French media have poured scorn on the efforts of the France team after they were knocked out by Spain in the World Cup semi-finals.

Les Bleus had been among the favourites to seal a third title at the tournament but were unable to break down an organised Spain, with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring from the spot and Pedro Porro doubling their advantage, while France’s all-star attack was neutralised.

Luis de la Fuente’s European champions will face either England or Argentina, who meet on Wednesday night, in Sunday’s final.

France have been fiercely criticised for their lacklustre showing by the national press, with L’Equipe plastering a picture of Kylian Mbappe looking dejected on its front page alongside the headline “Fleeting star”.

Le Parisien also featured a picture of Mbappe alongside the headline “Fallen from a height”, with the caption reading: “Trailing from half-time, Les Bleus never found the key to unlocking the Spanish powerhouse.”

Le Figaro wrote: “Spain put an end to Les Bleus’ dream”, again alongside an image of Mbappe, while Ouest France called it “the end of the American Dream”, with the striker covering his face in disappointment.

Several players came in for particular condemnation from the French press, with three players earning two out of 10 ratings from the outlet L’Equipe.

All three of Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne – who was responsible for conceding a penalty after kicking Lamine Yamal when attempting to control the ball – and Paris St-Germain striker Ousmane Dembele were given the rating.

The paper slammed Dembele as “a huge disappointment”, writing: “Initially on the right, then moved centrally after half an hour, nothing helped: the Ballon d’Or winner did almost everything wrong. As the minutes ticked by, he gradually faded until he became almost invisible. A huge disappointment.” Digne was blasted for his “uncontrolled header and his foul on Lamine Yamal”: “he made two mistakes that resulted in a penalty”.

Olise was not spared despite having an excellent World Cup until this point, with L’Equipe writing: “[Having] risen so high in previous matches, he fell very low this time.”

Captain and star striker Mbappe was awarded a three, alongside the note: “He often seemed very isolated and tried to do everything himself, without success.”

Mbappe was equally derogatory about his side’s performance, saying after the match: “There were too many technical errors. We didn’t know how to hurt them when we needed to. It was up to us to shift the balance of power, and that’s where we failed.”

If you caught the video of Wyndham Clark on the range at The Open Championship, you probably did a double-take. That was, in fact, a coat hanger in his hands. And as odd as it looked, there was a purpose behind it.

In a press conference, Clark shared that Mondays are typically reserved for his technical work, and this week was no exception. Despite a T13 finish at the Genesis Scottish Open, Clark wasn’t satisfied with his ball striking during the final round. So, he arrived at Royal Birkdale — coat hanger in hand — and headed to the range to get things back on track.

While the coat hanger is a new development, the drill is actually tied to one of the key changes Clark made this past year with swing coach Pat Coyner, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher. Coyner explains that when they began working together, Clark’s lead wrist had become too extended — a subtle change that left the clubface open and much harder to control.

As a result, Clark had to make compensations to offset the open clubface and square it at impact. Those adjustments — intentional or not — created a number of ball-striking issues, including inconsistent start lines and a frustrating two-way miss.

The solution, Coyner says, wasn’t to reinvent Clark’s swing — it was to restore structure to his lead wrist. And the coat hanger, Clark says, is simply a tool that helps reinforce that feeling.

“The coat hanger is for wrist angle, trying to get a little more flexion in my left wrist so I can square the face more,” he says.

While the coat hanger certainly draws attention, it isn’t just for show, and we’ll see if it works out for Clark. 

Now, the focus shifts to whether those changes hold up under major championship pressure. We’ll get our first look Thursday afternoon when Clark tees off at 3:04 p.m. alongside Cameron Young and Ludvig Åberg.

When 39-year-old twins Lauren and Lisa Maiocco found out last May that only one of them was selected for the Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota, their mother, Janet Maiocco, worried it could create the sort of tiff that most siblings are all too familiar with.

“The thing that was hard is saying to her twin Lisa, you have to be happy for Lauren,” Janet Maiocco said. “Because they’re very, very close. You have to be happy for Lauren.”

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Instead, Lisa Maiocco brushed aside any potential envy and became a mentor for her twin sister. When Lauren found out she’d be running the 200-meter race instead of her usual 100-meter event, Lisa, a distance runner, helped Lauren train in the year leading up to the USA Games, which were held in Minnesota from June 20-26.

“I started helping Lauren run the 200 in the backyard, and then we would also run the 200 on the street by our house and stuff, and it was a good opportunity,” Lisa Maiocco said. “Lauren wanted to give up, and I said, ‘Lauren, never give up. You never give up on something that you love to do.’”

With her twin sister’s help, Lauren brought home the gold medal in the 200 meters in 52.63 seconds. Maiocco was joined at the USA Games by fellow Collier County resident Gabriella De Leon. The 29-year-old powerlifter won silver medals in all four of her events — squat, bench press, deadlift and the combination of all three lifts.

Lee County had two competitors at the Games as Adam Johnson and Whitney Spielman teamed up in pickleball and won silver medals for Team Florida.

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Lauren Maiocco said her gold-medal winning race was a tight finish, and she and her mother Janet weren’t sure what the result would be. Lisa Maiocco reminded her mother that, although her sister would go on to win gold, that winning wasn’t the point.

“Mom, regardless if she got second or whatever, she’s still a winner,” Lisa Maiocco recalled telling her mom on a phone call shortly after the race. “You can’t always get first place. You tried your best and you did your best. Then my sister calls me and is like ‘Guess what? I won first place.’ I was so excited for her. I couldn’t hold how I felt about it.”

While winning the gold was certainly rewarding, the Golden Gate resident most fondly remembered getting to spend time with the other Special Olympics athletes, trading pins and sharing a hug on the podium with the other participants.

“We’re in a different state, the one that got third and the one that got second. She gave me a hug and I gave the other one a hug, and so we grabbed each other’s hands and bowed like two times,” said Lauren Maiocco, who also competed in the 4×100-meter relay and placed fourth in the shot put. “I don’t want to leave any athlete out. I want to encourage them to be that strong person and get that medal.”

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For De Leon, the Special Olympics has been a part of her life as far back as high school. Gabriella’s mom, Cynthia De Leon, said getting to participate in Special Olympics events has brought her daughter true friendships and helped her grow as a person.

“She’s just blossomed. She’s matured. She’s made some really good friends, she has good relationships with her coaches and she’s always willing to help and try something new,” Cynthia De Leon said. “This opportunity that she was given to go to USA Games, it just really helped her too, not only with you know with the sport, but also her self esteem. It’s been amazing.”

Gabriella De Leon has been participating in powerlifting events for the past four years, and was selected for the USA Games powerlifting team last May. The Naples resident said training for the USA Games required a lot of focus and working with her coaches.

“I’ve been working so hard, and I’ve been going to the gym and eating healthy, like the healthy habits and then training with my coaches,” De Leon said.

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Like Maiocco, De Leon said her favorite part of participating in the games had less to do with the events and the medals, and more to do with the people she got to compete alongside.

“I meet new people and have fun,” De Leon said. “I want to be with my team … We went to go see other people from Team Florida competing and support other people about Team Florida.”

While spending time with teammates and fellow athletes was a major highlight, Maiocco and De Leon said they still have their sights set on competing at the 2030 USA Games in Cleveland.

“I guess I always thought, well, you know, she’s not going to be able to do it on her own, but the support she got, she was able to do everything independent and make choices that I didn’t think she was capable of,” Cynthia De Leon said. “It was just an amazing, amazing experience.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: SW Florida Special Olympians win medals at 2026 USA Games in Minnesota

“A football game – and that is all.”

These words were calmly uttered by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni soon after the 3-1 win over Switzerland in the World Cup quarter-finals.

It set up a mouthwatering semi-final against England, who won through after defeating Norway 2-1 in their quarter-final.

But images of violent confrontations – such as the ones that took place in Miami between Argentine and English supporters, alongside other videos capturing similar fights and Argentine players chanting “for Malvinas (the Falkland Islands) for Diego (Maradona), for Leo (Messi)’s last one!” – are telling a different story.

Scaloni’s statement was likely said to reduce the possibility of what should be a fair game between two talented teams ending up in an explosive display of masculine toxicity, which is the reason why security and policing in Atlanta has been enhanced ahead of the match.

The modern-day rivalry

Few rivalries in world sport carry as much weight off the pitch as Argentina vs England.

The upcoming semi-final between these two teams is a reminder of an open wound: the 1982 Falklands/Malvinas War.

This history transforms every match into something more than a game, and nowhere is this clearer than in the chants that fill the stands.

Take “El que no salta es un inglés” – “he who doesn’t jump is an Englishman”.

This famous Argentine chant suggests those who don’t support the team passionately aren’t real fans – and even worse, they are labelled English.

That same impulse shows up in the slang term “Ingla-perra”, a jab that fuses “Inglaterra” (England) with “perra” (bitch).

Crude as it is, it is similar to the jumping chant in that both turn soccer language into a vessel for grievances that have little to do with the sport itself.

The chants surge especially around flashpoint matches – Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” in 1986 chief among them – when sporting drama and national memory collided.

Maradona, the legandary Argentina player who became an iconic figure of patriotic heroism, later justified the illegal goal, stating: “For me, it was like stealing from a thief.”

Ironically, five Argentine players – including goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who said “it’s nice to play amongst mates” referring to members of the English team – play in England’s Premier League.

Since the 1986 clash, the teams have been involved in several other controversies, most notably when Argentina won a penalty shootout in the 1998 World Cup after David Beckham was controversially sent off for kicking Argentina’s Diego Simeone.

The rivalry began long ago

Even more complexity emerges when we look at the history of how soccer emerged in Argentina.

The roots of one Argentina’s greatest passions are to be found in the same country that is now their greatest rival: England.

Clubs in Argentina were founded by the British in the 19th century when railway engineers, investors, landowners and merchants established themselves in the country as a ruling elite. These settlers had such political and economic influence that historians view the Anglo-Argentine case as one example of what they call an “informal empire”.

The British invasions of the Río de la Plata (1806–07) and the Falkland Islands/Malvinas (1833) represent two contrasting episodes of the Anglo-Argentine relationship.

The former ended in military defeat and fuelled local independence movements, while the latter secured permanent British rule over the islands.

In this way, Argentina-England matches function as ritual as much as competition. The chants aren’t really about tactics or skill – they’re a language fans use to keep a historical conflict alive, one jump and one insult at a time.

When history, politics and sport collide

Sport and politics are always intertwined, especially at major events such as the World Cup.

External circumstances such as the United States bombing Iran (a participant in the World Cup), while hosting the event might not take away the joy this worldwide sport brings to billions of spectators, but such events create opportunities to reflect on why what happens off pitch cannot be ignored.

In his journal of his famous voyage aboard HMS Beagle, Charles Darwin lamented the fact Spain, and not the British empire, had colonised Argentina: “How different would have been the aspect of this river if the English colonists had by good fortune first sailed up the Plata! What noble towns would now have occupied its shores!”

Looking at a 1981 photograph of Maradona with Queen’s Freddy Mercury wearing a t-shirt with the British and Argentine flags respectively, one cannot help to recreate Darwin’s regret, reverting the terms in the context of the territorial dispute that has caused so much friction: “How different would have been the upcoming World Cup semi-final if the English hadn’t occupied the Falklands/Malvinas in 1833?”

Stirling Osland is aiming to secure his first Listed race victory with So You Are before the four-year-old gelding departs his Armidale training base.

The gelding has been placed in his last two starts behind Bjorn Baker’s Thebudgiesmugla, and Osland has confirmed that So You Are will soon be joining that horse in Sydney.

“He’s heading to Bjorn’s after this start for us,” Osland said.

“He’ll be in Sydney on Friday, have a couple of weeks let up, and then starting with Bjorn as a five-year-old there.

“He’s got to the stage now where he’s a genuine competitor in Group and Listed races every start, so he’s done as much as he can for us and just the travel – he spends 30 hours a month on a float.

“Between driving to Sydney and Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast so coming into spring carnival time, there’ll be a lot of options for a horse like him, we’d spoken to Stewie (Ramsey, owner) that Grafton would be the end of it.”

A win in Thursday’s Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) would be the ideal send-off for So You Are. Timeform considers him the most talented horse Osland has trained, highlighted by his second placing in the recent Caloundra Cup.

“He’s good as gold,” Osland enthused.

“He’s done a lot of travelling but he travels well and he’s come through it nicely.

“He’s probably going as well as ever, he’s always very consistent, through some good races behind a lot of good horses so I think Grafton looks a nice race for us.”

While Osland is content to avoid Thebudgiesmugla in the field, he pointed to the even-money favourite King Pedro as the main danger.

“The favourite won well in that Winter Cup last start but I think our form is probably more solid than his,” Osland stated.

“Probably us and Moods’ horse (Pounding), we were probably on par that day but he scratched.

“He’s drawn well in barrier two, he should get a nice run just behind the speed and I think we’re probably coming out of the stronger form line, he’s been in group or listed his past four starts.

“I think he’s well placed, this is a good finish point for him, to get a Listed winner at Grafton, we spend a lot of time racing there, it’d be nice to top it off.”

So You Are is currently listed at $7.50 for the $200,000 feature race on Thursday, which concludes the two-day carnival, headlined by the Ramornie Handicap on Wednesday.

Betting sites in Australia offer competitive odds for the Grafton Cup.

Sixty years after lifting their only FIFA World Cup title in 1966, England are once again within touching distance of football’s biggest prize. Under Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions have navigated a challenging path to reach the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, overcoming difficult opponents, dramatic knockout encounters and moments of adversity.

Strong start in Group L

England entered the tournament in Group L alongside Croatia, Ghana and Panama—a group considered one of the stronger sections due to the presence of Croatia.

The campaign began in emphatic fashion with a 4-2 victory over Croatia, giving Tuchel’s side early control of the group. However, a frustrating goalless draw against Ghana meant qualification remained in the balance heading into the final matchday.

England responded professionally, defeating Panama 2-0 to finish top of the group and secure a favourable route into the knockout rounds.

Group Stage Results

• 
  England 4-2 Croatia
• 
  England 0-0 Ghana
• 
  England 2-0 Panama

Harry Kane inspires comeback against Congo DR

England’s World Cup journey nearly came to an abrupt end in the Round of 32.

Congo DR stunned the Three Lions with an early opener through Brian Cipenga, while goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi produced a string of outstanding saves to frustrate England.

Azteca classic against Mexico

The Round of 16 produced one of the matches of the tournament as England faced co-host Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium.

Jude Bellingham gave England a commanding two-goal advantage before Julián Quiñones sparked hopes of a Mexican comeback. Defender Jarell Quansah was then sent off, leaving England to play with ten men.

Harry Kane restored the two-goal cushion from the penalty spot, but later conceded a penalty that Raúl Jiménez converted. Despite relentless pressure from the hosts, England held firm to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory and book a place in the quarterfinals.

Bellingham the hero against Norway

England’s toughest test yet came in Miami against a fearless Norway side led by Erling Haaland.

The Scandinavians took the lead through a stunning strike from Antonio Nusa before Jude Bellingham equalised just before half-time after weaving through the Norwegian defence. England pushed hard for a winner but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland, while Norway also threatened through Haaland and Alexander Sørloth.

A controversial England penalty awarded in extra time was overturned after a VAR review, but Bellingham stepped up once again in the 103rd minute. Reacting quickest after Morgan Rogers’ effort was saved, the midfielder tucked home the rebound to complete his brace and seal a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time victory.

Semifinal showdown against Argentina

England’s reward is a blockbuster semifinal against reigning champions Argentina.

Lionel Scaloni’s side has been forced to dig deep throughout the knockout rounds. They edged Cape Verde in the Round of 32 before staging a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down to beat Egypt 3-2 in the Round of 16.

The quarterfinal against Switzerland followed a similar pattern. Alexis Mac Allister’s early opener was cancelled out by Dan Ndoye before Breel Embolo’s red card shifted momentum. Even with a numerical advantage, Argentina needed extra time, where Julián Álvarez produced a sensational curling strike before Lautaro Martínez wrapped up a 3-1 victory.

With Lionel Messi leading the defending champions and England chasing their first World Cup final appearance since 1966, the semifinal in Atlanta promises to be one of the defining matches of the tournament.

One step away from the final

Should England overcome Argentina, they will face either France or Spain in the World Cup final.

Spain have impressed with their defensive solidity throughout the tournament, while France continue to rely on the brilliance of Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Regardless of the opponent, England knows only two matches now separate them from ending a 60-year wait for football’s greatest prize.

Moses Itauma has been offered a beeline towards world honours, but first he must take care of business against top 10 heavyweight Filip Hrgovic.

The pair will collide at London’s O2 Arena on August 29, with many expecting this to be the youngster’s toughest assignment thus far.

Hrgovic is, after all, an Olympic bronze medallist and consensus world-level contender, whose only defeat came against Daniel Dubois in June 2024.

Back then, the Croatian gave a terrific account of himself but was ultimately stopped in round eight after sustaining severe cuts over both his eyes.

Itauma is therefore set to encounter a genuine acid test next month, determining whether he is truly capable of swimming with sharks.

If he emerges victorious, though, then the 21-year-old will more than likely secure a world title shot, possibly against IBF mandatory challenger Frank Sanchez.

The pair have already been ordered to collide for Oleksandr Usyk’s old belt but, alternatively, Itauma could easily end up challenging WBA champion Murat Gassiev.

While he was supposed to face Tony Yoka last weekend, Gassiev instead defended his title against late replacement Peter Kadiru, who he handily defeated in six rounds.

Then, during the Russian’s post-fight interview, promoter Al Siesta began calling out several high-profile heavyweights, including Itauma, who was previously in early talks for a clash with the former unified cruiserweight champion.

“Daniel Dubois, Moses Itauma, Agit Kabayel … [Gassiev] is the guy. We’re coming for you very soon!”

As the WBA’s No.1 contender, Itauma could either face Gassiev or pursue a vacant IBF title shot against Sanchez, depending on which direction his team is leaning towards.

James Dean Fury has become the latest member of his fighting family to put pen to paper, signing a long-term promotional deal with Ben Shalom’s Boxxer.

The 20-year-old is a three-time national amateur champion and 2025 Box Cup winner, now looking to make a seismic splash in the professional code.

Trained by uncle Peter Fury, the talented super-middleweight prospect makes his pro debut next month, featuring on the undercard of Troy Williamson vs Callum Simpson 2.

This event, which takes place at Leeds’ First Direct Arena on August 8, will also mark Boxxer’s first show on DAZN.

In typical Fury fashion, James Dean comes with no shortage of confidence as he expects to not only become a world champion, but also take the 168lb division by storm.

“I’m very grateful for this opportunity. I’d like to thank my uncle Peter, Boxxer, Ben Shalom and [manager] Mick Hennessy for making this possible.

“My goal is to go all the way. I want to win world titles and become the best fighter I can be. I train hard, I’m dedicated and I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to reach the top.

“I’m excited to start this journey in Leeds on August 8 and put on a good performance for the fans. The super-middleweight division is full of great fighters, but I believe the best version of me is going to wipe everyone out.”

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As the cousin of two-time heavyweight champion Tyson, there will surely be a measure of pressure as the young Fury makes his debut in August.

Thankfully, though, his promising career is being guided by esteemed coach Peter, who comes off a remarkable performance in the corner of Rico Verhoeven in May.

In fact, the former kickboxing champion came tantalisingly close to pulling off a major upset against Oleksandr Usyk, who ultimately scored an 11th-round stoppage victory.

At the end of the 3rd Round of the 2026 NFL Draft, the Vikings opted for Caleb Tiernan out of Northwestern. The towering offensive tackle boasts excellent feet and was projected to go higher, suggesting Minnesota did well getting him at No. 97.

The Vikings evidently have some work to do when it comes to nailing down his precise position.

The criticism against Tiernan was that he had short arms. Sounds a touch silly, but the detail matters for an offensive tackle. Winning in the trenches is often a battle involving hands and feet. Mr. Tiernan moves well but are his arms long enough to get his paws onto the long-and-strong edge rushers flying off the line of scrimmage? That uncertainty lingers into training camp.

Vikings Evidently Need More Time with Caleb Tiernan

Admittedly, there’s some silliness in putting too much emphasis on the team website’s position list. The coaching staff, not the employee who adjusts the website, gets the final call on a player’s position. Still, though, the general “OL” tag is notable enough for Mr. Tiernan.

Check out where the nine-person draft class gets listed:

• Caleb Banks (1st Round) — Defensive Line
• Jake Golday (2nd Round) — Linebacker
• Domonique Orange (3rd Round) — Defensive Line
• Caleb Tiernan (3rd Round) — Offensive Line
• Jakobe Thomas (3rd Round) — Safety
• Max Bredeson (5th Round) — Fullback
• Chuck Demmings (5th Round) — Corner
• Demond Claiborne (6th Round) — Running Back
• Gavin Gerhardt (7th Round) — Center

Basically every player gets a specific position. The lone exceptions exist in the trenches. All of Banks, Orange, and Tiernan get general descriptors; Gerhardt stands out as the lonely lineman to get shoved into a specific spot.

So, is this just an instance of the large lads mostly being general? Possibly, but that doesn’t seem overly persuasive.

When it comes to the defensive line, every player is listed with a general “DL” descriptor. That’s true of Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and everybody else who is getting work alongside Ryan Nielsen.

The offensive line, in contrast, sees things get much more specific. Three centers are listed: Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, and Gerhardt. Four offensive tackles get listed: Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill, Ryan Van Demark, and Walter Rouse. And then there are a pile of guards.

Lingering alongside those players are the riddles that need to be solved. There are a trio of UDFA rookies with the “OL” tag: Tristan Leigh, Delby Lemieux, and Tomas Rimac. Standing alongside those unheralded rookies who are hustling to get onto the roster is Caleb Tiernan. He, too, is a young fella but arrives in the Twin Cities with much more optimism.

As of the middle of July, much is written in pencil. Players can still get shuffled around (think Golday being a LB who may get worked into OLB). Even the so-called certainty isn’t exactly that. Football is a dynamic, not static, sport.

What’s notable for Tiernan is that he entered the NFL with uncertainty and still has that uncertainty a couple of months into his career.

Even Banks and Orange have more clarity since public discussions from the coaching staff have involved comments on the expected plan. Banks, for instance, is being viewed as a jumbo defensive end, a 3T/5T who can use his unique blend of hulking size and smooth movement to generate matchup problems.

Caleb Tiernan is built like an offensive tackle as somebody who comes in at 6’7″ and 323 pounds (think Brian O’Neill but beefier). There aren’t too many guards who are so tall. Can he get low enough on the inside so as to not lose the leverage battle against the NFL’s powerful DTs? Or, perhaps, is the decision to stick at offensive tackle as he looks to prove capable of swatting away edge rushers?

Goodness, the answer could even be both as Tiernan looks to mimic Brandel’s tremendous versatility.

Vikings rookies get to training camp on Sunday, July 26th. Slowly, Caleb Tiernan will look to show where he can help the Vikings in 2026 and beyond.

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