John O’Shea says he is confident the Republic of Ireland can carry the momentum gained in November into Thursday’s World Cup play-off semi-final against the Czech Republic (19:45 GMT).
In danger of missing out, the Republic of Ireland pulled off stunning victories over Portugal and Hungary to reach this stage.
The 3-2 win in Budapest was a rare success on the road for the Republic of Ireland, but O’Shea has faith that the players can replicate that heroic performance and keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup for the first time since 2002.
“Without a doubt, but you have to reinforce that [idea of momentum] straightaway,” said O’Shea.
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“The boss [Heimir Hallgrimsson] had a meeting with the boys this morning and we’ll reinforce that in the training sessions and video meetings we’ll have over the next couple of days to transport themselves back to that moment in Hungary, but then fast forward to what’s ahead of us in Prague, tough opposition but one we can have success against.”
The Republic of Ireland will set up a play-off final at home to Denmark or North Macedonia on 31 March with victory in Prague.
There are no fresh injury concerns from the weekend’s club action following Hallgrimsson’s squad announcement on Thursday.
“The boys are in a good place,” added O’Shea, who won 118 Republic of Ireland caps but was not included in the 2002 World Cup squad.
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“Training today was almost reminding me of that cup final scenario. Everyone’s wanting to get into the team, the intensity, the noise and the atmosphere around the boys is brilliant.
“There’s a quiet confidence in the group growing together, it’s great to see but we know there’s a lot of hard work to come.”
Tyler Reddick continued his dominant start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series with his fourth win of the season at Darlington, drawing praise from rivals, including Ryan Blaney. The 23XI Racing driver has been the benchmark early in the year, and his latest performance in the Goodyear 400 only reinforced that.
Reddick sits at the top of the NASCAR standings with 325 points. He has led the most laps (189) this season, secured three poles, and hasn’t finished beyond 13th so far. Across track types, the No. 45 Toyota has consistently shown speed that others have struggled to match.
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Ryan Blaney, who sits second in the standings, admitted that he has no clear answer to Reddick’s pace advantage. When asked what sets the 23XI driver apart, he said:
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“I don’t know. He just goes faster… I wish I could point something out, but he’s just faster. And Tyler is an amazing racecar driver. Always has been. And they’ve got it going on over there right now. And momentum is a big thing. Once they find something, it’s a big thing. And pair that with a really good team, really good race car driver, you’re going to get this stuff.” (2:55 onwards)
Tyler Reddick’s Darlington win highlighted that advantage. Despite dealing with an alternator issue in the opening stretch, running without his cooling system, and dropping back after a battery change, he still drove through the field. His pace on long runs allowed him to erase a late deficit and pass Brad Keselowski for the win.
Even within his own team, the performance stood out. Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing, admitted that the No. 45 had an edge in every phase of the corner.
“He was faster on the entry, the middle and the exit. I do not know. I’ll study it and try to learn something from it because clearly they got it figured out,” he said via FOX.
“Tyler is a great driver. You shouldn’t take anything away from that. But they’re clearly up on horsepower and downforce right now, and he’s making that count. So he deserves a lot of credit.”
Ryan Blaney, meanwhile, was one of the big performers of the Goodyear 400 behind Tyler Reddick, turning his own race into a recovery drive to a third-place finish.
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Ryan Blaney recovers from setbacks to secure strong Darlington finish behind Tyler Reddick
Ryan Blaney (12) and Tyler Reddick (12) – NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400. Source: Getty
Ryan Blaney’s race was defined by execution swings rather than pace limitations. After starting seventh, he moved early and finished Stage 1 in third, challenging at the front. However, a pit road penalty between stages dropped him deep in the field.
The No. 12 Team Penske responded with steady progress through Stage 2, climbing back to 12th. Another issue on pit road later in the race again shuffled him to the back, but Blaney worked his way forward again.
“I’m proud of us keeping our head down all day and finishing where we did. I thought the 45 (Tyler Reddick) was probably the best guy by a little bit, and then I thought me and the 6 (Brad Keselowski) were pretty kind of close right behind him. I think the three of us were kind of the class of the field, and us three finished top three. So, I was just happy,” he said post race. (onwards)
The result moved Ryan Blaney up to second in the standings with 230 points. The series now heads to Martinsville Speedway, a track where Blaney has historically been strong, while Tyler Reddick is still searching for his first win.
Selected first by the Philadelphia 76ers are part of their infamous “trust the process” era in 2017, Fultz never fulfilled the promise of his prospect pedigree, flaming out after two injury-marred seasons in Philly.
He was traded to the Orlando Magic at the 2019 trade deadline and went on to spend five seasons bouncing between a starting role and the bench.
Fultz moved to the Sacramento Kings last season, but he 28-year-old combo guard averaged only 8.8 minutes over 21 games. He holds career averages of 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 255 games spread over eight season.
The Upper Marlboro, Md., native has also shot just 28 per cent from three-point range for his career on an average of 1.2 attempts per game.
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Fultz was claimed off waivers by the Raptors G League affiliate, Raptors 905, on March 6 and played five games with the team, averaging 9.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game. He made a game-winning shot against the Motor City Cruise on March 17.
Fultz could see minutes as a depth guard for the Raptors as they seek players who can break down a defence with their dribble, one of Fultz’s primary skills.
Carlos Alcaraz has shared his thoughts after his defeat at the Miami Open 2026, admitting that while he played well, Sebastian Korda stepped up when it mattered most.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz pointed to the key moments where things slipped away:
“I think I just played a good match, I would say. Some moments that he just played great and I didn’t play a good point on a lot of 30-30 points, 40-40, advantage… that I just didn’t make it.”
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He was quick to give credit to Korda’s level in those situations:
“We have to see the other side of the net. I think those points Sebi played such great points. Such a great level.”
Despite the loss, Alcaraz remains positive about his overall progress in the tournament:
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“I talked with my team a little bit. We saw in our game what I did great and what I did good… what I was practicing. I think I just did it really well.”
“In this tournament I started to feel better and better. The process has been good, besides the loss today, but I think I’m still in the right way.”
He also addressed the challenge of facing opponents who raise their level against him:
“Well, it’s not really good to be honest. It’s a bit annoying . But you know, you have to accept it. You have to keep it going and try your best.”
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Alcaraz admitted he couldn’t find the solution on the day, despite having chances:
“Today to be honest, I couldn’t find that way. But I know from now on they’re going to play like that. I’ve gotta be ready.”
Still, he sees it as part of the challenge going forward:
“Even though he was playing, I would say, above his normal level, I was there. A lot of 30-30. A lot of 40-40. A lot of break points. I didn’t make it but I just gotta see that point of view.”
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Looking ahead, the Spaniard is clear on what needs to improve:
“I will try to play better on those moments and those points. I’ll try not to let them stay on the match. I will try to push them to the limit even more.”
Travis Kelce is officially back for his 14th season.
The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Monday that the 11-time Pro Bowl tight end had put pen to paper on a new deal to return to the only NFL team he’s ever played for.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Kelce’s new deal is for three years worth $54.735 million, and can go up to $57.735 million.
Kelce was still uber-productive in his age-36 season last season, posting 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns.
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The future Hall of Famer registered seven consecutive 1,000-plus-yard seasons from 2016-22, and his rookie season — when he appeared in just one game — was the lone year he failed to reach 800 yards.
Kelce is among the all-time greats at tight end, ranking third in catches and yards, and fifth in TDs.
Over his 13-year career, Kelce has been named to four First-Team All-Pros, the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team and is a three-time Super Bowl champion.
Monaco’s Valentin Vacherot hits a return against USA’s Ben Shelton during their men’s singles match on day seven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2026. (Photo by IZHAR KHAN / AFP via Getty Images) / — IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE —
Valentin Vacherot is building momentum again.
The Monaco star defeated Matteo Berrettini 7–6, 6–4 at the Miami Open 2026, to book his place in the Round of 16.
It’s another strong statement from a player who already made history last year, becoming the lowest-ranked Masters champion ever when he won in Shanghai as world No. 204.
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Now sitting at a career-high ranking of No. 25, Vacherot is showing that run was no fluke.
This latest win marks:
His third Masters 1000 Round of 16 appearance
His first-ever Round of 16 in Miami
There’s a sense of familiarity about his run: the confidence, the control, the belief.
The NFL draft is getting closer and that means pro days are all the rage. For the Dallas Cowboys, one of the positions they have been heavily checking on has been cornerback, and one of their favorite targets may have just run himself out of contention for being the 12th pick overall.
Mansoor Delane blazed both of his 40-yard dashes at LSU’s pro day, which may have checked the last box for him to be considered the no-brainer top CB in the draft. One sub 4.4 run could have been luck, but there’s nothing fluky about running two.
The Cowboys and Delane have been linked in the draft community since the pre-draft process has begun. The standout corner has been a popular name for the Cowboys with their top first-round selection but recently it’s been difficult to fathom Delane making it all the way to the 12th pick. Now, with the timed speed at his pro day, it might make it nearly impossible for Delane to be an option for Dallas.
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Already expected to be the first CB off the board in late April, this could make Delane’s draft stock fit safely inside the top 10. Coupled with the CB needy teams ahead of the Cowboys in the draft and the dreams of Delane wearing the star appear gone. The Kansas City Chiefs at pick nine could be the floor for a CB who has checked every category in the draft toolbox.
The Cowboys covered some of their CB needs by signing Cobie Durant to pair with DaRon Bland and Shavon Revel, but Delane could have been a walk-in starter. Drafting Delane considering Bland’s injury history and status, coupled with Revel’s continued come back from an ACL injury would have given the defense a more stable CB room.
There will be other options for the Cowboys at CB in the draft, but the consensus top prospect looks like he’s too good to be available with the 12th pick in the first round. Everybody wants to be a Cowboy, until they need to tank their pro day to become one!
Jokes aside, Delane is a great prospect and would have been a home run pick for the Cowboys at 12 overall. That’s not likely to happen anymore, and if the Cowboys do want Delane, a trade up might have to be the route to get it done.
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Dallas traded up for an LSU CB once, if they want Delane, they likely have to do it again.
There have been calls for Michael Carrick to get the Manchester United job on a permanent basis in the summer with the club aiming for Champions League qualification.
Of his 10 games in charge, United have won seven, drawn two and lost just one. Those results have seen the side climb up to third place in the Premier League table and put themselves in the driving seat for Champions League qualification.
Sky Sports reports that if United achieve that, then it would be ‘very hard’ for club chiefs to opt for another change in the managerial seat. It is, however, added that chiefs will continue to ignore calls for the appointment to be made permanent until they are ‘convinced’ that it is the right move.
United are reported to be reluctant to rush into a decision over the next manager while the team are in good form and performing well. As well as Carrick, United continue to be linked with other potential permanent managers.
Current Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and former Marseille and Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi are among the favourites to take the role behind Carrick.
Sky Sports reports that the club are yet to make contact with any possible candidate and are keen to take their time over the decision.
Despite the impressive results since Carrick has taken over, United legend Roy Keane still wants the club to go in a different direction. When asked if he would give Carrick the role following the recent 3-1 win over Aston Villa, the Irishman said: “No, I think there are better options out there.
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“I think the games that he has come in, he has won football matches and done a very good job. He has simplified things, but there has been no jeopardy in those games. They’ve had free weeks to prepare for those matches, it has been good timing for him, and he has done a very good job. I take my hat off to him.
“And if he does get the job in the summer, good luck to him. But I think there are far better options out there for the next manager of Man United.
“If Carrick had been mentioned three months ago as the next United manager you’d have been locked up. He wasn’t even in the reckoning! But with time he has got the opportunity and he has done a very good job. I just think there are better options out there.
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“Most players do like a caretaker manager. It’s different when he comes in and has to make a decision about contracts, pre-season and medical staff, transfers and recruitment.
“I think to manage Manchester United, you need someone a lot more experienced in terms of winning trophies, competing in Europe and he hasn’t got that. He might have that in a few years, and he might be in the mix then, but the fact he’s winning football matches at the moment of course gives him a great chance.
“So everyone else can get giddy about Man United being third in the league but I don’t. I’m not one of them. I don’t get all excited for stuff like that. I get excited when teams are winning trophies and competing week in, week out. So, I’m not one to get too giddy.”
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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Indian shuttlers Tanvi Sharma and Isharani Baruah bowed out in the women’s singles semifinals after suffering straight-game losses at the Orleans Masters Super 300 badminton tournament here on Saturday.
Unable to rein in her errors, 17-year-old Tanvi, a World Junior Championships silver medallist, went down 9-21 16-21 in 35 minutes to former world champion and fifth seed Nozomi Okuhara of Japan.
Later, 22-year-old Isharani went down 12-21 21-23 to Thailand’s Pitchamon Opatniputh, the 2023 World Junior Championships, bringing curtains down on India’s campaign in the USD 250,000 event.
Tanvi had come into the match with confidence, having beaten Okuhara, a 2016 Olympic bronze medallist, at the Syed Modi International last year in a thrilling three-game contest.
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Known for her long rallies, Okuhara opened up a 3-0 lead and moved to 6-3 as Tanvi committed a string of unforced errors. The Japanese used her deception effectively, while Tanvi struggled with her length, trailing 6-11 at the interval.
Okuhara constructed her rallies smartly, moving Tanvi around the court and finishing with steep smashes. The Indian looked out of sorts as most of her strokes went wide or long, allowing Okuhara to surge to 19-7.
A cross-court smash briefly kept Tanvi in the contest before Okuhara earned multiple game points and sealed the opening game when the Indian hit long.
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After the break, Okuhara again raced to a 3-0 lead as Tanvi’s forehand continued to let her down, with shots going wide, long, or into the net.
The Indian showed brief resistance, producing a fine net shot and smash combination at 4-7 and later clawing back to 12-12 after a series of errors from Okuhara.
However, the Japanese regained control, winning a 25-shot rally at 14-13 and moving ahead with precise placement. A brilliant diving save at 18-14 took her within touching distance of victory.
Tanvi sprayed wide to hand over match points and, despite saving one, succumbed after Okuhara finished with a delicate slice winner.
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Isharani vs Opatniputh
Isharani was level at 4-4 early on but fell behind as Opatniputh took control, opening up a lead and maintaining it to close out the first game comfortably.
The Indian relied on her opponent’s errors at times but struggled to break through the Thai’s solid defence, eventually conceding the game after a series of mistakes.
In the second game, Isharani started strongly, moving to 6-3 and then 9-4 with attacking strokes. However, a string of unforced errors, including a long serve and wayward returns, allowed Opatniputh to claw back and take a narrow lead at the interval.
The Indian fought hard, drawing level at 17-17 and even taking the lead after winning a gruelling 31-shot rally.
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But in a tense finish, errors at crucial moments proved costly as she failed to convert game points, eventually handing the match to the Thai, who sealed it with a cross-court smash.
The 19-year-old Opatniputh, a runner-up at the Indonesia Masters earlier this year, showed greater composure in the closing stages, while Isharani, a 2025 Odisha Masters Super 100 runner-up, fell just short despite a spirited effort.
Confusion reigns over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s policy on its employees, including former skipper and selector Sarfaraz Ahmed and women’s team mentor Wahab Riaz, working for franchises in the Pakistan Super League. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and PSL CEO Salman Naseer were asked about the board’s policy at their media conference on Sunday and they were unable to give a clear answer. “What I can say is that those who are full-time employees cannot join the PSL in any capacity, but those who are employed part-time are permitted to do so,” Naqvi said.
Naqvi’s response only added to the confusion over the status of those employees who are on contracts, which includes several former international players working in different capacities as coaches, selectors, curators, or at the National Cricket Academy.
There is also no clarity over contracted employees in Sarfaraz and Riaz, who hold key roles in the Quetta Gladiators franchise. Sarfaraz is the director of cricket, while Riaz is the bowling coach.
Similarly, former skipper Misbah Ul Haq, Asad Shafiq, Shahid Anwar, and Ijaz Ahmed junior are also board employees.
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“The PCB should be clear (about) what they mean by full-time employees, because contracted employees should also be in this category,” a franchise official said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Amad was at the centre of a hugely controversial incident against Bournemouth with his Manchester United teammates and pundits discussing the penalty call
17:02, 23 Mar 2026Updated 17:23, 23 Mar 2026
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Manchester United players and former footballers have had plenty to say on the Amad penalty drama from the 2-2 draw against Bournemouth. With United a goal in front, Amad appeared to be fouled by Adrien Truffert in the penalty box, but Stuart Atwell waved appeals away, with Bournemouth going on to equalise moments later.
It was later revealed that the club would be filing a complaint to the PGMOL, with several players angered by the decision. Former Manchester City defender Bacary Sagna was in agreement with those opinions but stressed that lodging an official complaint is pointless.
He said: “Man United should’ve been awarded a penalty. If this foul is committed in the middle of the pitch, there are no doubts about the right decision.
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“There isn’t much point in filing a complaint – the game has been played and there’s no reversing the decision. VAR is good, but the problem lies in how it is used and who uses it.
“If a former player is managing VAR and the replays, they would’ve given that penalty, because they would’ve identified the defender is in an unnatural position and commits a foul. But instead, the referees don’t give the foul.”
Their post read: “#BOUMUN – 67’ The referee’s call of no penalty for a challenge by Truffert was checked and confirmed by VAR – with it deemed the contact was not sufficient for a foul.”
He said: “So soft but that’s where football is at atm and I should know better. You would think both decisions would reach the same outcome. We will be back after the break. Safe travel home reds , your support has been unbelievable.”
United captain Bruno Fernandes spoke to Sky Sports after the game and was unsurprisingly asked about the penalty incidents.
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He said: “I know it’s difficult for the referee to give two penalties to the same team in one game but I don’t understand why VAR doesn’t get involved in that situation or with Harry [Maguire] because either one is a penalty and so is the other or none of them are,” the Portuguese said after the game.
“I think the other situation is a penalty but I also think the one on Amad is a penalty and that could’ve changed the game.”
Those two big decisions from Atwell also dominated Michael Carrick’s press conference with the 44-year-old left stunned that only one penalty was given.
United’s interim head coach said: “He’s definitely got one of them wrong because he’s given one penalty for us for the same thing that he’s not given one. There’s a two-arm grab. The Matheus one he gives, the second one on Amad he doesn’t, which I think is almost identical, really.
“If you have two hands on someone in the box and they go over and they’re in control of the ball, for me it’s two penalties. It will be interesting to see which one they acknowledge is wrong: the one we got or the one we didn’t get.
“It’s a huge moment. They don’t give it, they go down the other end and score and then it becomes all of a sudden, ‘oh, it needs to be a bigger penalty to overturn,’ just because they scored, when actually it’s a penalty and it should be a penalty if you’ve already given one.
“It’s baffling really to make sense of that. And because they score, the game flips a little bit and changes. We defended with the 10 men after all that very well. But the penalty one is just astonishing, I have to say. One of them must be wrong.”
Speaking on Match of the Day, the Cherries boss said: “Now we have the advantage we can see replays quickly and I didn’t think there was anything in that one [Amad]. I think the Evanilson one and the Matheus Cunha one are both penalties because defenders lose the position and then the Amad one is never a penalty.
“We asked for one in the first half – Harry Maguire with two hands behind his back – but I don’t think that was enough for a penalty either. I don’t think there is much to discuss.”
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He also stated in his post-match press conference: “I would add another incident, I think there are four incidents. The two penalties they’ve called are clear penalties, the defenders involved in both situations lose their position and have to commit a foul.
“The Amad penalty I don’t think is a penalty, there is no contact and he goes to the floor very light. We complained also about the first half, two hands behind the back, Maguire on Evanilson, but I don’t think it’s enough in the same way to call a penalty.
“I think the decisions in the four cases are correct. I’ve had time to review them and I think the big decision they have got it right.”
Plenty of ex pros and now pundits were also on hand to share verdicts with United receiving one immediately from their former striker Andy Cole.
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“I think the difference he is denying a goal scoring, just cause of the momentum Harry puts his arm out,” he said on Sky Sports. “I think it’s harsh. It’s a great touch, so I’m not going down, but in today’s game, for me it is a penalty. When we were playing, no chance.
“It’s [a] very physical [challenge] in today’s game. We’ll see with the another penalty in a minute that Harry Maguire gets sent off for, if I’m in that position I’m not going down so I don’t think it is a penalty.”
Even with the clash taking place on Friday evening, the controversial incidents have remained a big talking point over 48 hours on. Gary Lineker has become the latest pundit to disagree with Atwell’s decision.
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He said on the Rest is Football podcast: “Manchester United got a point. Let’s discuss [what] came first. They got a point. They look in good shape, really, in third.
“I mean, that twist of, you know, they go one up and then there’s another penalty shout, which did really look like a penalty.
“And then for the team to go to the other end of the pitch and score, it’s like a double whammy against them. And then Maguire gets sent off for something that was quite similar to the one earlier on.”
Co-presenter Alan Shearer added: “I think the referee messed up in that. I mean, if you’re going to give one of those, then you have to give the others as well for me. I think he messed up.”
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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