Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Sports

Fantasy Football Video: Does a Mike Vrabel-A.J. Brown reunion in New England make sense?

Published

on

The New England Patriots fell short of their ultimate goal — a Super Bowl championship — losing to the Seattle Seahawks, 29-13. MVP runner-up Drake Maye nearly threw for 300 yards in the loss despite Seattle dominating most of the game. Maye operated most of the season with a rag-tag bunch of receivers, led by veteran Stefon Diggs.

But when you reach the biggest stage and Mack Hollins is your leading wideout, you may need to consider making some additions in the offseason. Matt Harmon and Scott Pianowski talked about what the Patriots can do to shore up the receiver position with a splashy addition on the latest episode of the Yahoo Fantasy Forecast.

Advertisement

Pianowski begins by connecting the dots between New England head coach Mike Vrabel and Brown, the two having spent three seasons together in Tennessee prior to Brown being sent to Philly. Might a reunion make sense?

Advertisement

We know Brown was unhappy for most of the 2025 season with the Eagles. Still, the Pro Bowl wideout was able to post a fourth straight 1,000-receiving-yard season with seven touchdowns. Brown will turn 29 years old before the 2026 regular season and has four years remaining on his contract.

Harmon plays devil’s advocate to Pianowski and thinks it may not be wise to trade, say, the 31st pick in the 2026 NFL Draft in a deal for Brown, a player whom he views as in decline. Now, that doesn’t mean that Brown is “cooked,” but Harmon says we don’t normally see receivers return to elite status once the decline starts.

Advertisement

Pianowski closes by saying, of course, you want someone who is trending up or draft somebody who can evolve into a top wideout. But teams aren’t usually jumping at the chance to trade a young, promising wide receiver, so the Patriots may have to take what they can get, whether that’s via trade, free agency or in the draft.

Advertisement

Yahoo analyst Justin Boone has Brown as the WR11 in his early 2026 fantasy football WR rankings. Perhaps a move to a better situation, or simply out of Philly, will boost Brown’s stock.

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

Phil Foden handed brutal World Cup 2026 warning after Thomas Tuchel admission

Published

on

Phil Foden has had a difficult season at Manchester City but started both England’s matches against Uruguay and Japan – however, he failed to make any real impact and is facing missing out on the World Cup

England boss Thomas Tuchel admits Phil Foden is “struggling” on the pitch as he warned the Manchester City star faces missing out on a World Cup place.

Foden, 25, has 49 Three Lions caps to his name after starting both Wembley warm up friendlies against Uruguay and Japan. However, the City forward was substituted before the hour mark in both games.

Advertisement

Tuchel says Foden is “not guaranteed” a place in his 26-man finals squad, with England’s head coach saying that while he was excellent in training during camp, he failed to live up to expectations where it mattered.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

“He tried everything,” said Tuchel. “I would say he was excellent in camp but, yeah, he struggles to show it on the pitch. Obviously he didn’t have a lot of minutes for City recently.

“Then he came to camp with the brightest smile and was so good in training and I thought he will just surprise us and will play with the same verve and excitement but, yeah, he struggles to have the full impact.”

Advertisement

Tuchel insists he has no problem taking a player out of form to the World Cup if he believes it’s the right decision to do so.

Asked about doing precisely that he said: “I can, I can! The question will be if we will.”

But when asked specifically about taking an out-of-form Foden to the finals, he brutally admitted: “Well it’s not a guarantee that he will come.”

Man City vs Liverpool VIP and hospitality tickets

Advertisement
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Content Image

from £179

Seat Unique

Book tickets here

Seat Unique offers hospitality packages for Manchester City’s FA Cup quarter-final clash with Liverpool, including ‘premium’ seats and complimentary food and drink.

Foden went to Euro 2024 as the Premier League Player of the Year after an outstanding season for City – arguably the best of his career. Since then however, he has struggled for form and fitness.

And while this term he has made 26 Premier League appearances for City, the general consensus is that he’s largely been some way below his best. He’s scored seven league goals so far, but none since December 14, and six of those seven came in a four-match spell.

Advertisement

Now, with Rayan Cherki increasingly prominent at the Etihad, he’s no longer a guaranteed starter for Pep Guardiola.

For England, Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers are Tuchel’s first choices in the No.10 position, while Eberechi Eze and Cole Palmer are both in the mix too. Throw in Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke and Jarrod Bowen, and there’s fierce competition for the attacking midfield roles.

That means it’s almost certain Tuchel will have to leave at least one of the big names at home this summer – and increasingly it looks like Foden is most at risk.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Bill Self commits to coaching Kansas basketball for the 2026-27 season

Published

on

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

He mulled retirement, but Bill Self won’t be ending his college coaching career just yet. 

Self announced he will be returning to the Kansas Jayhawks’ sideline for the 2026-27 season.

“With renewed clarity and the ongoing support from our administration, I remain focused and committed to Kansas basketball competing for a national championship,” Self’s statement said. 

Advertisement

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Bill Self looks on court

Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks walks across the court before a game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena Feb. 2, 2026, in Lubbock, Texas. (John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

“I look forward to seeing and hearing the best fans in college basketball next season at Allen Fieldhouse.”

Self made the decision after consulting with his family, especially considering his health issues in recent seasons. 

UCONN MEN’S BASKETBALL HOPING FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TRANSFER MAGIC ONCE AGAIN

Advertisement

Self has dealt with chest tightness and balance concerns, which resulted in a hospitalization in 2013, forcing him to miss the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments. He had two stents placed for treatment of blocked arteries. 

In July 2025, Self was admitted to a hospital after feeling ill. He was reportedly experiencing “concerning symptoms,” leading to another surgery to have stents inserted. He was later released from a hospital and coached the Jayhawks this year. 

Self did miss a game in January against Colorado, when he was taken to a hospital as a precaution, the school noted at the time. 

Bill Self looks on court

Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks watches his team play against the Houston Cougars in the second half during the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament at T-Mobile Center March 13, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

The Jayhawks fell to St. John’s in the NCAA Tournament, which led reporters to naturally wonder what Self had in mind about his future. 

Advertisement

“I’ll get back and visit with the family,” Self said, via ESPN. “I’ve had, obviously, some issues off the court health-wise. And that will be discussed. But I love what I do. I want to feel good while I’m doing it, though.”

Self has been a college basketball head coach since the 1993-94 season, starting his tenure with Oral Roberts. After stops at Tulsa and Illinois, Self joined Kansas for the 2003-04 season, and he hasn’t left since. 

Self has won two national championships in his 23 seasons with the Jayhawks, his most recent coming in 2022. Kansas has also reached the Final Four four times under his leadership. 

Bill Self calls out a play on the sideline

Kansas head coach Bill Self reacts as the team plays California Baptist during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament March 20, 2026, in San Diego.  (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Advertisement

In 815 games, Self owns a 648-167 record with Kansas. He also has 855 wins as a head coach in his 33-year career, which includes 27 NCAA Tournament appearances. 

With the NCAA transfer portal opening April 7, Self will be right back to work building another Kansas roster he hopes to get deeper in March Madness next season. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Ex-Vikings WR Finds a New Home in Tennessee

Published

on

Advertisement

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) reacts after a catch during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

This offseason, Vikings WR3 Jalen Nailor left for the Las Vegas Raiders, who gave him a nice paycheck. Minnesota is now in the same position it was in 2024 when K.J. Osborn departed in free agency after three seasons of WR3 duties. His journey away from the team hasn’t been successful at all; the Raiders hope for better results from their investment.

Osborn, meanwhile, is hoping he can revitalize his career in Tennessee, as he just signed a deal with the receiver-needy Titans.

The Titans announced on Wednesday, “The Titans have signed quarterback Hendon Hooker, who starred at the University of Tennessee. The team has also signed veteran running back Michael Carter, along with a pair of receivers – K.J. Osborn and Lance McCutcheon.”

Advertisement
Viking Has Everything
Dec 17, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) celebrates the win against the Indianapolis Colts after the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. With the win, the Minnesota Vikings clinched the NFC North. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

It’s been a busy day for the Titans, who welcomed four new players to their 90-man offseason roster. Unlike McCutcheon (one career appearance), Osborn already has a solid NFL resume with 1,902 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in his career.

Osborn was initially drafted in 2020 in a class that was headlined by Justin Jefferson. In Jefferson’s shadow, the fifth-rounder got extensive work on special teams in his rookie season, but his success as a returner was underwhelming. On offense, he didn’t get any looks and finished his rookie campaign with zero snaps.

Entering Year 2, it was a common expectation that he would fight for his job in training camp, where he surprisingly emerged as a third option in the passing game behind Jefferson and Adam Thielen. With 50 receptions, he set career highs in yards (655) and touchdowns (7) in his sophomore season.

Osborn kept his WR3 role through 2023, adding another 650 yards and 5 scores in 2022 and 540 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2023. The Vikings, ready to promote Nailor, didn’t re-sign Osborn when his rookie deal expired and he joined the New England Patriots.

Advertisement
Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) (left) and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen (19) and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) (right) after the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.

After only seven games and 87 yards, the Patriots waived him and the Commanders added the veteran to their roster. Osborn appeared in only one game with Washington. Still, he earned another one-year contract for the 2025 season. Unfortunately, the Commanders decided to cut him after last year’s preseason. His next stop was Atlanta, which added Osborn to the practice squad during the season. He has not seen the field since 2024.

In Tennessee, Osborn hopes to recapture his 2021-2023 magic. The Titans will have last year’s top pick Cam Ward in his sophomore season after a promising, though uneven, rookie year. Their receiving group isn’t invincible and Osborn could crack that unit.

Nick Suss of the Nashville Tennessean wrote about the WR group, “The Titans’ wide receiver room is led by veteran Calvin Ridley, who is returning to the fold after a season-ending injury sustained in 2025 and a restructured contract to remain with the team for 2026. Second-year receivers Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor also return, as does third-year player Bryce Oliver. The big addition to the room is Wan’Dale Robinson, who signed with the Titans in free agency after spending the first four years of his career with the New York Giants.”

Ridley and Robinson will serve as the team’s top receiving duo, barring any major investments in the draft.

Explained: Fallout from Vikings Win over CHI
Oct 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver K.J. Osborn (17) and the team leave the field after a turnover against the Chicago Bears near the end of the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Recently, Osborn was asked where he’d like to play next season and he pointed to the Vikings. On an appearance on the Caps Off podcast last week, Osborn told the show’s host, “You can’t help but look at Minnesota. With Kyler Murray going back. Jalen Nailor, I’m so happy for him. Speedy, congrats bro, my guy, he just got 3 years for $35 million from the Raiders. So that spot WR3 is back open. Just looking around. But home is where the heart is. So, we’ll see.”

The Vikings haven’t replaced Nailor, but sophomore Tai Felton could internally be viewed as the new guy to fill the role. Interim GM Rob Brzezinski could also add a free agent or a rookie in the draft.

Advertisement

Osborn’s next stop will not be Minnesota, but Tennessee. He’s 28 years old.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFFOver The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

avatar
Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Ryan Garcia sets his sights on one fight for July return

Published

on

Ryan Garcia got his hands on the WBC welterweight world title back just weeks ago but the Californian is already looking to unify, revealing that he is ready to challenge for another belt in the division as soon as July.

Garcia comfortably outpointed Mario Barrios to claim his first world title and tee up potential rematches with fellow welterweight titleholders Rolando Romero and Devin Haney – the latter making up one of the most fierce rivalries in the sport due to their controversial first fight.

Although, in the time that has passed, Haney and Romero have been locked in discussions for a unification fight themselves, whilst Garcia has been pursuing a scrap with pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson.

Advertisement

Yet, those Haney-Romero talks may be on the verge of breaking down, after Haney revealed his frustration due to prolonged negotiations and unrealistic demands.

Now, Garcia has taken to X to provide Haney with a more lucrative unification opportunity, offering to fight ‘The Dream for a second time in July, whilst Haney offered a September fight date in response as the pair went back and forth in a series of posts.

Ryan Garcia: “Devin is terrified.”

Devin Haney: “You scared to death to sign up for drug testing. I told Turki [Al-Alshikh] let’s do it. Get u signed up for drug testing.”

Ryan Garcia: “Devin I’ll fight you in July! Stop saying drug testing, dumba*s POKE ME YOURSELF.”

Advertisement

Devin Haney: “He wanna fight in July cause he still cycling those PEDS. September & start drug testing now.”

Haney may prefer a September date so that he can prepare with a fight beforehand, due to the fact that he is yet to fight since his November WBO title win against Brian Norman Jr.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Michigan starting G Elliot Cadeau hit with medical situation

Published

on

Syndication: Detroit Free PressMichigan guard Elliot Cadeau (3) cuts down net to celebrate 95-62 win over Tennessee at the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional Final at United Center in Chicago on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

Michigan starting point guard Elliot Cadeau did not travel with his teammates to Indianapolis Wednesday for the Final Four due to an allergic reaction to something he ate, according to team officials.

Cadeau is expected to meet the team later Wednesday evening as they prepare to face Arizona in the second national semifinal contest on Saturday.

“Before the team departed the Player Development Center today, Elliot alerted the medical staff that he may have had an allergic reaction to something that he ate,” Michigan spokesperson Tom Wywrot said in the statement. “The doctors evaluated Elliot and he is fine. Out of an abundance of caution, he is receiving medical supervision and will be traveling to Indianapolis later today.”

The North Carolina transfer started all 38 games for the Wolverines in his debut season in Ann Arbor. He is averaging a career-best 10.2 points per game and leads the team with 5.8 assists per outing. The junior is one of three players with 60-plus 3-pointers made and is converting 37.7 from beyond the arc.

Advertisement

–Field Level Media

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s India debut loading? Zimbabwe T20I series raises big question | Cricket News

Published

on

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India debut loading? Zimbabwe T20I series raises big question
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Photo by PTI)

NEW DELHI: The meteoric rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is no longer just a feel-good breakout story; it is rapidly turning into a serious selection debate, with growing chatter around a potential India debut in the upcoming Zimbabwe T20I series.Just days after turning 15, the Rajasthan Royals prodigy delivered a stunning statement, smashing a blistering 15-ball half-century against Chennai Super Kings. The knock not only showcased his fearless intent but also reinforced why he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket today.

Watch

A Father’s Pride: How RR, Dravid & Vikram Shaped Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Remarkably, this came on the back of a 35-ball IPL century last season, underlining that his performances are far from a one-off.Chasing a modest target of 128, Sooryavanshi ensured there was nothing modest about his approach. Taking full advantage of the powerplay, he tore into the bowlers, racing to 52 off just 17 balls in a dazzling display of strokeplay. Alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal, he laid the foundation for a dominant chase, effectively sealing the game within the first six overs.Explaining his aggressive mindset, the teenager said, “I think of defending, but the plan was to decide the game in the powerplay as we’d restricted them to a low score. If the bowlers had bowled well in the powerplay then the game might have turned their way, but we went all out in the powerplay.” It was a mature assessment, reflecting not just raw talent but also a growing understanding of match situations.

Zimbabwe tour perfect launchpad for India debut

With India scheduled to tour Zimbabwe in July 2026 for a three-match T20I series, the timing of his rise could prove significant. Historically, tours to Zimbabwe have served as a platform for fresh faces to break into the national side. Players such as Sanju Samson, KL Rahul, and more recently Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel have all made their T20I debuts there.Players to debut in Zimbabwe T20I series over the last decade

Advertisement
  • Tushar Deshpande – 2024
  • B Sai Sudharsan – 2024
  • Abhishek Sharma – 2024
  • Dhruv Jurel – 2024
  • Riyan Parag – 2024
  • Dhawal Kulkarni – 2016
  • Barinder Sran – 2016
  • Rishi Dhawan – 2016
  • Mandeep Singh – 2016
  • KL Rahul – 2016
  • Yuzvendra Chahal – 2016
  • Jaydev Unadkat – 2016
  • Sanju Samson – 2015
  • Stuart Binny – 2015
  • Kedar Jadhav – 2015
  • Manish Pandey – 2015
  • Axar Patel – 2015
  • Sandeep Sharma – 2015

Given India’s packed international calendar and the team management’s tendency to rotate squads after major tournaments, the Zimbabwe series presents a realistic opportunity to test emerging talent. Sooryavanshi, with his explosive style and growing confidence, fits that bill perfectly.

Experts divided as calls grow to fast-track Sooryavanshi

Unsurprisingly, a growing chorus of former cricketers is now calling for the youngster to be fast-tracked into India’s T20 setup. Former Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal believes it is only a matter of time before Sooryavanshi dons the national colours.“In just 8 IPL games, he has been piling records — he already has a hundred. I think in the coming international games for India, he will get a chance after IPL. He will become a young player of the T20 international team. He has proved himself in every place. If he continues to perform, he will definitely get the chance,” Akmal said.He also highlighted the youngster’s maturity, adding, “His presence of mind, game awareness, the way he plays — he has a counter to everything at such a young age. This is remarkable… We are discussing his performance more because it was a low-scoring match of 128. But his performance is visible because he scored 50 runs on 15 balls.”Former India batter Mohammad Kaif, who had earlier urged caution around the hype, has now revised his stance. “Last season I thought Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was getting hyped way too early. An old-school cricketer, I believe there should be no haste in fast-tracking young players. But a year later, I think he is ready to graduate to the next level,” Kaif wrote. He further praised the youngster’s ability to “entertain and play match-winning knocks.Echoing similar sentiments, veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla backed the idea of accelerating his progression. “If he plays like that, I would love to see him fast-tracked,” Chawla said, while also pointing out his consistency across formats and his knack for scoring not just hundreds, but “big hundreds.”Former India batter Ambati Rayudu also weighed in, describing Sooryavanshi as “a cut above a lot of youngsters”. However, Rayudu offered a note of realism, highlighting the challenges of breaking into a settled and successful Indian T20 side. “Don’t forget, our Indian team is a world champion team. It’s won the T20 World Cup. So to replace somebody in that side is not easy. To me, there are a few players ahead of him at the moment, because you tend to pick and build your teams ahead of the next ICC competition,” he said.While the excitement around Sooryavanshi continues to build, not everyone is in favour of rushing his progression. Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged restraint, emphasising the need to manage expectations around a 15-year-old prodigy.“Don’t give him such a target. He is not even a guy, he is a kid,” Ashwin said. Stressing the importance of patience, he added, “If Sooryavanshi plays till 40, he has two and a half decades left in cricket. Leave him alone, he will come on his own when the time is right.”Despite his caution, Ashwin had no doubts about the youngster’s ability. “He is too good to not play for India. He will play anyway eventually. When will he play? For that, we might have to wait a bit. Why are we always in a hurry,” he remarked.As the debate intensifies, the selectors face a delicate balancing act: whether to fast-track a generational talent or allow him the time and space to develop naturally. With the Zimbabwe tour looming, the conversation is only set to grow louder.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Mikaela Shiffrin opens up on Olympic Gold moment

Published

on

Mikaela Shiffrin has spoken about the moment that helped her reset before winning slalom gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Speaking during an interview on TODAY, Shiffrin described standing at the start gate before her second run and feeling something shift.

She said it was “almost an out-of-body experience,” a moment that came after watching the skier ahead of her miss a gate, which brought back memories of her performance at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

  • IOC introduces new Women’s category PolicyIOC introduces new Women’s category Policy

Advertisement

“My biggest fear going into the Games was that I would feel really isolated and alone,” she said.

Instead, she found support.

“They made me feel very supported and feel very together,” she said of her team. “It felt like they were skiing it with me.”

Advertisement

That moment helped her settle before her run. She went on to produce a clean second run and win her third Olympic gold medal.

The win adds to an already strong career that includes 110 World Cup victories and six overall titles.

When asked about the 2030 Winter Olympics, Shiffrin kept things open.

“Very good, very good. We’ll talk later,” she said with a laugh.

Advertisement

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Limited-edition Mitusbishi shaft pays homage to Augusta National

Published

on

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Sonia Bompastor explodes at Katie McCabe’s hair-pull as Chelsea exit Champions League to rivals Arsenal

Published

on

The battle of Stamford Bridge was already getting spicy and bubbling when Sjoeke Nusken finally grabbed the goal Chelsea had been pushing for all night. Then, as Arsenal held on to what was now only a one-goal advantage, Katie McCabe set it alight by pulling the hair of Alyssa Thompson as the winger surged away on the counter-attack in the fifth minute of stoppage time. Sonia Bompastor and the Chelsea bench leapt to their feet, the French coach exploding at the fourth official on the touchline when the Danish referee, Frida Klarlund, waved play on and the VAR apparently fell asleep.

If Chelsea were to exit the Champions League, again, they would do so while torching the place down. Bompastor was booked twice in two minutes for her furious protests, a dramatic sending off encapsulating her anger at the officiating throughout this quarter-final. Bompastor raged last week when Chelsea had controversially seen a goal ruled out in their 3-1 first-leg defeat at the Emirates. The officiating, she said, showed a lack of respect for the women’s game, and those claims were repeated loud and clear to Uefa here.

Chelsea' manager Sonia Bompastor walks away whilst being shown a red card in stoppage time
Chelsea’ manager Sonia Bompastor walks away whilst being shown a red card in stoppage time (AFP via Getty Images)

It wasn’t why Chelsea did not overturn Arsenal’s advantage in the second leg – numerous wasted chances in the first half, plus an outstanding display from goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, saw to that as well – but McCabe’s hair-pull going unpunished was the final straw for Bompastor and how the night would be remembered by.

During a post-game TV interview, Bompastor pulled up a video of the incident on her phone and held it to the camera. “Why do we have VAR?” she demanded.

McCabe protested her innocence, posting an immediate statement on Instagram to say she “wouldn’t ever want to pull someone’s hair”; the Republic of Ireland international said she attempted to grab Thompson’s shirt when the Chelsea forward burst away on the counter-attack. Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers also insisted it was not deliberate. But Thompson, whose hair had been pulled, was left in tears, Bompastor said.

Katie McCabe said she was ‘genuinely reaching for the shirt’ and didn’t mean to pull Thompson’s hair
Katie McCabe said she was ‘genuinely reaching for the shirt’ and didn’t mean to pull Thompson’s hair (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“I think the intention is clear,” Bompastor added, before the former Lyon coach reeled off a series of four or five incidents that had gone against just Chelsea, or against her, or both, in the Champions League.

They included Catarina Macario’s disallowed goal against Barcelona this season, to before Bompastor’s time at the club and a contentious disallowed goal and penalty decision in a 2-2 draw against Real Madrid in November 2023. Bompastor came prepared and with her research: referee Klarlund was in charge of that, too, she pointed out. Bompastor also brought up her Lyon side’s defeat to Chelsea in the quarter-finals three years ago, when Lauren James went down in penalty box under a soft challenge in the last minute of stoppage time and Chelsea went on to knock Lyon out on penalties.

Advertisement
Bompastor raged at the referee while McCabe protested her innocence
Bompastor raged at the referee while McCabe protested her innocence (Getty Images)

Right to the end, this was wonderful chaos; and a result to bolster Arsenal’s belief that this could be their year again. Sleger’s side may have lost their run of 11 consecutive in all competitions but they emerged from this bruising affair with their title defence intact after a resilient defensive effort. They will either face Lyon, in a possible rematch of last season’s semi-finals, or Wolfsburg for a chance at returning to the final they won last year against Barcelona in Lisbon.

“Champions of Europe” was the cry from the away end at Stamford Bridge and it is no secret that Arsenal almost ghosted in last season to capture the one trophy Chelsea want to win above all others. Chelsea had suffered three consecutive semi-final exits to Barcelona in this competition but a quarter-final exit to their London rivals will hurt more. Chelsea will also be relinquishing their Women’s Super League crown after six straight titles to Manchester City in the next few weeks.

They appeared a sad imitation of last season’s team, which confidently overturned a 2-0 first-leg defeat to swat Manchester City aside at Stamford Bridge in last year’s Champions League quarter-finals. The reality of a transitional year, which perhaps was always to be expected following the departure of Emma Hayes, and which may have been somewhat covered up by last season’s unbeaten domestic treble, is now painfully clear. “The reality is the season is not where we want it to be,” Bompastor admitted.

A brilliant performance from Daphne van Domselaar was key to Arsenal's progress
A brilliant performance from Daphne van Domselaar was key to Arsenal’s progress (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea had enough chances to have cancelled out Arsenal’s lead. “The story of our season, we missed the clinical element,” Bompastor accepted. In the first half, Nusken and Thompson turned wide as Ellie Carpenter caused a threat down the right and James pulled the strings in midfield. When Chelsea spurned those opportunities, James started to drop deeper and deeper, the frustration rising as Chelsea became even more disconnected. Sam Kerr was denied a vintage strike by Van Domselaar, who brilliantly tipped over her shot from the edge of the box after she had been released with a long pass over the top.

Bompastor turned and began to laugh when Van Domselaar later tipped Nusken’s header onto the post, the second time Chelsea had struck the frame of the goal in their late siege. It was evidently not going to be their night, but Nusken gave Chelsea some hope when the German finally finished one of their chances by slamming in Kerr’s cut-back in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Then came McCabe’s hair-pull, and the most explosive of exits.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Terence Crawford predicts Errol Spence Jr’s reported comeback fight against Tim Tszyu

Published

on

It has been almost three years since Errol Spence Jr stepped through the ropes, but a summer return against Australia’s Tim Tszyu seems to be gathering pace.

Spence was handed the first defeat of his career back in 2023 by Terence Crawford, who became the undisputed welterweight world champion that night. Despite many feeling that it was a pick ’em fight beforehand, Crawford won handily, dropping Spence three times before scoring a TKO in the ninth.

After a lengthy lay-off and persistent rumours of a return, Spence reportedly has ‘a done deal’ with Tszyu provided the Aussie comes through Denis Nurja this weekend in Wollongong.

Advertisement

Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Crawford praised Tszyu’s campaign so far.

“Tim Tszyu [has] had a great career, it’s still going. He’s accomplished a lot for what his experience entails. His fight this weekend – I don’t know too much about the opponent other than he’s undefeated. Will he be back on top and become a champion again? I can’t say he won’t, I can’t say he will. We just got to wait and see.”

However, the recently retired five-division world champion backs his former foe to win should all go to plan and the fight take place.

“I think Spence beats him. At this point in both of their careers, I think he beats him.”

Fans will hope to see a reinvigorated Spence, particularly since he will be returning at 154lbs after cutting to the welterweight limit of 147 for so long. However, questions remain over what he has left in the tank following various injuries – not least a serious car accident.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025