England vs. Argentina: A Legendary Rivalry Returns in World Cup Semifinals
Two of international soccer’s fiercest rivals — England and Argentina — are set to face off in the World Cup semifinals in Atlanta. The winner will advance to face Spain in the championship match on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The rivalry between the two nations stretches back to 1962, but tensions truly boiled over during England’s 1-0 quarterfinal victory four years later. Argentina captain Antonio Rattin, whose passing was announced on Saturday, was ejected from that heated contest. England went on to claim its one and only World Cup title. Other memorable moments in the rivalry include Diego Maradona’s notorious “Hand of God” goal in 1986 and David Beckham’s red card in 1998.
Messi Chasing Golden Boot Glory Against England
Lionel Messi enters the World Cup semifinal against England with a chance to pull ahead of Kylian Mbappé in the race for the tournament’s top scorer award, known as the golden boot. Both players are currently tied with eight goals. Messi also holds the all-time World Cup scoring record with 21 goals, making him the primary threat England must neutralize in Atlanta. At 39 years old, this could be Messi’s final World Cup appearance. A victory would also allow him to surpass Argentine legend Diego Maradona by claiming a second World Cup title, following Argentina’s triumph in Qatar in 2022. Argentina is additionally seeking to become the first nation to win back-to-back World Cup championships since Brazil did so in 1958 and 1962.
Yzerman Steps Down as Red Wings General Manager
Steve Yzerman has unexpectedly resigned as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, transitioning into an advisory role to CEO Chris Ilitch. The move comes just weeks after reports surfaced that team captain Dylan Larkin had requested a trade. The Red Wings announced that a search for new leadership of hockey operations is already in progress. Yzerman played his entire 22-year Hall of Fame career in Detroit from 1983 to 2006, leading the team to three Stanley Cup championships. He later served as a successful general manager in Tampa Bay before returning to Detroit in 2019.
ACC Overhauls Tiebreaker Rules After Controversial Championship Berth
The Atlantic Coast Conference is changing how it determines which teams qualify for its football championship game, following last season’s disputed outcome that allowed a five-loss Duke squad to edge out then-No. 10-ranked Miami for a spot in the title game. That decision put the Hurricanes in jeopardy of missing the College Football Playoff. Under the new format, when head-to-head results cannot break a tie, the team with the strongest overall resume will earn the conference championship berth and the league’s automatic College Football Playoff bid. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said the determination will be based on a SportSource Analytics metric already used by the CFP.
Fleetwood a Fan Favorite at British Open on His Home Turf
Few outcomes at this week’s British Open at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, would generate more excitement than a victory by Tommy Fleetwood. The golfer, known for his long hair and warm personality, grew up just a short distance from the course in this golf-rich corner of northwest England and is considered a local hero. As a child, Birkdale was largely off-limits to Fleetwood — he only got to play it on rare occasions when he quietly joined his father during evening dog walks. His early golf days were spent at a modest municipal club just down the road in Southport.
At the British Open, the Ground Game Is the Big Story
The debate over how far golf balls travel has persisted for years, but at the British Open, the conversation centers less on distance through the air and more on how far the ball rolls along the ground. The 154th Open Championship tees off Thursday on the dry, sun-baked links of Royal Birkdale, with hot and sunny weather expected to make the course play even faster. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is among the players who say the firm conditions demand creative decision-making on every shot. Scheffler also took a notable swipe at some of the recent changes made to the game.
France Falls to Spain in World Cup Semifinal Despite High Expectations
Despite entering the match with what appeared to be enough offensive talent to break down Spain’s defense, France was shut out in a 2-0 semifinal defeat at the home stadium of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday. France coach Didier Deschamps, who had previously announced this would be his last World Cup, has won the tournament both as a player and a coach. He acknowledged being part of many joyful moments in the sport, but said this game “was not such a moment.” France will now face the loser of the England-Argentina semifinal in the third-place match on Saturday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Wimbledon Women’s Final Draws Record ESPN Viewership
The thrilling Wimbledon women’s final between Linda Noskova and Karolina Muchova drew the largest audience ever for a women’s championship match at the grass-court Grand Slam on ESPN. The all-Czech showdown on Saturday averaged 1.9 million viewers — a 48% jump from last year’s final, in which Iga Swiatek defeated Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in just 57 minutes. Noskova squandered five match points and a 5-2 second-set lead before ultimately winning 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Meanwhile in Italy, the men’s final featuring Jannik Sinner — the country’s most popular athlete — drew an average of 4.2 million viewers as he captured his fifth Grand Slam title.
Waerenskjold Wins Fastest-Ever Tour de France Stage
Norwegian cyclist Soeren Waerenskjold claimed victory in Stage 11 of the Tour de France, edging out Olav Kooij, Jasper Philipsen, and a pack of other riders in a sprint finish on the relatively short and flat 161.3-kilometer (100.2-mile) route from Vichy to Nevers in central France. It marks the 26-year-old’s first career stage win, coming just one day after he crashed during the hilly stage to Le Lioran. Overall leader Tadej Pogačar, who had extended his advantage to more than three and a half minutes with his third stage win of the race the day prior, finished safely in the pack alongside top rival Jonas Vingegaard to protect his lead.
Young Venezuelan Baseball Prospect Trains On Despite Earthquake Devastation
Last month’s earthquakes in Venezuela left a trail of destruction, claiming thousands of lives and displacing roughly 18,000 people in the hardest-hit state of La Guaira. With many baseball fields converted into makeshift camps for the displaced, an abandoned baseball stadium has become a gathering place where young players continue to train, grieve, and find comfort in the sport. Venezuela has historically produced many Major League Baseball stars, and coaches remain hopeful that some of these young athletes still have a path to professional careers despite the enormous hardship they have endured.
