The pre-fight feeling was that this occasion bordered on the absurd as a sanctioned world title contest, but Verhoeven went a long way to proving the boxing fraternity wrong.
“I am super proud of my performance, and hopefully the boxing world embraces me as a boxer. I am amazingly happy to be here,” Verhoeven said.
He emerged with huge credit, underlining his credentials as an awkward, physical operator for any heavyweight.
But was this his best chance, fuelled by the element of surprise?
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The crossover blueprint is familiar, with MMA fighter Francis Ngannou famously going close to an extraordinary boxing win against Tyson Fury in 2023 before being stopped early on by Joshua in his second outing.
Usyk’s stock, for the first time in his career, with take a hit on the back of this – and debate around the result and a potential second meeting is only likely to intensify.
Afterwards, WBC mandatory challenger Agit Kabayel entered the ring to make his case.
“I have waited so long for this fight. I am ready and I think Germany is ready for the fight. Let’s do it in a German stadium. I think all the fans want it,” Kabayel said.
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Usyk, who has previously suggested he may have two more fights after Verhoeven, responded: “Let’s do it, no problem. I am ready, brother.”
Whatever comes next, Usyk endured the toughest night of his career against a man few in boxing gave a chance.
The Los Angeles Dodgers held a comfortable 3-1 lead against the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night before a chaotic eighth inning turned the game on its head.
Dodgers reliever Will Klein allowed two runners on base with one out in the top of the eighth inning. Rockies’ Tyler Freeman grounded Klein’s fastball to Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas, deputising for Mookie Betts.
However, Rojas, who is signed to a $5.5 million contract, squandered the inning-ending double-play as the ball bounced off the heel of his mitt, allowing the Rockies to make it 3-2 with two runners on base. The veteran infielder was also at fault when he failed to cover third for Freeman.
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Rojas failed to squeeze second baseman Alex Freeland’s low throw and the ball ended up in the Dodgers dugout. Freeman was allowed home plate to make it 3-3. Following the game, Rojas admitted his mistake that proved to the turning point of the game.
“Physical errors happen, and I’m okay with that, I’m not perfect,” Rojas said. “But mental errors are the ones that are kind of disappointing. Like, I should have been on third base … That’s the one that I kind of like kick myself for.”
The Rockies scored another unearned run in the eighth to take a 4-3 lead. The Dodgers failed to respond and Colorado sealed a thrilling comeback win.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reflects on “dependable” Miguel Rojas’ costly mistake
Although Miguel Rojas’ mistake led to a collapse in the eighth inning, the Dodgers had the chance to respond in the ninth when they had two runners on base with one out.
However, Rockies reliever Jordan Romano escaped the jam to earn a thrilling win for Colorado. Following the loss, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts reflects on Rojas’ mistake.
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“It doesn’t happen very often that he doesn’t make a play,” Roberts said. “So when it happens, you know, we don’t like it, doesn’t feel good, but you know that player, I give him a lot of grace, because he is very dependable.”
The Dodgers took an early lead after Shohei Ohtani’s 300th career home run, making him the first Japanese-born player to reach that mark.
The only annual regular event in golf that is co-sponsored by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour is the Scottish Open, and the 2026 version tees off at 2 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday from North Berwick. It’s the fifth year in a row both Tours sponsor this, and it was a smart change to make back then, with so many good USA players often heading over to Europe anyway two weeks ahead of the British Open, which is next week.
What is perhaps most unusual about this year’s event is that there are seven players from LIV in the field, led by Spain’s Jon Rahm, who is a +1500 third favorite to win it for the first time. And I think he will be mega-motivated for the rare chance to face off against stars from the PGA Tour for the first time outside of a major championship since the 2023 Tour Championship. The majors are each run by independent organizations and haven’t placed any bans on LIV players like the PGA Tour has.
There are seven LIV guys in this year’s field – also Tyrrell Hatton (could see him contending, too), David Puig, Tom McKibbin, Laurie Canter, Victor Perez, Adrian Meronk – and they are competing as DP World Tour members. Earlier this year, they paid outstanding fines for leaving for LIV and were given conditional DP World Tour membership back.
It was crucially important for Rahm to get that so he could be eligible for the 2027 Ryder Cup (must be a DP World Tour member to play for Europe). Rahm actually has talked about investing his own money to keep LIV afloat. This is a great British Open tune-up for the LIV guys, especially because it’s a typical 72-hole stroke-play event with a 36-hole cut, things that don’t exist in LIV.
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Rahm has been dominating LIV in 2026 with two wins and four runners-up in nine starts but missed the cut at the U.S. Open in his last worldwide start. In two career outings at the Scottish Open, he has been seventh (2021) and T-55 (2022). I think a Top 10 at +155 works this week, but a win would not surprise me. Rahm’s eight PGA Tour wins this decade are still third-most on the Tour in that span. He is among the last to tee off in Round 1 at 9:05 a.m. ET on Thursday.
The top three finishers at this event get into next week’s British Open if not already qualified, and normally the victor would also earn a PGA Tour card through at least the 2027 season. But the LIV guys are not eligible for that.
Seven of the world top 10 are teeing it up this week (Rahm is 11th). Will No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (+550) finally win for the first time since January? He has been close so many times, including four runners-up since then – dropping two of those in a playoff.
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Those four second-place finishes are most by a PGA Tour player since the 2021-22 season. Scheffler hasn’t won this tournament but has been eighth and third his past two trips. I do wonder if he’s more focused on defending his British Open title next week.
Americans have won this event only six times, but the defending champion is rising American star Chris Gotterup … who also happens to come off a win Sunday at the John Deere Classic (35 players from there are teeing it up here). The 26-year-old is +2700 to repeat, which no one has ever done in the Scottish Open. Gotterup’s three wins this year are tied for the PGA Tour lead with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick (+2000).
No doubt the biggest Horse for the Couse is No. 2 Rory McIlroy (+1000), but being from Northern Ireland you’d expect he thrives in conditions like Scotland. McIlroy has a win (2023) runner-up and T-4 in his past three starts here and is the only golfer to finish top five at the past three. McIlroy tries to become the first golfer in history to win the Masters and Scottish Open in the same year.
The Renaissance Club hosts for the eighth year in a row and is a par 70 at 7,282 yards. The course record is 61, which Gotterup tied in Round 2 last year. CBS has weekend coverage from noon-3 ET with the time difference.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson and wide receiver Justin Jefferson stood together on the sideline during regular-season action, giving Minnesota’s offense a quick between-series snapshot. During the 2025 regular season, the two pass catchers watched from the boundary as the Vikings reset for another possession and discussed the game flow with teammates nearby on camera. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The NFL regular season is about nine weeks away, and in the meantime, the Minnesota Vikings are one of the NFL’s most interesting teams, according to Bleacher Report. Kristopher Knox at that website ranked the league’s most intriguing teams, and Minnesota made the cut.
The analysis checks out, as Minnesota is one of the few squads with a high-profile quarterback battle this summer.
QB Battle Gives Vikings a Main Hook
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell stood on the field after a road matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium, reflecting on another regular-season result. On November 10, 2024, in Jacksonville, O’Connell remained visible after the game as Minnesota wrapped up its afternoon against an AFC opponent away from home. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.
BR: Vikings One of the NFL’s Most Interesting
The Vikings checked in at No. 4 on Knox’s list of eight intriguing teams, and he wrote, “This is mainly about the team’s acquisition of Kyler Murray, which paves the way for an intriguing quarterback battle involving the 2019 No. 1 overall pick and third-year first-rounder J.J. McCarthy.”
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“Both face immense pressure to get it together for a team that contains arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL, a great offensive line and a high-quality defense.”
The Vikings’ quarterback battle will continue at training camp in three weeks.
Knox continued, “Kevin O’Connell’s squad is barely a year removed from a 14-win season and is built to win right now, but those major quarterback questions are likely to linger throughout the summer.”
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“Throw in the fact that Minnesota will be tested every week in the overwhelmingly strong NFC North, and you have a recipe for intrigue in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.”
Offense
What’s interesting on offense? Damn near everything. At quarterback, onlookers will watch as Murray attempts to forge a Sam Darnold-like season (2024) in 2026. Darnold had no problem asserting himself and utterly thriving in Minnesota; there’s no reason to believe that Murray can’t follow suit. If it’s not Murray, well, it will have meant that McCarthy turned the corner, dethroning Murray for the QB1 job and hoping to resume his path as the Vikings’ quarterback of the future.
The team also has naturally intriguing and explosive playmakers in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jauan Jennings, and T.J. Hockenson. Murray had decent weapons in Arizona over the last seven seasons, but he never really had a stable four-deep like the Vikings offer in 2026.
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson signaled after making a reception for a first down against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, flashing early-career confidence. On October 4, 2020, in Houston, Jefferson moved the chains during second-quarter action as Minnesota’s offense looked for rhythm in a road matchup that afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports.
For running backs, the outlook is different. Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason are back for shared RB1-RB2 duty, while Minnesota drafted Wake Forest’s Demond Claiborne in Round 6 in April. Claiborne could emerge as a late-round stud, or he could emulate former Vikings running back Ty Chandler’s career, where fans saw glimpses of promise but never the total package.
Defense
The defense is fascinating because it’s straight-up good. Since Brian Flores arrived in Minneapolis, his group ranks second leaguewide in EPA/Play, and recently, the unit held the 2025 season together when the quarterback performance faltered.
There are also newcomers. Minnesota drafted Caleb Banks (DT, Florida), Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati), Domonique Orange (DT, Iowa State), and Jakobe Thomas (S, Miami) in the first three rounds a couple of months ago; the Vikings’ most defense-oriented draft (in the first three rounds) in franchise history. So, there are many new faces to monitor.
It’s also time to get a verdict on outside linebacker Dallas Turner. Minnesota traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles on April 24th for two 3rd-Round picks, one of which has already been used on the aforementioned safety Thomas. Another will transfer to the 2027 draft bucket.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel surveyed the field before kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium, showing his usual pregame focus. On December 8, 2024, in Minneapolis, Van Ginkel prepared for another NFC matchup as Minnesota’s defense readied for a game with postseason stakes inside the home venue. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Too, the Vikings may field a defense without Harrison Smith for the first time since 2011. Intrigue aplenty.
Expectations for the Head Coach
O’Connell has unequivocally proven his ability to win from September through early January.
Since he arrived in 2022, he has transformed the Vikings into one of the league’s more constant winners, earning the NFL Coach of the Year award in 2024 — a testament to Minnesota’s success and O’Connell’s role in stabilizing the franchise. The Vikings have the league’s fifth-best win percentage on his watch.
Meanwhile, Flores has constructed a formidable defense, and O’Connell’s offense has typically provided the team with enough resilience to remain competitive. The next crucial step for O’Connell is securing a playoff win.
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It’s no longer sufficient to state that the Vikings are well-coached and competitive; that much is understood. The pressing question now is whether he can deliver when the postseason tournament begins. It’s where the 2026 season becomes particularly intriguing. Minnesota’s roster appears capable of contending, with a defense that should perform well on the road and dangerous offensive playmakers. Should the quarterback situation be resolved, the Vikings are expected to be in the playoff hunt from the outset.
When January arrives, the dynamic shifts. Can O’Connell overcome formidable opponents like the Los Angeles Rams in high-pressure situations? Can his offense avoid faltering in a playoff game? Can he win at all? Legitimate concerns
O’Connell has earned oodles of trust and goodwill, but he must win in mid-January.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 lived up to its billing, producing a mix of shock results, emotional farewells and dramatic finishes across eight knockout matches.
Morocco continued their brilliant run by dispatching co-hosts Canada, while Norway stunned five-time champions Brazil to end Neymar’s dream of lifting football’s biggest prize. Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career also came to an end after Portugal’s narrow defeat to Spain, marking the close of another legendary chapter in international football.
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Elsewhere, France overcame a stubborn Paraguay, England survived a spirited Mexican challenge, Belgium ended co-hosts USA’s campaign and Argentina produced a late comeback against Egypt with Lionel Messi at the heart of the fightback.
Switzerland completed the quarter-final line-up after prevailing in the Round of 16’s first and only penalty shootout, setting up four blockbuster last-eight clashes.
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But how did each of the Round of 16 matches pan out? This is how:
Morocco’s impressive run continues
Morocco’s fairy-tale campaign gathered further momentum as the Atlas Lions produced another disciplined display to beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 and become the first team to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Canada enjoyed vocal home support and looked to take the initiative early, but Morocco’s compact defensive shape frustrated the hosts before they struck with ruthless efficiency. Azzedine Ounahi broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, rewarding Morocco’s patient build-up play after a tightly contested first half.
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Canada pushed numbers forward in search of an equaliser, only to leave gaps at the back. Ounahi capitalised again in the 82nd minute with his second goal of the night before Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory in stoppage time, finding the net in the 90+8th minute.
The convincing win extended Morocco’s remarkable run in the tournament and set up a quarter-final meeting with France as Walid Regragui’s side moved another step closer to history.
France survive Paraguay’s physical challenge
France needed both patience and composure to overcome a determined Paraguay outfit that made life difficult for the 2018 world champions throughout the contest. Paraguay disrupted France’s rhythm with an aggressive pressing game and physical challenges, forcing Didier Deschamps’ men into a cagey battle rather than the free-flowing football they usually prefer.
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Despite dominating possession, France found it difficult to create clear-cut chances as Paraguay defended in numbers and remained organised. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 70th minute when captain Kylian Mbappe found space inside the penalty area and clinically converted the game’s only goal.
France then managed the closing stages professionally, denying Paraguay any route back into the contest. The narrow victory kept Les Bleus’ hopes of another World Cup crown alive and booked a fascinating quarter-final showdown against the tournament’s surprise package, Morocco.
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Haaland ends Brazil’s sixth trophy dream
One of the biggest upsets of the Round of 16 came in New Jersey as Norway eliminated five-time champions Brazil with a dramatic 2-1 victory. Brazil dominated possession and created the better opportunities for much of the contest but repeatedly failed to convert their chances.
Norway remained compact defensively and waited patiently for openings before Erling Haaland changed the game in spectacular fashion. The Manchester City striker broke the deadlock in the 79th minute before adding his second in the 90th minute to leave Brazil on the brink of elimination.
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Neymar reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in the 90+10th minute after Brazil were awarded a late spot-kick, but there was little time left to complete the comeback.
The defeat ended Brazil’s hopes of a record-extending sixth World Cup title, while Neymar confirmed after the match that this had been his final appearance for the national team. Norway, meanwhile, marched into the quarter-finals brimming with confidence.
Bellingham powers England to quarters
England overcame a resilient Mexico side 3-2 in one of the most entertaining matches of the Round of 16 to keep their World Cup ambitions intact. Jude Bellingham produced a sensational first-half display, scoring twice in the space of two minutes to hand England a commanding advantage with goals in the 36th and 38th minutes.
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Mexico responded before the break through Julián Quiñones in the 42nd minute to keep the contest alive, before Harry Kane calmly converted a penalty on the hour mark to make it 3-1.
Mexico refused to surrender and Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty in the 69th minute, ensuring a nervy finish for Gareth Southgate’s side. England ultimately held firm to progress into the last eight, where they will face giant-killers Norway in what promises to be a fascinating quarter-final encounter.
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Heartbreak for Ronaldo as Spain march on
One of football’s greatest players, Cristiano Ronaldo’s final FIFA World Cup appearance ended in heartbreak as Spain snatched a dramatic 1-0 victory over Portugal to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
The Iberian rivals cancelled each other out for much of the contest, with both teams producing disciplined defensive displays and limiting clear-cut opportunities. Portugal came close on several occasions but lacked the finishing touch, while Spain remained patient despite prolonged spells without creating a breakthrough.
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Just when extra time appeared inevitable, substitute Mikel Merino emerged as the hero, scoring in the first minute of stoppage time (90+1′) to break Portuguese hearts. The late strike ended Ronaldo’s dream of lifting the World Cup, bringing the curtain down on one of the greatest international careers in football history.
Spain, meanwhile, marched into the last eight, where they will meet an in-form Belgium side in one of the standout quarter-final clashes.
Belgium knock the hosts out
In one of the most talked-about games before kick-off, Belgium produced one of the most commanding displays of the Round of 16, brushing aside co-hosts USA 4-1 to prove their credentials as genuine title contenders.
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The visitors made a blistering start, with Charles De Ketelaere opening the scoring in the ninth minute before doubling Belgium’s advantage in the 33rd after Malik Tillman had briefly restored parity for the hosts with a well-taken goal in the 31st minute.
Belgium continued to dominate possession and dictate the tempo after the interval, and Hans Vanaken effectively ended the contest with a composed finish in the 57th minute. The United States searched for a route back into the game but struggled to breach Belgium’s organised defence.
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Romelu Lukaku added the finishing touch deep into stoppage time, scoring in the 90+3rd minute to complete a convincing 4-1 victory that brought the home nation’s World Cup campaign to an end and sent Belgium into a heavyweight quarter-final against Spain.
Despite a thrilling display of football by Belgium, the game will be remembered for the controversy surrounding USA’s Balogun, whose red card in the round of 32 game was revoked a day before the Belgium clash, causing a major uproar in the football world, with many accusing FIFA president Gianni Infantino of rigging the tournament.
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Argentina’s great escape vs Egypt
Defending champions Argentina produced one of the most remarkable comebacks of the tournament, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 and keep their title defence alive.
Egypt stunned Lionel Scaloni’s side early as Yasser Ibrahim gave them the lead in the 15th minute before Mostafa Ziko doubled the advantage in the 67th, leaving Argentina staring at a shock exit. With time running out, the holders finally sparked into life.
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Defender Cristian Romero pulled one back in the 79th minute, shifting the momentum firmly in Argentina’s favour. Four minutes later, Lionel Messi delivered yet another decisive moment on the World Cup stage, levelling the contest in the 83rd minute and extending his extraordinary scoring run in the tournament.
Egypt were unable to withstand the relentless pressure, and Enzo Fernández completed the turnaround with a dramatic winner in the 90+3rd minute, sealing Argentina’s place in the quarter-finals against Switzerland.
Switzerland survive game of patience
The final Round of 16 fixture proved to be the tightest contest of the knockout stage, with Switzerland and Colombia unable to find a breakthrough across 120 minutes before the Swiss prevailed 4-3 in the tournament’s first penalty shootout. Both teams defended resolutely and created only a handful of meaningful chances in a tense tactical battle where neither side was willing to overcommit.
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Switzerland struck first in the shootout through Granit Xhaka before Juan Fernando Quintero responded for Colombia. Zeki Amdouni converted his effort, but Davinson Sánchez missed to hand Switzerland an early advantage. Manuel Akanji then failed to capitalise after missing his kick, allowing Jáminton Campaz to level the contest. Cedric Itten restored Switzerland’s lead before Cucho Hernández missed under pressure.
Rubén Vargas calmly converted the decisive penalty after Luis Díaz had kept Colombia alive, sending the Swiss into the quarter-finals, where they will take on defending champions Argentina.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced isn’t a “remake” akin to games like Resident Evil 4 or the Resident Evil 2 remakes. However, it’s not a one-to-one recreation of the 2013 classic. With Resynced, Ubisoft has taken a few liberties to bring the experience much closer to modern Assassin’s Creed standards.
And these “improvements” and “changes” aren’t limited to the gameplay aspects of Resynced. Instead, there are also a fair few changes made to the progression and story.
Here’s a look at all the major changes between Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced and the 2013 original.
Gameplay changes in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
Combat has seen major overhauls compared to the original (Image via Ubisoft)
The biggest change between the original and Resynced is the combat and its pacing. In the original Black Flag, the combat was built primarily around the counterplay options, akin to games like Batman Arkham City. However, with Resynced, Ubisoft is using the hit-box-based system of the recent entries.
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That said, the combat in Resynced is significantly faster than some of the recent AC games. Furthermore, since it’s not an RPG, there aren’t any “stats” to keep track of this time around.
Instead, the combat simply revolves around enemy HP and Defense gauges. Parrying an attack or performing a quick attack breaks the enemy’s Defense, opening them for a quick takedown. It’s a simple but very effective system that harkens back to the original AC games.
Additionally, the stealth is also much more pronounced in Resynced. Much like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, light and darkness play a vital role in stealth this time around, especially on Hard difficulty. Speaking of which, there are also difficulty presets in Resynced, which wasn’t a thing in the 2013 original.
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Flaming Rounds deal more damage, but at reduced range (Image via Ubisoft)
Furthermore, the naval combat has also received major upgrades, as you have access to ammunition types for Heavy Shots and Mortars in Resynced. The Flaming Rounds, for instance, are an alternative to Heavy Rounds, which lack in range but make up for that with their DPS.
Additionally, you also get 3 Officers that you can recruit for the Jackdaw. These Officers grant active perks to naval combat, such as perfect blocking (Lucy Baldwin) or additional Heavy Rounds volley (Deadman Smith).
Story changes and additions in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
Original cutscenes are preserved in Resynced (Image via Ubisoft)
While Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced keeps the original’s story intact, it does add a few new branching narratives that further flesh out some of the key characters from the story. For instance, once you complete Sequence 8, you get access to the quest, In a World Without Gold. This is a fairly lengthy optional quest revolving around Blackbeard.
Furthermore, this quest not only offers you a good chunk of additional content, but also fleshes out the relationship between Edward, his crew, Anne, and most importantly, Edward Thatch.
In addition to this, there are also quests related to each of the three Officers. These are also side quests, but offer a substantial amount of backstory for Edward and how he eventually opens up to his crew on the Jackdaw. There are also some additional lines added to story quests.
That said, the original story and cutscenes are preserved in Resynced and are now presented with much better lighting and animations.
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Miscellaneous changes in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced
The Store in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced (Image via Ubisoft)
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced also features some minor changes, apart from its story and combat overhaul. For instance, in Resynced, there’s a dynamic time-of-day system, and also the ability to change it at any time (outside of story missions).
Additionally, much like the recent Assassin’s Creed games, the entire open world map (apart from Principe Island) is completely seamless. This means that you can travel between land and the Caribbean without having to contend with a loading screen.
Lastly, much like the recent AC games, there are microtransactions in Black Flag Resynced. However, these are mostly cosmetic-only and don’t necessarily affect gameplay.
Also, you can easily unlock a ton of outfits for Edward Kenway by simply playing the game and completing the main story quests.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup has already delivered unforgettable drama, stunning upsets and late comebacks. Now, only eight teams remain, with four exciting quarter-final matches set to decide who moves one step closer to lifting football’s biggest prize.
Europe dominates the last eight with six representatives, while Africa and South America each have one team still chasing World Cup glory.
Here is what fans can expect from each quarter-final.
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France vs Morocco
France and Morocco meet again after their memorable 2022 World Cup semi-final, but this Moroccan side is stronger and more experienced.
Kylian Mbappé celebrates one of his two goals in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The African champions have impressed throughout the tournament with their fearless attacking football and long unbeaten run. They will believe they have what it takes to finally defeat France.
However, France remain one of the favourites for the title. Led by Kylian Mbappé, they have blended experienced stars with exciting young talents such as William Saliba and Michael Olise.
This promises to be one of the most entertaining matches of the quarter-finals.
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Spain vs Belgium
This match will pit the tournament’s best defence against one of its most dangerous attacks.
Belgium have scored 13 goals so far, with Romelu Lukaku and Leandro Trossard playing leading roles in their impressive attacking displays.
Spain, meanwhile, have yet to concede a single goal. Their disciplined defence and organised style under coach Luis de la Fuente have made them one of the hardest teams to break down.
Whichever side wins this tactical battle could become one of the favourites to reach the final.
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Norway vs England
This could be the biggest individual battle of the quarter-finals.
Norway’s Erling Haaland has been unstoppable, scoring seven goals in four matches, including two against Brazil in the last 16.
England captain Harry Kane is only one goal behind in the Golden Boot race and continues to deliver in crucial moments.
Beyond the battle between the two strikers, England’s experience at this stage of the competition could prove decisive, while Norway are enjoying the best World Cup run in their history.
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Argentina vs Switzerland
Argentina remain favourites, but their journey has been anything but comfortable.
The defending champions needed extra time to beat Cape Verde before producing a dramatic late comeback against Egypt after trailing by two goals with just minutes remaining.
Captain Lionel Messi continues to lead the Golden Boot race despite missing two penalties during the tournament.
Switzerland, meanwhile, have quietly become one of the toughest teams to beat. They reached the quarter-finals after eliminating Colombia on penalties and have shown great defensive discipline throughout the competition.
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If young forward Johan Manzambi recovers from injury, Switzerland could pose an even greater threat as they chase another famous upset.
Four Matches, Countless Storylines
Every quarter-final offers something different. France face a confident Morocco seeking revenge, Spain’s rock-solid defence meets Belgium’s free-scoring attack, Haaland and Kane battle for goals and glory, while Argentina attempt to keep their title defence alive against a resilient Swiss side.
With places in the semi-finals at stake, fans can expect high-quality football, intense tactical battles and the possibility of even more unforgettable World Cup moments.
The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 14 games for the Knights.
Before playing in the MPBL, Abadiano played five seasons with University of the Philippines, helping the school capture a couple of UAAP championships.
Led 2-0, the defending champions produced 13 minutes of magic to turn their Round of 16 game on its head and beat Egypt. Romero, Messi and Fernandez avoided what would have been a historic upset as Egypt were left powerless in the face of Argentina’s magical comeback. The Pharoahs however complained about the refereeing, saying decisions had been taken against them, with their head coach vowing not to watch a single game for the rest of the competition.
Beyond the absolute cinema that Argentina produced against Egypt in a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match on Tuesday, the accusations have been serious. Some tricky VAR decisions, which many alleged went in favour of Argentina, led to allegations from the Egypt camp that the World Cup was “rigged” to favour Lionel Messi‘s team. From 2-0 down, Argentina scored three goals in 13 minutes to win 3-2.
Speaking to the broadcaster after the match, Ziko said: “No fair, no fair, referee, no fair. Injustice, clear and obvious injustice. He is wasting the efforts of an entire country. From the start of the match, he was against us. It is not allowed for us to leave as 2-0 winners against Argentina. The tournament is fixed. God is sufficient for us, and He is the best disposer of affairs.”
In the midst of this, FIFA has announced an all-Argentine referee line-up for the France vs Morocco quarter-final on July 10 (IST). While it is not common to appoint referees from one nation or region for the same match to ensure better communication, the fact that France could be a potential opponent for Argentina later in the tournament has given rise to a new conspiracy theory among fans. In fact, this is the first time in the 2026 World Cup that a game will have match officials from a single nation.
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FIFA has confirmed the match officials for the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco, with an all-Argentine crew, led by main referee Facundo Tello, set to officiate the game.
It is the first time in this World Cup edition that a game will have match officials exclusively from a single nation.
The main referee for the France vs Morocco match is Facundo Tello. The official earlier supervised Morocco’s World Cup quarter-final win against Portugal in Qatar 2022.
All Argentina referees for a france match, FIFA trying everything to rig the World Cup for Argentina once again
Meanwhile, Morocco’s national football team began preparations in Boston for their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash against stronger France.
The Official Account of the Morocco National Football Team shared pictures from the team’s training session on X, highlighting their preparations ahead of the highly anticipated knockout encounter.
“First training session in Boston ahead of the quarter-finals,” the Morocco National Football Team wrote on X while sharing images of the players training.
Morocco created history at the FIFA World Cup 2026 by becoming the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals in two editions of the tournament after defeating co-hosts Canada 3-0 in a highly physical Round of 16 clash. The match produced the most disciplinary action of the tournament so far, with the referee showing eight yellow cards and awarding 38 fouls.
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The Atlas Lions delivered a dominant second-half performance after withstanding Canadian pressure in the opening period. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice, becoming the first Moroccan player since 1998 to net a brace in a World Cup match, while Soufiane Rahimi added a late third goal to seal the victory.
Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz also entered the record books, with Hakimi registering his third World Cup assist among defenders since 1966, while Diaz became the African player with the most World Cup assists, with four
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns (26) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the New York Mets at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Monday, June 15, 2026.
The Cincinnati Reds will look to their young ace in hopes of reversing their two-month swoon when they host the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday in the second contest of a three-game series.
Right-hander Chase Burns (10-1, 2.40 ERA) has emerged as a true stopper for a Cincinnati team that has lost seven of its last nine games. Burns also will be making his first start since earning his first career All-Star nod last week.
The Phillies have yet to announce their pitching plans for Wednesday’s game following a series-opening 4-1 win.
Not only does Burns boast a sensational record and 1.08 WHIP across 17 starts, he also has racked up 116 strikeouts while limiting opposing hitters to a .207 batting average.
What makes his 2026 campaign remarkably impressive is his consistency. The hard-throwing hurler leads the majors with 15 outings of allowing two or fewer runs, serving as the ultimate anchor in a Cincinnati rotation that has otherwise dealt with injuries and inconsistency.
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After Burns had his streak of allowing two or fewer runs snapped at 12 games in Pittsburgh on June 27, Burns bounced back in his last outing. He yielded two runs on four hits over six innings and earned the win in Cincinnati’s 7-2 victory over Milwaukee last Thursday.
After an up-and-down rookie season in 2025, Burns has focused on preparation and incremental growth.
“I think that’s my personality, just trying to learn every day, trying to get better every day,” Burns said. “It’s a long season, so if you can improve one percent every day then you’re going to be OK.”
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Burns allowed one run on three hits and struck out nine batters in six innings of a 4-1 win over Philadelphia on May 19. He is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in two career starters against the Phillies.
The Reds are going to need Burns to be on his game after the offense failed in big moments on Tuesday. The team struck out 18 times.
The lone bright spot was Eugenio Suarez, who homered in the seventh inning for his 198th home run in a Cincinnati uniform, tying him with Hall of Famer Barry Larkin for 11th on the club’s all-time list.
The Phillies also used the long ball on Tuesday, with Kyle Schwarber belting his majors-best 31st homer on a 3-0 fastball from Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott. It was just his second home run in 14 games.
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Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler matched his career high with 14 strikeouts.
“We wanted to jump on Abbott early because he’s got good stuff if you let him settle in,” Schwarber said. “Trea (Turner) did a great job putting us on the board first, and I just looked for a mistake over the plate I could drive. It’s always nice to come back to Ohio and get a hold of one, but the real story tonight was Wheels doing what he does best.”
“Zack was just on another level,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said. “When he’s dialed in like that, matching his career-best out there, it gives the entire dugout a massive lift. It got a bit testy out there in the eighth with the slide and the delays, but I like the fire our guys showed. We stayed focused on the job, escaped the jam, and got out of there with a great team win.”
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