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Today is the day that Leeds United could officially secure their promotion back to the Premier League at the second time of asking in the Championship.

The Whites play host to Stoke City at Elland Road in a 3 pm kick-off this afternoon, knowing that if they win and Sheffield United fail to beat Burnley in their 5:30 pm kick-off, they will be promoted.

Despite beating Oxford United 1-0 last time out in the Championship, Daniel Farke could look to make some changes to his starting line-up to keep the team fresh, after only two days of recovery, and Dan James is a star who should come back in.

Why Dan James should start for Leeds

The Wales international missed the 2-1 win over Preston North End with an injury and returned to play a part off the bench in the clash with Oxford on Friday.

After his cameo at the Kassam, James should now be put back into the starting line-up against Stoke this afternoon, just days after he was named as one of the finalists in the race to win the Championship Player of the Season award.

The former Manchester United winger has scored 12 goals, created 16 ‘big chances’, and delivered nine assists in 30 starts in the second tier this term, which shows that he has made a big impact in the final third on a regular basis.

Leeds know that today could be the day that they seal promotion, if they beat Stoke, and they need their best players on the pitch in order to have the best chance of success.

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Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With this in mind, Farke must bring the influential star back into the team by ruthlessly ditching Brenden Aaronson from the side that started on Friday.

Why Brenden Aaronson should be dropped

The USA international played 89 minutes against Oxford and failed to offer much in front of goal, as he missed one ‘big chance’, lost possession 15 times, and failed to create any ‘big chances’ for his teammates.

Aaronson was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment back in February, and that assessment still rings true, as it was his 12th game without a goal or an assist in his last 13 appearances in all competitions.

The £45k-per-week flop has produced two goals and zero assists in 19 matches in 2025, with one of those goals coming in the 7-0 win over Cardiff, which illustrates how ineffective he has been in the final third.

Appearances (starts)

43 (40)

40 (23)

xG

10.24

5.50

Goals

9

6

Minutes per goal

368

345

Big chances created

8

9

Assists

2

5

As you can see in the table above, Wilfried Gnonto has been more effective as a finisher whilst also providing more creativity despite starting 17 fewer games than the American dud.

This suggests that Farke should keep the Italy U21 international in the team, moving him into the number ten role, and drop Aaronson from the side in order to start James on the right wing.

Imagine him & Ampadu: Leeds chase star with more PL goals than Raphinha

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing a midfielder from the Premier League.

ByDan Emery Apr 17, 2025

This would mean that Leeds would have an attacking midfield trident of James, Gnonto, and Manor Solomon behind either Joel Piroe or Patrick Bamford in the centre-forward position.

Delhi Capitals’ win over Lucknow Super Giants on Monday night in IPL 2025 was the fifth one-wicket win in the history of the tournament

Srinidhi Ramanujam25-Mar-2025

Ashutosh Sharma played an innings for the ages•BCCI

KKR beat KXIP, Kolkata, IPL 2015It was the first one-wicket victory in IPL history, in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) final league game of IPL 2015, at home. The Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) spinners had KKR at 83 for 4 in the 11th over in pursuit of 184, but a fifth-wicket stand of 53 in 4.1 overs between Andre Russell and Yusuf Pathan revived the chase. Pathan fell for 29 off 19, but Russell went on to hammer 51 off 21. When Russell was dismissed with 25 needed off 19, Piyush Chawla levelled the scores before the last pair of Umesh Yadav and Sunil Narine scrambled a leg-bye off the penultimate ball to finish the job. This was so long back that Narine was the team’s No. 11.Bravo, Dwayne! It was CSK’s comeback match in the IPL, and they showed the fans what they had been missing•BCCICSK beat MI, Mumbai, IPL 2018Chennai Super Kings (CSK) were coming back from their two-year ban, and it was a game – the season-opener – Mumbai Indians (MI) were well-placed to win at the Wankhede. MI overcame a poor start to post 165 for 4. In the chase, CSK slipped to 75 for 5. But Dwayne Bravo’s stunning assault brought them back to life. CSK needed 46 from 17 and Bravo hit two sixes and a four in that 18th over against Mitchell McClenaghan and three sixes in the next off Jasprit Bumrah before falling off the last ball of the 19th. But all CSK needed was seven from the last over. An injured Kedar Jadhav walked out after having retired earlier to smash a six and a four off the final over, bowled by Mustafizur Rahman.SRH beat MI, Hyderabad, 2018MI had huffed and puffed their way to 147 for 8 in their second game of the season. At 56 for no loss after six overs, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) looked like they would coast to victory. But they lost nine wickets for 75 runs from there, before the last-wicket pair of Deepak Hooda and Billy Stanlake held their nerve to make it two out of two for SRH in the season. Hooda’s unbeaten 32 included a sensational final-over six off a wide yorker from Ben Cutting, which reduced the equation to five off five. A wide and three singles brought it down to one off the final delivery, a slower one, which Stanlake hoicked to midwicket.LSG’s musclemen Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis smashed their way past RCB in IPL 2023•BCCILSG beat RCB, Bengaluru, IPL 2023In a see-sawing contest, LSG stunned the Chinnaswamy amid high drama. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) had reduced LSG to 23 for 3 in four overs in their chase of 213, but Marcus Stoinis’ 30-ball 65 gave them a platform, from which Nicholas Pooran’s 19-ball 62 and Ayush Badoni’s 24-ball 30 took them to the doorstep of victory. Badoni fell in the 19th over and LSG needed four from the remaining five balls with three wickets in hand. They lost Mark Wood and Jaydev Unadkat, too, in the final over. Harshal Patel bowled the last ball, No. 11 Avesh Khan missed, and the batters scampered. RCB wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik fumbled twice and then missed his throw at the stumps and LSG were victors.DC beat LSG, Visakhapatnam, IPL 2025A chase of 210. There was no KL Rahul. DC were tottering at 65 for 5, and it became 113 for 6 when they lost Tristan Stubbs. At the end of 13 overs, it seemed like DC had no chance, but Vipraj Nigam’s 39 off 15 (on IPL debut) and Ashutosh Sharma’s awe-inspiring 66 not out off 31 deliveries scripted a thrilling comeback, and LSG were beaten. This was after Ashutosh had been on a run-a-ball 19.

Delivery to Pope proves that, in this format, Starc is the best in the world at what he does

Matt Roller01-Jul-2023Mitchell Starc is probably not the best bowler in the world, but he might be the bowler who bowls the best balls. And on Saturday afternoon, a couple of minutes after five o’clock, Ollie Pope faced one of Starc’s best.It was the ball that left-arm fast bowlers dream about: fast, full, angling across, swinging back in, bursting through the gap between bat and pad. On a day where England’s bowlers hardly bowled a ball that would have hit the stumps between them, Starc ripped Pope’s middle stump out of the ground.Starc stuck his right arm out with his first finger raised and let out a scream so loud that every muscle in his neck was visible, popping out from under his skin. He wore an expression of genuine anger, giving Cameron Green a high-ten hard enough to sting his hands. It was close to perfection.Related

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And the context made it even better. Starc’s first ball of the over, his third, was angled across Pope, holding its line up the slope to beat his outside edge. It created enough doubt that, facing the next ball, Pope planted his front foot slightly tentatively and played down an off-stump line.He missed the ball by inches, his head falling over to the off side. After it flicked his pad and crashed into his stump, Pope kept falling. He peered around his right hip to see the stump lying on the floor, with a camera cable attached to it. England were 13 for 2, needing another 358 to win.Starc has never been – and will never be – a bowler who exerts control, and Australia have never quite trusted him in England for that reason. Four years ago, he played only one of the five Ashes Tests, with Peter Siddle and James Pattinson among those preferred; in Birmingham last week, Scott Boland got the nod ahead of him.At Lord’s, Starc started the second innings by spraying one so far outside Zak Crawley’s off stump that it was called a wide; three balls later, with Ben Duckett on strike, he so short and wide outside his off stump that the man who prides himself on never leaving the ball had no other choice.Starc’s economy rate across his Test career is 3.33 and in this match, he has gone at 4.74 an over. None of his 27 overs has been a maiden and at times, England have been able to get after him. But his attributes are irresistible: height, bounce, pace, swing, all from a left-arm angle.That cocktail lends itself to chances. At the end of Starc’s first over, he found some extra bounce from a length to take Duckett’s outside edge, Green unable to cling on as he flung himself to his left in the gully; his next ball, the first of his second over, was near identical but this time to the right-handed Crawley, and resulted in a leg-side strangle.Mitchell Starc strangled Zak Crawley down the leg side•Getty ImagesTwo balls later, he pinned Duckett with another beauty, a ball which angled in, swung away and thumped him on the knee roll of his back pad. Given out on field by Chris Gaffaney, Duckett survived on review but only just, ball-tracking predicting it would have missed the top of off stump by a hair’s breadth.Starc was baffled when his catch at deep fine leg off Duckett was given not out by the third umpire in the final stages of the fourth day, captured by TV cameras asking: “What the hell?” The same question must have gone through Pope’s mind two hours previously – and last week, when Pat Cummins uprooted his off stump with a wicked yorker.This was Starc at his best, coming up with a spell where nobody – not him, not his team-mates, and certainly not England’s batters – seemed to know whether he was about to spray one down the leg side or rattle the stumps. Pace – or, as Starc calls it, “airspeed” – creates doubt; doubt causes chaos, and a batter’s demise.Few players convey the sense that this – white clothes, red ball, five days – really is the pinnacle in the way Starc does. The two other truly elite left-arm seamers, Trent Boult and Shaheen Shah Afridi, have not played a Test between them in the past 11 months. In this format, he is the best in the world at what he does.Starc does not play in the IPL, or the Big Bash, or in any franchise leagues. He plays for Australia and can’t get enough of it. “The money’s nice,” he said before this tour, “but I’d love to play 100 Test matches.” Not many cricketers have the financial security to turn down the T20 money, but it is clear just how much this means to Starc.This tour is legacy-defining for Starc. He had already ticked the white-ball World Cups off but since arriving in the UK, he has become a World Test Champion; now, he is bowling magic balls that will likely contribute to Australia taking a 2-0 lead in an away Ashes series. It doesn’t get much better.

In their quest for Eldorado, English cricket may have saddled itself with fool’s gold

George Dobell15-Jul-2021″You’ve got a lot of nerve, to say you are my friend,” sang Bob Dylan in the opening line of . It was the song Bob Willis had playing in the background when he died after a long battle with cancer in December 2019.To celebrate Bob’s life – Bob Willis’ life, that is – Edgbaston (his old ground) was tangled up in blue during the third ODI against Pakistan on Tuesday night. Spectators had been encouraged to wear blue to both celebrate his life and raise awareness and funds for the fight against prostate cancer. It’s a surprising choice of final song, in a way. It’s not a peaceful song. Nor gentle or even kind. It’s furious, really. Hateful, even. It sneers at hypocrisy. It angrily demands honesty. And it remains as relevant now as it was when he wrote it almost 60 years ago.Maybe that opening line is a phrase that could be directed towards the ECB executive right now. They are meant to be the guardians of our game, after all. But Tuesday’s was the final ODI before the domestic 50-over competition in England (and Wales) is downgraded into what has been termed a “development” competition. Its final, once a showpiece event in the season, will now be played on a Thursday.It will take place at the same time as the Hundred, you see. And that means it will be without many of the best white-ball players in the land. Surrey, for example, lose 12 players to the Hundred; Sussex lose eight; Somerset lose seven as well as their head coach. And that’s even before we consider the impact of Covid.In a format in which we are told attention to detail and role definition are so important, you wonder what impact this will have when England next play a 50-over World Cup, in India in 2023. It means the best new, white-ball players could be picked for the ODI side without ever having played a professional 50-over game. This week’s success, achieved by a third-choice side against a strong Pakistan team, might prove a high-water mark in the history of England’s ODI cricket.England’s 3-0 clean sweep may come to be seen as the high-water mark of England’s 50-over fortunes•Getty ImagesIt’s not just the 50-over competition which has been forced to compromise, either. The T20 Blast, a competition which has kept the counties afloat in recent years, has been squeezed into a window 40% shorter this year. Even before Covid intervened, clubs had almost no chance to retain the spectator numbers that had been so impressive in previous years based on the premise of regular Friday night fixtures, with room for variance for local factors. This year, Surrey, for example, played six home games in the space of 12 days. Two of them were on Mondays and two more were on Wednesdays. Really, it’s almost as if some people wanted it to fail.Some will scoff at that suggestion. But given the potential direction of travel – the decreasing relevance of the county game and the growing dominance of those based at Test-hosting grounds – many of us fear that the Hundred is an attempt to reduce the number of counties by stealth. And even if it isn’t, might it not be easier to justify the new format if you can demonstrate the existing competitions have failed? It would explain the ECB’s reluctance to sing the success of the Vitality Blast from every rooftop. It has, let us remember, sold out almost every game at several venues – including the London ones – for years. It’s attracted some great overseas players, too. Had it been embraced by a free-to-air broadcaster, it really could have been the vehicle to growth.And remember: these new team identities, some of them based many hours from the regions which they supposedly represent, have never produced a player. They have no pathways, no academies and no existing support base. They are parasites feeding on the players and supporters the county game has produced. It’s a bizarre act of cannibalism to stage a new competition at the same time as an existing one. Even if the new tournament works, it could push existing teams into obsolescence.We haven’t even talked about the first-class game yet. But it’s hard to dispute it has been compromised in the desire to create a white-ball window. At the start of this century, when the Championship was split into two divisions playing four day-cricket, it produced a Test team that went to No. 1 in the world. So well did it prepare people for Test cricket, that four of the top seven (Alastair Cook, Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and Matt Prior) made centuries on Test debut and two more (Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen) made half-centuries. One of the bowlers (James Anderson) took a five-for on debut and another (Graeme Swann) claimed two wickets in his first over. The County Championship worked.The County Championship produced players good enough to propel England to No.1 in the world in 2011•Getty ImagesNow? Well, aspects of it are still outstanding. But instead of nurturing it, the ECB have devalued it. It starts before Easter and ends to a backdrop of the boys from the NYPD choir singing Galway Bay. It’s played on surfaces which are sometimes more crazy golf than Masters. It provides little opportunity for spinners or fast bowlers and has proven unable to develop batters with the technique and temperament for Test cricket. The evidence of recent times would suggest it isn’t really working.But let us not talk falsely: there are some good reasons behind the birth of the Hundred. Much as it may pain some of us to admit it, the game’s relevance was diminishing in England and Wales. It had largely disappeared from state schools and free-to-air television. Unless you were privately educated or had a family member interested in sport, it was entirely possible you would never experience the game. It was well on the way to becoming a niche sport.And much as some of us cherish the counties, we might also accept that some of them were failing in their duty to embrace working-class and non-white communities. While some counties have worked hard to remain relevant and solvent, others had been a little too willing to pocket the centrally distributed resources and do an absolute minimum to justify it. Even those of us who passionately care for the 18-county system will admit privately that one or two counties are tough to defend. The fact that one of those is hosting a Hundred side is ironic.More than that, the reputation of the game was tainted. Perhaps unfairly – okay, undoubtedly unfairly – many broadcasters and potential spectators weren’t interested in it. The length of games was stretching a bit long. There probably was room for a re-launch. There probably was logic in the need for change. There almost certainly are good intentions at the root of all this. But never forget: the BBC signed up to the new competition when they thought it was a T20 tournament.There are quite a few such misconceptions about the Hundred. One of them is that it provides a high-profile women’s competition. Which sounds reasonable. But then you remember that the ECB abandoned the Kia Super League (KSL), the women’s domestic T20 competition, at the end of 2019.

Even those of us who passionately care for the 18-county system will admit privately that one or two counties are tough to defend. The fact that one of those is hosting a Hundred side is ironic.

Why? Well, maybe because in its absence it was easier to build a compelling argument for the development of the Hundred. It allowed them to claim that this wasn’t all about money, but also about diversity and inclusion. As if those who oppose the Hundred in some way oppose opportunities for women.There’s the much-repeated argument that the first-class counties needed the money that the Hundred will bring in, too. But, again, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Before the Hundred was introduced, the ECB had reserves in excess of £70 million. They could easily have shared some of that with the counties. Instead, they kept them in need to ensure their compliance. The counties have managed to be bribed with their own money. And now those reserves have gone; squandered on a competition which is costing more than it will earn.Equally, supporters of the Hundred – and it’s noticeable that a sizeable proportion of those supporters have some financial incentive for wishing it well – like to portray the county game as reactionary and staid. But again, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Where was one-day cricket born? Where was T20 cricket born? Where were free-hits and DLS born? County cricket, that’s where. The ECB should have been wooing and seducing broadcasters, not telling them their existing competitions were rubbish.And that’s an issue to which we keep coming back here: the Hundred is the ECB’s answer to problems they created. If they hadn’t allowed cricket to disappear behind a paywall and if they hadn’t cancelled the KSL, there would be no need for it. We have a great sport. We just need to ensure more people have the opportunity to experience it.Related

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Tom Harrison defends Hundred disruption, believes reluctant fans 'will find a place' for it

It could yet work. Whether it’s played over 100 overs, 100 balls or five days, cricket is a great game. Perhaps the increased broadcast exposure will counteract all these other factors. But make no mistake: the ECB has bet the farm on this competition. If it fails, it could set the sport back a generation. And if it succeeds, the collateral damage to the other formats and the counties could still lose more than we gain. It feels like a wild, unnecessary gamble.Maybe, had the initial launch been handled differently, existing supporters would have been more accepting of the shortened format or amended regulations. We’ve lived with overs of almost every length over the years, after all. We’ve accepted many other innovations.But the first impressions were awful. The ECB seemed to delight in offending existing cricket lovers. They seemed to revel in sneering ‘we can do without you’. And by the time they realised their hubris had let them down, it was too late. In years to come, you wonder if the initial roll-out of the idea will be studied as a text-book example of how not to do it. If they had their time again – and the ECB has a much-improved communications team these days – you can be quite certain they would do it differently.Partially because of this, The Hundred has become the of its time. And that doesn’t mean the fabled city. It means the BBC soap opera whose reputation was so poor before the first episode was broadcast in 1992 that it was doomed from the off. Many people (63 percent according to a recent survey conducted by the Cricket Supporters’ Association) who love cricket resent and fear and hate the Hundred. The inability of the ECB to bring many cricket lovers with them on this journey may be the defining mistake in this whole saga.The point of all this? Eden is burning, as Bob Dylan put it. The game we knew is being compromised to accommodate a competition we shouldn’t need. A county game which helped England to No. 1 in the world in all three formats, which attracted record attendances, which could, with just a little adaption of the broadcast deal, have been the vehicle to a new audience, is being dismantled. It’s not dark yet, but it’s getting there. Really, the ECB have a lot of nerve to pretend they are county cricket’s friend.

Newcastle United arguably go into the Tyne-Wear Derby later today as the side expected to come up short.

Eddie Howe’s men have only won one Premier League away contest all season long, with their recent record in the Tyne-Wear Derby not raising the optimism levels, either, with the Magpies losing their last three visits to the Stadium of Light on the trot in league action.

Still, anything can happen in a one-off contest of this magnitude, with the form book going out the window the minute the 2pm kick-off gets underway.

Howe will hope his current batch of Newcastle stars can be seen as heroes come the full-time whistle, with Shola Ameobi still remembered fondly to this day at St James’ Park for all his memorable contributions in the Tyne-Wear Derby as a beloved fan’s favourite.

Ameobi's stunning record against Sunderland

Ameobi was never the most frightening goal machine presence for the Toon, with a respectable 79 goals put away from 398 total appearances, but he always seemed to be a man for the big occasion, especially when Sunderland came to town.

Indeed, from 16 career clashes against the Black Cats, the homegrown Newcastle attacker would manage to power home a clinical seven goals, with two of those coming way back in 2010 when the Chris Hughton-led outfit got the better of their main enemy 5-1.

Only ever on the losing side four times, as well, in the Tyne-Wear Derby, it was clear, whenever he played in the monumental game, that Ameobi knew of the critical importance of the match and what gaining a positive result could do for the Tyneside masses, having been on the books of Newcastle since 1997.

The academy talent turned senior star would even be branded a club “legend” by former boss Alan Pardew after he fired home another strike in the blockbuster showdown in 2012,

Perhaps, another homegrown diamond at Howe’s disposal could be ready to take the same game by storm later today, if he is thrown into the starting XI.

Newcastle's new Ameobi

The Nigerian attacker would first make his senior debut for the Magpies at the turn of the millennium, with Ameobi only 18 years of age when he was chucked into the first team fray versus Chelsea in 2000.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

With how long-standing his career on Tyneside turned out to be, it’s self-evident that he never looked back.

Lewis Miley has also been in and around the first team picture at St James’ Park under Howe from an extremely young age, with the energetic midfielder only 17 years of age himself when he was first handed first team opportunities in 2022.

He has also shown off a goalscoring edge on occasion that makes him even more comparable to Ameobi, as the teenage sensation headed home this effort last time out in the Champions League versus Bayer Leverkusen, from just 30 minutes of action, to gift his team a slender lead.

With a further ten goal contributions coming his way in senior action for Newcastle from 63 appearances, it’s clear that Miley is a talent that could become a well-established part of the Toon jigsaw in time, to reach the same crazy 398 game benchmark set by Ameobi before him.

Newcastle (senior team)

63

5 + 6

Newcastle U18s

32

4 + 3

Newcastle U21s

16

3 + 5

Miley’s energy and drive being added to the starting XI against Sunderland could be key as Newcastle attempt to pick up a rare win in the Derby, with “the next young English superstar”- as pundit Pat Nevin once glowingly labelled him – winning all 100% of his duels back in November in the Premier League against Everton, away from clinching another goal and an assist for his troubles.

Ameobi was, of course, known for always having something up his sleeve to get his team out of trouble on the big occasion with his feared goalscoring record, with Miley hopeful he can be Howe’s secret weapon, too, as a leggy Joelinton likely drops out of the freshness of the Englishman.

An entire team effort will be required for Newcastle to get over the line, but in big games, often a moment of magic can decide a contest, with Miley desperate to be Howe’s own Ameobi later on, if he’s picked.

Howe's "diamond" looks like another Guimaraes in the making at Newcastle

Eddie Howe has now found his next Bruno Guimaraes in the making in this Newcastle United youngster.

ByKelan Sarson 3 days ago

Everton know they will have to replace Idrissa Gueye in the near future and a new update has outlined their plans in the January transfer window.

The Blues could potentially be without Gueye for as many as six games in January, due to his involvement at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.

Not only that, but Everton also need to plan for life without the 36-year-old, with the midfielder out of contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the end of this season.

Gueye signed a one-year extension during the summer, but given his age, there is every chance that the 2025/26 campaign will be his last in a Blues shirt.

Replacing him is going to be a tall order, with the Senegalese such an influential figure at the heart of Everton’s midfield across two different spells with the club, and it looks as though the Merseysiders are preparing for life without him.

Everton eyeing new midfielder in January

According to Football Insider, “both permanent and loan deals will be explored” by Everton in January, as they plan to fill the void left by Gueye with a new midfield signing.

The report also adds that the Blues “have no plans” to offer the popular midfielder a contract extension, as he gradually nears the end of his £120,000-a-week deal, which makes him Everton’s third-highest earner.

This feels like sensible thinking by Everton, with Gueye’s absence in the winter likely to leave a gap, given his ability to cover ground and bite into tackles, even at his current age.

Idrissa Gueye’s 2025/26 Premier League stats	Total
Appearances	11
Starts	11
Minutes played	952
Goals	2
Assists	0
Tackles per game	2.0
Clearances per game	0.8
Pass completion rate	87.1%

The Blues need to be looking at a similar style of player to come in as his long-term successor, but whoever that is will have a lot to live up to, with James Garner heaping praise on him.

“He’s getting better the older he gets. He’s a calm, assuring head alongside me. I’m still pretty young and still learning the game, and he’s helped me massively.”

It remains to be seen who Everton’s choice of midfielder will be – Real Betis ace Sergi Altimira was reportedly the subject of a bid in the summer – but a permanent move makes more sense than a loan signing, in terms of bringing in a long-term option who is in and around his best years of his career.

Idrissa Gueye was "everywhere" for Everton vs Fulham, won 100% of his aerial duels

Aaron Judge may have gotten robbed of a home run during the New York Yankees ' 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. But it wasn't because of a Rays fielder.

Partly due to an apparent missed call on the part of the umpiring crew, as well as certain limitations in the Rays' temporary stadium—ironically enough, the Yankees' spring ballpark, George M. Steinbrenner Field—Judge's seeming home run was ruled a foul ball.

In the top of the eighth inning, Judge sent a drive to deep left field, a ball the umpiring crew ruled foul. The umpires then decided to review the call, which was upheld.

One replay angle from the Yes Network broadcast appeared to show the ball traveling well to the right of the foul pole at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Other angles seemed to indicate the opposite: that the ball was clearly foul.

Only serving to complicate matters further is the fact that the foul pole is much higher in all MLB ballparks than the ones at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Perhaps that fooled the umpires? Or maybe they got the call right?

Either way, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was still frustrated about the ruling when Judge was called out on strikes moments later. An irate Boone gave home-plate umpire Adam Beck a piece of his mind, presumably about the called strike and controversial home run call, before he was ejected.

It will be interesting to see what the Yankees have to say about this moment in postgame interviews.

Christian Pulisic hailed Mauricio Pochettino’s effort to instill a more combative, unity-focused identity in the U.S. Men’s National Team, saying that emphasis on fighting for one another is already showing in camp. The AC Milan forward added that the 2026 World Cup continues to fuel both his personal ambitions and the team’s desire to inspire the next generation of American players.

Getty Images SportPochettino’s culture change

Pulisic framed Pochettino’s influence as cultural and tactical, arguing the Argentine coach wants the USMNT to mirror the collective toughness seen in elite international teams. 

“I mean I would say when we’re in camp and leading up to games, I think he has a real focus on just the fighting spirit of the team,” Pulisic told CBS Sports Golazo. “I think kind of with the South American background too, the Argentinian is very, I mean, you can see when they play. They have the best player, potentially ever, but they have 10 other guys around them to run through a brick wall and do all those things.

“And I think that’s kind of what he wants to instill within the team. And that fighting kind of nasty spirit, and I think that’s his main focus.”

While Pulisic acknowledged it is hard to measure a wholesale transformation without a steady run of competitive matches, he believes the seeds of that identity are beginning to take hold.

 “I think it has, it’s tough without the competitive, the more competitive games. [of World Cup qualifying] to really know," Pulisic said. "I think even in some of the friendlies we’ve played, I feel like the team does have a togetherness about them. And I feel very positive about where we are going.”

AdvertisementWorld Cup as motivation

Beyond tactical change, Pulisic described the 2026 World Cup as a personal driving force: a chance to help elevate the game in the United States and to give young American players tangible role models to emulate. 

“Like truly, it’s one of my biggest inspirations is to kind of push the game back in the US and especially to inspire the next generation,” Pulisic explained. “I mean, like we talked about, having an American player in Europe and being able to look up to a guy who’s doing incredible things, it pushed me so much to want to do that, to want to be that much better. To believe and see, ‘Okay, he’s done it now, I can do it too.’

“And I hope that some people have watched me play and maybe thought that….I hope that I can inspire a lot of people around the world especially American kids because it’s a an incredible life, an incredible journey that I’ve been on. And I hope that people can see that.”

GettyOut of USMNT’s November 2025 international camp

The American forward won’t be with the USMNT for the November international break as he continues his recovery back to full fitness.

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(C)Getty ImagesU.S. balance expectations

As the countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, Pochettino faces the challenge of balancing player development with tactical implementation. The November international window represents one of the limited opportunities remaining for the coach to work with his full squad before the tournament begins.

Australia look set to be unchanged again in Jamaica despite Konstas’ struggles at the top of the order

Andrew McGlashan06-Jul-20251:36

Cummins heaps praise on ‘warrior’ Starc and ‘prolific’ Carey

Pat Cummins has urged Sam Konstas not to evaluate his own performances on an innings-by-innings basis as he tries to find his feet in Test cricket. But the 19-year-old needs a strong finish to the tour of the West Indies to avoid Australia’s opening role being clouded in uncertainty for the months ahead.Konstas followed scores of 3 and 5 in Barbados with 25 and 0 in Grenada. He had given himself a platform in the first innings before edging a drive. In the second, he dragged on against Jayden Seales when Australia’s openers only had a short period to bat at the end of the second day.He now averages 18.25 from four Tests and hasn’t passed 25 since his debut innings of 60 against India at the MCG. He is all-but assured of playing the final Test at Sabina Park in Jamaica – which as a day-night encounter will bring another set of challenges – but without a substantial score will be back among a pack of opening contenders for the Ashes during the early stages of the Australian domestic season.Related

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“I think for anyone who’s starting out their Test career, you are kind of picked for a reason and you at your best we know is good enough,” Cummins said. “It’s just about concentrating on what makes you a really good player. For someone like a batter, it might be where you score, what tempo do you normally operate at [when at] your best. And just don’t get too caught up in every innings [feeling] like [it’s] the biggest thing in the world.”I think the stat is, even the best batters in the world don’t hit their average three out of four times or something like that. You’re going to fail more often than you’re going to succeed. So just as long as you’re a quick learner, as long as you’re moving well… and judge yourself after a series or so, not innings by innings.”

“I can’t fathom playing 100 games and keeping that kind of speed. He’s just a warrior. Turns up every week and wants to play no matter what”Pat Cummins on Mitchell Starc

Konstas does have a little experience playing pink-ball cricket, having scored a century for the Prime Minister’s XI against the Indians last season. But the Test at Sabina Park will bring elements of the unknown for everyone as it’s the first to be staged at the ground and will be played using a Dukes ball, which the teams have yet to get their hands on for practice.The new lights at the ground will only get ICC sign-off in the next couple of days and preparations for the match are running very tight to the start of the game. But all indications are that it will take place as planned.”We’ve been trying to get our hands on some [of the pink balls] but we haven’t got some yet. Hopefully they’re waiting for us in Jamaica,” Cummins said. “My experience in pink-ball [Tests] in Australia is you never quite know what you’re going to get. We’ve played a lot, but things can change really quickly so even when you feel like you’re on top things can change quite fast.”Sam Konstas fell for a four-ball duck•Associated PressCummins said he expected the incumbent fast bowlers to be good to back up in Jamaica given workloads have not been huge in the series. Mitchell Starc is set for his 100th Test.”He’s bowling 145kph at the end of that game,” Cummins said. “I can’t fathom playing 100 games and keeping that kind of speed. He’s just a warrior. Turns up every week and wants to play no matter what. Such a low fuss kind of guy. So all things going well it’ll be a great week for him.”The World Test Championship means there are no dead matches for those in the tournament, so despite having gone 2-0 up and retaining the Frank Worrell Trophy, it remains an important outing for Australia. But Cummins was able to reflect on securing the series by a convincing margin, although across the first two days of both Tests his team were challenged before pulling away.”Dream start really,” Cummins said. “Two from two, gets us into the cycle. Really pumped with how we bounced back after Lord’s a couple of weeks ago. It’s been a good couple of weeks.”

كشف بيب جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي، عن مدى حماسه لمواجهة ليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي، بعد فوز فريقه أمام بوروسيا دورتموند بدوري أبطال أوروبا، وأشاد بلاعبه فيل فودين.

وتغلب مانشستر سيتي على بوروسيا دورتموند برباعية لهدف، في مرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا، وسيلاقي ليفربول يوم الأحد القادم ضمن مواجهات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وقال جوارديولا في تصريحاته عقب المباراة لـ”TNT sports”: “في كل مرة أحضر فيها إلى المؤتمر الصحفي، تُسجلون لي رقمًا قياسيًا جديدًا، ورقمًا قياسيًا آخر حطمه إيرلينج هالاند، هذه هي الحقيقة، سعيد من أجله، فهو يستحق ذلك”.

وعن مدى قرب فيل فودين من أفضل مستوياته، أضاف: “أقول إنه وصل بالفعل إلى هذا المستوى! لا داعي لأن يكون أقرب! كم مرة رأينا هذا الهدف من فيل، أليس كذلك؟! هذا الكرم في بذل الجهد، وخاصةً في الثلث الأخير من الملعب، لقد افتقدناه كثيرًا، لقد عاد مجددًا نعم”.

وأردف: “توماس توخيل (مدرب منتخب إنجلترا) يُدرك تمامًا مدى جودة فودين، وأنا متأكد تمامًا من أن توماس سيبذل قصارى جهده لبلده الجديد”.

وبشأن مواجهة الأحد أمام ليفربول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، علّق جوارديولا: “لقد كانوا أكبر منافسينا في السنوات التسع أو العشر الماضية، لذا ليس من الضروري وصف مدى قوتهم، لكننا مستعدون، سنتدرب غدًا، ونستريح، ونحصل على يوم راحة، ونستعد للمباراة بأفضل شكل ممكن”.

وواصل: “تحدثنا كثيرًا عن هذا الأسبوع، وأهميته، وقد تعاملنا معه بشكل ممتاز، ومن دواعي سرورنا مواجهتهم، ومع جماهيرنا، أعرف مدى أهمية ذلك، ونأمل أن نقدم مباراة جيدة”.

اقرأ أيضًا | دوكو بعد تخطي دورتموند: الفوز على ليفربول سيمنحنا أسبوعًا مثاليًا قبل التوقف الدولي

وأسترسل جوارديولا: “بصراحة أنا متحمس جدًا وسعيد بما سأجهزه للمباراة يوم الأحد، وأتطلع بشدة للعب يوم الأحد مرة أخرى ضد ليفربول، وسنرى ما سيحدث”.

وعن بوروسيا دورتموند، أفاد: “خرجنا من المباراة في أول 15 دقيقة، لم نكن نعرف أين نحن، خاصةً وأنهم وضعوا ستة لاعبين في الهجوم مقابل أربعة مدافعين، ووضعوا العديد من اللاعبين السريعين هناك”.

وبشأن غياب رودري، أوضح: “لا يوجد شيء خطير، لكنه لا يزال يتطلب الحذر أكثر من أي شيء آخر”.