Michael Olise’s France have so far lived up to their billing as favourites at the World Cup. Photo: AFP ATLANTA: The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams has offered more of a chance to continents that were previously underrepresented at the tournament, but a glance at the quarter-final line-up tells a familiar tale….
Morgan Rogers speaks during an England World Cup press conference in Kansas City. Photo: AFP ATLANTA: England’s Morgan Rogers backed Harry Kane to come out on top when he faces Norway’s Erling Haaland in an enticing battle between the World Cup sharpshooters on Saturday. The forwards, who will meet in the quarter-finals in Miami, are among the frontrunners…
Spain are yet to concede a goal at the 2026 World Cup. Photo: AFP ATLANTA: Belgium meet Spain in the World Cup quarter-finals on Friday with the daunting task of breaching the European champions’ watertight defence for the first time at the 2026 tournament. In beating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal 1-0 on Monday, Luis de la Fuente’s men…
For the third year running, reigning Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar gave up the yellow jersey just one day after claiming it. Photo: AFP LONDON: When reigning champion Tadej Pogacar took the race leader’s yellow jersey at the Tour de France on Monday when he blitzed to victory in the third stage, it looked as though he…
LONDON: Star fly-half Finn Russell returns to the Scotland team for a Nations Championship match against world champions South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. The 33-year-old British and Irish Lion missed a first-round victory over Argentina in Cordoba last weekend due to a calf injury. Russell replaces Tom Jordan, who is among the eight replacements…
Tadhg Beirne will captain a revamped Ireland side against Japan. Photo: AFP LONDON: Ireland coach Andy Farrell made nine changes Thursday to his starting side to face Japan in the Nations Championship this weekend, with Tadhg Beirne named to lead out the team as captain for the first time. Only six players from their nail-biting 33-31 victory over…
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates beating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime at Wimbledon. Photo: AFP LONDON: Novak Djokovic battled through Wimbledon’s longest ever quarter-final to beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in a five-set epic on Tuesday as the former champion set up a titanic clash with defending champion Jannik Sinner. Djokovic defied a calf injury suffered in the first set to win 7-6…
ATLANTA: The Egyptian football federation said Wednesday it had asked for the officiating team who handled the Pharoahs loss 3-2 last-16 to Argentina to be thrown out of the World Cup. “Hany Aburida, President of the Egyptian Football Federation, filed a complaint with FIFA, demanding an investigation into the French referee Francois Letexier… after the serious refereeing mistakes committed…
Ground staff pull on the covers during the fifth and final day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and West Indies. Photo: AFP/File LONDON: West Indies completed their first home Test series triumph for four years when the second and final match against Sri Lanka petered out into a tame, rain-affected draw on the…
France are favourites to win a third World Cup. Photo: AFP MIAMI: The World Cup is down to just eight teams, with a heavyweight line-up set to do battle in the quarter-finals from Thursday. AFP Sport looks at the match-ups, all of which are taking place in the United States. France v Morocco Imperious France…