Sports
The problem Liverpool must address after Andoni Iraola’s losing Anfield bow draws Arne Slot parallels
When Anfield had last hosted Liverpool, as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson bade farewell and their teammates embarked on their final lap of honour, Arne Slot had remained sat in the dugout. It proved the last sighting of him in Liverpool. Some 11 weeks later, Slot’s successor was a visible presence on the edge of the technical area, Andoni Iraola’s constant clapping encouraging his players at the start of a new era. It began with echoes of the old: a 3-2 defeat to Monaco, with a lead lost at Anfield, and with a goal conceded to a set-piece, had some similarities with Slot’s unravelling, even if the stakes were lower.
Iraola may hope the parallels with last season end when the competitive football starts. As it was, Liverpool outlined why they require Ronald Araujo and how their recruitment is unfinished. They have a left-back – Robertson’s replacement is his former deputy, a returning Kostas Tsimikas making his Anfield comeback – but Salah’s old spot remains unfilled. Lewis Koumas was a locum in the place of a legend on the right flank; the Welsh winger may be destined for a fourth straight loan spell rather than a run in the team.
His presence was an illustration that Liverpool’s business stalled after the June signing of Victor Munoz. They are yet to achieve their main objective. One ambitious target, Yan Diomande, has already eluded them. Another is out of reach as long as there is a significant difference between Liverpool’s valuation of Bradley Barcola and Paris Saint-Germain’s. There is no point in putting in a bid now when the European champions want well over £100m.
Liverpool have shown a willingness to pay such sums in the past; but their budget is limited now. Their two £100m men from 2025 struck in a way that at least offered optimism they will deliver more this season than last.
Alexander Isak only found the net twice at Anfield in his debut campaign for Liverpool; a friendly goal will not count towards his official tally but was guided in after a pass from Ryan Gravenberch. Isak and Florian Wirtz struck in the same game, which they only did once for Slot. The German got a poacher’s goal, bundling the ball over the line after Cody Gakpo’s header was blocked. If Wirtz alternated between central and wide roles under Slot, Iraola has installed him as his No 10.
There seems a clarity to that and a more vertical brand of football after the passiveness of Slotball irritated Anfield. Distinct differences were apparent in Iraola’s home bow. It was notable that the full-backs were often far more advanced than Gravenberch. That may suit Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, though the latter did not start against Monaco, more than Slot’s style of football did. Yet it also gives a need for centre-backs who can defend one on one.
And, as Liverpool turned victory into defeat, they underlined why the middle of the defence has been the other focus of their recruitment drive, and why additions are necessary. Araujo is undergoing a medical before he completes his surprise loan from Barcelona. Jeremy Jacquet and Giovanni Leoni, the youngsters who arrived for a combined fee of almost £100m, are yet to play in pre-season; Joe Gomez is already injured.
Virgil van Dijk, in his first appearance since the World Cup, could be forgiven for rustiness when he tripped Aleksandr Golovin to concede a penalty the Russian converted himself. Wataru Endo, who spent the second half at centre-back, and Frimpong were both partly culpable when Mika Biereth levelled the scores.
Endo had come on for the great success of Liverpool’s tour of the United States. The giant Ifeanyi Ndukwe excelled again in the first half. The problem is that he is ineligible for competitive games, lacking a work permit, perhaps meaning a loan abroad beckons. In the Austrian and the Senegalese Mor Talla Ndiaye, Liverpool have two precocious 18-year-olds. Their defensive future can look secure. The concerns are about the present.
Araujo will tick some boxes; at 27, he is roughly halfway between Van Dijk and the duo of the 19-year-old Leoni and Jacquet, 21, in age and, unlike Gomez, is fit now. Liverpool need a bridge to the next generation. They hoped it would be Ibrahima Konate, but he wanted a financial package that could have felt a problem if, in a couple of years, he found himself understudying Leoni and Jacquet; or, indeed, Ndukwe.
Konate left without a proper goodbye. Harvey Elliott, who could have been gone for good, returned from his unproductive loan at Aston Villa to the loudest cheer of the afternoon. It may not herald a second coming at Anfield, however: he was the third man used at No 10, after Wirtz and then Dominik Szoboszlai, who had begun in midfield.
Even as he made 11 substitutions, there were other glimpses into Iraola’s thinking. Rio Ngumoha ended the game on the right flank. He may have to step into Salah’s shoes in more meaningful matches.
Sports
Luther Burden III set to miss some time with a groin injury, depleting Bears’ already thin WR depth
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III is expected to miss some time as he recovers from a groin injury, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Burden III went down awkwardly in practice on Saturday and was seen leaving early with a trainer. While the good news was that the wideout was able to walk off under his own power, he was still walking gingerly.
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It looked like a lower-body issue, and now we know it is a groin injury. These issues can be problematic and easily aggravated, so the Bears may be a little more cautious with his recovery. The good news is that Chicago’s regular season start is over a month away, giving Burden III time to recover.
The biggest problem in the interim is that without Burden III, the Bears’ wide receiver depth looks very thin.
Chicago opted to trade away veteran wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. This put a lot of pressure and faith into the Bears’ young wide receiver foundation in Rome Odunze and Burden III.
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With Burden III now sidelined, Chicago has a glaring lack of depth at wide receiver. Odunze is clearly the top wide receiver, but currently he is joined by Kalif Raymond, Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker and Scotty Miller as the best options at the position.
Odunze is heading into his third season. Last year, he played in 12 games and finished with 661 yards and six touchdowns.
Raymond spent the last five years with the Detroit Lions, but jumped ship and signed with the Bears this offseason. The 5-8 receiver played in 15 games last year, but finished with 289 yards and a touchdown.
The Bears drafted Thomas in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He spent his final two years of his college career at LSU after beginning at Mississippi State. Thomas played in 13 games for the Tigers last season and finished with 488 yards and four touchdowns.
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Walker went undrafted last year, but landed with Chicago. He saw action in nine games and finished his rookie season with 87 yards and two touchdowns on six receptions.
Miller is another veteran option for Chicago. He spent the last two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Miller played in 13 games last year and had just 62 yards on nine receptions.
The Bears’ wide receiving group was already expected to be inexperienced, but losing the talent of Burden III for the foreseeable future definitely hurts.
Quarterback Caleb Williams will rely on Odune, running back D’Andre Swift and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet as his main options while Burden III is sidelined unless one of the depth wide receivers steps up.
New Celtic striker Kasper Hogh delivered a tonic for the recuperating Martin O’Neill with a first-half hat-trick at Kilmarnock in the absence of his manager.
The Dane got off the mark in a Celtic jersey as the champions beat Killie 5-1 on the new grass pitch at Rugby Park to jump above St Mirren on goal difference at the top of the William Hill Premiership.
Shaun Maloney took charge of Celtic as O’Neill rested following an overnight hospital stay in midweek following what the club called a “small procedure”.
The 74-year-old was able to visit his players at the team hotel beforehand and they produced their highest-scoring league performance since beating Aberdeen by the same scoreline in May 2025.
Benjamin Nygren put Celtic four up just after the interval before Michael Schjonning-Larsen netted a consolation for Killie, who created a steady stream of chances in the opening stages, although they were already one down by that point. Luke McCowan finished the rout in the 75th minute.
While Maloney deputised for O’Neill, there was another important figure from Celtic’s history present in Ayrshire. North America-based former owner Fergus McCann, the man who turned around the club’s fortunes off the pitch in the mid-1990s, made a rare appearance at a Celtic game.
Celtic again started with Alistair Johnston and Arne Engels amid respective interest from Everton and West Ham, although the Canada right-back made way for Colby Donovan at half-time.
The game was over by that point and the writing was on the wall for Killie after just 70 seconds when Hogh headed home a left-wing Engels cross from close range.
Killie’s initial response was positive as the game swung from end to end. Aaron Tshibola and Tom Lowery had shots blocked with Celtic scrambling, Erik Ring knocked the ball wide from close range and both Tyreece John-Jules and Greg Kiltie had efforts saved by Viljami Sinisalo.
But Celtic were creating chances throughout. Camilo Duran, Engels and Nygren all threatened twice and Max Stryjek also made saves from Hogh and Kieran Tierney before the visitors doubled their lead in the 33rd minute.
Killie centre-back Johnly Yfeko gifted possession inside his own half and passes from Callum McGregor, Duran and Nygren quickly set up Hogh to finish first time.
The summer signing from Bodo/Glimt completed his hat-trick two minutes later as Celtic again broke quickly after winning the ball back inside their own half. Yfeko charged well out of position and nobody ever picked up Hogh before the Dane nodded Duran’s cross home from close range.
Dozens of Killie fans headed for the exits 100 seconds after the interval when Nygren finished after being gifted the ball by Stryjek. They would not even have been out the stadium by the time Duran hit the crossbar.
Killie manager Neil McCann soon became involved in an argument with a supporter who had stayed behind and matters nearly deteriorated as Hogh, Tierney and Yang all came close.
Schjonning-Larsen finished off a measured passing move in the 56th minute but it proved a brief respite for the hosts.
Hogh headed off the post before substitute McCowan hooked home after a corner and Stryjek kept the score down with stops from Sebastian Tounekti, the hat-trick hero and James Forrest.
Elsewhere, three Hearts summer signings were on target as Wouter Vrancken belatedly got his reign up and running with an emphatic 4-0 win over Dundee United.
Tom Renaud, Calvin Miller and Josh McPake all marked their first league outings at Tynecastle with goals, while last season’s talisman Claudio Braga broke his duck for the campaign, as Vrancken ended a run of four consecutive defeats since taking the reins.
Former Hearts boss Derek McInnes suffered a damaging home debut as Rangers manager with a defeat to Hibernian with star striker Youssef Chermiti carried off the pitch on a stretcher.
Rangers thought they’d salvaged a point when an 85th-minute Miguel Chaiwa own goal cancelled out Josh Campbell opener, only for Callum Wright to fire home a stunning stoppage-time effort to sink the Ibrox club.
Motherwell meanwhile signed off for their Conference League third-round qualifier against HJK Helsinki with a goalless draw against Falkirk.
Cavalry Girl has continued her string of strong performances with an eye-catching victory at Caulfield Heath.
After breaking her maiden at Black Type level in Adelaide last start, Cavalry Girl contested open company on Saturday and dominated her rivals in the Sweeney Estate Agents Handicap (1000m).
Sent out as the $2.80 favourite under Linda Meech, Cavalry Girl showcased a potent turn of foot after straightening, putting the race beyond doubt. She finished 3-¾ lengths clear of Along The River ($5), with Bazaball Reward ($4) a further neck back in third. Observers focused on betting sites would have been impressed by the favourite’s commanding performance.
Joe O’Neill, a principal owner of Cavalry Girl, indicated that discussions would be held with trainer Tom Dabernig to map out the mare’s path towards the spring racing season.
“What we might do is step back,” O’Neill said. “She’s had a pretty good prep, and you can go to the well once too often.”
“She loves the straight at Flemington and to be there during Melbourne Cup week would be nice, but we’ll just see. There are options. There are races in Sydney, there are races here, but I don’t know if Sandown would suit her. She can only do what she is doing, and she is belting them and that was a pretty fair field.”
O’Neill has all but ruled out the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), to be run at Sandown this year, favouring sprint races down the Flemington straight during Cup week, a track Cavalry Girl has previously performed well at.
Cavalry Girl, a daughter of Bivouac, has now won six of her 16 starts, with four placings and earnings approaching $400,000.
O’Neill described the four-year-old mare as a ‘marvel’.
“She’s a beautiful filly,” O’Neill declared. “I saw Bivouac up at the Hunter Valley on the weekend and I was talking to the boys that she looks like an Exceed And Excel filly, which Bivouac is by, and being from an I Am Invincible mare, and they’re gold. She’s a terrific filly and she annihilated them today. I was a bit worried today against the older horses, but she won well.”
With such a dominant performance, Cavalry Girl is a strong contender for upcoming features, and interested parties can check the racing betting markets for her next start.
Kevin O’Connell is essentially the Statue of Liberty but for NFL passers. “Give me your tired, your poor passers,” the skipper appears to say, “for our Minnesota huddle yearning to throw free.”
Does he sing a similar song following the 2026 season?
Already, some are doing the purple dot connecting. What happens if neither of Kyler Murray nor J.J. McCarthy prove to be the long-term solution under center? Minnesota is desperate for one of these guys to work out but there’s no guarantee. Who could get signed up to become the next bounce back story for Kevin O’Connell?
The Kevin O’Connell QB List for 2027
10 — Joe Burrow, Cincinnati
He’s the dream scenario. The problem is that he’s almost certain to remain in Cincinnati. What could occur is that the Bengals upgrades don’t lead to success in 2026, leading toward the veteran forcing his way out. He and Justin Jefferson remain close.
9 — C.J. Stroud, Houston
Mr. Stroud had a great rookie season but has struggled since then. Houston is being led by DeMeco Ryans, a terrific coach who has built a terrific defense. Does confidence in the young arm disappear if things go poorly again?
8 — Jalen Milroe, Seattle
He got added while Nolan Teasley was still in Seattle. He’s very unlikely to overcome Sam Darnold. Does a trip to Minnesota make sense? Right now, he’s an upside backup behind a passer who could play for another decade.
7 — Bryce Young, Carolina
The former No. 1 selection took a step forward last season. Does he fully establish himself as the Carolina QB1? If not, where does he go?
6 — Justin Fields, Kansas City
Size, athleticism, and resilience. He’s a good leader who is now getting to work under Andy Reid and alongside Patrick Mahomes. He’s going to improve.
5 — Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas
The Vikings could do better. The Vikings could also do worse. What remains to be seen is if he’ll survive in Vegas beyond a single year. Fernando Mendoza is marinating but the Raiders are going to toss him on the grill before long.
4 — Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis
He needs to get healthy and then go from there. Lots of talk about Kevin O’Connell someday working with the former No. 4 selection. Upside.
3 — Will Levis, Tennessee
Tennessee now has Cam Ward, somebody who demonstrated promise as a rookie even though he had very little support. Ward isn’t likely to cede ground. Levis, meanwhile, believes in himself.
2 — Mac Jones, San Francisco
Picking up a point guard would make sense. Jones could be that point guard. He appears to perfectly fit the general criteria as a former 1st-Round selection in the prime of his career and who has been a journeyman. Working in a similar offense in San Francisco is the icing on the cake.
1 — Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay
Prior to settling in with the Buccaneers, Mr. Mayfield spent time with the Rams. He’s far from perfect but he’s an above-average player who carries himself with swagger. Justin Jefferson could feast with Mayfield throwing the ball.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.
After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.
Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.
Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:
People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.
But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.
It’s a thank-you letter.
I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.
The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.
I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.
You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.
For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.
Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.
It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.
You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.
On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.
When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.
Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.
Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me.
After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.
So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.
It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona.
Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.
Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.
You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.
Most of all, you gave me a home.
With love and gratitude,
(signed) Larry Fitzgerald
HOF 26
–Field Level Media
Jul 29, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher starting Logan Webb (62) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images Two hot pitchers who have gotten the script on how to handle Sunday afternoon’s opponent get an opportunity to show off what they’ve absorbed when Troy Melton and the Detroit Tigers close out a road interleague series against Logan Webb and the San Francisco Giants.
The teams have split the first two decisions in the three-game set, each receiving a strong pitching performance from a surprising source.
The Giants opened the series with uncertainty as to who would fill traded Robbie Ray’s spot in the starting rotation, electing to go the opener route Friday night. Adrian Houser made manager Tony Vitello’s strategy look brilliant with five innings of one-run relief in a 5-2 win.
The Tigers countered by scheduling Jackson Jobe, who hadn’t pitched a big-league game in more than 14 months, in Saturday’s rematch, and he responded with five one-hit innings in an 8-0 victory. Jobe had been recovering from Tommy John surgery.
That sets the stage for an expected pitchers’ duel between Melton (7-1, 1.58 ERA), who hasn’t lost since June 25, and Webb (7-7, 3.74), who is unbeaten in his last four starts.
Melton will be making his second start on Detroit’s nine-game trip, hoping to duplicate the effort that helped produce an 8-0 win at Seattle on Tuesday. It was his second consecutive seven-inning, three-hit shutout outing.
As the Tigers continue a generally positive run following trades that saw them lose top pitchers Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize, the right-hander wants to make it clear it won’t be a superhuman effort from one man that will keep the club in the American League playoff race.
“I think we definitely have the people here to be able to make a run,” Melton told reporters during the Western swing. “I don’t think anybody in this room would ever question that. Losing two good players (stinks), but we have some players here to fill some shoes.” The 25-year-old California native has never faced the Giants in his two-year, major-league career.
The Giants also saw two top pitchers – Ray and Tyler Mahle – dealt at this week’s trade deadline. Webb helped ease the pain in his last start, a 5-1 win at Texas that came just hours after the Ray trade to the San Diego Padres was announced.
The right-hander threw six innings of shutout ball against the Rangers, striking out eight.
Vitello insisted to reporters after Monday’s win that the performance by Webb was an all-timer given the circumstances. “What he did today is incredible,” the manager gushed. “The only thing that’d be worse is if he was dealing with something off the field, family-wise. But as far as business-wise, he’s the first one here today. I walked by him at different times, either on the phone or grabbing people, it was pure chaos around him. But it was anything but on the field.”
Webb has pitched well against the Tigers in his career, but with little to show for it. In three starts, he’s struck out 24 in 17 2/3 innings, allowing just four earned runs, but has nothing more than a 1-2 record despite a 2.04 ERA.
– Field Level Media
Aug 8, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (3) hits an RBI single during the first inning against the Houston Astros at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images For San Diego Padres fans, Jackson Merrill at-bats prior to the All-Star break took on a sad sameness. Opposing pitchers would get ahead in the count, then get him to chase a high fastball or an off-speed pitch in the dirt for another strikeout.
Since the All-Star break, Merrill has looked like the franchise player everyone expects him to be. His third-inning homer on Saturday, his seventh since the break, and two RBIs helped San Diego gain ground in the National League wild-card race with a 3-2 win over the visiting Houston Astros.
Merrill will try to keep his hot streak going on Sunday night when the teams finish their three-game weekend series in San Diego. The Astros took a 6-3 win in the opener.
When the Padres took four days off for the All-Star break, Merrill’s average sat at a miserable .219, far below the .292 he hit as a rookie and .264 during an injury-plagued 2025. It’s now at .242, a gain of 23 points in 22 games.
What’s different?
“Playing looser and freer,” manager Craig Stammen said of Merrill. “Something clicked in Kansas City and since then, he’s been on fire. It shows you how mentally tough he is. He’s one of those players you build a team around.”
Something to be sajd about Merrill is that when he hits the ball hard to the opposite field, he’s about to go on a tear. In a 19-2 rout of Kansas City on July 19, he drilled a pair of home runs — 405 and 419 feet. Balls have flown a long way and at a high velocity since then.
Merrill’s homer helped San Diego move within a game of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies for the final NL wild-card spot, as both lost at home in extra innings. The Padres had not named a starter for the series finale as of Sunday morning, although Randy Vasquez (7-6, 4.19 ERA) is expected to start or serve as a bulk reliever. He’s coming off a 9-4 win at Arizona on Tuesday night that saw him fire six shutout innings, allowing just two hits and a walk.
Vasquez has made just one career appearance against the Astros, a two-inning stint in 2023 when he allowed one hit in relief.
Houston is expected to start Cristian Javier (1-2, 6.59), who returned to the rotation Monday night in a 3-1 loss to Toronto. He yielded seven hits and three runs in six innings, walking none and striking out two. Javier has no record in three career outings (one start) against the Padres with a 9.00 ERA. He has allowed four home runs in nine innings.
Astros manager Joe Espada said that the rotation, which has been a source of concern most of the year, is by no means written in ink as they try to hold on in the American League West. “Looking at the performance, matchups, just kind of go day-by-day,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to kind of move forward here for the next couple of weeks.”
Javier, who went 11-9 with a 2.54 ERA in 2022 when Houston won the World Series, has pitched only 24 games since 2023 due to injury. He replaced ineffective rookie Tatsuya Imai, who in 16 games is 6-4 but owns a 5.55 ERA, in the rotation.
The Astros go into the series finale with a half-game lead on Texas in the American League West after their loss and the Rangers’ 5-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.
–Field Level Media
Shaun Maloney deputised for the absent Martin O’Neill in Celtic’s William Hill Premiership clash with Kilmarnock as the 74-year-old continues to recover from a hospital procedure.
But O’Neill visited the players at their team hotel ahead of the Rugby Park encounter and is improving after his health issue.
Celtic announced earlier this week that the former Republic of Ireland manager had undergone a “small procedure” in hospital on Wednesday before being discharged the following day.
Assistant manager Maloney told Sky Sports ahead of the game: “He is doing better again. He came to the team hotel and spoke to the players but he just needs an extra few days. But he’s good. He is definitely improving.”
Maloney said the players would miss their manager’s influence in the dressing room, but that did not impact their performance as new signing Kasper Hogh his a first-half hat-trick in a 5-1 win.
After the match, Maloney spoke more about O’Neill’s pre-match visit, saying: “He was at the team hotel and took the team meeting, speaking to the players. Then he told the staff to get on with it.
“I’ve never experienced anything like what’s happened this week. The staff and the senior guys have been very good. I’m really pleased for the boss to get the win.
“The quicker we get him back the better. We’ll see how it goes day to day. He was much better, he was in good form when he spoke to the group.
“You know what he’s like, his only instruction was to go and win. We had a meeting on Saturday night and it was normal, where we went through his team selection, he picks what he thinks and he asks the staff.
“It was a boost for all of us to see him. There is a real good bond between the boss and the players. I’m glad he spoke to them before we left, it had a real positive impact.
“It will be up to him when he feels good enough – and if the doctors are happy then he’ll just come back in.”
Basant Kumar Meghwal became the first Indian to win a high jump medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships, while Shahnavaz Khan added a bronze in the long jump as India secured two medals on a memorable day here.
The 19-year-old Meghwal from Anupgarh, a border town in Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, cleared a personal-best of 2.21m to win silver in the men’s high jump.
Representing the Indian Navy, he produced the landmark performance on the fourth and penultimate day of the championships, here on Saturday.
Algeria’s Younes Ayachi won the gold, while Great Britain’s Otis Poole took the bronze. All the three medallists could only clear 2.21m but failed all their three attempts to sail over 2.24m.
The positions were thus decided on countback based on the number of attempts to clear the previous height. Ayachi cleared 2.21m in his first jump, while Meghwal and Poole did the same in their second and third attempts respectively.
Meghwal’s silver also made him the first Indian to win a medal in the high jump at the World U20 Championships.
Coached by former Indian women’s high jump national record holder Sahana Kumari, Meghwal has made a remarkable 10cm improvement this season, raising his personal best from 2.11m to 2.21m.
India’s medal tally then rose to three at the championships after Shahnavaz clinched bronze in the men’s long jump with a best effort of 7.84m.
The 18-year-old produced his best jump in his third attempt, with his series reading 7.67m, 7.72m, 7.84m, 7.52m, 7.83m and 5.37m.
R.C. Jithin Arjunan was the other Indian in the final, finishing eighth with a best jump of 7.59m that he achieved in his first and fourth attempts.
Italy’s Daniele Inzoli won the gold medal with a jump of 7.97m, while Australia’s Mason McGroder took silver with a personal best of 7.96m.
India’s medal campaign at the championships had begun on Friday when Ashish Yadav won silver in the men’s javelin throw.
Yadav became only the second Indian after Neeraj Chopra to win a silver medal in the javelin at the World U20 Championships. Chopra congratulated Yadav after his achievement, calling it “just the start” and expressing his pride in the young thrower.
Team India had the ideal preparation under its belt ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with the Shubman Gill-led side defeating Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in a three-day warm-up game on Sunday. Despite injury concerns, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan both out of the Test series, India will now head into the Galle Test with considerable confidence. Let’s take a look at Team India’s report card from the three-day warm-up game:
Shubman Gill – 7/10, Good
Shubman Gill threw up a big surprise after he missed the first two days of action due to a finger injury sustained during training. The Indian skipper played a crucial role in the 207-run chase. Gill’s form with the bat will be crucial for the team in the remaining two matches.
Yashasvi Jaiswal – 6/10, Above Average
After a duck in the first innings, Jaiswal put on a 105-run stand in the chase with skipper Gill. He scored 61 off 46 balls, with nine fours and two sixes, before being retired out.
Devdutt Padikkal – 10/10, Perfect
Padikkal made the most of Sai Sudharsan’s absence, smashing a breathtaking 142 in the first innings. The pitch had become much easier to bat on, and Padikkal took full advantage, hitting 18 fours to seal the No. 3 spot for the Galle Test.
Rishabh Pant – 3/10, Poor
The wicketkeeper somehow managed to carry forward his poor IPL season in Colombo, falling cheaply in the first innings. While he did score 28 in the second innings, he threw away his wicket once again with India pushing towards the target. Pant has clearly lost his mojo, and it is time he pulled up his socks.
KL Rahul – 6/10, Above Average
KL Rahul showed grit, determination and class to score a face-saving 40 in the first innings. However, he did not get the chance to bat in the second innings as the management decided to give everyone a chance before the real Test. His assured presence with the bat makes him a must-have in the line-up.
Ravindra Jadeja – 9/10, Excellent
One of the senior statesmen of this side, Jadeja turned out to be a complete package on his return, having been dropped for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. His performance is a big positive for the team at a time when some batters are going through a lean patch. He hit a composed 63 in the first innings before adding another 22 in the second. In addition, he bagged four wickets across the two innings.
Dhruv Jurel – 2/10, Very Poor
Dhruv Jurel’s form has been poor, his technique has come under scrutiny, and he has struggled to score runs consistently. For now, his place in the playing XI appears safe, but he may consider himself fortunate if he continues to hold on to it for long, especially with the likes of Ishan Kishan waiting in the wings.
Manav Suthar – 6/10, Above Average
The all-rounder had a game of two halves, thriving with both bat and ball in the first innings but failing to replicate that form in the second. He took two wickets and scored a crucial 41 in the first innings. However, he misfired in both departments in the second innings.
Saransh Jain – 3/10, Poor
Saransh misfired with the ball and failed to pick up a single wicket. The only positive for him was his gritty batting in the first innings, where he scored 22 before being retired out. His bowling ability is what could help him keep his place in the playing XI for the first Test in Galle.
Mohammed Siraj – 7/10, Good
Siraj came in clutch, smashing 32 off just 15 balls, including three successive sixes, to bring the game to an emphatic end. The leader of India’s pace attack in Sri Lanka, however, struggled with the ball, picking up just one wicket across the two innings.
Gurnoor Brar – 6/10, Above Average
Despite being a bit expensive with the ball, Gurnoor showcased glimpses of his potential, often troubling the Sri Lankan batters with his pace and bounce on a relatively slow track. He picked up three wickets.
Kuldeep Yadav – 6/10, Above Average
Kuldeep once again proved why he is considered a match-winner. He was India’s best bowler in the first innings but was unlucky to be taken for a few boundaries. He did not bowl in the second innings, but his form will be crucial for India in the upcoming series.
Prasidh Krishna – 3/10, Poor
Apart from his yorker to get rid of Pasindu Sooriyabandara in the first innings, Prasidh Krishna was pretty much non-existent in the bowling department. His form could be a concern for the team heading into the Galle Test.
Note: Auqib Nabi bowled just five overs, which was not enough to fairly assess his performance.
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