Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy got off to the worst possible start with a 2-1 defeat to Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership in his first match in charge.

The Hoops head coach was thrown in at the deep end, after Martin O’Neill’s interim tenure, and failed to oversee a positive result in his debut in the dugout.

A late goal from Kieran Tierney in stoppage time was too little too late for the hosts, who created three ‘big chances’ in the match (Sofascore), as the Jam Tarts held out for all three points.

Nancy will have learned a lot about his squad in his 3-4-2-1 shape, which was immediately implemented, and one thing that he should have learned is that Daizen Maeda should not play as the striker.

Why Daizen Maeda should not play up front

The Japan international was selected to lead the line for the Scottish giants with Hyun-jun Yang and Sebastian Tounekti as the wing-backs, with Reo Hatate and Benjamin Nygren as the two attacking midfielders.

Maeda missed two ‘big chances’ early on in the game, per Sofascore, scuffing both efforts in presentable situations, and then struggled with the physicality of the match.

Per Sofascore, the Japanese attacker lost all five of his ground duels and three of his four duels in the air, which shows that it was too easy for the Hearts defenders to get the better of him more often than not.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, to his credit, it was his challenged header at the end of the game that created Kieran Tierney’s goal, so some good did come from his physical output.

His overall struggles physically, though, are why the new Celtic boss should use Kelechi Iheanacho or Johnny Kenny, natural number nines, in that position moving forward, with Maeda in one of the roles behind the striker to take some of the physical burden off him.

Maeda was not the only poor performer on the day for the Scottish giants, though, as Arne Engels is the first player who should be ruthlessly dropped from the starting XI by Nancy.

Why Nancy must drop Engels for Celtic

The new Celtic boss must drop the Belgium international from the starting line-up because he was even worse than Maeda in the defeat to Hearts on Sunday.

Like the Japanese striker in the first half, Engels was guilty of missing a huge opportunity in front of goal in the game, as he could only guide his close-range header straight at Alexander Schwolow.

The £11m signing from Augsburg was also incredibly sloppy with his use of the ball throughout the game. Per Sofascore, the central midfielder lost possession a staggering 23 times, whilst Maeda only gave the ball away seven times in total.

Engels was criticised for his “wayward” passes by Sky Sports pundit Chris Sutton during the live coverage of the first half, after a couple of sloppy balls forward that went straight back to the away side.

Minutes

90

90

Touches

86

31

Possession lost

23x

7x

Key passes

2

3

Assists

0

1

Shots

3

2

Big chances missed

1

2

Pass accuracy

76%

85%

As you can see in the table above, Engels had 55 more touches and gave the ball away 16 more times than Maeda across the 90 minutes, yet created fewer chances for the team than the Japan international.

These statistics illustrate just how sloppy the Belgian flop was in the middle of the park for the Scottish giants, and why he should be the first player who is ruthlessly dropped from the team by the manager.

Their respective performances tie into how Nancy could drop him because Maeda moving back into one of the attacking midfield positions would allow Reo Hatate to drop deeper into midfield, with Iheanacho or Kenny essentially replacing Engels in the line-up.

The former Bundesliga talent should not be completely written off under Nancy already, of course, but this period of matches is about the new manager learning about his squad, which means that he needs to look at other players and see who is best suited to his style of play.

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Engels was not good enough against Hearts on Sunday, unfortunately, but he will get more chances to prove himself to the French tactician in the future.

Tottenham have expressed a real interest in signing one star from Barcelona ahead of 2026, according to a new report.

Spurs shortlist attacking targets with big-names on the radar

Spurs are preparing significant investment in attackers for January and beyond, with media sources indicating a new forward or two will definitely arrive at the club next year.

Indeed, Thomas Frank’s side have identified multiple targets as they attempt to revive their campaign.

Tottenham have significant funds available for the right acquisition, with the club willing to test the waters for elite talent. The recruitment team, led by co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange, are expected to prioritise signing a wide forward rather than a central striker, though no final decision has been confirmed as they approach the January window.

Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo remains the primary target, with the Lilywhites now intensifying their interest ahead of January.

The Ghana international has seriously impressed this season with his blistering pace and proficiency, which will definitely appeal to Frank as he seeks to add more creative spark.

Semenyo’s new deal also includes a tempting £65 million release clause which will be active early next month, but this has piqued rumoured interest from the likes of Liverpool and Man City as well.

Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has emerged as another concrete target, viewed alongside Semenyo as possessing the energy and attacking versatility suited to elevating Tottenham’s forward line.

However, sources indicate Ndiaye is considered more likely as a summer acquisition rather than a January signing.

More ambitious names include Real Madrid’s Rodrygo and FC Porto’s Samu Aghehowa.

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Spurs could get him on loan in January.

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Tottenham are believed to be exploring a potential January deal for Rodrygo, who himself would consider a move to north London as he instructs his representatives to find him a new club.

Aghehowa, who’s been in monstrous form since joining Porto from Atlético Madrid in 2024, also has huge admirers at Spurs, amid reports that they’re also prepared to make a winter move for the Spaniard.

Paratici and Lange appear to be drawing up a shortlist of credible attacking targets as the Lewis family look to kickstart a new era post-Daniel Levy, with Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford now also on their radar.

Tottenham 'determined' to sign Barcelona star Marcus Rashford

Rashford finds himself at a career crossroads following his impressive revival at the Camp Nou, with Tottenham now emerging as serious contenders to lure the forward back to the Premier League.

Despite his outstanding form in Spain, Barcelona remain indecisive about the £30 million purchase option in his loan deal from Man United, creating uncertainty that several English clubs are eager to exploit.

His Barça renaissance has persuaded the Calatans’ hierarchy to at least contemplate activating the permanent deal clause, but their precarious financial situation complicates matters.

While the £30 million fee appears affordable on paper, Rashford’s long-term future hangs in the balance, and Spurs could offer him a route to London.

That is according to Spanish media sources, who report that Tottenham have identified Rashford as the ‘ideal’ profile to rejuvenate their attack.

Spanish newspaper AS, as referenced, claim that Spurs are ‘determined’ to sign the 27-year-old and ready to offer him an ‘immediate leading role’ in the team — though any transfer would have to wait until the summer considering he’s still on loan in La Liga.

Rashford’s wages, reported to be around £325,000-per-week, present a pretty major roadblock for Frank’s side, but his proven Premier League experience and versatility would undoubtedly improve the team.

The United academy graduate, during spells of superstardom at Old Trafford, earmarked himself as an England regular before falling out of favour and impressing on loan at Aston Villa last season.

West Ham have reached out to the agents of a player who has the same representatives as Kyle Walker-Peters, with Nuno Espírito Santo’s side weighing up a January move.

West Ham's rumoured transfer plans for January

The Hammers are preparing for a crucial January window as Nuno looks to address the club’s alarming goal-scoring struggles with a significant striker signing.

Given Niclas Fullkrug is poised for the exit door next month, this could be absolutely vital to their hopes of remaining in the Premier League.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Liverpool

The German forward has been a real disappointment since his arrival in 2024, which has been marred by constant spells on the sidelines through injury, and he’s failed to score a single league goal since West Ham’s 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth in April.

Callum Wilson has filled the void brilliantly as of late, bagging three strikes in his last three games, but the Englishman’s own torrid injury history means West Ham need an alternative.

According to some reports, West Ham are in pole position to sign Union Saint-Gilloise striker Promise David in January, with the club having already made contact.

The towering 6 foot 5 forward has netted 62 goals over the past three seasons and represents exactly the type of young, powerful striker Nuno has reportedly identified as essential.

Man United’s Joshua Zirkzee has emerged as another top target, with West Ham identifying the £36.5 million forward as a potential replacement for Fullkrug.

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Insider ExWHUemployee has also claimed that, beyond the addition of a new striker, Nuno’s side are looking at signing a new defender and midfielder in January as well.

West Ham hold talks with Tiago Gabriel's camp ahead of January

Only bottom-side Wolves have conceded more top-flight goals than the east Londoners so far this term, so their leaky backline certainly needs to be addressed.

West Ham could reignite talks over a deal for Toulouse defender Charlie Cresswell, who they came very close to signing in the summer (ExWHUemployee), but Lecce sensation Tiago Gabriel is also attracting their attention.

That is according to INews and journalist Pete Hall, who report that West Ham have made contact with Gabriel’s agents ahead of a potential January move.

The Portugal Under-21 international has impressed in Serie A, so much so that Juventus and Brentford have also held discussions with his camp about a winter transfer.

As things stand, Juve are believed to be the frontrunners for Gabriel as they look to find cover for Gleison Bremer, but West Ham may have a secret weapon.

This is because Gabriel is represented by CAA Base, the same agency that Walker-Peters employs, so the Irons seemingly enjoy a productive relationship with them already.

According to inews, the 20-year-old is currently valued at around £20 million, with Lecce looking to make a seismic profit on the £1.5 million they signed him for last January.

Radha Yadav, Yastika Bhatia and Sayali Satghare, who were part of the previous T20I squad that played against England, have been left out

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2025

G Kamalini has impressed in the U-19s for India•ICC via Getty Images

Teenagers G Kamalini and Vaishnavi Sharma have earned their maiden India call-ups for the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka later this month. Radha Yadav, Yastika Bhatia and Sayali Satghare, who were all part of the previous T20I squad that played against England, have been left out.Wicketkeeper-batter Kamalini, 17, whose heroics in the U-19 Asia Cup in 2024 earned her a WPL deal, played nine matches for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the tournament earlier this year. A big-hitting left-hand batter, she made an eye-catching unbeaten 11 off 8 in just her second match, including the winning four off the penultimate ball, for MI against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. She was one of the five players retained by MI for INR 50 lakh ahead of the WPL 2026 auction. In the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, she finished as the sixth-highest run-scorer with 297 runs in seven games.Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi, 19, finished with the most wickets in the Senior Women’s T20 (21 wickets in 11 games) for Madhya Pradesh, as well as the Senior Women’s Inter-Zonal T20s (12 in five) for Central Zone. She was also the leading wicket-taker during India’s successful U-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year – which Kamalini was also part of – with 17 wickets.Left-arm spinner Radha, who was part of India’s recent ODI World Cup win, finished with four wickets in three games at the tournament. She came in as a replacement for Shuchi Upadhyay for the England tour in June and took six wickets in five games. Wicketkeeper Yastika, meanwhile, was ruled out of the World Cup with a knee injury and has not played any top-flight cricket since August. There are no other surprises in the squad, which will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur.The first two T20Is of the five-match series will take place in Visakhapatnam on December 21 and 23, while Thiruvananthapuram will host the last three games on December 26, 28 and 30.India’s T20I squad vs Sri LankaHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (wk), G Kamalini (wk), N Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.

MatériaMais Notícias

Tradicional, o confronto entre Brasil e México não é fácil para a Seleção Brasileira. Mesmo com a vantagem no histórico geral, os dois times fazem embates ferrenhos desde sempre, e isso não vai ser diferente neste sábado (8), às 22h, no Kyle Field. O encontro será o primeiro desde a Copa de 2018. Relembre!

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Neymar e Firmino decidiram para o Brasil

Em um jogo pegado, Brasil e México decidiam uma vaga nas quartas da Copa do Mundo. Do lado mexicano, as estrelas eram Carlos Vela, Rafa Marquez e, como sempre, Ochoa. Para o Brasil, os nomes de Neymar, Coutinho e Firmino se destacavam.

O México começou o jogo melhor, mas a partida logo ficou equilibrada. Produzindo bastante, o Brasil parou na grande atuação de Ochoa, que já estava engasgado nas gargantas brasileiras desde 2014, em um empate por 0 a 0.

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Em grande fase, Neymar conduzia o time do Brasil. Após um primeiro tempo empatado, o camisa 10 aproveitou cruzamento de William e abriu o placar. No fim, Firmino marcou e definiu o placar de 2 a 0 para o Brasil.

Estatísticas de Brasil x México

São 41 confrontos na história do futebol. Nestes, o Brasil venceu 24, o México venceu 10 e outros sete terminaram empatados. No último encontro, na Copa de 2018, vitória brasileira por 2 a 0, com grande atuação de Neymar e Roberto Firmino, autores dos gols. A última vitória mexicana aconteceu em um amistoso disputado em 2012.

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Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto do Brasil com o México (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

Confira abaixo todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto do Brasil com o México (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅FICHA TÉCNICA
Brasil x México – Amistoso

🗓️Data e horário:sábado, 8 de junho de 2024, às 22h (hora de Brasília)
📍Local:Estádio Kyle Field, no Texas (Estados Unidos)
📺Onde assistir:Globo (TV aberta), SporTV (TV fechada) e Globoplay (streaming)
🟨 Árbitro e assistentes: não divulgado

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES

BRASIL (Técnico:Dorival Jr.)
Bento (Alisson); Yan Couto, Bremer, Beraldo e Guilherme Arana; João Gomes, Douglas Luiz (Bruno Guimarães) e Andreas Pereira; Pepê, Endrick e Gabriel Martinelli.

MÉXICO (Técnico: Jaime Lozano)
José Rangel; Brian García, Victor Guzmán, Jesús Orozco e Gerardo Arteaga; Edson Álvarez e Carlos Rodríguez (Fernando Beltran); Alexis Vega (Roberto Alvarado), Santiago Giménez (Orbelín Pineda) e Uriel Antuna (Cesar Huerta); Guillermo Martínez.

Tudo sobre

MéxicoSeleção Brasileira

Hampshire have recruited Australia allrounder Amanda-Jade Wellington as one of their overseas players for the 2026 season.Wellington, 28, has previous experience of playing at the Utilita Bowl with Southern Brave in the Hundred – she is the second-highest wicket-taker across five seasons of the competition – and joins after a successful campaign with Somerset in the inaugural women’s Tier 1 season earlier this year.”I’m really excited to join Hampshire for the upcoming season,” Wellington said. “I had a great time at Utilita Bowl in my two years at Southern Brave and I look forward to catching up with familiar faces and making new memories which will hopefully result in trophies come end the end of the summer.”Related

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An attacking legspinner and capable batter, Wellington has played 23 times for Australia across all formats, but not since 2022. She is expected to be available throughout the summer for Hampshire.Regional director of women’s cricket, Adam Carty, said: “We’re really pleased to secure Amanda-Jade for the whole of next season. She’s a friend of the club and a vastly experienced cricketer, who boasts a fine record with bat and ball in England having featured effectively in the Hundred and in Tier 1.”We look forward to welcoming her back to Utilita Bowl in 2026.”

Ireland will have to forget a rough Test in Sylhet if they are to spoil Bangladesh and Mushfiqur’s party

Mohammad Isam18-Nov-2025Big picture: Bangladesh look for series sweepThe second and final Test between Bangladesh and Ireland in Dhaka will start off as a celebration of Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test match. Mushfiqur is the first Bangladesh cricketer to reach the milestone, and tributes poured in from current and former team-mates and coaches. Ireland, meanwhile, will no doubt try to spoil the party.Ireland were no match for Bangladesh in the first Test in Sylhet, where they went down by an innings and 47 runs. Only when Paul Stirling and Cade Carmichael batted well on the first day did Ireland look in the game. They crumbled for the rest of the game.Related

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Stirling and Carmichael hit fifties, while Andy McBrine also fought hard to get a half-century in the second innings. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys took an expensive five-wicket haul. But all told, Ireland had a forgettable outing.Bangladesh had plenty of strong performers including Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who returned to the Test side with 171. Mahmudul looked compact at the crease, and opened up his shoulders once he reached his second Test century. Najmul Hossain Shanto also struck a century, his eighth in Tests and fourth as the captain. It was a rapid knock, aided by Litton Das’ stroke-filled 60. Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque also made eighties.It was Bangladesh’s bowling that put them on top in the first place. The spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Hasan Murad took 14 wickets among them. Murad, making his Test debut, bowled tight lengths with found subtle turn from time to time. Fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud too contributed with wickets in both innings.Mushfiqur was the only one in the Bangladesh top five who didn’t get a fifty. Perhaps he is saving one for the big occasion.Form guideBangladesh WLDWL
Ireland LWWWLMahmudul Hasan Joy celebrates his hundred in Sylhet•BCBIn the spotlight: Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Paul StirlingMahmudul Hasan Joy returning to Test cricket with an innings 171 is an encouraging sign for the young batter. He is said to have corrected his technique and worked on his mental make-up after he was dropped earlier this year. He played mainly in front of square on the off side, and struck a few good-looking drives. He looked focused and clearly wanted to play a long innings, which was the promise on which he was brought into the Test side in his debut four years ago.Paul Stirling looked comfortable in both innings in Sylhet, though he couldn’t quite make either a big one. He was enterprising in his handling of Rana in the first innings, cutting and square driving with ease. He had a tougher role in the second innings in Balbirnie’s absence from the top order and was later run out for 43. Stirling will have another major role in Dhaka, particularly because of his ability to handle low, spinning deliveries.Andy McBrine was one of the Ireland batters to give a good account of himself in Sylhet•Bangladesh Cricket BoardTeam news: Teams likely to make one change eachEbadot Hossain could take Rana’s place in the only change in the Bangladesh playing XI.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Murad, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Ebadot HossainGavin Hoey could enter the fray for Ireland, replacing Craig Young in the spinners’ paradise that is Dhaka.Ireland (probable): 1 Cade Carmichael, 2 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 3 Paul Stirling, 4 Harry Tector, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Andy McBrine, 8 Jordan Neill, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Gavin Hoey, 11 Matthew HumphreysPitch and conditions: A spin test as alwaysThe spin fest during the Bangladesh vs West Indies ODI series in Dhaka last month could continue into this Test match. The weather is on the drier side.Stats and trivia: Mahmudul takes second spot Mahmudul’s 171 is the second-highest score by a Bangladeshi opener in Test cricket. Jordan Neill was Ireland’s youngest Test debutant in Sylhet, at 20 years and 69 days. During the Sylhet Test, Taijul became the third Bangladesh bowler after Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque to reach 500 first-class wickets.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly plotting a sensational move for Atletico Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios and are looking to secure a cut-price move for the young midfielder. The 22-year-old has made 16 La Liga appearances for Diego Simeone's side this season and Spurs have identified him as a potential option to offer some variation to their lethargic midfield options.

Spurs chasing Barrios

Thomas Frank is under pressure and may have to dip into the club’s coffers in order to revitalise his squad in the January transfer window. The Dane has had a mixed start to life in north London and has been unable to get much success out of his midfield options thus far this campaign.

Rodrigo Bentancur and Joao Palhinha do not possess the ball carrying or playing abilities to play teams off the park and Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall are still just teenagers. Yves Bissouma, who has apologised after being filmed using nitrous oxide for a second time, also appears on his way out of the club.

According to , Barrios could be the man to fill the void in the Spurs midfield. The Spaniard has a €120 million release clause in his contract, but it is unlikely that the north London side will put that amount down on the table to take Barrios away from Madrid.

The Spanish media outlet report that the club have instead floated a more modest €70 million offer in the direction of Atletico in the hope they could snatch up one of Europe’s more coveted midfielders for a more reasonable fee.

AdvertisementAFPBarrios attracting interest from England

Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly both also interested in the Atletico man, and could look to tempt the Spanish club with offers of their own.

The Reds have been having a difficult season and, despite splashing out on a record-shattering transfer window in the summer off the back of winning the Premier League, may have to fork out yet more money to refresh their squad. Arne Slot’s midfield has failed to match the high standards it set for itself last season. With the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister far below the levels they have been at previously and Florian Wirtz yet to start firing, Liverpool have been unable to replicate last season’s spectacular run to the title.

As for Chelsea, the Blues look once again to be falling short of a serious title challenge. Enzo Maresca has already got two £100 million plus midfielders to call upon in Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandes, but finding the complimentary third option has not always been an easy task. The Italian has fielded Reece James in the centre and Cole Palmer is returning from injury, but other options Andrey Santos and Roméo Lavia have failed to make a serious impact.

Spurs looking to move quickly

Barrios could offer something different to all of the Premier League sides determined to secure his signature. He has been a regular in Simeone’s midfield this season, usually utilised in a midfield two alongside veteran Ateltico legend Koke.

Barrios stood out in the Club World Club and even scored a brace against the Seattle Sounders to truly announce himself to the rest of Europe. The development of the 22-year-old in recent years has made him a highly sought-after central midfielder, and Spurs are keen to secure his services before anyone else.

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Getty Images SportA bidding war for Barrios?

An opening bid by Spurs could be the start of a lengthy battle for the services of Barrios. The midfielder has not given any suggestion that he is seeking to leave the Spanish capital, but may be tempted should one of the big Premier League sides offer a significant pay rise.

With three of the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ circling Barrios, Atletico may drive a hard bargain and look to accrue a fee as close to his lofty release clause as possible with a potential bidding war set to ensue.

Erling Haaland has given a candid response to Norway’s daunting World Cup draw, admitting on social media that he faces a brutal challenge in what supporters are already calling the tournament’s 'group of death'. Next summer’s World Cup will be the largest ever staged, expanding to 48 teams across 12 groups as FIFA introduces a round of 32 for the first time. Yet even within a broadened field, one Group I stands out for its sheer competitiveness.

• Haaland set to clash with Mbappe

  France, Senegal, Norway and the winner of FIFA play-off 2 – one of Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq – have been drawn together. The draw immediately triggered excitement among fans because it finally delivers a long-awaited showdown between Haaland and Kylian Mbappe on the sport’s biggest stage. The Norwegian is heading towards his first World Cup with Norway in fine form, whereas Mbappe, now spearheading Real Madrid’s forward line, continues to produce the kind of numbers that will define a generation of footballing legends. Mbappe already has the ultimate international accolade, having lifted the trophy in 2018 and dazzling again in the 2022 final. Haaland, on the other hand, has been forced to watch from afar as Norway repeatedly missed out, until now.

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• A battle between two extraordinary strikers

  Haaland was ruthless in qualifying, scoring 16 goals in eight games to haul Norway into their first World Cup since 1998. No player on any continent scored more. For a country whose footballing hopes have long rested on promise without fulfilment, Haaland’s numbers were simply historic. Mbappe’s own statistics this season are equally formidable. He has scored 16 times in 15 league matches for Real Madrid and is only two goals away from becoming France’s all-time leading scorer at just 26. Haaland is already Norway’s record marksman and an incredible 22 goals clear of the next highest on his country’s list. At club level, he has 15 goals in 14 appearances for City in the English topflight. 

  He shared his initial reaction on Instagram shortly after the draw was finalised and wrote: "France and Senegal, that’s tough [laughing emoji]. What do you guys think?"

• Deschamps welcomes the Haaland–Mbapps spectacle

  France manager Didier Deschamps was keen to embrace the drama of the inevitable duel. "It will be a great duel," he told reporters. "Both teams have lots of other big names, but of course Kylian and Haaland are two players recognised around the world and they will be two of the contenders to be the top scorer."

  Deschamps was quick to highlight not only the Haaland–Mbappe spectacle but also the renewed significance of France facing Senegal, a flashback to one of the most dramatic opening nights in World Cup history. In 2002, Papa Bouba Diop stunned the world by scoring the winner against the reigning champions, setting in motion a disastrous tournament for Les Bleus as they departed without a single victory.

  "Every World Cup has its own story and we need to make sure this one is as beautiful as possible," added Deschamps. "Of course, as France we have a status and there is a lot of expectation around us, but we need to show respect and humility from the beginning. Before thinking about what is at the top of the mountain, we will need to work our way up gradually and the first steps are difficult."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  When can England face France?

  Given France were among the top four seeds, an eventual meeting with England could only happen in the latter stages of the tournament. England themselves face a challenging route, having been drawn alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

  "We have Croatia and Ghana, two regulars in World Cups, and we have Panama," England manager Thomas Tuchel explained. "I don’t know much about Panama, but we will know everything about them when the tournament starts. For me personally, even in the Champions League, you have to focus on the group – the group is always the most difficult, and we want to escape, and we want to win the group. It’s a tough one."

  Every World Cup fixture will be announced on Saturday evening. 

As every team finished the first half of its schedule last week, and as we head toward the All-Star Game next week, it’s time to take a step back and examine the biggest stories of the first half:

1. 3 x 30 home runs

Cal Raleigh (35), Aaron Judge (33) and Shohei Ohtani (30) have hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break with historic starts. It’s only the fifth time that has happened, the first time since 2019. Judge and Ohtani are the standard-bearers of the sport and the MVP front-runners once again. If they win again, they will have won seven of the last 10 MVPs, reminiscent of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird winning six of seven NBA MVPs in the 1980s.

2. The Cubs are out of hibernation

The Cubs haven’t won a playoff game in eight years. They started 51–35 for the first time since their 2016 championship team and they are an exciting team to watch with their combination of speed and power. They reached 100 homers and 100 steals in 84 games. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, only two teams reached 100–100 faster: the 1995 Reds (84 games) and 2009 Rays (77 games).

3. The Tigers are the best team in the AL

Nine previous Tigers teams started 57–34. Six of them won the pennant. All of them won at least 89 games. Over its past 162 games, Detroit is 100–62. It ranks fifth in MLB in runs per game and third in ERA.

4. A whole lot of nuthin’

We are on a pace for 366 shutouts, which would break the record of 359 set in the Dead Ball Era days of Walter Johnson and Grover Alexander in 1912. O.K., I get it. There are more games now. Only eight of the 204 shutouts this year are complete games by the starter. But pitchers rule.

5. Major markets

Of the top 10 teams in playoff position, seven teams come from the top seven North American markets by population figures, according to the Census Bureau and Canada population sources. They are, 1) the New York Yankees and New York Mets, 2) Los Angeles Dodgers, 3) Chicago Cubs, 5) Houston Astros, 6) Toronto Blue Jays and 7) Philadelphia Phillies. 

6. Blown out elbows (cont’d)

Since spring training, 18 major league pitchers have torn the UCL ligament in their throwing elbow. The list includes Cy Young Award winners Corbin Burnes and Gerrit Cole. Those undergoing Tommy John surgery mostly are getting younger. 

Ten of the 18 pitchers this year in need of Tommy John surgery are between 22 and 29 years old. The attrition of pitchers once was due to poor mechanics and overuse. Both factors have been mitigated over time. Now velocity is the main culprit. Pitchers aren’t wearing out. They are blowing out as they chase velocity at a young age, as happened to Jackson Jobe, 22, (just 286 pro innings, average fastball velocity 96.5 mph) and AJ Smith-Shawver (311.1 IP, 95.6).

This season, MLB already has paid $350 million to pitchers who can’t pitch.

7. The Orioles (40–49) and Braves (39–50) are the biggest disappointments in MLB

They’re cooked. Only three teams have ever made the playoffs with 49 losses in their first 89 games: the 1973 Mets, ’74 Pirates and ’84 Royals.

8. The Rays are a legit contender

They play in a minor league ballpark. They have only eight home games in July and eight home games in August. They rank 26th in payroll. They have no one who makes more than $13 million per year. And yet, there they are in playoff position with the hardest throwing staff in the 18 years of pitch tracking (95.3-mph average fastball, tied with the 2024 Mariners and ’22 Yankees) and causing MLB to sweat about where to play their postseason games if the Rays qualify.

9. The Cy Young Award races are bonkers

You’ve got Paul Skenes, Zack Wheeler and Logan Webb in the NL; and Hunter Brown, Garrett Crochet, Jacob deGrom, Max Fried, Joe Ryan and Tarik Skubal in the AL. Did I mention that pitchers rule?

10. Gambling investigations

Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired for sharing a legal betting account with a friend who bet on baseball, a violation of MLB’s gambling policy. Infielder Tucupita Marcano was banned for life for betting on baseball, including games involving the Pirates, his team last year. Four minor league players were suspended for one year for violating baseball’s gambling policy. Ippei Mizuhara, the former interpreter to Ohtani who had full clearance around MLB facilities, began serving a 57-month sentence in federal prison for stealing nearly $17 million to support his gambling habit. And Guardians pitcher Luis L. Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave while MLB investigates whether he violated its gambling policy. It’s happening in other sports and it’s happening with more frequency. No one should be surprised.

11. Managers fired

The Rockies dismissed Bud Black, the Orioles canned Brandon Hyde, the Pirates got rid of Derek Shelton and the Nationals fired Dave Martinez. A fifth manager, Ron Washington of the Angels, will sit out the rest of this season due to health reasons. That’s nine managers gone inside the past 10 months.

12. The biggest breakout stars

1. Cal Raleigh, Mariners. 2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs. 3. James Wood, Nationals. 4. Junior Caminero, Rays. 5. Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers.

13. The declining fastball (cont’d)

The use of four-seamers and sinkers is hitting a new low—again.

14. The game has reached a pleasant equilibrium

Runs and home runs per game are nearly identical to what they were last year. Strikeouts are down for a second straight season. We are oh so close to seeing more hits (22,321) than strikeouts (22,341) for the first time since 2017, when it was always the way the game was played. The pitch timer, the (very) slightly smaller strike zone and the running game rules have succeeded not in re-inventing baseball but in bringing it back to its better days of aesthetics and ratings. Baseball in 2025 looks a lot like baseball in 1985, and that’s a good thing:

Per Game Comparison

Year	Runs	HR	SB	Avg.	OPS	Time Nine Innings
2025	8.74	2.22	1.44	.245	.715	2:37
1985	8.66	1.72	1.44	.257	.714	2:39

15. The Rockies’ Horror Show

Colorado is on pace to lose 124 games, breaking the modern record (since 1900) set only last year by the White Sox (121), who broke the record of the 1962 Mets (120). 

The Rockies are hitting .208 on the road, which would be the worst by any team in a full season in 117 years. Their starters are 10–51, the worst winning percentage ever from a rotation (.164).