Switzerland booked their place in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after beating Colombia 4-3 on penalties, but they will know they must produce a much stronger performance if they are to stop defending champions Argentina.

Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel was the hero in Vancouver as he made a brilliant save to deny Colombia striker Cucho Hernandez during the shootout. His save proved decisive after a tense match ended goalless following 120 minutes.

Switzerland converted four of their penalties through Granit Xhaka, Zeki Amdouni, Cedric Itten and Ruben Vargas to secure a historic victory and reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

However, the performance itself left plenty of questions.

Switzerland struggled to create clear chances throughout normal time and extra time. Their attack lacked pace and creativity without injured forward Johan Manzambi, one of their standout players at the tournament with three goals and two assists. Vargas also started on the bench because of fitness concerns, although he returned to score the winning penalty.

The Swiss were fortunate that Colombia failed to make the most of their opportunities. Defender Jhon Lucumi hit the crossbar with a header, while substitute Jaminton Campaz wasted a golden chance late in extra time after a defensive mistake by Xhaka.

Against Argentina, such mistakes are unlikely to go unpunished.

Led by captain Lionel Messi, Argentina have shown throughout the tournament that they can punish even the smallest defensive errors. Their attacking quality, movement and experience will present a far tougher challenge than Colombia managed.

Switzerland’s defence has been organised throughout the competition, conceding few chances, while Kobel has continued to impress between the posts. Those qualities will be essential again, but they will also need much more from their attack.

Creating more chances, keeping possession under pressure and taking opportunities when they come will be crucial if Murat Yakin’s side hope to upset the reigning world champions.

Their dramatic win over Colombia has earned them a place among the final eight, but if Switzerland want to continue their memorable World Cup journey, they must raise their performance to another level when they face Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Athletes who were subjected to doping by the East German state have “no suitable means for support, even though those affected still urgently need help,” a new report said on Wednesday.  

The findings were presented by Evelyn Zupke, the German government’s commissioner for victims of the socialist dictatorship at Hohenschönhausen Memorial, a former detention center of the Stasi, East Germany’s secret police.

According to the report, forced doping constituted “a flagrant abuse of political power,” that reduced athletes “to mere objects of state action, thereby severely violating their human dignity.”

Zupke called for changes to current legislation to ensure victims can access adequate support.

In a separate report in January, Zupke said she was “convinced that addressing the consequences of state-sponsored doping in the GDR is not just a matter for those affected and for historians.”

“It is equally important for Germany’s self-image as an enthusiastic and successful sporting nation,” she said, pointing to Germany’s bid to host the Olympic Games in the next decades.

Why did East Germany dope its athletes?

Socialist East Germany introduced a sweeping state-sponsored doping program in 1974.

The goal was to help the GDR earn more medals at international competitions, who could then be celebrated as evidence of the state’s prowess. 

By 1989, an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 young people had been systematically given performance-enhancing substances — predominantly anabolic steroids — often without their knowledge or consent. Some were as young as 13.

Doping helped transform East Germany into a sporting powerhouse, with the country winning second-highest number of medals at both the 1976 and 1980 Olympic games.

Following German reunification in 1990, the full scale of the doping program emerged, casting a shadow over East Germany’s sporting achievements.

“Shadow of dictatorship is long”

Beyond doping, Zupke’s report gave a positive assessment of laws adopted in early 2025 that offered compensation to victims of the East German regime.

“Our reunified country is on the right track to providing the best possible support and recognition for the victims of the SED dictatorship,” said Zupke, referring to the ruling Socialist Unity Party. 

“But the shadow of the dictatorship is long: many victims continue to suffer from the health consequences.”

Edited by: Zac Crellin

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France will bid to reach the 2026 World Cup semifinals when they take on Morocco on Thursday in the first quarterfinal match. Les Bleus have been the standout team of this tournament, winning all six of their games and scoring 17 goals along the way. Morocco have also impressed at this World Cup, but the Atlas Lions are uncertain if star striker Ismael Saibari (hamstring) will be fit to play. 

Kickoff for France vs. Morocco is at 4 p.m. ET in Foxborough. The latest France vs. Morocco odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list France at -175 (risk $175 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Morocco at +550 and a draw at +280. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. France are -400 favorites to advance, with Morocco at +300. Before locking in any France vs. Morocco picks or World Cup 2026 predictions, check out the France vs. Morocco predictions from SportsLine’s Martin Green.

After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. He’s also on a an 18-7 roll (+908) on his World Cup picks. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.

Now, Green has studied France vs. Morocco and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for France vs. Morocco:

Top France vs. Morocco predictions

After examining France vs. Morocco from every angle, Green is leaning Over 2.5 total goals (-102). France have scored at least three goals in all five of their matches at the World Cup 2026, averaging 2.8 per game. Morocco, meanwhile, have only kept two clean sheets in five matches, but the Moroccans have plenty of offensive upside themselves, scoring 10 total times in the World Cup, including, three goals against Canada in the Round of 32. 

“Both teams have the quality to get on the scoresheet, and this quarterfinal has the makings of a high-scoring affair,” Green told SportsLine. See Green’s best bets for France vs. Morocco at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in France vs. Morocco at FanDuel here:

How to make France vs. Morocco picks

After studying France vs. Morocco from every angle, Green has found a critical x-factor and locked in a pair of best bets. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are. 

So what are the best bets for France vs. Morocco? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for France vs. Morocco, all from expert on an 18-7 roll on WC picks, and find out.

Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t necessarily spill the beans this week about his impending quarterback competition, but he wasn’t afraid to mention his track record in Minnesota, which involves success with seasoned veteran quarterbacks.

O’Connell spoke with D.J. Siddiqi this week, as training camp gets underway in about three weeks.

Murray’s Veteran Edge Becomes a Bit More Apparent

O’Connell on Murray, the QB Competition

The quarterback battle is top of mind for most Vikings fans, and O’Connell weighed in accordingly. He told Siddiqi, “We’ve had a lot of success with different veteran quarterbacks at different stages of their career, whether it was Sam Darnold or Kirk Cousins, and now we want to do everything we can to provide Kyler Murray with a great opportunity and see what he can do with it.”

“Kyler has always been a player. I’ve known him for a long time, and obviously having coached against him at multiple spots, and the talent you talked about bringing that different dimension. I think what he’s really done over seven years in the NFL is really maintain that dimension.”

Even Nick Mullens dished out massive performances in O’Connell’s offense.

O’Connell added, “But also the growth, the way he sees the field, the way he can throw with anticipation, and ultimately where he’s at in his career is a unique time. Having had the success that he had at his previous stop and ultimately wanting to build upon that and us having the opportunity to bring him to Minnesota, it felt like a great fit.”

Good with Veterans; Mediocre Without

Murray provides O’Connell with the caliber of quarterback he molds into a solid, sometimes even exceptional, player. It highlights an interesting paradox in O’Connell’s reputation. He has a proven track record of elevating veteran quarterbacks like Darnold, Cousins, Joshua Dobbs, and Nick Mullens — all of whom had prior NFL game experience.

However, his success hasn’t extended to rookies. McCarthy’s full potential remains untapped, Jaren Hall never developed, and Max Brosmer is still an extreme long shot.

While O’Connell is indeed a “QB whisperer,” his magic seems most effective with players who have already experienced the demands of an NFL Sunday.

That’s precisely why Murray is an ideal fit. He’s not an unproven project and a quarterback who has won games with his undeniable arm talent. Pairing Murray with O’Connell could offer Murray the perfect opportunity for a career resurgence. And it wouldn’t be a situation reminiscent of the Mike Zimmer era, where quarterbacks merely aimed to survive and appease the defense.

Instead, this would be O’Connell’s chance to reaffirm his “QB whisperer” status with a veteran quarterback talented enough to make everyone a believer.

Two Hungry QBs

Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, both men want the job badly and have a vested interest in succeeding this season. For example, if McCarthy wins the competition or earns the QB1 job sometime during the regular season, he can regain his footing as the long-term franchise quarterback. That was the original plan two years ago when Minnesota selected him. If McCarthy does nothing of the sort in 2026, well, he’s probably on deck as a trade piece for the 2027 offseason.

For Murray, he faces an ultimatum. He can resume his typical production from the Cardinals days and just become the Vikings’ quarterback for the long haul — like many have suggested Minnesota should’ve done with Darnold. Or, if Murray flunks the Vikings test, he’d hit the 2027 offseason with an unknown future. He can be a starter or a journeyman. It’s up to him.

Clarity at Camp

The verdict is not far away. The Vikings begin camp in three weeks, and O’Connell has hinted that he doesn’t want the battle to drag forever. While he likely won’t see a practice or two and name a winner, Minnesota won’t take the competition all the way to Week 1.

By early or mid-August, onlookers should have a pretty good handle on who will take the cake at QB1.

Sportsbooks believe Murray is the guy — he has -770 odds, which translates to about 89%.

The Vikings haven’t hosted a real quarterback battle since 2014, when Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Cassel, and Christian Ponder locked horns in Mankato, but one is just weeks away in Eagan.

The clues suggest O’Connell may roll with Murray and his steady experience. If not, what was the point of signing him — and why would Murray green-light the deal so seamlessly in March?

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

Ireland Chasing European Glory at 2026 Co-ed Slowpitch Championship

Ireland will be aiming to end a seven-year wait for a European Championship medal when they take to the field at the 2026 European Co-ed Slowpitch Championship in London from 14–18 July.

With an experienced squad, several players arriving straight from last month’s Men’s European Championship and a proud history in the competition, there is genuine belief that Ireland can once again challenge Europe’s elite.

One of Europe’s Most Successful Nations

Since the European Championship began in 1998, Ireland have established themselves as one of the continent’s traditional powerhouses.

Only Great Britain, who have won 13 of the 14 European titles, have enjoyed more success than Ireland, whose record includes 10 European medals.

Ireland’s greatest achievements include:

🥈 Silver Medals

🥉 Bronze Medals

• 1998
• 2000
• 2006
• 2010
• 2011
• 2015
• 2019

While Ireland narrowly missed out on the podium in both 2022 (5th) and 2024 (4th), those performances reinforced that they remain among Europe’s strongest sides and are more than capable of competing for medals once again.

Battle-Hardened Squad

One advantage Ireland could hold over many of their rivals is recent international experience.

Several members of the squad, including Cathal Creaven, have just returned from representing Ireland at the Men’s European Slowpitch Championship.

Competing against Europe’s top men’s teams provides invaluable preparation, with players arriving in London already match-fit after a week of high-intensity international softball.

Experienced Leadership

Ireland will be managed by Aideen Teo, with Peter Mullen serving as Head Coach alongside coaches Jon Barry and Dermot McManus.

Norma McIntyre captains the side, while pitching duties will be shared by the experienced trio of:

• Simon Lewis
• Wayne Cullen
• Brian Hehir

Tournament Format

All 10 nations play each other once in a round-robin competition.

At the end of the group stage:

• 🥇 1st vs 2nd contest the European Championship Final.
• 🥉 3rd vs 4th meet in the Bronze Medal Match.
• The remaining teams play classification games.

Every run, every victory and every tie-breaker could prove decisive.

Ireland’s Fixtures

Tuesday 14 July

08:45 – Ireland v Norway

15:00 – Ireland v Czechia

Wednesday 15 July

10:45 – Ireland v Guernsey

14:45 – Ireland v Germany

Thursday 16 July

09:00 – Ireland v Lithuania

15:00 – Ireland v Austria

Friday 17 July

09:00 – Ireland v Belgium

15:00 – Ireland v Poland

18:45 – Ireland v Great Britain

The Matches That Could Define Ireland’s Tournament

Ireland will expect to take victories against Norway, Guernsey, Lithuania, Austria, Belgium and Poland.

Those six games are vital.

If Ireland can also claim one major scalp against Germany, Czechia or Great Britain, they should put themselves firmly in contention for a place in the bronze medal match—or perhaps even the final.

The standout fixture is undoubtedly Wednesday afternoon’s clash with Germany. Germany denied Ireland a bronze medal at the 2024 Championships, and that game could once again have huge implications in the race for the top four.

Opening against Norway is equally important. A fast start would allow Ireland to take confidence into the tougher contests that follow.

Hazel Hoping for Another Medal

This will be Hazel Kilduff’s third European Championship.

Her previous finishes are:

After experiencing the heartbreak of missing out on the European podium two years ago, she will be hoping to add a medal to her collection.

Can Ireland Return to the Podium?

Great Britain rightly begin as overwhelming favourites, but behind them the competition is remarkably open.

Ireland have proven over the past three decades that they belong among Europe’s elite. They possess experience throughout the squad, proven pitching, players arriving in excellent form and a management team that knows what success at this level requires.

If Ireland take care of the games they are expected to win and produce one or two standout performances against Europe’s leading nations, there is every reason to believe they can end their seven-year wait for a European Championship medal.

Did You Know?

Galway City Rapparees GAA Rounders Club will have three players representing two different countries at this year’s European Championship.

🇮🇪 Cathal Creaven and Hazel Kilduff have been selected for Ireland, while teammate Katie Jessop will represent defending champions Great Britain—a unique achievement that underlines the growing reputation of the Galway club on the international stage.

The 2026 Wimbledon ladies’ semifinals conclude on Thursday with a matchup between 9-seed Linda Noskova and 12-seed Marta Kostyuk. Both players advanced on straight sets in their quarterfinal contests, with Noskova defeating No 25. Elise Mertens and Kostyuk knocking off No. 13 Jasmine Paolini. This is the furthest either player has ever advanced at Wimbledon, with each seeking their first Grand Slam singles titles. Kostyuk prevailed in their lone previous match at the Madrid 1000 earlier this year.

The match will begin at approximately 9:40 a.m. ET on Thursday at Centre Court in London. The latest Noskova vs. Kostyuk odds list Kostyuk as the -125 favorite (risk $125 to win $100), with Noskova at +106. The over/under for total games is 22.5. Before making any Wimbledon picks or Kostyuk vs. Noskova predictions, you need to see what tennis expert Jose Onorato has to say.

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Onorato grew up playing competitive tennis in Caracas, Venezuela. After coming to the U.S., he trained with famed coach Nick Bollettieri at IMG Academy in Florida and faced players like Robert Farah, now one of the world’s top-ranked doubles players.

Onorato has gone 168-106-8 (+107.12 units) on his best bets since 2022. He correctly called Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open (+160), Carlos Alcaraz (+130) in the 2025 French Open and Sinner again at 2025 Wimbledon (+180). He also called Coco Gauff (+700) in the 2025 French Open and Iga Swiatek (+1200) at 2025 Wimbledon. This year, he nailed Alexander Zverev (+700) in the 2026 French Open. Anybody following his tennis betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns. 

Now, Onorato has scrutinized the latest Wimbledon 2026 odds and released his picks and best bets for the Noskova vs. Kostyuk ladies’ semifinal match. He’s only sharing his picks and expert analysis at SportsLine. 

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Kostyuk vs. Noskova preview

Both players are in unchartered territory as this is each of their first semifinals appearance at the All England Club. Kostyuk is coming off a semis appearance at the French Open — her first time making the final four at any Grand Slam — while Noskova is seeing the semifinal round for the first time at any major tournament.

Kostyuk, who turned pro in 2016, does have three singles titles in her pro career, which has seen her ranked as high as No. 12. She is currently the 13th-ranked player in the world, while Noskova’s current ranking of No. 10 marks her best ever. The latter turned professional in 2019 and has two career singles titles.

The lone prior matchup between these two came just a few months ago on clay. They met in the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open in which Kostyuk won in straight sets, needing a tiebreaker to get through the first. Kostyuk would go on to win that tournament but has yet to win an event on grass. Meanwhile, Noskova’s lone grass surface tournament win came last month at the Berlin Open. See how to bet Kostyuk vs. Noskova at SportsLine. 

How to make Noskova vs. Kostyuk picks

Onorato is leaning Under on the total number of games (22.5), and he has found a critical x-factor and points out a “pattern is worth noting” in making his prediction on this match. See his best bet at SportsLine. 

Who wins Kostyuk vs. Noskova in the ladies’ semifinals of 2026 Wimbledon, and what pick should you target? Visit SportsLine now to see Jose Onorato’s best bets for Noskova vs. Kostyuk, all from the tennis expert who has a history of calling Grand slam winners, and find out.

Dame Sarah Storey, Great Britain’s most-decorated Paralympian, has retired from international competition with immediate effect.

The 48-year-old cyclist has opted not to compete at Los Angeles 2028 to focus on helping improve Para-sport.

The 19-time Paralympic champion feels the sport has “stalled somewhat” since the London 2012 Games and that many areas “still need attention”.

“The years between each Games haven’t been utilised well enough to create the momentum that I and others hoped to see,” she said.

“I see this as a critical stage; there are many areas of Para-sport that still need attention, and that is something that has played a big part in my decision.

“I fully believe that I can have a greater impact off my bike, rather than chasing a 10th Games and possibly further titles.

“I’m excited to be part of a future where we inject the momentum that is needed to ensure the future is bright for all Para-athletes.”

Storey started her career as a swimmer and competed at four Games before switching to cycling, winning a total of 30 Paralympic medals across nine Games, including four golds at London 2012.

World Athletics president Lord Coe, who was chairman of London’s organising committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, said: “Para-sport was an enormously significant part of London 2012 and I remain extremely proud of what we were able to deliver.

“However, the issues that Dame Sarah raises upon her retirement resonate with me hugely – sport must continue to take those small but steady steps forward to ensure that what has gone before is not wasted.”

The British Paralympic Association has been approached for comment.