At altitude, England dug so deep. They came out of an absolute battle to seize a quarter-final place against Erling Haaland’s Norway.

An epic game worthy of the Azteca had almost everything, and especially excellence at both ends from Jude Bellingham and Jordan Pickford, as Thomas Tuchel’s side had to give their all.

A flailing, if spirited Mexico were dispatched 3-2, the tension ratcheting up with all of the refereeing decisions and the ghosts of 1986 swirling around.

There were also echoes of 1998 and 2006, after Jarrel Quansah had been sent off for a VAR review. That was one of many, to go with multiple moments of doubt.

England, for their part, showed an admirable belief through all of that. They instead ensured 2026 is a different story, for now, after a game that was arguably the country’s most dramatic ever World Cup win. It certainly tested emotions, especially amid those last 11 minutes of stoppage time that felt as long England’s 60-year wait.

Sometimes, though, emotion is all these World Cup matches come down to – especially with the way they drive and drag teams to such limits.

We saw it all here, culminating in lamentable Mexican tears. Even Tuchel said he was almost sorry to see them out.

In this last World Cup match at the Azteca, the hosts had put everything in but they were always lacking something.

Thomas Tuchel’s switch to a hugely defensive – and risky – 5-3-1 once Quansah was sent off actually worked much better than expected, as the anticipated Mexican siege never really arrived.

Pickford, after two sensational saves in the first half that weren’t far behind Gordon Banks’s in the same country, met everything in that period. Dan Burn meanwhile quelled the previously imposing threat of Raul Jimenez. He brought the best out of Pickford and, ultimately, the team.

For all the rightful lauding of England’s character and resolve, there were again concerns and flaws, that you can’t help but feel would be punished against superior sides.

Most of all, England saw another game – arguably the third of five – become a dogfight.

They struggle to assert any kind of control, which also feels slightly contradictory, when Elliot Anderson had played so well.

That is probably influenced by the fragility at the back. It is remarkable how quickly gaps appear.

The Quansah red card can even be linked to these issues at right-back.

England were again exposed.

But then… how many sides at this World Cup are actually good enough to not get punished themselves?

Just look at the team arguably the strongest on this side of the draw – even if that is now very arguable – in Argentina. Their test of will against Cabo Verde was even more gruelling than this.

Perhaps that’s just the nature of this World Cup, the gaps lessened, every game a battles.

And if so many other sides are flawed, can they be just as easily punished by England if Harry Kane and Bellingham are on this kind of form?

It’s almost like they’re trading influential games now. Kane gets two in the last 32 then Bellingham gets two here, with the captain adding a brilliant penalty that did end up being decisive.

It was Bellingham that shaped the entire game, though, right up to how his two goals set everything that followed.

One irony to that is England initially looked like they’d got their approach absolutely correct.

Clearly conscious of the excessive demands of this game, Tuchel had England play in a constrained approach where they invited pressure and then patiently hit Mexico on the counter.

With one drive forward, it was like Bellingham changed the entire tone of the match.

He was then there to finish from another counter moments later, plundering the first in brilliant fashion.

That should have been the pattern of the game. Having scored one on the counter, England then scored another on the counter press.

Bellingham was there again.

That should have been that, even as the Mexican fans sang “yes we can”.

It seemed little more than hope, an attempt to manifest some deep will that wasn’t really based on any substance.

And then England just frittered away themselves.

If the foul that led to Julian Quinones’s brilliantly taken goal did not look a foul, it came from a spell where England were giving away a series of free-kicks.

That seemed so needless… especially since it was 2-0.

Again it came back to this issue of control. Allowances obviously can be made for everything about these settings, but this was another one of those dogfights when England had been purring.

They badly needed the break. The game wasn’t letting, until we entered a series of big decisions and VAR reviews.

First there was Quansah, then the crucial reprieve of Raul Rangel’s foul on the relentless Anthony Gordon for Kane to power home – then Kane’s own foul for Jimenez’s penalty.

Amid all of that, though, there was only Mexican crossing.

In one crucial moment just before the end of the 90, they had a chance to work an opening but instead played it back to swing it in again.

England gradually learned to deal with this, despite the emotion – and 11 minutes’ injury time – inevitably bringing one big scare.

And that is maybe the main lesson of this game: England still have a lot of issues, but they have qualities and spirit and an ability to respond that can take them through to the final.

They now just have a big striker to face.

It will be going far to ensure the emotional peaks of this match are reached.

At the end of the game, England sank to the ground in relief.

That was certainly down to more than altitude. They’d gone very, very deep – and it might yet mean going deep into this World Cup.

Marcellus Wiley, the former NFL Pro Bowler and sports broadcaster, was arrested on charges of domestic battery on Saturday.

Wiley was arrested by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, which court records showed. He is currently being held without bond.

There have been no additional details provided on Wiley’s arrest.

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Ex-NFL Pro Bowler Marcellus Wiley was arrested and charged with domestic violence during an incident that occurred on the Fourth of July, court records showed. (GETTY IMAGES)

This arrest of Wiley, 51, comes after a recent Rolling Stone article, which cited accusations of sexual assault by four women in April 2026.

FOUR MORE WOMEN ACCUSE FORMER NFL PLAYER OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AMID EXISTING ALLEGATIONS: ‘BLATANT LIES’

Wiley was also previously sued by three women for allegedly raping them while at Columbia, where he played his college football. He denied those allegations on his “More To It with Marcellus Wiley” podcast, claiming to have evidence to prove what he called “alleged misrepresentations.”

Wiley had also called the allegations while at Columbia “B.S.”

Wiley’s wife is Annemarie Wiley, who used to star on “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”

The Rolling Stone article notes two of the women who claim Wiley sexually assaulted them came between 1995-1999.

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Annemarie Wiley and Marcellus Wiley attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Atlanta Hawks at Intuit Dome on Nov. 10, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

There was another woman who claimed that Wiley groomed her since she was 13 years old during his time playing for the Buffalo Bills. Then, she claims that Wiley raped her when she was 18 in Dallas. She claims to have been flown out by Wiley as he was playing for the Cowboys, per Rolling Stone.

“Marcellus Wiley raped me on my 18th birthday, after grooming me from the age of 13,” the victim wrote, adding that he referred to her as ‘little momma.’ “If Columbia had properly pursued the complaints… I would never have been groomed and raped.”

Also, a woman who used to be a production assistant at ESPN – Wiley has worked as a broadcaster for ESPN and FOX Sports – alleged Wiley deceived her about joining him in a hotel room for a working meeting in 2009. But she claims h sexually assaulted her during that time.

“The assault was devastating to me, and I will live with the effects to this day,” the fourth woman wrote in a court filing, per Rolling Stone.

Annemarie Wiley (L) and Marcellus Wiley attend a basketball game between the Los Angeles Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies at Intuit Dome on Dec. 15, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

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Wiley was the 52nd overall pick of the 1997 NFL Draft out of Columbia, landing with the Bills where he would play for his first four NFL seasons.

But Wiley earned his first and only Pro Bowl nod in 2001 with the San Diego Chargers, where he would star for three years. He also played with the Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars before his playing career came to an end after the 2006 season.

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The Viking row continues on at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and it’s the superstar Erling Haaland who every Norwegian can thank for that after another masterful performance Sunday against Brazil.

Norway is moving on to its first-ever quarterfinals at the World Cup after Haaland scored twice in the 2-1 victory over Brazil, which heads home earlier than they likely expected.

But this tournament has proven Haaland, no matter how many touches he gets on the ball, is just like Thanos: he’s inevitable.

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Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates with teammates Andreas Schjelderup and David Moller Wolfe after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

Norway, which had grade-A chances throughout the match, as did Brazil including a key penalty shot very early on, found yet another in the box when a short cross came across the goal front. The Brazil defense lost track of Haaland for a split second, and that’s all the 6-foot-5 Norwegian needed to leap and flick his head onto the ball, which went past goalkeeper Allison for the go-ahead goal.

It was the 79th minute of the match, and it felt like that was finally the decider in a back-and-forth bout between these two countries.

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ’S SEVENTH GOAL OF THE WORLD CUP LIFTS FRANCE PAST PARAGUAY IN PHYSICAL ROUND OF 16 MATCH

Both keepers, including Norway’s Ørjan Nyland, had a tremendous match. But Nyland’s save on a penalty kick by Bruno Guimarães in the 14th minute changed the trajectory of this match.

Many wondered why Vini Jr., a superstar who had four goals in the World Cup before this match, handed the ball to Guimarães to take his first career penalty for Brazil. And they were justified considering the result.

Brazil had other threats on Norway, including a dangerous cross of the boot of Gabriel Martinelli in the first half, but Nyland once again kept the door slammed shut with a 0-0 draw.

David Moller Wolfe, Oscar Bobb, Andreas Schjelderup and Erling Haaland of Norway celebrate the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar)

Haaland’s breakthrough late in the second half turned Norway into a defensive-minded squad, while Brazil, which had subbed in Neymar Jr. to the delight of the sold-out crowd in New Jersey, was trying desperately to tie things up again.

But leave it to the Manchester City superstar striker to find an opening and exploit it.

Haaland sealed victory for Norway when he inched the ball forward with his left foot just outside Brazil’s box and fired a low strike to the right side past the sprawling Allison to make it 2-0 at the 90th minute. There was no pomp and circumstance by Haaland, though his teammates screamed and jumped on his back.

This is what he does – score goals. He now has seven in this World Cup, tying him with France’s Kylian Mbappé and Argentina’s Lionel Messi as they contend for the Golden Boot Award as the top goalscorer in the tournament.

Brazil was awarded another penalty shot shortly after Haaland’s second goal, which Neymar took this time. After he and Nyland were seen jawing back and forth, Neymar buried the attempt, which was ultimately a consolation goal. He and Nyland exchanged words again, but Norway was the only ones delighted when the whistle blew at New York/New Jersey Stadium.

Erling Haaland of Norway celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 5, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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This is Norway’s first World Cup in 28 years, and they’ve done more than just represent their country well. They’ve taken down a five-time champion in Brazil to keep their title hopes alive, and Haaland continues to play a large role in making it happen for his squad.

It’s why there was no other person to lead that Viking row in the stands after the match, as Haaland gleefully banged the drum to orchestrate one of the best celebrations this tournament has seen throughout a fantastic World Cup.

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FILE–Filipino import Ray Parks in action for Osaka Evessa in the Japan B.League. –BLEAGUE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—After a commendable run with Osaka Evessa in the previous Japan B.League season, Bobby Ray Parks Jr. is taking his act to Ibaraki.

On Saturday night, the B.League announced that Parks has signed with the Robots for the 2026-27 season.

Parks’ signing with Ibaraki also closed the door on his rumored return to TNT in the PBA.

READ: B.League: Ray Parks opens door to ‘next chapter’ after Osaka exit

The Robots will be Parks’ third team in the B.League since joining the league in 2021 as the Asian import of the Nagoya Diamond Dolphins.

After three seasons with Nagoya, the 33-year-old Parks played a couple of years with the Osaka Evessa.

“For me, it was time to move on to the next chapter, whatever that may be,” the former Gilas Pilipinas gunner told reporters during the B.League Final Week in Manila last May.

“I felt like it was my time to depart from Osaka. We achieved what we achieved and I feel like I just want to compete more in that aspect and I felt like there’s so much more that I can still do.”

Parks is the latest Filipino import to find a new home after former Yokohama guard Kiefer Ravena inked a deal with B.League powerhouse Ryukyu recently.

Ryan Garcia has named one of his former foes as the man to defeat Jaron Ennis, who remains unbeaten following his super-welterweight triumph over Xander Zayas.

The 29-year-old became a two-division unified champion last Saturday, dethroning Zayas with a seventh-round stoppage after scoring three knockdowns.

Besides the fleeting moments of vulnerability he showed in round three, it was a largely dominant performance from ‘Boots’, who now holds the WBO and WBA titles.

As a result, Ennis has taken himself one step closer towards becoming the undisputed king at 154lbs, where Sebastian Fundora and Josh Kelly are the respective WBC and IBF champions.

But much of the talk, it seems, is about a potential all-American clash between ‘Boots’ and Vergil Ortiz Jr, who has not fought since his second-round finish over Erickson Lubin in November.

Ortiz now appears set to return to action later this year, possibly targeting a showdown with Ennis, who WBC champion Garcia believes would lose to Devin Haney.

‘The Dream’ claimed his WBO welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Brian Norman Jr in November, but seemingly has the frame and skillset to eventually campaign at 154lbs.

Taking to social media, Garcia revealed his hot take that not even Ennis, the naturally bigger man, would succeed in solving the puzzle of Haney.

“You guys would be surprised but Devin would actually beat Boots.”

You guys would be surprised but Devin would actually beat boots.

— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) July 2, 2026

Haney and Garcia collided in April 2024, with the latter claiming a majority decision victory – scoring three knockdowns – only for his triumph to subsequently be ruled a no-contest.

This was because ‘King Ry’ tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, for which he was dealt a year-long ban.

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino embraces United States’ Folarin Balogun. (AP Photo)

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has thrown his full support behind FIFA’s extraordinary decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s automatic one-match ban, insisting the ruling upheld the principles of “ethics and integrity” as the co-hosts prepare for a blockbuster FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash against Belgium.The decision, which also prompted US President Donald Trump to publicly thank FIFA, has become one of the most controversial talking points of the tournament, with Belgium threatening to explore legal options and several coaches questioning the precedent it sets.

‘Everyone should celebrate’: Pochettino defends FIFA ruling

Speaking ahead of Monday’s knockout encounter, Pochettino welcomed FIFA’s move to make Balogun available after the striker’s controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.“I think everyone who really looked at the sport and trusts in ethics and integrity should celebrate that decision,” Pochettino told reporters.The former Argentina international argued that the United States had already suffered enough during its 2-0 Round of 32 victory, when Balogun was dismissed in the 64th minute after a VAR review.“We were punished enough against Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing with 10 men for 35 minutes after a decision that was completely unfair,” he said.Pochettino also said he was not surprised that President Donald Trump personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to seek a review of the incident.“I came from a culture, Argentina or Europe, that football, soccer is a religion, more than the religion,” Pochettino said. “If we keep going, pushing on, maybe one step more tomorrow you will see that the sport is magic, that the sport is amazing, is so powerful, unite people, unite a country like us.”

Referee Raphael Claus shows a red card to United States’ Folarin Balogun (R). (AP Photo)

Trump welcomes reversal; Belgium fume

According to reports, Trump called Infantino after the Bosnia match to request that FIFA review the red card shown to Balogun, who is the United States’ leading scorer with three goals at the tournament.Following FIFA’s announcement, Trump praised the governing body on social media.“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” he wrote.FIFA said the suspension had been lifted under Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, placing Balogun on a one-year probationary period. Should he commit a similar offence during that period, the suspended sanction would automatically come into effect.The move appears to be the first time since the 1962 World Cup that a player sent off during the tournament has avoided serving the automatic suspension.

Belgium questions legality of decision

The Royal Belgian Football Association reacted angrily, describing itself as “astonished” by FIFA’s ruling and questioning its legal basis.While acknowledging FIFA’s reliance on Article 27, the RBFA argued that Article 66.4 of the Disciplinary Code clearly mandates an automatic suspension after a red card, noting that every other dismissal at this World Cup has resulted in a one-match ban.Belgium coach Rudi Garcia also mocked the timing of the decision.“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the fifth of July was the first of April in Europe,” Garcia quipped, likening the ruling to an April Fools’ joke.The Belgian federation said it is exploring “all potential options” to protect “the fundamental principles of fair play,” while Norway coach Ståle Solbakken warned the ruling could create a dangerous precedent for future disciplinary decisions.

England’s Jude Bellingham (10) celebrates after scoring his second goal (AP Photo)

England survived a hostile atmosphere, a second-half red card and relentless late pressure to defeat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday, booking their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals. The victory sends the Three Lions into the last eight for the third consecutive World Cup, where they will meet Erling Haaland’s Norway in Miami Gardens on Saturday with a place in the semi-finals at stake. In one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament, Jude Bellingham proved the difference with two goals in the space of just 98 seconds during the first half before Harry Kane converted a crucial penalty despite England playing with 10 men. The match, played in front of more than 80,000 spectators at the iconic Azteca Stadium, also featured a weather delay of nearly an hour before England emerged victorious in one of the toughest environments of the competition. Mexico entered the contest unbeaten in 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca, including three victories during this tournament, but England ended that remarkable record. Bellingham silenced the home crowd in the 36th minute by powering home a header before striking again just two minutes later after being set up by Kane, putting England firmly in control. Mexico refused to fold, with Julián Quiñones reducing the deficit in the 42nd minute to ensure the hosts remained firmly in the contest heading into half-time. The momentum appeared to swing decisively in Mexico’s favour nine minutes after the restart when England defender Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card following a VAR review for a dangerous challenge on Jesús Gallardo. Quansah became only the fourth England player to be sent off at a FIFA World Cup and the first since Wayne Rooney’s dismissal in 2006. Ray Wilkins in 1986 and David Beckham in 1998 are the only other England players to have received red cards at the tournament. With England reduced to 10 men, head coach Thomas Tuchel responded by replacing Bukayo Saka with John Stones to reinforce his defence. Despite the numerical disadvantage, England struck again in the 60th minute when Anthony Gordon was brought down inside the penalty area by Mexico goalkeeper Raúl Rangel. Kane calmly converted from the spot for his sixth goal of the tournament and the 14th World Cup goal of his career, drawing level with West Germany legend Gerd Müller for fifth on the competition’s all-time scoring list. Kane’s sixth goal of the tournament also moved him to within one strike of Golden Boot leaders Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. The England captain also made unwanted World Cup history later in the contest by conceding a penalty, becoming the first player since at least 1966 to both score and give away a penalty in the same World Cup match. Raúl Jiménez converted with a trademark stutter-step run-up to cut England’s lead to 3-2 and set up a tense finale. Mexico threw everything forward over the final 21 minutes, along with 11 minutes of stoppage time, but Jordan Pickford and England’s defence withstood wave after wave of pressure to preserve their narrow advantage. The defeat extended Mexico’s frustrating World Cup record in the knockout rounds. El Tri have now been eliminated in the round of 16 eight times since reaching the quarter-finals while hosting the 1986 tournament. Their only other appearance beyond the last 16 came when they hosted the World Cup in 1970. Despite enjoying a one-man advantage for much of the second half and receiving passionate backing from the home crowd, Mexico were unable to find a decisive equaliser as England marched into another World Cup quarter-final.

AEW fan-favorite Adam Cole has been away from the Tony Khan-led promotion’s programming for almost a year now. In the midst of his ongoing absence, the company’s official social media handle recently wished the multi-time former champion on a significant personal occasion.

Adam Cole was initially scheduled to defend his TNT Championship against Kyle Fletcher last year at All In: Texas. However, ahead of the pay-per-view, news broke that The Panama City Playboy would be unable to compete in the Globe Life Field Stadium due to his health issues. The Paragon member appeared in person during the event as well to relinquish his TNT Title in the middle of the ring, cutting an emotional promo to inform fans that he had to step away from action indefinitely, and thanking them for their years of support.

Cole has not competed since he and his long-time teammates Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly defeated the Don Callis Family’s Kyle Fletcher and RPG Vice in a trios bout on the July 10 edition of AEW Collision. It has been speculated that the former WWE superstar may be effectively retired from the squared circle, with a report from this past April claiming that the Jacksonville-based promotion did not have any creative plans for him at the time.

While he remains on hiatus, Cole celebrated his 37th birthday this week on Sunday (July 5). AEW’s X/Twitter profile posted a graphic for the star several hours ago to wish him on the happy occasion.

“Happy Birthday @AdamColePro !”- posted the company’s X handle.

Sportskeeda joins All Elite Wrestling and the rest of the wrestling world in wishing Adam Cole the happiest of returns for his birthday.

AEW “Founding Fathers” The Young Bucks’ latest update on Adam Cole

During a live QnA session on the official channel of their renowned YouTube show Being The Elite from this past June, The Young Bucks provided a health update on their long-time ally and friend, Adam Cole. The Jackson Brothers noted that the former AEW TNT and WWE NXT Champion’s recovery was progressing on a day to day basis, and that the latter was actually seeing improvements.

“Adam, we love you. It’s step by step. He’s just trying to take it day by day. He’s having improvements, which is good. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He’s the best person I’ve ever met in wrestling business,” he said. [H/T – Drainmaker’s X]

It remains to be seen whether and when Cole might return to All Elite Wrestling.