June 14, 2010; Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA; Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel (6) talks with midfielder Wesley Sneijder (10) during Group E play against Denmark in the 2010 World Cup at Soccer City Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Groothuis/Witters Sport via Imagn Images
Mark van Bommel was named the new head coach of Belgium’s national team.
van Bommel will take over on August 15 and lead the team through the 2028 European Championship, joined by assistant coaches Boudewijn Zenden, Maarten Martens and Reinier Robbemond, per a Belgium statement released Friday.
The 49-year-old replaces Rudi Garcia, who departed the role this week at the end of his 18-month contract, having led Belgium to the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals, where they were knocked out by eventual winner Spain. The loss ended an unbeaten run of 18 matches stretching back to a 3-1 loss to Ukraine in March 2025.
A former Bayern Munich and Barcelona midfielder, Van Bommel has been out of a head coaching spot since 2023-24, his second season at the helm of Belgian club Royal Antwerp. In his debut campaign, he led the club to its first league title in 66 years.
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van Bommel also had coaching stints at VfL Wolfsburg (2021) and PSV Eindhoven (2018-19). He also served in assistant coaching positions for Saudia Arabia (2015-17) and Australia (2018).
“Belgium has outstanding players and enormous potential. Together with my coaching staff, we want to build a team that is disciplined, ambitious and brave enough to compete with the very best,” Van Bommel said.
The Dutch native takes over a Belgium side currently ranked eighth in FIFA’s world rankings. He will be asked to end Belgium’s disappointing run of early exits at the next European Championships, where they have not progressed beyond the quarterfinals since the 1996 expansion. In the two most recent tournaments, the team has lost in the round of 16 and the quarterfinals.
“Success is never guaranteed, but hard work, honesty and commitment are,” Van Bommell said.” We will give everything to help this team improve every day and make the Belgian people proud. I am looking forward to meeting the players, the staff and the supporters, and beginning this new chapter together.”
President Donald Trump has weighed in on one of basketball’s biggest debates: Who is better, LeBron James or Michael Jordan?
For Trump, the answer is easy. The president is all in on Jordan.
“Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine, play golf with him. He’s a really good guy. And I think LeBron is, maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump, I don’t know. But I only like people that like me. So, I would say Michael Jordan all the way,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Friday.
President Donald Trump speaks at Wheeler High School on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, in Marietta, Ga.(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
Trump was asked the James vs. Jordan question because James announced Friday that he plans to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. He will sign a two-year, $8 million contract, according to ESPN.
Jordan played in the NBA for 15 seasons, winning six titles in his career, all of which came with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan retired twice during his career, as he played baseball after the Bulls’ first three-peat during the 1993-94 season.
He returned during the 1994-95 season, and the Bulls began their second three-peat a year later during the 1995-96 season. Jordan then retired again, this time for three seasons, and spent the final two seasons of his career with the Washington Wizards.
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In his career, Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game, the most in NBA history, along with 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists. The Basketball Hall of Famer made the All-Star team 14 times, won five MVPs, six NBA Finals MVPs, was a 10-time scoring champion, and made the All-Defensive Team nine times.
Michael Jordan holds up six fingers for each Bulls championship as he addresses the crowd at the Petrillo Music Shell at Grant Park on June 16, 1998, in Chicago.(Chuck Berman/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
James is heading into his 24th season, his first with the 76ers. He spent the first seven years of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and then signed with the Miami Heat to create “The Big 3” with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
James won the first two of his four NBA titles with the Heat in 2011-12 and 2012-13. After four seasons with the Heat, James returned home to Cleveland.
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In his second stint with the Cavaliers, James led the Cavaliers to the title in 2015-16, completing a 3-1 series comeback over the Golden State Warriors. After four more seasons in Cleveland, James departed for the Los Angeles Lakers.
In eight seasons with the Lakers, James won one NBA title during the 2019-20 season. That championship was won in the bubble in Florida because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
James is the NBA’s leader in games played, points, most All-Star selections and All-NBA selections. He is the only player in NBA history to score more than 43,000 points and has the most 30-point games (700) of all time.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James looks toward his bench after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first half of Game 1 of the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on May 5, 2026.(Alonzo Adams/Imagn Images)
He has won the MVP award four times, is a 22-time All-Star, a 21-time All-NBA selection, a four-time Finals MVP and a six-time All-Defensive Team member.
In his career, he has averaged 26.8 points, 7.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Both James and Jordan have incredible résumés, which has led to one of the most contentious debates in sports. But even with James’ résumé still growing, Trump’s answer is clear: Jordan all the way.
Manchester United could approach Aston Villa again for another key signing this summer, having already taken Youri Tielemans from Unai Emery’s side
22:02, 24 Jul 2026Updated 22:03, 24 Jul 2026
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Manchester United could land another blow to Champions League rivals Aston Villa this summer by making a move for striker Ollie Watkins.
The Europa League champions have already rejected an approach from Turkish club Fenerbahce. The Turkish outfit were said to be preparing a £35million offer for the England international, but Villa made it clear they would not entertain the bid.
According to The Sun, several clubs across England and Europe are keen on securing Watkins’ signature this summer.
Fenerbahce had hoped to tempt the 30-year-old with a three-year contract worth between £7.5million and £8.5million annually.
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While Villa firmly communicated their position to the Turkish side, both United and Arsenal reportedly remain interested in bringing Watkins in to bolster their attacking options, with £40million potentially enough to bring Villa to the negotiating table.
United‘s Joshua Zirkzee is being linked with a return to Italy, with Juventus pursuing the former Bologna forward, who excelled in Serie A prior to his switch to Old Trafford.
Earlier this week, reports suggested the Dutch international had given Juventus the green light ahead of potential transfer discussions with United, though no formal negotiations between the clubs have taken place yet.
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AS Roma are also reportedly interested in acquiring Zirkzee this summer, and should United part ways with the 25-year-old, The Sun suggests Michael Carrick’s team would be expected to launch an official approach for Watkins.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are anticipated to offload Gabriel Jesus this summer, with the Brazilian attracting attention from Serie A outfit AC Milan, and the Gunners reportedly see Watkins as the perfect replacement.
Villa find themselves in a challenging financial position this summer, aware they must sell players to meet UEFA regulations.
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United capitalised on a £35m release clause in Youri Tielemans’ Villa contract to secure the Belgian international, while PSG are in discussions to bring Lucas Digne back to the club.
Villa are expected to generate around £45m from those two deals, but have brought in Swiss talent Johan Manzambi for a comparable sum.
They’ve also approved the departure of Morgan Rogers in a club-record sale worth £117m, with Chelsea securing his signature ahead of Arsenal.
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Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
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Official premium experiences at Old Trafford are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
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(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
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(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
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GLIAC football media day best photos
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
(Lenny Padilla)
GRAND RAPIDS – Tony Annese is the head coach of the most successful Division II football program in decades and maybe ever.
Yet he still can’t believe his Ferris State University team has won four of the past five national championships.
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“It’s hard to win even once,” Annese said. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing to win the national championship, and we’ve been able to do it four times. Everyone here wants to win the national championship. Sometimes I look back and I pinch myself because I’m shocked that we even did it once, let alone four times.”
Not surprisingly, Ferris State was named as the No. 1 team in the Preseason Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coaches Poll. They are followed by Grand Valley State, Michigan Tech University, Davenport University and Saginaw Valley State University.
The results were announced on Friday, July 24, at the annual GLIAC football media day in Grand Rapids.
“Quite a few of these coaches are friends,” Annese said. “So it’s always good to see them. But this (media day) is always a reminder that the season is almost upon us and we’ve got to get ready to go.”
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The Bulldogs ran the table last year, with a 16-0 record and beat Harding to win their second national title in a row.
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
For GVSU, the season was considered a disappointment.
The Lakers were 7-3 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
“There’s no question it burns,” GVSU coach Scott Wooster said. “There aren’t many days where you don’t think about it. You come to Grand Valley to be the best.”
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Wooster, who enters his fourth season as head coach, said he wants to return the Lakers to prominence.
“We just had our golf outing last Friday,” Wooster said. “Coach (Brian) Kelly was back, coach (Chuck) Martin was back. So was (former GVSU greats) David Kircus, Brent Lesniak and Curt Anes There’s a (sense of pride) for them that they built this place. This is their legacy. We’ll get this program back.”
Jimmy Downs, a sixth-year senior from Schoolcraft, is linebacker and team’s co-captain. He said last year was rough.
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“It motivates me a lot,” Downs said. “You lose three games by 11 points … it comes down to one or two plays. We won’t let it come down to that year.”
Scenes from the GLIAC football media day on Friday, July 24, in Grand Rapids.
Annese said he’s happy to have his top two quarterbacks returning this year in Wyatt Bower and Chase Carter. They combined for 2,952 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. Bower is a redshirt sophomore from Corunna and Carter is a junior from Orlando, Fla.
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“We’ve gotten enough back from last year that we’ll have a good continuity,” Annese said. “Our top two quarterbacks are returning. Last year, we didn’t know who our starting quarterback was a year ago. I feel like we’ve got the right guys in place.”
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Annese, who enters his 14th season at Ferris, said the team’s recent success makes recruiting easier.
“There’s different factors that appeal to young people,” he said. “First, it’s academic programs. Do we have the program that a certain individual wants? We’ve got over 180 majors (at Ferris State), so that helps. Also, how much scholarship money you can give a player? It’s certainly a selling point for me. I’d be lying if I didn’t go into a high school with four national championship rings to show them. Hopefully that’s a selling point.”
One of the biggest selling points is name dropping Trinidad Chambliss. The former Ferris State quarterback transferred to the University of Mississippi a year ago. He was on a national stage as Ole Miss went 13-2 and reached the semifinals of the Division 1 playoffs.
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“Trinidad, obviously, has done great at Ole Miss,” Annese said. “He’s a very visible success story. So yeah, that helps. It also helps some kids wonder ‘should we go into the portal, too?’ So it works both ways. But it’s been a blessing for us and I’m very proud of Trinidad.”
The Bulldogs begin the season at Pittsburg State on Aug. 27 and play rival Grand Valley State in Allendale on Oct. 17.
The Listed Rosebud race looms as a potential target for dual Group placegetter Eviction Notice, should the colt cap off his two-year-old season with a win.
After securing placings in the Canonbury Stakes and Silver Slipper during the summer, the Tulloch Lodge gelding went to the paddock following a midfield effort in the Black Opal Stakes, which was won by Music Time, a subsequent Golden Slipper placegetter.
His return to racing occurred in midweek grade at Warwick Farm earlier this month, with the aim of breaking his maiden. However, he met a promising colt in Castillo King, prepared by Michael Freedman.
“I think the winner was very good, and his was an honest run,” stated co-trainer Adrian Bott.
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“He’s come back very well and he’s doing things much better this preparation. That should help him sustain a longer ‘prep’, and open up a few options later on.”
Bott is aware of the short nine-day turnaround for Eviction Notice in Saturday’s Marcellin College Randwick Handicap (1100m). Under the set weight conditions, he will also concede up to five kilograms to his rivals.
However, if the track continues to improve from its soft 7 rating on Thursday, Bott is hopeful the juvenile can achieve a victory before his third birthday on August 1.
“There are a few things against him, but he is better for that first run, and I thought that would end up being a pretty good form race,” Bott commented.
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“He has been gelded this prep, which is where we’ve seen the biggest change mentally.
“He used to be in a bit of a rush at times. He’s got an abundance of speed, but it’s how he utilises that because at times, he was wanting to get the race over and done with.”
If Eviction Notice can measure up at Randwick, Bott indicated that early-season three-year-old stakes races, such as the Listed Rosebud (1100m) on August 15, would be considered.
“Those are options for him,” he said.
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“We want to see him prove himself to get into those races again and try to give him a bit of confidence.
“Then you can take that mindset that he’s an experienced horse with a bit of fitness on his side going early into the spring before some of those other horses resume.”
Adam Hyeronimus is booked to ride Eviction Notice from barrier eight.
With Eviction Notice set to race, consider exploring online bookmakers for the latest racing odds.
Birmingham Phoenix set a record-breaking innings at Edgbaston with a whopping 214 – the highest score Edgbaston has ever seen in The Hundred. Despite a valiant chase and a mighty response of 204 from Trent Rockets, the target ultimately proved too tough to reach.
Not only has he incurred three years of inactivity, but many feel that Spence has never been the same fighter since his life-threatening car crash in 2019.
As a result, many are doubtful that Spence will turn back the clock and defeat his more active opponent at Sydney’s Afterpay Arena, Australia, this weekend.
At the same time, Tszyu has hardly set the world alight in recent performances, with two of his last five fights resulting in brutal stoppage defeats to Sebastian Fundora and Bakhram Murtazaliev.
That said, Hall of Famer Atlas is backing the Australian to emerge victorious, saying on his YouTube channel that there is too much uncertainty attached to Spence’s comeback.
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“The naturally smaller man, who is moving up, is requesting a little change [in weight]. That’s a little concerning.
“I’d love to pick Spence. But being at home, and with Tszyu being active … there’s too many question marks about Spence.
“Even with the flaws in [Tszyu], I know what I’m getting. I think that would probably be enough to favour Tszyu.”
While Spence should be applauded for taking on such an established opponent, many have questioned whether Tszyu is the wisest choice following his three years of inactivity.
The Toronto Blue Jays announced that the power-hitting outfielder will have season-ending elbow surgery on Monday.
Whether the surgery is a full Tommy John or an internal brace has not yet been determined. A brace would come with a five-month rehab process, while a full Tommy John surgery comes with a nine-month recovery timeline that would run into next season, according to Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae.
Barger has only played in nine games this season due to a variety of injuries. He first went down in early April with a left-ankle sprain. He then returned for one game on May 9 before suffering an elbow injury that he has not returned from.
Barger had just one hit at the MLB level this season, one year after he broke out with 21 home runs to help the Blue Jays win the American League East.
Several posts have been circulating online claiming that US President Donald Trump was edited out of a photo postedby the Spanish Football Federation on its social media accounts.
Claim: One post on the social media platform X gained more than 11 million views while making the same claim.
“Lol Spain edited Trump out of the photo,” the caption read.
DW Fact-check: False
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Fans waited for the arrival of players from Spain’s national soccer team during celebrations in Madrid on Monday, July 20, 2026Image: Manu Fernandez/AP Photo/picture alliance
The claim is false. The image is neither AI-generated nor altered. We found multiple pieces of evidence online debunking the claim.
There are several videos of Spain’s trophy-lifting ceremony available online. In this video, Trump can be seen standing on the podium after handing the FIFA World Cup trophy to the victorious Spanish team, alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Shortly afterwards, Infantino moves to the left while Trump moves towards the right side of the podium.
However, as soon as Infantino realizes that Trump is in the frame, he rushes over to him, seemingly telling him to give the players some space. Several photographers can be seen taking pictures in the foreground.
The photo in question was cropped slightly, which removed Trump and Infantino from the frame, perhaps to focus on the team. Trump was standing some distance away from the players and is therefore not visible in the image. But he was not edited out.
This is the same image provided by the photo agency Picture AllianceImage: Newscom/picture alliance
We found the same photo on Picture Alliance (and Newscom,) a photo agency that has distributed images throughout the championship.
Another picture from the same moment was published by the news agency Reuters, but from a different perspective. In this image, taken from a higher angle, Trump and Infantino can clearly be seen standing to the side of the winning team.
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Reuters provided this picture, capturing the same moment from a different perspectiveImage: Brian Snyder/REUTERS
The standard-bearer of quarterback play in the NFL is back.
Fewer than eight months after Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL and LCL, the two-time MVP and three-time Super Bowl champion will be on the field for training camp after he was cleared to participate, Chiefs coach Andy Reid told reporters on Friday.
It appeared to be trending in this direction as early as May, when Mahomes was able to participate in the Chiefs’ voluntary off-season workouts. As he has done throughout his career when injured, Mahomes got ahead of schedule in his recovery and will be there when Kansas City opens training camp on Tuesday.
Mahomes suffered a knee injury late in a three-point loss to the AFC West rival Chargers in Week 15, ending his season and, initially, putting his availability for the start of 2026 into question.
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Now, barring a setback, Mahomes should be in line to start when the Chiefs open their regular season at home against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football.
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on Thursday night for allegedly operating while intoxicated.
Romo was reportedly stopped on a highway and performed poorly on field sobriety tests, FOX6 in Milwaukee reported. He was released and is due in court Sept. 21.
Other information regarding the arrest was not immediately available. Neither the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office nor CBS immediately responded to emails from Fox News Digital.
(Left) Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys slaps hands with Terrance Williams #83 prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 1, 2017, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Right) Tony Romo was arrested in Milwaukee on Thursday night for operating while impaired.( Mitchell Leff/Getty Images; Fox News Digital)
Romo retired from football in 2017 and soon joined CBS as a color commentator.
He was the Cowboys’ starter from 2006 to 2015, but an injury cost him his spot in 2016 to Dak Prescott. The Cowboys released him after the season, and he eventually hung up the cleats.
Romo threw for 34,183 yards, 248 touchdowns, and 117 interceptions, completing 65.3% of his passes.
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He was named to the Pro Bowl four times and finished tied for third in the MVP vote in 2014 behind Aaron Rodgers and J.J. Watt — he was tied with DeMarcio Murray.
Romo went 2-4 in the playoffs, famously dropping a snap for a potential game-winning field goal in his first against the Seattle Seahawks. Romo then picked up the ball and tried to run for a touchdown but was stopped short, giving Seattle the win.
Romo never made it past the NFC divisional round.
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Romo after a game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, in Arlington, Texas.
Since retiring, Romo and Jim Nantz have been the main tandem for CBS, calling three Super Bowls, including the Kansas City Chiefs’ overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.
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