Halftime Observations

• Bayern were patient enough to find gaps in this stubborn Union Berlin side, and were rewarded with two goals.

• Serge Gnabry appears to be more comfortable in the middle rather than out wide.

• The long pass game by Bayern has been causing all sorts of problems for Union.

• Michael Olise continues to be the danger man for Bayern. Biggest coup of the century, full stop.

45+2′ Halftime!

45+1′ – TOR! Gnabry pounces on a loose ball in the box and makes it 2-0 Bayern!

45′ – One minute of stoppage time is added on.

43′ – TOR! Michael Olise finally breaks the deadlock!

42′ – Stanisic does well but the shot was lacking; in essence, a missed sitter.

40′ – Olise and Kane both miss great chances to score.

38′ – Kane’s freekick goes too high on his freekick.

37′ – Danilho Doekhi clips Gnabry outside the box, concedes a freekick, and receives a yellow card.

35′ – Kim Min-jae lobs the ball for Olise, who couldn’t control it and goes out of play.

33′ – Jannik Haberer this time fouls Gnabry outside the box, but isn’t booked.

30′ – Leopold Querfeld fouls Olise just outside the box and gets booked.

29′ – Josip Stanisic plays a square ball to Karl but his shot hits the post and back into play. There seems to be a hint of offside too.

23′ – Bayern deflect an Union freekick behind for a corner. The ensuing corner leads to nothing.

21′ – Serge Gnabry’s shot goes well wide.

16′ – Joshua Kimmich and Lennart Karl combine on the right, but Karl’s shot is saved by Frederik Ronnow.

9′ – Michael Olise plays a ball over the top for Harry Kane, but the latter couldn’t direct the ball into the goal.

3′ – Dayot Upamecano gets an early yellow card.

Kickoff! – We are off!

Lineups are out!

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is due to return to the ring in September after losing to Terence Crawford late last year.

The unanimous decision defeat saw Canelo surrender his four super-middleweight world titles. Crawford announced his retirement from the sport as an undefeated, five-weight world champion months later. He had been stripped of the WBC belt and vacated the rest.

Christian Mbilli has since been upgraded to full WBC champion after retaining his interim belt against Lester Martinez – who also fights under trainer Brian ‘BoMac’ McIntyre with Crawford – on the Canelo-Crawford undercard.

When Mbilli was crowned, Crawford stood by his stablemate, insisting Martinez should have been given the nod and is the rightful champion.

Though Mbilli has said he is open to a rematch with Martinez, he is now the frontrunner to land the Canelo comeback fight.

Speaking to La Hora del Boxeo, Martinez looked ahead to that match-up and said he will be ready and waiting for the winner.

“Canelo could win, Mbilli could win. Fighting either of those two would benefit me a lot. We’ll be ready to win.”

First up is Immanuwel Aleem – Martinez’s second attempt in a row at the WBC interim belt. Should he come through the American tonight in California, topping a Pro Box TV card, he will secure that prime position. Crawford has recently been in camp with the 30-year-old from Guatemala to help him prepare, and will undoubtedly do the same if the Canelo fight is made down the line.

Brendon McCullum (AP Photo)

The Brendon McCullum era at England came under intense scrutiny following explosive allegations about dressing-room culture during the disastrous The Ashes tour. Reports, primarily from Telegraph Sport, have painted a picture of a team environment that blurred the line between freedom and lack of discipline, raising serious questions about leadership, accountability, and professionalism.England’s defeat in The Ashes was more than just a loss, it was a systemic failure. Poor preparation, including the lack of meaningful warm-up matches, left the team underprepared for Australian conditions. The aggressive “Bazball” approach, once hailed as revolutionary, unravelled quickly after a heavy defeat in Perth, leaving England without a fallback plan.The report quoted by Telegraph sports highlighted the cultural issues within the dressing room which says that, ” There were players in the Ashes who felt McCullum was naturally drawn to those like him who enjoy a beer, a vape and a round of golf. Unintentionally it created a clique that became more apparent under the stress of an Ashes loss and there were players who felt a non-serious environment had cost them the opportunity of a lifetime in Australia.”

Off-Field Incidents Add Fuel to the Fire

The allegations gained traction amid a series of off-field controversies. Reports further suggested England players spent extended periods drinking during a mid-series break in Noosa, with some accounts claiming up to “six days” of socialising during a nine-day gap between Tests.Incidents involving Harry Brook further intensified scrutiny, including a late-night altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand prior to the Ashes for which he lied during the press conference. There were also reports of players frequenting casinos and being visibly intoxicated in public during the tour, reinforcing the narrative that off-field distractions contributed to England’s poor performances.This resulted as a loss for England Cricket Team (ECB) as the selection and fitness decisions compounded the crisis. Shoaib Bashir, long viewed as a key weapon, was deemed unfit for selection, while misplaced faith in Ollie Pope proved costly. The management of fast bowlers such as Mark Wood and Jofra Archer backfired, leaving England short of firepower across a demanding five-Test series.After review of the Ashes series, ECB chief Richard Gould changed the culture reported by Telegraph Sports which said,” The players will be disciplined if they are drunk in public, they must not put on social media anything to do with drinking alcohol and must tell the management their location after 9pm. There is a midnight curfew.”

How did McCullum save his job?

After the Ashes debacle, Stokes submitted a report explaining why England lost the Ashes, and according to it, the English captain blamed McCullum and the management. It is also believed that the two pointed fingers at each other during the review, which the ECB launched on the same day when the Sydney Test concluded.

Sri Lanka Tour: The Turning Point

With his job on the line, McCullum made a decisive move by joining England’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, despite initially planning to skip it. Arriving just days after the Ashes, he used the opportunity to show adaptability and commitment.He accepted stricter discipline rules introduced by Key and agreed to strengthen the coaching setup, including the return of Carl Hopkinson to address fielding concerns. The results were immediate. England regrouped, with Joe Root playing a pivotal role, and secured a series win that eased pressure on the management. Observers saw this as a defining moment, noting “it gave McCullum an opportunity… to prove he was willing to change.”World Cup Progress, But Questions RemainEngland carried that momentum into the World Cup, where there were clear signs of improvement. Harry Brook thrived in a new role at number three, while Will Jacks and Jacob Bethell added balance and promise to the side.However, the semi-final defeat to India exposed lingering issues under pressure. Despite progress, England once again fell short when it mattered most. As the campaign ultimately showed, “England still lost the match that mattered.”McCullum accepted his errors during the Ashes, and the talks between the two have since reached an agreement. The ECB also refrained from sacking McCullum due to the costs involved. The former New Zealand captain is contracted with England for another 18 months, and a sacking would prove costly for the ECB.

Football Focus’ Dion Dublin says he thinks “the referee got it wrong” and Manchester United should have been awarded a penalty when Amad Diallo appeared to be pulled back inside the box by Adrien Truffert.

READ MORE: Man Utd to make formal complaint over decisions

Elsewhere in Ligue 1, all eyes turn to Saturday’s clash in Nice, where Paris Saint-Germain must respond. Sitting two points behind Lens, the Parisians need a win to reclaim first place, but will have to do it without in-form Bradley Barcoley, sidelined for several weeks with an ankle injury.

In Monaco, Paul Pogba may finally be nearing a return. The 2018 World Cup winner is back in full training with the Principality club. No official comeback date has been set, but April 5, against Marseille on Matchday 28, is being targeted.

In the Premier League, no Arsenal or Manchester City in league action this weekend, the top two meet instead in Sunday’s League Cup final. Manchester United were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw at Bournemouth on Friday, leaving the door open for Aston Villa and Liverpool to close the gap. The Reds, meanwhile, will be without Mohamed Salah for their trip to Brighton.

On the international stage, France are gearing up for a US tour next week, but head coach Didier Deschamps will be without Manu Koné, injured in Europa League action with Roma. Les Bleus face Brazil on Thursday and Colombia on Sunday.

In tennis, Arthur Fils made a perfect start at the Miami Masters, setting up a third-round clash with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who knocked out world No. 6 Alex de Minaur. Casper Ruud and Jack Draper, meanwhile, crashed out early.

And finally, in EuroLeague basketball, it was a night of fireworks: leaders Fenerbahçe beat Milan, while Kaunas stunned Real Madrid, inspired by a standout performance from Sylvain Francisco.

There are golf tournaments — and then there are experiences.

The 8AM Invitational at Wynn Las Vegas, hosted by Justin Timberlake, has quickly carved out a lane of its own: part competitive golf, part cultural moment, and entirely unlike anything else on the calendar.

Now entering its fifth year, the event has become one of the most anticipated annual gatherings in the game — bringing together a curated mix of athletes, entertainers, actors and cultural icons for a weekend that blends golf, entertainment and philanthropy at the highest level.

A one-of-a-kind setting — and an unmatched field

Set against the backdrop of Wynn Golf Club — the only course on the Las Vegas Strip — the Invitational delivers a setting that feels as premium as the guest list.

And the guest list is exactly what sets this event apart.

In recent years, Timberlake has welcomed an eclectic and electric mix of talent, including Jimmy Fallon, Michelle Wie West, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, Michael Phelps, J.J. Watt, Blake Griffin and Michael Strahan, along with Matthew Stafford and Colt McCoy.

The crossover doesn’t stop with sports. The field has also featured entertainers and personalities like Nate Bargatze, Andrew Santino, Brian Baumgartner and Michael Peña, alongside actors like Chace Crawford and a new generation of golf and lifestyle voices including Kira Dixon and Erin Lim Rhodes.

Advertisement

Add in names like Ryan Sheckler, Sean Malto, Chandler Parsons, Trey McBride, Courtney Lee and Dexter Fowler, and you get a lineup that feels less like a tournament field and more like a perfectly curated cultural moment.

This isn’t a traditional event. It’s a collision of worlds, where elite competitors, entertainers and personalities all show up with something to prove — and have a great time doing it.

More than a tournament — it’s a full weekend experience

What makes the 8AM Invitational truly unique is that it doesn’t stop when the last putt drops.

Select sponsor guests are invited inside the ropes, gaining rare access to both the competition and the personalities that define it. That includes watching the tournament up close, playing in a celeb-am leading into the event, and attending two unforgettable parties hosted at Wynn alongside the players and talent.

And in a nod to one of golf’s most iconic traditions, the Invitational enforces a strict no-phone policy — both on the course and at the parties — creating an atmosphere that feels present, private and refreshingly unplugged.

Where entertainment and golf collide

From competitive moments during the day to late-night performances and stories that rarely leave the room, the energy of the 8AM Invitational is constant.

It’s golf — but louder, more social and unmistakably modern.

Yet beneath the spectacle is real competition. Many of these names can play, and pride is very much on the line when they tee it up at Wynn.

Driven by purpose

At its core, the 8AM Invitational is about more than just the experience.

To date, the event has raised more than $1 million for the American Skin Association, using its platform to drive meaningful impact beyond the ropes.

The can’t-miss event on golf’s calendar

In a sport rooted in tradition, the 8AM Invitational is something entirely different.

An epic annual gathering. A one-of-a-kind golf experience. And a weekend at Wynn Las Vegas that continues to redefine what a golf event can be.

Interested in experiencing the 8AM Invitational yourself? Click here to get in touch.

“>

First Published: Mar 21 2026 | 1:22 PM IST