Former USMNT star Brad Friedel has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, explained why “workaholic” Mauricio Pochettino could walk away from international management after the 2026 World Cup. The Argentine tactician holds the honour of leading the United States into another major tournament on home soil, but inevitable questions are being asked of his future.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that their next bobblehead giveaway will pay tribute to a civic icon.
On July 19 against the Chicago White Sox, the Pirates will give out a bobblehead depicting late rapper Mac Miller. Pittsburgh unveiled the bobblehead—which depicts Miller in a "412" jersey, saluting the city's area code—Thursday morning.
Miller died in 2018 at the age of 26 of an accidental drug overdose, which cut short the career of one of Pittsburgh's greatest musical talents.
A native of the city's Point Breeze neighborhood, Miller churned out a series of early rap hits that established him as a favorite of college-age millennials in the early 2010s. He went on to gradually broaden his sound, and the last album he released in his lifetime——was nominated for the Best Rap Album Grammy.
Miller has been back in the news this year due to the Jan. 17 release of , his second posthumous album. The record received warm reviews and peaked at No. 3 in the United States.
The rapper was a fan of the Pirates, and the team held a moment of silence in his honor when he died.
Tottenham are looking to get back to winning ways against Fulham tonight with Thomas Frank handed a key selection decision ahead of the Premier League clash.
Spurs face a crucial test when Fulham visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Frank desperate for a response following Wednesday’s devastating 5-3 Champions League defeat to PSG.
The Parc des Princes encounter saw Spurs’ unbeaten European run spectacularly ended despite twice taking the lead, with Vitinha’s sensational hat-trick ultimately proving the difference.
The result leaves Tottenham fifteenth in the Champions League standings, significantly increasing pressure on Frank to arrest their recent slide.
The Lilywhites have won just one of their last five games in all competitions, a 4-0 rout of Danish minnows FC Copenhagen, with London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal recently putting them to the sword.
|
25/26 Premier League |
Spurs |
League rank |
|---|---|---|
|
xG |
11.0 |
17th |
|
Non-penalty xG |
11.0 |
16th |
|
Progressive passes |
413 |
12th |
|
Shots |
110 |
19th |
|
Shots on target |
40 |
15th |
|
Average shot distance |
15.6 yards |
17th |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Dominic Solanke’s continued absence through injury compounds Tottenham’s attacking concerns. The striker has been out since undergoing ankle surgery earlier in the season, managing just 47 minutes of football all campaign.
His unavailability places enormous responsibility on Randal Kolo Muani and Richarlison to provide a consistent goalscoring threat, though Frank has suggested that the former will be given the nod against Fulham after his breathtaking PSG performance.
The Frenchman donned a mask for his fractured jaw, scoring a brace and providing an assist against his parent club, with Frank confirming that Kolo Muani is fit enough to start this evening.
However, one man who won’t be taking part is star defender Cristian Romero.
The Argentine endured an evening to forget away to PSG, with talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook branding him a “liability” that would have left Frank “raging”.
Romero is set to miss tonight’s clash with Fulham through suspension, meaning that Kevin Danso is more than likely set to partner Micky van de Ven at the heart of Frank’s defence.
This could be enough to get the job done against a Fulham side who are firm candidates for relegation after a lacklustre start to 2025/2026, but Frank will be wary that Marco Silva’s men have won two of their last three Premier League games.
Even after Romero’s disasterclass at PSG, the 27-year-old remains a key figurehead for Spurs and partners van de Ven to devastating effect at times.
Ange Postecoglou always had a much better time as Spurs boss when both men were available to play his high line, but Danso has proved that he can do a solid job when called upon.
Aitana Bonmati's season seems to be all but over after she underwent surgery on her fractured fibula, as Barcelona confirmed a lengthy recovery timeframe for the three-time Ballon d'Or winner. She landed awkwardly in Spain’s final training session before the second leg of the Nations League final. Medical tests carried out shortly after the injury confirmed the grim diagnosis, ending any possibility of her featuring in Tuesday’s decisive match against Germany in Madrid.
It's officially June and the Colorado Rockies are still seeking their 10th win of the 2025 MLB season.
The Rockies were swept for the 10th time this season on Sunday, this time by the New York Mets, which is tied for the most times a team has been swept through its first 20 series in league history. They're now sitting at a woeful 9-50 on the campaign, having made even more unwanted history in the process.
Colorado suffered its 50th loss of the season in its 59th game of the year. Only two teams in MLB history have reached 50 losses faster, the 1876 Cincinnati Red Stockings and the 1884 Kansas City Union, according to ESPN. It's been 141 years, almost one and a half centuries, since a team has been off to as dismal of a start as the 2025 Rockies.
The Rockies have lost eight straight games and haven't won since defeating the New York Yankees, 3–2, on May 23. The team is 1-13 in its last 14 games and haven't scored more than five runs in a game since May 17.
Colorado's next chance to reach double digits in the win column will come Monday, June 2, as they'll begin a three-game series on the road against the Miami Marlins.
Chelsea have become known for splashing the cash in the transfer market over recent years, even breaking the British transfer record on numerous occasions.
Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández both joined in deals worth over £100m, showcasing the hierarchy’s ambitions of taking the club back to Premier League glory in the years ahead.
Over the summer of 2025, the Blues spent up to £420m on new additions, including add-ons, with Enzo Maresca once again being backed to lead the club up the table.
Numerous of the recent arrivals have hit the ground running in West London, as seen with striker Joao Pedro, who has already netted four goals and laid on three assists this season.
However, the same can’t be said for another player in the first-team squad, with his start to life in the capital being nothing short of a disaster, given his constant setbacks.
During the summer window, Chelsea secured the £30m signing of striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town after triggering his relegation release clause in his contract.
The 22-year-old was seen as an exciting addition for the Blues, but his move has failed to take off in recent months, with injuries often plaguing his progress under Maresca.
He suffered a hamstring injury against Fulham back in August that would rule him out of action for two months, before suffering yet another issue just seven games into his return.
Delap was forced off with a shoulder injury against Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago, which is set to rule the Englishman out until the new year at the earliest.
However, despite his fitness issues, the £30m man has often struggled to deliver the goods when fit, as seen by his measly tally of just one goal in his first 11 appearances for the Blues.
His only goal came in the Champions League, but his struggles in the Premier League are there for all to see, with the talisman only posting five shots on target to date.
As previously mentioned, fellow striker Pedro has already managed to outperform Delap in the Premier League, with the Brazilian a more effective option to date.
The £55m paid for the 24-year-old already appears to be excellent business, with the former Brighton & Hove Albion star having the platform to reach world-class status under Marcesa’s guidance.
However, the Blues’ recent recruitment has seen them target young talents that can gain experience elsewhere before making the jump into being a first-team regular in West London.
Estevao is a prime example of such a situation, with the teenager staying at homeland club Palmeiras for a period of time before his move to Chelsea to allow him to gain needed senior first-team minutes.
Such a situation has once unfolded in front of the supporters’ very eyes, with striker Emanuel Emgeha one of the latest players to agree to join Maresca’s men.
Back in September, it was confirmed that the Dutch striker would be joining the Blues in the summer of 2026 from sister club Strasbourg on a seven-year contract.
Whilst he may be an unknown name to many, the 22-year-old is an unbelievably talented star who could inject serious quality into the centre-forward department.
When comparing his stats to those of Delap from the ongoing campaign, the soon-to-be Chelsea star has massively dominated the Englishman in numerous key areas.
Emegha, who’s been dubbed one of the “best strikers in Europe” by his assistant boss, has also struggled with injuries this season, but it hasn’t restricted him from thriving in the final third, as seen by his incredible tally of six combined goals and assists in just seven appearances.
|
How Emegha & Delap compare in 2025/26 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Emegha |
Delap |
|
Games played |
7 |
8 |
|
Goals & assists |
6 |
0 |
|
Shots on target |
1.4 |
1.2 |
|
Pass accuracy |
81% |
64% |
|
Passes into final third |
0.4 |
0.2 |
|
Take-on success |
1.4 |
0.7 |
|
Aerials won |
80% |
40% |
|
Stats via FBref |
||
Such a tally is way in excess of what Delap has been able to offer, with the Blues’ number nine unable to post a single goal or assist in more outings than the Dutchman.
Away from his goalscoring record, the Strasbourg talent has also achieved more shots on target per 90 – further showcasing his talents within the final third.
He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts being made into the final third – arguably making him a more creative outlet.
Emgeha’s dominance is also reflected in his higher tally of take-ons completed and better aerial success rate – numbers which make him the perfect all-round option for Maresca.
Many fans will have hoped that Delap would have more of an impact in 2025/26, but it’s safe to say the move has failed to live up to the expectations it generated.
However, the arrival of Emegha next summer could finally end the hunt for a new talisman, with the youngster having all the tools to star at Stamford Bridge for many years.
Chelsea's next star: BlueCo have signed a talent who's like Estevao & Caicedo
The hugely exciting wonderkid has been compared to two of Chelsea’s best players.
By
Jack Salveson Holmes
3 days ago
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has picked out a surprising player for praise after returning to Arsenal to train. The former Liverpool midfielder is staying match-fit by training with the Gunners, having had his contract terminated by Besiktas back in August after two seasons in Turkey.
The Milwaukee Brewers suddenly find themselves with one of the best records in baseball, and they are reportedly acting the part.
The Brewers are finalizing the acquisition of catcher Danny Jansen from the Tampa Bay Rays, according to a Monday afternoon report from Jeff Passan of ESPN. Jansen, a 30-year-old native of Elmhurst, Ill., has spent his entire eight-year career in the American League East division with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Rays.
Jansen has played in 73 games for Tampa Bay this season, slashing .204/.314/.389 with 11 home runs and 29 RBIs. He remains better known for his glove, with his 1.2 defensive bWAR exceeding his 1.1 offensive bWAR.
According to Will Sammon of , the Rays will take back High-A infielder Jadher Areinamo in the deal. Tampa Bay is also reportedly acquiring catcher Nick Fortes from the Miami Marlins to spell Jansen, per Ken Rosenthal of .
His current one-year contract carries a mutual option for 2026. The Rays are 53-53, and sit three games back of the AL's final wild-card slot.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, is on a protracted tear that has the team tied with the Chicago Cubs for the NL Central lead.
A struggling batting lineup, overdependence on Jasprit Bumrah and the lack of answers to Travis Head’s aggression are weaknesses that need urgent fixes
Ian Chappell15-Dec-2024Australia’s spirited and much needed win in the day-night Adelaide Test has not only added to the intensity of an already feisty series but also answered and posed a few questions.The thumping victory by Australia showed they haven’t lost their desire for winning. Australia also reminded anyone who doubted it that they definitely know how to win. These two factors were critical, as it was imperative Australia level the series.On the individual side, the ultra-aggressive Travis Head proved that India have not found an answer to his extravagant shot-making. His two-sided confrontation with Mohammed Siraj showed that a theatrical (and expensive) send-off is not the answer to derailing Head, especially when he’s already made 140.Related
Rohit is used to leaving a mark, but not like this
India need a first-innings fix, and quickly
Travis Head and India's bowlers – the one-sided love story continues
Head on Siraj send-off: 'I jokingly said 'well bowled', then he pointed me in the sheds'
Rohit: 'We were not good enough with bat'
India need to find a way to seriously challenge Head with appropriate field placings that are matched by some sensibly aggressive bowling. At the moment Head is dominating, and in this mood he’s capable of quickly putting Australia in a position of strength with his middle-order pyrotechnics.The Australian pace bowlers, who were overly criticised in Perth, revealed why it’s unwise to poke the sleeping bear. Pat Cummins and Co. hit back in typically determined fashion by baring their lethal fangs. It remains to be seen if they can maintain that level of performance for three more demanding Tests without the aid of the Adelaide lights.Their supremacy in Adelaide not only displayed their talent and fire in the best light but it also exposed a few weak links in the Indian batting.Australia’s pace attack made patently clear how important it is to stifle the talented Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run-scoring. If India forge a strong opening partnership, it makes life a lot easier for their middle-order players. If the Australians continue to stifle Jaiswal, they have a chance to get Virat Kohli in early. Then it becomes important to get rid of him quickly. By doing so and keeping Jaiswal quiet, the Australians improve their chances of bringing the free-spirited Rishabh Pant to the crease while the ball is still reasonably new.However, India’s major batting headache is skipper Rohit Sharma. India will hope the middle order is the right spot for Rohit and he rediscovers his batting form.
The onus is now on India to regain the upper hand, as losing in Adelaide has allowed Australia to climb off the floor. In this heavyweight series the adage is appropriate: if you’ve got your opponent down, don’t allow him up.
His struggles with the bat were only matched by his occasionally confusing captaincy. He appeared to be conservative in both endeavours in Adelaide, but a more aggressive approach may jolt him out of his malaise.Australia have shown in this series they prefer to play Jasprit Bumrah carefully and comparatively conservatively. This is important, as Bumrah is a seriously dangerous opponent and one to be treated with respect. However, there is a thing of treating an opponent with too much respect. If Australia’s top order are looking to let as many balls of Bumrah’s go as possible, the Indian quick could be forgiven for thinking deliveries around off stump really worry the opposition. It’s fine to show respect but batters must always be thinking of how to score rather than of how many deliveries they can let go.The Indian pacemen, who rely heavily on Bumrah’s skill, were fortunate they had little bowling in the second innings in Adelaide; that will aid in their recovery process. However, India have to ensure they have the right bowling balance for the Gabba. Unfortunately they don’t have use of Mohammed Shami’s laudable talents; he would perfectly complement the skills of Bumrah and Siraj.The onus is now on India to regain the upper hand, as losing in Adelaide has allowed Australia to climb off the floor. In this heavyweight series the adage is appropriate: if you’ve got your opponent down, don’t allow him up.The remainder of this titillating series will answer which side has both the will and the determination to end the five Tests on top. However, the Gabba Test is crucial for both sides and while India may have won a glorious victory there last time, the ground is still known as the Gabbatoir.
The Boston Red Sox have been without star third baseman Alex Bregman for over a month, as the 31-year-old has been sidelined with a right quad strain since late May.
Bregman took to social media Wednesday and dropped a major hint about his potential return from the IL, suggesting it won't be long before he's back in Boston with the team. On Instagram, Bregman shared a video of himself hitting a home run at Fenway Park. He used an emoji that says "SOON" underneath an arrow as the caption for the post.
While Bregman didn't get into any specifics about his impending return, Red Sox manager Alex Cora acknowledged that there's "a really good chance" the veteran infielder returns prior to the All-Star break, via Ian Browne of MLB.com.
Boston's last series before the midseason break is set to begin Thursday—a four-game series against the rival Tampa Bay Rays at home. It seems likely Bregman will be back in the lineup at some point during that series.
Prior to sustaining the injury, Bregman had been off to a roaring start to his career with the Red Sox. In his first 51 games for the organization, he slashed .299/.385/.553 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs.