NEW DELHI: Afghanistan secured direct qualification for the 2027 ODI World Cup after beating Ireland by three wickets in the third ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Monday. The win also gave Afghanistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series.Afghanistan bowled Ireland out for 206 in 46.3 overs before chasing down the target in 44.5 overs. The win was set up by a strong bowling effort and a calm finish from Rashid Khan.Afghanistan entered the third ODI knowing that a win would be enough to seal their place in the 2027 ODI World Cup. They had already beaten Ireland by 92 runs in the second ODI, while the opening match of the five-match series was washed out.

Rashid, Ahmadzai take Afghanistan home

Afghanistan looked in control at 97 for two during the chase but lost five wickets for 79 runs to slip to 176 for seven.Rashid then stepped up when his team needed him most. He remained unbeaten on 37 off 43 balls, hitting four boundaries, while Yamin Ahmadzai stayed not out on four off 26 balls.The pair held their nerve to take Afghanistan across the finish line without any further damage.Rashid was named Player of the Match for his crucial contribution.

Afghanistan secure World Cup spot

Afghanistan, currently ranked No. 8 in ODIs, have now secured direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup, which will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.This will be Afghanistan’s fourth appearance in an ODI World Cup.

Rahmat Shah praises bowling effort

Afghanistan captain Rahmat Shah credited his bowlers for sticking to their plans and adapting quickly to the conditions.“Thank you. It was a low-scoring match, always tough. Finally, we won the match.”On Afghanistan’s bowling performance, he said: “Yeah, I give them the plans according to the field, according to the situation, and they read very well, especially Yamin Ahmadzai bowled really well, Rashid and Ghanzafar, they bowled really well too. They bowled according to the field, and especially they assessed the conditions early.”Rahmat said Afghanistan’s chase was challenging because of the low-scoring nature of the game.“Of course, yes, because always a low-scoring match is very tough, and finally we won the match.”He also pointed out the ninth-wicket partnership that helped Ireland post a competitive total and said Afghanistan would look to break such partnerships earlier in future.“I think the ninth-wicket partnership, Ireland did very well. Inshallah, we try to break these partnerships early if we are in a good situation on that time. Inshallah, we will try our best.”

Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway won his seventh European title in front of 13,623 fans at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Monday night, when winning the 5,000m for the fourth time.

Racing towards the rear of the field for much of tonight’s final, the two-time Olympic champion made impressive headway in the latter stages of the contest to win in 13:15.29, a season’s best.

🚨HEE’SSSS BACKKKKKK!!! 🔥

🚨KING JAKOB INGEBRIGTSEN🇳🇴

THE KINGEBRIGTSEN HAS RETURNED 👑

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Returning after conquering an Achilles injury, he won his 4th consecutive European 5000m title in 13:15.29s.

This was his season opener 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/LVBM76NzxU

— SprintForge (@Tweeterfinger1) August 10, 2026

Florian Bremm of German took the silver medal in 13:15.60, with Etienne Daguinos of France settling for bronze in 13:16.09.

Ireland’s Brian Fay was prominent in the early kilometres of the race before eventually fading to finish in 14th place, clocking 13:31.15.

Darragh McElhinney and later, Nick Griggs, took positions closer to the front of the group, with Griggs eventually finishing best of the Irish trio in eighth place, in a time of 13:21.07. McElhinny, who looked for some of the race that he would be involved in the business end, faded in latter stages to cross the line in 18th place, in 13:37.62.

Norway won another gold when taking the 4 x 400m mixed relay final from Britain in second and the Netherlands in third. The winning time of 3:09.62 was a national record, a championship record and a European leading time.

🚨 🇳🇴 CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD 🇳🇴 🚨

🥇Norway 🇳🇴 wins GOLD in the mixed 4x400m relay at the European Championships in Birmingham.

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The quartet of Karsten Warholm, Amalie Iuel, Andreas Kulseng & Henriette Jæger stormed to a Championship Record of 3:09.62s CR!! 🔥

🥈 Britain 🇬🇧 in… pic.twitter.com/XqxcVTP2oH

— SprintForge (@Tweeterfinger1) August 10, 2026

First Gold of Championships goes to The Netherlands

The Netherlands took gold and silver in the women’s shot put – the first of five sets of medals awarded at Monday evening’s session.

Jessica Schilder threw 20.73m in round six to defeat her compatriot, who threw a PB of 19.64m in round one. German Yemisi Mabry claimed the bronze with a fifth round effort of 19.50m.

Amy Hunt won Gold for Britain in the women’s 100m, clocking 11.00 seconds in her victory.

Ewa Swoboda of Poland was second in 11.02 seconds, while the podium was completed by Delphine Nkansa of Belgium in a personal best time of 11.06 seconds.

It was an Italian 1-2 in the men’s shot put final. Leonardo Fabbri beat his compatriot Zane Weir with a third round throw of 22.31m. Weir took silver with 21.12m with his first effort, while Wictor Petersson from Sweden claimed bronze with 20.97m on his final throw.

🥇 Leonardo Fabbri 🇮🇹 wins GOLD in the men’s Shot Put at the European Championships with 22.31m. He now wins the title 2 consecutive times.

🥈 Zane Weir 🇮🇹 with 21.12m.

🥉 🇸🇪 Wictor Petersson with 20.97m. pic.twitter.com/MDD0VQuZNI

— SprintForge (@Tweeterfinger1) August 10, 2026

NFL veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater has once again retired from the game.

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Sunday that Bridgewater, who was competing for the backup role to Jared Goff in the quarterbacks room, has decided to step away from the team in the middle of training camp.

The Lions officially placed Bridgewater on the reserve/retired list ahead of their Sunday practice.

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FILE – Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (10) is seen on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Dec. 24, 2023 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs, File)

Campbell added that he believes retirement could stick this time for Bridgewater, who had previously retired following the 2023 season. But he quickly rejoined the Lions for the 2024 season.

“I think he can only truly answer that, but I feel like this is where it’s at for sure right now,” Campbell said, via ESPN. “This is where it needs to be and where he felt. And his biggest worry was letting us down. That’s the type of guys he is, and he’s not.

RUSSELL WILSON ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM NFL AFTER 14 SEASONS

“That’s as far as it can get. He meant a lot.”

As a result, the Lions were reportedly quick to sign another journeyman, Josh Dobbs, to a $1.425 million contract with $475,000 fully guaranteed, per NFL Network. Dobbs is familiar with Detroit, having been on the team’s practice squad during the 2022 campaign.

Dobbs has also recently backed up Drake Maye with the AFC-winning New England Patriots a season ago. He is a dual-threat quarterback, having the ability to use his legs to pick up crucial yardage, which is the opposite of Goff’s game as a true pocket-passer.

As for Bridgewater, he joined the Lions again as an unrestricted free agent in March after backing up Baker Mayfield with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025. Bridgewater was expected to back up Goff this year, but the Lions have to pivot now.

One of the many reasons Bridgewater remains someone NFL teams want in their locker room is due to his mentorship abilities, understanding his role as a backup and helping the starter on a weekly basis before, during, and after the season. That includes working with Goff in 2023 and 2024, as he developed into one of the best pure passers in the league in an explosive Lions offensive scheme.

Teddy Bridgewater of the Detroit Lions looks to throw the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars during a preseason game at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Aug. 19, 2023. (Getty Images)

Bridgewater, who was a first-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings in 2014 out of Louisville, was a Pro Bowler early in his career. In just his second season, he got the nod after going 11-5 with 3,231 passing yards, 14 passing touchdowns, while rushing for 192 yards with three scores.

But Bridgewater’s career was derailed, as a starter at least, when a horrific knee injury led to a left knee dislocation and a torn ACL during a practice just before the start of the 2016 season.

FERNANDO MENDOZA REVEALS TOM BRADY’S NO-NONSENSE MENTORSHIP PLEDGE AHEAD OF NFL DRAFT

Bridgewater would move on to the New Orleans Saints in 2018, getting six starts across two seasons before getting a heavier workload with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. He went 4-11 in Carolina before going 7-7 with the Denver Broncos the following year.

Bridgewater also played a season with the Miami Dolphins in 2022, going 0-2 in his only two starts with the franchise.

If this is officially Bridgewater’s last time on an NFL football field as a quarterback, he threw for 15,182 yards with 75 passing touchdowns over 83 games. He owned a 33-32 record as a starter across 11 seasons.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (10) during an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 21, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. (Icon Sportswire)

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“I’ve known Teddy a long time and the human being is unbelievable,” Campbell said. “Certainly, the player, everything that he’s about. The type of teammate he is, the way he prepares … always played the game up here and had a huge heart.

“He’s going to be missed.”

Amy Hunt admitted to having a “big premonition” that she would secure her first senior title shortly before taking gold in the 100 metres on the opening night of the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham.

The 24-year-old Cambridge English literature graduate described her victory as a ‘coming of age’ moment, thrilling the home crowd as she crossed the finish line in precisely 11 seconds.

The success comes just two weeks after she claimed silver in the same event at the Commonwealth Games.

This victory represents the first stage of an ambitious campaign for the 200m world silver medallist, who is targeting four golds this week, with the 200m, mixed, and women’s 4x100m relays still ahead.

Again referencing a song from the film High School Musical, she said: “I want it all, and I think I’m someone who doesn’t shy away from what she knows she can do. I knew I could come away with a gold coming into the day.

“I had such a big premonition, and I just love my job. This is what makes it the best.

“I just had such a magical feeling. I’ve won English Schools here, I’ve raced here as a kind of 13, 14-year-old, so, this is really my track. I’m a girl, I’m from Newark, so I just had a feeling that this was going to be my night.

“My first gold. I think it was definitely time for an upgrade. I think this was definitely a coming of age for me here tonight, and I’m now kind of fully established.

“I’m a 100m medallist, I’ve got two 100m medals in the last two weeks, and one more sub-11 to boot. I’m very, very happy.”

Poland’s Ewa Swoboda took silver, Belgium’s Delphine Nkansa rounded out the podium, and Hunt’s compatriot and the defending champion, Dina Asher-Smith, was fifth.

Moments before, the 4x400m quartet of Ben Jefferies, Charlotte Henrich, Toby Harries and Yemi Mary John secured Great Britain’s first medal of the championships with silver.

Jakob Ingebrigtsen provided the evening’s other major highlight, marking his comeback from an 11-month layoff with an astonishing 5000m gold.

The two-time Olympic and world champion had won three successive European 1500/5000m doubles, but went under the knife in February to resolve an ongoing Achilles issue and only announced his intention to compete in Birmingham at the end of July.

“I dreamt of this moment two weeks ago, when I put my name on the list,” he said on track. “I was crossing my fingers hoping to feel a little bit better every day, and it was just enough, so I’m extremely happy.”

A viral video emerged of Aaron Rodgers taking defensive reps from the Pittsburgh Steelers training camp practice session on Sunday. In the video, garnering more than 390,000 views on X, the 42-year-old quarterback can be seen seemingly playing as a pass rusher on the edge.

The video is attracting different reactions, as fans wonder what else Rodgers has up his sleeves.

Don AI Corleone asked:

“lmao what is bro doing?”

Mini Hulk declared:

“Peak male performance.”

Tyler observed:

“To hunt the Bengal, you must become the Bengal. Learn how the think, learn their movements. Only then can you torch them on a 40 yard post route.”

NDC wrote:

“He’s having fun. That’s a good thing. People make too much of light moments.”

Porters Burgh posted:

“Best edge rusher in the AFC North that wears number 8….”

Andrew Garcia commented:

“Clowning around when there could be a younger player trying out and trying to get some looks. Never been a team player.”

Aaron Rodgers’ different training camp moments

Aaron Rodgers is having quite a loud and eventful training camp experience. Perhaps he is milking every moment as he announced earlier in the year that the 2026 season will be his final professional campaign as a player.

He has been in the spotlight, even outside the field, prompting the Steelers to issue a statement after his appearance on the Pat McAfee show. Among other things, he talked about the vaccine, Anthony Fauci, and ESPN’s coverage of the scandal involving Dianna Russinin and Mike Vrabel.

The Steelers’ PR spokesperson Burt Lauten defended the quarterback’s right to expression.

“Discussion around culture and politics can bring differing perspectives,” Lauten’s statement read. “Our players are entitled to their own personal views. With respect to that, I am certain there are a variety of opinions on many topics within our locker room.”

Meanwhile, Aaron Rodgers took a fan out for ice cream in company of his teammates like DK Metcald and Pat Freiermuth.

It is a reunion for Rodgers and the Steelers’ new head coach Mike McCarthy. Rodgers played for the Green Bay Packers, playing under McCarthy. His relationship with the coach formed part of the factors responsible for bringing him back for another season.

Entering his 22nd year in the NFL, Aaron Rodgers is on a one-year contract, potentially worth $25 million with incentive.