By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
Sports
Miller: This Time, Tucson Gets the Final Four it Deserves
A trip to the Final Four is on the line tonight when Arizona takes on Purdue in San Jose.
The entire season has led up to this moment. It’s the culmination of the Tommy Lloyd era in Tucson. Can he deliver the result and break the two-and-a-half-decade-long drought?
Or will this be another season that comes to a heartbreaking end in the Elite 8?
Here’s my preview of the matchup.
(Full disclosure: I’m a lifetime Arizona supporter. Be sure to read my bonus fan rant in the boxed section at the bottom.)
No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 1 Arizona
Saturday, March 28
5:49 pm PT, TBS
San Jose, CA
There are only a handful of opportunities that a program ever gets to reach a Final Four.
One of those moments is here and now for the Arizona Wildcats.
The fanbase has too many traumatic memories of losing in the Elite 8.
2003, 2005, 2011, 2014, and 2015.
The City of Tucson can’t handle another one. This has to be the team that finally breaks through.
Standing in the way is the Purdue Boilermakers, a new-age blue blood built on elite coaching and loyalty.
Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith were all on that 2023-24 squad that beat Arizona in Indianapolis and went on to the Final Four later that season.
They know what it takes to get there because they’ve done it before.
On the other hand, none of the Arizona players were even born the last time the Wildcats made it beyond this game.
The Final Four drought is the only thorn in the side of the fanbase’s psyche.
It’s the only chirp that hits home. Because it’s true.
Arizona hasn’t been to the Final Four in 25 years. A 25-year dry spell for one of the most storied programs in college basketball. Five consecutive losses. Five missed Final Fours.
But that streak ends tonight. It ends with this team.
Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Ivan Kharchenkov. The three freshmen who have put together one of the best seasons in program history have a chance to cement their legacy.
And it’s not just the freshmen. The Cats are led by a senior point guard, upperclassmen bigs, and a coaching staff that has found its sweet spot.
It’s a storybook synergy that deserves to break the drought.
So, how do they get it done?
You guessed it: defense and rebounding. Arizona is No. 9 in field goal percentage defense and No. 4 in rebounding margin.
KenPom has UA at No. 3 overall in defensive efficiency.
How can they take advantage of that? By pushing the tempo.
Purdue operates at a much slower pace than Arizona. Get them into a high-possession game, and empty trips down the court will happen.
The Boilermakers are awful in the fastbreak, coming into the matchup No. 303 nationally in fastbreak points per game. Speed them up, don’t allow them to grind the game down into the halfcourt, and play efficient on offense.
And for the love of God, do not let Loyer get hot from three. The senior can change the game and single-handedly beat Arizona if he gets going from deep.
The X-Factor, though, is Koa Peat.
Known as “Mr. Arizona,” Peat understands what this game means. He knows the weight that comes along with playing for UofA.
From the first game of his career, he has willed Arizona to this moment. Without him, this team wouldn’t be in this position.
If Peat can finish around the rim with efficiency and knock down his free throws, Arizona will be in a good position.
Go win it for the City, Koa.
Lord knows we deserve it.
Redemption? Or Am I Wrong About Purdue Again?
Opinion: Dane Miller
This one is personal.
Flashback to December 16, 2023.
Arizona is the No. 1 team in the country, matched up against No. 3 Purdue in downtown Indianapolis.
Trusted sources had informed me that the Boilermaker guards were not very good, and I sent a provocative pre-game tweet claiming they were outclassed.
Suffice it to say that the take was a major whiff.
I’ll do the honors: @OldTakesExposed
— Dane Miller (@DaneMiller_SWS) December 16, 2023
Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith combined for 53 points on 20-for-33 from the field, leading the Boilermakers to victory.
After the game, Purdue Twitter made it go viral and the Big Ten Network even posted a graphic of the tweet to troll me. A total of 270,000 views for what was easily the worst take of my career.
But this Arizona squad is nothing like that 2023-24 team. And the Boilermakers don’t have Zach Edey.
Am I supposed to be afraid of Trey Kaufman-Renn? Or should I be more worried about the dirty play reputation that the Boilermakers have?
But wait, I know what it is.
Arizona fans should be concerned about Oscar Cluff.
You know, the guy who went to junior college just outside of Tucson in an attempt to catch the attention of the Arizona staff.
The same guy that Tommy Lloyd refused to recruit because he wasn’t good enough.
The same guy who was held to three points on 1-for-5 shooting in his lone game at McKale Center.
Yes, that’s the guy that I should be worried about.
Please.
This Arizona team is destined for the Final Four. I don’t even need to get into the analytics, or the metrics, or any of the blah, blah, blah.
This team wants it more. This city needs it more.
F*#%k Purdue.
Another rare opportunity to reach a Final Four is within reach for the Arizona Wildcats, and this is their time.
With all the noise surrounding Tommy Lloyd, driven primarily by has-been North Carolina fans desperate to stay relevant, this is the time to take advantage.
You want more real analysis for how Arizona will win? Defense, rebounding, and forcing turnovers. All while keeping Loyer from killing you from three.
Play physical against Smith, keep elbows out against Kaufman-Renn, and bully Cluff whenever he gets the ball.
Arizona has the better players. Arizona has the better system. Arizona is deeper.
Go bring a Final Four banner back to McKale.
And send a message to Purdue while you’re at it.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
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Former European champion Adam Gemili has retired from athletics at the age of 32.
Gemili was a youth footballer at Chelsea and on the books at then League Two Dagenham & Redbridge before committing to sprinting, and made the Team GB squad for the Olympics in his home city at London 2012.
He reached the semi-finals of the 100m in London and went on to win relay medals at three World Championships.
He was the 2014 European Champion over 200m and took silver in the 100m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow that summer.
Posting on his Instagram page, he said:, external “It’s hard to put into words what an incredible journey it’s been.
“Thank you for all the support, love, and belief you’ve shown me throughout my career.
“From a baby-faced Adam at London 2012 to a slightly more grey-haired version in 2025. I hope I’ve made you proud.”
Gemili narrowly missed out on more medals, finishing fourth in the 200m at the Rio 2016 Olympics, just 0.003 seconds shy of bronze, before another fourth place at the Doha 2019 World Athletics Championships.
Alongside Zharnel Hughes and Linford Christie, he is one of just three British male sprinters to have run under 10 seconds in the 100m and 20 seconds in the 200m, with personal bests of 9.97 seconds and 19.97 seconds respectively.
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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch did his best to shut down the buzz around the theory that an electrical substation near Levi’s Stadium could be the catalyst for the spate of injuries the team has suffered over the last few years.
The theory popped up on social media during the 2025 season, though the 49ers have played at Levi’s Stadium since 2014 and used the practice facility that is also near the substation since 1989.
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San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on Feb. 24, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Niners star George Kittle said in February he didn’t believe the rumors were true, but also wanted a definitive answer.
Lynch provided one Sunday as NFL owners began to meet in Phoenix, Arizona. He said the organization had a scientist come to the facility to see if there was anything awry.
“It basically was a big nothing burger,” Lynch told reporters, via ESPN. “We’re in a safe place of work…. It’s a normal place of work. It’s a normal gym. We are safe, we’re healthy, and we feel really good about that.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is carted off the field after an injury during the NFC wild-card game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
“That was important to us, not just to turn a blind eye, but to look into it because it’s our players’ wellness. It’s not only our players’ wellness, it’s coaches, it’s staff, all that. And it’s encouraging.”
According to the 49ers, the scientist learned that players and staff were being exposed to an electromagnetic environment similar to that of a gym or average workplace.
Still, the injury bug is something the 49ers have to figure out as the seasons go on.
John Lynch watches players work out during NFL Pro Day, Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Athens, Georgia. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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San Francisco was 12-5 in 2025, but players like Kittle, Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall and Mykel Williams each missed several games with injuries.
For now, it appears the substation theory has been shut down.
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Sports
Women’s singles predictions ft. Donna Vekic vs Ajla Tomljanovic, Alycia Parks vs Mary Stoiana
The 2026 Charleston Open is set to get underway today as the main draw action begins at the LTP-Daniel Island Tennis Center. While notable names like Emma Navarro, Amanda Anisimova, Beatriz Haddad Maia and Maya Joint have withdrawn, the tournament still features a strong lineup.
Day 1 will be headlined by players such as Donna Vekic, Eva Lys, Sloane Stephens, McCartney Kessler and Jennifer Brady. They will be joined by the likes of Alycia Parks, Ajla Tomljanovic, Katie Volynets, Yulia Putintseva and Dayana Yastremska, among others.
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With that in mind, here’s a look at the predictions for some of the key matches scheduled on Day 1 of the 2026 Charleston Open.
Charleston Open 2026 Day 1 singles predictions
Donna Vekic vs Ajla Tomljanovic
Donna Vekic booked her spot in the main draw of the Charleston Open with commanding wins over Sachia Vickery (6-2, 6-2) and Ekaterine Gorgodze (6-2, 6-3) in the qualifying rounds. Meanwhile, Ajla Tomljanovic received direct entry into the main draw and arrived following a second-round exit at the Miami Open.
Vekic and Tomljanovic have faced each other twice before, with the Croatian winning both encounters in Wuhan (2014) and Istanbul (2018), giving her a 2-0 head-to-head advantage.
Predicted winner: Vekic in three sets.
Alycia Parks vs Mary Stoiana
Alycia Parks enters the matchup on the back of a third-round loss to Coco Gauff in Miami. Her opponent, Mary Stoiana, had to come through qualifying, beating Kristina Mladenovic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 and Darja Vidmanova 6-2, 7-6(2) to set up a first-ever clash with Parks.
Parks brings power and a big serve, looking to take control quickly, while Stoiana relies more on consistency and rally tolerance. If Parks finds her range, she can dominate, but Stoiana could benefit if the match becomes more extended.
Predicted winner: Alycia Parks in straight sets.
McCartney Kessler vs Elvina Kalieve
Their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.
Predicted winner: McCartney Kessler in straight sets.
Eva Lys vs Katie Volynets
Lys and Volynets have met once before, in the qualifying rounds of Lausanne in 2022, with the German coming out on top.
Predicted winner: Volynets in straight sets.
Yulia Putintseva vs Lulu Sun
They have never met before.
Predicted winner: Yulia Putintseva in straight sets.
Dayana Yastremska vs Anastasia Zakharova
Yastremska holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Zakharova going into their first-round encounter at the Charleston Open.
Predicted winner: Dayana Yastremska in straight sets.
Sloane Stephens vs Renata Zarazua
Zarazua has defeated Stephens in both of their previous meetings, in Acapulco in 2020 and Auckland earlier this year.
Predicted winner: Renata Zarazua in straight sets.
Jennifer Brady vs Viktoriya Tomova
Tomova holds a 1-0 head-to-head lead over Brady going into their first-round encounter at the Charleston Open.
Predicted winner: Jennifer Brady in three sets.
Akasha Urhobo vs Solana Sierra
Their head-to-head record stands at 0-0.
Predicted winner: Akasha Urhobo in straight sets.
Anna Bondar vs Darja Vidmanova
Their head-to-head record stands at 0-0 in Bondar’s favor.
Predicted winner: Anna Bondar in straight sets.
Edited by Pritha Ghosh
Jannik Sinner continued his remarkable run of form by defeating Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the Miami Open and complete the Sunshine Double.
The victory marks the first time in nine years that a male player has won both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
Even more impressive, Sinner achieved the feat without dropping a single set in Miami and has now won three consecutive Masters 1000 titles without losing a set.
His current run includes 34 consecutive sets won in Masters 1000 events, extending a record, alongside 17 straight match victories at that level. The Miami title is his seventh Masters crown and the 26th ATP title of his career.
Speaking after the match, Sinner reflected on both the achievement and the timing of his success ahead of the clay-court season:
“I’m really really happy. I’m also happy to go back home now.”
“It’s significant because before going on clay and going back home.. with not only one, but two trophies.. it means a lot to me. Making here the Sunshine Double for the first time, it’s incredible. It’s something I would’ve never thought. It’s so difficult to achieve. We made it somehow. I’m very happy.” ❤️
Sinner also acknowledged Lehecka’s performance and resilience after recent injury struggles:
“First of all Jiri, it’s amazing to see you back playing this kind of level. I know you’ve had some tough tough times with a lot of injuries. But seeing you here.. I know you as a person, you’re an amazing person. Keep it up you and your team and family. I’m extremely happy for you.” ❤️
He went on to credit his team for their role in his consistency and development:
“Of course my team, thanks for pushing me. I know not all of my team is here. I guess they’re watching at home. Amazing work you’re doing with me. I try to give every day my best. We had some very great practice days before Indian wells. Seeing this kind of result makes me happy, even more happy the level we’re trying to produce and the player we are trying to achieve. Thank you so much.”
On handling setbacks, Sinner offered insight into the mindset behind his current form:
“When I lose I don’t want to put myself under the bus. It would be not fair to myself”
With the clay season approaching, Sinner’s consistency, composure, and level of play position him as one of the leading contenders on the ATP Tour.
Sports
Man United’s full five-player injury and withdrawal list as Michael Carrick eyes top two finish
Michael Carrick has five Manchester United injury concerns to contend with ahead of the Premier League clash against Leeds United
Manchester United have five players managing vastly different injury problems over the March international break. Michael Carrick has been rather fortunate regarding the fitness of his squad since his arrival as interim head coach, but that has somewhat changed over the last few weeks.
Matthijs de Ligt, Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez have all missed at least the last month, while minor fitness concerns for Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko led to them withdraw from international duty with Cameroon and Slovenia, respectively.
Neither are expected to miss the visit of Leeds United in a fortnight, with the two attackers competing for the striker spot in Carrick’s team. The duo will have spent the last week at Carrington alongside the likes of Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount.
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The latter has missed a significant period of 2026 but returned off the bench against Bournemouth earlier this month. Noussair Mazraoui missed that trip to the Vitality Stadium through illness but was able to join up with Morocco and played the full 90 minutes of their friendly against Ecuador.
Elsewhere, Martinez has not played since the draw with West Ham United in early February, but Carrick has issued a very positive update on his condition.
He said: “[Lisandro is] closer, a lot closer. He’s getting there, so after this one. I think he’ll be alright.” Given the time spent out of the team, the Argentine could be eased back into the fold.
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Dorgu and De Ligt are also yet to return from extended absences, with the latter having not played since November because of a back injury.
It is a hamstring issue for Dorgu that Carrick has confirmed will keep him out for a bit longer, but he was able to deliver a positive update on the Netherlands international before the trip to Bournemouth.
He said: “It’s [a] similar [situation] really, and frustrating for Matta. He’s obviously trying to work to get back, but it’s just the back issue, really, that’s proving difficult. We’ll keep working as hard to get him back as quickly as we can.”
While some of United’s injured defenders could be back for the game against Leeds in mid-April, Harry Maguire will definitely miss out as he serves a suspension for the red card picked up against the Cherries.
If neither De Ligt or Martinez are fit enough to feature from the off, Leny Yoro could end up being partnered at the back by Ayden Heaven.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed his international break after being called up to train with the senior England squad. He returned to the under-20s later in the week and scored in their 3-3 draw against Italy.
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Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was faced with many questions about wideout AJ Brown from the local media at the league meetings on Sunday. Brown has been linked with a trade away from Philly this offseason, after a frustrating 2025 season with the team.
However, Roseman opted to offer a blunt response regarding Brown amid the ongoing trade speculation around the wide receiver.
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“I understand that there’s interest in the A.J. Brown story. I, unfortunately, don’t have a home under a rock,” Roseman said. “But my answer to any question on A.J. Brown is A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles. From my perspective, anything you ask me about A.J. Brown, I’m going to go right back to that answer. But I understand the interest. I put on the TV, and I see that there’s interest, but my answer is A.J. Brown is a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.”
•
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The Eagles acquired Brown via a trade with the Tennessee Titans in the 2022 offseason. He helped Philly reach two Super Bowls, winning one in 2025.
It remains to be seen if Brown will remain with the Eagles next season.
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Howie Roseman’s Eagles will have No. 23 pick in 2026 NFL draft
Howie Roseman’s Philly won the NFC East crown last season. However, the Eagles crashed out of the playoffs with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round.
Philly has the No. 23 pick in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL draft. Some draft experts have suggested that the Eagles might want to bolster their offensive line with their first selection this year.
Edited by Arnold
Former Pakistan cricket team skipper Rashid Latif believe that ball-tampering scandal in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) was created just to ‘grab headlines’. The incident took place during the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings when the on-field umpire Faisal Afridi took the ball from Haris Rauf for inspection after it exchanged hands between Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar Zaman. Faisal had a long conversation with his fellow umpire Sharfuddoula and decided to call for a replacement ball. The umpires were of the opinion that the ball was tampered with and things got worse when Shaheen struggled to provide a clear answer when asked by Pakistan great Ramiz Raja during the post-match presentation ceremony.
In a video on YouTube, Latif claimed that sometimes controversies are created in order to make competitions popular and added that with the ball-tampering row gaining traction, PSL will be dominating the headlines.
“I don’t want to talk about ball tampering. Otherwise I will have to talk about my playing days as it will be unfair to just talk about the current players. If any film is coming out and you know that it will be flop, it is made into a controversy. Like they did with The Hundred when they said that no Pakistan player will be playing. No one knew The Hundred before that. Now there is a controversy in PSL and it will become headlines. This news will not be relevant for more than 24 hours,” he said.
Fakhar Zaman, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza have denied ball-tampering charges, stemming from the Pakistan Super League match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium.
The 35-year-old Zaman was charged on Sunday night by match referee Roshan Mahanama with a Level 3 offence under Article 2.14 of the PSL Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel.
Zaman was found to have violated Article 41.3 of the PSL playing conditions, which prohibits any action that alters the condition of the ball.
Appearing before the former Sri Lankan cricketer, Zaman denied the charges against him.
The charge relates to an incident just before the final over of the Karachi Kings’ innings, when they needed 14 runs to win.
Zaman was seen in discussion with Haris Rauf and Qalandars’ captain Afridi before the over.
Shortly thereafter, umpire Faisal Afridi requested the ball and, after inspecting it with his colleague, determined that its condition had been altered.
The match referee is expected to hold another hearing within the next 48 hours before delivering a verdict.
The umpires penalised Qalandars five runs for altering the condition of the ball and subsequently replaced it. This left Karachi Kings needing nine runs in the final over, which they successfully chased down.
(With PTI inputs)
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Caroline Dubois vs Terri Harper headlines a weekend that will shape the future of women’s boxing
When Caroline Dubois defends her world title on Sunday at Olympia, she will be edging closer to the finish line in a packed race to become the No 1 female boxer in the world.
Dubois meets her domestic rival, Terri Harper, in defence of the WBC’s lightweight belt; it is a rare fight in the women’s boxing business, a clash with genuine rivalry between two boxers with proper experience and both holding world titles.
Harper has been in 10 world title fights at four weights in the last six years, and she enters Sunday’s fight as the WBO lightweight champion. She has held world titles at super-featherweight and super-welterweight – two weights separated by 24lb – since giving up her job as a potato peeler in a local chippie.
Dubois is unbeaten in 13 fights, and she has set her sights on becoming undisputed at lightweight and then moving up through the weights – or waiting for a fight with the leading American, Alycia Baumgardner. Dubois is in an elite group chasing the elusive title of women’s No 1, which is currently held by Katie Taylor, who is planning a farewell fight later this year in Dublin.
“She is certainly a good talker,” said Harper when the pair came face to face recently.
Last December, Dubois switched promoters and signed a deal with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), the American company run by Jake Paul and his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian. The Sunday show at Olympia is MVP’s first in Britain and marks Sky Sports’s return to boxing in a valuable and necessary partnership. The Olympia card features eight female fights, four for world titles.
Harper and Dubois could be the start of a series of all-British fights, the type that the women’s sport needs; genuine rivalries are essential. It should, in theory, be easier in women’s boxing to make big fights happen, because so many of the boxers have been prepared to move across the weights with an ease that is lacking in the men’s business.
Also on Sunday at Olympia, Chantelle Cameron, who beat Taylor in 2023, moves up two weights to fight for the vacant WBO super-welterweight title.
She would, if the fight was available, move down for a sensible and lucrative domestic fight at a lower weight. Bidarian has made it clear in the past that being part of MVP doesn’t exclude or protect a fighter from meeting other MVP boxers in risky fights.
Harper and Dubois are both part of the MVP business, and that has helped make the fight happen. It had been talked about for a couple of years, and too often in the modern boxing business there have been rivalries that never led to fights, due to separate rivalries between promoters and broadcasters. This has shifted slightly during the last two years with the increased involvement and influence of the Saudi Arabian boxing enterprise and their cash.
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It is an extraordinary weekend for women’s boxing, on which Dubois will be one of six British women in five world-title fights; the five bouts will involve a total of 11 world championship belts.
On Saturday night in Cardiff, Lauren Price defends her three welterweight belts live on the BBC. On the same Olympia bill as Dubois, and from the same gym in east London, Ellie Scotney will try and add the WBA belt to the three she owns and become the undisputed champion at super-bantamweight. It is the comeback women’s boxing needed.
French heptathlete Auriana Lazraq-Khlass has been provisionally suspended for anti-doping whereabouts failures, says the Athletics Integrity Unit.
The World Anti-Doping Code states an athlete cannot miss three anti-doping tests and/or filing failures within a 12-month period.
Lazraq-Khlass, who won silver at the European Championships in Rome in 2024, faces a two-year ban if the charge is upheld.
“The AIU has provisionally suspended Auriana Lazraq Khlass (France) for Whereabouts Failures,” the AIU said in a social media post., external
Lazraq-Khlass, 26, competed at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and finished 16th in the heptathlon.
The AIU website states that a provisional suspension means that an athlete cannot take part “in any competition or activity in athletics prior to a final decision at a hearing conducted under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules or the Integrity Code of Conduct”.
In a recent case, former world 100m champion Fred Kerley, of America, was banned for two years for anti-doping whereabouts failures.
Europe’s youngest nation, Kosovo, stands on the brink of an historic achievement: a potential spot in the World Cup finals for the first time.
This marks a stark contrast to the 1990s, when football was banned under Serbian rule, forcing private games and players to wash in rivers or melted snow after matches.
Independent from Serbia since 2008 and only sanctioned to join world football in 2016, Kosovo will host Turkey in a decisive play-off on Tuesday.
Following a thrilling 4-3 victory over Slovakia last week, the winner will secure a place in the North American tournament this June.
Eroll Salihu, former secretary general of Kosovo’s federation, described the potential qualification as “historic, truly epochal.”
He added: “This would be the realisation of a dream, for the generations who played in muddy fields and meadows to defend the honour and spirit of the sport.”
For a nation of 1.6 million, Kosovo’s football journey has been one of resilience. They lost nine of 10 games in their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Fortunes shifted when the federation began recruiting from its diaspora. This campaign has seen positive results, including victories over Sweden and Slovenia, securing their play-off spot.
Every match holds profound significance for a conflict-scarred country. Kosovo’s fight for independence, secured by a NATO air campaign in 1999, claimed over 13,000 lives.
Samir Ujkani, Kosovo’s first captain and goalkeeper, who moved to Belgium as a child, emphasised this duty: “People have suffered here, each of us has lost many family members. It is our duty to come back here and represent our country.”
Excitement is reaching fever pitch across Kosovo. The national stadium, holding just 12,500 people – a fifth of many World Cup venues – saw tickets for Tuesday’s game sell out within minutes.
Now resold on the black market for up to 20 times their price, towns plan big screens in main squares for those unable to attend.
Adding to the high stakes, Kosovo’s government has pledged a bonus of one million euros (£850,000) should the team emerge victorious.
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