It is 11:29 p.m. in freezing Zenica when Haris Tabaković places the ball on the spot for the decisive World Cup playoff clash between Bosnia and Italy. Facing him is Gianluigi Donnarumma, one of the best goalkeepers of this generation. Gladbach’s loan striker takes one last deep breath, then smashes the ball unstoppably under the crossbar. He screams out his relief, flexes his muscles, and ecstatically thumps his broad Bosnian chest.

Four penalty takers later, his home country sensationally books its World Cup ticket and sends Italy into despair. Also because Tabaković had forced extra time with his goal late in regular time. Now, at 31, he is heading to the World Cup. A scenario that would have been unthinkable a few years ago. Back then, it seemed the train for a big career had already left the station.

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In the spring of 2020, the striker found himself without a contract after suffering a torn ACL at Hungarian club Diósgyőri. Despite being available on a free transfer, finding a new club was no easy task. Many clubs could not or would not take the risk, also because of the coronavirus pandemic and its financial consequences.

In this existential crisis, Alexander Kiene entered the picture. At the time, the German coach was in charge of Austria Lustenau in Austria’s second division and saw the potential in the unattached striker. However, the enthusiasm was not mutual at first: “Haris was initially skeptical because it was only the second division,” Kiene recalls in an interview with ‘Bild’.

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But since Tabaković had gone almost a full year without match practice, he agreed to take the gamble after intensive talks. It proved to be the starting signal for an impressive transformation. According to Kiene, the success was based on three pillars. First, the focus was on mental strength: “We had a lot of one-on-one conversations,” reports the 48-year-old. Tabaković also sought outside help from a mental coach to grow into his new role as a leader.

Secondly, the striker worked relentlessly on his physique to regain trust in his own body after the serious injury. During this time, the Bosnian also put on a considerable amount of muscle mass. The third factor was the tactical system, which was perfectly tailored to him: “We defended high, had short distances to goal, and worked the ball into the box with lots of passes and crosses,” Kiene explains. For him, the collaboration was a “win-win situation for everyone involved.”

The raw numbers prove him right: in 48 competitive matches for Lustenau, Tabaković scored a phenomenal 46 goals and also provided 11 assists. That rate catapulted his career to a new level. Via Austria Wien, he moved to Hertha BSC, where he became the top scorer in the 2. Bundesliga. After a spell at Hoffenheim, he eventually ended up on loan with the Foals on the Lower Rhine.

There, he personally also made a very good start. In 26 matches, he has managed 11 goals and four assists. That also makes him Gladbach’s top scorer this season. Although he has now gone five Bundesliga matches without scoring, he recently showed — not least in the national team shirt — that he has certainly not lost his nose for goal.

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A development that does not surprise his biggest and perhaps most important mentor: “In the end, he achieved all of this because he is a complete professional who truly lives for football,” says Kiene. In his private life as well, Tabaković leaves nothing to chance, continuing his education in FIFA sports management courses and reading specialist literature on entrepreneurship.

When Tabaković returns from the national team full of confidence and self-belief, the focus will clearly shift back to the Bundesliga and Borussia. In the home game against bottom side Heidenheim, he will want to end his little dry spell. Not only would a win mean another huge step toward safety, but with every additional goal, the loan striker strengthens his case for staying permanently in Mönchengladbach. Even though Gladbach do not have a purchase option for the 31-year-old, a permanent move is not out of the question. Tabaković is still under contract at Hoffenheim until 2027.

“For now, it’s still an open and honest ‘I don’t know,’” Tabaković told ‘RP online’ when asked about his future. “There haven’t been any talks, so I really can’t say anything about it. The eight games can still change a lot, including the perspective of sporting directors, if I put myself in their shoes. I don’t know what will happen,” he adds.

Still, a certain degree of planning certainty would not be unwelcome for him, as he reveals in the same interview. After all, this summer he has other commitments too — together with Edin Džeko and company.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

World boxing champion Lauren Price says the structure in her life is what gives her the “confidence” to win.

Price splits her time between her home in Wales and her training camp in Sheffield, living away from her family and partner in the build-up to a fight.

On Saturday she will fight in front of a home crowd in Cardiff to defend her titles against Stephanie Pineiro.

READ MORE: Price v Pineiro, Chisora v Wilder – all you need to know

Watch Price v Pineiro on Saturday from 17:00 BST on BBC iPlayer and from 22:00 on BBC Two.

Northampton Saints reached the Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals after a battling 49-41 win over Castres.

French side Castres raced into a 12-0 lead after only 10 minutes through tries from Christian Ambadiang and Theo Chabouni, before Saints were awarded a penalty try with the lively Ambadiang shown a yellow card for a high tackle.

Castres were reduced to 13 players when lock Guillaume Ducat caught Henry Pollock in the ruck to receive another yellow, but they increased their lead with a penalty before Danilo Fischetti went over as Saints went in at half-time trailing 15-14.

The hosts led for the first time five minutes into the second half when Archie McParland’s pass sent Josh Kemeny over, and the lead was increased to 13 when Tommy Freeman got on the scoresheet.

The deficit was back to one after tries from Tyler Ardron and Vuate Karawalevu, but scores by George Furbank and McParland put Saints back in charge.

Vilimoni Botitu reduced the arrears to eight, but Castres lost Veresa Ramototabua to the sin bin and Northampton took advantage when Fraser Dingwall crashed over.

Ambadiang had the last word with a final-minute burst from halfway, but Saints were home and hosed by then as they booked a tie with either Bath or Saracens in the last eight.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

Virat Kohli has returned to the Indian Premier League with immediate impact, delivering a match-winning performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their season opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The veteran batter appears focused on helping RCB defend the title they secured for the first time last season. Interestingly, Kohli entered the tournament without a prolonged preparation phase. After India’s last ODI assignment in January, he took a break before travelling to England and has since been spending more time in London with his family. The move, aimed at staying away from the constant spotlight in India, hasn’t impacted his performances, as he continues to deliver on the field. However, his decision to base himself in London has sparked chatter on social media, with some even poking fun at the situation. Addressing the buzz in a light-hearted exchange with Danish Sait, who appeared in his popular Mr Nags persona, Kohli was asked about the jokes suggesting RCB were fielding five overseas players. Kohli, smiling, brushed it off with humour: “I don’t know, why are you asking me? Ask the overseas players. I am not an overseas player. Am I an overseas player?” Reflecting on RCB’s long-awaited title win, Kohli spoke about the emotional release that followed years of near-misses. Winning the trophy in his 18th season with the franchise brought a sense of relief that he had long chased. “I had heard of this statement or this saying, four years, monkey off the back. That night I really felt what it means. Everything became light,” he added. The former India captain also offered a deeper perspective on what success represents after years of dedication and perseverance. For Kohli, victory is not just about the result but about validation of the effort invested over time. “Victory is the accumulation of hard work, all the sacrifices you’ve made, to be committed to the sport. It all comes together as a form of assurance, a reward, to know that you haven’t wasted your time. A lot of people learn from losses, but a lot of people can get very disheartened as well. So when you win after a lot of hard work, it makes you feel a sense of justice to the work that you put in, and also gives you motivation to work harder,” Kohli said.

In a busy opening period, neither side could really establish an early foothold on the game.

Cliftonville went close midway through the half when Jonny Addis’ low free-kick from just outside the penalty area brushed the outside of the side netting on its way past.

As the Reds began to gain some form of dominance, Rory Hale’s inch-perfect through ball sent Brian Healy clear of the Dungannon rearguard but Danny Wallace recovered superbly to poke the ball behind for a corner at full stretch.

Dungannon posed little threat to the Cliftonville goal in the opening 45 minutes with Gael Bigirimana’s long-range shot straight at Reds keeper PJ Morrison.

The Swifts first clear-cut opening of the game came just after the hour mark when Dillon’s pinpoint ball from midfield sent full-back Shea Gordon clear behind the Cliftonville defence, but his shot lacked conviction and Morrison was able to save with his outstretched foot.

At the other end, Rory Hale created half a yard of space before finding Liam McStravick with a pass, but the attacker’s tame shot was always straight at Declan Dunne.

Dungannon spurned another big opening late on as Gordon once again got himself into an advanced position and when his initial shocked was saved by Morrison, the ball bounced up but substitute Andrew Mitchell could only loop his header onto the top of the net.

Rodney McAree’s side enjoyed their best spell at the start of extra-time and were rewarded on 98 minutes when Mitchell cut the ball back from the right-hand side of the penalty area into the path of the in-rushing Kealan Dillon, who smashed a shot high into the net past Morrison.

Cliftonville had penalty appeals waved away in the second period of extra time after referee Morrison adjudged that Cahal McGinty had blocked Keevan Hawthorne’s low cross with his body rather than a hand.

But there was one final twist in stoppage time at the end of extra time as Hawthorne’s corner was bundled home at the near post via a combination of Joe Sheridan and defender Danny Wallace with what proved the last action of the game.

In the penalty shootout, Dungannon scored all four of their penalties while Sheridan saw his effort saved and Wilson dragged his effort wide of the post.

Vikings Territory Breakdown

The NFL owners and coaches met in Arizona this past week for the annual league meetings, and that means media access to some of the teams’ top personnel. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell spoke and intimated his plans for the Purple’s 2026 quarterbacks (it needs a year attached to it since it generally changes every season for this organization). In KO speak, it was shrouded in a bit of non-committal verbiage, of course, but that won’t stop us from talking about it.

We also heard from owner Mark Wilf, who spoke with KFAN’s Paul Allen about the Vikings’ efforts to bring the NFL Draft to Minneapolis in 2028. We will talk about that exciting prospect, as well.

Furthermore, several rules changes were voted on, and there were even rumblings of a potential lockout of referees this season, due to some troublesome negotiations. But with the advent of eye-in-the-sky technology ever improving, is now the right time for the zebras to take a stand? Perhaps they need to huddle up and discuss it to make the right call, like we see happen so many times on the field each Sunday. 

Regardless, the fellas at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com, and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—will talk about the annual meeting news—plus some bits of personnel news coming out of TCO Performance Center. Tune in and check it all out. Skol! 

Listen to Vikings Territory Breakdown here or on your favorite podcast network.

Joe Oberle is a veteran sportswriter/editor/reporter and has covered the Vikings since 2008. The author of three books, he … More about Joe Oberle

Manchester United still have some time before they are back in action due to their early exit from the FA Cup

Manchester United are set for an extended break as the international hiatus concludes. Michael Carrick’s team won’t be participating in FA Cup action this weekend.

United’s last match was on March 20, when they were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Bournemouth. The club’s next fixture is scheduled for April 13, when they will host Leeds United.

Players will gradually return after representing their nations during the break, a period which saw Marcus Rashford rejoin the England squad under Thomas Tuchel. The 28-year-old started the opening friendly against Uruguay and made a substitute appearance in the 1-0 defeat to Japan.

Rashford may now have the chance to clock up vital playing time at Barcelona over the weekend, but manager Hansi Flick has issued him a significant message. The Manchester Evening News brings you the latest from Old Trafford.

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Marcus Rashford receives manager’s caution

Rashford moved to Barcelona on an initial loan agreement last summer and has flourished under head coach Flick. His future remains somewhat uncertain, with a £26million purchase option reportedly still in play.

However, he has found himself consigned to the bench in recent months following Raphinha’s return from injury. But with the Brazilian suffering another setback, Rashford could seize the opportunity.

Addressing this ahead of their clash against Atletico Madrid on Saturday night, Flick does acknowledge he has several options to replace Raphinha, however.

He said: “It’s an injury, and that’s part of football. We have to accept it. It hasn’t come at the best time, which saddens us, and now we’ll have to see how we manage it.

“I’m happy with Marcus. He’s performing well. He’s had some physical problems in recent weeks, but now’s an opportunity for him. We also have other options like Fermin [Lopez] or Gavi, who’s playing at a very high level. We’ll see what we decide, because we have several choices.”

Morgan Rogers makes transfer decision

One of Rashford’s international colleagues, Morgan Rogers, could be set for a move this summer. The Sun report that Rogers is willing to depart Aston Villa in the forthcoming window amid interest from several top-flight clubs.

United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are all understood to be interested parties and the report claims Rogers has determined he wants to join a side that can regularly compete for silverware.

Villa will reportedly not obstruct the player should he desire to leave and would demand at least £80m for Rogers, whom they acquired for an initial £8m from Middlesbrough.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL

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Graham Potter said he will “dust off my cowboy hat” after fulfilling his short-term mission to get Sweden to the World Cup.

The English coach was hired by Sweden in October after the national team’s abject qualifying campaign that contained two draws and four defeats from its six group games.

The Swedes were afforded a second chance to qualifying through the playoffs by virtue of winning its lowly Nations League group the previous year and they took full advantage, beating Ukraine in the semifinals on Thursday and then Poland 3-2 in Stockholm on Tuesday.

Sweden will be playing Tunisia, the Netherlands, and then Japan in Dallas in Group F at the World Cup being held across the United States, Canada and Mexico starting in June.

Potter said it was an “incredible” feeling, adding: “I’m going to have a beer and then think, Wow, we’re going to Dallas.’ I’ll have to dust off my cowboy hat, won’t I?” 
Viktor Gyokeres grabbed Sweden’s decisive goal in the 88th minute against Poland, which twice came from behind and looked the likelier winner heading into the final minutes.

“We weren’t perfect, but who cares?” Potter said. “We’re going to the World Cup, baby. Wow. Yeah, I can’t analyze it.” 
After a turbulent six years working in the Premier League with Brighton, Chelsea and then West Ham, Potter took his first job in international soccer with Sweden.

It was the country where his coaching journey began in earnest – back in 2011 at Ostersund, a small, unheralded team that he guided from the fourth tier to Sweden’s top division.

Now he’s going to the World Cup.

Potter will hope to regain some of his top players who missed the playoffs because of injury, including Liverpool’s Alexander Isak and Tottenham’s Dejan Kulusevski.

Judd Trump swept to a commanding 10-4 victory over Neil Robertson but expressed concern about his cue tip as he reached the final of the Tour Championship in Manchester.

World number one Trump laid the platform for his success in Friday’s afternoon session which he dominated to establish a 7-1 lead, before finishing the job in the evening.

Trump, who will be making a first appearance in the final of the event, set the tone with breaks of 87, 94 and 113 as he registered 294 unanswered points in the opening three frames.

He will face either world champion Zhao Xintong or Scotland’s John Higgins in Sunday’s final which begins at 13:00 BST.

“I started off well in the first three frames and after that it went a bit downhill so I am pleased to get over the line,” Trump said on 5Action.

“I have been struggling with my tip for the whole tournament. Somehow I have had a good run and Neil struggled a bit and that was the difference.”

Armed with his hefty lead, Trump made sure he carried focus into the evening session.

The Tour Championship launched in 2019 and this is the eighth edition, with Robertson a two-time former winner, so Trump knew he was not to be underestimated.

“In my eyes Neil loves to win 10-0 so I wanted to beat him 10-1 or give myself something to focus on so he didn’t get back in it,” said the 36-year-old Englishman.

“At this point you want to beat everyone with the World Championship just around the corner. Whoever I play in the final it will be an amazing game.”

After Trump built on his brisk start to develop a 6-0 lead, Australia’s Robertson celebrated with the crowd when he won frame seven.

While Robertson reduced his arrears to 7-3 by winning the first two frames when play resumed in the evening, Trump closed the door on any prospect of a full-scale fightback with runs of 87 and 75 to move 9-3 ahead.

He then traded frames with his opponent to set up a mouth-watering finale to the tournament against Zhao or reigning champion Higgins, who begin their semi-final at 13:00 BST on Saturday.

This is the final event for snooker’s elite players before the World Championship begins in Sheffield on 18 April.

With three runs under her belt post-spell, Lingani is geared up to deliver her best at Oakbank.

Success at the testing Oakbank venue requires track experience.

The mare Lingani lacks a race there at the Adelaide Hills track, yet her husband-and-wife trainers Peter and Belinda Blanch have no concerns for her entry in Saturday’s Listed Railway Stakes (1100m).

Prior Oakbank trials have gone perfectly for Lingani, with wins in her two goes, as per Belinda Blanch who affirmed the mare’s readiness to fire.

Her fourth start this time in comes Saturday, where Blanch described the mare’s consistent racing despite misfortune.

Last time out, she was seventh across the line in Morphettville’s Listed Manihi Stakes (1100m) on March 9.

“She needed a couple of runs to get going as she’s a bit older and a bit bigger now after a decent spell,” Blanch said.

“Her last start was much better than it looked. She got in all sorts of trouble when she was held up from the entrance to the straight to the 100-metre mark.

“She went looking for four or five runs and everything kept closing up on her.

“From my point of view, watching it live, she was full of running and wanted to be there, in the zone, but couldn’t get the run through.

“When she did get clear, she couldn’t pick herself up, she needed time to wind up.

“We put her out for a week after that to give her a freshen up with the plan then to go to the Railway Stakes.”

Fitness was confirmed last week with a winning trial at Strathalbyn for the upcoming Saturday assignment.

“It was raining when I got there, which was great, because she loves it, and she trialled really well,” Blanch said.

“Any rain (on Saturday) would be great. Peter and Belinda Blanch

“She’s won a couple of trials at Oakbank and if they can handle that hill, then that’s half the battle.”

In addition, the Blanches will saddle Lingani’s younger half-sister Boolcunda Dawn in Oakbank’s opening race, The Shillabeer (1400m), on Saturday.

Boolcunda Dawn scored over that course and distance on March 18 last time.

“She won there last start and we’re hoping she can go close again,” Blanch said.

“She’s also a big horse and has taken a bit of time to mature and come into her own and we think there are better things in store for her.”

Visit betting sites to find the top racing betting markets for the Railway Stakes featuring Lingani.