Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty ImagesJannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon trophy on Sunday with a four-set victory over Alexander Zverev.Sinner beat Zverev 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court to claim his fifth Grand Slam and his second consecutive Wimbledon title.It was another masterful performance from the world number one, who extended his gap at the top of the ATP rankings.Sinner has since received thousands of congratulatory messages, not least from Zverev, but one in particular caught the eye.Photo by Dom Gibbons/Getty ImagesFormula 1 celebrates Jannik Sinner after his Wimbledon title defenceThe official Formula 1 social media account congratulated Jannik Sinner on his victory at Wimbledon this weekend.Sinner is an avid motorsports fan and has attended the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in the last two years.The Italian is even an ambassador for the sport, known as a Friend of F1, and this is why F1 celebrated his Wimbledon success.F1 posted: Back-to-back Wimbledon Champion! Congratulations to friend of F1 Jannik Sinner on defending his Wimbledon title!Formula 1 also drew a comparison between Sinners Wimbledon title and Charles Leclercs (Scuderia Ferrari) victory at the British Grand Prix last weekend.While Sinner is clearly the best tennis player in the world, Ferrari are battling Mercedes for the top spot in F1.It has been a successful few weeks for Italian sport, somewhat compensating for their absence from the 2026 World Cup.Read more:I dont really like you Alexander Zverev has Wimbledon crowd in stitches with Jannik Sinner jokeWimbledon 2026 prize money: How much every player earns from first round to championWhat time does Arthur Fery play? Wimbledon schedule today

To celebrate the Midsummer Classic, we've built the All-Star team of the century, the ultimate 26-man roster based on first-half performance. We scoured the stats at every position to find the most impressive All-Star rsums since 2000. Some of the players who made our squad are household names you won't be surprised to see, but there are a few surprises along the way. (One of these players was the best at his position this century but didn't even make the roster for that year's Midsummer Classic!) Here's our 26-man roster, starting with a big name from last season behind the plate. All-Star Starting Nine By last seasons end, "Big Dumper" had set home run records for catchers and switch-hitters. His 60 dingers rank third all time on the American League single-season list, behind Aaron Judge (62 in 2022) and Roger Maris (61 in 1961). By the 2025 All-Star break, these were already all clear possibilities for Raleigh. He was slugging .634, with 38 home runs, 16 doubles, 10 steals, 82 RBI and 62 walks. On top of all that, he was catching every day and doing a fine job of it, too. Pujols was a safe guess for the Cardinals. The real question: which season? Its tough to beat his 2009 campaign, when Pujols slashed an unreal .332/.456/.723 with 102 hits, 55 extra-base hits including 32 homers and enough plate appearances left over for 71 walks in 90 games. Pujols had plenty of first halves with the Cardinals that ranged from great to amazing, but none epitomized what he was capable of at his best better than his transcendent showing in 2009. Roberts was an underrated second baseman both before and after his 2005 breakout, maybe in part because he never quite reached those lofty heights again. His age-27 season which featured his first of two career All-Star appearances was fantastic, though, and difficult to replicate. In the first half of 2005, Roberts slashed .345/.416/.591 with 42 extra-base hits while going 18-for-23 on steal attempts and playing fantastic defense. By season's end, his glove alone was worth two wins above replacement, and his bat nearly six. His second half looked more like the Roberts the Orioles got for the rest of his career still great, but nothing more than that. Youd think Cabreras Triple Crown 2012 season would be the pick here for the Tigers, but his first half of 2013 was even better. In fact, his entire 2013 was better. Cabrera won his second straight American League MVP after slashing .348/.442/.636 with a 190 OPS+ the 15th-best OPS+ of the century, and 11th-best for players not named Barry Bonds. Cabrera's first half did most of the heavy lifting. He slashed .365/.458/.674 with 30 of his 44 home runs that year with 51 extra-base hits in his first 93 games. Cabrera won his third straight batting title, capping a four-year run during which he batted .337. Rodriguez won his first Most Valuable Player award in 2003, but his 2002 season was one hell of a warm-up. A-Rod would lead the majors with 57 homers, 142 RBIs and 389 total bases and he did all that while playing Gold Glove defense at shortstop. In the first half alone, A-Rod slashed .305/.401/.607 with 27 home runs, 100 hits and 199 of those total bases, earning him his sixth All-Star nod. And it doesnt matter for our purposes, but he was even better in the second half, with 30 homers and a .642 slugging percentage in 75 games. Bonds hit an MLB-record 73 home runs in 2001, and its impossible to do that without a monster first half of the season. He was a monster before the All-Star break that year, hitting 39 of those 73 homers in his first 81 games while slashing .305/.487/.826. Yes, you read that right: Bonds had a slugging percentage over 81 games of .826. He had 18 doubles to go with the 39 dingers, as well as going 7-for-8 on stolen-base attempts, racking up 79 hits despite pitchers avoiding him Bonds already had 88 walks by the break and driving in 73 runs even though opponents pitched around him even more with runners on base. Judge has been on an all-time tear since 2022. At no point in his career was this more evident than in 2025, when Judge won the "Slash-Stat Triple Crown," leading the majors in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Last season, Judge slashed 331/.457/.688 with 53 homers his fourth campaign with at least 50 dingers and won his third American League MVP. Before the All-Star break, Judge slashed an even wilder .355/.462/.733 with 35 of those blasts, beating out other Yankees performances of the century mostly from himself. Part of what made the idea of the Red Sox trading Betts rather than extending him so absurd was his MVP-winning 2018 season. That year, which ended with the Red Sox winning the World Series, saw the 25-year-old Betts lead the majors in wins above replacement (10.7), batting average (.346) and slugging (.640). He also played all-world defense in right field and posted a 30/30 season five years before MLB changed the rules to make thievery easier for baserunners. In the first half of 2018, Betts slashed .359/.448/.691 with 108 hits, 51 of them for extra bases. Pronk! Travis Hafner never made an All-Star team, but this isnt a list of the best All-Stars of the 21st century, and he absolutely should have been an All-Star in 2006 anyway. Clevelands DH slashed an absurd .322/.461/.650 with 25 homers and 43 extra-base hits in 83 pre-break games, punctuated by a June in which he got on base 46 times for a .485 on-base percentage. Plus, he did all of this despite the fact that, at the time, Progressive Park played as a pitcher-friendly ballpark. Hafner finished the season leading the AL in slugging and OPS, he led the majors in OPS+ and finished eighth in the AL MVP race. All-Star Reserves Rodrguez was the 1999 AL MVP, and he continued that level of performance into the new millennium. Though a broken thumb limited him to just 11 games in the second half of the 2000 season, his performance in the 80 games he played before the All-Star break was pure magic. Pudge slashed .366/.393/.708 with 25 homers and 55 extra-base hits remember, too, that catchers didnt play every day like this as a regular thing back in 2000. That was just something Rodrguez did in the middle of his career, before injuries became more commonplace for him. Starting in 1995, Jones made the NL All-Star team in five of six seasons, and he won an MVP in the other. It would be seven years until his next All-Star nod, but boy, did Jones make that one count, slashing .376/.472/.614 in the first half while hitting 18 homers. Due to injury, he wound up playing just 128 games in the 2008 season, but that first half helped carry him to his first and only batting title. His .364 average led all of MLB. Lee played in the majors for 15 years and hit .281 with 331 homers, 432 doubles, 104 steals, 1,078 RBI, 1,081 runs, 874 walks and 1,959 hits. For context, just 29 players in the history of the game have reached 300 homers, 400 doubles, 100 steals, 1,000 RBI, 1,000 runs, 850 walks and 1,900 hits. And yet, you'd be forgiven for thinking Lee was more of a one-hit wonder, considering just how staggering his 2005 season was with the Cubs. Lee led the NL in hits with 199 and topped the majors in doubles (50), batting average (.335), slugging percentage (.662) and OPS+ (174). In the first half alone, Lee slashed .378/.452/.733 with 27 dingers and 27 doubles. Football loves its ultra-huge and ultra-fast players, while in basketball theres an obvious advantage to height and length. In baseball? All of the above helps, sure, but you can also be 5-foot-6 and under 170 pounds and still be a star, so long as you have the hand-eye coordination to make up for it. Altuve is one of the players who best exemplifies this separation between MLB and other major sports. In 2016, he led the league in hits (216) and won the batting title (.338). In the first half, Altuve slashed .341/.413/.542 with 14 home runs, 40 extra-base hits and went 23-for-26 on stolen base attempts. When all is said and done, Ramrez might end up being one of the best players to never win a Most Valuable Player Award. In 2018, en route to his second All-Star selection, Ramrez slashed a ridiculous .302/.401/.629 with 29 home runs while going 20-for-23 on stolen base attempts. His power would drop in the second half, but part of that was because pitchers would pitch around him. Ramrez ended up drawing 106 walks in 2018 after picking up 49 in his 63 second-half games. Tejada rose to prominence with the "Moneyball"-era Athletics, but it was in Baltimore where he produced most of his high-powered offensive seasons. That includes 2005, when he slashed .304/.349/.515 with 26 homers and an MLB-best 50 doubles. Tejada earned an All-Star nomination thanks to a monster first half, when the veteran shortstop hit .329 with 30 of those 50 two-baggers and 53 extra-base hits overall. This was also the last season when Tejada was unquestionably a plus defensive shortstop, and he comfortably produced a win above replacement with his glove alone. In 2022, Acua stole 29 bases with 15 home runs in 119 games. In the firsthalf of 2023, he stole 41 bases with 21 home runs. Acua took advantage of the new rules for pickoff attempts and stolen bases right out of the gate. At the same time, further removed from ACL reconstruction, his power had leveled up, too. The National League MVP led all of baseball with 73 stolen bases, 214 hits and a .416 on-base percentage. Oh, and he hit 41 homers, too, making him a 40/40 player as well as the first (and still only) 40/70 one. Bautista broke out with the Blue Jays in late 2009 after five years of replacement-level play with the Pirates. The following year, he bashed an MLB-leading 54 home runs, led the majors in total bases and finished fourth in the AL MVP vote. His 2011 season featured fewer long balls, but was better overall: .302/.447/.608 as the MLB leader in slugging, OPS and OPS+. Ohtani might have earned a spot if he were only counted as a designated hitter. In the first half of 2023, his last season with the Angels, Ohtani slashed .302/.387/.663 with 32 home runs, 15 doubles, six triples and 11 steals in 89 games. Ohtani isnt just counted as a DH, however, and with good reason: In 17 starts and 100 first-half innings, he posted a 3.32 ERA with 132 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .189/.293/.342 line. He hit 18 more home runs than he allowed over the same time frame, and induced more double plays than he hit into. All-Star Pitchers Randy Johnsons first half with the 2000 Diamondbacks looks more like a season unto itself. The Big Unit threw 144 innings with 198 strikeouts in 19 starts. He posted a 1.80 ERA, while averaging under one baserunner per inning. Opponents slashed just .193/.252/.320 against him, hitting the occasional homer but usually with the bases empty. Johnson won his second of four straight NL Cy Young Awards, a stretch during which he produced a 2.48 ERA with 1,417 strikeouts. The fewest number of batters he struck out in any one of those seasons was 334, in 2002. "King" wasnt just a nickname for Hernndez he was about as good as a pitcher could be at his peak. And while he won his first and only Cy Young in 2010, it was the first half of 2014 that earned him a spot in this space. The Mariners ace limited opponents to a .201/.240/.280 line over his first 20 starts, while producing a 2.12 ERA over 144 innings, powered by striking out 6.2 times as many batters as he walked. Hernndezs second half was nearly as good he finished with a 2.14 ERA over 34 starts and 236 innings which earned him a second-place finish for the AL Cy Young behind Corey Kluber. Verlander was named to the American League 2026 All-Star team as a Commissioner's Legend Pick, but in 2011 he was hitting high gear building that legend. Verlander won the first of his three career Cy Young Awards as well as the AL MVP award thanks to leading the majors in innings (251), strikeouts (250), and ERA+ (172) and pacing the AL in WAR while allowing less than a baserunner per inning. Before the 2011 All-Star Game, Verlanderwas absurd: a 2.15 ERA over 151 frames, while limiting opponents to a .188/.235/.298 line. The 6-foot-7 Wainwright was a towering force in the Cardinals rotation for years, and 2014was arguably his top season as a starter. In the first half, he held opponents to a .201/.248/.282 slash line, resulting in a minuscule 1.83 ERA over 19 starts and 138 innings. In fact, that first half was so incredible that even though Wainwrights ERA ballooned to (a still quality) 3.24 ERA over his final 13 starts, his full-season figure still came in at a career-best 2.38. The 2000 season was right in the middle of a stretch that featured the highest offensive output in the history of MLB. That did not phase or hinder Martnez even a little bit. The Red Sox ace led the majors with a career-best 1.74 ERA across 217 innings and 29 starts. He had an astonishing 291 ERA+, a stat that measures success (or failure) relative to the league average, represented as 100. Martnezs 291 mark is the bestever for a qualified pitcher, and it all started before the All-Star Game, when he posted a 1.44 ERA over 106 innings while striking out 140 batters. Martnez would go on to lead the majors with a career-high WAR (11.7), win his second-straight Cy Young and third in four seasons, and lead the majors in ERA two more times before his peak ended. The Red Sox converted Jonathan Papelbon from starter to reliever during the 2005 season, and that decision looked brilliant in 2006. Papelbon was named Bostons closer, and, in 46 first-half innings, he held opposing batters to a paltry .155/.200/.224 line thats an OPS of .424 and an ERA of 0.59. Papelbon allowed three runstotal in the first half, two on solo homers, while averaging 0.7 baserunners per inning. Smoltz is primarily in the Baseball Hall of Fame for his fantastic career as a starting pitcher, but he had a tremendous run in the Braves bullpen in the early aughts as well. He was never better than in 2003, when Smoltz threw 64 innings in relief with 45 saves while producing a 1.12 ERA. Before the All-Star break, Smoltz held opponents to a .198/.118/.267 slash line while striking out 7.7 times as many batters as he walked, earning him a 0.95 ERA. His ERA climbed to a still-stellar 1.59 in the second half, during which he had 19 strikeouts against a single walk in in 18 appearances. Bautista was a revelation as a rookie on the Orioles in 2022, picking up 15 saves while striking out 12.1 batters per nine with a 2.19 ERA. But that was merely the opening act. In 2023, Baltimores closer held opponents to a mere .138/.242/.207 slash line in the first half thats four extra-base hits in 145 at-bats and posted a 1.07 ERA. He walked 19 batters, sure, but he also struck out 84 in 42 innings. Thats twice as many whiffs as frames and also51% of all batters he faced. How to Watch the 2026 MLB All-Star Game The 2026 MLB All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 14, with first pitch at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, live from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Watch the MLB All-Star Game on FOX One for live and on-demand streaming.

India Women moved to the brink of a historic maiden Test victory at Lord's after a dominant third day, powered by Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking maiden century before the bowlers reduced England to 130/6 in pursuit of an improbable 457-run target.With just four wickets separating them from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur's side ended the day firmly in control despite a spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.Yastika scripts history at the Home of CricketResuming Day 3 with a healthy first-innings lead, India continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.However, Yastika Bhatia remained unfazed. Displaying remarkable composure and elegant strokeplay, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first-ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 balls also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.England spinner Sophie Ecclestone fought tirelessly and completed her fourth five-wicket haul in Women's Tests, but lacked support from the other end as India continued to dominate.Richa Ghosh provides late fireworksFollowing Bhatia's departure, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a brisk unbeaten 50 off 52 balls, taking the attack to the England bowlers. With India's lead swelling beyond 450, captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth 457-run target to survive or chase down.Indian pacers rip through England's top orderIndia's bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the contest.Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another outstanding new-ball spell, removing openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier inside the opening four overs. Beaumont's dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her final Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud and received a touching guard of honour from the Indian team as she walked off.England's problems deepened when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali breached Alice Capsey's defence, reducing the hosts to 59/5.Jones, Villiers delay the inevitableJust when India appeared set to wrap up the match on the third evening itself, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers mounted a determined fightback. The duo stitched together a resilient 67-run partnership, frustrating the Indian attack and briefly keeping England's hopes alive.The stand was eventually broken in spectacular fashion as Richa Ghosh pulled off a stunning close-in catch at silly point to dismiss Villiers off Sneh Rana's bowling. Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still finished the day in deep trouble at 130/6, requiring another 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.

Jurgen Klopp is on the verge of becoming the new head coach of the German national team after reaching an agreement in principle with the DFB. The former Liverpool manager has been the top target to lead Die Mannschaft following a disappointing World Cup campaign under Julian Nagelsmann. Klopp is now set for a sensational return to the touchline. Breakthrough In New York Negotiations The DFBs pursuit of Klopp has reached a decisive turning point following high-level discussions in the United States. According to Sky Sports Germany, an agreement in principle has been reached between the governing body and the 59-year-old tactician. DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke traveled to New York to meet with Klopp to iron out the primary terms of the deal. The breakthrough comes after months of speculation surrounding the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss, who has been away from the dugout since leaving Anfield at the end of the 2023-24 season. The proposed contract is expected to run up to and including the2030 World Cup, providing the stability the German national team has craved after recent tournament disappointments. Resolving The Red Bull Hurdle While the DFB and Klopp are in total alignment, one final hurdle remains before the appointment is made official. Klopp is currently under contract as the Head of Global Soccer for the Red Bull group. According to the report, discussions are scheduled for early next week in New York with Red Bull chief Oliver Mintzlaff to finalise the details of his departure from the organisation. The DFB is reportedly exploring a unique solution to avoid a hefty compensation fee for the manager. Recent reports suggest the two parties are looking at a creative arrangement where Klopp could potentially continue as aRed Bull brand ambassadorwhile simultaneously serving as the Germany head coach. This compromise would allow Red Bull to maintain their association with one of football's biggest figures while freeing him to lead his country. A familiar Backroom Staff Overhaul Klopp is already planning a significant overhaul of the existing coaching setup to ensure his philosophy is implemented immediately. The German FA is prepared to support Klopp in bringing in his most trusted lieutenants to replace the outgoing assistants from the previous regime. Among those expected to join the new era arePeter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders, the duo who served as Klopps right-hand men during his trophy-laden era at Liverpool. Their arrival would signal a complete shift in the tactical direction of the German national team, bringing the high-intensity style that made Klopp a legend in the Premier League to the international arena. Restoring The European Giants The DFB intends to announce the agreement as soon as the final paperwork with Red Bull is signed. The move represents a major statement of intent for a nation that has struggled to replicate the success of its 2014 World Cup triumph. By securing a long-term commitment through 2030, the federation is putting its full faith in Klopp to build a sustainable project for the future. With Rudi Voller remaining in place as sporting director, the DFB has created a bridge between the federation's leadership and the new coaching staff. This structure is designed to install a management team capable of competing for major honours. The Klopp era for Germany is now just a signature away from becoming a reality.

This week, Philadelphia will host its first All-Star Game in thirty years, and a local artist got to cement himself as part of its history.Andre Chaney created the All-Star themed Liberty Bell, which can now be seen at the ballpark.In collaboration with "Bells Across PA," it is one of many fiberglass statues placed in the region to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.The project was in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and is titled "America's Summer Tradition."Five Phillies legends were painted onto the piece, all who participated in previous All-Star games: "Dick Allen, Mike Schmidt, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and Bryce Harper.""This is All-Star Week here in Philadelphia, which is incredible because we haven't had this since 1996, and I get to be a part of it," said Andre Chaney."One of the things my mom taught me is that it's not what you do for people, but it's how you make them feel. I think that I'm able to see that by the way people are responding to the bell, just us championing around each other in the sport of baseball," he continued.For more information, check out the video above.Also, check out their website.

Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois have cast doubt over their Belgium futures following the Red Devils' World Cup exit to Spain. Both veterans admitted they need time to recover after demanding seasons, while the Real Madrid goalkeeper also revealed that talks with the Belgian FA and head coach Rudi Garcia will shape his international future. Belgium Stars Leave Futures Open After World Cup Exit Belgium's World Cup campaign ended with 2-1 defeat to Spain, leaving the futures of two of their most experienced players in doubt. De Bruyne and Courtois both stopped short of committing to the national team after the tournament. De Bruyne, who won his 124th Belgium cap, admitted the physical demands of elite football have taken their toll following a difficult period that included hamstring surgery in late 2025. Courtois, meanwhile, saw his tournament end after being substituted because of a quadriceps issue despite wanting to continue. De Bruyne Seeks Sabbatical After Physical Toll Speaking after Belgium's elimination, De Bruyne discussed the physical toll he has taken in recent seasons and said he wanted to take a 'break' from the national team. "I have two or three difficult years behind me and underwent major surgery," De Bruyne told Sporza. "I am 35 years old. I am proud to be standing here, to give everything every day, and to be able to be an example for this young team." Asked whether the defeat was his final Belgium appearance, he replied: "I dont think so, but let me take a break for a bit now. It has been a busy year, and then well see." Courtois Faces Uncertain Future After Substitution Drama Courtois, who played a key role throughout the group stage, had to end his tournament with an injury. The Real Madrid man, with 115 caps to his name, has openly discussed his future on the international stage. "It would be good to take a year-long break from the Nations League so I can find some rest," Courtois explained. "Then I can keep goal for the European Championship qualifiers and the European Championship again. It is now up to the national coach and the federation to make a choice. "I am going to discuss it with Vincent Mannaert and the national coach. If they see it differently than I do, then I will have to consider whether I can remain a Red Devil. Perhaps this was my last match as an international." Key talks will shape Belgium's future De Bruyne is expected to take time away before deciding whether to continue his international career. Courtois, meanwhile, will hold talks with Garcia and Mannaert, with the outcome likely to determine whether he remains part of Belgium's plans or brings his international career to an end.

The Minnesota Vikings haven't had many hits in the draft in recent years. Could their top pick from the 2026 draft class be their next big disappointment?In April, the Vikings shocked the NFL landscape by drafting Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick. Two foot surgeries since August 2025 led most to believe Banks could potentially slide into the second round. But Minnesota is convinced Banks will be healthy when training camp begins later this month.Still, not everyone is convinced Banks will be healthy or even live up to his potential. Moe Moton of Bleacher Report listed each NFL team's biggest bust for the 2026 season, whether a draft pick or a veteran signing. Moton listed Banks as the Vikings' biggest bust, citing health concerns.The Minnesota Vikings selected Banks with the No. 18 overall pick in the draft, and he's yet to participate in practice. Head coach Kevin O'Connell expects the 6'6", 327-pound defensive tackle to be ready for training camp (h/t ESPN'sKevin Seifert).Even if Banks is on the practice field in a couple of weeks, the Vikings probably won't ramp him up to full speed right away. After missing spring practices, the rookie first-rounder may see limited reps, which may delay his start to the season and push for a prominent role on the defensive line.It's hard to argue with the choice because of the range of potential outcomes for Banks' playing career. The Vikings were also fairly conservative in free agency. So, unless Moton believes Kyler Murray or Jauan Jennings would be busts, Banks makes sense, if for nothing else other than the questions surrounding his foot.Minnesota is expecting Banks to be healthy and grow into a game-changer on the interior of the defensive line. But if he fails to do that, experts such as Moton believe the experiment could end poorly for the rookie.This article originally appeared on Vikings Wire: One Vikings draft pick predicted to be a bust in 2026

In each of the two epic quarterfinals we witnessed on Saturday Englands extra-time win over Norway, Argentinas extra-time victory against Switzerland there were long stretches where the underdog seemed destined to pull off the upsets and advance to this weeks semis. Norway led the Three Lions. The Swiss equalized and had the momentum with just over 20 of the regular 90 minutes remaining. Both losers understandably felt aggrieved; the Norwegian players insisted that Englands first goal shouldnt have counted, and had what couldve been its own game-winner nullified after an intervention by the video assistant referee. VAR reduced Switzerland to 10 men vs. Lionel Messi and the rest of the defending World Cup champions, rendering the outcome inevitable. However it happened, here we are: with FIFAs four top-ranked teams No. 1 France, followed by Argentina, Spain and the English in the semifinals for the first time in tournament history. Its a remarkable statistic when you think about it. Only eight nations have won the World Cup over 22 editions since the inaugural 1930 competition. The decisive match is almost always a meeting between past winners; just three of the 14 finalists since 2002 hadnt previously lifted the trophy: Belgium and Croatia in 2018, and Spain eight years earlier. Yet in the semis, chaos has long reigned. Non-traditional powers have littered the World Cup's last four this century. Unlike the final, the semis are not normally a roll-call of the usual suspects. The Croats also got to the semis in Qatar in 2022. Moroccos Cinderella run four years ago made them the first African nation and the first from the Arab world to get that far. Portugal, South Korea and Trkiye have also reached the semifinal stage this century. By contrast, all four countries still alive at this World Cup are anything but upstarts. The list includes current holders (Argentina), current runner-up (France), and the titlists from 2018 (France) and 2010 (Spain). England, which is hoping to end its 60-year World Cup drought this summer, was a semifinalist in 2018 and reached the last two European Championship finals. Each of the semifinalists features at least one legitimate global superstar. Theres living legend Messi, the GOAT, who at age 39 has scored eight goals and is tied atop the Golden Boot race with Le Bleus ace Kylian Mbapp. Three Lions duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane have six goals apiece, with Bellingham scoring four of those in England's last two matches. Meantime, La Roja boasts teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, the player widely considered as the heir apparent to Messi and Mbapp as soccer's best, if he isn't better already. Though Yamal has had a quiet World Cup so far, the biggest game(s) yet await. The match-ups could hardly be better, either. Tuesdays France-Spain contest (kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One) in Dallas is a rematch of the Euro 2024 semi, when Yamals golazo helped La Roja best its cross-border rival. England and Argentina will reignite an even more contentious rivalry on Wednesday (kickoff at 3 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX One) in Atlanta; the Albiceleste are 2-0 against England in World Cup knockout games all-time. There are more irresistible storylines. Can Messi lead Argentina to consecutive World Cup triumphs, which nobody has done since Peles Brazil repeated in 1962? Will Mbapp reach a third straight final, or will Yamal play for the most coveted prize in sports next Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium, just six days after celebrating his 19th birthday? Could this finally be the year its coming home to England for what would be the first time in most of their supporters' lifetimes? In what was already the biggest and best World Cup ever staged, its shaping up as a fitting last week. History is about to be written, and we all have a front-row seat.

Michigan's Board of Regents is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the findings of an independent investigation into the athletic department's culture

Brandon Nimmo is mobbed by his Texas Rangers teammates after delivering the game-winning hit Sunday to walk-off the Astros heading into the All-Star break (Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images).The American League West leaders at the All-Star break? Its the Texas Rangers, who stunned the Astros on Sunday with a walk-off win to cap a winning homestand.No, the Texas Rangers arent perfect. Far from it.Their latest issue is a bullpen that has only one pitcher who is trusted at all times, Jacob Latz. He hopped on a plane Sunday evening for the All-Star Game in Philadelphia.Injuries continue to hound the team, with Corey Seager still dealing with back woes and with near constant worry about outfielder Wyatt Langford and now right-hander Jacob deGrom.Despite their flaws at the All-Star break there isnt a facet that cant improve the Rangers are in first place in the American League West. Its not much of a lead, 1 1/2 games over the Mariners, and the Rangers are the only team in the division above .500.But they are atop the AL West, and they are 49-47. Thats not insignificant. They have survived and continue to buy themselves time to improve over the final 66 games.Were in a decent spot heading into heading into the break, right fielder Brandon Nimmo said. Were in first place. I think we can still play better baseball, but I think that were moving in the right direction.Nimmo delivered the winning hit Sunday, the third of three singles to open the ninth inning against Astros closer Josh Hader. Wyatt Langford opened with a sharp grounder to left field and moved to second on an error, and he went to third as Josh Jung followed with a liner to left.Nimmos bouncer up the middle hit off Haders glove and past a drawn-in infield for a 6-5 walk-off win.The Rangers led 4-1 in the seventh before the Astros tied things against a beleaguered bullpen that needs reinforcements. Houston pulled ahead in the eighth on a Cam Smith homer, but Kyle Higashioka matched it in the bottom half for a 5-5 tie.Latz (2-1) posted a scoreless ninth.It wasnt easy, which is par for the course with a team that has fluttered much of the season. They have endured injuries, primarily to Seager, Langford, Jack Leiter and Jakob Junis. and are playing things save with deGrom after his left glute flared up in his start Tuesday.He wont throw off a mound until after the season resumes Friday at Atlanta. He felt he could have made his scheduled Sunday, isnt on the injured list and could pitch within the next five games.MacKenzie Gore allowed one run in four innings while pitching on three days rest, perhaps the grittiest effort in the gritty win. It was the Rangers 17th come-from-behind win of the season and their second walk-off win of a 4-2 homes (2-1 vs. the Angels and the Astros).The Rangers schedule is favorable the remainder of the season, though the next five series are against contending teams. Three of them are division leaders, and the other two are against AL West foes Seattle and Houston.Those five series lead to the Aug. 3 trade deadline, and the front office needs to see the team hang around before making deals. The Rangers, though, feel as if they have some momentum, or at least some happy thoughts as they scatter for the All-Star break. You want to feel good going into the break, manager Skip Schumaker said. For our club, if you blow a lead late and then lose a game like that, it doesnt feel great, even though you have three or four days of rest to kind of forget about it. You just dont want to think about it for four days.Help is coming for the rotation, with left-hander Jordan Montgomery potentially back in the next two weeks. The bullpen needs immediate help, but it might be hard to find with so many teams feeling as if they have a chance to grab at least a wild-card spot and unwilling to trade now.The Rangers are going to have to keep surviving. The offense has been much better, bailing out the bullpen throughout the homestand. The rotation needs to log more innings to allow Schumaker to lean on the small group of relievers he does trust.Its not going to be easy, but nothing has been easy so far for the Rangers. At the All-Star break, though, theyre in first place. Thats not insignificant.Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com