Jude Bellingham appeared to slap Argentina defender Valentin Barco after England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, sparking a flashpoint in the ugly post-match scenes in Atlanta
England star Jude Bellingham appeared to strike Argentina defender Valentin Barco following England’s World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina. Tempers boiled over after the full-time whistle as the Real Madrid midfielder had to be pulled away from the confrontation.
The Three Lions surrendered a one-goal advantage to the reigning champions after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring in the second-half. The new Barcelona signing broke the deadlock but England slowly slipped back and Argentina’s pressure eventually told thanks to goals from Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez.
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As Argentina rejoiced in the centre of the pitch, the Real Madrid midfielder seemed to hit the Strasbourg defender, sparking another flashpoint in a bad-tempered encounter. There were unsavoury scenes in Atlanta as playmaker Morgan Rogers had to be pulled away from the scuffle.
Barco, an unused substitute in the semi-final, was spotted celebrating with his delighted team-mates when Bellingham seemed to make contact with the full-back’s head. Though, there is no suggestion of what provoked the midfielder’s reaction.
Thomas Tuchel’s team had gone ahead after Anthony Gordon opened the scoring, however, England retreated, allowing pressure from Argentina. Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez found the net to seal the turnaround and secure their spot in Sunday’s final against Spain.
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BBC Sport co-commentator and former England captain Alan Shearer said: “I think the best team won. You can’t complain about that, you’ve got to be open and honest about it, their reaction was magnificent.”, reports the Mirror.
“They hit the post a couple of times, England got lucky. But how they didn’t panic, stuck to their gameplan, believed in what they were doing, and they did it. The substitutions worked, you have to admire, respect the way they came back into the game.
“They deserve to be in the final on Sunday, as much as it hurts me to say.”
There were tears from the Argentinians after staging yet another dramatic escape, having navigated tricky encounters with Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland on their way to the final. Lionel Scaloni’s side required extra-time to overcome both African nations and capitalised on a numerical advantage to dispatch the Swiss.
England attempted to protect their narrow lead with Tuchel making substitutions and choosing to stifle the defending champions. Argentina responded with a succession of attacking replacements, and a rapid-fire double completely transformed the semi-final.
The former Chelsea and Bayern Munich boss could face scrutiny for his decision to adopt a defensive approach with just 15 minutes remaining. Wayne Rooney felt England invited the pressure upon themselves and were left to regret the final 25 minutes.
He said: “When you’re in a fight, you have to stay on top. We go one-nil up, sit back, make changes and go six at the back, if you allow Messi to come on to you and Argentina, you’re asking for trouble.”
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It means the Three Lions will contest third place, as they did at the 2018 World Cup following their semi-final defeat to Croatia, where they will face France.
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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The 2026 Open Championship tees off on Thursday, July 16, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. The first tee times come at 1:35 a.m. ET. Scottie Scheffler, who tees off at 4:58 a.m. ET, is the defending Open Championship winner, while Jordan Spieth won this event the last time it was at Royal Birkdale in 2017. Scheffler is the +750 favorite (risk $100 to win $750) in the latest 2026 Open Championship odds. McIlroy is next on the PGA odds board this week at +950.
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This same model has also nailed a whopping 17 majors entering the weekend, including the 2026 Masters — its fifth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
One major surprise the model is calling for at the Open Championship 2026: Fleetwood, who is tied for the third-lowest odds on the board at +1500, stumbles and doesn’t finish in the top 5. He’s a golfer to fade in Open Championship best bets. Fleetwood has a pair of top-5 finishes at the Open Championship, but also missed the cut in 2024 and finished outside the top 10 last year. He finished 27th the last time this event was at the Royal Birkdale. With no finishes better than T11 in any major this year, the model has found better values on the board. See who else to fade here.
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Another surprise: Ludvig Aberg is a top-3 contender on the projected leaderboard despite never having won a major and having longer odds at +3300. This will be just his third British Open appearance, but he finished in the top 25 in this event last year. He’s also been steady at the majors this year, which was highlighted by a T4 finish at the PGA Championship. He’s one of the best drivers in both distance and accuracy on tour right now, and that quality alone makes him a top contender at Royal Birkdale. See who else to pick here.
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Scottie Scheffler +750 Rory McIlroy +950 Tommy Fleetwood +1500 Matt Fitzpatrick +1500 Jon Rahm +2000 Xander Schauffele +2500 Robert MacIntyre +2700 Viktor Hovland +3000 Chris Gotterup +3300 Tyrrell Hatton +3300 Ludvig Åberg +3300 Justin Rose +3300 Wyndham Clark +3500 Collin Morikawa +3500 Cameron Young +3500 Si Woo Kim +4000 Shane Lowry +4500 Russell Henley +4500 Justin Thomas +4500 Tom Kim +4500 Sam Burns +4500 Patrick Reed +5000 Min Woo Lee +5500 Joaquin Niemann +5500 Patrick Cantlay +5500 Aaron Rai +6000 Alex Fitzpatrick +6000 JJ Spaun +6500 Bryson DeChambeau +6500 Brooks Koepka +7000 Hideki Matsuyama +7000 Harris English +8000 Ben Griffin +8000 Rickie Fowler +10000 Maverick McNealy +10000 Brian Harman +10000 Jordan Spieth +10000 Adam Scott +10000 Nicolai Højgaard +10000 Kurt Kitayama +10000 Ryan Gerard +10000 Keegan Bradley +10000 Akshay Bhatia +10000 Kristoffer Reitan +10000 Alex Noren +10000 Corey Conners +12500 Tom McKibbin +12500 Eugenio Chacarra +12500 Matt Wallace +12500 Cameron Smith +12500 Victor Perez +12500 Alex Smalley +15000 Bud Cauley +15000 Jordan Smith +15000 Ryan Fox +15000 J.T. Poston +15000 Sepp Straka +17500 Jacob Bridgeman +17500 Jake Knapp +17500 Sahith Theegala +17500 Marco Penge +17500 Max Homa +17500 Andrew Novak +17500 Thomas Detry +17500 Michael Kim +17500 Casey Jarvis +17500 Nick Taylor +17500 Harry Hall +17500 Keith Mitchell +17500 Jason Day +17500 Gary Woodland +17500 Eric Cole +17500 Johnny Keefer +17500 Michael Thorbjornsen +17500 David Puig +22500 Sungjae Im +22500 John Parry +22500 Pierceson Coody +22500 Haotong Li +22500 Rasmus Højgaard +22500 Sam Stevens +22500 Laurie Canter +22500 Max Greyserman +22500 Angel Ayora +22500 Ryo Hisatsune +22500 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen +22500 Aldrich Potgieter +22500 Sami Valimaki +25000 Jayden Schaper +25000 Lucas Herbert +25000 Michael Brennan +25000 Nico Echavarria +25000 Matthew Jordan +25000 Matt Mccarty +25000 Stewart Cink +25000 Hennie du Plessis +35000 Daniel Hillier +35000 Billy Horschel +35000 Jackson Suber +35000 Scott Vincent +35000 Daniel Berger +35000 Daniel Brown +35000 Bernd Wiesberger +35000 Jesper Svensson +50000 Shaun Norris +50000 Keita Nakajima +50000 Andy Sullivan +50000 Francesco Molinari +50000 Padraig Harrington +75000 Kazuma Kobori +75000 Adrien Saddier +75000 Francesco Laporta +75000 Antoine Rozner +75000 Jose Luis Ballester +75000 Joe Dean +75000 Peter Uihlein +100000 Alejandro De Castro Piera +100000 Kota Kaneko +100000 Nevill Ruiter +100000 Matthew Southgate +100000 Baard Bjoernevik Skogen +100000 Travis Smyth +100000 Dan Bradbury +100000 Naoyuki Kataoka +100000 MJ Daffue +100000 Marcus Plunkett +100000 Cameron John +100000 Tiger Christensen +100000 Ryutaro Nagano +100000 Jeong Woo Ham +100000 Lev Grinberg +100000 Martin Couvra +100000 Jack Buchanan +100000 Joakim Lagergren +100000 Frederic Lacroix +100000 Stuart Grehan +100000 Matthew Baldwin +100000 Kazuki Higa +100000 Sam Bairstow +100000 Darren Clarke +100000 Fifa Laopakdee +100000 David Duval +100000 Mason Howell +100000 Ren Yonezawa +100000 Jiho Yang +100000 James Nicholas +100000 Michael Hollick +100000 David Howard +100000 Mateo Pulcini +100000 Henrik Stenson +100000 Tim Wiedemeyer +100000 Jack McDonald +100000 Caleb Surratt +100000 Alistair Docherty +100000 Austen Truslow +100000 Tom Sloman +100000
Manny Pacquiao’s team have provided further insight into the boxing legend’s plans over the coming months, confirming that the Filipino icon is expected to fight again before his proposed rematch with Floyd Mayweather in 2027.
Pacquiao returned to professional boxing in 2025 after almost four years away, battling then WBC champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw in a bid to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history.
Rather than remain inactive, however, Pacquiao intends to step back into the ring before then.
Speaking at a recent press conference, Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur confirmed that the 46-year-old is still expected to fight before the end of the year.
“That’s the plan. There is a plan to have a fight for this year and then to roll into next year for the big [Mayweather] fight. Everybody wants to see Floyd and Manny one more time. That’s what’s going to break all records. That’s what’s going to be the most viewed event again, in today’s streaming era.”
Mathur then expanded on those plans, revealing that Pacquiao’s team are currently exploring several options, with an exhibition appearing the most likely outcome.
“We’re working on a few different fights right now for him. Presently there’s likely going to be an exhibition that we’re trying to put together in the fourth quarter of this year. Nobody is set, no opponent is set in stone yet. We’re still working on that.”
No opponent has been confirmed, although former WBO super-lightweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov may remain a possibility. The pair had previously been expected to meet in an exhibition earlier this year before those plans failed to materialise, leaving the door open to a potential rescheduling if terms can be agreed.
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Should Pacquiao return before the end of the year, it would serve as the final step in his preparations for the long-awaited Mayweather rematch, which both camps continue to target for 2027.
I think there’s a very interesting runner here in MACHADADORP, who represents the Andrew Balding team. True Test heads the market on betting sites and will find this a significantly easier test than some she’s faced recently.
I respect her chance, while Song N Dance, who I sided with at Ascot last time out, comes here fresh after a couple of months off and although she is more exposed than the selection, she may still have some more improvement in her.
However, the patter comment appears to be more likely with regard to the selection, who is a Mehmas filly who ran green over 1m on her debut at Ascot but has come on nicely since.
Next up she went to Chester and picked up a fillies’ maiden (7f, good) with a bit in hand and she confirmed that theory when taking another good step forward at Wetherby last time (7f, good to firm), when she had to fight to defy a penalty but did so.
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Given who she’s handled by, further improvement on her handicap debut appears more than likely. She’ll need some on what she’s achieved but I think her initial mark of 86 looks reasonably fair and she should be bang there at the business end.
Weatherbys Handicap (Class 2) (14.52, Newmarket)
Moonfall heads the market for this after his Britannia Stakes win at Royal Ascot (1m, good to firm) for which George Boughey’s gelding has gone up 7lb. That rise far from rules him out in this, as he continues to progress.
However, better handicapped on his first start in this sphere may be ALFARAZ, who just like in the previous race, is an Andrew Balding-trained runner who could make a splash on entering this phase of his career.
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The Nathaniel colt had shown some promise during his first four starts, without winning any of them but he put that right when heading here last time a winning a C&D (good to firm) novice event, beating a couple of other promising types, including the odds-on favourite.
On that evidence, this initial mark of 88 suggests he could be well treated on his return to the track and at the prices, he looks very interesting and worth an each-way play.
Eklleem, another handicap newcomer, and Wechaad are others who could make their presence felt.
Betway Bunbury Cup (Heritage Handicap) (Class 2) (15.25, Newmarket)
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A cracking contest in store for this year’s Bunbury Cup and there are plenty in with chances.
Royal Zabeel arrives in great nick after winning here last week but a 6lb penalty does make him look vulnerable and his price reflects that. Back In Black is one to note in the market, while don’t discount Colombier or Physique at longer prices on racing betting sites.
However, I’m zoning in on Royal Ascot form for this, as we have the Buckingham Palace Stakes second ELARAK and third Great Acclaim. Both ran cracking races when I went with the latter in that event, when all the first four came from high draws.
Elarak led inside the final furlong but Mezcala came to nab him, while Great Acclaim stuck on well. In context, Elarak probably ran a slightly better race at the weights. He’s also still improving and if he can repeat that effort here, he could take some stopping. He’s up just 3lb and I like his chance.
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John Smith’s Cup (Class 2) (15.45, York)
Another really good renewal of this annual conundrum on the Knavesmire and I couldn’t resist having another go at solving it.
As ever, there are numerous chances and several that look plotted up. One that I think will run a huge race at double-figure odds is HAND OF GOD, who is a lightly-campaigned five-year-old trained by Harry Charlton.
He had a crack at this last year when he went off at just 7/1 on betting apps from stall nine but after being handy he backed out quickly and recorded his worst effort for some time.
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I’m hoping that was just a one-off as it’s quite difficult not to handle this lovely flat, galloping track and it’s noted that he was put away after last year’s race and didn’t return to the racecourse until April.
He made a step back in the right direction at Newbury that day (1m, good), when beaten just over 3l and then bounced right back with a career-best effort to win a Class 3 event going away by 2l (1m2f, good).
A fair bit might depend on how he starts here because he’s drawn in stall one but if Lewis Edmunds can get him out, he’s got the shortest route to travel and that latest Newbury win suggests he may still be well treated after a 5lb rise has taken him to a mark of 101.
He’s only had 10 starts and I think there could be more to come from him, so I’m going to play to relatively small stakes in this big field and hope he can erase the memory of last year’s effort.
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Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai July Cup Stakes (Group 1) (16.35, Newmarket)
One of the feature sprints of the season has not disappointed in terms of its line-up, with a stellar field turning up, including last year’s close second Big Mojo, plus three winners and a second from some of the big sprints at Royal Ascot.
You’ll recall I sided with both Venetian Sun and Satano Reve in their respective races there but this time I am going to take both on with an each-way play on MISSION CENTRAL, who may have what it takes to follow-up his King Charles III Stakes (5f, good to firm) success.
We already know that Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old gets this trip as he’s a three-time winner over it. He proved he can handle quick ground at Royal Ascot, when I felt the way he ran would suit this contest.
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He was prominent early but lost that position before doing his best work late on, which was perhaps to be expected. The return to further should, therefore, be a boon and I think he’s at the least good enough to make the frame, perhaps win it.
Venetian Sun won the Commonwealth Cup in fine style and she’s a major threat again, those a closer inspection of the figures suggest that the selection’s win at the same meeting was a few pounds better and yet she’s a shorter price. For that reason, I am taking her on but have huge respect for her in doing so.
Almeraq just had the measure of Satano Reve in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, much to my frustration that day and it would be no surprise if either of that pair proved good enough here, given the run of the race. It’s a fascinating contest and one to look forward to.
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Lisandro Martínez was seen holding a banner reading “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian” after Argentina’s controversial 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England, drawing widespread angry reactions from fans
Rachel Vickers-Price UK and World News Reporter
23:53, 15 Jul 2026Updated 23:57, 15 Jul 2026
Argentina marked their victory over England at the World Cup in contentious fashion, with players retrieving a banner from fans in the stands that declared: “The Falkland Islands are Argentinian.”
Manchester United’s Lisandro Martínez was pictured holding the banner, alongside former Spurs midfielder Giovanni Lo Celso. The banner appeared to mirror the sentiments of Argentinian President Javier Milei, who stated in a post earlier this year that the islands “were, are and will always be Argentine.”
Argentina contests British sovereignty over the islands, referring to them as Las Malvinas. The political dispute over the territory erupted into armed conflict in 1982.
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The war lasted 74 days before concluding with an Argentine surrender.
A referendum held in 2013 saw islanders vote decisively to remain a UK overseas territory, yet tensions surrounding the islands had been steadily mounting in recent years, reports the Daily Star.
Argentina vice-president Victoria Villarruel stoked the flames ahead of the fixture with a post on X, writing: “This is not just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct – against the English, it’s always something more.Long live Argentina! Because until our very last breath, we will reclaim what is ours.”
Prior to kick-off, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni insisted he was “not going to mix” politics and football, yet his players clearly had other ideas. A section of Argentina supporters were labelled “disgusting” after booing England’s national anthem ahead of their semi-final clash.
England’s anthem was played first but was met with jeers from the Argentine contingent in Atlanta, triggering a wave of furious reactions across social media.
Argentina’s victory came after Lautaro Martinez struck in the 92nd minute in a devastating blow for England supporters, securing a 2-1 win. The result means Argentina will now take on European champions Spain in Monday’s final.
England had been on course to reach their first World Cup final since 1966. But once again, it appears football will not be coming home.
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The fierce and long-standing hostility between England and Argentina runs far deeper than the sport itself, with its most intense modern origins rooted in the Falklands War of 1982. This brief yet bloody military conflict over a disputed territory in the South Atlantic Ocean fundamentally altered the diplomatic ties between the two nations, permanently embedding heavy political and nationalistic undertones into their future sporting encounters, reports the Express.
Over the course of 74 days, the armed forces of both countries engaged in fierce, close-quarters battles on land, in the air and at sea, enduring punishing weather conditions throughout. The bitter fighting finally drew to a close on June 14 1982, when the remaining Argentine forces formally surrendered at Port Stanley.
On the football pitch, this geopolitical tension manifested itself during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, where Diego Maradona’s notorious “Hand of God” goal and his breathtaking individual strike knocked out an incensed England team. They have met numerous times on the world stage since, including a dramatic penalty shootout triumph for Argentina in 1998 and a tight 1-0 group stage success for England in 2002, firmly establishing the fixture as one of international football’s most intensely disputed rivalries.
Pros, says Justin Rose, love to be prepared. And they can certainly feel that way in an Open Championship.
But here, being prepared means being ready for the unexpected.
“I think ultimately at an Open Championship, your preparation needs to be — you can’t perfect something,” Rose said. “Play with creativity and play in the moment. Just play with a lot of flair in the moment. See a shot, bump-and-run.
“You might not have practiced it, you might not have hit that shot for a long, long time, but if you see it, go with it.”
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The thought came Tuesday, about seven minutes into Rose’s pre-Open press conference. It was perceptive to what’s needed this week at Royal Birkdale.
But what happens when you listen to everyone’s pre-Open press conference, 195 minutes and over 37,000 words in all?
You may just become, well, prepared for what starts Thursday in England.
And maybe, just maybe, ready to pick a winner.
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Below, then, is what this writer heard. Employ it wisely. Or not at all.
‘Distance control is going to be key’
Who said that: The phrase often used this week to describe Birkdale has been ‘firm and fast,’ and Jon Rahm was asked how a player combats that. “I would say see how firm they let the greens get, right?” he said. “St. Andrews was firm and their fairways were running very fast, but the greens, they managed to keep them decently soft. That’s why you saw the scoring be low, and it was a bit more about being aggressive.
“This time around, if these greens that are way smaller than the ones at St Andrews get firmer, distance control is going to be key. Knowing how the ball is going to react and where you need to land it to give yourself a putt is going to be very, very important.
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“This golf course is known as not being the easiest already. Weather conditions usually are pretty harsh, windy. It’s always windy, right? So a lot of those holes are going to present a very strong challenge.
“It also depends on the setup. With yesterday’s wind, 13 and 18 was 500-plus yards straight into the wind. They might have moved it a tee up, maybe not. If they didn’t, they would be very long holes. If they moved it a little bit up, still long holes but slightly easier. Same with 15.
“So it will be up to the tournament committee on the setup as well, but I think understanding how the ball’s going to react and the fairways and on the greens is always going to be the challenge.”
What it means for a pick: Who’s good on approach? Who has a plan off the tee? The PGA Tour’s top five in strokes gained: approach this season are Matt Fitzpatrick, Collin Morikawa, Si Woo Kim, J.J. Spaun and Tom Kim, while Jon Rahm and Laurie Canter are in the top five in greens in regulation on the LIV Golf circuit. As for the wind, here is the forecast from weather.com: 12 mph on Thursday, and 13 mph on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and each day, it will be blowing from the north.
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‘In Birkdale, you can still be aggressive, but you really don’t always have that chance’
Who said that: Rahm, who used the 1st hole as an example. “You could hit driver, but who knows where that ball is going to end up if you’re not accurate.” He also said this: “From what I’ve learned in the past, if you start pulling out drivers in an Open Championship, you can do a good job short term. You can maybe get away with it one round. Over four rounds, you’re going to start finding spots you don’t want to be in, and you’re going to pay the price.”
What it means for a pick: Accuracy off the tee won’t hurt. But approach again will be paramount — if players are hitting something less off the tee, strong iron play will become advantageous. However …
‘OK, it might be in the rough, but it’s not that penal’
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Who said that:Rory McIlroy, in talking about one of the effects of the dry conditions at Birkdale. “The big thing, especially off the tee here, is the fairway bunkers and avoiding those,” he said. “You might see some guys being more aggressive off the tee, taking driver, trying to take the fairway bunkers out of play. OK, it might be in the rough, but it’s not that penal, so you get a wedge in your hand and you can figure it out from there.”
What it means for a pick: Bryson DeChambeau has heard some chirps this week. But if Mcllroy’s assessment is right, DeChambeau is in play this week — he won very similarly at the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Opens.
‘The runoff areas were still quite long’
Who said that: Joe Dean, on Monday after his win at the new Last Chance Qualifier. “I was surprised to see the runoff areas were still quite long, the grass,” he said. “Usually you can putt them fine. It’s obviously just nearly putting off the green, but not today. I’m guessing it’s to stop it from drying out too much. Just a 5-iron chip-and-runs and seems to do the trick.”
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What it means for a pick: With putting potentially not an option, chipping will be a factor, and possibly even creative chipping, as Dean noted with his mention of a 5-iron chip. The PGA Tour’s top five in strokes gained: around the green this season are Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day and Ben Griffin. On LIV, Bryson DeChambeau, Thomas Detry and Scott Vincent are ranked in the top five in scrambling.
‘You’ve always got to make a choice’
Who said that: In some manner, several players said that, but let’s listen to Tommy Fleetwood’s thoughts.
“It’s an amazingly well-designed golf course because going back to the main goal a lot of the time in links golf is to avoid bunkers, avoid fairway bunkers, avoid pot bunkers, but I feel like there’s always something in play unless you want to be unbelievably sensible and then like you’re always on the back foot of the golf course. You’re always leaving yourself a long way.
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“I think it’s an amazingly well-designed golf course for that. I think you’ve always got to make a choice of you’re either taking something on, bringing something into play, or you’re almost playing too safe if anything.
“Yeah, it’s a course that makes you think. I think it’s a course that gives you options. You can hit driver everywhere if you want. There’s never anything stopping you doing that. It’s not how I would see the golf course, but some people will.
“Yeah, I think that’s always a great sign of a great golf course is that there’s — you could sit six people here, and they might think of six different things to do off the tee, and I think that’s always a really good sign.”
What it means for a pick: Open Championships force you to think — the horror! — and Birkdale is for the scholars. What’s the wind doing? What’s the turf look like? How much can you flirt with the bunkers? Where can you be aggressive? Is there any bail-out? Then there’s answering these questions all over again the next day. Then there’s answering these questions on Sunday, when there are just a few holes left. In a practice round at Birkdale, Rahm said he was hitting 6-irons off par-4s — 6-irons! We’ll say that if you’ve reached the Open, you can solve the riddles asked of you, along with being malleable because of ever-changing conditions and just the vagaries of golf — and especially Open Championship golf. But maybe your pick is a former Open winner, or at least a major winner. Or someone invested in analytics; someone who’s done the work ahead of time so any surprises feel a bit less shocking. Or they have a strong caddie. …
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‘I think the communication is obviously really important’
Who said that: Fitzpatrick, when asked about the value of caddies this week. “I think the communication is obviously really important,” he said. “Just you’ve got to be on the same page of the shots you’re seeing, particularly in links golf. There’s obviously such a variety that you can play. Birkdale allows you to play a lot of different shots because you might be able to fly on the green, you might be able to bounce it short, you might be able to use a contour to the right or left. That’s links golf.”
What it means for a pick: This week, a caddie must be decisive, reassuring and unstifling. Being a veteran looper will help.
‘It’s a tough environment’
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Who said that: McIlroy, when asked about playing an Open at home, which he did last year and in 2019 at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland. “It’s a tough environment,” he said. “It’s a great environment, but tough in a way that you just feel the extra expectation on your shoulders, and you feel like you’re trying to play well for everyone else and not for yourself. I think there’s already enough pressure on anyone in this field to play well for themselves, so to add that extra layer on top of that is always pretty difficult. Yeah, like Tommy coming back here, for example, he grew up five minutes away, but I feel like Tommy’s more level-headed than I am and maybe won’t — he won’t fall into that trap like I did in 2019. It always seems like it takes me one go round to get it right.”
What it means for a pick: One of the stories of the year would be Fleetwood winning on a course close to where he grew up. But how sturdy are his blinders?
‘The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally’
Who said that:Jordan Spieth, when asked about his game. “The more difficult the venue, it requires me to really dial in mentally a little bit more, which I think is going to be a good thing,” he said. “Then being able to handle whatever comes your way on a difficult major venue and kind of react a bit less.”
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What it means for a pick: An interesting thought. Might a struggling player succeed? Or one undergoing some swing changes? Previous major championship winners would likely also say they dialed in mentally a little bit more when they won.
‘It’s important to get over here’
Who said that: Spieth, who didn’t play last week’s Scottish Open, but did play practice rounds at Birkdale last weekend. “It’s almost impossible to overestimate the wind,” he said. “I feel like I underestimate it every single time the first three or four days that I’m playing golf here. Whether it’s a cross-wind or it’s into or down, the effect on the golf ball is magnified almost double what it is in the States. … It’s important to get over here and really get your distance control, the total distance control dialed in. It’s firmer around the greens, making it more difficult. We can’t — some of us who like to use, like myself, a 60 degree and fly balls and spin it a lot, those shots are a lot harder when it’s firmer around the greens. It can bounce into it a lot easier. You have to be super precise. So figuring out different ways to play shots around the greens, too. I’ve been doing a lot of around-the-greens work trying to figure out what the best options are. A lot more putting, stuff like that, and speed control around the greens. Your typical stuff at Opens.”
What it means for a pick: Simple here. Go with players who either played the Scottish Open, or, like Spieth, spent time at Birkdale.
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‘Obviously we’re going to be watching’
Who said that: Rose, when asked if he planned to watch England’s World Cup semifinal match on Wednesday that started at 8 p.m. “Obviously we’re going to be watching,” Rose said. “But at the same time, I’m going to watch it with an eye on what’s important for me as well and not get too high and low and keep my own emotions in check. We’ve got big things as well to do this week, but at the same time, it’s a match where if you think that you’re not going to watch it, you’re probably kidding yourself.”
What it means for a pick: You might want to check which English players tee off early on Thursday.
And the pick?
Considering approach play, short game, major championship pedigree and preparedness, it really does seem like Matt Fitzpatrick’s week, doesn’t it? There’s this, too: Did Fitzpatrick feel he was playing better golf than he did in 2022, when he won the U.S. Open?
Desert Financial Arena is 52 years old and showing its age. Spectators have been lobbying for improvements for several years, and work finally got underway after graduations in May.
The venue is home to five sports: men’s and women’s basketball, gymnastics, wrestling and women’s volleyball.
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Here are the things to know for now.
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First phase of improvements
The multiyear renovations will cost an estimated $100 million. First phase improvements are all about fan comfort. Wider premium seats, boxes and padded lower-bowl chairs with cupholders will be added. That stage should be done by Labor Day, according to athletic director Graham Rossini.
Rossini said previously that all seats were the same size; there was no option.
The second phase of construction will begin in October, meaning renovations will continue during the season. Rossini expects to announce the “full scope of the project” and share renderings around that time.
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Emmanuel Innocenti during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Paulius Murauskas dunks during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Paulius Murauskas (center) during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
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(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
Joel Foxwell runs a drill during ASU’s practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) talks with his team during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) talks with his team during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (right) with Dillan Shaw (left) during practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
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(Mark Henle/The Republic)
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Arizona State basketball starts new era under Randy Bennett in photos
ASU men’s basketball coach Randy Bennett (center) at the end of practice at the Weatherup Center in Tempe, Arizona, on June 30, 2026.
(Mark Henle/The Republic)
Will seating capacity be affected?
The listed capacity of the venue is 14,198. With wider seats, there would be a lower capacity, but Rossini said the reduction would not be significant. There are seven Big 12 venues with seating capacities smaller than Desert Financial, and six are significantly smaller. Houston’s Fertitta Center is the smallest, seating 7,100.
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None of the sports that play in the arena sell out games, so it shouldn’t reduce attendance.
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What comes next?
Also in the works are a new court, new restrooms and the renovation of existing restrooms, new concession stand offerings, a new video board, locker room improvements, upgrades to the air conditioning system and ensuring ADA compliance with new elevators and accessible stairs with handrails to the event floor.
Renovations will also include a basketball court-level club for premium ticket holders. The club will have direct access to courtside seating.
“We’re excited about the vision that’s coming to life,” Rossini said. “Again, we want energy in the arena. We want it to be a home-court advantage for the five sports that play there.”
Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel believes Argentina are favourites to beat England in tonight’s 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-final.
The former Chelsea midfielder said Lionel Messi remains the biggest threat on the pitch and believes England will struggle to stop the Argentina captain.
Mikel, who faced Messi at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, admitted that every team he played in tried to stop the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner but failed.
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“I’m a Messi fan and I want Argentina to win,” Mikel said on the Rest is Football podcast.
“How do you stop Messi? We’ve all tried and we’ve all failed. He’s simply a genius and an incredible player.”
The 39-year-old recalled how former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho always came up with different plans to stop Messi before their matches against Barcelona.
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“Mourinho always had ideas, but you can’t defend Messi one-on-one. It’s almost impossible,” Mikel said.
“He dribbles like the ball is attached to his feet. People talk about his goals, but his passing and vision are also among the best in the world.”
Mikel also warned England against asking midfielder Declan Rice to man-mark Messi.
He believes such a plan would leave space in midfield and play into Argentina’s hands.
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“Argentina will win. England have not been at their best in this tournament. If Messi gets space in midfield, he will punish you,” Mikel added.
He also praised the experienced Argentina squad, saying they know how to protect Messi and perform in big matches.
England and Argentina will meet in the second World Cup semi-final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with kick-off scheduled for 8:00 pm WAT.
Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel has confirmed that Declan Rice has recovered from illness and is available for the match.
2026 Candidates women champion Vaishali with her mother (FIDE Photo)
The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has approved a new qualification system for the 2028 FIDE Candidates Tournament and the 2028 FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. These events decide who will challenge for the World Championship titles. The updated rules are designed to make qualification fairer by rewarding players for strong performances across major tournaments instead of relying on world rankings alone. The changes were proposed by FIDE’s Global Strategy Commission and aim to give players more ways to earn a place in the Candidates.One of the biggest updates is the addition of the Total Chess World Championship Tour 2026–2027 as a direct qualification route. The top two players in the Tour standings will earn spots in the 2028 Candidates Tournament.FIDE has also reduced the number of Candidates spots available through the World Cup. From the 2027 edition onwards, only the two finalists in both the Open and Women’s World Cups will qualify, instead of three players as in previous cycles. Clear replacement rules have also been introduced if a qualified player cannot take part.Another major change is the removal of the rating-based qualification spot. Instead, every place will now be earned through performances in events such as the Grand Swiss, World Cup, Total Chess World Championship Tour, Women’s Grand Prix and the FIDE Circuit. In addition, the FIDE Circuit will now award two qualification places based on combined results over the 2026–2027 season rather than one place each year.
Qualification paths and FIDE’s view
Both the Open and Women’s Candidates Tournaments will feature eight players. Each event will have two qualifiers from the Grand Swiss, two from the World Cup, two from the Tour or Women’s Grand Prix, and two from the FIDE Circuit.“The qualification system for the Candidates Tournaments is one of the cornerstones of the World Championship cycle, and it is essential that it continues to evolve alongside the game itself,” said FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich. “These changes have been carefully developed to make the qualification process more balanced, transparent, and performance-based. “By introducing the Total Chess World Championship Tour as a new pathway, refining the allocation of World Cup places, and placing greater emphasis on results achieved during the cycle, we are ensuring that every route to the Candidates rewards sustained excellence at the highest level of competition.”
Argentina vs England Highlights | ARG vs ENG FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Lionel Messi Magic Inspires Argentina To 2-1 Comeback Win, Heartbreak For England
Giuliano Simeone will play on the right wing instead of Rodrigo De Paul, reports TYC Sports. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni hinted at changes to the starting XI on the eve of the clash.
“We might make some changes with the opponent in mind. The idea is to field our best lineup; the lads are in good shape,” said Scaloni.
Argentina XI, as reported by TYC Sports: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero , Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giuliano Simeone, Enzo Fernandez, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allsiter; Lionel Messi, Julian Alvarez
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