More World Cup teams. Same World Cup story. This edition started with 48 teams; it’s now down to eight, with six of those from Europe. And unless Morocco pulls off a series of surprising outcomes over the final two weeks, the champion will come from Europe or South America. Again. As always.
Justin Verlander plans to call it a career later this year. The three-time Cy Young Award winner, two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP will retire after this season with the Detroit Tigers.
It was another World Cup epic from an Argentina team that simply doesn’t know when it’s beaten. Trailing 2-0 against Egypt with 11 minutes of regulation time to play on Tuesday, the defending champions rallied for an improbable 3-2 victory and a spot in the quarterfinals.
Shohei Ohtani hit his 300th career homer on Tuesday night, a leadoff shot against Colorado Rockies pitcher Michael Lorenzen that made him the first Japanese-born player in the majors to reach the milestone.
Nikola Jokic reiterated his hope Monday to remain with the Denver Nuggets for the rest of his career. His plan, though, is to hold off on signing his contract extension until next summer.
Images told the story of the United States’ World Cup downfall. Christian Pulisic sprawled on the field in agony after hurting an ankle. Matt Freese holding his hands on his head after his gaffe gifted a goal.
Giannis Antetokounmpo plans to say hello to Miami in a few days. First, he had to bid farewell to Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s time with the Bucks officially ended Monday, when the trade sending him and Bobby Portis to the Heat for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and draft capital was approved by the NBA.
An all-time controversy in the World Cup’s 96-year history was raging Monday ahead of the co-host United States facing Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake.
Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane carried England to the World Cup quarterfinals, overcoming a raucous crowd, the elevation of Estadio Azteca and a man disadvantage in the second half to beat Mexico in a 3-2 thriller on Sunday night.
Alex Ovechkin is not ready to skate away from the NHL, not yet, and now he gets a chance to make his career goal-scoring record even more difficult to break.
