Aug 19, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Over the Super Bowl weekend, there was plenty of talk regarding the Minnesota Vikings. Sadly, for Vikings fans, it wasn’t because their team was playing. It revolved around the now-infamous decision not go all in on Sam Darnold after a 14-win debut season in Minnesota.
The NFL’s Eyes Are on the Vikings’ Next Move
Darnold’s success throughout the 2025 season has drawn ridicule from some quarters, and that was rubber-stamped when Darnold hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after the Seattle Seahawks won Super Bowl LX.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah bet big on his first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2025, and it cost him his job as the Vikings general manager. Opinion was mixed after Darnold melted down in the final two games of the 2024 season, but with the benefit of hindsight, the Vikings should have done everything possible to keep Darnold.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy warms up before kickoff during pregame routines on Dec. 21, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The rookie passer went through timing drills and footwork as Minnesota finalized preparations ahead of a late-season road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
I don’t think Minnesota would have won the Super Bowl if they’d kept Darnold. However, on the back of Brian Flores’ strong defense, the team finished just half a game out of the playoffs despite historically bad QB play. McCarthy ranked last in the NFL in completion percentage (58%), touchdown-interception (11-12), and passer rating (72.6). He also struggled with injury again, meaning Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer started seven games. A Darnold-led Vikings probably makes the playoffs.
The pressure mounted on McCarthy and the decision-makers in Minnesota when veteran players like Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones spoke to the media during Super Bowl week and suggested that letting Darnold leave was a mistake. It will be particularly important to keep Jefferson happy, who had career lows in receiving yards (1,048) and receiving touchdowns (2). The national media doesn’t need an excuse to try to push a Jefferson trade agenda.
The NFL World is Watching
CBS Sports ranked the Vikings No. 1 on its list of teams to watch this offseason — the others were the Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tennessee Titans. The big talking point surrounding the Vikings, of course, is what the team will do at QB. With Adofo-Mensah gone, all options remain open.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speaks during a media session held at the Sport Ireland Campus on Sep. 26, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland. The appearance came ahead of Minnesota’s international slate, with O’Connell outlining preparation details and roster updates while fielding questions in a setting far removed from the usual Twin Cities routine. The event marked another stop on the franchise’s global tour. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
The focus will be on head coach Kevin O’Connell. With Minnesota not beginning its search for a new general manager until after the draft, this will be viewed as O’Connell’s show. His future in Minnesota likely lives or dies on the upcoming QB decision. Another season where the Vikings are relying on the defense, and they might want to think twice about letting Flores go into the next head coaching cycle.
So how will the Vikings address the quarterback position this offseason? Even if it’s just for the morale of their offensive players, like Jefferson. Minnesota has to bring in a veteran quarterback this offseason to compete with and/or mentor McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers and former Viking Kirk Cousins would meet that mentor role in the final years of their playing days.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray takes off on a scramble as pressure collapses during the second half of a divisional matchup at SoFi Stadium, showcasing his trademark mobility and acceleration. The sequence unfolded on Dec. 28, 2024, in Inglewood, where Murray extended the drive with his legs against the Los Angeles Rams, stressing the defense horizontally and vertically in a moment that highlighted his dual-threat value. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images.
Bringing in one of those would give the Vikings a chance to let McCarthy step back and maybe come back. Alternatively, someone like Kyler Murray or Mac Jones would be competition for the long-term role.
Onlookers are fascinated by what Minnesota’s offseason approach will be. It will be one of the league’s big storylines this offseason.
Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has established himself as a fan favorite during his legendary stint with the team. Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team’s new coach, Jerrod Calhoun, is among the fans rooting for the Chiefs’ tight end.
During Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, Jason and Travis talked to Calhoun during a segment. The reigning MW Coach of the Year shared that fellow Ohio native Donald D’Alesio influenced his fandom for the Chiefs.
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“I was very close with Donald D’Alesio, so we became die-hard Chiefs fans, man, we flew out every year with a group of Youngstown guys. And, you know, the Phantom fireworks guys and all those guys,” Calhoun said (Timestamp- 1:20:00 onwards).
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“I was born in East Liverpool, but I grew up in Cleveland. I’m a Cleveland guy, but I spent seven years at Youngstown. Jim Tressel was a huge mentor of mine, and you know, so I’ve had a lot of good guys help me along the way.”
D’Alesio served as the Chiefs’ defensive assistant in 2021 and was promoted to the safeties coach the following year. He was hired by the New York Giants as their new secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator in January.
Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa suffered a major setback in his campaign, going down to Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan in the third round of the FIDE Candidates Tournament here on Tuesday.
The defeat with the white pieces could prove costly for Praggnanandhaa, who had begun his campaign on a high by defeating Dutch Grandmaster Anish Giri, leaving the Indian on 1.5 points after the setback and in urgent need of a quick recovery.
Apart from Sindarov, American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana — the pre-tournament favourite — defeated Wei Yi of China in one of the strangest games of the opening three rounds, with Caruana and Sindarov sharing the lead on 2.5 points apiece.
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They are followed by Praggnanandhaa on 1.5, while Matthias Bluebaum, Andrey Esipenko, Hikaru Nakamura and Giri are tied for fourth on one point each. Wei Yi sits at the bottom on half a point in the eight-player double round-robin event with 11 rounds still to be played.
For Praggnanandhaa, it was a heartbreak after a rousing start, as with the white pieces he faced a Queen’s Gambit Declined and, on another day, it could well have been a straightforward draw had he not pushed to play decisively.
Sindarov, the youngest-ever World Cup winner, has emerged as a fierce competitor against the world elite over the past year, and on Tuesday was no different as the Uzbek seized his chances in the middle game, sacrificing a piece to dismantle white’s initiative early on.
Praggnanandhaa was pushed onto the back foot as the pressure mounted, and a series of errors in the later stages of the middle game proved costly for the Indian.
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Caruana secured a win that few expected to end so swiftly, as the game began with an English Opening and initially promised a complex battle, but Wei Yi found himself out of preparation early on, allowing the American to seize control, trap a bishop with resourceful play and wrap up the contest in just 19 moves.
In the women’s event being held simultaneously, the ice was finally broken by Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan who scored the first victory of the event at the expense of Zhu Jiner of China.
India’s R Vaishali kept herself in the hunt drawing with Anna Muzychuk in an uneventful game but women’s World Cup winner Divya Deshmukh was on the brink of a defeat against Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia.
In the other game of the day, favourite Tan Zhongyi of China also suffered a setback against seasoned Kateryna Lagno of Russia.
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The Candidates is played to determine the challenger for the next world championship match.
In the open section, the winner will face D Gukesh while in the women’s the champion will have a showdown with Ju Wenjun of China.
Results (Round 3) Open: Fabiano Caruana (USA, 2.5) beat Wei Yi (Chn, 0.5); R Praggnanandhaa (1.5) lost to Javokhir Sindarov (Uzb, 2.5); Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 1) drew with Anish Giri (Ned, 1); Matthias Bluebaum (Ger, 1) drew with Andrey Esipenko (Rus, 1).
Women (Round 3): Tan Zhongyi (Chn, 1) lost to Kateryna Lagno (Rus, 2); Bibisara Assaubayeva (Kaz, 2) beat Zhu Jiner (Chn, 1); R Vaishali (Ind, 1.5) drew with Anna Muzychuk (Ukr, 1.5); Aleksandra Goryachkina (Rus, 1) playing Divya Deshmukh (Ind, 1).
Four-time world champions Italy have done the almost unimaginable. Flash back to 2006, when the Azzurri lifted their fourth World Cup, beating a legendary France side in a dramatic penalty shootout.
Fast forward to 2026, and penalties have again sealed their fate. Italy failed to qualify for their third consecutive FIFA World Cup, becoming the first former champion to miss three back-to-back editions of the tournament.
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Even the largest-ever World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, could not accommodate the storied Azzurri. A nation that once defined footballing excellence now finds itself absent from the world’s biggest stage.
A Night of Pain and Despair
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Coach Gennaro Gattuso, a warrior on the pitch in his playing days, wore a mask of defiance while consoling his devastated squad. Players huddled on the turf, some with heads buried in their shirts, others staring blankly, unable to process the collapse. For Gattuso, who had contained legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, the defeat was a heavy personal burden. Though he may have maintained composure publicly, the private anguish in the dressing room would have been immense.
This was more than a sporting loss; it was a blow to Italian football’s identity. While previous failures in 2018 and 2022 were painful, this third miss sent a clear message: Italy is no longer the football powerhouse it once was. Euro 2020 now looks like an exception rather than a revival, and the rot within the domestic system, declining league standards, lack of elite talent development, and migration of young prospects to foreign leagues, has finally manifested on the global stage.
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Bosnia’s Masterclass
Italy’s defensive frailties were brutally exposed. Bosnia dominated possession, completing 723 passes to Italy’s 420, and outshot the Azzurri 31-9, with 11 on target. Physical and tactical superiority allowed Bosnia to exploit every crack in Italy’s defense. Even a momentary lapse by Alessandro Bastoni led to a critical red card situation, emphasizing that much of Italy’s failure was self-inflicted. The legendary defensive rigidity of the past seemed like a distant memory.
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Structural Failures Beyond the Pitch
Italy’s woes are deeper than a single match. Serie A no longer attracts top global talent, with elite players preferring leagues in England, Germany, or Portugal. Only one Italian club has won the Champions League in nearly three decades. The pipeline of young talent is drying up, and the league’s decline mirrors the national team’s struggles.
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A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the calamity, hope remains in Italy’s managerial talent. Coaches like Roberto De Zerbi have thrived abroad, and figures like Carlo Ancelotti could play a pivotal role in reviving the national team. Tactical innovation exists; what is missing is systemic reform and a commitment to rebuilding a footballing legacy.
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Italy’s absence from the 48-team World Cup edition is more than a statistical anomaly, it’s a wake-up call.
Sameer Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs (Image Credit: IPL)
Sameer Rizvi announced himself in style, producing a composed and match-winning unbeaten 70 to guide Delhi Capitals to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Match 5 of IPL 2026. Walking in under pressure with Delhi reeling at 26 for 4 in a modest chase of 142, Rizvi showcased maturity beyond his years. Alongside Tristan Stubbs, he stitched together an unbeaten 119-run partnership that completely turned the game on its head and sealed the chase in just 17.1 overs.Calm under pressure: Rizvi’s maturity shines throughRizvi revealed after the match that clarity in role and backing from the team management played a key part in his performance.“The coaches backed me to bat at number four this season. I just tried to play according to the situation,” he said.Initially looking to play positively, Rizvi had to quickly reassess after Delhi lost wickets in a cluster.”But as soon as in the next over, two wickets fell, the situation changed completely. So I tried to talk to Stubbs. He said, let’s take a little time. There are a lot of overs left and the run rate is also down. We should respect the conditions, so we talked and decided that we would play our game. Not only after reaching fifty, but I tried to put the loose delivery away and that was my plan throughout the innings,” Rizvi concluded.
Partnership that changed the game
The Rizvi–Stubbs stand of 119* not only rescued Delhi from a collapse but also etched itself into IPL history. It is the second-highest partnership after a team was four down for under 30 runs, only behind the 134* stand between Yusuf Pathan and Shakib Al Hasan for KKR in 2016.It also became Delhi Capitals’ highest partnership for the fifth wicket or lower, surpassing the previous best of 111*.Stubbs played the perfect supporting role with an unbeaten 39, ensuring there was no further damage while Rizvi gradually shifted gears.Tristan Stubbs reflects on his partnership with Sameer Rizvi, ” Yeah, we kept saying, keep batting normally, keep looking to score. I think the way Sameer plays naturally just against the spin, takes it on, so it made my job a bit easier. Just knock it around, get him on strike. And we always knew it was one over, and then it was down to run a ball, and then take the game away, the shots you need, and yeah, fortunately we got it there. We said at the start of the over, let’s see if it’s spinning. And I think the first three balls went for like 12 or something. ”
Axar backs bowlers and young talent
Delhi skipper Axar Patel credited both the bowlers and the match-winning partnership for the victory.“The new ball was doing a bit. We told our bowlers to exploit that, and they did really well. The key was building one big partnership in the chase, and Rizvi and Stubbs executed it perfectly.”Axar also highlighted the team’s strategy during the innings break.“During the strategic time-out, the message was clear, we were just one partnership away from taking control, the plan was to bring in Rizvi early. He’s been excellent in practice, and it’s great to see him deliver.” Axar added.
Former two-division world champion Tim Bradley has admitted that one undefeated contender is indeed the real deal.
Bradley defeated Junior Witter to become the WBC super-lightweight world champion back in 2008, before unifying the titles with a win over WBO titleholder Kendall Holt – defending the WBO crown against Lamont Peterson, Devon Alexander and Joel Casamayor.
Since hanging up the gloves, Bradley has become a respected commentator and fight analyst for Top Rank, and he told his YouTube channel that, in his opinion, undefeated heavyweight Moses Itauma is ‘something else’.
“Itauma is something else, he is something else. He got fighters doing the mannequin challenge! He had Franklin stuck in real time, he was stuck, then he came down with that mother****in’ right swooping jab!”
“He is cold, with that speed and power alone – cold. Oooh man. He impressed me, he’s something else… he’s going to the top.”
Itauma claimed a fifth round knockout win over Jermaine Franklin on Saturday, taking his unbeaten record to 14-0 with 12 knockouts.
Bradley then went on to reveal why he believes Itauma punches so hard, highlighting the 21-year-old’s Nigerian heritage as a reason behind his punch power.
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“When I heard [he is] Nigerian, I said ‘yep!’. That is where that damn power comes from. AJ [Anthony Joshua] is Nigerian too – power. S**t, Samuel Peter – power.”
“That is why he is knocking everybody the f**k out, all of that power. That Nigerian power is different, he got that Nigerian battery pack on his back.”
Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says her players “deserve better” after she was sent off during her side’s 1-0 win against Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final, in a match which saw Katie McCabe appear to pull the hair of Chelsea’s Alyssa Thompson.
The fourth and final phase of ticket sales for the 2026 World Cup in North America began on Wednesday, FIFA announced. The phase for the June 11- July19 event in the United States, Mexico and Canada involves more than three million tickets. This “last-minute” sales phase opened at 1500 GMT on the official website, FIFA.com/tickets, the global governing body stated in a press release. Tickets are being sold on a “first-come, first-served” basis and will remain available until the end of the competition on July 19, it added.
Tickets will be released for sale on a rolling basis — including, on occasion, for matches taking place on the very same day — according to FIFA.
At the scheduled time, prospective buyers were directed to a “waiting” page to “queue” while awaiting access to the site, a wait that could last several hours.
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“A countdown will appear before you can enter the ticket sales phase. Once the countdown is over, an ‘Enter’ button will be available for 5 minutes. Click it to access,” instructions specify.
In total, nearly seven million tickets are being offered for the competition, taking into account the capacities of the 16 stadiums hosting the global tournament.
More than three million of these tickets have already been sold during the first three sales phases — including over one million during the random selection draw phase alone (held in January and February), which received 500 million requests, according to FIFA.
The global governing body is likely to break the all-time record of 3.5 million tickets sold for a World Cup — a mark set during the 1994 edition.
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This summer, the tournament will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, 78 of which will take place on American soil.
The issue of ticketing has sparked controversy, with FIFA facing accusations of offering tickets at exorbitant prices, in disregard of promises made when the tournament was awarded to the three host nations.
On March 24, Football Supporters Europe (FSE) — an organization representing European fans — and Euroconsumers — a group representing consumers across the continent — announced they had filed a complaint against FIFA with the European Commission.
They alleged abuse of a dominant market position and seek to compel the organization to abandon its “opaque and unfair” ticket purchasing procedures. FIFA has defended its ticket pricing, which, according to president Gianni Infantino, is driven by “crazy” demand.
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However, in December, the governing body did introduce a $60 ticket category reserved exclusively for official supporters’ clubs; yet, according to the FSE, this quota was virtually sold out before sales even opened to the general public.
Additionally, FIFA is set to reopen its official ticket resale and exchange platform on Thursday. This platform has also come under fire due to the equally prohibitive prices at which tickets are listed for resale.
The global governing body explained that it does not intervene in this “fan-to-fan market,” where the reseller “determines the listed price of each ticket” in Canada and the United States.
The legal framework differs in Mexico, however, where reselling a ticket for more than its original purchase price is prohibited.
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(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Capitals recovered from a top-order collapse as Sameer Rizvi hit an unbeaten half-century to help secure a six-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL on Wednesday. South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi took three wickets as Delhi bowled out hosts Lucknow for 141, a total the Capitals overhauled with 17 balls to spare. Delhi slipped to 26-4 before impact substitute Rizvi, who struck 70 not out, and Tristan Stubbs, who made 39, put on an unbeaten stand of 119 to steer the team home.
“I think the way Sameer plays naturally just against the spin, takes it on, so it made my job a bit easier,” Stubbs said.
“Just knock it around, get him on strike. And we always knew it was one over, and then it was down to run a ball, and then take the game away, the shots you need, and fortunately we got it there.”
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The win took DC to third place on Net Run Rate, leaving them level on two points with four other teams. Rajasthan Royals sit atop the table, followed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings complete the top five following their respective victories over Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans.
Updated IPL 2026 Points Table:
Mohammed Shami, in his debut season for Lucknow, dismissed KL Rahul for a duck with the first ball of the chase.
Fellow quick Prince Yadav struck twice in one over to send back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Axar Patel (0) to leave Delhi in trouble 4.3 overs into their chase.
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But Rizvi, who hit five fours and four sixes in his 47-ball knock, and Stubbs steadied the ship before unleashing as the target came into view.
The 22-year-old Rizvi, who was named player of the match, raised his fifty with a four off part-time spinner Aiden Markram and later hit the winning six.
“You know, one positive (is) that boys fought hard,” said Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant. “The way we bowled, especially the way we started, definitely some good signs going ahead in the season.”
Pant opened the Lucknow innings with Mitchell Marsh but was run out for seven after a hit from his fellow batter grazed the bowler’s arm to hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
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Delhi skipper Patel bowled Markram for 11 and wickets fell at regular intervals.
Ngidi sent back Nicholas Pooran for eight with a well-disguised slower delivery that rattled the stumps.
Marsh attempted to pull things back with his 35 but fell in his attempt to attack left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and the batting then collapsed.
Abdul Samad’s 25-ball 36 boosted the total but the Lucknow innings lasted for just 18.4 overs after Ngidi struck with successful balls.
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Left-arm quick T Natarajan also took three wickets.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina secured their second-ever World Cup appearance after beating Italy on penalties and ex-Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko celebrated through the night despite suffering a shoulder injury
Manchester City hero Edin Dzeko led the euphoric celebrations with the Bosnia and Herzegovina team after they clinched a thrilling World Cup qualification. The squad triumphed over Italy in Zenica, securing a 4-1 victory in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
This signifies Bosnia’s second-ever World Cup appearance, their first since Brazil 2014. Despite sustaining a shoulder injury in the final moments of extra time after being fouled by Davide Frattesi and receiving treatment, Dzeko persevered through the full 120 minutes but was unable to participate in the shootout.
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He observed from the sidelines with his arm in a sling. Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez expressed afterwards: “I hope that it is not a great injury to Edin Dzeko and that he will be able to be with us at the World Cup because he does not have much time.”
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That didn’t deter the 40-year-old from celebrating into the early hours, dancing and singing in a bar. He later posted footage on Instagram, showcasing the squad revelling in their historic accomplishment.
He also shared images from the bustling streets of Sarajevo, where the Bosnia squad celebrated on top of a rooftop bus surrounded by thousands of supporters.
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Despite being unable to take a penalty for his country, the striker said it felt like destiny.
“I keep saying it must have been fate, for it to happen in the last second of the match, and then for me not to be able to take a penalty,” he said.
“Someone else stepped up instead of me, scored, and in the end we won.
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“Who knows, maybe if I had taken it, I wouldn’t have scored, so it all feels like it comes from above.”
Regarding his arm injury, Dzeko added: “We’re all relieved about the arm, it’s not the worst case scenario. Most likely it won’t need surgery.
“So I hope that in maybe a month, month and a half, I should be back.”
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Bosnia progressed into Group B, where they will meet Canada, Qatar and Switzerland in the tournament staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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Dzeko spent five years at the Etihad Stadium, making 189 appearances for Manchester City. He is remembered as a club hero for reigniting their Premier League title hopes in 2012.
With City trailing 2-1 to QPR on the final day, he came off the bench to score a crucial 92nd‑minute equaliser – the goal that kept the title race alive before Sergio Aguero struck moments later to win the club’s first Premier League crown.
He won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Community Shield before completing a permanent move to Roma.
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HOUSTON (AP) — Carlos Correa put Houston on top with a three-run homer and Christian Vázquez added a solo shot to lead the Astros to a 6-4 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
It’s the fifth consecutive win for the Astros and gives Boston five straight losses since an opening day victory.
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Pinch-hitter Roman Anthony homered off Bryan Abreu to start the ninth and get the Red Sox within two. But Abreu struck out the next three batters to get his first save.
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Houston starter Mike Burrows (1-1) allowed five hits and two runs in five innings for the win after giving up nine hits and five runs in his Astros debut Friday after an offseason trade from Pittsburgh.
The game was tied with one out in the fifth when Jose Altuve singled before Garrett Crochet (1-1) hit Yordan Alvarez in the ribs with a pitch. There were two outs with a 1-2 count when Correa smacked an off-speed pitch into the seats in left field to make it 5-2.
Crochet allowed six hits and five runs — four earned — in five innings after throwing six scoreless innings in the opening day win over the Reds.
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Vázquez connected off Danny Coulombe to open Houston’s seventh and push the lead to 6-2.
Wilyer Abreu hit his third home run this season on a solo shot that cut the lead to 6-3 with one out in the eighth.
Willson Contreras’ RBI single with one out in the first gave Boston an early lead.
Alvarez hit a one-out double in the bottom of the inning before a double by Isaac Paredes tied it. Correa reached on a fielding error by Trevor Story before an RBI single by Christian Walker put Houston up 2-1.
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The Red Sox tied it when Isiah Kiner-Falefa scored on Jarren Duran’s groundout in the second.
The Red Sox played without catcher Carlos Narváez after he was scratched from the lineup Wednesday. Manager Alex Cora didn’t say why he was taken out of the lineup.
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Both teams are off Thursday before the Red Sox open a series against San Diego on Friday night and the Astros begin a series with the Athletics in Sacramento.
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