Month: June 2026

With spring football having come and gone, the college football calendar has shifted to the player-led portion of its offseason development curve. Across the country, youngsters and veterans alike are hitting the weight room and organizing private workouts to push themselves toward the 2026 campaign. By the time players return to organized practices later this summer, they’ll already have an idea of where things stand on the depth chart. They’ll have seen which incoming freshmen are capable of contributing right away and which star transfers should be viewed as plug-and-play starters. Plenty can change during fall camp, but there’s no question that leaders emerge over the summer. So with that in mind, here’s the second part in our series examining the most important transfer portal addition for each Big Ten team. This story explores the second half of the league in alphabetical order: Here is Part 1 of our two-part story examining the Big Ten’s most impactful portal additions. * Recruiting rankings and historical data courtesy of 247Sports Class: SeniorMeasurables: 6-foot-2, 314 poundsPast schools: Alabama (2023-25)Portal ranking: No. 25 transfer, No. 3 DL Last season: 28 tackles (6.5 for loss), 2.5 sacks, 11 pressures, 1 PD in 12 games The departure of star nose tackle Kayden McDonald, who was drafted in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, leaves a sizable hole in the center of Ohio State’s defense. McDonald played so well under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia that he bypassed his final year of eligibility to turn pro. His list of accolades included first-team All-Big Ten recognition, the conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award and consensus All-American honors en route to becoming the second defensive tackle chosen in this year’s draft. As a response, the Buckeyes added two high-profile interior linemen via the transfer portal in Smith and former UCF standout John Walker, both of whom were top-100 recruits coming out of high school. They are expected to compete with returners Eddrick Houston and Will Smith Jr. for starting spots this fall. For the purposes of this list, Smith gets the edge based on pedigree and potential upside. He was a five-star prospect and the No. 27 overall recruit in the country ahead of his freshman season at Alabama and should bring plenty of tools for defensive line coach Larry Johnson to work with at Ohio State. Class: JuniorMeasurables: 6-foot-1, 200 poundsPast schools: Minnesota (2024-25)Portal ranking: No. 15 transfer, No. 1 S Last season: 82 tackles (3 for loss), 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 TD in 13 games Once again, Oregon flashed its ruthless approach to player acquisition by signing one of the best portal classes in the Big Ten. It marked the second consecutive offseason in which the Ducks snagged the highest-rated safety in the transfer portal as an immediate plug-and-play leader for a team with legitimate national championship aspirations. And it marked the second consecutive offseason in which accomplishing that feat meant prying an elite talent away from another Big Ten program. A year ago, the Ducks added former Purdue standout Dillon Thieneman and developed him into both a first-team All-American and first-round draft pick. This time around, head coach Dan Lanning succeeded in the hotly contested race to sign Perich, a second-team All-American in 2024 and a second-team All-Big Ten performer for the Gophers last fall. In addition to the pedigree that Perich brings as one of the nation’s best safeties, he’ll also provide Oregon with another option in the return game. Perich ranked among the top 25 nationally in punt return average (9.4 yards per attempt) as a freshman and finished 12th in kickoff return average (26.3 yards per attempt) during the 2025 campaign. Class: Redshirt seniorMeasurables: 6-foot-1, 208 poundsPast schools: Iowa State (2022-25)Portal ranking: No. 48 transfer, No. 7 QB Last season: 205-of-339 (60.5%) for 2,584 yards, 16 TD, 9 INT in 12 games For however long new head coach Matt Campbell remains at Penn State, which made the shocking decision to fire James Franklin last October, he’ll have to deal with intense scrutiny surrounding the quarterback position. Franklin’s inability to find or develop a legitimate difference maker across more than 11 seasons with the Nittany Lions was arguably the biggest constraint for a program always on the cusp of reaching the College Football Playoff. And even when he finally got Penn State over that hurdle during his penultimate season, it was a late-game interception from Drew Allar — the highest-rated quarterback Franklin ever signed — that ultimately sealed the team’s fate. Becht brings plenty of experience after three years as the Cyclones’ starter, but he’s also entering his final season of eligibility and doesn’t represent the program’s lasting solution at quarterback. How well Becht performs this season in one of the sport’s premier conferences could certainly influence how appealing Penn State’s new regime is to high-end recruits. It’s also worth noting that Becht had offseason surgery on his non-throwing shoulder and missed most of the spring. Class: SeniorMeasurables: 6-foot-4, 215 poundsPast schools: Penn (2022-25)Portal ranking: No. 595 transfer, No. 117 WR Last season: 66 catches for 696 yards and 5 TD in 10 games There wasn’t much that went right for head coach Barry Odom during his inaugural campaign last fall — especially on offense. The Boilermakers ranked 102nd nationally in yards per game (343.6) and finished tied for 122nd in scoring at 18.8 points per game, edging only UCLA and Wisconsin among Big Ten teams. Starting quarterback Ryan Browne, a former three-star prospect, ranked at or near the bottom of the league in seemingly every major passing category: he was 16th in completion rate (58.9%), 17th in passing touchdowns (9) and tied for 14th in interceptions (10) as Purdue failed to win a conference game for the second consecutive year. Rather than make a change at quarterback ahead of the 2026 season, Odom has vocally backed Browne at every turn, bypassing the chance to recruit over him in the transfer portal. That decision now places Purdue’s receiving corps, which lost its top three pass catchers from last year, squarely in the crosshairs entering fall camp. Owens is one of four wideouts the Boilermakers added via the transfer portal. He has excellent size for the position and could become Browne’s primary target from the outset, pending his adjustment to Big Ten competition after four years in the Ivy League. Class: SeniorMeasurables: 6-foot-4, 250 poundsPast schools: Toledo (2022-25)Portal ranking: No. 762 transfer, No. 83 edge rusher Last season: 36 tackles (9.5 for loss), 5.5 sacks, 36 pressures, 1 FF in 12 games Rutgers needed an injection of talent along the defensive line after ranking second-to-last nationally and 17th in the Big Ten in sacks with 11, as well as 129th nationally and 17th in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 47. Of the 305 players in college football who tallied more than 20 quarterback pressures, only one of them — edge rusher Eric O’Neill — played for Rutgers. Those are the type of statistics that will send a coaching staff to the transfer portal in search of talent. Predictably, head coach Greg Schiano addressed the issue by adding four defensive linemen from the portal: two along the interior; two on the edge. The pick of the litter might be Davis, who amassed 36 pressures in a leading role for Toledo last season. Davis registered standout performances against Western Michigan and Washington State by racking up eight pressures in each game. He should step into an immediate starting role for first-year defensive coordinator Travis Johansen. Class: Redshirt seniorMeasurables: 5-foot-7, 193 poundsPast schools: James Madison (2022-25)Portal ranking: No. 419 transfer, No. 38 RB Last season: 207 carries for 1,373 yards and 9 TD in 14 games On paper, the Bruins made arguably the savviest hire of the coaching cycle by plucking Bob Chesney away from James Madison, a school he had just taken to the College Football Playoff. Chesney, 48, is viewed by many as one of the sport’s rising stars thanks to a résumé that includes 15 winning seasons at JMU (2024-25), Holy Cross (2018-23), Assumption (2013-17) and Salve Regine (2010-12). He began his rebuild at UCLA by adding 41 players from the transfer portal, including 10 former Dukes who followed Chesney for an opportunity to join the Big Ten. None of the JMU additions are likely to play a larger role for the Bruins than Knight, who was a first-team All-Sun Belt performer in 2025 and also earned second-team All-America honors thanks to his wide-ranging versatility. In addition to rushing for nearly 1,400 yards and nine scores, Knight added value in the passing game (40 receptions, 397 yards, 1 TD) and on special teams (20 punt returns for 180 yards) to set a new school record for all-purpose yards with 2,039. There will be questions around whether his diminutive frame can withstand playing in the Big Ten, but it seems thoroughly unwise to doubt him. Class: Redshirt seniorMeasurables: 5-foot-10, 195 poundsPast schools: Iowa State (2022-25)Portal ranking: No. 50 transfer, No. 2 CB Last season: 15 tackles (1.5 TFL), 3 PD, 1 INT in 5 games It’s hard to make a splashier coordinator hire than what USC did in late January by convincing former TCU head coach Gary Patterson to take over the Trojans’ defense. Patterson, 66, manned the sideline for the Horned Frogs from 2000-2021 before ultimately resigning. He recorded 181 victories during that span and won at least 10 games in a season 11 times, headlined by a 13-0 finish in 2010. Since then, he’s worked as an off-field analyst for Texas in 2022 and a consultant at Baylor ahead of the 2024 campaign. His task at USC will be to raise the level of a unit that hasn’t finished among the top 40 nationally in yards per game since 2020, an ever-present thorn in the side of head coach Lincoln Riley’s national championship aspirations. Six of the Trojans’ eight position-player additions via the transfer portal were on the defensive side of the ball. Williams might be the most important addition if he can return to full health following an ACL tear last September. He was a second-team All-Big 12 selection for the Cyclones in 2024. Class: SeniorMeasurables: 5-foot-10, 205 poundsPast schools: Oregon (2023-25)Portal ranking: No. 373 transfer, No. 34 RB Last season: 46 carries for 262 yards and 3 TD in 8 games Washington’s backfield will need to be reimagined in 2026 after losing both of their lead tailbacks from last year’s nine-win team. Starter Jonah Coleman, who had followed head coach Jedd Fisch from Arizona to Washington, was a fourth-round pick by the Denver Broncos after racking up more than 1,800 yards and 25 rushing touchdowns the last two seasons. Adam Mohammed, the primary backup, transferred to Cal after rushing for 523 yards and five touchdowns a year ago. That leaves quarterback Demond Williams Jr. (611 yards, 6 TDs) as the only returner to rush for more than 235 yards last season. The question for Washington is whether Limar, who missed spring practice to recover from ankle surgery, can blossom into a leading option after transferring from Oregon. He was part of a crowded Ducks backfield in 2025 that featured six players with at least 40 rushing attempts. Limar was a highly coveted four-star prospect coming out of high school with scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Miami, Michigan, Texas A&M and USC, among others. The opportunity to take on a starring role at Washington is there for the taking. Class: Redshirt juniorMeasurables: 6-foot-2, 212 poundsPast schools: Old Dominion (2023-25)Portal ranking: No. 185 transfer, No. 21 QB Last season: 173-of-290 (59.7%) for 2,624 yards, 21 TD, 10 INT in 12 games After three consecutive subpar years, there is immense pressure on head coach Luke Fickell to demonstrate significant progress during the 2026 campaign. Not only has Wisconsin finished below .500 each of the last two seasons, including an ugly 5-13 mark in conference play, but the school is also in the process of replacing former athletic director Chris McIntosh, the man who originally hired Fickell in 2022. For Wisconsin to find success this fall, Fickell needs to finally hit on a transfer quarterback after several high-profile misses and debilitating injuries. He whiffed on former SMU standout Tanner Mordecai in 2023 and saw former Miami starter Tyler Van Dyke suffer a torn ACL in the first month of the 2024 campaign. Then, in 2025, the Badgers rotated through four signal-callers after former Maryland transfer Billy Edwards Jr. injured his knee. Joseph could bring a new dynamic as a legitimate dual-threat option. In addition to throwing for more than 2,600 yards and 21 touchdowns last fall, he also carried the ball 158 times for 1,007 yards and 13 additional scores.

Oddsmakers at American sportsbooks expected substantial support for the USA in World Cup odds. However, wagering went well beyond substantial in the group stage, and it’s continuing in the USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina odds for Wednesday night’s Round of 32 match. “Early signs were there, before the tournament, that there was a bit of patriotic money,” Caesars Sports head of soccer trading Mark Bickerdike said. “Then given how the U.S. started, we saw quite an influx. “It’s half understandable, but equally, we were surprised to see the scale of action. It’s great to see this level of engagement, though.” Bickerdike helps dive into USA-Bosnia odds and the status of the U.S. in World Cup futures odds. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Market Settles Following the USA’s 3-2 loss to Türkiye on a goal in the waning moments of second-half injury time, Caesars Sports quickly posted USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina odds. With the tournament now at the knockout stage, there were two main markets: the three-way moneyline for 90 minutes plus injury time and To Qualify, for which team advances to the Round of 16. The three-way moneyline opened at USA -190/Bosnia and Herzegovina +525/Draw +295. But those odds proved to be too light. “The market overreacted to the Türkiye defeat,” Bickerdike said, noting the U.S. should’ve been a larger favorite. That’s now the case. As of Tuesday evening, about a day before Wednesday’s 8 p.m. ET kickoff on FOX, it’s USA -275/Bosnia and Herzegovina +750/Draw +370. “It took a little time for the market to settle,” Bickerdike said. “It’s also likely that Christian Pulisic is going to start, as well. So it’s now a fairer reflection of what the prices should be.” In the To Qualify odds, Caesars opened at USA -390/Bosnia and Herzegovina +305 and stretched as far as USA -625/Bosnia and Herzegovina +425. On Tuesday night, it’s USA -560/Bosnia and Herzegovina +360. Money From The Masses Once again, the public betting masses are firing away on the USA. “Particularly in the To Qualify market, where 91.4% of money is on the USA. It’s one-way traffic,” Bickerdike said. “On the three-way, there’s a little bit more on Bosnia, 24% of tickets and 14% of money. “That’s the highest percentage opposing the USA so far in this tournament.” Team USA is taking 68% of tickets and 82% of money in three-way action, with Draw collecting the final 8% of tickets and 4% of money. “It’s a good matchup for the U.S., in terms of playing styles. I’d be confident if I was a U.S. fan,” Bickerdike said. Caesars has the total at 2.5 goals, with the Over a plenty popular -132 favorite. In fact, bettors are also hitting the Over on alternate totals, as well. “Most of our liability is on Over 2.5. And we have quite a bit of liability on Over 4.5,” Bickerdike said. So Caesars is certainly looking for a low-scoring match. More so, though, the book wants overtime. “Absolutely, a draw in 90 minutes is preferred, regardless of the result after that,” Bickerdike said. “For continued engagement, the USA winning on penalties would be the best outcome.” Futures Forecast When this 48-team tournament began on June 11, Team USA was +5000 in Caesars’ World Cup championship futures odds. The Americans improved to +4000 after the 4-1 win over Paraguay, then to +3000 after the 2-0 win vs. Australia. With the 3-2 loss to Türkiye in the final group match, the U.S. slid out slightly to +3000. “This adjustment reflects both their loss to Türkiye and a tougher projected route to the final,” Bickerdike said. “Despite this, customer support has remained strong, and the USA continues to be one of the most popular selections in the futures market. “The USA represents our biggest liability.” Thanks to Germany and the Netherlands suffering upset losses on Monday — to Paraguay and Morocco, respectively — the Americans are now top 10 in World Cup futures. The USA and Colombia are the co-ninth choice at Caesars.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Malik Tillman likes watching penalty shootouts. But participating in them? Not so much. “I try to avoid it,” the American midfielder said before training on Tuesday. “Everyone tries to avoid it. But sometimes, it happens, and, of course, you have to be ready for it because you never know. We’ll give our best to finish the game in 90 minutes. The U.S. men’s national team faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Wednesday night. With the 2026 World Cup now in the knockout stage, any match that remains tied after regulation and extra time comes down to one thing: the dreaded, stomach-churning penalty shootout. On Monday, Germany and the Netherlands were both sent home after cruel and dramatic penalty shootout losses to Paraguay and Morocco, respectively. Across the two shootouts, players missed 10 penalty kicks, setting a World Cup record for the most misses in a single day. It was the first time in history the four-time champion Germans left the World Cup via penalties. It was a stark reminder of the stakes now facing the U.S. because, in the knockout stage, one mistake can send a team home. “We’ve seen two big boys fall,” defender Chris Richards told a group of reporters. “So it’s just a matter of us getting through this game and putting on a good performance, and, hopefully, we continue that.” The last time the USA found itself in a penalty shootout was exactly one year ago, when it beat Costa Rica in the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup quarterfinals after a six-round thriller. The win came largely thanks to Matt Freese’s heroics in goal, as he made three saves to send the squad through. Tillman, who missed a penalty in the first half of that match, bounced back by converting in the shootout. He said that while players can practice penalties all they want, it’s “impossible” to replicate what it actually feels like in that spotlight. U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino agrees and said the team uses an outside company to help with penalties in a somewhat similar fashion to how they use TrackMan technology to aid in set pieces. “I don’t want to say too much,” Pochettino said at his press conference on Tuesday. “As a coaching staff, we believe that we can provide some tools to the players to be better or to improve or to try to find the best way to face this type of situation, knowing that it’s impossible to replicate the emotional stress and the pressure and expectation, how you are going to feel. “Because it depends on your performance – if you came from the bench, if you played 120 minutes, if you are tired, if you are not tired. If you feel something in your body, that is impossible when you practice penalties to have the same feeling.” As far as the penalty kicking order goes, that is set by Pochettino and his staff, who analyze the players’ work in training before deciding who steps up. “It is going to be [the coaching staff’s] decision – the No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5,” Pochettino said. “We are trying to arrive at this moment and not ask the player if they feel confident or not confident.” According to a German media report, there was controversy over who would take Germany’s sixth penalty, as some players didn’t want to. Ultimately, it was Jonathan Tah, whose miss proved decisive and allowed Paraguay to convert and advance. “I don’t know about that situation, but yeah, it’s a difficult thing,” star forward Christian Pulisic said when asked about Germany’s exit. “The guys who feel the most confident to go up and shoot will want to go shoot. I think that’s normal. There will be some players that maybe don’t practice them as much and don’t feel as good. I don’t think it’s necessarily a big problem. “Haven’t been in many shootouts with these guys, but I feel like it’s a pretty brave, courageous team. I feel like guys will give it a go.” How Do USA Players Take Penalties? Penalty kick style and technique have evolved over the years. Some players opt for stutter steps and elaborate long or short run-ups, while others simply place the ball and strike it. Tillman said he’s experimented with different approaches throughout his career and doesn’t necessarily take them the same way he once did. Still, he added, “I’m confident in the way I take them.” Richards, who scored a penalty for Premier League club Crystal Palace last season, doesn’t overthink it. “I don’t want to give away too much,” Richards said with a big smile. “Some guys change it up. Me personally, I’m a defender for a reason, so I’m gonna put it down and place it where I think it needs to go.” Pulisic doesn’t read too much into everyone else’s process. “Everyone has their own style,” said Pulisic, who also noted that he’s feeling good after dealing with a calf injury that has limited his time on the field. “I don’t think you watch [the Germany and Netherlands shootouts] and can take so much away and try to change your style in one day. I mean, it’s just part of the game. “It’s an extremely hard thing to do for sure. It takes a lot of courage and it’s not easy. Goalkeepers are getting better and better every single year. Everyone has their individual style, and you just go with what you feel most confident with.” All this is to say, the U.S. hopes any penalty shootout talk is moot during their run in this World Cup. “Ultimately, you don’t want to get there,” Richards said. “But honestly, we’ve done a lot of training with penalty shootouts, so if it comes down to it, I think every guy on this team is going to step up and take it.”

The knockout stage never disappoints, and it doesn’t appear like it will at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After its dominating 3-0 win over Sweden on Tuesday, France has extended its gap as the favorite to win the World Cup. Les Bleus has climbed from +250 to +195 after its Round of 32 win, the best odds any team has been since title odds were released. While France remains the heavy favorite, Norway surged up the oddsboard after its 2-1 win over the Ivory Coast on Tuesday. Norway’s odds jumped from +4000 to +2500 as it sets its eyes on a star-studded Round of 16 matchup against Brazil. On Monday night, Morocco upset the Netherlands in a thrilling top-10 FIFA world rankings showdown. After going down 1-0 late in the second half, it looked like Morocco’s tournament was minutes from being over. However, Issa Diop’s stoppage-time header found the back of the net for a dramatic equalizer that sent the match to extra time. The Atlas Lions went on to win via penalties, and, as a result, their odds to win the World Cup have surged from +4000 to +2200. Morocco will now face Canada in the Round of 16. Let’s dive into the full odds via FanDuel Sportsbook as of June 30. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2026 World Cup Winner Odds France: +195 (bet $10 to win $29.50 total)Argentina: +430 (bet $10 to win $53 total)Spain: +650 (bet $10 to win $75 total)England: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total)Brazil: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)Portugal: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Morocco: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) Norway: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Colombia: +3300 (bet $10 to win $340 total)United States: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)Mexico: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Belgium: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Switzerland: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total)Senegal: +12500 (bet $10 to win $1,260 total)Ecuador: +12500 (bet $10 to win $1,260 total)Croatia: +12500 (bet $10 to win $1,260 total)Canada:+15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Here’s what to know about this oddsboard: The Favorite: France is now the solo favorite atop the oddsboard. It opened its pursuit for a third World Cup title with a 3-1 win against Senegal and a dominant 3-0 win over Iraq. Les Bleus followed that up with a 4-1 win over Norway on Friday to clinch Group I. Now, after another commanding win in which it scored three goals yet again against Sweden, France will play Paraguay in a Round of 16 showdown on July 4th. Upset City: Prior to Monday’s Germany-Paraguay matchup, the Germans were a -700 favorite to advance to the Round of 16, after having won Group E. Meanwhile, Paraguay finished third in Group D and lost 4-1 to the United States to open the tournament. But none of that mattered on Monday, after Paraguay took a 1-0 lead, then held on to force the game to penalty kicks, where it defeated Germany 4-3. Wow. Germany had previously never lost a penalty shootout in World Cup history (4-0). It was one of the largest upsets in World Cup history based on ranking, with Germany ranked 10th in the world and Paraguay ranked 41st.

France is currently the best show in international football. Not a debate; not a hot take; a 3-0 verdict at MetLife Stadium delivered with the kind of casual, suffocating excellence that makes you wonder how any team is supposed to stop them. Sweden had Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak, two of the most feared strikers in European club football, and they managed only four shots all game; France had 25. That’s not a contest; that’s an exhibition. Here are my four takeaways from France’s 3-0 win over Sweden: 1. Kylian Mbappé Is One Goal Away From History Stop what you are doing. Watch this man. Kylian Mbappé has now scored 18 goals in 18 World Cup appearances. Lionel Messi holds the all-time record at 19. Only one goal separates the greatest of all time from the next in line, and Mbappé is only 27. Let that settle for a second. He opened the scoring just before halftime, latching onto an Ousmane Dembélé cutback from a corner and slotting past Jacob Zetterström with the kind of composure that makes goalkeepers feel irrelevant. His second goal, the third for France, was even better: a curling finish into the far corner that sent the entire French bench sprinting toward Didier Deschamps. There was something undeniably emotional about that one. He had a goal disallowed for offside. He hit the post. He could have had four. Sweden had no answer, no plan, and ultimately no chance. Mbappé is not just France’s best player; he is the best player in this tournament alongside Messi. 2. The Harlem Globetrotters Are In Town. And This Is Their Court. At some point, you stop analyzing France and just start applauding. Over 60% possession. Twelve shots on target. Nine corners. Goals from open play, set pieces, through balls, cutbacks. France has a different weapon for every situation, and Didier Deschamps is deploying them all with the calm of a man who has done this before. Michael Olise was, at times, from another planet. He carved through Sweden’s shape repeatedly, pulling strings, finding pockets, and laying off with both feet. His bicycle kick attempt may have just kissed the woodwork and stayed out, but if that ball had gone in, we’d be talking about it for decades. Potentially one of the great World Cup goals never scored. Bradley Barcola’s second goal was a textbook France move: Olise slipping it through Víctor Lindelöf’s legs, Barcola doing the rest. Effortless. Lethal. The only thing that kept this from becoming an absolute hammering was Swedish goalkeeper Zetterström, who made nine saves and single-handedly prevented a tennis score. Sweden could have conceded six or seven on another day. 3. Farewell, Sweden. You Came. You Fought. You Ran Into a Buzzsaw. Graham Potter’s side deserves credit for showing up at all. Sweden came into this World Cup having missed the 2022 tournament entirely, back after a painful absence and carrying enormous expectations on the shoulders of Gyökeres and Isak, two strikers with wildly expensive price tags and tons of expectation. In their opening group game, they delivered: a 5-1 demolition of Tunisia that was genuinely thrilling. Sweden looked like a side that could cause problems. Then came the Netherlands. A 5-1 loss that quickly recalibrated expectations. Sweden steadied somewhat, drawing 1-1 with Japan to scrape through as a third-place team. They arrived here knowing the draw had not been kind, facing the tournament’s overwhelming favorites. Sometimes the bracket plays cruel tricks. Against France, Gyökeres and Isak barely touched the ball in meaningful areas. Anthony Elanga worked hard and went largely unrewarded. This Swedish generation — gifted, genuinely exciting to watch — simply ran into the wrong team at the wrong time. No shame in that. They belong at this level. They’ll be back. 4. Yes, He Gets Two Takeaways. He Earned It. Last week, I gave Lionel Messi two takeaways after his masterclass against Austria. Messi wasn’t thrilled when I told him. (He doesn’t read my column. This is fine.) But standards are standards, and Mbappé’s performance today demands a second look from a completely different angle. Because here’s what struck me beyond the numbers: Kylian Mbappé looks genuinely, visibly happy. This matters more than it sounds. The past year at Real Madrid was, by most accounts, a slow-motion rollercoaster. Three managers in one season. A dressing room with more fault lines than a geology textbook. A “Mbappé Out” petition from disgruntled Madridistas. Being booed at the Bernabéu. Reportedly not wanting to play at the Bernabéu again. A season that ended without a single trophy and with his relationship with the club’s fanbase in ruins. None of that Mbappé showed up today. This version was laughing on the pitch, celebrating with teammates, sprinting to hug Deschamps after his second goal in a moment that felt like a release. And the dynamic with Olise is something to behold. The two of them are playing with a freedom and instinctiveness that you rarely see at the international level. They find each other without looking. They trust each other completely. The France national team has become, by all appearances, the place where Kylian Mbappé actually wants to be. And when he is happy, he is absolutely terrifying to play against. Messi’s record is one goal away. Heaven help whoever is next.