Sports

Why Weekend Sport Turns Every Fan Into a Selector

Published

1 hour ago

15 July 2026

You may not realise it, but weekend sport has a strange power over otherwise reasonable people. By Friday afternoon, you can be calmly checking fixtures. By Saturday morning, you’ve somehow formed strong opinions about a lunchtime football match, a rugby handicap, a racing outsider and a late GAA result that depends on a team you only half-follow but suddenly trust with your whole chest.

That’s part of the fun. Sport gives you stories before anything has happened. A team needs a response after a poor result. A striker’s due a goal. A province has a point to prove. A favourite looks short but hard to oppose. An underdog feels dangerous because the weather’s grim and the crowd will be loud.

A sportsbook brings all of those little arguments into one place. The trick isn’t pretending you can predict every twist. It’s knowing how to read the weekend without letting the fixtures bully you into backing everything with a start time.

The Early Kick-Off Is Usually the Trap

The early kick-off always looks harmless. It’s sitting there at the top of the day, waving politely, acting like a sensible place to start. Then the team news lands, one full-back is missing, the favourite starts slowly and suddenly your carefully planned Saturday has taken a personal insult before lunch.

That’s why early matches deserve more respect. They often carry a much different energy. Players may look flat. The crowd may take time to warm up. Managers may choose caution because nobody wants to spend the rest of the weekend explaining a silly defeat.

Before you get too attached to the first fixture, ask whether the price suits the setup. Is the favourite away from home? Has there been rotation? Is the underdog organised enough to make it awkward? Does the match need goals, or are you only hoping for them because it’s the first thing on screen?

One Strong Opinion Beats Six Loose Ones

Every sports fan knows the danger of a weekend slip that grows legs. One football pick becomes three. Then a rugby selection joins in. Then racing looks tempting. Then someone mentions darts, and suddenly you’re emotionally invested in a match you didn’t know existed 20 minutes earlier.

That’s where using the betmaster.ie sportsbookis more useful when you arrive with a plan instead of a wandering thumb. A good sportsbook gives you plenty to choose from, but choice only helps if you know what you’re looking for.

The better approach is to build around your strongest read. Maybe it’s a football match where the team news supports your view. Maybe it’s a rugby market where the handicap looks too generous. Maybe it’s a racing selection where conditions suit the horse better than the headline price suggests.

Live Sport Changes the Argument

Pre-match thoughts are useful, but sport has no manners. It changes the argument as soon as the action starts. A football favourite may dominate the ball without creating anything. A rugby side may lose discipline early. A horse may drift before the off for a reason the casual viewer has missed.

That’s why watching matters. Not in a dramatic, notebook-at-the-ready way. Just enough to see whether your read still makes sense once the event begins. Sometimes the market moves because something real is happening. Sometimes it moves because everyone’s reacting to noise.

In football, watch whether pressure is turning into chances or just possession. In rugby, look at territory, penalties and set-piece control. In racing, pay attention to ground, pace and how the market behaves close to the start.

Live sport gives you extra information, but it also tempts you into quick decisions. The key is staying picky. If the match has changed in a way you understand, fair enough. If you’re only reacting because the odds moved and your tea went cold, maybe take a breath first.

The Best Weekend Bets Survive a Second Look

The most useful test is simple: would you still like the selection if it weren’t starting soon? Urgency can make an average idea feel better than it is. A match being live, televised or widely discussed doesn’t automatically make it worth backing.

A good weekend pick should survive a second look. You should be able to explain the case without relying on vibes alone. Why this team? Why this market? Why this price? What would make you change your mind? If those answers are fuzzy, the bet may be more boredom than belief.

This applies across sport. A favourite can still be too short. An outsider can still be too hopeful. A goals market can look lively but lack the setup. A rugby handicap can feel tempting until you check the weather, rotation or recent away form.

Choose the angles that actually make sense, enjoy the rest and let Saturday be chaotic without letting your bet slip join in.

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Why a Vikings 1st-Round Selection is in Danger of Demotion

Published

11 minutes ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Jordan Addison & Justin Jefferson — Dec 22, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) celebrates with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) after catching a touchdown pass against the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.

Wide receiver Jordan Addison is one of the rare success stories for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s drafting, generally a waste land of missed picks and poor trades. The Vikings 1st-Round selection from 2023 may nevertheless be a demotion candidate.

At the very top of the position is Justin Jefferson — a top receiver in the NFL. Nobody is taking the WR1 crown off Jefferson’s head. Can the same be said for Mr. Addison as it relates to his job as Minnesota’s WR2? The presence of Jauan Jennings makes things dicier for the homegrown young fella who has sometimes gotten into trouble off the field.

Vikings 1st-Round Selection Faces True Challenger for WR2

If the desire is to get more physical and more unpredictable — the coaches say that’s the case, but talk is cheap — then leaning on Jennings makes a lot of sense.

He was referred to as a dirtbag by Kyler Murray at minicamp, a descriptor meant to highlight the grit, ruggedness, and compete within the receiver’s game. He can bulldoze defensive backs in a way that’s unique in the NFL. Accordingly, the Vikings can be a considerably more dangerous team when running the ball when operating out of 11 personnel: 1 running back, 1 tight end, and 3 receivers.

NFL: Tennessee Titans at San Francisco 49ers — Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

There’s a case to be made, though, for Jennings being the second receiver when Minnesota leans on 12 or 21 personnel. In these formations — ones that feature either a second running back or a second tight end — there are only a pair of receivers.

This is an incredible block from Jauan Jennings. You can see his eyes tracking his target pre-snap, but the ability to adjust his angle across the formation to line up and erase him is outstanding. This is a receiver! 👏 pic.twitter.com/9j3av1hiDm
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) December 19, 2023

Jefferson claims one spot. Addison is the assumed option to run alongside Jefferson, but Jennings will have something to say about that seemingly foregone conclusion.

During the 2025 season, Jauan Jennings piled up 643 yards and 9 touchdowns within his 55 catches. Averaging 11.7 yards per catch is good but a touch below his career average of 12.3 yards. His longest catch of the season went for 42 yards and he averaged 3.3 yards after the catch. Jennings offered these statistics within fifteen games and within the context of the 49ers having some passer turmoil.

Meanwhile, Jordan Addison was putting together his most modest season as a pro. The reasons are twofold. To begin, there was his three-game absence due to suspension. He then had to sort through a horrendous quarterback situation, a reality that impacted everybody.

Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison attempts to catch a pass against Giants cornerback Cordale Flott. — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

Jordan Addison celebrates a touchdown with teammates during the Vikings’ International Series game against the Browns in London. — Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

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At Open Championship, golf’s stars face unique opponent for final time

Published

25 minutes ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

The Open Championship is a celebration — of golf’s beginnings, its past champions, its DNA, its homelands. For the last seven years, since the PGA Championship moved to May, it has also served as the final chapter of golf’s major season — the last chance for players to etch their names into history before the eight-and-a-half-month wait for the Masters begins.

It’s also the final time of the year that the faces of golf, the players around whom the sport revolves, face a unique opponent: grand, existential, possibly unanswerable questions about dreams, legacy, the long arc of pro golf, mortality and everything in between.

This week at Royal Birkdale has been no different. While major championships bring stress and often chippy interactions in press conferences, the players are normally in a jovial mood at the Open, happy to be playing a different style of golf in the place where the game was born and feeling good about their chances to accomplish a lifelong dream of becoming Champion Golfer of the Year (again, in some cases). So when odd, philosophical questions come their way (they always do), players seem more willing to entertain and ponder something bigger than how far their 6-iron might run this week.

The introspection started with Tommy Fleetwood, the local star who grew up in Southport and used to sneak onto Royal Birkdale as a kid. Now 35, Fleetwood is still chasing his first major championship. He has eight career major top-10s, including runner-up finishes at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Open Championship. But Tommy Lad hasn’t recorded a major top-10 since the 2023 Masters, and as such, was asked to confront the possibility that he’ll never become a major champion.

As we’ve come to expect from Fleetwood, he took an optimistic view of the still-long road ahead while also admitting that his pursuit in golf can’t only come down to four tournaments a year. That would be a disservice to the work he has put in chasing his dreams.

“I’ll have to wait and find out,” Fleetwood said on Monday at Royal Birkdale. “There’s no doubt about it, I think winning majors is kind of like the ultimate accolades in our sport. It’s a difficult one. I don’t think I want to sort of look towards the future and worry about or think that I have to win a major to feel fulfilled. I think, like everyone else out here, we spend our lives giving it everything, and it might happen for me, it might not. I don’t want to think about it as if it doesn’t happen, all of those hours I spent chasing my dreams, what was it for, kind of thing. Whatever happens in my career, I will have — I’ll be able to look back and say that I gave it everything and I had an amazing time doing it. I would definitely much prefer to have a major or two or three on my resume by the time my career is over. Whether that happens or not is sometimes out of your control, but I think making sure you have a great time chasing it is the ultimate thing.

“Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you’ll never find out if yours will unless you chase it. Mine might come true; it might not. I think I’ve done a lot in my career so far, but yeah, there’s still plenty more to go. Until my time is up, I’ll keep trying and keep working hard, and hopefully you can ask me that question again at some point, and I’ll be able to tell you how I actually feel.”

Monday was the appetizer for the Open Championship’s platter of big, existential questions. Tuesday was the main course.

Soon-to-be 46-year-old Justin Rose, who had his own Birkdale moment as an amateur in 1998 before missing 21 cuts in a row to begin his pro career, was asked if his career — one major, World No. 1, Olympic gold medal, etc. — is everything he envisioned when he turned pro after Birkdale in 1998 or if he would want a do-over.

One of golf’s great thinkers, Rose admitted that he would’ve liked to have done more in some areas; there are near-misses that could’ve gone his way and changed how he’s viewed. But overall, 28 years into a pro career, Justin Rose has zero regrets and believes that what he craves is still on the horizon.

“It’s almost an impossible answer, but the only way to answer it is: Would I want to do it again and think I could do better? I think I’d probably pass. I’d probably say I’ll let the chips — I’ll stay. I’ll stick,” Rose said. “I’m very happy with where I’m at. Could I have done more? Could I have won more of what I’ve already won? Yes. Would I love to be a multiple major champion? Yes. Do I feel I could have pushed towards close to a grand slam? Yes. I’ve had results that nearly put me in that realm. So a little bit of luck here and there, I could be sitting here with a very different career. But ultimately, if I look at it, I got to World No. 1. I’m a major champion, Olympic gold medalist, FedEx Cup. I’ve kind of achieved pretty much what there is to achieve in the game, albeit once only. But the highlights are great. Would I have just wanted more of it? Of course. Everyone’s greedy. But if I had to make a choice, there’s a lot of sideways and backwards moves available out here on Tour. Falling down a set of stairs, doing something stupid, whatever it might be, circumstance, life, there’s a lot of things that can get in your way over a 28-year career.”

Our philosophical golf journey ended with the two best players in the world, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.

At last year’s Open, Scheffler went viral for explaining the unfulfilling nature of winning tournaments and how things outside of golf fill the deepest desires of his heart. A year later, Scheffler explained what those who heard parts of his speech got wrong, or what he articulated poorly. What he was trying to say is that it’s important to know “your why.” That he’s driven by competition, thriving in the arena and the process that leads to it, not by the fleeting feeling that comes if he finishes on top.

The World No. 1 reflected on a frustrating year that has seen him finish runner-up four times while only winning once. Scheffler compared constant contention and the exhaustion that comes with it to an NFL team that continually goes deep in the playoffs. The grind and the pressure of being in the spotlight are a weight. He welcomes it, but it takes its toll. Then, Scheffler was asked about legacy and if he thinks about what his might be and if cementing his place in history is a motivating factor. Whereas numbers like 19 and 83 drove Tiger Woods, Scheffler said he’s uninterested in that pursuit because it won’t matter when he’s no longer here.

“I don’t really play, like, for a place in history. I’m not playing for anything like that because — this is going to sound a little morbid — at the end of the day, I’m going to live my life, and it’s going to end. When it ends, I’m going somewhere else, and I’m not going to be here anymore. Legacy and all that stuff was never really something that motivated me. For me, it was always competition. … I’ve never been one to play for history or legacy or anything like that.

“If I could be remembered — like I don’t necessarily want to be remembered for winning the tournaments that I won. I’d much rather be remembered for the way that I did it than the tournaments that I won. So if I’m doing things the right way, treating people the right way — like I said, a successful week for me is when I approach things the right way, when I’m committed to what I’m doing. But I’d much rather be remembered for doing things the right way than the guy that won all the tournaments.”

Rory McIlroy closed a pre-Open flurry of grand questions by noting he’s “learned the hard way” that chasing records and accolades is a dangerous path, one that doesn’t lead to a desired destination. A six-time major champion, McIlroy’s legacy is already cemented. Everything from here on out is gravy. But like Scheffler, that’s not a North Star for the two-time defending Masters champion.

“No, I don’t really care,” McIlroy said about whether he’s concerned about how he’ll be remembered. “I would like to think that the people that love and care about me think a certain way of me, but yeah, I’ll be long gone. I’ll be dead. I don’t think I’ll be seeing what people say about me. I’ll be six feet under. I don’t think I’ll be a ghost.

“I’m sure Scottie said something similar, but I think it would be a pretty unfulfilling pursuit if you’re just chasing records and chasing results. You have to enjoy the process. You have to enjoy the journey to get there. … If all you’re thinking about is winning and results, you’re playing the wrong game. Seeing how good I can be. Seeing if the work I’ve put in and the practice that I’ve put in can stand up to the most intense pressure that we are under, which is major championships.”

The final one of the year starts Thursday. By Sunday, more big questions will hang in the air. They’ll most likely stay there until April.

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England v Argentina LIVE: Latest World Cup updates as Tuchel makes huge selection calls

Published

39 minutes ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

What to expect from England v Argentina?

Tonight’s semi-final will be an intriguing clash between two historic rivals but how do England fans think the game will go?

England fans look ahead to Argentina World Cup semi-final clash

Mike Jones15 July 2026 18:24

Does Messi have enough around him?

It is obvious that Messi has fully defied the odds by, at 39, carrying his team on his shoulders, scoring eight goals and securing a semi-final appearance for what might be seen as a weakened Argentina side.

This has been a workable tactic for every other game against the likes of Cape Verde, Egypt and Switzerland – but all of those games were probably too close for Argentina’s liking.

Coming against a team like England, one of the best teams in the world, it is uncertain if Messi will have the man power behind him to ward off a well balanced team like England.

The likes of Enzo Fernandez and Alex Mac Allister have been ample so far, but the centre back pairing of Martinez and Cristian Romero, whilst clutch at the other end of the pitch are prone to silly errors at the back.

James Hicken15 July 2026 18:20

Police out in numbers at Atlanta Stadium

Many reports ahead of the game focused on the mixing of the two sets of fans and the necessary security operation, but it’s all been friendly enough so far.
“Part of that could be down to the extent of the policing, of course. Helicopters are flying ahead and the local fire brigade, county police, state police and even DEA police are out in numbers in the areas surrounding the Atlanta Stadium.”

Chris Wilson at Atlanta Stadium15 July 2026 18:15

Morgan Rogers to start

It is being reported that Thomas Tuchel has favoured Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers on his right-flank over Noni Madueke who started against Norway.

Madueke look at sea at times against Norway, you can’t fault his attacking intent, but the end product was often not there. Rogers has proven week-in-week-out for Villa that he can produce and did so for England against Croatia, when given the chance.

He has since been a good feature but nothing ground breaking, hopefully he will prove to be another good playmaking threat to draw Argentinian players away from Kane and Bellingham.

James Hicken15 July 2026 18:10

Reece James to start at right back for England?

Another potential move from Thomas Tuchel is to switch out both of England’s full backs with Reece James and Djed Spence rumoured to be brought back into the starting XI.

That would mean Nico O’Reilly drops out and one of Ezri Konsa or John Stones who began the game against Norway.

Mike Jones15 July 2026 18:07

Fans arriving at Atlanta Stadium

Fans from England and Argentina are arriving at the Atlanta Stadium ahead of this World Cup semi-final.

Build-up continues to kick off at 8pm with team news officially dropping inside the hour.

Argentina fans outside the Atlanta Stadium (PA)

Mike Jones15 July 2026 18:02

Pre-match energy builds

James Hicken15 July 2026 17:56

England’s reliance on Kane and Bellingham

At this World Cup so far Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have scored a record 12/13 of England’s goals, save one from Rashford against Croatia.

That is 92.3% of all England Goals in the competition, which is a record for any team that has scored 10 goals or more.

Their closest competition are Hugi and Ballamann of Switzerland in 1954 who scored 90% of their teams goals.

It is also worth mentioning that the recently eliminated France had 13/16 goals scored by either Mbappe or Dembele which is the fourth highest on the list.

Many have criticised what they an call ‘over reliance’ on Kane and Bellingham, but what are world class players there for if not to be leant upon at the biggest tournament in the world?

Jude Bellingham y Harry Kane han guiado a Inglaterra a las semifinales de la Copa del Mundo. (PA Wire)

James Hicken15 July 2026 17:50

Sir Geoff Hurst predicts toughest test yet for England

Hurst, became the first player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final, as I’m sure your aware, in 1966 when England beat West Germany 4-2 in their only World Cup triumph.

“You can talk about [Lionel] Messi being past his best, with his age, he’s still performing, he’s still scoring and he’s a big danger if you allow him to do so,” Hurst told the BBC.

“You can talk about them being past their best, I don’t necessarily agree with that. If you think they are past their best and we are going to walk away with it, those guys must be dreaming.

“There’s no way we are going to be winning three-nil at half time or walking away with it.”

James Hicken15 July 2026 17:40

England’s World Cup journey so far

England, like Argentina, are undefeated in their seven games so far, but it has not been as easy going. After an electric first game against Croatia, thing began to look and feel a bit more difficult.

Nevertheless, they are all wins in the column:

England 4-2 Croatia
England 0-0 Ghana
England 2-0 Panama
England 3-2 Mexico
England 2-1 Norway

England’s Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Dan Burn sign Wonderwall after the quarter-final win against Norway (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

James Hicken15 July 2026 17:35

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Ranking the toughest divisions across the four major leagues

Published

51 minutes ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

North America’s softest sports day has been saved by soccer.

Typically, the day after the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is a real snoozer, with the four major leagues on this continent on some form of break. Baseball won’t be back until Thursday, the NFL is still weeks away from pre-season games and the NHL and NBA are in deep slumbers, with the off-season news cycle — save for the occasional interesting flicker — grinding to a halt.

Enter Lionel Messi and Harry Kane.

For a change, this mid-July Wednesday in North America will be alive with high-stakes sports, as Argentina and England battle for a spot in the 2026 World Cup Final.

Still, this brief hiatus from the Big Four club sports in Canada and the U.S. offers a moment to zoom out and have some fun that incorporates the quartet of circuits. As such, we decided to take a World Cup concept — the Group of Death — and rank the 10 toughest divisions across the NHL, NFL, NBA and MLB.

An NFC West team has represented the NFC in the Super Bowl in five of the past eight seasons and the NFC Championship has featured a West team in six of the past eight winters. Last January, the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams — two of four NFC West clubs along with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals — played an NFC title game that was basically the Super Bowl. Of course, Seattle went on to down the New England Patriots in the actual league championship contest, so the current champ resides in the NFC West. Additionally, the division is home to reigning league MVP Matt Stafford of the Rams and the NFC West also features a pair of top coaches in L.A.’s Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan of the 49ers. And, of course, Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald is a newly minted member of the “Awesome Coach” club thanks to the ring he won in February.

Thank goodness Seattle, L.A. and San Francisco have the Cardinals to kick around.

If there’s one thing that dampens the optimism of hopeful Atlantic clubs, it’s looking around the group and realizing what a death match it’s going to be just to get into the playoffs.

Two teams — the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning — have won a pair of championships while advancing to three Stanley Cup Finals apiece. The 2026 champs from Carolina were the first non-Atlantic team to advance to the final since the Washington Capitals in 2018. (Technically, the Lightning were representing the “Discover Central Division” during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, but you get the point.)

In 2022-23, the Boston Bruins set an NHL record with 135 points.

A couple years ago, top-flight Atlantic teams Toronto, Florida, Tampa and Boston could always kick around Buffalo, Montreal, Detroit and Ottawa. Now, the Habs and Sabres are two of the best up-and-coming clubs in the NHL.

Toronto finished second-last in the Eastern Conference last season, but is adding a first-overall talent in Gavin McKenna, a Hall of Fame-bound goalie in Sergei Bobrovsky and a top-flight defenceman in Darren Raddysh.

The Bruins always find a way to be competitive, and don’t write off the Senators just because Brady Tkachuk left; Ottawa has a superstar blue-liner in Jake Sanderson, depth down the middle and the Sens made the playoffs this past season despite not really getting a save until March. They’re not falling off a cliff.

That leaves Detroit as, potentially, the weakling of the eight teams and the Wings still have foundational stud pieces Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond.

This is more about a high floor than a high ceiling. All four NFC North teams — the Bears, Packers, Vikings and Lions — finished above .500 last year, while every other NFL division had at least one team lose 11 or more games. (The NFC South didn’t have a single team finish with a winning record.) Two years ago, in 2024, the Lions tied for the NFL lead with 15 victories, and Minnesota was just one behind at 14. Chicago is helmed by one of the best young quarterbacks in the game in Caleb Williams, Detroit could re-emerge as a true league power with better injury luck, Green Bay is hoping to get a full, healthy season from elite pass-rusher Micah Parsons — acquired from Dallas last summer — and Minny has made an upside play by pairing former Cardinals QB Kyler Murray with its quarterback-whisperer of a coach, Kevin O’Connell.

Until Game 7 of the 2026 Western Conference Final, it seemed very plausible that the Northwest Division would produce its third Larry O’Brien Trophy winner in four years. The Denver Nuggets won in 2023 and the Oklahoma City Thunder topped the NBA in ’25. The Thunder — led by two-time defending league MVP Shea Gilgeous-Alexander — were in prime position to return to the Finals with a Game 7 on home court in the West final, but the San Antonio Spurs of the Southwest Division were able to knock them off. Still, OKC is poised to contend for titles for years to come, while Denver is still in the championship mix as long as Nikola Jokic is on the team. Between Jokic and SGA, the Northwest has five of the past six MVPs.

And, honestly, it would surprise no one if Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves claimed an MVP one of these seasons. Though they have not made the final during Edwards’ time in Minny, the Wolves have won five playoff series in the past three springs.

The Portland Trailblazers are on the rise and climbed over .500 last year, while the division’s fifth team, the Utah Jazz, could soon make a huge leap with high draft picks Ace Bailey and Darryn Peterson leading the way.

Assuming the Kansas City Chiefs rebound from a 6-11 showing, the AFC West will feature some stalwart clubs in 2026. Maybe the Chiefs — with star quarterback Patrick Mahomes returning from a torn ACL — won’t be the pre-season Super Bowl favourite the way they have been for most of the decade, but it’s easy to bet on KC being very competitive, assuming Mahomes is healthy.

The arrow is pointing way up in Denver, where the Broncos could have made the Super Bowl last season had starting QB Bo Nix not been injured in a playoff win over Buffalo and missed the AFC title contest one week later versus the Patriots. This fall, Nix will have a new weapon at his disposal after Denver acquired wide receiver Jaylen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins.

The Chargers always seem to have pre-season smoke, but there’s legit intrigue this time out with offensive guru Mike McDaneil joining the club calling plays for big-armed Justin Herbert.

Even the lowly Las Vegas Raiders enter the year with a competent QB duo of veteran Kirk Cousins and 2026 first-overall pick Fernando Mendoza.

The past two Presidents’ Trophy winners in the NHL reside in the Central, with the Colorado Avalanche finishing first overall last season, while the Winnipeg Jets topped the league standings in 2024-25.

At the high end, Colorado, Dallas and Minnesota represent three of the best teams in the NHL. If the Jets, who missed the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, rebound, the Central will be that much tougher. Throw in an ascendant Utah Mammoth squad and you’ve got one difficult division.

That said, the bottom three clubs — Chicago, St. Louis and Nashville — make it impossible to put the Central over the Atlantic as the NHL’s toughest group.

The Central teams in both leagues are often overshadowed by the coastal elites, but there’s no tougher MLB division top to bottom in 2026 than the NL Central. The division-leading Milwaukee Brewers have the second-best winning percentage (.615) in baseball after the powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers (.629), and the Central is the only division with four teams — the Brewers, Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates — over .500 entering the back half of summer. Those four clubs also have a positive run differential, while no other division has more than three teams in the black. The Central’s fifth squad, the Cincinnati Reds, have the second-best record of any last-place team in its division. Which brings us to …

For years, the AL East was the go-to example for a gruesomely difficult group. And before this season, it seemed plausible — on the heels of the Toronto Blue Jays nearly winning the World Series — that four of the six American League playoff teams would come from the division with the Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, Rays and Orioles.

As it happens, the Rays and Yankees still have the best two records in the AL, but the Jays, Sox and Orioles have all disappointed. Boston ended the first half on a nine-game heater, leaving Toronto with the best record of any club last in its division.

The good news for all the struggling East clubs is the overall stinkiness of the AL this year still leaves the door open to snag a post-season berth.

The still-celebrating New York Knicks headline the division as defending league champs, while the Toronto Raptors are still hoping to welcome difference-maker Kawhi Leonard back to the fold this summer. The Boston Celtics will have star Jayson Tatum back and fully healthy after he sustained a torn Achillies tendon in the 2025 playoffs, while the Philadelphia 76ers benefit from Boston’s shocking decision to trade Jaylen Brown — 1B on the Celtics to Tatum’s 1A for years — to a division rival.

Even if the Brooklyn Nets are roadkill, the Atlantic will be a tough group.

Really, this is just an acknowledgement that the Padres, Diamondbacks, Giants and Rockies must deal with the juggernaut that is the Dodgers more than any other squads in baseball.

The Dodgers, of course, are gunning for a third straight World Series title and surely hold the unofficial title of North America’s premier sports club across the four major leagues.

Arizona and San Diego are both .500 teams, and the latter must always be recognized for its willingness to, without blinking, trade its best prospects for Major League talent. While the Giants are having a down year, San Francisco is usually a quality club and has three World Series titles in the past 16 years.

Of course, the Rockies’ ineptitude is basically the counterbalance to the Dodgers’ dominance at the top of the division.

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England v Argentina predicted line-ups: Who is set to start World Cup semi-final?

Published

1 hour ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Morgan Rogers is set to be England’s only change for their colossal World Cup semi-final against Argentina in Atlanta tonight.

The Aston Villa midfielder, 23, has started just once so far the tournament, in the final group game against Panama, but impressed off the bench against Norway in the quarter-finals.

He is set to play on England’s right, taking the place of Noni Madueke, which means Bukayo Saka once again starts on the bench.

Morgan Rogers is set to start along with Jude Bellingham in England’s semi-final against Argentina (Getty)

Thomas Tuchel has an almost fully fit squad of players to pick from, with Declan Rice fully recovered and able to start in midfield for the Three Lions after illness.

Ezri Konsa is set to keep his place over Djed Spence at right back, John Stones in line to partner Marc Guehi at centre-back.

Jarell Quansah remains suspended, while injury-prone Reece James could be saved for later in the game. Jordan Henderson’s wrist injury rules him out.

Argentina’s side is settled, with either Julian Alvarez or Lautaro Martinez, both back in scoring form for the Albiceleste, starting alongside Lionel Messi.

It will be the first time Messi takes on England, thanks to an “anti-football” red card to miss a 2005 friendly, with Tuchel admitting that he could use man marking to combat the No 10.

“I was thinking about [how to deal with Messi],” Tuchel said in his pre-match press conference. “If we do an old school man mark, not sure if we follow through with this idea, but it crossed my mind. Everyone knows the space he wants to show up. Everyone knows he sees stuff before everyone else.”

Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez will compete for one jersey tonight (AP)

Thiago Almada and Nico Gonzalez bring attacking options in midfield, but Leandro Paredes could offer more defensive cover and is the favourite to start in the other key decision for Lionel Scaloni.

The winner will face Spain after Luis de la Fuente’s side eased past France in a comprehensive 2-0 victory in Dallas.

England predicted starting line-up: Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Rogers, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane

Argentina predicted starting lineup: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Tagliafico; Paredes; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

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Gautam Gambhir Rated 4/10 After Two Years As India Coach, Then Zaheer Khan Says This

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1 hour ago

15 July 2026

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Gautam Gambhir Rated 4/10 After Two Years As India Coach By Ex-India Star, Then Zaheer Khan Says This

File phot of India coach Gautam Gambhir© AFP

Gautam Gambhir took charge as the Indian cricket team coach in July 2024. In the two years at the helm, Gambhir has won the Champions Trophy 2025, the 2026 T20 World Cup as well as the Asia Cup 2025. However, his tenure has also been marked by Test series losses at home against South Africa and New Zealand. India also lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His tenure also saw the high-profile Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. In T20Is too, India lost two back-to-back series against Ireland and England.

Mohammed Kaif and Zaheer Khan were asked about Gambhir’s tenure as coach. Here’s what they said.

“I will deduct marks. I will rate him 4 out of 10. You are talking about transparency, right? There are a lot of talks about Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. That picture is not becoming clear. It’s not clear whether they are talking or not. You can see he is talking with (Shubman) Gill and Rohit (Sharma). It is the responsibility of the coach to communicate with the player if there is any problem, to keep everyone on the same page,” Kaif said on Cricbuzz.

“There will be wins or losses, but that communication is important. If one player is dropped, the reason behind it should be clear. If Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are not working together, this is not good news for us. If they are not on the same page, it is bad news for the fans of Indian cricket. We are talking about the 2027 World Cup; you need the support of seniors. The coach needs to talk with the seniors. When we played under John Wright, he was transparent. I am deducting marks for that. He had a chance to do more with this team.”

Zaheer said: “Under his leadership, we have won the T20 World Cup. His highs are also there. I will give him 6. As far as improvement, transparency and communication are concerned, it is a work in progress. You can call it a concern. Whenever you talk about Indian cricket, one thing you will see is talent and ability. You have all the ingredients. How to use them and make the best out of them is up to you.”

Recently, according to a report, Gambhir and Kohli were notably not interacting with each other ahead of the first India vs England ODI, despite the India coach spending a lot of time with other members of the squad.

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FIFA World Cup 2026 | Argentina Fans Sing & Dance After Dramatic Comeback Against Egypt

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Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold wins fastest ever Tour de France stage

Published

2 hours ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold launched a long-range sprint to claim victory at the Tour de France on Wednesday in the fastest stage in the race’s history.

Dutchman Olav Kooij took second ahead of Belgian Jasper Philipsen at the end of the 161km 11th stage from Vichy to Nevers.

At an average speed of 50.91kph, it was the fastest ever road stage in the 113 editions of the Tour.

Once again, there was a fairly disjointed sprint finish with none of the teams able to organise a sprint train to set up their fast man.

Kooij’s lead-out rider Cees Bol launched off the front as the main sprinters hesitated, but Waerenskjold was the first to chase after the Dutchman.

He instantly put several bike lengths of daylight between himself and the rest and although both Kooij and Philipsen caught him by the line, they did not have enough strength to edge past Waerenskjold.

It was the second Tour stage victory for the Norwegian Uno-X Mobility team, which is in its first year as a World Tour outfit, after Jonas Abrahamsen succeeded once last year.

The team also held the yellow jersey for two stages this year with Torstein Traeen before he crashed out with a concussion and broken ribs.

Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar finished safely in the pack to retain his overall lead of more than three and a half minutes to two-time former winner Jonas Vingegaard.

A four-man breakaway had set off early into the stage which began in the ancient spa town of Vichy.

They were never allowed a longer leash than 1min 40sec and four became three when Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe, a former world champion and yellow jersey-wearer, was dropped on a short climb with around 40km left.

But Anthon Charmig, Mathis Le Berre and Nelson Oliveira collaborated well together to resist the inevitable return of the peloton.

With 10km to ride their lead was down to just 20sec.

But within four kilometres, their resistance was over and the expected sprint took centre stage.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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Where are England stars Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden?

Published

2 hours ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

England play Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday and there are a lot of big names missing from the squad

Thomas Tuchel’s choices for his England squad certainly caused a stir this summer. The players have delivered on the pitch, getting into the World Cup semi-finals, though Tuchel’s decision to leave several high-profile names left at home prompted plenty of discussion.

From the surprise inclusions of Djed Spence and Ivan Toney to a reliance on stars with recent injury concerns, the noise around the Three Lions’ squad has brought debate both before and during the tournament. While there is no way to leave everyone happy, some omissions have attracted attention.

A spine-tingling semi-final clash with Argentina stands in the way of England reaching Sunday’s showpiece final in New York as Tuchel looks to etch his name in the history books by becoming the first foreign manager to lift the World Cup. Here is how the star-studded absentees have been spending their summer.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold

England’s right-back dilemma has been a major talking point, with Alexander-Arnold not the only man to miss out. Tino Livramento pulled out before the tournament in a major blow, with Ben White also unavailable and Tuchel choosing centre-back Trevoh Chalobah over Alexander-Arnold when the time came to replace Livramento.

England have also lost Reece James to injury and Jarell Quansah to suspension, though James returned from the bench against Norway. However, the situation only added to calls that Alexander-Arnold should be part of Tuchel’s squad.

Having been used in midfield in the last Euros under Gareth Southgate, the ex-Liverpool defender has only featured in one of Tuchel’s six major camps. The ex-Chelsea boss has stood by his decision to leave out the Real Madrid man, though, indicating it was a sporting decision.

The 27-year-old’s omission, coupled with a mixed start to life at Real Madrid, has prompted Alexander-Arnold to focus on recovering from an injury-hit campaign in a hot-weather training camp. He has been sharing updates on social media as he prepares to play under new Madrid boss Jose MOurinho.

Harry Maguire

Perhaps the most surprising absentee from England’s North American tour, the reliable centre-back has turned to the limelight of the television scene this summer. The 33-year-old became a symbol of Southgate’s teams in tournaments gone by, having been named in the 2020 Euros Team of the Tournament, but missed the last edition two years ago after missing the end of the 2023/24 season through injury.

The arrival of Michael Carrick at Manchester United allowed Maguire to show his worth after an stop-start few months under Ruben Amorim. Maguire played a vital role in their mid-season turnaround to comfortably secure a third-place finish and reverse what looked to be a disastrous campaign.

He looked likely to take his place in Tuchel’s squad after returning for the March friendlies but ultimately missed out. The 33-year-old spoke to Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football show after being left “shocked and gutted” at not making the final 26.

Cole Palmer

One of the several attacking stars excluded by Tuchel, Palmer’s inconsistent campaign for Chelsea curtailed any chance of him playing a starring role this summer. However, questions were asked about his omission after England struggled to break down low blocks, especially in the group stage draw with Ghana.

His ability to deliver in crucial moments, most notably in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, meant it was hard to overlook his undeniable quality on the biggest stage. However, Tuchel’s emphasis on having a more balanced, specialised squad as opposed to relying on individual quality, as England have done in the past, resulted in Palmer missing out.

The 24-year-old will be hopeful of a much-improved campaign under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. He has spent the off-season in Ibiza, while also launching premium ice brand COLE’D.

Phil Foden

In a situation similar to that of Palmer, Foden has struggled to register the incredible numbers of seasons gone by. Foden was key to Manchester City winning the Premier League title in 2024 when he won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year thanks to his 19 goals and eight assists in the league.

However, Foden failed to replicate that form in the Euros and his performances on the pitch since have been inconsistent. He only returned seven league goals in each of his last two campaigns and the January arrival of Antoine Semenyo saw his minutes limited further.

The brilliance Foden has displayed for his club has yet to translate to the England set-up and may have been another factor behind Tuchel leaving him out. While his compatriots have been in action in North America, the six-time Premier League champion has been seen enjoying some of the country’s major sporting events including the British Grand Prix and Wimbledon, as well as holidaying in Marbella.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code DEAL.

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Expected release time, new DC skins, and sprites

Published

2 hours ago

15 July 2026

NewsAdmin

The Fortnite v41.20 update is all set to release on July 16, 2026, and will introduce a plethora of new content for players to experience. This will be the second big update for the ongoing Fortnite Runners season, and will add new skins and weapons, as well as more sprites. A special Fortnite collaboration (and its related skins) will also be unveiled in this update.

Read on to find out more about all the upcoming content in the Fortnite v41.20 update.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 v41.20 update: Release timing and details

Fortnite's summer update is dropping soon (Image via Epic Games) — Fortnite’s summer update is dropping soon (Image via Epic Games)

As per standard schedule, downtime for the Fortnite v41.20 update will begin on July 16, 2026, at 4 am ET. Matchmaking is expected to be paused 30 minutes prior to the beginning of maintenance, and will be available once again after servers are back up.

While the exact downtime duration has not been announced by Epic Games yet, servers are expected to be back online after approximately two or three hours.

The following content will be added in Fortnite once the v41.20 update goes live:

DC Hot Bat Summer event
New sprites
Odyssey collab
Sprite events

Here are the details about these events:

1) DC Hot Bat Summer

The Fortnite DC Hot Bat Summer event will be officially launching on July 16, 2026. It will feature new summer skins for a variety of DC characters such as Batman, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy and Catwoman. Ace the Bat-Hound, Batman’s canine companion, is also expected to be added in the game as a sidekick.

2) New Sprites

Three new Sprites will be added (Image via Epic Games)

The following Sprites will be up for grabs along with the launch of the Fortnite v41.20 update:

Batman Sprite
Air Sprite
Seven Sprite

As with all the other Sprites that are currently in-game, different variants of these Sprites will also be available for players to collect.

3) Fortnite x Odyssey collab

A special Fortnite x Odyssey collab is in the works (Image via Epic Games)

A special Fortnite x Odyssey collaboration is scheduled for release once the new update rolls out. Details about this collab (and its skins) will be announcd by Epic Games before Fortnite v41.20 goes live.

4) Sprite events

New Sprite events are coming this week (Image via Epic Games)

Continuing the Sprite-based gameplay of the current season, new Sprite events have been scheduled for the upcoming week. This includes a brand-new Shiny Hours event which will take place on July 18, 2026, wherein the drop rates for certain special Sprites (to be announced later) will be boosted.

Also read: All Sprite Chest locations in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3

Follow Sportskeeda for more Fortnite news, updates and guides.

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Norwegian Soren Waerenskjold wins fastest ever Tour de France stage

Where are England stars Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Cole Palmer and Phil Foden?

England play Argentina in the World Cup semi-finals on Wednesday and there are a lot of big names missing from the squad

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Harry Maguire

Cole Palmer

Phil Foden

Expected release time, new DC skins, and sprites

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 v41.20 update: Release timing and details

1) DC Hot Bat Summer

2) New Sprites

3) Fortnite x Odyssey collab

4) Sprite events

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