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Who is Alyssa Thomas? WNBA star suspended after Caitlin Clark throat punch

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Phoenix Mercury All-Star Alyssa Thomas is the latest villain to Caitlin Clark fans after punching Clark in the throat during a game on Wednesday night.

The referees missed the punch in real time, but fans and the league office did not.

A viral clip of the punch in slow motion spread across social media, pouring gasoline on the ongoing culture war surrounding Clark’s physical treatment by opposing players, which has been a controversial issue dating back to Clark’s rookie season in 2024.

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And Less than 24 hours after the incident, the WNBA slapped Thomas with a one-game suspension for what was deemed a “reckless” and “non-basketball act.”

Who is the woman behind the punch?

If Thomas wasn’t in the WNBA, she says she would go pro in combat sports

In a 2019 interview with Nike PLAYlist, Thomas answered what sport she would have gone pro in if she didn’t go pro in basketball.

“Either boxing or MMA,” Thomas said.

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If Thomas never went pro in any sport, she said she would have gotten into dentistry.

“Since I was a kid, I loved going to the dentist. I just was fascinated with teeth and still am. I’m passionate about that whole process of cleaning,” according to a profile on WNBA.com.

The first time Thomas stepped on a basketball court, she threw a ‘hissy fit’

Thomas was signed up to try basketball for the first time at the age of five by her mother, Tina, per the WNBA.

Thomas said she “Threw myself all down the stairs, down the hallway,” while her mom said “She just threw an absolute hissy fit.”

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WNBA SUSPENDS ALYSSA THOMAS FOR ‘RECKLESSLY’ HITTING CAITLIN CLARK IN THROAT DURING SCRAMBLE

Her parents didn’t let her win a popular board game

Thomas’ parents never took it easy on her when they played “Candyland” as she was growing up.

“We weren’t the parents that were just going to let you win,” Tina said, per the WNBA.

“In life, you have to fight, and how are you going to fight if you don’t teach your kids to fight? So if she fell over, ‘get up, you’re alright,’ and if she didn’t get up, you knew something was wrong.”

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It was a parenting tactic also used by the father of New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter, who famously never let Jeter win in board games or card games when he was growing up, to instill harsh competitiveness at an early age.

Thomas added that her mom was especially hard on her and helped develop her toughness.

“By no means was it easy, and it’s still not easy,” Thomas said.

Thomas plays more physically because shoulder issues hinder her shooting ability

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas scrambling to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a basketball game

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas scrambles to get up over Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark during a game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on June 24, 2026. The Phoenix Mercury defeated the Indiana Fever 111-109. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

Thomas currently plays basketball with torn labrums in both of her shoulders.

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The injuries are so severe that she completely lacks the structural integrity to lift her arms and shoot a traditional, fluid jump shot. Instead, she is forced to use a rigid, one-handed pushing motion from her chest just to get the ball to the rim.

Because she cannot rely on outside shooting, Thomas adapted by leaning entirely into her physical frame. She drives directly into the teeth of opposing defenses, absorbing heavy contact in the paint to score closer to the basket.

Caitlin Clark falling during a game in Indianapolis

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark shown after falling in the lane while Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas watches the ball at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Indianapolis, Indiana on June 24, 2026. (Grace Smith/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

That brutal, driving style requires her to initiate intense physical collisions on nearly every single possession.

Despite the mechanical limitations and constant pain, the tactical shift worked. She transformed herself into a six-time All-Star, three-time First-Team All-WNBA, an Olympic gold medalist and the undisputed triple-double queen of the WNBA.

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Thomas has been the center of immense criticism this week

The throat punch on Clark ignited a fierce wave of backlash.

Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White led the charge, completely unloading on Thomas and the league’s officials during her postgame press conference.

“We have a generational talent and a WNBA superstar who had two cheap shots right there that weren’t called,” White said, pointing directly at Thomas’s actions. “Absolutely unacceptable.”

White argued that Thomas regularly crosses the line from playing physical defense into inflicting dangerous, non-basketball contact.

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“It’s absolutely egregious and utterly disrespectful,” White continued to fume to reporters. “The fist in the throat is crazy. It’s crazy. It’s dangerous.”

On Thursday, Fever President Kelly Krauskopf released a statement praising the decision to suspend Thomas.

“Player safety should be paramount in our league. We appreciate the WNBA’s review of last night’s incident and the action taken. Right now our focus is on Caitlin and our entire team as we prepare for Saturday,” Krauskopf wrote.

Former Minnesota Vikings captain and prominent conservative activist Jack Brewer said the punch would be considered a “hate crime” if the roles were reversed.

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“This would be considered a hate crime if it were the other way around,” Brewer told Fox News Digital.

Other critics have expressed their own outrage on social media.

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Billy Joe Saunders addresses potential boxing comeback after 5 years out

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Billy Joe Saunders has not ruled out a ring return but, at the same time, is acutely aware of the dedication required to step through the ropes.

The former two-division world champion has not fought since May 2021, back when he suffered an eighth-round stoppage defeat to Canelo Alvarez.

As a result, Saunders was relieved of his WBO super-middleweight title and is yet to have had another fight scheduled, despite being just 31 years old and seemingly having more to offer at world level.

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It must be said, however, that the slick southpaw’s best performances came at 160lbs, where edged a split decision against Chris Eubank Jr in 2014.

Despite the close scorecards, Saunders proved far too skilled for his domestic rival and ultimately secured a WBO title shot against Andy Lee, who he dethroned with a majority decision victory in 2015.

The Hertfordshire man’s most accomplished display arguably came against David Lemieux, though, as the razor-sharp technician was almost punch-perfect when they collided in 2017.

This performance earned him a comprehensive unanimous decision victory on away soil, but Saunders now appears to be a far cry from such athletic prowess.

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Speaking with The Stomping Ground, the 36-year-old admitted that any comeback would depend greatly on his commitment to training.

“I’m always dragged back into [boxing] one way or another. It’s a game that you miss.

“You’ll think, ‘You know what, I’m going to go home Monday; I’m going to start training; I’m going to pound the roads; I’m going to get in the gym’. Then Tuesday comes and you’re in the café.

“I would love to [make a comeback]. Am I good enough now, at 36 [years old]? We don’t know. If I lost the weight and came out like an absolute stallion … [a return] could be on the cards.”

Regardless of a possible comeback, Saunders is likely to continue his work as a manager of fighters such as Lewis Edmondson, who comes off a points victory over Lyndon Arthur.

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Peter Fury sums up Anthony Joshua’s chances of beating Tyson Fury

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Peter Fury has shared his thoughts on his nephew Tyson’s long-awaited upcoming battle against domestic rival Anthony Joshua.

The two British heavyweights are expected to square off later this year, but only if they win their respective warm-up fights and remain injury-free.

First, Joshua must come through his outing against Kristian Prenga, a relatively unknown heavyweight who he will face in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on July 25.

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Tyson Fury, meanwhile, is set to enter a second warm-up fight in August, despite coming off a unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.

In fairness, the Makhmudov win ended a 16-month spell of inactivity following his second points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, and so the 37-year-old clearly feels he could do with another tune-up exercise.

This is likely to come against unbeaten 41-year-old Nelson Hysa, who boasts a record of 24-0 (22 KOs) but has not defeated anyone of note.

Regardless of how Tyson looks in his next fight, though, uncle Peter, who used to train ‘The Gypsy King’, has told About Boxing that he sees the Joshua clash as a genuine 50/50 contest.

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“I have no idea what they’ve got left. May the best man win. It’s the one that comes with the right tactics that’s going to win it.

“One’s got good attributes; [the other] has good attributes. So I think it’s evenly matched. It’s not going to be easy for either of them.”

Peter trained Tyson up until his upset victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. Since then, Fury has worked with British coach Ben Davison and is now trained by SugarHill Steward.

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Opta reveals brutal long odds for Scotland’s World Cup progress

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Scotland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage have dwindled to just a brutal 0.07 per cent, according to data provider Opta.

The team’s prospects of securing one of the eight best third-place spots plummeted to almost one in 2,000 after damaging results for Senegal and Iran.

Of the nine completed groups, Scotland sit only above Uruguay among third-placed teams, following the South Americans’ defeat by Spain. This result leaves Steve Clarke’s men in the United States for at least another 24 hours.

South Korea, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, Ecuador, and Paraguay had already finished ahead of the Scots in the third-place table before the latest round of matches.

World Cup 2026 group stage - third place rankings as of June 27 •
World Cup 2026 group stage – third place rankings as of June 27 • (PA Wire)

Scotland needed Iraq to hold Senegal or secure a low-scoring win but an early red card put them up against it and the Africans won 5-0 to claim their first points and boost their goal difference.

A 3-0 defeat by Brazil had left Scotland with three points and a goal difference of minus three.

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A Spain victory was a rare bit of good news for the Tartan Army but they needed Egypt to beat Iran and a 1-1 draw put the latter above Scotland on goal difference.

Now Scotland need three results to go their way and chances are extremely slim.

It will all be over for Scotland on Saturday night unless Ghana beat Croatia by at least three goals.

If that result somehow comes up then a draw between DR Congo and Uzbekistan would suit Scotland in Group K, or an Uzbekistan win by no more than three goals.

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If it comes down to the final group, Scotland would need Austria to beat Algeria by two goals, or Algeria to win by four goals.

How can Scotland qualify for the knockout rounds?

Scotland’s progress to the next stage of the tournament – which would put them in the knockout rounds for the very first time – is out of their hands.

On the final day of the group-stage, Scotland need two results involving the teams currently above them in the third-place table to go their way: ie, Croatia losing heavily to Ghana and Algeria shipping several goals in a defeat to Austria so both of those teams drop below Scotland in the table on goal difference. Then, Scotland need DR Congo failing to win against Uzbekistan.

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Romelu Lukaku becomes Belgium’s highest FIFA World Cup scorer with record-breaking goal | Football News

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Romelu Lukaku becomes Belgium's highest FIFA World Cup scorer with record-breaking goal
Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku (9) heads the ball into the goal for his team’s fourth goal during the World Cup Group G football match between New Zealand and Belgium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, June 26, 2026. (AP Photo)

Romelu Lukaku became Belgium’s highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history after scoring in his side’s 5-1 win over New Zealand in their Group G match at the FIFA World Cup 2026.The 33-year-old scored in the 86th minute to take his World Cup tally to six goals, moving past Marc Wilmots, who had scored five goals for Belgium at the tournament, according to OptaJose as reported by ANI.Lukaku reached the milestone during Belgium’s comfortable win, which helped them finish at the top of Group G.Belgium controlled the game from the start, with New Zealand failing to register a single shot in the first half.Leandro Trossard almost won an early penalty after his effort struck Finn Surman on the arm, but the decision was overturned after a VAR review.Trossard gave Belgium the lead in the 28th minute by scoring from close range after the ball broke loose inside the box.The Arsenal forward scored again early in the second half with an acrobatic finish after his first effort had been saved by Max Crocombe.Kevin De Bruyne then made it 3-0 with a strike from outside the penalty area after Trossard’s run opened up space in attack.New Zealand reduced the deficit through Elijah Just, but Belgium responded quickly. Lukaku headed home to extend the lead before setting up Alexis Saelemaekers, who scored Belgium’s fifth goal with the final touch of the match.With a scoring outburst, Belgium finished atop Group G and will face a third-place finisher on Wednesday in Seattle. The match was played simultaneously to the other group finale in Seattle between Egypt and Iran, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

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England vs. Panama prediction, odds, spread, line, start time: 2026 World Cup picks

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England can wrap up the Group L title at the 2026 World Cup when they close out group play against an already-eliminated Panama side on Saturday. England need just a point to guarantee their spot in the Round of 32 and a win to secure top spot outright. Thomas Tuchel’s side sits tied atop Group L with Ghana on four points apiece, while Croatia trail by a point. England rolled to a 4-2 win over Croatia before playing to a scoreless draw with Ghana. Panama have dropped back-to-back 1-0 decisions to Ghana and Croatia.

Kickoff for Panama vs. England is 5 p.m. ET in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The latest England vs. Panama odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list England at -700 (risk $700 to win 100) on the money line, with Panama at +1700 and a draw at +750. The over/under for total goals is 3.5. Before locking in any Panama vs. England picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the Panama vs. England predictions from SportsLine’s Martin Green.

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Additionally, he enters Saturday on a 9-5 roll on World Cup picks (+382). Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Green has studied Panama vs. England and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for England vs. Panama:

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England vs. Panama 90-minute money line

England -700, Panama +1700, Draw +750

England vs. Panama over/under:    

3.5 goals 

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England vs. Panama spread:

England -2.5 (+106)

England vs. Panama picks:    

See picks at SportsLine

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England vs. Panama streaming:

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Top England vs. Panama predictions

After examining Panama vs. England from every angle, Green is leaning Over 3.5 total goals (-118). England began their group stage campaign with an impressive 4-2 win against Croatia last week. Captain Harry Kane scored twice in the first half, and goals from Jude Bellingham and Marcus Rashford sealed the win. 

The English can be powerful and still need a big win against Panama to guarantee first place, so they will be motivated to put a big number on the board. Panama have struggled in attack, but have no pressure in this matchup, freeing them up to possibly find the net as well. See Green’s best bets for Panama vs. England at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Panama vs. England at FanDuel here:

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How to make Panama vs. England picks

After studying Panama vs. England from every angle, Green has found a critical x-factor and locked in a pair of best bets. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are

So what are the best bets for Panama vs. England? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Panama vs. England, all from expert on a 9-5 roll on WC picks, and find out.

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‘He asks questions all the time’: Abhishek Sharma reveals what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is really like | Cricket News

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'He asks questions all the time': Abhishek Sharma reveals what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is really like
Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Agency Image)

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s meteoric rise has made him one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian cricket, with the 15-year-old continuing to attract widespread attention after a sensational run over the past few months. His fearless approach first grabbed headlines during IPL 2026, where he amassed 776 runs for the Rajasthan Royals while taking on some of the world’s premier bowlers with remarkable confidence.The teenager further strengthened his credentials in the India A tri-series final against Sri Lanka A, producing one of the most destructive innings in List A cricket. Sooryavanshi hammered 94 off only 29 deliveries, reaching his fifty in just 11 balls to register the fastest half-century in the format’s history.Those performances earned him his maiden call-up to India’s senior T20I squad for the ongoing tour of Ireland, marking another significant milestone in his rapidly developing career. Although many expected him to make his international debut in the opening T20I, the Indian team management opted to stick with the opening pair that played a key role in the country’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.Despite missing out on a place in the playing XI, Sooryavanshi has already made a strong impression within the Indian dressing room. Opener Abhishek Sharma revealed that the squad has gone out of its way to ensure the youngster feels welcome and highlighted his eagerness to absorb as much knowledge as possible.“As a team, I think it’s our responsibility to make him comfortable. And obviously he is a young guy and what I felt, he is very curious to play all the time. He is just learning right now. He asks questions, so I feel he has that in himself, where he wants to learn a lot of things, and obviously it’s a dream for him too. So we are trying our best to make him feel that he belongs in the group,” Abhishek told reporters after the first T20I.India’s decision to leave Sooryavanshi on the bench came as they backed their established opening combination for the series opener at Stormont. However, the move failed to deliver the desired result as Ireland defended 182 successfully, restricting India to 148 with seven balls remaining to claim a 34-run victory.Abhishek Sharma provided the lone spark for India at the top of the order with a blistering 20-ball half-century, but the rest of the batting unit struggled against Ireland’s disciplined bowling attack. Shivam Dube’s 25 was the next-highest contribution as India’s chase never truly gathered momentum, leading to renewed calls for Sooryavanshi to be handed his debut in the second and final T20I.

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Struggling Yankees look to end Red Sox bid for third straight home win

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Jun 16, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn ImagesJun 16, 2026; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees reached the halfway point on pace for 96 victories, but some of their recent showings did not reflect a team holding the best record in the American League.

New York attempts to avoid a third straight loss Saturday when they visit the Boston Red Sox, who are seeking three straight home wins for the second time this season.

The Yankees are 12-10 since losing Aaron Judge to a fractured right rib, but the past week is different from their showing in the first few weeks without their captain. New York won nine of the first 13 games without Judge but heads into Saturday with six losses in nine games and trying to avoid three straight losses for the second time in the past week.

New York is hitting .211 in its past nine games after going 3-for-30 in Friday’s 6-1 loss. Spencer Jones had the lone hit in seven innings off left-hander Payton Tolle while Anthony Volpe and Jasson Dominguez had the other hits. It marked the sixth time this season the Yankees were held to three hits or fewer.

“It’s not like we were smoking the ball,” manager Aaron Boone said after the Yankees fell to 48-33. “You’re going to have those nights. It’s a good pitcher executing. It can be a tough game sometimes. Obviously just had a hard time struggling to mount anything, but no issue with where our preparation and focus (is). We just got beat tonight.”

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The Red Sox won three straight home games April 7-8 when they beat Milwaukee and April 17 when they beat Detroit. Boston is 14-25 at home, and Friday marked the 11th time they scored more than five runs at home.

Willson Contreras helped the Red Sox score five or more runs for the fourth straight game with an RBI single and his 17th homer. Contreras homered after entering Friday with five hits in his previous 38 at-bats on the heels of a 15-for-41 (.366) showing in an 11-game span from June 2-14.

Boston’s pitching also has produced a quality start of six innings and three runs or fewer in nine straight games after Tolle retired the first 16 hitters and allowed three baserunners.

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“It’s great,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The at-bats have been really great these last two days, but watching those guys go out there and consistently pitch six innings or into the seventh is pretty impressive.”

Left-hander Jake Bennett (1-3, 3.71 ERA), who is taking the rotation spot of Brayan Bello, pitches for Boston and faces the Yankees for the first time. Bennett’s contribution to Boston’s quality start streak was six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in a no-decision on Monday in Colorado.

Gerrit Cole (2-2, 3.62), who is coming off his worst outing since returning from reconstructive elbow surgery, starts for the Yankees. Cole allowed season highs of five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings while throwing 89 pitches during a 5-3 loss at Detroit on Monday.

Cole is 7-6 with a 5.23 ERA in 19 career starts against the Red Sox. At Fenway Park, the veteran right-hander is 2-3 with a 5.52 ERA in eight starts.

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–Field Level Media

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Spain handed worrying injury update about winger’s availability for the remainder of FIFA World Cup: Reports

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Spain winger Nico Williams could potentially miss the remainder of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after he limped off injured during their 1-0 win over 10-man Uruguay. The two sides locked horns in their World Cup Group H clash at the Guadalajara Stadium on Friday, June 26.

Having recovered from a muscle injury just before the start of the FIFA World Cup, Spain boss Luis de la Fuente chose not to risk Williams, naming him on the bench for all their group stage games. With La Roja winning 1-0 against Uruguay, De La Fuente subbed on Williams in the 76th minute in place of Lamine Yamal to make an impact.

Unfortunately for the Spaniards, Williams suffered another injury and was spotted leaving the stadium after full-time in discomfort. As per MARCA (h/t The Touchline), the 23-year-old’s World Cup participation is reportedly at risk.

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De La Fuente shared an update on Williams, as well as Yeremi Pino, who suffered a shoulder injury, stating (via NDTV Sports):

“Nico was experiencing some slight discomfort. It could be a strain or just fatigue, we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure. However, and I am really sad about this, what really concerns me is Yeremy’s injury. It looks bad and there is a very strong possibility he will miss the rest of the tournament.”

Pino’s and Williams’ injuries will be a massive blow for Spain. La Roja are currently short on options down the wing, with Yamal still not at full fitness and Victor Munoz suffering a setback from a muscle issue.


Spain defeat Uruguay in FIFA World Cup clash to qualify for Round of 32

Spain weren’t at their best, but they did enough to secure a 1-0 win over Uruguay to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Round of 32 stage. La Roja finished at the top of Group H with seven points, having picked up two wins and one draw.

Despite an evenly-contested first half, Uruguay found themselves trailing in the 42nd minute when Alex Baena fired home, taking full advantage of Fernando Muslera’s error in goal. Spain controlled the tempo of the game after taking the lead and secured the three points, with Uruguay’s Agustin Canobbio being sent off in the fourth minute of stoppage time for a reckless challenge on Pau Cubarsi.

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Meanwhile, Uruguay and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated from the FIFA World Cup after finishing third and fourth in Group H, respectively. Cabo Verde have progressed to the Round of 32, after finishing in second place with three points.