Barcelona attacker racing back to fitness and should be available for league openerFermin Lopez endured one of the most difficult moments of his career last May, when an untimely injury ruled him out of the World Cup.But the Barcelona midfielder is now making rapid strides in his recovery and is on course to be fit for the start of the new season.According to Diario AS, Fermin is progressing impressively following surgery on his foot, and the club are confident he will be available when the La Liga campaign gets underway.The injury itself came as a cruel blow to the 22-year-old. Fermin suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in an unfortunate incident, an issue that required surgery and ultimately ended his hopes of featuring at the World Cup.Fermin Lopez is recovering rapidly. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)The attacker was left in a state of shock and needed considerable time to come to terms with missing out on the tournament, a chance he had worked so hard to earn.Ahead of scheduleAlmost two months on from the injury, however, the mood is far more positive. Fermin has spent the past week carrying out specific work on the pitch, all under the close supervision of physiotherapist Jose Cortes, who has overseen his rehabilitation from the very beginning.The midfielder is said to be recovering at lightning speed, and while he will not be ready to join his teammates when they report for training on July 13, the hope is that he will link up with the group within a couple of weeks.Encouragingly, Fermins recovery plan even includes travelling with the squad to their pre-season camp in England, where he could feature for a few minutes in the friendly against Birmingham on July 31st.On track for the openerPerhaps most significantly, Barcelona are confident that Hansi Flick will have Fermin available for the official start of the campaign.Fermin Lopez missed the World Cup due to injury. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)With the opening matchday having been pushed back by a week, Fermins return is now expected to coincide with Barcelonas first fixture against Elche on the weekend of August 22-23. By that point, three months will have passed since the injury, a period the club consider more than sufficient for a full recovery.The news will come as a major relief to both Fermin and Flick. The midfielder established himself as an increasingly important figure last season, offering energy, goals and versatility from midfield.His return to full fitness gives the German coach another valuable option as Barcelona look to defend their La Liga crown.After the heartbreak of missing the World Cup, Fermin will be determined to make up for lost time.

This weeks All-Star festivities in Philadelphia will be a hometown showcase. The Phillies have two players Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber competing in the Home Run Derby on Monday. One day later, four more Phillies players Cristopher Snchez, Jess Luzardo, Brandon Marsh and Jhoan Duran will be joining Schwarber and Harper at the All-Star Game. On the American League side, it will also be a return home for Mike Trout, the native of Millville, New Jersey, whose 12th All-Star Game will hold a special meaning. With All-Star week about to get going, here are 10 storylines to watch. Who Will Be The Starting Pitchers? Rowan Kavner: There are two strong options for American League manager John Schneider. The Yankees Cam Schlittler leads AL pitchers in bWAR, ERA and WHIP, while Schneiders Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease leads AL pitchers in fWAR, strikeouts, strikeout rate and opponents batting average. Theyve clearly been the top two pitchers in the AL. Its a little more complicated in the National League. Jacob Misiorowski would have been the obvious choice in the middle of a historically overpowering season. He leads all qualified MLB starters in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents batting average. Shane Bieber (in the shortened 2020 season) and Gerrit Cole (in 2019) are the only qualified starters who have ever logged a strikeout rate higher than Misiorowskis (39.6%) over the course of a full season. The only problem? Miz wont be there. He has been replaced because he will be pitching on Sunday and unavailable for the All-Star Game. Paul Skenes might have made sense, but he will be facing off against Misiorowski on Sunday (and hasnt had the first-half numbers of other top contenders). NL manager Dave Roberts told me last week that being the hometown pitcher "has got to have some weight" as he mulls his decision. If he chooses to go with a Phillies pitcher, there are two options: Snchez and Luzardo. Snchez would have been the clear choice until he coughed up nine runs in Kansas City on Monday. Despite that clunker, as long as he is cleared to pitch three days after his start on Saturday, he'd make a lot of sense. Atlantas Chris Sale, Cincinnatis Chase Burns and Roberts World Series star Yoshinobu Yamamoto also have to be among the other top considerations. A Farewell To Justin Verlander Deesha Thosar: This weeks All-Star week festivities will double as a farewell stage for Verlander, giving his peers and fans a chance to celebrate his remarkable career. After announcing that he will retire following the season, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer will take one final All-Star bow as one of the sports most accomplished pitchers. Verlander is a throwback from a generation of pitchers that played the game with different priorities, including pitching deep into games, emphasizing durability and wins, and defining a legacy through consistency and longevity. Its fair to question whether we will ever see anyone like him take the mound again. Few careers can match Verlanders resume. The 43-year-old is a 10-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, a two-time World Series champion, and the 2011 AL MVP. The right-hander has spent over two decades overpowering hitters, presiding as the active leader in strikeouts (3,554), wins (266), complete games (26), games started (556) and innings pitched (3,571.1). Whatever MLB has in the works to honor Verlander in Philly, its certain to be a fitting tribute to one of baseballs all-time greats. Hometown Stars In Home Run Derby Kavner: In 2018, the Nationals' Bryce Harper beat the Cubs' Kyle Schwarber in the finals to win the Home Run Derby. Eight years later, now Phillies teammates, theyll face off again in front of their hometown fans. Its the first time since that 2018 Derby that two teammates will compete. (That year, it was Schwarber and Cubs teammate Javier Bez). Harper has tabbed Dodgers third-base coach Dino Ebel, one of his World Baseball Classic Team USA coaches, as his Derby pitcher. Ebel threw to Schwarber during last years All-Star Game swing-off, helping Schwarber launch three home runs on three pitches to earn MVP honors. Speaking Of That Swing-Off Thosar: Could another Home Run Derby-style swing-off decide the All-Star Game? After last year's dramatic tiebreaker captivated fans, including Schwarber going a perfect 3-for-3 with three home runs, the possibility is back on the table in Philadelphia. Under MLB's All-Star rules, games tied after nine innings skip extra innings and move straight to a swing-off. Three manager-selected hitters from each league get three swings apiece, and the team that hits the most home runs after all rounds will claim the win. The format was introduced to avoid overworking pitchers while adding late-game drama. There's no way to predict another tie, but all the ingredients are there. Theres elite pitching, stacked lineups and every run will come at a premium, so another swing-off remains a real possibility. If it happens, who will be crowned the hero? Last year in Atlanta, after the NL and AL ended the ninth in a 6-6 tie, we got to see Brent Rooker vs. Kyle Stowers in round one, followed by Schwarber vs. Randy Arozarena in round two, and finally Jonathan Aranda vs. Pete Alonso in round three. The NL won the All-Star Game, 7-6, after the unprecedented swing-off. Trout To Start In Hometown All-Star Game Kavner: Trouts 12th All-Star Game will be a particularly memorable one. Trouts hometown of Millville, New Jersey, is less than 50 miles from Philadelphia, and the Angels superstar has thought about the possibility of playing in this All-Star Game since before the season began. "It would be huge," Trout told me two weeks ago, when he was still on the injured list with a hamstring strain. "Itd be special, for sure." Trout has returned from his hamstring strain as he vowed to do just in time. Hell be starting in the outfield for an AL team that could use his pop with Aaron Judge injured. Which AL Rookie Will Step Up? Kavner: Its a special year for rookie talent, and much of it will be on display on the American League roster. Munetaka Murakami returned from his hamstring injury just in time to be added to the American League roster after launching 20 homers in his first 57 big-league games. Kevin McGonigle is already one of the most valuable shortstops in the game at 21 years old. Cleveland has two AL Rookie of the Year contenders in the game in second baseman Travis Bazzana and pitcher Parker Messick. All of them have risen to the occasion in their first MLB season, and it will be fascinating to see who holds their own or takes their game to another level against the sports top competition. MLB Continues To Showcase International Stars Thosar: Is it the World Baseball Classic, or the All-Star Game? Just four months after another successful WBC, which ended with Venezuela beating the United States for its first-ever WBC title, the All-Star Game will continue to showcase baseballs global reach. From Latin America to Asia to the land down under, Phillys Midsummer Classic will feature plenty of stars whose baseball journeys began in different countries. There are 22 internationally born players earning spots on the All-Star rosters (33.8%), including 12 players in the NL and 10 in the AL. The list features players from Cuba (7); the Dominican Republic (5); Venezuela (4); Canada (2); Japan (2); Australia (1); and Curaao (1). Guardians rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana, a native of Hornsby, Australia, will become just the fourth-ever native of Australia to make the All-Star Game, joining Grant Balfour (2013); Liam Hendriks (2019, 2021-22); and Dave Nilsson (1999). Diverse All-Star rosters represent the international talent pipeline thats become essential to MLBs grandest stages. Will This Week Be The Showcase Of Junior Caminero? Kavner: Caminero is one of the hottest hitters on the planet right now he had 12 homers in his last 16 games entering the weekend before the break and hes out for revenge after falling just short of becoming the youngest player ever to win the Home Run Derby last year. Would anyone be surprised if he won the Derby and then took home All-Star MVP honors? At just 23 years old, the AL starting third baseman is quickly ascending into one of the leagues most promising superstars. The First-Time All-Stars To Watch Thosar: Some have been there, done that (looking at you, Trout, Freddie Freeman, Chris Sale, Juan Soto, Matt Olson, et al.). And then, some will have no idea what to expect and will be taking in the All-Star week festivities with fresh eyes. There is a record, eye-popping total of 29 players who will be making their All-Star Game debuts this year. Among that large group, there are several names worth keeping an eye on who could steal the show. Notable names making their first trip to the Midsummer Classic include Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease, Yankees first baseman Ben Rice and burgeoning star right-hander Schlitter, breakout Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker and local Phillies in Luzardo and outfielder Brandon Marsh rounding out the group of some of the games best players of the first half. "I dont necessarily come into the season saying, I really want to be on the All-Star team," Rice told me of whether it was his goal to be selected. "But you can only hope that if you do your best every day and stick to your process and the results follow, that maybe youll get the chance." Key Stars Will Be Absent. Who Will Capitalize? Thosar: Weve been spoiled over the years with so many household names regularly appearing at MLBs annual All-Star Game festivities, but this year, the Midsummer Classic will be missing some of its biggest headliners. Shohei Ohtani (left knee irritation), Judge (stress fracture in right rib), and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (elected not to play) are among the superstar absences, with aces Skenes and Misiorowski also unable to play in the All-Star Game because theyre both starting on Sunday. In addition, Byron Buxton is dealing with a right hip impingement, while Nick Kurtz will also miss the game due to a right thumb sprain. Still, these absences create opportunity. With a handful of marquee names sidelined or unavailable, the spotlight shifts to first-time All-Stars and underrated talents who are all eager to make a name for themselves. Keep an eye on All-Star Game replacements like first baseman Willson Contreras and Murakami to make the most of their chances.

What Joao Gomes has said about signing for LiverpoolLiverpool can beat Manchester United to the signing of Joao Gomes this summer, if the Brazilians prior comments still hold weight.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONAPPLE&GOOGLE PLAYThe Wolves midfielder told ESPN back in 2022 (via Fabrizio Romano on X) that the Reds are a team Id play for.Atletico Madrid had reportedly been poised to seal a deal for the Old Gold star, but instead opted to finalise a move for Sporting Lisbons Morten Hjulmand.Liverpool can offer Joao Gomes his Champions League dreamIf Champions League football is what Gomes is after, Liverpool can supply it not to mention a direct return to the Premier League.So, if United remain keen on evolving their own interest in the 25-year-old, itll come down to whether Michael Carricks or the Basque-born head coachs project proves more appealing.Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as apreferred source on Googleto your favourites list for news you can trustUnfortunately for both outfits, the need for a top-notch holding six is evident following the departure of Casemiro over at Old Trafford, and the Merseysiders struggles in the middle of the park last term.Liverpool are closer to delivering major silverwareIf were going purely off either sides respective performances in the English top-flight last term, you could understand why the Brazilian might be tempted with a switch to Manchester.But, objectively speaking, Liverpool do possess a greater abundance of riches with their starting-XI. Getting bodies in through the door, as weve repeatedly mentioned here on Empire of the Kop, will be critical to allow new boss Iraola to play his desired style of football.Regardless, its clear for all to see that this was a Reds outfit that seriously underperformed last term under Arne Slot.Get Liverpool back to playing aggressive, press-heavy football with a midfield that doesnt leave our backline utterly exposed and this team can, and should, contend for a Premier League title.For United, however, one gets the sense that Carricks men need a couple of strong windows to build a side capable of challenging.More Stories / Latest NewsWhat Joao Gomes has said about signing for Liverpool July 12, 2026 17:53Insider explains why Liverpool must wait to sign one of the best young players in the world July 12, 2026 16:28When are Mac Allister and Munoz due back at Liverpool as World Cup semi-final lineup complete July 12, 2026 15:51

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France and Spain: two international powerhouses with rich histories and bright futures. But how have the two countries matched up against each other in major tournaments throughout the years? Let's look back at the most notable meetings between France and Spain ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinal match at Dallas Stadium on Tuesday: 2024 Euros Semifinal: Spain 2, France 1 Spain's Goalscorers: Lamine Yamal, Dani OlmoFrance's Goalscorers: Randal Kolo Muani The most recent meeting between France and Spain was in 2024, again in a semifinal, but in the European Championship. A majority of the players from both squads are involved again this time. Sixteen members of Spains current World Cup squad were in the Euro 2024 squad that won the tournament, while 15 France players from Euro 2024 are also in this World Cup squad. Spain came into that Euro 2024 semifinal flying, having a marvelous tournament up to that point. La Roja went perfect in the group stage, winning all three matches, then beat Georgia comfortably in the round of 16 before knocking out host nation Germany in the quarterfinals. France, meanwhile, had a relatively poor start to the tournament. Les Bleus failed to win their group, managing five points in the group stage, before lackluster knockout wins over Belgium and Portugal. France beat Belgium, 1-0, in the round of 16, then defeated Portugal on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the quarterfinals. Spain came in with the momentum, but an early goal from Kolo Muani stirred the pot. Then a moment of magic from Lamine Yamal, a long-distance pearler, and a goal from Dani Olmo off a Jules Kound deflection gave Spain a 2-1 lead going into halftime. Spain managed to hang on, winning the semifinal before going on to win the entire tournament by beating England in the final. 2012 Euros Quarterfinal: Spain 2, France 0 Spain's Goalscorers: Xabi Alonso 2 France came into this tournament managed by Laurent Blanc, trying to clean up the scraps of a humiliating 2010 World Cup campaign in which it finished bottom of its group with just one point in a group that included Uruguay, Mexico and South Africa. France started Euro 2012 better compared to 2010 by getting out of the group, but it failed to win the group after suffering an upset defeat to Sweden on match day three. That meant France had to go up against a Spanish dynasty that was coming off winning Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup. Spain was firmly in the middle of being one of the greatest national teams of all time, if not the greatest national team of all time. An early goal from Xabi Alonso and a late insurance penalty from him in stoppage time allowed Spain to cruise into the semifinals. Spain went on to win Euro 2012. 2006 World Cup Round of 16: France 3, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Franck Ribry, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine ZidaneSpain's Goalscorers: David Villa This was a dramatic round of 16 matchup in 2006 because France failed to win its group, finishing below Switzerland, which led to Les Bleus facing a Spain side that had won its group in dominant fashion. But Spains reward was having to face a France team in the last 16 that still had Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Lilian Thuram, Franck Ribry and many more. Those talented players got the better of a Spain team that started strong and took the initial lead through a David Villa penalty. But an equalizer from Ribry shortly before halftime, a late goal from Vieira on a set piece and a stoppage-time insurance goal from Zidane allowed France to get past Spain. It was a tough break for a Spanish team that won its group but was rewarded with a France team that ended up going all the way to the World Cup final. 2000 Euros Quarterfinal: France 2, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Zinedine Zidane, Youri DjorkaeffSpain's Goalscorers: Gaizka Mendieta This Euro 2000 quarterfinal saw all three goals come in the first half. Zidane broke the deadlock for France with a free kick, before Mendieta equalized from the penalty spot. But Spain not being able to go into the dressing room at 1-1 was a blow, as Djorkaeff scored the go-ahead goal right before halftime. A young Ral, only 23 at the time, had the opportunity to send the game into extra time from the penalty spot late on, but the pressure got to him as he blazed his penalty over the crossbar. France went on to the semifinals and eventually won Euro 2000. 1996 Euros Group Stage: France 1, Spain 1 France's Goalscorers: Youri DjorkaeffSpain's Goalscorers: Jos Luis Caminero This was Spain and Frances second group-stage match of Euro 1996, played at Elland Road in Leeds, home of Leeds United. It ended in a 1-1 draw behind goals from Djorkaeff and Jos Luis Caminero and proved to be a pivotal point for both teams in their push to move on to the quarterfinals. It was a tight battle between France, Spain and Bulgaria for the top two spots. France topped the group with seven points, Spain finished second with five, and Bulgaria narrowly missed out with four. 1984 Euros Final: France 2, Spain 0 France's Goalscorers: Michel Platini, Bruno Bellone Frances first major international tournament victory came in 1984, when it beat Spain, 2-0, behind Michel Platini, whose Euro 1984 campaign is widely recognized as one of the greatest individual international tournament performances ever. Platini scored nine goals in five matches, including one in the final, as he captained France to the trophy. Bruno Bellone also got on the scoresheet. Played at the Parc des Princes, France won as host nation in a tense, cagey affair. The opener came in the 57th minute after a mistake from Spain goalkeeper Luis Arconada on a Platini free kick, before Bellone added an insurance goal in the 90th minute with a chip. That gave France its first major international tournament title. This was Spains last appearance in a major international tournament final before Euro 2008, 24 years later.

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and, it seems, almost the full roster went to Las Vegas to watch their Summer League squad compete.Carlisle joined the ESPN broadcast during their opener to discuss the coming season, and he has been struck with the performance of Yuki Kawamura, a 25-year-old 5-foot-7 guard from Japan who has 40 games of NBA experience over two seasons."He's an easy guy to like," Carlisle said. "He just kind of explodes into the game. When the coach points to him on the bench, he just flies up to the scorer's table, and then stuff just happens. "He really knows how to play. He's seeing things before they happen. He has a great sense for how to draw contact and put the defense in jail. He goes hard."Kawamura has averaged 10 points and 3.5 assists in two Summer League games. The Pacers have games scheduled for Monday and Wednesday.Here he comes: Tantalizing guard joining Summer League roster Yuki Kawamura has everyone fired up https://t.co/RHpH2KqLWgpic.twitter.com/RkbnelK9Rx Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) July 11, 2026Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Tyrese HaliburtonTyrese Haliburton missed the 2025-26 season with an Achilles injury suffered in Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. Carlisle said Haliburton has been playing 5-on-5 for a while."It's going to be a journey for him," Carlisle said. "He's aggressively attacking the summer and looking forward to being back on the court." Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Ivica ZubacThe Pacers traded for center Ivica Zubac in February. He played a handful of games before injuries slowed him. Carlisle is eager to see how he fits into the Pacers' system."We've not had a guy that can put the kind of rim pressure he can put on with rolls, seals, and (scoring) at the rim," Carlisle said. "There's great opportunity here."Pacers coach Rick Carlisle on Jarace WalkerJarace Walker, the former No. 8 overall draft pick entering his fourth season, got a lot of playing time in the Pacers' rough 2025-26 season. Carlisle wants to see how Walker reacts to being a vital reserve."We need him to be a star in his role as a system player for us," the coach said. "He has some star capabilities, but we're such an ecosystem type team that you can't approach things from an individual standpoint."Dustin Dopirakcovers the Pacers all season. Get more coverage onIndyStarTVand with thePacers Insider newsletter.This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Yuki Kawamura brings excitement to Indiana Pacers Summer League team, says coach Rick Carlisle

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