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Craig Bellamy says Wales will ‘let it hurt’ after World Cup play-off loss

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Craig Bellamy admitted Wales would have to “let it hurt” after their World Cup dream was destroyed by a penalty shoot-out play-off defeat.

Bosnia and Herzegovina prevailed 4-2 on spot-kicks after a 1-1 draw following 120 tension-packed minutes at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales were four minutes from booking a home play-off final against Italy – 2-0 winners over Northern Ireland – on Tuesday after Daniel James’ stunning strike just after half-time, but 40-year-old veteran Edin Dzeko saved Bosnia by heading home from a corner.

“We’re going to hurt, let it hurt,” said boss Bellamy after history cruelly repeated itself as Wales had lost a Euro 2024 play-off final to Poland in Cardiff on penalties.

“I haven’t really felt this towards a group of players, because I’ve probably never had a group of players for myself as a coach.

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“Getting to back-to-back World Cups was really our target. To know you’ve not got there, and when you see players really disappointed, it hurts you more.

“I hurt tonight as it sinks in now. It will be a sleepless night, difficult to sleep off the back of this one. But it makes me even more determined tomorrow.

“The sun will rise, and I’m going to watch that sun rise. Then straight away, how do I go again? How do I improve? How does this team get better?

“Let’s get over tonight, but there’s a bright future. If I was playing, imagine looking forward to what’s coming up.

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“As a group of players, you have the Nations League coming up. Group A.

“You have a home nation Euros coming. It’s not a bad time to be a Welsh footballer.”

Wales seized the initial advantage in the shoot-out as Karl Darlow saved Ermedin Demirovic’s kick.

But Brennan Johnson blazed over and Neco Williams saw Nikola Vasilj push away his penalty, allowing Kerim Alajbegovic to seal Wales’ fate.

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Bellamy said he had not yet spoken to Johnson, who left the pitch in tears after his crucial penalty miss.

“Of course I’ll speak to Brennan. Let’s get through this moment (first),” said Bellamy.

“It’s a hard one and we practice pens. We’ve done all our research on it, we spent all week doing it.

“So we couldn’t have done any more on penalties. Honestly, I don’t believe in luck on pens.

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“You’ve got to be prepared and rehearse them every day in training. The analysis on penalties we went really through it.

“That leaves me more bewildered. when they missed the first one. I thought ‘yeah, this is exactly what we practice for’, but it wasn’t the case.”

Wales had the best first-half opportunities with Harry Wilson striking the upright midway through.

James hit the woodwork for the second time after lashing home from 25 yards, but Bosnia had threatened increasingly before Dzeko scored his 73rd international goal.

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Bellamy said: “If there’s any learning from it, which is really difficult right now with the disappointment, it is when the heat comes you’ve got to be even calmer.

“What happened is not what we want for this team. Bosnia are drilled for chaos, and we allowed chaos to creep in for 20 minutes.

“We’re not built that way. We don’t play that way.  But I do understand it’s a play-off and they’re going out.”

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Mbappe played on despite injury after Real Madrid scanned wrong knee | Football News

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Kylian Mbappe’s recent knee injury at Real Madrid has taken a concerning turn, with a medical error allowing the French forward to continue playing despite an undiagnosed ligament issue.

 


The problem began after a knock during Madrid’s La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo last December, but an initial MRI scan was mistakenly conducted on his right knee instead of the injured left one.

 

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With no damage detected, Mbappe remained in action and went on to feature in multiple matches, even as he experienced discomfort, before a later scan finally revealed the true extent of the injury.

 


Wrong scan delays accurate diagnosis

 
 

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The issue dates back to December when Mbappe first experienced discomfort following a La Liga defeat to Celta Vigo. Club medical staff conducted an MRI scan, but it was mistakenly performed on his uninjured right knee. As a result, no problem was detected initially, and Mbappe remained available for selection.

 


According to a media report from The New York Times, Mbappe continued playing despite showing signs of inflammation in his left knee, which had not yet been properly assessed.


Injury confirmed after fresh examination


A subsequent scan on the correct knee later revealed a partial tear in the posterior ligament. Real Madrid officially communicated the injury on December 31, describing it broadly as a knee sprain while opting for a conservative recovery approach.

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Despite the underlying issue, Mbappe went on to play three matches after the initial incorrect scan and featured regularly in the following weeks.


Continued involvement despite discomfort


Even after the diagnosis, Mbappe remained involved in several fixtures. He played through a packed schedule, managing appearances across domestic and European competitions while his condition was closely monitored by the coaching staff.

 

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There were indications that his fitness fluctuated, with some days pain-free and others more problematic. However, the absence of knee instability allowed the medical team to clear him for matches when symptoms were manageable. 


Managed workload under new coaching setup


Under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, Mbappe’s training intensity was reduced, and his minutes were carefully controlled. The forward missed a short stretch of games in early March and also travelled for further evaluation and treatment.

 


Real Madrid maintained their stance on a conservative recovery plan, with no surgical intervention deemed necessary.


Gradual return


Mbappehas since made a gradual return to action, coming off the bench in recent matches, including key fixtures in the Champions League and La Liga.

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He has now joined the France national team for upcoming international friendlies, with his fitness continuing to be monitored closely as he works towards a full recovery.

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Arkansas vs. Arizona box score: Full stats from 2026 March Madness Sweet 16 game

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Arkansas vs. Arizona box score: Full stats from 2026 March Madness Sweet 16 game originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With the Sweet 16 underway, the most tuned-into game may be No. 4 Arkansas against No. 1 Arizona. For Razorbacks’ coach John Calipari, tonight’s game is his 17th appearance in the Sweet Sixteen. If Calipari were to coach his way into the Elite Eight, it would be his 13th time reaching the stage.

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Tonight’s game also has significant value for the Arizona Wildcats. If they were to win, it would be the team’s first appearance in the Elite 8 in over 10 years, when they lost in the round during the 2015 NCAA Tournament. With Wildcats’ coach Tommy Lloyd being linked to UNC’s head coaching vacant spot, tonight’s game may be his last with Arizona if the team were to lose.

En route to tonight’s Sweet 16 matchup, the Razorbacks easily defeated No. 13 Hawaii 97-78 in the opening round, and ended No. 12 High Point’s brief Cinderella run in the Round of 32 with a 94-88 win. On the other side, for the Wildcats, they cruised to a 92-58 win over the No. 16 LIU Sharks in the Round of 64. After briefly struggling against No. 9 Utah State in the Round of 32, Arizona held strong and finished the job 78-66.

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Arizona heads into this game as 7.5-point favorites against the Razorbacks on DraftKings.

Here is a look at the box score from Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup from the Midwest Region in San Jose.

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MARCH MADNESS HQ:Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Latest news and more

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Arkansas vs. Arizona March Madness box score

MORE: Arkansas vs. Arizona live updates, highlights

Arkansas stats

STARTERS

MIN

PTS

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FG

3PT

REB

AST

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PF

FT

STL

BLK

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5 D. Acuff Jr. G

18

11

3-8

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1-4

2

1

1

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4-5

0

0

1 M. Thomas G

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20

7

1-4

0-2

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2

1

0

5-6

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2

0

24 B. Richmond III F

9

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0

0-2

0-1

0

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1

1

0-0

0

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0

7 T. Brazile F

13

2

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1-4

0-3

2

1

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2

0-0

0

0

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12 M. Ewin F

16

6

2-4

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0-0

3

0

3

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2-2

1

1

BENCH

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MIN

PTS

FG

3PT

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REB

AST

PF

FT

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STL

BLK

2 A. Brown G

15 E. Dzafic C

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0 J. Karuletwa G

14 A. Kelley G

11 K. Knox G

23 N. Pringle F

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10

6

3-3

0-0

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1

0

2

0-0

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1

1

35 K. Rtail G

30 I. Sealey G

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99 P. Semedo F

21 D. Wagner G

6

5

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2-3

1-2

0

0

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2

0-0

0

0

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Arizona stats

STARTERS

MIN

PTS

FG

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3PT

REB

AST

PF

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FT

STL

BLK

0 J. Bradley G

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18

7

3-4

1-1

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3

2

1

2-2

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0

0

5 B. Burries G

18

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9

3-4

1-2

2

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2

1

2-2

0

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0

18 I. Kharchenkov F

17

11

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3-3

0-0

0

3

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1

5-6

1

0

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10 K. Peat F

15

7

2-5

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0-0

1

1

1

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3-4

0

0

13 M. Krivas C

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15

10

4-6

0-0

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5

1

1

2-2

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0

1

BENCH

MIN

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PTS

FG

3PT

REB

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AST

PF

FT

STL

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BLK

2 D. Aristode F

3

0

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0-0

0-0

0

0

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0

0-0

0

0

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22 A. Arnold G

30 T. Awaka F

11

7

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3-5

0-0

3

0

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1

1-1

0

1

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11 J. Cook G

3 A. Dell’Orso G

4

3

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1-1

1-1

0

0

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2

0-0

0

0

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42 S. Djopmo G

7 J. Francois G

15 S. Gueye F

6 B. James G

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20 M. Mawut F

21 E. Nelson G

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Flyers keep playoff hopes alive, thump Blackhawks

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NHL: Chicago Blackhawks at Philadelphia FlyersMar 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Flyers center Sean Couturier (14) reacts after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Christian Dvorak, Noah Cates and Alex Bump each registered a goal and an assist as the Philadelphia Flyers thumped the visiting Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Thursday evening.

Samuel Ersson made 25 saves for Philadelphia (35-24-12, 82 points), which has won six of its last eight games to make some late noise in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Denver Barkey and Sean Couturier also scored for the Flyers.

Chicago (27-32-13, 67 points) remains well out of postseason contention following its fifth loss in seven games. Connor Bedard scored the only goal for the Blackhawks, while Spencer Knight did his best to combat a furious Flyers offensive performance with 37 saves.

Philadelphia scored twice in the first three minutes, beginning with Bump’s third career goal. Less than a minute after the opening faceoff, Knight turned over the puck behind the net to Dvorak, who promptly fed Bump in front for a wide-open tally.

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Just over a minute and a half later, another Chicago turnover — this time by Andre Burakovsky — led to Couturier’s ninth of the season. The Blackhawks winger passed the puck right to Luke Glendening, who sent a puck to the net that Couturier redirected for a 2-0 lead.

Barkey deposited a rebound past Knight 5:14 into the second period to make it 3-0.

Midway through the middle stanza, Bedard scored his 30th goal of the season to cut into the Blackhawks’ deficit. However, the Flyers added two more goals before the period ended.

First, Matvei Michkov’s blind pass unleashed Cates on a breakaway that ended with a backhander over a sprawling Knight. Then, in the final minute, Dvorak redirected a terrific pass from Owen Tippett into the net for a 5-1 cushion.

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Neither team scored in the final period as the Flyers swept the two-game season series with the Blackhawks by a combined 8-2 margin.

–Field Level Media

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Berry targets 2026 Sydney Cup success aboard Soul Of Spain

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Tommy Berry has voiced his strong interest in riding the upwardly mobile stayer Soul Of Spain in the Sydney Cup, actively seeking the partnership and committing long-term through the autumn series.

This decision is paying dividends already, with the Chris Waller-conditioned gelding even-money favourite alongside others for April’s two-mile prize, and presenting a viable upset possibility in Saturday’s elite weight-for-age Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.

The previous Irish raider emerged prominently in spring via successive confidence-building wins in Queensland, followed by a win in the Newcastle Cup (2300m) and second spot in the Metropolitan (2400m).

He has turned heads with powerful late surges at his latest two starts, placing sixth to champion Autumn Glow second-up in February’s Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), then runner-up to Vauban alone in the March 14 Sky High Stakes (2000m).

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Berry remains excited by the gelding’s displays and indicates the Tancred Stakes weights could be challenging, yet the rise to 2400m will favour Soul Of Spain en route to richer targets.

“Obviously, the step up to 2400 metres is going to suit on the way to a Sydney Cup . . . although, he’s got to meet some pretty handy horses at around the same weight,” Berry said.

“Last ‘prep’ he was doing things on raw ability when he was coming through the grades, but he is a lot more seasoned.

“Chris Waller got to travel him a little bit last preparation, up in Queensland and back to Sydney, and usually that’s very good for stayers. He has come back a more professional racehorse, and he’s got a really good turn of speed.”

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A Tancred Stakes triumph would be gratifying according to Berry, but he deems the fixture ideal seasoning for Soul Of Spain’s Sydney Cup campaign, as the five-year-old benefits from dropping to 53.5kg from 59kg in the weight-for-age race on Saturday for the handicap.

“He’s ready to take the next step and Chris always uses a method getting to his grand finals, and the race on Saturday is one he’s used previously to get his better horses to a Sydney Cup,” he said.

Discover betting sites with the best racing odds for the Sydney Cup.

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MJF to face 2-time WWE World Champion after huge meltdown on social media

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One of AEW’s top stars, MJF, took aim at a former WWE World Champion on social media recently after the latter critiqued his performance on Dynamite. Now, the self-proclaimed generational talent is officially scheduled to face off with the talent in question, Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler).

For some time now, seeds were being planted for a potential showdown between Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Nic Nemeth, especially after The Wolf of Wrestling issued a public challenge to the “Most Wanted Man” to lock horns with him in an AEW World Title match this past January. Following on the heels of Wednesday Night Dynamite this week, the erstwhile Dolph Ziggler offered some words of criticism to Friedman while appearing on Busted Open. This prompted MJF to explosively lash out at the ex-WWE superstar, going so far as to call the latter an “overhyped” mid-carder.

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It appears that a showdown between the AEW Men’s World Champion and the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion is finally set to take place. The matchup will go down at Create A Pro Monumental Moment on May 1, at Melville, New York.

“. @Myers_Wrestling just hit me up and said this clowns down to throw hands. See ya there Nicky.” – posted MJF on X/Twitter.

This will seemingly be the first-ever in-ring singles encounter between MJF and the “Show-Off”.

MJF has a massive AEW title match scheduled for next month

Maxwell Jacob Friedman survived one of the biggest threats to his current World Title reign earlier this month at Revolution 2026, where he managed to retain his belt against Hangman Page in a Texas Death Match, and managed to lock him out of the World Championship picture as per the challenger’s own stipulation.

As he was celebrating his victory over The Cowboy this week on AEW Dynamite, The Salt of The Earth was interrupted and confronted by Kenny Omega, who earlier that night had become the new #1 contender for the “Triple B” by beating Swerve Strickland. The two stars exchanged words, leading to a World Title match between them being scheduled for Dynasty 2026.

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Match graphic for Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs Kenny Omega at Dynasty (Image via X @WrestlePurists)Match graphic for Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs Kenny Omega at Dynasty (Image via X @WrestlePurists)
Match graphic for Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs Kenny Omega at Dynasty (Image via X @WrestlePurists)

It remains to be seen whether the so-called “God of Pro-Wrestling” will be able to dethrone The Devil this coming month.