The last time Dejan Ljubicic played for Austria was nearly three years ago. Now a teammate's injury has given him a surprise comeback at the World Cup. Austria coach Ralf Rangnick called up Ljubicic late Wednesday to replace key midfielder Christoph Baumgartner, who injured his right thigh while warming up for a pre-World Cup friendly against Tunisia last week and needed surgery. Ljubicic is set to join Austria at the team camp in Santa Barbara on Thursday, ahead of the team's first game on Tuesday against Jordan. Austria also plays Argentina and Algeria in Group J. He's more of a defensive midfield option than Baumgartner, who scored 17 goals in all competitions for Leipzig in Germany last season and has remained in camp to support the team. Ljubicic also plays in Germany on the Schalke team which secured promotion from the second division last month. Ljubicic has nine games for Austria but none at a major tournament. His last appearance was in a friendly against Moldova in September 2023 and he wasn't in the squad for any World Cup qualifiers. Reporting by The Associated Press.

SportsLine's soccer experts have revealed their World Cup picks and World Cup predictions for Thursday, June 11

Barcelona set to secure important departure before June 30 reportBarcelonas summer transfer window looks set to be one of the busiest in recent years, with the club already signing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.In terms of departures, the club have placed emphasis on selling Ansu Fati to AS Monaco on a permanent basis after a successful loan spell.Now, according to Mundo Deportivo, Ansus transfer to the Ligue 1 giants is expected to be finalised before June 30.This will be a significant date for the Catalan club as they look to continue improving their financial situation by getting the La Masia graduates salary off their books.The move would bring an end to a difficult chapter for both player and club.Ansus Barcelona journey nearing its endSet to join Monaco permanently. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)Few stories in Barcelonas recent history have been as emotional as Ansus ascent to the first team and his unfortunate decline.Once viewed as the natural heir to Lionel Messis No. 10 jersey, the academy graduate was portrayed as the face of Camp Nou for the next decade.He was expected to have the kind of stardom that Lamine Yamal is enjoying at the moment. However, a series of serious injuries stalled his development in Catalunya.Despite flashes of quality, Ansu struggled to regain the momentum that once made him one of the most exciting young talents in world football.He was sent out on loan to Monaco, where he had a decent impact without always being an undisputed starter, and a fresh start is the best solution for all parties involved.Important move for Barcelonas plansBarcelona will pocket 11m from Ansus sale. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)From a Barcelona perspective, although fans will be sad to see a Camp Nou favourite leave the club, it gives them massive financial leeway.Removing Ansus salary from the wage bill will provide greater flexibility for the club to make moves for other players this summer.There is also a sense of closure. Barcelona have remained patient with Ansu through some of the most difficult moments of his career, but both sides now appear ready to move forward.Anyone associated with Bara would love nothing more than to see Fati return to his very best level at Monaco and anywhere else he goes in his career.For now, it looks like Ansu is in his final few days as a Barcelona player, and this is one what-if story that will be spoken about for a long time to come.

Serena Williams' return to tennis has been cut short after her doubles partner, Victoria Mboko, was forced to withdraw from the HSBC Championships with a knee injury.

Essendon president Andrew Welsh is endorsing former board member and now interim boss Dean Solomon as the next full-time Bombers coach, according to a report.

Latest standings for all 12 groups, as well as the full schedule.

Serena Williams' much-hyped comeback to professional tennis at the Queen's Club lasted just one match.The 44-year-old Williams' doubles partner, 19-year-old Canadian Victoria Mboko, was forced to withdraw from the draw on Thursday because of a knee injury she sustained in a singles match against Karolina Pliskova in the last 16 on Wednesday.In her first professional match since the 2022 U.S. Open, Williams teamed up with Mboko to beat third-seeded duo Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2), 6-2 at the grass-court event on Tuesday. They were scheduled to face Leylah Fernandez and Laura Siegemund in the quarterfinals.Williams is set to play doubles at the Berlin Open in Germany next week. Her partner has yet to be announced, though British newspaper The Times of London reported it was Karolina Muchova.Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles including seven at Wimbledon before stepping away from the game, saying at the time she was evolving away from tennis rather than "retiring."___This story has been corrected to say Mboko was injured in the last 16 of the singles, not the last 32___AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

For Danielle Hunter, the Texans significant investment in him is more than the business of football.It means everything to Hunter to be able to play and be valued so highly by his hometown football team.At Morton Ranch in Katy, Hunter emerged as a blue-chip LSU football recruit who doubled as an extremely fast 400-meter runner who also excelled in the high jump.The Texans hammered out a one-year, $40.1 million contract extension for the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Danielle Hunter that includes a $30.7 million signing bonus this spring.Hunter has a $30.2 million base salary in 2027 that is fully guaranteed for skill, injury and salary cap and annual $500,000 per game active roster bonus totals. Hunter previously signed a two-year, $55.1 million extension through the 2026 season with $54.1 million of that fully guaranteed. Now, Hunter is under contract through the 2027 season.It means a lot to be able to come back for another year, playing for the hometown, being able to play in front of people I love, people I grew up with in the city that I really care for, Hunter said during the Texans minicamp. It shows that this organization really values me as a person and as a player. It just leaves me to do my part, go out there and keep handling business.Hunter looks like hes built out of granite. His chiseled muscles pop out of his uniform. His biceps are softball-sized. Hunter finished third in the NFL as he recorded 15 sacks last season at the primary measuring stick statistical category for defensive ends. He tends to be quiet and understated most of the time.Hunter chooses his words carefully and is the opposite of a self-promoter. He doesnt talk himself up at all and consistently deflects praise to his teammates and coaches and discusses team goals and accomplishments. Hes a Quiet Storm type. They call him Cyborg.And Hunter works tirelessly to achieve a goal thats been unreached by him when he was with the Minnesota Vikings and for a Texans franchise that has lost three consecutive AFC divisional round playoffs games: reaching and winning a Super Bowl.Each year I just start over, Hunter said. I start from the fundamentals and just work my way back up. The biggest thing in my career is that, I really want to go to the final game. That can only happen if I pass the knowledge that I have along to the team, my teammates, defensive line room and everybody else, so that we can all play together and have that confidence to make it to the final game.For that to happen, the Texans offense needs to approach the gold standard of the Texans absolutely loaded defense.Hunter is seeing signs of progress, including quarterback C.J. Stroud.The few days Ive been here, Ive noticed a lot from the offensive line and the quarterback play, how they work together in sync, Hunter said. Its definitely better across the offensive line and C.J. just having his pocket awareness, hes able to step up and make plays. I just got finished talking to C.J., telling him hes doing a good job of stepping up and having awareness of the edge rushers. He was complimenting us back and how we play together as a string, but definitely across the offensive line and C.J. just making his reads.Hunters skills leave teammates wowed.With a low-key personality and a humble approach to football and life, Hunter doesnt beat his chest with pride.Hunter has run the 40-yard dash in 4.57 seconds with a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-10 broad jump and has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times. He has every physical trait an NFL team could cover in a pass rusher.Whether its the Euro step, spin move, cross-chop, bull-rush, swim move or just a pure speed rush, Hunter, 30, is a dominant force whatever move he chooses to employ on any given snap or Sunday. Hes at the peak of his game and physical ability.One of the smartest investments that Texans general manager Nick Caserio has made was signing Hunter and extending him.Lots of pass rushers are long-armed, tall and fast like Hunter.Few can match his imagination and intellect. His vision for creative moves and his passion for the game, relentlessly chasing down quarterbacks are rare traits.Figuring out how to generate explosiveness off the football and time up the snap count without jumping offsides is another plus for Hunter.The biggest thing is I just go by getting off the ball, Hunter said. Me being a vet, I know how to dissect my guy. The biggest thing I do out there is dissect my guy.Spoken like a true surgeon at his craft.Does he have a favorite move? Not really. Whatever gets him into the backfield and reaching his destination, zeroing in to apply heat on the quarterback, at the top of his rush.Not really, Hunter said. My best thing is to just go. Find a way. Whatever your God gives you, adapt and find a way to the quarterback. Just doing what I can do to get better.Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud is simply glad that he doesnt have to compete against Hunter.And he marvels at how Hunter engulfs quarterbacks. He rarely draws holding calls, too. That reminds Stroud of how NBA superstar LeBron James doesnt always get the calls in his favor.That dude is special, man, Stroud said. I think, honestly, like who he is at practice too helps us as a team. He dont take no plays off. I think that is just iron sharpening iron, Proverbs 20:17 is one of DeMecos mottos: Iron sharpens iron, and so does another man sharpening another. In the world. You can do it in football as well. Who he is on Sundays, is who he is during the week. No surprise, but I got to watch little more this week, which was amazing.I even feel like against a couple other teams, he is getting held a lot. There is no calls. His presence is felt. Now, I understand why LeBron got so many foul calls until he became a Laker. Now, I see why he gets so many fouls is that he is so dominant, and you have to hold him or you have to do something to stop a fast break. Same thing with Danielle. He is so dominant that you have to do something to chip him or do something to knock him off his game. Im not saying hes LeBron, but hes up there though, for sure.Hunter has posted 14 or more sacks four times in his career, becoming the 13th player in NFL history to accomplish the feat.The tandem with All-Pro defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is arguably the best in the league.Cyborg, man, hes also physical and relentless, but a little bit more methodical, a little bit more unorthodox, Texans defensive line coach Rod Wright told KPRC 2 last season. Hard to guess what hes going to do from play to play when it comes to rushing. Both are very disciplined when it comes to the run game. And both guys obviously present a challenge to any opposing lineman theyre going against.With D-Hunt, hes been there, done that. Seen it all, doesnt overreact to anything. Very calm demeanor, kind of the Yin and Yang type of deal. Both have a presence about them, but its very different. Dont sleep on Danielles personality. Really funny guy, likes to have fun as well. Got to behind closed doors, though. If you dont really know him, hes kind of a more reserved type of guy.Hunter, profiled last season by KPRC 2 for his passion for fashion and wardrobe of custom suits designed by the Gentlemans Playbook, is a sharp dressed man who chooses his game fits carefully with his personal stylist.Hes put together, Wright said. He had a leather jacket this past weekend, I told him: Make sure I get one in my size. He doesnt need it. He probably has about 10 of them.Hunter, 31, has 114 1/2 sacks in the regular season. Hunter earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week last season as he posted a career-high-tying 3.5 sacks, four tackles for loss, four quarterback hits and one forced fumble.With a rare and incredible blend of speed, power and precision, Hunter displayed in one fluid motion why hes one of the most dominant pass rushers in the game.Hunter has emerged as the master of the Euro step pass rushing move and many other strategies that have befuddled opposing linemen and the quarterbacks theyre paid handsomely to protect.Although hes a defensive lineman who represents the prototype for an NFL pass rusher, Hunter has a smooth, loose way of getting after the quarterback. His body-fat percentage is lower than most cornerbacks and wide receivers.With a super humble approach to football and life, Hunter doesnt beat his chest with pride.At 6-foot-5, 263 pounds, Hunter has run the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds with a 36 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-10 broad jump and has bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times. He has every physical trait an NFL team could cover in a pass rusher.Whether its the Euro step, spin move, cross-chop, bull-rush, swim move or just a pure speed rush, Hunter is a dominant force whatever move he chooses to employ on any given snap. Hes at the peak of his game and physical ability.I feel like hes a unique, unique athlete, Wright said. I dont know if Ive ever seen a guy like him. Hes one of a kind. Theres nothing that man can not do. I love that a lot of people dont talk about him. He doesnt want the attention. He wants the respect and he wants to win. I love that about him. Theres a humbleness about him that speaks loudly to our group, to our team. So hes exactly who he needs to be and who we need him to be.For the Texans to take the next step after going 0-7 all-time in the AFC divisional round will take a concerted team effort.Hunter likes the vibe hes seeing across the roster and throughout the building.We definitely have the team, Hunter said. We have a group of great men, we are able to have a great coach, a great front office, thats able to lead us the right way and a lot of guys that are just young and just buying into the program. I feel like thats the first step to going in the right direction.Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

"Hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one," the TV and social media star says.