Jeffery Simmons had a front-row seat as Cam Ward started his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. The All-Pro defensive tackle played 15 games in Ward’s rookie campaign.
Simmons sat down with Terron Armstead on “The Set” and made his feelings known about the Miami Hurricanes product. The host asked,
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“What did you see from him (Cam Ward) in his rookie year? What would you like to see from him moving forward?”
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Simmons replied,
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“We know it comes with being the number one overall pick. I see and see the work continuously from Cam.
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“From every day being the first one at the building. To see them type of things, you can feel and you can tell the will that he really wanna be the best he could be.
“The presence that he bring and the energy that Cam bring is rubbing off, continuing to rub off on the offense. And I’m excited for it.”
Cam Ward had a rough rookie year that saw him muster a stat line of 3,169 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.. The 2025 No. 1 pick led the Titans to just three wins, marking their fourth straight losing season.
What’s next for Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward?
Jeffery Simmons is gearing up for his eighth season with the Titans. The Titans selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Simmons is one of the team’s best defensive players, and he’s earned one first-team All-Pro selection, two second-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowl invitations. He’s fresh off his maiden first-team All-Pro selection after racking up 67 total tackles (39 solo), 11.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and 21 quarterback hits in 15 games.
Cam Ward has loads of room for improvement ahead of Year 2. The promising signal-caller was regularly tracked down by opposing pass rushers, and he scored just two rushing touchdowns.
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Jeffery Simmons and Cam Ward will look to inspire the Titans to their first playoff appearance since 2021. The Titans last reached the postseason in the Mike Vrabel and Derrick Henry era. They’ll look to end that painful drought in the upcoming campaign.
The race for the golden boot at the World Cup is hurtling towards an epic contest during the knockout stage as Lionel Messi went back ahead of Kylian Mbappe at the top of the standings with Vinicius Jr and Erling Haalandalso very much in the race.
The stars continue to dominate at this tournament, none more so than Messi after backing up a hat-trick against Algeria with a double against Austria to highlight one of his greatest traits after a penalty miss. Another arrived off the bench against Jordan before he inevitably scored again in their slender knockouts win over Cape Verde.
Not to be outdone, Mbappe has been in excellent scoring touch and a brace against Sweden propelled France to a 3-0 victory and a spot in the last-16 as he once again thrives on the biggest stage. It briefly sent him above Messi in the standings, pipping him on assists while tied on goals scored, before the Argentinian bulged the net for a seventh time this tournament.
Elsewhere, Haaland scored for the 13th straight international when he netted an 86th-minute winner in Norway’s last-32 clash with Ivory Coast to send his side into the next round and move on to five goals for the tournament – just one behind Mbappe. Harry Kane is right there with him, too, having saved England with a double against DR Congo.
If players are tied for goals, the number of assists will determine who ranks higher. If there is still a tie, it comes down to minutes played and the goals-per-minute ratio. Here are the latest 2026 World Cup golden boot standings:
World Cup 2026 golden boot standings
1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 7 goals
2. Kylian Mbappe (France), 6 goals, (2 assists)
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= 3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 5 goals
= 3. Harry Kane (England), 5 goals
5. Ousmane Dembele (France), 4 goals (2 assists)
= 6. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 4 goals (1 assist)
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= 6. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), 4 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 4 goals (1 assist)
9. Deniz Undav (Germany), 3 goals (2 assists)
= 10. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), 3 goals (1 assist)
Vidit Gujrathi Exclusive (Graphic designed by TimesofIndia.com)
NEW DELHI: The race for a place at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris through the India Rising: Road to EWC Chess qualifiers has boiled down to a blockbuster final between two established Grandmasters.India’s Vidit Gujrathi will take on Benjamin Bok of the Netherlands. Both have booked their places in the LAN Finals in Mumbai after coming through a stacked playoff field featuring some of the biggest names in professional chess. The winner of Saturday’s showdown will thus earn a coveted spot at the final stage of EWC 2026, which will include 14 players in total. Indian Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram, Nihal Sarin, and Arjun Erigaisi have already qualified for the EWC main event. En route to the summit clash, Vidit defeated the likes of M Pranesh and Raunak Sadhwani to seal his spot, while Bok produced arguably the standout run of the tournament, defeating Karthikeyan Murali before knocking out India No. 1 Arjun Erigaisi.Ahead of the high-stakes Mumbai showdown, TimesofIndia.com caught up with Vidit Gujrathi to discuss his journey through the qualifiers so far, the growing convergence of chess and esports, the significance of India’s dedicated EWC qualifier, and much more. Excepts.Q. What was your first reaction when you heard about India Rising and its EWC connection?I remember in May, I was planning some tournaments, and I got to know about the India Rising Championship. I was really pleased because the finals were going to be held in Mumbai. There are very few major tournaments held in India, so I was excited about the opportunity. At the same time, I knew it would be a difficult journey because there were multiple qualifying stages. I was hoping to make it to the finals in India so that my friends and family could come and watch me play in person.Q. How different did this event feel compared to a traditional chess tournament?Online events are very different compared to over-the-board chess. Also, this format is 10 minutes plus zero-second increment, so this event is very different from traditional chess tournaments because, even if you get low on time, you usually have some increment. Here, you can have a completely winning position but only 10 seconds left on the clock, and you might still lose the game. So it requires a different strategy and a different kind of play, which is very modern. This style of play has only come to the surface in the last three to five years, and it’s picking up. So I can predict that maybe, in the future, there will be more events like this.
Vidit Gujrathi on chess in esports (Graphic by TimesofIndia.com)
Q. How important is it for India to have its own pathway to the Esports World Cup?India is a powerhouse when it comes to chess. We have won the Olympiad gold medal. We are the current champions. The World Champion is from India, the Women’s World Cup winner is from India, and challenger Vaishali is also from India. So India is very important in the chess landscape. With the sheer number of players as well, I think India is one of the top places. I feel the competition is much higher here, and it makes a lot of sense that we have our own pathway to the Esports World Cup. As esports is such a global event, it’s very important to have Indian representation there. I think we are among the favourites in the chess world, so it makes sense that we have this event for India.Q. What was the toughest challenge during the qualification stage?For me, the qualification stage was not easy at all because the first qualifier was a nine-round event. I was feeling very rusty as I had not played for a very long time and in the second round itself, I lost a game, which kind of shook me up. I made a comeback, but in the last four games, I could only manage four draws. It was by an absolute miracle that my tie-breaks were better than the others and I managed to get the last qualifying spot, which was fourth place.
Vidit Gujrathi on India’s influence on chess world (Graphic by TimesofIndia.com)
I think that moment could have changed everything. If my tie-breaks had been worse, I would not have been part of this tournament. So I had a bit of luck there. The next day, I played much better, but I definitely needed that luck in the initial qualifying phase. I almost thought that I had botched the opportunity.Q. How significant is the opportunity to play a LAN final in Mumbai?I don’t recall a big event apart from the Global Chess League being held in Mumbai. Mumbai is the financial capital of India and such a major hub, so it makes sense to have a global event there. I think the esports scene has been on the rise in India since the pandemic, and having a LAN final in Mumbai that garners a lot of attention will definitely encourage more events like these to happen here. I’m very pleased to see that.Q. What does qualifying for EWC mean at this stage of your career?The Esports World Cup is a very interesting tournament. Last year, I tried to play the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ). I was leading the tournament, but in the last three rounds, I messed up and fell short. I was in Riyadh, I had flown there specifically from the US, and it was very painful to know that after all those efforts, I couldn’t qualify. Now I have another chance to qualify, and I’m really preparing well for it. I’m hoping that this time around I can make it and that all the efforts pay off because the Esports World Cup has a very different audience compared to usual tournaments. It’s a unique opportunity, and I would really love to be a part of it.
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Vidit Gujrathi on India’s potential in esports
Q. How do you see the relationship between chess and esports evolving?I think chess has this untapped opportunity. No other sport was booming during the pandemic the way chess was because it could be played online, and esports is a very natural fit for it.Last year, if I remember the statistics correctly, chess was one of the top-viewed games, at least among the top five or top ten, and that was just in its first year. Many other sports have been part of the Esports World Cup for years, and for chess to receive such a warm reception in its first year showed that there is good product market fit. Chess has a global audience, so the viewership is spread throughout the world. I feel we should explore more opportunities for esports and chess working hand in hand. Q. Do you think India can become a global hub for esports-chess events?I think India is still far from being a global hub for esports events. You need to have a culture, like-minded people, and a complete ecosystem, including organisers, players, sponsors, and more. Right now, I feel we still haven’t had a major breakthrough when it comes to esports.ALSO READ: ‘This is India’s moment’: Why the nation of 1.4 billion now has a dedicated pathway to Esports World CupAlthough I know that a couple of esports players are leading very good lives in different domains, we are slowly getting there. But I feel we are still some way from becoming a global hub. It will require more tournaments, more grassroots work, and greater viewership to reach that stage. That said, I feel it could happen in the next five years.
It is another packed weekend of live sport on TV, with World Cup action, international rugby, GAA championship games, Formula 1, racing and Wimbledon all available across RTÉ, TG4, Virgin Media, BBC, ITV and Channel 4.
Friday 3rd April
Argentina v Cape Verde – 11:00am – RTÉ2 & ITV
Australia v Egypt – 7:00pm – RTÉ2 & BBC1
Saturday 4th July
Colombia v Ghana – World Cup – 2:30am – RTÉ2 & ITV
New Zealand v France – Rugby – 8:10am – Virgin Media One & ITV
Japan v Italy – Rugby – 9:40am – ITV4
Australia v Ireland – Rugby – 11:00am – Virgin Media One & ITV
Kilkenny v Waterford – Camogie – 1:00pm – RTÉ1
Sandown Racing – 1:30pm – Virgin Media Two
Armagh v Kildare – Women’s Football – 1:45pm – TG4
Wales v Fiji – Rugby – 2:10pm – Virgin Media One & ITV
Cork v Galway – Hurling Semi-Final – 2:30pm – RTÉ1
South Africa v England – Rugby – 4:40pm – Virgin Media One & ITV4
Kerry v Meath – Women’s Football – 5:15pm – TG4
Canada v Morocco – World Cup – 6:00pm – RTÉ2 & ITV1
Dublin v Cork – Women’s Football – 7:30pm – TG4
Argentina v Scotland – Rugby – 8:30pm – Virgin Media One & ITV4
Paraguay v France – World Cup – 10:00pm – RTÉ2 & BBC1
Sunday
Clare v Tipperary – Camogie – 1:30pm – RTÉ
British Grand Prix – Formula 1 – 2:30pm – Channel 4
Limerick v Clare – Hurling – 4:00pm – RTÉ
Galway v Mayo – Women’s Football – 5:45pm – TG4
Brazil v Norway – World Cup – 9:00pm – RTÉ2 & ITV
England v Mexico – World Cup – 1:00am – RTÉ2 & BBC1
Wimbledon Live On TV
Wimbledon tennis will also be shown across the weekend on BBC One and BBC Two, adding to a bumper weekend of live sporting action.
Live Sport On TV This Weekend
From Ireland’s rugby clash with Australia to major GAA championship fixtures and World Cup football, sports fans have a huge weekend ahead. Keep an eye on RTÉ, TG4, Virgin Media, BBC, ITV and Channel 4 for full live coverage.
SportsNewsIRELAND – Your home for live sport coverage.
Oct 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) celebrates his interception in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
The Boston Celtics accepted a criminally low trade package for Jaylen Brown, the Los Angeles Lakers spent the farm on Walter Kessler, the Minnesota Timberwolves sent the expected price to the Charlotte Hornets for LaMelo Ball, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is a member of the Miami Heat after a landmark trade.
So, we ask — what if the Minnesota Vikings splash in this manner? It’s probably unlikely because new general manager Nolan Teasley will want to preserve draft picks, but let’s take a look at the outlandish possibilities.
Why even bother with this list? Because, for example, the Philadelphia 76ers were 100-to-1 odds to land Brown, and look what happened. Anything is possible in sports.
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Vikings Might Have Enough Roster Flexibility for One Massive Swing
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) moves through pregame warmups at SoFi Stadium, with Oct. 20, 2024 placing him in Inglewood, California, before kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams. Crosby brings his familiar edge energy and disruptive presence as Las Vegas prepares for a road matchup that Sunday afternoon. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images.
1. Maxx Crosby (OLB) to MIN for Two 1st-Rounders
Thanks to the Baltimore Ravens’ shenanigans, we already know the price for Crosby, who will evidently just return to the Las Vegas Raiders as if nothing happened.
The Vikings already traded Jonathan Greenard this offseason, paving the way for Dallas Turner to start without impediment, but don’t forget that Andrew Van Ginkel, the other main EDGE rusher, is scheduled to test free agency in March 2027. Theoretically, Teasley could donate his next two 1st-Rounders for a sure thing in Crosby and extend the team’s Super Bowl window.
Crosby ranks sixth in sacks (69.5) leaguewide since turning pro in 2019. Like every trade on this list, this one is a long shot. Teasley probably won’t get rid of his 1st-Rounders unless he embraces the Los Angeles Rams’ longstanding team-building philosophy.
2. J.J. McCarthy (QB) to IND for Anthony Richardson (QB)
Minnesota drafted McCarthy in April 2024, and through two seasons, it’s safe to say the experiment has not panned out as planned, mainly because of McCarthy’s injury woes. He’s missed 73% of all eligible games due to injuries.
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The Vikings were reportedly high on Richardson during the 2023 NFL Draft, so in this scenario, they swap quarterbacks with similar modus operandi. Neither the Vikings nor the Colts know whether their quarterbacks will blossom into starters, as their first few years in the league have been marred by injuries.
3. Garrett Bradbury (C) Back to MIN for a 6th-Rounder
The New England Patriots decided that 2025 3rd-Rounder Jared Wilson will start at center in 2026, trading Bradbury to the Chicago Bears for a 5th-Round pick a few months ago. Bradbury would start for the Bears and face the Vikings twice annually, right? Probably not. Chicago then drafted Iowa’s Logan Jones in Round 2 two months ago; teams don’t spend 2nd-Round draft capital and redshirt them, at least not frequently.
Therefore, barring a bench assignment for Bradbury, he could be on the trade block, and Minnesota is scheduled to start Blake Brandel at center. Bradbury certainly wasn’t loved by all during his six seasons with the Vikings, but he might be better than Brandel.
A 6th-Rounder would likely get the trade across the finish line. The trade would be considered “outlandish” because Bradbury left the team not long ago, and the Bears and Vikings rarely engage in trade business.
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4. Riley Moss (CB) to MIN for a 4th-Rounder
Jahdae Barron is itching for playing time in Denver after the Broncos drafted him in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, while Sean Payton and friends already employ Patrick Surtain II and Ja’Quan McMillian at cornerback.
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) tracks the ball during warmups at Paycor Stadium, with Dec. 28, 2024 marking the pregame scene in Cincinnati, Ohio, before Denver’s matchup with the Bengals. Moss works through his routine as the Broncos prepare for a late-season AFC test on the road. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images.
These are Moss’s passer rating allowed marks over the last two years:
2025 — 88.2 2024 — 95.4
And his Pro Football Focus grades:
2025 — 64.2 2024 — 57.8
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Moss played nearly 1,100 snaps on defense last year — a workhorse — and his contract will run out after this season. It’s worth noting that the Vikings have enjoyed some luck with guys named Moss.
5. Budda Baker (S) to MIN for a 4th-Rounder
Pretend Harrison Smith doesn’t return for Year No. 15. Minnesota would embark on the 2026 campaign with Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and rookie Jakobe Thomas at safety. Is that enough firepower? Maybe, maybe not.
Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) secures a pass during pregame drills at Paycor Stadium, with Dec. 28, 2024 capturing the warmup moment in Cincinnati, Ohio, before Denver meets the Cincinnati Bengals. Moss sharpens his hands and footwork as the Broncos get ready for an important late-season road game. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images.
Baker is a proven commodity and an eight-time Pro Bowler. The Arizona Cardinals will set sail on 2026 with Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew, or Carson Beck at quarterback, proving that they’re not overly serious about contending and probably biding their time for a new signal-caller from the 2027 NFL Draft. Baker may want to play for a contender, and in theory, he could wind down his career in Minnesota.
New Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray was a teammate of Baker for seven seasons in the desert. Baker has visited the postseason just once in nine seasons. Perhaps his fortunes could change in Minnesota.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Chad Schofield and Zac Lloyd, who typically share the Sydney jockeys’ room, will be competing against each other this weekend in South Africa’s premier racing event, the Durban July.
The talented cousins are both set to participate in the prestigious 2200m race. Schofield will partner King Pelles for trainer Gareth van Zyl, while Lloyd is aboard Regulation, trained by Justin Snaith.
“It will be kind of funny sitting with him in the rooms in South Africa,” Schofield commented. “Obviously, we do it here every week, but to be over there together is sentimental.”
Their venture to South Africa is somewhat of a homecoming for both. Schofield and Lloyd are sons of former leading South African jockeys, Glyn Schofield and Jeff Lloyd respectively, both of whom achieved significant success in Australia.
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Chad Schofield, who spent his childhood in South Africa and still has family there, will be making his second appearance in the feature race. He previously rode The Conglomerate in the 2015 Durban July when he was still an apprentice.
“My family came to Australia when I was about fourteen, and I have been back once, but it’s going to be really cool to get back again,” Schofield stated. “I’ve got a gran and aunt there, so I’ll be able to see them too. I used to go to that racecourse often when Dad was riding there. Even this particular race meeting, it’s a big deal over there, and to be able to go back and be amongst it is pretty cool.”
Schofield is scheduled to arrive in South Africa late on Thursday, with a chance to test King Pelles in a track workout the following day.
King Pelles, a proven stayer with a victory over 3200m, is listed at double-figure odds for Saturday’s 2200m Grade 1 event. However, Schofield has been encouraged by positive reports from his trainer.
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“He’s a really good stayer. His form over the staying trips is the best in the country,” Schofield said. “He is running over a distance that looks to be too short for him, but I know the stable has freshened him right up and kept him as sharp as they could. It’s a handicap, and he’s got 59 (kilos). He is a 20-1 chance, but he’s got the class.”
King Pelles is one of seven rides for Schofield on the 12-race Greyville card. Lloyd, who recently notched his first winner at Royal Ascot during their June carnival, has eight mounts.
Both jockeys will be aiming to better their fathers’ performances, as neither Glyn Schofield nor Jeff Lloyd managed to win the Durban July during their successful racing careers. The Durban July is a major event, and punters can find competitive betting sites for the race.
Defending champions Argentina narrowly avoided one of the biggest upsets in FIFA World Cup history after defeating heroic debutants Cape Verde 3-2 after extra time in a thrilling Round of 32 encounter in Miami.
The South American giants, ranked second in the world, were pushed to the limit by Cape Verde, who are ranked 64th by FIFA and were making their first appearance in a World Cup knockout match.
After the match ended 1-1 in regulation time, Argentina appeared to have secured victory when defender Lisandro Martínez scored just two minutes into extra time.
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However, Cape Verde refused to give up. In the 103rd minute, Sidny Lopes Cabral produced one of the goals of the tournament, cutting inside from the left before curling a stunning effort into the top corner beyond Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez to level the score at 2-2.
With penalties looming, Argentina were handed a dramatic lifeline in the 111th minute when Cape Verde defender Diney Borges accidentally turned the ball into his own net, sending the reigning world champions through to the last 16.
Argentina had taken the lead in the 29th minute thanks to another moment of brilliance from captain Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner expertly controlled a long pass from Lisandro Martínez before firing home his 20th World Cup goal.
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Despite falling behind, Cape Verde continued to fight and deservedly equalised in the second half through Deroy Duarte, who finished brilliantly from a tight angle after making a late run into the penalty area.
Just two minutes into extra time, Lisandro Martínez restored Argentina’s lead after reacting quickest to a flick-on from Alexis Mac Allister following a corner kick.
But Cape Verde stunned the thousands of Argentina supporters inside the stadium when Cabral produced his sensational equaliser. The Cape Verde forward nearly completed an unforgettable comeback moments later, forcing a superb save from Emiliano Martínez with only minutes remaining.
Although Cape Verde could not force a third equaliser and a penalty shootout, they exited the tournament with their heads held high after one of the greatest debut campaigns in World Cup history.
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The African nation went unbeaten in regulation time throughout the tournament and earned draws against Spain, Uruguay and Argentina before eventually bowing out after extra time.
Argentina will now face Egypt in the Round of 16 on Tuesday, July 7, as they continue their defence of the World Cup title.
June 30, 2026; Mexico City, Mexico; Mexico’s Julian Quinones is thrown in the air in celebration by teammates after the match as Mexico qualify for the round of 16 stage of the World Cup. Mandatory Credit: Eloisa Sanchez-Reuters via Imagn Images
After holding discussions regarding a change for the start time of the World Cup round of 16 match between England and host Mexico on Sunday, the match will remain at its scheduled time, multiple media outlets reported on Friday.
FIFA reportedly spoke with the Mexican and English football federations about altering the kickoff time in an attempt to avoid inclement weather.
According to the BBC, worries about the players’ readiness and travel logistics involving spectators prompted the decision to leave the game time unchanged.
The kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. local time in Mexico City, 1 a.m. in the United Kingdom. FIFA discussed moving up the kickoff six hours to noon at Azteca Stadium, which would be 7 p.m. in the UK and 2 p.m. Eastern time, per the reports.
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Mexico’s 2-0 victory over Ecuador in the round of 32 on Tuesday in Mexico City was delayed due to rain.
France’s group-stage match with Iraq on June 22 was paused under tournament safety rules when lightning strikes are detected within eight miles of the stadium, resulting in an automatic 30-minute delay to play.
England defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 2-1 on Wednesday in Atlanta to advance to the round of 16.
Fans of the Three Lions in Great Britain probably would have preferred the earlier start time. Licensing laws were relaxed to allow pubs in the United Kingdom to stay open until 5 a.m. local time.
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Had FIFA moved up the England-Mexico match, it reportedly might also have moved the kickoff time for Brazil’s round of 16 match with Norway from 4 p.m. Eastern on Sunday in East Rutherford, N.J., to avoid a potential overlap with the contest in Mexico City.
Progressive Lindsay Park stayer The Western Front is set to continue his demanding campaign in Saturday’s $150,000 Banjo Paterson Series Final at Flemington.
This 2600-metre event marks the tenth start of a preparation that began with a fourth placing in a benchmark 70 over 1600m at Flemington on January 10.
The five-year-old gelding has since achieved four victories, notably the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m), and while co-trainer Ben Hayes expressed surprise at the campaign’s longevity, he remains pleased with the horse’s condition and believes there are more goals to pursue.
“When you get them fit you keep them happy and in a rhythm and these days, with technology, trainers are able to keep horses up for longer,” he said.
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“It’s good for them, they enjoy being in work. Some don’t, so you put them in the paddock.
“He’s a horse we’d like to get his rating up a bit more to target maybe the back-end of spring with him.
“He could bob up over Cup Week running in one of those staying races.”
Hayes confirmed that the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Champions Day is a more probable target this year than the $10m Melbourne Cup (3200m).
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The Western Front enters the race following a second-place finish to Vegas Jack at Flemington on June 20, a run where he experienced a difficult passage from the outside barrier. Hayes is confident the gelding can improve his placing with more favourable racing luck.
“He probably had the hardest run in the race,” Hayes, who trains in partnership with brother Will and JD, said of the 1-1/4-length defeat.
“He had no luck at all. He was wide the whole trip, had to work in the middle stages, hit the front early and just got run over late.
“But he’s come through the run well.”
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The Western Front, to be ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, will meet Vegas Jack 1.5kg better at the weights from their last start and will break from barrier six, while Vegas Jack is drawn in barrier nine.
The gelding is currently the $4.20 favourite, with Vegas Jack at $7. Wuddzz is rated at $5.
Consider placing a bet on The Western Front with leading online bookmakers for the Banjo Paterson Series Final.
Lionel Messi has once again rewritten FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Kylian Mbappe and Pele to set a new record. The Argentina captain netted the first goal against tournament debutants Cabo Verde to set the record in the ongoing round of 32 clash in Miami (July 3, ET).
The strike gave him 12 goal contributions in World Cup knockout rounds, the most in the history of the competition. That number puts the 39-year-old ahead of both Kylian Mbappe and Pele, who had previously been tied for the top spot on 11 each.
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He scored in the 29th minute to break a tense stalemate that had frustrated the reigning champions early on. The goal itself was a signature of his genius: Lisandro Martinez’s inviting pass over the top sent Messi gliding past the Cabo Verde defense with a perfect run. He controlled the ball beautifully in his stride before lifting a composed effort over Vozinha to put Argentina 1-0 up.
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The strike also took his run to eight consecutive FIFA World Cup matches on the scoresheet, a streak which has not been equaled by anyone. And on top of that, Lionel Messi has now scored against 14 different teams. It is the most by any player, surpassing the likes of Miroslav Klose, Ronaldo Nazario, and Jurgen Klinsmann, all of whom have 10.
Lionel Messi at the FIFA World Cup so Far
Lionel Messi arrived at a record sixth FIFA World Cup with question marks over his fitness after nursing a minor hamstring issue in the build-up. But any lingering doubts were quickly dispelled in Argentina’s Group J opener against Algeria in Kansas City.
His terrific hat-trick in the 3-0 triumph pulled him level with Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer. He didn’t wait long before making that record his own in the next match, against Austria. He scored twice to surpass Klose’s tally and increase his overall total. His influence went beyond the goals and ensured his team dominated the group stage with maximum points.
Lionel Messi rounded off the group stage against Jordan, coming off the bench to curl in a trademark free-kick. That gave him six goals in the group stage, level with Mbappe at the top of the scoring charts going into the knockout rounds. His goal against Cabo Verde was his 20th goal at the FIFA World Cup.
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If Argentina can survive this tie, they’ll meet Egypt in the round of 16 in Atlanta on July 7. For a country dreaming of back-to-back trophies, their talisman appears far from finished.
The United States Men’s National Team is coming off of a massive victory on Wednesday night over Bosnia and Herzegovina, but there is a big cloud hanging over them for the next match against Belgium.
That’s because the team will be without star striker Folarin Balogun after he was dealt a wildly controversial red card in the second half of the match.
That, of course, means a suspension is coming his way, but the U.S. got some good news on Friday when FIFA confirmed that the suspension would be for just one match.
While it was always pretty unlikely that FIFA could add extra games to Balogun’s suspension, they’ve formally decided not to, and that’s the best possible outcome for the U.S. in this scenario.
US striker Folarin Balogun’s controversial red card was one of the biggest moments of the team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images))
There is no mechanism through which the U.S. could appeal this decision, so all it could do was hope the suspension would be limited to one match.
Balogun himself gave his first comments on the incident on Friday, shortly after FIFA’s decision to keep the suspension at one game was made public.
“It’s important for me to say, first and foremost, it was totally unintentional,” he said Friday. “The choice of the referee was his choice. I don’t think it was the correct choice. I think a yellow card would’ve been fair, due to it not being intentional.”
“It’s something that happened; we have to move forward, and I have to accept it.”
Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026.(John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
Balogun will certainly be missed for Monday’s match against Belgium in Seattle, seeing as he’s leading the team with three goals in this tournament.
But now, if the Americans are able to pull off a bit of an upset over the Belgians, they’ll be relieved to know that he’ll be back in action in the quarterfinals.
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