L'Angleterre entre en lice en Coupe du monde ce mercredi face la Croatie (22h heure franaise). C'est l'arbitre franais Clment Turpin qui sera au sifflet pour ce gros match du groupe L, trois ans aprs les vives critiques son encontre de la part de Thomas Tuchel.

Will the Blues wrap up the series in Melbourne or will the Maroons send it to a decider? Our experts have their say on who will win Origin II and why, ahead of kick-off at the MCG tonight.

Lionel Messi marked his 200th appearance for Argentina during the nations FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Algeria, adding another milestone to one of footballs greatest careers. The 38-year-old captain became only the third mens player to reach 200 international caps while extending his record as the most-capped World Cup player. A world champion, two-time Copa Amrica winner and holder of multiple World Cup records, Messis latest landmark further underlines his extraordinary longevity and enduring importance to Argentina as they begin their title defence.

Greatest ever or second-best behind Cristiano Ronaldo? It doesn't matter. Zlatan Ibrahimovi and Thierry Henry are tired of discussing where Lionel Messi, their former FC Barcelona teammate, ranks among the top footballers of all time. "For me, that has to stop," Henry said during FOX's pregame show prior to Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria on Tuesday. "Were going to see Cristiano tomorrow. I think we should not separate greats. We should celebrate them." Ibrahimovi and Henry wouldn't declare Messi the GOAT, but they haven't seen, or played with, anyone like him. "I dont believe we will get another Messi, because hes special," Ibrahimovi said. "Hes natural. Its like the game was built for him. Everything he touches becomes gold. And he has a team that is ready to die for him. Him winning another World Cup will not change his status as the greatest. Its just another trophy in the trophy room." Messi and Argentina enter the 2026 World Cup trying to defend their crown. In the 2022 World Cup, Messi had seven goals and three assists, while earning the Golden Boot. He scored twice in the final to lift Argentina over France. He ranks first in goals and assists for Argentina's National Team. There's not much more he can do to cement his status in the history books. In fact, his presence at the 2026 World Cup is a luxury as many believed he'd go out on the high note of winning in 2022. All the more reason to simply sit back and drink his talent in. "We enjoy him," Ibrahimovi said. "We played with him. And as long as he plays, we should enjoy him." While Ibrahimovi, Henry and Messi shared the pitch at Barcelona for just one season, the trio certainly share an endless amount of respect for one another, especially for the one who still straps up his cleats.

Despite an issue-filled offseason, Rice enters the 2026 campaign with a promising on-field outlook

The Yankeesoffense exploded in support of Gerrit Cole as New York took their series opener against the White Sox, 12-2, on Tuesday night.It's the team's eighth game this season with 10-plus runs this season. New York posted 15 hits with all nine starters getting at least one knock.Here are the takeaways....-The White Sox entered Tuesday with the fourth most home runs in MLB, and showed that power early. Andrew Benintendi took Cole deep with a two-out homer to give Chicago an early 1-0 lead after one.But Cole would settle down, retiring 13 straight through five innings. He'd pitch into trouble in the sixth, allowing a run on an infield single by Luisangel Acuna, but the former AL Cy Young winner would get out of it and deliver six solid innings for the Yankees.Cole finished tossing 90 pitches (59 strikes), allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out six batters.-Davis Martin had allowed just three home runs all season (13 starts). He went up against the Yankees, who entered Tuesday with the most home runs in MLB (102). Which side will blink? Well, Spencer Jones took Martin deep in the second to knot the game at 1-1 with a screamer into the second deck in right field.Then luck was on the Yankees' side in the third. An excuse-me swing by J.C. Escarra resulted in a leadoff double, then Anthony Volpe hit a hopper to second base, but first baseman Jacob Gonzalez didn't cover first, allowing runners on the corners. Ben Rice walked to load the bases before Cody Bellinger lined a two-run single to give the Yankees the lead. Jones walked with the bases loaded before Jose Caballero drove in the team's fourth run of the inning with a sac fly.Rice added on with a towering two-run shot in the fourth. His 20 homers are now tied for third in the majors. Paul Goldschmidt added a two-run shot to put the Yankees up 9-1 and knocked Martin out of the game. Martin entered the contest with a 2.41 ERA, second-best in the AL, which has been raised to 3.31 ERA.-Ryan McMahon had an RBI single and Jones scored after pitcher Chris Murphy threw a dribbler from Escarra away to account for all runs in a six-run fourth inning.In the eighth with Acuna pitching, Caballero launched his seventh homer of the season.Game MVP: Entire Yankees lineupDifficult to pick one bat in this one. They all did their job to knock around the White Sox's best starter.HighlightsCody Bellinger brings in two! pic.twitter.com/Q2Cr4ff8F9 SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) June 16, 2026Spencer Jones walks in a run pic.twitter.com/Np0AbjR2RA SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) June 17, 2026HOME RUN NUMBER 20 FOR BEN RICE! pic.twitter.com/zDGSXNBKRR SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) June 17, 2026GOLDY BOMB.Paul Goldschmidt makes it 9-1 Yankees! pic.twitter.com/gBQIjWlS6J SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) June 17, 2026SPENCER JONES' FIRST YANKEE STADIUM HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/u1cFzX208G SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) June 16, 2026

Erling Haaland took just 29 minutes to score his first ever World Cup goal on his tournament debut against Iraq on Tuesday. By the end, he had scored twice in a convincing 4-1 victory and delivered on his tag as one of this tournament's biggest stars.

And then there were four.

Messi quickly became embroiled in controversy after he appeared tostamp on the calf and Achilles area of Algeria'sAissa Mandi from behind while he tried to make a tackle.

Lionel Messi became the second player to score in five World Cups, giving defending champion Argentina an early 1-0 lead over Algeria on Tuesday night.Making his record sixth appearance in the tournament, the eight-time Ballon dOr winner found a crease in the Algerian defense and easily beat goalkeeper Luca Zidane for his 14th World Cup goal, sending a blue-and-white-clad crowd packed inside Arrowhead Stadium into delirium.Moments earlier, Messi had a goal disallowed for offsides.Messi joins Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal as the only players with goals in five World Cups. Ronaldo became the first in 2022 and is set to play in his sixth World Cup on Wednesday.Miroslav Klose of Germany holds the record for World Cup goals with 16, one ahead of Brazil great Ronaldo. Messis latest highlight pulled him into a tie for third on the career list with Kylian Mbapp who scored two goals in Frances 3-1 win over Senegal earlier Tuesday and Gerd Muller of West Germany.The goal came 20 years to the day that Messi made his World Cup debut for Argentina in a match against Serbia and Montenegro.Messi, who turns 39 next week, had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami had slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup. But he had no problems in a tuneup last week with Iceland, scoring on a penalty kick while playing 20 minutes.Messis appearance against Algeria was the 200th of his international career, which began in 2005 at the age of 18. The only players with more are Portugal's Ronaldo, who will play in his 229th on Wednesday against Congo, and Bader al-Mutawa, who played in his 202nd match for Kuwait in 2002.Messi-mania has swept through Kansas City ever since Argentinas arrival.On match day, thousands of fans wearing his No. 10 jersey trekked into the home of the NFLs Chiefs on the outskirts of Kansas City. Meanwhile, at a watch party at the downtown Power & Light District, a real-life goat accompanied by former NFL quarterback-turned Fox broadcaster Jameis Winston came on stage wearing the same blue-and-white Argentina jersey.The argument that Messi is soccers GOAT greatest of all time is becoming no argument at all with every World Cup goal.___AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup