South Africa coach Hugo Broos wants to appeal midfielder Themba Zwane’s three-match ban for a red card at the World Cup, citing Lionel Messi in his reasoning.

Zwane was given one of the three red cards in the opening game of the World Cup on Thursday, when Mexico beat South Africa 2-0.

Speaking Wednesday, Broos noted Messi avoided punishment for what appeared to be a foul in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria on Tuesday as evidence of what he believes was an unfair sanction by the FIFA disciplinary committee.

Zwane was sent off in the 84th minute in Mexico City for hitting Roberto Alvarado in the face. Standard punishment is a one-match suspension, but FIFA said Wednesday it had increased the sanction because it was deemed serious foul play. 

 

The suspension means Zwane would not be able to play again until the round of 16 if South Africa advances that far.

“I think the, the red card, is too severe. I saw back the situation where Themba got the red card. I don’t think it was a red card,” Broos said. “When I see what happened yesterday with Messi, then I don’t agree.” 
Slow motion replays showed Messi’s studs catch Algeria captain Aissa Mandi’s on the calf in Argentina’s win, but it went unpunished. Messi ended up scoring a hat trick in the match.

Zwane was sent off after his challenge went to a video review.

“I think there was not even a VAR with Messi,” Broos said. “I don’t want Messi to get a red card because that player has to be on the pitch and you, you saw yesterday what a wonderful player he is. But, yeah, what is the difference here?” 
South Africa plays the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday. A loss for either team would move them closer to elimination.

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala crosses paths with World No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16 of the Berlin Open on Thursday.

Match time is set for no earlier than 11:30 p.m. (Manila time).

It will be Eala’s second meeting with Rybakina this year after their clash in the Italian Open last month.

Eala, currently ranked No. 35 in the WTA rankings, lost to Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, 6-4, 6-3, on the clay courts of Rome.

This time, Eala and Rybakina will square off on grass, where the Filipin tennis star has enjoyed a strong run in recent weeks.

Eala opened her Berlin Open campaign with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Donna Vekic on Wednesday.

She also captured the WTA 125 Birmingham Open title earlier this month to kick off her grass-court season.

The Berlin Open marks another key stop in Eala’s preparations for Wimbledon, which runs from June 29 to July 12.

Devin Haney and Keyshawn Davis continue to be linked to a welterweight showdown, and three-division world champion Shane Mosley has now offered his prediction for the proposed bout.

Haney became the WBO welterweight world champion when he dethroned Brian Norman Jr back in November, whilst Davis called for a shot at Haney’s belt following a super-lightweight victory over Jamaine Ortiz in January.

Earlier this month, following another Davis win down at 140lbs, ‘The Businessman’ formally announced a move up to welterweight, and has since been installed as the WBO’s mandatory challenger.

Mosley told MillCity Boxing that he can envisage the champion losing his belt to Davis.

“I think that is going to be a really good fight too because if Keyshawn does what Ryan [Garcia] did and can jump on him, Keyshawn has got that power and stuff. Yeah, he might get things in, but he has got to be watch out though, Keyshawn can’t just think that he can run in there and do whatever because there is going to be a receipt to that.

“Devin does have a little pop; he has got a little speed and a little pop, but he doesn’t like to get hit so if you can make it uncomfortable for him, then you can go in there and rough him up and beat him. 

“I like Keyshawn Davis, I like him to probably edge it out and to do what he do, but he has got to keep that chin tucked and he has got to be careful.

“He can’t go in there and think that Devin doesn’t hit hard and that he is going to run. You can’t go in there with an attitude, he is a real threat.”

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Mosley then went on to share his frustration at the time taken for Haney to defend his belt, telling him, as well as Davis and Shakur Stevenson, that they need to fight one another as soon as possible.

“Keyshawn, Devin and Shakur, they all need to fight and fight now!”

The WBO have contaced the teams of both Haney and Davis to notify them that Haney’s mandatory title defence is due in August, with Haney set to be stripped of his world title if he refuses to take on the Norfolk contender.

Ghana secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Panama thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Caleb Yirenkyi, denying the Central Americans what would have been a precious World Cup point. The Black Stars were frustrated for long spells by a disciplined and well-organised Panama side, who kept their shape and limited clear chances throughout.

The match had long looked set to end in a goalless draw, with Ghana dominating possession but struggling to find a way through a compact defence. Panama, for their part, defended resolutely and threatened sporadically on the counter-attack, keeping Lawrence Ati Zigi alert on a handful of occasions.

Just as both sides appeared to be settling for a point, Yirenkyi struck deep into stoppage time to settle a tight and hard-fought contest. The late goal broke Panama’s resistance and ensured Ghana made a winning start to their campaign.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Mar 21, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Iva Jovic (USA) hits a backhand against Paula Badosa (ESP)(not pictured) on day five of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Spain’s Paula Badosa, the 142nd-ranked player in the world, shocked No. 5 seed Coco Gauff 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday to advance to the Berlin Tennis Open quarterfinals.

Gauff, the world’s No. 7 player, owned a 12-4 advantage in aces, but Badosa went 4-for-5 on break points in the last two sets while Gauff converted just 1 of 2. Badosa, who was ranked as high as No. 2 in 2022, is 5-3 all-time vs. Gauff.

Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus and No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula moved into the quarterfinals of this WTA 500 event with straight-set wins. Sabalenka handled Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 6-4 while Pegula took care of Czechia’s Katerina Siniakova 6-2, 6-4.

Unseeded Czech Nikola Bartunkova earned a quarterfinal matchup with Sabalenka by knocking off Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-4. The Phillippines’ Alexandra Eala claimed a 7-5, 6-4 first-round victory over Croatia’s Donna Vekic.

Lexus Nottingham Open

Third-seeded Emma Navarro needed two hours and 59 minutes to defeat Ukraine’s Yuliia Starodubtseva 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-4 and claim a quarterfinal spot in the WTA 250 event in Nottingham, United Kingdom.

Navarro will face Spain’s Jessica Bouzos Maneiro in the quarterfinals as Bouzos Maneiro led Katie Volynets 7-5, 1-0 when Volynets had to retire. Navarro suffered a 6-1, 6-0 loss to Bouzos Maneiro in the French Open’s first round in 2025.

Germany’s Tatjana Maria defeated Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska 6-1, 6-2 while Australia’s Talia Gibson outlasted China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 7-6 (10).

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–Field Level Media

If Bukayo Saka features against Croatia on Wednesday, he will win his 50th Three Lions cap at the age of 24 years and 285 days. He would become just the fourth England men’s player to reach the landmark before turning 25, as per England Football stats.

Saka would join Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling as the only England players to earn 50 caps before their 25th birthday. Only Rooney, Owen and Sterling reached the milestone at a younger age.

Portugal failed to break down a courageous and well-organised DR Congo on Wednesday despite overwhelming dominance.

The Seleçao made a blistering start in Houston, with João Neves rising highest from a lofted pass by Pedro Neto in the sixth minute to head past goalkeeper Mpasi Nzau. Portugal, led by a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo, controlled possession from the outset and imposed a suffocating midfield fuelled by PSG talent that dictated play.

Their approach was tactical: they constantly ran the Congolese defenders ragged, using their technical superiority to create space and tire opponents in preparation for late opportunities. The Portuguese dominated with about 75% possession, displaying some of the tournament’s most flowing football.

Watch moreWorld Cup 2026: France and Kylian Mbappé off to flying start

DR Congo showed early promise when Wissa sent a header inches wide of the left post in the 11th minute after receiving a pinpoint cross, and Bakambu’s mid-range strike was blocked by the Portuguese defence moments later. But Portugal’s grip on the game was suffocating as the team played with an aesthetic quality that set them apart from the competition.

Les Léopards’ vulnerabilities lay in their transition play. Their passes rarely reached the attacking duo with rhythm or incisiveness. Bakambu and Wissa found themselves under constant pressure from Portugal’s defensive lines, which compressed space and neutralised their threat. Yet the African underdogs remained dangerous, and Wissa broke Portuguese resistance with a magnificent header in the 45th minute of added time.

Chances squandered in closing stages

Portugal’s second-half adjustments saw Francisco Conceição replace Bernardo Silva at half-time, followed by the introductions of Rafael Leão for Pedro Neto and Nelson Semedo for Nuno Mendes in the 72nd minute. Mendes had picked up a knock in the 59th minute.

Ronaldo squandered a golden opportunity in the 69th minute when his shot crept just past the right post after controlling a pass inside the box in a moment that could have changed the match. A VAR review denied Cancelo a goal for offside in the 55th minute. In the 74th minute, Ronaldo received a sweet pass, but his effort was blocked by the Congolese defence. 

Watch moreMessi becomes joint World Cup all-time scorer with hat trick against Algeria

In the closing stages, Portugal desperately pressed for a winner. Bruno Fernandes came agonisingly close in the 90+1st minute, finding himself unmarked at the edge of the box after receiving a cross, but his attempt sailed just wide of the right post. 

The draw leaves both teams with work to do. Both sides now face challenges in a competitive Group K that also includes Colombia and Uzbekistan. 

While refusing to overlook Lyndon Arthur, Lewis Edmondson is nonetheless eager to collide with Joshua Buatsi later this year, believing he can cause the Londoner “big trouble”.

First on the agenda, though, is his light-heavyweight clash with Arthur, which takes place at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton, on June 20.

Edmondson was supposed to face domestic rival Ezra Taylor in October, only for a hip injury to keep him out of the ring since last July, back when he lost a majority decision to Daniel Lapin.

Having now recovered from his setback, the 30-year-old admits he was initially gutted not to face Taylor, but tells Boxing News that the rest and recuperation has done him a world of good.

“Yeah, it was gutting. I did the camp, lost a lot of money through flying sparring partners over, and there was a lot of heat on that fight as well. But it’s boxing – these things happen.

“I don’t think there’s a fighter out there that’s not had injuries. But now, I’ve had a long time to fully recover and am back sparring, performing really well in the gym.”

As mentioned, Edmondson will lock horns with Arthur, a former European champion, on the undercard of Ryan Garner vs Michael Magnesi.

With a home advantage and no small amount of tricks up his sleeve, ‘The Saint’ firmly believes he has the beating of Arthur, who comes off a majority decision victory over Brad Rea in November.

“This is the fight we wanted, this is the fight that we pushed for, and this is the fight that’s happening.

“I believe I’ve got the best team behind me and that we can beat anyone who’s put in front of us. We know this [fight] will skyrocket us towards the world scene.

“He’s a good fighter who’s been in with [Dmitry] Bivol and [Anthony] Yarde, but I wonder how much he’ll be up for this.

“There’s a way to beat any fighter, and we believe we’ve put together the right gameplan [to beat Arthur].”

Should he defeat Arthur, which is no foregone conclusion, then Edmondson will be angling for a showdown with Queensberry Promotions stablemate Buatsi.

Despite coming off a debatable points victory over Zach Parker in November, Buatsi is still regarded by many as a top 10 light-heavyweight, especially given his gallant effort against Callum Smith in February 2025.

According to Edmondson, however, the 33-year-old has now reached a stage where he is there for the taking.

“If we come through [Arthur], we want Joshua Buatsi. I know I’ll cause him big, big trouble. He’s a well-respected fighter, a big name, but I know I’ve got the style to beat him.

“Zach Parker should have got the decision. I think that Callum Smith fight took a lot out of him, and I think Zach Parker was the wrong style for him.”

Having identified several chinks in Buatsi’s armour, perhaps Edmondson will eventually be given the opportunity to expose them.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has a quarterback competition waiting in August, pitted against Kyler Murray at training camp, but according to CBS Sports, that won’t really matter because he’s destined to end up as a draft “bust.”

Tyler Sullivan sized up eight players flirting with the dreaded label last week, and McCarthy got the nod.

Vikings QB Competition Now Carries a Sharper Edge

CBS Sports: McCarthy Will Bust

On his list, which included Michael Penix Jr., Marvin Harrison Jr., and others, McCarthy could not escape the feared bust label.

Sullivan explained, “The decision to go with McCarthy over Sam Darnold — who won 14 games for the club in 2024 — blew up in the Vikings’ face. They missed the playoffs with McCarthy ranking as arguably the worst starter in the NFL, while Darnold went on to win a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.”

“After McCarthy ranked last among qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage, TD-INT ratio and passer rating, Minnesota brought in veteran Kyler Murray this offseason to compete for the job. Why he will bust: The Vikings brought in legitimate competition in Murray this offseason, and the veteran appears to have the inside track to winning the job.”

McCarthy began the 2025 campaign — his first as a starter — with wild inconsistency and a barrage of injuries, before becoming the NFL’s sixth-best quarterback per EPA+CPE from Weeks 14 to 18.

“With Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the general manager who selected McCarthy, fired earlier this offseason, arguably McCarthy’s biggest supporter is no longer in the building. Our prediction: Will bust,” Sullivan concluded.

Vikings Fans’ Worst Nightmare

When the Vikings embarked on the 2023 season, most knew that Kirk Cousins, now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders, was on borrowed time and wouldn’t remain with the franchise much longer. That forecast turned out to be true, especially after Cousins tore his Achilles in October 2023. So, all eyes shifted to the future at quarterback for Minnesota, eyeing a deep 2024 rookie quarterback class.

The one thing that could not happen was a swing and a miss, as Minnesota has not nailed down the QB1 spot for the long term with an organically drafted signal-caller since Daunte Culpepper — 25 years ago. Fans debated whether Minnesota should trade up for Drake Maye that draft, roll with the aforementioned Penix Jr., or capitalize on McCarthy’s post-NCAA Championship flair.

The Vikings chose McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in April 2024, ushering in a new era. Four months later, he tore his meniscus, ending his rookie season and setting a foreboding tone for his future.

And here we are, 26 months later, with outlets like CBS Sports calling him a bust. What Vikings fans dreaded the most could be unfolding in real time.

2026 as a Pivotal Year

Of course, Sullivan’s forecast is merely a prediction. McCarthy could redefine his career with the snap of two fingers, either by defeating Murray this summer in Minnesota’s much-anticipated quarterback battle. He could also assume the QB1 job if Murray gets injured during the regular season, which indeed happens somewhat frequently to Murray.

The 2026 season is an all-telling slate of 17 games to determine McCarthy’s future in Minnesota. If Murray seizes the QB1 job for the long haul, there won’t be many growth opportunities for McCarthy as a Viking in the long run. Suppose McCarthy takes over and balls out. He can just keep the top job in Minnesota, while Murray sets sail on a journeyman’s path around the league.

By February 2027, Vikings faithful will know if McCarthy is “the guy” or a trade asset.

Bust Label Too Early after Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield Examples

One might think that the NFL-themed sites would’ve learned its lesson by now. From 2019 through 2023, Sam Darnold was emphatically considered a bust. In 2022, after the Carolina Panthers expelled Baker Mayfield, his career had a similar trajectory.

Heading into 2026, both are considered Top 15 quarterbacks in the NFL, a statement that would’ve felt laughable in the summer of 2023, for example.

McCarthy could flame out of Minnesota, but folks won’t know his true “bust” outcome until 2029 or so. Unless he’s a Josh Rosen-style bust, a team or two will be willing to give McCarthy more chances if he bounces out of Minnesota.

The former Michigan Wolverine also has youth on his side. He turned 23 in January, and it’s next to impossible to know a quarterback’s full talent at that young age. Age-27 McCarthy could be a vastly different player than age-22 McCarthy.

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England and Croatia open Group L of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a fixture carrying far more significance than a typical group-stage encounter. The clash reunites two nations whose recent World Cup histories have become closely intertwined, most notably through Croatia’s unforgettable extra-time victory in the 2018 semi-finals, a result that propelled the Balkan nation into its first World Cup final while extending England’s wait for a return to football’s biggest stage.

England arrive in the United States carrying substantial expectations. The 1966 world champions are making their 17th World Cup appearance and eighth consecutive qualification, having established themselves as one of the most consistent international sides of the past decade. Under new manager Thomas Tuchel, England became the first European nation to secure qualification for the 2026 tournament, winning all six matches in a group featuring Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra while conceding no goals. The former Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain manager inherited a squad already rich with talent and has largely maintained the core that successfully navigated qualification.

Captain Harry Kane remains the focal point of England’s attack and is expected to start after another prolific season with Bayern Munich. Around him, Tuchel can call upon an enviable collection of attacking talent, including Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Morgan Rogers and Declan Rice. England’s strength in depth has created selection dilemmas rather than injury concerns, reinforcing their status among the favourites to lift the trophy and end a 60-year wait for World Cup glory.

Croatia arrive with a different profile but an equally impressive tournament pedigree. Despite a population of less than four million, they have reached the World Cup final in 2018 and secured third place in 2022, establishing themselves as one of international football’s most resilient tournament teams. Zlatko Dalić, now approaching a decade in charge, guided Croatia through qualifying without defeat, recording seven wins and one draw while scoring 26 goals. Their attacking output included a 7-0 victory over Gibraltar and a 5-1 win over Czechia, with Andrej Kramarić finishing as the team’s leading scorer during qualification.

The enduring presence of 40-year-old Luka Modrić continues to define Croatia’s identity. The veteran midfielder enters his fifth World Cup with 19 tournament appearances already to his name, while experienced figures such as Ivan Perišić, Joško Gvardiol, Mateo Kovačić and Josip Stanišić provide a blend of leadership and quality around a newer generation featuring Martin Baturina and Petar Sučić.

With Ghana and Panama also competing in Group L, both England and Croatia recognise the value of beginning their campaign with three points. For England, victory would reinforce their credentials as genuine contenders. For Croatia, another positive result against elite opposition would further strengthen a remarkable World Cup legacy that continues to exceed expectations.