At the end of a World Cup in which Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi headed home after the first knockout round and Brazilian Neymar failed to deliver, the game perhaps needed a new talent to excite the global public.
Ahead of his side's Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Abhishek Nayar hailed skipper Shreyas Iyer for his mental strength and positive approach to life.
To ensure the best possible start, the Danes will turn to playmaker Christian Eriksen
The Indian men's hockey team climbed two places in the latest FIH rankings following back-to-back wins in the Pro League matches.
Images from the Euro 2024 Round of 16 match between Austria and Turkey, at Leipzig stadium, Leipzig, Germany, on Tuesday.
'The pressure can be telling and I think that's the kind of pressure the Indian team is currently experiencing with everyone wanting them to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup.'
The battle between England right back Kyle Walker and France's top scorer Kylian Mbappe could be key to the outcome of the first encounter between the teams in the knockout phase of a major tournament.
CSK have won five titles under Dhoni's leadership and the two share a bond like no other.
Resurgent Australia stand between unblemished India and World Cup glory
Indian women's team will kickstart their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan.
In Tokyo's trendy Shibuya, elated supporters streamed out of sports bars after the final whistle at around 1 a.m. local time, the sound of horns and "Nippon" chants filling the streets as they converged upon the district's iconic pedestrian scramble.
India could field three spinners against Australia in the final.
anada's hopes of getting back into the contest were dashed when a curling cross from Perisic on the left was controlled by Kramaric, who shifted the ball onto his left foot and dispatched it low into the bottom corner in the 70th minute.
Coaching crisis, heartbreaks and Olympic setbacks mark a disastrous year for Indian boxing
Ronaldo was kept largely at bay by South Korea's defence in the Asians' last-gasp victory over Portugal that sent Uruguay out of the World Cup. But he was involved in the South Korean equalizer in the 27th minute when a corner struck him on the back and fell for Kim Young-gwon to score.
They have looked more comfortable setting targets than chasing one though, and they will expect more penetration from their bowlers against a resurgent Australia.
Ellyse Perry put up a sizzling display with both bat and ball to power Royal Challengers Bangalore into the Women's Premier League knockouts.
IMAGES from the FIFA World Cup Group B match played between Wales and England on Tuesday.
Emotional after Canada's solid performance against the second-ranked team in the world, Herdman drew the attention of Croatian media after he said his team would go and "eff Croatia".
Iran's World Cup campaign was all but finished even before it started.
Japan supporters lamented the team's 3-1 penalty shootout loss to Croatia at the World Cup in Qatar on Monday.
"Big countries didn't progress here and we still have three matches to go. Now we have to roll our sleeves up and get back to work." he said.
Impressed with the brand of cricket played by New Zealand in the World Cup, former India batsman Arun Lal believes the Black Caps are no longer the underdogs in the mega event.
New Zealand's Devon Conway paid tribute to his opening partner Finn Allen for the way he took on Australia's vaunted pace attack as the Black Caps romped to an 89-run victory Twenty20 World Cup on Saturday.
If this sporting clash was, as English essayist, novelist and journalist George Orwell said, "war minus the shooting" both sets of players were more than ready, and set about each other with little restraint.
Tears of joy in Japan after nail-biting win over Spain
"We saw what happened yesterday (when Germany and Belgium were knocked out in the group stage) but this is not surprising. When you say big national teams deserve to be in the next stage, that doesn't always happen."
With this win Italy have extended their unbeaten run to 29 games, the last 10 coming off wins where they have scored 31 goals and conceded none.
South Korea scored an added time goal to beat already-qualified Portugal 2-1 at the World Cup in a comeback win that sent the Asian side into the last 16 ahead of Uruguay on the number of goals scored.
Suryakumar Yadav has evolved into the new Mr 360 degree and India will struggle to put up enough runs on the board if he fails to fire, said batting great Sunil Gavaskar.
A win over Pakistan in Sydney would take New Zealand to a final against either England or India in Melbourne but Southee said the Black Caps, who lost to Australia in last year's final, were taking it one game at a time.
Croatia have set a simple target of qualifying for the knockout phase from a group expected to be dominated by holders Brazil.
Britain battled to victory over last year's Davis Cup runners-up Australia in their Finals group stage opener on Wednesday, while Spain and Italy both suffered chastening defeats at home in the premier men's team competition.
Bale's fitness has been a major concern for Wales, with the 33-year-old yet to play a full match for Los Angeles FC due to injury issues.
Rohit Sharma said he has taken some inspiration from the 'Universe Boss' himself in his journey to most sixes in international cricket.
Australian Open holder Djokovic will make his ATP Cup debut for Serbia against South Africa in Brisbane on Saturday while Nadal will lead Spain into action against Georgia in Perth on the same day.
'I'm not worried but we know they beat big teams to get there and we're going to take it seriously. It's not a surprise to see them here anymore. They deserve to be here.'
Although they won their first round group, there was little evidence to back up their self-confidence as they stuttered through
