While Middleton-Patel stole the show by the end of the night, it was Earps who was the focus before kick-off.
The mural of Earps, painted outside Old Trafford following her heroics with England at Euro 2022, bore a ‘Welcome to Manchester’ message which felt riddled with irony as she stepped out in the pouring northern rain in the opponent’s colours.
She was a heroine to many during her time at United and played a key role in the club’s first FA Cup victory, and their rise up the Women’s Super League table.
This time she was a football enemy, arriving in a cloud of controversy, and received boos when her name was read out by the stadium announcer.
More boos followed when she touched the ball, mixed in with some cheers from loyal followers, until she eventually received the adulation of the Old Trafford crowd when she walked along the stands applauding them at full-time, and was warmly received in return.
“A lot of the public has great interest in seeing Mary play. I’m very happy to have a player like her in our team,” said PSG boss Paulo Cesar afterwards.
“The fans here were clearly behind her. At the beginning, perhaps not, but by the end of the game her quality shone through.
“She put in a great performance today and she gives confidence to the team. I’m very happy with her.”
Skinner said in his pre-match media conference he expected the United fans to make life difficult for Earps as an opponent, but hoped she would receive the respect she earned during her five-year spell at the club before leaving in 2024.
When she left the pitch to cheers from the home fans and hugs from former team-mates, the controversy of the past two weeks surrounding her book felt a distant memory.
“It was nice. I said to her at the end to look after herself. Mary is a really intelligent woman and she has been the world’s best so she understands it,” said Skinner.
“It was a lovely atmosphere and she got a cheer when she walked down at the end of the game, and hopefully that helps her in the situation and how she feels.
“After the game it was always going to be friendly with Mary, because she was a big part of what we have done – and we should never forget that.”
LAS VEGAS — Last offseason, the Dodgers swung big in their offseason pursuit of impact bullpen additions.
After largely striking out, however, they might now have to decide if they’re comfortable doing it again.
The Dodgers don’t have glaring needs this winter, but the back end of the bullpen is one area they will look to upgrade. Although the team has ample relief depth, it has no clear-cut closer as it enters 2026.
The main reason why: Tanner Scott’s struggles after landing a lucrative four-year, $72-million pact last winter.
Scott’s signing represented the second-largest contract, by guaranteed money, the Dodgers had ever given to a relief pitcher (only behind the five-year, $80 million deal closer Kenley Jansen got in 2017). It was a high-risk, high-reward move that, at least in Year 1, quickly felt like a bust.
Scott posted a 4.74 ERA in the regular season, converted only 23 of his 33 save opportunities, and did not pitch in the postseason (in part because of an abscess incision procedure he underwent in the National League Division Series).
The Dodgers’ other big reliever acquisition last winter, Kirby Yates, suffered a similar fate, posting a 5.23 ERA on a one-year, $13-million deal before injuries also knocked him out of postseason contention.
Scott will be back next year, and is one of several veteran relief arms the club is hopeful will make improvements. Still, for a team vying for a third straight World Series title, adding a more established closer remains of interest.
The question now: Will they be willing to do so on another long-term deal? Or will last year’s failed signings make them more hesitant to traverse that same path again?
It might not take long to start finding out.
Already at this week’s general managers’ meetings at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, the Dodgers have expressed interest in two-time All-Star Devin Williams, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly.
The 31-year-old right-hander had a down year with the New York Yankees (4.79 ERA, albeit with 18 saves in 22 opportunities), but his underlying metrics remain strong, and the Dodgers’ interest in him dates to last offseason when he was a trade target of the club before ultimately landing in the Bronx.
With a mid-90s mph fastball and signature “Airbender” changeup that has made him one of the most prolific strikeout threats in all the majors over his seven-year career (in which he has a 2.45 ERA and averages more than 14 strikeouts per nine innings), he would significantly improve their ninth-inning outlook.
But the Dodgers’ pursuit of him, which was first reported by The Athletic, could come with a tricky decision.
Williams is expected to have several serious suitors this offseason. And, though some outlets projected him to sign only a one-year deal upward of $20 million, others have him pegged to land a three- or four-year contract.
By nature, the Dodgers typically prefer shorter-term deals, particularly in a role as volatile as relief pitching. If Williams does receive longer-term offers from other clubs, it’s unclear if the Dodgers would be willing to match.
The team could face similar dynamics if it goes after other top relievers on the market, including three-time All-Star and top free-agent closer Edwin Díaz (who also comes with the added complication of a qualifying offer that would cost them a draft pick).
They could wind up having to once again weigh a high-risk, high-reward move.
And on Tuesday, general manager Brandon Gomes struck a decidedly risk-averse tone in the wake of last year’s failed signings.
“It’s one of those things that, I don’t think it’s a ‘need,’” Gomes said of the team’s interest in making another splashy reliever acquisition. “But it could be a nice-to-have, depending on how it all plays out.”
There are other alternatives, of course.
Former Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Pete Fairbanks is one potentially shorter-term target some in the industry see as a fit in Los Angeles, after racking up 75 saves with a 2.98 ERA over the last three seasons.
Former Angels and Atlanta Braves right-hander Raisel Iglesias is potentially another, after amassing 96 saves with a 2.62 ERA over the last three years, thanks to a mid-90s mph fastball and swing-and-miss changeup that have kept him productive even at age 35.
There are other familiar free-agent relievers available this winter, too, from former San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez to former St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets right-hander Ryan Helsley (who has also been linked to the Dodgers in trade rumors in the past).
The Dodgers could also explore the offseason’s trade market, or roll the dice with a current relief corps that still includes Scott (whose 2025 issues had more to do with execution than quality of stuff), Alex Vesia (who has established himself as one of the top left-handed relievers in the sport) and Blake Treinen (another reliever the team sees as a bounce-back candidate after he struggled with injuries last season in the first season of a two-year, $22 million deal). They will also be getting Brusdar Graterol and Evan Phillips back from injuries, with Graterol on track to be ready for the start of 2026 after missing last year with a shoulder problem, and Phillips expected to return at some point in next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last June.
For now, however, the team’s search could depend on how the markets for Williams, Díaz and others develop — and whether it’s willing to take another big bullpen swing on a longer-term deal.
“We have so many guys that are capable of closing and have done it in the past,” Gomes said, highlighting the team’s current returning bullpen arms. “But it’s one of the areas we’ll look to potentially add to the team.”
Skenes wins NL Cy Young Award, Yamamoto third in voting
Yoshinobu Yamamoto will always be remembered for his historic performance in the Dodgers’ postseason this past October.
On Wednesday, his regular-season performance received some deserved recognition, too.
While Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes won the National League Cy Young Award as expected, after leading the majors with a 1.97 ERA in just his second MLB season, Yamamoto finished third for a campaign in which he went 12-8, posted a 2.49 ERA over 30 starts, and anchored a Dodgers rotation that was ravaged by injuries for much of the season.
Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez was the NL’s other Cy Young finalist, and was runner-up. Skenes garnered all 30 first-place votes while Sánchez received all 30 second-place votes. Yamamoto collected 16 third-place votes.
Yamamoto’s finish was the highest by a Dodgers pitcher since Julio Urías came in third in 2022.
It caps a year in which the 27-year-old Japanese star made significant strides from his debut rookie MLB season (when he had a 3.00 ERA and was limited to 18 starts because of a shoulder injury) and helped carry the Dodgers to a World Series with a 1.45 ERA in six playoff outings and a grueling 37 1/3 October innings — including back-to-back complete games in the NL Championship Series and World Series, before back-to-back victorious appearances in Games 6 and 7 of the Fall Classic.
Mark Selby beat defending champion Mark Williams 6-5 in a final-frame decider to reach the semi-finals of the Champion of Champions in Leicester.
In a high-quality opening between two of the greats – who hold seven world titles between them – Wales’ Williams took the first two frames with breaks of 77 and 114.
England’s Selby responded with two half centuries and a wonderful break of 136 as he reeled off the next four frames to lead 4-2, before Williams replied by edging three hard-fought frames to go 5-4 up.
However, Leicester-born Selby compiled a timely 95 to win the 10th frame and enjoyed a run of 55 to seal a thrilling victory.
The 42-year-old told ITV4: “It was mad towards the end. I felt like I had played really well to go 4-2 up. Mark did what he does, he dug in, showed his class, came back and the next minute I am 5-4 down and my head is spinning.
Clippers guard Bradley Beal is done for the season. He has a hip fracture and will undergo surgery, the team announced Wednesday.
The three-time All-Star, who is expected to make a full recovery in six to nine months, played in only six games this season, averaging 8.2 points and 1.7 assists. He signed an $11-million, two-year deal with the Clippers in July after the final two years of his contract were bought out by the Phoenix Suns.
The 32-year-old was listed as out for Wednesday night’s game against the Denver Nuggets because of left hip soreness. Beal previously missed games because of a left knee injury and lower back soreness.
Beal’s two seasons in Phoenix were riddled by injury as well. The 14-year veteran hasn’t played at least 60 games in a season since 2020-21 when he was with the Washington Wizards.
The Irish Football Association says it is “fantastic news” the qualifying draw for Euro 2028 will be held in Belfast.
The tournament will be hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland with no matches set to take place in Northern Ireland.
Casement Park, which has not been in operation since 2013, was originally listed as one of the stadiums to be considered when the UK and Republic of Ireland submitted their bid to host Euro 2028.
However, the west Belfast venue was withdrawn from the list of venues in September 2024 after the UK government said it would not be providing funding to redevelop the stadium in time for the tournament.
“We are incredibly proud that our city will play such an important role in delivering what will be the best-ever EURO – one that celebrates passion, inclusivity and the power of football to bring people together,” said Irish FA president Conrad Kirkwood.
“It’s a proud moment for the Irish FA and for everyone who loves football here in Northern Ireland.”
With the opening game of the tournament set for Cardiff and matches to be played in stadiums across England, Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, the qualifying draw is, to date, the only official Euro 2028 engagement set to take place in Northern Ireland.
It will take place on 6 December 2026 at the ICC Belfast.
“It’s a real privilege to host the qualifying draw for Uefa Euro 2028 – a key milestone in what promises to be a memorable, world class tournament,” added Irish FA CEO Patrick Nelson.
“We’ll welcome UEFA’s leadership, national associations and teams to Belfast, giving them the chance to experience everything our city and ICC Belfast have to offer.
“It’s fantastic news for Belfast, for Northern Ireland and for football across these islands.”
Frank McCourt’s proposed gondola from Union Station to Dodger Stadium hit what appears to be its most significant roadblock yet on Wednesday, when the Los Angeles City Council voted to urge Metro to kill the project.
The resolution, approved by an 11-2 vote, is not in itself any kind of formal decision. It would not take effect unless Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass concurs, and Bass previously voted in favor of the project as a member of the Metro board.
But it makes clear that a City Council vote to approve the project, which is expected next year, could be an increasingly challenging hurdle for McCourt and his allies to overcome.
“This resolution tells Metro that the city of Los Angeles refuses to be bought by shiny renderings and empty promises,” councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, whose district includes Dodger Stadium, told her colleagues in Wednesday’s council meeting.
No councilmember spoke in support of the gondola.
The project requires approvals from the council, the state parks agency and Metro, which approved an environmental impact report for the project last year. A court demanded fixes to two defects in the report, and Metro is scheduled to vote next month on whether to approve the revised report.
The resolution approved Wednesday urges Metro to reject the revised report and “deny reapproval of the project.”
McCourt, the former Dodgers owner and still half-owner of the Dodger Stadium parking lots, first pitched the gondola in 2018 and later said fans would ride free. The projected construction cost is about $500 million; none of the promised private funding has been publicly identified.
“This project is an insult to our communities, and the process has been an insult to our collective intelligence,” Hernandez said.
Project opponents — and the resolution itself — cite among other issues that 160 trees from a beloved park would be permanently removed to make way for the gondola and that a UCLA study projected Dodger Stadium traffic would not even be decreased by 1%.
In a letter to councilmembers, the board of directors of Zero Emissions Transit — the nonprofit charged with funding and operating the gondola — urged the council to reject what it called “serious inaccuracies and misleading claims.”
The 160 trees would be temporarily removed and then restored, with 480 trees added as well, the letter said. The UCLA study retracted its conclusion, the letter also said, based on “biased data supplied by individuals affiliated with project opposition groups.”
Said ZET spokesman Nathan Click: “We continue to move forward with all the approval processes: Metro, city, state.”
England’s games against Serbia and Albania – which conclude their World Cup qualifiers – may be dead rubbers, with qualification secured, but they are highly significant when it comes to deciding who plays in that key area when the tournament starts.
Rogers revealed the extent of his friendship with Bellingham when he said: “I don’t remember it, but apparently he came to my fifth birthday party.”
They are often seen together on England duty and Rogers has said previously: “It made it even sweeter, sharing the pitch with him again. It’s so nice, knowing I can share these moments with him and that he feels happy and proud as well.
“My mum knows his parents quite well, to do with work and stuff. We have always been around each other, playing against each other in the academies.
“Being in the first under-15 camp together, both being from Birmingham, we kind of stuck to each other.
“We grew up probably five minutes away from each other. We have kind of been rivals, me as West Brom and him at Birmingham City.”
Bellingham and Rogers have been pitted against each other in the fight for a place, along with Foden, but it is still a heartwarming story of how two boys, born in Stourbridge and Halesowen respectively, have taken the journey to such prominence and importance.
Rogers took the more scenic route to the top, starting at West Bromwich Albion, before moving to Manchester City, where he had loan spells at Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Blackpool before joining Middlesbrough in July 2023.
He impressed so much on Teesside that Villa manager Unai Emery made it his personal business to sign Rogers, clinching a deal on 1 February 2024, for a reported £8m – potentially rising to £15m.
Such has been his progress at Villa, that when Chelsea were linked with a move in the summer, Rogers was regarded as a player who could potentially be placed in the £100m bracket.
Bellingham’s journey has been more direct, from his beloved Birmingham City to Borussia Dortmund then Real Madrid – where he claimed the major prizes of La Liga and the Champions League in his first season.
Now they have their sights set on arriving together at next summer’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States – but who will wear England’s treasured number 10 shirt?
Jameis Winston entered last Sunday as the New York Giants’ No. 3 quarterback.
This week, he appears to be set to make his first start of the season.
Winston has been moved ahead of fellow veteran quarterback Russell Wilson on the Giants’ depth chart, according to multiple media outlets. The move puts Winston in line for what appears to be a likely start Sunday against the Green Bay Packers as regular starter Jaxson Dart remains in concussion protocol.
It’s the first major decision made by interim coach Mike Kafka since the Giants’ firing of coach Brian Daboll on Monday. New York went 20-40-1 in three-plus seasons under Daboll, including a 2-8 start to this season.
A 10-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson started 11 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, his 13th NFL season. He was signed during the offseason by the Giants to be their 2025 starting quarterback.
Winston was signed to be Wilson’s backup. In his previous 10 NFL seasons, Winston had gone 36-51 as the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns, with 154 touchdowns and 111 interceptions.
In April, the Giants traded up nine spots in the draft to select Dart with the No. 25 overall pick. The rookie out of Mississippi ended up earning the No. 2 quarterback spot. But Wilson was largely ineffective during the Giants’ 0-3 start, and Dart was promoted to starting quarterback in Week 4.
Dart helped spark the Giants to wins over the Chargers and the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in two of his first three starts. Overall this season, Dart is 2-7 as a starter, completing 63% of his passes for 1,417 yards passing with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Last week against the Chicago Bears, Dart hit his head on the ground during the third quarter and eventually was checked for a concussion for the fourth time this season. Wilson entered the game mid-drive and led the Giants to an eventual field goal and a 20-10 lead.
Overall, however, Wilson was ineffective again — he completed three of seven passes for 45 yards and was sacked twice — as the Giants collapsed and lost the game 24-20.
Auger-Aliassime quickly found himself 4-1 down in the first set, with Shelton putting the serve and volley to good use, but he broke back as his opponent served for the set.
However, a poor service game handed the initiative – and the opener – to fifth seed Shelton.
Shelton had the only break point of the second set but an increasingly confident Auger-Aliassime saved it, before clinching the tie-breaker on a wild double fault from Shelton.
A tight third set was also decided on the Shelton serve, with Auger-Aliassime converting his third match point.
“He was playing much better than me at the start,” Auger-Aliassime said.
“It was a weird start, but as the match went on I was finding ways to put returns in the court.”
LA28 released the detailed daily competition schedule for the biggest Olympics in history on Wednesday, laying out every event for the 19 days of competition that will feature more than 11,000 athletes across 51 sports.
Along with being the largest in Games history, the 2028 Summer Olympics will be the first to include more female athletes than men. The schedule honors the historic moment for women in sports by showcasing the women’s 100-meter final at the Coliseum as the primetime, marquee event on the first official day of competition on July 15, 2028.
“The reason we’re throwing out the women’s 100 meters on the first day is because we want to come on these Games with a bang,” Shana Ferguson, LA28’s chief of sport and head of Games delivery, said on a conference call. “And likely that race will be among the most watched of all the races in the Games. We just want to start that Day 1 with a massive, massive showcase of the fastest females in the world.”
The women’s 100-meter final will punctuate Day 1 competition that will feature eight women’s finals, the most for a single day at the Olympics. The men’s 100-meter final will follow on Day 2.
Scheduling the women’s final on Day 1 will require the top athletes to run up to three, 100-meter races in one day as opposed to putting qualifying on a separate day as the semifinals and finals. Olympic organizers presented the idea to athlete commissions within LA28 and through World Athletics. While some preferred to keep the status quo for the women’s 100 meter, Janet Evans, LA28’s chief athlete officer, said the majority of competitors simply wanted to know when their races would be so they could plan their training accordingly.
“I think a lot of athletes will be looking immediately at the schedule and planning their training around it,” said Evans, a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming. “That was certainly top of mind as we made this decision.”
Making the schedule came with extensive consultation with athletes and international sport federations. Organizers considered the sun position for diving, which will be held outdoors at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center. They wanted to ensure that fans waiting to enter arenas wouldn’t be left in the sun during a mid-day competition. Weary of heat affecting horses in Santa Anita, they took care to schedule equestrian events for either early morning or evening sessions.
With track and field setting the stage in the first week, swimming competitions traditionally take place first were shifted to the second week to allow organizers to build an indoor swimming pool in SoFi Stadium after the venue helps host the opening ceremony on July 14.
But keeping with Olympic tradition, the marathon will still take place on the final weekend of the Games, with the women running at Venice Beach on Day 15 (July 29), and the men competing on Day 16 (July 30). As one of the final Olympic events, marathon medalists typically receive their medals during the closing ceremony, which will take place at the Coliseum on July 30, beginning at 6 p.m.
The 2028 Games are approaching major checkpoints with less than three years until the opening ceremony. The Paralympic competition schedule will be released later this year. The volunteer program has already opened for community opportunities while applications for Games time volunteers will open in summer of 2026. Olympics ticket registration will open in January 2026.
Fans can begin registering for the ticket lottery in January and purchasing windows for those who are selected in the lottery will begin in spring 2026. Prices start at $28. With concerns about sky-high ticket prices for sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup or the World Series, Ferguson said LA28 will not use dynamic pricing, but didn’t state any specifics about the prices.
Ferguson said the organizing committee has 14 million tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics, which would break the ticket record set by Paris 2024. The biggest Olympics, and the most jam-packed schedule, would warrant that kind of attendance.
“What a great responsibility that is for us,” Ferguson said of hosting the biggest Olympics in history. “The care and concern that went into building this competition schedule — I will tell you that the folks on the team who did it really, truly, had a lot of sleepless nights because they wanted to get this right for every single athlete, regardless of sport.”
LA28 competition dates
Opening Ceremony: July 14 3×3 Basketball: July 17-22, Archery: July 21-28 Artistic Gymnastics: July 15-25 Artistic Swimming: July 25-29 Athletics: July 15-30 Badminton: July 15-24 Baseball: July 13-19 Basketball: July 12-30 Beach Volleyball: July 15-29 BMX Freestyle: July 28-29 BMX Racing: July 15-16 Boxing: July 15-30 Canoe Slalom: July 14-22 Canoe Sprint: July 25-29 Cricket: July 12-29 Cycling Road: July 19-23 Cycling Track: July 25-30 Diving: July 25-30 Equestrian: July 15-29 Fencing: July 15-23 Flag Football: July 15-22 Football (Soccer): July 12-29 Golf: July 19-29 Handball: July 12-28 Hockey (Field): July 12-29 Judo: July 15-22 Lacrosse: July 24-29 Modern Pentathlon: July 15-18 Mountain Bike: July 15-18 Open Water Swimming: July 17-18 Rhythmic Gymnastics: July 27-29 Rowing: July 15-22 Rowing Coastal Beach Sprints: July 24-25 Rugby Sevens: July 12-18 Sailing: July 16-28 Shooting: July 15-25 Skateboarding: July 18-27 Softball: July 23-29 Sport Climbing: July 24-29 Squash: July 15-24 Surfing: July 15-23 Swimming: July 22-30 Table Tennis: July 22-30 Taekwondo: July 26-29 Tennis: July 19-28 Trampoline Gymnastics: July 21 Triathlon: July 15-20 Volleyball: July 15-30 Water Polo: July 12-23 Weightlifting: July 25-29 Wrestling: July 24-30 Closing Ceremony: July 30
Rees-Zammit suffered a toe injury in his fourth game for the Bears, but proved his fitness to earn selection on Wales’ bench for the autumn opener.
That led to plenty of pre-match focus being on a replacement and he got some of the biggest cheers of the afternoon.
Wales might have suffered a heavy loss, but the wing was still able to reflect on being in his “happy place” in a social media post.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “I did really miss being able to play at the Principality Stadium in front of our fans.
“It was incredible. You don’t really know you’ve left until you go back. When I came on and heard the crowd – all the support I had, it meant so much to me.”
Wales won just one of 19 Tests while Rees-Zammit was out of the picture in America, but the wing is confident of brighter times under Tandy.
“You could see glimpses last weekend of what’s to come. That was building a foundation of where we want to be and what team we want to be,” he said.
“We can do as much as we can in training, but we’ve got to show it on the weekend when all the fans have paid good money to come watch us play. It’s what they deserve.”
Rees-Zammit’s last international victory was against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup and he intends to help Wales repeat their summer success against Japan in a vital game ahead of December’s World Cup draw.
Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms would leapfrog Tandy’s side into 12th in the world rankings if they upset the odds in Cardiff.
Rees-Zammit said: “Everyone’s locked in on what’s next. Japan will be a tough game, but everyone is raring to go and is buying in 100%. We’re all ready.”
Leading off the 2028 Olympic Games: Shohei Ohtani, at Dodger Stadium. On deck: The lighting of the Olympic torch.
That is how the Los Angeles Games could look, based on the revised schedule announced Wednesday by LA28 organizers. In another sign that Major League Baseball is headed toward an agreement to allow its players to participate in the 2028 Games, LA28 adjusted its baseball schedule after discussions with the league.
Under the new schedule, the baseball competition would start on Thursday, July 13, 2028 — the day before the opening ceremony, rather than the day after.
That would give MLB the option to hold the 2028 All-Star Game on its traditional Tuesday date — most likely in San Francisco — with the Olympic baseball competition starting two days later in Los Angeles and ending on Wednesday, July 19. The major league schedule could resume the following weekend.
In past Olympic baseball tournaments, MLB has declined to stop its season, so minor league and college players have populated the rosters of many countries, including the United States. For 2028, MLB had no interest in canceling its All-Star Game and replacing it with the Olympic competition.
No final deal among LA28, MLB and the Major League Baseball Players’ Assn. has been reached, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred all but telegraphed this resolution in July, one day after LA28 said its baseball competition would begin on the day after the opening ceremony.
“They put out a schedule,” Manfred said then. “They tell you it’s not going to move. We’ll see whether there is any movement on that.
“It is possible to play the All-Star Game in its normal spot, have a single break that would be longer, but still play 162 games without bleeding into the middle of November. It would require significant accommodations, but it is possible.”
Clarke was not so laidback. McGinn revealed that half-time of the Belarus match was the “wildest” he had ever seen the head coach.
After a record-breaking 72nd match in charge, Clarke said: “If you’d said at the start of this camp we’d come out with six points, everyone would’ve been really happy.
“But, I have to be honest, tonight I was really, really disappointed in my team.”
So how does he address that for arguably his most significant qualifiers to date?
Off the bench, Billy Gilmour subtly brought some control to Scotland’s play against Greece, who were threatening to run riot at Hampden for the second time in seven months.
But the injured Napoli midfielder will not be an option for Clarke in Athens, although he could return for the potential group decider with Denmark.
Fellow Serie A midfielder Lennon Miller, also capable of dictating and bringing composure to a game, will be missing as well after withdrawing injured.
Having faced 37 shots in two games at Hampden against Greece and Belarus, it is clear Scotland have been exposed in recent outings.
Clarke’s side rode their luck at times in their group opener in Denmark, but they looked a far more cohesive unit out of possession in a rigid 4-4-2 shape.
Christie, McGinn, Ferguson and Scott McTominay occupied a compact and energetic midfield four, with Dykes and Che Adams providing intense work rate and physicality as a forward pairing.
Bold decisions to not start Gilmour and Ben Gannon-Doak paid off as the Scots left Copenhagen with a well-earned point.
Knowing a draw would set up a winner-takes-all showdown with the Danes on Tuesday, might the Scotland boss revert to that formula in Greece?
Unbeaten Portugal (3-1-0) will seal direct qualification to the FIFA World Cup 2026 if they beat Ireland in their penultimate Group F fixture at the Aviva Stadium.
Armed with a five-point lead, Roberto Martinez’s team are in the box seat to seal a seventh consecutive appearance at football’s global showpiece.
Ireland (1-1-2), for their part, still have a mathematical chance to keep their World Cup aspirations alive by causing a huge upset on Thursday night against an opponent that is fifth in the FIFA world rankings.
They are currently third in the group – but only a point behind second-placed Hungary with two matches still to play. Ireland last qualified for the World Cup in 2006.
Here is all to know about their Group F return clash:
Current Group F standings (two fixtures remaining):
Portugal – 10 points (from four matches)
Hungary – 5 points (from four matches)
Ireland – 4 points (from four matches)
Armenia – 3 points (from four matches)
How can Portugal and Ireland still qualify for World Cup in Group F?
Scenario 1:
Group leaders Portugal require a win against Ireland to ensure direct World Cup qualification into next year’s tournament, which is being held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In this scenario, Portugal would have 13 points – an insurmountable lead over the other three teams in the group with just one match remaining.
Scenario 2:
If Portugal were to draw its final two fixtures against Ireland and Armenia, they would also finish top of the Group F standings with 12 points from six matches.
Scenario 3:
If Portugal lose its final two matches against Ireland and Armenia, and Hungary – which currently has five points – wins its final two fixtures against Armenia and Ireland, then Hungary would move top of Group F with 11 points vs Portugal’s 10 points.
If Ireland win their final two games, and Portugal lose their final two games, then the teams would be level on 10 points at the top of the standings with the group winner being decided by goal difference.
All 12 group winners in Europe qualify directly for the World Cup while the runners-up go on to the playoffs for the remaining finals places taking place in March.
Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai’s equalising late goal against Portugal in Lisbon on October 14, 2025, has kept the Group F race for direct World Cup qualification alive for his side and Ireland [Armando Franca/AP]
What happened in Portugal’s last match against Hungary?
Portugal were on the brink of punching their ticket to the World Cup as they led Hungary 2-1 in stoppage time in Lisbon, knowing a win would confirm first place in Group F.
However, Hungary snatched a late draw when Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai finished from close range in injury time.
What happened the last time Portugal played Ireland?
The teams last played on October 11 in Lisbon.
Portugal’s Ruben Neves scored a stoppage-time goal to snatch a dramatic 1-0 home win in Group F after his teammate Ronaldo had a penalty saved earlier in the match as Ireland threatened to hold the unbeaten hosts to a draw.
Is the 2026 World Cup Ronaldo’s last major international tournament?
Yes. With Portugal on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup, Ronaldo confirmed the tournament in North America will be his swansong on football’s biggest stage.
“Definitely, yes, because I will be 41 years old [at the World Cup],” said Ronaldo, who is also the top scorer in history with 143 international goals.
“I gave everything for football. I’ve been in the game for the last 25 years. I did everything. I have many records in the different scenarios in the clubs and also in the national teams.
“I’m really proud. So let’s enjoy the moment, live the moment.”
Ronaldo’s Portugal can qualify for their seventh World Cup in a row with a victory over Ireland on November 13, 2025 [File: Pedro Nunes/Reuters]
Head-to-head
This is only the 18th meeting between the European sides with Portugal winning 10 and Ireland winning four.
Ireland’s last win came in a friendly in 2005, courtesy of Andy O’Brien’s solitary strike in Dublin. There have been four subsequent matches, of which Portugal have won three.
Ireland’s last competitive win against Portugal came in a European Championships qualifier in 1995.
The fixture dates back to 1946 and began with a 3-1 home win for Portugal in a friendly.
Portugal’s form
W-W-W-W-D (most recent result last)
Ireland’s form
D-D-L-L-W (most recent result last)
Portugal team news
Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has withdrawn from Martinez’s squad after he suffered a groin injury in his side’s 3-0 Premier League victory over Wolves on Saturday. Rafael Leao is the most likely replacement for Neto.
Sporting Lisbon midfielder Pedro Goncalves is also out for a month after an undisclosed injury playing against Santa Clara on the weekend.
“[I’m] out of these next two games and not being able to be present in the World Cup qualifiers. Something I always dreamed of was representing the National Team, and not being able to go hurts. Now it’s time to recover properly, even though I’m not doing what I love the most! Thank you to the team for the effort until the end! We still have a lot to achieve,” Goncalves wrote on social media.
Ronaldo, who has yet to score away to Ireland in four career meetings, will lead the line for Portugal.
Ireland team news
In a big blow to Ireland’s chances, star striker Evan Ferguson is out of the Portugal fixture with an ankle issue and is in doubt for their final World Cup match against Hungary, which may decide who finishes second in Group F.
Manager Heimir Hallgrimsson will also be without three other injured regulars in the squad: Callum O’Dowda (minor knock), Mark Sykes (shin) and Sammie Szmodics (knee).
Ryan Manning and Jayson Molumby are serving one match suspensions.
Injured forward Evan Ferguson, who has scored three of Ireland’s four goals in World Cup qualifying, will be sorely missed as an attacking option against Portugal [File: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images]
“If Armenia wins or there is a draw, a win in Hungary is enough for us, so that is two of four scenarios for us,” the Ireland manager said.
“If Hungary win, we need at least a draw, but if they win by two or three goals, we will need a draw [against Portugal] and win by maybe three goals away in Hungary.
“We will know what we need in this game against Portugal before we kick off, which is a benefit to us, but it doesn’t change how we start and play the game, but may need to take calculated risks as the game progresses.”
Martinez:
“November is always a difficult stage. Even so, our focus is on qualifying for the World Cup. … We have to improve, especially in the final 20 minutes of games,” Portugal’s manager said.
There are few high school football players in Southern California who have made a greater impact for their team than junior Jaden Walk-Green of Corona Centennial.
Playing strong safety, he has eight interceptions, with four returned for touchdowns. He returned a fumble for a touchdown. He’s also the kicker, punter and return man for kickoffs and punts. He has returned one punt for a touchdown. He can play receiver, running back and quarterback if needed. He’s also the starting center fielder for the baseball team.
Growing up, he played ice hockey, lacrosse, basketball, soccer, golf, football and baseball, plus he can ski.
“Why not?” he said. “Try everything. It’s good to get away from your main sport.”
Jaden Walk-Green. 2 interceptions. 2 field goals. Starts in center field for baseball team. Corona Centennial hero in 43-36 win over No. 1 Mater Dei. pic.twitter.com/0NioQGqUFR
He has so much sports equipment and so many shoes in his closet from all the sports he’s tried that he could put on a garage sale.
Centennial coach Matt Logan was nice enough to show World Series games on the school’s videoboard during football practices so Walk-Green could keep track of the Dodgers.
“You intentionally walk Shohei Ohtani four times in one game. That’s respect,” he said.
After finishing his regular-season finale football game against Chaparral, he was up Saturday morning to play in a fall baseball game and went two for three. He’s improved his speed and strength, so look for more steals as Centennial’s leadoff man this spring.
Highlights of Malaki Davis run and Jaden Walk-Green punt return and Matt Logan 300th win on Thursday night for Corona Centennial. pic.twitter.com/jCK3kYjMgp
He’s 5 feet 11, 185 pounds and got to face first-round draft pick Seth Hernandez of Corona last season. The thing is Hernandez refused to show him his 101-mph fastball.
“He went curve and slider,” Walk-Green said of his first at-bat. “The next at-bat, he hit me. They knew not to throw me a fastball.”
Walk-Green’s focus on versatility can be traced to his father, Keith, who played two sports at St. Monica and wanted his son to enjoy many sports while not specializing until he learned what he was best at. His mother, Dorshay, was a dancer at St. Monica and also endorsed the multiple-sports experiment.
Great sequence captured by photographer Craig Weston of game-clinching interception by Jaden Walk-Green of Corona Centenial against Kayden Dixon-Wyatt of Mater Dei. pic.twitter.com/4DLmm7zNvv
Now that Walk-Green has become so good in football and baseball, he’s going to have many options for college. He’s only 17 and enjoying his life as someone who can play any position and any sport. You want to play pingpong, ask him. You want to see him skate on ice or blacktop, ask him.
Corona Centennial opens the Southern Section Division 1 playoffs on Friday as the No. 2 seed, hosting No. 7 Servite. The Huskies are the last team other than Mater Dei or St. John Bosco to win a Division 1 title in 2015.
“We have a good team to make a run,” Walk-Green said.
Logan trusts Walk-Green, putting him in the middle of the field on defense so he can observe and use his instincts to intervene, just like he does as a center fielder for the baseball team.
“He can play any position on offense,” Logan said.
Well, except on the offensive line, but don’t think he couldn’t adapt.
State Man has been ruled out for the season and will not bid to reclaim the Champion Hurdle title at Cheltenham in March.
Trainer Willie Mullins said the horse had suffered an injury on the gallops on Wednesday morning.
The eight-year-old was second to Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle and won the race the following year.
State Man was leading when falling at the final flight in last year’s contest but went on to win the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
He is a two-time Cheltenham Festival winner, having landed the County Hurdle in 2022.
Mullins told the Sporting Life: “Sadly State Man has suffered a tendon injury on the gallops here. He’ll definitely be out for the rest of the season.”
DIVISION I #1 Harvard-Westlake d. #16 Santa Barbara San Marcos, 25-16, 25-13, 25-16 #9 Long Beach Poly d. #8 San Luis Obispo, 25-22, 25-19, 25-13 #12 Bishop Montgomery d. #5 La Jolla Country Day, 25-23, 25-19, 25-16 #4 West Ranch d. #13 Redlands, 25-19, 21-25, 25-14, 25-13 #3 Santa Margarita d. #14 San Diego San Marcos, 23-25, 25-15, 28-26, 25-15 #6 Coronado d. #11 JSerra, 25-12, 25-20, 25-18 #10 Bakersfield Centennial d. #7 Bishop’s, 19-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-22, 15-12 32 Temecula Valley d. #15 Orange Lutheran, 25-23, 20-25, 25-17, 27-25
DIVISION II #1 Liberty d. #16 Oak Park, 24-26, 25-12, 25-23, 25-12 #9 Arroyo Grande d. #8 Flintridge Prep, 25-15, 14-25, 23-25, 25-20, 15-10 #12 La Canada d. #5 Christian, 12-25, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 #13 Ventura d. #4 Santa Ana Foothill, 26-28, 25-15, 20-25, 25-0, 15-11 #3 Cypress d. #14 Venice, 25-15, 25-15, 25-22 #6 Scripps Ranch d. #11 St. Margaret’s, 25-27, 25-22, 25-20, 25-20 #7 Carlsbad d. #10 Palisades, 25-11, 25-18, 23-25, 25-23 #15 Dana Hills d. #2 Westview, 25-14, 25-19, 25-10
DIVISION III #1 Academy of Our Lady of Peace d. #16 Arrowhead Christian, 25-11, 25-11, 25-16 #8 Royal d. #9 Garces Memorial, 23-25, 25-9, 25-22, 25-18 #5 Patrick Henry d. #12 Cleveland, 25-17, 25-17, 25-13 #4 Santa Fe Christian d. #13 El Camino Real, 25-17, 25-21, 25-19 #3 Mission Vista d. #14 Taft, 25-21, 25-22, 25-18 #6 Ontario Christian d. #11 Santa Barbara, 25-12, 25-19, 25-22 #7 Chadwick d. #10 Eagle Rock, 16-25, 22-25, 25-17, 25-17, 15-6 32 Frontier d. #15 Wiseburn Da Vinci, 25-22, 25-20, 25-16
DIVISION IV #1 Nipomo, bye #8 Grant d. #9 Oceanside El Camino, 25-7, 25-10, 25-16 #12 Capistrano Valley Christian d. #5 Chatsworth, 16-25, 25-16, 26-24, 20-25, 15-13 #13 West Valley d. #4 Olympian, 18-25, 25-14, 25-20, 20-25, 15-10 #3 Granada Hills d. #14 Cate, 25-17, 25-18, 25-20 #5 LA University d. #11 Garden Grove Pacifica, 25-22, 19-25, 25-22, 25-18 #10 Rock Academy d. #7 Granada Hills Kennedy, 14-25, 25-10, 20-25, 25-13, 15-12 #2 Mammoth d. #15 CAMS, 25-21, 25-18, 25-13
DIVISION V #1 East Valley, bye #8 Panorama d. #9 Loma Linda Academy, 25-20, 21-25, 25-13, 30-28 #5 Artesia d. #12 South East, 25-8, 25-6, 25-9 #4 Elsinore d. #13 Legacy, 25-9, 25-20, 25-18 #3 O’Farrell Charter d. #14 Moreno Valley, 25-20, 25-19, 25-20 #11 Nogales at #6 Schurr, 19-25, 29-27, 25-12, 14-25, 15-9 #10 South El Monte d. #7 Foothill Tech, 25-20, 15-25, 25-22, 16-25, 15-12 #2 Morro Bay d. #15 Anaheim, 25-6, 25-10, 25-11
WEDNESDAY’S SCHEDULE First Round
OPEN DIVISION #8 Mira Costa at #1 Sierra Canyon #5 Marymount at #4 San Diego Cathedral #6 San Juan Hills at #3 Torrey Pines #7 Redondo Union at #2 Mater Dei
Note: Quarterfinals (Divisions I-V) Nov. 13 at higher seeds; Semifinals (all divisions) Nov. 15 at higher seeds; Finals (all divisions) Nov. 18 at higher seeds.
