Thomas Tuchel wants to carry on as England manager. The FA want him to continue. They can try and portray it as part of a journey. His contract lasts for another two years and a home European Championships could always be more winnable than a World Cup on the other side of the Atlantic. In 2028, England need not fear defeat to Argentina.

But it was not merely the semi-final setback in Atlanta that underlined the need for England to be different in two years’ time. Tuchel’s Plan B – retreat and hang on for dear life – backfired against Argentina, but his broader style of play may require refining. If Spain win the World Cup, it will underline the sense that possession matters. England’s share in this tournament – 54 per cent – is far lower than Spain’s 63.

Yet it is also notable that Tuchel began with an 18-month contract; perhaps that brought a short-termism. It was shown in the emblematic selections of Dan Burn and Jordan Henderson. Much as the Newcastle vice-captain became a cult hero with a couple of cameos, surely each cannot be in the squad in a summer when the midfielder turns 38 and the defender 36. Although if Tuchel wants a Bellingham whisperer and a very large north-eastern object at the back, he could always pick Denise Bellingham and the Angel of the North.

But if Henderson and Burn were taken to the United States as squad players, there could be issues with the ageing in the starting 11. Harry Kane will turn 35 soon after Euro 2028. He will not disappear into international retirement yet; indeed, he could get his 100th England goal in the next tournament. Yet if the lack of a natural successor is one concern, so could be the possibility that this World Cup was the time to win something when Kane and the much younger Jude Bellingham were both near their respective peaks.

It might prove the last chance to win something with one of England’s greatest defenders. Over the last five tournaments, they have been fortunate John Stones has tended to be fit when it mattered. Stones is now 32 and club-less; he spent some of this World Cup on the bench. England will probably be down to two constants from 2018 to 2028: Kane and Jordan Pickford.

If Tuchel did not look beyond this World Cup, in a way it liberated him to be bold in omitting players. It nevertheless means he may need to rebuild bridges if he is to recall and reintegrate Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Trent Alexander-Arnold. The galaxy of No 10s means tough decisions continue there; the ridiculousness of the right-back situation and the suspicion Reece James will be injured again mean that, even when Tino Livramento is fit, there is no excuse for ignoring Alexander-Arnold.

But if there are reasons for Tuchel to be less stubborn, there are players who offer the potential for change. A back-up central midfield double act of a veteran taken for his off-pitch influence and who then broke his wrist falling over an advertising hoarding, plus Kobbie Mainoo, who was not given a minute on the pitch, did not work.

Whether Mainoo, Adam Wharton or Alex Scott, Tuchel has to look to the next generation to find some deputies or alternatives to Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson. Two Bellinghams could enter the mix: Jobe, if he kicks on, and Jude, if he drops deeper and one of Morgan Rogers, Morgan Gibbs-White, Palmer or Foden plays as the No 10; it may be unfair to Eberechi Eze to omit him from that list, the Arsenal man felt a case of Tuchel picking his players, rather than the greater talents.

Levi Colwill might have been someone who came into both categories, until injury ruled him out of most of the season. The Chelsea man may be primed for a return; if, Stones and Marc Guehi aside, England are short of ball-playing centre-backs, the left-footer could form part of the future.

The left-back spot should occupy some of Tuchel’s thoughts. Djed Spence became one of his successes, partly for his pace; yet rewind to the start of his reign and the very different Myles Lewis-Skelly was his choice. Now there is the question if Lewis-Skelly plays for Arsenal, and if it is in midfield, if Nico O’Reilly plays for Enzo Maresca at Manchester City, and if it is in midfield, if Tuchel picks right-footers, such as Spence or Livramento. He could do worse than recalling Lewis Hall, a left-footer who should get plenty of games at left-back for Newcastle.

England can be blessed with a production line of attacking talent in some positions, if not among emerging centre-forwards (Kane’s understudies Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney are both in their thirties). Rio Ngumoha’s encouraging debut in the friendly against New Zealand suggested he could be fast-tracked for more opportunities. Max Dowman is still younger. Ethan Nwaneri, who has been leapfrogged by another Arsenal prodigy, could be another to come into contention, even if Anthony Gordon and Bukayo Saka, in particular, should be prominent in the plans and, after looking for wingers who operated nearer the touchline, it will be intriguing if Rogers and Palmer are allowed to operate as nominal wide men who come infield more.

Beyond the personnel and the tactical, however, part of the issue for 2028 is the psychological. Players such as Kane and Guehi are diplomatic but still queried the approach after England led Argentina. In turn, that reflected on Tuchel. And he will be charged with galvanising the group in 2028 and the continuity needs to be combined with some change.

Squad for 2028? Jordan Pickford, Dean Henderson, James Trafford; Reece James, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Lewis Hall, Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa, Jarell Quansah, Levi Colwill; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Alex Scott, Adam Wharton; Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer, Morgan Gibbs-White, Morgan Rogers, Anthony Gordon, Bukayo Saka, Rio Ngumoha, Marcus Rashford; Harry Kane, Liam Delap.

Cricket fans around the world were left stunned after reports of Rohit Sharma’s international retirement began circulating on Thursday. During the second ODI against England in Cardiff, which India lost by four wickets, Rohit once again failed to make a significant impact with the bat, scoring just 26 runs. However, a report by The Indian Express claimed that the third and final ODI between the two teams at the iconic Lord’s on Sunday could be Rohit’s last match for India.

Rohit, who has already retired from Test and T20I cricket, had reportedly set his sights on playing the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, the report stated that the selection committee had informed him that he was no longer part of their plans for the tournament.

While the reports left fans heartbroken, several subtle moments during the second ODI against England fuelled speculation about Rohit’s possible farewell. One picture, in particular, went viral on social media, showing a visibly dejected Virat Kohli seated between Rohit and pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

So just like Aswin in Australia with Virat Kohli then disappointed look of VK similarly before 1 match of Rohit Sharma retirement Vk siting with Ro and looking disappointed

So it’s 100 confirmed Rohit Sharma going to retired pic.twitter.com/RwhDbOYJt6

— Satya¹⁸ (@duary_satyajit) July 16, 2026

The image was captured shortly after Kohli was dismissed for 65 by Jofra Archer, and many initially assumed his expression reflected disappointment over his wicket. However, as reports of Rohit’s retirement gathered momentum, fans began viewing the moment differently, adding to the emotional reaction online.

Another poignant moment came during India’s fielding innings, when renowned commentator Ravi Shastri repeatedly highlighted Rohit’s achievements as both a captain and a batter. His remarks on Rohit’s leadership qualities and contributions to Indian cricket further intensified speculation that the ODI series finale could mark the end of an illustrious international career.

“He’s been on the side for a long time. Won the T20 World Cup but missed out on the 50-over World Cup. He’s got the record for the most hundreds in the World Cup. Five of them in the UK in the 2019 edition,” said Shastri.

The commentary panel is talking about Rohit’s retirement, with Ravi Shastri praising his incredible journey as a captain and a player. pic.twitter.com/iPeLVPgDYm

— Waqas (@THEFREEHITHQ) July 16, 2026

The Indian Express reported that Rohit met with BCCI officials during the ongoing three-match ODI series against England, and the opener ‘wasn’t happy’ with their decision.

The report further claimed that the BCCI selection committee has informed Rohit that they have decided to ‘move on’ from the former India captain after the ODI series. The selection committee reportedly spoke with Sharma, along with coach Gautam Gambhir, last week.

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The Minnesota Vikings haven’t had much luck with individual rankings “lists” this summer, but Pro Football Network recently came along to change that just a bit. PFN annually ranks the Top 100 players in the NFL, following the lead of NFL.com, ESPN, CBS Sports, and others. For PFN, wide receiver Justin Jefferson and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel got the nod.

Jefferson and Van Ginkel will headline their sides of the ball in September, and ranking them inside the Top 100 just makes sense.

Two Vikings Selections Reward Star Power on Both Sides of the Ball

PFN on Jefferson — No. 16

Jefferson checked in right behind Patrick Mahomes — good company — as Jason Katz scribed, “You know you’re on a Hall of Fame track when a 1,048-yard season is considered a down year for you. Such was the case with Justin Jefferson last year, who managed to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the sixth year in a row, in spite of the Vikings’ quarterback woes in 2025. He still has the most receiving yards of any NFL player through the first six seasons of their career.”

“Though Jefferson dropped to No. 38 in the PFN WR Impact Score rankings in 2025, he’s been a top-four finisher four times since joining Minnesota in 2020. We chalk the down year up to bad quarterbacking, as he’s proven he’s one of the best route runners, pure athletes, and ball-trackers in the entire league.”

Houston Texans outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. found a home at No. 17 right beneath Jefferson.

Van Ginkel at No. 99

One spot for Dallas Cowboys guard/tackle Tyler Smith, who rounded out the Top 100, Van Ginkel wiggled onto the list.

Katz on Van Ginkel: “During his first five seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Andrew Van Ginkel was a reliable, incredibly efficient rotational edge rusher.”

“Since signing with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024, he’s blossomed into a star. He was a Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro in 2024 with 11.5 sacks, 18.0 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, and an NFL-high two interceptions returned for touchdowns.”

The 31-year-old missed five games last season due to a neck injury, but that did not deter PFN’s ranking process.

“Van Ginkel missed some time due to injury in 2025, which sees him drop slightly on this list. However, he still finished with 7.0 sacks in 12 games last year, and he broke up a career-high ten passes for the Vikings. If he can stay healthy this season, it’s a safe bet to assume he rises up these rankings in 2027,” Katz concluded.

Katz included 12 EDGE rushers on the list. Notably, former Vikings EDGE Jonathan Greenard did not make the cut.

Who’s Left Off?

Snubs? Minnesota perhaps could’ve had an extra name or two on the list, including these players:

• Jordan Addison (WR)
• Blake Cashman (LB)
• Christian Darrisaw (LT)
• Byron Murphy Jr. (CB)
• Brian O’Neill (RT)
• Jalen Redmond (DT)

That doesn’t mean all those players should’ve been included, but you get the point. It’s also worth noting that based on 2025 production alone — not career achievement — veteran linebacker Eric Wilson arguably produced at a Top 100 clip.

Katz did not include Kickers. If that were the case, Will Reichard would’ve had a strong claim.

Josh Allen as the Standard Bearer

The Bills quarterback took home the top prize, with Katz explaining, “Josh Allen has been a top-ten quarterback by PFN QB Impact Scoring every single year since 2020. He was the MVP in 2024, and he’s been a Pro Bowler in three of his last four seasons.”

“He ended 2025 with a career-high 69.3% completion percentage, and his 102.2 passer rating was an upgrade over his MVP season. In addition, his 25 passing touchdowns also ranked ninth in the NFL last year. Where Allen really dominated in 2025 was the ground game.”

Heading into 2026, Allen will be featured at the top of most individual player lists and is favored to win the MVP award (+600).

Katz added, “His elite athleticism can sometimes be overshadowed by his hulking frame and elite arm strength, but his dual-threat ability might be the best in the NFL after Jackson slowed down athletically last year.”

“Allen is at the peak of his game and is a bona fide game-changer, making him worthy of the top spot in the 2026 PFN NFL Top 100.”

Rounding out the Top 5 (in order) were Lamar Jackson (QB, BAL), Myles Garrett (OLB, LAR), Penei Sewell (OT, DET), and Puka Nacua (WR, LAR).

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

The Ciaron Maher stable is counting on the addition of blinkers to help French import Zabiari rediscover his European form in the final stakes race of the Sydney season.

Zabiari, who has two Group 3 wins over a mile in France, made his Australian debut in the Civic Stakes (1400m) last month, finishing in the midfield.

He has since had a trial to maintain his fitness, and Maher’s assistant trainer, Jo Gerard-Dubord, reports that the gear change has had a positive impact during trackwork, with the hope it will translate to race day performance.

“He’s still an entire and he’s very casual,” Gerard-Dubord stated. “The best of his trials here was the one with the blinkers on. He’s a lot sharper in them at home and on his best, he is certainly up to a race like this. Now he’s had the run here, blinkers going on, we want to see something from him.”

Gerard-Dubord, who cut his teeth in his home country’s racing industry before moving to Australia, is well-equipped to assess Zabiari’s European form. In addition to Group wins at Longchamp and Chantilly, Zabiari placed twice in Listed grade at Deauville during his 12 overseas starts, and any rain would not be detrimental to his chances in Saturday’s Listed Winter Challenge (1500m) at Rosehill.

Maher has also accepted with Eliyass, a recent acquisition to the stable, but will assess the weather and scratchings before deciding on his participation.

The horse made an immediate impact, winning his initial three Australian races during the spring of 2024 before his form waned.

After undergoing fetlock surgery and a stable change post-ninth place in last year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m), Eliyass was well beaten in the Civic Stakes (1400m) first-up. Gerard-Dubord expects him to need another start to reach his best.

“He was wide with no cover, and raced a bit fresh, so to the eye it probably looked plain, but it was just a starting point,” Gerard-Dubord commented. “He’s improved since, but he’ll take a couple of runs until he gets back to his best. We’ll probably work towards the Premier’s Cup Prelude. He’s a horse we need to have right for the spring, and it’s just finding the best path leading into it.”

The Winter Challenge has attracted a full field, led by the Winter Stakes trifecta of General Salute, McHale, and Midnight Dynamite, as well as the rejuvenated seven-year-old War Eternal, who has won three of his last four starts in Queensland.

Check out the latest online bookmakers for the Winter Challenge odds.

The most fun sleepers in Fantasy Football are the ones no one saw coming. But you don’t actually have to be that cute to make a profit in this game. Because there are sleepers every year, that should be pretty obvious based on past performance and average draft position. These are the guys that no one gets excited about and everyone underrates. Sometimes they are the same guys in back-to-back years. Often, they are quarterbacks. It does not look like 2026 will be any different in that regard. Once again, Jared Goff and Brock Purdy look like two of the most obvious sleepers in Fantasy Football. And their current ADP makes it easier than ever to wait on quarterback. 

Goff is pretty clearly the best value. He’s currently sitting at QB16 in CBS PPR ADP, and being drafted at the end of Round 12 in one QB leagues. In the past three seasons, he has finished as QB10, QB8, and QB13 on a per-game basis. He has not missed one game in that stretch, so he’s been even better in full-season scoring. He has at least 30 touchdowns and 4,500 yards passing in all three seasons as well. With Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta all coming back, there is no reason to expect that will change in 2026. In fact, with the offseason turmoil for the Lions defense, it is possible Goff throws even more than he has the past three seasons. He also plays just one true outdoor game in the last eight weeks of the Fantasy Football season. 

The rub against Goff is that he doesn’t run and so he doesn’t have enough upside. That simply isn’t true for Purdy. The 49ers QB has 470 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns in his last 24 games. Adding that on top of the fact that he has been arguably the most efficient passer in the NFL since he came into the league, and you have yourself a surefire QB1 with top-five upside. Sound like hyperbole? Since Purdy’s rookie season, 30 QBs have thrown at least 1,000 passes. Purdy ranks first in yards per attempt (8.6) and success rate (52.4%). He ranks second in touchdown rate (6.2%) and passer rating (104.0). He also ranks fourth in Fantasy points per game (22.18). He isn’t quite as good a value as Goff, but his ADP is in Round 11, and he’s not being drafted as a top 10 QB. If Mike Evans, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and Christian McCaffrey all stay healthy, Purdy could absolutely be a top-four QB this year. 

The best thing about Goff and Purdy is what they allow you to do at the other positions. They are potential top six QBs that you can draft after you draft all of your offensive starters and multiple backups. There’s a good chance they’ll outscore about half the QBs drafted ahead of them while they are at it. 

Here are the rest of my sleepers for 2026:

With the expectation that Kyler Murray is the starting quarterback and a talented roster to support him on both sides of the ball, here is my prediction on how the 2026 season will unfold in a highly competitive NFC North where it wouldn’t be a surprise if any of the four teams finish on top.

While most media analysts wait until closer to the September opener to make their picks, I figure not much will change in training camp and preseason unless there are major injuries to star players, which usually doesn’t happen with limited fully padded practices where quarterbacks wear red jerseys and can’t be hit, and starters play few snaps (if at all) in the three preseason games.

A Fast Start Would Change Minnesota’s Whole Season

The past few seasons have seen the Vikings go from 13-4 division champs in 2022 to injury-ravaged 7-10 in 2023 to 14-3 wild card team in 2024 to 9-8 and one game out of the playoffs last season. This pattern says 2026 should be a playoff season, and I’m going to agree with that projection.

Sept. 13—Home vs. Green Bay: WIN…The Vikings split with the Packers last season after sweeping them in 2024. I think the Packers are a bit weakened by the departures of edge Rashan Gary, LB Quay Walker and WR Romeo Dobbs, but the biggest factor is that Micah Parsons will miss the early part of the season with his ACL recovery. I expect Murray to have a successful Vikings debut with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison having big games against Green Bay’s suspect corners.

Sept. 20—At Chicago: LOSS…The defending NFC North champion Bears have the league’s most difficult schedule as a 2025 first-place team and have lost several key players, including WR D.J. Moore via trade and Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman, who surprisingly retired.

Ex-Viking Garrett Bradbury is a downgrade from Dalman, so the Vikings can beat Bradbury up front, especially if first-round DT Caleb Banks is healthy. I see a close game the Bears win, with QB Caleb Williams leading a late drive, as he did in Week 11 last season at Minnesota and in several other games.

Sept. 27—At Tampa Bay: WIN…Bucs QB Baker Mayfield is in a contract squabble over an extension, which could be a distraction for him and the team, and his top receiver, Mike Evans, is now in San Francisco. Tampa Bay is an average team coming off an 8-9 season in the NFL’s worst division—the NFC South. They lost seven of their last nine games, giving the division to Carolina. The Vikings get a road win in the September heat of Tampa.

Oct. 4—Home vs. Miami: WIN…The Dolphins are in rebuilding mode with new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan, new head coach Jeff Hafley, and new QB Malik Willis, all of whom came from Green Bay. They traded their best WR Jaylen Waddle to Denver. This should be as close to a blowout as the Vikings will find this season. 3-1 out of the gate is a nice start.

Oct. 11—At New Orleans: WIN…The Saints could be a sneaky good team led by an under-the-radar second-year QB in Tyler Shough. But the Saints have a ways to go talent-wise, and they come off a six-win season. New Orleans is not an easy place to play, but I like the Vikings to notch another road victory.

Oct. 25—Home vs. Indianapolis: WIN…Coming off the bye week, the rested Vikings will see their former QB Daniel Jones and will be focused on controlling Jones and Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor (1,585 rushing yards and 18 TDs last season). We all remember the Vikings’ NFL-record comeback for a regular season game four years ago when they overcame a 33-0 halftime deficit at home.

The Purple won’t need that big a rally this time as they get an important win and an impressive 5-1 record before the schedule turns nasty.

Nov. 1—At Detroit: LOSS…The Lions are an angry bunch after their 9-8 finish last season that included a sweep at the hands of the Vikings. Detroit will prosper from their fourth-place schedule and should make a return to the playoffs with their talented skill players and an offensive line that should be improved over last year.

The Vikings will play the Lions tough at Ford Field but fall short as Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown make enough big plays to secure the victory and tie the Vikings for the division lead through seven games.

Nov. 9—Home vs. Buffalo: LOSS… It’s the first of four prime-time games for the Vikings, and it’s a big challenge to win over a strong Bills team led by top QB Josh Allen.

The last game with the Bills was the incredible 33-30 overtime win for the Vikings highlighted by Jefferson’s fourth-down circus catch. Murray or McCarthy—whoever is playing at this juncture—will need a huge game to win this game, and I think they’ll fall a bit short in a thrilling Monday nighter. I think this will be the Vikings’ only home loss this season.

Nov. 15—At Green Bay: LOSS…Oh-oh, headed to Lambeau in a short week on a two-game losing streak doesn’t bode well for the Vikings. Micah Parsons should be rounding into top form by this Week 10 divisional matchup, and he’ll be a big challenge for Vikings tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill.

Packers QB Jordan Love always seems to come on in the second half of the season. I see a close loss as the Vikings fall to 5-4 with a date against the 49ers up next, and Vikings fans are getting restless.

Nov. 22—vs. San Francisco in Mexico City: WIN…The Vikings’ international record is outstanding (5-1), and they are highly motivated to get back on the winning track against a solid 49ers team that is trying to keep pace with the Seahawks and Rams in the tough NFC West. This will be a fun Sunday night game.

The Vikings have beaten Brock Purdy in their two matchups, with Purdy throwing three picks in the two games, and he was sacked a career-high six times in the 2024 game in Minnesota. Murray has a 4-5 record against San Francisco, which is pretty good considering the mostly lousy Cardinals teams he played for.

I think Murray and the Vikings beat Purdy and the Niners to get back on the winning track with a favorable schedule ahead.

Nov. 29—Home vs. Atlanta: WIN…Will it be Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix against the Vikings defense? I don’t think it matters, as stopping elite RB Bijan Robinson will be the key. I like the Vikings’ chances to get it done on both sides of the ball against the Falcons before a loud U.S. Bank Stadium crowd that is fired up after the win over the 49ers.

Dec. 6—Home vs. Carolina: WIN…In the 2023 matchup, Panthers QB Bryce Young was sacked five times, and on a game-changing play, Young lost a strip sack by Harrison Smith, which D.J. Wonnum returned for a scoop-and-score.

The Vikings continue to feast on the weak NFC South by completing the division sweep and stretching their winning streak to three, putting them squarely in the race for the division title or a wild card berth at 8-4.

Dec. 10—At New England: LOSS…The Vikings have not fared well in recent years in road Thursday night games, and this is a difficult task against the defending AFC champion Patriots on what should be a cold and possibly snowy night in Foxboro.

I don’t see the Pats repeating last season’s success, and I think the Vikings may well have the better overall roster, but I see Drake Maye having a solid enough game, passing and running, to lead the Pats to victory with the big advantage of playing at home on Thursday night.

Dec. 20—Home vs. Detroit: WIN…In the Lions’ 23-10 Week 17 loss in Minnesota last season, Goff was sacked five times and threw two interceptions. In this critical matchup, the Vikings will gain the season split with a home victory over the Lions as the defense sacks Goff four times and forces him to turn it over three times.

Murray will have a big Sunday night game on the national stage as he hits Jefferson for two scores and Jauan Jennings for a TD. T.J. Hockenson also will have a big night against his old team as the Vikings improve to 9-5.

TBD Week 16 (likely Dec. 27)—Home vs. Washington: WIN…2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels had a rough second season with several injuries limiting him to seven games, the last of which was an awful road outing in Minnesota when he completed only 9 of 20 for 78 yards and one interception and was pulled with an elbow injury in the 31-0 Vikings romp.

Daniels struggled mightily against Flores’ D, and I expect the same as the Vikings earn their tenth win of the season.

Jan. 3—At New York Jets: WIN…The Jets are being talked up as a team on the rise after a strong draft with three first-round picks (edge David Bailey, TE Kenyon Sadiq and WR Omar Cooper). I’ll have to see it to believe they’re finally headed in the right direction, especially with a suspect Geno Smith returning to quarterback the team that drafted him in 2013.

This could be a bad-weather game and a trap game with the Bears up next, but I think Kevin O’Connell will keep his team focused on the task at hand, and the Vikings will get the win in the Meadowlands.

TBD (likely Jan. 10)—Home vs. Chicago: WIN…The Vikings felt they should’ve won the Week 2 game in Chicago, and this time they force Caleb Williams into a couple of turnovers and sack him four times in a game with the NFC North title on the line.

But the Vikings will beat out the Lions for the division crown and not the Bears, who won’t make the playoffs. Murray finishes a strong regular season with the win, and the Vikings and their fans hope for better play from him in the playoffs than they got from Sam Darnold in 2024 against the Rams.  

Final regular season tally: 12-5, NFC North champions. I’m an optimist by nature, but I see my Vikings season prediction as very possible considering the schedule that includes nine home games (with five at home in the last seven weeks) and crossover divisions as the weak NFC South and an AFC East with two highly suspect teams in the Dolphins and Jets.

The Vikings will head to the playoffs as the NFC’s No. 3 seed behind the Rams and Eagles. They will be the home team in the wild card round and get O’Connell’s first postseason win against the No. 6 seed (Lions or 49ers?) before falling to either the Rams or Eagles in a close divisional round defeat.

The Vikings will have the look of a Super Bowl contender in 2027 if their QB situation is much improved under Murray (or perhaps McCarthy, if he gets an opportunity to play if Murray gets hurt, as he has in the past, and McCarthy could take a big step forward). After the season, the Murray free-agent watch will begin, as his one-year deal includes a no-franchise-tag or transition-tag clause.

As for my Super Bowl pick, I’ve got the Rams over the Broncos, but I reserve the right to change my pick before the playoffs.

Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond

NEW DELHI: Former India Under-19 World Cup winner Manjot Kalra was arrested by Sri Lanka’s sports anti-corruption investigators on Friday over allegations of attempting to bribe a player during the Lanka Premier League (LPL), according to news agency PTI.Kalra, who struck a match-winning century in the final of India’s victorious 2018 ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign, was taken into custody by the Police Special Investigation Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports. He was later produced before a magistrate.The 27-year-old was part of India’s title-winning 2018 Under-19 World Cup squad led by Prithvi Shaw. The team also featured future India internationals Shubman Gill, Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Mavi. Kalra was the hero of the final, remaining unbeaten on 101 as India defeated Australia to lift the trophy.According to Sri Lankan police, Kalra is accused of offering money to a player in connection with the Lanka Premier League.The arrest came just hours before the start of the tournament. Kalra is one of the co-owners of the Jaffna Kings franchise.

Alleged bribery attempt

The 27-year-old, who moved into sports entrepreneurship after his playing career, became an investor in the Jaffna Kings franchise earlier this year. According to investigators, the player who was allegedly approached informed the authorities about the incident around 10 days later, which eventually led to Kalra’s arrest on Friday.Police said the complaint was filed by Sri Lanka cricketers Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando and Dunith Wellalage. All three represent the Jaffna Kings in the LPL.Kalra’s arrest came on the opening day of the 2026 Lanka Premier League, where Jaffna Kings were scheduled to take on Galle Gallants at the SSC Grounds in Colombo.The five-team competition consists of 24 matches and will conclude on August 8.

Sri Lanka Cricket’s response

In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket said it had taken note of Kalra’s reported arrest and would fully cooperate with the Special Investigations Unit for the Prevention of Offences Relating to Sports if any assistance was sought during the investigation.The board also said the tournament would go ahead as scheduled without any disruption.Reiterating its “zero-tolerance” policy towards corruption and unethical practices, Sri Lanka Cricket said it remains committed to protecting the integrity of the Lanka Premier League.

The 2026 Open continues into Round 2 with 54 holes of golf remaining as the R&A seeks to crown a Champion Golfer of the Year at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England, for the first time in nine years. The best golfers in the world convene again on Friday, all seeking to move into position entering the weekend so they can raise the Claret Jug on Sunday.

While only one will be lucky enough to carry the hardware, a stacked field of 156 golfers should offer an incredible run from start to finish. The 2025 Open champion, Scottie Scheffler, entered as the favorite once again, and after 18 holes, he proved that he’s up for the challenge of defending his crown. Rory McIlroy began the tournament second on the odds board, but he struggled all afternoon with the tough test Birkdale presents, and now, he will begin the second round seeking to find his way inside the cut line.

Follow complete coverage of Round 2 at The Open with our live updates, leaderboard changes and highlights from Friday at Royal Birkdale.

The story of the week was the English golfers setting foot on the hallowed grounds of Birkdale in front of their adoring faithful. While the national team was unable to bring the World Cup back across the pond, the likes of Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose were just a few names who offered England a legitimate chance to see one of their countrymen crowned Champion Golfer of the Year for the first time since 1992. Unfortunately, few took advantage of the conditions with Daniel Brown and Jordan Smith closest to the top of the leaderboard. Matt Wallace, Tyrrell Hatton, Fleetwood and Alex Fitzpatrick all have an opportunity to make some headway in Round 2.

One of the most surprising stories from Thursday was the strong play of Bryson DeChambeau. After missing the cut at the first three major tournaments, DeChambeau fired a 3 under in Round 1 to position himself near the top of the leaderboard. He’ll need to do more of that on Friday to avoid an embarrassing distinction on his year that nobody could have seen coming.

There is so much to follow this week that it can be overwhelming at times. No worries: We have you covered. CBS Sports is offering live coverage of the 2026 Open from start to finish. Check out how you can watch the Open on Friday.

All times Eastern

Round 2 — Friday, July 17

Round 2 start time: 1:30 a.m.

Open live stream: 1:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Peacock

TV coverage: 4 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on USA Network