Shubman Gill captained India to a commanding 3-0 ODI series victory against Afghanistan, marking his first series win as skipper. The young batsman also shone with the bat, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 238 runs and earning Player of the Series. Gill praised his team's execution and highlighted the upcoming England series as crucial preparation for the 2027 World Cup.

Rben Dias has insisted that the intense scrutiny focused on captain Cristiano Ronaldo is nothing out of the ordinary for the national team. The Manchester City center-back has called for unity within the squad after their disappointing opening World Cup draw, emphasizing that outside noise will not derail their ultimate tournament ambitions. Opening Stalemate Sparks Scrutiny The Seleo endured a frustrating start to their Group K campaign after being held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo in Kansas City. Despite Joao Neves heading the favorites into an early lead, the European giants lacked a clinical edge and allowed Yoane Wissa to equalize just before halftime. The result immediately prompted widespread criticism from fans and former players, with much of the post-match frustration targeting their 41-year-old skipper following an inefficient attacking display. Defender Dismisses Outside Noise Speaking ahead of their next match, Dias calmly addressed the media backlash surrounding the squad's performance and their talismanic striker. He stated: "The criticism isn't directed at just one player. Cris is a major focus, but everyone is under scrutiny at a moment like this. I don't think anything out of the ordinary is happening; it has been this way ever since Ive been here, it will continue to be, so it's nothing new." When questioned further about the external opinions circulating on social media platforms, he added: "Honestly, all the speculation... its a non-issue. Were all united around a dream, and my mind doesn't wander there. It appears on social media, but we dont pay attention to it and I dont feel its a topic I need to address." Squad Reacts To Tactical Breakdown The veteran forward set a historical milestone as the oldest outfield player to start in a World Cup match, though he extended a frustrating ten-game tournament goal drought. Reflecting on the tactical errors that allowed the African nation back into the contest, the team acknowledged a drop in intensity. Dias explained: "Now there are so many analysts talking about the game and drawing conclusions about what went wrong, that in some publications people have already realized what didn't go so well. "We scored early and started the game well, you could feel that energy at that moment, but we ended up relaxing and losing our discipline. That made us less efficient, we failed to put the fear into them that we needed to, and the game fell into a strange dynamic. "We ultimately lost our discipline, and we are well aware of that among ourselves. I only see positive things moving forward." He concluded regarding the escalating scale of the public reaction: "I haven't seen much of what was said. I haven't seen major criticisms, but when results aren't the most positive, its natural for it to triple. "However, that doesn't shake our confidence. The sooner the difficulties arrive, the better; we have to have the ability to keep growing, and I don't expect perfect scenarios. The most important thing is keeping our feet firmly on the ground." Crucial Response Required In Houston Roberto Martinez's star-studded side must quickly reconstruct their defensive discipline ahead of a crucial fixture against tournament debutants Uzbekistan on Tuesday. The upcoming clash represents an immediate test of character for the under-fire squad as they look to kickstart their Group K campaign. Securing three points remains vital to keeping their qualification ambitions intact before their final group stage meeting with South American heavyweights Colombia.

Moving Day at the 126th U.S. Open saw one man move further away from the field.After opening the week with rounds of 64 and 69, Wyndham Clark posted an even-par 70 Saturday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, New York, putting himself in rarified air among the history books of golf's toughest test. His six-shot lead is the fourth-largest 54-hole cushion ever at a U.S. Open, behind only Jim Barnes in 1921, Rory McIlroy in 2011 and, of course, Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000, who led by 10 after three rounds before going on to win by 12.Clark displayed almost superhuman mettle on a Saturday that had all the makings of a typical carnage-laden round at the U.S. Open a firm golf course, fast greens and brutal wind gusts upwards of 40 mph. That perilous combination ate up some players, like Dylan Wu, who five-putted the first hole en route to a 12-over 82, or Russell Henley, who failed to make a birdie and shot 10-over 80, or Rory McIlroy, who erased a stretch of three straight birdies on the front nine with five bogeys on the second side, ultimately turning in a 3-over 73.But not Clark. No, he scrambled like a madman, making clutch par save after clutch par save before stepping up to his second shot on the par-5 16th, where he launched a fairway wood into the picturesque Long Island sky with a cut that judging by the television ball tracer looked like the type of slice you'd see a 20 handicap hit off the first tee at a local muni before insisting he take a breakfast ball. But Clark isn't that guy. The wind held his ball up just enough for it to land a few paces in front of the green, kick over the edge of the bunker and roll within four feet of the pin. He converted the eagle and walked to the 17th tee at 8 under, seven shots clear of the field."I wasn't trying to go right at the flag," Clark said. "We knew as long as we were left of the flag, we'd have a chance to get up-and-down. We saw, I think it was Sam Stevens, in that bunker. He hit a good shot, or at least held the green, so we knew left was a good miss, right was going to be hard to get up-and-down. I must say that it went farther right than I wanted. I thought the wind would hold it up a touch more, but I'm not complaining. It was a great outcome."WYNDHAM CLARK YOU ARE RIDICULOUS!A huge fade to a few feet from 275!That left for eagle. pic.twitter.com/0RilsBicgr U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 20, 2026Every golf tournament has shots that define it, and it goes without saying that if Clark holds on to win, his second shot into the 16th in the third round will be one of, if not the signature shot from the 2026 U.S. Open. But not every shot Clark hit Saturday looked as good as that one."It was very up and down, holy smokes," Clark said. "I hit some good shots, I hit some terrible shots."He sure did, but it rarely mattered, because he followed up nearly every terrible shot with an excellent one, escaping trouble on numerous occasions with impeccable touch around the greens and exceptional fortitude standing over the nervy putts that pros so often miss when the pressure ramps up at a major championship. In all, he made over 50 feet in par putts alone. One of the few he didn't make came at the 18th a bogey that cut his lead from seven to six. "I mean, [the par saves] are huge," Clark said. "That's what you have to make to win U.S. Opens. You're not going to have too many birdie putts, and when you do miss, it's really hard to hit a gimme, so you've got to make those kind of 5- to 12-footers."Stop us if you've heard this one before.Wyndham Clark finds some trouble, scrambles, and makes *another* clutch par putt. pic.twitter.com/hPMR7Aa5I5 U.S. Open (@usopengolf) June 20, 2026Clark's current standing is even more incredible when juxtaposed with where he was a year ago, making headlines for damaging lockers inside the clubhouse at Oakmont after shooting a pair of 74s and missing the cut by one shot. He's put that behind him, though, as have the Oakmont brass, and one year later, he's on the doorstep of a second major title after distancing himself from the field Saturday."My mindset was good," Clark said. "The course changed so much. It was very soft [on Thursday and Friday] and easier to be more aggressive. The fairways got rock hard, so I was spinning my irons a little bit more, and I had some squirt to the right. The greens were bouncing a ton. That little adjustment, maybe I didn't make as quick as I would have liked. But knowing tomorrow it's going to be like that, I can prepare for it."But yeah, if I can go out there and try to hit a lot of fairways, it would be a dream to hit 18 greens. That's kind of my goal is to just get as many looks as I can with how I'm putting, and hopefully I'm hoisting the trophy tomorrow."To hoist that trophy he'll need to hold off some of the game's biggest stars, including the biggest of stars, who he'll be playing alongside. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler made four birdies on the back nine Saturday to play himself into Sunday's final pairing. He's still six shots off the lead, but he'll be in full chase mode as he looks to complete a monumental comeback to secure the career Grand Slam."I think it's appropriate to understand what's at stake," Scheffler said. "I've worked really hard for a long time to have a chance to win golf tournaments and to win major championships. I think understanding the moment and giving it your best shot I think is all part of the process."We want to be in these positions. This is why we practice and play, to have the opportunity to win golf tournaments, and that's what tomorrow is. I have an opportunity to go out there and have a great round and give myself a chance to win the tournament . . . I'll need a really nice round tomorrow if I'm going to try and catch Wyndham."Clark, meanwhile, understands the challenge he faces, regardless of the massive lead he's built. "Scottie is the best player in the world and he's going to play probably really good he always does," Clark said. "But it's nice to have a six-shot lead on him. But really, I'm just going to keep approaching it the same way. If I go out and execute and go through my process and hit the shots I know I can hit, I like my chances."Nick Stavasis a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).This article originally appeared on Golfweek: US Open 2026: Wyndham Clark on doorstep of second major title

Ivory Coast head coach Emerse Fa has criticized what he said was a lack of fair play from Germany during his team's 2-1 World Cup defeat on Saturday at BMO Field.

Richmond aims to end their four-game losing streak against North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, as the Shinboners seek their first seventh season win since 2019.

Troubled former Olympic swimmer Scott Miller opens up about the pressure he felt living with Alan Jones in the 1990s - and why he says marriage was his only way out.

The bunched leaderboard, the inability to pull away, the momentum changing with virtually every shot.Yes, if the U.S. Open plays out Sunday like it did in the third round, then the race for second place will be a nailbiter. Three players whose names will drive Google searches galore for casual golf fans Tom Kim, Sam Stevens and Sahith Theegala found themselves tied with a bigger name, Scottie Scheffler, in a four-way logjam for second with 18 holes to play at Shinnecock. They all finished Saturday trailing leader Wyndham Clark by six shots."As you can see, its kind of a jumbled leaderboard," Kim said, except for where the leader is.For the record, a six-shot rally would be one less than the biggest final-round comeback in U.S. Open history. That belongs to Arnold Palmer, back in 1960 at Cherry Hills. Even if they had resumes approaching Palmer's, the odds would be stacked against these three dreamers. Turns out, they don't. Kim, Stevens and Theegala have a total of one top-5 finish in majors between them. All in their 20s and looking for a breakthrough, they have a total of 39 starts in majors between them, dating to 2020.They will play in groups ahead of Scheffler, whose early round of 69 left him in that jumble at 1-under 209 and gave him the last, and featured, tee time with Clark on Sunday. The other three know they have quite a hill to climb. If Clark falters or Shinnecock Hills rises up now less likely with the wind expected to calm down then Scheffler figures to be the best bet to scoop up the trophy and wrap up the career Grand Slam. So much of it kind of depends on what Wyndham does, Stevens said. I could play a great round tomorrow and shoot 3- or 4-under and still lose by seven.But, stranger things have happened. There's a disaster waiting to happen on every hole, Theegala said. So you just have to be patient.A quick look at the group in second place:Sahith TheegalaAt Pepperdine, became only the fifth player in the last 30 years to win the three biggest awards for college players: The Fred Haskins, Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus Awards. But Theegala became a bigger name when he appeared on the Netflix series Full Swing, which takes an inside look at players on the PGA Tour. He was still living at home when he made it to the tour, and things like doing his laundry felt new. Theegala's best major finish was ninth place at the 2023 Masters. His lone win on tour was at 2023 at the Fortinet Championship.Quotable: Theres a lot of danger involved in pushing it a little bit, but you do have opportunities to kind of make a push at the end there. Tom KimKim became a lightning rod for his fiery appearances at the Presidents Cup in 2022 and 2024. There was friction because of the fist-pumping antics he pulled and some difference of opinion over who, if anyone, crossed the line when he teamed with Si Woo Kim in a match against Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay.Kim also made a splash when he waded into a swamp looking for an errant tee shot at the 2023 PGA at Oak Hill. He came out a muddy mess and had to dip into a stream to clean up a viral moment that he explained by saying: "I mean its a major championship. Im fighting for every single stroke I have.Kim finished in a tie for second at the 2023 British Open, though he shot a 67 to pull into that tie and was still six shots behind winner Brian Harman in a major as lopsided as this one is shaping up to be.Quotable: I think youve just got to look at it as youve got to kind of do your own thing. You cant really force a lot of things out here. Youve got to keep staying patient, and thats what Im going to do.Sam StevensA father of four, Stevens is the third generation of a golf family with deep roots in Kansas and across the Midwest. His grandfather, Johnny Slim Stevens, made more than two dozen starts on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and played in the 1969 U,S. Open. His father, Charlie, played college golf at Oklahoma, had a brief stop on the Korn Ferry Tour and won the Kansas Amateur in 2010.He has made more than $10 million on the PGA Tour but has yet to post his first win. Asked earlier in the week about his surge at Shinnecock, he said a good conversation with his wife, Kelsey, helped him rediscocver his perspective.Im only 29, he said, so I probably dont need to be bitter about things quite yet.Quotable: You dont normally shoot a low number trying to shoot a low number. You kind of shoot a low number just because it happens.___AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Shohei Ohtani is a father again.The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar posted the news of his latest addition on his Instagram account Saturday.We are again overjoyed to experience this wonderful day in our lives together. Thank you for being born safely, read a message from Ohtani and his wife, Mamiko Tanaka. They also thanked supporters. The post showed an image of a baby's hands and feet in a blue blanket suggesting that Ohtani has a son to go with his daughter who was born in April 2025. Tucked in the baby's arms was a tiny stuffed version of Ohtani's beloved dog, Decoy, who also got his own photo at the bottom of the post.The news that Ohtani was about to have a second child came out of nowhere Friday. He wasn't in the Dodgers' lineup, which was posted much later than usual, after the team said he was away from the team on paternity. The absence of the two-way star did not last long. Ohtani was back in the lineup in the leadoff spot for Saturday's game against the Orioles. Ohtani also remains in line to make his next start from the mound Wednesday on the road against the Minnesota Twins, manager Dave Roberts said.Im assuming the baby is healthy, mom is healthy, said Roberts, who had not yet had a chance to catch up with Ohtani a few hours before Saturday's game.The famously private Ohtani has never publicly revealed his daughter's name and has carefully avoided showing her face in the rare family photos he posts to his social media.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The 66-year-old announced the positive news days after he shared his "aggressive" cancer diagnosis.

The 66-year-old announced the positive news days after he shared his "aggressive" cancer diagnosis.