Aymeric Laporte has accused Argentina of dirty tricks and said referees have allowed them to get away with gamesmanship in the World Cup.

And the Spain defender warned the final could descend into chaos if Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic does not clamp down on Argentina.

The defending champions tried a variety of strategies to get under England’s skin in the semi-final, while Egypt manager Hossam Hassan accused officials of favouring Argentina following his side’s 3-2 defeat to them in the last 16.

And Laporte told Marca: “I’m not at all worried about aggression within the context of football. If it’s within the rules and the referee does their job, I have no problem with it. It is true, however, that in recent matches we’ve seen things that really surprised us – actions that were allowed to slide.

“Especially with Argentina; they’re a team that likes to leave a mark on their opponents. That sort of thing shouldn’t be allowed in football – particularly in major competitions – because it can unsettle you and make you angry. It’s the referee’s job to keep a handle on these things so the situation doesn’t get out of hand.

“If one or two players are allowed to act that way, the match descends into chaos. From the start of the tournament, we’ve been a pretty clean team in that regard. We aren’t the type to hit opponents or commit reckless fouls. And I think that’s the approach we need to take in this match. But, of course, a lot will depend on the officiating.”

Rodri has urged his teammates to ignore any of Argentina’s attempts at gamesmanship in the World Cup final and to play their own game.

The midfielder has said it is crucial that Spain do not react if they are provoked, and said he hopes Argentina play within the spirit of the game.

The Spain captain said: “That’s part of the game. We will see how game plays out. I like to think they are a team that gives their utmost and they don’t go down that road, but if we enter such a stage of the game, we have to ignore that and play our game so we do not get into provocations.”

Slavko Vinčić to referee Messi’s Argentina vs Yamal’s Spain in 2026 World Cup final showdown/ AI Image

FIFA has entrusted Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić with the biggest appointment of his career, confirming that he will officiate Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final between defending champions Argentina and Spain at New York New Jersey Stadium.The 46-year-old has spent nearly two decades climbing through European football’s refereeing ranks and now becomes the man tasked with overseeing one of the most anticipated World Cup finals in recent history. He will be assisted by fellow Slovenians Tomaž Klančnik and Andraž Kovačič, while Jordan’s Adham Makhadmeh has been appointed fourth official and Mohammad Alkalaf reserve assistant referee.For Vinčić, the appointment represents the culmination of a career built on steady progression through domestic, European and international football.

From Slovenia to football’s biggest stage

Born in Maribor, Slovenia, in 1979, Vinčić began refereeing professionally in his home country’s top division in 2007 before earning his FIFA international badge in 2010.His performances quickly established him among UEFA’s elite officials, leading to regular appointments in the Champions League and Europa League.Over the past decade, he has officiated some of European football’s biggest occasions, including the 2022 UEFA Europa League final between Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers and the 2024 UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund.Alongside his club assignments, Vinčić has become a regular at international tournaments, officiating at UEFA Euro 2020, Euro 2024, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and now the 2026 World Cup, where his performances have earned him the tournament’s showpiece fixture.According to Transfermarkt, Vinčić has officiated more than 500 senior professional matches, issuing 2,093 yellow cards, 113 red cards and awarding 117 penalties during his career.

Sunday’s final will be Vinčić’s eighth World Cup match across the last two tournaments.He first appeared at the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 before returning for four further appointments during the 2026 tournament. Those performances convinced FIFA’s refereeing department to hand him the final between Spain and Argentina.Earlier in this World Cup, Vinčić officiated Brazil’s group-stage draw with Morocco, Algeria’s victory over Jordan and Mexico’s Round of 32 win against Ecuador.

Referee Slavko Vincic, of Slovenia, talks to Ecuador’s Piero Hincapie (3) during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Mexico and Ecuador in Mexico City, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

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That knockout fixture attracted particular attention after Vinčić dismissed Ecuador defender Piero Hincapié following a VAR review for covering his mouth while speaking to Mexico striker Santiago Giménez, marking the first red card of his major international tournament career after previously overseeing ten World Cup and European Championship matches without sending off a player.

Despite Argentina’s regular appearances at major tournaments, Vinčić has refereed Lionel Scaloni’s side only once before.That solitary meeting came in one of the most memorable matches of the 2022 World Cup, Argentina’s shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening group-stage fixture.The Slovenian official awarded Argentina an early penalty after Leandro Paredes was fouled inside the area, allowing Lionel Messi to score from the spot, and later showed six yellow cards to Saudi Arabia players.Although Argentina suffered one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history that afternoon, they recovered to win six consecutive matches and lift the trophy in Qatar.Sunday’s final will therefore be only the second Argentina match of Vinčić’s international refereeing career.

Spain, by contrast, have encountered Vinčić considerably more often, though notably, all of those meetings have come in UEFA competitions, as the Slovenian referee had never officiated Spain in a FIFA World Cup match prior to this 2026 final appointment.Before the final, he had taken charge of four matches involving La Roja, with Spain remaining unbeaten in every one of them.

Vinčić’s early assignments involving Spain came before the rise of Lamine Yamal at senior international level.His first Spain match came in a 2017 friendly against Colombia, which finished level at 2-2, before he officiated Spain’s goalless Euro 2020 group-stage draw against Sweden. He was later appointed for La Roja’s UEFA Nations League semi-final clash with Italy in 2023, where Spain secured a 2-1 victory, further highlighting his involvement in major European fixtures.Vinčić has also officiated Spain during the emergence of Lamine Yamal, including two defining matches in their Euro 2024 triumph.These included Spain’s 1-0 group-stage victory over Italy and the memorable 2-1 semi-final win over France, where Yamal scored his stunning long-range equaliser before Spain completed another comeback on their way to lifting the European Championship.Across both phases, before and after Yamal’s breakthrough, Spain have maintained a perfect record under Vinčić, remaining unbeaten in all four matches.That contrast adds an intriguing subplot to the final, with Spain yet to lose under his whistle, while Argentina’s only previous experience with the Slovenian official ended in defeat.

Career continued after 2020 police investigation

Away from football, Vinčić briefly found himself making international headlines in 2020 after he was detained during a police raid on a suspected prostitution and organised crime operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Slovenian authorities and Vinčić consistently maintained that he had been attending a business meeting and had no involvement in any criminal activity. He was released without charge, no proceedings were brought against him and he returned to officiating shortly afterwards.His subsequent appointments to the Champions League final, European Championship, World Cup and now the 2026 World Cup final underline the confidence UEFA and FIFA have continued to place in him since that incident.On Sunday, however, none of that history will matter once the whistle blows. Vinčić will oversee only the second World Cup final ever contested between reigning champions Argentina and newly crowned European champions Spain, with football’s biggest prize and a place in history awaiting the winner.

FIFA failed to make good on its promise of the “most inclusive” World Cup, the Sport & Rights Alliance said on Thursday, citing strict US visa policies that shut out many fans and workers even as the tournament welcomed more teams.

World football’s governing body put on the largest-ever edition of the tournament this year, expanding it to 48 teams from 32, opening the doors for smaller footballing nations to compete in the global showpiece event.

But while FIFA promised that the US – which co-hosted the event with Canada and Mexico – would open its doors to the world, the coalition of rights groups said the gates were slammed shut to many.

Wrapped in paradox: Most inclusive tournament in terms of countries participating yet many excluded

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“A country like Morocco, we’re still struggling to look for anyone that was able, any ticket holder that was able, to get a visa for the World Cup. The same applies to Egypt, the same applies to Jordan, the same applies to Iraq, the same applies to Uzbekistan,” said Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe.

“The claim that FIFA has made welcome to the world, unite the world to the World Cup has largely failed,” Evain added.

FIFA and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.

Read moreFootball and politics collide as World Cup kicks off in shadow of war, travel bans

‘Chill, relax’

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at the start of the tournament that immigration decisions ultimately rested with national authorities, while US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin defended visa denials, saying his department had conferred with FIFA officials.

“Chill, relax,” was the message from FIFA’s chief on the eve of the kickoff, as Somali World Cup referee Omar Abdulkadir Artan was barred from entering the US despite having a valid visa.

Read moreSomali referee denied US visa gets hero’s welcome back home, vows to attend next World Cup

The Trump administration said the US denied him entry because of his links to “suspected members of terror organisations”.

A handful of countries, including Senegal, were grossly outnumbered in the stands, after the US suspended the issuance of visas to most citizens of those countries.

The Sport & Rights Alliance raised concerns ahead of the tournament over the safety of journalists and fans attending, saying FIFA had allowed a “distinctively dangerous climate of fear” amid Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Sport & Rights Alliance plans to release a report in September detailing human rights issues at the tournament.

“This World Cup has had much to celebrate, including Haiti‘s joyous World Cup participation, the first in 52 years, Cape Verde‘s Cinderella run, and, of course, rainbow flags flying at Pride Match Day in Seattle,” said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch.

“But the dark side of policies by the tournament’s principal hosts has also been inescapable.”

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

England’s Tommy Fleetwood says the support provided by a home Birkdale crowd has “100%” helped push him into Open contention – but he is not the only British player on the leaderboard ready to strike.

Fleetwood, who grew up just up the road in Southport, shot a three-under 67 on Friday to move to joint eighth on four under.

Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre is alongside Fleetwood in a stellar pack which also includes English pair Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick, as well as Spanish superstar Jon Rahm and defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler.

The group is four shots behind Australian leader Lucas Herbert – who carded a record-equalling 62 in Friday’s second round – with Bryson DeChambeau also well in the mix, despite receiving a controversial two-shot penalty for “inadvertently improving his lie”.

Despite all the drama, it is Fleetwood who will remain the centre of attention for the fans on Saturday.

The local favourite has received rapturous receptions across the course over the opening two days as he looks to finally win a major trophy.

After scrambling to an opening-day 69, Fleetwood had to work hard again on Friday before a flurry of three birdies in the final five holes left the home fans celebrating.

“They’ve been an absolute pleasure to play in front of for these two days. I love that I played some good golf there and something to cheer about,” said the European Ryder Cup star.

“They make a big difference to me. They helped me so much [on Thursday] when I was struggling. You can’t ask for any more than what they’re giving me.”

There would not be a more popular winner at Birkdale this week.

Fleetwood grew up playing at nearby Formby Hall and occasionally scampered over the Royal Birkdale fence to get onto the course which he dreamed of playing. He still talks with the same accent as the thousands cheering him around the Merseyside links.

Fleetwood remains relatable to the locals despite being a PGA Tour winner, a European Ryder Cup talisman and one of the best current players never to have won a major.

If that changes on Sunday, there will be a party like Birkdale and the surrounding areas have never seen before.

“Of course there’s pressure,” Fleetwood added.

“My own expectations are huge, and my own dreams started here. All that stuff’s massive, but it’s only good stuff.”

Marvel Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 19 AFL game between Essendon Bombers and
GWS GIANTS. The game kicks off at 4:40 pm with GWS GIANTS heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Essendon Bombers vs.
GWS GIANTS
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday July 19, 2026 at 4:40 pm

Where: Marvel Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Essendon Bombers vs GWS GIANTS Odds

Essendon Bombers vs GWS GIANTS Preview

Greater Western Sydney will be aiming to continue its surge towards September when it takes on an Essendon side searching for a response after one of its toughest defeats of the season. The Bombers were comprehensively beaten by Brisbane last week, raising further questions about their consistency, while the Giants produced an impressive comeback victory over Geelong to strengthen their own finals credentials.

The Giants have found form at the right time of year, with their midfield generating strong clearance numbers and captain Toby Greene continuing to lead the attack. Former Bomber Jake Stringer adds extra intrigue against his old club, but Essendon must first rediscover its intensity around the contest after another disappointing display. GWS enters the match with momentum and will be confident of extending its winning run against a side under growing pressure.

Among Vikings players, WR1 Justin Jefferson remains unchallenged as the best football player in the Twin Cities. He alone is an unquestioned elite talent on Minnesota’s roster.

Who are the other best players?

To get to the bottom of the issue, I asked writers from Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. All of Dustin Baker, Janik Eckardt, Brevan Bane, Adam New, Ali Siddiqui, and Steve Hoikkala responded. I, too, allowed my vote to get tossed into the mix. Check out the team’s most formidable talents.

The 10 Best Vikings Players

No. 10 — CB Byron Murphy Jr.

Byron Murphy is a player who allows the team to play better as a result of having him on the field. At his best, Murphy is a Pro Bowl corner capable of plucking a bunch of passes out of the sky. He’s a low-end CB1.

No. 9 — QB Kyler Murray

Shrinking the list down to the most talented player and not the best player could reasonably lead to Murray finishing first overall. The problem, of course, is that he hasn’t always allowed his elite talent to push him toward being an elite player. Does he prove to be a franchise quarterback in Minnesota?

No. 8 — LB Blake Cashman

An excellent athlete who thinks the game at a high level, Cashman is entering the third and final year of his contract. He should be very motivated to have a monstrous season.

No. 7 — DT Jalen Redmond

There’s still meat on the bone. Jalen Redmond has gone from a good story to a good player. Does he have better than “good” within him? If so, then the 2026 season appears to be a good time to get there now that he’s the clear top DT.

No. 6 — WR Jordan Addison

Nobody questions his talent. What has been missing, though, has been an ability to stay out of trouble off the field. So far, things have gone better in 2026 (casino noodle issue aside). The Vikings will hope that continues as the 2023 1st-Round selection chases his first ever 1,000-yard season.

No. 5 — K Will Reichard

The assassin at kicker is coming off an AP1 season. He was deadly out there and the word is that he has further refined his form to kick the ball straighter. Does he have more All Pro seasons in him? If so, then he’ll start demanding placement higher on the list.

No. 4 — RT Brian O’Neill

Mr. O’Neill, always a great athlete, has become a tremendous team leader. Does that lead to him getting extended? The rugged right tackle is older but hasn’t slowed down much, if at all. He has had a very good career and remains among the best players on the team.

No. 3 — EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel

He’s a fantastic football player. Van Ginkel is among the most athletic players on the team. I had him as the second-best player on the team but seeing him above or below the terrific OTs can’t lead to too much debate. I think he rushes the passer more with Jonathan Greenard gone, leading to 12+ sacks.

No. 2 — LT Christian Darrisaw

Seemingly the only issue hindering Christian Darrisaw is health, or lack thereof. Seeing the LT1 get and remain healthy is the key to seeing him fulfill the immense potential. I had Darrisaw at 4th on my ballot, below all of Jefferson, Van Ginkel, and O’Neill.

No. 1 — WR Justin Jefferson

All seven voters picked Justin Jefferson as the top player. As a result, he had a perfect score within the ballots. There should be zero debate about who belongs in the lead position.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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We’re back with Braves baseball. Let’s see if the Braves can take a dub and start off hot. First things first, the offense needs to step up. And consistency has to come through as well.

The Braves aren’t too far off from being great. They’re just missing pieces that need to be combined to get past slumps and find consistent success. Starting with tonight, we’ll see what version of the Braves we’re going to get.

Until 7:15 p.m. ET, happy race to October!

Lineup

Preview

Betfred Super League

Huddersfield (4) 10

Tries: Milne, Gagai Goal: Flanagan

Wigan (10) 24

Tries: Partington, Eckersley 3 Goals: Keighran 4

Zach Eckersley’s hat-trick broke Huddersfield Giants’ stiff resistance to send Wigan Warriors up to second and to within two points of the Super League summit.

Jim Lenihan’s side made a nonsense of the fact they had suffered 11 straight defeats going into the game and threatened to do the league double over the in-form Warriors after pulling off a shock victory at the Brick Community Stadium in March.

Taane Milne’s try put the league’s bottom side ahead, but Oliver Partington and Eckersley hit back with tries which had Matt Peet’s team 10-4 up at the break.

The hosts raised their game again in the second half to level through Jacob Gagai but as their discipline faltered and Joe Greenwood was sin-binned for dissent, Adam Keighran’s penalty and a late Eckersley double secured the win for Wigan.

Huddersfield have suffered another tough week, losing three players for the season through injury and having long-serving chairman Ken Davy step down, and the sight of Wigan rolling into town on the back of seven successive wins in all competitions had some supporters fearing the worst.

Lenihan has started to work a little magic, however, and after Huddersfield soaked up the expected early pressure, they struck first as Milne finished strongly.

Wigan have been in imperious form and they soon edged ahead as Partington stretched out to finish after evading two tackles following Keighran’s short, sharp pass.

Tanguy Zenon was forced off with a head injury after being knocked out cold, and Eckersley took advantage of a brilliant Keighran pass to score his first try of the evening and open a six-point gap at half-time.

Tempers flared throughout the game and referee Matty Lynn’s patience ran out just before the interval as he sent both Tui Lolohea and Shea O’Connor to the sin-bin for a tussle at the play-the-ball.

It started to look like the game would slip away from Huddersfield, but they muscled up again in the second half and levelled when Gagai finished a slick passing move and George Flanagan, on as the 18th man, kicked the extras.

Suddenly it was Wigan who looked unsure of themselves, but the game turned on moments of indiscipline.

Huddersfield thought they had scored a brilliant counter-attacking try after Wigan’s teenage half-back George Marsden had dropped the ball, but referee Lynn disallowed it for a forward pass.

To rub salt in the wound, Wigan challenged the decision and were awarded a penalty for a high challenge on Marsden, with Keighran converting the two points to restore the lead.

Huddersfield were still hunting the win but when they were penalised for a knock-on, Greenwood disputed the decision despite the captain’s challenge having been used, and he was sent to the sin-bin.

That ended the superb Huddersfield effort as Wigan went up the other end and Harry Smith, the calmest man on the pitch, dinked a beautiful kick for Eckersley to race through and collect for his second try.

With all resistance over, Eckersley claimed his hat-trick, and made it 19 tries for the season, from George O’Loughlin’s pass on the last tackle.

Lionel Messi once again proved why he remains Argentina’s talisman, producing two decisive assists as the defending champions came from behind to beat England 2-1 in a dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal in Atlanta and book their place in a second successive World Cup final.

The first half lived up to the billing of one of international football’s fiercest rivalries. Both teams flew into challenges from the opening whistle, with Argentina repeatedly committing fouls to disrupt England’s rhythm. Referee Ismail Elfath had his hands full early, issuing warnings before eventually booking Elliot Anderson for a foul on Messi and Lisandro Martinez for bringing down Morgan Rogers.

Despite the heated atmosphere, clear-cut chances were scarce. England enjoyed more possession and looked the more composed side, with Jude Bellingham earning dangerous free-kicks and John Stones heading over from one of them. Argentina threatened mainly from set-pieces, while both goalkeepers remained largely untested as the teams went into the break locked at 0-0.

England finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Cristian Romero switched off defensively, allowing Anthony Gordon to ghost in behind and tap home from close range, sending the England supporters into celebration.

Argentina responded by throwing bodies forward. Lionel Scaloni introduced Nico Gonzalez before later making a triple substitution, bringing on Gonzalo Montiel, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Otamendi in a bid to inject fresh energy. England defended resolutely, with Jordan Pickford making an outstanding reaction save from close range after a dangerous Messi delivery, while Djed Spence produced a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny Giuliano Simeone.

The pressure eventually told. In the 85th minute, Messi found Enzo Fernandez on the edge of the area, and the midfielder unleashed a stunning long-range strike beyond Pickford to level the contest.

Nine minutes of stoppage time set up a dramatic finale. After John Stones required treatment, Argentina continued to pile forward and found the winner in the second added minute. Messi produced another moment of brilliance, delivering a perfectly weighted cross for Lautaro Martinez, who powered a header beyond Pickford to complete another remarkable comeback.

England pushed desperately for an equaliser in the closing moments but Argentina held firm to seal a famous victory.

Having survived scares against Egypt, Switzerland and now England, Scaloni’s side have once again found a way through adversity. Argentina will now face European champions Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, with Messi’s dream of leading his nation to consecutive world titles still very much alive.