Jockey Jamie Mott opted to cut short his family break to partner the exciting debut winner American Eagle at Sandown.

Mott had ridden at Caulfield the previous Saturday before heading to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast with his family to recuperate.

However, he was back in action on Wednesday at Sandown, teaming up with the Clayton Douglas-trained American Eagle for a victory in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1200m).

American Eagle ($3.40), despite not appreciating the heavy track conditions, triumphed by three-quarters of a length over the $2.80 favourite Judas Tree. Commit ($5) secured third place, a long neck further back.

The colt American Eagle has only been under Douglas’s care for the past fortnight, following the 28-day disqualification issued to Anthony and Sam Freedman.

After contesting trials in Sydney, American Eagle was dispatched south, where he won an 800-metre jump-out at Mornington on July 8.

“I was really looking forward to riding this guy,” Mott commented.

“He came down here with some nice raps on him and he gave me a really good feel on what was a really testing track at the Mornington jump-outs.

“Today the track conditions were a little bit better than what they were there and I was confident, even though he’s a horse that will be better on top of the ground, but I was confident he would get through it today.

“I think he’s got a lot of class and a bright future.”

Clayton Douglas, while still getting acquainted with American Eagle, has been impressed by what he has witnessed from the colt in the short period he has been under his guidance.

“He’s got a great temperament and that’s going to take him a long way,” Douglas said.

“He’s a big strong horse that is going to keep on developing and I think there will be some nice races for him in the future.

“We think that he will get out over further so we wanted to make sure that he raced in a good manner today and we felt the Sandown track would suit him, a big spacious track, where we could let him balance up.

“He hit the line nicely and I think he will improve off the run as I think he’s a bit away fitness wise.”

With only two weeks left until the Freedman father-and-son training team can resume their duties, Douglas jokingly remarked that he might need to race the colt multiple times to secure some victories.

“I think the best thing with this horse is that I might ease off him a touch to get him ready for some better races in the spring,” he added.

Compare the leading Australian betting sites for the best racing odds.

Argentina were stunned by England’s response to taking the lead in their World Cup semi-final and were shocked by the defensive nature of Thomas Tuchel’s substitutions, having specifically prepared themselves for the introduction of pace in the second half.

The Independent understands Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni was braced for the introduction of one of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, if not both. Scaloni and his staff were aware that their side’s main vulnerability is when a game is stretched, leaving them vulnerable to speed in behind.

Argentina players remarked afterwards that they feared this exact scenario following Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal, only to gradually realise that England were dropping deeper and deeper.

Scaloni and his staff were still preparing themselves for one of Saka or Madueke to come on by the second hydration break, but then saw how Tuchel was planning to introduce a series of defensive-minded players, further removing England’s out-balls and threat on the counter-attack.

It meant Scaloni felt free to go even more attacking – including bringing on match-winner Lauturo Martinez for left-back Nicolas Tagliafico – to eventually win the game in stoppage time.

Ezri Konsa came on for Anthony Gordon in the 72nd minute as Tuchel switched to a back five. Dan Burn and Nico O’Reilly then replaced Reece James and Declan Rice, respectively, in the 82nd minute.

It was only in the 90th minute, after Enzo Fernandez had scored a long-range equaliser for Argentina, that another forward was introduced in Marcus Rashford for Djed Spence and Ivan Toney for John Stones. England also only had 12 per cent of the possession in between Gordon’s opener and Martinez’s winner.

On seeing Tuchel’s first change and its impact – with Argentina enjoying more and more territory and chances – Scaloni abandoned plans to keep a defensive measure in store. The coach saw that he no longer needed a specialist left-back against English pace, so went for broke with Martinez coming on for Tagliafico on 81 minutes, and 62nd-minute sub Nico Gonzalez going to left-back.

England’s tactical decisions were a huge subject of discussion among Argentina players amid their celebrations, with particular surprise at how quickly Tuchel went to five at the back and how neither Saka nor Madueke played a single minute in the match. The players had been reminded of the qualities of both at half-time.

It also seemed to surprise several England players, with captain Harry Kane even remarking the approach of trying to “hold on” to a 1-0 lead was “not enough at this level”. That sentiment was echoed by centre-back Marc Guehi, who said: “We should have carried on pushing. It kind of felt like we scored and then the mentality was go back, defend.”

The FA are nevertheless understood to feel that England’s elimination was not the fault of Tuchel’s tactical decisions, as they press ahead trying to win a home Euro 2028 under the German. Chief executive Mark Bullingham has privately expressed his satisfaction with the manager’s overall performance.

There is a belief within the FA that Tuchel is also attempting to evolve some cultural issues within the team. One theory that has grown is how the players almost felt a natural instinct to withdraw, despite the manager visibly doubling and then trebling down on this.

Tuchel, who signed a contract extension in February that will take him to Euro 2028, spoke about this very issue following the defeat to Argentina. Asked whether it is possible to change the English mentality, he said: “If it happens then it has to be changed.

“But I’m not sure, I always try to think in football terms, in football matters. I haven’t seen the data yet but I think right after the goal, the momentum swings completely in ball possession, chances and it drops dramatically.

“We got too passive within our structure. I tried to help, not to become more passive with a back five but to be more active, to be quicker out to the wingers, not to open up the gaps between the back four.

“We encouraged everyone to step out, to be more active within the structure, but we just struggled. We couldn’t find any duels any more which was why we dropped deeper and deeper, which was never the plan but it happened. We needed to get back on the ball otherwise you cannot break the pressure and you cannot get the momentum back.

“I think ball possession plays a crucial role. It’s maybe not in our DNA like it is in the Spanish DNA or Argentinian or Brazilian DNA to take the ball, control the game and the ball, which is also a big problem.”

The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team.

Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2025, questions they face and their roster outlook.

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Here is cornerback Jaden Davis.

Jaden Davis background, 2025 season

Davis enters his third NFL season, all with the Cardinals. The Cardinals drafted him in the seventh round in 2024. He spent his entire rookie season on their practice squad. In 2025, he didn’t start the season on the practice squad, but did have two stints on it before he was signed to the active roster. He played in three games at the end of the season.

He played 38 defensive snaps and 24 on special teams. He had three total tackles, one on special teams.

Jaden Davis contract details, salary cap hit

He is signed through this season and will be an exclusive rights free agent.

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He will make a salary of $1.005 million if he makes the roster and that will be his cap hit.

Roster outlook, questions he faces

Davis got playing time last year because of multiple injuries. Everyone is back, so he is unlikely to make the roster, although his versatility playing nickel and special teams might land him another stint on the practice squad.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: CB Jaden Davis

A slow time in sports got even slower on Thursday as some games on the schedule were altered due to the air quality in the Northeast and Midwest.

Wildfires in Canada have affected the air quality in those areas to the point where residents were urged to stay inside and wear masks if they had to go out.

At least two sporting events were forced to be moved because of the air: one MLB game and an MLS match.

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A cyclist wears a mask as smoke from wildfires blankets Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Laura Proctor/Bloomberg)

Polish soccer star Robert Lewandowski was set to make his MLS debut on Thursday, but the air quality forced the postponement of his Chicago Fire’s contest against the Vancouver Whitecaps.

The Philadelphia Phillies also announced roughly three hours before the scheduled first pitch that their game against the New York Mets, originally slated for 7:10 p.m. ET, was moved up an hour.

The National Women’s Soccer League played a game at Citi Field that turned into the most-attended women’s sports contest in New York history, with 42,175 people attending Gotham FC’s match against the Washington Spirit at Citi Field. But Washington’s Trinity Rodman wasn’t happy with the game, which included two hydration breaks per half, being played.

A general view of Citi Field before the Queens Classic match between Washington Spirit and Gotham FC in New York. (Brenden Willsch/Imagn Images)

EARTHQUAKE RATTLES ICONIC NATIONAL PARK NEAR ITS MASSIVE SUPERVOLCANO

“If we have to have a hydration break every 15 minutes, then we shouldn’t be playing the game, and that’s my opinion,” Rodman said. “But at the end of the day, there’s 40,000 people. It’s a whole event, so it’s really tough. It’s just a really hard situation for everyone to work around.”

Three MLB games were postponed in 2023 due to air quality concerns in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

The air quality in the tri-state area has been deemed “unhealthy,” perhaps putting a wrinkle in Sunday’s World Cup final at nearby MetLife Stadium. But it is expected to be better in time.

Due to the air quality, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she “directed” NJ Transit and the New Jersey Turnpike Authority “to make select quantities of masks available to commuters and at rest areas along the Turnpike and Parkway.”

A general view of Citizens Bank Park during hazy conditions from wildfires in Canada in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game between the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies was postponed because of unsafe air quality. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani urged residents to “stay somewhere cool” and “drink plenty of water.”

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The NTT IndyCar Series is gearing up to hit the streets of Washington, DC for the first time on Aug. 23, and now, we know when the green flag will wave.

There is absolutely no question about it: the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC is going to be a full-on spectacle as cars race past some of the most iconic monuments our nation has to offer.

As such, it’s getting the level of coverage it deserves.

TRUMP TOUTS INDYCAR DRIVERS’ ‘SPECIAL’ ABILITY AT FREEDOM 250 GRAND PRIX SHOWCASE, SEEMINGLY ENDING HOT DEBATE

Practice sessions 1 and 2 will air Saturday, Aug. 22, on FS1 and FS2, respectively. Qualifying will take place that evening from 5 to 6:30 p.m. ET on FS2.

Then, Sunday morning, the IndyCar broadcast booth regulars — lap-by-lap commentator Will Buxton, along with former drivers-turned-broadcasters Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe — will call the warm-up from 9 to 10 a.m. ET on FS1.

IndyCar will celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

After that, expanded pre-race coverage will get underway on FOX at 11:30 a.m. ET, with the race getting started shortly after 1 p.m. ET.

SCOTT DIXON LEAVING CHIP GANASSI RACING THROWS A HUGE WRENCH INTO INDYCAR’S SILLY SEASON

On top of the IndyCar action, the International Race of Champions, or IROC, will make its return as a support series for the weekend. They’ll race on Saturday, with IndyCar greats Helio Castroneves, Dario Franchitti and Tony Kanaan taking part alongside NASCAR legends Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott using the same Pontiac Firebirds the original IROC series used from 1996 to 2006.

IndyCar drivers (from left) David Malukas, Felix Rosenqvist, and Alex Palou visited the White House this week. (Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg)

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There’s a lot of excitement around this one-of-a-kind addition to the 2026 IndyCar calendar, and this week reigning series champ Alex Palou, Indy 500 champ Felix Rosenqvist and Team Penske’s David Malukas were all at the White House to meet with President Donald Trump and to knock out some pit stop practice.

IndyCar has another big weekend ahead, as the series heads to Nashville Superspeedway for the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, which will air on FOX immediately after the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final.

Trainer Matt Dunn marked a personal best season when his speedy sprinter Band Of Brothers demonstrated enduring speed to lead throughout the Listed $200,000 Ramornie Handicap (1200m) at Grafton this Wednesday.

Band Of Brothers put behind him a less-than-impressive recent performance and successfully repelled a series of challengers in the home straight to record a popular win.

For Dunn, who leads the trainers’ premiership in the NSW Northern Rivers area, this was his first major win at the Grafton Cup Carnival.

Band Of Brothers’ triumph in the Ramornie Handicap represented his 128th winner for the 2025/26 racing season, elevating him to sixth place in the Australian trainers’ standings.

However, the trainer revealed that the Ramornie Handicap was not initially a planned target for Band Of Brothers.

“To be honest, it (Ramornie) was a bit of an afterthought,” Dunn told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“He went to the Glasshouse Handicap second-up and he was a bit disappointing but he was probably on the wrong part of the track.

“Today, he found himself in front, fought on really hard and they had the opportunity to get to him in the straight but he really dug deep.”

Band Of Brothers, which was heavily backed into $5 favouritism, was expertly rated in front by jockey Dylan Turner to claim the Ramornie by one-and-a-quarter lengths from Pereille ($9), with Givemethebeatboys ($6) a nose further back in third.

Fire Star, starting from a wide gate, was never prominent but ran on respectably to finish fourth, beaten just over a length and a half.

The victory in the Ramornie Handicap was the second stakes success for the rising five-year-old Band Of Brothers, following his win in the Group 3 Vain Stakes during his three-year-old season.

Band Of Brothers has now improved his race record to five wins and eight minor placings from 20 starts, pushing his career earnings close to $630,000.

The talented sprinter is now likely to be targeted towards the $2 million The Kosciuszko (1200m) on Everest Day at Royal Randwick on October 17.

Check out the latest racing odds for upcoming feature races.

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen is expected to become the new captain of Turkish champions Galatasaray following the departure of Mauro Icardi.

Galatasaray recently confirmed that Icardi has left the club after his contract ended, bringing his successful four-year stay in Istanbul to an end. During that time, the Argentine helped the club win four Turkish Super Lig titles and became one of its most respected leaders.

Although the club has not yet made an official announcement, reports in Turkey say Osimhen is the favourite to take over the captain’s armband after serving as vice-captain last season.

The Super Eagles forward has become one of Galatasaray’s most important players since joining from Italian club Napoli in 2025. He has helped the team win two straight Turkish Super Lig titles, lift the Turkish Cup and make a strong impact in the UEFA Champions League.

Osimhen also made history by becoming the fastest player to score 50 goals for Galatasaray. He is also the first foreign player in the club’s history to score a Champions League hat-trick, achieving the feat against Ajax.

Last season, the 27-year-old played a key role as Galatasaray defended their league title under coach Okan Buruk. He returned from injury to score in a vital derby win over Fenerbahce and later scored twice against Antalyaspor as the club secured a record 26th Turkish Super Lig title.

His performances, leadership and influence in the dressing room have made him the leading choice to replace Icardi as captain.

If confirmed, Osimhen will become one of the few Nigerian footballers to captain one of Europe’s biggest clubs, adding another remarkable achievement to his growing career.

Football has always had a way of writing stories that seem too unbelievable to be true.

On Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Lionel Messi will lead defending champions Argentina into the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against European champions Spain.

Standing on the opposite side will be Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation many already believe could become football’s next global icon.

For most fans, it is simply the meeting of the greatest player of a generation against the brightest talent of the next. But for those who know the story, this final is something much bigger. 

  The Finalissima that never happened

Long before the World Cup final became reality, football fans were waiting for Messi-Yamal first meeting at the football pitch.

Argentina’s Copa América triumph and Spain’s UEFA Euro 2024 success meant Messi and Yamal were expected to face each other in the next Finalissima, the clash between the South American and European champions.

Instead, scheduling conflicts, FIFA’s expanded Club World Cup, an increasingly packed international calendar and logistical issues repeatedly delayed the fixture.

Eventually, the match quietly disappeared from immediate plans. The football world never got its Messi versus Yamal showdown. Instead, destiny saved it for something much bigger.

Rather than a ceremonial champions’ clash, the two now meet with the FIFA World Cup trophy on the line.

When Messi unknowingly met his future rival

The story begins in Barcelona in late 2007. Messi was only 20 years old.

He had begun establishing himself as Ronaldinho’s heir but had not yet won a Ballon d’Or, Champions League as the team’s talisman or a World Cup. At the same time, five-month-old Lamine Yamal knew nothing about football.

His family entered a charity raffle organised by Diario Sport and UNICEF, which offered local families the opportunity to pose with Barcelona players for the newspaper’s annual charity calendar. Yamal’s family won.

Inside the Camp Nou dressing room, photographer Joan Monfort captured a series of photographs that nobody realised would become iconic.

One image showed Messi carefully holding baby Yamal inside a small blue bathtub during the photoshoot. It looked like an ordinary charity campaign. It turned out to be football history.

The famous photograph that resurfaced years later

The photographs remained largely forgotten until Euro 2024.

As Yamal dazzled Europe while helping Spain lift the European Championship, his father, Mounir Nasraoui, shared one of the images on Instagram.

Suddenly the world rediscovered the extraordinary coincidence. The greatest player of the modern era had unknowingly cradled the footballer many believed could become his successor. The photographer who witnessed history Photographer Joan Monfort still remembers the awkwardness of the shoot.

Messi was naturally shy. He admitted the Barcelona star looked uncomfortable when he entered the dressing room. “Messi is very introverted and shy,” Monfort recalled.

“He entered the changing room to find a plastic bathtub filled with water and a baby inside. In the beginning he did not know how to hold him.”

Nearly two decades later, Monfort never imagined those photographs would become among football’s most famous images.

“It’s very exciting to be associated with something that has caused such a sensation.”

Barcelona: Where both stories began

Their connection goes well beyond one photograph. Both became products of Barcelona’s football culture.

Messi arrived from Argentina as a teenager and transformed into the greatest player in the club’s history.

He left with:

• 
  Eight Ballons d’Or (eventually)
• 
  Four Champions League titles
• 
  Ten La Liga trophies
• 
  Barcelona’s all-time scoring record

Yamal has emerged from La Masia following a remarkably similar path.

Still only 19, he has already become one of Barcelona’s biggest stars.

He has won multiple La Liga titles, conquered Europe with Spain and inherited Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 shirt once worn by Messi himself.

Messi has already chosen his successor

The admiration is mutual. Earlier this year, Messi was asked to name the finest player of football’s new generation.

His answer came instantly. “It would be Lamine. No doubt about it: for me, he is the best.” Praise rarely comes bigger. For arguably the greatest footballer ever to publicly identify Yamal as the best young player in world football speaks volumes.

Yamal refuses to become ‘the next Messi’

Many young stars have struggled under comparisons with Messi. Yamal has chosen another route. Respect. Not imitation.

Asked about being compared to the Argentine, he replied: “For me, Messi is the greatest football player in history. He is a legend and I do not find myself worthy of being compared to him.”

He then made his ambitions crystal clear. “I do not want to be Messi and he knows it. I want to follow my own path.”

Even comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo receive the same response. “It is best not to compare yourself to anyone.”

“Players like Cristiano Ronaldo did what they did because they wanted to be themselves. I try to be me, play my game, and get people to recognise me for being Lamine.”

A football brain inspired by Messi and Modric

Interestingly, Yamal says he never tried to copy Messi’s dribbling. Instead, he admired something deeper. His vision. “When I was small I never dribbled much or got past many opponents.”

“I focused on what Messi did because he gave different passes, passes that led to goals.”

That intelligence has made Yamal far more than an explosive winger. Many believe he is evolving into the kind of complete playmaker Messi himself eventually became. Spain’s new king meets Argentina’s eternal king

Sunday’s final is more than Spain versus Argentina. It is also experience versus youth. Messi, now 39, has already won everything football has to offer. World Cup, Copa América., Champions League, Ballon d’Or.

Yamal, meanwhile, is only beginning. He has already won a European Championship and become Spain’s creative heartbeat before turning 20.

But a World Cup would elevate him into another stratosphere.

Can the apprentice dethrone the master?

Ironically, Messi has spent two decades inspiring footballers around the world. Now one of those children stands directly in his path.

The little boy once photographed in Messi’s arms has become Spain’s biggest hope. The footballer who unknowingly bathed him now stands between him and the greatest trophy in the sport.

For Messi, victory would mean ending his World Cup career with consecutive world titles and perhaps the perfect farewell.

For Yamal, defeating his idol would instantly become the defining moment of his young career and perhaps mark the true beginning of football’s next era.

Whether it represents the passing of the torch or one final masterpiece from the greatest of all time, Sunday’s World Cup final is already one of football’s most poetic stories. Nineteen years ago, Lionel Messi gently held baby Lamine Yamal in a bathtub at Camp Nou.