Former India internationals analyse Spain's dominant performance in the FIFA World Cup, highlighting their tactical discipline and defensive solidity. They also offer divided opinions on the highly anticipated semi-final clash between England and Argentina, discussing key players like Lionel Messi, Jude Bellingham, and Harry Kane, and the tactical approaches both teams might employ.
Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp criticised the VAR decision that disallowed Jonathan Tah's goal, leading to Germany's early exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026. He also took a dig at Arsenal regarding their set-piece goals, suggesting many would be ruled out if Tah's goal was illegal.
Thousands of ecstatic supporters welcomed the Egyptian national football team home after their historic World Cup campaign, which saw them reach the last 16 for the first time, despite a heartbreaking defeat to Argentina.
Alireza Firouzja has established a dominant lead in the Croatian leg of the Grand Chess Tour after a stellar performance in the blitz section, accumulating 20 points.
Lionel Messi equalled the men's World Cup all-time scoring record with a hat-trick in Argentina's Group J opener against Algeria on Tuesday.
Swiss football fans expressed pride in their national team despite a 3-1 defeat to Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals, marking the end of an 'exceptional campaign' that captivated the country.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has made three changes to his starting XI for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina, bringing Reece James and Djed Spence into the defence, while Argentina's Lionel Scaloni makes one switch, with Giuliano Simeone replacing Rodrigo De Paul.
The fifth edition of the J&K Open golf tournament, featuring a doubled prize purse of Rs 1 crore, is set to begin at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar. Defending champion Shaurya Bhattacharya will compete against top Indian professionals and international players, with the event also aiming to boost golf tourism in the region.
Cabo Verde's star goalkeeper Vozinha has expressed confidence ahead of their FIFA World Cup round of 32 clash against Argentina, vowing to make history. The debutant nation has impressed with three draws in the group stage, becoming the smallest country to reach the knockout phase. Vozinha also achieved a rare feat, becoming only the third goalkeeper over 40 to register multiple clean sheets in the tournament. Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni has acknowledged Cabo Verde as a tough opponent.
The end of coach Didier Deschamps' Midas-like reign turned into a Tantalus torment as France suffered a comprehensive World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain before losing 6-4 to England in a wild third-place playoff, but those disappointments will not tarnish his legacy.
Former world champion Ojas Deotale led India's men's compound team to a top-10 finish in the qualification round of the Archery World Cup Stage 2, while Aditi Swami finished 13th in the women's section.
Murali Sreeshankar has become the first Indian double medallist in Commonwealth Games long jump, securing a silver medal with a leap of 8.09 metres. This achievement marks an emotional comeback for the 27-year-old, who recovered from a career-threatening knee injury that forced him to miss his anticipated Olympic debut.
Spain take a 36-match unbeaten run into their FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final against France, with Lamine Yamal calling it the biggest match of his career as La Roja chase Italy's all-time record.
Former Wimbledon women's champion Marketa Vondrousova has been suspended for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for refusing an out-of-competition anti-doping test in December.
Erling Haaland scored two crucial late goals to lead Norway to a stunning 2-1 victory over five-times champions Brazil in the World Cup Round of 16, securing their place in the quarter-finals. Neymar's late penalty was not enough for Brazil, who also missed an earlier spot-kick.
An emotional Stale Solbakken praised Norway's historic FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign after a 2-1 extra-time defeat to England ended their dream run in the quarter-finals.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic are set to headline the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship, which returns with a revamped format designed to attract top singles players.
King Philippe of the Belgians visited the national football team to offer his support and encouragement ahead of their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Spain. He shared a meal, received a signed jersey, and praised their performance, expressing confidence in their victory. Both teams have had strong runs to the quarter-finals, with Belgium overcoming several challenges and Spain maintaining an unbeaten record.
Spain captain Rodri has expressed his team's ambition and hunger ahead of the World Cup final against Argentina. He highlighted Spain's gradual growth and well-rounded team play, while acknowledging Argentina's competitive spirit and the formidable presence of Lionel Messi. Rodri anticipates a physical battle and draws inspiration from Spain's 2010 World Cup victory.
Kylian Mbappe scored a penalty in the 70th minute to give France a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the World Cup last 16, setting up a quarter-final clash with Morocco. The goal also brought Mbappe level with Lionel Messi as the tournament's top scorer.
World champion D Gukesh defeated his challenger Javokhir Sindarov in the Super Rapid and Blitz event in Warsaw, signalling his readiness for the upcoming World Championship title defence.
Sahil Jadhav, the reigning World University Games champion, secured his first Archery World Cup medal, a bronze in the compound men's event at Stage 2 in Shanghai, defeating Denmark's Martin Damsbo.
Indian wrestlers delivered a strong performance at the Budapest Ranking Series, securing a total of 12 medals.
Formula One champion Lando Norris won the Hungarian Grand Prix for McLaren's first victory of the season on Sunday while Mercedes's Kimi Antonelli extended his overall lead to 50 points.
France take on Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final aiming for a third consecutive World Cup final, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele leading Les Bleus against Europe's champions.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach (60kg), Ankush (80kg), and Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) have successfully advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective categories at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Sachin secured a 4-1 victory, while Ankush and Sakshi both won their bouts by unanimous 5-0 decisions, bringing them one win closer to securing a medal.
Olympic medallists Mirabai Chanu and Lovlina Borgohain have been named India's flag and baton bearers for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Both athletes are celebrated for their achievements in weightlifting and boxing, respectively, and are considered strong medal contenders for India at the upcoming Games.
Tanvi Sharma is the youngest champion in the history of the Taipei Open at 17 years and 222 days.
Two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra stated he is not 'obsessed' with consistently breaching the 90-metre mark in javelin, emphasising that winning major titles and maintaining consistency in challenging conditions are more important than chasing a specific distance.
The FIFA World Cup trophy's gold content has more than doubled in value since 2022, now estimated at USD 713,000, driven by a broader rally in gold prices due to geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty. This makes it the most valuable sporting trophy by melt value, significantly surpassing other major awards like the Champions League and American sports trophies.
Indian badminton players Lakshya Sen, Ayush Shetty, and Unnati Hooda were eliminated from the Japan Open Super 750 tournament on Wednesday.
Argentina produced a stunning comeback after falling two goals behind, scoring twice in four minutes through Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi to beat Egypt 3-2 in their last 16 clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta on Tuesday.
Indian recurve teams faced early exits at the Archery World Cup Stage 4 in Madrid, losing to the USA in both men's and women's quarter-finals. Despite team setbacks, hopes remain high for the recurve mixed pair event featuring Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kirti Sharma, and several archers are still in contention in individual categories.
Lionel Messi's record-breaking night draws ultimate praise from former record-holder Miroslav Klose.
Indian skeet shooters Bhavtegh Singh Gill and Mairaj Ahmad performed strongly on the opening day of the ISSF World Cup (Shotgun) in Lonato, Italy, finishing joint 14th. Parinaaz Dhaliwal also impressed in the women's section, placing tied-11th. The performances offer hope for India's first medal of the season and serve as crucial preparation for the upcoming Asian Games, despite other Olympians facing challenges.
The Indian men's junior squash team defeated England to advance to the semifinals of the World Squash Junior Team Championships in Ontario, aiming to improve on last year's bronze. However, the Indian women's team, despite a strong start from Anahat Singh, was eliminated by USA in their quarterfinal match.
FIDE's decision to shortlist the All India Chess Federation for a prestigious FIDE Excellence Award has ignited a fierce debate within the Indian chess community.
Packed with legendary players and remarkable milestones, these fascinating FIFA World Cup facts offer a glimpse into the tournament's rich history.
Harmanpreet Kaur was on Tuesday retained as captain of a largely predictable 15-member India squad for this year's Asian Games in Japan.
Switzerland beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties after the teams were locked goalless at the end of extra-time in the Round of 16 match to enter the World Cup quarter-finals at BC Place, Vancouver, on Tuesday.
