Author: Henry

Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos has opened up on his decision to console Gabriel Magalhães following the Arsenal defender’s heartbreaking penalty miss in the Champions League final. While his teammates celebrated back-to-back European titles, the veteran Brazilian chose to prioritize empathy over ecstasy in Budapest. A Moment Of Pure Class In the immediate aftermath of PSG’s penalty shootout victory over Arsenal at the Puskas Arena, the contrast in emotions was stark. As the PSG squad sprinted away to celebrate their second successive crown, captain Marquinhos took a different path, heading straight toward a devastated Gabriel to offer a prolonged embrace. The Arsenal center back had just seen his wayward strike fly over the crossbar, handing the trophy to the French giants. The gesture did not go unnoticed, with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard among those to pay tribute to the PSG skipper. “He’s a true gentleman. He’s probably the most experienced player on the pitch and has been through these moments from both sides. Huge respect to him for that gesture and for the kind of person and player he is,” Odegaard said, lavishing praise on him afterwards. Shared Trauma From 12 Yards Speaking to reporters after the trophy presentation, Marquinhos revealed that his actions were driven by personal experience. The 32-year-old famously missed a penalty for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup quarter-final against Croatia, and those memories came flooding back as he watched Gabriel struggle. “As soon as he missed that penalty, I remembered what it felt like for me when I missed against Croatia to knock us out of the last World Cup,” Marquinhos said. “It was a very difficult moment for him, a big responsibility. I’ve been through it myself and know how tough it is when that happens to you as a player. You have to be very strong to get out of a moment like that – and I know how hard that is. Gabriel really wanted to win this title and had all that pressure on him, knowing that if he missed, that dream had gone for him and we would be the champions.” Defending Gabriel’s Incredible Season Marquinhos was eager to remind the footballing world of Gabriel’s contributions throughout the campaign. The Arsenal defender played a pivotal role in the Gunners’ first Premier League title in 22 years, forming the division’s meanest defense alongside William Saliba. Marquinhos was adamant that one kick should not define a player who has established himself as an elite talent. “I told him that I’ve been through this moment and I know how difficult it is, but that he can bounce back from it,” Marquinhos continued. “Gabriel has played an amazing season for Arsenal, proved he is one of the best defenders in the world and shown everyone he’s a great player. He did not deserve to have all that weight, from that moment of defeat, on his shoulders. So I just wanted to take a few minutes out of my celebrations to reserve this time for him, to hug him and wish him well.” Eyes On The World Cup The bond between the two defenders is set to become even more important in the coming weeks. Both players have been named in the Brazil squad for the 2026 World Cup, where they are expected to form the starting center back partnership. Marquinhos stressed that the Seleção need Gabriel in the best possible frame of mind if they are to challenge for a sixth world title this summer in North America. “And in Brazil, we need him for the World Cup,” Marquinhos concluded. “I just wanted to hug him, to show him how much he is valued by us and congratulate him for everything else he has done this season.” 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).

The long wait finally ended on Monday when the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles completed a trade that was literally months in the making. The Eagles sent receiver A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, as everyone knew they eventually would. The Patriots got the No. 1 receiver they so desperately needed, while the Eagles got rid of a problem. On the surface, it seems like the rare win-win trade for two teams with their sights set on Super Bowl LXI. Here are three quick takeaways from the long-awaited deal: With all due respect to DeVonta Smith, and whatever rookie Makai Lemon will eventually become, the best receiver on the Eagles before Monday was, by far, A.J. Brown. He’s averaged 75 catches, 1,147 yards, and eight touchdowns in each of his seven NFL seasons, and when training camp begins, he’ll still only be 29 years old. That’s a huge hole to fill, even for a receiver as capable as Smith and as promising as Lemon, but the Eagles have reason to believe the Brown trade can be addition by subtraction. He’s not the sole reason their passing offense seemed so disjointed and dysfunctional too often over the last three seasons, but his maddening inconsistency and obvious disinterest at times certainly have been a big part of that. It’s been obvious to everyone that something has been wrong. His once-tight relationship with best friend (and quarterback) Jalen Hurts isn’t what it once was. Brown’s own body language and cryptic nature made it clear he was unhappy with his role. And his antics were sometimes difficult to deal with, whether it was sideline outbursts or simply an odd decision to read a book on the bench during the game. Smith and Hurts seem to have the chemistry that Brown and Hurts once had, so starting over with a new No. 1 made a lot of sense. It’s not clear anyone can put up the kind of numbers Brown did in his first two years in Philly, when he averaged 97 catches for 1,476 yards and nine touchdowns. But the combination of Smith, Lemon, Dontayvion Wicks and Hollywood Brown is formidable. And if they’re happier, that could be what finally gets the Eagles’ passing game back on track. Maybe it’s because he had four months to prepare, or maybe it’s because he’s the best general manager in football, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman sure did fortify the Eagles’ receiver room in advance of the Brown trade. Clearly, DeVonta Smith is the key player, but Roseman made sure he’s surrounded by quite a cast. That’s a big change from recent seasons when Roseman struggled to find a third receiver to complement Brown and Smith. Now, even with Brown gone, he’s got a receiving group that goes four deep, maybe more. The big move was when he used two fourth-round picks to trade up three spots (with Dallas) in the draft to take USC receiver Makai Lemon 20th overall. He was the third receiver taken, and some scouts believe he could instantly be one of the best slot receivers in the entire league. They also signed the speedy Hollywood Brown, who finally looked a little like his old, healthy self in Kansas City last season (49-587-5) and is still only 29 years old (as of Thursday). And they signed Dontayvion Wicks, who caught 30 of the 46 passes thrown to him in Green Bay last season, where the promising 24-year-old was tragically underused. It’s not an all-star cast beyond Smith, but there’s more depth and potential as a corps than they’ve had in years. Take the No. 1 receiver off of most teams and they probably couldn’t survive it. But the Eagles might actually be set up to thrive. The Patriots have arguably the best young quarterback in the NFL, fresh off a near-miss at both an MVP win and a Super Bowl championship, and heading into the third year of his rookie contract. The financial window is closing a bit, even as his championship window is just starting to open up. Fresh off a trip to the Super Bowl, they had to treat this as a win-now opportunity before Drake Maye becomes something of a financial burden. So it made sense to take on the expense of Brown and to part ways with a first-round pick two years from now to get the No. 1 receiver they so desperately needed. Stefon Diggs did fine last season (85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns), but he’s 32, and fine isn’t good enough for a team on the verge of a title. Brown can be better, especially if he’s the focal point of their attack, which he almost certainly will be. The Patriots did sign Romeo Doubs, who is a formidable No. 2, but he’s not good enough to tempt offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to build a game plan around him with Brown on his team. Is that enough to put the Patriots over the top and win them their first post-Bill Belichick/Tom Brady title? Not by itself. They still need to fix the offensive line issues that left Maye battered during the playoffs, and they still have to prove they can stand up to a much more difficult schedule this season. But adding an elite receiver like Brown certainly will help and will make their road much easier if they figure everything else out.

For the first time since 1986, Mexico City will be the site of the opening match of a FIFA men’s World Cup when the 2026 edition kicks off, but it will be even more poignant than the one from 40 years ago. This opener will actually include Mexico’s national team, as the one back in 1986 had then-defending champions Italy taking on Bulgaria. Expect plenty of emotion, but now it is time to remove the sentiment and dive into the team’s 26-man roster. Javier “El Vasco” Aguirre (a member of Mexico’s 1986 squad) is in his third managerial stint with El Tri. Pundits and supporters alike are hoping that playing co-hosts and having the support on home soil will play a significant role towards a successful campaign. And when I say “home soil” I’m also including the U.S. because the team’s support is arguably, distinctively unrivaled. Guadalajara or Los Angeles, CDMX or Dallas—it doesn’t matter. México’s players will always have vibrant and loud support at any of their games, either here or there. Here are my takeaways: 1. Did Someone Call For Aguirre? Aguirre works as something of a crisis-solver. His management is akin to “The Wolf” – Harvey Keitel’s character from Pulp Fiction – where he enters a problematic situation and fixes it. For the 2002 World Cup, México was on the brink of bowing out of qualification and Aguirre stepped in, confirming a spot and even winning the group before losing to its arch-nemesis, the United States, in the knockout stages. For 2010, once again, Aguirre replaced the late Sven Göran-Eriksson halfway through the poor qualifiers and rescued El Tri, taking them once again to the promised land before eventually losing in the Round of 16 to Argentina. For this World Cup, he has adopted a grueling training camp where preparations have been ongoing, including controversially pulling players away from domestic campaigns. Aguirre wants to give them what he went through as a player back in the aforementioned 1986 tournament, where brotherhood-and-blue-collar-like mentality took center stage. Of course, it helped to have the legendary Hugo Sánchez. But you get my point. Aguirre wants México to be made of steel for this tournament, which will hopefully push them through any kind of obstacle, no matter the opponent. The objective? If you ask any Mexico fan, it’s quite simple really. To reach the infamous quinto partido (fifth match) — or sexto partido in this case due to the expansion of the tournament with an extra round — as Mexico has not reached the quarterfinals of a World Cup since — yup, you guessed it, 1986. Aguirre is hoping to change that. 2. Teenage Sensation Mora Leads New Era This squad is diverse, mixed with experience, youth, domestic and international know-how. It could, maybe, offer something special. So let’s hope for the sake of every Mexico fan, the nation rallies behind this squad because this team will never have this kind of home support ever again. The team has defensive veteran presence. Center-back duo César Montes and Johan Vásquez have played in Europe for numerous seasons. Edson Álvarez, who could be used in the backline or in his usual defensive midfielder role, is slowly returning from a prolonged injury. But the main talking point with this roster is that Aguirre is placing a lot of faith in fresh faces. There are 13 players who were not part of the previous World Cup in Qatar, when they failed to get out of the group stage. All eyes especially are on the teenage sensation Gilberto Mora, and at 17 years and 239 days old, the midfielder from Tijuana will become the youngest player to appear in a World Cup match for México if he features in the opener against South Africa—a current record held by Manuel “Chaquetas” Rosas, when the 18-year-old featured in 1930. Mora is a special talent with obvious eyes from Europe interested in him, including Real Madrid. Then there are several dual-national players who will be key to México’s success at this tournament. Colombia-born striker Julián Quiñones, who scored 33 goals this season with Al Qadsiah in the Saudi Pro League (more than England’s Ivan Toney or Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo), could push to start. Spain-born Álvaro Fidalgo, who helped Club Ámerica win three Liga MX titles before a move to Real Betis, feels like a lock in the midfield. And two U.S.-born players in Brian Gutiérrez and Obed Vargas (how often do you see an Alaskan playing for Atlético Madrid?) provide some flexibility, balance and youth in a very demanding tournament. 3. Memo’s Back, But Will There Be A Party? When it comes to this sport, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are in rarefied air. So it’s pretty unique for a player to join those two in anything. Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa is set for his sixth trip to the World Cup, joining Messi and Ronaldo in this feat. And while the 40-year-old stopper has only played in four of those editions (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022), Ochoa could help his national team once again. The door swung open for Ochoa to make history after presumed starter Luis Ángel Malagón suffered a devastating Achilles injury in March while on duty with Club América. Raúl “Tala” Rangel from Chivas has taken over the starter role for Mexico, but to have Ochoa in the unit is a special opportunity, and you never know, he might just be called up to action. 4. A Strikers Conundrum There was never any doubt that the dynamic duo of Rául Jiménez and Santiago Giménez were going to be called up, but the bigger question is: can they play together? Or is this an out-and-out battle for the No. 9 role? Aguirre has used them both before, including the successful Gold Cup run from last summer, as Jiménez often drops deeper whilst the AC Milan man infiltrates the box, feeding from his partner. But if you ask me, I think this should be an either-or situation, because México is at its best when there is a 4-3-3 philosophy with one target man feeding off supply. In addition, Giménez has gone through an injury-ridden season with AC Milan, so his starting role is not guaranteed. There is also a great weapon on the bench with Chivas forward Armando ‘La Hormiga’ González, who is a goal-scoring machine in Liga MX. And don’t forget Quiñones, who could be most in form of them all. Whatever the case, there is hope for Aguirre that all these weapons will compliment each other and eventually create a dynamic unit of goalscoring. Veremos.

Less about being an underdog, and more about achieving some lofty goals. That should be the narrative surrounding the U.S. men’s national team ahead of this summer’s 48-team World Cup. FOX Sports analyst and former USA star Alexi Lalas joined Colin Cowherd on Monday’s edition of “The Herd” to discuss why the baseline for American soccer should change heading into this tournament following a friendly victory over Senegal. ‘Given Absolutely Everything’ When Cowherd pointed out that previous USA squads relied heavily on counter-attacks, set-pieces, and goalkeeping – Cowherd summarized by calling the U.S. a “hands country” — Lalas agreed that this modern roster represents a complete break from the past. Because of that evolution, Lalas argues, the fans should not view the team as underdogs. “This is a generation that has been given absolutely everything from a very, very young age. I’m happy about that. I’m proud about that,” Lalas explained. “But with that should come higher expectations. Incredibly talented generation. Is this the best team? I don’t know, but they have been given everything to succeed, and so we should expect this team to…win this group.” Lalas added that given the strength of the group, which includes Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye, as well as the tournament format allowing third-place teams to advance, “there’s no excuse for not only not getting out of the group, but I expect them to win the group.” Furthermore, Lalas pointed out a historic milestone waiting for this team in the knockout phase: “Then in that round of 32, [it will be] for the first time in World Cup history where we are the favorite, and that’s something very, very different.” Strengths And Vulnerabilities Emerge This shift from underdog to favorite comes down to the talent depth available to manager Mauricio Pochettino. Cowherd questioned who would step up if opposing defenses aggressively double-and triple-teamed Christian Pulisic, who has a history of battling physical play and nagging injuries. Lalas countered that the U.S. now possesses “champagne problems” up top, highlighted by a battle at the striker position between Folarin Balogun and a surging Ricardo Pepi, alongside scoring threats on the wing like Tim Weah and Sergiño Dest. However, playing with the ball and being expected to dictate the tempo of a match comes with its own problems. The U.S. will lean on 38-year-old captain Tim Ream for his experience and leadership, despite fair criticisms regarding his speed against potential counter-attacks. On top of this, one of the USA’s strengths at previous World Cups now has major questions. Unlike past generations that boasted great goalkeepers such as Tony Meola, Brad Friedel, Casey Keller, or Tim Howard, the current goalkeeping core is a question mark. Lalas noted that incumbent 2022 starter Matt Turner hasn’t yet had a signature moment with the national team. “He has yet to have that big game, he has yet to make the save that he shouldn’t make,” Lalas said. “And this summer he is going to have to make the save that he shouldn’t make.” Nothing Like ‘A Home World Cup’ Despite defensive uncertainty and questionable performances in goal, Lalas remains incredibly “bullish” on the USA, citing the unique energy of playing a World Cup on home soil. “There’s nothing better than a World Cup, except for one thing,” Lalas said. “That is a home World Cup. And there is some magic that I hope that they are able to harness that takes them through into places that we haven’t been before.” With elite resources compared to generations past, a world-class manager, and a group they are expected to not only get out of, but win, the time for the USA to breakthrough is now. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).

Arsenal could be set to launch a move for Marcus Rashford as Mikel Arteta looks to overhaul his attacking options this summer. The Manchester United forward has enjoyed a productive loan spell at Barcelona, but financial constraints in Catalonia have opened the door for a potential return to the Premier League with the Gunners. Gunners Alert As Rashford Future Hangs In Balance Arsenal have emerged as a potential destination for Rashford this summer, with the forward’s entourage believing the Gunners could “come knocking” if the price is right, according to Daily Mail. The Manchester United-owned star has spent the season on loan at Barcelona, where he has revitalized his career under Hansi Flick, but financial constraints at the Camp Nou have cast doubt on a permanent stay. While Rashford remains happy in Spain, Barcelona are reportedly reluctant to trigger their £26 million permanent purchase option due financial constraint. This uncertainty has alerted several European heavyweights, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich all keeping a close eye on the 28-year-old’s situation as he prepares to permanently sever ties with United. Arteta Demands ‘Ambitious’ Summer Business The links to Rashford come at a time when Arteta is demanding significant investment from the Arsenal board. Following a heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the Spaniard has urged the club to act decisively in the market to ensure they remain competitive at the highest level. Arteta stated: “We start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.” Barcelona’s Financial Dilemma Despite Rashford Impact The situation is complicated by the fact that Barcelona are genuinely pleased with Rashford’s output. Sporting director Deco recently praised the attacker’s professionalism and his ability to adapt to Flick’s system, noting that he had successfully filled the void left by other stars during his time in Catalonia. Speaking about the forward’s contribution, Deco told BBC Sport: “Marcus has helped us a lot because he came on loan, it is not easy to come on loan as a player like him because he is a top player. He helped us a lot because he had the responsibility to replace Raphinha, it is not easy but he did very well.” Despite this, the arrival of Rashford’s international teammate Anthony Gordon for €80m has tightened the budget further, leaving the 28-year-old in limbo. Arsenal’s Wider Transfer Strategy Revealed Rashford is not the only name on Arsenal’s list as they look to bolster their ranks. The report also notes that the club is scouting Real Madrid teenager Victor Valdepenas and Newcastle duo Tino Livramento and Sandro Tonali. There is also a brewing battle with Manchester United over Leicester City’s 16-year-old sensation Jeremy Monga, as the Gunners look to secure the best young talent in England. With a projected revenue nearing £770m, the Kroenke family are expected to back Arteta’s vision. While the primary target remains a marquee striker like Julián Alvarez, the possibility of securing Rashford, who netted 14 goals for Barça last term, represents a versatile and proven Premier League option that could elevate the Gunners’ attacking rotations next season. 2026 FIFA World Cup: How To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. All 104 tournament matches will air live across FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match streaming live and on-demand within both the FOX One and the FOX Sports app. A record 40 matches, more than one-third of the tournament, will air in prime time across FOX (21) and FS1 (19). The opening match on June 11 between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will stream for free on Tubi, as well as the USA’s opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).

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. New users on Kalshi can receive a $10 trade bonus when they use promo code FOXSPORTS ahead of Sunday’s MLB action. The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies close out their series with two dangerous sluggers ready to take the field. Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber are some of the most dangerous power hitters in the National League. The Chicago Cubs are putting their recent stretch behind them and Pete Crow-Armstrong is helping lead the way as they face the Cardinals. New users can click here to claim a $10 trade bonus with Kalshi’s promo code FOXSPORTS get started ahead of Dodgers vs Phillies, Cubs vs Cardinals, and the rest of Sunday’s MLB schedule. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus Kalshi Odds *Odds/Probability are subject to change* Los Angeles Dodgers – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Season Performance) Trend Note: Los Angeles has won four of its last five games despite Saturday’s 4-3 loss to Philadelphia. The Dodgers hold a significant pitching edge in Sunday’s matchup with Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3.09 ERA, 0.98 WHIP) facing Andrew Painter (5.40 ERA, 1.46 WHIP). Shohei Ohtani, Andy Pages, and Freddie Freeman continue to anchor one of baseball’s most productive lineups, which ranks well ahead of Philadelphia in batting average, on-base percentage, and runs scored. Philadelphia Phillies – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Season Performance) Trend Note: Philadelphia has won four of its last five games and evened this series with a 4-3 victory on Saturday. Kyle Schwarber remains the club’s top power threat, while Brandon Marsh has been the most consistent hitter by average. The Phillies will need a strong outing from rookie Andrew Painter against a dangerous Dodgers lineup after allowing 505 hits and 305 runs through their first 58 games. Chicago Cubs – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Season Performance) Trend Note: The Cubs have won three of their last four games and bounced back with a 6-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday behind a big day from Pete Crow-Armstrong. Chicago has scored 28 runs over its last four victories and owns advantages over the Cardinals in runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage, and WHIP. The biggest question entering Sunday’s rubber match is starting pitcher Jordan Wicks, who carries a 16.62 ERA in limited action this season. St. Louis Cardinals – Top Players & Team Stats Team Stats (Season Performance) Trend Note: St. Louis has lost four of its last five games and has scored just 15 total runs during that stretch. Jordan Walker continues to be the centerpiece of the offense, leading the club in average, home runs, and RBIs. The Cardinals will look to Matthew Liberatore to provide stability on the mound after allowing six runs in Saturday’s loss and dropping back to third place in the NL Central standings.

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