The bronze medalists from the 2020 and 2024 Olympics began their Hockey World Cup campaign with a lot of promise, outclassing Wales in their opening group game. However, since then, apart from a win over Pakistan, India have lost every single match.

In fact, India have not beaten a single team in this World Cup that is ranked above them in the FIH Outdoor Hockey Rankings. Will they be able to end that curse today?

Arsenal got its title defense off to a perfect start Friday with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Coventry City in the opening match of the Premier League.

In France, a second-half double from Amine Gouiri set Marseille on its way to a 4-0 victory over Strasbourg on the first night of this season’s Ligue 1 action.

Elsewhere in Europe, Real Betis beat Real Sociedad 1-0 in the Spanish league while fan trouble overshadowed the first round of the German Cup.

Arsenal sweeps Coventry aside in Premier League opener 
Newcomer Christos Tzolis helped set up two goals as defending champion Arsenal opened the Premier League season by dismantling promoted Coventry 3-0 to spoil the visitor’s long-awaited return to the top flight.

After ending a 22-year wait for the Premier League title, Arsenal showed why it’s favored to repeat as champion by completely dominating Frank Lampard’s side in a game that was one-sided from start to finish.

Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard scored for the Gunners, who spurned chances to pad the scoreline even further.

For Coventry, it was a rude welcome back to the Premier League after a 25-year absence. Having won the second-tier Championship last season by a wide margin, Lampard’s side simply looked outmatched as it was repeatedly taken apart by the marauding Gunners.

Gouiri leads Marseille to dominant win over Strasbourg 
Gouiri, who scored eight goals in 22 league matches last season, has been linked with a move to Everton in recent days, but the speculation clearly did not hinder his concentration in the Ligue 1 opener.

He slotted home from close range a minute after the break and then doubled his tally from the penalty spot midway through the second half, just minutes after Strasbourg was reduced to 10 men following Samir El Mourabet’s dismissal for a bad tackle.

Keyliane Abdallah added a third in the 89th minute before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg completed the scoring in stoppage time to give new Marseille coach Bruno Genesio the perfect start to the season.

Rodrigo Riquelme gives Real Betis a winning start in SpainBetis kicked off its La Liga campaign with a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad in Seville.

Riquelme’s volleyed goal after 63 minutes separated two evenly matched teams and extended Betis’ unbeaten home run in Friday night games to 18.

The win takes the Seville club into joint second place in La Liga, one of four teams on three points, behind Alaves, which has four.

It’s a stuttering start to the league season in Spain, with some teams having played twice before others have even kicked off their campaign.

Rowdy fans and startling scoreline in the German Cup 
Police had to intervene in the German Cup match between Waldhof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern as fans threw flares and other objects and some Mannheim supporters invaded the pitch. The trouble started as the game was heading into extra time with the score tied at 0-0.

The match was halted for nearly 30 minutes as officers in riot gear and mounted police pushed fans back into the stands before the players could return.

Ibrahim Kanate scored in the last minute of extra time, giving second-division Kaiserslautern a 1-0 win to advance to the second round.

Eintracht Frankfurt cruised into the second round of the competition with a staggering 11-0 win away at fifth-tier St. Tonis. Ten of the goals came before half time, three of them from Jonathan Burkardt.

Karlsruhe beat Munster 2-1 and Dzenan Pejcinovic scored a hattrick as VfB Stuttgart beat Hansa Rostock 4-0 away from home.

What a difference a pair of years can make.

Kevin O’Connell was riding high going into 2024. Kirk Cousins had walked for a gigantic payday in Atlanta but Minnesota was set up with Sam Darnold alongside J.J. McCarthy. The Vikings were therefore working with the best of both worlds due to the upside veteran and raw but developing young fella. O’Connell was pleased.

Of course, the great issue with that plan was the upcoming injury for J.J. McCarthy. The Michigan alumnus would need to spend his rookie season in the infirmary. O’Connell, though, was quite brash and bullish in public praise, declaring the kid as the Vikings’ long-awaited franchise quarterback.

No longer, it would seem.

Kevin O’Connell Has Lost Confidence in J.J. McCarthy

Earlier in the week, Coach O’Connell sidestepped a question about whether McCarthy would remain in the QB2 spot.

“I think to me,” O’Connell began, “it’s making an assessment on what we think is best for the team.” Afterwards, O’Connell ventured into various thoughts about other roster battles and how Max Brosmer is still around. None of that chatter, though, can mask how far McCarthy has fallen over these past two years in O’Connell’s assessment. Not a declared franchise quarterback, McCarthy isn’t even a locked-in QB2.

In August of 2024, O’Connell felt so good about McCarthy that he was willing to proclaim the kid as Minnesota’s franchise quarterback to the media. Doing so came after seeing him lose his debut season to his knee injury. Still, though, O’Connell was confident.

Will Ragatz sent along the quote in a piece for Sports Illustrated: “As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hoped to see. Our fan base and everyone should be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback in the building.”

Football publications covered the quote. All of the NFL’s website, Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, and even the Vikings’ website covered that comment. Many others did, as well. And why not? It was a bold, brash claim that gained instant credibility due to who was saying it: the quarterback whisperer.

Fast forward into August of 2026 and things are quite a bit different. Already, McCarthy has been the backup for a couple of weeks. He appears to be hanging on by a thread to remain as the main backup rather than sinking down to being the QB3.

These past several weeks and months have involved Kevin O’Connell repeating himself. Over and over again, Minnesota’s skipper has insisted that the Vikings were conducting a true passer battle. Most didn’t believe what he had to say; seeing things go to Kyler Murray so early in training camp didn’t help the coach to retroactively persuade people.

Going into the Vikings’ final preseason game, many think the Carson Wentz is going to become the Vikings’ main backup. Based purely on the on-field play in the preseason, Wentz should be the QB2. The issue, though, is that he’s a 33-year-old journeyman who is well respected but not viewed as a world beater. How high is his ceiling?

At this point in time, Wentz could have more upside for 2026 alone even if the long-term edge goes to the young fella.

The thorn in the Vikings’ side: McCarthy hasn’t progressed nearly as much as desired. My theory is that the kid’s confidence is shot, meaning he reverts to old habits and struggles to scan the field.

For a long time, I argued that Kyler Murray would start in Week 1 but that J.J. McCarthy would start more games overall in 2026. That thesis was always unpopular but is now on life support.

Kevin O’Connell is entering his fifth season as the Vikings’ head coach. He’s 43-25 in the regular season since taking over, working out to a sizzling .632 winning percentage. He has won the NFC North title a single time (2022), was honored as NFL Coach of the Year (2024), and been to the playoffs twice.

He is 0-2 in the playoffs.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Ayyoub Bouaddi is set to go straight into the City squad for the trip to Crystal Palace.

“Yeah, he’s ready,” said Maresca of Bouaddi. He was working with his former club so he is fit. We will see how long it is in terms of adaptation but for sure he is ready to go.

City remain without Doku but Anderson is fit having come off against Bournemouth with cramp. Nunes is still not 100 per cent fit and may have to settle for a place among the substitutes.

Connacht Rugby play their first pre-season fixture of the new campaign this evening when they take on RC Vannes in France.

The game kicks off at 6pm Irish time (7pm local time) at Stade de la Rabine and supporters in Ireland will be able to watch the match live and free on the Rugby Vannes YouTube channel.

How to watch Vannes v Connacht Rugby

• Fixture: RC Vannes v Connacht Rugby
• Date: Friday, August 28
• Kick-off: 6pm Irish time / 7pm local time
• Venue: Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
• Live stream: Rugby Vannes YouTube channel

The game offers Connacht supporters their first look at Stuart Lancaster’s side in match action ahead of the new season, with a 28-man squad travelling to France.

There is particular interest in the return of Mack Hansen and Byron Ralston, who are both named in the starting XV following lengthy injury layoffs.

Hansen starts on the left wing, with Ralston at inside centre. Sam Gilbert starts at full-back, while Shane Jennings and John Devine complete the outside backs.

Josh Ioane and Colm Reilly form the half-back partnership.

New signings Jerry Cahir and Thomas Connolly are among the extended replacements, while a number of Connacht Academy players will also get an opportunity to impress.

David Walsh, Max Flynn, Bobby Power, Sean Walsh, Daniel Ryan and Albert Lindner are all included among the replacements.

Connacht have been based on the French west coast since Monday as Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team continue preparations for the start of the competitive season against the Stormers on September 25.

Connacht Rugby team v RC Vannes

15. Sam Gilbert
14. Shane Jennings
13. John Devine
12. Byron Ralston
11. Mack Hansen
10. Josh Ioane
9. Colm Reilly
1. Jordan Duggan
2. Eoin de Buitléar
3. Fiachna Barrett
4. Niall Murray
5. David O’Connor
6. Sean O’Brien
7. Shamus Hurley-Langton
8. Paul Boyle

Replacements from

Dylan Tierney-Martin
Jerry Cahir
Thomas Connolly
David Walsh
Max Flynn
Bobby Power
Ben Murphy
Sean Naughton
Sean Walsh
Harry West
Finn Treacy
Daniel Ryan
Albert Lindner

Connacht back at Dexcom Stadium next Saturday

Connacht return home next weekend for a double-header at Dexcom Stadium.

The Connacht Eagles get underway at 2pm, before the senior side face Ealing Trailfinders at 5pm in their next pre-season fixture.

Tonight, however, attention turns to France and the first opportunity to see Lancaster’s Connacht in action, with kick-off against Vannes at 6pm Irish time.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Gilas Pilipinas celebrates after beating Jordan in the Fiba World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers at Mall of Asia Arena. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–Gilas Pilipinas escaped Jordan, 82-81, in overtime to open its second round campaign with a much-needed win in the Fiba World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

Kevin Quiambao nailed a go-ahead three with 13 seconds left in overtime and Kai Sotto came up with a huge block on Abdullah Olajuwon’s game-winning attempt for Jordan as the Philippines got back on the winning track in these qualifiers.

Sotto, who played for the Nationals for the first time since 2024, led with 18 points and 14 rebounds while CJ Perez, who scored crucial baskets that helped Gilas Pilipinas force overtime, added 16 points.

Gilas Pilipinas ended a four-game losing skid dating back to February and breathed life into its World Cup hopes.

Elbrus Osmanov will return to kickboxing to face Denis Souza Jr. at ONE Fight Night 48.

A bantamweight kickboxing matchup that fight fans have been waiting on is finally getting its moment. A bout between Elbrus “The Samurai” Osmanov of Russia and Brazilian technician Denis “Denizinho” Souza has been rescheduled for ONE Fight Night 48 on Prime Video on October 2 at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

The two were first booked to meet at ONE Fight Night 46 in August, but a fight-week injury above Osmanov’s eye pulled the plug before either man threw a punch.

The 25-year-old Dagestani carries a 15-1 professional record and nine promotional victories spanning both kickboxing and Muay Thai. His six-fight promotional kickboxing winning streak came to an end against Yuki Yoza.

Osmanov then pivoted to Muay Thai and went 3-0, finishing the run with a US$100,000 bonus-earning TKO of Ratchasiesan Laochokcharoen. Now he steps back into kickboxing, recovered and focused, with a title shot in his long-term sights.

When Osmanov pulled out, Souza accepted a last-minute booking against Dmitrii Kovtun without hesitation.

The multiple-time South American Champion imposed his technical game from the opening bell and earned a unanimous decision with a controlled, high-output performance.

The 28-year-old Dutch-style kickboxer arrives at ONE Fight Night 48 in sharp form with something to prove against a higher-profile name.

ONE Fight Night 48 broadcasts live in U.S. primetime and is free for Prime Video subscribers in North America.

Confirmed bouts for ONE Fight Night 48

Shamil Erdogan vs. Paul Elliott (heavyweight MMA)

Luke Lessei vs. Charlie Guest (featherweight Muay Thai)

Joshua Perreira vs. Antonio Cesar (flyweight MMA)

Lee Seung Cheol vs. Karen Ghazaryan (strawweight MMA)

Nakrob Fairtex vs. Parham Gheirati (bantamweight Muay Thai)

Arian Esparza vs. Sam Fitzgerald (featherweight Muay Thai)

Elbrus Osmanov vs. Denis Souza Jr. (bantamweight kickboxing)

Stay tuned to Sportskeeda and ONE Championship for the latest updates on ONE Fight Night 48.