Liverpool Premier League-winner Darwin Nunez was dropped amid criticism following Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia, he came on against Cape Verde as they avoided a World Cup shock

Former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez couldn’t inspire Uruguay as they struggled in a 2-2 draw with World Cup minnows Cape Verde. The 26-year-old was dropped by Marcelo Bielsa ahead of the clash with the South Americans looking to respond after their 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in the opener.

Nunez was introduced with 20 minutes remaining as he was handed the responsibility of leading the Uruguayan attack and dragging them over the line. The Al-Hilal striker was a threat and showed promising signs, including a cross that captain Fede Valverde couldn’t convert from close range, in an embarrassing night for Uruguay.

They now need to pick up at least a point against Spain in their final Group H match to be in with a chance of progressing to the knockout stages. As it stands, they sit second on two points, level with Cape Verde who face Saudi Arabia.

But the pressure will build on the former Leeds United head coach after struggling against the nation ranked 67th in the FIFA world rankings amid reports that the squad is already fractured.

Uruguayan icon and former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez watched on from the stands and was animated throughout the contest. Cameras panned to the veteran striker after the full-time whistle as he looked crestfallen with his nation’s World Cup hopes hanging in the balance with the need for a result against Spain to bolster their chances of progression.

Last week, reports suggested that Nunez was set to re-sign for Liverpool after the World Cup as part of the rebuild under new head coach Andoni Iraola. Speculation emerged from South America that the 26-year-old, who won the Premier League before the lucrative move to Saudi Arabia, has signed a deal to return to Merseyside but first had his sights set on the World Cup across North America.

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The noise surrounding such a sensational return has simmered with numerous outlets dismissing the suggestion. On the pitch, Nunez’s struggles continued after a nightmare in the Middle East with Al Hilal, where he was de-registered in order for Karim Benzema to be included in his place.

The striker’s goal drought for his country will stretch ever-closer to two years when they take on Spain on June 27 (1am) after Nunez last found the back of the net for Uruguay on June 28, 2024 when he scored once in their 5-0 rout over Bolivia at the Copa America.

But against Cape Verde, he couldn’t do much more after the Uruguayans shot themselves in the foot on multiple occasions. They found themselves behind in the first-half after Kevin Pina’s long-range free-kick stunned Fernando Muslera.

A quickfire two-goal salvo from Maxi Araujo and Agustin Canobbio on the stroke of half-time turned the game in their favour.

However, a huge mistake at the back from Mathias Olivera was punished as Cape Verde equalised. The Napoli defender miscued a clearance from their own throw-in, and as Muslera charged out of his goal to rectify the error, Helio Varela nipped in and fired into an empty net.

Speaking as part of BBC Sport’s coverage, former Premier League striker Benni McCarthy dismissed Uruguay’s chances against Spain: “You can’t (not) want to pick yourself up but in football, anything is possible. They will make themselves believe that they can get a result against Spain, I highly doubt it but what a complete missed opportunity for Uruguay.”

Paul Kueker, a 51-year-old married father of two from Connecticut, died after falling 150 feet at Madison Square Garden

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A 51 year old man who fell to his death during a concert at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night has been identified as a beloved married father of two from Connecticut.

Paul Kueker plunged 150 feet from the Chase Bridge at Madison Square Garden during the Goose concert, shortly before 10pm on Saturday. His mother, Patricia Finelli, told the New York Post: “He was the greatest kid in the whole wide world, he’d give you the shirt off his back. He took care of me like I was a piece of gold.”

Kueker had attended the concert with his wife, with whom he has two children. Following the tragic fall, he was rushed to Bellevue Hospital, where he was subsequently pronounced dead, according to police.

Kueker and his wife were at Goose’s second night at MSG as part of the band’s summer tour. The group concluded its 16-song set at around midnight, reports the Mirror.

A statement from the band read: “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken to learn of the tragic event that occurred at tonight’s show. We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected. Thank you to the emergency personnel and venue staff who stepped in with care and support.”

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Concertgoers reported that a fan fell from the upper 200 or 300 tier down to level 100. The multi-storey venue’s main 100, 200, and 300 seating sections sit at a height equivalent to that of a typical 10-storey building.

One photograph of the alleged incident, shared by a gig-goer on Reddit, showed multiple damaged seats at the venue with police tape sealing off the section.

The band reportedly went on to perform a second set following the incident after a prolonged break. Multiple witnesses confirmed that paramedics carried him out on a stretcher.

As many of us head to the seaside to enjoy the nice weather, there are five common habits that could lead to fines of up to £2,500.

These include illegal beach camping, pocketing pebbles, using disposable barbecues, allowing dogs to roam freely, and littering.

Camping on the beach

While appealing to many, camping remains illegal across much of England’s coastline without permissions.

This is enforced by major landowners such as the National Trust and the Crown Estate.

Visitors caught camping illegally could face fines of up to £1,000.

Taking pebbles

It seems like a small issue, but taking pebbles, rocks, or plants is also an offence under the Coastal Protection Act 1949, with similar fines in place.

Disposable barbecues

BBQs are banned by many coastal authorities because of the fire and environmental risks they pose.

Visitors who ignore the ban may receive a fixed penalty notice of round £100.

If you want to bring a picnic, experts recommend using ready‑made food, cold boxes and reusable containers instead of trying to cook on the beach.

Letting dogs roam freely

Dog restrictions are also in place on several beaches under Public Space Protection Orders.

On some beaches, including Roker and Seaburn in Sunderland, dogs are banned from designated sections between 10am and 6pm during the summer months.

Owners who breach these rules risk a fine of up to £100.

However, not every shoreline is off‑limits, with some stretches of Northumberland coast – such as parts of Bamburgh and Alnmouth – allow dogs all year, often off‑lead in designated areas.

Littering

The final warning on the list, carries the heaviest penalty, with fines reaching £2,500 in serious cases.

Prosecution is also possible for repeat or persistent offenders.

North Tyneside Council recently placed beach‑toy recycling boxes made from reclaimed pallets along parts of the seafront, encouraging visitors to donate old plastic toys instead of abandoning them on the beach.

Cape Verde pulled off another stunning shock at the 2026 World Cup as they held Uruguay to a dramatic 2-2 draw in Miami.

The team had already produced a remarkable 0-0 draw with European champions Spain in their opening game, and they added another point to their tally as they took advantage of mistakes in Uruguay’s defensive line.

More to follow…

The man appeared to have a “medical emergency” on board the plane which saw him allegedly bite a passenger and start “trying to fight everybody” triggering the pilot to make an emergency call

A pilot was forced to make a chilling call to air traffic controllers before landing on Sunday as a man allegedly bit another passenger on board.

The American Airlines flight was landing in Philadelphia when the passenger was “trying to fight everybody” and suddenly got out of control.

Audio from the call from the pilot heard him say: “I don’t know if he’s hallucinating or whatever, but he just bit a passenger, and he’s trying to fight everybody.”

He then requested emergency medical crews and law enforcement before telling a controller in an audio recording obtained by CBS News, “what a day, huh?”

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The controller wished him a happy Father’s Day and he responded: “I’ll be sure to tell my daughters about this one.”

American Airlines said in a statement the passenger was experiencing a medical issue, and a medical professional on the plane assisted him before the flight landed.

According to tracking sight FlightAware the flight left Charlotte, North Carolina, earlier in the morning, and landed just before 10 am ET.

The news of the passenger’s behaviour follows other incidents onboard flights recently.

On a Frontier Airlines flight a man allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-flight, having to be held down by passengers and crew members.

The plane bound for Guatemala City was flying at 36,000 feet at the time of the incident.

On a Lufthansa flight a female passenger attacked somebody on board and it had to make an emergency landing.

Sharp, fearless and brimming with confidence, Lamine Yamal drifted past defenders with ease and injected life into Spain’s attack. There was a sense of inevitability about what would follow.

When the breakthrough came, it was fittingly his.

A low cross flashed across goal and Lamine Yamal arrived at the back post, sliding in to convert and score his first World Cup goal.

The Atlanta stadium erupted as fans cheered, danced and chanted Lamine Yamal’s name. This was the superstar they had come to see.

Guillem Balague, speaking on 5 Live, said he saw Lamine Yamal walking out looking around like he had just conquered the world.

“Is it arrogance? Or confidence? A mixture of both,” he said. “He is the chosen one, he wants to be the chosen one.

“He is so happy in the role he is taking on as leader of the team. He told me once that his joy when he plays football is seeing the same reaction when he used to play five-a-side.’

Lamine Yamal became the seventh player in history to score at a World Cup before turning 19, and only the second aged 18 or younger to open the scoring in a match, the other being a 17-year-old Pele for Brazil against Wales in 1958.

Wayne Rooney was highly complementary of the teenager – the comparisons to Lionel Messi inevitable.

Lamine Yamal has broken many of Messi’s records at Barcelona and now he has pipped him on the global stage, too – the Argentine was just shy of his 19th birthday when he netted his first World Cup goal in 2006, the Spaniard has done it two weeks younger.

“For Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the application and dedication they’ve had is the reason they are both playing in this World Cup,” the former England forward told Match of the Day. “They have done everything right. Hopefully Lamine Yamal can do that.

“What is really impressive to me is when Messi came in to that Barcelona team, there was some top players and a crossover with Ronaldinho.

“[Lamine Yamal] has come in to the Barcelona and Spain team and it is his team, he is the main man.

“Everyone is looking to him to win. [He was] a big part of winning the Euros and will be a big part of this World Cup. That is what really impresses me, he is taking the pressure on at such a young age. You hope he can do that for the next 15, 20 years.”

Rob Key, the ECB’s managing director of men’s cricket, said last week that Atkinson claimed he did not know the midnight curfew was in operation after the completion of a game. In response, Key said the details had been communicated via the Team England Player Partnership – an umbrella group representing those with central contracts – and were widely known.

“Countries such as Germany, Ireland, Italy and several other European destinations are attracting increasing interest from Indian students because of lower tuition costs, favourable post-study work pathways, strong employment prospects and a more attractive overall value proposition,” said Mayank Maheshwari, co-founder and COO of University Living, a student accommodation platform.

Officers were called to the beach after concerned members of the public saw the men on Sunday afternoon, June 21.

Police in Northern Ireland were called to reports of men “believed to have a knife” on a beach – only to find they were preparing for a barbecue.

Families had been out enjoying the summer sun at Portstewart Strand, near Coleraine, in County Derry on the country’s north coast when a number of people spotted one of the men carrying the knife.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have moved quickly to allay fears after speaking with the men and discovering the innocent intentions behind the incident, reports Belfast Live.

Several officers were dispatched to the scene but it was quickly de-escalated. No crimes were recorded but officers did remove the knife which will be destroyed.

In a statement, PSNI said: “Police received a report of a number of men – one of whom was believed to have a knife – in the Portstewart Strand area on Sunday afternoon, 21st June.

“Officers were immediately dispatched to the scene where they spoke with the men.

“A subsequent search of the men’s van established that they had been preparing barbecue at the beach and the knife was being used for this purpose.

“No criminal offences were noted, however the knife was removed for disposal. No further police action was taken.”

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