Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Sports

Why Germany probably won’t get political at 2026 World Cup

Published

on

The German national team’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, stressed in a  weekly sports talk show recently, that while no gag order would be imposed on anyone, “it cannot be that it’s being talked about, practically on a matchday like with this disaster in Qatar.”

Völler was referring to the One Love armband debate in Qatar, which Germany – and several other nations – dropped at the last minute after FIFA threatened sanctions. Germany then protested ahead of the Japan game by posing for the team photo with their mouths covered.

Germany were met with a lot of criticism for their gesture in Qatar, but Jürgen Mittag, a professor of sports politics at the German Sport University Cologne, believes had they made the quarterfinals things might have been different.

“But as it was, they were met with a great deal of ridicule because they were symbolically strong but sportingly weak,” Mittag told DW.

Advertisement
Germany's team photo ahead of their 2022 World Cup game in Qatar against Japan
Germany’s protest ahead of the Japan game in Qatar was met with a lot of criticismImage: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

EU weakens Germany’s stance

The hope is that in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico Germany will perform better on the field, but what does that mean for their stance off it?

Michael Mutz, a professor of social sciences in sports at the Justus-Liebig University Giessen, doubts that any political statement will be made.

“I can’t imagine that the DFB (German Football Association) will actively pursue a political agenda against the host country again after the negative experiences in Qatar,” Mutz told DW. 

“The DFB is exposing itself to accusations of double standards because it criticized the situation in Qatar so harshly and will now presumably remain silent about the US, but the association will have to accept that.”

Advertisement

Mittag believes Germany’s postion is weakened by the current state of the European Union. The bloc is now further challenged by Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs on six member states as well as the UK and Norway who sent troops or officials to Greenland — which Trump is intent on acquiring — for security purposes.

“European democracy is also suffering a little… it is becoming increasingly fragmented and is therefore somewhat less capable of acting in foreign policy. This applies to the big picture as a whole, as well as to the internal sphere of football and other sports-related matters,” Mittag explained before the tariffs, set to start on February 1, were announced.

“Germany has been very proactive in sports diplomacy in recent years, but has also found that although it plays a prominent role, it doesn’t receive much support,” Mittag added.

Mittag cites the example of Germany’s stance on Russia and Belarus’s return to the Olympics. Germany petitioned hard against this and tried to forge a strong alliance, but only received minimal support. Mittag believes this defeat has hurt them, and forced them to reconsider their approach.

Advertisement

“That’s when Germany realized that it needs to pursue a different strategy. It doesn’t want to give up its position, but placing too much emphasis on moral, value-based issue is strategically clumsy. So, in the end, it does not lead to success and then you even have to put up with scorn or schadenfreude when you perform poorly in sporting terms,” Mittag explained.

Work in associations and in political circles will help strengthen Germany's role
Andreas Rettig (right) meets with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (left) and Germany’s former Economic Affairs and Climate Action minister Robert HabeckImage: Dominik Butzmann/BMWK/picture alliance/dpa

Political shift in sports diplomacy

Andreas Rettig, an outspoken sports executive who used to work at St. Pauli, was appointed as the new DFB’s CEO in 2023 and may be the perfect person to forge new alliances and better position Germany in committees. Even he has come up against challenges though. Rettig’s attempt to initiate a dialogue on critical issues ahead of the 2024 Euros was not met with much enthusiasm by regional associations.

Others in Germany have been loud, though. St. Pauli President and DFB Vice President Oke Göttlich recently told Sportschau: “Personally, I would advise against traveling given the current situation in the country.”

After Bayern Munich’s Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise, Bayern and Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said he would “no longer be taking part in the political discussion.”

The DFB have yet to comment.

Advertisement

“There has been a realpolitik shift in sports diplomacy, it’s somewhat less value-based, somewhat more realistic and acting pragmatically in order to perhaps achieve more success than in the past,” Mittag added.

Jürgen Mittag speaking at the Sport University Cologne
Jürgen Mittag believes that Germany can have a more effective strategy by winning over associations and committeesImage: BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl/picture alliance

Viewership might drop

The January protests against the Trump administration’s clampdown on illegal immigration – including a decision by the US justice department not to launch a criminal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on January 7 – have increased tensions in many places.

Given that Germany’s viewership dipped for the World Cup in Qatar, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another drop this summer, particularly given the difficult kickoff times for European viewers.

“I believe that we will not see the same viewing figures as in previous World Cups,” Mittag said.

“I would actually assume that broadcasting and media behavior will also reflect the fact that a lot of people in the summer of 2026 will say, ‘I’m aware of this World Cup, but I’m not going to watch it all. I’m not as enthusiastic as in previous years, and in a small way, I’m expressing my criticism.’”

Advertisement

 What is clear is that the moment Germany touch down in the United States, players and staff will have to answer questions about playing a tournament in the current political and social climate. The strength of their answers will depend on many factors, but perhaps most of all on how well they play on the field.

“The decisive factor for identification with the national team is not so much the political situation as the fact that the DFB team is perceived as a likeable, approachable, and successful team,” Mutz explained.

“Certainly, there is also a growing awareness in society that we are living in times of crisis and that political opinions are highly polarized. Especially in these times, the national football team could be an important anchor point for identification and the experience of belonging and community—across all social groups and political camps. However, football’s ability to bring different people together is weakened when the national team is perceived as too political.”

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

Advertisement

This article was updated on January 26, 2026 to include the statement from the St. Pauli President.

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

Duke Survives Upset Scare, Now Set to Roll Past TCU

Published

on

Siena Saints guard Gavin Doty (4) and Siena Saints center Riley Mulvey (55) defend Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Duke Blue Devils won 71-65.Siena Saints guard Gavin Doty (4) and Siena Saints center Riley Mulvey (55) defend Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. Duke Blue Devils won 71-65.

Duke has been the best team in the country this season. It’s not much of a hot-take to make that claim. However, on the first day of the tournament, every flaw that we’ve seen from the Blue Devils bubbled to the surface and almost caused them to have a wildly embarrassing first-round exit.

Siena had Duke on the ropes. They held a 13-point lead in the second half, the largest deficit that Duke had faced all season long. It was a disaster of a performance for the Blue Devils, who were playing what was essentially a home game in Greenville, South Carolina. Jon Scheyer simply didn’t have Duke prepared for the moment.

When interviewed at halftime, Maliq Brown said the Blue Devils were dealing with some nerves and believed Siena would be a cakewalk.

I’d love to argue that something like this would never happen under Coach K, but he did have a team that went down to 15-seed Lehigh. If Duke has a performance like this in any other round, their time in the dance will be short-lived, but maybe this was the wakeup call they needed.

Advertisement

You have to respect every team in your way in March Madness, and TCU is going to be a significant jump in talent from a Sienna team that essentially played their whole starting lineup for the entirety of the game.

The Horned Frogs physically dominated Ohio State for most of the matchup, with elite ball pressure from their guards on defense and aggressive post play, where they dominated the glass and garnered 12 offensive rebounds against the Buckeyes. Siena seemed to run out of gas in the final 10 minutes of this game, but TCU found its second wind in the final 10 minutes of theirs. They won’t just fade away if they pull away early.

Freshman Cayden Boozer was impressive in his first tournament game, doing a great job of replacing Caleb Foster as the offensive playcaller; however, he struggled to get the rest of the team involved. Cam Boozer, who will likely be the national player of the year, had a nice stat line, but was honestly bullied by Francis Folefac and Riley Mulvey. Duke will have to do a better job at getting him better looks, and Cam will have to do a better job of taking care of the ball.

Hopefully, Duke learns from their first-round mistakes and generates offensive rim pressure from start to finish against TCU. When Boozer and company attacked on offense, Sienna stood no chance of stopping them.

Advertisement

With that being said, Duke -11.5 is the freest bet of all time. This team was the best in the nation all season for a reason. I don’t think they’ll put up two stinkers in a row on the big stage.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Ibrahima Konate: Liverpool ‘disgusted’ by racist abuse towards France defender

Published

on

Liverpool have said they are “appalled and disgusted” by racist abuse directed towards defender Ibrahima Konate on social media.

The France international was involved in a challenge with Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen during the first half of Liverpool‘s 4-0 Champions League win at Anfield on Wednesday.

Osimhen was subbed off at half-time and it was later revealed by the Turkish side that he had fractured his forearm.

It led to Konate receiving racist abuse online which Liverpool said was “completely unacceptable”.

Advertisement

“It is dehumanising, cowardly and rooted in hate,” the club said on Friday.

“Racism has no place in football, no place in society and no place anywhere – online or offline.

“Our players are not targets. They are human beings. The abuse that continues to be directed at players, often hidden behind anonymous accounts, is a stain on the game and on the platforms that allow it to persist.”

The club said they were offering Konate their “full support” and working with the relevant authorities to identify those responsible.

Advertisement

Last month, police confirmed they were investigating after four Premier League players experienced online racial abuse in one weekend.

Osimhen appeared to fall awkwardly following a challenge with Konate in the eighth minute, but he played on until he was replaced by Leroy Sane at the break.

Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk complained about referee Pawel Raczkowski’s decision-making following the Nigeria striker’s injury.

“Looking at Osimhen’s position, we saw that Konate was able to commit these fouls very easily, he could easily apply any kind of foul,” Buruk said.

Advertisement

“While we were expecting the best referee in the world, perhaps one of the worst referees officiated the game.”

Liverpool won the last-16 tie 4-1 on aggregate and will face holders Paris St-Germain in next month’s quarter-finals.

The club called on social media companies to “take responsibility and act now” to prevent racist abuse being directed towards players online.

“These platforms have the power, the technology and the resources to prevent this abuse, yet too often they fail to do so,” Liverpool said.

Advertisement

“Allowing racist hatred to spread unchecked is a choice – and it is one that continues to harm players, families and communities across the game.

“The current situation cannot be allowed to continue. It must be confronted, challenged and eradicated – not tomorrow, but now.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

O’Brien backs Getta Good Feeling for 2026 Alexandra Stakes distance rise

Published

on

The trainer Danny O’Brien holds no fears that the abrupt extension in distance will trouble Getta Good Feeling en route to Caulfield.

A winner on return over 1200m down Flemington’s straight track, Getta Good Feeling takes in the Group 3 Alexandra Stakes (1600m) over the weekend.

For this campaign, O’Brien’s operation has pinpointed the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville come April 25 as Getta Good Feeling’s grand final.

“It’s three weeks between runs. She steps to the mile, but that shouldn’t be a problem as she has plenty of fitness,” O’Brien said.

Advertisement

“She’ll run three weeks after this and then there’s two weeks to the 2000-metre Group 1 over in Adelaide.

“It’s a pretty straight forward set-up for her.”

Last spring Getta Good Feeling shone as one of the premier three-year-old fillies, notching the Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) success at Flemington, a third placing in the Thousand Guineas (1600m) held at Caulfield, followed by the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) conquest at Flemington.

Consequently, Getta Good Feeling was installed heavy favourite in the VRC Oaks (2500m), holding pole position in the run home prior to battling on for sixth.

Advertisement

She began her new preparation by annexing the Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington not long ago, a victory that amazed the layers but aligned perfectly with O’Brien’s expectations.

“It wasn’t unexpected,” O’Brien said.

“Her form in the spring had been very good at 1200, 1400 (metres) and a mile.

“We just thought she didn’t stay the 2500 metres of the Oaks, so that’s why we gave her that opportunity first-up in the $1 million race and she had class on most of them in the race and she delivered.

Advertisement

“Up to the mile on Saturday, she’s got plenty of fitness underneath the belt there from a long spring, so it shouldn’t be an issue.”

Interested in the 2026 Alexandra Stakes? Dive into the racing betting markets available across trusted platforms.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

UCLA vs. UCF prediction, odds, spread, time: 2026 NCAA Tournament picks from proven model

Published

on

The No. 10 seed UCF Knights will battle the seven-seeded UCLA Bruins in a first-round matchup in the East Region of the 2026 NCAA Tournament on Friday. Two of the top 12 assist leaders in the country will face off in this matchup. UCLA’s Donovan Dent, who piled up 250 assists at 7.6 per game, and UCF’s Themus Fulks, who dished out 214 at 6.7 per game. UCF (21-11) lost to Big 12 champion Arizona 59-81, while UCLA (23-11) lost to Big 12 tournament champion Purdue 73-66. UFC has some high-profile wins, including Texas Tech and Kansas, but has lost four of five entering the NCAA Tournament. This is UCF’s first NCAA tournament since 2019, and just the first time since joining the Big 12. 

Tipoff from the Xfinity Mobile Arena at Aztec Bowl in Philadelphia, Pa., is set for 6:25 p.m. ET. The Bruins are 5.5-point favorites in the latest UCLA vs. UCF odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 152.5. Before making any UCF vs. UCLA picks,  check out the men’s college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the NCAA tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks. 

Now, the model has simulated UCLA vs. UCF 10,000 times and just revealed its men’s college basketball picks and March Madness predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball lines for UCF vs. UCLA:

Advertisement

UCLA vs. UCF spread:    

UCLA -5.5

UCLA vs. UCF over/under:    

152.5 points

Advertisement

UCLA vs. UCF money line:    

UCLA -234, UCF +191

UCLA vs. UCF picks:    

See picks at SportsLine

UCLA vs. UCF TV:

Advertisement

TBS

Top UCLA vs. UCF predictions

After 10,000 simulations of UCLA vs. UCF, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (152.5 points). The total has gone over in five of the Bruins’ last seven games played on a Friday. UCLA is also 5-0 against the spread in its last five games.

The model projects the Knights to have four players score 10.7 points or more, including Themus Fulks, who is projected to score 14.7 points. The Bruins are projected to have five players score 13.3 points or more, led by Tyler Bilodeau, who is projected to score 20.3 points. The model is projecting the Over to clear in 52.5% of simulations. See the spread pick at SportsLine.

How to make UCLA vs. UCF picks

The model also says one side of the spread is the better value. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

Advertisement

So who wins UCLA vs. UCF, and which side of the spread is the better value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Tracking 2026 Tournament Results for Teams in the West

Published

on


  By SuperWest Sports Staff


MARCH%2BMADNESS%2BLOGO.pngThe first day of the NCAA Tournament is in the books, and the results were mostly disappointing for teams from the West.

Of the five teams competing on Thursday, only No. 13-seed Gonzaga survived, defeating 4-seed Kennesaw State.

Thursday’s scores and Friday games appear below.


Thursday Scores

(11) Texas 79, (6) BYU 71

Advertisement

(10) Texas A&M 63, (7) Saint Mary’s 50

(4) Arkansas 97, (13) Hawai’i 78

(2) Houston 78, (5) Idaho 47

(3) Gonzaga defeated 73, (14) Kennesaw State, 64

Advertisement

Friday Games

Five more teams from the West are in action today, beginning with No. 10-seed Santa Clara at 9:15 a.m. PT, and concluding with Cal Baptist at 6:45 p.m.

Here are the times and networks:

  • No. 10-seed Santa Clara vs. 7-seed Kentucky, 9:15 a.m, PT CBS 

(Preview: Zags Set to Cruse as Gaels, Broncos Seek Hot Start in Dance)

  • No. 1 Arizona vs. 16-seed Long Beach, 10:35 a.m., TNT
  • No. 9-seed Utah State vs. 8-seed Villanova, 1:10 pm. TNT

(Preview: Hot-Shooting Utah State Looks to Roll Villanova in Dance)

  • No. 7-seed UCLA vs. 10-seed UCF, 4:25 p.m. TBS

(Preview: Streaky UCLA Poised for First-Round Shootout with UCF)

  • No. 13-seed Cal Baptist vs 4-seed Kansas, 6:45 p.m, CBS

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Women’s World Curling Championship 2026: Scotland miss out on play-offs

Published

on

Henderson’s rink – Lisa Davie, Hailey Duff, Katie McMillan and Watt – are competing in their first World Championships after their recent national championship win in Dumfries. Sophie Jackson’s rink, who represented Great Britain at the Winter Olympics, were absent from that competition.

“This week maybe wasn’t about making play-offs for us, it was more about gaining the experience and enjoying the week as a whole, so we will want to finish out strong against Norway and are just out to try our best and enjoy our last game,” added Watt.

Having beaten Australia so comfortably earlier in the day, the Scots looked to be heading for another victory when they led Italy 4-1 after five ends.

But Stefania Constantini’s rink struck back with a three at the sixth end and, although the Scots took a single to lead 5-4, the Italians scored at the final two ends to secure a victory that keeps them in the running for a play-off place.

Advertisement

Switzerland, who lead the way with nine wins and one defeat, hosts Canada, Japan and Sweden have secured their places in the play-offs.

South Korea, China, Turkey and Italy are vying for the two remaining places.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Mammoth, learning about season-ending pressure, brace for Ducks’ visit

Published

on

NHL: Utah Mammoth at Vegas Golden KnightsMar 19, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka (70) celebrates after the Mammoth defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

A potential Stanley Cup playoff preview is on the schedule for Friday when the Anaheim Ducks visit the Utah Mammoth.

The teams will be the meeting for the third time this season and the first time in Salt Lake City. The Ducks won 3-2 in overtime on Nov. 17, and the Mammoth responded with a 7-0 rout on Dec. 3.

Utah (36-27-6, 78 points), sitting in the first Western Conference wild-card spot, should be feeling good heading into the Friday tilt after shutting out the Vegas Golden Knights 4-0 on Thursday in Las Vegas.

Captain Clayton Keller scored twice in the first period and Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka made 28 saves for his second shutout of the season. Barrett Hayton had a goal and an assist for the Mammoth, who have won back-to-back games and are 5-2-2 in the past nine games.

“It’s a learning process sometimes for a lot of guys that haven’t been in that situation or played in those high-pressure situations,” Keller said, according to NHL.com, about his teammates’ status entering the stretch run. “Every game, every point matters. So, it’s good to see our group grow this year, inch by inch, and we’ve been getting better as the year has gone on.”

Advertisement

Mammoth coach Andre Tourigny added, “We have to keep looking in front of us, stay humble and one game at a time. We’re just helping ourselves right now, but there will be ups and downs ahead and you need to be consistent. … We’ll celebrate tonight, but at midnight, we need to switch the page because there’s another strong opponent (Friday).”

Vejmelka posted his 31st win of the season, the second-best total in the NHL behind the 32 of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Andrei Vasilevskiy, though he had some help. The Golden Knights had four shots hit the post.

The shutout was the eighth of Vejmelka’s career in five NHL seasons.

Advertisement

Anaheim (37-27-4, 78 points) sits atop the Pacific Division standings, one point ahead of the Edmonton Oilers and two in front of the Golden Knights. However, the Ducks aren’t in top form. They have lost four of their past six games (2-3-1), most recently falling 3-2 in overtime to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday.

In that contest, the Ducks pulled goaltender Lukas Dostal late in the third period, and Leo Carlsson scored off the rebound of Troy Terry’s shot to make it 2-2 at 18:06 of the third period.

Flyers forward Noah Cates scored at 2:17 of overtime, and the goal originally was reviewed for being offside before eventually being allowed to stand.

“It was a hard-fought game,” Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said. “They were better than us in the first half. We got way more competitive, and it put us in a good spot, but we’re pretty disappointed with the call at the end.”

Advertisement

Carlsson added, according to NHL.com, “We just didn’t play hard enough, I think. Just weird hockey. Got back to it in the third, but, yeah, too late there.”

–Field Level Media

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Lyon crash out of Europa League – Sports

Published

on

Lyon have been eliminated from the Europa League following their 2-0 home loss to Celta Vigo in the second leg of the round of 16 (1-1 in the first leg). Lyon were hampered by Moussa Niakhaté’s red card in the 19th minute. Rueda opened the scoring just after the hour mark, before Jutglà sealed the Spanish side’s qualification in additional time. After seven consecutive matches without a win, Lyon now turn their focus to Ligue 1.

Lille suffered the same fate as Lyon, losing at Aston Villa (0-2) after an identical defeat in the first leg. McGinn and Bailey secured the qualification, ending the run of French clubs in the Europa League.

In the Conference League, Strasbourg booked their place in the quarter-finals despite a draw against Rijeka (1-1, 2-1 in the first leg), 46 years after their last appearance at this stage.

In biathlon, Lou Jeanmonnot claimed her first overall World Cup title in Oslo, also securing the sprint globe two weeks after winning the individual one.

Advertisement

In handball, France defeated Spain (29-26) in a friendly match, for the debut of head coach Talant Dujshebaev.

In tennis, 17-year-old Moïse Kouamé won his first Masters 1000 match in Miami, defeating American Zachary Svajda (5-7, 6-4, 6-4), ranked 96th in the world.

Finally, in EuroLeague, Monaco won away at Efes Istanbul (98-93), while Paris lost at home to Partizan Belgrade (81-90).

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Streisand set for 2026 Golden Slipper tilt

Published

on

Streisand has been absent from the track since the Blue Diamond, but post-race occurrences have reinforced her position for this Saturday’s Golden Slipper, Clinton McDonald notes.

The trainer out of Cranbourne expressed particular joy at Chayan confirming the Blue Diamond form with an impressive triumph in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes held at Randwick March 7.

Chayan placed second behind Streisand in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude before fading behind her and others in the Group 1 Blue Diamond February 21, fueling McDonald’s optimism for Rosehill’s $5 million Group 1.

He considers the Magnus-sired filly the standout of her age group among fillies and relishes her shot at proving it across 1200 metres this weekend.

Advertisement

“We’ve met her twice and beaten her twice,” McDonald said of Chayan.

“I feel my filly is the best filly in the land at the moment and she’s probably the best two-year-old, because she’s been the most consistent from the spring to the autumn.

“She’s had five starts for two seconds, two wins and an unlucky fifth on the track where you couldn’t make ground. She’s been consistently good the whole way through.”

Streisand earned victories in the Blue Diamond and Blue Diamond Prelude post a fifth in the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview, having been edged out closely in last spring’s Listed Maribyrnong Trial and $500,000 Inglis Banner.

Advertisement

Streisand and Shiki stand as the only pair in this year’s Golden Slipper with five outings, a factor McDonald deems advantageous for the four-week rest.

Just three horses in 40 years have taken the Slipper after four or more weeks off, Courtza included – trained by Ross McDonald for the 1989 Diamond/Slipper double.

Five two-year-olds total have doubled up on Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper wins, colt Sepoy managing it in 2011 as the latest.

Bon Hoysted, McDonald’s grandfather via his mother, prepped Manikato for the achievement in 1978.

Advertisement

“I followed a bit of the same path as dad did with Courtza and we’re going straight to the Slipper (from the Blue Diamond), but we feel that she’s got the race smarts and the race sense to be able to do that,” he said.

Barrier 11 is Streisand’s spot in the Slipper, potentially becoming nine without the third and fourth emergencies, with her gate 10 Diamond win instilling McDonald with barrier confidence.

“It was a slow tempo, but she still sat wide and sprinted off it, so I think she’s in it right up to her ears,” he said.

“She can race on speed, she can race back, she goes on wet and dry. She’s got no chinks in her armour.”

Advertisement

For the Blue Diamond, as before, Ben Melham partners Streisand while aiming for a repeat Golden Slipper glory after She Will Reign in 2017.

Visit premier betting sites to check the latest racing betting markets for the Golden Slipper.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Linus Tech Tips slams YouTube for adding 30-second unskippable ads

Published

on

Linus Sebastian, host and founder of the popular YouTube channel Linus Tech Tips, recently criticized the platform over its introduction of 30-second unskippable ads. During Linus Tech Tips’ The WAN Show podcast on March 13, 2026, Linus questioned the platform directly, asking, “Will 30 seconds be enough for you?” For context, Google had rolled out these longer unskippable ads on YouTube for TV in early March 2026.

Speaking on the YouTube podcast, Sebastian stated:

“My only question for YouTube is when will it be enough and can you stop inupifying the service? Because I heard they just added 30 second unskippable ads to TVs. Will 30 seconds be enough for you?” (Timestamp – 2:34:23)

Linus Sebastian further questioned YouTube’s motive behind introducing 30-second unskippable ads, stating:

“Are we just going to go all the way back to cable TV with like 3 minute ad breaks? Can we not?”

youtube-cover

Linus Tech Tips highlights YouTube’s massive ad revenue, surpassing major media giants combined

In the same podcast, highlighting the scale of YouTube’s ad-driven business model, Linus Sebastian stated that “YouTube makes more money from ads than Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros. combined.” Citing data from research firm Moffett Nathanson, he noted:

“It turns out YouTube makes more money from ads than Disney, Paramount, and Warner Bros. combined. According to research firm Moffett Nathanson, YouTube earned 40.4 billion in ad revenue, while Disney, NBC, Paramount, and Warner Bros. earned 36.1 billion combined.” (Timestamp – 2:32:58)

He further added that, according to its parent company, Alphabet, YouTube had generated 60 billion dollars in ad revenue in 2025:

“Parent company Alphabet confirmed last month that in 2025 YouTube generated 60 billion with a B in revenue which still trails behind Meta which generated 196.2 billion in ad revenue.”


In other news, several former Linus Tech Tips employees have transitioned into independent creators, launching their own YouTube channels after leaving Linus Media Group.

Advertisement