Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray throws a pass to wide receiver Dillon Bell during minicamp practice in Eagan. Murray connected with Bell in June 2026 as Minnesota continued offseason workouts and evaluated new offensive combinations, with the rookie receiver receiving opportunities alongside the veteran quarterback during drills at the TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Whether a player’s June rise to prominence translates to the regular season and beyond is never an exact science, but early indications from minicamp are that undrafted wide receiver Dillon Bell could be the real deal.
Minnesota pounced on Bell, a Georgia alumnus, after the 2026 NFL Draft, and this week, ESPN claimed he was the Vikings’ main surprise from minicamp, a sweet development for an unsung playmaker.
Vikings’ WR5 Battle Has a New Name
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Dillon Bell appears in team-produced content after joining the club as an undrafted free agent. The rookie continued offseason workouts while competing for a roster opportunity and preparing for training camp in Minnesota. June 8, 2026. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
ESPN: Bell Turned Heads
ESPN identified one surprise player from every team’s minicamp, with Bell getting the nod in Minnesota.
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Kevin Seifert explained, “It can be difficult to gauge receiver skill sets in spring practices, when NFL rules prohibit physical coverage techniques. But it was eye-opening to see Bell — an undrafted rookie from Georgia — working extensively with the second team during drills.”
“That placement spoke volumes about his initial impression with Vikings coaches, who in essence were putting him in the (early) mix to be the No. 4 receiver behind Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.”
Fans have been high on Bell for about two months, and now the proof appears to be in the pudding.
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Stealing a Roster Spot from Tai Felton or Myles Price?
These are the Vikings’ wide receivers as of mid-June:
WR1: Justin Jefferson WR2: Jordan Addison WR3: Jauan Jennings WR4: Tai Felton WR5: Myles Price WR6: Jeshaun Jones WR7: Dontae Fleming WR8: Dillon Bell WR9: Luke Wysong WR10: Marcus Sanders WR11: Terrill Davis WR12: Michael Briscoe WR13: Trayvon Rudolph
Jefferson, Addison, and Jennings are obviously guaranteed roster spots. After that, nothing is certain.
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Minnesota probably won’t cut Felton loose this summer; he was a 3rd-Rounder last year but hardly played as a rookie. The current general manager, Nolan Teasley, did not draft Felton, so it would not be totally unheard of for Minnesota to cut ties. Stay tuned.
Price instantly earned the Vikings’ return jobs, manning punt and kick duty as a rookie. He, too, will likely make the active roster in 2026, but it’s important to remember that he offered absolutely nothing on offense last season.
Therefore, for the Bell steam to continue all the way to a regular season roster spot, the Vikings must keep six wide receivers — or drop Felton or Price.
Vikings Need a “Gadget” Guy
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It’s been a very long time since Minnesota had a toolsy wide receiver who could take hand-offs and be deployed in a gadget capacity. The last guy was arguably Cordarrelle Patterson, and even he didn’t get used as a gadget until leaving Minnesota.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell catches a touchdown pass during the SEC Championship Game against Alabama at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Bell played an important offensive role for Georgia and delivered one of the game’s scoring plays against the Crimson Tide. Dec. 6, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.
Percy Harvin comes to mind, too, and he hasn’t played for the Vikings in 13 years.
If Bell can parley the early summer momentum into a September roster spot, Minnesota will welcome a wide receiver out of the norm — a guy who can do a little bit of everything on offense.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted a couple of weeks ago, “Early in his career, he shared an offense with Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. Last season, Zachariah Branch dominated target share for Georgia. During Bell’s career, the Bulldogs went 53-6 and were frequently in game scripts that didn’t require heavy pass rates. Bell was also never a full-time player, seeing between 400-600 offensive snaps per season. It’s possible he could’ve put up much bigger numbers on a different team, in a different kind of offensive role.”
“Steve Smith Sr., the 16-year NFL receiver who is now an analyst, was a big fan of Bell’s throughout the pre-draft process. Smith believes Bell has real NFL upside and wasn’t able to show off his full abilities at Georgia while running a limited route tree in a run-heavy offense. Smith has also criticized Georgia QB Gunner Stockton, even though he finished seventh in Heisman voting last year.”
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Circle Him for Training Camp, Preseason
Next for Bell are training camp and the preseason. The NFL, Vikings included, always has stories in June about men who stand out, unknown to the masses. Then July and August roll around, with those players not really moving the needle.
Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Dillon Bell stands on the field before a home game against Charlotte at Sanford Stadium in Athens. The versatile offensive weapon entered the contest after another productive season and remained an important contributor within Georgia’s offense. Nov. 22, 2025. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.
Bell must continue his minicamp momentum into training camp and the three preseason games. The ultimate verdict will be roster cutdown day in August. Sometimes, players who perform wonderfully in the preseason don’t even make it to the regular season. See: OLB Gabriel Murphy last summer, who remains unemployed.
Bell’s hype will continue, but the most important step for him is making the 53-man roster. If he does not, the practice squad feels like a natural landing spot, and the Bell curiosity would transfer to the summer of 2027.
On the whole, his name keeps popping up. It’s an impressive start for the UDFA.
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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Elliot Anderson finally looks set to join Manchester City after an agreement was reached for the Nottingham Forest midfielder
22:07, 25 Jun 2026Updated 23:06, 25 Jun 2026
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Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest to sign Elliot Anderson.
The England midfielder has been City’s priority addition since the season ended with several offers beyond into the triple-figures launched. The latest of those is reported to be a staggering £116million with Forest finally accepting those terms.
While an agreement has been struck on a fee, it is claimed that Anderson still needs to finalise personal terms, but is expected to undergo a medical in New York on Friday.
The signing of Anderson is quite the coup for City in their post-Pep Guardiola era with his former assistant Enzo Maresca set to take over.
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Manchester United were also interested in signing the 23-year-old but quickly moved onto other targets upon learning of his lofty asking price.
A mini-rebuild is expected at Etihad Stadium this summer with stalwarts Bernardo Silva and John Stones departing. Joskvo Gvardiol and Rodri have also been linked with departures.
With a deal for Anderson sealed, City may well intensity their efforts for Sandro Tonali with the Newcastle United midfielder also on their radar.
Tottenham are currently attempting to sign the Italian but their two reported offers are yet to meet his £100m asking price.
Arsenal have also been linked with the former AC Milan star but now appear more focused on his club team-mate Bruno Guimaraes.
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Both London clubs have also identified Mateus Fernandes as a target with the West Ham star the midfielder Man United switched focus onto after it became clear that Anderson would likely be heading to City.
The former Newcastle ace has started both of England’s World Cup group games with Thomas Tuchel confirming ahead of the tournament he would not stop his players sealing transfers while in camp.
1 min read Last Updated : Jun 26 2026 | 7:13 AM IST
Gonzalo Plata poked the ball past Manuel Neuer in the 77th minute, and Ecuador advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup by rallying for a 2-1 win over Germany on Thursday.
Germany, which clinched first place in Group E with victories in its first two games, went ahead on Leroy Sane’s second-minute goal. Nilson Angulo scored Ecuador’s first goal of the tournament in the ninth minute.
Plata scored after a corner kick was nodded on by Kevin Rodriguez. Neuer, the 40-year-old Germany goalkeeper who came out of international retirement for the World Cup, was about the grasp the ball when Plata raised his left foot and with a toe put the ball into the net.
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Ecuador finished third in the group with four points and advanced past the group stage for the second time, the first since a round of 16 game in 2002.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ecuador produced a stunning comeback to beat Germany 2-1 and book their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The South Americans had failed to score in their opening two Group E matches, drawing with Curaçao and losing to Ivory Coast. But they saved their best performance for last as they came from behind to defeat the group winners in New Jersey.
Germany took the lead after just two minutes when Leroy Sane finished calmly after a clever pass from Florian Wirtz.
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Ecuador were unhappy with the goal, believing Pedro Vite had been fouled by Aleksandar Pavlovic moments earlier. However, the referee allowed the goal to stand.
The decision appeared to inspire Ecuador, who equalised seven minutes later. Sunderland winger Nilson Angulo fired a low shot past veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to make it 1-1.
Ecuador continued to attack after the break and got the winning goal in the 77th minute. Gonzalo Plata reacted quickest from a corner to beat Neuer and spark wild celebrations among the Ecuador fans.
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Angulo was one of Ecuador’s standout players and was named Man of the Match after causing Germany problems throughout the game.
Germany, who had already secured qualification before kick-off, looked below their best and could not find a way back into the match.
The victory gives Ecuador a place in the Round of 32, where they could face England if results in the other groups go their way.
The result also dealt a blow to Scotland’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams.
Turkiye vs USA LIVE Score, FIFA World Cup 2026 Updates: With qualification already secured and top spot in Group D guaranteed, the United States can approach its final group-stage match against Turkey with freedom and flexibility. Back-to-back wins over Paraguay and Australia have ensured Mauricio Pochettino’s side will enter the Round of 32 as group winners, making this fixture at Los Angeles Stadium largely a chance to manage resources ahead of the knockout phase.
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Gen Z journalist Eli Thompson and recovered gambling addict LJ Ruggiero raise alarm about the rapid increase in sports betting addiction, particularly among young men. They highlight the prevalence of online gambling apps, the deceptive nature of small bets escalating into significant losses and the impact of gambling addiction compared to substance abuse, urging early intervention.
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The rise of legalized sports betting has led to a rise of online abuse that athletes have had to deal with while trying to perform on a daily basis in their respective sports.
Fanatics Sportsbook, which has become the fastest-growing sportsbook in the United States, is trying to combat that social media abuse with a groundbreaking partnership announced on Thursday.
Fanatics Sportsbook has partnered with Integrity Compliance 360, Inc. (IC360) and Signify Group to establish the Bad Actor Program, designed to tame online hostility toward athletes, which is ever-increasing across social platforms.
A team member stands inside the Fanatics Sportsbook at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sept. 14, 2025.(Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
This important step in safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in legalized sports betting will begin at the start of football season in the U.S., which comes at the start of college football in late August.
IC360 will collaborate with Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service to monitor for targeted abusive and threatening content across multiple social platforms. If problematic abuse and threats toward athletes, organizations and teams are detected, those individuals behind the accounts will be placed into IC360’s ProhiBet Bad Actor program.
It’s a similar platform as IC360’s ProhiBet, which helps restrict wagering by athletes, coaches and trainers. The Bad Actor program will provide sportsbooks with the ability to restrict wagering by those who are threatening athletes and coaches.
“This groundbreaking program will hold bettors accountable for threats made against players, coaches, and officials,” Matt King, CEO of Fanatics Betting and Gaming, said in a statement. “It falls in line with our core values at Fanatics — respect and tolerance for the athletes and coaches that play the games that we love. We encourage other operators to join the initiative because there is no sports betting potential loss that should embolden a sports betting customer to threaten or harass an athlete online.”
Also, as part of Threat Matrix’s monitoring of global sports competitions, athletes and officials will be encouraged to report abusive direct messages to expedite the process. Once submitted, Signify will analyze reports, assess the severity of the messages and escalate serious cases to its in-house specialists for detailed investigation. And if behavior crosses to a criminal threshold, the proper law enforcement agencies will be contacted.
Fanatics Sportsbook will also be suspending or permanently terminating a customer’s account if it is determine they have engaged in abusive, threatening, defamatory or harassing conduct of any kind toward sports officials, players or coaches. As the sportsbook enforces a zero-tolerance policy for bettors who engage in threatening conduct, the Bad Actor program only escalates that key pillar of the company.
The Fanatics Sportsbook app is displayed on a smartphone in New Hyde Park, N.Y., on Sept. 17, 2025.(Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“Threats of violence and harassment in sports at arenas and on social media are increasing at an alarming rate, undermining the integrity of the sports betting industry,” Scott Sadin, co-CEO of IC360, said in a statement. “Addressing the individuals with ProhiBet Bad and Threat Matrix is crucial to protecting athletes and other stakeholders from serious, long-term harm.”
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Too many times athletes have come forward, sharing their direct messages where sports bettors have sent threats, used vulgar language and much more. Arthur Bouquier, who was the No. 219-ranked men’s tennis player in the world at the time, revealed a scary message he received in 2025, where a bettor who lost his wager, “I will come after you.”
“French tennis is so mediocre right now that French players stick to playing at home to avoid embarrassment abroad,” the message to Bouquier read. “Let me remind you that you don’t achieve much when you leave France – it shows the limits of your tennis game.
“I swear, if you lose, I will never forgive you. I will track you and your family down just to hurt you, even if it means going to prison. Might as well, because if I lose these 2000 euros, I’ll be on the streets, so my life won’t make sense anymore – I might as well spend my days in prison.”
The Fanatics Sportsbook logo appears on a smartphone in New Hyde Park, N.Y., on Sept. 17, 2025.(Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Fanatics Sportsbook hopes the Bad Actor program helps deter and punish abusive online offenders, while showing those involved in the sports world that they can identify those who cross the line and deal with them accordingly.
As King said, Fanatics Sportsbook hopes the rest of the sports betting world follows suit to maintain the integrity of an industry that continues to evolve.
Two-division world champion Jermall Charlo is set to return to action in Australia next month. Should he be victorious, there is one reigning champion that the Texan is hoping to take on.
Charlo claimed world honours at both super-welterweight and middleweight but after almost three years without defending his WBC 160lb crown, the undefeated Charlo was stripped of his belt in May 2024.
Resendiz was then elevated to WBA super-middleweight world champion, but he lost the belt in an attempted first defence against Jaime Munguia last month.
Speaking with FightHype, 36-year-old Charlo confirmed that he is still pursuing that strap, targeting a shot at Munguia’s title in 2027.
“Let’s get done with this fight in July and then I will try to fight before the end of the year to give you [fans] another fight.
“Then I want to go and fight Munguia, Munguia sounds like a good fight.”
Charlo first makes his comeback on the Errol Spence vs. Tim Tszyu card in Sydney on Saturday, July 26, facing off with Australian super-welterweight champion Koen Mazoudier in the co-main event.
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Fellow American two-division ruler Stephen Fulton is also scheduled to appear on that ‘Australia vs. USA’ card, tasked with former super-featherweight world title challenger Liam Wilson.
Anthony Elanga scores a brilliant curling effort from the edge of the area to draw Sweden level with Japan in their FIFA World Cup Group F match at Dallas Stadium.
The final round of group-stage fixtures continues at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 26, with qualification scenarios becoming clearer across Groups E, F and D.
While some teams have already secured their place in the Round of 32, others are still fighting to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Germany enter the day as Group E winners, the United States have already wrapped up top spot in Group D, while Group F remains one of the most competitive groups in the tournament with three teams still chasing automatic qualification.
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FIFA World Cup June 26 matches
Time (IST)
Match
Group
01:30:00
Curaçao vs Ivory Coast
Group E
01:30:00
Ecuador vs Germany
Group E
04:30:00
Tunisia vs Netherlands
Group F
04:30:00
Japan vs Sweden
Group F
07:30:00
Türkiye vs USA
Group D
07:30:00
Paraguay vs Australia
Group D
Ivory Coast And Curaçao Battle For Second Spot
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Germany have already secured top spot in Group E after winning their opening two matches, leaving the battle for the second qualification berth wide open.
Ivory Coast currently hold the advantage and know that avoiding defeat against Curaçao should be enough to progress. Ecuador remain alive but need a positive result against Germany and help from elsewhere.
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Curaçao have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament and still have a realistic chance of reaching the knockout rounds.
Group E Scenario
Germany have already won the group.
Ivory Coast qualify with a win or draw.
Curaçao qualify with a win over Ivory Coast.
Ecuador need a win and favourable results elsewhere to remain in contention.
Key Match
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Curaçao vs Ivory Coast
This is effectively a knockout game. A victory would send Curaçao into the Round of 32 for the first time, while Ivory Coast only need to avoid defeat to secure qualification.
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Group F: The Tightest Group Heads For A Dramatic Finish
Group F remains one of the most unpredictable groups in the competition.
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The Netherlands, Japan and Sweden all remain firmly in the race for the two automatic qualification spots. With only one match remaining, every goal could prove decisive.
The Dutch currently occupy a strong position but are yet to guarantee progression. Japan have impressed throughout the tournament, while Sweden remain capable of overtaking both rivals with a final-day victory. Tunisia have already been eliminated and will be playing only for pride.
Group F Scenario
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Netherlands qualify with a win or draw.
Netherlands win the group with a win and a Japan draw or loss.
Japan qualify with a win or draw.
Japan win the group with a win and a Netherlands draw or loss.
Sweden qualify with a victory.
Tunisia have been eliminated.
Japan vs Sweden
This could effectively decide one of the automatic qualification spots. Sweden need victory, while Japan know that even a draw could be enough to secure a place in the knockout stage.
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USA Already Through, Australia And Paraguay Fight For Survival
The United States have already secured top spot in Group D after winning their first two matches and are guaranteed a Round of 32 fixture in Santa Clara. That leaves Australia and Paraguay battling for second place.
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Australia enter the final matchday in the stronger position and need only avoid defeat against Paraguay to progress. Paraguay, meanwhile, face a straightforward task: win and they advance. Türkiye have already been eliminated after two defeats.
Group D Scenario
USA have already won the group.
Australia qualify with a win or draw.
Paraguay qualify with a win.
Paraguay could still qualify with a draw depending on third-place rankings, but it is not guaranteed.
Türkiye have been eliminated.
Paraguay vs Australia
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The stakes could not be clearer. Australia only need a point, while Paraguay must push for victory to keep qualification in their own hands.
FIFA World Cup 2026: June 26 Matches Live Streaming and Telecast Details
Which two teams will feature in the first game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 26?
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Curaçao and Ivory Coast will kick-start the June 26 action of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at 1:30 am IST in a crucial Group E encounter.
Which two teams will feature in the second game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 26?
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Ecuador will face Germany in the other Group E fixture, also scheduled to begin at 1:30 am IST.
Which two teams will feature in the third game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 26?
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Tunisia will take on the Netherlands in a Group F clash scheduled to start at 4:30 am IST.
Which two teams will feature in the fourth game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 26?
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Japan and Sweden will lock horns in the second Group F fixture at 4:30 am IST.
Which two teams will feature in the fifth game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 26?
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Türkiye will meet the United States in a Group D encounter beginning at 7:30 am IST.
Which two teams will feature in the sixth game of FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 26?
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Paraguay and Australia will square off in the other Group D fixture, also starting at 7:30 am IST.
Where to watch the live broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 June 26 matches in India?
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The broadcast of the June 26 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on Unite8 Sports 1, Unite8 Sports 1 HD, Unite8 Sports 2 and Unite8 Sports 2 HD TV channels for fans in India.
Where to watch the live streaming of the FIFA World Cup 2026 June 26 matches in India?
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The live streaming of the June 26 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be available on the ZEE5 app and website for viewers in India.
Ecuador’s World Cup qualification campaign began with a three-point deduction slapped on them back in 2022 for fielding Colombia-born Byron Castillo, who Chile claimed was ineligible to play the qualifiers for the World Cup in Qatar.
They began the 2026 qualifiers under Felix Sanchez, who guided them to three wins from six matches before the former Qatar boss was dismissed in July 2024, straight after a Copa America quarter-final defeat by Argentina.
“They lost the shootout, and Sanchez was sacked in the dressing room after the game,” South American football expert Tim Vickery told BBC Sport.
“They treat their coaches with great harshness.”
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Beccacece reign began with a 1-0 defeat by Brazil but his side did not lose again in 11 matches as they qualified for the World Cup as runners-up in South America – only behind the Selecao.
It meant they arrived at the tournament with high expectations and boasting a 19-game unbeaten run.
But it was far from the start they or their supporters had hoped for.
A last-gasp 1-0 defeat by Ivory Coast in the opener was followed by a humiliating goalless draw with debutants Curacao – which turned the fans against the coach.
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“I am very sorry I didn’t make it to the heart of the Ecuadorean fan,” he had said.
“For the fans who don’t know me, I think I didn’t quite click with them. There is something they don’t like with me and that is fine.”
After no playing career of note, Beccacece earned his reputation as an assistant to Jorge Sampaoli during Chile’s era of success a decade ago – helping them to reach the 2014 World Cup and secure their first-ever Copa America title in 2015.
He was also Sampaoli’s assistant at the 2018 World Cup with Argentina while he was in charge of Spanish side Elche before joining Ecuador.
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Having now masterminded Ecuador’s turnaround at the World Cup, the 45-year-old has perhaps achieved the biggest feat of his managerial career.
“We never feel like we are in hell, nor do we feel like we are in heaven,” he said after beating Germany.
“We have our feet grounded on earth and we feel and think in the right manner.”
CHASKA, Minn. — A funny thing happened Thursday. Not like the ha-ha funny or the slap-your-leg roaring laughter kind of funny, but the ironic kind.
I arrived at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine National on Thursday morning with a loose plan to write up a couple of names. But golf is rarely predictable. (See Keith Mitchell’s 41-29 at last week’s U.S. Open.)
One thing I did have planned, however, was to watch Alexa Pano. She’s 21 and already in her fourth full season on the LPGA Tour. She hits it far (273.4 yards on average) and has already won once, at the ISPS Handa World Invitational back in August 2023 (she won the same day she turned 19).
But I mostly wanted to watch and catch up with Alexa because seven years ago I spent a significant amount of time talking to her, her dad, her swing coach and others for a 2,000-word profile ahead of the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur, where she, just 14 at the time, was about to be the event’s youngest competitor. I spent time on the golf course with them, too, when Alexa was playing a casual round with friend Tommy Morrison. (Tommy, who just completed his senior year on the Texas men’s golf team, has since sprouted to 6-feet, 9-inches tall. Man, time flies.) I asked a million questions, including one wondering if Alexa didn’t like the fact that Amazon Alexa, which was new at the time, had stolen her name. I think Alexa, the person, thought the question was weird.
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Although in the time since, I had not seen Pano play golf, at least not in person. So that was the plan on Thursday: watch a few holes, maybe say hello and then go on with my day.
But turns out the first time I got a chance to talk to Alexa, she was behind the dais, taking questions from the media (myself included) as Golf Channel cameras rolled and photographers snapped pictures.
She had just shot a smooth five-under 67 and took the clubhouse lead of the LPGA’s third major of the season. That lead didn’t hold — Ina Yoon swooped in and shot 63 about an hour later — but Pano heads into Friday in prime position. She’s T3 and the low American after Day 1.
“Hitting it straight is the most important thing on this golf course,” she said. “It makes it a lot more accessible from the fairway. The rough is very patchy and has some really thick spots. The more you keep the ball on the fairway the better.”
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All grown up!
Alexa Pano birdies 17, signs autographs and pars 18 to shoot 5-under 67 at KPMG Women’s PGA. (Very) Early clubhouse lead at Hazeltine. pic.twitter.com/xHBH3PTyaL
A decorated junior player, Pano landed on golf fans’ radar when she starred in the 2013 Netflix documentary The Short Game, which chronicled the 2012 U.S. Kids Golf World Championships in Pinehurst, N.C. Pano was 7 at the time. Since then Alexa and her dad, Rick, have traveled tens of thousands of miles a year teeing it up in high-level junior tournaments.
She competed in the Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National three times and was the youngest participant in the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open. She played in Junior Solheim Cups and Junior Ryder Cups before turning pro at 17 in 2022.
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She played a year on the Epson Tour before earning her LPGA card via LPGA Q-Series and earned LPGA membership for the 2023 season. She’s been on the big tour since, although she’s had to learn lessons along the way. Like patience.
“You lose a lot more than you win out here and that’s kind of a change from like junior golf and even amateur golf,” Pano said Thursday. “You’re not at the top of the leaderboard as much as you think you should be. You really have to trust the process and just keep putting in the work. But it’s worth it for days like today where it pays off or weeks where it pays off.”
Pano had an early tee time Thursday and turned in even par, but she moved to two under when she holed out from 69 yards away for eagle on the 11th. As the ball landed and rolled, Pano yelled go while her caddie, Kyle Alexander, told it to sit. Pano usually has her dad on the bag but he’s been out sick the last couple of weeks. He watched from outside the ropes on Thursday.
“Do you know who Wally Pipp is?” he asked me, smiling. (Yes, I do.)
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She torched the back nine from there: birdies on 14, 16 and 17, and even an easy two-putt par on 18 after her drive found the fairway bunker.
“Felt like I put myself in some really good positions out there, whether it was off the tee or just playing it a little safe on the greens and kind of hit all my marks,” she said. “Overall a really solid day.”
This is her 13th major start as a professional, and her lone top 10 was at the 2024 Women’s British Open. But now comes the hard part — staying in contention. Golf tournaments, and specifically major championships, are all about staying in the mix for 72 holes. Thursdays are often about not shooting yourself out of it. So far so good.
“I think the more experience you get the better,” she said. “I think the more that I play in these events the more comfortable I get. But I can definitely remember being a junior golfer and qualifying for like U.S. Opens and such. The tournament felt much bigger than me. Now it’s kind of like have a bit better grasp on it and feel a lot more comfortable.”
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