Sports
‘It stinks’: Ten Brits fall on nightmare opening day of Wimbledon
On Sunday afternoon, 21 British players were into the main draw of the Wimbledon men’s and women’s singles. By sunset on Monday, only nine remained. Despite bright sunshine and balmy temperatures in SW19 what seemed an idyllic start to the tournament rapidly morphed into a nightmare, a truly miserable Monday, as 10 Brits fell on the opening day – the worst return for the home nation this century.
Twelve homegrown players were scheduled for the first day of the Championships. One didn’t make it at all, as Emma Raducanu withdrew late on Sunday night before she had been slated to open play on Court No 1 on Monday afternoon. Her latest in a litany of frustrating injury setbacks came as a recent “niggle” she had been managing developed into a full-blown stress fracture, and she was advised not to compete.
So 12 was down to 11, and of those survivors, three were knocked out by lunchtime. Things then went from bad to worse: at 2.30pm came the announcement that Jack Draper – scheduled to play on Tuesday – was to follow Raducanu as the highest-profile British player in his draw to pull out, this time with a recurrence of the arm injury that forced him to miss seven months of the tour between August and February.
That news came as Harriet Dart, unexpectedly promoted to Court No 1 after Raducanu’s exit, was locked in an almighty tussle against Jelena Ostapenko. Having dropped the first three games before needing a medical timeout it looked as though Dart might be going the way of her other fallen compatriots, but she rallied in spirited fashion to push the ever-combustile Latvian to three bruising sets.
But as Ostapenko wobbled her way through her service games and produced 13 double faults it was a tie that could easily have gone the other way, and an obviously disappointed Dart was bitterly aware of this as she walked off court with her head covered by a towel.
She joined wildcards Mika Stojsavljevic (lost in straight sets to 11th seed Belinda Bencic) Felix Gill (lost in three sets to 23rd seed Rafael Jodar), and Alicia Dudeney (lost in straight sets to Alycia Parks), and Max Basing (lost in straight sets to fellow qualifier Shintaro Mochizuki) in making a swift exit out of the All England Club gates.
The dominoes kept falling as teenagers Mimi Xu and Hannah Klugman lost almost at the same time, falling to Daria Kasatkina and 2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova. The draw certainly was not kind to many of the Brits.
While Dart was grappling with Ostapenko the hopes of a nation were slowly descending onto the shoulders of British No 1 Cameron Norrie, so often the last one standing at a major championships. The 30-year-old, seeded 26th, normally produces his best tennis at home, something he acknowledged after the fact.
But he was condemned to his earliest exit at Wimbledon since 2018 by talented college player Michael Zheng, who prevailed in a match tie-break after five closely fought sets. The 22-year-old went through qualifying to reach all three major main draws this year and was a tricky first-round draw despite making his debut at the tournament, having been a junior finalist here.
Norrie later described him as “one of the best college players, if not the best college player, at the moment”. But he would have expected to edge the encounter, especially after recovering from the rib injury which hampered him during the clay season.
The exodus continued as qualifier Oliver Tarvet saved three match points in a gritty display against 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech but eventually fell in four sets. Tarvet – who memorably made it to the second round last year, losing to Carlos Alcaraz – put up a fight for more than four hours, and needed a medical timeout after a nasty fall in the third.
Fran Jones then lost in straight sets to Diane Parry to cap a record-breaking day, while the numbers could have been even worse had Jack Pinnington Jones’ match against Brandon Nakashima not been suspended due to bad light, with the Brit two sets to love down.
There was no faulting the effort on display, or the significance of the crowd’s support behind every player. Norrie said afterwards: “I fought really hard. I felt the desire, the hunger, which is important. It’s just tough to fight every point, and you come out on the losing side. But that’s sport.”
Dart shrugged off the idea that there was any greater weight of expectation on the British players’ shoulders. She said: “It’s not just being a British player out there. I think every player has pressure, regardless of the situation. And no matter how many times you do it, someone’s always feeling the pressure. It’s just how people handle it, and some people handle it better than others.”
But after two high-profile injury withdrawals and a torrent of first-day losses, with British players winning just five of 29 sets played, there was not much to be cheery about. Least of all for the LTA, who stuck to their strategy of showering wildcards on promising British hopefuls and now have little to show for it.
For all the money funnelled into British players, the two most prominent are dealing with injury after injury, while the remainder are struggling to match the likes of Americans, Ukrainians, or Italians in terms of numbers in the top 10 and consistency at the top level. Miserable Monday at Wimbledon threw that into stark relief.
Norrie summed it up: “It always stinks to lose, especially at Wimbledon, my favorite tournament in the world, a tournament I always play so well at. I played well today.
“I think it just takes probably a week or so for this kind of loss to get over. There’s no hiding from it. Yeah, it stinks.”
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Atlantic City, New Jersey, is far from the shining casino resort capital of the East Coast that it used to be.
Sure, there are still great hotels and casinos left in the city and the beach, unlike most in New Jersey, is still free. But crime and corruption have changed the perception of the city over the years.
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Grayson Waller and Austin Theory address the crowd during SmackDown at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 23, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)
WWE star Grayson Waller took advantage of that.
Atlantic City’s iconic Boardwalk Hall played host to “Monday Night Raw” and a taping of “Friday Night SmackDown.” Waller posted a video of himself running on the beach on social media and dubbed the beach town the “saddest city in America.”
“I’ve been to a lot in America but Atlantic City, New Jersey, might just be the saddest,” the Australian heel said. “It’s like Las Vegas for people who have given up on life. But it’s Monday morning. Technically, I’m at a beach – an American version of a beach.
A man walks past a Ferris wheel’s reflection on the beach at sunset in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 5, 2020, as the state continues Stage 2 of reopening following coronavirus restrictions. (Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
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“While the rest of the Raw roster is sleeping in, I’m out here getting after it. I don’t want to end up like one of these people who has to vacation in Atlantic City, New Jersey. So sad.”
While it might feel like that for some, fellow WWE star Matt Cardona had different memories of Atlantic City.
Cardona performed for Game Changer Wrestling at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City. The promotion would turn the hotel’s ballroom into a wrestling ring and put on some memorable matches on the independent scene.
Grayson Waller celebrates his win during SmackDown at KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, Ky., on June 7, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)
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“Back in Atlantic City tonight for @WWE. Matt Cardona, the man, was born on Long Island. Matt Cardona, the pro wrestler, was born in AC!” he wrote on X.
Sports
FIFA World Cup 2026 scripts unprecedented history after Germany, Netherlands crash out | Football News
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced a historic first, with two teams ranked inside the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings being eliminated in the opening knockout round for the first time in the tournament’s history. Germany, ranked No. 10, and the Netherlands, ranked No. 8, both saw their campaigns come to an end on penalties, making the Round of 32 one of the most dramatic knockout stages the competition has witnessed. Germany’s disappointing run at major tournaments continued after Paraguay stunned the four-time world champions in a penalty shootout. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Germany believing they had found the winner in the 101st minute when Jonathan Tah headed home from a corner. However, after a VAR review, referee Jalal Jayed ruled out the goal, deciding that defender Waldemar Anton had impeded Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the build-up. The decision forced the contest into penalties, where Paraguay held their nerve to win 5-3. The defeat marked Germany’s first-ever FIFA World Cup elimination via a penalty shootout, having won each of their previous four shootouts in the competition. It was also only their second defeat on penalties at a major international tournament, the first coming against Czechoslovakia in the 1976 UEFA European Championship final. The result also extended Germany’s struggles since lifting the World Cup in 2014, following group-stage exits in the previous two editions. Later, Morocco scripted another memorable chapter in their World Cup journey by eliminating the Netherlands after a dramatic penalty shootout. The Dutch looked destined for the Round of 16 after Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. But Morocco refused to give in, finding an equaliser deep into stoppage time when Chemsdine Talbi’s inviting cross was headed home by Issa Diop in the 91st minute. Neither side could find a winner during extra time, taking the match to penalties. Both teams missed two spot-kicks, but Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou once again showcased his brilliance from 12 yards by saving Crysencio Summerville’s effort. With the shootout finely poised, Ismael Saibari calmly converted Morocco’s decisive penalty to seal a 3-2 victory and send the African side into the Round of 16. The combined exits of Germany and the Netherlands ensured a landmark moment in FIFA World Cup history, as never before had two top-10 ranked nations been knocked out in the very first round of the tournament’s knockout stage.
Jun 29, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) celebrates his walk-off single with teammates after defeating the San Diego Padres in the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Seiya Suzuki’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night lifted the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 win over the visiting San Diego Padres.
Dansby Swanson started the winning rally with an infield single against Jason Adam (2-2).
Trent Thornton (3-2) worked around a one-out infield hit by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the ninth as Chicago prevailed for the seventh time in eight games. It was the third straight defeat for San Diego.
Neither starter was involved in the decision. San Diego’s Griffin Canning yielded two runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out three. Chicago’s Shota Imanaga scattered nine hits in his 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs with no walks and four strikeouts.
Tigers 7, Yankees 3
Casey Mize tossed seven outstanding innings in his longest start of the season and visiting Detroit scored seven runs in the first four innings during a victory over slumping New York.
Mize (3-5) allowed a double to rookie Spencer Jones that started the third and nothing else. The right-hander tied a career high with 10 strikeouts. It was Mize’s third career double-digit strikeout game, and he finished his outing by fanning five of the final six hitters.
The Yankees tied a season worst by losing their fifth straight game. Starter Ryan Weathers allowed five runs (two earned) on seven hits in a season-low 1 2/3 innings as the Tigers scored five unearned runs due to errors by New York third baseman Jose Caballero and left fielder Cody Bellinger.
Blue Jays 2, Mets 1
Trey Yesavage pitched 6 2/3 strong innings as Toronto defeated visiting New York to end a six-game losing streak.
Yesavage (4-3) allowed one run on three hits. Louis Varland pitched around an infield hit and a walk in the ninth to earn his 17th save. Toronto’s first run came on a first-inning drive to left by George Springer that resulted in a triple and a run-scoring error.
Francisco Lindor hit a solo home run for the Mets, who have lost nine of 10. Sean Manaea (1-3) gave up two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings.
Twins 5, Astros 4
Zebby Matthews recorded his seventh quality start of the season while Josh Bell slugged a two-run homer in the sixth inning, the third of three long balls for visiting Minnesota, which held on to beat Houston.
Matthews (4-5) matched his career high by logging seven innings and equaled his season high of seven strikeouts. He worked seven innings for the fourth time in nine starts this season. He permitted one run on four hits.
Cam Smith homered twice for the Astros, who went deep twice the ninth inning to climb within a run. Houston had won five of its previous six games, while Minnesota prevailed for the third time in four games.
Diamondbacks 5, Giants 4
Geraldo Perdomo broke a fifth-inning tie with a bases-clearing double, Eduardo Rodriguez pitched seven innings of one-run ball and Arizona held on to defeat San Francisco in Phoenix.
Ketel Marte and Nolan Arenado added home runs for the Diamondbacks, who improved to 7-0 against the Giants this season by taking the opener of a three-game series. Marte’s homer, his 16th, came on Giants starter Tyler Mahle’s second pitch of the game, a run San Francisco offset in the top of the fifth on a squeeze bunt by Jonah Cox.
Mahle (1-8) was charged with four runs on four hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings. Luis Arraez, Bryce Eldridge and Victor Bericoto had two hits apiece for the Giants.
Dodgers 9, Athletics 4
Shohei Ohtani smacked a three-run homer, Andy Pages hit a two-run blast and Max Muncy belted a solo shot to help Los Angeles record a victory over the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.
Ohtani, Pages and Muncy were among eight Dodgers with two hits as Los Angeles matched its season high of 17 hits while winning for the sixth time in seven games. Manager Dave Roberts recorded his 999th career victory. Muncy, 35, had two RBIs while batting seventh and playing third base.
The Athletics also had a Max Muncy (age 23) batting seventh and playing third base. He was born 12 years to the day later, is no relation and went 1-for-3 with a run and a walk. Joshua Kuroda-Grauer had three hits and an RBI in his major league debut for the Athletics.
Mariners 6, Angels 2
Cole Young hit two home runs and George Kirby pitched eight strong innings as Seattle defeated visiting Los Angeles.
Dominic Canzone also went deep for the Mariners, who got back to .500 while snapping a two-game skid. Kirby (7-7) won his second straight start following a five-decision losing streak. The right-hander allowed two runs on seven hits.
Zach Neto doubled and homered for the Angels, who had a two-game winning streak ended and lost for just the third time in their past nine games. Angels rookie Ryan Johnson (1-3) gave up three runs — one earned — on four hits over five innings. Brewers 5, Reds 3
Joey Ortiz hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the eighth inning as Milwaukee came back from a three-run deficit to beat visiting Cincinnati.
The Brewers tied the game on Brice Turang’s solo homer in the seventh. Aaron Ashby (11-1) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and increased his major-league-leading win total. Trevor Megill retired the Reds in order in the ninth for his 11th save.
Elly De La Cruz slugged a two-run homer for the Reds, who have lost five of their past seven games. Reliever Sam Moll (1-6) took the loss after Nick Lodolo fired five shutout innings of one-hit ball. Marlins 10, Rockies 7
Otto Lopez homered and doubled, Griffin Conine belted a pinch-hit three-run homer, and Miami beat Colorado in Denver.
Javier Sanoja singled, doubled and tripled and Owen Caissie contributed two hits for the Marlins, who have won all four games against the Rockies this season. Sandy Alcantara (9-4) allowed five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Hunter Goodman homered among his two hits and Kyle Karros and Jake McCarthy each had two hits and two RBIs for Colorado. Reliever Victor Vodnik (2-3) served up Conine’s go-ahead homer in the fifth. Rangers 6, Guardians 3
Cameron Cauley tripled in the seventh inning for his first major league hit in his debut, then scored the go-ahead run on Nicky Lopez’s single as visiting Texas beat Cleveland.
Lopez subsequently came home on Justin Foscue’s double as American League West Division-leading Texas scored twice in the seventh to take a 4-2 lead. Texas matched its longest winning streak of the year at five.
Cleveland rookie Parker Messick (7-5) lost for the fourth time in five starts, allowing four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings. White Sox 8, Orioles 2
Colson Montgomery’s run-scoring double broke an eighth-inning tie and Jacob Gonzalez drove in three runs with a pair of hits as visiting Chicago beat Baltimore.
White Sox reliever Grant Taylor (4-1) tossed two shutout innings. Every batter in the starting lineup had at least one hit as Chicago won for the fifth time in its past seven games.
Gunnar Henderson had two hits and Adley Rutschman provided two sacrifice flies for the Orioles, who have lost three in a row. Grant Wolfram (1-2), the first of four Baltimore relievers, took the loss. Pirates 11, Phillies 7
Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez homered for the fourth straight game and Endy Rodriguez hit a late three-run shot as visiting Pittsburgh topped Philadelphia.
Playing in just his 16th MLB game, Valdez continued his hot stretch in support of Braxton Ashcraft (8-3), who settled down after a rough start to allow five runs and five hits in six innings. Jared Triolo also homered as Pittsburgh rallied from a 5-0 deficit.
Brandon Marsh hit two home runs for the Phillies, while Bryce Harper and Trea Turner also went deep. Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola (3-5) gave up eight runs, seven earned, and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. Red Sox 6, Nationals 3
Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin hit first-inning home runs, leading Boston to a series-opening win over visiting Washington.
Contreras crushed a three-run shot to spark the Red Sox, who did all of their offensive work — six runs on nine hits — over the first three innings en route to a fifth straight win. Ranger Suarez (4-3) struck out eight over six innings of three-run ball, marking the 12th consecutive quality start by Red Sox pitching.
Curtis Mead went 2-for-4 and CJ Abrams hit a two-run double for Washington, which had won its previous two games. Miles Mikolas (2-7) yielded six runs on nine hits in seven innings. –Field Level Media
Morocco produced one of the most dramatic comebacks of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they fought back from behind to beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties in Monterrey and book their place in the last 16.
The Atlas Lions dominated large parts of the match but needed a stoppage-time equaliser from Issa Diop before holding their nerve in the penalty shootout to secure a memorable victory over the Dutch.
Here are the key moments from Morocco’s famous win:
Early Battles Set the Tone
The match began at a high intensity, with both teams engaged in physical duels across the pitch. Morocco’s Ismail Saibari and the Netherlands’ Jan Paul van Hecke were involved in several fierce battles, while Brian Brobbey and Chadi Riad also exchanged heavy challenges.
Morocco Create the Better Chances
Morocco looked the more dangerous side during the first half. Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi, making his 100th international appearance, both tested Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who produced several excellent saves to keep the scores level.
Hakimi Hits the Woodwork
After the break, Morocco increased the pressure and came close to taking the lead when Hakimi struck the crossbar. Despite controlling possession, they were punished moments later.
Emotional Gakpo Gives Netherlands the Lead
In the 72nd minute, the Netherlands launched a swift counter-attack which ended with Cody Gakpo smashing the ball into the net. The Liverpool forward, who had recently revealed the heartbreaking loss of his unborn son, was embraced by his teammates after scoring what appeared to be the winning goal.
Diop’s Dramatic Stoppage-Time Equaliser
Just when the Netherlands looked set to advance, Morocco struck in the opening seconds of added time. Issa Diop rose highest to power home a header from Chemsdine Talbi’s cross, sending Moroccan supporters into celebration and forcing extra time.
Verbruggen Produces Save of the Tournament
Early in extra time, Bart Verbruggen made a remarkable save to deny substitute Soufiane Rahimi, who had dribbled brilliantly through the Dutch defence. It was one of the standout saves of the tournament.
Penalty Drama
The shootout produced more twists and turns:
- Teun Koopmeiners scored for the Netherlands.
- Neil El Aynaoui hit the crossbar for Morocco.
- Justin Kluivert struck the post.
- Soufiane Rahimi’s effort squeezed under Verbruggen to level the shootout.
- Wout Weghorst restored the Dutch advantage.
- Quinten Timber dragged his penalty wide.
- Achraf Hakimi missed the chance to put Morocco ahead by hitting the post.
- Dutch substitute Crysencio Summerville was then denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Saibari Sends Morocco Through
With the final penalty, Ismail Saibari calmly sent Verbruggen the wrong way to seal a 3-2 shootout victory and spark wild celebrations among the Moroccan players and fans.
Morocco Continue Africa’s Historic Run
Four years after reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, Morocco have once again shown their quality on the biggest stage by eliminating another European giant.
The Atlas Lions, led by coach Mohamed Ouahbi, become the first African nation to reach the last 16 at the 2026 World Cup and will now face Canada for a place in the quarter-finals. Their resilience, talent and fighting spirit continue to make them one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams.
Seafall, though not the initial top seed for the Winter Championship campaign from Lindsay Park, is now the mare carrying the Hayes family’s ambitions for a breakthrough win in the Finals Day feature.
The five-year-old bay, sired by The Autumn Sun, will represent Ben, Will, and JD Hayes as their sole runner in the $200,000 Listed event at Flemington this Saturday.
The Hayes family has a history of success on Finals Day as the card has evolved, but their grandfather Colin Hayes was the last to win this specific race in 1985 with Kiwi Slave.
Ben Hayes is pleased that Seafall is at the forefront of their strong team for Finals Day, which also includes Ndola in the Santa Ana Lane Final, The Western Front in the Banjo Paterson Final, Stylish and Grid Girl in the Leilani Final, and Stars Of Dom, Vivid Storm, and Resolutely contesting the Next Generation Final.
“You always like to have runners at Flemington and it has been a good meeting for us over the years,” he said. “I think we’ve going to have a good team there and hopefully we can get a winner or two.”
Seafall is set to make her first start in Stakes grade since an eighth-place finish in the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic when she was a three-year-old and trained by Chris Waller.
She joined Lindsay Park last spring and failed to win in her first seven starts for the stable, but has since achieved four victories from her last five outings.
Her most recent win occurred in The David Bourke at Flemington on June 20, a result that secured her position in the Winter Championship Final.
“She’s thriving, she’s a mare in form and when mares are in form they just keep going,” Hayes stated. “She’s a lovely, sound horse and I think it’s a great opportunity for a mare like her to go for Black Type. If she draws a barrier and gets the right run she can go very close. There aren’t many Stakes races this time of year, so it’s a good opportunity to hopefully get some Black Type for her.”
Seafall is one of 24 nominations for the Winter Championship Final, which notably features defending champion Jimmy The Bear.
Considering a wager on the Winter Championship Final? You can find competitive racing betting markets at various Australian bookmakers.
France will not abandon the attacking philosophy that carried them through the World Cup group stage despite conceding chances, coach Didier Deschamps has warned ahead of their last-32 clash against Sweden on Tuesday.
Les Bleus topped their group with a perfect nine points, scoring 10 goals against Senegal, Iraq and Norway, but their adventurous approach also allowed opponents opportunities.
Read moreWorld Cup 2026: All the fixtures
“We have to score one more goal, not give up what we’re capable of doing,” Deschamps told a press conference ahead of the match, acknowledging that his team had conceded “a few chances too many”.
“We have the ability to create danger and hurt the opposition. That’s our strength and I want us to keep that strength,” he added, warning his players to be wary of a Sweden team “with nothing to lose”.
The France coach highlighted Sweden’s athleticism, pace on the counter and threat from set pieces.
“We need to stay humble, maintain our determination and concentration,” he said. “In the group stage winning the first game gave us some margin for error, but now we have no second chances.”
Left flank a concern
Deschamps returned to the France team’s base in Boston on Saturday after missing the 4-1 win against Norway to fly home to attend his mother’s funeral.
Les Bleus came into the World Cup as one of the leading contenders to win the trophy, following their triumph in 2018 and defeat on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final.
They were impressive in the group stage, at least after a shaky first half in their opening game against Senegal, with Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise giving them arguably the most devastating attacking unit in the tournament.
Yet the left flank has looked less settled. Theo Hernandez has not fully convinced at left back, and Lucas Digne is expected to come into the side against Sweden, bringing more defensive security and a steadier delivery from wide areas.
Further forward, Bradley Barcola is expected to replace Désire Doué on the left of France’s attack, with Deschamps looking for more direct running, pace in transition and natural width on the flank opposite the Olise-Mbappé-Dembélé axis.
The adjustment would not change France’s overall balance but could give them a more coherent left side against a Sweden team likely to defend deep, attack at set pieces and look to expose any space behind France’s defence, which has sometimes been caught off guard.
The return of William Saliba in central defence will, at least, bring some stability back.
Outscoring Les Bleus?
Sweden arrive as awkward opponents rather than spectacular ones. They finished second in Group F behind the Netherlands, opening with a 5-1 win over Tunisia before being torn apart by the Dutch 5-1 and drawing with Japan 1-1.
However, they have enough physical presence and organisation to make the evening uncomfortable if France lose patience.
The knockout stage is a different test from the group phase, when France were able to overwhelm opponents despite occasional defensive lapses. But the 2022 final against Argentina aside, France have not lost a knockout game at the World Cup since 2014.
Inevitably, their rivals face a similar conundrum: however many goals they score, Les Bleus always look capable of scoring one more.
Mbappé has been France’s central figure again, while Dembélé’s hat-trick against Norway and Olise’s creativity have underlined the depth of attacking options available to Deschamps.
Barcola, Doué, Rayan Cherki, Jean-Philippe Mateta or Marcus Thuram give France the kind of bench power no team can match.
Read moreWorld Cup 2026: Dembélé scores sensational hat-trick as France beat Norway to top group
Can Sweden cause an upset?
“I don’t buy it. Sweden have Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres and Anthony Elanga. They are not a bad side, but they are nowhere near France’s firepower,” former England great Gary Lineker told French sports daily L’Equipe.
“Of course, with four genuine forwards, Les Bleus could be vulnerable on the counter, as we saw against Norway’s second string on Friday, but they will score more goals than the other teams.”
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
There have been discussions about a potential salary cap in college football to limit how much money could go into assembling a roster.
What would a good number be?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, I discuss a sobering reality for national title contenders this year.
Which ones are capable of falling well short of their goals?
The G6 Playoff berth for the 2026 season will have a host of contenders, led (some believe) by Boise State.
There’s a Mountain West team outside of UNLV that should be monitored.
00:00 Challenges of Implementing Salary Caps
05:48 College football financial disparities
08:39 Future of College Sports Reforms
12:46 National championship contenders discussion
15:18 Ohio State football predictions
17:40 Predicting College Football Team Outcomes
22:00 Jason Eck’s coaching impact
23:39 New Mexico as playoff contender
28:18 Jason Eck’s coaching impact
30:50 Potential for New Mexico Lobos
Sports
Netherlands suffer another penalty heartbreak as Morocco reach pre-quarters | FIFA World Cup 2026
Morocco refused to let their World Cup story end quietly. The Netherlands, once again, found a way to make penalties feel like punishment.
At Monterrey Stadium on Tuesday morning (India time), Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 in a chaotic penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 match, sending the Dutch to their earliest World Cup exit and moving into the Round of 16.
Ismael Saibari scored the decisive kick after Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s attempt with his left hand. Saibari sent his shot low into the left corner as Bart Verbruggen went the other way, then tore off his shirt and screamed as his teammates mobbed him.
Morocco will now face Canada in the Round of 16 in Houston on Saturday.
For the Netherlands, the defeat extended a familiar agony. They had reached at least the Round of 16 in each of their previous 11 World Cup appearances, including a quarterfinal run in Qatar four years ago. This time, in the first edition of the expanded tournament in which 32 teams entered the knockout stage, they were gone at the first hurdle.
Diop saves Morocco at the death
The match had seemed to be slipping away from Morocco when Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead in the 72nd minute.
The goal came after Crysencio Summerville was left on the ground in the penalty area, but still managed to assist the Liverpool forward. Gakpo finished the move, and the Dutch bench flooded onto the pitch to embrace him.
It was more than a football moment. Gakpo and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently announced the loss of their unborn child. After scoring, Gakpo sank to his knees and sobbed, pointed to the heavens and was surrounded by teammates. His parents in the stands were overcome as well.
For a few minutes, it looked as though the night would belong to him and the Netherlands.
Morocco, however, kept pushing. In the 91st minute, Chemsdine Talbi sent a looping cross into the box from the left, and Issa Diop rose to head home cleanly. Verbruggen had no chance. Diop’s first goal for his country sent the Moroccan end into a roar, with drinks raining down from the stands.
Extra time followed, but neither side created a clear opening across the additional 30 minutes. The match then moved to penalties, where the drama became almost surreal.
The shootout that lost all rhythm
It was the second shootout of the tournament on the same day, after Paraguay beat Germany on penalties earlier on Monday. But Morocco-Netherlands produced a different kind of chaos.
Five of the 10 penalties were missed or saved. One looked saved before spinning over the line. Only one was cleanly stopped, but it proved decisive.
Teun Koopmeiners gave the Netherlands the lead with the first kick, firing into the bottom corner. Neil El Aynaoui then rattled the crossbar for Morocco. Justin Kluivert had a chance to put the Dutch in control, but struck the base of the post.
Netherlands’ Wout Weghorst and Denzel Dumfries look dejected after the match as Netherlands are eliminated from the World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Wout Weghorst scored for the Netherlands and Talbi responded for Morocco to make it 2-2. Quentin Timber then fired wide before Achraf Hakimi struck the same part of the post Kluivert had hit.
After eight penalties, only four had been scored.
Summerville then went down the middle, but Bounou stepped right and punched the ball away almost casually with his left hand. Saibari did the rest.
|
Penalty shootout sequence |
|||
|
Team |
Player |
Outcome |
Score after kick |
|
Netherlands |
Teun Koopmeiners |
Scored |
Netherlands 1-0 |
|
Morocco |
Neil El Aynaoui |
Hit crossbar |
Netherlands 1-0 |
|
Netherlands |
Justin Kluivert |
Hit post |
Netherlands 1-0 |
|
Morocco |
Soufiane Rahimi |
Scored after Verbruggen deflection |
1-1 |
|
Netherlands |
Wout Weghorst |
Scored |
Netherlands 2-1 |
|
Morocco |
Chemsdine Talbi |
Scored |
2-2 |
|
Netherlands |
Quentin Timber |
Missed |
2-2 |
|
Morocco |
Achraf Hakimi |
Hit post |
2-2 |
|
Netherlands |
Crysencio Summerville |
Saved by Yassine Bounou |
2-2 |
|
Morocco |
Ismael Saibari |
Scored |
Morocco win 3-2 |
Bounou adds another chapter
Bounou came into the shootout with a reputation. He had saved two Spanish penalties in the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup and later stopped two more against Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations to help Morocco reach the final.
Against the Netherlands, he had no chance with the first Dutch penalty and watched others miss without needing his intervention. But when Morocco needed him most, he delivered.
His save from Summerville gave Saibari the chance to end the contest. The midfielder took it with conviction.
Netherlands’ Crysencio Summerville misses a penalty during the penalty shootout. Photo: Reuters
Dutch penalty pain deepens
For the Netherlands, this was the latest chapter in a long and painful history with penalties.
They have now lost four of their five World Cup penalty shootouts. Across major tournaments, they have won only two of the 10 shootouts they have contested. Only Spain have lost as many World Cup shootouts as the Dutch.
Their only World Cup shootout win came in the 2014 quarterfinal against Costa Rica. Since then, the format has repeatedly hurt them, including defeats to Argentina in 2014 and 2022 and now Morocco in 2026.
|
Netherlands in major tournament penalty shootouts |
|||
|
Tournament |
Round |
Fixture |
Result |
|
Fifa World Cup 2026 |
Round of 32 |
Netherlands vs Morocco |
Lost 2-3 |
|
UEFA Nations League finals |
Quarterfinals |
Netherlands vs Spain |
Lost 7-8 |
|
Fifa World Cup 2022 |
Quarterfinals |
Netherlands vs Argentina |
Lost 5-6 |
|
Fifa World Cup 2014 |
Semifinals |
Netherlands vs Argentina |
Lost 2-4 |
|
Fifa World Cup 2014 |
Quarterfinals |
Netherlands vs Costa Rica |
Won 4-3 |
|
UEFA Euro 2004 |
Quarterfinals |
Netherlands vs Sweden |
Won 5-4 |
|
UEFA Euro 2000 |
Semifinals |
Netherlands vs Italy |
Lost 1-3 |
|
Fifa World Cup 1998 |
Semifinals |
Netherlands vs Brazil |
Lost 2-4 |
|
UEFA Euro 1996 |
Quarterfinals |
Netherlands vs France |
Lost 4-5 |
|
UEFA Euro 1992 |
Semifinals |
Netherlands vs Denmark |
Lost 6-7 |
Netherlands’ Marten de Roon and teammates look dejected after the match as Oranje are eliminated from the Fifa World Cup 2026. Photo Reuters
Verbruggen’s save, and then the cruel twist
Before the shootout, Verbruggen had produced one of the saves of the tournament.
Rahimi cut inside with a sharp drop of the shoulder, and the goal appeared to open up. Verbruggen narrowed the angle, tempted the striker towards the near post and somehow diverted a powerful close-range strike away with a combination of knee, hand and instinct.
The 23-year-old had already built a reputation as one of the better ball-playing goalkeepers in Europe, and his performance in open play underlined that promise.
But in the shootout, the margins were cruel. He almost stopped Rahimi’s penalty, only for the ball to roll over the line off his leg. Moments later, he could not stop Saibari’s winner.
A match too good for the Round of 32
This was not a tie that felt like an early knockout match.
Morocco entered the game ranked sixth in the world, the Netherlands seventh, making it the highest combined ranking of any Round of 32 match. On the pitch, the contest carried that weight.
The Netherlands had Premier League-proven players and tactical flexibility. Morocco had the energy, aggression and refusal to disappear that marked their 2022 semifinal run.
The game moved on a knife-edge. Morocco’s equaliser shook the stadium. The Dutch nearly dragged themselves through. Extra time offered tension without clarity. Then came a shootout that seemed determined to reject order.
For a newly expanded World Cup, this was an advert for the Round of 32: high stakes, elite teams, deep drama and a result that could not be assumed.
Koeman’s caution pays off, then falls short
Ronald Koeman changed shape for the first time in the tournament, selecting Van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake and Micky van de Ven together, with Denzel Dumfries on the right. It gave the Netherlands a back five and was partly designed to deal with Achraf Hakimi’s pace and direct runs.
The caution had logic. Van de Ven made one important recovery tackle on Hakimi in the second half, and the Dutch were not often opened up with ease.
But the shape also limited the Netherlands in possession. Dumfries hesitated to push forward in build-up, and Van de Ven was mostly kept wide. The Dutch needed a change, and Koeman made it in the 70th minute by sending on Weghorst for Ake.
The change worked almost immediately. Weghorst flicked on a clearance into Summerville’s path, and Summerville set up Gakpo for the opener.
Yet the Netherlands could not protect the lead. Morocco forced the equaliser, survived extra time, and then broke Dutch hearts on penalties.
Why Mexico backed Morocco
The atmosphere also carried history of its own.
The Netherlands usually travel with loud, colourful support, but in Monterrey, Morocco seemed to have the stronger backing, helped by local Mexican fans.
Chants of “no era penal” — it wasn’t a penalty — were heard early, a reference to the controversial spot kick awarded to the Netherlands against Mexico in the 2014 World Cup Round of 16, when Arjen Robben went down under a challenge from Rafa Marquez. That decision helped eliminate Mexico, and many local fans clearly had not forgotten.
Against that backdrop, Morocco’s late equaliser and shootout win turned the stadium into a North African celebration with Mexican assistance.
Morocco march on, Dutch go home early
Morocco now move to Houston to face Canada in the Round of 16. Their 2022 run to the semifinals was not a one-off memory; this team have again shown they can live in the pressure of knockout football.
They have Bounou’s calm, Saibari’s nerve, Hakimi’s threat, Diop’s timing and the collective belief to turn a match around when it appears lost.
The Netherlands leave with another penalty scar. Gakpo gave them a goal layered with emotion. Verbruggen gave them saves to remember. Koeman gave them a plan that almost worked.
But almost is where Dutch World Cup dreams have too often gone to die.
Morocco were behind in the 90th minute. They were level by the 91st. By the end of the night, they were through.
Before the Minnesota Vikings signed Jauan Jennings in free agency, some media and fans speculated that DeAndre Hopkins could join the club as the WR3 or WR4 in 2026, as Hopkins even endorsed the relationship due to his connection to new Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray. After the Jennings deal, though, Hopkins-to-Minnesota theories died off, and he remains a free agent.
Now, courtesy of CBS Sports, the idea is back.
Hopkins’ Connection to Murray Keeps the Vikings Rumor Breathing
CBS Sports: Vikings a Landing Spot for Hopkins
Brad Crawford wrote last week, “The Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings and Kansas City Chiefs are three potential fits for Hopkins, all of which have been discussed by the former first-round pick at some point this offseason. Joe Burrow is one quarterback Hopkins said he would enjoy playing with during an interview with Sports Illustrated.”
“In Minnesota, Hopkins would reunite with former Arizona Cardinals teammate Kyler Murray. The pair played three seasons together from 2020-22, hooking up 17 times for touchdowns over that stretch.”
It’s worth noting that Hopkins already played for the Chiefs in 2024. That destination would offer a reunion.
The Quote in March
Questioned by TMZ in March about the Vikings as a landing spot for his 2026 free agency, Hopkins said, “Kyler — that’s my boy, man. Kyler is like family. I talked to Kyler throughout the year last year. I talked to Kyler after, you know, his situation in Arizona. Kyler’s like family, man.”
“I would always, you know, embrace that journey with him. He’s on a one-year deal? Whatever I can do for what someone like that — if Kyler need me he know I’m there, if the Vikings need me they know I’ll be there.”
From that moment, Vikings fans considered Hopkins a WR3 fix — until Jennings signed on the team’s dotted line.
Hopkins’s Production — As of Late and in His Career
Let’s get this out of the way: the Vikings would not be onboarding prime Hopkins or anything close to it. In fact, most would argue that he is wholly washed as a WR1 and WR2. He could, though, fill the WR4 role, especially considering his career rapport with Murray and the notion that he wanted to play for the Vikings as recently as the spring.
Here’s his career resume:
2025 — BAL: 22 Rec | 330 Yds | 2 TDs
2024 — KC/TEN: 56 Rec | 610 Yds | 5 TDs
2023 — TEN: 75 Rec | 1,057 Yds | 7 TDs
2022 — ARI: 64 Rec | 717 Yds | 3 TDs
2021 — ARI: 42 Rec | 572 Yds | 8 TDs
2020 — ARI: 115 Rec | 1,407 Yds | 6 TDs
2019 — HOU: 104 Rec | 1,165 Yds | 7 TDs
2018 — HOU: 115 Rec | 1,572 Yds | 11 TDs
2017 — HOU: 96 Rec | 1,378 Yds | 13 TDs
2016 — HOU: 78 Rec | 954 Yds | 4 TDs
2015 — HOU: 111 Rec | 1,521 Yds | 11 TDs
The man was a total stud from 2015 to 2020.
The Big Lead‘s Jobe Morrison also mentioned the Philadelphia Eagles as a landing spot for Hopkins last week: “The Eagles traded away A.J. Brown and drafted Makai Lemon. They also acquired Dontayvion Wicks. Even so, Hopkins could carve out a role in Philadelphia’s offense similar to the one he could fill in Minnesota.”
“Hopkins remains a savvy route runner with excellent hands, even if he no longer possesses the speed that defined his early career. He would likely compete with Lemon, Wicks, and Hollywood Brown for snaps. Could Hopkins help Jalen Hurts lead the Eagles back to the Super Bowl?”
Why Not?
Signing Hopkins as the WR3 might’ve been a bit shaky — he has not produced those numbers since 2024 or 2023 — but WR4 is a different ball of wax. For now, the Vikings have Tai Felton or rookie Dillon Bell in line to fill the WR4 responsibility. Neither man would outduel Hopkins at training camp.
There’s also Hopkins’ redzone acumen to consider. As it stands, Minnesota doesn’t have oodles of go-to playmakers inside the 20. Justin Jefferson’s yardage output has never matched his touchdown accumulation. Jordan Addison is a home run hitter, not a redzone savant. T.J. Hockenson hasn’t played like himself, or at least hasn’t been afforded the targets since 2023. And Jennings is new.
Taking the plunge with Hopkins on an inexpensive contract, per Crawford, checks boxes for the Vikings, even if he’s used sparingly and in the redzone.
Hopkins turned 34 a few weeks ago and came from the same draft as former Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
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