Michael Vaughan says England batter Jacob Bethell should be on “the next plane home” after picking up an injury at the Indian Premier League.

Bethell was missing from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru side which lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, with returning captain Rajat Patidar confirming he had damaged his finger.

RCB have not offered any further information on the extent of the issue, but his omission does raise some alarm bells coming less two weeks before England’s first Test of the summer against New Zealand.

Bethell is inked in to bat at number three having struck a superb century at Sydney in the final Ashes clash in January, but RCB’s involvement in the IPL play-offs mean he is already due to miss next week’s training camp in Loughborough.

And Vaughan believes he should call time on his stint to allow England’s medical staff control of the situation.

“If Jacob Bethell’s injured he should be on the next plane home to England,” the former captain told Cricbuzz.

“He should be back on a plane, making sure that England have a look at him. If he has one I would think he’s better off back in the UK getting assessed.”

Bethell, 22, has played seven of table-topping RCB’s 14 games this season with a top score of 27. He is not a guaranteed pick for the latter stages with Virat Kohli a certain pick at opener, Venkatesh Iyer hitting 44 as Bethell’s stand-in against Sunrisers and fellow Englishman Phil Salt on the way back from his own injury setback.

“I’m a bit old school, they’ll say he’s got to stay to the end but if he’s not going to play for Royal Challengers, then England have a training camp next week,” Vaughan continued.

“He learned a lot last (at the IPL), this year he’s done it and played a little bit but not had a huge amount of success.”

Strike bowler Jofra Archer is already missing the Lord’s Test against New Zealand due to his stint with Rajasthan Royals. He will return to England too late to be considered and is instead targeting the second Test at the Kia Oval.

Big names were left out of England’s World Cup squad on Friday, with Phil Foden and Cole Palmer surprise omissions from Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man roster.

There was no place either for Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold or Manchester United duo Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in the group headed to the tournament in United States, Canada and Mexico.

“I think from day one, we were very clear that we are trying to select and build the best possible team, which is not necessarily to select and collect 26 most talented players,” Tuchel said.

“Teams win championships. It’s as simple as that. And what we are trying to achieve in the summer can only be achieved as a team.”

England is trying to win a first men’s title since lifting the World Cup in 1966.

Foden was the double player of the year in England with Manchester City just two years ago. Chelsea’s Palmer was one of England’s star players at the European Championship in 2024, scoring in the final against Spain.

Yet both players endured disappointing seasons with their clubs and ultimately paid the price by failing to make the cut for Tuchel’s squad. Maguire confirmed on Thursday he would not be going to the tournament, saying he was “shocked and gutted” not to be included.

Read moreFIFA introduces new World Cup red-card rules to combat racism

“I can assure every fan in the country,” Tuchel said, “that we have 26, 100 percent-committed players in camp with us, who know their role, who are ready to buy into their role on and off the pitch, and who are ready and committed to the idea of team spirit and being unselfish.”

England’s top players – Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice – were all included.

A surprise inclusion was Ivan Toney, who has only played once for his country since moving to the Saudi league after Euro 2024.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has also been included after making a late run in the second half of the season.

Read moreIran holds farewell ceremony for 2026 World Cup football team

Mainoo had been an emerging figure at the Euros, but lost his England place after being pushed to the fringes at United under former coach Ruben Amorim. He was reinstated to the first team when Michael Carrick took over in January and has been a driving force in United’s rise to third in the Premier League, which has secured a return to the Champions League.

Arsenal‘s Premier League title winners Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke will be going to their first World Cup and Marcus Rashford – dropped from Euro 2024 – is going to another major international tournament after rebuilding his career at Barcelona this season.

Foden has been regularly selected by Tuchel since the German coach took charge of England in January 2025 and his most recent appearances came during the last international window in March.

He started every game on England’s run to the final of the last Euros, which it lost 2-1 to Spain.

But he has rarely started for City since the turn of the year as his form has dipped and he was a non-playing substitute in last week’s FA Cup final victory.

Palmer, who was the young player of the year in England in 2024 and inspired Chelsea to triumph at the Club World Cup last year, was seen as one of the country’s brightest stars. Like Foden, he has also struggled for consistency this season and hasn’t scored in his last 14 games for club and country.

England squad:

Goalkeepers: Dean Henderson (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), James Trafford (Manchester City).

Defenders: Dan Burn (Newcastle), Marc Guehi (Manchester City), Reece James (Chelsea), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa), Tino Livramento (Newcastle), Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen), Djed Spence (Tottenham), John Stones (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Eberechi Eze (Arsenal), Jordan Henderson (Brentford), Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United), Declan Rice (Arsenal), Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa).

Forwards: Anthony Gordon (Newcastle), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Barcelona), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Ivan Toney (Al-Ahli), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa).

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

Mar 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) on deck in the fourth against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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Star Indian grappler Vinesh Phogat received a huge boost in her quest to compete in the 2026 Asian Games selection trials as the Delhi High Court on Friday slammed the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) over its unprecedented criteria that deemed her ineligible to compete.

The court questioned the federation’s decision to bar the decorated wrestler from domestic events and directed the Centre to explore ways to ensure her participation in the upcoming trials.

Phogat, who is attempting a return after a maternity break, challenged the WFI’s decision after being declared ineligible under revised rules linked to retirement and anti-doping regulations.

Court questions WFI’s change in selection criteria

A bench led by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia strongly questioned the WFI’s departure from its earlier policy of allowing reputed athletes to compete under relaxed conditions. The judges observed that the deviation from previous circulars raised serious concerns and indicated that the change in eligibility norms appeared significant in the ongoing dispute.

Centre asked to form expert panel

During the hearing, the court asked the Centre to constitute an expert panel to evaluate Phogat’s readiness and chances of participation. This came after government counsel informed the bench that the Sports Authority of India framework allows relaxation in eligibility criteria under certain circumstances.

The court indicated that experts should assess her case and ensure a fair evaluation before the Asian Games selection trials scheduled for May 30 and 31.

Vinesh seeks comeback after maternity break

Phogat is seeking to return to competitive wrestling after a maternity break and had appealed against a single-judge order dated May 18, which denied her immediate relief regarding participation in the trials.

Her counsel argued that the WFI’s show-cause notice issued before her participation in a domestic event in Gonda reflected attempts to prevent her comeback. The court also expressed displeasure over remarks in the notice that referred to her Paris Olympics disqualification as a “national shame”.

WFI’s stance and background to dispute

The WFI had ruled Phogat ineligible to participate in domestic events until June 26, 2026, citing a mandatory six-month notice period for athletes returning from retirement under anti-doping rules.

Despite that decision, Phogat appeared at the National Open Ranking Tournament in Gonda. The wrestler had also been one of the leading voices in the 2023 protest by women wrestlers against alleged sexual harassment by former WFI president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.

In August 2024, Phogat was disqualified from the women’s 50kg final at the Paris Olympics after being found 100 grams overweight during the morning weigh-in.  (With PTI Inputs)

Arne Slot believes a lot should be expected of Liverpool next season, even with a turnover of players, as he said that being in transition is not an excuse for failure.

Liverpool are yet to qualify for the Champions League this season as, despite being defending champions and spending £450m in the summer, they are only fifth with a game to go.

And there will be further upheaval with Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson definitely going and doubts surrounding the future of players like Alisson, Joe Gomez and Curtis Jones.

But Slot is adamant they cannot use that as a reason not to compete for honours.

He said: “When I say we are in a transition I don’t mean to not expect anything from us. I hope nobody feels that. I was expecting, just as you all here, that we were more able to compete for things than we were this season.

“Although we lost in the FA Cup to the team that won the FA Cup [Manchester City] and we lost in the Champions League to a team that not one team could beat over two legs [Paris Saint-Germain].

“Then of course there was the Premier League where we had no chance to win it, that was clear after 10 or 15 games. It is not saying, ‘Oh, don’t expect anything from this team’. Definitely not. This team has showed that we were able already to be at a certain level and we can only evolve this team.”

Slot draws heart from Liverpool’s progress under his predecessor Jurgen Klopp to argue this side will be superior next year with a couple of signings.

He added: “I think Jurgen’s best team that was competing for every single trophy at that time took a few years to bring together as well. And we have made very good steps in terms of signings last summer and these players will evolve with the ones we already had and if we can add one or two then, I think, we as a group will look much better next year.”

Slot is also eager to appoint his former Feyenoord coach Etienne Reijnen to his backroom staff.

He said: “It is fair to say that I have worked with him before. And I have a very high regard for him in terms of the coach he is. It is also clear that I tried to sign him two years ago when I first came here but we couldn’t do it.”

There are different ways of ending Liverpool careers. Steven Gerrard’s was among the most ignominious, a Champions League-winning captain departing after a 6-1 defeat to Stoke City. Kenny Dalglish’s was more sentimental, as a substitute in a team who had already won the league in 1990.

Dalglish was brought on by the manager – himself – which meant he had two further exits, standing down in 1991, being dismissed in 2012.

Mohamed Salah has arguably joined Gerrard and Dalglish in a trinity; of Liverpool’s three greatest ever players. He stands third for goals, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt, with a better goal-per-game ratio than either.

Indeed, of the Anfield centurions, no one since World War 2 has scored at a faster rate than Salah. In as much as assists can be calculated in previous eras, Salah lies fifth – Dalglish and Gerrard are at the top of that particular table – and, of those with at least 40, only the Scot and Alan A’Court – who starred in the old Division 2 – created more goals per game.

And that is despite Salah’s anti-climactic, at times angry, final year. A man who has rarely even been booked was in effect suspended by Liverpool for the Champions League trip to Inter Milan, after saying he had been “thrown under the bus” and that he had no relationship with Arne Slot.

His penultimate appearance, in a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa, was less noteworthy than the social-media posts the following day; Liverpool, he said, were “crumbling”.

There will be a fond farewell at Anfield on Sunday, and there are tributes aplenty from teammates past and present. Yet this has the feel of less of a celebration of Salah than it might have been; with relations frayed, with Salah in decline, with the sense the contract that seemed a coup when signed last year is now a mistake, when he goes a year before its end.

The Anfield public are nevertheless likely to serenade their Egyptian king one last time. Slot could be forgiven for having more nuanced feelings; not mentioned by name, he nevertheless felt the target of Salah’s social-media messages.

But he has spent much of the season praising Salah in public. He has kept his dignity and displayed his diplomacy. “Mo and I both have the same interest, we want the best for this club,” he said. The Salah he will remember, he claimed, was the unstoppable figure of 2024-25, not the more unhappy version apparent at times of late.

“One hundred percent last season,” said Slot. “I think he said and that means even more than when I said it because he has won so many things at this club, he said the most special thing I have won was last season’s Premier League title.

“Now I can safely say that was the most special thing I have won in my life so I will remember that and how important he was in that season for the club and as a result also for me with all the goals he scored. We, as a club, as a team, weren’t on the same heights this season but I will 100 percent mainly remember him for last season and the fans should maybe remember him for all these seasons that he played for us.”

Salah’s penultimate campaign, and his first under Slot, was arguably his finest of an outstanding set of eight. He scored 44 in the first, threatening Rush’s club record of 47. But his first year under Slot produced 34 goals and 23 assists in all competitions, scoring 29 and making 18 in the Premier League alone. He was named Footballer of the Year for a third time.

That was the Salah that Jurgen Klopp called an all-time great, who Trent Alexander-Arnold said had a relentless drive to be the best, who Alisson called one of the most important footballers in Liverpool’s history, who Virgil van Dijk described as a once-in-a-lifetime player.

This season, as Salah’s powers have waned, as Liverpool have struggled, as he lost his place in the team, as his goal tally dropped to seven in the Premier League and 12 in all competitions, has had a cruelty for him. But whereas Slot – in conjunction with the club hierarchy – dropped him for December’s display of dissent, the peacekeeper in him is unlikely to deny him a farewell and the pragmatist in him knows Liverpool may need a goal against Brentford.

There is one last goal for a man who scored in Liverpool’s 2019 Champions League final win: to simply get Champions League football. Liverpool must hope Salah’s last game is more like Dalglish’s than Gerrard’s.

But Slot said: “I think it was also one of the things Mo said in his post that he also understands how important qualification for the Champions League is for us.” A 258th goal could be part of his legacy. But if Slot may be relieved the Salah era ends there, he will think of the Egyptian at his best. And for eight years, that was astonishingly good.

After disappointing back-to-back exits in the group stage at recent major tournaments, Germany national football team enter this summer’s World Cup under pressure to rediscover the winning identity that once made them one of international football’s most feared sides. 
The return of Manuel Neuer into the squad has also boosted their credentials even further this year and things are looking on the up for Julian Naaglesman.

With four World Cup trophies to their name, Germany remain among the most successful nations in football history. However, since lifting the title in 2014, Die Mannschaft have struggled to deliver on the biggest stage, raising questions about the team’s ability to compete with the world’s elite.

Now, a new generation led by Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz has the opportunity to change that narrative. Drawn alongside Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curaçao in the group stage, Julian Nagelsmann’s side will view the group as a strong chance to build momentum and confidence early in the tournament.

Germany’s road to qualification was not entirely smooth, beginning with a surprising 2-0 defeat to Slovakia. But the team responded impressively, winning their next five matches while scoring 16 goals and conceding only once. Rising striker Nick Woltemade played a key role with four goals as Germany comfortably topped their qualifying group.

Germany’s Group E in FIFA World Cup 2026

Germany

Curacao

Ivory Coast

Ecuador

Will Die Mannschaft bounce back this year? 

Jamal Musiala is expected to be the driving force behind Germany’s attack at the tournament. Known for his close control, vision and ability to unlock defences in tight spaces, the attacking midfielder will play a crucial role in creating chances for Die Mannschaft. 

His movement between the lines and composure under pressure make him one of Germany’s most dangerous players in the final third. Germany will also be relieved to have Musiala fully fit again after recovering from the serious leg and ankle injury he suffered during last year’s Club World Cup. 

Nick Woltemade has rapidly emerged as one of Germany’s most exciting young attackers. After earning a high-profile move to Newcastle United, the forward has gained wider attention for his technical quality, intelligent movement and finishing ability. Many international opponents are yet to witness his full potential, making him a player capable of surprising teams on the world stage.

Germany’s Key Strengths

One of Germany’s biggest advantages lies in the fluidity and versatility of their attacking players. Stars like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz can operate in multiple positions, giving the team tactical flexibility during matches. Their ability to adapt to different systems and switch roles seamlessly makes Germany unpredictable in attack.

Germany’s Main Weaknesses

Despite their creative quality, Germany still lack a consistent clinical goalscorer capable of finishing chances regularly in high-pressure moments. Squad depth is another concern, with the bench not carrying the same level of quality as some of the tournament favourites. Injuries or poor form among key players could therefore become a major issue during the competition.

Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during a game in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals vs Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

Barangay Ginebra may have tied its PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series with Rain or Shine on Friday, but the crowd favorites know that they haven’t imposed their character on this series just yet.

Especially against a team which, in Scottie Thompson’s mind, looks like a mirror image of the Gin Kings.

“May dugo din silang ‘never say die,’ (they also have that never say die blood)” Thompson said after Ginebra’s 109-101 win at Mall of Asia Arena that square their best-of-seven duel as the Gin Kings bounced back from squandering a 10-point lead two nights ago in Antipolo.

Coach Tim Cone was convinced after that 115-111 defeat that Ginebra is playing Rain or Shine’s uptempo, free-flowing style. He didn’t change his tune even after getting on the board.

So will Cone and the Gin Kings buy time to make a 180-degree turn, or do it as quickly as possible?

“It really comes down to the energy war,” Cone said. “We don’t want to play a break-neck pace and wear our guys down because our guys play a lot of minutes than their guys do. We have to be conscious of that and that dictates what our gameplan’s all about.

“Right now, if you ask me, if I have to be honest with you which I don’t like to be,” he continued before taking some long pauses. “I think the pace and the way the game’s being played is at Rain or Shine’s favor at this point.

“And even if it’s at 1-1, we have to figure it out.”

Game 3 is set Sunday at the same venue, as Ginebra hopes to make key adjustments in a short amount of time to set up a possible shift to its benefit.

Cone will be glad to see his big guns deliver, like Justin Brownlee who erupted for 31 points on the night he played his 270th game, tying Sean Chambers—also a Cone import at defunct Alaska—for second on the all-time list among imports.

RJ Abarrientos also played big for the Gin Kings and finished with 25 points and six assists, although his status for Game 3 could depend on how well he can recover from a broken nose he suffered from an inadvertent hit from Jhonard Clarito in the fourth quarter.

Abarrientos assured that he’s going to be good to go, hoping to help the Gin Kings solve the Elasto Painters puzzle.

“We need to match Rain or Shine’s tempo. We can’t let them play their game,” Abarrientos said.

Meanwhile, TNT’s chances of going further in the playoffs took a big blow when import Bol Bol was carried to the locker room during Game 2 of the other semis series with Meralco being played at press time.

A TV report said that the Tropang 5G were fearing a potential Achilles injury on Bol, the much-talked figure during the course of the midseason tournament.