The German Ice Hockey Association (DEB) presented former Germany player Andre Rankel as the new coach of the men’s national team at a press conference in Munich on Thursday.

Rankel, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach with Eisbären Berlin, champions of Germany’s top division (the DEL), has never served as a head coach. DEB sport director Christian Künast stressed that he does not see this as a problem.

“Andre is here today because he was the best [of the candidates interviewed for the job]. That’s the main point,” Künast said.

“I simply don’t see Andre as a rookie coach. I’ve known him for a long time and I have had a lot of conversations with him about how you lead a team. He is ready to take over the national team and that’s the most important thing.”

Rankel said he was “incredibly proud” to be named Germany coach. 

“What I learned as a player and captain over all these years, what constitutes team cohesion and commitment, I now want to pass on as head coach. My goal is to develop a clear idea together with the players and the coaching staff of how we want to play, and to grow step by step based on that.

Although this will be his first job as a head coach, he is highly respected in German hockey having played 17 seasons in the DEL for Berlin. In the capital, he was captain for many years, won seven titles as a player and three more as assistant coach. He also made 46 appearances as a winger for Germany, including at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver.

DEB CEO Frank Lutz said Rankel had been given a four-year contract, a reflection of the fact that the organization is looking to him to help further develop the national team in the longer term. 

A generational change for German hockey

The appointment of Rankel, who turned 41 on Thursday, marks a generational change for Germany. Rankel replaces Canadian-born Harold Kreis, 67, who after leading the national team to a silver medal at the 2023 World Championship had a disappointing series of tournaments. Perhaps the most damaging was the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Germany team that entered the tournament was considered the greatest ever and was led by NHL superstar Leon Draisaitl, but it crashed out against Slovakia in the quarterfinals.

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While appointing someone with no head coaching experience may seem like a risky move, the DEB have been down this road before. Marco Sturm also had no head coaching experience when he was appointed in 2015. He went on to lead Germany to a silver medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeonchang – their greatest achievement and which marked an upward turn in the national team’s fortunes.

With this progress having stalled in recent years, the DEB are betting that Rankel is the man to get Germany’s men back on the right track.

Rankel’s first tournament behind the bench will be the Deutschland Cup in Düsseldorf, a four-team invitational held annually during the November international break. His first major test will come next May, when Germany host the World Championship in Düsseldorf, Mannheim and Gelsenkirchen.

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Edited by: Jonathan Harding

For three parties that have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons so far in this cricketing summer, here was a day of partial image rehabilitation. Neither England nor Pakistan could claim at all to be totally in the ascendancy, but each side could be pleased with their efforts after a week of strain and scrutiny – off the field, in the case of the former, and on it for the tourists. After a mismatch at Headingley came a much more even contest between two teams looking more like equals; a good toss to win made use of by Pakistan in helpful bowling conditions, but England scrapping their way up to something resembling par to close at 248/9.

For Lord’s, too, this was a welcome occasion. Fears of a wipeout from the weather – and accompanying compensation – did not materialise, while the most scrutinised 22 yards in the country delivered a better balance between bat and ball. This surface may be on the slow side, but there was none of the undue movement and variability of bounce that had blighted and truncated the New Zealand Test in June.

That encounter had been overshadowed by the breach of curfew of Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson that followed it; this, by Brydon Carse’s misdemeanour in Derby. This wasn’t quite an England performance to douse the flames, but there was a maturity to their manner on the sort of day upon which they might previously have folded. In testing times against a vastly improved visiting attack, their resistance was led by half-centuries from Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith, with a useful unbeaten cameo from Gus Atkinson late on. 56 overs are too few to draw any strong conclusions, but a more measured pace felt both evident and effective.

“I think being put in on that sort of surface with the conditions we were faced with, we are reasonably happy,” Smith said. “We feel there is enough in that surface that hopefully we can put Pakistan under the pump a little bit.

“I thought they bowled really nicely up top. It showed that if you can take wickets with the new ball, that is key.”

Pakistan, mind, will be confident they can turn this position into one of strength, even if they may be light on a seamer. Two dropped catches, a number of edges falling short and nine no-balls were nonetheless bugbears from an otherwise better day.

With the summer of sun abdicating in favour of the onset of autumn gloom, it was a seam bowler’s day – particularly with the rain relenting earlier than anticipated. A twice-delayed toss fell the way of a beaming Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain fit to feature and all too happy to insert his hosts. There would have been bitter disappointment that the tourists did not give a better account of themselves at Headingley; it said plenty that stand-in skipper Salman Agha was stood down for Azam.

The rest were given a second opportunity – and Abbas made sure to make the most of it. Very English conditions befitted a very English-style seamer, and Pakistan’s attack leader soon winkled out Emilio Gay (8), Ben Duckett (17) and Joe Root (4) in a probing opening spell. The second of those three wickets was Abbas’s 900th in his first-class career, a good number of those taken here during County Championship stints with Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Hampshire. “This is my favourite ground,” he said. “Hopefully I get on the honours board. The slope helps me.”

Root looked a man who had been dealing with a lot in another uncomfortable week for English cricket, prodding with incertitude throughout his short stay while trapped in his crease by Mohammad Rizwan, up to the stumps. A more promising period for Pakistan was confirmed by the shivering of Harry Brook’s timbers by Mohammad Ali – having struggled to land a blow in Leeds, a nip-backer proved a persuasive, potent punch.

80/4 suggested the sort of trouble and strife that England usually reserve for the early hours, though a swift scoring rate suggested hope of a speedy rebuild. Pakistan bowled tightly, though, and Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence preferred to progress more serenely, steadily adding 43 together. They were parted by a mid-wicket miscommunication; Shan Masood, who had earlier put down Lawrence on 10, sure of hand this time as he ran out the man he had reprieved for 17.

That strangle continued, though a 15-over spell without a boundary was snapped by an edge from Jamie Smith. Soon after, back-to-back fours off the otherwise miserly Ali Usman took Cox to a well-judged half-century from 88 balls. His steadiness and solidity allowed Smith to up the tempo; the keeper-batter’s 50 was brought up from 63 deliveries. It was a necessary return to form for a player who could yet come under pressure for his place from his partner once Jacob Bethell is fit to return at No 3; for now, though, Cox and Smith were a happy union.

“I’ve gone through a lean period of the bat,” Smith admitted. “How could I read the situation a little bit better? That’s what I’ve tried to do since the summer began, taking my time a little bit more.”

Their stand of 67 was shattered by a moment of brilliance. Cox will reflect that he was a little loose in driving on the up to try and break the shackles, though it did only present the toughest of chances to second slip. Almost more astonishing than the fact it was taken was the fact that it was the dropped Agha, on for Imam-ul-Haq, grasping it – talk about a super-sub. Smith (61) saw his stumps splayed soon after by the impressive Ali, who then kerplunked Robinson’s off peg with another nip-backer.

Abbas cleaned up Jofra Archer before fading light brought play to a premature halt at 10-past-six to the crowd’s displeasure – the day ending in boos, rather than booze. Pakistan would have been happy enough not to face England’s seamers in such conditions; brighter times with the bat must be to come if they are to turn an encouraging start into something more substantial.

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain were handed meetings with Barcelona, Manchester City and Aston Villa among their eight matches in the league phase of this season’s Champions League, as the draw took place on Thursday.

PSG, who beat Arsenal on penalties in May to retain the trophy, will play Barcelona, Roma, Turkish champions Galatasaray and Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia at home.

Read morePSG parade Champions League trophy as they celebrate back-to-back titles

Luis Enrique’s team will travel to England twice to face City and Villa. They beat both teams on the way to winning their first Champions League title in 2025. The French champions will also go to Spain to play Villarreal and Italy to take on a Como side coached by Cesc Fabregas.

The first matches in this season’s league phase will be played between Tuesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 10, with the final games in late January. UEFA is expected to announce the full fixture schedule on Saturday.

Last season’s runners-up Arsenal, the Premier League champions, will notably host Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Lille as well as Sabah, the club from Azerbaijan who came through four two-legged qualifying ties to reach the league phase for the first time.

The Gunners have a tough list of away ties against Bayern Munich, Real Betis, Napoli and Slavia Prague.

Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool will be at home to Atletico Madrid, Porto, Villarreal and Lens, while playing Inter Milan, Club Brugge, Fenerbahce and Austrian league phase debutants LASK away.

Manchester United, who were not in the first pot of seeds, have home games against Bayern Munich, Roma, RB Leipzig and Sabah and also a series of difficult away fixtures against Atletico, Sporting of Portugal, Villarreal and Como.

Other notable games include Manchester City visiting Barcelona and Real Madrid entertaining Inter, while last season’s Europa League winners Villa must go to Barcelona and play Dortmund at home, while also tackling Istanbul giants Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.

The latter are appearing in the Champions League proper for the first time since 2008/09 after beating Lyon in the play-offs this week.

New names in this season’s competition are Como, who have upset the traditional order in Serie A, and Sabah, while LASK made it to this stage for the first time after a stunning comeback win over Celtic in the play-offs.

Last year’s Norwegian champions Viking have reached the Champions League proper for the first time too, and they have a glamorous fixture schedule that includes Bayern, Atletico, Villa and Napoli.

This is the third season since the introduction of the new format for the Champions League, with 36 teams now all pooled together in one giant league and each playing games against eight different opponents.

This season’s final will be played at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid on June 5, 2027.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Go Media Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 26 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and
Newcastle Knights. The game kicks off at 2:00 pm with New Zealand Warriors heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs.
Newcastle Knights
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday August 30, 2026 at 2:00 pm

Where: Go Media Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Odds

New Zealand Warriors vs Newcastle Knights Preview

The Warriors return to Auckland after an impressive 45-26 victory over South Sydney, a performance that reinforced their attacking momentum before the finals. Newcastle’s 44-24 loss to Manly halted a three-match winning run and exposed defensive problems against speed on the edges. The Warriors again field Taine Tuaupiki at fullback, with Luke Laulilii and Alofiana Khan-Pereira providing finishing power outside a mobile back row led by Kurt Capewell and Jacob Laban. Newcastle retains a dangerous spine featuring Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe, while Bradman Best and Dane Gagai give the visitors strike in the centres. The Knights can threaten if they create broken-field opportunities, but the Warriors’ forward platform, recent scoring form and familiarity with Go Media Stadium make them the more reliable selection.

Manchester City will be looking to put a couple of miserable Champions League campaigns behind them this season as they aim to reclaim the crown they won in 2023.

The Champions League is back and Manchester City now know who they will face in their bid to finish in the top eight of the 32-team league.

The Blues were drawn against PSG, Barcelona, Sporting, Porto, Napoli, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens

in Thursday’s draw. Enzo Maresca knows his team need a strong start to this season’s competition as they look to avoid another nerve-wracking league phase campaign.

City only just qualified for the playoff round when the new format was first introduced in 2024/25. Finishing 22nd out of 32, the Blues were paired with Real Madrid in the playoff round, and we all know how that finished.

2025/26 wasn’t without its complications either, but City did at least manage to squeeze into the top eight. While there was no need for a playoff round, City still failed to trouble the latter stages of the competition as they were beaten by Real Madrid in the round of 16.

But that’s all in the past and Maresca will hope he can be the man to take City back to the top of European football this season. With City’s fixtures now confirmed, we want you to tell us how many points you think the Blues will take from their eight league matches.

For context, 16 points from a possible 24 has been the number of points needed to finish in the top eight in the two seasons since the new league format was introduced.

Let us know in the poll below how many points you think City will win:

WWE could be heading toward a chaotic weekend, with several stars sitting on the edge of dramatic character changes. Sunday Night’s Main Event already features Cody Rhodes vs. Randy Orton. Meanwhile, the ongoing Bloodline war has become complicated following Royce Keys’ return alongside OTM. With the stakes rising on both RAW and SmackDown, Triple H has several opportunities to reshape the landscape before the event.

Here are two face turns and two heel turns that could happen before Sunday Night’s Main Event:

#4. Face turn: Jacob Fatu leaves The Bloodline

Jacob Fatu has increasingly looked like a man who does not completely fit into Roman Reigns’ version of The Bloodline. Although he has been serving as the faction’s enforcer, his recent actions have raised questions about where his loyalty truly lies.

Fatu did not help Roman when Solo Sikoa turned against him. He also failed to assist The Usos when they were dealing with Royce Keys and OTM. Those moments could eventually become the final evidence that the Samoan Werewolf has no interest in blindly following the OTC’s orders.

A face turn would make sense because Jacob Fatu has the credibility to become one of WWE’s dangerous antiheroes. He would not need to suddenly become a smiling babyface. Instead, he could simply walk away from The Bloodline, refusing to fight his family’s battles unless he chooses to.

WWE could make the moment bigger by having Roman Reigns demand Fatu’s loyalty. The latter could refuse, attack a Bloodline member, and officially leave the faction before Sunday.

#3. Heel turn: Former Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes turning heel before Sunday Night’s Main Event could completely change the dynamic of his feud with Randy Orton. However, the company has already made physical contact between the two extremely risky. Nick Aldis has ruled that if either man gets physical before their match, they will never receive another Undisputed WWE Championship opportunity.

That means Cody cannot simply attack Orton to establish himself as the villain. Instead, The American Nightmare could turn on the WWE Universe with his words.

Cody could use his upcoming promos to complain about how fans have treated him despite everything he has accomplished. Rather than playing the beloved babyface, he could start talking down to the audience, mocking their expectations, and claiming that he no longer needs their approval.

This would be particularly effective because Randy Orton has already mocked The American Nightmare as the ultimate “good guy” and questioned his clean-cut persona.

Thus, Cody Rhodes embracing the darker side of his personality without laying a finger on Orton would also allow WWE to respect Aldis’ stipulation while gradually transforming him into a heel. By the time Sunday Night’s Main Event arrives, fans could find themselves wondering whether The Viper is actually the lesser evil.

#2. Face turn: Randy Orton

Randy Orton becoming the clear babyface would be one of WWE’s easiest turns to execute.

Orton already has the history and credibility to receive a huge reaction. However, his rivalry with Cody Rhodes gives WWE an ideal reason to push him in that direction. If Cody becomes increasingly aggressive, The Viper can position himself as the veteran trying to stop The American Nightmare before he goes too far.

The beauty of an Orton face turn is that WWE would not need to completely change his personality. The Viper can remain dangerous, sarcastic, and unpredictable while directing those qualities toward a more justified cause.

Thus, a confrontation with The American Nightmare on SmackDown could establish the dynamic. If Cody Rhodes lashes out at fans and Randy Orton reminds him to blame himself and not the WWE Universe, the crowd would naturally rally behind Orton.

By Sunday, Orton could enter as the fan-favorite challenger while Cody embraces his darker side.

#1. Heel turn: Solo Sikoa

Solo Sikoa could finally reunite with The Bloodline and embrace his heel persona again. The current situation makes the potential turn especially logical.

Solo initially rejected falling back in line with Roman Reigns, choosing instead to remain aligned with LA Knight. However, Royce Keys and OTM have now made it clear that they are a serious threat, attacking Solo, Knight, and The Usos on WWE RAW.

With the numbers increasingly against them, Sikoa could realize that he and Knight cannot handle Keys and OTM alone. That could force him to reconsider Roman’s offer.

The Street Champion could eventually turn on LA Knight and return to the OTC, officially rejoining The Bloodline. The move would instantly make the faction more dangerous while establishing Solo Sikoa as a heel once again.

Also, it would set up a major Bloodline war against Keys and OTM, with Solo choosing family over his temporary alliance with Knight.