Jacob Bethell takes a stunning diving catch to remove New Zealand captain Tom Latham for 27 off the bowling of Jofra Archer as the tourists fall to 58-2 on the opening morning of the second Test against England at The Oval.

FOLLOW LIVE: Second Test: England v New Zealand – Day One

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Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be remembered for Lionel Messi’s historic hat-trick, but I believe the Argentine captain was fortunate to remain on the pitch after a dangerous challenge on Algeria defender Aïssa Mandi.

Messi scored three goals to help Argentina begin their title defence in style and move level with Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s joint all-time leading scorer. However, the biggest talking point of the match came in the 32nd minute.

Replays appeared to show Messi planting his studs onto Mandi’s calf and Achilles area. The Algerian defender was left in pain and needed medical attention before continuing.

Referee Szymon Marciniak did not show a card, while VAR decided not to intervene. In my view, that was the wrong decision.

According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, a player is guilty of serious foul play if he challenges an opponent in a way that endangers the safety of that opponent or uses excessive force. Serious foul play is punishable by a red card.

The laws also state that a tackle or challenge which endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Studs-first contact above the ankle is often considered one of the key indicators when referees assess possible red-card offences.

While opinions may differ on whether Messi intended to hurt Mandi, intent is not the main issue. The most important question is whether the challenge endangered the opponent’s safety. Looking at the replays, I believe it did.

Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha shared a similar view, saying on ESPN that the incident was worthy of a red card and that VAR missed an opportunity to correct the referee’s decision.

The controversy has become even bigger because other players at the tournament have been sent off for dangerous tackles. Many fans believe the same standard should apply to every player, regardless of reputation or status.

Messi went on to complete his hat-trick and win the Player of the Match award, but for me, the challenge on Mandi remains a red-card offence under the Laws of the Game.

His brilliance with the ball should not stop people from discussing what happened without it.

FILE–The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala hits a volley against China’s Shuai Zhang during their round of 32, singles match at the HSBC WTA tennis Championships at Queen’s Club in west London on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

LIVE: Alex Eala vs Donna Vekic – Berlin Open Round of 32

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala cooled off red-hot Donna Vekic, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the round of 16 of the Berlin Open on Wednesday (Manila time) at Steffi Graf Stadion in Germany.

Eala beat Vekic for the second time in just five months in a high-level match that felt like a continuation of their ASB Classic first-round duel won by the rising Filipino in three sets.

It only took Eala a pair of sets this time, but the victory didn’t come any easier against the confident Croatian, who’s coming off a crowning moment at Queen’s Club in London on Friday.

Putting on a SHOW! 🤩

Alex Eala defeats Vekic in straight sets and moves on in Berlin. #BTO26 pic.twitter.com/pemfZP7Ojd

— wta (@WTA) June 17, 2026

“I told myself that she’s fighting back, but I’m also a fighter, so I have to try and give her a hard time. Donna is an incredible player and she’s been showing us that,” said Eala, who received a wildcard entry into the WTA 500 tournament, after a brilliant Berlin debut.

“Every time I play her, it’s been very difficult,” she added.

READ: Alex Eala opens Berlin Open campaign vs Donna Vekic

Behind a big service game, Eala battled back from 0-40 down to close out Vekic, who turned back home bet Emma Raducanu in the Queen’s final. Eala served up eight aces and had 25 winners against 13 unforced errors.

It was a game of runs and momentum swings, especially in the opening set.

Vekic, who turns 30 years old on June 28, zoomed to a 2-0 lead in the first set before Eala responded by winning the next four games.

Vekic reclaimed the lead, 5-4, but Eala pulled ahead for good after earning a crucial break in the 11th game.

Eala won’t have much time to celebrate her big win over Vekic with a round of 16 duel against World No. 2 Elena Rybakina set on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Eala was beaten by Rybakina, 6-4, 6-3, in their Italian Open third round encounter last month.

Joseph Pride, a trainer celebrated for his ability to enhance the performances of seasoned horses, is currently overseeing the progress of the capable gelding Poison Chalice.

The six-year-old, sired by Savabeel, was previously under the guidance of trainer Paul Preusker in Horsham. His last appearance resulted in a tenth-place finish in the Listed Ballarat Cup over 2000 metres.

While Poison Chalice has yet to achieve a victory beyond benchmark grade, he has demonstrated considerable talent in Group races, with his closest effort being a second in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m) back in the Spring of 2024.

Pride is keen to gain a better insight into the new stable acquisition when he competes in the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

“Poison Chalice raced down in Melbourne, he’s a nice Savabeel horse,” Pride stated. “He’s going well, he trialled up, there’s improvement to come but he should run well.”

“He’s raced up over a mile to 2000 metres, we’ll kick him off at seven furlongs and see how he goes. Lovely horse, hasn’t changed ownership, they’ve got a really nice horse.”

Poison Chalice has been prepared with two trials leading into this campaign. He showed significant improvement in his latest Warwick Farm hitout, racing on pace and finishing second over 791 metres, with Pride noting the horse has settled in well in Sydney.

“Getting them on the Sydney leg can be a bit overstated,” Pride commented. “When they come to you at the start of the preparation, he’s been in work for the last ten to twelve weeks and he’s done it all on the Sydney leg, and he seems to have adjusted well.”

Cool Jakey, a horse known for its front-running tactics and a recent strong win at benchmark 94 level, will also contest the race. Pride believes Cool Jakey is in excellent condition for another attempt at Listed company.

The Civic Stakes is shaping up to be an intriguing contest, and exploring online bookmakers could be a good move for interested punters.

The 2026 World Cup is back with another four-match slate on Wednesday, June 17, starting with DR Congo vs. Portugal at 1 p.m. ET and wrapping up at 10 p.m. ET between Colombia and Uzbekistan. Those two matches are Group K clashes, while Group L is also taking center stage with England vs. Croatia at 4 p.m. ET and Ghana vs. Panama at 7 p.m. ET. Portugal and Colombia are the two Group K favorites while England and Croatia are viewed as the top dogs in Group L. 

We’ve put together a three-leg parlay for Wednesday’s matches using odds from FanDuel for those interested in soccer betting, specifically World Cup betting. You should also check out the latest expert picks from Jon Eimer, Martin Green and others at SportsLine.

Eimer is a fixture in CBS Sports and SportsLine’s soccer betting coverage. He’s 64-41-3 in his last 108 Italian Serie A picks and 17-9-2 in his last 28 German Bundesliga picks. Green was 18-8 in his last 26 picks in this year’s Champions League. Anyone following their World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.

World Cup parlay for Wednesday, June 17

• Portugal -1.5 (-120)
• England money line vs. Croatia (-140)
• Panama Draw No Bet (+140)

FanDuel parlay price: +654

Portugal -1.5 vs. DR Congo

Cristiano Ronaldo and Co. are in action in the first match of the day on Wednesday when Portugal faces DR Congo. Portugal are massive favorites in this one, sitting at -360 on the money line to DR Congo’s +1000 price point. Green calls this a “golden opportunity” for Portugal to get off to a good start this tournament, pointing out they have “arguably the best midfield in the world” between Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, Vitinha, and João Neves to help set up Ronaldo for scoring looks. “It could be a lopsided game,” he says.

England money line vs. Croatia

England are viewed as one of the favorites to win the entire World Cup, and they face one of the darlings of the 2022 World Cup in Croatia, who finished third and had some massive upsets along the way, including against Brazil in the quarterfinal round. England are favored on the money line, and Eimer thinks that Croatia’s age is “starting to show” and that England should emerge victorious here. “This is a side that has been legendary for over a decade now, but the same players that made them great 10 years ago, are still the ones doing it now,” Eimer says. “They looked tired in their friendlies versus Belgium and Brazil.”

Panama Draw No Bet vs. Ghana

This is viewed as one of the more contested matches of the day with Ghana a +120 money line favorite to Panama’s +240. A draw is +220. These two are both viewed as longshots to win Group L behind England and Croatia, but should one of those two sides win that earlier match, a winner between Panama and Ghana could be in prime position to earn one of the two top spots in the group. It should be noted that Ghana will be without one of their best players as midfielder Thomas Partey is dealing with visa issues that prevented him from traveling to Canada for the match. That’s a big blow for Ghana, which has lost or drawn each of their last six matches heading into the World Cup. Panama Draw No Bet has some juice at plus money, so we’ll target that. 

The biggest football tournament on the planet is under way, and for Irish punters it is shaping up to be one of the most compelling betting events in years.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 — expanded to 48 teams and spread across three host nations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico — offers more matches, more markets, and more opportunities than any previous edition. With 104 games from group stage to final, there has never been more action to get stuck into.

Whether you’re watching the early kick-offs over your morning coffee or staying up for the late North American starts, the world cup betting opportunities are relentless right through to the final in New York’s MetLife Stadium.

Here is what you need to know to approach it smartly.

The Expanded Format Changes Everything

The jump from 32 to 48 teams is not just a cosmetic change — it fundamentally reshapes the betting landscape. There are now 12 groups of four, with the top two plus eight best third-placed sides advancing to a new round of 32. That extra layer means stronger nations cannot afford a single slip in the group stage, yet mismatches against weaker opponents are more frequent than ever.

For punters, this creates two distinct opportunities. First, backing elite sides to win their groups at compressed odds is often still worthwhile if you can find value in the correct score or Asian handicap markets rather than the basic match result. Brazil, France, Spain, England and Argentina were all heavily fancied going in, but the expanded format means at least one marquee nation will likely stumble earlier than expected — history backs that up at every tournament.

Second, and more interestingly, there is significant value in backing well-organised, defensively compact sides to frustrate bigger nations and sneak through as third-placed qualifiers. These are the bets the casual money ignores and where the real edge often lies.

Markets Worth Your Attention

Irish punters have always been comfortable across a range of betting formats — from racing accumulators to GAA handicaps — and that same instinct for reading a market serves you well in football.

Match result (1X2) is the starting point, but rarely the best value. When a team is odds-on to win, the money is more often found in markets like both teams to score, total goals over/under, or the Asian handicap, which removes the draw and adjusts the goal start to level the playing field.

Outright winner markets reward patience and early positioning. The prices available at the start of the group stage will look very different by the time the quarter-finals come around. If you’ve watched enough of a team to have genuine conviction before the rest of the public catches up, outright bets placed mid-tournament can be excellent value.

Player specials — top scorer, most assists, player of the tournament — are markets where an Irish punter who follows European club football closely will have a real edge over the bookmaker’s modelling. Knowing which striker has been in blistering form heading into the tournament, or which midfielder controls tempo better than their odds suggest, is exactly the kind of knowledge that converts into profit.

The Irish Angle

While the Boys in Green are watching from home this time around — and we’ll say no more about that — there are plenty of reasons for Irish fans to follow the tournament closely from a betting perspective.

Jack Grealish aside, there’s enormous warmth for the Republic of Ireland diaspora players scattered across competing squads. Beyond the emotional ties, Irish punters have a natural affinity with watching football for value rather than tribal loyalty — a discipline that pays dividends over 104 games.

The late kick-offs due to the North American time zones are also worth factoring in. Games starting at midnight or 2am Irish time may see reduced in-play market liquidity and sharper line movement, which can actually work in the informed punter’s favour if you’re comfortable staying up for them.

Keep It Sensible

A tournament of this length is a marathon, not a sprint. The World Cup runs for weeks, and the single biggest mistake punters make is going heavy early, losing their edge by the knockout rounds, and missing the best markets entirely.

Set yourself a tournament budget before a ball is kicked. Allocate it across stages — some for the group phase, more held back for the knockouts when the quality of information is higher and the games mean more. Resist the urge to chase a bad result with a reckless accumulator. The next game is always just hours away at a tournament like this.

The World Cup is the greatest show in football. It rewards patience, knowledge, and discipline — qualities any seasoned punter will recognise from the racing or the GAA markets they know inside out.

Get your research done, pick your spots carefully, and enjoy every minute of it.

Please gamble responsibly. If you feel gambling is affecting you, visit GamCare at gamcare.org.uk or Gamblers Anonymous Ireland at gamblersanonymous.ie.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Manchester United summer transfer target Crysencio Summerville ranks inside the top 1 per cent of all players for taking opponents on. His metrics are that impressive, he ranks second worldwide in Machine Football’s ‘Direct 7 archetype,’ which measures how effective a player is at driving directly at defenders and carrying the ball into dangerous areas.

Across 2,707 domestic league minutes last season, the 24-year-old Dutchman scored five goals and registered one assist for a struggling West Ham United. His estimated transfer value sits around £36.5M, with wages near £43,500 a week. The Reds are being quoted a £50m fee to sign the Dutch international this summer, £13.5M above that valuation.

Machine Football’s analysis shows that Summerville would shift United toward a more direct, dribble-heavy style, with offensive duels and ball carries expected to rise sharply, while box touches are expected to edge upward. His pressing profile also lifts the defensive picture, where aggression is expected to climb notably.

However, with aggressive pressing and ball-carrying, there’d be fewer forward passes, and final-third entries are expected to fall. When you weigh up the transfer fee and output in the final third, Machine Football advises caution, rating it a tentative buy.

Supercomputer Machine Football analyses billions of bits of football data to predict player performance, transfers and match outcomes.

The BKT United Rugby Championship reaches its climax on Friday night as Leinster Rugby face the Vodacom Bulls at Croke Park in a repeat of last season’s Grand Final.

Kick-off is at 7.30pm, with the match live on Premier Sports 1.

For Leinster, this is another chance to underline their domestic dominance and retain the URC crown. For the Bulls, now under Johan Ackermann, it is an opportunity to finally end their URC final heartbreak after three previous defeats on the biggest stage.

Leinster Team News: Porter Ruled Out, Doris And Sheehan Doubts

Leinster have been dealt a significant blow with Andrew Porter ruled out of Friday night’s final.

Caelan Doris and Dan Sheehan will both require further assessment before a decision is made on their availability later in the week.

There are no further updates on Ryan Baird, Jack Boyle, Will Connors, Hugh Cooney, RG Snyman, Charlie Tector and Paddy McCarthy.

Porter’s absence is particularly significant given the strength of the Bulls scrum. If Doris or Sheehan are also ruled out, Leinster’s forward pack will face an even bigger challenge against one of the most physical sides in the competition.

Recent Form

Leinster URC Form

• 17 April 2026: Leinster 29-21 Ulster
• 25 April 2026: Benetton Rugby 29-26 Leinster
• 09 May 2026: Leinster 31-7 Lions
• 16 May 2026: Leinster 68-14 Ospreys
• 30 May 2026: Leinster 59-10 Lions
• 06 June 2026: Leinster 20-11 Stormers

Leinster have won five of their last six URC fixtures, scoring 233 points and conceding just 92. That gives them an average of 38.8 points scored per game and only 15.3 conceded.

Their only defeat in their last six first-team matches was the 41-19 Investec Champions Cup Final defeat to Bordeaux-Bègles.

Vodacom Bulls URC Form

• 17 April 2026: Bulls 47-7 Dragons
• 25 April 2026: Bulls 23-21 Scarlets
• 09 May 2026: Bulls 54-19 Zebre Parma
• 16 May 2026: Bulls 45-19 Benetton Rugby
• 30 May 2026: Bulls 45-14 Munster
• 06 June 2026: Bulls 22-21 Glasgow Warriors

The Bulls arrive in Dublin in outstanding form. They have won their last eight URC fixtures since losing to the DHL Stormers in March.

Across their last six games, the Pretoria side have scored 236 points and conceded 101, averaging 39.3 points per game.

History Beckons At Croke Park

This will be Leinster’s 13th BKT United Rugby Championship Grand Final. Their record currently stands at eight wins and four defeats.

Their only defeat in their last eight final appearances came against Connacht at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in 2016, when they lost 20-10.

Leinster’s 32-7 victory over the Bulls in last season’s Grand Final remains the largest winning margin in a URC Grand Final.

Croke Park has also been a significant venue for Leinster. They have played six previous matches at GAA headquarters, including last season’s final. Their only defeat at the venue came in their most recent visit, a 31-14 loss to Munster in Round 4.

Bulls Chasing First URC Title

This will be the Vodacom Bulls’ fourth Grand Final appearance across the five URC seasons.

They are still chasing their first title, having lost to the Stormers in 2022, Glasgow Warriors in 2024 and Leinster twelve months ago.

However, the Bulls do have serious pedigree in finals. They won all three of their Super Rugby Finals in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

The Bulls have also shown they can travel to Ireland and win. They have visited Ireland on 12 occasions, winning four times. No other South African team has managed more than two victories in Ireland.

Recent Meetings

• 22 April 2023: Bulls 62-7 Leinster
• 29 March 2024: Leinster 47-14 Bulls
• 15 June 2024: Bulls 25-20 Leinster
• 22 March 2025: Bulls 21-20 Leinster
• 14 June 2025: Leinster 32-7 Bulls
• 04 October 2025: Bulls 39-31 Leinster

The last six meetings are split evenly at three wins each.

The two sides have met in three previous URC play-off fixtures, with the Bulls holding a 2-1 advantage thanks to semi-final victories in 2022 and 2024. Leinster, however, won the biggest meeting of all when they defeated the Bulls in last season’s Grand Final.

The Forward Battle Could Decide Everything

Former Springbok captain Victor Matfield believes the Bulls must attack Leinster physically if they are to win the final.

His view is that the Bulls should lean heavily on their scrum and driving maul rather than getting drawn into a loose kicking contest. Bordeaux-Bègles caused Leinster serious problems through forward dominance in the Champions Cup Final, and the Bulls have the pack to attempt something similar.

With Porter unavailable and Doris and Sheehan still uncertain, this is the area where Johan Ackermann’s side will surely look to squeeze Leinster.

If the Bulls can win scrum penalties, maul effectively between the two 10-metre lines and force Leinster to defend repeated heavy carries, they have a real route to victory.

Will The Bulls Target Sam Prendergast?

One of the most fascinating tactical questions surrounds Sam Prendergast.

There is no doubt about his attacking talent. His passing range, vision and kicking game have helped Leinster reach another URC Final, and with Ciarán Frawley set to join Connacht, Leinster appear to have committed to Prendergast as their long-term first-choice number ten, with Harry Byrne providing cover from the bench.

However, his defence remains a talking point.

Prendergast did not make Leinster’s matchday 23 for the Champions Cup Final defeat to Bordeaux-Bègles, which led many to question whether the coaching staff had concerns about the physical challenge in that game.

Expect the Bulls to test him.

Handré Pollard is one of the best tactical kickers in world rugby and will look to put Prendergast under pressure positionally. More importantly, powerful Bulls carriers such as Cameron Hanekom, Marcell Coetzee, Harold Vorster and David Kriel are likely to attack the Leinster number ten channel whenever possible.

If Prendergast can stand up defensively and still control the game with his boot and passing, it could become a defining performance in his young career. If the Bulls consistently expose that channel, it may become one of the major storylines of the final.

Nacewa Praises Nienaber’s Defensive Impact

Former Leinster great Isa Nacewa has praised the influence of senior coach Jacques Nienaber and the evolution of Leinster’s defence.

Nacewa compared the current system to the Stuart Lancaster era, noting the width, spacing, decision-making at rucks, line speed and aggressive front-line pressure.

That defensive system will be tested severely by a Bulls side averaging almost 40 points per game across their last six URC fixtures.

Key Players

Leinster

Jamison Gibson-Park – Leinster’s tempo-setter and one of the best scrum-halves in the world.

Sam Prendergast – His attacking quality is obvious, but the Bulls will almost certainly test him defensively.

James Lowe – A proven big-game performer capable of changing matches with a single touch. This will be his final game for Leinster, giving him one last chance to sign off with silverware.

Josh van der Flier – His breakdown work and defensive engine will be vital against a powerful Bulls pack.

Vodacom Bulls

Handré Pollard – A World Cup-winning out-half and the Bulls’ leading points scorer with 127 points.

Embrose Papier – Dangerous around the fringes and the Bulls’ top try scorer with 12 tries.

Cameron Hanekom – One of the most exciting young forwards in South African rugby.

Wilco Louw – A major scrum weapon who could become even more influential with Porter absent.

Top Scorers

Leinster

• Josh Kenny – 9 tries
• Scott Penny – 6 tries
• Jimmy O’Brien – 5 tries
• Tommy O’Brien – 5 tries

Vodacom Bulls

• Embrose Papier – 12 tries
• Johan Grobbelaar – 10 tries
• Cheswill Jooste – 5 tries
• Harold Vorster – 5 tries
• Marcell Coetzee – 5 tries
• Willie le Roux – 5 tries

Betting Odds

The bookmakers have Leinster as favourites, but the market suggests a much tighter contest than last season’s one-sided Grand Final.

Match Odds

• Leinster: 4/9
• Draw: 19/1
• Vodacom Bulls: 7/4

Handicap Betting

• Leinster -5: 10/11
• Draw -5: 20/1
• Bulls +5: 10/11

The five-point handicap reflects how close this contest could be. Leinster’s home advantage, finals experience and defensive system make them deserved favourites, but the Bulls’ physicality, set-piece power and eight-match winning run make them dangerous outsiders.

Best Bet: Leinster to win by 1-12 points.

Prediction

This has all the ingredients of a classic final.

Leinster have the experience, the home advantage and the defensive structure to retain their title. The Bulls have the power, momentum and tactical route to cause serious problems, particularly through the scrum, maul and the Prendergast defensive channel.

If Doris and Sheehan are passed fit, Leinster should have enough balance to withstand the Bulls’ physical assault. If either misses out, the game becomes much more dangerous for Leo Cullen’s side.

The Bulls should make this far closer than last season, but Leinster’s big-game control, Gibson-Park’s tempo and the emotional edge of James Lowe’s final appearance may just get them over the line.

Predicted Score: Leinster 26-22 Vodacom Bulls

Expect a fierce, physical and tactical final decided by fine margins, with the battle up front and the pressure on Sam Prendergast likely to determine who lifts the URC trophy at Croke Park.

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