spot-kick pending, and the VAR ledger closed. Former Select Group official Andy Davies, reviewing the calls for publication, labels the first “normal contact in motion” and the second “a textbook red.” The arm-bar that so incensed United, he argues, was “invited contact” rather than illegal restraint, while Maguire’s rugby-tackle was “as obvious a red as you’ll see.” In both cases, Pawson’s silent check marks mirrored the on-field judgement: no penalty for Truffert, no reprieve for Maguire. The technology, once again, policed the grey areas and left the grey shirts to rue the consequences.

From the football-obsessed pubs of Manchester to cricket-mad living rooms in Mumbai, the games people grow up watching quietly dictate where billions of wagering dollars flow. Worldwide, sports-betting menus are no longer designed in a vacuum; they are mirrors of neighborhood passions that have scaled across borders. Operators say the cycle is simple but powerful: where local interest is strongest, bets pile up fastest. Liquidity attracts bookmakers, who in turn widen markets, sharpen odds algorithms and roll out micro-wagers on everything from next goalscorer to corner-kick counts. Attention flows where fans gather, and data follows the money. On global sites such as 1xBet, a Malaysian punter might toggle between English Premier League odds and the latest cricket big-hitter props, choices shaped less by corporate strategy than by the sports conversation unfolding in nearby cafés and group chats. The pattern repeats continent by continent. In Europe, weekend football handles swell so dramatically that providers routinely expand in-play options hours before kickoff. Across Canada, hockey’s grip prompts the release of fresh puck-line and period-by-period markets minutes after the previous game ends. Each regional surge feeds liquidity, which not only deepens legitimate wagering but also flags those competitions as potential targets for match-fixers seeking fat pools of cash. Granularity is now the norm for any sport that commands a strong local following. Instead of merely offering match-winner prices, bookmakers list player-performance props, team-total bands and special exotics tied to hometown storylines. A Kenyan user might awake to find extensive coverage of a local rugby sevens tournament, while a Brazilian bettor’s lobby spotlights beach-volleyball set bets—both reflections of regional demand rather than top-down marketing. Nothing illustrates the migration from niche to worldwide better than mixed martial arts, once confined to small-hall venues but now a staple on every major digital sportsbook. Cricket leagues, once followed largely in Commonwealth nations, ride superstar power and streaming reach into fresh time zones. Esports, originally an outlier, built critical mass through online communities and now commands year-round calendar space. Several forces convert local favorites into global wagering staples: - International streaming platforms beam regional leagues onto phones in every corridor of the world. - Star athletes who emerge from these competitions attract cross-border fan bases and, by extension, betting interest. - Well-structured tournaments create predictable calendars that traders can model and price confidently. - Digital fan hubs—Reddit threads, Discord channels, YouTube breakdowns—amplify awareness faster than traditional media ever could. Behind the scenes, bookmakers treat each click as a vote. User dashboards reveal which sports spike at breakfast in Manila, which leagues trend during Scandinavian nights. Odds compilers reallocate manpower, adjust margins and launch early markets accordingly. When a formerly minor sport charts upward, developers queue new bet types, customer-support teams stock relevant FAQs and traders model performance indices in real time. The feedback loop is relentless: localized passion fuels handle, handle invites deeper product development, and improved product exposes fresh audiences to once-regional games. As viewers hop borders through broadband, global betting portfolios grow ever more eclectic, stitched together by the simple truth that hometown loyalties now steer worldwide wagering. Gamble Responsibly. You must be 21 years old or older to gamble. If you or someone you know has a problem with gambling, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER.

PEORIA, Ariz. — A quiet “B” game on a scorching Friday morning turned into the Mariners’ most important dress rehearsal when opening-day battery mates Logan Gilbert and Cal Raleigh jogged onto Field No. 1 for the top of the first against the Padres, reuniting for the first time since Raleigh left camp 2 ½ weeks ago to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic. With temperatures climbing toward triple digits, the Mariners elected to shield their projected Game 1 starter from a Cactus League matchup later in the evening against the Guardians—the very club Gilbert will face in six days when the regular season opens. Instead, the right-hander threw 80 pitches over five-plus innings in the controlled setting of the back-field contest, working every offering in his arsenal, including experimental changeups and a cutter he hopes to feature more prominently this season. “I wasn’t expecting him necessarily to be here,” Gilbert said of Raleigh, who caught the night before in Mesa as the designated hitter and still asked to be inserted into Friday’s lineup. “But he was, which is way better, so we can get a feel.” Raleigh, fresh off a 1-for-5 night that included a 438-foot, bases-loaded double, went 2-for-8 with a two-run homer from the left side and four walks in the twinbill. Behind the plate he called seven or eight sinkers—an offering he discouraged Gilbert from throwing a year ago. “I probably threw four or five,” Gilbert said with a grin. “I was the one shaking them off. The roles reversed after 10 years.” Manager Dan Wilson emphasized the importance of the reunion with opening day looming and Raleigh’s camp time limited by international duty. “It was smart to get a chance to get them together today with this being the final tune-up,” Wilson said. “Just get on the same page and see what his stuff has been doing.” Veteran utility man Rob Refsnyder also appeared, squeezing in extra at-bats after playing the previous night. Shortstop J.P. Crawford, meanwhile, took swings in the cage as he works back from a cortisone injection in his right shoulder Monday. Wilson said the club could keep Crawford in Arizona through Wednesday for minor-league games before flying him back ahead of Thursday’s opener. Seattle trimmed the spring roster to 32 players Friday, reassigning left-hander Jhonathan Díaz, right-hander Dane Dunning and outfielder Brennan Davis to minor-league camp. Díaz and Dunning will join Tacoma’s rotation after returning from World Baseball Classic duty with Venezuela and Korea, respectively. Davis, who flashed prodigious power early in camp, has been sidelined five days with hamstring tightness but resumed on-field workouts.

Barcelona midfielder Dani Olmo has issued a clear message of intent ahead of the Champions League quarter-final against Atletico Madrid, insisting the Catalans are ready to avenge their recent Copa del Rey elimination. The two sides meet in Europe’s premier club competition just weeks after Atletico edged a dramatic semi-final 4-3 on aggregate to knock Barça out of the domestic cup. Speaking to the club’s official media, Olmo acknowledged the familiarity of the fixture and the high stakes involved. “It’s a scenario we expected, but it’s a situation I’ve already experienced, both last year and at my previous clubs. It’s all or nothing,” he said. The 26-year-old, who joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to progress if they perform to their maximum. “We have the quality and we can do it if we’re at our best. We’re motivated, we remember what happened in the Cup, and we can’t afford to fail.” The victor of the all-Spanish tie will advance to face either Arsenal or Sporting CP in the semi-finals, moving one step closer to this season’s Champions League final.

Bruno Fernandes reinforced his reputation as Manchester United’s most influential performer by registering both a goal and an assist in a hard-fought 2-2 Premier League draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. The Portuguese midfielder’s direct involvement in both Red Devils strikes ensured the hosts salvaged a point from a contest that the visitors more than merited a share of. Fernandes opened the scoring with a typically decisive finish, arrowing a low shot beyond the goalkeeper after latching onto a cut-back inside the box. Moments later he turned provider, clipping a precise pass that allowed United to double the advantage and seemingly take control. Yet Bournemouth, undeterred by the early deficit, responded with resilience and tactical discipline to level matters before the interval and again after United had restored parity. The result leaves United reflecting on a missed opportunity to climb the table, while Bournemouth can take heart from a spirited display that showcased their capacity to trouble higher-ranked opposition. Fernandes’ latest goal-involvement haul means he remains the undeniable catalyst for United’s attacking output, yet the broader narrative of the afternoon was the Cherries’ refusal to yield, ensuring the spoils were ultimately shared in a breathless 2-2 encounter.

Sacramento, Calif. – When the Sacramento Kings left the 2025 NBA Draft with Stanford product Maxime Raynaud at No. 42, the front office spoke of a project, not a prodigy. Less than a year later, the 7-foot rookie is sprinting up the Golden 1 Center hardwood as the most productive second-round selection in the class and, arguably, the league’s most startling success story. Raynaud’s path to relevance was accelerated by circumstance. Early-season injuries and roster shuffling cracked open the rotation door; the 21-year-old barreled through it. Coaches quickly noticed an uncommon ability to absorb scouting notes and reproduce them in live action, a skill that has vaulted him from garbage-time curiosity to dependable interior anchor. The numbers validate the eye test. Raynaud paces all 2025 second-rounders in scoring and rebounding, and over recent stretches he has flirted with double-double averages while shooting nearly 60 percent from the field. His shot chart is a coach’s dream: high-percentage looks around the rim, timely rim-runs in transition, and the occasional face-up jumper that keeps defenders honest. Then came the breakthrough weekend that stamped his arrival. On back-to-back nights, Raynaud became the first Kings rookie this century to record consecutive 30-point performances, topping out at a career-best 32 before following up with 30 even. The outburst sent a jolt through the organization and validated the whispers already circulating around the facility: the second-rounder might possess star-grade upside. “He’s blown past every internal projection we had,” one Kings staffer said. “What we envisioned as a two-year development curve has compressed into a couple of months.” That rapid ascent carries weight far beyond the stat sheet. Sacramento entered the season craving youth, size, and financial flexibility. Raynaud checks all three boxes on a rookie-scale contract, giving the franchise a potential front-court cornerstone without the premium price tag of a lottery pick. His presence also widens the runway for roster experimentation, allowing the Kings to evaluate surrounding pieces around a mobile, skilled big who fits the modern pace-and-space ethos. While the club’s place in the standings remains a work in progress, the front office has already banked one resounding victory. Selecting Raynaud at 42 has shifted from low-risk flyer to outright heist, a reminder that draft-night value can emerge far outside the lottery spotlight. As Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers moved into the third quarter, Raynaud again showcased the motor that has become his trademark, beating defenders down the floor and carving out deep position. Each possession further cements a narrative that is no longer about potential—it is about production. The Kings may still be searching for long-term stability, but in Maxime Raynaud they appear to have found exactly what they didn’t know they needed: a second-round afterthought blossoming into one of the 2025 draft’s defining success stories.

The Premier League’s reputation has taken a few hits during the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League, and while talk of a full-scale demise is premature, a handful of English-based players have delivered performances that bordered on the unwatchable. Four of the five names below are already packing their bags for the Europa League sidelines; one still has time to salvage his continental image, though the clock is ticking. Jacob Ramsey, Newcastle United Ramsey’s campaign will forever be bookmarked by the 7-2 capitulation at Spotify Camp Nou, yet the numbers were alarming long before the final whistle in Barcelona. Tasked with adding thrust from midfield, the 24-year-old instead finished among the competition’s least effective distributors, misplacing passes under the faintest hint of pressure and recording negligible progression stats. His back-pass that teed up Raphinha for the hosts’ fourth was the snapshot of a wider, season-long malaise. Trevoh Chalobah, Chelsea Enzo Maresca reportedly sounded internal warnings about Chelsea’s defensive depth, and Chalobah’s six Champions League starts underlined every one of them. The centre-back failed to register a single tackle success of note against PSG’s front line, was repeatedly caught flat-footed on the turn, and looked a yard short of the speed of thought required at Europe’s top table. The eye test matched the analytics: Chelsea shipped goals whenever he was on the pitch. Filip Jorgensen, Chelsea If Chalobah eroded belief from the back four, Jorgensen nuked it from between the posts. Handed the gloves for the first-leg Round-of-16 duel with holders PSG, the Danish keeper produced a horror show of parried crosses, mistimed charges and, most damagingly, two reckless passes that led directly to concessions. A save rate of roughly 37 percent and an average of 2.40 goals against per appearance are figures that belong in a training-ground blooper reel, not a knockout bracket. Jeremie Frimpong, Liverpool Still alive thanks to Liverpool’s aggregate edge over Inter, Frimpong nonetheless carries the weakest individual résumé of any surviving Premier League player. Once lauded for buccaneering overlaps at Bayer Leverkusen, the Dutch wing-back has mustered a paltry 0.4 key passes per European start this term, leaving Mohamed Salah to forage alone on the right. Defensively, his positioning has been so erratic that Arne Slot has twice hooked him before the 60-minute mark. Bernardo Silva, Manchester City Silva’s campaign ended in infamy when he leapt to block a late Real Madrid shot, deflecting it past his own keeper with an ill-judged flailing arm. The hand-ball felt like a fitting coda to a tournament in which the Portuguese playmaker looked a step slow, completed a meagre 0.1 dribbles per outing and was repeatedly targeted by quicker midfield runners. Pep Guardiola kept faith until the final whistle of the quarter-final, but by then the damage—to City’s tie and Silva’s elite-level credibility—was done. For a league that markets itself as the planet’s most intense, these five have, through error-strewn nights and damning data lines, offered an unwelcome counter-narrative. Only Frimpong remains on the UCL stage; unless he flips the script in the semi-finals, the Premier League will be left to re-watch a season’s worth of lowlights rather than dream of an Istanbul finale.

LAAX, Switzerland — Eileen Gu etched her name into freeskiing history once again on Friday, capturing the first Snow League season championship with a gold-medal performance in the circuit’s halfpipe finale. The win, coming less than a month after the 22-year-old topped the podium at the Milan Cortina Olympics, sealed a perfect debut campaign for Shaun White’s new league and extended Gu’s unprecedented streak of six-for-six Olympic medals across two Games. No other freeskier has medaled in every Olympic event they have entered. “I take a lot of meaning in being the first to do things,” Gu said after her victory. “To be a part of this league means so much to me. ... I believe so much in the vision and the direction that it’s pushing the sport.” Born in the United States and competing for China, Gu earned $75,000 for the day’s work—$50,000 for the contest win and a $25,000 bonus for clinching the season crown. Fifteen of her 20 World Cup titles have come in halfpipe competition. New Zealand’s Luke Harrold matched Gu’s payday, sweeping both the event and the men’s season title. Snowboarders close the inaugural Snow League season on Saturday, with Olympic gold medalist Yuto Totsuka holding a narrow lead over bronze medalist Ryusei Yamada in the standings.

PHILADELPHIA — In a program haunted by premature tournament departures, Virginia steadied itself behind a pivotal performance from White, dodging what has become an all-too-familiar March fate. First-year coach Ryan Odom, mindful of the Cavaliers’ history of early exits, gathered his team before tipoff and played the 2019 “One Shining Moment” montage from Virginia’s national-championship run, a reminder of the program’s ceiling when poised under pressure. The film session appeared to resonate as the Cavaliers protected their bracket life, ensuring the season would not end in the opening weekend that has tripped them so often in recent memory.

Liverpool’s Premier League push continues on the south coast this Saturday as Arne Slot’s side face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium, with kickoff set for 12:30 p.m. local time. The Reds arrive buoyed by a midweek Champions League triumph over Galatasaray at Anfield, a result that eased pressure on the manager and kept the club on course for European silverware. With the quarterfinal berth secured, attention now turns to domestic duties. Slot knows that a strong finish in the league will be essential to safeguard his position heading into the summer, making every remaining fixture—starting with Brighton—critically important. Brighton, currently 12th in the table, appear all but safe from relegation and still entertain outside hopes of sneaking into a European place should they string together victories in the season’s closing weeks. For viewers in the United States, the match will be carried live on USA Network and is available to stream through DIRECTV, which is offering a risk-free five-day trial for new subscribers. The platform includes access to ESPN, FS1, TNT, TBS, truTV and NFL Network, ensuring comprehensive coverage of soccer, MLB and more. Brighton vs. Liverpool kicks off Saturday, March 21, at 12:30 p.m. local time from the Amex Stadium.

Dallas-area sports fans can circle the couches and radios on Saturday, March 21, with four local teams in action across MLB, NBA, NHL and MLS. The day’s slate opens at 3 p.m. when the Dallas Stars visit Minnesota in a key late-season NHL matchup. The game will be carried on both KTCK-AM 1310 and KTCK-FM 96.7 The Ticket. Thirty minutes later, the Texas Rangers welcome the Arizona Diamondbacks to Surprise for a 3:10 p.m. spring-training contest. KRLD-FM 105.3 The Fan will have the radio call as both clubs continue to fine-tune their rosters before Opening Day. Basketball takes center stage at 7:30 p.m. when the surging LA Clippers arrive at American Airlines Center to face Luka Dončić and the Dallas Mavericks. KEGL-FM 97.1 The Eagle will broadcast every possession of the Western Conference showdown. Also at 7:30 p.m., FC Dallas kicks off against in-state rival Houston in MLS play. English-language coverage can be found on KFXR-AM 1190 Talk Radio, while Spanish-language commentary will air on KFLC-AM 1270 TUDN Radio.

CANBERRA, Australia — James Slipper etched his name into Super Rugby folklore on Friday night, running onto GIO Stadium for his 203rd appearance and eclipsing Wyatt Crockett’s long-standing record as the competition’s most-capped player. The 36-year-old loosehead prop reached the milestone in the ACT Brumbies’ 33-24 victory over the visiting Chiefs, drawing a thunderous ovation from the Canberra crowd when the milestone was announced shortly after kick-off. Slipper’s journey to the record has been split between two franchises: 104 matches for the Queensland Reds and, as of Friday, 99 for the Brumbies since his 2019 move to the capital. Crockett, whose 202 caps for the Crusaders had stood as the benchmark, praised Slipper’s durability and quality. “Honestly, after the South African teams left the competition I thought there would be less games and the record might actually be hard to beat,” the former Allad said. “So for Slips to go past it with less games (per season) is bloody impressive. Also, Slips is still playing really great footy, he could still easily play international rugby.” Slipper retired from international duty last year after a Wallabies-record 151 Test caps, but his appetite for the weekly grind of Super Rugby remains undimmed. Should he take the field against the New South Wales Waratahs in the coming round, he will become the first player to register 100 appearances for two separate Super Rugby clubs. With the Brumbies firmly in the hunt for a finals berth, Slipper’s experience at the coalface will be pivotal as the club eyes silverware to cap a historic individual season.

Barcelona are prepared to consider offers for Jules Kounde during the upcoming summer window, signalling a notable shift in the club’s stance on the France international. According to Radio Marca correspondent Matteo Moretto, the Catalan giants no longer view the defender as indispensable. “If a good offer comes in, Barça won’t say no. Koundé is not untouchable,” Moretto reported, underlining that the 25-year-old is now available for the right price. Kounde, who signed a contract extension until 2029 last summer, has featured predominantly at right-back for Barça this season. However, his performances have dipped below the standards set during his first campaign at the club, prompting internal debate about his long-term role within the squad. The former Sevilla man is currently recovering from injury and is expected to return after the international break, alongside teammate Alejandro Balde. Sources indicate that Balde is also considered transferable should an attractive bid materialise. With Financial Fair Play constraints continuing to shape Barcelona’s market strategy, the potential sale of either player could provide vital room to manoeuvre. The club remain convinced they can secure a high-profile target from city rivals Atletico Madrid, although they are reluctant to trigger the purchase option in the player’s contract. The coming weeks will reveal whether suitors emerge for Kounde, but Barcelona’s willingness to entertain offers marks a decisive moment in the defender’s Camp Nou tenure.

Nike has unveiled the England World Cup 2026 home kit, and early reaction suggests it could be the most accomplished Three Lions shirt the American sportswear giant has produced in its decade-long tenure with the FA. Released amid the pre-March international flurry of new strips, the jersey is being hailed as a slice of “minimal brilliance” that will serve the squad well under the North American summer sun. Drawing deliberate inspiration from the Euro 2000 template, the shirt features a rounded collar, red player numbers, and the familiar red-and-navy piping across the shoulders. Where the design truly breaks new ground is in its subtle base graphic: a repeating tonal pattern of the Three Lions emblem interlaced with the letters “ENG,” a treatment Nike has never before attempted on an England home shirt. The understated motif lends a classy, almost vintage aura, further enhanced by the solitary star—symbolising the 1966 Jules Rimet triumph—positioned above the federation crest. The move into patterned fabric territory has long been associated with rivals Adidas, but Nike’s first foray is being greeted as “a triumph,” offering both heritage and modernity without tipping into excess. The shirt’s restrained aesthetic marks a clear departure from the divisive Euro 2024 home kit, whose only notable flourish was a polarising collar design. Equally encouraging for fans seeking wardrobe cohesion is the parallel away strip: a near-identical template rendered in red, ensuring consistency across the two primary shirts. Early feedback indicates supporters are anything but upset by the mirrored approach. With World Cup fever set to grip the globe in 2026, England will step onto the sport’s biggest stage dressed in a kit that already feels timeless—should football finally come home after 60 years, the players will at least look the part.

Manchester United’s on-loout forward Marcus Rashford and Newcastle United’s Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimarães have emerged as the most talked-about names in the latest global transfer chatter, with several heavyweight clubs weighing moves that could reshape the European market. Rashford, currently plying his trade at Barcelona under a temporary arrangement, faces an uncertain future at the Camp Nou. The Catalan club hold an option to make the deal permanent, but if they allow that clause to lapse, Arsenal will immediately attempt to hijack the situation and bring the England international to the Emirates. Chelsea and Juventus are also monitoring developments, yet United have signalled they will not renegotiate the structure of the existing Barcelona agreement, effectively forcing any suitor to meet the pre-agreed terms. While Rashford’s destiny hinges on Barcelona’s next step, Bruno Guimarães is at the centre of a rapidly escalating tug-of-war. United are in advanced discussions with Newcastle about an €80 million (£69 million) switch that would insert the 26-year-old into Erik ten Hag’s midfield engine room. Sources close to the negotiations told Reuters that a fee has been verbally outlined, but Real Madrid’s late entrance into the race could scupper the deal entirely. The Spanish giants, long-term admirers of the Brazil international, are exploring whether a summer move fits their evolving squad rebuild, leaving Newcastle braced for a potential bidding war. United’s recruitment staff remain active on other fronts. Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies is under scrutiny, with officials at Old Trafford encouraged by the possibility that the Bundesliga champions could cash in amid concerns over the Canadian’s recent injury history. Fulham’s Antonee Robinson is also on the radar, though United share Liverpool’s reservations about the Cottagers’ £30 million valuation. Brentford centre-back Nathan Collins is another concrete target, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham having all compiled scouting dossiers on the Irish defender. Elsewhere, Chelsea are pressing ahead with their own midfield overhaul. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson has been identified as the preferred successor to Enzo Fernández, while Andrey Santos is attracting strong Serie A interest after Inter officials watched the Brazilian impress against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Off the pitch, the Blues are also attempting to pip Bayern Munich to Strasbourg winger Rayane Messi, an 18-year-old currently on loan in Saudi Arabia whom the club hope to integrate as the latest BlueCo cross-portfolio transfer. Erling Haaland’s long-term future has also re-entered the spotlight. Sources indicate the Norwegian has resolved to leave Manchester City within the next 24 months, possibly as early as this summer, although Real Madrid’s squad balance and Barcelona’s financial constraints complicate any immediate switch. Other Premier League movers include Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konaté, who could head to Saudi Arabia if Real Madrid or Inter decline to table an offer when his contract expires. Aston Villa are ready to challenge Chelsea for Lazio defender Mario Gila, valued at €30 million, while West Ham remain in talks to make Axel Disasi’s loan permanent despite balking at Chelsea’s desire to recoup the majority of the £38 million they paid for the Frenchman. Newcastle, meanwhile, are eyeing Chelsea pair Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson to refresh their forward line, yet may have to fend off interest from Arsenal in midfielder Sandro Tonali and full-back Tino Livramento. Julián Alvarez has no intention of departing Atlético Madrid, dealing a blow to Barcelona, who will nevertheless attempt a swap involving Marc Casadó, Eric García or Ferran Torres. With the window still weeks away from opening, the Rashford and Guimarães situations alone guarantee headlines will keep coming, and the ripple effects could redefine the balance of power across England and continental Europe.

Barcelona’s emerging goalkeeper Joan García has been given the all-clear to start Sunday’s La Liga meeting with Rayo Vallecano, easing fears that arose when he was forced off midweek with apparent discomfort. The 23-year-old, who exited the Champions League second-leg victory over Newcastle United, avoided any structural damage and completed his final training session without issue, the club confirmed on Saturday. García’s availability is a rare piece of positive injury news for head coach Hansi Flick, who is still navigating a deepening defensive crisis. Eric García lasted only 22 minutes against Newcastle before succumbing to what the club suspects is a recurrence of the muscular problem that had already sidelined him for the previous two matches; his participation against Rayo is now rated as highly doubtful. Should the former Manchester City centre-back miss out, he will join a growing casualty list that already includes Alejandro Balde, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen. The Catalan giants enter the weekend on the back of two statement wins: a 5–2 rout of Sevilla in league play followed by a 7–2 demolition of Newcastle that sealed passage to the Champions League quarter-finals. A victory on Sunday would open a provisional seven-point gap at the summit if rivals Real Madrid fail to take three points from the Madrid derby later in the day. Yet Barcelona’s earlier trip to Vallecas this season ended in a frustrating draw, and Rayo have already demonstrated they can trouble Flick’s high line. García, who produced a man-of-the-match performance in that reverse fixture, is expected to anchor a back four that will likely feature teenage right-back Xavi Espart for a second consecutive league start. Pau Cubarsí and Gerard Martín will continue in central defence, while João Cancelo—who scored his first goal since returning to the club last weekend—will again be asked to patrol the left despite mounting fatigue. In midfield, Pedri and Marc Bernal are set to retain their double-pivot roles. Bernal has scored five times in the past month, offering an unexpected goal threat in the absence of Frenkie de Jong, who remains unavailable until after the international break. Dani Olmo and Fermín Lóopez are competing for the advanced midfield berth behind a front three of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Ferran Torres, with Robert Lewandowski expected to drop to the bench after starting the last three matches. For García, the week has already been memorable: in addition to his clean bill of health, he received his maiden call-up to Spain’s senior squad. Should he parlay that momentum into another decisive display on Sunday, Barcelona will head into the international break with both momentum and breathing room at the top of the table. SEO keywords:

The United States men’s national team footprint across the Atlantic has never been wider. From the Premier League’s floodlit stadiums to La Liga’s technical cauldrons and beyond, every member of the 2025–26 USMNT pool is now contracted to a European club. The single-sentence confirmation from federation sources—“USMNT players can be found all over Europe, from the Premier League to La Liga and beyond”—underscores a historic shift: for the first time, not a single U.S. international in the senior frame is plying his trade domestically during a World Cup cycle. This continental migration places the squad inside the daily cauldron of Champions League and Europa League calendars, ensuring that when the Stars and Stripes reconvene for qualifiers or the 2026 World Cup on home soil, every participant will arrive battle-tested by European competition.

Manchester United are preparing to secure the long-term futures of two key figures, with academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo and defender Harry Maguire both in line for fresh terms. The potential agreements would underline the club’s desire to retain a blend of emerging talent and experienced leadership within Erik ten Hag’s squad. Simultaneously, United are exploring the possibility of reinforcing midfield by targeting Bruno Guimaraes. Should negotiations progress, the Brazilian international could join Mainoo and Maguire at Old Trafford, adding further depth to the engine room. Across London, Arsenal have emerged as frontrunners in the pursuit of Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder, currently plying his trade in Serie A, is believed to be open to a Premier League switch, and the Gunners have moved swiftly to position themselves at the head of the queue. Tottenham Hotspur are also active in the market, expressing firm interest in Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. Spurs view the highly-rated shot-stopper as a prospect capable of challenging for the No. 1 jersey in the coming seasons. With negotiations ongoing and several dominoes poised to fall, the next transfer window promises significant movement for three of England’s heavyweight clubs.

Washington, D.C. — The Oklahoma City Thunder will not be celebrating their 2024-25 NBA title at the White House, the team confirmed Thursday, citing timing constraints that prevented the visit during their lone regular-season trip to the nation’s capital. The Thunder, who enter Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards with a league-best 55-15 record, informed the White House that the traditional championship ceremony “just didn’t work out,” according to a statement shared with The Athletic. The franchise becomes the latest NBA champion to bypass the storied photo-op, following the precedent set by the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who also declined an invitation from President Donald Trump during his first term. White House visits have been a rite of passage for American sports champions since the 1963 Boston Celtics toured 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after capturing the NBA crown. The Celtics most recently reprised the ritual in November 2024, when they were feted by then-President Joe Biden after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. Trump, now in his second term, has continued the custom, welcoming Inter Miami and Lionel Messi last month to honor their MLS Cup triumph, while also hosting Super Bowl victors, College Football Playoff champions, World Series winners, and, in a first last week, the 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champions. The Thunder’s decision arrives against the backdrop of heightened U.S. diplomatic activity surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict, though the team offered no further elaboration on the “timing issue” that scuttled the visit. Oklahoma City is in Washington for only one game this season, eliminating any immediate opportunity to reschedule. Meanwhile, the NFL’s reigning champion Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the New England Patriots in last month’s Super Bowl in San Francisco, have yet to announce whether they will accept a White House invitation. The previous year’s winners, the Philadelphia Eagles, attended 12 months ago without quarterback Jalen Hurts; the Eagles had earlier declined the 2018 invitation after their Super Bowl LII victory. As the Thunder pursue a repeat championship and continue to lead the Western Conference, the franchise emphasized its appreciation for the dialogue with the White House, even as the historic visit will not take place.

MOSINEE — Mosinee High School has promoted longtime assistant Kevin Sanchez-Stevenoski to head football coach, the district announced via social media on Friday, March 20. Sanchez-Stevenoski, an alternative-education teacher at the school, has spent previous seasons on the Indians’ football staff and has served as head boys track and field coach for the past four years. He now inherits a program coming off one of the most successful campaigns in school history, set in motion by former coach Kyle Stoffel, who guided the 2025 squad to historic heights before stepping away to devote more time to family. In a statement released by the district, administrators highlighted Sanchez-Stevenoski’s vision for sustaining on-field success while prioritizing character development. “He is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment with a coaching philosophy that emphasizes accountability, resilience and a team-oriented approach,” officials said. “Kevin is dedicated to the comprehensive development of student-athletes—academic, athletic and personal—while cultivating programs built on trust, discipline and school pride.” The new coach views football as more than wins and losses, believing the sport is “a powerful tool for building confidence, discipline and lifelong character—both on and off the field.” Mosinee will look to build on last season’s momentum when preseason practices begin later this year.