SAN JOSE, Calif. Malik Tillman likes watching penalty shootouts. But participating in them? Not so much. "I try to avoid it," the American midfielder said before training on Tuesday. "Everyone tries to avoid it. But sometimes, it happens, and, of course, you have to be ready for it because you never know. Well give our best to finish the game in 90 minutes. The U.S. men's national team faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Wednesday night. With the 2026 World Cup now in the knockout stage, any match that remains tied after regulation and extra time comes down to one thing: the dreaded, stomach-churning penalty shootout. On Monday, Germany and the Netherlands were both sent home after cruel and dramatic penalty shootout losses to Paraguay and Morocco, respectively. Across the two shootouts, players missed 10 penalty kicks, setting a World Cup record for the most misses in a single day. It was the first time in history the four-time champion Germans left the World Cup via penalties. It was a stark reminder of the stakes now facing the U.S. because, in the knockout stage, one mistake can send a team home. "Weve seen two big boys fall," defender Chris Richards told a group of reporters. "So its just a matter of us getting through this game and putting on a good performance, and, hopefully, we continue that." The last time the USA found itself in a penalty shootout was exactly one year ago, when it beat Costa Rica in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals after a six-round thriller. The win came largely thanks to Matt Freeses heroics in goal, as he made three saves to send the squad through. Tillman, who missed a penalty in the first half of that match, bounced back by converting in the shootout. He said that while players can practice penalties all they want, its "impossible" to replicate what it actually feels like in that spotlight. U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino agrees and said the team uses an outside company to help with penalties in a somewhat similar fashion to how they use TrackMan technology to aid in set pieces. "I don't want to say too much," Pochettino said at his press conference on Tuesday. "As a coaching staff, we believe that we can provide some tools to the players to be better or to improve or to try to find the best way to face this type of situation, knowing that it's impossible to replicate the emotional stress and the pressure and expectation, how you are going to feel. "Because it depends on your performance if you came from the bench, if you played 120 minutes, if you are tired, if you are not tired. If you feel something in your body, that is impossible when you practice penalties to have the same feeling." As far as the penalty kicking order goes, that is set by Pochettino and his staff, who analyze the players work in training before deciding who steps up. "It is going to be [the coaching staffs] decision the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5," Pochettino said. "We are trying to arrive at this moment and not ask the player if they feel confident or not confident." According to a German media report, there was controversy over who would take Germanys sixth penalty, as some players didnt want to. Ultimately, it was Jonathan Tah, whose miss proved decisive and allowed Paraguay to convert and advance. "I dont know about that situation, but yeah, its a difficult thing," star forward Christian Pulisic said when asked about Germanys exit. "The guys who feel the most confident to go up and shoot will want to go shoot. I think thats normal. There will be some players that maybe dont practice them as much and dont feel as good. I dont think its necessarily a big problem. "Havent been in many shootouts with these guys, but I feel like its a pretty brave, courageous team. I feel like guys will give it a go." How Do USA Players Take Penalties? Penalty kick style and technique have evolved over the years. Some players opt for stutter steps and elaborate long or short run-ups, while others simply place the ball and strike it. Tillman said hes experimented with different approaches throughout his career and doesnt necessarily take them the same way he once did. Still, he added, "Im confident in the way I take them." Richards, who scored a penalty for Premier League club Crystal Palace last season, doesnt overthink it. "I dont want to give away too much," Richards said with a big smile. "Some guys change it up. Me personally, Im a defender for a reason, so Im gonna put it down and place it where I think it needs to go." Pulisic doesnt read too much into everyone elses process. "Everyone has their own style," said Pulisic, who also noted that hes feeling good after dealing with a calf injury that has limited his time on the field. "I dont think you watch [the Germany and Netherlands shootouts] and can take so much away and try to change your style in one day. I mean, its just part of the game. "Its an extremely hard thing to do for sure. It takes a lot of courage and it's not easy. Goalkeepers are getting better and better every single year. Everyone has their individual style, and you just go with what you feel most confident with." All this is to say, the U.S. hopes any penalty shootout talk is moot during their run in this World Cup. "Ultimately, you dont want to get there," Richards said. "But honestly, weve done a lot of training with penalty shootouts, so if it comes down to it, I think every guy on this team is going to step up and take it."

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Between now and training camp, we will be going through theIndianapolis Colts'full 90-man roster, previewing each player.Up next issafetyJuanyeh Thomas, who wears No. 33.ProfileHeight: 6-3Weight: 217Age: 26NFL experience: Year 4College: Georgia TechJuanyeh Thomas' tenure with the ColtsThomas signed with the Colts as a free agent earlier this offseason. His deal is for one year and is worth $1.33 million. Thomas went undrafted in 2022 and signed with Dallas, where he has spent his career up to this point.Recapping Juanyeh Thomas' 2025 seasonThomas appeared in only seven games last season, missing the second half of the season due to migraines, but that is something he has since worked through.However, before that, Thomas was taking on a much larger role defensively for the Cowboys, which included making three starts between Weeks 5 and 9.Over 156 coverage snaps last season, Thomas was targeted only three times and held opponents to a modest 9.0 yards per catch. On so few targets, he didn't generate any ball production, but over his career, he has come away with four pass breakups on only 21 targets,per PFF.He has mostly played free safety, but has experience lining up in the box and has even taken some snaps at the nickel."I play fast," Thomas said earlier this offseason,via Colts.com. "I play different spots, and I'm very, very smart. Once I have a read on something, I just go."Looking ahead to 2026 for Juanyeh ThomasStill only 26 years old, the Colts are taking a swing at tapping into the upside and potential that Thomas flashed last season in Dallas. Thomas was among those brought in to compete for the starting safety job next to Cam Bynum, although it sounds like rookie AJ Haulcy is the favorite to earn those snaps. Still, Thomas is a likely candidate to make the roster, where he could earn snaps in defensive-back-heavy alignments or on special teams, where he's played 724 career snaps.Although just signed, the Colts can get out of Thomas' contract quite easily during roster cutdowns if they choose to go in a different direction. He is not a roster lock and will have to perform well this summer. Special teams play is where Thomas can differentiate himself from others.This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Colts roster: How big of a role can Juanyeh Thomas carve out at safety?

SAN JOSE, Calif. Shrieks of laughter echoed around an empty PayPal Park. Weston McKennie playfully taunted Tyler Adams, just like he usually does. Even the normally reserved Christian Pulisic joined in on the fun. As members of the U.S. mens national team worked through a training session at the home venue of MLS club San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday, anyone watching if they didnt know better wouldnt think that these players were barely 24 hours before what might be the biggest games of their lives. Nothing less than the legacy of what many have called a "Golden Generation" of American soccer stars led by Pulisic, McKennie and Adams is at stake on Wednesday, when the USA meets Bosnia and Herzegovina in its first do-or-die match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at nearby San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (kickoff at 5 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One). The stakes are enormous. And after winning its first two contests in a World Cup for the first time in almost a century en route to topping Group D, the expectations are just as high. For months, coach Mauricio Pochettino has talked up his squads potential: "Why not us?" That has been the question the former Paris Saint-Germain manager has asked his team and the USAs rapidly growing fan base again and again. Players and supporters alike have internalized that message, to the point where many are already looking past Wednesdays round of 32 contest and to next weeks round of 16 in Seattle against Belgium or Senegal or even the July 10 quarterfinal versus (probably) star-studded Spain or Portugal or Croatia. Not so fast. The Bosnians wont go quietly. And while theyre not France, the U.S. hasnt beaten a European team in its last 12 chances dating to 2021 and has lost all six of such matches under Pochettino. If that streak doesnt end in Northern California, at a World Cup on home soil, the public perception of the USAs tournament the reality will instantly swing from wild success to catastrophic failure. There is nothing in between. The players are unfazed. "We try not to think worst-case scenario," defender Chris Richards told me Monday before the Americans final practice. "For us, ultimately it's [about] going to this game with confidence, but also understanding that no things don't always go your way," he said. "So let's make sure you're prepared for everything." Besides, being stressed out wont help. "Relaxation brings concentration," Pochettino said at Mondays pre-match press conference, attributing the quote toJorge Valdano, a legendary player and coach with Real Madrid who won the 1986 World Cup with Argentina. No wonder the U.S. is choosing to look at Wednesday as an opportunity to keep its World Cup dreams kicking, rather than an obligation to. "We understand what it means: You win or you go home," Pulisic said. "So yeah, there definitely needs to be a lot of focus and attention to detail this week. But I think the vibe feels good. We've still kept it light, and we still are going to be ready to battle once the whistle blows." If not, anything could happen. Just days into the business end of this World Cup, European powers the Netherlands and four-time champion Germany are out before the round of 16 has even started. And thats not even accounting for the unexpected: red cards, own goals, injuries. Keeping the emotions in check at the line but not over it can also go a long way toward the ability to survive and advance. "Soccer," Pochettino allowed, "is an unpredictable thing. We try to reduce that." Still, the odds are on the home teams side. Another massive red, white and blue-clad crowd is expected. The U.S. comes into the match ranked 15th by FIFA while the Golden Lilles are 61st, lower than 16 nations that failed to qualify for this World Cup. Not that that matters when the game begins. "I don't believe that we are the favored team," Pochettino said. "Everyone said Germany was the favorite, but Paraguay beat them. "After the group stage, we are seeing how difficult it is for everyone," he continued. "We don't have another opportunity if we fail. [So] it's all-in, knowing that that game is the final of the World Cup. That, I think, needs to be and is our mindset."

SportsLine's Martin Green reveals his Ecuador vs. Mexico best bets for their FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the knockout round

Marc Stein: And: The more crucial factor, per a league source, is that Kristaps Porziis and the Warriors have done this deal as an extension rather than a Bird Rights contract.x.comThis article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kristaps Porzingis' deal with Warriors is an extension

The start time for the Round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador has been delayed due to thunderstorms in Mexico City. The match was scheduled to kick off at 9 p.m. ET at Mexico City Stadium. However, heavy rain and active lightning warnings in the area forced the start time to get pushed back, according to FOX Sports' Rebecca Lowe. Officials announced the delay at Mexico City Stadium approximately an hour before the scheduled 9 p.m. ET kickoff. The exact duration of the postponement remains unknown, as officials must wait for the lightning to pass before clearing the match to begin. Updates will follow as the weather develops. The winner of this matchup will advance to the Round of 16 to face either England or DR Congo.

The WNBA released a statement on Tuesday saying it 'vehemently condemns any and all forms of hate'